Bring Me to the Place You Rest Chapter 1: Goodbye, Original, a rwby fanfic

This story is in honor of Memorial Day, to all the fallen soldiers who have payed the ultimate price in war.

Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or the song used in here

WhiteRose and Bumblebee if you squint.

Edit on 5/26/15: Slight changes in wording and some additions, plus more author's notes at the bottom.

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Step-thunk.

Ruby hobbled down the cobblestone road, her walking rhythm a familiar constant for the past eight years. The wind blew from the west and caused her red cloak to flutter upwards before settling down again. The sky was grey and cloudy, the season changing towards winter, as the air grew crisp and cold. The weather said that it would snow sometime this week, and that occasional flurries would be common throughout the week.

The path stretched on forward up the green hill. A tree stood up near the top, all the leaves gone, blown away by the wind days ago. The branches were bare and exposed, making the tree a pitiful sight.

Step-thunk.

The sound echoed in the empty field, as Ruby was the only living thing there. The sound was lonely, as if it broadcasted an unspoken plea to be accompanied by any other sound. But it was a constant companion for Ruby, the only one that she had for five years. All the others had gone. Gone.

They all had a good life until that day. The madwoman, Cinder Fall, had decided to tear everything to pieces. Everything that they had known changed forever that day.

The White Fang had struck during the Vytal festival. For all the security that they had, it wasn't enough to stop them from bombing the stadium in the name of racial equality. Weiss was blinded in her right eye from a piece of shrapnel that cut her face, making the second scar of a growing collection she would get. After then, Beacon had mobilized along with Vale's military force to fight the White Fang. The other Kingdoms had declined to involve themselves, probably waiting to swoop in after the rubble had settled and stake their claim.

The Fang however loosed more Grimm in the city after the Vytal festival, when there was less security and Hunters around. The normal military couldn't handle the creatures of darkness, so it fell mainly to Beacon's Hunters to keep the creatures in check. And for a while they had.

Step-thunk.

Ruby thought about some of the fights that they had. There were some close calls but they remained mostly unharmed. There was one touch-and-go moment before a Beowolf clawed most of Yang's hair off. After then there weren't many Grimm left in the city. Several blocks had been reduced to rubble however before Yang calmed down.

Ruby smiled to herself. They all had known the risks of being hunters and huntresses and that they would risk their lives almost every day. But it hadn't really sunk in as much as it should of. They all received scars, Weiss getting the most somehow, almost all on her face. Regardless they never really thought of the consequences of what they were doing.

That all changed.

Blake was the first to fall. During the fighting, Roman Torchwick had escaped from prison and started leading his own thugs against Vale. Blake became consumed with vengeance again and attacked head on when he made an appearance one day during a skirmish between the Vale forces and the White Fang. She almost had him, but was stabbed in the back by Adam Taurus, her former comrade. The Vale forces won that day, but Blake bled out before any medical attention could be given to her.

Discrimination killed her because all the medics were treating the human casualties first. Blake died surrounded by the people who had accepted who she was and her past.

Step-thunk.

They were never the same after that. It became real for them. They had new fire to stop this conflict before more lives could be claimed. But there was only so much they could do.

Nora was the next to go. During another Grimm raid she was flying around the battlefield with Magnhild, her grenade-launcher/hammer monstrosity, a laugh coming from her mouth, when a Nevermore flew too close and speared her with its feathers in multiple places. She was dead before she hit the ground, the laugh and smile still on her face.

Ren became even more stoic and removed from the others. For all their denials of not being 'together-together', Nora was the closest person to him and her death hit him hard. He was the third. He kept pushing himself to kill as many Grimm and opposing forces that he literally drove himself to sickness, and needed to be confined in the medical wing for his own good. He didn't listen and one night walked off into the Emerald Forest and disappeared. His body was never found, but pieces of StormFlower were discovered around a large pool of bloody grass.

That was how they found the nest of Grimm that had gathered in the forest. While they had been focused on the city, the Grimm had been assembled in the forest for an all out assault. Somehow, Cinder had managed to control the Grimm and make them follow her orders. There were too many to attack directly so that began a series of hit-and-run attacks to whittle away their numbers. Not that it did any good.

