Disclaimer: The following is a nonprofit fanfiction of RWBY. RWBY belongs to Monty Oum(RIP) and Rooster Teeth. Any likeness to writings of others is not intentional. To help with improvements: Read and Review!
"Aren't you Blake Belladona?" A fan asked her while holding a paper out. "Can I have your autograph and a picture? I loved you in Grimm Eater."
Complying with a fan, Blake took a photo with one of her fans while striking a pose.
Blake was currently waiting in line to get her books signed by Patty Berdioler, the author of Ninjas of Love. The others ad split up to do their own thing in the convention, so she took this opportunity. Seeing as she was way in the back, she had taken her copy out to read the line away.
Chapter 5: Closure
S.S Shikimashi
Ruby's room
Princess Ruby sat in her room looking herself in the mirror. It had been almost a week since her departure from Benzaiten. She had tried to cope with the loss of her brother by making friends, but it seemed that even all the new people she met couldn't fill the whole in her heart.
Whenever she stared into the mirror, she would sometimes see a glimpse of her dead brother. They may have been born from different mothers, but he had quickly opened up to her and loved her openly. She was always proud of the color of her eyes, but now she just wished they were the same magenta as his.
"Brother." She whimpered, gripping onto a pendant he had given to her as a child. In her mind, she could imagine him dying. And the ones standing over him with triumphant grins were the two leaders who had both betrayed her before.
A new feeling had formed in the little princess's heart that had been growing with each day now. Rage. Pure and righteous fury that could only be quenched in one way. Finding the two monsters that had terrorized and destroyed her life and making them pay. Fixing herself, she had placed the pendant on the table to walk out the door.
"Velvet." She called out to her new friend.
"Yes Ruby?" The bunny faunus had instantly appeared in front of her wearing an outfit similar to Blake's. Ruby was happy to have her around.
"I need your help." She said, clasping her hands. "I need to find Jaune and ask him something important."
Nodding her head, the two had gone off in search for the former prince. As they walked, Ruby had opted to asking questions on her blonde guard to prepare her question better.
With Blake
The ride to the Dust Empire would take weeks for their arrival. Ruby had taken to befriending many of the workers on the ship in no little than six days. Velvet had accompanied her everywhere she had gone, and had made a few friends herself. It was relaxing for Blake to see her princess going back to her old self, which gave her time to deal with a problem she had noticed as they departed.
Jaune had shut himself off to them. He was still polite and made time for Ruby, but he seemed distracted. Whenever Blake would try to speak to him alone, he would either be seen in the company of the princesses or working with the crewmen. Velvet herself had tried to talk to him on her own, but had came up with the same results.
Seeing him enter his lodging, Blake had taken this opportunity to corner him. As she tried to turn the knob, she found that it was locked.
"Of course." She muttered bitterly, biting her cheek.
Waiting for the sound of his door to open, it had been hours before he open the door. Taking her chance, she pushed it wide open and slammed the door shut behind her, locking them both in.
"Blake?" The blonde guard said in shock. "What's going on?"
"I'm here to talk to you." She said glaring at him. "Your attitude has been bothering us for a while now, and I understand how you feel."
"Let's not talk about this." He said, moving to the door. Blake had grabbed him by the arm and spun him to where he was facing away from the exit.
"You've gotten slow." She criticized. "If I had done that to you before, you would have countered it easily."
"Don't test me Blake." He snarled, turning back to her. "If this is about my attitude, then I'll fix it. Done."
"No. We're not." She said firmly, not moving out of the way. " I told you. I know how you feel. I was betrayed by my old master too."
"That's not what this is about." He shook his head, trying to find a way out of the room. "You don't know what I'm thinking."
"Then tell me." She said crossing her arms. "If it's not about your master's betrayal, then what has you blocking us out? It's bothering the princesses."
"Ruby and Weiss don't need to concern themselves with me. I'm their guard. …Nothing else." He said, trying to change the subject.
