New Divide

Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves:

One for your enemy, and one for yourself

-Chinese Proverb

The best answer to anger is silence

-Marcus Aurelius

There was a small proverb that she once heard on one of her multiple journeys. It was one she had not paid much mind too. Scoffed at in fact. Now due to recent events, it came back to her:

A saint had been asked- "What is anger?"

The answer the saint had given- "It is a punishment we give to our self, for somebody else's mistake."

Looking around at the table that had held her teams, Oscar, and Qrow; she saw that renewed slightly simmering anger. None were so piercing than that of her uncle, and instantly she saw herself in the middle of the snow covered woods after Jinn revealed Ozpin's story and her uncle's fist connecting with Oscar's face, "No one wanted me…I was cursed…I gave my life to you because you gave me a place in this world…I thought I was finally doing some good…" Those words echoed around her as he spoke them out loud after slowly getting up from his seat and moved away from them.

They had explained everything in detail that Ruby hadn't done when she had last saw him on Patch, including Ozpin's story seeing as Ruby hadn't told him anything, keeping to her usual claim that 'it wasn't her story to tell'. It wasn't as drastic as it had been seeing it third hand, but it still angered him, "But, you are!" Ozpin said, not expecting the reaction one bit, although in all fairness should have.

Ruby shook her head at his comment, knowing that this was the wrong thing to say. However the others were surprised at the outburst, "Really? From where I am standing that isn't the case. And you!" He pointed at Ruby, at this the reaper looked at her uncle, "You knew all of this." He ran a hand through his hair, turning away from her, "You should have told your father and I the whole truth."

"Yea we already gave her the third degree on that one." Yang said, avoiding Ruby's gaze, then she sighed, "However we moved passed that."

"Somewhat." Weiss muttered out as the forming scab on the feelings were once more half way ripped open.

The rest nodded as Blake voiced, "Agreed."

"Regardless. This is bull." Qrow said darkly as he pulled out his flask. Ruby was up in that instant, in a swarm of petals. They watched as Qrow was in the storm for an instant and then Ruby reappeared near the window, flask in hand, "Hey!"

"Yea no. I literally see where this is heading and it is not happening again!" Ruby stated darkly, "Ok fine, I should have told you and Dad more than what I did before. I should have thought things through a lot more than I did. But you and Dad were like the second people I told. Raven was like the third."

Yang stood up, eyes blazing, "Wait what?! You didn't tell us this!"

"You told my traitor sister?!"

"Brief. It was a real brief description. Only her fate in all of this." Ruby explained quickly, more or less, she thought to herself.

"Ruby." She looked at Qrow now, "Give me my flask." He held his hand out expectantly, his amber eyes flashing with warning.

"Not. A. Chance." Ruby enunciated, "Again, I will not allow us to fall down that hell induced rabbit hole of your own design. I will not live episodes like that again."

Yang sighed deeply, a trace of annoyance slipping in. She got up from the couch and made to approach her sister, "Stay back Yang." Ruby warned.

Yang stops and has her hands up in defense, "Rubes. We came here to talk and to come up with a plan; we didn't come here to pick another fight. As much as I hate it;" she looks at her uncle, who now looks away with a trace of shame on his face, "just let him have it."

During all of this, Ruby had made her way closer to the window latch. She had discreetly unlocked the window and pushed it open slightly while everyone's attention was looking awkwardly at one another. She had internally smirked, having taken a leaf out of her ninja like teammate's book. She knew she would have to thank Blake later…once she was out of the dog house that is. Eyeing her sister and uncle again, she took a deep breath and asked heavily with faux resignation in her tone, "You want me to let him have it?"

"You all processed this in your way, let me process this in mine kiddo. Quite frankly I am not in the mood for elaborate 'save the world' plans right now." Qrow said in his drawl, glaring at Ozpin, who looked dejected, "Let me have it."

Ruby looked at Ozpin and did not like what she saw. No. She couldn't let her uncle go down that path again. Not with all the work they needed to do. Yes, information like this would have shattered anyone. Any type of faith you once had for a cause that could now be seen as hopeless would be enough to damage anyone, however she knew that she needed everyone to stand together if she was going to change her…their future, so she knew she would have to do something drastic in order to ensure that change, and make him see that she was not screwing around, "You want me to let you have it? Ok." Ruby answered. Then before anyone knew what she was doing, she flipped the cap and took a large swig of the liquid inside.

"RUBY!" Qrow and Yang yelled.

