YOU GUYS ARE RIDICULOUS. 48 Follows on the first chapter? WHAT ARE YOU GUYS DOING.
Anyhow, I REALLY hope you all enjoy the rest of the story. I'll be doing my best to make it live up to everyone's standards! Also, I hate timeskips, so don't get used to them.
Ruby's hand was tight on Weiss' forearm, who huddled against the other girl in fear of being seen.
It had been two months since they'd met each other, and in those two months they'd grown to despise one another, forgive each other, and finally get to a point where they may not have been friends, but weren't enemies.
In those two months, neither had done much together except spar. Tonight, however, Ruby had had a wonderful idea and Weiss had gotten herself mixed up in it.
They were hiding in a broom closet, door slightly ajar so that Ruby could peek out carefully. She wasn't wearing her iconic cloak tonight, instead sporting soft leggings and a white shirt, embroidered with silver and red threads. Weiss herself had only thrown on a pale blue gown.
"Do you see-"
"Shush." Ruby hissed back, interrupting Weiss' question. She huffed quietly, but shifted into the closet more, seeking the shadows. Ruby stayed frozen like a statue for several hair-raising seconds. The sounds of a door closing shut echoed through the hall.
"Okay. Looks good to me." Ruby announced, her voice still hushed. Something about what they were dong demanded their secrecy.
They stepped out from the closet and quietly shut the door behind them, both breathing sighs of relief. "That was close, Weissy."
"Agreed." Weiss said dryly, ignoring the aggravating nickname Ruby had bestowed upon her.
"So, now where?"
Weiss paused to think. They were deep in the heart of the castle, standing just outside the inner sanctum. They were trying to make it to the terrace towers at the front walls, but in order to get there they'd have to stay unseen while traversing some of the most heavily manned hallways in the entire keep.
"I don't know if we can do this, Ruby..."
"Course we can! You wouldn't believe the things I've done in my life."
Weiss looked at her with weariness and uncertainty. She was reluctant to get Ruby in trouble, but even more reluctant to raise the ire of her father. "I think it would be unwise."
Ruby let go of Weiss' forearm, who had forgotten about Ruby's grip on it altogether. She rubbed the warm spot on her arm, aware of the numbness. "I haven't seen the front end of this place since I got here. I really wanna see Coldfort at night, Weissy!" Ruby pleaded, and Weiss sighed. If only they had semblances. But no, Father stalled training for another year.
They had also been denied access to any of the outside world.
"C'mon, Weiss! Come on!" Ruby pushed her, dragging the last word out as she amusingly growled.
Weiss, a sudden urge to disobey her father rising within her anyways, gave a nod. "Alright, then, but we'll have to go through the kitchens. They'll at least get us past some of the guards."
Ruby fist pumped the air with a yes, grabbing Weiss' forearm again. "Alright, direct me."
"That way." Weiss said, pointing to the door that had closed earlier. Ruby sped off at once, Weiss working hard to keep up. Their bare feet padded silently on the smooth wood floor, and the door made no sound as Ruby slowly opened it. It revealed a set of stairs that aimed downwards, and Weiss pushed past her and dashed for them, hissing a "Run!" as she went.
Just as soon as Ruby slipped in and shut the door, the sounds of heavy boots echoed outside. "Oh!" Ruby yelped, and Weiss heard her catching up as they bolted down the stairs into a lit room that smelt like every kind of food one could think of. The night was still early, so breakfast wasn't being prepared yet.
Weiss gave her a look, and Ruby simply shrugged. Weiss' heart was beating a million miles every other second, and she hardly dared speak. Judging from Ruby's tenseness, she was feeling the same.
"Come on, then. Let's go." Weiss said, adrenaline rushing through her. She had seen the guard's shadow, and had almost called out in warning. Thankfully, her intelligence won out and she ran for the stairs, but she had worried about Ruby. Apparently, Ruby had moved fast enough.
"Right-o." Ruby agreed, and this time Weiss took the lead. They entered the massive kitchen, cold and dark. On their way to the opposite end, Ruby broke off for a moment, coming back quickly and holding a cloth bag the size of two fists.
"What is that?" Weiss asked quietly, ears tuned for any noises not belonging to the two of them.
"Strawberries." Ruby said happily.
Weiss sighed, unable to keep an amused smile off her face. The staff would be puzzled, no doubt.
