Chapter 30:
Loss
The sound of grenades igniting and and gunshots fired exploded through the air as the training arena in Beacon Academy was occupied by four maiden's carrying deadly weapons on them. Team RWBY was in the middle of another training session, sparring with each other and clearly not holding anything back in terms of power. There were no spectators, considering it was 8 in the morning on a Saturday, to Ruby's relief. Not only did she hate attention, she wouldn't want anyone to see the sloppy performance her cousin and partner were giving her.
The latter was already low in dust and exhausted from wasteful exertion covering for her cousin, who was just charging headfirst as always and needed cover fire to avoid Ruby and Blake's gunshots from afar, the brawlers natural weakness. Ruby had requested a switch in partners for this training session to cover up weaknesses in team dynamics as well, weaknesses she saw her team was riddled with like a roach infestation.
"COME ON! That can't be all you two have got, did you not practice while I was away!?" Ruby angrily yelled her question as she slashed some ice summoned by Weiss into shards, the swing of her scythe sending a gust of wind that sent the them flying towards Yang.
She squinted her eyes as her cousin's turned red and she encased her hair in flames and melted the ice with it, inadvertently burning a piece of cloth off Weiss's arm from her combat skirt as well. She shook her head disappointingly for hitting her partner, only fueling the Xiao Long's frustrations more than that comment. She wasn't the only one bitter right now.
"HEY YOU DOLT!" Yang and Ruby, the latter by pure habit, both glanced at Weiss who picked herself off the ground after patting the fire off her charred sleeve. She was glaring at Yang though, and her expression said it all just like her tone, Yang screwed up.
"You are so paying for a new outfit you know that!?" Weiss bitterly asked Yang, who groaned as she folded her arms annoyed.
"Oh Boo Hoo! Your Daddy can just buy you a new dress like everything else rich girl." Yang sarcastically said as she rolled her eyes. Weiss grunted as she put down her saber and pouted at Ruby's cousin. Both motions Ruby didn't fail to notice as she herself groaned silently for a different reason.
"This is a combat skirt! Your cousin at least agreed." Weiss argued, feeling ever so indignant, but Yang rolled her eyes and waived her off.
"Yeah? Then why did you agree to fight her with me instead?" Yang asked before she felt a chill down her spine as she felt a gust of wind and saw a rose petal fly by her eyes.
"Because you BOTH suck right now." Ruby coldly said as she drove the blunt end of Crescent Rose into Yang's stomach and sent her flying out the training room's roof. Her cousin losing her breath as she hadn't kept her aura up, a costly mistake Ruby would chide her for later. Weiss frantically went for her saber, only for it to be shot out the ring as Ruby transitioned Crescent into its rifle mode and blasted it away.
"Oh! No fair Ruby that was a cheap shot!" Weiss argued before Blake, the cat Faunus having snuck up behind her, encased her in the black wire of Gambrol Shroud.
"It's your own damn fault for dropping your saber. She didn't call time out." Blake casually pointed out. Weiss turning red from frustration and embarrassment as she saw that small smirk at the corner of her mouth. She wouldn't feel that way for long as she heard the sound of Ruby's scythe rifle making a clanging sound. She would soon pale as fear replaced her anger at the sight of two red and black pistols being held by her leader turned torturer Ruby, who gave a nasty smirk of her own as she slowly walked closer to the heiress, who vainly struggled to break free from the wire.
"Yup! Never drop your weapon or your guard in battle. Oh! Speaking of guard, you might want to flair up your aura one too." Ruby eerily sang as she aimed her pistols at Weiss's exposed stomach, the heiress fidgeting as she did as she was told despite her panic.
"Oh c-come one Ruby! I-I forfeit okay? No need to be so cruel, is this for my kid comments." Weiss fearfully asked, but Ruby's creepy smile and Blake's tightened grip answered that question for her.
"You sadists!" Weiss screamed as a flurry of bullets flew from Ruby's pistols and decimated Weiss's aura. Though she was protected from serious injury, the heiress still screamed as she felt the pain of what felt like a bunch of bats pummeling her stomach before everything went black.
"Maybe we went a little overboard after all?" Blake sheepishly asked as she unraveled Weiss from the wire and plopped the unconscious heiress on the floor gently.
She did enjoy beating someone she once would never consider her friend after all the torment her father's company dealt her people, but these past weeks had made the cat Faunus tired of fighting friends, something Ruby could see as she sighed.
"Maybe a little but like you said, they brought this on themselves." Ruby coldly said. Blake winced a bit hearing that tone and those words, making Ruby rub her head awkwardly as she didn't mean to scare her friend she made up with before her ears heard something from afar and she smirked amused.
"Look, just be grateful we're on better terms now or I'd do THIS to you!" Ruby said sarcastically as she combined her pistols back into Crescent Rose and loaded a lightning dust bullet in the blink of an eye.
She instantly aimed and fired it at Yang who just fell back into the stadium from the sky, the dust bullet exploding upon impact and sending her cousin crashing into the wall, her body spasm with electricity before she fell on the floor, leaving a Yang shaped crater in the wall.
Yang slowly opened up her eyes, her head spinning as her whole body felt numb from the shock. She herself felt a worse shock as she saw the tip of Crescent Roses blade near her eyes.
"And that, is checkmate Cuz." Ruby teasingly said as laughed a bit and drew back her scythe, filled with joy to have beaten her cousin again. Training aside, it just felt good to knock her cousin down a peg after all the crap she gave her before, something Yang could feel in that hit to her aching stomach earlier as she clutched it and allowed her aura shined a bit to heal the damage.
"Man! No mercy huh Rubes?" Yang jokingly asked, using her cousins nickname brought hope to Yang her cousin would engage in mild banter and ease up around her. Hope was soon crushed as she frowned seeing a bitter glare from Ruby as she turned towards her and motioned Blake to carry Weiss, now barely regaining conscious as well to her cousin's side.
"Okay Review time!" Ruby announced, WBY spines freezing as they ignored their muscles aching soreness and jerked their heads up, giving Ruby their full attention.
"First you Weiss!" Ruby yelled, making the Schnee quiver a bit. Fear from her childhood infecting her as she bit her lower lip, unwilling to speak for fear of the consequences she endured before at her father's hands.
"I understand you needed to cover my Cousin, but you used too much Ice dust when you simply could have used your glyphs to give her speed boosts or propel her into the air to dodge and attack us. You wore yourself down too quickly and worse, you dropped your weapon willingly mid battle. Never do that again or it will be your head." Ruby said sternly, stomping stick end of Crescent Rose on the ground to illustrate the severity of the mistakes of her partner, who sheepishly nodded in compliance.
"Next you Yang!" Ruby yelled, making her cousin sheepishly rub her left arm and avert her gaze. She knew her cousin was still pissed, she hadn't earned her forgiveness after all but Yang wasn't use to the shouting. It chilled her spine worse than Weiss's ice.
"Your grenades are good for long range offense, but you still need to work on long range DEFENSE. You can't charge headfirst into any danger you face it's going to get you killed. What if you faced a horde of Grimm by yourself? You flair up once and knock down a bunch in front of you, then the rest swarm in when your aura guard is down and BAM! You're dead. Speaking of dead, your fire could kill or hurt your allies too so simmer it down when they are close to you. You DO owe Weiss here a new COMBAT SKIRT!" Ruby ranted, pointing to Weiss's burned sleeve before Weiss ran to her side.
