"Welcome." Ruby's voice was dark and playful as she lapped up the small pool of blood forming in Coco's palm. Her three teammates stood around the carved stone throne, staring down at the group of eight before them with cold, vacant looks, a stark contrast to Ruby's suave smile. The leader's lips were stained with the crimson of her teammate's blood as drank in its intense and deep flavor, savoring its taste, the subtleties of Coco's feelings and her uniqueness of her vital essence while at the same time imbibing the shock and disbelief radiating from her friends that had entered the castle.

"R-Ruby… is that really-"

Snort.

"I- I'm sorry *Snort* I can't do this!" An instant later Ruby broke out into a violent fit of laughter, cutting Weiss off. Her long black reptilian tail slapping rapidly against the stone floor as she was consumed by uncontrollable giggles.

"You should all see the looks on your faces! Guys, I think we may have been a bit too convincing." As Ruby continued to giggle her team relaxed, Blake standing upright behind the throne, putting one hand top Ruby's head, feeling her silky smooth hair as she smiled along. At Ruby's left side Penny just grinned brightly, still holding Ruby's hand, their fingers entwined. On her right side Coco smiled while she shook her head, giving an apologetic look to their friends as she activated her aura, closing up her wound.

"It was all her idea." Blake sighed, unable to help but find their shocked faces amusing.

"Aw don't be like that, I could feel you trying not to laugh at it the whole time!" Ruby stuck her blood soaked tongue out at her recently turned Vassal before going back to Coco's arm. With her wound now closed Ruby slowly and sensually ran her tongue warm from feeding on Coco down her teammate's fingertips to her palm, licking up every trace of her life sustaining fluid, casually working her way up to her wrist where the last drops of blood trickled down the freshly closed wound, feeling Coco enjoying every moment of the intimate contact.

"Sorry, we got bored waiting so I came up with a fun prank." Ruby finally stood up from the throne, rubbing the back of her head sheepishly as she licked her lips.

"You missed some." Coco stepped in front of her leader, wiping up a drop of blood from her cheek with her thumb before pressing it tenderly against Ruby's soft, cold lips. She felt her tongue greedily take the very last drop, licking several times to ensure that none went to waste.

"We're sorry if we frightened you more than intended." Penny gave a small, courteous bow as she and Blake stood beside their leader in front of the throne.

"Yeah, we may have gone a little too far." Blake smiled tepidly, sensing the emotions around the room. The mix of anger, relief, fear and annoyance stirred her Grimm appetite, and she could feel both her and Ruby's hunger rising. Her cat like Grimm tail with white teeth like protrusions running down its length flicked nervously back and forth.

"Yeah, but it was still funny." Ruby shrugged it all off as she walked down the stone steps, stepping onto the floor as she made her way, smiling with genuine happiness towards her friends.

"Ruby you dolt! You scared the crap out of-"

Weiss' words were cut off as Ruby broke into a full on run before slamming into her former partner. Ruby threw her arms around Weiss, enveloping her in a tight hug as her tail wrapped around them and her wings spread slightly out, shielding them from the sides as Ruby held her dear friend close. Weiss' cool blue eyes were wide with surprise but after a few moments to process… a soft, loving smile formed from her lips as she returned them embrace, wrapping her arms around Ruby, below her wings.

"I missed you too, you crazy dolt." Weiss closed her eyes as she held Ruby. It had been nearly three months since she had seen the leader of the former Team RWBY, her partner and best friend. She was different, and it wasn't just the wings and tail and horns, or how cold her body was, or the scent of blood that clung to her. She was stronger now, Weiss could see her confidence in the way she talked and moved, but even through all of that, she could tell, Ruby was still Ruby.

"I'm glad you made it… I was worried about you." Ruby whispered, her throat tight as she closed her eyes, cold tears rolling down her cheeks as she felt the warm presence of her friend through their embrace.

"We made it Ruby. We're all here." Through all the uncertainty, fear and battles, this is what they had fought so hard for. Now, they were reunited… together again. Weiss gently stroked the back of Ruby's head as her vision clouded with tears.

"Blake…" Sun stared in stunned disbelief at the faunus girl that stood before him. Blake was very different, her outfit was changed, now wearing an unbuttoned white vest with a blouse underneath that faded in a gradient from black to dark purple, tattered black jeans suspended on her waist with a steel chain belt and black heeled boots at her feet. However, her outfit was the least outstanding change. Her arms were patched with an unnatural blackness with white, jagged protrusions growing out of the darkness from her forearms and at her back was a long, cat like tail made of Grimm flesh. Her face had small, symmetrical red markings like Ruby did and her neck was covered in scars that looked like she had been gnawed on.

