Destiny's Divide

by Joey245

After the battle of Atlas, Team RWBY's fall into the void brings them to a world far unlike theirs, where biomechanical beings fight to survive their own immortal lord of darkness. Will they find healing and a way back to Remnant by allying with the powerful Toa? Or will they succumb to the shadows of despair, be they Makuta's or their own? (A Bionicle/RWBY crossover. Post V8.)

27. Partners

(A/N): Time for another round of mask-collecting scenes! This time, we've got a special twist - Toa team-ups! (Oh, and Huntress team-ups too, complete with some White Rose!) Hope you enjoy this extra-long chapter!

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The earth rumbled beneath her feet as she ran, her breath exploding from her lungs with each step. Normally she'd be riding on the shoulder of the Toa of Stone, but that wasn't an option right now - he was on the other side of the stampede of wild Rahi, a brown blur of motion to complement her pink blur. The power of the Mask of Speed (channeled through her Scroll) gave her the velocity she needed to keep pace with the pack of horned buffalo-kangaroo hybrids that crossed the desert, and she had plenty of Aura to keep the effect active. But that didn't stop the fatigue from building as she kept running, nor did it make breathing during her measured sprint any easier.

Still, the pain was better than the alternative, which was being trampled underfoot by the dozen or so multi-ton creatures.

And running alongside a species as revered as the Kikanalo was…kinda fun, actually.

"Little further, Pebble!" Pohatu's voice was barely audible over the sound of pounding hooves and guttural roars. "The watering hole is just up ahead! Keep them on course for just a little longer!"

Neo nodded tightly and refocused her Semblance, creating a spectral recreation of a massive armored rhino at the front of the pack. At the sight of their hated rival, the leading Kikanalo roared and doubled down on its wild charge, smashing into the Illusion and scattering its pieces like shards of a mirror. The rest of the pack followed, which suited her and Pohatu just fine as they kept up on the flanks. She felt her Aura flicker slightly as the action drained her reserves, but she pressed on. She'd get a chance to recharge soon enough, once they had what they wanted.

Just as Pohatu said, the watering hole came into view moments later, as did the highly-territorial Vako rhinos that stood ankle-deep in the muddy waters. Their horned heads snapped up in attention at the sound of their longtime enemy, and while they couldn't see the charging Kikanalo very well, they could hear them just fine. Unwilling to back down, the Vako answered with a counter-charge of their own…one that led them away from the precious treasure they were guarding.

"It's working! Get ready to fly, Pebble!"

Neo braced herself as she drew Hush, already seeing the stone ahead of her form into a ramp that rose out of the rocky terrain. Her momentum carried her over the sudden slope and launched her into the sky, and as soon as she was at the height of her leap she deployed her parasol, feeling the wind catch the silky fabric and carrying her gently over the desert. She looked over her shoulder and watched Pohatu surge between both the Kikanalo and the Vako to build a curved wall of stone, one that diverted the oncoming stampedes away from each other and into the east and west deserts.

With the herds of two Rahi too stubborn for their own good out of the picture, she turned back around and focused on her prize ahead - a domed mask that lay in the reeds of the previously-occupied watering hole. Neo stretched out a hand to snatch the mask as she glided past, folding up her parasol and dropping back down to the ground. Her momentum sent her staggering forward with stumbling steps, but she regained her balance just before she toppled over into the water, keeping her clothes and dignity intact.

Pohatu suddenly appeared next to her in a big blur of brown. "Hah, well done Pebble!" he exclaimed. "That was an inspired idea, exploiting the natural rivalry between the Kikanalo and the Vako to drive the latter away. Certainly less risky than my proposal of just grabbing the mask and running. And a perfect landing as well! You have my thanks once again."

The silent Huntress curtseyed, then handed over the Hau after dusting it off slightly. Pohatu took the offered mask and put it over his own, the dull-gray item turning the same shade of bronze as his armor when it fused into his Kakama. He closed his eyes and concentrated, briefly surrounding himself in a sphere of orange energy before he willed it away.

"Remarkable…" mused the Toa of Stone. "I can see why Tahu is so brash and bold at all times now. Were I to arrive on Mata Nui with this mask, I would feel invincible as well." A flash of brown light briefly shone from his mask as his usual Kakama reappeared. "Still, I much prefer the speed granted to me by this one. Plus I rather like the way it looks, wouldn't you agree?"

Neo smiled and nodded, her mismatched eyes drawn to the wedges on the side of Pohatu's mask that made it look like he had the whiskers of a great big cat. She snapped her fingers and cast an Illusion over her friend, giving him a pair of accompanying feline ears that wiggled and twitched. He looked up with a grin of his own, then chuckled.

"I thought as much," he said with an audible smile. "So now the powers of Shielding, Levitation, and Water-Breathing are all mine, as well as my own mask. That just leaves two more to go, Pebble - if we're lucky, we may even have a complete set by week's end. I owe you a great debt, little one. You've proven an ally far more valuable than your stature would suggest."

He brought a massive hand to rest on her head, gingerly ruffling her hair and patting gently. Neo closed her eyes and leaned into the touch, enamored with the warmth and comfort that came from a hand that was otherwise cold and metallic. It reminded her of a time when adults seemed so much taller and more in control, back when she was younger and only slightly shorter than she was now. Traveling with Pohatu now felt nice, like she was once again a little girl exploring a brand new world with a charismatic, worldly new father figure.

The pleasant memory was interrupted by a buzzing on her hip.

With a slight frown of confusion she retrieved her Scroll from its pocket, raising an eyebrow as she saw the new message on display. What…was this? She already knew that her communication device could channel the powers of Pohatu's masks for herself with the touch of a button - she still had the bruises from where she'd crashed into a wall at full speed! But getting a text message when there wasn't a CCT Tower in sight on Mata Nui? That was…new.

The message was simple, short, and most surprisingly of all it was from Emerald.

Hey, Neo. This better still be your Scroll number. If it is, can you read this?

"What's that, Pebble?" Pohatu peered over her shoulder. "Is that one of your Huntress allies?"

She shrugged and typed out a reply. Unlike talking, which was beyond her capabilities thanks to being born mute, texting was an easy way for her to communicate with others. Not just from one Scroll to another, either - much to her surprise, Pohatu had actually asked to learn the Remnant alphabet from her, giving the pair yet another avenue for "speaking" beyond gestures and Illusions.

It also gave her a chance to show off her wit.

Nope. ;P

The response came a moment later from a very unamused former thief.

Har har har, very funny. Penny says that you and Pohatu are working together - is that still true?

Neo hummed thoughtfully, then held the Scroll out with the photo application, making sure that she and the Toa of Stone were both in frame (and that she was making a cute pose) before snapping and sending a picture.

That answer your question? ;)

Emerald still didn't seem to appreciate her silver tongue. Yes it does. Where are you right now?

Aww. Right down to business already? And it was such a cute selfie, too…ah well. She looked over to Pohatu for an answer, who scratched the back of his head and stared at the horizon.

"Hmm…based on the terrain and the local landmarks, I'd say we're on the western edge of the Motara Desert. Lake Naho should only be about an hour's hike to the south, even without the Mask of Speed." Neo transcribed the Toa's words with only some degree of fighting her Scroll's autocorrect.

Okay, then you and Pohatu need to go and meet Tahu over near the Hura-Mafa River, replied Emerald after a moment's pause. South side, western bank. The other Toa have all decided that they're gonna search for the rest of the masks in pairs from now on, and he's the only one who still needs a partner.

Pohatu raised an eyebrow at the news Neo shared on her Scroll. "I seem to recall some of my brothers being vehemently against that plan. What changed?"

Lewa got put under the control of an infected mask for a little bit, texted Emerald in response to Neo's transcription of her Toa's question. And Tahu nearly got smoked by a big-ass dragon that attacked his village. Both of them are okay now, but these two events combined send a pretty clear message.

"Makuta," growled the gentle Toa of Stone, his eyes narrowing. "He's starting to feel threatened. And when he feels threatened, he gets more dangerous. It would serve us well to find the rest of the masks before he escalates things too far."

He looked down at Neo. "You've been a big help in my quest thus far, but an extra set of hands never hurts. Are you comfortable working with the others, Pebble? I know you have a history with them, so I won't commit to this unless you are certain you're up for it."

Neo hesitated for a moment, silently humming in thought and stroking her chin. True, she and Pohatu had made a pretty good team, easily collecting two-thirds of his Great Masks with just the two of them working together. But aside from a somewhat rocky start to their relationship, their interactions had been mostly positive - unlike the girls of Team RWBY. Were the other Huntresses ready to work with her after everything that had happened? Was she ready to potentially place her life in the hands of former enemies? She wasn't sure if she was. She wasn't sure if she ever could be ready.

Then again…the faster they found the masks, the sooner they could all go home. Maybe. She nodded tersely to Pohatu as she texted a thumbs-up to Emerald, who responded with a matching emoji.

"Then climb aboard, Pebble." The Toa of Stone nodded back as she did just that. "And let it be known that I will vouch for you - to both Tahu and his Huntress friend."

With that promise of support, Pohatu triggered his mask power and sped off in a bronze blur with Neo in tow. A silent giggle escaped her lips at the sensation of sudden speed, her stomach twisting into knots in all the best ways. It was like riding on the world's fastest roller coaster: it left Neo loopy and disoriented afterwards, but those moments of thrill beforehand were worth every meal that came back up.

As they raced across the desert and traveled into green wetlands, her mind drifted to thinking of her potential "allies," and which she would most likely get along with. Part of her hoped to be paired with Blake, as her not-very-talkative demeanor seemed perfect for someone like her. Weiss was another good option, what with the sheer power of her ridiculous Semblance. She already had experience working with Emerald and Penny, so she knew them to be good partners and fighters in their own right, and while she wasn't sure if she'd be able to look Ruby in the eye after everything that had happened, she couldn't deny that the little rose had some serious thorns in a battle.

There was really only one member of Team RWBY that she'd rather not work with.

