AN: So now we deal with the immediate aftermath of the incident with Merlot.

I would once again like to thank Lord Maximus for the help.

Enjoy!

Chapter 61

Ruby slowly opened her eyes, seeing Marlene and Cinder looking over her in concern.

"Miss Ruby?" Marlene asked.

"You okay?" Cinder asked.

"Marlene? Cinder?" Ruby asked, trying to sit up before wincing in pain. Apparently that jerk was right about one thing.

Even though that was all a dream, she was still sore all over. Cinder put a hand on her shoulder to help her sit up. She could see that Mom and the rest of her team were also starting to come to.

"What happened?" the black-haired woman asked. "You all just passed out, and then your Auras suddenly broke a few minutes ago."

"Did anyone get the license of the truck that hit me?" Yang asked.

"Someone managed to pull us all into a dream," Mom said, of course being careful to avoid the truth. "Once he got us into the dream, he attacked us."

"Sounds like one hell of a Semblance," Mercury said, making sure Yang was okay.

"Yeah, it was," Blake said, holding her head where Uncle Terra had backhanded her.

It was starting to become clear that their physical bodies were reflecting whatever injuries they took in the dream. Which meant if Mom hadn't stepped in…

Would Ruby and Blake have actually died in real life? She remembered how outclassed the two of them had been against him. If only Ruby had been stronger, maybe she wouldn't have failed so miserably.

Unworthy.

That was the word Uncle Terra had called her. She clenched her fists, grabbing fistfuls of fabric from her skirt.

How could he be so cruel? He was Mom's best friend. How could he say such a thing? She could feel fresh tears threatening to spill when she felt little arms wrap around her. She looked down to see Marlene giving her a hug.

"What's this for?" Ruby asked the little girl.

"For saving me," Marlene answered. Ruby's eyes widened.

That was right. She had saved someone. There was a little girl who was alive now because of her. She smiled, wrapping her arms around Marlene.

"I'm just glad you're okay, sweetie," Ruby said, blushing when she noticed the amused smile on Yang's face and the proud one on Mom's.

"Professor, they're awake," Cinder said into her scroll.

"That's good news," Professor Ozpin responded. "How are you all feeling?"

"I think it's safe to say we've been better," Weiss said.

"Do you have any clue what happened?"

"I have an idea," Mom said. "But it's a long story. I think we should get checked out first."

"I agree," the headmaster said. "As much as I would like to hear about what happened, I think the debrief can wait until you've been examined by a medical professional. We'll have a team pick you up when you arrive. We'll make sure that your young guest gets a full check-up, as well."

"Thanks, Ozpin," Mom said.

"So, you're saying that all this happened in a dream?" the doctor asked, looking at the results of Team RWBY and Aqua's exams. The five in question were sitting around a single hospital room.

"Yes," Aqua said.

"Well, from your injuries, I would think you five all fought something pretty strong," the doctor said. "Your auras broke as if you took some nasty hits, you've all got minor lacerations and bruising all over your bodies, but it's nothing your Auras can't handle. From the tests we've run, it doesn't look like there's anything abnormal about your Auras. The only thing that's really a concern is Miss Belladonna's head injury. She has a minor concussion, so she should stay away from any fighting for a few days. I think you should all be good to go in time for the Vytal Festival, though."

"Well, that's a relief," Yang said.

"What about Marlene?" Ruby asked.

"That's the little girl you brought back with you, right?" the doctor asked. "Aside from a few scrapes and bruises, her biggest issue is that she's malnourished. We're going to keep her here for a few days." Ruby let out a sigh of relief.

"So, are we good to go?" Aqua asked. "We have to report to Ozpin."

"I don't see any reason not to release you."

"I see…" Ozpin said after the group had reported what happened in Merlot's lab. Glynda and Ironwood were standing on either side of the Headmaster, while Team RWBY and Aqua stood on the other side of his desk. "This is truly disturbing."

"What exactly are these Heartless creatures?" Ironwood asked.

"They're creatures born of the Darkness in people's Hearts," Aqua said. "They're attracted to that same Darkness, and seek to devour people's Hearts, turning the people they attack into more Heartless. Somehow Merlot figured out how to create his own. He experimented on people in order to figure it out. We watched him turn several people into Heartless before our very eyes."

"Horrible," Glynda said. "And the girl you brought back, Marlene, was one of the people he kidnapped for his experiments?"

