Rory Rose
He couldnt get it out of his head. Before he did anything else... he had to check.
It had been bugging him... but not so much he was planning to do something about it... until now anyway.
That figure. That being of pure glowing red that showed up at the edges of his vision sometimes like it was stalking him... it wasn't going away. The opposite actually, it was showing up more frequently.
He had been here for three days now. Progress on his 'weapon' had all but stopped after an incident only a few hours ago... instead of being a distant sight he could barely spot...
It had appeared right in front of him.
He let out a sigh as he looked over the forge.
The whole thing resembled a simple metal work table with runes plastered all around a metallic looking plate that was propped up slightly in the centre.
Ruby's double Silver Affinity was a joy to work with... mostly. In fact, her soul was nearly perfect for his goals but... the issue was her body.
Her lack of experience in making magic items.
The issue with working in these conditions was his lack of muscle memory for the process.
Sure, he knew how to do all of this... but Ruby's body didn't. She had no experience with creating magic items, which essentially meant he was back to working with just his theory knowledge.
The glowing red hot plate cooled slowly and the item on top of it changed colour, shifting between a red and blue glow... before settling into its proper grey steel colouring.
The bracelet was another failure.
He groaned and brushed it off of the forge, it fell into a pile of similarly made failures and he knelt down to grab another ingot of steel from under the bench.
A Magic Forge was specifically meant to create magic items. The quality of which was dependent on the skill and Affinity of the creator. Rory could make Legendary tier items in this body, his skill allowed for Rare items, and the double Silver Affininty boosted that to Legendary... but it just wasn't working.
"I know how to do this... I'm being careful about my lack of muscle memory..."
Why couldn't he make it work?
There was another issue... there had to be.
He stood again but froze as he went to drop the ingot onto the plate... there was something already on it.
The figure. It was crouched on the forge and staring into his eyes, its 'face' barely a few inches from his own.
It was Humanoid... that much he could tell. But besides being glowing red, it lacked any and all features that would make something considered as someone.
He wanted to rear back in fear... he wanted to flee but...
His curiosity got the better of him.
"What are you?"
It simply tilted its head in response... perhaps it was just as confused about its existence as him?
The figure was only as tall as Ruby's body, but crouched on the bench it gave off a more intimidating aura then if it were standing in front of him.
It reached out a hand slowly and tried to touch his face... but it moved straight through him. He felt nothing as its hand phased through his body, it wasn't actually there.
He was just seeing things.
Rory had to check what that thing was before he continued.
If it was a problem with his compatibility to Ruby's soul... then perhaps he could fix it by looking at the connection.
The Curse he had placed onto the Rose Dragon Title.
Which is why he had altered the magic circle in the workshop. It was a time consuming process and used more dust then he'd like... but with this he should be able to check the state of his soul.
"And by extension the curse."
If it's something he could fix, then it shouldn't be a big deal...
Rory activated the ritual and the circle glowed gently. A glowing illusion appeared floating over the circle giving a vivid image of his soul and how it connected to his body.
"Both mana pools are fine... the curse is stable... the title is intact... everything looks normal-"
Then he saw the issue...
The big issue.
"Shit."
"Everything alright?" He nearly jumped as Cinder spoke from behind him... but he managed to keep his surprise in check.
"Not exactly." He gestured towards the hologram and Cinder scanned over it.
"It's your soul." Her voice was practically deadpanned.
"It's Ruby's soul." His words were spoken with a sigh.
"Isn't it yours at the moment?"
"Yes... but that's the issue... she's more persistent then i thought."
Your soul connects to your body and brain directly through 'openings'. Ruby's connection to her body was actually a bit off when he had first gotten her body, but he had forcefully corrected that with his own mana before he transformed for the first time. He had only realised it was an issue simply because he could feel the difference from when he had his body, it wasn't an issue that could be observed from an outsiders perspective.
As for the connection to her brain... it was fine. Well, it was too fine for him.
"The brain connection... it has two signals." Her voice rung with understanding and Rory nodded.
"Correct... which means, my personality didnt overwrite hers... it just, pushed hers out of the way."
