The Nightmare X Ruby Rose Vol 3 Ep. 3

The Nightmare X Ruby Rose Vol 3 Ep. 3

__________________________________________________________________________________

Continue from last episode.

The Elegant Narrator’s POV

Ruby: (running to catch up with her partner) Weiss! What is the big deal!? Who is it? Who is she!?
Weiss: (as she stops and smiles at the sight of...) Winter.
Ruby: Wait... Your sister?
Weiss: (cups mouth) Winter! (The two then run up to the elder Schnee as she turns to see them) Winter! I'm so happy to see you! Oh... (Suddenly curtsies) Your presence honours us.
Winter: (looks around as she approaches them) Beacon... It's been a long time. The air feels... different.
Ruby: I mean it is fall, so, eh, it's probably colder.
Weiss: (punches Ruby in the shoulder, causing her to gasp in pain before turning back to her sibling) so, what are you doing here?
Winter: Classified.
Weiss: Oh, right. Well, how long are you staying?
Winter: Classified.
Weiss: Of course. (Nods and smiles in understanding)
Ruby: (looks pensively around in the silence) Well... this is nice... I think.
Weiss: (excitedly) you’re going to love it here! I know you travel a lot, but so much of Beacon is different from Atlas! (Discretely whispers) Vale, too. The government and school are completely separate! Can you believe it!? I-
Winter: I'm more than familiar with how this kingdom handles its... bureaucracy. That is not why I came.
Weiss: Right! I'm sorry!
Winter: Nor did I come here to watch my own blood fail so miserably in battle. But it appears that I have no choice in the matter.
Weiss: (puzzled) But, we won!
Winter: Only a novice would refer to that as a victory. I counted at least three strikes missed.
Haden: Oh come on, she wasn't that bad.
Ruby: Shouldn't you be resting after your fight?
Haden: That wasn't a fight; that was a disappointment. Besides, I can't find Reaper.
Winter: And who are you?
Haden: (smirking) Classified
Winter glares at him, then she turns to her security)
Winter: Leave us. (The AK-200s obey, walking two steps backwards into formation as she sighs and smiles a little more warmly at Weiss) How have you been?
Weiss: Oh, splendid! Thank you for asking. I'm actually in the very top ranking of our sparring class! And the rest of my studies are going wonderfully, too! I'm-
Winter: (She slaps Weiss, leaving a massive bump on her head) Silence, you boob! I don't recall asking about your ranking, I'm asking how you've been. Are you eating properly? Have you taken up any hobbies? Are you making new friends?
Weiss: Well, there's Ruby.
Haden, in the background, clutches his heart and pretends to have an exaggerated heart attack. Simple because he wasn’t referred to as a friend.
Ruby: (giggles as she pushes the lump back into Weiss' head) Heh, boob.
Winter: I see. So this is the leader you wrote of. How appropriately... underwhelming.
Ruby: Uh... Thank you!
Winter: Greetings, Ruby Rose. I wish to thank you for taking an interest in my sister.
Ruby: Oh! Uh, yes, of course! (Attempts to salute and curtsy) The honour is in my... court! (Nearly losing her balance with this gesture, waving her arms until she can get back up)
Winter: I have business with the General and your Headmaster. But, seeing as I'm early, why don't you take me to your quarters?
Weiss: Really?
Winter: (as she and Weiss begin walking towards the Academy, followed by the androids) Yes. I wish to inspect them and make sure that they are up to my personal standards.
Weiss: Of course. Just so you're aware, the bunk beds only look unstable.
Winter: Bunk beds?
Ruby: (waving goodbye behind them) I'll catch up- I mean, I will... reconvene with you both... at a later... (She pauses with her hand on her head, wracking her brain for the right word) juncture! (She raises her finger, before stepping out of sight to the left) At a juncture. Yeah.
Haden: You’re not good at that.

