Penny stood alone near a two-story building with patio furniture and looked around nervously when a hand grabbed her shoulder, causing her to jump.

She turned to see Ruby grinning. She smiled in return. the two started strolling down the street.

"I wish I could help you, Ruby, but I don't know anything about those men."

"Well, what happened to you that night? We were all together, and then you just disappeared! Were you kidnapped?"

"Oh, no! Nothing like that!"

"Then where did you go?"

"I've never been to another kingdom before. My father asked me not to venture out too far, but... You have to understand, my father loves me very much; he just worries a lot."

"Believe me, I know the feeling." Ruby grinned and Penny grinned back.

"But why not let us know you were okay"

"I... was asked not to talk to you. Or Weiss. Or Blake. Or Yang.Or Y/N. Or Anybody, really."

"Was your dad that upset?"

"No, it wasn't my father..."

Before she could continue, she and Ruby heard the sound of megaphones announcing something, they turned around the corner to spot a platform in the center of a plaza where the holographic image of James Ironwood is stood before six AK-130 Androids, who in turn stood in front of two large metal storage cases with the spear-and-shield emblem on their doors.

"The AK-130 has been a standard security model of Remnant for several years, and they have done a fine job. Wouldn't you agree? Wouldn't you agree?"

the clapping of the gathered audience caused the drones to take a jerky bow "But... the kingdom of Atlas is a kingdom of innovation, and 'fine'... Well, that's just not good enough, is it? Presenting... the Atlesian Knight-200!" As Ironwood said this, the doors to the cases rolled up, and six new, bulkier, shinier automatons stand at attention before knocking their obsolete predecessors down to the applause of the watchers

"Smarter, sleeker, and admittedly, a little less scary.These models will become active later this year, but they won't be alone! Now, the Atlesian Military has always supported the idea of removing men from the dangers of the battlefield. However, there are still many situations that will undoubtedly require... a human touch."

"So, our kingdom's greatest minds, in cooperation with the Schnee Dust Company, are proud to introduce... the Atlesian Paladin! Ironwood's image was replaced with a hologram of a robotic white behemoth, featuring hinged piston legs, large guns for hands, and a rectangular head, standing at least twice as tall as the Knights below it.

"Now, we couldn't have him here for you today, but these mechanized battle suits will be seen defending the borders of our kingdom within the year!"

Ruby smiled as she stood hunched in awe "Whoa... "

"Ruby? Maybe we should go somewhere else..." At the side of the stage, two armored soldiers spotted Penny, pointing her out and calling in backup. Penny backed away and then broke into a run, which snapped Ruby out of her weapon-awe-induced stupor.

"Penny! Wait! Where are you going?"

Ruby turned to look back at the soldiers chasing after her friend, and realizing Penny's situation, swiftly followed her in an attempt to catch up down the winding alley.

One of the Atlas Soldiers gestured to his partner "Down here! She went this way!" Penny and Ruby ran across the street with the soldiers following them, though a honking car nearly runs one of them over. He luckily managed to brace his hands against the hood, which somehow stopped the vehicle, and his partner ran along after the girls.

"This way!" Rubys grimaced before the two disappear in a flash of red rose petals

Ruby dashed away as fast as she can while carrying Penny, but the strain is too great, and they crashed to the ground a short while later, with Ruby falling all the way into the street. She got up slowly, and in her dazed state, didn't notice the large truck coming up from behind her until the honking is too late of a warning. She stood up just as she's about to be hit, but from out of nowhere, Penny pushed Ruby out of the way and held her palms out. In the split second where the two make contact, the ground beneath Penny cracked and crumbled into pieces, and the From Dust Till Dawn truck is lifted a little way into the air by the girl's sheer strength. She put it down, and the Shopkeep stares in awe at the crumples in his hood, just like Ruby whos eyes were wide, terrified and uncertain "Penny..?"

Penny backed away, looking at Ruby's frightened expression, then at the bystanders murmuring to each other in an attempt to understand what just happened. In her panic, she ran from the Atlas soldiers still chasing her down and bumped into Ruby in the process, knocking the poor girl out of her stupor as her friend tried to get away again.

Penny came to a stop once she ran out of the alleyway, looking around for where to run next "Um... Uh..."

Ruby ran up to Penny, exasperated "Penny! Please! What is going on?! Why are you running? How did you do that?!"

"I-I can't! Everything's fine!" she started to hiccup with each lie "I-I don't want to talk about it!"

"Penny, if you can just tell me what's wrong, I can help you!"

"No! No, no! You wouldn't understand..."

"Let me try! You can trust me!"

Penny finally relented, coming up to Ruby's face desperately "You're my friend, right? You promise you're my friend?!"

"I promise."

Penny was silent for a second, then, looking down at her hands, spoke "Ruby... I'm not a real girl."

Penny showed Ruby the toll of stopping the truck that would have killed her: Parts of her palm's skin were ripped away, revealing the gray metal underneath. Penny stared sadly at Ruby's face, now completely astounded by her friend's secret.

"Oh."

=======================

"Penny, I-I don't understand..."

"Most girls are born, but I was made. I'm the world's first synthetic person capable of generating an Aura." Penny turned her head to the side sadly. "I'm not real..."

"Of course you are. You think just because you've got nuts and bolts instead of squishy guts makes you any less real than me?"

"I don't... um..." she leant in close to Ruby's face. "You're... taking this extraordinarily well."

"You're not like those things we saw back there. You've got a heart, and a soul; I can feel it!"

Penny grabbed Ruby into a bone crushing hug hug and shook her back and forth. "You're the best friend anyone could have!"

"I can see why your father would want to protect such a delicate flower!" Ruby groaned

"Oh, he's very sweet! My father's the one who built me! I'm sure you would love him!" Penny released ruby and smiled

"Wow. He built you all by himself?"

"Well, almost! He had some help fromMr. Ironwood."

"The General?! Wait... Is that why those soldiers were after you?"

"They like to protect me, too!"

Ruby scoffed "They don't think you can protect yourself?"

"They're not sure if I'm ready yet... One day, it will be my job to save the world, but I still have a lot left to learn. That's why my father let me come to the Vytal Festival. I want to see what it's like in the rest of the world, and test myself in the Tournament."

"Penny, what are you talking about? Save the world from what? We're in a time of peace.."

Penny seemed confused at this "That's not what Mr. Ironwood said..."

Suddenly a group of soldiers ran down the alley "check down here!"

Penny scooped up ruby and tossed her in a dumpster as they arrived and turned around

"Sal-u-tations, officers!"

"Why were you running? And what happened to the other girl?"

"What girl? I was by myself all day! Penny hiccuped loudly, then smiled innocently.

"You shouldn't cause such a scene.Are you okay?"

Penny showed off her "injured" palms. "Just a scratch." She said

"Penny, your father isn't going to be happy about this.Please, just come with us."

" Yes, sir!" Penny and the soldiers started walking away as Ruby looked on in sadness... until a rat screeched from below her feet, causing the young Huntress to fall and close the lid on herself.