"Year 845. The Colossal Titan and the Armored Titan appeared out of nowhere. Instantly, the walls were shattered, along with the illusory peace of everyday life. Mankind abandoned Wall Maria. They lost a fifth of their population and a third of their territory as human activity was pushed back to Wall Rose."
"Then, in Year 850, in Trost, mankind permitted the Titans to encroach further yet. Ruby Jaeger, despite having been eaten by a Titan, suddenly reemerged from a mysterious Titan's corpse."
10. Answer/The Struggle For Trost, Part 6
The scene picked up where it left off. Ruby, Pyrrha and Oscar were backed up against a wall.
"I'll ask once again! What are you?!" Weilman screamed.
"I'm human!" Ruby yelled in response.
Oscar and Pyrrha watched, tension clear on their faces.
"I see…" Weilman's arm began to rise. "Don't think badly of me."
"Prick," Emerald muttered.
On the other side of the Wall, things were relatively more peaceful. Or as peaceful as the situation could be, given the crisis on their hands.
"Neptune… No! I can't fight Titans anymore!" Daz cried out.
"What's gotten into you?" Neptune questioned.
"My comrades were devoured right in front of me! They got eaten, yet I felt neither hate nor sadness!"
A few feet over, Nora sat, head down, with a plate full of loaves of bread. Untouched.
"Damn, it really hit her if she's not eating," Roman said.
"I was just thankful that it wasn't me!"
"It's understandable to feel that way," said Ozpin. "Humans are hardwired to prioritize their self-preservation and survival above all else. It takes a truly altruistic person to put the needs of others above themselves."
Nora was listening, shaken.
"But I'll be next!" Daz clutched his head. "I get it now. Our job is to fight until the Titans eat us!"A cart with five injured and mutilated soldiers was passing by on the street. "Well, screw that!" He reached for his blade. "If I'm just gonna get torn apart anyway, I'd rather —"
"Stop!" Neptune grabbed him, stopping him from doing anything to himself. "Get a grip, man! It's not just you! Everyone is struggling with fear! Look at Nora! Even after all she's been through, she's still steady!"
Nora cried out suddenly, clutching her stomach. "My stomach is killing me! May I go to the infirmary?"
The audience laughed. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Nora's antics were enough to bring smiles to their faces.
"Why would you do that?!" Neptune asked, still chuckling. He felt a pang of pity for his counterpart. Poor guy. And he was trying so hard too.
That was more than enough motivation for Daz to try and pull out his sword again. "I can't take this!"
"Stop it!"
Sun, Jaune, Ren, and Weiss silently stood by. "Good thing we were sworn to secrecy," Sun finally said. "Everything's already enough of a mess as it is. If they found out about Ruby…"
"Lynch mobs," Blake said. "They're scared out of their minds, and now add finding out that one of their own was a Titan all along? Ruby would be the perfect scapegoat for their rage."
Ruby winced at her accurate assessment.
An explosion was heard from the other side of Wall Rose, startling the soldiers. "Cannon fire?" Jaune asked in surprise. "It's inside the wall!"
"What's that?"
"What's going on?"
"Was the gate broken?"
"That's the most fortified place! It can't be!"
"Someone probably just dropped a cannonball."
"But then what's all that smoke?"
Jaune looked horrified at the sight of the smoke. Gritting his teeth, he pulled out his blades.
What does he think he can do in this situation? Jaune wondered. He still felt a bit bummed out that his counterpart stood on the sidelines earlier while everyone panicked.
"Could it be steam from a Titan?" Sun wondered.
Jaune immediately took off on his 3D gear, followed closely by Weiss and Ren.
"Hey!" Sun called out after them. He wasted no time following after them in the direction of the explosion.
"Weiss and Ren seem to follow Jaune around a lot in this universe," Cardin observed.
Weiss looked ready to retort but held it back, scrunching her eyebrows in thought. Her mind flashed through all the times the three hung out together, or Jaune getting all up in her space, or even the worry they displayed for her at HQ. Sure, it could be interpreted as simply showing concern for one's comrades or even a crush.
