COMMAND CENTER

Team RWBY stood frozen, their expressions locked in shock as they stared at the familiar yet unexpected sight before them. Penny Polendina stood smiling, just as she always had, as if the years apart and the tragedy that had befallen her had never happened.

Nearby, General Ironwood, Qrow, Raven, Oobleck, and Port observed the reunion in silence, giving the team time to process what they were seeing.

Penny looked nearly identical to how they remembered her—her vibrant green eyes, bright orange hair tied back with her signature pink bow—but her outfit had changed. Instead of her usual dress and armored sleeves, she wore a fitted green formal shirt, its sleeves rolled up, with a loose orange tie hanging around her neck. The shirt was tucked neatly into a dark green pencil skirt, paired with matching orange stockings and practical, well-worn athletic shoes. She looked like a professional returning home after a long day's work—only, of course, she was an android.

Ruby, who had been standing a few feet away, stared at the floor beneath her boots, silent and unmoving.

Penny's smile faltered slightly as she tilted her head in concern. "Ruby?"

Without a word, Ruby pulled her hood over her head and turned, quickly striding out of the room.

Penny's expression fell. "Did… did I say something wrong?"

"No, Penny," Yang reassured her, though her voice held an edge of frustration. "You didn't. Just… give her a minute."

Penny glanced at Yang, then back at the door Ruby had exited through, her hands folding together.

Yang's golden eyes locked onto Ironwood with a burning intensity. "Alright, General. You need to explain—right now. How is Penny even here? How does she still remember us?"

"Wait." Blake turned to Penny, narrowing her amber eyes slightly. "Penny… do you remember what happened at the Vytal Festival? The tournament?"

Penny's expression darkened. "Yes, Blake Belladonna. I remember everything. I was competing against Pyrrha Nikos in the singles round. The fight was progressing well until…" She hesitated, as if even speaking the memory might hurt. "…until I was destroyed."

A heavy silence filled the room.

Penny continued, her voice softer. "I am also aware of Miss Nikos' fate. I am… sorry for your loss."

Yang exhaled sharply, rubbing the back of her head. "But… we were told the Amity Coliseum was destroyed during the battle. We thought your remains were gone."

"We assumed the same," Ironwood admitted, his tone measured. "When we reclaimed what was left of the Coliseum after the Grimm invasion, we searched through the wreckage, expecting casualties. Thankfully, there were none. However, on the final day of the search, we found Penny's remains, buried deep beneath the debris. Her CPU—her core processor, effectively her brain—was intact, along with her memory files."

"My father wished to rebuild me immediately," Penny added, folding her hands in front of her. "But General Ironwood was… hesitant." She cast a glance at the General, who averted his gaze slightly. "He blamed himself for my creation and for the events that transpired. He did not want to risk me being used as a weapon."

Yang crossed her arms. "And what changed?"

"Eventually," Penny said, "he reconsidered. Father initially wanted to start from scratch—wipe my memories, give me a fresh start. Had that happened, I would not have remembered any of you." Her voice wavered slightly when she added, "Not even Ruby."

Her eyes dimmed momentarily as she glanced back at the door Ruby had left through.

"But Ironwood convinced my father otherwise," Penny continued. "He argued that if I was to return, I should remember my past. And so, my original CPU was placed into my reconstructed body. And now… here I am, assisting you on your first mission."

Weiss shook her head slightly, still processing everything. "And… how long have you been… active?"

"Two years, one month, and eighteen days, Weiss Schnee."

Yang's eyes widened. "Wait—you've been active for two years? And you never told us?"

"I… I was not allowed," Penny admitted, clasping her hands together. "General Ironwood insisted on keeping my return classified. He feared that if my existence became known, our enemies might attempt to infiltrate my systems again, as they did during the Festival."

Yang let out a breath and ran a hand through her hair. "I mean… I get it, I guess. But still, Penny—any kind of heads-up would've been nice. Especially for Ruby."

"I know, Yang," Penny said, her voice tinged with guilt. "I regret not being able to tell you sooner. But I do hope you will explain everything to Ruby when she is ready to hear it."

"We will," Blake assured her, glancing at Weiss and Yang for confirmation.

Penny nodded. "Before you do, however… I would like to speak with Ruby myself. General Ironwood has already given me permission, but only if it is alright with you."

The three of them exchanged glances, considering it for a moment.

Finally, Yang exhaled. "Yeah. Go ahead, Penny."

Penny's nods. "Thank you."

TEAM RWBY'S ROOM

Ruby sat on the floor, her legs crossed, hood pulled over her head, shielding her face from the dim light in the room. Her silver eyes, dulled with sadness, were locked onto the sword resting in front of her—the same blade she had wielded after Penny's demise.

Reaching out, Ruby carefully lifted the weapon, her fingers brushing over the familiar metal. As her grip tightened around the hilt, silent tears dripped onto the blade's surface, leaving faint streaks against the steel. She turned the sword over, resting her forehead against the flat edge, careful to avoid the sharpened side.

A soft knock echoed from the door.

"Ruby?" Penny's voice called from the other side, gentle and uncertain. "Is it okay if I come in?"

Ruby hesitated, closing her eyes, willing herself to compose the whirlwind of emotions swirling inside her. She wiped her tears away quickly, clearing her throat before speaking.

"You can come in, Penny."

The door creaked open, and Penny stepped inside, her green eyes filled with quiet concern as she closed the door behind her.

"I was wondering if I could talk to you about a few things," Penny said softly. "But… only if it's okay with you."

Ruby swallowed hard before nodding. "Sure." She gestured to the space in front of her. "Sit across from me, please."

Penny walked forward, lowering herself gracefully onto the floor about three feet away. As she settled, her gaze fell upon the sword resting in Ruby's lap.

"Is that… one of my swords?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ruby nodded, running a thumb over the blade. "I kept it. As a memento." She let out a deep sigh before lifting her eyes to meet Penny's. "Would you like it back?"

Penny raised a hand and shook her head. "No. I don't use swords anymore." Her expression softened. "I'm no longer combat-ready."

Ruby blinked in shock. "What? What do you mean?"

Penny folded her hands in her lap. "I won't be fighting on the battlefield during your mission against Cinder Fall. My role will be here at the Citadel, offering support from a distance. I've been reprogrammed to assist in intelligence, strategy, and logistics."

Ruby stared at her, processing the words. Slowly, she looked back at the sword. "Even so… you should keep it. Just in case. You never know."

Penny hesitated, her brows furrowing. "Are… are you sure?"

Ruby nodded firmly. "Take it."

After a moment of reluctance, Penny finally reached out, her fingers curling around the hilt. She lifted it gently, inspecting the familiar weapon. "I miss it, you know," she murmured.

Ruby tilted her head. "Miss what?"

"The fighting," Penny admitted. "Not just the battles, but the freedom that came with them. I miss being outside, meeting new people, going on adventures." Her lips parted slightly before she finished in a quiet voice, "I miss my friends."

She placed the sword down and, without hesitation, reached forward, taking Ruby's hands into her own.

"And I missed you, Ruby Rose."

Ruby's breath hitched as she looked down at their intertwined fingers. Penny's touch was warm despite being artificial, as comforting as it had always been.

"Ruby," Penny continued, her voice carrying a touch of nostalgia, "do you remember that day at Beacon? When you challenged me to climb those trees?"

A small, bittersweet smile flickered across Ruby's lips. "Yeah… I remember. I also remember you cheating."

Penny let out a soft chuckle. "And I remember you falling to the ground."

Ruby huffed. "Yeah, that happened." But her smile faded, knowing exactly where this conversation was leading.

"I remember helping you up," Penny said, her voice gentle, as if she were reliving the moment right then and there. "And I remember you staring at me, Ruby Rose. And…" she hesitated for just a second, "you kissed me."

Ruby exhaled shakily, gripping Penny's hands a little tighter. "I did. And you kissed me back."

"I did," Penny confirmed, her own smile warm and wistful. "And I never forgot that moment. Even after I was rebuilt, that memory remained with me. It made me… truly happy."

"Penny," Ruby's voice cracked, and she abruptly pulled her hands away. Tears welled in her eyes again, her chest tightening. "Stop. Please."

Penny's expression shifted to concern. "Ruby… is something wrong?"

Ruby's red hood cast a shadow over her face as she stared at Penny, sadness weighing heavily in her eyes. The emotions she had tried so hard to contain were now clawing at her, begging to be acknowledged.

"I know what you're going to say, Penny," Ruby whispered. "That you and I could finally be together." She swallowed hard, forcing herself to continue. "But I can't."

Penny's smile faltered, her expression shifting to confusion. "Oh. I see. Is it because… I'm not human?"

Ruby quickly shook her head. "No, Penny. It's not that at all. You need to understand—" She let out a shaky breath. "For almost three years, I thought I'd never see you again. I was told there was no way to bring the old you back. Even if you were rebuilt, you wouldn't be the same Penny I knew."

She clenched her fists, her voice barely above a whisper. "I lost hope that you'd ever come back."

Penny lowered her gaze to the floor, her hands tightening into small fists on her lap. "Oh."

"But that doesn't mean I didn't mourn for you," Ruby continued, her voice cracking slightly. "For weeks, I cried. I couldn't sleep. Every night, I dreamt that you were still with me. But after a while, I realized…" She hesitated, blinking away fresh tears. "I had to move on, Penny. And I did. I kept fighting. I helped save Remnant. And… I fell in love again."

Penny's head snapped up. Her emerald eyes flickered to Ruby's left hand, finally noticing the silver ring wrapped around her finger. She inhaled sharply.

