Chapter 6: The Schnee Manor.

Ruby lay in the same spot she had for the last couple of minutes. Why had she not woken up, or lost conscious? Torchwick had shot directly at her but she knew she wasn't dead. The ground had slowly changed to a more cushion like texture and the metal that was around her softened to a silk like feel. The feeling of sleepiness washed over her, so … tired… five… minutes… Wait. Torchwick! Ruby bolted up right. Her head spun and she fell back down onto a very comfortable pillow. Her hair flowed down her back and her white bangs covered her face, and she just wanted two seconds of quiet and to think.

*knock knock knock*

So much for the quiet.

"Miss, are you awake? Your training starts in a little under forty minutes. I just wanted you to know that I am placing Myrtenaster beside your door, its back from the shop."

"Yes I'm up! Thank you…" Ruby replied, in a voice that wasn't hers.

Ruby got up from the silk sheet bed and walked over to the mirror on the wall. Her vision was blurry in the mirror; she looked down to see pale white skin and a white night down. She looked at the mirror again and saw not Ruby Rose, but Weiss Schnee stood staring back at her. Weiss… Ruby looked around the room and decided to continue with her time and get dressed. She put on the blue bolo and white combat skirt, and finally the monstrous, stupid lady stilts (Ruby Rose, Burning the candle); High Heel Shoes. After a good twenty to thirty minutes of just walking a back and forth, Weiss… Ruby was sure she was ok to walk around with no problems; as long as she didn't walk to fast.

Ruby walked out of the room picked up her, no, Weiss's weapon and just started walking. The halls were just as she had pictured: tall ceilings, pillars, little tables, knick-knacks and random butlers and maids carrying different assortment of items. She passed by the kitchen and her stomach growled, so she took the time to eat some eggs, toast, and a nice big glass of milk. She thanked the cook and the maid and continued to walk around.

She didn't know where she was going but her body just seemed to take her where she was supposed to go. She found her way to a room that had a small sign next to it that said 'Weiss's Training Room.' She walked into the room and took in her surroundings. The adjacent wall to her left was a full mirror with a handlebar at waist height; the wall on the right held another room and the far wall parallel to the entrance had three big windows with the middle window being the biggest of the three.

Ruby walked over to the door on the right and looked through the door to see what the other room held. The far wall held one huge window with a circular window above the center and two triangular windows next to it. The walls held many windows but she couldn't see much else because of how dark it was. The final detail that she could see was ice remnants. She could see areas, like the line going down the middle or streaks on the walls, of areas that had frostbite damage and a statue on one knee in the center of the line. Looking at this room made her left eye start to itch.

Ruby turned back around to see a familiar face, Qrow. Her heart leapt, she needed to make some sense and she was always sure Qrow would have the time to help. She began walking towards him happy as anyone could be, but the, *Ping*, she had that feeling and Qrow was the only one there. "Next time you see me, don't trust me…" that's what Qrow had told her before.

Qrow stood with hood on and back to her, his Scythe gave him away, but it was at full extension. He slowly turned around and stared at her. His eyes were hidden by the hood, but his smile said all she needed to know.

"Well Princess, time to start your training." Qrow.

"It's heiress, get it right. Shown the proper respect." Ruby had said, but why had she said it; she meant to say something else entirely.

"Well Girly, time to dance. Time, to die." Qrow.

Ruby looked around frantically for a way out. Her legs wouldn't move but a motion caught her attention. She was hoping she would be wrong, but her luck had run dry for the time being. She remembered the little Nevermore from her chase away from Yang, and without fail the center window held a little Nevermore starring at Qrow. The Nevermore glanced at her then back to Qrow and flashed it dark red eyes.

Qrow leaps forward tilting his head back and showing his eyes. This revealed a deep blue glow in his sorrow filled eyes. He simply whispered I'm sorry as his eyes flashed slightly and brought the Scythe down on her. She did a back flip, one that she had seen Weiss do many times, and readied Crescent Ros… Myrtenaster and saw the chamber spin to a red dust chamber. She blocked as many of the swings as she could, using her semblance to bounce around. Even as she did all this, she couldn't actually feel her doing it; like someone else was controlling her or as if by memory.