As Winter and Weiss, walk away, they hear the sound of grinding metal and a robotic head is thrown on the ground behind them.
Haden: "Awwwww, I was starting to like that lifeless drone."
Qrow: Hey! Yeah, I'm talking to you, Ice Queen! (Tosses the decapitated machine aside)
Winter: (as one of her automated soldiers advances, rifle raised) Halt!
Weiss: (angrily walks up to the offender's face) Excuse me! Do you have any idea who you are talking to!?
Qrow: (places hand on Weiss' face) Sssshhh. Not you. (Pushes her out of his way as he moves forward)
Weiss: Hey!
Qrow: (looks at the irritated Winter as he clarifies) You. (A crow is seen perched on a lamp post before flying off and circling past the group) Saw that gaudy ship of yours in town. I guess you're here, too.
Winter: I'm standing right before you.
Qrow: (squints through his hazy state of mind) So it would seem.
Winter: You realize you just destroyed Atlas Military property.
Qrow: (sarcastically apologizes) Oh, oh I'm sorry. See, I mistook this for some sort of... sentient garbage.
*in head* Haden: Oh, snap.
Winter: I don't have time for your immature games, Qrow.
Weiss: Wait, you two know each other?
Qrow: Geez, you Atlas Specialists think you're so special, don't you?
Winter: It's in the title.
Qrow: Well, you know what you really are? A bunch of sell-outs. Just like your boss.
*in head* Haden: I like wear this is going.
Winter: I'm not sure what you think you're implying, but I've heard enough.
Qrow: Oh I heard, too. I heard ol' Ironwood finally turned his back on Ozpin.
Weiss: Ozpin?
Winter: (shoves Weiss aside) Weiss, it's time for you to go.
Weiss: What-
Qrow: Listen to big sister, Weiss. She'll protect you. Just like Atlas is going to protect all of us, huh?
Winter: If you won't hold your tongue, then I will gladly remove it for you! (Draws her sword)
Qrow: Alright then... (Slicks back hair) Come take it.
The square clears before Winter charges at Qrow, starting a fight.

Winter dashes forward with incredible speed and starts jabbing at Qrow, who easily dodges every strike. Qrow bows to dodge one of Winter’s strikes, and she stabs down at Qrow, hitting his sword instead. Qrow then flips his sword into his hand as he gets into his combat stance.
After staring at each other, eyeing each other up. Qrow starts attacking with a combo of powerful attacks. Weiss blocks and dodges all of them and they start duelling.
Ruby enters the crowd next to her teammate.
Ruby: What's going on!?
Weiss: Some crazy guy just started attacking my sister!
Ruby: Oh no! Who would do such a th- (sees Winter's opponent) That is my uncle!
Weiss: What?!
Ruby: (yells loudly) Kick her butt, Uncle Qrow!
Weiss: Uh... (Decides to shout her own encouragement) Teach him respect, Winter!
Mercury: (seen walking in the crowd when he witnesses the two fighting) Huh? (Mercury then runs off from the impromptu duel, as the two continue their battle)
Soon, Winter lands a blow on Qrow’s jaw with the handle of her sword. Unfazed, Qrow raises his sword, to slam it down. Winter uses a glyph to jump out of the way, just in time. Qrow, brings his sword down with such force, he creates a small crater. Winter lands of the pathway and Qrow quickly advances. The fight continues, with Winter relying on her speed and agility to not get hit. Winter then jumps onto large aqueduct-like archways and runs along it. Qrow then starts firing at her from the ground, his sixth shot appears to have hit its target, causing a large exploitation.
The other side of the academy, a wolf Faunus’s ears twitch.
Winter emerges from the smoke and flies at Qrow, he takes his defensive stance. Winter, in mid-air, then separates her sword, making two slightly thinner swords. Her swords collide with Qrow’s with such force, they smash into the ground making an even large crater. The pace quickens, as they both dart around the courtyard, clashing swords. Winter knocks Qrow back and starts a different attack. She stabs one of her swords into the ground and a glyph appears beneath her. A flock of strange birds made of ice, start flying out of the glyph. Haden narrows his eyes.
*in head* Haden: That looks just like Reaper’s ‘Raven flock’ technique.
The ice birds then fly at Qrow. He blocks as many as he can, but soon sends a blade arc straight at Winter, causing her to lose the glyph. They both glare at each other, Winter summoning a large glyph behind her and Qrow activating his weapon. When Qrow’s weapon starts transforming, Winter takes a new stance, with one of her swords behind her back. But as Qrow’s weapon is transforming, he sees a strange humanoid figure behind the crowd, it had wings, bright red glowing eyes and is engulfed in black smoke. Qrow smirks, stops his weapon and places it back on his back. Winter’s expression softens in confusion. Qrow then taunts her to “come get some”. Winter then propels herself forward, screaming in rage and preparing a thrust towards Qrow, just before a large bone white scythe slams in between the two, stopping her blade's point mere inches away from Qrow's neck. Winter then looks at the demonic figure holding the scythe.
Winter: REAPER!
(Y/n): Good afternoon


