The Shadow of Fire
Chapter 13: Send off
WARNING: FILLER CHAPTER AHEAD!
Weiss and Ruby stood together, hands connected as the professors and the B and Y of team RWBY stared at them in a mix of confusion and utter awe.
"Are you serious Miss Rose and Miss Schnee?" Port asked abruptly. "I'm not questioning your combat abilities, but are you sure you want to do this? We have several year four students who could easily-"
"No." Ruby cut the professor off in mid sentence, her tail standing to attention, attempting to salute. "We can pull it off better than anyone. We've got more power and luck on our side than you think." The wolf stated, grinning at Weiss who nodded back, understanding the reference to their newest friend.
Port scratched his chin, looking over at Ozpin who laid still on a makeshift bed. "I don't know what Headmaster Ozpin would say to this request... But with the power invested in me as his older teammate... I'll allow it." Professor Port agreed, turning to a few of the other professors. "We need a airship and fast. Scavenge around for a functioning one."
"Wouldn't it we wise to simply use one of our own?" One of the Dust and Aura teachers questioned the axe wielder, others nodding in agreement.
"They have a different model than ours, military issue I believe. We would get shot down faster than the time I went down in an airship in the Emerald Forest while fighting against a Nevermore." Port answered, the professors running off. "Do remind me to tell you that entire story some time." Port stated to the team of teens before him.
Yang walked over to the R and W of team RWBY, her face wearing a mask of false calm.
"So you all are really going to go up there?" Yang asked the pair of heiress and Faunus, the latter nodding in agreement.
"Yes Yang, we have to. You know as much as I do that Saturn is bound to just escape if we just fire at the ship." Weiss explained to the blonde brawler. "We need a confirmed kill."
"I know... I just..." Yang took a breath, holding back tears. "I just... I can remember when Ruby was just a kid, wanting to be a Huntress for the first time. And now..." Yang sniffled slightly. "You're risking your lives for Beacon."
Ruby walked forward and embraced Yang into a bear hug, or a wolf hug, holding her tight. "I know Yang. But Weiss and I gotta do this sis." Ruby said gently. "When we get back, we are going to throw the biggest and basest party that has ever existed, got it?"
Yang rubbed her right eye with her hand, smiling slightly. "I'll bring the streamers."
"And I'll bring the cake." Blake added, walking over to the trio. "Things always work out well for us don't they?"
"Right." Yang said, smiling slightly.
"Weiss." Blake said, holding out her hand. "Here, I found this in the dorm and grabbed it before we left. It might come in handy up there." Blake said, opening her palm to reveal a set of two black ear pieces.
Weiss slowly plucked the devices up, placing one in her right ear. "And the other one?" The heiress asked, tilting her head slightly.
"You can hand it to Port once you two are heading up, that way he can keep in contact for any assistance." Blake replied, nodding at the heiress.
"Thank you Blake. And in case things don't go as planned, it's been an honor serving with a brilliant Faunus like you." Weiss said proudly, holding out her hand.
Blake gave Weiss a firm handshake, nodding agreement. "Ditto."
"Well don't say your goodbyes just yet! You don't need to leave right now!" Yang nearly cried out, smiling wide at her own statement.
"Miss Long and Miss Belladonna!" Luna's voice came out from the right of the group. "Teams JNPR and CRDL are in need of assistance! You need to move immediately!" The hologram ordered, and explosion rocking the ground below the team.
"I guess I spoke too soon." Yang said, looking at Weiss. "Take care of Ruby for me?" The brawler asked in a calm yet harsh voice.
"Always." Weiss answered, nodding at the blonde.
"Good, see you all soon. Send my regards to Saturn." Yang added, pulling Blake by her wrist in the direction of the explosions, ready for combat.
Weiss and Ruby stood side by side, just looking at each other, not daring to say a word. After a few awkward minutes, the duo spoke at the same time.
"Hey look I-" The pair said, stopping to let the other speak.
"You first Ruby." Weiss said happily, smiling down at the younger girl.
"Weiss, you mean everything to me. I never would have made it this far without you. I really love you Weiss. I just have two things I want to let you know." Ruby began, smiling at Weiss. "The first is that no matter what happens up there, I will always love you, no matter what."
"I love you too Ruby." Weiss said, hugging the Faunus before her, the girl's tail wagging around quickly. "And the second thing?"
