Sooo here it is! The fight to shake the heavens! Now, thank you all so much for the continued support, I can't state enough how much I love you guys for giving this story so much support. As such though, I've run into a happy little problem: there were a LOT of reviews XD. I don't wont to overinflate the chapter, but I'll still be answering your reviews as best I can while getting right to the point!
Quick edit: Also really sorry for the time it took to get this chapter out, University's been kicking my ass with work, and I'm not keen on failing XD.
Jak fortune: Always happy to elicit a 'damn' from someone XD, and it's only natural to check out the reviews, be it good or bad! I get what you mean by calling it a comment section, basically the same thing :p
195: Not a bad guess, but missed the mark XD. The idea is basically similar to the Fate franchise and its magic circuits, feel free to check it out if you like genderbent King Arthur (i'm not joking, assuming you haven't seen it)! Glad you liked how I played off the buildup between Weiss and Ruby to the fight!
ALucard45: Like I said dude, don't worry about have to have experienced Dmc, I'm just happy that people are enjoying it regardless of the knowledge. It's funny actually, you're not far off with thinking the name is Spanish, it's actually Italian (eg; Scudo Angelo means Shield Angel)! You nailed pretty much exactly what I was going for with Weiss, always found the transition a bit too fast, at least give a reason for it right? Seems like a lot of people are drawing comparisons to Naruto's chakra system, but no dice XD, it's actually more in line from the Fate series. Actually started reading Patchwork and I'll admit, I like it! I got the idea of reading auras from a book series called the Demon Cycle, easily one of my favourites, seeing as the soul is (supposedly) an important part of Remnant. Naturally there's consequences to a lot of risky things, something I wanted to cement with Ruby pushing herself too hard, so I'm glad I got the message across. Also happy that you understand just why this new Ruby would go so far to challenge Weiss!
Now most important thing: you're absolutely right in the ideas that Ozpin wouldn't have unnecessarily sacrificed Summer, while she went off and did her own thing. Question is, does this more aggressive Ruby know that? ;D. And of course, gotta love Ruby and Pyrrha's clashes! Thank you yet again dude for the love and support!
AkiraShidou: Damn right Weiss is in trouble! As for summoning, well, you'll have to find out for yourself ;D So happy you like the expansion to aura!
dodusk: Dude, I'm so relieved that this Ruby still comes off as 'Ruby', even if she's noticeably more buffed here. And don't worry, the Fate and Dmc hype will pay off dude, so be sure to stick around for it!
Sithdoom: Ding-ding, Fate is the right one! And don't worry, almost ALL the main cast benefit from it in some ways. Super glad that I got Port across as a genuinely badass professor, your thoughts are exactly what I was going for. Oh, and nice catch with Ruby's Beowulf-type style! Hope this fic continues to impress!
Null805: Gonna say it now, unfortunately no, Ruby won't necessarily have Nero's style (you'll better see who she takes after in this chapter), but someone WILL get more Nero influences later. Devil Trigger... is a bit trickier to say anything just yet ;D. Stoked that you're loving the fic so far!
KHARAKI TAKAN (both reviews): Happy you liked both chapters! For six, her physical damage was more a result of her overclocking her aura/body, while silver eyes only really tire her out. Don't worry, there's intentional similarities in Yang/Ruby's style, but you'll see more differences here! As for the magic coil (assuming you're talking about the thing she can feel but can't access)... well, its not magic per-se... can't say anything about it just yet ;D. Happy that this Weiss comes off as human, and in regards to Summer, you're correct in thinking that Summer went off on her own. However, does this more aggressive Ruby know that? Glad you're liking to story!
Lightstorm89: I promise that the hype will pay off here! As for the Angelos... shhh... ;D
merendinoemiliano: Super happy you're liking the fic dude! Don't worry, won't have Weiss ranting endlessly here XD
Kivuntappaja: Aura circuits and Penny... huh XD. Ruby hiding her pain is in part embarrassment, that's true, but there is something more to it. Oh, don't look too much into Ruby and Pyrrha checking their wounds, it's not that they actually insulted each other, it was simply jokes that ended up reminding them about what they went through. Weiss, a perfectionist, recording her dressup time? But of COURSE XD. Also something I didn't state, but Ruby was actually listening to Port's class and his tale, something that was a bit more subtle. As for the upcoming clash, Ruby by this point will have fully recovered (because aura), but you're right in that Weiss has a chance. I would argue that the fight taking place now is the best time due to the changes I've made to Ruby, but I do get where you're coming from in that this could've used a slow build up. The other student opinions will be revealed slowly after this chapter. Hope you enjoy dude!