They continued this song and dance until they felt the ground shake. Qrow, just as distracted as Ruby, stared at the spare oom… room with an eerie yet determined feeling. The same statue that had been in the room came bursting through the wall. The statue had turned out to be animated armor, and Ruby didn't like it one bit. She back flipped a couple of times before stopping to take a much needed breather.

Ruby's left eye stung, causing her to through her hand to cover it. Her middle finger hit an article, a detail of Weiss that Ruby had all but forgotten; Weiss's scar. She felt like she wanted to cry, but she didn't know why, she just wanted to breakdown; however, the warrior in her told her to stay, to fight. Her body began to move on its own once more fighting the beast and defending from Qrow. It hurt and she ran low on stamina, but she knew she couldn't keep up and looked for an out. Her body stopped moving when the beast pulled back its arm to punch her. She consciously put up a glyph to block, sending her out of the room and far enough to bolt to the only place she knew, Weiss's room.

She didn't stop until she was in the room and sat on the floor with her back against the door. Her head hurt, her legs burned and she felt powerless. All of these mixed to make a very unfamiliar feeling, she always felt safe with Crescent Rose or even with Weiss when the only weapon there was Myrtenaster, but right now she was honestly scared. Once she couldn't feel or hear the rumble in the training room she decided to see what the rest of the house held. This game wouldn't get her when she was on her last life.

Game. That's right this was all in that simulated world device. That was the only explanation to why Qrow attacked her, why people's eyes glowed and why she was Weiss right now. She had to remember that, no one was real: her friends, her family, her life, or what she saw right now was all an illusion and she would fight it until she was free.

She stood up from her position and began to wonder around. The fight with that armor could not be heard and no one could be found. Ruby continued to search aimlessly for anyone; that is she was looking until a high pitched scream pulled her hero instincts to activate. She rushed to the sound and hide nearby to scope the area out. What she found was not the worst case scenario, but it was close enough. White Fang members were there rounding up servants and lining them up to execute them.

Ruby didn't even have time to think, she grabbed Myrtenaster and lunged for the nearest White Fang. They just kept coming and as long as she was standing she would fight. Two minutes of fighting later she could feel the burn return to her legs and move to her arms. When an end was in sight, the next wave and Qrow came into the room.

"Well Princess, I guess you're all that's left. Time to die." Qrow

"You should really stop lying. It's most unbecoming of a high individual such as yourself." Ruby.

"Lie, me, lying? Well your father is dead, and you are the last Schnee left in my way to completely destroy the Schnee Dust Company. That Girly is not a lie." Qrow.

Ruby couldn't understand why, but she began to cry. She was glad she there was no mirror, she was glad she wasn't watching this from another point of view. Ruby never wanted to see Weiss cry, she never wanted to make her cry. Ruby just let it the tears fall as they may.

Qrow stepped to her side and readied his scythe in an executioner style. He pulled the blade as far back as he could and as it fell, time slowed. From behind one of the White Fang members a familiar figure appeared. A man in a white blazer with black pin stripes. It was Balance, but his black off set was gone.

"Well now, we can't have one of the heroes die before the big fight." Balance.

"What? Balance?" Ruby.

"I don't have a lot of time, but I can't directly help you. Just like he can't directly put your mind in a nightmare; however, I can give you an ally." Balance.

He began to walk away, but stops and looks back to Ruby over his shoulder. He simply smiled and his eyes glowed a pretty blue and he was gone with Qrow mid swing

*SCREECH*

A loud scream stopped everything in its place. The White Fang and even Qrow stopped what they were doing to look around.

*Thump scrape Thump scrape*

The rumble of the ground and the scraping of metal on the ground made every one uneasy, except for Ruby.

*Thump scrape Thump*

The footsteps stopped just outside the door to the room.

*SCREECH*

Whatever was on the other side of the door began to bash on it, splintering it and forcing it inwards. Qrow became angered and pulled his scythe back as far as his body would let him go and forced the blade down to Ruby's neck. As the door broke in Ruby couldn't help but smile.