A/N: EDIT: Ack! The errors! How did I miss those?! Sorry about that, everyone! They're fixed now~!

That said, I also went back and made a massive improvement to this chapter.

Here we go.

Little Red finally gets her chance to shine.

In other news, holy crap, you madlads really want me to update Claws of a Lion. It passed the review threshold for an early update. Again!

Just a Shinobi should be updated sometime tomorrow, time and my health willing. Rough draft is officially written, just need to flesh it out, add content and the like.

With my fifteen year anniversary on this site here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

And of course, there are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. The recent earthquake in Turkey/Syria serves as a terrible example. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

No Q&A this time, as folks complained last chapter! With that said, we've got some ground to cover. Quite a bit of ground indeed.

As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes! They're tributes to legends far better than me.

Now, then. Are you ready? Yes? No? Maybe so? Because! Here. We. Go.

We're picking up where we left off last chapter!

References to one of the songs here:

"Every flower leaves the garden, sooner or later. A few of them just need a little help.

Some bloom beautifully. Others wither and die. But that's their choice.

Which will you be, Ruby? Will you wilt? Or will you bloom?"

~?

Red Like Roses

James wasted no time.

To his credit, Naruto was actually somewhat prepared for him this time; although he barely had one foot out the bullhead, the blond sensed his arrival and managed to brace himself before the good general stepped forth, wrapped both arms around him, and seized him in a bracing bear hug.

"Oi, oi!" came the answering cough. "James! Not so tight!"

He let him go with a booming laugh.

"Marvelous work, all of you!"

Ciel raised a hand, letting blue flames play over her fingertips. Penny was smiling fit to burst.

But not all were pleased. He knew those looks. Team RWBY wasn't best pleased with this recent development, or maybe that had something to do with three of their members being cuffed. They were feeling lost. Adrift, perhaps. First this nonsense with Cinder, the girl who may or may not be Pyrrha and now Neo. More to deal with. At least the former appeared to be behaving.

James felt for team RWBY. Really, he did. But now was a time for celebration!

"About miss Nikos." Naruto coughed into a fist, distracting him. "Jaune needs to see her...

Ah, yes, Arc was still confined to quarters, wasn't he? That would be one way to determine who this girl was.

"I'll see it done. Speaking of which, I'd prefer you stay well away from her." he said to Naruto. "If her Semblance truly is Magnetism...she could mess up my nanites.

"No arguments there." The boy laughed. "Kinda still need those to live...

He let James lead him away without protest.

There was much to be done.

(.0.0.0.)

Qrow cornered him not an hour later.

In hindsight that much should've been expected; but frazzled as he was, Naruto didn't see it coming. Paperwork was the bane of anyone's existence and he was no exception. There were mission reports to be filed, ammo requistions to go over, and a host of other paperwork, all of which needed to go out by tonight if he wanted things to run smoothly.

As such he failed to sense Yang's uncle until he was right on top of him.

Kicking the door open certainly didn't help.

He slammed both hands down on his desk and leered over it at him to scowl his way. "Hey."

"Hey...?" Naruto leaned back despite himself.

"I wanna word."

He dared a smile. "Aren't we having one right now?

"Not the point!"

He' been drinking again. Not much, but he could smell it on the man's breath. Couldn't rightly blame him for it either after a day like today. Still, he felt it best to at least humor Qrow here, if only because he didn't want to throw down with Ruby's uncle.

"Is this about you and Clover?

"What?" The older man's face went red.

Because if it is, I completely support you."

"No, that's not-

"You have a right to be happy, Qrow, no matter what anyone says."

"That ain't it!" He flung up his arms. "You arrested my nieces! Explain yourself!"

"Niece." He held up a finger. "Ruby isn't in any trouble. Weiss, Blake, and Yang on the other hand...they committed some crimes.

Qrow growled. "Prove it.

Gotcha, birdie. "Did you see the footage?

