5

A Rose by Any Other Name

"So why are we stopping in Vale tonight?" Yang was the one who asked, not wanting to stop in the city. The five teenagers had entered the city an hour ago by ferry and were now walking around the downtown area. All around Atlas personnel could be seen still assisting with repair and reconstruction. On the horizon stood Beacon Academy with the giant Grimm Dragon perched, frozen, upon the central tower that had once served as Headmaster Ozpin's office.

The night was bustling with civilians and a larger than usual amount of huntsmen and huntresses about the streets, weapons in plain view. Mood about town was stressed and as dark as the night they were in. The people of Vale were worried and the hunters overworked in dealing with the constant threat of grimm from the once proud academy. People on the streets barely spared them a second glance, that did not stop Yang from sticking close to Ruby's left side.

Though the young girl could tell that her sister was still angry with her it didn't prevent the older girl from obscuring her from unwanted attention. Yang had taken up the vanguard after the first few looks Ruby had gotten after entering Vale, even on the clouded night people noticed her visible disability. The girl had pulled her hood closer around her and her sister had taken notice.

"By the time we get all of our provision it will be too late to exit the city safely, it's already dark. I figured we could secure our supplies and head out in the morning." Jaune replied from the front. He appeared to be leading the way towards a well known huntsman supply shop. He listed off a few more basic supplies they would probably need, from dust ammunition to first aid kits and emergency supplies. The group split up the tasks with Ren and Nora running off to gather the medical supplies and Jaune went off on his own to gather the camping equipment they didn't have and to grab something he said he had ordered a few days ago.

That left Ruby alone with her sister to purchase all the dust ammunition they needed. Yang led the way to the shop they both frequented when they attended Beacon, a small place run by a nice, but gruff, looking guy. The young girl trailed several steps behind, mind churning to find a way to apologize for the things she had said before. Every time she brought it up her blond sister had either changed the subject somehow or completely ignored her.

It had been an unusually long time for Yang to hold a temper, she was quick to anger but it usually burned itself out fast and she was back to her smiling self. Ruby's shoulder bumped into her sister and she noticed the blonde had slowed down too. Pulling her hood down further over her face she hid a bitter smile. How like her sister to notice something like that and slow down for her, even when angry. The thought made her want to shed more tears but instead she took several deep breaths and started walking next to Yang, forcing some confidence into her steps.

They rounded a corner and walked into the old shop, Ruby sparing at the familiar nam above the door Armamento Mori. The whole reason they had started coming here was because Yang had loved the name though her sister could never understand her fascination with puns. The bell dinged to let the owner know he had customers and within a few moments he appeared out of the back room grumbling and wiping his hands before breaking into a wide smile at seeing who was patronizing his shop.

"Well if it isn't Yang and Ruby!" He spread his arms wide, "My shop's been boring without seeing your pretty faces around here!"

Yang laughed easily past the old banter, "Hey Kal. We've been home at Patch." He nodded along as the young woman explained what they needed and how much. He had always been amicable with them, always saying how much they reminded him of his own daughters. In particular, he was fond of Ruby and always gave her a discount on cartridges for Crescent Rose.

He noticed that Yang had missed something and leaned to the side to address the red cloaked girl standing off looking through some high velocity rounds on display, "Ruby, don't you need ammo fer your scythe?" The shop owned stopped dead when she turned to him and he got a full sight of what he had missed before, she was missing her left arm and her signature weapon was nowhere in view.

One didn't run a business supplying hunters by being stupid, the man could tell what had happened even as the question died on his through. Kal's eyes grew sorrowful knowing of what must have happened to a young girl old enough to be his daughter.

Yang came to her rescue as Ruby just stood there floundering under his gaze, "As you can see she's switched weapons so unfortunately we don't need more sniper rounds but I do need those shells for Ember Celica and the cases of grenade canisters." She gave him a winning smile and he took it, knowing better than to push into someone's privacy.

The girls left the shop after a bit of small talk and getting their supplies, they walked back out onto the street waving back at the man behind the counter. Yang slung her pack over her shoulder, the rounds inside making noise as they jostled around. She started walking and Ruby followed, they were back to not speaking.

