I PASSED MY FINALS! I get to move on to Term 8 and then I'll be one step closer to being home and doing my externship! Yay! To celebrate I will be updating with two chapters this weekend.
Now I've heard that term 8 is very intense. Like literally a test every single day for one class. I still plan on updating on the weekends. Hopefully that does not change. Upside I get to see some cows and horses for my one class. I just cannot wait to be home.
Anyway here is the new chapter! As always thank you all for your continued support!
New Divide
From the ashes of hate; it's a cruel demon's fate.
On the wings of darkness he's returned to stay.
There will be no escape 'cause he's fallen far from grace.
What have you done? Is this what you wanted?
What have you become? His soul's not forsaken.
You're walking alone from heaven into hell.
Now that you know your way in this madness.
Your powers are gone, your chains have been broken.
You've suffered so long, you will never change.
Angels have faith, I don't want to be a part of his sin.
I don't want to get lost in his world; I'm not playing this game.
-Within Temptation 'A Demon's Fate'
Memory- about seven years after the fall of Beacon
"I had to see it. There wasn't much left." Ruby said softly as she sat in the chair near the bed that laid a body that was unconscious and hooked up to machines, "However it's like I could see the whole thing, one long chain of events that stretched all the way back. I felt like I could see everything that happened, all over again. What's more is that I also saw how everything may…no IS going to happen."
She leaned back and stared up at the stone ceiling, "It was like a perfect pattern, laid out in front of me." She sighed and leaned forward, clasping her hands, elbows resting on her lap, resting her chin on them, "And I realized we're all part of it, and all trapped by it; all because of you…and once again I hated you for it."
The unconscious body was Oscar. He was still breathing, the machines still keeping his and Ozpin's aura alive, but it was their soul that had been trapped. It was another mission gone horribly wrong. They had located one of Salem's bases and they had gone there to finally end the witch's reign of terror once and for all.
Ruby had done everything by the book, just as a huntress would normally have done; what a proper leader would have done. She alone had asked Jinn the remaining question. Stopping Salem had nothing to do with killing her, it had been about trapping her. Since her powers had developed from the God of Darkness, only the powers of light could repel that darkness…and that is exactly what she had. Only…
"It wasn't enough." Ruby admitted softly, "You told me this. Both of you, but I didn't listen. I hadn't wanted to listen. I just wanted this madness to end."
Well the madness did end, just not in the way she wanted it to. Qrow and Maria had stayed behind with Winter and the rest of what was deemed 'the Resistance'; those that had survived Salem's blitz attack on Atlas and the surrounding towns around it to monitor their progress. Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Nora, Jaune, Ren, and Oscar had gone to infiltrate the base. Once they arrived all hell broke loose. Ruby made Jaune, Nora, and Ren take the far side of the base to take care of the attacking Grimm while the rest of them continued forward.
Later down the way, Emerald and Mercury appeared and it took the forcefulness of Weiss and Blake to make Ruby leave them with Oscar/Ozpin to continue the mission. They reached the main room to be greeted by Cinder and the Queen of Grimm herself, "This is my fault." Ruby admitted sadly now covering her face. They had tried to talk her out of it. Ozpin discussing in great length that they were in no way prepared for this kind of attack.
Salem had been three steps ahead having done her own research. While Ruby's powers could cancel out the darkness, Salem's powers could cancel out the light, "The Five Pronged Seal;" She had said as she had Cinder trap Ruby in a full body bind and Oscar (or in this case Ozpin) on a slab, chained by energy shackles, "is a technique meant to block and disturb energy flows, in this case magical energy."
Ruby watched with sudden sickness as Salem had held up her right hand, small flickers of dark magic appeared at the tips. In her left, a dagger appeared, "Magic flows through the body like the cardiovascular system. Except it all begins at the core…physically near the stomach area." The witch had started to explain, "I am going to wipe away all traces of magic from you. You will not remember any spells, or be able to use any type of magic ever again."