"No, but-

He was still speaking when Naruto touched a hand to the holographic interface on his desk and keyed it up. Qrow didn't have a chance to turn away. By the time he thought to, it was too late. The argument played out before him, and the attack with it. The beatdown that followed, and Ruby's surrender. Every brutal bit.

"Oh." he winced as it crawled to an end. "Oh, damn."

You see?" Naruto fought down a sigh and closed the feed with a frown. "Ruby has potential. She used her head there. But she'll never be a true huntress if she keeps holding herself back; certainly not if she thinks she has to for the sake of everyone around. Meanwhile, your other niece, Yang, doesn't think. She has one helluva temper and today, it got the better of her.

Qrow flinched. "She does, yeah, but they're good girls-

"Good girls?" Because that just explained it all away! Naruto scoffed at the flimsy defense even as he heard it. "I'll just give them a pat on the back and send them on their merry way then shall I?

"You're not taking this seriously!"

"I am!" he slammed both hands down on the desk with such force that he left two handprints in metal. "I wish I didn't have to, but no one else on your side seems to want that burden."

Qrow opened his mouth to speak. He snarled him into silence.

"Did you know, that when I first woke up in this world, I thought it wasn't real?"

"Bullshit."

"I shit you not." a peal of bitter laughter escaped him as he remembered how awful he'd been. "I thought was a dream. I was reckless. Did some stupid shit." Winter still wouldn't let him live their duel down. "Even before that, it was more of the same. I charged ahead without a plan, flew by the seat of y pants, and for what? I paid for it! Your girls are going to get themselves hurt or worse." he steepled his fingers, unknowingly mimicing a certain headmaster. "But I believe in Ruby's potential. She can change the world...if we let her."

"What do you want me to do?"

He smiled. "Let the little bird leave the nest. Let the flower bloom.

Qrow's face twisted in a grimace. "She's not ready."

"None of us are. But we have to be."

(.0.0.0.)

She could do this.

Just take deep breaths, Ruby. It'll be fine. You haven't done anything wrong...

.

..

...yet.

She hadn't attacked an officer of Atlas, hadn't gotten Crescent Rose taken away -no one would have her baby! Nevah!- or her huntress license revoked for that matter. She'd been the one to surrender peacefully and made her team do the same. An' a good thing, too! She'd seen Naruto in action. With his abilities he could've killed her friends. Instead he'd shown mercy. Even if is aid mercy involved a good deal of shouting and smacking her team around.

But what if he takes his anger out on me?

She quailed a little at the thought.

It was unlikely, sure, but he hadn't said a word to her since they'd left Mantle aaaaaandnowitwasinherhead!

Panic mounted.

Nope! Nevermind! I can't do this!

Was it too late to run and hide? Maybe she could go back to her bunk, dive under the covers and just hie. But that would mean facing Yang and the others. Yang, who had looked at her with such betrayal. She didn't even want to think about Blake and Weiss...! Winter had taken her away somewhere and they'd seen her since.

It wasn't fair. They'd started it.

Words were all well and good, and sure, Naruto hadn't held his back, but Yang threw the first punch.

Yang. This was her fault. How did she reconcile with that?

Just thinking of it made Ruby squirm.

Neo...well, she could understand why Yang had beef with her but she didn't really have anything against the mute girl. Sure they'd fought once -once!- but she didn't hold a grudge against her. They'd been enemies. If she was willing to let bygones be bygones and help them face off against Salem, then more power to her. But things needed to change. And soon.

Everything was hurtling toward the edge.

Ruby knew it now. Things had been tense before, but the recent revelation of Pyrrha and the skirmish in Mantle had only made things words. So much worse. Who was she? Was she real? If so, how was she alive? Was she an impostor? A clone? So many questions and not a single answer to be had. Hopefully, Naruto had some.

If someone like him had been at Beacon, it never would've fallen.

Her mind took the idea and ran away with it faster than her Semblance ever could.

In a perfect world, Atlas would have found Naruto far earlier. In a perfect world, General Ironwood would've brought him to Vale; to Ozpin. In a perfect world, Naruto might've joined Beacon. In a truly perfect world, they might have been friends.