"Ruby is the red figure then most likely."
"Can you fix it?"
"I can do something or nothing... neither of which are great options."
"Explain."
"Right now... she has a hand on the wheel. I have full control, but she can apply tiny bouts of influence-" That might be why he couldn't make his item... "-That may progress. It's possible she could get more and more control as time goes on, before she fully kicks me out of the driver seat."
"This body and soul are rejecting me while accepting her... if things continue like this, I'll slowly be weeded out like an infection."
"And what can you do about it?"
"I can kick her fully out of control. She'll be sent into the subconscious and not able to interfere with my control or work."
"Then why not just do that-"
"Because. Itll essentially put her to sleep... she'll be put back into my memories and made to live through all of them from where she left off before I took control."
"And you think that's too cruel?" Her voice had turned snarky.
"No. It's her win condition." He sighed. "If she experiences my last memory... the memory of me dying... the body and soul will fully register that I'm foreign and she's the correct option. And I'll be instantly forced out of the driver seat. Fully."
"I might be able to hold on just enough to achieve the same result as she is now but... not for very long."
"So... it's either you slowly lose control before being booted out, or you don't lose any control before suddenly being booted out." He nodded at her summary. "The best option is probably-"
"Throwing her into the subconscious. It'll put me on a time limit... but I already am anyway, and as I am now... i cant work."
Cinder nodded and began to walk away.
"Do it then, and hurry up with your weapon."
He couldnt help but roll his eyes.
"Sure..." He sighed and put a hand down onto the magic circle, sending a pulse of mana through it.
He caught a glimpse of the red figure out of the corner of his eye... and watched it disappear.
"Goodnight Ruby."
Ruby Schnee
"Where... am I..?"
As far as she could see in all directions was a void of black... though, perhaps it wasn't right to say that she could see at all.
No sounds... no sights... no smells... no feelings.
She had a body... but it felt wrong somehow. Ruby was floating in what appeared to be nowhere... the only option as to where this could be was-
"Am I... dead...?"
"Nah! Don't be stupid!" She whipped around to see the foreign voice, it was-!
Her.
Well... not exaclty her. It was Ruby but... in her half form? Why?
"Who are you?"
The half Dragon version of Ruby shrugged.
"I'm you. But... the pride version of you."
"Pride?" Ruby crossed her arms. "Should I be expecting six more of you?"
"Nope. You're in your subconscious." As if that explains anything... "Think of me like... the you that you keep separate."
"What does that even-"
"Shh! You're probably gonna go to sleep soon... so I'm gonna make this quick." It moved closer, her wings lagged behind her slightly... she wasn't walking, rather just... floating. "We are one in the same. But you refuse to accept that."
"Can you tell me what you are?"
"I'm the 'version' of you that you keep separate from the rest of you. I'm Dragon Ruby!" She put her hands proudly on her hips and Ruby slumped her shoulders.
"What."
"I said-"
"I know what you said but... why?? Like..." She groaned. "I bet Weiss didn't have to deal with this..."
"Weiss has accepted herself fully. She's a Dragon, she dosent have a separate Dragon self."
"I've accepted that-"
"Then why can't you act normal while transformed?"
Ruby froze.
"So... do I just... have to accept you to be able to do that?"
"Do you even know how to?"
"That's not helping."
"I never said it would be easy, or even that you'd get help. Not even i can help you. I'm not real afterall, just a figment of your subconscious." A bright flash of light rung out from behind the Dragon and they both turned to look at it. "Oops. We're out of time." She turned to Ruby again and smiled. "This will give you even more to think about."
"What does that mean??" Ruby's whines were interrupted as the light consumed the void, blinding her and sending her... somewhere else.
"Rory?"
"Shut up..."
"Roooory?"
"Let me sleep..."
"C'mon sleepy head! Wake up!"
Silver eyes slowly blinked open. The bed was way too comfortable to be awake this early...
"Morning Eirwen... couldn't let me sleep in?" He groaned out as he glanced around the room. Still the same dorm room as always.
She let out a giggle.
