- Vale, Night time
As the last of the thugs crumpled to the ground, landing directly in front of the orange-haired man. He glanced down at the fallen figures, the unease he felt from the lingering scent of blood and petals mixing with the street air still gnawing at him. The smell had overpowered even the rich scent of his cigar, unsettling him in a way that few things did. But he shook it off, trying to maintain his usual composed demeanor.
With a flick of his wrist, he brought the still-smoking cigar to his lips one last time, inhaling deeply as he tried his best to mask the strong scent of iron.
He shifted his gaze to the silver-haired girl who stood calmly among the remnants of the battle, her blood-red eyes watching him without a trace of fear. In one hand, he held his cane, and in the other, the cigar. The man allowed himself a disappointed sigh as he looked at the thug at his feet.
"You were worth every cent. Truly, you were," he said in a tone heavy with disappointment. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed the cigar to the ground and crushed it beneath the tip of his cane, the ember snuffing out with a final hiss.
The man then turned his attention fully to the girl, who stood poised and unshaken. "Well, litte Snow Devil," he remarked with a sly grin, his tone mockingly light, "we can all say it's been an eventful evening."
With a smooth motion, he raised his cane towards her and, with a flick of his thumb, clicked a hidden button. A gun sight snapped into place, revealing the cane's true nature as a concealed weapon. "And as much as I'd like to stick around," he continued, his voice now carrying a dangerous edge, "I'm afraid this is where we part ways."
The man pulled the trigger, and with a sharp report, a small artillery shot fired from the cane. The projectile sped toward the girl, trailing a streak of smoke before exploding into a thick cloud of purple. But before the projectile could hit her, the girl swiftly brought up her cloak, wrapping it around herself in a defensive motion.
As the purple smoke dissipated, Ruby scanned her surroundings, her blood-red eyes narrowing in search of the orange-haired man. But he was nowhere in sight. Her sharp pointed ears twitched, picking up a faint noise above her. Snapping her head towards the sound, she caught sight of the man climbing rapidly towards the rooftop of a nearby building.
Just then, her keen hearing also picked up another noise-a cautious shuffle from within the shop. She turned to see the store owner, unharmed but still visibly shaken by the events. Concern briefly flickered in her eyes as she addressed him, "You okay if I go after him?"
The store owner, still wary of the situation but relieved that it hadn't escalated further, nodded quickly, stammering out, "Uh huh."
With his permission, Ruby didn't waste another moment. She bolted away from the shop, her eyes focused on pursuing the man who had just fled to the rooftops. Without missing a beat, she racked her weapon's gun mechanism: the bolt, and quickly loaded a blank round into the chamber, a special cartridge filled with just enough gunpowder that she received from her great-grandmother.
Timing her movements perfectly, she dug her feet into the ground and launched herself into the air, pulling the trigger at the peak of her jump. The blast from the blank round propelled her upward, sending her soaring towards the rooftop with impressive speed. She landed gracefully, the force of her arrival barely disturbing the rooftop beneath her.
++++++++
"Hey!" she shouted, her voice clear and commanding as it cut through the night.
The man, who had been making his escape, halted abruptly at the sound. He turned his head slightly and scowled. "Persistent," he growled, clearly irritated by her continued pursuit.
Suddenly, a loud roar of machinery filled the air, snapping Ruby's attention to a new threat. The ground beneath her vibrated, and she instinctively raised her guard. In front of her, a Bullhead airship ascended rapidly, its jet engines roaring as they pushed the air around with tremendous force. The wind whipped through her silver hair, sending it streaming behind her as the ship's powerful lights fixed on her, blinding her momentarily.
The criminal wasted no time, leaping towards the open side door of the Bullhead and disappearing inside. He turned back to look at her, a smug grin on his face as he leaned out. "End of the line, Snowy!" he taunted, throwing a red crystal at her feet.
The girl's vision was still recovering from the bright lights when she noticed the crystal, but before she could react, this time the man aimed his cane and fired the shot straight towards the crystal, igniting the Fire Dust crystal into a makeshift bomb.
But before the shot could land, a figure suddenly appeared in front of the girl, moving with incredible speed. The newcomer, with a quick wave of her hand, activated her Semblance, creating a shimmering purple circles of a forcefield that enveloped them both. The projectile struck the shield and exploded harmlessly, the forcefield absorbing the blast.
From the safety of the Bullhead, the orange-haired criminal threw his head back and laughed maniacally, "Wooo hooo hoo hoo!" His voice echoed in the night as the airship began to ascend further, taking him away from the scene as the purple forcefield and the smoke slowly dissipated.
