The Princess' Rogue - Chapter 14

(It is highly recommended that you read the Author's Notes below before reading this chapter.)

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“My turn.”

Cocking back her fist, Yang let loose a slew of fireballs – six in total – the flaming projectiles rocketing towards her target like heat seeking missiles. Rather confident of her abilities, Yang watched in utter shock as the woman named Cinder Fall dispatched her efforts with a quick flash of red flames and a flick of her wrist.

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

When the final fireball was extinguished, Cinder's glowing gaze fell upon her again.

“Well...” Yang said, swallowing thickly. “That was a thing.”

So much for finishing things off quickly.

“Look out!”

Cinder made a sweeping motion with her outstretched hand, Yang's gaze immediately drawn to the sudden movement at her feet. Her eyes widened at the fiery vortex swirling under her soles, Yang barely somersaulting to the left as a geyser of red flames shot skyward, scorching everything in its wake. The moment she was on her feet again, Yang was back flipping away, evading another pillar of red fire. Mid flip and upside down, Yang winced as her cloak – what was left of it – went up in ashes, the covering having been caught in the second blast. Taking only a second to mourn the loss of her garment, Yang quickly ducked behind the nearest tree before Cinder could target her again.

“What's the matter, Phoenix?” came the Royal Advisor's mocking tone. “Don't tell me you're done already.”

With her heart thudding away in her chest, Yang panting heavily, she pressed her back flush against the tree behind her. That was the only thing keeping her upright at the moment. Sweat rolled down her cheeks in rivers, Yang trembling from head to toe.

She'd overdone it.

She had used too much Aura at the beginning of this fight and was now paying for it. Her head was throbbing, her vision blurring, her reactions sluggish. Had she been in top form, Yang would have brushed this off as nothing. But as it was, she gotten into this mess with less than an eighth of her Aura and the fire Dust stones on Ember Celica nearly all black.

The hairs on the back of her neck raised, Yang quickly scurrying away from her cover tree for another. Just seconds after she moved, an eruption of flames engulfed her previous location and incinerated everything within a five foot radius.

“Yang!”

“W-Weiss!?”

Yang flinched at the sheer proximity of the white haired girl. Weiss was taking cover behind a tree of her own, just feet to Yang’s left.

“Are you mad?” Yang exclaimed, her eyes wide in surprise. “What are you still doing here?! Run!”

“No!” Weiss shouted back, her fear filled blue eyes shimmering. “Not without yo-”

Her cover tree exploded into blazing splinters, sending Yang crashing to the ground face first. Only her nearly none existent Aura kept her from blacking out, far-a-less keeping her head on her shoulders. Disoriented and coughing up a mouthful of dirt and grass, Yang did nothing to resist the small hands suddenly on her arm which yanked her upwards to her hands and knees and dragged her off towards the side.

“You should listen to her girl,” Cinder’s voice floated through the air. “If you run now, it will make the chase that much more… enjoyable…”

A snicker.

“Once I’m done with the lovely Phoenix, of course.”

“Yang…” Weiss nearly whimpered.

Yang blinked blearily, her vision swimming. Her head still pounded, but it was becoming more manageable. Gathering enough of her wits about her, she found herself sitting with her back to a tree, Weiss in front of her on her knees.

“Don’t you dare close your eyes!” Weiss exclaimed, her small, cool palms cradling Yang’s face.

For a moment, Yang relished the feel of those hands on her cheeks, the rogue deeply inhaling the cool, crisp scent of what could only be described as Weiss. She closed her eyes.

I won’t let anyone hurt you.

“Yang!”

Before Weiss could yell at her a second time, Yang reached up and covered her companion’s hands with her own. Opening her eyes again, a small smile on her face, she locked gazes with the teary Weiss. The ex-heiress was trembling, no doubt on the verge of a breakdown.

“Weiss.”

The said girl yelped as she was yanked forward, straight into Yang’s waiting arms.

“Don’t worry,” Yang said, her arms wrapping around the white haired girl's shoulders. Weiss’ face pressed up against her neck.

I won’t let anyone hurt you.

“I’m not done yet.”

Holding onto the former princess for a second longer, Yang swiftly released Weiss and untangled herself from the girl.

“Yang?”

Yang's smile widened at her companion as she staggered to her feet, the white haired girl being so kind as to help her up. As both of them straightened up, a fist sized chuck of tree was blown off the side closest to Yang, making them both flinch.

