Chapter 33

The Great Escape

Long ago before we met, I dreamed about you and the peace you would bring. Then one day you arrived and I heard your angel cry, "Helpless, small, and perfect, welcome to your new life".

Team RWBY had split up to cover more ground in search for Ruby. While Blake and Yang searched to the northwest, the area Ruby had last been, Weiss searched to the south and Oobleck the northeast. Eventually the partners' search expanded to the abandoned shopping centers and the school began fading in the distance. Soon the light would be fading as well.

Yang called out her sister's name again and Blake had to grit her teeth in frustration. They were deep in enemy territory and Grimm could be behind any corner waiting for foolish, unsuspecting prey. She'd already warned her multiple times, and had to stick closer than she would've liked in a search and rescue operation, but Yang didn't seem to care whether she alerted every nightmare in the city to their location.

Blake came to a halt in an empty parking lot looking for any sign that her leader had passed when someone plowed into her nearly knocking her to the ground.

"Sorry," the other girl murmured for the third time in ten minutes. Blake glanced back at her, noting how she looked like a wreck. Constantly glancing down with tearful eyes at her scroll in case her sister's vitals changed before looking around wildly again.

"She'll be okay," Blake repeated for the hundredth time. becoming more of a plea than a comforting statement.

Her partner remained silent. Ruby's name, picture, and all her vitals were grayed out. meaning she was either out of range, which wasn't likely, or she was... gone.

Blake's nose twitched as the wind changed, and she noted how silent the birds and insects had become.

"You smell that?" she asked.

Yang didn't look up. "Smell what?"

Blake retrieved her katana and cleaver, and followed the source of the scent. It reminded her of decaying shadows.

Yang followed behind and bumped into her once again when she came to a sudden halt. She glanced up at the old dust shop, but then her eyes widened at the four foot diameter hole in the concrete, then at the giant claw marks stretching from the hole to inside the shop where the ground was stained black.

There were also speckles by blood as if it had fallen from the sky, and Blake had to cover her mouth to keep from vomiting. The stench coming from the store was horrific, but the girl beside her barely noticed.

Yang stared down into the abyss her eyes becoming misty, and bent down reaching into the unknown.

"No don't!" Blake ordered, fearful of what might still be lurking around.

Ignoring her, Yang stretched her arm out and yanked a red and black sniper-scythe out of the ground, and with vacant and empty eyes she held it up for Blake who just like her looked as though her soul had just been ripped out.

There were chips missing from the blade as well as deep scars, and something like a monstrous black hand print as though something had leisurely grabbed one of the deadliest weapons on Remnant.

Blake's hand shook as she opened her scroll. "Weiss, Oobleck," she choked, "you need to get over here..."

"That's Dr. Oobl-" began the professor before being muted.

There was a pause on the other end as someone fumbled with their scroll. "Did you find her?!" Weiss' voice cracked.

Blake shook her head despite them not being able to see her. "We're on the northwestern side of the school in some kind of shopping center. Just get over here..."

"Is Ruby there?!" she repeated nearing hysterics.

Blake hesitated and glanced at her partner who was holding Crescent Rose in her arms and gazing down at its injured blade.

"No," she choked before abruptly hanging up.

Yang glanced down and picked up a scrap of red cloth.

"Ruby's hood," Blake guessed, wiping her eyes.

The blonde cradled the torn cape and scythe to her chest, and didn't react when the other girl wrapped an arm around her.

Minutes later Oobleck arrived with Weiss in tow. A soft golden glow was coming from her, having used the strongest haste glyph she could handle in order to keep up with the professor.

"No..." she whispered, covering her mouth and coming to a stop when she saw Ruby's scythe and the scrap of red cloth in Yang's hands.

Oobleck bent down and examined the claw marks on the ground, but everyone else was preoccupied with the ones on their leader's scythe.

"What kind of Grimm could do that to Crescent Rose?" Weiss asked, staring in awe like the others. Their own weapons began to feel much smaller and insignificant.

"Something very old and very dangerous," Oobleck said, glancing around as sweat beaded on his brow.

"It'll be okay," Blake cried, wiping her face and trying to reassure her teammates when no one else spoke. "Ruby's fine."

Weiss couldn't look her teammates in the eye, and came no closer while Yang stared into the abyss.

"No she's not. Ruby's down there..."

Blake looked into the darkness and a moment later Oobleck joined them, with Weiss shortly thereafter.