And to her utter dismay, that exact member was staring at her with folded arms and skeptical lavender eyes when they arrived on the riverbanks.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, brother," said Pohatu to the accompanying tall red-armored figure as he slowed to a stop, letting Neo step carefully off his back. "I hope that it wasn't a bother to you."

"It is no bother at all, Pohatu," said Tahu with a curt nod. "Thank you for coming to meet me." Then he glared at the fourth member of their little team, crimson eyes practically smoldering behind his mask. "…I see you've worked alongside the troublemaker from the Kini-Nui meeting after all."

If the Toa of Fire was trying to set her ablaze with his mind, Neo felt like it was working. She shrank slightly under his withering gaze, but as promised Pohatu was there to back her up.

"Indeed I have, Tahu." The Toa of Stone smiled behind his mask, putting an arm around her shoulder in a show of trust and support. "Do not let your first meeting sour your attitude. Neopolitan has been a mighty and stalwart ally thus far, helping me find every mask of mine in the Motara desert. My collection is nearly complete thanks to her ingenuity and diligence; with her aid, I believe we may both be able to say the same. Isn't that right, Pebble?"

Neo nodded with a sweet smile and a twirl of Hush, which seemed to convince the Toa of Fire. Yang, however, seemed less than enthused at her presence - fingers of flesh and metal curled around bare biceps, her eyes flickered between purple and red, and a faint trail of smoke seemed to rise from her golden hair. She was clearly holding herself back from launching herself into an all-out fight against the silent woman, and despite having Pohatu's hand on her shoulder Neo still braced herself for the worst.

Tahu must have noticed his ally's spike in aggression, because he laid a metallic hand on her shoulder and squeezed gently. "Is this going to be a problem, Yang? Your voice matters here just as much as any other - if you have concerns, I will listen."

The blonde brawler let out a long sigh as the tension faded, shaking her head slowly. "No…no, I don't think it'll be an issue. We've got some history, sure, but I'm pretty sure I can be the bigger person here." She cracked a smug smirk. "Literally."

Neo rolled her eyes, but stepped forward and extended a hand in peace anyways. Yang looked at it for a moment, as if she was looking for some kind of hidden attack, but when she found nothing sinister she moved and clasped the offered hand. The metal servo that gripped Neo's palm was tight, but not forceful…though she could still feel it trembling slightly as her new "ally" suppressed her fear.

"Well, that settles it!" Pohatu clapped cheerfully. "Shall we proceed then, my friends?"

Yang smiled sweetly in a way that made Neo nervous, her hand still gripping Neo's tightly. "Oh, you boys go on ahead! Me and Neo are gonna stay behind for a sec. Just girl talk, y'know?"

Tahu furrowed his brow behind his mask. "Hmm…fair enough, Yang. You promise to keep your aggression in check?"

"Me? Aggressive? Please. I'm not gonna lose my temper and attack her or anything. Heck, I'm as cool as a cucumber right now!"

"…I do not know what that is," said the Toa of Fire. "But I trust your judgment. Pohatu, come. Let us discuss strategy while our Huntresses convene."

"Sounds like a plan, brother. Don't go hurting each other now!" The Toa of Stone grinned as he and Tahu walked ahead, leaving the two girls alone by the side of the river.

At first, neither of them made a move. Neo was just about to withdraw her hand when Yang suddenly spun her around and put an arm around her shoulder, metal fingers clasping her bare skin tightly. Her skin crawled and her breath hitched, as she expected to have her face planted into the dirt. Or the water. Or any other hard surfaces that the blond brawler could use to bash her skull open like a coconut.

"Relax, short stack," said Yang with a small chuckle, as if she could sense her unease. "I promised Tahu I wouldn't attack, remember? I'm not gonna hurt you…not unless you give me a reason, that is. C'mon. Walk with me, talk with me."

Neo gave a flat stare of annoyance, then pointed to her silent lips.

"…right, sorry." Yang hummed as she moved to follow the other Toa, her arm still slung over the former assassin's shoulders. "Say…have you ever played Twenty Questions?"

She nodded. It was one of the few parlor games she was actually able to play without resorting to sign language or Illusions.

The blonde brawler smiled and nodded back. "Good, then you already know the rules. Let's do a speed round real quick."

Her voice dropped to a serious tone as she narrowed her eyes. "Will you still try to kill my little sister?"

A headshake. Neo knew now that it wouldn't change anything.

"Do you plan to hurt Blake, Weiss, the Toa, or any of our other friends?"

Another headshake. What did she stand to gain by doing so?

"And are you gonna do anything that screws with our chances of getting back home?"

A very resolute headshake. She wanted off the island just as badly as the others did.

Yang's voice shot back up as she smiled, her grip loosening slightly as she patted her shoulder. "Nice, those are the exact answers I was looking for. Congrats - you win. Your prize is an official welcome to Team Good Guys."

Neo raised an eyebrow. Yang was…letting her off the hook? Just like that? After everything?

"Look, I'm not about to call you my best friend anytime soon," said the blonde brawler in response to her doubtful thoughts. "That kind of thing…it's not something that happens all at once. But Ruby saw enough good in you to let you live. Penny says you're working to be better. And Pohatu's still working with you even after you tried to trick him. I may not trust you, but I trust them with every fiber of my being. So if they say that you're okay, that's enough for me to not go looking for a reason to pound you into the dirt if you step out of line - but you gotta promise you won't give me one. We clear on that?"

Yang's gaze was guarded yet inviting, sincere yet skeptical. A war was clearly waging in her mind about this uneasy alliance, one that Neo was quite familiar with. Wishing to assuage it, the silent Huntress gave a resolute nod and crossed her heart. She knew the consequences if she went back to her old ways - and even if there weren't, she didn't want to be that blind or angry ever again.

That seemed to satisfy the taller woman, who smirked. "Good. Just one more thing, then."

DOINK. A sharp steel finger flicked against the back of her head just before Yang pulled away. Neo winced and rubbed the sore spot with a silent groan, feeling it swell up like a comically-large welt in animated shows. It didn't hurt, but it did sting something fierce - and judging by the cackle and smug grin on the blonde brawler as she walked away, that was more than enough for her.

"That was for knocking me out on the train." Yang looked over her shoulder with a playful wink. "Consider us even now."

With a headshake of disbelief and a roll of her eyes, Neo couldn't help but smile as she skipped along the riverbank after her unlikely ally.

---

Bubbles and petals surrounded Ruby as she dashed and darted around her Tarakava, spinning her scythe to deflect its pneumatic punches. The massive eel-like Rahi was faster and more slippery in the depths of the Eastern Sea than it was on land, but her own Semblance let her keep up with the biomechanical boxer in its own element all the same. She knocked an incoming fist off-course with a spinning flip and swing of her weapon, making it slam into an undersea pillar so hard it got stuck in the stonework. Ruby seized the moment by flowing around the trapped beast in a burst of roses, reforming above its head and staring into the empty eyes of its infected Kanohi.

Emerald said over chat that Makuta is using these "Kraata" things to keep control of the Rahi even after the masks are gone, she thought as bubbles escaped her pursed lips. And according to Lewa they like to settle under the mask ports themselves, just deep enough where most attacks can't reach them. So if I aim just right with a surgical strike…I can get rid of both of them without killing the Rahi!

Fully unfolding the blade of Crescent Rose so that the scythe head was flush with the handle, she dove down to do just that. She checked her strength and speed before bringing down the blade - she didn't want to overshoot and impale the Tarakava through its head, she just wanted to stab deep enough to pierce through the Kraata and nothing else. Sure enough, as the tip plunged into the mouthpiece of the rust-green Pakari, Ruby was rewarded with the sound of a shrill screech and wispy green gas leaking into the water, neither of which came from the beast itself. When the tainted mask was shattered with a quick outward swing, the Tarakava blinked several times, looked around in confusion, and hissed at her before swimming away into open waters.

"Bye! Good hunting out there!" Ruby called to the escaping Rahi, her words rising on bubbles spilling out of her mouth as her bare arms and legs kicked and paddled. "Don't talk to any weird little snakes you don't know!"

Normally talking underwater would've been a one-way ticket to Drown Town, but thanks to the power of the channeled Kaukau the little Huntress felt perfectly safe - safe enough to giggle and sigh in satisfaction. After taking a moment to make sure she still had enough Aura to keep breathing underwater, she spun around and watched the rest of her allies fight amidst the crumbling ruins at the shallow seafloor. Weiss and her summoned Tarakava each took an aggressive amphibian for themselves, while Gali and Kopaka (with their own water-breathing masks active) fought their pair of creatures with surprising synergy.

Looks like they've got this handled, she thought to herself, though she kept her scythe at the ready should one of them need help.

The Toa of Ice and Water practically surged through the deep waves and flowed around the monstrous eels, using both their weapons and their elemental powers to create openings for each other. When Kopaka froze one up to its neck in a block of solid ice, Gali tore off its infected Kanohi with a tug of her hook and flushed out the mask port to drown the Kraata within. And when Gali created a vortex that immobilized the other beast, Kopaka swam over and plunged a flash-frozen icicle through its mask and the slug in one fell swoop.

But the bulk of Ruby's attention, as usual, was on Weiss.

The former heiress was always a delight to watch in a fight on land, but her combat style especially shone underwater. While one Tarakava and its spectral twin were engaged in a game of "Rock 'em, Sock 'em Rahi," Weiss herself kicked from glyph to glyph and landed disorienting slashes with Myrtenaster on the other. Everything about her was enchanting: her long white hair, her determined steel-blue gaze, her slim yet strong bare arms and legs, the flowing hem of the translucent white petticoat she wore under her usual clothes…

Ruby's face turned beet red as she realized just where she was looking, her own half-dressed frame curling up into an embarrassed little underwater ball and hiding in her flowing cloak. It was a good thing the Mask of Water-Breathing was still being channeled through her Scroll - otherwise, Weiss would have left her literally breathless.

