Shingeki no RWBY Chapter 5: A Grimm Party, an Attack on Titan/進撃の巨人 + RWBY Crossover fanfic

Hey guys sorry its been a while. I will try to deliver a chapter at least bi-monthly if I can.

Scourge From BloodClan: Yep and Ruby gonna get stronger but I will try not to make her OP or any other charcters or too weak. Btw the Grimm in Ruby's dream wasn't attacking Grimm it was fighting something else. I'll leave you guys to figure it out.

blaiseingfire: Aye, that scene pulled the strings on my heart when I first saw it. The music for the scene is 'Vogel im Kafig' from the Shingeki no Kyojin OST it means 'Bird Cage' I think its also appropriate for Summer's death, too.

Anyways here's the next part.

The Fall of Vale Arc

Chapter 5: A Grimm Party – Closing the Wounds.

(Next morning...)

Ruby Rose laid in bed dreaming of better times filled with cookies and strawberries. It was a refreshing change from those weird dreams she had for the past few days. Ruby had her right arm over Yang's body; she was in a very comfortable position. Yang, however, was fully awake and was just reading away as she let her sister sleep, she honestly felt warm and comfortable, the others in the room were just preparing for today like music and what not, all the basic preparations. This would be the best party ever.

Back to the present, Ruby was currently enjoying her dreams of sweet confectionaries. As she was about to pick a delicious strawberry, a voice came from it saying. "Time to wake up, little rose."

"Huh, what the-? Fruit don't talk" Ruby said, while scratching her head. This time, a cookie landed on her forehead.

Ruby slowly opened her eyes, she let out a long yawn as she could smell Uncle Qrow baking the chocolate cake but she still felt very warm and she didn't want to get out of bed, surprisingly Yang was reading, odd Ruby never thought that Yang would want to read books… wait, taking a closer inspection, she realised that it was a clothes and Bikes magazine, typical Yang…

"Hey baby sis! Good morning… wait afternoon… Heh..." Yang exclaimed as she pulled away, letting Ruby go.

Noon soon loomed over as they slept in, school was off for the weekend and Qrow's hunting operations were halted for a time, well till the snow cleared anyways, so the family had nothing to do all day but they were all hyped for now and honestly had the perfect gift for her. Grandpa James bought her one of Ruby's childhood books, with Jaune in addition got some new clothing and a new headset. Yang, on the other hand, brought her a beautiful bracelet with a silver cross attached. Oh it also had a custom paintjob to it and engraved in it: 'Your sister and friend, Yang Xia Long, to the darkness we go and to the light we find, I'll always be by your side.'

Uncle Qrow… no one was sure what he got for Ruby but they had a feeling he cooked something up, he would hate to get Ruby a crappy gift. So as Yang sat there awake, while Ruby cuddled her, she could only think, what would the crow get for his niece? With limited amount of pocket money they had they could only afford simple yet effective smaller presents. She knew the redhead loved pop music and what not but Jaune already took that idea and James took the idea of books… What else could Ruby Rose desire?

The question lingered in her head for some time; then she remembered seeing the huge box the Signal Guard had shipped to their house early in the morning and Blake's. He honestly felt frustrated until that moment but was determined he found the perfect gift for Ruby.

Ruby blinked multiple times upon realising what her sister just said… "Wait what time is it!?" she gasped, upon realising it was a school day.

"Um… its 1 o'clock… pm… Something up baby sis?"

Ruby's face went blank as she heard her sisters answer and in frustration she let herself fall onto the bed, "AHH! I slept through half the day! Oh mah gawd!"

Jaune overheard the two as he was putting up decorations. "Ruby, it's okay. There's no school today. Plus, you looked peaceful while you were dozing away in your sleep, so we didn't bother waking you."

Ruby blushed knowing her family actually watched her as she slept, though she just took it as a compliment.

Hiding her embarrassment, Ruby quickly hopped out of Yang's bed and headed into the shower. It was short and not very hot due to limited water available but she felt wonderful as she let the water soothe her tense muscles. After about half an hour she stepped out of the bedroom and got dressed in her casual wear, just the everyday wear, nothing special.