What would that world have been like?

She wasn't rightly sure whose team he would've chosen, if he'd just have his own, or heck, he might've been a teacher himself; she could definitely see the latter. The specifics weren't important. But he would've been there. That mattered. Things could've been different. No! They would have! He'd slain Cinder here in Atlas, when she was a full-fledged Maiden. With skills like that, he would've made mincemeat out of that awful witch and her cronies. With them gone, they could've dogpiled Adam, and Yang never would've lost her arm. They could've had their a happy-go-lucky school life, instead of this dark, dreary, depressing despair they lived in.

Yes, in a perfect world.

Then again, in a perfect world, Cinder Fall would have died SCREAMING against Amber and none of them would be in Atlas in the first place. But life, as Ruby had come to realize was not perfect. Life wasn't a fairytale. It was real, and it had consequences. She had to face them now.

And so she approached the door, gathered up the dregs of her courage and prepared to knock.

The door opened on her instead.

Ruby balked, nearly bowled over as someone stepped through. "Uncle Qrow?!"

"Hey, squirt." he rubbed her hair absently as he walked by.

Ruby tried to pivoted after him. Failed, now. "Why were you-

"We were just talkin'." his grin was strained. "Nothin' ta worry about."

She heard Naruto's voice from within. "Is that you, Ruby?"

Nerves got the better of her.

Ruby shot inside like a rocket, only to trip over her own two feet in her haste, tumble forward and, bounce on her rear end unhappily.

Naruto arched an eyebrow. "You alright, there?"

"Y-Yeah! I'm fine. All good!

Yikes. He could've been a professor at Beacon with a stare like that. Could've given Glynda Goodwitch a run for her money.

Grimacing, she picked herself up.

Naruto's office was...well, an office. She wouldn't have even known he had one if it weren't for Penny. She already hated his rug. Damn dirty thing. She'd tripped all over it and now her hindquartrs were sore.

"Please, have a seat." Naruto gestured to the wooden chair opposite him.

He seemed far too calm. Hauntingly so.

Ruby sat. You're...not mad?"

"Why would I be mad?" he steepled his hands over the desk, fingertip to fingertip. "Were you the one who ordered your team to abandon your post?"

...no?"

"Then their actions are no fault of yours."

He knew. How did he know? Blake had run the moment she heard the news, which meant Yang went racing after her, and of course that got Weiss going and she could hardly stop all three by herself could she?! So she'd run after them but by then it was too late. The rest, as they say, was history.

"I couldn't control them! I tried but they didn't listen...they never listen anymore...

Yang's words came back to slap her in the face. "Ruby...when we came here, we said we'd follow your lead...but...things haven't exactly worked out.

"Ruby?

"Ha?" she blinked out of the memory. "I'm fine!"

"No," Naruto shook his head. "No, you are not." he shook his head. "I know that look. We can talk about it if you want."

Ruby blinked. Once. Twice. Thrice. "Talk...?"

"That's why I asked you here, yes."

"Eh...?"

He was the first one to ask what was wrong in...well, awhile. Well, Uncle Qrow had in his own roundabout way when they'd first received their licenses, but never this directly. When was the last time someone had ever asked her what was wrong? How she felt? How she was feeling right now? Everyone was always asking her what to do, when to do it...

The dam in her heart fractured.

"Lately it feels like," she squirmed in her seat, hands clenching in her lap. "Like no one is listening to me, or what I want...

"I see." Naruto granted her a nod. "And what do you want, Ruby?"

That tiny fracture became a crack.

"I want to be a huntress!" her hands balled up at her sides, and try as she might, she couldn't keep the frustration from her voice. "To be a hero! To help people! That's all I want!" Tears strung at the edge of her vision and she blinked them away, to no avail. "That's all I have EVER wanted! But the harder I try, the more things...!"

Her throat clogged, choking of the last word, and the crack in her heart widened into a fissure.

