Guys, I am so sorry this has taken so long.
My internship turned into hours of boredom and busy work, which did not help my anxiety and depression. Getting out of bed everyday required incredible effort.
Fortunately the internship is over after this month, so hopefully my mental health takes an upturn so you guys can get more chapters.
"Rise and shine, Princess!"
Ruby groaned at Torchwick's upbeat wake-up call. A morning person she might be, but given the fact that she was up late and the boat was not in the least bit comfortable, all she wanted was for him to jump overboard and let her sleep. Unfortunately, she was becoming more aware of the pain in her neck from the awkward sleeping position. A light breeze drifted over the ship, goosebumps appearing on Ruby's skin as she shivered and pulled her blanket- what the hell?!
She jerked her eyes open and was greeted by the sight of the creature that dared masquerade as a man holding her beloved shield of warmth.
"I know you need your beauty sleep, highness, but I'm afraid we're on a bit of a schedule." Torchwick bundled up the blanket and tossed it aside. "But don't worry! As they say, 'You can sleep when you are dead.' So, as soon as we cross the Mistral border, you are more than welcome to keel over."
Before Ruby's mouth could get her into trouble, Weiss called from the stern, "Look! He's gotten closer!"
And indeed, it seemed the boat from last night was still on their tail and gaining on them.
Torchwick just seemed amused by this, chucking as he informed them, "Whoever our stubborn stalker is, he - or she - is too late!" He spun around towards the front of the boat, arms wide open as waiting for a hug. "See!"
And Ruby did see. A large cliff, taller than even the royal castle, loomed over the water and was made all the more ominous by the swirling mists curling up from the crashing waves.
"The Cliffs of Insanity!" Torchwick announced proudly, as if he had some hand in the Cliffs existence… until Yang decided to speak up.
"Why 'of Insanity'?" she asked, effectively killing Torchwick's mood and prompting him to shoot her an offended glare. "What? It's a good question! Do the cliffs drive people crazy? Was if made by crazy people? You would be insane to climb them but that could be said for any cliff."
"Just shut up and prepare to land."
"'Cliffs of Terror,' maybe, but all cliffs are terrifying. 'Cliffs of Hell'?"
"Let it go, Yang." Weiss advised.
They beached at the cliff base a few moments later, Yang jumping out to pull the boat in a little farther before Torchwick got out, a leather harness in hand. He trudged through the wet sand to make his way over to a length of rope dangling along the cliff face, giving it a sharp tug to test its dependability before starting to attach the harness. Weiss and Yang moved to help her out of the boat before herding her towards the rope.
Torchwick glanced back over the sea and cursed. "Persistent, I'll give 'em that. Let's get a move on!" He moved quickly to get everyone in the harness, Yang in the center with Ruby on her right, Torchwick on her left, and Weiss as the smallest was placed in the front facing Yang ("This is very uncomfortable." "Just enjoy the view, Ice Queen.").
With a grunt of effort, Yang began to climb. Left arm. Right arm. A steady rhythm of one hand over the other, the coarse rope easy to grip but burning her palms the longer she climbed. The shifting bodies rocked the harness, swaying the rope. Ruby squeaked and clutched Yang in fear, burying her face into Yang's side in search of comfort and distraction from the steadily increasing height.
Weiss reached over and took one of Ruby's bound hands in her own, moving her thumb in circles in silent comfort. Yang just gritted her teeth and kept climbing; her strength had never failed her, and she would be damned if it did now. Weiss was depending on her, Ruby was depending on her, Torchwick was depending on her (and her coin purse depended on him). For them, she would not fall.
Torchwick was observing their pursuer as the mystery man beached his vessel before grabbing the rope.
"He's climbing the rope."
"I can feel the rope shifting, thanks," Yang said.
"He's also gaining on us," Weiss added helpfully.
"Please, there is no one stronger than Yang. He can't possibly be-" he cut himself off as he watched the distance between them shrink. "Inconceivable."
And indeed, the speed at which the man was climbing the rope was nothing short of impressive. It seemed as if he was climbing twice as fast as them, their considerable head start being the only thing keeping ahead.
