Chapter Two: The Paladin

Maria yawned, scratching her ass as she walked into the house. Blake was sitting on the floor, sipping some tea, looking up at her as she walked by.

"You are up late."

"The sun is barely up."

"No, the sun is merely behind the dark clouds."

"Look, I'm jet lagged, alright? I just flew around the planet in a single day. I gotta sleep."

"I flew from Menagerie to meet you in Vale and then to meet Miss Autumn in Vacuo. I believe I have had a much worse slingshot effect than you. Perhaps you just need to work on your sleep schedule."

"What are you, my mother? By the way, where's Autumn?"

"I believe she said she wanted you to call her Harvest," Blake continued to sip her tea.

"Oh yeah, that whole Vacuans naming stuff after activities thing," Maria crossed her arms. "Wait, I'm not going to do that. That's dumb. And, why don't you have to call her Harvest?"

"In Menagerie Harvest is part of a curse word and thus offensive to my people," Blake gave her a small smirk, sipping her tea once again.

"You're bullshitting me."

"Can you prove it?"

"Whatever," Maria rolled her eyes. "But, I need her. She gave me Ruby's pants. I mean, I can fit them, but these ugly ass pants make me look dumb."

"Ruby's already headed to school. Surprisingly, she said she was going."

"Well, here's to hoping that she doesn't get herself into any trouble while she's there by herself."

"You act as if you're a saint."

"Hey, I'm the picture of a good person."

"Didn't you stare at your mother naked?" Blake questioned.

"Well, I—"

"And, didn't you sleep with two people at once just because you could?"

"Hey, I liked both of them and married one while the other is a friend with benefits!" Maria pointed at her. "You leave them out of this!"

"I saw you punch a man just because he was Vacuan."

"Th-That doesn't mean anything. It's his fault for being a damn dirty Vacuan."

"Yes, casual racism is a sure sign you're a good person."

"Whatever. What are you drinking anyway?"

"Fish tea." Blake looked up at her, snorting at Maria's disgusted face. "What? You know how my people like their tea."

"I'm not sure how you can just drink fish oil like that."

"Quite easily, actually. I just put my lips up to the cup and drink."

"Har Har. On a more serious note, have you noticed anything about Autumn?"

"Nothing yet. Are you sure it would be like that?"

"She's not a born fighter like me or Ruby. I made sure of that."

"Hopefully, that isn't a detriment to her."

"We just need to find her fast before we have to worry about that."

Ruby had made it to school, cigarette in her mouth trailing smoke as she took a deep drag. It wasn't like anyone would say otherwise, none of the teachers willing to say anything like that to her.

"Ooh, there's Ruby!" The more giggly of the schoolgirls crowded around her, some of the boys following suit. "Hiiiiiiiiii, Ruby!"

"Ooh, your muscles are bulgy today!" One of the girls touched them, another pulling her back by her hair.

"Hey, you dumb bitch, don't touch Ruby like that!" The second stomped her foot. "You don't deserve to touch her!"

"Shut up, you dumb slut!" The first retorted, sticking her tongue out. "At least I got to touch her!"

"Dumb bitch!"

"Dumb slut!"

"Dumb bitch dumb bitch dumb bitch!"

"Dumb slut dumb slut dumb slut!"

"Shut the fuck up, you annoying cunts!" Ruby looked back, raising her voice. Her cigarette stayed in her mouth, even with her shouting. "You're damn annoying!"

The girls stopped, stunned. Then, they all squealed, gushing over the fact that Ruby had talked to them. Ruby just groaned, rolling her eyes as she walked away. Unbeknownst to her, however, someone was watching her from the side, keeping an eye on her.

"Seems she's quite the interesting one," The redhead muttered. "Damn, those are some muscles. Didn't even know they made 'em like that."

She pulled out a sketchbook, drawing a crude, yet detailed picture of Ruby, flowing red cape trailing behind her. She drew a small red sliver on Ruby's leg.

Ruby was walking down the stairs, heading to her class, when there was a piercing feeling in her leg. She immediately lost her balance, falling down the stairs. Surprise was etched across her face as she fell. However, before she even needed to think about it, her Semblance's arm grabbed the stone, bringing her to a stop at the bottom of the stairs.

"What the hell?" Ruby muttered, stomping on the cigarette that had fallen from her mouth and lighting another. "I cut my leg when I fell. No, wait, I cut my leg and then I fell. What the hell was that?"

