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Reflecting on it, I wasn’t completely honest with her, was I? There were times I felt we knew what the other was thinking, especially when we were in battle. But did that mean we understood each other? Did we actually talk to one another?
[Deep breaths could be heard from Weiss as she let her mind run.
She watched Blake, Yang, Jaune and Juniper continue to fight off the cat possessing Neo’s body.
Her vision was blocked by the heavy rain and occasional flashes of lightning zipping through the sky.
Weiss looked up, hoping to see the starry sky Ruby admired here and on Remnant.]
Nothing up there, huh? Not that I can see anything through the storm clouds or the leaves of the tree…
I see those leaves and I go back to the mansion, remembering her drink that accursed tea before us. I remember Yang’s flaming hair and red eyes, her semblance active since we had the time to breathe (not process). Since Neo- Since the cat left the crumbling mansion.
And when I remember she’s not here, I want to scream.
[Yang dodged an attack from the cat that headed for Weiss.
Noticing it, Weiss attempted to use her glyph as a shield, but it was too late.
Weiss was blown to the trunk of the large tree the group was on.
Before anyone could get to Weiss, the cat continued its attacks on them.
Weiss stuck the end of Myrtenaster's blade on the tree's branch and lifted herself up.]
How did this happen? Why can't I keep up anymore?
I’m not the only one that’s lost someone to the tree. Blake lost someone she looked up to. Yang lost her little sister. Jaune lost his best friend. They are all I have left, and I can't afford to lose them.
I have done well up to now, and they need me.
So why do my legs refuse to move forward?
The strength I need to even remove my sword from the tree has all been spent trying to survive.
I fell to the ground, desperately wanting rest.
I can hear them calling out to me, but I can’t move.
I feel the rain like needles on my skin.
I need to stand, but I can’t move my body.
Was I really hit that hard?
My mind begins to wonder, thinking of Ruby. She was the first person I met at Beacon and the first to talk to me as a friend, even though I was nothing but mean to her.
[She scoffed at her next thought.]
Who knew that same kid who showed off to prove herself would become someone so many would look up to in two years’ time. Maybe she never stopped trying to prove herself to us. Maybe that’s why she yelled at us this morning… or was it yesterday? Everything about Ever After is starting to blend. She was only a kid who was given the world and told to protect it. We all were, but she held the responsibility for all the choices we would make from then on.
I’m to blame most of all for what happened at Neo’s mansion; I never told her once to rely on me. I was her partner. That was my responsibility. And as her partner, I must take up the burden of seeing this through for her. For Ruby.
The tree isn’t soft, but it feels comforting to sit here, not able to do anything. I know I have to get up and rejoin the battle. I have to help, or I would be spitting on Ruby’s name. I would not be protecting those Ruby tried hard to protect.
[Weiss attempts to lift herself up from the ground with what little energy she mustered.
Searching for her sword, she finds the hilt to at least get herself from the floor and see the fight continue.
She still cannot get to her feet.]
My heart feels heavy. It’s been hurting since Ruby…
No, I can’t blame her for why I am not able to fight. I must get up. I need to. It’s the least I can do: to stand and to fight!
Come on, Schnee. Get up, and fight!
[Weiss struggles to get off the floor. Her body refuses.]
I don’t have her here to help. We don’t have her here.
But I want her here… I want that optimism, that endless light of hope that the worlds -here and Remnant- snuffed out of her. I want her here so I can say everything I’ve yet to tell her. I would tell her to trust me with her burdens as her partner and her friend. And I would take her pain, her screams, her yells, her cries for help.
And I would handle all of it.
So if this stupid tree hadn’t killed her, if this tree only took her to ascend her, then this tree better hurry up and give her back already. I won’t allow this tree to keep her here! And I won’t allow this cat and its host to get away with breaking her down.
[Despite the burning sensation she feels running down her legs and lungs, Weiss gets up from the ground.
Noticing Weiss rise, the cat rushed towards Weiss, readying its breath attack.
Weiss had eyes on it and glared as Yang, Blake, and Jaune called for the ex-heiress.
Her signature glyph appears below her feet to show her about to summon to assist her.
“Ruby…” Weiss managed to breathe out.
And just before the breath attack was released, a flash of light appeared before Weiss and deflected the breath attack away.
The light was overpowering, blocking everyone’s vision for a moment.
Weiss looked forward when she could and saw her signature cape flow in front of her.]
Am… am I seeing things?
[The figure before Weiss was ready to fight for the first time she arrived in the Ever After.
“How are you-”
“Not now, Weiss. We can talk after this fight. And I promise to talk to you guys properly this time.”
Ruby turned and reached out a hand to Weiss.
And with her words, Weiss was finally able to move, and she took Ruby’s hand. The girls faced the battle before them.
“I expect a full explanation, Ruby,” Weiss lifted her weapon and prepared herself, still gripping Ruby’s hand.]
I don’t know if she answered me, but it didn’t matter. As long as she’s willing to fight and fight with me, I’ll be there to support her. I’ll do my best to be a better partner. A better friend. Better at everything I wasn’t before for Ruby.
After all, she means the world to me.