"You tell her BFF!" Weiss joyfully yelled as Ruby non chalantly high fived her.
Yang bit her lip in annoyance at the lecture and the reminder of her screw up hurting Weiss. She bitterly guessed that was two teammates she hurt this year. Blake just chuckled a bit seeing the two partners act like that. It was a reverse of how the two acted at the start of the year. Blake sighed a bit as her ears went down, sad those days were gone forever now that Ruby had changed so much.
"Blake." Ruby calmly said, perking the girl's cat ears up as she stiffened and eyed her leader. Weiss and Yang exchanged a confused glance at each other, unsure why Blake was getting softer treatment compared to them.
"Maybe its passive aggressive? Oh lord this going to be painful to watch then!" Yang thought as she averted her gaze. She didn't put it past Ruby to act that way seeing as how she was vindictive towards WBY this last month.
"You did a good job keeping the powerhouse enemy away, but you later kept too far a distance from me after that. I won't always be moving, leaving a sniper alone mid battle is dangerous so try not to do that again. Also lets experiment later with using your clones and dust as targets like Yang's grenades, we might be able to do some wicked combos." Ruby lectured before a small smile invaded her lips at the thought of the idea, something Yang and Weiss didn't fail to notice as their mouths hung open a bit, surprised at the lack of yelling they were getting used to hearing from Ruby. Blake merely smiled and sighed a bit in relief, glad she was spared that wrath.
"Sounds like a plan. Maybe we can we try it after breakfast? I could use a break." Blake suggested. Ruby held her hand to her chin and pondered this. It was true they skipped breakfast to train early, another punishment she chose for them for the train crash, and eyed her cousin and partner, giving them a dreadful smirk that frightened them. She broke out laughing as she saw their reactions.
"Hahaha! Okay punishment enough, I think we kicked their ass's enough for one morning. We'll get something to eat and chill for a bit before we practice again." Ruby laughed, Blake joining in as she put her arm around Ruby's shoulder and they started walking out the ring.
Weiss and Yang were shocked by this action. It filled them with bitterness and curiosity.
"Why are they so buddy, buddy all of the sudden?" Weiss asked confused, raising an eyebrow. Blake screwed up and talked bad about Ruby but was okay unlike them, how was that fair?
"You think maybe it had something to do with that talk they had last night?" Yang asked, thinking the same thing as she pondered why her partner was on better terms with her cousin, feeling a hint of jealousy and indignant. She had been trying to get back on her cousin's good side for weeks to no avail, her partner gets it overnight was almost infuriating.
Suddenly a gunshot in the air startled the two girls as they fumbled and fell on their butts. Ruby had shot her rifle to catch their attention, Blake having been warned to cover her ears beforehand thankfully as she empathetically smiled at the two, aware what Ruby was going to say next.
"Hey! Come on and lets get some grub! I really want to get back here and TEST Blake's idea out on some dummies." Ruby eerily said in a dangerously happy tone that made the two girls pale as they understood her plan.
"W-We are so screwed." Weiss fearfully stuttered and Yang nodded.
"Told you so." Yang replied, almost shivering as she and the heiress got up and followed her humming sister, still carrying her deadly rifle over her shoulder.
Haven Academy
Yang and Weiss weren't the only ones feeling anxious right now. Seth and Shauna were dealing with their fair share of pressure themselves trying to find any leads on a possible double agent in their academy. Despite Seth and Ruby taking down Beacon's terrorists, something Shauna and the others applauded them for, things were still very dire as they stood in the forests near Haven, looking around to make sure no one followed them.
"So, you got an idea who the traitor could be?" Seth asked Shauna who nodded.
"No doubt, the culprit has to be a member of the faculty. Just look at this thing here." Shauna said as she took out the wire bug from her pocket. Seth raised his eyebrow confused.
"The wire I found?" Seth asked. They had initially chosen a private training room that was soundproof, but Shauna insisted they come to the woods right after Seth used his electricity semblance to short circuit the room, allowing Shauna to find it in the doorknob.
"Actually one I made in Atlas. I figured we'd need it someday." Shauna replied.
"For what exactly?" Seth asked curiously.
"Well, normally our professors or the headmaster have to give "special permission" for training rooms to be used here because they want to inspect student belongings for drugs and other contraband." Shauna explained.
"So only a teacher or the headmaster who DON'T get those frisk jobs are likely to have been the ones to plant the bugs like that in those rooms, knowing it would be the best place to steal secrets." Seth said and Shauna nodded.
"One question I have that still pisses me off, which one is the mole?" she said.
"Still haven't answered my question, why the wire?" Seth asked, folding his arm wanting to get to the point already.
Shauna groaned a bit annoyed, not looking forward to Seth's reaction. This was reminding him of that annoying week at the Intelligence Unit office where they wasted time not getting clues to Roman Torchwiq and those kids who pretended they were from this school. The fact they had faked credentials and uniforms from Haven to pose as students only furthered the two detectives assumptions a faculty member was a traitor, but finding the one amongst them would be like finding a needle in a haystack right now….Until Shauna decided to try something drastic to find out.
"Okay, I have a plan, but it's risky. Want to hear it?" Shauna sheepishly asked Seth who folded his arms and sighed, as if bracing himself for something crazy.
"Lets have it." He said.
"Weeeee…. could sneak into Lionheart's office and plant our own bug." Shauna said sheepishly, Seth's eyes widening past as his jaw dropped.
"Are you crazy?! We could get expelled if we're caught, and how would we even get past him, a trained huntsman, to begin with?" He whispered, but Shauna folded her arms and gave a smug smile in return.
"I take it by "getting past him" means you're not actually opposed to the idea." Shauna asked sarcastically, the amusement in her eyes covered by her shades causing Seth to groan annoyed.
"Fine, but what makes you think we'll find anything there?" He asked.
"Ever notice how jittery Lionheart's been lately? How he averts his gaze from everyone, stutters, and locks himself in that office most of the day?" Shauna inquired, making Seth place his hand to his chin as he pondered this.
"Exactly! If he's behind the leak, there has to be SOMETHING in that office to find, or he'll get in contact with his sources and our wire will pick it up." Shauna said.
Certainly, Seth had also found the headmaster's behavior had been suspicious lately. Aside from secluding himself frequently, his few appearances during school assembly's were oddly short, with him pacing and stuttering at times as if he was impatient to get out of the public view, though many initially attributed it to pressure running a school full of hunters. Shauna and Seth were beginning to think differently seeing how the schools have been targeted lately by criminals.
Lionheart seemed like the most obvious suspect, but they had to be sure before contacting the General and with the bug they found destroyed they knew the spy would be making a move soon. It was now or never, so Seth threw away any hesitation or fear of expulsion away.
"Okay, so how do we get Lionheart away from his office?" Seth asked.
"I'm going to use my brilliant vision to make him leave." Shauna said grandiose while gripping her crossbow proudly.
