Remnants of a World I Once Knew: Volume 2

Chapter 5

Weiss took a deep breath. She tried to stab the blade through the beast's stomach. The Beowulf dodges the attack and rams Weiss's back, sending her skidding on the floor. Weiss stood up on her feet again. The beowulf roared at her. "Go Weiss!," Yang shouted and looked at Blake. Blake was being her moody self. Yang elbows her. "Hmm?," Blake looked at Yang. "Cheer for Weiss!," Yang whispered. "Huh...oh yay Weiss," Blake replied in her less than enthusiastic tone. Her facial expression wasn't any better either. Yang shook her head. "Show them your royalty style, Weiss!," Ruby stood up and squealed. "Ruby! I'm trying to concentrate!," Weiss shot back, annoyed. Ruby slowly sat back down. But as Weiss was distracted, the beowulf rams her in the stomach. Weiss collapsed and skidded back, this time her glyph was knocked out of her hand and sent skidding away.

Weiss tried to reach it but the beowulf ran up and pinned her arm with its' paw. Weiss looked at Fives, wondering if he would do anything. His own student was about to be bitten. The beowulf opened wide and raised its' head when Fives stepped on Weiss's glyph. The glyph catapulted straight and spun upwards. Fives caught it and brought the blade down on the beowulf, beheading it. The beowulf slowly dissipated. "Woah..... Rolling with style. Who taught you that?," Yang gasped in awe. So did Ruby. Blake didn't seem interested. "Someone who's a lot like you," Fives looked at Yang. He almost called her Raven, if not for the heinous amount of yellow she had. Then again, the Xiao Longs always roll with style. Even if it attracted people who objectified them. Fives helped Weiss up. "Onto your next classes now," Fives replied as the next bell rang, handing her the glyph. Jaune was still in a state of awe as he couldn't take his mind off of Weiss. It took Pyrrha and Nora to pull him out of the seat. Weiss, still annoyed, shoves past Ruby, exclaiming a hmph. "Weiss! Wait up!," Ruby tried to catch up. Yang tried to chase after but Blake held her back. "Hey! What gives?!," Yang turns around. "You can't keep being there for Ruby. She needs to fix this matter on her own if she's to become a leader. Not you interfering to do it for her," Blake continued. Yang tried to pull away but Blake held her back. "Do you want her to be a strong, independent, and capable leader?," Blake asked. "More than anything," Yang replied. "Then let Ruby do this without your involvement," Blake replied. "How? Are you saying that I should just leave Ruby to do dangerous things by herself? What if she gets hurt? I'm responsible for her well being!," Yang replied.

"You're right," a voice replied. Both girls turned to see Fives. "You are responsible for her well being. But Ruby will never become the leader you dream of her being if you don't let her experience the role of leadership on her own," Fives continued. "But the first step of her being an independent leader is figuring out and fixing her issues on her own," he spoke. "It just seems like I'm abandoning her. I want her to know that I'm here. That I won't abandon her," Yang replied. "You're not abandoning her. You're just giving her a longer leash. A wider berth to move around. You'll still be there as a sister and a team member. To support her but you have to give Ruby space. If she falls, help her up and guide her. Eventually, she'll stumble but she'll learn to get up on her own and do better," Fives replied. "What she needs, is a sister and a teammate. Not a mother," he continued. "It's just that. I had mothers that....that left me. Practically abandoned me. My dad was always busy with school so I can't really imagine Ruby alone and with no help. Can you understand that? Those closest to you just disappearing and you're left alone? Wondering if you'll disappear and abandon someone?," Yang replied. Fives began walking away to the classroom. He stopped at the doorway. "More than you realize. I understand abandonment. More than you'd realize," Fives looks at her before entering the classroom. His mind flowing to how he left Echo for dead at the Citadel, his brothers after Order 66, what happened with Raven and Summer, and leading up to Ahsoka returning to the Galaxy. All the while not being there for them.

"Weiss!," Ruby called out to the garden surrounding. Weiss growled and turns around. "What Ruby?," Weiss sighed. "What's going on? Why are you mad?," Ruby asked. "Because I do not understand how Ozpin could just choose you as a leader when you're a horrible representation!," Weiss shouted. "Wha...me?! I was only cheering you on!," Ruby replied. "Not that! It's the fact that you show a lack of responsibilities and maturity to be a leader!," Weiss clarified. "What? I'm definitely qualified as a leader! I single-handedly killed that Nevermore. Plus Ozpin chose me," Ruby denied. "Oh don't get me started with your combat skills. Because of you, I could've set the whole forest on fire. And let's not mention your actions in this morning's class when you're practically sleeping and doodling in Professor Fives's class!," Weiss barked. "Oh so what?! Do you think Ozpin wasn't in his right mind when he chose me?!," Ruby glares as Yang and Blake watched from the steps. "Precisely! You're under-qualified to be here! Let alone be a leader!," Weiss answered.

Ruby sighed. "How about I show maturity, and you stop being 10% bossy?," Ruby bargained. "You don't get the point! I should've been the leader!," Weiss replied. Ruby did not answer. "Ozpin made a mistake even thinking you should be a leader," Weiss lowered her voice and left, leaving an upset Ruby. The depressed redhead trundled away. Yang placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder. "Maybe she's right...," Ruby told Yang and Blake. Ruby strolled away, bringing her hood over her head. Yang tried to follow her but Blake stopped her. "Remember what Professor Fives said. She needs to fix this on her own. We can't do the work for her," Blake replied. Even she was saddened to see the happy and bright girl be depressed. She remembered telling Ruby that the world isn't a fairytale story with a happy ending. Now she wished she hadn't said that.