(A/N): I swear, I don't mean to keep writing 14k word chapters, it just keeps happening! Anyways, settle in, cause this week's update is another biiiig one. And I don't just mean in size - there's some meaty story stuff that happens in this chapter, so let's get right to it!
"Just a little further, Pebble. Shouldn't be long now."
Pohatu's steps through the woodlands were deliberate and careful, his wide bronze-armored frame struggling to walk and weave around a maze of trees and fallen logs. His movements were further challenged by the odd organic creature that sat splayed out across his shoulders, settling comfortably into the groove between his neck and backplate while sewing up a new pair of boots for herself out of scavenged leather and cloth. The stranger may not have said much in their travels together - or anything at all, really - but the Toa of Stone could feel annoyance and doubt in her gaze without even looking back at her.
He couldn't explain how he knew. He just…felt it in his gut. An instinct.
Stone wasn't an impulsive element. Like him, it was slow to change and slower still to make up its mind. Yet in that unyielding nature was a strength and stability that others could build on, an inexhaustible well of resolve he could tap into at a moment's notice. Hidden within the crust of Mata Nui were mios of loose rocks and boulders, and with just a little bit of thought and guidance, he could shape it to his will. It was a comforting thought, having such a physical tether to his element at all times - and Turaga Onewa, leader of Po-Koro, had told him that so long as he followed the stone, it would never lead him astray. And right now, it was leading him through the woods to a temple called Kini-Nui in the center of the island; he had to trust his path was the correct one as he navigated through difficult and unfamiliar terrain.
To think the Toa of Stone's greatest opponent so far would be the wetlands, he thought to himself with a small chuckle. Then again, I could hardly imagine myself being any other element. And I'd rather navigate the woods than deal with another of those Rahi on my own again…
Pohatu cast a glance back at his passenger, watching as she pulled one of her boots over an armorless foot. If he was the embodiment of stone, then she reminded him of glass: brittle and delicate yet beautifully intricate, bearing deceptively sharp edges when shattered. Her power was quite unlike his in that it seemed to manifest out of thin air at her very will, forming into prisms that bent light around her in dazzlingly complicated ways. These illusions served as her primary means of communicating with him, and while they were nowhere near as strong as stone or other solids, they were far more durable than they looked. Hopefully reuniting with others like her would make communicating easier - organic creatures like her must have had a thousand different social and language cues that he was entirely blind to.
There is so much I simply don't know about these strangers from another world, he admitted. Onewa said nothing of such creatures, only that he saw other stars fall alongside our Toa Canisters. I wonder what happened on their planet to bring them here? Did Makuta's machinations extend to their world as well? Or were they facing a shadow of equal threat?…
He walked in silence for a few moments longer, letting the sound of his footsteps speak loud enough for them both. After he wove through a tight-knit group of trees and nearly stumbled, his passenger looked down with more irritation than usual. She snapped her fingers, and took on the appearance of the silver-eyed creature before shifting back.
"Look, stranger, I know you're eager to see your friends," said Pohatu with a beleaguered sigh. "But these woods are difficult to navigate for one as large and flat-footed as me. I'm built for racing across the open desert, not tip-toeing around plants and trees. I'm already going as quickly as I can."
The figure rolled her eyes, then snapped her fingers yet again. A copy of his Kanohi Kakama appeared over her face, then vanished in a shower of mirror shards.
"Hah. Believe me, if I felt comfortable using the Mask of Speed to plow through the woods, we'd be there already. But there's no telling what I'd run into - at best, I'd be picking splinters out of my armor for weeks, and at worst something larger will be doing the same with bits of me. So if we want to get to the temple safely I must be cautious, at least for now. I may be the Toa of Stone, but even the toughest rock can still crumble…and I'd rather not fall to pieces so soon after my arrival, if it's all the same to you."
His passenger seemed placated by the explanation, though her annoyance didn't completely fade. She made a show of stretching and yawning silently, then kicked back in her little perch and dangled her newly-made boots over his shoulder. With a soft chuckle he instinctively shifted his weight a little bit to avoid throwing her off, and he was once more left to his thoughts.
As he trekked through the woods, the Toa of Stone could only hope that his brothers and the stranger's friends would be a little more…normal.
"Whoaaaaa…that's so cool!"
The right half of Kopaka's vision was filled with three very blurry Ruby Roses, giving him several overlapping perspectives of her face hovering a breath away from his lenses. The Toa of Ice gave no reaction other than a long beleaguered sigh, making no move to brush the Huntress away while she climbed all over him and gushed about his biomechanical features. Even when she put her hands against two of the three ports in his visor and began rotating them in their socket, he took it all with a stoic annoyance that not even he could rationalize. This girl meant no harm, even if she had no regard for personal space - and although she was annoying and quite handsy, her enthusiasm and joy were almost infectious.
Almost.
This one is…pushy, yet earnest, he mulled to himself as his lenses got twisted once more. According to Weiss, Ruby is the team's leader and her own partner, in addition to being one of the fiercest warriors from her world. Perhaps Remnant has different standards for leadership, if a child like this is the one in charge? Or perhaps she did something to earn her title, a feat that has gained the respect of all those who follow her…
"Oh my goodness…" cooed the silver-eyed girl. "It's like an entire little galaxy of gears and lenses in there. Ohhhh man, if only I'd brought my micrometer - I could spend all week measuring every little itty bitty gear in those sockets!"
The Toa of Ice raised an eyebrow under his mask, and concluded that Remnant really was just that weird.
"I have so many questions!" Ruby's voice was excited now, and she was talking much faster. "How do you control the lenses? Are they part of your mask? Can they be used separately from the mask's power itself? Does it hurt when I turn them manually? If the other Toa have to find their own copy of this mask, would theirs have the lenses too? Can you see through walls with them? Can you see stuff that's far away? Can you see me?!"
Kopaka huffed as he tried to keep track of all the questions, and in what order they were asked.
"I control them with my mind, the lenses are built into the Kanohi Akaku, yes, no, I presume they would, yes, yes, and I wish I didn't."
"Amazing!" said the Huntress in a hushed, awed whisper.
Weiss sighed and finally stepped forward, tugging on her friend's cloak. "Ruby, come on. Stop bothering Kopaka."
Ruby grinned as she looked back. "Psh, whaaaat, no, I'm not bothering Kopaka! He's not bothered at all!" Then she looked back. "Are you bothered right now?"
"Yes." The word came out without a moment's hesitation.
The silver-eyed girl looked slightly crestfallen, but nonetheless came down after another pull from Weiss. "Fiiiiiine. Let's go see what Tahu's up to! I wanna check out his fire sword next!"
And with that, she disappeared in a flash of rose petals, earning another groan from Weiss as she moved to follow her fast and flighty friend.
Now that he was no longer forced to stare at every single disgusting pore in the human's soft ivory flesh, Kopaka took a moment to stare across Kini-Nui's courtyard, where all the Toa and Huntresses had gathered in response to a mysterious summons. Along the trees he could see a Huntress - one with short green hair and darkener skin than the rest - gathering logs and berries alongside Lewa, ducking under wide swings of his axe and berating him each time the Toa of Air nearly took her head off. A blur of rose petals swept past them both and snagged the pieces of fallen timber before reappearing closer to the massive temple, arranging the logs in a pile right at Tahu's feet. The red-armored Toa of Fire looked down at Ruby in equal parts annoyance and surprise, before he nodded and raised his sword. With little more than a spark, the pile of wood erupted into a roaring fire, one that grew with each new log added to the blaze. While the silver-eyed Huntress squealed in delight, Tahu narrowed his gaze. It was as if he was almost…disappointed with how small the fire was, even though it soon grew half as tall as he was.
This Fire Toa seems full of hot air and bluster, he thought to himself. He has an arrogance about him, carrying himself like a Toa who assumes power and authority without proving himself worthy of either. Will he be prepared for the heat of the battles to come? Or will he burn out quickly, like a dying ember?
He next looked over to Onua, who was busy engaging the golden-haired Huntress known as Yang in some sort of contest of strength. The Toa of Earth knelt and rested his elbow against a chest-high stone slab, pushing one massive claw against the smaller woman's mechanical arm as she pushed back with equal force. Kopaka's observations of the black-armored figure revealed that he spoke less than the others, content to let others do the talking while he simply listened. Did that subdued exterior conceal a busy mind, or an empty one? He still wasn't sure.