Heavyarms150: Fate's magic circuits are correct!
Guest 1: Thank you, that's exactly how I feel about canon Ruby's semblance description. SO much potential like with the mass manipulation you mentioned yet hindered by execution. Also to clarify, there is a reason for attack-names being called out by Yang and Ruby, but Yang's 'Trickster, Striker, Gunslinger' callouts are her changing her fighting-style altogether.
Guest 2: Oh shit, made a grammar oopsie XD. Thanks for pointing that out, I'd never caught that until now! Well, you're right in that the initial consequence for the eyes is being a target, but the later reprocussions aren't so much physical: it's MUCH worse (evil laugh). Not to spoil too much, but correct, Angelos were once human AND they're already technically inside the Nevermore rather than being teleported.
Guest 3 (Shin): Oh you'd be surprised, Weiss certainly isn't a pushover (in my eyes) and it's not like she doesn't stand a chance, so the fight won't be so onesided. Glad you picked up on the Malachites, they're actually also part of what initially inspired Ruby's change in combat. Bayonetta isn't too far off either, seeing as I take a lot of inspiration from the Dmc universe made by the same guy.
C3I3st14: Fate is the correct answer my dude! Also, you're right that Ruby (and others) grow throughout the fic through training being part of it.
Now with all that said, let's get into it BAYBEEEE!
Fighting Rose
Chapter 8
Bonds formed in blood
With no Combat-Classes on Monday, the rest of the day and the night leading into it was tense for Team RWBY, to say the least. Weiss and Ruby were silent, the former trying to hide her tremble with an outwardly haughty poise while the latter was simply oozing a wild twister of rage, her face almost permanently twisted into a scowl for the rest of the day. Even the following night was almost was quiet, Ruby herself having rigged a makeshift curtain for her bed to give her privacy. An ominous red glow was the only real indication of Ruby being there, the silhouette of her sitting cross-legged just barely visible. Weiss couldn't help but stare at it, grinding her teeth both in a mixture of frustration and muffled worry. Yang, having also been uncharacteristically quiet for the day, rolled her eyes and sighed, getting up and grabbing Weiss by the wrist.
"H-hey, unhand me you-!"
"Just shut it and come with me," Yang scoffed, easily dragging Weiss out of their room and into the empty hallway. Once they were out, Yang just stood in front of Weiss, arms crossed (under a frankly impressive bust) eyebrows knit together.
"Well then? Out with it, seeing as you want to manhandle me!" Weiss snapped, regaining her composure now that she wasn't in the same room as Ruby and her suffocating pressure. "If this has something to do with me calling out that brat you call a sister and her lack of leadership-!"
"You're a dumbass, plain and simple," Yang declared boldly.
"W-wha-? How dare-!?"
"Ruby is only fifteen years old," Yang cut her off, "Do you really think that she wanted to be leader in the first place?"
"…What are you getting at?" Weiss said slowly.
"What I'm getting at is she probably thinks that you do deserve to be leader," Yang sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "But Ruby's always been like this. Throw something at her and she'll take it into stride. I'm guessing she may have been reluctant to be Team Leader to say the least, but now she doesn't have a choice in the matter."
"What do you…?"
"Really? You didn't read the fine-print in the contract about the 'Underage Team-Leader Clause?' Y'know what, never mind. Point is, if Ruby can't handle the responsibility of being a Leader, she gets booted out of Beacon, something she's worked her ass off to just dream of." Weiss' eyes widened as the pieces fit together. "Ding-ding-ding! Your outburst would've been one thing if you decided to be a grownup and talk to Ruby about it, but nooo, you had to lash out and challenge her authority publicly. It's just like she said: you just became a threat to her place here at Beacon. If Ozpin doesn't think that she's worth the investment of keeping, boom, the dream's dead and out the door she goes."
