Fighting Remnant

Weeks have gone by since Summer and Ruby started building and customizing their Gunpla. Aside from Ruby's studies and having meals together, the two Roses have been learning how to do everything on their own without even considering asking me for help, but I did not mind as the two clearly enjoyed the bonding experience of learning how to build and customize. I found it funny that they were trying to figure out how to make custom parts from scratch when I could either use Transmutation or the 3D printer I have to make my own Gunpla.

Well, it's their own fault for not asking. With my GN-XIII, I did minimal customizations. Its back unit is outfitted with GN Thrusters for better speed and mobility while also adding more thrusters around its waist, making it quite fast. The head now had Vulcan pods on the side of its head for an additional range weapon. The biggest change was to the Mobile Suit's armaments; it now has a heavy lance fitted with a GN Beam Cannon that had a GN Generator added with thrusters for fast charge attacks.

It also now had a tower shield capable of producing a powerful GN Barrier for defense with its own separate GN Generator. Overall, my GN-X Charger is a machine of high speed, mobility, defense, and firepower, making it an aggressive assault craft. I went with a base color of metallic silver with a glossy coating and matte dark gray for a secondary color, then a lighter shade of gray for a tertiary coloring with white for light-up parts like the eyes and GN Generator. It looked like a ready-to-tear into battle.

I admired my handiwork for a minute and went on to plan Ruby's next study session. I made use of a laptop to make a spreadsheet before starting to surf the net for anything interesting to kill time. It's a shame Iron-blooded Orphans, and the Witch of Mercury are still years away, especially since it's possible to watch them on the big screen in specially dedicated movie theaters in this universe. It's definitely on my bucket list of what to do in this universe. Oh? It looks like 00 Gundam is doing a week-long rerun at one of the nearby theaters; maybe I should invite Summer and Ruby along?

I went to see if they were in their rooms, but they weren't, so I went to the basement next. I found the two Roses sparring with each other. I brought both of their weapons so they could spar and practice when not studying or having fun. Ruby used the thrusters of Cresent Rose Mk.2 to speed up the swing of her scythe, and Summer casually parried it with her Sundering Rose, an axe-rifle hybrid. The elder Rose taught her daughter as she struck back.

" Ruby, you need to be more mindful not to over-commit when you attack."

The younger Rose staggered as she was hit, and her mother then fired a point-blank round at her, causing the younger Rose to get knocked back. Before Ruby could get her baring, Summer disarmed her daughter by hooking her ax blade onto the shaft of the scythe and then yanking it away. The elder Rose then added.

" We also need to work on your unarmed combat since you really don't know what to do when you are disarmed."

" Yes, mom..."

The younger Rose grumbled but looked like she still enjoyed sparring with her mother. I asked to get their attention.

" Having fun, you two?"

" Oh, heya Silva!"

Ruby greeted me while waving, and Summer then asked.

" Care to join us?"

" Sure."

I replied with a shrug. The younger Rose went to take a break and watch us, then cheered.

" Go, Mom, kick Silva's butt!"

I rolled my eyes and asked the elder Rose before starting.

" Any rules or just have at it?"

" No Semblances, but that's all."

I nodded and decided to go with a weapon I was not familiar with to give Summer a handicap since fighting unarmed or with my usual polearms would be too easy for me. I went with a long Messer sword or German Falchion, as I prefer single-edge weapons over double-edge. The elder Rose furrowed her brow as she commented.

" I thought you fought with spears or halberds, from what Ruby told me?"

" I usually do, but I am doing something different this time around."

I moved my left hand behind my back in a fencing position, and Summer readied herself. I closed the distance after a minute with Flash Step and swung my sword downward. The elder Rose was surprised but quickly raised her weapon to block me, a big mistake. Her knees buckle under the weight and strength of my blow, and she strains to resist. Unfortunately for her, I am just flat-out stronger than her, even without Aura enhancement. I continued to apply pressure, and Summer tilted her weapon to shift away from my attack and then gain some distance.

She immediately used the rifle form of her weapon to fire at me with non-Dust rounds, but I batted away the bullets easily with my sword. I quietly taunt the elder Rose by leaving myself wide open with a smirk. Summer did not look amused by my antics and charged at me while swinging her ax. I parried and thrust my sword at her eye, which forced her to tilt her head. My thrust flowed seamlessly into a slash that landed my first direct blow on the elder Rose, but I did not stop there.

I swung my sword with controlled fury at Summer, and she had to either deflect or dodge my attacks since she could not take them straight on. She continuously lost ground as I forced her back. The elder Rose tried to parry one of my strikes but was met with a swift kick before she could counterattack. She staggered, and I quickly disarmed her before she could recover, then placed my sword at her throat. I then asked her.

" Do wish to continue you?"

" I yield."

Summer said with a forlorn smile, and I put my sword back in my subspace. I saw Ruby gaping at me as I just beat her mother with little difficulty and chuckled. I asked before I forgot my original intention of coming here.

" Do you two want to come with me to watch something on the big screen?"

***

Summer had mixed feelings about how the sparring match turned out as she followed the young snow leopard man to watch an anime series based on where her daughter's plastic model came from. On the one hand, she felt thrilled at facing someone so skilled and strong as Silva, as it would help her improve. On the other hand, she lost to someone old enough to be her son, which frustrated her to no end; she was an experienced Huntress for crying out loud!

The elder Rose sulked while watching her daughter talk with the young man in question. Another thing that was bothering her was that Ruby was clearly interested in Silva as more than a guy friend. Not that she disapproved, but her daughter seemed to be ignorant of these feelings, and it made her worry about just what Taiyang taught their little rosebud about romance. From what her stepdaughter, Yang, told her, it wasn't from a lack of trying to teach Ruby about puberty and hormones, but it did not seem to stick to her sweet little girl.

Summer entertained thoughts of trying to teach her daughter how to handle the feelings she felt for Silva but shelved that idea for later since there was no rush right now, as she loved every moment of making up for lost time with Ruby and did not want to spoil it just yet with no worries about other matters.