Shauna's semblance, Falcon's Eye, was perfect for the job. She could use X-ray vision see through physical objects like walls and, to all the girl's relief she was also one, clothes so long as she had a good amount of light. Even though she was incredibly stealthy, her semblance wouldn't help her in the shadows. It was fortunate they discussed this during the day, as her semblance was difficult to use during the night or in dark caves like the dust mines.
Shauna soon sighed a bit, she hated how limited she was during that mission because of that, only good for shooting arrows at the Grimm Ruby pointed out to them. Even though she and Ruby became close friends, she couldn't help but feel a bit jealous for the sniper so she decided to get a bit of payback by teasing her boyfriend before continuing with the mission.
"Heh, Too bad your girlfriend isn't here, her sights way better than mine. Then again, she'd probably be more focused on your lips then Lionheart's office lover boy." She said with a teasing smile making Seth blush as he coughed into his hand embarrassed.
"W-Well speaking of the headmaster, lets uh… get back to the mission."
Seth nervously stuttered, making Shauna smirked victoriously.
'My mission accomplished!' She thought before she saw him point out towards the academy to where Lionheart's office was and gave him the bug.
She grabbed her gold arrow launcher from her back and laid down on her stomach aiming while her pupils flickered a small grey shine, her semblance active. She saw Lionheart sitting at his desk handling files, nothing out of the ordinary, but sighed with relief as that would make it easier to avoid hitting him by accident, not that she doubted her own skills but she didn't want to take chances. To her, Ruby was a better marksman by far and she'd hate to risk hitting a suspect.
"I'll be outside the office, when I give the signal, shoot one of your arrows from that awesome crossbow of yours into his office and flush the paranoid fucker out." Seth said confidently.
A possible assassin was the perfect way to spook Lionheart away while Seth could snoop around, and with Shauna's X-ray vision they could ensure he would be safe from being hit as they weren't 100% sure yet he was the spy. Shauna nodded as she took a deep breath, bracing herself for the attack.
Minutes later, Lionheart was bolting out of his office, his pants wet from pissing himself scared as he ran down the halls of the academy, begging for the professors and hunters assistance. Seth couldn't help but frown and shake his head disappointingly despite his plan working.
"That was Haven's wisest huntsman?" He said to himself bitterly. A hunter must always be brave in the face of adversity and danger, how could this Lion Faunus, one of the strongest of his species, be so cowardly?
Seth just groaned as he snuck into the office, knowing he wouldn't have long before the teachers returned, weapons drawn and enact a severe punishment to him if he was caught.
"I'm checking the halls now Seth. No one yet, but you probably only got a couple minutes so hurry." Shauna texted him with her scroll; trying to be careful not to expose Seth's presence outside the room with a call. Seth nodded as he placed the bug underneath Lionheart's chair and began rummaging through cabinets for anything valuable.
"Income reports, School itinerary, medical records… AGH! Theirs nothing here!" He whispered as he ranted angrily.
Nothing seemed interesting enough as the detective started to believe he was wasting his time and slammed his fist on the desk in anger. The force of his pounding broke the lock on a small compartment underneath the desk to Seth's shock. He pulled out the desk to see a small map of Remnant with some files with stats of huntsman that Seth had seen before at Haven. Copies of their photos were pasted to the map with marker lines pointing to a red circle on it called
The Tribe
"Some of these guys were our target practice and Grimm studies tutors last year. Looks like they were sent on a mission to this place. Did Lionheart send them?" Seth thought before his scroll buzzed rapidly.
"1 MINUTE! GET OUT NOW!" Shauna screamed through her text frantically.
Seth knew Lionheart and his crew were coming so he grabbed the files, the map and Shauna's arrow to avoid implicating her and lunged out the window. He somersaulted and landed safely outside, grateful the office was only 1 story up and ran quickly into the woods to meet up with Shauna, who exhaled as she saw him escape before Lionheart returned with some teachers. She gave the headmaster a bitter glare from afar as she saw him cowering behind said teacher with a shield as they stood strong and confidant for any danger with their swords.
"I'm REALLY hoping he's the traitor so we can get a new headmaster with some actual balls." Shauna groaned as Seth nodded in confirmation.
"Well, with these photos maybe the General can find a reason to do just that. Lets send them and listen to the bug." Seth said as they did so and departed deeper into the woods away from the "scene of their crime" Shauna joked.
Lionheart was huffing into a bag as one of his teachers told him to inhale slowly.
As the office window was sealed by a spider Faunus teacher's web semblance, Lionheart saw his desk compartment broken. His eyes widen as his bag popped to the teacher's shock.
"Whoa Sir! You okay?" The spider man asked, but Lionheart flashed them a look of rage, his teeth bared as he roared at them.
"EVERYONE OUT NOW!" He hollered. The teachers eyed each other confused, a bit startled as well.
"B-But sir, we aren't sure if the culprit-" A female brunette teacher started saying before she was silenced with another yell.
"I'M FINE, LEAVE OR YOUR FIRED!" He ordered and they frantically complied, not wanting to lose their jobs.
Lionheart sighed as he locked the door and turned down the lights in his office. He walked over to his desk and pulled its compartment out slowly. He turned pale as he saw the map and the hunter's profiles missing. He realized someone had been snooping around and saw what he had been hiding.
"Oh Lord! Don't tell me they-" He said as he pulled out the desk all the way before giving off a loud sigh of relief as he plopped into his office chair.
Seth hadn't searched well enough it would seem, as at the very end of the desk was a small glass orb with black veins around it. Lionheart knew his secret was still safe, at least he thought as Seth and Shauna listened to him from their scrolls thanks to the bug they placed. The feed was fuzzy at first, but they soon caught a better signal and pressed the recording function, ready to snoop once more.
Lionheart, unaware of the spies, grabbed the orb and it glowed red as black vines grew from the veins and a small bit of smoke arose from it, revealing the image of a moon white woman, long sharp black nails, a blood covered black dress, but her most gruesome trait were those black veins around her crimson and black eyes. Her appearance sent shivers down his spine, if looks could kill he'd have been in a coffin right now, something he was almost expecting as he dreaded telling her what he learned. She gave off an amused smile, as if sensing his negativity like a Grimm and raised her eerie voice slightly.
"As much as I love seeing the cowardly lion, why have you called? You better not be thinking of wasting my time." She with silent anger infecting her almost motherly tone as black vines from the orb ensnared Lionhearts throat, making his eyes widen in terror as he choked to her chuckling amusement.
"N-No way! Master S-Salem." He replied frightfully. She chuckled a bit longer as she saw his eyes almost rolled back before waving her hand and releasing his throat as he went into a coughing fit. Seth and Shauna's eyes widen as they heard their headmasters struggle, almost tempted to return to the office to save him. But it was that woman's tone, her cold evil voice that froze them in place with fear that kept them at bay.
They heard Lionheart soon catch his breath and sighed in relief. The headmaster clenched his hands as they shivered from the thought of almost losing his life just now. It's what convinced him to side with this powerful witch, it was his best chance of survival against her army of Grimm she controlled like this weird orb.
"S-Someone broke into my office and found the map to the Bandit tribe." Lionheart confessed, cowering beneath he desk slightly as he saw Salem's eyes squint and her smile fade into a frown.