"You're… married?"

Ruby shook her head. "Not yet. But soon." She exhaled, bracing herself. "And before you ask… it's Weiss. She's the one I'm with now. We've been together for two years."

Penny's lips parted slightly, but no words came out. Her gaze drifted downward once more. "I see."

Ruby reached out instinctively, but hesitated before touching Penny's hand. "Please don't be mad at me," she pleaded softly. "I don't want to lose you. I hate seeing my friends upset."

Penny blinked, her face unreadable at first. Then, she exhaled deeply. "I'm not mad, Ruby," she murmured. "I… I understand. You had to move on with your life. I get that."

A bitter smile ghosted across Penny's lips. "But I'd be lying if I said I wasn't upset."

Ruby's heart ached at those words. "I'm so sorry, Penny. I really am. I wanted it to be us, too… back then. But things changed." She lowered her head. "I'm not the same girl you knew back at Beacon."

Penny tilted her head slightly, confusion flickering in her eyes.

"I've…" Ruby hesitated, then forced herself to say it. "I watched Cinder Fall murder my dad in front of me."

Penny gasped, eyes widening.

"I've killed people myself," Ruby admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "Some were unintentional. Others… were self-defense. But it doesn't change the fact that I've taken lives." She clenched her fists. "I grew up, Penny. I've changed. I still act like my old self sometimes, but… I'm not the same Ruby Rose from back then."

Penny stared at her, visibly processing everything.

Ruby inhaled deeply, trying to steady herself. "I know we can't be together, Penny. But that doesn't mean we can't still be friends… if that's okay with you."

For a moment, Penny was silent. Then, she gave a small nod, a bittersweet smile forming on her lips. "Of course, Ruby. We can remain friends."

Ruby hesitated again, studying Penny's face. "I also know…" she said quietly, "that when you held my hands earlier, you wanted to kiss me. I could see it in your eyes."

Penny tensed slightly, her lips parting in surprise.

"If you want… we can kiss," Ruby continued, her voice barely above a whisper. "But just this once. For the last time."

Penny's expression softened. She shook her head. "It's okay, Ruby. You don't have to—"

But before she could finish, Ruby leaned in, gently pressing her lips against Penny's.

Penny inhaled sharply, surprised by the sudden closeness, but she didn't pull away. Even though she couldn't truly feel the sensation, she closed her eyes, letting the moment last. The kiss was soft, lingering for only a few seconds before Ruby slowly pulled back.

Penny's emerald eyes fluttered open, filled with an unreadable emotion. Before she could say anything, Ruby wrapped her arms around her, pulling her into a tight embrace.

"That was the last time, Penny," Ruby whispered. "I just… I just hope we can still be friends after this."

Penny hesitated for a second before wrapping her arms around Ruby, holding her close.

As they embraced, Ruby suddenly felt something warm and wet against her shoulder. A slight shudder ran through Penny's body.

Confused, Ruby pulled back slightly and looked at Penny's face. Her eyes widened in shock.

Golden, tear-like liquid streaked down Penny's cheeks.

"Penny…" Ruby whispered, her heart tightening.

Penny blinked in confusion, touching her cheek with a shaking hand. She stared at the golden droplets on her fingertips, her brows furrowing. "I…"

Neither of them said anything for a long moment.

Penny was crying.

"Penny?" she asked softly. "Are you… crying?"

Penny blinked as if realizing it herself, then quickly wiped the liquid away with her fingers. She examined them, tilting her head slightly. "Oh! It appears I am."

She smiled, as if fascinated by the new discovery. "Father decided to add… human features to my rebuild. One of those features happens to be artificial tear ducts."

Ruby raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "Really? What else did he change?"

Penny's smile widened. "Well, he found a way to prevent any more hiccups whenever I attempt to lie. He also provided me with artificial nerves, allowing me to actually feel physical touch now."

She paused for a moment before adding with a completely straight face, "Oh, and a reproductive system—"

"Wait. WHAT?!" Ruby nearly choked, her face turning bright red.

Penny let out a laugh at Ruby's reaction. "I'm kidding about that last one, Ruby," she said, giggling. "But I did gain a better sense of humor in my systems. So, technically, I can now mess with people more effectively… just like I did just now!"

Ruby blinked, before letting out an amused chuckle. "Wow. You really got me there, Penny."

"That was the intention," Penny said proudly.

Ruby reached out, placing her hand on Penny's shoulder. "So… friends again?"

Penny's expression softened as she placed her own hand over Ruby's. "Best friends."

Then, Penny turned her head slightly, as if sensing something. "I believe your teammates are about to enter the room," she noted. "No doubt to explain how I am here in the first place."

The door creaked open, and sure enough, Team RWBY stepped inside. Yang was the first to speak.

"Hey," she said, her gaze shifting between Ruby and Penny. "You guys good?"

Ruby nodded. "Yeah. We're cool."

Penny stood up, dusting off her skirt. "I must return to the Command Center. I have much to prepare for your mission." She then gave Ruby a warm smile. "I will see you again, Ruby Rose."

Ruby nodded back. "Yeah. See you, Penny."

As Penny exited the room, Ruby turned to her team, crossing her arms.

"Okay," she said, raising an eyebrow. "Where do we start?"

Yang let out a breath. "Well… we could start from the beginning. You know, the part where Penny's been alive for two whole years and none of us knew?"

Ruby's eyes widened. "Wait. What?!"

DARK PALACE

Envy sat in front of a small hand mirror, her fingers tracing the reflection of her eyes. The slits of green in her normally red irises had grown more prominent—more noticeable. She scowled, gripping the mirror tightly before setting it down with a slow exhale.

Her gaze drifted to the tall mirror across the room, its surface marred by a single jagged crack. The same crack that Pyrrha had inflicted upon it.

Envy stood, her footsteps slow and deliberate as she approached the mirror. She stared at the fracture for a moment before shifting her gaze.

Pyrrha Nikos sat within the reflection, her back against the mirrored surface, eyes cast downward. Silent, unmoving. But there was something about her presence—something unwavering.

Envy turned to leave.

"You're going to lose."

The voice stopped her in her tracks.

Envy turned her head, narrowing her eyes as she found Pyrrha staring straight at her.

"And what makes you say that?" Envy asked, her tone sharp, but there was a flicker of curiosity in her expression.

Pyrrha tilted her head, a faint, knowing smile forming on her lips.

"You may think you'll win," she said, her voice calm yet firm. "You may destroy cities. You might slaughter half of Remnant. You could shatter minds and break spirits. But you're forgetting something—something that can't be erased so easily."

Envy raised an eyebrow. "And what is that?"

"Hope."

Pyrrha's smile remained steady, unwavering.

"As long as people have hope," she continued, "they won't fall. No matter how long it takes, no matter how much destruction you cause… eventually, you will fall."

For a brief moment, Envy's expression wavered—just for a second. Then, her eyes glowed a brilliant, burning red.

Pyrrha flinched as the brand on her shoulder ignited in pain, but she clenched her jaw, refusing to give Envy the satisfaction of hearing her scream. She met Envy's glare with defiance.

Envy's fingers twitched.

"Perhaps keeping me alive was a terrible idea," Pyrrha said, her voice edged with quiet amusement.

Envy turned abruptly and walked away from the mirror, her pace quickening as if to put as much distance between herself and Pyrrha's words as possible.

Beyond the throne room, the heavy doors were slightly ajar. A lone figure stood just outside, hidden in the shadows.

Emerald.

She had watched the entire exchange, her eyes narrowing in thought.

"Hm," she murmured to herself.

Without a word, she carefully shut the door and slipped away into the darkness.

Emerald stepped into the dimly lit chamber, where the sharp sound of metal scraping against metal filled the air. Cinder sat at her desk, methodically sharpening one of her twin blades, her amber eyes flicking up to meet Emerald's as she entered.

Without a word, Cinder placed the sword down, folding her arms across her chest.

"Yes, Emerald?"

Emerald hesitated for a brief moment before stepping further into the room. "I think we may have a problem, Cinder."

Cinder arched an eyebrow, unimpressed. "And what problem are you referring to?"

"It's… about Envy," Emerald said carefully.

Cinder's eyes narrowed slightly, but she remained silent. Emerald took it as a cue to continue.

"Have you noticed anything… different about her lately?"

Cinder exhaled slowly, tapping her fingers on the desk. "Come to think of it, yes. The patches on her skin—they're spreading. And her eyes… the slits of green in them are getting larger." She paused. "Her behavior's been erratic at times. More anxious than usual. Why?"

Emerald stepped closer. "Do you know why she always visits that mirror? Why she completely lost it when that crack appeared on it?"

Cinder tilted her head, irritation flashing across her face. "What exactly are you getting at, Emerald?"

Emerald smirked slightly, shaking her head. "Huh. I thought you would've put it together by now, Cinder. Especially after seeing Envy for what she truly is."

Cinder's glare hardened. "Enough with the riddles. Spit it out."

Emerald took a deep breath, her voice calm but firm.

"That night at Beacon Tower. When you thought you killed Pyrrha Nikos—"

"I did kill her, Emerald." Cinder's voice was like ice. "I put an arrow through her heart. I reduced her to dust. The only thing left of her was that damn headpiece."

Emerald crossed her arms. "Or so you thought."

Cinder's expression darkened, but Emerald pressed on.

"You never killed Nikos, Cinder." She pointed to herself. "Salem made sure of that."

Cinder's breath hitched, and for the first time, her confidence wavered. "What?"

