Chapter 48
"We're almost there."
Her father's voice cut through Ruby's mind, waking her. It wasn't that she was asleep but rather absorbed into her own mind. She had a lot to think about after all. From her Semblances evolution to her failure against the leviathan.
She quickly pulled herself up onto her feet, ignoring the worried glances JNPR sent her and stretched out. Her body and mind felt extremely tired. She then made her way to the front of the Manta. Tai and Qrow had taken turns as copilot, not that there was much need. Maria was more than satisfactory as a pilot.
Everyone gathered around the cockpit as they grew closer. In the distance, they could see the great floating city of Atlas, with the old city of Mantle in its shadow.
Looks pretty intimidating. Why would anyone want to live beneath a flying city? Feels like those up top are looking down on you. Ruby wondered. Atlesian ships were deployed as well, surrounding the cities. Any Grimm that tried to get through them would be vaporised in seconds from the sheer firepower the fleet had.
Manta's flew between the airships like bees or flies. The cordon was strong. It'd be difficult to sneak through.
"That's odd," Qrow said. "The ships look like they're positioned a little… aggressively."
"What do you mean?" Jaune asked.
"Like they're expecting an attack. I don't usually come by Atlas, but it's never like this. Most of those ships should be protecting transports or the few villages out there."
"They've abandoned towns?" Oscar asked, worried.
Tai answered "Nah. The vast majority are SDC camps anyway. They'll have plenty of private defences. Or all the people would have been brought back. It's just an odd choice. Not one you'd make unless you were expecting trouble."
The radio crackled, interrupting their talk. "Manta 5-1. Welcome home. Please report to Hanger Omega 6-2."
"Well, they know we're here." Maria said.
"I don't like this," Ruby whispered. "Why would Ironwood be doing this? And with that embargo and closing the borders… Maria. Take us down to Mantle. We'll figure out what's going on before we talk to him."
"Alright." The elder grinned and drove their vessel down. It didn't take long to enter Mantle, flying in amongst the skyscrapers.
Giant billboards espoused the greatness of Atlas, and asked the citizen's of Mantle to put their trust in Atlas. They were supported by the numerous screens all showing Ironwood repeating phrases.
'Atlas will protect you.' 'Trust in Atlas.' 'We are here to protect you.'
It went on and on. Ruby bit her lower lip. This was… off. Ironwood looked haggard. Tired. Exhausted. There was a coldness to his eyes like he didn't even feel what he was saying.
It was emotionless.
"Manta 5-1, you have gone off course. You are to report to Hanger Omega 6-2."
The radio crackled again but they ignored it, too busy watching as a screen changed to show Winter Schnee as she talked about reporting suspicious individuals to the military and to follow any orders given by military personnel.
"This is wrong…" Jaune muttered.
I couldn't agree more. He's become a tyrant. Or well on his way if he hasn't. It left a bad taste in her mouth.
"James… what's going on?" Qrow sighed.
"I don't remember him being this bad before." Her father said.
"Last we saw him was after the Fall of Beacon." Qrow replied. "That was enough to change anyone."
Nora scoffed. "Yeah probably doesn't help when you shoot another Headmaster in the back of the head!" She said sarcastically as she folded her arms and glared at one of the screens showing Ironwood.
Ruby remembered that. Ironwood drawing his gun and firing at the end of the tournament during Ozpin's speech. But they knew why. "Nora he's not to blame. We know Emerald can create believable illusions. She did it to us at Haven."
Nora scoffed again but nodded. She was obviously not pleased though.
He's obviously in a bad state. I can't really blame him after being tricked like that, but still… "Let's touch down and see what's going on. We won't find out up here."
"Manta 5-1! You are to make your way to hanger-"
"Shut up!" Maria yelled into the mic. "Take a damn hint lady!" With that, she shut off the radio and turned the ship around a corner.
The Manta came to a stop in a back alley and the group got off.
It was immediately evident just how bad things had gotten in Mantle. Just by walking through the streets towards a friend of Maria's they heard and saw it all.
Few people lingered. They hurried along to finish their business as quickly as possible. Atlesian Knights patrolled the streets while people hurled abuse and rocks at them. The very sight of anyone from Atlas was enough to cause many to let out sounds of irritation, disgust or anger.
Basically, Mantle despised Atlas.
And it was getting bad. The fact people were willing to attack military property didn't exactly bode well. Ruby wrapped her cloak tight around her. There was an oppressive atmosphere to Mantle that didn't agree with her.