Fortunately, her partner didn't seem to notice her pining gaze. Instead, Weiss conjured and launched an array of seeking spirals that pinned the limbs of her Tarakava in place, giving her a chance to swim around and plunge Myrtenaster through mask and Kraata alike. The now-docile opponent swam away from the floating Huntress, who smiled a bubbly smile as she ran a hand through the curtain of white that flowed around her face.

She's so cool…and beautiful… Ruby swooned, releasing a small cloud of bubbles in a dreamy sigh. Everything a Huntress should be…

KREEEEEEEEE!

Except not even Weiss was perfect. Her summoned Tarakava shattered into snowflakes, bested by a decisive uppercut from the real thing. The last controlled Rahi aimed a punch at the heiress's unguarded back, which Ruby lunged to redirect in a burst of her Semblance. A quick spin of Crescent Rose knocked the flying fist back, and a few more twirls of her scythe did the same for the follow-up combo.

"Got your back!" Ruby burbled with a grin as she blocked the chain of continuous attacks.

Weiss spun in the water to face her with an appreciative nod, a glyph already forming under her bare feet to jump from. "Much obliged," she said with a cool voice that cut clearly through the sea. "Shall we?"

"Yes we shall!"

When the Tarakava's barrage of boxing blows finally ended, the pair struck back swiftly and mercilessly. Ruby dashed and slashed and attacked from all angles in bursts of petal-infused speed, while Weiss did the same using her glyphs as launch pads. The Toa kept their distance and allowed the Huntresses to take the lead in melee, but they still helped in their own ways - Kopaka launched razor-sharp icicles through the water like harpoons, while Gali commanded the sea to squeeze and grip the beast like two mighty, crushing hands. The Rahi thrashed and fought back against every blow, but eventually the sheer onslaught of attacks overwhelmed it and its armor. It sank to the bottom of the bay, growling and spinning its treads into the seafloor to kick up a cloud of sand and silt.

"It's trying to get away!" Ruby called as she planted her own bare feet against a column in the sunken ruins, grinning another bubbly grin. "Weiss! Let's finish this in style! Ice flower!"

The white-haired Huntress raised an eyebrow as she looked over. "Do your bullets even work down here?"

She flashed a wink at her partner. "Who said anything about bullets?"

Despite her doubts, Weiss nonetheless summoned three concentric glyphs that pointed towards the Tarakava struggling to escape the sudden spike in water pressure. Ruby grinned and kicked off the column with another pulse of her Semblance, consciously splitting herself into four smaller clusters of rose petals just before passing through the circles of Dust-infused energy. Red streaks turned pale as snow as they raced across the bottom of the bay, each one leaving a frozen trail in its wake as it flowed and circled the stuck Rahi multiple times over. Before it could swipe or swat at even one of the white rose-like rockets, it found itself stuck in overlapping chains of frost…which hardened and shrunk into binding rings of solid ice a moment later.

As she reformed behind the trapped Tarakava, Ruby turned and cheered a bubbly cheer. "Yeah, we did it! That was so cool!"

"Well done, little ones!" Gali said, relief and pride in her voice as she swam over. "Now…let us free its mind from the prison of shadows that ensnares it."

The silver-eyed Huntress watched as her taller companion dug a hook under the infected Kanohi, pulling it off with one powerful tug of her arm. Then Gali plunged her other curved tool through the mask port itself, rooting around as the sharpened point searched for its target. Eventually she found it and pulled it free - a three-foot-long slug that shrieked and screamed into the sea as it writhed and spasmed.

Gali glared at the pathetic little serpent as it squirmed and thrashed around in her grip. "Let this be a lesson to you, Makuta. The ocean, and all creatures within its domain, are under my protection. Your shadowy serpents are not welcome here. You are not welcome here."

Instead of conjuring a dark specter of its master to taunt the Toa of Water, the Kraata chose the sensible option: death. Ruby almost felt sorry for the little thing…but then she remembered that it was literally a piece of Makuta, and suddenly she didn't feel quite so bad.

Tossing aside the carcass as it dissolved into green smoke, Gali stowed her hooks and laid her hands on the newly-freed Tarakava, whispering softly and soothingly as Kopaka slashed through the icy restraints. "Go now, hunter of the depths. May your travels be free of shadows once more."

The massive eel-like Rahi growled in a manner that was almost friendly, then swam off and disappeared in the dark waters.

Weiss let out a sigh of relief in a long string of fatigued bubbles. "That was…a lot more exhausting than usual. I'm not sure if these Rahi are getting tougher, or if I'm still just tired from that fight with the Kanohi Dragon."

"It's likely both." Kopaka sheathed his sword and shield, orbs of trapped air trailing from beneath his glass-like Kaukau. "Makuta's influence spreads with each day that passes. He likely kept his power in check when it was just Matoran and Turaga on the island - now that we've arrived and grown stronger, there's no reason for him to hold back anymore."

Ruby's victorious smile fell slightly, though not completely. "Well…good thing we're all working together then, right?"

"Indeed," said Gali with a nod. "You have my thanks for demonstrating restraint in this battle, my friends, and for showing mercy to the beasts even in battle. I understand that they are 'just' Rahi, but to me they are so much more…they are creatures who suffer under Makuta's shadow, and I would do all I can to save them."

"Just be certain you're not putting their survival and freedom over your own," replied Kopaka. "There will always be more Rahi…but there can never be another Toa Gali."

The Toa of Water smiled under her mask. "Why, Kopaka…that almost sounded like a declaration of concern."

"…hmph. Come on. Let's find your Kakama before more Rahi show up."

With a nod of mutual understanding, the two Toa swam off to further search the ruined structures for the Mask of Power that lay hidden. Ruby was about to follow them when she saw Weiss hang back, sighing a bubbly sigh as she peered into the pockets of belts that hung like bandoliers off her bare shoulders. Rather than join Gali and Kopaka in their efforts, the little rose decided to join her partner instead, swimming up to hug her around the waist. A few years ago, the heiress would have immediately tried to push her away; now, though, her only response was to return it with a small bubbly moan.

"You okay, Weiss?" Ruby asked as she withdrew, keeping their hands loosely joined together for warmth and comfort.

Her partner frowned and sighed again. "I…I don't know, Ruby. We've only been here for about a week, and it's already gotten just as dangerous as it was back on Atlas. And it's only going to get worse…I know that the island boosts the power of Dust, so that I can do more things while using less, but even with that and all my rationing efforts I'm still down to about half my total supply. How am I going to fight when it runs out completely? My fighting style relies so much on this stuff…without it, I'll just be a burden again and - "

"Weiss." Ruby cut off the heiress's oncoming spiral of negative thoughts with another gentle hug. "Please don't worry about that. You're an incredible fighter and swordswoman, with or without Dust. Even if you can't make fireballs or create gravity wells anymore, you'd still have your blade, your summons, your basic propulsion Glyphs, and your wits. And more importantly, you've got us. You've got Kopaka and his mask powers, you've got Gali and her command of the seas…and you've got me. You won't be a burden. I promise."

Weiss leaned into the embrace and squeezed her eyes shut, before withdrawing slightly with a small smile. "I…appreciate that, Ruby. Thank you."

She grinned a bubbly grin. "Anytime, partner. And if all else fails, we can just improvise new attacks. Like that new Ice Flower move we just did. Wasn't it amazing?"

"I would have appreciated a little more explanation of what you planned to do first," said Weiss with a roll of her eyes. Then she looked down and smiled gently. "…but I will admit, that was quite clever. Using my Dust to modify your Semblance, and making the active choice to split into smaller Petal Bursts for more coverage…I'm impressed. You've certainly gotten more used to doing both of those since we've arrived here."

Ruby giggled and puffed her chest dramatically, her spirits rising. "Yep. And you've gotten even better at using Glyphs, plus you have a bunch of new summons at your command. So we'll be fine until we can get home. In fact, Makuta better watch out - now that the Ice Flower duo is back together, there's nothing that'll take us down!"

Glub.

Something cold and salty and very much unbreathable poured into Ruby's open mouth. The silver-eyed Huntress instinctively pursed her lips and tightened her throat with a small whimper, doing what she could to conserve the half-breath she'd managed to take before the Kaukau's effect suddenly vanished. Weiss burbled in shock for a moment, immediately grabbing her partner's Scroll to re-engage the Mask of Water-Breathing on her behalf…only for her look of concern to morph into annoyance as she turned it around to show the Aura meter.

The empty Aura meter.

"Ruby Rose." Weiss spoke with the scolding tone of a disappointed mother. "You put most of your Aura into that last attack, didn't you?"

Keeping her mouth firmly closed, Ruby shrugged.

"You did. Even though you know that you need Aura in order to channel and use mask powers."

She gave a bubbly nod.

"Mask powers that, in this specific circumstance, are necessary to keep you from drowning. Again."

Her chest tightened reflexively as she nodded once more.

Weiss stared in utter disbelief for a moment, then she let out a gurgling sigh of her own and cradled her forehead in her fingers. "…I swear, I don't know how you manage to be so mature and so childish at the same time. It's so…adorable…"

Silver eyes stung as they rolled in their sockets. Yes, yes, she knew she was in for an earful from her partner, but maybe they could wait until they were back on dry land to read her the -

Wait.

Adorable?

Ruby grinned a bubbly grin. In her own hierarchy of needs, everything necessary for survival - even air - was one step below the need to tease Weiss. She fluttered her eyelashes while blushing and making doe-eyes at her frustrated partner, who instantly turned beet-red as she seemingly realized what she just said - and at the fact that the little rose would risk drowning just for a chance to flirt with her.

"…wait, did I say adorable? I meant annoying! Yes, it's extremely endearing - no, irritating! Ugh! Shut up! Stop talking, Ruby!"

She just pointed to her pursed, silent lips with a raised eyebrow and a smug smirk.

"You know what I mean!" Weiss did her best to hide her blush as she looked over at the pair of Toa. "Kopaka? Ruby's Aura is gone and she can't use her mask powers. I'm taking her back to the surface - meet us on the beach when you find Gali's Mask of Speed."

