Chapter 42

My Sister's Keeper


Towering high above Beacon Academy from atop one of the school's many spires, Ruby sat huddled in her cloak, careful not to open it even the slightest or else risk being turned into a human-sail and carried across campus. After such an exhaustive day it was difficult for her to maintain an aura shield without concentrating, and so to keep warm she'd occasionally activate her semblance and run a marathon in the blink of an eye, but only ever out of instinct as her mind was currently far away in the mountains of her childhood.

To her right were the bright lights of The City of Vale, still grieving from the terrorist attack from the month prior, but recovered enough for civilians to at least pretend everything was back to normal, at least while the bars and nightclubs were open. As her Uncle Qrow always said, sometimes it took a black eye to see the world more clearly, but never before now had Ruby fully understood what he meant.

She wasn't there to see The Melting Pot of Remnant however, nor even the school of her dreams. The Emerald Tower was shining brightly tonight, rivaled only by the CCT across the city which no longer caused her to flinch whenever she caught sight of it. If she had come to see the Isle of Patch she would've been out of luck as it was difficult to see the island from Beacon at the best of times, but due to the thick fog covering the channel, all she could see was a dull light from Signal's tower, which to the untrained eye would have been easy to mistaken for a ship or bullhead.

The only thing that had interested her for longer than a quick glance had been The Arcadia floating in the lake far below, but even that hadn't held her attention for long. Instead her eyes had been hypnotized by the one view she had shared with her mother that hadn't changed in the years since they were last together. The shattered moon, which her mom had once said represented herself and Ruby just as much as the sun represented her father and sister.

She and her mother had spent countless nights staring at the moon and stars, far away from light pollution and even closer to the sky than she was now. When the moon was full it had almost seemed close enough to take a bite out of, which was just one of the many stories her mother had told her as to why the moon appeared the way it did. Every night Ruby would ask why the moon had shattered, and every time her mom would have a different story for her, along with a whole host of characters that Ruby remembered to this day.

Ruby loved such stories even if they were childish nonsense. They were the best kinds of stories as far as she was concerned, but now she couldn't help but wonder just how many of her mom's tall-tales and ridiculous stories might've actually been true.

Childishly, she reached for the moon just to see if she could reach it before retreating back underneath her cloak, her unfocused eyes staring at the campus below. Perhaps even more than just wanting to feel closer to her mom, Ruby had wanted to be alone with her thoughts, and figured her teammates would want the same. Especially Weiss...

Although Ruby was sitting atop the world at the only place she had ever wanted to be, mentally she was deep in the mountains of Patchwork. Whenever she had needed a quiet place to think or cry, the mountains of her childhood had never been more than a few minutes away. She had even built a secret workshop in an alcove and would occasionally stay there when she didn't feel like coming home after school, telling her dad and sister that she was staying overnight with a friend, which she only now realized had been the most ridiculous lie she could've told.

There were many things in the world Ruby didn't understand, and sometimes she just needed to surround herself with the few things she did. Machines weren't complicated, and what couldn't be fixed could always be recycled or repurposed. People were different however. She didn't understand how people could hate one another, especially for trivial reasons like having an extra pair of ears or because of who their parents just so happened to be. For many years Ruby struggled to understand why she always seemed to rub people the wrong way, but after a while had just accepted that she just wasn't personable like her sister, and also didn't have the same charms as her mother.

When Ruby was told that she rambled too much she'd make a conscious effort to try talking less, and when she was told she was too loud and energetic she'd try dialing back on the caffeine and energy drinks, but this usually just exacerbated matters. She struggled catching even the most obvious of social cues, such as when someone was politely asking her to go away, and she found that she just didn't have the same interests and motivations as most people her age, especially civilians but particularly other girls. Even in a room full of other huntsmen and huntresses in-training, Ruby was sure to stand out and somehow always made a fool of herself if given enough time.

Yang had always been her saving grace when it came to having to deal with other people. She was the social butterfly that everyone seemed to love or at least respect, and had never met a stranger she didn't immediately become fast friends with. Ruby had no disillusions that her friends back at Signal had in reality been Yang's friends that simply tolerated her. If not for Yang, Ruby very much doubted she would've ever survived the daily social interactions necessary for attending a combat school, especially one as lively as the party capital of Vale. Much less the past eight years without her mom...

Ruby sniffled, confused and more than a little hurt, and wishing she had gotten the restful night sleep that Professor Ozpin had suggested. "I wish you were here, Mom," she rasped. "I don't know what to do. Nothing I do ever seems to work out like it's supposed to. Getting your aura back was supposed to fix everything, but all it did was make everything worse..."

*sniff*

"I know I shouldn't say this, but sometimes I really wish you hadn't saved me, Mom. Everything would be a lot simpler if you hadn't..." Ruby wiped her eyes, trying to imagine what comforting words her mom would say, and pretending the rose scented aura in the air belonged to someone else. "I know, I know, and I'm sorry. If I'm still alive it means I must be here for a reason, and that it's up to me to make the most of it. You taught me that. I just really wish you were here, Mom. I wish I could hear your voice like I did with Weiss and Penny, but now I'm not even sure if that was real or just a memory. I'd trade Crescent Rose if it meant getting to see and talk to you again. Just don't tell her I said that..."

Hearing familiar stomps and cursing down below, Ruby went to work removing any trace of her tears before the huffing and puffing could get too near.

"Sorry I'm late," Yang gasped, crawling atop the turret, "but next time you wanna talk, pick someplace with fewer stairs and ladders. Holy crap, I think I might be having a heart attack."

She rolled over onto her back on the slanted roof, hair sticking to the sides of her face while breathing rapidly. Ruby watched her impassively as if trying to decide whether it was another act or not, and finally Yang sat up, leaving a sweat stain where she'd been laying.