Weiss' mind flashed back to the rooftops. "What now, Jaune?" she had asked. "But what if that Titan could become our ally?" Back then, it seemed like a normal and sensible decision until Ruby made a joke about agreeing with him. And just like those times, we both deferred to Jaune's judgement. Why?
"Ren, I can understand. He and Jaune are from the same village. But Weiss?" Coco chimed in.
Oscar shrugged. "Perhaps she came from the same or neighbouring hometowns."
Red muscles steamed and bushes burned around them. Oscar and Pyrrha sat under the partially-formed Titan skeleton, the former frozen in shock while the latter eyed their surroundings carefully. Kitz, Rico, and the other soldiers stared in disbelief at the half-formed Titan. Sun, Jaune, Weiss, and Ren gaped at the scene from a rooftop in the distance.
"What's going on down there?" Jaune asked.
Pyrrha gripped her blade, looking around while Oscar remained frozen in his spot. Three violet flowers swayed gently in the wind.
The bones of the half-formed Titan began to crumble. The sound of the cracking and deteriorating bones finally snapped Oscar out of it. He looked up, seeing the massive head swaying through the ribcage.
The Garrisons continued to stand around uselessly. "It's alive!"
"Captain Weilman!" Rico walked up to him.
As the smoke cleared, the eyeball of the Titan turned towards Kitz.
The bearded man whimpered, stepping back. "Look at that! Stay back! It's too dangerous!" He yelled, spittle flying. "Stand by on alert! Standby! Load the next round into the cannon!"
Ironwood shook his head. He could understand the man's caution, after all, they were faced with an unknown situation. Carelessness would get them killed. That's just it, though. Being too cautious is just as dangerous. Decisions made purely out of fear never end well, he thought.
Blahk snorted to himself at Ironwood's line of thought. Oh, the irony.
The Titan's eye twitched. Inside, Ruby began to wake. She gasped, noticing the muscles and the bones, struggling to break free. The skin on the Titan's nape bulged and pushed until steam exploded out, freeing her. Ruby hung there, almost parallel to the ground. She grunted, trying to rip her left arm out of the body. Finally, she broke free and noticed it.
"What is this?" She stared at the back of the giant red head.
"I remember hearing the cannon," Oscar said. "There was an awful noise, then that impact, and this heat. Now we're inside a gigantic skelet—"
"Ruby protected us," Pyrrha stated calmly. "That's all we need to know for now." Oscar stared at his friend in shock. How was she acting so calmly about all this?
Oscar noticed the flowers by Pyrrha's foot. Inside here, even flowers were spared? He thought.
"The transformation is that precise?" Cinder asked, surprised.
"It's probably what she willed to happen." Oobleck stroked his chin, deep in thought. "That massive explosion of energy during her transformation did not harm her friends and her partial Titan stopped the cannon shell immediately it was completed," he said.
"Or maybe she wasn't able to create a full body in time before the cannon reached them," Cinder retorted.
"No," Hazel grunted. "I can't imagine she was careless with it. If she had indeed been aiming for a full-on transformation, what would have happened to her friends? The large explosion of energy may not have harmed them but the 15-meter body forming right next to them definitely would."
Cinder huffed, conceding defeat.
"So our hypotheses on transformation prerequisites are an injury, and a set goal for transforming?" Coco summarized. "Alright."
"Hey!" Ruby ran around the ribcage. "Are you guys okay?" Pyrrha stared at her with wide eyes, still unable to wrap her head around the miracle that just occurred.
"Ruby, what is this?" Oscar asked.
"I don't know. But it's evaporating. It's just like a Titan's carcass! We should get away from it!" She stepped out into the steam. "They're still just watching, waiting to see what happens next. The Garrison can't see our movements right now." Ruby turned her gaze to where the cannons were mounted on the wall. Pyrrha and Oscar stood as Ruby turned to them. "But eventually, they will attack again."
The decaying Titan body loomed over them.
"After showing them that, I doubt we can talk our way out of this one. I did remember one thing, though." Ruby grabbed the key around her neck. "The basement. The basement of my old house."
