Ruby gasped for air as she woke up.

Am I dead?

A memory of her hurtling towards the ground surfaced. Sigh. Looks like Cinder won in the end.

She pushed herself up and took in her surroundings. Before her stood four massive pillars of stone, each with mysterious glyphs on them, standing in a wide arc. Behind her was a passageway, leading upwards. The cavern had natural earth and stone walls, with the only light coming from the tunnel.

Where am I? Why am I wearing this?

She looked down at her combat uniform, identical to the one she wore 2 years ago. Too much red.

I guess I should get moving.

Ruby turned around to see the passageway leading upwards. Dust floated in the air, catching the light.

She stepped out into a serene forest. Rays of light penetrated the thick leaves above, casting transparent shadows on the ground. An aura of peace permeated the air. She started walking forwards, surrounded by the soft sound of grass ruffling in the wind; the leaves slowly swaying like the tide. She looked behind her. Towering above her was a smooth cliff face, with the stone passageway that she had just left. She turned back and looked towards the clouds.

Wait, is that Beacon Tower?

The tower in the distance stood whole again, rising above the clouds, green lights shining in the blue sky. Ruby shook her head and wiped her eyes, but the tower still persisted.

Is this the afterlife? This couldn't be the real world. The real Beacon wasn't standing. The real Beacon was destroyed.

She turned around and flew up the cliff face. She saw Beacon Academy in its whole from the vantage point. Behind her were the ruins from Initiation, the bridges still damaged from the fight against the Deathstalker. She stared towards Beacon for a moment, still not believing its existence. Maybe its an illusion, she thought to herself.

Well, there was only one way to find out the truth. Ruby dropped back into the forest and started on the path back towards Beacon Academy.

Forest slowly thinned out into thick underbrush, which then in turn became grass fields. She saw the academy in its whole as she slowly neared it.

This. . . This seems real. Beacon towered over her, as real as the forest she had just left, as real as the earth she stood on.

It was odd returning to Beacon. She was already used to the desolate, destroyed Beacon that was crawling with monsters. Seeing Beacon again at the height of its glory perhaps affected her a bit more than she would have liked to admit.

"I'm back," she whispered with a smile. Tears came to her eyes, but she quickly wiped them away. She stood there is peace, taking in the school again. The serene beauty brought back memories of a better time, times before Salem, times where things were normal.

She looked around, absorbing the school.

Wait, is that Glynda? And Ozpin?

What?

Well. . .

they look real. . .

Ruby ran up to her. "Hey, um, do you know where the dorms are? I'm a bit lost," she asked, a bit embarrassed.

"Just around the corner down the hallway left of the main hall," she replied after a pause, "may I ask why you aren't already in your dorms?"

"Just came out for a walk, hehe," Ruby replied, scratching the back of her head. She turned around and walked towards the main hall, mind racing. She pushed through the door and looked around. Ornate decorations lined ever inch of the walls, alongside massive banners reading "Welcome To Beacon!" Are those the Initiation decorations?

Wait a second. . .

The realization struck her, and a massive smile came to her face as she jumped in the air in joy.

I'm, I'm still alive! And so is Yang, Blake, and Weiss, and everybody! Her legs gave way and she started crying tears of happiness.

Things weren't going to fall apart this time. She was there to make sure of that. She wasn't going to let Cinder succeed. She wasn't going to let history repeat itself. She stood up and looked back towards Beacon. Not some fake projection, but the real one that she had spent the best year of her life in.

She set out exploring the school a second time. Memories came rushing back as she returned to the cafeteria, the combat arena, and the classrooms. The food fight, the drama, even the boring lectures brought a deep sense of nostalgia in her. Ruby smiled, long lost memories returning to her.

An hour or so passed, and Ruby had finally ran out of places to explore. Well, other than one.

I guess it's time for the reunion.

She gathered up her courage, and started towards the dorms.

Knock Knock

The door swung open to reveal a disgruntled morning Yang.

"Where were yo-" she muttered half heartedly before being broken off by a full body hug from Ruby.

"Hey hey, it'll be fine here at Beacon, Rube," she joked after an awkward pause.

"Hey, why are you crying?" she asked as she dropped her smile.

"It-it's fine, I'm just happy that I'm here in Be-eacon" Ruby sniffled back.

"Then I'm happy I could come here with my little sister," Yang assured, smirk on her face, "now now, stop crying." Ruby let go of her and wiped her tears on her sleeve. A smile came to her face as she climbed onto her bunk and sat down, feeling the softness of the mattress. She looked around at the familiar beds, posters, and the view outside. It brought a warmth to her heart.

Everyone's back.

Everything's okay.

Blake was reading her books, Weiss was putting up a timetable, and Yang was looking at her weird. It was as close to normal as things was going to get, and the truth was, it was all Ruby had ever wanted.