Here we go.
A Symphony of a Young Rose
~A story of roses and blood~
The City of Mankind
The Tower
Last City, Earth
"Oh, my, GOD!" A shout from Red's mouth could be heard through the entire courtyard, having seen all the beautiful glowing lights and statues of someone with a cool looking cloak, a revolver in the statue's hand. Now that she looked closely, it looked similar to the revolver the Guardian used...
But no matter! There were glowing lights everywhere, and her eyes shone like a lit lightbulb in a dark room, illuminating the courtyard along with the lights all the same.
"Eeeeeee! This is so cool! Is it a festival? I hope it's a festival! I love festivals!" Though she didn't remember ever experiencing one through her short lifespan, she already had decided that she indeed loved celebrating something. Red squeaked excitedly as she bolted around to take a look around in the courtyard, occasionally running into some stray Guardians when she forgot to watch her step. "Oops, sorry! Oops, oh, sorry! Sorry." The Guardians didn't really mind, but most of them just stared at her for the sheer volume she was speaking at, and the speed she was running at before they went back to what they were doing.
Rubrum floated around, staring at all of the new 'decorations' Tower had gotten. "...It's Cayde's statue... Oh, how I miss him..." She mumbled to herself in sadness and nostalgia.
The Guardian just stared at Red, who was on a rampage around the courtyard, and Ghost finally informed Red and Rubrum about what had happened. "It's not a festival. It's to remember someone who was important to us. To all of us... who died recently." Red immediately paused, all of her excitement having ceased from her face. "...Oh. I'm sorry, I didn't know...-"
"It's fine, you weren't aware of it." The Ghost whispered out in a sad voice before he added. "Anyway, my Guardian wanted to treat you two with something special and delicious. Why don't you two follow us before you girls go wild in the Tower?" Ghost suggested, and Red perked up in excitement again. "Something special? Cool! I also wanted to ask a few questions, so... sure!" She indeed wanted to ask a few questions about the weird things Rubrum seemed to call the Light.
Especially that scythe thingy... I want to know more about it! I wonder if I can make something else? Red wondered, putting her hands on her chin as she thought about the strange powers she used earlier.
Now that I'm thinking about it, didn't I do some sort of a teleport thing while I was trying to dodge earlier? Ugh, more questions... I hope Guardian can answer them. Or at least, Ghost! Since Rubrum seemed to not know about her powers, maybe she'd ask Ghost. Rubrum seemed to be out of this place for a while now, in search of her.
When it hit her that the Guardian was already walking, she was already too deep in thought to notice before Rubrum nudged her in the back. "Oh! Sorry, I was just thinking, hehe." Red quickly caught up to the Guardian, who was now going down a small spiral of stairs, leading to a long hallway lit by nice and warm looking orange lights. The Guardian passed through the hallway, Red following close behind her as her head spun left and right to make sure that she caught a glimpse of everything.
When they were both through the hallway, Red soon noticed that she was walking through yet another courtyard. To the left was... Well, she could see the entire city from here! It sure was high.
And then there were a lot of people spread throughout the area. Shining neon lights and decorations surrounded the entire courtyard, too!
She couldn't wait to see any more of this.
The Guardian turned her head to look at Red, whose eyes were gleaming and practically glowing at that point with excitement. The Guardian turned back to look at the neon sign portraying a steaming ramen.
Unknown to Red, this ramen store was Cayde-6's favorite ramen place out of all the food stores in the city. Small and humble, but they made really good ramen.
The Guardian searched through her pockets, and after some time, she managed to find what she was looking for: A small, and red coupon. A warm feeling of nostalgia washed over her heart.
While Red was distracted by the scenery of the Tower, the Guardian approached the ramen store, placing the coupon on the table as she sat on the small cushioned chair. One of the men running the restaurant noticed her. "Ah, welcome! It's been a while... what may we serve you today?" She held up two fingers in response, placing the coupon on the table as well. A wordless answer, but the meaning went through. Two of the usual orders.
"Coming right up!" He was more than happy enough to take her order, moving back to the small area reserved for cooking. A pleasant smell escaped the building, which Red's nose caught, turning her attention to the store. She quickly caught up with the Guardian and sat next to her. "Ooh! Are you hungry? This smells really nice!" Red smiled.
