Chapter-34
"Hey Ruby we just got a report from the recon teams." Winter said into their links in their ears.
"You've got both of us. What have they found? Aria's already back." Neo asked.
"Heavy anti-air defences but we've got ground teams there and apparently Cinder Fall has been spotted entering the complex." Winter explained.
Ruby and Neo looked to each other and then towards Emerald before going back to each other as if saying, 'what are the chances?'
"Have you got images of the complex?" Ruby asked as her mind started to race through plans.
"We've got loads of images alongside ground penetrating radar images as well. This place is massive; I don't even know how it's been hidden for so long." Winter couldn't help but say.
"We're about ten minutes away from the school could you send the images over to Aria please? Oh, and get Ozpin and everyone together in my training room please?" Ruby requested.
"Sending them now. And Everyone?" Winter asked sounding confused as to who that involved.
"The other teams we've worked with before and Raven and Qrow alongside the teachers. I need to speak to them all." Ruby requested.
"Right I'm on it. See you shortly." Winter said as she cut the call.
"Aria could you feed me the pictures please?" Ruby asked as she leaned back into the chair and looked at the roof.
"What's she doing?" Emerald asked as she watched Ruby and could see her eyes darting around behind her ears and the woman mumbling.
"We've both got implants that directly link to our brain so we can talk to each other. At the same time though we can have images directly put into our brain and into our eyes. That's what she's doing right now." Neo answered calmly as she kept her eyes focused on Ruby.
Suddenly Neo's eyes glazed over and Emerald could only sit there and watch as it seemed the pair were having a silent conversation though Neo spoke aloud for Emeralds benefit.
"It could work. Could you teach it quickly though?" Neo asked aloud.
"Right, right. Forgot that part. What about the AA defences?" Neo asked after a few seconds.
"Are you sure? What if they can track us?" Neo asked once more.
"If you're sure. We should run it past the others first though. I'll let you know once we arrive." Neo said as her eyes seemed to return to normal and she smiled towards Emerald.
"What was all that about?" Emerald asked.
"Ruby was running an idea past me in how to get into that complex in Atlas it requires some training on anyone who's coming with us. But the idea is sound." Neo answered.
"What's the idea?" Emerald asked.
"We jump from a high altitude so the AA guns can't shoot the aircraft down and using Aura manipulation we can land safely, although a bit hard on the ground. According to Ruby the type of AA guns there are unable to track small, fast moving objects so we will be safe it'll be a hard landing though." Neo explained calmly as she ran through it all in her head again.
"Is it possible though? Wouldn't the impact drain all our Aura?" Emerald asked.
"It wouldn't actually. Think of it like a shock absorber. Ruby and I have done it several times and well, it should be fine unless you get it wrong then you'll be drained." Neo explained, "But I'll let Ruby explain everything when we're there. Which would be in about a minute." Neo said slightly louder as she nudged Ruby to wake her up.
It didn't take long for them to reach the training hall that Ruby teaches in and saw that JNPR, CFVY and the rest of her own team alongside Glynda, Ozpin, Raven, Qrow and Mizu all stood around waiting and talking amongst themselves.
"Aria, could you help your mother get the images up for everyone to see please?" Ruby asked as she entered the room and immediately she gained everyone's attention.
"We, and I mean Winter, Weiss, Mizu and myself alongside Neo have discovered where we believe my mother is being kept. At the same time, it is a refuge for the remaining White Fang members. Raven." Ruby explained as she entered the room before allowing Raven to explain the White Fang side of it.
"The White Fang have splintered. After the stunt at the Schnee mine and everything happening around it many members have left but there are still a few diehard members alongside the leader, Adam remaining. I managed to track them to a place in the Atlas Mountains." Raven explained before opening the floor to Ruby again.
"We've discovered that they are the same place. And now we've learnt that Cinder Fall has gone there as well. Emerald has defected to our side while Mercury who was her other companion has remained on her side but we've dealt with him." Ruby explained as she looked to Ozpin who nodded slowly.
"Now we have a chance to end it all. We've got them all in one spot. However, I'm only telling you this so you know it all, it will be extremely dangerous so I'm asking if you wish to join me. If you do not, then I understand but if you do we will be training constantly for the mission as I need to teach you how we're getting in." Ruby said calmly but her voice was strong and her gaze took everyone in as she looked around at them all.