(Y/n)’s POV

This isn’t the first time I have come face-to-face with Winter. As an Atlas specialist, it is her job to kill people like me.
She raises her sword to strike, but I am too fast. I channel my aura in to my hand and use my palm to hit her in the stomach, forcing her back about twenty feet. I raise my scythe to face her.
(Y/n): "Do you two know how many people you could have injured! That was dangerous, stupid and childish."
Winter: "As if you care, Murderer"
(Y/n): "Okay, you got me. But I have been told to protect and assist eight people. And two of them are in the crowd, one of them is our sister."
Winter: What?!
(Y/n): And Haden!
Haden: Yo.
(Y/n): Why didn't you intervene?
Haden: I wanted to them fight.
There is silence.
(Y/n): You're an idiot.
Ironwood: SCHNEE!
Winter looks behind her to see General Ironwood standing behind her, with Penny Polendina behind him.
Winter: (lowers her blades as she addresses Ironwood at about face) General Ironwood, sir!
Ironwood: (approaches Winter with Penny by his side) What in the world do you think you're doing?
Winter: He started the altercation, sir!
Qrow: (puts his hands behind his head in a relaxed stance) That's actually not true. She attacked first.
Ironwood: Is that right? (Winter searches for words, only to realize Qrow is right. She looks down in shame) And you. (Qrow points to himself in mock confusion) What are you doing here?
Qrow: I could be asking you the same thing.
Ironwood: I-
Ozpin: Now, now, everyone. (Intervening beside Glynda Goodwitch) There is a sanctioned fight happening just around the corner at the Colosseum, that I could assure you has better seats... and popcorn. (Swirls his coffee)
*in head* Crimson: (Chuckling) It’s difficult to hate someone like that.
Goodwitch: Break it up, everyone! We will take care of this mess. (Glares at the four)
Ironwood: Let's go.
As Ironwood and Winter leave, Penny notices Ruby and quietly waves to her, while Ruby waves back. Ruby then leaps giddily onto Qrow's arm, shaking her legs in delight.
Ruby: Uncle Qrow!!! (As she hangs on Qrow's outstretched arm) Hi. It's so good to see you! Did you miss me? Did you miss me!?
Qrow: Nope. (They share a grin as he pats his niece's head)
Ozpin: Qrow, Team ReAp! (The three turns to look at the headmaster as Ruby gets dropped) A word, please. (Goodwitch then repairs the courtyard using her telekinesis)
Haden: Crap.
Qrow: (to Ruby, discreetly) I think I'm in trouble.
Ruby: You did kinda tear up our courtyard.
Qrow: Yeah, I did. (Winks and gives her a fist-bump) Catch ya later, kid. (He walks off to join the others)
(Y/n): (Spreading my wings) Catch you later, Petal.
Ruby: Bye, Vulcan.
I take off and fly to Ozpins office.
Weiss: (walking up beside Ruby, arms crossed) And suddenly, your recklessness makes sense.
Ruby: (nudges Weiss' shoulder) You're just mad because he whooped butt.
Weiss: That was a draw, at best!
Ruby's grin says otherwise.


In Ozpins office.

I arrived at the office to find I was the first.
(Y/n): Trust, the high-ups to walk at the slowest pace.
*in head* Shade: So what do we do?
*in head* (Y/n): We wait.

