Chapter 21: Party
Location: Beacon Academy, Vale Year: Unknown
I was helping team RWBY setting up the party in the ballroom and I noticed Weiss was asking to choose these two same sheets.
"Aren't they both they same?" Ruby asked.
Weiss sighed and said, "I don't even know why I asked."
Ruby slumped down while sitting at a table and I walked up to her, sat down, and asked, "Hey Ruby, what's the matter?"
"It's Blake. She's not going to the dance." Ruby answered.
"What? Why?" I asked.
"She's too focused on trying to take down Torchwick and the White Fang. She hadn't gotten any sleep, she doesn't focus, and she's more distant than before." Ruby answered.
I sighed and said, "I thought I told her to not focus so much on the topic."
Ruby looked at me and asked, "Wait, since when?"
"The same night when you forgot your board game in the library." I answered.
"Oh... right." She answered.
We then noticed Yang carrying a large, surround speaker and dropped it on the floor. Yang proceeded to walk to me and asked Ruby, "So, have you picked out a dress yet, Ruby?"
"What's the point? Who cares about the dance if Blake isn't going?" Ruby answered.
"Oh, don't worry. She's going." Yang answered.
Then Yang turned towards me and asked, "So, how about you, Eddie? Picked out a suit for the party?"
"Actually, Coco and Velvet brought me to a clothing store yesterday and helped me out picking a suit for the party, so I'm good to go." I answered.
'Flashback'
I was in my dorm when I heard a knock at my door. I open it to be greeted by Coco and Velvet.
"Hey, Edward." Coco greeted.
"Hi, Edward." Velvet greeted.
I turned to them and replied, "Oh, hey Velvet. Hey Coco. What brings you two here?"
Coco answered, "Well, we were just wondering if you got something to wear for this weekend, like a suit, since you're from the Wasteland. Do you have one?"
"No. Why you asked?" I asked.
But then Coco and Velvet looked at each other and then drew their attention to me, and Coco replied, "Well, come with us. We can get you a suit at this clothing store I know. Come on!"
Before I could respond, I was then dragged out of my dorm by Coco.
"Whoa! Slow down!" I replied.
'Flashback ended'
Yang nodded and said, "Cool."
Then she turned towards her gaze in a different direction, and yelled out, "Weiss! I thought we agreed! No doilies!"
Weiss walked up to Yang and said, "If I don't get doilies, you don't get fog machines."
Then a set of doors opened and Sun and Neptune walked in, and Neptune asked, "Your dance is gonna have fog machines?"
"We were thinking about it." Weiss replies.
"That's pretty cool."
Then Sun asked out, "You ladies all excited for dress up?"
Ruby replied, "Pfft, yeah right."
Yang said, "Laugh all you want. I'll be turning heads tomorrow night."
I chuckled and joked, "Yeah, make sure you don't kill them by doing so."
"Hey!" Yang yelled, but noticed I was just joking. She giggled in response afterward.
Then Weiss asks Sun and Neptune, "What are you two wearing?"
"Uh, this." Sun answered, showing what he's wearing, which is the clothes on his back.
Then Neptune stepped up and said, "Ignore him, for he knows not what he says."
"Hey, I may have moved to Mistral, but I grew up in Vacuo. It's not exactly a shirt-and-tie kinda place." Sun said.
"Yeah, we've noticed." Yang deadpanned.
Then Sun asks, "So, uh... what does Blake think of all this? She still being all, ya know... Blakey?"
"Obviously." Weiss answered.
Ruby said, "I still can't think of a way to change her mind. How about you, Edward? Have any ideas?"
I shooked my head and said, "Sorry. I got nothing. Ya know I can't solve every problem, right?"
Then Yang said, "Guys. Trust me. Blake will be at the dance tomorrow." as she left the room.
I then got up from the chair and proceeded to the door and Weiss asked out to me, "Wait? Where are you going?"
"I'm going for a walk. I'll be back, don't worry." I answered as I exited the ballroom.
XXXXXX
'Minutes later; Edward's POV...'
As I was walking, I began to remember my days at Vault 101, especially with Amata and the others. My train-of-thought was interrupted by a voice, "So, I assume you're Edward?"
I turned to face a girl that I sincerely hated: Cinder Fall.
"Yeah, what do you want?" I asked with venom on my tongue.
"Oh come now, do you really not trust me and my friends?" she asked.
"I will never trust you. No way, no how. Your eyes says it all, and I have seen my fair share of those looks when I wandered in the Wasteland." I answered, still distrustful to Cinder.
"Oh, so that's where you're from? This 'Wasteland'?" She responded.
"Yeah, where the Grimm, themselves' dare not to tread. Unless, they wanted to be torn to shreds by a group of Deathclaws and what-not. The Wasteland was scorched by war, by atomic fire and radiation, from the atomic warheads, that even one, can wipe out a metropolis and the surrounding area, miles out, burning everything and everyone in the process. So, where I'm from, we are no strangers to war." I answered.