As the smoke began to clear, the orange-haired criminal leaned out from the Bullhead, his smug expression faltering as he peered through the dissipating cloud. "Hm?!" he muttered in surprise. The girl was still standing, completely unharmed once again. But this time, she wasn't alone.
In front of her stood another figure-a tall woman with blonde hair tied back into a tight bun, a pair of small glasses perched on the bridge of her nose. She exuded a calm, commanding presence, her piercing green eyes locked onto the criminal with a look of stern disapproval. Clad in a black and purple, high-collared cloak that billowed slightly in the wind, she held a riding crop in one hand with an air of authority.
Ruby's eyes widened in surprise as she took in the sight of the woman who had appeared in front of her. Her initial shock quickly gave way to excitement, a spark lighting up in her blood-red eyes.
This wasn't just any simple Land-walker–this person is a Hunter, and not just any Hunter, but a Land-walker Hunter, they're called Hunstmen or Huntress by the Land-dwellers, and in her whole sheltered life she only knew three of them, one being her father, her late-mother, and the other being her cool half-uncle. Four if she counts her half-sister who's on her way to be one.
This blonde woman, with her tall stature, commanding presence, and the air of authority she exuded, seemed almost larger than life to the girl. She couldn't help but feel a thrill of awe as she recognized the kind of strength and grace that came only from years of training and battle experience. The way the Land-dweller Huntress had effortlessly protected her with that forcefield ability thing or Semblance as it is called, only heightened her admiration of the Land-walker.
Yet, as Ruby observed the woman, she was reminded of her great-grandma, or Nana, as she would affectionally call her outside of her harsh trainings and lesson sessions; who exuded a similarly powerful aura, but with a level of elegance that surpassed even this Huntress. It was a comparison that made the girl feel both comforted and... a bit scared, honestly.
But nevertheless, the girl's thoughts raced back to the view in front of her. A real Land-walker Huntress, here in front of her! She had heard stories of them, but seeing one in action-especially one from the Land above the tides-was something else entirely.
"Hmph."
As the Bullhead began to ascend, the blonde woman adjusted her glasses with one hand. Without wasting a moment, she raised her riding crop and flicked it through the air. Instantly, a flurry of purple trails shot out, each one precise and powerful, like a series of whips lashing through the night sky. The attacks hit the Bullhead with pinpoint accuracy, striking parts of its body, tail, and wings in rapid succession.
The impact rocked the airship violently, causing it to lurch and sway. Inside, the orange-haired man struggled to keep his balance as the sudden barrage of attacks shook the Bullhead. He let out a frustrated grunt, his grip on his cane slipping. The weapon clattered to the floor, but he didn't have time to retrieve it. "Damn it!" he muttered under his breath as he bolted toward the cockpit.
The sound of alarms blared through the Bullhead, red lights flashing as the systems registered the damage. The pilot, a woman clad in dark red attire, glanced over her shoulder with a sharp look as the man burst into the cockpit. "We got a Huntress!" he shouted, urgency in his voice.
The pilot's expression hardened. She quickly unstrapped herself from the seat, stepping away from the controls. Without hesitation, the man took her place, gripping the controls and working to stabilize the Bullhead as it continued to shake from the aftereffects of the Huntress's assault.
Outside, the Huntress stood firm, her cape billowing violently in the wind as she kept her gaze locked on the Bullhead. With a calculated flick of her wrist, she raised her riding crop once more. This time, her aim wasn't at the airship but at the sky above. She retrieved two crystals—a purple and a white one—each glowing with elemental energy: lightning dust and ice dust.
Ruby watched in awe, her heart pounding with excitement, her mimd squealed like a schoolgirl as she witnessed the Land-dweller's next move. The Huntress's precision was mesmerizing, her every motion imbued with an elegance that the she couldn't help but admire.
With a swift motion, the Huntress combined the crystals and fired them into the sky, channeling her semblance into the shot. The crystals shot upward like a comet, leaving a trail of purple and white light in their wake. The girl's eyes widened in giddiness as she watched the spectacle unfold, utterly captivated by the show.
High above, the crystals detonated in a brilliant explosion, and the sky itself seemed to respond. The detonation unleashed a rumbling noise that echoed across the city, followed by the formation of dark, swirling clouds. Purple bolts of lightning crackled within the storm, casting an ominous glow over the criminal's Bullhead. The combination of lightning and ice dust caused the temperature to drop, and the winds around the Bullhead intensified, battering the aircraft from all directions.
