Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY
Chapter 24: Dancing from the Heart
The last lights of the setting sun were fading, and the first dim light of the stars was beginning to show as the doors to Beacon's auditorium were opened. The crowd of well-dressed students started to file in, each having their breath taken away as they entered the large space.
"Look, Dude! They have fog machines! That's sick!"
"Oh My God! Look at those dollies! They are so cute!"
"And they go so well with the tablecloths, it's unreal!"
Standing behind a podium just past the entrance, the hostess of this event greeted people, answered questions, and ensured everything was going smoothly. Coco cut quite a figure herself, with a light tan dress that hugged her body well, a slightly fancier version of her trademark beret, and her ever-present shades. More than one boy had been left with his mouth hanging open and had to be dragged away by his date.
While happy for the clear endorsement of her fashion choice, she would have much preferred to draw the attention of the fairer sex. Her orientation was a matter of public record, but she had been much less overt in her flirting with the female student body at Beacon than at Pharos Academy. Full Huntress training was a different beast compared to Combat School, and she had far less time to engage in her favourite pastime of flirting with every girl.
She did take the opportunity to give flattering comments to all the girls coming in, resulting in many blushing faces. Looking around the main floor, she saw a growing crowd of beautiful females dressed in their best, alongside a bunch of males who were perfectly fine, she supposed.
If pressed, Coco might have admitted that working to create this sight was one of the main reasons she had been so eager to organize the Dance.
She kept that little tidbit close to her chest and instead just focused on enjoying the event that she and her team had worked so hard to make happen.
Of course, it wasn't just her team alone that had made this all possible. She and her team owned a lot of Team RWBY and JNPR for helping so much with the preparations. She was looking forward to seeing what kinds of outfits they chose to wear and eager to see how well they could dance.
She was especially eager to discuss the many fine female specimens that were on display with her new best friend from Team RWBY.
Flashback
Coco was leaning against the wall of Beacon's auditorium. The whole space had been transformed for the upcoming dance and they still had a few days to go, so everything was looking to fall into place perfectly.
This positive assessment wasn't reflected in Coco's body language, with her arms folded and a scowl seen across her face. The rest of the group were working on the other side of the large room, smiles and good cheer emanating from the three teams, making Coco a notable outlier.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Weiss asked, walking up to CVFY's leader. She was returning from a bathroom break and had noticed the fashionista standing apart from the other. "Did your favourite clothing store close down or something?"
"No, it's far worse than that," Coco answered, still looking ahead. "Velvet's decided to go to the Dance in one of the school-provided white dresses."
"WHAT?" Weiss replied, shocked and appalled.
"Yeah, she says that she doesn't want to wear anything flashy but she's just being shy," Coco said, still looking towards the main group, and Velvet in particular.
"That's insane," Weiss said, leaning against the wall next to Coco and adopting a similar posture and expression. "I mean, it's a complete waste."
"I know. She has an amazing body but she's letting her insecurities get the better of her," Coco lamented.
"Totally. Not showing off that wonderful Bunny Butt is practically a crime against humanity."
"Oh, absolutely." Coco agreed, not fazed by Weiss's choice of words. "I need to figure out a way to convince her to show off a little more."
"Absolutely! Beauty like that shouldn't be sequestered away."
"Totally…after all…"
"After all…"
"Girls are one of the best things in the world!"
The eyes of both females went wide as they realized they had said the same thing at the same time. They turned their head and stared at one another for a long moment.
Weiss knew that Coco was a lesbian, as unlike her she wasn't hiding that fact, but it was still something to have it stated right in front of her.
For Coco, it was a surprise to find out Weiss's orientation, though thinking about it, it started to make some of her past actions make sense.
In unison, the girls stepped away from the wall and faced each other. Another moment passed before Weiss held out her hand, a big smile on her face.
"Weiss Xiao Long," she said, giving a formal introduction that was both unnecessary and yet appropriate for his occasion.
"Coco Adel," was the reply, the fashionista, placing her sunglasses on her forehead and giving a smile of her own before grasping the outstretched hand with her own.
"I think this is the start of a beautiful friendship," Weiss declared.
"I think so too," Coco replied.
At the other end of the room, Velvet suddenly felt a cold chill run down her spine. She feared for a moment that Coco had found someone else to share in her more pervert plans but dismissed this as an absurd possibility. So confident was she that she resisted the urge to turn around to look over where Coco was standing, instead continuing the discussion with the others.
There was no way there was another person in this world who had the same intense love for other girls as Coco had.
On the other side of the room, Coco and Weiss, hands still clasped, looked over at the Bunny Girl. They were already thinking of ways to convince her to wear something that would show off what she got.
Coco's eyes began to wander, as they often did, and landed on the other members of Team RWBY. She had noticed from the very beginning just how gorgeous all four of them were, and for the elder Xiao Longs, she had considered making a move. She would never press the issue and knew when to respect boundaries but for girls as beautiful as they were, she was willing to take a shot.
"You know…your sisters…" Coco started to say.
Immediately, Weiss's grip on Coco's hand tightened, going from firm to bone-crushing in an instant. It was a grip that would make any normal person scream in pain and beg for mercy.
Coco Adel was no normal person. While she did want to scream and beg for mercy, she was far too cool to do that.
"…Are great and wonderful people who I will give my utmost respects to!" she said, pivoting quickly.
It worked, and Weiss relaxed her grip and released Coco's hand. The two were still looking at the main group and there wasn't any hint that something serious had just happened, besides Coco discreetly rubbing her hand.
"…I'm still going to ask them for a dance…" Coco said, not completely defeated.
"Oh, sure," Weiss answered, "just keep your hands where I can see them."
With the boundaries set, the two began to hash out plans, both for Velvet and for the dance. It was a novel and wonderful experience to finally meet a like-minded person who truly appreciated the beauty of the female form.
It was the start of a glorious partnership.
Present
Coco smiled at the memory. Their first joint idea, to pivot the dance to being a girls-only bikini party at the last minute was, tragically, shot down by the rest of the group. Such was the difficulty of dealing with such narrow-minded people.
They were successful in their other endeavor, as Coco looked around the room and spotted Velvet. She was moving between the many tables, chatting with students, and making sure everyone was comfortable. She was wearing a tight red dress, with a generous cleavage and a fit that hugged her hips well. The many looks and stares she was garnering from both genders made it clear that the dress was a hit.
More importantly, Velvet was practically glowing. The light blush and bright smile on her face made it clear that she was enjoying the attention she was getting, and that she felt as beautiful as she looked. This was despite the initial resistance she had to this suggestion, but after agreeing, she was running with it wonderfully.
Velvet was someone who just needed a little push to reach her potential. It helped immensely having a second person to aid in the pushing, with Weiss 'The New Best Friend' Xiao Long being perfect for the job.
It was a small shame that being so similar in this regard made pursuing a romantic relationship with Weiss difficult, but that was fine. Neither had explicitly said it, but it was clear to one another that they weren't looking for full romance at this time. They just wanted to admire the objective beauty that was the female sex.
Coco chuckled at the notion of her settling for just one girl. What would the world be like if she didn't flirt with every girl at every opportunity? Was there even a girl out there that captured her wild and untameable heart?
The leader of CVFY looked around the room again, half-heartily looking for an answer to that question. She was again drawn to the radiance of Velvet, and it was while gazing at her partner that she felt something stir within her, some feeling she wasn't used to.
She shook her head, clearing it of these strange thoughts and continued to look around. She spied Fox adjusting the electronics on one of the speakers, his sharp ears helped to discern any drops in audio quality. Yasuhashi was moving more tables and chairs, his muscular arms exposed as he had torn off the sleeves of his tuxedo.