Emerald nodded slowly. "Yeah. Pyrrha didn't return as some vengeful spirit or an undead revenant. She's been alive this whole time."

Cinder's fists clenched. "That's impossible."

Emerald's smirk returned. "You want to guess where she's been, all this time, ever since Envy took control of her body?"

Cinder's eyes widened as realization struck her like a bolt of lightning.

She barely whispered the words.

"The mirror."

Emerald leaned against the wall, watching as Cinder processed the revelation. A rare flicker of uncertainty crossed Cinder's usually composed expression.

"Exactly," Emerald continued. "I've seen Envy talking to herself at that mirror more times than I can count. But she's not talking to herself, is she? She's been talking to Nikos."

Cinder clenched her jaw, her fingers tightening around the armrest of her chair.

"And the cracks?" Emerald pressed. "I think Envy's figured out that Nikos could escape. And that's why she's changing."

Cinder slowly exhaled, her fingers relaxing as she steepled them in front of her. "And why are you telling me this, Emerald?"

Emerald shrugged casually, though her eyes held a sharper edge. "Just thought I'd finally tell the truth. And with Salem gone, I don't have to worry about her breathing down my neck anymore."

Cinder tilted her head, studying Emerald carefully. "And I suspect you want to keep this between us?"

Emerald nodded.

Cinder's lips curled into a smirk. "And I also suspect you want something in return. Alright, Emerald. Name your price."

Emerald met Cinder's gaze, her voice unwavering. "I just want to stay alive. That's all I ask from you."

Cinder stared at her for a moment before sighing. "I suppose that's fair. Very well, I agree."

Emerald gave a satisfied nod and turned to leave.

Before she could exit, Cinder spoke again. "Does Roman need to know about this?"

Emerald paused, glancing back. "Nah. Let him stay in the dark."

Cinder smirked. "Smart."

"Speaking of which," Emerald added. "Where is he, anyway?"

Cinder leaned back in her chair, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Waiting on some of our old friends."

Emerald raised an eyebrow. "Old friends?"

Cinder's smirk widened into something more sinister.

"Oh," Emerald muttered. "Alright then."

Without another word, Emerald left the room, her boots echoing down the hallway.

Cinder turned her attention to the window, gazing out at the crimson-hued sky. The air outside pulsed with tension, Griffons circling above like vultures.

THE NEXT DAY – HANGAR BAY

Teams RWBY and HAVC followed Wesley into the vast expanse of the Citadel's Hangar Bay, their boots echoing across the polished steel floor. The sheer scale of the room was overwhelming, filled with rows upon rows of airships, each prepped and ready for deployment. Mechanics and engineers worked diligently, their voices blending into the symphony of activity.

"Wow," Yang muttered, taking in the sight of the massive fleet.

"Wow, indeed," Wesley replied, his voice carrying a note of pride. "We currently house approximately 120 airships here in the main Hangar Bay, with additional fleets stationed on the lower floors beneath us."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "Wait—there's more below us?"

Wesley nodded. "Yes, Miss Xiao Long. Fifty feet below, to be precise. Additional hangars store the rest of our Citadel fleet, along with classified operations rooms that even I don't have clearance to enter." He gave Weiss a knowing glance. "And trust me, very few people do."

Weiss crossed her arms, intrigued but not entirely surprised by the military secrecy.

"Ah," Wesley continued, coming to a stop in front of a sleek black airship, its streamlined design a stark contrast to the bulkier crafts around it. "Here we are."

Everyone's eyes were drawn to the ship's smooth, angular frame, its surface seemingly absorbing the surrounding light. It looked both futuristic and deadly.

"This is the Shadow Knight," Wesley announced, placing a hand on the hull. "The only ship currently equipped with our latest stealth technology. The rest of the fleet will receive upgrades in due time, but for now, this will be your vessel for the mission."

Ruby's silver eyes shimmered with excitement. "A stealth airship? That's so cool!"

Wesley smirked. "Not just stealth. Near-complete undetectability. This baby runs on advanced sound-dampening tech, thermal cloaking, and radar evasion. You'll be ghosts."

Weiss stepped forward, inspecting the ship with interest. "And the enemy has no way of detecting us?"

"As long as you stick to the plan, no. However, nothing is ever truly foolproof." Wesley's expression turned serious. "Which is why I'm giving you these."

He pulled out a small metal case and popped it open, revealing several sleek earpieces. "These will allow you to stay in constant communication with Miss Polendina, who will be monitoring your mission from here."

Each member of RWBY and HAVC took an earpiece, securing them in place. Almost immediately, a familiar, cheerful voice chimed in their ears.

"Salutations! Can you all hear me, Teams RWBY and HAVC?"

Ruby grinned. "Uh… loud and clear?"

"Excellent! I will be providing you with mission briefings, real-time navigation, and the most efficient routes to your objective. If executed properly, this should be as easy as pie!"

Blake blinked. "Wait… did she just say—"

"Forget it," Ruby muttered, shaking her head. "I'll explain later."

Wesley cleared his throat, drawing their attention back. "In addition to your primary weapons, each of you will be issued a compact firearm, to be used strictly as a last resort. You will also receive flashbang and stun grenades—non-lethal options designed to give you an escape route if necessary."

He fixed them all with a hard stare. "This is a stealth mission. We cannot afford to let the enemy detect you. Is that understood?"

"Uh… sure," Yang said, rubbing the back of her neck.

"Sure?" Wesley repeated, his expression deadpan. "That's not exactly the answer I want to hear, Xiao Long."

Yang straightened. "I mean—yes, sir. Totally."

"Good." Wesley nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Now board the Shadow Knight. You depart in five minutes. Good luck."

As Wesley turned on his heel and strode away, the two teams moved toward the airship's open ramp. The moment they stepped inside, the back hatch sealed shut behind them, enclosing them within the dimly lit interior. The cockpit was at the front, lined with high-tech control panels and various monitors displaying the ship's status.

Seated comfortably in the pilot's chair was none other than Neptune Vasilias, casually twirling a small data drive between his fingers.

"Sup," he greeted with a cocky grin.

Weiss frowned. "Neptune? You're our pilot?"

"Indeed," Neptune answered smugly, reclining in his seat.

Yang arched an eyebrow. "Oh boy."

Neptune shot her an offended look. "Hey! I have improved my piloting skills over the last couple of years, you know."

Yang smirked. "You better have, Vasilias. Because if we crash, I'm personally throwing you out first."

Neptune chuckled. "Relax, Blondie. You're in good hands."

Ruby leaned against the cool metal wall of the airship, arms crossed as she studied Neptune. "Is it just you flying this thing?" she asked.

Neptune nodded, his fingers gliding over the controls effortlessly. "Yeah. My job is simple—get us there, land undetected, wait for you guys to grab the intel, and then fly us out before anyone realizes we were even there." He leaned back slightly in his chair and glanced over his shoulder. "Now, please, take a seat and enjoy the ride."

Teams RWBY and HAVC moved to the rows of secured seating along the interior, strapping themselves in. They sat across from each other, adjusting their weapons and checking their gear one last time.

Ruby's silver eyes flicked toward Cyan, who had been eerily silent since boarding. The girl sat rigid, her gaze locked onto the floor, deep in thought.

"Cyan."

Cyan's head snapped up, startled. She met Ruby's concerned expression and followed her glance toward Neptune before offering a small nod.

"I'm okay," Cyan said, her voice quieter than usual. "Last night was just… emotional."

Beside her, Violet placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Cyan took a breath, nodding again, as if grounding herself.

Ruby gave her a small smile. "You're not alone, Cyan. Just remember that."

Cyan didn't say anything, but the grateful look in her eyes spoke volumes.

Up front, Neptune cracked his knuckles before gripping the control yoke. "Alright, ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the Shadow Knight. Before we take off, I'd like to remind you all to keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times and—"

"Just fly the damn ship already!" Weiss snapped, her patience wearing thin.

Neptune flinched, raising his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright! Geez, Weiss, you really gotta work on that temper."

Weiss shot him a glare, and Neptune wisely turned his attention back to piloting.

"Hang on, people," he announced as the engines hummed to life, the ship gently lifting off the hangar floor. The massive bay doors groaned open, revealing the misty sky beyond.

With a subtle but powerful thrust, the Shadow Knight slipped into the air, silent as a shadow, vanishing into the horizon.

ARCHERY RANGE

Velvet steadied her stance, fingers wrapped firmly around the bowstring as she nocked an arrow. Her breathing slowed, her grip steady. As she exhaled, she released.

The arrow cut through the air with a soft whistle before embedding itself just shy of the center of the target.

Velvet grinned, turning toward Artemis with a hopeful look.

Artemis crossed her arms, tilting her head. "Hm. Not bad. But not perfect."

Velvet sighed dramatically, placing a hand on her hip. "That's the thirtieth time you've said that today."

Artemis smirked. "And you know I'll keep saying it until you hit the bullseye."

Velvet rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. She set the bow down and stretched her arms, feeling the dull ache creeping into her muscles.

"Alright," she said. "I think it's time for a break. We've been at this for four hours straight, and my arms are starting to hate me."

Artemis nodded in agreement. "One-hour break. But I'd suggest applying some ice packs to your shoulders and forearms. Because after that, we're picking up right where we left off."

Velvet gave a mock groan but nodded. "Yeah, yeah, I get it."

As she turned to leave, she suddenly stopped in the doorway, tilting her head slightly.

"Oh, and Artemis?"

Artemis perked up. "Yeah?"