Red's excited voice alerted the man running the kitchen. "Oh, a fresh face! She a friend of yours?" The Guardian shrugged. Sorta. "Oh! I see, quite a young one, too. Is she a Guardian, too?" The man's question hung in the air for a good while before the Guardian nodded, raising her hands to make a few signs. Mhm, a fresh one.
"Ah, then I'll try to not let you two down. You like spicy things?" Red shook her head in a "no". "I don't think so, at least... My memory's sitll kinda fuzzy. Sorry." Red scratched her head with a sigh.
"Ah, don't worry about it. It's a common thing between new Guardians. I'm sure you'll start to remember soon." The man disappeared back into the kitchen, leaving the two Guardians to stare at each other in awkward silence.
Red was the first one to break the silence. "So, uh... what are we having?" The Guardian stared at Red with a blank gaze before raising one hand to point at the glowing neon sign portraying a bowl of ramen. "Oh! Heh, I didn't see it. How silly of me..." The Guardian shrugged in response.
Another moment of awkward silence passed, before Ghost nuded the Guardian in the back, whispering to her. "Come on, she obviously wants you to say something. Anything is fine." The Guardian almost scowled beneath her helmet, before she sighed. She made a small motion with her hands. I'll do it later.
The Ghost retreated back into her digital inventory, speaking to her through their internal connection. "She'd be happy to hear you speak, Guardian. I'm just saying!" The Guardian replied back internally. "I'm not the person I used to be, I just... can't. Not now."
Clink! The sound of two bowls being placed on the table cut the short tension between the two, drawing the pair's attention to the bowl. "Oh! It looks really good! Do you want it too, Rubrum? Do Ghosts need to eat? Uhh... or do I sorta charge you or something...?" Rubrum, Ghost, and even the Guardian bursted out laughing. The two Ghosts laughed out loud, and the Guardian snorted for a moment before she ripped her gaze away from Red. "Of course not, you silly. I don't need to eat, nor get charged or anything. The Light is what keeps me alive!" Rubrum replied between her laughs, and the Ghost also snickered for a moment before he materialized. "So, how's the food look? Good, right?" He made a smug comment. Of course, he already knew what the answer to the question would be.
"Yup! It looks really good! It smells really nice, I bet it tastes good, too!" Red replied with a giggle before she picked up the chopsticks, fidgeting with them for a little as she stared at the Guardian. She wanted to eat the ramen, no doubt.
The Guardian pushed her own bowl over to Red's side of table, before she made a sign with her hand. Go ahead. "Wait, aren't you going to eat?" The Guardian shook her head in response to Red. Then, she pushed the bowl she pushed earlier closer to Red. "...O-okay, I guess... aren't you hungry, though?" A shrug was the response from the Guardian.
The first bowl of ramen had vanished within utter minutes, and the second bowl was almost empty. "Wow, you were pretty hungry, huh?" Rubrum commented, watching Red devour the ramen at speeds never seen in human history ever before.
"--mmmm! Mmmm!" Red tried to say something inbetween swallows, which resulted in a horrible failure. Rubrum sighed, however, she couldn't help but giggle at the adorable sight. "Okay, okay. Eat first, talk later, you dummy. You're spraying food all over the table!"
Red took a painful and sluggish moment to swallow the food, then downed it easier with a cup of water, which the Guardian slid over to her. "-Ah! Thanks. And sorry! I can't help it when it's so good!" Red shouted innocently, her hands waving up and down as she cried for her innocence.
A chuckle escaped Rubrum's shell as she gave a small nudge on Red's head, which received a pout from Red in response.
The Guardian stared at them blanky, before she put a hand over her mask as a sound not so unlike a laugh escaped her helmet.
Red, Rubrum, and everyone else's gazes were immediately fixed on the Guardian's face upon hearing the out-of-character laugh.
The Guardian shrugged. What? Red and Rubrum gave a shrug as well before they both returned their focus to their food. Ghost also returned to his Guardian's side.
After a few moments, both of the bowl ran empty, leaving a satisfied Red and three awestruck individuals staring at her. Red shuffled awkwardly before shouting out. "What? I was hungry! Maybe really really hungry!" Ruby let out a cute burp after she retorted, making both Ghost and Rubrum burst out laughing.
Red pouted, staring at the Guardian and wordlessly asking for some help. She received a hand gesture instead of the help she wanted. Sorry.
Red covered her furiously blushing face with both of her hands, slumping down on the table.
The sun had fallen over the horizon already, the darkness of the night taking over and darkening the skies. The Guardian, Summer Rose, sat on the edge of a building, watching the shadows settle over the city.
