The alleyway was quiet, the sound of their heavy breathing the only thing that broke the silence. Ruby looked at the metal beneath Penny's torn skin, her eyes wide with shock.
"Penny..." Ruby whispered, the name a soft, disbelieving sound.
"Most girls are born," Penny said, her voice small and filled with a fragile sadness. "But I was made. I'm the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an aura." She looked down at her hands, her shoulders slumping. "I'm... not real."
Ruby's expression softened. She gently reached out and took Penny's metal hands, carefully folding them in her own. "Of course you are," she said, her voice fierce and unwavering. "You think just because you've got nuts and bolts instead of squishy guts makes you any less than me? You're not like those things we saw back there." Ruby gave her a soft, reassuring smile. "You've got a heart and a soul, Penny. I can feel it."
Penny looked at Ruby, her eyes wide with surprise, before a sudden, radiant joy lit up her face. "Oh! Oh, Ruby!" she exclaimed, her voice swelling with emotion. She let go of Ruby's hands and threw her arms around her shoulders in a powerful hug. "You're the best friend anyone could have!"
"Oof!" Ruby grunted, her breath squeezed out of her lungs. "I can see why your father would want to protect such a delicate flower!" she said with a strained laugh.
"Oh! He's very sweet," Penny said, her smile as bright as the sun. "My father's the one that built me! I'm sure you would love him!"
"Wow... he built you all by himself?" Ruby said, her voice filled with awe.
"Well, almost," Penny said. "He had some help from Mr. Ironwood."
"The General?" Ruby's playful mood vanished, replaced by a cold wave of realization. "Wait, is that why the soldiers were after you?"
"They like to protect me, too!" Penny said, not picking up on the shift in Ruby's tone.
"They don't think you can protect yourself?" Ruby asked, shaking her head.
"They're not sure if I'm ready yet. One day, it will be my job to save the world," Penny said, a look of immense importance on her face. "But I still have a lot to learn. That's why my father let me come to the Vytal Festival. I want to see what it's like in the rest of the world and test myself in the tournament."
Ruby stayed silent for a moment, a frown on her face. "Save... the world?" she asked. "But Yang said we're in a time of peace."
"That's not what Mr. Ironwood said," Penny replied, her voice filled with a hint of seriousness that seemed to contradict her cheerful demeanor.
Just then, two of the soldiers from before were heard in the distance. "Check down here!" one of them said.
"You have to hide!" Penny said, her tone suddenly frantic. She grabbed Ruby by her shoulders and, with a strength that belied her size, lifted her clean off her feet.
"Hey! Penny! What are you doing!? Put me down!" Ruby said, struggling in Penny's grip.
Penny, ignoring her protests, dropped Ruby into a nearby, empty trash can. "It's okay, Ruby. I can handle this myself. I don't want you to get in trouble. Just promise me you won't tell anyone about my secret. Okay?"
"I promise," Ruby said, her voice muffled from inside the can. Penny quickly closed the lid, plunging Ruby into darkness.
"There she is!" one of the soldiers said, arriving in the alley.
"Salutations, officers!" Penny greeted, her voice unnaturally bright.
Ruby lightly pushed the lid of the trash can open, peeking out. She watched as Penny talked to the two men.
"Why were you running?" one officer asked, his voice cold. "And what happened to the other girl?"
"What girl?" Penny asked, her eyes wide with feigned innocence. She then let out a small, quiet hiccup. "I've been by myself all day."
"You shouldn't cause such a scene," the other officer said, shaking his head.
"Are you okay?" the first officer asked, noticing a small scratch on Penny's skin.
"Just a scratch," Penny said, showing them the damaged patch of skin that revealed the metal beneath.
"Penny, your father isn't going to be happy about this. Please, just come with us," one of the soldiers said, his tone softening a little.
"Yes, sir!" Penny said with a bright smile, and the three of them walked off together.
Ruby sighed in relief, the tension finally leaving her body. Just as she was about to push the lid open and climb out, a chime sounded from her scroll. With a panicked squeak, she ducked back down, the lid slamming shut above her.
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Yang and Neptune's Mission
Later in the day, in a part of Vale far from the pristine halls of Beacon, Yang roared through the streets on her motorcycle, Bumblebee. The neon lights of the city blurred into streaks of color as she cut through the evening traffic. Behind her, Neptune clung to her back, his knuckles white as he held onto the rear of the bike for dear life. The wind whipped his slick blue hair into a chaotic mess, a stark contrast to his usually perfectly styled look.
With a final roar of the engine, Yang brought the motorcycle to a smooth stop at the curb. The world around them settled into focus, revealing a much different side of Vale. The air was heavy with the smell of spilled drinks and garbage, and the street was lined with grimy brick buildings and flickering neon signs.