"Can you see anything, miss Belladonna?" the professor asked with reluctance in his voice.

Her sharp eyes narrowed and after a moment nodded. "I can see the bottom. It's some kind of cave or unfinished maintenance tunnel, but I'll need a closer look."

Oobleck bit his lip but nodded.

"Stay here." Blake took a deep breath and brandishing her weapons once again, stepped into the abyss.

When her teammates heard her feet hit the bottom they followed without hesitation. Blake turned back at them as they landed but they obviously couldn't tell, that is until Weiss shined a flashlight from her pack into the faunus face.

"Oh, sorry..."

"Next time wait until-"

"See or sense anything?" Oobleck asked, his heavy boots landing a moment later.

Blake resisted the urge to roll her eyes and instead let out a breath before stooping down to the ground and examining the dirt.

"Here's where Ruby landed." She stood up and followed the slight impression of boots. "And here's someone else..."

Yang dropped to her knees where her baby sister had fallen. She recognized a hand print, possibly where her sister had pushed herself up, and placed her hand atop it.

"She's alive," Yang whispered.

Weiss stood behind and nervously shifted her body weight. "Are you sure?"

She nodded. "Ruby's alive, and she needs me..."

Blake came to a stop as the tracks ended and a new set began.

"What is it?" Oobleck asked.

Yang got up and Weiss followed with the flashlight, both barely able to see the impressions in the dirt.

"The White Fang," Blake growled. "They're the only ones who could be here, and they've got Ruby."

Weiss made a choking sound and her eyes went wide, while all around them shadows were cast aside as a golden flame was lit.

Yang took off running.

Ruby groaned as she awoken to the sound of giants walking.

*BBSSSHHHH!* *BBBSSSHHH!* *BBSSHHH!*

Her eyelids opened but everything was hazy and her head was throbbing. She tried to rub her eyes to get the sleep out but her hands wouldn't budge. She quickly realized they were tied behind her back, and tried kicking her legs but found she couldn't move them either.

Instead she focused on the ground watching it move which puzzled her until the answer came. Someone was carrying her over their shoulder...

She craned her neck but could only make out the side of a white mask. On either side of the large man carrying her was another masked man. The one on the left carried a rifle and rubbing a nasty purple bruise on the side of his face while the other wore glasses over his mask with his chin held high. She could also see something large moving behind them and other people in masks staring back at her.

Ruby blinked away the fog clouding her sight and mind believing she must've still been dreaming. Why were there bullheads with legs?

'Paladins!' screamed the rational part of her mind.

Her body tensed up as she began taking in her surroundings. They were in some kind of large underground cavern with train tracks running through a dark tunnel, and the men with her were standing on a large platform with boxes and crates labeled 'volatile'. All around, men and women in Grimm masks carried supplies while operators in Paladins moved heavy shipping containers with 'SDC' printed on the the sides.

Ruby had never seen a subway or train station before but it all seemed very old fashioned to her, and her eyes lit up seeing a train for the first time in her life but quickly faded.

The symbol and the name of the train...

Schnee Dust Company Locomotion.

Ruby remembered the White Fang stealing a SDC train months prior to joining Beacon. It had been all over the news and Weiss had mentioned it once or twice, and recalled how upset it had made her partner.

The men came to a stop outside a derailed train car, and without warning she was tossed onto the ground as though she were garbage.

She grimaced as she'd been unable to protect herself and skinned her knees on what was basically rock. Luckily she hadn't hit her head again.

"Hey boss!" the glasses wearing faunus cried. "I've got something you'll want to see."

Ruby heard the shuffling of papers and a fist striking a desk.

"This had better be good Perry!" Her eyes widened as she recognized the voice. "Because if it's not you'll be having a stern talking to with Neo!"

The man gulped and his hand reached for his throat. "I-it's a little girl in a red cape and hood, sir. We found her in the southern tunnel."

A black bowler hat with a red stripe poked its way out the door, and Roman Torchwick's eyes rested on the captive. Ruby was increasingly thankful he couldn't see her hands shaking behind her back.

"Is this good boss?" the man squeaked.

"Perry," he said taking a deep breath, "this is the best news I've heard in weeks."

Torchwick threw his bowler hat in the air and grabbed a nearby White Fang member and embraced him.

"I can finally get out of this dump!" he cried, letting him go to retrieve his hat.

