"It's coming! Break up, now!" Pyrrha called out as the Elder Nevermore blasted a barrage of feathers at them the two girls fired their ranged weapons, all just out of reach from the flying Grimm.
Jaune pants as he nods with his shield held over his head, cringing as he uncorks the bottle given to him by Hunter before splattering himself with it. If he was just gagging from the smell despite it being in a bottle, now he had to put in effort to not empty his guts at the smell.
By the gods, why would anyone need something like this? Sure Ruby said he used it as bait to hunt Grimm but who in their right mind would put themselves through this smell just to kill a few Grimm?
Or maybe it was just normal and he was an idiot who never graduated from a Combat Academy before? Scratch that, he's never even so much as stepped foot in a Combat Academy! The closest was that one time he tried out for his school's sword fighting club and quit after a week because it took up too much of his study time!
As expected, the moment he covered himself with gods knows what was in the bottle, and his friends took off at full speed leaving him behind, the Elder Nevermore switched directions to focus on him.
Its caws send chills down his body, just what was he thinking when he volunteered himself as bait? His only reprieve is that the Elder Nevermore wasn't firing its endless barrage of feathers at him, probably wanting to leave his body as intact as possible when he gets crushed in its beak like an armoured nut before being digested like the morsel he was.
He had to get to the ruins quickly, that was the only way he was going to survive. As he sees the moss-covered stone bricks come into view, he feels relief in his heart as he starts dashing towards the stone bridge between him and safety, only for it to be squashed when the Nevermore overtakes him and lands behind the bridge, kicking up dirt and knocking him off his feet just from landing.
It flaps its wings, brushing aside ancient stone pillars like they were toothpicks and Jaune could only watch with his jaw agape. Just turning stone to dust by basically stretching…this was the monster they were supposed to kill?
Now he was slightly thankful for the pungent blood covering the second smell that came out of him…
This should be close enough right? He was at the temple already now all there was left to do was leave it to those more competent than him to spring the trap. Pyrrha was strong! And that Hunter guy! They both killed the Deathclaw, and while Pyrrha wasn't here Hunter was with four more probably just as strong as skilled. The thought gave him some comfort and confidence.
"Oh no…Here I am all alone ," he says hoping the rest could get the signal that they should come in, right now. He admits he lets a bit of confidence slide into his tone and smirks a bit at the Elder Nevermore who tilts its head at him, almost confused.
He waits for a second as the Elder Nevermore takes a step forward that shakes the bridge from his weight. Jaune swallows a gulp as his eyes search the area frantically, hoping to catch a sign of any of his allies but finds none.
"I said that I'm here all alone! Here I am all alone about to be eaten by an oversized bird! " he repeats louder as he crawls backwards, his hand shaking as he raises his shield while the Nevermore looms over him. Where was everyone? He was at the right ruins!
…Right?
He screams as the Nevermore pulls its head back before bringing its beak down at him like a giant pickaxe, about to punch through his Aura and shield like butter before something grabs him by his hood.
Weiss emerges from behind a pillar before using a white glyph to launch herself with enhanced speed, pulling him aside just as she stabs the ground with her weapon, erecting a gigantic wall of ice that traps the Nevermore's head with its beak just inches away from her skull.
"Now!" she shouts and the moment she does, everyone acts.
Yang and Ren emerge from the pillars behind the bridge, firing their weapons at the back of the Nevermore while Blake swings herself from beneath the stone bridge, landing under the Nevermore as she slashes at its exposed belly with her weapon.
Then from above at the stone battlements of the ruins, both Ruby and Hunter leapt with some kind of spiked club and a scythe respectively. They both land on its backs at the same time before burying the blades of their weapons into each joint that connects the wings to the Grimm's body.
Ruby fires off a shot from her scythe and uses her Semblance at the same time to pull the scythe against its back while Hunter's weapon transforms from a spiked club to a thick, spiked whip as he pulls on it hard, cutting into the Grimm's back with the whip's serrated edges.
Both of them nearly slice the wings of the Nevermore clean off before it wrenches its head from the ice wall with a loud, deafening screech that sends both Weiss and Jaune flying back from sheer volume.
All of them seem to sense something coming, both Hunter and Ruby leaping off its back and disappearing into bursts of mist and petals respectively before grabbing Weiss and Jaune.
