Chapter Seventeen: Return

(Ryker pov)

I coughed as I pulled myself out of my bed, monitors going off as I tore all of the wires and IVs from my arm. I felt weak like I hadn't moved in months. My mind racing as I try to piece together what happened. I remember finding Blake. We were at the dockyard, there were the White Fang and Roman Torchwick. Then…

My hand grabbed at my stomach, I shuddered as I felt over scared tissue that covered my stomach. Looking at it was no better, nasty angry-looking skin that covered an area the size of my fist. There were little tendrils of scar tissue that branched out across my torso. It looked like a creature had wrapped itself around me.

My mind raced as I pressed my feet to the cold tile floor. I nearly stumbled when I stood but willed my aura to help me out a bit. That was the other thing, while I might have felt physically weak and stiff, my aura felt massive compared to what I had before. It didn't escape me that I had gained weight, a lot of weight. It wasn't muscle, but it was weight. Was my aura reserves hampered by my low weight? Was I hurting myself that bad?

I shake the thoughts from my head, I need to find Ruby. I don't know why, but I knew something was wrong. That my team was in trouble. I finger over the headphones that were placed on my head and see my scroll sitting on the small table next to my hospital bed. I shuffle over, picking up the scroll. I thumb through my contacts and press on Ruby's name. The call immediately went to voicemail.

"Damnit, Ruby."

I tried Blake and Weiss next, but neither of them answered the call. I tried Yang and Pyrrha next, but neither of them answered the call either. "Shit," I mumble looking around the room for some clothes, the hospital gown feeling way too revealing.

I turned around at the sound of the door opening, a nurse I recognized as one from Beacon stared at me in shock. "Oh my… Sit down, Sweetie, I will get the doctor and notify Headmaster Ozpin that you are awake."

"I need clothes. My team is in trouble." I mutter.

The nurse looked at me with confusion. "Sweetie, you just woke up from a three-month coma, you need to sit down while we get you situated. I'm sure your team is fine."

I freeze, my thoughts halting on what the nurse had just said. Three months… I had been out for three months. I could worry about it later.

"No, I need to go," I argue as I shuffle towards the window of my room, I was on the second floor, not that far of a drop.

"You aren't going anywhere hon, just sit here and wait for the doctor and Ozpin." The nurse said sternly.

I shake my head and give a soft smile. I burst into action as I take the visitor's chair and send it flying into the window, the glass shattering as several alarms sound from the action. I ignore the scream of concern from the nurse as I leap through the window, using my aura to cushion my landing as I slam into the concrete before running through the courtyard and heading towards the team dorm.

I had to be quick, I didn't want to get caught, not when I knew my team needed me. My lungs burned from the pace I was keeping. I was definitely out of shape, but I could use my new reserves of aura to mask my physical deterioration.

I burst into my dorm room going to my dresser and pulling out a shirt and jeans. I smile seeing Fool's Folly sitting on my bed. They hadn't forgotten me. I grab it and type on my scroll for my locker to land in the courtyard. I knew Beacon was safe so that left Vale and the surrounding area on where my team could be. I winced as my locker slammed into the concrete of the courtyard, a small crater placed in the pristine courtyard from the impact of my locker. I'm sure someone could fix that.

I opened the locker and started grabbing Dust Crystals, as well as my harness, kneepads, boots, and shoulder pad. I hesitate before slipping a Gravity Dust Crystal into one of my pockets. I really needed to figure out a better way to store my ammo.

"Mr. Thorne, you are finally awake." I whip around to see Professor Ozpin standing a few feet away from me. How had he snuck up on me? "Though I believe you should be still recovering in the hospital till they discharge you, correct?"

"I'm not going back to the hospital, my team needs me," I shout as I finish stuffing Dust crystals into my various pockets.

"Mr. Thorne, I assure you that your team is fine. You must be confused, waking up alone in your hospital room after what happened must have been shocking." Ozpin spoke taking a step towards me.

