Chapter Four: The Saboteur

"Are you sure this boy is the right one for your plan, Mistress Cinder?" The mint haired woman asked the Grimm, Cinder's silver eye flitting to her.

"I can sense such power in him that there is no question he will be necessary," Her silky voice reassured the woman.

"He has potential?" She asked.

"I have seen his Semblance, so, yes I believe so. But, even then, my grander plan will work with him should the Roses arrive at my doorstep. The others were all failures. How is my dear friend in Mantle?"

"She says that she will be able to use that location. But, what do you plan to do there?"

"It will only be necessary if I fall in battle," Cinder's smirk split her lips a bit.

"Y-You expect to fall, Mistress?" Emerald was shocked at this revelation.

"Oh, don't look at me as some sort of pessimist," The Grimm chuckled, the shadows covering her face causing her heterochromatic eyes to glow. "I am not overlooking the possibility. It would be foolish to not expect there to be a chance. This is the Roses we're talking about. Somehow, starting with Summer, they have managed to cheat death and thwart my plans. How many suitable candidates have you found within our ranks?"

"Of the many, many willing participants among the White Fang, quite a few have the necessary potential to combat the Roses."

"Good," The smirk widened. "Have them be ready. I shall assemble the rest of the cards in that deck. We shall destroy the Rose clan and then I shall complete my plans."

"What are the Rose's doing now?" Emerald asked.

Cinder placed her hand to the mirror next to her. A glowing came from it as vines encircled it, an eye emerging from the center and showing her the group sitting in a plane, flying in the air.

"Well, it seems as if they managed to free Pyrrha from my control," Cinder cooed. "I had figured as much, but I didn't know if they'd killed her in trying to remove it. I assume that's Ruby's doing. I suppose I'll have to make extra sure they never reach me."

"You sound uncertain," Emerald looked at Cinder.

"Nonsense," Cinder dispelled the vision. "I am simply going to overcome my own fate with this wonderful body of Summer Rose's. Soon, I will be at full power and ready to destroy them with my Semblance."

"Yes, your Semblance, the Ultimate Semblance," Emerald's gaze was full of awe. "Not even their combined might would be able to stop you once you regain your strength."

"Who have we sent to tail them at the airport?" Cinder asked.

"I sent a very special member," Emerald smirked as she looked at her Mistress. "She volunteered to go. She's been preparing for this moment for a long time."

A little earlier

"Are you sure you don't want to put the book somewhere else?" Maria asked Blake, pointing at the books the raven haired woman was holding.

"Why?" Blake asked. "They're my books and I want to read them."

"Yeah, but I mean, what are people gonna say if you start reading Ninjas of Love or Claudia Goes to Schlongtown Part Six: The Erectening around a bunch of kids."

"I'll read what I please," Blake rolled her eyes. "They won't mind because I won't let them see. I'll just use Gambol Shroud to hide the pages."

"Pervert," Maria grumbled.

"Didn't you peek in on your own mother naked in the shower?" Blake countered. Maria tensed immediately.

"D-Don't remind me of that."

"Will you shut the fuck up and just drive?" Ruby said. "I'm sick of your bitching. I would rather shove a tent spike through my temple than listen to it."

"Fine, fine, miss grumpy pants," Maria pouted slightly. "We'll stop. Pyrrha, are you comfortable?"

"The seat is nice, yes," Pyrrha nodded. "Of course, I'm nervous about my involvement. I feel like I'm heading to a graveyard or something."

"None of us has a guaranteed chance to survive," Maria pat her leg. "But, I understand what you mean. If at any point, you want to back out, we'll send you home without question."

"I won't be needing that. I'm going to stick with you and save Jaune."

Ruby lit a cigarette, handing Pyrrha one. The redhead gently pushed it away, shaking her head. "Sorry, I don't smoke."

"You better not make this car smell like smoke," Maria scolded Ruby. "That's a nasty habit."

"And your shitty habit of coffee isn't?"

"Hey, my loaded coffee is good, thank you very much. Besides, sometimes I need to get a bit loaded. But, now is not one of those times. We're going to get on this plane, fly to Menagerie, and kick Cinder's ass right back to the bottom of the ocean."

"Let's hope we don't kill each other first," Pyrrha sighed.

When they arrived at the airport, Maria showed the gate the tickets they had bought express. She led the group to the plane, once their stuff was checked in, and they made their way to their seats.

