RoR Snippet #3

Chapter 11: New Coat of Red

It took her a moment to realize Weiss was still carrying their bags as she ran.

Ruby Rose barely even had time to blink before Weiss suddenly pulled out three decorative, white vials with snowflake symbols on the front. She dropped the bags, undid the caps, and, when a faint white aura appeared around the virals, swiped her arms out in front, pure blue dust spearing through the air like snowflakes. And then the flecks of blue glowed, moving in sync like a gale in a blizzard, all heading for the bomb that was getting even brighter and even redder now.

The dust settled on the bomb.

And then there was ice.

Ruby jumped back as a pillars of sharp, pointed ice suddenly speared through the air. She didn’t need to though, because none of them had come close to hitting her, or Crystal or even the man who had brought the bomb in the first place. In an instant, a towering twenty foot block of ice. Well, blocks, really, with how it seemed like multiple pieces of ice were smooshed together into one bog, spiky-ish ice sculpture.

And at the center, was the bomb, completely frozen. The glow was gone, the tube covered in spider-web cracks, and seemed to be inert.

Ruby turned her head. Weiss was panting slightly, sweat dripping down her forehead, and she slowly lowered her arm.

“Is…everyone okay?” she asked.

“Ye-yeah,” Ruby said, looking to Crystal and the man. And when it really hit her that Weiss stopped it, that no one had gotten hurt again, Ruby let out a big, relieved sigh. “You did it, Weiss. Good job.”

“It was nothing—” Weiss stumbled, and Ruby was instantly by her side putting her arm around her shoulder. “Thank you,” she said, pinching her the bridge of her nose. “Just give me a moment. I’m not used to using that much raw dust without Myrtenaster.” She opened her eyes, and immediately glared. “And just where do you think you’re going?”

Ruby followed Weiss’ gaze, and saw the tiger freeze, his stance like he was just caught as he was about to sprint away. He turned back to them, eyes wide.

Ruby let go of Weiss, and turned into a storm of petals. And in an instant, the rose petals that had become her self were flying through the air, and right towards the man, who didn’t even have the time to so much as twitch before she slammed into him. There was a huge thud, and the impact of herself—selves, really—hiting him was enough to send him flying into the wall of a nearby building.

Ruby gathered the petals, and in an instant, she was a person again. She had done it so fast that the man was still sliding down the wall when she landed back on the ground.

“Stay down!” She shouted firmly. Thankfully, going by the groan, she didn’t have to worry about him not listening to her this time.