Chapter 67: The Only Question That Matters

Raven

It was a nice day. Not a birds are singing and flowers blooming even in the dark kind of nice day. Honestly Raven couldn't stand those days it felt too much like overdosing on sugar. Today was a good fall day, red leaves falling from the trees with only a slightly chill wind on the breeze.

Raven sat on her porch, her cup of tea cradled in her hand as she sat on the bench in her relaxation gear. She'd slept well and her client: Mr. Green while pissed that the general still lived was satisfied with her results. No payment was forthcoming, but she wasn't going to start a fight over it. Raven sipped her tea, his men wouldn't have gotten where she'd gotten anyway. Her bare feet felt nice resting on the cool grass surrounding the cabin and she breathed in deep. It had been a while since she'd relaxed.

She looked back at her home away from home and knew that inside her daughter now slept well and in relative safety. Yang had been asleep for 2 days since the incident with Ironwood and she deserved the rest. 2 days is a long time to rest, but she wasn't resting alone.

Ruby, the Faunus Blake, and the former maiden Pyrrha had all fell into unconsciousness since their arrival. Aura exhaustion and physical trauma will do that to a person, Raven would know.

We're running out of rooms. Raven thought amused that her cabin had changed into a bunkhouse. At least it's better than Roman and Summer's daughters going at each other again.

Each resting patient had a watcher it seemed the robot girl with Ruby, the puppy dog with the maiden, and Weiss with Yang. All had stayed by their charges bedsides, with Weiss and Penny visiting Blake and the blonde offering his special healing semblance to all in turn before returning to his teammate. The boy was quiet but Raven could see the drive on his face, it was a look she respected.

The most helpful one around the house had actually been Weiss, to Raven's shock. Raven looked back into the cabin and saw the Atlessian brewing another pot of tea and a pot of coffee. She'd helped with feeding everyone and making sure everyone kept clean. Every moment she wasn't helping she was by Yang's bedside. The woman was a machine and Raven appreciated her efficiency.

Besides that things had remained quiet and normal, Roman complained constantly, the news stayed off at all times and Neo was everywhere and nowhere all at once. It was relaxing, and given how much time Raven had sacrificed to keep track of all this operation's moving parts it was nice to unplug and not think about every threat that faced her.

Such a mindset was one that demanded fate spit in Raven's coffee. And as Raven sat by the porch unaura'd she was unable to hear him approach till he stood over her. Raven smelled him before she saw him.

"Hello, Brother" Raven replied as the smell of liquor stains and regret struck her nostrils. She turned calmly upwards to look Qrow right in the face. Red eyes met Red eyes, and Raven was happy to see the absence of the sheen that came with drunkenness.

If this is the cost for his sobriety… Raven mused to herself.

"Are they alright Raven?" Qrow asked his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. There was panic on his face. He hadn't been sent to expunge her or Yang, Raven could read on his face. No, her brother had the look of a man worried to death about his family.

"They are" Raven responded glad to see the tension leave his body and his hand to leave his sword. She was glad to see that his duty to Ozpin at least was on hold. "I'm surprised you managed to find me"

"Bad luck on your part" Qrow responded. Raven just sipped her tea and thought about offering him a cup. So instead she merely hummed in response.

"Yang set something off," Qrow said getting down to the clockwork business.

It was nice while it lasted. Raven mused not even disappointed Qrow had to think like that, he needed to keep Ozpin's bigger picture in mind.

"Ozpin is pissed… is Ruby here?"

"Recovering" Raven assured him. "Her, the Faunus, the maiden, and Yang. They've had a hard few weeks"

"I need to talk to them" Qrow moved towards the cabin. Raven gently raised her hand and placed it on his chest, he halted without much fight taking a step down from the porch

"Let them rest," Raven said keeping a gentle but firm hand on her brother. "Think of the weeks they've had Qrow, the years… Yang needs her rest. They all do. And after all this, I think even Ozpin would admit they deserve it."

Qrow looked down on his sister and she expected him to fight her, to site the real situation and what was at stake. Raven was ready for that debate she'd had many times with her brother. Instead, Qrow just sighed and sat down on the front step with her. He steepled his hand between his knees as he sat there and sighed.

"Tea?" she offered.

"Sure whatever" Qrow responded. The door opened and Weiss stepped out a fresh pot in her hand.

"Our guest would like a cup ms. Schnee" Raven, gestured to her brother. "No sugar, bitter, helps him clear the system"

Weiss set down a cup next to her brother and he grabbed it up, relying on his aura to deal with the heat rather than just hold it properly.

