"R...Ruby?"
Yang was stunned, her sister, her lost baby sister, standing there, alive. Before Yang could react, Ruby reached back and swung her weapon in it's gun form into Yang's chest. Yang was nearly thrown off the shipping container were it not for a lightning fast reaction to grab the edge. There she hung, the ground rushing by in the space between the cars. She looked up to see her sister standing over her. Those silver eyes stared down at Yang. In her eyes was something Yang never saw before in those silver orbs, malice, pure unmitigated hatred. Ruby unfurled Crescent Rose into it's scythe form and swung it at the dangling Yang. Seeing the attack coming, Yang expertly lifted her legs up and kicked off the shipping container, narrowly avoiding the loss of her hands.
Yang landed on the flatbed in a backwards somersault, coming to rest next to Weiss. The white fencer nimbly parried an attacker's sword blow. Striking him in the chest, she launched him into an awaiting Blake, whose sword collided with his head, rendering the attacker unconscious.
"Guys!" Yang said, directing her team's attention to Ruby. Weiss and Blake stood frozen, unable to fully comprehend the sight before them. Seeing their leader about to enter the fray, the thieves began to beat a retreat. Ruby fired her weapon behind her, using it's momentum to initiate her attack.
The scythe wielder swung her weapon down on Yang as she landed on the flatbed. Yang crossed her gauntlets in front of her, blocking the attack. Shooting sideways, Ruby took advantage of Blake's stunned state, swinging her scythe at head level. Using a shadow clone to take the hit, the faunus leaped skyward, landing behind Ruby.
"Ruby wait!" Yang called to her sister. Too late, as the range filled girl already used her speed to get behind Weiss swinging at her back. Weiss barely managed to spin around in time to block the blow with her sword. Unfortunately the force of the blow knocked her onto the floor. Ruby fired her weapon at her two standing targets, causing them to dive for cover. This gave Ruby the distraction she needed to fire Crescent Rose into Weiss's stomach, giving the scythe wielder enough momentum to skyrocket into the air. At the top of her trajectory, Ruby fired skyward, sending her whirling downward into Weiss, slaming into her with the blunt end of the scythe in a crunching blow.
"Weiss!" Yang cried out as she rushed to her aid. Seeing her coming, Ruby used her speed to close the distance between her and her sister. Spinning her scythe, Ruby struck Yang's legs, tripping her. Continuing the spin as she moved past Yang, Ruby spun around before using the scythe's momentum to strike at Blake. Blake used her swords to block the strike, only for Ruby to spin around once more, firing the rifle at Blake's head. Using her shadow clone to launch sideways, Blake narrowly avoided the hit. As she landed back on the flatbed, Ruby was waiting for her, successfully landing a blow on her elusive target. Blake was forced to use her shadow clone to prevent herself from being launched off the moving train. Once again however, Ruby was there to hit her again. Blake knew of only one person fast enough to counter her shadow clone semblance, and she was fighting her.
While Ruby was distracted, Yang knelt down next to Weiss, her injured teammate was not moving. Yang checked her scroll, Weiss's aura was almost completely depleted and Blake's was dropping fast.
"Weiss, can you hear me?" Yang said to the girl as she reached out to check where she was hit. Touching her stomach prompted a scream of pain from the injured girl. A small cough followed as Weiss finished her scream, a stream of crimson leaving her mouth when she did.
Yang knew this was bad, Weiss needed to get out of here and fast. Glancing up to check the status of the fight showed Blake and Ruby were still swinging and slashing at each other. Blake even managed to get in a few hits during the melee. Suddenly Yang heard the bullhead's engines revving louder than before. She could see the aircraft taking off, the shipping container successfully attached while they were distracted. Seeing this, Ruby broke off her attack on Blake and fired her weapon launching her at the container. Successfully using her scythe to grab the container, Ruby pulled herself on top of it before disappearing inside the aircraft.
As the bullhead flew off Blake rushed to where Weiss lay. Yang turned to her and spoke with concern in her voice.
"Its bad Blake. We need to get her off this thing."
Behind Blake, Yang could see the bullhead coming back around.
"Blake!"
Yang quickly scooped up Weiss as the bullhead's autocannon began to fire, cutting across where the group once was. The stream of lead continued it's path of destruction up the train through the shipping containers.
"Yang!" Blake yelled, motioning for them to jump. The bullhead's attack struck a shipment of dust, resulting in an explosion destroying several cars. The train cars running into the wreckage began to derail one after the other. Thousands of tons of steel crashing together with immense force and speed. Blake launched herself from the train and began to run away from the growing pile of twisted metal. Many cars were accordioning together, others tumbling and flipping down the track. Holding Weiss in her arms, Yang ran along the flatbed. The flatbed lurched as it struck the pile, sending the back end into the air. Yang raced off the end like a ramp. As she was airborne a spinning car entered her path. Yang quickly twisted her body around to take the impact with her back, shielding Weiss.