Step-thunk.

Each step Ruby took brought her closer to the top of the hill, to her destination. The tombstones around her brought ghosts from all times to her memory. All these people had fallen during what was now known as the Vale Civil War. There were lines upon lines of tombstones, grave-markers, and other sculptures that marked where one of the fallen now lay. There were so many.

The Grimm kept coming; no matter how many they killed. Before long, Cinder directed them at Beacon, and they were besieged. For near a month, they held out under constant waves of Grimm. Many students and full-fledged hunters had died in that siege. Oobleck, Port, Goodwitch, and even Ozpin himself died defending the school, each taking down hundreds of Grimm before they fell. SSSN were also among the casualties, Neptune and Sun taking down two King Taijitus before falling.

Weiss had recovered from her injury and was defending the western front when an Ursa Major blindsided her with her injured eye. With her Aura nearly depleted from the near constant fighting, she had no chance as the Ursa's claws tore gashes in her back, its claws coming out of her chest. Ruby had noticed too late to save Weiss, but sure as hell killed that Ursa. Weiss died in Ruby's arms, yet another casualty of war. Ruby could still see her friend's blood on her hands if she looked hard enough.

Eventually Beacon had to be evacuated, as the Grimm's numbers had overwhelmed them. But there were too many Grimm preventing the remaining airships from taking off, so Jaune and a few other volunteers stayed behind to give them time to escape. Jaune joked, saying, "Today is a good day to die," a line from one of his favorite sci-fi shows. Pyrrha protested and both Ruby and Yang had to keep her from jumping out to stay with Jaune. Surprisingly, Cardin stayed with Jaune, any animosity forgotten in that moment of understanding one has when they knew they were going to die. All those that stayed behind did, but gave the others a chance to live another day.

Step-thunk.

The next few weeks were brutal. The remaining Vale military and Beacon's Hunters fought the White Fang, Cinder's forces, and the Grimm. Ruby, Pyrrha, and Yang were the remaining members of JNPR and RWBY and were often on the front lines of battle. Pyrrha was the next to go, but not in the way that they expected. A Deathstalker clipped her in the side and they barely got her to the medics to prevent the venom from consuming her. However it left her weak and susceptible to disease, so she was moved to strategy, away from the battlefield. Like Ren before her, she withdrew into herself at Jaune's death. She later admitted to Ruby that she loved him, but never admitted it. Ruby nearly admitted something similar years later while visiting Pyrrha in the hospital, but lost her courage and fell quiet.

The fighting continued until, by some miracle, they reached a truce with the White Fang. Since Roman was the main instigator, and Adam the leader, both working on Cinder's orders, the White Fang had fought against whoever Cinder said to. However, Adam had been killed by Yang, getting revenge for Blake's death, and Torchwick defected, seeing as how Cinder had turned into even more of a "pyromaniac, psycho bitch hell-bent on getting power" than normal during the war. He gave the location of where Cinder had holed up before he was assassinated by Mercury and Emerald, both of whom had met their deaths soon after by the sister's retaliation.

They hit Cinder's position hard, and reduced the old castle she was staying at to rubble, burying everything inside, people, Faunus, and Grimm alike. Soon after, the White Fang surrendered and people of Vale thought that they had peace. Ruby should have known it wasn't over.

About a week later, another wave of Grimm attacked Vale, putting an end to the celebrations. More had died, and Ruby lost her leg when an Alpha Beowolf bit it off during one of her more acrobatic moves. She almost died then, but Yang carried her back to the hospital and they had given her a robotic replacement leg. However, it couldn't hold up when Ruby used her Semblance.

The speed that she always enjoyed could never be achieved again.

Step-thunk.

Ruby grimaced as she thought back to having her new leg attached. Even when she had soft shoes on, it still made a thumping sound even before it malfunctioned. She could move it and use it just fine, but it didn't feel right. It still doesn't feel right after eight years of having it. It just wasn't a part of her. It was like someone had clamped a piece of metal that you could control onto you. It just wasn't her.

Cinder had escaped when they attacked the castle and had gathered more Grimm to her side, now fighting just to wipe out Vale completely. The sides that had previously fought now banded together to take her down.