As she walked out, her unique hair was slightly damp but the rest of the others by the door and all of them yelled at the same time …

"SURPRISE! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"

"WAAAAAAAAAHHH! WHAT'S GOING ON?!"

A few of them threw some confetti into the air and in the middle of the room was a freshly cooked chocolate cake, it was still warm and it smelt wonderful. The dazed girl managed to shake herself out of it before realising what they had just said.

It was her birthday.

She had completely forgotten about it and though it would just be another meaningless day. Ever since what happened in Vale, the redhead thought there was nothing to look forward to… until today. Ruby was very happy as they started to sing together. Grandpa James was actually a really good singer to Ruby's surprise. Jaune and Qrow, however… not so much…

Yang's voice was of those of the angels, it looked like she had written a song just for Ruby's 11th and honestly Ruby was taken away by how well it sounded together… this was really the perfect birthday present Ruby could ever ask for… though she was extremely embarrassed as the three sang about her, though it was the good embarrassment…

As soon as the four finished, the birthday girl in the room applaud them, Ruby had a tear of happiness drop from her eye as she hugged them. "You guys are seriously the best…"

"Ruby, you still need to blow out the candles" the ex-beacon hunter pointed out.

Everyone started to sing happy birthday to Ruby again, as she stood in front of the cake ready to blow out the candles, beaming in happiness as she listened to them finish, she took a deep breath and blew out the candles… but they just relit… What? She blew them out again… same result… "Trick candles really?"

They all giggled but Ruby eventually blew them out, took forever though. Then, she got round to her favourite part of the day: the presents.

The birthday girl ripped open the first green present given by the blonde boy. What she unwrapped contained a headset, the one that Ruby always wanted, she was surprised that Jaune would buy them for her, though her gift wasn't as expensive, for understandable reasons, they were nice neither the less.

"Happy birthday, Ruby" this was rewarded with a cuddle.

"Thank you, Jaune."

The next was several smaller blue boxes from Grandpa James, mostly clothes but the last box she unwrapped, was the same book that Yang read to her while she was young. "Wow! I haven't read this in, like, forever!" she gasped, as she read the books title.

"Well… Yang told me a few things… plus it was in my collection" James explained, with a small smile.

The next yellow box was a silver bracelet, it looked beautiful and this was Yang's sign of friendship and sisterhood.

"Thank you Ya-Gak!"

The younger sister found herself in a bear hug. "I'm so glad you like it!"

"Huh… where's Uncle Qrow's present? It must be here" Ruby thought but she decided to shrug it off and play around with her new toys. Soon while James was playing music, Ruby sat herself next to her uncle, attempting to get closer and what not.

"Uncle, not to rude, but isn't it a workday for you?"

"Don't worry, I got the day off."

"Are you serious?!" Ruby interrupted, "I can't remember the last time you had a day off."

"Well, it was… um… I don't remember either. Heh, heh."

Only Yang remembered, it was a week off over a year ago. It was a week that she could remember clearly. For a couple of days after her parents' murder, she felt completely numb. It was her adoptive sister that helped her through along with the rest of the Rose Family.

"What're you planning to do for the week?" Jaune asked, curiously.

"I'm going to spend most of it with you guys. I haven't spent as much time with you lately as I would like and someone's gotta cook dinner" Qrow answered him, with a grin before he turned to his niece. Yang rolled her eyes. He never cooked in his life.

"Hey Uncle, can ya tell me what you got for my birthday or at least give me a hint?" Ruby asked, while giving him a cute smile.

The Sergeant moved a little to the left to reveal a giant red present as tall as he was. "Huh? Oh… Maybe but I'll just keep that a secret… until you open it" he teased, while giving his niece a wink.

Ruby immediately picked up the large long box, with the name tag "Ruby Rose, From Uncle Qrow" on it, she tore the wrapping off and opened it, inside was a beautiful red and black scythe. What he had given her was one of Vytal's finest weapon mods designed specifically for scythe wielders and also came with a new enchanted bolt assembly, the receiver what was imbued with all the elements and customized dust barrel, oh and engraved on it made Ruby's chest feel warm…

"I-Is that a scythe?!" exclaimed Jaune.

