Mortals Above, Gods Below: Opening Waltz, First Step

When evil calls, the ones who answer are invariably good.

It was always quiet inside the cockpit, whether it was a Normal Core or a NEXT. Ruby never got used to the quiet during her time down on Remnant, on Patch with her father. She wasn't used to the quiet in a Normal, although it wasn't as long lived as the nearly pristine silence of a NEXT. There wasn't anything else to it though, she had a job to do. A job, that's what saving everyone has become? It was a thought that Ruby tried to beat out of her head whenever it arose, but the truth never stopped being the truth. She stepped inside the metal cavity in the chest, listening to the door close behind her.

Crescent Rose fit awkwardly into the compartment set aside for it as Ruby stepped into her leg harnesses. Lowering the controls from storage above her head, she leaned back on the U-shaped apparatus to relax. Start the batteries, run the checklist. A quiet hum of Dust power ran throughout her small workspace. Monitors, displays. The space in front of Ruby illuminated, slowly focusing in to reveal the glass walkway she'd been standing in. Red boxes illuminated to either side of the center, a large list of components appearing on each turning green. Radio.

"Good afternoon Miss Rose, I trust you are up to the correct point in your start-up?" Calm, collected words, the voice that her father and uncle said always held the answers when they were younger.

"Professor Ozpin, what are you... why are you, or why isn't?" she said, stumbling for the right words. Wasn't he way more important than being a pilot's operator?

Chuckling emanated from the speakers. "It's just Ozpin now Ruby, those days are behind us. And the men around here don't like to be reminded of them very much." Several sounds penetrated through, switches and grumbling mostly. "Everything is alright from here."

"Uh, yes, everything is green to go." Rote memory replaced some of her uneasiness, allowing Ruby to fall back into rhythm. "The rifles are loaded, as well as the sniper cannon. And my backup blade is good to go as well. Um... Prof... Ozpin, is everything alright?"

"It is. Why do you ask?" Several more switches began flipping through the speaker.

"Well, it's just... you're really important, and I'm just a new pilot, and-"

"And you think I shouldn't be your operator?" Ozpin let out a long hum before following up. "It's a good question. But I'm afraid the answer is rather simple. Nexus isn't fully set up to handle all of the new NEXT pilots yet. So I'm filling in."

Ruby still thought it was an odd thing having the old Beacon headmaster as her operator, but it was what it was. "Alright. Well, everything is green to go, can I start the generator?" The opening floor gave her her answer, but it was proper to ask anyways.

"Go ahead Ruby, the vents are running just fine." More grumbling broke through in the control tower, angry noises if she dared to guess. "Please remember though, only one minute."

Looking over her shoulder, Ruby reached out and pressed the large red button to bring her machine to life. Firing up immediately, the hum silenced while the status boxes disappeared. Only the most pertinent info populated the parabolic screen now. Ammo. Integrity. And her generator status. The temperature climbed steadily upwards, taking its time to reach the necessary heights. Looking out at the bay again, Ruby watched as lines of blue began distorting her field of view. All at once the lines merged into a translucent wall in front of her, wrapping around in sphere beyond her vision.

Turning her attention back to the display in front of her, she stood upright in the harness. "Everything is alright I think. Temperature is steady at twelve hundred Kelvin and the Vacuan field looks fine on my end." Ruby had plenty of time left to check everything. Moving her legs gave her a nice response, the tickling sensation of her Aura merging with machinery growing stronger. Moving the balls at the ends of her U-shaped apparatus gave a similar response to her arms. "It's still so weird to do this."

"I can imagine. Are you ready to go Miss Rose?" The last words were more clipped than the rest. Ruby didn't think it was worth fighting over as she told Ozpin she was ready. "Let's begin then. Waning Petal, Ruby Rose leaving Cradle zero zero five."