The black-haired Huntress - Blake - stood close to both her Toa and her teammate, the strange appendages on her head flickering as she watched the contest. When Onua proved himself stronger, she bumped her fist against his own in celebration; when Yang slumped back with a defeated groan, she was quick to swoop in and press her maskless lips against her neck. The act seemed to make the blonde brawler change colors in an instant - despair turned to euphoria, and she soon pulled away from the Toa of Earth to engage in more of that…strange mouth-touching behavior. Kopaka didn't understand what they were doing, nor did he wish to. Organics would be organics, after all, and he was less interested in the mechanics of courtship and far more interested in what it meant about the Huntress pair.
From what I can tell these two seem…dependent on each other, mused the Toa of Ice. Their hardships have brought them closer together, no matter how often circumstance drives them apart. He furrowed his brow. Admirable, I suppose…but should one fall and never rise again, what would happen to the other?
Shifting his focus back to the Toa of Air, he watched as Lewa somersaulted and twisted in mid-air, landing on one hand while a gust of air blew out of his other palm. Ruby cheered and clapped, Onua nodded in approval, while Emerald merely sighed and rolled her eyes. With another handspring Lewa leapt and landed on his feet, giving a deep bow to the gathered audience.
So much energy, but it blows out of him in all directions; as unpredictable as the wind he claims to control. Kopaka scoffed silently. He's unfocused and easily distracted…hardly someone I'd trust with my life in a tough situation.
He next looked to Emerald, who was struggling to scoop a pile of berries into her arms. At Ruby's questioning glance she shook her head, seemingly insisting she could carry the load herself. When she was proven wrong - twice in fact - she finally relented, allowing the smaller Huntress to load some of the berries into the red cloak and help move them over to the growing bonfire.
She carries the weight of her sins and past deeds, both real and imagined, reasoned the Toa of Ice. Misfortune has shaped and forged her like a diamond in the rough, bringing forth her true inner self when exposed to the abrasiveness of an uncaring world. I wonder, though…is she truly ready to let go of her past to embrace the future? Have the others truly forgiven her for all the wrongs she's committed? Can they?
Kopaka finally looked over to the river, where Weiss was spearing half-mechanical fish alongside Gali. Now this was a puzzle he couldn't solve on his own, aggravating as it was to admit. Unlike his brothers, he simply couldn't get a read on the Toa of Water; she seemed to flow between roles as easily as the waves she commanded. What he could glean about her was that she was very wise, perhaps wiser than the other five Toa put together, yet she was modest about her strengths and forthcoming about her weaknesses. If there was anyone he trusted to lead the Toa, it would have been her…and yet, she seemed to have no interest in taking charge, only in keeping the peace between Toa and Huntress.
An odd group of Toa, to be certain, he finished as he crossed his arms, and an even stranger group of Huntresses. If Mata Nui really chose individuals like these to save the island and vanquish Makuta…well, let it never be said that Great Spirits don't have a wicked sense of humor. Or at the very least, a hilarious lack of one.
"Well now…doesn't this seem cheerful? We must be in the right place, Pebble!"
His attention was drawn to a bronze armored figure emerging from the trees, one who resembled him and the other Toa - albeit with a wider lower frame and strong, powerful legs. The other Toa soon turned to look at him as well, followed by the Huntresses. Tahu narrowed his eyes in suspicion, Weiss raised an eyebrow, and Blake and Yang moved ever-so-slightly towards each other.
"And so the sixth among our number finally arrives," intoned Onua with a smile. "You must be my elemental kin, the one who controls the land above as I do below."
"Certainly took your slow-time arriving!" Lewa cackled. "What's the matter? Lose your way-path in the forest, rock-breaker?"
"Brother, please." Gali chided the Toa of Air, then gleamed behind her mask. "Regardless of how quickly your arrival was, it is welcome all the same."
The newcomer bowed deeply and respectfully. "Thank you, sister. My brothers, please forgive my lateness. As you no doubt have guessed by now I am indeed Pohatu, the mighty Toa of Stone. As for my talkative friend here, she is - huh?"
Pohatu suddenly looked around in confusion, orange optics darting back and forth behind his angular mask.
"Is something wrong?" asked Ruby, approaching the Toa of Stone with a worried, earnest smile.
"Ah, nothing to worry about little one," he answered reassuringly. "It's just…strange, is all. I had another one of you…smaller creatures on my back just a moment ago, one who was very insistent on reuniting with you. Where could she have gone?"
Emerald's eyes shot up in alarm. "Another one like us? Wait, you can't mean - !"
It was at that moment that a glint of light at the edge of the clearing caught Kopaka's vision. A sunbeam that bent at an odd angle, a leaf that seemed too close to the one next to it. There was something hiding in the trees.
Something dangerous.
Before he could even think about drawing his sword, the ground under his feet trembled and came alive.
The time for her vengeance was almost at hand.
She waited in the shadows of the treeline, safely under the cover of both the natural foliage and an Illusion that kept her out of sight. The hidden sword within Hush's handle was already unscrewed and ready to be drawn at a moment's notice, its sharpened tip able to slip between the gaps in Aura, armor, and bone with a singular fatal thrust. In the moments since her arrival she'd already studied the terrain, mapped out every possible exit and angle of approach, and positioned herself right behind the blissfully unaware red-cloaked child that had taken the one thing she loved from this world.
This was it. After so many months of planning and scheming, she was ready.
That stupid little rose was finally ripe for pruning, and with one fatal stroke…Roman Torchwick would be avenged at long last.
She drew the blade from Hush's handle and ran towards her mark, dropping the Illusion and focusing Aura into her weapon as she prepared to strike -
RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE.
And suddenly the ground shook underfoot as a ten-foot-high wall of stone rose to block her path, followed by three identical barriers that formed a box around and behind her. Her eyes widened when she realized she'd been trapped, then narrowed as she crouched low to make her escape and finish her mission. Aura flowed and pooled into her boots as she prepared to leap over the newest obstacle, but a sharp and quick blow to her head broke her concentration. Soundless snarls escaped her lips as the rocky walls themselves seemed to come alive in flurries of punches, arms and fists extending from the granite surface and surging forward to pummel the cornered assassin.
The thin blade of her sword shattered in half under the force of a glancing blow, leaving her with only the parasol section of Hush to defend herself with. She managed as best she could by using the canopy as a shield to deflect the stony arms, shattering them with Aura-infused kicks in retaliation. But for every attacking appendage that was smashed back into rubble, three more took its place - and considering how they struck from literally every direction, there was no way she could guard against all of them. She twisted and contorted her body in painful ways to avoid the flying fists, a feat which became even harder as the walls slowly began to close in on her. Her space was running out, her Aura was whittling away with each fist smashing into her, and even getting hit once left her vulnerable to seven successive strikes before she could regain her footing.
She wanted out.
She needed out.
Neo pulsed her Semblance and slammed her tattered parasol against the ground, concentrating her power into creating an Illusion of solid glass under her feet. It burned more of her precious Aura to harden her tricks of light into tangible objects, but the extra cost was a sacrifice she was willing to make if it meant a quick getaway. By her command the platform raised and extended into a crystalline spire, giving her a lift out of the prison of rocky fists.
Freedom and vengeance were just one jump away -
CRASH!
- only to be cruelly ripped from her grasp at the last minute.
A dozen arms of stone attacked all at once, striking the base of her tower and smashing it into trillions of glass shards. With nothing keeping her aloft she fell into the waiting grasp of the flying fists below, all of which were reaching towards her like the arms of an angry mob hungry for blood. She barely had a chance to gasp in shock before they latched onto her limbs and yanked her back into the box - and as soon as she hit the ground, the side walls slammed together suddenly and forcefully like a high-pressure trash compactor.
CRUNCH!
A silent scream of pain escaped her lips.
Her Aura shattered under several tons of rocks and rubble crushing her all at once, fizzling out and floating away in a shower of sprinkles. Her head spun as stars exploded across her vision, and her entire body felt crushed and limp as the sides of her box drew back into place. The earthen barriers weren't done with her, however; the hands grabbed her roughly and lifted her back up before the walls themselves traveled down their length, weaving together and hardening into a tight coil of stone that pinned her arms to her sides and locked her legs together.
The bound, defenseless Neo tipped over and fell painfully against the ground, the target of her vengeance staring down at her with a bewildered expression that morphed into quiet rage.
"…you." Silver eyes narrowed. "Of course it was you, Neo. Who else would it be?"
