Credit to FiercesomestDefenstrator for the name Cerise. Go check them out, they're amazing!
She opened and closed her hands several times before looking into Ruby's eyes. She swallowed, her throat feeling dry, as she waited on her response. Ruby stared at her, her mouth agape as she stared at her hands. Would she run away? Call her a freak? An abomination? Penny lowered her head and closed her eyes.
"Penny, I… I don't understand," She said. She opened her eyes and looked up. Ruby didn't look angry; she had her head cocked to the side and she looked confused. "How are you…? I mean, I've seen you eat food, you sleep, you shower." She held up her hands, her blood still smeared over them. "You bleed." Penny took a breath.
"I am the first synthetic lifeform capable of generating an aura. My father built me in such a way that I would be indistinguishable from a normal living being." She looked down at her hands, at her metal bones. "But I am not a real person. Not in the sense that you or Yang or Blake or Weiss are." Ruby placed her hands on top of hers, gently grasping them. She looked up. Ruby was smiling at her.
"You think having nuts and bolts in you instead of squishy guts makes you any less real then me?" Penny blinked several times.
"But, but I was built in a laboratory, not born in a hospital, and I do not even know if the soul in my body is real or synthetic. I am not the same as you." Ruby shook her head and tightened her grip on Penny's hands.
"But you are Penny. You're not like those machines we saw back there, you're a person. Look." Ruby let go of her hands and placed a hand over Penny's mechanical heart. Ruby smiled as she felt it beat. She lowered her hand before grabbing Penny's and placing it over her own heart. Penny felt it beating against her hand, the sensation strange. Ruby gently grabbed her hands and held them between them, their fingers interlocking.
"See? We both have hearts, and you said it yourself, you have a soul. It doesn't matter where it came from." Penny's vision began to grow fuzzy and she felt something wet start falling down her face. Ruby smiled at her again. "You're a real person Penny, and you always will be. There's nothing that will ever change that."
Penny let go of Ruby's hands and threw her arms around her, embracing her, crying into her shoulder.
"Oh Ruby, you are the best friend I could ever have!" She heard Ruby wheeze before returning the hug, patting her on the back.
"Head down the street, I'll check down here!" A voice shouted. Penny stiffened and let go of Ruby. Ruby looked down the alley before looking around the dead end they were in, her head swiveling to and fro. Penny looked at the dumpster, and looked over at Ruby. She looked over at the dumpster, then back to her, and nodded.
The bike's engine roared as Yang sped down the road, Neptune holding onto her stomach for dear life. It was dusk, and the setting sun was completely hidden behind the buildings in the city. After showing up before the club was even open last time, she wanted to arrive when she knew he would be present, and she didn't want any of his thugs giving him a heads up and him not showing up.
The streetlights slowly went away and the sun completely disappeared. The poorer parts of Vale couldn't afford streetlights, most of that money going to the richer, safer, and easier to defend parts of the city. She took a turn and slowed down before coming to a halt.
They were parked in front of a nightclub, neon lights flashing, and a long line of people stretching out the door. Loud, bassy music could be heard even from outside.
She kicked in the brake, killed the engine, and took off her helmet, shaking out her hair. She got off the bike and started to walk up the stairs. She looked back at the bike and saw Neptune still sitting there; he look petrified, his body rigid and his legs clinging to the sides.
"We're here, aren't ya coming?" She asked. Neptune looked over at her before scrambling off the bike, patting down his clothes.
"Yeah. But where's 'here'? I thought you said we were visiting an informant, not a club? And could you drive a bit slower next time?" She rolled her eyes, as she started to climb the stairs again.
"The informant runs the club," she said. She walked past the bouncer, ignoring the angry people shouting about how she got to get in without waiting. The music grew louder and louder as she neared the doors. With a grin she opened them, the music washing over her in all its bass glory.
It looked the same as before; the flashing red and white lights, the bear costumed dj, the four crystal pillars with naked… oh that was different. She looked back at Neptune and motioned to the pillars, laughing as she saw him start to blush. There were men on two of the pillars, and women on the other two. She loved the sight of both, but unfortunately, she had business to attend to. She grabbed Neptune and pulled him close so he could hear her over the music.
"Go have some fun, this won't take very long," she shouted. He gave her a grin and thumbs up before heading to the dance floor. She looked over at the bar and sure enough, Junior was there. He had a martini in hand and was eyeing the crowd as they danced. The Red and White Gothic Lolita's from before were sitting next to him. She walked over to the bar and sat down next to him, he was too focused on the crowd below to notice her.
The bartender was different from before. She motioned him over and ordered a strawberry sunrise. She spun in her seat so she was facing Junior, resting her arm on the counter top. She grinned.
"Hey Junior!" She saw the color drain from his face and he spun around, facing her.
"S-sweet cheeks?" He stammered out. The bartender gave her her drink. She took a sip, staring at him over the rim of the glass. She put the drink back down on the counter, licking her lips.
"The one and only," she said. He swallowed, and rested his hands over his crotch.
"Why are you here?"
