Author's Note: The first arc of this story introduced us to the two protagonists, their world, and the blossoming romance between them. The second arc brought new players and a bit of drama to the stage – and now I will present the final pieces of that arc.

Caution: This chapter contains a scene depicting a suicide attempt. Reader discretion is strongly advised.

…

… … …

… … … … …

"Hey Weiss… um, I was wondering…"

"What?"

"Didn't Neo… have one pink eye… normally? They were both brown yesterday…"

"She just wears one colored contact lens at a time. She even has a few that make her eyes look white. She would change them around at random back at RTA just to freak people out."

"Huh. That would explain why she was wearing glasses, too."

"It was odd… I hadn't seen her wear those since the day we first met. She was kind of a wallflower back then."

"Now that's hard to imagine."

"I know, right? Less than a week later she's following me around like a lovesick puppy… with half her hair dyed pink."

"Sounds like she cracked, to me."

"…"

"…What?"

"Don't say anything like that around her Friday, okay? I think she did crack just a bit… and anytime her sanity was mentioned back then, she would get a bit… violent…"

*gulp*

"She's gotten better since then, but seriously… don't push your luck."

"Got it. Now can we… um… you know… do that… again…?"

"Ruby Rose, you are a horny little beast."

"… … …Is that a 'no'…?"

"Put that bottom lip away before someone trips on it. Can't you at least wait until after class?"

"…Haven't I waited long enough?"

"If you can wait 'til after class, I'll let you… take the lead."

*shudder*

…

… … …

… … … … …

Her father and his ominous warning was the last thing on Weiss' mind that Friday. Quite frankly, she couldn't focus on anything. She was too worried about the contest this afternoon.

No matter the outcome of the event, Weiss knew she was doomed. She and the winner, both. In fact, all three of them were in for a bad time.

If (or when) Ruby won, Neo might well go completely insane. More so than she currently was, anyway. Weiss did not relish the idea of her friend being put in a mental ward (regardless of their current relationship, she still considered the midget her friend). The poor girl's mind had taken such a beating already that a loss here would be all it took to send her over the edge.

At the same time, Ruby would only have a month or so to enjoy her 'prize' before it was taken from her. Weiss had already decided on that part – there was no way she was going to break up with Ruby. If father wanted to pull her away, then he would have a monumental fight on his hands… one he would probably win, in the long run.

However, if Neo somehow won, things would be worse. Somehow.

Ruby would no doubt fall into another depression, likely leading to another episode of running away from home. There was also a chance she would grow a vicious side and decide to fight for Weiss – no doubt leading to her getting badly hurt. No, losing Weiss would not end well for the redhead.

Neo, on the other hand, would fight… and fight hard. Weiss would not put it past that girl to march right up to Father and introduce him to something sharp and pointy. Several times, if need be. No matter her feelings about the man, she would not allow that.

Dammit. No matter how she looked at it, Weiss could see no way out of this.

It might only be a drawing contest… but it could actually cost someone their life.

…

"First of all, in order for this to be fair, I have elected to bring in an audience to vote on the winner," Miss Fall declared to the gathered students. "It will be a blind ballot, so no one can see who voted for what. Neo and Ruby, you two may vote if you wish, but I won't require it."

Weiss glanced around and found the handful of students giving the art teacher their full attention.

"Second, I'm giving the two of you a much longer time frame than before – about two hours. Basically, the rest of us will watch a two-hour movie, and when it's finished you will be done."

The group nodded at the simple logic of the idea. Keep the audience busy, let the artists do their thing. Easy.

"Each of you will have one entire art room to yourselves, while the rest of us use the science room next door. I'm giving you both full, unrestricted access to all of the equipment in both rooms for your project."

Ruby started trembling next to Weiss, a grin on her face. Such freedom was quite rare in this class.

"And finally, I will have no say in your subject for today. Create whatever you wish… and that will be what we judge. Any questions?"

Coco's hand went up, and the tall teen asked, "What movie are we watching?"

The teacher started twitching, her mouth pulling up into an evil grin as she fought back the cackling that threatened to erupt.

"Frozen."

Weiss could immediately sense a change in the room – nearly everyone suddenly wanted to bolt.