She grit her teeth and strained against her stony bonds. Dammit. Dammit. Dammit dammit dammit! The stupid kid was right in her grasp! Her vengeance was literally inches away! All she needed to do was free herself, get Hush out from between her ribs, and plunge the shattered blade of her sword right through that stupid little face! She was not going to die here! She was not going to be denied her revenge by some big stupid - !
WHAM.
A heavy bronze boot suddenly slammed down inches away from her head, and her entire body reflexively seized up in fear. Mismatched eyes trailed up along the leg to find the person it belonged to, and she was rewarded with the sight of a very angry Pohatu staring down at her. His usual jovial nature or charm was gone, and in its place was a scowl that his mask failed to hide - one that was as firm and unyielding as the very element he commanded. The rocks against her skin crunched and crackled slightly, putting pressure against bruises and minor fractures that sent a wave of pain across her nerves. Neo knew that if he wanted to, the Toa of Stone could easily crush her like an empty bottle; all he needed was a reason, and she had zero intention of giving him one.
"Seems you haven't been entirely honest with me, Pebble," he growled with orange eyes glaring daggers down at her. "Suppose you thought you could pull a fast one on old Pohatu, did you? 'Oh, he's just a big talkative oaf with a bunch of rocks in his head, he'll listen to any sob story and do whatever you want with no questions asked.' Is that what you were thinking?"
Neo gulped, then shrugged slightly with her shoulders.
"I thought as much." Pohatu leaned down until his mask was inches away from her exposed, trembling face. "Listen and listen well, Neo. I may not be the sharpest rock in the quarry…but do not take me for a fool. Pull one wrong move, make any attempt at escape, and every stone and boulder for kios around will emerge from the land to bury you in rubble. Do we have an understanding, little one?"
The humiliated assassin took a shallow breath, one cut short by fear and the pressure against her chest, and nodded tightly. Pohatu returned the gesture and rose back to his feet, giving her a chance to look over at the assembled Huntresses. The blonde one - Yang - was already raising her fists, while the Faunus Blake drew the blades off her back. The Schnee had one hand on her sword, Emerald's fingers hovered millimeters away from the trigger of her revolver, and even the other figures raised their weapons and pointed them defensively at her. Despite their attacking stances, no one made a move.
The green-armored giant was the first to break the sudden silence with a sharp laugh. "I think you just might be my new favorite brother, rock-breaker!" He turned to Emerald. "Now, who might this little party-crasher be? Is she another friend of yours, sprout-leaf?"
Emerald scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Friend? Please. Even when I was still following Cinder around like a little lost puppy, Neopolitan and I were never friends. That little psychopath was always watching from the shadows, spying on us for her sleaze ball of a boss. I kept waiting for her to stab us in the back when we weren't looking…but I guess she's shifted her murderous focus to Ruby over there."
"She's been a thorn in our side ever since Beacon," said Yang with a grimace. "I've still got scars from our little scuffle underneath Mountain Glenn, when she kicked my ass on a train and tried to kill me. Been itching for a chance to return the favor."
"Not to mention she's the whole reason we're even here in the first place," spat Weiss. "The fight was going just fine until she showed up and tried to gut Ruby when no one was watching. Yang fell into the void trying to protect her sister, we were suddenly down a Huntress…and then it all spiraled out of control from there. Us being on Mata Nui, and Cinder's victory in Atlas? It's all her fault."
Well now that just sounded like projection.
The red-armored figure nodded in understanding. "I see. If she was a threat to you in your world, then she is also a threat to this one." He raised his flaming sword. "One that we cannot afford to let exist any longer."
"Tahu!" The blue-clad giant gasped. "You know not of which you speak! This is a person, just like the Huntresses! Slaying the Rahi beasts as needed is one thing, but this - we are to be the heroes of this island, not its executioners!"
"We're also supposed to protect the lives of those under our care," intoned the figure in silver-white armor. "Threats such as this one must be dealt with, one way or another." He drew his own broadsword off his back. "And I propose that we show this 'Neopolitan' that justice on Mata Nui can be very…cold."
The trapped assassin rolled her eyes.
The squat black figure with claws for hands stepped forward. "Stay your swords, brothers. I do not believe that the judgement of this woman should fall to us. Remember, she came to Mata Nui from the same world as Blake and the other Huntresses. They know more about her than we do, as well as how dangerous she is - we should allow them to decide her fate." He looked over to the Faunus girl. "Is that sufficient?"
"Yeah, don't worry about it. We'll handle this." Blake shifted her gaze from the trapped Neo to the red-cloaked murderer. "Looks like Pohatu broke her Aura before binding her up like this, so she's not going anywhere…and she wouldn't get very far with all those injuries anyways. We might never get a chance like this again, Ruby - should we deal with her now, while she's vulnerable?"
Neo squeezed her eyes shut. She knew what "deal with" meant, and she didn't want to look in her killer's eyes as they -
"No. No one else dies today."
…what?
She dared to open her eyelids just a crack to see everyone looking at Ruby with shock and bewilderment. The silver-eyed girl ignored their aghast stares as she walked right up to the bound assassin, getting down on one knee as she loomed over the woman who'd just tried to murder her in cold blood. She looked up and searched Ruby's gaze for some kind of hostile intent or anger, but she found nothing of the sort.
Only pity.
"…I don't know what Cinder told you to rile you up like this," she said calmly after a quiet moment, "but I promise it's nothing but lies. You were manipulated, Neo. You were manipulated by a woman who tried to kill you just because you bothered her. Just like Emerald. Just like Yang. Just like all of us. And I don't care what you think of me - I did not kill Roman Torchwick. He died to the Grimm, not me. But even if he hadn't even if I was the one who landed the final blow, I wouldn't be responsible for his death - his fate was already sealed the moment he cast his lot with that monster. Cinder Fall threw him away like a pawn as soon as he stopped being useful to her, just like she did you. He took a gamble…and he lost."
Neo's eyes widened in shock, then narrowed in anger as she squirmed under stone. No. No! Lies! More damn lies! Ruby had to be lying! Just like Cinder -
…
…gods dammit.
She was an idiot. Of course Cinder had lied to save her own skin back in the Spiders' Den. That's all that stupid bitch knew how to do! She wanted to believe that the kid in front of her was doing the same thing, but she'd observed this dumb little rose for long enough to know that she was a terrible fibber. Besides…it lined up with something else that gnawed at her. Something that had weighed on her for ages now, ever since she sailed away from an Atlesian airship in the dead of night, watching as the ship that had the one man who'd ever cared for her exploded into a fireball.
No. This had weighed on her for even longer than that.
Look, I know you're worried about this deal. Yeah, I'll admit, it's a bit of a crooked hand, even by my standards. But if we play our cards right, we'll be living like kings and queens. Vale, Mistral, hell, even all of Remnant - it'll be a nice pretty little snow globe we can hold in the palm of our hands. Wouldn't that be nice?
Her lower lip began to tremble. Why was that voice coming back to her mind now, of all times?
Ruby's eyes softened. "He meant a lot to you, didn't he? I'm not sorry he's gone…but I am sorry you lost him. Trust me, I know what you're going through. I…I've lost people, too, people who are important to me. We've all lost someone like that - someone who was a mother, a mentor, a friend, or even all three. But instead of focusing on that anger, and letting that grief blind us…we chose something else. We chose life. And maybe now it's time for you to do the same."
Neo thrashed under her bonds with renewed vigor, fighting the stones as hard as she fought to keep the tears at bay. She didn't want pity, dammit! She wanted blood! Ruby's! Cinder's! Salem's! Anyone's! It just wasn't fair that everyone else got to grow and live while Roman Torchwick was laying dead in an unmarked grave!
And yet…another memory of her surrogate father rose to the front of her mind, implying that Roman knew his life would end exactly like that.
Listen, kiddo…there might come a time when I'm not around anymore. You gotta promise me you'll be strong enough to survive out there on your own, okay? The real world isn't like a fairy tale - the real world is cold, harsh, and doesn't care about spirit. So if the world punches you in the face, you gotta punch it right back. It's an eye for an eye world out there, kiddo - it's hell, but it's the only one there is, so might as well make the most of it. Okay?
The silver-eyed Huntress carefully lowered a hand, lightly setting it against Neo's hair. She reacted violently with a snap of her jaws, trying and failing to bite off a thumb for posterity's sake. Rather than leap back in anger and shock, Ruby just pulled her hand back slowly with an equally solemn shake of her head, sighing softly.
