Tiala was born knowing she would have a grand destiny to fulfill. The stories of the Silver-Eyed Warriors may have faded into obscurity for a long time, but with the downfall of the Grimm Queen, some twenty years ago, the legends were reborn.
The Silver Rose, some called her. A warrior of unparalleled skill, forged in battle, leading a strong group of allies to overturn humanities long-hidden, millennia-old enemy. And for a young, strong-willed Frog Faunus with eyes that shined like moonlight, there was no doubt that she must seek this hero of ages out.
Tiala had heard stories of great warriors who lived atop mountains, or organized temples, or ruled as mighty kings or queens. Even warriors who wandered the world forevermore, believing the mission was never done. If she had the lien to spare, she would have banked on the Silver Rose falling into that final category.
Owning a small cottage on the outskirts of the island of Patch, was not exactly what she expected.
As she approached the gates of this humble abode, she was greeted by the barking of a rather large, brown dog. The canine seemed not ferocious or angry, simply attempting to alert someone of their presence. Tiala took the backfoot as a shower of red rose petals suddenly appeared from seemingly nowhere, and before her stood the woman she'd heard so much of.
"Drei? What is it, sweetie?" Her voice was tested by time, but not hoarse in the slightest. Dark clothing, ready for combat, if not welcoming it. And all of it wrapped up in a scarlet cloak. As her face turned up to greet Tiala, the young Faunus was greeted by the legendary eyes of the Silver Rose. And of all things, a smile.
A brief chuckled escaped the legendary huntress, as Ruby Rose's voice rose up in jest. "You have silver eyes."
Tiala nodded, slightly starstruck.
Ruby smiled. "Well, at the very least I can invite you in for dinner." And to Tiala's shock, the hero of Remnant casually opened the gate to her home, and led her in.
Tiala was quite astounded at how the little cottage really did feel like a home. Pictures of friends, family, many of whom legends in their own right. But the place just felt... lived in.
Another voice rang out. "Who was it?"
"Silver-Eyed Warrior to be!" Ruby called back. Tiala was torn. Was she daunted by the implication that she'd already been accepted, or by the identity of the voice. The few stories she'd heard led her to believe the Silver Rose's bride was none other than...
The train of thought reached it's natural conclusion as a red-headed woman in a green dress stepped out. "Sal-utations!" she said, her voice barely registering in the mind of the young girl.
"I could hear you say that forever," Ruby responded lovingly.
"That's why I keep saying it," Penny shot back with a flirtatious grin.
"The Winter Maiden," Tiala whispered. "It's true."
"Well, duh," Ruby joked. "Could you resist someone so beautiful?"
"Oh, Ruby," Penny replied with a blush.
"I'm sorry," the aspiring heroine offered up. "You two are just... well... legends. I never thought-"
"That's lesson number one..." Ruby paused, waiting for an answer to the unspoken question.
"Tiala," her new charge supplied.
"Tiala," Ruby kneeled down, facing the young girl, silver eyes to silver eyes. "When I was your age, I wanted nothing more than to be like the heroes in the storybooks. And I got my wish. And that came with a lot of good and a lot of bad."
Penny nodded, her mind drifting to the fallen of Vale and Atlas.
"But all of it was in service of a life like this," Ruby explained. "When the world needs me, if my team, or Oscar, or Jaune's group needs me, I'm there in an instant. But I can't be like that all the time. Life is meant to be protected, yes. But it's also meant to be lived."
"I was born to save the world," Penny agreed. "But that's not why I do it. I do it because I adore this world. And above all, I adore the people I share it with."
"I..." Tiala muttered. "I heard the stories about what people with my eyes can do. I always thought that meant I had to be a hero. Everything else had to come second."
"And I'll teach you to be one, if that's what you want," Ruby confirmed. "But you have to promise me, you'll find the time to make a life for yourself, too. And friends."
Ruby's smile grew wider as Tiala nodded. And she turned to see her wife's face, smiling just as wide. Everyone deserved the chance to live their life. And for the Silver Rose, the first life she saved, was that of the Winter Maiden. She gave her a life worth saving.
And they lived happily ever after.
A/N: Well, in a just world they did, anyway. That's all for me, I've got nothing for Bonus Day. Thanks for swinging by, and maybe I'll have something a bit more substantial for the FNDM in the future. Or maybe it will be a plot bunny for another timeline, like so many others.