Her mini speech though was returned with determined looks and it seemed no one was backing down from it as Ruby met each and everyone's eyes.
After a few more minutes Ruby smiled at them all and spoke directly to Ozpin. "Ozpin, would you be able to procure a couple scaffolding towers?" Ruby requested calmly.
"How high would you need them to be?" Ozpin asked.
"About three stories to as high as the room." Ruby asked and once she received a nod from Ozpin she turned to the rest of the room and started her session. "I've had a plan on just what to do to get into this base. The best idea seems to be to go at it from the air. Drop in from above." Ruby said as Ozpin left the room.
"So, what, a parachute drop?" Winter seemed to ask as she was confused as everyone else on what they were talking about.
"Parachutes would be too risky by the time we open the chutes and land they will have enough time to see us and shoot at us while preparing their defences." Neo answered in Ruby's place.
"So how?" Blake asked.
"We jump and drop in from a high enough altitude that they can't detect us." Ruby answered. "By manipulating our Aura to protect ourselves as we land." Ruby explained.
"How does that work?" Jaune asked.
"Aura acts like a barrier but focusing it on one point we'd be able to hit the ground and using our Aura to absorb the impact of the fall." Ruby answered calmly.
"But wouldn't that drain all our Aura?" Coco asked.
"Normally yes. But I…we're going to train all of you in a method that once you hit the ground you're Aura won't be drained. The basic principles are spreading the impact across an area instead of it being pinpointed. So instead it only drains your Aura a little bit." Ruby explained the idea easily as she fell into an easy teaching mode and for the next two hours she went over the basics with them all and explained to them all the theory behind it.
During this time, Ozpin alongside some other students brought in pieces of scaffolding which Raven, Neo and Qrow all helped to assemble as they were already adept at this skill.
For the next three days, they trained all day only stopping for food and sleep as everyone was determined to learn and to help Ruby in this mission.
By three days Ruby was finally happy enough with everyone's progress that they decided to try it in a real-life environment so Naomi took them all up in the Bullhead and they proceeded to jump out.
Everyone managed to do it and only sustained minor injuries, namely just sore limbs but after another day of practise and jumping they managed to at least stop getting sore from landing and while they were far from mastering it completely it was enough for the mission.
So, a time was set. In just under twelve hours Naomi would transport them all in her Bullhead over the Atlas Mountains where they would jump and attack the base though it was clear just who wanted who.
Ruby easily claimed Cinder to be here and there was a hard-fought battle between Blake and Neo on who would have Adam and in the end, it was decided that it would be Blake's though Winter who knew of her past after Blake had told her agreed but only if she was present as well.
Everyone else was to take out the others there and to intervene if needed but otherwise to stay back as it was personal for those fighting.
"What are we going to do after this has all ended?" Neo couldn't help but ask as she was cuddling in bed with Ruby the night before they leave.
"I…I honestly don't know. I'm a warrior. I fight and it's all I know. It's what I've known most of my life but to have all that I'm fighting against just suddenly…vanish. I'm lost." Ruby said as she rested her head against Neo's chest while said woman played with her ears.
"You always call yourself that. A warrior. Why not a Huntress?" Neo asked softly as her hands continued to play with Ruby's hair and ears.
"My mother used to tell me a story when I was young about people born with silver eyes. In the old times, they were great warriors, and legends say that just a look from one of these warriors could outright kill Grimm. I don't know whether the story is true or not though I have known no one else to have silver eyes like my mother or I." Ruby explained calmly as her eyes closed and a soft purr was rumbling in her chest.
"Is that why you call yourself a warrior?" Neo asked softly.
"I guess…I loved that story when my mother told me about it. She said that the Roses have always had silver eyes. That it traces back in our family tree. But as for what to do after this, I just don't know…I think…I think I would like the peace of not having to fight constantly." Ruby said almost wishfully as her mind was miles away.
"Peace sounds nice. Nice. How about we wait to see what the new day brings us?" Neo suggested lightly and soon the pair fell into a comfortable silence before falling asleep together.
The next day they were quiet as they got ready for the fight. Ruby dressed in the outfit that Mizu had given her with her choker on full display for everyone to see and the rose glowing within.
While Neo wore her normal outfit with the dagger Ruby had crafted for her attached to her hip while her parasol was in her hand.
