Guess who's back! (insert Yang pose here) Yeah, it's been a long time, and I'm super, SUPER sorry. If you follow my other stories, you might have saw my posting about my absence, but if not, the short version is that February was a very shitty month for me, filled with stress, problems, and loss. So I decided to take the time to clear my head and relax a bit. But I'm back now, with the most action-packed chapter yet! I hope you enjoy it, because I feel it turned out really well. I'll wrap this story up with one more chapter, but for now, enjoy!
Hey sis! Sorry I missed you this morning!
I'm in Vale now. Wanna meet up?
-Yang
It was a simple message from her sister, but for some reason, it made Ruby worry something fierce. Not because she was afraid to hang out with her sister, but because Ruby wasn't sure how Yang would react to her hanging out with someone who was not one of her teammates. Ruby finished gathering her things from the dressing room and walked out of the shop to meet Coco outside. Coco waited, a couple of garment bags slung over her arm.
The well-dressed huntress glanced down at Ruby as she emerged, quickly noticing the slight look of worry on her face. "Something on your mind, Red?" Coco asked, sunlight glinting off her shades.
Ruby paused, then nodded. "Yeah, I guess you can say that. I got a message from my sister. She wants to meet up with me." Ruby was torn at what to do. She loved Yang as both a sister and a close friend, even if she was extremely clingy. But she was having so much fun hanging out with Coco, and she didn't want to leave the older huntress. Luckily, Coco noticed the conundrum before Ruby could explain it.
"You're worried your sister might freak out about us hanging out, don't you?" Coco asked with a knowing smile.
Ruby nodded, still nervous. "That obvious, huh?"
Coco smiled. "Well, I don't really mind if she wants to come along." She motioned for Ruby to hand her the scroll. "Let me talk to her."
Ruby wordlessly handed Coco her scroll. Coco opened it and selected Yang from her contact list. The line rang.
Yang pulled her scroll out of her pocket as it buzzed with an incoming call. She sighed in relief when the caller ID indicated it was Ruby. Yang flicked the scroll open. "Hey sis! How are ya?"
"Actually, Yang, this is Coco. I'm borrowing your sister's scroll. She's here with me," said the velvety smooth voice on the other end of line.
"Hi Yang!" the cheery voice of Ruby chirped in the background.
Yang frowned, taken aback by the unexpected call from the chocolate huntress. "Oh. So, what's up, then? Everything okay?"
"Yeah, everything's fine." Coco answered. "So, since you're here in Vale, you wanna come hang out with us? I was gonna take Red here for some target practice. I know a cool place to let off a few rounds. You can come with us, if you want."
Yang didn't really want to hang out with Coco. Not that she had anything against the older huntress. Yang was just hoping to draw her sister away so that the two siblings could bond together. But Ruby sounded like she was having fun, and she didn't want to upset her. Yang decided to relent. "Sound like fun!" the blonde brawler said, sounding slightly forced. "Where are you guys?"
"Meet us at the park at the corner of Shawcross and Haddock. We'll be there in 10 minutes. See ya soon." The call disconnected.
Yang started heading towards the park, wondering what the elder huntress had in store.
Ten minutes later…
The blonde brawler met up with Ruby and Coco at the park, and, after a huge almost-bone-crushing between Yang and Ruby, the three huntresses proceeded to head towards the mystery firing range that Coco referred to as "the best place to blow shit up outside of an Ursa den." Coco led Ruby and Yang to the outskirts of Vale, still well within the wall, but in an industrial area that seemed seedier and out of place from the rest of the city.
Yang looked worried as the three trudged down a shady-looking side street, the surrounding buildings looking unkempt and broken. "Uh, hey Coco, where are we going? This place kinda gives me the creeps. And that's saying something."
"Relax, Blondie. This place is legit. I train here during the school holiday. You'll see." Coco proceeded to walk up to the rear doors of a large warehouse, its windows clouded with dust.
Yang bristled at the casual manner Coco addressed her, but nonetheless remained quiet as Coco banged on the metal roll-down door. "Yo, Church! It's Coco! Open up! Me and my friends wanna shoot some shit!"
Yang and Ruby shared a look of curiosity as the door rolled up to reveal a tall lean man in a crisp jumpsuit. A light above him reflected off his glasses, making his eyes impossible to see. "Ah, Coco. Always a pleasure to see you." The man greeted the huntress with a subtle Southern drawl. He gestured to Ruby and Yang, still standing behind Coco. "New friends?"
Coco smirked. "Yeah, from Beacon. This is Ruby and Yang." She gestured towards the two, who waved in return. "I wanted to see if you had any new toys for us to 'dismantle'. I haven't got a real challenge from here since the time you acquired that prototype Paladin from Atlas."