Scooting across the slanted roof she took a precarious seat beside her sister, letting her long legs and bare feet dangle a hundred feet below. "Is that what I think it is?" Ruby asked, pointing at the manila envelope shoved into her sister's ammo belt.

Yang glanced down and looked as though she were about to reach for it before awkwardly brushing her hair back. "Yep. Turns out Weiss was right this entire time. Your test results came back positive. I'm sorry that I have to be the one to break this to you, Rubes, but you're a dolt, and the doctors say the damage is permanent. I already broke the news to Zwei, and he was almost as devastated as your stuffed animals. Do you wanna tell your rubber ducky, or should I?"

Ruby didn't respond, merely continued staring at the envelope, prompting Yang to sigh and nudge her sister out of her trance. "Yeah, they're those papers. I had to contact Signal over a secure line to get them, which you owe me for since it meant sneaking into the library hoping nobody saw me."

Yang shuddered at the thought of her classmates catching her entering the library without being dragged against her will. She had a reputation and an image to uphold after all, and her one saving grace had been that nobody would've believed she'd be in the library for any other reason than to illegally download videos, or since she was already in what constituted as a normal person's undergarments, meeting someone for some late night studying.

Ruby remained quiet despite another playful nudge, her eyes still focused on the unassuming envelope, and Yang took the time to study her sister and the woman she reminded her of. "I guess I could've just paid an info broker to get them instead," she said humorlessly. "You wouldn't happen to know the going rate for a huntress in-training's personal records, would you?"

Ruby shrugged. "I think it was two hundred lien upfront," she said, "but I never got around to paying the rest. I take it you finding me means the tracking device works?"

"Oh, you know about that?" Somewhat sheepishly Yang began playing with her hair which the wind was currently making a mess of.

"You've been talking about getting me chipped like Zwei ever since the mission, and I put two and two together when we all woke up sore the morning after your birthday." She took a deep breath and laid a hand on the envelope. "Do these include my medical records? My real medical records?"

Yang nodded and hesitantly reached for the envelope before changing her mind and scooting closer, expanding her aura to shield them both from the bitter wind and morning chill. "I'm sorry it had to come to this, Rubes," she said, wrapping an arm around her. "I knew you were upset last summer, but I didn't realize just how badly we'd screwed up. The lies, the secrets, and keeping you in the dark all the time."

Ruby laid her head against her shoulder. "I'm sorry too, Sis..."

"I just want you to know that I love you, Rubes. I love you with all my heart, and so do Dad and Uncle Qrow. I swear we never meant to hurt you. We just thought that the truth would hurt even more, and that remembering Patchwork might be too much for you. Nobody should have those kinds of memories, and we were afraid that remembering might cause your scars to reappear, o-or worse." She was quiet for a moment, recalling her sister's hallucinations and screams in the training hall. "I don't think you realize just how much we rely on you, Sis. You kept us together as a family after my mom died, and you did it again after we lost Summer. In a lot of ways you're still keeping us together..."

The two remained silent as their auras danced around each other, a brief conversation taking place before Ruby's retreated back within herself and she cleared her throat. "I know why you lied, and I understand," she said. "To be honest I wish I didn't remember and didn't know the truth, but I do, and there's no going back now."

Yang sniffled and pretended to have something in her eye. "Yeah, I know. Where do you wanna start?"

Ruby took a deep breath, and a moment later turned and gave a wry smile. "How about we start with your drinking."

"Uh-uh." Yang shook her head. "This isn't about me, and I didn't come all this way for an intervention or-"

"This is about both of us," Ruby interrupted, her voice and expression softening once she made it clear she wasn't in the mood to argue. "And this is more important than my personal records or anything else I have to say or ask." She grabbed her sister's hand and squeezed. "Tell me the truth, Yang. When's the last time you went a day without a drink? Or didn't need one to help you fall asleep at night?"

"I'm not turning into Uncle Qrow," Yang snapped. Once her indignation passed she looked away and hid her face beneath her untamed mane. "It's been awhile..." she admitted a moment later.

"Because of your semblance, or because you've been worried about me?"

Yang took a series of deep breaths and turned back around, her eyes twinkling like her sister's. "Of course I've been worried about you. I'm always gonna worry about you, Sis. You're my baby sister, and it's my job to take care of you. A-and I haven't exactly done a good job of it lately..."

"Yes you have." Ruby gave her a hug but knowing her sister, pulled away before the subject could be changed. "None of this is your fault, so no more blaming yourself. Or punishing yourself for that matter."

Yang's lip twitched but otherwise didn't react or respond. "It's just been hard to control my semblance lately," she said, turning away again. "You and Blake help, and Weiss more than she knows, but I just need something to take the edge off sometimes. I hate walking around with red eyes and steam coming out my ears about as much as you three hate walking around on eggshells, afraid I'm gonna bite your heads off and throw somebody out the window again."

Ruby chuckled. "This has a lot more to do with me than you're willing to admit, huh?" Ruby didn't wait for a response as she doubted her sister was going to be truthful anyway, and snuggled closer due to Yang having scooted away. "I love you, Sis, and it's not like I'm asking you to stop drinking completely. I just don't want you depending on it like Uncle Qrow. Next time you need a drink, how about you give me a hug instead? We can go somewhere quiet to talk if you want, or we can go burn off steam in the training hall. How does that sound?"

"I could go for a drink right now actually..."

Without hesitation Ruby wrapped her arms around her sister and squeezed, catching Yang momentarily off guard, but almost immediately she began hugging her back. They embraced one another for several minutes, and Ruby opened her cloak to wrap it around them both.

"You know one of these days my eyes are gonna turn red and stay red, right?" Yang asked, her face buried in her sister's hair just as Ruby's was buried in her own. "It happened to my mom when she was about your age, and to Uncle Qrow when he was about mine."

"But that doesn't mean it'll happen to you," Ruby countered. "Even if it does, we'll deal with it together as a family and as a team. You'll have me, Blake, and Weiss to help you through it, and maybe when you start soul diving with Blake, it'll help take the edge off like it did for your mom."