"That is… most disappointing." She said as she began to raise her arm before Lionheart bolted up, suddenly getting an idea out of panic.
"But the culprit didn't find out about you! I kept your orb hidden better and they probably don't know it's HER tribe. Maybe they'll follow the lead to her village and meet their end like the others?" Lionheart asked, his tone a bit hopeful for mercy. Hope that he would fine was not misplaced as Salem lowered her arm and hummed a bit in thought.
"And do you know who this spy who snooped around in here is?" She asked curiously, making Lionheart, and Seth gulp. Lionheart knew his life hanged in the balance of this next question, he had to satisfy her or die. As far as Seth was away, he still could sense the dangerous aura in that room, almost smelling death and feared it was coming for them both.
"Perhaps it was one of my students. Ironwood came to me for a couple of them to recruit into that Atlas Intelligence Unit I mentioned last time. Maybe one of those little greenhorns snuck in here for him." Lionheart said. His response made Salem smile a bit to his relief.
"Interesting. Then now might be a good time to enact the next phase of my plan." She said, a sadistic grin forming as she licked her lips a bit to Lionheart and the teen's discomfort.
"A-And that plan would be what exactly master?" He asked nervously, Seth and Shauna listened intently, hoping hear each detail to tell the General, their mission depended on it.
Salem glared at him annoyed a bit. She had heard from her new partner that Cinder and Roman Torchwick were captured by the unit and were held up in Atlas. This would be a perfect time to sneak Watts into their security and free Cinder, while the tribe took care of that pest with Silver Eyes she heard about. However, she wasn't keen on sharing this plan considering how disappointed she had been in her minions lately, something she was making sure Lionheart would know. His cowardice and incompetence was starting to get on her last nerves.
"I don't exactly think I can trust you enough for that, considering you were so careless today." She said ominously, making Lionheart and the teen's skin pale as they knew what would come next.
Salem raised her hand, the Orb sending black gunk that covered his mouth and nose, closing off his airways as Seth and Shauna, the latter covering her mouth and gasping in fright, heard his muffled cries and feared the worst.
"Be grateful I'm in a good mood, my little pet." She whispered into his ear with disdain as she released him before he choked and disappeared into the orb, which turned from crimson glowing red back into pure white.
Lionheart quivered on the floor after another coughing fit, assuming a fetal position as he pissed his pants in fright again. He was internally grateful no one could see him like this.
"Lucky? I have the worst of it in the world just seeing her." He whispered to himself as he began weeping like a child.
The power, the dark magic she controlled, and the fear she instilled with that creepy demonic voice of hers. All who met Salem and lived Lionheart knew would lose any willpower and luck they carried forever. It was the reason he had no qualms selling out the hunters of Mistral or Ozpin's inner circle to her, it wasn't just his only chance, it was the only chance anyone would have to survive an encounter with her.
Seth ended the recording there, gasping for air with Shauna as they could no longer stand hearing Salem's frightening voice.
"W-Who was that!? A witch!?" Shauna yelled horrified.
"I-I don't know… but we got to let the General know." Seth panted as his hand trembled, just barely able to press the SEND function on his scroll to text Ironwood the recording.
"One thing is for sure, I'm going to be having nightmares tonight." Seth said, Shauna nodded as they both began hacking a bit, almost losing their lunch as their stomachs knotted from such a horrifying experience.
Ironwoods Office
Ironwood gazed intensely at the evidence his Haven detectives had sent him. He sighed as he replayed the recording especially, extremely disappointed with what he heard.
"I knew you were a coward Leo, but this?" James said silently.
It was not far-fetched to say it was likely his old friend Lionheart had betrayed Ozpin's inner circle. Ironwood always thought of him as weak willed, but it still hurt to hear his fears come true, even though it made sense. He had heard reports from Seth and Shauna hunters from Mistral had been going missing lately, especially from the academy. Files of those hunters being sent on missions to "that" tribe rattled the General.
"If "she's" there, you know they'd stand no chance at all Leo." He mused as he examined the records sent to him and the map. He had long suspected Raven Branwen, his old friend Qrow Branwen's sister, had taken residence in that area in Mistral the most but didn't send men there. He knew it would be suicide considering her skills were equal to her brothers.
"If only her morality was as well." Ironwood said as he mused how different the Branwen siblings were.
While Qrow embraced the qualities that made a good huntsman he admired, such as bravery, selflessness, and a drive to protect the weak like his daughter Detective Rose, he was disgusted it wasn't the same with her aunt. Raven embodied all the criminal characteristics of the bandit tribe she led such as apathy, cruelty, and a murderous disdain for the weak.
It honestly almost tempted him to abandon the idea Ruby had sent him regarding capturing Mistral bandits to find Adam Taurus or at least White Fang cells they might have associated with. That was, until he thought about a dangerous possibility.
"The spring maiden." He muttered.
Ozpin had been keeping tabs on the remaining maidens since Amber was attacked a woman he had no doubt was one of the woman Ruby and Seth arrested. Ozpin had this weird six sense about them, as if he could feel their powers and where they might be. It's how he managed to get Qrow to save Amber in time, or at least before she could be killed.
She might as well have been dead considering she was locked in a stasis tube unable to move or even breathe on her own. Ozpin once said he felt the Spring Maiden hiding in "somewhere dangerous" in Mistral. He had doubts it would be amongst the White Fang, as he suspected they had partnerships with Salem, who was after the maidens. Where else could she be hiding but Raven's tribe. As dangerous as it seemed, a raid to capture bandits could be the best option. It would lead to his inner circle regaining a hold on one of the maiden's seeing as how Amber's condition wasn't improving.
As he saw Agent Diamond approach his office, he was filled with a sense of relief. He was very impressed with her and her unit considering their stellar performances this past month. If anyone could handle Raven and her tribe, aside from Qrow whom he knew wouldn't support this mission, Sindel and those teens might.
"General, just checking in. Anything from the others besides Detective Rose? Detectives Vayne and Dreyar said they were going to try to gain new information today. Any updates?" She asked curiously before Ironwood nodded.
"Yes Agent Diamond, Detective Dryer and Detective Vayne managed to get a location where a spy at Haven has been tricking Mistral Hunters into going on a suicide mission." Ironwood said sternly, making Sindel's eyes widen in horror.
"Oh God. I suspected there was a spy there considering those terrorists Ruby and Seth arrested were wearing Haven clothes and had transcripts from them, but to think Seth and Shauna found one actually killing their schools hunters." She said frightfully.
"It gets worse than you think. The culprit is non other than Headmaster Lionheart." Ironwood said with regret making Sindel do a double take.
"W-Why would the headmaster betray us like this!?" Sindel asked horrified. Ironwood sighed in return; the greatest reason was that witch behind his old friends supposed treachery.
However, he couldn't let Sindel know about her, only he and Ozpin's inner circle were ready to know about the master of the Grimm. He would also have to swear Seth and Shauna to secrecy later, lest panic ensue in his new unit. For now he decided to lie to his agent, no matter how it pained him so due to her loyalty.
"Bribery from the bandits maybe, we'll l know once we move forward with the plan Detective Rose proposed." He said firmly, Sindel taking a deep breath as she collected herself hearing his reasoning's.
