AUTHOR'S NOTE: Oh my gosh you guys, how many of you have cried and sobbed over the last few episodes? I know I did! And I still can't stop crying! So I wrote this next chapter to cheer myself up!

I kind of hate the pacing of this chapter. I just wanted to take my time on this and want this to be more descriptive, but I just wanted to get this chapter done so I can get it out there.

Expect some drama in this chapter. Oh, and a fight scene, too! Hope you guys enjoy!

Chapter Five

His eyes shot open and found himself in the dark. He sat up and runs his hand through his hair, his mind trying to process what had happened. He took a quick look at his surroundings before reaching his hand out and pulls back a curtain. He threw his covers off and got up passed the curtain. He saw that he was in his bed chambers. He lets out a tired sigh and runs his hand through his hair again.

"Whoa man. That's it. No more wine before bed."

He made his way over to a door and walk through to find himself in a bathroom. He turns on the lights, got to the sink, and started to wash his face with cold water. He was still a bit dazed from that strange dream. It felt like there was a fog in his mind that won't go away.

Roman grabbed a towel and wipes his face dry, and he couldn't help but to look at his reflection in the mirror. He recalled the dream that has him all wound up in the first place.

He remembered being in the middle of a snowy forest that he knew could not be a part of the Land of Sweets, and used his magic to heat himself up. He found himself wearing a formal suit, and while looking around trying to find out where he was, he heard someone whispering his name. Turns out it was some fireflies and it led him into the forest clearing, and saw that he was not alone.

Roman remembered a girl, a young lady from the looks of her, who he found suffering from the harsh cold as if the weather was picking on the poor thing. He couldn't see what she really looks like, only a black silhouette, but she was wearing a dress, that he could see.

One thing led to another, and the next thing he knew, he was leading them in a dance. What was he thinking, dancing with a complete stranger? It must've been the scenery and the music that enticed him wanting to dance. Plus the girl, despite not knowing who she is or what she might've looked like, he has to admit, was a treat to dance with.

It would make sense since it was just a dream, and dreams don't really make sense at all. What could've caused him to have that dream, though?

Roman emerged from his bathroom and decided that since he's up, he might as well get ready for the day. While he was getting dressed in his usual attire, his mind still wanders back to that dream.

It felt…pleasant. Too pleasant for his taste, but pleasant nonetheless. Roman could still remember feeling the excitement of that dance, having felt a strange happiness that he had not felt in years. It was as if that dream had given him a nice pick-me-up, but not in a way that he had imagined.

That girl, though. He couldn't help but to wonder what had transpired between them. He never met her before, true, but upon first meeting her, Roman felt something had stirred up within him. He recognized that same sensation he had felt whenever he was around that little Red, as if he was in her presence.

That sensation, though, had grew when he was dancing with the girl, like a wildfire had just broken out and had grown throughout his body, taking over his senses, making it hard for him to think. He remembered feeling that flaming sensation in his heart, and the more that they had danced, the more that flame had taken over.

The way she rested her precious little head against his chest, he still remembers how warm she had felt against him. He remembers his breath getting caught in his throat when she had relaxed herself upon him. He remembers wrapping his arms around her warm body, and giving her a quick kiss on the forehead, both still dancing the time away.

In the back of his mind, Roman had wished that it would've never end. Never had he felt this content, so relaxed, so…so happy. He can't even remember the last time he felt this way.

Before that dream had to sadly end, he remembered a strange scent that was coming from the girl, a scent that had smelled so familiar to him. He instantly recognized that the scent were a mix of roses and strawberries.

Where had he smelled that before? It's not a particularly bad smell, but rather an intoxicating one. Where had he smelled that scent before?

Roman presses down his black bowler hat on the top of his head while staring at a mirror. He looks over at his reflection and was satisfied with his appearance for the day. He heard a knock on the door.

"Be right there!" He walked to the double doors and swung them open, revealing that the person on the other side happens to be Neo. "Ah, Neo. So good to see you. Did the White Fang complete their task?"

Neo nodded, but made a gesture to show Roman something in her hands. Roman's eyes narrowed to her hands and saw that she was holding a grayish-blue mirror with a drawing of a glyph on the back.

"Why do you have the mirror?" Roman asked. Neo handed Roman the mirror, and so he took the handle and looked at the reflecting glass…only to see his only reflection. "Is this some sick joke, Neo?"

Neo looks over at the mirror, and slaps her palm against her face out of frustration. She looked up at Roman dead in the eye, and made these weird gestures with her eyes, changing colors between white, pink, and brown. Roman couldn't help but to feel confused, and yet a bit worried.

"You happened to see something occur in the mirror? What was it?"

Neo replied to him with more gestures with her eyes.

"What do you mean you saw the Nutcracker?"

Neo made more eye gestures again. Roman rolled his eyes and couldn't help but to whine. "Fine. I'll humor you." He turns his attention back to the mirror and ordered, "Show me Jaune Arc."

Roman could no longer see his reflection in the mirror, as he sees a fog ensnaring within, and within moments, it shows him exactly what he ordered it to do. In the mirror, he could make out the Nutcracker Jaune talking with Neptune and Winter, and can make out Pyrrha and Penny in the background, sitting on a couch and both were deep in conversation as well.

Roman's blood began to boil at the sight of the Nutcracker and his lackeys having to survive the collapsed tunnels. He clenched his hold tighter against the handle of the mirror as he let out a frustrating growl through his teeth.

"Oh you cannot be crapping on my parade! They're still alive!?"

Neo could only nod as she folds her hands together. Roman looked away and glared at a distance. He could've sworn that their plan was to use the tunnels to make their way to Gingerbread Village. How the heck did they…?

Another thought came to Roman. There was no one around aside from the Grimm and White Fang that he had told they would have to blow up the tunnels. There was no way Nut-Boy and the orders had caught wind of his plan, did they?

Roman lifts up the mirror and made another order. "Show me the Licorice Subway Station in Taffy City approximately ten hours ago!"

A fog covers up within the mirror, replacing the scene with Jaune and the others to what had occurred in the station. Neo couldn't help but to sneak a peek as well as they both watched the events that had occurred prior.

They both watched Ruby and Blake leaving the tunnels and making their way onto the platform and up the stairs. About fifteen minutes later, they both see The Thief King and a small horde of Grimm emerge from the tunnels into the station and up the stairs.

After a little bit, Torchwick couldn't help but to be surprised when he sees Blake and Ruby heading back down into the platform. How the heck did they sneak by him without him or the Grimm knowing!?

He sees the Nutcracker and the rest of the gang emerged and then a sappy reunion between Ruby and her friends, and another sappy one between the rebel and the monkey-tail Faunus.

What surprised him even more was that Blake and Ruby had already knew of his plan and had warned the gang, and then they all left after that.

"How in the hell…!? Why did…!? How…!? When have…!?" By now, so many questions were swimming through his head, and his anger had begun to build up. The only way that the kitty rebel and Red could've known was they must've gone into hiding and he just so happened to be there when he announced his orders to Emerald and Mercury.

Where could they have hidden? When was it? If they had come back down into the station, they must've never left the building in the first place. So where were they hiding when it happened!?

And what was more irritating is the fact that they're all still alive! He can't really pinpoint their location through the mirror. He can only order the mirror to show him a person or any past event, but he cannot order it to show him their location as you have to be very specific.

He lifts up the mirror again and gave another demand. "Show me Jaune Arc again!"

The scene in the mirror shifted back to Jaune and the others. Judging from their location, they looked to be in a living room. Perhaps they're still back at Taffy City? He can't quite make it out for sure.