Yang swung a leg over the bike, her movements fluid and confident. She whipped her long hair over her shoulder, a small grin on her face as she gestured toward a nearby building with a single, practiced motion. "Come on, my friends are right in here," she said, her voice casual and entirely at ease.
Neptune, however, was still dazed. His face was pale, his eyes wide as he slowly took in their surroundings. "Cool," he said, the word coming out flat. He took a moment before shaking his head, and his hair, as if by some internal command, fell back into its perfect style.
He looked at the dingy building, a frown replacing his dazed expression. "And where exactly is... here?" he asked, his voice betraying a hint of nervous apprehension.
The nightclub pulsed with an eccentric, thumping bass, the bizarre music, a constant presence in the low-lit room. Behind the bar, a man in a crisp, well-tailored suit calmly tended to a glass, the picture of nonchalant authority.
Suddenly, a side door burst open. Two frantic guards stumbled through, their eyes wide with terror. "Hurry! Close the door! She's coming!" one of them yelled over the music. They slammed the heavy metal door shut and threw their bodies against it, their arms and legs braced against the unseen force on the other side.
The well-dressed man calmly placed the glass on the counter and strode over to them. "What are you two idiots doing?!?" he demanded. The two guards began to speak at once, their words a frantic, jumbled mess that was completely lost in the deafening music.
Just before the man could get a word in, the door behind them buckled inward. A low, grinding groan was followed by a deafening bang. The door exploded off its hinges in a shower of sparks and splinters, sending the two guards flying across the room and crashing into a pile of tables.
A cloud of dust and smoke billowed into the room. A figure strode through the haze with a confident grin. "Guess who's back?!" Yang announced, her voice a shout over the sudden silence. The DJ, startled by the explosion, had abandoned his station and was now hiding behind a large speaker.
Yang paused, her eyes closed, waiting for a cheer. When she opened them, she was met with a dozen guns aimed directly at her.
Neptune poked his head out from behind her, his voice a nervous whisper. "Yeah... so, could you define 'friend' for me?"
The well-dressed man pushed past his startled guards, a look of weary exasperation on his face. "Stop, stop! Nobody shoot," he ordered. He stopped in front of Yang, his eyes narrowing. "Blondie! You're here. Why?"
Yang's grin didn't falter. She simply pointed at him. "You still owe me a drink." She then walked over to him, grabbed him by the arm, and began to drag him back toward the bar, leaving Neptune standing alone in the middle of the room.
"Whoa... what a woman," Neptune said to himself, a look of genuine awe on his face. He then noticed two girls dressed in stylish red and white. He ran a hand through his now-perfectly styled hair and flashed them a confident smirk. "Sup," he said, his voice a smooth-as-silk greeting.
The two women glanced at each other, their faces completely unimpressed. They rolled their eyes in unison and, without a single word, turned and walked away.
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Blake and Sun's Mission
Hidden in the shadows of a grimy alleyway, Blake examined three deep claw marks etched into the brick wall. Her eyes, narrowed and focused, traced the pattern before she leaned against the wall, peering around the corner into the alley. Just as she suspected, two Faunus, their animal traits concealed by their dark clothing, entered a massive warehouse building a short distance away.
"This is it," Blake said, her voice a low murmur. She turned back to Sun, her amber eyes filled with grim determination.
"You sure?" Sun asked, his face a mix of curiosity and apprehension.
Blake didn't answer. She simply gave him a long, menacing glare.
"Y'know... I'm just gonna take your word for it," Sun said, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender.
Blake reached up and, with a practiced motion, took off the black bow that always sat on her head, revealing her black cat ears. Taking out a Grimm mask, she walked into the alleyway, the darkness swallowing her. Sun followed close behind, holding a similar mask in his hands.
Inside the warehouse, the air was thick with tension and the low murmur of voices. A White Fang member, his mask hiding his face, gestured vaguely to a corner. "New recruits keep to the right."
Sun looked down at the mask he was holding, a puzzled expression on his face. "I don't get it," he said, looking up at Blake. "If you believe what you're doing is right... why hide who you are?"
"The mask is a symbol," Blake said, her hand tightening around her own. "Humanity wanted to make monsters out of us, so we chose the faces of monsters."
"Grimm masks," Sun said, the realization dawning on him. "That's kind of dark."
"So was the guy who started it," Blake stated flatly.
"Always sunshine and rainbows with you," Sun muttered, his voice full of his trademark sarcasm. Blake didn't react. She put on her Grimm mask, the vacant, monstrous face of the mask hiding her expression. Sun followed shortly behind, and they began to walk into the crowded room, blending in with the other masked Faunus.