Velvet glanced over her shoulder, her ears twitching slightly. "Staring at me? Kind of breaks one of my rules."

Artemis blinked, caught completely off guard. "W-What?"

Velvet smirked, her tone teasing but firm. "I'll let it slide this time. But if I catch you doing it again…" She paused for effect, her smile turning a little wicked. "Let's just say, it won't be pretty."

Before Artemis could stammer out a response, Velvet walked off, her fluffy tail giving a slight flick as she exited the room.

Artemis exhaled, rubbing the back of her neck. "Dammit… Why does she have to be so damn cute?"

TEAM JNNR'S ROOM

Jaune and Neo sat together on the couch, watching as Nora played with Zwei in the middle of the room. She held a stick high above her head, grinning as the enthusiastic corgi jumped repeatedly, trying to snatch it from her grasp.

"You know, Jaune," Neo said, leaning into his side. "When this is all over, maybe we should get a dog."

Jaune raised an eyebrow, turning his head to look at her. "Really?"

Neo nodded, a soft smile on her face. "Yeah. I always loved dogs. Never had one, though."

Jaune wrapped an arm around her, pulling her closer. "Maybe," he said, his voice carrying a hint of something playful, "we should think about something even better than a dog."

Neo tilted her head, giving him a questioning look. "What do you mean?"

Jaune just smiled at her.

Neo stared at him for a moment, gears turning in her head. Then, realization hit.

Her face turned red, her eyes widening slightly before she glanced away, suddenly flustered. Before she could respond, a loud squeal cut through the room.

Both Jaune and Neo turned their attention back to Nora, now lying on the floor with Zwei happily licking her face. She giggled uncontrollably, trying and failing to push the overexcited corgi away.

"Okay, okay! You win, buddy!" Nora laughed. "You're the alpha of this pack!"

Ren, who had been watching from the side, crouched down and gave Zwei a gentle pat on the head. Zwei paused his assault on Nora just long enough to wag his tail excitedly before going back to his relentless face-licking.

Neo turned back to Jaune, still a bit pink in the face.

"…Let me think about it," she murmured. "Give me some time, okay?"

Jaune chuckled, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze. "Of course."

Neo smiled softly, leaning into him again as they watched their friends continue to play.

Shadow Knight

The atmosphere inside the airship was tense. Teams RWBY and HAVC stood in anticipation as Penny's voice crackled through the speakers, delivering their mission briefing.

"Your objective is to infiltrate the factory without being detected, retrieve the necessary intel, and extract without alerting the enemy. Once you return to the ship, we will depart immediately. The mission concludes when you arrive safely back at the Citadel. Understood?"

"Copy that," Ruby responded, though her voice carried a slight unease.

From the cockpit, Neptune glanced over his shoulder. "Alright, guys. We're coming up on the target. Get ready."

The team moved toward a supply crate near the ship's entrance. Yang pried it open, revealing a set of small firearms and grenades.

Ruby hesitated, staring at the weapons. "…Do we really have to take these?"

Weiss placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "Only as a last resort, Ruby. Hopefully, we won't need them."

"I just…" Ruby trailed off, sighing. "I just hope we don't have to use them at all."

Yang picked up one of the sidearms, inspecting it briefly before securing it in a holster on her thigh. She then grabbed a couple of flashbang grenades and clipped them onto her belt.

"We won't, Ruby," Yang said, meeting her sister's eyes with a confident smile. "I give you my word."

After a moment, Ruby nodded and reluctantly grabbed a firearm, attaching it to her belt. One by one, the others followed suit, each taking a sidearm and a couple of non-lethal grenades.

"Alright," Neptune called from the cockpit. "We're about to land. Get ready to move."

Weiss turned to him, arms crossed. "Are you sure you'll be fine on your own?"

Neptune smirked. "Trust me, Ice Queen. I've got this."

Weiss huffed but gave him a small nod.

The Shadow Knight descended silently toward the target location. The back ramp slowly lowered, revealing the darkened landscape outside.

"Landing now," Neptune confirmed.

The teams exchanged quick glances before slipping into formation, ready for their first mission.

Command Center

Ironwood and Wesley stood in front of the large monitor, observing the mission in real time. Multiple screens displayed different camera angles, including satellite imagery and Penny's custom interface tracking the team's vitals and movements. Penny, seated at the main console, rapidly typed as streams of data flowed across the screen.

"General," Penny reported, her synthetic voice calm yet precise. "Shadow Knight has landed successfully. No enemy patrols detected in the immediate vicinity. No indications that the enemy is aware of their arrival."

Ironwood folded his arms, nodding in approval. "Good. Let's hope it stays that way."

Wesley adjusted his earpiece, his sharp eyes scanning the screens. "Their entry point should be secure for now, but once they breach the facility, we'll need to be prepared for rapid extraction."

Ironwood gave a short nod before turning his attention back to Penny. "Maintain close monitoring, Penny. The moment anything changes, I want to know."

"Understood, General."

Factory

Yang adjusted the focus on her binoculars, scanning the perimeter of the factory with sharp eyes. The facility was heavily fortified—at least thirty to forty guards patrolling outside, with an unknown number inside.

"What do you see, Yang?" Blake whispered, crouching beside her.

Yang lowered the binoculars and pressed her earpiece. "Alright, Penny. Time for some sneaking."

"Excellent," Penny's voice responded through the comms. "There is an exit door located northwest from your position. It is the least guarded entry point. Once you are approximately ten feet from the door, alert me, and I will guide you on when to proceed inside."

Yang nodded before looking at the rest of the team. "Got it, Bolts."

There was a pause. Weiss and Blake exchanged puzzled looks. Ruby raised an eyebrow.

"…Bolts, Yang?" Blake questioned.

Yang smirked. "Yeah, you know. Like nuts and bolts? Since she's a—"

"I do not like that nickname, Ruby." Penny's voice cut in, sounding less than amused. "Please inform Yang never to call me that again."

Yang sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. "Fine, fine. No need to get all robotic about it."

"I heard that."

Ruby stifled a laugh, but quickly refocused. "Alright, we need to move before the patrol shifts. Let's go."

The teams silently nodded, then began creeping through the shadows, heading toward the northwest exit Penny had identified.

Arc Room

Artemis stepped into the Arc family's quarters, her eyes immediately landing on Jade and Lily, who were locked in yet another heated argument. Their expressions were tense, and the atmosphere in the room was thick with frustration.

She let out a long sigh and turned to Clover. "They're still at it?"

"Uh-huh." Clover nodded, flipping a page in the report she was reading. "Been going at it since last night."

Artemis groaned. "All for one guy. This is exactly why I prefer women."

She scanned the room, noticing Jasmine lying on her bed, completely uninterested in the ongoing fight. She had a book in one hand and was lazily flipping through the pages.

"You know, Jasmine," Artemis said, strolling over. "Jaune tells me that Miss Belladonna is a lot like you."

Jasmine lowered her book slightly and raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Yeah. You're both the quiet types, always reading whenever there's nothing else going on. You both even like herbal green tea."

Jasmine hummed, considering the comparison. "Hm. You might have a point. But what exactly are you getting at?"

"Oh, nothing." Artemis smirked. "Just thought you'd like to know."

Jasmine stared at her for a moment before shaking her head. "Right. I'm just going to continue reading in peace."

She pulled out a pair of headphones, connected them to her Scroll, and put them on, effectively shutting out the rest of the room.

Artemis turned away, only to find Sapphire approaching her with a knowing smirk.

"So," Sapphire teased. "How'd your session with that rabbit girl go?"

Artemis sighed. "She has a name, Sapphire. It's Velvet. And she's actually doing really well in her training. Especially considering it's only her second day."

"You do know her Semblance lets her mimic a fighter's moves, right?" Sapphire asked, crossing her arms.

Artemis blinked in surprise. "Really? I never noticed."

A snort came from behind her. "Maybe if you hadn't spent so much time staring at her, you would've," Blossom remarked, leaning against the doorframe with an amused grin.

Artemis turned to her, frowning. "And how exactly do you know what I was doing?"

Blossom shrugged. "I ran into Miss Scarlatina on my way back here. She told me everything. And in case you forgot—she's taken."

Artemis exhaled and waved her hand dismissively. "I know she's taken, Blossom."

"Do you, though?" Blossom raised an eyebrow. "Because I know you, Artemis. When you see someone cute, all logic kinda flies out the window."

Artemis rolled her eyes. "Alright, alright, I get it. I'll try to behave."

Blossom smirked. "Good. Because trust me—you do not want to be on Coco Adel's bad side. That woman carries a machine gun for a weapon, and she will use it."

Artemis raised her hands in surrender. "Alright, I get it! I'll be cautious."

Blossom gave her a knowing look before pushing off the doorframe and heading back into the room. Artemis, meanwhile, sighed to herself.

"Great. Just great." She muttered under her breath. "Why do all the good-looking ones always have to be taken?"

Factory

Ruby and Blake dragged two unconscious Dark Seeker guards into the dimly lit storage room, their bodies slumping onto the cold metal floor. The air was thick with dust, and the faint hum of machinery echoed through the walls. Inside, Weiss and Yang were rummaging through stacks of old files and documents, scanning them under the flickering glow of a desk lamp.

Ruby exhaled sharply, placing her hands on her hips. "Was this really necessary, Yang?"

Yang, who was still flipping through files, glanced up with a smirk. "Uh, yeah? They would've seen us the second we stepped in here."

"She's got a point," Blake added, adjusting her gloves. "Stealth doesn't mean much if we let them sound the alarm."

