Prologue 1: Last Rays of Summer
The first thing Ruby would always remember about that day was the smell of Summer's cookies. Their unique scent always made her smile in delight. "Here you go, my little petal," Summer said. She smiled that same sweet smile she wore whenever she talked to her daughter.
Ruby eagerly dug in, the cookies disappearing like rapid fire. "Mmmm, thanks mommy!" Ruby grinned, cookie crumbs falling out of her mouth as she spoke.
"I'm glad you liked them!" Summer laughed, taking the mittens off of her hands and placing them on the table. She briefly exhaled, glancing at the clock on the wall before turning back to Ruby with a now somber smile.
Noticing her mother's distress, Ruby tilted her head cutely and asked, "Mommy? Are you okay?" she asked in her squeaky, high pitched voice.
Summer shook her head, plastering on a smile that was a tad too forced, "It's nothing little petal, I just have to leave soon."
Ruby frowned; she didn't want her Mommy going anywhere! "Why can't you stay here? I don't want you to leave!" she pouted, causing Summer to let out a small chuckle.
"Trust me, I don't wanna leave either." She bit her lip, briefly hesitating before kneeling to look her daughter in the eye. "Ruby, what I'm doing is... very important. You'll understand when you're older." She paused, contemplating her next words carefully. "Or… if all goes well, then you won't," she said, tears beginning to form in her eyes. "Just, please remember, whatever happens, that I love you and your sister more than anything in the world."
This was the first time Ruby saw her Mother crying, she didn't like it. "It's okay Mommy, I'm sure you'll beat those meanies in no time!" She made a few punching motions, before wrapping her tiny arms around her Mom in as tight a hug as she could muster.
Summer couldn't help but smile at her daughter's optimism, she hoped it never went away if she...failed. "Never lose that smile, okay little petal?" she asked, returning the hug with her now shaky hands. "Never lose your kindness, never lose your light…" She was sobbing now, hugging little Ruby so tight she thought she was gonna pop.
"Mommy...air please," Ruby managed to gasp out. She quickly found the tight presence around her fading as Summer relinquished her hold on her daughter.
"S-sorry baby, I sometimes forget just how small you are," Summer said with a small giggle. She placed one last kiss on Ruby's forehead, before closing the door on her way out.
The last thing Ruby would remember about that day was her mother leaving. Summer was fated never to return, and soon, Ruby would indeed lose her light.
Summer sighed as she pressed the button on the dusty old intercom. After hearing static, she briefly took a glance at her surroundings. The manor was old, far older than any house she'd seen prior. Unfortunately, what was once the nicest house in Vale now looked ancient and dark.
She didn't have to think about it too long though, as a gruff, deep voice was heard through the static. "Who is it?"
Summer smiled at the voice. Straight to business as always, she thought, making sure to bend down so her eyes met the intercom. "Hi Bruce! It's Summer, I know I didn't call you beforehand, but I figured I'd stop by real quick before I have to head off on my next mission!" She beamed, despite knowing that he couldn't see it.
There was a small pause, before he said, "Come in." With that, the old gates opened and Summer walked inside with a skip in her step.
She quickly smiled at the sight of the wizened man slowly making his way toward her, every other step punctuated by the click of his cane. "Bruce!" she said, throwing her arms around his broad shoulders.
Bruce merely grunted, making no effort to return the abrupt hug. "Summer," he said, short and succinctly.
Summer frowned at the short greeting; she hadn't seen him in over six months! "Soooo…" she trailed off, not liking the awkward atmosphere around them.
Bruce merely raised a brow at the situation. "What?" he grumbled, clearly not in the mood for talking.
Summer pouted, "you're supposed to say something, Bruce! Y'know, an icebreaker?" She threw up her arms in exasperation as she spoke.
His face somehow grew sterner. "Isn't that only when I want to start a conversation?" His words were hidden by poorly veiled annoyance.
Summer frowned, a real frown this time. "Bruce, I only want to help you! I've seen the news, you haven't left your house in months!" she exclaimed, her tone reflecting her own annoyance at the man.
"And how exactly do you intend to 'help' me?" Bruce asked with a scowl. "You know as well as anyone, there's nothing left for me out here."
Summer refused to back down. "There's people out here, Bruce. So what if you can't 'work'? That doesn't mean you can't drop by just to visit. Go see Dick and Barb, or even drop by Patch?"
"To what end?" The old man turned his back to walk away.
"Even you need people, Bruce. And you know it." Summer gestured to herself, "why else would you even let me in? You could have turned me away at the gate!"
Bruce stopped in his tracks. Silence persisted for a short moment. "I've always had a soft spot for you," Bruce finally admitted, "but that doesn't mean I want a lecture. Goodbye."
