This chapter goes back to Ruby as she tries to figure out exactly how she should go about trying to find and get to Weiss. Dedicated to beacontacticsmod! Thank you!

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Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY.

Chapter 4. With Time Running Out

Ruby did her best to relax on the air ship ride.

She knew this would be her only time to rest on this tedious journey she'd set out on alone.

When she was in the air like this, no one could catch up to her, no one could stop her or force her to go back. This was probably the most secure place she could be.

She also made sure to take advantage of the facilities as much as possible, and accepted every cheap snack that was offered to her.

She'd never been to Atlas before, not that she could remember, and she had no idea how long it might take for her to locate the Schnee mansion.

And then there was the matter of actually getting to it...

Before she knew it, the air ship ride that was supposed to be relaxing for her was turning out to be more stressful than anything. She was constantly fretting about what she would do once they landed.

Supposedly, they would land in the early morning hours, so Ruby would have an entire day to search. But what if she didn't find Weiss within that first day? She'd have to find a place to stay the night, and she couldn't afford something like a motel, and she definitely didn't think staying out on the streets or in the forest alone was a very good idea, especially in the winter weather.

Gosh, what am I even doing? Maybe I should just... go home after all... Weiss is probably fine. She can take care of herself. But can I...?

Ruby sunk back against her seat, hugging herself tightly. At this point in the ride, there was no one else on board the ship.

She was... totally alone.

What... was she doing? She'd left behind her family, her injured sister and her emotionally-distraught father. And now she was venturing off to a foreign kingdom by herself, with nothing more than a note left behind, but no indication as to her whereabouts for anyone she knew.

She was traveling during a time of crisis, when communications were still down between the kingdoms. A single straying ember could have sparked the flames of war at this point, and she was suspended in midair over all of it.

Maybe... this was a really horrible idea...

Maybe Weiss was better off without her...

Ruby hadn't realized when she'd started to cry. It was stifling, and the sobs choked her to the point of discomfort. But since there was no one else on the ship that could see her, she didn't even try to hide her tears. She wept softly but freely, ducking her face into the crook of her elbow or the side of her shoulder.

Only then did it cross her mind that she hadn't cried at all since the battle back at Beacon. Even when she'd been brought back home and had woken to find that her teammates were no longer with her, she hadn't cried.

Even when Yang had told her that Blake had vanished and Weiss had been taken away against her will, she hadn't cried.

And even when Yang had all but rejected Ruby's efforts to support and help her, and hadn't told her she loved her back, she hadn't cried.

Ruby didn't understand why.

Until now.

Because back then, she'd needed to be strong-willed and strong-minded, lest she lose the conviction to do something about all of this that had been bubbling up inside of her since the second she'd woken up.

But now that she was here, right in the middle of taking action as she'd planned to do...

Now she was having second thoughts.

Now she was beginning to see the reality.

That a war was brewing, and perhaps sneaking around from kingdom to kingdom wasn't the best idea.

That her father had lost enough people he loved in his life thus far, and maybe she should have stayed home to support him and Yang.

That Weiss' father was an unwelcoming person, and likely had plenty of security around the mansion, so it would be nearly impossible for Ruby to get what she wanted out of all of this.

Am I... just being childish? Just being a stupid little kid? To think I could make a difference all on my own...?

Maybe she was still just too young.

Maybe she didn't understand everything as everyone else did.

Maybe she was being naive, and all of this was 'wishful thinking,' as people always said.

Maybe...

Maybe I should just... go back home...

She wiped her eyes again and again, trapped between a rock and a hard place.

She didn't know if what she was doing was right or plausible. If she went through with this, she could very well just end up getting Weiss in immense trouble.

And Ruby knew her own father wouldn't be very pleased with her if she were to come limping back home, exhausted and defeated.

The world suddenly seemed like it was out to get her, and it was starting within her own mind.

Either way... I can't do anything now when we're still flying... I've gotta at least wait until we land in a few hours...

Until then, she decided to close her watery eyes, knowing this could very well be the last time in a while she'd be able to sleep securely, if at all. She did her best to stop crying for the time being, and instead gazed out the window at the world below.