They reached another set of stairs, lit by one lonely torch hanging on the wall midway up. At this point Ruby took the lead, naturally grabbing Weiss' arm again.
They moved deliberately slowly, aware that they were closer to the forward rooms of the keep and that patrols would be present. The door opened soundlessly into a hall with multiple branching hallways. The sounds of footfalls and voices from somewhere far away reached them, and so they stepped out into the dimly lit area and made for a shadow. There they listened, and waited.
"-and I'm just trying to say that with the recent Orc activity up here in Atlas, I'm worried." A male voice said, sounding young.
"I think you're overreacting. With the Crown finally allying with the Hunter's Guild, our united forces will crush them again. It's only a matter of time." This voice was female, deep and confident. Ruby tightened her grip on Weiss' arm; they were drawing closer.
"Unless they don't." The man pointed out, and the female laughed.
"I'll let you hit me if that happens. Which, if we're being honest, you couldn't do if I were standing still."
The male huffed, and suddenly the two came into view. They were both of same height, wearing the familiar white tabards and silver mail of the palace guard. The woman's hair, like the man's, was platinum blonde, a common Atlesian trait.
Ruby's grip was so tight Weiss almost hissed at her.
"Hey, wanna grab a bite to eat quickly?" The woman asked.
"What if we're caught?"
"You can eat me if you want." The female said hotly. The two were standing a few feet from them.
"I-I mean, sure, if you're hungry and all we can go get some food and stuff and maybe-"
"C'mon, hot stuff."
Weiss let out a breath she forgot she'd been holding. Beside her Ruby let go, slumping against the wall.
"That was really awkward." Ruby mumbled, and Weiss couldn't help but grin. Since she was little she'd been catching the guards doing such things. It was no surprise to her.
"It'll be even worse if we're still here when they come back. Now, come on."
They padded forward silently, and with every passing second Weiss grew more adventurous. They kept their senses alert and skittered down hallways like mice, sticking to shadows and moving fast. They encountered a few more guards, most of them easily passable. No one remained stationary in the keep, a strategy to throw off intruders. However, it worked against them when insiders knew the patterns and nooks of the keep.
In another ten minutes, they were climbing the spiral steps of a long tower, having left a patrol down below only narrowly. There was a hatch door up above, and Ruby pushed it open with her superior height. She crawled up and through and knelt down, holding out a hand for Weiss to take.
She grasped it tightly, grimacing at how hot and sweaty it felt. She almost fell, but Ruby was able to successfully pull it off.
They closed the door and stood up, both feeling elated by their incredible success.
"That was probably the coolest thing I've ever done." Ruby told her with a smile, her silver eyes wide and sparkling.
"It was pretty..."
"Fun? Awesome?"
"Yes, I suppose." Weiss agreed with a sigh, and Ruby giggled.
They then walked over to the railing of the roofed tower, and Ruby breathed in obvious wonder. Weiss had seen the sight many times before, so the dazzling sights didn't really have a new effect on her, though they were absolutely breathtaking.
Below them, the entire city of Coldfort sprawled out, large and grandly lit. A giant clockwork tower could be seen in the midst of it all, internally lit from hundreds of torches. The docks were visible from here as well, the outlines of thousands of boats visible in the pale moonlight. Huge, impenetrable gates connected to a stonewall that wrapped around to the mountain ranges behind Coldfort hugged the city in tight together, like a giant protector. It was the main defence of the entire kingdom, along with the jagged terrain of the Cold Spine, the mountains behind them.
"Wow," Ruby breathed, "This is... Wow."
"Very pretty." Weiss said, putting both hands on the cool stone and leaning forward a bit. The brisk night air was cold but refreshing, and she took a long smell of it, filling her lungs with the atmosphere.
"Yeah." Ruby agreed. "Guess your father can't really control us that well, can he?"
Weiss smiled, for the first time appreciating Ruby's company. "No, not at all. Are you surprised? Between the two of us, princess and huntress, we're a deadly duo."
Ruby turned her head and looked at Weiss with a wide lopsided grin. Her hair was messy and frizzled, and there was a lathering of sweat that made her face look clammy in the poor light.
Regardless, Weiss felt her heart swell. She knew that Ruby was a friend, now. A friend she'd probably not trade in for a trained hunter, no matter how spectacular they were with their weapons or semblances. Someday Ruby would get there. They'd get there together.