"Nobody. Is. Leaving."

The urge to flee was instantly gone, replaced by an icy terror. How the hell does she do that?

"Now… once we're gone, you two can begin. You have until we come back. Shall we…?"

Cinder Fall motioned towards the door and the gathered teens all stood, albeit without any spark of life, and walked out.

Including Weiss, there was also Blake and Yang, Coco and Velvet, and Jaune. That was the entire Art Club. The young Schnee had fully expected the teacher to invite a few more, but it was just the normal 8 today. If everyone voted, wasn't there a chance it would be a tie again?

If the other options were bad, a tie could result in a full-on war.

Weiss would not allow that to happen. Hopefully Miss Fall had a plan in place to prevent it – but then, this was Miss Fall she was talking about. The woman probably had contingency plans for an alien invasion.

Giving her girlfriend and her stalker one final look of encouragement, Weiss left them to their fate.

…

… … …

… … … … …

Clay Room – Ruby

…

Miss Fall certainly didn't skimp when it came to supplies, even for a high school art class. Her selection of colored pencils was top-notch, both in variety and quality. This set would cost most people a small fortune. Damn.

Ruby had to stop herself from staring at them and drooling. Sure there were tons of potential pictures she could make with these beauties, but right now she had to focus. Her future was on the line.

What was left of it, anyway.

Neo had barely glanced at her since walking into the room, and the midget didn't seem any better now. Ruby could see her through the windows of the office, sitting at her own desk and working with a large number of graphite pencils. Apparently her medium of choice was greyscale. Interesting.

Even though Neo didn't have a photo to work with, Ruby knew for a fact that she was bringing everything she had to this contest. It was only right that the redhead do the same. With that in mind, she pulled her secret weapon from her pocket before she started – a blending stump she'd been using for several years. There was nothing better for blending colors together, or at least, nothing she'd ever had the chance to use.

But now was the hard part – what to draw?

Ruby hadn't walked into this contest with nothing in mind – but leaving the options open like that did little to ease the teenager's anxiety. There were literally dozens of things she could do.

But then a smiling face came into her mind… a face with ice-blue eyes and platinum blonde hair.

And she knew.

Selecting the pencils she wanted to use, Ruby fell completely into the Zone. Nothing short of Cinder Fall herself would pull the girl out of it this time.

…

… … …

… … … … …

Science Room – Coco and Blake

…

"So… who do you think will win this… thing?"

"At this point, it's anyone's guess. We both know Ruby's got a lot of talent, but I don't think we've seen the full scope of Neo's skills."

"You mean, like, 'this isn't even my final form' …?"

"I wish it were that simple. By the way…"

"Yes?"

"What did you say to Ruby on Monday? Someone told me you spoke to her in private, but I was just curious…"

"Hmm… before I tell you, promise you won't spread this around, okay Blake?"

"Uh… okay?"

"When Neo was in the room back then, I recognized the look in her eyes. That girl was about a millimeter away from stabbing somebody."

"…And we left her alone with Ruby?"

"She looked better today than Monday, but if Ruby had refused… I couldn't help but feel that someone would have gone home bleeding that day."

"If they went home at all…"

"Exactly."

"Should we tell Miss Fall…?"

"Normally I would say yes, but… I'm pretty sure she already knows. She did follow Neo after she left, you know."

"Does anything get past that woman?"

"You mean like two students talking during a movie?"

*gulp x2*

…

… … …

… … … … …

Flat Room – Neo

…

Soulmate.

Not a soulmate.

Soulmate.

Not a soulmate.

Soulmate.

Weiss Schnee, youngest daughter of the Schnee Manufacturing Corporation president and brilliant high school student. Drop-dead gorgeous. Talented.

In love with someone else. In love with a peasant.

Not a soulmate.

Soulmate.

Not a soulmate.

Ruby Rose, child of nobody. A nobody. A peasant. A highly talented peasant. A divinely talented peasant. In love with a goddess.

Better than Weiss at drawing.
Better than Weiss at.
Better than Weiss.
Better than.
Better.

Not a soulmate.

Soulmate.

Not a soulmate.

Weiss Schnee.
Ruby Rose.