It was still and quiet, shrouded in a pre-morning darkness, with the fractured moon watching overhead. Starlight sprinkled out over the buildings and homes far below, and even the oceans seemed to be at rest.

It all seemed so tranquil. Ruby couldn't believe there was a threat of war brewing, lingering over everyone's consciousness. If something bad happened, this peaceful scenery would soon become a distant memory.

That was why Ruby made sure to savor this sight for all it was worth.

At long last, she closed her eyes, leaning back against the plush cushion of her seat in the most comfortable position she could find. Her frantic mind soon became calm, too fatigued to worry about anything else other than sleep any longer.

She closed her eyes and let the blanket of darkness sweep over her.

. . .

. .

.

She couldn't breathe.

It was so cold.

So, so cold...

And everything around her was dark, so dark she couldn't see anything at all.

She was lying on a hard surface, shivering from the frigid air. When she reached up for something – anything – she saw just how pale her hands were.

But there was something else amiss, even more so than the sickly pallor of her skin. Her fingers were a little longer, a little more slender. Her nails were round and perfect, and she'd lost a bit of muscle.

With great effort, she managed to push herself up, peeling her back from the freezing, hard ground. She looked down to find herself wearing a dress of blue crystals.

She thought they were beautiful at first, the intricate, watery patterns on the fabrics.

But she soon realized they weren't embroidered in. Rather, they were solid things, each branch connected to the next like veins, all stiff and without warmth.

She realized why it was so difficult to move now.

Because they were all connected to her eyes.

They were... they were her tears.

They'd frozen over, until they'd formed a cage around her, pinning her down, trapping her here in this place where she couldn't breathe...

She could feel herself dying.

Just before her eyes closed, she caught sight of her own long white hair, frozen over with crystals-

"Ah-!"

Ruby jolted awake now, nearly falling out of her seat as reality rushed back to her all at once.

She was... she was still on the air ship, alone, and outside her window, dawn was breaking. The announcement that they'd be landing in Atlas was just being made as she straightened herself up and wiped her face repeatedly.

Just a dream... just a dream...

But somehow, she felt it had been more than just that. Much more.

Weiss...

She... She needed help.

And Ruby could sense that this wasn't just her own residual fear from the nightmare. She had a connection with Weiss as her partner, a bond and friendship that only they could ever share with each other, and no one else in the world.

Ruby had felt it in the past, but never so strongly. Because this was the first time Weiss wasn't right at her side.

She needs help... She needs me...

And she wasn't being conceited with her thoughts, either. Every fiber of her being was telling her this. That Weiss needed her specifically.

And that there wasn't much time left to find her before it would be too late.

The air ship began to glide lower, and Ruby could now see they were just above the docks in Atlas. She no longer had any doubts about what she planned to do once they'd landed.

She'd make sure to apologize to Yang and their father, and hug them both many, many times when she did decide to go back home one day. But that day wouldn't be today.

Sorry, Dad. Sorry, Yang.

There was an unmistakable bump as the ship landed, and the voice over the intercom began speaking.

But Ruby didn't even hear a single word. Her entire being was focused only on one thing, and that was getting off this ship.

She stood, stretching herself out rather quickly, knowing she couldn't afford to waste a second. She gathered her backpack, which she'd cleaned out of trash and empty bottles earlier. Now it was refilled with fresh water bottles and new bags of snacks and food, enough to sustain her for at least two more days.

The second the doors opened up, she was darting out of them and into the unfamiliar streets of Atlas with only one thought on her mind.

I'm coming Weiss. Just hold on.

Making her way through Atlas was an arduous journey.

It was even more difficult than traversing the Grimm-infested forest in the dead of night, in Ruby's opinion.

The citizens here weren't like the people she'd known back on Patch. There, everyone knew everyone else, and when a passing stranger or tourist asked a question, they were always met with kind smiles and helpful information.

But here, everyone seemed so... uptight.

Ruby felt as though she were walking amongst soldiers at all times.

All of the adults were dressed in formal clothes and stood erect like statues. Even the teenagers and people her own age seemed to be limited on what they could smile about.

What unsettled her the most, perhaps, was the lack of color. Everyone seemed to be wearing shades of white, grey, or black, but hardly anything else.

