AN: No world note in this chapter.
Raven looks at the pictures on her scroll, and the bounty board.
"HAVE YOU SEEN THIS PERSON? 20 MILLION REWARD FOR HER SAFE RETURN."
The picture of the girl on the bounty, and the one on the scroll is a near-perfect match. A single girl worth 20 million. The joke bounty, as she heard some people call her. Usually, bounties in the millions come directly from the councils themselves, seeking either a deadly Grimm gone or the head of a murderer. However, there is no indication of who posted the bounty, so naturally, people would be hesitant to what they saw as a trap.
Raven thought it was a trap, or some joke made by some teens that the government hadn't bothered to remove yet. Until she saw the same girl from a mocking post on the CCTnet a few days ago. Same haircut and color, same face…same silver eyes. Perhaps…The only issue is that she's under Beacon's control.
The clan can use the reward money, keep it in several bank accounts, and use the funds to purchase better armor and equipment for future raids. However, even with maiden powers, Raven doesn't want to deal with Ozpin trying to bring her back into his futile war…and Yang.
However, there is a way for her to game the system though. All the bounty asks is for her safe return, doesn't specify if it exactly HAS to be her.
Raven smiles as a plan forms in her head.
"Pyrrha~."
"Yes, Rose?"
"Art Thou… prepared~?"
Pyrrha nodded. Ruby takes out Crescent Rose and shifts it to katana.
"My kingdom hath fought hard~. Through bloody evolution…we developed skills. Arts that thou hath forgotten~."
Ruby clears her throat.
"I shall begin with the one thou saw in our duel before~. A whirlwind slash~. It involves jumping into the air and twisting your body to perform two slashes against thy foe~. Rather simplistic compared to some of the ones I saw~."
Rose takes a deep breath, as per the training course, Pyrrha can only block Rose unless she is allowed to attack. Ruby then runs up to Pyrrha, and like in the dual, jumps into the air and slashes twice against Pyrrha.
Pyrrha blocks both slashes, repeating a few times before Rose.
"Does thou believe… in thy ability now~?"
Pyrrha nodded, Rose assumed a defensive posture as Pyrrha takes out Miló. The two stared at each other before Pyrrha jumps into the air, she twisted her body and moved to slash Rose. However, when her first slash connected, the recoil from the deflected blade caused Pyrrha to lose her balance and fall to the ground.
Ruby chuckled, the same type of chuckle a master would give towards a student failing at something.
"'Tis a feeling…thou should get familiar~."
Pyrrha wordlessly gets up and readies herself, and Rose does the same. Pyrrha performs a whirlwind slash each time, and the recoil from Rose's blade would cause Pyrrha to knock backward and fall to the ground. Eventually, Pyrrha managed to withstand the recoil and spun around and slash Ruby a second time.
"Congrats~. I can see…thy struggle~. Most arts stay on the ground though~."
"So I wonder, what actually would be considered "advanced" by your kingdom's standards."
"Well, ~...Some are…able to "multi-slash" with but a single draw~. Others… slide charges with swords, then jump~. One woman…so skilled, they can easily create a flurry of attacks. A mere training sword can become dangerous~."
"Oh, does their semblance help them perform those arts?"
"What… is a semblance~?" There was genuine confusion in her voice.
Pyrrha only stared at her before moving on.
"Interesting. Is there anything else you can teach a "novice"?"
"Well,...Lightning reversal…Popular sport back home~. Fun to watch, but need Jaune~."
"Why?"
"Needs to learn...Arts and skills~. Man…pitifully weak~."
Distant bells can be heard in the training hall. The afternoon bells for lunch.
"Sooo~," Jaune asked Pyrrha curiously.
"So what?"
"What exactly did Rose teach you? In fact, what exactly have we learned about Rose? I haven't been keeping up as of late."
"It's because you've been acting strangely the past few days. Why, out of all people, are you associating with Cardin?" Ren asked inquisitively.
"Well…uh it's because we made up!"
"Made up?" Yang asked.
"Yeah! All the things he's uh done were just silly pranks! You know like what friends do to each other!"
"You call being pushed into the fountain while carrying books a "prank"?"
"Yes!"
Everyone just stares at him with unamused looks.
"You know Jaune! I can break his legs if ya want!" Nora gleefully shouted.
"Anyway, to catch you up to speed Jaune." Pyrrha leans closer to him.
"Blake discovered that she has strange, unknown books relating to Grimm, and mysterious dust. Weiss searched around for a possible location for her home based on our theories and found that there are isolated, existing settlements in East Mistral and North Vacuo, and word would've eventually gotten out about a 5th kingdom. Finally…"
Pyrrha leans in closer so everyone can hear, and whispers.