Weiss mused over the thought: Beacon was considered the best Hunter Academy in all of Remnant for a reason. To deny someone their place there on purpose… still, her pride won out in the end as she glared at Yang. Afterall, the venom of Pride could not be erased after a simple talk. "So is that was this is about? Are you here to defend your sister's honour and dream?"
"Pfft, nah," Yang laughed, relaxing somewhat, "Just here to give you a heads-up. Ruby's going to make you endure literal hell tomorrow. You're going to lose."
"Excuse you? I'll have you know that I've gotten perfect scores in several simulations and even took down a Multi-Possession Arma Gigas."
"…Really?" Yang laughed, a vein popping up on Weiss' forehead, "Simulations? A Geist is one thing, but you really think that simulations are going to help you against her? You must've seen how she fights against more people-sized Grimm, right?" The memory of Ruby literally ripping limbs off and punching holes through Grimm with only her body flashed in Weiss' mind, a shudder running through her before she could supress it. "Exactly. You've been pampered with shock-absorbent protective gear and no-touch simulations, while Ruby…" Yang's face softened while her fingers gripped her arm a bit tighter. "For over a year now, Ruby's been pushing herself and doing some really dumb stuff to try and get stronger. Compared to that, well…" Yang huffed out of her nose before walking back inside, sparing Weiss one more look. "I'm not trying to threaten you. Consider it a heads-up and a good-luck. You'll need it."
Weiss stared at Yang's back as she made her way back to her bed before her eyes flicked to a tiny gap in the curtains of Ruby's bed, a single eye snapping open and staring right at Weiss, the latter unable to tear her eyes away before the gap in the curtain slowly closed.
'…Perhaps luck is something I may need,' a traitorous thought whispered.
…Tuesday…
Days with Combat Classes (and also Grimm Hunting Expeditions) were different to regular deskwork: rather than several different lessons, Combat Class worked as an extremely long and drawn-out singular class, giving almost everyone time to put rounds and experience in. This being the freshmen's' first class, there was one unspoken, unbroken rule through the many years Beacon had been running. First day? Everyone fights.
That fact had been running laps in Weiss' mind all through the night and in the morning. When she snapped away, Ruby was already entirely geared up in her combat outfit. She was not crying, her eyes closed as she sat in the centre of their room meditating. She didn't even bother to look at Weiss again as she appeared to feel her presence, saying "Get ready," And walking out of the room.
"Welcome to formal Combat Training. For the next four years, I Headmistress Goodwitch will be the head of this class," The uptight teacher said as soon as everyone had sat down. "Now, I'm sure you are all aware of the basic rules taught to you in Junior Hunter Schools, and the same are applied here. That being said," She pushed a glassed up a bit higher, a small smile on her face. "You should all be aware of our day-one tradition. One ten-minute round for two combatants. Those who don't volunteer will be picked via random selection. Now that being said… any volunteers?"
There was a burst of air and a flash of petal as a red cyclone blasted from the stands and onto the floor in the blink of an eye, Ruby sliding across the floor before she whipped her legs and hopped right onto her feet, idly adjusting her bracers, a noticeably new addition of black leather gloves with silver studs shaped perfectly to her knuckles.
"Well, Port wasn't joking about your eagerness, it seems," Glynda said evenly, "Well then, anyone willing to step up against Miss Rose?"
The entire hall was silent, almost all eyes drifting to look at one girl. Weiss steadied herself as her pride flared again, refusing to bow even with all eyes on her. So what of there were more than enough rumours spread about Ruby one-shotting a Boarbatusk with extreme efficiency? She had no reason to prove herself to Ruby, much less the people here. Another opponent would serve as – Weiss' gaze flickered to Ruby as the younger girl caught her attention with a wave, an unnerving smile stretching across her face before she began to mouth words to her. Weiss, having observed her father for years to determine whether he was unhappy or not, was actually quite good at mouth-reading. As such, she translated Ruby's movements.
'Don't.'
'Pussy.'
'Out.'
'Little.'
'Biiiiiiitch!'