Ruby certainly stood out like a sore thumb, and should anyone come asking for her, she was certain that every person in Atlas would have replied they'd seen "the girl in red" at least once.

Everyone was giving her stern or even rude looks. She didn't feel welcome here at all.

And perhaps she wasn't.

As she continued hurrying around town, where all of the buildings were enormous and sharp and modern, she realized just how inconspicuous she was. Her clothes and mannerisms screamed that she was from another kingdom, and with tensions as high as they were right now, she probably looked suspicious to most people.

She made sure to keep on the move, hurrying as quickly as she could, both because she wanted to avoid people seeing her for longer than necessary, and because she wanted to find Weiss as quickly as possible.

The people hardly seemed approachable, but she had no choice but to ask them what she wanted to know. She inquired of where she might go to find a map of the place, claiming she was a tourist who was trying to meet up with family, but that the loss of communications had thrown her off.

The first several people she asked ignored her altogether, and then a few of them who tried to help accused her of being absentminded because she failed to explain which district she wanted to go to.

But at last, she encountered one Faunus man who seemed to pity her and gave her what she needed. He gave her directions to a library, ensuring her she'd be able to find a map there. She thanked him humbly before dashing off through the crowds.

Ruby stuck to his instructions very carefully. Up until now, she'd been wandering aimlessly, but now she had a path to follow, and she intended to keep to it.

She hurried along the grey sidewalks, searching the technologically-advanced buildings on either side of the street where fancy, modern cars passed her by.

Even with this task to occupy her mind, she couldn't stop thinking about her nightmare.

Images of herself... Weiss being trapped, cold, unable to breathe...

Ruby's breath hitched just thinking about it, and she had to stop running for a moment. She ducked beneath the overhang of the nearest building and removed her backpack, pulling out a bag of cookies and a bottle of water to help calm herself down.

As she was getting her bearings, her eyes wandered across the street. Not far away was a large sign that read "Atlas Public Library" in smart, clear text.

Ruby gobbled down the rest of her cookie crumbs and guzzled the last mouthful of water, then tossed everything in a nearby trash bin before hurrying off once more.

Inside, the library was void of voices, but there were plenty of other sounds. Large desk and table areas had computers, laptops, and screens set up all around. The constant sounds of vigorous typing and clicking filled the room as she entered.

Everyone there seemed to be about her age, if not a little older. They were all dressed in similar grey and white uniforms. As Ruby passed them by, she heard a few girls chittering quietly.

"I can't believe school is starting up again so soon. Even after all this crazy stuff's happened! Can't they give us, like, a week off or something?"

"You know how they are. Gotta keep us in for as many hours as possible. It's part of our training."

"I guess you're right... But hey, did you hear how they're gonna be moving us somewhere else now, for safety reasons?"

"Yeah! That's so weird. They sent a notice home and it said they won't even tell our parents where they'll be keeping us. It's kinda creepy..."

Ruby had to silently agree with the girl.

They're going back to school already? Even with all that's going on? And their own families aren't even being told where the students will be staying? Gosh, I'm so glad Weiss came to Beacon...

Ruby headed straight for the information desk where an older, stern-looking woman in a dark blazer turned to address her, rather unkindly.

"Heavens, what is it that you're wearing? Did you not receive your uniform yet?"

Ruby gulped but quickly improvised.

"Uh, yeah. They uh, sent me the wrong size so I had to send it back. This is all I have for now!"

The woman glared at her, then sighed.

"Well then, what is it you need assistance with?"

"Um... I-I was hoping I could have a map of sorts. See, I'm a transfer student and I um... I just got here and I don't really know my way around too well."

The woman's countenance seemed to loosen a little bit at that.

"I see. That explains your preposterous getup." She reached somewhere behind the counter onto her desk, then pulled out a folded piece of paper, which she slid to Ruby. "Here's the most recent version."

"Thank you!" Ruby beamed up at her as she accepted the map. The woman looked down at her as though she'd never seen someone smile before in all her life.

Before she could get called back and hounded further, Ruby hurried off across the library with the map clutched tightly to her chest. She paused beside a study table and opened it up.

