*Clang. Smash. clang*
Jolting awake from the sound of metal crashing, the awakener is assaulted by the lights from the ceiling when eyes open abruptly, heart palpitating in their ears.
Breathing fanatically to catch air that they thought lost, using an arm to cover their eyes from the light, seconds ticking away trying to reclaim their rhythm, from their own rampant heart.
In the quiet silence accompanied by a ticking clock they reclaimed their senses looking at their surroundings, noticing the room smelling of cleaning chemicals with a hint of vinegar.
"You seem to finally be awake" said a soft female voice.
They turn to see a nurse with fox ears protruding from the top of her head.
With a name tag showing the woman's name.
[Sachi Yuka]
The Doctor of Beacon Academy one of the best healing semblance currently known in beacons history in the current present called healing flame it could heal the person at least to what can be considered 13% back to health and as well 19% of their aura, would in the best way to describe it, is charged and would need to wait for their aura as it's healing properly but that's the max she can help with in sets, depending on some of the peoples Aura reserves they can fully regain their aura quicker if it's smaller than most, it usually takes an hour for those with smaller aura reserves, for larger reserves would usually to more than 2-3 hours to fully regain their Aura when in the red well mostly for active huntsman and huntresses anyway.
It used to be a big issue for trying to fight against the Grimm but until that has been invented it was a literal life saver but it's not even been invented nor thought of yet.
She could theoretically inspire the invention but then again how will the world react? It's inconceivable it could either go well or very, very bad and there's no in between.
Besides, she doesn't know how the thing works.
"Excuse me, are you feeling any better, are you feeling comfortable, would you like anything, water, or juice, anything?"
Called out of her thoughts by the doctor it takes a quick moment for the words to register.
" oh no It's fine im just really exhausted, i feel a slight headache but i'm fine"
Ruby kindly declined but then memories of the day came rushing back
Unannounced from Initiation, worry shown blatantly, the school doctor seeing this, asked the young girl what it seems that has her in worry, she is her patient and under her care after all.
" are you alright miss-"
" Initiation, everyone! what happened to everyone else at initiation?!"
She pleaded to know for everyone's well being, genuine worry shown in her silver eyes.
Dr.Yuka looked at the girl, understanding her.
"Yes the rest are all fine just experiencing aura exhaustion and having some R&R they should be all right in a day or two"
'Well all but one is having difficulty to summon their aura'
The doctor said kindly, while keeping that last bit of information to herself to not cause anymore worry that the girl should squander over.
Ruby sighs in relief now knowing that everyone is alright.
"Thank you" was all the young huntress-in-training said to the doctor with genuine gratitude. The doctor looked at the young lady with a kind smile.
"It's not me that you should be thanking but Ms.Schnee. she is the one that took you to safety and brought you up here to the infirmary."
Ruby nodding in understanding she looked at the room expecting to see Weiss in the other bed next to her but no the other bed seemed clean untouched. No wrinkles seen she should've expected this, Weiss isn't her partner not here not anymore she won't be checking in on her their just strangers they were only fighting a battle that they were both stuck in the middle of. After that they walk different paths they might walk by each other, exchange words through classes and maybe hallways but, they will be walking opposite ways after what happens and what both her and Jaune can change even a step forward will divulge already has to what has been known to the both of them.
The grimm hybrid that she wasn't- no couldn't stop and how she fell with a single use of her silver eyes she needs to regain that strength same with Jaune.
Looking at her hand she felt a tornado of emotions, the current powerful… uncertainty. Her fears, she understood, were rising, her team-Team RWBY no longer beside her she felt alone, vulnerable, afraid she just- these thoughts worming into her thoughts.
She shakes her head, putting those thoughts to the side at the moment she needs to see if the others are ok if anything happened to them whatever the dream or thoughts were or will be will be put to the side in the meantime she needs to look for her tea-colleagues. She needs to look for her colleagues even if the word itself feeling like its own meaning.
She stands at the foot of the bed looking at the doctor who is now back at her desk filling medical files in the computer on the girl's condition and what injuries she sustained.
"Um, excuse me, Dr.Yuka?" The huntress in training softly called out to the doctor.
"Hmm, yes ms.Rose do you need anything?" the doctor looking away from the computer now having given her full attention to the young lady. Patiently waiting for what she wants to ask.
