Nov. 24th. In Tolbana: Town Square. 1st Floor.
It had been almost a month since Sword Art Online's release. A month passed since the deathtrap of a game was opened to society, and the results were gruesome. Nearly 2,000 people committed suicide, all because of the rather unfortunate reality. And the worst part was that no one had even caught sight of the boss in the duration of that time span. The players stuck in the game were beginning to lose faith. They were becoming tired, restless.
They were running out of hope.
Weiss had called Yang for an emergency meeting at the town square, to catch up on the most recent news between her. She had invited Winter to come, but the older Schnee had more important things to attend to, mostly talking with other beta testers and players about the conflicting issue with the boss, leaving Weiss to meet Yang alone.
The heiress sat down on a bench in the little park area, watching the clouds roll by and the digital birds chirp in the background. Though all of it was fake, it was still the best immersion she had experienced all her life. Weiss had heard of the technology that Kayaba was constructing, but she had brushed it off as impossible, unattainable, to render such atmospheres would be hard and tricky. But Akihiko had somehow found a way, and the moment Weiss heard of the miraculous technology she had to see it for herself. Long story short, she was awestruck that the man had developed such a thing.
Suddenly. Weiss felt a hand pat her side, turning her head to see the person she'd been waiting for, Yang Xiao Long. Said girl looked different than when they had first met, after the announcement of their captivity. The woman looked to be wearing a sleeveless yellow hoodie and black short shorts with a sort of purple bandana-looking skirt draping behind it, reaching almost to her knees. Her bracers she had worn were different as well. Small spikes coated a leather looking bracer, and her hands were covered in chains, for increased attack, Weiss assumed. Yang gave the heiress the biggest relief tugging grin as they stood up and hugged, retracting from their embrace as they sat down next to each other on the bench.
"So how much of that is really for effect and not looks?" Weiss asked her friend, not quite sure about the mechanics of the DLC she had
Yang gave her friend a grin. "Aw come on. You gotta look fabulous even in battle!" Yang shot back, making 'O's with her hands. "Especially coming from a Schnee."
Weiss smiled as her friend responded. She was right in the end though, Schnee's were supposed to always look their best, though Weiss always favoured a mix of both form and function. This was reflected in her choice of equipment. She wore white boots with socks leading up to her thighs that increased her speed. Her skirt, which was originally pure white, now flashed from white to a very light blue as it went up, the blue dye used increased its defensive power for a relatively low cost, her shirt matching this style. Under her shirt she had a black undershirt merely for cosmetic reasons, and her hair was done in a ponytail to the side, held in place by a snowflake beret.
"That's all well and good Yang. But more to the point, we should discuss what we've done this last month," Weiss grimaced as she recalled it all, she had witnessed three of the suicides personally and due to this she was sleep deprived. Whenever she closed her eyes she saw those three again, except their faces were replaced with her friends; Yang jumping off Aincrad, Ruby slitting her throat, and Winter letting herself be ripped in half and eaten by a monster. She tried not to think about it while she was awake and preferred to pour her energy into finding a way out this mess. "Have you had better luck in searching for the boss?"
Yang sighed, shaking her head defeatedly. "No, Me and Ruby have looked all around this damn place. We've been everywhere on this god forsaken floor and haven't found fuck-all."
Yang shook her head once more, looking down at the ground. "Nothing. Not even a special door or anything…"
The blonde coursed her hands down her face, trying to alleviate the stress of the digital world from her. "I can't take it here anymore Weiss. Everyday I wake up to a life bar and my gamertag floating over my face, I look up to a digital sun, and roam fake grasslands all day. I worry that Ruby will.. that she'll…"
"Ruby will be fine Yang, she just needs her sister to be there for her. Maybe since we've had no luck apart we could go together this time." Weiss spoke, giving a light smile to her friend as she put her hand over Yang's and rested it upon her cheek. "There is one last area Winter and I haven't checked. We deemed it too dangerous to scout out on our own. Ironically that makes it the most likely point for the boss to be in hindsight"
She looked to her friend as she watched her broken expression come back together into a slight smirk.
"Are you sure? I don't want to put you in danger." Yang asked, a look of worry in her eyes.
"If anyone is being put in danger here it's you and Ruby, how is she holding up anyways? Last I saw she wasn't taking it well." Weiss reassured her friend, whilst changing the subject.
Yang smirked slightly. "She's doing alright actually, a lot better than the first day in here. She knows of the dangers and she's cautious, but she's learned to push past it and try to enjoy this life the best she can. Ruby's even found her.. Um, friend."
Weiss wasn't sure whether the subject or the pause bothered her more, either way Yang had never done something like it before and she wasn't going to do it now.