Ozpin had not said a word throughout this ordeal, he had not bothered to even look in Ruby's general direction as Salem took great pride in slicing his shirt open to expose his stomach. Ruby had already connected the dots as the scene again replayed in her head, her own feelings of hopelessness in her as she wished her team was there to stop her. Salem had said no more on the matter as she thrust her hand forward and jammed her fingers into Oscar's stomach. Despite him being prepared, he screamed out in agony.
The seal though was not enough. No Salem had a much bigger plan for her old lover as the first part of the deed had been done and she released him, sending him to the floor like a ragdoll; it was a plan neither of them saw coming, "Just because you took away my magic, does not mean you win." Ozpin had said firmly as he struggled to get up.
Cinder had released her hold on Ruby, and she had gone to her headmaster, "I still have mine." Ruby proclaimed as she fought to gather her own strength, "I will beat you."
Salem just stared amused, and with a swipe of her hand, threw Ruby to the side. Cinder lunged forward and started to fight her. Ozpin picked up his cane and started towards the witch, "I may not have my magic, but I can still fight."
They toyed with them. Wearing them down further until once more, Ruby was thrown into the wall and Cinder again forced Ruby to watch the battle unfold with Salem. Ozpin was failing, getting worn down from Salem's assault before eventually being overtaken and finding himself disarmed and kneeling at her feet, "It doesn't matter what you do to me. There is still a chance I will be reincarnated."
"A snowball's chance in hell perhaps;" She commented then looked at Ruby, "See I took the magic from you; the magic that included the gift, or curse as you see it, from the God of Light." She looked back at Ozpin, "Therefore no you will not be reincarnated; and in any case I do not plan on killing you."
She was pulled from the memory when she felt another presence in the room, "Ruby."
"Weiss." She countered, her tone lacking emotion.
The former heiress approached with caution towards her best friend and leader. She hesitated a moment, but placed her hand on Ruby's shoulder, "It's not your fault Ruby."
Ruby scoffed and brushed Weiss's hand off, "Really? Because from where I am sitting I did this."
"No Salem and Cinder did this." Weiss said, "We were there, we saw it happen. There was nothing any of us could have done."
No, Ruby thought bitterly, Weiss is wrong, there had to have been something.
The scene played again in her head. Salem had Ozpin where she wanted him and started to proclaim, "I am going to give you a fate worse than death. You are about to experience something horrible. Something far worse than any curse imaginable." She paced around him weakened state, "I am going to send both you and the soul you share to a place where you will experience a crushing weight of everyone you had done wrong in your life, one thousand times over."
Ruby's eyes had widened and she tried to fight the restraint that Cinder had on her. She could see Ozpin/Oscar's eyes widen with fear at this, "Oh yes, remember all those people we battled?" Salem asked and her demonic red eyes looked at her as she spoke to him, "All those people you hurt, those souls' pains you experienced? These guilty feelings that it was you who ended their lives, made them to dig their own graves," she leaned closely and whispered in his ear, "with your dark, sick, cruel design."
She stood up and looked at Ruby with a sick smirk, "Convincing them their world could be saved; tell me child, did he give you hope, or were you supposed to be his?"
Salem looked away, "Doesn't matter, I had my fun. It's just a shame because," she looked at him, "I really did love you. Good-bye Ozma."
"Salem please, don't do this." Ozpin said, "It really doesn't have to be this way."
"No it didn't," she agreed, "we had everything in our grasp. We had happiness, a prosperous kingdom, a family; and you threw it all away."
Ruby fought against her captor before finally unleashing her remaining aura. Cinder is thrown back and Ruby starts to dart forward as the doors smash inward revealing Jaune, Nora, Ren, Blake, and Weiss just as Salem had her hand over Oscar's face, "Soul Crush!" Ruby watched as she saw Oscar's body stiffen up and then falling forward.