The Huntress's attack had transformed the very sky into a weapon, and the girl could only marvel at the sheer power and control on display. The Land-dweller's actions were like something out of a story books, and the girl knew she was witnessing something truly extraordinary.
Inside the Bullhead, the orange-haired man struggled desperately with the controls as the violent storm outside buffeted the aircraft. His grip tightened on the steering mechanism, his teeth clenched in frustration, "Deal with that Huntress already!"
But the mysterious accomplice didn't so much as glance at him. Her focus remained entirely on the Huntress below, her expression still cold and unwavering. With a flick of her wrist, her palm erupted into flame, the fire dancing across her hand like a living thing. She was unfazed by the chaos around them, her gaze locked on the target.
Down below, the Huntress caught sight of the movement inside the Bullhead. Her green eyes squinted in suspicion, trying to identify this new opponent. She was taken aback by the sudden manifestation of fire, her mind racing to deduce the threat. But before she could gather more information, a searing fireball shot from the Bullhead straight toward her.
Reacting swiftly, the Huntress raised her protective circlet, summoning another purple barrier just in time. The fireball collided with the shimmering forcefield, sending waves of energy rippling through the air. Ruby stood behind the Huntress, watching in awe as the barrier held strong, shielding them both.
Yet, despite the protection, the sheer heat of the attack left its mark. Shards of flame splintered off the fireball, raining down on the ground around them. The intensity of the heat was enough to melt the concrete, leaving molten pools where the fire had struck.
Without skipping a beat, the mysterious woman rolled her arm fluidly, the motion almost graceful as she summoned forth her power. The ground beneath the Huntress began to glow an ominous orange, the heat intensifying rapidly until the very earth beneath her feet turned to molten rock. Sensing the danger, the Huntress acted on instinct, leaping away just as the ground erupted into flames, sending a plume of fire shooting skyward.
She landed in a roll, coming to a stop beside the girl who is still watching with wide, awe-filled eyes. The Huntress swiftly stood, her composure unshaken despite the sudden assault. She flicked her riding crop once more, directing it toward the shattered, molten concrete that had been left in the wake of the explosion.
With her Semblance, time seemed to slow as the molten fragments of the ground froze in mid-air, suspended as if held by an invisible hand. The intense orange glow of the molten rock faded, replaced by an eerie purple hue as her power took hold. The girl watched in stunned silence, her breath catching as she witnessed the impossible.
The Huntress's eyes narrowed with focus as she flicked her riding crop again, commanding the suspended shards to reshape themselves. The fragments twisted and merged, forming into the shape of a drill, spinning rapidly as it gathered momentum. The purple, spiraling weapon hovered in the air for a moment, whirring with energy, before the Huntress launched it with precision toward the open door of the Bullhead.
The drill shot through the air with lethal speed, aimed directly at the enemy within. The sound of its spinning filled the air, a high-pitched whine that signaled the sheer force behind it. It was a strike meant to end the battle quickly, to force her opponent to realize the gravity of the situation they had stepped into.
Immediately, the mysterious woman responded with a swift counterattack, her hand glowing with fiery intensity. She unleashed a barrage of fireballs, each one striking the spinning drill with explosive force. The impact caused the drill to stagger mid-flight, its once seamless form now breaking apart into fragments. Yet, despite her efforts, the remnants of the molten concrete still hurtled toward the Bullhead, their sharp edges and momentum retaining a deadly potential.
From the cockpit, the orange-haired man caught sight of the incoming danger. His eyes widened as he quickly swerved the Bullhead to the side, the aircraft jerking violently as he attempted to avoid a direct hit. The swift maneuver redirected the impact, but it couldn't completely avert the strike. The spinning remnants of the drill slammed into the top section of the Bullhead, grazing it with a glancing blow.
The sound of the impact reverberated through the air, followed by the groan of metal as the Bullhead's hull shuddered under the force. The ice-riddled exterior of the aircraft cracked further, sending shards of ice scattering into the night sky. The damage, though not catastrophic, was still significant. The Bullhead's engines whined in protest, struggling to maintain altitude after the blow.
Inside, the orange-haired man gritted his teeth, his grip on the controls tightening as he fought to stabilize the Bullhead. The situation was rapidly spiraling out of control, and he knew he had to act quickly to avoid a total disaster. But as he glanced at his mysterious accomplice, he knew that this fight was about to finish.
