Disclaimer, I do not own RWBY
AN/ Back again with a new chapter! Who is ready? Before I start this, I want to address two reviews that were left on the last chapter. The first one concerning Ruby and how everyone plays matchmaker for her, in my opinion, is because Ruby is a socially awkward teen surrounded by people at least two years older and add on that she is incapable of reading faces and is unfamiliar with relationships, it's kind of a given here. The other review asking about whether or not Ruby purposefully walked into Arslan, no, she was in the middle of a crowd and was having issues picking out aura that could potentially be in her way. Ranty intro aside, onwards to the chapter!
Blake was falling apart. She had to do something, anything, to figure out what was happening. She suspected her teammates knew something was wrong and was dreading having to explain herself. Before her thoughts could continue to spiral, her concentration broke.
"Blake? Blake! Remnant to Blake!" Weiss shouted, waving her hand in the raven-haired girls face.
"What? Sorry, I guess I spaced out. What's up?" Blake asked.
"I was going to ask if we could see your notes, but you've been increasingly moody and anti-social lately, which I get is your thing, but you need to talk to us." Weiss demanded, a small frown indicating her frustration.
"It's just, something is happening, and it's throwing everything I know on its head." Blake said.
"It's about Torchwick and the White Fang, isn't it?" Ruby asked.
"Yes, it is. The White Fang would never work with him, so what are they doing?" Blake asked nobody in particular.
"Well, why don't we find out?" Ruby asked, noting everyone in the room to turn and face her.
"Excuse me? Did you really just suggest we take on the criminal underworld of Vale?" Weiss asked, shocked at the younger girl's suggestion.
"I mean, why not? I've already kicked Torchwick's but once, Blake has inside knowledge of the White Fang. Really, it doesn't seem like it would be difficult honestly." Ruby reasoned.
"We're students, you do realize that, right? This is a full-blown criminal organization you want to take on, we're not ready!" Weiss defended.
"And we may never be ready! They won't just sit around and wait until graduation, we need to do something!" Blake countered. Blake wasn't sure where this fire came from, but if Ruby was going to side with her, she would continue to fan the flames.
"Alright, everyone who wants to bring down a criminal organization and single-handedly be the youngest huntresses to save Vale, say aye!" Ruby exclaimed.
"I'm in!" Yang shouted triumphantly.
"Fine, someone has to keep you from getting killed." Weiss sighed.
"None of you said aye." Ruby pouted.
"Let's plan for the weekend then, it'll be easier." Blake suggested.
"I was thinking the same thing. We can figure out what we need to do and go from there." Ruby added. Suddenly, Ruby stiffened, as if she was focusing.
"What's up Ruby?" Yang asked, more than used to this.
"There's someone walking down the hall. I don't recognize them, but their aura is familiar, like I've seen them before." Ruby explained. Brushing it off, Ruby turned back to her teammates.
"Anyways, now that we have that figured out, can we focus on studying please?" Weiss asked.
*Cinder*
"Ya hear that boss? She's on to us already." Mercury said, worried.
"She suspects nothing, and I plan to keep it that way. You two, get close to them, distract them. I don't want them interfering with us." Cinder ordered.
"Of course, ma'am." Emerald said in agreement.
"Whatever." Mercury added.
*The Weekend*
With new outfits on and doing a final check, team RWBY was almost prepared for their hectic day.
"Everyone understand what they're doing?" Ruby asked.
"I'm meeting a contact in the shady side of Vale. He owes me a favor, and I'll see what he knows." Yang said as she secured Ember Celica.
"The White Fang has regular faction meetings. I'm sneaking in and gathering what information I can." Blake said as she watched her team get ready.
"Ruby and I are going to the CCT and accessing Schnee Dust Company records to find any discrepancies in local and worldwide shipments of dust." Weiss explained.
"Alright, everyone know where we're meeting up afterwards?" Ruby asked.
"Can't say that we do." A voice called from the open window.
"Sun?! What are you doing here?" Blake shouted at the monkey faunus.
"I came by to see if you wanted to hang out with us, but what are you guys doing, going after Torchwick?" He asked.
"Yes, as a team, we don't want to get friends involved. I assume you forced your friend up here on that ledge?" Ruby asked.
"Hey, you should always get friends involved, right Neptune?" Sun turned and asked as the other three members of team RWBY looked out the window.
"Sup. Can we go inside now please? We're kinda high up." Neptune asked, clinging to the bricks. Bringing the two inside, Ruby began planning.
"Sun, since you're a faunus, you can go with Blake, Neptune, you can go with Yang." Ruby said as she stood beside her partner.
"Well, why doesn't Neptune come with me, and you go with Yang?" Weiss asked, hopeful.
"Nah, seems boring." Ruby said, causing Weiss to frown.
'This dunce really has no idea how someone goes about trying to court another.' Weiss groaned mentally while her partner dragged her out the door.
"I think Ruby just cockblocked Weiss." Yang said.