"You know, Weiss, you're kind of cool."
Weiss beamed, knowing Ruby was being honest. If anything, Weiss had realized that Ruby was a terrible liar and incredibly outspoken when she wasn't flustered.
"Thank you. You're pretty capable, yourself."
They then spent the rest of the night watching the city below, and when they climbed back down when the sun was rising, Weiss requested to be discreetly escorted back to her quarters by a guard she personally knew. She'd known they'd be situated in the particular hall on morning duty, and it had worked out perfectly.
Ruby immediately undressed herself and fell into Weiss' own bed, wrapping herself in blankets and burying her head in a feather pillow.
"You do realize that's my bed."
"You don't mind."
Weiss glared solemnly at Ruby's bundled form for a moment before huffing and silently agreeing that she really didn't care. The bed was big enough for the two of them, after all.
She crawled in beside Ruby and closed her eyes. There was a brief moment before fatigue set in, but when it did, she immediately fell asleep, Ruby's body heat and the fire warmth lulling her quickly into a slumber.
"Weiss."
"Hmm?" Weiss looked up from her book, curious. Ruby stood at the entrance of the study, a serious expression on her face. It clashed with the frilly pink dress she wore, topped with a bow.
"I was thinking. What if your father decides to just kick me out?"
Weiss sighed, her own worries being voiced out loud. Supposedly, Qrow, the envoy, was on his way to Coldfort. They knew this because of their sleuthing about, a common activity they'd become quite skilled at. "Then I guess I go with you."
Ruby looked surprised at the words, but then she frowned, taking a seat on the cushioned bench beside Weiss. "You're a princess, and this is your kingdom. Won't your dad have, you know. Issues?"
Weiss huffed. "Of course he would. But he'd also lose his alliance with the Hunters, something he can't afford. The White Fang and their armies of Grimm are not forces to take lightly."
Ruby hummed thoughtfully. "So, you think we'll still be partners, and learn to be the best hunters together?"
Weiss rolled her eyes at Ruby's juvenile tendencies, despite the fact that she felt good about Ruby caring so much about them staying together. "Yes, Ruby. I think it will be fine. You needn't worry."
Ruby breathed in relief, slumping against Weiss, who huffed in annoyance as she dropped her book in her lap. "Good. I'd hate to have to become friends with another spoiled brat."
"Excuse me?" Weiss snapped, and Ruby laughed.
"I'm kidding. But, let's be honest, right?"
Weiss bit her tongue. Ruby was maybe a little right. At Weiss' silent admission, Ruby cheered in victory.
Weiss sighed and picked up her book, finding her page again. Ruby stretched out and rested her head on Weiss' leg, who minded a little bit but didn't mind at the same time. Such was their relationship, three months in.
The knock came a few hours later, a sharp battering on their door. Ruby's head popped up like a Sheppard, eyes wide and intense, ears perked. Weiss herself jumped, having been in a half sleep state at this point.
"Do you think it's about him?"
"Likely." Weiss responded, and Ruby took off at a running pace, ripping the door open.
"M-Miss Rose... Where is the lady?"
"Weiss!"
Weiss cringed, imagining what it must sound like to the staff to hear Ruby call her by her first name. "Coming, Ruby." She called, setting her book down and straightening her own black dress, accented with white lace and ribbons. Her hair had been done up into an off-center ponytail, and she wore a crystalline tiara on the crown of her head.
The caller was an old woman with a leathery face, her eyes small and beady. She had a pleasant smile, her gray hair pulled around her in head in a French braid style. "Your Grace," She said, bowing. Weiss smiled at her, realizing with amusement that after spending so much time with Ruby alone, formalities felt strange to her.
The woman eyed Ruby strangely.
"Mesilla. I assume you're here for us?"
"You're always a sharp one. Yes, the envoy has arrived."
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby said excitedly, her voice high pitched. Mesilla looked at her queerly, then gave Weiss a questioning look.
"She's like this. All the time." Weiss said flatly, though the small smile on her face told that she really didn't mind. Mesilla nodded and swept out of the way for the two of them to pass. Ruby hiked up her skirt and took off at a run, leaving the two of them far behind. Weiss sighed and stayed walking, though she dearly wanted to run with Ruby. Appearances were important, though.
"Miss Rose is going the wrong way, your Grace."
Weiss sighed. Of course she was. "Ruby! Wrong way, dolt!"