"Break." Naruto said it for her and she nearly shattered on the spot. "I know the feeling."

The dam began to leak. Ruby hiccuped a little. "You do, don't you?"

As she looked on, the faintest ghost of a smile flitted across those whiskered cheeks. "More than you can ever know."

"How do you do it?" the words tumbled out of her before she could think to take them back. "Lead, I mean."

Now it was Narutop's turn to blink. "Me?"

"Yes, you!" Ruby nearly reared over the desk to get at him. "You get along great with Penny and Ciel! Winter and the Ace Ops follow your every order, and even Neo! Who, by the way, is terrifying! How do you do it?!"

"Through example." his response was immediate, not even a beat of hesitation. "That, and trust. Penny and Ciel were my friends before they became my teammates, and they know to listen to me in the field because I don't buckle under pressure. My relationship with Winter was a bit rocky at first, but we worked through our differences together. As for the Ace Ops...

He looked away suddenly, scratching his cheek.

Ruby squinted his way, wondering why he was suddenly so sheepish. "What?"

"Might made right in that situation." he chuckled hoarsely. "I may have beat the pants off them shortly after we met.

"You...beat them? Alone?"

He lifted his chin. "Categorically."

Ruby's jaw clicked open. She balked at him. "Whaaaa?"

"Don't gawp." Naruto placed a hand under her chin and forced her mouth closed. "You'll catch flies."

She babbled a thank you, even as her eyes began to sting again. It was too much. He was everything he wasn't, and he'd done what she couldn't. She didn't think she could command their respect and no way was she strong enough to outfight all three of them together. Maybe not even one-on-one. She wasn't even sure she wanted to. Beating someone down until they fell in line seemed wrong, somehow...

"I've tried to be a leader." Her eyes watered. "But I'm not a very good one, am I?"

Naruto didn't say anything. He didn't have to. She already knew.

The dam burst forth and so did Ruby's tears. "M'sorry...

"Hey, hey!" Naruto saw them and stood quickly, circled the desk and knelt to stroke the small of her back; not like that, but with a patient smile, the way an older brother might a younger sibling. "I know it hurts. I know you wanna scream." His words were strangely comforting. She didn't want him to stop. "Go ahead. Let it out, let it all out. I won't tell a soul."

Ruby latched onto him and did just that.

She wasn't sure how long she hunched over, clinging to him. Minutes? It felt like an awful lot of them. Naruto didn't make a noise. Not a sound. He just...knelt there, letting her vent. She shouted, screamed and sniffled as she wet wept, everything pouring out of her and into his jacket. It felt good. Freeing. Like she'd been a full bottle with a cork sealed too tight, fit to burst. Now she finally emptied months worth of emotion. She might have cursed once or twice, too. She couldn't be sure. Dad would've killed her.

Eventually she ran out of tears and cried herself hoarse.

Naruto's hand patted her head. "You good?"

Ruby mumbled into his chest.

He quirked a brow down at her. "...was that a yes?"

She headbutted his chin, drawing a bemused grunt from the whiskered warrior.

"Okay, okay." he laughed. "Fine. Its fine. I can wait. This isn't the first time I've held a crying kid."

She sniffled and peeked up at him. "M'not a kid...

"No, you're not." he took his hand from her head. "Sorry, you didn't deserve that."

Even then he didn't pull away; not until she let go of him. He offered her a handkerchief and she all but snatched it out of his hand, dabbing at her face.

"Sorry about your jacket...

At length, he let her go and stood.

"I'm appointing you my personal representative with Robyn Hill."

That didn't sound like a punishment. Ruby waited for the other shoe to drop and squash her hopes flat. It didn't. "And?"

"And nothing." his smile didn't waver. "You'll be held responsible for relaying messages, rotating between me and my team, and protecting Robyn in a pinch. You said you wanted more experience, right?" She dared a nod, causing him to stand. "This is your chance. Speaking of which, have you given any thought to our earlier discussion? About choosing sides?

Ruby winced. Shoot. She'd forgotten all about that. "...maybe."