"…I wonder what he'd think, seeing you like this."
Neo snarled silently. How dare she lecture her like this? She had no right to do so! She was just a stupid kid who didn't know how the world worked!
Then again…what did that make her? Hadn't she been one, once upon a time?
"Growl at me all you want," intoned Ruby with firm yet quiet conviction. "But that doesn't change what happened, and it doesn't make the truth any less real. You might be able to use your illusions to cover yourself up…but you can't hide from yourself. And without your Aura…you can't even do that anymore, can you?"
The red-cloaked Huntress pulled out her Scroll and opened it to its largest possible size, toggling the front-facing camera before holding it in front of Neo's face. She instantly squeezed her eyes shut and turned her head, afraid to see herself as she was. As she'd become. But eventually curiosity got the better of her, making her peer through one puffy eye to see her reflection…
And she immediately regretted it.
Gone were the smooth gentle curves of a small yet well-toned assassin with hidden muscles and creamy ivory skin. In its place was a haggard and withered skeletal frame, with flesh marked by scars on the outside and bones yearning to burst out from the inside. Clothes were torn and ripped to shreds, blood gushed even from the shallowest of cuts, and a swelling mass of black and blue overtook nearly half her face. Her hair, once a vibrant mix of chocolate brown and strawberry pink, was now a faded mess of colors as her natural black roots reclaimed the rest of her locks. Soft puffy cheeks were now gaunt and angular, lime-green eyeliner was smeared messily in tear-like streaks, and her mismatched eyes were both red with blood and stress. She realized that she'd been so obsessed with vengeance she'd foregone any sort of food and all but the bare minimum amount of water - and the lack of nutrition and self-care was taking its toll on her.
"Say that you managed to kill me after all," spat the silver-eyed Huntress even as she stared at herself in horror. "What would happen next? You think my team would let you walk away from that? Even if you killed them, congratulations - every Toa, Matoran, and Turaga would hunt you to the ends of Mata Nui to stop what they see as a dangerous murderer. And even if you found a way off this island and back to Remnant all on your own, then what? Would you just dedicate your entire life to ending Cinder's? You'd just draw Salem's wrath at that point - assuming she doesn't turn you into her new Maiden-empowered puppet, if by some miracle you did end up killing her. The best possible scenario for this whole endless cycle of revenge is that someone takes their revenge on you first, which is still a kinder fate than becoming a lap dog for a gods-damned monster. Is that what you want? Have you thought about any of that?!"
Neo squeezed her mismatched eyes shut. She didn't care! She didn't care about any of that! She just wanted…
She just wanted…
Her thrashing stopped as she realized she didn't know what she wanted anymore. The one thing she truly wanted, more than anything…she knew it was impossible. She wanted Roman back. She wanted her old life back. She wanted to keep lying, stealing, cheating, and surviving, just like he always did.
But all of that was gone now. Gone forever.
As if she sensed the emotional barriers were torn to shreds, Ruby leaned further in until she was close. If she wasn't utterly defeated, she could have - and would have - locked her jaws around the stupid kid's throat, and they both knew that. But her head didn't even rise a fraction inch as her most hated enemy whispered in her ears, deafening her with one final plea.
"Please, just…stop this insanity, Neopolitan. You know it's not going to bring him back, no matter how many more lives you take. So stop targeting who you think is responsible. Stop coming after me and my friends. And above all else, stop killing yourself for the sake of a dead man. Start living for him instead."
And there it was. The final blow in a decisive battle of words. Her words were as sharp and twisted as a dagger in the ribs, except a thousand times more painful. The dam of tears Neo had spent months upon months building up ruptured and cracked, before it all came crumbling down as she soundlessly, silently wept.
Ruby lingered mere inches away for a few more moments, clearly taking no joy in the emotional breakdown she'd just inflicted. After confirming that the tears that flowed down the assassin's face were genuine, she stood up and looked at Pohatu with a mournful gaze.
"You can let her go now," she said, wiping away a few tears of her own.
The Toa of Stone raised an eyebrow behind his mask. "You're certain, little one? What if she attacks again?"
"That's up to her at this point," answered the silver-eyed Huntress as she sighed and glanced down at Neo. "Isn't it?"
Pohatu hummed, then waved his hand over the bonds. Stone and rock crumbled away into dust at the gesture, but she barely even noticed that. The world around her was filtered through blinding tears and dust, and no matter how many times she blinked to clear her vision, more of both clung to her eyes.
She rose to her feet, clutching her sore arm with one hand and gripping a mangled Hush with the other. Her knees trembled, her breath hitched, and her throat felt raw and ragged like she'd attempted to scream for hours. Though she was blinded by grief and grit, she could feel the stares of six Toa and five Huntresses bearing down on her, watching her cautiously for whatever she was going to do next.
With a silent shudder and a violent sob, Neopolitan ran away.
To Ruby's immense relief, the hours after the assassin's retreat were much less stressful.
After a delicious (if alarmingly metallic) lunch of roasted fish and berries on wooden skewers, the Huntresses lazed around in the grassy knoll surrounding Kini-Nui and talked amongst themselves. The Toa similarly stood in a circular formation not too far away, sharing all the info they'd gleaned from their individual journeys. Stories about their own experiences were likewise swapped between the girls, and while Ruby had the most to share about Penny, Takua, and how their mutual friend was alive and well, she still listened intently as her friends recapped their adventures.
Eventually, after everyone's tale had been told, Yang found her voice first.
"So it sounds like we've all had a run-in with those Rahi things so far." She chuckled humorlessly with a shake of her head. "Man…never thought I'd see the day where I'd miss the Grimm. I'd take those freaks of nature over the monsters here in a heartbeat, if I had a choice."
"I know what you mean," agreed Blake, leaning into the blonde brawler. "Even the small ones have more armor than a Boarbatusk. And there's just no end to them…they just keep coming, no matter how many of them you strike down. Makuta must have been thorough in his efforts to turn them under his control - feels like anything with claws, teeth, or stingers answers to him and him alone."
"Not to mention that my Semblance doesn't even work on the big ones," added Emerald with a sigh. "Even the Grimm used to fall for my hallucinations, to the point where I could pretty much fight them without ever being seen. The fact that I can't do that here means one of two things: either these ugly bastards don't have enough of a mind for me to trick…or Makuta's mental link with them can easily overpower mine."
"If it was one of the Rahi under his control, I'd say it's definitely the latter," mused Ruby. "But it's not all bad news! Gali and I managed to figure out a pretty important weakness. You know how almost everything on this island wears a mask?"
The girls all nodded.
"Well, the ones worn by Makuta's Rahi are infected with some of his power, and serve as signal relays for his commands. Knock it off their face - or wherever the mask is - and they go right back to being nice and harmless!"
"Well, that's good to know," said Weiss with a nod. "Trust me, some of these things are tough as nails. It took a lot of effort and more Dust than I'd like to kill that bull - if we can neutralize bigger ones like them more efficiently, that'd be great for us."
"Oh, that reminds me." Ruby's silver eyes looked at her partner. "You said you got the killing blow on your Rahi, right? Does that mean you can summon it now? You know, using that super-cool Semblance of yours?"
The heiress paused, then hummed. "I…don't actually know. I haven't had a chance to try it yet. Most of my Aura these past few days has been spent keeping myself warm…especially after that stupid bull tore up my coat. That doesn't leave a whole lot left in the tank for experimenting, as it turns out."
"Well, then here."
Everyone turned in surprise to see Emerald untying her checkered jacket from her waist, pulling out ammo for Thief's Gambit and handing the coat over to the former scion.
"What?" asked the former thief in response to all of Team RWBY balking at her. "I can be generous when I want to be."
Yang chuckled. "Who are you, and what have you done with Emerald Sustrai?"
"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up blondie." Emerald rolled her eyes and pouted. "Look, it's less about me being nice and more about us being practical. The only ones of us who still have their coats at this point is me and Blake. Your girlfriend doesn't have any pockets in her pants - she keeps all her ammo and stuff in her own coat, so she can't hand hers off to the princess. And considering that I'll probably be spending most of my time with Jungle Boy over there in the tropics, I won't be needing my jacket - so I might as well give it to someone going someplace cold. Y'know?"
Weiss gave a soft laugh of her own. "You don't have to justify your spontaneous act of kindness, Emerald. Thank you. I appreciate the…wait."
