As Ruby and Esdeath explore the island, They took in the scenery and how beautiful everything actually looked.
They both observed some plants, wildlife and the condition the Island was on.
They even goofed around a bit. Esdeath placed a predator plant on Ruby's head who screamed in responded, Ruby getting revenge for that by slipping a Crab into Esdeath's uniform, hunting a fat wild pig for food, And finally, Esdeath removing her uniform and exposing her entire upper body with only her bra on. Which made Ruby Blush even Redder than her cape.
But she also noticed Esdeath...having a lot of fun. Like a normal person.
By the end of the day, they both just stared at the sky, looking at the stars. While Esdeath remained topless with only her bra.
"Wow. The sky is pretty clear from here." Ruby said.
"It truly is." Esdeath agreed "And, I've figured out where we are."
"You did?" Ruby asked.
"We are at a Island, Far South-east of the Country." Esdeath explained.
"Far south-east?" Ruby asked in shock "How did you know?"
"From the wild life and and flora. I've read that they appear in the far south-east mostly." Esdeath explained "We are so far away that the time zone is also different. And the last proof that proved me right was the position of the stars."
"...So we're literally out of the country that far away." Ruby said, deep in thought "Do you think that flying Danger beasts come around here? Most preferably air Mantras? Or at least Whale types to swim us back?"
"Air Mantra's are hardly seen flying over oceans ruby." Esdeath informed "but yes. A Dragon or a fish type Danger beast SHOULD be around this island eventually."
"Good to know." Ruby sighed '...But with an Air Mantra we could just get back A LOT faster.'
"...Let's also keep the freezing the ocean water and just walking idea in mind." Ruby reminded.
"Of course. But it still means that you and I..." Esdeath looks at Ruby with a blushing face "This means you and I are the first and only inhabitants in this Island~"
"...That...doesn't imply what I think It implies does it?" Ruby asked, blushing and nervous.
"So what would you like to do Ruby? It's your Fate after all~" Esdeath asked, as she offered Ruby 3 choices...in a text box...that she somehow got out of nowhere.
1-Let's live here together
2-Let's go back to the capital so we can live there together
3-Let's embrace each other right here and now
"...FIIIIIIIIIILTH!" Ruby then bonked Esdeath on the head with a rolled up magazine...which she just pulled out of nowhere like the text box.
"Owchi." Esdeath cutely moaned "...Wait where did you get that Magazine?"
"HAMMER-SPACE!" Ruby angrily answered, while Esdeath made a 'oh' sound in understanding "And WHAT is with that 3rd option?! PERVERT! PERVERTED FILTH! FIIIIIIILTH!"
"You meanie." Esdeath grumbled like a child, before she stood up and wrapped her uniform around her waist "Anyhow. Beside your Danger beast Idea, there is also another way we might be able to us to get back."
"what would that be?" Ruby asked.
"Follow me."
As Esdeath ordered, ruby followed her until they arrived at the exact same location where they were teleported to on the island.
"Here it is." Esdeath said, pointing at the same Yin and Yang mark as Ruby saw from the strange mans Teigu on the sand "My Theory is that in order for that mans teigu to fuction correctly, he needs to place these marks down in order to teleport either himself or others. But, From the distance which he teleported us from, I'd say it takes a large amount of energy."
"So you think we can get back with the same way we came here?" Ruby asked.
"Possibly." Esdeath nodded.
"...But what if it's in the complete control of whoever that guy was?" Ruby asked "We Shot and stabbed him. I don't think He's too thrilled about that to the point of letting us return with his own Teigu. He probably sent us here to either starve to death or die with some other way. Probably by those giant Danger beasts from before."
"...You're right." Esdeath agreed and was now deep in thought "It would seem We have to escape our own way after all."
"Let's think more about this tomorrow." Ruby sighed.
"Alright. But first~" Esdeath then hugged Ruby so close, her face was buried in the generals breasts yet again "Lets use our privacy to know each other more~"
"EEEK!" Ruby blushed red again as she felt the massive balls of feminine features get drowned in her face.