The last battle was a desperate struggle. Man, woman, Human, Faunus all fought against the Grimm, and died. Ruby was there, swinging Crescent Rose, ending those Grimm's lives, just without her agility that she was renowned for. Eventually, Yang and Ruby fought their way to Cinder. No words were spoken as all three attacked each other. The sisters eventually killed Cinder, but the Grimm became wild and needed to be destroyed.

There were just too many and the order to retreat was given. Ruby didn't notice that Yang wasn't with them until she glanced back and saw a single yellow dot amongst the sea of black, red, and white. She tried rushing to her, but her leg couldn't handle her Semblance and failed, stiffening up, unable to bend at the knee anymore. The leg was ruined and because it was attached to the skin, they couldn't remove it and replace it, otherwise the nerve endings would be too badly damaged to get anything from it.

Ruby watched on as the yellow dot vanished under that sea just before a wave of flames blew outwards and vaporized the Grimm around her. A smoking crater was all that was left of where the Grimm were. In the center was one splash of color.

Step-thunk.

Ruby stopped as she reached the top of the hill. In front of her were seven tombstones, Four and then three behind that.

First was Team JNPR: Jaune Arc, Nora Valkyrie, Pyrrha Nikos, and Lie Ren. All four names were now down in the history books as heroes. Pyrrha was the last one to go, suffering from sicknesses the rest of her life from the Deathstalker's poison, almost living in the hospital for three years, until she caught one too many colds. Her body just gave out on her, leading to her passing away in her sleep, the only one out of them to do so. Her grave was put between Nora and Ren's, to complete the Team's name. The remains of Jaune, Nora, and Pyrrha were buried there, with Ren's weapons in lieu of his body.

Ruby shuffled to each of their graves and put a flower on each. Jaune got a magnolia and a henbane as remembrance to his self-proclaimed 'lady killer' days, Nora got a coreopsios, which fit her personality perfectly, Pyrrha, a motherwort and a snapdragon, and Ren, a lotus like his symbol was.

Ruby stood in front of their graves in silence. She then spoke softly, "I know it's been a while, but I'm here again. I'll never forget you four. You stood by us through it all: in laughs and fun, and when the going got though. We could always count on you to have our backs wherever we were. I don't think words can fully explain how grateful we… I am for you. I'm proud to call you all my friends. And you always will be. Jaune, Pyrrha, Ren, Nora. I'll never forget."

Ruby turned away, holding back tears, and moved past them to the three graves behind them. WBY. The three people who have known Ruby the best. They stuck together through it all for as long as they lived. Weiss Schnee. Blake Belladonna. Yang Xiao Long. All heroes of the Vale Civil War. Ruby didn't care about the title they all carried. It didn't mean anything to her. They were gone. Never to be seen again.

Ruby went to Weiss' grave first and placed a red and a white rose intertwined on the headstone. "Hey Weiss. It's been a while hasn't it? I'm not exactly as fast as I used to be, so you can't hold that against me this time." Ruby cracked a tearful smile. "I don't suppose you'll ever forget how we met. If we knew how much that accident would change us, would we still do it again? I'd like to believe so. Heh, I can almost hear you say, 'of course you dolt'. I never grew tired of hearing you call me that. It just showed me how much you cared for me. I don't think I ever admitted it, but I might have wanted you to call me that, just so I could know that you cared. It was all that I could get…" She trailed off, some things still unsaid. "You were my partner, and I always will treasure that forever. See you Snow Angel."

Ruby moved over to Blake's. "Blake, you're probably wishing that you had a book right now. Or maybe you ended up in a giant library for all I know. I just hope you're happy. You might already know this, but Yang got Adam for you. She almost shut down after you died, but pulled through to save everybody. I think it might have been you spurring her on, even in death. You were an inspiration to us all. Changing who you were so you could change your life. You were one of the first people I got along with in Beacon, and proved that I could have friends outside of Yang." Ruby placed a kennedia on her grave. "Thank you."