Just as they made a move towards her, she threw the flask out the window and pulled a small revolver from her side and shot the flask as if she was participating in skeet shooting. Qrow shoved her aside and just watched as it fell towards the ground in shock, "The hell you do that for kid?!" He yelled at her.

"Well that was a thing." Nora said as she looked between Ruby and Qrow; moderately impressed and yet exasperated at the same time.

"Where were you hiding that?" Jaune asked slowly not having any idea Ruby was carrying an extra weapon, in fact looking at her main team, he could see that they had no clue as well.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Ruby responded in a tone of superiority. She then turned her attention back on her uncle, a look of disbelief on his face. However it didn't last long-the emotion faded into one of anger, "Uncle-"

Qrow slammed the window shut, causing everyone to wince at the sound. He turned a piercing gaze on his niece. Ruby for her part did not flinch, and yet there was a coil in her stomach. Never had he glared at her so harshly. He opened his mouth once, then closed it before scoffing and slowly walking passed her, "Qrow." Ruby tried again, calling out to him.

"Save it for someone that cares." He said darkly, then without turning to face the reincarnating wizard he says, "Meeting you...was the worst luck of my life..."

"Qrow!" Yang yells looking between the disbelief on the farm-boy's face, and her sister who just shook her head.

"That is uncalled for!" Weiss challenged as she too stood up standing in front of Oscar, as if somehow that would protect him from the man's harsh words.

Ozpin sighed in dejection, "Maybe you're right..." They all looked at him.

"NO!" Ruby yelled looking between the team and her uncle, "I am not doing this again I said! You will listen and put your self-loathing feelings aside for this!"

"You are a child!" He yelled back swiftly turning around, meeting her gaze, his mouth spewing words before his brain could stop them, "You know-"

"Do not say that I know nothing." Ruby stated darkly, everyone flinching at the look of molten silver that was glowing eerily towards the elder huntsman. She sighed then closed her eyes and scoffed, before opening them and saying, "I was a child. We were just children. Children who had innocent dreams of 'making the world a better place'. Naïve. Such naiveté."

She took a predatory step towards her uncle that she had held in high regards, "I've seen things. You all only got the cliff notes version due to time constraints; regardless the fact remains we've stopped being children the moment our school, our dreams, shattered into oblivion." She looked up at him and pointed a finger right at him, "But you, yes you, have more experience than us, seen the world for what it is; and you're afraid we can't handle this, but right now, I don't really care what you think! You know why?! No amount of your so-called 'experience' can prepare you for the absolute hell that is about to come knocking on our damn doorstep!"

Eyes were wide as the awkward silence filled the room, Yang slowly approached, "Ruby come on. Back off." She placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder, noticing the haunted look in both silver and red eyes.

Ruby ignored her sister and tossed her hand off her shoulder, she kept her predatory like gaze on her uncle, "When we needed an adult, you abandoned us! Ozpin was non-existent! And for what?! A tragic secret came out. It nearly tore us apart. It caused the fall of Atlas and turned our one true alley against us." She finished off quietly, "We were considered fugitives."

Qrow's eyes were widened slightly, as did the rest of them, Ozpin included as he just sat back and watched, "Ruby please." Yang tried again as she saw something flash across her sister's eyes.

"He needs to hear this." Ruby growled out tossing her hand off her shoulder again.

"Not like this." Yang whispered in her ear, "Please."

Ruby turned to glare at Yang, but saw sadness is her lavender pools. Then she caught the wary sight of the rest of her friends before deflating, "Fine. You know what fine. Here. I don't give a shit right now." She reaches into her pocket and pulls her wallet out holding out a couple of Lien. Qrow stares at the money being offered to him, not able to lift his hand to take it, "Take it! It's what you want right?!"

"Ru-" He chokes out taking a step back.

"No. Take it. Get yourself a new flask, and fill it with the most top shelf drink you can." Without waiting for his reply, she forcibly reaches for Qrow's hand and shoves the money into it. She starts to walk away before thinking quickly and swinging back around, she points a finger at her uncle, "Do not think this gets you off the hook. I will keep a tighter leash on you like I should've done a long time ago. And you;" she faced Oscar and to her satisfaction sees that it is indeed Ozpin that is still in control, "I will not allow you to wallow in your own self-induced pity party because of this. If I so much as sense that you've locked yourself away in that boy's mind, I am beating the ever-loving Brothers out of you. Do I make myself clear?"

