Chapter 4

By the time the girls and all the guests had sat down for dinner, Weiss looked about ready to stab something. At least, Ruby thought she did, for the heiress kept up a smile that anyone who knew her well would see through in a moment.

They had spent the previous hour going around each of the important guests, with Weiss politely welcoming them, and having the guests' sons introduced to Weiss, with a less-than subtle hint about how Weiss and the boy in question would be a great match. Weiss had been forced to politely suggest that she was too busy with her studies to even consider such a thing at the moment, and quickly move along to another guest.

Fortunately, Weiss was seated at the head of the top table, with Ruby on one side of her, Blake on the other and Yang next to Blake. The three girls being her personal guests meant it was simple to place them next to her. In the seat next to Ruby was Mr. Clement, who intended to make good on Ruby's promise of stories over dinner. Between the four of them, they provided Weiss a much needed shield from the guests who wanted to make her a bride to their child.

Once everyone was seated, Weiss stood and gave a brief speech, with thanks, from herself, her father and the company, and a few other formalities. The other girls feigned interest, but only because all eyes were turned in their general direction. However even Ruby, who normally could have listened to Weiss speak for hours and who found her voice dreamy, was having trouble paying any attention. These clearly were not Weiss's feelings, or her words, but she was playing the part she had been given, and at least for the moment that part was a simple, if dull, task.

Once she had finished speaking, the waiters came and brought the first course, soup, and the dinner began.

Ruby could not remember eating a nicer meal in a long time. She also could not remember what half of the dishes were called, but that did not reduce her enjoyment. She only wished that table manners were not so strictly enforced: it was irritating having to eat slowly, trying to emulate the dainty fashion with which Weiss ate. She was not attracting any odd looks, which she took to be a good sign. Her stories of the team's adventures also helped her pace herself, though she kept almost slipping into slang, and had to stop herself from doing sound effects once of twice. It really was a chore, and Ruby wondered how Weiss had not gone insane from it all. Well, more insane than she was.

There was one rather awkward moment when, after Ruby finish a story of a particularly brilliant exploit, Mr. Clement said that Ruby's parents "Must be very proud of you."

Ruby had just frozen up at that point, and Yang looked as though she had been slapped round the face with the fish they were eating. Mr. Clement, for his part, immediately realised that was not a thing he should have said, and quickly changed the subject, asking another detail about life as a huntress, which brought Ruby back to her normal self, but she spent the next course of the meal with Weiss's worried stare on the back of her head.

Desert was brought, and swiftly dispatched, along with the offer of coffee, then Weiss gave another brief speech, before everyone was invited to begin their journey to the plant for the opening ceremony. As the girls made their way out, Weiss was stopped by her uncle, and the other girls went ahead.

"Weiss... I just wanted to apologise if I... upset Miss Rose. It should have occurred to me... her mother was Summer Rose, right?"

Weiss was surprised, "Y-yes, I believe that was her name."

"Terrible affair, terrible... that poor girl. I'm really sorry... a huntress with a scythe, and with the name Rose... how stupid of me..."

Weiss was confused. She knew Ruby's mother had passed away, but what confused her was how her uncle knew. Her confusion must have shown, as Mr. Clement gave her an odd look. "Weiss... you do know what happened, right?"

She shook her head, "Ruby doesn't talk about her parents, neither does Yang for that matter."

"Her name was Long right? They'd be half-sisters then?"

"Yes, how did you know?"

Mr. Clement looked thoughtful, then shook his head, "Sorry, this is not for me to say. If you two are as close as you appear, then I'd wager she'll tell you herself one day. All I will say is that it's to do with why those sisters share a father, but not a last name."

He nodded a goodbye to Weiss, then set off for his own car, leaving Weiss bemused. She had always wondered about that little detail, but simply assumed that the girls took their mothers' names. It was 'normal' for a woman to take her husband's name upon marriage, but not required, and most children used their mother's name whether she had changed it or not. She had found it odd, but not that odd.