Coco was just turning back toward the entrance when a bright flash of primary colours entering the building caught her eye. This was the first hint that Team RWBY had arrived.
Specifically, it was Ruby and Yang. Both were wearing long formal dresses, bright red for the reaper and yellow for the brawler. The long skirts almost reached the floor and Yang's front showed off a generous amount of cleavage.
The blonde had her hair done up in a series of braids, a sharp contrast to the usual wild mane. Both girls had a modest amount of makeup on, enhancing their already pleasant faces. Ruby looked a good deal older, and she hoped there wasn't any guy stupid enough to try and hit on her.
Otherwise, they would be leaving the Dance on stretcher…if Ruby's sisters left anything to hauled away at all.
Coco had to stifle a laugh as, despite all the complaining she had done about 'stupid lady stilts', Ruby was walking gracefully in her heels as if she had been born to them. It was such a difference to the excitable weapon nut that this refined young lady might as well be a different person.
"Well, well. Looks like you two can really clean up," Coco said as the pair approached. "Weiss wasn't lying when she said she was going to make sure you were dressed to perfection."
"Yeah, well she's used us as dress-up dolls enough times that she knows what looks good on us," Yang said.
That was certainly the case here. The blonde brawler had quite the stocky, muscular build that wouldn't have fit well in any simple dress from off the shelf.
This dress fit her perfectly, showing off her muscles and the immense strength they held alongside her feminine curves and her world-class bust. She was both elegant and sexy, a far cry from the rough and tough tomboy, but still recognizably Yang.
"You'll be turning heads, that's for sure," Coco mused, causing the two girls to smile and nod.
But two Xiao Longs were only half the set and Coco was about to ask where Weiss and Blake were when the twins entered. Coco pushed her sunglasses down to look clearly at the approaching pair, blinking a few times as she took in how they were dressed.
The big thing about their dresses was that they weren't wearing dresses at all. The White and Black Xiao Long were wearing tuxedos, a pitch-black one for Blake and a bright white one for Weiss. They had sharp suits, tapered pants and shiny shoes, all outdoing what every other guy was wearing.
That wasn't all; they both had some makeup on as well and the suits fitted their figures, and Weiss was even showing off some cleavage. It was as dashing as any gentleman was still being undeniably feminine.
The deal at the clothing store had been for one dress and one suit, so Weiss had gotten two sets and then used her superb tailoring skills to make the clothes fit them perfectly. The main reason why Weiss went for suits for her and Blake and dresses for Ruby and Yang was due to the selection in the store, there weren't any suits on offer that fit the Red and Yellow Xiao Long. Otherwise, they would have been fine switching who had the dress and who got the suit, or even having all four of them rolling in with tuxedos on.
The current setup worked great but there was always next year if they wanted to try something different.
"Well…not what I was expecting but damn if you don't pull it off and then some," Coco said.
"So…we pass the Coco Adel test of quality?" Weiss asked as she walked up, a smirk on her face.
The great admirer of fashion and beauty looked the four up and down a few more times before giving them a thumbs up.
"Well, there's the tough part done with," Blake remarked with a smirk of her own. "Now all that's left is to blow away the rest of the student body with our style and skill. No big deal at all."
Blake then extended her arm towards Yang, in a perfect gentlemanly fashion.
"May I escort you to the dance floor, Miss Xiao Long?" Blake asked in a deep, formal voice.
"Why, of course! I would be delighted, Miss Xiao Long!" Yang answered, equally prim and formal. She took Blake's arm they slowly walked towards the main floor. Next to them, Weiss and Ruby mimicked their action and strode down beside them.
Two princes, leading their princesses to the fancy ball. Just like all the fairytales.
"Oh, is Team JNPR coming up behind you? I haven't seen them yet," Coco asked before they departed.
"They should be here soon. They were still getting ready when we left." Ruby answered.
"Jaune did say he had something big to show off tonight, so look out for that," Weiss added before continuing to escort Ruby to the dance floor.
Coco gave them one last look before returning to watching the door, curious at what JNPR would do to match RWBY.
Back at the dorms, the members of JNPR were busy getting ready. Nora was in her team's dorm while Pyrrha was in the bathroom. Ren was in Team RWBY's dorm, the Xiao Long Sisters permitting them to use it if they needed the private space.
Jaune had gone to the dormitory's large community bathroom to change. He had been acting a little strange since a large package had arrived for him, express mailed from his home. He had been coy about what it was, only saying that it was a surprise.
He wasn't the only one who got a package, as just before Ren and Nora started to go to retrieve their Beacon-provided dress clothes, Weiss suddenly appeared and pushed two boxes into their hands. She informed the two that these were the clothes they were wearing to the dance, no they didn't have a say in the matter, yes they were fitted to their sizes, no she didn't sneak into their room to measure them, she just had a good eye for such things, and no, they didn't need to thank her, they just had to dance with her at some point in the evening.
Weiss said all of this very quickly, answering the questions before the pair could speak and was out the door before they could get a word in. It took the two a solid minute to realize what had happened and to understand the precious gift they had received.
It took some time for the pair to get their respective dress clothes on, both because they weren't used to wearing such clothes and because they were trembling a bit due to their emotions running wild as they saw what Weiss had made for them.
Ren finally got their clothes on and exited the Team RWBY dorm, knocking on JNPR's door and asking if Nora was dressed enough for them to enter. Receiving the affirmative, Ren entered the dorm and promptly had their breath taken away.
Nora was standing in the center of the room, looking radiant. Her dress was a bright pink with white flourishes, which just fit her perfectly. It had a long, flowing skirt that reached the floor with a tight waist and a very generous cut for her bust. It almost looked like her breasts were going to overflow her top, but it wasn't so tight as to be uncomfortable. It was both elegant and enticing.
Weiss's package had included some cosmetics and accessories, which Nora had applied well. Lipstick, blush, and eyeliner all served to highlight her beautiful face, with two heart-shaped hairpins completing the image. It was all so simple in a way and yet Nora looked stunning.
She looked like a princess.
No.
Like a queen.
"You look amazing!"
The two had spoken the same words at the same time, having the same reaction to the other's appearance. Ren was confused by Nora, due entirely to them selling themselves short.
Lie Ren was cutting a great figure, with a dark green suit on that was expertly fitted to them. On the surface, it resembled the standard Beacon suit, but numerous small touches worked to enhance their beauty.
Subtlety was the key here.
An awkward silence proceeded, as neither knew what to say next. Formal wear and events were a strange new world for the two of them.
The bathroom door opened and Pyrrha exited, giving Nora and Ren something else to focus on.
What a sight it was.
"Oh, does this look okay?" Pyrrha asked worriedly, turning around a few times in the doorway. "It feels a bit tight in some places…maybe I gained some weight since I last wore this?"
That was a ridiculous notion, as the Amazon from Mistral lacked any kind of excess fat. Her intense training regime precluded that, though it was likely responsible for her gaining some more muscle mass since the dress had been first fitted. As she turned around, Nora and Ren witnessed the exquisitely developed muscles of her back and arms.
The two young warriors could only gulp audibly, unable to think of what to say in the fact of such powerful beauty.
The door to the JNPR dorm opened and the fourth member of the team entered.
"Is everyone all dressed and ready to go? Let go and knock the socks off everyone at the dance!"
The three other members of the team all had confused expressions on their faces as they turned toward the doorway. It was Jaune's voice, but it was notably different. They looked over at their leader, blinking several times.
Finally, their eyes went wide and their mouths fell open as they took in the amazing sight before them.