"Yang, I mean really. You're obviously hiding something more serious than just 'a friend'. I figure you've known me long enough that you can tell me just about anything. So come on, spill."
"Well, i-it's… it's umm…" Yang was finding it hard to speak, trying to find the right words to say what she meant, all the while Weiss gave her an impatient stare as she stammered. "What's the word.."
Yang took a deep breath, turning her gaze back to Weiss. "Ruby's, friend, isn't exactly... a friend… It's more." she tried to answer, leaving Weiss more puzzled than before. "They're dating."
"And what was so hard about saying that? You think I'm going to judge someone on their taste in men?" Weiss said, both utterly confused and slightly frustrated at the lack of trust.
"Well, um. That's the thing, Penny isn't a guy." Yang finally stated, leaving Weiss slightly dumfounded.
"O-oh…" Weiss managed to mutter with a deep blush erupting on her cheeks. "I-is that so? I think I understand your hesitation now."
Silence hung thick in the conversation as Weiss tried to understand the situation. Finally, the heiress cleared her throat. "So… may I ask about this Penny? Or would that be slightly too intrusive?"
"N-no! It's okay, you'll have to meet her eventually," Yang stated, shaking her hands out in response. "She has ginger hair, a pink bow, she wears a kind of greyish dress, and black leggings with green stripes. She's.. Um..," Yang shrugged, "Well, you're just gonna have to see for yourself."
"In that case… why don't you call them over? I'll just shoot Winter a message in that case." With that Weiss turned away and started going through her menu, leaving Yang sitting there mildly surprised at how awkward the moment had arose.
"A-alright, I'll message them the plan." Yang replied.
"And you can meet Penny."
About half an hour after sending messages.
Yang and Weiss decided it'd be best to go get some food and coffee, since the two had no idea when they'd get another chance to. While they awaited the redhead's arrival, and the meeting of Penny, the two talked about their most recent adventures in the game. Weiss felt like she lacked in her sword skill, even with the attack system helping her. Sometimes her blade would slip out of her grip, other's her balance in high heels faltered as she fell on her ass. Sure, she had fenced all her life since she was young, but the atmosphere and other factors in the game tested her skills to the max. The blade skills would sometimes throw her off, leaving her unbalanced, flimsy, and ultimately, vulnerable.
The conversation was halted as two figures walked up to their outside table, the two looking up to find Ruby in a slightly different attire, and a girl with ginger hair standing beside her. The duo stood up, both smiling at the newly approaching people as Weiss and Ruby gave each other a simple hug.
"Weiss, it's so good to see you!" Ruby spoke, a beaming smile formed at her lips.
"It's so good to meet you as well!" The ginger haired woman interjected, turning the attention to her. "Oh, sorry. Did I say that too soon?"
"I take it you would be Penny, correct," An enthusiastic nod came as a reply to her question while Weiss turned back to Ruby, "It's good to see you both."
Yang was next up for greeting, giving both her usual bearhug. "Ooohh, it's good to see you two again!" Yang spoke, lifting both off the ground.
"Yaaanng… Can't.. Breathe.." Ruby gasped. Yang let go of the two as Ruby bent over to catch her breath. Meanwhile Penny stood, unaffected by the woman's grip.
"Sorry sis, I gotta get at least one gigantic Yang-hug from ya every day, doctor prescribed." Yang spoke, giving an 'ok' with her fingers.
"Which doctor prescribed you hugs from your sister?" Penny spoke, a confused look on her face. "Whichever one he or she is, I don't think they are legitimate."
Yang's head shot down, brushing off the girl's personality as she looked to Weiss. Whom was quietly observing her as she watched the event.
"So this is what you meant. She certainly is…. interesting," Weiss said to Yang in a hushed whisper while giving her a rolling applause with her eyes. "Well whoever it was Penny, they aren't the person who has to explain why my sister, of all people, is late."
The looming shadow of irony fell upon everyone but Weiss as Winter casually walked behind her sister and cleared her throat. "Would you have preferred I left the little girl to the wolves sister dearest?"
Weiss swivelled around on her heels, a nervous smile displaying as she looked toward her sister. "Well how about that everyone, I called for her and now she's here, funny that right?" The awkward silence permeating amongst her friends counting for even less than incompetent back up, "... I guess not."
"Weiss, I will deal with you later. Is this everyone Ms. Xiao Long? Or will some other person I don't know be cropping out of the woodworks?" Winter asked, gesturing with her heads towards Penny.
"Erm, no, this is everyone Ms. Schnee." Yang addressed as formally as possible. "And I've already briefly described the situation to them via message. So we can head out A$AP."