A White Fang member stood before the crowd, his voice amplified by a microphone. "Thank you all for coming. For those of you who are joining us for the first time tonight, allow me to introduce two very special comrades of ours. I can assure you, they are the key to obtaining what we have fought for, for so long."
The crowd buzzed with anticipation. Just then, a well-dressed man with a cane, Roman Torchwick, stepped onto the stage. Some of the older White Fang members began to cheer, but the new recruits looked on in confusion.
"Thank you, thank you! Please, hold your applause," Roman said, a smug grin on his face.
A holographic projection of Dr. Merlot also appeared, his face slightly static. He crossed his arms and sighed, a look of immense annoyance on his face, as if he couldn't be bothered to be here. Beside the hologram stood a short girl with brown and pink hair, her face unreadable.
"What's humans doing here?" a Faunus in the audience pointed at Roman, his voice filled with anger.
"I'm glad you asked, dearie," Roman said, his grin widening. "Now, we'll be the first to admit, humans are the worst. Case in point. So, I understand why you would love to see us all locked away, or better yet: killed! But before the torches come out..."
Sun leaned into Blake, a worried frown on his face. "So, is he going somewhere with this, or...?"
"...I'd like to mention the fact that you and I all have a common enemy. The ones in control, the people pulling the strings. The dirty, rotten humans that run our kingdoms. Government. Military. Even the schools. They're all to blame for your lot in life," Roman proclaimed, his voice dripping with theatrical contempt.
The holographic Dr. Merlot sighed again, clearly tired of Roman's showmanship. But the crowd was eating it up. The Faunus started to cheer for Roman's speech, their voices a low, angry roar that filled the warehouse. Blake and Sun looked at each other, their faces hidden by their masks, their eyes filled with shared worry and a deep sense of unease.
"And they're all pests that need to be dealt with. Fortunately. We're the best exterminators around. No offense to any rodents in the room," Roman continued, his grin widening as his gaze swept over the crowd.
"But before that," he announced, his voice a theatrical purr, "I would like to introduce someone to you."
He gestured to the side of the stage where a shimmering, blue holographic projection began to coalesce. The image of a gaunt man in a lab coat, Dr. Merlot, flickered into view, his arms crossed over his chest and a look of immense impatience on his face.
"Now, while I'm more than capable of handling the finer points of this grand conspiracy myself," Roman said with a theatrical flourish, "I thought it was important that you all hear from the man who's made it all possible." He gestured toward Merlot's hologram with his cane. "This gentleman here is a man of science. A visionary. A man who believes that the best way to fight the system isn't to burn it down, but to transcend it."
Roman's smirk widened. "Dr. Merlot here will explain the... more technical part of our operation. The part that will give you the power you so rightly deserve." He bowed to the crowd, as if handing them a great gift. "Don't worry," he whispered, leaning into the mic conspiratorially. "My part of the plan is the fun part."
With a final wink to the crowd, Roman stepped back, leaving the cold, silent hologram of Dr. Merlot to take center stage.
The figure of Dr. Merlot materialized in the air before them, his form bathed in a cold, ethereal blue light. The projection of the doctor walked forward with a confident stride, a cold, calculating glint in his eyes.
He glided forward, his translucent form passing through Roman's, a grim contrast to the showman's colorful bravado. The Faunus crowd's cheers died down, replaced by a tense, uneasy silence.
"Please," Merlot said, his voice a cold, sharp echo that silenced the crowd instantly. "Let's dispense with the theatrics. The human condition is a mess of emotional weakness. I am not here to appeal to your anger; I am here to offer a solution."
The crowd murmured, their confusion evident. Merlot's image grew more stable, his eyes fixed on the audience. "Mr. Torchwick believes in revolution. A messy, bloody affair, destined to fail. I, however, believe in evolution. A logical, controlled process that will make you more powerful than your human oppressors."
A giant holographic screen flickered to life behind Merlot, showing a diagram of a human form. "My research began with a subject," Merlot's voice became a precise, clinical monologue. "A very... special subject, with unique properties. Her silver eyes were of particular interest. I believed if I could merge a human with the essence of a Grimm, I could forge a weapon of unimaginable power."
The diagram on the screen shifted to a figure that looked unmistakably like Ruby. Lines of code and strange, pulsating red energy flowed into her holographic form. The crowd gasped.
"The process was... difficult. Her body, her aura, resisted," Merlot continued, completely devoid of emotion. "It was not a pleasant experience for her. There was pain. There was screaming. But in the end, her body submitted. I unlocked a power she never knew she had. The power of a Grimm."
The screen's image became more vivid. Ruby's holographic form glowed with a dark, reddish energy. On her arm, her blood, no longer contained within her veins, surged and formed into the shape of a scythe. The monstrous, swirling lines of her semblance were visible for all to see.
