For the first time in a while, Ruby felt like everything was going to be okay. She found Blake and Hulk at the exact same time. Ruby didn't care that Hulk was free from Banner's control; she was going to save her friend no matter what.

"NO," Ruby screamed as Hulk readied to kill Roman. His giant green fist stopped inches away from Roman's body. The concrete cracked from the force of the failed attack. Hulk took very deep, long breaths listening to the voice he thought he heard behind him. Turning, Hulk's overwhelming anger morphed into compassion and friendship.

"Ruby…," Hulk said quickly making his way to her. Every one of his footsteps made the docking bay shake. Hulk was inches away from her petite body. Ruby's head dropped down.

"Hulk," Ruby said raising her head and looking him in the eyes. "It's time to stop," she said holding out her hand toward his.

"Ruby," Penny said from beside her, "Who are you talking…Combat activated." That was the last thing Ruby heard before Hulk's throat was slit. Hulk fell to his back.

"BANNER," Ruby screamed as overwhelming anger and strength filled within her. White light exploded from her silver eyes.

"I'm hunting a monster," Penny whispered in Ruby's ear. Ruby stood there on the sidewalk, stunned by Penny's words. "Ruby, did I say something wrong?" Penny asked her.

"What kind of monster are you looking for, Penny?" Ruby gulped. Penny couldn't possibly be after Banner, could she?

"One of his names is Bruce Banner. Another one is The Hulk," Penny smiled. A drop of sweat fell from Ruby's forehead.

"Of course…," Ruby said hoarsely. Out of everyone, why did it have to be Penny?

"What is it Ruby, my friend?" Penny asked tilting her head.

"Why are you after Banner?" Ruby asked nervously.

"I need to kill him," Penny said unfazed by her own words.

Ruby's heart skipped many beats. She suddenly went pale.

"Ruby," Penny said grabbing her. "Is everything alright?"

Ruby took a step back and screamed, "Why do you need to kill Banner?"

"General Ironwood said it's my job," Penny smiled.

"Why would Ironwood want that?" Ruby yelled.

"Banner is a very dangerous individual. He could easily destroy all of Vale if he wanted to with all that power. I should know. I fought against him before," Penny said slamming her fist in her palm.

"Wait, you've fought him?" Ruby asked in disbelief.

"And almost won," Penny nodded.

Ruby's day was getting worse and worse. First, Blake runs off without a trace. Second, her team abandons her and leaves Penny with her. And last, sweet little Penny survived a Hulk encounter.

"How were you not killed?" Ruby asked. She pinched Penny's cheek to make sure she was alive.

"I was knocked out during our fight," Penny said ashamed. "But then," she said jumping up. "Ironwood came and made me better! He made me tougher, stronger, and smarter. Now I'm 100 percent capable of fighting him once again."

"Penny…," Ruby said as her heart raced rapidly.

"Don't worry, Ruby," Penny said hugging her. "I will put him down fast and effectively. He might feel a little pain, but it will be a quick death," Penny smiled innocently.

"You can't kill him…," Ruby said shaking her head slowly.

"Anything that breathes can be killed, that's what Ironwood says," Penny said nodding.

"Penny, I don't want you to get hurt," Ruby said holding back tears.

"Don't worry, Ruby. I'm combat…," Penny said right before they both heard an explosion many blocks away.

A text popped up on Ruby's scroll. "Blake," Ruby yelled in excitement. "Docking bay? It's that way…," Ruby said looking toward smoke in the sky.

"We had better hurry," Penny said quickly taking off. Ruby followed behind, scared for the worst.

Hulk coughed blood as he fell on his back, tightly gripping his throat. Blood rushed through his fingers and filled his mouth. Hulk's vision started to become pitch black as he neared unconsciousness.

"AHHHH," Ruby screamed in pain. She put her hands over her eyes. White light slipped through her fingers and slowly grew as she began to bring her hands down.

"Ruby," Blake screamed. She and Sun quickly ran to Ruby's side.

"What's happening to…," Sun asked before he and Blake were blasted away by the powerful light.

"IT HURTS," Ruby screamed looking up. The white light projected from her eyes.

"RUBY," Hulk roared as he slammed his fists on the ground. His neck sealed back together as his anger started to rise. Hulk quickly jumped to his feet and lunged at Ruby.

"Subject reengaged," Penny said in her robotic voice. Her swords came out and spun in the air before blasting toward Hulk.