Ruby sighed, shaking her head. "Fine. Just… let's not make a habit of this."

She turned her attention to Weiss and Yang, who were knee-deep in paperwork. Weiss had a pile of documents spread across a metal table, her fingers flipping through them with increasing frustration.

"Any luck?" Ruby asked.

"Not really." Weiss huffed. "All I'm seeing are earnings reports, complaints, maintenance logs… Who knew Cinder cared so much about the factory's air conditioning?"

Yang groaned, tossing a file onto the pile. "Yeah, I'm getting the same junk. What exactly are we even supposed to be looking for?"

"That's a damn good question."

Yang tapped her earpiece, activating their comms.

"Penny, exactly what are we supposed to be looking for here? Because unless you need the factory's expense report, we're coming up empty."

Command Center

Penny turned away from her monitor, her emerald eyes meeting Ironwood's stern gaze. The General gave a small, deliberate nod—silent confirmation that she was to withhold certain information. Penny hesitated for a fraction of a second before responding to Yang.

"Sorry, Yang. But the contents are unfortunately classified."

Factory

Yang exhaled sharply, clenching her fists. "You've gotta be kidding me," she muttered, barely restraining her irritation.

Weiss crossed her arms, a sharp glare forming. "Classified? We're sneaking into enemy territory, dodging guards, and putting our lives on the line, and we don't even know what we're looking for?"

Ruby pressed a hand to her earpiece, trying to keep her voice steady. "Penny, we don't have time for this. If you know something, anything, please—give us a hint."

For a moment, there was only silence. Then, Penny's voice came through, gentle yet unyielding.

"Negative, Ruby. I understand your frustration, but orders are orders."

Yang let out a frustrated sigh, gripping the edge of the desk. "Penny, you've got to give us something. Anything that can point us in the right direction. Please."

There was a brief pause before Penny finally responded, her tone hesitant but cooperative.

"Alright… According to General Ironwood, the file should be sealed in a blue folder. It will have an emblem on the front."

Yang raised an eyebrow, scanning the scattered documents around them. "Blue folder, emblem on the front… Yeah, I don't see anything like that."

Weiss flipped through another stack of papers, shaking her head. "These are all standard reports and schematics. Nothing that stands out."

Blake was already checking nearby drawers when Ruby's eyes landed on something unusual—just barely visible, tucked beneath the desk. She frowned, moving a chair aside and crouching down. A glimpse of dark blue caught her attention.

She reached under, fingers brushing against the thick material. With a firm tug, she pulled out a large blue folder. Her stomach twisted slightly when she saw the emblem printed on the front—Cinder's personal insignia.

"…I think I found it," Ruby said, her voice hushed but urgent.

"You did?" Penny's voice came through immediately. "Okay, Ruby. Can you activate the video feed so I can confirm?"

"Got it."

Yang pulled out her Scroll, quickly typing in a command before placing it in front of the folder. The screen flickered as the camera activated, transmitting the live feed directly to the Command Center.

Command Center

Ironwood leaned forward, his eyes narrowing as he examined the live video feed. The emblem on the folder confirmed it—this was the file they were looking for.

"That's it," he said, nodding in approval. "Excellent job."

He straightened up, his tone firm as he issued the next orders. "Pack the file and get out of there. Move quickly and quietly—no unnecessary risks. Sneak your way back to the Shadow Knight and exfiltrate immediately."

Penny's voice chimed in over the comms, "I will guide you through the safest exit route. Be careful, Team RWBY."

Ironwood crossed his arms, watching the feed closely. He knew the hardest part of the mission wasn't finding the intel—it was making it out undetected.

Factory

"Got it," Yang muttered, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.

Ruby quickly stuffed the file into her backpack, securing it tightly. "Alright, let's get out of here."

Team RWBY and Team HAVC moved carefully down the dimly lit hallway, their steps light and deliberate. Every few seconds, they checked their surroundings, ensuring no guards were approaching. Their escape route was clear—so far.

"Alright," Yang whispered into her earpiece, keeping her voice low. "Almost there. Start the engines, Neptune."

"Roger that," Neptune's voice crackled back. "Firing her up now."

Just as they neared the exit, Yang suddenly stopped in her tracks. Her fists clenched, and her posture stiffened.

The rest of the team noticed immediately.

"Yang?" Blake whispered, turning back. "Come on, we have to keep moving."

Yang didn't respond. Her eyes were locked on an open door to her right, her expression darkening.

"Yang?" Ruby repeated, worry creeping into her voice.

Blake followed Yang's line of sight—and then she saw him.

Roman Torchwick sat at a desk inside the room, his back to them. He was facing a large monitor, seemingly unaware of their presence. The faint sound of music could be heard from the headphones he was wearing.

Blake's stomach twisted.

"Yang," Blake said, stepping beside her partner. She kept her voice low, calm, but urgent. "We have to go."

Yang's hands curled into fists at her sides. "What?"

"He's not worth it," Blake said firmly.

Yang turned her head sharply, glaring. "Are you kidding me?" she hissed. "After everything he's done? After what he did to you? To me?"

Blake swallowed hard. "I know what he's done. And trust me, I haven't forgotten." Her voice was bitter, her fingers tightening around Yang's wrist. "But we can't blow the mission over him. We have to stay hidden."

Yang's jaw tensed. She looked back at Torchwick, hatred simmering behind her lilac eyes.

Blake tugged on her arm. "Come on. We'll get him later."

Yang hesitated. Every fiber of her being wanted to charge in there, to make him pay. But Blake was right. This wasn't the time.

Reluctantly, she exhaled and took a step back.

Then—

"Oh, how nice of you to join us."

Every muscle in Yang's body went rigid.

Slowly, she and Blake turned toward the sound of the voice.

Down the hallway, standing with a smug grin and his cane resting on his shoulder, was Roman Torchwick.

Yang's heart pounded. Blake felt a pit form in her stomach.

"I'm disappointed in you, kitten," Roman continued, shaking his head mockingly. "You didn't even realize that was a decoy in that room. Tsk, tsk."

A flicker of movement caught Blake's eye—figures shifting in the shadows behind him. Reinforcements.

Suddenly, Wesley's voice crackled urgently through their earpieces.

"Miss Xiao Long—get you and your team out of there, now!"

Both teams stood frozen, locked in a tense standoff with Roman Torchwick.

"And did you honestly think," Roman began, tilting his head with a smirk, "that I wasn't aware of your presence the moment you set foot in this building?"

Ruby felt her stomach drop. Damn it...

Roman's smirk widened as he saw the brief flicker of shock cross their faces. "Yeah, I didn't think so."

Yang growled, her fists clenching. With a metallic click, she activated Ember Celica, her gauntlets whirring to life.

"Yang," Blake warned, stepping forward. "Don't!"

Too late.

With a blast from her gauntlets, Yang propelled herself forward, launching straight at Torchwick.

Roman barely flinched. With fluid ease, he sidestepped her first punch and swung Melodic Cudgel, meeting Yang's next attack with a powerful clash of steel and fire. The force sent sparks flying as they engaged in close-quarters combat.

"Damn it," Blake muttered, yanking Gambol Shroud from her back. Without hesitation, she dashed in to back Yang up.

Ruby bit her lip. This was bad—Torchwick never worked alone. Which meant—

She quickly pulled off her backpack and shoved it into Violet's arms.

"You guys need to get to the ship. Now," Ruby ordered.

"But—" Violet started, hesitating.

"Just go! Okay?!" Ruby snapped, urgency in her voice.

Violet gritted her teeth, glancing at Cyan, Hazel, and Ash. They all shared a tense look before reluctantly nodding. Without another word, Team HAVC turned and sprinted down the hallway toward the Shadow Knight.

Ruby exhaled sharply before turning back to the fight. Yang and Blake were already locked in combat with Roman, their strikes coming fast and heavy. But Ruby had a gut feeling—this wasn't just about Roman.

Something wasn't right.

"Weiss," Ruby said, gripping Crescent Rose tightly. "You ready?"

Weiss, already drawing Myrtenaster, gave a sharp nod. "Let's end this quickly."

With that, both huntresses surged forward, ready to back up their teammates.

Command Center

Wesley slammed his fist onto the metal table, his frustration evident. "What the hell are they doing?!"

He strode over to Penny, watching the live video feed of the mission unfold. Team RWBY and Team HAVC should've been making their way back to the Shadow Knight by now. Instead, the fight had broken out with Torchwick, and Ruby's team had made the reckless decision to engage.

"Tell them they need to get to the Shadow Knight—now!" Wesley barked.

Penny's fingers flew over the keyboard as she tried once again to reach them. "I'm trying, sir," she said, voice strained. "But they're either not responding... or they're just ignoring me."

Wesley exhaled sharply, his jaw clenched. He didn't like this. Not one bit. The mission had already been risky enough without complications, and now they were on the verge of full exposure.

"Dammit," he muttered. He turned to one of the nearby officers. "Get the medics ready. If this goes south, they're going to need them."

Penny hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Wesley. "Sir... should we send reinforcements?"

Wesley frowned, eyes narrowing at the screen. "No. Not yet." He watched as the fight between Torchwick and Team RWBY intensified. "We can't afford to blow their cover any further. They need to get themselves out of there. Fast."

Penny glanced back at the monitor, concern evident in her expression. "I hope they realize that before it's too late."

