The sun began to peak over the mountains of Vale, a lone duster approaching the kingdom beyond the haze. Yang had been fighting to stay awake for hours now, her flight nearly at its end. She was snapped from her daze why the ringing of her scroll, answering without hesitation, "Yang Xiao Long Industries."

"Miss Xiao Long, this is Alison Zu. You know me and my husband, Lie Ren." a woman greeted.

"Yeah, the X nut who backed out of the contract we agreed on, how is he?"

"He's fully recovered from your assault, thank you. My friends in Atlas missed you, I was hoping we could talk."

"Was that your people? Of course, I had to cut out."

"Your operation causes our aspirations a problem. We want to expand into Vale, but your business and temperament prevent us from making an inroad."

"Ah, well, too bad. I don't know what you can do about that."

"I've already done something. We have your lover."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa...my lover? You guys dug up Jaune?"

"Ruby Rose. We've seen you two meeting and parting at all hours of the day...at her mansion...where she's alone. Well, you were clearly very close. How much will you give up for her safety?"

Yang burst out into laughter, continuing, "You can do whatever you want, girly. Me and my lover aren't on the best terms now. In fact, I'd say we have some irreconcilable differences. Knock yourself out."

"I'm serious about this. She will die."

"Sorry, but my business means more now than ever over that backstabbing bitch. Tell her I love her dearly." Yang concluded, ending the call.

Alison lowered her scroll to her lap, staring at it in defeat before sliding I into the pocket of her black skirt. She sat in a floral pink blouse at a metal chair, a table under the light of a hanging fixture between her and another chair. There was a stoic oriental man near the door on the other side of the room, arms crossed, and wearing a tuxedo and sunglasses. She finally drew the courage to look at the man and merely nodded, the man returning her gesture as he exited the room. A few moments later, he lead a figure in what appeared to be pajamas with a burlap sack over its head into the room, forcing it into the chair before ripping the mask away. Ruby squinted in the light that hit her eyes, struggling against the ropes that bound her arms behind her. "What the hell gives? If you guys wanted Yang, you could have just took her." Ruby asked.

"I'm so very glad you asked, Ms. Rose." Alison sheepishly replied.

Ruby cocked her eyebrow and inquired, "How do you know my name?"

A sly grin cracked Alison's normally dispirited facade, leaning further into the light to more clearly reveal herself as she answered, "We have so much to discuss, Ruby. Perhaps we'll answer that question but, for now, you're going to help me."

Yang pulled up to her trailer, immediately being met by her jittery accomplice Junior bursting out of the door, cheering, "Yang! It's so good to finally see you for more than a few brief, terrifying moments. How was your flight?"

"Long and fucking tiring, mind if you shut the fuck up and leave me to rest?" Yang groaned, unable to put any fire into her demands.

"I will, boss, I'm just real curious about what went down in Atlas. I've never heard you so...off-the-handle."

"And what, precisely do you mean by that, you spineless worm?" Yang hissed as she crossed into the Yard and stood at the stairs before Junior on the porch.

"Well, I-I-I-I was just wondering what could have unsettled you so much, not that you ever have been! It's just...strange to hear you like that."

"I had some personal business to take care of up there, let's leave it at that. I'll explain more to you once you get older."

"Look, Yang, it's more than just that. Those Chinese? They were here looking for you. Joan Arc? She was here too and beat the fuck out of me. The White Fang came to, they even shot at the house," Junior pointed out, the side of the home perforating by bullets, "I don't know what's gotten into you, boss, but ever since you went hunting for the ghost Ruby, you've...well, let's face it...gone off the deep end."

"How dare you," Yang roared, hopping up the stairs and taking Junior by the throat, forcing him back against the railing, "When did you suddenly get the balls to fucking stand up to me, huh?!"

Junior did not have the courage to look Yang in the face or even respond, earning a hook to the stomach that took the air from his lungs. "I asked you a fucking question, dog, now speak!"

"I thought...I was...just...stating the obvious!" Junior choked out.

Yang tightened her grip, seething, "Oh, so now you know everything, huh? You knew I was gonna go off the deep end? Or-or-or, you think it's obvious to everyone? Well, news flash, genius, I know I ain't gone off the deep end because I've wiped out my competition, the last few bits of it are clawing for their last breath to be prolonged."