Ozpin looked at his former student and nodded, "Yes Ms. Rose. I agree we have a lot of work to do and time to make up…forgive my phrasing."

Ruby shook her head and turned back around to leave, "Where are you going?" Nora demanded.

"Clearly we are not getting anything done so I am going to go train. Join me, don't join me. I don't rightly care." Ruby snapped back as she left the room.

Eyes go to Qrow as he shook his head and turned to leave as well, "Where the hell you going?" Yang demanded.

"What do you want me to say? That 'I fucked up'? It's old news firecracker. I know I am a fuck up. It's my damn semblance."

"Qrow-" Ozpin called out as he got up, leaning on his cane for strength.

"You do not speak to me." Qrow all but snarled out, "In fact I do not even want to see you right now." He turned away and once more headed towards the door.

"Qrow!" Yang called out this time.

"Leave me be." And he was out the door.

Yang tossed her hands up, "Great. Just fan-fucking-tastic."

"Maybe this is a good thing in disguise." Pyrrha commented quietly.

"How so?" Jaune asked frustrated, "This seems the opposite of a 'good thing'."

Ozpin nods his head towards Pyrrha, "Ms. Nikos perhaps has a point. Ms. Rose is still reeling from her story with us and now that Qrow is going through this emotional journey as well, it is perhaps a good thing that the planning phase is being placed on hold for now."

"Only allow reason to rule you." Ren commented as he stared at his teammates.

"Precisely." Ozpin nodded as he strode slowly around the room to be on a better ground with his students, "Both Ms. Rose and Qrow are not really thinking all that clearly."

"What Ruby said though;" Blake started to say as eyes now turned to her, "That we…they…needed an adult and you as well as Qrow was not there for us…them…isn't Ruby doing the exact same thing now?"

Ozpin frowned as he stopped his stride and stood back poised, eyes not meeting those of the group, "That…remains to be seen. While I believe that Ms…Ruby was more than forthcoming with information in regards of what she experienced, there are still some things she is not saying. To put in her own words we got the 'cliff-notes version due to time constraints'."

Weiss stood up and made a move to leave, "Where are you heading too?" Yang asked.

"To train." The heiress responded over her shoulder, "It doesn't matter now. None of this talking really matters anymore. What does matter is what we are doing to prepare. I, for one, need to work on my summoning, and Jaune;" he looks at her and winces at the stern gaze, "Sounds like you need to unlock your semblance."

"But it doesn't sound like Ruby is in the mood to help." Nora said arms crossed and leaning back into the couch.

"Doesn't matter. Like she said 'we needed an adult'. And despite her being physically younger, she is still mentally ten years older than us. Therefore, we need her." Weiss stated as she continued to make her way out of the room, "Enough is enough." She added in a growl.

They watched as she walked away from them, "She is right as well." Ozpin said, "If things are getting as bad as Ruby has said then we need to be ready. I suggest we do what we can for the time being."

Yang shakes her head and watches as Ozpin follows after Weiss, JNPR sighs and follows after him. Blake comes to her side and gives her a sad look, "At the risk of asking a stupid question-"

"There are no stupid questions. Only stupid answers." Yang joked lightly, but it was loss in the tone that she used.

Blake gave her a sad smile, "Well still…are you-"

"Nope to that first questions, and the second answer to your follow up is: I don't know." Yang commented, then she took a deep breath, "But Weiss is right. We've done enough talking and explaining. Actions speak louder than words, and at this point I really do need some action." Blake follows after Yang with a heavy sigh, knowing exactly what kind of hell was going to be unleashed during this 'training' session.

When Weiss made her way to the main training area, she watches for a moment as her partner practices with a wooden sword. She held her weapon close at her side, having never placed it in the room like her teammates had done. Ruby's moves were fluid and lethal in nature. However the more Weiss watched, the more familiar the moves appeared to be: Weiss saw her own thrusts, Pyrrha's high strikes as if she were holding Milò in her hands, and then swung in a wide arc as she was wielding Qrow's Harbinger. In the end Ruby did one final strike towards the dummy's throat. The strike, had it been a real person, the head would have been severed clean from the shoulders, "If you are here for a pep talk," Ruby spoke, surprising Weiss from her admiration from her partner's lethal dance with the blade, "you can save it."

"I wouldn't dream of giving you a pep talk. I am tired of the talking in general. Lately that's all we've been doing." Weiss stated as she heard the footsteps of their team coming down to the training room, "In fact I was going to have you help me while everyone else is training."