After a few minutes, Ironwood and Winter enter, to find me meditating on Ozpins desk.
Winter: How did he get here so fast?
(Y/n): What took ‘You’ so long? I’ve been here for a while.
Winter: What are you doing here Reaper?
(Y/n): Ozpin told me to come along.
Winter: I mean, at Beacon.
(Y/n): After your boss spent a few billion Vein, mobilising a small army and purchasing illegal good from the black-market; I was captured and given a choice: Attend Beacon or rot in a confinement cell.
Winter: (Turning to Ironwood) Why?
Ironwood: Ozpin thought it was a good idea to ally with someone as capable as him and his friend.
Winter: Who?
(Y/n): The name you might know Haden by, is Gunslinger.
Winter: Another assassin!
(Y/n): Correct.
Ironwood: From what Ozpin has told me, both of them have made a positive impact on a lot of students.
(Y/n): The others are here.
Suddenly, a smirking Qrow, accompanied by Haden, Goodwitch and Ozpin, arrive in the elevator.
Winter: What were you thinking!?
Ironwood: If you were one of my men, I would have you shot!
Qrow: (pulls out flask at the three enter the room) If I was one of your men, I'd shoot myself.
Haden: Burn.
Goodwitch: While I wouldn't condone his behaviour, retaliating like you did certainly didn't help the situation.
Winter: He was drunk!
Goodwitch: He's always drunk! (The four turn to Qrow to see him drinking from a flask. His eyes widen when he notices them staring, and he holds the flask out to the side, looking at it awkwardly before grimacing.)
(Y/n): Put that flask away immediately.
Ozpin: (staring at Qrow in shock, then sighs and sits down) Qrow, why are you here?
Ironwood: You've been out of contact for weeks! You can't just go dark like that in the field!
Qrow: I'm not one of your special operatives, Jimmy!
Winter: General.
Qrow: Whatever. You sent me to get Intel on our enemy, and I'm telling you, our enemy is here.
Ironwood: (leans against Ozpin's desk) we know.
Qrow: Oh! Oh, you know! Well, thank goodness I'm out there risking my life to keep you all informed!
(Y/n): Qrow, they infiltrated Beacon’s com-tower about two weeks ago.
Qrow: Communication's a two-way street, pal. You see this? (Pulls out his Scroll and points to it) That's the SEND button.
Haden: If you don’t stay in contact, don’t expect them to.
Winter: They had reason to assume you'd been compromised.
Qrow: And I have reason to assume you don't need to be here. (Points to Winter) Seriously, who invited her?
Ironwood: (after a moment of silence, without looking at her) Schnee, we'll discuss this incident back at my ship.
Winter: (looks surprised) But sir!
Ironwood: Winter. Leave.
Winter: (salutes Ironwood) Yes sir. (Turns on her heel and gives the winking Qrow a dirty look as she exits via the elevator)
Haden: Does this mean I can leave too.
Ozpin: No.
Haden: Aww
Ironwood: (gestures to Qrow) Go on.
Qrow: Your little infiltrator isn't just another pawn. They're the one responsible for Autumn's condition. (Takes a drink from his flask once more)
Goodwitch: What?
(Y/n): That would probably mean she brought pawns with her.
Qrow: Despite what the world thinks, we're not just teachers, or generals, or headmasters. The people in this room, the leaders of the other two academies, we're the ones that keep the world safe from the evils no one even knows about! (Getting up in Ironwood's face) It's why we meet behind closed doors, why we work in the shadows. So you tell me, James, when you brought your army to Vale, did you think you were being discreet, or did you just not give a damn!?
Ironwood: (stares down at Qrow as he places his Scroll on Ozpin's desk) Discreet wasn't working. (The centre of the room projects a hologram of Vale, Beacon Academy, the Amity Colosseum and Ironwood's fleet of Atlesian Airships, which he gestures to) I'm here because this is what was necessary.
Qrow: You're here because Ozpin wanted you here! He made you a part of this inner circle and opened your eyes to the real fight that's in front of us!
Ironwood: And I am grateful.
Qrow: Oh, well, you've got a real funny way of showing it.
Ironwood: The people of Vale needed someone to protect them; someone who would act. When they look to the sky and see my fleet, they feel safe, and our enemies will feel our strength.
Qrow: (starts laughing) You... You think they're scared of your little ships? I've been out there and I've seen the things she's made, and let me tell you - they are fear.
Ozpin: (standing up) And fear will bring the Grimm. A guardian is a symbol of comfort. But an army is a symbol of conflict. There's an energy in the air now, a question in the back of everyone's minds... (Gestures to the display) "If this is the size of our defences, then what is it we're expecting to fight?"
There was a long silence.
(Y/n): I hate to be the one to defend the General, but… who here remembers the Grimm outbreak, a few weeks ago.
Glynda: What about it?
(Y/n): How long did it take you to arrive on the scene?
Glynda: About twenty minutes.
(Y/n): So in that twenty minutes, an assassin, three unconscious girls and a handful of under-trained students, were meant to defend the kingdom.
Glynda: I…
(Y/n): If the military hadn’t intervened, then you could have said ‘bye-bye‘ to half of Vale.
Qrow: The Grimm wouldn’t have shown up if it wasn’t for him. (Gesturing at Ironwood) And you could easily had taken on that horde alone.
(Y/n): Okay; one: I wasn’t there, I was slowly bleeding out underground, carrying Ruby’s unconscious body. Haden was the only active one there for the first five minutes.
Qrow: Wh…
(Y/n): (interrupting) Secondly; do you honestly think those Grimm just broke through by them self. That was a planned attack.
Qrow: So what now?
(Y/n): Just like Ozpin said; We need a guardian.
_________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you for reading this Reader insert. If you liked it, leave a comment below. If you didn't, then leave a comment about how to improve.