The group didn't talk much. Everyone was just taking in the sad state of Mantle. They passed by drunks and kids and irate teens aplenty. A truck filled with Faunus miners passed them by as well.
Eventually, they reached a small workshop, passing a happy looking Faunus girl with a robotic arm. The shop didn't stand out much from the outside, but upon entering it had a very different vibe.
It felt warm and cosy, comforting even. It felt like a place that would try its hardest to help out. Sitting behind a desk was an older man with dark skin, a bald spot amongst his white hair and a pair of small glasses.
"Oh! Hello! How can I help you?" He joyfully asked. Maria stepped forward with a smile. "Hmmm you look familiar…" He pondered.
Maria sighed. "Maria Calavera? Optical implants? You check them over every ten years or so?"
He hummed again and then his eyes went wide. "Ah of course! Maria Calavera! With the optical implants! Don't I change those every ten years or so? My, has it been that long already?"
"Oh, I know! Time sure flies these days." Maria replied with a laugh. The old man came out from around the desk. Ruby was mildly surprised to see the mobile chair he used. She'd seen wheelchairs before, but none that used a set of legs. The pair of elders walked over to an operating table which Maria clambered up onto.
"So how have you been?" The man asked.
"Oh you know, I've been well. Had a bit of trouble on the way here. These kids got stuck in a fight with a Sphinx and I felt they needed my help. Turns out they had far bigger issues going on."
"Oh really?" He glanced over at them. They were quite a large group after all, though his eyes seemed to pause on her for a while longer than she expected.
"Kids this is Pietro. He's one of Atlas's top scientists and works directly with the General."
"Nice to meet you!" He said with a grin and a little bow.
"Uhm. It's nice to meet you too, sir. I'm Ruby."
"Ruby?" He squinted his eyes at her. "As in… Ruby Rose? From Beacon?"
"Uhhh… yes?" Ruby shuffled awkwardly.
"Oh my! I never expected to see you!" He coughed. "My daughter has told me all about you!"
"Your daughter?" Who could that be? I don't know anyone from Atlas. Not enough that they would talk about me. Well maybe Winter, but I highly doubt this is her father or that she would gush about me to her dad.
Before she could figure out who he meant they were cut off by sirens. Again?
The team rushed out to see the lighting had all gone a deep shade of red. Gunfire drew closer to them. Weapons were drawn as they prepared for battle.
"Ilia. Stick by Jaune's side. Try to support him." Ruby commanded. The Faunus girl nodded. She was new to the group and so wasn't used to their dynamic. There wasn't a place in it for her. That would change with practice, but that would be later. For now…
A dozen Sabyr's rushed around the corner, crushing AK units as they went. Ruby dashed forward, ignoring the pain that lingered in her muscles and brain. She'd deal with those later.
Crescent Rose flashed as she cut one in twain. Around her, the others entered the battle. Nora and Ren launched themselves forward into the enemies back lines. Pyrrha was laying down fire support whilst Jaune and Ilia stayed near the back. Qrow, Tai and Oscar followed after Ruby and crashed into the Grimm's front line.
The creatures were easy for them all now. Even Oscar could kill them in a single hit. Ruby barely had to try. She kept an eye on Ilia as a pair dashed past their front fighters. Jaune took one on his shield then stabbed it. Ilia used her whip to trip the Grimm up and then stabbed its head, killing it.
Nicely done. She'll make a good addition once we're all used to fighting alongside each other. As she thought that another half dozen rounded the corner and charged them. Before the Grimm reached them however bright green lasers lanced down from the sky, slaughtering the Grimm within a couple of seconds.
The lasers looked familiar, but Ruby didn't dare to hope. It was foolish. Nobody could come back from the dead! But yet as the user of the lasers came into land that thought was dispelled.
"There she is!" Pietro said with a huge smile. "Now daughter, why don't you say hello to your friends?"
Ruby's hands shook as she returned her scythe to its holster. The dead girl landed. Her ginger hair was longer and she was taller. Her dress was more elaborate while her legs looked more obviously robotic but as she turned to face them Ruby saw her face.
It was so alike her old one. She wasn't a normal girl, so she didn't age like normal either. This body was built to look two years older. But it was still her.
"P-penny?" Ruby choked out, her voice weak as tears streamed down her face. How could she possibly hold them in? This was a girl that gave her life to protect Ruby. This was a girl who fought so hard to protect another. And now she was back from the dead.