The Toa of Ice looked over and nodded, while his sister chuckled softly and used her elemental power to summon an upwards current beneath the two. More heat rose to Ruby's cheeks as Weiss instinctively grabbed her around the waist, holding her tightly as the waters propelled them towards the surface. When the momentum ran out, the heiress quickly called upon her Tarakava summon once again, giving the pair of Huntresses a ride to the world above on the back of a spectral sea serpent. Ruby spent the entire ascent just beaming at Weiss, silver eyes sparkling like stars as she fell head over heels for her savior all over again.

"Stop looking at me like that," burbled the white-haired Huntress with a pout of her own, looking away from her partner's gaze. "You're lucky you're cute."

Despite being starved for air, Ruby glibly blew a burst of bubbles against Weiss's cheek.

Her partner's blush only deepened somehow. "…dolt."

Leaning into the embrace, Ruby closed her eyes and drank in Weiss's warmth as the surface rushed nearer and nearer. Normally she wouldn't be this confident or this forward, but something had changed between the two girls since arriving at Mata Nui. Something unspoken, something warm and soft that lurked beneath the surface, something that put butterflies in her stomach whenever she thought about it…yet neither of them seemed willing to talk about it, for fear of breaking that spell.

Well…we probably should talk about that at some point, was the little rose's last thought before the coming storm of coughing and sputtering.

---

"…okay, so here's a hard one - did you have a violent psychopath that relished hurting others in the White Fang, too?"

Emerald watched the black-clad warrior and waited for her reaction, casting a spare glance at the other two figures standing waist-deep in the swamp under their branch. Onua had his usual Kanohi switched out for the one with lots of lenses - the Akaku? - and cast his gaze over the murky, muddy water that stuck fast to him and Lewa. The Toa of Air had a distinct look of disdain that was visible even through his mask, but contrary to everyone's expectations, he didn't move or try to escape the sinking marsh. Evidently, a Mask of Vision of his very own was worth wading through the muck - and worth staying with his cautious, slow-moving brother.

Blake smirked as she tilted her head, keeping one hand on the ribbon of Gambol Shroud just in case the Toa of Earth needed a tug on his lifeline. "Is this a trick question?"

"Nope." Emerald gave the chains of Thief's Respite a quick pull to test their connection to Lewa. It was still solid. "I'm not gonna accept 'the person I stayed for' as an answer for everything. I'm talking about someone who made your skin crawl whenever you walked by them. Someone who licks the blade to clean the blood off it. Someone who was so out there, so detached from reality, that it made your 'love' feel sane by comparison. Did you have one of those?"

The feline Faunus visibly deflated, her brow furrowing as she hummed thoughtfully. "Not in the way you're talking about, at least. People who were more savage and bloodthirsty than Adam didn't last long in the White Fang, mostly because they'd be incredibly unstable more often than not. If we're talking just pure creep factor, though? I'd probably Trifa Argiope, a spider Faunus who worked mostly for the Albain brothers. Even when we were younger, she always seemed a little too eager to string humans up with her webs…or anyone, really." Blake shook her head with a shrug. "That's all I can think of. You?"

She grinned. "Two words: Tyrian Callows."

"That scorpion guy? The one who ambushed Ruby and Team JNPR in Anima?"

"That's the one. Dude is absolutely unhinged. I could barely get any sleep in Evernight Castle, and half the time it was because of nightmares about Salem herself. The other half was because of nightmares about him."

Blake winced sympathetically. "…ouch. My condolences."

Emerald chuckled. "Eh, he's Mercury's problem now. If he's smart, he'll just stay quiet and not snap back at his crazy ramblings, or fall for his taunts. But the problem is that I know Merc, and being smart isn't exactly one of his defining traits."

"Well, who knows? Maybe he'll take care of that scorpion problem for us."

"Yeah. Or maybe I'll find his legs buried in a shallow grave somewhere…assuming Tyrian doesn't keep them as trophies." Emerald shook her head, wincing at the thought. "Anyways, your turn."

The feline Faunus hummed thoughtfully once again, swinging her legs and letting them rock back and forth over the branch they were sitting on. Emerald had to admit, Blake's idea of getting her to open up about her past was pretty ingenious - by framing it as a social game and sharing her own history in the process, she was giving the former thief a chance to work through her own dark memories while simultaneously letting them both learn more about the other. She wasn't sure how effective it would be at healing the Cinder-shaped hole in her heart, but at least talking about what she'd seen and heard - and smelled - while in Evernight Castle didn't feel like puking her guts out anymore.

It was also a good way to pass the time while Onua tried to teach the hyperactive Lewa about the virtue of patience.

"Okay…how about this?" Blake finally spoke up after a pensive pause. "Did you have to work with an arrogant, pompous jerk who thought they were so much better than everyone else? Besides Cinder, of course."

Emerald scoffed. "Oh, gods did I ever. Arthur Watts was a pain. He was Salem's tech expert, and he had the skill to get around every computer-shaped roadblock that stood between his mistress and world domination. Problem is, he had an ego the size of Atlas itself. I hated every single assignment I ever went with him on, and I was far from the only one - hell, he was able to get under Cinder's skin more than a few times with his smugness." She shook her head at the memories. "Who was yours?"

"Yuma Nocte," said Blake with a soft laugh. "A bat Faunus who wouldn't know the meaning of 'humble' if you shoved a dictionary into his face. He always thought he was so special because he was the only agent in the White Fang who had natural wings. It was a rare and useful trait, sure, but the way he'd talk himself up before and after every mission made it seem like they were a gift from the Brother Gods themselves. And he would rub it in our faces constantly, mocking us for not getting more 'useful' traits like he did. Adam kept threatening to clip his wings if he didn't shut up. Came close to doing it a few times, too."

"Damn. What happened to him?"

The feline Faunus grinned. "When the Albain brothers launched an attack on my family's home, he was part of the assassination team…where Mom knocked him out with a tea tray. His pride never made a full recovery."

"Hah!" she said with a snort. "Don't mess with mama cat, eh?"

"Indeed." Blake let out another soft laugh, shaking her head. "I'm happy to say that he's not nearly as much of a jerk these days. Mom and Dad talked about him a lot in the last letter I got from before…well, everything in Atlas. They said that Yuma's become something of a favorite volunteer among the kids in a local Mistrali orphanage. They hang from his wings every chance they get, and they keep asking him for 'sky-rides.' At first he'd fly around with them reluctantly, but now it's his favorite part of the day. He still keeps turning down Mom's invitations for tea, though. She can't imagine why."

Emerald chuckled. "Aww…that's too cute."

"Yep," agreed Blake. Then her smile fell. "Just wish…everyone got a chance to change like that…"

The former thief's spirits fell as her friend cast a dejected stare down at the Toa down below. That was the main downside of this game - at some point, the conversation always circled back to the person that both girls had stayed for, the one who hurt them while smiling and telling them how much they loved them. Only Blake had the additional trauma of having to directly take a life for the first time, a pain that Emerald had long since become numb to out of necessity.

Well I'm not about to let her get numb to it.

"You still miss him?" she asked quietly. "Even after…well, everything?"

Blake looked pensive for a moment, then shook her head resolutely. "No. I don't miss him, and I know that…that he gave Yang and I no choice with what we had to do. But I do still mourn the man he used to be…the man he was before rage and hatred consumed him. He used to be seen as a hero, someone who would do anything to protect his brothers…and occasionally, even after he started changing, I'd see flashes of him rise to the surface. That was the Adam Taurus that I loved - but as far as I'm concerned, he died a long time before our last fight."

Emerald nodded solemnly, letting out a slow sigh. "That's…probably the best way to look at things. From the sounds of it, you gave him every chance to back down - but he still picked violence every time. There's no blood on your hands, far as I'm concerned. It's all on him."

"I know." The feline Faunus nodded tepidly. "Doesn't feel like that some days, but…hearing others say it makes it easier to believe." She smiled softly at her ally. "Thanks, Em."

A small blush crept up to her cheeks, and she averted her gaze. "…y-you're welcome. I think." She groaned. "Ugh, why's this 'being genuine' thing gotta be so hard?"

Blake giggled softly. "It gets easier the more you do it. Don't worry - you'll get to where I am soon enough."

"Doubt it." The former thief frowned. At her ally's worried stare, she cleared her throat and clarified. "I mean, look at where you are right now. You've already buried your past love in every sense of the word, and your heart's moved on to someone new. Blondie's head over heels for you, I can tell she means the world to you, and it doesn't take a genius to figure out that you bring out the best in each other. I don't see Cinder biting the dust anytime soon…and in case you haven't noticed, there's not many eligible bachelorettes here on Mata Nui. Not that my prospects would look much better on Remnant…"

Blake was quiet for a long time as she watched Lewa and Onua carefully wade through the marsh below, humming thoughtfully. Emerald pouted as she curled up into a ball, mulling over her aching heart. Of the girls still on Remnant, Ruby and Weiss were a couple waiting to be made, Neo was a pint-sized basket of problems she didn't want to touch with a hundred-foot-pole, and Penny…well, Penny was a child at heart, and loved everyone equally like only the soul of a little girl could. She didn't want to ruin that innocence. She couldn't ruin that innocence.

"So, um…" said the feline Faunus, breaking the silence with a nervous cough. "I have this other friend from my White Fang days, you know. Someone that's fighting with us, and not against us. Her name's Ilia, and…well, I think you'd like her."

Emerald scoffed and rolled her eyes. "Are you seriously trying to play matchmaker for me right now? Unbelievable." Then after a moment's pause, she blushed faintly. "…what's she like?"

"She's a chameleon Faunus with a mischievous streak and a strong sense of loyalty." Blake smirked. "We pretty much grew up as sisters. Real big into stealth and subterfuge, like you. Lots of freckles, keeps her hair in a long ponytail. Great smile."

"Hmm…is she cute?"

"She's adorable."

"Single?"

"Last I checked, yeah."

"And you're sure that my history wouldn't be a deal breaker for her?"

Blake laughed. "She was involved in a plot to kill my parents and deliver me to Adam, I don't think she's gonna have any room to judge."

Emerald hummed thoughtfully. "…hmm. Okay. You'll have to introduce me to her if we get back."