Ruby armed herself as well with her beloved scythe at her back with her two swords on her left hip and then finally her dagger on her right hip.
The two shared an embrace and a kiss together almost as if it was their last one but they knew it wouldn't be.
"Let's go." Ruby said huskily as her breath tickled Neo's lips.
"Let's." Neo replied and the two left the room hand in hand.
Arriving at the Bullhead they found everyone already waiting for them and they all quickly climbed in. And as they were about to take off Naomi called out.
"Hey Raven, pass this around. Anyone want one take it. And Aria I'd love if my co-pilot joined me." Naomi called out with a large smile as Aria materialised in the co-pilot seat.
Raven passed it around and saw that it was several already made roll up cigarettes though no one took any except for Ruby and surprisingly Neo both took one and were the only ones.
Lighting them up off the same light they happily seemed to smoke in the whole cargo area while they waited during the flight. "Is everyone aware of the plan?" Ruby asked as she blew smoke out.
"We are." Everyone said together.
"Weiss I have something important for you to do." Ruby said as she took out a small device from her pocket.
"What's this?" Weiss asked as she took the item.
"This allows Aria to be transported by someone with either our implants or electronic devices. But also, allows you to upload Aria into a closed system. We need you to upload Aria into the bases systems and protect her." Ruby explained what she needed done.
"Right. Where exactly do I upload her?" Weiss asked as she took the device.
"Any computer you can find. From there she can get through the entire system and update us. Hence why we're giving everyone ear pieces." Ruby answered as she turned to Qrow who started to hand out ear pieces to everyone.
"Put them in your ear and make sure they're secure. Touch your ear gently to transmit your voice." Qrow explained the basics of it to them.
"Five minutes to drop point." Naomi called out to everyone.
The entire cargo area was filled with the noise of everyone standing up and getting ready as the clattering of weapons and last minute checks were made amongst them all.
Slowly they all shuffled around the rear ramp which slowly opened as they all stood there. It was decided that Ruby and Neo would lead them as the most experienced jumpers and this style of landing so they would secure the initial site.
While Q row and Raven would take the rear of the group and help anyone in need while the others rushed in ahead of them all.
"Thirty seconds to drop. Going to red." Naomi called out. The entire compartment darkened for a second and then was bathed in red light as they all waited for the light to go green as their signal.
As the cabin went black before quickly changing too green and without a moment's hesitation they all walked forward and out of the aircraft.
Air whipped past them all as they raced towards the ground which was quickly coming up on them. Luckily for them all though the AA defences didn't detect them coming in so remained silent but that all changed in a moment.
Ruby and Neo slammed in the ground hard, small craters forming underneath their feet and without a second's hesitation they raced forward with their weapons drawn and attacking anyone in their way.
Almost a minute later everyone else had landed and immediately started fighting White Fang members that were rushing out to meet them.
While this was going on however, Ruby, Neo, Winter and Blake all rushed inside the complex and with no clear plan on where to go they all just followed Ruby as they disabled anyone in their way.
They got into a large open room with only a single other doorway but blocking that doorway stood Adam. His blade already out and pointed towards the ground as he smirked at the four of them but his attention focused on Blake.
"Hello my Love, it is such a pleasure to see you again." Adam said as his voice dripped lust.
"Have you got this?" Ruby asked Blake softly.
Blake simply nodded her head as Winter intertwined their fingers together and faced the threat that was Adam before them.
Ruby and Neo rushed towards Adam as he raised his sword up to attack them back but instead they just slipped around him and moved through the next door as the two other women charged Adam as well with Blake taking the lead.
Ruby and Neo easily slid past Adam and entering the next door they were in a hallway but wasted no time in following it through. They guessed that Cinder would be at the centre of the base and from there they could gain access to the all the bases defences.
"Mothers. I'm in the bases systems. I've got access to all the cameras but I can't gain access to the defences." Aria spoke to them directly.
"That's alright Aria, where is Cinder hiding?" Neo asked kindly.
"Keep heading in your direction and then take the first door on the right. She's in there with someone else but I don't know who. But they're in a chair." Aria informed them.
"Thank you, Aria, help the others out if you please." Ruby asked kindly as they followed the directions given to them and quickly came into the room that Aria mentioned.
