The Girl Who Carried The World On Her Shoulders
“Why doesn’t it have a cost?” Asked Weiss. The blacksmith snapped back. “Because it isn’t finished, why would I finish a failure, a failure that serves no purpose? So, I locked it away and placed her on the wall to watch over me, pushing me to be better, it can at the least remind me of my purpose.” As she finished, the blacksmith turned around, putting her back to the group and looking up at the chest, shoulders slumping in shame. “Besides, we’re three for three, you each have bought something.”
Behind her Weiss gently pulled something out from her pocket, placing a small, wrapped item on the counter. “What about her?” The blacksmith turned back around, she watched Weiss gently unwrap it revealing a red and white Meringue with a small strawberry on top with white sugar dusted atop it. They could see the blacksmiths eyes narrowing slightly as she recognised what it was, her voice stuttered slightly. “A Memory Meringue. Why do you have one of those? I was told those are super rare, between you and me, strawberries are my favourite.” The blacksmith admitted as she instinctively reached for it before stopping herself, grabbing the outreached arm with her other and pulling it down. “We were told it could bring our friend back, it’s not fair but we can’t do it without her.” Blake spoke as she met the blacksmiths eyes. “The girl you mentioned before?” Blake nodded in confirmation. “I don’t understand, why would you want me to eat it, I’ve never left this village, I don’t know anyone like that.” Confessed the blacksmith. “…Oh, I get it you think I’ve met her in a previous life? But I could lose my purpose, I don't really feel like another ascension just yet.”
Weiss looked up from the meringue drawing the blacksmiths attention. “You protect people, in every life, your purpose has always been the same, you protect people. As a blacksmith you give people the means to protect themselves and those they love. I know that’s never going to change.” The blacksmith pulled herself forward to the counter, the scent enticing her closer to the meringue. “Be honest with me, it’s bad, isn’t it?” Asked the blacksmith, Weiss responded with a nod as she spoke. “There’s some bad… some really bad but the girl in this.” She pointed towards the meringue. “She showed me that the good always outweighs the bad, sometimes the bad blinds us from seeing the good we’ve done. I’ve made a promise to do anything for her but the only one that can help her right now is you. I’m sorry, I know we’re asking a lot of someone we’ve only just met but- “
“-It feels like a lifetime” interjected the blacksmith, wistfulness filing her voice. Reaching over for it the blacksmiths hand was stopped by Weiss’ own causing the girl to look up confused. “I’m sorry again, but it’s gonna cost you.” She spoke remorsefully leading to a small laugh to come from the blacksmith. “You my lady are one shrewd businesswoman, if you ever need a new purpose, I know it’ll be business related. So, what’s the cost?” chuckled the blacksmith.
“Well, it seems only fair, you made me talk about my failure. So you have to confront your failure… the cost for the memory meringue is that you have to finish the Rose’s Thorns.” Weiss started off sure of herself but even she couldn’t stop her own voice faltering towards the end. “Hmph, you drive a hard bargain, fair but hard. All right but if this all fails. The cost of failure is you have to tell me everything, you’re highest highs, lowest lows, if I’m risking my purpose then you have to tell me everything that led you to yours.” “Deal.” Weiss agreed confidently, the Ever After had confused Weiss for sure but business, for the first time in a while she felt thankful for the SDC and her father because of them, she could always do business, anytime, anywhere.
The blacksmith turned around and picked up the chest. A loud thud shook from the counter as she placed it down, undoing the latch she lifted it open, the lid obscuring what it contained from the trio. The blacksmith looked and took a deep breath. “You know, I thought it would be hopeless to ever try and finish this, but I can’t deny it. How you guys keep trying, it gives me hope.” Reaching her arm in she pulled out Crescent Rose in its compact form. It was wrapped in chains and slightly rusted. Turning towards her anvil she picked up her hammer and slammed it down causing the trio to gasp in shock thinking they had just watched her smash her weapon, instead the chains that wrapped around her unravelled and piled onto the floor. Crescent Rose opened into her proper form, the blacksmith left her on the anvil, turning back to the counter she opened a drawn and pulled out a small bag, loosening the top she poured the powder onto the weapon, crackling rang out as it sparked on contact. Bringing her hammer down again Crescent Rose started to shine again as the book, the blacksmiths ledger, flung open and flipped open to the newest page, its name wrote itself into the book while a small numbered tag appeared looped onto the magazine of Crescent Rose. The blacksmith’s hammer slammed down a final time and snapped Crescent Rose in half.
The Blacksmith jumped back with a yelp as the other three stared frozen in shock. The blacksmith tutted to herself evidently annoyed she grumbled something under her own breath, picking up the two pieces as she did. “What did you do?” Asked Yang, anger and pain laced in her throat. The blacksmith turned around with a grin. “Well two big weapons in one are quite dated.” Placing the two pieces onto the counter she slotted them back together. “But four in two, now that’s crazy.” Pressing a new button next to the original trigger the two pieces disconnected again but this time the lower half formed a rifle with a blade tipped end while the upper half kept the sniper rifle and scythe combo the blades on either side lengthened and the size of the weapon became thicker to compensate for the shorter barrel. Putting them back together again the changes become clearer, two triggers that sat back-to-back and two magazines for each gun while the bladed tip took on more of a spear shape.
