(PREVIOUSLY ON A PURE AND SIMPLE HEART)
"Who are you!?" Weiss screamed as her summon readied its blade. "And what do you know of the Keyblade!?"
The man looked at Weiss with a flat look almost as if he wasn't bothered by her partial summon and simply sighed out in annoyance before pulling out a sword with a gun handle and with a chain with a silver lion emblem at the bottom.
"The name's Leon," the man said as he rested the blade on his shoulder. "And I need you to take a nap for a while."
~~~~(AND NOW BACK TO THE STORY)~~~~
Weiss tried to look ready for a fight, but in truth she was worried. She was in an unknown area, without her weapon, without Dust, relying purely on her glyphs and an incomplete summon, both of which honestly drained her. But she wasn't going to just roll over and get stomped on.
"Now then," the man said with a dry tone as if Wiess wasn't a threat to him. "I need you to take a nap for a bit."
As soon as he finished his sentence the tall man was already upon Wiess with speeds that rivaled her team leader as he raised his Gunblade and swung down at the stunned heiress.
Thankfully her summon acted for its master as it was just barely able to block the stoic man's swing. With a grunt, the man pushed off the deadlock with the summon's blade and jumped back slightly as he rested the blade back on his shoulder.
"So not completely helpless, but tell me, kid," Leon said while giving Wiess an analyzing stare. "Do you have any skill, or is hiding behind a knight's sword like the princess you are all your good at?"
"How dare you, you-!" Weiss shouted, but then noticed a tiny smirk on the edges of his mouth. 'No. Play this smart, Weiss. You're unarmed and your only means of attack exhausts you fast. He wants you to make a mistake, and you can't play this too cautiously. So…' She raised her hand and summoned a white glyph behind her. 'Let's catch him off guard!' She thought as she backflipped onto it and launched herself at him with a burst of speed, leaving the safety of her summon as she charged her foe.
(Play Kingdom Hearts 1.5 OST Night of Fate)
Catching the man off guard, Wiess ran at an accelerated speed with the help of her glyphs at speeds that would allow her to keep up with her team leader during combat.
'But I need to end this quickly,' she thought with a frown. While this glyph was not all that taxing in other situations, right now it was draining what little Aura she had left. She needed to end this quickly!
'And that's what I will do!' The heiress thought as she picked up pace as she rushed towards the scared man named Leon. Said man was going in for a swing, but Wiess was hoping for this as she, much to the man's surprise, power-slides. Dodging his swing in the process. Now behind him, the young heiress then summoned a repulsion glyph while the man was turning around to face her.
Giving a smirk that would make a certain blond teammate of hers proud, the white-themed teen had her glyph launch him away from her… and into the range of her Summon. And he was helpless as the surprise of the action and the speeds he was going at left him open for a strong attack from the floating sword-wielding arm.
As the blade smashed into his side and sent the man careening towards another course. Wiess for a moment was hopeful this would end this fight.
Sadly this was not to be, for the man named Leon was able to twist mid-air and land on his feet. Though he was giving Wiess a more cautious look.
"Not bad kid," Leon said with the same dry tone, but with a spark of respect mixed in. "I'll have to take you a bit more seriously."
"Should have done that from the start!" Wiess cried out as she and her Summon lunged forward towards the man. The scarred man was able to easily lock blades with her summon, but Wiess wasn't just going to let it do all the work. While she might not be the best hand-to-hand fighter she was still able to use some things her older sister taught her during training.
'Remember Weiss, always aim for a stronger opponent's legs, even the strongest fort will crumble when it loses its foundations,' the words of her older sister rang in her head as she tried to kick out the man's legs while he was parrying the giant blade of her summon. Sadly this man showed way more skill and simply jumped back from her attempts to trip him and jump back into the fray with the same speed.
'easier said than done, dear sister!' Wiess thought as barely dodged a jab from the man's gunblade. But she wasn't fast enough to dodge the kick to the chest and was sent flying until she landed harshly onto the ground, her Summon flying to her defense as she tried to get up.
The man was not giving her any room as he swiped down with his gun blade, Weiss barely had time to roll out of the way before the weapon swiped down and left a large gash in the ground where she once was.
'H-he could have killed me!' The white themed girl mentally shouted as she saw the damage that man's weapon could do. Even if she survived she doubt she would have had any aura left.
She didn't have much time to think anymore as the scarred man rushed at her with another swipe. Acting on instinct, Weiss reacted with a move that only Yang would have pulled; she grabbed some dirt from the ground and tossed it as hard she could at the man.
This turned out to be a good thing as the man was so focused on finishing the fight as quickly as possible he wasn't expecting a cheap trick like that and was not prepared for dirt in the eyes.