"You mean when we get back," corrected Blake. "Not if. When."

"Well, that's awfully optimistic. I thought you were supposed to be the cynical one. What happened?"

The other woman's reply was cut off by the sound of whirring servos and discharging elements as the Toa below finally sprang into action. Onua drove his claws into the soft earth and channeled his power, carving a path through the thick mud and revealing a dull-gray mask staring blankly at the sky. Lewa whipped up a small tornado in his hands and tossed it to the Kanohi, guiding it down the channel to pick up his prize and bring it into his waiting hands. After a nod of approval, the Toa of Earth and Air tugged on their lifelines; the Huntresses leapt off their branch and looped their weapons around the sturdy tree limb, yanking their taller allies out of the muck and into the air.

The Faunus smiled as the plan went off without a hitch. "Isn't it obvious? I met them."

---

"There they are. Quiet now, everyone."

Yang hugged herself closer to the ground as she crawled through the undergrowth, peering through the shrubs to get a glance at the flooded marsh just beyond her hiding spot. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Neo crouching next to her with one hand raised, brow furrowed in concentration on maintaining the Illusion that covered her, herself, and their accompanying Toa. Tahu and Pohatu had to practically squat just to stay inside the area of effect, but they managed to go unseen by the outside world all the same.

…okay, fine, I guess it is a pretty useful Semblance, thought Yang with a slight frown.

She shelved that line of thinking for later, though - she was more focused on the dozen enormous armored frogs that hopped and splashed across the wetlands. Each blue-green Rahi was the size of an Ursa Major and just as tough-looking, complete with sharp claw-like toes, powerful back legs, and long sticky tongues that acted more like prehensile tentacles. The blonde brawler wasn't sure which of those features worried her the most…but the way their throats swelled up as they croaked definitely made her squirm a little.

Rikkit. Rikkit. Rikkit. Rikkit.

Yang did her best to ignore the nearly-deafening chorus of croaks. "What did you say these things were called again, Big Red? Gecko-something?"

"Turaga Vakama calls them the Ghekula," corrected the Toa of Fire in a careful whisper. "He says that they are amphibians that typically live here in the Fau swamp. Most Ghekula are peaceful creatures that are often revered by the Matoran - harming one in any way is often seen as a harbinger of bad luck. These ones have been mutated by Makuta and fitted with infected masks to be everything their smaller kin are not: powerful, well-armored, and dangerous."

"And of course that just has to be where he hid your Mask of Levitation," said Yang with a soft groan. "Right in the middle of a swamp, guarded by a bunch of giant killer frogs."

Tahu grimaced. "Believe me, I would gladly face any other threat than this, Yang."

"This will be difficult," mused Pohatu. "We are both at an elemental disadvantage here, brother. While your flames may easily turn the swamp into steam, you risk setting fire to the entire jungle should you lose control. And there are few stones that are easy to access this deep into the swamp…everything beneath ground level is tangled up in roots thousands of years old."

"And it's not like either of you can use the Mask of Speed to just run in and grab what we're after," added Yang. "The ground's too uneven and the water's too thick for that." She looked at Neo. "Guess this means we're on distraction duty, huh Shortstack?"

Neo pouted at being called by her new nickname, then rolled her eyes and sighed with a nod.

"We will support you as best we can, Pebble," promised Pohatu. "But we will be relying on you to liberate the Rahi. That sword of yours is the only weapon we have that can easily pierce the infected mask and kill the Kraata deep within, freeing the Ghekula without severely hurting them. Tahu you have the Mask of Vision - can you see where the disgusting little things are hiding?"

"Under the infected masks on their rear ends," reported the Toa of Fire as he looked at the frog-like Rahi with his Kanohi Akaku. "Do you see those rusted Hau that rest between their back legs? The mask port is connected to a hole through their rear ends that leads down to - "

Yang almost managed to suppress her snicker and her snort.

Almost.

" - the Kraata…" finished Tahu, raising an eyebrow under his mask. "What is it, Yang? Why are you laughing?"

It took every of the blonde brawler's self control to not burst out laughing. "Because…because if Neo wants to - snrk - if she wants to take these things down…she's gonna have to stab them in the - oh gods my sides - in their buttholes."

The silent woman scowled, but covered her own mouth to hide her whisper-like giggles and adorable little dimples. Clearly, she had the same sense of humor as her unlikely ally.

"Butt…holes?" Pohatu tilted his head in confusion. "Forgive me. What is a butt, and…why does it have a hole?"

Yang wheezed and clamped her jaw to avoid cackling her head off. Neo gasped sharply and doubled over in silent, raucous laughter. The confused Toa, completely unfamiliar with the ancient art of toilet humor, just sort of looked at each other with a shrug, then turned back to face the Ghekula - all of whom were, mercifully, somehow unaware of the barely-suppressed giggle fits happening in the nearby bushes.

"…perhaps we should discuss butts and their holes some other time," said the Toa of Fire, unaware of what he was saying. "For now, let us focus. Yang and Neo, we attack on your command."

Taking one last gasp and wiping a tear from her eye - dammit come on Yang you're not twelve years old anymore - the blonde brawler sighed and unfolded Ember Celica with a flick of her wrists. "Hah…hahaha…alright. Okay. I'm good now. You ready to do this, Shortstack?"

Next to her, Neo composed herself and deployed Hush's hidden blade through the parasol tip, nodded tightly, and counted down with her raised fingers.

Three…

Yang chambered a pair of shotgun shells. Cha-chunk.

…two…

Tahu's sword came alive in a shower of sparks. Fwooosh.

…one…

Pohatu cracked his metallic knuckles. Krrrk.

…go.

The Huntresses leapt out of the Illusion just as it shattered and reformed into a flash of blinding light, disorienting any Ghekula unlucky enough to be looking in its direction. Yang took advantage of this diversion to draw the attention of two Rahi with blasts of buckshot, while Neo leapt towards a stunned frog and got to work. With the tug of a hooked parasol handle, the mask came right off like a wooden board when met with a crowbar; with a single pinpoint stab of the rapier-like blade, the Kraata shrieked and screeched before dissolving into sickly green smoke. The newly-liberated Ghekula blinked several times in confusion, shook its head to clear it, then hopped away with a deep croak to avoid the coming battle.

"That's it, girls!" Pohatu called as he leapt out next. "One freed, two distracted, and nine left! Keep it up!"

"You have something that belongs to me, Makuta!" Tahu growled as he joined his brother, brandishing his sword. "Have your beasts surrender it, and your Kraata shall be spared!"

Unsurprisingly, the Ghekula did not do as the Toa of Fire commanded.

Instead, the frog-like Rahi puffed up their throats and let out sonorous war cries, drowning the intruders in reverberating bass so deep Yang could feel her teeth tingle. Then they went on the offensive, with half of the Ghekula maintaining the low droning noise while the others lashed out with their mutated weapons. The Toa engaged their Masks of Shielding to barely block kicks that could shatter stone. Neo twirled her parasol to deflect globs of venom that made the swamp water boil away on contact. And Yang did her best to dodge and weave between the lashing tongues of two opponents…only for a third to wrap around her waist and yank her back.

"Rrrrikkit," went the frog.

"Oh crap," went the Huntress.

The good news was that the Ghekula's tongue didn't immediately retract into a big waiting mouth, so Yang didn't have to worry about being eaten. What happened instead was far worse. She found herself flung and slammed against the surface of the swamp over and over again, hitting pools of fresh water hard enough to make the fluid feel like solid concrete. While her Aura held strong during each impact, it still knocked the wind out of her - and even though she felt her Semblance building and burning in strength, the Ghekula gave no opportunity to hit back. After several blows that would've snapped her like a twig, the frenzied flight stopped…only for the tongue to plunge under the water with her in tow, slamming into the swamp bed with the surface just out of reach.

Yang grunted and gurgled in shock, blowing bubbles to clear her mouth and drawing her arm back to smash the metallic tongue holding her under. But the Ghekula seemed to sense that she still had some fight in her, because in one smooth move it rolled her up, spun her around, pinned her arms to her sides, and squeezed hard enough to force out whatever air she had left. A pained moan choked its way through a burning throat, her hands stretched uselessly for a Scroll that sat just barely out of reach, and her frantic kicks barely even scuffed the armor of the tongue's metallic plates as it retracted with a snap.

So this is how I actually die, thought the half-drowned Huntress as the Ghekula's waiting maw came rushing into view. Thrown around like a ragdoll, dunked into swamp water, then eaten by a giant robot frog. A humorless laugh escaped her lips. People are gonna be giggling at my funeral, aren't they?

That morbid question would go unanswered, because at that moment salvation arrived in a very unlikely form.

Yang expected to look through the rippling surface and see Tahu outright incinerating the Ghekula, or even to see Pohatu kicking it into the sky. What she didn't expect was to see a smaller woman with pink-and-brown hair literally materialize out of thin air, plunge her long thin blade through the gaps of the tongue, and pierce the sensitive flesh underneath. The tension in her bindings instantly went lax from Neo's surprise attack, giving the half-drowned Huntress just enough slack in her bindings to act on her own. She yanked herself free, pushed her feet under herself, threw her head out of the water…

"Gaaaaaaah!"

…and after taking the mother of all deep breaths, she activated her Semblance and punched the stupid frog into next week.

WHAM!

Her hair burned like an inferno as Remnant steel and soul energy pounded into protodermis. The Ghekula, who had swelled its throat up to try and soften the blow, deflated like a dying balloon as every bit of force it dealt to the raging Huntress was suddenly returned in equal measure. The impact of her fist sent the frog flying into the sky with a painful-sounding croak, its long tongue following and flopping behind it like the tail of a kite; Yang grabbed its tongue and snapped it back with all her might, bringing the amphibious Rahi back down to earth just in time for another world-shattering fiery punch.

WHAMMMM!