Soulmate.
Not a soulmate.
Soulmate.

…

Neo's hands moved on their own. Her mind was running in two completely different directions at once.

The Zone did all the work. The Zone knew what needed to come out. The Zone was all she wanted.

Half of her brain was deep in the Zone, running the motor functions and producing the drawing that would, if the gods willed it, return her goddess to her side.

The other half was stuck in a loop, trying and failing to grasp the concept that was Weiss Schnee… and Ruby Rose… and who they were.

Soulmate? Not? Either one?

Was there a point to any of it…?

…

… … …

… … … … …

Science Room – Weiss and Velvet

…

"Is it weird that I actually like this movie?"

"Considering who I'm talking to, not at all…"

"Heh… Hans is a douche."

"You actually know what a douche is? I am shock."

"…"

"I know what's really on your mind."

"Is it that obvious?"

"Girl, everyone in this room can tell what you're thinking… and the lights are off. Just relax, enjoy the event. They'll be fine."

"I can't just… relax."

"… … …Something happened with your Dad, didn't it?"

"As much as I hate to admit it, yes."

"Let me guess… he found out you're gay for Ruby and wants you to break it off… to save his own image…?"

"…Are you sure you're not psychic?"

"Well, I was sure a minute ago…"

"Yeah, that's pretty much the gist of it. No matter who wins today, someone's gonna lose. Bad."

"Weiss, it seems to me that there's nothing you can do to change things. That means all you can do is wait and trust in Ruby. Has she let you down yet?"

"Well, …no."

"Then that's the end of it. If you really love her, then you'll just have to trust that things will work out for the best."

"… … …Thanks, Velvet."

"Anytime, Ice Queen."

"…I'm gonna find out who came up with that nickname and lock them inside a walk-in freezer."

…

… … …

… … … … …

Two hours later

…

The time had come.

For the first time in her life, Cinder Fall was rendered speechless by the work of her students. Two of them, if we're being picky.

Oddly, both had elected to draw Weiss Schnee. And both works presented vastly different styles.

Neo's drawing was true-to-life, in every sense of the phrase. Even though she elected to use graphite only, a choice that left the entire picture in greyscale, it was still beautiful. The texture of the paper had been used to full effect in giving the model's clothes a lifelike feel, while careful blending techniques left everything else as smooth as butter. It was, in Cinder's experience, one of the best pencil drawings she had ever laid eyes on – and considering Ruby was in her class, that was saying something.

Ruby's drawing, however, was nothing short of a masterpiece.

Unlike Neo's drawing, Ruby chose to put Weiss just a little off-center of the paper, giving the viewer a marvelous view of a near-perfect sunset sky. Even looking as close as possible, Cinder could not tell that she was looking at a colored-pencil piece. It was beyond impressive. Well beyond.

The model herself was almost photo-realistic in color and shading, but Ruby chose to draw her with an interesting expression: A warm smile.

For Weiss Schnee, such a smile had never been seen in public.

If she was being honest, Cinder had been giving Ruby more than a little unfair treatment ever since school started. A little bit of a teacher's pet. This did sway her opinion during the former two contests a little, but not much.

Looking at these two drawings, Cinder Fall was glad she roped in a voting audience – choosing between them herself would be nothing less than a death sentence.

Voting was the easy part – two cardboard boxes, each with 'Neo' and 'Ruby' written on them, sat in the office. One by one, each student would take a ping-pong ball and place it in the box of their choice, then walk back. Once done, Cinder would count the balls and declare a winner.

She had already made a point to only bring 9 balls, to keep herself from cheating. The temptation was far too strong.

After everyone had voted (Ruby and Neo included), the final tally was given:

Neo: 4
Ruby: 5

A difference of one vote. Shit.

Most of the students gave Ruby a round of applause, but Cinder could see the conflicting emotions in the redhead's face, as well as in Weiss'. Neo simply looked like her battery had run dry – someone would probably have to carry her out of the room.

Cinder muttered a congratulations as she gathered her things to leave, trying not to look too anxious.

Upon pain of death, she would never confess that she had cast the deciding vote. Never.

But she had to go, now… before someone noticed her jitters.