"Need your help with something. And don't worry, I'm not gonna trash this place again." She winked at him. "At least I probably won't." He grimaced.
She ran her hand over the markings on the wall; three white claw marks. She peeked around the corner and saw two Faunus; a dog and a lizard, talking to a parrot Faunus. He nodded his head at them and opened the door for them. Blake grinned; it had taken most of the day but she had managed to track them down. She looked back at Sun. He had his arms crossed and was watching her.
"This is the place," she said. He cocked an eyebrow.
"Ya sure? We've been searching for them all day, and a couple of other places had th-" He shut his mouth as she glared at him. He threw up his hands. "Alright, I'll take your word for it."
Blake undid her bow and they walked around the corner and over to the Parrot. He eyed them wearily.
"From shadows?" He asked.
"We reclaim our destiny." Blake answered.
"We set?"
"Our people free." He nodded his approval and opened the door. Blake entered and Sun followed after her. They walked down a dark hallway, the lizard and dog from before ahead of them.
"How'd you know the password?" Sun asked. Blake shrugged.
"I heard the people before us say it."
"Man, you must have really awesome hearing." He looked at her ears. "Oh, duh. Two sets of ears." The dog and lizard opened a door at the end of the hallway and the lizard held it open for them.
They entered a huge warehouse filled with Faunus. White Fang members stood off to the side, clad in their white jackets and Grimm masks. She and Sun walked through the crowd, getting closer to the stage, where a figure was pacing back and forth. Blake shoved past a deer Faunus, Sun taking the spot next to her. Blake sucked in a breath, her blood turning to ice as she looked up at the stage.
He stood upon the stage, pacing back and forth, staring out at the crowd. A giant of a man stood behind him, his hands resting behind his back, and a Grimm mask covering the entirety of his face. His sleeve hand been ripped off and his muscular arms were covered in tattoos, and the White Fang crest was branded on his arm. Cerise; a bloodthirsty psycho who Blake had detested when she had to work with him. A giant White Fang flag hung vertically at the back of the stage.
Adam came to a stop and faced the crowd. Blake began to shake and placed her hand on her cheek, slowly backing up. She bumped into the person behind her and they shoved her forward.
"Watch where you're going," they growled. Blake looked back at them and nodded. Sun looked at her.
"What's wrong?" She shook her head; she couldn't tell him, she couldn't let them know what she had done before, what she was before.
"Nothing," she said. Sun opened his mouth to protest but shut it and looked back up at the stage as Adam began to talk.
"I would like to thank you all for coming tonight," he began. "You are all brave to come here, to start a new way of life. Supreme Leader Khan would call you insane to join me. That you are throwing your lives away for a lost cause." He sneered.
"Supreme Leader Khan has grown weak, and complacent. Like Leader Ghira before them." Blake scowled. "What has he accomplished? Nothing! The Schnee's are still breathing, they are still making money off the forced labor of our people!"
"Yeah!" The crowd yelled.
"The humans still treat us like scum! They are not afraid of us, they pretend that things have gotten better between us but it hasn't! They refuse to serve us in stores!"
"Yeah!"
"They call us Grimm worshippers for believing in our own sacred gods! For not being sheep to the Brothers Church or the Followers of Dust!"
"Yeah!"
"They arrest us and for no other crime then being born a Faunus!"
"Yeah!"
"The humans get away with killing us whenever they want! Calling our people whatever they want! Rapists! Criminals! Insane animals! That's all we are to them!"
"Yeah!"
He threw off his jacket, the White Fang emblem burned onto his chest. He pointed at it as the crowd cheered.
"We will make this mean something again! We will make the humans quiver in fear when they see it! We will began another Faunus Revolution, and this time, the humans will be the ones treated like vermin!" He ripped off his mask, his eyes full of fiery passion. "This is the face of your new Supreme Leader! I will lead the White Fang to glory! And together we will reclaim our people's future!" The warehouse erupted in applause and cheers. Blake looked over at Sun; his face was drawn tight as he glared at Adam.
The crowd cheered for several moments and Blake did her best to blend into the crowd as Adam's eyes swept over. She inhaled sharply as his eyes lingered over her part of the crowd. He seemed to narrow his eyes before he resumed looking at the rest of the crowd. Blake exhaled.
Adam put his mask and jacket back on as the crowd's cheering died down.
"But unfortunately, we cannot do this alone. With Leader Khan no longer providing us with supplies or funds we have turned to a different source. I will let Cerise introduce you to him." Adam skulked off and Cerise took center stage.
"Allow me to introduce you to one of our benefactors."
A man with orange hair and a white coat took the stage, a short woman with pink, brown, and white hair trailed him, a frilly pink umbrella slung over her shoulder. The crowd began to boo and jeer as Torchwick did a bow. The woman gave an innocent smile and waved at the crowd.
"Thank you, thank you; your hatred gives me life."
"Why is there a human here?" A girl in the crowd shouted.