"Either that or Blake and her shadow are gonna have red eyes too," she said humorlessly, shaking her head. "Besides, she and I are still a long way from sharing memories with each other, much less our full souls. Most of the time what she shares are just the residual thoughts and emotions, and she's pretty careful about filtering everything before it gets to me. We haven't quite caught up to you and Weiss."

She gave her sister a crooked grin and Ruby smiled sheepishly back at her, unsurprised that Yang already knew about her and Weiss' recent milestone as huntress partners. "We've come a long way since initiation," she admitted, both to Yang and herself. "We may even be the first in the class to perform a soul dive even if it was mostly one way, but Blake will be ready before you know it, Sis. And since her shadow is a manifestation of her aura, maybe Blake could even manifest your aura in another body so that your semblance is more spread out. Uncle Qrow told me once that Mom could do something similar with glyphs for him and your mom, and maybe Weiss could learn how to transfer aura like she did. All I'm saying is that you're not alone in this, and that we'll do everything we can to help if the time comes."

Yang didn't respond, but as Ruby hummed a soft tune and played with her hair, if she tried hard enough she could almost pretend she was with her stepmom again, and badly wanted to lay her head in her lap and hear Summer tell her that-

"Everything's gonna be alright, Yang," a voice said. Yang closed her eyes tight but couldn't quite keep herself from crying, and took deep, irregular breaths while holding on to her sister.

"I'm not gonna make a promise I know I can't keep," she said finally. "Every huntsman has their vices, and I've got more than my fair share, but I'll take you up on your offer of free hugs. I know my powers are only going to keep getting stronger, but I'm already stretched to my limit as it is, Sis. I'll talk to Weiss about transference glyphs, but I'm not gonna push Blake to share anymore of her aura with me. I'm also not gonna ask any of you to be my sparring partner, other than maybe Pyrrha. I get the feeling Glynda's gonna pair us up after the tournament anyway. I can't make any promises, but I'll at least try and make more of an effort than I have been. Fair?"

"Fair," Ruby agreed, giving her another hug. "That's all I wanted to hear. That and that you know you're not gonna go through this alone."

Yang nodded and held her tight. "I know, but when you're as stubborn as I am, you sometimes need to be reminded. I don't need to tell any of you that I love you for you to know it, much less every day and before bedtime. It's just a sort of reminder, and it just feels good to say, you know?"

Ruby nodded, knowing exactly what she meant. "We love you too, Sis."

When they finally separated both girls were drying their eyes but their smiles remained and they couldn't help giggling whenever they caught the other staring. After a few minutes however Yang's smile began appearing more forced, and she awkwardly cleared her throat. "Now that we've got that out of the way, where do you wanna start? Pretty much everything you'd probably want to know is in these reports, but you've got to read between the lines most of the time. If you want, you can read them yourself and I can fill in the gaps."

Ruby glanced at the envelope but quickly shook her head. "I said I wanted to talk, and you promised we would. How about we start with the Maidens. Mom was the Spring Maiden, wasn't she? And also a descendent of both the original Summer Maiden and the royal house of Vacuo."

Yang's expression soured as though she suddenly had a change of heart but eventually she nodded. "My mom was the Spring Maiden before her, but only for about a year. I'm not a direct descendant of a Maiden like you, but I've still got Lionheart blood in my veins and that counts for something, I guess. Not long after I was born, it was decided that I'd inherit her powers once I was old enough, but when Mom died on a mission, Summer tried saving her and wound up inheriting a fraction of her powers. Where the rest of the Spring Maiden powers went nobody knows, probably to some poor sap minding their own business, but when Summer died, you inherited her portion. Along with her aura..."

Ruby nodded having already surmised or guessed as much, and held her sister's hand knowing what she was about to say was going to hurt. "Yang, I know what happened in Patchwork so you don't have to keep pretending. Mom didn't transfer the Maiden powers or her aura to me after she died. I'm the one who was killed by Beowolves, and she transferred both her powers and her soul to try and bring me back to life."

Yang flinched as though she'd just been struck, and shut her eyes tightly.

"It's okay, Sis." Ruby hugged her tightly. "I'm still here."

A few sobs escaped and Yang shook her head. "So would Summer if I-I-" She trailed off only for Ruby to interrupt.

"There wasn't anything you could've done, Yang. You weren't even ten-years-old yet. If you'd been there you would've died too, or at the very least one of us would've. Mom couldn't bring me back to life and protect you at the same time, which means she would've had to choose one of us over the other, and no mom should ever have to choose between her kids."

"I should've been there," she hissed, punching herself in the leg. "Ruby, I've never told you this, but-"

She trailed off again, and Ruby brushed her sister's hair back in order to look her in the face. "Yang, I already know about you pretending to be sick in order to go home early."

Yang stared at her wide eyed, but before she could begin apologizing, Ruby continued with a comforting smile and flare of aura. "It wasn't the first time you'd gotten sick after a fight with Mom, or asked Dad to come get you a day or two early. Back then I didn't really understand why you always fought with Mom, but now I do. It's not that you didn't love her, it's just that she was a reminder of what happened to your mom, and also what you lost when she took me to Patchwork and left you and Dad at Signal."

"I still shouldn't have said all those horrible things." Yang shook her head and Ruby grabbed her other hand before she could even think about punching herself again. "I can't take any of it back now, and I still should've been there for you."

Ruby's smile grew and she shook her head. "If you were supposed to have been in Patchwork you would've been there, Sis, and you've been here for me ever since. Mom loved you just as much as she loved me, and you were just a kid when you were saying those things. You and I knew even back then you didn't mean it, and so did she. You were going through a really tough time, and it didn't exactly get any easier..."

Yang nodded in agreement but still couldn't meet her sister in the eye. "Still doesn't make it right."

