The morning in the quiet neighborhood began as any other. The soft chirping of birds filled the air, and the golden sunlight bathed the small homes in warmth. Inside the house, Ruby slept soundly in a room that Weiss would have claimed, had she and Blake not decided to head out early to stock up on coffee and tea for the coming weeks.
Ruby mumbled something unintelligible in her sleep, sprawled across the bed with one arm hanging off the side. Her dreams were peaceful, for now.
That peace didn't last.
A distant boom echoed, causing the house to vibrate slightly. Ruby stirred but didn't wake. Moments later, another boom—closer this time—made the walls tremble. The vibrations rattled a glass on the nightstand, and Ruby jolted awake.
Her silver eyes darted around the room, her heart racing. "Huh? What the—?"
Downstairs, Yang lay sprawled on the couch, having chosen to let Blake have their shared room for the night. The vibrations and distant sounds of explosions stirred her as well. She opened her lilac eyes, groaning as she rubbed her face.
Ruby threw on her combat outfit and grabbed Crescent Rose. She bolted downstairs just as the sound of engines—loud, mechanical, and unfamiliar—grew closer. Yang was sitting up, her eyes narrowed in confusion.
"What's going on?" Ruby asked. But she didn't wait for an answer. She ran to the front door, Crescent Rose in hand, and flung it open. The bright sunlight made her squint at first, but as her eyes adjusted, she froze.
The sky was filled with Atlesian airships. Their sleek, metallic forms glided through the air, casting ominous shadows over the neighborhood. Parachutes dotted the sky as soldiers descended, their armor glinting in the sunlight.
Ruby's heart pounded as a fighter plane zoomed past, so close to the house that the roar of its engines made was her ears ring.
The sound of explosions ripped through the air, closer now. Thick columns of smoke began rising in the distance, and Ruby felt her legs tremble.
She took another step forward, staring at the chaos. Suddenly, an Atlesian airship above her took a direct hit from a missile. Fire erupted from its hull as it spun out of control, trailing black smoke.
Ruby gasped as debris began falling from the sky. A soldier, still attached to his parachute, was caught by the wreckage and dragged downward. The airship crashed into a house just a few doors down, erupting in a fiery explosion.
Ruby instinctively raised Crescent Rose to shield herself from the heat and flying debris. She could hear her neighbors screaming, running for cover as flaming pieces of metal scattered across the street.
She turned to see Yang rushing out of the house, carrying two duffel bags slung over her shoulders. Her expression was tense but focused.
"Ruby! We've got to find the others!" Yang shouted over the noise.
Ruby nodded, her hands trembling as she folded Crescent Rose into its compact form and slung it over her back.
Yang tossed the duffel bags into the bed of the truck and climbs into the driver's seat.
Ruby jumped into the passenger seat, slamming the door as Yang started the engine. The truck roared to life, and they peeled out of the driveway, the tires kicking up gravel.
As they sped down the street, Ruby couldn't tear her eyes away from the sight of Atlesian soldiers touching down, smoke filling the air, and fire engulfing parts of the once-quiet neighborho
od.
The truck roared down the street, disappearing into the chaos as the once-quiet morning turned into a nightmare.
Yang's truck roared through the chaos, weaving between fleeing civilians and abandoned vehicles. Smoke filled the streets, and the sound of distant explosions mixed with the steady hum of Atlesian engines overhead. Ruby clutched her Scroll, frantically tapping the screen.
"No signal!" Ruby shouted, her voice trembling. "I can't call Weiss or Blake!"
"Try the radio!" Yang barked, her eyes locked on the road as she swerved to avoid a panicked man dragging his injured wife.
Ruby fumbled with the radio dial, but all she got was static. She spun through every frequency, desperate for anything—emergency broadcasts, orders, even music. Nothing.
Ruby's breathing quickened. "What's happening, Yang? Why would Atlas—?"
Yang's grip on the steering wheel tightened, her knuckles white. "…Maybe Atlas finally snapped."
