Author's Notes:

This is my first fanfiction. Though, I've been a fan of the series since the Red Trailer came out, and I always love reading various AU fanfictions. I also really like fanfictions that feel human. Not just, "Here's a bunch of stuff that happens. Also, explosions." (Michael Bay). Black Sun Kittens is one of my favorites. I was about to fall asleep the other day, when this idea popped into my head. I actually almost started crying, myself, when I was writing it because of how emotional it felt. Also, I'm writing this as an extension from before the end of Vol. 3, because trying to figure out how to write in that Salem had been defeated was way too hard, and it made more sense if Cinder was the main bad guy. I'll still try to throw in some canon things from post Vol.3 though, just to make it interesting. Anyway, hope you enjoy.

Running...

All she knew was that she was running. She didn't know if she was running away from something, or if she was running toward something. All she knew was that she just had to keep running. She pushed herself faster and faster, as fast as she could go, red rose petals whipping around her cape, giving the illusion that she simply had turned into petals herself. She ran through the infinite blackness as fast as she possibly could.

And then suddenly, she stopped.

In front of her knelt a girl with long, red hair and gilded armor. Sorrow and pain filled Pyrrha's eyes, silently pleading Ruby not to do what she knew was about to happen.

Ruby started panicking as, like it had a mind of its own, her hand brought out Crescent Rose and unfolded it completely. Unable to do anything, she watched in horror as she drew her own weapon back, poised to strike.

"Do you believe in destiny?"

The voice didn't sound like hers, but she knew it had to be, as Pyrrha had not moved. With one quick movement, she brought her scythe around impossibly fast, and with wicked accuracy. She knew her blade would find its mark.

"NO!"

Ruby sat bolt upright in her bed. A dim light had started to filter through the window to her room. It seemed dawn was just breaking. She shrugged, thinking that while it wasn't the most restful sleep she'd had, at least it was in a warm bed.

It had been a few years since she watched Cinder Fall shoot Pyrrha on the roof of Beacon Academy, but the night still terrorized her when she was sleeping. She couldn't help but feel that it was her fault Pyrrha had died. If only she was just a little bit faster. If she'd been there a little sooner. Maybe, just maybe, Pyrrha would still be alive. She'd still be here to fight alongside her teammates and friends.

Ruby realized that she was silently crying, her tears freely running down her face. She wiped them away as there was a soft knock at the door.

"Ruby?" Weiss' voice softly came through the wood that separated them, "Ruby, are you awake? We should probably get going."

"Yeah, I'm awake. I'll be ready in a few minutes."

As she got dressed, Ruby thought back to her dream. It had been a recurring nightmare over the last few weeks. She knew it was her grief rearing itself in her subconscious, but she couldn't help feeling that maybe there was something in it that she was supposed to understand. She shook her head, realizing that was probably crazy. After all, dreams are just dreams, right? Besides, this was an important day for her. It was the day she and Jaune were going to get married. She smiled at the thought of his tousled blonde hair, and quiet shyness. Even though he was the leader of team JNPR, he never really outwardly showed it except for on the battlefield.

It had hit Jaune hard when Pyrrha died. Especially because she professed her love for him just a few minutes before she went up against Cinder. From that day forward, he was quiet for a different reason. He harbored a lot of anger and hate toward Cinder, and he used that to practice and hone everything Pyrrha had taught him about fighting, and worked to become the best hunter he could possibly be. Ruby helped him train, and work toward being strong enough to take on Cinder. Throughout that time they spent together, Jaune's cold, seething anger slowly turned into affection toward Ruby. He didn't realize it at first, but one time he had caught himself staring at her while she twirled her scythe around to cut a practice dummy in half during one of their sessions, and thought to himself how graceful and beautiful she looked doing so. After that, he had spent more time around her, as much as possible.

Then, one mission came up that led team RWBY close to Cinder's hideout. Knowing where the team was going, Jaune had decided to follow them. While the anger and hurt had lessened, he still wanted to be the one to slide his blade across her throat, and watch the light leave her eyes. He was only about 10 minutes behind team RWBY while they were on their patrol, when he heard the sounds of gunfire, and battle. He readied his shield and drew his sword, then charged in the direction of the noises. As he reached the clearing, everything slowed down as he watched an arrow fly from the darkness, and hit Ruby right in the chest, throwing her back onto the ground, where she lay motionless.