Yang's target let out one more pained croak before it flopped down into the water. Everyone, friend and foe, turned and paused as the sight (and sound) of a giant Ghekula getting its clock cleaned sent ripples across the swamp. The frogs creating the droning, deafening war song fell silent for just a moment, giving Pohatu a chance to kick blinding balls of shaped mud into their faces and eyes to ensure they didn't give an encore. The rest were corralled by Tahu and his flaming sword, both of which were unleashing intense yet controlled walls of fire that burned even on the water's surface. And whenever one Rahi felt brave enough to lash out at the elemental warriors with high-velocity tongues, the Toa shattered into glass shards that hovered in midair for a brief moment - before driving themselves into its armor, immobilizing it with phantom pain.

Needless to say, Yang was feeling a lot better about how the fight was going now.

"Hah…hahhhh…" she panted, gasping for air and spitting up water. "Not so fun when you're the one getting yanked around, is it?"

"Rikkiiiiiiit," said the dazed and thoroughly humbled frog.

"That's what I thought." Yang blinked to let the burst of her Semblance fade away, red eyes shifting back to lavender as she picked out a new target -

But before she did, she cast a glance over to Neo, who was already plunging Hush into the Kraata hiding within the weakened Rahi. Brown-and-pink eyes flitted frantically between the ground and the Ghekula, seemingly looking everywhere except at the blonde brawler she'd rescued. Yang wasn't sure why the former assassin had gone out of her way to do just that, especially when there wasn't any kind of benefit for her - she could have easily just let her drown and be devoured, and no one would have dared blame her when two Toa backed up her story. Judging by her confused facial expression and body language, not even Neopolitan herself seemed to know the reason she had for saving her.

Maybe she really is trying to be a better person, she realized.

One thing that Yang did know, however, was that she was quite grateful.

"…oh, uh, hey. Shorts - sorry. Neo?"

The silent woman looked up as her former enemy called her by her real name, muscles stiffening slightly and her breath hitching. Clearly she was expecting a beating, but what she got instead was a grateful smile.

"Thanks for that," said Yang with a soft laugh. "I owe ya one."

Neo blinked in surprise, then nodded with a small smirk of her own. After a silent moment of burgeoning respect, the two Huntresses readied their weapons and leapt back into the fray!

---

"Another Jaga-stinger! Quick-speed!"

Lewa's axe whipped up the wind as it swirled through the arid air of Tiro Canyon, carving through a crucial linkage in the massive scorpion's tail before it could even completely pull itself onto the ledge. Onua activated his Mask of Strength as he moved in on the wounded Rahi, grabbed the infected Kanohi masks on its pincers, and ripped them off with a single tug. Blake swooped in with her sword and cut an opening in the central carapace, which gave her fellow Huntress a chance to swing in from the opposite direction and snag the screaming Kraata in her chain. Emerald smirked as she tossed the disgusting little thing into the air, timing her throw just right for the Toa's weapon to cleave its head off as it returned to its owner's hand.

The newly-liberated Nui-Jaga chittered in confusion for a moment longer, then scuttled across the dusty canyon, crawled up the wall leading to the rest of Onu-Wahi's surface, and vanished out of sight.

"Nice hustle everyone," said Blake with a smirk as she landed next to Lewa and unwrapped her ribbon from its stone overhang. "That's one more Nui-Jaga down, and only…"

She and the Toa of Air peered into the deep hole at the end of the canyon, which was practically crawling with giant scorpions clad in purple and blue armor. A single stone pedestal sat at the bottom of the natural nest, which proudly displayed a dull-gray mask that sat and shone like clear glass. The Nui-Jaga below hissed and clung to every available stony surface, visibly disturbed and frustrated by the intruders who refused to come close enough to trigger a mass attack but wouldn't just leave either.

"…a lot more to go," finished the black-haired Huntress with a sigh.

Emerald sighed. "Not that I don't appreciate the fact that they're coming at us a few at at a time, but…are you sure this is the best way to do this, Onua? At this rate, we'll be squashing bugs for the next two weeks just to get this one mask of yours."

"It is the safest option," rumbled the Toa of Earth as he tapped the ground yet again, sending another tremor through the rocky ground. "My Kanohi Kaukau sits in the middle of this Nui-Jaga nest - trying to retrieve it any other way risks bringing the entire swarm down on top of us. A mass attack from the Kofo-Jaga is difficult, but survivable. The same, however, cannot be said for the stings of their larger cousins. Our greatest chance of success lies in slowly thinning them out up here, where the canyon walls and the narrow passageway gives us the advantage. It is far too risky to do anything beyond that."

Lewa furrowed his brow. "Brother, I understand that you don't like danger-risks…but sometimes it is necessary to do things quick-fast instead of safe-sure. Especially when lives are on the line - such as ours, or the Matoran, or our friends."

Onua looked up warily. "And you believe this is such a case?"

"I do." The Toa of Air grinned behind his mask. "Watch-close now, and you just might learn something."

"Lewa…"

He pointedly ignored his brother's chiding tone. "Sprout-leaf? Wind-dust me."

"Lewa!"

Emerald grinned as she fished out a crystal as green as her namesake, tossing it over to her taller ally as he stowed his axe. As another Nui-Jaga scaled the nest wall and came into view, Lewa unleashed a blast of wind from both hands that knocked it back over the edge. As it flipped over the Toa of Air leapt and planted his feet against the scorpion's soft underbelly, riding the falling scorpion all the way down to the nest floor twenty bios down. When he reached the bottom he leapt off and triggered the power of his Kanohi Miru, floating over the brood of insects and scooping up the waiting Kaukau as he perched on the pedestal.

"Lewa!" called Onua from above, his rumbling voice echoing off the nest walls.

He saw Blake peering over the edge, about to jump off when Emerald laid a hand on her shoulder to keep her back. With a grin, the Toa of Air looked at the gathering horde that literally crawled over each other to swarm him, every member of which was hissing and screeching and snapping their claws together.

"Sorry to sudden-drop in like this, but I can't stay." Despite the danger, his voice never wavered in confidence as he held out the Dust. "Worry not, I'll be soon-going with the mask…but I'll give you this instead. Call it a fair-trade?"

The hissing Nui-Jaga didn't seem interested in bartering. Lewa just shrugged and raised the chunk of otherworldly crystal over his head anyways. He knew from experience that shattering a Dust piece of this size and color resulted in a huge explosion of instant wind. In fact, he was counting on it.

"See that your shadow-master gets my cheer-gift," he said with a glib grin, "and pass him a message on my behalf. The other Toa and I are coming for Makuta very soon - make sure he has a good grave-tomb picked out."

One of the scorpions finally lashed out with its tail…but the stinger didn't strike the leaping Toa of Air.

Instead, it struck the piece of Dust he left behind - with enough force to shatter it.

WHOOOOOOOSH!

A raging storm suddenly swept through the bottom of the nest, blowing out in all directions with the force of an angry hurricane. Everything not nailed down went flying in the explosion of wind - the scorpions, the sand, the stones, and even the Toa of Air himself. Lewa cackled with glee even as he raised his free hand to ride the rising tempest, activating his own mask power and letting the elemental explosion send him soaring higher and higher. Even when he left the blast radius, his momentum and his Miru still carried him farther and farther, allowing him to sail into the sky and land in front of his allies with a single flip and a dramatic bow.

"One Kanohi Kaukau, as ordered," said the breathless Toa of Air, tossing the mask to his brother. "Hope it fits, because I'd sorry-hate to have to return it."

Onua glared as he fitted the transparent Kanohi over his own. "That was incredibly reckless, brother." Then his gaze softened. "…and yet, it is appreciated all the same. Thank you, Lewa. Perhaps…perhaps there are lessons to be learned in acting in haste."

Lewa smirked as he clasped the shoulders of the Toa of Earth. "Happy to be of service, brother Onua. And for the record-keeping, that wasn't recklessness - that was confidence. The difference lies in knowing what you can and can't do, and how quick-well you can do it."

"I see…" mused his brother, nodding his head in understanding.

Blake raised an eyebrow at the Toa of Air, then looked over to Emerald. "So is he always like this?"

"Pretty much, yeah," said the other Huntress. "Welcome to my world - you're just visiting, I have to live here."

"You know you love it, sprout-leaf!" Lewa laughed. "Come, friends! Onto the next power-mask!"

Casting a glance at the stunned, disoriented Nui-Jaga far below, Onua nodded and followed his more impulsive brother's lead.

---

"…and there we go! Two river Ruki, rotisserie style. Enjoy!"

A pleasant aroma filled the air, making Neo's mouth water as Yang pulled a pair of meat-laden skewers out of the fire. The blonde brawler took a bite out of one of the fish as big as her forearm, nodded in approval, then handed the other one to a very hungry Huntress. She instantly tore into the soft, slightly-steamed flesh, moaning silently as complex, savory flavors washed over her taste buds. It reminded her of smoked salmon glazed in honey…soft and tender and a far cry from her own first attempt to cook a meal for herself not too long ago.

"Not bad, huh?" Yang chuckled as she watched her unlikely ally devour half the fish in just a few seconds. "Figured out the best way to cook these things a few days ago - the trick to roast them slowly and rotate them, so that all the juices and fats stay inside the meat instead of falling out. Just gotta watch out for - "

TING! A sharp pain rocked Neo's teeth as she bit down on something warm, hard, and metallic.

" - that…" The blonde brawler winced. "Ouch…you good?"

Rubbing her sore jaw, she pulled the fish away to reveal a metallic skeleton still inside the meal. Her eyebrow shot up, and she glared daggers at Yang.

"Hey, don't look at me like that!" she said defensively. "Keeping the protodermis skeleton inside is actually pretty important when cooking a Ruki fish; it's where most of the flavor and moisture comes from. If you try to separate the meat from the metal and roast the edible bits separate, you end up with something super bland and dry. Like, you might as well be eating actual wax at that point. And besides, you can always pick around the bones after it's done…or, if you really want a treat, you can do this."

Yang grinned as she split apart her fish and pulled out the metal spine, cracking one end of the plating with her mechanical thumb and pulling along the length. Neo watched as a good six inches of bony steel slid off like a sleeve, revealing some kind of soft gray substance. Then to her horror, the other Huntress bit down on the tip of the meaty spine, slurping it out of the bones and leaving nothing but metallic shavings behind.