"Maybe not-" Ruby shrugged- "and maybe Mom was upset by some of the things you said, but all it did was make her want to make it up to you. She was never mad at you so stop being mad at yourself, and stop punishing yourself while you're at it. Just because you're indestructible doesn't mean you should let yourself be everyone's punching bag."

Yang couldn't help but grin. "Why do I get the feeling this talk is more about me than it is you?"

Ruby smiled back at her. "Because even though it's been hard, I've been able to move on, especially now that I know the truth about everything. You've had secrets and guilt hanging over you all these years, and you were too busy taking care of me, Dad, and Uncle Qrow to really take care of yourself. Maybe if you had come to Beacon by yourself or not had your kid sister tagging along all the time back at Signal you would've moved on by now..."

"A part of me was looking forward to it," she admitted quietly, "but to be honest, me and lack of responsibility don't exactly go well together." Yang gave a sly grin that quickly turned into something more sheepish as emotions began bubbling to the surface of her aura. "Trouble finds me almost as often as I find it, and I'd still worry myself sick if you were back at Signal without me. I-I'm really not as independent as I pretend, Sis. I don't do well on my own, just like Dad doesn't, and I'm more selfish than you think. I needed my baby sister to come and keep an eye on me, and also to help me move on like her."

Yang closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and when she reopened them she smirked at her sister. "Thanks, for always taking care of me, Sis." Ruby nodded but by her expression it was clear she thought it was the other way around, and seemed to only be humoring her big sister. For ever so briefly however, her eyes lit up a shade of silver Yang thought she recognized.

"I promise I'll take better care of myself," she whispered, just loud enough for her to hear. Ruby stared at her momentarily confused, but her eyes flickered as though satisfied to have finally received a response.

"You know," Ruby drawled, "if the stories are true about the Spring Maiden's powers having a calming effect on their host, then you really oughta be the one with them, not me. After all, you were supposed to inherit them anyway, and you're the one with Lionheart blood."

"You're a Xiao Long too, Sis," Yang reminded. "The powers just don't resonate with you because you didn't inherit Dad's aura like I did." Ruby smiled at her but didn't say anything. "And you've probably realized this by now, but you can't transfer those powers without repercussions."

Ruby almost snorted. There was no way her sister could've known what happened between her and Penny, and figured she must've been speaking of her scars returning and her hallucinations in the training hall. "So I'm the Spring Maiden," she said quietly, nodding as if finally accepting the truth. "What does that mean exactly? In all the stories, Spring could heal people and bring plants back to life. What can I do exactly?"

Yang laid a hand atop her shoulder and met her in the eyes. "Ruby, I want you to promise me that you'll never try to unlock or use your powers."

"W-why?"

"Because they're dormant for a reason. Maiden powers when they're not complete sometimes drive their host insane. They'll control you worse than my semblance does me, and they won't stop until they're whole again. That's not the part that scares me most though, because the truth is-" She sniffled and held her baby sister close. "The truth is you probably wouldn't even get the chance to lose control. Summer didn't go insane and I don't believe you would either, but-"

"-but they're all that's keeping me alive," Ruby finished.

Yang nodded. "You figured that out too, huh?"

"Not all at once. Mostly just bits and pieces at a time. When my scars started reappearing I slowly started remembering Patchwork, a-and what the Grimm did to me. I've always had nightmares of Beowolves, but I finally realized they weren't just nightmares. They were memories, and some of them were even Mom's." She swallowed and took a series of deep breaths to try and steady herself. "I remember holding my body and performing some kind of ceremony. Mom didn't just bring me back to life. She traded her life for mine..."

Ruby let out a miserable sob and buried her face in her sister's shoulder. Yang sniffled but did her best to remain strong, and kissed her atop the head. "I'm sorry, Rubes. I'm sorry about everything."

"I shouldn't be here!" Ruby yelled, headbutting her shoulder. "It's no wonder I never feel like I belong! I shouldn't even be alive!"

Without warning Yang grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. "Don't you say that! Don't you ever say that again! You hear me? And don't you dare think for one second that you belong anywhere else but right here beside me!"

Ruby tried creating space between them but Yang's grip was too strong. Reluctantly she looked up and saw her sister's eyes had a shade of red to them, and that tears were streaming down her cheeks. Absently Ruby reached up to wipe one. "Yang, what my mom did was wrong and you know it. If she hadn't been selfish, nearly a hundred people would still be alive, a-and you'd still have a mom..."

"But I wouldn't have you," her voice cracked, holding Ruby tightly as if afraid to let go. "I wasn't lying when I said you're the best thing to ever happen to this family, Rubes. I loved Summer, but I know myself well enough to know that if you had died instead of her, I would've never forgiven her. I would've resented her and the rest of Patchwork for the rest of my life, and I would've probably gotten myself killed when I started doing extermination missions at Signal. Summer would've lost me the moment they told me you were dead, and I don't even want to think about what would've happened to Dad and Uncle Qrow. I know it may not seem like it, Rubes, but Summer did more than just save your life. She saved me, Dad, and Uncle Qrow too. She saved our whole family..."

Ruby continued crying but stopped struggling and embraced her sister again, and almost immediately the crimson in Yang's eyes disappeared, the only redness remaining being from shed tears. Realizing Yang was crying even harder than herself, Ruby began rubbing circles in her back and playing with her hair just the way she liked.

"It was still wrong," she croaked. "And it doesn't excuse all the innocent people she should've saved. Maybe it has to do with who I'm descended from, but I know in my heart that I shouldn't be here, Sis." After a few more sobs from her sister, she looked up and smiled. "But I am, and I don't plan on changing that anytime soon."

Yang sniffled and hugged her closer. "You better not. Otherwise I'll be the one who brings you back, kicking and screaming if I have to."

Ruby chuckled and after one last squeeze Yang finally released her. "You probably already know this, but Mom told me her real name when she brought me back. Marian Calavera."