"Hmm~ You smell very nice~" Esdeath said, as she sniffed Ruby's hair again.
"O-Okay, um Essy, we can get to know each other more! Just stop suffocating me!" Ruby begged as she managed to get out of Esdeaths breasts 'Seriously what is with busty girls that fall in love with me dragging my face into their boobs!?'
"Alright then~" Esdeath then sat down while gently letting Ruby sit next to her too "Let's see...Ah! How about this first: Where did you learn how to fight with a scythe?"
"My Uncle taught me." Ruby answered "His name was Qrow. He was nice, funny, somewhat inspirational at times, and really cool."
"He sounds like quite the interesting man." Esdeath said.
"He had some flaws tho." Ruby sighed "He was an alcoholic. Couldn't stay sober even for a day. Took him some time to get clean. He also was kinda reckless and dumb at times. And he also had a few screws loose whenever he did things his way."
"I see." Esdeath nodded.
"...so, My turn." Ruby said 'Now I can find out some more about her. Maybe I can somehow convince her to leave the empire that way.'
"Where are you from?" Ruby asked "Are you from outside of the empire too?"
"That's right. I come from the north." Esdeath explained "Have you ever heard of the Partas Tribe?"
"No. Is it one of the wild tribes that hunt Danger beasts in the wild that I heard about?" Ruby asked.
"It Was." Esdeath answered "And I was the Chief's daughter."
"...So...You're a Princess." Ruby joked.
"Not really." Esdeath chuckled "We spent our days hunting and eating Danger beasts in the snowy parts of the north, and selling some of their parts for profit. It was always Eat or be eaten. The strong always survived and the weak always died. But us and the danger beasts we hunter always enjoyed the life or death situations we threw ourselves into."
"...W-Well...What about your parents? The chief and, your mother." Ruby asked.
"My father was always strong and powerful. I looked up to him all the time." Esdeath smiled with nostalgia "However, my mother had died because of a Danger beast attack. She died because of blood loss. But it's how things worked back then. She was weak, so it couldn't be helped."
"...I-I'm...really sorry about your mother." Ruby said.
"So! I told you about my parents." Esdeath then leaned toward Ruby "I asked you about who taught you, and you asked me about where I came from. So it's only fair that you answer a question of mine after I answered one of yours."
"O-Oh, Sure. Go ahead." Ruby nodded.
"You asked about my parents, so now's my turn." Esdeath smiled "Tell me about Your own family."
"Well...First there's my dad. He was always caring, strong, supportive, and smart too. He always cared about me and my sister." Ruby explained.
"Oh? Your sister?" Esdeath asked.
"Yeah. Then there's my sister, Yang. She was...hot headed, funny, liked to tell stupid jokes, always loving...Until the end." Ruby explained, a sad smile on her face.
"I take it she is dead?" Esdeath asked.
"Yeah...Back in my old country, there was a war...kind of. She was alone, and...she had to fight a lot of monsters by herself. And it LITERALLY took some miner Injuries, SEVERAL Fatal wounds, a more than 5 stabs in her gut, 3 concoctions, a lot of broken ribs and blood loss. And she died an HOUR after all of that." Ruby explained "And she STILL managed to kill about 60 monsters and 4 really powerful Enemies by herself."
"...Hmm...I see." Esdeath said "I did say that the weak always die, but if it truly took so much to kill one girl, then It's worthy of respect."
"Yeah...She was always so cool...until the end." Ruby smiled, the sad memories not bothering her anymore "...Well! Then there's my mom! Her name was Summer. She was...My Super mom."
"Super...mom?" Esdeath asked, very confused by the term.
"We called her that because she was a very great mother." Ruby chuckled "I looked up to her all my life...She died protecting mine and the others future."
"...Is your father also..." Esdeath tried to ask.
"Oh no he should be alive by now." Ruby answered "I...drove him away and shut him out after..."
"...After what?" Esdeath asked.