Pulling the plaque off the display the blacksmith walked over to the ledger and copied what it said before sliding it over to the trio. “For what’s it’s worth, I’d say this is my best work yet, so I hope she can afford to pay the cost.”
Rose’s Thorns Crescent Rose Mk2, Cost: Forgiveness
“That’s easy…” Yang said, “there’s nothing to forgive.”
“Not your forgiveness, it’s her cost to pay, she’ll have to forgive herself.” The blacksmith spoke as she grabbed the Memory Meringue. “Just remember, she’ll have to come here, I don’t lease out my weapons.” Before the trio could explain the blacksmith bit into the treat, moaning in joy as she chewed a few times before swallowing. “I do love Strawberry. “She blinked a few times before shrugging, bringing the treat up again to take second bite but froze as it was held just an inch from her mouth.
Thud! As the meringue met the floor, staring at her shaking hand the blacksmith was visibly confused as the three girls ran up to her. “What’s wrong?” Asked Weiss, who stared into silver eyes as she did, she could see the flecks of blue and purple dissipate and fail to reform. Clutching at her stomach she collapsed onto her knees, groaning and leaning over in pain. Raising her head she came face to face with a kneeling Weiss. Shaking silver met sorrowful blue. “You knew this would happen, didn’t you?” the blacksmith said accusatorily, Weiss responded by throwing her arms around the other girl, pulling her into a tight hug. “You’re gonna kill me to get someone you had already lost?”
“I’m sorry… I said I’d do anything.” Weiss whispered remorsefully as she tightened the hug. “I was finally happy.” The blacksmith admitted. “I know, I’m sorry. I said I’d spend the rest of my life making it up to her, I meant it to you as well.” A small chuckle came from the blacksmith. “You better, else I might just have to charge you more… Just so you know, Weiss, I forgive you.”
A blinding silver light flashed out causing everyone to close their eyes as Weiss felt the blacksmith go limp in her arms before she started to struggle, both sniffling back tears. “WHY! Why did you bring me back! I’m nothing but a burden, a mistake.” Ruby’s voice cracked as she struggled to keep herself from shouting. “That’s not true, you’re everything, my partner, our leader, we can’t do this without you.” Weiss pleaded. Yang crouched down beside her sister and embraced the two as Blake lent against Ruby’s free shoulder. Yang spoke softly “Remember what you said to Weiss? You’re never gonna be alone again, you have team RWBY, did you really thing that didn’t go both ways.” Ruby whimpered as she spoke. “But what if I can’t do this? Look at how many times we’ve failed, I’m just making things worse.” Blake brought her face up to Ruby’s locking eye contact with her. “That’s not true, we’re fighting what feels like a flood. We can’t win every battle; we can’t save everyone. Some people will even say it’s crazy, to try and fight the tide but that doesn’t mean we can’t stop doing what is right.” Ruby nodded slightly as she brough her arms up around all three girls.
Time seemed to stand still for them as no one was willing to pull away and break the moment, finally three had become four again, sisters and partners reunited. Yang let out a half-hearted huff “I can’t believe you called me a battering ram.” Ruby grumbled out “In my defence, I can still feel it on my chest.” Eliciting a giggle from Blake and Weiss, slowly the four stood up but were unwilling to properly separate themselves until a ding rang out one final time causing Blake to move her head allowing the other three to look towards its source, standing on this side of the counter the four of them could see its screen. Crescent Rose Mk2 Cost Paid. It displayed proudly for a moment before shutting off again.
“Where’s Jaune?” Ruby asked. “He went chasing after Neo-cat.” Stated Yang, causing a sigh to come from Weiss. “I told you to not call her that.” The exchange led to a small laugh from both Blake and Ruby. Slowly the four of them came apart as Ruby grabbed Crescent Rose, she immediately realized the problem, using her semblance she flashed through the back door, there was some crashing sounds as the other three quickly ran to check up on her. However, before Yang and Blake could make it to the doorway, Weiss was forced to duck as a ball of roses flew overhead. Looking into the room before turning back around she saw an upturned bed and a chest that had been smashed into pieces, turning back around Ruby stood beside the register and placed Crescent Rose on her back, as she was now back in her huntress uniform. “Now that’s much better than those stuffy blacksmith garbs.”
“Are you okay?” asked Yang causing Ruby to look down in shame. “No, I’m not… but I don’t feel like I’m falling anymore.” Slowly the four of them gathered their newly earned gear, before making their way out of the blacksmiths shop, Blake and Yang were the first to leave as Weiss stood beside Ruby who had stopped at the threshold she turned the open sign to closed and spoke softly. “If I start to fall again, would you…” Ruby’s voice trailed off scared of the weakness she was showing, however before she could spiral her hand was grasped firmly and brought up to Weiss’ chest. “I’ll always catch you, Ruby.” Ruby lept at Weiss keeping their hands held in between them as the door of the shop slowly closed.