"Rose's eyes changed to black in a flash when we fought."
Yang looked unamused.
"Pyr? My eyes change to red when I get angry, it's probably-"
"Yang. Her sclera, the white of the eyes, went black, but there was no indication that it was semblance or "lifeforce" related. It was like her eyes were reverting-."
"Art thou discussing gossip~?"
Everyone was shocked by Rose's sudden appearance, she was carrying a tray filled with food. There have been complaints of her "hogging" the food, but given her size and abilities, an extremely high metabolic rate is not out of the question.
"W-what?"
"Art thou discussing…gossip~? Thou art huddle…like a group of…conspirators~."
The group looked at each other before sitting back to normal, Rose sat by Weiss and Blake.
"Wouldst thou care… to enlighten me on thy discussion~?"
"We were finished when you came Rose."
Ren said while eating bread. Rose looks at him for a second before starting to each.
There was an awkward period of silence between everyone until a pained yelp came from a nearby table. Everyone saw Cardin pulling on Velvet's ear, he and his team was laughing.
Everyone either gave disgusted looks towards team CRDL, or pitiful looks towards Velvet. All except one, Rose, who was abhorred by this behavior.
"Why isn't anyone doing anything~?!"
"It's because they are afraid, approve of it, or don't want unnecessary attention." Blake says with a hint of anger in her voice.
"Afraid~? Approve~?! Article 35 of Vytal Accords grants…rights and equality to Faunus~!"
"That law has been ignored for as long as it existed. The White Fang wouldn't exist in the first place had Article 35 been enforced." Blake once again responds, looking away from team CRDL. Her bow is twitching.
One of CRDL, Sky, went into Velvet's bag and took out a strange-looking doll.
"Dudes! Check out this freak's doll! What, you use this as a chew toy or something?"
Velvet painfully wrangles herself free and tries to get the doll back. He tosses it to another member of CRDL.
"Give that back you bonehead, tin can muppets! That doll is for my sister!"
Rose stands up, she has seen enough.
"Rose, what are you doing?" Weiss asks worryingly.
"Rectifying a wrong~."
"Rose! Don't draw any more attention to yourself, you're already an embarrassment beacon as it is! As your team leader, I order-!"
"Of course… the slaver sees no issue~."
Weiss looks personally insulted by Rose's statement, everyone just watched as Rose detaches her forearm.
"Racism…is not tolerated~. Mother has sought to that~."
Rose calmly walked towards team CRDL and Velvet. Rose can feel the anger within Velvet growing, though it is suppressed. Most likely not to give her provokers their desired reaction.
Rose has no restrictions. The leader and one of Rose's harassers, Cardin, notices her approaching.
"Well lookie here, Ozpin's toy coming to save the poor animal-."
Cardin never got to finish his sentence as Rose smacked Cardin hard in the face with her moonstone arm. With a loud clang, Cardin crashes to the floor and lets out a pained groan, ending the discussions happening in the dining hall. Rose looked towards Russel, who was carrying Velvet's doll while reattaching her arm.
"DOLL~!" Rose growled at him, emphasizing her "Grimm accent" to terrify the boy, it also had the effect of paralyzing the rest of CRDL to not act towards her.
He quickly hands Velvet her doll, who looks relieved and confused by Rose's actions. Rose then looks towards Cardin, who is slowly getting up and glaring at her.
"Thy team…duel…now…example shalt be made~. Amphitheater~."
"Make it quick, someone like me shouldn't have to wait for lowly masquerading knights like thy pissant team."
Rose casually strode out of the dining hall, her footsteps echoing with each step she takes. The sheer audacity of what she had done left everyone speechless. When Rose was out of sight, the entire dining hall exploded in chatter.
"...Rose is seriously going to…!"
"...About time things get crazy…!"
"...Grimm Angel about to get…!"
"...Surprised Weiss isn't able to…!"
"...Hope Cardin puts her in her…"
Weiss's scream was barely audible among the loud chattering and speculation of the dining hall.
Team CRDL walks down the hallway toward the amphitheater, all wielding their weapons, mission outfits and stocked up on dust. However, only Cardin is fully prepared to face the challenge ahead, the rest of his team are wielding looks of doubt and fear on their faces.
"Cardin," Dove nervously asks his team leader. 'Are you sure we have to fight this chick? She's huge! Like I'm pretty sure she can pick me up like a child or something! Besides we have zero clue how exactly she fights, she only does it privately or with her friends."
"Y-yeah!" Sky joins in. "I don't know if you've been paying attention, but she is built like a Lux Anima boss! You saw what she did to that deathstalker?!"