"Cinder!" Ruby growled out as her scythe deployed and her dagger appeared in her other hand. But it took a minute before Ruby realised who she was looking at in the chair in front of Cinder.
"Oh? So, you've finally noticed have you?" Cinder asked as her voice oozed confidence. Placing her hands on the bloodied woman's shoulders.
Neo took note of one proud wolf ear standing up but where the other should be was a brutally cut remain of the one that used to be there. She also noticed how thin the woman was and how weak she seemed and the fact her breathing was shallow.
But after all this time both Ruby and Neo were surprised to see that Summer Rose was alive, after Ruby fearing that she was in fact dead. Something had clearly happened where Ruby had got everything wrong.
"You seem surprised to see dear old mommy. But I guess you would be especially after seeing that you thought she was dead all these years." Cinder said once more in a silky-smooth voice.
"What have you done to her?" Ruby growled once more as she seemed to hunch over as she was getting ready to charge.
"What have I done? Nothing. But you see, dear old papa Schnee wasn't too happy with his wife's relationship with momma Rose so he got me to capture her. Any means necessary so I used the White Fang. It was convenient really. They hated the wolves, exterminated them but there were two left so it was easy to get them on side. Though you were an interesting prize but sadly enough I wasn't able to get you." Cinder explained as she brushed her hand against Summer's cheek causing her to weakly wince.
"But here you are. After so many years I've finally managed to get you into the open and to me. So, I suppose today is a good day." Cinder said sinisterly as she drew her twin swords and walked in front of Summer.
"You won't touch her!" Neo shouted and immediately charged Cinder.
Her attack was blocked and she was knocked away into the wall but it gave Ruby the opening she needed to charge forward and bring her blades around to disarm Cinder of one of her weapons.
In that time, Neo could recover and down to only one of her two weapons Cinder was forced on the defensive and the two women managed to get the woman away from Summer safely for the wider swings and more deadly attacks to be rained down upon her.
Cinder ducked underneath Ruby's strike and as Neo was moving in to attack Cinder launched her own attack and kicked Neo in the stomach while her blade cut across her leg which was partially blocked by her Aura but still drew some blood.
Neo hit the wall hard and she didn't seem to get up which only made Ruby even more enraged at seeing that happen so her attacks got messier but more vicious as well.
So, locked up in combat with each other they didn't take notice of other people entering the room. Mizu followed by Winter and Blake entered the room to find Neo struggling to stand up and Summer sitting weakly on the chair.
Mizu rushed to Summer's side as she immediately started accessing her injuries as her mind was overwhelmed with worry over the woman.
While Blake and Winter rushed to aid Neo in getting up and lean her against the wall as she struggled to catch her breath and her Aura struggling to heal the damage.
"Winter. Console, you need to shut down the defences and get reinforcements here." Neo wheezed out as she struggled to breath and she could tell that she had at least one broken rib if not more.
Blake sat there next to Neo as she helped her try to heal and gave her something for the pain which helped Neo to relax.
A loud crash brought their eyes over to the fighting and saw as Ruby crashed through a wall with Cinder following quickly after her as the fighting continued.
Cinder kept up and blocked another one of Ruby's messy attacks and kicked her against the wall though this time she didn't go through it but instead slid down it with her scythe on the other side of the room and her swords long since fallen.
"You're strong I'll give you that much. But now look at you, barely even able to stand up and you thought undertaking this little crusade of yours on your own was a good idea. Now look at you, you're going to die all alone like you should have done all those years ago," Cinder said as her blade pressed up against Ruby's neck as her eyes stared up defiantly.
"But she's not alone. Unlike you." Weiss said from the hole made in the wall. Behind her were Blake and Yang with Neo leaning against Winter. "She has a team now. Friends and a family. Much more then what you have. And we stand by our family." Weiss finished saying as all three women of Ruby's team charged forward at Cinder.
Neo who had recovered just enough could slide Ruby's weapon over to her. Using it as leverage Ruby stood up on slightly weak legs as she lifted her weapon up. "Thank you." Ruby whispered before charging towards Cinder.
Yang, Weiss and Blake all kept her busy and on her toes as she struggled to defend against three attackers even if they were simply huntress' in training but then when Ruby was added to the mix it was deadly.
This time when Ruby disarmed Cinder with the help of Weiss, it wasn't simply the weapon flying away but the hand holding it as well.