The young girl moved her hand to her left shoulder and looked at the figure walking in front of her. The comforting back of her sister that had always been there for her, one she was more familiar with than even her own mother. She couldn't bear it anymore. Yang was her sister and they shouldn't be like this. Before she realized it she had reached out and grabbed the blonde's sleeve. The woman stopped and turned her head to the side, not looking directly at her younger sister but making it clear she had her attention.

"Yang. I really need to say I'm sorry. Those things I said. I didn't mean them." Ruby gritted her teeth and fought against the tears welling up in her eyes, "I was frustrated and scared. I still am scared Yang. I've lost Mom. I've lost a part of me. I can't lose you too! As useless as I am now I don't want to be sitting at home doing nothing while you put yourself in danger."

Ruby barely heard her sister's reply, "You won't lose me Ruby."

"Don't make promises you can't keep!" The younger girl's voice peaked into a shout. Passerbys stopped and listened and even a few Atlas soldiers we noticing, one of them talking into a radio. Ruby didn't notice any of her surroundings as the flood gates opened and she spewed forth her feelings, "Mom made that same promise and I still remember the day they came to tell us she died! I may have been too young to remember much of her but I remember that."

Ruby rested her forehead on her sister's back, "I'm so scared you won't come back." Her voice finally gave out but it looked like it was enough to reach her sister. Slowly she turned around and wrapped her in a gentle embrace. Unable to tell which of them was shaking, she reached around and hugged her sister back with her one good arm.

Yang stroked her sister's head in the middle of the sidewalk and whispered to her, "I'm sorry too Ruby. I was so focused on protecting you I guess I didn't see how much I was hurting you. Everything will be fine. We'll stick together and see this through. I won't let you get hurt. I'll always be here Rubes."

The red-cloaked girl could only nod, only too relieved to have her sister talking to her again. Yang wiped the tears on her sister's face and suggested they go get some cookies on they way to the meeting point with everyone. This time they walked side by side and Ruby let a small smile spread over her face.

Taiyang came home to an empty house in the morning. He had read through the note left behind on Ruby's bed for the fourth time in the last thirty minutes. This was not the day he had been hoping for but it was something that would have happened sooner or later. He knew his daughters and knew they would run off to do what they felt they had to, whether he agreed or not was a different matter. They were both so much like their mothers that it hurt him, yet filled him with pride. Each day they reminded him of the women he loved with all his heart.

A sigh escaped him as he leaned back on the couch. Even with Raven's betrayal he still felt love for the woman, as much as she had changed. Yang was so much like her, from her looks to her drive, the young girl could be an unstoppable force like her mother had been when they were younger. Ruby retained all of Summer's innocent, if not naive, beliefs in heroes and justice. Taiyang had seen the look in her eyes, the one she tried to hide from everybody, but he knew it.

Ruby knew fear, terror even. He still remembered those nights where she had screamed in her sleep. Neither he nor Yang had the heart to tell the girl, instead they both had just taken turns being with her when she had the night terrors. It was hard not to flinch every time she whispered the names of the friends she had lost.

Footsteps sounded behind him as Qrow walked around to stand in front of him, one hand behind his back as if it was checking for something, "Don't worry Tai, I'll keep 'em safe in your place since… well… you can't."

"Yeah, I know Qrow." Taiyang looked his old friend in the eyes and never had he regretted something more than he had that moment, "Protect them for the both of us man."

Qrow simply nodded and then stepped outside and was gone in a flash of feathers. Taiyang gripped the edge of the sofa so hard his fingers started puncturing the fabric.

Ruby was just getting up when a knock sounded on the door, knowing that any of her teammates would just come in she went back to her early morning weapon maintenance. The knocks continued again, more insistant, and Yang tossed a pillow in her sister's direction before promptly returning to sleep. With an exasperated sigh she got up and answered the door, knowing her big sister wouldn't bother getting up for anyone for at least another hour.

On the other side of the door was a mousy man in a military uniform standing ramrod straight with his arms clasped behind his back. Ruby's looked around in confusion as the man cleared his throat before speaking, "I am looking for one Miss Ruby Rose. Are you she?"