Always had to punish yourself. Raven thought. Her mind started calculating how Qrow's presence here would affect her own luck. The cold calculating part of her knew what danger he could pose, but instead, she did what she always did with her brother, held her cup in 2 careful hands, and try to enjoy his presence. Such a hard task due to his bouts of foolishness.

"Am I still going to have to pay for info?" he asked slurping his tea. "Or am I back in your good graces?"

"Well since you've yet to do anything to earn my forgiveness," Raven gently sipped her tea. "No, you still have to pay at premium prices."

"Just my luck," Qrow said scratching his back. He looked up into the air as if seeing symbols within the clouds. "I am sorry for what I did, shouldn't have left Yang out on a limb like that"

Raven let that hang in the air, saying nothing. Instead, she reached her hand out and squeezed her brother's shoulder in what she hoped was a reassuring manner. He smiled a little so she considered that a victory.

Then the smile fell and he looked from the sky to his tea, trying to read the leaves. "She was watching the whole thing."

Raven let go of her brother and gazed into her tea, she could hear the humming at the back of her mind as she sought the future within her own tea leaves. She sighed because she knew her brother was speaking the truth.

"She always is"


Yang

Yang felt great. That kind of great that only comes from a deep slumber that was allowed to naturally end. No bad dreams plagued her and her bed had been comfy. The only issue she had was that she woke up Hungry.

Aura overextension will do that. It was at least better than being conscious having to deal with the exertion. Now all she had to do was deal with the slight aches and pains and eat up. Welp, it's as good as it gets.

Slowly Yang opened her eyes, the sun rays were peeking in through the window illuminating the dust in the air and the Huntress sat by her bed. Weiss looked well, sat in the chair next to Yang, she had that dark blue fur-trimmed number over her arms and shoulder, a book in one hand and she was gently lifting a cup of tea to her lips. Yang watched her sip the tea before daintily setting it on the tea plate located on Yang's bedside table.

Then Weiss' blue eyes lifted from her book to Yang and with a swift motion the book was shut and Yang was grinning.

"Took you long enough to wake up" Weiss commented down at Yang as if she'd expected Yang to have woken up half an hour ago.

Hard to meet Weiss' standards.

"Aura exhaustion is a killer"Yang smiled pulling back her sheets letting the cool autumn air brush against her. Her pajamas were simple, comfy dark pants and a simple tank top that had scrunched up on her. As she sat up she stretched her arms up and to the side feeling her body stretch and tense particularly around her core and sides.

Chest, thighs, both arms, really everywhere are filled with the dull aches Yang noted as her stretching revealed, it would take a bit more stretching to make those feelings go away.

As she stretched her shoulders she saw her Grimm mask, hanging on her bedpost staring at her, Ember Celica 2.0 resting at the bed post's base. She still felt that pang of loss that the mask had been separated from her but she now looked at it with a slight unease and dread. She decided that looking elsewhere might be healthy.

Her gaze traveled the room once more. She found it strange how she wanted it to look nice now that Weiss was here, while when they were back at Beacon she never cared about that sort of stuff. But she was happy to see that her room was in proper order, cool banners hung from the wall, and the bear fur rugs on her bed and chairs. Only when her eyes fell on her Trophies did she feel any form of shame. The Grey gun boot and the broken sickle seemed to mock her and call her murderer.

Yang closed her eyes and she saw that body on the ground missing a jaw that she had torn off. Mercury's struggles under her grasp as she tuned him out. Her hands shook a bit and she could feel the sticky gooey blood squirm and slip through them. Her breathing was coming in a bit more ragged, it felt awful. And yet she couldn't look away.

It was then that Weiss threw the towel blanket over the broken weapons. Yang felt the panic subside and she took in a deep breath. Weiss slapped her hands together as if she'd just finished cleaning a room. Considering the condition of Yang's room, maybe she had.

"Your uncle is here," Weiss said adjusting the towel. Yang felt shock and a bit of panic, but that subsided soon enough. Qrow might work for Ozpin but he was hardly the enemy, just an uncle that had become distant. Yang flopped down in bed and released a heavy Sigh, that was not a conversation she'd enjoy.

But hey at least he's not berating me for killing a man. Yang was always looking on the bright side of life. Falling into the comfy cushion of her bed helped the soreness vanish just a bit.

Yang watched Weiss move and saw how proper she looked and how filled with energy she was. She had the power of someone who not only could get up early but who excelled at it, Yang usually referred to such people as psychopaths.