The man grunted as he tried to get the dirt from his eyes, leaving himself open.
'One shot. End it now!' Weiss shouted a battle cry as she dashed forwards, summoning her knight's arm which raised it's blade up high. Leon moved to hop back but almost lost balance. He looked down to see a black glyph holding his feet in place. 'Got you!' she thought, her ethereal greatsword swinging down.
"Not bad," he said calmly and raised his hand. There was a small explosion before a fireball shot from it. Weiss couldn't react in time and it hit her dead in the chest, sending her flying back, breaking her aura, and knocking the wind out of her. She hit the ground hard, her summon and glyph fading. With her last bit of consciousness, she heard him say "But not good enough."
'He… can do the… same thing as Ruby!?' the white-haired teen thought as her vision soon faded to black.
(End song)
"Looks like she almost got you there for a second Squall," said a chipper voice.
Turning around, the scarred-faced man sees a young teen girl around the same age as Weiss. The girl had short black hair and was wearing a strange Eastern attire.
"Wasn't expecting a girl who looks like she was from high society to throw dirt in my eyes," Leon muttered. "Also the names Leon not Squall."
Rolling her eyes the young girl simply put her hands to her hips and gave Leon a playful smirk.
"Okay okay Leon but seriously who is this kid? How was she able do all that crazy stuff and why would you pick a fight with her?"
The man grunted as he put away his weapon and picked up Weiss.
"Don't know about all that crazy stuff as you put it but I can't at least let you know why I had to fight her."
"Well I'm all ears Leon," the young girl chirped with a small smile.
Leon looked at her with a serious look before making his way to a building that looked like a hotel.
"This kid knows something about the keyblade and I'm about to find out what she knows," Leon mutters as the young girl gives him a shocked look. "Come on Yuffie. We need to go see Cid and Aerith."
"R-right!" The now named Yuffie yelled out as she ran to catch up to her companion.
'let's just hope this girl didn't mind the rough welcome to Traverse Town,' she thought as they made their way to their other comrades.
A yellow neon sign faded in, framed on the left and right by alternating yellow and blue lights. Above it were glowing signs and directional arrows, as well as string lights between silhouettes of buildings, some with light coming from their windows. The letters "T-R-A-V-E-R-S-E" came into existence inside the yellow neon border, each one designed to end with a directional arrow, before "TOWN" with a similar design sprung in all at once below it, filling up the rest of the space.
"Weiss… Weiss…" came a voice. "Weiss you sleepy head you need to wake up."
Cracking her eyes open, Weiss lifted her head up as she looked around to see she was sitting in Beacon's cafeteria. Her team was sitting around her with Ruby being the one trying to wake her up.
"Ruby!" Weiss shouted. Standing up and spooking her other teammates. "You're okay!?"
Linking and confusion Ruby tilted her head and gave her white themed friend a curious look. "Well yeah. Why wouldn't I be?"
"You ok Weiss-Cream?" Yang asked with her usual laid-back smile. "It's not like you to fall asleep in the middle of the day… that's more Ruby's thing nowadays."
"Hey!" Ruby cried as she tried to tackle her sister only to get pulled into a headlock by a laughing Yang, who ruffled her little sister's hair.
Ingoring her two teammates, but still smiling at their antics. Blake looked to Weiss. "You must of been up studying huh?"
"I… was?" Weiss muttered as sat back down. Confusion written on her face. "But… it seemed so real."
"Well maybe you should give the books a break," Yang suggested. Letting go of Ruby who whined about her hair standing up now. "Maybe you need to relax and take a load off."
A vain bulged on Weiss's head as she glared at her blond teammates. "If I did that then my grades would tank! Don't try driving me down to your grade level Yang."
"Meh. I'm passing well enough," Yang shrugged as she geabbed her drink took a sip. "You're just going to burn out with all this overachieving."
"How dare… I can't believe this!" Weiss shouted as she glared at Ruby. "Do you hear your sister? Does she not know that if one of us fails it drags the rest of the team down!? I have to "overachieve" just to make up for lack of work ethic so our team is seen as competent!"
Letting out a nervous laugh Ruby waves her hands in a placating matter. "I understand but you should also find time to relax Weiss. Yang is right on the part about overworking yourself, I'm not saying not to study just take care of yourself. You have a team that backs you up you know."
"Our team leader is right," Blake commented with a proud smile on her face. "We're just saying you need to relax because we worry about you."
"Same," Yang said with a smile as she gives Weiss a wink. "I'll even hit the books if you're willing to let your hair down and relax Weiss-Queen~,"
Weiss looked at her team before letting out a sigh and smiling. "Fine… I guess I could take small breaks. But only because you dolts asked me to."