"Who wants to know?" Yang answered for her having been out of bed and glaring at the man at their door before Ruby could blink.

"Lieutenant Del Moriss, Atlas Military. I currently serve as aide to General Ironwood for the duration of his stay in Vale during the reconstruction efforts. I'm here because the General has requested Miss Rose's presence."

"Um, why?" Ruby asked, though she had met the man she couldn't say they knew each other.

"The General did not specify, Ma'am, I'm sure he would be able to answer any questions you have in person. He did, however, make it clear this was only a request."

Ruby wasn't sure how to respond. On one hand she didn't want to go meet someone who knew Qrow because she wasn't exactly supposed to be leaving Patch, yet she still couldn't bring herself to say no to an authority figure. Yang must have noticed because she put a hand on her sister's shoulder, "We will both go. Is that fine?"

The man merely nodded and proceeded to wait in the hallway as the girls got ready. On their way out they messaged the others of their team that they would be going out for a bit and to not worry if they were not back for a while. Jaune and Ren shot back a few messages asking what they were doing and expressing their concern but were soon assuaged by Yang's replies. Nora only asked for some souvenirs.

They arrived at General Ironwood's makeshift headquarters after a half hour trip by car. The building was several stories tall and showed signs of being recently rebuilt. They were led to a waiting room where Ruby sat fiddling with the hem of her skirt and Yang was tapping her foot impatiently even though they had only been there a few minutes. It wasn't long before the General stepped out to greet them.

"Miss Xiao-Long, Miss Rose. It's good to see you both in decent health. Please step inside my office so we can talk." He ushered them into his temporary office and into the seets opposite his desk.

"Just to make sure, neither of you are in trouble here. I just saw an opportunity to fulfill a promise I made, as well as let a friend of mine meet the both of you. He was eager to meet you, Miss Rose." He steepled his fingers after sitting down, his stern face doing his best attempt to smile.

"Uh, yeah, I'd like to know how you knew where we were, General. No disrespect but it isn't the Atlas military's job to keep tabs on teenage girls, unless there's something you aren't telling us?" Yang let the accusation hang in the air as the General coughed awkwardly.

"No, Miss Xiao-Long it is not, I assure you. I only happened to hear you were in Vale because some soldiers noticed your…. public display yesterday and so I took the chance to find you so I could ask you here. I like to keep my promises."

"What promise?" It was Ruby who spoke up this time, looking at the older man, trying not to wilt under his naturally heavy gaze.

He chuckled, "Your Uncle and I have known one another for a long time. But this isn't a favor, Miss Rose, you earned this all on your own."

Just before either girl could give voice to their confusion the door to the office was flung open and an exuberant old man burst through, "James! I came as fast as I could! Where is she?" He stopped even as he asked the question when he noticed the two young girls who had turned to face the newcomer. The man's lab coat was dirtied with blues and blacks but the smile on his face showed no fatigue as he rushed around to grab Ruby's hand.

"Salutations Miss Rose! I am so glad you are here. I just completed the project yesterday, I'm sure you will be quite happy with it!" He kept shaking her hand with both of his until a pointed cough from the General made him pause and look between Ruby and her sister, their faces both showing not a shred of understanding. "My apologies!" He suddenly decried, "Where are my manners. I am Doctor Geppetto Polendina. I am Penny's creator and father."

Everything was going too fast for Ruby to process it but the final bit about Penny got her attention. She stared at him, marveling at how like the robotic girl this old man was, or was it the other way around? Either way a small but comfortable feeling settled in her stomach and she calmed down a fair bit while the man was still going on about some project and how excited he was that she was here until Yang interrupted him.

"Okay Doc no offense but what the hell is going on and why the hell are we here?"

Geppetto immediately looked up and over at the General, dropping Ruby's hand finally, "You haven't told them James?"

"I figured you would want to Gepetto."

"Any time here guys." Yang was getting increasingly annoyed at being ignored.

The Doctor smiled apologetically at her and then looked at Ruby, "Sorry Miss Xiao-Long. You see, last week I came to Vale for the General to work on an urgent project. This project, while not in my main area of expertise, was something I desired to contribute to. Miss Rose you were a friend of Penny's, yes?"