"Mmm…" said the blonde brawler, licking her fingers greedily. "Tastes just like crab legs back home. Go on, give it a try!"

Neo looked at Yang, then her fish, and back again. Then she ripped the bones of her meal out and handed it over with a revolted expression, promptly finishing her food before she could lose her appetite any further.

"Not a fan, huh? That's alright, Neo. You can have the meat, I'll have the bones." She grinned as she turned to the Toa standing guard. "You guys sure you're not hungry? I can always make more if you like."

Tahu looked away from the horizon and shook his head. "The offer is appreciated, but we must decline. Toa do not…eat…as humans do."

"Really?" Yang hummed thoughtfully after slurping down the second spine. "How do you eat, then?"

"Like this."

The Huntresses watched as Pohatu plucked a fruit from a tree growing along the river, bouncing it in his hands for a moment before staring hard at it. A faint glow of bronze light formed at the point of contact, and as the seconds ticked by Neo could see the fruit deflate like a dying balloon. A moment later, the emptied skin of the fruit lay as flat as metallic paper, and Pohatu's orange eyes flashed and flickered for a moment before returning brighter than ever.

Yang tilted her head. "Huh. So you just…absorb the food?"

"We absorb energy," clarified the Toa of Stone. "Protodermis in all its forms is extremely rich in elemental energy, and in certain states the bonds between molecules are easily split apart. By breaking special items like nuts and berries down into a near-massless form, we are able to consume it directly and efficiently. Drinking is done similar to how you intake fluids, by using induction ports built into our masks. Generally, though, it's not something that's done often; unlike organics, we can sustain ourselves for up to an entire year solely on the power that comes from our Kanohi."

"That is also why we are greatly weakened should our masks be removed," added Tahu with a nod. "For Matoran, the effect is far more severe - they enter a form of stasis without their masks."

"…hmm." The blonde brawler frowned. "Kinda takes the fun out of meals, doesn't it? The flavors, the smells, the cooking process…the company. I couldn't imagine just…touching my food and instantly feeling full."

"Nor could I ever imagine mashing up my meals and digesting them slowly and messily," countered Pohatu. "But that is simply how our respective Great Spirits made us…and who can fathom the wisdom of Mata Nui? I certainly would not question your creators."

Yang chuckled bitterly and shook her head. "Well…nice to know there's at least one god out there with 'wisdom,' cause the Brothers of Light and Darkness sure didn't have much of that rattling around in their stupid glowing heads."

Tahu raised an eyebrow. "You…do not have a high opinion of the Great Spirits of your world?"

Neo just watched as Yang seemed to smolder at the question, and she had a sinking feeling that the Toa of Fire had stumbled into a landmine.

"No, I think they're great," said the Huntress sarcastically. "Really good guys, all things considered. They've done so much for us, and they've done so many cool things. Like, there was that one time they made a grieving woman immortal because she tricked them into bringing her husband back to life. That was fun, and fair, and definitely didn't have any consequences. Or how about that time they wiped out humanity after that same woman went crazy and raised an army to attack them? Good thing we bounced back from that extinction event! Oh, and we can't forget my favorite thing they did; they resurrected the husband's spirit in order to fight the crazy immortal lady - you know, the same person that lady wanted all along - and left behind super powerful artifacts that, if brought together when the new humanity's not united, could destroy the entire world. Guess what that crazy lady's trying to do now, all to try and end the curse that they stuck her with?"

Both Toa watched as the blonde brawler paced, her eyes shifting from lavender to red. "And you wanna know the best thing about Remnant's 'Great Spirits?' Instead of fixing their mistake and taking back that crazy woman's immortality - you know, before she can start calling herself the queen of the Grimm, or before she starts going on a murderous rampage to get said artifacts - they doubled down, abandoned Remnant completely, and broke the goddamn moon on their way out. Cause y'know, who cares if the people left behind are suffering and dying to their creations? It's not their problem anymore!"

Silence hung in the air as Tahu, Pohatu, and even Neo stared at Yang's outburst. The blonde brawler sobbed once, shuddered twice, then stomped over to the nearby river and curled up into a ball. The Toa of Fire looked between his allies, then went and sat next to her while laying a hand on her shoulder.

"I…apologize for upsetting you once again," he said gently.

Yang nuzzled her head against the Toa's gauntlet. "It's alright, big guy. It wasn't you that set me off this time, I promise. It's just…a lot of this is stuff that I've been processing ever since Jinn showed us what Ozpin wasn't telling us, stuff that hasn't really sunk in until just now. After Atlas fell, after everything that happened, I just…I…"

She curled up even tighter and squeezed her eyes shut.

"…I'm so tired of losing people when it's not my fault."

Now that was a pain that Neo understood all too well. She set down her finished skewer, walked over to Yang, and pulled her into a silent side hug. Surprisingly, she didn't resist. Even more surprisingly, she returned it, even burying her face into the silky vest. Tahu kept one hand on her shoulder, even pooling a small amount of power into his palm to bring soothing warmth to the grieving Huntress.

Pohatu came over and stood on Neo's opposite side, staring out at the sunset with a pensive gaze. "Your world sounds…dangerous, and strange. I personally struggle to imagine a planet without Rahi, without protodermis, and without Matoran. Yet if there exists a way back to it, I would like to journey there someday. You are helping us fix the issues plaguing this world - it would be selfish to not do the same for your own."

"N-no…" choked Yang. "You don't…you don't need to make a promise like that. This world needs you, too…"

"For now, it does," said Tahu with his own resolute stare. "But once Mata Nui is awakened, and our Destiny achieved…what else is there for us to do? What would become of us, should we survive after accomplishing our Duty?"

The blonde brawler chuckled and sobbed slightly. "I dunno. Retire out in the countryside? Build little huts for yourselves? Take up Ussal breeding?"

Pohatu laughed in turn. "Ah, if only it were that simple, Yang. Bear in mind, I don't claim to know the future or what it holds. But I do know that I am glad you are here to help us face it…and that Mata Nui will surely smile on you in gratitude for all that you and your allies have done. At the very least, know that I will."

"As will I," said Tahu with a solemn nod. "Together, we shall see this through, and Makuta's shadows will plague this land no longer. You helped me see that, Yang Xiao Long."

Yang sniffled one more time, then finally pulled back and wiped her eyes. "I…hah. Thanks, guys. You're no Team RWBY…but I'm glad I can call you teammates all the same."

Neopolitan raised an inquisitive eyebrow, her eyes alone asking the question on her mind.

"…yeah, sure, I guess that includes you too, Shortstack. C'mere."

Yang put a mechanical arm around her shoulder and pulled her in for another side-by-side hug, letting the pink-and-brown-haired Huntress curl up and lean on her as the sun began to set on another day in Mata Nui.

---

"So, what do you think of Gali so far?"

The question caught Weiss off-guard, making her turn away from watching the distant white-and-blue figures that carefully made their way through a large field of molten magma. Despite her and Ruby's offer to go with them and help, Gali had insisted they stay behind while she and Kopaka went to retrieve the latter's Pakari. The Toa of Water had argued that as biomechanical beings they were better equipped to handle the toxic fumes and suffocating heat, two things that the girls with their weakened Auras weren't strong enough to mitigate. So the sinking sun found the pair of Huntresses sitting at the edge of a Ta-Wahi cliff in the gentle breeze, munching on roasted Ruki fish and picking around the metal bits to get at the smoky meat inside.

"Where did that come from?" Weiss asked as she cast another handful of scrap into the campfire. "Are you trying to fish for compliments on her behalf or something?"

Ruby giggled at her partner's sudden defensiveness. "C'mon, Weiss. You really think I'm that subtle?"

"Fair enough." The former heiress hummed thoughtfully and pursed her lips. "Well…she reminds me of Klein, in a weird way."

"Was he the funny butler who could make his eyes change colors?"

"The very same." Weiss smiled and nodded. "He was…my only real friend, growing up. Klein is everything that my father never was - warm, inviting, accepting, wise, and supportive. It feels like Gali's the same way."

The silver-eyed Huntress rested a hand on the back of hers, making Weiss's heart flutter and skip a beat.

"I know what you mean," said Ruby with a smile. "She's been…incredible. Even though she doesn't understand anything about Remnant or Salem or anything else we've been through, just talking about it with her almost always makes me feel better about it. I wouldn't have gotten this far without her…in fact, if she hadn't found me, I might not be here at all…"

Ruby's smile faded, and Weiss didn't need a mind-reading Semblance to know that she was thinking back to how she'd almost drowned in the seas of Mata Nui. She decided that this would not do, and moved her hand to weave their fingers together with a gentle squeeze. The smile came back almost instantly, along with a soft blush that made butterflies erupt in the heiress's stomach.

Tell her you love her. Tell her that she matters to you. Tell her that she's the most wonderful person in the worlds and that she deserves nothing but the best and that you would face down Salem a thousand times for her if she asked…

"…so, what do you think of Kopaka?"

Gods damn it, Schnee.

The little rose, thankfully oblivious to her partner's inner turmoil, hummed thoughtfully as she set her tray of fish down next to her. Having picked her own dish clean, Weiss dumped the inedible bits into the fire and folded it back up for storage.

And Yang said that the travel dinnerware kit was a waste of Lien, she thought with a vindictive smile.

"I haven't gotten much of a chance to talk with him," said Ruby after a pensive pause. "I mean, you saw me break up his fight with Tahu, and while they seemed to work together during that fight with the Kanohi Dragon, he still feels kinda…distant? Like, don't get me wrong, I can tell that he cares about you and about the other Toa…he just doesn't seem the type to show that he cares, y'know?"

"You're not wrong," admitted Weiss with a sigh. "Kopaka's a good fighter and a kind soul, but he's definitely not easy to get along with. He always thinks he has to do everything himself, and that he's strong enough to handle it. Prideful, stubborn, arrogant, doesn't always play well with others…it was actually kind of infuriating, trying to work with him before I could…"

She trailed off as she noticed the grin on her partner, one that was too adorable for words to describe.