In the mirror, he looked and spotted Blake and Sun entering the living room. He notices that Blake was wearing pajamas. She had asked how they had all been and something about Neptune making a perverted joke at Sun for staying in with Blake all this time.

That was when a familiar face entered the scene. In the living room behind Blake and Sun walked in Adam, the bull-Faunus and former leader of the White Fang. It had been so long since Roman had last seen him, and was amazed to discover that he was probably hiding out with kitty-cat all this time.

He heard Pyrrha spoke up through the mirror, "We should leave Taffy City soon. Let's wake up the girls, pack up some supplies, and head out."

That was all Roman needed to hear. A familiar fog took over the mirror and then shifted back into a regular reflection. Roman lifts the mirror down and a devious smirk formed on his lips.

"Eh, it may not be so bad after all. Neo, gather Cinder and the kiddos and rally up the White Fang. We're going hunting."

Ruby had been staring at the blank wall on the other side of the room. She had been awake for quite a while now. She saw that the whole experience, the Nutcracker, the Thief King, the trip to the Land of Sweets, wasn't just a dream, after all. It had all been real. What had occurred in the last eight hours, however, was indeed a dream.

She thought it was all real until she had woken up to find herself still in the guest room, laying down under the covers with a still-sleeping Yang snoring away right next to her. There was a blush on her face that had been there the minute she woke up, and it hadn't gone away since.

Ruby turned to lay on her back and stares up at the ceiling. What started out what seemed to be a nightmare ended in the most beautiful way she had ever dreamed of before. She never had this kind of dream before, not even one of those dancing dreams…except that one crazy dream with the monkey and a talking Zwei where the three of them danced to polka music, but she had that dream about two years ago.

No. This dream was different. Her mind wanders to the mysterious man. What was his name? What does he really look like? He could very well be another figment of Ruby's imagination. Yet there was something different about him. He almost acted and felt too real to be just a figment.

Maybe it was one of those dreams of one day meeting your one true love? Ruby of course did have a few dreams like that before, but none that ends up with the two dancing away in a snow-filled forest with glowing fireflies flying all over in the middle of a clearing.

The way he was so gentle to her, how he acted so kind. She even likes how he had smelled of spiced pumpkins with cinnamon. Ruby clutches the blanket over her with her fists, wondering in her mind where she had smelt that wonderful smell before. She could've sworn she smelled it before.

What was even more weird was that it was as if she had felt towards him what she had felt in the last couple encounters she had with Roman Torchwick, and then when the dream ended, it was as if that feeling had grown.

Ruby couldn't help but to smile. Call her crazy, but it was that kind of dream that she might have needed. She couldn't help but to feel happy, feeling a bit more excited. Maybe it was the dancing that had lifted up her spirits. After all that's happened the last day, it was just what she needed to help her get through this day.

Ruby heard a small soft knock on the door. She sat up and watches the door opening, and saw Pyrrha sticking her head in. She gave Ruby a smile and said, "Morning, Ruby. Is Yang still asleep?"

Ruby looks down at the snoring Yang and then back to Pyrrha asking, "Does this answer your question?"

Pyrrha chuckled, and then walks into the room with one arm holding up the sisters' clothes and their boots in the other.

"In any case, I washed your clothes for you." Pyrrha sets them down on a nearby dresser. "We need to leave here pretty soon, so you should wake Yang up and get changed."

Ruby smiled and nodded. "Thanks, Pyrrha. Really appreciate it."

"It's no trouble at all, Ruby." Pyrrha said with a smile. "Remember to be quick, okay?"

Ruby nodded again. "Got it."

Pyrrha took hold of the doorknob and leaves the bedroom, closing the door behind her. Ruby pulls the blankets off of her and got on her knees, looking down at her older sister.

"Yang, wake up! It's time to get up!"

Yang turns to her side, her back and long crazy blonde hair facing Ruby, and mumbled, "But daddy, I don't wanna go to school today. I wanna stay home and bake cookies."

Ruby sighed out of irritation and rolled her eyes, and then placed both hands on Yang's arm and began to shake her. "Yang! Now's not the time to sleep in! You have to get up!"

That was just enough for Yang to snap open her eyes. She took a look around at her surroundings and then proceeded to sit up, as Ruby retracted her hands.

"Uh...w-wha? Oh. Hey sis. Is it morning already?"

"Or afternoon." Ruby said with a shrug.

"Oh yeah. That's right. Land of Sweets. Got it." Yang shook her head and looked as if something had just popped up into her mind. Her lilac eyes wandered to her little sister and reminded her, "Today's Christmas."

Ruby's eyes widened at the realization. Of course! They've been so busy on their crazy adventure that they had almost forgotten that today was Christmas. Ruby's eyes averted away as she scratches her cheek with her finger, and then looked up to Yang.

"What better way to spend Christmas than to go on the adventure of a lifetime?" Ruby asked with a smile.

Yang smiled back and nodded in agreement. "Yeah."

Of course it may be a bit disheartening for the sisters to not spend Christmas day back at their home, in their world, but then again, how often does a pair of sisters get to have the adventure one might expect to happen only in fairytales?

Yang pulled the blankets back and got up from the bed. "Come on, sis. We got a lot of prepping to do."

After changing into their freshly cleaned clothes, both Ruby and Yang left the guest room and walked into the living room, and the first thing they saw was how Blake, Neptune, and Winter were packing items into two bags and a backpack.

"Uh…hey guys? What ya doing?" Yang asked raising a brow.

Blake leaned her head up to their direction and said back, "Oh. Morning Ruby, Yang. We have a long journey ahead of us, so we'll be in need of some supplies."

"Heh. I never thought of that." Ruby said, turning her head to Yang.

"Well we didn't bother bringing anything when we came here." Yang brought up while she shrugs her shoulders. "Even if we wanted to, we could've brought our own stuff with us, but how could we when we were as small as mice?"

"Point and case." Ruby answered with a smile and places her hands on her hips.

Blake gave the sisters a smile. "Don't worry, you two. We have plenty to get by until we get to the castle. There used to be a town called Gummy City where it had a shopping market. When we get there and if we're lucky, we might be able to salvage something for good use."

"Used to? Wouldn't that mean that it's not there?" Yang pointed out.

"The town's still standing, but no one has lived there for years." Blake explained. "Not ever since Torchwick took the throne."

"Why's that?" Ruby asked.

Before Blake could answer that, another voice interrupted her. "Don't forget that we'll be in need of some food, too."

Ruby and Yang turned and saw Adam, Sun, and Pyrrha with some small boxes, packages, and bottles gathered up in their arms.

"Food?" Neptune repeated. "But we're dolls. We don't need to eat, remember?"

"You don't, but some of us do." Adam explained. "Since the journey will be long, we should pack enough to last us for a while."

"And I'm sure we'll find some more food as we go along." Sun said with a smile. "They don't call this place the Land of Sweets for nothing."

Speaking of food, Ruby and Yang couldn't help but to feel down to the very pits of their empty stomachs. They both looked at each other and realized that they also hadn't eaten in a while, other than ice cream and bits of chocolate and licorice, but that was hours ago.

Pyrrha immediately saw the looks on the sisters' faces and couldn't help but to laugh a little. "You girls hungry?"

"We…might've worked up an appetite." Yang said rather awkwardly, before the entire living room was filled with the sounds of growling coming from both of their stomachs. "Heh-heh-heh."

Adam set down the bundle he had in the arms on the couch and handed the girls a box. "Take this." Ruby kindly took it and both sisters looked to see what it was.

"Blueberry waffles?" Yang asked.

"You don't like it?" Adam asked, with a noticeable irritating tone in his voice.