"Yes. Yes it is."

"Oh mah gawd! IS THAT A CUSTOMISED HIGH IMPACT BOLT RECIVER!?" She exclaimed out of enjoyment and shock, Qrow nodded her head and smiled as his niece hugged with extreme gratitude.

"Mr. Qrow… that's amazing! …Though how much did it all cost you?" asked James.

"Never mind about that. Just let her enjoy it…" he said calmly smiling.

At was at this point, for this day, the loved ones around her lit up the darkness in Ruby's heart and allowed her to feel again. Whenever the darkness would creep up on her again, it would be them that kept it at bay.

xxxx

(The next morning…)

Ruby awoke late morning in a daze. Had a lot of strawberry cake last night… but not too much to want to skip breakfast.

"Well, at least the kitchen, or what I assume is that's what it is, is still mostly intact" Ruby breathed out, as she wiped her forehead on her shoulder. "Uncle Qrow can cook something up for us then, instead of over a camp fire."

"Is that all you can think about? Your stomach" Yang questioned, as she threw the remains of a broken cupboard out of the open door landing on a large pile of broken furniture. "With how much you complain about being hungry, people would think you've never eaten a day in your life."

"Shut up!" Ruby pouted at her.

"Hell, with the way you do eat I wonder why you're still so little" the blonde smirked, as she poked the blushing redhead's stomach.

"I'm not little!"

"Yeah you are" the blonde giggled.

"Your drawings suck!" the little one pouted

"What do my drawings have to do with anything!?"

"You called me little, that's what!" Ruby retorted, as she placed her hands on her hips and frowned at her.

Jaune glanced out over the furniture as Ruby stormed outside.

On the front yard she came across Qrow. Ruby glanced to see where he was looking to see him watching a few birds, geese in fact.

"You think they taste any good?" Qrow questioned.

"What you going to shoot them with your Death Gleaner?" Ruby questioned, as she rolled onto his back lying on the grass, it wasn't all that comfortable but it had been better then sleeping in a tree.

"I thought about it, wouldn't need to cook it then, it'd be already done" Qrow chuckled, as Ruby shook her head in amusement.

"Good one, Uncle. You almost had me."

"You wouldn't believe it, this house and the surrounding areas. 300 Lien" Ruby's eyes widened, that was cheap for homestead standards. "Since it was so run down, south of Wall Rose and close to one of the baiting towns, it was so cheap" Qrow told her. "I figured you guys wouldn't mind being stuck here, James could maybe set up a shop, you kids can build a home and I simply help out anyway that I could."

"You never gave up on finding me?" Ruby questioned, in surprise.

"Of course" Qrow told her. "None of us did" he smiled. "But first, we need to fix this place up. We're gonna live here for a while and so that I can set up a lab of soughts."

"If anyone enters this house and sees your lab, we're going to get arrested. I just know it" a deadpanned Ruby told him.

"Oh my Rube, my Dust Weapon experiments aren't that bad, are they?" his niece just rolled her eyes at him making him chuckle lightly. "I'll be sure to lock the door."

The redhead just shook his head as he stood up and headed for the entrance to the house before he heard Qrow fire off a cannon shell, she looked up into the sky and sweatdropped as she saw several birds fall from the sky.

"You didn't?" Ruby questioned, with wide eyes.

"I'm hungry" Qrow simply stated. "I'm sure you are as well and the others will be when they wake up. I'll return with them" he told him picking up the sheathed Death Gleaner. Like all Hunters' Weapons, she was powered by Dust, most of it courtesy of the Schnee Dust Company. "By all means, rest for now but if you'd like you can start on anything you can think of to get this place suitable."

Ruby nodded as she looked over the interior of the house. Hearing Qrow's humming getting softer she rolled up his sleeves and started on clearing out what she could from inside the house. Soon enough old man James awoke, complaining he was hungry before starting to help them.

"Is this really how you act when you're not catching robbers?" Both turned to see an old, bald man stepping down from a horse a smile on his face leading the horse towards Ruby. "It's good to see you again. A girl by the name of Blake told me where I might find you. Chloe would have come herself but she's getting medical treatment."