"I need your help, Ruby." Naruto pressed her. "I need you to make your team understand. But if you don't...look, lets say, hypothetically, that you revolt against Atlas for some reason or another."

Her head bobbed. A thought exercise sounded strange, but anything was better than clinging to her grief. "Okay..."

"How do you think Penny would react?" His words were a knife in her gut. "How would she feel?"

"She would be-

"Sad?" he cut her off. "Was that the word you were going to use? No. She'd be heartbroken. She'd have to fight against you. So would I I'm loyal to Atlas. As is Penny, Ciel, Winter, and the Ace Ops. We're responsible for hundreds, if not thousands of lives. You have to realize that. I don't want us to fight. But we will. And you'll lose. You might even die."

They would. Penny was loyal. Ciel was loyal.

At least in the beginning they'd had numbers on them. Now Naruto had Neo, who was absolutely bonkers in a fight.

Who knew what she was getting up to now...?

"Think about what I said." Naruto took a long drink of water and let her stew.

A heartbeat later, someone knocked on the door. Banged on it, really.

He didn't even have a chance to swallowed, let alone respond.

"Sensational!" Penny all but burst through the door, practically skipping with glee. "It seems you're finally done talking." Gleaming green eyes swiveled to Ruby. "Would you like to copulate with us now?"

Naruto choked on his drink.

"Sister, no." Ciel smacked the back of her head as she emerged behind her, drawing a wine from the ginger. "We discussed this."

"We did?" Penny looked to her, rubbing her skull. "I thought we agreed to use-

Ciel sputtered. "Shhh! Not that! The other thing!"

Ruby didn't get it. "Copu-what-now?"

Penny told her what the word meant. Exactly what it meant. In a single sentence.

Ruby's silver eyes.

Got really.

Big.

Oh. Ohh. Ohhh!

She hadn't thought of that. Never even considered the possibility. But now that she did...no! Bad brain! Treachery! Invasion! Betrayal! She shouldn't think such things. Naruto had been kind and comforting to her just now but he was very much taken and what Penny was suggesting...

Meep.

"Why me?!"

"You are my best friend, Ruby." Penny's smile really was too pure for own good. "Don't best friends share?"

Naruto fell clean out of his chair.

Ciel slapped her forehead.

Ruby's brain fizzled.

"Ummm...I need to, uh, water my shoe!" she burst to her feet, face redder than her namesake. "I mean use the bathroom! Take a shower! Yeah, that! Talktoyoulaterbye!"

She flared her semblance harder than ever before and vanished in a shower of red rose petals.

"Aaaand there so goes. "Naruto regarded the rapidly retreating reaper. "Why'd you go and say that? You really are too pure for your own good sometimes.

"Really?" She blinked less-than-innocently. "Because I wanted to try a different position tonight-

"Penny why!"

"Intimacy aside," Ciel coughed into her fist and adjusted her beret, "What's going to become of her team?"

"She got off easy. Xiao-Long and the rest are gonna get reamed for this...

(.0.0.0.)

Blake scowled at her guard.

"I already said won't talk about it. Not to you, or anyone."

"About that," Marrow scratched the back of his head. "Its me, or no one..."

(.0.0.0.)

"I have never been more disappointed in you, than I am in this moment."

Weiss absolutely flinched beneath those words.

Oh, yes. She flinched hard.

She'd heard them before in one shape or another; from father, Whitley, even Mother once, on one of her bad days. She had learned to harden her heart to such things; shut them out, keep them from intruding on her day to day life. But to hear them from Winter, of all people...it hurt. Hurt her deeply.

It also made her angry. Her sister was so quick to judge her. All without hearing her side of the story.

It wasn't fair!

Her temper sparked. She rallied and found her voice once more. "I-

"You," Winter's finger jabbed her forehead so hard it damn near found grey matter, "Will be silent. I. Am. Talking. Do not speak unless you are spoken to. Nod if you understand."

Weiss didn't dare defy her. She nodded instead.