Now it seemed like the strangest thing in the world.

She shook herself. She needed to go now, and perform her duties. She could worry about this later.

The dust plant itself was a lot less grand than the HQ, though that was only natural. The entrance hall where the opening was taking place had been done-up, but that only did so much to make it look nice. This was a place built for functionality, with lifts, not staircases, and flat, metal walls, not stone ones, and not the least hint of decoration built-in.

Around the top of the hall was a gangway, with doors leading off to various parts of the plant, and currently a podium was set up for speakers to address the gather guests and press. In addition to the guests who had been at the dinner, there were around thirty reporters, and a number of factory officials, along with a few specially selected workers. The girls had noticed, but not mentioned, the lack of faunus workers, in spite of the number of faunus who did work in the plant. They all knew it was the case, and they all knew that they all knew. Bringing it up now would just make things uncomfortable.

Yang and Blake, along with the rest of the assembled crowds, were on the ground floor, looking up, while Weiss had managed to get her partner a spot on the upper area, on the pretence of needing her assistance, in reality just preferring to have someone she knew close to hand.

In addition, the girls could not help but notice a large number of guards, clearly armed though they did not have their weapons bared. Everyone knew their purpose, but again nobody mentioned it. Another thing to add to the list of awkward topics they needed to avoid.

Eventually, the event began, with Weiss beginning by once again welcoming everyone, and thanking them for coming. As she continued, Ruby began to drift off. She was lucky enough to get a chair, and nobody was paying her any attention this time, so she just daydreamed, with Weiss's pretty voice the perfect backdrop for her thoughts.

It was only when Weiss's voice halted that she noticed something was wrong.

The microphone had cut, and at the same time the lights. The sudden quiet and darkness surprised everyone. Weiss turned to one of the men behind her, "What's going on?"

The man had taken out a radio, and was speaking, "Report! What's happening? Come in!"

Ruby glanced to the attendant from earlier, who had followed her and Weiss up. Crescent Rose was placed in her hands, and she stood, moving over to Weiss's side. "Looks like that 'something' went wrong."

Weiss nodded. She gripped her sword, but waited to draw it. Ruby kept her finger on the button that would unfold her scythe, scanning for any sign of an enemy.

The security troops were standing ready, knowing what could be happening, and the huntresses were equally alert, looking for any sign of an attack coming.

What they did not expect was for their enemy to walk right in the front door.

The entrance doors were thrown open, and two figures burst into the room, disabling several guards with their guns before the guards could even draw their weapons. Both were in grey combat gear, with their faces covered by balaclavas. One carried a rifle, the other a pair of pistols, both using them with deadly efficiency.

The man with the radio finally got his response, but looked pale. "Miss Schnee, there's another attack, near the refinery."

"They're after our tech... but the workers..." Weiss muttered. "Ruby, we need to get down there"

"Right on it Princess." Ruby lifted Weiss into her arms, having already lowered her heels, and stepped up to the barrier of the gangway. "Give me some glyphs." Weiss complied, and Ruby leaped over the barrier, jumping from glyph to glyph, making her way to the ground in moments.

Yang and Blake were already facing off against the attackers, weapons at the ready. Ruby placed Weiss down, then activated Crescent Rose, the scythe opening up to its full size. By her side, Weiss drew her blade. The crowd behind them were pressing back to the walls, away from the fighters.

The man with the rifle hit a button and it became a spear, Weiss and Ruby simultaneously realising that this was the man who had fled from them before. But there was no sign of the mage. The second attacker was quite clearly female, so that meant...

"The mage is with the second squad... Ruby we need to go and stop him."

Ruby nodded, then looked to her two team-mates. "You guys think you can handle them?"

"Think? Ruby sweetie, don't worry about us." Yang smiled as she hurled herself at the spearman.

Ruby nodded, then turned to Weiss, "Which way?"

