"We'll start from here." Ruby said, While she had dropped a long and thick branch on the sand as a finish line "The one that circles the Island and passes this branch 3 times wins."
"I understand." Esdeath nodded, now having her uniform on and covering her upper body again "And I'm allowed to use my ice Ability while you are allowed to use your petal powers. Correct?"
"As long as you don't use them to attack me or to make a wall of ice in my way." Ruby explained 'And since I don't touch the ground when I use my petal burst and instead float around, Freezing the sand to make me slip would be useless.'
"Okay then." Esdeath nodded "But do not take my agility too lightly. Even without my teigu, I'm much faster than every other challenger that I've raced against."
"That goes for me too." Ruby said "I'm faster than even the fastest Danger beast you've probably chased down."
"We'll see." Esdeath smirked "but remember, If I win, you WILL be all mine~"
"Sure." Ruby nodded.
The two slowly stepped right before the branch, prepared to run as fast as they could.
"Ready on your mark." Esdeath stated as she was casually standing, while Ruby was prepared to dash.
"Okay..." Ruby said, as she looked ahead and saw nothing but the sand on the beach.
"...GO!"
And in that instant, Both of them zoomed forward past the branch and kicked up quite a lot of sand as they raced each other along shoulder to shoulder.
Ruby wasn't using Her Petal burst to it's fullest. Just very small pieces of rose petals were falling from her back for now.
And Esdeath took notice of that too as she ran. And she hadn't used any of her Ice powers herself, so they both were starting fairly small for now.
They both ran for a few kilometers, And Esdeath was impressed how Ruby could keep up with her. And that's when she decided to stop holding back.
Ice was summoned bellow her heels, and then she was sliding forward far faster as Ice was being created ahead for her while she crouched down for better balance, letting her Ice carry her much faster.
"How will you keep up now ruby?!" Esdeath asked with excitement while their tie was finally broken and Esdeath had the lead, while they both were a quarter way around the Island Already in their first lap.
'Time to kick it up a WHOLE LOT of Notches!' Ruby thought to herself before she finally turned into the mass of Red Roses and started to reach Esdeath!
*WOOOOSH!*
This only impressed Esdeath further, which in turn increased her desire to have Ruby even more!
She sped up Her Ice and began to gain more distance between herself and the Petal Bursting Ruby.
'She's getting even faster.' Ruby thought within her Petal Burst state 'Then I'll just have to burn Through ALL of my aura!'
*WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!*
And suddenly, Ruby's Petal burst stated went from a huge mass of Roses, to a Sharp and thin Red Blue and she passed Right past Esdeath!
Esdeath was shocked as she just saw Ruby go on ahead of her so fast, but her shock was soon replaced by more Excitement!
'Amazing! So she can get even Faster than the reports stated!' She thought as she could slowly make out Ruby's shape starting to disappear as she gained more distance between them 'Then, I'll just have to stop holding back as well!'
As Esdeath passed the halfway point of the first lap, The Ice pushing her forward began to get summoned and move her forward even faster, while She started to use her legs again and with each wide and powerful step she takes, Ice is summoned from under her heel and sends her even further forward, reaching her top speed!
"You may be fast Ruby! But I'm still going to catch up to you no matter what!" Esdeath called out, as she thought that She had reached Ruby close enough for her to hear her voice.
...But as she began to reach the branch they had placed after racing down the second half way of the Island in a matter of seconds, she could see the rose trails had passed the branch already.
'She's already finished her first lap. I need to keep up my momentum, and I'll definitely catch up to her eventually.' Esdeath thought, as she kept running as fast as she could!
...But when she reached the quarter way through the Island again, she still couldn't see Ruby up ahead.
'Is she really that further up from me?' Esdeath began to become somewhat alerted ' Or has she_"
*WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!*
"W-Wha?!" Esdeath then gasped...when she saw Ruby dash past her and move up ahead of her from her back.
'What?! From behind?!' Esdeath thought in shock, Until she finally realized what had happened '...I-Impossioble...S-She's...OUTLAPPED ME?!'
While Esdeath had only done one lap...Ruby had gone through two already. Which was double the fastest Speed Esdeath could muster without trickery.