Winter, looking really fidgety, piped up "But we can't go yet. We haven't taken stock of the party. I don't know what everyone is about or-"
"To be concise, she gets like this when she doesn't know things, she wants to get to know everyone so she knows how to rely on you all," Weiss interrupted in an attempt to save the group from Winter's ramblings, "Especially the element she doesn't know. And I do mean you Penny."
"Oh, don't worry ma'am," Penny saluted, "I am combat ready!"
"Uhm, you're gonna need to be more descriptive Pen," Ruby stated, nudging her in the arm. "Show them your weapons."
"Oh yes, right!" Penny opened her menu, selecting an item from it as two bags appeared on her sides. She dug in the pouches and tossed 4 blades in the air above her, before unsheathing two last ones as she twirled them around in her fingers. The ginger woman placed the two swords in her index-middle finger creases on both hands, snatching the rest of them in the remaining finger creases just as they came close to the ground. When the act was done she held six shiny black swords, 3 per finger crease.
Weiss and Winter could hardly do naught but blink after seeing that display. After collecting themselves Winter decided that maybe she should just trust her sister's friends this one time. Avoid heart attacks in the future and all. Not much was left to do except to venture forth then
"So am I qualified," Penny asked, sheathing her multiple swords in her bags. "Can I come along?"
"Penny, my sister is actively edging away from you as we speak. If you can scare Winter you are more than cleared for operation." Weiss piped up in response to Penny's question.
"She scared Winter?" Yang asked, watching the older Schnee waltz away in shock. The woman dealt with businessmen and women twice her age for crying out loud. Quickly realizing the woman in topic wasn't slowing down at any rate, the blonde motioned to follow her as she started to jog over to Winter. The rest of the pack acknowledged the motion as Weiss followed behind her, and Ruby and Penny soon thereafter holding each other's hand.
Soon they had arrived at the forest's edge, a sense of anticipation filling them as they prepared. It had been agreed that Winter and Yang would be the vanguard with Penny at the center while Ruby and Weiss took up the flanks. Items were stocked, weapons maintained, and battle plans gone over extensively. Winter turned towards the whole group and looked them over, proud of how ready they looked.
"Shall we?" she asked the group, to which Weiss responded with an eyeroll.
"Ready!" The team shouted in unison, exemption of Weiss, as they all stepped forth into the treeline, ready for anything that came at them.
To Be Continued…
[Topaz] Wow my partner, really? You literally put to be continued?
(DStone) You know me, always leaving on a cliffhanger ;p
[Topaz] *sigh* well I guess we should answer reviews then.
(DStone) May I do the honour?
[Topaz] Go for it.
(DStone) ;) aight here goes:
Striker Sigma: Eh.. Kirito's kinda in it, as is the rest of the canon characters. But we're both focusing solely on RWBY and their canon in the story for now. We have plans to put them in maybe side plots that don't follow their respective series, but that's for another day.
[Topaz] Kirito Harem is a definite no. sorry bro.
Ashley: [Topaz] Im gonna handle this one, even I feel chapter two was a bit of a let down and I wrote it. It could have been a lot more but I just wasn't in the writing mindset I guess. I hope this is a satisfactory chapter to make up for that =)
DownTownAlpha: Eh.. Like I said, We're not completely sure. Cuz there's even elderly folks playing the game (for some odd reason…). Topaz and I will have to discuss it a little more, but as for the ship (Winter x Qrow, I don't know the name of the fucking thing- [Night's Watch ;)] (...oh)), possibly. Idk [I definitely ship it], It's not exactly a ship we'd follow in the story. Topaz's down for it, but I'm focusing more on the main characters and I don't think Winter will be in every chapter or even every side plot tbh. We'll keep an open mind though.
Madam Scarlet Heart: I guess I'm the one to kinda blame for that, I kinda pushed Topaz too quickly for the chapter (sorry bro)[It's cool I was slacking]. Maybe later we'll discuss a fix or something on it, we'll both look more thoroughly into it, make it longer, etc. but I personally like it. So I'll leave it to Topaz to make the call.
[Topaz] One last announcement here just in case some of you people read my story Wishes from Beyond Space and Time, if I don't suddenly become extremely busy in comparison to how I am now that should be starting back up (Yay XD). I would be happy to see you all there and bleed your opinions on it.
(DStone) Just one more thing. I'll continue the next segment to the story arc soon, I got the special Halloween day chapter finished and will just be taking a small breather to kinda relax a bit (plus, I just got Witcher 3 so yeah, totally playing that man). As for this story, we will probably do the next installment after TWR, and we'll discuss methods of writing too, cuz tbh, this took a lot longer than I expected (No offense Topaz)[Yeah yeah yeah]
[Topaz] Now if there isn't anything else this will be the two of us signing off, See ya'll sometime before christmas
(DStone) Yeah man, stay tuned. And see ya later.
Pce.