"Glad you asked my deer," he said with a smile. "Neo, if you would." The woman winked at the crowd before her skin flaked off, like scales. Her skin was now pink and her eyes were white. She winked again and the pink skin flaked off and turned brown, her eyes pink. She gave a smirk and her skin flaked off again and returned to the pale white she had started with, one eye pink, and the other brown.
"My dear daughter Neo was born with a condition that most humans find horrible in a child; she was born a Faunus." The crowds jeering died down as Torchwick began to walk around the stage, twirling his cane. "I know firsthand how horrible the humans treat you Faunus. My poor little Neo would come home from school, distraught over how the dirty humans had made fun of her." He stopped and looked over at Neo. "And what did I teach you to do to those creatons who hurt you?"
Neo grinned, her lips curling over her teeth, and ran her thumb over her throat. Blake felt a chill as she looked at the petite woman; something about her was wrong, very, very wrong.
Torchwick turned to the crowd.
"You see, we actually have a lot in common. I may be a human but I have no love for my kin, and I want to see the current establishment taken down just as much as you do." He snapped his fingers. The flag fell to the floor and the audience gasped. A giant Mech armed to the teeth with machine guns and missiles had been hidden behind it. Torchwick pointed at it with his cane. "And this is how I plan on doing it."
"What is that thing?" Sun whispered.
"I have no idea. Where did he get it?" She whispered back.
Torchwick began to hum as he skipped over to the Mech, rapping his cane against it several times before he stopped and leaned against its leg.
"Some of you might have seen this earlier today; it's the latest piece of tech out of Atlas. Still being developed, I might add. Our benefactors managed to snag us some and with them, we will be able bring about your glorious Revolution." He smirked. "Your Siblings in the White Fang have already started to move to our new headquarters in the southeast, and those of you that join our noble cause will be joining them down there. And I will be providing you with not only these." He motioned to the Mech. "But whatever else Atlas, or Vale, or any of the other dirty human Kingdoms think up to keep the scary creatures of the night away."
"So how 'bout it? You ready to join us?" The crowd erupted into cheers, chanting Adam's name, and the White Fang motto. Torchwick pulled out a cigar and lit it as Cerise took the center of the stage again. His voice was booming as he said
"All new recruits, please step forward. We will provide you with your mask, robes, and branding."
The crowd around Blake and Sun surged forward, pushing and shoving past them.
"We need to leave," Blake said out of the corner of her mouth. Sun nodded in agreement and they slowly began to back up, trying to push back against the crowd.
She was alone. The room was made of mirrors, her reflection visible no matter where she looked. And she was alone. She stood there in that room, uncomfortable as her reflections stared at her. The reflection in front of her smirked.
"Why didn't you give me that autograph Weiss?" The reflection had changed to Violet; her sad eyes staring at Weiss. She squeezed her eyes shut.
"I- I didn't think you really wanted it."
"Bullshit." It was Blake's voice. Weiss spun around, the reflection behind her was Blake now. She was glaring at Weiss, her amber eyes filled with hate and Gambol Shroud slung over her shoulder. Her bow was missing and her cat ears were on full display. She narrowed her eyes. "You didn't give it to her because you hate her." Weiss took a step towards Blake, clutching her hand against her chest.
"No! I don't hate her, I just-"
"Why didn't you help me Weiss?" It was Velvet's voice. She spun around; Violet and Velvet were staring at her. "Why didn't you try to help me when Cardin was assaulting me?" Weiss backed away from them, shaking her head.
"I- I didn't have time to; Blake and Coco were taking care of it." She heard a sloshing sound, like liquid in a bottle, and looked to her left. Coco was there drinking from a bottle. She lowered the bottle with a satisfied 'ahh' and wiped her lips with the back of her hand. She sneered at Weiss.
"Too bad the Grimm didn't kill you during that test. Would have been one less racist asshole for me to deal with." Weiss shook her head vigorously.
"No! I'm not-!"
"Glad to know you only kept me in that room because I saved your life. Real classy." It was Bruce's voice. He stood staring at her, scowling, his arms crossed.
"Bruce, you're my friend, of course I would-"
She heard clapping. She looked around and saw Yang glowering at her, her hair ablaze and her eyes red as she slowly clapped.
"It should have been you that Nevermore ate. You don't deserve to be on a team with Blake or the rest of us." Yang walked over to Blake, wrapping her arm around her shoulder. Weiss' stomach dropped as she looked at them.
The room began to spin, the reflections staying in place as the mirrors spun and spun around her. She felt dizzy and fell to her knees, clutching her head.
"Why didn't you help me?"
"Why did you refuse me?"
"Why do you always need to be saved?"
"Why won't you just die?" She began to cry, and squeezed her eyes shut as the voices chanted over and over again.
Silence.
She opened her eyes, and looked up. She was in a black void; the mirrors were gone and so were the reflections. Blake stood before her, her sword drawn and pointed at her heart. She glared at her.
"We're all just animals are we? Just murderers?" Weiss felt hot tears running down her face.