"…what's that look supposed to mean?"

The little rose bobbed her head back and forth. "Oh, nothing. Just…it's funny how much he annoys you in particular."

Weiss threw up her hands, disentangling her fingers from her partner's in the process. "Why does everyone keep saying that? I wasn't that bad…was I?"

"Ehhhh…" Ruby made a show of giving a noncommittal shrug. "Well, I mean, there's a reason we all called you the ice queen back in - HURK!"

The former Heiress playfully tugged on the hood of her partner, trying not to laugh as silver eyes went wide as dinner plates. "Take that back, you uncultured peasant!"

"Ack! Gah! Oh no, the monarchy is trying to silence me!" Ruby held a hand up as she melodramatically wailed. "Help help, I'm being repressed!"

"You're such a child!" Weiss spat even as she herself descended into a fit of girlish giggles. Ruby joined her, leaning back against her partner until they were both pressed flat against the ground. The warmth of the volcano and the lava lake radiated through ashen soil, but it was nothing compared to the heat in Weiss's face as she realized Ruby Rose was laying on top of her, silver eyes and cute little face beaming with joy and laughter.

It would be so easy to just crane her neck up and kiss her.

So why didn't she? What was holding her back?

Her laughter faded as she took a deep breath, hoping against hope that her cheeks didn't look nearly as red as they felt. Ruby seemed to sense the sudden shift in mood, because she slowly pulled herself off and pushed herself off the ground, gently tugging on Weiss's hands to lift her up as well.

"…Weiss?" she asked as she knelt to face her partner. "Is…is everything okay?"

Everything was not okay. Her mouth felt like it was full of cotton and her heart wanted to explode. Those silver eyes, shimmering with the afterglow of mirth and happiness, now held nothing but concern for her.

You know she's into you, she mentally encouraged herself. You know you're into her. There's no reason to be afraid of rejection. Just…tell her how you really feel about her.

So why did this still feel like the hardest thing in the world? Her own ice-blue eyes felt like they would melt into a freezing pool of emotions if she dared to meet her partner's gaze, yet she took the plunge anyways as she drew a deep breath.

"…I…I forgot how much I missed this," she began apprehensively. "How much I missed…you."

Not the best start to a romantic confession, but not the worst either. Ruby seemed to sense that she was struggling to form words, because she said and did nothing but gently clasp Weiss's hands in her own.

"I…don't know how to explain what I'm feeling - how I feel about you," she continued. "I don't know when or how these feelings started. Maybe they've always been there, and I've been too stubborn to see them. Maybe I forced them down when I saw how much you were hurting after Beacon fell, or I pushed them out of my mind to focus on our mission in Atlas. I don't know. But what I do know is that after seeing you fall into the void…after being afraid that I might've lost you forever…all I've been able to think about is you."

Silver eyes softened as Weiss's hands dared to trail along Ruby's faintly-muscled arms, feeling smooth ivory skin glide beneath her fingertips before her palms came to rest on bare shoulders. "Do you realize just how much you mean to me, Ruby Rose? I was…so cold, so empty, so lonely when I first came to Beacon. I pushed away anyone I didn't like - including you - because that's all I knew how to do. And yet you never stopped trying to be my friend, never stopped trying to be part of my life…no matter how much I hurt you."

A sharp laugh escaped her throat. "I mean, for crying out loud, in our first week as a team I threw a fit because Ozpin made you the leader instead of me! I was acting every bit like the petulant child I kept accusing you of being, and that still wasn't enough to drive you away or make you hate me. Ever since then I've come to admire your strength, your optimism, your belief in the best of people, and your ability to smile even in the darkness…and somewhere along the way, I guess that's shifted to admiring you, in every sense of the word. In…in that sense of the word."

Weiss's eyes flicked down to her partner's lips, desperately wishing she had the courage to capture them in her own. "And I…I don't know what to do now because I never had urges this strong before but now I do and I wanted to act on them at Kini-Nui but I couldn't bear the thought of pouring out my heart and saying that I love you only to leave again but now you're here and I'm still scared and the more I look at you the more I want to - "

But whatever else she said was lost as Ruby leaned forward and kissed her.

Her body seized up for a moment as her brain worked to process this new sensation, and at first she was so overwhelmed she forgot to return the kiss - or to breathe, for that matter. Eventually Weiss closed her eyes and puckered her lips with a soft moan, even reaching to cup her partner's cheek with her palm. A thousand emotions raced through her mind with each sharp breath, her skin tingled with warmth as Ruby's hands snaked around her waist, and all her fears and tensions seemed to melt away at the little rose's touch.

All too soon Ruby pulled away, though she kept her hands on Weiss's side as she gave a smile as bright as the stars.

" - do that…" breathed the heiress, her face burning. "Ruby…"

The little rose chuckled softly, reaching up and lacing her fingers with the hand that still held her cheek. "Weiss, I…every single thing you said just now, I could say about you. You're so incredible, so graceful, so beautiful in every possible way. I thought it'd be impossible for someone like you to love me, not as much as I loved you…until you gave me that kiss on the cheek in Kini-Nui, and I knew…I knew you felt the same way. You've been in my mind and my heart ever since then…and you always will be."

Ruby nuzzled into Weiss's hand, her gaze faltering and her smile withdrawing. "I don't know what's going to happen next, and that terrifies me. I'm scared that we might never get home. I'm scared that Makuta might kill us. But most of all I'm scared that we'll get back to Remnant, only to find a world even worse than the one we left. Everything is so scary right now…but somehow, having you by my side and in my heart makes me brave enough to keep going. To keep fighting. To keep moving forward."

She closed her eyes and delivered a soft kiss against the heiress's palm, sending tingles down both their spines. "So let's…let's stop letting fear rule our lives, Weiss Schnee. I want to be yours - your friend, your partner, your one and only, and anything else you want me to be. I want you in my life, because I can't imagine living one without you. You've outgrown the title of 'ice queen,' but…you're still my queen, forever and always."

Weiss felt her chest flutter at Ruby's words. It wasn't fair. How could her team leader be this cute and sensitive all at the same time? How could she make butterflies appear in her stomach with just a glance and a smile, and make her blush with eye contact alone?

She didn't know, and she hoped to the Gods that she would never find out.

"Then…" she whispered tentatively, heat rising to her face as she traced circles on Ruby's cheek with her thumb. "As your queen, I demand…no, I request…that you kiss me again."

The silver-eyed angel giggled as her face hovered closer. "Oh Weiss. I don't need an order to do that."

She barely managed to get a breath before her girlfriend closed in.

The way Ruby pounced on Weiss and crashed their lips together was unpracticed and sloppy, yet adorably enthusiastic and endearing. The heiress gasped and giggled as she felt herself pinned between the ground and her partner, melting into the kiss and guiding Ruby's hands by the wrists to where heat bled through her skin. Slender hands and nimble fingers caressed her waist and cradled her back; she trailed her own fingertips over the little rose's spine and neck, drawing forth a shuddering breath from Ruby that made Weiss's heart skip several beats all at once. Her lips rotated in smooth sync with the Huntress in her arms, and she eventually clasped soft, burning cheeks between her palms to get a firmer hold as the kiss deepened and intensified.

This…this was something she'd never realized she wanted. Never realized she needed. This warmth. This joy. This…

Love.

And all it took to reveal it was being trapped on an island far away from Remnant. Weiss didn't want to think about what that implied about her romantic initiative. So she chose instead to think about the sweet taste of the beautiful rose in her arms, vowing that nothing could keep them apart any longer.

"We have returned with the Kanohi Pakari, the Great Mask of - oh."

All the color drained out of Weiss's face as Ruby suddenly squeaked and stiffened in her grasp, frozen as if Gali's mere words were as cold as Kopaka's elemental attacks. The silver-eyed Huntress slowly and carefully pulled away, keeping Weiss's hands in her own as she looked back at the Toa approaching from behind. Weiss peered over her own prone body to see the taller half of their group standing over them, victory and relief visible in their stance even if their armor was blackened by ash and soot from the volcano.

Ruby stared at Gali.

And Gali stared at Ruby.

Weiss stared at Kopaka.

And Kopaka stared at Weiss.

Silence settled over the group until finally, the little rose cleared her throat and spoke in a small timid voice.

"…um. W-we can explain what that was just now."

"Please don't." Kopaka sighed as he walked away. "The less I know about human rituals involving your strange…mouth worms, the better I'll sleep. So long as you both are happy, that's enough for me."

Gali, on the other hand, seemed far more empathetic and curious about their activities - which was infinitely worse than her brother's cold indifference. "I understand that organic beings such as yourself need to…mate," she said gently as she lowered herself to the ground. "And that you have biological urges that must be satisfied. So I do not wish to impose on your activities. Please, continue; pretend as though we are not here."

Despite her good intentions, the sight of a ten-foot-tall biomechanical figure sitting across from the pair and peering with intent curiosity was awkward enough to kill any lust in Weiss's system. Ruby seemed to agree, because she laid down and buried her face into the heiress's chest with a frustrated sigh.

"Sorry…" she mumbled, clearly defeated.

"It's okay," said Weiss quietly, stroking locks of soft black-and-red hair and spooling it around her fingertips. "It's not your fault. I'm just…glad you're here. I…"

The words came far easier this time, without a trace of fear.

"I love you, Ruby."

The little rose nuzzled into her with a big dorky smile, bringing one of her partner's soft palms against her lips and planting an even softer kiss.

"I love you too, Weiss. There's nowhere else I'd rather be, than right here."

For what felt like the millionth time that day, the young Schnee melted.

---

(A/N): And that's a wrap! Hope you all enjoyed my present to you this year! Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and all those other yuletide greetings. I'm personally gonna take a week off from writing new chapters and editing current drafts until after the new year, so this'll be my last chapter of 2022! Gotta say, it's been amazing working on the story thus far, and I am so looking forward to finishing it next year.

Thanks for reading everyone! Stay safe, stay sane, stay warm, and keep being awesome!