Chapter 3
“There she goes, again.” Weiss sighed. “Blake, your partner senses picking up anything?”
“Partner senses? No, but it is obvious something is up, I just wish she’d tell me about it instead of keeping it to herself.” Blake responded.
“Well, then what about your girlf-”
“Yang! Come back!” Ruby yelled, oblivious to the conversation happening behind her. She ran after Yang, only catching up after they entered the town.
Yang had come to a stop, looking around for any hint of where to go.
“Yang! Please! What is going on? Why are you running?” Ruby reached out and grabbed her sister’s arm, forcing her attention onto her. She didn’t know what was happening but was determined to find out.
Pushing her feelings aside, she stared her sister down as they made eye contact. How she felt about Penny and being trapped weren’t important right now. She needed to be the leader.
Yang laughed nervously, looking behind her and up the hill where she assumed Blake and Weiss were making their way down to them. “Oops, sorry, sis. I didn’t mean to take off like that.”
“Yang, if you can just tell us whats been going on, I swear we can help you.” Ruby pleaded. Something about this conversation struck her as familiar, but she didn’t care to think about how at the moment.
Yang cracked a smile at her. It wasn’t forced, but Ruby could tell it wasn’t completely genuine either. Something was definitely up. “Don’t worry, sis! Everything is fine.” Yang hiccuped, which made her look confused for a moment before she continued. “I promised I’d tell you after I get my arm back, and I will.”
Ruby froze. She was suddenly reminded why this situation was so familiar. It was almost exactly like the one where Penny revealed to her that she was a robot. Running away after they do something strange, Ruby pleading with them to just tell her what is wrong, even the hiccupping.
Ruby couldn’t do anything but stare at Yang in shock, only to be broken out of her trance when Blake and Weiss finally caught up to them.
“Yang, for the last time, wait for us before running off! At this rate we’re going to have to put a leash on you!” Weiss scolded.
“Ahah, I’m sorry! I’m just really in a hurry to get my arm back. Now, anyway. Lets get going! Don’t want to be late!” Yang said, turning and walking a head, Weiss scoffed, but went after her to make sure she wouldn’t wander off. Blake followed after both of them, too fascinated with the townsfolk to notice Ruby still frozen.
Ruby watched them walk off, her head still spinning. What was that? Why was she…?
“Ruby? Are you okay?” Little asked her, placing a paw on Ruby’s cheek.
“Huh, oh. Yeah. I’m fine.” She responded, shaking her head. Now was not the time. She’ll sort these things out later. Yeah. Later is good.
Yang looked around the town. The tugging feeling was insane now. So insane she almost didn’t notice that the townspeople were literal toys. “Ahah, I’m sorry! I’m just really in a hurry to get my arm back. Now, anyway. Lets get going! Don’t want to be late!” Yang said, turning and walking ahead, Weiss scoffed but went after her to
“Just act like you belong?” Blake suggested when she saw them giving them all weird looks.
“I’ve always wanted to be long. But I’m still just small.” Little piped up.
Yang couldn’t help but laugh. She knew that Little didn’t mean to make that joke, but that just made it all the funnier.
Her joy over the pun was paused when she finally found the card. There it is. The stupid trash mobile!
“There it is! So whats the strategy, just start roughing them up or what?” She brought up her fist, fully ready to go and beat up that stupid raccoon until he regrets ever stealing from her.
Blake was not going to let that happen. Not on her watch. She walked up and put her hand on Yang’s shoulder to try and calm her down. “In the book, Alyx had to barter with jinxy for her dagger.”
Yang rolled her eyes. “Yeeeaaah I think I’d rather hit him.” She smirked playfully at her partner, who gave her the ‘I am serious, behave’ look.
Their attention was brought back when dramatic music started playing from the cart. Purple smoke billowed out as the cart opened to reveal Jinxy posing dramatically in front of the crowd.
“Welcome one and all!”
Weiss gasped dramatically and gave Yang a teasing look. “He’s adorable!” Yang blushed and looked away from Weiss.
“And a lot older than I remember from the book,” Blake piped in, also contributing to Yang’s embarrassment without even trying.
I know he’s small and cute and old, and he somehow got the drop on me. No need to rub it in.
“I am Jinxy. And theeeese-” He tapped the shelf on his cart, causing three items to fall down. A scepter, a pink rabbit with a diamond necklace thing, and a little green doll. “Are the finest treasures of the acre!”
Yang got as close to the cart as she could with the crowd, looking intently at the objects. And, nope, nothing looked even close to her arm. “I don’t see my arm”
“All of jinxy’s treasures are just other items in disguise so that people think they’re buying something extremely valuable.” Blake explained.
“Okay, so which one is Yang’s arm?” Weiss asked, already sounding like she wanted this whole thing to be over.
“What does your heart tell you? That’s how Alyx knew.” Blake looked at Yang expectantly, ignoring how Weiss gagged and made a face at her words.
Yang focused on the objects again, and sure enough, the tugging feeling was pulling her toward the scepter. But also… the doll? Why was she getting drawn to that too? “I think… It’s the scepter? It’s also kinda arm size, right?”