Ruby looked at her sister, wide-eyed. "Snapped?"
Yang didn't answer. She swerved hard to the right, narrowly avoiding a toppled power line sparking on the road. Ahead of them, the street was blocked by burning cars, flames licking the air.
"Hang on!" Yang shouted.
Before Ruby could protest, Yang floored the gas pedal. The truck smashed through the burning cars, metal screeching as the bumper dented but held firm.
The ground rumbled as Atlesian soldiers continued to descend via parachutes, their rifles already firing into the streets. The sisters could see terrified civilians running for cover, ducking into alleys and abandoned buildings.
Suddenly, Yang's gaze snapped to a familiar truck speeding toward them from the opposite direction. She hit the brakes hard.
"Dad?!" Ruby gasped.
Taiyang's truck screeched to a halt just ahead of them. He leaned out the window and shouted, "Stay behind me!"
Yang didn't hesitate. She hit the gas and fell in line behind Taiyang, her truck trailing his as the chaos unfolded around them.
The soldiers hit the ground, forming quick formations. One of them spotted the trucks and opened fire, bullets pinging against the armored exterior.
Ruby ducked as a bullet cracked the windshield, missing her head by inches.
"Ruby!" Yang yelled, her eyes flaring red.
She growled and slammed her foot on the gas. The truck lurched forward, speeding toward one of the soldiers as he reloaded. He barely had time to react before Yang plowed into him, sending him flying to the side.
Ruby's stomach lurched. "Yang!"
"Not now!" Yang snapped, eyes still glowing.
Ahead, Taiyang's truck clipped a parked car and spun out, forcing him to swerve before slamming the brakes. Yang immediately pulled up behind him and stopped.
"Dad!" Ruby yelled as she and Yang jumped out of the truck.
Taiyang stumbled out, brushing glass off his jacket. Zwei whined from the passenger seat, strapped in with a seatbelt.
"Zwei!" Ruby ran to the truck, but Yang beat her to it, quickly unbuckling the dog and scooping him into her arms. Zwei whimpered, shaking.
"Shh, it's okay, buddy," Yang said, trying to comfort him as bullets cracked in the distance.
Ruby flinched as an explosion rattled the ground nearby, sending smoke and debris into the air. Taiyang turned to them, his expression hard but calm.
"Listen to me!" he shouted. "You two need to get to the ferry—head to Patch and go home. You'll be safe there!"
"What?!" Yang yelled. "No! You're coming with us!"
"I can't," Taiyang said, shaking his head. "I have to help here."
Ruby's voice cracked. "No! You're my dad! We're all going together!"
An explosion shook the street, forcing the group to take cover behind the trucks.
Taiyang grabbed Ruby by the shoulders, his voice firm. "Ruby, you have to go!"
Ruby shook her head, tears spilling down her cheeks. "No! I'm not leaving you!"
Taiyang hugged her tightly. "I love you, Ruby. But right now, I need you to be strong. Yang will get you and Zwei to safety."
Ruby sobbed into his shoulder. "No…"
"You don't stop. You don't hide. You drive. Okay?" Taiyang said, pulling back to look her in the eyes.
"No!" Ruby shouted, shaking her head violently.
Taiyang cupped her face. "I'll come home when it's safe. I promise."
Yang grabbed Ruby's arm. "Ruby, we have to go!"
Ruby looked back at Taiyang, her lip trembling. "Promise me," she said, her voice barely a whisper.
Taiyang smiled faintly. "I promise."
Reluctantly, Ruby let Yang pull her away. She climbed into the truck, clutching Zwei tightly in her lap as Yang started the engine and sped off.
Through the side mirror, Ruby saw Taiyang helping an injured woman to her feet while holding off an advancing soldier with a blast of fire Dust rounds. Then, the smoke and chaos swallowed him from view.
Ruby pressed her forehead against the window, tears silently falling.
Yang's voice broke through the silence. "We'll come back for him, Ruby. We will."