As her team let out small cheers of victory at their victory, Weiss's smile grew. Glad to see that that nightmare was just that, a nightmare.
DOOOOOOONNNNGGGG!!!
(Play Kingdom hearts 3 ost - Musique pour la tristesse de Xion)
"What the?" Weiss cried out as she looked around for the source of that sound. Said sound being a… Bell? And a large one at that.
"Looks like it's time."
"Ruby?" Weiss said in confusion as she turned to look at her team leader. Only to see her not wearing her school uniform. But instead her huntress attire, and was just as ragged as she remember last seeing it.
Looking towards the exit, Ruby smiles and gets up.
"It's time for me to go," Ruby said as she begins to walk away.
"See yeah sis," Yang says. Showing no reaction to her sister's strange behavior or change of attire.
"Good luck," Blake said. Not even looking up from her book as their team leader made her way to the exit.
"What the… why are you two just sitting there!?" Weiss shouted not understanding what was going on.
The two just gave her a blank look that kind of unnerved her.
"Why should we do anything," Blake asked.
"What?" Weiss gasped out. Looking at her black themed teammate.
"Same could be said about you ice queen,"Yang muttered while pointing backwards with her thumb towards the window. "Besides you're not going to be much help against that."
Looking towards where Yang was pointing, Weiss was left speechless with what she saw. Instead of a calm sunny day like she expected to see out the window, she instead saw the same dark clouds and her dream but the most terrifying part was that she saw the same dark creatures looking at her through the window pressing their bodies and scratching at the glass.
"Heartless!?" Weiss screamed. Remembering the name Ruby called them. "Yang! Blake! We need to-!!??"
Turning to yell at her two teammates she is shocked to see that Yang and Blake are gone. Turning towards the exit she spots Ruby still walking towards the door but now with that keyblade in hand.
"Wait Ruby you can't go out there alone!" Weiss screamed as she tried to run towards the exit but as she got closer and closer she started to notice that her uniform was replaced with her nearly destroyed battle outfit as well. And when she was only a few feet away from her friend even the injuries she got both from fighting the heartless and that Leon person appeared on her body causing her to fall to one knee in exhaustion.
"Ruby… please… don't go," pleaded the white themed girl as she held out her hand towards Ruby. Said Red theme girl stopped in her tracks right as she was at the door. Turning towards Weiss Ruby gave her first friend a smile before grabbing the door knob.
"Sorry Weiss… but I have to go," Ruby said as she turns the knob. "This is something only I can do… goodbye"
And with that Ruby pulls the door open and waves of darkness floods the room like a black ocean as heartless swarmed Ruby and Weiss was swept away by the darkness even as she still tried to reach for Ruby.
"NOOOOO!!!" Weiss screamed as she was being pulled further and further from her friend. RUBY!!!"
And as your vision goes black the last thing she sees is Ruby being swallowed up by the heartless.
(Song ends)
—--
"Ruby!!!" Shouted Weiss as she spunq up from where she was laying. Her heart racing as she took in a few deep breaths as a cold sweat when down her forehead. In her panic State she was barely able to notice that she was in oddly designed room and that she was laying in a bed.
"Geez do you have to be so loud princess?" Ask a young voice with a bit of irritation mixed in.
"What?" Weiss asked if she turned towards the voice even though her vision was a bit blurry from just waking up and saw… Ruby!?
"Ruby!?" The White theme girl cried out in joy while "Ruby" looked at her with confusion.
"Ruby?" Asked the person Weiss thought was Ruby. There was her vision was getting back to normal Weiss was able to see it wasn't her friend. "The names Yuffie! World's greatest ninja!"
"Yuffie? No nevermind that," Weiss muttered rubbing her eyes. After her eyes adjusted she saw the only thing that was similar between the girl in front of her and her partner was similar hair and an overwhelming feeling of carefree positivity. Weiss took a look at the rest of her outfit. Hidden under her "Ruby style" hair was a white headband with blue ties, and around her neck a yellow scarf. A forest green cropped tube top covered barely any of her torso, held in place by its own elasticity and two blue overall-style belts that went over her shoulders. Covering below her waist was a pair of yellow denim short shorts, with a large blue belt loosely tied buckled around her waist. On her hands were orange fingerless gloves that went halfway up her forearms over black fishnet sleeves held in place by metal bands on her upper arms. Finally were her orange athletic shoes over white thigh high stockings. 'Pretty eye catching for a ninja,' Wiess thought. 'Blake would pick her outfit apart.'
"Like what you see? Yuffie said with a cheeky smile. "You keep staring, I might charge you."