In that moment, everything became crystal clear, and abnormally sharp. His senses all hit their peaks, and he was hyper aware of his surroundings. He could move among the battle as if it was nearly at a standstill. He parried every strike, knocked away every thrust. Every movement was exact and deliberate. It was kill or be killed. It was the dance with death.

Jaune didn't remember much about that night, but Ruby remembered staring in awe, from her position on the ground, as Jaune slaughtered everyone that came near him, then made a beeline toward where Cinder had been hiding; killing her before she had any chance to react. That was the night that Jaune first realized what his semblance was.

After the battle was over, Jaune made his way back to her and, without saying a word, picked her up and carried her to the nearest town to be treated by doctors that were there.

The next thing Ruby remembered was waking up in a bed that wasn't her own. Feeling something in her hand, she turned to look, and saw that Jaune was asleep but his hand still firmly grasped in hers. Her Uncle Qrow had been there as well, along with her sister and dad, plus the rest of her team. Qrow told her that Jaune hadn't left her side since he had carried her there 2 nights before, only eating when someone brought him food.

Over the next couple of years, they had started dating, and their relationship grew. Eventually, that night where she had almost died felt like a distant dream. Just 6 months ago, Jaune had proposed to her, and she had said a very tearful yes. Now, today was the big day. She had to wear some godforsaken heels, but that was nothing compared to the dress that Weiss, her maid of honor, had helped her pick out. It was a deep scarlet color. Long, straight (she didn't like poofy dresses), and slightly trailing behind her, with a lace pattern at the ends of her sleeves, the neckline, and the open back which showed the slight scar from her brush with death.

She emerged from her room, seeing a very impatient Weiss glaring at her.

"Hurry up, you dunce. You're going to be late to your own wedding!" Her words were harsh, but her face softened into a knowing smile. After all, it was only about 8 AM, if the clock on the wall was right. Fitting did take some time, though.

"Sorry. I got lost in my thoughts is all." Ruby looked appropriately apologetic. Which is to say, not much at all.

"You had that dream again?" Weiss asked, concern furrowing her brow.

"Yeah. Only this time, I was the one who did it."

Weiss raised an eyebrow at this new information, but continued on anyway, "Well, let's get you to the fitting room, so we can get this done and over with."

"Do I really have to wear these heels?" whined Ruby. "They're so uncomfortable, and I feel like I'm walking on stilts." This had been a point of contention from the very beginning, but Weiss had been extremely adamant about Ruby wearing them, considering Ruby was shorter than almost everyone.

"Yes, of course you do. You'll be fine. Don't worry about it." At this point, it was almost an automatic response from Weiss.

It was a mere 10 minutes before the wedding really began, and people were starting to sit down after meeting and talking with others. The wedding was taking place in the rebuilt Beacon Academy, in the main auditorium. The place where Ozpin had first addressed her and her class. No one knew exactly where Ozpin went after the Fall of Beacon. Some rumors said he was hiding out somewhere. Some rumors said he had died that fateful day. Ruby preferred not to think the latter was true, but she had a strong feeling that it was.

Ruby was startled out of her thoughts by her dad smiling at her, and calling her by her pet name. "Come on, Little Rose. Time for your big moment." He took her by the arm, and walked with her as they emerged from behind the large door that led to the main aisle of the auditorium. There was an audible gasp, as everyone took in Ruby's very apparent beauty, but she hardly noticed. Even though everyone's eyes were on her, her eyes were only for Jaune. He looked stunning. It was quite apparent that Ren, his best man, had dressed him. He wore a simple white tuxedo, with blue trim, and a scarlet rose embroidered over his heart. Seeing the rose made Ruby's heart jump, and she felt like she might start crying again.

Right at that moment, her head started to pound, and for a brief second, she saw Pyrrha standing behind Jaune, with that same look of pleading on her face from her dream. She caught herself as she started to stumble, causing her to look down for a moment. As she looked back up, everything was normal.

"Honey, are you alright?" Taiyang quietly asked into her ear.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just these damned heels." She lied.

When she look up at Jaune again, there was something off, but she couldn't quite place it. Everything looked exactly the same, if not just a slight bit of concern on his face because she had stumbled.

Then she saw it.

But it was too late.