"Ooh!" Came the call, followed by a loud slap of flesh on stone that was followed up by the sound of heels clacking on the floor. Weiss shook her head and Mesilla looked appalled. Ruby caught back up to them, hair out of place and nursing both her palms.
"Ruby, you're helpless." Weiss huffed, immediately pushing Ruby in front of them so that she could work on fixing her hair.
"I can do that, your Grace. You shouldn't be doing such thing-"
"I'm perfectly capable, Mesilla."
Mesilla nodded in deference, directing them past the throne room and to a hallway that seemed to circle all the way around to the farthest corners of the keep. "Very good. The King and the envoy are in there awaiting you both."
Weiss finished retying Ruby's bow just then and waved Mesilla off, who curtsied and left them. "Turn and face me." Weiss demanded, and Ruby did so. Weiss felt a giggle escape her lips when she saw Ruby's ridiculously vibrant expression. She'd never seen such wide eyes in her life.
"Alright, you look fine. I may let you get away with being a disrespectful brute, but my father won't take kindly to it. Do try to watch your manners."
Ruby blew a strand of hair out of her face, which Weiss quickly put into place. "No worries, your Grace." Ruby mocked, curtsying dramatically. Weiss huffed, lightly swatting Ruby's shoulder. The brunette giggled.
"Are we ready?"
"Indeed."
"Enough of that." Weiss hissed, knocking lightly on the wooden door. It was plain and unremarkable.
"Come on in." Came the envoy's, Qrow's, voice, and Ruby squealed, obviously unable to contain herself for much longer. Weiss sighed and pushed the door open.
They stepped into a study lit by an open window and a candle. There was a single table with four chairs around it, a desk with quills and parchments and other assorted writing tools messily scattered on its surface, and a pair of bookshelves, filled with titles.
Qrow and her father stood leaning over a map opened fully on the table. Her father gave her a stony look, and Weiss could tell by the red of his face that he was indeed flustered. Qrow seemed much more relaxed, but his face was grim.
"Uncle Qrow!" Ruby exclaimed, disregarding the royal company and running around to hug the man. "Did ya miss me?"
He looked down at her with disdain, before giving her a crooked grin. "Nope."
Ruby laughed. "Well, I have had a really grea-"
"Miss Rose!" The King snapped, and Ruby immediately snapped to attention. Qrow sighed, but said nothing. Weiss herself moved to stand by her father's side, giving Ruby a I-told-you-so look. "Do try to contain yourself in my presence."
"I'm sorry, your Grace." Ruby apologized quietly, curtsying properly. Qrow put a sympathetic hand on her shoulder.
"Daughter. I hope you've been well."
"Thank you. Ruby has been a splendid friend."
Her father harrumphed, as if in disbelief. Weiss couldn't blame him, even if what she said was true. "As you may know, the both of you are to spend the rest of this year here in Coldfort." Ruby and Weiss gave one another a look, unseen by either of the two men. "I've been working it out with the Hunter's Gui-"
"To cut to the point, that deal is no longer in effect. You're both leaving tonight." Qrow interrupted, and Weiss shifted uncomfortably. What a crude man. I can see the resemblance. "Oh, and hello again, Weiss." She looked up at her father, who's face was set in a furious glare. He stayed silent.
"Uhm." Weiss awkwardly curtsied, not even considering reprimanding this man. Even her father seemed to give him leeway.
"I would appreciate it if you could show some deference in my castle, Qrow." Her father growled, and Qrow shrugged.
"Tight schedule. You want to tell them the whole story, write a book. I'll make sure it gets to them." He said playfully, and Weiss watched as Ruby tried not to laugh. When Ruby looked over at Weiss, she blanched at Weiss' promising glare.
"You have a knack for pushing buttons, envoy."
"And you're pretty good at stalling, yourself."
Her father's fists clenched, and for a moment, Weiss was concerned until he let them open with a sigh of defeat. "Very well. I have little to do with this matter; they are in the hands of the Hunter's Guild now."
"Father?" Weiss asked questioningly, a surprising amount of panic welling up in her chest.
"Behave, Weiss. And do not fail." Her father said coolly, expression dispassionate.
"Of course."
"As expected." Her father growled lowly, stalking out of the study with his hands clenched once again. The door slammed shut, and Weiss stared after it for a few moments.
