Ruby was admitted to the infirmary practically the moment they arrived at Beacon. The nurses began their examination right away. As it was already midnight, they told the team they would have to wait until morning for an update. Something that did not sit well with Yang. The blonde couldn't sleep all night, and spent much of it pacing the halls near the infirmary.

Morning finally came, and Yang, Weiss and Blake were let in to see their leader. "Ruby!" Yang cried in relief at seeing her sister awake and healthy.

"Hey, all," Ruby waved as they approached.

"How are you?" Weiss asked.

"I'm just fine," Ruby assured. "Nothing that won't heal. It was mostly exhaustion. All I really needed was rest, I should be out by the end of the day."

"Exhaustion?" Blake questioned.

"Did you learn anything at the rally?" Ruby cut her off quickly.

Blake stumbled over her words for a moment before sighing. "They're moving operations to 'the southeast'. It sounded pretty important. But that's all we got before Roman saw us and we ended up fighting his mech."

"Oh, right. The big robot," Ruby remembered. "What happened with that?"

"We were a little worried without you, but I think we did okay," Weiss told her. "Sun was a big help, to be honest."

"That's good," Ruby nodded. "I'm sorry I wasn't there."

"Speaking of, who even was that woman?" Yang asked.

"I… think she's who's calling the shots. Commanding Torchwick and his partner." Ruby explained.

"The boss attacked you personally?" Yang smiled, "Way to go, Rubes!"

"Not 'way to go'!" Weiss argued, "if we're attracting that much attention, maybe it's time to slow down a little."

"Slow down?" Blake scowled. "Just when we're picking up traction?"

"And what exactly are we supposed to do with this 'southwest' information on our own?" Weiss countered. "Do we have any idea where in the southwest?"

"Well, no, but-"

"Not to mention this," Weiss gestured to Ruby on the medical bed. "Exhaustion or otherwise, Ruby was not winning that fight."

"If we didn't show up when we did..." Yang agreed somberly. "I don't even want to think about it."

Before Blake could respond again, the sound of footsteps drew their attention. The four girls looked up to see none other that the headmaster himself approaching. Ozpin stopped a few feet away, noticing their surprised stares. "I'm not interrupting, am I?"

"Nothing that can't be picked up later," Weiss assured. "Do you need something from us, Professor?"

"I would like a private word with Ms. Rose," Ozpin explained.

Weiss nodded and she and Blake walked away. Yang hung back for a second, looking to her sister.

"I'll be fine," Ruby assured.

Yang nodded and followed after the rest of the team.

Ozpin took a chair and sat himself next to the young leader. "Good morning, Ruby."

"I've had better," Ruby joked.

"As long as you've never had worse," Ozpin smiled.

"What did you want to talk about?" Ruby asked, hoping to get on with things.

Ozpin's face turned serious. "I wish to discuss the woman you encountered last night."

Ruby gave an empty blink. "How do you already know about that?"

"The nurses questioned your team mates about the circumstances of your admission," Ozpin explained, "and the nice thing about electronic reports is that I can see them update in real time from my office. It's a very strange report..."

"Strange how…?" Ruby inquired carefully.

"They describe injuries quite unlike anything they have ever experienced, as if you were attacked with an as-yet unknown weapon. But then they turn around for one moment, and when they returned your injuries had simply vanished." Ozpin's eyes stared down Ruby's own. "Some might say the recovery was downright magical."

Ruby couldn't keep her eyes from widening. After managing to rein them back in, she decided to simply keep her mouth shut before she said anything stupid.

Ozpin had shown his hand enough, and didn't feel comfortable probing further. "That aside, let's return to the intended discussion, shall we?" he suggested instead. "The woman who attacked you?"

Ruby shrugged, "I don't know what to tell you."

"Did she happen to say anything… unusual? Anything you may not have understood?" Ozpin asked.

"She said a lot I didn't understand, but crazy people are like that, right?" Ruby deflected.

"Nothing that sticks out to you?" Ozpin questioned.

"It's hard to examine that much crazy without a degree," Ruby joked.