Just like that day on top of Beacon Tower, and at Haven Ruby felt herself losing control of her silver eyed magic, "NOOOOO!" There was a blinding white light and then darkness.
That had been two weeks ago, and in that time Cinder, Emerald, and Mercury had somehow escaped with Salem at the head of the plan. They had gone underground and in that time Jaune had decided that he would take Nora and Ren with them on a recon mission to once again find where their next hideout was located.
No word had reached them and Winter had sent out another team to find them, neither of them had returned nor have sent word about a location. Blake had been adamant about going off to a faction of the remaining White Fang that was loyal to her family, but Ruby had been against the idea not wanting to take anymore unnecessary risk. She was overruled though and Blake had left just two days ago with one other person so she would not have to be totally alone, and that other person was Qrow.
"Ruby?" Weiss called out as the red cloaked leader stood up and walked away from the bed. Weiss frowned as she now just noticed what was on the table, Crescent Rose and a backpack, "Going somewhere?"
Ruby snorted, "Well when one has their weapon next to a sack then what does that tell you Ice Queen?"
Weiss was guarded now as she watched Ruby closely, "Ok. Well, when are you planning on leaving?"
Ruby looked at her partner, her own guard now up. It was almost like they were back at school and Ruby was sneaking off to play video games instead of studying, not in a bunker that was located inside a cave on the base of a massive cliff, "Once curfew is called."
Weiss nodded and turned to leave, her hand going discreetly to Myrtenaster, while saying, "Well that is in twenty minutes. I will go pack."
"What?"
She stopped and turned just her head to look at her leader, "You heard me. I am going with you."
"No you are not." Ruby said grabbing her bag and Crescent Rose, pushing past her to leave Oscar's room, "You are staying here. I am leaving."
"Not alone you are not." Weiss argued as they walked to their room.
Ruby was fuming and did not speak until they reached their room, forcing Weiss inside and closing the door. Ruby placed her bag on her bed, but kept a hold of her scythe, "Yes I am."
"No you are not." Weiss stated, "Look I know you've been through a lot, but guess what? So have we." Ruby looks away, but Weiss steps forward and forces Ruby to look at her, "You are not alone in this. How many times do I have to remind you of that?"
Ruby slaps her hand away, causing Weiss to flinch, but at the moment Ruby didn't care, "This is my fault! Not only did I cause us to lose Oscar and Ozpin, I lost us the relic too!" This was discovered later when Ruby had awaken in the hospital bed next to Oscar's. They figured that while Ruby had been transfixed on Salem torturing Ozpin, Cinder somehow had taken the relic from her; so they didn't have the relic of Knowledge or the relic of Creation from Atlas.
Weiss placed her hands on her hips, "So what? She doesn't have the other two!"
"And I am going to make sure she never does."
"Who is going to watch your back then huh?" Weiss demanded, "We haven't heard from Jaune, or Blake, or Qrow, or the team we had sent out! What is going to happen to you if you go out there?"
"Nothing is going to happen to me, just like I am making sure nothing is going to happen to you." Ruby stated, "You are not coming."
"I am your partner."
"Well I am your leader." Ruby countered, "And I order you to stay here."
Silver eyes clashed with ice blue, "Well I am sorry but you are going to have to write me up for insubordination, because I am coming whether you like it or not." Weiss then straightened herself, almost physically preparing herself for something.
Ruby looked at her and said, "Weiss don't force my hand." Her voice was almost pleading, "I will keep you here one way or another."
Weiss looked at her, "I know horrible and terrible things have happened, but you are not the leader I remember you being." She once more placed her hand on Myrtenaster.
Ruby glared at her now, her left hand on Crescent Rose, ready to enlarge the scythe, "You are right, I'm not. Besides what I am doing and planning, you have no right nor business being there."
Weiss narrowed her eyes, "You know I am getting tired of people trying to tell me where I can or cannot be."