Oscar and Pyrrha stood silent, listening. An image of the collapsed house flashed on the screen.
Ruby and Yang flinched, the memory of Summer's death flashing through their minds.
"My father said I would understand everything if I went there." Ruby clutched the key, staring at it intently. Images of her father injecting her flashed through her mind again. "He's also the reason I'm like this. If I get to that basement, I'll probably find out the truth about Titans too!"
"Hopefully soon," Weiss muttered.
Ruby recalled the Armoured Titan running and the Colossal Titan peering over the Wall.
"Dammit!" She punched a bone of the skeleton in frustration, causing more cracks. "Why did he keep it a secret? It's the intel the Survey Corps has been searching for, at the cost of thousands of lives! This is humanity's last hope!"
"Just like Penny asked after the previous episode. Why didn't Taiyang Xiao Long come forward to the military with this?" Ironwood asked.
"Of course you, of all people, will ask about that," said Roman, rolling his eyes.
Oscar gasped, standing a little straighter.
"He was just kept it locked away in the basement? What the hell was he thinking?!" Ruby gritted her teeth, eyes wild. Pyrrha then noticed something off to the side. "Where has he been these past five years, after he abandoned us—?"
Where are you, dad? Ruby thought.
Pyrrha placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder, breaking her out of her rage. "Ruby! We've got more pressing concerns right now."
"Yeah."
The trio moved quickly.
The Garrison began to take notice of the smokescreen lessening. "The smoke is lifting!" A soldier said.
Weilman looked around, listening to them.
"We'll attack once we can see them!"
"Let's get this over with!"
"Don't move yet!" Weilman ordered. They all flinched when the Titan's body fell apart. Bones shattered and turned to dust as they hit the ground, forcing the soldiers to cover their faces as a mixture of dust, steam, and crushed bone particles kicked up.
Inside the cover, the trio was kneeling on the ground. "I'm getting out of here," Ruby said, making her friends gasp.
"Where to? How?" Oscar asked.
"For now, anywhere will do. Then I have to get over the Wall and find my old basement." She clenched her fist. "Before that, I'll need to become a Titan again."
"Is it just me, or does Ruby look really pale?" Nora asked.
"She looks like Blake when she ran herself ragged," said Yang.
Blake winced.
"Can you really do that?" Oscar asked again. He wasn't feeling confident about Ruby's current plan.
"I don't know how, myself. But I think I can. Just like how you can't explain how you make your arms move." Ruby replayed the attack in her mind. "Earlier I just focused on blocking the cannon fire. That's why my body had no real functionality or durability."
"We were right. She needs to have a set goal in mind before transforming," said Cardin.
She was starting to sound out of breath. "This time, I'll try something stronger. The 15-meter class one I used to kick the shit out of all those Titans!" Blood dribbled out of her nose.
"Ruby," Pyrrha said in worry. "Your nose is bleeding."
Ruby wiped her nose, staring in surprise at the red staining her fingers. "You're really pale," Oscar began. "Doing that clearly puts too much strain on your body!"
"So she has limitations," Ozpin hummed. "Multiple transformations take a toll on her."
"Nothing is without weakness, I guess," Qrow said.
Ruby and Winter noted that down, while Penny added it to her mental folder.
"I don't care if I'm in bad shape right now." She wiped all the blood from her face but she couldn't hide her exhaustion. "I've got two ideas. If you two don't try to cover for me, they won't kill you. I've caused you enough trouble already. From here on out, I'm doing this alone."
"Like hell!" Yang interjected.
"Yang –" Ruby began but her sister wasn't having it.
"Ruby, no." Yang shook her head vehemently. "I've seen you die once, I'm not watching it happen again."
"No, I—" Oscar started to object.
"Ruby. I'm coming too." Pyrrha stated plainly.
"No."
"If I can't keep up with you, then don't concern yourself with me. But I don't have to do whatever you say, either," Pyrrha said stubbornly.
I'm pretty sure it will be the other way around, Winter thought but said nothing.
"Cut the crap already!" Ruby said. "I'm not your little sister or your kid!"