Blake sighed. She wasn’t going to get anywhere with that. That's when she noticed Ruby staring at the doll. “Ruby?”
“Theres… something about that one.” That was all Ruby could say before the auction started.
“First item! The diamond studded rabbit!” Jinxy announced. Then did this whole thing where he said something at the same time as the person bidding. Okay. Weird.
“How are we going to bid without any money?” Weiss asked. Valid concern. Yang didn’t think she had anything worth much to a raccoon.
“I don’t think there's any money in the Ever After. Jinxy just names whatever price he wants,” Blake explained.
“What did he want from Alyx?” Yang asked. She needed to know what she was getting herself into.
“Her saddest memory.” Blake’s ears dropped as she remembered. “And her happiest”
“Sold for- A hug!” Jinxy embraced the buyer in front of him, causing the crowd to ‘awww.’
Little gasped, their eyes sparkling. “Hugs are very valuable!” They said, turning and hugging Ruby’s hair.
Yang relaxed, feeling relief that she probably wouldn’t have to give up anything drastic. “Maybe this won't be so bad after all.”
“Second Item! A golden scepter!”
“Me!”
“Me!”
“You!” Jinxy pointed at Yang and some random wooden doll guy. Yang looked over at the guy with wide eyes. No. I can’t let this dude take it. “Bidding starts-”
“No! I was the first one to-”
“Knowing what it’s like to feel loved.” Yang froze. That… can’t be right. She heard wrong. “A fair price for some, I’d say.”
No that was not fair. That’s Penny! A whole person! She’s worth more than that. And yet… Why was she hesitating?
Before she could find her voice and say anything, the guy was already signing the paper. “Knowing what it’s like to feel loved! By royal decree.”
“Sold!”
Panic set in. That could be Penny. “No! You can’t take he- it! That’s my arm!”
He did not seem phased in the slightest. “Whatever it is it’s royal property now, no price is to high for his majesty’s birthday!”
Yang could feel her eyes burn red. “We tried it your way, Blake.” She growled, ignoring Blake’s nervous laugh behind her. But she got distracted by Jinxy.
“And finally, a jade doll!” Jinxy announced, pointedly not picking up the doll. Yang felt her anger dim slightly. This was the other object she felt pulled to. Maybe…
“You!”
“Me!”
“Me!”
Ruby and Yang looked at each other, matching expressions of shock on their faces.
“Wha- what are you two doing?!” Weiss whispered shouted.
Ruby’s face changed from shock to confusion. “Yang?”
“Bidding starts at..” He paused as he dug around in the trash hidden by his little shelf, “... Enough hope to fill this jar!” He held the jar he had found up high for everyone to see.
Ruby winced and lowered her hand slowly, her gaze dropping to the ground.
Jinxy tilted his head at her. “Hmmm, you don’t have enough, do you?”
“Ruby…?” Yang had never seen her sister look so.. Dim. She was usually so full of life and light, but now she just looked... Hopeless. Something that should never describe Ruby.
“What about you?” Jinxy turned his attention to Yang.
Yang shook her head. She’ll talk to Ruby. She will. But after she gets Penny back. She’ll help. “I will-”
It was then that Jinxy noticed Little trying to sneak off with the doll. A panicked look crossed his face as he lunged at Little, who was able to dodge out of the way just in time. “Why you little- leave that alone! You can’t touch it until the deal is done!” He pleaded, panic leaking into his voice.
But it was too late. The enchantment wore off. And Little was left holding a green sword.
A sword that Yang had never seen before. So why was I drawn to it?
“Its a fake!” The guy who bought the rabbit yelled as his enchantment wore off too. This caused chaos to break out as everyone started yelling at Jinxy.
But if the doll wasn’t her arm, then that means..
Yang looked over at the guards. And in their little wooden hands, they were holding her arm. But it looked normal, no green glow to it at all. That can’t be good.
The guard looked down at what he thought was the scepter, only to scream and throw it into the air when he saw the disembodied arm.
“I’m going for it!” Yang called back to her team, not waiting for a response before rushing forward and catching it. Another guard grabbed it and tried to rip it out of her hand. But she was not giving it up that easily. And she had the upper hand here.
Yang smirked. Heh. Upper hand. She triggered the gun function on her arm and blasted the guard back.
Finally, she had her arm back. She turned back towards her team and ran ahead to get out of the town before the guards wise up enough to chase them. “I got it!” She yelled to Ruby as she ran past, holding her arm up high in victory.
She continued running until they were safely out of the town and away from the guards. By then, she was out of breath. “Those guys… Take auctions very seriously… High five?” She turned back and held her arm out towards Blake, who completely ignored it, still stressed out from the events that just happened.
Okay. Not a fan. She held it out towards Weiss instead. “High five?” A scoff. Okay. Tough crowd.
She looked down at her arm, really looking it over this time. It lacked the green glow she was used to now. But that tugging sensation was insane. She knew Penny was still there. So why wasn’t it showing that?
Oh. She wanted to smack herself. Maybe it’s because it’s not attached.
So, she put it back where it was supposed to go, and it immediately started glowing again.
Salutations! Penny greeted.
