"Arrrggg!" Ruby screamed as Neo's blade pierced her heart. The sound of the puncture was so vivid and grotesque. Blood splattered everywhere. Neo wore a wicked smile. She turned to face Weiss, charging at her with her weapon at the ready. Ariel raced to Weiss' side, but as if Neo knew exactly what her plan was, she abruptly turned around and stabbed Ariel in the throat. Ariel's blade fell and all was dark.
She panted heavily as she awoke. Sweat dripped down her forehead that she didn't even bother to wipe away. She steadied her breathing and wiped away her dripping head.
This is the life we chose… she thought as she shook her head. It's bound to happen, but this… wasn't supposed to happen! She exhaled in frustration. No one could have prevented this… She reached for her glasses that was sitting by her night stand and just stared at them for a minute before placing them on. She looked at the time seeing that it was nowhere near the time for visiting hours yet; she fell back onto her bed with her eyes wandering the ceiling before sleep took her again.
She had her back turned to him, he was reaching out to her, calling out her name, but she never turned around. Rose petals scattered the white space around them. Her red cloak blew steadily with the wind. Some moments had passed and it was as if his voice was a deafening sound. He wept in silence just watching her with her back to him and she finally turned around. She stared at him with emotionless dull dead eyes.
"Ruby?" he asked her, but she didn't reply right away.
"... Is it better this way?" she finally asked him.
Qrow Branwen awoke with an aching pain in the back of his head. He got up slowly clutching his head with his eyes shut tightly together.
"Kiddo, you better wake up…" he said with a gruff. "You've got a lot of people that you would be leaving behind…"
"Hey Blake, it's alright… take care of Yang for me, please." Ruby smiled, then vanished."
Blake jolted upright blinking a few times and began to rub her eyes. That was a weird dream… Blake thought. But that also felt… so… real… she thought as she rubbed her temple sniffling a little.
Ruby, a good friend and sister. She'd listen to everything if you needed someone to talk to for advice even when she has her own demons to deal with. And even if you thought that maybe she could use her own advice, you just couldn't blame her for not doing so. That's just who she is. Brilliant, but can be quick to act upon situations and opportunities. But this… this was different. This was unpredictable. She still wasn't even sure why the White Fang were there, but she did remember seeing Neo present with them and assumed that she had some sort of affiliation to the White Fang. Maybe if she had payed more mind to Neo, but ever since she first laid eyes on her, she disregarded Neo. But who knew that it would've all come down to this?
Unlike the others, Yang didn't sleep. She couldn't. She kept staring into the sky as if it could help her. As if the sky could speak to her and answer her questions. She just sat there and thought to herself, questioning the occurrence of the other day's event.
Why? Why did it have to happen? Why Ruby? Not that she wanted someone else to get hurt, but… she just couldn't believe that it had happened. She couldn't blame anyone. She didn't even know who exactly were in the forest and why they would even hurt her precious sister. No one was at fault for knowing what was to happen. And so why? What did they have against Ruby?
It was as if Yang had cried out all of her tears. Her nose still ran, but her tears… gone. Cold air brushed her face and filled her bedroom. A smoky haze entered as well. She got up slowly from her bed and eyed the mist before her. She shivered feeling that the temperature dropped drastically and tears finally formed again.
"Yang…" came a haunting voice that she knew belonged to no other, but Ruby.
"R—Ruby?" she asked the fog.
"Yang, please don't worry about me… and please, get some rest." the fog in the room began to change colour, into a faint red and took Ruby's form. She glowed in the night, but was transparent. Yang reached out to her, Ruby took her hands into her own, even though they fell right through, she kept her hands there.
"Ruby!" Yang cried. "Ruby, please! Please don't leave me!"
"I wish I could stay, but I'm not sure…" Ruby slowly began to disperse starting from her feet.
Yang threw herself at Ruby, desperately trying to pull her into an embrace, but she ended up just holding herself. "Don't go!" Yang begged.
With the one hand they held together, Yang could feel Ruby's flesh. It was cold, but she was glad to actually now be able to feel and hold Ruby's hand again. When Yang looked up she saw that Ruby's torso and up was all that was left.
