Chapter XIX: Mountain Glenn, Promises, & the Breach? Part 1
Night Watch Concerns
Back at Beacon Academy, General James Ironwood stood looking out from the landing docks to the city of Vale at night, a few airships hovering over the lit-up buildings. Walking up from behind him was Glynda Goodwitch.
"Trouble sleeping?" Glynda asked, noting his tense posture.
Ironwood looked back, gripping his shoulder with his other hand. "Arm was acting up."
"Of course," Glynda replied with dry humor, "so logically, you got out of bed, dressed yourself completely and decided to gaze menacingly out into the distance." She approached all the way to his side, then looked at him with concern. "What's wrong?"
"I've trusted him for years. We both have. I just... I can't help but feel like he's keeping us in the dark," Ironwood admitted.
"Don't be ridiculous! You know very well that we are not the ones in the dark," Glynda countered.
Ironwood laughed humorlessly. "That makes it worse! I refuse to believe that a man that I've trusted for so long would act so... passively."
Glynda put a reassuring hand on her friend's shoulder. "You're a good person, James. You've always done what you think is best for the people, even against strong protest. It's admirable. But it's high time you stopped talking about trust and started showing it." She dropped her hand as they stared into the distance together. "Ozpin has experience that the rest of us lack. And I think that's something worth remembering."
The Underground Discovery
The full moon was shining over the ruined buildings of Mountain Glenn, and a lone Beowolf was searching through the rubble. It looked up briefly at the young girl who had it in her red crosshair scope, but Ruby Rose just lowered Crescent Rose and sighed in tiredness as she kept lookout over the destruction.
Around the makeshift camp, both teams had settled into defensive positions for the night. Team RWBY had their sleeping mats arranged around a small fire, while Team OHFZ had positioned themselves at strategic points to maintain perimeter security. Additionally, two other teams had arrived as backup—Team KABFL and Team SSGS—creating a formidable force of experienced Huntsmen and Huntresses.
Dr. Bartholomew Oobleck was higher up, slumped down against the wall next to a hole in the ceiling, maintaining his own watch. The expanded group meant better security coverage, but also more complexity in coordinating their operations.
Khanna Branwen, operating under her formal name Seraphina in mixed company, had taken position on the eastern approach with her team. As Odyn and Roy's cousin, she brought both elven heritage and Branwen instincts to the operation. Beside her, Aiko Reinhardt's half-Saiyan, half-wolf Faunus senses provided additional early warning capabilities, her crimson hair and matching eyes scanning the darkness with predatory alertness.
Baron Caldern, Hailfire's younger brother, worked with his teammate Flare Kitsune to secure the southern perimeter. The fox Faunus's Majin abilities provided unique defensive options, while her adopted sister Lazuli's Android 21-based capabilities offered both tactical analysis and combat potential that exceeded normal Huntress standards.
Team SSGS held the western approach, with Sarai Albanahr's deep lavender and blue hair catching the moonlight as she coordinated with the Zenkai brothers. Shallot and Giblet's Saiyan abilities complemented Scarlett Reinhardt's own formidable combat skills, creating a defensive line that could handle significant threats.
Despite the impressive array of talent surrounding the camp, the three members of Team RWBY in the main shelter had their eyes closed, though Yang Xiao Long was the first to stop pretending to sleep.
"Blake, are you awake?" Yang whispered.
"Yeah," Blake replied quietly.
"Why do you think he asked us about being a Huntress? Like, what was he trying to say?"
"Maybe he was just curious," Blake suggested.
"You think?"
"No."
"Weiss, are you awake?"
"Of course I'm awake! You two are talking," Weiss replied with mild exasperation. "And I think he... When I said I wanted to honor my family's name, I meant it. But, it's not what you think. I'm not stupid. I'm fully aware of what my father has done with the Schnee Dust Company. Since he took control, our business has operated in a... moral gray area."
"That's putting it lightly," Blake observed.
"Which is why I feel the need to make things right. If I had taken a job in Atlas, it wouldn't have changed anything. My father was not the start of our name, and I refuse to let him be the end of it."
Blake's voice grew thoughtful. "All my life, I fought for what I thought was right. I had a partner named Adam. More of a mentor, actually. He always assured me that what we were doing would make the world a better place. But of course, his idea of a perfect future turned out to be not perfect for everyone. I joined the Academy because I knew that Huntsmen and Huntresses were regarded as the most noble warriors in the world. Always fighting for good. But I never really thought past that. When I leave the Academy, what will I—how can I undo so many years of hate?"
"I'm sure you'd figure it out. You're not one to back down from a challenge, Blake," Yang assured her.
"But I am! I do it all the time! When you learned I was a Faunus, I didn't know what to do, so I ran! When I realized my oldest partner had become a monster, I ran! Even my Semblance! I was born with the ability to leave behind a shadow of myself; an empty copy that takes the hit while I run away!"
Yang sighed. "At least you two have something that drives you. I've just kinda of always, gone with the flow, y'know? And that's fine, I mean, that's who I am. But how long can I really do that for? I wanna be a Huntress, not really because I want to be a hero, but because I want the adventure. I want a life where I won't know what tomorrow will bring. And that'll be a good thing. Being a Huntress just happens to line up with that. I'm not like Ruby, she's always wanted to be a Huntress. It's like she said, ever since she was a kid, she'd dreamt about being the heroes in the books. Helping people and saving the day, and never asking for anything else in return. Even when she couldn't fight, she knew that's what she wanted to do. That's why she trained so hard to get where she is today."
