Salem's castle…
Ruby was slumped in her chair, wrists bruised from pulling in vain against her bonds. Her breaths were shallow while her eyes refused to open as her cheeks were stained by layers of tears that had long since dried. Salem was wiping her hands-on Ruby's cape before throwing aside, what she had dirtied them with Ruby had no idea. Slowly Salem made her way back behind Ruby standing purposefully out of sight.
"So, where do you think we should go next?"
Ruby made no obvious signs that she even registered hearing Salem's voice, but she knew she heard, Ruby was her blank cheque, her canvas, she knew every aspect of her work space and could tell the difference between when Ruby was and wasn't listening. Except this time, it was different Salem needed to include Ruby in her own torture, no longer could she be a passive if unwilling participant. Spinning on her heels Salem stood in front of Ruby looking down at her prey, slowly she raised her hand to cup Ruby's cheek before moving it down to her chin and lifting it, so she could see those dull greyed eyes, however instead all she got was her eyelids as Ruby tried to capture as much rest in her short reprieve as possible.
"RUBY!"
Ruby's eyes shot open like a deer in headlights, staring straight into Salem's red eyes unsure whether to be grateful or terrified that she was back in the real world. As she looked up at Salem a small smirk developed on Salem's face, dread filled Ruby dashing any hope that her punishment was at an end.
"Ruby, this is important. Where should we go next? The formation of team RWBY? How about we go even further, who doesn't love a good origin story? I wonder what it was like for such a small child to have to grow up without her own mother, living in a house with a half-sister and a father who every time he looked at you was reminded of Summer."
Ruby's head was still locked in Salem's titan grip on her chin which only weakened slightly to allow her to speak.
"Why do you care your just going to change them all anyway."
Salem chuckled slightly which sent a shiver to Ruby's core
"Because for once in this Ruby I'm giving you a choice, where to the middle or beginning, your team or your family?"
"My team IS my family."
Salem scoffed at her while rolling her eyes.
"I'm sure that for an idealistic child such as yourself that is sadly true but what type of team just leaves you here. So, what will it be Ruby, team or family?"
Ruby renewed the struggle with her bonds while looking side to side in some desperate appeal for someone to help her, except no one was coming and she knew that but refused to believe it. Slowly her eyes moved back to the centre staring back into Salem's knowing glare while her bodies weak attempts at escape soon died down again. In the corner of Ruby's eye here attention was caught by the only other thing of colour in the room, her cape discarded off to the side, Salem followed Ruby's eyes glancing to see what had caught her prey's attention before turning back.
"Come on now Ruby focus, team or-"
"TEAM!"
Salem released her grasp on Ruby humming in approval.
"And please do tell why?"
Ruby looked down in shame, wrists straining against her bonds as she tried to shrink into herself for safety.
"You're right, what type of team would just leave me here. When you told me to kill at Kuroyuri it hurt more seeing that team JNPR had stayed together and not a single one of mine had joined them. They just left me."
Salem walked over to where she had thrown Ruby's cape picking it up she brought it to her face and smelt the mixture of roses and strawberries, the slight Summer smell sent shivers of disgust through her body as she grasped it tightly between her hands. Turning she walked behind Ruby draping her in the cape and rested her hands-on Ruby's shoulders holding them tightly in her grasp.
"Once I'm done we can move onto your childhood, but I'll promise you this, even though it disgusts me I'll let you keep the cape, but it won't stand for what you want it to."
Shocked Ruby twisted her neck to try and look at Salem however her strong grasp on her shoulders prevented her.
"You said one or the other."
"I said I would give you a choice, I NEVER said it would matter."
Ruby closed her eyes in guilt as she was consumed by Salem's darkness. As she opened them she realized that she was surrounded by a pile of luggage, between the mess she could make out the faint form of someone who's outfit consisted almost entirely of white.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING!"
Mistral…
Jaune, Nora, Ren and Neo were all sat around a table across two sofas, as Jaune was helping Neo remove the bandages that were wrapped around her hands to help her wounds heal, the group were rather disappointed with their meeting with the Haven headmaster as delays at catching the Spring Maiden meant more time Ruby was left alone in Salem's clutches. Neo stood as she passed the bandages to Jaune who threw them away, stretching her hands she was surprised at how fast they had healed, all that remained were two small lines of slightly discoloured skin otherwise. Reaching for her umbrella she did some practice swings testing the strain of her hand when there was a sudden knock at the door, everyone looked between the door and themselves.
Jaune slowly made his way over to the door grabbing the handle he opened it slowly revealing the presence of relatively small looking and timid boy with dark hair, stepping to the side so the rest of his team could see they all were as confused as each other.