The masked men turned to each other confused while the man who'd just been hugged slowly backed away into the crowd.

"Keep this up and you'll make lieutenant one of these days," Torchwick promised.

"But I'm the one who caught her!" the large man beside Perry shouted.

"I saw her first!" said the one with the purple bruise on his face.

"Listen up people!" Torchwick yelled, getting the attention of everyone including the Paladin operators. "There has been a slight change of plans to the operation."

The White Fang began to murmur to themselves causing Torchwick to narrow his eyes.

"We have been discovered by the huntsmen."

The voices stopped and the man with the bowler hat grinned as he was the center of attention again.

"Please move all dust containers onto the train and prepare to withdraw. We're moving ahead of schedule!"

When no seemed to share his excitement or even move, his hand drifted to his cane as he looked around at all the Grimm masks starring back at him.

"Unless you'd like to meet the huntsmen and military first hand, I suggest you MOVE!"

The White Fang scattered as his threat worked, and supplies began piling into train cars as the Paladin carried massive crates to be unloaded onto each.

Torchwick sighed and looked down at the caped-girl on the ground grinning ear to ear.

"Where are my manners?" he apologized. "How's it going, Red? You seem to be a bit tied up at the moment."

He practically skipped to her side and tipped his hat, then noticed all the cuts and bruises on the young girl and her overall disheveled state.

"Looks like you had a nasty run in with a Grimm, Red. I'll be sure to thank it later."

He stooped down and laid a gloved hand under her chin. "I really like the boot impression on your head. Please tell me it hurt."

Ruby spat in his face.

Torchwick sneered and stood up. "That wasn't very nice," He chided, wiping the spit away with a handkerchief. "Luckily for you I don't hit little girls."

"Perry." He lit a cigar, and she barely had time to prepare as a boot was driven into her stomach knocking the breath out of her.

Ruby gasped for air and began coughing and heaving into the dirt as another boot struck her in the ribs.

"Good work, Perry. After the City of Vale falls I'm recommending you for a promotion."

"Thank you, sir," the young man beamed.

Ruby's eyes widened at the mention of Vale and her coughing ceased.

The man in the bowler hat noticed her reaction. "Oh silly me." He said, smacking his forehead.

Torchwick stooped down again blowing smoke in her face.

*cough, cough*

"Tell me, Red, have you ever heard of the massacre in the Patchwork mountains?" He grinned as he saw her defiant eyes widen. "Now imagine that just with a lot more dead bodies."

"No," she whispered, shaking her head.

"Afraid so, kiddo," he said feigning sympathy. "It's gonna look like the lost city when we're through, and it's all thanks to you."

She looked confused and he seemed all too eager to enlighten her.

"We weren't supposed to move out for at least another month, but thanks to you I don't have a choice to get this glorified zoo on the road." He smiled as he looked from faunus to faunus. "Good riddance."

Ruby shook her head refusing to believe she was playing a part in a plan so horrible, but he continued talking and blowing smoke in her face.

"You have no idea how great it'll be to get some fresh air again. Since I'm not a faunus, I can't exactly go to the surface."

When she didn't understand he laughed. "There's a reason why the faunus have been able to survive and thrive outside the kingdoms. In case you couldn't tell they're not exactly human."

She gritted her teeth.

"Most Grimm think they're nothing more than animals..." He leaned over and whispered in her ear. "And they're right."

Ruby tried to headbutt him but he retreated too quickly and began chuckling to himself. "The Grimm in the city don't even notice us, and if they do Neo takes care of them." Torchwick brought a finger to his lip as if in deep thought. "You know, I didn't think Grimm could actually feel fear or pain, but I believe Neo may have changed my mind. Also, I'd keep an eye on that cat of yours. Who knows what horrible secrets she could be keeping..."

Ruby remained silent. She knew Blake had her secrets and had her reasons for keeping the team in the dark. She also didn't trust Torchwick for a second. She didn't care if the faunus did have animal like features, they were just as human as she was.

"Okay, Red, time for business," he said, suddenly losing his once jovial attitude. "Tell me who all is in the city with you and I promise I won't kill you." He winked. "For now."

When she kept quiet he sighed. "I'm sure your little friends are here of course. White, Yellow, and your pet cat of course, but I really need to know if there are any real huntsmen with you. They could be a problem for us."

She tried to spit in his face again but Torchwick put his cane under her chin and his finger on the trigger.