"Shut it!" Cardin snapped at his team.
"We're supposed to be huntsmen, not little crybabies that run from the first sight of trouble. Besides that, she dared have the audacity to attack me with her fake arm, and proceed to insult us in her gibberish language! And are we gonna let some random, foreign princess walk in and act like she owns the place like some Schnee?!"
"No!" His team responded, reinvigorated by his speech.
"Then let's get in there and show her what team CRDL can do!"
Cardin and his team ran out of the hallway, towards a crowd cheering for them. Rose was already on the stage…and her back was facing them.
The crowd's cheers quickly died down as team CRDL walked on stage, eager to beat Rose into a pulp. Rose was in a praying pose, her eyes closed and muttering prayers to the war gods, dragons, and the moon. She stopped when she felt the gaze of team CRDL on her.
"Doth thou…wish to concede? No shame submitting…before superior foe~."
"After what you did!" Cardin points towards Rose. "You'll be the one who submits Grimm Angel!"
Rose grimaced at hearing the nickname. She dislikes it because it hints at her natural form. She takes a deep breath before finishing her prayers.
"Very well~..."
Rose takes out her tanto knife with her right hand and holds it towards her neck. She then concentrates hard, she's fine with the bloodletting as it is what the exchange requests. However, she concentrates to ensure the blood spilled is lightborn red, not red-black ichor. With a graceful cut and the small gasps from the crowd, Rose cuts her neck, letting out red blood with very tiny traces of black within them. Only she is close enough to notice the small hazing.
Rose then takes out her katana Crescent Rose, and with her left hand, rubs her fingers on the wound. Covering her healing as she draws out the blood for the benediction, she can taste fear from CRDL.
"I've traveled so far~."
She casually spoke while slowly rubbing blood on her blade.
"I saw things only a select…few would see in their life~. And experienced…knowledge and food…unknowable at home~".
"But never…have I been insulted before now~."
An unknown gust of wind is blowing on her cape, most likely someone in the crowd doing it to increase her dramatic flair. Petals
"Heed…my words wretch~."
She turns around, facing team CRDL. Silver eyes concentrated on her opponents, and she has a look of disdain on her face.
"My name is Silver~. Heir of the Rose lineage, and noble of the frontier~."
"And thou shalt learn thy place under my blade~..."
She started calmly walking towards CRDL, Sky immediately lets out a despairful wail as he realizes what he was about to fight.
Ruby smiled, enjoying the feeling that is brought upon seeing his despairs. However, Cardin simply lets out a war cry, possibly to reinvigorate them. This works, as his despairing teammate looks more focused now.
How disappointing that she can't experience more of that feeling during this fight.
Halberd, mace, sword and dagger. Out of all of them, daggers and halberds posed the most danger to her, training against shadowblades and rose guards was painful. Rose decides to stop walking, and let them come to her, the way they move indicates disorganization. Their attack will lead to their defeat.
Cardin was the first to attack, he swung wildly towards her, to which she simply sidestep. It was a mace after, and since he exerted so much energy into that attack she can easily.
Ruby never got to finish that thought, as Cardin quickly maneuvered his mace and hit Ruby with the shaft, much to her surprise. She quickly brings up Crescent Rose to block his mace overhead, the sound of metal grinding on each other as the two were locked in a clash.
Cardin then lets go of the clash, sidestepping to allow the dagger teammate to attack. His blades were ignited with flames as Ruby parried each of his attacks, the flames licking her clothes as she moved backward. Halberd then approached and Ruby was locked in a deadly struggle, she blocked Dagger's attack while ducking a swipe from Halberd, and she then kicked Dagger away and focused on Halberd. She was then struck from behind by dust bullets, the caliber was low enough that her body protected her from harm, but she can still feel the sting and it left holes in her uniform.
Halberd was surprisingly competent for a man that follows Cardin, he manages to parry Ruby's attacks while putting pressure on her. He does a swiping attack, to which Ruby jumps into the air and does a hard slash. The attack broke Halberd's posture when he attempted to block it, but as Ruby was prepared to take him out, Cardin suddenly appeared and smashed Ruby in the chest with his mace.
The crowd expressed awe as Ruby was flown back away from Halberd. Cardin picked up his teammate and gave a sly grin to him. Ruby lay on the floor in pain, clutching her chest as she struggled to breathe.
She was angry. These lowborn lightborn dared insult her with their actions, and now she was given the dissatisfaction of losing in front of a crowd?!
Fighting through the pain, Ruby slowly gets up, a fire was lit within her silver eyes, and she was determined to destroy them in this fight.
She was Ruby Lusus, daughter of Violet Lusus, the Dusk Princess, and in line for the Abyssal Throne. It would be unfitting for the royal heir to let such behavior go unpunished.