"Blake, please, I-" She gasped as Blake thrusted forward, Gambol Shroud stabbing through her chest. She felt her body begin to convulse and she could taste copper. She coughed, her blood running down her chin and splattering over Blake's arms. She looked down at her clothes, the crimson spreading across her white jacket. She looked back up and saw her reflection standing in front of her, holding onto Myrtenestar as she pushed it through her chest. Her reflection grinned as it narrowed its eyes.
"You know you deserve this," it said. Weiss tried to answer, her words getting stuck in her throat as she choked on her blood.
Her eyes snapped open, the bright white light from the room hurting her eyes. The book keeper stood looming over her. She blinked and sat up. Bruce was standing off to the side. Her scroll was in the man's hand.
"Ms. Schnee? Are you alright?"
"Yes, sorry, I must have dozed off." She stood up. The book keeper smiled and offered her her scroll.
"Sorry for the wait Ms. Schnee. But you will find all the requested data is on your scroll." She gave him a polite smile and took her scroll, pocketing it.
"Thank you, I'll put a nice word in for you with my father." The man's face lit up before she turned around and left the room. She walked down the white hallway, Bruce tailing her. She stopped in front of the elevator and pressed the button.
"You serious about putting in a good word for him?" He asked. Weiss shook her heard.
"Of course not. That pencil pusher can get fired for all I care." The door opened, empty, and Weiss entered it. Bruce entered after her, a ghost of a smile on his face.
The polished metal doors closed, and Weiss' gaze fell to the floor. The tiles were white, and thankfully, not polished to a mirror like sheen.
"Bruce." She heard his clothes shuffle as he shifted his position.
"What is it?" She closed her eyes and took a breath.
"Why did you save me?" There was silence.
"Didn't we go over this?"
"You told me that you thought you could even the odds. But why help me to begin with? I'm a Schnee, and you knew who I was." She clenched her hands, her nails biting into her palms. "Why help me? Why save a Schnee? Why not let me die?"
"Weiss-" She took a breath, her body trembling slightly.
"I thought about what you said back in that room, Bruce, and you're right; I wouldn't have done anything. I would have just let you get treated like some degenerate. I always thought I was in the right about the Faunus but I'm not!"
"Weiss-"She shook her head, her ponytail whipping around.
"I was wrong! So very, very wrong! I'm a racist! I'm a horrible person, Bruce! Why would you help someone like me!" She choked back a sob, and she felt tears begging to be released.
She felt a firm hand grasp her shoulder.
"Weiss, every Faunus under the sun knows who you and your family are." He paused. "But most of them are too young to remember your grandfather, and when the name Schnee meant something. You remind me of him; the only things I had ever heard of the Schnee Heiress was that she frequently held charity concerts, all the proceeds going to White Fang victims. I helped you fight those men because you were someone worth helping." His grip tightened. "You were a racist Weiss, if you were one now you would have let that man send me downstairs. It takes time to adjust Weiss, you can't just do a complete one eighty on your views."
"But-"
"Quite it." She opened her eyes, her vision wet and blurry, and looked back at him. Concern was on his scarred face. "You're only human Weiss; don't beat yourself over it. And I'm sure your friends would be willing to help you if you start feeling this way again." Weiss sniffled, and nodded.
"Thank you Bruce." He smiled slightly.
"Any time," he said. The elevator door opened and a group of people stood there waiting, most looking bored. Weiss put on a brave face and gave them a smile as she marched out of the elevator.
She lifted the lid of the dumpster and peeked around. The dead end looked deserted. She climbed out of the dumpster, and absolutely positive that no one was there, she knocked on the lid. Penny lifted it up, took a bandanna peel off her head, and climbed out.
She peeked down the alley, and seeing that it was empty, gave Ruby a thumbs up.
"The cost is clear Ruby!" Ruby gave her a grin and started to walk down the alley, Penny walking alongside her.
"Good thing that soldier was afraid of rats, otherwise he would have found us." They reached the end of the alley and took a right, walking down the sidewalk. It was mid-day now and it was swelteringly hot. Ruby groaned slightly as sweat beaded her brow; she was wearing more gray then black today, she shouldn't be this hot. She glanced at one of the buildings, and came to a stop. It was a café and it had a shaded pavilion. She saw people eating and drinking, laughing and talking, and not sweating their boobs off. Her stomach growled and she looked back at Penny.
"I think it's time we took a break," she said. Penny nodded in agreement and they entered the café. It was brightly lit and smelled of freshly baked bread, and idle chatter filled the air. The furnishing was wood and had a bit of a rustic charm to it that Ruby liked. But most importantly of all, it had air conditioning. The hostess greeted them with a smile as they walked up to the wood podium she stood behind.
"Hello ladies, party of two?"
"Yes ma'am!" Penny said. The woman pulled out two menu's before stepping out from behind her podium.
"All right, follow me." She led them to a small table inside the building and they took their seats, the cushions on the seats well worn. She set the menu's on the table, gave a little bow and said "You're server will be right with you." She left them then.
Ruby leant back in her chair, her arms dangling over the back as she relaxed in the nice, cool, air conditioned air. She looked at Penny. She was looking at the various paintings and knick-knacks that adorned the yellow walls.
