I do not own RWBY or other known Rooster Teeth productions. All such products belong to Rooster Teeth and only Rooster Teeth.
"Almost there...almost there…"
She had been walking forever. Walking through the dark forest-intent on reaching her destination.
She had walked-regardless of exhaustion, regardless of the bruises all over her body, regardless of the cuts that appeared on her arms, legs, and face…
She walked on regardless...determined to reach that place...in search of the truth…
"Almost there...just a little further…"
She glanced back at the small wagon she was pulling with her. A small figure lay sleeping inside, wrapped in a bright red cloak-the only memento of their lost mother…
...At least her sister's mother. Her own apparent mother however was severely lacking from the bigger picture…
"We're almost there sis...We're almost there…"
Her body had long since given up on trying to stop her. She had gone so far that her legs were screaming at her to stop and rest...or worse, turn around and go back home.
But she endured and continued, and eventually the sore pain of walking was replaced with incredible exhaustion, which she powered through as well.
She would reach her goal...even if hell were to rise and stand in her way, she would reach her goal.
"Almost there...just around the bend…"
"..."
"...There! There it is...right there…"
The building ahead was long abandoned. A crumbling, decrepit shack with broken and boarded windows of which were withering away and rotting from the rain and nearby moisture. The roof was falling apart, with various shingles missing or nearly falling off. The chimney that the house possibly had long ago was now fractured, having fallen through the roof and causing it to collapse in said location. The front door that had once been on its hinges was now shattered, laying in front of the doorway...possible proof that the Grimm had since ransacked the place, destroying it in their spiteful hatred of all humanity.
It was the exact place she was looking for…
"There...mother is there...mother is inside...mother is inside!"
She took a step forward, then another step, then another, then another, then anoth-
She stopped…
She felt it, this heavy, scornful presence-full of malice and rage. Her hairs stood up as she stared at the darkness beyond the doorway, from which an inferno of sorrow and animosity emanated...from which only one thing could bring about in all their strength and power…
She started breathing heavily, taking a step back as the growls and snarls reached her ears. They emerged one by one-two eyes...four...six...only six-three pairs of sanguine eyes. Eyes which brought with them the promises of hell, destruction, and the promises of death...whether it be quick or slow…
She tripped backwards, falling onto the ground. She stared at the doorway as tears welled up in her eyes, not because of her impending death, but because of the realization that she had screwed up-bringing herself not just to her death, but her own sister as well...who wouldn't even be awake to realize it, and never will…
"No...this isn't how it was supposed to go...this isn't what I wanted...sis...gotta protect my little sister...gotta protect Ruby!"
Registering the thoughts in her mind, she stared at the doorway once more. The beasts inside narrowed their eyes-waiting for her to make the first move...the first mistake.
She bolted up to her feet and ran to the wagon. The beasts emerged from the shadows, black as the night and intent on nothing more than the kill...the feasting.
She reached the wagon as the beasts charged at inhuman speeds, in erratic patterns that a human would be incapable of. She climbed in and covered herself over her sister...just as the beasts lunged, their dark forms descending, and their maws agape-ready to feed on them.
And in that fleeting moment, between then and their demise, a thought ran through her head. One that pierced her like an arrow, had it pierced wood from afar…
"Mother!"
Yang Xiao Long awoke startled. The dream of long ago bringing her back from slumberland.
She blinked for a moment, giving herself a chance to wake up, before sitting up and taking a glance around the hotel room she was residing in. It wasn't much to look at-a single bed and bathroom with a hologram, small table, and balcony. The wallpaper was falling off in some places, and the carpet was somewhat frazzled and stained. But it was reliable for a week's stay, and a week was all she needed…
She continued looking around the room, until her eyes settled on the book she had spent the entire seven to eight days she had been there reading…
"So I spent the night with you again, huh?" She said to herself. She read through the last few chapters of the book during the evening before. By the time she was done, it had been three in the morning...hence why she was now waking up at forty two minutes after noon.
She sighed, remembering when she would go out at similarly lengthy times and party until she couldn't party no more, instead of cooping herself up in a room to read a book.
"Well...at least reading isn't liable to end up with several guys beaten into the ground…"
She crawled over to the book and picked it up, glancing at the cover once more. She opened it up and looked at the title…
"The Tale of the Hero and the Life-Eater."
She stared at the title for a long time. Several things had come across her mind as she read through the book, thinking of the meaning of its contents...their implications...their truths and lies...their possibilities…
...their disturbing contexts…
"...Back from the gates of death itself…"
She remembered when she reached that particular line. At first she laughed it off as just some sort of joke, the character in question having simply survived a close scrape with death. Then she read further and further, the character seemingly defying death in multiple, impossible ways-until she reached the end and read through how the "Life-Eater" was finally "killed"...only to see that it wasn't dead in the end after all and went into hiding-biding its time to return and do whatever it wanted, good or evil.
