Look Up to The Stars (RWBY x Abused And Broken Female Zodiac OC)

Chapter 40: Memories

*In Mistral*

Oscar Pine was practicing on how to use Long Memory properly. He had just finished practicing when Ruby walked in.

Ruby: You're getting better. It's almost dinnertime.

Oscar: Uh, yeah... That sounds good.

Ruby: So... You never fought before?

Oscar: Just the small Grimm. Nothing like this though.

Ruby: Wow, it looks like you're a natural already.

Oscar: It's really strange. I've only had this cane for a few weeks but it feels like it's been with me for a longer time. I sound like a crazy person.

Ruby: Hehe, well... I guess at this pace, you'll be combat ready in no time!

Ruby pauses as she realized what she said. She frowns and it doesn't go unnoticed by the young farm boy. She tries to go upstairs.

Ruby: I'll see you upstairs.

Oscar: How do you handle all this?

Ruby: What do you mean.

Oscar: I'm scared... More scared than I've ever been all my life.

He walks over to a weapons rack and places the cane there.

Oscar: I wanted to be more than a farm boy but... Who would ask for this?

A single tear drops down from his eye. He grabs the cane before pushing the lever by it's handle and the cane part compacts into the handle. He puts the cane on his backpack.

Ruby: You're right, none of us asked for this. But we just have to press on and --

Oscar: How can you be so confident?! People tried to kill you, the world is about to go to war again! How are you okay with any of this!

Ruby was taken aback by Oscar's sudden outburst. She frowns before giving him her answer.

Ruby: When Beacon fell... I lost two of my friends. Penny Polendina and Pyrrha Nikos. And I nearly lost four others. Luna Goodwitch and her sisters.

Ruby starts to slowly tear up as the memory of her friends either dying or near death came back.

Ruby: I never knew them all very well but that doesn't change the fact that they were the closest and most kind-hearted people I've ever met. But their kindness wasn't enough to save them. Pyrrha thought if there was a small chance of helping someone, then it was a chance worth taking. And Penny... Was killed, just to make a statement. Luna and her sisters fought to the end, to protect their home. And that put them in a coma.

Oscar looks down, knowing that this subject was a touchy one.

Oscar: I'm sorry...

Ruby: I am scared. But I'm not scared just for myself. The Fall of Beacon shows that Salem doesn't care if you stand against her or not. And that scares me the most. Pyrrha... Penny... Luna... I'd be lying if I said that it didn't hurt. That I didn't think about them everyday. That I wish that I should've spent more time with them. If it had been me instead. I know that they would have kept fighting too. So that's what I choose to do... To keep moving forward.

Both of them share a smile as Ruby wiped away her tears.

Ruby: C'mon, if we don't go up now, Nora might eat everything. Wouldn't be the first time.

Ruby walks up the stairs but stops halfway through.

Ruby: Hey Oscar? I know this won't be easy, but the fact that you're trying says a lot about you. You're braver than you think.