"Y-Yes General. Shall I summon back all detectives to Atlas or just the ones here for the mission?" She asked.
"Summon them all. You and I are also going, something tells me those bandits could be more dangerous than we can imagine. Just make sure they know to capture as many female bandits as well." He ordered as she nodded in agreement. If professional huntsman could fall to those criminals it would be safer to supervise the mission. However, something else caught her ear that made her uneasy.
"Yes sir, but why are we focusing more on the female bandits? Uh- Just so I know what to explain to the unit sir!" She asked confused before catching herself, wanting to avoid sounding insubordinate.
"The leader of that tribe I know is a woman so she may confide her secrets, like if they have any ties to Adam or the White Fang in general, they'd be more likely to know than the men. Nonetheless, we are going to try and catch them all, so make sure the unit is at their best and geared up before we go, understood?" Ironwood explained and ordered, making Sindel stand at attention.
"Yes sir, at once but might I make a suggestion?" Sindel asked and Ironwood raised his eyebrow.
"Let's hear it." He said with a nod.
"We should have Litchi and one of the agents stand guard at the Atlas prisoner, specifically the section where our new guests have taken housing. I don't want to leave anything to chance, you never know this could be a ploy to have us away and have Adam rescue his co-conspirators. Don't you agree?" Sindel asked and was filled with pride at the General's smile.
"You continue to show why you're in charge of a unit Agent Diamond, and you never fail to impress me. Who of the unit shall we put on guard duty? I don't think any of them want to miss out on the mission to the bandit tribe." Ironwood said honestly.
"Don't worry General, all of my agents know that this is not a game and that every task is important. I recommend Agent Sin Kiske, an incredible fighter and his elemental semblance allows him to be a worthy foe to any adversary. He and Litchi on guard will provide a challenge to Adam and whoever he brings." Sindel stated and Ironwood nodded his head.
"I agree, I remember scouting him when he applied to the academies. Kid is as tough as nails, I wanted him to join Atlas Academy so bad, but he chose Shade instead. Now is the time to call everyone back, we have work to do." Ironwood ordered and Sindel stood attention.
"Yes sir, we will prevail!" Sindel saluted as she left the room, already sending out the message to her unit.
As soon as she left, Ironwood sighed heavily as he eyed the Branwen tribe on the map he was sent. His felt his anxiety grew high enough he could summon a pack of Ursa's as the thought of facing Raven or worse, an angry Qrow if something happens to his daughter filled his heart. This was their only chance though, to get the maiden and deal a blow to the White Fang, Bandits, and Salem's crew.
"Three birds, one stone I guess." He mused as he turned off his scroll.
Team JNPR's Dorm
Jaune, Pyrrah, and Ren were sitting on their beds with notepads and pens. Some small crumbles of paper were on the floor near a full garbage bin filled with them.
"Damn it! It's been an hour and we still got Jack shit!" Jaune groaned in annoyance as he crumbled up another page.
"No one said finding a solution would be easy Jaune." Ren said sadly. Pyrrah sighed as she nodded in agreement.
"I know, I just can't seem to think what to do for her. I wasn't exactly keen on forgiving my old "friends" back home for talking smack behind my back." Pyrrah said shamefully, lowering her head as she remembered Ruby chewing her out for that hypocrisy.
Team JNPR, minus Nora who was snoring while asleep on her bed, had been mulling over ideas as to how they could make amends with Ruby, but were drawing a blank.
"We could…..try to upgrade Crescent Rose while she's in class. She's always been a weapons dork." Jaune sheepishly suggested, before smiling as he remembered their first talk at Beacon, a time he saw her smile more.
"I'm kind of a dork when it comes to weapons." He remembered her saying, before a frown from Ren caused one for him that shut him up.
"That's a bad idea for three reasons. 1. She wouldn't want us touching her weapon, 2. We don't know how its inner components work so we'd just break it, 3. We can't break into her locker to get it, Goodwitch is already pissed at us enough we don't need a breaking school property to worsen her impression further." Ren explained as he raised his fingers. Jaune and Pyrrah shuddered and winced as they could just imagine the icy glare from the professor, Jaune even covering his forehead as he could imagine that stinging riding crop smacking it.
"Then… what about taking her to a club in vale for a private party?" Pyrrah suggested. While Ren hummed, as if considering it to Pyrrah's joy, Jaune put a hand on her shoulder and gave them a sad glare that dampened the bright mood.
"She'd probably just say "Oh so now you hypocrites want me to go clubbing?" with that sarcastic tone of hers." He groaned. Soon Nora startled them as she too started groaning, having awoken unfortunately at that moment he spoke.
"Exactly, so why even bother if she's just going to be bitchy with us?" Nora said with disdain.
Unlike the others, she was clearly still not keen on earning Ruby's forgiveness, especially after that "Cocaine addict" comment. That insult kept replaying in her mind and dreams like a broken record, hence why she woke up so quickly, which made her even more cranky.
"Nora please, was our friend once and WE screwed up. We got to make this right." Ren said as he tried to appeal to her to no avail as she shot him a fierce glare and smashed one fist into her other hand.
"She's just lucky we WERE friends, or I'd smash her freaking head for picking on you and calling me a druggy. Honestly, what has she done lately to make you want to be buddy-buddy with her again?" Nora asked with anger, before she was surprised to see Jaune and Pyrrah stand up holding each other's hands all of the sudden.
"She told Jaune he loved me." Pyrrah said annoyed, but with a little happiness mixed in her tone as she glanced at Jaune a moment. Nora looked on with shock, she knew about her friend's feelings but never thought she'd stop being chicken shit and tell him.
"Yeah, it was a real kick in the ass I needed to man up and just ask her out to dinner last night." Jaune said softly as he clenched Pyrrah's hand. That night was one of the most amazing he ever had. He finally got a girlfriend at a great venue with delicious food, but none were as tasty as that kiss she gave him last night. None of that would have been possible without Ruby's wake-up call to him.
"Me and Pyrrah at least owe her at lot. She might have said some mean things, but she's still a bit of the Ruby we knew and loved deep down. The one that helps whoever she can, even if they were absolute assholes to her." He said with shame, causing Nora to rub her arm awkwardly at that notion.
"I-I guess we haven't really given her a reason to be nicer about how she talks huh?" Nora sheepishly said as Ren walked up to her and hugged her, also feeling shame in how he had acted before.
"All the more reason we got to make things right with her now." He said calmly, his warmth easing Nora past any lingering anger and discomfort she had on the subject as she returned the hug and nodded. As she pondered a minute as to what they could do to make up with Ruby over all the trash talk, an idea hit her harder than her hammer on an Ursa's skull to her excitement.
"Okay then! Since we caused this with trash talk, LETS SETTLE IT WITH SWEET TALK!" She exclaimed to her teammates surprise and confusion.
"Sweet talk? Nora we ruled out a cookie party at the start." Jaune argued, but Nora shook her head.
"NO! I mean, since this all started with us saying what we hated about Ruby, lets throw an intervention and say why we love her and want her back!" Nora exclaimed her plan as the other's smiled brightly, infected by her positivity.