"Follow me!" Weiss led Ruby out of the hall, through a door at the side.

The spearman ducked aside as Yang's fist passed his jaw, and he struck her in the back of the head as she passed, sending her careening towards the entrance. Yang turned and dug her heels in, while a tinge of red tainted the purple of her eyes.

Blake had created a clone, and both of her leaped at the other attacker, who opened fire, striking the clone. Blake just managed to dodge so that the bullet missed her head, though it tore through one of her bows, leaving an exposed ear.

As the faunus struck out with her blade, it was met by a transfigured gun, which was now a long knife. The other pistol was still in the same shape, and she fired another shot, this time at Blake's chest.

Yang and the spearman were now exchanging blows, and flames were rippling off Yang's fists as she kept hurling them at her opponent. He dodged most of them, but each time Yang got a hit in it did considerable damage, while the damage she was taking only made her stronger.

Yang saw an opening, and took it, hurling her right fist right at the man's face.

Her fist met only air.

The man had leaped into the air, easily jumping far beyond the limits of an aura-enhanced jump. As Yang's eyes turned skyward, she saw him now coming down far faster than she thought he should be.

"Well shit..."

Rather than the expected spear point, the only thing to strike her head was a hand. The man placed his hand squarely on Yang's head, and she felt an enormous weight on her head. The man flipped off her, landing behind her, and she realised that the weight was not on her head, it was her head.

Her entire body, starting from the point she was touched and seeping downward, started to feel far heavier than normal. By the time it reached her chest she could no longer stand, collapsing to the ground, holding herself up with her arms.

"What... the heck?" Yang attempted to raise her gaze, as the man walked around her to stand in front of her.

"It'll wear off in a while, but I don't think you'll be going anywhere until then." Yang collapsed under the weight of her body, unable to hold herself up at all. Her foe turned to where his companion was still fighting Blake.

Blake had seen Yang go down, and was now desperately trying to deal with her own enemy before she was forced into a two versus one fight. She struck once more, but another flash of a dust bullet being fired forced her to duck back, avoiding the bullet. The knife in her opponent's hand turned back into a pistol, and she opened fire with both weapons, Blake having to move as fast as she could to avoid the shots. Even performing her best acrobatics, she still took a couple of the shots, making her aura wane.

Cries from behind her sounded out, as members of the crowd were hit by stray shots. Yet another reason to end this fast.

Blake rushed at the woman, when another shot rang out, and her target crumpled. Blake skidded to a halt, and she and the spearman both looked around at the source of the shot: one of the guards, who had managed to avoid severe injury from the initial attack.

Both of the fighters stared at him, and he shrugged, "Hey, we're not completely useless. Just 'cause not everyone wears distinctive clothing, doesn't mean we can't shoot a gun."

Neither could argue, so they turned to face each other. The intruder shrugged, "Well miss, I have a suggestion. I want to get my partner to safety, you want to check on yours, call it quits?"

Blake and he very slowly walked, while still facing each other, to their respective partners, lowering their weapons. The man picked up his friend, and her guns, then legged it out the front door. Blake knelt by Yang's side, where the blonde was cursing in every way she knew how.

"Yang, you all right?"

"I can't lift myself at all, and feel like there's an ursa major on my back, but otherwise fine."

Blake tried to help the girl up, but when Blake tried to heave her partner up, she found she simply could not. The girl weighed a ton, probably literally Blake thought. "Urgh... what did he do to you?"

"No idea."

Blake frowned, then looked at the soldier from before, "Hey!"

The soldier stepped up, "Yes?"

"What's your name?"

"Bill."

"Right, well Bill, could you look after my friend here... and everyone else for that matter, while I go and check how things are going further in."

"Yes miss."

Blake stood, and headed in the direction that Weiss and Ruby had run in. The spear guy had given up too easily, something was wrong...

Weiss and Ruby rushed through the plant. Weiss was pretty sure they were almost there, having just entered a long corridor, with the door at the end being their target, at least she thought it was.