She turned to the last grave, tears falling freely. She fought to keep her voice steady. "Yang. Sis. Long time no see." Ruby smirked. "See, I can do puns too. You'd probably be proud of me for that. Things aren't the same anymore. Vale's been rebuilt, Beacon's running again and guess what, I'm a teacher! Can you believe that? Who'd want some old cripple teaching them. Yeah, yeah, I'm not that old, but it's the thought. I also feel old as well. Older than my twenty-five year body.

"You saved us all, you know. Your stubbornness saved everyone again. All of Vale thinks you're a hero. I know that you're a hero. I knew that ages before anyone else when we were kids. You'd always look out for me, always take care of me, bake me cookies, arrange my birthday parties, and give Yule gifts to… You were always my hero Yang…"

Ruby couldn't take it and collapsed crying, her false leg sticking out at an odd angle. "Oh Oum, it hurts. It hurts that you're gone. It's been years but it still hurts. I miss you so much." Ruby didn't talk for a while as her sobs overwhelmed her. She cried for ages mourning everyone. It hurt, and it was a pain that would never go away. As she cried, snowflakes started drifting down from the sky, lightly coating the ground.

"I-I'm sorry," Ruby said, sniffling as she wiped her nose and tears away. "I just… I feel it Yang. As much as you'll probably tell me otherwise, I know I don't have long left before I'm taking my spot in the ground next to Weiss. It's not going to happen immediately. But I can feel it. Don't worry, I'll make the most of my life while I can, teach others how to build their own sniper-scythes and use them properly like Uncle Qrow did, maybe become headmistress for a while. But I know I'll die sooner rather than later. I just… feel it. I'll see you again, along with Weiss and Blake, Jaune, Pyrrha, Ren, and Nora. Not for years though. But I'll see you again."

Ruby looked up at the sky, blinking away snowflakes that got in her face. She sighed and placed a sunflower and a yellow tulip on her grave. "I love you Yang. My sister." She looked at the three graves in front of her. "My sisters."

Ruby put a hand on Yang's stone and pushed herself up, her leg protesting the awkward movement before she steadied herself. Ruby gazed at the stones around her before smiling in memory. She started walking away.

Step-thunk.

The constant sound of her life sounded less ominous now, as if a question had been answered, a gift given.

Ruby went back down the path that she took out of the cemetery. As she walked, a song, almost forgotten came to her lips. She sung softly at first, but built strength later until her voice rang through the cemetery.

~"I saw the light fade from the sky,
On the wind I heard a sigh.
As the snowflakes cover
my fallen sisters
I will say this last goodbye.

Night is now falling,
So ends this day.
The road is now calling
And I must away.

Over hill, and under tree,
Through lands where never light has shone,
By silver streams that run down to the sea.

Under cloud, beneath the stars,
Over snow and winter's morn
I turn at last to paths that lead home,

And though where the road then takes me,
I cannot tell.
We came all this way
But now comes the day
To bid you farewell.

Many places I have been,
Many sorrows I have seen;
But I don't regret,
Nor will I forget
All who took that road with me.

Night is now falling,
So ends this day.
The road is now calling
And I must away.

Over hill, and under tree,
Through lands where never light has shone,
By silver streams that run down to the sea.

To these memories I will hold,
With your blessing I will go
To turn at last to paths that lead home,

And though where the road then takes me,
I cannot tell
We came all this way
But now comes the day
To bid you farewell."~

Ruby turned to look behind her, the tombstones on top of the hill just barely visible. Softly, she sang one last line.

~"I bid you all a very fond farewell…"~

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Song: The Last Goodbye -by Howard Shore

Honestly, I cried writing this. Several times.

[Edit 5/26/15]:
I looked around for ages getting all the flowers for the people, and decided to put a list up after I stopped crying.
Jaune: Magnolia; Nobility and Perseverance. Henbane; For males to attract love from females.
Nora: Coreopsios; Always Cheerful.
Pyrrha: Motherwort; Secret love. Snapdragon; Gracious lady, strength.
Ren: Locus; Purity, spirituality, faithfulness

Weiss: Red and White Rose tied together; Unity.
Blake: Kennedia; Intellectual beauty.
Yang: Sunflower; Unwavering faith. Tulip (Yellow); There's sunshine in your smile.
[End Edit].

Please remember the fallen.

-OrangeGalen out.