"Of all the irresponsible...!" Winter whirled away and began pacing. "I can't believe you've done this! What were you thinking?! No, wait, don't answer that. You clearly weren't!"

It certainly didn't help that her sister was noticeably pregnant now., Winter could have her moments besides, but now she looked outright hysterical. The child really was growing too fast. That couldn't be healthy, for her or the mother. She prayed for its health almost as much as her own safety in this moment.

"Well?" Winter rounded on her. "I've seen the footage. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Weiss took a deep breath to master herself. "He provoked us-

"Oh, boo!" Winter flung up her good arm. "He said mean things to you. Most of which were true, from what I've been told."

She wanted to shout at her. To scream. Lash out. But she mustn't. "You weren't there. He agreed to work with a wanted criminal! Neo tried to kill Yang back in Mountain Glenn!"

A pale brow rose. "And that justifies an attack on his person?"

Weiss stomped a foot. "You always defend him!"

"He's my comrade!

Her tongue betrayed her as surely as Ruby had. "Is that why you slept with him?!"

"...!"

She regretted the words the moment she said them; because Winter's already pale face drained of all color.

SLAP.

Weiss didn't even see the hit; only felt her head snapped to the side. A stinging red handprint throbbed against her cheek.

"You foolish girl." Winter's right eye was blazing with blue flame, a sure sign of her agitated half-maiden powers. "If you weren't my sister, I'd have you cleaning latrines for a week!"

Her temper slipped its leash. "He killed father!"

Winter barked a bitter laugh. "Is that what you think?"

Her words tugged the rug right out from under her. "What...?"

"Naruto didn't kill father." Winter tutted and ran a hand through her long hair, idly smoothing a few strands away from her face. "Mother did. She told me herself; even put out the hit. Naruto just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

"But the events leading up to his death-

"Were of father's own making!" she bit back. "Holding a pointless grudge won't help matters. We have no time for them. Salem is coming. Your actions have divided us, make no mistake."

Her face flushed. "Ruby-

"Did the best thing she could possibly do." Winter clasped both hands behind her back and straightened up, reclaiming her dignity once more. "Your team leader diffused the situation. She is not at fault here. The three of you, however, are."

Oh, dear. Weiss sought another avenue of attack. "What's going to happen to me, then? To us?"

"I've spoken with general Ironwood." something dark flashed through her sister's face before she mastered herself. "He agreed to a lighter sentencing, but the fact remains that you attacked your immediate superior in the field. That's not something we can cover up. Your licenses have been revoked, for one, but I'm afraid that's just the tip of the iceberg."

Her words made Weiss quail. "It was a mistake. It won't happen again-

"There is a price, Weiss." Something in Winter's words chilled her to the bone. "There is always a price."

(.0.0.0.)

The door to her cell opened.

Yang knew the noise well; and that damn rusty hinge.

"Go away." She glowered into her arms. "I don't want any visitors."

"M'afraid I can't do that, firecracker."

She knew that voice. She looked up. "Uncle Qrow?"

He sat down beside her.

"We need to talk."

(.0.0.0.)

She was real.

Never in his life had Jaune Arc needed something so badly and never known until this moment. Because she was there, right there, only a few feet away, separated from him by a thin plane of glass. He assumed it was a two way mirror of some sort; because she didn't react when he laid a hand against it. He punched it, and it held. Even staring at her through the looking glass...it hurt. All his grief, all his pain, all his trauma came roaring back. Still she didn't look at him.

Naruto did.

"I was wrong to doubt you." his words had him look back at his fellow blond. "You and your team are being restored to active duty, effective immediately."

Nora and Ren exchanged a misty look between them. The latter found his voice before Jaune could. "And our assignment?"

"Her." Naruto pointed at Pyrrha. "Talk to her. Get to know her. See if she's the real deal. And don't wear any metal near her either. If this is her, we can't take any chances. We don't know where she's been all this time. The three of you will be rotating her with her every few hours."