…

… … …

… … … … …

It took a bit of convincing to get both Yang and Weiss to leave the room first, but eventually Ruby managed to find herself alone in the classroom with Neo. The girl hadn't moved an inch since the results were given, and it was starting to scare her.

Ruby started to say something, then stopped. Nothing she could say would help. There was no form of 'sorry you lost' that could defuse this situation.

In a way, she could kind of understand how Neo was feeling. It hadn't been that long ago that she was also ready to do something drastic after she kissed Weiss without permission.

Admittedly, they no longer had an issue with that now, but that was beside the point.

Rather than try and think of something deep or clever, Ruby chose to simply speak her mind. You can't be wrong if it's the truth, after all.

"If it makes you feel any better, Neo… I voted for your picture."

And she did, too. Ruby had never seen such… magnificent details in a pencil drawing. It was a level of skill Ruby herself had aspired to for quite some time.

Upon hearing those words, Neo finally turned her head and stared at Ruby. She still didn't say anything, nor did she blink… she just stared.

Ruby swallowed hard, wondering if she could handle knowing what was going on behind those unblinking brown eyes.

With an awkward wave, Ruby let herself out.

She also sent up a silent prayer that Neo would be okay.

…

… … …

… … … … …

I voted for your picture.

I voted for your picture.

I voted for your.

I voted for.

I voted.

Your picture.
Your picture.
Your picture.

Ruby Rose, child of nobody. A nobody. A peasant.

A glorious, glorious peasant.

I voted for your picture.

Weiss Schnee, brilliant high school student. In love with someone else.

In love with a goddess.

I voted for your picture.

Weiss Schnee.
Ruby Rose.
Weiss Schnee.
Ruby Rose.
Ruby Rose.
Ruby Rose.

I voted for your picture.

…

…

She fell backwards, her glasses clattering to the tile floor. They stood over her and laughed. They always laughed. She winced, rubbing the back of her head where it hit the wall. It would be sore for a few days.

She wanted to die.

She didn't belong here, in this school. In this world of high-class snobs. In this world of lords and ladies. She was a mere peasant. A nobody.

Bright, platinum blonde hair and ice-blue eyes that smiled as she looked at her artwork. An angel. A goddess. Someone to worship. Someone to revere. A soulmate.

…

…

Not a soulmate.

Soulmate.

Not a soulmate.

Ruby Rose Not a Soulmate Weiss Schnee Soulmate Ruby Rose Not a Soulmate Weiss Schnee Soulmate Ruby Rose Not a Soulmate Weiss Schnee Soulmate Ruby Rose Soulmate Weiss Schnee Not a Soulmate Ruby Rose Soulmate Weiss Schnee Not a Soulmate Ruby Rose Ruby Rose Ruby Rose Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby Rubyrubyrubyrubyruby…

…

…

"You don't belong here, small fry."
"Short-round-short-round!"
"Anyone ever tell you you're crazy?"
"Look at the peasant, trying to look important!"
"You should just kill yourself and save us all the pain of looking at you."
"You don't belong here…"
"Look at the peasant…"
"You should just kill yourself…"
"You don't belong…"
"Peasant…"
"Kill yourself…"
"Kill yourself…"
"KILL YOURSELF! ! !"

…

…!

Neo's hands were shaking as she looked around, with no clue as to how she got here.

It was her bedroom, but it looked …odd. Like her vantage point was much too high.

Oh, that's why – she was standing on a chair.

In her hands was a belt, somehow attached to her ceiling fan. Huh… wonder why?

Her eyes burned, like she'd been crying. A lot.

As she watched, her hands moved to place the belt around her head, settling it over her neck. She was powerless to stop it. To stop herself.

No…

She felt her feet begin shifting, moving to carry her off of the chair… but her trip to the floor would be cut short. She knew that much.

No… not like this…

Time seemed to slow down as her weight left the safety of the chair. The belt seemed to tighten around her neck in slow motion.

NOOOOOOO… … …!

"HRK-!"

That was it, then.

It was over.

As her vision began to fade to black around the edges, Neo tried to think of her goddess… but nothing came. She'd been abandoned.

"… … … … …

"… …

"…"

(…I voted for your picture…)

And just like that, Neo got her will to live back.