She closed the book and put it back down on the end table, before pulling out her scroll. After she finished the book, she had called Jaune (who, from the somewhat disappointed voice in the background that Yang could only single out as Pyrrha's, was clearly having a very intimate moment with her) and asked him where Weiss and Blake would be.
The contents of the book were fairly disturbing, but they also gave out one big hint that bothered her. One that she would need both of her old friends for, since that area would now be swarming with Grimm...and who knows, maybe that "Life-Eater" as well, that would be pleasant.
"Right...first, where's Ice Queen…"
Never Wilt: The Life-Eater.
Chapter 1: The Journey Home.
"Miss Duratus, a cup of tea please."
"As you wish, Miss Schnee."
Weiss Schnee looked at the company reports-stocks, deals, employee resumes-as her secretary poured her some tea, which she did with stoic grace.
She was somewhat glad of that stoicness. She would often burst out in anger and become easily irritable, while Miss Duratus retained her calm demeanor, even in the most nerve wracking of events. An excellent way to rein her in and bring her back down to earth when she was very close to losing her marbles.
"If only I had her kind of attitude…"
She finished preparing the tea and brought it over on a decorated platter. Weiss took the platter, then the cup and brought it to her lips.
The tea was good as always-warm, having a rich texture that could be done by only the best of hands, hell, even lack of additives didn't hamper how excellent it was. She put the platter down on her desk and nodded in thanks to Miss Duratus, who took her spot in front of her desk once again.
"So...have you taken care of all the files I requested you work on…"
"Yes. I had a look at all the files, all of our shares are accurate as always, every employee is accounted for, and all of them are faxed and organized as of two hours ago…"
"Good, thank you Miss Duratus. You may return to your station…" Weiss slumped back into her seat, taking a sigh of relief as she closed her eyes. However, her secretary's
"Is something wrong?"
"Well, Miss Schnee...around two o'clock PM, yesterday, I came across a receipt for one of the local nightclubs that you frequent. I looked into it and found that you took some…"company"...home with you around four days ago…while inebriated..."
Weiss groaned. This was the one thing she both liked and hated about Miss Duratus: nothing got past her...even her own bosses activities. This was great for whenever a small mistake in the paperwork came around that needed fixing, but not so great for when she wanted a private night at a bar...with another person from time to time…
She looked to the outside world beyond the window as her secretary continued. "While I do find it imperative to at least gain some free time here and there, I would refrain from using that free time to visit a bar, have a drink, and find someone to spend the night with every time you do have it…it can be bad for your public image."
"I know, I know...I should really lay off the vodka next time…"
"Maybe all alcohol instead…"
"Yeah, yeah...just gotta remember that when I go out next time…" Weiss sighed as she sat upright in her chair. "Anything else I should know of before you return to your post."
"Yes...someone called earlier to schedule an appointment with you…"
She blinked. "They tell you who they are?"
"Nope, they simply said that you would know exactly who they were before hanging up."
She blinked again...someone she knew?
"...Right...allow them in when they arrive, I'll talk to them when they come around…" Miss Duratus nodded before turning around to head back to her office. "What time will their appointment be?"
"Four o'Clock…"
Four o'Clock...four hours from now...funny.
Weiss slumped back into her chair, reaching for the cup of tea from earlier. She took a sip from it...it was excellent as always.
...Too bad then that it didn't pepper up her spirits, because it really was excellent tea…
...Almost four o'clock...who's gonna walk through the door...who's gonna walk through the door…
She had done everything she did on her routine. She checked her computer for any new emails, she filed away any new papers that had arrived on her desk, she even took time to read a newspaper. Now all that was left was to wait for the scheduled appointee to walk through the door and discuss with her whatever it was they wanted.
It was at this point that Weiss mentally repeated her mantra of "Who's gonna walk through the door." It was a habit she developed near the beginning of her career as CEO, and she always repeated it when certain appointments were imminent...like this one at four o'clock, for instance.
She repeated the mantra for a minute...then another, and another, another, another, another…
...another…
...and another minute passed…
...Seriously…
...One more minute gone by…
…
...I swear if they don't show up within another minute, then I'm gonna-
She heard the click of the door. Silencing her mind, she looked over to the door as it opened...and had to keep her mouth from actually dropping to the desk...
She was still taller than most other women. Bright lilac eyes helped to enhance the grin stretching from one end of her face to the other. To Weiss though, the most shocking thing about her-other than who she was-was the fact that her long blonde hair, that no one ever messed with unless they had a death wish, was tied in a ponytail trailing down her back.
Her outfit was also drastically different from what she remembered. Originally, her clothes were meant to show off skin and sex appeal while still being flexible and combat ready. However, her current outfit was rather conservative-the only skin being from the thighs and knees of her legs and part of her midriff. She had on a light brown leather flight jacket over a yellow shirt that was ripped at the abdomen. On her left elbow was a black elbow pad with her burning heart symbol on it, and her hands were covered in black fingerless gloves with yellow trimmings. Her lower half consisted of black short-shorts held on by a belt holding several pieces of equipment and black combat boots with gold trimmings. Weiss could see the glint of her weapons-Ember Celica(?)- under her sleeves, along with an earring and necklace around her neck…
Weiss stared for a few minutes, practically unable to say a full sentence. Until finally her mouth managed to spit out the appointee's name…
"...Yang!?"