"I wouldn't do that," he advised his face growing dark, "but I really wished you would."

Ruby bore holes into him and thought of several names to call him but bit her tongue.

"Good girl." He patted her head and removed the cane. "I'd hate to get your blood all over my shoes. Perry!?"

"Yes, sir?" The man saluted.

"Go find Neo and see if she's busy. Tell her that I have a friend who isn't cooperating."

Perry hesitated but nodded and slowly turned to leave but Torchwick held up a finger and grimaced.

"If she's busy though I wouldn't bother her if I were you. We still haven't found the last Perry's head."

The masked man wearing glasses was visibly shaking as he left, and kept rubbing his throat as if it was stinging.

Torchwick tipped his hat clasped before his hands together. "Well, Red, it's been a pleasure but I must be going." He stood up and dropped his cigar on her cape. Her eyes went wide as he stomped it out leaving brown stains and burn marks. "Tell Neo I said hi. When you're not screaming that is. You see, unlike me she doesn't mind blood on her shoes..."

Ruby stared down at the beloved cape not believing what he'd just done.

'Mom...'

"Throw her in the first train car," he ordered. "I want Red to be there when the first fireworks go off..."

Yang stopped at a fork in the tunnel and cursed. There were three choices, and only one would take her to Ruby.

Oobleck and her teammates came to a halt behind her and furrowed their brows at the new branch of tunnels.

"Blake," she urged. "Can you smell them or something?"

"I'm a faunus, Yang, not a bloodhound," she snapped in frustration.

Not knowing where they were going, Blake felt as blind as her teammates. Her hearing had returned but strange sounds echoed throughout the tunnels and sometimes from multiple directions, making it impossible for her to get her bearings. She didn't even know what direction they were heading. The cave system was like a labyrinth.

Yang growled and her mane caught fire illuminating the darkness more than their flashlights.

"Should we split up?" Weiss asked.

"That may be the best course of action," Oobleck agreed. "We'll split up into three groups. Miss Xiao Long and miss Belladonna, you'll go down the left tunnel, miss Schnee down the middle, and I'll take the-"

"RRRRAAAAA!" Yang roared as she charged straight down the middle tunnel.

"Wait!" her partner cried. "How do you know that's the right way?"

"I just do!" she called back.

The three followed unsure where they were going, but trusted elder sister's instincts to find her precious baby sister.

'Please be okay', they all prayed.

"We're coming Ruby!" Yang shouted.

"It's your lucky day kid," said the masked man with the glasses as he returned.

The White Fang member Ruby had kicked in the face earlier threw her in the train car making a loud thud. With her arms and legs tied up she had no way to break her fall, and she groaned as the side of her head hit the metal floor.

He seemed to enjoy the payback. "Is Crazy on her way?" he asked.

Perry nodded but looked over his shoulder to make sure they were alone. "I knocked on her door but of course she didn't answer, so I walked in and caught her throwing flaming knives at some woman's picture on a dart board. I took the hint and left."

"Smart man."

Perry poked his head in the train car. For some reason he kept looking to the girl's left and frowning. She squinted but could barely make out a dark shape in the corner.

"We'll be checking back in a little while so don't go anywhere." He turned to the others. "We need more fireworks."

The other men chuckled and closed the door leaving Ruby in complete darkness. Finally she was alone with her thoughts. She didn't have to pretend she was brave anymore. She could peel the mask of bravery off, and so she wept.

'This is a fine mess you've gotten yourself into, dolt. How are you going to get out of this one?'

"Shut up, Weiss," Ruby sniffled, blinking away the tears.

What she wouldn't give to hear her partner's voice again, or Blake's ability to perfectly summarize a situation with as few words as possible or none at all. Most of all though she missed her sister. Yang would be worried sick about her and search endlessly for her, but would she find her?

Ruby didn't want to think about it. Her friends had no idea where she was or even that the White Fang were in the city, and she wasn't even sure where in the city's underground they were. She had been asleep for so long and had to face the facts. They weren't coming to her rescue.

She lay on the cold metal drifting near unconsciousness. Her body felt broken and everything hurt. She couldn't even feel her hands anymore the binds were so tight digging into her skin.

Starting with her throbbing head, Ruby began taking note of all her aches and pains. It almost became a game as she kept finding new ones.

One residing fact kept playing in her mind however. She wasn't dead and she was the only one who knew about Torchwick's plan. She had to find a way to the surface or else the entire City of Vale was in trouble. She had to find her friends...

