Author's Note: Many of you have pointed out that canon-Ruby is probably not the Summer Maiden, and that her defeat of Cinder could very easily be attributed to Silver-Eyed Warrior powers. I'm perfectly aware of this, but I'm glad you guys care enough about this story to point it out. I'm not really trying to make predictions here; I just thought it'd be interesting if Ruby was the Summer Maiden. So I made her the Summer Maiden.

Chapter 10: A Daring Escape

Yang was resting on top of the bed in her guest room with her arm tucked under her head. Night had once again fallen outside her window. She'd never really thought about it before, but this room was far too big for just one person. She supposed the whole Schnee mansion was like that. There was too much space and nothing to fill it with but the trappings of wealth. Yang was getting really sick of this place. Fortunately, she wouldn't be a guest here much longer.

In hindsight, Yang was surprised that she, Blake, and Ruby hadn't been tossed out onto the streets yesterday. Winter obviously wasn't pleased with them, and after hearing what Weiss's dad has said, he probably thought that they were Cinder's agents or something like that. However, a whole day had passed without any word from Winter or Mr. Schnee.

Team RWBY had spent that day preparing for their trip to Mistral. Yang's duffle bag was sitting on the bed next to her. It was full to the brim with everything she'd brought to Atlas plus all kinds of extra supplies. There was a long journey ahead, and with Mistral essentially being a war zone, Yang wasn't counting on basic necessities being readily available.

Unfortunately, a complication had arisen. Within hours of Team RWBY's confrontation with Winter, a small army of security guards had suddenly appeared. They'd been patrolling the mansion's halls and keeping an eye on all the exits ever since. Weiss had been absolutely certain that they were there to keep her safely within the mansion's confines.

Yang wasn't sure if the guards were Winter's or Daddy Schnee's doing, and quite frankly, she didn't care. She already knew everything she needed to know about them: they didn't answer questions, they had no sense of humor, and they were in the way. Fortunately, Ruby, with a lot of input from Weiss and Blake, had worked out a plan to sneak out of the mansion.

Yang was just waiting for the signal now. She hoped it would come soon. She really hated waiting.

Yang held up her stump and looked at it. The metal ports that had been grafted into her skin reflected the light with a dull luster. Yang hadn't realized until yesterday just how much of an emotional crutch her prosthetic had been for her. Even just the promise of getting it back had kept her spirits up. She understood now that she wasn't over what had happened to her. Maybe she never would be. She'd begun to wonder if getting the cybernetic arm had been a mistake. It'd enabled her to think she was moving on with her life without really moving on at all.

Yang supposed none of that mattered now. Ruby needed her, and so did Blake and Dad and Weiss and countless others. She absolutely would not let them down. Maybe she would never put what had happened behind her, but that didn't mean she couldn't rise above it.

Yang's scroll buzzed. She fished it out of her pocket and slid the screen open.

Blakey: The guards are about to change shifts.

Blake had spent a good deal of last night covertly observing the guards' patterns. Yang thought it would be simpler for Team RWBY to just punch their way out of the mansion, but that idea had been unanimously rejected. Weiss was terrified that Winter would try to stop them with force, and fighting her own sister was not something she was prepared to do. If any of the guards raised the alarm, Winter might come running.

Yang didn't much want to fight Winter either, truth be told. Sparring matches, hunting grimm, and kicking White Fang butt were one thing, but actually fighting against Weiss's sister in earnest was quite another. As much as Yang loved to fight, something like that just didn't feel right.

Yang's scroll buzzed again.

Ice Queen: The east corridor is clear.

Rubes: Guest hall is 2

Yang got up off the bed. She grabbed her duffle, slung it over her shoulder, and typed out a message as she walked to the door.

Me: Everyone rdy for this?

Ice Queen: Ready.

Rubes: Y

Yang perched at the door with her hand on the knob until the message she'd been waiting for finally came.

Blakey: Now.

Yang opened the door and slipped out of her room. In the hallway, Ruby silently joined her with her rucksack in hand. The two of them walked down the hallway at a brisk pace. Yang would have preferred to run, but they were already making enough noise as it was on the hardwood floors.

They found Blake exactly where she was supposed to be. Blake had a small backpack on her back that looked like it was stuffed to capacity. Still, she was probably traveling lighter than Yang or Ruby.

Yang and Ruby followed Blake until the three of them came to a corner. Blake held up a hand for everyone to stop. She pressed herself against the wall. Yang and Ruby did the same. A minute later, a security guard walked by down the intersecting hallway.

As soon as the guard had passed, Blake motioned for Yang and Ruby to follow. They tiptoed down the corridor. Blake was perfectly silent. How she managed to do that in heeled boots, Yang had no idea. Maybe she could ask Blake to teach her that trick later. Judging by the way Blake's cat ears were twitching underneath her bow, she was not impressed with Yang's and Ruby's attempts at stealth.