Blake raised an eyebrow. "Is something wrong, Weiss? What - oh. Oh my goodness." She covered her smirk.
The white-haired Huntress pulled out a very hefty-looking brown leather pouch, glaring at her green-clad ally. "Emerald. Would you like to explain what my wallet was doing in your coat?"
She shrugged and leaned back in the grass with a satisfied smirk, resting her head in her bare arms. "What can I say, princess? Old habits die hard. Surprised it took you this long to notice!"
Ruby snickered. Yang snorted. Soon all five girls broke down into a fit of giggles - even Weiss and Emerald. Eventually, after the laughter faded, the not-so-former-thief broke the silence.
"Speaking of old habits…we sure it was a good idea letting Little Miss Psychopath go free?"
Ruby hugged her knees to her chest with an apprehensive sigh. "I don't know," she admitted quietly. "I don't know if I made the right call in letting her go, but…it didn't feel right ending her life, either. So many people have already died because of Salem, and even more have suffered so much worse. In a lot of ways, Neo's just another one of her victims - a dangerous one, sure, but a victim all the same. Now that she's realized that, and now that she knows the truth, she'll make the right choice and not cause any more trouble. Hopefully."
"Plus, that Pohatu guy seems like he'd be a good influence," added Yang. "At the very least, he should be able to keep an eye on her for us…and knock her around again if she does try anything."
The mint-haired teenager wore an unconvinced expression as she turned around in her seat, laying down until she faced the group while propped up on her elbows. "Even if she doesn't try to kill us again, do you really think she'll change that quickly? That she'll just turn over a new leaf and join Team Good Guys, all because you were nice to her and didn't dump her in a shallow grave?"
"It worked for you, didn't it?" Blake said with a raised eyebrow.
Emerald chuckled. "Maybe, but I was just there for Cinder. I didn't know about Salem's whole 'gather the relics to destroy Remnant' plan, and as soon as I learned about that, it just made me want out even more than I already did. It's not like I ever supported the queen bitch of evil herself - not even back in Vale."
"I don't think Neo ever did, either," Ruby said. "Roman…I don't know exactly what they had, but he seemed to mean as much to her as Cinder did to you. You worked with them both before - did you ever get that impression?"
The former thief shrugged. "Dunno. I never paid much attention to the two. Can't say for sure whether it was a father-daughter thing, or a boyfriend-girlfriend thing. Never cared enough to find out…and I guess we never will."
Weiss nodded. "Then it sounds like, at least in motivation, she's less of a Tyrian or a Watts, who were just straight-up evil…"
"…and more of a Hazel, who was blinded by grief." Yang finished. "And even he made the right choice in the end, remember? He saved us from Salem when she had us cornered in that whale of hers, after Oscar opened his eyes to what was really going on."
Emerald sighed, and Ruby could tell she was biting back tears and a stabbing remark. "Yeah…yeah. I know. I just…wish I shared your optimism, Red. I didn't exactly grow up seeing the best of people, y'know?"
"I know," said Ruby, reaching over to put a hand on her bare forearm. "I want to trust that I made the right choice, too. But from now on, it's up to her what happens. Not us. She deserves that much, at least."
"And if she does come after us again?" Yang's eyes flashed from lilac to red for a brief moment. "I'll pound her into the dirt myself."
"You'd have to get in line," snarled Blake. "If she spits on this second chance Ruby gave her, I call first dibs on my pound of flesh."
"Ooh, I love it when you're feisty," said Yang with a laugh, trailing a mechanical finger along her partner's bare stomach.
"Haven't you learned by now?" The feline Faunus smirked and did her best not to shudder under the touch. "I'm always feisty."
Weiss buried her face into her hands with a groan. Emerald dry-heaved dramatically. Ruby rolled her eyes and sighed, laughing softly. Blake just grinned at everyone's reactions and shifted in her seat to lay her head on Yang's lap, purring gently as her girlfriend - gods, it felt good to be able to use that word - scratched her behind the ears. Another moment of peaceful silence settled over the girls, and once more it was broken reluctantly by Emerald.
"So…not that I want to bring down the overall mood, but how exactly are we getting home?"
The smiles on the faces of Team RWBY all fell at once. Blake stopped purring.
"I…have no idea," Ruby said with a slow shake of her head, which prompted her partner to lay a hand on her shoulder. "I haven't thought that far ahead yet - I've been so focused on just getting through each day that I never even considered…you know. Getting back."
"Vakama was under the impression that helping the Toa find their masks would help us find a way back," recalled Yang as she stroked her girlfriend's scalp. "He didn't have much in the way of solid proof, but he sure seemed to think that helping the Toa would help us too."
Weiss nodded. "Nuju believed something similar. When I asked him how he knew, he just said that 'with the will and the power of Mata Nui, all things are possible.' I'm not sure if he was speaking out of blind faith, or if that came up in one of his Visions…but if Mata Nui really was the one who brought us here after we fell, then logically he has to be able to send us back."
"He'd probably do that in a heartbeat if we asked him," pointed out Blake. "From all the stories the Matoran tell about him, he's a benevolent creator and protector who was schemed out of his power and put in a deep slumber against his will. Problem is, we can't just ask him - Makuta saw to that. So if we want his full help, there's really only one thing we can do."
"Help the Toa find their masks, take down a big shadowy villain, and wake up the big guy himself." Emerald sighed. "I had a feeling it'd come to that. I just wish we had a plan B in case we do end up saving the island and nothing happens."
"Me too," Ruby said with a hopeful gaze. "I have no idea if helping the Toa and reviving Mata Nui will get us home…but we have to try all the same. Because even if it doesn't, it's still the right thing to do - and that's part of the job of being a Huntress."
"Exactly," said Yang with a nod. "And hey, worst case scenario? This island's got some pretty cool tech - we can use it to build a spaceship that'll take us back to Remnant." She gave a mischievous smile as she hummed thoughtfully. "Think anyone would notice if a few Matoran or Rahi went missing? We could strip them down for parts if we have to. I wonder how well Kanohi masks would hold up in orbital re-entry?"
Blake snorted and pushed herself up. "Oh gods, Yang. That's awful."
"Made you laugh, didn't it?" The blonde brawler grinned and snuck in another kiss when her girlfriend's guard was down. "Couldn't have been that bad, if it managed that."
Weiss rolled her eyes and hugged her new coat while lilac and amber orbs stared dreamily into one another. "You two…I swear, you could make a crowded room feel like a third wheel. It's going to be insufferable being on a team now, isn't it? What with you two making doe-eyes at each other constantly…"
"Hey, if you wanna smooch one of those lovely ladies over there to make things less awkward, be my guest," said Yang with a mischievous grin. "I can personally guarantee that one of them really wants it. Like, really really wants it."
Ruby covered her face with her hood in an attempt to hide her blush. "Yaaaaaaang! Stopppp!"
"Aw come on sis, there's no need to be shy! I read your diary, I know allllll your secrets!"
"It's not a diary it's a field journal you dingle-dork!"
"Really? Cause I've never seen a field journal with 'I heart Weiss' scribbled in the margins over and ove - oooof!"
Yang broke out into laughter as a rushing ball of roses suddenly tackled her and started roughhousing, the tiny little team leader trying and failing to get her giggling older sister into a headlock. After a few seconds of fruitless play-fighting Ruby finally gave up, settling for scooting back to her seat with an indignant pout. Blake chuckled softly, Weiss picked at the grass with a faint blush, and Emerald sat back up with a groan.
"Come on, we'd better go and make sure the Toa are getting along," said the former thief. "Wouldn't want them making plans without us."
"Good point," said Ruby as she rose to her feet. "They've been talking for a while now - I wonder what kind of cool plan they've come up with?"
Unfortunately for the young rose, as she and her friends approached the group of six mighty warriors, it quickly became apparent they were at an impasse themselves. An air of annoyance covered the Toa, and none seemed more irritated than the red-armored figure at the head of the group. Ruby and the rest of her friends took up their positions alongside their respective Toa - she stood next to Gali, Weiss went to Kopaka, Blake and Yang moved to stand between Onua and Tahu, and Emerald leaned against the branch Lewa had perched himself on.
"Let me get this straight," snarled Tahu, crimson eyes burning with annoyance. " None of you have found any of your hidden masks yet?"