"Well, she's still just a kid," Weiss pointed out.
"She's only two years younger. We're all kids," Blake countered.
"Well, not anymore. I mean, look where we are! In the middle of a warzone and armed to the teeth!" Yang gestured around them.
"It's the life we chose," Blake said simply.
"It's a job. We all had this romanticized vision of being a Huntress in our heads! But at the end of the day, it's a job to protect the people! And whatever we want, will have to come second," Weiss concluded with finality.
The apparently-sleeping Oobleck had a small smile when she finished, while outside the shelter, the various team members on watch duty had heard enough of the conversation to understand the weight of responsibility these young people carried.
The Disappearance
Yang had taken up watch, allowing for Ruby and Zwei to sleep on the sleeping bag Yang had been lying on. Zwei suddenly woke and stood up, causing Ruby to wake up.
"Huh? Zwei, it's late. Go back to bed," Ruby mumbled. When Zwei ran off, she groaned, "Zwei! Zwei! Ugh!"
Ruby wandered out of the building, looking for Zwei. "Zwei! Zwei, where are you? Zwei! Huh?" She spotted Zwei urinating on some ruins. "Zwei, this is a wasteland! You literally could have done that anywhere!"
"Bark!" Zwei replied.
"What was that?" came a voice from nearby—a White Fang guard.
Having heard the guard, Ruby quickly hid behind some ruins.
"What was what?" replied a second guard.
"I thought I heard a Beowolf or something."
"Hmph. Let's just finish our patrol and get back to base. This place gives me the creeps."
As the White Fang guards walked away, Ruby and Zwei snuck around in the background, following them. They eventually reached a ruined building with a pair of metal doors, and Ruby hid behind a corner, holding Zwei out to watch them.
"Did they go in yet? One bark means yes," Ruby whispered.
The sound of the door closing echoed out.
"Bark!"
"Oh! This is it! This is it!" Ruby brought out a small scroll and tried to call her teammates. However, the screen displayed "Low Signal." "Aw man! Come on, we gotta get the others!"
Ruby and Zwei hurried off down the street. However, the asphalt beneath them suddenly sank before caving in. Ruby grabbed onto a ledge and caught Zwei. She tossed him up out of the hole and began to attempt to pull herself up. However, the ledge she was holding onto broke off, and she plummeted into a huge cave filled with ruined buildings, far below the surface.
She landed on a building up against a cavern wall, and as she got up, a nearby door burst open to reveal two other White Fang guards, one of whom was Perry.
"Freeze!"
"Where did she come from?"
As the guards walked forward, Ruby backed away only to end up on the very edge of the platform.
"You're a long way from home, little girl."
Ruby reached back for her scythe, only to realize that she doesn't have it. Both guards approached her, and one of them grabbed her arm.
"Hey! Hands off!"
Ruby jerked her arm out of the guard's hand and started punching him. It had very little effect, and he punched her in the face hard enough to knock her down.
"The boss is gonna want to see this one..."
The guard kicked her in the head hard enough to knock her out.
The Search Begins
"Hey Weiss, it's your..." Yang began, then paused in confusion. "Ruby? Hey, where's Ruby?"
"What?" Oobleck asked, immediately alert.
Zwei came running into the room, barking frantically.
"Zwei?" Yang said, growing concerned.
"What's going on?" Blake asked as the commotion woke her.
"Grab your weapons! Your leader may be in trouble," Oobleck commanded.
The alert quickly spread to all three teams positioned around the perimeter. Odyn immediately contacted his team through their communication network, while Khanna coordinated with her team KABFL. Sarai, as the sister of the elven princes, took charge of organizing Team SSGS's response.
Zwei led the combined group of Huntsmen and Huntresses to the hole that Ruby fell into, and Yang spotted Crescent Rose next to the opening.
"Ruby's scythe!" Yang exclaimed.
"Oh no," Blake breathed.
"Do you think she fell?" Weiss asked, though her expression showed she already feared the answer.
Oobleck looked up, then down at the hole. "Fell? Down there. Oh my. Of course! Of course, OF COURSE, OF COURSE!"
"What is it?" Blake asked urgently.
"How could I be so stupid?!" Oobleck berated himself.
"Dr. Oobleck, what's wrong?" Yang demanded.
"Mountain Glenn! Yes, an expansion of Vale that was inevitably destroyed by creatures of Grimm! Previously home to thousands of people! Working people commuting to the city, the main city! Developed a subway system to the inner city! Grimm attacks increased! Population in danger, now desperately searching for shelter! City evacuates into the metro tunnels and what do they find? The southeast quadrant of Vale is known for wild forests and deep caves!"
"Doc, what are you saying?" Yang pressed.
"My dear, we're not just looking for an underground crime network, we're looking for an UNDERGROUND crime network!" Oobleck explained with growing excitement.
"They've been working in caves?" Blake asked.
"No, no, Mountain Glenn was Vale's first serious attempt at expansion. It worked for a short period of time, thanks to an aggressive perimeter defense, and unique transportation; the city developed an elaborate subway system to carry citizens safely from the new territory into the main Kingdom! Sadly, without the many natural barriers Vale had to protect its borders, Mountain Glenn was doomed from the start! As the end drew near, the citizens of the territory made one last attempt at survival: They took up shelter beneath the city! In massive caves that they had cleared out for the subway. And they had cut themselves off from the surface!"