Weiss' forehead popped with several veins as she shot to her feet. 'THAT LITTLE BITCH!' She stormed her way down to the arena, her hand already whipping her weapon out furiously.
"…Can I assume that the two of you will keep things fair and clean?" Glynda asked seriously from the podium. Weiss curtly nodded while Ruby smiled and gave her a thumbs up. "Very well then…" Holographic screens flickered to life towards the ceiling of the room, displaying Ruby and Weiss' aura-gauges before a timer was set. "The first match of the year is Ruby Rose versus Weiss Schnee. Fight hard and fight well. Let the battle…!"
Weiss got into her stance, grinding her teeth at the cheeky look that Ruby shot her one last time… before her expression turned fierce. Serious. The change shocked Weiss, despite thinking she was ready for it, much like the tight stance that Ruby brought up, feet apart as she bounced on her toes with ease, slightly side on with her arms up in a traditional kickboxing guard.
"BEGIN!"
The call shook Weiss out of her shock, her anger returning as she noticed that Ruby didn't even try to move forward. 'You want me to come to you? Fine, but don't go crying about it when I hand your behind to you on a silver platter!' With the form of a dancer, Weiss seemed to glide forth, closing the distance with ease before Myrtenaster turned into flashes and streaks of white, the blade whipping and piercing the air as Weiss swung with every ounce of her speed and training embedded into her muscle-memory. Three sharp stabs aimed for the stomach, chest and neck lashing out before she twirled around, drawing momentum from rotation with beautiful one-handed slashes. Overhead, left and right, all of them executed with perfect form. None of them landed.
Ruby had weaved and slipped past her first three stabs, idly leaning and ducking out of the way with little effort, her eyes even tracking the movement of her attacks with ease. The slight pause made Ruby raise a brow at the shocked Weiss before she suddenly moved. Danger screamed at Weiss as she leapt into the air over the smaller girl, spinning as if in an upside-down pirouette to slash at the top of Ruby's head only for the latter to just lightly dip her head, avoiding the attack altogether. As Weiss landed, again all the hairs on the back of her neck stood up as she felt something press right against her forehead, making her dash backwards and retreat from…
Ruby didn't even look behind her, the thing that had been pressing against Weiss' forehead being the former's gloved finger, her hand formed in the imitation of a pistol. Ruby turned around and snorted, a smirk on her face as she waggled her finger-pistol in the air. Mocking Weiss.
'She… she didn't throw out an attack the first time, did she!? This little girl DARES!' Her mind roared. A Propulsion-Glyph formed under her feet as she closed the distance yet again with even greater speed, an overhead slashed angled for Ruby's neck. Ruby dodged yet again, along with the multitude of other attacks that Weiss threw at her. 'Fine, try THIS!' A glyph formed under Weiss as she suddenly shot straight up while performing an upward slash for Ruby's chin, the girl dodging yet again, only for Weiss to spin and land on a glyph mid-air, propelling herself at Ruby like a missile, her blade a streak of light aimed at Ruby's chest.
*CLANG*
Weiss felt pain shoot up her wrist as something impacted against Myrtenaster hard, threatening to rip the blade clean from her hands as she stumbled to re-balance herself, quickly turning to try and re-establish the assault, only to see a blur of genuine motion screaming towards her face. She threw up a hasty half-swording guard, her palm bracing against one of the flats of the blade just in time as a monstrous impact smashed right into her guard with a *BANG*, Weiss crying out in pain as she was launched across the stage almost clean off the stage.
She rolled to her feet, panting and quickly getting back in a shaky stance, only to find Ruby just standing there with her leg outstretched for a moment, gently putting her foot down and getting back into her stance.
'She must barely weigh as much as I do, yet she hits almost like the Arma Gigas did…!' Weiss thought before shaking her head and steeling herself yet again. 'No. No, the quality of her impact is… different. It's less about her throwing weight around and something else.'
"Right, so, are you just gonna stand there with that stupid look on your face?" Ruby asked, a scowl on her face, "You think that you've got this figured out? Oh please, you're as vapid and dumb as the rumours say when it comes the Atlas elite! Come on Schnee, give me something more to work with! Don't stand there picking your damn nose and fight like you mean it!"