Ruby shook her head. "No, no! Of course we love waffles! Back where we're from, we usually keep ours frozen before heating them up."

"You girls should see Pastry Town." Neptune spoke up. "Nothing but pastries of all kind there."

"Better start eating if I were you." Adam said. "We're leaving very soon."

Both girls nodded their heads. "Right. Thanks for the waffles." Yang said.

Ruby opens the box, and saw that there were about ten waffles in there, and they looked edible enough to eat. They both decided to help themselves, and since they hadn't eaten for hours, they couldn't help but to scarf them down. The waffles were also that good.

Pyrrha then handed a bottle for Ruby and Yang to share.

"Something to wash it down with." She said.

Yang kindly took the bottle and they both took a drink, thinking that it was only water, but realized that it wasn't water that they had drunk.

"Milk?" Ruby asked.

"This actually tastes better than back home." Yang pointed out.

The others, meanwhile, were finishing up packing away the items they need for their trip.

"There. That should do it." Blake said. "Just in case, we can't forget our weapons." She turns to Ruby and Yang, who had finished chowing down on the waffles and milk, and asked, "Do you two happened to have your own weapons?"

Both sisters looked at each other and then back to Blake as Yang said, "I never needed a weapon." She held up here fists. "I got these bad boys right now." She gave each of her knuckles a kiss.

"I used to have a weapon, but I'm not sure what happened to it." Ruby said while scratching her chin.

"Yeah, pretty sure we forgot it." Sun scratches the back of his head.

"What!?" Ruby shrieked.

"I see…" Adam said, scratching his chin in thought. "If that's the case, then you two should follow me."

Adam walked passed the sisters and headed for the hallway, until he stopped in his tracks when Blake called out to him. "Adam, are you sure?"

Adam turns his head and said, "We need to take every chance we get to take down Torchwick, Blake. You know that already."

"Well yeah, but…"

"Quit worrying. That'll only attract the Grimm." Adam then faced forward. "Ruby, Yang, you best follow me."

Adam walks into the hallway, and Ruby and Yang exchanged looks before following Adam into the hallway, and followed him to what looked like a closet door. He turns to the girls and said, "Right in here, ladies."

He opens the door, and both Ruby and Yang's eyes widened and their eyebrows rose and their mouths hung open. Before them, within the closet, were actually about six different kinds of weapons hanging in the back on the wall, along with plenty of ammo.

"Wow…" They both muttered under their breaths.

"Take your pick." Adam spoke, snapping the two out of their awestruck trances.

They both shook their heads and turned to face Adam as Yang asked, "Seriously?"

Adam crossed his arms above his chest. "Did I stutter?" He asked darkly.

Yang decided to have first pick, and took a good look at the weapons. There was a gun, a light sword, a staff, a pair of metal wristbands, some red weapon all folded up, and an electrical grappling hook.

What caught Yang's eye were the pair of yellow metal wristbands and so she reached her hands up and chucked them from the wall. She took a good long look at them and wondered what kind of weapon this was.

"I'd figured you choose that. It works for those who like to punch." Adam explained.

"To punch?" Yang repeated. "How do they work?"

"What are you waiting for? Put them on."

Yang didn't waste a second and latches the two wristbands onto her wrists. They do feel a bit heavy, and took another look at them on her wrists.

"Okay, now what?"

"Move your wrists up and down quick." Adam ordered.

Yang shrugged and complied. She lifts both her hands up in front of her and moves her arms up and down in a quick motion. Her eyes widened and Ruby watches in amazement when they see that the wristbands had grown and expanded into gauntlets, reaching up to Yang's elbows and covers Yang's knuckles.

"Whoa…" Ruby whispered. "So cool…"

Yang could make out a small hole in each weapon, along with a round slot. "This can also be used as a gun?"

"The Ember Celica is good for short and long distant attacks." Adam explained. He reaches into the closet and took out some red and yellow ammo and handed them to Yang. "These will do."

The weapons retracted back into their smaller forms, and Yang still couldn't help but to stare at them in amazement.

"Awesome…" She said with a smile.

Ruby took a good long look at the other weapons in the closet, and took her sweet time looking at each one to see which one would best fit her. Her silver eyes wandered to the red weapon, which she noticed stands out among the other weapons. She can't make out what kind of weapon it is, and so she reaches her hands out and took hold of it and pulls it off the wall towards her.

"I'd be careful with that if I were you." Adam warned her.

"Why?"

Ruby got her answer when she felt her finger accidentally pull something down, and before she knew what it was, the weapon suddenly unfolded right in front of her, and she and Yang watches in amazement as the weapon formed into something different entirely.

In Ruby's hands, the weapon took the form of a scythe. Her eyes widened in surprise and amazement at how the weapon had unfolded and formed into a monstrous scythe right in front of her.

"A scythe?" Yang guessed.

"It's also a customizable high-empowered sniper rifle." Adam explained.

"What?" Ruby asked raising a brow.

"It's also a gun."

"Oh, that makes sense." Yang said.

Ruby looked at the weapon up and down, and was still amazed at how awesome it looks, and it feels lighter in her hand, which will make it easy for her to carry and to use.

"So you decided to choose that weapon?" Adam asked.

Ruby took another good look at the scythe and then turns to Adam, and nodded her answer.

"Crescent Rose. How fitting. Just be cautious with it. It's considered one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed." Adam explained.

Ruby then pressed down another button, making Crescent Rose fold back into what it was before. Ruby looked to Adam and said, "Thanks, Adam. I promise I'll take good care of this baby."

"See to it that you do." Adam reaches into the closet and took out a small stack of what looked to be magazine clips and also handed them over to Ruby, who kindly took them.

"Out of curiosity, where'd you get these kinds of weapons?" Yang asked.

"One of the perks of being a leader." Adam only said.

Yang was about to question him further when they heard Jaune's voice screaming through the hallway.

"GUYS! GUYS! SOMETHING'S HAPPENING ON TV!"

The three looked at each other out of confusion before Yang called back, "If you're watching a soap opera, then no thanks!"

"NO! TORCHWICK'S ON!"

The three looked at each other again, and this time with shock and worry.

"That does not sound good." Ruby commented.

And so after locking up the closet, Adam led the two girls back into the living room, where they saw everyone else surrounding the television. Ruby took a seat between Jaune and Penny while Adam and Yang stood by to take a look at what was showing on the TV. It looked like a news report, and on the screen before the gang was none other than the Thief King himself, with four others standing behind him.

"…However, our attempts to subdue the princess's guards have failed thus far. We have reason to suspect that they are currently hiding out somewhere in Taffy City being aided by a rebel and the traitorous ex-leader of the White Fang, who both go by the names Blake Belladonna and Adam Taurus."

One of Roman's hands was enveloped in a red aura, and when he waved his hand up, it left behind a rest mist, which within moments shows the images of Blake and Adam.

"As of this moment, the entirety of Taffy City will undergo immediately lockdown. Members of the White Fang will be blocking every entrance and exit to this city. No one is getting in or out until further notice."

He waves his hand again, which shows the images of Jaune, Pyrrha, Sun, Neptune, and Winter.

"Every able body in this city will assist the White Fang into clearing out each and every building of this town until the princess's guards are found and brought to justice for treason and conspiring against the kingdom. Also aiding them apart from the rebel and traitor…"

Another wave of his hand replaced the images of the guards with Ruby, Yang, and Penny.

"Is yet another doll by the name of Penny, and two sisters named Ruby and Yang, foreigners from another land outside our own. They all are to be taken back to the Sugar Plum Castle alive upon capture. Operation: Search and Lockdown will now commence."