"Um, I was just wondering if I am allowed to visit everyone else to see how they're doing, but uh if my visit would be harming in any way from their recovery then I will understand" Ruby spoke sincerely but she really hopes that the doctor lets her see them. She needs confirmation to see them, not caring in whatever state they're in, she just needs to see them breathing no matter how bad it'll look, seeing them alive breathing is all that matters, especially the one that gently holds her heart for her to breathe.
The doctor fully turns her chair to look at the girl inwardly contemplating if she should. Looking at the young lady mentally dissecting her she shouldn't be let to see them now they experienced something that no huntsmen or huntress has, that grimm hybrid that was shown to faculty after the teams were made.
But then when she looks into the young girl's eyes she sees uncertainty lay bare but yet looking closer deeper into her silver pupils something quite yet firm stands. she can't form the word to properly word what she sees but the perpetuation of someone to continue forward staggering while doing so but still understanding what lays forward.
The look mirroring Arcs but yet his seeming different all the same the two tired and heavy yet firm in where they walk.
"Very well, you can visit them, actually you should visit them. Maybe seeing a friendly face can help their road to recuperation be more bearable" said the doctor.
Nodding at the young lady the doctor goes back to sitting at her desk filling out the files in her computer.
"Umm?"
"Take a left, first one through four"
The doctor instructed the huntress in training, Ruby nodded understanding what the doctor told her.
Walking from room to room.
The first room contained Pyrrha and Yang, the two having bandages wrapped around them arms and legs with Yang having a cast on her right arm, Pyrrha having a cast covering her left ankle the two are resting.
She doesn't want to wake them; she decided to let them relax and regain their strength. Going to the next room seeing both Ren and Nora the two were sitting with bandages wrapped around them as well Nora talking like they didn't even go through a life or death fight that could've ended horrendously. But somehow by some miracle they were able to come back here alive bruised but still in one piece, seeing them all like this hurts her heart yet all the same it eases the anxiety that lingered.
too focused in her inner monologue, she didn't hear someone walking up to her until their hand rested on her shoulder.
"Hey Ru-Ru Remnant to Ru-Ru you there?" Nora said, waving an arm trying to gain the younger girl's attention.
"Huh, oh yeah im ok just having some thoughts. You know"
Ruby replied but then taking notice that Nora's right eye was Bandage, heavy guilt resurfaced she couldn't help but taste the bitterness in her lips that tasted like acrid metal. She felt responsible that she couldn't help but feel its weight grow heavy on her shoulders.
Nora noticed that her partner was staring at her and quickly guessed what thoughts were rummaging in the younger girl's mind.
"Hey it's not your fault for what happened out there" said Nora gently at the younger girl the hand on Ruby's shoulder lightly tightens showing that she speaks the truth but Ruby's eye still contained doubt. "Yeah but I wasn't able to do anything to help I was-OW!" Before Ruby could finish her sentence she was hit with a head chop. Nora holding up her hand that she chopped Ruby looked at her with kind eyes and a soft smile, patience in her features.
"Ruby, what are you?" Nora asked not in Questioning but more of knowing the answer yet asking anyway.
"Huh? What do you mean by that?" Ruby asked, confused of what Nora is asking for.
"What.are.you.Ruby.Rose" she asked this time slowly and the kind tone didn't waver but yet held a quiet gravity to it.
"Well , um, uh, Me?" Ruby answered unsure.
"Yes and how many of you are there?" Nora asked, her soft tone not changing.
"Just me"
"That's right" Nora straightened expression mixed to warm and steady "there is only one of you just like there's only one of Jaune arc, Lie ren,me and the others just like how you did that really awesome - and a little scary - eye beam laser attack to that grimm pushing yourself to the point of passing out and even if the grimm got out somehow. We fought, that's what me and everyone here signed up for."
Ruby's eyes began to sting.
Nora leaned closer, voice softening.
"And what happened to me and everyone else" her other hand brushing over her bandaged eye with her lopsided grin. "It wasn't because what you did wasn't enough, but because I made a choice just like you and everyone back at Initiation, to keep fighting.just like you and everyone did to fight so hard passed the point of exhaustion."
Ruby, beginning to tremble slightly. trying to hold it together.
She then felt Nora hug her- not her regular spine-shattering, bone-breaking bear she was famous for but this one was…soft. Careful, protective. Holding her lightly as if she could brake at any moment almost like at that moment she was something fragile. Yet all the same, something precious. Something that Nora doesn't want to break.
Ruby in that moment froze.Her mouth felt dry swallowing hard as something close to whine mixed with a cry escaping.