"You're more to them than a shield and you know that." She snarled with a heated glare. "So don't think I'll end things so easily with that."
Sighing in frustration, he ran a hand over his head to calm himself. Looking her in the eye, Blake saw frustration, confusion, and annoyance.
"I can't tell you because I don't even understand it myself." He said, sitting on his bed and patting a spot for her to join him. Taking his offer, Blake was relieved to know he didn't take the chance to run. "I thought I knew Qrow. There wasn't any sign of him betraying us-me like that. It felt so sudden and I never thought he would do such a thing. I feel like there has to be a reason. Something I'm not seeing. Money can't be the only thing that drove him to betray us. I'm torn between killing him and saving him. I don't know what I should do."
Looking at him so broken in front of her, Blake saw a ghost of herself. The only reason she hadn't broken completely was because Ren had picked her up and fixed her. He gave her a purpose once more and something new to live for: Ruby.
"I understand completely what you don't." Blake started, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I thought the exact same thing about Adam when I was Oniwaban. He didn't seem the type, or that's what I told myself. For months I kept asking myself why Adam would turn against our Emperor. I'd ask myself why couldn't he embrace the chance for peace. That he would come to the gates willing to listen peacefully I kept holding onto a sliver of hope that he had a reason for what he did that I was too blind to see."
"Did you find it?" He asked, listening to her every word.
"No." She shook her head showing him the sorrow in her eyes. "I gave up on him. The man I thought I knew was just a shadow I was following. The real person the shadow was attached to was a cold blooded killer."
"…What drove you to believe that?" The former prince asked hoarsely.
"He ordered an attack on Ruby." She whispered, remembering the day so well. "It was a peaceful day in the palace. The birds were singing and the flowers were in bloom. Ruby was happily playing in the courtyards with some of the palace workers and I was watching her in the shadows. She called out to me to play with her and I complied. I was so happy I foolishly let my guard down. Next thing I know, smoke in the air and Ruby's being pulled away. I was able to catch up to see my old teammates carrying the princess over the walls. It was the first Fang attack that happened in the palace. All ordered by my former master."
Jaune leaned back after she had finished her tale, but she was not done.
"It doesn't matter on the reason, Jaune." She continued, looking him in the eye with a small fire. "There is no excuse for what he did. The same can be said for Qrow. Whatever reason he may have, he is now an enemy."
Blake was set on her decision and ideals. If anyone were to tell her anything differently, she would listen to them but still come to the end result: Qrow and Adam must die.
"I wish I could agree with you Blake." He said looking to his hands. "But I just cant accept it at that. Even if the reason was something small or petty, I still want to know."
"The only way you'll get your answers is by meeting him." She pointed out. "And you know it might be your last with him."
They would have to fight. That's what she was implying. But he didn't believe it. He didn't want to believe it.
"That look on your face tells me you think otherwise." Blake was a bit disappointed that the man who overthrew a tyrant king couldn't overthrow a simple mercenary. "Where is the man who killed a king? Where is the man I heard of that brought freedom to the most archaic place in the world?"
"That was different!" He shouted, standing up. "I killed my uncle because he was a monster who wanted the nothing more than to see a race die! I had to live under his tyranny and watch as the people my family swore to protect became livestock for that fiend! He deserved death."
"And what about your master?" Blake growled, standing up as well. "He betrayed us! Killed our emperor and burned our palace to the grounds! Men you and I have befriended; slaughtered in one night! To me: He is a monster. Along with Adam and any of the Fang members following them!"
Seeing that he was about to storm out, Blake had grabbed him by the arm to pull him away from the door. Not liking to be impeded again, Jaune had tried to yank his arm away forcefully but found it was stuck in an iron grip.
"Let me go." He seethed, not turning to look at her. Her response was to tighten her grip harder and tugging on his arm forcefully. "You've forced me long enough."