"You've been up for a while," Yang noted as she watched her

"Taking care of you means I have to get up earlier," Weiss said handing Yang a muffin that smelled fresh baked. Yang took it gladly and bit into it, it was cinnamon flavored. "and I've taken the time getting to know your mother… She's an interesting woman"

Yang laughed at that struggling to picture Weiss and Raven having any sort of polite chat but considering Weiss' aptitude for Tea maybe they really hit it off. It was a humorous image but one that made Yang feel a bit warm inside.

"Have you thought about my offer?" She asked out of the blue and Weiss stopped. She was Quiet and instead of answering just sat down in her chair. She seemed like she wanted to answer but couldn't get the right words. Yang felt a pit form in her stomach but decided to try and do the Adult thing

"I can wait till you talk to Ruby and Blake about it,"Yang reassured her and was happy to see Weiss relax. "This concerns them too after all."

"Yes... it does" Weiss responded relief in her voice.

Maybe I should quit resting. Yang though flinging her sheets completely off of her and hopping to the ground. The floor felt calmly cool beneath her bare feet and she was happy for the feeling. It took her a second to notice that Weiss was staring at her open-mouthed. Well not at her face but lower. Yang looked down and saw that her shirt had hitched up a bit on one side exposing part of her abs.

Crisscrossed along the abs were a myriad of scars from the many close-calls and fights Yang had found herself in throughout her life. When she looked up she saw that Weiss was practically drooling over her. Yang grinned to see that.

"You know," she said shaking Weiss out of her stupor. "If you want to see the rest of my scars I'll be happy to show you."

Yang lifted the other side of her tank top showing off her full compliment of abs and scars and she could see Weiss' brain check-out for a moment. Yang never felt shame about her body, be it her more fit physique or her scars. Raven had taught her that her scars were a point of pride and that they belonged to her and were a sign of the many battles she'd survived. Yang was happy that Weiss seemed to like them too.

"You're drooling a bit Weiss" Yang chastised her and Weiss shook her head and pointedly looked away from Yang's stomach. Dust Yang saw that the Atlessian was blushing, that only made Yang grin all the harder.

She's too cute.

Weiss brushed her skirt and stood up, grabbed the hem of Yang's tank top, and pulled it down over the scars and stomach. Weiss looked Yang dead in the eyes.

"Maybe I'll show you my scars," Weiss said in response.

If Yang were a cartoon steam would be hissing out her ears. It was her turn to blush at what that implied and she had to admit, Weiss got her pretty good with that one.

Point to the Atlessian princess. Yang admitted in her own head, brushing down her shirt and going to her drawers to find something to wear and to avoid the smug smirk that Weiss was giving her at the moment. The ex-heiress wasn't clueless she knew just how to push Yang's buttons.

"Ruby and Blake should be up soon enough," Weiss said turning away as Yang threw on her usually black tank top and her sleeves, followed by her Grimm black and white scarf. "Maybe they'd like to speak with your uncle, I know they want to talk to you."

Yang nodded in affirmation locking Ember Celica 2.0 to her wrists. She turned back towards Weiss and moved towards her with a purpose to her steps. She held both sides of the Atlessian's face and planted a kiss right on her lips.

Dust I missed you. Yang thought as she kissed Weiss. The Atlessian had a look of pure shock upon her face at first but then a drunken look overtook her and she melted into Yang's arms. Her lips parted and their kiss became deeper as Yang held her close and Weiss ran her fingers through Yang's hair. Yang broke the kiss from the lips and kissed Weiss's cheek then her neck and finally her collar bone, the Schnee's skin was cool and soft, Yang couldn't get enough.

Weiss let out a soft moan and Yang felt the predator urge inside her to spring forward and attack attack attack. She held Weiss close and focused her mind.

I need to keep myself under control. She thought laughing to herself, they weren't doing anything wrong, it was fun and they were both enjoying it, she was just getting carried away with herself. She shivered as her lips left the Atlessian's neck and she separated a bit. It was Weiss' turn to hold her face and plant a kiss on the taller woman's lips.

It was a quick kiss but Yang still felt fireworks. Yang looked down on her Weiss looked up, both were out of breath and both were smiling like idiots. It felt right.

"wow" was all Yang could think to say as Weiss continued to brush her hair with her fingers. "You're not going to throw a gauntlet on me again are you?"

"Not this time hehe" Weiss laughed back. "That was…"

"Intense?" Yang ventured.

"Fantastic" Weiss corrected. "I'm… I'm glad you're awake."