Oscar was lost in his thoughts while they argued.
Currently Disposable Information
Yeast (part 1)
A special kind of yeast can be found only in the area encircled by Wall Sina. Leaving this yeast in storehouses of fodder, grain, or beans can greatly extend the time it takes for the crops to spoil.
Yeast (part 2)
Building storage facilities equipped with this yeast all over the area has been mankind's main strategy for accumulating the supplies needed to retake Wall Maria.
"Sir, the high explosive shell is almost reloaded. What are your next attack orders?" Rico asked.
"Await my signal!"
"Yes, sir!"
Still hidden, Pyrrha and Ruby continued to argue. It doesn't seem like the Garrison plans to initiate close combat just yet. Oscar thought. Pyrrha's senses are sharper than a stray cat's, so I'm sure she would have noticed any movements. Even if they load the next round as quickly as possible, it will still take at least twenty more seconds, he deduced. Ruby wants to act and leave before then.
The memory of little Ruby and Pyrrha beating up the bullies came to Oscar.
Why am I remembering that now? Oscar became downcast. Is it because this is the end for us? He remembered his younger-self, cowering in the corner, watching his friends. I guess that even in my final moments, I'm still nothing more than a coward. The smiling Ruby and Pyrrha offered him a hand. They've helped me out so many times, yet not once was I able to repay them. Little Oscar watched the two, protecting him.
"C'mon, dude," Oscar groaned. Even the 13-year-old was tired of his counterpart's self-depreciating attitude.
"He's helped them plenty," Velvet chimed in. "Like at the refugee camp."
Rain poured heavily and Oscar ran, carrying his pack in training. How could I consider myself an equal to such friends? How could I say, "I'm coming, too"? The trio were sitting on stone steps, discussing their future. I'm not even sure if I could keep up with them. Oscar watched the others trainees running ahead of him, leaving him behind as he struggled to keep up.
Oscar sat back down, resigned. After this… The three children sat on the rooftop of Ruby's house with the sun shining brightly and the sheets blowing in the wind, pouring over Oscar's book. …the three of us will never be together again.
"Ruby, I am —"
"Wait, Pyrrha. I said I had two ideas. Oscar, I want you to make the final call."
Oscar snapped his head up in surprise. "Huh?"
"I'm fully aware of how unrealistic this plan is," Ruby admitted. "Even so, our best option would be using this Titan power strategically to aid the army. I know it sounds insane, but if you're confident that you can convince the Garrison that I'm not a threat, then I'll believe in you and stay here. That's my second idea. If you say you can't do it, then I'll go with my last resort, the option I described earlier."
The teens smiled at the unwavering faith the trio had in one another.
Atop the Wall, the soldiers began aiming the cannons.
"You've got fifteen seconds to decide," Ruby said. "Can you do it or not? Either way, I'll respect your opinion."
The soldier signalled he was ready.
"Ruby… why would you entrust such an important decision to me?" Oscar was staring in disbelief.
"No matter how messed up things get, you always figure out the best solution. I want to rely on you," Ruby answered with a tense smile.
"Huh? When have I ever...?"
"A bunch of times. Five years ago, if you hadn't gotten Qrow," Tiny Oscar ran up to Qrow, grabbing his arm and yelling. "Pyrrha and I would have been eaten by that Titan."
"Oh, that's what Pyrrha was talking about," Blake said. Noticing the questioning looks, she elaborated. "Back at HQ, Pyrrha told him that his quick thinking and intuition had saved their lives in the past."
Behind Oscar, the last of the body fell apart as the realization hit him. It was all in my head. I had just convinced myself that I was a useless burden. Ruby and Pyrrha didn't have a hint of doubt in their expressions. They didn't think that way of me at all!
"And never will," said Ruby, smiling at Oscar, who returned it. They might have only known each other for a few hours but she fully believed in her heart that Oscar was a trustworthy person.
"Oscar, we're running out of time," Ruby said.
The soldier nodded, wire in hand. His companion held up her arm to signal the others on the ground. "The cannon is loaded!" Rico reported. "We can fire at any time!"
