"Ow! Stop, please let go!"

The pitiful cries were like a call to action for stalwart heroes such as Ruby Rose. In a flash of rose petals, she soared across the cafeteria, zoning in on the damsel in distress, and riding to the rescue!

Her valiant charge came to a screeching halt in front of a small Fox Faunus that she'd seen around but never really gotten to learn her name… And none other than the resident bully and all-around big meanie.

Cardin Winchester.

Whelp, this isn't going to go the way I'd hoped, the petite brunette decided glumly.

Still, the pitiful-looking Faunus didn't deserve to have her tail pulled on… And Ruby was, after all, in training to be a huntress, protector of the people and paragon of virtue…

"Hey!" she shouted. Oh, thanks for giving me the heads-up there, brain, I guess we're going through with this after all?

Well, we are here and everything, her brain replied dryly.

Cardin turned around, taking a moment before directing his gaze downwards.

"What do you want, pipsqueak?" he demanded, not relinquishing his grip on the Faunus' tail.

"I want you to let her go!" Ruby demanded. Good, very nice and forceful. Keep it up.

"...You big meanie," she finished weakly.

Was it possible to facepalm internally?

Cardin let out a laugh, loud and rather mean-spirited, but he did, in fact, let go of the Faunus. She shot Ruby a grateful smile before scurrying off to find her team.

"Oh, really?" the large boy asked, looming over her menacingly. "And just what is a little freak like you gonna do about it?"

"Hooo boy," she sighed.

He looked at her in confusion. "What?"

"Yeah, you shouldn't have said that."

"Said what?" he snickered. "Freak?"

"Yep," Ruby replied, popping the end of the word. "That."

He opened his mouth to reply, but then his gaze shot up and over her shoulders. She felt the familiar presence of a pair of girls behind her, both of whom were likely doing their own version of looming thunderously.

"What…" Blake began, her voice low and deadly.

"...Did you call her?" Pyrrha finished, her own voice dripping with the promise of violence.

"A- A- A freak!" Cardin stammered, somewhat wide-eyed but still defiant. "That's what she is, a little freak!"

Sometimes, of course, the hero is in a position to call upon the assistance of other stalwart friends, noble crusaders of justice and champions of the weak.

As an added bonus, they were really super cute, too.

"Girls," Ruby said with an anticipatory grin. "Sic 'im."

Cardin let out a very unmanly yelp as he attempted to flee. Attempted, being the operative word.

"Nice use of semblance, Pyrrha," the brunette murmured appreciatively. "Trays make for nasty weapons… Ouch, and there goes Blake with the stranglehold, I think there's some pent-up aggression there…"

She clapped lightly as the trio went clattering to the ground where Pyrrha had him firmly pinned. The redhead glanced up with a smirk, allowing the Faunus the chance to do the honors.

"Ohhh, wow," Ruby winced. "That has got to be the most painful-looking wedgie I've ever seen…"

A/N: Yes, before anyone says it, wreaking vengeance on Cardin is a most un-Pyrrha like thing to do. My advice is to just roll with it, because it's funny as hell. Well, to me anyways. At least she didn't break his legs…

So just a quick little update before the weekend. I'll post another one tomorrow sometime, and then one more on Sunday, before we resume our regular twice-daily posts. And actually, I am super excited for the next three chapters. Like, bouncing in my seat excited, because I've been dying to write them and share them and I can't freaking wait! Wheeheehee…. Much love and many thanks for all the follows and reviews and, heck, for even reading this little slice of crack shipping! Over 8000 hits and counting, you guys seriously rock!

THB4: Glad you liked the chapter, hopefully this one tickles your fancy as well!

Stay shiny!