Weiss stepped away from Yang and headed towards the door looking back at her that same foolish look on her face that Yang no doubt had on her own mug.

We're beacon students again. Yang thought following Weiss into the adjacent room. The front door was open letting in an autumnal breeze and Raven was sat at the table holding her teacup with both hands, while Qrow was standing.

"Mom I think this safe house may have outlived its usefulness," Yang said jokingly as she leaned against her door-frame, Weiss sat down next to Raven and expertly poured herself a glass of tea. "We've got one of Ozpin's inner circle in here."

"Such a shame we finally filled it with guests" Raven replied just as jokingly resting her chin in her hand. Weiss poured her a new cup of tea.

Yang kept her distance from Qrow looking him up and down and her eyes traveling to the doorway expecting Glynda to arrive to beat up everyone in the room.

"We could kill him and bury him out back" Raven suggested jokingly her finger tapping Yureru's pommel. "Roman still has some shovels"

"He probably told Ozpin where he was so it's a moot point," Yang replied with an exaggerated sigh, Raven snaps her fingers in despair at the missed opportunity.

"Ah well," Raven said. "you live for now Brother"

Qrow was less than amused by their antics, being the subject of a murder plot, however jokingly was not so enjoyable. This was especially the case when those making the joke were themselves expert assassins.

"Haha, real funny" Qrow mocked them in return. "Bet you even had a cover story to tell Ruby."

"You fell down some stairs" Yang answered instantly and Qrow's brow twitched.

"Into a pit of snakes." Raven cut in

"Not Grimm snakes, just regular snakes" Yang added snickering at his expense. "Makes it kinda embarrassing"

"Poor luck really"

Qrow's eyebrow twitched at that and he pinched the bridge of his nose. Their jokes had worn thin and he was trying to be serious, Raven and Yang didn't need Empath powers to tell that. They cut the giggling and readied themselves for whatever it was Qrow wanted to tell them.

"You guys threw a wrench into Ozpin's plans," Qrow said letting his hand drop, he grabbed his flask from its hip holster

"I know," Yang said. Raven and Yang had discussed what he would say should they encounter him after their mission was complete, though they had been planning on Ironwood's death to take precedence.

"I sincerely doubt that," Qrow and Yang said at the same time.

I hear it a bit too often. Yang thought, her mind returning to when Ironwood had said the same thing to her on the ship.

"Don't be a smart ass, Yang!" Qrow bit back, Yang didn't flinch.

"Qrow did you think I planned this thing out for a year without considering how it might impede Ozpin's war with Salem!" Yang was a bit sick of how many people underestimated her intelligence.

It's like you get good at beating people and everyone instantly assumes your brains all go to your fists. She cursed to herself.

"I'm not an idiot Qrow, I know about Her, Dust I might know a bit more than you about her." Raven shook her head and Yang kept that particular bombshell to herself. "I was willing to screw up Ozpin's plans from the start, and I had the whole of Vale listening to me… a lot worse could have been done."

"What do you want a medal for not doing your worst?" Qrow replied more angry than baffled. "That's not how this works Yang."

"I don't want Gratitude" Yang retorted gripping her doorframe, hearing the wood creak beneath her grasp. "You don't get it! I don't care that it stepped in the way of Ozpin's plan to 'maintain the status quo'. So if you want me to Apologize, shove it!"

That got Qrow on the back foot. "People-" he began and Yang could imagine him talking about the citizens who were in danger.

"I was going to kill Ironwood you know?" Qrow was dumbfounded. "I was going to snap his neck and maybe broadcast it to vale and Atlas. It would scare the piss out of them and set off a real panic, but you know what I thought 'FUCK THEM'… but I'm not that monster, I don't hate Vale, or Atlas or Ozpin. I'm not the monster people made me out to be no matter how much I wanted to be. I didn't spill his big secrets I did what I could to clear my name.

"No matter how old he is, the world doesn't revolve around him." Yang finished taking her hand off the doorframe. "But this wasn't about him."

Qrow chuckled at that and unscrewed the cap on his flask, taking a sip. The sip wasn't big and soon the poison was back in its holster. He stood there thinking for a while. Yang wouldn't have minded if he just took a swing at her.

"Things could be worse anyway," Qrow said as if the matter was fairly sorted for now. Yang doubted Ozpin would be as accommodating, Glynda might be hell.

Best to keep avoiding them. Yang noted in her own mind. Qrow looked at Yang with a neutral look on his face.

"I'm glad you're ok Yang," he said Grabbing a chair and sitting down in his lounging position. "And I am happy you didn't kill Jimmy."

