Author's note:

Hello everyone, welcome to chapter 4. I just wanted to give everyone a huge thank you; it's been great getting all the positive and negative feedback, follows and favourites. Just want to clear up a few things that have come up;

a) I have finally re-edited chapter one with the proper naming scheme for Ren

b) I thought about putting this in the crossover section of the site; however I wrote this for RWBY fans so I want to keep it in the family. (Although if you guys really think it's what I should do I can do it)

Finally just a few shout-outs. Huge thanks to my beta reader who has been a huge help with the story. Huge shout out to shazarakk for his wonderful RWBY/Assassins creed art (maybe you should visit his deviant art ;) ). Last but definitely not least, I got to say it again, thank you all for reading. So without further ado, chapter 4.

Weiss wrapped the blanket around her shoulders, moving closer to the campfire. The fight had slowed them down; the loss of their carriage had delayed them even more. They had been forced to dig through the crumpled remains of the carriage, hoping to save the invaluable books and other personal effects they had brought. Weiss had been forced to put down the horses, having been severely injured by the fall. She had asked Ruby to help put them down, but the girl had refused, in her words she didn't want to hurt the 'horsey'.

It had begun to get to Weiss. One moment Ruby was the playful child, full of energy and cheer. Then she would become a darker, merciless killer. The hardest thing was that Weiss had made her into that. They hadn't been training for long, yet Ruby's skills grew so quickly it didn't matter, it was as if she was born for this life. What she saw in Ruby that afternoon had made so much clear to her. She understood why Summer had hidden her life, this life, from Ruby. She had been perfectly pure and blameless, and in a little over two weeks Weiss had corrupted her. She understood a part of her father's coldness, he had always been a distant man, but after Weiss had avenged Winter he had all but disappeared from her life. Because he had turned her into a monster, just as she had turned Ruby into a monster.

What happens when this is all over, once Ruby has gotten her revenge? Would she join the Assassins, would she return to her old life, or would she lose it and become a danger to society? Once she had fulfilled her need for vengeance after Winter's death she had joined the Assassins, but she never had much choice in that. Her father had wanted to use her for political power, marry her off to gain an ally or access to something he needed. Winter had been chosen to live the life of an Assassin, Weiss had simply been second best. She had been let into the order because she was tarnished goods, she had killed and it had left a mark on her, one that would never heal. Her hand absently traced the scar over her eye. She could no longer be used as a piece in her father's political game. She was somewhat thankful for this, she couldn't stand the idea of simply being married off to whom ever had the largest dowry, sold like cattle.

She lived as an Assassin, because she knew nothing else. If she could not fully accept the creed that they lived by, then how could Ruby. I have set her up to fail. These thoughts swam around her head, keeping her from the sweet release of sleep. She watched Ruby sleep with envy, her chest slowly rising and falling. Her face was a picture of serenity, no trace of the killer she knew hid beneath her calm face. She watched her for some time, worry ever present in her mind. I sent her down this path, I will help her get to the end, and then she will have to make her decision. Weiss finally closed her eyes, letting sleep take her.

Ruby's eye creaked open; having heard Weiss finally lay down to sleep. She waited a few more minutes, maintaining her disguise of sleeping. Eventually she rose, sighing deeply as she pulled out her mother's letter again. She read over the words for the hundredth time.

My dearest Ruby,

If you are reading this, then I am sorry. I have failed, and it has cost me my life. Tell Yang and your father I loved them deeply, and I wish things had gone differently. Finding this probably means that you know a little more about my past, about the Assassins and Templars. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I didn't want this life for you. Now you have to take up my mantle, I need your help. You come from a long line of proud Assassins, who fought for mankind's freedom to choose its own destiny. One of the tenants of the Assassins is 'everything is permitted', we choose our own path and nothing and no one can say that path is wrong, but we must live with our choices. Something is coming that threatens that. Nothing is true, suspect everyone, and trust no one. The Lie family are to be in possession of this threat, ask on my behalf and they will be able to give it to you. Then you must hide it, so that no one can ever find it. I know you're probably hurt, filled with sadness and anger. I'm sorry for forcing you into this world of madness. I wish I had the courage to tell you all of this in person, tell you why I had to do things the way I did. Just remember that you are all that ever mattered to me, you, your father and your sister where everything to me. I made this sacrifice and I fear it will force you to make more sacrifices. Goodbye Ruby, I love you, I'm sorry.