"Hey! Be more gentle!" Weiss cries out at the indignity as Hunter wraps an arm around her waist before lifting her like luggage and dashing away in a burst of mist.
"Glad you're both alright." Ruby says as she appears next to Hunter in a burst of petals with Jaune in her arms, before she takes a sniff and cringes in disgust, "Oh, what is that smell?"
"Huh?" Jaune asks, looking pale as if he was in shock, "Oh, must be the blood…"
"You sure? Because it smells like-" Ruby was interrupted as they turned their attention back to the Nevermore who twists its body and swings its crippled wings in a circle, as Blake, Yang and Ren dodge the blow.
"It's still alive," Weiss grumbles as Hunter drops her back on her feet.
"Yeah, but our main goal was crippling its wings and we did." Ruby says determined as she drops Jaune and readies her scythe, analysing the battlefield, "Yang, Weiss! Target the pillars holding up those battlements! Everyone else, make sure it stays under them!"
Hunter and Weiss nod before both use their abilities to speed towards the Nevermore, followed shortly by Ruby.
"I'll…catch up…" Jaune says as he takes a breath to try and recover from seeing his life flash before his eyes just now, before falling on his back.
Meanwhile, Blake was using her Semblance to create clones of herself to launch her all across the Elder Nevermore, delivering numerous slashes at it everywhere while being fast enough to avoid getting hit. Ren does the same, except he is just using his own physical prowess and mastery of Aura to remain nimble as he empties magazine after magazine into the Nevermore's hide.
They both do little more than lightly wounding and annoying it, but it does keep it in one place as it struggles to land a hit on either of them. Then it spots Yang launching herself to the pillars holding up the battlements above it, punching them with Ember Celica and firing high explosive Fire Dust shells with each punch. Perhaps it was old enough and smart enough to realise what it was doing, or it just wanted to get away from the annoying gnats pestering it, but it started to drag itself away from where it was.
Until Hunter arrived, throwing his Beast Cutter in whip form around its neck like a lasso before pulling, the serrated edges cutting into its neck and causing it to screech as its movements were halted. As he does so, Ruby signals Blake and Ren to follow her as they dash under it, with both Blake and Ren using their blades to cut into one of its legs at the same time, while Ruby uses both her speed and recoil of Crescent Rose to gather the momentum necessary to cut off the other.
With both legs disabled, the Nevermore's already hindered movement was limited even more as Weiss switched cylinders in Myrtenaster to Fire Dust, creating bright red glyphs on key pillars holding up the battlements. Seeing this, Yang propels herself towards them and punches each while firing her Dust rounds, each now amplified by the glyphs to devastating levels that destroy each thick pillar with a single strike.
The stone battlements then collapse with its lack of support, crumbling into several giant stone bricks that rain on the Nevermore as the three under it run away. Weiss then created another large glyph, infused with Gravity Dust as the rocks fell through it accelerated turning it from a shower of stone to a hail of improvised shrapnel with smaller pieces punching clean through its body and larger ones crushing it from their magnified weight.
However, she strains herself to the point of exhaustion, requiring Yang to catch her and land safely. Despite this, the Nevermore thrashes its head still, despite the serrated whip around its neck as it roars in pain and agony and desperation, right before Hunter pulls once more with his whip at the same time Ruby brought Crescent Rose down on its neck like a guillotine, severing it clean off and silencing it.
Everyone but the two stare at the Nevermore, as the damage done to the bridge combined with more weight than it could support, breaks. Causing the corpse to fall with it as Ruby flicks her scythe, flinging the slick Grimm blood from it with a single swipe and Hunter returns his Beast Cutter to its club form with a flick of his hand.
"...I think we got it," Ren notes as he stares down the ravine the Nevermore's headless corpse fell into Yang laughs with Weiss' arm over her shoulders for support.
"Hell yeah we got it!" She cheers as Weiss gives an exhausted and unenthusiastic cheer, at this point too tired to do anything else.
"We did it?" Jaune asks as he approaches the scene followed by Pyrrha and Nora,
"Aw man, did we miss everything?" Nora whines in disappointment.
"I'm not sure, why don't you ask this guy." Yang jokes as she gives the severed head of the Nevermore a swift kick, causing its beak to drop open as its flesh slowly disintegrates.