"Can I help you?"
"Umm. Yea? Is there a Ruby Rose here?"
Suddenly Ren and Nora stood from their seats while Neo took a step towards the door with her umbrella still in hand. Nora glared at the kid before asking why. The kid only held his hands together in front of his chest fumbling with his words until Qrow suddenly burst into view resting his hands on the kid's shoulders.
"I FOUND HIM!"
Qrow was swaying side by side giggling with laughter as he pushed himself off Oscar and into the room before crashing onto the sofa.
"Umm, I think her uncle could use some help."
Nora looked over at Qrow who was still mumbling about finding him before turning to Jaune and the guest.
"Is he drunk?"
"I get the idea this is normal for him."
Everyone slowly turned back to Oscar again aware of his presence as Jaune closed the door.
"And who are you?"
"Well my name is Oscar Pine, but you probably know me as Professor Ozpin."
Everyone took a step back shocked at the statement as Qrow continued his drunken laughter raising his arms in the air in triumph before collapsing onto the floor
"I DID IT!"
Nora put her hands in front of her mouth in surprise before checking on Qrow.
"It's okay he just fell asleep."
Jaune placed his hand on Oscar's shoulder drawing his and Ozpin's attention.
"I'm sorry but Ruby isn't here, she was taken… by Salem."
Oscar wasn't sure who that was but by the dread in the air he could tell it wasn't good as Ozpin confirmed his suspicions. Jaune shook the two from their internal conversation looking down at the kid.
"So, how are you also Ozpin?"
"Well."
Somewhere in Anima…
Yang had just finished punching out some drunkard, turning and sitting back on her bike. As she turned the key into the ignition she paused for a moment as the engine came to life looking over a picture of her team, her eyes focusing on Ruby. Staring at it she was taken back to before she left, she had just finished adding the final touches to her new arm and had turned to her bike readying Bumblebee before leaving to find Ruby when her attention was drawn to some coughing behind her.
"So, your leaving then?"
Yang looked at the worried expression of her dad which was quickly replaced with a weak smile as he ran his hand through his hair.
"I guess you're done moping?"
Yang looked down at her prosthetic arm giving it a look over.
"I done feeling useless, I should've gone with Jaune to look for Ruby. What kind of sister am I that I didn't do anything?"
Tai stepped forward slowly taking his daughters head into his own hands.
"You did what you had to. To be ready to get back out there. If you left before you were ready I would've been worried at the prospect of losing you as well as Ruby."
Yang shook herself free from his hands turning around and clenching he hands against Bumblebees metal frame.
"You think we've lost Ruby?"
"Don't get me wrong I have no intention of giving up hope but it's been months since the fall of Beacon and the mind wonders to the extremes. I know though that you'll stop at nothing to get her back."
"But I could've found her by now, brought her home."
"That may well be true but as I said before you took a hit, you were knocked out of the ring and jumping back in before your ready is a sure-fire way to getting knocked back down again and you might not get back up again. That terrifies me I can't lose both of you."
"You won't lose either of us, I promise."
Just as her dad was about to continue her memory faded as another voice pierced it's way into her head.
"Hey Girlie."
Yang rolled her eyes turning to the drunk that she had just punched, angry at him for distracting her from her thoughts.
"Seriously, this isn't over?"
The drunk got up from where he had fallen giving her a toothy grin.
"I hear you're looking for someone."
…
Weiss was pacing back and forth in the cargo bay of the ship she had used to escape Atlas, she had a disagreement with the pilot regarding a distress call they overheard. Ruby was watching off to the side placing her hand on Weiss' shoulder.
"This is preposterous, I'm a huntress I should be allowed to help people."
Ruby used her hand to spin Weiss around, so they were looking into each other's eyes.
"Sometimes you have to choose your battles Weiss besides do you honestly think you would be able to fight a horde of Grimm in what is essentially a flying bucket full of powerful dust?"
"I suppose not."
Weiss deflated as she realized the reality of the situation before turning and looking out one of the windows.
"I just hate feeling useless."
"HA, the one thing you will never be is useless, you're far to stubborn to let that happen."
Wiess turned to look at Ruby.
"I suppose that's a compliment?"
Ruby spun around letting her cape wave round her until she jumped up onto one of the boxes resting her head in hands, shoulders taking the weight onto her legs as she looked at Weiss.
"Hey, I'm just here to try and talk some sense into you, no use prancing around the subject."
Weiss huffed in annoyance turning away from Ruby who maintained the biggest grin clearly overcome with her apparent victory.