"Yo" Ruby raised a hand up in greeting. "Ah..." She scratched her head, never having learned the man's name.

"Harold Thompson" the old man greeted holding his hand out to Ruby, who rose to her feet taking the offered hand to shake.

"Ruby Rose."

"So is Chloe doing okay?" Jaune questioned walking down the few steps and over to the two.

"Yeah, the doctors are saying that she will be up and moving around in a week or so." Harold smiled at her. "I don't think we could ever thank you for how you helped her yesterday."

"Don't mention it" Ruby smiled. "Anyone would've done the same."

"No, they wouldn't" the bald man shook his head. "They would have run for their lives, saving themselves or just stand around staring while doing nothing helpful. You saved my wife and let my children to still have their mother."

"No kid should lose a mom so young" Ruby said, as she glanced away sadly. "A mother should be there, to help when needed."

Jaune smiled softly, he didn't doubt that was the reason Ruby had tried so hard to save the woman. She didn't want Ellie and Kyle to go through living without a mother like she was.

"This house, you're living here?" Harold questioned, as he tied his horse's reins to a tree as it grazed on the grass. Jaune turned back to the house and ran a hand through his hair.

"Well... for the time being anyway" the blonde boy told him. "It's not looking all that good at the moment but... we kinda only started this morning."

"Fighting muggers one day, playing house the next" the old man chuckled.

"Well who's hungry?" Qrow's laugh could be heard making the three turn and look to see the Signal Guard walking with several geese at his disposal making Ruby's eye twitch, he had been gone for hours. He didn't think the birds had fallen that far away.

"Where the heck have you been?! We've been working our asses off and you've been taking a nice leisurely stroll!" she scolded.

"But I brought breakfast" Qrow told him.

"It's past lunch!" his niece roared. Jaune simply sighed, just wanting the Sergeant to hurry up and cook the tasty looking birds.

"Well, that was actually one of the reasons I came out here" Harold said, as he walked back to his horse and opened up one of the saddle bags and pulled out the same bag of food that thief had stolen the day before. "I figured after everything you did yesterday you guys deserved this, more so" the old man said, passing Ruby the bag of food.

"Man this would have come in handy so much last night" Ruby said, starting to drool. As Red Riding Hood looked into the bag, Arc noticed that the Signal Guard was packing his things.

"You're going already Mr. Qrow. You just came back" Jaune said, laying the birds down on a table the old crow had brought from inside the house. "Where are you going?"

"The Beacon Corps is ready, there's gonna be another mission to retake Wall Maria" Qrow told them.

"They're moving this fast after the last mission?" Jaune questioned with wide eyes, Qrow simply nodded his head. The blonde remembered how defeated the troops of Beacon had looked as they had marched through the town, most were heavily wounded, they weren't even half of what survived outside of the walls.

"The Signal Guards will be assisting, too. The Sanctum Police probably won't even get their hands dirty with it. I bet none of the bastards up there even know how bad our situation is down here, yet" the Sergeant growled slightly irritated, before he sighed. "I just thought I'd let you guys know I'm gonna be away for a while. I have duties to attend to before we move on reclaiming the lost wall. Sorry we can't have you over Mr. Thompson."

"Its fine, I didn't expect you. I honestly came here since I wanted to make sure that these were safe. Chloe insisted that she come too but there was no way I was letting her on a horse in her condition" he smiled. "You didn't show yourselves yesterday in town and when the young girl came and told me us what happened… well let's just say we were glad to know you were ok" he told them. "I should get back. I hope to see you all again" he told them as he untied his horse and mounted before galloping off, with Qrow going in the opposite direction.

"You alright, Rube?" Jaune asked.

"Yeah..." Ruby nodded. "About the day before yesterday... I'm sorry."

"Don't worry about it" Jaune told her, waving it off. "Adrenaline was high, we all snapped at one another."

