RWBY: When The Clock Strikes Twelve

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Part 3: 11:35 p.m.

Cardin summoned both of his wings in their majestic form and flew towards Cinder at top speed. He created massive gusts of wind that knocked over every table and chair in the room. Ruby also was able to match his speed, turning herself into rose petals and flying alongside him.

Cinder stayed where she was, waiting for them with her hands out. Her golden eye was emitting a golden flame that radiated so much heat.

Cinder: Come on…

As the two huntsmen-in-training got closer, they held up their weapons and went in for the attack. Both went for a diagonal swing while letting out a mighty battle cry. Then a split second…the attacks landed.

A powerful shockwave and a gust of smoke and dust flew everywhere around the room. Both Ruby and Cardin felt their weapons connect, but they were not sure if they were able to harm their enemy due to the smoke covering everything around them.

The moment the smoke cleared their answer was given to them. They did manage to hit their target, but it amounted to nothing…

Standing before, Cinder had caught both of their weapons in her hands. The Masked Infiltrator was wearing a black suit of knight armor that also released an orange glow and smoke like the steam end of a train.

Cardin: W-when did she—

Ruby: W-woah! (In her head) That is SO cool!

Cinder: Was that the best the two of you can do~?

With great force, Cinder pushed the two away. After being sent flying, Cardin and Ruby managed to catch themselves by planting their feet onto the floor and quickly raised their attention back to their armored enemy who was now walking towards them. As she approached, her heavy black boots stomped on the ground creating loud noises and leaving burning imprints on her feet.

Cinder: Do you two know of the story of the "Two Lambs"?

Cardin: Like we give a sh—

Ruby: No?

Cardin: Ruby, why the hell did you answer here!?

Ruby: Well I don't! I was just being honest!

Cinder: *giggle* Once upon a time, two little lambs followed an old shepherd. During fall the storms were strong and the lands had changed. To protect the other animals the shepherd had to leave the two lambs behind in their pens, but he warned them "Never leave until the storm passes or the wolves will take you!". As the shepherd left the two lambs…jumped over the wooden gate and ventured out into the stormy fields. They couldn't help themselves…they were mesmerized by the beauty of the autumn leaves and wanted to know what lay before them. But as they got deeper and deeper into the lands they realized that they were completely surrounded by dying trees. The way back to the shepherd's home was lost and the two lambs could not find their way back. And then approaching them from the shadows was a black wolf with golden eyes.

"I am the King of the Fall, Autumn. To the fools who enter my domain, your flesh is mine…"

And so, the wolf ripped the lambs apart, splattered their blood into the trees, and ate every inch of their flesh. What was left was only the bones of those two and the shepherd mourned for them.

Ruby: That's…a horrible story! Who would read something like that to kids!?

Cinder: Why Little Red, most fairy tales are dark. Their purpose is to teach kids like you not to stray from the path of being obedient~…

Cardin: So let me guess…the two lambs are us and you're the wolf?

Cinder: Hmm…no that's not great right…if we're being technical, I'm a lamb too.

Cardin & Ruby:…Huh?

Cinder: Yes, in this case, I would be the third lamb. The lamb went further but knew of the wolf's location. But due to learning of the wolf's patterns, I tricked it and let it into a chasm word. It fell to its demise.

Ruby: Was that a verse in the original story?

Cinder: No…just one I added for myself. We are all lambs in this world. In the end, we have two fates: We can either escape further and kill the predators that hunt us or be prey.

Cardin: What the hell are you talking about? You completely lost me!

Cinder: Really? *giggle* Well, in the end, I guess I can't expect mindless little toy soldiers like you to know the truth…that the very world you fight for is a lie…

Cardin: What was that!?

Cardin snarled as he stomped closer while clenching the Executioner in his hand. Ruby had to put one of her arms out to stop the big guy from going out there without thinking.

Cinder: It's alright, you don't have to understand. After all…the whole point of me telling that story anyway was to distract the both of you~…

Cinder snapped her fingers and instantly multiple black spears popped out below Ruby and Cardin's feet. The Winged Warrior was able to escape in the air while the Silver-Eyed Rose avoided getting hurt by pushing herself forward. However, just as Ruby avoided being a human shish kebab, the Black Knight had already got up to her fist in position for an attack.

Ruby: Oh crap—

BOOM!

The punch to the gut was devastating. The black armor easily broke through the skin and the heat coming off of it burned the flesh. Ruby nearly regurgitated her last meal before being launched at the end of the room and crashing into the wall.

Cardin wasted no time to dive and attack Cinder from the air, but the knighted female was able to backflip out of the way and summon a black sword.

Their weapons clashed against each other, sparks and feathers flying everywhere. Despite Cardin his best, Cinder was the one having the advantage in the fight. She was much faster and nimble; not to mention that her armor did well to nullify a lot of the damage.

Cardin: What is with this stupid glass!?

Cinder: My black glass is beautiful…a form that can break a thousand times but will also reform. Until one day…it becomes even stronger bedrock, unable to be destroyed by anyone…

Fall then delivered a strong kick to Cardin's face and followed with a downward swing with her sword from the side. Cardin was quick to block the attack with one of his wings, but then Cinder used the opportunity to pierce Cardin's knee with a small dagger she generated from the boot of her armor.

Cardin: Argh!

As Cardin winced in pain, Cinder was able to get past his wings. She created a small black blade and sliced across his face, just barely missing his left eye. Cardin snarled as he tried to slam her head with his mace, but then an expected action from the female knight commenced.