I go to respond but both me and Ozpin turn around at the sound of an explosion going off in Vale. Several plooms of smoke going up on the main Vale highway system. I turn back to Ozpin with a grin. "Told you."

Ozpin's eyes narrowed, he seemed conflicted. "It is not wise for you to just run off into danger right after waking up."

I shrug. "I don't really have a choice. My team is in trouble."

"You always have a choice, however, you seem to be limiting mine," Ozpin replied, his hand gripping his cane tightly.

"You aren't going to let me leave are you?" I ask.

"It is my duty to protect you, I failed three months ago, and I will not fail again." We stared at each other. Neither of us so much as moved an inch. This was a standoff.

"It's also your duty to protect my team, but you are willing to let them get hurt for me."

Ozpin flinched at the comment, shaking his head. "Tell me, do you have proof that your team is in trouble? Do you know for certain that whatever is going on in Vale tonight has anything to do with your team?"

I shrug with a small smile. "I mean… It's my team. Of course, they are doing something dangerous that they shouldn't."

"But do you have proof?" Ozpin repeated the question.

"No, it's just a feeling." I finally answered.

"Then I can not allow you to go," Ozpin spoke as he walked towards me.

I shake my head with a laugh. "When will you learn that you don't control me?" My aura flared, electricity snapping violently around me. I felt the tip of Ozpins cane graze the side of my face before the world ripped apart.

"Damnit, Ruby."

The words echo in my ears as the world is pulled into focus. I look around the room, smiling at escaping Ozpin for the moment. I use my scroll to have the locker sent for the courtyard preemptively before storing my scroll in my pocket next to my Dust Crystals… Wait.

I looked down and gasped, I was fully dressed. The clothes that I had put on in the last loop were still on, the medical gown nowhere in sight. I reach behind my back and gasp once more when I feel the cool metal of Fool's Folly resting on my back.

"How?" I mumble before I turn around at the sound of the door opening, a nurse I recognized as one from Beacon stared at me in shock.

"Oh my… Sit down, Sweetie, I will get the doctor and notify Headmaster Ozpin that you are awake." She urged before looking at me confused. "Where did you get your clothes and Huntsman equipment?"

"Uhhh, sorry bout this," I mumble before pulling Fool's Folly off of my back and shooting out the window, the nurse lets out a shocked scream as I launch myself out the window. I could figure out why my clothes stayed with me later, for now, I needed to find Ruby and the others. My stomach curled at the thought of them getting hurt. I wouldn't let it happen, I would protect my friends, even if it killed me.

I loaded up Wind and Fire Dust Crystals into Fool's Folly as I ran to the edge of the academy, the cliff leading into Vale quickly approaching. The barrel clicked shut as the sound of dust cycling into Fool's Folly greeted my ears. Just as I reached the edge I jumped over the edge, turning mid-air and aiming Fool's Folly at the cliff edge. I pulled the trigger and a massive concussive blast shot for the tip of Fool's Folly and sent me flying into the night. The city of Vale passed beneath me rapidly as I soared across the city. However, unlike the Emerald Forest incident, I had a landing strategy.

"Hang on Ruby, I'm coming."

(Yang pov)

The explosion in Junior's club caught us off guard. All of us were sent flying until we skidded across the floor and got our footing. My eyes narrowed as I looked at the strawberry, vanilla, and chocolate-flavored woman giggling at us as she casually collected her scroll from where it landed from the blast.

"Pyrrha, what do we do?" Ren muttered as he drew his machine pistols StormFlower.

Pyrrha sighed pulling Milo and Akouo from her back, the spear and shield glinting dangerously. "We ne-"

"I know what we need to do, we need to beat this chick's ass!" I shout. I rush forward ignoring the calls from my teammates. The girl grins wickedly at this, brandishing her parasol like one would a rapier. I duck and weave as more Dust rounds fly out the tip of the parasol, the club is filled with explosions of Fire Dust. Once I got within range I ducked under a head-height sweep from the parasol and counter with a haymaker. I grit my teeth as the woman casually bats my hand aside, the shotgun rounds from my gauntlets Ember Celica flying uselessly past her head.