"Me too" Yang answered letting go of her anger.

"What's been going on out there" Weiss spoke setting her tea down, Qrow Seemed slightly confused by her presence there.

"You haven't heard."

"We've been under radio silence for the last few days." A few doors creaked and Ruby walked in followed by Blake and Penny. Ruby was in pajamas that belonged to Neo and Blake was in Yang's spares, both were rubbing their eyes as they entered the room.

Just woke up.

"Hey guys" Ruby's mouth opened wide as she yawned deeply, Blake followed suit showing off her sharp canines. "Whut, what's going on?"

"Ruby?" Qrow asked and Ruby turned toward him smiling still half asleep her wounded other eye now hidden behind an eye patch.

"Oh hey Qrow," she said before shaking the sleep from her head.

"What happened to your Eye?!" Qrow asked. Ruby bypassed the question and flung herself at Qrow holding him in a tight embrace, he hugged her back. Yang couldn't help but smile at the whole affair, she might've lost a connection with her uncle but Ruby never did, they were that close.

Ruby touched her patch and winced and Yang winced with her. "That's a long story for another time Qrow."

"What's going on in Vale?" Weiss asked again. Qrow set Ruby back down on the floor and composed himself.

"Vales in a bit of an uproar" he started and if they were all cats team RWBY's hackles would all be up. "Things are going crazy with the citizens."

"The Grimm broke the walls?" Blake asked.

"Not yet but they're not sitting this out entirely." Qrow went on. "Mainly it's been citizen protests, people are pissed at Atlas at the moment, your video set them off and the Atlas files and evidence wasn't exactly leaving them calm… so now they're pulling out."

"You sure?" Weiss asked the whole room surprised. "I would have thought Ironwood would've stuck it out to the bitter ended, not wanting to lose face."

"Well I can't speak for Jimmy personally, but yeah they're pulling out" Qrow answered the other Atlessian. "not just from Vale but from Vacuo too."

"Good!" Yang said and it sounded like a gavel strike it was so final.

"The Atlas military provided security for a lotta people Yang" Qrow countered.

"So you liked them in Vale?" Blake shot back and Qrow raised his hands not looking for a fight on all sides.

"No couldn't stand them around here." He answered. "But they were helping."

"You weren't the only one who couldn't stand them" Yang added. "I was in Vacuo, they couldn't stand Atlas' presence there, I didn't pull those clips out of my Ass, they were overstepping."

"Yeah well, apparently Vale Agrees with you," Qrow admits hands in his pocket, Blake and Ruby look a bit surprised. "A few protests and riots started after your video hit, things are still a bit Chaotic and that wasn't the reason why Atlas was pulling out, but it certainly helped matters."

Ruby seemed a bit upset, no doubt she was picturing the people who got hurt in the riots and the damage done. Yang had less remorse but still didn't want anyone innocent to get hurt.

Though that might bring the Grimm in She thought.

"Every available Huntress and Huntsman has been called back to deal with border protection. Ozpin has to scramble since he no longer has an army to call on." Qrow went on. "So he's going to need you guys to report back in."

"Hold it Qrow," Yang said raising her hand.

He looked annoyed at her. "Yang this isn't something that can wait"

"Well, it's going to have to" Yang turned back to her team and sucked in a breath. "Guys we need to talk."


They went outside for this conversation, somehow it felt right to Yang, as the autumnal breeze blew through her hair. They walked a fair distance from the cabin, far enough that even aura enhanced hearing might have trouble picking them up. Yang placed her hand on a tree, the rough bark seems to pulse against her palm. She turned towards her family and friends. Sitting down and resting her back against the tree Yang breathed out. They all either knelt or plopped themselves down on the ground in front of her.

"I threw a grenade at this world." Yang started off, figuring an admission like that might be the best approach. "Things might get worse, they might get better. Who knows. Maybe I've been out here too long so how the world spins itself out isn't the most important thing to me."

They said nothing even as Yang left a gap for them to comment, that's fine she was willing to lead this conversation,

"So I'm making the offer again…" She paused for dramatic effect, though she can't help but picture a deep lake in her mind and how chilly the plunge will be. "Come with me. Get rid of Ozpin's shackles… He'll just get you guys killed"

It was the only real question for Yang. They all looked to each other as they considered the question. Yang had hoped she'd have at least a full day to try and convince them with arguments and what she knew, ease them into it, but Qrow's arrival had sped up her schedule.

I will kick him in the groin for that one Yang thought. Might as well give what I can.