"Hey Penny?" Ruby asked. Penny focused her attention on Ruby.
"Yes?"
"Why were those soldier's looking for you? Did you do something back in Atlas?" Penny shook her head, her hair bobbing with the movement.
"Nothing too drastic. I merely ran away from home and came here on my own." Ruby straightened up in her seat.
"You ran away?"
"I did! My father loves me so very much, and I am thankful that he built me but I wanted to see the rest of the world for myself. If I am supposed to be a real person then I want the real person experience."
"I can't really blame you with that kinda logic; being cooped up in a house, not being allowed to know anything about the outside world, you were bound to do this sooner or later." Penny smiled at her.
"I am quite happy that you and your friends are the ones I get to learn how to be a real girl with." Ruby smiled back.
"I am too Penny. Oh, and your father must be a genius if he managed to build you all by yourself."
"Oh he did not build me all by himself; Mr. Ironwood helped. He's like a second father to me." Ruby furrowed her brow and cocked her head to the side.
"The General? Why would he help build you? Do you have a hidden gun for a hand or something?" Penny giggled.
"I do not, but I do have several collapsible swords stored away in my back." Ruby sat up straight; Penny being a robot was cool, her being a robot with awesome hidden weapons in her? Easily the most amazing thing in her life.
"Really? Penny that's amazing! How do they work? How big are they? Do your arms detach into two smaller arms and you wield a bunch at once? Oh! Do you keep a bunch as backups or-" Penny held up a hand and Ruby stopped. She sheepishly rubbed the back of her heard and looked at the carpeted floor.
"The anti-grav swords I wield are connected to my spine by small, nearly invisible wires. I control them that way, and am capable of wielding a multitude of them at once. They are also capable of functioning as a high heat plasma canon, though I must refrain from using that as it drains my internal battery quite a bit." Ruby whistled.
"You really pack a punch." Penny giggled and held up her arms like she was flexing.
"Mr. Ironwood wanted to make sure that I was combat ready."
"Why would you need to know how to fight?"
"Mr. Ironwood says that I will be instrumental in preserving Remnant's peace; to ending the war." Ruby was taken back. War?
"Penny… there isn't a war going on. What are you talking about?" Penny looked at Ruby in confusion.
"That is not what Mr. Ironwood told me. He told me that the people of Remnant were fighting against some woman. And that I would be needed to defeat her." Ruby opened her mouth to respond, caught movement in the corner of her eye, and closed it. Their server walked up to their table, a small notebook and pen in hand.
"Sorry about the wait ladies, what can I get you to drink?"
"Apple juice for me," Penny said.
"Uuuuhhh." Ruby glanced over the drink section. She looked up at the server. "Lemonade for me, please." The server scribbled down their order, smiled, and left to go get it. Penny lifted her menu up and began to look it over. Ruby looked at the menu, not really reading it, as she thought about what Penny said. Remnant was in a time of peace, and had been for decades. Why was an Atlesian General convinced he was at war? And why would all of Remnant be at war with just one woman? She shook her head and sighed; maybe she could think this over with the rest of the team.
He downed his drink and slammed the empty glass onto the counter top.
"I told ya, the White Fang have gone quiet; I don't know what they're doing." Yang scowled.
"How can you not know? You're supposed to know everything that goes down in Vale." He threw up his hands in exasperation.
"Look sweet cheeks, I told ya all I know. The White Fang in Vale went quiet and aside from that shoot out at the docks, they haven't been doing anything of note." Yang turned away and began to drink her cocktail. Wait, hadn't there been a man with bright orange hair here last year? She lowered her drink back down to the corner.
"What about Roman Torchwick?" she asked. Junior cocked an eyebrow.
"What about him?"
"He was here when I trashed this place wasn't he?" Junior thought about it for a moment before nodding.
"Yeah. I leant him some of my men. He paid upfront in cash. Haven't heard anything about him since then."
"What happened to the men he hired?" Junior shrugged.
"Some of them left and never came back. Others got arrested when they got busted during that Dust robbery back in spring. I would have bailed them out, but most of my money has gone to repairing this place."
"Did you know he's working with the White Fang now?" Junior shook his head.
"I didn't, no." Yang downed the rest of her drink, and placed it down on the counter top, tracing her finger around the rim.
"Any idea why he would be working with them?" Junior scratched his beard as he thought. The Red Gothic Lolita peeked around him.
"Isn't his daughter a Faunus?"
"Yeah, I think I remember hearing about that. Thanks for reminding me Miltiades." The White Gothic Lolita peeked over her sister.
"Didn't Boss Nero get killed by that little lizard?"
"No, Melanie, she killed Nero's son." Miltiades said.
"Might explain why Torchwick went underground for so long; hard to be a Dust trafficker with your clients wanting to kill you." Junior added. Yang cocked an eyebrow.
"That's all really interesting but I don't care. Do you have any idea where I can find him?" Junior shook his head, and motioned for the bartender to refill his glass.
"That's a no sweet cheeks." Yang sighed and left the counter. She walked down the stairway and into the dancing crowd.