'Is she really THIS much faster than me?! H-How could I have not seen such an outcome?! I was sure that I would be faster than her...I means she's been holding back a GREAT amount of her true potential All this time!' Esdeath thought, as she started to reach the end of her second lap, And saw Ruby was already done with her 3rd lap and was just on the her knees in the sand, Panting in and out.
Seeing as she had already lost, Esdeath saw no point in running around the island for the 3rd lap. So, she just simply stopped her sprint little by little, and just casually stepped over the branch, also tired herself.
"Haah...haah...haah..haah...haah..." Ruby gasped in and out, having used Her semblance for beyond it's limits. She's used her Petal Burst like this many times. But they were for very short bursts or for one hit kill attacks, Never had she used it consistently like this for so long.
*SSSSSSSSS*
And as she expected, Her Aura flashed and ran out after the overboard usage of her Semblance.
Which Esdeath took notice of, and decided to remember it.
"Haah...haah...W-Well?" Ruby managed to turn around as she kept sitting down on the sand "I won. And I literally Made you eat my dust the entire race. That means you have to leave the empire now, right?"
"...Hmhm...Hahah..." But to Ruby's confusion, Esdeath began to laugh "HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"E-Essy?" Ruby called out, a little freaked out.
But then, she gasped when Esdeath suddenly picked Ruby up in her arms bridal style.
"Alright. You've completely defeated me in our contest. I couldn't even catch up to you the moment we both got serious." Esdeath said as she closed into Ruby's face "A deal is a deal. I'm now all yours per our agreement."
"R-Really?" Ruby asked.
"Of course." Esdeath nodded, before she gently kissed Ruby on the lips while holding her closer in her arms.
And Ruby, exhausted as she was, Decided to kiss back.
Esdeath carried her toward one of the trees and sat down with Ruby in her arms. The two kept making out as a cool breeze flies by.
"However," Esdeath then broke their kiss "I cannot abandon my subordinates. I still took them under my wing after all."
"I'll...Think of something for them too. I promise" Ruby assured.
"Your far too pure heart is far too irresistible Sometimes." Esdeath smiles as she cuddled up to Ruby more.
"...there's...something you should know tho..." Ruby said, finally deciding to fill Esdeath in on her love life "...I've been in a relationship for a while. literally before you and I met."
"Oh? Is that so?" Esdeath asked "Who is my competition then?"
"A-Actually...Competitions." Ruby corrected.
"What?" Esdeath became confused.
"...I uh...I'm...Also in love with...3 other girls who are sharing me..." Ruby finally admitted.
"...A...Aha...Ahahaha!" Esdeath began to chuckle "Seriously?"
"Yup." Ruby nodded.
"I'm Impressed!" Esdeath laughed "I didn't know you'd be so much more Precious than I thought. Do you love them too?"
"Yeah. Just as much as I love you." Ruby nodded.
"Then, I'll just have to be the Center of your attention." Esdeath said with a smirk "Don't worry, I won't steal you away from your other lovers, but I won't be out done by any of them."
"Well...You can try. They have their own quirks too." Ruby chuckled, as she sat up straight next to Esdeath after getting some of her energy back.
"So, I take it that I already know a few of them?" Esdeath asked.
"Oh yeah. 2 of them are Akame and Sheele." Ruby bluntly stated.
"I see." Esdeath nodded "It would seem the so called Demon also has good taste like me at the very least."
"I wouldn't call Akame a Demon. She's actually a real big softy." Ruby explained.
"You don't have to explain. I'll see for myself when I meet them." Esdeath said as she gently caressed Ruby's cheek.
'...I just hope you don't try to kill each other when that time comes.' Ruby thought to herself.
And Esdeath began to gently kiss Ruby again, who in turn kissed back. Their make out lasted for a bit until Esdeath slowly pinned Ruby down on the sand, and started to take her uniform off again.
and Ruby followed suit, by removing her cape first. And the rest of both of their clothing followed shortly after.
Everything soon became a blur for Ruby, as she only wanted to lose herself in the bliss and Enjoy their moment for now.
Until they both fell asleep.
"Ruby!" The little mouse called out, as it ran up to her and desperately began pulling her finger as best it could.
"You have to get up! We have to go_"
*STEP*
...Until it was stepped on by Neo's white shoes.
Ruby stares at where Little just was, eye's widened in horror and despair.