"It's just up ahead, behind that..." a glint of light flashed past her eye, bright red. "DOWN!"

The huntresses hit the ground as a flaming explosion roared up behind them. Both rolled to their feet, back to back, looking for their attacker, Weiss raising her blade as Ruby prepared to shoot.

A figure leaped from a shadow towards Weiss, who threw up a sigil as Ruby heard the motion and spun around to Weiss's side. The barrier protecting them, Ruby opened fire. The figure moved faster than their eyes could follow, as a yellow glow surrounded him, creating a strange blur of light around him.

Amidst the golden glow, Weiss caught a shimmer of purple. "Dust!"

At the girls' feet, a circle of purple light shone, and the two leaped away as bolts of lightning shot from the circle, carving arcs up to the ceiling. The electricity rippled along the metal corridor, but dispersed before it could do anything of significance. But for the girls, the damage was done.

Weiss had not been able to keep the barrier up, allowing the mage to rush at them, still moving too fast for them to get a steady view of him. Sword drawn, he charged at Weiss, who was in no position to defend herself.

Ruby's scythe blocked the sword as it carved an arc towards Weiss. "Weiss, you okay?" Ruby spun her weapon, pushing the sword away.

"Yeah... thank you."

Weiss pulled herself up and got into her fencing stance. The narrow corridor favoured her style and maximised the defensive potential of her glyphs, but hampered Ruby considerably, as there was no room to swing Crescent Rose, and high speed was near-useless in such confined conditions without similarly good mobility.

There was barely enough room for the two to stand next to each other, so Weiss stayed a little way behind Ruby, knowing that if they were too close it would make it even harder for Ruby to swing her weapon. She set her weapon to light blue dust, allowing frost to gather around the blade, as their enemy rushed at Ruby once more.

Ruby swung her blade around to meet his, but met only air. "What the...?" He had somehow shifted from her left to her right. It was not that he had moved really fast, there was not even a blur, he seemed to have literally teleported. Not only that, but the downward slash that he had been performing had changed to a side-strike.

Ruby tried to move in time, but the blade cut into her side. It was a dead-on hit that even her aura had trouble shielding her from. It was a deep cut, but her aura managed to patch it up, though as it did so, Ruby was pushed aside, as the mage leaped at Weiss, carrying on with the momentum of his charge.

Weiss readied herself, and struck out at him, freezing air surrounding her rapier, ready to freeze her foe. Her blade pierced air where the man's chest had just been, and she stumbled forwards. Once again he seemed to have vanished, but now he was somewhere out of her vision.

"Weiss, look out!"

Weiss turned as Ruby shouted, both girls staring at the blade, wreathed in flame, that was about to come down on Weiss from behind.

Red was all that Weiss could see. There had been no time to block, no time to protect herself, no time to summon even the simplest of glyphs, she was not fast enough.

But Ruby had been.

Ruby collapsed backwards, as a shower of Rose petals fell around her, each petal burning up, as the flames from the sword caught them. One burst of speed had got her in front of Weiss just as the blade fell. It had been a powerful blow, and the flames had scorched her as the blade left a huge gash in her chest, her weakened aura unable to prevent the blow at all. It had cut down from her shoulder to the side of her sternum, and she was sure a few of her ribs had snapped under the force. But Weiss was safe at least. Ruby smiled as soft arms caught her as she fell, Weiss holding her, as Myrtenaster clanged to the floor beside Crescent Rose.

"Weiss... you... okay?" Ruby sputtered out.

"You idiot! How could you do that?" Weiss shook as she looked up at the man who had done this. She could not see his face, with was covered by a balaclava, but she wanted to remember his stance, his weapon, anything to identify the man who had hurt her partner so badly. He had now lowered his blade, and the glow around him had faded. He looked down at his handiwork, then stepped past where Weiss clutched Ruby, and headed further inwards.