"Well, I'm glad you didn't need our help." Pyrrha smiles in relief, "And I'm glad you are all safe. I'm sorry we were too late to join."
"Don't be, we all had parts to play and you had big risks playing bait." Ruby says as she sighs in relief before folding Crescent Rose back to its compact form and strapping it to her back, before breaking into a smile and turning to Hunter excitedly before wrapping her arms around him, "That was the biggest Grimm I've ever fought."
The Hunter wore a mask that covered half his face, but even they could see similar joy and excitement lit up in his pale grey eyes as he signed something to Ruby who laughed,
"You?" she says before lightly slugging his shoulder, "Yeah right, it was my Crescent Rose that cut its head off. But I guess you did help."
She says with a confident smirk as Hunter exaggerates looking offended, but before he can retort they all hear the familiar whirl of a Bullhead's propellers and look to the sky to find one flying overhead before landing, Professor Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch stepping out.
"Professor?" Ruby asks looking surprised, and so does everyone else, "What are you doing here? What's going on?"
"Why, we were going to offer assistance in dealing with our unexpected guest," Ozpin says as he points his cane to the Nevermore's severed head,
"Unexpected guest?" Weiss asks, "You mean that thing wasn't supposed to be here?"
Glynda shook her head, "Of course not. The only Grimm present was never older than Alphas. We take great care to maintain an environment where they never grow beyond that level. That is why we decided to intervene."
"That thing almost killed some of us!" Yang points out looking miffed, "How the hell did a Grimm that size sneak in here?"
"You have my word I'll devote all available resources to finding out why." Professor Ozpin says looking determined before softening and looking at them proudly, "But first I must congratulate you all. An Elder Grimm usually requires at least a full team of average Huntsmen, or a single well-prepared veteran to slay. But then I saw the nine of you quickly devising a plan and executing it, taking advantage of its ingrained behaviour and your surroundings to lay a trap for it. Simply outstanding for those that haven't even started class in a Huntsmen academy yet."
"So you were watching us this whole time?" Pyrrha realises and Ozpin nods,
"After seeing you all in action, I admit curiosity got the better of me and so I decided it would be best if we simply watch from a safe position and only intervene when you truly needed our help," he explains,
"Does that mean we get bonus points or something?" Jaune jokes as Ozpin chuckles,
"I'm afraid this initiation doesn't reward for the number or type of Grimm killed, but if it was I would grant top marks." Ozpin says with a smile before pointing back at the temple with his cane, "Now, I'm sure you all haven't forgotten the point of your initiation correct? Your relics await you."
"But wait!" Ruby interrupts as all eyes turn to her, looking nervous before gesturing to Hunter, "What about Hunter? He doesn't have a partner yet."
"And I saw eight relic pieces left in the temple." Blake recalls, "But there's nine of us."
"Hm, indeed there does seem to be an imbalance." Ozpin says with a knowing smile, "Not uncommon, but I'm sure we can find a place for you, young Hunter."
"Russel Thrush, Cardin Winchester, Dove Bronzewing, Sky Lark." Ozpin announces as the screen in the auditorium displays the faces of the four students, "The four of you retrieved the black bishop pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team CRDL, led by... Cardin Winchester."
The audience politely claps, but Ruby claps a bit slower and with even less enthusiasm as she remembers their faces as the ones that left her to fight the Nevermore by herself after saving two of them.
Afterwards, four familiar faces appeared on the screen as they stepped up to the auditorium stage,
"Jaune Arc. Lie Ren. Pyrrha Nikos. Nora Valkyrie." Ozpin says, "The four of you retrieved the white rook pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team JNPR. Led by…Jaune Arc."
The crowd applauds once more, as Jaune's eyes widen in shock at the news Nora hugs Ren while Pyrrha gives Jaune a friendly shove, only to accidentally overdo it and push Jaune down, getting a laugh from the crowd.
Honestly, she was quite surprised that Jaune was given the leadership role. Then she recalls him being the first to suggest hiding in the Emerald Forest from the Nevermore, then the one to suggest using the ruins as their battlegrounds and being the one to volunteer to be bait.
For lacking in physical skills, he seemed to make up for bravery and ability to improvise plans. So she claps politely and gives them a smile as they pass by.
"And now, our final team of students." Ozpin's eyes turn to them, "Blake Belladonna, Ruby Rose, Weiss Schnee, Yang Xiao Long."
