Belladonna Xiao Long Residence

Li was out training in the front yard. Her mothers were on a date, so she was in charge that making sure her twin younger brothers, Solar and Shadow, didn't get into any trouble. She was currently testing out her gauntlets, Gen Break, when she was visited by an unexpected guest.

"AH?!" Li yelled in surprise. "Aunt Ruby?!" The Human-Faunus Hybrid was confused. Ruby didn't say she would come over. "S-Sorry, but your sister isn't here for the time being." She said nervously. "Maybe you can come back later and-."

That's when her Faunus senses kicked in. Something wasn't right. She realized what was about to happen.

"Wait a minute…." She pondered. "You….You're not Aunt Ruby! You're a…. COPY!"

The intruder threw off her hood, revealing her red eyes. This confirmed Li's suspicion. Ruby's eyes were never red, and she only had one eye!

"You're right." Fake Ruby taunted. "I'm not her. Now, I shall make her sibling regret leaving you vulnerable!" She pulled out her own version of Crescent Rose, surprisingly looking just like the original, and charged.

Vulnerable? Li thought as she blocked the strike. Oh, she just made a big mistake!

The copy began to viciously attack the 1/4th Feline as she did her best to defend herself.

Damn it! Li thought. She's just as strong as the real Ruby! I can't let her get to my brothers!

She began to retaliate, punching with all her might against the copy. She even caught a bullet of Ice Dust and crushed it.

"So, let me guess." Li smirked. "Since you don't have silver eyes, the power Ruby possesses is forever beyond your reach."

This only infuriated Fake Ruby, as she began to attack again and again. Gauntlet collided with scythe, and Li used her instincts to sense any incoming danger.

Crap! I gotta end this now! Li thought. If Solar and Shadow heard the commotion and went to investigate, Fake Ruby could easily kill them! Good thing they were sleeping.

Li began to charge up her Semblance. Upon the contact on Gen Break, she became stronger, just like her blonde mother, complete with the gold hair and red eyes.

Thanks, Yang. The ½ Faunus thought. This better work. With unrelenting fury, she began to pummel the imposter. Soon, Semblance began to counter Semblance, as Fake Ruby used the speed to her advantage.

Gah! She's as fast as the real deal, too! Li began to focus relying on her senses to detect the red streak. Fake Ruby appeared behind her, and prepared to kill her, Grimm Reaper style.

There you are.

The Half-Faunus turned around and hit Fake Ruby square in the stomach! The imposter coughed up blood as she fell.

"Damn you…." The copy growled. "This isn't over….."

Fake Ruby then became a red streak again as she fled. Panting, Li reverted back to her normal self.

That was too close. She thought. I am SO glad that Solar and Shadow didn't see-. As she turned around, her heart sank. Oh shit.

The twins were staring wide-eyed at her. Solar's yellow feline tail was almost between his legs, and Shadow's black cat ears were standing straight up.

"That…"

"Was…"

"AWESOME!" The twins yelled. "Best training session ever!"

Li breathed a sigh of relief. Good. They didn't know she was fighting a copy.

"Hey Sis, wanna fight me?" Solar asked excitedly. "I wanna see if my eyes can turn red and if I can fight like a superhero!"

"Yeah!" Shadow said. "And I wanna see if my hair can turn yellow if I scream at the top of my lungs like that!"

"Um, sorry, but no." Li said, taking off Gen Break. "Why don't you boys get something to eat? You moms will be back soon. Last I checked, it'll rain soon."

The boys responded with a sad "awwwww….". As Li got inside, Shadow asked her something.

"So, how's your girlfriend?" He asked.

Angrily, Li punched the air and came to a halt when her fist was inches from his face, making him flinch.

"STOP SAYING THAT MEI IS MY GIRLFRIEND!" She roared. "I swear, if you say that to her, I am gonna break your nose!"

With a little bit of fear in their eyes, the boys ran upstairs. As her mothers came home, clouds began to form. Li sighed.

Speaking of Mei, The Quarter Feline thought. I wonder if she's pretty sad that her training's canceled due to the rain. She must be crying her eyes out.

…

Schnee Rose Residence

The rain and thunder hammered the earth as if was dying of thirst. Mei knew the world was now crying. Tears flooded her own eyes, as she walked the long way home with all that was left of Jaune Arc: His shield. A large crack was down the middle, as if it was nearly torn apart. Blood also blotted out the sun on it. HIS blood. She was flooded with thoughts. About how her family would react. Mei felt like she should just stop dead in her tracks and throw Blass Horizon into herself.

But she couldn't.

She didn't want her mother to lose anyone else. Miles behind her, lightning scorched the ground. Mei walked up to the front door. She knocked. Just once. The door opened, and her mother, Ruby Rose, was confused about why she was back so early.

"What's wrong, sweetie?" Ruby asked. Mei hadn't completed the errand. All she had was Jaune's shield. Mei then looked up at her mother, silver waters drowning her vision.

"I'm sorry…." She whispered. She dropped the shield, let it clatter to the floor, and hugged her mother harder than ever before.

"I'm so sorry….."

Ruby wanted to ask, but when she saw the crack and blood on the shield, the awful truth hit her.

She would never see another one of her best friends ever again.

Both mother and daughter wailed out in sadness, the cries muted by the loud thunder that boomed nearby. Ruby hugged her daughter, tears flowing out of her only eye.

It was not enough.

As Mei was brought inside, heavily wet from the massive downpour, the rest of the family arrived, having heard the cries.

When Rudolph and Winifred asked their sister what happened, while Wiess tried to comfort her true love, all Mei could say was three words that made them shocked.

"Jaune….. is gone."

The sorrow was so much for Rudolph, he fainted from the shock. Winifred summoned whatever courage he had to speak.

"Who or what killed him?" He asked.

Remembering the massive wound, Mei pointed a shaky finger at her own red mother. Ruby went wide with shock.

"NO!" She cried. "I WOULD NEVER KILL HIM! I WOULD NEVER EVER DO SUCH A THING! I…I….BWAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!" Ruby continued to bawl.

Poor Ruby. Weiss thought, fighting to hold back the flood within. She hasn't cried this much ever since her mom died.

"It….. it wasn't her." Winifred said in disbelief.

"You're right…" Mei sobbed. "It was….. someone posing as her."

It wasn't long, but eventually, the news got out to the rest of the family. Mei said that those who truly knew Ruby thought she had betrayed them. She was framed. When the storm cleared up, Team RWBY and their kids had gotten the news. By the time Ruby's imposter was mentioned, Li decided to speak up.

"She tried to kill me, too." She said. "She looked just like her, but she had two eyes. And they were blood-red."

"WHAAAAAAATTTTTTT?!" Solar and Shadow were shocked beyond measure. "But…. I thought that was just training!" Solar said.

"You were in danger!" Li snapped. "Be serious, just for a few minutes!"

This really IS serious. Rudolph thought. Those two haven't mentioned Li and my sister being a thing. Is that even true?

"Where is she?" Ruby weakly asked.

"Your doppelganger?" Li responded. "I…. have no idea." When Ruby looked up, her eyes were burning with a rage no one had ever seen before.

"She and I have unfinished business….." Ruby growled.

"How do you plan on going after her?" Winifred asked. "Mei said that your Crescent Rose was destroyed in your battle with that Cinder lady."

"That won't stop me…." Ruby hissed. "Nothing will. I've lost too much already. I have to stop her. Before she kills anyone else I know and love." And with that, Ruby stormed off. Her vengeance would happen tonight. She and Mei would hunt that murderer down. Before more of her family would be lost.