She struggled with the binds around her arms and legs but they wouldn't budge, and once again she was reminded that her sister could have ripped the cables without even trying. Weiss would probably do something clever with her glyphs, and being as flexible as she was Ruby thought Blake might've been able to escape like a magician.

After thinking of all the ways her sister and friends might get themselves out of this situation Ruby chided herself for wasting time and briefly getting distracted thinking about magic tricks. The training with her uncle was coming back to her but in hazy memories. Probably due to being kicked in the head and it breaking her fall.

She rolled over to her stomach and kicked her legs up. The binds were keeping her feet together but they weren't quite as tight as the ones around her hands. The position hurt and strained at her muscles but she just grimaced and felt around for the buckles of her boots. With her hands half-asleep her fingers were slow and confused at first, but practice had given her muscle memory. Once she felt the pressure around her ankles lessen she rolled over to her back and kicked her legs up in the air again, and inch by inch her boots began slipping off.

*clomp*

"Thank you, Uncle Qrow," she muttered in respect to her favorite teacher.

Ruby couldn't help but sigh at the relief she felt of her shoes coming off. It was always the first thing she did when she got back to the dorm.

She rubbed her feet together and the padded socks felt damp. 'Blood,' she thought unsurprised. 'I'm running out of time...'

They had been itching since she had left the hospital, and after the Beowolf fight she knew it was only a matter of time until her injuries reopened again.

She rolled over and grabbed the leg bindings around her shoes to get a better idea of what she was dealing with. She carried a pocket knife in her belt but doubted it would have done much good. It seemed the White Fang had confiscated her ammo belt regardless.

Without sniper-scythe, her ammo belt, and her pocket knife Ruby felt naked. She even went to bed with her knife or at least some kind of weapon, and if it hadn't been for Weiss' fear of being decapitated she'd still sleep with Crescent Rose.

With a deep breath and a firm grasp around the binding, she focused just a tiny amount of aura as a test. The restraints gave no response and Ruby nearly cried out as her body protested. She sat catching her breath while sweat poured from her face. She was entering dangerous territory with her aura. When Weiss and Blake ran out of aura their semblances simply stopped working, but not so with she and her sister. Their semblances were physical and they could keep pushing themselves at the cost of their bodies, and she could feel her's beginning to break.

Every time Ruby used her speed semblance she was straining her body but her aura would keep her from injuring herself. Without that aura her muscles would begin tearing and her bones breaking.

She let out a long sigh. Untying her arms would have to wait. She counted herself lucky that the White Fang didn't know how to tie legs together.

However she couldn't help feeling in the dark for the place where Torchwick had snuffed his cigar out on her cape, and she bit her quivering lip when she found it. Her beloved cape had been through much worse than that over the years. There had been chocolate, rips, holes, and even bloodstains, but seeing someone use it as an ashtray broke her heart.

Ruby tried not dwell on it no matter how much it pained her. She had to get to the surface, and she knew it would take all the aura to do so. That meant neglecting her injuries and stockpiling whatever she could.

And so she waited and listened. For how long she wasn't sure. A paladin stomped near her train car and she could hear orders being given by a man with a deep voice. It sounded as though he had an Atlesian accent but she couldn't tell. He kept saying something about putting delicate cargo onto each train car. She thought she heard the name Adam shouted, but once again everything was too muffled to tell and she didn't have Blake's cat-like hearing.

Sitting in the darkness she waited, but a slight glow and its source confused her until she realized it coming from her silver eyes.

'What?' She asked herself, not having intentionally activated her semblance or even her aura.

The room was brightening for her and she could even make out a strange machine in the corner. When she heard Torchwick's voice again however she couldn't help but have her heart skip a beat.

She could've sworn she'd heard him say something about Red's fireworks...

Ruby steadied her breath and swallowed. Her aura had barely changed but it would have to do.

Minutes later she heard the door unlatch, and in a moment of panic threw herself atop her boots and bindings before tucking in her legs. If they saw she was free there wouldn't even be a chance at escaping. She had to take them by surprise.

The heavy door slid open and Perry walked in lazily, carrying a small box with the Schnee Dust Company logo and set it down next to the box in the corner.

He stooped down next to the caped-girl and smiled. "I hope you like fireworks, kid. You're gonna get up close and personal with them."