Ruby didn't answer. She simply tightened her grip on Zwei, her heart aching as the truck sped toward an uncertain future.
The truck roared through the smoke-filled streets, dodging debris and weaving around fleeing civilians. Ruby sat in the passenger seat, holding a trembling Zwei tightly as Yang kept her foot on the gas. The sound of gunfire echoed in the distance, and shadows of Atlesian airships loomed overhead.
"It's okay, Zwei," Ruby whispered, stroking his fur. Her voice was shaking, and her grip tightened every time an explosion sounded too close for comfort.
Yang's eyes flicked between the road and the chaos around them. "Hang on, Ruby! We're not out of this yet!"
Zwei whimpered and buried his head against Ruby's arm as the truck skidded around a corner.
"Wait—" Ruby gasped, pointing toward the road ahead.
A figure sprinted toward them, waving his arms frantically.
"It's Jaune!"
Yang hit the brakes, sending the truck into a sharp skid. Ruby scrambled into the backseat, throwing the door open as Jaune, dirty and out of breath, jumped inside. His face was streaked with dirt, and there was a scratch on his cheek and shoulder.
"Go, go, go!" Jaune shouted, slamming the door shut.
Yang floored it, speeding down the street as Jaune tried to catch his breath.
"What's happening?!" he demanded. "Why is Atlas attacking us?!"
"We don't know," Yang growled, swerving hard to avoid a soldier who had just landed by parachute. "We just know it's Atlas.That's all we know!"
Jaune's eyes darted around, panic in his voice. "This doesn't make sense! We're allies!"
Before anyone could respond, a soldier raised his rifle and fired at the truck. The window cracked, and Ruby ducked, covering Zwei.
"Hang on!" Yang shouted, jerking the wheel hard to the left.
The truck smashed through a wooden fence and into someone's backyard. Grass and dirt flew up as they tore through the yard, crushing flower beds and narrowly missing a barbecue grill.
"Sorry!" Ruby yelled out the window as they barreled through another fence.
Yang didn't slow down. She plowed through three more fences before skidding back onto the road—only to slam on the brakes again.
Atlesian military vehicles blocked the street. Soldiers stood in formation, herding civilians and loading them into armored transports.
"No, no, no!" Yang growled, twisting the key to restart the truck. The engine sputtered.
"Come on!" Ruby shouted.
Jaune frantically looked around—and froze. "Pyrrha!"
Ruby's head snapped up. Across the street, Pyrrha Nikos stood with her arms restrained, escorted at gunpoint by two Atlesian soldiers. Her red hair was matted with sweat and dirt, and her armor was dented and smeared with blood.
"Pyrrha!" Jaune yelled, throwing open the door.
Pyrrha turned, her green eyes lighting up when she saw him. "Jaune!" She struggled against her captors and tried to run, but one of the soldiers grabbed her by the arm and struck her with the butt of his rifle. She crumpled to the ground.
"NO!" Jaune roared, leaping out of the truck.
"Jaune, stop!" Ruby shouted.
An Atlesian soldier reached for Jaune, but Ruby reacted instantly. She swung Crescent Rose through the open window, hooking the soldier's armor and yanking him sideways, slamming him into the truck's frame.
Jaune lunged, grabbing the soldier's rifle and knocking him out with the butt of the gun.
"Get back in the truck, Jaune!" Yang shouted.
"But Pyrrha—!" Jaune's voice cracked as he saw her being loaded into one of the armored vehicles.
Ruby grabbed his arm. "We'll find her again! I promise! But we have to go—now!"
Jaune hesitated, his hands trembling. But as more soldiers moved toward them, he cursed under his breath and jumped back into the truck.
Yang finally got the engine roaring to life. She threw it into reverse, but before they could escape, Cardin Winchester suddenly sprinted out of an alley.
"Wait!" he yelled, waving his arms.
"Seriously?!" Ruby shouted as Cardin jumped into the back of the truck, landing in the bed with a grunt.
