Salutations!
I haven't written in ages and I'm so sorry! School started up last week, and in the holidays, I was going everywhere with friends and I had friends over a lot, so things have been pretty busy.
I'm going to write this chapter on honor of Monty Oum. But first, a quick message for him:
Monty... I may have personally not known you, but you were such a big part of my life. You inspired me to move forward, even when there was no hope left. You inspired me to try my best, and always be selfless and willing to help anybody, without expecting anything in return. You were truly one of the most amazing people out there. I miss you... We all do. And although you are physically gone, you are forever alive in our hearts.
We love you, Monty. May you be forever peaceful, and may God forever bless your rest and your legacy. You will forever be alive in our hearts.
On to the chapter.
cries and my tears form a wave that sends me out the door*
Chapter 7: Family Day
Ruby and Jaune were getting ready for a big event in Ruby's life. It was the death anniversary of Summer Rose, Ruby's mother.
They dressed in beautiful, fancy clothes, and for the first time ever, Jaune would be joining.
Every year, Ruby, Yang, Taiyang and Qrow would go to the cliff where Summer's memorial is, and talk to her. Jaune was coming along this year, because, technically, he's part of the family now.
"So?" Jaune began, straightening his yellow tie. "Your family does this every year?" he asked, glancing at Ruby on the mirror.
"Yeah. It's to honor my mom for her kindness and selflessness. She was born a hero and died a hero, so every year we go and say a few words to her." Ruby had a small smile on her face, that Jaune noticed had slowly begun fading away.
"And we only do it on this specific day of the year, because this is a very special day," Ruby said, a hint of sadness in her voice. Jaune gave her a curious, but also sympathetical, saddened look, turning around and sing her sitting on the corner of the bed.
"If you don't mind me asking, what day is it? Actually, you don't have to answer that," he said, wrapping his right arm around Ruby and gingerly pulling her closer to him. He was looking into her beautiful, shiny, silver eyes. He hated seeing her upset.
"It-" Ruby began, tears welling up in her tender eyes. "It's her b-birthday..." she trailed off, a single tear running down her cheek. Jaune wiped it away, giving Ruby a sad, gentle, apologetic look.
"I'm sure she was just as amazing as you are, Ruby," Jaune said, holding Ruby against his side. This statement made Ruby smile and blush. She hugged Jaune tightly, closing her eyes. "I love you," she said as she slowly let go of Jaune.
Jaune looked at her, smiling warmly. I love you too, Ruby. And I want you to know that I'm always here for you, no matter what. He looked at the clock hanging above the bed. The clock was shaped like the head of a Beowolf, and under the glass lens, all the details of the Beowolf's face were painted. The numbers were red lines. The eyes flashed red if an alarm was set, and the alarm tone was of course the howl of a Beowolf.
"We should probably get going, shouldn't we?" They both said simultaneously. They looked at each other, smiling, and both said "yeah" at the same time. They finished doing their hair and got into the car, Jaune opening the door for Ruby.
When they reached the cliff,memories started flooding back to Ruby, making her both happy and sad at the same time. Jaune pulled the handbrake up and turned the car off, after making sure it was out of gear. They both stepped out of the car. Jaune took Ruby's hand and held it tightly, as though he sensed her sadness.
Up ahead they saw Ruby's family. Taiyang and Yang were standing in front of the small stone memorial where Summer Rose's name was engraved in beautiful cursive writing. Below her name, a small message was carved, that brought tears to Jaune's eyes when he saw it.
The message read:
Thus kindly I scatter
Above Summer's name and the message, the emblem that Ruby had taken in honor of her mother, was engraved. It touched everybody, knowing that Ruby had chosen this specific emblem because it had belonged to her mother.
Everybody gathered around, heartbroken upon seeing the stone, especially Ruby. She was close to crying, but managed to hold her tears back for the moment.
Now, Taiyang took a small card and a white rose out of his pocket. Every year on Summer's birthday, the family would read a card that they had all written together. This year, it was Ruby's turn to read it.
She walked to her father, who was wearing a black and white tuxedo with a yellow tie. He had a yellow rose clipped onto his shirt's pocket. Ruby looked up at her father, who had a small smile on his face. He gave Ruby the card and the rose, and a picture of her mom.
She walked up to the stone, and everybody was standing behind her. Ruby turned her head back to everybody, and Taiyang smiled gently. "You've got this," he said softly.
She turned back to her mother's memorial and knelt in front of it, placing the white rose onto it. She then stood up and took a step back. She opened the card and began reading it.
"Hey mom. I hope you're having a great day. Although I'm sure you are. It is your birthday, after all." Tears began welling up in her eyes. She continued:
"We miss you. Even though it's been nineteen years since you left, but it feels like a lifetime ago. It's so quiet without you here. Every year on your birthday we used to bake cookies and cake together. We used to have so much fun. We still do that every year for you, on your birthday, in honor of you. Now, with you gone, it's just... " Two tears slipped off of Ruby's cheeks and landed on the stone.
