To apologize for the extended break between the last few chapters, and because I'm on a roll and finished this one in two days, here is the next chapter! Please enjoy!
Yang and Weiss had a lot to do and very little time to do it. They spent several hours preparing for the dance, only leaving to sleep the night before returning to the event hall first thing in the morning. Tensions were already starting to run a little high.
"Weiss! I said no doilies!" Yang shouted.
"If I don't get doilies, you don't get fog machines!" Weiss yelled back.
"Doilies and fog machines?" Ruby's voice made the pair jump.
"Ruby!?" Weiss tried to compose herself quickly. "I thought you were training again this morning?"
"I did. I finished my routine," Ruby told her. "So, what exactly is the theme of this dance?"
"Traditionally the Vytal Festival Academy Ball is, well… A ball," Weiss explained.
"So, doilies…" Ruby nodded, "But where does the fog machine come into play?"
"Balls are boring!" Yang defended. "Glynda said she wanted me because I know what's popular these days, and ballroom dancing is not popular!"
"Right..." Ruby nodded. "Well, good luck, I guess."
"Wait!" Weiss stopped the young leader before she walked out. "What do you think?"
"I… have no idea," Ruby admitted.
"Ugh," Weiss rolled her eyes, "you're useless."
The three girls turned to the door as they heard it open. Sun walked in, greeting, "Yo yo yo! What's up, ladies?" while flashing finger-guns.
Weiss rolled her eyes for a second time. "Don't you have anyone else to hang out with?"
"Not really," Sun shrugged. "My team still hasn't shown up. I'm guessing Neptune is making travel difficult."
"What, is he afraid of water?" Yang joked.
"Actually, yes," Sun answered with a completely straight face.
Yang didn't have a response to that, and simply stared awkwardly.
"So!" The energetic Sun was quick to cut off the silence, "You girls excited to play dress up?"
"Why would I be dressing up?" Ruby shook her head. "Not like I have anyone to dress up for."
"C'mon, Rubes! You gotta wear a dress to a dance," Yang argued. "Not to toot my own horn, but I'll be turning heads tomorrow night!"
"What about Blake?" Sun asked. "She even goin'? Or is she still being all… Blake-y?"
Weiss's face fell. "I'm sure you know the answer to that."
"Well, we'll have fun with or without Ms. Grumpypants," Yang declared confidently. "Long as I get my fog machines!" she added, staring down Weiss.
"Sure, add whatever you want," Weiss spoke dismissively.
Yang's face instantly turned to one of concern. "Weiss?"
Weiss sighed and crossed her arms. "I know we should be organizing this dance for everyone, but I was actually looking forward to using it to help Blake as well. She's our team mate, we can't leave her like this."
The room turned to a somber quiet. Even Sun didn't know how to restore the mood, deciding, "I'm just gunna get outta here..." and leaving.
Weiss examined the doily still in her hand before dropping it on the table, her face set as confident determination. "I'm going to get out of here as well," she told them, leaving herself shortly after.
Yang watched the door close before turning to her sister. "What do you think she's up to?"
"I wonder..." Ruby responded, thoughtful. "So, do you need any help in here?"
"I'd love it, but it's probably not a good idea," Yang answered. "Weiss is getting a big enough headache just dealing with me, and you're not exactly 'in touch' with what's popular around here, if you know what I mean."
"Should I just get out of your way, then?" Ruby asked, pointing to the door with her thumb.
"Depends..." Yang crossed her arms, "are you wearing a dress to the dance?"
"Yang!" Ruby scolded.
"What?" Yang smiled innocently. "C'mon, sis! How are we supposed to get Blake to relax if you're not relaxed yourself?"
"I'm plenty relaxed! I'm sitting through this dumb conversation right now when I could still be in the Emerald Forest training," Ruby pointed out.
"It's just one night," Yang argued.
"It's weird enough wearing the school uniform every day, I'd just be uncomfortable," Ruby resisted.
"It'll be fun!" Yang smile failed, "why are you being weird about this?"
"Uh, when am I not weird?" Ruby deflected.
When her eyes didn't meet Yang's, the blonde knew for sure something deeper was afoot. "Ruby, what's up? Should I be worried?"
"No!" Ruby shouted quickly. "I'm sure it won't be anything at all. Mostly sure..."
"Ruby," Yang pressed sternly.
Ruby finally relented, double checking that they were alone and taking a step closer to Yang to speak quietly. "Look, I didn't want to worry you. It's just that, ever since the visiting students first showed up, darkness has slowly been blanketing the school. I've been feeling it for weeks."