It was hot, sweaty, and humid in the crowd as Yang pushed past people dancing and grinding on each other. The music was thunderous on the dance floor and it was dark there as well, the only lights being the flashing red and white strobe lights. She saw a flash of neon blue in the crowd and made a bee line for it. Neptune was busy dancing, sweat dripping down his face, and a crowd of people cheering him on.
Yang stood in the crowd and watched him dance for a while before tapping him on the shoulder. He spun around, and when he saw it was Yang he said something. Yang couldn't hear him over the music and the crowd so she motioned back towards the door. He looked over at it and nodded to show he understood.
They made their way out of the dance floor and climbed up the crystal staircase.
"You find what you came here for?" Neptune shouted. Yang shook her head as she opened the door.
"I didn't. But I think I found out why the White Fang are letting Torchwick work with them." Neptune put his hands in his pockets as they walked down the dark hallway, the music growing quieter the further they went.
"Well that's something at least." Yang nodded in agreement; hopefully the rest of the team was making better progress.
They struggled to back up as the crowd surged forward all around them.
"Blake, what are we gonna do?" Sun whispered.
"I'm thinking," she said.
Cerise looked over the crowd and Blake flattened her ears as her gaze locked with his. He leapt off the stage, and into the crowd, shoving people out of his way.
"Think faster!" Blake looked around the room, and saw a power box. Everyone but Torchwick would still be able to see them but the chaos caused by the lights going out could be enough of a distraction. She drew Gambol Shroud, aimed, and fired.
Darkness enveloped the room and the crowd screamed and dropped to the floor. Torchwick fumbled around next to the Mech, holding his hands in front of him. Cerise continued to make his way to her, undeterred by the darkness or gun in her hand. She grabbed Sun's hand and sprinted through the crowd, shoving past people as they cowered in fear, making her way to a nearby window.
"Stop standing around and get them!" Cerise screamed. Blake raised her gun and fired at the window, the glass shattering. She let go of Sun's hand and leapt through it, rolling across the hard pavement as she landed. She looked up to see Sun land on his feet. She got to her feet and started to run, sheathing Gambol Shroud. Sun sprinted after her.
"You think we can out run them?" Sun asked. She heard an explosion and looked back. The side of the warehouse had been blown to pieces and the Mech climbed out of the hole.
"Here kitty, kitty, kitty." The voice was thunderously loud and mechanical sounding. But there was no mistaking Torchwick's voice. Sun went pale as the Mech started to move, running after them.
"Oh shit! That's not good!" He yelled. Blake began to sprint faster, willing her legs to move faster and faster. She pulled out her scroll and hit the team icon. It rang for a few seconds before they all picked up.
"Guys! We need backup!" Blake yelled.
"Look out!" Sun tackled her to the ground, and Blake felt a fiery heat splash over her and felt herself and Sun being thrown several meters. Blake groaned and got up; a smoldering crater was all that was left of the sidewalk where Bake had been.
"Blake? Blake what was that? Are you both all right?" It was Ruby. Blake helped Sun to his feet and started to sprint down the road again, Sun close behind her.
"We're fine," Blake said.
"It's that Torchwick guy! The White Fang have some kind of giant robot and he's piloting it!" Sun yelled.
"Where are you guys?" Yang asked. Blake's eyes darted around, looking for any indicator as to where they were. She saw a nearby ramp, a sign indicating it was a highway.
"We're heading towards the highway! We'll try and lose him in the traffic!" Blake said.
"On our way!" Weiss said.
"Hurry!" Sun shouted. Blake pocketed her scroll and ran towards the ramp. She heard Torchwick fire another missile and leapt forward, the explosion launching her ever further.
"How are we gonna lose him?" Sun shouted as they ran up the ramp. Blake could hear the busy traffic as people made their ways home below them, the noise getting louder the higher they went.
"Like this!" Blake leapt over the side of the ramp, her stomach doing flips as she fell. She heard Sun curse before leaping down after her. She landed on top of a car, and she grit her teeth as her aurar absorbed the blow. The car swirved and she heard the driver shout in surprise. She stood up, and saw Sun land on a car near her, the driver honking the horn in surprise. She looked up at the ramp and-
She grimaced and leapt onto the car in front of her as the Mech crashed through the side of the ramp and fell onto the highway, crushing a car as it landed. The Mech began to run after them, crushing cars as it forced its way through the speeding cars.
She drew her weapon and fired several shots at the cockpit before jumping to a nearby car. She heard a mechanical laugh and looked back, fear shooting through her.
The Mech raised its arms as it ran, the Gattling guns on its arms beginning to spin.
She sped between several cars, forcing her bike to go as fast as it could. Neptune clung to her for dear life, as she weaved in out of the cars. She could see the Mech ahead of them and cars crashing into one another as they tried to get out of its way. She gasped as she saw the Mech raise its arms, the guns on its arms whirling into place. She saw Blake and Sun stare at in fear before leaping to a different car. Yang grit her teeth and shouted
"We need to slow it down!" She felt Neptune let go of her stomach.