"Marian," Yang beamed. "That's a pretty name, and no, I never knew her real name."

"According to some of Weiss' books it's an old family name," Ruby explained. "It means love, or star of the sea."

Yang laughed. "Star of the sea? In a kingdom that's mostly desert?"

Ruby elbowed her in the ribs. "Vacuo isn't all desert," she said, offended on behalf of her native land. "You've been to enough Vacuoan beaches to know that, and the royal palace was built by the sea. Besides, I think her name meaning love is perfect."

"It is perfect," Yang agreed, "but you still can't tell anyone her name, Rubes. Not even Weiss. It's too dangerous."

"I know, but Mom never talked much about her life before moving in with Great Grandmother Rose. I knew that she had walked from the badlands of Vacuo all the way to Vale, but it wasn't until a few years ago I found out she was only fourteen at the time. Do you know if I have any family out there? I know in the stories that The Transient Princess isn't supposed to have any family, but they're just fairy tales. The Calaveras can't all be gone, can they? And who's the Summer Maiden?"

Yang shook her head. "I don't know, Sis. The current Summer Maiden is supposed to be in hiding somewhere, but that's all I know. I don't know if you have any relatives besides distant cousins, but if you do they're probably in hiding just like you and Summer. Basically think of yourself as having been in witness protection all these years without even realizing it. Witless protection I guess you could say."

"Do you know where any of the other Maidens are? Or who they are?"

Her sister frowned and ran a hand through her hair. "I don't know about Spring or Summer, but you can probably guess which family Winter belongs to." She gave a knowing look and Ruby nodded, having guessed as much since learning of the Maidens' existence. "As for Fall-" Yang paused and swallowed, choosing her words carefully- "someone tried killing her recently, and they wound up stealing a portion of her powers..."

"Stolen! How? In the fairy tale, the Fall Maiden is supposed to be the strongest! And how do you just steal a Maiden's powers?"

Yang remained quiet for a moment, biting her lip in thought. "I don't know the full story, Sis. I've had to piece a lot of this together myself just like you. Whatever's going on is bigger than you or me, which is why we're staying out of it. Got it?"

"Do we know who stole her powers?" Ruby asked, ignoring her sister's warning. Yang's aura brightened before quickly dimming again, and Ruby slowly nodded. "I've met her before, haven't I?"

Yang shut her eyes and took a deep breath. "I only found out for sure a couple weeks ago. The same woman who fought Glynda and attacked you atop the CCT, is the same woman who stole A-" she caught herself and cleared her throat- "Autumn's powers."

"I knew it..."

Yang sighed with relief when her sister turned away with a clenched fist. Although she felt guilty for not telling Ruby the truth about Amber, she also felt that her former training partner would've wanted it this way, but especially their dad and uncle. The situation had already grown exceedingly personal, with Ruby having crossed paths with the so-called Queen of Vale twice and miraculously surviving both times. She didn't need to know that the woman had also put Amber into a coma as well, especially when there wasn't anything Ruby could do about it.

She also didn't need to know why exactly Amber had harbored a grudge against her mom for so many years. Prior to retiring, Summer had been the guardian of the previous Fall Maiden, Amber's mother, and it had taken her years after waking up in the middle of the night and inheriting her powers for Amber to forgive Summer for her mother's death. Not helped was losing her grandparents in Patchwork and knowing the truth about what Summer had done...

Yang knew that Amber's anger had only been out of grief, and eventually she and Ruby did become friends even if they didn't spend much time together, but where Amber was concerned, Yang felt that was her responsibility, not Ruby's, or anyone else's for that matter.

"I knew there was something different about her," Ruby murmured, causing Yang to come to her senses again. "If I'd known that I was the Spring Maiden, maybe I could've-"

"Could've what?" Yang interrupted, not liking where this train of thought was heading. "Sacrificed yourself like Summer? Ruby, you have a fraction of the Spring Maiden's powers, and they're all that's keeping you alive right now." She lowered her voice and brought their foreheads together. "Ruby, if I told you that you have the power to heal people, possibly even bring them back from the brink of death but it'd mean dying or going insane, what would you do?"

"Do everything in my power to save them," she said without hesitation

"Exactly." Yang gave her a proud albeit sad smile. "Now listen, Summer sacrificed herself to save you. She-"

"-she shouldn't have done that."

"Don't-" Yang held up a finger. "Don't make me choose between you and her, Rubes. She gave her life to save you, nobody else, and there isn't anything you can do to change that. It was her choice, and right or wrong, I'm glad it's the one she made. I'd do the same thing in her position."

Ruby grabbed her hand and squeezed. "I know you would, but if the time comes I hope you won't. I don't think I could live with anyone else dying because of me..."

She shook her head and shut her eyes, prompting Yang to snuggle closer. "I know it wouldn't be easy," she whispered, "but you'd keep going, Sis. You'd eventually move on and remember how to be happy again. The past eight years is proof of that, and believe it or not, we all see you as the strong one in the family."

Ruby snorted and wiped her eyes, barely able to contain her incredulous smile. "Bull."

"It's true. You've been keeping this all bottled up for weeks, months, maybe even years. The rest of us would've exploded by now, and occasionally we have. I know it'd hurt like hell losing me, but you'd move on with your life. Not me. I wouldn't be able to live without you, Sis..."

Ruby continued wiping her eyes but her smile became more genuine as she leaned into her sister's embrace. "Now that we're teammates, we'll never have to worry about being apart," she said. "A part of me will always be with you even if I'm gone."

Yang laughed and hugged her tighter, sharing her aura as much as she dared. "I know, but losing you is still my worst nightmare. If it came down to saving either you or an entire village from Grimm, I wouldn't even hesitate breaking every huntress vow I've ever made, Sis. And even though it'd break your heart, put in the same position, you'd choose them over me because that's what a huntress is supposed to do. And I just want you to know how proud I am of you. Don't ever let me slow you down or get in the way of you being the huntress that you are. I love you, and if the worst happens, I'll be waiting for you with Mom and Summer in a place that's a hell of a lot better than Remnant."