"Yes," Weiss said. "Sadly, we think her parents were among those we couldn't save."

"At least you managed to save one of them," Ozpin said sympathetically. "I know what it's like to be unable to save everyone. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you, Professor," Ruby said.

"So, what happened after you rescued the girl?" Ironwood asked.

"We defeated some more of Merlot's creations, and then he activated the lab's self-destruct feature," Aqua reported. "We were able to get out safely, but we don't know what happened to Merlot. For all we know, he escaped."

"Well, if he did, he won't be on the loose for long," the general said.

"He must not be allowed to continue his work," Ozpin said in agreement.

"So, is there a reason you didn't tell us about Merlot the second the girls found his logo on a crate?" Aqua asked the headmaster in annoyance. "You seemed to have already been aware of his Grimm experiments. It would have kept us from getting blindsided by those mutants."

"I didn't know he was still alive," Ozpin said. "And even if I did, his Grimm experiments never bore fruit previously, so I had no way to know what to expect from him. I would have warned you about them, had I known." Aqua stared him down for a few seconds.

"Fine," she said.

"Now then, the most concerning part of this whole ordeal to me is what happened after you got on the Bullhead," Ozpin said. "Perhaps you would like to shed some light on what exactly happened?"

"From what I understand, someone put the five of us to sleep and sucked us into a dream," Aqua explained. "He attacked us, and even though we were only dreaming, we suffered real injuries."

"Could it have been a Semblance?" Glynda asked. "Perhaps he was an associate of Merlot's?"

"We don't know," Weiss said, knowing that she needed to keep exactly what had happened a secret, at least around Glynda and Ironwood.

"What did he look like?" Ozpin asked.

"He wore a black coat, and his hood covered his face," Blake said.

"So, we have nothing to work with," the general said in frustration. "Well, it's still better than nothing. I'll get his description out."

"Do you think he might be related to whoever attacked Amber?" Ruby asked.

"It's entirely possible," Ozpin said. "It sounds to me like whoever attacked you has a Semblance that affects the mind. A very powerful one at that. Qrow was the one who interrupted Amber's attack, and he told us that her assailants' faces were obscured, as if there was a fog over their heads. That was likely a mind-altering Semblance, so it's possible it was the same person. If that's the case, I would request once again that you leave him to us."

"Yes, Professor," Ruby said in disappointment.

"Now, then, is there anything else?" the headmaster asked.

"Um…" Ruby said nervously.

"Yes, Miss Rose?"

"Um, what's going to happen to Marlene?" she asked.

"Well, we're going to begin looking into her background to see if we can identify a next-of-kin that can take her in," the headmaster said. "Although, come to think of it, I suppose we will have to make arrangements for her to stay here in the meantime." Aqua sighed.

She and her bleeding heart.

"I guess she can stay—"

"I'll take her," Ruby said suddenly, surprising everyone. Aqua spun around quickly, looking at her youngest daughter with a dumbfounded expression on her face.

"I beg your pardon?" Ozpin asked.

"I said I'll take her," Ruby repeated, more determined this time.

"Ruby, do you have any idea what you're suggesting?" Aqua asked.

"Yeah, what are you planning to do, adopt her?" Yang asked incredulously.

"W-well, I just want to make sure she's safe," Ruby said.

"You dolt," Weiss scolded. "You can't just casually suggest doing something like that!"

"Ladies, please," Ozpin said, getting the girls to quiet down. "Now, Miss Rose, while I find your determination to take care of Marlene to be admirable, I will have to agree with your teammates. That's not a decision to be made lightly. Besides, you're only 15. You're not legally old enough to adopt a child. As I said before, we'll find someone to take her in."

"Well, then can I at least take care of her until then?" Ruby asked.

"Why are you so adamant about this?" Glynda asked, verbalizing Aqua's own question.

"Because, we couldn't save anyone else," Ruby said sadly. "We failed in our job to keep everyone safe. I failed. I want to do everything I can to make it up to her."

"Why are you talking like you'd be doing this alone?" Blake asked. Ruby turned to look at her in confusion. "If you're serious about taking care of Marlene, I'm going to pitch in. We all share the blame for what happened."

"Blake isn't wrong," Weiss said. "Besides, we're a team. We do things together, or not at all."

"You didn't really think I'd leave my baby sister to fend for herself, did you?" Yang asked with her hands on her hips.

"Guys…" Ruby said happily. Aqua smiled at the group.