"An underground village?" Yang asked.
"In a matter of speaking, yes. A safe haven. Until... an explosion opened the mouth of another cavern, filled with subterranean Grimm. After that, the Kingdom officially sealed off the tunnels, creating the world's largest tomb."
Oobleck deployed Antiquity's Roast, his determination clear. "If Ruby is down there, we must find her."
Odyn stepped forward, his fiery orange eyes reflecting the moonlight. "We're not going in unprepared. With three full teams, we can mount a coordinated rescue operation."
"My team can provide aerial reconnaissance if there are multiple entry points," Sarai offered, her flame-colored eyes rimmed with silver showing the same determination as her brothers.
"Team KABFL can handle underground navigation," Khanna added, her Branwen instincts already calculating the tactical challenges ahead. "Between Aiko's enhanced senses and Flare's abilities, we can track Ruby's path."
Zero analyzed the situation with his characteristic precision. "The infrastructure down there will be compromised. We need to account for structural instability, potential Grimm presence, and hostile human forces."
"Then we go in smart, we go in together, and we bring Ruby home," Weiss declared, her voice carrying the authority of someone who would not be denied.
As the three teams prepared for what would be a complex underground rescue operation, the stakes had never been higher. Ruby was somewhere in the depths below, and they would stop at nothing to bring her back safely.
Ruby's Captivity
Ruby awoke to the sensation of being dragged by both arms through the underground city. All around her, White Fang members were at work, doing various things such as piloting a Paladin to carry large shipping containers. The scale of the operation was staggering—this wasn't just a hideout, it was a full military installation.
There was a loud sound nearby as one of the White Fang members dropped a large device.
"Hey, be careful! What are you trying to do, blow us to the moon?" shouted one guard.
"Sorry sir!" came the apologetic reply.
"Hey boss! Found something you might want to see!" Perry called out.
"Is it good or bad, Perry? Because let me tell ya, I have had a day," came a familiar voice from inside a railcar.
"Uh, it's a little girl?"
Roman Torchwick leaned out through the doorway and saw Ruby. "That would be bad."
Ruby's mind raced as she took in the situation. The underground facility was massive, with multiple levels connected by the old subway infrastructure. White Fang soldiers moved with military precision, and the equipment she could see suggested they were preparing for something major. The presence of Paladins and what looked like military-grade explosives painted a disturbing picture.
"Well, well, well," Roman said as he stepped out of the railcar, his cane twirling casually in his hand. "Red Riding Hood herself. You know, most people have the common sense to stay away from big bad wolves."
"What are you planning, Torchwick?" Ruby demanded, struggling against the guards holding her.
"Planning? Oh, little red, you have no idea what you've stumbled into," Roman replied with theatrical flair. "This isn't just about robbing a few dust shops anymore. This is about sending a message that will shake the very foundations of Vale."
Ruby's silver eyes narrowed. "The train system. You're going to use it to attack the city."
"Smart girl," Roman acknowledged with mock applause. "Though I have to say, your timing is impeccable. We were just about to begin our final preparations, and here you are, dropping in uninvited."
As Roman spoke, Ruby noticed something that made her blood run cold. In the shadows near one of the larger rail cars, she caught a glimpse of a figure in an elegant dress—the same red dress she'd seen during the CCT tower incident. The woman stepped partially into the light, revealing long dark hair and a face that was unmistakably Cinder Fall.
But that was impossible. Cinder had been dancing with Valvaderhn at the celebration while she and Roy fought the intruder. Unless...
"Surprised to see me, little rose?" the woman asked, her voice carrying the same cadence that had haunted Ruby's memory from that night.
Ruby's mind reeled. If this was Cinder, then who had been at the dance? Or was this someone else entirely—someone who looked exactly like Cinder Fall?
The Descent
Back on the surface, the three teams had organized themselves into a coordinated assault formation. Dr. Oobleck's knowledge of Mountain Glenn's history combined with the diverse abilities of the assembled Huntsmen created tactical options that wouldn't have been possible with a smaller force.
"The main access points are here, here, and here," Oobleck explained, pointing to locations on a hastily drawn map. "But given the age of these tunnels, we can't assume they're all stable or safe."
Odyn studied the layout with his tactical training. "We need multiple entry points to prevent them from escaping or using Ruby as leverage. But we also need to maintain communication between teams."
"The underground environment will interfere with normal communications," Zero observed, his analytical mind processing the challenges. "We'll need to rely on backup systems and predetermined rally points."
Sarai stepped forward, her flame-colored eyes reflecting her determination. "My team can take the northern access. Shallot and Giblet's abilities will be particularly useful in confined spaces, and Scarlett's combat experience will help us handle whatever resistance we encounter."
"Team KABFL will take the eastern approach," Khanna decided, her Branwen tactical instincts asserting themselves. "Aiko's enhanced senses will help us track Ruby's location, and the Kitsune sisters' abilities provide both offensive and support capabilities."
Hailfire nodded agreement. "Team OHFZ will coordinate the main assault through the central access point. Our combination of abilities should allow us to handle the heaviest resistance."
"That leaves us with the western approach," Yang said, her determination evident in every line of her body. "We're getting our leader back."
Weiss placed a reassuring hand on Yang's shoulder. "We'll find her. All of us, working together."
Blake's amber eyes showed the focus that came when she'd made a decision. "Let's move. The longer Ruby's down there, the more dangerous this becomes."