*sniff*

Ruby tried to speak but all that came out were sobs and whimpers.

"I love you too," Yang translated. "You're here training to be a huntress for all the right reasons. I'm just here because I happen to be good at killing Grimm and want to get paid for it. I wanna see the world and live life to the fullest, fast and loud, experiencing everything there is to experience." She sighed and seemed to get goosebumps just relishing the thought. "Life's too short to live and die with regrets, and I already know mine's gonna be cut short someday. One day I'm gonna run into a Grimm that's even tougher and meaner than I am, and that'll be that. But I'll die knowing that I saw more of the world than most people ever dream of seeing, and that I sure as hell lived more than they did."

Ruby elbowed her as if to create separation but instead scooted even closer. "I hate it when you talk like that," she said. "You're here for the right reasons too, Yang. Everybody says my mom was a real huntress, but she called it quits before her first tour was even over. You wanna make the world a better place just as much as I do. As cynical as Uncle Qrow can be, he still goes on missions and risks his life everyday because he wants to make sure kids can grow up happy. I'm not special, and my mom should've been kicked out of The Huntsmen for doing what she did."

"You're special if I say you are, and I say you are." Yang smirked as if an older sister's proclamation was all she needed to make it official. "Maybe Summer should've been posthumously dismissed instead of reinstated, but from where I'm sitting, I don't really care."

The two were quiet as they embraced one another, occasionally sniffling and giggling, but eventually Ruby pulled away, struggling to look her sister in the eye. "Yang, if I retire someday, it'll be because I'm forced to retire, not because I chose to. For you, being a huntress is just a detour before starting a family. I know that's what you really want, and if you found the right person to settle down with you'd happily retire without finishing a single tour, maybe even before you graduated. All I want to do is kill Grimm, and I honestly can't imagine doing anything else. Even if my license was revoked, I'd still find a way to be on the front lines."

Yang smiled and shook her head. "I'm pretty sure Summer said the same thing, and she didn't think she'd ever have kids either."

"That's according to Dad and Uncle Qrow, and I don't fully trust any of you right now." She gave her sister a sideways smile, letting her know that she was only partially teasing. "I don't think it was me being born that made her want to retire from being a huntress. At least not entirely. I think it was losing your mom that made her want to quit. You've said so yourself, Mom's powers were never the same after she lost Raven, and knowing what I know now, I think my mom was more just along for the ride than you give her credit for."

"If that's the case then maybe you just haven't found the right person or your true calling yet. You're still only fifteen, Sis. It may not sound like a long time, but a lot's happened in my life the past two and a half years. Maybe it'll be the same for you. Maybe you'll even find that special someone to settle down with..."

Ruby bobbed her head side to side, neither confirming nor denying what she was hinting at. "Yang, two and a half years from now we'll be starting our senior year. I'll be the age you are now when I'm a certified huntress. If I live that long..."

"Hey!" Yang nearly knocked her off the roof with an elbow. "Leave the pessimism to Blake and Weiss. You're a hell of a huntress, Sis, and I'm not gonna let anything happen to you."

Ruby sighed as she settled back on the rooftop with a greater appreciation for how high they currently were sitting. "Yang, I'm sorry, but you know none of us can guarantee each other's safety. I have the weakest aura shield in the class and I'm living on borrowed time as it is. I probably should've died a hundred times already, and I feel like my purpose is all that's keeping me alive right now. I first felt it atop the CCT when the Beowolf woman was about to kill me. There've been other times like with the Paladin where I thought I was going to die and just accepted it, but it was while having glass pulled out of my feet and being bedridden that it really hit me that I still have a job to do."

She paused and took a deep breath. "Before Patchwork, I think Mom was supposed to save Vale from the Fall Maiden, and now it's up to me. I've fought her twice now without even realizing it, helped stop a terrorist attack, and fought hordes of Grimm in the streets of Vale. It's all just to get me ready for next time." She nodded as if her entire life was finally beginning to make sense. "I have to save as many lives as I can, Yang. All my life I've wanted to be a huntress, but now I know what I'm supposed to do with my training. I have to make up for what Mom did, and I have to finish what she started..."

Yang played with her sister's hair as they both sat in silence, thinking about what she'd said and what it meant. Ruby felt it in her heart that she was right, and Yang's aura try as she might to control it, only reinforced her beliefs.

"You know I don't give a crap about destiny or fate," Yang said finally. "When the top of the CCT exploded and Ozpin told me you'd been in an accident, you have no idea how scared I was that I had lost you, Rubes. And when you described the woman that attacked you, I knew deep down it was the Fall Maiden, but I was just so happy you were alive I didn't really care." She scooted back over and snuggled close. "And when you were walking around a couple of days later on your feet, I wasn't all that surprised. I just thought your Maiden powers or Summer's aura were working overtime. Then after the breach I kept expecting you to miraculously bounce back again, but when you didn't and weeks passed I started getting scared that you weren't going to get better. Then Blake told me about your scars reappearing..."

She wiped her eyes and shook her head. "I know Penny has something to do with it, that she was able to fix you somehow when we went aboard The Arcadia, but I-"

"I'd be dead if it wasn't for Penny transferring my aura back to me," Ruby interrupted, knowing that her sister and teammates didn't exactly think highly of her friend.

"Then I'll be sure to thank her and give her a hug next time I see her." After a moment Yang raised her brow and looked at her sister inquisitively. "What do you mean Penny transferred your aura back to you?"

Ruby scratched the back of her neck awkwardly. "Penny's special," she said, unable to hide her grin or pink cheeks, "When I ran into her at the CCT the day we fought the Paladin, she saved me from getting run over by a truck. She skinned her hands pretty badly, and I gave her a small aura transfer to try and fix them." Her grin widened and cheeks reddened as she thought back to the moment that had started it all, and while she'd actually done it to prove to Penny that she was just as human as herself, Yang didn't need to know that, especially when her grin was even wider than her own.

