I do not own RWBY. All rights go towards Rooster teeth.

So I owe some people an apology. Specifically, anyone that doesn't have RTfirst. I forgot to post a spoiler warning and I am terribly sorry. I will try and remember to do that from now on, but also, if I forget, assume that there are likely spoilers in the chapter. Speaking of,

Spoiler warning.

Daughter of the Gods

Chapter eight: Healing

"This has to work. Or at least, I hope it does. Because I don't know what I'm going to do if it doesn't." I admitted to Ozpin as we rode the elevator down to the vault.

"Be prepared that it doesn't Ruby. What you're attempting has never been done before. Even I can't do it." Ozpin warned. I took his warning seriously, but I had to try.

The elevator stopped and opened, I immediately zipped over to Terra. She was still unresponsive, just as I had suspected, but this could possibly heal her. it won't give her the powers that were stolen back, but at least she'll be alive.

"Take my hand Oz." I said. He walked up and grabbed my hand, holding it gently.

"Grab Terra's other hand and focus your magic into her. Focus on healing thoughts." I instructed. I felt him using his magic, and I understood why he hadn't attempted it. Terra was filled with dark energy. But worst of all? There was something there that shouldn't have been.

A grimm.

Or more specifically, toxin left over from the one that attacked her.

Realizing this, I poured a little of my magic into my free hand I put it to her forehead. Letting my magic wash over her, I watched her convulse, but the scar on her face began healing and her breathing got a little better. Finally she screamed and went limp, a little puff of smoke coming off her. Examining her again, I detected no grimm presence in her body. She was breathing better immediately, what was left of her maiden powers doing as much as it could to heal it's host. Terra coughed. It was weak but I let out a cry of relief.

Terra was alive and not in a deep coma anymore

"Terra? Terra can you open your eyes for me honey? Or squeeze my hand to at least let me know you can hear me." I asked. I got a weak head nod and a small squeeze. I cant even begin to contain my emotions.

"I was so scared we'd lost you." I whispered. She opened her eyes, barely, but I could still make out her brown eyes.

"What happened? I feel like I was hit by goliath." She whispered.

"You were attacked. A woman…stole…half your maiden powers. I'm so sorry. If I had known this would heal you I would've done it sooner. There was a toxin in you, keeping you from healing, but I used my magic to burn it out." I explained. She tried to sit up but I stopped her.

"How long have I been unconscious." I hesitated at the question since I didn't really know the answer because it had happened before I even learned of what happened. So, I looked at Ozpin.

"You've been in a coma for a little over a month." Ozpin said calmly.

Well terra wasn't calm. Her weak maiden powers activated, wreathing her eyes in weak flames. There was barely any color, and if I didn't know she was summer, I might've been tempted to think they were winters flames.

"Does Saph know?" Ozpin hesitated before shaking his head and Terra was pissed. She forced herself off the bed, and I was only just able to catch her before she fell face first.

"Somebody get me a godsdamned scroll so I can call my wife!" She shouted hoarsely. Ozpin was quick to comply, hoping to stay on Terra's good side. I didn't do anything because I was on thin ice already.

Dialing Saph, Terra waited for her to respond.

Apparently, it went straight to voicemail because Terra left a message saying that she was alive and would be home soon.

"You're taking me home." Terra said, a glare that could scare a dragon, but I was totally not scared at all. Nope

Okay maybe a little pee cam out when the glare came my way.

"Of course. I've been meaning to talk to someone up near Argus anyway." I said. Terra nodded. "I'm gonna carry you up until I can find something to push you around in. Ozpin, the nurses have wheelchairs?" I asked.

"Yes. I'll call and let them know to have one sent to my office." Ozpin said as he sent a message on his scroll.

Picking Terra up with ease, I carried her to the elevator.

"What was James doing here earlier? You haven't told him about me have you?" I asked cautiously.

"No. He knows of you, as most of the circle do, but he doesn't know you're here now or what you look like." Ozpin said placatingly. I breathed a sigh of relief.