"Weiss?" Qrow called, and she turned her attention to him immediately. "Right. So, the White Fang are far too dangerous for us to wait an entire year for your too proud father to allow training. Long story short, Remnant needs your summoning powers and needs it fast."
Weiss nodded, silent. A question suddenly burned in the back of her mind. "Why is it that Ruby is being taught so young?"
"Reasons." Qrow answered sharply, and Weiss snapped her mouth shut. She too found this Qrow aggravating. She twisted the fabric of her dress around her finger.
Ruby looked up at her uncle questioningly, but he ignored her. "Anyways, I'm here to bring you guys out to Vale, where you'll be far away from the White Fang and we'll be better able to train you."
"Isn't Atlas safe enough?" Weiss asked, the thought of traveling to the other side of the world harrowing.
Qrow gave her a look as if she was stupid. "An entire coast city was raided and burnt to the ground a few weeks back. Villages and other large settlements have been reporting attacks and raids from the Orcs and Grimm, and the King's army is failing to stop them at every turn. You're bo- You're too important to lose, and so the Hunter's Guild demanded you be brought to someplace safe."
Weiss felt her knees grow weak. Was it really that bad? She hadn't heard word of this, even while snooping around the castle grounds at night.
"And, to make matters worse, there have been reports of assassins in all the major cities of all the kingdoms. It's not safe to leave you unguarded, Weiss. We're doing this for your safety. For the entire world's safety."
Weiss looked down at her hands, realizing she'd been absolutely fine with waiting one more year. To leave Atlas, her birthplace, before she was even eighteen...
"Weiss?" Ruby asked softly, circling the table to stand beside her.
"What is the Hunter's Guild going to do for Atlas, then, in repay for its princess giving herself to them?"
Qrow began wrapping up the map, and Weiss could see red circles around three small cities within Atlas, along with a huge coastal city just inside the Atlas borders. "Half of our forces will be on their way to Atlas. With that much fighting power, we should be able to keep Atlas safe. For now."
"For now?"
Qrow packed the map into a pack and slung the brown bag across a shoulder. "Until you can join the battle."
Weiss stared into Qrow's scarlet eyes, and she realized that regardless, Ruby was going with him. "Qrow, could we talk?"
Qrow looked at Ruby, who was watching the exchange with obviously growing anxiety. Her fidgeting was so constant that Weiss was worried for her.
"Sure thing, princess." He said with a heavy sigh. Weiss smiled her appreciation, guessing that Qrow knew what it was they were going to discuss. "Ruby, could ya skip out a moment?"
"But-!"
"Get going, pipsqueak!" He said forcefully, and Ruby stuck Weiss with a glare.
"Okay..." Ruby mumbled.
She skulked past Weiss and slammed the door shut, leaving the two of them in the dark room together.
"What is it about Ruby that's so important, then?"
Weiss was quiet, internally puzzled. She kept glancing over at Ruby, who was just as quiet. There really wasn't much for either of them to pack, but Weiss did take the Grimm journal. She noted with brief amusement that Ruby had tried to secretly stuff the Atlas History into her own bag.
"Are you all right, Weiss?" Ruby asked, concern on her voice. She stood up from her packing, evidently finished. There was a wet sheen to her silver eyes that confused Weiss, but she didn't comment. Weiss paused in belting Myrtenaster to her waist, her specialized rapier.
Truth was, with the knowledge that her kingdom would be safe while she was away, she was excited to start her journey of becoming a legend. "I think I'll be fine." She answered truthfully.
Ruby smiled sadly, donning her red cloak. It clung to her like a thick drape, hiding everything under it. "Alright, then. You ready?"
Weiss nodded, and then paused. "Want to see the tower view one more time?"
Ruby's eyes lit up, smiling. "Definitely!"
They stood leaning against the rail, letting the chilly wind nip at their faces. They wore heavy traveling gear, for the season of winter was fast approaching. "What do you think it'll be like?" Weiss asked Ruby, genuinely curios.
"Awesome. The coolest thing either of us will have ever experienced." Ruby assured her confidently, and Weiss nodded. She thought so, too. "And we're going to do it together! A princess and a farmer's daughter. Who'd have thought, huh?"
Weiss nodded, her eyes taking in their last looks of Coldfort.
"Who'd have thought." She replied quietly.
This is just insane. I cannot believe the reception this got. Like, wow. Chapters following this will be less time-skipy and more detailed, so be prepared.