"Hey Sun." She sounded so cool and casual, but she could feel his unease that arose just from looking at her. If it weren't for the outpouring of positive emotions like love and relief that emanated from Weiss and Ruby, her hunger would probably be getting in the way of her coherent thoughts.

"So… you're one of them now?" He said, instantly recoiling at his own choice of phrasing, his eyes glancing over to Ruby who was still hugging Weiss. "I- I mean, you go bit?"

"Yes Sun, I was bitten by Ruby." She admitted, cutting to the chance, finding subtext annoying and needless, especially with her newfound ability to sense people's emotions. "Please stop feeling so repulsed, it's making me hungry."

"I didn't have a choice." Ruby chimed in as she separated from Weiss, her glistening silver eyes fixed on Sun. "She was badly hurt, one of those strong Grimm Zombies, it stabbed her through the liver, she was going to die."

"Ruby saved my life." Blake assured, lifting up her blouse to reveal the scar left behind from the wound inflicted on her in her last moments as a living thing. "I wouldn't be here at all if she didn't turn me. I'm thankful for what she did."

"And the blood drinking?" Thistle spoke up, stepping to Weiss' side, her soft purple eyes calm but protective of her leader. Ruby could sense a great many thing in the heart of the small girl, but above them all was an admiration and protectiveness towards Ruby's former partner.

"Oh yeah, I guess I should probably explain that huh?" Ruby laughed sheepishly as Coco and Penny stood beside her and Blake. "Well, you see-"

"When a Silver Eyed Grimm like Ruby senses negative emotions, the innate hunger they have for humans and faunus grows." Taking everyone by surprise, Velvet spoke up, walking calmly towards Ruby, her brown eyes fixed on Ruby's as they burned with conviction. "Drinking blood helps make the hunger more bearable and- and it creates a strong and positive bond between a willing donor and the Silver Eyed Grimm."

"Velvet… how do you know all of that?" Ruby stared up at the bunny faunus is shocked confusion. Then, her gaze drifted slowly down until her eyes stopped on Velvet's pale wrist, covered in scars. She's been feeding someone like me…

"Um, I think what Velvet is trying to say is that we should probably talk. There's something big you need to hear." Jaune put his hand Weiss' shoulder as he and Pyrrha walked past them towards Ruby and the others.

"I want to tell her alone, please." Velvet never once looked away from Ruby's sparkling silver eyes, even as she spoke to her team. "We can tell her all the details together, but I want to be the one to tell her the most important thing."

"Guys, what's she talking about? What do you know about me? What does she mean by 'Silver Eyed Grimm'? Why does she have scars on her wrist like she's been feeding someone like me?" A small pang of frustration and impatience burned in her chest, a sensation Blake could very clearly share with the one who turned her. She and Ruby were now inexorably linked, everything Ruby felt, Blake felt.

"Ruby, there are things we have to tell you, but I want to tell you something first. We should talk in private. Please, this is important." The seriousness in her voice took everyone aback, but what Ruby noticed was far deeper. Within Velvet's heart Ruby could sense a storm of confusing emotions, both incredibly happy and heart achingly sad, but above the storm, shining like the sun, was her strength of conviction. Ruby could tell in an instant that whatever it was that Velvet wanted to say, it was important to her to be the one to say it.

"Okay, the dining hall is just over there, through that door." Ruby surrendered to Velvet's will with a warm smile before walking towards a tall wooden door to their right. With her wings folded at her back and her tail dragging along floor, the two took their leave into the adjacent room, leaving their teams behind, no one needing Grimm sense to feel the curiosity and unease in the air between them.

"So what is it Velvet?" Ruby asked as she closed the door behind her, her head tilted curiously but her eyes weary and nervous, feeling the gravity in Velvet's heart as she worked up the courage to speak.

"I know this is going to be hard for you to hear but… these scars on my wrists, I was feeding someone like you, with silver eyes. She had beautiful black hair with dark red tips, pale skin, wings and a tail… her name was Summer Rose, your mother." Velvet didn't even realize she was holding her breath as she watched Ruby's eyes grow wide and her wings droop, their tips touching the floor while she tried to process the news.

"Y-you said that my mom is… alive." Ruby took a weak, shaky breath as she fell back against the door, her gaze turned up to the high ceiling of the castle. "She's alive and she's just like me? You're saying I'm not alone?"