"Although he might be suspicious if he's still in my office. He definitely saw you go enter the elevator." The man said. I sighed. James was a decent man, but he was Atlas, and I never really trusted the pompous people of Atlas because of their ego's. Besides, if James knew that I had purposely hidden the relic of destruction form them, he might hold a grudge, and an Atleasian with a grudge was a headache. I managed to get rid of one headache, I did not need another.

The elevator doors opened and James thankfully wasn't there. A wheelchair was waiting and I gently set Terra into it.

"Stay here. I'm gonna go pack a bag for the trip." I said as I patted her shoulder. Her voice stopped me as I walked towards the door.

"Ruby?"

"Hm?"

"Thanks."

I smiled and turned around, heading to my dorm room

"What do you mean you're leaving for a few days?!" Weiss screeched. Honestly if I wasn't positive that the bow limited Blakes hearing, I would be worried that it might be damaged now tanks to Weiss.

"I don't have to explain myself." I said with authority. Yang understood, so she kept quiet, Blake just eyed me suspiciously.

"You're our leader and you're just gonna go galivanting off to who knows where?!"

"Yes. There's a schedule on each of your beds that I expect you to follow while I'm gone. I WILL know if you don't." I said to Yang.

"There's nothing on our-"

My speed cut off Weiss' quick assumption that there wasn't really a schedule when I sped around the room and placed two copies each on their beds. The door slamming must've let them all know I'd left. Speeding up to Ozpins office I zipped in and grabbed Terra before she could even blink. Laughing when she realized what was going on, I sped up more and more until we were at the airship that would take us to the Argus train.

The flight was pretty boring, Terra was tired so she slept most of the ride. I just contemplated how she had forgotten to talk to Saph and let her know what had been going on. I felt guilty that I had let myself forget that Saph might be worried about her wife and that just a single word from me might've helped assuage her worries. It was almost three hours later when we arrived at the train station. I paid an assistant to take their bags while I pushed Terra in the wheelchair.

Unfortunately, our train wasn't for an hour, So they both meandered around the little shops that showcased some Atlesian specialties. A red scarf made from the wool of Atlesian sheep, some pastries while we waited, and holograms everywhere of Atlas' military droids. Those things would never be able to be as reliable as real soldiers. One time I had hacked into them for the fun of it, making them give the one finger salute to Ironwood whenever he walked by.

It took him a week to realize they weren't saluting him properly.

I was broken out of my funny memory when I heard a cane tapping on the ground. Normally I wouldn't have thought anything of it, until it stopped in front of me. I noticed the thick wooden cane first, the long blue dress next, and the mechanical blinking of her eyes.

"Holy shit! What are you doing here!" I got up and hugged the older woman.

"Saphron called me about three weeks ago. Couldn't get in touch with you or Terra. I went over to her place as soon as I could. I stayed there for a week until I had to go home for a bit. I'm headed back to their place now. I see Terra is looking a little worse for wear." The old woman scrutinized, her eyes narrowing.

"Lay off me Maria. It's been no bed of roses. No pun intended." Terra laughed at her own words. I sent a mock glare and Maria just didn't do anything. A stoic huntress, even if she was retired. Shoving the memories away of why she was retired, I focused back on Maria and Terra.

"I'm sorry this happened to you child." Maria said.

"It's not your fault. You or Ruby. I just hope that Saph can forgive me for being gone so long." Terra looked down. Cupping her cheeks gently I pulled her face so she was looking at me.

"Saph loves you deeply. She wouldn't be pregnant for you if she didn't. If anything I cn just let her blame me. My shoulders are broad enough to take it." I told her. Maria spoke up.

"Saphron has been worried sick about you, at her wits end asking everyone she can to try and find you." Maria said. Terra nodded, but she was still worried. Trying to turn the conversation, I looked to Maria.

"How've you been? Anything I need to know?" I asked

"I've been fine. Don't worry about an old lady like me. I may be old but I'm still a huntress who can teach you a thing or two!" I balked at her statement.