"I am afraid not, brother," said Gali with a slow shake of her head and a voice as soothing as an ocean wave. "As I said, I had to put my search on hold to save my village from a Rahi attack. The rest of my time was spent exploring the ocean and all its mysteries, as well as helping Ruby acclimate to an unfamiliar environment."
The silver-eyed Huntress nervously scratched the back of her neck. "Yeah, I uh…kiiiiinda almost drowned when I first got here."
Weiss's eyes went wide across the circle. "You what?"
"And again during the Tarakava attack on Ga-Koro."
"You what?!"
"And while we were rescuing the Ga-Matoran."
"Yang seriously did you ever even try teaching your little sister how to swim?!"
Onua cleared his throat, cutting off the impending argument with a noise like crunching gravel. "My main priority after being briefed by Whenua was in seeking the temple to arrange this meeting," he rumbled. "Blake set aside her quest in order to help me accomplish mine; I sought to return the favor."
"Aw, Blake, I knew you cared about us!" Yang cooed, putting an arm around her newly-promoted partner.
"Oh, like there was ever any doubt?" quipped the Faunus teasingly.
"I too put the needs of my sprout-leaf above my own," continued Lewa, though he seemed like he was about to fly away in a stray gust of wind. "She needed aid in navigating the jungle, so I let my tree-people teach her the ways of leaf-running. While she learned from the best I did some exploring of my home-realm, to get an idea of where the masks might be before I seek-find them."
"My time was spent in a similar manner," added Pohatu in a jovial tone, speaking like a rock-solid friend. "I may already have the Mask of Speed, but that in no way means I should act in haste. Many of my days before this one were spent investigating the island and its local mysteries, to better narrow down my search. It was during one such scouting venture that I came across Neopolitan running headfirst into a sandstorm…you can guess what came after that, I'll wager."
Tahu sighed and looked over to the final Toa of the group, the white-clad warrior that stood closest to him yet seemed the farthest away. "And what about you, brother? What is your excuse?"
Kopaka narrowed his eyes - one of which was hidden behind an array of lenses - and shot a frosty glare at the Toa of Fire. Then there was a flash of light accompanied by the sound of reality warping, and a mask that mirrored Tahu's appeared to replace his own.
Whoa, teleporting masks, thought Ruby. Cool!
"Not all of us were wasting time, brother." His tone was pointed. Confrontational. Worrying.
The Toa of Fire glared defiantly, then scoffed. "Yes…congratulations. We have both managed to find one mask apiece. That still leaves over two dozen total masks scattered across Mata Nui, and the important thing is to find them - fast."
"You'll find no argument there from me," said Pohatu with a nod. "I've traveled the length of the island at least four times since my arrival, and it feels like it gets larger with each lap. The Kanohi we need could be anywhere - we shall need an organized plan of attack for finding them in an efficient manner."
"Which is why our best option would be to split into smaller groups and spread out across the island." Tahu puffed his red-armored chest. "That way, we can cover the most ground without leaving ourselves vulnerable."
Ruby watched the other Toa for their reactions to Tahu's plan of attack. Kopaka seemed uninterested, Lewa looked bored, Gali and Pohatu were exchanging curious glances, and Onua was humming in thought. It was a far cry from the unanimous support she'd come to expect from her friends, and it was then that she realized something that made her stomach drop.
The Toa, for all their individual power and skill, had no experience with being a team.
Oh gods…she mentally wailed. Is this gonna be like our first semester at Beacon all over again? Please tell me Tahu's not gonna just bark orders and assume that silence means everyone agrees with -
"So it is decided, then."
Tahuuuu no why I thought you were cool why are you like this.
With no one challenging his command, Tahu continued on as he pointed his sword towards the others. "Gali and Lewa, take your Huntresses to comb the beaches and jungles together. Onua and Kopaka, check the caves and cliffs of Onu-Wahi with your allies. And Pohatu, you can come with - "
"Now hold on a moment, fire-spitter," Lewa interrupted. "I certainly never agreed to this plan-idea. If speed is what we're after, why bother with all the pair-making? Why not let each of us journey-search on our own, as we have been doing in our own home-realms? We already have our sprout-leaves to aid us in the search, must we also slow one another down?"
Onua hummed thoughtfully. "Our fiery brother has a good plan," he mused. "Working in pairs of Toa makes the most sense, as it strikes a good balance between speed and caution. Blake has informed me that the world of Remnant has a similar structure for their Hunter organization, where partnerships are often made between two individuals to form lifelong bonds and to strengthen them both. There is merit to such an arrangement; it would be wise to follow it."
Ruby wasn't exactly keen on splitting up so soon after they had all reunited, but at least pairing off into groups of four was better than the alternative. Still…she would have preferred if everyone stayed together, if only for selfish reasons. She looked up at Gali, and it was almost a relief to see the Toa of Water shaking her head.
"Brothers, please," she said calmly yet firmly. "The Great Spirit called the six of us here for a reason. If Makuta is as dangerous as the legends say, then nothing less than Unity among us all will overcome him. We must stay together not only for ourselves, but for our allies from another world. They have endured many hardships that have forced them apart - would you allow your pride to be yet another, Tahu?"
"We cannot afford to be emotional, sister," Tahu said with a shake of his head. "The Huntresses are strong and capable on their own, especially when paired with a Toa. As you said, they have been separated before, and they can do so again."
None of the girls liked that assessment. Yang's hair flared up. Weiss's hands balled into fists. Blake's ears flattened.
"I think the Huntresses would prefer to make that decision themselves, thankyouverymuch," said Emerald with a scoff and a roll of her eyes.
"By all means, their so-called leader is more than free to speak on their behalf." Tahu's burning gaze turned to Ruby. "Well, little one? What do you say?"
The silver-eyed Huntress suddenly felt very small and timid under the Toa of Fire's withering glare, but she cleared her throat and did her best to stand tall anyways.
"I…I agree with Gali. We should stay together. All of us. We're stronger that way, and safer. And if we map our path right, it might actually be more efficient than pairing off or traveling alone."
She could feel her Toa of Water smiling in pride behind her mask. Weiss looked at her with an expression she didn't quite understand. Onua and Pohatu looked at each other and nodded slowly, followed by Yang and Blake. Tahu, on the other hand, was fuming at his leadership being challenged. He wasn't the only one who was cold to the idea of traveling in one large group - none were more annoyed than Kopaka, the Toa of Ice.
Lewa was similarly opposed. "One enormous party-group traveling the island?" he balked. "We may as well take off our masks and let Makuta know where his Rahi-beasts can find a free lunch-meal. With that many of us in one spot, we'd be slow-footed and exposed - easy pickings for any monsters that lurk in the dark-wood."
"Doesn't matter how many of us stick together at once," said Blake pointedly. "If Makuta rules the shadows, then he'll find us all the same. Pretty much the entire island is under his thumb - splitting up or staying together won't change that."
"But if we work as a team, we'd have a better chance of fighting off whatever he throws at us." Yang slammed her fists together. "Six Toa and five Huntresses, all in the same place? I doubt even Makuta has the ball bearings to mess with that many of us at once."
"Our sister and allies make excellent points," said Pohatu as he nodded fervently. "There is much expected of us, and we have little idea of how to accomplish it. I myself have faced a few of those Rahi in my individual travels before I crossed paths with Neo, and they nearly got the better of me. The ones guarding the masks are sure to be fiercer, and I would rather not face them alone."
"We've all had encounters like that, Pohatu," said Weiss with a nod. "These monsters are just too dangerous to take on by ourselves, Toa or not. I'm with Ruby on this - we stay together, and we'll be ready for anything. Don't you think so, Kopaka?"
She looked up to her Toa, only for her face to fall in disappointment as she seemed to sense impatience radiating from Kopaka like chilly winds in a blizzard. He looked down at her with an icy glare.
"I already told you, I prefer to work alone," he said coldly. "It's bad enough that I'm stuck traveling with you - I'd rather not take my chances on pairing up with someone who might actually be a threat to me."
The words stabbed Ruby's heart like an icicle, and she could tell she wasn't the only one enraged. Emerald winced in sympathy, Blake's ears flattened against her head once more, and the little rose could feel her older sister's temper flare up protectively from across the courtyard.
Ember Celica clicked into place threateningly. "And just what's that supposed to mean, you stuck-up son of a -!"
"Yang, it's okay," said Weiss without breaking eye contact with her Toa. "I've got this." Then she gave a small smile, one that quietly thanked her teammate for standing up for her, before it faded as she scowled at Kopaka.