"Ruby please," Velvet firmly grabbed Ruby by her shoulders, giving her a slight shake, forcing her attention to the faunus before her. "Ruby, I swear it was her. She was with us, this last week, she just left an hour ago but she told me to tell you something. She wanted me to tell you that she loves and you will see her soon. I don't know what, but she said she had something to do before she saw you."

"Are- are you sure it was her?" Ruby's eyes glistened as tears pooled on their surface, her voice was choked and strained as her dead heart ached. She could feel Blake's worry, but she was helpless to reassure her teammate as her mind turned into a confused blur of sadness and hope.

"I'm sure, she looked so much like you and when she talked about you, she became very sad, wishing she didn't miss so much of your life." Velvet gave a soft smile before pulling Ruby in to a loving and protective hug, her warmth calming the storm in her heart. Velvet too, felt calmed by the hug, Ruby's cold body, the scent of blood, and those gentle silver eyes, all reminded her of Summer. This isn't just the blood bond… I- I think I'm falling for Summer.

"Mom…" Her voice was barely a small and broken whisper as she burried her head in Velvet's shoulder, her tail instinctively wrapping around her and a the bunny faunus, both to keep the source of warmth close, and to feel safe, in this very human moment of vulnerability. Her body trembled, fighting against the overwhelming feelings that strangled her heart and surged through every dead vein in her body before a soft sob escaped her lips and then… she broke down. Ruby cried into Velvet's shoulder, her cold tears soaking through her clothes as she held on tight to her friend.

"It's okay Ruby, take as long as you need. I'm here." Velvet hummed softly, tenderly rubbing Ruby's back as she held her.

My mom is alive. I already lost my sister, my friends… I'm not even human anymore. This whole time I thought I was alone, but now she's telling me that my mom is a alive and just like me? Why? Why is this happening now? Where was she when Yang… where is she now!? What's more important!? If I had the power I have now, I could have saved them all! I- I don't know what I am… I try to stay strong, but I'm scared, I'm drinking more and more blood, and it only feels better and better every time. I'm afraid I'll lose myself one day. If she were here… maybe she could help me understand what I am… and what I'm supposed to do.


"Something's wrong, Ruby's hurting." Blake's amber eyes narrowed into slits, a flickering silver light burning from them as she stared at the door, her Grimm flesh writhing and consuming more and her body as she felt every nuance of her leader's anguish.

"Blake," Jaune stopped her before she could take a single step, putting her hand on the half Grimm, half faunus' shoulder. She glared up at him with anger and impatience, panic burning in her chest as she continued to feel Ruby's pain... but he merely shook his head. "Ruby's getting some pretty heavy news, she needs time."

"You don't get it." Blake murmured coldly as she broke free of his grip before turning to face him. "She turned me, and ever since I can feel everything she feels. How am I supposed to just stand around and wait while she's in so much pain?!"

"Right now, I think we should be figuring out our next move." Sun spoke up, trying his best to ease the tension between the groups.

"That's not exactly something we can do with one of our leaders currently occupied." Weiss interjected, stepping up, forming a circle with Jaune at one side of her, Thistle at the other, Blake opposite of her and Sun by Blake's side.

"So you're the leader of our group, Ruby is the girl with the wings and tail and Jaune is the last leader?" Thistle looked around at the people she had nearly died multiple times to meet up with. They were the survivors of this nightmare world, the ones that were strong enough to last nearly three months in groups of four. They were tough, Thistle didn't doubt it, she liked their odds together, the twelve of them were a small but formidable army.

"And you must be Thistle." Pyrrha smiled amiably, stepping behind Jaune. "It's lovely to meet you."

"Yeah, same here. Weiss and Sun have told me so much about you guys. Guess you're at least as strong as she made you out to be if you made it here. Glad we're all on the same side." Thistle's apprehension ebbed as she felt more relaxed. These are Weiss' friends, if she trusts them then so do I.

"I'm going to check on Ruby." Blake practically growled before breaking from the circle, stomping angrily over to her leader, her heart burning with a protective fire, her mind focused only on making sure Ruby was okay. However, halfway to the door… she came to a dead stop. Her cat ears flicked as her head turned towards the entrance to the castle, her eyes widening before narrowing back down slits as her tail flicked nervously back and forth.

"Were any of you followed!?" Ruby burst through the door, frantically wiping her eyes as she tried to regain her composure. Behind her Velvet had her arms up to her chest looking worried as she strained her ears, hoping to detect what suddenly set Ruby on edge.

