27 Chapter 26: Nuts Dolts and Rust

As RWBY and the others were flying through Atlas and Mantle in the stolen airship, Weiss glanced around seeing the screens replay Ironwood's message and some replying Winter's, she wanted to call her sister. But didn't know how to explain herself to her, Maria was thinking for a little as she had an idea.

"Okay, it seems we can't take this to Atlas. So I have an idea." Maria said. "I know of someone in Mantle who could help us."

"Hopefully they can help with my arm." Derek said looking at his stub.

Blake rubs his back. "I'm sure of it, you don't have to stay with us. You could go back home to mom and dad, if you want?"

Derek looks at Blake and then over at the others. "Maybe, I'll think about it.."

Ruby looked down as she had flashes of Scarlet appearing in her head. She blinks and shakes her head trying to get the flashes to stop, eventually they stopped as she looked at everyone. "This may sound dumb...but I want to try to convince Scarlet to change her ways, to join us..to stop Salem."

"EEHHH?!!!" Draken asked surprised.

Jaune looked at Ruby. "Are you nuts?! She nearly killed Weiss, she killed Cora." He let out a sigh. "Scarlet is after you Ruby, don't you get it? If you she gets your silver eyes. She'll kill you, she'll kill us all.."

"I..." Ruby said as she closed her mouth and clinches her fist. "I know that....but if I can convince her to help us stop Salem...we can stab her in the back..."

Qrow looked at Vest. "Do you think what Ruby said is a good idea?"

"Make the crazy grimm chick stab the other supposedly crazy grimm chick? As a mad man, I approve of such a stupid idea," Pepper gave a welcomed thumbs up.

"You might, but what about the rest of us?" Yang asked. "We don't know how Vest feels about it."

"I mean of course, this is a group matter after all and Ruby is the sort of leader. We discuss this together," Pepper explained.

"You kids save that for later." Maria said. "We're making a landing in Mantel."

"Riiight, gonna MANTEL on over! Ha ha ha ha, heh," Pepper chuckled.

Weiss face palms. "And I thought Yang's puns were bad..."

Maria would find a good spot to land the airship at, the door opened as Ruby got off first. Yang got off next followed by others, Qrow looked around the airship for a bit as he grabbed a bag.

Pepper chuckled more. "OW!"

Sprite smacked him up side the head before all of them got off the airship.

~~~

"So where are we going exactly?" Blake asked following behind her team, who was following Maria.

Maria didn't answer as she was certain the way she was going was the right way. "Oh you'll see, now which way was it?"

"Already going swimmingly," Pepper rolled his eyes.

"Could be worse, at least we are home Pepper." Sprite commented.

Yang shudders a little. "So cold."

"You'll warm up soon enough," Pepper commented.

Fanta shuddered as well. "Ya think?!"

"Ah here we are." Maria said. "This is the place."

Ruby stops as she looks at the building. "Huh..."

"What's this place?" Aquafina asked looked at the building.

"Can't you tell?" Qrow asked. "It's a old clinic...maybe whoever Maria knows, runs this place."

Maria nods. "Well, more like volunteers." She looked over at Derek. "If you're looking to get a robotic arm like your friend there, this person does a good job."

Derek gulps. "Like Yang's? But hers is...."

"Ah, don't worry about it." Yang said.

"Oh! That's right! I don't remember the name of the person, but I do believe I recognize the building. I help out down here when I have the chance from time to time." Pepper explained as he snapped his fingers..

Maria went to open the door as she walked inside. "Pietro, I've come for my daily check up, I also brought some guest."

"Guest you say?" Pietro asked turning around.

"And one of them needs your special talent to make a new arm." Maria said.

Pietro? Hmm." Pepper thought about the name for a moment.

"Hello there, I'm Sprite, pleasure to meet you sir." She bowed.

"Sup, the name's Aquafina," He nodded.

"Hello there!~" Fanta waved happily.

Once RWBY had walked in with Draken, Qrow and Derek. Pietro noticed what Maria meant, he glanced at Derek's stub as he rubbed his chin before realizing who Ruby and the rest were.

"Oh my, you four...you're Team RWBY." Pietro said. "My daughter told me all about you." He walked over to where Derek was standing at as he examined him for a moment. "Pepper, care to help me with making him one?"

"D-Daughter?" Ruby asked confused.

"Absolutely! it's been awhile since I tinkered with machines. This will be fantastic!" Pepper smiled giving another thumbs up.

"Oh yes, she told me everything." Pietro said. "I'm sure you know her very well, Ruby was it?"

Ruby lightly nods. "Yes sir, that's me. The one and only."

Derek sat down as he wondered how Pietro and Pepper would get about making him a new arm, he glanced at Yang for a bit. "Uh...will it hurt when I put it on?"

Yang cocks an eyebrow up. "Hmm, I didn't really feel much pain on mine. But you'll get over it, eventually."

Pepper nodded. "Indeed, it's Ruby doo in the flesh! The famous leader of team RWBY." He walked over to Pietro.

"And plus, might get a gun with that arm. Possibly a hook." Aquafina added as he walked over to Derek.

Ruby was confused still on who Pietro's daughter could be, Qrow put the bag down as he took Derek's Crimson Jupiter's out. "I guess these will be back ups for you then."

"Oh, didn't think of that." Derek said.

"Oh, yes! His weapon will certainly be useful for making his arm, we can adjust according to make sure his arm can handle such weight." Pepper then grabbed Derek's Crimson Jupiter.

Aquafina nodded. "Of course we shall see what they do."