"Her name is Salem," Yang said and she felt something off in the wind as she spoke the name aloud or maybe she only felt that because of the Grimm within.

"Who?" Ruby asked tilting her head.

"She's who Ozpin's been fighting this past age and a half." Yang said making eye contact with each of her teammates to stress how truthful she was being. "she lives forever, and he hops bodies every time he dies."

"How do you know all this?" Weiss asked resting her hands in her lap as she listens to Yang talk.

"Mom's worked for Ozpin since she was in Beacon, he tells a lot to his inner circle," Yang remembered when Raven sat her down and explained things to her, it was a lot to process but Yang had handled it alright. "She found out more once she got out… a lot more."

Yang couldn't let herself brood for too long. Yang pointed to the north where she knew in her gut the Witch queen lived, brooding, and planning fueled by things Yang wasn't sure she wanted to understand.

Dust hatred is just hatred, no matter who's feeling it.

"Salem is there, trust me she'll always be there and there's not a damn thing Ozpin can do to stop her," Yang said inhaling deeply thinking of the bodies that had been sacrificed to this unending war. "And he'll spend your lives to just keep things status Quo… he let a man like Ironwood run rampant with little oversight and didn't step in."

"You don't know everything Yang" Blake cut in.

Yang felt her heart rate spike and pointed her finger towards her partner and prepared to tell her off, but she soon quit her anger and laughed instead.

"No I don't," Yang admitted shocking Blake a bit. It was true she wasn't all-knowing she just had enough information from her mother and her investigations to feel secure in her opinions. "but Ozpin isn't omniscient either. He's tired and he's been fighting her for literally thousands of years."

Yang stood up as she felt the intensity start to infest her, she walked back and forth in front of the Crew.

"He never advances in this war, he can't he just stays the course, he has too because She can't be beaten." Yang slapped her hand against the Tree as she saw the people fed into the machine thanks to the war of 2 people. The slapping turned to punches, the punches turned intense.

"Yang-" one of her teammates tried to calm her down but she couldn't tell who. She screamed and punched with all her might ripping out a chunk of tree and watched the whole foliage fall to the ground. She stood over its ruin. The Grimm mask was back inside as she took in a deep breath looking down at the beautiful thing she'd ruined.

"He fed mom into this meat grinder…" Yang said her eyes Travelling back to Ruby, she saw the Shock. Yang took in a deep breath before she continued, it would hurt her to say this but Ruby out of anyone in the world deserved to know."Raven left because she wanted her own life beyond Ozpin and his endless war… Summer died for it… without knowing it was a war that she couldn't win"

All of team RWBY knew about Summer Rose, all of them knew how deeply her death had impacted both Ruby and Yang. Yang talked about it, Ruby dealt with it in silence for the most part but the scars were obvious to those who saw them vulnerable. Ruby was shaking and when Weiss tried to place a hand on Ruby's shoulder the younger woman brushed it off.

She's Struggling to deal with it. Yang thought. Back in the Atlas cell they told her that Raven killed Summer, Yang felt doubt for a moment but it soon vanished into anger for them daring to make such a lie. She could feel that anger now. She pictured Summer Rose in her mind, coming home from a mission, scooping up her girls and telling them thrilling tales of fighting monsters and saving lives.

Yang could see her real as day now. And now she's gone… who would I be if she'd stayed.

Yang thought of the responsibilities she'd had to take on, how close she'd grown with Ruby, how she pulled her father out of the pit, how strong she had to become because of Summer's absence. She thought of how Raven had come back into her life, thought of how her eyes had been opened. Her lip trembled and she felt her heart shudder.

I just want you back mom, please come back, I'd rather be weak then without you. Yang thought as suddenly her head became light. Then the white rose petal floated through the air in front of her face. Oh God

Yang grasped her chest and fell to her knees, she couldn't see her team, she couldn't breathe she just saw the crying face of Summer Rose. Lightning flashed and Summer's eye was missing and her cloak became red as her tears turned to blood, she was Ruby. The blood was so red.

"red like roses" Yang muttered as she stared into that, around her the world became a void and she could feel something swimming through it, not coming for her, coming for Summer, coming for Ruby. The visage faced Yang and the blood gushed out in torrents this time and Yang mewled, she needed to get out of here need to control herself.