"I suppose that's fair," Ozpin nodded. Figuring he heard all he would hear, he stood to leave. He took a few steps before stopping, his mind racing. Glynda had, more than once, urged him to let go of his control issue and invite Ruby. To extend the hand of trust. And deep down, he always knew she was right. Perhaps it is time… but I still must be careful.

"Professor?" Ruby asked after staring at the stock-still man for several moments.

"Ms. Rose. Ruby," Ozpin opened. "Every action I have ever taken has served to protect Remnant and her people. The school that I have built. The students that I have taken in..." He turned back to face the young Keyblade wielder. "The secrets that I keep. I hope that it is clear we are not enemies. I pray that in time, you can come to trust me as an ally."

Ozpin left then, giving Ruby a lot to think about.

Ruby was discharged not too long after that. As she left the infirmary, she noticed Yang still in the waiting room. Once Yang noticed her, the pair left together, the sister waiting for a moment of solitude.

Once she was sure there was no one around, Yang stopped her sister and pulled her into a quiet corner. "So, how are you really?"

Ruby sighed. "I told you, I'm fine. Exhaustion."

Yang crossed her arms. "Yeah, Blake and Weiss didn't buy that either and they don't even know the secrets I do. We all saw you, Rubes, you looked bad.I don't know what that girl hit you with and I'm not sure I want to know."

"Yang..."

"And I get it," the blonde continued. "One little healing spell, and poof, you're physically fine. But are you doing okay, really?"

Ruby looked up and down the hall to double check that they were alone. "I'm… angry. With myself," she finally confessed.

Yang silently urged her sister to continue.

Ruby crossed her arms. "That woman… she used darkness."

Yang's eyes widened. She didn't know much about darkness as a magic power. She did remember her conversation with Riku all those years ago, and she knew Ruby was afraid of it. She knew enough to know how serious that made the situation. "Holy..."

"It's exactly the kind of thing I've been training for, for three years. And I couldn't measure up to a single foe who wasn't even using it on purpose," the Keyblade wielder vented. "Being here at Beacon, trying to hide my power… I don't think I've been getting the training I need."

"So... what are you going to do?" Yang asked.

"I'm going to find a place I can practice for real," Ruby planned. "Somewhere quiet I can train my magic and strengthen my light. I'm sure I'm going to face that woman again, and when I do I need to be ready."

"Are you leaving Beacon, then?" Yang wondered.

"Not yet," Ruby shook her head. "It would probably be the smart move, but there are still resources here I can use. Plus, it wouldn't be fair to the team, would it?"

Yang nodded. "Well… you know I always have your back, whatever you decide. You need to skip class or want me to distract the others so you can slip away, just let me know. I'll come up with some excuse for you."

"Are you sure?" Ruby was slightly surprised. "I figured after last night you'd get all… big sister-y?"

"Much as I want to, you're right about this being what you've been training for," Yang explained. "And the last thing I want to do is hold you back."

Ruby smiled and drew her sister into a deep hug. "Thank you, Yang. This would all be a lot harder without you and dad at my back."

Yang returned the hug, "We'll always support you, Rubes. The both of us." The sisters separated, still smiling. "So, back to the dorm?" Yang suggested.

"Nah," Ruby shook her head, "I'm gunna head up to the roof, get some thinking done."

"Alright. Just don't wear yourself out," Yang joked. "See ya later, sis."

Ruby sat with her feet dangling off the edge of the roof. She didn't know what to think. The situation now was very different than it was twelve hours ago. That woman's command of darkness aside, both she and Ozpin were aware magic existed. "But… are they really? If she really knew about magic, why did she think she could steal mine? And what's with Ozpin talking about 'The secrets he keeps'?"

Something didn't add up. Ruby needed to take a step back and reexamine what she knew. "Master Kairi would know. She always figured things out, when we visited new worlds." Ruby's eyes widened, pieces clicking together in her mind. "New worlds… Maybe it's the fact that this is Remnant that's getting in the way… how would I approach this if it were anywhere else, any normal mission?"