"Great Idea Nora! It will show we really are sorry and want to be her friends for real this time!" Pyrrah cheered as Jaune and Ren nodded.
"Okay then, we just need to work it out with Ruby's team to ambush- I mean! Surprise her with the party." Nora said jittery.
"Where is her team now?" Jaune asked.
"I think I heard them say something about training with Ruby… and needing ice packs for later." Pyrrah winced as the others did as well, just imagining the beat down they would likely be getting from their vengeful leader.
"Well their dead then." Nora said casually.
"Pretty much." Ren said as he nodded, thinking it was the likeliest result.
LOSERS
Beacon Training Arena
Yang and Blake, drenched in sweat and covered with bruises, plopped against a beam in the area, trying their best to sooth their hot aching muscles. It was a bit easier for them since they were enjoying their cold sports drinks while the latter ate a soft fish taco she got from the cafeteria they visited. A bit of good food and cold drinks usually reinvigorated them, though it was hard for them to really relax as they saw Ruby and Weiss continue their sparring match.
The duo winced as they saw Ruby's scythe, the cause of their bruises, pummel the lighter saber of Weiss, shoving the heiress back a few feet and near the edge of the ring. Weiss was versatile, but Ruby was physically stronger by a long shot, something their bruises were proof of.
They soon felt their hot and sweaty bodies chill, not just from the fearful memory of their hits but also as a blizzard flush them. Weiss had erupted one from the ring as she jabbed her saber into the ground to blow away some game ending rapid-fire bullets from Ruby.
"Nice thinking Weiss!" Ruby applauded her, making her smirk prideful. It was good for Ruby to see her partner use her head in a dangerous situation. But while Ruby showcased approval for Weiss's counter, the rest of the team didn't hesitate to yell their objections as she rolled her eyes hearing a familiar irritating tone.
"H-Hey Weiss! R-Ruby bitched to m-me about friendly fire!" Yang stuttered as her teeth chattered from the cold. Blake groaned as she bit into her now frozen fish before throwing it in the trash annoyed. Weiss just shot them a glare before she smirked as she thought of something funny, at least to her.
"It's not friendly fire, its friendly snow eh, eh?!" Weiss said. Yang and Blake groaned at the bad pun. Ruby rolled her eyes hearing something so cheesy as Weiss looked at them annoyed and held out her arms pondering.
"What?" She asked.
"No, just… no. Now back to work!" Ruby said as she quickly fired a flame dust bullet at Weiss, catching her off guard and blasting her out the arena, the flames from the impact warming up Yang and Blake to their relief.
"Thanks Rubes, and nice shot there!" Blake yelled enthusiastically to which the crimson reaper nodded with a smile before heading over to Weiss, something Yang noticed as she fixed her gaze on her partner rather than her defeated teammate smoking on the floor.
''Blake, can I ask you something?" Yang asked with a serious tone, drawing Blake's attention.
"You just did, hahaha." Blake chucked, though her laughter faded as she noticed her partners gaze that spelled danger and froze up.
"I'm serious. First you both come back to the room last night smiling at each other, then she suggest we trade partners to spar with. I know something happened between you two. Care to tell me how you and Ruby are getting along all of the sudden?" She asked Blake whose eyes widen. She knew Yang had figured out she and Ruby reconciled from their talk yesterday and would want to know the details, hoping to get an idea how to do so herself. Her lips quivered as she struggled to find the right words to explain.
Though she felt a strong urge to tell her partner the truth, Blake couldn't help but still feel the warm touch Ruby gave her cat ears, still covered by a bow. It wasn't just a reminder of her promise of secrecy to Ruby, it was also a reminder of her bond with Ruby, a bond she had just reformed and she wasn't going to lose it again by caving into her partner's curiosity or desires, though she also knew Yang and how volatile she could be. She had to play this carefully, knowing they would be heading back in the ring to fight each other soon.
"We had a very uh "personal" discussion. Yang, I know you hated hearing this from Ruby, but it's not my place tell you." Blake said with a sigh, but narrowed her gaze as she received a scoff from Yang.
"Oh so now my partner wants to keep a secret from me? About my Cousin even? Does it have to anything do with her job this time?, why did she ask you of all people then to get involved." Yang asked enraged.
"This isn't not about her job Yang, it's about Ruby confiding in me something important, ME! Not you or anyone else. All I can say is it had nothing to do with you or Weiss. If she feels it's something she needs your help with she'll you two know, until then give her and me some space, please." Blake said firmly, but Yang clenched her fists and groaned annoyed until Blake clasped her face cheeks and gave her a stern glare that startled her.
"She'll trust you again someday, but only if you don't pry. I get your frustrated, but remember this is how we all acted towards Ruby when she got back and look were that went, almost a hundred people went up in smoke like Ice Queen melting over there." Blake said as she then pointed to a charred Weiss being princess carried by Ruby heading over to them.
Yang sighed heavily as she eyed her cousin and pondered those words. It was true, as much as she hated to admit it, Yang was being entitled again. She was jealous her partner was starting to make progress with Ruby after a single night whereas her own flesh and blood didn't make any leeway for a month, just getting sarcasm and the silent treatment.
It infuriated the Xiao long when she remembered how close she used to be with Ruby, but now she only wanted to be around her new Atlas friends, her partner and, God how Yang hated, her new boyfriend. As angry as she was with Blake right now, she was angrier thinking about Seth Dryer, wanting to punch his lights out for dating Ruby just as much as she wanted her Cousin's smile back.
"Ruby never pried into your love life! You need to show her that same respect if you want if you want back on her good side." Qrow's words echoed in her mind then and there making Yang pout a bit before putting her hand over her eyes and sighing heavily.
"Okay I get it. Big Cousin Yang needs to back off from her. She needs to stop being a bitch who fights her cousin and start being a bitch who listens and fights FOR her cousin." Yang acknowledged, making Blake smile warmly and nodd before a surprising laugh from Ruby surprised her and Yang. They honestly smiled brighter for a moment hearing Ruby laugh. It was nice, a laugh that had been one devoid of anger and mockery, something they dreaded hearing almost as much as her next order which made their muscles ache more.
"Too bad then Cuz, because your break times over. Your still going to be that bitch who fights me, just in the Arena with Blake, now come on you two! Weiss, you good for one more round with Yang?" She laughed before eyeing her partner giving her a pouting expression that was honestly adorable despite the soot on her face.
"Put me down and I will be dolt!" She demanded before Ruby smiled and rolled her eyes, enjoying the small squeal as she dropped Weiss on her butt.
"Oh you insufferable little b-" Weiss started to rant before she was waived off by Ruby.
"Yeah, Yeah, little bitch or dunce I don't care. Glad to see you still got enough energy to talk shit like always, so do something productive with it and go over their with Yang and we'll start." Ruby ordered, her tone filled with sarcasm that made Weiss huff over there as she begrudgingly followed the order with Yang. Blake stood by her teammate, grasping Gambrol shroud as she eyed her partner and Weiss take up arms and whispering in each other's ears.
"They're planning something Ruby, any ideas?" Blake whispered.