"I think I'll take a little nap," Maria crossed her arms. "Just wake me when we land. I'm not in the mood to deal with anyone right now."

The older woman tilted her hat down over her face, beginning to sleep. Ruby read a book on art and manga while Blake read her less than kid friendly books. Pyrrha just sat quietly. Soon, the plane took off, heading across the continent. It wasn't going to be a super short flight since they would have to cross the entirety of the continent before then crossing the ocean to make a pit stop near Mistral and then finally cross the main stretch of the ocean to reach Menagerie. All in all, this should take about twenty hours.

The plane was up in the air, flying through the skies and making good time. Pyrrha was sleeping softly, Maria was snoring, and Ruby and Blake were reading.

Suddenly, there was a rustling noise. Ruby glanced around, not seeing anything to make the rustling sound. She went back to her reading. Suddenly, Maria jolted; at the same time, Ruby felt a chill down her spine, like someone was watching her.

"Did you feel that?" Maria looked at her. "That cold shiver?"

"Yeah," Ruby glanced around. "Was that Cinder watching us?"

"Yes," Maria clenched a fist. "She feels the same when I try to watch her. We'll need to be on our full guard. Especially when we're flying like this. We can't afford to be careless."

"No shit," Ruby muttered. "Keep your eyes peeled. It's not too unreasonable to think we may have a Semblance wielder among us now."

"Keep your eyes peeled," Blake glanced around, her bow twitching slightly as she tried to pick up anything unusual.

There was a rustling sound again, Maria stood up and looked around. She didn't see anything. But, she felt like there was something behind her. She glanced behind her to see a small deer, white in color, grazing on a small clump of grass.

"What the—" She couldn't get the sentence out before the deer, a fawn, leapt at her, headbutting her with enough force to knock her into the aisle. Maria stood up, looking at it.

"Did you just get your ass kicked by a baby deer?" Ruby asked her, stepping into the aisle. "You really are losing your edge, old woman."

The deer charged at Ruby, who reached for it with her hand, but it passed through her hand, slamming into her gut. It landed on her chest, bleating loudly. None of the other passengers seemed to notice it, some even still sleeping peacefully.

"It must be a Semblance," Blake gasped. "It seems we were followed here."

"Well, who's the wielder?" Maria asked, clutching her stomach.

"I think I've heard of a deer Semblance," Blake narrowed her eyes. "I think it's a member of the White Fang. The only name for her is Deery. I don't know any other name, but she's known by her Semblance."

"What do you know of the White Fang?" Pyrrha asked.

"I used to be one of them," Blake stood up. "Before I became the fortune teller you see, I was a member of their ranks. That's probably how Cinder knew where I was. I've also noticed that Semblance wielders are drawn to each other, like a magnet."

"You should tell me that story after we take care of this," Pyrrha stood up as well. "But, for right now, we have a deer to turn into venison. Then, we can tell stories."

"Sundragon," Ruby's Semblance appeared with a battle cry. It rushed for the deer, attempting to punch it. But, the deer was gone in an instant, appearing behind the blonde spirit.

"You fool!" The deer spoke, the voice feminine and… young? "You can't catch my Semblance, Fawn, represented by the Nymph card, symbolic of the natural order of death by nature. Even with a bullet fired a centimeter away from ten different guns, even if they could hurt a Semblance, you'd never touch my Fawn."

"That's Deery," Blake clenched a fist. "We'll have to be careful here. I'm not sure what she looks like, so we'll have to deal with her Semblance first."

Sundragon began a powerful barrage with both fists, but was completely unable to hit Fawn.

"It really is fast," Ruby growled, glancing around.

"Be very careful," Blake said quietly. "I've heard rumors that Fawn likes to eat people's hands. I'm not sure why, whether or not it's her sick fetish or what, but just be careful."

"Don't judge me for fetishes, Blake Belladonna," The deer Semblance scoffed. "I saw your books you brought. That's just hypocritical."

"I read books about steamy romance and bdsm," Gambol Shroud emerged, beginning to cover the cabin in darkness. "I don't eat people's body parts."

"Who said I eat them?" Fawn spoke, slamming into Blake's gut and knocking her to the ground. "I just enjoy the feel of a nice, smooth, silky hand. But, I'll kill you four first and then have my fun. No sense leaving myself open. Fifteen years I've never been caught for my fetish. Mistress Emerald, second in command to Mistress Cinder was very gracious in entrusting me with this power. And, I'm going to use it to destroy you for her will and for Mistress Cinder's!"