"If we are up there battling Saturn, fighting to the best of our abilities, and we are to go up into a giant ball of fire and take him out with us... I want you to know one thing."
"That is?"
"I made the kill shot." Ruby finished, grinning wildly at the older teen before her.
"Of course Ruby, of course." Weiss said, planting a kiss on the younger Faunus's cheek. "Whatever you say."
Ruby's tail flickered around happily as she grinned back at the older girl, holding her in a sweet embrace. Ruby wished that time would just stop so they could just stay like this forever and just forget all the battles and conflicts around them.
"Miss Rose and Miss Schnee." Professor Ports voice came from the right of them, the older man holding a scroll in hand. "The PDA rule is still in effect." He joked, tapping a few buttons on his tablet. "I've just been informed that Professor Janus has found an active and functioning Bulkhead which survived Luna's cannon fire. He is bringing it over here as we speak... Make sure your weapons are ready." The older axe wielding man said in an unusually upset voice.
"Is something wrong Professor?" Ruby asked, her ears and head tilted to one side, confusion adorned her face.
"I just wished I could have trained you more, just prepared you more for a battle such as this... But I know deep down that you both can handle this mission." Port said, wiping a small tear from his right eye.
"Don't worry sir; we know we can do this." Weiss said, suddenly remembering the ear piece. "Here sir." Weiss said, holding out the black device to the Professor. "I have one with me. We can use it to keep in touch while on board the ship, and update you on our status."
"Excellent thinking Miss Schnee, this will give us an advantage." Port replied, picking up the device before placing it in his right ear.
"Thank Blake, she came up with the idea for it." Weiss replied, smiling slightly at the older man before her.
"I will." Port said with a small smile, slowly looking over at Headmaster Ozpin. "Hopefully he wakes soon. He is a brilliant strategist; we will need him for organizing the ground battles." Professor Port mumbled under his breath, just loud enough for Ruby to hear him. That or the enhanced hearing.
"Mister Port? I think that he will be fine. Headmaster Ozpin has always come out on top, why wouldn't he now?" Ruby stated boldly, smiling with her trademark grin.
Professor Port nodded in agreement, smiling back at Ruby's bubbly personality. "I do suppose you are right Miss Rose; I shouldn't worry as much as I do." He said in response, the sound of an engine causing him to turn his attention to his left.
A rather large bulkhead aircraft slowly flew in towards the trios position, it's grey and white paint shined brightly in the morning sun. It looked relatively stable, the right engine sparkling with yellow and orange Dust from a small amount of damage, probably from crashing. It appeared to be missing its landing wheels, which wasn't a good sign for Weiss and Ruby.
The massive craft slowly landed on the stone pavement next to the group, tilting a tad to the right due to a lack of landing assets. The side doors swung upward, allowing the driver to step out. Professor Janus ran over to the trio, grinning like a mad man, which he was often called.
"I have the ship ready to go Port!" He said, grinning in his black lab coat. "I set the ship to act as if it was running low on fuel, so it will attempt an automatic docking program with the flagship! The girls won't need to worry about driving!" He shouted over the engines, a few explosions coming from the east weren't helping his voice projection either.
"Thank you Janus! Start heading towards the western library! I last saw Professor Ivory over there and we will need her for Ozpins recovery!" Port yelled back, gesturing the duo of teens inside the ship as he talked.
Ruby and Weiss ran into the side doors of the ship, both taking their seats in the front of the craft. Almost immediately after the duo sat down, the doors to the craft slammed shut, allowing it to rise off of the stone ground and into the air. The machines engines began humming loudly as it began rising up to full power, lifting higher and higher off the ground. The craft did a 180 degree turn before soaring off into the sky, right towards Saturn's Flagship.
Port stood with Luna's hologram on the stone below, looking up at the ship leave as Janus ran off into the battle for Professor Ivory.
"Do you think they can do it?" Port asked Luna, looking at the A.I next to him.
"We can only hope sir." Luna replied, looking at the ship. "We can only hope."
A/N: This technically was just a filler chapter for the next few to proceed better. The next two will take place on the flagship while chapter 16 is the season finale. After chapter 16 I will pause the story for a few days or a week or so to work on my other works, allowing me to finish and add more chapters to the others.
See you all soon.
PS: Chapters 14 to 16 will be very long. VERY long.
PSS: Anyone catch the reference?