"I gave her the power to manipulate her own very essence. To form a weapon from the Grimm blood I infused into her. And with it, the capacity to become a force of nature." The hologram of Ruby's head turned, and her eyes, now a glowing, terrifying red, met the audience's stare.
In the crowd, Blake and Sun looked at each other, their masks unable to hide their shared horror. The cold, scientific reality of Merlot's words was far more terrifying than Roman's bluster. Ruby's power wasn't a gift; it was a curse. A chilling, painful, and terrifying curse given to her by a man who saw her as nothing more than a test subject.
The colossal, haunting image of Ruby and her blood scythe remained on the holographic screen. The audience was silent, stunned into a state of horrified awe.
Dr. Merlot, his holographic form still floating in the air, held up a single, gaunt finger. "And this is merely the beginning," he said, his voice a chilling monotone. "The subject's power is not static. The Grimm essence within her is a living thing. As she grows stronger, as her body adapts to this symbiotic relationship, it will unlock further applications."
The screen behind him shifted, and a new, detailed visualization appeared. "Her Aura, for instance," Merlot explained, gesturing to the holographic Ruby's form, which now shimmered with a dark, reddish-black energy. "It will no longer serve merely as a defensive shield. It will become a weapon in its own right—a pressurized kinetic blast, a corrosive force that can melt steel."
The visualization on the screen showed the holographic Ruby firing a shockwave of dark energy from her palm, disintegrating a wall.
"Her speed, her most celebrated attribute, will become something more," he continued, his tone a mix of scientific pride and cold indifference. "It will evolve into a terrifying force of nature—a torrent of Grimm energy that can tear through the battlefield, a living whirlwind of destruction."
The audience, composed mostly of Faunus tired of being oppressed, watched in a mixture of fear and fascination. Some gasped, while others' eyes gleamed with a mix of awe and a terrifying hunger for such power.
"I offer you a future. A chance to stop hiding behind masks and become the apex predators you were always meant to be. This girl... this failed experiment... she is nothing but the first step. You," he said, his hologram finally looking out at the crowd, "will become my masterpieces."
In the back of the room, Blake and Sun looked on in horror. Roman's words were a means to an end; Merlot's, a terrifying end in themselves. The true threat wasn't a criminal with a stolen plan, but a cold, calculating scientist who saw life as nothing more than a variable to be controlled.
The Faunus crowd watched in stunned silence as Dr. Merlot's holographic image flickered. A cold, sinister smile touched the doctor's lips. "Now then, I believe my turn has ended," he said, his voice as chillingly precise as ever. "I will be waiting for your arrival." He turned to Roman, his gaze a mix of condescension and amusement. "You can finish here. I will be taking my leave." With a snap of his fingers, his hologram vanished, leaving behind only the cold, empty air of the stage.
Roman took center stage once more, a triumphant smirk on his face. "Now. Let's begin our next plan!" he announced. He snapped his fingers again. A massive red curtain, which had been concealing something to his side, fell to the ground with a heavy rustle, revealing a towering, menacing mechanized suit. The Atlesian Paladin stood before them, its polished steel gleaming under the warehouse lights, a symbol of military might and technological terror.
The awe-struck crowd gasped, and then a wave of wild cheers erupted.
Sun and Blake, however, exchanged a look of pure, unadulterated horror. "Uh... that's a big robot," Sun whispered, his voice shaky, as he stared at the machine.
"How did he get that?" Blake said, her eyes wide with shock. She looked back at the Paladin, a sickening feeling twisting in her stomach. "First Ruby... now this?" she murmured, her voice filled with dread. "This... this is really bad."
Roman approached the Paladin, a showman and a serpent. He rapped his cane against the machine's leg, the sound a sharp crack that silenced the crowd. "As some of you may have heard," he began, "this right here is Atlas's newest line of defense against all the scary things in the world. And thanks to my generous employer, we've managed to snag a few before they, uh... hit the shelves."
His grin widened as he surveyed the crowd. "Now, many of your brothers have already moved down to our new operation in the South East. If you'd rather stay within the city, that's fine. But if you're truly ready to fight for what you believe in, this is the arsenal I can provide you. Any questions?"
The crowd, their earlier apprehension forgotten, erupted into another round of deafening cheers. The promise of power and retribution was all they needed to hear.
"We... we should get out of here," Blake said, turning to Sun, her eyes scanning the crowd for a way out.
Just then, a White Fang member holding a clipboard stepped forward. "Will all new recruits please come forward?" he announced. "There is also a special partition for those who wish to join Dr. Merlot's private research division."