"On it!" Neptune shouted. He unslung the assault rifle from around his back and took aim. "May want to cover-"
"Just shoot the fucking thing!" He fired, the noise deafening and causing Yang's ears to ring. Sparks rained down from the Mech as the bullets slammed against it. The top part of the Mech spun around as it continued to run forward.
"Oh shit," Neptune said. The Mech fired at them, bullets ripping through the cars on the highway and causing them to explode.
"Hold on!" Neptune grabbed onto her stomach with one arm, firing at the mech through the flames. Yang scowled and sped forward, weaving out of the bullets way, and driving though a car as it exploded in front of her. The heat washed over them, excruciating and draining her aura. She hit the gas and sped through the fire ball, gasping and swerving out of the way as several cars crashed in front of her. She heard laughter from the mech as the missile launcher on its shoulder aimed at them.
She heard a crack of thunder and the missile launcher flew off the mech. The mech's torso spun around to face the front, and Yang saw Ruby kneeling on a car, Crescent Rose in its sniper form. Penny was on a car near her, several swords appearing to levitate around her. Blake was firing at the mech and Sun had a long red bo staff out. The mech raised its arms, and the guns began to spin. She felt Neptune let go of her and the bike swerve as he leapt off of it and onto the closest car. He jumped from that one to the one in front and vaulted towards the mech, his rifle turning into a trident, the ends crackling with blue electricity.
With a yell he slammed his trident into the mech, burying the prongs into its mechanical hide. The mech began to shake and Neptune was flung around, struggling to keep a grip on his weapon.
"Hold on bro!" Sun yelled. He slapped his hands together, closed his eyes, and a bright, golden version of himself shot forward, leaping from a car and slamming into the mech's cockpit, cracking it. The golden clone disappeared, and the mech grabbed Neptune with its hand, throwing him off. She saw Sun's eyes go wide and he leapt towards Neptune. He grabbed him, and they came crashing to the ground, slamming into the railing. She grit her teeth and sped forward.
She stopped in front of the railing, looking out as the mech ran towards their ramp. Fires burned across the highway and she could hear police sirens in the distance, a news bulkhead making its way towards the highway as well. She tightened her grip on her sword and turned to Bruce
"Can you hit him with your semblance?" He shook his head.
"Too many people are near him, I could miss and make an even bigger mess out of this." She looked back at the mech, and noticing how little attention Torchwick was paying to what he stepped on, leapt over the railing.
"Weiss!" She heard him yell as she somersaulted through the air. She landed, cars swerving out of the way, and she stared down the mech. Her friends were all busy firing at it, not noticing her. She pulled the trigger, Blue, and slammed her sword into the ground. A trail of ice shot out from her sword and coated the pavement, spider webbing its way forward until it reached the mech. A mechanical yell came out of it as it tripped over the ice, and failing to get its footing again, came tumbling over the side of the highway, tearing a hole in the railing.
Her friends leapt off of the cars they were on and ran over to the railing. Yang rode up and parked her bike. Ruby looked over the edge as Weiss ran over to join them. Ruby looked back at them, and Crescent Rose turned from its sniper form to its scythe form. She heard Bruce came up behind her.
"Yang, Blake, Weiss, you come with me. Penny, you go check on Neptune and Sun. And you," she looked Bruce over. "You go see if you can help anyone that's hurt." Penny gave a salute and Bruce said
"On it." Ruby nodded at them before she looked over the railing again and leapt down.
She landed with a grunt, a shot of pain going through her knees, and saw her team land beside her. Torchwick's mech towered before them, sparks flying from its multitude of wounds. The Mech began to step towards them, raising its arms, the guns spinning.
"Freezerburn! We need some cover!" She shouted. Yang and Weiss looked at one another and nodded. Weiss slammed her sword into the ground, ice coating the ground, encompassing everything near them. Yang slammed her fists together, her hair lighting up and her eyes turning red. She leapt into the air and slammed both of her fists into the ice. The ice shattered and evaporated, a thick fog rising up.
Ruby motioned with her hands for them to scatter as the mech lowered its arms, its torso swiveling to and fro as it walked forward. She changed her scythe back to its sniper form and raised the scope to her eye. She took aim and fired at the Gatling gun. The shot landed and the gun flew off. Within seconds she took aim and fired at the second Gatling gun, blowing it off as well. The remaining missile launcher took aim and fired. Ruby jumped out of the way of the explosion and shouted
"Checkmate! Deal some damage!"
Weiss and Blake sprang from the mist, stabbing and slashing into mech's legs. Their attacks were perfectly timed, and their attacks flowed into each other's. Weiss jumped into the air, placed a glyph beneath her, and launched herself at the cockpit, stabbing her sword into the glass. The mech's arm grabbed at her and she back flipped off the glyph and landed. The mech's fist came crashing down, aimed at Blake. Weiss threw a glyph below Blake; the glyph launched her from where she was and pulled her over to Weiss. The fist crashed into the ground, and the missile launcher took aim at them. It fired, and Weiss and Blake handspringed out of the way of the explosion. A mechanical laugh filled the air as a second missile launched, aimed at Weiss. Blake shoved Weiss out of the way, and leapt towards the missile, slicing through it soaring through the fireball as it exploded around her. She landed on her feet, her clothes singed, and glared up at the mech. Ruby sprinted forward, turning her weapon into its scythe form as Weiss struggled to her feet.