Her grin grew wider as she gave a small wave. "Hiya!"
Weiss's face was still staring at her in shock, even as Yang brought her teacup close to her mouth.
Well...it has been four years…
She took a sip of her tea and-holy shit this stuff is good!
"Damn Weiss, did your secretary take a degree in just making tea or is she really that good!?"
She looked over at Weiss...still staring at her like she had just seen a ghost. gee-if she knew her reaction would be this bad, she might as well been better off just calling first if she had her number...
"Uh...Weiss?"
She still didn't respond.
"Weiss…"
She stood, reached over the desk and waved a hand in front of her. Weiss immediately responded by grabbing her hand so quickly that Yang jumped slightly. "Weiss!?"
The white haired woman held on tightly to her hand and looked it over carefully-turning it over, touching it with her other hand, even smelling it (and reacting in disgust afterwards). Then after seemingly dissecting her hand with sight alone, finally released her hand and spoke for the first time since she got here.
"I can feel the touch of your hand...can see you clearly in front of me...it's really you, isn't it Yang…"
Yang sighed as she sat herself back into her seat. "So the Ice Queen finally realizes her old teammate is in front of her, YES, congratulations! Geez...It's like you thought I went and died or something…"
"...It's been four years, Yang."
"...So? You've been cooped up in your lil' castle here-I was expecting to find you sleeping on a slab of ice or stone for all I knew…"
It was technically true what she was saying. Ever since inheriting the Schnee Dust Company from her father, the number of appearances by Snow Queen had dropped way below general expectations. In fact, while Weiss had taken full control of the company a year afterward, people still thought her papa was still in charge.
Hell, even Yang herself thought that her dad was still in charge...until Jaune told her otherwise.
Weiss didn't seem to register her words for a moment, until she shook her head and spoke. "...I get out...I'm just really busy is all." She started to scratch the back of her neck. Yang gave a cheeky smile...she knew just what she was talking about…
"Oh yes! Of course you're busy-what with the visiting several big nightclubs and getting hammered and hitting it up with several of the ladies…" Yang closed her eyes and slumped further into the chair, her hands resting behind her head. "...Yes, Of course that kind of busine-"
A small thud heard right next to her ear stopped Yang. She opened her eyes to look to her right...and nearly jump out of her seat in fright. A large, narrow shard of ice was embedded deep into the right side of her seat-just a few inches right next to her head. Yang looked over at Weiss and saw that her face was almost red with anger, a contorted smile barely contrasting with her clearly furious glare and the seemingly visible killing intent surrounding her. Her hand was held out onto the desk, a single finger raised upward.
"...I'm sorry, could you say that again you overgrown tinder head...I dare you…"
That was almost the Weiss she knew...just without the terrifying aura around her...as far as she could remember. "A-uh-um...a...we-wa...ohh…"
As Yang tried to produce words, the door behind her opened as Weiss's secretary popped her head through. "Miss Schnee."
"Yes, Miss Duratus?" Weiss's expression changed from terrifying and barely contained anger to surprisingly chipper in a flash. Yang was still pale from terror nevertheless, as she sat like a log. "Mr. Vert called, the conference will be ready within the hour."
"Ah, yes! Thank you Miss Duratus, now if you just close the door behind you on the way out, thank you!" The secretary rolled her eyes before disappearing from behind the door and shutting it closed. Yang didn't move as Weiss continued to smile and wave until the door closed, letting out a frustrated sigh and sitting back into her chair.
"It's 4:41…" Her arm extended outward, and her finger pointed upwards when Weiss pulled it back. The ice shard removed itself from the chair as it floated above Weiss's hand, which clamped shut into a fist-causing it to shatter into pieces. "...We have an hour Yang. Why are you here?"
Yang didn't respond, still frozen with fear…Weiss would find it rather comical if she wasn't in a terrible mood so suddenly (Where did she even figure out about her triades at the clubs!?)...
"YANG!"
"DAH-Okay, Why I'm here, sorry..."
She took a minute to catch her breath, free from the fear of Weiss's wrath for the imminent moment. After a few minutes to calm herself (and the slight twitching of Weiss's eyebrow telling her to get on with whatever already), she took a deep breath and looked at the woman across from her-her expression completely serious.
"...I'm heading to Beacon by the end of the week."
"...Huh?"
"I'm gonna go past the wall and head to the Beacon ruins…"
For a minute, Weiss looked at her with moderate surprise, then shock as what she meant sunk in, then with an incredulous expression…
"You're going to head off beyond the wall and back to the ruins of Beacon Academy?" Yang nodded her head. Weiss sighed as she started to pinch the bridge of her nose...now she was definitely gonna need a drink after this meeting was over.
