Chapter-33
Four hours later.
They only had small breaks between fighting each other. It was Ruby and Neo together fighting against Winter and Weiss while Mizu was the referee for the match.
But after four hours of fighting it was interrupted by a tall woman with long, puffy black hair entering the room. But she simply stood to the side by Mizu as she waited for them to finish the current round.
The round ended with Ruby's knife at Weiss' chest while on the other side Neo had flipped Winter over and was straddling her waist as she smiled playfully down at the woman.
"Match to the Rose's." Mizu called out as everyone let go of each other.
"What's the score?" Raven asked.
"The Roses are winning twenty-one to nineteen." Mizu informed Raven as the four women came over to them all, grabbing bottles of water to cool down with.
"Did you find anything?" Ruby asked as she finished what was in the water bottle in a single go.
"Got evidence that the leaders were corresponding with Ironwood and a couple others in Atlas' high command were talking with them through Roman and then Adam. It seems to be them just talking before a promise of equipment in terms of guns and suits of Paladin's and apparently even some of the new androids as well." Raven explained.
"Hard evidence? And what about that one we destroyed with Roman inside? Any evidence of that left?" Ruby asked.
"Right here." Raven said as she waved a folder full of papers around, "And no. The Atlas military handled the clean-up of all fighting." Raven informed her.
"Right. We should go to Ozpin now and get everything in motion. What about the White Fang?" Neo asked as she spoke up.
"Split. A large amount of them have left after seeing the video of the Schnee women helping to free Faunus alongside the fact that the Red Reaper is in fact a Faunus, a wolf Faunus at that. It seems that the fact that you fought the White Fang has made them start to doubt themselves and just leave." Raven explained.
"What about the others?" Weiss asked.
"They're the diehard supporters. They're remaining by Adam but they've vanished off somewhere in the Atlas Mountains." Raven explained as she looked around at the shocked faces which only confused her. "What?" She asked confused.
"We believe that's where Summer is being held. A supposed holiday home that my ex-husband kept and well, with you mentioning that the diehard members have fled to their it only reinforces our need to go there." Mizu explained for everyone.
"So you think Summer is being kept up there?" Raven asked.
"We do. Winter has already got some recon flights happening as we speak." Weiss answered.
"What's happening with them? Have you heard anything yet?" Raven asked.
"Not as of yet. Now that you're here we'll go to Ozpin and the council to deal with Ironwood." Ruby answered this time.
"Right. Sort out Ironwood what about after him?" Raven asked.
"Cinder's allies before the woman herself. She's the immediate threat." Ruby stated.
"Well then how about we go to Ozpin right now and start the wheel?" Raven suggested and everyone accepted this way as they all left Ruby and Neo's room to head to Ozpin's office.
Handing over the evidence to Ozpin he got everything in motion for Winter to take over from Ironwood and a team of Hunters were dispatched to arrest Ironwood.
"What about Cinder's associates?" Ozpin asked.
"Don't worry about them. I will deal with them shortly." Ruby replied as she left the room with her cloak bellowing behind her as she headed towards the courtyard.
"What's the plan?" Neo asked as she walked alongside Ruby.
"We give them a chance. Emerald and Mercury. If they chose not to leave Cinder at the least, then we need to arrest them if possible." Ruby said in reply to the question.
"And if not?" Neo asked noted mentally that they were walking to the docks.
"Then we need to disable them." Ruby stated plainly as she stopped just outside a bullhead and turned to look at Neo.
Neo had long since changed back into her normal outfit at least for the moment as she liked the feel of it all. They stared at each other before leaning into each other and kissing.
After almost a full minute of kissing the two pulled away but leaned their heads together. "It's nearly over. All of it. We're so close." Ruby mumbled softly.
Neo didn't answer her as there was always this worry between them both of just what would happen when it was over. Almost their entire lives they had been working towards this point but they never discussed what would transpire after they finished. The only thing the two women knew for sure was the fact that they would stay together after all of this ended.
"What's…" Neo started to ask but was interrupted by a flashing next to them and then suddenly seeing Aria sitting on the floor next to them.
"Aria? What's wrong?" Ruby asked as she broke their embrace and rushed over to her 'daughter'
"I was on one of the ships going over that place in Atlas but there were defences. One of the ships were shot out of the sky but the pilots managed to get out in time. I was in that ship so I jumped as soon as possible." Aria explained quickly as she stood up but seemed to be rubbing her arm.
"Are you alright?" Neo asked worriedly.
"I'm fine mother. A little shocked but I'm alright. The others are all alright as well and they're on their way home now. Auntie Winter should have the information shortly." Aria explained.
"Thank you Aria. And well at least we know that they have anti-air defences." Ruby said as she smiled softly towards her daughter.
"So what were you going to ask?" Ruby asked Neo as she was curious to know.