~~~

The alarms started to go off, as Grimm had infiltrated Mantle. Ruby dashed outside as she glances around the area, Yang followed behind as well as Weiss, Blake. Qrow and JNR, Draken stayed in the clinic since he didn't want to be in the way too much.

Ah crap! Grimm, you three go see what's up. I'll stay here with Pietro and Derek." Pepper said.

"Right, we shall be off!" Sprite followed the others outside along with Aquafina and Fanta.

Grimm started to run at the group, as some of the Atlas robots fired at them, not making any attempts on killing the Grimm. The Grimm pounced on the robots tearing their heads off.

"Ooh crap." Yang said. "Gee, Ironwood's forces have gotten rusty."

Ruby slashed at the Grimm with Crescent Rose. "Less talking, more fighty."

"I guess security has gotten dumbed down." Sprite twirled her sword out.

Blake looked at Weiss. "Give me a boost. I'm going to try to take four out at once."

Weiss nodded as she used her glyphs to launch Blake towards the Grimm. Yang cocked her arm back and punched one in the head slamming them down to the ground, Qrow helped Ruby out. But more kept coming from around the corner.

Sprite dashed forward easily sliced the Grimm in half with ease.

A green laser fired from out of the sky hitting the Grimm one by one, as Ruby looked up wondering where it came from. A figure flew into the air as the moon shined behind them before they took out the last Grimm.

"Is that..?" Blake asked.

"Penny?" Ruby asked.

Sprite eyes widen.

"Holy crap?! Penny?" Fanta asked.

Penny landed gracefully onto the ground as she turned her head, her eyes widen with glee seeing Ruby and the others. "SAL....U...TATIONS!" She came flying full speed and tackled Ruby into a hug.

"Yep, that's Penny.." Yang said.

"I'll be dripped! It's Penny," Aquafina shouted.

Jaune chuckled a little, Nora helped Ruby up off the ground after Penny had gotten up. Penny glanced around at the others, as she noticed there was someone missing from JNR. "Where's Pyrrha?"

Ruby looks down as she puts her hand on Penny's shoulder. "Penny....she...she's gone."

Sprite sheathed her sword and walked over to Ruby to comfort her. "Unfortunately, she is among the stars in the sky."

"Oh...I didn't know.." Penny said.

"It's not your fault." Jaune said. "Things happen, but how are you?"

Qrow snickered. "It's obvious, Pietro rebuilt her." He looked at them. "He did say daughter, who else did you think?"

"Good point." Weiss said.

"Oh that means, ah indeed it does. At least you're rebuilt and ready for combat," Sprite commented.

A vehicle came by as it stopped behind the group, the Ace ops got off as they looked at them.

"You all, you're under arrest." Clover said.

"EHH?!!" Ruby asked. "Arrest?"

Qrow scoffed. "Tch, let me guess Ironwood's welcome wagon?"

"Arrest?! For what?! Saving Mantel from Grimm?!" Sprite yelled.