"You mean how everyone's weirded out by the warships, or..." Yang's eyes nervously darted to one side, "y-your kind of darkness?"
"My kind of darkness," Ruby stated firmly.
"Do you think something's going to happen at the dance?" Yang asked.
"If I thought so, I'd let you know," Ruby promised. "It's not even about the dance itself, the whole thing could go off without a hitch. But all the people in this school right now, so many hearts… not to mention the darkness user I fought." Sigh, "I didn't speak up because I wanted everyone to enjoy themselves if it turns out nothing happens. But I'm also going to wear my enchanted gear as much as possible. Even to the dance. Just in case."
Yang's concern showed on her face. "You sure I shouldn't gear up too?"
"I can handle a few heartless on my own, and everyone in this school is a fighter," Ruby assured. "Besides, I really have been getting stronger the last few days, I can feel it."
Yang frowned for a moment, but soon nodded. "Alright, I trust you."
"Thank you, Yang," Ruby smiled.
"Now if you'll excuse me," Yang mischievously rubbed her hands together, "I got some fog machines to hide before Weiss gets back!"
Ruby chuckled. "I guess I should establish some plausible deniability. See you later, sis!" Ruby waved and left the hall while her sister got to work.
While that discussion was happening, Weiss was intent on having a discussion of her own. She bee-lined for the library in order to fulfill this mission. It was there she found her target, sitting at one of the computer terminals. Blake didn't notice Weiss approach, and appeared to be nearly asleep in her seat. "There you are."
Weiss's voice nearly made Blake jump out of her chair. "What are you doing here?"
"We need to have a discussion," Weiss told her bluntly. She grabbed the faunus's hand and dragged her right out of the library. "Let's go somewhere we can speak alone."
A few minutes later, Blake was successfully dragged into a currently empty classroom. After letting this much happen, Blake finally jerked her hand out of Weiss's. "Look, if you're going to tell me to stop, save it."
"No one wants you to stop, Blake," Weiss assured. "We want you to slow down, take a break. Relax, that's all."
"I don't have the luxury to relax," Blake argued.
"It's not a matter of luxury," Weiss insisted. "If you don't get some rest, you won't have the energy you need when the situation demands it."
"The situation demands we stop Torchwick and his little sidekick!" Blake shouted.
"And who's going to do that?" Weiss countered. "You?"
"Of course me!" Blake stubbornly stated.
"You really think you could stop him if he were to walk through that door right now?" Weiss pointed out.
"Yes!" Blake cried desperately.
"Then prove it." Weiss pulled two weapons off her belt, her own Myrtenaster and Blake's Gambol Shroud. Weiss handed her faunus team mate her black sword and took a few steps back. "If you leave this room, I'll let you do whatever you want without speaking up again. But you'll have to go through me to get to the door."
Blake gripped her weapon tightly and scowled. Eager to prove herself, she charged Weiss and brought her weapon down. Suddenly there was a flash of steel and a sharp pain in her wrist. Gambol Shroud flew from her hand and landed several feet away on the ground. Blake quickly grabbed her injured wrist, the deep cut still bleeding.
"Dear brothers, it's worse than I thought," Weiss stared at the cut with wide eyes.
"It doesn't matter," Blake spoke through gritted teeth.
"Doesn't matter? You can't even keep your aura up!" Weiss pointed out.
"I'm not going to stop!" Blake yelled.
"We're not asking you to stop!" Weiss reiterated. "We just want you to get some sleep and take it easy for one night."
"You wouldn't tell Ruby to 'take it easy'!" Blake argued.
"That's another thing, you need to stop using Ruby as a shield," Weiss told her. "First of all, she's not going to be around forever. And secondly, you're not even paying attention to what she's doing."
"You mean the hours of secretive extra training?" Blake countered.
"Yes, she's putting herself through extra training, and no, I wouldn't ask her to slow down. But only because I don't have to," Weiss explained. "The difference with her is that she's not destroying herself in the process. Ruby makes sure she still eats and sleeps. She even makes an effort to attend class, and we both know she has no intention to graduate. If you were really trying to emulate her, we wouldn't be having this discussion."
Blake finally took a moment to think, while tracing the cut on her wrist with her other hand. "But… how are we suppose to stop them if we don't put the work in?"
"We are putting the work in," Weiss countered. "This isn't a small problem that can be solved overnight. That's what you need to understand, that this isn't a sprint so much as a marathon. And we have to pace ourselves."
Blake stayed quiet. She moved to pick up her sword, and with a sigh, finally conceded by sheathing it on her back.