"I Don't think it goes that far. That being said, good luck Neptune, you're gonna need it." Sun added.
"So, we just go in, you wave your name around, and we get what we need?" Ruby asked.
"While I wish you wouldn't describe it like that, technically yes. Going through it is going to take me a while though, so hopefully that won't cause too many issues." Weiss explained. Deciding to change topics, Weiss continued. "So Ruby, is there anyone that you want to go to the dance with?"
"No, I really haven't thought about it. I figured I would just go single if I went at all." Ruby said.
"There must be someone you would want to go with. Think about it, the dance is still three weeks off, there is still plenty of time." Weiss said, noting Ruby's reaction to her words. 'Tomorrow, we break out the big guns.'
"What about you? Want Neptune to ask you to the dance?" Weiss froze, the accuracy hitting her like a truck.
"Well, yeah." Weiss said, thankful Ruby was unable to see her blush.
"Weiss, you literally just met him, give it a moment before you go head over heels for him." Ruby said, shocking Weiss.
"I mean, I was hoping to talk to him today." Weiss shot back.
"Weiss, today you need to focus, not swoon over pretty boy back there. Get trough today, then you can go run off with him." Ruby said, treating it more as a friendly order. As the duo reached the CCT, Ruby marveled at the dust circuits and conduits as they spun upwards.
"Marvelous, isn't it?" Weiss asked, noticing her partners awe. "The CCT's were Atlas's gift to the world. While this tower is quite impressive, it doesn't compare to the one in Atlas."
"That was the first one, right?" Ruby asked.
"Yes, now come on, we don't have a lot of time." Weiss said as she pulled Ruby along.
"Penny? Penny!" Ruby ran off Leaving Weiss on the steps.
"Ruby!" Weiss shouted.
"Go without me!" Was all the heiress got as she watched Ruby struggle to traverse the steps.
"Penny! Where have you been?" Ruby asked as she finally reached the ginger haired girl.
"I'm sorry, I don't think we've met." She said, followed by a hiccup.
"What? But Penny, that night at the docks?" Ruby asked. Penny looked around herself before leaning towards Ruby.
"We can't talk here." Was all Penny said before grabbing Ruby's hand.
*Yang and Neptune*
"This the place?" Neptune asked as Yang brought her bike to a stop.
"No, I just needed to get some milk first." Yang spat as she rolled her eyes.
"Ok, not from around here." Neptune defended.
"Whatever. Come on, my friend is inside." Yang lead the blue haired boy to the doors. As they approached the doors, Neptune noticed the guards outside began falling over each other.
"Shit, it's her! Get inside!" They screamed as they managed to get through the doors. Neptune watched as Yang opened Ember Celica right before she ripped open the door, revealing a hallway filled with more guards and a larger door.
"Uh, Yang?" Neptune asked as Yang leapt forward, grabbing the nearest two guards and slamming their heads together. Neptune watched as the guards fell to Yang's wrath, as she fought her way to the door. As the last guards fell, Yang tried the door. Felling that it was locked, Yang smiled.
"Stand back Neptune, this is gonna be loud." Was the only warning Neptune got before Yang fired at the door, blasting it open. Neptune watched as Yang confidently walked through the wrecked doors. Neptune noticed the army of black suit clad guards pointing guns at the pair.
"So, uh, mind clarifying what you meant by friends?" Neptune asked, hands reaching towards his weapon.
"Stop! Stop! Blondie, you're here. Why?" A large man asked as he shoved his way through the crowd.
"You still owe me a drink."
*Sun and Blake*
"So, this is the place?" Sun asked.
"Yes, now we just need to get inside." Blake responded as she peered around a corner. "Come on."
As the pair were led inside, they were given grimm masks. Sun stopped and sighed.
"If you believe what you're doing is right, why hide your face?" Sun asked.
"The man who started it, he was a violent person. Humans saw us as monsters, so we decided to don the face of monsters." Blake explained.
"That's, dark." Sun commented.
"Yeah, I never agreed with it, for good reason. Let's go, we've wasted too much time." Blake said as she pulled Sun into the main room. Fitting into the back of the crowd, the pair waited for someone to come on stage. Soon, a large man stepped on stage.
"Welcome, brothers and sisters of the White Fang, and welcome, to the new recruits. I thank you all for coming tonight. The White Fang has new plans, and a new ally in our fight against humans. May I present, Roman Torchwick!"
AN/ And that's it for that! Next time we'll see Penny, a robot fight, and maybe more! Now something I need to admit now. When I write, I sit down, and I crank out a chapter, rarely do I actually work on a chapter for more than a day. However, I've been having issues with writing, namely, keeping my stories separate. While trying to plan out this chapter, I kept coming up with ideas for Street Gem, and nothing for A Life In Darkness, and vice versa. Why am I like this, I don't know, but if chapters start slowing down, now you at least know why. The semester is ending soon, so hopefully I'll have more time to write. Anyways, until next time, have a great day!