The broken moon hung high in the sky, the pieces chasing each other lazily from horizon to horizon. Blake watched it creep across the night sky, unable to sleep. With how Ruby had been acting around her lately, she was surprised the young mother didn't 'suggest' she stay behind. This whole affair had been a strain on Blake's heart. Not so much as Ruby's, obviously, but she had still pined after this girl for years and come so close… only to screw it all up.

She heard a commotion from the direction of Ruby's sleeping bag. The young mother was searching her pack near frantically. Blake raised a curious eyebrow. What kind of personal item would Ruby carry with her on this mission? The faunus's advanced eyes scanned the ground until she saw a glint that didn't belong with desert sand. A strangely familiar necklace… Wait, haven't I seen Ruby wearing this? She bent down to pick up the item and noticed that the necklace was… open? A locket?

Blake looked over to Ruby, who was still searching her pack and hadn't seen Blake pick the locket up. Curiosity overwhelming her, the faunus peeked within the already open locket, and wasn't really surprised by what she saw. But looking at the face of Phoenix Rose only made the feelings of guilt resurface. Seeing the picture of baby Phoenix in the other half of the locket brought other feelings to Blake's mind.

She knew Ruby was Phoenix's mother, but seeing that she had a baby picture of Phoenix at all times really drove the point home that Ruby raised the child. He didn't just show up one day and Ruby decided to love him. Ruby and Phoenix had ten years of history, of love, of being a family. Ten years of growing together. The redhead had carried the child, gave birth to the child, and loved the child as her own because he was her own.

And if Blake ever wanted to be anything to Ruby, she had to prove she could love Phoenix too. It wouldn't be so simple as being Ruby's girlfriend anymore. Blake would have to have a relationship with Phoenix as well, perhaps even one resembling motherhood.

For years, I've had this perfect fantasy. One where I had a full, loving family. Me, and you… And Phoenix.

"Family…" Blake repeated to herself, closing the locket. She needed closure with Adam before that could happen. Her quest to search out that closure inadvertently led to this very situation. Blake's resolve steeled. The next step was getting Phoenix back. Then she would do whatever it took, however long it took, to earn back Ruby's trust. But before all that.

Blake approached Ruby cautiously, and the mother slowly turned around. "What?"

"I just found this. I remembered you wearing it." Blake offered the locket.

Ruby snatched it quickly. "Where did you get it?"

"It was just on the ground over there." Blake pointed at the spot she found it. "You were looking for it, right?"

"Yeah." Ruby secured the locket around her neck. "I must have dropped it when I was patrolling the perimeter earlier. Coco talking to me distracted me." The redhead let out a small smile of amusement. "That's why I don't usually take it off."

Blake and Ruby stood in awkward silence for a few more moments until the faunus spoke up again. "You know I'll do whatever it takes, right?"

Ruby took a deep breath and gripped the locket. "Let's just get some rest. Once Phoenix is safe, we can talk about… whatever else."

"Right." Blake nodded. "Good night, Ruby."

"Good night."


Phoenix was walking through the base side-by-side with Adam the next morning. It had been a few days since he made the call. Viper was looking for his scroll the night before, so Phoenix was sure the call at least went through. Here's hoping Momma picked up and followed the scroll. There was a quiet commotion behind them, making Phoenix turn around. "What was that?"

"It sounded like a fight…" Adam remarked.

"Do you think someone found us?"

"No, Isan, we're hidden well." Adam assured. "Perhaps it's just pent up aggression. These people have been hidden under here for more than a week."

Phoenix frowned the direction of the continued noises. "That's not good."

"No, it's not." Adam admitted. "Let's go."

They took five steps before one of Adam's subordinates came running down the hall to meet them. "Sir! Sir!" He shouted. "We're being attacked! Huntsmen!"

"What!?" Adam shouted. "How did they find us!?"

"I don't know!" He shouted. "But we're not doing good."

"I'll be right there." Adam growled. "Stay back, Isan. I'll deal with this soon enough." Adam ran ahead, drawing his blade. Phoenix waited a few moments before following. If this was it… he had to know.