Junior could only wheeze for what little air his windpipe could take in. Growing tired of his noises, Yang brought her free fist back again, Ember Celica engufling her forearm as it readied to blast him. Yang's arm trembled as she struggled to do the deed, growling as she released Junior, letting him fall to his knees to catch his breath. Yang brought her leg back and kicked him in the jaw, dropping him to his face with a sickening crack. Yang hunched down over the unconscious Junior's head, shouting, "You wanna know what happened so fucking badly?! Fine! I found that ghost, Ruby, we did some jobs together, just like old times! We got ourselves on the FIB's most wanted list and now we're dead women walking. That trip I just took was me finding out that Ruby sold me and a friend out to get off scot-free. They buried that woman in Ruby's place to throw me and the world off. Now I see this all for what it is. Fucking lies, deceit, and utter horseshit. The Chinese have her now, they'll fucking flay her alive. And, you know what? She goddamn deserves it. I hope they keep her alive for days just to fucking break everything about her. I have no sister. Happy?"

She got no response from Junior, growling as she punted him in the ribs, jarring him conscious and making him once more short of breath. "Fuck this. I'll go get Mel down in Valerian. When I get back, that attitude better be fucking straightened out or I'll fucking do to you what I've done to my competition." Yang threatened as she walked down the stares and towards the gate.

Junior panted as he got to his knees, holding his ribs as he called out, "You're wrong, Yang!"

Yang stopped dead in her tracks, staring ahead, dumbfounded, as she whispered, "What did you just say to me?"

"You're wrong, about everything! You haven't ended shit, you just started more of it. Your competition is now your enemies trying to kill you and they could damn well do it one of these days. They know where you live and where you cook, that's all it takes to take you down. And abandoning your sister? Heh, I know Melanie and Miltia haven't been too close for long but they don't declare each other dead. Maybe she did sell you out but, if she's been working with you for this long without a problem, who's to say she didn't change? You're just wrong, Yang, you're wrong about everything."

Yang could only look on in shock, unable to comprehend her weak accomplice could stand up to her. "All you've done is lost another ally in your fight, Yang. It's bad enough you have all these fucking hicks, weapon and drug runners, but the federal government?! Oh," he paused, chuckling, "you're pretty much fucked. You need all the help you can get and you pissed it away. If anything, you gave the Chinese some more momentum to steamroll all of your buddies, which I assume drags me and Mel into it, too. Don't you ever think of others? It's not always about you, Yang, we all have fucking feelings, too! Now that I know I'm already fucked, I don't have to be afraid of you anymore. Fuck you, Yang. Fuck you for starting this big goddamn war in the desert. Fuck you for being obsessed with that ghost, tracking her down, and stirring up more shit. And fuck you for turning your back on her and giving her to the Chinese. God only knows what they're doing to her."

Yang chuckled, replying, "You're right, only God does know, and I couldn't be fucked to care."

Yang finally left her plot and got in her truck, starting it up as she mused, "They're probably introducing her to the most unholy treatments a human could possibly endure."

"Please, I'm begging you, just cooperate!" Alison pleaded, clasping her hands together, as if praying to Ruby.

"What the hell kind of shakedown is this? For God's sake, woman, have some fucking backbone!" Ruby chastised.

"I will, I will, I promise." Alison assured.

Ruby could only slap her forehead in dismay, Alison continuing, "Look, I need your help. Ren's father has passed away, now he's in control of our business affairs. To say he's inept is an understatement. Even as his wife, I have to admit he's a party boy with no ambitions other than drugs and whores..."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it, lady, you have husband issues. Meanwhile, mine's a former stripper, fucks all of his instructors behind my back, and took my kids away and left me in a big empty fucking house when I stood up to him. Even better, I'm the only reason we're still alive and not freezing in fucking Atlas if we even were! So, I understand where you're coming from, but my apologies if I don't sound sympathetic."

"All I need is you to help me and I can help you."

"Fuck you, I had nothing to do with any of this shit and then you dragged me into it. Hell, Yang and I aren't exactly on speaking terms. Plus, your boys handled me a bit roughly on the way back."