The two people I trust more than anyone in the world want to entrust their lives to me. Oscar thought, filled with determination. What more evidence could I possibly need? Without hesitation, he got to his feet. "I'll convince them. Do your best to show them that you don't intend to resist."
"Good. Any signs of hostility will only derail any attempts at negotiations," said Winter.
"It does carry a risk of leaving themselves open to attack," Qrow retorted.
Ozpin gave a resigned nod. "It's a sacrifice they'll have to make if they want to make peace."
The two nodded and Oscar marched forward confidently. Something's been troubling me ever since I saw Ruby fight as a Titan. I haven't even sorted out my own thoughts yet, but I've got to do this. I'll have to think while I speak! He ditched his gear and ran out. The noise startled some of the soldiers.
"Halt!" Weilman held his arms out ahead of him.
One of the soldiers pointed a gun at Oscar. He skid to a stop and held up his arms in surrender.
"You finally showed your true colours, monster. I'll signal! I'll signal the cannon!" Weilman said aggressively.
"Is he blind?" Salem asked bluntly. "Where did he get the idea that Oscar can transform because his friend can?"
"You're overestimating the idiot's intelligence, Your Grace," said Hazel.
"She is not an enemy of humanity! We're willing to share all the intelligence we've gathered!"
"Begging for your lives is useless now! She revealed her true form right in front of us! There is nothing left to say!" The Garrison captain disagreed stubbornly. "If you say she's not our enemy, then prove it! If you can't do that, I will eliminate the threat!"
"There's no need for further proof!" Oscar yelled back, just as stubborn. Then it struck him. That's right! It's unnecessary! He continued, "The issue isn't how we see her!"
"What?!"
"You said everybody saw her! Then they must have seen her fighting the Titans too!" Oscar looked at the soldiers, surprising them. "And they must've seen all the Titans ganging against her!"
They all remembered the Rogue Titan charging at the other Titans.
"The Titans see her as prey, just like the rest of humanity! Nothing you say can change that fact!" Oscar continued without stopping. His words struck a chord with the soldiers. Then the whispers began.
"That's true..."
"A Titan as an ally?"
"That can't be..."
"Nice," Qrow complimented. "Getting the soldiers on his side using reasonable evidence to prove his defense."
"They outnumber the useless captain so turning them against him is a good start to negotiations," Winter added.
The soldiers began to lower their weapons.
Weilman looked around in a panic that the soldiers appeared to be taken in by Oscar's words. He was not prepared to lose control of the situation. "Prepare to attack!" He threw his arm out. "Don't fall for this clever trap!" Oscar gasped. "Their actions have always been beyond our comprehension! If they can transform into humans and speak our language, that's just another way for them to fool us!"
Many of the soldiers seemed to believe him and readied their weapons, glaring at the teens.
Winter's expression fell. "Or not."
"Are they actually believing that?" Glynda asked in disbelief.
Everyone looked like they were physically pained by the stupidity showed onscreen.
Ruby and Pyrrha tensed.
"We can't let them do as they please!"
It's no use... Oscar stood completely stunned. He's stopped thinking entirely... He's too scared to think. Oscar looked over his shoulder at his friends. Ruby! Pyrrha! The duo still looked at him with conviction. Ruby nodded.
Gritting his teeth, Oscar faced forward with new determination and saluted, screaming. "As a soldier, I swore to devote my heart to the resurrection of mankind!" Weilman remained blank-faced. "There is no greater glory than dying for that belief!" Ruby and Pyrrha remained quiet and still. "If we added her Titan power to the might of our armies, it might even be possible to recapture the town!"
The students smiled at the sincerity and devotion in his speech while the teachers looked on in pride. Even the criminals were vaguely impressed.
Rico, Ian, and the rest of the soldiers were impacted by his words. Sun, Weiss, Jaune, and Ren watched tensely from the rooftop.
"For the glory of the human race, I beg you in my final moments before I die, permit me to explain her strategic importance!" Oscar screamed with the last of his breath.
"Commanding Officer, we should consider wh—" Ian began before he was cut off.