Penny reached for the TV and turned it off. Everyone stayed silent, for they all realized that they've now become the hunted. They never thought Torchwick would go after them personally as they were doing to him, but they never thought that he would resort to this.

"…So much for our big advantage." Jaune's voice was the first to break the silence between them.

"What is our plan now?" Winter asked.

"Its only a matter of time before they find us here." Neptune pointed out. "It's pointless to hide."

"It's like Torchwick isn't giving us the option to run and hide here." Yang pointed out.

Blake and Adam both exchanged looks to each other, as if Blake was trying to tell him something. Adam, after a few moments, nodded his head in disagreement. They turned to the others as Blake was the first to speak up.

"You know guys…we did mention that we have a way out of this town."

Everyone now turned their attention to the Faunus duo, as Jaune asked, "How? They blocked the exits, remember?"

"True, but they can't block the exit they don't know about." Adam spoke, rather ominously.

"Wait, you two know another way out?" Penny asked.

"We do." Blake nodded.

"Time we leave. Now." Adam spoke harshly.

Nobody dared question him. Neptune, Jaune, and Blake strapped their bags onto themselves, and after quickly making sure they all have everything and they all have their weapons on hand, it was time to make their escape.

"Everyone head to the basement. Blake and I will join you shortly." Adam ordered.

And so everyone headed down to the basement, led by Pyrrha who aside from Blake and Adam know where it was. As they did, Adam and Blake went around the house one last time to make sure every window and door was bolted shut and locked for extra measure, that'll hopefully buy them time.

The basement was rather small, but it does somewhat have a wide space for them all to fit in apart from the washer and dryer, with a hanging lightbulb as the only source of light in the room.

They all looked up the steps and watched Blake and Adam enters the basement. Adam locked the door behind him and both he and Blake walked down the steps, and everyone tried to make room as Adam walked over to the side of the staircase, where there looked to be a small door leading to a little storage under the stairs.

"What does this have to do with us escaping?" Jaune asked.

"Watch and learn." Blake only said.

Adam opened the small door…and to everyone's surprise, inside the stairs looked like it leads to another flight of stairs beneath.

"Wow." Neptune muttered.

"Neat." Yang commented.

Adam held a firm grip on his weapon as he turns to the others and said, "Follow me, stay close, and be quick. They'll be here any minute."

He was the first to climb down the stairs. Blake took Sun's hand and led him down the secret flight of stairs, followed by Jaune and the rest of the gang. Neptune was the last to follow and had shut the door behind him.

After going down the small flight of stairs, the gang find themselves in a very tight tunnel, made entirely out of chocolate with the smell of cinnamon in the air.

"Funny. I don't think I remember this being under your place, Blake!" Sun pointed out.

"Yeah. Why do you think it's called a secret tunnel?" Adam asked rather sarcastically.

"Velvet and her friends built this tunnel sometime after the takeover." Blake explained. "We only used this tunnel in case of emergencies. This'll take us straight to her place on the outskirts of town."

"That's actually quite brilliant!" Penny exclaimed, her voice echoing through the tunnel. "No one will know how we escaped!"

"Until they come and trash the place!" Adam retorted. "Which is why we gotta move fast!"

"No argument there!" Yang said back.

"How far is Velvet's place?" Ruby asked.

"A bit far, but closer than when walking through the subway tunnels." Blake explained.

"Hey! I thought it was a good idea at the time! Alright?"

"Not what I meant, Jaune. But yeah, I guess that too." Blake simply said.

"Oh."

"Anyone claustrophobic?" Blake had to ask.

"Not really." Ruby said.

"We've been in a cabinet for years. We're used to tight spaces." Pyrrha explained.

"Good 'cause I don't want anyone vomiting through here." Adam said.

Just to be sure, Ruby couldn't help but to take Yang by the hand, who was in front of her, and Yang squeezed her hand softly in return, reassuring her little sister that she's right there for her.

It took about a half hour of travelling underground, until Adam had finally told the gang to halt. Everyone stopped in their tracks as Adam took a few more steps forward, and waved his hand up to the gang.

"This is it! Let's go!"

Everyone followed Adam more, and found a small flight of stairs right in front of them.

"You sure?" Sun asked.

Blake nodded. "It is. Come on!"

They all walked up the stairs, and could make out a small light right in front of them. After making it up the stairs, they found themselves into another basement. The gang, however, had to adjust their eyes after being in the dark for so long.

"Ah! It burns!" Jaune groaned.

"Too bright!" Yang complained.

"My precious eyes!" Ruby also whined.

While the others were adjusting their eyesight, Sun couldn't help but to laugh out loud while Blake was trying hard not to laugh silly herself.

"What's so funny, guys!?" Neptune asked.

"Too bad you guys don't have night vision." Sun taunted.

"You have night vision!?" Ruby asked.

"All Faunus do, actually." Blake said with a smile.

Adam couldn't help but to look over at Blake, standing there all smiling. It wasn't a smirk or anything. Just a smile. He hadn't seen her smile like that in years. He had almost missed that. He knows that Sun may have something to do with that, of course.

As soon as the gang, save for the Faunus, all adjusted getting their eyesight back, it was Blake's turn to lead the group. She walked around on the other flight of stairs and said, "This way!"

Adam had to stay behind to make sure that the secret entrance to the tunnel was locked. The more locked doors there are, the more they can stall for time to act.

It wasn't until he took the first step on the stairs to regroup with the others did he heard a familiar shriek coming from upstairs. He gripped onto his weapon and marched up the stairs, and pushed through the gang to see what was going on.

"Blake, what happened?! Is there…trouble?" Adam slowed down his sentence when he couldn't help but to see what had made Blake shriek in the first place. Everyone else had looked just as stunned as him.

Blake was standing in front of the gang, with a hand over her mouth and her amber eyes wide. She took a few steps forward and moves her gaze around their surroundings, looking horrified at what she was seeing.

What used to be Velvet's home…was in shambles. Some of the walls were torn down, there were shredded remains of what were doors, items were scattered all over, and even all the windows were broken.

They all walked into what used to be the living room, and even all the furniture were shredded and turned over, and the wall in front of the house was long gone. Blake still looked petrified by how her surroundings look.

She looks around, and begins to call out, "Coco! Are you here!? Coco!? Yatsuhashi!? Fox!? Anyone!? It's me, Blake! Hello!?"

The gang turns to Adam, looking confused as to who Blake was calling out for. Adam could only look away.

"Velvet's friends, another group of rebels." He explained. "They went into hiding with Velvet here."

"Is it possible that the White Fang knew they'd be here?" Jaune asked.

"Don't forget, Velvet also used to be a member. I take it when Torchwick had taken her, they must've tracked down…" Adam shook his head and suppressed a growl. "That low-life human disgrace of a monster…"

Ruby looked over at Blake, who had kept calling out for Velvet's friends. When it finally sunk into her that there was no one here, Blake hung her head down with a look of sorrow on her face. Ruby watched as Sun walks over to Blake and places a comforting hand on her shoulder. Blake looked up to Sun, and then places a hand over his as she looks down to the ground.

"They did this." Blake could only say. "They took them, too."

Penny folded her hands together and took another look around the destruction around them, looking a bit fearful herself. "This is terrible." She commented.

Ruby could only nod as she said, "Yeah…yeah, it is." She folded her hands into fists, realizing that only one person was the cause of it all. "But this is no one's fault." She said.

Jaune nodded in agreement. "Ruby's right. It was the Thief King and the White Fang that did this."

Ruby couldn't help but to gaze down to the ground, hating the idea that Torchwick would stoop so low as to do something like this. Why would this surprise her? The Thief King had been ruling over this land for the last five years. Who knows what other horrors he had committed?