It didn't take long for Yang, Blake, and Ruby to reach the rendezvous point with Weiss at a crossing of hallways near the mansion's foyer. Weiss, however, wasn't there.

"Where is she?" Ruby whispered.

"I don't know," Yang whispered back. "Do you think we should message her?"

"Quiet," Blake hissed. She crept up to the corner where the two hallways met and peeked around it.

Blake turned back to Yang and Ruby and held up two fingers. Yang figured that meant she saw two guards. That wasn't good. Weiss was supposed to have come from that direction.

Weiss? Ruby mouthed at Blake.

Blake pointed around the corner. Since there weren't any sounds of a struggle, Yang assumed that Weiss must still be hidden but pinned down by the unaware guards. Yang made a fist and held it up. As far as she was concerned, punching their way out of this was still a good backup plan. If they were quick, they could knock out the guards before they raised the alarm.

Blake rolled her eyes. She held up a hand for Yang to be patient. A clone split off of her and took another peek around the corner.

Yang was a bit perplexed. Could Blake see through her clones? That was one more thing to ask her about later.

Apparently having seen an opening, the clone took off down the hall but in the opposite direction from the guards.

Suddenly there was a thumping sound.

"Who's there!" one of the guards shouted.

Yang wondered if something had gone wrong. She looked at Blake, but Blake didn't seem worried.

"Did you see something?" the other guard asked.

"I don't know," the first guard said. "I thought there was someone there, but then they just vanished."

"Let's go check it out," the second guard said.

Blake motioned for everyone to get up against the wall. Seconds later the two guards came walking past the intersection, guns drawn and looking intently in the direction Blake's clone had gone.

The guards vanished from sight as they moved farther down the hallway. Blake beckoned for Yang and Ruby to follow her. In the intersection, they saw Weiss sneaking toward them. She was carrying a rather large suitcase. Yang might have teased her about over packing, but she was honestly surprised that Weiss had managed to limit herself to just one piece of luggage. She was also impressed that Weiss had managed to hide with it.

"Thank you," Weiss whispered when she'd caught up with the group.

Everyone knew where to go now. They followed the zigzagging hallways along their route until they finally emerged in the foyer. However, instead of making a beeline for the front door, they all stopped in their tracks.

Mr. Schnee was standing there, between Team RWBY and their goal. There was a sneer on his lips. His hand rested on the hilt of a large saber that was sheathed on his belt. Strangely, the sword did not appear to also be a gun. That didn't make its blade any less sharp, however.

"Father," Weiss said as she set her suitcase down. She only sounded mildly surprised. "Was this Winter's doing?"

"As if I would need her to know when treachery was afoot in my own home," Mr. Schnee said.

Weiss eyed her father's blade. "Are you really intending to draw a sword on your own daughter?"

"Some days I wonder if you are still my daughter," Mr. Schnee said. "Regardless, I will do whatever is necessary to protect your future. The only question that remains is, will you force my hand."

Weiss blanched. "You're not serious!"

Mr. Schnee drew his blade. "I am very serious."

"What's wrong with you?!" Ruby blurted out. "Weiss is doing a brave thing! Can't you see that?"

"As if someone like you would know the difference between bravery and stupidity," Mr. Schnee said. He brandished his sword at Ruby. "Don't think that I don't know who you are, Ruby Rose. I hold you personally responsible for the insanity that has corrupted my daughter."

"Oh that is it!" Yang said. She squeezed her fist together. "This is going to be so much more satisfying than a punching bag!"

"No, Yang! Wait!" Weiss stepped in front of Yang. She turned to Mr. Schnee and said, "Father, please listen to me!"

"No! You will listen to me!" Mr. Schnee advanced menacingly on Team RWBY.

Weiss's hands found Yang and Ruby's arms. She pulled them back with her as she backpedaled.

"Weiss!" Yang said. "What are you doing?!"

Mr. Schnee stopped in his tracks. Blake was standing her ground, blocking his way.

"You!" Mr. Schnee practically spat in Blake's face. "Get out of my way!"

"Blake!" Yang said. She pulled herself free of Weiss's grip.

"No! Don't hurt him!" Weiss shouted after her.

Mr. Schnee raised his sword, but Blake vanished into thin air.

"What!?" Mr. Schnee said.

Yang heard the sound of Ember Celica activating a split second before something impacted the back of Mr. Schnee's head. He went cross-eyed and then toppled to the ground unconscious.

Blake, the real Blake, was standing behind Mr. Schnee. Her fist, clad in Yang's gauntlet, still hung in a striking position.

Blake deactivated Ember Celica and lowered her hand. "I'm sorry, Weiss," she said. "But he wasn't going to see reason."

"I…I suppose he had that coming," Weiss said.

"Oh come on, Weiss," Yang said. "You can't pretend that wasn't cathartic."

"It wasn't," Weiss said. "No matter what else he is, he's still my father."