"If all of you really want to do this, I don't have any objections," she said. "Do you, Ozpin?"

"No, I suppose I don't," the headmaster said with a small smile. "In that case, Marlene will be Team RWBY's responsibility for the foreseeable future. I will make the proper arrangements with the staff."

"Thank you so much, professor," Ruby said.

"If that's all, then Aqua, Team RWBY, you're dismissed."

Ruby slowly opened the door to Marlene's hospital room, seeing the girl lying down in a bed with an IV in her arm, watching TV.

"Marlene?" she said, getting the girl's attention and opening the door enough for the rest of her team and Mom to enter the room.

"Hi, Miss Ruby," Marlene said happily when she saw the girls enter.

"How are you feeling?" Ruby asked, sitting down on the girl's bed and patting her head affectionately.

"Better," she said. "My arm hurts, though." The girl tried rubbing her arm where the IV was inserted, but Ruby held her hand to stop her.

"I know it's uncomfortable, but you can't touch it," Ruby said. "This is going to help you feel better."

"But it hurts," Marlene whined.

"I know," Ruby said, trying her best to ignore the giggles from the others.

"So, Marlene," Mom said. "The Headmaster has decided to let you stay with the girls while you're here at Beacon."

"Really?" Marlene asked excitedly. "I get to stay with Miss Ruby?!"

"Aw," Yang and Weiss gushed, deeply embarrassing Ruby.

"Uh, just Ruby is fine," Ruby said.

"Big Sis RuRu!" Marlene cheered.

"Oh, this is the best," Yang said, basking in how adorable the little girl was.

"I don't think we're going to regret this for a second," Weiss said. "Oh, I know, let's go get Zwei!"

"Good idea!" Yang said, and the two of them burst out of the door to go get the puppy.

"Oh, no," Blake said, dread apparent in her voice.

"Who's Zwei?" Marlene asked.

"He's our dog," Mom answered. Marlene gasped.

"A PUPPY?!" she asked excitedly. "YAY!"

Ruby giggled.

Something told her she wasn't going to regret this decision.

Later that night, Team RWBY were gathered in their dorm room, having finished compiling a list of things they would need to get for Marlene once she was discharged from the hospital. Blake was reading, like usual, Weiss was pouting because they left Zwei with Marlene, and Ruby and Yang were just hanging out on their respective beds.

"You guys ever feel like it's one thing after another around here?" Yang asked suddenly.

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked.

"Well, first there was that mess with Torchwick and the White Fang. Then Dick Faced turning into a Heartless. Then we all went to the Realm of Darkness and disappeared for two weeks. Then the Breach, and right after that there was the business with Merlot and that weird dream," Yang said, counting off all the incidents on her fingers. "And now we've got Marlene and the Vytal Festival soon. I just feel like we've been firing on all cylinders for so long. I just want—"

Whatever Yang was about to say was cut off as Ruby's scroll rang, which she quickly answered.

"Mom?" she asked. "What's up?"

"Is Yang with you?" Mom asked.

"Yeah."

"And Weiss and Blake?"

"Yeah?"

"Take a look out the window and look at the top of Beacon Tower."

The girls looked confused, by approached the window anyway. They froze when they saw something glowing at the top of the tower.

It was in the shape of a heart, and roughly the size of a person.

"Mom…" Ruby said, holding up her scroll. "Is it just me or is there a big heart sitting on top of the tower?"

"Yeah, pretty much. I'm up here with Ozpin right now and I think I've got a good idea what it might be," Mom answered. "I just hope I'm wrong."

"Kingdom Hearts? As in THE Kingdom Hearts?" Yang asked slowly, standing with her sister and teammates in Ozpin's office with him and Aqua present. "As in the literal Heart of all worlds? It just popped up out of nowhere on the top of this tower, right above our heads?"

"I doubt it's the real Kingdom Hearts," Aqua replied, arms crossed as she looked out the window. If it was it would be the size of the moon. Even so I sense something about it that tells me it's not a simple forgery." Ozpin folded his hands.

"From what I understand, the only way Kingdom Hearts can be summoned is through the X-blade. Correct?"

"Yeah," Aqua said, bringing a hand to her chin. "I saw it once before so I know it's not the real one but there's a similar feeling about it."

"So what can we do?" Weiss asked. "People are bound to notice."

"I suppose I could say it's a decoration for the Vytal Festival, added to make the tower a literal 'Beacon'," Ozpin offered. "I'm sure Bart and Peter would love to study it."

