Chapter 68

"Great, it's Ironwood's pets." Ruby growled, drawing Crescent Rose. Penny, Ilia and Nora came to her side immediately, weapons at the ready.

Harriet snarled. "Did you really think you could just sneak in without being noticed?"

"Yes, because we did. It really wasn't that hard." Ruby shrugged. "Well I guess we did get caught at the end, but you're so slow we were just leaving."

"I'll show you slow-!" Harriet took a step forward, but Vine stopped her.

"Please. There is no need to fight. All we need is the Vault opened. You can do that and return to Mantle. We don't have to fight each other." He spoke calmly as he tried to convince them.

Ruby shook her head. "I won't let Ironwood abandon his job."

"He's doing his job!" Harriet's mouth twisted in anger. "You're stopping him from finishing it!"

"His job isn't to leave Mantle behind. His job is to protect the people of Atlas. The kingdom, not the city. Mantle is a part of Atlas, heck it's the former capital! By abandoning it and its people Ironwood has betrayed his position! If anything, you should be removing him from command!" Ruby yelled back at them. Marrow seemed taken aback, but Vine and Elm looked annoyed.

Harriet looked pissed. "The General is trying to save as many lives as he can! You, in your arrogance, are stopping him! Because of your obsession with saving every single life, we'll save no one!"

Ruby sighed. "If he wanted to save as many as possible, he wouldn't have stopped the evacuations. Salem may be out there, but she hasn't attacked yet. He could have at least been trying to save more lives, but he isn't. I cannot abide someone like that being in control of a Relic. If you can't see that, then you're just in our way."

Harriet scoffed. "What? You think you can beat us? You had a professional Huntsman, no matter how weak, with you before but you fled then. What makes you think you can win now?"

Ruby snarled, her hands clenching tighter around her scythe. "My dad is a hundred times the Huntsman you will ever be."

"Oh yeah?" Harriet smirked. "Then why did he give up so quickly? It was as if he knew how pathetic he was. Maybe he was embarrassed to be the father of such a horrible criminal. I mean, you did abandon him to fight all by himself. I'd be embarrassed too."

Ruby made to take a step forward, to show Harriet how wrong she was, but she was pulled back by Penny who stepped forward instead. "I will not allow you to insult my friends!" Floating Array deployed behind her as she entered the corridor. But Harriet's smirk didn't fade, if anything it grew.

"Wait Penny no-!" Ruby realised too late that this had been their plan, to split them up, as the door slammed shut and a yellowish force-field appeared over top. "Nooooo!" Ruby screamed and charged the door.

"GYYAAAAA!" Ruby screamed in pain as electricity poured into her body for a brief moment before she was thrown backwards, away from the door. Muffled sounds of battle came from the other side.

"Ruby!" Ilia and Nora shouted, the former rushing over to help her get back to her feet.

"No! I won't let this happen again!" Ruby snarled as she pushed Ilia away and rushed the door again. She fired Ember Emortus into it, but it did nothing but shower sparks down onto her. Ruby grit her teeth, took a step back and then summoned her soul's power, twisting herself into an arrow of crimson red petals. The spinning arrow pierced into the yellowish-gold field and spun as fast as it could.

But petals could not break an electrical force field.

"GRAAAAAAAAA!" Ruby's pained screaming filled the room for several seconds before she was, again, thrown back. Her Aura crackled as tears fell to the floor. "I… I can't… lose her again!" Ruby stumbled to her feet and eyed the door.

"Ruby don't!" Ilia grabbed her by the arm. "You can't brute force your way through!"

"But I can." Nora declared, marching to the door. She took a deep breath, muttered something to herself and then swung at the button pad beside the door. Behind it were cables and cables, all connected to the Dust being pumped into the door. All of that electrical power went surging through into Nora. "Hrraaaaa!" She roared, stepped to the side and slammed her hammer against the door.

Hundreds, or thousands, of volts coursed through her body, being converted into pure strength by her Semblance. With so much power running through her it was but child's play to break down the door. The raw force filled both rooms with smoke and debris. Nora cackled as the lightning faded from her, leaving her body scarred and hair stuck up. She then toppled to the side and collapsed into unconsciousness.