As he neared the door, a ping sounded, and he picked up a radio at his side. He listened to a static-filled voice, then spoke calmly, "Very good, all units are to retreat, the mission is accomplished, see you back at HQ." He glanced back at the girls, then left the corridor.

Weiss's attention was now wholly taken up by Ruby. The redhead was in a severe state, her aura weakened beyond the point of it being able to heal her. At the very least the flames had cauterised the wound, so there was relatively little bleeding, though the fire had still done considerable immediate damage. Ruby's flesh was slightly blackened around the wound, and she seemed close to passing out.

"Ruby! Stay with me, I'm going to get you to a doctor, just stay awake."

"Weiss... I..."

Weiss put her arms under Ruby, and heaved the girl up into her arms. It was difficult for Weiss, who was not exactly strong. Ruby was heavy from all the muscle she had from swinging her scythe around, and while Weiss was stronger than most girls her age, she could never compare to her team-mates. But whether it was desperation or just sheer will-power, Weiss managed to carry her partner, lifting her up princess style, and making her slow way towards the front hall. She had to get there, and get help.

"Weiss... I... have to tell you something... before I..."

"Ruby, stop making it sound like you aren't getting another chance you dolt!" Weiss shouted as she heaved her way through the hallways, through the opened doors they had flung open when they went there. "I'm going to get you help, and you're going to get better, then you can tell me whatever the Hell it is that's so important, but right now, I'm not going to listen to anything, so you'd better keep yourself alive long enough to tell me whatever it is, you got that?"

Ruby weakly nodded, "I'll do that... but you'd... better promise... you'll listen."

"I'll sit with you and listen 'til you're done, whatever it is, once you're better, you got that? So don't go dying on me yet Ruby Rose!"

Ruby remembered why she fell in love with the girl who was carrying her. Now that they were friends, Weiss would never leave her behind. The heiress had few friends, but treasured the ones she had far more than she would ever admit. Behind all that ice was a heart of gold. And her partner's words had given her just the right amount of determination to survive. She was going to live, and she was going to tell Weiss how she felt. A little cut like this would not be the end of Ruby Rose.

Ruby's lack of response started to worry Weiss, who glanced down to see the girl had fallen unconscious. Weiss's worry intensified, but so did her determination, she would get the girl to help. Ahead of her, the sounds of feet on metal sounded, and she saw Blake running towards her. Blake's golden eyes went wide when she saw Ruby.

Weiss would never remember what happened for a few hours beyond that point. She vaguely recalled Blake summoning a clone, and the two copies of the faunus lifting Ruby out of Weiss's arms and hurrying her to a doctor. There was ride in an ambulance, at least Weiss thought so, with her sitting by Ruby's side, Weiss's hand clutching her partner's. That feeling she remembered, the warmth that told her Ruby was still fighting. Then there was the time where she was separated from Ruby. A doctor did a check-up on Weiss, but she was fine, her aura had absorbed the damage she had taken.

The next thing that Weiss really remembered was sitting in a waiting room with Yang. Blake had stayed behind, explaining things to the police, having seen that Weiss was in no state to do that, and that Weiss and Yang needed to be with their partner and sister.

Yang for her part was parts angry, sorrowful and thankful. One of those emotions stemmed from her sister's condition, the other from the white-haired girl sitting next to her.

Weiss had told them what happened, still seeming to be in a daze. Yang knew why Ruby had thrown herself between Weiss and the blade, she knew that if she had not then it would be Ruby sobbing here and Weiss on the operating table right now, and Yang knew that Ruby could never have forgiven herself.

But Yang would still rather it had been that way round.

It was not that she wanted Weiss to be injured, but Yang mainly wanted her sister to be safe. In Yang's mind, Ruby's safety was just a little more important than her happiness: as long as she was safe, the girl could become happy. For causing her sister to be injured, Yang was so angry she wanted to punch Weiss. It was her stupid event and her not keeping an eye on her enemy that meant that Ruby was so close to being gone.