"Um… I don't think so." Jaune looked to Pyrrha who shook her head in response.

"We weren't followed either, no one could make it through the path we took without being noticed." Weiss recalled all the near death experiences they had trying to make it to the castle, anyone following behind them would probably have not fared well. Then, her eyes grew wide and a cold chill ran down her spine. That girl… Bianca, she could have followed us.

"Ruby, Blake, you wanna maybe fill us in on what's going on? We all don't have weird Grimm powers you know." Neptune huffed impatiently, feeling nervous at the weary looks on the half Grimm's faces.

"There's a group coming, fifteen people, and none of them have good intentions. They'll be at the gate at any moment." Ruby walked over to the group in the middle of the throne room, grabbing her swords off resting against the throne, ready for a battle.

"What should we do?" At Jaune's question all eyes instinctively turned to Ruby, at that moment, she was their de facto leader, her Grimm sense making her and Blake the only ones to know the extent of the threat that was upon them, and it didn't hurt that she stood in front of the throne like some powerful lord of darkness.

"Heh-heh, I have an idea." Ruby grinned with a dark and playful smile as she looked to her team. In only moments they all got the hint, grinning back menacingly at her.

"Sounds like fun." Weiss said, stepping up to the throne with Ruby as she drew her Myrtenaster. "Let's do this."


The massive and heavy doors at the entrance to the castle creaked open, echoing through the stone halls as fifteen pairs of feet marched in, one pair out in front, leading the vanguard. They were armed to the teeth, their auras flared and their hearts hardened, ready to fight. The marched down the hall with confidence, resolute and unrelenting they moved forward like a force of nature.

As the pair of feet out in front came to a stop and the large double doors at the end of the hall, so too did the forces behind them. There was no fear and no hesitation, they knew they were strong, they knew they could handle any threat the appeared before them. With great ease the leader of the group pushed the heavy doors open, light shining in as they entered the throne room… before coming to a dead stop, staring up at the sight to behind before them.

"Welcome." A chorus of voices spoke at once. Twelve young soldiers stood before them, all with cold, dull expressions on their faces, save for the one young girl sitting on the throne. The invaders had walked into an ambush.

"Who are you?" The young girl spoke up, a dark smile on her face, her sword in hand, the silvery blade stabbed into the stone as she leaned forward against it. In front of her on her left was a boy with blonde hair, brandishing a sword in one hand and a shield in the other. On her right was a girl with snow white hair, dressed elegantly with her rapier poised and ready to strike.

Fanned out on their sides, the other young warriors had their weapons draw. On the right, girl with a beret and a gatling gun aimed at them, another shorter girl with apple red hair and knives dangling from chains leading up to encased spools on her wrists, a boy with blue hair and a high tech gun and a girl clad and gold and red with stunning green eyes with a rifled trained on the intruders. On the left, a girl with cat ears and an ominous darkness consuming her otherwise pale skin, a long knife with metal knuckled on one side of the hilt, with a ribbon tied to her forearm connected to her weapon. A girl with short orange hair with a dozen swords suspended in mid air around her, a faunus with bunny ears with a gatling gun made of solid blue light, a petite woman with an umbrella, and a boy with blonde hair and a monkey tail wielding gun nunchucks. All of their weapons were aimed at the group, ready to cut them down at a single command by their leaders.

"I'll ask one more time," The young woman stood up from the throne, dragging her sword along the ground as she walked, the light shining in from the door illuminating her menacing black and red wings while her Grimm like spined tail dragged behind her. A silver light burned from her eyes as she licked her lips, sensing the growing fear from the group as she stepped into the light. "Who are you?"

"It can't be…" A woman at the front of the group spoke up, surprise apparent in her voice. "You, you're the child of Summer."

"What did you say?" Ruby's eyes widened as she stared at the woman before her clad in black and red robes, wearing an ornate and intricate Grimm mask. "How do you know about my mom?!"

"I know your mother, Ruby Rose, because she and I," The woman reached her hand up to her mask, slowly and ceremoniously pulling it off of her face, bringing it down to her side where her sword was sheathed. Ruby's heart skipped a beat as she took in the beautiful woman's features, her lustrous black hair, her stunning crimson eyes.

"Summer and I used to be on the same team." At that, Ruby dropped her sword to the ground, staring in shock at her, only able to mutter a single thing as she tried to make sense of what was rapidly unfolding before her.

"You… you're Raven Branwen… you're Yang's mom."