In the shadows behind Jaune, there was a figure, with glowing orange eyes. In Cinder's hands, she held her glass bow. The same one that she had used to kill Pyrrha. It was nocked and aimed directly at Jaune's heart. Before anyone could blink, Ruby activated her semblance and ran. She hit Cinder with the force of 10 freight trains, picking her up by the neck with one hand. Expecting Cinder to be surprised, and to feel her trachea crush beneath Ruby's hand, she was in fact surprised to see that Cinder was instead smiling. There was a very brief split second of confusion before Cinder's dust infused clothes began to glow, and grow in intensity. Ruby dropped her and ran to the auditorium, where everyone still sat in shock.

"Run! The entire place is going to blow! FUCKING RUN!" She screamed at the crowd, as the intensity of light behind her continued to build. She grabbed Jaune's hand and ran.

And all she knew is that she had to keep running.

She pushed herself further than she had ever pushed herself before. Behind her, there was a blast of light, that moved unnaturally quickly, and was quickly on her heels, threatening to overtake her. She pushed herself even harder, pulling Jaune along with her. The world around her began to blur in a way she didn't recognize, but that didn't matter. She just knew she had to go faster.

Then, the world around her began to tear away, and she was in darkness. Infinite darkness, yet nothing but light. Time seemed to stretch endlessly, but also happen all in an instant. She was nowhere but everywhere.

She was running.

Then the world stopped.

Ruby woke up with a massive headache, and she couldn't remember exactly where she was.

"Come on you dunce, we're going to be late for class!" Weiss' voice was so shrill, it pierced her right through the skull. Ruby still hadn't opened her eyes. All she could remember was that she had a weird nightmare about shit going way south at her wedding.

Oh shit, today's the wedding. I need to get ready.

"Yeah, I'm coming Weiss, just give me sec." Ruby mumbled. That was strange. Her voice didn't sound as matured as it normally did. Ruby paused for a second. "Wait, did you say class?"

"Yes! Class! You know, the thing you generally spend sleeping?" Weiss was fairly frustrated by this point, trying to get her partner moving.

Ruby finally opened her eyes, to see a glaring Weiss a couple feet away, arms folded across her chest, and impatiently tapping her foot, obviously 7 years younger than when they last saw each other.

"What the fuck?"

Weiss widened her eyes at Ruby's blatant usage of the 'F' word. Ruby was not one to curse, even at the worst of times.

"I'm supposed to be getting ready for my wedding, not back at school. What the hell is happening right now?" Ruby said to herself, not really paying attention to Weiss anymore.

"Excuse me? Wedding? Ruby, you're only 15. What are you talking about?"

"Yeah, today was supposed to be my wedding day. Jaune proposed to me almost 6 months ago. This must be a dream. I should just be able to snap out of it." She proceeded to slap her face, attempting to wake herself up.

Weiss grabbed both of Ruby's hands, and used one of her own to feel Ruby's forehead. "Ruby, you're talking nonsense. I think you should stay in the dorm for the day. Obviously, these exams are taking a toll on you. You get some rest and relax, okay?"

Ruby was still distant, trying to figure out how she got in this situation. "Yeah, okay. I think I'll go to the nurse's office, too."

"Alright. I'll take notes for you. Feel better."

After Weiss had left, Ruby slowly walked to the dorm door, and across the hallway to what she remembered as team JNPR's door.

There's no way this is happening, right? There's no possible way to time travel. Not even if you move fast enough. Is there?

She stood there in front of JNPR's door, hand poised to knock, for a minute or so. She didn't want it to be true. She knew that if it were true, and she had gone back in time, Pyrrha would still be alive. She loved Pyrrha as a friend, but what would that mean for Jaune and her? Should she save Pyrrha, because she knew what would happen, and could counter-act it, or should she let Pyrrha die, so she could have Jaune to herself again? She had no answers, and as she stood there with her fist raised, the door opened.

And there stood Pyrrha. Confusion and shock evident on her face. Jaune sat on his bed behind her, his face as white as a sheet. He remembered. He couldn't look Ruby in the eye.

She ran back to her room and cried.

Author's Footnote:

Well, there's a ton of turmoil and strife. Looks like Ruby has a choice to make, but Jaune remembers everything as well, so that complicates things a little bit. Plus, it seems that he's already told Pyrrha at least some of it. I guess we'll see what the teams think once they all get back from class.