Cinder lifted the mouth guard for the helmet revealing her glistening red lips inside the armor. Before Cardin could even think about what she was going to do, Cinder blew what seemed to be glowing orange glitter right into the big guy's eyes. Each particle burned immensely and Cardin howled as he clutched his eyes.

Cinder: Now!

The Black Knight created a black spear and tried to pierce Cardin in the stomach while his guard was down. However, her action was halted due to a fast bullet being fired in her path. Cinder managed to block the bullet with her spear easily but that was just enough time for Cardin to quickly counterattack.

Cardin: Y-YOU BITCH—

Cardin slammed the Executioner down to the ground, which exploded the floor. Cinder backed away and created two black swords in her hands.

Cinder: Little Red's still up?

Cinder glanced over at the far end of the room where Ruby was. She aimed Crescent Rose right at her and was ready to fire again.

Cinder: Hmph, I didn't give her enough credit…

Cardin: HEY!

Everyone turned to Cardin who was throwing Gravity, Lightning, and Fire Dust into the Executioner.

Cardin: Pay attention! I'm about to turn this place into hell!

Cinder: Hell's not a place for me, I can stand the heat. But I wonder if you can birdie~?

Cardin: Heh! Hell's not known for its flames…

Winchester arched his arm back and slammed the Executioner onto the already cracked floor with all his might. The entire floor cracked and then the rubble began to levitate to the ceiling. Even Ruby and Cinder began to levitate with it.

Cinder: Hm!?

Ruby: Woah woah woah! C-CARDIN?!

Cardin: What makes Hell terrifying is that it's a world turned upside down! A prison of no escape! And you bitch…you locked yourself in Hell with me the moment you decided to swing that little kitchen knife at me! Get ready to endure punishment!"

Cardin's wings glowed brightly like the sun and he was easily able to move in the zero gravity approaching Cinder. The Black Knight created a black shield that blocked the tackle from Cardin, but the damage was so intense that the shield broke instantly. Cinder flew backward into the wall and quickly began to move around…on the ceiling.

As Cardin was following her from behind, Cinder could see Ruby parkour to the top as well. Jumping off the rumbling and eventually running across the ceiling.

Cinder quickly acted by creating a double-bladed sword and blocked the strikes of both from all sides. The three then continued the battle, throwing attack after attacking but all either successfully dodging or blocking.

After a minute of this exchange, Cinder broke the double blade and threw one of them at Ruby.

Ruby: Ah!

The young silver-eyed transformed into rose petals and escaped being stabbed. But Cinder was not done as she tried to stab Cardin from below his chin. But the brute grabbed her arm, nearly breaking his wrist before it could even touch him.

Cardin: Think you can get me with such a cheap trick? Fine then! I've some of mine!

Cardin then kicked something up towards Cinder with his right foot. Floating towards the Black Knight was a light blue crystal.

Cinder: Ice Dust…!

Cardin: Hyah!

The bully struck the dust which exploded into multiple sharp pillars of ice in all directions. Cinder curled up into a ball and started to glow like the sun. The ice hit her but the heat from her armor melted the ice before it could hit her.

Cinder: Hmph!

Cinder then flexed the plates of the armor off of her. Many of its pieces flew across the other side of the room. At that moment, the only piece of armor she was wearing was covering her legs.

Cinder: That was pretty good…

Ruby: Hey jerk!

Cinder turned around to see Ruby throwing herself at her in an attempt to slash her with her scythe. She managed to block it with her hand, but Ruby quickly retaliated with a sidekick to the face.

Ruby then pulled Crescent Rose back as fast as possible and slammed the flat end of the blade against the side of Cinder's neck.

The blow was enough to cause Cinder to close one of her eyes in pain. Ruby then pulled the trigger and used the force of the bullet to propel herself back to the floor where she dragged Cinder, using the blade as some sort of hook back to the wall. Ruthless throwing her against the wall, Ruby then slashed at her multiple times. Most of the strikes were blocked but then the last three managed to finally tear down the defenses and cut the arms of Cinder.

The woman winced and used her aura to quickly heal the damage.

Cinder: You know…Roman was right about you being annoying…

Ruby: Roman? W-wait, you work for Roman?!

Cardin: What? Roman who?

Cardin flew down to the floor and the gravity returned to normal. The ruble fell and crashed onto everything but the three ignored that notion since all their attention was on each other.

Cinder: Uh oh~! Did I say too much~?

Ruby: So you're working for Roman Torchwick! Who are you!?

Cardin: Roman Torchwick? What the hell does he have to with—

Cinder: A little girl like you needs to stop playing hero…

Cinder burst out into flames, the heat caused Ruby to backway. Out of the fire, Cinder manifested a new attire. Her lower face was still covered by a mask, but she had black goat-like horns, and on her back were big black wings. And at the bottom of her back was a small tail with a black arrow.

The form resembled that of a succubus.

Cardin: What the hell…?

Cinder: …Before you get hurt by a real villain…?


Author's Note:

Please check out my own original web novel, "The Branded Hero Volume 1: Baxter the Failure". The tale of a hero who has been outcasted by the world since releasing The Demon King: /series/The-Branded-Hero-Volume-1-Baxter-the-Failure/info

And please check out my webcomic, "The Curse of Gringerfield" on Webtoon and Tapas!

Webtoon: https/en/canvas/the-curse-of-gringerfield/list?title_no=970667

Tapas: /series/The-Curse-of-Gringerfield/info