Sun didn't walk forward. He looked at the clipboard, then at the cheering crowd, and then back at Blake. "Welp!" he said with a sigh of weary resignation. The people around them, caught up in the fervor, began to push past them, walking toward the stage, their masked faces fixed on the promise of power and destruction. Blake and Sun were left isolated, surrounded by a tide of newfound zealots.
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Elsewhere with Yang and Neptune
The well-dressed man slammed his glass down on the counter, the clatter echoing in the sudden silence of the club. "I don't know!" he yelled, his voice rough with frustration.
Yang leaned over the bar, her elbows on the sticky surface. "How can you not know?" she insisted, her voice a low growl. "He's a regular here, you're friends. You owe me."
"I haven't talked to him! I haven't even seen him since the night you first came here!" the man spat out. He pointed a finger at her. "He paid me upfront, I lent him my men, and none of them ever came back!"
Neptune, who had been standing awkwardly to the side, chimed in. "So where did they go?"
The man's glare shifted, landing on Neptune with the force of a punch. "What kind of stupid question is that? They never came back!" he repeated, his voice filled with exasperated anger. He pointed a finger at Neptune. "Who is this guy?"
"Don't worry about him," Yang said, her hand resting on her holster. The man stiffened, his gaze returning to her. "Worry about me if I don't get what I want!"
The man let out a long, weary sigh, running a hand through his hair. "I already told you everything! Torchwick and this other guy—some mad scientist, I guess—hired my boys. And I guess they weren't happy with them! Which is something I can relate to," he added, glaring at the guards still nervously clutching their weapons by the front door. "They're a liability."
Yang's shoulders slumped in defeat. There was nothing more to be learned here. "C'mon, Neptune," she said, turning away from the bar. Neptune followed close behind, his nervousness turning into relief as they neared the exit.
"So, we get everything we needed?" Neptune asked, pulling his collar up.
Yang's expression was grim. "Well," she said, pushing the club's door open. "We got everything we can. Hopefully, the rest of the team is having better luck."
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Meanwhile, back in the warehouse, the crowd was still cheering for Roman and the long-gone Dr. Merlot. The new recruits, a sea of masked Faunus, moved forward in a unified wave. Some walked toward Roman, their eyes on the shining Paladin, while others veered toward the White Fang member holding a clipboard, eager to join Dr. Merlot's scientific venture.
Roman watched them with a pleased smile, a true showman admiring his audience. He walked over to the giant mechanized suit and stood beside the girl with the brown and pink hair, a silent, menacing statue.
Sun leaned in close to Blake, his voice a barely-audible whisper. "What are we gonna do?" he asked, his eyes darting frantically.
"I'm thinking," Blake whispered back, her gaze fixed on the crowd. She and Sun once again tried to find an opening, a blind spot, any way out. Sun glanced over to Roman one last time, a spark of movement catching Roman's attention. A low growl rumbled in Roman's throat. With a cold, knowing smirk, he raised the cigarette he was holding and discreetly signaled to a pair of White Fang guards on the floor.
"He sees us," Sun said, his voice laced with dread.
Throwing his cigarette to the ground, Roman turned and began to walk toward the guards, his movements slow and deliberate. Sun gave a nervous, almost pathetic wave, a desperate, final attempt at feigning innocence.
Blake didn't react. Her gaze was locked on a large fuse box on a nearby wall. "He can't see in the dark," she whispered to Sun. Without another word, she pulled out Gambol Shroud, its blade transforming into the sleek, silver barrel of a gun. With a single, sharp shot, she shattered the fuse box. Sparks flew, and with a sudden hum, the lights in the entire warehouse went out, plunging the space into utter blackness.
"Don't let them get away!" a White Fang member shouted, his voice echoing in the darkness.
"Sun! The window!" Blake yelled, her voice urgent.
"Stop 'em!" Roman bellowed, his voice filled with a furious rage.
In the background, a low, menacing whirring sound could be heard, a machine coming to life. Glass shattered as Sun and Blake burst through a window and landed on the street below. They took off running, not daring to look back. Behind them, with a deafening crash, the mechanized suit broke through the wall of the warehouse.
Sun and Blake scrambled onto the roof of a nearby building, the massive Paladin a hulking shadow against the night sky. It stalked them, its heavy metal steps shaking the ground below, moving around the buildings to keep pace with their every jump.
They leaped from roof to roof, their momentum keeping them ahead of the relentless machine. "So, you wouldn't happen to have... oh, I don't know... some sort of backup!?" Sun shouted, his voice breathless and frantic as he jumped across an alley.
"On it!" Blake yelled back, already working on a plan.
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Weiss stepped out of the elevator the moment its doors slid open on the main floor. A soft sigh escaped her lips, a mixture of relief and weariness. Her mission to gather files from the Schnee Dust Company was complete, and all that remained was to rendezvous with her team. She had been left behind to handle her part of the plan, while the others pursued their own leads. She just hoped they had met with better success than she had.