Ruby looks nervous as they all step up to the auditorium and face the headmaster,
"The four of you retrieved the white knight pieces. From this day forward, you will work together as Team RWBY. Led by... Ruby Rose!"
Yang was the only one of the four that cheered, with Blake remaining neutral at the news. Both Weiss and Ruby, however, share similar levels of shock and surprise.
"M-me?" she asks Ozpin nervously. She hadn't at all considered the possibility of her being the team leader, she was two years younger than everyone else in her team after all, "That can't be right, sir."
"On the contrary, from what I've seen in your initiations, I believe this is the right decision." He gives her an assuring smile, "Congratulations."
Ruby felt like she had more she wanted to say, but then Yang interrupted by wrapping her arm around her neck in a tight hug, "Oh, I'm so proud of you Ruby! That's my sister! Youngest team leader over here!"
Ozpin smiles at their interaction before looking at the last student.
"And lastly, we have our odd one out." Ozpin says as all eyes turn to the only one without a team member, "Hunter, please step forward."
The boy nods and does so, approaching the auditorium stage as Team RWBY makes way for him. Ruby gives him an anxious and worried look, thinking about what would happen to him if he didn't have a team. Would he be kicked out? She hopes not, Ozpin did say he has something planned for him.
"You are not the first to come to this academy without a partner, or even a team." Ozpin says, "Sometimes there would be teams of three or two until the next semester where they can be paired up to balance things out. In your case, as a single student, you will be attached to a fully formed team until such time we find an opening in another or new students to pair you with. As such, I hope Team RWBY will have no problems with an additional member."
"What?" Blake reacts with uncharacteristic shock, as Yang looks rather unenthused by this news and Weiss looks like she reluctantly accepts this. As for Ruby…
"No problem! Not at all!" she looked joyous at the news, walking over and shaking Hunter by the shoulder, who appeared equally surprised, "You hear that? I told you it would work out! This is going to be the best team ever! Team RWBY…"
She trails off as she racks her mind, "...And Hunter? Sorry, I'm not sure how we're going to combine our initials. Team RWBY plus Hunter? RWBYH?"
Ozpin looks at their interaction with amusement. Of course, there was a practical reason for placing the mysterious Hunter on the same team as Ruby Rose, after all, she was the only one who was somehow able to understand him and from what little he saw of their interaction, able to reign him in from his bloodlust against Grimm.
A curious combination. A silver-eyed warrior and her sister, the heiress of the SDC, a former member of the White Fang, and a boy whom his best sources are unable to even find a trace. A curious combination indeed, one he will need to keep a close eye on.
Unbelievable, simply unbelievable. That was what Weiss Schnee thought to herself as she unpacked her luggage in her new dorm room. Not being partnered with someone as successful as Pyrrha Nikos? Very well, she supposed that was to be expected. But then not being given the position of leader? What was Ozpin thinking?
Look at all their records combined, and she can guarantee no one else in Team RWBY and their tagalong has as much training as she did, as much intellect as she did, or proficiency with in combat, Dust usage and their Semblance. Logically she was the best possible choice so why was the grade skipper chosen? Out of all the possibilities, the headmaster chose the one with the least experience out of all of them to lead the team?
She admits that it was Ruby's plan to slay the Elder Nevermore, and she performed adequately. But that was only after her first plan failed, and even then just because she was capable of stringing together a desperate plan doesn't mean she was leader material. She could've done the same given enough time.
"Hey, careful there ice queen, you look like you want to set those clothes on fire," Yang remarks from the top of her improvised bunk bed (again, one of Ruby's ideas).
Weiss snaps out of her thoughts, realising she had been glaring unintentionally at her clothes, before returning to folding and stacking them to place in a wardrobe.
"Is something wrong, Weiss?" Ruby asks as she whips out a toolbox from her luggage.
"Nothing is wrong." Weiss lies straight through her teeth,
"...Well, I'm your team leader now so if you do have anything wrong just let me know, okay?" Ruby asks, and while she may not have intended for it to sound like she was rubbing her position in her face, that was what Weiss heard.
"I will," she responds almost frostily before closing the wardrobe, almost slamming it shut.
"Sounds like someone's tense." Yang remarks as she whips out a flyer, "Here's an idea, I got an invite to a party from the rest of the first years that got through initiation. We can head over there for a few drinks or something? Let loose a little."