"Drive!" Cardin barked.
Yang didn't need to be told twice. She slammed her foot down, and the truck sped off just as bullets started flying.
A shot rang out as an Atlesian lieutenant raised his pistol and fired, the bullet ricocheting off the truck's frame.
"Stop firing!"
The lieutenant froze as General Ironwood grabbed his arm and shoved it down.
Ironwood glared. "You'll hit civilians!"
"But sir—!"
"Stand down!"
Winter Schnee approached, her icy blue eyes focused on the fleeing truck. She recognized the faces inside, even through the chaos. Her voice was calm but commanding.
"Don't waste your bullets," she said. "We'll follow them."
Ironwood hesitated. "Winter—"
"They're not the priority," Winter said firmly. "Not yet."
She turned to the soldiers. "Get the vehicles ready. Now."
Ironwood clenched his jaw but gave the order. Within moments, Winter, the lieutenant, and a squad of soldiers piled into an armored transport and started after the truck.
Yang's hands were white knuckled on the steering wheel as the truck roared down the cracked streets. Ruby leaned back against the seat, holding Zwei tightly while Jaune gripped the stolen rifle.
Cardin, still in the truck bed, pounded on the roof. "Keep going! They're right behind us!"
Ruby's eyes met Jaune's. "We'll find her," she said softly.
Jaune stared out the window, his jaw tight. "We better."
Yang's voice cut in. "Hold on! We're not losing them that easily!"
Yang gripped the steering wheel tighter, her knuckles white as the truck bounced over potholes and debris littering the road. Ruby sat in the passenger seat, hugging Zwei close while Jaune clutched his rifle, scanning their surroundings nervously.
"Come on, come on!" Yang muttered, weaving through abandoned cars and wreckage.
Ruby suddenly gasped, pointing ahead. "Look!"
Up the street, Weiss and Blake were locked in combat with a squad of Atlesian soldiers. Weiss's rapier, Myrtenaster, spun as she created a wall of ice to hold back the advancing troops, while Blake darted between them, using her clones to confuse and overwhelm the soldiers.
Yang honked the horn and slammed the brakes just enough to slow down without stopping completely.
Weiss and Blake turned toward the noise, recognizing the truck instantly. Without hesitation, they broke off from the fight and sprinted toward it. Blake vaulted into the back first, helping Weiss climb in right after her.
Weiss barely had time to catch her breath before spotting Cardin Winchester, looking pale and frantic as he gripped the side of the truck bed for dear life. He was sitting awkwardly atop the duffel bags, his knuckles white as the truck rocked and jolted.
As they swerved onto a wider road, Ruby's eyes widened as another vehicle sped up alongside them.
"Yang! On our right!"
Yang glanced over to see Coco Adel behind the wheel of a battered sedan, her shades reflecting the chaos around them. In the backseat, Velvet Scarlatina clutched her shoulder, blood seeping through her fingers.
"WHAT DO WE DO?!" Coco shouted through the open window.
"Follow us!" Jaune yelled back, waving her on.
Coco nodded, and the sedan stayed close as the group tore through the streets.
They approached a park, Yang veering into the grassy area to dodge abandoned cars blocking the main road. The truck bounced violently, throwing everyone in the back against the sides.
"Hold on!" Yang shouted.
Weiss and Blake braced themselves, but Cardin let out a panicked yell, gripping the duffel bags tighter as the truck swerved to avoid trees and terrified civilians who were hiding in the park.
Jaune twisted in his seat, looking through the side mirror. "Uh, Yang? We've got company!"
Ruby turned and saw another vehicle following them. Through the glass, she spotted flashes of green and orange.
"I think we know them!" Ruby shouted.
"Do we?" Yang gritted her teeth. "We'll let them follow."
The chase tore through the park until they hit pavement again, skidding onto a main road. Yang gunned it, but Ruby suddenly pointed to the left.
"Yang! There's one coming for us!"
A large Atlesian military vehicle sped down a cross street, aiming to cut them off. Yang growled. "I see it!"