Once upon a time, Jaune might have argued for her innocence. Now? All that mattered was getting to her.

In short order he shed his armor and laid Crocea Mors down on the bench beside the door.

"Thatta boy." Naruto patted him on the back. "I'll be just outside if she tries anything. Don't worry. You're perfectly safe. You can collect your gear after you talk to her."

Safety was the last thing on Jaune's mind at the moment.

He stepped through the door. The airlock within cycled. Parted now.

The air within her room was crisp. Dry. Probably sterile, too. Not a surprise. Atlas wasn't taking any chances.

Even so, he wasn't quite prepared to see her face to face.

She looked just like Pyrrha. Exactly. Like. Her. No armor and weapons, but her face was the same right down to her jawline, her eyes a deep sparkling green. Her hair had been torn free from its ponytail to cascade down her shoulders. Belatedly, h realized just long it had grown, billowing down her back to nearly touch the floor. He was amazed her captors hadn't cut it. When was the last time he'd seen her face...? It felt like a lifetime ago now...

"I'm sorry...

He shoulder the memory aside and fought down a shudder. "Pyrrha...?"

The girl glared at him, hands still shackled to the table...and tilted her head. "Who is Pyrrha?"

Jaune flinched. Okay, sure. He'd expected that. It hurt, but he'd been prepared.

"Well," he pulled up a wooden chair, "That's what I'm here to find out."

Her green eyes regarded him coldly. Quietly. Confused. "How?"

If that was really her in there, he'd break through.

"Well, for starters, I'd like to tell you a story...

(.0.0.0.)

Arthur stood before the Seer and fought down a shiver.

Ghastly things. Still, they served their purpose, even if he didn't understand how they functioned.

He didn't need to know to communicate with the being on the other side. Frankly he didn't want to, given her quiet fury.

"What is your plan, Watts?

"What am I going to do, you ask?" he thumbed his chin with a smile. "For now, nothing. I'm not a fool like Cinder and Tyrian." his mustache quirked in a smile. "They rushed in and paid the price for it. Their failure will be my triumph. I've already planted the seeds, you see. The fools will destroy themselves from within. We need only be...patient. You will be here soon, I trust?"

...yes."

"Excellent. You'll find Atlas in disarray by the time you arrive. How fares Emerald?"

For a moment, Arthur could have sworn he heard a scream in the background. A wail of grief and pain...and anger. So much anger. It didn't sound human.

He heard the smile in Salem's voice. "Pliable."

That was all he needed to hear. "I'll leave you to it, then. Farewell."

Turning away from the Seer, Arthur fetched his briefcase.

There was work to be done. After all...

Kingdoms didn't fall in a day.

(.0.0.0.)

Ruby surprised them all the next morning in the mess hall.

Naruto heard someone cough for his attention and looked up, idly munching on a piece of toast...only for it to fall from his mouth. It struck his plate, forgotten in the heat of the moment. Ciel saw him staring and turned to see what had startled him as well, only for her eyes to widen. Neo tilted her head. Tilted it some more, now. Her lips pursed in a silent whistle.

Penny proved far less subtle; she sprang to her feet and clapped her hands. "You look sensational, Ruby!"

Naruto forced himself to swallow his food. Sensatiol, she said?

On that, they agreed wholeheartedly.

For you see, Ruby Rose had changed her outfit. Her hairstyle was just as he remembered, but gone were the dull, drab colors she'd worn yesterday; in place she now stood before them in full red and black with long sleeves and leggings beside, fully kitted out for a harsh Atlas Winter with ammo belts and that silver rose of hers besides. She'd kept her cape of course-this was Ruby they were talking about after all, she'd never be caught dead without that-but still, the sight of her stilled him.

Red and black look good on her. Combat boots, too. Who knew?

"Oh!" Penny squealed happily, all but bouncing in place. "That looks like your old outfit! The one you were wearing when we first met! How did you get it?!

"I, ah, asked Robyn for a favor." The reaper kicked at the floor and looked up at them, silver eyes shining, face red. "How do I look?"