Ruby read over the words, still not knowing how to react. The words were a strange source of comfort and despair for her. She could hear her mother's soothing voice when she read it; it reminded her of how much she was loved. Yet the words also spoke of sadness, spoke of danger and fear. Her mother who had for so long been Ruby's picture of perfection, her model on which to build her life, was flawed. It was a tough epiphany to come by, one that both frightened her and brought her satisfaction. Her mother was a human being, she was mortal, she was not perfect. She felt closer to her now, she had begun to understand why her mother would do everything she did. Her secrecy of the Assassin order was made to protect Ruby from repeating the life that she had lived.

Ruby could see all of this now, because today she had taken her first life. It had been so quick, so thoughtless, a reaction more than a decision. She had felt the beast within her push her to fight, to kill. Those men had been evil, and they had tried to hurt her and Weiss. They worked for the man that killed her mother. Yet there was no victory in their deaths. Ruby was a killer now, she had fully committed to the path of avenging her mother, and she realised that she was not ready. She thought her anger would be enough to drive her, to justify it all, but it wasn't, it still felt wrong. She was a monster like Torchwick and it made Ruby feel sick. This is what her mother had warned her of, she had sacrificed her innocence; she had sacrificed the old Ruby Rose.

She knew that even if she killed Torchwick there was nothing that would fill the emptiness that her mother had left behind.

"So how did you figure out the hidden gun? I seriously had not noticed and I have a keen eye"

"Oh it was in that book you gave me; the Assassin in it had one. It all clicked when you showed me how to use the pistol." Weiss nodded in approval, it was a rarer design of hidden blade as it was hard to perfectly manufacture such a small firearm that wouldn't blow apart ones wrist. "What about your riding skills, I doubt even I could have pulled off that manoeuvre with the horse." Weiss had tried, but it had ended with her on the road rather than in the saddle. "Well I used to visit my Uncle Qrow all the time, he has a farm, like a really nice one, and it had horses. I would ride all the time and it was so fun and-", Weiss zoned out, ignoring the girls ramblings. It still put her on edge, Ruby's childlike demeanour still present, even after all that had happened.

"Ruby there's an Inn up ahead, do you want to go and ask around about your Father and Sister?" Ruby stopped her rambling, Weiss watched as her composure changed. "Sounds like a good idea, we are pretty close to the warehouse, and if they stopped there it could point us in the right direction". She seemed older, more serious when she focused on her family. Weiss couldn't decide if she liked this Ruby, or preferred the old one.

The two rode side by side as they approached the Inn. The first thing Weiss noticed was the smell of gunpowder; she called a halt to their advance. "Smell that?" Weiss testing Ruby's perception, the younger girl sniffed the air for a second. "Is that… Gunpowder?"

"I think so, keep on guard I have a bad feeling about this." The two dismounted, trying their horses to the rickety fence that bordered the Inn. The Inn itself was a large three storied old brick building, slightly worn down from years of service with a few boarded windows and unkempt vines growing over the brick. The land around the building was worn down by repeated use, a small barn the only other building present. Weiss paced the perimeter carefully, trying to find any sign of disturbance. Scanning the horizon for danger Weiss was summoned by Ruby, "Weiss, I think you should come here," she spun on her heel and marched over to her companion. Ruby had moved closer to the Inn whilst she had looked outwards for signs of danger. What she had found was concerning, "I don't think these windows are boarded up because it's an old place, look." The girl in red pointed out several marks on the building's exterior, what looked like bullet holes. Weiss examined the marks, a round shot clearly indented in the brick.

"Ruby, wait with the horses, if you see anything shout out". The two hooded girls shared a nod before moving to their positions. Weiss pushed against the door to the Inn, it was barred. Weiss threw herself at the door, it came away easily. She examined the door closely as she entered, she hadn't heard the sound of breaking hinges, yet they were broken. I'm not the first one to break down the door.

The interior of the bar was rustic, or would have been if the first floor was not in a state of destruction. Tables lay upturned, pieces of chairs and glass lay scattered on the floor. The smell of gunpowder was more prevalent, there had without any doubt, been a particularly violent fight here.

Weiss reacted just in time as the axe swing came out of nowhere. She leapt backwards, barley avoiding a fall as she stumbled over the remnants of a table. Her opponent screamed as they delivered another wild swing. Weiss rolled away as the axe slammed into a beam. She looked at her opponent; the blonde woman appeared to have seen better days.

She pulled her pistol out and aimed it at the blonde woman, before she could make another swing. "Don't move, drop your axe! Why are you here?" The woman looked confused, her grip tightening on her axe, "you're not with them?"

"With who? Never mind, have you seen a man named Taiyang or a girl named Yang? I'm looking for them for a friend." The blondes grip did not let up.

