(A/N) Welp, this got a lot more attention than I was expecting.

Tbh, I wouldn't've clicked on it due to low word count, but hey, shows what I know. Either way, I realized I forgot to put a link to my Discord in the last one, so if ya wanna hang out, here's an invite code: 3jf9w8u

Alright, review responses are at the end, enjoy the chapter!

Chapter Two

The Baby With A Weird Moustache

/-\ Cinder /-\

The huntress's expression… changed.

My fingers twitched slightly, anticipating the impact of a ruler on my hand. 'Did I hold out the wrong one?' I wondered. I had seen others at the Glass Unicorn greet each other in this way, but couldn't remember which hand was correct – if there even was a correct one.

"…oh, crapbaskets…" she let out.

I stood still, other hand gripping my sword just a touch tighter while I waited for her to act – to punish me for whatever reason she saw fit. My mouth started opening, but I quickly shut it – no doubt I would be told to do so the moment I-

She threw her hands up, my other sword clattering to the floor as she started pacing back and forth. "Oh… no. Oh no no no no no no NO!" she shouted. Then she turned towards me, started walking forward and… began banging her head against the wall. "Of all the places – ow – I could end up – ow – really?!"

"Ummm… I…" I let out. My eyes widened and I clamped my free hand over my mouth.

She stopped hurting herself mid-motion, slowly turning her head towards me. "…what… what's the date today?"

I blinked. "I- uhh…" I cleared my throat. "February, I think. Sometime in February."

"What year?" she asked, a… look in her eyes that I wasn't used to seeing.

Frowning, I tried to remember any conversation that was relevant. "I… 1572, I think." I said, half-remembering the New Years' party a while ago.

She sighed. "Twelve years…" she let out, gaze trailing away for a moment. She shook her head, eyes refocusing on me as she opened her mouth to-

A spotlight shined down between the buildings, narrowly missing us. Before I even knew what was going on, we were against the wall again and she had her hand over my mouth. Above us, I could hear the faint whisper of a Sheephead's engines, the searchlight more thoroughly illuminating the alleyway we stood in.

The huntress grabbed my wrist, ducking us into a narrow alcove while the light passed by. All I could think about was the pressure of her hands – the fact that she could just… manhandle me like I was nothing.

I struggled in her grasp, only for her to clamp down tighter. I was just about to bite her fingers when she finally let go.

I bolted out from the alcove, catching myself on a far wall opposite it and taking a greedy breath of free air.

"Cinder, wha-"

I pointed my sword at her. "Don't ever do that again," I said.

She groaned. "There wasn't- ugh, whatever." With a sigh, she stormed over to where the other sword lay in the snow, picking it up. Only now did I realize the spotlight was gone. "Look, I really don't like this situation and I have no ideahow you got out of it last time, but that clearly didn't work out very well for anyone." I just… stared at the huntress as she rambled, wondering if I'd been saved by a crazy person. "So! I'm at least gonna get you out of here."

I barely registered the last part. "What do you mean, last time?"

"You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you. Actually, just forget I said that," she said. She opened her mouth to continue, but a loud growl from my stomach cut her off. She… frowned. "Yeah, of course they wouldn't feed you if they kept you in… that room."

"Don't worry, I'm working very hard and I will eat af-" I slapped a hand over my mouth, cutting off the response they forced me to parrot every time anything even vaguely food-related came up. With a growl, my gaze fell towards the snow-covered ground. "…yes. I'm hungry."

"Thought so," she said with a sigh. After a moment, I heard her rustling around in her pockets. "Here," she said. I looked up, seeing a plastic-wrapped bar in her hand. "I didn't pack for a trip or anything, so this is all I've got on me. It'll hopefully tide you over until I can get us some food."

I… took the bar, unwrapping it after a few moments of fiddling, and took a small bite. My eyes widened – there was… chocolate in this thing?! I looked at the bar, and sure enough, a few brown chips stood out amongst the granola.

They… never let me have chocolate…

I quickly shoved the rest of the bar into my mouth, savoring every single chew. Even a tiny little granola bar was a step-up from eating the cold leftovers of other peoples' meals. I was still hungry – I always was – but… even having this tiny morsel of food was satisfying. It… brought back a memory – the last time I'd had chocolate.

A… hazy image of a dark-haired and amber-eyed woman formed in front of me. She smiled – I'd done something to cause it, though the memory of what has since faded. She… reached into the cupboard beside her, pulling out a brown bar and breaking it in half. She handed me one, putting the other back where she'd found it.