"Not before I do," Aqua said, turning around. "If this object is somehow connected to Kingdom Hearts we have to find a way to seal it or make sure it's protected."

"Agreed," Ozpin said. "What would you suggest?"

"…Let me go up there and take a closer look at it," Aqua suggested.

"I'll come with you," Ruby offered, but Aqua held up a hand.

"No Ruby. I want you to wait down here with your team and Ozpin. If something happens when someone comes into contact with it, I want it to be me."

"But, Mom—"

"Not buts, Ruby," Aqua said sternly before her features softened. "You've come a long way but I'll still do my best to make sure no harm comes to you, Yang or any of your friends."

Thanks to the help of a Bullhead that Ozpin had called, Aqua reached the top of Beacon Tower, seeing the Heart just floating there and shining brightly enough that it was making Beacon live up to its name. She summoned her Keyblade before she had to pilot move close to it. As the Bullhead made its approach, it and Aqua were monitored by Ozpin and Team RWBY from his office.

"Aqua?" Ozpin asked.

"I'm all right," Aqua said, having the pilot stop just a few feet from it. "I just sensed the light from this… Whatever it is, it's not a simple construct."

The light was amazing and felt so warm.

"Aqua, what's your status?" Ozpin asked.

"I…I'm not sure how I can describe it," Aqua said, trying to make sense of what she was sensing from it. "I sense… Hearts. Not one Heart but… Many of them. Like they've all come together."

"Hearts coming together?" Aqua closed her eyes as she held up her Keyblade with both hands.

"It's so bright."

She lowered her Keyblade slowly and gently, not wanting to damage the Heart before her. Just as her Keyblade came into contact with it, the Heart began to shine even brighter. Suddenly, there was a bright flash of light.

"Mom!" Ruby cried out.

"Pull back!" Professor Ozpin immediately ordered to the pilot who shouted in surprise as he did.

After a moment the light finally subsided and slowly everyone looked to see that the Heart remained as if nothing had happened.

"Mom? Mom, are you there?" Ruby asked only to be answered with silence.

She, along with Yang, Blake, and Weiss were looking very nervous.

"Ozpin…" the pilot spoke slowly as he was in some kind of daze. "She's gone…"

Everyone's eyes widened, and Ruby and Yang were ready to rush out of the room.

"What do you mean?" the professor asked.

"I mean she's not on the Bullhead anymore," the pilot answered. "She was there one second and… not anymore. Wait, there's something near the thing."

Everyone looked at the live feed to see… Mom's Keyblade sliding down the roof. Professor Ozpin turned to the window behind him an opened it just as Ruby shot out with her Semblance, catching the Keyblade and flying right back into the office. Everyone watched as she landed in the middle of the office, staring down at her mother's Keyblade.

"Mom?" Ruby whispered, trembling.

Aqua didn't know what happened when the light shined on her but when she opened her eyes, she wasn't on the Bullhead anymore.

She was now on a beach.

"Hey there."

Turning around, she was surprised to see her husband, Qrow standing behind her while wearing only a pair of swim trunks, his Wayfinder around his neck.

"Qrow?"

"That's my name, babe," he said with a chuckle. "You zoned out there for a sec. The girls giving you trouble?"

"Hey Mom!"

Aqua turned around and saw Ruby and Yang in the water, wearing their swimsuits. Yang wore a yellow string bikini, and Aqua could remember the fight they had gotten into over it, but Yang managed to get her way. Ruby was wearing a black sporty two-piece. They both waved to her.

"Come on! Come get in the water!" Yang called out

Aqua looked down at herself, seeing that she was wearing a blue two-piece with a transparent skirt tied around her waste. She didn't need to see it, but she knew she had a white flower in her hair, because she wore this swimsuit while vacationing with her family last year.

"Yo, Aqua!"

Aqua's eyes shot up, seeing three others in the water with Ruby and Yang.

"Ven? Terra?" she asked. The two of them were wearing swim trunks, and were waving at her with smiles on their faces.

What caught her attention was the little girl with them. She wore a blue one-piece suit, and had blue hair and eyes.

"Mommy! Daddy!" she called out. "Come swimming with us!"

AN: So, this is going to going to serve as the last arc before we start Volume 3, and I'm pretty excited about it. I think it's pretty cool.

We're going to learn more about what's going on. I think you'll find it interesting.

As always, thank you very much for reading, and I'll see you all next time!