Using her momentum, she followed through with the swing and cut Cinder's other hand off before hitting her with her fist which knocked her to the ground but just as Ruby was about to finish the woman off once and for all someone shouted out.
"STOP!" A weak voice rang out but it was strong enough to cut through Ruby and stop her.
Turning around Ruby spotted her mother, Summer Rose walking or rather limping alongside Mizu who was all but carrying the woman. But this didn't stop the strong conviction in Summer's eyes as she held her daughters gaze.
"This isn't you Ruby. You're not a killer. I know what she's done. What she has caused but don't degrade yourself to her level and become a killer as well." Summer practically begged her daughter as she leaned against Mizu even more. "Please." Summer begged as her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she collapsed against Mizu who effortlessly picked her up.
Ruby turned back to Cinder to see the woman staring up at her waiting for the final judgement. "If you ever try anything again, I will not hesitate." Ruby said strongly before delivering a kick to Cinder's head and knocking her out.
Rushing over to Neo after that was done she kissed the woman she loved as it took all their efforts to remain standing. "I want to leave this place." Ruby said quietly before finally passing out leaving Neo to catch her who struggled but Winter soon came to her rescue.
One week later.
A lot can happen in a week. For instance, in a single week the threat of the White Fang vanished almost overnight as the last remaining members were captured and Cinder Fall was arrested.
At the same time, Ruby, Neo and Summer were all put into intensive care but within that week they were cleared to leave the hospital at Beacon. But now the four women had no clue what they wanted to do, or rather two of them had an idea but wanted to talk with the other two.
"We want to leave Beacon. Go somewhere quiet and away from everything." Neo explained to Mizu and Summer who were both sitting down opposite them.
"Where do you want to go?" Summer asked softly. Over the last week, she learnt a lot about her daughter and what she had missed out on. And although the pair were married they also said that technically that Ruby died the marriage was void.
But Summer was happy that Mizu stepped up for Ruby when she did, and that she revealed herself to Ruby as well.
"We're not sure but we need to get away from it all…I…we want to stop fighting. Live a normal life or as best we can." Ruby answered this time.
Summer and Mizu shared a look together before looking back at the other two women. "We were actually thinking about moving to Patch. I had a house built there several years ago, with the intention to live there with Summer…Its remote and away from anyone or anything. We want to offer you this place to live in." Mizu explained.
"But what about you two? Where would you live?" Neo asked.
Mizu giggled in response to the question as she answered, "I have other places in Patch. Plus, I think it would suit you two more then Summer and me. We won't be far away from you so we can see each other as much as we would like to." Mizu answered.
"Um, we have another request." Ruby asked awkwardly as she was unsure how exactly to say it.
"What's that dear?" Summer asked.
"We…we don't want anyone to know where we're staying." Ruby replied.
"Why?" Mizu asked though her tone wasn't demanding or upset but simply curious.
"We just want to get away from everything. We thought it all through and well, we want some time to ourselves. We want to get to know you two more but without anyone else. It's…it's why we're asking you." Neo explained.
"We understand. And we'll help you move and set yourselves up there." Summer said with a soft, motherly smile on her face.
Two days later.
It was rather surprising how quickly they could move everything they wanted to bring with them. And Mizu helped with organising furniture for the house and making sure it was all set up for them to move straight in though the two spare rooms were left bare to allow the two women to choose what they wanted to do with them.
But they were set up and comfortable and were spending their first night together in their new bed in their new house.
"This is nice. No fighting. No looming threat. Just you and me." Neo whispered to Ruby.
Ruby smiled as she kissed Neo's neck and started to lightly suck at a small spot on her neck. "It's amazing. But I was thinking…" Ruby said but trailed off as she carried on kissing down Neo's neck.
"Oh?" Neo said as a moan left her lips. "What's that?"
"We never did have a 'proper' wedding night." Ruby said as she flipped on top of Neo and captured her lips in a kiss.
After breaking apart Neo spoke up, "I guess we didn't. But we've got time to make up for it." Neo said as she instead flipped Ruby over and sat on top of her.
A/N
So this is the final chapter of story but there's one more to end it all off. Not too much to say except that this story had been rather nice writing even towards the end and now I'm off to work on some other stuff.
I'll post the last bit tomorrow when i get a chance. Until next time and thank you for all the support.