"We'll see about that." Ruby roared as she kicked him as hard as possible in the kneecap causing him to collapse. She then jumped to her feet before kicking him again, hard in the chest knocking the wind out of him.

She stumbled out of the train car feeling dizzy and landed on her face. Thankfully the White Fang and Torchwick were all too surprised to do anything but stare back in shock.

It seemed they were all stuck in time staring back at each other.

"Kill her!" Torchwick shouted.

He raised his cane and put Ruby in his sights. She flared her semblance dodging the fireball by inches, feeling the heat on the back of her neck.

The White Fang recovered from their shock and several opened fire. She darted towards the closest tunnel but in seconds several men blocked the entrance holding rifles.

She turned to the right but Paladins covered the southern entrance while the White Fang covered all the other exits.

At the very end of the cavern however was a small, unguarded tunnel. It was the furthest way and a small army stood between her and freedom, and naturally Ruby Rose charged.

Bullets flew past her in all directions and another fireball barely missed her. With another flare of her semblance she was weaving between bodies moving too fast for hands to catch her. All they got were fist fulls of rose petals.

She used the White Fang and a tower of crates for cover confident the others would stop firing, and finally she was out of the crowd and nothing was between her and freedom.

*TTTSSUUU!*

Ruby tripped over her cape as she heard the whistling of the fireball, and could merely curl herself into a ball as it passed overhead.

"AAAAHHHHHH!" she screamed as she and several of the masked men were engulfed in flames.

Torchwick reloaded his cane smiling to himself. "Maybe running in front of the dust supply was a bad idea, Red?" He chuckled. "It can be a real killer."

The White Fang scattered as the flames spread around the cavern. Torchwick however lit a cigar in celebration with the flames, laughing maniacally at the caped-girl's apparent death while the faunus stared back at him in shock. He had just killed his own men at the cost of a little girl.

*cough*, *cough*

"Huh?" Torchwick narrowed his eyes at the flames as a small figure crawled out.

Ruby emerged from the flames on her knees and her hood over her face. Smoke rose from her singed clothes while her skin had turned a bright pink, and her face was covered with soot with blood trickling down her brow.

She got to her feet stomping out the flames on her cape while coughing and gagging.

"What?!" Torchwick cried as he nearly bent his cane in half.

Ruby looked up and the man in the bowler hat sneered seeing the look of defiance in her glowing silver eyes.

"KILL HER!" he screamed.

She activated her semblance again and ran straight for the furthest tunnel not caring where it led as her body protested and tears welled up in her eyes.

'Keep going!' she said to herself. 'Keep going!'

'Run!' her friends said to her. 'Run!'

A bullet nearly grazed her cheek but she paid it little mind. All she cared about was the tunnel and being so close to freedom.

Ruby heard the whistling of another fireball and closed her eyes as she dove. The fireball hit right above her head and the explosion sent her sailing. The ceiling began to collapse and she hastily crawled to safety as a large boulder landed where her head had just been.

'Keep going, dolt!'

She was being pelted by rocks and covered her face as she continued on. Finally when she could no longer hear the sounds of a rock slide, Ruby looked up and saw the tunnel behind her had been completely buried by the cave it.

She had made it, and she was alive.

Ruby began to dry-heave, taste dirt, smoke, and red dust in her mouth. Her only saving grace had been her tripping on her cape...

When her episode was over she glanced down and saw why she had fallen. Her black socks were red with blood. She wasn't sure if she should laugh or sob. She was free and Torchwick had made her escape that much easier. All the pain her body was feeling was absolutely worth it.

Then reality hit her again as she remembered the his plan.

She grimaced as she got back to her feet, hugging the wall for support. The White Fang had set up small lanterns in the tunnel likely for Torchwick and the few faunus who couldn't see in the dark. She budded up against the wall and began to follow it.

'I have to find the others. I have to save Vale...'

She began to run gritting her teeth as she did.

"I don't think this was the right way!" Weiss cried as the team followed the fiery blonde down the tunnel. Somehow the slowest member of the team was out-speeding everyone.

"Yang, let's turn back!" Blake cried.

"You said that rock slide came from this direction!" she shouted back.

"That was a long time ago, and probably just an echo."

Yang didn't bother arguing. This was the right way, she could feel it.

"Ruby!"

"Wait, Yang!" her partner said, coming to a sudden halt. "Someone's coming!"

Yang kept moving not even slowing down as the others prepared their weapons.