"Shut up!" Weiss shouted, abandoning her fear as charging to outright blitz Ruby. Rapid-fire stabs, spin-fuelled slashes, bouncing from Glyph to Glyph mid-air, all of it was used against Ruby, and almost nothing was landing. Weiss saw why, and the truth scared her. Ruby didn't just see or knew where the attacks were coming. She spun on the spot, rapidly twisting and whirling around to keep facing Weiss no matter how fast she moved, perfectly parrying and deflecting almost each and every one of Weiss' attacks with her knees and elbows, each defensive manoeuvre making Weiss' arms ache. 'Th-that's impossible! How could someone as small and as young as her know exactly how to defend against my attacks moving at this speed!?'
"This is a bit better!" Ruby called out, suddenly backflipping away from a slash to her head, gaining some distance before her face twisted up even more fiercely, the air of danger thick. "Now you're worth breaking down, Schnee!" Once more, Ruby moved and Weiss was the one being pushed back, the latter's mind panicking at the sudden merciless onslaught of attacks. Ruby spun and threw a terrifying chopping roundhouse that threatened to knock Weiss' weapon from her hand, then a sidekick, a hook-kick, and another roundhouse, hook-kick, roundhouse, sidekick, sidekick, sidekick, hook-kick.
*CLANGCLANGCLANGCLANG*
Her right leg alone was a blur was Weiss grit her teeth and struggled to defend against the relentless assault, her rage building as she started to lash out blindly. Each of her swings were now propelled by Glyphs, the weight and speed behind them just enough to keep up with Ruby's own kicks. Her armoured boot smashed over and over against the rapier and Weiss' arm, yet it seemed as if they were both locked in a stalemate. For two whole minutes they set a blistering pace, the spectators' eyes glued to the fight, in shock at the raw combat capability of both girls, especially Ruby.
"She's…" Blake muttered, "Ruby's really good."
"Mm," Yang agreed, "I warned Weiss that this was gonna happen, but it looks like she just wants to throw her weight around."
"They seem pretty evenly matched though," Blake pointed out. "Don't get me wrong, Ruby had her in the beginning, but now she can't seem to get past Weiss' reach even with her speed."
"Oh she could if she wanted to. Just give it a couple of seconds."
Indeed not a moment later did the stalemate begin to break, Blake catching on to what Ruby was doing quickly. Aura was a powerful shield, but as Ruby proved before, it was not invincible. A roundhouse ripped through the air and smashed into Weiss' shoulder, the heiress wincing as she stumbled back very slightly.
'It'll take more than a good kick to – GAAH!' She bit back a cry of pain as she moved to try and block another hook-kick, only for her arm to refuse to respond in time while Ruby's heel smashed into her forearm. Glancing down at it, she realized why her arm felt like lead: the kicks that she threw out had completely shredded Weiss' sleeve all the way up to her elbow, exposing an arm that was covered in bruises. 'She's been steadily robbing the use of my sword-arm! But how!? My aura should've blocked damage like this!' Weiss went for another thrust at Ruby's chest only for the girl to violently bash it out of the way with a vicious upward kick, Weiss' arm yanked to into the air as she barely managed to keep hold of her weapon.
"Let's get to work!" Ruby shouted as she rushed in with a furious attack. A left hook-kick smashed into Weiss' jaw, her vision flashing white before a follow-up right-roundhouse blasted across her ribs. Weiss' body locked up as it felt like her organs had suddenly shifted to the other side of her body, yet she didn't even have time to double over as a snapping front-kick shot into her chin, straightening her body up in time as Ruby launched her body into a back-flip kick, her toes piercing right into Weiss' solar-plexus with an audible *CRUNCH*. The barrage of pain was almost too much for Weiss to handle, though her mind was racing through it all.
'Sh-she can't attack from that angle…!' She thought, seeing Ruby suspended upside down and with no way to right herself in the air. Weiss hoarsely roared as she summoned another propulsion-glyph behind her, ready to throw herself right at Ruby and run her through with Myrtenaster. Yet again, the younger girl shocked everyone. There was a burst of rose-petals and her body spun and pivoted sharply to face Weiss, grunting as she shot her left knee right into Weiss' wrist with another loud *CRK*, deflecting the thrust. Weiss wasn't given enough time to cry out again as Ruby spun once more, her right foot now chopping down on Weiss' head to send her crashing to the floor.