The young Keyblade wielder began to form a theory that fit all the information she had. "First of all, I wouldn't automatically assume it's my magic people know about. But I know there's no magic here. Or do I…?"

The secrets that I keep.

"What if it's a rare magic…? People might not know about it because it's kept secret by people like the headmaster… and it's kept secret because people can steal it. And if that's the case… than there's something a lot bigger going on than a terrorist organization stealing a bunch of Dust."

Ruby wasn't quite sure what she felt about this theory. On one hand, it sounded like situation that could be left to the people already defending Remnant. It wasn't her place to interfere with single-world-level politics. But this was still her world, and even if Ozpin had a group of allies prepared to fight someone with stolen magic, what defenses could they possibly have against the power of darkness?

"I need a way to confirm my theory," Ruby deduced. "Ozpin sounded like he was willing to cooperate, but I can't tell him any of my secrets. Would it really be fair to ask him for his?"

"AIY!" CRASH

"AAAHHH!" Ruby screamed at the unexpected shout. She spun around to see someone laying on the ground, just outside of the open roof-access door. She barely recognized the bright orange hair and green eyes. "...Penny?"

Penny shot to her feet, dusting herself off and looking physically unhurt. "Um… Salutations, friend-Ruby!"

Ruby settled back down and calmed her breath. "Don't scare me like that, I nearly fell off the roof! How did you find me anyway?"

Penny's eyes fell. "I simply spotted you from the ground… and when I was making my way up the stairs, I… tripped" hiccup. "Excuse me."

Ruby turned back to looked at the ground for any footpath close enough for someone to spot her from. "You really saw me from the ground?"

"I have very good eyes," Penny explained, sitting down next to her. "I'm… sorry I startled you. I didn't mean to..."

Penny's hurt expression tugged at Ruby's heart, and the redhead sighed. "I'm sorry I yelled. I was just startled, like you said. You're fine, Penny."

"So… we are still friends?" Penny asked carefully.

"If you want to be," Ruby smiled.

Penny smiled in return. "So, how did that thing you had to do go?"

"Thing I had to do?" Ruby questioned.

"When you left the coffee shop?" Penny reminded her.

"Oh. Right..." Ruby nodded. "I needed to back up my team. But I ended up in a completely different fight..."

Penny read Ruby's crestfallen face. "You lost?"

"Badly," Ruby nodded.

"What happened?" Penny asked.

"She pulled out something I wasn't prepared for," Ruby explained simply.

"Oh," Penny nodded. "What?"

Ruby wasn't willing to answer that question. She looked her new friend over, noting her uneasy posture. She's still not comfortable with the whole 'friends' thing, is she? "Hey, Penny?"

"Yes Ruby?" Penny replied.

"I've been up here long enough. Why don't we head back in? You can come meet my team!" The young leader suggested.

Penny looked surprised for a moment before smiling. "That… sounds like a wonderful idea!"

"Then come on!" Ruby stood and turned to the door, "let's go!"

Cinder sat, scowling to herself, on her bed in the guest dorms. She didn't exactly lose that fight, but she wouldn't say she won either. After all, here she was, put up in her dorm, avoiding being seen, all so she could recover from injuries she couldn't explain. Injuries that even she didn't understand. Nearby were her two subordinates, Mercury and Emerald.

Mercury was idly flipping through a comic book while Emerald looked toward her boss with concern.

"You know the real tragedy here?" Mercury spoke up apathetically, "that we can't give Roman any more crap about losing to a little girl. He clearly didn't stand a chance."

"Is this all a big joke to you?" Emerald scolded him, "Cinder is really hurt." She finally stood to attend her boss, but was stopped when Mercury grabbed her wrist.

"Em, don't," Mercury warned.

"You expect me to just let her be?" Emerald yanked her wrist out of his grip and took another step away.

"Fine, then, but don't say I didn't warn you." Mercury smirked.

Emerald stopped and turned back to her reluctant partner. "Warn me about what?"

"I mean, do you really think that going over there and offering your help will go over well?" Mercury pointed out. "If you make her feel weak, what do you think will happen to you?"