"Yang, our classes start tomorrow. I don't want you to go to class hangover." Ruby says sternly as Yang rolled her eyes,
"You're the boss." She shrugs and crumbles the flyer before throwing it into a trash can,
At least there was some sense and reason within their leader, Weiss thinks to herself. She was about to change into sleepwear for the night when she noticed her leader moving to leave the room, and so did the rest,
"Hey, where are you going?" Yang asks her sister,
"Oh, I just want to check on Hunter. Make sure he's settling in alright." Ruby exclaims before lighting up, "Hey, you guys should come. Blake, you haven't really met him yet, right? Come on, you should go meet with him then."
Weiss bites her lip at this. Their additional member, this guy named Hunter. From what she saw during the initiation he was mute, speaking in some kind of sign language that only Ruby could understand. What he lacks in ability to communicate, he more than makes up for with combat skills and his Semblance.
From what she was able to decipher, he was able to use some kind of mist to store weapons and supplies, at the same time used to deliver messages to allies, and also enhance his movement.
A powerful Semblance and great skills with many weapons. At least he'll be a useful addition to their team for the duration of his stay.
"Well…I suppose our team needs to at least fully acquaint ourselves with each other before the end of the day." Weiss shrugs and Blake flinches slightly,
"...I guess so." Blake reluctantly agreed as Ruby gestured for them to follow her.
A few doors away from their room was Hunter's. Since the maximum capacity for each room was four people, the staff decided for him to have his own room which would be used should there be any new students to form a team with him.
"Hunter? Open up, it's me." Ruby says as she knocks on the door, it opens up moments later to reveal Hunter standing at the doorway. However, he was without his signature black coat, but still wore the mask that covered half his face as well as a grey waistcoat and a white collared shirt under it. He was also without his tri-cone hat, revealing short black hair.
He does a few signs at Ruby looking questioning as she answers,
"We just wanted to check on you, and make sure you're settling in." Ruby explains before gesturing at the rest of her team, "And also to make sure everyone in the team's acquainted with each other."
He shrugs at that before opening the door wider to let them through, and Ruby accepts this invitation followed by the rest of them.
They were greeted by the sight of every inch of every wall in the room covered with weapons of all sorts. Giant serrated cleavers, two-handed axes, swords of different types and sizes, archaic pistols of various designs in one corner, spears and so much more that they don't recognise.
"...I'm not sure. You think you have enough weapons?" Yang snarks as she looks around the room.
"It looks like you have enough weapons for a small army." Weiss mutters, her jaw dropping slightly as she looks at the assembly, "Do you even know how to use half of these?"
"Oh, believe me, he does." Ruby chuckles before approaching a desk that was turned into a workshop bench with a large collection of neatly assembled tools, "Hey, you even brought some workshop tools! Mind if I drop in sometime? I've been thinking of making tweaks with Crescent Rose."
"Why does anyone need this many weapons?" Blake asks, looking at the wall of weapons, "It can't be all for you, right?"
Hunter looks like he is scoffing before making a few signs and Ruby translates,
"He says that a true hunter needs different tools for different prey." She says as he points to the wall full of weapons with serrated blades before at the wall full of different swords, "Those are for beasts, and the swords are for humans."
"...You consider humans prey?" Blake asks with an indecipherable tone,
Before Hunter could respond, Yang approached a sword mounted above his bed,
"What about this one? Looks special." she notes as she reaches for the longsword covered in bandages, "Why's it covered up with-?"
Before her hand can touch it, Hunter suddenly appears next to her in a single step and grabs her hand, stopping her from touching it.
"Hey!" Yang calls out undignified before attempting to pull her hand out of the grip, only to be able to once she used her Aura, looking at him angered, "What the hell was that?"
"I don't think he likes anyone touching that particular weapon, that's all." Ruby says getting between the two before things escalate, turning back to Hunter, "Anyways, back to why we're here. You haven't exactly met Blake yet, have you? Blake, meet Hunter. Hunter, meet Blake."
She gestures between the two who stare at each other, however, Blake doesn't seem to be able to meet his eye and glances away quickly,
"Yeah, nice to meet you," she said unenthusiastically as she offered a hand. Hunter stares at the hand for a moment before shaking it and Blake quickly releases her grip, "Right, we met, we're done, can we go now?"