The concrete shards, now scattered in multiple directions, were swiftly brought back under the Huntress's control. With another precise flick of her riding crop, the shattered remains of the drill coalesced into three smaller drills, each one spinning with deadly intent. They snaked through the air, their trajectory unpredictable as they honed in on the Bullhead, striking with the ferocity of a serpent.
Inside the Bullhead, the mysterious woman staggered as the aircraft shuddered from the impacts. She reached out, steadying herself against the wall as she glanced out the open door. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the three drills closing in. Realizing the dire situation, she knew she had to end this battle swiftly.
With a fluid, almost elegant motion, she moved her hands, and a series of glowing orange circles adorned with ancient runes materialized around her. The symbols pulsed with an intense energy, their radiance illuminating the interior of the Bullhead. Her expression remained calm, focused, as she unleashed her power in a burst of fiery energy that radiated outward in all directions.
The blast expanded, forming a temporary semi-protective barrier around the Bullhead. As the concrete drills neared, the powerful energy field incinerated them on contact, reducing them to ashes that scattered harmlessly in the wind. The Bullhead, spared from the Huntress's relentless assault, stabilized once more, its occupants momentarily safe from the danger.
+++++++++
From Ruby's perspective, the sight before her was nothing short of mesmerizing. The rain of burning ashes falling from the sky, the remnants of the Huntress's attack, created an awe-inspiring display. Her cape billowed wildly in the shockwave's aftermath, the force of it pulling her silver hair across her face. But even as she marveled at the spectacle, her sharp eyes caught sight of the Huntress's stern expression, fixed intently on their adversary. The sight brought her back to reality, breaking her trance.
Determined to assist, she swiftly transformed her scythe into its rifle form. The weapon's jet-black and bright red colors, accented with hints of dark blue, glimmered in the dim light as she loaded a magazine filled with large calibers of silver-cased silver bullets. Without hesitation, she aimed at one target inside the Bullhead, the mysterious woman who had unleashed such devastating power.
The sharp crack of gunfire pierced the air, causing the Huntress to glance at the girl in surprise before quickly refocusing on the target. Each shot rang out with precision, and the mysterious woman raised her palm to intercept them, her aura flaring as she attempted to melt the incoming bullets. But to her and the Huntress's shock, the girl's shots broke through, striking with a force that visibly staggered the woman as it made a gaping hole in her palm. The protective aura surrounding her immediately shatter under the relentless assault.
Unfortunately, not every shot found its mark. Some bullets seemed to have veered off course, striking parts of the Bullhead instead. The aircraft shuddered with each sudden impact, and the orange-haired man's grip tightened on the controls, trying to keep the vessel steady. Despite the few missed shots, the damage was done—several had landed true, dealing a significant blow to their opponent.
The mysterious woman immediately screamed in pain and took cover and glared down at the girl with a mix of pain, anger, and disbelief, realizing that the situation was rapidly slipping out of her control.
The woman's eyes narrowed, a sharp, searing pain radiating from the gaping wound in her palm and she observed other areas where the silver-haired girl's bullets had struck the Bullhead. Her aura had failed her—leaving her vulnerable in ways she had never imagined. The wounds began to bleed almost profusely, a dark crimson soaking into her red garments. Each throb of pain was accompanied by a stinging and burning sensations that made her fingers tremble, while the burn of the bullets' impacts lingered, as if they had left behind a trail of fire beneath her skin.
"How could this be?!" she thought, her lips curling into a snarl. "A mere child's Dust bullets… shatterring my aura so easily?!"
She had underestimated her opponents—first the Huntress, with her relentless attacks, and now this strange, silver-haired girl. The thought burned her pride, each heartbeat fueling her rage and intensifying the pain. The stinging and burning sensations coursed through her, and she could feel the blood seeping profusely from her gaping wound, each drop a testament to her failure to defend herself against what should have been an insignificant threat.
"This wasn't supposed to happen so easily. How did they—how did she–?!" Clenching her jaw against the pain, she realized something.
Silver hair.
The mysterious woman pressed the wounds and glared down at the girl, her anger barely contained as the pain from her wounds continued to burn. But as her eyes locked onto the girl below, her anger was momentarily overshadowed by shock.
The girl's appearance was strikingly familiar–her skin pale white, untouched by the sun's warmth, almost ethereal in its luminosity. If one were to ignore the red streaks, her silver hair that caught the light of the shattered moon, gleamed with a brightness that seemed almost otherworldly. But it was the girl's eyes that truly unnerved her—ruby or blood red, burned with an intensity that seemed to pierce through her very being, drilling into her psyche with a force that was difficult to comprehend.