The crowd was getting loud as Ruby stands up and faced Cardin. He said no words, but his expression says it all.
"Ready for round two Angel?"
Ruby shifted her weapon to scythe form. It was a mistake to underestimate them, a mistake she'll not make again.
"This battle starts now~!"
Firing on the trigger, Ruby dashed towards her opponents, swinging her scythe at Sword. Two heavy scythe slashes were parried by him but at the cost of breaking his posture. Ruby fired again, using the recoil to use her scythe as a bat, and launched him away from his team. Dagger quickly moves and attacks Ruby, slashing wildly as Ruby quickly moves her weapon to parry his attacks. Spinning her scythe quickly, she turns the momentum against him, dealing a multitude of quick slashes against him.
She sees Cardin rushing in and fires again, striking Daggers who was able to block it and swiftly dodge his attack. Cardin's attack leads to an explosion occurring at her previous location.
Ruby shifted from scythe to gun, and she loads a corrupted dust bullet in.
"Tsunami!"
She fired at Cardin, who quickly blocked it only to be met with a sudden geyser of water. The geyser knocked them both back and drenched them in the water. Ruby shifts back to katana, only to quickly block an attack from Sword. The two exchange a series of blows, some of Sword's attacks land and cut into her flesh. Ruby grits her teeth from the pain and continues attacking. Doing a whirlwind slash, before following up with a double strong overhead strike, taking a deep breath and step as she does so.
Sword suddenly dodged Ruby's slice and punches her in the chest before disarming her. Ruby quickly blocks his next attack with her arm, before kicking Sword away.
She runs to grab her weapon, and quickly blocks an overhead from Halberd. Ruby then moves back, takes out a lightning dust crystal, and jumps into the air. She then uses her sword to destroy it, a large crackle of lightning was heard as her sword was imbued with lightning. She then swipes at Halberd, the lightning trailing from her sword, and strikes Halberd, who was paralyzed in shock.
Ruby then backhands him, before punching him in the gut hard. Jaune winches as he can still vividly remember the pain that caused him.
Halberd collapses to the ground, he's knocked out from the fight. Ruby sadly didn't enjoy the victory as a drenched and angry Cardin ran up and struck her in her prosthetic arm, before blowing her up.
Ruby was again sent flying, though her arm was scattered across the arena this time. Her hair was singed with flames and she lay on the ground in agony. Crescent Rose luckily landed beside her, the blade lodging itself into the floor.
They shouldn't be able to continue fighting, she only took out ONE out of the four, and that was after using lightning on him. She wants to submit, but she refuses. Her honor and legitimacy were on the line, she must win to assert her authority over those that would demean and mock her due to being "foreign".
She slowly gets up, picks up Crescent Rose, shifts it to Scythe, and rests it on her shoulder. Her legs are screaming at her to lie back down, but she refuses.
"Holy shit how are you still standing?!" Cardin asks her, astonished at her refusal to lie down and lose.
"My…will, far out…surpass…thy wretched ego Cardin~."
Cardin lets out an angry yell as he charges Ruby. His overhead smash was blocked by Ruby's scythe, which confused him and left him open for a hard kick.
Despite being crippled, Mother made sure to train Ruby to fight with one arm. Such a thing would be perplexing weren't been for the fact that her mother most likely had to fight darkborn during the early years of the Second Era. Her mother factored many probabilities in the case of Ruby fighting which combined with her fear of the Kingdom of Machine. This is why she was so persistent in Ruby learning how to fight with her hands, feet, and with one arm.
Overreliance on a single weapon leads to defeat.
Sword charges Ruby, but his attacks were sluggish, he has trouble blocking Ruby's one-armed attacks. Eventually, Ruby knocked his sword away and launched him away from the fight. Two down, two to go.
Daggers attacked next, drop-kicking Ruby and making her drop her scythe. Ruby quickly got up and punched hard at him. He blocks, but Ruby pulls back and quickly launched a series of kicks toward him. Dagger was unable to handle Ruby's kicks, and with one charged thrust kick, she broke through his guard and Ruby grabs his head with her flesh arm. She then, with all her strength, slammed him into the ground, damaging the flooring and breaking his aura.
Ruby lets out a cathartic chuckle, before.
Pain.
So much pain.
She's bleeding.
Her cheek is bleeding. Red-black ichor drips onto the ground. She tries to concentrate but the pain makes it hard. She rubs the spilled blood on the floor to make the black harder to distinguish. Cardin looked shocked at her, surprised that he drew blood. But considering that Rose isn't on the floor screaming in agony, and remembering she came off with a broken arm completely fine, he decided to roll with it.