"So, who was your people at war with? The Grimm? The Faunus? Who?" She asked.
"Where I'm from, there were no Grimm nor Faunus. We were at war with ourselves, against other humans, and who, I will not tell, at least, not you or your friends." I answered.
"Do you care for both human and Faunus, or just your kind?" she asked while smirking like a devil she is.
'Bitch.' I thought to myself before I answered, "Before the bombs fell, the nation that once stood, the United States of America, or U.S.A. for short, was made for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A nation under in the name of God, our creator, to grant equal rights to everyone, no matter what race or gender they are. I am against any and all discrimination of all kinds, so yeah, I care for both my kind and Faunus."
I then said, "Now, if you would mind, I would like for you to leave me be."
As I started to walk away, Cinder then shouted, "Wait!" I stopped as she asked out, "I have one more question."
I paused for a moment, then replied, "What?"
"Why war? You know it's pointless, so why?" Cinder asked.
As I saw her smirked as she asked the question. I simply answered, "War... war never changes..."
She then frowned at my response, and I continued, "...But men do, through the roads we walk upon."
I then walked away, leaving the Cinder bitch alone as I thought to myself, 'What is she really after?'
XXXXXX
'Minutes before; Cinder's POV...'
As I exited my dorm, I noticed the 'Courier' and I smirked as I thought, 'Ah, there he is. This is the perfect opportunity to gain knowledge about him.'
I then asked out to him, "So, I assume you're Edward?"
He turned towards me, and I noticed the description written on his helmet, 'FORGIVE ME MAMA'.
I thought, 'Interesting...'
Edward answered with a hint of hate in his tone, "Yeah, what do you want?"
'I guess he really doesn't trust us...' I thought to myself as I replied, "Oh come now, do you really not trust me and my friends?"
He replied back, "I will never trust you. No way, no how. Your eyes says it all, and I have seen my fair share of those looks when I wandered in the Wasteland."
'The Wasteland? So that's why there's no files about him; he's not from around here... interesting.' I thought to myself.
"Oh, so that's where you're from? This 'Wasteland'?" I replied.
"Yeah, where the Grimm, themselves' dare not to tread. Unless, they wanted to be torn to shreds by a group of Deathclaws and what-not. The Wasteland was scorched by war, by atomic fire and radiation, from the atomic warheads, that even one, can wipe out a metropolis and the surrounding area, miles out, burning everything and everyone in the process. So, where I'm from, we are no strangers to war." He answered.
I thought to myself in surprise, 'The way he described the Atomic Warhead of his, that's even more powerful than the Dust Bomb by far. And what are Deathclaws?'
"So, who was your people at war with? The Grimm? The Faunus? Who?" I then asked him.
"Where I'm from, there were no Grimm nor Faunus. We were at war with ourselves, against other humans, and who, I will not tell, at least, not you or your friends." he answered grimly.
'Hmm, he's quite stubborn, that's for sure.' I thought as I then asked as I grinned, "Do you care for both human and Faunus, or just your kind?"
"Before the bombs fell, the nation that once stood, the United States of America, or U.S.A. for short, was made for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. A nation under in the name of God, our creator, to grant equal rights to everyone, no matter what race or gender they are. I am against any and all discrimination of all kinds, so yeah, I care for both my kind and Faunus." he answered proudly.
'He's very interesting...' I thought to myself.
He then said, "Now, if you would mind, I would like for you to leave me be."
I then started to internally panic as I tried to think at least one more question, then it came to me. I then shouted to him, "Wait!"
He stopped as I shouted to him. I continued, "I have one more question."
He turned to me and asked, "What?"
I began to smirk as I asked, "Why war? You know it's pointless, so why?"
He just simply answered, "War... war never changes..."
I began to frown as he continued, "... But men do, through the roads we walk upon."
He then continued to walk away as I stood there, thinking to myself, 'He's really gotten my curiosity.'
XXXXXX
'Edward's POV; hours later...'
I was in my dorm, getting ready for the party as I switched from my Desert Ranger Combat Armor to my suit. My suit coat and pants was a normal black color, my button shirt was white, and my tie was red. Of course, I kept my Pipboy on, like I ever take it off, and I equip myself 'Maria', but concealed, just in case of an emergency.
I thought to myself, 'Now that I think about it, I should've brought Benny's suit or that suit I found while at my time in the Sierra Madre Casino before I went to Big Mountain. Oh well.'
As I came out of my dorm, I saw Ruby in her dress and stumbling around in her high heels.
She haven't noticed me and I yelled out to her, "Having trouble there, Rubes?"
Ruby turned to me as I walked towards her, as she replies back, "Yeah, I'm not used to wearing high heels. How does Weiss fights in them, I will not know."
I chuckled at her response. She then had a good look at me and replied, "Wow. You look nice, Edward."