"Silence!" Weilman yelled at him. No matter how they plead for their lives, they're still rebels! His arm began to rise much to Oscar's horror. Those who break the rules must be eliminated! That's what it means to be a soldier! Pyrrha's hand inched over her sword and Ruby brought her hand toward her mouth.
Worry and anticipation filled the teens.
The cannon loomed menacingly and Weilman was about to bring his arm down.
"That's enough." A hand gripped the Garrison captain's arm. "You haven't changed. As big as you are, you've still got the guts of a scared fawn."
The Garrison commander brought the arm down. "Commander Port?" Weilman gasped.
A visible sigh of relief escaped the audience.
"That was a close one," Fox said.
"Good thing Profess– sorry, Commander Port, made it in time," Velvet finished.
Oobleck quietly grumbled at how quick Velvet added the appropriate title to Port's name (counterpart, but my point still stands) while he had to constantly remind his students to use "Doctor".
"Can't you see how magnificent his salute is?" Port walked forward. Oscar had his eyes closed, face scrunched up. "I just arrived, but the situation has already been relayed to me. You go organize the reinforcements. I think it'll be worthwhile to hear what they've got to say."
Cheers broke out in the theatre.
Oscar dropped to the ground in relief, tearful, his friends sitting in surprise behind him. The three violet flowers swayed gently in the wind.
An outline of the three Walls over a compass appeared. "Based on the Survey Corp's reports, the Titans were predicted to come from the south. They originally hit Shiganshina first, in the southern district of Wall Maria."
In red, the number 845 appeared with Titans. Shinganshina and Wall Maria were x-ed out. The red Titan figures moved forward and onto year 850. "Therefore, it was suspected that their next target would be Trost, the southernmost fortified city along Wall Rose."
[Trost District - Inner Gate]
Titans clawed at the gate. Up on Wall Rose, the Garrison commander studied them, taking a sip from his flask.
"Peter Port. The Commander-in-Chief of the defence of the southern territories, including Trost." Port watched the city burn and smoke rise. "A man entrusted with complete authority over the key area of mankind's defences."
Port puffed his chest with pride.
"Still haven't seen one…" Port looked over the edge at the gathering of Titans below. "I wouldn't mind being eaten, as long as it was by a scorchingly hot lady Titan." He straightened and smiled.
"Of course you would," Glynda and Oobleck deadpanned much to said man's amusement, who let out a deep, belly laugh.
"Would you mind being eaten by Ruby's Titan?" Coco asked.
Ruby's cheeks tinged pink at the question. They turned an even deeper red when Port replied.
"No, I would not."
The students laughed at the reaper's horrified expression.
"He's also known for being a full-blown eccentric," Oscar finished his introduction of Port.
"What is the Commander thinking?" Weilman bitched to himself. "How could he take such dangerous elements up there without any guards?!"
"The Commander's reasoning is beyond the comprehension of mere men," Rico answered.
They chuckled at her subtle jab.
"Commanding Officer, the troops are in formation," Ian reported.
"Good job." Weilman took notice of the soldiers' nervous, fearful expressions.
"I see." Port stood ramrod straight, hands behind his back, gazing at the destruction before him. "So you believe the basement holds all the answers you seek?"
"Yes. Will you believe me, sir?" Ruby asked.
"Since even you, yourself can't say for sure, let's just say I'll keep it in mind for now." Port turned and tapped his forehead. "However, you can prove your true intentions by your actions right now. I'll guarantee your safety myself."
"Thank you, Professor."
"No thanks necessary, Ms. Nikos."
Their shoulders sagged in relief.
"Cadet Pine, was it?"
"Yes, sir!"
"Earlier, you said that by using this 'Titan power', we might be able to retake this city. Do you really believe that, or were you just desperate to stay alive?" asked Port.
"It was... both, sir," Oscar answered honestly. "I was trying to say that Ruby could take on her Titan form, carry that boulder to the wall, and block the hole in the gate."
The massive rock and hole in the Wall appeared onscreen.
"Holy shit!" Cardin swore. "He wants her to lift that?"