"No time," Hulk yelled. He jumped and caught Penny in his gigantic hands – midair. He slammed her down, burying her in concrete. "LEAVE HULK ALONE," he roared stomping on Penny, sending her even deeper. Hulk quickly grabbed a huge piece of concrete, and slammed it down on Penny.

Ruby screamed like she was being tortured. Hulk quickly put his hands around Ruby's head, blocking the light emanating from her eyes. Hulk's hands burned as he concealed the light.

"Ruby, you've got to let it all out," Blake yelled from a safe distance. Ruby's body quickly twitched as she let it all out. Light became brighter and brighter between Hulk's fingers.

"I'm…," Hulk said as the veins in his neck popped out. "THE STRONGEST ONE THERE IS," he roared as he tightened his grip and fought back the light.

"Hulk, you're doing it," Blake said cheering him on. "If you ever cared for her, YOU WILL SAVE HER!"

Red veins showed in Hulk's eyes, "HULK SAVE RUBY!" The ground began to break from the force of Hulk resisting the white light. When the light source started to become less visible, Hulk laid Ruby on the ground.

Ruby was knocked out cold, aura completely depleted. Hulk fell on his knees and looked up into the sky, exhausted.

"Good job, big guy," Sun said patting Hulk on the back. Meanwhile, Roman had different plans.

"These kids are getting weirder and weirder," Roman told himself as Neo helped him onto an airship. Roman sat in a chair and passed out with his broken ribs and limbs. Neo quickly flew them into the night.

"Hulk," Blake said looking him in the eyes. "We need Banner," she said uncertain about his response.

"Hulk, go now," Hulk agreed taking deep breaths. Hulk's body started to relax as he shrunk. Hulk's eyes opened in pain, "AHH!"

"Hulk, what's wrong?!" Blake asked. Blood dripped from Hulk's mouth as Penny dug her swords deeper into his back.

"Exterminate," Penny said in her robotic voice. She pulled her swords back and flung Hulk into Vale. Hulk rolled on the ground crushing many cars in his path.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Blake screamed at Penny.

"What should have been done," Ironwood's voice said from Penny's body. Penny shot the ground beneath her, and blasted into the city.

Hulk slowly looked up from the ground, and faced his opponent. Penny landed in front of him, breaking the concrete.

People came out of building to investigate. "Is…that the monster?" one of the pedestrians screamed in fear.

"Civilians," Ironwood's voice said, "evacuate now." People ran as Hulk got to his feet.

"Hull remembers you, little man," Hulk said shaking in anger from remembering his encounters with Ironwood.

"I'm glad. My voice is the last you'll hear in your final moments of life," Ironwood's voice said from Penny's body as she examined her own arms.

"Hulk doesn't want to fight little girl," Hulk said shaking his head.

"Don't worry about that, Banner. Penny is fully equipped to take on entire armies. She'll be enough to take you down," Ironwood said as Penny drew her swords.

"Hulk…SMASH," Hulk roared. He quickly jumped off the ground, and charged at Penny.

"Finally," Ironwood said as Penny side-stepped Hulk's anger-filled kick. She quickly stabbed all of her swords into Hulk's exposed side.

Hulk roared in pain as he was lifted into the air by the swords. Hulk came crashing down and slammed onto a truck crushing it like a soda can.

"So strong, yet so stupid," Ironwood said as Penny retracted her swords. She walked over and pulled Hulk's head up by his hair.

Hulk growled turning his head to Penny, "SMASH!" Penny flew through an entire building and onto the rooftop behind it. Hulk jumped on the side of the building, and ran up.

"We're not finished, Banner!" Ironwood yelled as Penny jumped off the roof top. She began to blast energy at Hulk as she flew down the side of the building. Penny drop kicked Hulk into another building. Hulk crashed through offices inside the skyscraper. He rolled to his feet, just in time to catch Penny.

"HULK STOP YOU," Hulk roared into Penny's face.

"EAT THIS," Ironwood screamed as Penny shot the floor. The floor pancaked. Hulk and Penny fell through all the building's stories, bringing it down with them. Penny sliced away as Hulk socked her across the face and both of them fell. They landed hard on the ground as the entire building fell on them.

Atlas soldiers held back hundreds of civilians around the collapsed building.

"My wife was in there!" one of the civilians yelled at the soldier holding her back. The ground began to shake. A huge green fist came out of the rubble. People screamed as the Atlas soldiers took aim.