Ruby drops Crescent Rose, as Yang lowered her arms. "Are you taking us to Ironwood?"

"You can say that." Marrow said.

Clover walked over to Ruby taking the relic from her. "I'll be taking this."

"I suppose we were gonna see ironwood anyway, this just speeds up the process." Sprite commented.

Fanta rolled her eyes. "Yeah, but this isn't what I had in mind."

~~~

The group was being transported to Atlas, while Derek, and Draken stayed with Pietro since the arm wasn't done yet. Once they got to the academy, Ruby glanced around after Clover had them get out of the vehicle. Her eyes were drawn to a guard, as she could've sworn she saw them somewhere before.

"Move along." Clover said.

Scarlet just stood there watching them, she noticed the relic as she stayed quiet still blending in with no one knowing it was her.

Pepper also stayed with Pietro since he was helping out with the arm.

Sprite, Fanta, and Aquafina kept moving along.

Harriet knocked on the door to Ironwood's office. "General, we have them as you requested."

"Good, come on in." Ironwood said.

Oscar sighed as he walked inside the room with Ruby and the others, Scarlet peered around the corner keeping an eye on the relic as she saw Winter standing next to Ironwood's desk. Yang glanced at her as she cocks an eyebrow up.

"Hey uh, General, what's with that guard?" Yang asked.

"Oh don't worry about that, just doing their job." Ironwood said.

Sprite raised her eyebrow as well, but shook her head. "General, it's good to see you. Uhm, although I wish we weren't brought up like this."

Winter looked at Weiss for a brief moment as she steps forward. "It was to help not draw any attention, the streets were empty after the Grimm had came, also what do you know about a stolen ship?"

"Uh..." Yang said. "We stole it, to get here."

"Clover, un-cuff them." Ironwood said as he glanced at Scarlet. "You there, close the door. I have important info I need to tell them."

Scarlet nodded as she closed the door, clover took the cuffs off them as Ironwood looked at the relic and handed it to Winter.

Sprite rubbed her wrists after being uncuffed.

"Important information? What exactly?" Fanta asked.

Ironwood looks at them. "First and for most. I know what happened at Beacon was harsh, but seeing as you all are here now. You can stay here at Atlas academy, second. I plan on launching Amity arena in the sky to have the signals get back up and running, but we can't proceed with plans. Robyn Hill is getting suspicious of our work." He walked over to Winter and took the relic. "Lastly, I entrust you with this. And you all will be getting weapon upgrades to help you."

Ruby looked at him as she nods. "You can count on us General." Her wanting to tell Ironwood about Salem flew over her head as she took the relic back.

Oscar looked at Ironwood. "Hello James, er...I mean general, no wait. I mean Ironwood...gahh, Ozpin didn't tell me what to call you."

Ironwood cocks an eyebrow up. "Ozpin? He's alive?"

"It's a long story." Qrow said. "But wouldn't launching Amity be risky? Drawing attention to Grimm and who knows what else."

"That's where you all come in." Ironwood said. "Grimm are also being a pest to our plans as well."

"We shall do everything in our power to protect Amity." Sprite nodded.

"Ooo, Upgrades very nice." Aquafina smiled.

"Robyn Hill? Why is she getting suspicious for?" Fanta asked.

Winter clears her throat. "She's running to be part of the council, and she's unaware of what we're doing with Amity. If she finds out what we're doing, she'll put a stop to it."

"Running for council seat? Who else is up for grabs?" Fanta looked over at Winter.

"Miss Hill, she was always one for the people." Sprite crossed her arms and sighed.

Winter lets out a small sigh. "Our father."

Weiss' eyes widen. "Dad's running against Robyn? Is he insane?"

"Oh joy...grumpy old Schnee." Qrow said.

"Oh great, mister cheapskate is running for Council seat." Fanta rolled her eyes and her tail waggled.

"No doubt we will be seeing him in our travels, I fear." Sprite sighed.

Scarlet over heard this as she had a little grin on her face, she headed out of academy and casually walked off without letting anyone know where she was going. She had a lot of juicy info to tell Watts and Tyrian now.

A/N:[I can't take credit for Team SODA, Draken. Cora or Vest, credit goes to my friends on Discord.]