Atlas was much larger than she'd ever thought. She'd studied its geography for exam purposes in the past, but this was the first time she'd seen a map of its districts and streets.

She located the library easily enough, and then began looking for a familiar name. She squinted down at the parchment, scanning it swiftly, looking for that key word...

At last she found it.

There was a square to indicate the building's size and location, and then the title of the establishment written in red:

Schnee Dust Company Headquarters

Ruby's heart lifted a little bit, ecstatic that she'd actually found what she'd been looking for.

But wait... that's the factory where all their Dust is stored and their things are manufactured, right? That doesn't mean its her house...

Of course, the map didn't give the names of which family lived in which house in which district. Essentially, Ruby was back to square one.

I can't give up! Aahhhh, what can I do...? Think, think! She closed her eyes and tried to do just that.

"Hey, new girl!"

A voice suddenly sounded behind her, causing her to jump, yelp, and whirl around. Ruby recognized the two girls from earlier whom she'd overheard. The one speaking had short black hair and matching dark eyes, which she'd presently locked in a glare on Ruby.

"S-Sorry!" she whispered. "Is this, um... where you wanted to sit?" She quickly grabbed the map and tried to pull it away.

But the other girl slammed her hand down on the opposite corner.

"No, it's fine. We just wanted to see the map, actually. May we?"

When Ruby took a moment to calm herself down, she realized that these girls didn't actually seem to be angry or antagonistic towards her. The scowl just seemed to be the default expression around here, but the girl's eyes were kind and curious. Ruby bit her lip.

"Uh, s-sure. Go ahead."

"Thanks!"

The two girls hunched over the map, tracing their fingers until they found what they'd been looking for, then bickered about which one of them had been right in her assumptions.

As Ruby watched them, she got an idea. She didn't know how good of an idea it was, but she couldn't waste time trying to think of better options.

"Um, excuse me?" she said timidly. "Do you think you could tell me what you know about this place?" She pointed to the Schnee Dust Company Headquarters, then smiled sheepishly. "I'm new here and I was just... kinda interested."

The girl with the black hair instantly started rambling.

"Oh, I know all about Schnee Dust! My family has worked with them before. It was a huge deal. I even heard rumors that the heiress is going to be coming to school with us in Atlas from now on!"

Ruby's heart instantly started to thud harder.

"Wh-What?" she blurted. "I-I mean, um... wasn't she going to Beacon before? That's what I heard..."

"Oh, yeah," the other girl said with disinterest. "Her dad let her train as a huntress or whatever for a bit, but not anymore. Not after all that stuff that happened over there. I don't know where they're gonna be sending us for school, but maybe I'll get to see her in person! That'd be so cool! I actually got to go to her house once when my parents were negotiating with her dad. She lives in this massive mansion on the other side of town. But it's like... a few miles away from town because their property is so enormous."

Ruby was almost trembling as she listened to the girl talk.

Weiss... is going to Atlas' Academy now? Her father's making her? And no one's even being told where the students will be staying? That's not to keep them safe! That's to keep them in line and under control! That's horrible!

But as the girls in front of her continued talking, they didn't seem terribly bothered by these arrangements being set upon them. None of the students here seemed to be upset.

Was this just how Atlas worked? Was everyone just going to accept this without question?

Even if everyone else did, Ruby knew for a fact that Weiss would be forced into this against her will.

She'd never want to stay in Atlas where her father could keep constant tabs on her. Especially not after going to Beacon.

Weiss had never explicitly said it, but she loved Beacon. Everyone knew she did. She loved training as a huntress.

To have all of those challenges and new experiences and freedom ripped right out of her hands...

To have them replaced by some secretive school that made everyone dress in colorless uniforms and train like soldiers and secretaries...

Weiss would never want this. Ruby was sure of it.

I have to find her. Before she's forced to go... wherever it is they're sending the students. It could be anywhere. I have to find her before it's too late...

Thanks to these girls' ramblings, Ruby now had an idea of where to go to look for Weiss' house. She left the map and the girls behind and darted out the library doors, then hurried along the grey sidewalks once more.

As she ran, Ruby couldn't stop thinking about her partner, and her nightmare.