"I was going to ask how you know where Emerald and Mercury will be?" Neo asked as she lied about what she truly wanted to ask.
"Well you are going to meet one of my informants. I've been given certain proof that they will both be there." Ruby replied with a soft smile that made Neo uncertain.
"Girls! You ready?" Naomi called out as she leaned out of the cockpit.
"We're ready Naomi." Ruby said as she took Neo's hand and climbed into the Bullhead.
"Hey kiddo, jump up here with me." Naomi called own the ship to Aria who happily entered the ships systems and materialised in the co-pilot seat.
Naomi quickly took them into the air and while she was in the front talking with Aria the two women in the back were silent as they enjoyed each other's presence.
"Why are we heading to the arena?" Neo asked as she noticed where they were heading.
"That's where they are." Ruby said plainly as she drew her small dagger in one hand but she kept her other hand open and free of her weapon.
"Are you ready?" Ruby asked.
"Let's get this over with." Neo responded with a smile as she took her parasol into her hands as she stood up alongside Ruby and walked to the rear ramp.
"Right ladies. Remember be safe and have a good night. I'll be sitting here and waiting for you so don't take too long." Naomi teased as she sounded almost like a mother to the pair.
"We won't." They called out together and they left the aircraft and headed into the arena.
They kept walking until they neared the main stage part and they could hear talking going on in the arena.
"Em, I thought you said Cinder was meeting us here? But where is she?" Mercury asked as he sounded bored.
"Don't worry Mercury she'll be here in a minute. Trust me." Emerald said in reply as she seemed to practically bounce.
As soon as Ruby and Neo entered the arena as their boots clicked against the floor and immediately Mercury adopted an offensive stance as he got ready to attack.
"I come in peace. At least for now." Ruby said as she opened her hands out wide with one hand simply displaying her dagger while her other hand had no weapon in it.
Neo stood just behind Ruby although she was ready to attack at a moment's notice. "I am here simply to ask you to leave Cinder. Abandon her side I do not care what you do as long as you stay out of trouble and do not return. Or you could join me and help me defeat Cinder." Ruby said her voice was strong and her ears were on proud display as there was no hiding just who she was.
"And if we don't?" Mercury asked as he didn't notice how quiet Emerald was being.
"Then you will no longer be a threat." Ruby said coldly while her hands were still out in her offering.
Before Mercury could respond however Emerald moved forward towards the pair and Mercury could only watch in stunned silence as Emerald took the offered hand with a smile and stood behind Ruby with Neo.
"Neo, please meet Emerald. She is my source. Emerald, please meet my wife Neo." Ruby said in a soft smile before she turned back to Mercury. "What is your choice?" Ruby asked as she turned back to the man.
Mercury didn't answer verbally but instead just charged forward with his foot extended as he aimed for Ruby's head.
Ruby just signed and with one arm she sweeps the two women out of the way while she spun her dagger around and just as Mercury was about to make contact she side stepped while bringing her knife down directly through Mercury's leg.
Mercury cried out at the sudden shock of the attack but Ruby ignored it as she instead grabbed her scythe and instead of fully deploying it she only put it into rifle mode and fired a single shot into Mercury's other leg.
The bullet took Mercury's leg apart in a single shot and all the circuits and electronics were exposed but once more Ruby didn't stop until she tore her dagger out but not before twisting it and taking off Mercury's other leg.
Ruby put both her weapons away as she walked over to the fallen Mercury who could only whimper on the ground.
All of this happened in the span of ten seconds as Ruby had torn Mercury apart and left him there on the floor.
"Aria let Ozpin know what's happened and that someone is sent to pick him up if you please." Ruby asked of her daughter as the trio headed back to the ship.
Neo was talking Ruby's ear off about how Emerald was her source and that she wouldn't even tell Neo that fact. But Ruby brushed it off as she said that Emerald wanted to remain a secret from everyone so only Ruby knew.
"So what now then? Cinder?" Emerald asked almost cheerfully.
"Yes she's next, I don't suppose you have any idea where she is, do you?" Ruby asked on the flight back.
"No. She's been rather secretive as of late but I'm sure we'll be able to find her." Emerald said in response.
"Let's get back to the others then. We can work something out." Neo stated calmly at them both as they went back to the ship and were taken back towards the school.
"Hey guys I'm getting Winter on the line. She wants to talk to you." Naomi called out from the cockpit as they were halfway to the school.
"Aria, patch her through to our links please." Ruby requested as she leaned back in the chair with her eyes closed.
A/N
So, I've been rather lazy, sorry about that and I really mean it. I've got another chapter then an epilogue ready for this I've also got a Christmas one-shot to come out as well and then I'm flipping between a couple stories to do.
Not much else, in case I don't get to it. Have a Merry Christmas and a happy new year.