"A-And you're telling me this why?"
Yang swallowed as she craned her neck to the right. It seemed she already knew this question was coming, and wasn't eager to answer it right away (not at least until after buttering her up to it, she was sure). Weiss wasn't having any of that...her glare was telling enough.
"...Well...we're...we're old teammates and...uh...I thought that maybe, w-with Blake...we could...go there together...the three of us?"
...Of course…
She had guessed the answer exactly when she said "Beacon," but kept her mouth shut at the time...she wanted to know if it was because of that or simply to tell a friend if she never..never came back.
...At least it's not the latter…
Weiss reached down into a drawer for her desk, pulled out a bottle of wine and a single shot-glass, and set both on the top. For a minute, Yang was confused as Weiss poured some of the liquid into the glass and downed it in an instant, before she looked at her and started to speak.
"So, two things. First of all...are you insane?..."
Yang looked hurt as her head flinched away in offense. Weiss couldn't care less at the moment and continued with what she was thinking…
"...and second...Have you gone to Blake with that as well?"
"...No...I was gonna talk to her after I talked it over with you."
"Then third...Why, go back to Beacon in the first place...is this about…" For a second, her voice seemed to stutter. "...about Ruby?"
Both of them went silent. It had been five years after Ruby was officially declared MIA, and unofficially considered dead. As such, while Ruby was considered a hero for her actions during the Beacon Incident (along with the rest of the team), it was often considered taboo to speak of her when in front of the rest of team RWBY, since it brought about...sad memories…
Yang sat quietly for a solid minute, before taking a breath to answer. "...No...it's not about Ruby." Weiss looked at her-still silent-as she continued. "I actually read something...it was related to Beacon. Thought I'd figure out what it was about...planned to tell if you guys came along."
...So that's all there is to it, huh?
Weiss slumped back into her chair. They sat silently, as Weiss thought about what Yang told her. Her arguably flimsy reasoning, the sheer stupidity of the idea, and all behind the fact that she's only seen Yang for the first time in years…
Her hand went to the bottle on the desk as she poured some more into the glass next to it. Sitting it down she brought it to her mouth and drank it before sitting it back down near the desk…
"...I'm not going, Yang..." She looked Yang directly in the eyes, to make Yang exactly sure that she was completely serious. "...If you're going back to get Beacon back, then just stop right there. We lost Beacon that day, and we'll never get it back...not today, or tomorrow, or the day's afterward…"
Yang listened to her words quietly, slowly nodding as Weiss made her point. Before she sat further into the chair, having to accept that her old friend wouldn't join her on the journey to Beacon.
The silence continued, until Yang reluctantly got out of her seat and looked at Weiss. "Okay...well...it was nice seeing you again."
Weiss said nothing, nor did she even try to look at Yang. She simply processed the words as she stared into empty space. Yang turned and started walking towards the door, however upon reaching it she turned and spoke a single sentence.
"...I thought that...maybe if I'm also going to Beacon, I might also check the place we last saw Ruby. Maybe...I dunno...see if I can figure out what happened to her out there...hell, maybe grasp onto hope that she's still alive out there, if that's at all possible…" She looked at Weiss-still staring at nothing. "...Just wanted to tell you that...bye."
Not saying another word, Yang opened the door, walked through, and closed it behind her. As she did, she glanced back to her as the door closed…
...She could barely make out the tears falling down her face before she disappeared behind the door.
Miss Duratus walked through the door five minutes later. Weiss sat slumped in her chair...the notable puffiness of her eyes giving a clear indication of what she had been doing in that small amount of time.
She was almost afraid to bother her while still in this state...but, it was her job to keep her moving along, even during times like this. She swallowed as she started to speak.
"The conference will begin within forty moments Miss Schnee. I would advise you get cleaned up for now and get ready for them…" She noticed the bottle of wine and shot glass sitting on the desk. "...I'll...confiscate these for now and put them somewhere they won't bother you for right now."
She took the two items on the desk and started for the door…
"Hey, Miss Duratus…"
Only to be stopped halfway. She turned and looked back at Weiss, who still sat slumped in her chair.
"...If someone gave you a chance to make something right once again...what would you do?"
For a minute she stood there, contemplating the question, before walking back towards the desk and sitting the bottle and glass back on the desk…
"While I don't know the context of what your problem is…" She poured a shot into the glass "...If I was given a chance to make right from wrong…" she brought the glass to her mouth and downed the drink in one, before sitting it down "...I would gladly take it."
Weiss looked at Miss Duratus, who simply nodded, turned, and walked out of the room…
Weiss sat there as her words started to sink in. Then, slowly she got out of her seat, walked around her desk, and picked up the bottle of wine. She inspected it-a brand called Remnant Historical-then gave a small smirk.
"What a waste of wine."
She held out the bottle and dropped it. Then walked away as the bottle shattered onto the floor, leaving its contents on the marble floor.