After receiving her nod he continued, "Well Penny always talked about you, you know? She loved you, a friend, and asked repeatedly if she could be transferred to Beacon." He laughed at the memory, "I couldn't let her but it was amazing how much knowing you helped her, Miss Rose, because every day she spent with you made her more human than I could have ever dreamed. You made her happy. I wanted to thank you for that and for being her friend."

Ruby felt a twisting in her heart at hearing what her friend had felt for her, it made her miss the girl all the more now that she was gone. The Doctor noticed and smiled kindly at her when she found words to her thoughts, "Penny was a really good friend and she was super nice. It was a pleasure to have known her. And I wish she was still here."

A small flash of grief flickered across his face but it was gone in a moment, "Me too, Miss Rose. Anyways the point is Penny wouldn't want her friend suffering so that's why I am here. With the subject of my research being aura based robotics James reached out to me to create something for you. I came as soon as I could and, based partly on prototypes for Penny, crafted a prosthetic for you to use."

A small glimmer of hope blossomed into excitement as she realized exactly what it was she was saying. She jumped out of her chair, "A cool robot arm?! Really?" She looked at the General who merely nodded and added that she had earned it, "That's so awesome! You're so cool Doctor!" She hugged him suddenly and Geppetto was taken aback before she pulled away sheepishly only now realizing she had hugged someone she had just met. Even embarrassment couldn't stop her happiness as she nearly vibrated with excitement.

That excitement only grew as they were lead through the building to Doctor Polendina's makeshift workshop. It was cluttered and messy but Ruby couldn't help but admire some of the advanced tools laying out, precision instruments she could only dream of getting her hands on. The young weapons nut imagined all sorts of weapons that she could make with just what was here in his workshop.

There, centered on the counter, was a prosthetic arm gleaming a silver color upon a mount. The Doctor pulled a stool up next to the counter as he sat down in the other stool, he motioned for her to sit down. Yang stood arms crossed by the door and the General had been unable to come with due to some other things requiring his attention. When Ruby tentatively sat down the Doctor had her roll her sleeve up over he stump so he could at the socket placed there.

Geppetto hummed after inspecting it for a moment and then picked up a ring-like piece that was sitting near the arm. He slipped it over the socket before grabbing a tool to adjust it. Ruby winced at the pinching sensation on her stump as he twisted the driver until the mounting bracket was secure on the socket. He picked up the arm and turned to address her, "Okay Miss Rose, this arm is unlike any others because it was made to channel aura. Honestly it's a first time application of this technology so I have no idea how this is going to feel. Once I mount this it's going to be able to channel your aura just like a normal arm, and unlike other prosthetics currently on the market, it uses that aura as a power source. So it should respond naturally to you."

Ruby could only manage a nod, extending her severed arm out to him to signal she had heard him. Slowly he fit the arm onto the mounting bracket until it clicked into place. When he let go of it the arm didn't fall, instead it remained where it was before Ruby started moving it. She started with the digits, clasping the hand into a fist and then stretching out the fingers, even wiggling them. With a giggle she started moving her new arm around in front of her testing the arm's range of movement.

It felt natural and wasn't heavy, the more she moved it the less she had to consciously think about it. The doctor went on to explain a few of the functions and even had her test one out. The forced decoupling could eject the arm at a good speed and Ruby squealed as the arm shot off across the room and Yang stood there with a look that said she dreaded what her sister would do with such power. The younger sister looked up at her, sparkles dancing in her eyes.

"Yang I need paint."

A/N: So there it is, Ruby's got a shiny new arm and before anybody thinks I've invalidated her recovery and struggle I'll have you know I haven't. The arm is going to change everything but a lot is going to stay the same and I DO have a plan for this story. Everything is proceeding to my will, mwuahahahaha.

To be Honest this chapter was difficult to write without if feeling like a "it's dangerous to go alone, take this" chapter. It was hard to write her getting the arm because I wasn't exactly sure how to segue into it. But hey now it's finished and I have some news. I got a proofreader, not a Beta though but a friend of mine volunteered to proofread for me so hopefully there won't be as many mistakes from now on.