With that, the deer Semblance rushed toward a few other passengers, opening its mouth wide as it went down the row, ripping their hands off of their arms. It kept them all in its mouth as it ran to the wall and painted three red lines, almost like claws, adding in a beast's head.

"The symbol of the White Fang," Blake clenched her fist. "That is her calling card."

One of the passengers got up, yawning as she stretched. She had orange hair that went down to her shoulders and a turquoise top as well as a winter hat. She stumbled sleepily to the door, putting her hand on the blood. She sniffed it, licking it and blanching at the taste.

"B-Blood?" She asked, looking up at the wall and seeing the symbol. She gasped, getting ready to scream. But, Sundragon quickly knocked her out with a quick chop to the neck.

"Great, a fanatic," Ruby put her hands in her pockets. "Looks like we're dealing with the crazy crowd. Be ready, old lady. We'll need to be careful."

"No, I will handle it," Pyrrha walked forward. "It's time I proved myself. Trust me on this one. Let me handle it."

"If you say so," Ruby shrugged.

"You think you'll be able to take me on, Pyrrha?" Fawn taunted her. "You're probably the least experienced of the group when it comes to fights. I was there when you were turned to the Mistress' side and you're just a weak little kid."

"You were there?" Pyrrha gasped, eyes wide.

"That's what I said, dumbass!" The white deer laughed. "You two were so scared and when you were turned, I just felt this glee swirl up in my chest. You're going to be so fun to kill. Mistress Cinder denied me killing you because you could be turned, but now that you've rebelled, you're fair game."

"But, if you think I'm going to go down so easily as to just let you kill me, you're sorely mistaken," Pyrrha's eyes narrowed, her gaze fierce and determined. "Prepare to feel my potential."

Milo Akoúo threw a spear toward the deer. The deer dodged it, moving to the left. Before the spear could hit the wall of the plane, it disappeared. Pyrrha's Semblance fired off three spears this time. Fawn dodged them all, moving closer to Pyrrha and slamming into Milo Akoúo's chest hard. Pyrrha coughed up blood.

"You know what, I'll rip your hands off," Fawn taunted. "I'll bet you'll go mad with pain when my Semblance tears them off. Hell, I'll even tear your tongue out so you can't tell anyone about it."

"But, you see, I don't think you're in quite the position you think you're in," Pyrrha laughed, looking up at the deer. "I mean, you've already fallen for it?"

"What?" Fawn asked, feeling something drop onto her body. The deer looked at the substance, confused. "What is this stuff?"

"Liquid iron," Pyrrha smirked. "But, since it's from my Semblance, you can be affected by it. Now, I'm sure you have seen my Semblance use its spears, but my Semblance also has another ability. It can wield magnetism."

The deer semblance seemed to understand what this meant, but Milo Akoúo clenched its hands together. The deer was frozen in place, unable to move. It glanced back without being able to turn its head to see the lower half of Milo Akoúo behind it, its body dripping with a metallic substance.

"I used the spears to distract you so that you wouldn't notice my plan," Pyrrha smirked. "Now, with this, I'll make you understand that I'm not the same as when I was with Cinder."

"You bitch!" Fawn charged for Pyrrha. However, the magnetism held it back, forcing it to be still. Pyrrha clenched her fists together, bringing them apart.

"And, now, you're done," Pyrrha said as the semblance was ripped apart by the magnetism pulling its body in different ways. A scream came from the passenger that was knocked out earlier as her hat fell off to reveal two thin antlers. These exploded in a flash of light, leaving her bleeding from two points in her head.

"So that was Deery," Blake retracted her Semblance's power, the cabin returning to normal lighting. "We hadn't expected her to be the wielder, but it turns out she was it. But, with her defeated, we should have a smooth flight."

"Does anyone else feel the plane tilting a bit?" Pyrrha asked, watching a pen roll to the right side of the plane.

"Now that you mention it…" Maria crossed her arms. "We should check the cabin."

Before the words were out of her mouth, the plane tilted further. They ran toward the cabin, the flight attendants, one man and one woman, standing in the way.

"Ooh, look at the one in red," The woman squealed. "She's so cute."

"You know it," The male said, nodding along.