As the teams prepared to descend, each member checked their equipment one final time. The diversity of their abilities would be crucial—elven enhanced senses, Saiyan power, Faunus instincts, Majin abilities, and human determination all working in concert.
"Remember," Oobleck called out as they moved toward their respective entry points, "these tunnels have been sealed for years. We don't know what we'll find down there, but we know Ruby needs us. Stay alert, stay coordinated, and watch each other's backs."
Underground Warfare
The descent into the abandoned subway system was like entering another world. The tunnels stretched into darkness, filled with the detritus of a civilization that had tried and failed to establish itself beyond Vale's natural barriers. Emergency lighting cast eerie shadows on cracked walls, and the air carried the musty smell of abandonment mixed with something more recent—human activity and the acrid scent of dust and machinery.
Team SSGS moved through the northern tunnels with Sarai leading the way, her enhanced elven senses adapted to the underground environment. Behind her, the Zenkai brothers moved with Saiyan precision, while Scarlett's tactical awareness kept them alert to potential ambushes.
"Movement ahead," Sarai whispered, her pointed ears picking up sounds that the others couldn't detect. "Multiple contacts, armed and organized."
Shallot's Saiyan instincts were already responding to the presence of potential threats. "How many?"
"At least six, maybe more," Sarai replied, her silver-rimmed eyes gleaming in the dim light. "They're positioned defensively, like they're guarding something important."
Team KABFL was encountering similar resistance in the eastern tunnels. Aiko's wolf-Faunus senses were overwhelmed by the competing scents of human activity, machinery, and something else—something that made her Saiyan blood react with instinctive wariness.
"Baron, on your left," she growled, her enhanced hearing picking up the soft scrape of boots on concrete.
Baron Caldern moved with the same precision his sister Hailfire had taught him, while Flare and Lazuli positioned themselves to provide both defensive screens and offensive support. The Kitsune sisters' Majin abilities gave them options that most Huntsmen didn't possess, but the confined space of the tunnels limited some of their more destructive capabilities.
"They know we're here," Khanna observed, her Branwen instincts reading the tactical situation. "This isn't a surprise attack anymore—this is a running battle."
In the central tunnels, Team OHFZ encountered the heaviest resistance. White Fang soldiers had established defensive positions that took advantage of the tunnel system's natural choke points, forcing the team to advance carefully through areas where they could be easily ambushed.
"Hailfire, can you get us an alternate route?" Odyn asked, his tactical mind working through the problem.
"Working on it," she replied, using her vanguard training to assess the structural layout. "There's a maintenance passage about fifty meters ahead that should bypass their main defensive line."
Roy's enhanced elven hearing was picking up sounds from deeper in the tunnel system. "I'm hearing machinery—something big. And voices. A lot of them."
Zero's analytical capabilities were processing multiple data streams. "The acoustics suggest a large open space ahead. Possibly the main terminal area Oobleck described."
Team RWBY was making rapid progress through the western tunnels, driven by Yang's fierce determination to rescue her sister. Blake's stealth training allowed them to avoid some of the White Fang patrols, while Weiss's tactical use of her semblance created advantages in the confined space.
"There," Blake whispered, pointing toward a junction ahead. "I can hear voices. One of them sounds like Ruby."
Yang's eyes flashed red for a moment before she controlled herself. "How far?"
"Close," Blake confirmed. "But there are a lot of guards between us and her."
Dr. Oobleck, coordinating the overall assault, was monitoring the situation from his position near the central access point. "Teams, be advised—the tunnel system is more extensive than initially calculated. The White Fang has had time to establish significant defensive positions, and the evidence suggests they're preparing for a major operation."
The Underground City Revealed
As the teams converged on the central area, the true scope of what they were facing became apparent. The old Mountain Glenn subway terminal had been converted into a massive underground base, with multiple levels connected by both the original infrastructure and new construction. White Fang soldiers moved with military precision, and the presence of stolen Atlas military equipment suggested this was far more than a simple criminal operation.
Ruby, still held captive near the center of the complex, watched as Roman Torchwick directed the final preparations for whatever they were planning. The mysterious woman who looked like Cinder Fall remained in the shadows, her presence adding an element of uncertainty that Ruby found deeply troubling.
"You know," Roman said conversationally as he supervised the loading of what appeared to be a massive amount of explosives onto a train, "I have to admire your dedication. Breaking into a heavily fortified underground base just to interfere with other people's business. It takes a special kind of stupid."
"What are you really planning?" Ruby demanded. "This isn't just about the White Fang's goals, is it?"
Roman's expression grew more serious. "You're right about that, little red. This is about something much bigger than Faunus rights or dust robberies. This is about demonstrating that nowhere is safe, that the Kingdoms can't protect their people, and that the old order is coming to an end."
The woman in the red dress stepped closer, her eyes reflecting an intelligence and malice that made Ruby's skin crawl. "The breach of Vale's defenses will serve multiple purposes. Chaos has a way of revealing truth."
Above them, the sounds of combat were growing closer as the three rescue teams fought their way through the White Fang's defenses. Ruby could hear explosions, weapons fire, and the distinctive sounds of semblances being used in combat. Her friends were coming for her, but she couldn't shake the feeling that they were walking into something much larger and more dangerous than any of them had anticipated.
The question that haunted her was simple: if the woman standing before her was Cinder Fall, then who had been dancing with Valvaderhn at the celebration? And what did that mean for the safety of everyone she cared about?