It had started with him trying to pull her hand away with the other. Then it escalated to a grappling fight where Jaune tried to defend and Blake on the offense. After a while both had started being on offense trying to throw the other to the floor. In the middle of it all, Blake's hakama had gotten loose and fallen to the floor after Jaune had tried to throw her down via her midsection and Jaune himself had lost his tunic and shirt after Blake had tried to grab him by his robes. Now the two were standing half naked in the room, glaring at one another to see who would take the initiative. Blake standing in nothing but her loose haori and her panties, and Jaune with nothing but his pants and boots.
Feeling that she wouldn't make any moves, Jaune had rushed her in a straight line. Blake had made to jump out of the way, but had tripped on her attacker's tunic causing him to tackle her onto the bed. Recovering from the hit, she had rolled herself so that she was now on top of him. Straddling him with her on his lower regions and grabbing his arms over his head, she looked into his eyes to see the same fire she saw when he had first arrived.
"Have you given up yet?" She gasped, feeling tired from their fight in the small room.
"Never." He whispered, looking ever defiant. She couldn't keep the smile on her face from forming at those words.
"Good." So caught up in the moment, the two never heard the lock of the door clicking as it opened.
"Ja-AAAGH!" The two looked to the door to see Ruby covering her eyes, but keeping a small crack open. "W-what? When? I thought you two weren't in a relationship!"
"What's the matter Rub-Oh MY!" Weiss gasped with a hand to her mouth seeing the two guards in a very compromising position. Behind her, Velvet had looked at the scene with a blank stare before turning away.
Luckily it was just those three that came to check on them. Ruby had been looking for Jaune to ask him something very important. The crewmen knew nothing and neither did Winter or Pyrrha. Not having anything better to do, Weiss had volunteered to help look for him. Since Blake was also missing, they had presumed that she had gone off to search for him on her own. When they didn't find him anywhere else, they decided to check his room before waiting for him to show himself.
As they got to his room though, they had heard shuffling as if a fight was ensuing. Ruby had tried to open the door but had found it locked. Weiss had been quick to tae out the master key she had to all the doors of the ship. Velvet had readied herself behind them to aid Jaune if there was trouble.
"It's not what it seems!" Blake waved her hands, getting off the blonde guard too roughly and causing him to groan underneath her much to the groups growing embarrassment. "See? I'm getting off of him."
"It looked very much like you were." Weiss said with a heavy blush, not daring to look in the room. "We're very sorry for intruding."
"Just listen to me!" Blake pleaded with the three girls outside. "We were simply having a heart to heart moment!"
"I'll bet." Velvet murmured, looking at her state of undress. The bunny and cat may have worn the same outfit now, but she had opted to wearing regular undergarments. Apparently, Blake was a traditionalist and preferred to wear a fundoshi and wrappings on her chest. From behind, Jaune had a clear view of the cat faunus's backside and could confirm to anyone that she did not have a tale.
Turning around, Blake saw Jaune was in the process of putting his clothes back on with a deep blush on his face. She was thankful that he had thrown her hakama to her without staring at her too long. After a few seconds, both of them were now fully clothed.
"We were just talking Ruby." Jaune said, walking to ruffle her hair. "Some words were said we didn't agree on, so we ended up fighting."
"I-I'll choose to believe you …for now." The princess stuttered. Clearing her throat at fixing her hair, she continued. "The reason why we're here is because we were looking for you."
"Do you need me for something?" He asked, looking at them all. Blake had side-stepped to get out of his room to stand next to Velvet after putting her pants on.
"We need your help Jaune." Velvet voiced in. "Or more specifically, Ruby needs your help."
"Velvet says you're knowledgeable in a lot of things since you grew up with a royal education." The princess started. Weiss had put a reassuring hand on her shoulder to give her some comfort to continue. "I want to know everything you were taught. Everything from basic education to combat."
"Why do you need combat Ruby?" Blake asked behind her in concern. "Ren was forced into learning those things, but you don't have to learn them."