"They said you killed several of our men. Plus, we thought you'd be a good bargaining chip, as you are Yang's lover."

"WHAT?!"

"Oh, come now, it's the modern era, there's nothing to be ashamed of. You've been spending so much time together, it's fairly obvious..."

"She's my sister, you moron."

Alice froze in shock, muttering, "Oh, my God..."

"What the fuck is it with the Japanese and weird sex shit? You and your boys should have done a lot more digging before you took me. So, if you don't mind, I'll just be on my way." Ruby concluded, rising from the table.

Her attempt was promptly ended as the man forced her to sit back down, barking, "Ow, fucker! Easy, I got it."

"This is even better, though," Alison chirped, "As your sister, you have so much closer bonds with her. Well, at least you did. Help us, Ruby, and we can assure you get the spoils of our war with Yang Xiao Long."

"What are you getting at?"

"You help us take her out and we fill the power vacuum in her absence. We can even have you running the crystal and arms like she did. What do you say, Ruby?"

Ruby crossed her arms and leaned against the chair, pushing her tongue into her cheek as she thought. Alison continued to prod, "She deserves it, Ruby. Get your revenge for yourself and all those she's wronged. She's a monster. Let's turn on the light and banish her."

After what several seconds, Ruby replied to the confidently smiling Alison, "No."

"What?!"

"I'm not doing it."

"WHY?! Yang is the whole reason you are here. The reason my men attacked you. She left you to die, she even said so over the phone that she doesn't care if we kill you."

"That's just the way she is. I'm not my sister. I already screwed her over once, that's the whole reason I'm even in this fucking kingdom to begin with. I won't do that again. She'll probably kill me if I do, assuming you don't stab me in the back first, but mostly because I've done enough shit behind people's backs to save my ass. I'll take this one for her, I owe her that much. I know she's going to find me. And, when she does, you're all good as dead."

"You're courage is admirable but you realize what we'll have to do if you don't side with us, right?"

"Honey, I've known how this shit goes since I was a teen, spare me. I choose my sister of your, myself, and whatever fucked operation you Japanese weirdos are peddling."

"I'm not Japanese! I'm Chinese!"

"Oh, me so sorry," Ruby mocked, bowing as she continued, "And you thought I was fucking my sister. I think we're about even."

Alison let out a deep sigh as she looked at her lap, shakily asking, "Pretty please?"

"Fuck you."

Alison took another breath before snapping up to face Ruby, scowling, "Fine, be that way! I'll honor my end by just killing you myself."

"Fine, go ahead. Shoot me."

"Oh, I will!"

"Go ahead."

"I am!"

"Then fucking do it already!"

Alison lost her nerve once more, her eyes falling to the floor as she whispered, "You're so mean."

Alison rose up from the table and dragged her feet to the door, head bowed in shame as she exited. Ruby turned herself around to face the man still stoically standing at the door, asking, "The fuck is wrong with her?"

The man acknowledged her with only a slight shrug, his face still stern and hard.

Yang strolled up the stairs to Miltia's condo, being met by the old man calling out, "Miss you already!"

He stepped out of the home and shut the door, his smile evaporating and eyes opening as he saw Yang approaching him, uttering, "What the F are you doing here?"

"That's a funny way to greet your sister." Yang grumbled.

Yang got in the old man's face as he clenched his fists, standing up to her with, "You ain't my G-damn sister, Yang!"

Yang reared back in shock, arms extended past her sides as she exasperated, "I thought we was family!"

"P-please just go and terrify somebody else. Miltia's back."

"Who the F is that, Dianzhu?" a woman called from inside.

"No one, my sweet!" Dianzhu called back.

Yang shoved the elderly man aside, inquiring, "Hey, by any chance did you catch crabs at that conference?"

Yang putted the door open, a women garbed in a revealing red dress leaping in fright as she screamed, "AH, DIANZHU!"

"I heard those conferences are regular little fuck fests, huh? Can I come in?" Yang asked as she made her way past Miltia towards the kitchen.

"I'd like you to leave, right now!" Miltia demanded, she and Dianzhu following Yang.

