Disclaimer: I own neither RWBY nor Super Robot Wars.

Leona, Ruby and Rai were all seated in a room, with Leona clearly still confused and upset. Ruby was fairly certain Ingram and the captains were listening in, but at least they weren't in the room, which made things just a little bit easier on her.

"Why did you save me Rose?" Leona asked, her features downcast. "I have nothing left to fight for… Why couldn't you let me die!?"

"Because they wanted you to live." The young huntress responded. "Because you don't deserve to die. Because there is always something to live for."

"And what exactly is that?! What would you have me live for?!"

"Maier and Bian had an ideal. Something they wanted to do so dearly they gave their lives. An ideal they passed on to the Hiryu and Hagane." As she said this Ruby rose from her seat and made her way over to Leona. "You can live and fight for that ideal." With those words she embraced the distraught woman.

This action seemed to catch Leona off guard, although she might also have been stunned by Ruby's words, as she merely sat there, perfectly still as the younger and smaller Ruby held her.

"Maier and Bian's… ideal…?"

At some point Rai must have risen from his seat as well, as he laid his left hand upon Leona's shoulder. "Ruby is right. When you lose everything, you must find something new, lest you become a broken shell. Father and Bian Zoldark wished to protect the Earth Sphere, and when we defeated them they passed that on to us."

For a few moments Leona stared at the hand on her shoulder, before realisation of some kind crept onto her features.

Then a soft chuckle escaped her lips and she returned Ruby's embrace.

"You're right. I can still fight for that ideal. Especially now that the Aerogaters have come."

-Break—

While Leona was being convinced Ryune had already become accepted. No one had complained that she wanted to join after her clear display of hostility against the DC remnants.

"You know, I kind of have to agree with Masaki." Yang said as she and Weiss observed Ryune and her mech.

"About what?" The heiress asked.

"About being surprised at Ryune's looks. I most definitely agree that I didn't expect Bian's daughter to look like that."

"Just because people are family doesn't mean they have to look similar. You and Ruby are excellent examples."

Yang shrugged. "I suppose." She seemed to hesitate. "You know, I've been thinking…"

"You? Thinking?"

"Yeah, I know. It's just… I always wondered how a world without the Grimm would be, but… Looking at this one, I can't help but realise that it wouldn't become peaceful just for that."

"That… is unusually pessimistic coming from you. Unfortunately, I can't help but agree with you, as unexpected as that is. We may be different, but not that different."

An awkward silence descended upon the two of them as they observed some of the best people they had met in this world. Many of them might even have become Huntsmen or Huntresses if they had been born on Remnant.

"So… What do you think was going through Bian's head when he designed the Valsione?" Yang suddenly broke the silence.

-Break—

Ultimately Leona was allowed to join them with surprisingly little trouble, although considering how the pattern has been looking it might not be that much of a surprise.

But while Ruby had her thoughts on the matter, in the end she simply assumed that those in charge had decided they would rather take the risk and bolster their forces.

"Ah, Ruby!" She was drawn out of her thoughts by Ryoto calling out to her. "I was hoping to talk to you a bit about something. Do you have time?"

She and Ryoto had discussed weaponry and their construction and design a few times. She had been pleasantly surprised at the boy's knack for those fields, while he had been awed by her understanding.

"Sure! What did you have in mind?"

"I've been looking into modifying the Lion for improved combat ability." Ryoto said, showing some of the plans and schematics. "I drew inspiration from the Alteisen and tried to give it armour and a strong close-combat ability while maintaining the speed and manoeuvrability of the Lion."

"That seems like it would be difficult… The extra armouring and weapons would slow it down…"

"That's why we're adding thrusters, in order to compensate."

"Well, that's how they solved the problem on the Alteisen…"

"But I'm also having trouble adding a strong close-range weapon like the Alteisen's Revolving Stake… The machine is lacking in punch…"

"Hmm… Maybe a Sonic Driver type weapon? But where would you put the emitters…?"

"Perhaps in the legs? We currently aren't using them as well as we would have wanted."

"That could work. It might be a bit odd utilizing them, but it should work."

Ryoto nodded and almost ran off in excitement. "I'll talk to Rob about it. Thanks Ruby! You're a great help!"

Ruby waved as she replied. "It was nothing! I just gave my thoughts!"

"You two seem to get along." A new voice drew her attention from behind.

"Hmm? Oh, Latune!" Ruby responded when she saw who it was. "I guess you could call it that… But I'm a bit bad at the whole socialising thing so…"

Latune nodded in silent understanding.

Ruby might have been socially awkward, but Latune was phobic. While it seemed the younger girl used to be worse and that she had gotten better lately, it was still hard for her to interact with others properly.

Perhaps it was because they both shared a certain level of social awkwardness that they managed to foster something of a friendship… Although a shared aspect in their similar ages while being able to fight on par with adults probably helped quite a bit.

