Author's Note- This was a story that I feel really good about. As a preface this story is part of three part collaboration that I wrote with my friends Kerrigor2 and AmbidextrousLion. Each individual story can be read on its own but the order the series goes in starts with mine, followed by Kerrigor's part which is named Once the Sun Sets, and then finished with Lion's story called The Pain we Share. I recommend you not only read their parts for the full experience when they are released, but that you also check out their other stories which are favorites of mine. Come talk to us at the Reiss Steam group chat room you don't need to be a member of the group to join the chat, though I would recommend joining the group as well. Also check out the /r/Reiss subreddit where lots of great author's and artist's post their RWBY shipping material that I thoroughly enjoy. Now without further wait Read, Review, Favorite, Follow, and Enjoy!

Kerrigor's Part can be found here s/10021542/1/Once-the-Sun-Sets (add the first half of the web address cause this website cuts off the link.)

Lion's Part is located here s/10021782/1/The-Pain-We-Share (same as K's it cut the link)

"The sky is so beautiful; I wish I had a book to enjoy the gorgeous weather with." Blake thought as she lay on the ground "What is that?" she wondered, noticing the wet sticky substance that clung to her person and pooled around her unmoving form. She wasn't able to think clearly and she hurt, there was pain everywhere. She was broken from her dazed thoughts when she heard unsteady steps approaching, boots crunching the dirt underneath as they drew closer, but Blake couldn't find the energy to turn her head and discover who was causing the noise. A strangled cry emanated from nearby, and then Blake's favorite person came into sight. "Ruby" Blake thought, a smile breaking through her grimace of pain as her girlfriend and team leader stepped closer to Blake on shaky unsure feet. As she got closer Blake noticed through the haze of pain that clouded her thoughts that as Ruby looked down upon the Faunus girl, her eyes were wide in horror as tears brimmed in the wide silver orbs, threatening to spill over. Ruby sat down at Blake's side and looked the Faunus girl up and down, before her gaze settled on matching the concerned amber eyes of Blake.

"What's wrong Ruby?" Blake asked her voice quiet as she found it hard to muster the strength to speak. "I'm so tired." Ruby took a few calming breaths to little avail before she spoke.

"Why did you do it Blake?" she asked on the verge of tears. Through the fog of discomfort Blake recalled how they had ended up there.

The red and black haired girls had been sent on a mission to clear out a pack of Beowolves; a standard affair for the two huntresses. They had tracked the pack into a clearing of the forest of Forever Fall and after coming up with a simple plan to attack from two sides and make the most of their speed they had quickly launched into the group of unaware Grimm. The pack was larger than originally thought; it was still not too much trouble for the experienced huntresses. Ruby had dashed into the heart of the pack slicing left and right in wide graceful arcs with Crescent Rose, while Blake had remained on the edges darting around to keep the Grimm from overwhelming the scythe-wielder. It had taken more time than they had anticipated but soon the creatures of darkness had been vanquished and Ruby and Blake stood together in the clearing, tired but successful in their mission and they had passed caring smiles.

Then hell broke loose. An Ursa Major had burst into the clearing, disturbed by the noise from the fight and eager to kill. The Grimm was easily 13ft tall on its hind legs, with the bony protrusions on its back reaching 3-4 ft and ending in a wicked sharp points. It's claws were the size of large knives and razor sharp, both girls prepared to fight but knew it would be difficult, they were weary from the previous encounter and a quick glance at their scrolls showed that both their Aura's were running low. The Grimm was ferocious and well rested and soon Ruby and Blake were on the defensive avoiding the heavy blows swung at them. Blake was knocked aside, her Aura taking the brunt of the damage. The Ursa, having separated the girls, began focusing on Ruby whose movements were slowing down. Using her semblance to avoid a fatal blow Ruby vanished in a flurry of rose petals, reappearing a few feet away, but the Ursa quickly recovered and swung again. Blake saw that Ruby would be too slow to block the claw speeding to her and she was too tired to use her semblance again. Blake knew that she would be too slow to stop the Grimm from attacking Ruby and in an instant knew what she had to do, using her afterimage semblance to teleport next to Ruby and push her out of the way. Ruby had screamed in horror as she realized what Blake was doing, Blake whispered to Ruby as the cloaked girl fell away.