Back at the dance, the crowd began to take notice of the Xiao Long Sisters. The bright colours they wore stood out against the more subdued tones worn by most of the other students, and the Twins' wearing of suits instead of dresses caused a bit of a stir.
The fact that they had come to the dance together and without dates wasn't surprising at all, as the Sisters did everything together. The Beacon rumour mill hadn't heard anything about a boy or girl scoring a date with one of the Xiao Long Sisters, so most expected the four to go together.
Fox heard the loud murmuring regarding Team RWBY and quickly got to work on the plan the Xiao Long Sisters had laid out. He hit the necessary buttons on the sound and lighting controls, making the music slowly fade and the overhead lights dimmed as the Xiao Long Sisters moved towards the centre of the dance floor.
The entire hall was plunged into both silence and darkness as the Sisters stopped walking and faced their respective partners. Spotlights turned on, illuminating the Sisters, and ensuring that all eyes were on them as the music began and the four started to dance.
They started slow, matching the music, simply moving side to side in rhythm. They began to move faster, again in time with the rising music, though it still followed the steps of traditional ballroom dancing.
Then, all at once, the music sped up to a furious pace. The Xiao Long Sisters effortlessly matched the increased tempo, spinning and whirling together in perfect harmony.
Suddenly, with no warning, the girls switched partners. It happened so fast that it took most onlookers a moment to recognize the change. One moment Ruby was being spun around by Weiss, then they blinked, and it was Blake who was pulling the red reaper in, with Weiss now keeping up with her blonde sister.
Another switch, and now Weiss was with Blake and Ruby with Yang. Their movements changed only slightly to account for their new partner's type of dress but otherwise, the four continued with their fast-paced dance without missing a beat.
The Xiao Long Sisters became a controlled tornado of colours as they continued to alternate partners, moving in perfect sync all the while.
The stunned crowd realized that this wasn't four people dancing, or even two coordinate pairs. This was one dance with four living parts to it, each part moving in perfect harmony with the other.
It was above and beyond anything the assembled students had ever seen or done, and it once again highlighted just how incredible and unique this team was.
The musical number finally came to an end, the music coming to a grand crescendo and the Sisters become a single swirl of colours and movement. They suddenly stopped, the four holding hands and facing one another in a circle, their breathing heavy but even.
A long moment of silence passed, as all the onlookers had to process what they had just witnessed, what they had just experienced.
All at once, everyone started to clap and cheer. It was a unique and breathtaking spectacle to behold, and people found themselves applauding without thinking, it was just the natural reaction to seeing something as amazing as that.
The Xiao Long Sisters turned from one another and towards the crowd, bowing and waving to the loud applause. Despite how effortless they made it seem, they had practiced hard on this routine and had put everything into it, so they were immensely satisfied that it had gone over so well.
The four slowly made their way to the refreshment table, waving and quickly chatting with other students. The dance had the intended effect, of both raising Team RWBY's social profile in the cut-throat jungle of the modern high school while also keeping aggressive suitors at bay. Having seen such an outstanding display, by girls who were dressed better and sharper than almost all the other girls and boys, it made it abundantly clear that the Xiao Long Sisters were out of everyone's league.
That was what the four wanted. They wanted to just focus on school, their friends and each other; Romance would happen later.
Speaking of suitors, Blake spotted Sun waving from the crowd. He was wearing a suit, though it was open and his whole chest was exposed.
That was typical of the monkey boy, formal wear was not his thing. What was less typical was the knowing smile he was giving, alongside tapping the side of his nose with a finger.
Blake nodded in return, remembering that she had promised him a dance, though she wasn't sure what that smile was about. It was like he knew something she didn't.
Either way, she was just happy that he had taken her rejection so well after she had let him down a few days ago.
Flashback
It was evening, with just enough light remaining to walk comfortably outside. Sun Wukong was standing near the edge of one of the school's courtyards, just out of sight of most people. He was wangling with a necktie, trying to figure out how to put it on right.
"You're going to strangle yourself if you wear it like that,"
Sun looked up from his losing battle with a strip of fabric and saw the person that he was doing all this for, Blake Xiao Long.
The cat girl was carrying a large box of party supplies for, what seemed to Sun, the never-ending preparations for Coco's school dance. That had been the excuse she had been giving for the past few weeks as to why she wasn't able to hang out with him.
Sun accepted that was the truth, but he was also suspecting she was using this commitment to avoid him. He didn't want that to be the case and was hoping to use the dance as an opportunity to really wow the Black Xiao Long.
That plan had backfired spectacularly and now he was just trying not to look sheepish as Blake put down the box she was carrying and worked quickly to fix Sun's tie.
It was more than a little embarrassing that he needed help, like a kid who didn't know how to dress himself, and from the girl he was trying to impress no less.
Blake quickly and efficiently fixed the tie, laying out clear instructions to Sun as she did so. When she was done, she took a step back to inspect her work. Satisfied, she went to pick up the box and continue on her way, when Sun stopped her.
"Wait! I, ummmm, thanks for that. Stuff like this is…kinda out of my wheelhouse. I'm sort of jumping into this blind."
"It's no problem at all, but I don't think you need to dress to the nines if that's not who you are. I'm sure you impress well enough if you're just yourself." Blake replied, a small smile on her lips.
This was a chance, so Sun took it.
"Well, that's what I am planning, haha. It…would probably go way better if you were there…with me…"
His proposal died out as he saw the look on Blake's face, how her smile turned into a tight frown and a pained expression appeared.
It was clear that she didn't want to go out with him, but also didn't want to hurt his feelings by saying it out loud.
It was that edge of pity that cut deep. Sun wasn't as caught up in himself as Neptune, but he still had his pride and having a beautiful girl reject him was a bitter pill to take.
"W-what am I doing wrong?" Sun asked, partially to Blake and partially to himself. "I being myself, all open with no deception or anything and that's not enough? What's wrong?"
"Sun, it not you…really it isn't you at all. I'm just…not looking for a relationship right now. I'm really sorry if I gave you the wrong signals but I do appreciate everything you have done to help me and my team. You're a good friend…just…"
"Just a good friend, nothing more, right?" Sun's words were spoken in a harsher tone than he intended, but he couldn't help but feel upset. "I guess a happy-go-lucky party guy who will jump into things spontaneously isn't what you in to."
"That's not it, I swear!" Blake countered. "I can totally like someone with those qualities, it just that I would…like them to be a bit different than you."
"Well, what do you want, exactly?"
"Well, I guess I would like someone fun and outgoing, but it needs to be measured with kindness and caring…not that I'm saying you're not but… argh!" Blake pinched her nose in frustration. She really didn't have a list prepared for what her 'ideal' romantic partner might be, but she felt she owed Sun a proper explanation, after leading him on when they first met.
"I would want them…to be like a fire. Someone who can warm me when I'm low and energize me to my highest," Blake looked over to the setting sun as she spoke. "Someone who can wipe away my tears, take away my fears and then lift me into joy and happiness. Someone who will do whatever it takes to keep me safe."
Sun opened his mouth to say something but closed it as a thought shot into his mind. He wasn't as book smart as Neptune or other people but still had the intelligence to take what Blake had just said and draw a line between it and another data point him his head. He then gave voice to the conclusion that he drew from this.
"You mean…kind of like Yang?"
Blake turned back to Sun; a bit surprised but she slowly started nodding as she processed the thought.
"Yeah…I guess someone a bit like Yang would be nice…"
Even better if they were a lot like Yang. In fact, it would be best if they were exactly like Yang.
But that was a silly idea. Why would she want someone exactly like Yang when she could just have…
Blake's train of thought stopped dead in its tracks, like there were some gaps in the road and she couldn't cross it…not yet.