'I have to find Ruby!' her mind screamed. 'I have to find-'

"Oomph!" Yang cried out as she collided with a red object and fell to the ground grabbing her head. "What the-"

"Sorry, sis…" a small voice rasped.

Yang's eyes opened and everyone gasped at the figure lying on the dirt.

"RUBY!" they all shouted.

The caped-girl let out a meek cough. "Hey, guys. Miss me?"

Yang jumped atop her and embraced her immediately. "Don't you ever do that to me again!" Yang sobbed. "Don't you ever leave me like that again!"

Ruby joined her sister's sobs. "I'm sorry, sis. I didn't mean to worry you."

"When we get back to Beacon we're having you chipped like Zwei!"

"Hey, I always come back don't I?" Ruby felt as though she were being squeezed in two but didn't seem to mind.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief seeing them back together. Yang's aura literally filled their field of vision with sunshine and they couldn't help but feel warm in the damp tunnel.

Weiss pulled out tissues and handed a couple to Blake who graciously accepted.

Ruby rested her head on her sister's shoulder feeling exhausted. "Would you mind untying my arms now? I'd really like to hug you back."

Yang finally realized her sister wasn't hugging her back and that her hands had been tied with some sort of cable used on bullhead lines.

She looked at her sister's face and couldn't believe the mess. Beneath the sweat, blood, and ash was her teary silver eyes.

"What happened to you, sis? And why'd you run off again?"

"That's not important right now," Ruby said suddenly serious. "I found Torchwick and the White Fang. They're going to attack the City of Vale."

"What? How?" Oobleck demanded.

"They have a train and a subway rail running all the way to the city."

"But that's impossible. Where did they get the train?"

Blake's body froze and she dropped the tissue. "They stole one," she whispered.

Ruby nodded while Oobleck shook his head. "But the subway running between the two cities was sealed off half a century ago. The White Fang don't have that kind of man power."

"Paladins," she answered simply, their eyes widening and everyone taking a sizable gulp.

The professor ruffled his hair. "Then we have no time to lose. Cut miss Rose's binds and see to her needs. We have no time to lose children."

Yang helped her sister to her knees and Blake bent down to free her hands with a gentle slice with her katana.

"Thanks." Ruby grimaced as she rubbed where the cable had bit her skin, trying to get the feeling in them back.

Ruby stood up after a moment and grabbed her sister for a proper embrace. "You have no idea how happy I am to see you, sis."

Blake glanced at the blonde who was practically beaming. "I think I have a pretty good idea."

Ruby let go of her sister and grabbed the faunus who went wide-eyed. "Blake!"

"Hey, Ruby," she choked. "Missed you too."

She released her from the bear hug and saw Weiss standing there with a bottle of water as though it were a peace offering.

"It's good to see you again," she said evenly. "We were quite worried about you, and would greatly appreciate it if you never did it again."

Blake couldn't help but chuckle remembering the mess the heiress had been unable to find her partner and thinking the worst.

"Good to see you too, Weiss." Ruby smiled, unable to hide how happy she was.

"Here." Weiss handed her the bottle which she eagerly accepted and gulped down.

"Thanks," she gasped, water dripping from her chin. She took another sip and began to choke.

Yang handed Ruby her red pack and when her coughing fit ended she rummaged for an extra pair of shoes.

Because her semblance put a lot of strain on her feet it wasn't unusual for her shoes to have holes in them after only a couple of weeks, so she's brought an extra pair on the mission. She peeled her socks off in favor of a fresh pair when her partner gasped.

"Ruby! Your feet are bleeding everywhere!"

"Yeah I know." She tied a shoe on. "They've been doing that for awhile now..."

The girls gave each other a knowing glance.

"Let me at least bandage them."

"It wouldn't do any good and we don't have time." She looked up at her worried teammates. "I'll be fine. My socks and boots have extra padding."

Weiss narrowed her eyes and glanced at the top of her head.

"And you've got a bit knot on your head." She reached out to touch it but Ruby swatted her hand away.

"We've got bigger things to worry about right now."

Ruby clipped an extra ammo belt around her waist since the White Fang had taken hers, and as she was retrieving an explosive ammo clip something caught her eye. A white bottle...

The painkillers the doctors had given her at the hospital. She had thrown them in her bag without even thinking.

Medicine sometimes had funny effects on the caped-girl. How long would these last? Twenty minutes? Thirty minutes? It would dull the pain her entire body was feeling, but it wouldn't completely get rid of the pain. Only mask it.