Weiss scoffed. "Please." She started to move to get up only for some pain in her chest to stop her. "Urgh… Damn him…"
"Yeah Squall did a number on you," the so called ninja commented. "Guy doesn't know how to treat a lady I tell ya"
"...Who?"
"It's Leon," said a familiar voice, Weiss stiffening as her attacker casually entered the room.
"You! You have some nerve showing your face to me after what you did, ruffian!" Weiss angrily shouted.
"Oooh! You did it now Leon, you big bully," Yuffie teased as she ran up to him and poked him. Only to get shoved away by the scarred man. "Hey!"
"Enough. Time to get to business." He turned to Weiss. "What do you know about the Keyblade?"
"The… The Keyblade?" Weiss asked, summoning a small sigil behind her back, testing her strength. "Why do you want to know?"
"It's on a need to know business," Leon said with a glare. Only to get a karate chop on the head from someone from behind.
(Play Kingdom hearts 1 OST traverse Town)
"Be nice Squall," said a soft voice from the entryway of the room.
"Aerith," muttered Leon as he moved to the side to let the newcomer come inside. This allowed Weiss to see the newcomer.
Her hair was brown and her noticeably styled bangs framed her face and her kindly green eyes, and were accompanied by curls that ran down to her collarbone. A big, pink bow topped a styled braid that went down to her waist. Black string was tied around her neck in a cute bow, and a similar bow helped a loose lilac belt hang around her waist. Speaking of her body, most of it was covered by a pink dress, buttoned closed except for the bottom two, with magenta lining as well as straps going over her shoulders. Finally was the coiled wire bracelet, and the brown loafers she wore.
""I'm sorry for how Squall treated you," Aerith said with a gentle smile. "He tends to act first in these kinds of situations."
"Yeah, Squall is usually a big softy!" Teased Yuffie.
"The name is Leon," Leon said with a bit of edge before looking back at Weiss. "Now. Tell us how you know of the Keyblade."
Yuffie and Aerith could only shake their heads at their companion's blunt personality.
"And why should I?!" Weiss yelled as she looked to Aerith. "This lunatic attacked me for just uttering the word Keyblade! I'm inclined to not say anything until I'm giving some information first!"
Weiss finishes her rant by crossing her arms and lifting her nose up in the air, and letting out a little hmph for good measure.
"Way to go Leon," Yuffie sighed. Said scarred man was about to speak up but was interrupted when Aerith stopped him with a look before walking towards Weiss.
"Ok, that sounds fair enough," Aerith said with a smile. "So how can we help you?"
Weiss was a bit taken aback by the seemingly genuine kindness of the new arrival. Still she wasn't going to let her guard down yet. "... Fine, tell me everything you know about the Keyblade."
Leon scoffed. "So she doesn't know anything," he muttered. Weiss glowered at him but stopped when Aerith started talking.
"Well for starters, do you know about how there are other worlds besides your own," Aerith asked. Shocking the white themed Huntress.
(Song ends)
"Other worlds?" Weiss said in disbelief.
"Oh boy she doesn't even know that," Yuffie muttered, only to get hushed by Aerith.
"It's supposed to be secret Yuffie," Leon reminded the ninja themed girl only to have said girl to stick her tongue out of him, causing him to roll his eyes.
Ignoring the two, Aerith continues talking.
"Well they were secret because they were never connected… until now," Aerith said as the mood of the room took a more somber tone. "But everything changed when the Heartless showed up."
Hearing that name again, Weiss sat up straight as a cold sweat went down her face.
"Heartless…," she muttered as images of those dark beings flashed in her mind. The terrible beady little yellow eyes, the claws that rip through her aura, and the sheer number of them. The memory of them alone made her light-headed and sick to her stomach.
"Those without hearts," Leon said while crossing his arms and leaning against the wall. Though everyone could see how tense he was. "They are attracted to the darkness in people's hearts… and there is darkness in everyone's hearts."
Sensing how dark the mood was getting a little too sad, Yuffie immediately jumps in front of Weiss. Causing the heir of the Schnee company to nearly yelp in surprise.
"Hey. By any chance have you heard of someone named Ansem?" The ninja girl asked.
Blinking in Surprise it took a second for Weiss to process what Yuffie asked her. "Ansem?"
Sensing a chance to change the subject a little, Aerith smiles at her younger friend and explains. "He was someone researching the Heartless."
"He was?" Weiss asked. Surprised that someone would be brave enough to study such awful creatures.
"He recorded everything he knew into a very detailed report," Leon chimed in. "Sadly we can't show you it."
"And why not?" Weiss asked with a bit of edge in her voice. "You did promise to share what knowledge you had."