"That was quite the fall you had there." A soft voice spoke from her side. She turned to lock eyes with a girl about her height. She was nowhere near as bulky, but she was definitely in shape. She wore heels, dark brown in color, so she and Ruby were the same height. Long, bronze colored stockings made their way up her legs to a little past her knees, a cherry on each side. Ribbons wound around the miniskirt around her waist, a crimson color, trailing off to rest near her ankles. She wore a bronze colored corset top that was rigid, almost like the metal itself. It laced up in the back, stopping just above covering her breasts. She wore long gloves that were a maroon color, reaching past her elbows. Along the forearms, she wore what looked like compression sleeves. They were more of a golden bronze color than the rest of the outfit. On her left arm was a golden bow dotted with pictures of cherries. Around her neck was a collar with a small bell on it. There was a golden band around her forehead, holding her crimson hair back from her eyes. Said hair was tied in a ponytail with another bow that was colored like a candy corn, yellow in the middle that turned to brown then white. Her green eyes locked with Ruby's silver, a curious expression on her face as she looked at the Rose girl.

"I suppose it was," Ruby dusted herself off. "You look new."

"Just moved here," The girl gave a sweet smile. "The name's Pyrrha. Pyrrha Nikos. But, here, you could use this."

The girl handed her a yellow handkerchief, pointing toward Ruby's leg injury. "For that."

"Oh, thanks," Ruby rubbed the injury, making sure it wasn't too deep. "Name's Ruby Rose. Where ya from?"

"I'm from West Vacuo," Pyrrha pointed to the west. "My family just moved to East Vacuo. But, I'm surprised you're talking with me, considering you yelled at those other girls."

"They're damn annoying," Ruby turned around, glancing at the redhead over her shoulder. "You look like someone who isn't annoying."

Pyrrha simply tilted her head, following after her. The girls and boys form earlier ran down the stairs after Ruby, all beginning to crowd around her. A couple of each gender looked at Pyrrha, coming over to her.

"Ooh, you're cute too," A boy said, attempting to touch her. Before he could, however, something pierced him in the hand, causing him to cry out in pain. Pyrrha's attention was fixated on Ruby, following the crimsonette as she walked into the school. She walked after her, ignoring the girls and boys talking to her.

Ruby walked over to the nurse's office, sitting down in the nurse's chair.

"Excuse me, what the hell are you—" The nurse started before noticing it was Ruby. "Oh, Ruby. It's you. What are you doing here? Are you feeling sick?"

"Nah, just got a cut I need disinfected and bandaged," Ruby waved her away. "Tripped and fell."

"Are you sure?" The nurse crossed her arms. "Are you sure you didn't get in another fight?"

"You shittin' me?" A boy on a bed said, a girl next to him, Tan and Auburn respectively. They looked at the nurse with incredulous expressions. "When's Ruby ever been hurt in a fight? Like, seriously, you heard about her with those guys a few days ago, didn't you?"

"Yes, yes, Ruby is good in a fight," The nurse waved them away. "I'll deal with you two fakers later."

"Aww, nurse, baby, we're really sick," The girl whined, putting a hand to her forehead. "Let us go home already!"

"You think those hickies on your necks are enough to convince me you're getting a bad rash?" The nurse gave them a stern expression. "Like seriously, you must think I'm an idiot. Especially since that's Rouge's lipstick color around those hickies. Nice try, fakers."

"Nah, we're serious." The boy whined. "Besides, Rouge isn't even here. That batty girl didn't even show up today."

"She came in here this morning to get herself some earplugs," The nurse pointed at them. "I was here."

"Can we just get back to disinfecting my leg?" Ruby interrupted them. "I couldn't give two shits about how they tried to disguise the fact Rouge pegged both of 'em behind the school by saying it's a rash."

"Alright, alright, Ruby, sit tight," The nurse sighed. "This doesn't look so serious, but I'll have to cut your pants off."

"The fuck you will," Ruby stood up, taking her pants off and standing there. "These are way too expensive to just cut up."

"Frugal, aren't we?" The nurse raised an eyebrow. "But, I must admit, I didn't take you for rose petal designs."

"Save your ogling for someone who gives a fuck," Ruby sat back down, propping her leg up so the nurse could apply the disinfectant. "I've got chemistry later and so do those two fakers."

"Very well," The nurse applied the disinfectant, allowing Ruby to go back to her class.