"I didn't know about Mom's aura or the Maidens back then, and I accidently transferred them both to her without realizing it. A couple days later was when I was attacked atop the CCT, and Penny snuck into my hospital room and transferred some of my aura back to me." She caught her sister's eye. "Like I said, Penny's special, a-and she has a secret..."

Ruby took a breath, hoping her sister would leave well-enough alone, and was surprised when she uncharacteristically waited for her to continue. "The transfer was enough to get me through the next couple days, but it didn't take long before it began wearing off. My aura was trying to heal my injuries from the CCT, the mission, and Patchwork, and while it seemed like I was getting better sometimes, I was actually getting worse every day. I didn't want to admit it, and I didn't know of a way to get aboard the CCT and see Penny without telling anybody, but after I started hallucinating I got desperate and told Weiss what I'm telling you now. I also showed her my scars, and how they'd begun opening..."

Horror filled her sister's eyes, as well as hurt from being kept in the dark, and Ruby continued so as to not upset her sister anymore than was necessary.

"It wasn't just an aura transfer," Ruby said, her aura flaring as if on instinct. "Yang, she and I performed a soul dive just like the one I had with Weiss." Yang's eyes widened again but Ruby continued talking before she could interrupt. "Don't worry. Penny's on our side, and she already knew about the Maidens. It's just complicated, and they're her secrets, not mine..."

Yang took several deep breaths, processing that someone else in the world knew that her sister was the Spring Maiden, or had a fraction of her powers anyway, as well as just how close she had come to losing her only reason for living without even realizing it. Wordlessly she hugged Ruby and flared her aura, allowing them both to become intertwined with one another. Why Ozpin and her Uncle Qrow had suggested she take Ruby aboard The Arcadia was suddenly making more sense, and she silently swore to herself that they'd both regret keeping her in the dark about her baby sister the next time she saw them.

Once she had organized the flood of emotions and regained control over her aura, she released Ruby and beamed, deciding to focus on the here and now. "Did you give her a kiss for me?" When she didn't get an immediate response Yang grabbed hold of her sister and squeezed until her spine threatened to snap. "I'm so proud of you!"

When she finally released her, Ruby's face was a brilliant shade of purple and she took long, labored breaths as Yang began asking rapid fire questions that only a big sister could ask when Ruby raised her hands defensively. "I know performing a soul dive with someone who isn't your partner is a big deal, Sis. I'm not saying it's not, and I'm not saying that I don't love Penny. I've never met anyone like her, b-but it's just complicated, okay?"

"Does she love you back?" Yang asked, barely able to contain herself.

Ruby didn't even have to think about the question, but knowing her sister she did have to think carefully about her words. "Penny's a lot like me, Sis. She's never really thought about anything other than being a huntress, and believe it or not, neither of us are exactly normal."

Yang snorted. "Really? Hadn't noticed. Ow!"

"Penny is the most amazing person I've ever met," Ruby continued. "I don't think either of us really knows what it means to be in love, but I don't think it really matters. Just let us figure this out on our own, please? And don't tell, Weiss. She already doesn't like Penny, and I know you don't really care for her either, but she's the first person I've met that makes me feel normal. And she feels the same way..."

Yang continued grinning but made a gesture as if zipping her lips. "I make no promises," she said at last, giving her sister a playful nudge that sent them both into hysterics. When they finally settled down again Yang sighed and brushed her hair back. "I think I understand better now, Sis, but I have to ask. Why didn't you just tell me what was going on?"

Ruby smiled sheepishly. "I was scared, Sis," her voice cracked. "I didn't know what was happening to me, and even when I started figuring it out I didn't want to accept it. It wasn't until after I started hallucinating that I realized how serious my scars were, but I knew if I could just see Penny then everything would be alright. You had enough to worry about, and I thought if you knew the truth it would only make things worse..."

She wrapped her arms around her sister again but perhaps due to all the jostling, something pressed between them, and glancing down, they saw the manila envelope partially open. Ruby gazed down at it biting her lip. "Yang, do you know why I went to see the info broker in the first place? The real reason?"

"Yeah," she murmured. "I think so..."

"I was scared. You were leaving for Beacon and Uncle Qrow had already left on his mission. I know you would've only been an air taxi away, but you know how Dad and I are when we're alone together. We just don't have the same kind of relationship that you two have, and I'm not any good helping him on his off days. I was scared, mad, frustrated, and tired of all the family secrets and everyone pretending all the time. I'd already tried getting ahold of my personal records myself but I knew the moment I saw them that they'd been doctored, which only made things worse. I've always known that I was different, in more ways than one, but I just wanted to know who I am, or what I am..."

They were quiet for a few moments when Yang suddenly cleared her throat. "I thought it was weird seeing you on the shady side of town that night, but it wasn't until I talked to one of my contacts that I found out what you were up to. The night you caught us all making Schnee angels in bed and Weiss dressed as you, we'd gone to see your info broker to ask him about you."

Ruby nodded. "I kinda figured, but if you weren't gonna bring it up, neither was I. Pretending everything is normal is just something we do, huh?"

"I honestly didn't mean to invade your privacy, Sis, even though you following me to info brokers is kinda what got us into this mess." She gave a lopsided grin. "You were keeping an eye on me, and I was just returning the favor. Why didn't you ever go back and see him anyway?"

Ruby grinned back at her. "Because after Professor Ozpin invited me to Beacon, I stopped caring about answers. I was going to attend Beacon Academy, but even better I was gonna be there with my big sis. Then we met Weiss and Blake and became teammates, and eventually I just forgot. That changed a few weeks ago, but it's not like I could get up and walk to the other side of town even if I tried. And to be honest, as much as I hated being bedridden, I've really enjoyed all the time we've had together. I didn't want that to change, especially not when I started thinking I might not have much time left."