We trade blows, neither of us managing to hit the other before she managed to land a heavy hit to my gut, the wind being forced out of my lungs as she kicked off me creating more distance between us before letting loose another Fire Dust round right at my feet, the explosion sending me flying and smacking into the wall of the club.

"Well, that didn't work." Nora chimed with a grin.

"Shut it, I almost had her!" I bit out.

"Let's try working as a team this time shall we?" Pyrrha pleaded.

I rolled my eyes before nodding. "Alright, what's the plan?" I gesture to the woman now sitting with her legs crossed on the one table that had yet to be destroyed in the fighting. She giggled before waving at us.

"Yang on me, Nora with Ren. We go under and over." Pyrrha commanded.

"Yeah, let's do this!" Nora cheered as she slammed her hammer into the ground behind her before she climbed on top of it and pulled the trigger, a giant explosion from the head of her hammer sent her sailing across the room towards the women.

Pyrrha rushed alongside me back to the woman who rolled backward off the table, the table tipping backwards as she stood on a couch, her heel slamming onto the edge of the tabletop snapping the table up before she kicked it towards me and Pyrrha. I punch through the table, wood splintering as the woman jumps away from Nora who just slammed her hammer down on the couch she was just standing on.

This kept repeating, the moment we would get close, the woman would be able to slip out of our grasp and retreat to an unoccupied space in the club. She was running circles around us.

"This… isn't… working." Ren gasped as we entered our fifth loop around the building the woman showing no signs of fatigue, if anything she seemed to be having fun.

"We can't corner her, we need to find a way to pin her down. She doesn't look like she's willing to fight all of us, so that means she is just buying time for something." Pyrrha reasoned, just as she finished speaking the door to the club burst open, tons of White Fang members filing into the room.

"I think I know what she was buying time for." Nora laughed.

"This isn't good," Ren muttered.

"We need help." My scroll blares to life on my hip. Blake's voice came over the group chat we all agreed to enter. "We found Torchwick, he's chasing us with an Atlas mech that he got his hands on. We are on the highway heading towards Beacon."

"Shit," I mumble as Ruby responds to Blakes's request. I grab the scroll from my hip and bring it to my mouth. "We can't make it, we are being attacked by some crazy lady with an umbrella and some White Fang goons."

I exit the call and stash my scroll. I just hope my little sister can handle herself. "Alright, new plan. Yang, you go after the woman, we will clear out the White Fang. She seemed ok with fighting you one one-on-one, so try and beat her while we take care of her backup." Pyrrha called out before launching herself at the nearest White Fang member.

I grin, before ejecting the spent shells from Ember Celica. "Hear that you neapolitan flavored bitch? Looks like it's just you and me." The girl laughed soundlessly, a slight blush adorning her face before she raised her hand and curled her finger at me, begging me to come and get her.

I launch myself across the club, my gauntlets propelling me at the woman as fast as I could possibly go. Hook, cross, jab, jab, uppercut, elbow, repeat. My flurry of punches comes out faster and faster as the woman giggles the entire time, just barely slipping my punches. I growl as I just can't manage to hit the woman.

With a flourish of her parasol, the sharp tip snaps my chip up. I grunt as I get kicked away, but this time the woman follows me. I grimace as I take blow after blow. I keep trying to backpedal but I can't create any space, every step I take a blow slams into my gut, my ribs, my knees. A particular harsh blow smacks the back of my head as I crumple to the ground. My vision swirls, my aura shattering as the nausea that comes from a concussion slowly starts to build. I tried to focus, but the entire world was spinning.

I flinch when I hear the sound of steel being drawn, the woman pulling a blade from the hilt of her parasol. She's approaching, I look around for my teammates but all of them are tied up with the White Fang, the sea of people obscuring them from view.

The girl giggles as she raises the blade ready to strike before her scroll beeps. She blushes and then holds up a finger to me like she is asking for a moment to take the call. She pulls her scroll up and reads a message, a small smile gracing her lips. She stashes her scroll and then looks at me before shrugging and stowing her blade back into her parasol.

