Finally, Ruby found her. "Weiss!" She called into the frigid winter air. The other girl ignored her, and continued to walk through the snow, away from Beacon, away from home. "WEISS!" Ruby called again, this time with force. Weiss stopped, but did not face her.

"Ruby," she replied, almost too soft for Ruby to hear. "Why did you come for me?"

"Because I can't let you do this! You're leaving everything behind, and for what?!" Ruby yelled back across the snowy field. "Stop being such a big dumb idiot and come back to Beacon!"

Now Weiss turned, her ice blue eyes meeting Ruby's. Ruby was shocked. She did not see her friend and teammate anymore, she saw a girl who was full of malice. "You don't know anything Ruby!" She snapped back, "If you did, you would leave me be!" As she continued, Ruby saw her slowly unsheathe Myrtenaster from its resting place at her hip. "You know nothing about the pain I've been through, and of what I have to do to for vengence. I won't let anyone stop me, Ruby, not even you." Weiss was now fully prepared for a fight, as she knew Ruby would not let her go quietly.

Ruby, seeing the drastic change in her former partner's demeanour, grabbed a hold of Crescent Rose and brought it to its full extension in front of her. "If you won't come back, Weiss, I'm gonna have to drag you back to Beacon! I won't let you leave!"

"Enough talk Ruby!" Weiss shouted, "The time for words is up, now we speak only with our weapons!" And with that, Weiss launched herself at Ruby.

Ruby barely had time to swing her scythe into position to block the strike. The two exchanged a few blows before Weiss created a Dust circle beneath herself and vaulted skyward. Ruby followed by positioning her weapon under herself and firing off some shots. As Ruby ascended, Weiss suddenly changed her direction and shot down towards her. Ruby swung her scythe up to meet the brutal assault and their blades locked against each other. Ruby looked up to see those blue eyes staring daggers at her, promising defeat. Weiss saw only raw determination in Ruby's, and as they fell, they exchanged more blows.

Ruby saw the ground swiftly coming up to meet her and she fired a shot towards Weiss, who blocked it with Dust. Ruby, however, was only looking to create some distance between them, and now landed about ten feet from Weiss. Ruby swung her scythe back around, expecting another assault, but the next attack was of a different kind.

Weiss began viciously throwing Dust attacks against Ruby, who was hard pressed to dodge them. Ruby spotted a flake coming straight at her knee. She dug her scythe into the ground and jumped on top of it to avoid the blow. She didn't, however, see the flake that was aimed higher. It felt as if a giant had punched her square in the gut. Retaining a hold of Crescent Rose, she flew backward and landed in the snow. She tried valiantly to get up and fight, but her body would not respond quickly enough. She was getting to her knees when she caught sight of the ice flying at her.

Ruby dove to the side, trying desperately to avoid the attack. However, the ice caught her in the ankle and held her fast as she slumped to the ground. She quickly recovered her weapon and shot the ice on her foot away from the larger mass of ice. She was now effectively hobbled.

Ruby, though, was, by any means, going to accept defeat. She brought her scythe under her and launched into the air towards Weiss. She spun around and delivered a devastating blow against Weiss, who staggered under the weight.

Ruby pressed her advantage, delivering several more swings which Weiss was forced to block. As Ruby went to strike again, her iced over foot slipped from under her and she was unable to stop herself from falling to the ground.

Weiss now knew she had won. She kicked Crescent Rose away from Ruby and into the snow. She then brought Myrtenaster to the ready and lunged, piercing Ruby's side. She saw Ruby's eyes turn to horror as her life's blood spilled out onto the snow.

She slid the blade out from its sheathe of flesh and placed it back on her hip. "I tried to warn you Ruby, but you wouldn't listen." She said blankly. "I-I'm sorry it had to come to this." A single tear slid down her cheek and onto the snow, now stained red with blood.

Ruby looked back up at Weiss and now saw the regret of a lifetime in her eyes. She tried to sit herself back up, but the pain of the effort had spots dancing across her vision. She fell back down, face first, into the snow. She brought her head up in time to see a different pair of heels walking across the snow. These heels were black and accompanied by a pair of anklets with small black crystals on them.

This newcomer now stood beside Weiss, putting her arm around the distressed girl's shoulder. "There, Weiss, you did what had to be done." A woman's voice said, "Now come, we will begin your training when you are ready."

Weiss glanced down at Ruby, her only true friend, and said, "What about Ruby?"

The woman said, "Who? This girl?" Gesturing to the wounded girl. "Leave her, there is nothing more that can be done." With that, the woman began walking back the way she came, assuming that Weiss would follow.

Weiss gave Ruby one final look. She whispered, "I'm sorry, Ruby" Then backed away, turning to follow the woman in the black heels.

Ruby, darkness finally coming over her, whispered, "W-Weiss, I will b-bring you back. I-I… promise."