Just as she was about to continue walking, a sharp, urgent chime sounded from her scroll.
She pulled it out, her brow furrowed in annoyance at the interruption, only to see a distress signal blinking on the screen. It was from Blake. Her heart skipped a beat, and the weariness she felt was instantly replaced by a surge of adrenaline. Without a second thought, Weiss shoved the scroll back into her pocket and took off running in the direction of the signal, her earlier plans forgotten. She knew that wherever Blake and Sun were, they were in trouble, and they were counting on her.
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In the quiet solitude of the alleyway, Ruby finally pushed the lid of the trash can open and slowly climbed out. Her body ached from the hard fall, and her mind was still reeling from Penny's shocking revelation. She took a deep breath, the cold air a stark contrast to the stifling heat of her emotions.
Just as she was stepping back into the bustle of the city street, her scroll let out a sudden, frantic chime. She fumbled with it, bringing the device to her ear. A panicked, breathless voice shouted through the speaker.
"They got a robot! And it's big! Really big!" Sun's voice was frantic, the sound of explosions and crashing metal audible in the background.
Ruby let out a long, weary sigh. The events of the day had been exhausting enough, but a massive robot was a problem she was not prepared to deal with. Her brow furrowed in annoyance, but then, a slow smile crept across her face. Her eyes, filled with their usual heroic sparkle, gleamed with excitement.
"Oh, I am not missing this!" she said, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. Without another moment of hesitation, she took off in a blur of red and black, leaving a trail of rose petals in her wake as she sped toward the chaos.
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Yang and Neptune sat on the parked motorcycle, its engine a low thrum beneath them, as they listened to the frantic sound of the distress call. Sun's breathless voice crackled through the scroll's speaker, his words barely coherent over the distant chaos.
"...Torchwick's in it! You gotta believe me!" he yelled, the sound of crashing metal and explosions in the background.
"Where are you guys?!" Yang demanded, her voice cutting through the noise.
Just then, a flash of black and gold and a streak of blue passed them, a blur of frantic motion. Blake and Sun, their masks gone, were sprinting down the street. Behind them, a terrifying sight: a massive, mechanized suit, the Atlesian Paladin, lumbered through the streets, its heavy footsteps shaking the ground, its menacing form an undeniable threat.
Neptune's eyes went wide. "I-I think that was them," he started to stammer, but his words were cut short.
"Yeah, I got it," Yang said, her expression hardening. Without another word, she gunned the engine. The motorcycle roared to life, and with a confident smirk, Yang sped off, leaving a trail of burning rubber. Neptune held on for dear life, his face buried in her back as they joined the high-speed chase.
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Blake and Sun jumped onto the freeway, the concrete a hard surface beneath their feet. The roar of traffic was deafening, but it was nothing compared to the sound of the giant mechanized suit thundering behind them. They began leaping from car to car, their movements desperate and hurried, trying to stay ahead of the monstrous machine.
The Atlesian Paladin was a relentless force, its heavy, metal steps crunching cars and shaking the very bridge as it chased them. Just then, a familiar roar cut through the noise, and Yang pulled up beside it on her motorcycle, Bumblebee.
Yang turned her head slightly, her voice a shout over the wind and the engine. "We've gotta slow it down!" she yelled to Neptune, who was clinging on behind her.
"Got it!" Neptune shouted back, his hand moving to the gun on his back. But Roman, seeing them from inside the cockpit, was not a fool. He pushed the Paladin forward with a terrifying surge of speed. The cars directly in front of the machine were sent flying backward, a chaotic tidal wave of metal and glass heading straight for Yang and Neptune.
Yang's eyes narrowed. She let out a low growl. "Hold on!" she yelled.
"Uh-oh... whoa!" Neptune cried out, his voice a series of panicked yelps as Yang skillfully maneuvered the motorcycle. She wove through the airborne vehicles with reckless abandon, her reflexes and the speed of Bumblebee allowing them to dodge every single one.
Yang caught up to Roman once more. Neptune, having found his balance, pulled out his gun and fired a stream of concentrated energy rounds at the Paladin. The blast hit the robot's leg, knocking it off balance for a moment.
Neptune's gun then unfolded, its barrel turning into the sharp point of a spear. He stood up on the back of the motorcycle, his balance impossibly perfect, before leaping into the air and stabbing the mechanized suit in its back.
Sun, who had stopped on the roof of a truck, looked back and yelled, "Neptune, hang on!" He clapped his hands together, his body settling into a meditation pose. In a flash of light, two glowing, yellow astral projections of himself appeared. The two clones jumped off the truck and slammed into the giant Paladin, knocking it off balance once more.