Sun, still in his uncharacteristically thoughtful mode, continued to connect the dots.
"Anything else you like in a partner? Maybe someone smart and sophisticated?"
"What? I…yeah, I guess," Blake shook her mind back into gears. "Actually, not just book smarts or anything but something deeper than that. They can't just memorize information but rather seek to understand things at the fundamental level. They don't just keep it to themselves but use their knowledge to enlighten me and everyone else so that everyone understands the world better. That to me is what true intelligence and sophistication is."
"So…" Sun said, a smile forming on his lips, "sort of the same thing that Weiss does?"
Blake thought for a moment before nodding. That was like her twin, and it would be great to have a romantic partner who was a bit like her.
Or a lot like her…or maybe exactly like her…but then she should just…
Blake hit the same mental pothole as before, unable to reach the conclusion that was just out of reach.
Sun had a big, knowing smile on his face now and he asked his final question.
"How about someone who is brimming with pure innocence but holds an immense inner strength and a strong sense of justice?"
Again, Blake nodded at these desirable traits but frowned a bit as she realized that it sounded a lot like Rub-
Sun busted out laughing, almost falling to his knees and snapping Blake out of her mental reverie.
She was getting concerned about the monkey boy and was wondering if something was wrong when he finally stood up straight and got his laughter under control.
"You know," he said, wiping tears from his eyes, "men can be prideful creatures. For me at least, it helps my pride and ego to know I never had a chance long before I got here, and it was because of things far beyond my control."
Blake could only stare in complete bafflement, not understanding what was going on.
Sun continued.
"But hey, I understand and totally support you. Your personal circumstances are hella unique, but I think it is perfectly fine if that's what your heart's telling you. I'm from Vacuo and one of the few universal rules there is that if you have the strength and the guts, you can fit right in. You and your team have more than enough guts, and if anyone gives you shit, I'll be there to back you up!"
"I…I…thanks…I think…" Blake was at a complete loss at what was happening.
Sun took a deep breath, as if letting something settle, before turning and began to walk away. He looked back at Blake.
"I'll figure out the rest of this formal monkey suit stuff myself. I do want to share a dance with you, as friends. See ya!"
Blake was left standing by herself, not understanding what had just transpired. She shook her head, picked up her box and headed towards the Dance Hall. Whatever it was, it seemed that Sun had accepted the fact that they were only friends and Blake was happy to leave it at that.
Present
At the entrance, Coco was looking over the dance floor, shaking her head in amazement, both at RWBY's skill and the fact they were still finding ways to surprise her and everyone else.
The sounds of people entering made her turn back to the entrance way. Her greeting died on her lips as she saw the group who had entered. She took off her sunglasses and quickly wiped them, a pointless gesture as they weren't prescription, but she needed to do something to make sure her eyes weren't playing tricks on her.
She recognized the group immediately as Team JNPR, with Pyrrha, Ren and Nora all looking stunning.
It was the fourth member who was making Coco question her eyesight, the blonde leading the group.
The blonde girl that was leading the group.
It was only due to having spent so much with Team JNPR over the last several days, working with each of them, that she was able to recognize the blonde bombshell striding towards her.
"J-Jaune?" Coco stammered out.
"Please…call me Jeanne for tonight," the girl replied, her voice low and sultry. It was so different from what Jaune sounded like that part of Coco was convinced that she was wrong, and this was a completely different person. Even the name, which sounded almost identical to 'Jaune', conveyed something different.
The knowing grin on Jeanne's face said otherwise but it also went beyond the surface level.
This person was more than the perfectly tailored white dress or the fake breasts that filled the front of it. They were large and expert craftsmanship; only someone who adored every aspect of the female form like Coco could even tell that they weren't real.
There were more than the blonde hair extensions that reached past their shoulders, more than the expertly applied makeup or the confident stride in high heels. There was a pure essence that simply stated that this person was female.
The hard work that the leader of Team JNPR had been putting in was on full display, but even thick limbs and broad shoulders weren't some kind of giveaway. There were plenty of girls at Beacon, Yang and Pyrrha among them, with stockier builds with plenty of muscle. There wasn't inherently masculine about this body type and Coco found it just as alluring as any other.
Coco looked Jeanne up and down multiple times, her mind forming a decision.
This person…this person…was a girl. No ifs, ands or buts…Jeanne was a girl. Her biological gender was a fact but at this moment in time, it was just a minor footnote of no significance right now.
Coco gave Jeanne one last, lingering gaze, before giving her and all of the Team a big thumbs up. They had acquired the Coco Adel Seal of Approval and the leader of CFVY was already planning on getting a dance with each of them.
All the hard work that went into this dance was already paying off and the night was still young.
Jeanne smiled at Coco's reaction and turned back to her team. They all still had a dazed look in their eyes, trying to process the sudden revelation. There was no rejection on their faces, just confusion at this surprise.
"Well, with that out of the way, I think it's time we introduce ourselves by hitting the dance floor." Jeanne tapped her lips for a moment. "If memory serves, I think Pyrrha did ask to take Nora to the Dance. Is that still the plan?"
Both redheads jump back to the present, sheepishly remembering the time Nora had smashed Pyrrha through several walls, only for the defeated Champion to enthusiastically ask Nora out.
The two looked at each other for a moment before Pyrrha slowly extended her hand towards Nora. The pink Bomber took the hand, smiling and the two slowly made their way into the Dance Hall.
Jeanne smiled at the sight before turning to Ren, who belatedly realized where this left them.
The blonde extended her hand towards Ren.
"Shall we? I assume you know how to show a girl a good time?"
Ren swallowed, being in unfamiliar territory, but gathered their courage and took Jeanne's hand.
Heads immediately turned as JNPR fully entered the building. Jaws dropped at the sight, the visage of beauty at odds with the rougher, goofier image everyone had of Team JNPR. The entire student body was getting educated on just how wrong they had been.
Most had seen the images and posters of the 'Champion of Mistral', and everyone accepted that Pyrrha was an attractive young woman but there had always been a veneer of artificiality. The muscular goddess in the red dress walking to the dance was real, incredibly so, and people were now really looking at the real her for the first time.
The same was true of her partner. Nora was an energetic tomboy that was fun to watch but not much else. The graceful Queen of beauty before them was like a completely different person. For the first time, people realized just how gorgeous she was, and that she possessed a world-class bust on par with Yang's. The number of admirers of the Electric Valkyrie, of both genders, skyrocketed in mere moments.
Ren had always been an enigma to the other students, a mystery to wonder for a moment before shrugging it off. That was what Ren had wanted for the longest time, but now they were standing in front of everyone…and they were radiant.
No one suspected Ren's secret, only seeing what they believed was a quiet young man suddenly changed into this striking and alluring figure.
But it was the blonde hanging on to Ren's arm that got most people talking.
"Who is she? She's gorgeous!"
"I don't know. I haven't seen her around before. Is she a student here?"
"Blonde hair and blue eyes…maybe she's related to Jaune? I heard that guy has like, seven sisters."
"Where is Jaune, by the way?"
Ren could hear all the whispers, and their head was beginning to spin. It was surreal; on one hand, it seemed so obvious while on the other it was perfectly obscured. It made perfect sense and no sense at the same time. Jeanne was one thing and yet also another, at the same time and in perfect balance.
Ren was pulled out of this mental conundrum when Jeanne pulled them to a stop and quickly placed Ren's arms around her waist and on her shoulder. Soft music began to play, with the hall once again falling silent as the two couples from Team JNPR slowly started to dance.
