Yo Peeps, GMG back with chapter 2 of Phantom Rose. I haven't much to say in terms of news. It's just a shit ton of snow. Had to shovel a driveway filled with a two foot blanket of the cold flurry stuff. My hands hurt for a bit… no longer. Tonight WE TYPE IN HELL!
Eh, just a small joke. Let's get going!
Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.
After a speech from Ozpin, Glynda led the students on a tour of the academy's campus. After being showed around, they were served dinner. It was rather uneventful, students either nervous or hyped for the following day. Not much was said and the room was unbelievably silent. Even the talkative Yang was picking at her food and pondering what the test would be.
After their meal, the students were lead into a wide and open room, rows of bedrolls lay across the ground, evenly spaced. Meticulously so. Student's bags were placed against one of the walls, name tags upon each. Ruby fetched her own and settled beside Yang. It wasn't quite time to sleep yet, so the two hadn't switched into their pajamas, instead opting to play a few games.
A few rounds of play later and Ruby's mind blanked. Rubbing her eyes, she glanced around at the other applicants. She noticed a familiar mane of ebony and smiled when she saw the bow that sat atop the young woman's head. Excusing herself from her sister's presence, she walked over to Blake, greeting the ravenette with a smile. "Hey, Blake! How are you?"
"Hello, Ruby," the teen said softly. "I'm doing well. And you?" She placed a bookmark in the novel she held and set it aside. "I figured Yang would have kept you occupied."
Fidgeting with the hood of her cloak, Ruby shrugged, a bit awkward. "Yeah, but she's my sister. It can get a bit much in her presence. I don't think I can take another pun." She grimaced slightly before plopping down beside the older girl. Gesturing to the small fabric, Ruby spoke, cheeks slightly pink. "I like your bow."
Blake bowed her head, a little surprised to hear someone mention the bow she wore nigh constantly. "Thank you. I would say the same about your cloak. It's very fitting, despite it being so different from your other clothes."
Ruby looked sheepish at that. "It was my mom's, actually. Dad wanted to give me a red one to fit me better, but I wanted to keep a piece of Mom with me." She smiled sadly. "It still feels like she's with me." Blake didn't reply. What could she say? She wasn't about to spout some idealistic nonsense. It wasn't her style. Ruby picked up on her silence and sighed. "So, what ya reading?"
"It's a book about a man with two souls. Each fighting for control of his body." Blake handed the book to Ruby, letting the caped girl to skim over the summary.
"Yang used to read me books all the time. Bed time stories of heroes and heroines saving the day." She looked at the book, gaze spacing out. "I always wanted to be like them. Swoop in and save the day, ya know?"
Amber eyes narrowed slightly. "The real world isn't like a fairy tale. There can't always be a happy ending."
Ruby nodded. "Yup. But that's why we're here. To give other people a chance for theirs."
"That's awfully ambitious for a child," Blake stated plainly. "Solving the problems of every one person is impossible."
Ruby stood, stretching, before glancing at Blake. "You can continue being a sourpuss, Blake, but I'm gonna get ready for bed." She sidled off, mumbling to herself. "Still have those letters to write."
A frown pressed across Blake's lip, the older girl unhappy. She hadn't meant to upset Ruby, but the world she knew hardly had any idealistic endings. Adam was proof enough. Sighing to herself, she got up and headed off to change as well. Making sure her bow was in place, she padded off to the women's locker room.
XXXGMGXXX
Blake looked out at the expanse of the forest, her mood disheartened. Turning to look at the line-up of students, she caught sight of Ruby chatting away with her sister, smiling brightly. Was the bright teen still upset with her? It was hard to tell and Blake feared the answer to her own question. She may have been overthinking it, but a possibility of losing a friend so soon was hardly reassuring.
Ozpin told the students their objective and explained the process of assigning teammates. She snorted when she heard the condition. Making eye contact of all things, because that was SOOOO much proof of two students being able to get along.
Dropping into a crouch, she felt the platform buck upwards and pushed off, soaring higher than all but one student. A certain blonde couldn't be beat, using her gauntlets to blast herself higher and further than the other entrants.
"Birdie no!" came a cry not too far off. Blake saw Ruby drop into the forest, a black and red blur zipping down. Unsheathing Gambol Shroud in a swift pull, she converted it to its kusarigama form and flung it in the general direction of Ruby's landing zone, jerking herself downwards after the girl.
A little too well.
Her velocity sent her zipping a tight and fast circle around the branch she had anchored Gambol Shroud too and sent her flying… right into Ruby's backside. So much for cats always landing on their feet. Both girls tumbled across the ground before they skidded to a stop. Ruby jumped up and started spitting out dirt, wiping at her tongue frantically, while Blake shook her head, dizzy from the collision.
Amber eyes refocusing, she looked up at Ruby as the girl finally got the dirt out of her mouth, grimacing. Standing shakily, she wobbled over to her own weapon, tugging it from the branch and replacing it on her back. "Sorry. I know I upset you last night, but now this." Blake pinched the bridge of her nose. "Why do I keep messing up? This isn't like me."
Ruby threw her hands up, laughing. "I'm not mad at you, Blake. Sure, it sucks getting steam rolled from behind, but you don't need to get so sad." She beamed at the darker haired girl. "You look better when you smile."
Blake's cheeks burned slightly, but she returned the smile. "So, you aren't upset?"
Ruby pulled Crescent Rose out, resting it in her arms as she looked around. "Nah. Now, since we're partners, we better get a move on. Yang would tease me forever if I fail this."
XXXGMGXXX
Weiss had landed softly on the ground with her semblance's help. Dusting off her combat skirt, she strode purposefully through the brush, steering clear of any stray branches. She was doing well at avoiding the many leaves and branches, until she walked into a spider web. As is base human instinct, she started panicking, try to remove the unsettling strands from her face, not paying attention.
She tripped over a rock, letting out a short scream as she fell, only to be caught by two firm hands, her face landing on something soft. Letting out a relived breath, she reached up and removed the strands from her face, only to hear a soft chuckling.
"I know my chest was impressive, but I didn't think they were such a great pillow, Weissy."
Jerking back in surprise, Weiss's eyes shot up to lock onto lilac purple ones. "Don't flatter yourself, Yang. I just had walked through a spider web and you happened to break my fall." She took a quick breath. "Thank you for that, by the way."
Yang grinned and waved her off. "Don't worry about it. Always willing to offer a helping hand to a damsel in distress." She grinned salaciously and added, "Perhaps the princess would award me a kiss for my noble efforts."
Weiss fumed and slapped Yang… again. "Not a way in Remnant am I ever going to kiss a brute such as yourself!"
"You wound me," the blonde feinged hurt, falling to her knees. She would've kept the act up, but a low growl was heard, snapping both on high alert and causing them to leave the discussion for later.
The Grimm were here.
End of chapter 2…
It reminds me of the hunt!
So, chapter two is out of the way. Hope you all enjoyed it and I'll see you in the next chapter. Adieu for now!