"Sure, you may prefer working alone," she continued, "but would you also 'prefer' it if I hadn't killed that giant bull? Or if I hadn't stepped in while you were stunned? Would you rather have your parts scattered across the mountain by monsters that aren't afraid of a little snow? Is that what you'd prefer? Because it's what would have happened if I hadn't been there. And it's what's going to happen if we don't all work together. So the sooner you drop this whole 'lone wolf' mindset, the better. You need us - and we need you, no matter how insufferable you insist on being."
Damn. The silver-eyed Huntress was pretty sure she felt her heart skip a beat, listening to Weiss lay down the law like that. She wasn't the only one, either - Yang was beaming with pride, Emerald's jaw was thoroughly on the floor, and the other Toa all tilted their heads in fascination.
"That's our Weiss," she heard Blake whisper from across the courtyard.
"I'm so proud of her," agreed Yang.
Kopaka's gaze widened, then narrowed in response to Weiss's diatribe. Whatever he was about to say next was cut off by a low growl from Tahu, who was practically breathing smoke and fire with each frustrated breath.
"Enough of this bickering!" snapped the Toa of Fire impatiently. "We will accomplish nothing by standing around and having a debate! The decision is already made - we will split into small groups. Two Toa, two Huntresses, ten masks to find each. It's the best of both worlds, can you not see that?!"
Ruby cringed sympathetically as the other Toa bristled at Tahu's demanding, arrogant attitude. There was clearly already friction in the group, and the red-armored giant's words were as lubricating and soothing as ground glass. Predictably, Kopaka redirected his anger from his Huntress to the Toa of Fire, icy blue eyes somehow narrowing even further.
"All I can see is one who believes that power and authority belongs to whoever can shout the loudest," he said harshly. "Well I, for one, am not willing to follow such a 'leader,' if one can even call you that. Not while I still have life in my body."
Tahu's sword suddenly came alive in a roaring blaze. "That can easily be fixed, brother."
"Not as easily as you might think," shot back Kopaka, already drawing his own sword and shield.
Ruby really didn't like where this was going, especially when the Toa of opposing elements started widening their stances as they faced each other. Before they could start exchanging blows she was already across the courtyard in a flurry of rose petals, stretching her arms out and staring down both armored giants despite being half their height.
"That's enough!" Silver eyes snapped back and forth between Tahu and Kopaka. "You both know damn well that fighting's not gonna solve anything. We're all part of the same team here, whether you like it or not - so how about you two start acting like it?!"
Her fingers twitched in the direction of Crescent Rose, ready to draw her scythe if the situation demanded it. She knew it wouldn't be good to start yet another conflict within the group, but dammit, she was tired of people who were supposed to be on the same side holding weapons at each other's throats! Fortunately, both of the Toa seemed to realize their feud wasn't worth the trouble it would cause, as Kopaka sheathed his blade over his shoulder while the fiery edges of Tahu's weapon simmered down.
Yang let out a low whistle. "Nicely done, sis."
Emerald smirked. "Who would've guessed our cute little rose had thorns like that?"
Pohatu chuckled. "Indeed. Brave of you, little one, to come between two enraged Toa. Any chance you would like to trade Huntresses, Gali? I'm growing rather fond of this one."
"I am quite happy with my choice in companion, Pohatu," intoned Gali with a relieved laugh of her own. It didn't escape her notice that despite the Toa of Water's relaxed stance, her hooks were already halfway deployed.
She smiled and nodded in thanks to her friends, then looked hopefully at the two warring Toa. "Well? What's it gonna be? You two gonna play nice and be civil about this? Or am I gonna have to shout at you both a little more?"
Kopaka glared down at Ruby, then at Tahu, then back again. Finally, after a moment's deliberation, he let out a frosty sigh.
"If you wish to lead us, Tahu, I suggest taking lessons from the small one here. Unless that day comes, do not expect me to follow. And that goes for the rest of you as well - seek me out when the time comes to face Makuta, but until then? Stay out of my way."
The Toa of Ice barely even waited for his words to hang in the air before he turned and walked away, leaving a trail of frost in his wake. Tahu made a noise that sounded like a strangled snarl before he scoffed and stormed off in the opposite direction, creating small fires in the grass with every step. Ruby's heart sank as she watched them leave, looking sadly at the other girls who just shrugged. Yang and Weiss didn't seem all that surprised - if anything, it looked like they expected this.
"Well, it seems we're split-leaving after all," said Lewa with a smile behind his mask. "Come, sprout-leaf, back to the trees for us. Farewell, Toa-brothers! And sister, of course. Good luck in your quest-search!"
And with that, the Toa of Air leapt backwards and did a handspring off the ground, catching an upwards draft and disappearing into the trees. Onua cast a sympathetic look at the two remaining Toa, then shrugged and departed with a bow. Pohatu looked at the Huntresses, then at Gali, and sighed.
"Apologies, sister," he said in a warm, kind tone, "but I suppose I had best check to make sure that our little assassin is not plotting revenge against all of us. With luck, our paths may cross yet again in the near future. If you have a need for me, seek me out in Po-Wahi - I'm almost always a stone's toss away."
Pohatu departed with the sound of heavy footfalls, leaving Gali standing alone. Ruby immediately went back to her side, looking up at her in concern even as the other Huntresses gathered around her.
"Well…that could have gone better," sighed Weiss.
"All that time Onua and I spent to call the meeting, and they just…walk away," groaned Blake.
Yang took her girlfriend's hand and gave a comforting squeeze, then looked up at the Toa of Water. "I know you tried to keep everyone together…you doing okay?"
"Fools…" Gali shook her head in disappointment. "All of them, fools. We must remain united against this threat…how can they all be so eager to separate?"
"Eh, boys will be boys," said Emerald with a shrug. "Give them some time to get their heads screwed on right, and they'll come around."
The last Toa in Kini-Nui sighed. "I can only hope you are right…I just wish that they were wise enough to see it for themselves."
"Don't worry, Gali," said Ruby as she reached up to put a hand on the Toa of Water's forearm. "They'll realize that it's better to stay together eventually, just like we did. And in the meantime, you'll have us to work with."
She put on a grin as she looked at her friends. "Isn't that right ladies? We're all sticking together, aren't we?"
The pit in her stomach grew about three sizes as she saw everyone's eyes avoid her own. Yang kicked the dirt under her boots, Weiss fiddled with her hair, Blake scratched her face as her ears drooped, and Emerald crossed her arms with a small sigh.
Her smile faded. "…aren't we?"
Yang finally sighed, lilac looking up to meet glowing yellow. "Hey, uh…Gali, was it? Think you can give us some space? We, uh…we need to talk."
The Toa of Water stared for a moment, before nodding in understanding. Taking a moment to stroke Ruby's hair in comfort, she pulled away and moved to sit on a rock at the edge of the treeline.
"What's going on?" Ruby asked, even though she already knew the answer.
"Well, it's…um, you see…" Weiss murmured.
"If the Toa are all splitting up, then maybe we should too." Emerald finally said.
"Em!" Yang glared at the former thief.
"Come on, we're all thinking about it." Red eyes rolled in their sockets. "We can't just stand around and mince words all day. As much as we want to stay together, the Toa obviously don't want to do that. They're all going their separate ways again - time for us to do the same."
Ruby shook her head in disbelief. She had a feeling in her gut that this was coming, but it hurt all the same.
"That's…no," she cried, "No, we just got back together, we…that's how this all started! Splitting up, going our own ways…we can't just do that again!"
"Believe me, I hate this just as much as you Ruby," sighed Weiss. "I don't want to go, either. But this isn't about what we want. We can't afford to be stubborn like Tahu or Kopaka - not when there are lives on the line back home."
"This isn't the same as it was in Atlas," pointed out Blake. "We all agree on what we're doing this time - we work alongside the Toa, find their masks, and defeat Makuta. These are all just separate parts of that same plan, one that the Toa are already following - and if they won't help each other, then we will."
"They're tough, sure, but they're not as invincible as they think," said Yang. "Dunno if you've noticed, but they've all got some serious issues of their own to work through, stuff that's keeping them from trusting each other and working together. Like, my guy couldn't find his way out of a paper bag without me, and you saw how much of a team player he was. Dude's got an explosive temper and a short fuse, which I think I know a thing or two about working through."
Emerald nodded. "Lewa's obnoxious and easily distracted, but he's marginally more tolerable than Mercury. I think I'll be able to keep him on task."