So much pain.
"Do you give up?"
Cardin spoke with a smug, tired voice.
She wants to continue, but she can't. With no choice…
"I…yield~..."
"I'm sorry, can you say that again? Louder please."
"I YIELD~!"
"That's better Grimm Angel. See what things we can achieve when we all get along? Now, say it with me: I, Silver Rose."
"I, Silver…Rose~."
"Must refer to my team as Lords."
"...Must refer…thy team as lords~."
"And pledge humbly to our wants and needs as a servant."
Ruby looked horrified, but with extreme reluctance, she must say it.
"And …pledge humbly…to thy desires, a-as thy servant…m'lord~."
"Now stand up."
She does what she was told, and her face is fighting back tears.
"You see people! This is what the so-called "Grimm Angel of Team WBRY" is capable of. The deathstalker? Just a lucky shot she landed made by her team. And this is what we were curious about. This three-limbed giant idiot that can't even make good on her threats and is somehow Ozpin's fascination?! Look upon her, and see the truth for what I see. A pathetic girl that hides her weakness behind her gibberish language, unfair treatment from headmaster Ozpin, and background. She's probably even faking it, using a semblance to fabricate her entire story! This is what Weiss has trouble reigning in?! A 15-year-old girl that loses her cool for animals?! An example shalt be made, and it has now been made."
Ruby sees the stares and smiles of people. Them witnessing her at her lowest point so far in her life must be cathartic. She was only doing what was right, and this was how she was punished. She can't handle the stares, she can hear the quiet mockery from the crowd.
She hated it. She hated it so much. She wants Mother to come in, kill him and comfort her. She always knows what to say to cheer her up. Her looming body gave her the comforting warmth she desperately desires right now, but she threw it away. Some in the crowd started laughing at her.
Ruby starts crying.
Disgrace. Humiliation.
"Miss Glynda? I thought you were-."
"I have to leave due to Miss Rose, Professor Ozpin can handle the council just fine. Now, where is she?"
"She's just resting in room 314, along with Russel Thrush. She was…very adamant about proving treatment by herself, even when we brought security to restrain her, to no avail. It was surprising to see her heal her wounds quickly though."
Glynda nodded before taking the elevator. Professor Peach called her in the middle of a meeting regarding the Atlesian peacekeeping mission in Southern Vale, Ozpin encouraged her to go deal with the situation while he handles them. Peach didn't mention anything besides damaged equipment, blood spilled in the amphitheater and that Rose was in an altercation with another team.
The elevator dings, and the doors open. Glynda walks towards the room and enters it, and she sees Russel and Rose. Russel for the most part appears completely fine, however, he is staring in fear at Rose. Who was by the windowsill, solemnly writing in her notebook, her uniform was tattered and ashy and she was covered in several bandages. Her face showed that she was crying for a while.
"Russel…can you give us some privacy?"
Russel did not hesitate and quickly left the room. Glynda then walked towards Rose, who glanced at Glynda before continuing to write in her book.
"If thou art looking…for my view~. The audience…would indulge thee~."
"Rose…"
"Lady Goodwitch…I am well aware…of the punishments~. I am…not in the mood…for chatter~. My will…hath been crushed, like a beringel to a seer~."
Glynda was in the right to chastise Rose. Indeed, causing a fight, shattering an aura, and causing property damage would have been justifiable grounds to suspend her right then and there.
However, today doesn't match Rose's behavior. She, of course, would be aware of her treatment by the student body, despite Glynda's efforts to curtail it. Rose is calm, diligent, intelligent, and quiet yet curious. Despite lingual barriers, she helped her with coordinating with Beacon's resources, and with the Forever Fall trip occurring tomorrow. Glynda didn't even know she had a triggering point until today.
With but a single question, Glynda asks.
"Why?"
Rose paused and shuddered.
"An…injustice was laid out…a crime in my home…tolerated here~. I could not stand it~. My position…demanded action~. Humiliation was what I sowed…and what I reaped~."
"Thou treated me well, Lady Glynda~. But…don't let a battered noble…infringed upon thy duties~."
With nothing more to say, Glynda leaves.
"Do you have any idea what you've done?!"
Rose didn't answer.
"The entire school thinks we're a joke! My whole reputation was dragged through the mud. We have to endure constant harassment from everybody! All because of you!"
Weiss points to Rose. They were the only people in their dorm, Rose was sitting on her bed, in her noble clothing, and she looks away in embarrassment.
"Ohohohoho, no. Don't you dare take your eyes away from me! I want you to look at me when I'm talking to you!"
Rose looks back at Weiss.