Yang paid no attention as she filled a glass of water, heading for the living room as she continued, "Oh, yeah, some serious corporate gangbangin' goin' on, right? With every executive and director of communications from here to Vacuo. Takin' it left, right, and center in the name of team training, right? I mean, that's what Dianzhu told me yesterday when he was looking at my...uh...muh tits."

"I want you to leave, NOW!"

"Look, this is all I've got, alright," Yang confided, seating herself on the couch, "I had a tough upbringing. My mommy was not there for me! Okay? Now look, Miltia, I love you, and I love you too, Dianzhu. Why can't we all just be together, huh? You can have Mondays through Thursdays," Yang rambled on, pointing at Dianzhu before turning to Miltia, "you can have the weekends, alright? I know that's not normal but in this crazy, crazy world, is normal so good?"

Dianzhu was attempting to hold Militia back, glaring at him until Yang's speech made them snap their heads to her. "Look, Miltia, Dianzhu," Yang pleaded, falling to her knees, "Will you marry me?"

Miltia had had enough, flailing her arms about as she screamed, "Get out of my condo," she regained her composure and pointed her finger in Dianzhu's face, "And you go too, Dianzhu! I told you, I've got a career. I can't deal with this...this..this...crap!"

"Yes!" Yang cheered.

"There," Miltia laughed, a crooked smile crossing her face, "You made me swear. You're crap, Dianzhu! Crap! You're not a man at all! Junior was right about you."

"Whoa, you don't mean..." Yang began.

She was cut off as Miltia strolled to the door, pointing to it as she demanded, "I want both of you to go, now. You and your weird hussy."

Yang took exception to her words, rising as she stated, "Whoa, hey! My name is Yang, sweetheart."

Miltia let out a hoarse chuckle as she strolled towards Yang, cursing, "I could give a FUCK what you're FUCKING name is!"

She strolled into the kitchen and grabbed a pair gauntlets with two red, saber-like blades on each end near the sink, turning to threaten Yang, "I'm not afraid to use these. I'm not. Junior taught me."

Dianzhu grabbed a knife off the kitchen, aiming it at Militia as he shouted, "Fuck Junior."

Yang finally snapped, shouting, "You people are not very fucking nice!"

The door to the condo opened once more, Yang exiting and panting as she did. Her face, shirt, arms, legs, and socks were caked in blood, slowly closing the door before leaning on it with regret. Her pity was interrupted as a familiar voice from below called, "Oh hey there, Yang! Haven't seen you in a while, stranger."

Yang looked over the edge and chuckled at her oblivious Melanie, trotting down the stairs and greeting, "Hey there, Mel."

"Did you met Miltia?"

"Interesting lady..."

"I should probably go say 'hi'." Melanie started towards the stairs.

Yang quickly put an end to it, warning, "I wouldn't."

"Why not?"

"Because...let's go get in the truck. We gotta beat the traffic back home. Junior's been missing us."

"I can run up and grab them. I know Miltia seems kinda uptight but she likes to have fun, too."

"Oh, believe me, Junior already knows that, that slippery bastard."

"What?"

"Nothing, Mel, just get in the truck and let's go home."

Melanie shrugged her shoulders and obliged, she and Yang heading for the truck and taking off with a hail of smoke and screeching tires. "Jeez, you wanna get out of here in a hurry, don't you, Yang?"

"Let's just say the city is a bad influence on me and I can't wait to get back to the incorruptible simple life of a country folk."

"Whoa, Yang, what do you have all over yourself? You're all red. Is...is that syrup?" Melanie inquired, wiping a finger across Yang's cheek before sticking it in her mouth.

Yang swatted her hand away, going along with it, "Yeah...syrup...accident. We've all been there."

"We sure have, but that don't taste like syrup."

"Don't taste me, alright! Just no licking...unless it's the kind you're not supposed to talk about."

"Got it."

"Hey, remember when we first met?" Yang reminisced.

"Sure do, I was on my way to a fancy ball with Miltia at a new bar our Junior was opening."

"Then you ran into someone at the grand opening when I was looking for someone..."

"Right, that was you!"

"Yes ma'am, and everyone in the club mysteriously stormed out of the place besides you and Junior."

"That was weird, I never got back in contact with Miltia or any of my friends after that. Weirder was that all my friends wound up in a part of the newspaper called 'obituaries'. What's that mean, Yang?"