Her stomach jumped as the sensation of falling took over while she watched the bay fall upward at an alarming rate. Boosters kicked in, controlling her descent and returning Ruby's stomach to its rightful place. "That needs to be looked at again, there has to be a better way to get Cores out off there than forcing the pilot's stomach to doing flips." She watched the Cradle float gracefully by above her, a majestic bird flying with its companions.

"I suppose they would have Ruby if they tried, but things don't always end up the way we want them." Ozpin laughed a little before setting down a cup. "You'll be at the South Vale mine in ten minutes."

I hope he doesn't stay like this. Uncle Qrow was the same way, saying an operator is just there to relay information. "Um, Proffess... Ozpin, can we talk about something? I don't really like the quiet in here."

"Of course Ruby, what would you like to talk about?"

Oh thank goodness, she could at least stay sane this time around. "Well, I don't know. Things? Anything to keep the quiet at bay." It reminded her of that time, when everything fell apart in her world.

The speakers stayed silent for a few moments before crackling back to life. "You know I'm old enough now to remember when things were quite different?" Ozpin mused, tapping next to the microphone. "I saw when everyone was fighting together, then against each other. I was blessed to help us come together again. Times changed then, for the better."

Ruby could hear his voice dropping off as he neared the end of his musing. "Then the Beacon Incident happened."

"Indeed, and the times changed again. Science led the way, to where we are now and beyond I presume. Miss Rose, what you sit upon is the culmination of that progress. I am no longer able to be a true Huntsman, but I can at least give you knowledge." Ozpin breathed in audibly, a long steady draw of air. "Everything around you is influenced by your actions. Don't think that one person can't change the world."

What was that supposed to mean? She was just a Huntress as her dad called her and a pilot in the official registrar. "My sister sometimes read stories like that to me. A great hero who defeated the monsters and saved the day by himself. Or the Huntress who saved a village before it was destroyed by Grimm. I always loved those stories."

"Those stories have to be made Ruby. Don't forget that."

Working a mine wasn't so bad, or so he told himself each and every day as he dragged himself up from bed. Ulm had been here in Vale for several months now, a welcome get away from the dreary life he'd led in his village. It was exciting to see the great compound for the first time. All of the trucks and mechs moving about only reinforced his notion that life would finally be smooth. It had been anything but smooth. Ulm having found out quickly that, as one of the last few places on Remnant with people, it was a popular spot for Grimm.

Walking toward his truck, the familiar lithe form of a Faunus caught his eye. "The stray is up early I see," he called out to her, testing his luck for a third day now. The first two ended quite poorly.

Surprisingly, the slender girl decided to turn around and regard him. "This stray wouldn't normally put up with you. But we have company, and not the black and toothy kind." She turned around again, striding off with a purpose.

Company? But then, how would they know about... of course they know, those floating prisons can see everything. It wasn't as if Ulm hated the Cradle borne, but that didn't mean he didn't resent the fact they left people down on the surface. Down here to toil away for their own needs. At least the company hires a NEXT every once in a while, that was the only saving grace in this world. It wasn't long ago when Huntsmen roamed around keeping the peace. Ulm remembered those days, how they were better. Now though, now there was no use in wishing for the past. It was the present, and this mine might become a war zone any second.

Her descent was sharp, coming down below the cloud cover to the sight she'd come to expect. Ruby watched the sprawling expanse before her, a massive complex designed exclusively to dig up Dust and power the Cradles. Normals dotted the outside area, clustered around typical walls and weapons from before the Incident. And I'm here to make sure it doesn't get pulverized. Ruby didn't really think it was going to be a chaotic mission, the defenses looked just fine. Was a NEXT really necessary?

"Vale Heavy Industries has a lot of money wrapped up here Miss Rose, I'm sure it'll be a simple job today." Ozpin's reassuring voice felt nice as she fell the last hundred meters.

Waning Petal lurched as it hit the ground, Ruby tensing as the sensation reached her. "Waning Petal, beginning the operation." She began to lift the harness, and her balance compensated with the machine's moving leg. Stepping forward, she took a look around at the trucks driving away from her. A Normal stepped forward, brandishing a large rifle her direction.