Better, Naruto thought to himself. Different. More mature. Like a proper leader.

...beautiful." his tongue betrayed him instead.

Ruby went redder than her namesake.

But she smiled. Ever so slightly.

She smiled for all of them.

A/N: The Rose blooms.

To be clear, that's a winter variant of Ruby's old outfit.

As ever, the Embers rule remains. If folks don't like this story, welll...it won't be continued! That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with virtually no days off. That makes my free time terribly limited and as such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like.

Reviews are my fuel. I can't write without them~! Not a wit or a word!

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review, Would You Kindly?

And enjoy the previews!

They're rough for a reason.

And as ever:

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

SPOILERS AHEAD!

BEWARE~!

(Previews!)

"Neo, no."

The little imp only grinned up at him and noded.

Naruto considered her "suggestion" a moment longer.

Come to think of it, that plan was just crazy enough to work.

"Neo maybe...

"You've already lost. You just haven't realized it."

...hello, Jaune."

"You remembered my name." he couldn't fight down his smile.

"I did." she regarded him intently, quietly curious. "You were telling me a story before, if I recall. Could you pick up where you left off?""

Penny squeezed his hand. "I do not like this plan. Please be safe. I love you."

She rushed the last bit out, freckled face red.

Naruto laughed a little. "Love you too."

"Excellent! Can we have a child now?"

"Penny, why?!"

Her face was so red.

Naruto smiled. "Hello, Oscar. I'd like to talk with Ozpin."

The boy flinched. "I...don't think that's possible. He's locked himself away. Sealed himself off-

The door locked itself behind him.

Naruto laid a matted-black pistol down on the table. "Can you hear him now?"

Oscar paled, not quite comprehending. He would soon. "Sir...?"

"How about now? He flicked the safety off.

"I can't-

Cocked the chamber. "Now?"

"Why are you doing this?!"

"Because we've run out of time." he set the pistol against his head. Not Oscar's, and tightened his finger around the trigger. "I NEED to speak with him. Now If he doesn't answer me in the next three seconds, I'll lower my aura, pull this trigger and...well." A rusty laugh escaped him. "Have you ever seen what a bullet does to man's skull?

"You'll die!"

"I most certainly will." He nodded. "Without me, Atlas looses its greatest defender. Without me, thousands will die. Without me, The city will fall without my help. Do you want that? I don't think you do...

It was a bluff, of course; the gun wasn't loaded. But neither Oscar nor Ozpin knew that. They couldn't.

He'd explain once the ruse was up, of course.

But would the old wizard take the bait?

James heaved a sigh. "Are you with me? Even now?

Naruto thumped a fist against his chest.

"To the end."

"We already have Tyrian in captivity, but not his accomplice.

"You believe it to be Arthur Watts?"

"I do. Who else could mess with the code in Mantle so easily? Then there's Hazel, and this girl...

You can't reach her. Not through the many Grimm. You'll die!"

...never tell me the odds. I have a plan."

"And what, pray tell, is this plan?"

He told James.

Watts smiled. "Ready?"

"Always."

...go. Now!"

Neo smiled at Emerald.

Emerald scowled back. "Get out of my way!"

Neo shook her head slowly. And behind her, the world...shifted.

"Take...the...girls!"

"You won't take them. You won't hurt them. You won't touch a single hair on their heads."

The Hound snarled at him, baring its fangs.

Naruto snarled back. "COME ON THEN!"

EDIT: Hey, you made it!

As ever the Embers rule persists, reviews are my fuel, my fire, my life. Without them, I lose all inspiration, all hope, all ability to write. That's no joke. I have so little time to write these days with two jobs, and silence hurts. So by all means, speak up! Make yourselves heard! Every bit of feedback, no matter how small or large, matters! Really, it helps a lot. Its a joy to talk with you all and bandy ideas back and forth; it really is. Sorry if this seems shorter than usual, working on a tight schedule here.

Looking forward to talking with you all after work!

R&R~!