The sight of those eyes sent a chill down the woman's spine. They were so familiar, yet so strange—an unsettling reminder of someone else. The girl's sharp, pointy ears added to the unsettling image, "What is she? A Faunus? A Human?" The longer the woman stared at the girl, the more her mind began to race, trying to make sense of what she was seeing.
"But, she looks just like..." The thought trailed off, unfinished, as a cold realization struck her.
The girl's appearance—her pale skin, ignoring her red streaks in her pale silver hair, and those piercing, blood-red eyes—was eerily reminiscent of her mistress, "the Queen."
The resemblance was so uncanny that it left the woman momentarily breathless, her mind struggling to reconcile the image of this young girl with the powerful figure she served.
But the girl below wasn't the Queen—No! she couldn't be. The very idea was impossible, and yet... their near physical resemblance was undeniable. The woman's glare intensified, her shock mixing with a growing sense of dread. "Who is this girl?" The question echoed in her mind, unanswered, as she fought to regain control over her emotions.
The sound of the alarm jolted the mysterious woman out of her shocked trance, her burning injuries momentarily forgotten. The situation was rapidly deteriorating, and there was no time to dwell on the unsettling questions that had arisen. "Not now, we needed to escape—now."
With a decisive wave of her good hand, she summoned her power. The ground beneath the girl and the Huntress began to swirl with a dangerous orange glow, the unmistakable sign of an impending eruption of flame. The Huntress and the girl both registered the danger in an instant, their eyes widening in surprise.
Acting quickly, the Huntress reacted on instinct. She swiped her riding crop in the girl's direction, her semblance manifesting as a powerful force that pushed the girl forward. "Huh?" the girl let out, caught off guard as she was propelled by the unseen force. The two of them barely managed to move away from the ground just as it exploded into a fiery inferno.
The Huntress, with her years of experience and grace, landed smoothly at her chosen spot, her movements fluid and precise. However, the girl wasn't as fortunate. Propelled by the force but unprepared for the sudden shift, she lost her balance and faceplanted into the ground with an unceremonious thud. Her weapon clattered beside her, while her cape fanned out around her like a fallen banner.
The girl, still feeling the sting of embarrassment from her ungraceful landing, quickly pushed herself up. She brushed off the dirt clinging to her cloak and attire. Despite the rough tumble, she was unhurt, though her pride had taken a small hit.
The Huntress remained focused, her sharp green eyes narrowing as she watched the Bullhead ascend into the darkened sky. The side doors of the aircraft closed with a metallic clang, sealing off any chance of pursuing the fleeing criminals. The Huntress knew the chase would be futile now; the Bullhead had already gained too much altitude. With a final glance at the shrinking silhouette of the aircraft, she allowed herself to relax slightly, though her stern expression didn't soften.
Inside the Bullhead, the mysterious woman leaned back against the cold interior wall, her injuries still throbbing with pain but she can feel her aura restoring, albeit at a snail pace and slowly healed her wounds. Yet the stinging and burning pain was still there, like a phantom pain.
The events of the night had been unexpected, and her mind raced as she considered what had transpired. The silver-haired girl, with her unsettling resemblance to her mistress, had been an unforeseen complication.
"I'll have to report this to the Queen," the woman thought, her mind already forming the words she would use. The encounter had raised too many questions, and the implications were too significant to ignore. As the Bullhead sped away into the night, she steeled herself for the difficult conversation that lay ahead, her thoughts consumed by the image of the girl's haunting blood-red eyes.
As the Huntress stood, her gaze lingering on the distant sky where the Bullhead had disappeared, she suddenly heard a soft, excited voice from beside her.
"A-are you a Land-walker Hunter?!"
The Huntress in question turned her head, one eyebrow arching in confusion. "Land... walker? Hunter? not Hunstmen or Huntress?" she thought, the terms catching her off guard.
It wasn't a phrase she heard often—if ever—and it intrigued her. Her eyes met the girl's, who was staring up at her with wide, ruby-red eyes that seemed to sparkle with child-like wonder. The expression on the girl's face was one of pure fascination, as if like she had just encountered a figure from her wildest dreams—a superhero brought to life.
Before the Huntress could react, the girl's excitement bubbled over. With a pen and a small notebook with a red leather cover in hand—its cover adorned with gilded "R.R." initials written in an elegant cursive, and a symbol of a white octopus being stabbed by a two-headed glaive beneath the initials—she thrust them towards the Huntress, her voice trembling with barely-contained excitement.
"Can I have your autograph?!"