"H-how on…!?" Blake sputtered, unable to comprehend how Ruby had just pulled off an attack from a completely vulnerable position, without having anything to brace off of. "Those petals… I thought Ruby's semblance was speed! How is she even able to move like that with nothing to push off of!?"
"Ruby's Semblance is… weird," Yang chuckled, "Speed is a benefit of her semblance, but a speed semblance still needs friction to operate. Ruby though? It's more than just speed…" Ruby landed on her feet smoothly, idly flicking her thumb across her nose as she got back into her stance, "It's more like propulsion and acceleration. It's why she was able to fight just fine in the air, no matter the position she's in. All she needs to do is Concentrate on exactly how to use it, and she's good to go."
Weiss slowly stumbled to her feet, her face hidden by her hair as Ruby just idly bounced on the spot, a few drops of sweat working their way down her face and neck. 'Here it comes…' She thought. Pure, unadulterated bloodlust exploded from Wiess, her aura crackling around her like a frosty mist as her face twisted in utter rage.
"Schnee's don't lose to the likes of you." Glyph after Glyph burst to life across the arena floor and in the air, a countless number of them surrounding Ruby, the girl herself actually surprised. Weiss practically turned in a streak of white and blue, bouncing off of almost every Glyph in the area within a matter of seconds, stabbing and slashing from all sides. Ruby stood in the middle of it all, her face sometimes curling up in muted pain as a few successful attacks got through to bite at her ribs, shoulders and cheek. Even still, she remained entirely calm, managing to avoid the majority of the damage with her well-timed blocks and parries, the rapid-fire sound of metal crashing against metal echoing through the arena, a few cheers starting to work its way through the crowd.
There was a wordless roar as Weiss went even faster, her form little more than a continuous beam of light as she threw herself into Ruby over and over again, starting to overwhelm her through her parries thanks to her raw momentum, a glyph-propelled slash crashing into her forearms and wrenching her guard apart with sheer force before Weiss ricocheted off another Glyph to ram her blade right through the opening. Ruby just grinned wider.
"Trick!"
Ruby's body suddenly seemed to distort right as the blade made contact with her stomach, petals thrown into the air as she seemed to phase to the side, avoiding the attack cleanly. Weiss refused to let up, occasionally stopping her blitz to lash out head on, yet it was still not enough as the smaller girl seemed to use every defensive option available, blocking, parrying and using that strange 'Trick' of hers to phase right past Weiss' assault. Suddenly, right as Weiss made another pass at Ruby with a stab blocked once again, all the Glyphs disappeared before reappearing behind Weiss, drawn back like a slingshot primed to fire.
The chamber in Myrtenaster spun before the length of the blade lit up in crimson, Weiss launching forward so fast she seemed to disappear, Ruby's right leg turning into a blur at the same time, shooting out in a straight line.
"Crescent Rose STRIKE!"
The air flashed with an explosion of red, and shockingly it was Ruby who was sent stumbling back, Weiss relatively unscathed.
"Dismal!" Yang laughed, Ruby visibly kissing her teeth while Blake gave Yang an odd look. Heedless, Weiss pointed right at Ruby's feet, the girl's eyes going wide as a Glyph tinged with green appeared right underneath her, far faster than normal before she was launched into the air with a geyser of wind. Her back slammed into another Glyph mid-air hard with a sharp *THUD* that made everyone wince, before that Glyph chucked her right back down to the floor head-first. In another burst of petals, Ruby yet again adjusted her body, twisting and landing on the floor hard with her feet, just in time for two more Binding Glyphs to latch around her ankles.
"You think I'm stupid?" Weiss spat, "You've had multiple opportunities to use your fists, so why not? Obviously, you can't! This foolish charade ends HERE!" The chamber of her weapon began to spin violently, the dust mixing together and making the grooves of the blade turn white, pulsing with power.