It was… sweet. So deliciously sweet.

I… blinked, forcibly being brought back to the present by the huntress waving her hand in front of my face. She sighed. "Oh thank the gods – you really spaced out for a sec," she said. "Welp, ready to head out?"

I frowned, remembering my situation. "Where in Atlas would we be able to hide?" I asked. It wasn't like there were just safehouses laying around, unoccupied, for people to use. Even if there were, they would be far away from here… and I was already starting to regret having to leave without a coat or boots. "The… madame has likely fed the police lies – they… I don't-"

"Shh…" she let out. "Don't worry, I know a place. Follow me."

/-\ Ruby Rose /-\

I turned around, even if my gut really didn't want me to turn my back on Cinder Fall herself. My grip tightened around my… her sword – a stray thought reasoning that at least she wouldn't be at her most dangerous if she tried to attack me.

Shaking my head, I started off down the alleyway. I did not lie to her, though I may have not told the full truth. I knew exactly a place we could hide… in the other reality. I frowned – hopefully that little nook in the Crater was still there.

After only a few paces, I glanced backwards – she was fallowing me, yes, but… slowly. She gingerly tip-toed through the ankle-deep snow. Having grown up on an island that occasionally got snow, myself, I… knew the feeling. Yet another thing to worry about: getting Cinder some boots that could keep her warm. 'And clothes in general…' I thought – she was in no way equipped to be out in an Atlesian winter.

Though, there could be a temporary solution. "Hey," I said. "Your aura unlocked?"

Her eyes narrowed a touch. "I want to be a huntress, of course it is!" she whisper-shouted.

I flinched. "Didn't know for sure – had to ask," I said. "Try focusing it around your feet, it'll keep you a bit warmer."

She paused mid-stride and I did too. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath. A moment later, her orange aura briefly flickered into existence around her – brightest around her legs. She let out a single shiver, breath visible as she exhaled. "…thank you."

"Don't mention it," I said, continuing on.

She seemed much better at keeping up with me, now that she could actually walk properly. So I led her through the alleyways of Atlas as best I could, occasionally stopping to figure out where we were or to evade a patrol.

Holobillboards on the streets had changed within ten minutes of us being gone – now displaying her face and stating Cinder Steklo as being… abducted from her 'loving' home. I was surprised Cinder didn't destroy the first one we came across – she just scowled, glared at it for a moment, and then stomped away, her semblance melting the snow beneath her feet.

She didn't react as badly to the follow-up billboards we came across – merely scowling at them and moving along as quickly as possible – but… she clearly had issues if this was her reaction. I blinked – of course she had issues, she's Cinder freaking Fall.

We passed another billboard as we moved between alleyways, Cinder letting out a huff as we got into cover. "W- Where… are we going?" she asked, a slight shiver in her voice. "I- Is it much further?"

I glanced back at her, noting how tense she was, how her aura was actually visible, and, of course, the faint tremors in her hands. I sighed, my breath visible, as I… considered my options. They really really weren't numerous, but all were undesirable.

Just… to varying degrees.

I barely kept myself from growling. "Hey…" I undid the clasp of my cloak, taking it off and extending it towards her. "This… should help."

Her eyes widened, glancing between my own and the last real connection I had with my mother. I felt my fingers curl around the cloth as she took it – it… hurt to tell them to release their grip. I let out a shuddering breath as she threw it on.

It was… temporary. Just temporary.

I'd get it back.

I… opened my eyes, only now noticing I'd even closed them… and saw Cinder Fall – Destroyer of Beacon, Slayer of Pyrrha Nikos, and Ravager of Atlas – struggling to tie my cloak around her neck. I sighed – Cinder… this Cinder hadn't done those things. She was a slave – one who I freed. Despite wearing the face of the second worst person to ever walk the surface of this world.

"Here…" I said, reaching forward. She pulled back slightly, making me pause. After a moment, she looked down toward the ground and nodded. I took that as my cue to help her and did so with practiced motions. When I stepped back again, I realized it was all too easy to see the Infiltrator of Beacon, all wrapped up in red.

Her eyes, however, were where the real difference lied. They… lacked the predatory edge her older self held – the edge that fifteen-year-old me was too naïve to see. These… I'd seen the look in her eyes many a time in my travels across Anima, and even just yesterday, at Atlas. They were scared; uncertain.

They… needed a huntress.

After I realized that, I… tried to put on a reassuring smile. For Cinder Fall. "Better?" I asked.