"And I am getting tired of being reminded who I was." Ruby stated harshly, "After everything we've been through, do you really think I would be the same pathetic girl I was at Beacon?!"
Weiss sighed and shook her head. It had been a few years after Yang's death and Ruby hadn't been the same since. Of course they all noticed it, Ruby having become slightly ruthless in her attacks against Salem's army and the members of the Fang, and her attitude towards those that asked for mercy. No one really knew how to comfort the young woman or keep her grounded in the beginning, but it was Weiss that managed seeing as how she was almost the only one that Ruby responded to, "You were never pathetic, but to answer the general question, of course I do not expect you to be the same girl." Weiss answered after a few moments, it seemed though as time went on Ruby was starting to spiral and this seemed to be the straw that had broken her.
"Then stop treating me as if I am." Ruby demanded, "You are not Yang!"
Weiss was now getting angry, "I may not be your sister, but I know if she was here, she'd tell you that what you are about to do is stupid!"
"How is getting justice stupid?!"
"It is dangerous to confuse vengeance with justice." Weiss commented dangerously, "I think somewhere along the line you are confusing the two."
Ruby's left hand twitched, "Do not presume to tell me-"
"Someone has to." Weiss said cutting her off, "Now are you going to forfeit this ridiculous plan of yours or am I going to have to stop you myself?"
"You are putting me in a real awkward position partner." Ruby drawled out now pulling her scythe forward and enlarging it, "I don't want to do this."
Weiss looked at the scythe with a wary gaze. She hadn't really been expecting Ruby to pull her weapon on her, and while they had a few friendly spars during their time at Beacon and just standard practicing during what downtime they had on their travels, Weiss knew that this would be different…much different. She drew Myrtenaster and pointed the tip at her friend, "Trust me, this brings me no great pleasure either."
There was silence as they stared at each other, each having a determined yet remorseful look in their eyes, "Weiss."
"Ruby."
"You are not going to let me leave are you?"
"Not unless you let me come with you."
"I cannot allow that."
"Then I will not let you leave."
More stony silence and then, "Must we do this?" Ruby whispered.
Weiss saw a gleam in Ruby's silver eyes, she could see the reaper battling with herself. Taking a deep breath and keeping her weapon raised, she reminded Ruby that, "This is your choice."
Ruby's mind was going a mile a minute. She knew on a deeper level that this was wrong and that leaving was not the answer, but she was tired of seeing the people she loved get hurt or worse…killed. She had dragged them into this fight the minute she had gotten the remnants of team JNPR involved after Beacon's fall seven years ago. Her team had been disbanded and she had gone to them for help. Now she was regretting it completely. If only there had been another way, "I am sorry Weiss. Please forgive me." Ruby said eventually. Before Weiss could have a chance to respond, Ruby lunged forward and the next thing the inhabitants of the bunker heard was the resounding clang of Crescent Rose meeting Myrtenaster.
Present Day-
"The prince slayed the monster and he lived happily ever after with the princess. The end." The echoes of a nearly forgotten story rang in Yang's minds as the blonde stared at the shattered moon, as if willing it to give her the answer that she sought in its remains.
Eager, innocent silver eyes now appeared to her, "Do you think I can be a hero too?" A child's hopeful tone bouncing in her mind to match the hope in the eyes.
"I know you can, but for now get some sleep." Assurance and with it came determination from the innocent child reflecting a time when things were simple. Now in the present, the memory seemed more like shattered remnants, just like the moon that Yang was staring at.
"Hey you alright?" Blake asked looking at Yang. The blonde had been quiet since they started their shift over forty-five minutes ago wearing a pensive look of her face. They still had another half hour before they had to wake up Ruby and Weiss for their watch shift. Needless to say the silence was unnerving to the cat faunus and the way Yang was staring at the shattered moon seemed to reinstate the fact that something was bothering her teammate.
Yang shook herself free from her memories and looked at her partner, "Sorry what?"
