Chapter thirty-seven

Talks and Revelations

Ruby fell asleep not long after the startling revelation that she couldn't feel her legs so the small entourage left her to sleep and recover. Once the door to her room was closed and they were away from it Qrow's anger finally exploded. "Glassman, I thought you said the surgery was a success?"

"THIS surgery was a success Qrow, this was merely an unanticipated complication. It's possible that when she was moved either onto the Bullhead, or into the hospital itself, the fragment could have lodged itself in her spine."
The drunken Huntsman's eye twitched. "Complication? You think the fact that my niece may never walk again is merely a complication? She's wanted to be a Huntress since she was a little girl and now her dream might never come true! This will devastate her!" Qrow's voice was straining to remain calm.

"Once she's awake and on a lower dose of pain medication we can take X-rays to determine both where the fragment is and whether or not there are any pieces of bone." Glassman's voice was neutral which only served to annoy Qrow more. His red eyes, normally dull from drink, were dancing with fire as he glared at the chief of surgery before he stalked off. Winter apologized quickly before she followed him.

It looked as if Tai hadn't even noticed Qrow's blowup as Yang gently gripped her dad's arm in her own. "He'll break out of his stupor eventually. I'll take him back to the waiting room."

As they walked away Glassman's eyes turned to the ceiling. Blake wiped a couple of tears from eyes as she ran down the hallway. The quietest member of the team felt as if she had just gotten punched in the stomach. Her mind was filled with random, unintelligible thoughts. She felt a wave of Guilt wash over her. Guilt for ever having joined the White fang, Guilt for believing in Adam's crusade, Guilt for having left the White Fang which is what caused Adam to come after her. Guilt for growing so attached to Ruby that Adam sought to hurt Blake by taking Ruby's life.

She set her mind on leaving and was heading to do so when she slammed into someone. As she went to do her mouth dropped. Standing in front of her was a woman with long black hair and gleaming red eyes. It was the woman from Qrow's photograph, the woman that Ruby described to her, the woman that looked exactly like Yang. "You're-"

"So, you know who I am huh? Do you mind if we talk Blake?"

The woman started to walk down the hallway and Blake, driven by curiosity, followed her instead of leaving immediately. They walked to the roof in silence and once they were there the woman moved to the edge of the roof then looked back at Blake. "You're thinking of leaving, aren't you Blake?"

"How did you-?"

"Because, I've been where you are. I know what it means to leave someone you care about more than anything else behind. It's a decision I regret to this day and unlike the choice you're about to make I can't change my mind."

"You can still come back to Yang."

"I'm not exactly talking about Yang." The woman's voice was monotone as she spoke of her daughter. "I'm talking about the one person I almost gave up this life for. I had to choose between my duty, my responsibility and the attachments I had forged. I chose my duty over the one person that I cared about more than ANYONE ELSE. I thought I had made the correct choice."

She placed emphasis on the anyone else as her voice became choked with emotion while she pulled up her sleeve and revealed that a golden charm was hanging from her wrist by a knotted rope. "It's your decision, I'm merely informing you of the cost."

With that the woman stepped off of the edge. Blake heard the roof's door open "How much did you hear?" as Yang stepped outside. "Enough, look Blake whether or not you go is your decision. But know this, if you leave, if you break my sister's heart, don't expect me to allow you to see her if you change your mind. You leave and you'll never see Ruby again. Do you understand?"

Blake nodded slowly. "I understand, Yang… how did you find me?"

"Weiss texted and said you ran off."

Blake nodded as her ears flattened to her head. "So, are you coming back with me Blake?"

"In a minute. I'd like to have some time alone if that's okay?"

Yang 's eyes dropped to the floor as she turned around. Her voice was sad as she opened the door. "See you soon Blake."

Vale's maiden had been cleared to go back to Beacon with her… team. It still felt weird for her to think about them like that. She shook her head as Jaune looked at her. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yeah, I'm… fine." She replied quietly as her heart started beating faster. "What's this feeling I have for him? Why do I have it for someone I barely know? Could this be-?"

"Miss Nikos, I hope it's okay if I ask you a question." Ozpin said as he looked at her with a curious expression.

"Hey Headmaster, actually I needed to talk to you. Can you bring my… team?"

"Of course." The Headmaster went to go to Jaune who was tending to a civilian nearby and spoke quietly to him. Jaune called Ren and Nora then walked over to her. "What is it?"

"Headmaster, do you mind if we go somewhere less crowded?"

The five walked out of the Mess Hall and proceeded to go into the Library which was one of the building that hadn't been converted to house civilians. "So, what did you need to tell us Pyrrha?" Jaune asked.

The Maiden looked at him. "Why do you keep calling me that?"

"Because that's your name?" Jaune looked confused.

"My NAME isn't Pyrrha. Its… Amber? No that doesn't sound right at all."

Ozpin looked at JN_R "Has she told you?"

"That she's the Fall Maiden? Yeah?"

Ozpin nodded as he adjusted his glasses. "When Ms. Nikos took Amber's Aura into her own body, I told her that what happened afterwards wasn't known. I believe we are seeing that now."

He motioned to the Maiden who was still trying to figure out what her name was. "I believe it's possible that Pyrrha Nikos and Amber Moon have merged into one singular identity."

"Meaning what exactly?" Nora asked.

"He means that he thinks I have the memories of the girl you knew as Pyrrha and the girl who was known as Amber. I couldn't figure it out until he said it. I… I think I'm both… yet neither. I have memories of Beacon, memories only Pyrrha could have. Yet at the same time, I also have memories of Shade, Memories only Amber could have. It's pretty confusing to try to explain but the best way I can try is that I have two people in my head. Pyrrha and Amber. They're still inside but they've decided to meld into one body."

"So, you have three minds?" Ren clarified.

"I think that's the simplest way to put it yes."

"So, what should we call you?"

"You may call me… us… Anetha."

Yang, Tai and Weiss were waiting in the private room that Glassman had set aside for them when Qrow and Winter walked in the room. They had had a long talk and Qrow had admitted to Winter that Ruby was, in more ways than one, the daughter he never had so that was why he was so protective of her.

During their long conversation for the first time actually got to know each other, the real Qrow and Winter, not just the personas they usually put up around each other.

"Is Blake behind you?" Yang looked hopeful as she looked behind her uncle and Winter.

"Sorry Firecracker, haven't seen her."

Yang sighed softly. "Come on Blake. Don't let Ruby down." She whispered under her breath. If her right arm wasn't in a sling, she'd be clenching her hands together. Weiss gently grabbed her left hand and whispered "She'll be here… She'll be here."

Glassman opened the door. "Ruby's awake again."

Wow, lots happened this chapter. Raven has a conversation and passes along some wisdom while Yang tells Blake what will happen if she leaves Ruby. I'm going to expand on the Anetha storyline next week but I'd like to hear your input on it. Just keep in mind that her storyline just beginning.