Nora lightly resting her chin on Ruby's shoulder, she spoke quietly and warmth behind the words feeling like a nice campfire after a long, cold night.
"Ruby it's ok to mess up and when something new happens, even if it doesn't work the first time. You're allowed to be human, you're allowed to make mistakes, allowed to figure things out, allowed to be scared and most importantly you're allowed to be imperfect."
A shaky breath escaped Ruby's lungs as she returned the hug as her fingers curled to the back of Nora's shirt.
Nora smiled at the responses, her tone then changed to teasing.
"And hey when this heals i'll have such an awesome story scar and… passing out from the mystery eye beams is probably better than what the ice queen did when she first unlocked her semblance. I bet the ice princess sneezed while trying to use her semblance one time."
Ruby raised a brow " and how would you know that?"
Nora was about to speak but another voice decided to cut in.
"Because she once caused a blackout to a village cause she stepped on a puddle" said Ren in a teasing tone to the memory bringing melancholic feelings the adventures that they had were what he brands now normal but to the sane it would be dubbed, insanity.
Which is also known as a regular Tuesday.
"And that's why they should make wires water proof. Not my fault that I was tased near a power box which caused it to short circuit" pointed out Nora.
"...wat?" Ruby remembers many stories Nora told to them like the one with ice pike and great golem grimm which turned out to be true. The one of Nora killing a gorilla grimm by choke hold.
Many sounded imaginative yet some were told as truth when Ren confirmed which of them were true.
"You see, even I have screwed up a lot" Nora said nonchalantly, shrugging at any notion of shame from failure but thriving at the thought of failing and buzzing at the thought of rising to the challenge while having fun on the way.
"Like Renny told once failure isn't the sign of impossibility-but growth"
Ren nodded. " My words, her delivery." he said with a small proud smile. Glancing at both of the women in front of him he knows that these words reached Nora and for all that he could to help. Now she's spreading the words outstretched a hand to help them to stand once more like how she did for him and vice versa.
"Now come on, go see him" Nora told her, directing her to the guy she knows she's looking for.
Ruby thanked the two, walking away.
"That was very wise of you Nora" proclaimed Ren sagely.
" you think?" She asked, a hint of doubt crept into her voice. Ren nodded, a small smile easily settled.
"I just said what I wish someone told me when we were younger, where we didn't need to be perfect for every strike whenever the iron's hot cause it'll burn us back, nor to be afraid when things feel like they passed. Time will always run without us whether we're ready or not, you taught me that." Nora said her voice soft and calm her eyes as a clear reticle, doubts still show but followed by wonder.
The only one seeing this is the young mistrilian man, he could have sworn that this side of the bubbly girl. one that slowed down made something in his heart stop. He always appreciates the outgoing attitude of the storm that is Nora Valkyrie but when it slows to a gentle breeze, a radiance shines off Nora so naturally that hidden beneath the bubbly personality is wisdom and… beauty.
Slap
"?! Oh my Oum, Ren are you okay!?"
Nora exclaimed, shocked at what the young man did was extremely out of character for him.
" mhm im fine just…distracted is all l" he said calmly as if he didn't smack himself. Nora was just looking at him with a raised brow completely put off with his recent weird behaviour, she just shrugs she doesn't have room to talk and walks back into the room laying on the bed she silently contemplates.
"What was that Grimm Ren?"
"I- I don't know but whatever it was we were lucky to get out with our limbs intact even if we have scars and fractures from it we still survived the ordeal." He said getting the other infirmary bed looking off to the side.
"Well either way we got in and we'll be really busy after so im gonna go hit the hay before we need to go through horrible hell like paper work so the plot can move on"
Said Nora with an odd comedic serenity look on her features. But inwardly dreading the possibility of boredom.
"What?" Ren simply replied "Nothing im going to sleep now" Nora said, she snores to sleep as soon her head touched the pillow.
Ren blinks once then twice, he smiles softly at her for all that she is that optimism and weirdness always do help with his mood but then remembered something.
He quietly went to his weapons that were next to him, opening his drawer to his dagger from that battle. He took it out looking at it for it had changed.
The sharp edges and handle changed, blackened the handle wrapped in old cloth, a reddish magenta slit peeks out like a healing wound the color black looking like tendrils reaching towards it and seeping out of it in tandem, yet the centerline is the most intricate the blade holds the same engravings of protection and honor in Mistralian. The blade itself changed into a shade of green Ren's known for and a red gem sits near the bottom of the dagger, slightly over the bolster.