"State your business here Huntsman or leave," a gruff voice barked through her speaker. "Makes no difference to me."

Is this what people were like? But dad said that everyone seemed to love him when he went out on missions. "This is Waning Petal, I'm here under... contract from Vale Heavy Industries to-"

"There's a NEXT coming from the mine. Ruby, be careful! It's coming straight for you."

Ruby leaned back, willing the machine to move rather than step. Boosters ignited, thrusting the hulking behemoth backwards with grace and elegance. She swept around, ignoring the the rifles now pointed at her from a variety of Normals. Why are they aiming at me? I'm here to protect them, not hurt them! It didn't matter, they couldn't do anything to her anyway. Slowing to a stop, Ruby scanned one last time for this rogue NEXT. And around a wall corner the black monster raced, veering straight for her.

Planting herself now she raised up her rifles, watching the reticle hone in on the speeding NEXT. Her target grew in size as it sped towards her, and Ruby could make out what the machine was like. Same as mine, looks like a normal person. A handgun... and what looks like demolition equipment. It wasn't set up like hers or her teams. But who else would be able to get a hold of something like that? It isn't like these things were just lying around to be picked up at a moments notice. It was a good three months before Nexus let her have Waning Petal just the way she wanted.

"You! In the red NEXT, what are you doing here?" a feminine voice shouted at her through the speaker. "Nothing has been sighted for days now, we didn't need another NEXT."

What? But why was she even here then? "This is Waning Petal, I was given a contract to stay here and protect this place. And why are you here?" Ruby didn't lower her weapons, keeping them trained on the ebon giant.

"She's our stray! You Cradle borne wouldn't know anything about that!"

"Yeah, we took her in! She's part of the family now."

"Please," the female voice declared, "let her speak. Miss Huntress, you're not needed here obviously. Would you please leave. Now." The NEXT raised its handgun, casually aiming the weapon at Ruby.

Something wasn't right, she should have identified herself if she was with one of the Corporations. "I'm not going anywhere. They gave me this job, and I'm seeing it through to the end." That wasn't all, but it was good enough for an excuse.

They stood there in tense silence, machines of war poised on the brink of conflict. Ruby never wanted to think about fighting other people, other humans. But the people who taught her made sure she was aware of the possibility. My parents were heroes to everyone. But I'm here being threatened by them now. Fear mounted within her, forcing itself more and more into prominence. A Normal stepped to her right, keeping an easy target on her machine. Another stepped to her left, and panic began fighting for her attention. Ruby's eyes found a truck speeding toward her. The door opened, and the driver rolled out.

She threw herself backward, feeling the acceleration of boosters forcing several tons of metal backward. Fire bloomed outward in front of her, dull thunks reverberating into her cockpit. They're really firing at me, Ruby thought in her panic, feeling the cold controls impressing into her palms. Fear won as the reticle swept across the black NEXT. Fire erupted again, lower this time as vibration and ticking counters told her she was fighting back. Ruby lurched downward in the harness as she willed herself into the air.

Shells sung around her, piercing the usual silence with haunting wails. Normals were struggling to keep up with her movements as she darted through the air. But they didn't matter, only the person who'd ruined this job did. The deathly machine was sliding along the ground toward her, shrugging off rifle rounds that would shred the ground behind it. It wobbled along, having trouble keeping the large handgun trained on Ruby. Still, the occasional shell burst through and punched into the Vacuan field before impacting on metal. The indicator flashed momentarily, but never showed any severe damage.

"Please stop!" Ruby shouted, trying to calm down and think rationally. "I don't want to hurt anyone." She couldn't stand the thought of having to kill anyone because they were scared. Or because she was as well.

"She's not stopping, we won't let them trample over us. We'll fight those bastards who only want us to live and die for them!"

"Yeah! You tell em Toff, we'll make em see what we put up with!"