"The Rose blooms…" Her voice was feather-light, yet it was as if everyone could hear them as if she was right next to everyone. "…the petals Scatter." It was barely visible from where they were sitting, but Blake could just about make out what looked like… vines? No, rose-stems and thorns lighting up right under her skin. Her aura rose from her body almost like a pure crimson flame, the red highlights of her raised hair glowing brightly. Finally, she put her hands up in a tight peekaboo guard and began to weave in place with a shout of "Welter!"
'Those are her circuits!' Blake realized, 'If they're that visible, is she going all out? Not to mention, the way she looks and that style… doesn't she look kind of like…?'
"I know what you're thinking," Yang chuckled as she spared Blake a glance, "And lemme just say, we've both picked up some stuff from each other."
"PERISH!" Weiss roared, propelling herself forward one more time, Myrtenaster trailing white motes of light as it rocketed right for Ruby's face.
"Crescent BULLET!"
The resulting *BOOM* was deafening as Myrtenaster unleashed its overcharged dust in a single go, the air turning dry. And yet, it did not hit Ruby. Weiss' body was bent backwards in a near-perfect C-shape, blood flying from her nose and lips even as her feet still stayed firm to the floor, people cringing at the sight. Ruby's fist was outstretched in a perfect left-straight counter, Weiss' attack having barely brushed over her left shoulder and ear.
"Now I'm a little Concentrated!" Ruby shouted.
"Crazy!" Yang yelled, and with that, Ruby unleased a vicious combination on the vulnerable Weiss. A sharp weave to the right followed by a right hook to the gut, Weiss practically folding under the strike. She weaved left, shooting a cracking left hook across Weiss' jaw. A right uppercut smashed into her solar-plexus, Weiss wheezing as she threw a lazy slash for Ruby's head, easily ducked under once more.
"Hey Yang, isn't that your…?" Blake started, unable to remember the name of the technique.
"Rolling Dragon?" Yang supplied. "Sort of. Where I can throw my weight into my punches, Ruby uses Welter as a stance and her Bantam Revenge to weave and pop off sharp punches from a load of different angles. Speaking of which, Badass!"
Once more, Ruby weaved under a weak thrust and let loose one final combo. A left cross blasted across Weiss' mouth, a right straight turning her chin sharply, her left-uppercut snapping her head straight up, and a right hook smashing once more into her stomach. The doubled-over Weiss was a perfect target for Ruby's right knee-strike to the mouth, snapping her head up once more before Ruby leapt into the air, her body spinning once before her leg chopped through the air, armoured shin crashing straight down onto Weiss' chest with a final *BANG*.
"Apocalyptic!" Yang cried right as the students went into an uproar. Sure, there would still be doubts among the first years regarding Ruby's age and whether she got on based on Ozpin's favour or not. But here, she'd more than proven that she couldn't just hold her own. She was strong.
"I CALL BULL, THAT WAS AT LEAST A SAVAGE AND YOU KNOW IT!" Ruby shouted as Yang laughed. She rolled her eyes and used her shaking hand to wipe the sweat from her face, her body rife with that familiar ache and fatigue. 'Not bad. A Schnee was able to push me pretty well, but…' She eyed the clock, three minutes and forty seconds left. Weiss' Aura was barely a sliver away from the elimination threshold of 10% while Ruby herself sat at a surprising 72%, 'Good, just enough time. Still though, thought I was at least at 75%. Dang… well, that's what I get for letting go of my control, Weiss hits pretty sharp for her weight. Ghkk...' She managed not to give away her flinch while stinging pains lanced up her legs, back and shoulders, both from her muscles and from the impacts of Weiss' successful attacks. 'Yup, that a couple of muscles pulled and I'm definitely gonna bruise. Shoulder hurts too from that Overloaded dust grazing me.' The crowd fell silent as she silently walked over to the downed Weiss, on her knees and struggling to get up, tears dripping from her eyes.
"H-how…?" She wheezed, "Everything I was taught, e-every form taught to me to fight as a Schnee…!" She was so close to bursting into tears, unable to look Ruby in the eye as she knelt in front of her.
"Of course you lost," Ruby said bluntly, Weiss flinching until she heard the next words. "You fought like a Schnee."
