RWBY Puppet AU Novel

Chapter 8: Standards

1 week ago…

In the blood red grassy plains of mistralian forest, Adam stood in his cells tent, going over a world map, with potential targets for the cell circled in red.

Suddenly one of his soldiers with an oni mask burst into the tent. Adam didn't even spare the Faunus a glance, despite being a lieutenant, not finding him worth any attention until hearing what he said.

"Sir! Cinder Fall is here to speak with you." The soldier said, hints of fear in his raspy tone. Adam grinded his teeth at the news, and his subordinates behavior. Fearing a human was a grave insult to their cause in his eyes.

"TCH! Who the hell does that woman think she is coming here as she pleases!?" Adam groaned. He hated having to deal with a human period, only once accepting because his cell was desperate for ammunition and food and there were no easy targets at the time to steal either.

He stood at attention as he noticed a pair of grey heels casually strut into his tent, followed by a pair of red and black boots both belonging to women, one of which infuriated the bull Faunus to no end, especially as he heard her condescending tone.

"I am the woman who turn your people into smoldering piles of ashes if you don't do a I say." Cinder said mockingly as the corner of her eye flickered a small flame to illustrate her point. Adam admittingly felt his spine shake at the sight, feeling the new power difference between them that proved her threat to be true. Yet he couldn't stand to show fear to this human, so he stood his ground and proceeded to get on with business.

"What do you want Cinder? And why bring in a new human?" Adam demanded in a low yet stern tone. His aggression made Ruby rub the back of her head nervously and avert her glance. Cinder snickered at the sight, enjoying that even while possessed the little rose was the shy type.

"This girl is my new recruit…..although she definitely isn't here by her own choice." Cinder said joyfully, Adam sensing the sheer sadism in her tone. He normally wouldn't bother giving a short stack like this one a moment of his time or blade, but did spare a glance as he heard Cinders last words. Curiosity overtook him when hearing she wasn't here of her own free will, but as Adam saw the red tattoo marks on her cheek, he realized Cinder meant that literally.

"So she doesn't even have a will anymore huh? I'd feel bad if she weren't a hu-" Adam thought before his spine froze as Ruby locked eyes with him. He was shocked to his core as he saw a silver eye, massive bags under it. She looked so tired, so lifeless, and so very sad. It was like she was dead inside.

After a few minutes of Cinder threating Adam for his cells cooperation in an attack on Beacon she was preparing in the coming months, Cinder walked over to Ruby, grabbing her shoulder and squeezing it tightly to the nearby grunts slight shock. Even he was unnerved by the child's slight squirming.

"Ruby, our group needs to discuss our plans now. Lets go." Cinder said firmly, not that she needed to. She knew Ruby couldn't resist her commands. She just enjoyed the hell out of domineering people.

"Yes ma'am." Ruby slowly said with a deadpan tone. As she left the tent with her tormentor, Adam shuddered for a bit once knowing it was safe, his soldier breathing a sigh of relief he was certain Cinder couldn't hear.

"Glad she finally took a hike. By the way, that plan of hers, it seems like she's really losing it. Even with us and some Grimm I doubt even she could topple that school. Too damn risky right? Uh sir?" The soldier asked his boss casually before noticing him starring off into space.

After a few minutes, Adam finally responded to his confused Lieutenant.

"That girl…her eyes. I've never seen anyone, even amongst our kind, with such a dead look in their eyes." Adam said with a chill. For all the abuse he suffered, for all the Faunus he saw orphaned and living in slums to eat garbage and be hit by human thugs, he could only imagine the torment this little girl had been put through by Cinder. His thoughts weren't unnoticed.

"Sir? Do you actually…feel sorry for that little human girl?" The soldier asked, yet his spine froze and he stood at attention hearing a low grumble from his boss.

"Lieutenant." He asked darkly, hints of cold anger in his tone.

"S-SIR!" The soldier yelled fearfully.

"We need to continue planning our next raid." Adam said, his tone resolute that silenced the soldier, yet Adam still couldn't help but ponder that notion he brought up. For the next week or so, Adam was plagued with uncertainty, about his next course of action, and his feelings about that girl.

"So lifeless." He kept thinking.

Present time….

Cinder had the possessed Ruby stand on the landing pad to the bullhead, letting the wind blow on her face. Even though she wasn't there in person, she could enjoy the cool touch via their link.

"I've left the ship on auto pilot in case my real body or Ruby needs to make a quick exit. I only have a little more than half my strength left after all this possession so I need her to get here fast." Cinder thought as she had Ruby jump off the ship, shifting Crescent Rose into scythe unlocked form to swing on some trees to shift her momentum and land safely, then she bolted to the base her master and puppeteer was located at blinding speed, leaving a trail of rose petals behind via her semblance.

"Blake, Weiss, Yang!" She sang sadistically, it sounded so much more enthralling for the maiden to have Ruby's voice give off such a terrifying song. "Ready or not, I'm coming for you!" Ruby sang.