"...There's something else you should know." Ruby said "Yang and I...We were Half sisters. Yang's mother was another woman: Raven. She was Qrow's older twin. She left Dad when Yang was born, because she was originally a bandit. My mom, summer took over her place and, well, I was born. Some years later, after Yang died...I-I...I snapped. I blamed Raven and let all of my rage out on her, so much so that I tracked her Bandit tribe down and..."
"...You destroyed it, And Killed this Raven person." Esdeath said "I assume that I am correct."
"W-Well...I cut one of her arms off, Killed and burned EVERY single one of her Tribe members and...I just left her. Left her surrounded by all that she had burning down around her in a pool of her own blood. I told her to never forget how I destroyed both her and all that she built." Ruby explained "...After that, when Uncle Qrow, dad and the some of my other friends found out what I did, They weren't...happy about it. Dad and Uncle Qrow didn't approve of what I did, they were upset. Right Now, I can understand why they would think like that. But back then...I-I wasn't in the right state of mind at the time. I thought they were taking Raven's side in all of it, so I got angry at them next, Called them names, Shifted the blame for Yang's death onto them instead, Told them that they both were nothing but a pair of bleeding hearts, A-And...I-I attacked them, Sh-Shot dad in the shoulder and...I think I beat them both to the inch of their lives until my friends stopped me."
The memory caused a small tear to drop from Her eyes, which Ruby wiped away it's trail from her cheek.
"I was just in a hard place. I don't know why but, I kept being antagonistic toward EVERYONE I knew..." Ruby Said "A-and...I ended up driving my dad away, and practically cut all ties with him. Never saw him after that fight again."
"...I see." Esdeath said, Feeling something...different for once. Something that she had never felt before when she saw Ruby so saddened "I'm not sure if it helps, But...I'm sorry such a thing had to happen to you."
"Thanks..." Ruby smiled, while Esdeath gently pulled her closer to her "S-Sorry. You asked about my family and I...I ended up telling you all of that stuff that wasn't even related to your question."
"Think nothing of it, my love." Esdeath said as she gently kissed Ruby again "And, As you've told me all about how you lost your family...I guess it'd be fair that I told you how I lost my tribe."
Ruby looked concerned, but listened closely.
"I had spent some days in the mountain, carefully hunting a huge Evil bird. After I caught it, I began to walk back to the tribe...but when I was back, The Tribe was burning down, My father and everyone else dead because of one of the Tribes from the north had attacked when I was away." Esdeath explained "After that, I just kept hunting Danger beasts in the mountains, Until I got bored and went to the empire for work."
"...But why the empire?" Ruby asked.
"Because the empire is strong. I have no intention of serving a weak faction." Esdeath said "But it's not too late Ruby. If you come with me, I'll personally protect you myself even if someone finds out about your identity."
"...I can't. The Empire is bleeding the people dry of their everything." Ruby said "Besides...I'm not sure if you and I can really be on good terms."
"What? why?" Esdeath asked, actually saddened by what Ruby said.
"...Then Explain Beckia to me." Ruby coldly asked.
"Beckia? OH! her." Esdeath nodded, remembering the only female of her five beasts "What about her?"
"Did you know she tortured and murdered not just women and children, but infants too?" Ruby asked.
"...Yes. She had done so on so many of her outings. Behind my back even." Esdeath explained "And I thoroughly punished her for it once I found out. Killing infants was far too out of line, Even for me."
"But why would you_"
"She had showed potential for using a Teigu. I suppose I wasn't much observant of her character sadly." Esdeath explained "But you also killed her yourself, Am I correct?"
"...I Beat her up black and blue so much she couldn't even talk." Ruby said.
"I see." Esdeath nodded "And Of the other 4 of my beasts?"
"I shot and threw Hazel into the ocean. He probably drowned or fish type danger beasts ate him. the other 3 were my comrades. And...One of them was Bulat." Ruby explained.
"Bulat? I see, So that must have been how Liver died." Esdeath thought.
"...Did you know Hazel was from my country too?" Ruby asked.