They weren't going to stop, and she was gonna have to start shooting at the others soon. Resolve took hold as Ruby focused in on the black beauty racing around under her. Shoulder launchers swiveled over, and before she could think several rockets burst from them. She flew upward over the NEXT and turned to keep track of them. They flew onward, unguided by the look of it. It's just demolition equipment, what is she- Her opponent flew up and into her face, the glowing band around the head accusing Ruby of all her misdeeds.

Waning Petal shuddered violently, forcing her forward. She looked down at the enemy's arms, seeing the large construction blade retracting back for another attack. The indicator screamed at her, and the core section was blinking feverishly. Instinct took over as Ruby threw herself to the side, feeling the boosters throw the mech around with her. The black beast turned sluggishly, but its blade was ready nonetheless. She thrust at Ruby, and instinct took over once again.

Fire played across the Vacuan field in front of her as the high yields thrust her backward. She raised her rifles, training them on her attacker. It was still moving sluggishly, but that didn't matter any more. The metal felt cool. But hot lead was all that poured outward from her weapons, bursting through the NEXT's field and scoring the black machine up and down. Ruby watched as the sleek metal became scarred and abused, the machine faltering in the sky before falling downward. She ceased her attack, trying to get a hold of her frayed nerves.

The Normals stopped firing as their NEXT fell to the ground. Ruby followed it down, watching as the emergency recovery forced her upright and landed. The machine stayed motionless for a moment before shuddering upright, the shimmering lines forming around it. Her field is down, she's practically dead. I just need to... Ruby's thoughts terrified her, but the thought of having someone like this around scared her more. She raised up her weapons once more, feeling the cold metal under her fingers. The cold kiss of death.

"That's enough Miss Rose, she's no longer a threat," Ozpin commanded over the speaker. Ruby felt the jolt of her senses coming back, retracting her hands from the controls at the thought of what she almost did. "You did very well Ruby, very, very well. I'll take it from here now."

Coughing erupted through the speaker, distinctly delicate in nature and definitely from the woman in the NEXT. "What are... what are you waiting for? I'm sure you wanted to do this from the very beginning, so why stop now?"

"Miss Belladonna, you did well with what little you had." Ozpin's words held a hint of joy, almost as if she'd done exactly what he'd wanted. "We'd be honored if you decided to come join us in Nexus, your place is already assured." In a more serious tone he added, "I'm sure you don't want to do this again Blake."

Wait, that was Blake? The last person for her team? "So you sent me here to-"

"Not now Miss Rose. Your answer Blake? I assure you, this is the best way I could have managed to do this."

There was silence for a while, the other pilots shushing one another when one spoke. Silence, a return to that dreadful thing that marked Ruby out as alone in the world once more. Why was she always subjected to it? The world seemed to close in, despite the protective cocoon of metal and weaponry. A crushing weight, with no one there to lift it from her shoulders. Ruby glanced back, looking at the compartment that held Crescent Rose. Why did you name it that dad?

"I'll do it," Blake whispered, a haunting sound in the gloom. "If that's the only option I have left, I'll sell myself to you people. But you can't make me like it."

"Thank you, Miss Belladonna. You've made things a lot easier with your choice." He paused, and Ruby thought she heard other voices breaking through. "Ruby will take you back, I'm afraid you'll have to follow her yourself. Miss Rose, you can come back now. Congratulations on a job well done."

Words escaped Ruby as she stared at the world outside. The black NEXT lowered its arms while the Normals stood motionless. "Prof... dang it, Ozpin, this isn't what I was told. Why did you lie to me? Why am I-"

"Please just come back Ruby, we'll take it from there."

She stood upright and incensed in her harness. What was the point of lying to her about Blake or the mission? Ruby didn't respond, preferring to do something instead. I... I need to get back and figure this out. Maybe Yang could give me some advice? She's been doing this for a little while longer. Thinking about it wasn't going to make it happen however, and Ruby began making the preparations to get back home. Looking over at Blake, she felt sorry for the woman since she probably didn't have any protocols. It was gonna be a long journey without them, having to manually follow her.