At the same time…

"Adam!?" Blake cried out in shock as she saw her former flame and partner slowly approach them. Her tone was noticed by Weiss, who could correctly assume by the white fang mask and Blake's tone this was someone she knew in the organization quite well.

"Blake. Who is this guy?" Weiss asked reluctantly, seeing her teammate shudder.

"This…is Adam Taurus. My former partner and leader of the White Fang…or at least most of it. He's what turned it into a violent bloodthirsty gang." Blake said bitterly, knowing how badly the heiress would take it.

Weiss, for her part, was trembling, her hand twitching as it drew near Myrtenastr with the urge to stab into this guys throat.

"This bastard? This monster is the one who led that group of heathens into attacking my family?! He's the one who got my cousins and childhood friends killed!?" Weiss thought with a fury.

"Blake. What are you doing with a Schnee?" Adam asked coldly, making his ex-girlfriend tremble to Weiss's further anger.

"I-I…I." Blake stuttered, fearful of his mere presence. It was suffocating her as she felt his rage. Suddenly Weiss's hand intertwined with hers to her surprise. Soon joined by Yang with the other hand.

"Don't be afraid of him Blake." Weiss said firmly but with a smile.

"We got your back no matter what Blake." Yang said with a grin, bringing a smile to the Catgirl.

"Thank you." Blake said after sighing with relief before glaring at Adam. "Weiss Schne is one of my most trusted friends and teammates." Blake said firmly.

"Not that you need to know bastard. We're here to save our other friend and teammate, not waste our time with you." Weiss said bitterly and Yang backed her up.

"I don't care about you either, but if you threaten them or get in our way we'll kill you first." Yang threatened, clenching her gauntlets as she braced herself as Adam stood against them firmly. But the bullman just stood there silently to their surprise, not even reaching for that huge sword near his waist. All he did to shake their resolve was utter one question.

"This this friend of yours, does she have silver eyes and wear a red cape like that one?" He asked as he pointed to Ruby's cloak around Weiss's neck, making the girls recoil.

"Based on your reactions, I'll take that as a yes. So she's also your friend Blake?" Adam asked curiously.

"How do you…how do know about her Adam!?" Blake asked nervously. She saw from the files Cinder was collaborating with the White Fang, so she could only imagine the horrible things Adam might have done to Ruby at Cinder's behest, knowing both of their wicked natures. Adam merely glanced Mercury's way, making him shudder a bit.

"This human's master brought her to my camp once. You must know she's collaborating with us for something big, but we're not doing it by choice like her little puppet." Adam said to Blake's shock.

"She's threatening the White Fang too? But why does she need them? I thought my team and Jaune's team were her only targets?" Blake wondered.

"Which leads me to why I'm here. Cinder's gotten careless and revealed herself too soon. She's become a bigger threat than ally to me and my men. So I'm here to take her out and her little tool if she stands in my way." Adam coldly said.

"Damn it! Of course he noticed!" Mercury thought with a grimace. "Cinder has gotten reckless lately, and she's been more confrontational. It isn't like her. I guess it happened after she abducted Little Red; she must have really gotten consumed by her bloodlust for the hunt." Mercury thought bitterly. As Adam slowly stepped towards him a cold sweat descended down his cheek.

"Not that it matters, I'm totally screwed now." Mercury admitted to himself. Between 3 huntresses in training and Adam he knew he couldn't win or escape. He was shocked when he learned it wouldn't go that way as Adam tightened his gloves.

"Blake, take your team and get that brat of yours already. I'll take care of this punk first then go for Cinder." Adam demanded. He would rather squeeze what little info out of this guy about Cinder's fighting style before facing her, and perhaps Blake's team could wear the monster down before him.

"Adam…your helping us?" Blake asked him. He wouldn't admit, but her voice was soothing to him. It was another reason for him doing this.

"Just go before I change my mind." Adam demanded.

"Fine. You heard the man. I got more important things to do than chat anyway." Yang demanded as she ran by the bullman with Weiss who turned back to Blake.

"Come on Blake! We're almost there!" Yang cried out.

"Blake? You coming?" Weiss asked her but froze as she heard a sigh.

"Yang, Weiss Go! I'm joining Adam in this fight!" Blake said firmly to everyone's shock.

"Wh…Why?" Weiss asked.

"Don't worry, I'll catch up when we're done." Blake said with a smile that warmed her teammates expressions. They needed no further explanation.

"Ok then. Don't take too long to catch up. And as your temporary leader, I order you be careful." Weiss ordered teasingly.

"Yeah, we might just save Ruby before you get a chance to if you're slow." Yang said with a wink before the two headed off into the base to Mercury's annoyance. The only reason he didn't move to stop them was because he was silently relieved. Despite the blow to his pride being ignored, he knew this increased his chances to survive now. 2 on 1 wasn't great, but better than 4 on 1.

