Underneath The Shattered Moon [RWBY X OC]

Chapter 9

Weiss Schnee and Ruby Rose clung to the feathery creature with all their might, the wind howling around them as they were blown through the sky. Weiss, her voice strained, shouted over the wind to be heard. "Ruby! I told you this was a terrible idea!"

Ruby, her grin wide and carefree, raised her voice to be heard over the wind. "We're fine! Stop worrying!"

Weiss scowled, her grip on the feathery creature tightening. "I am so far beyond worrying!"

Ruby's grin didn't falter as she looked at her partner. "In a good way?"

Weiss rolled her eyes. "In a bad way! In a very bad way!"

Ruby seemed to consider this for a moment before her eyes lit up. "Well, why don't we just jump?"

Weiss stared at Ruby, dumbfounded. "What are you? Insane?!"

But Ruby had already disappeared, letting go of the feathery creature and falling through the sky. Weiss couldn't help but let out a yelp of surprise before gritting her teeth and jumping after her partner. "Oh, you insufferable little red-!"

"Heads uuuuuuuup!" Ruby's voice was a panicked squawk as she plummeted towards them. Yang's jaw dropped, her eyes widening as she finally registered the danger.

Just as Ruby was about to kiss the ground, Jaune Arc came hurtling through the air, slamming into her with a bone-rattling thud. The force of the impact sent Ruby careening off course, while Jaune was launched into a tree to the left, his limbs flailing wildly.

Aebelle reacted instantly. She dove forward, catching Ruby in her arms before she could hit the ground. The wind knocked out of her lungs, Ruby let out a muffled "Oohhhh..." A moment later, shaking her head, she felt the dizziness fade.

"Eh-hem!" Jaune's voice, strained and slightly muffled, came from above. Ruby looked up to see him hanging upside-down in a tree branch, his eyes wide and apologetic. "Hey, Ruby..."

"Did your sister just fall from the sky?" Blake asked, her voice laced with disbelief as she stared at the tree where Jaune was still dangling.

"I..." Yang began, her voice barely a whisper, but before she could finish, several loud crashing noises echoed through the forest. They all turned to see an Ursa emerge from the trees, claws slashing wildly. Just as it lunged, a blast of pink energy struck it in the back, sending it tumbling to the ground with a sickening thud.

Nora, perched on the Ursa's back, rolled off and landed with a groan. "Awwww... It's broken." She looked down at the creature, her face sad. Then, she dashed onto its neck and began examining the carcass.

Ren, panting and leaning against the monster's side, rushed over. "Nora! Please... Don't ever do that again." He looked up and noticed that Nora was gone, her usual pink dotted outline now missing. Panic flickered in his eyes as he searched frantically for her.

Nora, meanwhile, was deep inside the temple, her eyes wide with wonder as she stared at a golden rook relic. "Oooohh..." she breathed, reaching out and grabbing it. An animation of swirling stars and her hammer symbol played in the pink background as she began to dance, a joyous song escaping her lips. "I'm queen of the castle! I'm queen of the castle!"

"Nora!" Ren's voice echoed through the temple.

Nora stopped dancing, her face breaking into a wide smile as she saluted the golden rook. Dropping it into her hand, she skipped towards Ren's voice. "Coming, Ren!"

Aebelle, still holding Ruby, looked up with a mixture of disbelief and amusement. "Did that girl just ride in on an Ursa?"