"You know what that sounds like to me? It sounds like you've given up." Summer began to leave, but not before throwing one last comment over her shoulder. "The Bruce I knew would never have given up, day or knight. Go see someone. If not for anyone else, then for yourself."
Summer's absence left a void in the manor. Bruce slowly strolled back through the dusty hallways, but not without a momentary distraction. As he walked through the living space, his eyes found the pictures on the mantle. Pictures of Dick and Barbara, of Tim and even Jason. And a picture of team STRQ, one of their first thank you's after Bruce started helping them. With a grunt, he tore his eyes away and continued his aimless stroll.
"What the hell do you mean you don't know!?"
The mood of Ozpin's office could only be described as tense. It had been months since Summer left for her mission, but they never received an update on her task. Taiyang investigated at Patch's mission center, and that's when they learned Summer never took an official mission. Qrow headed straight for Ozpin after that, to ask the man a few questions. He wasn't fond of the answers he was getting.
"That's not a statement that calls for elaboration, Qrow," Ozpin pointed out.
"She never took an official mission, and even if she did, we both know she's not going down to your average Grimm." Qrow leaned over Ozpin's desk getting real close to the other man's face. "And you're going to try and tell me it wasn't one of your missions?"
Ozpin sighed and sat down. "I've been just as worried, believe me. Whatever she had left to do, she did not inform me of her departure. Once I realized she was gone, I immediately began searching."
"You already knew?" Qrow asked. "Why didn't you say anything!?"
Ozpin hung his head. "I had hoped to find and return her before anyone else realized. I'm sorry to say I've yet to find a single sign."
"Damn it." Qrow finally relented from Ozpin, pushing off the desk and stepping back.
Ozpin hesitated for a moment before saying something that needed to be said. "You do understand what this likely means?"
"Don't," Qrow warned.
"I don't like it any more than you do," Ozpin assured. "She was a good soldier, a valuable asset, and a great friend. The world is less bright without her. And she may still be out there, but if she's not… her family deserves to grieve."
Qrow winced. As much as he hated to admit it, Ozpin was right. Taiyang deserved to know.
Qrow only hated it more the closer he got to Taiyang's cabin. By the time he was standing in front of the door, he was seriously considering bailing. Somehow, he managed the willpower to knock on the door, crossing the point of no return. Qrow opened his mouth as the door opened, but quickly shut it when he realized who opened the door.
"Uncle Qrow!" little Ruby cheered. She quickly jumped forward and hugged his leg. He found his resolve shaken again at the sight of his younger niece. Would Ruby even understand? He quickly realized he'd rather not know.
Qrow forced a smile and ruffled Ruby's hair. "Can you get your dad?"
Ruby jumped back and nodded, every action full of energy. While Ruby dashed into the depths of the house, Qrow let himself in and looked around. Yet another action he immediately regretted when he saw Summer's picture on the wall.
"Qrow?" Taiyang announced his presence in the room.
Qrow turned to face him and noticed both Ruby and Yang had followed their father into the room. "Hey, why don't you two go play upstairs? Me and your dad have to talk about something."
"Okay! C'mon, Yang!" Ruby cried excitedly. She rushed upstairs without bothering to make sure Yang was following her.
"You're not gunna chase after your sis?" Qrow asked with a forced grin.
The older niece wasn't so easily warded off. "Is this about mom?"
Qrow's face fell, telling them all they needed to know.
Taiyang shook his head. "No… no, there has to be some mistake. What exactly did Ozpin tell you?"
"That he doesn't know a thing."
"And you believed him!?" Taiyang was quick to move to anger.
"I do," Qrow told him. "And even if you don't, you gotta know that he'd give us some hope if he knew she was safe."
Taiyang didn't know how to respond. The room was silent as the reality set in. Yang eventually broke the silence by voicing what everyone was thinking, "mom's… gone?"
Taiyang finally unfroze, and b-lined for the kitchen. Qrow followed soon after, in time to catch sight of Taiyang downing a glass of whiskey. Taiyang poured another. "C'mon, man," Qrow scolded.
"Like you can judge me for this," Taiyang cut before drinking the second glass.
"The kids, Tai-"
"I just need to get through a day or two," Taiyang insisted. "What about you?"
"Whatever Summer was doing, it has to involve you-know-who," Qrow explained. "Before I left his office, Oz offered to 'renew my contract', so to speak. I think I'm going to take him up."
Taiyang looked up toward his friend and brother. "Find out what happened to her."
"I'll do my best," Qrow promised. "Just lay off the drink."
Taiyang nodded and Qrow left the house. Alone in the kitchen, the father didn't hesitate to fill his glass once again.