"In those 6 months I wasn't around, everyone really got upset didn't they?" Ruby questioned and got a nod from the boy before she turned to look back at the house she had inspected last night, it had been growing dark so he hadn't been able to see it very well. It wasn't actually all that bad, not as bad as she had thought anyway but it'd still take some work. "And you never gave up on me" she noted, solemnly.

"Why would I? That's what friends do" he smiled.

Ruby nodded as she sat up, James stirring the fire slightly. "Everybody sure is pulling their weight here. I was impressed." Ruby glanced down at the older sister now asleep on the job. "Guess its time for me to do the same"

xxxx

(Later that afternoon…)

Ruby was walking through the woods, her feet crunching the grass. She noticed something far away from the house. She just knew she had to see it. Her red-hooded cloak was wrapped around her figure to protect her from the cold winds. Soon, the trees began to thin out and she found herself at the edge of a cliff.

"What is this place?" Ruby thought to herself. Then she noticed something out of the corner of her eye.

"It's stone with some kind of inscription," she thought as she got a closer look. The inscription was partially covered in dirt and there was also a rose symbol engraved on it. "Uh? 'Thus Kindly I Scatter', that sounds familiar."

Ruby knelt down to brush some of the snow away. She gasped as she read the two words that were revealed. More specifically, a name: Summer Rose.

"That's mom's name" Ruby thought, as tears began to form in her eyes. Memories began to resurface in her mind about her time with her mother. Then she remembered the fateful day that stripped away all the joy in her life. She clutched her head and trying to prevent an anguished cry. Ruby tried to shake those horrible images out of her head and stumbled backwards only to bump into another person.

"I see you found it, lassie." She turned around and saw an old man holding his hand out.

"Grandpa James?"

"Qrow told me it made this not long after he got this place" he told solemly. "He thought she deserved a memorial to honour her memory even though there was nothing left of her to bury."

Hearing this, the 10-year old could longer hold back her tears. "Why...w-w-why d-did she h-have to leave m-m-me." Ruby finally got out amongst the sobs. James slowly petted the black and red girl's hair.

"She didn't want to leave you Ruby, I know it. You're a kind person who I li-"

"Y-You really mean that" she hiccuped.

"C'mon, lassie. You're not alone in this fight" the old man smiled.

Wiping her eyes dry, Ruby took the ex-hunter's hand to help herself up. As the two walked away, she turned to look back at the monument, she saw a ghostly white-hooded figure standing next to it. The figure's face was covered by her hood to reveal herself as Summer.

"Mom?" Ruby questioned, in her thoughts.

"I'm sorry for leaving you but you still have a life to live. Make me proud" Summer smiled, her voice echoing in Ruby's head. But in a blink of an eye, she vanished.

"You alright, Ruby?"

"…Yeah I'll be fine" she smiled softly.

With that the two walked away.

xxxx

(2 weeks later…)

The Hunters still hadn't found a way to get back Wall Maria. They had been trying but nothing had been done so far. Ruby was currently lying out beneath a tree; the Crescent Rose was lying next to her, arms folded behind her head as her hood covered her face. It wasn't often that the redhead took a day off to herself any longer, always busy with something: maintaining her sweetheart, chores or training.

Yang wasn't far from her sister simply sitting up beside a tree with a parchment of paper working on her drawing skills or as Rube liked to call them horror pictures she can't do right. She was mostly the same as she had been when she came here. However, she had let her hair grown out; instead of simply cutting it like Jaune foolishly recommended getting it cut and had the burn marks to prove it. She let it grow longer resting at the middle of her back. Scanning the grassy fields once more she buried her face back into her drawing wanting to prove her little sister wrong.

"It's still going to suck."

"Screw you!" Yang snapped back, their relationship hadn't changed in the year they had been living together. It was 3 weeks after they arrived here when Ruby finally told Yang off for her overprotectiveness. Eventually, Yang relented on the condition that her sister learned how to fight and defend herself. So over the course of the year, with Jaune's help, they taught each other how to fight, both armed with their weapons and without.

Goldilocks scrunched her face up as she used the charcoal to deepen the lines before grinning and holding the parchment and board up to the sky. "It looks perfect!" she said turning to Ruby who hadn't even risen from where he was laying beneath the shade of the tree. "I'm not even going to show you, you jerk."