Her hands shot up under the belt as she managed to drag herself up, then quickly struggled to free herself. She dropped to the floor, the belt forgotten, the chair forgotten. Coughing hard, straining for precious air.

(…I voted for your picture…)

The tears were flowing freely as Neo crawled on hands and knees, too weak to even stand. She coughed a bit more, rubbing her neck gingerly.

The card was still in her pocket.

(…I voted for your picture…)

She almost missed most of the buttons due to her hands trembling so hard. In time, however, the dial tone came through. The voice of another human came next, promising both deliverance and damnation.

(…If it makes you feel any better, Neo… I voted for your picture…)

"I *cough* …just tried to… k-k-kill… myself…" *cough, cough*

"… … …h-h-help…"

Neo's voice failed as the tiny teenager curled up in the fetal position and sobbed herself into unconsciousness.

She couldn't do it.

She couldn't go through with it… because it would make Ruby sad.

…

She had no idea when Miss Fall arrived, but with the help of her father, they both got her to the hospital.

…

Once she woke up again, the doctors mentioned that she had been mumbling the name 'Ruby' in her sleep.

It would be the last name she ever spoke.

…

…

…

…

…

…

…

… … …

… … … … …

One Week Later…

…

Weiss really didn't want to think about Neo, but the short girl came to her mind every single time she came back to the art room this week. There was simply no escaping it.

Guilt was hard to cope with.

As far as she was concerned, Weiss was the reason Ruby and Neo had been battling it out (so to speak) ever since Neo first came to this school. While she did not, and would not, regret her decision to accept Ruby as her girlfriend, Weiss did feel regret that she hadn't properly cut her ties with Neo… no doubt that was the main cause of the poor girl's fragile state of mind.

It never occurred to her back then that Neo had been getting bullied, but considering how she used to look it was a wonder that Weiss could be so clueless. The midget practically had a target painted on her back from day one.

Once Neo dyed half of her hair pink and changed her attitude, the bullying seemed to stop.

Either that, or the bullies mysteriously 'vanished.' Weiss wasn't paying any attention at the time.

Miss Fall had thankfully chosen to cancel the Art Club meeting today, due to Neo's …issue. She'd been working closely with the girl all week, and things seemed to be looking up lately.

And all week, Miss Fall had avoided giving them any updates – but she agreed to spill the beans today. She could barely wait until the rest of the Art Club made it in before telling them.

"Well, I have good news and bad news about our diminutive friend…" she started.

Yang gave a confused grunt, "Our… what, now?"

"Small," Blake muttered.

"Oh," came the awkward reply.

"First, the good news: Neo is mostly recovered and has been cleared to come back to classes starting next week. I've been helping rehabilitate her this past week and she's made significant progress… both physically and mentally."

"That's the good news?" Coco jabbed good-naturedly. Velvet merely elbowed her in the ribs.

"The bad news, though, is that her… injury… has left her without a voice. The damage was too severe to repair with anything short of major surgery, and she insisted that she could function without it."

Three or four listeners gasped at the news. Neo was… mute? Hard to imagine.

"Again… how's that the bad new- OOF! !" Coco's jab was cut off by Velvet's fist to her gut. Served her right.

"So that's the deal. Neo's quieter, but better and she'll be back next-"

The door to the classroom was thrown open, cutting off all further discussion. Neopolitan had walked into the room, bring all her old swagger back with her. Weiss could almost see her bowing to a cheering audience as she sauntered her way in, grinning at each member of the Art Club in turn.

The young Schnee also noted that the girl's eyes had returned to their normal, heterochromatic look. Oddly, she'd chosen to wear one white contact lens today.

Other than that, there were no snide remarks, and no greetings. Weiss felt that she might miss that. A little, anyway.

"Hey… Neo… How are… no, wait… you okay?" Ruby was the first to greet the pink-and-brown midget, awkwardly scratching the back of her head as she tried to keep her question to a yes-or-no.

Neo gave Ruby a nod and a beaming smile.

Weiss felt a chill go down her spine. She knew that smile – Neo usually saved it for when she looked as Weiss. But now it was aimed at Ruby.

Should that worry her?