"...He was?!" Esdeath asked in shock.
"I take that as a no then." Ruby said.
"...It makes sense now." Esdeath was now deep in thought "This strange ability of yours, Hazels unnatural pain tolerance...They're somehow linked aren't they?"
"Kind of." Ruby nodded "...Esdeath...Please, Stop working for the empire. I...I don't want us to kill each other."
"...You seem to forget." Esdeath then stood up and looked down on Ruby with a serious glare "I'm still a General through and through. I'm not So easily persuaded."
"But you said you don't serve a side that's weak!" Ruby then got up too, and looks straight into Esdeaths eyes "What kind of Empire is strong when only 2 people are carrying it?!"
"Carrying it?" Esdeath asked.
"You, and Budo." Ruby said "The only people that are even doing ALL the heavy work are just you two! While the rest of them sit back and enjoy how they torment the people! What kind of an Empire is that that only 2 of it's generals are the real fighters?!"
"...It's not about that Ruby, It's about my own principles." Esdeath explained "Ever since My up bringing, I've never bent down to anyone weaker than me. If I'm ever to change sides, It won't be because the Empire is weak. It must be because at least someone in the revolutionary army is stronger than me."
"Stronger than you?" Ruby asked.
"It's the rule of dominance that I was raised with. If you want me to defect, you or someone from the revolutionary army needs to best me and prove they are better than me." Esdeath explained "Which has remained to be seen for a LONG time now. that is unless you wish to try."
"I-I..." Ruby mumbled.
"You want me to join the revolutionary army, No, you want me to join you? Then I suggest you to first defeat me and prove you're better than me." Esdeath said.
"B-But, Wait...In a fight?" Ruby Asked.
"...It doesn't necessarily need to be a battle. It can be anything you wish." Esdeath answered.
"...Anything that I want. As in, ANYTHING." Ruby repeated.
"If you're the one who wishes to challenge me, then yes." Esdeath nodded, before she began to walk away "I suggest you think VERY carefully about your choice."
"..." ruby remained silent, as some calculations ran in her head. Back when Esdeath Ran up the mountain with Ruby in her arms, She realized that Esdeath was really fast.
...However...She was ALMOST as fast as Ruby.
Ruby could run that distance a lot faster thanks to her Semblance.
...In terms of Speed...Esdeath was a bit slower...
"...I got it." Ruby said to herself, With Determination.
Esdeath sat alone by a tree, and ate a small fruit she had found.
'...What was that?' She asked herself mentally 'When I saw Ruby saddened like that...this strange feeling built up in my chest. So much so that I wanted to hold ruby and comfort her. Something that I'd never do on the fly like that. Is this...something that happens to you when you fall in love?'
She kept thinking about it, the scene kept running in her head and...hating how hurt Ruby seemed.
'...Then am I growing over protective of her?' She asked herself 'That's not good. I can't allow myself to get too soft.'
"Essy?" Esdeath instantly forgot about the topic when Ruby called out to her.
"What is it, Ruby?" Esdeath asked as she looked up at Ruby.
"...I finally thought of a challenge for you." Ruby said.
Esdeath took note how confident she seemed, and decided to humor her and stood up "I see. Now what would that be?"
"A Race."
"...A race?" Esdeath asked, eyebrow raised in curiosity.
"We Race each other around this island for 3 laps. You can even use your Teigu." Ruby confidently explained "If You win, then I'll go back to the capital with you once we get out of here. But If I win, Which means I Out speed you, and prove that You're slower than me, You need to leave the empire and join either the revolutionary army, or maybe even night raid. Got it?"
"...That's a very interesting proposition." Esdeath said, smirking with excitement "Very well! I accept! But I warn you, I'm FAR from being slow."
"Save the banter for after you win." Ruby daringly said as the two just look straight into each others eyes.
Ruby knew fully well that if she is proven wrong in the difference between herself and Esdeath, Then this would end up with her never seeing night raid ever again. But she was Ruby Rose after all, Being crazy and reckless was part of her very being.