The pairs shuffled back and forth; slowly spinning around in the pattern they had been practicing for weeks. Both Nora and Pyrrha were blushing heavily, not looking at each other and moving on instinct. Ren was also looking away and it seemed like this routine would become an awkward mess.
"I'm not playing around."
Ren looked at Jeanne, surprised by the sudden words and the serious look on her face.
"I'm not playing a joke or a gag or doing this because I lost a bet or something. I'm standing here because this is simply who I am." Jeane said with total conviction. "Some days I'm Jaune, others I'm Jeanne.
A smile graced Jeanne's face.
"To be clear, most days I'm Jaune and I'm more than happy with my jeans and sweaters. But some days I'm Jeanne and I want to wear something different. My gender is as fluid as water in a glass. Simple really, though I understand why it can be confusing for some."
Jeanne frowned and looked away, as if ashamed.
"I'm…I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this about this…about me. My situation is different than yours but similar enough that I can help you…could have helped you, if I had been more open. I was just so scared, scared of being rejected. I suppressed this part of me and hid it away despite knowing that was the wrong thing to do. By trying to protect myself, I lied to my friends and teammates and left you to suffer alone."
Ren was still speechless from everything, so all they could do was shake their head. There was no way that anything was Jeanne's fault, not after all she had done…all she was doing right now.
The smile returned to Jeanne's face, and she continued.
"When my sisters first started forcing me to wear girl clothes, I did hate it at first, but only because I was a kid being made to do something I didn't want to do. I started to like it after a while not because I was coping or something, but because it was helping me realize who I was. It took a long while for me to fully realize everything, but I suppose I was blessed to have a family that supported me completely…to have parents who understood that some days they had seven daughters and one son while on others they had eight daughters."
Still swaying slowly to the music, Jeane raised a hand and gently caressed Ren's cheek.
"I've never told anyone outside of my family this; shown this side of me to anyone else. I'm doing this because I truly want to help you, Pyrrha and Nora. I want to show you that your gender doesn't need to be a chain that imprisons you but wings that can lift you to your greatest height. I want to help you because…because I care about you…my friend, my teammate…"
Jeanette cupped Ren's cheek and looked deeply into their eyes.
"My Prince."
Ren felt as if a bolt of lightning had struck them right in the chest. Heat and emotions swelled up within their body and mind as they processed what Jeanne had said.
The Prince in the fairytales was the dashing and heroic figure, one who rescues the Princess and defeats the evildoers. Along the way, they exhibit courage, valour, integrity and a whole host of positive qualities. They were the foundation for so many tales and in turn formed the morals and virtues that humans wanted the world to work on, even if reality was always more complicated.
Ren had, subconsciously, wanted to be the Prince, to be the strong masculine hero. If they could be that, then maybe they could have saved their family, they could save Nora and finally give a reason to why they had survived Kuroyuri's destruction, when so many others didn't. They realized, then and now, that this was wrong but with nothing clear to replace it, all they could do was cling to this notion.
But here was Jeanne, recontextualizing it with just a single word. The way she had said 'Prince', somehow didn't have a shred of gender attached to it. All that was felt were the virtues that the word held, virtues that anyone could aspire to embody. They could be strong, dependable, reliable and dedicated to saving others…all while not having to worry about their gender.
They knew this, they had been told this repeatedly since their friends had found out about their past, but a big part of it hadn't sunk in yet.
Standing in the middle of the dance floor, a beautiful girl in their arms saying such simple but profound things, it all just clicked together. Like the revelation in the Nurse Office and Weiss's gift of the chest binder, it didn't solve the entire problem of Lie Ren, but it was a crucial step forward.
What could Ren do for this wonderful person who helped them so much? Only one thing seemed to fit, and so Ren leaned forward and kissed Jeanne on the lips.
A kiss that Jeanne enthusiastically returned.
The crowd was stunned by this. Wasn't it in the script that Ren would get together with Nora? They were together-together in some quirky fashion, right? The dark, brooding guy was supposed to get together with his bubbly childhood friend who…was currently holding onto another gorgeous redhead and the two of them were smiling at the scene.
Everyone's perception of the Team JNPR's canon relationships had been thoroughly shattered.
The kiss broke just as the music swelled and Ren proceeded to spin Jeanne around, their bodies moving on instinct in the way they had been practicing for weeks.
Nora and Pyrrha also began to move, their body filling with warm emotions at watching Ren kissing Jeanne. They were just so happy for them, and for Pyrrha, it was enough for her to completely forget her aversion to physical contact. She pulled Nora in close before spinning the shorter girl around and lifting her, laughing joyfully as she did so.
The two pairs of JNPR danced and spun around each other, looking like a chaotic swirl of colours that somehow fit together. It was less controlled, and less precise than the routine of Team RWBY, but it was no less enchanting. Pure emotion was on display, the feelings of the dancing given physical form by the movements of their bodies.
One thing they lifted from RWBY was the sudden but perfectly timed switching of dance partners. Jeanne and Nora twirled around each other as they let go of their respective partners, neatly caught by their other teammates.
Ren held Nora close as the music slowed again, looking deep into her eyes as she looked into theirs. It was silly that only now did Ren truly understand how wildly in love they were with this precious girl.
Their relationship was built on a single, momentous event at the start, with hundreds of little things added over the years, creating a castle that Nora was the undisputed Queen of.
A Queen. Their Queen.
Once more, Ren closed the distance between themselves and a beautiful girl and kissed her. Nora eagerly accepted the embrace of her Prince, her heart soaring.
This wasn't a declaration, like with Jeanne, but instead a confirmation of feelings that had been there for a long time.
The crowd cheered all the same, some happy that this pairing was still on course. Others were also coming to realize that Ren had just kissed two girls in as many minutes.
"Oh, man! Ren is a player!"
"Seriously, I can't believe he got two hot girls,"
"He may be three for three. I heard that he's been seen holding hands with Pyrrha in empty classrooms.
"Damn, Jaune's going to be pissed when he finds out Ren stole his two other teammates away."
"Where is Jaune anyway? He's missing all the excitement."
The members of JNPR ignored the words of the crowd, not caring how wrong they all were at this time. It didn't matter one bit at this moment.
Jeanne was beyond happy that everything seemed to be going well, that she had conveyed her feelings to Ren, who in turn was able to express their feelings to Nora. It was all so wonderful, and all that was left was to find a way to express her feelings to Pyrrha safely and comfortably and then-
Jeanne's thought was cut off as a soft feeling brushed against her cheek. She turned away from looking at Ren and Nora and back to her red-haired dance partner, who was leaning back from the surprise kiss she had just given.
The blonde's heart soared and all she wanted was to kiss her in return, but she knew that was too much. Pyrrha's face was bright red and her whole body was shaking, the small peck on the cheek taking everything she had to pull off.
Instead, Jeanne gently lifted Pyrrha's gloved hands to her lips and kissed her fingers. Even this small action sent noticeable shivers down Pyrrha.
Looking at her partner, Jeanne was struck by how strong she was. While it may look like she was struggling with such simple and basic things, she was applying her inner strength to overcome an immense obstacle. It may look different, but to Jeanne, it was the same as a hero from myth conquering a terrifying monster.
Jeanne looked deeply into Pyrrha's eyes as words left her lips without thought or effort.
"My Champion."
Lightening could strike twice, as the same jolt that Ren had experienced hit Pyrrha right in her heart.
Champion…that word has become so poisoned to her, an unwanted title forced upon her. It meant suffering pain and hardship to be a puppet, working to support her parents' social position above all else. There was nothing good in that word for her and part of her wished to be rid of it, along with the rest of her family.