"W-what?" The words come out slurred.

The woman giggles before leaning down and patting me affectionately on the cheek. She starts to pull away before pausing and instead leaning back in and placing a small kiss on my lips. What? I look at her as she pulls away from me and gives a small bow before shattering into a million shards of glass.

"What the fuck?" I mumble just as a White Fang thug is sent sailing past my prone body. Pyrrha burst through the crowd of mostly incapacitated thugs and rushed to my side. "Are you ok?"

"She kissed me," I mumble before the world turns black, Pyrrha's shouting for me to stay awake sounding farther and farther away.

(Ruby pov)

"Well Red, I guess this is the end of your little story, you should have stayed home." Torchwicks voice echoed out of the speakers of the mech, the man laughing behind the safety of the bulletproof glass canopy of the mech. The mech rushed at us, but none of us were able to react in time as the giant buzzsaw swung down on us.

"Ruby move!" Blake screamed before she grabbed me and Weiss and tossed us away from the attack. My eyes widened as the blade came down on Blake. I closed my eyes, I couldn't see another loved one die.

I'm sorry… I failed.

A loud crash rang out, the sound of metal tearing filling my ears. I grimace as I hit the ground and roll to my feet, Weiss immediately at my side as I keep my eyes closed. "It's not possible." Weiss breathed. "Ruby look!" She shouted, shaking me till I opened my eyes and gasping in disbelief. Blake sat on the ground her mouth hanging open in her own disbelief as Ryker stood in front of her, steam spewing from the barrel of Fool's Folly as Ryker flicked the chamber open and loaded another Fire and Ice Crystal before flicking the champer shut and raising Fool's Folly again and firing another blast at the mech that was now staggering backward trying to stay upright.

"Ryker." I breathe, not believing that he's really here.

Ryker turned his head to look at me and gave me a small smile. "Ruby we need a plan, this is doing nothing but stalling him." He gestured to the mech that was now stable once more.

I nod as I try and rack my brain for an idea. I look at the mech before noticing that Crescent Rose is still stuck in the back of the mech's leg. "First things first, I need my weapon. Then we need a way to hurt it. Any ideas?" I ask as we all group up as a team for the first time in months.

"None of our weapons can pierce the armor, but maybe the joints?" Blake mumbled as she slowly stood up though she was favoring her leg a lot.

"Good idea, anything else?" I ask.

"The paladin mech uses a lot of AI-assisted tech to help the pilot out. If we can obscure the sensors even a little then Torchwick will have a hard time controlling it." Weiss spoke.

"I have a way we could end the fight, but we need to pin it in place and give me time to get right on it. It's a long shot, but It should work. I'm running low on crystals, just got a few lightning, two fire, one ice, one wind, and one gravity, but I need at least one of each for my plan to work." Ryker spoke as we all reloaded our weapons.

"Got it, let's go!" I cheered. "Weiss, ice the floor. Ryker, burn it."

Weiss slammed her rapier into the ground a giant glyph taking over the floor as ice spread out along the ground. Ryker loaded a Fire Dust crystal and slammed Fool's Folly into the iced floor before pulling the trigger, a massive ploom of fire spreading across the ground melting the ice and creating a fog of steam.

"Ladybug!" I call as I rush through the steam, Blake keeping pace as she ignores the pain in her ankle. I slid under the legs of the mech my hand grabbing onto Crescent Rose and ripping it from the leg before I burst into a flurry of rose petals and swept Blake up who was standing on top of the glass canopy and littering it with strikes from Gambol Shroud. Red and black petals fly everywhere as I place Blake gently on the ground next to Ryker.

"What next?" Ryker asked.

"We will pin it down and give you the time to do your plan. Be ready!" I call back as I regroup with Weiss. "Ice flower." I slam Crescent Rose into the ground as Weiss lights a glyph right in front of the barrel. I loaded Ice rounds into Crescent Rose and began to shoot round after round into the legs of the mech, the mech quickly becoming encased in ice, frozen up to its hips. "Ryker, now!" I scream.