Factory

Torchwick crashed through a wall, landing hard on the floor below in a large storage room filled with towering crates and machinery. With a groan, he pushed himself up, shaking off the debris. Before he could fully regain his footing, Yang, Blake, and Weiss leaped through the gaping hole in pursuit, weapons drawn.

Ruby, still on the upper level, hesitated for a second, glancing back toward the ongoing fight. The clash of weapons and footsteps echoed through the cavernous space.

Then—a single footstep from behind.

Ruby barely had time to react before a powerful punch slammed into her side, sending her crashing to the floor below. She gasped, coughing as she hit the hard metal ground. Before she could fully push herself up, the distinct sound of armored boots landing next to her made her freeze.

Looking up, she found herself staring down the barrel of a gun.

"Put the scythe down," a voice ordered, cool and unwavering.

Ruby's silver eyes met the glowing red visor of Blaze. He leaned forward, pressing the weapon against her forehead. The metal was still hot from recent fire, the heat searing against her skin.

"Now."

Ruby clenched her jaw. She wanted to fight, wanted to retaliate, but... she was cornered. She slowly let go of Crescent Rose, allowing it to clatter onto the floor.

"Good," Blaze muttered. "Now get up."

Ruby obeyed, rising carefully. But the second she was on her feet, she activated her Semblance—disappearing in a burst of rose petals.

Blaze smirked. As if he had been expecting it. He swiftly turned, grabbing at the air—and caught Ruby by the throat.

She gasped, struggling as his fingers tightened around her neck, lifting her slightly off the ground.

A single gunshot fired into the air.

The fighting stopped.

Yang's head whipped toward the noise, and her eyes widened in horror.

"Get away from her!" she shouted, stepping forward with a murderous glare.

Blaze didn't flinch. Instead, he pressed the still-smoking barrel of his gun against Ruby's temple. A burn mark sizzled against her skin.

Yang halted in her tracks, fists clenched.

"Good job, Blaze," Torchwick's voice drawled as he dusted himself off and approached the scene, his usual smug smirk in place. "But that won't be necessary."

Blaze gave a slow nod, releasing his grip on Ruby's neck, though his weapon never wavered from its aim.

Coughing, Ruby stumbled forward, rubbing her neck before glaring at Torchwick.

"If you try to speed away again, Little Red," Roman said, adjusting his hat, "I can promise you—he won't be so merciful next time. After all, Blaze here holds a particular grudge against you."

Ruby turned her gaze to Blaze. His grip on his weapon tightened, his stance unshaken.

"What are you talking about?" she asked, voice hoarse from his earlier chokehold.

Roman chuckled, flashing his usual cocky grin. "Oh, you'll know soon enough."

His expression darkened. "But for now, let's keep the party going, shall we? And you, Little Red, get to sit back and watch."

Weiss stepped forward, Myrtenaster raised. "It's three against one, Torchwick. I don't think you'll be winning this fight."

Roman closed his eyes and chuckled softly.

"Oh, Ice Queen..."

When he opened them again, his once-green eyes were now glowing a sinister red.

Ruby's breath hitched.

"You should've brought more," Torchwick sneered.

Torchwick moved fast—too fast.

A knife whizzed through the air, hurtling toward Weiss, Blake, and Yang. Weiss barely managed to dodge, twisting out of the way as the blade embedded itself into a metal crate behind her.

She barely had time to react before Torchwick surged forward.

A brutal kick sent Weiss flying back, knocking the air from her lungs. Yang stepped in, but Torchwick spun— a swift elbow strike slammed into her ribs before he flipped Blake over his shoulder, sending her crashing to the ground.

Torchwick turned, smirking as Yang aimed Ember Celica at him.

"Go on," he taunted. "Try it."

Yang fired, but Torchwick weaved between the projectiles, dodging with unnatural speed. She growled in frustration and lunged at him, fists ready.

Torchwick didn't move.

At the last second, he stepped aside, effortlessly kneeing Yang in the stomach before driving an elbow into her back. As she gasped for breath, he grabbed her by the collar and hurled her across the room.

Yang hit the ground hard but recovered quickly, pulling out her pistol and firing.

Torchwick flipped backward, dodging every single shot.

Weiss tried to catch him while he was mid-air, thrusting Myrtenaster toward him—but Torchwick caught her wrist, twisting it.

"Ah, ah, ah," he chided. "Not so fast."

Using Weiss as a human shield, he turned her to block Yang's line of fire. Yang hesitated, fists tightening in frustration.

Weiss summoned a Glyph, attempting to break free. But before she could activate it, Torchwick wrenched her forward and slammed her into the ground.

"Weiss!" Blake shouted, rushing forward and firing dust bullets from Gambol Shroud. Torchwick twisted and evaded every shot, effortlessly maneuvering between the projectiles.

Yang charged him again, but he dodged every punch with ease. The moment she overextended, Torchwick's fist slammed into her stomach, sending her stumbling back.

Blake tried to capitalize, flipping over him to deliver a powerful kick— but Torchwick caught her foot mid-air.

At the same time, Yang swung her robotic arm.

Torchwick caught that too.

"Nice try," he chuckled before spinning both of them around and slamming them into the nearest wall.

They crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Ruby's breath hitched.

Weiss groaned, dazed, struggling to get up—only for Torchwick to plant a vicious punch into her stomach, knocking her out cold.

Ruby clenched her fists. She had to do something—

Then, the room shook.

A crate rattled violently.

With a loud crash, the wooden panels splintered open, and two snarling Beowolves leapt out.

Torchwick exhaled, rolling his eyes.

"Oh, great." He turned to Blaze. "Keep them busy."

Blaze nodded, raising his gun toward the incoming Grimm.

Ruby growled in frustration, grabbing Crescent Rose.

"Hey!" she shouted after Torchwick, but he was already walking away.

More Beowolves emerged from the wreckage. Snarling. Clawing. Eyes locked onto her.

Ruby swung Crescent Rose in a wide arc— the blade cut through two Grimm in an instant, turning them to dust. She pivoted, narrowly avoiding a swipe from another Beowolf before driving her scythe into its skull.

In the corner of her eye, her teammates were stirring. Yang groaned, pushing herself up. Blake rubbed the back of her head.

Torchwick smirked, glancing back at the chaos. Ruby was occupied. Time to leave.

But as Ruby turned, intending to cut him off—

Pain.

A blade suddenly plunged into her arm.

She screamed.

Crescent Rose clattered to the floor.

Ruby's body trembled as she slowly turned her gaze to the blade sticking out of her arm. The crimson fabric of her sleeve darkened, soaked with blood.

And standing in front of her, gripping the hilt—

Blaze.

He withdrew SoulBreaker.

Ruby gasped, stumbling backward. Her heart pounded. A wall blocked her escape.

Blaze stepped forward, raising his weapon again.

A Glyph flashed beside him.

"Hn?"

Weiss struck.

A kick slammed into Blaze, sending him crashing into a pile of crates.

Ruby gasped, panting, her entire body trembling. She could barely feel her arm.

Weiss rushed to her side, examining the wound.

"Hold still," Weiss said, tearing off a strip of cloth and wrapping it tightly around Ruby's bleeding arm.

Ruby winced, teeth gritted in pain as Weiss secured the makeshift bandage.

"Just breathe," Weiss reassured her. "We're getting out of here."

Yang and Blake rushed over, weapons still in hand. Their eyes widened when they saw Ruby clutching her arm, blood seeping through the hastily wrapped cloth.

"We need to leave," Weiss said urgently. "She needs medical attention."

She reached out to support Ruby, but Ruby pulled away, shaking her head.

"I can walk, Weiss."

Weiss hesitated. "Are you sure?"

Ruby nodded, gritting her teeth. "I'm sure. Let's just get outta here."

Yang clenched her fists. Frustration burned in her lilac eyes.

"What about Torchwick?" she demanded.

Ruby snapped her gaze toward her, fury flashing across her face.

"Let him leave."

Yang's jaw tightened. "But—"

"NO, YANG!"

Ruby's voice echoed through the storage room, raw with frustration and pain.

Her teammates froze, shocked by the sudden outburst.

Ruby exhaled shakily, chest rising and falling as she tried to control her emotions.

"We should've left when we had the chance," she said, voice quieter but no less intense. "We had the file. We had an escape route. But instead, we let our emotions take over.

Her glare hardened. "We'll get Roman later. Unless you want to make things even worse."

Yang looked away, guilt flashing in her expression.

Ruby turned toward the exit. "Let's just go."

No one argued.

With that, Team RWBY took off, sprinting out of the storage room.

Behind them, Blaze groaned, pushing himself off the ground. His vision swam for a moment before focusing on the now empty room.

Gone.

They were gone.

His hands curled into fists. His chest heaved with fury.

He turned, spotting SoulBreaker lodged into a pile of crates.

With a furious snarl, he ripped the weapon free and swung it— smashing the blade through a stack of wooden boxes, splintering them into pieces.

The sound of cracking wood and Blaze's ragged breaths filled the air.

They escaped.

Shadow Knight

Neptune sat in the pilot's seat, anxiously tapping his fingers against the dashboard. His knee bounced restlessly as he glanced back at Team HAVC, who sat in tense silence.

The waiting was unbearable.

Finally, the hatch opened, and Team RWBY rushed inside.

Neptune's breath caught in his throat when he spotted Ruby clutching her bloodied arm.

"Ruby! What happened?"

Ruby snapped her head toward him, her silver eyes burning with frustration.

"It's nothing!" she shouted, her voice sharper than intended. "Just get us outta here!"

Neptune flinched at the sudden outburst but nodded quickly, spinning back to the controls.