You've struggled so hard child. A voice tried to comfort her in the void and Yang knew it was a great and terrible thing that whispered into her ear. Rest now and-


Yang felt a cold hand on her shoulder, and she jolted awake. Stumbling back, she ended up with her back pressed against the ruined bark of the tree she'd destroyed. Her team was back, the void was gone and Ruby was ok… she wasn't in danger at least. Blake had a hand over her mouth, Ruby was shocked reaching out to Yang but flinching back and Weiss was right next to her, it was her cold hand that was on Yang's shoulder.

"Breath Yang," Weiss instructed in a calm and soothing voice. "Just breath. It'll be okay, just focus on me, We're in the woods near your cabin, it's just you, me, Blake, and Ruby. It wasn't real."

That brought Yang's heart rate down, but she still felt like weeping.

"Fuck!" Yang cursed to herself, punching the ground in frustration.

"I've been there Yang" Ruby reassured her coming to her sister's side and holding her tight. "It gets better."

Yang thought about that, thought about how Ruby had gone through this again and again since she left. It was an upsetting void filled with hallucinations conjured by her own mind. She thought back to the voice and at least hoped that it was all conjured in her mind.

The alternative might be worse. Yang thought as Ruby let go and she pulled her knees to her chest. Yang felt like weeping but pushed that feeling done

"I don't think Mom regretted what she did,"Ruby said. Shocked Yang looked up at her sister anger on her face, how could she not get it how could she just accept that. She was about to say something when she saw the look on Ruby's face. That anger and frustration were with Ruby too, behind the care and sadness Yang could tell that her fury was not her's alone, that Ruby got it.

"I was angry at mom for so long for leaving us…" Ruby went on considering things. People always thought Ruby was a bit of an air-headed dolt but for Yang she was always a great thinker. "but she did it to keep us safe. And it's not about if it would've worked, that's not what mom was about Yang and you know that… Mom did it because it was the right thing to do. And she wasn't stupid, she knew what she was doing"

Yang wanted to argue that but Ruby was right about their mom. If it had been anyone else arguing with her she'd spit in their face, damn how right they were, but Ruby got it, Yang could see that that had been a difficult thing for her to say.

"Yeah," Yang admitted after a while. "Yeah, Mom wasn't dumb…"

"If Ozpin is what you say he is," Blake said entering the conversation. "he's at least got the most experience with this sort of thing, he's not a fool"

"No, but he is Tired." Yang put in. "It's been a long war."

"Then maybe he'd benefit from a fresh perspective" Ruby added.

"One that doesn't look at him as an all-knowing god" Weiss said a bitter look on her face as she processed what Yang had told them.

They have a point. Yang admitted to herself.

She looked over her whole team, they were all standing now and they had their strength back. She thought back to when they'd last fought together as a team, it was the damned Vytal festival. That had been the last time she saw them this confident and strong. There was a greater challenge before them than just another team from a different academy.

"I don't want him to sacrifice you too," She said in almost a whisper, she was speaking to all of them.

"It'll be ok," Ruby said with her old confidence. "Trust us

"Trust you!" Yang said, she didn't shout but she spoke it firmly. She stood up with the rest of them towering over them all. "Guys I'm not sure you all get it. You damaged my trust 2 years ago."

"Yang I tol-" Weiss interrupted but Yang calmly raised her hand to quiet her for a second.

"You did tell me, Weiss, you told me what you all went through. That Ruby didn't mean to shoot me. But She chased after me, Blake you never believed me." Yang turned to Weiss. "And Weiss you gave up my location OUR place."

Weiss brought her arms in and hugged herself and Blake's ears flattened on her head. Ruby just took in a deep breath.

"Every time I've talked like this we've been under pressure or duress or whatever. It's been about what I didn't get but I need you guys to understand something…" Yang tugged her hair and took in a deep breath, and let it out imagining tendrils of fire dancing along with her breath. "You were the people I trusted the most and I thought you abandoned me, for two years I believed that and woke up every morning trying to hate you guys. That won't heal so quickly."

Yang's gaze fell on Ruby's eyepatch and she knew that wouldn't heal quickly either, not the eye the hurt. "I forgive you guys, but I'm not sure if I can trust you. Not for a while"

Those were sobering words to say, but she felt relief saying them and giving forgiveness.

"So when you say everything will be ok, I can't believe that. I'm not sure if I can get involved in this eternal war and watch you all die in it."

"But I can't sit by and not do something." Ruby countered with that determined look on her face, it was the same face she had on when she first said 'I'm going to be a Huntress'. Yang held Ruby's shoulders and pulled her into an embrace.