"Are you ready to go?" she asked, typing in the final few numbers of her Cradle.

"No, you can't leave! What... what are we going to do?" It was one of the pilots of the Normals.

"We can't do anything now Toff, they've got her in a bind."

"But... she's our stray. You don't just abandon someone like this. We... we have to do something dammit!

"Like what? We'd just be killed by that girl. Face it, we couldn't do anything before. And we can't now."

Blake sat there in her monster, the scarred and sooty beast looking tired despite being an unfeeling weapon. "Yeah," she uttered at last, letting out a long sigh, "let's get this over with."

That was that then, and she punched the final key. All at once sensation became dulled as the process took over. Ruby felt Waning Petal lift off from the ground and rise into the sky slowly and methodically. A stray. And she's following me home. She turned her head, watching the screen shift to a view behind her. Blake's NEXT rumbled upward, wobbling into a spot behind her with all the grace of an Ursa. But she didn't have any trouble laying her blade on me. The thought frightened Ruby more than she cared to admit.

"Um, Ruby was it? It's nice to... be able to talk to you. Without being afraid of being shot at." Blake's voice startled Ruby a little since she'd settled in to the silence. Well, it was nice not having to endure it again. "You're really good. I wasn't sure what to do until that trick."

The compliment felt odd considering their recent circumstances. "Thank you? But you don't seem to really have a good connection with that NEXT." She realized her words might be a little rude a moment too late.

"It's... not like I get to be in it all that often," Blake responded, breathing heavily still. "This is actually only the second time I've gotten in to use it."

Ruby leaned back against the apparatus, taking her weight off her legs finally. "What do you mean? I thought that NEXT was yours, as crazy as that sounds."

"It is... now at least."

"What do you mean? Who's was it before?" This was starting to sound more and more like a bad dream than the end of a day to Ruby.

Blake stayed quiet for a long moment before finally continuing. "Ruby, I don't... I can't really tell you. But would you trust me if I said it's better in my hands than the person who had it before?"

She thought about it for a little bit, watching the ground fall away as they rose through the sky. "Alright, I'll take your word for it. Those men back there trusted you, and I don't think you wanted to fight."

"They didn't, but everyone was scared. Even me." Blake let the quiet settle in for a little bit as the two rose further and further. "Ruby," she said suddenly, a new inflection in her voice, "what is it like? Up there?"

Ruby hadn't really thought about her new home all that much. "It's... different. Not bad at all, everyone is happy and we don't worry about the Grimm anymore."

"That sounds... nice," Blake breathed out, a hint of tension gone. "I hope that it's really that nice, and all the rumors are wrong." She let it drop again, and the clouds began enveloping them in their slow ascent. "Ruby. Will I see you again?"

"I think so. Why?"

"You seem different from the other people I've dealt with." Different how? Ruby never really thought she acted too differently from Yang or her dad. "I'd like it if I had one person I knew I could trust."

It was an odd thing to hope for, but she didn't really find it that strange considering how today had gone. Maybe it was because Ruby was hoping for the same thing? She had Yang, but was she hoping for someone who was like her? Don't be selfish, hoping that someone else was like this. The quiet invaded once more as they ascended toward the edge of the world.

She didn't know why she expected any different, coming up here was a mistake as surely as trusting everyone at the mine was. Blake Belladonna stood stiffly as the men, human men, pointed guns at her in the gangway. They had shouted at her to stand still or they'd shoot. So I'm stuck again with a group of people who want to kill anyone that doesn't agree. Still, she knew of one person who acted and talked like she was above it. One versus the rest of humanity. What fantastic odds.

"Please, there isn't any need for this. She isn't going to do anything now." It was the same voice as earlier, the one that had forced her to choose. Blake watched as the armed men began lowering their weapons and parting.

