Chapter 2: The Plan

Ruby had woken up back home in a Patch as her vision was a little blurry, she glanced around the room as she slowly sat up in bed, her head was throbbing a little as she could hear her dad talking with some people.

"She should be resting still...you can go see her though." Taiyang said. "Yang however, she...well she's not in the spirit to talk to anyone."

"Right...well, I'll go see Ruby then." Jaune said as he made his way to Ruby's room while Nora and Ren stayed outside of the house.

Ruby could hear Jaune approaching her room as she just sat in her bed, she couldn't remember what happened. But she had to find out if it was a dream or not, she looked towards the door. "Jaune...you can come in, it's unlocked."

Jaune stopped as he reached for the knob turning it to open the door, once he had opened the door Jaune saw Ruby sitting her bed, he walked over to her bedside as he had his hands in his pockets. "Hey...mind if I sit down? Also...how are you feeling?"

Ruby shakes her head. "No, I don't mind...I'm not sure on the other part...my head is throbbing like I was hit with a baseball...." Ruby's silver eyes were glossy as if she was crying. She watched Jaune take a seat on her bed next to her as she looks down. "Uh...Jaune, was it all a dream?...."

Jaune was silent as he took a deep breath. "No, it wasn't Ruby....Beacon, it fell...everyone got separated after Ironwood and the Atlas Military helped, no one knows where Blake went...Weiss on the other hand, word has it that her father came and got her.." He turned his head to look at Ruby. "....Pyrrha...."

Ruby moved her hand to where Jaune had his, she looked at him. "That's enough.....I can remember a little now...it's all my fault...I wasn't quick enough to save her.." She clinches her blanket with her other hand. "I should've stopped Cinder sooner...but I didn't..."

Taiyang had came to her room as he had a tray of cookies and milk. "Hey there sport....I brought you some fresh cookies, maybe it'll brighten your mood..your sister though, well...maybe you can try talking to her?"

Ruby looked at the tray for a moment as she pushed it aside. Normally she'd be all down for milk and cookies, but she wasn't feeling hungry nor was she wanting to put on a fake smile. "I can try...but what makes you think I can make Yang talk? We've all lost something at Beacon..."

Zwei barks as he trots over to the room but stops looking in as he whined a little looking towards Yang's room. He went over to the door and sniffed it before scratching at it, Ruby heard Zwei as she let out a small sigh of relief knowing he was fine. She looked at her dad and then over to Jaune.