The man chuckled. "Yeah, and thanks for that, by the way. The general wasn't exactly pleased when he came back for my report, and found you blew it up in less than five minutes."
Yang and Ruby glanced at each other. "Wait, you destroyed a Paladin? By yourself? One of the giant robot things the White Fang stole from General Ironwood? It took my whole team just to take one of them out!" Ruby exclaimed.
"And how exactly did you acquire one? Who are you working for?" Yang asked the man menacingly, suspicion flaring in her eyes.
"Whoa, whoa, guys, relax!" Coco stepped in. "Yang, it's cool. Church here is one of the top military scientists in Remnant. People like the SDC and the Atlas military send their new tech to Church for field trials. Which sometimes includes letting me take a crack at it."
"Exactly what the lady said," Church chipped in. He spread his arms in a wide bow. "Leonard Church, tech geek, at your service.
Yang and Ruby backed down, relieved. "Okay, so you test new tech for the military." Ruby started, "What do you have right now?"
Church smiled and beckoned them into the warehouse. "Something special from the SDC." Church led the three girls past a cluster of machines and devices. A huge shape loomed ahead, its huge mass covered by a tarp.
Church waved his hand at the mystery object. "Apparently, Mr. Schnee personally commissioned this prototype as a final combat test for his daughter before she was admitted into Beacon. I understand that you know her?"
Ruby looked shocked. "You mean Weiss? Yeah, she's my partner!"
Church nodded. "She's got serious skill then. Damn thing nearly took her head off, from what I heard. Still, she had enough punch to utterly obliterate the thing. Now, the Schnees want me to test the new version."
Church raised a data pad and input a few commands. The huge mass began to move underneath the tarp. All three girls gasped as the monstrosity fully revealed itself.
It stood over 10 feet tall. Dull gray armor gleamed in the artificial light of the warehouse. Blackness peered out from its spiked helmet. A huge broadsword rested on its back.
Ruby Yang, and Coco involuntarily stepped back in awe as Church chuckled. "Ladies, meet the SDC's latest piece of tech, codenamed, 'White Knight'." He walked over to a staircase that led up to an observation deck. "I'll give you a minute to ready yourselves." He climbed the stairs.
Ruby and Yang looked at Coco like she was crazy. "You want us to fight that thing?" Ruby squeaked.
Coco cracked her neck and unslung her purse from her shoulder. "Well, I'm definitely gonna fight it, but if you two don't want to, I'm not gonna force you to. I thought you were up to the challenge?"
Yang and Ruby shared a look, lilac meeting silver. "I'm up for it if you are, sis." Yang said.
Ruby's expression warmed, and she smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "Sure! Why not!" The red-haired huntress unsheathed Crescent Rose, deploying it into its full scythe form. She heard a metal clacking sound as Yang deployed Ember Celica on her wrists. Coco grinned as she swung her purse forward, the Gatling gun packed inside suddenly springing out into full form.
"Ready when you are, Church!" Coco yelled, as she began to spin up the barrel of her weapon.
"Got it!" the tech shouted from above. "Also, don't worry. I can shut it down if it proves to be too much!"
Coco smirked. "Like that's ever stopped me," she murmured, as she brought her gun to bear. Ruby and Yang readied themselves behind her.
Coco briefly turned around to the two sisters. "Let me get first crack. Something tells me that just shooting it won't cut it. Still, doesn't hurt to try." Yang and Ruby nodded in return.
"Alright! Starting the test in ten seconds!" Church yelled from the observation platform. The three huntresses shifted to their combat stances. An artificially pleasant female voice sounded through the speakers.
"Combat test will begin in five, four, three, two, one…begin."
The huge knight drew his sword and began to march forward, armored boots thudding on the floor.
Coco brought her gun to bear and pulled the trigger. The barrel whirred and thundered as a hail of bullets spat at the monster looming ahead. The rounds impacted on the knight's breastplate, deflecting off with no effect. The knight sped up, raising its sword.
Coco lowered her gun. She smirked. "Not gonna be easy, then. Interesting." She looked back at Ruby and Yang. "Scatter and attack!"
The three huntress broke formation and dove away, just as the knight brought its sword down in a thunderous strike, gouging the floor where they had stood just moments before.
Ruby landed in a roll and brought Crescent Rose's barrel to bear. She fired twice, connecting with the knight's head, not causing damage, but drawing its attention. The knight swung its sword at the redhead, but Ruby ducked, letting the massive blade pass over her head. Ruby sprang from her crouch, using Crescent Rose's recoil to launch herself directly at the knight. With a piercing cry, she slashed the knight right across its chest, forcing it to stumble backwards with the force of the blow. The knight lashed out at Ruby with a spiked gauntlet, connecting with the hooded huntress. Ruby was sent sprawling backwards, crashing into the far wall of the warehouse.