"Is that even possible?" Weiss gasped.
Ruby looked wide-eyed at the massive boulder her counterpart was expected to lift.
"The thought just occurred to me… But couldn't you look at Ruby's power as a chance to turn this situation in our favour?" Port hummed, turning to the massive hole. "Of course, I was also desperate to save our lives…" Oscar finished.
"'Desperate to save'..." Port repeated, smiling. "Those words are worth more than anything." He pulled out the flask again and took a swig.
"I forgot you're also a drunkard in this world," said Glynda, eye twitching.
Qrow cackled, tipping his flask in Port's direction who raised his conjured flask in toast.
"Can we really scold Uncle Qrow for drinking when a commanding officer does it too?" Ruby whispered to Yang, who shrugged helplessly.
The trio waited in baited silence. Port walked over to Ruby and knelt in front of the exhausted girl sitting on the ground. "What do you say, Cadet Jaeger?"
"Sir?"
"Can you close the hole?" Port asked casually.
"I…I... I'm not sure. I don't understand this any more than the rest of you," Ruby admitted. Oscar was quiet. Pyrrha looked unsure. "It'd be irresponsible of me to answer as if I knew either way."
"That's understandable. Better to tell the truth upfront than giving false reassurances," Ironwood said.
"Oh right, sorry," Port said cheerfully. "I asked the wrong question." The smile dropped, his tone becoming more authoritative. "Will you do it or not?" He levelled the girl with a stern look. His gaze turned to the land behind the Titan-Shifter.
Ruby turned her head, following the man's field of vision across the land. An overhead shot panned out, revealing everything they stood to lose to the Titans should she fail or falter. Her eyes hardened with determination and she remained quiet for a few seconds. "I'll do it. I will do it! I'm not certain that I can plug the hole or not, but I'll still do it!"
Yang released an explosive snort of laughter, drawing curious looks. Their minds quickly caught up to the unintentional innuendo, causing them to release chuckles of their own.
Ruby's face tinged red once again. "Yang!"
To be continued…
"Phew! That was quite the rollercoaster. Not as much as the previous episode but still," Neptune said.
"Oscar and Professor Port really came in clutch!" Sun added in enthusiastically. "Thought they were goners for a second."
"Hope your negotiation skills are as good as your counterpart's," Coco told Oscar in a teasing voice. Oscar rolled his eyes, exasperated but amused.
Roman stretched. "How long have we been here?"
Neo did a bit of mental math. "Around three hours, give or take," she signed.
"Wow. I wonder how many episodes we have left," Roman mused.
"You have fifteen episodes left," Blahk replied. They jolted at his unexpected reply. "With five extra episodes as 'supplemental material'. They aren't part of the overarching plot but they give insight into certain characters and some events. And that's just season one."
"There's more?" Blake gaped.
"All the way up to season four, yes. Trust me, there is a LOT you have to cover in understanding this world."
"Not that we aren't curious as to how this all pans out but we do have lives to get back to," said Ozpin.
"I'm aware. I won't keep you here any longer than I have to. After season 1, I'll send you back to your worlds in the exact moments you were taken," Blahk explained. "I'll explain more when you reach the end of the 'canon' episodes."
They exchanged glances, shrugged and silently settled back into their seats as the screen came to life.
I wonder if I should add ending themes too? There's a few I'm really fond of but I'm not sure if that'd be adding too much.
And here we are with Oscar's badass speech to save his life and that of his friends. Port's quick interference saving the trio from death and Ruby resolving to plug the hole.
I've been rereading this story and have personally noticed a significant improvement in my writing. I hope to one day take out the time to make small edits here and there to fix certain errors. I also plan to rewrite the prologue. At the time I started this fic, I was in quite the hurry to get episode one out immediately so I breezed through the prologue without any details. I don't know when but one day, I will.
Chapter updates will be very irregular for the next year because I'm currently serving my one-year NYSC term in my country, Nigeria. Nigerians reading this will know what it is and as for non-Nigerians, look it up. I'll be quite busy so once again, irregular updates.
Till next time. Later!