As the hatch sealed shut behind them, both teams dropped into their seats, exhaustion weighing down on them.

Neptune exhaled. "Alright. Let's get outta this joint."

The Shadow Knight's engines roared to life, the ship lifting off the ground.

With a final push, it shot forward—disappearing into the sky, leaving the factory far behind.

Courtyard

Sun sidestepped a soldier's punch, his staff spinning effortlessly in his hands. With a smirk, he lunged forward, knocking his opponent off balance before flipping over another attacker.

The sparring match had drawn a small crowd.

Three more soldiers charged at him. Sun blocked the first strike with Ruyi Bang, countered the second with Jingu Bang, and then used both to vault over the third, landing behind them. Before they could react, he unleashed a flurry of precise strikes, sending them stumbling to the ground.

Grinning, he twirled his staff behind his back and clicked it into place on his belt.

"Thanks, guys," he said, offering a hand to the groaning soldiers. "I really enjoyed that."

The soldiers muttered in frustration as they got to their feet and walked off, rubbing their bruises.

A voice from behind made Sun turn.

"I'm impressed, Sun."

He blinked and saw Jade leaning casually against a training dummy, arms crossed, a knowing smirk on her face.

Sun chuckled. "Thanks. But I did learn everything from you."

Jade laughed lightly. "Indeed. You picked up well."

She stepped forward, her smirk fading slightly as a more serious look took over.

"So, I actually came to ask you something," she said.

Sun tilted his head. "Sure. What's up?"

Jade hesitated for a moment before asking, "It's about your friend, Neptune."

Sun raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What about him?"

Jade shifted on her feet. "I was wondering… if, at any chance… he's ever talked about me?"

Sun's smirk widened. "Actually, yeah. He has."

Jade's eyes brightened slightly. "Really?"

"Yeah," Sun said, crossing his arms. "Turns out, he kinda has a thing for you."

Jade smiled, her cool demeanor slipping for just a moment. "Oh my. Well… this is good."

Sun chuckled. "Oh, come on. You're blushing."

Jade rolled her eyes but didn't deny it. "I wasn't going to deny it."

"So," Sun said, grinning, "you like him too, huh?"

Jade exhaled and nodded. "Maybe. He's charming in his own way. But I don't want to rush into anything."

"Smart," Sun said. "If you're interested, just take things slow. Talk to him, get to know him better. You know, like normal people do before one of them falls madly in love and does something stupid."

Jade chuckled. "That's actually some solid advice, Sun. Since when did you become an expert?"

Sun shrugged dramatically. "I learned from experience."

Before Jade could respond, a shadow passed over them.

Both turned to look up, just in time to see the Shadow Knight soaring toward the Citadel.

The hangar doors opened, welcoming the stealth ship inside.

Sun frowned slightly. "I wonder how their mission went."

HANGAR BAY

The back doors of the Shadow Knight hissed open. Team HAVC stepped out first, their expressions unreadable after the chaotic mission. Violet adjusted the straps of Ruby's backpack before stepping forward, her gaze locked on Ironwood, Penny, and Wesley, who stood waiting near the landing platform.

She reached into the bag, retrieving the blue folder marked with Cinder's emblem, and approached them.

"Here you go, sir," Violet said, extending the file.

Ironwood took it without a word, flipping it open and scanning its contents with a hardened gaze. Then, without looking up, he spoke.

"Thank you, Miss Blume. You and your team, head to your rooms. We need to speak with Team RWBY."

Violet hesitated, glancing over her shoulder at Team RWBY, who were now stepping out of the ship alongside Neptune. Her eyes flickered toward Ruby, whose injured arm was wrapped in makeshift bandages.

"...Let's go, guys," she said finally.

HAVC obeyed, moving towards the exit. Team RWBY, however, remained in place, watching as Wesley stormed toward them.

His eyes burned with barely restrained anger.

"What the hell happened?" Wesley demanded.

The team fell silent.

"You know what?" Wesley snapped before anyone could respond. "Don't even bother. We already know."

"Look, Wesley—" Yang started, but he cut her off with a glare.

"Your fault, Miss Xiao Long?" Wesley said. "Of course, it is."

He closed the distance between them until he was standing just feet away from her, his expression cold.

"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Yang clenched her fists but didn't respond.

"You compromised the entire mission the second you decided to chase after Torchwick. Even after we gave you direct orders to retreat, you ignored them! Do you have any idea what the consequences of your recklessness could have been?"

His eyes flicked toward Ruby, narrowing at the blood-stained bandage wrapped around her arm.

"Your sister nearly lost her life because of your inability to follow orders, Miss Xiao Long. If Miss Schnee hadn't intervened when she did, then perhaps Miss Rose wouldn't have made it back here at all."

Yang's jaw tightened, her shoulders stiffening as a mixture of guilt and anger swirled inside her.

"Regardless," Wesley continued, his voice sharp, "the mission was, ultimately, a success. You retrieved the intel, and you made it back here in one piece. But don't mistake that for an excuse."

He took a step back, his gaze turning ice-cold.

"If you ever pull a stunt like that again, if you ever put this operation at risk for your own personal vendetta, you will be exiled from the Citadel. Your teammates will remain here to fight. But you will not."

The weight of his words crushed down on Yang, leaving her speechless.

Turning away, Wesley's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Ruby.

"Get that arm checked, Miss Rose. You don't want to lose it."

Ruby gave a small nod, clutching her injured arm as she walked past him toward the exit. Blake hesitated, glancing at Yang, who was still standing rigid, staring at the floor.

Weiss, frowning, hurried after Wesley as he moved away.

"Don't you think that was a little harsh?" she asked quietly.

Wesley didn't slow down, his expression unreadable.

"This is war, Weiss," he said simply. "Sometimes, you have to be harsh to get the job done."

DARK PALACE

The dim glow of crimson torches flickered against the towering obsidian walls of the throne room. Envy sat upon her darkened throne, fingers idly drumming against the armrest as she listened to the report before her. Torchwick and Blaze knelt before her, their heads slightly bowed.

Envy's red-and-green slit eyes narrowed. "And you're telling me… that Rose and her team infiltrated the factory?"

Torchwick stood up first, brushing a bit of dust off his coat. "Indeed," he said, nonchalantly. "Though, I have to say, they weren't much of a match for me or Blaze here."

Blaze remained silent, standing at ease, but the tension in his posture was noticeable.

From the shadows near the throne, Cinder stepped forward, arms crossed. Her amber eyes glowed faintly as she regarded them with skepticism. "And what exactly did they take?"

Torchwick exhaled through his nose. "Some kind of file," he said with a shrug. "Didn't get a good look at the contents, though."

Cinder's expression darkened slightly. "What color was it?"

"Hm?"

"I said," Cinder's tone sharpened, "what color was the file, Torchwick?"

There was a beat of silence before Torchwick furrowed his brows, glancing toward Blaze as if the swordsman might have the answer. But Blaze simply looked forward, waiting.

"I think it was blue?" Torchwick finally answered, a hint of annoyance in his voice. "So what?"

A still silence settled over the room.

Then, without warning, Envy rose from her throne.

Her movements were eerily smooth, deliberate. The slow click of her boots against the polished floor sent a chill through the air as she descended the steps. The moment she reached them, her hand lashed out, gripping Torchwick by the throat and hoisting him effortlessly into the air.

Torchwick gasped, his hands shooting up to claw at her grip, but it was like trying to pry open an iron vice.

"That," Envy hissed, her slitted eyes glowing with barely contained rage, "was the intel we had on the Spring Maiden. Do you have any idea how valuable that information was to us?"

Torchwick gagged, kicking his legs slightly as his face turned red from the pressure on his throat.

"I should kill you," Envy continued, tightening her grip just enough to make him struggle harder. "Right here. Right now."

Blaze didn't move. He didn't flinch. He simply watched.

Then, after a few agonizing seconds, Envy abruptly released him. Torchwick collapsed onto the cold stone floor, coughing violently as he clutched his throat.

"But..." Envy mused, brushing her fingers together as if dusting off something filthy, "you are still useful to our cause."

Torchwick looked up, scowling as he rubbed his sore neck. "Glad to hear that," he rasped, his usual cocky demeanor now laced with a thin layer of resentment.

Envy turned away from him, her posture relaxed, but the weight of her presence remained suffocating. "The fact remains," she continued, "that they now have something we cannot allow them to keep. That information must be recovered, and those who took it must be punished."

She looked over her shoulder at Blaze. "Blaze."

Blaze straightened slightly. "Yes, my mistress?"

"Find them. Find that file. And if you get the opportunity..." Her lips curled into something resembling a smirk. "Remind them why they should fear us."

Blaze nodded. "As you command."

As Blaze turned and left the throne room, Torchwick picked himself up, still rubbing his throat.

"You know," he muttered, eyeing Envy warily, "for someone who needs me 'useful,' you sure don't mind nearly crushing my windpipe."

Envy merely smiled, her amusement chilling. "Only when you disappoint me, Roman."

Torchwick frowned but wisely chose not to press the matter. He turned on his heel and followed Blaze out of the throne room, leaving Envy and Cinder alone.

Cinder watched the exchange in silence, her expression unreadable. Then she glanced at Envy.

"If they know about the Spring Maiden, they'll be coming for her soon."

Envy's fingers curled against the armrest of her throne.

"Let them come," she said, a sinister gleam in her eyes. "They'll only be walking into their own demise."

MED BAY

Ruby stared down at her freshly bandaged arm, flexing her fingers slightly. The doctor had just finished wrapping it, but something about the injury didn't sit right with her.