"Well then. Lets get this party started then." Mercury said as he cracked his knuckles.

"Blake. Why are you helping me in this fight?" Adam asked he curiously.

"Heads up! I'll talk later, focus on him now!" Blake told him as she pushed him away from a gunshot Mercury's robot leg gave off. She hated how easily distracted he was these days, it worried her he hadn't truly changed from the days she knew him. He was always reckless and dangerous to both himself and others. It was one of the reasons she left him.

"I don't know if I can win, but I sure as hell gonna try." Mercury cried out as he shot off a laser at the duo who dodged, but Adam noticed Mercury charging at him, charging up a kick. He soon drew his blade, attempting to slash him, but Mercury backtracked to avoid the slash just in time. Suddenly he noticed a presence behind him and jerked his head back, seeing Blake with her katana, split in two blades, aiming for his head.

"THIS IS FOR RUBY!" She cried with rage, wanting his head for his part in her capture and torture.

But the assassin was quicker than she though, ducking and narrowly avoiding the twin blades as he pushed off the ground soon after, trying to sweep her legs and forcing Blake to jump. Mercury took the chance and kicked her gut as she was helpless in midair, but it evaporated into thin air as it was just a shadow clone she swapped with, flickering her aura as she landed on her knees. Mercury smirked as he saw his chance appear.

"Now I got you!" Blake heard Mercury yell before feeling a sharp burning pain in her left ear, then a trickle of blood ooze down her eye to her and Adam's shock. All of the sudden, Blake only had half her left ear.

Adam was enraged seeing this, his red blade aimed straight for Mercury's head as he lunged for the assassin. Adam froze as he strangely saw some rose petals fly by him. He turned to see a red and black boot in front of him. Ruby had appeared in the blink of an eye, it shook him to the core, he never saw someone with such speed or who could get the drop on him. Pain soon replaced fear as she struck his face and sent him crashing towards Blake with intense force, leaving a massive crater where he landed to Blake's worry, she never saw such strength from her friend. His mask cracking instead of his skull was her one comfort as he painfully and slowly stood up.

"Y-You okay?" She asked him as he rose.

"No. That girl was fast and caught me off-guard. I'm not alright, but she won't be either." Adam bitterly said as he picked up his mask. His pride wounded more than his bloody face. Blake looked at him bitterly for that dangerous comment, worried for her friend and even more so as she heard her voice.

"Tell me something Blakey." The possessed Ruby coldly asked with a grin as Mercury smirked seeing her threatened her old teammate. "Did you enjoy the show?" She asked as she flexed her legs. But Ruby shuddered as she noticed something other than her ex-teammates shocked look. She noticed the blood dripping down her face, jerking her head to see Blake's damaged ear. Her silver eyes trembled before turning red with rage as she shifted her body towards Mercury. Blake gasping as she heard Ruby yell with rage.

Meanwhile….

Within the base, Weiss and Yang slowly walked down the corridors, careful to look out for an ambush. Cinder did know this base in and out unlike the intruders.

"These crates, their Schnee dust corporation. There full of dust, but why does she need them?" Weiss asked Yang.

"You girls don't need to know why." Cinder's voice echoed in the base, sending goosebumps down their arms as they turned to see the monster smiling sadistically at them. "I'm going to kill you two after all." Cinder said menacingly.

"Fall." They both said bitterly as they glared at her, clenching their weapons so hard they almost drew blood from their fingernails, if they didn't wish to draw it from their friend's tormentor instead. Cinder formed a wide grin, the beetle grimm etched into her arm itching as it let her sense their rage; it was enthralling.

"Welcome to your tomb Weiss Schnee and Yang Xiao Long." Cinder said with glee, especially as she sensed a certain silver-eyed maiden's rage spike.

Outside the base, Mercury gripped Ruby's hand as he stopped her wrist blade inches from his throat. He ignored the pain in his stabbed hand, focusing coldly trembling body that vainly tried to force the blade further as she eyed him, horse with fury.

"Those ears. They were a symbol of Blake's heritage as a Faunus. They were a part of her pride and you shot them." Ruby said as she shook. Memories of her time reading with Blake, rubbing her hears and hearing that soothing purr, all the warm hugs that gave her warm if weird feelings, they flooded into Ruby's mind as a dark desire overtook her.

Blake and Mercury recoiled in shock as she soon screeched at the top of her lungs.

"I'M GONNA KILL YOU FOR TAKING THAT FROM HER!" Ruby yelled.

Author Notes

Turns out Adam isn't the only one out for blood tonight. Ruby is enraged someone she loves is scarred by her tormentors, She's had enough. Ruby is mad as hell and wants vengeance, will she have it and will Yang and Weiss kill Cinder and free their sister from her pain, or will Cinder reduce them to ashes? Find out in ch 9: The Ruby I know and Love