Adam made it to the front of the caves quickly, and saw the battle reigning. There were more huntsmen and huntresses here than there were White Fang members, deeply troubling the faunus leader. One of his men flew by him, smashing against a wall and falling to the ground. Adam turned the direction he was attacked from and recognized a large red scythe.

Adam smirked. "Hello, honey. We really must talk about junior."

"I'm not playing your sick games!" Ruby shouted. "Where is he!?"

"I'm not going to let you steal him from me again!" Adam declared.

"You never even knew he existed." Ruby reminded him. "You have no claim to him. Phoenix is not your son, he's mine!"

"MOMMA!"

As if on cue, Phoenix appeared in the passage entrance behind Adam. The faunus leader looked down to him with a scowl. "Isan! Get back where I told you to-"

CRACK!

Phoenix took his toy sword and splintered half of it across Adam's face. Gripping the jagged remains, he shouted, "MY NAME IS PHOENIX!"

"Baby!" Ruby shouted, falling to her knees and hugging Phoenix tight. "I'm missed you so much! Are you okay? Did he hurt you?"

"I'm fine momma. He didn't hurt me." Phoenix hugged his mother back just as tight. "He didn't want to. He tried to make me like him. But I didn't, momma. I'm still me."

Ruby and Phoenix continued to embrace, and the mother buried her face into her son's shoulder. He was real. He was safe. She didn't ever want to let him go again. With her face buried however, she failed to see Adam slowly stand. She did hear him pick up his weapon, and her eyes shot open. Adam was furious, and aiming his blade straight at the duo. Ruby quickly pushed Phoenix away, and the blade narrowly missed him. Pain shot through her gut as Adam's sword found a place in the young mother's flesh.

"Momma!" Phoenix looked on in horror while Adam pulled his blade out of Ruby's right-side abdomen.

Ruby fell back and slouched up against a wall. She looked up to her horrified son, and noticed Adam's gaze follow her own. "Run!" The redhead shouted. "RUN!"

Phoenix unfroze and took off down the hall way as fast as his nine-year-old form could carry him. Adam pursued quickly. Ruby watched them go, trying to ignore the pain in her side long enough to stand. Blake entered the chamber soon and rushed to Ruby's side. Her eyes widened at the sight of all the blood. "Ruby!? What happened!?"

"Don't worry about me." Ruby told her.

"But Ruby, your blood!" Blake argued, kneeling next to the young mother.

"Blake!" Ruby called for her attention. "Adam went after Phoenix." The redhead looked down the hallway the two bulls vanished into. Blake followed her gaze. "Make sure he stays safe."

The faunus looked back into silver eyes and nodded. "You stay alive. I'll make sure Phoenix comes back to you."

Adam tried to keep pace with Phoenix, but the boy was faster than he thought. "Isan?" He called out as the caverns grew larger and darker. "Isan, where are you?" he repeated in a sing-song voice.

Nestled in a dark crook slightly above Adam's eye level, Phoenix waited for him to pass by. But the bull man stopped instead. "I know you're nearby…" Adam teased. "Come out, come out, wherever you are…"

He can't sense my aura, momma never unlocked it… faunus… he can smell me… but he doesn't know exactly where I am!

A new plan came to Phoenix's mind, recalling many a night his mother came home from a hunt… Adam turned his back Phoenix's direction, and the boy sprang into action. He leapt straight at Adam, wrapping himself around the bull-man and burying the jagged end of his broken toy sword a good few inches into his shoulder.

"AAARRRGGHHH!" Adam screamed, completely enraged. "YOU LITTLE FUCKING BRAT!" Adam reached over his shoulder and grabbed Phoenix by his collar. With as much strength as he could muster, Adam threw Phoenix towards the far end of the current cavern.

The boy raised his arms as the wall closed in. The aura-less child slammed full force into the rough, natural cave wall. The sharp rocks shredded the outer-side of his forearms and the left half of his jaw from his chin to his ear. Phoenix toppled to the ground, loose flesh hanging bloody form his face and arms. He barely managed to get to his knees with shaky arms, leeched of strength by his injury.

Adam wasn't satisfied. He felt beyond betrayed, his own child turning against him, fooling him for days, while likely having found some way to contact his mother. It was the only thing that made sense. Phoenix was no longer his child. He picked his side, with his human mother. He is the enemy now, Adam concluded, raising his weapon's rifle.

