Chapter 42

Ruby's lungs stung with the sudden change from the controlled environment of Jinn's vision back to the cold snowy forest. Silence reigned supreme over them all. Even Zwei remained quiet as they considered what they had learned.

"You…" Qrow was the first to shatter the silence. His voice was weak but filled with rage and sadness. Ruby could hear a tinge of regret as well. "You gave me a home and a purpose… I gave you everything! And you still lied to me!" He turned on Ozpin with tears in his eyes. "You took me in! I had no place to call my own! No one to accept me! You gave that to me, but for what!? So that I would be another disposable pawn!? So that you could send me to my death against someone we can't beat!?"

"Qrow!" Taiyang growled, standing between the older reaper and the boy who held an ancient soul within him.

"Tai! We lost everything because of him! Raven abandoned us! Summer never came back! Yang-"

"I know that damn it!" Tai yelled, tears streamed down his face. "I know full well the cost. But I know you and how you're feeling! We both want to let out our frustrations on Ozpin but that isn't just Oz! Oscar isn't responsible for this!"

"Do we know that for sure? He could have already learned all of this! He could be lying just like Oz!"

"ENOUGH!" Ruby shouted, silencing the pair. "Both of you shut it! We don't have time for this! Get our supplies together and find something we can use as a sled for them and the old lady. Now!"

"But-"

"No buts Qrow! Just do it." She met his eyes with a glare. After a moment where his eyes flickered with anger, he complied, marching off into the snowy wreckage to gather their meagre supplies. Her father let out a frustrated sigh and followed. Ruby resisted the urge to do the same. I need to take charge. If I don't we'll die out here. "Oscar stick with the old lady. Zwei let's figure out where we go next."

"Woof!"

"My name is Maria! Maria Calavera!" The lady demanded.

"Fine. Maria." Ruby turned to Oscar. "If you're still in control Ozpin I just want to say one thing. If you actually believed that after everything she took from me I would even consider joining her, then your insight is lacking"

He turned away from her as his eyes flashed. Oscar shook himself and looked shocked. "He… he's gone. He just… retreated. I can't hear him anymore."

Ruby growled. "Fine. He can hide. We should move on."

Qrow and her father returned soon after, what supplies they had gathered were placed on a sheet of metal that had likely been a part of a wall. A thick cord, likely once used to power the lights and the deployment of the armour, was used to drag it through the snow. Maria climbed on and the pair of adults pulled it along.

Zwei took point, leading them down a path, while Ruby took the left and Oscar the right. Ruby pulled her cloak tight around her and put her good up. Ember Emortus was deployed beneath it, ready for battle if it came.

While they walked Ruby continued trying to wrap her head around what they had learned. I feel as if dozens of questions were answered, and a million more were asked. What would you guys think of all this? Would you be just as angry as Qrow? Or more like Dad? I don't know what I should feel. You're all gone and I'm… Jaune and the others. They need to know.

The trees rustled in the wind, causing small clumps of snow to drop to the ground. They were soon joined by new snow. It wasn't much, but it made Ruby feel as if they were running out of time. How long before it picked up and they were stuck in a blizzard? They needed to find shelter and soon.

Ruby wasn't sure how long they walked for before they found it. A farmstead with a few houses. The gate swung open with a creak. Ruby took the lead now, hands at the ready with her shotgun-gauntlets. Oscar was right behind her with cane in hand. They carefully walked down the main thoroughfare to the largest house.

Ruby pushed open the front door and glanced around. "Maria, Oscar. Keep watch. Qrow, move the supplies inside, the living room is just on the left there. Dad, take the ground floor. I'll take the top." She ordered.

The floorboards creaked as she made her way upstairs slowly. It was deathly quiet. She was on edge, coiled up and ready to strike the moment anything appeared. She could see a few doors once she reached the top. The first she checked was a bathroom. She noted it but left it alone. The second was a bedroom and she almost threw up the moment the door opened. The stench of death hit her nostrils instantly. She pinched her nose as tears formed in her eyes. Two dead in the bed. She closed the door and took a shuddering breath.

The next two rooms were the same. Only one each but it was horrid. Their skin had gone a dark grey and they looked emaciated. It was as if they had gone to bed and never gotten out again. No signs of battle or a struggle at all. It was disquieting.

Ruby made her way downstairs to find Qrow throwing back a drink of his flask. Their limited supplies of Dust and the like were stacked in the corner. Maria was seated on a couch, reading a book with a bold letter I on it. Oscar was stood at the door looking out at the forest around them as she reached the floor. Taiyang returned a moment later, a few cans of beans in hand.