"Exactly," agreed the blonde brawler. "And you saw how Ice King over there acted like he was better than everyone else. Does that remind you of someone?"
"Hey!"
"No offense, Weiss. You know I love you. Plus you're way less uptight these days."
"Hey!"
"Point is, they need us as much as we need them," finished Yang with a barely-hidden smirk. "We help them work through their problems, they might be more open to teaming up in the future. Just gotta get them to that point, you know?"
Ruby bit her lower lip, weighing the words of her friends. It was a solid plan, and as a leader she knew she had to weigh the benefits against the risks. As a friend, however, every fiber in her being was violently against this idea. All she wanted to do was pull every single girl in the clearing into a hug and never let go again, never let them out of her sight and never spend another day without them by her side…
But that was a luxury they couldn't afford right now.
"…you're right," she eventually admitted with a heavy sigh. "I know you're right. I just…I'm tired of being away from my friends…"
Weiss stepped forward and took Ruby's hands in hers, squeezing softly. "We won't be apart for long. I promise, we'll see each other again soon."
Yang came in and pulled the white rose pair into a tight embrace of her own. "Yeah. Now that I know you guys are here and safe…I feel a lot less nervous about splitting up. This world can't be that bad if it's got you in it, right?"
Ruby nuzzled against her sister, returning the embrace and drinking in the golden warmth. She felt a small teardrop drip into her hair, the one crack in the blonde brawler's confident facade. Her hand rubbed the back of Yang's neck in support, trailing across toughened muscles and providing a small comfort of her own. An unspoken farewell happened between the two, a silent declaration of love between the sisters that nothing could break.
A moment later the fourth member of their team joined the group hug, wrapping her arms around Yang's waist and embracing her from behind. "I certainly don't plan on being apart from the team for very long this time," she purred softly. "My partner here and I have some…unfinished business to tend to. Business that's long overdue, if you know what I mean."
The blonde brawler sucked in a shuddering breath through her teeth as Blake planted a kiss on her exposed neck, her blush deepening when she felt the feline Faunus gently nibble her clavicle. "Oh, damn, that's good…c'mon, Blakey, you can't tease me like this…" she moaned.
Blake grinned and nuzzled her chin against Yang's bare shoulder. "Consider it something to look forward to, firestar. After you get your masks."
"Like hell I'm waiting that long. C'mere, you!"
And with that Yang released Weiss (who was turning pink) and Ruby (who was slowly dying of embarrassment) to spin around in Blake's arms, scooping up the feline Faunus and sweeping her off her feet in every sense of the word. Blake let out a delighted squeal that was muffled by a deep kiss, one she returned just as fiercely as her hands ran over Yang's muscles. The blonde brawler at least had the decency to shuffle over into the undergrowth before the straps of her overalls were torn off her shoulders, obscuring herself and her partner from view - though the giggling and gasping and flying clothes left nothing to the imagination.
"Well that's my cue to leave," deadpanned Emerald as she turned away. "I should probably find Lewa before he gets too far into the jungle again. Don't have too much fun without me!"
With one more wave and a knowing wink, Emerald departed to the opposite edge of the treeline, vanishing into the undergrowth as though she was never there. Weiss shook her head to try to ignore the noises coming from the bumblebee duo, then looked at the other remaining Huntress with a meaningful stare. Ruby nodded and took her partner by the hand, leading her away from the giggling bush with a faint mutual blush.
"Sorry about Yang and all her…you know, Yangness," said the little rose sheepishly. She noticed just how uncomfortable her friend seemed. "Does it…bother you?"
Weiss shook her head fervently. "N-no no! It's fine! And honestly…I'm happy for them. They deserve good things. They deserve each other, much as I might complain. Blake has been through a lot, and so has Yang. I'm glad they can find solace and comfort in each other."
"Oh…oh, good." Ruby said awkwardly. "Good, good."
The heiress shuffled her feet. "I just…there is just one question I have."
Ruby tilted her head. "Wh-what is it?"
"…were you really writing 'I heart Weiss' in your field journal over and over again?"
If it were possible for her face to grow hot enough to spontaneously combust, Ruby might have just done so at that moment. "Oh gods…why did she tattle on me like that…"
The heiress covered her mouth and giggled softly. It was…a nice little laugh. Sweet and soft, yet refined and dignified - just like the rest of her. Ruby melted on the spot, before letting out a laugh of her own if only to avoid the dreaded question a little longer.
But all the small talk and laughter in the world couldn't stall the inevitable.
"So…this is goodbye again, huh?" She finally asked, looking up with quivering silver eyes.
An icy blue stare that was somehow so warm gazed back unsteadily. "Yeah…looks like it. I know that this is the right thing to do…but gods, I…I really wish it wasn't. It's going to be so cold without everyone…"
Ruby nodded in understanding. Despite how Weiss hugged Emerald's checkered coat to her chest, it was clear she wasn't talking about a physical chill. Rather, she was afraid of going back into the shadow of an emotional blizzard; one she'd lived under nearly her entire life, and one that only Team RWBY seemed to dispel.
Well if I can't be there physically, maybe I can give her something that she can take with. But what should I…oh, I know!
Silver eyes brightened with an idea as she unfolded Crescent Rose, slamming the tip of her scythe into the soft earthen soil. Then she pulled her beloved red cloak off her shoulders, humming thoughtfully as she measured out a length of the crimson fabric. Weiss watched the entire thing with a curious tilt of her head and a raised eyebrow…only to cover her mouth in shock as Ruby looped some of her cape around the exposed blade and yanked hard.
R-R-R-R-RIP!
The blade that easily cleaved a Beowolf into equal pieces had zero difficulty in trimming the hem of the red fabric, and despite the heiress's surprise Ruby just smirked in satisfaction as she threw her cloak (which was now four inches shorter) back over her shoulders. She picked up the newly-cut piece and twisted it into a little makeshift scarf, then walked over to Weiss and carefully tied it around her neck. Her hands trembled as she worked the cloth over and around smooth ivory skin, and her cheeks suddenly felt very warm as she felt her partner's breath against her face. Eventually, she managed to get it secured around her friend's collar, and she lingered for another moment to trail her fingertips down long arms until she found a pair of hands that eagerly met her grasp.
"There we go," whispered Ruby with a warm grin as she squeezed her friend's palms. "Now you'll have a little piece of me anywhere you go. Should help with the cold, you know? In uh…in every sense of the word."
Weiss bit her lower lips and took a shuddering breath, and for a moment Ruby was afraid she'd berate her for ruining yet another perfectly good cape. Her fears were dispelled when she pulled the little rose in for yet another hug, squeezing her tightly and digging her fingers into short dark hair. She let out a sigh of relief and returned the embrace, playing with her partner's ponytail with one hand and clutching her under the shoulders with the other. Silver eyes slowly closed as their owner tuned out everything except the sound of the heiress's breathing, until all she could feel was the warmth spilling out from the woman she'd come to adore.
And then…Ruby felt something on her cheek she didn't expect.
A kiss, one as soft as a butterfly landing and darting away.
She opened her eyes just in time to see Weiss pull away with a deep crimson blush, one that nearly matched the brand-new scarf. "You gave me something," she half-mumbled, half-whispered. "Only fair I leave you with something, too. Just…be careful out there, Ruby. And if we see each other again… when we see each other again…maybe I can show you what I've been scribbling in my field journal. If…if you want."
Ruby laughed softly, turning as red as both her namesakes and cupping one of Weiss's hands against her cheek. "Yeah…I think I do want that. See you soon, Weiss."
The heiress nodded, then after another silent moment she finally turned to leave. Ruby did the same, doing her best to pretend she didn't hear the quiet sobs from her partner as she went back to Gali's side. She was tempted to let out a few tears herself, but she knew there was no need for her to do so. Not this time, at least.
Something told her that the next time the Toa and her friends came to Kini-Nui, they would all be leaving together.
And as Toa and Huntress alike left the temple grounds, six colored stones in a pit of sand began to glow with ominous yet meaningful lights.
(A/N): Whew! That was a landmark of a chapter, eh? Sorry again for how long it took us to get here, and here's hoping I can keep up the momentum again to stay ahead of my backlog! Next chapter'll take us to Po-Koro with Penny and Takua, so we can see how things are going there...
Thanks again for reading, and I'll see you all next time! Oh, and a happy Easter weekend to those who celebrate it!