Yang took the opportunity to launch herself onto the knight's back. She began to strike the armor with tremendous ferocity, the shells from her gauntlets impacting at point blank range. The knight rocked with each impact. It reached back with its free hand, plucked Yang off its back like she was an annoying insect, and flung her across the warehouse.
Coco had collapsed her gun back into purse form, and jumped up to smash the heavy cudgel directly into the knight's head. It snapped back with the force of the blow. Coco smiled, but quickly frowned when the knight shrugged off the hit. It swung its sword right at Coco with razor precision. Coco didn't have time to dodge the blow. She flared her Aura to prevent herself from being cut in half, but the force of the strike still sent her flying back, sliding across the floor.
Coco groaned as she picked herself off the floor. Ruby and Yang regrouped next to the huntress, both shaken and panting, but still intact.
Church clicked on the speaker. "Had enough? I can stop it if you want me to!"
Ruby and Yang shook their heads as Coco shouted back. "No way! We're gonna beat this thing!"
Coco glanced at the two sisters. "That sunnovabitch is pretty tough. It can take and give a ton of damage.
Ruby recovered her breath and pointed. "Tough, but not invincible. Look."
Yang and Coco looked to see a neat gouge cut across the knight's chestplate- where Ruby had struck with her scythe.
Coco nodded, impressed. "Nice shot, Red."
Ruby grinned. "We've got a speed advantage over it. We can take it down. I have a plan." She whispered her idea to the two, who perked up and nodded, grins on their faces. "I just need you two to buy me some time to charge my Aura."
Yang smiled. "Leave it to me, sis." The blonde brawler charged at the knight.
The knight saw her coming and turned to face the threat head on. Yang fired a couple of shots ahead, which were easily deflected by the monster blade. However, it served its purpose as a distraction.
She pointed her gauntlets straight down and fired, sending her rocketing over the giant's head. Yang fired point blank at the monster's head. Dust rounds exploded around its helmet, obscuring its sight. The knight shook itself, trying to regain its senses and re-acquire its target.
Coco ran over to the far side of the warehouse. "Hey, tin can! Over here!" The knight saw Coco and rushed at her, sword held high for a crushing blow. Coco smiled and expertly rolled between the giant's legs, as the sword came crashing down, missing her by inches. Coco sprang up and swung her purse directly at the knight's hand holding the sword. Yang came rocketed back in front of the knight, kicked off the wall, and launched a powerful, double-fisted strike directly to the chest of the giant. The two-pronged attack resulted in the knight dropping its weapon as it was sent stumbling backwards, stance wide open for a frontal attack.
Which a certain scythe-wielder was waiting for.
"NOW, RUBY!" Yang shouted, reloading Ember Celica.
Ruby let out a battle cry as she shot forward in a burst of rose petals, her Semblance rocketing her at extraordinary speed towards her target. She let her Aura flow through her, channeling it into the blade of Crescent Rose, making it glow blood red. Ruby rolled and stopped directly below the knight, right between its huge legs. She pointed her scythe's muzzle at the floor, and fired. All her natural strength, bolstered by her Aura and the recoil of Crescent Rose, sent her flying upwards, the supercharged blade of her scythe cutting deep into the knight's armor along the entire length of its body. Ruby flipped backwards and landed in a classic hero pose, one knee down. Ruby rose from the floor and turned back to face her opponent.
The knight stood still, a gaping, smoking gash cut from groin to head. It tottered, and fell backwards, hitting the floor with a huge metallic crash.
Yang and Coco both burst into cheers. "Ruby, that was AMAZING!" Yang cried, as she ran up and swept her sister into a huge hug.
"Uhhghh" Ruby gasped, desperate for breath from Yang's crushing embrace. "Thanks, Yang. Now please. Air. Need it."
"Oh!" Yang chirped in surprise, dropping Ruby, who inhaled loudly, regaining her breath. "My bad."
Coco walked. "Nice moves there, Red. Like I said, you've got some serious talent."
Ruby glowed. "Thanks, Coco!" she chirped, a huge grin beaming on her face. She turned back the smoking wreck of armor laying on the floor. "Well, you were right about one thing. That was a LOT of fun."
"I'll say!" Church exclaimed as he raced down the stairs. "That was a blast to watch! The SDC probably won't be as pleased, though." He ran over to the smoldering knight, running his hand through his hair. "Man, Mr. Schnee is gonna be pissed…"