A thought ran through her head as determination started to well up within her...one she thought she had lost a long time ago.
...Make wrong right again.
Two Days Later.
Stupid alarm…
Blake Belladonna rolled to the other side of her bed. An end table-having a lamp, an alarm clock, and a photo of her old team-sitting on the very same side. She looked at the time marked on the clock and groaned...it was seven-fifty AM.
If she was back in Beacon, when she was still a huntress-in-training, she would wake up at anytime early in the morning-six, five-thirty, it didn't matter. But now...these days she just wasn't much of a morning person. She would simply like nothing more some days than to just lay in her bed until eleven…
...But the early bird catches the worm...as they say…
Slowly, she sat up in her bed, taking in the dark grey sheets of her bed, the wardrobe, two bookcases filled with various pieces of literature, and two doors-one leading to the hallway, the other to a bathroom. She stretched her arms outward, before moving herself to the side of the bed. As she was about to get up, she looked over at the framed photo of her old team: RWBY, consisting of herself, Weiss, Yang...and Ruby.
She stared at the photo for a minute, before sighing and reluctantly get up and head to the bathroom…
...Yang...Ruby…
She started with a nice, long shower, taking at least half an hour to wash herself from head to toe. Then she brushed her teeth, did her hair and makeup, got dressed, and headed down for some breakfast. It took her overall forty-five minutes to do such things and eat some waffles, before she cleaned her plate...it would be around nine by the time she reached the dojo.
After the Beacon Incident happened, she became a freelance huntress-taking various jobs for various groups government related or otherwise to take down Grimm for money. The pay was good, but moderate at first. Then after winning against Pyrrha at the Mistral Regional's, she became even more recognized, and those with more money in their pockets started offering higher rewards for her. Due to this, her bank accounts started to grow more and more...it was then that she decided to finally buy a house and settle down somewhat.
The house she moved into (and was still currently living in) was a massive traditional plot of land consisting of a main house, a work shed, a shrine, and a dojo...which was the one area she used the most for her more "active" activities-including simple exercise, yoga, sword practice, training in hand-to-hand combat, and many others…
It wasn't that bad of a place...there were people who thought it was haunted, but she didn't seem to have any problems with the house. If anything, the ghosts more than likely didn't even notice her living there (or were too afraid to even approach her, for all she knew), so it was peaceful nonetheless.
She opened the shoji door. The interior was surprisingly pristine...maybe that nice old lady a mile away came around again and cleaned (not that she minded).
She walked to the back wall where several bokken and shinai were held and, after some careful deliberation, picked out a bokken on the far right of the wall. Then she walked into the middle and started training-raising the wooden sword over her head, and bringing it down in a swift motion...at least a hundred times.
There were days when she did more, but she wasn't really feeling it entirely today...a hundred was fine enough.
She did this again, and again…until some shuffling and rustling behind her caught her attention. She stopped and looked at the shoji door, but nothing moved…
Must be the wind…
She returned to focusing on her training. Bringing the bokken down again…
...Again…
...Again…
...Again...
...Again...
...Again? She turned her head back towards the door. Again, nothing had moved-everything was still the same as it was a second ago.
She turned back, continuing with the bokken.
...Again...
...Again...
...Aga-
"Hey there, kitten…"
The feeling of hands softly groping her butt startled Blake. In one swift motion she spun around, swinging the bokken in a wide arc, ready to hit the intruder…
...and stopped just near the neck when she realized who it was: Yang Xiao Long, who jumped away in panic.
Blake froze, staring at her old teammate, who had gone missing from her life for more than four years. Yang, meanwhile, had recovered from the sudden shock of nearly getting her neck broken by a wooden sword and had her hands on her knees breathing in and out.
"Damn, that scared the shit out of me-hehe...oh dear…"
"...Yang?"
The blonde haired woman stood up fully and gave a wide grin towards her. "Yep, it's me…"
A soft smile spread onto Blake's face. It's her...it's actually her…
Yang spread her arms out from her, the grin still on her face. "Cmon Blake, give me a big hu-UGHH!" And instantly had said grin slam into the dojo floor as Blake's bokken slammed down onto her head.
Yang laid there-pain throbbing through her cranium. Blake stood over her, a serious expression adorning her features. She stared at the blonde, before the soft smile from before appeared once again. "That's for a four year absence…"
Yang, still laying on the floor and barely fighting off unconsciousness, simply started chuckling meekly. "It's...great to...see...you too, Blake…"
For a minute Blake choked on the soda that Yang bought her. "-You're what!?"
Yang, whose typical jolly disposition was currently replaced with a very serious expression, repeated her sentence. "I'm going back to Beacon…"
Yang and Blake were currently sitting on the steps of the dojo. Initially they talked about their past adventures in the last four years, how they were doing throughout those years, and more recent events (the big one being her big match with Pyrrha earlier in the week) before Blake started to take a sip of her soda...and Yang dropped the bomb right there.