Taking advantage of the distraction, Sun used the truck as a launchpad, jumping into the air with his staff in hand, preparing to strike the Paladin. But Roman, a master tactician, saw the opening. With a furious shout and a few quick touches on his control panel, he sent the Paladin's arm swinging forward, not at Sun, but at Neptune. The powerful strike sent Neptune flying directly into Sun. The two of them were sent tumbling through the air, their bodies plummeting over the side of the bridge and into the unknown depths below.
"Blake! I'm in position!" Weiss suddenly called out. With a powerful leap, she jumped down to the freeway below, her rapier, Myrtenaster, at the ready. She plunged the blade into the ground, and in an instant, a massive sheet of ice spread across the concrete, shimmering under the streetlights.
The mechanized suit, a massive force of steel and pistons, lumbered forward, its heavy footsteps shaking the very bridge. Its pilot, Roman, saw the ice too late. The robot's feet lost all traction, and with a metallic shriek, it slipped, falling over the side of the freeway and crashing onto the lower level with a deafening thud.
The Paladin landed just in front of Ruby, a cloud of dust and debris billowing around its hulking form. Ruby smirked, her face a mask of infectious confidence. The rest of Team RWBY landed beside her, their stances ready, their weapons gleaming. Ruby's blood surged from within her skin, forming into the elegant, deadly shape of her signature scythe, Crescent Rose.
From inside the cockpit, Roman's voice was a low whisper to himself. "So we meet again... Ruby Rose." He adjusted his controls, his smirk mirroring hers. "Let's see what you got..."
"Freezerburn!" Ruby called out, her voice a shout. Ruby and Blake jumped back, creating distance, while Yang launched herself into the air. Just as Yang's feet left the ground, Weiss, a blur of motion, plunged Myrtenaster into the ground, a thick pillar of ice erupting where Yang had just been. Yang landed on the ground with a powerful punch, the sheer force of the impact shattering the ice pillar and creating a blinding cloud of mist.
The mechanized suit looked around, blinded and disoriented. Yang, a fiery blur, zipped past in the background. The Paladin turned toward the fleeting shape, firing a powerful blast at the ground where it thought she was. Just as Roman was starting to think his eyes were playing tricks on him, Yang and Blake appeared from the mist, ready to attack. Roman, frustrated, blasted the ground once more, sending them both flying.
Ruby, seeing her chance, moved forward in a flash. Her blood scythe sliced through the air, carving deep grooves into the Paladin's armor. "Checkmate!" Ruby declared. Blake and Weiss charged forward, their coordinated attack aimed at the mechanized suit's legs, but their efforts were not successful. Roman fired off a volley of rockets, forcing the girls to jump out of the way. Roman's laugh echoed from within the suit's speakers as he fired a missile, a single, powerful projectile that hit Weiss dead on, sending her flying backward with a pained grunt.
Ruby watched, her eyes burning with fury. Seeing her friend hurt filled her with a righteous anger. The ground trembled as Weiss, bruised but undaunted, used her semblance to create a glowing, astral clock beneath Blake's feet. The clock's gears spun, and when it disappeared, Blake's entire body began to glow. Roman fired off more missiles, but Blake, now faster than ever, became a whirlwind of motion, her blade cutting each projectile into pieces.
As Blake dealt with the missiles, Ruby, a blur of red and black mist, appeared behind Weiss, catching her in mid-air. "Weiss! Are you okay?" Ruby asked, her voice laced with worry.
Weiss looked up at her partner and smiled softly. "I'm good... go help Blake," she said.
Ruby gently put Weiss down and charged forward. "Ladybug!" she called out. Ruby and Blake moved in perfect synchronization, maneuvering around the robot's heavy movements, attacking from two sides until they managed to slice off one of its arms.
From her perch on a nearby ledge, Yang launched herself onto the giant robot's back, her gauntlets, Ember Celica, firing a relentless stream of bullets. Roman growled in frustration, backing the robot up and crashing it through a few columns, the falling debris knocking Yang off the robot's back.
"Yang!" Blake cried out, watching her fall.
But Ruby's voice was filled with confidence. "Don't worry!" she said. Yang slowly began to get up. "I remember something she told me when we trained together..." Ruby started, a proud smile on her face. "With each hit, she gets stronger, and she uses that energy to fight back! That's what makes her special."
Yang stood up, her hair beginning to glow with a fiery yellow light. Her eyes turned red, and a fierce, infectious grin spread across her face. Roman, in his mechanized suit, walked closer to her, his movements slow and arrogant. He raised the giant robotic fist and threw a powerful punch.
But Yang caught the robotic fist. Her red eyes burned with a blazing intensity as she pulled her arm back and unleashed her own powerful punch. The robotic hand was vaporized by the force of her blast, and Roman was sent stumbling backward, completely stunned.