The CCT Investigation - Train Chase Continuation
The Convergence
The three teams reached the main terminal area almost simultaneously, their coordinated assault having successfully breached the White Fang's outer defenses. The sight that greeted them was both impressive and terrifying—a fully operational military installation built within the bones of Mountain Glenn's abandoned subway system.
"Ruby!" Yang shouted as Team RWBY burst through the western entrance, her golden hair streaming behind her as she took in the massive underground complex.
Across the terminal, Team SSGS emerged from the northern tunnels with Sarai in the lead, her flame-colored eyes immediately assessing the tactical situation. The Zenkai brothers flanked her, their Saiyan instincts responding to the obvious threat level of the assembled White Fang forces.
From the eastern approach, Team KABFL appeared with Khanna coordinating their advance. Aiko's enhanced senses were already tracking multiple threat signatures, while the Caldern siblings and Kitsune sisters prepared for what was clearly going to be a significant engagement.
Team OHFZ completed the convergence from the central tunnels, with Odyn's tactical training immediately recognizing the defensive advantages the White Fang had established. The underground facility was a maze of platforms, rail lines, and multi-level structures that could easily become a killing ground if not approached carefully.
Dr. Oobleck appeared behind them, his usual rapid-fire energy replaced by focused intensity as he surveyed the scene. "Magnificent! And terrifying! The scope of this operation exceeds anything we anticipated!"
The Standoff
Ruby found herself at the center of what was rapidly becoming a tense standoff. Roman Torchwick had positioned himself near the main train, using her as a human shield while White Fang soldiers took defensive positions throughout the terminal. The mysterious woman in the red dress remained in the shadows, watching the proceedings with calculating eyes.
"Well, well," Roman called out, his cane pointed casually at Ruby's head. "It looks like the cavalry has arrived. Though I have to say, bringing three full teams seems a bit excessive for one little girl."
Yang's eyes flashed dangerously red. "Let her go, Torchwick!"
"Oh, I don't think so, Blondie," Roman replied with theatrical flair. "You see, Little Red here has seen far too much of our operation. Can't have her running back to Ozpin with all our secrets."
Odyn stepped forward, his diplomatic training allowing him to maintain composure even in the face of such provocation. "This doesn't have to escalate. Release Ruby, and we can discuss terms."
Roman laughed. "Terms? Oh, Your Highness, you really don't understand what's happening here, do you? This isn't a negotiation. This is a demonstration."
Behind him, the woman in the red dress moved slightly, and Ruby caught a glimpse of her face in the light. The resemblance to Cinder Fall was uncanny, but there were subtle differences—a sharper jawline, eyes that held a different kind of malice, and an aura of power that felt distinctly different from what Ruby remembered of Cinder.
"You're not Cinder Fall," Ruby said suddenly, her silver eyes narrowing as she studied the woman.
The woman smiled, a cold expression that didn't reach her eyes. "Perceptive. Though the resemblance is quite striking, isn't it? Let's just say that appearance can be... malleable, when one has the right abilities."
The Train Gambit
Roman checked an ornate pocket watch, his expression shifting to one of businesslike efficiency. "As much as I've enjoyed this little reunion, we have a schedule to keep. The good people of Vale are expecting a show, and we wouldn't want to disappoint them."
With a gesture from Roman, White Fang soldiers began moving toward the massive train that dominated the central platform. Ruby could see that it was loaded with enough explosives to level several city blocks, and the realization of what they were planning hit her like a physical blow.
"You're going to drive this into Vale," she said, horror evident in her voice. "The tunnel system connects directly to the city's underground infrastructure."
"Smart girl," Roman confirmed. "One train, strategically placed, and Vale's precious underground will become a crater. The surface will follow shortly after."
The woman in red stepped closer to the train. "Chaos has a way of revealing the weakness in seemingly strong foundations. Vale believes itself protected by its natural barriers and technological advantages. Tonight, we demonstrate how fragile that security really is."
Weiss's mind was already working through the tactical implications. "If that train reaches the main tunnel system, the explosion will compromise the structural integrity of half the city's underground infrastructure. The surface collapse could kill thousands."
Zero's analytical capabilities were processing multiple scenarios. "Given the amount of explosive material and the tunnel configuration, the blast could potentially trigger secondary collapses throughout the southeastern district."
Sarai's flame-colored eyes reflected her growing anger. "We can't let them reach the main tunnels."
Roman gestured grandly toward the assembled Huntsmen and Huntresses. "And that, my dear students, is exactly the choice I'm giving you. Try to stop us, and Little Red here takes a very unpleasant tumble onto the tracks. Let us go, and Vale gets a lesson in humility it won't soon forget."
The Escape
Yang took a step forward, her fists clenching as her Semblance began to activate. "I'm going to—"
"Tsk, tsk," Roman interrupted, pressing his cane more firmly against Ruby's temple. "I wouldn't recommend anything hasty, Blondie. The thing about being a master thief is that you learn to think several moves ahead."
As if responding to some predetermined signal, explosions erupted throughout the terminal. Not the massive detonations that would bring down the facility, but carefully placed charges designed to create chaos and confusion. Smoke filled the air, emergency lighting flickered, and the sound of collapsing debris made communication nearly impossible.
In the chaos, Roman and the mysterious woman moved with practiced efficiency. Ruby felt herself being dragged toward the train as White Fang soldiers provided covering fire. The assembled rescue teams were forced to take cover as debris rained down from the ceiling.
"Teams, maintain formation!" Oobleck shouted over the noise. "Don't let them separate us!"