"Wha-Who taught who in this situation. I remember you as a little pipsqueak, taking up your family's legacy when you were finally old enough and seeking me out to train you. Gods I swear, you kid's today are so quick to forget your elders!" I teased. "See, two can play the age card Maria, and I think I win in that department." I stuck my tongue out at her, pulling a goofy face. She took it in stride and smacked me in the shin with her cane.

"Really." I gave her a deadpan look. "You're the stereotypical old lady you know that. Do you scream at children to get off your lawn?" I teased further. She scoffed.

"I don't have children on my lawn to worry about because they all know what'll happen if they do." She said smugly.

"No one's gotta be worried with us around." A voice came from behind me. Turning around, there were two huntsmen behind me, one with a gun and the other with a mace. Sighing I looked fully at the two cocky asses.

"What the hell do you want?"

"I'm Dee and this is Dudley." The guy with the mace, Dee, spoke. "The Argus Limited's very own huntsmen. We'll be keeping everyone safe while we pass through grimm territory." Apparentl that was Dudleys cue to jump in.

"Buuuut for an extra generous tip, we'll make sure your passenger cart get's extra special attention." He smirked. Gods this day just got dumber and way more frustrating. Making up my mind, I pulled out crescent rose. Speeding to the two I pointed the small blade at the end of crescent rose's shaft and the blade of my scythe at each of their respective crotches, I spoke sweetly.

"How about for an extra generous tip, I don't circumcise you right here." My voice in a higher pitch than was natural.

"Say Dee I think these ladies are very well protected with a huntress of their own. Let's go that way." Dudley said as he put a hand on his friend's shoulder and began backing away slowly.

"Good choice boys." I called as they ran away.

"Really Ruby, was that necessary?" Maria said.

"Nope, but I don't regret it!" A large grin on my face spoke the truth.

The bell for our train sounded, and we boarded without issue. It would be almost a day before we reached the city of Argus, so thankfully there were beds to sleep on. I didn't sleep, but I did watch over Terra and Maria. The grimm didn't attack thankfully, but they did come close several times. Thank the gods for small favors I suppose. Maria woke up early the next morning.

"We passed out of grimm territory about an hour ago." I mumbled.

"Did you stay awake all night?" The disapproval was clear as day.

"Yes." There was no sense in lying to her, she'd just call bullshit on me anyway. "Besides, there's no adverse health effects and you know it." I said defensively. She glared at me before emuttering about something or another. Feeling a bit petty, I stuck my tongue out at her.

"Saw that!" She called out as she entered the bathroom.

"Gods I swear it's like she installed eyes in the back to." I mumbled. Terra began to stir and I was beside her quickly.

"How are you feeling?"

"Better. Powers still feel weak." She said as she only managed to summon a small flame.

"We'll fix this. We'll find the woman who did it and return your powers to you." I said. Terra looked at me, like she couldn't believe I was this hopeful. If anything, I was unsure. Would the powers go to another person and there be two summer maidens or would killing the woman return Terra's powers? This had never happened before, so I didn't know, and not knowing scared me.

"I trust you." Terra said. I nodded, and felt the train beginning to pull into the station. Getting off, unloading our things, then boarding a trolley, we got off as close as we could to Terra's house. Too bad Argus was mostly hills, and Terra lived on a hill. Gritting my teeth, I couldn't leave Maria behind so I just pushed at a normal pace. It wasn't terrible, but it sucked by the time we got to the top of the hill.

I knocked on the door to the house, and I could hear a slow shuffling inside. The peephole on the door got dark, suggesting Saphron had seen us, and then the door flew open. Saphron, pregnant belly and all, ran out like a shot from crescent rose and embraced Terra with a passion only two lovers could have. A small part of me was jealous, wishing that I could have this but knowing I never realistically could.

Another part of me stung, as the slap I never saw coming impacted my cheek, throwing my head to the side. I looked angrily at whoever had the balls to hit me, seeing Saphron looking shocked with her hand in the air.