But here, Jeanne was flipping the word on its head. She could be a Champion, for Jeane, Ren and Nora. She could be a Champion for them…and herself. She could stand tall, suffering hardships and pain for the sake of others…because she wanted to… because protecting them was worth it. Being a Champion, the Champion could be worth it when it was for those she truly cared about.
It seemed so simple, but she hadn't had anyone in her life she truly cared about…her brother was gone, and her aunt was kept at arms-length by her parents, so she had been alone for so many years.
Now, she had Jeanne…and Ren…and Nora… and the Xiao Long Sisters. So many wonderful people who were more than worth fighting for. To be a Champion for them…was an easy choice to make.
Emotions swelled within Pyrrha, and she broke out laughing, a beautiful sound that made Jeanne's own heart soar. The music shifted again and Pyrrha spun Jeanne around before letting go, Team JNPR again switching dance partners seamlessly. Jeanne was caught by Nora while Ren fell into the arms of Pyrrha.
Roles switched and changed as the four danced with one another. The thoughts of three of the dancers were focused on the fourth.
Jeanne had done so much for them, in such a short time, that Ren, Pyrrha and Nora could barely believe it. This man, this woman, this person…was so incredible. They had stolen their hearts by simply being good and kind, and they were doing all they could to nurture and protect those same hearts.
A Knight…our Knight
With this shared thought, the members of JNPR continued to dance. The Queen, Prince, Champion and Knight of Team JNPR moved in perfect harmony with one another, leaving all spectators stunned and speechless.
Almost all spectators. The Xiao Long Sisters were standing beside a table with refreshments, quietly sipping on fruit punch. They had received a text from Jaune just before JNPR entered, saying that they were arriving soon and "It's Jeanne tonight". The four didn't know what to make of it at first, but everything became clear when Team JNPR entered the room.
"Whoa…our little knight really cleaned up," Yang commented, taking a sip of her drink.
"I know…she cleans up damn good…" Weiss replied, her voice low and husky.
Her sisters turned to look at her, slightly confused by her tone and how she was staring intensely at the blonde knight.
The confusion lasted only a moment, as the answer was clear; Weiss liked girls…Jeanne was a girl. The White Xiao Long's ogling was thus a perfectly natural reaction, for her at least. The other Sisters just shrugged and went back to watching the amazing dance that JNPR was performing.
They were as impressed as everyone else, though they kept their jaws from hitting the floor. They knew that JNPR had amazing talent and could easily apply them to dancing but they needed a push to truly reach their potential.
The push had come in the form of Jaune, or rather Jeanne. All four of them were able to fully express themselves, and they were more amazing and beautiful for it.
"Those guys sure are something, right?" Blake said.
"Yeah…" The others replied.
It was an unnecessary question and answer but also appropriate to the situation. It was truly dawning on the Sisters just how wonderful their friends in Team JNPR were, that they were unlike anyone else they had spent time with. The Sisters had friends back on Patch, but they had always kept some distance from others, only truly opening to each other and keeping outsiders at a distance.
Team JNPR had somehow blasted this invisible wall apart and had become truly precious to the Xiao Long Sisters, friends they couldn't imagine being without anymore.
Another thought popped into the collective minds of the Xiao Long Sisterhood, with Ruby giving voice to that thought.
"It's almost like…they're trying to outdo us…"
The Sisters all looked at one another before turning to look at JNPR, who were continuing their jaw-dropping performance…right after RWBY's jaw-dropping performance.
"This won't do…not at all," the Sisters said in unison, their voices low and dark. They finished their drinks in one gulp before marching back towards the dance floor, cracking their knuckles as they went.
It looked like they were getting ready to fight a grand battle…which wasn't far from the truth.
The music reached its end and JNPR's dance concluded. The lights dimmed and the four dancers moved apart, their breathing steady despite the physical exertion.
What happened next was unexpected, even to JNPR themselves. They would claim, both after the Dance and for the rest of their lives, that they hadn't planned anything and nothing was coordinated. They simply moved in the way that felt right, that was right at the moment.
The lights came back on as the next song began, the high-energy sounds contrasting with the prior moment of silence. Team RWBY slid out from the crowd and onto the dance floor, each one grabbing a member of Team JNPR. Ruby grabbed Pyrrha, Yang took Jeanne, Weiss with Nora and Blake went with Ren.
The JNPR members moved instructively with their new partners, letting them lead the way with this new and unrehearsed dance number. Joy filled their hearts again and even Pyrrha was more than able to let the much shorter Ruby hold and lead her, her phobia forgotten in this moment. There was no plan besides following their hearts and letting their dear friends lead the way.
It was, of course, a masterpiece performance, with all eight in perfect coordination with each other. Even the now customary switching of dance partners was done in such sync that everyone watching firmly believed that they had to have practiced this for weeks in advance.
That wasn't true at all but right now it didn't matter. For the eight young adults on the dance floor, the most important thing was to follow the powerful, indescribable feelings. A feeling that hadn't existed before Beacon but now flowed so naturally. All they knew was that when they were together, both in their teams and as one group, they could do anything.
The onlookers were once again left speechless. They were all training to be super-powered warriors against creatures of pure darkness, but this was just…beyond their wildest expectations of what a group of teenagers could do.
Everyone was going to have to get used to RWBY and JNPR performing amazing feats because they weren't going to be stopping any time soon.
The improvised dance number eventually came to an end and, after receiving a thunderous ovation, the group separated to mingle and relax.
Weiss made her way over to one of the large speakers, turning it off so she could do a quick technical checkup on it and the sound system. The Sisters weren't done with dancing and singing, so she wanted to make sure everything was still good.
"That was…something, right Snow Angel?"
Weiss bristled at the voice and pet name, taking a deep breath before turning around.
Neptune was standing right behind her, trying to look suave and cool in his black tuxedo. Any attempt to impress was lost by how, to Weiss's expert eyes, the suit wasn't fitted very well, and that Neptune wasn't used to such clothing.
Even if he could have pulled the tuxedo off perfectly, he would have still paled in comparison to what Weiss was pulling off. It was like a candle being held up to a giant spotlight, it was no contest and clear that he was out of his league.
That didn't stop the blue-haired boy from trying.
"That was pretty cool, the dancing I mean. Not really my scene but you certainly have some skill…you and your sisters I mean… and not just dancing, of course, I know you're great at lots of things…yeah…"
He trailed off, trying and failing to find the smooth words to say. None of the phrases in any of the "How to Pick Up Chicks" books fit this situation. He couldn't compliment her dress because she wasn't wearing a dress yet still looked gorgeous in that white tux. Nothing came to mind that fit this amazing girl in front of him.
As Neptune was struggling to find the words, Weiss couldn't help but think that this was all wrong. Not simply that he was flirting with her when she wasn't interested, but that she knew that he was better than this. She had seen glimpses of a kind, supportive and overall better person than this skirt-chaser he was forcing himself to be. It just made no sense to her.
The sudden appearance of a third player stopped all thoughts on the matter.
"Why, my Dear Weiss! What are you doing all by yourself in the corner?"
Turning, the pair saw that it was Jeanne. She was speaking in a loud, boisterous voice and was strutting towards them, her hips swaying prominently.
It was completely different from how she had been earlier, which was exactly the point.
When she reached the pair, she turned to Neptune, eyes widening.
"My, My! Weiss, what are you doing, hoarding this fine specimen of a man all to yourself? Don't you know that sharing is caring?"
Weiss could only stare dumbly at the blonde, not sure what was happening.
Neptune was in the same boat, not used to having a girl compliment him. He gathered his wits and tried to bring the charm.
"I'm Neptune…what's your name, beautiful?"