But the damage was done. By the time the smoke began to clear, Roman, Ruby, and the mysterious woman were aboard the train, which was already beginning to move along the tracks toward the tunnel system that would take them directly into Vale's underground infrastructure.
"Ruby!" Yang screamed, breaking cover despite the ongoing chaos.
The train was picking up speed, its massive bulk moving with surprising acceleration along the restored tracks. Ruby could see her friends through the smoke and debris, their faces filled with determination and fear in equal measure.
The Chase Begins
"We can't let that train reach the city!" Odyn shouted, his tactical training immediately recognizing the catastrophic implications of their failure.
Sarai was already moving, her enhanced elven speed allowing her to reach the platform edge before the train had completely cleared the terminal. "The tunnel system has maintenance catwalks. If we can reach them before the train gets too far ahead..."
Khanna's Branwen instincts were calculating pursuit options. "The track configuration suggests multiple switch points before they reach the main tunnel. If we can reach those switches..."
"No time for complicated plans," Yang declared, her eyes blazing red as her Semblance reached full activation. "We follow that train and stop it, whatever it takes."
Blake was already deploying Gambol Shroud, using its ribbon form to swing toward the train. "Multiple approach vectors. Some of us follow the tracks, others use the maintenance systems."
The pursuit that followed was unlike anything any of them had experienced. The underground tunnel system became a three-dimensional battlefield as the various teams used their unique abilities to maintain pace with the speeding train.
Team RWBY led the direct pursuit, with Yang using her Semblance-enhanced strength to leap between maintenance platforms while Blake swung from support beam to support beam. Weiss used her glyphs to create temporary platforms and speed boosts, while Dr. Oobleck's enhanced speed allowed him to keep pace on foot.
Team OHFZ took a parallel route through service tunnels, with Odyn's tactical coordination allowing them to anticipate the train's path and position themselves for intercept attempts. Hailfire's vanguard training proved invaluable in navigating the complex underground maze, while Roy and Zero provided both navigation and tactical analysis.
Teams KABFL and SSGS split their efforts, with some members following the direct pursuit while others worked to reach the tunnel switches that might allow them to redirect or stop the train. Aiko's enhanced senses proved crucial in tracking the train's progress through the labyrinthine tunnel system, while the Saiyan abilities of the Zenkai brothers and Reinhardt sisters provided the raw power needed to keep up with the chase.
Aboard the Train
Inside the lead car, Ruby found herself face-to-face with Roman and the mysterious woman as the train hurtled through the underground tunnels toward Vale. The car was filled with White Fang soldiers and enough explosive material to level several city blocks.
"You know," Roman said conversationally as he checked his pocket watch again, "I have to admire your friends' dedication. Most people would have given up by now."
The woman in red was studying something on a scroll, her expression focused and calculating. "The pursuit is actually advantageous. When the train reaches its destination, the presence of Huntsmen will ensure maximum chaos and media coverage."
Ruby's mind was racing, trying to find some way to stop what was happening. "You're not just trying to destroy part of Vale. You want to discredit the Huntsmen, make people lose faith in their protectors."
"Very good," the woman acknowledged. "Chaos serves many purposes. Destruction is merely the most obvious."
Outside the train, Ruby could hear the sounds of her friends' pursuit—weapons fire, the distinctive crack of Yang's gauntlets, the whistle of Blake's weapon through the air. They were risking everything to stop this catastrophe, and the realization filled her with both pride and terror.
"They won't give up," she said with quiet conviction.
Roman's expression grew more serious. "I'm counting on it. The more spectacular their failure, the greater the impact on Vale's faith in its protectors."
The Running Battle
The chase through the tunnel system became a running battle as the rescue teams found ways to reach the moving train. Yang was the first to make contact, using a combination of her Semblance and a series of maintenance platforms to leap onto one of the rear cars.
"Ruby!" she shouted as she landed, immediately engaging the White Fang soldiers who moved to intercept her.
Blake followed moments later, using Gambol Shroud to swing from car to car with feline grace. Her stealth training allowed her to avoid some of the defensive fire while she worked her way toward the front of the train.
Odyn reached the train from above, having used the upper maintenance levels to position himself for a boarding attempt. His tactical training was immediately evident as he assessed the train's defenses and began coordinating the assault.
"Weiss, can you create a platform ahead of the train?" he called out over the noise of combat and rushing air.
"Working on it!" Weiss replied, her glyphs already forming in the tunnel ahead. The confined space made her usual large-scale attacks impractical, but she could still create barriers and platforms to slow the train's progress.
The Saiyan members of the rescue teams brought raw power that the White Fang's defenses weren't prepared to handle. Shallot and Giblet's abilities allowed them to keep pace with the train through sheer speed and strength, while Scarlett's tactical experience helped coordinate their efforts with the other teams.
Aiko's wolf-Faunus senses were crucial in tracking the train's path through the complex tunnel system, allowing the teams to anticipate turns and switches that could be used to their advantage. Her Saiyan heritage provided the physical capabilities needed to maintain the pursuit, while her tactical instincts helped identify weak points in the train's defenses.
The Final Gambit
As the train approached the final stretch of tunnel before entering Vale's main underground infrastructure, Roman made one last check of his preparations. The explosive charges were armed, the detonation sequence was programmed, and the train was at maximum speed.
"Two minutes to impact," he announced to the car. "Time to abandon ship."