Crashing through the other side of the oncoming car, Yang landed on her back, skitting along the ground. Still in danger, Yang used her momentum to regain her footing and run from the destruction. With one arm supporting Weiss, Yang used the gauntlet in the other to gain speed.
Yang finally stopped running when she felt she and Weiss were safe. Looking back Yang could see the crash continuing. Miles of train had yet to come to a stop. Scanning the area she was grateful to see Blake sprinting toward her. At least she was safe.
Blake sat with JNPR in their dorm crowded around Jaune's scroll watching news on the train derailment. So far the cause had yet to be determined and with the engine so far ahead of the initial explosion, only injuries were reported thus far. Yang slowly entered the room having already dropped Weiss off at the medical wing. She collapsed face down on Nora's bed, exhausted from the day's mission.
"How's she doing?" Asked a concerned Blake.
Yang rolled her head to look at Blake. "Not good. Internal bleeding, several crushed bones. Among other things. I told them it was an Ursa attack while training.
Jaune shut off the scroll and set it down before looking up and saying with disbelief. "So, Ruby."
"Ya, Ruby." Pyrrha responded, equally in disbelief.
Ren stood up and began to pace. "So she's alive and she just attacked you?"
"Pretty much." Replied Yang as she sat up on the bed. "That look in her eyes. I've never seen her with so much... So much hate before. Its like she wasn't even there."
"Maybe its not her? Or maybe she has amnesia and she didn't recognize you guys, and that's why she attacked you?" Jaune said hopefully.
"No. It was definitely her." Said Blake, sadness creeping into her voice. "The way she looked at us, she knew exactly who we were."
"This doesn't make any sense." Jaune started. "This is Ruby we're talking about. Sweet innocent Ruby. Even if she was upset about the accident, she wouldn't try to kill you guys. Right?"
Jaune looked around the room. The faces in it were as confused by Ruby's actions as he was.
"But I think we're all forgetting the most important part of all this." Pyrrha started. "Ruby's alive."
"Ya!" Glee filled Yang's face as she spoke, her excitement growing as the realization finally started to sink in. "She's alive! Ruby's alive!"
"This is insane!" Shara screamed as she burst into Kaana's office. "Your little project just caused one of the largest train derailment in decades!"
"You think I don't know that!" The woman in green snapped. "Brontana is going to find us out any day now. So excuse me if I have a lot to deal with right now."
"Look girl," Shara said trying to calm her boss down. "I know I told you to focus on the side business. But right now Ruby is out of control and spiraling her way to a full blown break-down. You need to do something about her before she does something worse, wait, I can't think of anything worse than millions of liens of damages and crippling the most important train line in the kingdom." She said matter of factly.
Kaana paused, looking at the newscast on her scroll. "Just let me think of something. I'll find a way to solve these problems. Just give me time."
"So Pyrrha, why did you want me here?" Yang asked as she and Pyrrha stood in one of Beacon's sparing rooms in their full combat gear. Earlier that day the red haired warrior insisted Yang spar with her.
"I just wanted to practice. Come on, get ready."
Yang wasn't convinced, but she was never one to give up on a challenge.
The two gold fighters stood facing each other, Yang with her gauntlets deployed in her boxing stance and Pyrrha crouching slightly with her spear drawn and shield on one arm ready to block any attacks.
Yang charged forward swinging right fist. Pyrrha blocked with her shield then jabbed with the spear, which Yang quickly countered with her left gauntlet. Dropping low, Pyrrha swung out her right leg, tripping her opponent. Yang recovered quickly by shooting her gauntlets at Pyrrha to launch herself away from her attacker while getting back on her feet.
"By the way Yang," Pyrrha started as she readied herself for another attack. "Why haven't you visited Weiss in the hospital? Its been almost two days."
Yang charged forward throwing her fists at Pyrrha, who deflected with her weapons.
"She's going to be okay, her aura's healing her, and don't forget that I dropped her off at the hospital." Yang responded
Pyrrha's spear swung low, Yang blocked with her gauntlet before the shield crashed into her chest, knocking her back.
"That's not what I meant and you know it."
Yang fired her gauntlets at Pyrrha who rushed forward, leaping over the explosions and bringing a foot down on Yang, knocking her back again. The shield collided with both of Yang's gauntlets as the brawler blocked Pyrrha's followup attack.