Yang scowled. She didn't like it, but Weiss might have a point.

"Weiss…" Ruby said.

"It's okay, Ruby," Weiss said. She collected her suitcase. "We should go. One of the guards must have heard that. And I don't think it would be wise to be here when Father wakes up."

Yang, Blake, Weiss, and Ruby all walked out the front door. They were finally in the clear, or so they'd thought. Rather than the empty driveway they'd been expecting, however, there was an impeccably dressed man standing there in front of a limo with a running engine.

"Good evening, Madam," the man said to Weiss. "Your sister sends her regards."

"Oh come on," Yang said. "Winter really sent the butler to stop us?"

Weiss asked, "Sven? What's this all about?"

"Madam Winter wished for me to convey her regrets for not being here in person," Sven said. "She instructed me to inform you that while she still believes you are being foolish, she feels that it would be better to aid you rather than hinder you."

"She what?" Weiss asked, completely surprised.

"This limousine will take you to the airdock, where a military transport is waiting for you. It appears you and your team have impressed her, Madam," Sven said. "I cannot pretend to fully understand the situation, but let me say that I am proud of you."

Weiss closed her eyes. A smile crossed her lips.

"Weiss?" Ruby said as she took Weiss's free hand. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," Weiss said. She opened her eyes. "Thank you, Sven. Please tell my sister if you get a chance that I won't let her down."

"Of course, Madam." Sven bowed. Then he picked a metal case up off the ground. "Miss Xiao Long? Madam Winter also instructed me to give you this. I'm told it cost a great deal to have it prepared in time."

Yang's heart skipped a beat in her chest. She recognized the case. Could it be? She walked toward Sven and took it from him with a trembling hand. "Thanks," she said.

Sven opened the limo's door. "Madam should hurry. It wouldn't do for her to be late."

"Yes, of course," Weiss said. "Sven? I can't tell you how much I appreciate everything you've done for me over the years."

"Madam needn't think anything of it," Sven said. "I was merely doing my job."

Team RWBY climbed into the limo and stowed their luggage. The driver took off right away.

"We did it," Weiss said.

Ruby hugged her from the side. "I knew we would."

Weiss put her arm around Ruby. Soon the two of them were cuddling together like they were alone in the car. Yang might've had something to say about that, but she was too entranced by the case sitting in her lap.

Blake asked, "Aren't you going to open it?"

"I'm not sure if I should," Yang said.

"Why not?" Blake asked.

"I don't know," Yang said honestly. "It doesn't quite feel like I earned this."

"Yang, you were willing to follow Ruby to Mistral, despite what it was going to cost you," Blake said.

"I know," Yang said. "But what if I never figure out how to live without it?"

"I'll be there to help you," Blake said. "Yang. I know this will make you feel better about yourself. Is that so wrong?"

Yang reached down and undid the latches on the case one by one. She opened it up. Her cybernetic arm was inside, sitting in molded foam padding. It looked good as new.

"Blake. I think you should do the honors," Yang said.

Blake smiled. She took the arm out of the case. Yang held up her stump for her. Blake lined up the ports and locked Yang's prosthetic into place.

Yang felt the familiar itching sensation run down the right side of her body, but it passed quickly. Blake pressed her palm against Yang's artificial one, and they twined their fingers together.

Yang felt a weight lift off of her. She smiled and drew in close to Blake for a kiss.

"Gross!" Ruby teased.

"Like you're one to talk, Sis!" Yang shot back.

Blake unhooked Ember Celica from her wrist. "I believe this is yours," she said.

Yang let Blake hook her bracelet back on its rightful place. "Thanks for taking care of it," she said.

Weiss looked out the window at the city rolling by. "I guess this is the last I'll see of Atlas for a long time."

"We may be going to Mistral," Ruby said. "But we'll be fighting for Atlas, and all of the other kingdoms too."

Yang said, "You know, Rubes, this is it."

"What's it?" Ruby asked.

"This is where we get to be just like the heroes in those stories I used to read to you," Yang said. "Cause we're on our way to go save the world."

A smile worked its way onto Ruby's lips. She said, "Yeah! Cinder doesn't stand a chance!"

Author's Note: Team RWBY will return in The Avengers! Actually, they probably won't, but that would be awesome. On a more serious note though, I do have ideas for a third story in this series. Let me know if you guys are interested in more. I probably won't be working on it until Volume 4 is at least mostly done, however. It's going to get into some parts of the RWBY-verse that aren't well established yet. Despite my story being very non-canon at this point, I still want to mostly adhere to the elements of canon.

And speaking of Volume 4, I will be live blogging it over on my tumblr (username: electronicyarn). Come join me on Sunday evenings (North American time) to hear my rambling, disjointed thoughts on the new episodes.

I'll see you guys in Volume 4!

Constructive criticism is always welcome so please feel free to review or comment. If you want to be notified of updates or send me a message, you can find me on tumblr under the name electronicyarn.