She asks, sounding impatient and Ruby looks between the two confused, "I mean, I guess so. If-"
But before she could finish, Blake was already leaving, walking out the door back to their room,
"...Huh, someone's not a big fan of social interactions." Yang shrugs before following her, "Talk to ya later, Hunter."
Yang waved farewell as she left, leaving only Weiss and Ruby with Hunter in his room.
The heiress turns and looks at him sternly, "I've seen what you're capable of, but you should know that even if you're a temporary member your grades will affect us like a normal team member would. I hope you won't drag us down."
With that, she leaves as well and Ruby sighs, "Well, so much for making friends. Give them time, I'm sure they'll come around."
She assures Hunter who was still staring at the doorway looking curiously, "Is something wrong?"
"I don't think that beastgirl likes me in particular," Hunter notes confusing Ruby,
"Beastgirl? You mean Faunus, what are you talking about?" she asks confused before Hunter gestures to his head,
"The girl with the strange bow." he clarifies before pointing to his nose and eyes, "You can smell it on her. And the eyes give it away. I've seen my fair share enough times to tell the difference between beast and men."
Ruby looks surprised at the news before looking back at the doorway, "She didn't tell us anything about that…"
"What do you want to do with this information?" Hunter asks and Ruby thinks about this before shaking her head,
"If she didn't tell us she wants this kept secret. I think we should let her." Ruby says before gesturing at the both of them, "We have our own after all."
Hunter nodded as she moved to leave the room, waving goodbye at him with a smile, "Make sure you have your uniform ready for class tomorrow. I'll see you at the Dream? I owe you for that move you pulled during our last spar."
Ruby's eyes open and finds herself once more in the Hunter's Dream. She half expected the Hunter to ambush her the moment she woke up to 'test her reflexes'. Honestly, she thinks he does that because he enjoys messing with her.
"Greetings, Huntress Rose." The Doll greets her with a bow as Ruby got up and bowed back,
"It's nice to see you again, Miss Doll." Ruby says politely with a smile, "I hope you're doing alright."
"The Hunter's Dream is the same as always." The Doll says looking around them before focusing on her, "But enough about me, I am aware today was your initiation at this Beacon Academy. How was it?"
"It was awesome!" Ruby says excitedly, "We got to fight an Elder Grimm and killed it. Don't let Hunter tell you otherwise, but I was the one who cut its head off. With his help of course, but still."
She says sounding proud and the Doll smiles, "It must be a ferocious beast. I can sense the number of echoes within you."
"Echoes?" Ruby asks as she looks at herself wondering what the Doll is looking at.
The Doll approaches and places a hand over her heart, "Tell me, when you slayed the Grimm did you sense something?"
"Yeah, now that you mentioned it." Ruby recalls feeling something when she killed the Ursa and then it becomes amplified when she slayed the Nevermore, "I felt this…anger and hate. At humans in particular. Just for a moment and I didn't know why, so I ignored it once it passed. Was that from the Grimm?"
"Yes. Blood no matter what kind from what prey, contains echoes of their nature. As a Hunter, you absorb these echoes with every kill and you can bring those echoes to me so I can turn them into your strength." the Doll explains as Ruby's eyes widen in excitement,
"You're saying for every Grimm I kill I can get stronger?" she asks and the Doll chuckles,
"Somewhat, yes. Every time you grow stronger, the more echoes are required to enhance you." she explains, "And the larger and older the prey, the more echoes they provide. Would you like for me to convert those echoes for you now?"
"Yeah!" Ruby nods quickly,
"Very well. Is there anything specific you wish to enhance?" the Doll asks and Ruby rubs her chin in thought,
"Well…I guess I'd want for me to get stronger physically, and also use Crescent Rose better. Can that work?" Ruby asks and the Doll nods,
"Certainly." the Doll says, "Now please, shut your eyes, and let the echoes become your strength."
Ruby did so and soon she felt a surge of power course through her body, nearly leaving her breathless before she reopened her eyes, "Was that it? I definitely feel a bit stronger."
The Doll nods and Ruby whistles, flexing her arm, "Yeah I wish I knew of this sooner. I'd have to go kill a couple more Grimm before challenging Hunter again. Speaking of which, where is he? Not hiding and waiting to surprise me with a sword to the neck, is he?"