"We will put an end to his reign." Jaune stated. "We will free everyone he has captured, and make sure he doesn't do this to anyone else."

Adam looked over to him, and took him the words he had said. Again, they have very different reasons to get back at Torchwick, and yet their goals are still the same…to put an end to him once and for all.

"In that case, we must move." Adam stated. "Now."

Adam was the first to leave the ruins of the house and towards the forest, and so Jaune, Pyrrha, Neptune, and Penny continue to follow him, with the exception of Ruby, Yang, and Winter. Yang had noticed that Winter looked to be troubled, while Ruby couldn't help but to sadly look at Sun trying his best to comfort Blake.

What Torchwick had done is unforgivable. She should hate him with every fiber of her being, and of course she does hate the Thief King…but why is it that she still feels a strong tie to him somehow?

"Let's go!" Adam's voice called out.

"Let's get a move on, guys!" Neptune shouted, waving his arm over to the others.

Sun wraps his arm around Blake's shoulders and they both took off, the same with Winter and Yang. Ruby took one last look of what used to be Velvet's home before running off to join the others on their quest.

Ruby walked up next to Blake and Sun, and places a comforting hand on her arm.

"Blake, I'm…I'm so sorry." It was all Ruby could say.

Blake shook her head and looked up at Ruby, who can tell that she was deeply troubled. "No. Don't be, Ruby. I'm used to this." She looks down on the ground, and a look of anger swept over her face. "In fact, it gives me one more reason to want to slit Torchwick's throat."

Ruby was taken aback by this, looking shocked when Blake had said that. "Wait…you mean kill him!?"

"Wait, what did you think we would do to Torchwick since the beginning?" Neptune had to ask.

"I just thought…you know…defeat him in battle, lock him away, or banish him, something like that!" Ruby guesses.

"Now that I think about it, I don't think we had actually gone into detail, did we?" Yang asked raising a brow.

"When it comes down to it, Torchwick must be put to death." Adam spoke with venom in his voice. "If you're all too chicken, I'm willing to do the deed myself."

"I think he has a point." Pyrrha had no choice but to agree. "In order to undo the spells Torchwick had casted and the deeds he had done, and to prevent him from doing any further harm…"

"We would have to kill him!?" Penny asked out loud, with a look of horror on her face. "Don't you all think that's overdoing it?"

"She's right." Ruby said. "Isn't that a bit too…dark? I mean, I know that the Thief King is evil and all, but…would it make us even worse than him if we do that?"

Sun took her every word to account, and couldn't help but to roll his eyes in thought. "Sad thing is…you're not wrong about that, Ruby."

"But he has killed before. Why not return the karma?" Blake asked.

"But…" Ruby lets out an irritating groan. "Yang, Jaune, guys. You don't think it's necessary, do you?"

Yang shrugged. "Probably not. Sure that guy's a giant jerk and all, and I do want to punch his face in just as much as the next guy, but killing him? That's…a bit extreme."

Ruby turns to Jaune. "Jaune, what about you?"

The entire gang stopped in their tracks as Jaune turns to face Ruby, scratching the back of his head and looking up in the sky in thought.

"Ruby…I don't know how to say this, but…Torchwick has to pay for his crimes."

"Then throw him in a jail cell for life! Banish him to someplace far away! Whatever! Don't just kill him!" Ruby exclaimed.

"It's easy for you to say, but what about the rest of the people of the land?" Winter asked. "Do you think they would be satisfied if he were to be imprisoned or banished?"

"How do you know what the people want?" Ruby asked. "How do you know every single soul in this land want him dead!?"

"We do what we must for the good of the people!" Winter shouted back. "That's why we must do what needs to be done!"

"And do you think murder is the answer!?" Ruby shouted.

"If it means getting back at Torchwick, then yes!" Adam exclaimed. "Don't you hate him, too!?"

"Of course I hate him! But that doesn't mean I want to kill him, too!" Ruby tried to reason. "There are bullies at my school who I hate, but that doesn't mean I should gut them up like a fish!"

"We're talking about a king who took the throne by force and rule without a care in the world! Not some adolescences that like to pick on others!" Blake shouted. "I thought you wanted to stop Torchwick!"

"I do want to stop him! I really do! But there's more than one way to stop him and killing is not one of them!" Ruby shouted back.

"That's enough!"

In a split second, before anyone saw it coming, Adam took out his blade and points the tip of it towards Ruby's throat, forcing her to lean her head back. She stared down, eyes wide, at how very close the blade was.

"Adam…!" Blake turned to him angrily.

Adam ignored her, still having his attention on Ruby. He spoke with venom in the tone of his voice, "I believe we already put it to a vote. What you say does not matter anymore." His words had stung Ruby, who looked back at him with her widened eyes. "If you ever continue to convince us of your sickening idea to spare Torchwick, don't expect any mercy from me. Got it?"

Everyone stood their grounds, and watched the scene play out before them. Blake spoke up, "Adam! Knock it off!"

Jaune also spoke up, "Put your sword down. She hasn't seen the worse of what the Thief King has done. She just doesn't know it yet."

Ruby turned her attention to Jaune, and couldn't help but to feel even more hurt. Of course she knows! She knows that Torchwick has done worst, and yes she hasn't seen it, but she doesn't need to see to believe.

Adam scoffed, and to the relief of Blake, Jaune, and everyone else, withdrew his sword and put it back into his scabbard. "Consider that a warning, kid."

He turns his back on her and continued his pace from where he left off. Neptune and Pyrrha could only exchange glances, same with Jaune and Winter, and so they, along with Sun, Blake, Yang, and Penny then proceeded to follow him, as Ruby could only watch them go.

"But…Jaune? Pyrrha…? Guys?"

Pyrrha turns her head to face Ruby, and could only look at her with sympathy in her eyes. "Ruby, I'm sorry. I want to agree with you, but…"

Ruby shook her head in denial. Would they all be willing to kill a man? Yes, granted that Torchwick did try almost killing them before, but she would be satisfied if he'd be locked up. Ruby was never a firm believer of killing and such, but to think that the others would agree to it. Yang and Penny slowly seems to be agreeing to that idea.

Of course she hates Torchwick as well…wait, does she? Does she really hate Torchwick? Last night, or morning or…before going to bed hours ago, she did concluded that Torchwick might be crushing on her, and vice versa, too. Can you crush and hate on the same guy at once?

Is Ruby's crush on Roman affecting the way she's thinking? No, that can't be right. She had always believed life is worth living, even if one has to spend the rest of their lives behind bars, and should've thought of that before committing crimes. That's why Ruby was always against the ideas of suicide and murder. What makes Roman any different, aside from being another living being?

She just couldn't believe that the others had already decided what Torchwick's fate would be, and it was just not fair. Why can't she convince them, otherwise? Doesn't she have a say in it, too?

"All they want is to be with their own people again, and to do that, they must kick me off my throne."

Ruby raised her eyebrows at the sudden memory. Was that one of the other reasons for wanting Torchwick dead, aside from ending his horrible rule? So that the guards could be with their own kind again? Is that why they're all agreeing with each other? Is that why they don't care what she thinks? All because she's not originally from this place? Aren't friends supposed to agree with each other?

Penny turns her head and stopped in her tracks when she saw that Ruby was far behind, and she was still standing there. She turns around and calls out, "Ruby!? Are you okay!?"

Ruby looked up at her, and she began to shake her head, and her shoulders began to shake, too, and began to slowly pant.

"But let's be honest: begging will get you nowhere, even if you're oh so willing to make such a sacrifice for the people whom you believe you could trust."