"The people who lived here are dead upstairs." She announced matter-of-factly. "Seems they died in their sleep. No visible wounds. So let's not go up there." She looked at her dad.

"I found plenty of canned food and a locked cellar."

Oscar spoke up. "There's a fireplace in the lounge and some spare blankets in a cupboard. We can stay here and not go up there."

"Then we'll do that," Ruby said. "Oscar, keep a lookout. Dad and Qrow go and bring more cans. I'll get a fire running."

Qrow grumbled but complied. Tai placed the cans down and led the way back. Ruby silently walked over to the fireplace and drew out one of the small Dust cartridges she used for the blade of her scythe. She opened it and poured a small amount of the bright red powder into her hand. There was already plenty of wood sitting there so she took a deep breath and pulsed her Aura. She threw the Dust over the wood and a moment later it began to alight with fire as the Dust set it aflame.

A minute later they were seated around the roaring fire as Taiyang, using tools from the kitchen, cooked the beans. When they were ready he poured them into bowls and handed them out. They ate in silence. Ruby could feel the lingering anger. If she had to guess the only one who lacked it was Maria. Even Oscar seemed to hold some by the way he held his spoon.

The door rattled with the heavy wind as the blizzard arrived. They all eyed it cautiously until they knew for certain no Grimm had come with it. "Alright, it's gotten late. Let's take turns on watch and get some rest. Tomorrow once the blizzard clears we'll make our way out of here." Ruby announced, tearing apart the uncomfortable quiet.

Qrow stood from the couch. "Fine. I'll take the first watch."

"No. You can take the last watch." Ruby countered. "I'll take first. Oscar second and Dad third." Her and Qrow's eyes met and for a moment he looked like he'd argue, but he found something in her eyes that made him back down. No one else disagreed so she got up and left the room, dragging a wooden chair out next to the door.

She collapsed into it with a sigh. She could hear a quiet conversation between her father and uncle, but couldn't tell what was said. Oscar soon came out to join her. "Hey…" His voice was quiet and weak.

"Hey." She replied blandly.

"I… I wanted to ask you something." Oscar paused as he tried to word his question correctly. Ruby waited patiently. "When she was summoned Ozpin charged you. Were you… were you going to hit me? You activated your weapon and all…"

Ruby let out a hum of understanding and looked out the nearby window. "Yes. I was going to."

"I see. I…" He trailed off.

"Oscar. You're still you. At least for now. Use this time wisely. When you finally merge with him, you should be proud of who you were. Oscar Pine should be remembered by every Oz from now until the end."

"Be proud huh? Okay. I'll try." He nodded and turned to return to the lounge.

"Oscar?" Ruby called out to him without turning around.

"Yeah?"

"I have so many questions for the Relic... but I won't use it. We have one question left and I have a feeling we'll need it later. I won't risk it on something personal or something that could be a dud. So when the questions come back around could you ask something for me?"

"I can do that. What do you want asked?"

"I want you to ask about the afterlife. If the dead are waiting for us. If they get to watch. If… if they're proud of me. If I'm still alive I'll want to know but if I'm gone… tell whoever I've left behind if I made it to them. I know it's more than one question, but you're smart. I'm sure you'll figure out some way to get all of it in one go."

"Ok. I'll do it. Was there anything else?"

"No. Thank you, Oscar."

"Goodnight Ruby. I'll see you in a couple hours." He left a moment later.

Ruby sat staring out into the snow for a while. When she thought the others were all asleep she pulled her legs up tight against her chest, wrapped her cloak around herself and her arms around her legs. She then buried her face into her knees and let the tears flow.

Ruby cried. She bawled her eyes out for the first time in a long time. She tried to stay quiet but as she was the only sound within the house whenever the blizzard slowed her cries were all that could be heard.

Are you there? Yang. Weiss. Blake. Penny. Mom. Are you there? Can you see me? Can you hear me? Are you proud of how I'm doing? What would you all think of this? I… I wish you were all here! Why can't you be by my side!? Why did you all have to die!? Am I not allowed to be happy!? Gods, immortals and magic. They all exist and yet I still have to lose you all!? It's so… so… it's so unfair! I can't…

This is all their fault. Salem. Ozma. The Gods. It's all because of them. If it wasn't for them you'd all still be here! I can't ever forgive them! I… please. Please! Just tell me you aren't mad at me…

Please don't be mad…

When Oscar awoke the first thing he registered was Ruby's eyes. They were like silver glaciers. Cold and emotionless. He groggily got up and made his way to her vacated seat. Ruby curled up in the corner pulling her cloak tight around her.