Ruby says half-jokingly as she glances around her surroundings carefully.
The Doll shook her head, "No, I sent him to the Workshop for some chores. I wish for a private conversation between the two of us."
"Oh?" Ruby looks surprised, "That sounds serious."
"I suppose it considers what you determine as 'serious'." The Doll sighs, "Tell me. How does the Good Hunter find the waking world?"
"Remnant? I think he likes it." Ruby says, "He's very interested in the Grimm."
"And not much else, correct?" the Doll asks, looking sad.
"Um, yeah I'd say so." Ruby nods confused as to why the Doll suddenly looks down, "Is something wrong?"
"...I'd hoped he would find some peace in the waking world." the Doll says, her eyes looking distant, "But even after Yharnam he still clings to the hunt, seeing it as the only way he can retain his humanity?"
"Yharnam? What are you talking about?" Ruby asks sounding more concerned by the moment,
"I've said too much." the Doll says, shaking her head, "Do you consider yourself his friend, Ruby Rose?"
"Of course I do." Ruby nods wondering where she is going with this.
"Then I have a request for you. From a mother to a friend of her son." The Doll pleads, "I wish for you to show him a life outside of a hunt. I know he will not stop hunting for his current prey, but what will come next? Another hunt and another until the end of time? It is not a life I wish for him."
"So you want him to stop hunting?" Ruby asks to clarify but the Doll shakes her head,
"I wish for him to live, Ruby Rose. It is one thing to be a Hunter, and it is another to have your whole life be a hunt." she clarifies, "A single-minded obsession over prey is not a life I wish for him. He was denied a life all his existence but this is an opportunity for him to live the life he never had. A life that he deserves."
Ruby listened in silence to the Doll's plea, she didn't know much about the Hunter honestly, but from what the Doll was telling her it sounded like he had a lonely life. Then she realises the Doll is waiting for her answer, so she reaches out and grasps her hands,
"My dad would always say that it was always important for a Huntsmen to have something to go home to, something to live for besides hunting Grimm. It's important to not lose yourself when you're fighting monsters." Ruby says, "So I'll do my best, Miss Doll. I can't make any promises, but I'll try."
The Doll smiles in relief, "That is all you need to do. He is fortunate to have a friend such as you."
Then a single tear fell from her eye, but before Ruby could do anything, the Doll held a hand out to stop her before brushing the tear with a finger and reaching for Ruby's hand, "Open them, please."
Ruby obliges and opens her palm as the Doll drops her tear into her hand, surprising her when it turns into a pebble-sized silver-shining stone,
"Take it please, as a token of my gratitude. I hope it will serve you well in your hunts." the Doll says as Ruby nods before confusedly pocketing the tear stone, not sure what function it could serve, "Ah, forgive me. I was so caught up in dragging you into my personnel matters that I forgot…"
She made a gesture and Messengers in a nearby bird bath-like structure rose up with what appeared to be clothes in their arms.
"What is this?" Ruby asks as she approaches and takes the offered clothes, unfurling them to find garbs similar to those that Hunter wears, only instead of being completely black there was red lining on the inside with black on the outside.
"Traditional garbs that Hunters would wear in Yharnam." the Doll explains, "I realise you have a liking to the colour red, and thus I modified it as such."
"It's beautiful." Ruby says in awe before looking at the Doll unsure, "Are you sure?"
"You are a Hunter now, there are too many uniforms and too few bodies to fill them." the Doll says with a sad smile, "And it will let me be at ease, knowing the friend of my son has protection."
"I appreciate it, Miss Doll." Ruby says gratefully before thinking, "Do you think there's a name I can call you? Calling you Doll just makes you feel…inanimate. You're a real person, you should have a name. Even weapons in our world get names, why shouldn't you?"
"A name…" the Doll mutters thinking to herself before looking back at Ruby, "Would you perhaps help me choose a name?"
Ruby hums to herself as she think. This wasn't going to be like naming a weapon, she needs to think carefully. Then she remembers a storybook she read as a child, a woman who matched the description of the Doll in a lot of ways. A woman in Solitas that raised a cursed child that went on to be a hero.
"Maybe…Evetta?" Ruby tries, "What do you think about it?"
The Doll smiles at her, "It is a beautiful name, and I'll gladly accept that as my own. You may call me Evetta, Huntress Ruby."