Blake arrived in time to see Adam aim for Phoenix's unprotected head. She was no longer surprised by her former partner's heartlessness, but her eyes still went wide at the thought of him killing Phoenix. Using gravity dust and her shadow clones, she rocketed herself across the room trying to place herself between Adam and Phoenix. Adam fired, and Blake fell limp right in front of Phoenix.

"Uuughh…" Blake rolled over, blood leaking out of her shoulder. "I moved too quickly… didn't raise my aura… rookie mistake…"

Phoenix's eyes fixated on her wounded shoulder. Even more blood… ever since this battle started, all Phoenix seemed to see was blood, blood, and more blood. His mother, himself, even Adam's shoulder from a wound Phoenix himself inflicted. And now Blake, the woman who loved his mother, who he personally wanted his mother to be with, was bleeding. And all because of him.

This whole battle was for him. The realization made Phoenix's eyes tear. Everyone wounded, everyone injured, on both sides… no one would be here if it wasn't for him. If it wasn't for the very fact he was Adam Taurus's son.

"And now the scenario is complete…" Adam taunted Blake's way. "Nothing that ever hurt me didn't involve Blake Belladonna…" He pointed his rifle the cat-faunus's way. "No more."

Phoenix may have been young, but even someone his age would have to be stupid to go what he just went through and not realize what was about to happen. "no…" Phoenix whispered, his throat shot by sobs.

"Excuse me?" Adam taunted, pausing his attempt on Blake's life.

Suddenly Phoenix's tears stopped. He felt calm… no, not quite. He felt guarded. He felt protected. He felt an energy wash over him, and looked over himself. Waves of bright orange energy rippled across his form. Is this…?

Adam, too, could barely believe his eyes. He stood there, rifle raised but for all intents and purposes forgotten. The orange energy surrounding Phoenix could only mean one thing. His aura… There were two known ways to unlock aura. The common occurrence these days was for someone with an already unlocked aura, usually a parent or close family member or friend, to use their own aura to unlock others. The other method, far less common these days, allowed someone to unlock their own aura. Or more accurately, their aura unlocked itself. This second method required a high level of trauma, either physical or mental, and their aura would come through like an emergency shield for body and mind.

While no sane person would ever put someone they cared about through the hell necessary for this second path, those few who did have their aura unlocked through trauma found it came with a fringe benefit. While someone who had their aura unlocked by another would train for months to discover their semblance, trauma-induced aura users tended to have their semblance manifest at the very same moment.

And it seemed Phoenix would be no different, as his hair and eyes began to glow the same color of his aura. His clothes rippled with the energy pulsing out of him, and the child could feel it coming. That feeling of protection seemed to swell into his shoulder blades, almost as if it were about to explode outward. And explode it did, with what looked like fire bursting out of his back. Adam's eyes widened as the inferno took shape, forming the image of a giant fiery bird with a wingspan as wide as the cavern they were in.

The terrorist leader's surprise overshadowed his rationality, and he fired his next round at the incorporeal fire bird. It made zero effect, and only made Phoenix angrier. "I SAID NO!" Phoenix shouted, his voice overlapped and amplified by the power of his semblance. "NO MORE PAIN! NO MORE BLOOD!" Adam could have sworn he heard an eagle-like cry as the fiery bird tucked in its wings and dive-bombed the adult bull-faunus, slamming into him and exploding upon contact. Adam slammed into the wall behind him and fell to the floor.

The glow died out from Phoenix's hair and eyes, and he toppled onto Blake. It seemed he was completely exhausted from such an intense first use of his semblance. The cat-faunus wrapped her arms around the child and watched Adam. She wasn't going to assume he was out for the count.

Her caution proved appropriate. Adam slowly stood. He was conscious, but very worse for wear. Getting hit by the full weight of another's semblance, even a child's, could be devastating. He raised his rifle once again, and Blake drew as much of herself around Phoenix as she could manage.

BANG!

Blake's eyes squeezed shut, but she felt no pain… well, no new pain. She did hear something clatter across the ground. She opened her eyes slowly and saw Adam's rifle on the ground next to her, a sizable bullet buried in the side. A sniper round… Blake looked up and saw Ruby clutching her bloodied side with one hand and Crescent Rose in the other. With only one hand to wield it with, she extended the full scythe and used the blade as a stand.