"I have to go now Yang. I'm sorry." Ruby's hand was the last to disappear, solid and whole. She would never forget that feeling ever. As Ruby's body completely faded, so did the cold air around the room. Yang dropped to her knees and continued on crying.
Yang, be strong. Yang's eyes alerted as she heard Ruby's voice in her head.
You're not alone Yang. I love you.
"Weiss… don't cry. Don't waste your tears on me… I love you Weiss, never forget that …" Ruby cupped Weiss' cheek, pulled into a soft kiss, then broke away.
She reached out for Ruby, but Ruby slowly began to fade away.
"Ruby! No…! Ruby, wait! Ruby don't go! Ruuuubby!" she cried, but all Ruby returned was a sweet gentle smile.
Weiss gasped as she awakened. Her hands flew to her lips. They're… moist!? That felt so real… and… I can still feel them on mine… tears began to form in her eyes. She was restless, her sleep cycle kept on breaking with Ruby haunting her dreams. They were bittersweet, she would feel happy as she dreamt of Ruby, but it was a calm before the storm. Cold and solitude would replace the warmth whenever her dream would lead to what became her greatest fear, losing her best friend, her love. She was hyperventilating, a cold bead of sweat dripped down her face and into her eye, burning them, but she wasn't affected. She sat there replaying the dream she just had and repeating the scene where Ruby smiled. That smile. That smile that meant Ruby was accepting what was coming for her and even though it was a just a dream, it was the same smile she wore during their mission at Forever Fall.
Ruby, please wake up… please don't choose to leave us…
Her eyes were puffy from crying and staying up almost the whole night. Her mind was consumed with the incident of what happened at Forever Fall. What could she even do or say? Especially to Yang, if she had been stronger, she would've been able to fend off that blow from Neo, but no. She was too weak. Ruby who was in worse shape than she was able to… she didn't even want to finish the thought. And the memory would haunt for the rest of her life. She had been good friends with Ruby for as long as she could remember. They were inseparable and were so close they knew when the other was lying if they weren't feeling well. But then she had to leave for schooling in Atlas due to her father's demands. She was grateful that she had the will, the strength to go against him and transfers into Beacon and being able to reunite with Ruby. And yet, she couldn't stop Neo… but it was never meant for Ruby, it was supposed to be for her, but Ruby took the hit so that she could live. It was almost like what Yang had said, you love and you lose.
I'm not meant to be alive… that blow was meant for me… b—but Ruby… if I had taken the hit, I— Ruby would've been left alone again… there was no winning, not ever, but Ruby would survive… there are so many people in Ruby's life that love and care for her… as for me… if it were me, maybe there wouldn't be much grief and the burden not so heavy… I don't have a loving family like Ruby, but… Ruby's family are family to me too…
"Arg!" Weiss slammed both her fist on her thighs trying to fight back her thoughts and tears that continued to attack her.
She recounted their time together, she was happy. Despite the fact that Ruby was going through bouts of confusion and turmoil, Ruby wasn't to blame. Their time together she would commit them to memory and carry them for as long as she lived. Maybe if she had told Ruby far earlier that she loved her, things never would have ended the way they did. Ruby had confessed that she loved Weiss for the longest of time, but at the time it was difficult, too confusing to accept. She regretted pushing Ruby away deeply. For the life of her, she would do anything to have Ruby back with her creating memories to last a lifetime. And now part of her was snatched from her all too soon. Just what could she do, but to hope and pray in all of Remnant that Ruby would be well. After visiting Ruby the other night, she had been informed that she was badly injured with head injuries, broken ribs and several broken fingers and was wrapped up with bandages almost all over her. She had heard that Ariel was in a far better condition than Ruby despite the damage her semblance had caused her.