"Because the pages were scattered everywhere," answered Aerith. "To many worlds."
"You say worlds…" Weiss said. "Are you saying where I am right now is a different world?"
"Yep!" Yuffie chirped. "Welcome to Traverse Town! Sorry for the rude welcome from our local killjoy."
"Whatever," muttered said kill joy.
"How did I get here?" Weiss asked. "And how can I get back home? Everyone was in danger before I passed out and woke up here."
Again the mood went somber as everyone couldn't even look Weiss in the eye.
"..., What happened?" Weiss asked in a quivering tone. A part of her felt like she was not going to like the answer.
"The only kind of people who wake up in Traverse Town… are those who lost their world to the heartless," Aerith said with pity and… understanding.
Hearing this froze Weiss in place. Her mind racing as she tried to process what she just heard. Grabbing tightly on the bed sheets the white theme girl tried to fight back the tears as everything started to sink in.
"No…," she whispered. Images of her friends and even her family flashed in her mind. If what everyone was saying was true, then that meant, her friends, her family, and everyone in her world were all gone.
"The heartless not only target the hearts of people, but also the hearts of worlds," Leon said. A far off look in his eyes. Memories of things from the past coming to mind.
"Hearts… of worlds?" Weiss asked, caught between curiosity and melancholy.
"Yep, they invade worlds and take that world's heart," Yuffie added in. "This world is where those who lost their world end up."
"The only way to stop the heartless from destroying worlds is the Keyblade," Aerith said. "It's the only weapon they fear."
"The Keyblade…," Weiss muttered as the image of that weapon flashed in her mind. That thing was the only thing that those monsters feared… and Ruby had it.
Looking to the three in front of her, the Schnee heir asked. "Why is this Keyblade so important?"
"Well… for one thing, it's the only weapon that can actually destroy a Heartless," Leon said. "Sure you can break them apart with magic or weapons, but they're never truly 'gone' that way. They just return to the darkness to reform. But a Heartless destroyed by the Keyblade? They're gone for good."
"And that's why they will stop at nothing to destroy its wielder," Yuffie revealed much to Weiss's horror.
As soon as she heard that Weiss's nightmare came back like a tidal wave as the thought of her friend being hunted down nearly made her throw up in fear.
"Ruby!!!" Weiss screamed as she tried to get out of bed. Only to fall to one knee from her injuries. Aerith came to her side with a look of worry on her face "I… I have to find her! That dolt is, urgh!"
"You're not going anywhere just yet," Aerith insisted in a stern yet motherly tone helping her back up onto her bed.
"Besides, if she was here, we would've found her by now," Yuffie noted. "And it's not like you'll be leaving any time soon. So take a load off for now, kick your feet up, and when you're 100% you can go looking for her again!"
"You don't get it!" She screamed in anger while trying to get up, much to Aerith's protest. Tears of frustration building up in her eyes "Ruby… she. She has The Keyblade!"
The room went silent after that as the other three occupants of the room sported looks of shock.
Leon approached her, even pushing past Aerith's attempt to get him not to be so forceful "You're positive?"
"Yes!" Weiss answered. "It looked like a strange key, it allowed her to kill those monsters way easier, it also made them ignore me and others in our world in favor of her!"
"Where did you last see her?"
Weiss was surprised to notice a bit of worry in his tone, as well as some nervousness in his eyes as he asked that.
"She… we were together when our world… met its end," it hurt Weiss to admit her world's demise like that, but she pushed on with her answer. "We were holding on to each other even up to the point where we're being sucked up by that Dark orb in the sky, she only slipped from my grasp when something hit us, and then I passed out. I then find myself here with her nowhere to be seen."
Leon looked at her for a bit, as if trying to find more answers before sighing and standing up "... If you made it… then we can only hope she did, too. Usually those who have lost their worlds end up here, but I guess that's not always the case." He closed his eyes and thought for a moment. "... This Ruby. She's your friend, right? You'd always have each other's backs?"
Blinking in surprise at such a question Weiss slowly nodded her head. "Of course… she's my first… AND best friend."
"... Then the best we can hope for is for her to come to us. For those who are able to travel to other world's, this place's name gets around. It might take a while, but it's more likely she'd find us if we wait here than us trying to find her out in the universe. We'd probably just end up flying past each other."
"So we wait… I can't say I like the idea but I have to take your word for it," Weiss admitted with a good amount of frustration in her voice. "I just wish I could do something more than just sit around."
"Well besides getting some rest how about some training?" Team the surprise suggestion from Aerith.
"Training?" Weiss asked.