"So dear Rose," Weiss said with composure in her voice. "Why did you behave like the star of madness took hold of your mind?"
"...I was addressing…an issue~."
"By committing assault and issuing an unauthorized, illegal duel with CRDL?!"
"They were violating the law~!"
"What law?! Sure they were degenerates, and the simplicity of their characters makes them both easy to read and dislike. But that doesn't give you the right to attack them! Besides if Velvet has an issue she could've brought it up with Professor Goodwitch to deal with them!"
"T-they had to be made an example of~!"
"Oh, you sure~ did! Your outrageous performance and humiliation by Cardin told EVERYONE not to gossip and harass us! Great example there Rose! Do you want to be given a participation award like every dullard down in Mantle?!"
"T-tha-That was not my intent~!"
"Then what was? Your pride? Your status thinking you have the right to walk up and fight them like this is your kingdom? I will not lie, but I enjoyed watching Cardin beat you, it's high time you know your place!"
"O-of course, thou would enjoy my suffering~! Thoust most likely to agree with him~!"
"W-what?!"
"'Tis obvious~! Thou harbor unsightly…views upon thy mutant brethren~! But…it's veiled under a facade of nobility!"
"Shut! Up!"
"No~! I shalt speak my mind~! Thou art a slaver, built off the backs of innocents~! A silver cloth laced with blood swaddled thee from the second thou was born~! Thy family hath brought nothing but ruin to this world~! Is it any wonder thy mother became a pitiful drunkard soon after thy father married-~?"
*SLAP*
Rose was shocked…no, stunned by her action. All semblance of anger was gone in an instant as her hand instinctively moves to her red cheek.
"Don't you ever, ever, talk about my mother like that again."
Weiss takes a deep breath to compose herself and walks to the window.
"This behavior of yours is incredibly disappointing. For a girl who presents herself as higher above the rest, you're nothing more than a peasant girl pretending to be something she's not."
Ruby remained silent.
"Oh? Cat got your tongue? You were speaking so much about me being a slaver, and insulting my family. But I guess that you've learned your lesson now…But you haven't. You're just going to learn how to hide your vitriol against me better, which is why…"
Weiss takes out Myrtenaster from a hidden spot near the window. Ruby's heart started to race when she saw the weapon.
"Oh, this? "Is she going to kill me?" is what you're thinking. No…this is more of a preventative measure, I'm well aware of your strength after all. But it would be foolish of me to approach you unarmed."
There was a tense period of silence as Weiss and Ruby stared at each other. Ruby was starting to lose her composure, a fact that made Weiss smile.
"So the child is slowly revealing herself for what she is, no Ozpin, no privileges, just me and an unraveling bundle of secrets. But, of course, this bundle has a temper, a very ignorant temper."
"Do you have any idea how much I sacrificed to be here? What I've gone through to earn my position here at Beacon, a position that was graciously given to you by the headmaster? Of course, you don't. Heh, you probably think I got this scar on my eye by somehow cutting myself with a silver knife. But you never thought that, you thought that my father bought my position here at Beacon when the truth couldn't be farther from the truth. Which is insultingly hilarious when I found out that the headmaster just gave you a place, a place that I fought for."
"I came here with a goal, redeeming the Schnee name from those who would sully it, people such as you. And becoming a shining beacon of hope for Humanity."
"What about you, what goals does this Grimm Angel have at obtaining at Beacon?"
Ruby finally opens her mouth…and did not answer. She was stunned at her inability to speak about her goals. To prove her mother was wrong about the surface, that's why she was here!
Lies.
She froze…that's why she was here.
Lies.
It's not a lie, she just knows it. Her mother was wrong about the surface, she has proof!
Lies
Not a lie…Not a lie…The…proof…
Lies.
Why can't she speak?
Because there is no true reason. You just wanted to explore and got angry when she told you no.
Weiss…giggled. Her giggling turned into laughter, laughter at Ruby's inability to speak…and realization.
"Of course, you don't have a goal! You lied to yourself thinking that you have a purpose here, but the truth is that you ran for no reason. You ran until you met Ozpin who somehow saw something in you. You yell at me for my mother being drunk, but I can safely say she loves me. Unlike you. What, did mother say no to venturing out to remnant? Did she hit you or something? Am I supposed to feel bad, from what I'm seeing what she did was justified, should've locked you in your room while she was at it."
"The way I see it? A selfish little girl who was told no once in her life ran to Beacon just so she can play "outsider". Who gave no thought about what would happen if someone like her disappeared? She couldn't handle being denied something after having everything handed to her on a platter so she had her little rebellion without a care in the world. Did you even factor in the amount of chaos you caused? Your primitive, ramshackle state you call a society must be having a fit over a missing heir, and poor old mother must be having the crisis of a lifetime. Either that or stabbed in the back and left in a ditch by some inbred half-nephew."