She seems so… sad? He wasn't entirely sure where it came from but it felt like he could read her. Her and the others too. Was it something from the merging? Was he gaining some ability to read others from Ozpin? It was worrying.

As he sat watching the darkness outside he tried once more to call out to Ozpin. Are you there? I know it can't be easy with how everyone felt but come on! You're supposed to be their teacher, aren't you? You brought all of us into this, shouldn't you take responsibility for all of this? Talk to me Ozpin. We could really use your help, even after all of this.

Ozpin didn't answer. Oscar sighed and prepared for a long couple of hours.

Tai's turn came. It was dark. The fire had gone down to nothing but embers. He took over from an exhausted Oscar. Taiyang sighed and used a pinch of Burn Dust and a few logs of wood to get the fire back up. He then sat down in the wooden chair and pulled out the one thing he had with him of those he'd lost.

Yang's gauntlets stared back at him, their bright yellow almost sickly cheerful after everything that had happened. Everything that had been revealed. Did you find out about this Raven? If so… why didn't you tell me!? This is more than just Ozpin lying to us! It didn't make sense to him. This couldn't be what she'd learned. She was better than that, right? Even after everything she'd done to them, she wouldn't just not tell him! Especially after Summer never returned!

Summer… that mission had danger written all over it. You never should have gone. Maybe if you'd stayed Yang would still- He shook his head. No. Don't think like that. It's not her fault. Salem is at fault. Don't worry Summer. I'll make sure Ruby makes it through this. I won't let her down. Not like I let you and Yang down.

Taiyang let tears fall from his face. It wouldn't him any good to hold them in.

Qrow downed his flask the moment Tai went back to sleep. He'd have complained but Qrow needed it. After everything they had learned, why shouldn't he drink? He'd gone hard after Raven left. After Summer never came home. Why not now, after his entire life had been made worthless?

It only took a couple of minutes for his flask to run empty. He growled and threw it against the wall, before he awkwardly got up and grabbed it again. He sat back and glared out the window. It was so empty out there. So devoid of life.

It looked just like how he felt. He'd had a purpose. He had been a protector. He'd defended the world from the shadows. He'd stopped Salem's plans time and again, working towards an inevitable victory. A victory that wasn't even possible.

Summer had given her life in this war. Raven had abandoned her family to escape it. Yang and her team had fallen without knowing that the war even existed. But it wasn't a war, was it? Wars could be won. And how can you win against an immortal? You couldn't. They were going to lose and he was going to watch everything he had be taken away.

Qrow Branwen, one of the best Huntsmen in the world and likely the best in Vale, was lost. Broken. Life had dealt another blow to him and he couldn't stand up again.

His life was pointless. Just a foolish attempt to be important and loved in a world that was just waiting to take it all away from him.

Qrow didn't cry. His tears had dried for good. He simply stared into the darkness and waited for it to stare back.

Zwei whined as he snuck into Ruby's cloak. She was so deeply stuck in a quiet nightmare she didn't even notice as he snuggled in against her. He didn't really understand what was going on, but he did know one thing:

Whatever that blue lady had been going on about had hurt everyone.

But he was here! He remembered that Ruby always loved waking up with him at her side so now was a good time to do it again! And then she'd give him a hug and scratch behind his ears and give him a treat!

Unconsciously her arms wrapped around his body, pulling him in against her. Already he felt her calming down.

His mission accomplished, Zwei relaxed and fell asleep in her arms.

A/N: So first off: My Beta has gone off to uni so he's too busy to beta. Sad but understandable. Hopefully, my writing doesn't suffer too much from the lack of a second pair of eyes. But on to the chapter. This one was... interesting. Everyone is mad, except Maria because she's too old to care about the whole 'unwinnable war' thing. Ruby is hoping those she cares about are proud of her choices. Oscar is in a rough spot. Tai is trying to keep things together but having a hard time of it. Qrow is just breaking. Zwei is adorable. It's a good thing he came along. I mean, who would say no to doggy cuddles after the bombshell that your entire career is an exercise in futility and that every death had seemingly no purpose? I'd take those doggy cuddles. It was also kinda fun doing a Zwei POV. Feels like much-needed cuteness after the rest of the chapter.

I hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you next time!