"It's a bad fucking word you should never fucking say, got it? But that is weird and, now, Miltia doesn't want you around anymore either? There has to be a pattern here."

"The condo had to have been messy after your accident."

"The pattern is you can't rely on anyone. Anyone except me."

"Wow, I never thought of it like that."

"That's because you don't think, dipshit."

"Hey, speaking of which, do anything happen to Yancy? Did she find Ruben, crush her skull, raper her husband, and burn her house down?"

"Who the...OH, right, right, right, the story of Yancy. Well, it's a bit more intense than last time, Mel, you sure you can handle it without crying...or talking?"

"I promise."

"Good. Now, Yancy found her long-lost sister, only to discover she'd adopted a few children along the way. Yancy immediately became enamored with these kids. She even saved one from some pervert with a following of the sickest fucks on the internet and made him shove a banana up his ass, before uploading it to the mystical internet."

"I think I saw something like not on the actual internet, Yang. Are...are you just writing a fan fiction on this?"

"No, this is one-hundred percent original, not copied from anywhere, amigo. I actually have a few non-copyrighted thoughts in my head, unlike many others..."

"Oh, sorry, I'll be quiet."

"It only got better from there. Ruben was back in the game with Yancy, reuninting with an old friend, Winnie, and a new accomplice, Blair. They helped some asshole with poor taste in housing and worse in sexy female assistants take down anyone trying to take him down and destroy the evidence against him. They had to steal back a key witness from the tyrants known as the BIF. They tortured and interrogated the man until Yancy could take no more, but an evil wizard blew his head up. But, as it turned out, Ruben sleeping with the king and his round table was doomed to fail. They turned on the four, labeling them heretics and traitors, having them open to anyone's death sentence."

"Oh, no! Did Yancy make it!?"

"I'm getting there. So, Yancy and her dipshit three decided to take it to the king and his court. They stole scores of doubloons from their secret vault in the sticks, took out their armies, and stowed away on a coal-powered wagon. All seemed to be according to plan as Ruben saved them from a fire-breathing war elephant, too. To help there case even more, Yancy attacked a fortress in the sky on a flying carpet, assaulting the patriarchal soldiers on-board with precision testicular tactics. Underfunded, underarmed, and understaffed, it appeared as though the kingdom would fall to just four mighty warriors."

"That's terrific! Now does it end with, 'And they all lived happily ever after,'?"

"Oh, not even close, sweet Melanie. Soon, Yancy dropped by to see how her sister was feeling, now that her husband had wised up and left her treacherous ass. After some meager bonding and average fighting, Yancy clasped onto an idea she'd been knocking around for a while."

"What was that?"

"She pondered who was buried in Ruben's grave in her corpse's absence. So, to confirm her suspicions, Yancy magically flew to Atlas to see if her suspicions were true, the lying witch that Ruben turned out to be following her. As it turned out, Ruben cast an illusion for Yancy to fall for. Which she did, because Yang's a fucking idiot!"

"See, there you go changing the names again, I'm lost."

"Shut up! Yang had fallen under the lie that Ruby had been pulling for so long. Velvet was never in prison, she was dead, buried in Ruby's place. And Yang would have been too because, as it turned out, Ruby had sold them out to the evil government to get herself a immunity and a new life. She abandoned her beloved sister just to please that soulless fuck of a husband of hers. But, to settle the score, Yang left her to be taken by the Chinese triads, mafia, who gives a fuck? As this story goes on, Ruby is either dead or experiencing the worst tortures any human could endure. That, Melanie, is why you cannot trust family."

Melanie stared on indifferently at the open freeway road, her face taking on a moment of clarity as she confirmed, "Oh...wait...I get it now! That story was all about you, and Ruby, and those other people, right?"

"My, you catch on mighty fucking fast, don't you?!"

"But...I got questions."

"Stow it, Melanie, I don't have time to listen to you gargle the English language."

"But, why, Yang? Why leave your sister? I mean, I know she did a horrible thing to you and your friend, but she had to save herself. I mean, look at me and Miltia? She don't want nothin' to do with me to save her own public image. And I don't blame her. Look at me, I wear the same damn dress everyday, I smoke crystal like a faucet, and I piss myself all the time like a chimney."