"Alright...I'll go talk to Yang." Ruby said as she grabbed two cookies and the milk before eating the cookies and drinking the milk.

~~~

While Ruby had went to go speak with Yang, Nora and Ren noticed someone coming towards the house, they couldn't see them fully.

"Hey Jaune, someone's coming...I can't tell who." Nora said.

Vest would approach Ren and Nora from the dirt path as her golden amour shone in the sun "is Ruby Rose here?" she'd ask the two with a friendly smile as she stopped just before them.

Nora lightly nodded her head as she realized who it was. "Oh it's Vest! Never mind Jaune, it's Vest."

"Vest? I thought she was gone with the General?" Jaune asked. "Hold on I'll be right out." Jaune hurried outside to where Ren and Nora were at seeing Vest standing there. "Vest, are you here to see Ruby?"

"Officially yes I did but I bent a few rules after I heard about miss rose" vest said as she looked to Jaune with a confident nod.

"You are aware that General Ironwood won't be too happy hearing you've left. But aside from that, Ruby's in Yang's room trying to brighten up her sisters mood..." Jaune said. "I'm sure Taiyang wouldn't mind if you came into the house, surely you've came here for something right?"

Ren looked at her and over to Jaune. "Well, it must be important...I think every should hear what has to be said, if Vest has some useful info we can use."

"Don't worry about ironwood I'll deal with him later right now" vest sighed as she'd walk towards the house going to speak with Ruby.

Taiyang opened the door as he saw Vest. "Ah, come in...Ruby, Vest is here to see you. How's Yang doing?" He turned to look at Jaune, Nora and Ren. "Come on inside, I have a feeling this is going to be a long talk."

Ruby perks her head up as she looked at Yang. "Sorry sis...duty calls...I'm sorry about your arm..." She noticed that Yang hadn't said anything to her, she did however notice Yang was petting Zwei. "Right...well, I'll get going then..."

Yang turned her head to look at Ruby, the pain and sorrow on her face could be seen still, her purple eyes were a bit dim with bags under her eye lids. Yang had the worst of it all out of everyone, but deep down she knew she couldn't stay silent for long.

Ruby rubbed her arm as she waved bye to her sister before leaving Yang's room. She walked out and headed to where Taiyang and the others were waiting at.

Vest stepped in and nodded to Taiyang as she looked over seeing Ruby step down the stairs she'd smile and sat down.

"Oh...hi Vest." Ruby said with a small wave, she looked over to Jaune, Ren and Nora as she also sat down. "So uh...what brings you here to Patch of all places?"

"I came to see you actually. " she smiled to Ruby and the others. "As you know I worked with Ozpin and the General."

"Yeah....we knew..." Ruby said. "What else isn't new?"

"Ozpin asked me to find you said that you were part of his plan.." Vest said.

Ruby cocks an eyebrow up. "Uh...what plan? And why me of all people?"

"Good question...I'm curious as well." Taiyang said.

"I wish I knew more on what his full plan was, but he barley kept me and the general informed." Vest sighed.

"Strange...so what do you suggest we do then?" Nora asked. "It's not like we can just walk out of here and go to Atlas to ask Ironwood himself..."

"I suggest we go to Mistral and warn professor Lionheart. " Vest said with a nod.

Ruby looked to Taiyang. "I guess we're going to head out on our new journey dad..don't worry about me too much, Yang needs all the attention now.."

Taiyang was hesitant about letting his baby girl go out again after what had happened, but he let out a small sigh and nodded. "You're right, the more people know about the danger that's lurking. The more they'll be prepared...If you see Qrow out there anywhere, maybe have him be the guardian that watches over you all."

"Don't worry I'll be accompanying them as well their in safe hands." Vest said to Taiyang as she would stand up again. "And I'm sure Qrow will bump into us eventually." She joked.

~~~

Taiyang watched Ruby get prepared as he stood at the door way of her room, Ruby looked out the window to see Vest, Ren, Nora and Jaune waiting for her. She turned to look at her dad as she finished polishing Crescent Rose.

"I'm going soon dad...I've got everything I need." Ruby said as she put Crescent Rose onto her back. "Don't wait up for me kay?" She walked over to him and gave him a big bear hug.

Taiyang hugged Ruby as he nodded lightly. "Right...go on, the world is waiting for it's answer on what danger awaits them, I'll take care of things here...stop by Yang's room before you leave."

Ruby sniffed a little as she snorted. "Dad, you smell like bad carrots." She lets go of Taiyang as she walked out of her room and went to Yang's room, she lightly knocked on it as she opened it slowly. "Yang...I'm heading out with JNR and Vest, we're going to warn Lionheart about the threat.."

Yang was looking out the window for a little as she saw her sisters reflection in it. Still not saying a word, she lightly nodded. She watched Ruby turn around before she opened her mouth. "....Don't go too soon..."

Ruby stops as she turned around quickly and dashed over to Yang hugging her. "Right...sorry, I wasn't sure.."

Yang was taken by surprise but leaned into the hug. "Be safe....for your big sister...please..." She felt Ruby let go of her as she looked at her sisters silver eyes. "...I promise I'll get better myself to catch up to you..."

Ruby would nod a little as she gave Zwei a final petting and walked out of Yang's room. "I'll hold you to your word Yang." She hurried out to the others as she let out a small sigh before smiling a little. "Alright team...lets go!"

A/N: (Vest belongs to one of my friends on Discord, she helped me out with this chapter, credit goes to her for Vest.)