"Move it, bitch," Ruby shoved them aside, wrenching the cabin door open to reveal the captain and copilot lying dead, their hands gone.

"I apologize for my friend," Pyrrha put her hands on their shoulders. "She's quite brash."

"I like her too," The flight attendants said together.

"They're all dead," Ruby said to Pyrrha. "She got to them before tangling with us. The autopilot's been destroyed as well. We need to land this plane quick or else all these people will die."

"I've never flown," Pyrrha looked at the landscape that seemed to be closer than it should.

"I believe Mrs. Calavera said she had flown a plane before," Blake looked back at the older woman.

"Old lady, you said you'd flown before," Ruby said to Maria, who had just walked in. "So, fly."

"I flew a plane whose model was out of commission before your mother was born," Maria looked at the instruments. "I couldn't fly this one."

"You'll do it or we die," Ruby smacked her across the back of the head, though not as hard as she could have. "Focus and fly. We need to land carefully or else we'll all die."

"You fools dared to cross Mistress Cinder!" Deery, who was somehow still conscious, pulled herself into the door. "With my sacrifice, Mistress Cinder may rest easy knowing that her enemies were destroyed!"

"Do you ever shut up?" Ruby asked. "Damn, wish I could light a cig now. Old lady, you figured it out?"

"I'll do my best!" Maria pulled hard on the control device, whispering a prayer to someone named Oscar (though her exact words were 'I'll probably be seeing you soon, you dumbass Pine, so you better be ready to greet me').

"Keep going!" Ruby pulled hard on the other one. The plane began to level out, but it was still dropping fast. There was a body of water nearby, Maria steering to reach it while keeping the plane level. It was a slow descent, but the ground was still racing up toward them.

"You, plane attendants," Ruby pointed back at the attendants. "Get everyone buckled up and their oxygen masks on. We're going to be making a rocky landing."

"I will be seeing you soon, mother," Blake whispered. "Whether now or soon, I will be with you again."

"Stop muttering that you're going to die and fucking pull!" Ruby shouted at Maria. Fifty seconds later, they impacted the water. Fortunately, with the exception of the passengers Deery had killed, the captain, and the copilot, all on the plane survived. Deery herself had been killed in the impact, her body slamming into the ceiling of the plane and shattering her spine. She coughed up blood once and then breathed her last, still whispering praise for her mistress.

"Is… Is everyone alright?" Maria asked the Crusaders (she had come up with the name Huntress Crusaders, which Ruby had promptly told her was stupid, but she kept it anyway).

"I'm fine," Blake had buckled up in a chair. Pyrrha gave a thumbs-up, having buckled herself in as well.

"Well, what sort of luck does it say that I've been in three major transportation crashes?" Maria asked Ruby.

"I'd say if you ever get on a plane with me again, it'll be the last thing you ever do," Ruby muttered. "Your luck will run out eventually."

"Nah, I'm gonna be a bitchy old lady," Maria grinned, giving the peace sign.

"You're a bitchy old lady now," Ruby lit a cigarette as they began to exit the plane upon the flight attendant's instructions. Maria was about to say something when she saw the hint of a smile tug at the silver eyed girl's lips.

"Why you little—" Maria started, but Blake walked over.

"It would appear we're alive," Blake said. "But, where are we?"

"According to my scroll, we're in between Vacuo and Vale," Pyrrha held up her scroll.

"That's not very far from where we started at all," Maria looked at the screen. "We were only flying for about six hours."

"I think it would be too dangerous to take another plane," Blake looked at the wreckage of the plane they'd just been on.

"Well, let's get to land and then discuss it over food," Maria shrugged. "I'm kinda hungry."

"Of course you are," Ruby sighed. "What's the nearest place to us?"

"Once we reach land, I'll let you know," Pyrrha sat down on the life raft. "We'll have to see where we land."

"Right."

The rescue crews arrived and flew everyone off to the town of Pallet. It was near a forested area closer to Vacuo than Vale, but it was a nice sized town. Maria, who claimed she'd been there dozens of times, elected to order food at a restaurant named Oak's Diner.

"I'm telling you, I know this place," She grinned. "Seriously, I can order the best food in this place."

"I'm not sure I believe that," Blake sighed. "But, lead the way, Mrs. Calavera."

"Oh, you won't be sorry," Maria marched to the restaurant. Surprisingly, she knew the way there, stopping at a phone outside the restaurant.

