Chapter 86
The Prince's porcelain head rolled across the ground as everyone in the room gasped.
"Chrome!" Ruby shouted, towering over the still tiny Huntsman.
"What did you do?!" Blake angrily asked.
Yang stared at Chrome in absolute shock.
"He was just a kid…"
"He was a fuckin' doll." Chrome angrily stated. "Look!" He gestured to the headless body. "Not even a single drop of blood. Just a useless goddamn doll."
He was right. Even with the Prince's head rolling about on the floor, there wasn't any sign of blood.
"Let's go." Chrome growled before heading towards Ruby. Looking down at him, Chrome met Ruby's gaze with crossed arms. "What?"
Suddenly, a chuckle echoed off the walls, originating from the shadows.
"My, what a curious turn of events!" A floating cat emerged from the dark. It has cyan-colored eyes with white pupils and cyan markings on its face. Its torso is patterned with a cyan checkerboard pattern. Its legs and tail gradually turn into the same light blue color near their ends. It has white whiskers on its face, and purple digital pads on their paws. "Didn't expect a beheading of the Prince."
"What, uh-"
The guards around them finally snapped out of their initial shock.
"They murdered the Prince!"
"After them!"
"Let's go!" The Cat shouted.
Picking up her friends, Ruby turned and followed the Cat out of the castle grounds, pursued by the guards.
Sprinting through a doorway, Chrome created a wall of ice behind them, blocking the way for the guards.
After what felt like an eternity of running, Ruby finally found the exit. Leaving, they all found themselves back in the forest.
"Man, how did that go so wrong?" Yang asked.
"I can think of a few reasons." Ruby growled, referring to Chrome.
"I'm getting tired of your aggressiveness towards me." Chrome stated, knowing who Ruby was talking about.
"I'm getting tired of your aggressiveness in general." Ruby snapped.
"I'm the one who can handle doing what needs to be done." Chrome argued.
"Penny didn't have to die!"
"She got hacked." Chrome reminded her. "A Maiden under the enemies' control? Yeah, like we need a 2nd one of those."
"Guys." Blake said, trying to ease the rising tension.
"We could've-"
"Could've what?!" Chrome cut Ruby off. "What, exactly, could we have done?" The tiny man shouted. "Huh?"
"We- we-"
"We, we, we, give me a break." Chrome mocked. "When are you gonna wake up and realize YOU CAN'T SAVE EVERYBODY!"
"Shut up." Ruby growled, tears edging her vision.
"Couldn't save Penny back in the Arena. Couldn't save Pyrrha on top of Beacon Tower. Couldn't save Ozpin. Couldn't save Penny in Atlas, either!" Chrome listed off all the people they've lost. "Just like how I couldn't save Nicci."
"I said SHUT UP." Ruby grabbed Chrome and threw him off her shoulder, only to be saved by the Cat.
"Ruby!" Yang and Blake shouted in unison.
Chrome pushed himself upright off the Cat's fur, glaring at the scythe wielder.
"The only thing you're good at, is letting everyone around you down." Chrome added, making direct eye contact with Ruby.
Ruby went to strike Chrome, but the Cat effortlessly moved out of the way.
"Hey, now." The Cat smiled.
"Ruby!" Yang shouted again.
"Chrome!" Blake shouted at her brother.
"You think it's easy?!" Ruby shouted. "Having everyone rely on YOU to figure everything out?"
"Who the fuck ever asked you to even try and step up, huh?" Chrome shouted back.
"Who else was going to?!"
"Maybe it should've been someone else who died atop the tower that night." Chrome stated, causing all three huntresses to stare at him in shock.
After a hefty silence, Ruby turned her back, tears stinging the edges of her eyes.
"Fuck you, Chrome."
A chuckle filled the air, coming from the hovering Cat.
I must say, you're more interesting than the others I've met. What about…" the Cat suddenly gasped. "Hold that thought."
The cat spots a butterfly land in the bushes, and proceeds to chase after it, Chrome still on his back.
"Wait!" Blake reached after her brother.
"Good riddance." Ruby growled under her breath.
"We have to go after him!" Yang shouted.
"As if." Ruby turned and began heading for the center tree.
As he was carried away, Chrome couldn't help but be thankful to be alone. Well, mostly alone.
Back in Vacuo, a small group of Huntsmen and Huntresses fought to protect the school. Among them was Weiss, Liam, and a few new faces as well as old ones.
Teams SSSN and CFVY were helping in the fight. As the 8 defended the school from waves after waves on enemies, Liam rushed in with Weiss right behind him.
As they took down the Grimm fodder, Sun noticed a small human attached to Liam's chest.
"You brought Wulf?!" He shouted.
"Couldn't find a sitter!" Weiss shouted, using her Maiden powers to clear a path behind Liam. "Since, y'know, everyone's fighting."
Liam fought through the Grimm like he was playing a hack-and-slash. Dicing each one before moving on to the next.
"That's horrible parenting!" Sun shouted.
"Only if she gets hurt." Liam shouted back. "How you holding up, Wulf?"
His question was answered with a hearty giggle.
"She's doing great!"
Marek leapt over the family, slicing a Beowolf clean in half before rolling by and slicing another in half vertically as he stood back up.
"You could've just asked me." Marek told them as he helped the fight.
"Eh, too late, now." Liam shrugged before blasting the head right off an Ursa.
Mist flew overhead, taking down any and all flying Grimm, with the help of the other flight based Faunus.
Before long, the fighting ceased, giving everyone a beat to relax and regroup.
"These attacks have almost became a monthly thing, now." Emerald commented.
"Let us hope they don't become a weekly occurrence." Oscar voiced in.
Heading back home, Liam and Weiss entered their very own apartment. Liam went to the back room and put their daughter to bed while Weiss changed out of her combat gear and into plain clothes.
Once Wulf's head lopped to the side, showing she was out cold, did Liam leave the room.
"How're you feeling?" Weiss asked from the doorway.
"Worse." Liam answered honestly, his head lowered as he stared down at his daughter. "Whatever Salem did to me, it's progressing. Fast." Liam raised his right hand, which was covered by a black glove. Removing it showed dark red, almost black, veins all over his hand. Rolling up his sleeve showed the progression was halfway to his elbow.
"What's causing it?"
"It's my eye." Liam answered. "Whenever I use it, this spreads further."
"That's why you haven't been using it." Weiss said softly. "We have to find a way to reverse this."
"I know." The two pressed their foreheads together. "But I fear there isn't one."
In the EverAfter the Cat and Chrome bounced through the forest until a certain pink parasol struck into the ground right before them.
The sudden stop launched Chrome off the Cat and into the grass. Once the duo recovered, Chrome returned to his position on the Cat.
"What the fuck, Neo?" Chrome asked as he glared up into the trees at the woman.
She sat on a branch with crossed legs, a smirk on her lips.
"Here to give me a hand?" Chrome asked, placing a hand on his hip. "Or trouble?"
Neo placed a finger to her chin in thought before hopping off the branch. Landing on her parasol sent it skywards, which she caught before swiftly sheathing the weapon.
Bending forward, Neo offered her hand out, which Chrome happily hopped onto.
"Appreciate it." Chrome thanked the woman as she placed him on her shoulder, much like Ruby did. "Remind me;"
Neo glanced at Chrome as the two walked off. The Cat, however, did not follow, still occupied by whatever he was chasing prior.
"What are you planning to do to Ruby?"
End of Chapter 86