Ruby took a step away from the dummy and lowered the wooden sword to face her partner, "Help you?" She then took in her teammates as they split off into pairs. Blake and Yang moved to one side of the area, Pyrrha and Jaune took the other, and Ren, Nora, and Oscar went outside.

Weiss smirked as she brought Myrtenaster forward, "Yes like you promised. Again we've talked enough…don't you think?" Ruby looked around and saw everyone looking at her expectantly. Even Oscar nodded her way, showing that Ozpin was still fairly prominent in being control.

"Alright, let's get to work everyone." Ruby orders after a brief sigh. Then looking back at Weiss she says, "Don't expect me to go easy on you princess."

"Wouldn't dream of it dolt."

-Snoopykid-

Qrow sighed as he sat on a bench outside a bar. He had found his old flask that now had a hole in the center of it. As mad as he was at his niece, he had to admire the shot she took with the small pistol that she had whipped out. She definitely had the sniper's eye for detail. The small proud smile that graced his lips fell instantly, the realization of the 'why' she had to become so good was brought to the forefront of his mind. Which brought him back to her words about him being afraid. His thumb gently rubbed the middle of the flask, the pad getting a small scrape due to the metal that had partially shattered.

"The single quality that is common across every living creature on this planet…is fear." Ozpin had once spoken to them. It was part of his graduation speech at Beacon when team STRQ was still alive and well.

Qrow looks across the street. The bar was still open, it was not yet crowded, and he had yet to go inside. Absentmindedly he places the flask down and pulls out the picture that is well worn from the many times it was folded and unfolded, "It's funny then, that as common as fear is…we so easily underestimate its power."

He looks at the smiling faces of Summer, Tai, and his sister. The three most important people of his life. The ones who helped provide him with a purpose. A purpose that had still fueled him even after Raven's fall from their graces. He rubs his face with one hand and leans forward, eyes never leaving the picture, "Fear of growing close to someone…"

"You had given me that fear." He says out of response, "Rightfully so too." He folds the picture up and places it back in his pocket.

He uses both hands to cover his face. The need to go in the bar stronger, "…a subsequent fear of loss."

"When we needed an adult, you abandoned us!" Ruby's voice echoed harshly in his head.

Qrow looks up now and eyes go to the flask again. He scoffs, clearly Ruby's history was repeating itself. Why is he needed anyway? She failed in her timeline. Based on the story, Salem cannot die. He was lied to. All this time he thought he was making a difference, he wasn't. Just delaying what seemed to be the inventible, "Fear of failure."

He stands up and swipes the flask off the bench. This isn't fear. This is acceptance. He starts to make his way towards the bar, "And as more people depend on you, those fears can take on greater power."

One step was all it took for him to stop, "I was a child. We were just children. Children who had innocent dreams of 'making the world a better place'. Naïve. Such naiveté. I've seen things. You all only got the cliff notes version due to time constraints; regardless the fact remains we've stopped being children the moment our school, our dreams, shattered into oblivion."

He is disgusted with himself and continues his way across the street. Who was he kidding? He was afraid. Afraid of the things Ruby had said would come to pass. It all seemed hopeless, almost worthless in his mind. Everything Ozpin had said was a lie. But yet here was his niece, still willing to fight. Willing to hope for things to be better, despite the warnings she received before she came to them. He was a coward.

Qrow lifts his head towards the sky, and takes a deep breath, "But fear itself isn't worthy of concern. It is who we become while in its clutches." He opens his eyes and catches his reflection in the glass.

A man opens the door, "You know we are open right? You can come in instead of lingering outside."

Qrow looks at him and then back at his reflection in the glass. He sees conflicting hesitance and determination, "Will you be proud of that person? Will you forgive them?"

He slowly backs away, "I'm sorry. I just remembered I forgot my wallet." He says as he pats himself down, creating the illusion that he was checking his pockets, "Will you understand why they felt the need to do the things they did? Will you even recognize them? Or will the person staring back at you be the very thing you should have feared from the start?"

Flashes of what was said in the living room came to mind. Admittedly someday he may forgive Ozpin. Someday he may forgive Ruby for keeping him in the dark. Maybe someday he will be willing to understand, but right now that someday is not today. Right now he had other business to take care of before heading back to the house, "I suppose we all find out…sooner or later." I suppose we will, he thinks in response to Ozpin's graduation speech.