The blonde let out a joyful laugh while Weiss's eyes widened at realizing that Neptune didn't know who Jeanne was. She bit her lip, figuring that this might be just what Neptune needed.
"I'm Jeanne and I do declare that you shall be accompanying me to the dance floor. A fine gentleman such as yourself can surely show a girl a grand old time."
Neptune's eyes widened at the suggestion, and he was about to come up with an excuse, but Jeanne didn't give him the chance. She grabbed the blue-haired boy by the arms and practically dragged him away, the "Cool Guy" unable to resist, as he wasn't used to any female making these kinds of advances with him.
Before they were gone, Jeanne turned back to Weiss and dropping the façade for a moment, winked at her. Weiss mouthed a "Thank you" in return before finishing up her work with the sound system.
Once that was done, Weiss made her way back to her Team. She was a bit surprised to see that Ruby was missing but was assured by Blake and Yang that she had just gone for a little walk to clear her head and would be back soon.
Weiss nodded at the answer, understanding that her baby sister still wasn't used to large crowds of people. She would pass the time waiting for her to return by discussing all the things Team RWBY would be doing next, including the first onstage performance by the newest, greatest, and most original girl band, K/DA.
This night was far from over.
The upper floor of the Auditorium was noticeably quieter than the ground level, but there was still an all-present hum of both music and people talking. The balcony area that overlooked the main floor presented an amazing sight, an ocean of people with different clothes, all mingling and swirling around one another. A kaleidoscope of people, all packed into a single space at a single moment in time.
For a girl who grew up in a small, rural area, it was very different from what Ruby was used to. She hadn't frequented the dances and social gatherings at Signal, unlike her Sisters, so being around lots of people at once was still new for her. She wasn't on the verge of a panic attack or anything, she just needed a quiet moment to recenter herself.
She was the only one up on this level, as the party was down below, and she was looking forward to getting back down there. There was one thing in the world that could calm and focus her, so with one hand on the Balcony's railing and continuing to slowly walk along its path, Ruby closed her eyes and reached out with her Sense.
In a large crowd, it could be difficult to see her Sisters' souls among the background noise but right now there was no issue. Like three bright stars against a black sky, her Sisters outshone everyone. The coloured flames that represented the Xiao Longs' spirit made all the smaller, white flames seem so…insignificant.
That was perfect, as in Ruby's mind, it sometimes seemed like everything…and everyone, was worthless when put next to her Sisters.
She couldn't see the floor or the railing, but she still walked confidently, using the light of her Sisters' souls like a boat using a lighthouse. She eventually reached a spot that gave her a perfect view of the three coloured flames and, leaning against the railing, she opened her eyes.
The view was very much the same, with just more colours and shapes. A crowd of people who all looked dull compared to the three radiant girls standing together, talking and laughing amongst themselves.
Ruby's heart swelled as she looked down at the three girls who meant everything to her. They didn't realize that their little sister was so close, but she wouldn't make them wait long. She was just as eager to get back to things, she just wanted a minute to look at what mattered most to her.
She loved her Sisters with every fibre of her being. She loved every moment, every second with them, and while she still valued her privacy and alone time, that was anchored on the knowledge that she could see her Sisters at any time. Anytime time away from them could be easily replaced with being in their presence, which made the initial idea of them leaving for Beacon without her so terrifying.
But Fate had intervened, and they got to stay together. The four of them staying together was just how the world worked…it was how it had to work. Nothing would separate for from being with her Sisters.
She loved them, completely and without condition. It made Weiss apprehension about coming out as a lesbian, while understandable, very silly to her. Did her sister think she would go off on some long, homophobic rant against her? That was completely ridiculous.
Ruby's lips pursed as a thought came to her. The whole ordeal with Ren and now the reveal of Jeanne got her thinking that she loved her Sisters for who they were, not just that they were her female siblings. If her siblings had been of a different gender or identified as a different gender, it wouldn't have mattered to her at all. They were the three precious souls that she loved, her Sisters by coincidence more than anything else.
But she still loved them because of this deep connection. She loved them because they were her Sisters, not despite it. They were her beloved family…even though she didn't share a single drop of blood with any of them.
Her gaze shifted to Yang at this thought, taking in her features. Her long hair, broad shoulders and thick build…so much like her birth mother… and her father.
Words from Summer Rose's Diary flashed through Ruby's mind. The one memento from her mother that she had never shared with her sisters. Within, it told a tale of just before she moved in with Taiyang, of a night of youthful follies and drunken indiscretions.
Not one drop of blood
Ruby shook her head, ridding her of these meaningless thoughts. Her mother was her mother, her father was her father, and those three girls were her Sisters. All other details were pointless to worry about.
A smile formed as she gazed deeply at the three, her sharp eyes taking in every detail. She had done this a hundred times before and would do it a hundred times in the future, but she never grew tired of it.
Yang was so dazzling in her dress, and both Weiss and Blake were sharper than knives in their suits. As all the other students had noticed, these looks were so different from how they usually dressed but they still pulled it off perfectly.
They could pull it off perfectly because they were perfect, in Ruby's eyes. They were smart, talented, and beautiful beyond anything while being so caring and considerate. They were all the best things rolled into three complete packages.
It was why she loved them with all her heart.
It was why she planned on marrying them someday.
Jaune had said it best, that love had no boundaries, and there were no limits on the love she held for those three individuals. She didn't have any concrete plans or anything, but it was beyond doubt in her mind that she would, no matter what anyone else said.
She loved them so much, for everything they were. Yang's fiery passion and nurturing care, Weiss's fierce intelligent and unstoppable drive and Blake's cunning and strong empathy for those less fortunate. They were so different and yet equally amazing, and she loved all of it. She loved how different they were, how free they were to be who they were with no restrictions or someone forcing them to be something.
"But…" Ruby thought, her eyes darkening and her grip on the railing tightening. "They're mine. They belong to me…me and no other…"
She was mentally blind to this dangerous contradiction and was helpless as her Curse turned her genuine love and affection into something dark and unhealthy.
If her mother had still been with her, maybe she could have recognized this phenomenon and resisted it but alone, she was consumed by it, believing these feelings were perfectly normal.
The Silver-Eyed Warriors were almost forgotten legends, remembered only by a few for their incredible fighting skills and, above all, their special power to freeze Grimm. There were almost none left, as centuries of fighting the creatures of Darkness had reduced their numbers and buried their memory.
Alongside the process that gave their powers, a form of biological programming had been placed within this special bloodline. Sliver-eyed Warriors didn't simply want to fight the Grimm, they needed to. It was an irresistible compulsion for all of them, throughout history, and was the reason they were all relentless fighters, and why they almost all died in battle.
Taiyang had hoped beyond hope that he could have convinced his daughters to use their talents for other pursuits, to take up careers that were less dangerous than being a Huntress. In another time or place, he may have succeeded with the three older sisters but there was no hope for Ruby. Even if he had strictly forbidden her from fighting, she would still have found a way to do combat with the Grimm.
It was an unstoppable obsession and even not understanding it, Ruby had to comply. She would have still forged a weapon and run away to fight, with likely disastrous results. As painful as it was for Taiyang, having Ruby go through the formal training to join the world's dangerous profession was the safest option.
Ruby earnestly believed that being a Huntress and fighting Grimm was simply what she wanted to do, that it was a 'cool' thing that she would be good at and that it was just the best thing for her to do.
But Remnant was a world of bloody evolution, and so the genetic compulsion of the Silver-Eyed Warriors had changed over the generations. For the Rose bloodline, their natural obsession over fighting the Grimm had expanded to include possessive feelings towards other people. It mostly developed towards those they already had strong feelings for, but when it took hold, it was impossible to stop.