She nodded, clutching the opening at the front closed. "y- yes…" she let out, clearing her throat. "Thank you."

I nodded. "Good. We've gotta keep moving," I said, turning around and resuming our walk. "We're almost to the airdocks."

Cinder said nothing, merely following me.

The alleyways started to get a little dirtier as we continued on, but not anywhere near as bad as Mantle's were – even considering they had a big, gaping hole in their defensive wall. I blinked – was it still in disrepair, or hadn't it gotten that bad yet? Shaking my head, I decided it wasn't relevant and refocused on avoiding patrols.

Most of them were easy to sidestep – beat cops and the occasional soldier patrol weren't exactly too observant. Of course, an Atlesian Specialist just had to poke their nose into things. I saw him as I rounded a corner, quickly stepping back into the shadows and holding Cinder back. He looked… young – not quite as young as Marrow, but around there. In fact, he dressed in much the same way, only having a blue undershirt instead of his preferred red. And, of course, no wolf tail behind him.

The light-skinned and broad-shouldered specialist paused mid-stride as he passed Cinder and I's hiding spot, one hand ghosting over one of the two holsters at his hips. After a moment, he sighed, reaching up to his ear. "Captain Ironwood here, sector is clear," he said, continuing his patrol.

I sat there, in the dark, snow-covered alleyway, with my jaw hanging practically to the floor. James. Ironwood. That's who we ran into. The same guy who abandoned Mantle, shot down civilian evacuation ships, threatened to destroy Mantle, put that virus inside of Penny, and shot Oscar in the chest. That Ironwood.

I'd already taken my first step out of the dark alleyway when I realized… this Ironwood didn't do any of that.

Just like the Cinder Fall behind me didn't murder Pyrrha.

I'd just started to calm myself down when I noticed I was staring down the barrel of a gun. Specifically, of Due Process. "Surrender," Ironwood ordered, his steely blue eyes staring into mine. "Reinforcements are on the way – there's no need to fight."

I groaned. "If I do, you'll just throw me in jail and send Cinder back to the people that literally put a shock collar on her."

He… blinked, a gleam of hesitation shining through his expression. "A… shock collar?"

I couldn't take the chance. I reached behind me and grabbed Cinder's wrist, exploding into petals while he was momentarily off balance. I dragged her down the street, ducking between parked cars as dust-infused bullets pinged off them. As we got further and further down the street, they eventually stopped – a look back revealing that our pursuer was almost five blocks behind us.

And we were at our destination: the Atlesian Airdocks.

The front was, of course, guarded, but only by regular soldiers in dress uniforms. They barely had time to draw their sidearms – much less aim them – as we burst past them.

I felt a wave of nausea coming from my passenger – our sensations being somewhat intertwined while in this state. I tried sending reassuring feelings to her while I dodged and weaved through the long hallways and security checkpoints of the port. My aura was waning, but I was confident I could keep it up for just long enough to reach the edge.

An announcement played over the loudspeakers as we neared the gates, informing everyone that due to intruders, all flights were temporarily grounded. If I still had lips in this form, I would've smirked.

We were never going for the ships in the first place.

Instead, I took us through an empty gate, reforming into my solid, Human body and kicking open the door. I still had to pull Cinder along, even as I heard her retching, but there was no other way. Ironwood would be on us in a few minutes – we had to drop before then.

And drop… we did.

It was only a few meter dash though the jetway. Another kick through the lightly barred outer door, and all that stood beneath us was open air.

And Mantle.

I glanced back at Cinder. "Know what a Landing Strategy is?" Her face was green, eyes blurry with tears, but she still managed to shake her head 'no'. "Then hang on!" I shouted, hoisting her up into a bear hug.

"Wait, wha-" she gasped as I stepped off the edge. "No!" she shouted, her arms scrambling for purchase on anything, but she was too slow.

She screamed as we fell, clutching onto me for dear life. I angled our fall so she'd be looking up at Atlas, myself towards the ground – mainly so I could know when to pull out Crescent Rose and-

I blinked, hand reaching behind me to find empty air.

In my haste to run away from Ironwood, I forgot that the one tool that was essential to all my landing strategies… was missing.

"…oh, crapbaskets…"

/-\ Weiss Schnee /-\

I'd seen… a glimmer, earlier – one that fell from the sky. I wanted to go out and investigate immediately, but my tutors wouldn't let me leave – Introduction to Economics was more important, they said. I huffed as I tip-toed through the mansion's halls – ducking behind bookcases and statues to avoid the few servants still roaming around at this hour.