"You're not due back until Monday, Neo," Miss Fall stated from her desk. "To what do we owe this honor?"

Neo's smile turned into a grin. She pulled a folded piece of paper from her pocket, then looked around the room with a steady gaze. Settling for Velvet, the tiny girl strode over to her and handed over the note.

"What's this?" Velvet wondered out loud.

Neo held up one finger, then sauntered back over and stood squarely between Ruby and Weiss – her back to the former and facing the latter.

"Uh-oh…" Coco mumbled.

From her position, Neo gestured towards Velvet. The bespectacled girl finally looked at the letter and noticed words written on the outside. "'Please read this out loud'…? Okay…"

A few seconds ticked by as the paper was unfolded. Neo's eyes never left Weiss'.

"Let's see… uh… 'Weiss Schnee, I have come to take my soulmate back from your evil clutches. Ruby is… MINE?!'"

In that moment, the world broke.

"What the f-"
"Holy sh-"
"Is she serious-"
"This is priceless-"
"BWAHAHAHA-"
"Weiss has a rival-"
"What is going on-"

Everyone started bursting out in shouts and cries at the same time, resulting in complete chaos throughout the room… yet Neo's gaze never left Weiss'. The young Schnee could tell that the midget was totally serious about her declaration.

And Miss Fall said she was getting better?

"Uhh… Neo? Are you serious right… now…?" Ruby started saying something, but all she managed to do was cause the tiny girl to turn and give the redhead her brightest, most adoring smile ever. It left the taller of the two rather speechless.

Weiss had never considered this outcome. Of all the ways their contest could be settled, she only expected one or the other to try and make her their own… not each other.

Was it weird that she felt… a bit left out?

While her focus was diverted, Weiss missed the moment when Neo took one of Ruby's hands in her own and bowed down (not far, just a short one) to kiss it. Rare was the day when Weiss could see Ruby turn such a wonderful shade of scarlet.

But then, just when Weiss thought things couldn't get any stranger…

BAM! "Get away from my Ruby! !"

Everyone in the room slowly turned to behold the newest intruder to the art room: ginger hair in a bob cut, long white sleeves, black pants, and angry green eyes.

Ruby stuttered first, sounding like she was soon to fall apart, "P-P-Penny? What are you d-d-doing here?"

Yes, that was her name – Penny Polendina. Supposedly a student at Shawcross High… across town.

"I have successfully transferred myself to Oum High School, effective Monday… but I could not wait! I had to come see you – and look what I walk in on…!"

Penny marched in, ignoring the stares of both students and teacher (and all of their dropped jaws), and quickly pulled Ruby away from Neo.

The level of tension in the room instantly skyrocketed. Penny and Neo's eyes practically shot sparks at each other as both seemed determined to win over the only redhead in the room.

Weiss could feel her self-control slipping. She could feel that same, inhuman howl building up in her throat. While it was true that she needed to let go of Ruby (or earn her father's undying wrath), this was not the acceptable way to do so.

Neo approached Penny, made some sort of sign with her hands, then made to pull Ruby away from the ginger girl.

Penny seemed to understand, since she cried, "I am not…! You take that back!" She also didn't budge in inch.

The Jealous Gay Screeching was so very close to erupting from Weiss' mouth… Why won't they just let go of MY girlfriend?

Ruby, meanwhile, was simply trying to keep breathing from within Penny's iron grip. "…Help… me…" was all she could manage.

…

… … …

… … … … …

Coco, it should be noted, had been laughing her fool head off ever since Neo's written declaration. It only got worse when Penny walked in. By now, she was close to passing out on the floor. Velvet was standing over her, shaking her head in disappointment.

"Oh, God…" she gasped between bouts of laughing, "…And they call me the school pimp…!"

…

… … …

… … … … …

TO

BE

CONTINUED

… … … … …

… … …

…

A/N: Ain't I a stinker? :)

What? After such a downer moment, I just wanted to end the arc on a more lighthearted note. Sure she's got a lot more problems to …work through… but isn't that just part of the fun?

Oh, and just as a teaser… while the second arc focused on Neo, the third arc will focus on Neptune. Look forward to it!

Later!

=^w^=