Summer Rose had managed to avoid issues by being shy and withdrawn from others for most of her early life and remaining a friendly but somewhat distant Team Leader during her time at Beacon. It was only near the end of Team STRQ's time at school that she started to fall in love with Taiyang. She had tried to keep her distance, as he was with Raven at the time, but shortly after Yang was born, Raven left without a word and, in a panic, Tai had asked her to come over.
In short order, Summer found herself with both Taiyang and with a daughter, as she quickly came to love Yang as her own. Soon, she was joined by Ruby and then Weiss and Blake, allowing her Curse's obsession to be spread out and diluted.
Summer Rose thus was a loving and devoted, while very protective, wife and mother. The more negative aspects were kept at bay and even the ever-present drive to fight the Grimm was held off by her desire to be with her family.
The call couldn't be ignored forever and so she eventually did return to her Huntress duties, where she met the same fate as all her forebearers.
What could a simple, honest soul like Ruby do, losing a beloved parent at such a young age? She clung to those she had left, her Sisters, and her love for them grew to unmatched heights.
The Curse was taking that love in a dangerous direction. Before Beacon, she had pulled off a prank to scare off her Sisters' boyfriends, ending relationships that were already on the way out. Now, her vision began to tunnel, seeing her Sisters and nothing else, and her passiveness soared to a new level.
The idea of someone, anyone, coming into her Sisters' lives, into their vicinity…taking their time and attention and affection away from Ruby… made her want to…
"I'll kill them," the young girl whispered to herself. "I'll kill them…I'll kill anyone who tried to take my Sisters away…I'll kill all of them…I'll…"
The Xiao Long Sisters suddenly stopped their conversation with one another and turned to greet three new people.
Ruby held her breath, every muscle of her body tensed and was ready to dive down to the dance floor and tear these intruders apart. Her eyes focused, taking in the details of these soon-to-be-dead interlopers and saw that they were…they were…
Pyrrha…Ren…and Nora. It was her friends from Team JNPR, coming to chat with Yang, Weiss and Blake. They were…taking her Sisters' time and attention. That was…that was…
That was perfectly fine! Wonderful. It was so great that they had met and befriended another group so quickly and so firmly right away. Just the other day, Ruby had found herself with nothing to do, with her Sisters all busy with their tasks for the dance.
No Sisters and, no weapon to tinker with, made for a very bored Ruby. She was at her wit's end when she bumped into Team JNPR and was invited to hang out with them.
What followed was a simple but fun-filled day with her friends. She loaned some of her comic books to a very excited Pyrrha, taught an uncertain Ren how to play Kung Fu Ninja Ultimate Slayer Death Battle 2, had a detailed conversation with Nora on what the perfect ratio of strawberries and chocolate chips to add to pancakes would be, and practiced some slow dancing with Jaune.
It was a fun time, and only afterwards did Ruby realize how comfortable she had been, spending time with people outside of her family. It was a bit strange to her, but it was also great. It was just…amazing.
She gazed down at the three members of JNPR, taking in their appearance once more and realizing that they were almost, almost, as beautiful as her sisters, in their way.
Looking out across the dance floor, she easily spotted Jaune, who was almost as radiant as the elder Xiao Longs. She was slow dancing with Neptune and, based on the serious expressions on both of their face, it looked like they were having an important conversation.
If Jaune could speak some sense and proper manner into this wannabe lady killer, then that would be good for everyone, Neptune included.
All four of them were just great people and Ruby truly enjoyed spending time with them. It was funny really…it was almost like she was falling in lov-
Ruby's mind went blank. Her body continued to function, but her mental faculties had completely shut down. She was still like a statue as her soul worked to push out this…alien concept from her consciousness.
A few seconds later, Ruby blinked and shook her head, coming back to her senses.
"What was I thinking about? Something about…Team JNPR. Yeah, JNPR, great people, can't wait to spend more time with them…as good friends".
Ruby shook her head again to clear it before taking a deep breath. She had collected herself enough and she was ready to return to the dance.
She started walking towards the stairs, keeping one eye on the dance floor below. Her confident strides would make anyone question the notion that she disliked wearing high heels or was bad at walking in them.
She spotted Penny down below. The incognito robot girl could easily fit in with the other students, her simple dress fit well, and her exuberant personality and slightly awkward dance moves matched the overall atmosphere.
Less conspicuous were two Atlesian soldiers acting as her bodyguards. Several soldiers were moving around outside and within the Auditorium as security but those two were making the effort to stay close and on either side of their special charge. It wasn't as noticeable on the dance floor itself, but with the elevation and sharp eyes Ruby had, it was easy to spot.
She had a note to ask Penny for a dance later. Like JNPR, she had quickly come to enjoy the company and unique personality of this young woman. There was just something that resonated with her, and she was coming to lo…lov…like her.
Ruby stumbled a bit but quickly righted herself, fast enough that she didn't even notice. It wasn't something to worry about, not when she had so much to look forward to. There was dancing with JNPR and Penny and then there would be the onstage debut of K/DA, with their first song 'Popstar'.
In another time and place, Ruby might have been more overwhelmed, more exhausted or just felt out of place at this dance. She would have likely had to take a walk outside to really collect herself or even just leave early.
That wasn't the case, not when she had both good friends and amazing sisters. She had a full night ahead of her, of dancing and singing with the best company possible.
It was going to be a night she wouldn't forget.
All the while, Cinder Falls' mission to infiltrate the CCT Tower went off without a hitch.
Finally done with this chapter. Sorry it took so long, a combination of work, writer's block and having the winds taken out of my sails by the shutdown of Rooster Teeth. I know RWBY has been picked up by Viz Media and Rooster Teeth is starting up again, but the shock and uncertainty of the future makes writing tough. I am determined to keep writing this story, though I can't guarantee a consistent upload schedule.
The big reveal for Jaune in this chapter. When I first started writing this story, I had the idea that Jaune would dress up as a girl, well enough to fool most everyone at the dance and then humorously lure Neptune away from Weiss. In essence, a slightly more elaborate version of the joke used in the show, but a joke, nonetheless.
This story has changed and evolved greatly since I wrote the first chapters, just as I have as a writer. I've decided to have Ren be female and deal with gender identity issues, which made me reexamine what I wanted to do with Jaune for this scene. I went with having Jaune being gender-fluid, identifying as male most of the time but changing to female when they felt like or, like at the Dance when it was appropriate. I feel this isn't a radical shift or big change but fits well with how I've already built Jaune up in this story.
This also lets me build on something I wish to do, the expansion of the Sisterhood to include other characters. To keep with the name, I want the group to be predominantly female, which now can include Ren and Jaune. The core pairings will remain that of Pollination and Juniper Berries, but I want the members to have strong feelings for each other. Penny is another candidate to join the group down the line and I'm open to suggestions for other characters.
I put the big explanation for Ruby's possessive and violent behaviour here, as I want to finally explain what the deal is. Her Silver-Eyed Warrior programming is making her into a Were-Yandere. Both she and other characters will start to notice that something is wrong, but it won't be fully revealed until Maria enters the story, which is a long way off. I wanted to give some answers in the meantime.
The point about Ruby and Yang not being blood-related is there for people who struggle with those two being together. A small 'out' that doesn't change the story.
I don't know when the next chapter will be out but I'm always, slowly, working on it. I also have a couple of other short stories in the works, including a RWBY one. No idea if or when those will be out, but I do hope to release both more stories and more chapters for this fanfic.
Please leave a review or PM and tell me what you think. Thanks.