Was Torchwick telling the truth, after all? That these people aren't their friends as she believed them to be? Could she really convince them to spare him, the people whom she believed she can trust? Is that why they don't agree with her? Is it true that she really is a burden to them?

At this point, Yang also saw Ruby staying behind, and lifts her hand and cups her mouth.

"Earth to Ruby! You okay over there, sis!?"

Ruby grips her head with both her hands, and could feel the tears forming in her eyes. She doesn't want to believe it, but it was like all the pieces were coming together.

"I was the one who placed that spell on you both, and now they feel like it's their responsibility to babysit you. They see you as nothing more than nuisances. You're only slowing them down."

Then, in a red flash, Ruby disappeared, leaving behind a trail of rose petals where she once stood.

"RUBY!" Both Penny and Yang called out.

Everyone turned around to see what the commotion was all about, when they realized that Ruby wasn't there anymore.

"Where did Ruby go?" Jaune asked.

"She was just standing there…!" Penny tried to explain.

"And then she was just gone!" Yang finished.

"Gone? What do you mean 'gone'?" Winter asked.

"She just is!" Yang exclaimed.

"Which way did she go?" Neptune asked.

Yang tried to answer, but she shook her head, her long blonde locks flowing behind her at this motion. "Ah, I don't know! It's like she vanished into thin air!"

Penny let out a gasp as a thought came up in her head. "Did the Thief King used a spell and took her?"

Adam simply shrugged and turns his back again. "Good."

"Adam!" Blake shrieked.

"What? She was starting to become annoying as hell." Adam spoke like this wasn't bothering him.

"Would you shut up already!?" Yang shouted. "We need to go find my sister!"

Winter held up her hand, and said, "Calm down. Let me." She makes a motion with her hand, and summoned a glyph which began to spin. It started out as white, and then it turned into red, and then it turned blue.

Winter withdrew her glyph and lowers her hand, and shook her head. "I can make out a magical anomaly, but it wasn't caused by a spell. If Torchwick was responsible, his magic would've been darker and much stronger to sense."

"Still, we got to find her." Jaune suggested. "There could be Grimm prowling around."

Adam turns around and crosses his arms. "So you want us to abandon the mission to go find a little girl?"

"Of course we're not! But we can't leave Ruby behind!" Jaune reasoned.

"And why is it that she's travelling with us in the first place?" Adam asked, tilting his head to one side.

"Hey, what's your problem with my sister!?" Yang shouted. "You're not exactly very nice, you know!"

"Will you all stop it!?" Blake shouted. "This isn't helping the situation!"

"Look, you guys go on ahead and find the nearest gingerbread path. I'll stay behind to look for Ruby, and we'll catch up eventually." Jaune suggested.

"I'm coming with you!" Yang demanded.

"But Yang, I think its best you stay with the others. You'll be safer with them."

"I'm not going anywhere without Ruby!" Yang retorted.

"I'll go look for your sister for you." Penny volunteered.

"But Penny…"

Penny gave Yang a salute. "You let me worry about your dear little sister, Yang. You go and help the others."

Alas, Yang lets out a sigh of defeat, and then turns to Jaune. "There better not be a scratch on Ruby when you find her. Got it?"

Jaune nodded. "I'll find Ruby and bring her back."

"Oh, goodie." Adam muttered under his breath.

"I'll go too."

Everyone then set their eyes on Blake. Sun had to be sure. "You sure you want to, Blake?"

"I barely know little about your friend…but she seems alright." Blake said with a nod. "I don't want Velvet's sacrifice to go to waste, and since Grimm are attracted to negativity, you're going to need the help you can get."

"Why not?" Penny asked with a smile. "It'd be nice to have another friend come with us."

Neptune leaned over to Pyrrha and places a hand over his mouth so no one would hear.

"Pyrrha, why don't you also go with them? This could be your chance to try and sway Jaune." Neptune whispered.

Pyrrha looked surprised by what he suggested. "What are you, crazy?" She whispered back. "You want to me to go for that reason?"

"You want Jauney-boy or not? Just because he has hots for the princess doesn't mean he's not going to fall for another girl."

"Coming from the guy who always smooth talks the ladies."

"Please. I haven't done that in five years. You gonna go or not?"

Pyrrha rolls her eyes. "Fine." Pyrrha clears her throat and then said out loud, "I should probably go, too. I believe the more people there are, the better our chances of finding Ruby."

"Fine. Do whatever. Can we go now?" Adam asked.

Blake leaned towards Sun and whispered to him, "Try and keep him on his best behavior for me."

Sun nodded. "Can do." They both gave each other a quick kiss on the lips.

Jaune, Penny, Pyrrha, and Blake split from Sun, Adam, Winter, Yang, and Neptune. Yang gave Jaune and the others a good, stern look and told them, "You guys better find Ruby alive and unharmed."

"We won't let you down, Yang." Jaune looked to the others. "You guys watch over Yang too, got it?"

"No worries, man. We got this." Neptune assures him.

"Why?" Adam asked.

Jaune only gave him a serious, stern look. "To put it to you plainly Adam, these girls are far from their home."

Adam let that sink in, and simply scoffed and turned away. "Fine. Let's go already."

"You guys stay safe." Sun advised them.

"You guys be careful, too." Penny said back.

With that, the two groups took off, unaware that, up above one of the trees, sat what looked to be a small creature, a raven from the looks of it, but looks to be a creature of Grimm. As soon as both teams left, the small Grimm stretches it wings out and began to flap them, and began to take off into the dark blue skies.

Jaune, Blake, Penny, and Pyrrha headed towards the spot where Penny remembered Ruby standing at, and they began looking for her footprints in the snow. However, they couldn't see any imprints that would give them an idea as to where Ruby went off to.

To their surprised, where Ruby once stood, they found some rose petals.

Pyrrha knelt down and took one of the petals with her fingertips and lifts it up, and saw that it was real.

"Rose petals?" She wondered out loud.

"Does Ruby carry some?" Blake asked.

Penny shook her head and answered, "No, not that we noticed."

Jaune took another look around, and believed they might've hit their big break. "Girls, look!" He pointed his finger towards a direction that leads much deeper into the woods, where the girls noticed a small red trail on the ground.

Pyrrha stood back up and asked, "How is Ruby…?"

"No clue, but it's the only lead we have." Blake stated.

"Let's hurry before we lose the trail!" Jaune suggested, and then led the girls into the forest, following the rose petals along the snowy ground, hoping it would lead them to their friend.

…

An awkward silence had fallen between the five, the only sounds being made were the winds brushing against the branches of the trees surrounding them and the crushing of snow underneath their feet.

Sun notices out of the corner of his eye that Yang's hands were balled up into fists, looking like she's ready to punch someone's face in, and her face was screaming bloody murder, and it looked like she was glaring at Adam.

It didn't take long before Sun had begun counting down the fireworks that were about to go off.

Yang's gauntlets expanded and formed over her arms and then she had tackled Adam, who had turned around before she slammed into him, sending him crashing against a tree. Yang's fists were clenching his jacket as she looked up at him with anger in her eyes.

"This is all your fault!" She shouted.

"My fault?" Adam spoke, acting like none of this is fazing him.

"Don't play dumb with me! If you hadn't act like a huge jerk, then my baby sister never should've run off in the first place!" Yang reasoned.

"And you really think I started it?" Adam asked. "You humans really are gullible."

"What did you just say?" Yang asked.

"Oh here we go." Neptune muttered under his breath, which was noticed by Sun and Winter. From all their times as dolls, Neptune and Sun knew very well what happens when Yang gets angry.

Adam places a finger on Yang's forehead, gesturing her to move back. "When angered, you humans come up with the most stupid excuses when jumped at the first chance to release your anger out on. What makes you think I was the one who sent your sister flying?"