"You bet Kitty! Time for our sick combo, clone explosion!" Ruby whispered excitingly into Blake's human ear as the latter smiled and nodded, drawing further bitterness from Yang as she grunted annoyed seeing their smiling.
As soon as the bell was rung, Yang immediately dashed towards the duo, like she did every time the battles started to Ruby's annoyance.
"I told you to parry it up more Yang!" Ruby hollered as she nodded to Blake did something in compliance she never did when Yang was on the assault, She charged back!
Yang's eyes widen with shock as Blake summoned some clones who soon jabbed some lightning dust into their arms, wincing a bit as electricity ran throughout their arms and stomachs, stunning them in place and in front of Yang who halted her attack before she touched them, knowing a single touch would paralyze her too.
"YANG!" Weiss yelled as she jabbed her saber into the ground, encasing her teammate in ice as she saw Ruby and Blake quickly transition their weapons into gun mode and began blasting the clones. A small explosion of lightning made the ice cage around Yang rumble as small sparks seeped through the cracks, zapping her hand with static electricity. Yang sighed with relief, knowing that would have settled it then and there.
"Too bad Cuz, Blake! I'm just getting warmed up, NOW WEISS!" Yang yelled to her teammate as she punched her gauntlets together and ignited her hair and her eyes turned red.
Weiss nodded with a confident smile that made Ruby and Blake brace themselves. The heiress pointed her saber towards the ice cage and summoned a glyph underneath Yang, her body glowing bright yellow as her flames shot upwards from the Aura enhancement, melting the cage as she eyed her cousin and partner viciously.
"Payback time for sending me flying!" She yelled as she crouched down and used the glyph beneath her to propel herself upwards, followed by a stream of fire and yellow aura from her boost. Weiss then once again jammed her saber into the ground as Yang began descending, encasing herself in an ice cage this time. Ruby's eyes widen as she realized what Weiss and Yang were planning.
"BLAKE, GRAB ON!" She hollered with a panicked tone as she held out her hand, which a fearful Blake complied as rose petals started to encircle them.
"EAT THIS BITCHES!" Yang roared as she plunged her fist into the arena, creating a fiery explosion and sent a wave of fire almost like a Blast Burn from their favorite Pokémon cartoon that rippled the battlefield. Weiss felt her aura melting off as white dust particles seeped off her skin as she put everything she had into enhancing the ice cage to not get caught in the blaze.
As the flames died down, and Weiss's ice cage finally melted with them, Weiss looked around to see nothing but a wheezing Yang weakly lift her arm out of the now charred battlefield of dirt and rubble before walking to her using her saber as a cane, completely drained.
"G-Guess we knocked them out of here this time huh?" Weiss wheezed.
"You bet! *Sigh* told them I'd get payback for sending me flying earlier. What better with a taste of their own medicine." Yang huffed as she grabbed her aching arm, ember Cecilia red as it singed from the heat. Yang was really relieved it survived the impact, as did Weiss who she patted on the back despite their mutual soreness, ignoring her whining.
"Guess our combo worked perfectly!" Yang celebrated with a cocky smile.
"STILL NEED TO KEEP YOUR EYES PEELED CUZ!" Ruby voice echoed as Yang and Weiss gasped, looking upward in the direction of her voice to see Ruby and Blake in midair surrounded by Rose Petals. Blake was clearly dizzy as she was hanging on to Ruby's shoulders, her eyes spinning in circles as Yang and Weiss eyes widen in shock instead.
"YOU CAN FLY!?" Yang screeched in shock the reveal of her little cousin's newest ability.
Ruby smirked confidently as she saw their reactions. Penny did tell her yesterday she studied her semblance and learned she could break down her molecules, and others who touched her, to run and fly at high speeds with her semblance. Ruby was honestly a bit embarrassed deep down someone else figured that out before her, but wasn't going to show it. No, right now she was going to win. In the blink of eye, Yang's fixated on one of two red pistols belonging to Ruby was aimed at her face as another pointed to Weiss's followed by a gust of rose petals.
"And that's checkmate!" Ruby declared as she soon holstered her weapons. While she smiled at seeing her Cousin and partners shocked expressions, still not processing what happened exactly, she frowned as she turned her gaze towards Blake prancing around the field dizzy. Her escape with Blake was a spur of the moment thing, having never tried it with another person before, and was feeling bad for her teammate's state right now.
"O-Okay, I definitely don't want to do that again, ever!" Blake declared as she fell on her butt from the spinning she felt. She held her hand over her mouth as she felt nauseous, willing herself with all her might not to throw up her fish taco.
"Sorry Blake, had to dodge that blast somehow or else Yang would have…OOF!" Ruby began to say before a hot fist went right into her stomach, making her gag a bit as she saw her cousin fixing her a smirk and wink.
"You said not to drop your guard baby girl, I didn't hear no bell." Yang said sarcastically with a huge grin as both girls soon fell to the floor, Yang on her back and Ruby on her stomach which she grasped painfully.
"Please, I s-so won that!." Ruby argued painfully as she meekly raised her pistol.
"Tell that to my *exhale* fist Rubes!" Yang said weakly as she raised her gauntlet up in the air, feeling triumphant and a bit relieved from the fight despite her aching bones screaming like Ruby. It was very nice to beat some of her frustrations away.
An hour of rest passed and Team RWBY'S auras soon kicked in, healing their bruises and, for Yang's case, burns. The team sat in a circle, going over their previous fights and combos, writing on their scrolls notes of the moves they used and their strengths and weaknesses. Ruby pointed out the blast burn would be useful against hordes of Grimm, but advised Yang not to use it in a city or town to avoid collateral damage.
Yang in return pried and Ruby admitted her fault was using an untested move on her teammate was a gamble that still disoriented her and left Ruby by herself, another detriment to teamwork. Weiss and Blake were applauded for their collaboration, but agreed they needed to work on their dust and aura usage to avoid waste. As the team finished writing their notes on scrolls, Ruby's began buzzing as she received a call from Sindel and stood up.
"Sorry its work. I got to take this. Detective Rose." Ruby said as she answered the scroll. WBY looked at her somberly as they saw her expression grow serious. It was a grim reminder she was likely to be called away, and right before the Vytal Festival. They feared this Unit was going to put their training for the tournament in jeopardy, a fear soon realized as Ruby ended the call and gazed at them seriously.
"Bad news, my unit is meeting up tonight in Atlas. Were going on another mission so I'll probably be away for a couple days. I need you girls to inform Professors Ozpin and Goodwitch while I go pack, my shuttle is arriving soon." Ruby ordered as her teammates averted their gazes sadly.
"Hope your not gone too long, it won't be easy to win the Vytal tournament without you." Weiss said sadly as her teammates nodded.
She was trying to be a better friend this time and tried her hardest to sound encouraging, remembering Goodwitch's criticism's of putting Ruby down to feel better, hoping it would rebuild their bond like she saw Blake apparently did with Ruby, who sighed heavily as she heard this, sensing her disappointment.
"What my unit is going to do might inconvenience you but tough luck. Look, the bottom line is it's just a useless competition to flaunt a school's students. It's not something important like catching criminals or collecting dust in a dangerous mine. Being huntresses means we have to make personal sacrifices for the greater good right?" Ruby ranted, making the girls nod reluctantly, they still hated how right Ruby always seemed but still admitted her reasons were solid. Blake in particular noticed something from that.