"Ladybug! Disarm it!" She shouted. With blinding speed Ruby sprinted towards the mech, slashing into its legs with her scythe, before twirling around and sprinting in the other direction, Crescent Rose slashing into the metal. She could hear Blake as she followed her lead, slashing into its legs. The mechs torso spun around to face her and she ducked between its legs as Blake leapt on top of it. She spun around and leapt towards the mechs arm, slicing it off at the elbow as Blake hacked off its missile launcher. The arm and launcher fell to the ground with a crash.
Yang leapt onto the mech, slamming her fist into the cockpit, the glass shattering underneath her blow. The mech grabbed her with its remaining hand and threw her. Yang yelled as she flew through the air and the mech leapt forward, grabbed her, and slammed her into a pillar. It slammed her against the pillar several times, Yang yelling as her head slammed against the concrete. Her aura crackled around her, yellow in color.
"Yang!" Ruby saw her sister open her eyes, they were burning red, and her hair was burning even brighter then before. She grit her teeth and slammed her fists into the hand. It shattered like glass, the metal flying everywhere and Yang fell to the ground. The mech backed up and kicked her. She flew through the air, soaring past them. Blake threw her weapon, a ribbon tied to the end and around her arm, and Yang grabbed it, and landed.
"Bumblebee and White Rose! Take it down!" She commanded. She dropped to a knee and raised the scope up to her eye. Weiss stood next to her and flicked her sword, a glyph appearing at the end of the barrel. She fired, the shot hitting the mech's legs and freezing it in place. She could hear her sister yelling as she ran in a circle as Blake strained to lift her off the ground. She lowered the scope from her eye and saw Yang go flying through the air, aimed at the cockpit. With an animalistic scream she slammed into it, knocking the mech back. She grabbed Torchwick out of the cockpit and tossed him to the ground as the mech collapsed.
He scrambled to his feet and backed away from Yang as she leapt off the mech's wreckage. Yang threw a punch and grunted in surprise when her fist was kicked away. A young woman with a frilly pink umbrella stood between Yang and Torchwick. She gave Yang a smile before kicking her in the knee. Yang crumpled to the floor and glowered at them as Torchwick laughed.
"Thanks Neo." Yang staggered to her feet and punched the girl. She and Torchwick shattered into a million pieces, the sound of glass breaking as they shattered. Yang looked around in confusion and Ruby saw a bulkhead soar off. The fire in Yang's hair died and she collapsed onto the ground.
"Yang!" Ruby shouted, holstering her weapon and running over to her sister. She helped her sit up. "You okay?" There was blood on the back of her head, and her lip was split. She spat a glob of blood before nodding her head.
"Yeah, I've been hit with worse."
"You're gonna need to see Sorrell about your head though." Yang felt the back of her head, and groaned in annoyance when she saw the blood.
"That bastard ruined my hair!" Ruby heard Weiss giggle.
"You're worried about your hair at a time like this?" Yang shrugged and stood up. She stretched her arms, her elbows cracking.
"You guys think we're done here? We still gotta help with the people on the highway." Ruby nodded and Weiss created a staircase of glyph's back up to the highway.
Neptune groaned in pain as he sat up, Sun's arms wrapped around him. Sirens filled his ears and smoke and fire filled his vision. Penny was crouched down in front of him. She offered her hand, and he took it, struggling to pull Sun up with him. Sun groaned and grabbed his ribs, hissing in pain.
"Ah Dust, I think I might have bruised something." He groaned. Neptune felt his stomach drop; he had gotten hurt saving him. He pulled Sun closer and motioned for Penny to lift up his other side. Sun hissed in pain again as Penny pressed against him.
"Don't worry buddy, we got ya." He said. They made their way towards the police cars as they talked to citizens as emergency workers pried people out of their cars. News reporter were off to the side, talking to cameras. A bat Faunus was helping the emergency workers pull people out of flaming or wrecked wreckage of the cars.
"That's them!" A woman shouted. The reporter spun around and the police looked over at them. Neptune gave them a nervous smile, and waved. "They tried to stop that robot! Them and some girls!" The reporters swarmed them, shoving mic's into their faces.
"What was that machine?"
"Do you know why it was attacking?"
"Where are the girls that you fought with?"
Neptune shoved past them, making his way towards the ambulance.
"All I can tell you is that it was the White Fang that did this." He ignored them as they threw more questions at him, his vision starting to get hazy.
"You're gonna be alright Sun." He said. They reached the emergency responders, who looked them over. "His ribs are hurt, and I got thrown around too." They nodded and helped them into the ambulance. Penny looked at them as they got into the ambulance. She gave them a reassuring smile as the doors closed. Her smile was the last thing he remembered seeing before blacking out, Sun in his arms.