And of course their past traumas… Ruby had learned a little bit about what happened to Latune from Giado and Garnet, and had learned a few things about the School from various people back in the DC when she asked about Adler…

Growing up without a mother had taken its own toll on Ruby herself, especially with how devastated her family had been. Factor in things like the Grimm and well…

"It seems we're going to return to Izu quickly before starting operations." Latune informed.

"Really? That's odd, didn't we just leave from there?"

"I overheard talk about moving up the schedule on the R-3. There might also be a few supplies the Hiryu needs to pick up."

"Makes sense. Think we have time to see the princess?"

Latune seemed to hesitate, perhaps shyly, Ruby wasn't the right person to ask. "We probably won't have time… But that would be nice."

For some reason or another it seemed the princess had taken a real shine to Latune, no pun intended. Ruby herself had been drawn in due to her friendship with Weiss and found the princess nice enough, if a bit odd.

It had been nice not being the youngest or most awkward person in a group for once, since both Latune, and surprisingly enough, Shine, filled that position.

"Yeah, you're probably right. But we can always hope!"

-Break—

When they arrived at Izu Base, what they expected were to retrieve what they came for and then move on.

They didn't expect for it to be under attack.

A small force of DC Remnants was attacking the base, with a lone Gespenst Mk-II Mass Production model holding them off as best it could.

Well, more like the attackers were doing their best to pin it down without getting obliterated as the numerous smouldering pieces of Lion in that general area spoke to.

But even accounting for losses it was clear that this force was far too small to hope to take and hold the base.

"What's going on Laker?" Daitetsu asked even as the Hagane and Hiryu deployed their units.

"They're a distraction. Hans turned out to be a traitor and took the Princess." Laker responded. "I'm sorry Daitetsu."

"Hans?!" Kyousuke said, and there was definitely a hint of anger seeping through.

"The princess!?" Latune added with a clear hint of panic.

"A traitor… took the princess…?" Ruby murmured, her grip tightening while she shook ever so slightly.

"This isn't the time! Drive away the DC forces first!" Daitetsu exclaimed, bringing their focus back to the current situation.

Ruby was barely aware of her own actions as she moved, striking into the enemy formation.

She had known there was a traitor in Izu Base… sure, she thought the traitor must have left it at some point, but she knew there had been one.

She shook her head roughly.

No, the others had started suspecting a traitor as well. They had realised that Adler had used the SRX Project's data when looking for his Boosted Children.

That's how the man had found Tenzan and Ryoto after all…

But they couldn't have known it was Hans. Certainly the list wasn't overly long, but there had been no way for them to say for certain that it had been this Hans.

She couldn't blame herself.

She mustn't blame herself.

But… She couldn't help but wonder if she couldn't have done something.

The battle was over before she even realised.

The meagre force had been instantly overwhelmed, and even their Submarine Carrier was unable to do much other than be taken down.

But it was hardly a victory of any kind.

They had promised to protect the princess… Not just that, they had brought the princess here for her safety. This realisation weighed upon the minds of most present.

"I never did like Hans but… I didn't he would be a traitor." Irm said.

"He might have been scum, but I underestimated just how much of one he was." Kyousuke added.

"Did… anyone have a decent opinion of that guy?" Weiss said, before her voice suddenly became much harsher. "When I find that guy I'm going to-!"

The heiress didn't finish her sentence. She didn't really need to.

It wasn't the details that were important, but the sentiment.

No one even remarked upon how odd it was coming from her.

Ruby was on the other hand glad her partner didn't finish the sentence, as she felt a little worried she might have mentioned Myrtenaster, or some other thing relating to them being Huntresses.

Because quite frankly, from the tone Weiss had Ruby wouldn't have been surprised if she literally shoved a spike of ice into the man's rectum given the opportunity.

It might have been out of character, but right now it felt like she might do it.

Well, Ruby herself was sorely tempted to give the man a dropkick out of her semblance, but she also understood that there was a good chance that would straight up kill him. After all, these people didn't have Aura.

They weren't as strong or durable as many of the people she knew before coming here.

It wasn't like she never needed to consider that someone might not have Aura, but it was very rare that she ever interacted with someone who didn't back on Remnant, much less getting a reason to want to hurt them.

"There is no point in fretting over the princess now." Ingram's cold voice suddenly said. "We don't know where the DC Remnants are operating from."

"Indeed. Our best chance of finding her is to continue our operations. Sooner or later we will find them." Laker added.

"Yes. All units return to ship. We will pick up supplies here at Izu, then continue our operations." Daitetsu commanded.

Where the DC Remnants are operating out of…

If only she had the location of the Earth Cradle, they could have investigated it…

But she didn't have it. She hadn't been paying attention when they were talking about it back in the DC.

She hadn't thought it was important back then, but now in hindsight the Earth Cradle was the likeliest candidate for where Adler and his group had hidden.

Author's notes: Oh why... This... This didn't go well at all. Not only did it take long for me to start writing it, it also took far too long to finish writing it. And worst of all, I'm not sure I like what I have written all that much. I hope its not too atrocious, but feel free to tell me. And point out any mistakes or such.

I hope you enjoyed, and that you have a nice day.