Eventually, I made it to one of the doors that led to the garden. I quickly pulled on some boots, threw on a coat and mittens, and headed out into the snow. It only took a few minutes to find the location where the glimmer landed, a slightly caved-in portion of a snowbank.

I ran towards it, scrambling onto the miniature hill and pawing away at the semi-slush below the thin crust of ice. After only a few handfuls of snow were removed, a hunk of blood red metal became visible. I frowned, confused as I brushed away more and more snow. Soon, the shape became visible – it was long and blocky, a… miniature telescope affixed to one side.

I kept digging, finding one end to be a spike with the other broadening out significantly before splitting. The non-telescope side had a blade – a sharp one, too, if the nick on my mittens told me anything. The other… I wasn't sure what to make of.

Either way, the object in the snow was clearly a weapon of some kind – a huntsman weapon at that. My eyes widened, this was probably dangerous.

…and so, so, cool.

Frowning, I remembered what Winter told me – that she'd teach me how to use a sword just like her. I was ecstatic, then – I'd always wanted to be like her. I still did.

…then my eyes drifted back to the shiny metal blade before me. I saw my own face reflected in the moonlight.

This… could be mine.

It… all this… what are the odds of it happening? What if… I was supposed to take it? Would it really be so bad if I did? It was really, really cool, after all…

I nodded, reaching for it.

It… is mine.

I lifted it up and-

…

I tried again, the weapon not having budged from its snowy tomb.

…

"Drat." I muttered.

Step One in my super-awesome plan of getting my new huntress weapon: finding a way to get the heavy thing out of the snow.

/-\ James Ironwood /-\

I stared down at the windy void below, and the city beyond.

They'd jumped just seventy seconds before I'd've caught them. I cued my mic. "Suspect jumped – they're down in Mantle now."

"'Firmative, Jimmy, 'Nolia 'n me'll catch a ride down there. 'Sumin' our lil' gear-head can give us some coords?" a masculine voice asked.

A sigh came over the radio. "Only a rough idea, Mangrove, Mantle doesn't have extensive CCTV coverage – even less than Atlas itself does," I heard a few keys being typed. "Best I can do is point you to the Perm Industrial Complex – you'll have to make-do with that. Nikolite over."

I frowned – something about how the rogue huntress said 'shock collar' made me… suspicious. I didn't think an Atlesian like Madame Steklo would resort to using a collar, but… she seemed so sure of herself. And, having gone to her hotel once or twice… doubt plagued my mind. "Belay that. Mangrove, RV with me – we'll head in on foot. Magnolia, I want you to head over to the Glass Unicorn – I… need you to verify something. Nikolite, have one of your programs search for anything shady on the Madame's record, but don't divert too many resources to it."

"Err… uhh… affirmative, Captain," Nikolite said. "Any particular reason why?"

"Just… I need to verify it. Something I heard in passing," I said. "Alright Ace Ops, you've got your orders. Move out."

(A/N) Ruby just couldn't resist falling again, could she? Also, before anyone says that I'm writing Ironwood as being too caring… remember this is before he completely and utterly lost his fucking marbles (cough cough, and none of his subordinates did anything about it cough cough).

Regardless, for those who haven't read any of my other stories, I usually do review responses down here. So, with nothing else to say in the author's note, here they are:

Guest001 said – "I think I remember you saying you had eye surgery awhile ago. How did that go, you recovering good?"

Aye, that I did have eye surgery several months ago. I'm fully recovered now, but thanks for asking.

TPoynt said – "I've seen other stories handle the "someone else finds Cinder" angle, but I love that this is a time-traveling Ruby. And that she finds Cinder relatively early, since most of those other stories have her not get picked up until after she's been broken by the abuse. It'll be refreshing to see one where she's still sane."

What can I say? I'm a sucker for yeeting canon characters into other places/times/universes. She uhh… didn't find Cinder very early, though – in fact, it was only an hour or so before Cinder would've stabbed the stepfamily to death. Though the fact that she didn't have to go through that hour or so of arguing and whatnot did wonders for her sanity… and the fact that it took that long in canon speaks volumes of her self-control at this point in her life.

RedShirt1453 said – "Ooh this could become an awesome duo between them. Master and apprentice. I wonder if Summer is still alive."

She's not, unfortunately – just missed her by a month or two.

And with that, the review responses are over! Thanks for reading and I'll see y'all in the next one… title TBD.