Blake stared at her with an open mouth. Yang wanted to go back to Beacon?
"Yang, there's nothing at Beacon anymore-"
"-Now I know you would say that, so before you continue just let me tell you why."
Blake wanted to argue...trying to go back to the ruins of Beacon could almost be considered a death sentence. Only Blake herself or her other teammate Weiss could survive for an extended length of time-she didn't even know how strong Yang could've gotten in the last four years. She stayed quiet, however, as Yang started on her story.
Yang started telling her of the book she picked up, the content's meaning, her intention to return and figure out if it was true, how she had already gone to Weiss about it, but was denied from her…
...Blake almost wanted to slam her head onto the floor. The story almost seemed too good to be true-the "Life-Eater" and all of that. But if it was in a book…
"Do you have the book?
Yang blinked before turning to a bag sitting on the floor near her. She reached inside and pulled out an old, worn book. Blake inspected the outside-The Tale of the Life-Eater-then opened it up and started skimming through the pages...It was exactly as Yang had told her.
...Well...that's better than nothing, I guess.
She sighed as she handed the book back to Yang. "Alright, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now...so why did you visit and tell me about all this."
Yang scratched her neck for a minute, before taking a deep breath and speaking with succinct clarity. "...Because I was wondering if you wanted to go with me."
Blake's heart skipped a beat. "what?"
"I-I mean, we haven't been together as friends or a team for four years! We've all separated and gone our separate ways after...that day. And now, I'm...I've wanted to get back with you guys for years...so I thought…" Yang's face was starting to turn a light shade of pink, and her speech started to break in several parts. But her point had been made...Blake's face itself started to turn a light shade of red.
...G-Get back together…
For once, something started to well up within her. Maybe it was a sort of hope-something that she wished she could have once again. She could be with her friends again, become a team once more...and would have to head back into the ruins of Beacon Academy first for that to be possible…
The feeling in her chest deflated instantly as she reached Beacon. Yang was looking at her as Blake started looking away towards nothing, save maybe the sky. For a minute Yang wondered what Blake was thinking, when Blake started to speak.
"I...I can't…I'm sorry. It isn't that I'm disapproving about it. It's just...I…" The words couldn't come to Blake's mouth. She did want to go back to Beacon-it was something she had thought about ever since she left that forsaken place-but she could just never do it, like something was blocking her path to making it back. She didn't know what it was, but something just kept her from going back, something that plagued her for those long years and she just couldn't get rid of…
The two fell silent, and remained that way for a lengthy amount of time. Blake stared at the ground-her mind somewhat of a jumble-and sighed. If only it wasn't Beacon.
"I'm sorry." She said it meekly. Her words could barely be audible even in the simple silence of that morning.
Yang looked over at her former teammate, as a soft smile appeared on her face. "It's alright…" she patted her on the back "I kinda expected this would happen, actually...going in alone."
Blake looked over at Yang, who stared into the blue sky above. "I mean...yeah, both of you probably think it's ridiculous, just going back to Beacon because of something in a book...I guess I'm just a sucker for something adventurous, even if it comes from books, of all things." She chuckled...Blake was the one more liable to read books the most after all.
"Yang…" Blake watched her, as she turned towards her. Slowly Yang leaned closer until she was giving Blake a hug, Blake-shocked for a single second-reluctantly hugged her back.
"Thank you, Blake…"
The hug lasted for little over five more seconds before both parted. Yang sighed "Man, I miss when I could give others big hugs...Those were the good ol' days!" Blake smiled and nodded in agreement, before Yang's characteristic grin appeared on her face once again.
"Goodbye, Blake...I'll see you sometime later…"
Yang started to walk off when Blake stopped her. "Wait!"
"hmm..."
"I'm sorry about asking this, but...is this partly...about Ruby."
Yang was silent for a minute, before she turned and looked away. "If I told you, would you try and stop me…"
"...No...I couldn't even if I tried…"
Yang didn't look back, started to take a step, then spoke up just one more time before she continued to walk...
"You never know...these days may be different after all?"
...She walked away and exited through the front gate. Leaving Blake alone to herself for the second time since they first met each other…
Let's see...garbage...garbage...ohh, a job assignment, gonna have to look at that later…
It had been hours since Yang had left. Blake was now in front of her mailbox, sifting through all of the envelopes currently packed into the small compartment.
...Fan mail...okay. More garbage...a bill for the house...a job assignment...from Weiss Schnee?
She looked at the envelope in front of her. Usually, as an indication that the mail is a job assignment, people send out a black envelope with a white seal that had her insignia in black on it. It was much easier to differentiate for her what was normal mail and what were jobs with them, and thereby made getting jobs a whole lot more easier.
Typically by now, after separating them from the normal mail, she would head inside and read them all before picking on the one that was most profitable without being detrimental to her in one way or another. However, she simply stared at the envelope in her hand-at the name written on it in a very distinctive style of handwriting...