"Look Pyrrha, I don't know what you're getting at. If you haven't noticed I've been rather busy lately. Ya know with tracking Ruby and all."
The duo clashed in a series of blows before separating once again.
"No you haven't. You've had the name of someone who may know both where Ruby is and what's going on, yet you've done nothing. Why?" Pyrrha questioned
Yang yelled out as she rushed at Pyrrha, again firing her gauntlets. Pyrrha jumped backward, dodging the shots.
"I'm not just going to walk up to her front door and ask if she's seen Ruby."
"And why not? The Yang I know wouldn't think twice about busting down the front door and beating heads until she got the answers she wanted. So again, why haven't you?"
Yang charged again, only for Pyrrha to hurl her shield at the girl, smashing into her stomach. After the shield returned to Pyrrha's hand the two engaged another series of attacks. Landing a kick square to Yang's stomach, Pyrrha backed up, readying for another attack as Yang yelled out.
"I'm getting ready! I'm preparing my next move."
"You're delaying!" Pyrrha yelled back as the two began to circle each other. "You don't want to go after that person."
"Really oh wise miss Nikos. Why would I be purposely delaying the search for my sister?" Anger and frustration dripped from Yang's voice as she spoke.
"The same reason you refuse to visit Weiss in the hospital."
Yang dashed forward launching a fierce volley of blows. Blocking one of the blows, Pyrrha leaped over the blonde before turning to face her.
"Weiss nearly killed my little sister, sorry if I don't feel like comforting her while she's in the hospital."
"Really? When you thought Weiss killed your sister, why didn't you kill her the instant you learned what really happened in those woods? Instead you rush to her aid the moment you think she is in danger. Let's not forget, this is the girl who stabbed your little sister in the chest."
Yang screamed out before charging at the red head, swinging wildly. However, Yang's fists met only air before Pyrrha's shield collided with the side of her head. Pyrrha backed up before continuing.
"What about Blake? She fully admitted to leaving your little sister behind that day. Sure she may have twisted the details around a bit, but she still admitted to it. Yet there you were, by her side in the hospital. Not once but twice. So again I ask, why?"
Yang let out a groan of frustration before yelling back at Pyrrha. "What are you trying to say? Just spit it out already!"
"When you found those pictures, the ones you showed me, you didn't yell or scream, you didn't bash Weiss and Blake's brains in. You just left the room and went for a walk. Let me tell you why. There was not a single moment when you blamed them for what happened."
Unleashing a primeval yell, Yang charged once again at Pyrrha, only to have her wild attack end with her opponent behind her pulling the spear across her neck. Yang tried ineffectually to pull the golden spear away.
"These were the bitches who hurt Ruby! Of course it was their fault."
"You're not acting like it. If you really blamed them, why did you rush to save Weiss? Why did you save Blake? Why did you stay by her bedside instead of hunting down the person who attacked your partner?" Pyrrha asked calmly.
"Because I should have been there!" Yang yelled. "I should have been there to protect her, but I wasn't and now look what happened. It was my fault. If I had just gone with them none of this would have happened. Ruby, Blake, I wasn't there for them and… and just look what happened to them. Even when I'm there…" Yang paused for a moment. "Even when I'm there, I can't protect the ones I care about."
"Yang, its not your fault. None of it is." Pyrrha said releasing Yang who proceeded to drop to her hands and knees. "It was a horrible accident what happened to Ruby and no one could have predicted what happened to Blake."
Yang dropped her head low and pounded her fist into the floor. "But it was my fault. I'm not there and she dies. It wasn't supposed to happen again."
"What are you talking about Yang?" Said Pyrrha as she circled around to face Yang.
Tears in her eyes, Yang looked up at Pyrrha. "When we were kids I nearly got Ruby killed. I was a stupid child who was obsessed with finding the truth about my mother and I dragged Ruby along. I didn't even think that bringing a toddler along with me might be dangerous. But there we were, almost shredded by beowolves. All because I put her in danger and couldn't protect her." Yang slammed her fist into the floor again. "I used to think that maybe If I had just been there, Ruby would be okay. But even when I am there, I can't even protect the ones that matter most. Remember the deathstalker during initiation? I was right there and nearly let Ruby die. If it weren't for Weiss, Ruby would already be dead. Then on the train. Ruby was right in front of me, I tried to stop her, to help her. I tried to protect Weiss. But I failed. All this power, all this training, and I'm useless to protect the people I care about. I'm weak"
Pyrrha reached out and put her hand on the crying girl's shoulder. "You're not weak. You're one of the strongest people I know, and I'm not just talking about your muscles. None of this is your fault and you haven't failed anyone. People get hurt, but you can't let that destroy you. If you keep this up, what's going to happen to Ruby?"