Through the gaps she caught the man behind the voice. He was tall, a green suit adorning his already substantial frame. White hair topped a kind face that was now looking out toward her, a knowing half-smile the final touch. Blake began striding forward, feeling confident despite her misgivings about being on a Cradle. The man's eyes were sweeping up and down her, and she realized how odd she looked right now. What else would she look like though? She was a fighter, born out of the Kingdoms, and raised with the hardest people. Maybe it was Gambol Shroud that had his eye? No matter.

"I see you came to welcome me yourself. I'm flattered, really." Blake knew she was being arrogant, but if they operated anything like the others she wanted to establish herself immediately. "Shall we go do whatever it is you need me to do?"

The tall man stood up straight, regarding her with a skeptical eye. His half-smile broadened into a wily grin. "Miss Belladonna, I'm glad you are willing to continue with your... employment. But that will be for a later time. Right now, I just want to welcome you to the Cradle."

She didn't expect his manner at all, the humored look giving her an uneasy sense of safety. "Then may I go ahead and take my leave from here Mister...?"

"Ozpin, it's very good to meet you. Of course, go ahead and take in the sights." He turned around, leaving the dumbfounded men to watch as he left. Blake strolled swiftly toward them and out of the gangway.

"Blake! Are you alright?" Ruby's squeaky voice pierced outward from the far end of the walkway. Blake turned to watch the girl running towards her, trailing some red flecks. Or were they petals? "Why were those men standing around your bay? Did you do something?"

What does she mean why? She's the one who brought me here. "I'm alright, they are just being cautious of someone foreign like me." It felt odd defending them, but Ruby genuinely seemed to think they weren't doing something normal. "Although it would have been nice to have a more welcoming reception."

The girl looked at her with large eyes. Silver eyes oddly enough. "Um, Blake. What are you wearing?" Ruby was eying her up and down, focusing slightly more on Gambol Shroud.

"What do you mean? What am I supposed to be wearing?" This was the second time now she felt oddly inspected by someone. It was starting to wear thin, even if she should be used to it as a Faunus.

Ruby looked at her with wonder in her eyes. "That means you didn't have a suit on when we... you did all that by yourself?"

"What suit? You're not making any sense."

She stepped back a little bit before twirling around. "This suit, it's supposed to help you with controlling the NEXT. Didn't you know that?"

Blake watched as Ruby excitedly showed off the garment, twirling around and posing for her. Taking in the girl, she wasn't exactly what Blake had in mind for a pilot from the Cradles. Thin, shorter than her by a small amount, and filled with energy. Ruby really wasn't like the people she'd seen already. She took in the suit, a form fitting red and black thing that... well, accentuated a rather decent figure. Her own combat clothes were tight enough, and she felt it help a little in the cockpit. But it made sense now why she'd had trouble keeping the machine steady.

"Blake? Are you in there?" Ruby chattered, waving a hand at her. "I kinda lost you there for a moment."

"Oh, sorry. I was just thinking about before and what you said." It was easier to pilot these. Which means they'll have an easier time learning. Blake's stomach tightened at the thought of having to fight him in one of these... monsters.

"So what's it called?"

She looked back over at the girl. Ruby was gazing out the glass at her NEXT, eyes tracking along the limbs of the Core. They almost looked like they sparkled as she was staring. "It doesn't have a name. At least, I never knew what it was supposed to be called."

Ruby bounced on her heels, and the large red rectangle on her belt bounced with her. "Well, you're gonna have to give it one. That's how they do things. So... why don't we come up with one?"

It was a fair enough suggestion, Blake couldn't argue that it was better to do it now rather than later. What do you name something like that though? She stepped up to the wiggling girl looking at her scarred weapon. It was black, the depth coming close to midnight's own inky grasp. But there was a lightness as well, fine lines of white only she'd really gotten to see up close. Reaching over her shoulder, Blake felt at the grip of Gambol Shroud, her own lifeline for so many years now. Now though, she would have to place her faith in something greater.

"What do you call that?" She turned to see Ruby eying her weapon.

