Disclaimer: Don't own it. Never will. Just a fan.

Road to the End, Volume 3

By: athrunzala

09: Last Moments

A few hours after the briefing, and people were gearing up for the assault to begin, which, for the Huntsmen and Huntresses involved, meant making peace with family and putting affairs in order for the event that they didn't return from the fight. The air was heavy with trepidation, yet solemn in the silence as preparations were underway.

Qrow took a moment to catch up with Jaune during all of it.

"You alright?"

"I... I guess," the blonde said, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Don't lie to me. I can tell when people are lying. You're scared, and that's fine. Just..." the older Huntsman's voice trailed off momentarily as he noticed Winter walking towards them.

"Qrow?"

"Yeah. Sorry. Got distracted. Look. Just remember what Winter and I told you about revenge, okay? Don't get any dumb ideas."

"Yeah. I know. I uh... I kinda made a dumb decision before. Ren almost died."

"So I heard. It's a good thing that Barty and Peter were there to help you out. No more of that, got it?"

The younger human nodded in confirmation before asking the one thing that had been puzzling him for a while.

"Do you care about her?"

"Hmm?"

"Winter. Weiss's sister. Or is she just some conquest?"

"Woah now. Where did this come from?"

"Just answer me."

"I care. Far more than I've cared in a long time. Just uh... Just don't tell Ruby."

"Ruby knows, Qrow. She is the one who asked me to talk to you about it. She thinks that she and Weiss will have to split. She's hurting."

Qrow's expression changed, going from confused to serious as the realization hit him. All this time, he had been pushing for his niece to go for what she wanted, and, now that she had it, she may lose it, and he would be the one at fault. Shaking the image from his head, he started to walk away.

"Where are you going?"

"Gotta have a talk with a few people."

Across the staging area, Yang was in a conversation. Actually, she was more or less being held back by her father, while she screamed at Raven.

"...and you left! You left us all alone and never came back! Look at us, mom! Just look!"

Raven turned her head, her black locks clinging to her back in much the same way as her daughter's own blonde mane.

"Yang, I..."

"...we..."

"No, Tai. She needs to hear this from me. Let her go."

"But if she punches..."

"Let. Her. Go. She hits me, she hits me."

Acquiescing to his former lover's request, the blonde male loosened his grip, and their daughter wiggled free.

"What do I need to hear?"

"I made the decision to leave, Yang. I... I wasn't ready. I'm still not. I can't be a mom. You can hate me if you want. I won't blame you."

"I just wanted you to show up every now and again. Talk to me. Tell me you cared. That's all. Now look at me. Look at what..."

She was stopped as her father's arms wrapped around her.

"Shh, Yang. It's alright. We'll get through this."

Inside of Team RWBY's assigned tent, Ruby and Weiss were sitting on the edge of their bunks. They would occasionally look over at each other, then lower their heads again as they would both move to speak.

Outside, Blake stood guard. Nobody would get in.

"Heya."

"Hello, Sun."

"So... Blake... about this whole... assault thing..."

"Yes. We are working together."

"I know. I was just wondering if I could talk to Ruby about it a bit."

"She's busy."

All across the staging area, similar scenarios were playing out. The only ones not involved in anything like that were the remaining members of Team C_LD, as they had made their peace before going to sleep the night before.

"So... leading, eh?"

"Yup."

"Going back in as a Specialist?"

"Not sure."

Caos then thrust the questioning back in Dante's face.

"Arena fighting?"

"Yeah. Not my brightest move. But it was practice."

"True. Just glad you're alive."

"Same here. You'll do well, I know it. You always have a way for knowing who needs to be where."

"Thanks. And I know you'll have my back."

"Yeah."

"And I have both of yours. Because someone need to bring us all together!"

The former partners turned around to face Lapis, who was smiling.

"Smiling?"

"How are you happy?"

"We're talking again. Like we used to. Before..."

"Yeah."

The trio looked up at the sky, the cold, uncaring clouds covering the moon occasionally, making it far darker than it really was. This would be their first major battle as a team since Obsidian had died all those years ago. Even when Beacon had fallen almost 3 years prior, they had acted as individuals, and not a team. This time, it would be different.