Red- no, Ruby, was already fast asleep. Summer made sure about that. She likely was currently sleeping in Summer's room.
Now, she was all alone by herself, free to think and reveal her emotions as she pleased.
But even then, she wasn't able to shed a tear or scream in overwhelming agony.
Summer merely just sat there in silence, her eyes looking down at her hands, which had bowled into fists in anger and pain.
Ruby. Oh, Ruby. Why did it have to be her?
Why did it have to be her?
Summer slumped, burying her face into her hands. The memories hurt. It hurt her far too much.
Why did Ruby have to suffer the same fate as her?
The Traveler watched in silence as it always did, even while Summer was looking at it with tearful eyes. It didn't answer her wordless question, nor did it take an action.
It just stared at her as it always did, watching. It never took action.
Sorry for the short chapter. I usually don't have time to, y'know, write properly.
My exams are almost over, so expect more frequent updates in a bit. But for now, I'm sorry.
Before we end this, though, here's a small bonus.
Author's view on characters!
...Or, character cards, I guess.
Ruby/Red
"I just wanna know what's wrong and who I am. Why won't you tell me?"
A kind soul, although somewhat childish. Has no idea who Guardian is, but has some sort of an idea of what she's going through. She wants to try helping the Guardian out.
She is unaware of her past, due to being a relatively new Guardian.
Her silver eyes are related to the Traveler in some sorts, although nobody is truly aware why.
Her damaged Crescent Rose was found with her, which needs repairs as soon as it can receive one.
She usually wears her Volume 1 outfit with some modifications, such as external armor plates and magazine holders, and magnetic holsters on the back and hip.
She doesn't wear a helmet unless she's forced to.
Signature music during combat: Showdown - Jose Pàvil (Project Wingman OST)
_
Summer/The Guardian
"I'm sorry. I've lost Cayde once. I'm not losing you too, not again."
The hero of Tower and Humanity, but a human nonetheless in the heart. Her past memory of leaving Ruby and Yang is haunting her to this day, and seeing Ruby come back as a Guardian through unknown means is not helpful. She used to be a good friends with Cayde, who helped her to get used to the Tower. Seeing him die did not bode well with her, and for now, she thinks that the same might happen to Ruby again.
That's what the name Red implies. Summer won't be treating Ruby as her daughter anymore, but as just another person, Red. She thinks it's for the better, as Ruby won't get in trouble for having Summer around. Of course, it's quite the opposite. Summer is just blinded by sadness, and in hindsight, she thinks that keeping Ruby away from her would be safer for Ruby. It's really not, and Ghost understands this.
Used to talk to Cayde for a small while, before she just completely... stopped speaking. Even Ghost doesn't know how to get her to talk anymore. He says that the Guardian usually just... speaks a word or two, and then stops.
Instead, she usually communicates with simple hand signs and gestures, which are translated into words in this story.
Always wears a helmet.
Signature music during combat: Seeking the Light (Destiny 2 - The Witch Queen OST)
_
Rubrum
"I just want my Guardian to be safe. That's all I ever wanted. Can't you help us? Please, just this once. I'm begging you."
Ruby's Ghost, name stands for "Red" in Latin. However, the pristine white shell suggests otherwise.
As you might have guessed from the shell, she's basically a "softer" Weiss, emphasis on soft. Most of the time, she acts more like Ruby, kind and somewhat childish, cracking a few jokes here and there.
But when things get tough or emotional, she usually either:
1: Gets irritated and acts roughly.
2: Shouts and wails, usually with complaints like a child.
But she acts somewhat protective over Ruby at the same time, going as far as to risking her dignity and life to save Ruby.
So, yup. It's Weiss, but Ruby-ish. You get the point.
Regularly calls Ruby "Dummy" or "Silly".
_
The Ghost
"I know it's hard for you, but... She needs your help now, more than ever. Would you really be able to keep living on knowing that you ignored her in a situation like this?"
We've went a little bit off from the original game, and decided to gave Summer a little more fitting Ghost.
He's calm and gentle like Summer most of the time, but when things get serious, he begins acting emotionally unlike Summer, who usually keeps calm most of the time.
That's exactly why he understands Summer so well though. It takes an emotional person to understand how others may feel.
_
Those are how I view the characters in my story. Of course, there may be people who disagree with me. That's why I'm always willing to take suggestions and reviews!