Adam opened her mouth to goad the redhead, but Ruby pulled the trigger again before he had a chance. BANG! Adam fell to the floor, holding his side. Ruby had shot him in the same exact spot he stabbed her in. "Just shut up, jerkface. I've had enough of your crazy." She told him wearily.

"Going to kill me, sweetheart?" Adam teased.

Ruby grabbed her weapon higher up the shaft and pulled it out of the ground, walking slowly towards Adam. She raised the blade, ready to bring it down into the bull-man. Adam almost smiled. "Bring it down. Kill me, go ahead."

"Momma..." Phoenix was stirring back to consciousness on top of Blake.

Ruby frowned and spun the scythe around and struck Adam with the blunt end of Crescent Rose, knocking him out but keeping him alive.

Blake stared on. "You could have killed him," the faunus told her lover. "No one would blame you."

"But we have to be better." Phoenix spoke. "Though, we can scare them at least."

Ruby chuckled softly. "That's right, Nix… You're a good boy."

"Momma…" Phoenix spoke slowly. "Your side…"

Blake was reminded of Ruby's injury. "Oum, Ruby, why are you walking around like that!?"

"I'm fine." Ruby responded weakly. "It stopped hurting…" That was the moment Ruby's adrenaline died and she began to keel over.

"That's blood-loss you idiot!" Was the last thing Ruby heard before she passed out.


Yang and Phoenix stood in the waiting room of Vacuo's premier hospital. Ruby was still under the knife as far as they knew. The situation was tense. Phoenix kept rubbing his own bandages on his arms and jaw. His newfound aura wasn't able to work on his injuries for long before his semblance drained it all, and the doctors guaranteed he would have scarring for the rest of his life. The mood of the room was palpable, and Blake knew it the second she entered the waiting room herself, rubbing the bandages on her own shoulder.

Luckily, relief would come quickly. The doctor entered the room and looked upon the three with kind eyes. "We were able to stabilize her. With her aura helping her, she should make a complete recovery. Other than adding another scar to an already impressive list, she should be able to resume hunting in a short couple of months."

"Oh, thank god!" Yang exclaimed, a smile breaking over her face. It was finally over.

Phoenix bounced in his seat. "Can I see her!"

"Of course, just don't break her stiches." The Doctor warned.

"Let's go, little guy!" Yang exclaimed, leading Phoenix by his hand.

Blake moved quickly next to the pair, stopping them with a soft hand. "Wait, Yang… can I… bring him to her?"

Yang raised a curious eyebrow. "Why for, partner?"

Blake smiled. Yang's casual use of the old phrase was a good sign. "I told her back in the cave that I would bring Phoenix back to her." The faunus twiddled her fingers nervously. "I kind of want to keep that promise."

Yang considered things. Phoenix, however, already decided. "I want Blake to bring me to momma." He told his aunt with a smile.

Yang suppressed a giggle. "You're a little shipper, aren't you?"

"A what?" Phoenix asked.

"Nothing, I'll tell you later." Yang let go of Phoenix's hand so he could grab Blake's. "Go on, you two. I'll be along in a minute."

Blake proceeded slowly through the patient wing, hand in hand with little Phoenix. Ruby was staring at her scroll, watching a news report.

"We won't be making the same mistakes twice." The Valen police chief promised on the air. "Adam Taurus will be going into a very deep, very dark hole. We are triple checking all guards for White Fang backgrounds, and expanding that check to include family and friends. For the most part, only human guards will be permanently stationed. Adam's experience with psychological warfare makes using faunus guards too risky. And at the request of a Huntsmen, who wishes to remain unnamed, who had a history with the man, he will never be allowed visitors. We won't ever see Adam Taurus free again."

Ruby smiled at the report. It's all over now… and I bet that 'huntsmen' was actually a 'huntress'. She felt visitors approaching and raised her head to see them. Blake was being led by Phoenix straight to her bed. The faunus dared to speak, "I told you I'd bring him back to you."

"Momma!" Phoenix shouted, climbing up into his mother's bed and hugging her tight.