"Nope! I wanted to see you as soon as I could!"
"I mean, we sleep in the same bed. You could already see me." She shook her head in response and booped his nose.
"Nope. I meant like this." She leaned closer, till there noses were barely an inch apart.. "Now I can stare into your eyes... and see you."
He blushed gently and turned his eyes away.
"I see..." He glanced back at her. "You're in a... loving mood today." She tilted her head at that.
"I always love you."
"That's not what i-" Another giggle interrupted him.
"I know silly." She looked like she was glowing... she was way happier then usual. The morning sun was shining brilliantly through her hair. "But... I do have something else to be happy about this morning."
He tilted his head as his eyes returned to staring into her own. She gave him the most loving look he had ever seen... how had he been so lucky to meet her?
"I'm pregnant."
He blinked.
She... she hadn't just said that right..?
"I mean sure we've... but... can humans and Dragons even-??"
Of course they could... every other species could so... why not?
He was stunned to say the least. Rory didn't know if he should be excited or scared... worried or maybe even upset...
Her eyes were still filled with that same love as he worked through his emotions, trying to come up with how or what to think...
This was so much to take in... they'd barely known each other a year and already they were-
...was he ready for this...?
"Eirwen i-" She placed a finger over his lips and shushed him.
"No words yet. I'm excited, that's why I told you. You don't have to be excited, you don't even have to know what to think yet. I know its a lot to take in." She spoke so softly... her words were always a comfort. "I want you to think all of this over before you tell me how you feel. I know either way, if you try and tell me how you feel about this now... you'll regret it later."
If he was excited but was scared at first...
Or if he was excited at first but scared later...
He slowly nodded.
"She's right."
"Now. Another reason I woke you is that I have to get going." She stood with a smile and he followed her out of instinct as she got off the bed.
"W-what? Where are you going?" His words were panicked... this was way too quick to leave after news like that! She just giggled at his worry.
"Don't worry. I'll be back. You need time to think this over by yourself anyway." She held his hands gently in her own and smiled. "Besides... I know you Rory. I already know you're going to be so excited."
"Shouldn't I be excited now...? Am I just in shock or...?"
This was why he needed some time...
"Besides. I need to head to the castle... Violet wants to talk to me and..." She sighed. "Regi is right... I should try and get to know his kids more."
"But you want to be annoying about it so you're starting with his least favourite?" His smirk matched her own as he figured her out and they both laughed for a moment.
"Caught red handed!" Her giggles died down and she stared at him with those loving eyes again...
She wouldn't let go until he let go of her hands... she'd stay until he was fine with her going. He knew that.
All of his stress melted away as he looked into her eyes... his shock had disappeared and... he was excited.
He was going to be a father and... he wasn't scared about that. Eirwen had already had practice at being a mother a long time ago but... he knew she was just naturally amazing at it.
And even if he wasn't good at being a dad... he already loved there child with all his heart.
"I should just pull her back into bed and we should spend the day relaxing..."
He let out a gentle sigh... he'd have to let her go now.
His hands slowly slipped from her grasp and she kissed his cheek.
"I'll be back in a few hours ok?" He nodded gently and she got ready surprisingly quickly... had she already prepared clothes before he woke up?
"Can't transform now that I'm pregnant, guess I'll just fly with some good ol' Gravity magic." He chuckled as she spoke, going to the window instead of the door to leave.
As he watched her disappear into the sky with a wave... it was odd.
He had a weird sinking feeling...
"Woah!" Ruby took deep breaths as the light vanished and she returned to the void. She quickly glanced around and... no Dragon Ruby this time..?
"Ok... ok..." That had been different then any of her previous experiences with his memories... she was... aware instantly of who she was afterwards...?
She knew they weren't her memories... yet she experienced them like she was there.
She felt the things Rory had felt...
"Huh..." She 'sat' down in the void and hugged her knees, looking around at the empty expanse. "So... that's what parental love feels like from the other side..."
She leaned back from her legs and sighed as she stretched out to lay down on nothing. Slowly spinning in the endless void.
"I guess... maybe being a parent isnt that bad."