D-RWBY: Volume 2

Painting The Town Red

Ruby stared at Penny's exposed metallic palm in stunned silence, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing.

"But... how?" Ruby finally managed.

Penny looked down at her hands sadly. "Most people are born, but I was made. I'm the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an Aura. I'm not... I'm not real."

Dan stepped forward and gently took Penny's hands in his own, meeting her eyes with steady conviction. "That's not true, Penny. Having metal parts instead of flesh doesn't make you less real. You have a heart, a soul—I can sense it. Don't doubt yourself."

Ruby nodded emphatically. "Dan's right! You're one of the most genuine people I know!"

Penny's face lit up with a grateful smile as she pulled both friends into a tight hug. "You two are the best friends anyone could ask for!"

"I can see why your father wants to protect someone so special," Ruby said warmly.

"He built me himself, with some help from General Ironwood," Penny explained. "They both worry about me a lot."

"Ironwood?" Ruby's expression shifted to concern. "The general who brought all those ships?"

"He wants to protect me too. He says that one day, it will be my job to save the world."

Dan frowned. "Save the world from what? We're supposed to be at peace."

"That's not what General Ironwood says," Penny replied quietly.

Before Dan could ask more questions, the sound of approaching voices echoed from the alley entrance.

"Check down here!" a soldier's voice called.

Dan quickly scooped Ruby up. "We need to go. Now."

"Wait!" Ruby protested, struggling in his arms. "Penny, you don't have to go with them! We can help you!"

Penny smiled sadly and approached them. "It's okay, Ruby. They're not bad people. I just don't want you getting in trouble because of me." She looked between her two friends seriously. "Promise me you won't tell anyone about my secret."

"Promise," they both said simultaneously.

"You'd better go," Penny said as the voices grew closer.

Dan nodded and placed two fingers to his forehead, teleporting them both to safety just as the soldiers rounded the corner.

Meanwhile, across town, Blake peered around a corner to observe several Faunus being ushered into a warehouse by White Fang guards. She turned to Sun and Blaze, who were both adjusting their Grimm masks.

"This is it," Blake whispered.

"You sure?" Sun asked, still uncomfortable with the whole situation.

Blake's glare was answer enough as they moved toward the entrance, joining the flow of new recruits being directed inside.

The warehouse was packed with White Fang members, hundreds of them filling the main floor and balconies above. On stage, a lieutenant stood beside a massive shape covered by a red curtain.

"Thank you all for coming," the lieutenant announced. "Since our previous leader's recent... departure, we have new leadership. I present to you—Neopolitan!"

The curtain dropped, revealing a petite girl with pink and brown hair eating ice cream. She looked completely out of place among the militant Faunus, but her cold eyes held dangerous intelligence.

"She's human!" someone in the crowd shouted angrily.

The lieutenant raised his hands for silence. "Our new associate has provided us with something special. Behold!"