"OW OW, MY STICHES!" Ruby tensed.

Phoenix jumped back. "I'm sorry!"

"It's okay, Nix." Ruby promised. "Just be careful."

They embraced once more, this time avoiding Ruby's wound. "I missed you so much Phoenix…" She ruffled his hair. She froze. "What happened to your hair!?"

Phoenix nearly forgot himself until Ruby said something. His hair, instead of resembling his mother's dark red, was now a brighter red with the tips fading into orange. "Oh, yeah… apparently it's been like that since…"

"Your semblance." Ruby guessed. "An officer was in here before they let me have visitors. They filled me in on everything." She hugged Phoenix close again. "I'm so sorry that… that… That it wasn't me who unlocked your aura." Was how she decided to word it.

Phoenix nodded, knowing what his mother truly meant. "It's okay, momma."

She looked over her son, noticing the bandages. She knew what was underneath, why they were necessary. She also noticed something else changed by his aura and semblance unlock. His eyes, while still mostly silver, now had a small ring of bright orange at the very inside of his irises, right against his pupils. "I'm sorry this happened to you."

"It's okay momma." Phoenix assured her. "It's all done now. And I'm stronger for it!"

Ruby smiled at her son's continued optimism.

"He's a lot like you." Blake noted, reminding Ruby that she was in the room.

Ruby knew she had to speak to Blake, sooner rather than later. "Hey, Nix? Go find Aunt Yang. Grab me something from the vending machines, kay? A soda, please."

Nix nodded with a knowing grin and left Blake and Ruby alone. Blake opened her mouth first. "I'm so sorry for everything, Ruby. I messed up big when I told Adam, I know I did… I never imagined he would do this, that he could do this-"

"Blake." Ruby grabbed her hand. "I thought a lot about this, the past week. I know your relationship with Adam was complicated. I can understand why you might need some sort of closure after everything. You still didn't need to tell him about Phoenix."

"I'm so sorry…" Blake's face fell.

"I'm not done." Ruby squeezed Blake's hand. "Like I told Phoenix, the officer told me everything that happened. Everything. I know you jumped in front of Adam's bullet for Phoenix. Without even thinking, you even forgot to raise your aura. And that means something, Blake. Means a lot, in fact."

Blake's heart felt hopeful. "So… it's not too late for your perfect fantasy, is it…? You, me, and Phoenix? A family?"

Ruby sighed. "I know the family bit may take some getting used to. It may take a while for all of us to find the proper dynamics. I don't want to rush you if you're not-"

"Just kiss already!"

Blake and Ruby's heads both spun towards the voice, where bright red hair and horns were only visible for an instant before a leather clad arm pulled it behind an unused bed and out of sight.

"Was that Yang or-" Blake asked.

"Phoenix." Ruby answered, a smile playing across her lips.

The smile made Blake blush madly. "What… are you thinking?"

"Well…" Ruby giggled. "You heard the little-man."

Blake was very pleasantly surprised to be pulled into a kiss by Ruby Rose, and returned it with fervor. When they finally broke off, Blake's smile couldn't be killed. "I'm ready for this. We'll figure it all out together. I love you, Ruby Rose."

"I love you too, Blake Belladonna." The young mother smiled back.

"Yay!" Phoenix shouted, running across the hall toward the pair. She jumped in Ruby's lap and pulled his mother in with one arm. "Momma!" With his other arm, he pulled Blake into the group hug. "Mommy!"

Ruby giggled, wrapping her arms around her two favorite people. "Mommy, huh?"

"Well," Blake responded with a smile, adding both of her own arms into the embrace. "You heard the little man."

Yang watched from nearby and smiled. The perfect little family for her little sister had formed before her very eyes, after far too much turmoil and drama in the blonde's own opinion. She turned and walked out of the ward, letting them have their moment. She could talk to them tomorrow.

Tomorrow and every day after that.


The End

Thank you to everyone who followed this story from the beginning, and everyone who picked it up and fell in love with it along the way. Please leave a Review with your final, overall thoughts on the story, and if you have an idea on what kind of story you would like to see me tackle in the future, don't be afraid to tell me. I'll see you all next time!

- VengfulFate

PS – Phoenix's semblance has an official name: 'Guardian Spirit'