The mysterious woman activated something on her scroll, and Ruby could see escape pods being deployed from the rear of the train. Roman and most of the White Fang soldiers would escape before the final explosion, leaving only the automated train to complete its destructive mission.
"You're just going to leave?" Ruby asked, though she wasn't entirely surprised.
"My dear Little Red," Roman said with mock sympathy, "I'm a thief, not a martyr. The train will do its job whether I'm aboard or not."
As the escape pods deployed, the pursuing Huntsmen found themselves facing a terrible choice: pursue the escaping villains or focus all their efforts on stopping the train before it could complete its mission.
Yang's voice cut through the chaos, filled with absolute determination: "Save Ruby! Stop the train! We don't leave anyone behind!"
The final phase of the chase had begun, and the fate of Vale hung in the balance.
The Impossible Choice
As the escape pods jettisoned from the rear of the train, carrying Roman Torchwick and the mysterious woman to safety, the assembled Huntsmen and Huntresses faced a decision that would haunt them regardless of the outcome. The train continued its relentless advance toward Vale's underground infrastructure, while Ruby remained trapped aboard the lead car.
"We can't catch them all!" Odyn shouted over the roar of the train and the ongoing combat. His tactical mind was processing the mathematics of the situation, and every calculation pointed to the same grim conclusion.
Yang's eyes blazed with desperate fury as she fought her way through White Fang soldiers toward the front of the train. "I'm not leaving her!"
"Yang, look!" Blake called out, pointing ahead through the tunnel. In the distance, the final barrier separating the abandoned Mountain Glenn system from Vale's active infrastructure was visible—a massive concrete and steel wall that had been built to permanently seal off the contaminated tunnels.
Khanna's Branwen tactical instincts were calculating time and distance. "At this speed, we have maybe ninety seconds before impact."
Dr. Oobleck, still keeping pace with the train through sheer determination and enhanced speed, made the decision that none of them wanted to face. "Teams! Priority Alpha—rescue Ruby Rose! All other objectives are secondary!"
Sarai's flame-colored eyes reflected the same anguish they all felt. "The city..."
"Will have to endure what we cannot prevent," Zero said with analytical honesty that cut through the emotional chaos. "But we save who we can save."
The Final Assault
Every member of the combined rescue force threw themselves into the desperate attempt to reach Ruby before the train completed its destructive mission. Yang abandoned all defensive considerations, her Semblance burning at maximum intensity as she tore through the White Fang defenders with single-minded fury.
Odyn and Roy coordinated their approach with princely precision, their enhanced elven abilities allowing them to navigate the swaying train cars while providing covering fire for their teammates. Hailfire used her vanguard training to identify structural weak points in the train that could provide access to the heavily defended front car.
The Saiyan members of the rescue teams brought overwhelming force to bear against the train's defenders. Shallot and Giblet moved with superhuman speed through the cars, while Aiko's combination of wolf-Faunus senses and Saiyan strength made her a devastating force in the confined space.
Scarlett Reinhardt's tactical experience proved crucial as she coordinated the multi-team assault, while the Kitsune sisters' Majin abilities provided both offensive strikes and defensive screens that protected their teammates from the White Fang's increasingly desperate resistance.
Blake reached the lead car first, her stealth training allowing her to slip past the remaining guards. She found Ruby bound but conscious in the front section of the car, surrounded by enough explosive material to level several city blocks.
"Blake!" Ruby's relief was evident even through her fear.
"We're getting you out of here," Blake replied, immediately working to free Ruby's restraints. But as she did, her sharp eyes caught sight of the detonation timer mounted near the explosives.
Thirty seconds to impact. Twenty-five. Twenty.
The Barrier Approaches
Through the front window of the train, the final barrier loomed larger with each passing moment. The massive concrete and steel wall had been built to withstand significant structural stress, but it was never designed to stop a fully-loaded train traveling at maximum speed.
Yang burst into the front car just as Blake finished freeing Ruby, her golden hair whipping in the wind that rushed through the broken windows. "Ruby!"
"Yang!" Ruby threw herself into her sister's arms, but the reunion was cut short by the reality of their situation.
"Fifteen seconds!" Blake shouted, reading the timer.
Weiss appeared in the doorway, her tactical mind already analyzing their options. "Everyone, brace for impact! I'm going to try to shield us!"
The other team members who had managed to reach the front section of the train—Odyn, Roy, Sarai, and several others—immediately understood what she was attempting. It was a desperate gambit, but it was their only chance of survival.
"Ten seconds!"
Weiss raised Myrtenaster, her Semblance activating with desperate intensity. Ice began forming around the front car, creating a protective shell that she hoped would be enough to preserve their lives when the inevitable collision occurred.
"Five! Four! Three!"
Ruby grabbed Yang's hand, while Blake pressed close to both of them. Around the car, the assembled Huntsmen and Huntresses braced themselves for an impact that would change everything.
"Two! One!"
The Crash
The collision was unlike anything any of them had experienced. The train hit the barrier wall at full speed, and for a moment, physics seemed suspended as thousands of tons of metal and stone met in violent opposition. The barrier held for perhaps half a second before the train's momentum overcame the structural integrity of the decades-old concrete and steel.
Weiss's ice shield absorbed much of the initial impact, but the forces involved were beyond what any single person could fully contain. The protective shell cracked and shattered as the train car tumbled through the breach in the barrier, carrying its passengers into Vale's underground infrastructure like a meteor of twisted metal and explosive material.