Maybe if I was just brave enough… if I was brave enough to love you… and if we could go back… I'd make every moment right… and maybe we could have have avoided all of this… or if I was able to get there earlier…
It has been approximately 48 hours since the tragic event at Forever Fall. Ariel was released from the hospital within 12 hours. She recovered quickly and almost completely even when her aura couldn't help her heal, but within the seventh hour, she regained her aura. Leaving the hospital she felt as good as new,but she couldn't be happy. Not when Ruby was just in the other side of the room she rested, dormant… frozen… everything of Ruby's just seemed to stop proceeding on. The monitor for her aura gauge stopped rising. It was no where near a full bar of aura. In fact, it looked as if it was still depleted, but just rose a smidgen. Ariel sighed.
I'm alive, but Ruby is… is just not… waking up… and yet I'm the one standing here...
Light footsteps behind her approached her. She turned around to see that it was Professor Ozpin walking in with his head bent low. It looked as if he had been crying.
"Greetings, Ariel." he said with a bow of his head. "How are you feeling?"
Ariel gasped. She knew it was still too early for visiting hours, but she snuck inside. "I'm… alright… I mean, I've recovered, but…"
"I understand… but let's not interrupt Ruby, shall we? Visiting hours are still some hours away."
"Yes." Ariel exhaled.
"Our nurses here aren't even sure of what to do."
"What do you mean?"
"They've done everything they could, with Ruby's current state, sometimes it is that we don't interfere." he said as he looked down at Ariel as they both slowly were leaving the emergency room. "You should go on and rest though. It's been a very long two days."
Ariel nodded.
"You are excused from your classes by the way." Ozpin smiled. "So that's good news. And after I speak with Qrow, I will be seeing you, Weiss, Blake and Yang later today, as a group."
"Alright, Professor Ozpin. I'll see you then."
Ozpin made his way back into his office where he would be seeing Qrow.
No one is to blame for what happened. No one would even expect for such a situation to occur… so why were they there? Blake's past affiliation with the White Fang? Weiss? And if maybe we were faster, no one would have gotten hurt… Summer Rose, please forgive us…
"Oz," Qrow said breaking Ozpin's train of thought. He didn't even realise that he was already inside of office.
"H—hello, Qrow… my apologies…."
Qrow shook his head. "I think I've heard enough apologies these last 48 hours… and… no matter how times I say them, or anyone says them… it doesn't change a thing… Tai, Yang and Weiss are all falling apart, but the most any of us can do is either support them or give them space."
"Qrow… when you said to give Weiss her time with Ruby back there… what were you thinking? We could've sa—"
"No, Oz… it wouldn't have made a difference… the results would've been the same."
"Qrow, we could have saved Ruby!"
"Stop talking like she's dead!"
They both remained silent for a moment. Qrow was surprised at his own outburst and Ozpin for realizing what he had been doing. Qrow placed a hand to his head. "Excuse me Ozpin… I didn't mean for the sudden outburst… but in a situation like that, I wouldn't ever come in between the kids, not when they love each other, not when none of us knew of the outcome. And I know Ruby, she wouldn't want us to pull her apart from Weiss like that. She was accepting it… I—it must be a miracle that she's just… sleeping now…"
"We are fortunate, but she may never wake up… we lost her heartbeat, but somehow it… miraculously came up again even though it's near a thin line…I wonder if has to do with her having silver eyes…"
"If that were true… I think Summer would still be here with us…"
"I think we should let this matter rest for now…"
"Is that all you wanted to speak to me about?"
Ozpin sighed. "Yes. I just… I just didn't understand what you had risked, but you're right. Ruby was accepting it as if she knew what would've happened."
"We need to speak to the kids…" Qrow says while scratching the back of his head then taking a swig out of his flask.
Ozpin sighed. "I want the girls to have fun, but I'm afraid we may need to postpone the masquerade ball…"
"Let's go find them, then. They do need their space and time, but nothing ends here… they're going to need a lot of support."
Professor Ozpin took out his scroll and began fumbling for the numbers of the designated students he and Qrow wanted to speak with. They chose to meet in a lounging wait room. Ozpin kept his gaze at his coffee mug, Qrow kept his hands on the table holding his flask fiddling with the cap. Ariel arrived first, then Blake hand in hand with Yang. Lastly, Weiss appeared moments after Blake and Yang. They each took their seats without a word and waited for their superiors to begin.