"Who sent you?" Her words were harsh, and coarse.

"I'm here with a member of their family, she is outside right now. Now drop that axe, if this gun goes off she comes in her and I doubt you would be able to take both of us." The woman finally let up, lowering her axe. "Summer, is she here" the blondes face lit up.

She ran past Weiss, dropping her axe. For a second she considered firing and stopping the girls charge through the door, but something felt off. How does she know Summer, why would she…. Oh bother. Weiss raced after Yang.

Ruby heard the sounds of commotion from inside the Inn, she turned away from her watch. Her hand went to her sabre, preparing to go in and help Weiss. As she approached the door she was met with a giant bear hug. "Summer thank god you're… Did you get shorter or…. Ruby! What are you doing here!"

"Yang… Please let….go" Ruby managed to squeak out her request. Yang held her, but relaxed her tight grip, "Ruby where is Summer, we need her help. Oh boy do I have a story for you"

"Yang…"

"Seriously it has been totally crazy, me and dad were attacked by these crazy guys. They want something called dust, and dad was pretty cool and like fought them off so we could excape. Then he tells me all about like secret 'orders' and ninja's and stuff. Summer is like totally a badass though and he said she would come and help us get out of here."

"Yang…"

"Cause they kept coming after us, so we hid here. But they found us and there was a big fight, the innkeeper didn't make it, and dad got hurt pretty bad. But he said Summer would come and save us, where is she?" Yang looked around expectantly.

Ruby hung her head in despair, her hood covering most of her face. Yang finally examined her sister at length, surprised to see her attire and weapon hung at her side. Ruby froze, her lip quivered as she tried to find the words, any words to tell Yang. "Y-yang… Mum is…."

"What? She's what?"

"S-she's…" Yang's eyes widened, the shock settling in

"Dead." Ruby's voice but a whisper.

"No, please…No….No…..No!"

Weiss watched the sisters interact. She watched with pain in her heart as Yang broke down. The bags under her eyes spoke of a great lack of sleep; she had a small cut on her cheek which spoke of her fight. Ruby's words were cold, her eyes may have been hidden by her red hood, but Weiss saw a single tear streak down her face. Yang fell to her knees; she let out a banshee howl filled with equal parts rage and sadness. She beat the earth with her fists, letting out her anger, tears slivering down her face.

Ruby tried to comfort her sister, tried to pull her inside the building. Yang shrugged her off, not even making eye contact, needing to get it all out. Ruby visibly sobbed, before running inside. Weiss didn't know how to react, she didn't feel right trying to comfort Yang, they had only just met and in a fashion that did not quite invite comforting. So she followed Ruby, hoping that she was ok.

The room where their father was housed was small, filled with all the usual comforts a simple Inn room would require. He lay on the bed, face pale and damp with sweat. Ruby looked down over her father, Weiss watched as more tears fell from Ruby's face. "I keep telling myself I'm done crying, done mourning, does it ever stop hurting?" Weiss paused, trying to think of what to say.

"No Ruby, it will always hurt, we just get better at accepting the pain." She was honest, Ruby had wanted honesty and so Weiss agreed to give it. Ruby slumped into a nearby chair, quickly checking her father's wound. Her father's eyes fluttered open slightly, mumbling slightly he grasped Ruby's hand s smile spreading over his face. "S-summer…" He fell back into his wound induced slumber. Weiss shrank, she felt hurt as Ruby pulled out her letter and read over it again, trying to keep her tears from staining the precious parchment. "Ruby I can try and take care of your father, I know a little more about injury than you so I might be able to help. We can stay here the night and leave in the morning."

"Yang only fended them off; she said that they told her they would be back, and with more men."

"Damn, come on we have to get everyone moving then, maybe we can outrun them." Ruby looked up at her, her eyes red from crying, her eyes flicked to her motionless father. Dam when the dolt start correcting my plans. Weiss grew frustrated; her little mission had gone so horribly wrong, they would never be able to outrun them while carrying Taiyang. Ruby simply returned to her letter once again, a look of defeat on her face.

Weiss stormed out of the room, racing down the stairs. Why is it so hard, why is everything so hard! She had made a promise to help Ruby, but at every turn she seemed to have only made life worse for the girl. A Schnee never goes back on their word. Her father's voice whispered in her mind, when the girl dies because of your failures, let it be on your head.

No, she would not fail, she would not let Ruby die. Ruby was not ready for this, her emotions had gotten he best of her because Weiss had let her go on this mission. She would get them all out, even if she had to face all of the Templars herself.