Yang swallowed and held up the envelope. "Just so you know, these records are more than just illegal to obtain, Sis. In the wrong hands these could be dangerous, you know? Even get you killed."

"I do now..." she muttered, resentment briefly bubbling to the surface before being forgotten. Ruby gave her a weak smile before looking down at the ground. "To be honest, asking him to get my records was only something I decided to do after I'd already hired him. The truth is I went to him hoping he might be able to find out how your mom died, and I was hoping maybe he could find a lead on what happened to Amber..."

Yang's breath caught but she hid it as best she could with a cough, and thinking it was her sister getting choked up, Ruby squeezed her shoulder. "I know we're not supposed to talk about Amber to strangers, but she's one of your very best friends, a-and I was just trying to help. Same with your mom. I'm not the only one who Dad and Uncle Qrow keep secrets from, and you have every right to know how your mom died. I just wanted to help, and maybe not feel so useless..."

Yang leaned over and gave Ruby a kiss atop the head. "Thanks, Sis," she whispered. "You picked a good picture of Mom, and your drawing of Amber was spot on. The info broker didn't know anything about what happened to either of them, but you probably already knew that, huh?"

Ruby nodded. "He was supposed to contact me if he found out anything, but I only got a letter telling me he'd gotten ahold of my records. By then Ozpin had already invited me to Beacon, and it was only a few weeks ago that I even thought about him again. I'm sorry he couldn't find out anything about your mom, or Amber. I know how much you care about her."

"It's okay, Rubes. I've already been to most of the info brokers in the city about my mom, and they don't know anything either. As for Amber, I know you wanna help, but it's for the best if you stay out of it."

"More secrets," she said with a weak smile.

"These are Amber's secrets," she echoed. "Blake and Weiss have their fair share of secrets too, and you and I both knew neither of us have been entirely truthful tonight." Ruby nodded, but a moment later flinched when the envelope was dropped atop her lap. "I think there's still one more thing you've been too afraid to ask, and here's your chance to find out the truth once and for all."

The unassuming envelope shook in Ruby's hands. After several moments she carefully opened the sleeve as if afraid it might suddenly explode, but when she had the papers partially pulled out she paused and looked up. "Yang," her voice trembled, "is Dad really my dad? And are you really my sister?"

Yang swallowed but otherwise she remained impassive. "What makes you say that?"

"You know why," she said impatiently. "Yang, I don't look anything like you, or dad, and our auras aren't even similar. Not only that, but I know Uncle Qrow was in love with Mom, and I think she might've been in love with him too. He can manifest his aura and turn into a bird, and sometimes I can turn myself into a cloud of rose petals. More importantly, in a lot of ways, he's been more like a dad to me than, well, Dad. Even when we first started training, Dad took you under his wing, and Uncle Qrow took me under his. Is Uncle Qrow my real dad?"

Yang leaned down and gave her sister a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Ruby, I love you, and you will always be my baby sister. If I told you that we weren't sisters, or weren't even related, would that change anything between us?"

She held her breath as Ruby pondered the question, but a moment later she shook her head and smiled. Returning the papers to the envelope, Ruby ripped them in half and then into quarters before handing them back to Yang. "The truth is that you're my sister, and I love you too."

Yang sniffled, and after a savory hug the two parted and the papers burst into flames. Yang rubbed her hands until all that remained were ashes, and Ruby wiped them clean with her aura.

The two sighed and leaned backward, enjoying the view and the beginnings of the sunrise in the distance.

"Hey, Sis?" Yang asked quietly. "If Dad wasn't your dad, would that make him your faux pa?"

Ruby shook her head, her eyelids begging to become heavy. "I knew it was coming. You've been holding onto that one since we were kids, haven't you?"

Yang hummed to herself in delight and was soon joined by Ruby who recognized the familiar tune their mom used to sing to them before bedtime. "How about we make a deal?" she said. "I can't promise that I won't keep secrets from you, and I know you can't either, but how about we promise to try not to from now on?"

"Deal!"

Ruby threw her arms around Yang's neck who began helping her up. Come on, if we hurry we might be able to keep Blake and Weiss from operating on each other's butts."

With a giggle the girls leaped over the edge and turned into fiery rose petals that scattered into the wind.

All the while being watched by a blackbird with red eyes...


(A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed. This was without a doubt one of the most difficult chapters I've had the pleasure of writing. Ruby and Yang's talk has been a LONG time coming, and I wanted it to be as satisfying as it deserves to be. It's also quite possibly the last time I'll ever write such a scene between Ruby and Yang, which gets me a little teary eyed just thinking about. I'm not saying there won't be other stories someday, or a Volume 3 pseudo-novelization for that matter, but I wrote this chapter as though I were saying goodbye to two of my all-time favorite characters. Never fear because there's still a chapter and an epilogue remaining, but this may have been the last time I write such a scene between THIS Ruby and Yang.

I did my best to have Ruby and Yang share what they know to each other while at the same time keeping a few secrets from one another, namely Amber with Yang, and Penny with Ruby, and that's just to fit better with Volume 3 and/or a future story. Chapter 42 is intentionally reminiscent of Chapter 4, and I even threw in a couple of references to better tie the two together. I knew from the beginning this was how I wanted to end Ruby and Yang's character arcs. Together, with smiles on their faces.

Thank you as always for all the love and support, friends, as well as your incredible patience having put up with my uploading "schedule" over the years. I've tried to do my best while writing this story, and when that wasn't good enough I tried even harder to make it the best story I possibly could. Through the good times and the bad, thank you for being there for me. I hope you've enjoyed the ride, and I hope you enjoy the opening ceremony of the Vytal Festival, as well as Ruby visiting her mom one final time before all hell breaks loose.

All credit goes to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who has blessed me with this story and with all of you wonderful readers. God bless)