A dark glimmer reflects from the red reflection.
The apparition of a snake skull with red eyes showed like a twisted reflection of a mirror showing their dark suppressed truth. The part that never goes but always watches, always present.
Then the apparition disappears just as it appeared, his own reflection looking back like nothing was amiss.
Ren blames it on the stress of the improbable ordeal that was able to escape from the skin of his teeth. But yet the weight of the blade grew heavy the longer he held it.
Why?
Was the only thing that he could fret over.
Why did that grimm change? Why did it ignore all of us, and instead go for Arc?
Why did his Aura feel so familiar? Why did he risk his life, for essentially Strangers with names? And most importantly why did his blade change shape?
A lot of questions, no answers behind them.
But he will find them one way or another and the answer will show itself.
For now though the answers can wait, cause sleep is calling his name.
Laying the blade back on top of the drawer. Turning off the lamp, but a soon as he did the red gem began to glow softly.
-somewhere else-
Ruby standing in front of Jaune's room, looking at the door left slightly open, she peeks through the crack. Surprise, unwarrants itself when she sees Blake in the room. She felt a spike of possessiveness but quickly tried pushing that odd feeling back; she didn't know where these feelings were coming from? She knows she can trust Jaune, Blake and the others but why?
Shaking her head to put away those unnecessary thoughts, this is blake she's talking about someone reserved in her own little world though she means well she sometimes takes things to a different level where she shouldn't be she somehow makes things more difficult than they should be. But she will always be the same quiet caring Blake that she knew…
No! No more negative thoughts you already had that moment with Jaune your fine, it's not anything will come of this.
Walking into the room Ruby noticed Blake's bow twitch and she stared at it momentarily.
'Really looking back on it now, how did it take us so much time to catch Blake being a faunus, when back at beacon. Maybe that's why she decides to stay quiet to not draw attention to herself, Ironically she still catches other people's attention.'
Ha, that was a good pun. but never will she utter such a thing to her sister the last thing she needs at the moment is for her sister to be overdramatic, it's too embarrassing
"Do you need anything Rose?." Blake said nonchalantly not taking her eyes off the book but Ruby Knew Blake well enough that the girl wasn't paying attention to the book. But to something else.
Beep
Beep
Beep
A heart monitor, connected to the person with wires and machines.
'Jaune' Ruby worried greatly at the state of the man she loved.
"How is he?" Ruby asked though she could take a guess as to the how but still would like confirmation for his condition.
"Dr. Yuka Said that he has a few fractures, broken arm and several bruises" said Blake, setting down the book as she too had bandages wrapped around her and her bow droops at the sight of Jaune.
"Does he have any internal bleeding, any internal injuries that we should know about?" Ruby asked, sitting next to Jaune, worried but it could be worse she could be alone atleast he's alive.
She gently caresses his face.
"No Dr.Yuka said just the ones i listed out which i believe which even surprised her, I'm not well versed in the integrity of biology but I suppose this is an odd circumstance cause his Aura meter is…" Blake said but her voice went silent.
"What's wrong Blake? Is his Aura meter in the red?" Ruby asked, her anxiety rising, the girl suddenly going quiet—it didn't bode well either means something very good or something very bad, she hopes it's a good thing.
Blake looks at his scroll; her facial features didn't change but her bow stood straight, eyes slightly narrowed with something unfamiliar within them.
Ruby slid over and peeked over her shoulder.
Her breath was caught.
"What the hells?" she whispered.
The aura meter on his scroll looked empty, nothing within it but a single number under the bar.
1%.
The number began to tick down.
0.9…0.8… 0.7… 0.6… 0.5… 0.4… 0.3… 0.2… 0.1…
Then without warning, it jumped back up.
1%
repeating, not seeming to stop.
Both Blake and Ruby, perplexed at what they are seeing. his aura reacting in a manor that seems odd.
Unknown to her, her eyes began to lightly glow under the mere memory of it.
Then the dream she had of Whitley and Salem rushed to her mind.
It was too realistic, too vivid, was it really a dream or more of a warning?
Blake's ears twitched, she glanced at Ruby, the girl looking at the heart monitor like it was an interrogation.
"Ruby" she calmly called out to the girl.
Catching her attention, the younger huntress turned the disguised faunus.
Chills ran up Blake's spine when looking at the dim glowing silver orbs, but was able to suppress the notion.
"Your eyes are…glowing." She said to the other girl apprehensively, due to the eyes making the girl seem threatening.