"I won't be suggesting she's weak," Emerald argued.

"If she accepts your help, she'll be admitting she's weak," Mercury explained. "At least, that's how the boss will see it. We're all just her pawns, lesser beings, cannon fodder, all that… and one doesn't accept help from trash."

Emerald humphed. "Maybe she sees a peon like you as trash, but it's different between us."

"It's really not, Emerald," Mercury deadpanned. "And if you don't get that through your thick skull, she's only going to punish you again."

Emerald shivered at the mere mention of Cinder's 'punishment'.

"You want to know why I've never been punished?" Mercury continued to taunt. "Because I actually know my place here. So I keep to it. And I make bad jokes. 'Cause the boss expects me to keep to it and to make bad jokes. As long as I don't offend her, I get to live comfortably under her thumb and even get to have a little fun."

Emerald refused to hear what she refused to believe. "Well, maybe that works for you. I'm going to check on the boss."

Mercury only shrugged and returned to his comic. He had already done more than he really cared to do, anyway.

Emerald approached Cinder slowly, watching the magic thief manipulate fire in her palm. "Cinder?"

"What is it, Emerald?" Cinder asked dully without changing position.

"Is, um… there anything you need?" the subordinate asked carefully.

Cinder's eyes narrowed. "Of course not, silly girl."

"Are you sure?" Emerald probed. "Because It wouldn't take-"

The fire in Cinder's palm intensified. "Do. I. Look. Like. I. Need. Your. Help?"

Emerald found herself backing away in spite of herself. "O-of c-course not, ma'am..."

"Leave."

Emerald retreated, leaving Cinder by herself again. The dark woman continued to play with the fire in her hand. Thinking. Searching. Finding. After several more minutes, she finally felt something. Her eyes flashed, not amber, but pure yellow. The flame in her hand darkened for a moment, and for the first moment since her fight with Ruby, Cinder Fall smiled.

The approach to the door was slow and meticulous. There was a voice on the other side, though it was difficult to tell what it was saying until they pressed their ear to the thin wood.

"...I wouldn't automatically assume it's my magic people know about. But I know there's no magic here. Or do I…? What if it's a rare magic…? People might not know about it because it's kept secret by people like the headmaster… and it's kept secret because people can steal it. And if that's the case… than there's something a lot bigger going on than a terrorist organization stealing a bunch of Dust… I need a way to confirm my theory. Ozpin sounded like he was willing to cooperate, but I can't tell him any of my secrets. Would it really be fair to ask him for his?"

General James Ironwood sat in his office on his flagship, safe from the prying eyes and ears of anyone who would doubt him. He watched and listened intently to the footage coming through his main computer console. "So, Ms. Rose truly knows nothing of the maidens… but she does have knowledge of some kind of magic. Magic that's not from 'here'… What does she mean by 'here'? And where does 'her magic' come from? Then there's Ozpin, 'willing to cooperate'... He is too quick to trust..."

"Did I do a good job, General?"

Ironwood looked up to the voice that caught his attention. The voice of the being who had captured the footage Ironwood studied with her own eyes and ears. Atlas's first successful experimental living android, Penny Polendina.

"Yes, Penny, you have made excellent progress," Ironwood nodded. He heard her hiccup in the recording. "You hiccups. They're an anti-lying safeguard correct?"

"Yes, General," Penny nodded.

"We'll have to see about disabling it, temporarily..." Ironwood stroked his chin.

"So… I'm going to keep spying on Ruby?" Penny asked.

Ironwood detected hesitation in her voice. "Are you concerned about lying to a friend?"

Penny couldn't bring herself to speak, giving a short nod.

"Penny, you must remember that Ms. Rose is not your friend," Ironwood told her. "I understand the confusion. I asked you to cultivate a friendship with Ms. Rose, to earn her trust in the hope of discerning her secrets. But at the end of the day, Ms. Rose is simply the mission and nothing more. Do you understand?"

Penny's head hung low, but she managed a nod. "Yes, sir, General."