"Why because I'll tell you the truth?" Ruby questioned but before she could answer they heard the sound of horses arriving. The redhead groaned and rolled over, today was suppose to be her day to do nothing and she didn't want to put up with anyone.

"Hey, it's Chloe and Harold. Oh and they brought Ellie and Kyle along, too" Jaune said, as he rose to his feet. "Over here you guys!"

They waved at the four sitting in the cart and then waved back at them. The Thompsons often visited them and more than most, they brought the daughter with them. Qrow sometimes greeted them but not often as his duties kept him busy. The trio watched as Harold and Kyle went about moving the horses as Ellie stood by them, Chloe already heading over a smile on her face as she approached.

"Good afternoon you three" the wife smiled, noticing the hood covering Ruby's face.

Chloe took it upon herself to visit them every month whenever she got the chance. At first it was because of obligation she had felt since Ruby saved her but slowly she grew to care for them. However, Ruby still kept Chloe at arm's distance but only Yang understood why but the redhead encouraged her friends to open up to her. Jaune had told her that it wasn't too late for her to still have a mother figure in her life but to Ruby, she was already at the stage where she wouldn't open her heart to adults, apart from Qrow and James.

"Is she teasing you again Yang?" the woman asked, putting her hands on her hips.

"Yes, look at this marvellous piece of work I just finished creating and she hasn't even looked at it yet" she cried fake tears that Ruby knew all too well from her acting back in Vale. Holding the drawing up to her Chloe looked at it with wide eyes. "This is a beautiful drawing Yang. You certainly captured the landscape" the older woman said, raising the parchment up and holding it in the direction Rukia had been drawing with a smile. "A perfect match."

"See! I told you I'm a good drawer!" Yang gloated making her sister growl in irritation.

"No you're a good sketcher. You suck at drawing anything else" little red deadpanned.

Yang pouted as Chloe giggled lightly handing the drawing back to the blonde. Yang turned to Mrs. Thompson and smiled happily at her, she had grown close to the woman in the year they had been here. She often helped Yang with her shopping when she came to town on the few occasions that she did. Even though Ruby told her that she didn't need to thank her, Chloe continued to insist if there was anything she could repay her for saving her life. If it hadn't been for her, Chloe wouldn't be here today.

"No news?" the old woman's question made Ruby frown, instantly knowing what she was talking about her father. He had gone missing after the Grimm attack and hadn't been seen since, though Ruby briefly remembered talking with her afterwards but couldn't remember the details of what was said or even if it was real. That was the only lead anyone had on him.

"No... I think Uncle Qrow is the only one still looking for him, it's been a year and there has been no sign of him" the redhead said softly, making Yang frown wanting to quickly change the subject.

She jumped over and tackled Jaune making him grunt and fall to the ground with a groan as he held his stomach the hat falling from his face and onto the ground allowing his long yellow hair to fall around his face.

"Ow! What was that about?!"

"You look like a shaggy dog! Get a haircut!" Yang said playfully, touching his hair.

"No way! Anyway you're not one to talk" Jaune retorted, still holding his stomach as he sat up in a sitting position. "There is no need to at the moment and it's not bothering me." His hair now reached down to the nape of his neck while the front hung in front of his face, parting slightly in the middle to show his soft blue eyes.

"Ruby!" The redhead rose his head up before two sticks came down and hit him in both shoulders making her glare up at Ellie who was smirking down at her holding the sticks. She was revealed to be a 7-year old girl with tawny brown hair and green eyes; she looked similar to her mother.

Ruby reached up grabbed both sticks and snapped them in half. "Hey, why'd you go and do that for?!" the little troublemaker shouted, as Kyle walked over to them.

"Same reason why you hit me" Ruby mumbled. Ever since Ruby had saved them that day, she had been pleading with her to try and learn anything about Huntresses. All she got was a cold shoulder which didn't take 3 seconds most days for her to give up.

Ellie simply huffed in annoyance and frowned at Ruby before she whined as her mother gripped her by the ear pulling it tightly. "Ow!"