That made her pause, looking up to see Ruby's soft grin. There was no rage, no scorn, no arrogance. Ruby sighed, scratching the back of her head as her cheeks turned a bit red, embarrassed as she tried to figure out what to say next. "… okay, so, I um… really didn't appreciate you lashing out at me, and I'll admit doing this," She gestured to herself and Weiss, "Was even more extreme, but I wanna make something clear. Being a Schnee, acting like a Schnee, fighting like a Schnee, ain't gonna get you anywhere. You may be more qualified than me, and I don't deny that you should've been picked over me, but I'm here to stay as Leader. So please, let's work together." Ruby gave Weiss an open hand, the heiress… Weiss taking it after a moment. Ruby closed her eyes and breathed out gently, rose-red aura rising from her hand before gently moving into Weiss'. She gasped as she felt her vision sharpen just a bit more, the pain dulling less and less while a soft and soothing feeling enveloped her.
'She's giving me her aura!' Weiss realized, glancing at the gauges in confirmation to see Ruby's aura draining rapidly while her own filled more slowly, both of them evening out at 45% each.
"Can you stand?" Ruby asked, Weiss staring at her before nodding, getting to her feet with a grunt.
"Why…?"
"Simple, I showed that I can beat Weiss Schnee, didn't I?" Ruby said honestly before she hopped away from Weiss. "Now I wanna see what you can do, Weiss!"
It was an odd feeling, to say the least, like a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. Again, she stared at Ruby for a moment before she hung her head, silence in the hall before a small sound echoed.
"Snrk." Weiss' shoulders shook slightly, Ruby practically beaming as Weiss threw her head back and laughed. It was not arrogant or laced with anger, but a genuine laugh filled with mirth, relaxation, freedom.
"You're… so odd, Ruby Rose!" Weiss laughed before she got into her stance, except this time it was looser, more relaxed. "Fine then… Leader. Let me show you what I can do!"
"BRING IT WEISS!"
The students cheered as they rushed at each other once more, both combatants now openly wearing massive smiles, competitive yet utterly joyous.
'You're an odd one Ruby Rose, that hasn't changed,' Weiss though right before they clashed. 'One thing's for certain. You've won my respect, Team Leader.' For the next three minutes, the two warriors just had fun. Ruby freely mixed up her legs and hands, bursts of her Semblance, outright throwing a whirling front-flip axe-kick at one point with a cry of "Lunar Phase!", yet she openly took hits she otherwise could've avoided. Weiss practically danced her way through, getting creative and throwing in playful little feints, tiny glyphs to make up for her exhaustion. She was not judged, she was not scorned, she was not jeered. There was something liberating about slowly letting go of everything that had been drilled into her head since she first picked up a sword and just letting loose, having fun. In this moment, Weiss had never felt more free.
'Thank you Ruby.'
"YAAAH!" Both of them shouted as the clock wound down Weiss flashing forward with a rising slash that scored right by Ruby's stomach while the latter's elbow clipped by Weiss' cheek, skidding to a stop barely a foot away from each other as the buzzer sounded.
"The match goes to Ruby Rose!"
The crowd exploded, Weiss stumbling as her fatigue and injuries finally caught up with her. Yet she didn't fall, Ruby catching her with a massive grin. Weiss didn't feel slighted or mocked, she was simply happy, laughing bashfully as Ruby grabbed her hand and raised both of their arms in response to the cheers. Weiss knew she lost, yet that didn't weigh on her. In this moment, Weiss was free, and for it to be granted from the odd, brash, childish loudmouth who genuinely cared for her beyond her family name?
That meant the world to her.
…
"Talk about a happy ending!" Yang laughed to Blake, the latter barely hearing her over the sounds of both the crowd and her own thoughts, awed both at Ruby's performance and how she seemed to bring out Weiss, the heiress looking so happy, so human.
'Perhaps…' Blake wondered, a thoughtful look on her face.
Pyrrha looked on in awe as she clapped, something burning in her blood and a grin stretching across her face. 'Her. She's the one.'
(TWBY Continued...)
Sooo... what did y'all think? Cool? Badass? Apocalyptic? Maybe even Savage? Lemme know how y'all felt about the conclusion of Weiss vs. Ruby, and peace out!
