Penny is alive.
The relief of knowing that for certain, of having her friend with her again where she can see her, is so overwhelming that it keeps distracting Ruby as she helps Weiss and Whitley carry Penny up the stairs. Sure, Penny is unconscious and she's definitely seen better days—what with the burns on her face and hands and the fact that she's dripping green fluid all over them and on the fancy carpet of the Schnee Manor's grand staircase—but she's alive. That's what matters. They can get her cleaned up, and whatever got damaged in the fall can be fixed.
Hopefully.
The three of them settle Penny on a small sofa in Weiss' room. She hasn't stirred since she collapsed back at the crater, but that's okay. She's still with them, Ruby can feel it. Across the room from them, the man who'd arrived earlier—Klein, that's what Weiss said his name is—is taking care of Nora. Apparently he's a doctor that Weiss knows. Ruby hadn't asked too many questions, too grateful that they could finally have someone who actually knows what they're doing taking care of Nora. Hopefully he can take a look at Penny as well, even if she's built a bit differently than his typical patients.
There's not much to do right now besides wait around while the doctor takes care of their injured friends. Ruby doesn't feel like breaking the tense silence that has fallen over the room, so she just sits and thinks. Penny isn't dead, which is a massive relief. Earlier, when she'd been thinking about how the maiden powers were passed down after the previous holder had died, she'd been terrified that she'd lost her friend, and this was the result.
So where did her new powers come from, then, if not from Penny? Ruby has never met the Spring or Summer maidens, so it seems unlikely that they're the ones who could have made her a maiden. Cinder is the current Fall Maiden, or at least she was the last time Ruby saw her, and the idea of Ruby being in her final thoughts is almost enough to make Ruby snort out loud. No, it definitely would make more sense if the powers had just fallen to her by random chance.
Which means that their source could be anyone, most likely someone Ruby has never even met. It's probably best not to dwell on it too much, with everything else they have to worry about right now. If anything, she should be focusing on harnessing her new powers. They'll probably be a big help in the fight against Salem.
Still, Ruby can't help but be curious. She remembers what Penny had told her about becoming the Winter Maiden, and what Winter had told her friend about the former Winter Maiden, Fria, being a part of her now. Ruby isn't sure exactly what that means, but maybe whatever bond she has with the former maiden will help her figure things out.
Maybe when Penny wakes up Ruby can ask her for advice. Her friend had seemed to be struggling with having the burden of the Winter Maiden put on her, and Ruby hadn't been sure how to help. Maybe now that she understands a bit better, she'll be able to better reassure her friend.
When she realizes that Klein is standing right in front of her, Ruby is startled. She must have really been lost in her own head. "How is Nora?" she asks, shaking her head to clear it and quickly pushing herself to her feet.
"She was in pretty bad shape, but I did what I could for her and she's resting more comfortably now," he replies.
"That's good." Ruby lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "What about Penny?"
"I'm afraid your friend is quite different from my usual patients, so I'm not sure how much I can do for her. I can try to take a look at her and fix what I can, but I won't make any guarantees that I'll be able to help much, if at all."
Yeah, Ruby had expected that much. Penny is a bit of a mystery to most people that meet her. "I understand. If you could still look her over, though, I'd really appreciate it." The doctor nods.
"Aren't you a mechanic, Ruby? Why don't you take a look at her?" Weiss asks as Klein turns to Penny.
"I am, but this is a bit more of a precision job than I'm used to," Ruby replies, watching as the doctor begins to work on Penny. Not to mention that there's a big difference between working on Crescent Rose and working on a person like Penny. Even if her beloved scythe is a beloved friend as well. "Maybe if there isn't anything that Klein can do, I could give it a try."
As soon as she's finished speaking, the lights go out.