...She knew exactly why she was asking her for a job...she had been in her house just hours ago.
Before she could think any further on the subject though, the distinct footsteps of the old lady a mile down the road made her turn her head towards her.
"Oh! Why hello, dearie...how are you today." The old lady walked closer, a serene expression on her face like every other day.
Blake smiled. "Pretty good...I got to see an old friend today for the first time in years.
"Oh, that's wonderful! How did it go?"
Blake's smile faltered slightly at the words. "Well, it wasn't perfect...but I'm happy nonetheless…"
Am I really?
She pushed the thought into the back of her head as she continued. "Speaking of which...did you clean the dojo earlier today."
"You noticed, dearie…"
"I am rather perceptive..."
"Well, I hope I did a good job...it always get's really dusty in there after a long time."
"It's perfect, thank you."
The old lady smiled and bowed before she started to continue on. However, before she could get any farther Blake stopped her. "By the way, where are you heading today…"
"Oh to the store actually, my son...oh. Should I tell...why not...my son's getting married!"
Blake blinked at that last word. "Married?" The old lady nodded.
For a minute Blake froze in place as the word repeated itself in her mind. The old lady watched her, somewhat confused, before speaking out.
"I never asked actually...did you ever meet and fall in love with someone?"
Fall in love with someone…
Her mind thought of the answer, bringing up several memories of people that Blake had come to love in her lifetime. Adam, Sun, Penny, team JNPR, team CFVY, Weiss...Ruby…
...and...Yang…
...Oh my god...that's why.
Her mind went to a memory from long ago-when it was raining hard, and she was at the lowest point in her life. She came to her...sat with her...comforted her. Then after that...their lips…
...That's why…
"Yes...Yes I did…a long time ago..."
The old lady looked at her for a few moments, nodding as she processed the words, when Blake spoke once more.
"Umm...Do you think...if we separated from each other for a long time...then just recently met each other again...do you think...we could get back together…"
She heard nothing from the old lady. For a minute Blake thought she didn't hear her, or didn't have a happy answer to the question. It was about a minute in when the old lady finally responded.
"Dearie...In all of my years, if someone were to ask me that question when I was young, my answer would be the same as it is today: Of course it can...it always can."
Blake stood silent for a minute before turning towards her, tears in her eyes. "Thank you…"
The old lady smiled. "Anytime dearie…" She waved and turned back down the road. "Well, I've better be off...see you later!"
Blake waved back, watching her walk slowly down the road. Then she looked at the job in her hands and-wiping her tears away-took it in with her.
Guess it's back to Beacon.
She went into the main house, placed the mail onto the table in the dining room, and headed into her own room. She stopped in front of her wardrobe and changed into her battlegear. Then she headed back into the dining room and stopped in front of them…
Wilt and Blush-previously owned by Adam Taurus before his demise in the Beacon Incident-and Gambol Shroud: her own weapons before she arrived at Beacon. She looked at them with an intensity seen only once a few years ago...when she had lost the first person she had ever loved…
She took them from their shelves and equipped them, Gambol Shroud on her back, and Wilt and Blush by her side. Then she started for the door, only stopping to take the job Weiss mailed her and a quick look in a mirror near the door. Then she exited the house...one she wouldn't come back to for the next two weeks…
The old lady walked down the road, slowly coming close to Blake's house. As she got closer, she realized the doors were closed, and something was left on the door.
The old lady came closer and got a closer look. It was a slip of paper with a key attached to it. On the paper was a small message...one that made the old lady smile.
"Had to head off...see you later!
-Blake Belladonna.
Four Days Later.
The walls separating the destroyed sections of Vale from the rest of the world stood strong and high on that lovely afternoon. To many it would be seen as a feat of mankind's ability to build in such a rapid time and under such notable stress and danger…
...To others it would be seen as a monument to tragedy and failure. One that they never wish repeated now or ever again…
Yang wasn't particularly keen on being here...it brought back bad memories the last few times she's been there. But considering what she was going to do, it would hardly matter in the end.
"...Yang, are you even listening?"
She blinked...Jaune Arc stood just a few inches in front of her, his back to her, as they rode up the elevator.
Ever since the Beacon Incident, Jaune rose to become a prominent figure in Vale. When the council ordered the wall be constructed to protect the citizens of Vale, Jaune was the first to volunteer as a watchmen for it until it was fully up and running. Then after that he ended up running for a seat on the council, which he ended up winning by a very slim margin.
Needless to say, he had become highly respected among the people of Vale. He was, after all, the main reason why most of Vale didn't turn into a shithole after the incident.
"...Y-Yep, heard every word...every word…" She started laughing somewhat weekly. Jaune looked at her exasperated, before pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"...I swear, sometimes…"
Before he could finish his sentence, the elevator came to a stop. They walked out onto the top of the wall-taking in the incredibly high view that came with it.
"There it is...the ruins of Vale...and in the distance…" he pointed towards a large complex several miles out of the city sitting on top of a cliff face. "...What's left of Beacon Academy."