I smiled and replied, "Thank you. You look nice as well, Rubes."
She slightly blushed and replied, "Thank you, but after this, I'm not wearing it again. I'm not very fond wearing a dress and high heels."
"Same here. I'm more comfortable wearing my armor than a snazzy suit." I replied with a chuckle.
She chuckles with me, then she asks, "Hey, Edward?"
"Yeah?"
"Can you hold my arm so I won't fall down on the way to the party?" She asked.
"Yeah, just hold on." I said, grabbing her arm as we made our way to the party.
After a few close calls, we finally arrived at the party. Yang has her eyebrow raised and asked, "What's going on?"
I answered, "Ruby asked me to hold her so she won't fall over while on the way here, that's all, Yang."
She smiled and replied, "Oh, okay. That makes sense. She is very clumsy when it comes to wearing high heels. Also Ruby, you look beautiful!"
Ruby groaned and replied, "Ugh, Yang!"
Then Yang turned to me and teased, "And YOU look handsome." as she purred.
"Don't get any bright ideas, Yang." I replied.
"Oh, come on, you know I was just teasing with you. You may be 15 years old on the outside, but you're still 23 on the inside, so you're a little old for my taste." Yang said with a smirk.
Then we heard a familiar voice, "Hey."
We turned to see Blake in a dress with Sun, who was also dressed up, kind of.
I was the first to respond, "Hey! You actually came, Blake! What changed your mind?"
Blake answered, "Well, Yang was the one who talked to me, and then I remembered about what you said that night, so I decided to give it a go."
Ruby cheered, "Yay! Blake's here-Woah!"
Ruby almost lost her balance and I caught her. She replied, "Thanks, Edward."
"No problem, Rubes."
As Blake and Sun walked on by us, Yang smirked at us and said, "Told you she would come."
I smirked back and replied, "Well, who said I was doubting you?"
XXXXXX
'After a few minutes...'
Me and Ruby walked and talked as everybody enjoyed themselves until we noticed Ozpin standing nearby. We walked up to him as I replied, "Oh, hey Ozpin! What brings you here?"
"Just checking to make sure all of you are not doing anything troubling." he replied.
The Ozpin and I heard Ruby complained, "Ugh, stupid lady stilts."
Ozpin replied to Ruby, "Not enjoying yourself, Ruby?"
"Oh! No. Everything's fine. I'm just not much of a dansey, pansey... dancey girl." Ruby replied.
I replied as well, "And I'm not much of a fancy suit-wearing type of guy."
"Well, you can't spend your entire life on the battlefield, even if you may want to." Ozpin replied.
"Well, technically I have." I added.
Ozpin turned to me and replied, "Right, but your life began anew here, so take this time to enjoy every moment that life gives you, for it will not last forever."
I nodded and replied, "True."
Then Ozpin said, "Well, if you think about it, fighting and dancing aren't so different. Two partners interlocked."
He then chuckled and added, "Although, one wrong move on the ballroom merely leads to a swollen foot."
Ruby added, "Or a twisted ankle..."
Ozpin continued, "It's not everyday that friends are able to come together like this. Time has a way of testing our bonds, but it's nights like these that can help keep them stronger than ever. Nights like these are ones we'll never forget."
He's right. All those times when I spend with my friends while in the Wasteland, we made bonds with one another that gave strength to our trust. How we helped each other in times in need, though. Like back in the Capital, how I always stood up for Amata back in Vault 101, how I gave kindness to Butch as I help to save his mother from the Radroaches, even after all the times he bullied me. How I released Fawkes, the Super Mutant, in Vault 87, and in return, not just helped me retrieve the G.E.C.K., but as well as to come all the way to rescue me from being imprisoned from the Enclave. How Sarah Lyons stood with me during the times she could when we were in the field, in battle or so.
And while in the Mojave, how Victor saved me from death, How I helped Boone to avenge his wife more times than not. How I helped Veronica and the Brotherhood to make peace with the NCR and others, as well as with Arcade with his past. How I opened Ulysses' eyes and fought side by side, along with ED-E, or who I called, Ralphie, against the entire Divide. How I bonded with the tribes of Zion and aided Follows-Chalk and Waking-Cloud, along with Joshua Graham and Daniel to fight off against the White Legs.
The point is, Ozpin's right. Times during with friends would strengthen our bonds and make a connection to help one another.
"You're right, Ozpin. I can definitely see why you're the Headmaster. You're able to see past school studies and observe life itself, and make a lesson out of it. You are very wise, sir." I replied to Ozpin.
He smiled and nodded, and walked away from us. As Ruby and I continued to smile, I thought to myself, 'This world is so unique, with it's way of life and it's people. No matter if it is infested with those monstrosities beyond those walls and with the White Fang, I feel more at peace here. But like I always say, 'The Calm before the Storm', and we will be ready.'
To be Continued...