Weiss smiled and placed a comforting hand on Blake's arm. "Get some sleep tonight, and if your up to it, have some fun at the dance tomorrow. Once your head's right and you can finally stand up straight, we'll discuss our next step as a team. I promise."
Blake simply nodded. Weiss let her go and the faunus left, this time for her bed in the dorm. Weiss took a moment to be proud of herself before leaving the classroom herself. She turned back after closing the door to make sure it was locked, and noticed someone leaning against the wall nearby. "Ruby?"
"Hey, Weiss," Ruby greeted back. She pushed herself off the wall and stood next to her partner. "So, you got through to her?"
"I believe so," Weiss reported.
"Good." Ruby smiled and patted Weiss on the back, "It's good to know that when I do leave, I'll be leaving this team in good hands."
Surprise registered on her face for a moment. The heiress quickly squashed her ego, though allowed a small grin to remain. "I won't let you down."
"I know," Ruby nodded. "Now I do believe you have a dance to plan."
"Yes," Weiss recalled. "First order of business, find where your sister decided to hide her blasted fog machines." She turned on her heel to speed-walk to the event hall.
Ruby chuckled watching her go. After Weiss left her line of sight, Ruby looked up and down the hall and realized something. "Now what am I going to do with my day?"
"Friend Ruby!"
"I guess that answers that question," Ruby decided quickly to casually roll with this new development. She turned to face her strange friend. "Hey Penny!"
Penny finished approaching the young leader and smiled. "How are you today?"
"Sensational!" Ruby answered, mimicking Penny. "I was just looking for something to do, and I'm a little tired of Beacon's halls. Wanna hang out in Vale?"
Penny clapped her hands together and answered, "That sounds wonderful!"
Forty-five minutes later, Ruby and Penny were walking out of an ice cream shop together with a fudge pop and a cup of sherbet respectively. Penny seemed very excited about the frozen treat, though admittedly no more excited than she was about literally everything else. "This is incredible! I've never had ice cream before! Atlas is very cold, and most traditional foods and desserts are warm."
"Yeah," Ruby nodded along. "It's just too bad they don't have my favorite flavor. It is pretty rare, though."
"What flavor is that?" Penny asked, taking another bite of her sherbet.
"Sea-salt Ice Cream," Ruby recalled fondly. "We would all hang out on the cliffs down from the castle. We would laugh at stupid jokes and take bets on where… where..."
Penny noted Ruby trailing off. "Ruby?"
"Sorry," Ruby forced a smile on her face. "I haven't seen my other friends in a while and… I kind of really miss them."
"Where are they now?" Penny asked.
"Somewhere far away…" Ruby answered vaguely.
Penny didn't want things to fall to silence, and looked for anything to latch onto to start a new topic. "I… assume your gauntlet must be hard to work on. I can see repairs are slow."
"Slow?" Ruby was confused. "Try 'non-existant'. I wish I knew how to fix it."
Penny's eyebrow raised. "I could be mistaken, but the damage to your gauntlet appears to be one-point-eight less severe then when I saw you last."
"Really?" Ruby examined her gauntlet for the first time in months. She wasn't as confident as Penny seemed to be about its prior state, but it seemed the large crack in the main plate may have closed a little bit. "Huh..."
"So if you're not repairing it, how is it..."
It was Penny's turn to trail off, which worried the young Keyblade wielder. The strange girl was normally unflappably upbeat, Ruby didn't think it was possible for her to trail off. She followed Penny's line of sight to a demonstration by Atlas of their new unmanned peacekeeping units.
A pre-recorded hologram of General Ironwood was addressing the crowd, motioning to the dull, gray robots that had served as automated policemen for years. "The AK-130 has been a standard security model of Remnant for several years, and they have done a fine job. Wouldn't you agree?"
The crowd cheered, and Ruby took a side glance back at Penny. Penny only seemed to grow more uncomfortable as the presentation continued.
"But the kingdom of Atlas is a kingdom of innovation, and 'fine'? Well, that's just not good enough, is it?" The hologram carried on. "Presenting... the Atlesian Knight-200!" it motioned dramatically to the newer, sleeker, white-plated robots.
Penny seemed close to a full-blown meltdown at this point. She turned to Ruby, desperation in her eyes. "Can we go somewhere else, please?"
"Of course," Ruby nodded. The pair quickly turned their backs on the presentation and walked away. The strange scenario was less strange to Ruby than a passing onlooker might think. It certainly backed up the theory Ruby has held about her new friend since they first met. A theory that Ruby found more and more likely every time she hung out with Penny Polendina.