Yang smiled, the tension finally leaving once she heard her voice. Hello Penny! Glad to have you back. There’s a lot you missed.
Like what?
Well… She looked towards her team, I found them.
Penny gasped, and Yang could feel how excited she was. Our friends!
Blake was ranting about not wanting to be the moral of a story. Weiss seemed annoyed by that, and Ruby wasn’t paying them any attention. She stared at the sword she was holding sadly. She came and sat next to Blake
Why is Ruby sad? Did something happen?
Yang winced. Right. I’ll explain that in a moment. But for now...
“Ruby?” Yang called softly, hoping to just break Ruby out of whatever trance she was in. She wished Ruby would talk to them.
“I couldn’t explain why. But I was drawn to it.” Ruby said quietly, not looking up from the sword she was holding.
Is that one of my swords?
Huh? Yang took a couple of steps closer to Ruby to look at the sword. Now that she thought about it, it did look like one of Penny’s Floating Array. But different, like some kind of crystal. Maybe it is. But why does it look like that?
I don’t know… My memory is blank on that. But I think I made it?
Thunder rolled through the clearing as it started to rain. Weiss sighed. “Great. Now it’s raining on just us. Thats it! We’re getting out of this nightmare.” She walked forward and gestured to the tree. “Alyx went to the tree right? Lets go.”
Alyx? From the children’s tale?
Yes, we figured out that we are probably in the Ever After.
I have missed a lot.
I promise I’ll fill you in later. Once I explain to them our.. Situation.
You haven’t told them about me yet?
Yang winced and smiled sheepishly. I didn’t know how to explain it without your help. I didn’t exactly have any proof.
You make a good point. I will search to find anything that will help you with the explanation.
Thanks, Penny.
Weiss ran by Yang, snapping her out of her internal dialogue. She looked like she was trying to run to the tree and failing. She growled and picked up a rock.
“Stupid tree!” She yelled, throwing it ahead of her, but the rock flew back and hit her in the back of her head, knocking her to the ground. She laid there, probably seething.
Yang had to hold back a snicker. She should not be laughing at her friends.
“Yeah, already tried that earlier. You can’t get any closer to the tree that way.” Little told them.
Weiss pushed herself up and started ranting to herself again. So, Yang decided to change the subject.
“So what do we do now? We have my arm. But Ruby still doesn’t have Crescent Rose. Should we go find that or-”
“Well, I seem to remember someone promising an explanation for how they’ve been acting once they got their arm back.” Blake piped up, looking up at Yang with a hard, no arguments-allowed look.
Oh… Grapes.
Ruby finally looked up from Penny’s sword. “Right. Yang, you also tried to bid on this. Why? You knew the Scepter was your arm…”
“And the knowing where to go, the constant running off, and you’ve been acting strange.” Weiss agreed.
Yang laughed nervously and scratched the back of her neck. All four pairs of eyes turned to stare at her.
Well. It’s now or never.
Don’t worry! I believe in you!
Yang cleared her throat. “Well. Um… Ruby, could I see that sword?”
Ruby hesitated, not because she didn’t trust her sister, but because she didn’t want to let go of the only piece of Penny she had left. But eventually, she nodded and handed the sword over to her.
Yang smiled and took the sword, looking down at it. “I was drawn to this sword too because…” She trailed off, her eyes widening in shock. Instead of seeing her own reflection in the sword, Penny’s stared back at her.
“Because…?” Weiss prompted, but Yang ignored her.
This is strange. As Penny said that, her reflection moved as if it was speaking. Oh! It’s copying me! The reflection mimicked the surprised look Penny must have had and even moved as if she was right there.
Yang screamed and threw the sword away from her out of reflex.
“Wha- Yang!” Ruby cried out, lunging for the sword. But, as she fell to the ground, she never made contact. Confused, she looked at where the sword should be falling towards the ground.
Instead, it was floating in the air a few feet above her.
Slowly, everyone’s gaze moved to Yang again, who was standing with her right arm stretched out as if she was trying to catch it as well.
But the strangest thing was that her eyes had green embers flickering out of them, like a powered-down version of the maiden’s flame, and her arm emitting a bright green glow.
Ruby looked from Yang, to the sword, then back to Yang. “Yang…?”
Yang blinked as if she just realized what she was doing. She slowly moved her arm down, and the sword came flying back to her. She caught it and looked at her reflection. Or rather, Penny’s. Penny looked back at her with a mix of confusion and wonder. Her eyes had the same embers flowing out of them.
Did you just use the maiden powers?She asked.
“I… I don’t think so? That’s not possible.”
What other explanation do we have for that?
“I don’t know, but it can’t be that,” Yang replied, shaking her head. Penny’s reflection didn’t move with her. Definitely not a hallucination.
“Can’t be what? Yang, what is going on? How did you do that?” Blake walked up to her, worry creeping into her voice. “What aren’t you telling us?”
Yang tore her gaze away from the sword to look at her teammates' concerned and confused faces.
“Um… I guess it’s just a perk of being attached to Penny’s soul?”
Shocked silence. More stares.
Probably not the best way to reveal that.
No. Definitely not.