Penny beamed at Ruby. "Saaaaallll!" She called out. Ruby cocked her head to the side in confusion. "Youuuu!" She kicked off from the ground, running right for Ruby. "Tatiiiooonnns!"
Ruby yelled as Penny Polindena jumped at her, tackling her to the ground and rolling them along the floor before she jumped back to her feet. Ruby stumbled back up as well.
"Ruby!" Penny yelled, grabbing Ruby's shoulders. "It's so good to see you!"
"Penny!? But you… you…"
"Died?" Pietro asked as he approached the pair. "I guess she did. But the professors of Beacon were kind enough to retrieve her body for us. With her core at hand, I could build her a new body! We weren't going to let a little decapitation stop us, now were we?"
"No sir!" Penny excitedly exclaimed.
"Penny…" Ruby's emotions exploded within her. She couldn't take it and jumped at the girl, pulling her into as tight a hug as she could. "Penny! T-thank you! You saved me! You saved me…" she trailed off as tears streamed down her cheeks.
Penny was surprised but welcomed the hug. "Ruby. I'm so glad you're safe. When I fell I hoped you would be safe. That my sacrifice would hold him off long enough. I'm so glad it did. The General told me you survived, but that was so long ago now!"
Ruby continued to mutter thanks after thanks. Penny smiled and kept Ruby tight against her. However, it was cut short as another siren sounded. The street lights had returned to their normal blue so it wasn't this area. Penny pulled back out of the hug.
"I'm sorry Ruby, but I have to go. I'm the Protector of Mantle now. I have to go and defeat these Grimm. We'll talk later!" The girl rushed through a goodbye before flying off.
It wasn't the goodbye Ruby wanted, but the one she got. I'm beginning to hate sirens. She wiped her face clear of her tears and then turned to Pietro. "You brought Penny to life, correct?"
"Why yes, I did." The man answered with a smile. Ruby rushed forward and grabbed his hand.
"Thank you so much! Not just because she gave her life for mine but because you brought such an amazing girl to life! Thank you!" Her tears threatened to start again but she forced them back for now.
"W-well. I'm just glad she has friends worth going so far for." He coughed again. "Now please, how about we return to my clinic and we see about getting you all to Atlas?"
Ruby nodded and released his hand. Maria looked around confused. "I have no idea who that was. She seemed important?" She muttered to herself. Ruby ignored her and instead focused on clearing her face again.
Her emotions were still running high, but she was getting them under control. Of course, that didn't last long.
Ren seemed to sense something, but barely a second later bola's appeared out of nowhere. The thrown weapons wrapped around them, one each. Gravity Dust kicked in and restrained them. The attack was so sudden that none of them had a chance to react. Only Maria and Pietro were left free.
Five figures dropped out of nowhere and began taking their weapons. One of the men looked over them with a smug, satisfied grin.
"Hey! I'm a licensed Huntsman! What's the meaning of this!?" Qrow growled.
"I am as well! What the heck are you doing?" Taiyang followed, a little more calmly.
"A stolen Manta lands in Mantle without authorization which is then followed by unauthorized discharge of firearms." The man replied. "Yell all you want." He paused as he pocketed some kind of horseshoe.
"What's this?" He picked up the Relic from Ruby's belt.
"Hey! Give that back!" Ruby snarled, thrashing in her bindings.
"Hmm." He ignored her and clipped it to his belt. "Alright. Ace-Ops! Let's move."
The five jumped away, leaping from rooftop to rooftop. AK units took their weapons and threw them into a small, airbus-like vessel. There was another man back there and two Atlesian soldiers as pilots. They took off moments later.
"Ugh. At first, this seemed to be going far better than I thought. But now? Well, this is really what I expected." Qrow groaned. Ruby ignored him.
Her mind was too busy thinking about Penny's return.
A/N: And so they arrive in Mantle. Originally I planned to do both of the first two episodes of V7 in here, but I annoyingly got a headache while writing so dropped that. Oh well. Ruby's having a time over Penny's return. Hard to blame her considering it's the return of someone who literally died to protect her. Good times. Boy oh boy, how will they all deal with Ironwoods descent in this timeline? I mean, it's gotta be worse right? He accidentally shot Oz in the head back at the end of the tournament. Emerald is to blame but that doesn't make it better. Only time will tell.
I hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time!