Weiss would never want this. She'd want to know if Blake and Yang and I were okay. She'd want to come find us. She'd want to come back to Beacon with everyone and help repair things and make things better. She'd want to continue fighting as a huntress with us.

She said it herself how she hated the idea of a desk job, safe and cozy here in Atlas. She wants to help people. She wants to protect them. She wants to defend the people she cares about and fight alongside them. She wants the freedom and sense of duty of a huntress.

Somewhere deep inside herself, Ruby was confident of these things.

She wasn't just imposing her own wishes onto Weiss.

She knew her partner.

She knew her as a person, as a friend, as someone she admired, and as someone she trusted with her life.

She knew Weiss wouldn't ever want this.

Which was why she knew she needed to find her before it was too late.

She needed to hurry.

Ruby didn't pause for a rest this time. She ran as quickly as her semblance could take her, twisting through the mundane crowds, skirting around buildings, and darting across the streets even when the light was red. She wasn't going to let anything get in her way, not even her own fears.

She ran towards the place she'd seen on that map, towards the edge of the town where a vast expanse of open land lay stretched. The fields were covered in snow now, erasing even more color from this kingdom. She hopped a gray iron fence which was the unmistakable boundary marker for a piece of property.

By the time she stepped foot onto those fields, night had fallen once again.

But Ruby never stopped running.

She followed alongside a concrete pathway, which was undoubtedly a driveway or road of sorts. It cut through a small forested area, and rose up over a hill.

Only when she'd reached the top of that hill did Ruby finally stop.

A massive white mansion stood about a quarter of a mile away from where she stood now. It was the very picture of conspicuous consumption, massive beyond reason.

She knew only three people lived there and perhaps a few maids as well. But there was no actual reason for such a large establishment other than to display the owner's power and wealth.

In front of the mansion was a large driveway, which seemed to be strangely busy at the moment. Lights were on, and there were half a dozen formally-dressed people standing about, as well as two luxurious cars, parked but running.

For some reason, Ruby didn't think this was a typical scene of this mansion at the stroke of midnight. They seemed to be preparing for something, something that involved a lot of security and a long drive...

She knew instantly what this was.

They were going to take Weiss away.

And they were going to do it very, very soon.

Panic seized Ruby like the claws of a Giant Nevermore. It clutched her sharply and dug in deep, causing her to step back and sway against the nearest tree.

Oh my god, oh my god- Her mind was whirling like a tornado, words and options and emotions swirling around and clashing against one another. What do I do? What do I do? H-How can I-? She shook her head, choking back a sob. Think, think!

She couldn't just wallow in confusion until it was too late. She needed to focus, use all the skills she'd learned back at Beacon about being a team leader.

That's right. Even despite everything that's happened, I'm still the leader of Team RWBY. They're still my friends and family, and I have a responsibility to do everything within my power to keep them safe. I have to do something...

And when she calmed herself down long enough to take a breath, she realized there was only one thing she could do for her partner at this point.

Ruby dropped her backpack in the snow, knowing the added weight would only slow her down. She made quick work of climbing a few feet up the nearest tree and stowing it away in higher branches, to keep it out of sight of people or animals that might happen to pass by or look this way.

She only took another small bag of cookies and a half-pint bottle of water from the pockets before zipping them back up and jumping down. She tucked these two items into her dress' pockets, ensuring Crescent Rose was secure at the small of her back, then directed her gaze back towards the mansion.

She'd need to move quickly, silently, and efficiently. She only waited a moment longer, to take one more breath of the cold, winter night air into her lungs.

Again, she was reminded of her nightmare about her partner.

Weiss... I'm here. Just wait for me.

Precious seconds were already ticking away.

With her eyes locked on the highest window of the mansion, and her determined heart set on the most righteous path, Ruby took off at top speed across the snow-covered fields, stirring up the cold, still air with the fervent steps of her boots and the fiery beat of her heart.

A/N: At this point, we don't know much about Atlas from the canon. But from how Weiss described it to Yang, we can assume it's a very military-centric kind of kingdom, so I tried to write the people and cities as being high-strung and strict. I feel Weiss gets most of her disposition from her tense family life already, and Atlas' harsh society sure didn't help much.

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