"Because I…" Ruby bit her lip as she tried to force herself to tell the truth. It was hard since she felt a heavy ball in her throat. "I want to avenge my brother. I can never forgive the man who killed him, and I want him to pay. And I want it to be by my own hands."
"What will you do if I refuse to teach you?" He asked her, leaning down to look her in the eye.
"…I'd look for someone willing to teach me." She narrowed her gaze at him.
"If Blake got in your way of revenge?" He asked another question.
"…I'd go around her." She never broke her stare.
"And if the whole world got in your way?" He asked, narrowing his eyes.
"…Then I'd wait for them to step aside." She nodded, understanding why he was asking those questions.
"…I can't teach you swordplay princess." He told her sadly in a firm tone.
"But Jaune-" Before she could protest, he held a hand up for her to stop.
"I can't teach you swordplay because most of it was taught by the one who killed your brother." He continued. "I can only teach you so much, but the rest will have to be by someone else."
"I will accept anything you can offer." She bowed before turning to leave. Velvet had followed her, but had turned to give Jaune an unsure look before catching up.
"Are you sure that it's wise to do such a thing?" Weiss questioned him with a disappointed look. "In the future, she may chase after him herself."
"She would do so even without me teaching her." He justified himself. "And she wont be going alone. I'll be with her every step of the way to protect her."
"Does this mean you're okay with Qrow dying?" Blake asked, crossing her arms while turning to him with a look.
"I still don't know." He told her with his own look. "What happens next is up to her. You're right in saying Qrow needs to be put down. I'd be a hypocrite if I wanted him to live while Adam dies. But I'm at least entitled to an answer just like you are entitled on with Adam."
"If she goes after someone skilled as him, she'll die." The cat faunus pointed out.
"That's why I agreed." He nodded. "Like I said, I was taught swordplay by her brother's murderer. What better way for her to know her enemy?"
"But she's doing this for revenge." The Dust princess said in a sad tone. The look in her friend's eyes was something Weiss thought she would never see on an innocent face.
"Everyone is entitled to revenge, Weiss." Jaune told her straight, turning to her along with Blake. "She's suffering while Qrow lives. And she deserves it out of all of us."
"But it'll break her!" She cried to him. "What happens after she kills him? What will she have left?"
"You, me, Blake, Velvet, Benzaiten, and all of us who are right behind her." He said turning to where Ruby left. "I'm not giving up on her even if she succeeds or not. Will you?"
The Dust princess would have felt insulted if the situation wasn't so serious.
"I'm not giving up on her either." She said after swallowing a lump in her throat. "I just hope she sees that revenge wont get her brother back."
"…I think she knows." Blake voiced in after staying quiet to let the two talk. "Sadly, Jaune's right. She is suffering, and she needs help. Stopping her will only push her further into haste, so I'll agree to help train her."
"…When it's all over, will I still have my friend back?" She said with a tear forming in her eyes. Her older sister had taken up training after their father and mother had perished. Although she was still the sister she loved dearly, she could feel a change in her that had made a small rift between them. It was one of the reasons she had spent so much time with Ruby.
"Have faith in her Weiss. No matter what Ruby learns, I still think she'll be the same girl we all know deep inside." Blake said, hugging her. "I believe she will make the right choices when the time comes. We just have to be there when she makes it."
Nodding, Weiss had left the two guards to be with her friend. As she turned the corner and away from them, Blake had turned to Jaune once more.
"Besides Ruby, I worry about you too." She said glaring at him. "When the time comes, can you really stand by and watch as she kills your former master?"
"When I get my answers, then yes. I could say the same to you." He shot back in a hush tone. "When I sever Adam's head from his body, will you be able to watch without turning away?"
"I've told you before." She stood before him with their noses almost touching. "I've given up all hope on that monster. The only thing you should worry about is me getting to his head first."
As she walked away, Jaune had to catch himself from staring at her backside. Looking into his messy room, he groaned at the memory of her on top of him. Sleep would not be coming for him tonight.