"What is it with everybody treating me like shit today!? I fucking own you, Melanie, I own Junior. You are my fucking property and I can do what I please with you! If I want to polish you, I will. If I want to get your legs off so I can sit more comfortably at my table, then hold still while I get the hacksaw. Is that so hard to ask?! A little obedience?!"

Melanie remained silent for a bit, finally building up the courage to go on, "You said you can't trust anyone but you. That ain't right, Yang. You should trust Ruby and your friends. Me and Junior have stood by you with everything. When you beat us. When we got beaten by others because of you. Even all that weird sex stuff. And your friends are fighting to make sure you all beat that evil king. Ruby may not be trustworthy just yet, but she's tryin', Yang. I mean, she could have just shot you on her doorstep, right? If she's gone this far, don't she deserve another chance? She still love you, Yang, now go help her."

Yang's face began to contort and twist in anger, sniffling as she roared, "Shut up!"

"Does someone need a hug?" Melanie asked, spreading her arms out wide.

"Touch me and I'll rip your arms off!"

"Bring it on in, boss, it's alright."

"I'm warning you!"

Suddenly, Melanie sprung at Yang, wrapping her arms around the brawler. Yang was overcome with anything but anger. Her stomach dropped and her eyes began to tear up. Her sniffling grew uncontrollable as she let out a long cry of anguish, embracing Melanie as the addict reassured, "There, there, it's alright. Just let it all out."

"I...sold...out...my...sister...and...for...what!?" Yang sobbed.

The truck careened the left, cutting off a Patriot that bellowed its horn, passing them and flipping them off as Yang screamed, "Hey, asshole, do you mind?! We're having a moment here!"

Yang released Melanie and concentrated once more on the road as they made the turn towards the exit nearest home, Melanie saying, "Feel better?"

"Yeah, actually, I do. Who knew all that pussy shit about getting in-touch with your feminine side was right?"

"I know, right? I cry myself to sleep every night and I wake up so refreshed each morning."

"Anyway, thanks Melanie, I know what I gotta do. But tell anyone what just happened and I'll do to you what I did to Mil...Mil...millions of dollars."

"You'll spend me on hookers and blow?"

"No...eh, fuck it. We're home, at long last!"

Melanie sprung out of the truck as soon as it parked on the street, skipping towards the stairs and Junior feebly exited the house, being caught off guard as Melanie embraced him, beaming, "Oh, I miss you so much, Junior! Yang and I had a great time in the city, she can tell you all about it."

Melanie trotted into the house, Yang and Junior staring at each other for a time as Yang kept the truck running. "You were right." Yang finally called out.

"What?" Junior asked, dumfounded.

"About Ruby and what I've been doing. I'm sorry, for how I've treated you two all this time. It's just..."

"I know, boss, your mom."

"Right...I'll be back later, I got a score to settle with those Chinese fucks."

"You can't take them all on, boss. You don't even know where they're holding her, or if she's even alive for that matter."

"Don't worry, I'll be getting some help soon. But it won't be you. If we I go down, I need someone to step in my place. Junior, you're the CEO of Yang Xiao Long Industries, and if I don't come back, I want you to take good care of Junior Xiong Enterprises."

"I...I will boss," Junior teared up, "Just be safe!"

"Yeah, yeah, quit your blubbering, pussy, momma will be back soon enough. Did you tidy my shit up?"

"Oh, of course!"

"Good, see you soon."

With that, Yang sped down the road, heading for the airstrip as Junior looked on with pride. His moment was ended with the split of flesh, his breath leaving his lungs as it did. A female voice from behind him demanded, "Get in the house, now!"

Junior merely obliged, holding his hands up and turning, revealing a woman in Roman-style armor, the crest atop the helmet purple, a purple skirt, and brown leather boots up to her on her feet. She kicked him off her short sword and through the door, the half of the blade bathed in the blood of his lower back. He collapsed to the floor in a sprawl, Melanie screaming as soon as crashed down. The woman looked both ways before entering the house, uttering, "You two are gonna help me, got it?"

The screams within growing more intense before stopping abruptly, the desert once more returning to the idle silence of wind blowing, crickets chirping, and dogs barking.