Chemistry class went by smoothly. The professor was called to a meeting, which left Ruby alone with her lab partner and the two fakers from earlier. The crimsonette propped her feet back, putting her arms behind her head.

"Sh-Shouldn't we work on this project some more?" Her partner, Opaque asked. "Th-The professor wanted us to finish the experiment."

"All you have to do is add three tablespoons of the green stuff," Ruby didn't even look at the girl, her hat tilted down over her eyes as she pulled a cigarette from the pack in her pocket, lighting it up. Opaque's eyes widened as she watched Ruby take a drag and puff out a smoke ring.

"Hey, Opaque, can you help us with this problem?" Auburn called her over, holding up a pen. "I just need you to write this in a way that makes sense."

"O-Okay," Opaque walked over, looking down at the problem. "W-Well, you need to add these two to get your new total. Th-Then, you have to this side here to add the formula."

"Um… Can you speak in a language normal people can understand?" Tan asked.

"But, I did." Opaque took the pen in her hand, slamming it into his eye. "Do you see it now?"

Ruby's attention was now on Opaque, standing up and walking over.

"Wh-What the hell is wrong with you?!" Auburn asked. "This isn't like you!"

"I'm just sick and tired of your stupid bullshit!" Opaque slammed her face into the mini lab set up in front of them, preparing to slam her again when Ruby caught her arm.

"Hold it right there," She spoke, cigarette still in the side of her mouth as she looked down at her. "What the hell are you doing? These two never bother you."

"Shut up, meathead!" Opaque shouted, swinging her fist around in a sweeping motion. Ruby caught her hand, but she was knocked off her feet by the force of the swing. She slammed into a desk, smashing it to pieces.

"What the hell?" Ruby stood up, looking at Opaque in surprise. "You can't even bench seventy pounds, how the hell did you knock me off my feet?"

Opaque said nothing, leaping for Ruby with the force of a piston. Ruby twisted out of the way as Opaque slammed into a desk herself, smashing against it.

"You've gone weird," Ruby stomped on the cigarette that had fallen from her mouth, grinding the ashes into the floor. She stepped over to Opaque, grabbing her by her hair. "You look different too. What's wrong with you?"

Opaque's hand swung back for another slap, but Ruby caught it. It was a fierce struggle, Opaque managing to push back against Ruby, even overpowering her as she pinned Ruby to the ground.

"What are you doing?" Ruby asked, trying her best not to punch Opaque, one of the few people that didn't get on her nerves. Opaque opened her mouth, a strange motion, and Ruby saw a glistening substance coating the insides of her mouth and stretching down her throat.

"What is that?" Ruby tried to figure out what it could be.

"It's metal," Ruby turned to see Pyrrha sitting in the windowsill, casually holding a small voodoo doll that looked like Opaque. "You see, my semblance can manipulate metal, especially if it places it in someone's body. Don't worry, she won't die. It's like it repurposes the metal from her blood without removing it entirely. My Semblance is known as Miló Akoúo̱, represented by the Paladin card, semblant of duality and integrity. Your Semblance is inferior by comparison."

"You bitch," Ruby growled. "How dare you hurt an innocent woman?"

"Wait," Pyrrha looked a little surprised. "You didn't know I was trying to kill you? Did you even read my handkerchief?"

Opaque reached into Ruby's pocket, grabbing out the handkerchief that Pyrrha had given Ruby. Ruby unfolded it with one hand to see that it said a message. "I, Pyrrha Nikos, will kill you on behalf of Mistress Cinder." It said with a little smiley face under the word Cinder.

"You work for Cinder?" Ruby turned to look at her.

"She ordered me to kill you quickly." Pyrrha shrugged, giving a pleasant smile. "Frankly, if this is all you've got, I'm not really impressed with what she saw in you."

"If your Semblance works with magnetism, then you've made yourself a fool." Ruby's semblance grabbed an electromagnet, the crimsonette holding it out to the possessed Opaque. The strange substance coating it moved, shooting out toward the magnet, which was probably too powerful for a classroom setting.

As the substance moved closer, Ruby's semblance grabbed it in its meaty fist, yanking it out and holding it tight. Now that it was out of Opaque, Ruby could get a good look at it.

The Semblance looked like a bronze colored warrior, a flowing cape and boots with wings adorning its body. Its hands were shaped like magnets, one end of each magnet red, the other blue. It had red eyes and stared at Ruby. It had a human looking head, but encircling its face was a magnet, a little tiara surrounding it where the ends of the magnets were. As Ruby's Semblance held it, Ruby could notice the indentations the size of her Semblance's fingers on Pyrrha's neck and head.