"You were supposed to be this legendary pillar of strength!" Torchwick hissed in Yang's ear. "A woman of unparalleled might, yet he gains!"
"I'm carrying three people!"
"Excuses!"
"Then maybe someone should have laid off the fancy foods!"
Thirty feet.
Fifteen feet.
The ledge was in sight, but the mystery man was getting ever closer, only about 150 ft separating them, give or take.
Yang reached the ledge, Torchwick quickly removing himself from the harness and pulling himself over before tugging Weiss up and out from between Yang and the cliff ("Between a rock and a hard place, huh?" "Is the rock the cliff or your brain?" "Ha ha."). With a quick order to Weiss to help them up, Torchwick pulled out his dagger and started hacking away at the rope.
Weiss managed to hoist Ruby up and moved her further from the cliffs edge before helping the tired Yang.
Torchwick was halfway through the rope.
The mystery man was almost at the edge.
With one great heave, Weiss pulled at the same time Yang pushed up, the blonde clearing the edge before her tired muscles gave out.
Snap!
A loud hissing met their ears as the rope slid across the rock before falling over the edge, then a deafening silence. No one moved, no one breathed, waiting for some sound to tell them the fate of their pursuer. A scream as he fell, a thump as he landed, something. Instead, they heard the shifting and clacking of pebbles as they moved and fell against other stones.
Weiss was the first to move, looking down over the edge as they all watched and waited for her verdict.
"He did it," she breathed, shock written all over her face. "He grabbed the rocks before the rope fell."
"What?!" Torchwick snarled, storming over to see for himself, ignoring Yang's tired form as she tried to pull herself to her feet despite her weary arms. "Inconceivable!"
"Really?" Weiss asked incredulously. "You're still - do you even know what that word means?"
An unsteady Yang made her way over for a look, peering down with them only for her eyes to widen, "I think… I think he's climbing!"
He was; the sound they had heard having been the pebbles he knocked loose as his hands and feet sought holds. It was also the first good look at him afforded to the marauding group. A black mask was hiding the top portion of his face and was slowly growing damp from sweat, while the lower half revealed a strong jawline with a hint of stubble.
"Ooo, the masked hero is rushing to save the damsel in distress, -" "Hey!" "- this would be so much better if we weren't the villains."
"He's holding onto the side of a cliff with a ways to go if he's climbing, and a long way down if he lets go," Weiss said.
"She has a point," Ruby agreed. "If my life didn't arguably depend on his success, I'd recommend a career change."
"Arguably?"
"Have you heard him say why he is following us?"
"Point."
"Say what you want about him, but he's doing a great job hanging in there!" Yang just grinned in response to their groans.
"Enough!" Torchwick snapped. "It doesn't matter. He clearly knows we have the princess, so he's got to go. Yang, you've got her," Torchwick gestured towards Ruby before turning to Weiss. "You catch up when he's not a problem. If he falls, problem solved. If not, time to earn your keep."
"Earn my - ! Just… nevermind. But I'm dueling him right-handed," Weiss said petulantly.
"Sweetheart, I don't really care how you do it, just that it gets done."
Ruby fought to smother her giggles at Yang's murmured, "That's what she said."
"We're wasting daylight people, let's move!"
Torchwick moved towards a faint path leading away from the cliffs, stopping to look back only when he heard footsteps moving away from him. He saw the girls huddled together with Yang and Ruby giving some parting advice:
"Be careful, he wouldn't have been able to make it this far if he wasn't strong."
"Don't die. If you let yourself be knocked out however, I would greatly appreciate the increased odds in my survival."
"Ruby!"
He gave a huff of impatience. "I'm waiting!"
Yang gently tugged Ruby across the rocky terrain, Torchwick resuming the lead when they caught up. Weiss watched as they faded from view, smiling in exasperation as Yang's voice carried in the still morning air.
"Hey, hey guys, it's a cliffhanger!"
"Goddamnit!"
Next chapter has been started, promise!
Reviews are appreciated, as is constructive criticism. Flames will be snuffed.