"I asked if you were alright." Blake said softly reaching out to squeeze Yang's hand, a physical reminded that she was here for any support Yang may need.
They were sitting a few yards away from their teammates, however they were trying to be aware of how their voices traveled. The night was silent and by the accounts of Jaune, Pyrrha, Ren, and Nora there was no sign of trouble anywhere near them. Yang sighed, pulled her hand away, and looked towards the camp. Ruby's form glowing eerily next to dull flames of their campfire, "That is a loaded question kitten."
Blake made no reaction to the nickname that she was given. She had long since given up on asking the brawler to stop, knowing it just amused the blonde further, "Reasonable question don't you think?"
"Didn't say it wasn't." Yang commented not taking her eyes of her sister, "She always wanted to be the hero, I am just wondering…" She trailed off letting her thought drop.
Blake looked to where Yang was watching Ruby. The reaper didn't look like she was sleeping very well. The cat faunus knew that Yang hadn't slept during the other's watches. In fact neither partner slept very well, each worried about the young reaper.
In the few days since they were all reunited, they knew that Ruby took 'naps' during their lunch breaks; even during her lightest sleeps, they knew that there was something plaguing her. Never allowing herself to succumb to a full deep sleep that she so clearly needed, "If maybe you shouldn't have inspired her so much? Should you have changed her mind? Should you have stopped her?"
Yang winced at the suggestions, "Not exactly."
"Then what is it?"
"What's changed?" Yang asks, "What suddenly changed that caused her to be a lone wolf all of a sudden? I know she can't or won't tell us, but look at her." Blake does so, "Really look at her and tell me that you still do not sense that something is wrong."
Blake sighs and looks away now and stares into the darkened distance, "I know Yang; we all know there is something more going on here, but until Ruby deems it necessary to share, I am afraid that there is really nothing else we can do."
Yang sighs in aggravation, "I am supposed to be her older sister. I am supposed to protect her, how can I do that if she isn't straight with me."
"Just have faith that eventually she will come clean to us all." Blake said after a moment of thought, "I know it isn't much and may not be the answer that you want, but that is all you can do."
Yang nods and looks back out into the distance of the dark woods, "I know you are right, but that doesn't mean I don't have to like it."
"Like I said, it's not the answer you want but really that is all you can do." Blake said. She still looked at her partner, "What else is bothering you?"
Yang sighed once more, "Another loaded question."
"Another reasonable question."
"Didn't say it wasn't." The blonde narrowed her eyes again, "It's this thing with my mother. I don't know how I really feel since I don't really remember her or know her. However on the other end-"
"Ruby seems to." Blake says slowly.
Yang nods, "Yea which I don't know how exactly that makes me feel."
"Angry, frustrated, hurt, betrayed?" Blake suggested.
"No…yes…all of them…I don't know." Yang stated and once more looked at her sleeping sister, "I don't know Blake. I nearly risked our lives when we were younger to find this woman, I searched for her in a smarter ways since then, and yet my little sister seemed to know where to find her and didn't tell me; and what's more it's like Ruby knows her. Like how long am I supposed to believe that Ruby knows her without telling me?"
Blake sighed this time and leaned back on her hands, staring at the moon, "I am afraid I cannot help you there much less come up with a plausible excuse on that."
"I wasn't asking you to." Yang whispered. She shook her head and said, "I guess the real root of it is: when did our roles become reversed all of a sudden?"
Blake looks at Yang and then looks towards the uneasy sleeping reaper by the fire. She notices that Weiss is stirring now, as if in-tuned with her partner, "I wouldn't say your roles are reversed so to speak."
Yang scoffs, "Really? From where I am sitting my fifteen year old sister is acting as if she is more of an adult than us. She is calling the shots as if she has years of experience on us and that we are only children to her."
"Ok you have somewhat of a point, but in actuality Ruby is acting like the leader that she is. Don't think of it as her acting like an adult, think of it more like you two are equals." Blake said trying to be supportive, however her instincts were telling her that perhaps Yang might be on to something, "We are a team after all."