The only reasons she had not beaten Weiss to death yet was that Weiss had done everything in her power to save Ruby.

Yang never would have thought Weiss could lift Ruby, let alone carry her down several corridors. The effort had made Weiss pretty much collapse, but she only let go of Ruby when Blake arrived. For that, Yang was grateful. Then there was the way Weiss had been since they got Ruby to the ambulance. All the way there, Weiss had clutched at Ruby's hand, begging the unconscious girl to be all right, to pull through, to keep some promise, and all the way to the hospital, and all the while they were sitting here waiting, she could see Weiss blaming herself.

Weiss always knew when something was actually her fault. She acted like she did not, but she always knew deep down. She was currently blaming herself for everything she did wrong, from inviting them all in the first place to losing vision on her opponent in the fight. She was tearing herself apart on the inside, and Yang could see it. She did not need Yang to beat her up, Weiss was doing that well enough by herself.

Both girls were torn from their thoughts by a nurse entering the room. "Miss Yang Xiao Long?"

"Yes?" Yang stood, anxiety showing on her face.

The nurse smiled, and waves of relief washed over the two girls. "Your sister is out of the operating room. The operation was a complete success."

Yang collapsed back in her seat, the relief too much for her. Weiss could not help but smile brightly, overjoyed that her partner would be okay.

The nurse left them, saying they would need to wait a little while until the doctors had finished setting up Ruby's room, but it would not be long until they could see her. Yang just stared forward, unable to focus on anything. Finally the exhaustion of the day hit her, now that she did not have to be worried any longer.

Weiss for her part was equally relieved, but finally felt that she could engage with the situation. She had been out-of-it for hours now, and finally the good news had brought her back. She stood, and headed for the door.

"Where're you off to?" Yang asked as she reached for the door handle.

"I was going to call Blake, and tell her the good news."

Yang stood, and walked over, "Let me... I should go home anyway, I'm way too tired, I need some shut-eye."

Weiss stared at her, "But Ruby..."

"Will be able to survive without me until tomorrow." Yang smiled a little, though Weiss could tell it was a little forced.

Yang did not add what she was thinking. 'She can't survive without you.'

Weiss was led into a private room by a nurse, who was explaining things to her. "Miss Rose should wake up soon enough, though she was given some anaesthetic in the operating theatre so don't be alarmed if it takes a little while. When she wakes, please call for us." Weiss was glad to hear the word 'when' not 'if.'

She half-listened as she looked down at the bed where Ruby lay. A few wires trailed to nearby machines, but as far as Weiss could tell they were only monitoring her, Ruby was breathing normally and the doctors thought she would wake soon enough that no other devices needed to be used. Ruby's arms lay on top of the sheets. Weiss sat next to the bed, smiling softly down at the girl.

The nurse left, and Weiss was alone with the sleeping Ruby. Looking down at her from so close, Weiss could see the tip of the injury, now stitched up, just showing above her hospital gown. The slow rise and fall of her chest and the bleeping of the heart-rate monitor in the background almost brought Weiss to tears of joy. She had been so very afraid of losing her best friend that now that the danger had passed, and she was right in front of Ruby, who was sleeping so very peacefully, she was beside herself with joy.

She just sat there, watching Ruby's chest move, until the tiredness that she had been trying to ignore finally caught up to her, and she fell asleep, her head falling down by Ruby's side.

A/N: These chapters just keep getting longer... not that I imagine you guys are complaining. Again, it's been a little less than a week, but I've already written half of the next chapter as well, so I thought I may as well post this. As ever, if you have any criticisms, feel free to tell me, I'm writing this as much to practice and find what people do and don't like about my writing style as anything else, and while it's nice to have people just say "It's really good," it's not necessarily as helpful as having someone giving a proper critique. That said, all comments are more than welcome.

'Till Eternity Ends

E.D.