"Oz…" Qrow said as he placed a hand on Ozpin's shoulder.
Ozpin jumped with a light start, then cleared his throat, then released a sigh before beginning. "Please excuse my behaviour…" he began with his eyes staring off into the distance. He then cleared his throat. "I would like to begin by reminding all of you that the dance is later tonight and I know these past few days haven't been quite… indulging, but we must carry on…"
Blake, Weiss, and Yang all exchanged speculative glances.
"And what of Ruby!?" Yang shouted. "And what about the people who were in the forest!? Where are they?!"
"Yang…" Ozpin began. "The members of the White Fang are under the custody of General Ironwood. They are being interrogated as we speak. We shall not speak anymore of that matter, however."
Weiss' eyes remained downcast. Ariel watched the demeanors of everyone else in the room, tempted to open her mouth to speak, but she didn't.
"I understand that you all have a relationship with Ruby… the reason I brought this up is because I will move the date of the dance tonight for all of you, until you're all ready."
"What? Why not just hold it?" Blake asked.
"I'm not going." Weiss chimed in.
"Same here, I couldn't care less about it anymore… my sister is still… is still… she's—" Yang's eyes began to glow red.
"Your sister is in not dead." Ozpin firmly stated. Now kids… let Ozpin explain everything… please…"
"We can brood, we can mourn, but Ruby is just dormant. She can wake up at any given moment… we do not want for any of you to live on in sadness, but again, I am willing to move the date of the dance to another day. But if you want me to have it still run tonight, I can do that, but I'd like to see all of you there, as well as all of the staff here with us."
All four girls kept quiet for a few minutes.
"These past hours have been rough… I just want to help lighten all of you by whether or not I should hold the dance. The choice is all yours."
"But why just us four? You're willing to move it for us out of everyone in the entire school?" Blake inquired.
"Yes…" Ozpin kept his head low. "Qrow and I both lost someone special to us… we spent months and months mourning… in fact even to this very day…" Ozpin said while looking at Yang, then at Weiss. "None of us can reverse what's happened… and we shouldn't keep ourselves trapped in one moment… we missed out on countless of things in life from brooding. But I am not saying it is wrong to mourn, we just cannot forget to live."
All four girls exchanged glances briefly. Weiss and Yang kept their heads low. It must be Summer, Ruby's mom… Ruby's still here with us. Weiss concluded tears forming at the brim of her eyes. "F-fine.." she muttered too softly for anyone to hear clearly.
"What?" Yang asked.
"Y-Yang… th-this your sister… you'd know what she'd want for all of us…"
"Wh-what are you talking about?" Yang asked unable to focus her thoughts all together.
"We'll be going to the dance tonight." Weiss spoke firmly as she looked around the room meeting the eyes of everyone there. They all looked at one another again before meeting Weiss' watery eyes.
"I agree with you. I think we should go." Ariel said. "Ruby will be alright…" I hope… please wake up soon Ruby… for everyone…
"Girls, I thank you all. I know that this is difficult, but take this as the first step into carrying on."
You make it sound like it's so easy… Yang thought.
"H—hey…" Weiss started. Everyone turned in Weiss' direction.
"What is it, Weiss?" Blake asked.
"I… um… i—it's… I'm sorry… I was just thinking about this dream I had."
"That you wish to tell us?" Ozpin inquired.
Weiss inhaled through her nose and exhaled. "Well, it was about Ruby."
Ruby… Ruuby… it's time for you to wake up now.
"Huh? Mom?" Ruby asked searching the white space around them. "Mom!"
Her mother smiled. I'm right here, Ruby.
"Mom, it's so good to see you!"
Summer chuckled. It's good seeing you too, but… not like this…
"What do you mean? I get to be with you now!" Ruby explained happily.
Yes, but it's not your time. You don't belong here, Ruby. Look at everyone suffering from this…
"If it were someone else… would it have been different?"
They may not have survived…
"Mom…" Tears fell from Ruby's face. "I want to stay here with you… but then… everyone else that I love…"
Ruby, do me a favor…
"A favor? What is it?"
To live life everyday. Live for all the ones you love… live for me.