Rwby Impact (a RwbyxHonkai impact reaction fanfic)

Chapter 42: Where Thunder Breaks and Roses Bleed

A/N: Standard disclaimer: I own Nothing in this story except my OC. Everything Rwby-related content belongs to Rooster Teeth and respective artists. Everything Honkai-related content belongs to HoYoverse and the respective artists.

Mei-Senpai=Thoughts

Ruby staggers as reality stabilizes around her in a burst of rose petals and crackling violet light. One moment, chaos had erupted around Theater; the next, Ruby and Weiss have been whisked away to a desolate courtyard of stone and dust. Above them, a storm of midnight clouds churns, lit from within by purple lightning. The air smells of ozone and ash. It's eerily silent here—no distant sounds of their friends, no city, nothing. They are alone, a safe pocket dimension conjured by errant power, a makeshift arena for a battle that should never have to happen.

Ruby's chest heaves as she looks up, Crescent Rose already gripped tight in her trembling hands. Across the courtyard, Weiss stands shrouded in an aura of crackling indigo electricity. Her normally bright blue eyes flicker with an ominous violet glow. Herrscher of Thunder—the words echo in Ruby's mind with dread. Weiss's hair billows in an unseen breeze, strands of white lifting as arcs of lightning dance across her Snow-white combat outfit, now singed and frayed by the surges of power within. Weiss's beloved rapier, Myrtenaster, is in her hand, its blade glowing hot-white and humming with energy. But it's Weiss's face that makes Ruby's heart clench: a mask of anguish and fury wars there. Weiss's lips are drawn in a tight snarl, but Ruby catches the quiver at the corner of her mouth, the small sign of pain and conflict.

"Weiss," Ruby calls out, voice echoing in the emptiness. She takes a hesitant step forward. The soles of her boots scrape on stone, the sound startlingly loud in the silence. "Weiss, please... I don't want to fight you." Ruby's voice cracks on the last words. She doesn't bother hiding the tremble in her tone or the tears already pricking at her silver eyes. Every instinct in her screams to run to her partner's side, to help her, not battle her. But the crackle of thunder overhead and the dangerous sparks skittering off Weiss's aura remind Ruby that right now, Weiss might not be able to distinguish friend from foe.

Weiss answers, but not with words. In a burst of motion, she lunges. A glyph of pure white light bursts into existence at her feet, propelling her forward like a speeding bullet. CRACK— Weiss's Myrtenaster clashes against Crescent Rose's folded scythe blade, the impact exploding in a shower of red sparks and static. Ruby barely had time to raise her weapon in defense; now she's driven back, feet sliding across the rough ground. The force of Weiss's strike is tremendous—far beyond what Weiss is normally capable of. Ruby's arms ache from the shockwave that travels down her scythe's handle. She grits her teeth, digging in her heels, trying not to be overpowered.

At sword's length away, Weiss glares, face lit intermittently by the violent glow of her aura. "Fight me, Ruby!" Weiss's voice comes out in a chilling mix of her own and something distorted. It's still Weiss's voice, but layered with a cold reverberation, as if another entity speaks through her. "If you won't fight, you'll die." The last word is spat out with a cruel finality, and Weiss pushes harder, blade screaming against steel.

Ruby's eyes widen at Weiss's words—so sharp and hateful. That's not Weiss... Not the real Weiss. The Weiss Ruby knows can be blunt and fierce, yes, but never cruel. This anger, this bloodlust in her snowy-haired friend's eyes—it's the Herrscher's influence twisting her mind. Ruby feels a sting in her heart hearing Weiss threaten her life so callously. She doesn't mean it. She can't mean it. Ruby swallows, trying to keep her voice steady even as her boots scrape back inch by inch under Weiss's strength. "Weiss, I know you're in there," she pleads softly. "You have to fight this! This... this isn't you. Please come back to me." Ruby's scarlet cape flutters around her with each labored breath as she struggles to hold Weiss's blade at bay.