"Well from what Yuffie told me, you gave Leon a good fight," the pink wearing women said. "So obviously you know your way around a fight, so maybe you can pass the time by training."
"Yeah!" Piped in Yuffie. "You could learn a thing or two. Heck you can even ask Leon for help!"
"Why me/him?" The two scarred individuals asked in unison. The two then looked at each other with annoyed looks. Aerith and Yuffie both giggled at that.
"Ugh, he got lucky anyway. If I had Myrtenaster with me I would've wiped the floor with him, even if he does have magic," Weiss insisted with a huff.
"What's that?" Yuffie asked. Wondering what kind of weapons are guest had.
"It was a rapier that used a revolver type chamber to-," Weiss tried to describe her beloved weapon but was interrupted when Yuffie started laughing.
"Wait! So it was a sword with gun parts!?" Asked the ninja.
Confused Weiss nods. "I mean, more just the revolver chamber, but yes. I don't see why that's so funny."
This just made Yuffie laugh even more as she looked to Leon.
"Do you hear that Squall? She's got a Gunblade!" Yuffie cried in laughter. "She HAS to learn from you!"
Weiss looked to Leon. "... Gun blade?"
"Leon," he muttered as he pulled out his weapon. A masterly crafted combination of blade and gun. In all honesty this weapon would probably be considered high quality in her world. Something only a well-known Hunter would have. "This is a Gunblade. In particular this one is known as Revolver."
Weiss looked at the weapon for a few moments, then looked away. "It's… very well made…" she admittedly reluctantly. "Who made it?"
"I did," Leon admitted. "Why do you ask?"
Taking a bit of time to compose herself, Weiss let out a sigh before looking him in the eyes.
"Please teach me," Weiss asked. "All joking aside, your companion Yuffie is right. You can teach me something and I'm willing to admit that."
Leon blinked and then smirked. "Well… you're less haughty than you come across."
"Besides if you teach me I'm willing to let go of the fact that you attacked me like a ruffian," Weiss said with a smile. "And if you and that dolt can learn magic, then it's certainly something I can pick up."
"I take back my compliments," Leon muttered while Yuffie and Aerith giggled at the two's antics.
"This looks like the start of an awesome friendship between all of us,"Yuffie cheered.
"But if you want to learn magic I would suggest seeing Merlin," Aerith suggested. "He's the best magic user in Traverse Town."
"Really?" Weiss asked and received a nod from Aerith.
"But before that," Leon cutted in. "We need to visit Cid's shop to get the parts needed for me to make your weapon."
"Who's Cid?" Weiss asked with a raised brow.
—--(moments later at said shop)--
"FOR THE LAST TIME, THIS PLACE DOESN'T NEED A CROOK LIKE YOU!" Screamed an old man from the entry way of his shop. Revealing that this was Cid. Much to Weiss's shock and Leon's group's embarrassment.
"This is Cid?" Weiss muttered as she looked at the man. Cid was A big man with a square face fixed into a disgruntled stubbly face, his bright blue eyes fixed squarely on upfront. Goggles adorn his forehead seemingly help push up his short spiked blond hair.. His built chest shows quite well through his white t-shirt, which is bound down at the waist by a pair of baggy blue pants with a wide orange waistband worn really high. And long grey loose socks cover his shins and slipped into black loafers.
"Oh boy he's at it again," muttered Yuffie while covering her face with her hands. "Then they argue already this morning?"
"HEY I'LL LET YOU KNOW FOR THE 10TH TIME THAT I LEGALLY BOUGHT THIS BUILDING YOU OLD HICK!" shouted even older man from a smaller shop located near the entryway of Traverse Town. The owner was A similarly big, but old, man with a rectangular face, big ears, a nose bust as big, thick-framed square glasses and a 5'0 clock shadow. A maroon fez with a black tail with a gold band covers the top half of his head. He wears a black two piece suit and white undershirt with a maroon bolo bow tie juts out from under his big chin.
"I'M 32 YOU BAG OF BONES!" Cid yelled.
"They both sound like old men," muttered Leon.
"So uh… who's the grouch?" Weiss asked.
"Cid." Aerith answered as she winced when Cid started using more… colorful language.
"I meant the older grouch." Weiss corrected.
"That would be Stan Pines," Yuffie answered. "A recent newcomer who sells odds and ends at crazy prices. Cid calls him a crook for his business practices."
"I see…," Weiss muttered as she watches the two shop owners yell at each other.
"AND BY THE WAY, YOUR STUFF IS JUNK YOU NO GOOD CROOK!" Cid shouted.
"I'M A BUSINESSMAN, IT'S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME THING BUT ONE IS JUST SOCIALLY ACCEPTED!" Stan shouted before going to the entrance of his store. "Now excuse me but I need to get back to work running my semi legal business."