"I'm sorry Ruby."

She was too slow to bring up Gambol Shroud to defend herself and her Aura was completely drained, so when the massive claws made contact they shredded Blake's clothes as well as sliding through her torso rending the skin and breaking ribs. Blake had been thrown to the ground near one of the many red leafed trees and had faded out of consciousness. When she had come to she was staring up at the sky.

As Blake recalled this she understood that the substance she had noticed earlier was in fact her own blood spilling out and pooling around her, the pain she felt was her life coming to a close. Looking at Ruby, Blake smiled again and managed to bring her hands up and cup the younger girls face.

"Don't cry Ruby, I don't regret what I did and I would do it again." Blake said weakly. Ruby placed her hands over Blake's and despite what Blake had said, the tears in her eyes flowed down her face as she leaned in and kissed her girlfriend.

"Why?" was all she asked, needing to know why Blake had traded her life for Ruby's.

"Because you are the most important thing in this world to me, and I will protect you however I can, no matter the cost." Blake answered firmly despite the pain she felt. "I'm so tired."

"Blake..." Ruby said between the sobs that shook her body. "What will I do without you? I need you." Blake had a weak smile as she thumbed the tears away from Ruby's face gingerly.

"Oh my precious rose… you'll be fine without me….You are the strongest, most beautiful, loyal, and loving leader and girlfriend I could have asked for." she said between coughs that brought up blood to her mouth.

Ruby threatened to start crying before she got some semblance of a hold on herself and weakly laughed.

"Blake as your team leader I forbid you from dying on me." She said, earning a painful laugh out of the dying Faunus.

"I'm sorry but this is one order I'm afraid I can't follow." Blake said while trying to muster the strength to bring Ruby closer "I'm so tired," she couldn't, but the other girl got the hint and came closer resting her head on the tired Faunus' shoulder.

"Ruby I'm sorry it ended this way."

"No Blake you'll be fine I promise." Though they both knew the truth, Blake had lost a substantial amount of blood and they were miles from the nearest hospital.

"Ruby I'll always love you."

"Blake I'll always love you." they said together

Blake felt at peace like this with Ruby close by in her arms and gathering the last of her strength she started singing in a quiet voice a song she had sung to Ruby before.

"Don't worry, I've got you; Nothing will ever harm you. I'm close by, I'll stay here; through all things, I will be near. Close your eyes, don't you cry. Love's around you….." Her voice trailed off as she took her breath with one thought on her mind "I love you Ruby." Ruby had felt the tears welling in her eyes when she heard Blake sing. The Faunus girl was singing the lullaby she had learned from Yang, who had sung it to Ruby when she was younger on the nights when the girl's nightmares woke her in the night. As she listened to the other girl singing, silence filled the spot where the last line should have gone and she looked up and saw Blake with her eyes closed a blissful expression of serenity on her face. "It's my fault….if I hadn't been slow, she wouldn't have had to save me" Ruby hollowly thought as she felt the tears flow once more down her face with renewed strength as her heart clenched, "No she can't be gone" she thought in anguish as she buried her face in the dead Faunus' shoulder, not wanting to accept the truth. "I'm alone again," she thought as she cried loudly knowing that no one was around to hear her and the pain she felt. "This isn't how the fairy tale is supposed to end."

"Blake you can't go, we had so much to live for" She said hoping this would somehow help but her words were in vain and she knew it.

"Why did you have to leave me Blake? I love you, just please come back to me" she cried, her tears staining her face and dampening the clothes of her deceased lover as Ruby sat and cried for hours, long into the night over her lost love and the life they would never have.