"Don't start that bull crap with me!" Yang shouted, her lilac eyes really screaming murder now. "It's your fault and you know it!"

"If it was, you'd think it would be more obvious?" Adam asked.

"Shut your trap!" Yang then punches his face, and with the gauntlet, it caused even more pain for Adam, making him fall over, but he regains his balance just in time. He leaned up, not once turning away from his gaze towards Yang.

"See, this is exactly what I was talking about." Adam commented.

Yang scoffed. "Like you fare any better."

Adam lifts his weapon up. "Try me."

Yang reaches into the pockets of her belt and took out two rolls of ammos, and throws them into the air. She catches them with the Ember Celica gauntlets, locking them in, and then stood in a fighting position.

"Uh guys! I don't think that's a good idea!" Neptune tried to reason.

Adam and Yang ignored him, as they both stood before each other, itching for a fight.

"Was it perhaps the reason why your sister ran off is because you lot scared her away?" Adam asked, with a teasing smirk on his face.

"Shut up!" Yang shouted, and then dashed to Adam.

He took out his sword just in time to block Yang's attack, which a shot exploded on impact, though it didn't faze Adam in the slightest. They both exchange blow-to-blow, fist against blade. Adam leaped over Yang and landed behind her, and turned to hit his blade against her, but she blocked it with the gauntlet just in time.

Yang jumped back, and punched in the air, letting out a shot from Ember Celica, but Adam jumped out of the way just in time, and was about to hit Sun, Winter, and Neptune. However, Winter summoned a glyph which the shot made impact, shielding them from the attack.

Winter withdrew her glyph as the three watches Adam and Yang going toe-to-toe with each other. Adam lifts up his sheath, sending a couple gunshots to Yang, but she did a sideway flip, dodging them, before she makes a run for Adam.

She was about to hit him with her two fists, and Adam blocked it with his sword just in time. However, the impact had sent him tumbling backwards, but he still retained his balance. Adam looked up and couldn't help but to smirk again.

"And here I thought you were all talk." Adam joked.

"You ain't seen nothing yet." Yang said, though she didn't smile once throughout the fight.

Yang send fired two more shots to Adam, but he got out of the way, which the shots exploded on the ground on impact, sending a lot of snow flying up into the air. Adam and Yang ran towards each other and continued to fight.

"Are you having fun yet? I know I am." Adam joked again.

Yang whammed her fist against Adam's blade, and glared at him with fire in her eyes. "Don't mock me!"

Yang jumped up, and delivered a successful hit to Adam on the face again, this time, a shot from her exploded on his face on impact, sending him flying and crashing against a tree. Adam lifts himself to sit up with his arms, and his face looked ashen from Yang's attack earlier.

"Take back what you said about Ruby." Yang ordered him.

Adam lets out a couple coughs, and then looked up at Yang's direction. "Why should I when it's the truth?"

"Take it back right now!" Yang exclaimed, and yet tried her best to keep her cool.

"And if I don't?" Adam asked.

"Oh that's it! You're dead!" Yang shouted, and then fired another shot, heading for Adam. He quickly got up to his feet and was prepared to block it.

"That's enough you two!"

A familiar glyph formed right in front of Adam and blocked Yang's attack. It disappeared as soon as it appeared. Yang looked over and saw Winter holding up her sword, who does not look pleased at all.

"Why did you do that for!?" Yang shouted.

"You two are clearly forgetting that we have an important mission to accomplish!" Winter explained rather harshly. "Instead, here you two are squabbling like school children fighting over a lollipop! It stops now!"

Yang pointed to Adam. "But he started it!"

"I don't care who started it! I'm finishing this!" Winter shouted. "If you guys think about starting another senseless fight again…!"

"But what about what he did to Ruby!?" Yang shouted back. "It's his fault she ran off!"

"Or more likely your own. Or perhaps it's simply because she's selfish."

Yang turned to Adam and asked, "What was that?"

Adam shrugged and explained, "Why so shocked? Your sister has been taking our time away from our mission to stop Torchwick, making up such crazy excuses for us to spare him, making such a coward out of herself by running away, and having lost half our team and waste their time efforts finding her. If she hadn't run off like a scared little girl that she is, then we'd be closer to completing the task!"

"That's a lie! My sister never runs without a good reason!" Yang retorted.

"Then why did she take off without saying a word? Why does she believe Torchwick deserves a chance to live when he deserves a chance to die!? You humans always look out for your own kind rather than others! It's disgusting!"

"And you think we're like that?" Yang asked with a laugh. "And you called me stupid?!"

"Care to repeat that?" Adam asked.

"If you say so." Yang covers her mouth and clears your throat. "You are, good sir, a hypocrite. You say that I was dumb, and yet all these talks of how you think humans only look out for themselves are out of context. In other words, 'my dear boy', you are stupid yourself."

"You insufferable blonde…!" Adam reaches for his weapons and prepared himself for another attack.

Sun immediately stepped in between the two and held his arms up. "Stop it! This is getting us nowhere! If you two continue beating each other up into bloody pulps, how would that accomplish our goal of taking down Torchwick and his empire!?"

"He's right." Winter agreed. "How about you two save your fight for after we take care of the Thief King? You both can settle your differences then."

"Yeah, but…!" Yang tried to reason, but was interrupted by Neptune.

"We had to wait five years to get back to this land. I'm sure you guys can wait a little while before handling your dispute. That okay with you?"

Yang and Adam exchanged glances, and after a few moments, Yang lets out a sigh and the Ember Celica folded back into their default form. Yang looks back at Adam, and then points a finger at him, and then traces her finger over her throat. Adam nodded, understanding perfectly well what she meant.

"I'm leading this time." Winter spoke. "Let's get moving. The sooner we get to the castle, the sooner we can get my sister back and put an end to Torchwick's reign."

Just to keep Adam and Yang far from each other as possible, Adam were to be behind Winter, and Yang would have to walk from behind at the end of their little line. Winter led them through the woods, and couldn't help but to smell a familiar scent in the air.

"I smell gingerbread." She announced. "We're getting close."

Throughout their walk through the woods, Yang snaps off a small tree branch and began to nibble on it, taking in the taste of peppermint in her mouth, hoping to contain her anger. She wants so badly to beat the crap out of Adam, and she's not a very patient person. Then again, she is a woman. She can hold it for as long as need be, which works out find in her favor.

After passing by some trees and going through some bushes growing cherry candy, which Yang couldn't help but to take a few, they finally found themselves at an opening, and spotted a familiar-looking path with candy mint and gumdrops.

"Finally." Sun said relieved. "We're back on track."

"No thanks to Blondie." Adam commented.

"What did I just say?" Winter asked.

Adam stopped in his tracks, making Sun, Neptune, and Yang bump into each other. They pulled away and looked at him confused.

"Why'd you stop, dude?" Neptune asked.

Adam lifts his weapon up. "We have company."

Everyone turned around, and to their horror, they found themselves facing a few Beowolves and Ursas standing across from them.

"Great." Sun commented rather sarcastically.

Yang sticks the branch into her mouth like a toothpick, and retracted the Ember Celica to their full forms. What a better way to help relieve some of that anger than to take it out on some Grimm?

"Perfect." She said with a smug grin.

"Anything yet?"

"Nope. Nothing yet, your highness."

"Then have the White Fang and the citizens keep searching!"

"You guys heard him! Keep searching!"

"Wow, how very professional of you."

"I aim to please, sir."

Roman had just gotten word from Mercury that there has been no sign of the Nutcracker and his friends, and needless to say, he wasn't very happy. He had earlier summoned the Grimm and had them aid the White Fang in the search and instill fear on the citizens so they'd be more than happy to cooperate, so to speak.