"You're lucky this is all you're getting, now apologise to Ruby" Chloe scolded.

"It's fine Mrs. Thompson, really" Ruby said, pushing herself up to her feet to stand up. "Kyle gonna sign up. Its next week isn't it?" she questioned, making Chloe frown as she let her daughter's ear go, she rubbed her ear and nodded up at Ruby.

"If I taught you anything, it would only get in the way of what the instructors will teach you since I have no idea what they'll teach about well anything" Ruby told her. Ellie simply frowned and turned away. "Plus, that three dimensional moving gear? Beat's me how it works" she explained. "How am I meant to teach you something that I don't know how to use myself?"

Ellie sighed. "Hey Ruby, I heard you want to go outside. As in beyond the walls?" the kid looked at her seriously.

"Yes" she whispered.

"And you want to join the Beacon Corps?" she asked. What was with this kid?

"Yeah, it's my dream to become a true Huntress" she said. "Many people risk their lives out there, as they fight for our freedom we should support them right?"

The younger girl looked at her with admiration as she used her sleeve to pull her down so she could whisper in her ear. "Then I'll see you out there. See ya later Ruby" she said before running out.

"I'll just wait then. It's only 2 years until I can enlist" Red Riding Hood said to herself.

Chloe glanced to Yang who was frowning, after the Grimm attack Ruby had only wanted to join the Beacon Corps more. Yang didn't think she could stop her anymore even if she tried. Jaune had no idea that Ruby was still planning on signing up when she was older.

The last year had taken its toll on the friends. Qrow kept reminding them... the daunting fact that the military had been unsuccessful for almost an entire year of opening any stable gate back? She still had to wait 2 years to do something. The redhead had made up her mind to convince her uncle to let her enlist.

Chloe watched as the five children ran off to play in a nearby field, swinging sticks around on Jaune's request of imitating sword play.

Once they were done playing, Mrs. Thompson walked over to them. "I brought lunch, come on and we can go eat."

"Sound's good" smiled Yang, before turning to Ruby who was smiling more than usual. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah sure" Ruby told, as she steadied Crescent Rose on her back. Jaune bent down and grabbed his hat.

"Come on, let's go eat" Yang smiled up at Chloe who nodded her head and they walked over to the cart.

Year 845: A few days later, the Royal Government tried to rectify the food shortage by having all the refugees sent to cultivate land and secure food. It wasn't enough. This did nothing to prevent the food shortage. It had been a very difficult time for everyone. Over the course of the year, hundreds died from starvation and illness.

Year 846: In the following year, the military were low on food supplies and low on morality. The tension increased when a new decree from the Royal Family came out at the start of the year. The Royal Government ordered the military from Wall Rose lead the refugees into a launched campaign against the Grimm to retake Wall Maria. There were 250,000 of them, a fifth of the total population of Remnant. Most of them used were civilians with no combat experience or training. But the campaign went unsuccessful… less than 100 survived the carnage. Over half of them had crippling injuries. With this disaster, the food shortage has improved just a little for those who lived.

(In Wall Rose, nearby the farming area…)

"Jaune, did your grandfather came back?" asked Yang.

"He's gone" Jaune shook his head, as tears were shed, holding his grandpa's sword and shield. It was all he left to remember him by. It was all he left to remember his parents, too. "I...I don't know what to do... He was the only family I had left." flows around,

It had been just over a year since after the Leviathan appeared. The famine may have improved but Jaune's grandfather was one of those that had been forced to go and he didn't return. He died in the war. Ruby was devastated, too. Another one of those she'd care for deeply was taken away in a short amount of time. She could only hug Jaune close and cry silently with him when the news of old man James' death arrived.

Qrow bit his lip in frustration. He knew it was an attempt to kill off civilians the government couldn't support. This war. No. It wasn't a war. It was a glorified genocide. It was so painfully obvious to him when they were working in the field.