They would have to do.

She palmed two and made a motion like she was wiping her mouth before swallowing several mouthfuls of water. It hadn't been too long ago that Yang had to crush or cut her pills for her.

Weiss suddenly got in her face and Ruby froze. Her hand shook slightly afraid she'd been caught.

"Your face is filthy," was all she said, causing her to furrow her brow.

She pulled up her sleeve and wiped her partner's face shocking them all.

When she was satisfied Weiss pulled her arm back and sighed. "I suppose that will have to do for now."

Ruby grinned seeing the layers of black grime on her sleeve. "Thanks..."

"Humph." Weiss rolled her eyes. "You're going to be needing this by the way." She opened her own pack revealing an old friend.

"Crescent!" Ruby cried as Weiss lifted her baby careful not to press a button and accidentally behead herself. With her weapon cradled in her arms the caped-girl hummed softly.

"She was damaged in the fight," Yang said, pointing at the damage.

Ruby looked down and saw the paint stained black, and with a shaky hand unleashed the weapon so that all six feet filled tunnel. The blade had been chipped in several places and it looked as though a large hand had grabbed it, but that only caused her to hug it even closer.

"It's fine," she choked, wiping her face. "I'll repaint her and sharpen the blade when we get back to Beacon."

"What could do that to Crescent Rose?" Blake asked, scared she already knew the answer.

Ruby put her weapon back in carrying mode but still cradled it to her chest.

"A Mimic," she whispered.

"Say again, sis?"

"A Mimic. It lured me away." She swallowed. "I'm sorry guys, I_I wasn't thinking."

The team was too shocked for words and barely able to breath, and Oobleck took a nervous sip from his thermos.

"It pretended to be a little girl, and I followed it..."

"You saw a real Mimic?" He asked in astonishment. "What did it look like?" Ruby shuddered not wishing to talk about it and the team sensed it.

Yang looked down at her cape and noticed a similar black stain as on her weapon, and a lump formed in her stomach. It had nearly taken her baby sister.

Her eyes narrowed however as she noticed something else on her cape. Something familiar.

"Ruby, Is that tobacco?"

She looked down and nodded.

"Torchwick," Blake muttered in disgust.

Yang's eyes turned red and she gritted her teeth. No one messed with Ruby's cape. No one...

Weiss stooped down to get a better look. There was a small tear at the bottom and it looked like it had been singed by a fire.

She placed her hands on where the Grimm had grabbed hold and immediately the stain began to fade as aura pumped through the cape.

"Weiss, no!" Ruby said, trying to pull away but Weiss not letting go.

She could feel her partner's aura and it was cold, causing her to shudder, but only when the evil was was fully gone did Weiss stand back up on unsteady legs.

"There," she said slightly out of breath. "We'll have to wait until later to clean the rest but-"

"You shouldn't have done that," Ruby interrupted, her partner merely shrugging.

She hadn't used much of her aura but she was sure Ruby would be able to absorb at least a little despite not being a match, and seeing Ruby's cape as it was had made her sick.

Blake was grateful as well as the smell was horrendous.

"Everyone ready?" Oobleck questioned, slightly impatient. The team nodded while Yang simply cracked her knuckles. "Then drop your packs and ready your weapons.

They did as they were told and clipped extra ammo and dust to their belts.

"Time to save Vale!" Ruby announced as she ran for the darkness with Yang a step behind her. She wouldn't be leaving her Ruby again.

The rest followed ready for the war that was about to be unleashed. This was more than just a mission or about redemption. Their home was endanger and so were all the people who would never learn their names. This was their duty as huntresses.

The memory of Patchwork was in Ruby's mind and she imagined all the chaos Torchwick and the White Fang would bring to the City of Vale. She wouldn't hide under a cloak again. This time she'd do something to stop the massacre.

"Let's catch that train!"

(A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed. This was a very long chapter, sorry (your welcome?). Ruby got herself into this mess so I wanted her to be the one to get herself out of it no matter the cost. I also wanted everyone getting back together this chapter so I hope that flowed well. Chapters are going to be fairly long from here on out so be warned. I'll do my best to get them out in a timely manner but please bare with me. There were a lot of fun parts to this chapter so I hoped you enjoyed. Once again thank you for reading and all of the support you all have given me. All credit goes to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who has made this story possible. God bless)