"I think it's about time we all got what we deserve~" The illusionary Roman mocked as he stood behind Neo.
But Ruby wasn't even paying attention as She pushed the cup of tree leaf tea next to her hand. She just stared at where Little was.
...And soon enough, her breathing started to get faster, some kind of burning sensation started to build up through her entire body, her eyes were now widened not form despair, but rage.
And soon, Everything turned Red.
"GGGRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!" She then jumped up right toward the illusionary Roman, who was actually surprised,
*BITE*
"AAH!" And he grunted in pain as Ruby sank her teeth into his throat.
"GRRRR! GGGGGGGGGGGGG!" Ruby growled and grunted like an wild animal as she kept biting harder into the fake romans neck, until.
*SPLAT!/SHATTER*
She Bite hard enough to rip out The illusion romans throat out, thrust causing it to vanish into pink glass.
Neo stepped back, shocked beyond comprehension that the girl that she had broken down just a few seconds ago suddenly made a brutal comeback like this.
Then Ruby turned around and faced the Shocked Neo, alongside her equally shocked Illusions as there was blood all over her mouth, she was either fake as well or real, panting and growling in fury.
"YOU!" She yelled as she stepped forward, and stumped on the tea cup, crushing it "I'M GOING TO RIP ALL OF YOU INTO PIECEEEEEEEES!"
She yelled as she ran forward, and grabbed Crescent rose and with an animalistic battle cry and also out of Aura, launched herself at Neo and her illusions who suddenly became terrified.
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"...haah...haah...haah...haah...H-Huh?" When Ruby finally got her Barings back, she finally realized that...she wasn't in that castle anymore. She was in the forest, Crescent Rose in hand, both it's blade and her hands and clothes covered in blood, with more Blood on her teeth and lips, which was also probably illusionary or real, And no sign of Neo either.
"...Where...Wh-what happened?" she asked herself, feeling her head hurting "...Wait...Little, Neo, the cat...She...Escaped, I chased her, A-And...I think I hurt her too while she ran then...ugh..."
She leaned against a tree, and she could slowly remember Neo running while looking back with terror and fear toward Ruby, who was probably chasing her while screaming bloody murder, which would explain her soar throat.
"...She...Got away..." Ruby said to herself "...She killed little...Tried to hurt me...Like hell I'm letting her go after this." She then straightened herself up with Crescent rose "I'm through being Nice."
"Ruby!" She then looked back and noticed her so called "Team" Along side Jaune and whatever his Animal was suppose to be running up to her.
But then they all stopped when they saw the state Ruby was in.
"O-Oh god..." Blake gasped in horror.
"R-Ruby are you okay?!" Yang asked as she stepped forward.
"...I'm fine." Ruby grumbled as she wiped the blood off her mouth and teeth "Not like you care."
"What?" Yang asked.
"We were worried about you!" Weiss said "A-and...Is that your blood?!"
"...I dunno, Maybe?" Ruby nonchalantly answered as she started to walk away.
"W-Wait where are you going?" Yang asked.
"To Find Neo, And Rip her Head off." Ruby violantly answered.
"What?" Blake asked.
"She ran the other direction." Jaune answered.
"...What?" Ruby looked back at Jaune "You saw her?"
"Yeah. She was hurt, and looked_" Jaune tried to explain, But then!
*BLANG!*
"AGH!" he yelled in pain as Ruby literally shot him in the chest, with his Aura being his only saving grace as he fell back!
The Girls look in horror at what Ruby just did, Only to get more terrified when She started to scream.
"YOU LET HER GET AWAY?!" Ruby yelled with nothing but rage and fury, and aimed her weapon at her team next.
"R-Ruby wait_" Yang tried to call out to her, but then!
*BLANG*
"AH!" Yang gasped when the next bullet Almost Grazed her face!
"SHUT UP! SHUT! THE HELL! UP!" Ruby yelled "IS SCREWING THINGS UP AND BLAMING ME FOR IT ALL YOU MORONS ARE GOOD FOR?!"
"W-What?!" Weiss gasped.
"R-Ruby wait! Calm down!" Blake tried to reason with her!
"CALM DOWN!? CALM DOWN?! Like you're one to talk, YOU FUCKING FAUNUS!" Ruby yelled.