"Well well, your little Alpha the Magnet Warrior doesn't seem so tough," She stood up, pointing at Pyrrha. "And, all the damage I do to it, you seem to experience as well. Looks like I'll be able to kill two birds with one stone."

"You idiot," Pyrrha choked out. "Did you not remember when I said it repurposed her iron?"

Ruby looked down at Opaque, who vomited blood onto the floor, looking a bit yellow.

"She'll be fine if she gets some iron in her," Pyrrha chuckled a hoarse, choked chuckle. "But, I warned you about ripping it out. My Semblance prefers to be inside of someone."

Ruby groaned, knowing Maria would be there with a 'that's what she said'. She looked at Pyrrha with a renewed vigor. "But, now that I have you, I'll break you."

"That's what you think," Pyrrha smirked, leaving Ruby to wonder what she meant. Her question was answered when the magnet hands of the Semblance morphed like a T-1000 into a spear and a rifle. The spear was a curved, wicked thing, barbed and serrated while the rifle was a large looking thing with a barrel like a shotgun. The spear stabbed her Semblance in the chest while the rifle shot them with a force strong enough to send Ruby flying into the wall. Ruby slammed into the wall, actually crashing through it. Her Semblance had two gaping wounds in its chest, purple blood leaking out of it. The 'bullets' the rifle shot seemed to be like spears, sticking out as well.

"Man, Mistress Cinder was really overplaying you." Pyrrha laughed, walking a little closer to her. "I mean, she said something about you having the closest link to Summer Rose or whoever she was talking about, also something about how your Semblance was the only one who could pose a threat to her. But, I took you down in one actual attack. Did you really think you could outsmart me? That was my Bronze Torrent, a wave of destructive energy that can devastate anyone."

"Man, do you ever shut up?" Ruby stood up, cracking her neck. She pulled another cigarette from her pack, lighting it and putting it in her mouth. "Pardon me while I smoke. I like to taste tobacco while I beat the shit out of someone."

"Pretty big talk coming from someone who nearly went down with one hit," Pyrrha laughed loudly, pointing at her. "Did you really think you had what it takes to beat me with that wimpy Semblance?"

"You just caught me off guard is all," Ruby slightly adjusted her hat, putting her hands in her pockets. "But, look, I'll level with you. I'm not the nicest of people. I don't pay for shitty food. I beat the shit out of a teacher that talked down to me. I constantly get into fights and beat the shit out of people. Hell, the guys I beat up last time still won't be out of the hospital until next month. I don't give a fuck about where smoking is allowed. But, there's one thing I know for sure. And, that's that you're pure evil. It's radiating off of you like a bad smell. I can practically see it oozing out of you. You and that Cinder Fall bitch."

"Oh, I'm evil?" Pyrrha turned to her, head tilted. "Is my being evil because we have opposing viewpoints? Like those on the opposite end of the political spectrum? Well, I've a bit of bad news for you, Ruby Rose; history is written by the victors. And, that is why I will show you my victory. Your death will bring such joy to Mistress Cinder that it will be magnificent."

"Well, I'm going to show you just how wrong you are," Ruby pointed, standing like a Clint Eastwood character as her Semblance appeared, giving a battle cry. The wound on its chest was gone, eyes blazing red as its hair looked to be glowing.

"I'll show you the true power of my Rain of Spears," Pyrrha smirked slightly as the Milo Akoúo raised its hands, the magnets turning into a minigun, turning rapidly. Ruby's eyes widened as she looked at the bullets. It shot out spears like a machine gun, shooting straight for Ruby's Semblance.

However, the blonde haired Semblance was angry, smashing all the bullets away with little effort.

"Wh-What?!" Pyrrha exclaimed. "No one can deflect the Rain of Spears!"

"Have you met another Semblance user that you've used it on?"

"Well… no. But, it's an invincible attack."

"Well, it looks like I beat it," Ruby's Semblance grabbed Milo Akoúo by the throat again. "And, I'll be your judge! I judge you as evil, Pyrrha Nikos, both you and Cinder!"

Ruby's Semblance flexed its fingers, an audible popping sound coming from them as it formed a fist. It gave a grin at Milo Akoúo before it started mercilessly pummeling it in the face.