"I'm going to make a call first," She picked up the phone. "We'll need to arrange new transportation."

"We should discuss that first," Blake interjected.

"We'll go by boat for now," Maria looked back. "Cinder would have a harder time sending someone after us that way and it lowers civilian casualties."

"Sounds fine with me," Ruby shrugged.

"I'm good with it too," Pyrrha nodded.

"Good," Maria made the call and then escorted them into the restaurant, once again claiming they wouldn't be sorry. Ruby, still smoking, sat down first, crossing her arms.

"So, why don't you tell us about the cuisine, old lady?"

"I'm interested as well," Pyrrha nodded with a smile. "I may not look it, but I am a food connoisseur of sorts. I love cooking. Jaune would always praise my cooking."

"Well, this place may not be as good as my husband's homemade, or even Dawn's homemade, but it's pretty damn good. I don't mean to brag, but I convinced both my husband and Dawn to try it and they were absolutely thrilled to see it." Maria bragged.

"Well, prove it then." Ruby gestured to the menu.

"Excuse me," A woman walked over. "I couldn't help but overhear your conversation about how you know how to order here. I asked for a steak and the waiter looked at me like I was an idiot."

The woman was dressed as if she was the spirit of winter. While she was probably shorter than anyone else there, she still carried an air of height. She wore a dark blue dress that went almost to her knees. The lace underside was white and she wore white stockings. A silvery blue coat trailed down behind her, held back like a cape and with long sleeves. It buckled over her shoulders, yet rose over her chest, a golden button fastening it. She wore white gloves that looked thin, but were actually quite durable. Around her neck was a choker with a snowflake pattern that ran around it. Her boots were heeled, running up her leg in a snowy blue color with a layer of dark blue fur underneath. Her hair was as white as snow, off-centered in a ponytail that reached her waist. From her ears hung two snowflake earrings. Her complexion looked as if she had never seen the sun in her life. Her eyes were a greenish blue that looked like it symbolized a snowy day.

Around her waist was a rapier that ended in a sharp point. It had a strange chamber around it like a revolver chamber, five colors of some substance in it. The hilt curved around this to shield her hand in a way. It had an almost… ethereal look to it.

"You're annoying. Fuck off." Ruby pointed behind her.

"Now now, Ruby," Maria hissed. "Why yes, we'd be happy to, miss, er, uh…"

"Schnee," The woman gave a bit of a bow. "Weiss Neige Schnee."

Maria's eyes snapped to her, looking at her.

"Would you happen to be related to a Willow Schnee?" She asked.

"My aunt was named Willow Schnee," The woman, Weiss, spoke as she sat down in the seat Maria gestured to her. "She was killed during the Atlesian War. She was in the Platoon of Commander Red."

"That sounds like the one I knew," Maria nodded. "I didn't know her very well, but I had a friend who did. Now, there was another. Penny Polendina was her name."

"You knew Lieutenant Polendina?!" Weiss' expression became elated as she leaned in closer. "She was my hero during the war stories, the noblest soldier of all. What was she like?"

"Full of pride," Maria chuckled. "I've never met someone with so much pride for their country. She fought until she was unable to. I wonder what happened to her."

"Disappeared without a trace," Weiss sighed. "I do hope to learn what happened to her someday. But, for right now, let's eat."

"Right," Maria grinned. "I'll order for us all."

When their food did come, it was all grilled cheese sandwiches.

"Old lady, you're full of shit," Ruby sighed. "You're lucky none of us here is lactose intolerant. At least you didn't order us frogs."

"Well, I messed up," Maria laughed. "It happens at my age."

"You're like seventy something," Blake rolled her eyes. "And, your mind is like that of a fifty year old. You're no worse at remembering than any of us here."

"Regardless, I must say the silver color they use for the toothpicks in the sandwiches," Weiss picked one up. "Looks just like your eyes, Miss Maria and Ruby Rose."

The group tensed at the newcomer's tone. Her jovial tone with the hint of an Atlesian accent had become dark and dangerous.

"I have a friend who's looking for people like you." She said.

"Are you our enemy?" Maria's fist clenched.

"I would believe so," With barely any movement, Weiss' rapier was in her hand. "I shall dispose of you for Cinder."


And so, another obstacle stands in front of the Crusaders in their quest. How will they hope to overcome this one?