And with that Stan slams his door shut.
"... Well, I'm not shopping there," Weiss thought aloud.
"You'd be surprised what he's got in stock," Yuffie commented before letting out a yelp when she noticed that Cid was near them and glaring at her.
"I don't wantcha takin' after him, kid," he warned before looking to Weiss. "So who's the princess?"
Aerith steps forward with a smile. "This is Weiss Schnee, a new citizen of Traverse Town."
"Weiss, huh? So what's a hoity toity gal like yerself doin' at my place? Need a ship?" Cid asked, wiping his thumb across his nose.
"No," Leon answered. "I need some parts to make a new Gunblade, and you're the best source for said parts."
"New Gunblade? Is Revolver not goin' it for ya anymore? I didn't think you'd ever part with er?"
"Not for me," Leon said gesturing towards Weiss. "For her."
Cid looked back to Weiss and blinked for a moment. "... Seriously?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Weiss challenged.
Cid stared for a moment more before grabbing Weiss' arm. "H-Hey, what are-?" she was about to protest until she noticed him placing his hand on her arm in a few places, notably the bicep and tricep. He then ran his thumb over her palm and fingers.
"... Well I'll be damned. Not so hoity toity after all," he smirked and let go before turning to Leon. "Sure, I'll give you some stuff. I'm interested to see what you make for her and how she uses it. Who knows, maybe it'll even give me some ideas. C'mon in." he then motioned for them to follow him inside his shop.
"Well let's not keep him waiting," Yuffie cheered. "Not every day he's in a good mood."
As she runs in, the others follow her at a slower pace. Weiss lagging behind stopped to look at the starry night sky.
"Don't worry Ruby… you won't be facing this alone," Weiss swore as she made her way into the shop. 'I won't let you run head first into danger without your partner.'
Closing the door behind her, the Schnee heiress could only pray that Ruby was safe.
(Meanwhile, at Disney Town)
"... This does not make me feel safe." Ruby noted, looking at the… object in front of her.
"I assure you all ships from my shop can be trusted," Balthier assured her as the two stood in front of a docked Gummy Ship in the shape of a… broom!
"... Was that part included?" Ruby pointed at the entrance to the ship.
"No one's here right now! Leave a message at the hoot! HOOT!" screamed an owl face on a wooden door connected to the ship
"... I don't know if I want to hug it or punch it." Ruby thought aloud.
"I don't remember installing that," Balthier admitted as he knocked on the door, Making sure to not hit the owl face.
"Thank you," the owl said with gratitude in it's voice. Soon the door cracked open and a purple eyes poked through the darkness.
"Only those who bring tribute for the King of Demons may enter!" shouted the person behind the door.
"Hello King," Balthier said with a smirk.
The voice responded with a shocked gasp. "My nemesis! You dare come back here with your vile bunny assassin, mortal!?"
"Fran is with the queen right now," Balthier said while gesturing towards Ruby. "I'm here because of this one."
The eye of the "King" creature looked Ruby up and down before finally opening the door. "Looks a bit scrawny for a peace offering meal."
Standing in front of the two was a odd creature. He stood around the size of small dog, and actually looked like one with dark grey fur and a lighter gray tuft of fur on his chest and also the tip of his bushy tail. Both his feet and hands had to claw like digits, white like bone, and the top of his head had what appeared to be a canine skull on it. It was difficult to tell if he was wearing it, or if that was his head. He had two horns that bent backwards, although the left one was mostly broken off. His eyes were large and purple with yellow sclera, and his one piece of clothing was a red collar with a golden tag.
Ruby then squealed and picked up the small creature. "OHMYGODIT'SSOADORABLE!" she squeed in one rapid sentence.
"GAH! DECEIVED AGAIN!" King yelled while trying to escape her hug. "EDA HELP ME!"
"King?" Said a mature woman's voice from inside the ship. "What did I tell you about opening the door for strangers and those I owe money to!?"
"It's me Eda," Balthier shouted into the ship.
"My point exactly!" Shouted the voice of Eda. "What do you want!? I told you I would finish paying off what I owed you next month… or the month after!"
"Yes, well I think I may have an arrangement regarding that, that may interest you." Balthier offered. After a moment of silence a woman made her way to the entrance of the gummy ship.
She is a tall, slender middle-aged woman. She has ivory skin, pointy ears, maroon lips, and golden eyes. Her untamed hair is long and thick and is layered with two tones of gray. She has a single golden fang, orange claw-like nails, and an oval amber gem on her sternum.