Little did he know, Blake wished for anything but sleep with the dreams she had of him. Ruby had to wake her repeatedly as her ninja guard had dreams of the events going differently in Jaune's room. The next morning would be an awkward day for the two guards as they had both agreed to teach Ruby what they knew.
"Next!" The line attendant called out to Blake and the person in front of her.
Closing her book and tucking it into her costume, Blake had carried her collection to her favorite author. She had to suppress a squeal that was threatening to escape her throat just by seeing her up close.
"Oh my star." The author gaped after seeing her. "You couldn't possibly be! It's too good to be a cosplay."
"H-hi Ms. Patty Berdioler, Ma'am." Blake said with a huge smile. "I am such a huge fan of your works. I have followed all our series."
"You're a fan of my works?" The author gaped, staring at the cat faunus. "I'm a fan of your movie. Part of it had given me some inspiration for another book to write."
"Oh no. I should be thanking you." She bowed to her favorite author. "My acting was inspired by some of the female characters in your writing."
"You flatter me." She giggled with a small blush while taking out her phone. "Mind taking a picture with me?"
"Only if I can take one with you." As the two shared a shot together after her books got signed, the spicy literature writer noticed a book protruding out of Blake's costume. Not able to say no to her favorite author and fan when she asked to see it, Blake had relented on giving it. "It's more of a remade version. I hope you're not offended."
"Hmm." The artist hummed while speed-reading through it. After she was done, she had told Blake to come see her before she would leave and to leave Blake's version with her. She didn't look mad, so the book worm felt nothing wrong in leaving it with her.
After the Unity March presentation
Blake had ran to Patty's booth after all was said and done in her own booth and panel. As the author spotted her, she ushered the cat faunus to come over with a smile.
"Sorry about taking your customized copy away." She apologized with a sheepish grin. "It's just that while I speed read through it, I noticed that it was lacking."
Blake felt a heavy blow to her gut. Sure she wasn't much of a writer herself, and some of the events had to rewritten to match the characters, but she didn't think it was that bad. Sensing her fan taking it the wrong way, the author quickly mended her words.
"I didn't mean in plot and grammar." She shook her hands. Taking out the book, Blake was surprised to see it had a new cover image. "Most of my books have a few images inside along with centerfolds to those wanting more than their imagination."
Taking the book in hand, Blake had noticed that it was a bit thicker than it had been. "Tha-than-"
"Sssh." The author placed a hand to her fan's lips. "No words. Just enjoy. The Hakuba route was a very taxing thing to write. It's like mixing water and oil together. To see you appreciate it is enough for me. Go and read the love."
"Godsend." Blake whimpered in glee all the energy leaving her body.
END
AN: Hey! What's shaking everyone. I know that the last chapter felt rushed with the betrayal and deaths, but I prefer to have things build up. It's like a mystery of how something could have happened so quickly and you the only way to get the answer is to piece things together.
So yeah, Ruby is now on a path of vengeance, Blake and Jaune had a small heart to heart, a problem had shown with Weiss, and I'm sensing a tension with Velvet.
Didn't give anything too smutty, but just added some things in to give some fanservice that fitted in to push us away from gloom and doom.
Usually when I write my fics, I imagine it more in manga panels then start animating it in my head. It's my secret technique to how I write all my fics. Whatever feels too rushed, is made on purpose for a reason, and if there was no reason: I probably fried my brain from getting tires.
BTW! If any of you have watched RWBY Chibi, then you will know that Patty Berdioler was a name on the Ninja's of Love book written on the spine. I can assume that it's the author. Pfft. "Now that's a katana."
ANYWAYS!
Unthinkable Growth will be updated next. Let's hope you guys will enjoy this chapter along with all my other updates. If any of you are a follower of Those Days, then you will know that it may end in 3-5 chapters.
Thank you all, and look forward to my next work.