Roman, shaking his head in annoyance, operated the robot to deliver a swift, powerful kick that sent Yang flying past Ruby and Blake.
"Bumblebee!" Ruby called out. In a flash of motion, Blake threw Gambol Shroud, its ribbon-like blade unspooling in the air. The ribbon expertly wrapped around Yang's arm, and Blake pulled back on the rope, sending Yang rocketing back towards Roman like a human projectile. He barely had time to step back, the Paladin's heavy footfalls a desperate scramble to avoid the collision.
"We have to slow it down!" Ruby shouted. Just then, Weiss ran up, her face set with determination, and took her place beside Ruby.
"How do you suppose we do that?" Weiss asked, her voice a mix of urgency and skepticism.
Ruby turned to her, a wide grin spreading across her face. "IceFlower!" she called out, a name for their combined attack. Weiss created three shimmering glyphs. Ruby transformed her blood scythe into a blood gun, aimed, and fired, sending a massive, blood-red ice blast at the giant robot. It hit with a resounding crash, freezing the Paladin in place. Weiss and Ruby fired more shots in quick succession, their combined attacks freezing more and more of the robot's limbs.
From her vantage point, Blake slung Yang around once more. This time, Yang was engulfed in flames, her fists glowing with stored energy. She collided her fist with the robot, and the sheer force of the impact caused the Paladin to break apart with a series of massive explosions. Roman was sent flying out of the cockpit, landing in a heap of metal and wires.
He staggered to his feet, dusting off his crumpled suit. "Tsk... just got this thing clean!" he grumbled. He then looked between Yang and Ruby, his smile turning sinister. "Well, Red, it seems we have met again," he said, his voice a low, chilling whisper.
Ruby stiffened at the nickname, her grip on her blood scythe tightening, her usual confidence replaced with a flash of nervousness. "Don't worry, Red, your time has yet to come," Roman said, a promise in his voice. "But... we will be back."
Before he could say another word, Yang, her hair still glowing, dashed forward. Her gauntlets, Ember Celica, were locked and loaded. She threw a punch, a powerful shot of energy aimed directly at Roman's head.
But before the shot could hit, a small girl landed gracefully in front of Roman. She opened her umbrella, and with a soft click, blocked the shot, the energy dissipating harmlessly against the fabric. The girl, Neo, casually put her umbrella on her shoulder as Roman walked over to her.
"Anyways, ladies, Ice Queen" Roman said with a theatrical grin. There was an audible "Hey!" in the background as Weiss called out
"Always a pleasure. Neo, if you would." Neo gave a low, taunting bow, a flash of smugness in her mismatched eyes. Yang, not wanting to let them get away, dashed over and threw a punch at Neo. However, Neo and Roman shimmered and turned into what looked like shattered glass, fading away into nothingness. Yang looked over to see them standing on a flying ship, waving at them as they flew off into the night. Yang's hair slowly de-powered, and her eyes returned to their soft lilac color.
Team RWBY regrouped, standing beside a deflated Yang. "So, I guess he got a new henchman," Yang said, a hint of annoyance in her voice.
"Yeah, I guess she really made our plans... fallapart?" Weiss said, her voice laced with the awkward pause of a bad joke. Yang and Blake looked at each other, then at Weiss, their expressions blank. Ruby, still worried about her friends, let out a soft sigh.
"No. Just no," Yang said flatly.
Blake, unable to contain her silent disapproval, simply walked away.
"What?" Weiss said, her voice a pitch higher. "But you do it!"
"There's a time and a place for jokes, Weiss," Yang retorted.
"Was this not it?" Weiss said, her voice a frustrated huff.
Ruby, a small grin on her face, chimed in. "No, it just wasn't very good."
Weiss huffed and turned away. "Well, at least I'm trying."
Blake, stopping her retreat, turned back to the group. "Hold up..." she said, a sudden look of panic on her face. "...Where's Sun and Neptune?"
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After a long and chaotic fall from the freeway, Sun and Neptune were finally grounded. They had somehow managed to land safely, albeit a little shaken. They found themselves on a quiet street in front of a small, bustling noodle shop, its warm steam and savory aroma a welcome change from the cold asphalt and metal they had just left.
They were now sitting at a small table outside the shop, each with a steaming bowl of noodles. The silence was only broken by the soft slurping sounds as they ate.
Neptune took a long sip of his broth, his eyes scanning the quiet street. "They're probably fine, right?" he asked, his voice laced with a hopeful uncertainty.
Sun didn't look up from his bowl. He took a long, thoughtful slurp of his own. "Probably," he said, the word coming out as if he had nothing to worry about.