"It's just not the same without you. We wish you were still here, and even though we'll never understand why you left, we know that you're in a better place now. We love you, mom. From your living family, Ruby Rose, Taiyang Xiao Long, and Yang Xiao Long."
Ruby closed the card and put it on the stone, sliding it under the white rose. She looked at the picture of her mother and held it to her chest, as another tear landed on the memorial stone. She put the card in her pocket, and turned around and hugged Jaune tightly. Taiyang and Yang joined in, and formed a group hug, tears in everybody's eyes.
"Wh-why... Why did she have to leave...?" Ruby sobbed, her face buried in Jaune's chest. He held Ruby tightly, feeling so horrible for her. She was so young when she lost her mother.
"I don't know Ruby. But what I do know... Is that it was her choice to leave. She chose to leave. But not because she wanted to leave you. She died defending you, and your family, and even the world. She went on that mission knowing the risks. She knew that it was possible that she would never return. She was a noble and brave warrior, Ruby. We just need to keep moving forward."
Ruby, touched by his words, started crying harder. "I just... I miss her so much," she cried. Taiyang, Yang and Jaune all started crying with her.
After their tender moment, they all gathered around the memorial stone, each one saying what they liked the most about Summer. First, it was Taiyang. He wiped his right eye, then began.
"Summer, from the day I met you, I knew that you were the most amazing person ever, and my feelings weren't wrong. You were the most noble, selfless person that I have ever met. I love that you always cared so much about others. You always put everyone else first, and yourself second."
Then, it was Yang.
"You were the best. Even though you weren't my biological mother, and I wasn't your real daughter, you still treated me like I was your natural daughter. You were like the mother I never had. I live that you cared so deeply."
Next, Ruby.
"Mom... You were the best. You always picked me up when I was down, and you were there for me in my darkest times. Whenever I got hurt or sick, you would bake some cookies for me and you'd bring me a glass of warm milk. I love that you always knew how to make others feel better, no matter what."
And finally, Jaune.
"I didn't know you that well, but I've heard a lot about you, Summer. I've always been told that you were a noble, selfless warrior. Ruby talks about you a lot, and hearing what everybody has said, I can see now what I like about you the most. I like that you always defended others, even if you knew the risks of doing so."
Afterwards, everybody went to Taiyang's house to do their family tradition, something they did every year. On Summer's birthday, they'd bake cookies and cake. They had a blast, sharing memorable moments, crying, and laughing together.
After they baked the cake and cookies, they all sat together at the dining table, sharing random thoughts and memories.
Jaune had his arm wrapped around Ruby, who had just shown him the picture of her mother. "Ruby looks so much like her mother. And from what I've heard of Summer, she is so much like her too." He looked around at everybody when he said it, and Ruby smiled warmly at the comment.
"Awww Jaune! That's so sweet!" Yang cooed. Ruby and Jaune both blushed at this. The brawler then looked at Ruby.
"So," she began. "How's it going with a little kiddo on the way? Is it making life any easier?" she asked, and Taiyang looked at his youngest daughter and her husband. "Yeah, how's that working out?" he asked, a warm smile on his face.
Ruby smiled. She scratched the back of her neck. "It has its ups and downs, but in the end, it just brings us closer together," she said, smiling. "Yeah," Jaune agreed.
"Y'know," Taiyang said. "Before Ruby was born, Summer was a very funny person. She always wanted a food that she usually never ate. She always wanted tuna. I don't know why. She was always begging me to get tuna for her. Of course, with her adorable smile and that look in her beautiful silver eyes, I just couldn't say no. Then, when I got her the tuna, she'd hug me and start thanking me like I just saved her life."
Taiyang wiped a tear from his eye, then continued. "She really was like Ruby. Small and beautiful. She was noble. She was strong. She was brave." Ruby smiled, and Jaune kissed her forehead. "I'm sure she was." Ruby blushed.
After lunch, everybody shared hugs and handshakes, before Ruby and Jaune went back home.
"That was beautiful," Ruby said. "Hmm?" Jaune responded. "Everything you said. It was beautiful." Jaune smiled. "Hey," replied. "It's all truth."
Ruby smiled. "Let's go home." she said. "I'm exhausted."
"Yeah," Jaune replied.
End of Chapter 7
Hey everyone. Sorry this chapter came out so late. It was supposed to come out on the death anniversary of Monty Oum. But, stuff happened, and I couldn't get it up by then. I'm so sorry!
Anyways, please go check out my new Wattpad account! It's called DJSaberWolf. I'm working on a Roman x Neo fic there.
You should also go check out my brother AROS3 NIGHTMARE's account. Truly good stuff there.
Hope you all enjoyed this! See y'all next time!
rides off into the sunset on a giant crow*