The explosion, when it came, was everything Roman Torchwick had promised and more. The carefully placed charges detonated in sequence, each blast amplifying the next until the entire tunnel system shook with the force of the explosion. Emergency lighting failed throughout the southeastern district as power lines were severed. Water mains burst, sending torrents of water through the underground passages. Gas lines ruptured, adding the danger of secondary explosions to the already catastrophic situation.
But the most terrifying consequence of the explosion was something none of them had anticipated. The blast had torn open barriers that had been sealed for decades—barriers that had contained not just the abandoned Mountain Glenn tunnels, but something far worse.
The Emergence
Ruby was the first to regain consciousness, her head ringing from the impact and her body aching from injuries she couldn't immediately assess. Around her, the wreckage of the train car was embedded in what appeared to be a partially collapsed section of Vale's underground infrastructure. Emergency lighting flickered sporadically, casting eerie shadows on the twisted metal and broken concrete.
"Yang?" she called out weakly, then louder when there was no immediate response. "Yang!"
A groan from nearby revealed her sister's location, half-buried under a piece of the train car's roof. Ruby crawled over to her, relief flooding through her when she confirmed that Yang was alive, though clearly injured.
"Everyone sound off!" came Odyn's voice from somewhere in the darkness. One by one, the members of the rescue teams confirmed they were alive, though several reported injuries ranging from minor cuts to potentially serious trauma.
Blake helped Weiss to her feet, the white-haired heiress swaying slightly from exhaustion. The ice shield had saved their lives, but creating it had drained her Aura significantly.
"Status report," Weiss said, falling back on formal procedures to maintain focus despite their dire circumstances.
"We're alive," Roy replied, helping his brother extract himself from a tangle of metal debris. "But we're definitely not where we started."
Zero's analytical mind was already processing their situation. "The explosion breached multiple tunnel systems. We're in Vale's main underground infrastructure, approximately two kilometers from the surface."
Sarai, despite a cut on her forehead that was bleeding steadily, was examining their surroundings with her enhanced elven senses. "There's something wrong here. The air currents, the sounds... this isn't just structural damage."
That's when they heard it—a sound that sent ice through the veins of every person present. It was the distinctive howl of a Beowolf, but amplified and distorted by the underground environment. And it wasn't alone.
"Oh no," Dr. Oobleck breathed, his usual rapid-fire delivery replaced by horrified understanding. "The explosion didn't just breach the barrier to Vale's tunnels. It opened the deep caverns—the ones that were sealed when Mountain Glenn fell."
Through the smoke and debris, shapes began to emerge. Grimm—dozens of them, then hundreds. Creatures that had been trapped in the deep caverns for decades, growing larger and more dangerous in the darkness. Beowolves the size of small buildings, Ursa Major that dwarfed anything they had seen before, and other creatures that defied easy classification.
"They're heading for the surface," Blake realized with growing horror.
The Swarm Rises
The Grimm that poured from the breach moved with the desperate hunger of creatures that had been denied prey for decades. They surged through Vale's underground tunnels with terrifying purpose, following the scent of human emotion and the promise of destruction that waited above.
Ruby struggled to her feet, Crescent Rose somehow still functional despite the crash. "We have to warn the city. We have to—"
Her words were cut off as a massive Beowolf emerged from the smoke directly in front of them, its red eyes glowing with malevolent intelligence. This creature was easily three times the size of any Grimm they had faced before, its black fur scarred by decades of underground existence.
Yang, despite her injuries, immediately moved to place herself between the Grimm and her sister. "Ruby, get back!"
But the Beowolf wasn't alone. More creatures emerged from the surrounding tunnels—Ursa, Creeps, and things that none of them could readily identify. The explosion had not only freed the ancient Grimm, it had created a breach that connected directly to Vale's surface through the city's infrastructure systems.
"They're using the tunnel network," Hailfire observed with tactical precision even as she prepared for combat. "Every subway tunnel, every utility passage—it's all connected."
Khanna's Branwen instincts were screaming warnings as she assessed the situation. "This isn't random. They're organized, purposeful. Something is directing them."
Above them, carried through the ventilation systems and emergency passages, came the sounds that confirmed their worst fears. Screams. Explosions. The distinctive crash of buildings being destroyed. The Grimm had reached the surface, and Vale was under attack.
Dr. Oobleck's expression was grim as he surveyed the swarm of ancient Grimm still pouring from the breach. "This is what Roman Torchwick intended all along. Not just the destruction of the tunnels, but the release of creatures that Vale thought were safely contained."
Weiss, still recovering from her exhausting use of her Semblance, forced herself to stand straight. "Then we stop them. Whatever it takes, we stop them before they can do more damage to the city."
"Look around you," Zero said with analytical honesty that cut through their determination. "We're injured, exhausted, and facing hundreds of ancient Grimm in a confined space with limited escape routes. This isn't a battle we can win through conventional means."
Yang's eyes flashed red as her Semblance began to activate despite her injuries. "Then we find unconventional means. We don't give up, and we don't abandon Vale."
As if responding to her words, the ground beneath them shook with another explosion from somewhere above. The Grimm assault on Vale's surface was intensifying, and every moment they spent trapped underground was another moment the city's defenders had to face the ancient creatures without backup.
Ruby looked at her assembled friends and allies—battered, bloodied, but unbroken. "We get to the surface. We help defend the city. And we make sure this never happens again."
The most dangerous phase of their mission was about to begin.
To be continued in Chapter 20: Mountain Glenn, Promises, & the Breach part II