Ruby flashed past and flew into the room, Crescent Rose spinning as she slashed at the Ace-Ops, who all pulled back from a bound Penny. With tears streaming down her face, Ruby kept up the charge. "I! Won't! Let! You! Harm! Heeeeerrrrr!" She slashed in between every word, cutting into each of them at least once. Marrow took the most, so slow to break his Semblance's hold on Penny that he suffered three hits for it.

But they pulled back and Ruby drew away to stand beside Penny.

"Ruby… sorry I fell for their trap…" Penny bit her lower lip.

"...It's not your fault." Ruby growled out. "It's theirs. So obsessed with orders that they can't think for themselves."

"Tch." Harriet clicked her tongue in annoyance and lowered into a fighting stance. Her eyes drifted to the side, however, staring into space for a moment. Then they suddenly snapped back as all four of them moved at the same time.

Vine thrust his Aura arms out towards them, but Penny countered with several blades to cut down the yellowish constructs. Elm rushed forward with her hammer at the ready, but Ruby rushed her and used her scythe to trip up the giant. "Stay!" Marrow yelled, freezing Ruby while she was out of position. Fearing a counter-attack, Penny came forward to protect her but Harriet zipped by Ruby and rushed Penny.

Penny, surprised by the action, failed to react in time as Harriet dashed around her and, with the loud sound of a metal cord snapping, tore away one of the swords from Floating Array. With their seeming prize in hand, the Ace-Ops retreated. Ruby made to follow once Marrow's hold on her faded, but…

"Ruby! We need to help Nora!" Ilia shouted from next to the unconscious girl. Ruby nodded and made her way over. It pains me to let them just escape but… Nora needs us.

"Let's get out of here. Ilia, lead the way. Penny, could you carry her? I'll take Magnhild." Ruby ordered. She grabbed the hammer, after wincing from the static shock, and folded it up to rest on her hip. Ruby then brought up the rear.

They burst out of the server room, charged through the command centre, to the shouts of the Atlesians within, and escaped into the halls to reunite with May and leave Atlas behind.

Oscar… I'm sorry…

O….Oz?.. what's… what's happening?

You've been captured. By Salem. She's… in the room in fact.

Oh… what do I do?

I… she's going to try and torture us. I can take over, take the punishment for you-

No… I'll take it. This is my body. I'm me damn it.

… I understand. But please if it gets too much… don't hesitate…

I won't.

Oscar opened his eyes. He was… floating? No, he was being held up by the back of his shirt. The room was circular and had strange, almost organic, walls and flooring. Standing in an open doorway, with black clouds in the shape of four children dancing in her palm, was Salem. She was even more terrifying than anything Oscar had seen in Oz's memories.

It was like seeing death itself standing before him.

"Ozpin. So glad you could join us. Or have you already merged?" Her voice was cold, but also strangely enchanting.

"I'm still me. I'm still Oscar." He replied, defiant.

"I see. Well, Oscar. I have a need." She clenched her fist, dispelling the clouds, and reached to her belt. There she drew out the Lamp. "I need the password, and I'm sure you know it. Give it to me, and I'll let you live nicely. I won't let you free of course, but I won't kill you or harm you."

"To keep Oz from interfering by transferring to another?"

"Correct. But it will give you the longest time until you merge. If you seek to remain yourself it is your best option." She smiled.

"Hmmm…" Oscar hummed aloud. "I think… my best option… is to resist you to the bitter end."

"I see. You'll change your mind soon." She turned and left. Oscar was immediately dropped to the floor as the massive beast that had broken him went to follow its mistress. A moment after Salem left a new figure entered the room.

Hazel.

He was filled with rage as he grabbed Oscar and began to beat him. Fist after fist crunched into his body. Spittle flew as Hazel demanded the password and beat down upon him when he refused.

Oscar…

I'm… fine…

…

I'll be fine… I can survive this.

The air in the small shuttle was filled with silence as Ruby looked down at her unconscious friend. The bright red wounds on her skin looked so painful. Penny was beside her, while May flew and Ilia sat in the front. Ruby swallowed nervously. This… is my fault isn't it? If I hadn't gotten riled up, Penny wouldn't have gone on her own. If I was strong enough to break through myself, Nora wouldn't be hurt.

"Father, we have the codes." Penny broke the silence by talking into her scroll.

"That's great Penny. Bring them over and we can launch. Though… I believe it would be best if you remained with Maria and me."