"Catch criminals? Did the White Fang do something again?" Blake asked curiously.
"Remember what Sindel told you." Ruby said deadpan with a raised eyebrow making Blake yip as she closed her mouth and froze, remembering not to pry into Atlas unit's affairs or she'll be arrested.
"Right! Right!, We'll go tell the professors to excuse you from classes! Best of luck Ruby!" Blake yelled sheepishly as she ran off to do so while grabbing Weiss's arm and yanking her with her to the heiress protest. Yang looked at her cousin solemnly as she glared at her once they were alone.
"What?" Ruby said, a bit annoyed as she suspected further protest from Yang, but was startled by a simple hug in response.
"Please be safe… okay Rubes." Yang softly whispered, tears dripping from her eyes as she grew ever more scared.
She hated that Ruby was leaving again after just getting her back and just needed this hug right now to calm her nerves. But her heart began pounding like crazy as Ruby didn't protest this time and just returned the hug. Though Ruby wasn't going to forgive her cousin anytime soon, she still was in a better mood after kicking Yang's ass and felt this was okay after some stress relief.
"Don't worry, my unit can handle anything, we got huntresses and your fearless leader around after all." Ruby said confidently as she assured her cousin once they broke off the hug. Yang could only offer a fake smile and nod as her sister ran out the arena to her dorm to pack, unsure if those words would be true or this might be the last time she'll see her.
The next day….
Back at Patch, it was 5 pm on Sunday. Tai was sitting on his recliner while grasping his scroll and staring at it intensely. Rather he was actually staring at the message his niece sent him a few nights ago. He was still really feeling immense dread Ruby wasn't calling him back, spending hours each day since then when not sleeping or eating eyeing the scroll and hoping that would change. Qrow soon walked in carrying bags, having picked up some groceries for Tai at his request as the Xiao Long wasn't in the mood to leave his house today to eat.
"Come on, your eyeballs are going to melt if you keep staring at that thing. Go take a shower already you stink!" Qrow demanded as he began to grow irritated by his brother-in law's hermit behavior.
"Says you, I can smell the alcohol on your beard a mile away!" Tai hollered, but didn't glance up to see Qrow's scowl, still eyeing the scroll.
"Ruby's probably busy with work or school Tai, just relax." Qrow said but Tai scoffed as he finally took his eyes off the one nice message from Ruby he had gotten in a month.
"Easy for you to say when she talks to you constantly! Why can't she call back already!? You know what, I'm gonna call her maybe-" Tai yelled before his scroll was yanked out of his hands by Qrow to his annoyance.
"Don't pester her Tai. If you do she's going to give you the silent treatment for another month." Qrow said. Tai groaned in response as he rubbed the bags under his tired eyes. Such a likely scenario filled him with even more dread and fear.
"I just want to hear her say things are going well! I know she found out about you and Summer, but I thought with this message she wasn't crossed with us anymore. How do I get her to talk to me!?" Tai asked and Qrow sighed.
"She might actually still be a bit pissed, but it's a good sign she's calming down. Just be patient or she'll lose hers with us again and ignore us. Next time I see her I'll ask her to talk to you." Qrow offered, bring a sigh of relief to Tai. He knew the Vytal festival was coming up soon so Qrow would likely be guarding it on Ozpin's orders.
Qrow soon felt his Scroll's buzzer ring in his pocket.
"Oh, maybe that's her now?" He said hopeful as Tai looked at him, also hopeful before frowning as Qrow's eyes narrowed.
"Sorry, it's Ironwood, hold on. Qrow here, what's up Jimmy?" Qrow said as he answered somewhat annoyed. Tai also felt annoyed as his hopes to talk to Ruby were dashed. He soon felt his heart sink as he heard a gasp from Qrow, knowing it was a bad sign.
"Qrow?" He said fearfully, but Qrow ignored him.
"W-Where at?" Qrow whispered fearfully, it made Tai shiver as he feared the worst as Qrow put his scroll away.
At a Vale hospital, Qrow, Tai, and WBY burst into the ER, seeing Ruby's unit, most with minor injuries though Mira has a cast on her leg, sitting outside a hospital door wearing worried expressions. They also saw Ironwood, now missing his mechanical arm sitting by a window near the room and Qrow lunged at his, yanking his shoulders as the old veteran winced in pain.
"JAMES! WHERE IS SHE?! WHERE'S MY DAUGHTER!" Qrow yelled frightfully. All Ironwood could do to reply was shamefully point to towards the window and Qrow pushed him aside as he and Ruby's family and team pressed their faces to it.
They gasped as they saw a comatose Ruby in a hospital bed, wearing a breathing mask and hooked up to an IV.
Her arms were also wrapped up in gauze with small patches of red seeping through them. Seth, laid next to her on his own bed, his neck covered in bandages and arm in a sling. His good hand clasped one of hers as he cried horribly. Yang couldn't help but hiss with rage at this and the sight of her injured cousin and kicked down the door.
"YANG!' Tai yelled frightfully at his daughter for her brashness, but she ignored him as she lunged onto Seth's bed and began slugging him, a murderous red eyed glare on her face as she grit her teeth and smashed his.
"WHAT HAPPENED!? WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED TO MY BABY RUBES ASSHOLE!?" She roared at her cousin's boyfriend before Blake and Weiss yanked her off her while crying and yelling at her to spare him, considering his condition.
Seth didn't move, he could only keep crying, not from the pain of his injuries and choking on blood from Yang's beatdown, but hearing those words that stung his heart almost as badly as seeing his girlfriend laying next to him so weak and hurt. That heart monitors slow beat filled him with mixed feelings of relief and grief. She was fighting for her life, a life she still barely had, but not thanks to him he thought.
"*Cough's blood* I-I *Cough* I was weak…she was too strong." Seth choked as he cried, drawing Yang's murderous gaze as her hair caught fire and forced Blake and Weiss away.
"WHO?! WHO HURT MY RUBES!?" She roared before hearing another scream.
"GET THE HELL AWAY FROM HIM!" Akali yelled as she yanked Yang off of Seth and threw her on the floor.
"Who the hell are you?!-" Yang shouted but froze as she saw the tears on the girl's face and the pain in her eyes.
"If you want to be mad at anyone, be mad at me! I'm supposed to be the senior here, I am the one who should have protected Ruby! We had that Bandit Bitch right in our hands! And then the weather changed and if Ruby hadn't knocked me out of the way, then I would have been…" Akali said before bursting into tears.
"Kid…who did this to my daughter?" Qrow asked in a pained voice, really hoping it wasn't who he thought it was.
"R-Raven" The bloodied Seth said as all eyes turned to him before he passed out.
"M-Mom?" Yang whispered.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am grateful this year for this amazing story TheDemonHei has made and let me have the honor of collaborating with to finish. Ruby's unit suffered their first and hopefully only loss, and worse for Yang at the hands of her own mother. Next chapter we will see the full mission against Raven's tribe gone wrong that has landed her niece Ruby in the hospital, and Salem's next phase of her plan. Happy Holidays!