Hulk emerged from the rubble slowly. He looked at hundreds of Atlas soldiers who would shoot any second. "Hulk…sorry," he said. He slowly reached behind him. He looked back to the Atlas soldiers with Penny in his arms. She was unconscious and covered in dirt with her bow undone.

"It's her," an Atlas soldier said. "Lower your weapons," he said to the rest of the soldiers. They all glared at Hulk, and then finally dropped. An Atlas soldier approached Hulk and reached for Penny. Hulk put Penny in his arms. "Thank you," the soldier said as he walked away.

Hulk looked around to see all of the fear and panic in everyone's eyes. He saw a man kneeling and crying next to a hand sticking out of the rubble. People mourned for their loved ones that Hulk had taken from them.

"You should have listened," Hulk heard someone say. He looked into the crowd to find him…Ironwood. "Banner is a monster, and he just proved it," Ironwood said motioning toward Hulk.

"General Ironwood!" a woman gasped as Hulk began to stand. Ironwood turned and walked toward Hulk.

"Is this what you wanted, Banner?" Ironwood said shaking his head at Hulk.

"Hulk not a bad guy…," Hulk said uncertain.

"Tell that to the families of the people you killed," Ironwood said as a fake tear ran down his cheek.

Hulk roared. All of the civilians ran as the Atlas soldiers trembled in fear as they aimed. "HULK NOT A MONSTER," Hulk yelled into the sky. "HULK SMA…," he said right before a yellow fist exploded into his chin. He fell on the ground, shrinking.

"I'm sorry, Banner…," Yang said as tears rushed from her purple eyes. Hulk was no more as Banner lay on the ground.

"Thank you, Miss Xiao Long," Ironwood said nodding at her. "Men," Ironwood said snapping his fingers, "apprehend this monster." Atlas soldiers in heavy armor came and started to pick up Banner.

"What are you doing?" Yang asked as her eyes began to turn red. Atlas soldiers aimed at Yang as they surrounded her.

"Don't do anything you might regret," Ironwood said waving his finger in front of her face.

Yang turned to find the rest of her team surrounded by Atlas soldiers, "Banner's not the monster. You are," Yang said as she shook in anger.

"Watch your tongue, child," Ironwood said.

"IRONWOOD," everyone heard. It was Ozpin and Glynda. "How dare you," Ozpin yelled as he got in Ironwood's face. "What were you thinking?"

"I was saving one of your students from the Hulk," Ironwood said fixing his tie.

"James, how dare you," Glynda screamed at him.

"He was protecting us," Blake screamed. Blake and Sun came from Ozpin's side.

"You have no right to talk, Faunus," Ironwood snorted at Blake.

"Don't you dare talk to my students like that," Ozpin growled. "Miss Belladonna, leave. I will take care of this," Ozpin said. Blake and Sun stayed in place.

"No, Ozpin. We're in this together," Weiss said as she came from Ozpin's other side.

"How do you expect to control Banner when your own students disobey you?" Ironwood smirked.

"Banner stays with me," Ozpin said keeping his cool.

"You were never good at telling jokes, Ozpin," Ironwood chuckled. "You see what Banner has done. He needs to be put down."

"Says the one who was controlling a little girl," Blake barked.

"Either way, Banner needs to be put down," Ironwood said motioning toward the rubble.

"I can decide for myself," Banner said. Everyone turned in shock to find Banner standing over unconscious soldiers. Ironwood drew out his revolver and aimed it at Banner's head. "That's cute," Banner said as he walked toward Ironwood. "Pull that trigger, and I'll lay your ass out faster than the last time we fought," Banner said as he pressed his forehead against the end of the gun. Ironwood cocked back his gun.

"EVERYONE, CALM DOWN," Ruby said as she appeared between Ironwood and Banner. "Please, there's been enough bloodshed." Ruby turned and hugged Banner. Ironwood looked at her, and then holstered his revolver.

"You win this time, Ozpin," Ironwood said as he walked away. "And Banner," Ironwood said as he turned to face him. "One more mess up and I'm putting you down myself." Ironwood boarded his ship, and took off with Penny standing next to him. Penny hid behind Ironwood as she poked her head from his side. She waved at Ruby.

"Can we just go back to Beacon?" Ruby asked looking up at Banner. She had burns near her eyes.

"Ruby…," Banner sighed. "Everyone…I'm sorry," Banner said with tears coming down his face.

"Banner, it's time we leave," Ozpin said patting him on the back.