A small group of Sanctum Police officers were walking by discussing the productivity. The Major in charge was complaining because the farms are behind schedule. His subordinate said that most of the workers were kicked out and sent to recover Wall Maria, likely killed. Qrow glared at the soldiers and as he picked up the kids to go back to the house they had been staying, that's when he pieced it together. The retired Beacon Huntsman was sent on that mission not for recovery but so the government would have fewer mouths to feed. The mission successfully dealt with food crisis that had plagued the remaining Walls containing humanity but the decision was so heartless and inhumane to force citizens to march to their deaths.

But how could he stop them? A low-ranked Signal Guard who was renowned as a lazy drunkard? How many more of his loved ones have to die? At was at this point… the dusty crow decided to get his act together and reach a rank where his opinion mattered to the point where it could prevent something like this again.

"Why? Why did this happen?" the grandson placed his hand on his face and sighed in despair, his close friend Ruby sat beside him.

"They're the damn government" Qrow answered, bitterly. "They don't give a damn who gets hurt as long they get to live comfortably."

"The Grimm are to blame, too. If only we could defeat them, we could get back our place in this world" Ruby murmured, in frustration.

Yang watched the three mourn for James' death in sadness. This couldn't carry on. "Ruby, Jaune, Uncle Qrow. I'm gonna apply for military training next year."

"What!?" This surprised her little sister. "You're gonna be a Huntress."

"Yang, are you for real?!" Jaune exclaimed, looking up. He looked at Goldilocks in surprise, as the redhead wiped away her tears and let go of the Arc boy.

"I've made up my mind" Yang said. "But I have to wait until I got old enough to join."

"B-But Yang?" Qrow said, puzzled. "You don't have to! You once said survival is the most important thing."

"Yes, I'll be there to ensure everyone's safety." Ruby and Jaune blinked. "I'll become strong enough to fight them. I will protect you guys and stay alive. Uncle, you once told us it's not our job to interfere with military issues. Not as a civilians, anyways. I won't let our parents, Mr. Arc and all the others die in vain." They couldn't argue with that.

"Me too…" Jaune replied weakly after a short pause.

"Jaune?!" Qrow could only exclaim in surprise.

"I'm joining, too. I can't sit here and do nothing" he answered, bravely. "If they accept me, the chances are I will find out what I can do about this. And at the rate Hunters are dying I'd say they'd take anyone they can. Even someone like me"

"Well… I guess that makes three of us" Ruby finally murmured, with her silver eyes shadowed. They all looked at her in surprise.

"Ruby!" Yang exclaimed. "You should stay, if there's anyone who needs to stay in safety, it would be you. Let us protect you."

"I'm sick of always being the one protected…" Ruby spoke. "I'm joining the military to fight back the Grimm and avenge everyone."

"No! I forbid it!" Qrow said, in a serious tone. "You mustn't devote your life for revenge! You have to live for those you love, not die for them! You're still just a child."

"I maybe a kid but I know what I want!" Ruby stood furiously. "Look at what they did to mom! Look at what they did to old man James! Should I have to let it go? …Maybe. Perhaps you're right about vengeance being ugly. But… I can't turn a blind eye to this! What if the Leviathan comes back and breaches Wall Rose, too, and then Wall Sina!? We'd have no place left to run or hide!"

The others could only stare at her in amazement, enlightened by her logic.

"Besides, I'm fighting for those I love, I don't care what happens to my body in the end" the redhead argued. "Once I become a Huntress those things won't stand a chance. I'll-I'll make sure I'll never lose anyone else ever again!"

"...Ruby…" Yang placed her hand on one of Ruby's shoulders. "Guess… there's no other choice then…"

Qrow took a good look at the three before him. The same feeling off weakness that had enveloped him after Summer had been killed resurfaced back in all of them. If they didn't do something than more would be killed and they were sick of all of this crap hurting the ones that they cared about and being powerless to stop it. The trio had decided to become soldiers and weren't gonna change their minds.

Finally, Qrow nodded in agreement. "All right then, I'll let you all join together."

As many moons passed by, the three friends were finally old enough to reach their goal, their objective: To join the military and become Hunters.

Well I hoped you guys liked it. It may seem a bit rushed I really want to move on to the training arc which will be after the next chapter, fellas.

PS. OC characters, new Dust Weapons and Sembelances are wrelcomed with open arms.