As the two vehicles are about to converge, Weiss' breath caught. "Wait—is that—?"
Winter
The older Schnee sister sat in the passenger seat of the military vehicle, her face unreadable but unmistakable.
Weiss froze. "Winter?!"
Before anyone could react, the military vehicle rammed Yang's truck from the rear, sending it swerving.
The impact launched Cardin forward—straight into the windshield of the military vehicle. Glass shattered as he crashed through it, completely totaling the front end.
Yang's truck spun out before she wrestled it back under control. Coco and Velvet's car skidded to a halt behind them, while the military vehicle ground to a stop, its frame smoking.
Weiss and Blake frantically scanned the area. No soldiers yet—but the passenger door of the wrecked military vehicle suddenly creaked open.
Winter stumbled out, coughing and cradling her arm. She looked up—and locked eyes with Weiss.
Weiss gasped, her voice trembling. "Winter..."
Winter dropped her gaze, her shoulders sagging in shame.
Yang managed to get the truck started again, but when she saw Winter, her expression hardened.
Ruby and Jaune shouted at her. "Yang! Get back in the truck!"
But Yang ignored them. She stepped out, marching toward Winter.
The lieutenant in the driver's seat groaned and started to stir, along with the soldiers in the back.
Winter's eyes welled with tears. "I'm sorry..."
Yang didn't hesitate. She grabbed Winter by the arm and dragged her toward the truck.
"Yang, what are you—?!" Weiss started to protest, but Yang was already opening one of the duffel bags and pulling out a large blanket.
"Cover her up!" Yang ordered Weiss and Blake.
Blake quickly grabbed the blanket, wrapping it around Winter as the lieutenant stumbled out of the wreckage, yelling orders into his radio.
Yang climbed back into the driver's seat and floored the gas. The truck lurched forward, the other vehicles following close behind.
The lieutenant staggered, blood dripping from a cut above his eye as he watched the convoy speed away. He clenched his teeth and grabbed his radio.
"This is Lieutenant Hale! General Schnee has been taken! Repeat—General Schnee has been taken!"
The voice on the other end was cold and deliberate.
"Understood. Retreat back to base. We'll retrieve ger later."
Hale wiped the blood from his face as soldiers regrouped around him. The hunt wasn't over yet.
As Yang kept driving, Winter sat huddled under the blanket, her head bowed. Weiss sat beside her, torn between relief and disbelief.
Ruby looked back from the front seat, her voice soft. "Winter... why is Atlas doing this?"
Winter didn't answer. She kept her eyes on the floor, her shoulders trembling.
Yang gripped the wheel. "We'll get answers later. Right now, we need to get somewhere safe."
Jaune glanced at the stolen rifle in his hands and then at Velvet's wound in Coco's car behind them.
"Safe doesn't exist anymore," he muttered.
As the engines roared and the road stretched ahead, Ruby looked out at the burning skyline of Vale—and wondered how much worse it was going to get.
The ferry rocked gently as it cut through the waves, leaving the burning skyline of Vale behind. Smoke still billowed in the distance, staining the horizon black. The sound of the water lapping against the hull was the only thing that offered a semblance of peace, but it did little to ease the tension on board.
The deck was crowded with fleeing citizens—families huddled together, children crying softly, and adults staring blankly at the receding shoreline. The once-proud city of Vale now resembled a war zone.
Near the railing, Ruby sat curled against Yang, her shoulders trembling as sobs escaped her. Ruby's hands clutched Zwei tightly, the small dog pressing against her chest as if he could shield her from the reality they'd left behind.
Yang held her sister, her own arms shaking as she stroked Ruby's hair. Her jaw was clenched, her eyes red, but she refused to cry. She had to be strong—for Ruby, for Weiss, for all of them.
"It's going to be okay," Yang whispered, though she didn't know if she believed it. "Dad's going to be okay. We'll find him."