"So what's this deal Balthier?" Eda asked with suspicion in her voice. "It better not be a death trap."
"I would never do that to you Eda," Balthier said while pretending to be offended. "I would never get the payments you owe me if I did that."
"Well at least you're honest," muttered the middle-aged woman. "But seriously what's this deal you have?"
Balthier smirks as he gestures towards Ruby who was still snuggling up to a struggling King.
"This person here is someone of importance," the ship salesman introduced. "Her name is Ruby I need you to take her to Traverse Town where my… associate lives."
"Uh huh… And why would I do that?" Eda deadpanned… or tried to, but her nervousness and suspicion slipped into her tone.
Taking a grateful King from a sad Ruby's arms. Balthier motion for Ruby to step forward. Doing what he asked, Ruby steps in front of Eda and holds out her hand and in a quick flash of light her keyblade appears.
Eda gasped, a childlike smile on her face. "It shines and sparkles, it must be mine!" she said, almost in a trance and reached for it.
"Sorry," Balthier says as he pulls Ruby out from Eda's reach. "But you can't have that for your nest. The girl and the Keyblade need to get to Traverse Town."
"The names Ruby by the way,"Ruby muttered annoying that people were talking to her like she was only an accessory to the Keyblade.
Eda snapped out of her trance, blinking. "Wait… that's the Keyblade? The Heartless destroying thing?"
"The very same," Balthier said with a nod. "Even saw it in action. It's the genuine article."
Ruby hold it up again. "I decided to name it Remnant's Heart... In honor of my home." She said with a bit of sadness.
On the way here Balthier filled Ruby in on everything when it came to the most likely fate of her world. To say that she was distraught was putting it lightly… it took the combined efforts of Queen Minnie, and Daisy to help calm her down. Honestly the hope that some of her friends might have ended up in Traverse Town it is what was giving Ruby the strength to keep moving forward.
Hearing the girls sadden tone. A look of pity appeared in Eda's eyes.
"I see…," the older woman muttered, scratching the back of her head. . "Well, I get that those are tough breaks, kid, but that Keyblade is gonna attract the Heartless, and no offense I'm not gonna risk getting myself killed for a debt I can pay off in four or five months."
Ruby sighed in defeat at that. She recognized it was a little much to risk one's life for.
Balthier however was still smirking. "On the contrary, Miss Clawthorne," he pulled a bill out of his pocket. "You neglected to take account of interest... and late fees."
Eda took the paper and looked it over, eyes getting more panicked. She then dramatically tossed it aside "Welcome aboard kid! Hope you're packed and ready to go, 'cause we're leaving right now!"
Hearing this, Ruby's eyes light up with joy as she gives Eda a beaming smile.
"Really!?" Ruby cried in joy. The thought of possibly finding someone she knew feeling her heart with happiness.
"Yup!... Though it might take a bit," Eda admitted. "Need to make a few stops on the way."
Rushing up to Eda Ruby gives her huge hug before darting into the gummy ship. All the while repeatedly saying thank you.
Smiling, Balthier handed Eda a backpack.
"Here is some supplies for her," Balthier said. "Everyone in town chipped in to help."
"Well isn't that sweet of them," Eda said as she took the bag, but was surprised when he handed her a bag of Munny. "...Okay, I know you're not this dumb."
"Think of it as an advance payment," Balthier said with a tone of seriousness that had Eda standing straight. "She needs to make it there safely. But also get stronger on the way. She can barely use fire without tiring herself out."
"So you want me to be a babysitter and a teacher?" Eda asked as she put away the bag of Munny.
"Who'll do better than the infamous Owl Lady," Balthier said with a shrug. "Besides, she seems the to type to learn better under your methods of training then in a controlled environment like Merlin."
"Well, I suppose that's one thing I've got over Merly." she sighed. "Well, who knows? MIght actually be fun."
Balthier nods. "Oh and let my old man and his group of friends know that Heartless are on the move."
"Sure, just hope this whole Keyblade master thing lives up the legends," Eda said as she goes into our gummy ship. Not a moment sooner does the ship start to move as it begins to float up into the air before flying into the sky past the clouds. Becoming nothing but a small Dot in the sky before disappearing from sight.
Watching the ship leave Balthier sighs.
"You and me both…"
Your journey has begun young he played wielder. Now go forth and gain strength you'll need it not only for yourself but for the other key destiny they'll need all the help he can get for this upcoming conflict.
AN: And done! Sorry for the long wait but my computer broke and writing stories like this on a crappy Android takes forever. Hope you all enjoyed the story, will try to get the next chapter out for either of this or the other Rwby stories.
Please leave a review so I know what you guys think and how I can improve.
Until next time, Bye!