"Ozpin made a mistake, your behavior and recent actions have made it clear that we are simply unable to work together, and your existence threatens the unity and cohesion of this team. After Forever Fall I will be seeking a more suitable replacement, so consider your position on Team WRBY over. Now get out of my sight before you ruin what good remains left in this night."
Ruby slowly got up and leave the room in a trance state from the revelation she received.
Jaune was not having a good day.
After Rose got humiliated, it seemed to have invigorated Cardin and his gang into pushing him around even more. Where in the hell is he going to get rapier wasps anyway?!
He sighs as he walks back to his dorm, stopping when he sees Blake huddled around the corner.
"Blake? What's going-."
"Shh."
Jaune can hear yelling from WBRY's dorm, most of it seems to come from a high pitch voiced person, most likely Weiss. The yelling stopped, and then Rose stepped out of the dorm. Her face is in shock as if she learned some horrible profaned truth.
She covers her face and starts walking away. Jaune and Blake gave each other looks before trailing her.
Whatever happened to her, Rose was not taking it well. Occasionally, she would stop and huddle by a wall, taking deep breaths and stifling sniffles, though from time to time she'll grip the wall to the point it will start to fracture in her hands.
The pair followed Rose outside the dorms, and along the way, they met up with Velvet and Coco. Coco was about to ask them about her when they heard Rose muttering something in her native tongue. It was quiet, but the tone was absolute devastation. Blake whispers to them to stay quiet, and they trailed Rose to the main avenue. The place was devoid of anyone around, only the chittering of crickets and the occasional gust of wind blowing provided noise.
Hiding in some bushes, they watched Rose looks around the area, making sure that she was completely alone. She then uncovered her face, though they still only see her backside.
Rose then takes a deep breath and lets out an inhuman screech filled with anger into the sky. She got down to her knees and started punching the ground, her fists fracturing the pavement, and leaving cuts on her flesh arm.
Jaune and others watched as Rose mutilates her fist in her enraged state, and they saw the rumored miracle healing that Rose possed in real-time. Every cut left by the splintered pavement was quickly healed and left no mark, that is until Rose smashes the ground and cuts herself again. Her anger seemingly allows her to ignore mutilation in her attempt to let it all out.
Her screaming slowly got quieter and quieter, her breathing becoming more choked, and she relents her assault upon the pavement around her, which was turned into dust and splattered in her blood.
Rose starts crying. All her rage was now gone, leaving only a crying child, calling out to someone in her native language.
Jaune steps out of the bushes and walked towards Rose. Blake lets out a quiet protest but Jaune ignores her as he walks toward his crying friend.
"Rose?"
Rose stops crying and quickly faces Jaune, her face in shock and embarrassment, with tears streaming down her pale cheeks.
"J-Jaune~! I-I-I a-apolgize~! I shall~-."
Jaune hugs Rose.
Warmth.
Comforting warmth.
Rose looked stunned by his hug, before slowly hugging Jaune, her eyes closing as she recalls back to her childhood. The comfort of her mother, her hand stroking her hair as she sang a song in her ancient, regal voice. She doesn't want to let go of Jaune, and holds him tightly, using him as a locus to recall her memories with the person who loved her the most.
However, she relents when she felt Jaune's grip loosen on her body. The two locked eyes with each other for a moment before Jaune spoke.
"Let's sit down."
The two walked to a nearby bench that was spared from Rose's wrath. Rose looked ashamed and embarrassed.
"So…Why are you apologizing?"
"...Thou saw…me in an unsavory manner~. 'Tis bad enough what occurred today, I didn't need a companion witnessing me~."
"But there's nothing wrong with letting it all out."
"But there is~! The image, my image, my ideals, my honor~. I've been disgraced…Doth thou know…how HUMILIATING that was~?" Tears start to well up. "I'm nobility…no not nobility…an heir~. I'm grace-given flesh, my words and actions hold power~. I should've handled it with tact…and understanding like my mother, a scandal or assassination or intrigue could've stopped them from harassing the mutant~."
"Instead…I let my morals overtake me, challenged the bastards publicly without shame, and ended up being exposed for what I am~. A selfish, impulsive childe that throws tantrums whenever something doesn't go her way~. I have no purpose here, no place~. I threw away everything to fulfill a twisted, weird fantasy that can never be achieved~."
"I've failed the mutant, my honor, my upbringing, my mother, my kingdom, and myself. If I could, I would've thrown myself off the cliff face and embraced final peace among the shattered moon, though I doubt she would take such an arrogant, impulsive child like me~."
