Darkness, you start to get used to it after a while. By yourself, in this dark filled world… no one around.

I wanted to see you again, but how could I? I was dead. I wanted to hug you again, even though I couldn't feel you. I wanted to see your smile again. I wanted to hear your laugh… hear you speak again… hear you call my name. All of it.

But… I was dead.

That was until I woke again… to see the oldest Schnee. Winter Schnee. How? How exactly was I alive?

That is when she explained to me that I had been rebuilt, they made new discoveries… to make me more human than I was before. I could feel textures, taste food. A lot of what humans could do.

But I still had a beating metallic heart. I smiled, remembering what you had said before about me.

"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?"

Real.

I wasn't real, but you made me believe I was.

Winter explained what year it was… but I felt like she was holding something back from me. I couldn't exactly tell. It had been 15 years after the fall of Beacon. Before she explained anything else to me, she had handed me a piece of paper.

With an address on it. She had told me… if I wanted to find her you'd be there. It was better to go in person then have a phone call.

So, after a few more check ups. I left Atlas, and made my way to Patch. I remember Patch, we had gone there one time to go to the lake.

After a little while, I finally made it to Patch. It was still beautiful as ever, you had always enjoyed the small island.

Little walk later I came to your old cabin, from afar I could see someone tending to the flowers. I couldn't tell who exactly it was.

As I grew closer to the person she had sensed someone watching her. She looked exactly like you… red hair pulled back into a bun. Green eyes.

She looked so young.

"Can I help you?" She asked pulling off her gloves setting them to the side.

"Uh, yeah I'm sorry to interrupt. But I'm looking for someone who lived here… used to? It's been a little so…"

The girl nodded. "Can I ask you your name?" She asked standing up from her spot wiping her hands on her pants.

"Penny. Penny Polendina."

At her name the girl nodded again. "Give me a second, I need to grab my jacket. I know who you are looking for." She explained disappearing in the house leaving me alone outside for a little.

A little bit later the girl came back out with a jacket, she motioned for me to follow her.

Where exactly, she had no idea. But after a little… I started to remember the path.

It was where your mother's grave was.

I stared at the back of the girl's head… who exactly was she? And why were we going this way.

"Come on." Ruby said a small smile on her face as she pulled me along with her.

"Where exactly are we going Ruby?" I asked following closely behind her.

"I want you to meet someone special to me."

"Someone?"

Ruby nodded as we continued to climb up the path. A little bit of walking later we soon reached the end of a cliff with a small headstone.

Summer Rose.

"Ruby…"

"This is my mom…" Ruby whispered leaning down letting her fingers lightly touch the edge of the stone.

I stared at the edge of the cliff, a small frown on my face.

There… was two… headstones.

The girl sighed turning to me.

"You were talking about Ruby Rose right?" The girl asked her fingers playing with the edge of her jacket.

"Yeah… I…" I shifted forward walking to the the stones.

Ruby Rose.

I felt my knees give out as I sat in front of the grave. "How…" I whispered feeling the girl sit next to me.

"She went on a hunt, and never came home." The girl explained letting the tips of her fingers run across the small stone.

"Who are you?" I asked looking at her. She sighed pulling an envelope out from her jacket. "This'll explain everything for you. If you're who you say you are… then you'll understand."

I glanced at her, before taking the letter from her hands.

Dear Penny,

I know by now when you read this you'll be confused. When everything went down at Beacon things changed, the world changed. Vale was destroyed. You were gone. At first I never thought of it, I had to keep going while everyone else had their time to mourn. It was a long journey, but we reunited and fought our way to victory.

I'm pretty sure by now, you'll discover that I'm no longer there. By now I will be gone.

After defeating Salem I found your father and learned the true story of who you really were before you become who I met. He knew that he could rebuild you, change you making you different. Stronger.

But he also knew that it would take a while.

See before you were you, you were a real girl. He had a lot of your aura.

With his help, I birthed Lily, who I assume by now you have met. She's… our daughter. I wanted a piece of you… because it was a slim chance of you coming back.

But, it seems maybe you did if you're reading this.

I'm sorry I'm not there to greet you, to hug you… to kiss you. Or to ask the one question I always wanted to ask you.

But please don't shut down or stop fighting because I'm gone. Lily will need your help, she's still learning this world.

I'm sorry Penny.

I love you.

I frowned folding the letter up before slipping it into the envelope. I gave the headstone another glance before looking at Lily.

I felt the corners up my mouth slowly going rising.

"You look a lot like her." I said getting up from my spot.

"You know, she always said I look a lot like you."

I nodded looking back at the grave. "I'm so sorry I was late." I whispered letting Lily go ahead of me. "I have a lot to catch up on." I said kissing the tips of my fingers before resting them on top of the stone.

"I love you."

I turned away feeling a chill come over me.

"I love you too..."