Chapter 6:
Despite Damien's story, Ruby managed to get a few hours of good sleep. She was able to sneak back into Beacon unnoticed and got dressed for bed, though it meant foregoing a well deserved shower for fear that the resulting noise would wake the rest of her dorm's occupants.
Still, as the cold water ran down her head, Ruby couldn't help but feel a slight pang of unease. Damien believed that his 'Devil' was only just getting started. Ruby wondered, could this whole thing possibly get worse?
"Hey lil' sis! Hurry up in there!" Came Yang's voice. "I don't wanna be stinky during class!"
Ruby turned off the shower. Today was the day that Professor Ozpin would state who would be going for the Vacuo Open Arms invite. Everyone in the school was excited, the freshmen most of all as they were the ones going first.
"I'm already done!" Ruby called out, her supposed excitement drowned out by the nervous feeling she had. She opened the door of the bathroom, her hair still wet.
"About time." Yang grumbled. "What's with you? You are more distracted than usual..."
"Relax sis..." Ruby said as she dried her hair. "I'm alright."
He teammates stared back at her. Weiss came forward, staring into Ruby's eyes.
"Ruby, what's eating you? Spit it out or I swear I'll get Yang to deny you cookies for a week."
Ruby paled. Weiss had finally played the no-cookies card. If anything, Weiss would see through even her most intricate lies. She weighed the possibilities of being berated by her sister and partner or being denied cookies. She made her pick.
"Okay okay, you guys got me." Ruby sighed. "I went to see Damien Jonas last night."
"What?" Weiss exclaimed. "That nutjob from the docks?"
"Well, I couldn't get his 'Devil' out of my head." Ruby shrugged. "And, well, I am quite interested in it."
"Ruby interested in something besides weapons?" Blake spoke. "This is a new development."
"But who wouldn't be?" Ruby asked.
Weiss held the bridge of her nose. "Ruby, you are speaking of someone who's mental stability is considered questionable."
"He didn't look like a crazy old man to me." Ruby retorted. "He knows how to provide for himself and a home. That's something, right?"
"Ruby..." Yang frowned. "I don't think that qualifies to make a man sane..."
"Girls!" Ruby pouted. "Can we just have the benefit of the doubt?"
Weiss moved to say something before Blake came, holding a hand up to stop the conversation.
"Look, whether or not it's true isn't important now." She said, looking to the rest of them. "If we keep arguing, we'll miss Ozpin announcing the names for the Vacuo invite. And wouldn't that be terrible?"
Weiss, Yang and Ruby went wide eyed.
"She's right! We have only ten minutes left to get to the main hall!" Yang shrieked, rushing into the bathroom.
"I have to get dressed!" Ruby ran to the closet and got out her hood.
"And I..." Weiss started but stopped as she realized she was pretty much prepared.
"You and I have to wait for our partners to finish up and make sure none of that strange conversation makes its way back till after today." Blake frowned, her cat-like eyes piercing into Weiss's. Weiss nodded without another word. It was obvious the Faunus did not want to miss this momentous occasion over a quarrel of someone else's sanity.
In less than five, Ruby and Yang were ready. Team RWBY bolted out of their dormitory, not wanting to be late for Ozpin's announcement.
"Blake." Ruby called out as the ran down the hall. "You don't think Damien is crazy right?"
Blake merely shrugged. She had no idea what to think right yet and couldn't give a definite answer. She merely hoped that if Damien wasn't crazy, at least he'd be joking about his 'Devil'.
"Cardin Winchester." Ozpin announced. The leader of team CRDL cheered. He was another student chosen for the Vacuo Open Arms invite. Everyone in the hall clapped, though a few students were apprehensive about it.
"Even Cardin got in?" Ren arched an eyebrow. "This might be easier than I thought..." Already he and Nora had been among the students selected, joining Weiss, Ruby and Pyrrha.
"Well, hopefully that oaf doesn't cause trouble for Beacon." Weiss frowned. "His antics are already famous here, and not in a good way."
"Shh!" Ruby shushed. "Ozpin's gonna announce the next!"
"Velvet Scarlatina." He said. At once, whoops went through the students. The bunny eared Faunus looked around with shock and surprise. Her teammates, two of which were already chosen, patted her on the back. At least if anything were to happen to the Faunus, they'd be there for her.
"Blake Belladonna." Ozpin said next. Team RWBY cheered. They were just one person away from having their whole team to be chosen!
"We're down to the final two!" Ruby half-whispered, half-shrieked. She hoped Yang would be in at least one of them. They all held their breath as Ozpin began to read out the next name.
"Next..." He began, anticipation gripping everyone in the hall.
"Jaune Arc." He announced.
Team JNPR cheered, Nora's being the loudest as she strove to pat Jaune on the back. Needless to say, Jaune gave a thumbs-up before Nora's 'pat' knocked the wind out of him.
Ruby got worried. So far now, she had expected to hear Yang's name. She glanced toward her sister, who was twiddling her thumbs nervously. Ruby looked to Weiss and Blake, sharing with them the same uncertain look they had on their faces. They turned just as Ozpin began to read out the last name.
"And the final student to be selected is..." Ozpin said, clearing his throat. Ruby closed her eyes, praying that she would hear what she needed to hear.
"Yang Xiao Long." With that, Ruby erupted into cheers, along with team JNPR and her own sister. Out of all the students, all of Teams RWBY and JNPR were going!
"Congratulations to all nominated students." Professor Ozpin said amidst the cheers. "But never forget that you not only represent Beacon, you also represent the kingdom of Vale. Thus, I urge you all to be not just intuitive and open to the students of Vacuo, but to maintain a proper image of yourselves. Professor Port and Ms Goodwitch will be the teachers joining you on this trip. Adhere to their instructions at all times. That is all."
"Alright Team RWBY!" Ruby cheered as she hugged Yang, who returned with an equally crushing embrace.
"Whew..." Weiss breathed. "We actually did it!"
"Are you surprised?" Blake winked. Weiss merely returned the look with a happy shrug.
"Doesn't matter." She said. "We have to pack now. And now, it's time to help those two with that."
Blake nodded. If Ruby and Yang did all the packing, there wouldn't be enough space for over half the selected students to fit. Though admittedly, Ruby and Yang hauling a heap of things all on their own might just freak out the Vacuo students. Still, no one was denying any of the nominees their chance.