"What? But they need me!"

"Penny…" Ruby opened her mouth before she fully thought it through. Penny looked at her, shocked. Ruby took a deep breath and turned to her friend. "Penny. Stay with Pietro."

"But… I can help." Her face was one of sadness and betrayal.

"You can. But… I… I…" Ruby bit down on her lip, hard enough that if she didn't use her Aura she'd have drawn blood. "I can't lose you…" She mumbled, her hands clenching into fists.

"Ruby?" Penny, who hadn't heard, was confused.

"I can't lose you!" Ruby burst, letting loose the emotions inside her. "I can't! I lost you once and I can't let it happen again! You stood in front of me and fought Adam! You took him on and died for me! I can't let you do that again damn it! I lost my mother! My sister! My friends! I've lost you! I can't deal with that again! I can't!" Tears flowed freely as she yelled. As she released all her feelings. Ruby didn't know if she could resist breaking if Penny fell once more.

Penny's eyes were wide in surprise. "You… can't lose me?"

"No! I need you! I need you! Alive!" She reached out and clutched Penny's arm. "I… I… I…!" Ruby began to break down. Words failed her and only sobs came forth. "Please…"

"I… I understand Ruby… I'm sorry. I was being selfish." Penny replied, sadness and guilt filling her voice.

"I'm the one being selfish!" Ruby cried back. "You just want to help others! To protect them! But I!.. I want you safe!"

"I understand. Ruby… Thank you. I'll stay safe. But that means you have to survive this, okay?" Penny smiled sadly and reached over, using her hand to wipe away Ruby's tears.

"I will. I promise." Ruby smiled too. "I'll… see you soon."

"See you soon." Penny made her goodbye and then opened the canopy. With a forlorn smile, she leapt from the ship and rocketed away. The canopy closed, leaving the others alone.

May soon spoke up. "Where to kid? Nobody in the crater has the skills to look after her…"

"The Schnee Manor." Ruby replied, wiping her nose as she spoke.

"What!? Why would they help!?"

"I made a promise to the woman of the house. I have to fulfil it and if anyone can help Nora…"

"Fine, fine. But if this goes wrong…"

"I'll deal with it." Ruby's voice was forceful now. Her eyes were red from the tears, but she had regained some of her composure. She lightly stroked Nora's hair out of her face. May groaned and turned the ship, heading towards the manor.

I have to look after Whitley too. Jaune, Pyrrha, Ren, Oscar… we'll be there soon. Penny… stay safe… please…

"I still don't like this."

"Deal with it." Elm snapped back at Marrow. "We do our duty and follow orders. Don't question them."

"Right…" Marrow replied with a nod. Still, it didn't feel right.

Arthur Watts simply smiled as he took the stolen blade from Harriet. "Yes. With this, I can bring that machine back here. You'll get your Vault open soon."

General Ironwood glared at the former Altesian Scientist. "If you are lying…"

"Yes yes, you'll kill me. All well and good. Don't worry, I'll do as I promised." Watts chuckled. "Oh, how I wish I could see Pietro's face as I ruin his dream!"

Marrow wished they didn't have to make a deal with this devil.

A/N: Hello again. I return with an emotional chapter. Yeah. I didn't exactly plan to be gone for a month and a bit, but due to some issues compounding into a big ol' mess it kinda... happened. Writer's block, exhaustion and a spot of depresso make for a hard time. A bit better now. I attribute it to my recent playthrough of the Kingdom Hearts series. Feels great to restart from the beginning and realise I never actually played the Final Mix versions before. Good times. Might do a fic of that one day. KH x RWBY perhaps? Could be fun. Anyway, what a fun chapter. Good old emotionally abusing the characters. The main point here is the emotions and how they differ from canon. Ruby's reasoning for asking Penny to stay at Amity is the major one. In canon, it's more of a "this is the best choice", focused on keeping the Maiden out of Salem's hands. But here? Ruby is so desperate to not lose another person she cares about, especially one she's lost before, that she kinda bursts here. If she loses anyone else, can her mental state survive? After so much damage? It's a tough question. But that's her focus. A selfish desire not to feel any more pain. To not lose someone else she cares about. For better or worse.

I hope you all enjoyed! I'll catch you sometime soon. I can't promise that I'll be back to weekly uploads, but I'll do my best!