Yang sensed Blake's doubt, "I don't know, I wish I could believe that. It was as if a switch was flipped that day." Blake just frowned and pulled her scroll out. Sighing she saw the time…it was going to be a long twenty-five minutes.
Weiss stirred from her sleep. Opening one eye, she sees the time and groans. She didn't have to be up for her watch with Ruby for another twenty-five minutes…so what gives? She looks over towards her partner and sighs, that was why. Ruby was groaning in her sleep.
She sees Blake and Yang's silhouette in faint outline of the shattered moon. It looked like they were in deep conversation to notice Ruby's increasing distress, "Weiss…" Weiss jolts from her musings and looks at Ruby, who was now on her back, eyebrows pinched together and hands clutching her sleeping bag, "Weiss please, I'm sorry…"
"Ruby?" Weiss calls out quietly as to not wake team JNPR who were just a few feet away from them.
"Weiss please…" Ruby calls out now slightly louder.
Weiss scrambles up and goes to wake the reaper, but then pauses. Flashes of that instant in the hospital at Beacon making her stop and think for a moment. The last time this happened, she was almost killed by her partner. However hearing Ruby cry this time, makes her heart ache and going against survival instincts, she kneels down and starts to shake Ruby, "Ruby, come on wake up."
"Weiss I'm sorry." Ruby responds, "Please don't leave…"
"Ruby I am here. Wake up." Weiss says giving her a shake.
Ruby pulls away, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean too, please…"
Weiss keeps shaking her, "Ruby come on, wake up. It's a dream, wake up."
Ruby starts to breathe faster and then with a sudden smack from Weiss, Ruby shoots straight up, eyes wide and tears streaming down her face. In a quick instant, she turned and grabbed her weapon enlarging the scythe and shoving it in Weiss's face.
Weiss, for her part, kept calm despite seeing Ruby's eyes glowing against the dying fire, "Ruby it's-"
"No." Ruby's voice cracked as she narrowed her eyes, "Answer something for me."
Weiss slowly put her hands up and stood up, meeting Ruby glare, "Ok…"
"When we were in Beacon, what happened to make you trust me to be leader and becoming the best partner I ever had?" Ruby demanded to know, blinking away the tears that were coming down her face.
Weiss opened and closed her mouth. This was something that Winter had once told her, that any time one of her operatives went on a mission, they would answer a security question of some kind. It was to ensure that who she as talking to was who they said they were. To have Ruby do this to her, well she supposed it was better than to have a full on assault on her life; but this means that whatever Ruby was dreaming about, it still had some type of hold to make Ruby believe that she wasn't who she said she was and to have a face full of lethalness in her face, "We…rather I…had gotten into an argument about Ozpin making you leader. I went to Professor Port and he straightened me out and made me see that I was selfish. I made you a cup of coffee that was cream and five sugars since you fell asleep while studying; that's when I made the promise to you."
Ruby let out a breath and lowered her weapon. She sank back into her sleeping bag, Crescent Rose going to her side. She was gulping in breaths of air, and Weiss waited a moment or two before kneeling down on the bag as well and hesitantly reached out to give Ruby a hug. The reaper responded by gripping onto Weiss as if she was going to disappear, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry…I'm so sorry."
"Hey it's alright. I rather appreciated that than being attacked." Weiss said trying to make light of the situation. Ruby just continued to shake and apologize and Weiss knew the comment didn't have the effect she wanted, "Ok now, come on Ruby it's alright. I am here, it was just a nightmare."
It wasn't though, Ruby thought as she still held on to her partner. It was a memory, the memory that had sent everything further into hell. Then on top of it, she knew why she had an uneasy feeling; it was due to an event that was a little under a week away; the damned Vytal Tournament. It was with this revelation that caused her to relive the chain of events that caused her to get into the fight with her best friend and partner. Of course she ended up winning and leaving the bunker. Not that it matter because Weiss had eventually caught up to her and followed her around the rest of Remnant searching for the remaining relics.