(Ryker pov)

I rush through the mist and leap onto the mech, quickly climbing before I jam Fool's Folly into a crease in the armor. "Hey kid, I thought you bit the dust a few months ago." Roman taunted, his voice almost friendly as he slammed on the controls of the mech trying to make it move.

"Yeah well, my death was greatly exaggerated. By the way, if this kills you…" I trail off before giving a sheepish smile. I pull the trigger of Fool's Folly and leap away from the mech.

"Now I want you to listen very carefully to me. In the sword form, there are five slots for dust crystals to be inserted. One for ice, fire, lightning, wind, and a fith one that you need to leave alone. I initially planned for that one to hold a gravity Dust crystal, but I could never get it to work. If you try to load it with one and use it, you will warp the weapon into a ball of metal and probably hurt yourself. So don't do that."

"Run!" I shout as loud as I can as I land back with the group, I pick Blake up off the ground as Ruby and Weiss keep pace with me as we run from the mech, a high-pitched sound growing louder and louder before a giant ball of light exploding sending us flying away from the mech.

I groan as I lift Blake off of me gently before setting her next to me and climbing to my feet. I couldn't help the laugh that poured out of my mouth at the sight before us.

"Woah," Ruby gasped.

"Just what did you do?" Weiss shrieked as we looked at the remains of the mech, its left arm and both legs simply gone as Torchwick lay motionless in the cockpit of the mech, the glass canopy simply gone.

"My mom designed Fool's Folly to work with five types of Dust, but she could never figure out how to incorporate Gravity Dust into the weapon without breaking it. I simply wanted to know what happens when you load it up with all five. I guess destroy a mech is the answer." I laughed trying to ignore the pang of sadness at the loss of my mother's weapon.

We ran back to the mech, Torchwick laying in the cockpit barely breathing, the shallow and slow rise of his chest showing how hurt he truly was. "We need to call the cops and get him an ambulance," I call out before a neapolitan colored girl lands on top of the broken mech. She looked at us then at Roman and glared before scooping him up. She pointed her parasol at us before she and Roman burst into a million shards of glass. "Well… so much for that." I groan as the bad guys once again getaway.

I finally relax as the adrenaline flushes from my system. I turn to my team, all three of them looking at me in awe. "You guys are idiots!" I scream. "I'm gone for three months and you all decide to go hunt down Roman Torchwick! Do you know how dangerous that was? The dude put me in the hospital and you all thought you could just handle it on your own. Of all the stupid things you three have done, this has got to be up ther-" I yelp as my words are cut off as three sets of arms wrap around me.

"I can't believe you're back!" Ruby cried.

"We have been waiting for you to wake up for so long. I thought… I thought you never would." Wiess sniffed.

"I read to you every day, and even spent the night with you a bunch of times," Blake whispered.

I sigh before returning the hug. I just couldn't be that mad at them, they were my team, my girls. I missed them just as much as they missed me. "Yeah… I'm back. I'm sorry for being gone for so long."

It took the cops arriving for the girls to finally let me go, though Ruby refused to let go of my hand. She had practically latched onto me, and it seemed like she thought if she let go of me I would disappear. We got shipped back to Beacon, with both Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch waiting for us at the airdock. They wordlessly escorted us to Ozpin's office and tore into us for our reckless behavior. We got put under house arrest for a week and told that if we were caught going after the White Fang or Roman Torchwick again we would be in even worse trouble.

A pang of guilt rang through me when we were informed that Yang was given a concussion, but the rest of Team PNLY managed to leave Juniors Club without a scratch. Ruby seemed pleased with how things shook out.

Once we made it back to the dorm I was so wiped out I collapsed onto my bed with a groan. I turned to look at my teammates before a single question escaped my mouth.

"Why is Ruby's bed pushed together with Weiss'?" The question left my three teammates red in the face as Ruby began to stutter through an explanation. I missed this.