For days, the Xiao Long household was eerily quiet. Ruby found that she didn't like the silence. Ever since Uncle Qrow's last visit, everyone had been acting differently. Uncle Qrow hadn't returned since that day, Daddy spends a lot of time drinking his 'daddy drink' and sleeping, and Big Sis hardly even speaks to her! No one was even making dinner tonight!
Ruby ended up having to make herself a sandwich. She offered to make sandwiches to her father and sister, but neither responded for different reasons. As Ruby left the kitchen, she approached her sister who was sitting at the coffee table and finally grabbed her attention by tugging her sleeve. "Why is everyone sad?"
Yang considered answering honestly, but such a response died against her little sister's innocent eyes. "It's just a grown-up thing, Rubes. You'll know when you're older."
"But you're not a grown up?" the younger girl pointed out.
Yang almost smiled thanks to her sister's optimism. "Just don't worry about it, sis. Go play a little, okay?" The older sister left for her bedroom.
Ruby was thinking about which toys to grab when she heard a knock at the door. She ignored it, thinking her father or sister would answer first. After a few more minutes, Ruby realized she never heard the door open. She checked on her father on the couch and found him fast asleep once again. She considered going back to her sister, but Ruby was a big girl! She could answer the door herself!
She still opened the door carefully, wary of strangers like her mommy taught her. There was no one there, and Ruby briefly thought she was too late. I hope we didn't seem rude! Then she noticed the package sitting in front of the door. "Oh, I guess someone got a delivery?"
Being the good little girl she was, she picked up the package and brought it inside. She was halfway to her father before she remembered he was sleeping. At a loss for what to do next, the young girl's curiosity began to rise. What had daddy bought? Maybe it was for her! Surely, he wouldn't be mad with one little peek… Ruby quickly knelt down and reached for the lid, her excitement rising.
What she saw inside confused her at first, until she touched it. Even soaking wet, the texture was unmistakable to her. Every hug, every tug begging for another cookie… Ruby could even faintly smell her mother's scent, somewhere underneath the stench of iron. She pulled one shaking hand off the fabric to see the same red drenching her own skin now.
Her vivid imagination would prove her downfall. Picture after picture flashed before her mind's eye, slowly becoming more horrific as her understanding grew.
Not for the first time, Bruce wondered just what the hell he was doing? Normally his isolation didn't matter, but ever since Summer visited him, his loneliness started to actually bother him. Suddenly, and without really planning it out, he found himself on a short flight to Patch. Such was the power of Summer Rose. He couldn't help but wonder how smug Summer would be when he appeared at her door.
It had been a few years, but he was certain he was getting close to the cabin. Hopefully the Xiao Long household wouldn't mind the late house call. Some things never change, after all, and Bruce would always be a night owl.
A piercing scream and a strange wave of light cut off any further musings. The forest's bats were frightened out of their home and into the air. When Bruce could see again, he realized the strange explosion came from the direction of the Xiao Long cabin. His instincts took over, and he rushed the final yards as quickly as his aged muscles could carry him.
The cabin was thankfully intact. Whatever that blast was, it seemed it didn't harm the structure. Bruce would. He bashed the door open with his shoulder. The scene inside was somber at best. Taiyang was asleep on the couch in what Bruce could only assume was a drunken stupor. What else could keep someone out after a scream like that? In the middle of the room were two girls. The older one was shaking the younger's shoulders while the younger girl looked like her whole world had been shattered.
The older sibling looked up to the intruder with frightened eyes. "Who are you...?"
"A friend," Bruce assured, lowering himself next to them. He examined the younger sibling, who appeared frozen in shock. It didn't take him long to determine why. The fabric she was holding seemed familiar to him. He could only place it by the few specks of white that still existed. Some cruel monster had managed to take down Summer, and sent the article of clothing as a vicious taunt. The younger girl must have opened the box first.
Bruce doubted many could imagine what was going through her head. However, he had a feeling he was among those few. Because he recognized those eyes, regardless of color. Those were the eyes of someone who had seen tragedy far too young. The eyes of someone who would never be the same again.
They were the same eyes he saw in the mirror when he was eight years old.
Author's Note: Hi guys! I know it's been a while, and I promise that I am working on chapter two of A Rose's Epoch. I've just been really busy with college, and I loved this idea so much that I just had to go through with it. However, unlike my other stories, this one is a collaboration between me, and another author named VengfulFate! If you don't know him, he's responsible for writing the stories: Phoenix Rose, Matters of the Heart, and currently Kingdom Hearts: Remnant. He wrote most of this chapter. I was originally supposed to write everything minus the final scene, but unfortunately by the time you're reading this, my 16-year-old dog that I've had for as long as I could remember had to be put down today, so he offered to write the rest of this chapter while I take a bit of time to recover. I hope you guys enjoy it, and as always, reviews are always appreciated!