Wow.
It was the only thing she could think of. For a long time she had never seen this part of the city or what had been her own home for a few years. The events that had happened recently kept her from even looking at it all. Now though, it could almost be one of the best views of the city she had ever seen…
...If the city didn't look like it had been razed and ransacked to kingdom come.
...Stay focused Yang...don't think about the past now...you've come too far to change your mind…
"...You okay, Yang…"
She looked over at Jaune, a concerned look on his face. Yang smiled "I'm fine! Just readying myself up mentally is all!"
Jaune wasn't convinced, but sighed as he reluctantly accepted the answer. "...You're still going to do this even if I try and stop you, won't you."
"...Yep...pretty much."
Jaune stared at her, until he finally relented on the subject and looked out towards the destroyed part of the city. "...I'll have a bullhead ready for you if you ever need it...just call me on the scroll and it'll pick you up."
"...Thanks...I'll keep it in mind." She started to walk towards the edge of the wall, looking down at the destroyed buildings and forests below, when Jaune called out at her.
"Just be careful, alright."
"Damn straight!" Yang looked at him and saluted to him, then she backed away from the wall, before turning back to it in a run, and jumping right off to the other side below.
Jaune watched this scene unfold, then continued just in case she actually changed her mind and climbed back up in a panic. When she didn't he turned around and headed back to the elevator slowly…
...Idiot...going in alone like that…
...He was nearly at the elevator, when a distinct rumbling craned his head up towards the sky. A Bullhead-white as snow with a blue snowflake on its side-flew above the wall, straight into the ruins of Vale.
Jaune stared as it continued its flight straight into the ruins with wide eyes...recognizing exactly who that Bullhead belonged to…
...What's Weiss flying into the ruins for?
Far off in the ruins, a far distance away from the wall, two watched from afar. both pair of eyes settling on the girl that just jumped off the wall, before they looked to the sky as a bullhead-pallid and more sleek than others-flew overhead before landing several miles.
"They're here…" A young, yet gruff and hardened voice spoke first, his tone anything yet pleasant.
"Yes, I can see that perfectly." Another equally young, but more sarcastic and jovial voice spoke next, his words sounding less serious and more like "I told you so…"
"I say we kill them, rip their heads off and impale them on spikes…"
"In time, my friend, in time. For now...we wait…"
The two watched as the bullhead flew back over the wall, before disappearing into the shadows...
...Their master would be proud of the work they had accomplished so far...he didn't need any unnecessary interruptions...not from these humans…
...or that damned Life-Eater…
...And so they waited for the right time. The time when they could get rid of them all at once...by any means necessary.
"Soon...humans...soon."
First of all...I am incredibly sorry.
I'm sorry for the lack of updates, the lack of any indication as to what's going on with why I haven't updated, why I've seemingly disappeared from the face of the planet…
I am incredibly sorry for all of that. I've just been incredibly busy with certain things in my life, haven't had the energy to try and write at all, or had some mental problem stop me from writing. It's all been one big problem that I've had to deal with for several weeks/months that I've just couldn't write.
I started this chapter a few months back and then ended up with something getting to me, and now I'm releasing this chapter a few months later. I'm sorry for all of that...and I hope to never have you guys (and girls) read my stories and enjoy it, then not have it update until it's months afterwards without any update on why it hasn't done so.
I'm releasing this chapter now, and with the full intention to explain exactly why I haven't updated for a while on my profile page afterwards (give it between today and tomorrow...I'll have it up by then).
Again, I am truly sorry...I hope this doesn't happen again for a long time (hopefully never)...
Now that I've apologized for all of that. I'm gonna get back to the story.
So originally, I planned to have Yang, Blake, and Weiss get back together for the first time in years at the end there. But thought that "Maybe it would be better if we keep them separate for right now and reunite them later," how that turns out later even I have no idea, but that's how it is for right now.
Yes, there are OC's in here. However, they are more or less side characters or antagonists (I'm looking at you mysterious people at the end there) and won't be that major a part of the story.
Many of you may also be asking "Where's Ruby?" After the previous chapter confirmed she was in fact alive (or is she?) only to not appear in this chapter. Let me say that the next chapter after this one focuses exclusively on Ruby...so there's no need to get all panicky.
How was this chapter? I'm kinda thinking that I didn't do as good of a job as my last chapter, but it would be best to hear what others have to say first before making my judgement…
Again, I'm sorry. This time I plan to update a story at least on a biweekly (two weeks) basis from now on, so that I can keep on them without a problem. If anything gets in the way though...I'll definitely be sure to let you guys know in the future.
For now, all I ask of you is to review and keep reading if you enjoy the story, all of that is very much appreciated.
No Shameless Self-Promotion this time...same things happened with my channel updating, so I might as well not put the link in if that's the case.
Thank you for your time, and as always, see you next chapter.
Next Chapter: Who am I?
For Fun, Fedora's, and Insanity...Peace.