"OW!" I exclaimed. The look I gave her demanding an explanation.

"Well! You should've answered my messages!" She said incredulously. "And I'm sorry for hitting you, I thought you'd dodge like you always do after you do something to piss me off!" She defended. I glared at her, before softening my face and wrapping her in a gentle hug, careful of the baby bump.

"I'm so sorry. I got caught up in my own emotions about Terra and being at beacon and having a team again and being on a team with Blake and seeing Ozpin. I'm so sorry. Can you forgive me?" To make it harder for her to say no I gave my best pout. Nobody could ever resist this!

"Oh alright! Just stop pouting! That's more lethal than you are." She said, laughing like she was some kind of comedian.

"Come inside. All of you. I'll make some tea and we can talk."

Talking and drinking tea for nearly three hours as I did my best to explain everything was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Especially when I got to an important part.

"Oh by the way Jaune is doing okay in his classes. Sucks at combat class though but everything else is going okay, in case you were wondering." Saphrons face told me all I needed to know.

"Ohhhh…it wasn't you that helped him get the forged transcripts, was it?" Jaune and Saphron were a rare relationship. She would do anything for him, her being the oldest and him being the only boy in the family. It was a unique relationship and they told each other everything. Well…almost.

"What? What are you talking about?" The room was deathly quite as Saphron gave me her legendary glare.

Uh oh. I sucked it up and spilled everything I knew.

"It wasn't me. I actually tried to talk Jaune out of it when he came to me."

"If it wasn't you then I'm pretty sure I know who it was." I was thinking of graying hair and a nice suit that was gonna look real ugly when I was done with it, though I was mostly angry for Saphrons sake.

This would be a conversation that was needed. A long with a few other things.

Getting up, I pulled out my scroll and told Ozpin I'd be calling in a minute.

"I'm afraid I can't stay. Ozpin and I have a lot to discuss but I don't feel comfortable leaving you here by yourselves. I'm gonna have Ozpin send a few of his agents to protect you, possibly have you go to Atlas itself for you protection. But I have to be going." I explained.

We all said our goodbyes, Saphron being the last to hug me.

"Thank you for bringing her back." She whispered.

"I wish I could've done it sooner." I confessed before we broke apart. Pulling away, I walked down the sidewalk to the trolley and pulled out my scroll.

"Oz, I need a favor. As long as Terra is home she's gonna need protection. As many of your agents as you can spare.

"I can spare Qrow and Winter. Both are extremely close to your area right now and should make it quickly." Ozpin said.

"I know Qrow but who's Winter?" I asked

"She's Weiss' older sister and a specialist in Atlas' military. One of the best actually."

"Alright. Send them here. I'm on my way back to Beacon." I said and hung up. I decided to stick around the terminal, slipping into the bathroom and pulling my white cloak, that I forgot I had slipped into the pocket dimension, out and exchanged it for my red cloak. If Winter was Weiss' sister, it would be best to minimize the amount of recognition. Sighing, I pulled out my old helmet from the war, a red and white mask, not to dissimilar from Ravens. The biggest difference was that mine didn't cover my whole face.

Placing it on my face, it still fit amazingly well. It resembled a grimm, the first grimm mask, and the one most others are based off of. The difference though was that hers was based off a Grimm she had hunted to near extinction; The Nuckelavee. Specifically, the rider. The horns wrapped over the hood of my white cloak, the red lines glowing and leading to Black pools where the normally red eyes should be. It was a mask meant to intimidate more than conceal. The horns were shorter, much like a young nuckelavee and the canines in the mouth of already sharpened teeth were elongated to wrap around my cheeks. All in all it was a pretty terrifying image. Sitting in the bathroom with it on she remembered the last time she had really worn it, at fight between general legume and Preto.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped out of the bathroom with her hood up and mask on, and hid in the shadows of the barely busy train terminal. Anyone who was around scattered quickly and she waited for Qrow and winter to arrive.