"No, you didn't fail anyone!" A voice shouted from the bushes. Rose was startled and started to breathe rapidly, especially when Coco emerged from the bushes. Jaune watched as she grits her teeth, and he sees it, speckles of black flash in and out of her eyes.
"Wo-Rose! She's not a bully, she's a friend! She's not here to harm you."
Rose looks at Jaune and calms down after seeing the sincerity on his face. She takes deep breaths as Coco, Velvet, and Blake come out of the bushes. They were stalking her, however, she was not in the mood to be angry right now.
"Rose, right? Coco Adel, leader of Team CFVY, sorry we have to meet like this but I couldn't just watch you mope about killing yourself out of some outdated form of honor. The girl beside me, the one you call "mutant' which I'm going to let slide, is Velvet, the one whose doll you rescued from CRDL."
Velvet awkwardly waved hello while Blake inspects the destroyed pavement. It is very faint, but she sees traces of black in her blood.
"Lady Coco, I wonder why art thou talking to a wretch like me~?"
"Wretch? Honey you've shown more grace than 90% of the people here at Beacon. But I was looking to thank you for saving Velvet earlier today, plus gave me an excuse to send Russel back to the ward."
"But thy reputation~. Thou shalt surely suffer harassment if-~."
"Rose, let me tell you two things you should know. Fuck 'em"
"Wh-what~?"
"Fuck 'em! Who gives a shit about what John Black from Team GREY has to say about you."
"But I've been humiliated~! I'm a coward, a headless coward who tarnished everyone I talk to~!"
"Rose dear. You, without a single ounce of hesitation, took off your arm, smacked Cardin straight in the face, got Velvet her gift for her sister back, challenged him to a duel, and would've won if it wasn't for those cheap hits he did. You have more balls than most people here at Beacon, and you stood for what you thought was right till the end."
"Honestly," Velvet spoke. "I am rather curious about your kingdom. I thought you would've thought of me as a slave or at least lesser, but the fact you stood up for me when no one else did was…quite surprising. I guess those rumors about you were wrong."
"Lady Velvet, I have no reason to oppress thee~. Mu-...Faunus have been equals in my kingdom since its early years, one of the most powerful positions is held by a…fox Faunus~. To think of such oppression against subjects of my kingdom is unthinkable, much less witnessing it go unpunish~. It harms both society, and the kingdom, and engenders hatred~."
"Wow~, to think the primitive kingdom from brothers know where have achieved what the White Fang couldn't since its existence." Blake remarked as she walks towards the group.
"Is there a problem Blake~?"
"No, not a problem," She lets out an exhausted sigh. "Just…frustrated at the way things are."
"Anyway, uh Rose. Can I admit something to you?"
"What is thou concern~?"
"I uh… I am kinda in the same boat as you."
"Pardon~?"
"I…forged transcripts to get into Beacon, and I didn't even have an aura. Just took my sword and ran off to be a hero like my father and grandfathers before him. I shouldn't be here in the first place, if not for my grades then some maimed body in the forest if Pyrrha didn't save me. I'm a failure, and I shouldn't be around you guys."
"What?!" Velvet, Blake, and Coco said simultaneously.
"Jaune, the failure is me~."
"No! You're smart, resourceful, and strong. You fought with no aura, I don't know anyone who can take a beating and persist in fighting, and your arts. Lightning-imbued sword? I mean I know of dust powder but straight up stabbing the crystal with your sword?! You're insane! You're perfect for Beacon, not me."
"Nonsense~. Thou art pitiful…yes but thou hath potential~. Vast potential, thou art the dream student of every martial master hopes to have~. Thy skills are just burgeoning, but I foresee a great leader in the future~."
"Huh…thanks, Rose."
"By the way, what were you and Weiss-." Rose raises her hand to Blake.
"I do not wish to discuss it, but I can't sleep in the dorm~."
"You can sleep with our dorm Rose," Jaune offers. "Nora can use a snuggle buddy."
Rose simply nods to his offer, and then she notices Coco eying her.
"Your clothes are extremely high quality, I never know that hardened leather and silk could match so perfectly well, and it contrasts nicely with your arm.
"O-oh~! Thanks~! I have never been complimented for my clothing before~."
"Mmmm, how about this? Shopping trip after Forever Fall, my treat, and we can see what clothes you like."
"That sounds… wonderful~! The moon is reaching its peak though, I guess I bid thee farewell then."
Coco smiled, before she, Velvet, and Blake walked back to their dorms. Jaune was about to leave, but Rose grabbed his arm.
"Jaune…Can we hug again?"
"...Sure."