"But shouldn't my Aura already be healing this?" she asked, frowning.

The doctor, an older man with tired eyes and a deep furrow in his brow, sighed as he finished his notes on his Scroll. "No. Whatever weapon was used on you drained your Aura completely."

Ruby's eyes widened in shock. "How? That shouldn't even be possible."

The doctor shook his head. "I don't know, Miss Rose. I'm no expert on weapons. But I do know that your body needs time to recover before your Aura can start working properly again. Speaking of which, I strongly advise against using your scythe until you're fully healed. Doctor's orders."

Ruby let out a defeated sigh, nodding. "Fine. Thanks, Doc."

Just then, the Med Bay doors slid open, and Weiss stepped inside, her arms crossed as she took in Ruby's state.

"Hey."

"Hey," Ruby replied, forcing a small smile.

"Your arm doing okay?" Weiss asked, eyeing the bandages.

"Yeah. Just need a little time," Ruby said.

Weiss exhaled in relief. "Good. You ready to head back to our room?"

Ruby didn't answer right away. Instead, she dropped her gaze to the floor, her face clouding with frustration. Weiss immediately noticed.

"Ruby?" she asked carefully.

Ruby clenched her jaw, then spoke, her voice tinged with anger. "I don't want to be near Yang right now."

Weiss frowned. "Ruby, what happened on the mission—"

"We had a chance to get out of there, Weiss," Ruby interrupted, shaking her head. "But no. Yang went after Torchwick. And now? I can't even use Crescent Rose for the next couple of days."

Weiss sighed, understanding Ruby's frustration.

"I just... I just can't talk to her right now," Ruby continued. "I don't even want to be in the same room as her. So, I asked Ironwood if I could get another room for a while. Unfortunately, he said no."

Weiss nodded slowly. "So what are you going to do?"

Ruby hesitated for a moment, then answered, "Penny offered to let me stay in her room for a few days. And I accepted."

Weiss looked surprised. "You're going to stay with Penny?"

"Yeah. Just until I can deal with Yang again."

Weiss considered Ruby's words carefully. "How long do you think you'll need?"

Ruby shrugged. "A couple of days. Maybe four."

Weiss hesitated, then spoke up. "Well... if you want, I could come, too."

Ruby stopped walking and turned to look at Weiss. Her silver eyes held a trace of something… worry, maybe even fear.

"I… don't think that's a good idea."

Weiss narrowed her eyes. "And why not?"

Ruby bit her lip, hesitating again before finally exhaling. "Because there's… something I've been keeping from you these past couple of years. And I'm afraid of how you'll react."

Weiss blinked, now looking genuinely confused. "Ruby? What are you talking about?"

Ruby shuffled her feet, rubbing the back of her neck awkwardly. "I… I… uh…"

"Ruby," Weiss said firmly, stepping closer. "If you have something to tell me, you can. You know that, right?"

Ruby took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "I could tell you," she said carefully, "but on one condition."

"What is it?"

"You don't freak out."

Weiss raised an eyebrow but nodded. "Alright."

"And if you agree to that, then yeah… you can stay with me in Penny's room."

A small smile appeared on Weiss' face. "Deal."

Ruby inhaled sharply and ran a hand through her hair. "Okay… here we go."

TEAM RWBY'S ROOM

Yang lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, deep in thought. Blake, sitting cross-legged on her own bed, was quietly reading, flipping through the pages at a steady pace.

Yang exhaled sharply and turned her head. "Blake?"

Blake lowered her book slightly, her golden eyes meeting Yang's. "Yeah?"

"Are you angry?"

Blake hesitated, then shook her head. "I'm not angry, Yang. I'm just… disappointed."

Yang flinched slightly at those words, letting them sink in before she sat up, rubbing the back of her neck. "…Fair enough."

Blake set her book down on her lap. "I figured you'd realize that, given what happened today."

Yang sighed. "Yeah, I messed up. I compromised the mission and almost got Ruby killed." She paused, furrowing her brows. "Which I don't seem to get."

Blake tilted her head. "Get what?"

Yang looked at her, confusion written all over her face. "Why didn't Ruby use her powers? Why didn't she just fly up in the air or phase away from Blaze? She could've gotten out of there easily."

Blake frowned in thought. "That's… actually a good question."

Yang leaned forward, resting her arms on her knees. "I mean, she has super speed, she can fly, and she's taken on people way worse than him. But she just let herself get caught. I don't get it."

Blake hummed thoughtfully. "Maybe she can answer that when she gets here."

Yang scoffed. "Yeah, but I think you should ask her. She's not gonna want to talk to me for a while."

Blake nodded. "Okay."

Just then, a sudden shout echoed down the hallway.

"YOU AND PENNY DID WHAT?"

Yang and Blake's eyes widened in shock.

"…Was that Weiss?" Blake asked, turning toward the door.

Yang sighed, dragging a hand down her face. "Oh, boy. She told her."

Blake raised an eyebrow. "Told her what?"

COMMAND CENTER

Ironwood sat at his desk, eyes scanning the file that had been retrieved from the factory. Qrow leaned against the wall nearby, tipping his flask back before lowering it with a sigh.

"Anything useful, for once?" Qrow asked, crossing his arms.

Ironwood flipped through a few more pages before responding. "Possibly. If this information is accurate, we may be able to pinpoint almost exactly where the Spring Maiden has been hiding."

Qrow let out a low whistle. "Well, that's better than nothing." He studied Ironwood for a moment before adding, "By the way, Jimmy, are you sure keeping this from her is a good idea?"

Ironwood sighed, setting the file down. He turned to look at Qrow, his expression firm but weary. "If she were to find out about her existence, she'd do anything to find her. And that could mean risking her own life."

Qrow nodded slowly, rolling his flask between his fingers. "I get it. You're protecting her."

"Exactly." Ironwood confirmed, his gaze briefly flickering back to the file.

Qrow's eyes drifted to the papers on the desk. Though Ironwood had placed his hand over most of the text, one name stood out in clear, bold letters—Schnee.

Qrow's jaw tightened slightly, but he didn't say anything right away. Instead, he looked back at Ironwood.

"Alright. I'll keep my mouth shut. But, know this, James—there will come a time when Weiss needs to know."

Ironwood's grip on the file tightened slightly before he exhaled. "I understand, Qrow. But only when the time comes."

Qrow took another swig from his flask. "Yeah… let's just hope that when it does, it's not too late."

PENNY'S ROOM

The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing Penny's ever-bright smile as she greeted her visitor.

"Salutations, Ruby! Come on in."

Ruby stepped inside, carrying a small bag of her belongings. "Thanks, Penny." She sighed as she crossed the threshold, clearly exhausted from the long day.

As Penny went to close the door, she suddenly bumped into something—or rather, someone.

"Ow!" came a startled yelp.

Penny blinked in confusion and reopened the door. Standing there, clutching her own bag of belongings, was Weiss.

"Oh," Penny said, tilting her head. "Miss Schnee?"

Weiss gave Ruby a questioning glance. Ruby chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of her head.

"Yeah… I, uh, forgot to tell you. Weiss is staying, too."

Penny blinked, processing this information for a moment before smiling. "Oh! That is perfectly fine with me. Welcome to my humble abode."

"Thanks," Weiss said, stepping inside and setting her things down. She took a moment to glance around the room. "So, where will we be sleeping?"

Penny motioned to a row of neatly arranged beds. "I have some spare beds right here. You may select whichever you prefer."

Ruby and Weiss glanced around. The room was relatively spacious and pristine, as expected of Penny. Three empty beds were neatly made, while one had clearly been used by Penny herself.

Weiss placed her hands on her hips. "You stay in here all by yourself?"

Penny nodded. "I do. But I don't mind! Most of my time is spent in the Command Center. But tonight is what you would call—'time off.'" She smiled warmly. "And now, with you two staying here, it will be much less lonely!"

Ruby set her bag down on one of the spare beds. "I really appreciate you letting me stay here, Penny."

"It is the least I can do, Ruby," Penny assured. Then, she tilted her head slightly. "But I am curious—why is Miss Schnee staying as well?"

At that, Ruby hesitated, her silver eyes flicking toward Weiss before she awkwardly pointed between herself and Penny in an exaggerated motion.

"I… kind of told her about… you know." Ruby kept pointing between them.

Penny's green eyes widened slightly. "Oh. I assumed she already knew, given your romantic relationship with her."

Weiss shook her head. "I didn't know, Penny. I just found out tonight."

A brief silence followed before Penny looked down, almost sheepishly.

Sensing her unease, Weiss stepped forward. "Look, Penny. I completely understand. I was a little mad at first, but Ruby explained everything. You both chose to remain friends, and I respect that."

Penny's face brightened again, her synthetic eyes gleaming. "Thank you, Weiss. That means a lot to me."

Ruby exhaled, relieved that there were no lingering tensions. She plopped onto her chosen bed. "So, Penny, what do you wanna do now?"

Penny tapped her chin thoughtfully before perking up. "Oh! I could tell Weiss all about my new features!"

Weiss arched an eyebrow. "New features?"

Ruby smirked, instantly recognizing Penny's mischievous tone. "Oh yeah, Weiss. You should totally let her tell you all about them."

Penny grinned playfully, her artificial mind already working on the perfect response. "Oh, wonderful! Let us begin."

Weiss, suddenly sensing a setup, gave Ruby a suspicious glance. Ruby simply sat back with an amused expression, eagerly awaiting Penny's explanation.