"I don't know." Yang said, fully in tears now. "If I can't even be there for my little sister when she needs me the most what am I good for? I'm just a stupid adrenaline junky too focused on finding adventure and not enough on what really matters. When I saw Blake and Weiss in that hospital, I just… That was the first time I ever felt inadequate, truly useless when it mattered. I haven't been able to make so much as a spark since that day and I don't know why. Even if I did help, I wouldn't be able too."
Pyrra sat down in front of Yang. "You're not meant to care for everyone by by yourself. We're all in teams for a reason and we're here to help you, all you have to do is ask. And I mean with more than daring high speed rescues.
Yang could not help but smirk at Pyrrha's attempt at humor.
"Yang, none of this is your fault." Pyrrha continued to comfort Yang. "You are strong and caring. Don't let this stop you from helping the people you love. You're more than just your semblance, you have heart. You don't need fire to protect people. Just be who you are, a strong warrior and a good person."
Ruby stood back and scrutinized her handiwork. It may have been a warm and sunny day out, but she would much rather spend it inside solving a new challenge, repairing the damage inflicted in her latest outburst. A jury rigged assortment of random materials she liberated from around the mansion now held up her desk. Gleaming steel pipes and dark grained wood came together to form the desk's new framework. She wondered if she went a little overboard on this repair, considering the desk now looked one modification away from being the next Crescent Rose.
Proud of her work, Ruby felt it was time for a break. Humming her favorite song, the girl in the black hood gleefully skipped along, out her room, down the stairs, and into the kitchen. She opened up the fridge and retrieved the ingredients for her sandwich. Building always made Ruby hungry. As far as she was concerned, every workshop should come with a kitchen. That way the snacks would be right there. Maybe she would ask Ozpin about including that in the school's workshops when she got back to Beacon.
Sandwich in hand, Ruby made her way out of the kitchen and back up the stairs to the second floor of the mansion. Thinking she heard movement, Ruby wondered if Kaana and Shara had come home early. The pair had to run to town for a reason they could not say. Entering her room Ruby was instantly grabbed and pulled into someone's arms, a white cloth placed over her mouth. Three men in blue and black suits stood in front of her, cleavers and pistols drawn. Ruby tried not to breath as she thrashed wildly. Swinging her head back with all her strength, it collided with her attacker's nose, crushing it. As he screamed in pain, his grip on Ruby loosened, allowing her to dash out of her room and away from the hail of gunfire that followed her.
Relief filled Ruby when at the end of the hallway stood Shara. Her friend, clad in matching green and black pants and jacket, waited silently. Stepping next to her were two more of Ruby's attackers.
"Shara watch out!" Ruby yelled in a panic, trying to warn her friend of the impending danger.
Shara merely smirked. Her suit glowing, she threw out her arm. Three glowing yellow balls of light shot from her hand, down the hall at Ruby. Dropping to the floor, Shara's attack barely passed over Ruby's head. The three balls struck the opposite end of the hallway, exploding into a storm of lightning.
Ruby knew she had to get out of this corridor, this place was too tight to unleash Crescent Rose. Using her speed, she raced toward Shara and dashed along the wall to get over her head and land behind her in the mansion's atrium style entrance way. Wall on one side, railing on the other, Ruby found herself where she could unleash her sweetheart. Dashing to her right, Ruby unfurled her scythe. Shara launched another volley at Ruby who spun her weapon in front of her like a fan to block the attack. The balls exploded on the scythe, a storm of electricity enveloped Ruby. She let out a cry of pain as the energy burned all over her body.
As soon as the storm cleared, Ruby sprinted away from Shara. Seeing her only option, she took it. Ruby crashed through a window at the front of the room. As she fell onto the roof above the front door Ruby saw several black SUVs and more men in blue and black outside. Among them was Brontana and Kaana, calming discussing the day's events.
Little did Ruby know, Kaana had found a way to rid herself of both her problems, one of those being Ruby.
Author's Notes:
I was wondering, I've been trying to subtly hint at what's going on for a while now and I'm curious how I'm doing. Dropping hints in a story is not something I've ever done before so I was wondering if I've been beating you guys over the head with it or if you guys haven't even noticed the hints I've been trying to leave.
As always I love to see new reviews and follows come in. So feel free to review and thanks for reading.
Edit: Ok, so I need to learn to be less subtle and cryptic. I was afraid of making my attempts at clues to what's going on in the background too obvious. Still learning. Hint, it involves the pet name "Little One."