"It's called Gambol Shroud, I made it a long time ago." Has it really been that long? "Growing up the way I did, you either fought or ran for your life. I needed something to fight with."

The girl hummed for a moment, reaching behind her to grab the rectangular object. Pressing a button, Blake jumped away as it unfurled into an enormous scythe. Ruby regarded the weapon, looking forlornly along its length. "Well, this is Crescent Rose. My dad made it for me, told me to keep tradition alive with it." She shook her head, like she wanted to forget something. "I remember wanting to do what he did, before these things were made."

It seemed like an innocent story, but the feel of it was all wrong to Blake. Things have changed, but so much is still the same. She looked back at the machine, the force that she was going to use. Maybe tradition was something to remember, a little at least. A name sprung up, Falling Twilight. It seemed strange, a twist of her life that she never saw coming. But then, after every leap there was a fall. And how far had Blake fallen if she couldn't trust her old family anymore. The black beauty stared back at her, the head almost looking sad and resigned to what its fate would be. Or was it her feeling that way now?

"Ruby!" The voice was sharp and full, Blake turned to see a buxom blond trotting straight at her. She watched her get close enough, then closer. Is she going to- The fist that followed wasn't entirely unexpected. Falling to the ground, she looked up into burning eyes and a snarling maw. "Don't you ever lay a finger on my sister again! You hear me?"

The aforementioned sister was tugging on the woman's arm, trying to pull her away. "Yang, please! It's not like that, she's not gonna hurt me."

Yang pulled her arm away, standing in a threatening manner over Blake. "I saw what you were doing down there. You think you've got some kind of problem, something against people from up here?" She slammed a fist down next to Blake's face. "People like you don't have a clue."

"People like me? I'm a person just the same as you," she retorted, shifting away from the angry blond. "I have the same right as you, my choices are just as valid as yours. I didn't want to fight, and I didn't want to come here with your kind." The hypocrisy was lost to her as her cheek began throbbing.

"Please Yang, she's telling the truth. Stop."

Her angry opponent wasn't stopping though as she grabbed Blake by the shirt before hauling her to her feet. "People like me? I've done nothing but keep them safe, lived my life behind a sheet of metal." The fire was glowing at this point, a red hue overtaking her eyes. "Where do you get off criticizing that? You... and you tried to hurt my sister." Again she pulled back her fist, Blake bracing for the ensuing pain.

It didn't come, and she opened her eyes to see Ruby holding the woman's fist back. "Yang stop, she's not here to fight you. Please, trust me." She had a determined look on her face, trying to hold back the other woman's fist.

A long sigh finally escaped from Yang as she let go of Blake's shirt. "Alright, I'll stop. But don't think I've forgiven you for this. If things hadn't gone the way they did..." She let the rest remain unspoken as she turned to leave. Giving Ruby a quick glance, she hugged the smaller girl and left with an angry strut. The soldiers who had been standing there followed dumbly, leaving Blake alone with Ruby.

"I'm sorry about that," she said, looking down at the floor, "you can probably guess, but that was my sister Yang. She's not normally like that, but I guess she got scared." Ruby looked up again, looking over Blake's face. "Are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm alright." Her cheek was throbbing still, but she wasn't actually hurt. "She's... very intense. And she's your sister?" Ruby nodded her head, smiling weakly. "Well, I think it would be best if I stay away from her for the time being.

Her companion chuckled, looking away from her as she smiled. "I don't think that's gonna be possible. You see, she's... and you are... we're sorta part of a team."

Blake looked over at the suited girl, smiling innocently enough. Well, hopefully I don't get punched again. That did hurt quite a bit. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad though, she was going to be able to stay around Ruby. Maybe she'd also be able to get to know Yang, anyone who grew up with this excitable girl couldn't be that bad. Ruby took her hand, leading her down the passageway and into the Cradle. Behind her the Cores sat, unwavering sentinels that awaited the next call to war. A war that would be different from any other in history.