Ruby just buried her face deeper into Yang's shoulder, letting her tears fall. Yang kept holding her, trying to fight the ache in her chest.
Jaune climbed out of Yang's truck and walked toward the third vehicle that had followed them onto the ferry. His hands were still gripping the rifle he had taken earlier, though his arms felt heavier with every step.
The driver's door creaked open, and Ren stepped out. His face was pale, his usual composure frayed at the edges.
"Ren?" Jaune called softly.
Ren looked up, his eyes sharp but tired. "Jaune."
Jaune exhaled in relief, but his expression shifted when he saw the backseat.
Nora sat curled up, knees pulled to her chest and eyes unfocused. She didn't move when Jaune called her name.
"What happened?" Jaune asked.
Ren closed the door gently and leaned against the car. "We were at the market when the attack started. Nora froze. She couldn't move." He ran a shaky hand through his hair. "I—I had to take the car. I didn't even know if it belonged to anyone, but I couldn't leave her there."
Jaune stepped closer. "Is she okay?"
Ren shook his head. "I don't know."
Jaune put a hand on Ren's shoulder. "She's safe now. That's what matters."
Ren nodded, but the worry in his eyes didn't fade.
Blake paced near the edge of the deck, her arms crossed tightly. She tried to focus on anything other than the flashes of gunfire and smoke still imprinted in her mind.
She stopped when she spotted Coco crouched beside Velvet, carefully wrapping a bandage around her shoulder. Velvet sat in the passenger seat of their battered car, her wide eyes staring blankly ahead.
"It's okay," Coco murmured, securing the bandage. "You're okay."
Velvet didn't respond.
Coco hesitated, then leaned in and hugged her. "I'm so sorry," she whispered.
Velvet's hand slowly reached up, grasping Coco's sleeve.
After a moment, Coco pulled away, gently helping Velvet lie back in the seat. "Rest. I'll be right here." She closed the door and turned, spotting Blake nearby.
Blake approached cautiously. "How is she?"
Coco exhaled sharply. "Shaken. But she's strong."
Blake glanced at the bandage. "What about the others? Where's Yatsuhashi and Fox?"
Coco folded her arms, her expression hardening. "I don't know." She looked toward the horizon. "Velvet and I were at the park, just talking about our summer plans when it all started. We didn't even see it coming."
Blake placed a hand on Coco's arm. "They're probably fine. Yatsuhashi's too strong to go down without a fight, and Fox is smart. They'll find a way."
Coco nodded, but the tension in her jaw didn't fade. "They better."
Weiss leaned against the railing of the truck bed, her gaze fixed on Winter, who lay huddled under the blanket Yang had thrown over her.
Winter hadn't moved much since the ferry left the dock. Her shoulders shook faintly, and her tear-streaked face was partially hidden beneath the fabric.
Weiss stepped closer, her voice sharp despite the ache in her chest. "Why?"
Winter didn't respond.
"Why, Winter? Why is Atlas doing this?"
Winter's lips trembled before she finally spoke, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was all planned… from the start."
Weiss froze. "What are you talking about? What was planned?"
Winter just lowered her head, refusing to meet Weiss's eyes.
"We're not done with this," Weiss said, her voice quieter but no less firm. She turned and walked away, deciding to wait until they reached Patch before pressing her sister for answers.
Ruby finally stopped crying, wiping her eyes as she held Zwei close. She stood, letting Yang lie down in the truck bed, exhausted but unable to sleep.
Ruby wandered to the side of the ferry, staring out at the endless water and the smoke-filled horizon behind them. Zwei whined softly, nuzzling against her arm.
"We'll see him again, Zwei," Ruby whispered, her voice cracking. "We have to."
Her gaze lingered on Vale—now a war zone. Explosions still flickered in the distance, and even from here, the faint sounds of chaos reached her ears.
Ruby held Zwei tighter, her heart sinking. Her father was still out there.
And Vale… Vale was burning.
The world had been thrown into chaos, and Ruby couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. A second Great War had begun.