(Volume 8) Mythical Rose (Divided) (OLD)

Chapter 7: Dark...

(3rd Person POV)

Blake opened the door to Weiss' room as Weiss and Ruby carried in Penny, Kuraime and Whitley carried in Nicky and Celeste and Artemis supported Dairoku into the room.

Blake: Their unconscious. And their...

Akaruime: ...Leaking...

Celeste: And Big bro's injured.

Klein: Set them down, set them down.

Dairoku: I'm... *grunts* I'm fine...

Ruby: You be quiet! You're NOT fine!

Dairoku: Ruby...

Ruby: I said, be quiet!

Dairoku just sighed and gave up before letting Celeste and Artemis set him down next to a wall as the others set the unconscious Penny and Nicky down next to Nora. Whitley, Weiss, and Ruby grimaced from the green fluid that stained their clothes while Kuraime just ignored it and leaned against the wall, holding her head before her sister came to her side. After Celeste and Artemis set Dairoku down sitting up against the wall, the latter leaned down to him and pressed her hands against his chest.

Dairoku: Artemis...?

Artemis: The Barbatos armor was strong enough for the atmospheric reentry but it didn't protect you fully from the impact upon landing. Some of your internal organs were damaged but not enough to kill you. I'll heal you up enough so you can at least be back on your feet but Barbatos is on a cool down right now. So I recommend you don't use it.

Dairoku: *sighs* Right...

Ruby looked at her fiancé with a frown before looking at Klein, who was scanning Penny and Nicky's damaged bodies with a scroll.

Ruby: Can you help them?

His scroll picked up an injury on Penny's waist while for Nicky, there was one closer to his chest and another on his head.

Klein: *eyes turn red* Even based on what you told me, I hardly know what they are. *coughs and eyes turn brown* Ahem, but their basic anatomy seems similar enough. I can at least stitch up those wounds.

Suddenly, a thunderous crash sounded from outside, causing Akaruime to jump and yelp from the sound before the power suddenly goes out.

Akaruime: *scared* Kyah!

Kuraime immediately embraced her younger sister, to try and calm her down.

Whitley: Oh, that's just rich...

Celeste: That we can agree on...

Ruby's scroll began to ring. She picked it up, only to see it was from May.

May: Everyone okay back there? Just saw another bombing run light up the Kingdom.

Ruby: Looks like part of the city lost power. We're okay though.

May: Sorry I couldn't stick around, but time's running out for everyone in the crater.

Ruby: No, we're sorry. Once we know what's wrong with Penny and Nicky, we'll... we'll do something.

May: ...Don't beat yourself up, kid. At this point, I don't know how much is left to be done...

As May ended the call, Ruby put her scroll away before beginning to tear up...

Ruby: It's all just... too much... The Grimm, the crater, Nora, Penny, Nicky... How do we fix all of this?

She glanced over at Raiku, who was still completely silent and motionless by the window... then at Kuraime, who all the while embracing her younger sister, had a stressed out expression... Then finally at Dairoku, who by far looked the worst... His hair formed a shadow over his eyes which looked completely drained of light and the amount of stress on his face was clearly visible... She looked down with a sniffle as Weiss and Celeste rested supporting hands on her shoulders before Klein sneezed, his eyes turning blue.