"...W...What?" Blake said, eyes wide and heart broken while everyone else was also shocked by what Ruby just said.
"R-Ruby! Stop! Just slow down!" Yang tried her luck next.
"SLOW DOWN?! LIKE YOU?! OH CAUSE WE ALL KNOW HOW GOOD YOU ARE AT SLOWING DOWN! JUST LOOK WHERE IT GOT YOUR HAND!" Ruby Kept on insulting her team.
"What's gotten into you?!" Jaune yelled.
"WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO ME?! I'LL TELL YOU WHAT'S GOTTEN INTO ME! IT'S ALL BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS ABOUT ME, RIGHT?!" ruby yelled, causing a flash of regret and pain to come across Jaune's face.
"...L-Look, I'm sorry, I didn't mean anything I said back in_" Jaune tried to talk only to get cut off again.
"NO! YOU DON'T GET TO APOLOGIZE!" Ruby then aimed her weapon at jaune, making everyone to become scared again "IF YOU SAY ONE MORE THING I WILL PERSONALLY SEND YOU STRAIGHT TO PYRRHA MYSELF! WHERE YOU BOTH BELONG!"
"What?! Don't you DARE TALK ABOUT_" Jaune got angry next.
"OR WHAT?! YOU WANNA TELL ME TO KILL MYSELF?! LIKE HOW YOU DID OVER YOUR IMAGINARY FRIENDS?!"
"What?! I-I didn't_"
"QUIT LYING TO ME! YOU WERE THINKING IT!"
"...O-Okay, I'm sorry, You're right, I've been stuck here for too long. But I swear I'm trying to_" Jaune tries to speak.
"GET JUMP OFF A MOUNTAIN AND JUST FUCKING DIE!" Ruby yelled, shocking everyone further "NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOU! DO YOU HEAR ME! NO! ONE! WANTS! YOU! AROUND! YOU...YOU'VE BEEN NOTHING BUT DEADWEIGHT EVER SINCE I MET YOU! AND PYRRHA WASTED HER LIFE OVER FOR YOU, FOR FUCKING NOTHING!"
this only caused Jaune to become more heart broken than he already was.
"Ruby stop! We're only trying to_" Weiss tried next.
"TRYING TO WHAT?! TELL ME I'M JUST A KID! THAT YOU'RE LEAGUES BETTER THAN ME?! THAT I DON'T DESERVE TO BE THE LEADER?!"
"R-Ruby, Please just stop_" Weiss kept trying.
*BLANG!*
"AAH!" But she screamed in pain when Ruby shot her in the shoulder next, with her Aura protecting her but causing everyone to gasp in shock again!
"Ruby STOP!" Yang yelled.
"OR WHAT?! YOU'LL LEAVE ME?! AGAIN?!" Ruby screamed "LIKE HOW BLAKE LEFT?! LIKE HOW WEISS UP AND LEFT WITH HER FATHER LIKE THE DOG THAT SHE IS?! LIKE YOU BECAUSE YOU WERE TOO HURT AND ALONE TO EVEN CARE?! WELL NO ONE GAVE A SHIT WHEN YOU LOST YOU ARM THEN, AND NO ONE DOES NOW!"
"What is your problem?!" Jaune angrily yelled.
"MY PROBLEM IS THAT EVERYTIME I TRY MY BEST, YOU PEOPLE JUST KEEP BLAMING ME AND EXPECT ME TO MAKE ALL THE RIGHT CHOICES! WELL NEWS FLASH: IT'S HARD WHEN MY TEAM IS MADE UP OF NOTHING BUT WORTHLESS, GOOD FOR NOTHING WASTES OF SPACE, ALONG SIDE A WANNA BE HERO WHO IS BETTER OFF DEAD!"
"We-We never blamed you for_" Yang tried to speak.
"YOU DID! BACK IN MANTLE!" Ruby screamed.
"...L-Look, I didn't mean it. I'm_" Yang tried to apologize.
"SHUT! UP!" Ruby screamed "DO EVERYONE A FAVOR AND JUST FUCK OFF! LIKE RAVEN! SINCE IT'S APPARENTLY ALL YOU FILTHY BRANWENS ARE GOOD FOR!"
Yang just stared at Ruby, hurt and saddened by her insults.