"I know…" she said quietly, and she had, even when the idea entered her mind she on some level knew what Ruby would pick. That knowing didn't stop the tears. When they broke apart Yang wiped them from her eyes and Ruby wiped her remaining eye. "So you're not coming with me then?"

Ruby looked up at her sister's eye still glistening. Then she shook her head.

"No, but at least I'm a little wiser right?" She said.

"Yeah," Yang said Ruffling her hair. "Yeah, you are. Blake?"

The Faunus' ears raised a bit in shock. "I go where Ruby goes."

She seemed hesitant to say that, but Yang felt that Blake would keep her loyalty to Ruby. Now came the last and Yang's eyes fell on her, she thought she knew this one too and had been dreading it.

"Weiss?"

The Ex-Heiress was quiet for a minute and Yang took the time to just watch and admire her in that minute, she was going to say no but at least until then, Yang could pretend she was going to say yes. When Weiss opened her mouth Yang expected the dream to die but instead, Ruby grabbed the Atlessian by the shoulder and lead her away from the group and out of earshot. Yang could only watch askance as the 2 diminutive members of team RWBY talked with one another. Yang could have focused her aura to her ear to listen in, but she thought that would be rude.

For once Weiss wasn't the strong one in the conversation, she seemed a bit closed off while Ruby dominated. Also against type Ruby wasn't gesticulating wildly she was just holding Weiss' shoulder and maintaining eye contact.

What are they talking about? Yang thought.


Weiss

"-But it's what you want isn't it," Ruby asked again and Weiss couldn't look away.

Yes dammit! She thought instead of speaking up.

"It's not that simple," Weiss responded. She was doing it again, the same thing she'd done back when her father controlled every aspect of her life. "I have responsibilities I can't abandon."

"You mean me don't you." Ruby set her hands on her hips. Weiss said nothing which was Answer enough.

This is a lost conversation. Weiss thought letting out a sigh, she was always doing this, putting what was good for her on the back seat for what needed to be done for others.

"Ok…" Ruby said placing a hand on Weiss' shoulder and giving her a comforting smile. "I think I have a solution. Weiss, I need you to do something for me…"

Weiss looked at her curious, her mind remembering the last time a xiao-long-rose asked her something like that.


Yang

When they walked back to Yang was both worried and confused by what might have been said about her outside her presence. Weiss stepped forward and flung her arms around Yang's neck and shoulders pulling her down towards her face.

What? Yang thought.

"I'm with you Yang," Weiss said her own face streaming tears.

WHAT!? Yang thought unable to believe what she'd heard. Weiss pulled her down and the both of them kissed each other hard and deeply, Yang's hands roamed the Heiress and pulled her smaller frame tight against her, she couldn't get enough and she couldn't tell if this was real or not. When Weiss bit her lip that cemented reality for her.

When they split apart Yang was gasping for air and a bit dizzy from it. Ruby and Blake both stared at them with a bit of shock on their face.

"Wow" was all that Blake said.

Yeah, I agree. Yang thought shocked. And I can't believe I just did that in front of my sister, thank goodness Mom's still in the cabin.

"You're with me?" Yang asked her eyes tearing up. "What was that talk with Ruby?"

"She just gave me the push I needed," Weiss said with an almost blissful smile on her face. Yang looked to her sister for more of an explanation.

"I just told her the same thing you did" Ruby answered.

Please keep my sister Safe.

"Thanks, Ruby!" Yang said turning her attention back to Weiss, lifting her up in her arms, and kissing her back she turned a little as she held Weiss aloft and the kissed it wasn't as intense but it was warm and comforting.

"Thank you," Yang said when they broke their kiss and her forehead rested gently against Weiss'. "I love you."

"I love you too Yang" Weiss answered back.

They held each other for a while, Weiss in Yang's arms, but after that blissful moment, they returned to the Cabin as a team. It felt fulfilling to Yang it hadn't been the ideal outcome Yang had wanted but at least she was no longer uncertain of what everyone's position was. Qrow was pacing back and forth when they entered. She looked expectantly while his sister was calm.


"Qrow" Yang began, holding Weiss' hand tight in her own. "Can you set up a meeting with Ozpin?" Yang looked towards Weiss, who seemed confused. "I think I can make things easier for him."

"What are you talkin about?" Qrow asked a little annoyed.

"Let's say I'm going to offer him my services at a reduced prise" Yang finished with her predatory grin, she pulled her arms back and punched them together with a resounding boom. "At least till Vale calms down a bit that is."


Author's notes

This one was lovely to write. Thanks for all the support for this series and the support for bringing it to an end soon. As always leave a review, it sustains me