The town of Taffy City was slowly falling apart one building at a time, but he didn't care, so long as he gets his hands on the princess's guards and the others. It's one thing to get the princess's guards, another doll, and those two sisters, but who would've guessed that the kitty rebel and that traitorous leader would be an unexpected bonus?

They're already done tearing half the city apart and it won't be long until they're finally cornered and within his grasp. The question is what to do with them once they're captured?

Roman knows exactly how to take care of the princess's guards. The Sugar Plum Kingdom never had a public execution before, and he thinks its high-time to have one. He can make all of the land watch the five warriors get executed, to give them all a good lesson on what happens to heroes in his kingdom.

The real question would be how to execute them? Cut their heads off? Burn them alive? That would be hard concerning two of them, considering that they're made of tin. Can tin melt in fire? It would be fun to watch and see.

And what to do with the ex-leader, the kitty rebel, the doll, the blonde, and the rose. He took a deep inhale of his cigar, still pondering over what to do with them. If he play his cards right, he can still give that bull a second chance by offering him his position as leader back. If not, then maybe he'll make a good mindless slave to do his every bidding.

The rebel, he admits, is a really good fighter, and it would be a shame for her talents to go waste. Maybe offer her a high position within the White Fang. If not, then it'll be maid-city for her. The doll, though. He might have to turn her into stone. She's too bright, but she can be really deadly. Or he can also hypnotize her and make her also a mindless warrior, as well.

What to do with the sisters? Does he still want to turn them into stone? He can turn one of them to stone and let the other witness the horrible thing, and have that girl spend the rest of her life as a maid, as well. Which one, though? Would he still turn Red into a statue for his gardens? What to do with her older sister, still.

Roman recently found himself having second thoughts of turning Red into a garden statue. He doesn't know why, but he's starting to dislike the idea. Since she's still young, he might as well torment the girl and break her will, and perhaps he'll start by turning Blondie into stone right in front of her eyes. He can only imagine the look on poor Little Red's face as she watches Blondie turn to stone right before her eyes…her beautiful silver eyes…

Roman took another inhale of his cigar and pinches the bridge of his nose. There he goes again! This is getting so irritating, it's almost driving him mad.

"You look troubled, Sire."

Roman turns his head and saw woman with black hair covering one of her eyes wearing a short red long-sleeve dress with yellow markings embroidered on the fabric, standing before him with a hand on her hip. He leans back against his seat and lets his eyes look up towards the sky. "Gee, what gives you that idea?"

The woman gave Roman a smile and answered, "I understand if this is starting to become stressful, Sire. Be grateful you don't have to endure this kind of trouble every day."

"Until now, that is." Roman removes the cigar from his mouth and releases a puff of smoke from his lips. "Is there something you need, Cinder?"

Cinder shook her head gently. "Oh no, Sire. You look like you are in need of some company."

"Yeah, well I don't. Why don't you help Neo and the others boss the mutts of the White Fang around to have them keep going?"

"But they already are doing what you ask of them to do, Sire. At this pace, the White Fang and the Grimm are sure to find the Nutcracker and his friends in no time."

"Didn't you say that like an hour ago?" Roman asked.

"We turned half the town upside down. Might take another hour until we finally catch them, Sire." Cinder said while shrugging her shoulders. "There's nowhere else for them to run and hide."

"Eh, true." Roman took another deep inhale of the cigar and closed his eyes, savoring the flavor. He opens his eyes and said, "By the way, concerning that Scarlatina girl…you know, the girl with the rabbit ears…?"

"We had found her secret home within the forest on the outskirts of Taffy City and have located more rebels." Cinder announced to him. "They have been taken into custody and are awaiting their punishment back at the castle."

"Good." Roman spoke, and turns his attention towards the city crumbling down around him. "I kind of assumed that was where kitty-cat had taken Red to, but hey, anyone can dream."

"Of course, Sire." Cinder said, bowing her head.

"Kaw! Kaw! Kaw!"

Cinder and Roman looked up and spotted a small little Nevermore flying up in the sky, and flew down toward their direction. Cinder lifts her hand up, and lets the Nevermore rest upon her arm.

"Hello there, sweetie." Cinder cooed softly, rubbing her fingers underneath the little Nevermore's chin. "What brings you all the way here, hmm?"

Roman rolls his eyes and once against leans back against his seat. Of course Roman has the power to summon Grimm, but honestly, he feels like he'll never know why Cinder seemed so fascinated with these creatures.

"What's that, darling? You saw something?" Cinder moves her arm so that the little Nevermore's yellow eyes were staring into her own. "Care to show me, sweetie? You can tell me anything."

Cinder stared deep into the little Nevermore's eyes, and within moments, watch events unfold within her mind, events that had happened prior to the Nevermore's arrival. Cinder saw through its eyes its memories of what it saw several minutes ago…in the middle of the woods…a familiar looking group…

Cinder broke contact and said, "I see." Cinder turns to Roman and calls out, "Sire, I believe there's something you need to see!"

Roman lets out a groan while he rolled his eyes, gathering up all his strength to get up from the park bench and stretch his muscles out. "Well, is it good or bad? 'Cause let me tell you Cinder, what a day this has been so far."

Roman walked over to Cinder, who moved her arm so that the little Nevermore would be facing the Thief King, and told him, "It depends. How would you feel when you see this?"

Roman stares into the little Nevermore's eyes, and it wasn't long until he could feel a link form, connecting their minds to each other. He watches events happen within his mind, deep within the forest, not too far from the rabbit Faunus's home…

The Nutcracker and the others emerge from the ruined home, taking in the horrible sight around them…he listened in on their plans to kill him…Red was going nuts over the subject…she took off without saying a word…the group getting into another fight and decided to split, one team go to the castle and the other searches for that Rose…that's when the memory ends.

Roman broke the mind link, and couldn't help but to rub his eyes out of irritation. They had once again slipped under the radar and found themselves outside the town without anyone's knowing. They must've found another way out of town. They're still on their way to the castle.

He remembered the memory, when Red was against the idea of killing him. She said that she hates him, but that doesn't mean she wants him dead. Why did she say that? Why did it sound like she was defending him, the Thief King, who had almost killed them one time too many?

Roman couldn't help but to seethe in anger at that memory. The way Red looked hurt, he would've been overjoyed to see her suffer, but no…the way the others had hurt her, even if it wasn't intentional, just by looking at her face, and at that moment before she took off, she looked like she was going to break down…

How dare those imbeciles have hurt his precious Rose?

Cinder notices the sudden change in her king's behavior, and asked, "Are you alright, Sire?"

"Does it look like I am?"

"I suppose not. What shall we do about the search?"

"Call Emerald, Mercury, and Neo and tell them to call off the search. Half of the team looked to be heading towards Gummy City next while Nut-Boy and the rest are tracking down Red."

An idea suddenly hatched into his mind, and he couldn't help but to smirk ominously.

"Which will give us the perfect advantage to end their little quest for good…" Roman ended his sentence with a chuckle. As soon as he calmed down a bit, he looked at Cinder dead in the eye and told her. "Here's what we're going to do…"

End of Chapter Five

AUTHOR'S NOTE: ...Okay, this is kind of out of the blue here, but before you guys ask, I am not intentionally making Adam and Yang a couple in this story...unless you guys want me to, then that would be kind of interesting to see how that would play out, but at this time, probably not.

Gee, I wonder what will happen next? Heh-heh-heh. I hope you all are enjoying the story so far.

Only two more episodes left of Volume 3. Just two more, and already I can't stand the suspense! Send help! LOL