"...Ruby...Please, Calm down. We want to help you." Blake tried to reach out one more time.
"...I'm disbanding this stupid team." Ruby stated, shocking everyone present "I don't want to ever, EVER, see any of you again. If I see you...I'LL KILL YOU."
"...Ruby, P-Please, Don't do this." Yang begged.
"...We're done." Ruby said as she began to walk away. Until she suddenly stopped "Oh...and Jaune?"
*BLANG!*
And to everyones horror...Ruby just Shot Jaunes Afterian companion through the head, Killing it instantly.
Jaune just watches in horror and shock as his only friends body over millions of years lay dead under his feet.
"Let that be my ONLY warning to you all." Ruby coldly stated, and began to walk away in her search for Neo.
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...When Ruby opened her eyes, she could feel her body covered in a cold sweat, scared and almost petrified at the nightmare she saw.
She could sense tears on her eyes, which she blinked them away, and she could clearly see that it was finally morning.
'...That's right...I remember now...' She thought to herself '...The Red Reaper wasn't born by the Empire and the capital...It was Created by me, back in the ever after, when I...' She couldn't bring herself to be reminded of what she had said and done to her team and friends.
'...Wait...Where's Essy?' She thought to herself, and looks up and sees Esdeath hugging her tightly, still asleep as the two were on the beach still.
She smiled seeing Esdeath peacefully asleep, but then she blushed Red when she realized they both were naked.
'Oh god, We had sex on beach!' Ruby thought to herself, as she sat up while holding Esdeath's hands 'Never thought This would happen.'
But as she managed to calm down about how she and Esdeath were Naked and had sex just a few hours ago, she was reminded of her latest Memory in form of another nightmare.
'...No. No, I won't make the same mistake again.' Ruby thought as she held Esdeath's hand tighter 'I won't drive my friends and team away like last time because of my anger. I'll make things right with my second chance. I'll protect Akame, Leone, Sheele, Esdeath and everyone else. I won't mess up again. I'll...I won't be the Red Reaper. I'll remain as Ruby Rose. Just like how Bro wanted me to.'
"Hmm...good morning~" Esdeath greeted as she opened her eyes.
"...Morning Essy~" Ruby greeted back, as Esdeath sat up on the sand and the two kissed again.
"Last night was truly wonderful." Esdeath said "I didn't know you could take charge like that~"
"Take charge?" Ruby asked "Did I..."
"Yes. You pinned me down and...let's say you have some very grand experiences with your hands and lips~" Esdeath said.
"Y-Yeah, Well, you know, uh, Foursomes do that to ya!" Ruby blushed red.
"Foursome?" Esdeath repeated "Oh~ so you ARE into more exotic options~"
ruby finally realized what she had said, and turned even more red.
"I-I-I MEAN...P-Please don't look at me like that." Ruby begged.
"Nope." Esdeath sassed, while popping the 'P' In her 'Nope'.
"...Well...We should really get back now." ruby said as she looked around and found their clothes, alongside her Folded up Crescent Rose and Esdeath's rapier laying on the sand next to each other "we should Definitely start going back now. We've both been away from the capital for almost 2 days."
"Agreed." Esdeath nodded as the two begin to wear their clothes and gear back "And Since I need to honor our bet, We need to explain to your allies about my alliance."
"We'll talk about that more with our boss." Ruby said as she wore her Cape "But how to get back? We haven't seen a water type danger beast or a flying type yet, So we have to just freeze the ocean I guess."
"Or better yet. Look above!" Esdeath pointed upwards, And Ruby gasped as she saw a very familiar creature flying in the air.
"And Air Mantra!" Ruby said "Wait, I thought you said they're rarely seen around Sea areas."
"And this is one of those Rare times." Esdeath answered "Now hang on tight, We'll have to catch it before it flies out of our reach!"
"Got it!" Ruby nodded as she held onto Esdeath, Who in turn summoned a massive pillar of Ice underneath them and shot them both into the air toward the Air mantra!
And Ruby used her Semblance to fly herself and Esdeath toward the air mantra.
And as she landed them both on the creature, Esdeath seemed surprised to feel her body become Petals momentarly.
"You'll get used to it." Ruby said as the two finally began their return to the capital at long last.