Ruby eventually let go and pulled away, whipping her eyes. Without a word, she got up and grabbed her scythe, "Where are you going?" Weiss asked softly.
"Going to relieve Yang and Blake early. I am not going to get anymore rest after that."
"I'll come with you." Weiss said getting up.
"No I am alright. I got this. Go back to sleep." Ruby said feeling guilty, "I woke you up unnecessarily."
Weiss rolled her eyes, ignoring her partner's command, "Nonsense. We said we'd do this in pairs and that is what we are doing."
Ruby groaned, "Why are you always so stubborn?"
Weiss smiled, "Someone has to be with a leader like you. Now are we doing this or what?" She grabbed Myrtenaster and motioned to Ruby to lead the way. Ruby shook her head and led the way towards the lookout area, "Did you want to talk about it?" Weiss asked eventually.
"Not really no." Ruby stated firmly, to give her the tone that the matter was closed.
"It might help." Weiss offered. Ruby didn't say anything. Weiss sighed and said, "You know you asked me about my nightmare at Beacon remember?" Ruby again said nothing, so Weiss continued, "I said mine was about being alone and you reminded me that I wasn't alone. That we were…what did you say we were?"
Ruby stopped as did Weiss, the heiress noticed the sad smile on Ruby's face as the reaper looked away, "I think I said we were 'BFFs'."
Weiss remembered of course, she just wanted Ruby to say it; nevertheless, she smiled and reached out her hand towards her partner, "Right. Well you are never alone and you can rely on me. I want to help you, you just have to let me."
Ruby looked at her partner and instantly flashed to the nightmare. She thought it would get easier to manage between the two timelines, but it wasn't. She keeps seeing her old friends and family, and knowing what happened or the consequences of what will happen should she fail…she couldn't shoulder the pain. Not again, "Thank you for that, but I am fine. It was a stupid nightmare, no more no less."
Weiss was instantly hurt as Ruby brushed past her, "That is a load of boarbatusk shit if I ever heard such a thing." She grabs Ruby's shoulder just before they reach Yang and Blake and Weiss whispers closely, "Look we are worried about you, have been since we met up a few days ago. If you do not want to talk that is fine, but you will listen and take me seriously."
Ruby looks at her and shows that she is listening, "Look we don't exactly know what you've been through because you won't exactly share with us; I am not asking you to right now." Weiss started off by saying, "What you have to realize is that we too have been through a lot." Ruby looks away, as the memory is rearing its head. To the current Weiss in front of her, she was saying these words for the first time, but to Ruby she was hearing her older partner's voice and these words for…honestly she lost track, but it was a lot. Forcing herself to listen, Weiss continued the conversation, "You are not alone in this. I do not care how many times I have to remind you of that until it finally reaches your thick head, but I was continue to say it: You are not alone." Weiss stepped away from her partner, and started to lead them to Yang and Blake, "So whenever you are ready to open up to us, we'll be here and we won't leave."
Weiss made their presence known as they entered the area, Yang and Blake looking equally surprised at their appearance. Ruby just stood there looking between her teams. JNPR sleeping soundly and deeply and team RWBY looking awake and worried for her. She shook her head, unable to get rid of the feeling that Weiss was wrong. She was and had been alone. They had left her alone, granted not by choice but it had been her fault; and that was something that wasn't going to change.
Besides there was another feeling that she couldn't quite shake, if she did tell them everything…not that she would if she could help it…but for the sake of argument if she did reveal to them that she was from the future where things went to shit, would they still be with her or would they blame her and be disgusted by her? Steeling herself, she approached her team, trying desperately to put the memory in the back of her mind where it belonged all the while hoping Ozpin took her warning to heart and moved the Fall maiden.