"Xaio Long Xaio Long Xaio Long Xaio Long Xaio Long Xaio Long" was its battle cry. Ruby watched Pyrrha's body ragdolled by the effect of the punches that Ruby's Semblance was unleashing upon her Semblance. The battle was over nearly as soon as it had begun. Pyrrha fell to the ground, unconscious after her beatdown, multiple broken bones and bruises evident in her face. Ruby stood over her, pulling her hat down a little.

"Well, you made me smash up the science lab," She growled out. "I hope you're happy. Sheesh, you were annoying. But, you don't get off that easy. You're going to tell us about Cinder. I'm sure the old lady will want to talk to you. But, my Semblance seems to be getting more savage… hopefully, it doesn't go to far."

Ruby slung the unconscious Pyrrha over her shoulder, carrying her off.

At home, Autumn was cooking dinner, humming to herself as she did so.

"Ooh, I got the idea just now that Ruby is thinking about me," She picked up a picture of Ruby, hugging it to her chest. "I wonder what my sweet little baby is thinking of me for. Is it that she wants a big kiss from mommy?"

"Not on your life, bitch," Ruby stormed through the house, walking past her. "Where's the old fuck?"

"Your gramma is in her room," Autumn pat Ruby's back. "Tell her I said dinner's almost ready."

"Whatever," Ruby muttered.

"And, who's that? Is she dead?"

"Not yet," Ruby glanced at Autumn.

"Such a sweet baby," Autumn smiled as Ruby went toward Maria's room. "I know she acts tough, but she's still my sweet baby on the inside."

Ruby turned back to her, looking her in the eyes, silver to silver.

"You're looking pale. You should get some rest."

"I'm just fine!" Autumn smiled, giving a victory sign.

Ruby turned around, walking to Maria's room.

"This coffee is shit!" Maria raged, throwing a cup of coffee across the room. "These damn Vacuans have no idea how to make actual coffee."

"That's Valean coffee," Blake shifted her eyes to see Maria. "I brought it because I know you would bitch about the Vacuan coffee. You really should get over that racism, you know. It's not becoming of someone whose son in law and granddaughter is Vacuan."

"Hey, they're the ones who started it." Maria pointed at Blake. "He stole my sweet daughter from me with his womanizing charms."

"He's a wonderful man and you know it," Blake rolled her eyes.

Before Maria could give a sarcastic and quite possibly racist remark, a body was slammed down on the floor. Both Maria and Blake jumped, Blake clinging to the ceiling like a cat, the bow on her head twitching like crazy.

"Found you someone to talk about Cinder with," Ruby. "Don't act like you've seen a ghost."

"Why do you have to be so damn big, yet so damn quiet!?" Maria exclaimed.

"I wouldn't be able to hear a fucking train over your bitching about your shitty coffee," Ruby looked her in the eye, blowing a puff of smoke toward Maria.

"I'll have you know that my coffee tastes are the best there ever was," Maria put a hand to her chest.

"Just shut the fuck up and get some information out of this one. She attacked me in the school and you could use some information."

"Good idea," Blake dropped down. "But, first, I believe it is time we named your Semblance."

"A name, huh," Ruby crossed her arms. "I guess I should name it."

"Right," Blake held up a deck of cards. They looked old and beat up, a blood stain on some of them. "Miss Rose gave me this deck after she was given it from a dear friend."

"More like I took it off his corpse," Maria muttered, a remorseful mutter. "Stupid Pine dumbass, getting himself killed."

"Now, draw a card," Blake held the deck to Ruby, fanning the cards out.

Ruby looked at the cards, picking one. It had a woman with long flowing hair and a heart on her chest.

"The Maiden—" Ruby began before Blake took that one quickly.

"Oh shit, that one's taken," Blake said quickly, holding out the deck again. "Try again."

Ruby took another, this one showing a beautiful golden dragon, roaring at a star while encircling a planet.

"The Dragon card," Blake nodded. "This card represents the Sun and Violence in the Name of Justice. Therefore, I name your Semblance Sundragon!"

"Dammit, I wanted the Maiden, so I cheated," Ruby thought. "I'm gonna find whoever has that card and beat the shit out of them."

Ruby's Semblance, now Sundragon, appeared, giving a roar as its name was called before disappearing.

"Unfortunately, this girl won't be telling us much," Maria looked at Ruby.

"Why not?"

"Cinder has made sure by using her Grimm Cells."


And so, the Rose comes ever closer to finding the Fall. Will they be successful in tracking their century old foe? Or, will it be for naught? Whose side is Fate on?