“Come now, Phoenix,” Cinder chided, still out of sight. “You’re just delaying the inevitable. Why not stop hiding and finally put an end to it all. I promise to make it quick.”

“You took the words straight out of my mouth!” Yang yelled back. “I surrender!”

Yang raised her gauntlets.

“What are you doing!?” Weiss hissed, looking at Yang with wide eyes. Weiss gripped at Yang's arm like a vice.

A laugh filled the air making Yang cringe, her eyes narrowing at the sound.

“Surrender?” Cinder echoed. “Don’t tell me you’re having a change of heart.”

“Do you trust me, Weiss?” Yang asked, in a voice only Weiss could hear. Not waiting for the former princess’ response, Yang fidgeted with the fire Dust stones on Ember Celica, managing to yank half of the almost spent stones off of her weapon. A total of five fire Dust stones ended up in each hand as a result.

“Not quite!” Yang shouted around the tree again. She momentarily faced the opposite direction from Weiss to make sure the other fire wielder heard her. “I was thinking more along the lines of you and me talking this out like civilized people!”

Turning back to look at her hands, Yang bit her lip, channeling a sliver of Aura into the Dust stones.

“Oh Phoenix,” Cinder said, amusement in her tone. “I am being civilized.”

A rumble.

“It is you who is being the uncivilized one,” Cinder said, her voice dropping an octave. “It’s rather rude to keep a lady waiting. Face me and take your punishment!”

Half of the Dust stones in Yang’s hands flickered red before darkening again. Dizzy from exertion, Yang swayed on her feet. Slender arms wrapped around her shoulders, preventing her from keeling over right then and there. Allowing herself to be propped up against the tree again, Yang leaned her head back, her eyes closing as she caught her breath.

“I trust you, Yang,” Weiss said softly, the ex-heiress leaning her forehead against Yang’s cheek. While it was a simple gesture, Yang found herself deeply comforted by it.

“B-But just because I trust you doesn’t mean you can go and do something stupid!” the white haired girl quickly snapped, pulling back just enough to glare at Yang. “You better come back to me in one piece! You hear me, Dolt?!”

Lavender coloured eyes went wide for a few seconds before a tired chuckle escape Yang’s lips.

“Thanks Princess,” Yang said, a smile on her face. “I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”

“You better,” Weiss huffed, looking away after a few seconds. Her cheeks were a noticeable pink colour.

“Phoenix,” Cinder almost growled, the tone making both Yang and Weiss wince. “I'm growing impatient. Do I need to come over there and burn the both of you out?!”

Feeling Weiss trembling against her, without thinking, Yang leaned over and gave the girl a quick peck on the cheek. Weiss’ face flushed instantly, her eyes going wide as she sputtered.

“W-Wha-”

“For luck,” Yang said, the right side of her mouth curling upwards in a lopsided smile. She shrugged.

Separating herself from Weiss now that she’d recouped some strength, Yang turned away to rush out of cover, only to pause when a hand on her arm held her back.

“Yang, I…” Weiss began. The white haired girl bit her lip, her eyes so full of conflict.

Yang smiled at her. “It will be alright, Weissy,” she said. “We’ll make it through this.”

“I believe you,” Weiss said almost immediately, her grip on Yang’s arm going tighter. “It’s just that-”

“Phoenix!” Cinder’s voice boomed again, louder this time.

Yang flinched, her heart pounding in her chest. She quickly glanced in the direction Cinder's voice came from.

“Oh curse it all!”

Surprised by that outburst, Yang turned towards Weiss only to freeze halfway when a pair of incredibly soft lips met her cheek. She nearly dropped all of the Dust stones in her hands when that happened, Yang just barely stopping herself when she felt the stones clink in her grip. With her jaw hanging and her eyes wide, Yang stared at her white haired companion, gaping.

“F-For luck,” Weiss said quietly, wringing her hands tightly in front of her. Weiss shyly looked away.

Yang raised her hand to her face, her hand stopping just short when Dust stones clinked in her grasp again.

“Weiss, I-”

“Phoenix!”

A blast of fire slammed into their cover tree again, making the tree shudder violently.

“Good luck,” Weiss said quickly, forcing a smile on her face. “Now go and deal with her so we can finally get out of this place! I’m very impatient I’ll have you know.”

Yang chuckled again, giving Weiss a mock salute. “Yes your Highness! Right away your Highness!”

Not missing the roll of Weiss' eyes, Yang did a flourishing bow before she rushed out of cover to face her hardest opponent yet.