Blake visibly winced, despite the fact that the door was shut she could still hear the noises coming from the second floor of the Inn where all their rooms were. Weiss and Ruby had taken the liberty to take refuge at the cottage for the past few days but they still made it a point to come visit everyone every day.

Today was a little different, Weiss had gone off on her own errands while Ruby chose to head to the Inn to discuss something important with her sister.

"No!" Yang's voice roared, Blake though it was strange that Ruby asked Bolin to take the guys out to check out where Reese and his mother and sister would be living out of – a quaint home on the second floor of Mrs. Peach's shop in town.

The barkeep exchanged a worried glance with the Faunus, but Blake waved her hand with an apologetic look.

"I have to." Ruby stood defiantly before her fuming sister, she half expected some of the furniture of the room to be broken in half during her rampage.

"You just came home!" Yang emphasized, her eyes flashed dangerously at the proposition.

"Yang," Ruby placed a hand on her sister's shoulder, "I'm not done… not yet."

"You've done enough!"

"No… I can't leave this unfinished." Ruby Rose said with conviction, Yang Xiao Long could see that her younger sister was going to follow through.

"You… You…" The words flying out of Yang's mouth were laced with fury, with every syllable she took a step towards her younger sister. Ruby's battle instinct went on edge as her eyes looked on for anything dangerous.

"Yang…" Ruby warned, she took a few steps back to try and get some space between her sister.

"You – "

A sob choked out.

Yang fell forward, both arms crumpling around Ruby.

"I can't lose you, not again." She choked out, tears streaming down her face and unto Ruby's tunic. "Ruby… I'm not strong enough to go through that again."

"You won't lose me." Two hands held on to her older sister that stood taller than her, clutching to the material of her jacket that smelled like forests ands wild flowers. "I promise, you won't lose me." Her voice cracked and she felt something hot and wet on her cheek.

The scout prayed to Oum that if there were ever a promise to keep, it would be this one.

Bolin Hori looked out at his family and Reese while they went about getting ready to open up the small food market that Mrs. Peach ran. Nora had done well to put in a good word for his family that was in need of a home and work, the elderly shop keeper was getting up there in years and needed the extra help. Reese Chloris' experience running the flower shop in Mistral translated well into running the business.

His mother looked right at home inside the shop and his little sister Mei seemed a lot livelier now than she did when they first made landfall in Vale. He smiled to himself while he watched Reese interact with Mrs. Peach, going over the stock and books for that day.

There was a balcony on the second floor that overlooked the shop on the first floor of the building. Bolin was giving the guys and Octavia a tour of the place while Ruby was having (what he imagined) a difficult conversation with her sister.

The same conversation he was going to have with his family later in the day.

"I'm going with you." Neptune looked down at the Hori family while leaning against the railing.

"Same." Sage piped in.

"I'm in too." Scarlet nodded, "As an old pirate, it'll be interesting to sail under a proper banner."

"I figured as much." Bolin smiled at the guys, "Ruby and I are going to talk to Pyrrha and Jaune after she finishes breaking the news to Yang."

"Have you told Reese?" Octavia questioned, she looked up from where she stood which was at Bolin's side.

Bolin looked back down at the woman in question, "Not yet."

"I'll help watch over your family." The medic offered.

"You don't have to," He was genuinely surprised that Octavia would go to such lengths, "I don't want to tie you down to anything."

"You won't." Octavia smiled at her friend, "It'll be just until you come back."

Bolin closed his eyes and took a deep breath, a tear threatened to fall, "Thank you… thank you, so much."

James Ironwood barreled down Jacques Schnee before he could do the unthinkable.

Which was to lay hands on his daughter.

It was by chance that the General had stumbled upon what was supposed to be a private conversation between the two Schnee's. However, the aggravated yelling and the sound of furniture being thrown over caused the General to enter Jacques' private quarters at the castle.

"Get off me!" Jacques roared, anger in his eyes.

"What are you doing?!" James seethed back at the man, "We are in Vale's castle and you're about to assault your own daughter?"

"She is no longer my daughter." Jacques shot a look at his once youngest daughter, "Not unless she takes back that insolent statement she even dared to utter in my presence."

"I will not." Weiss held firm, her hands slightly shaking and her cheek was sore from the first slap on the face she received earlier.

"You're a damned fool!" Jacques seethed; James refused to let up the grip on the businessman.

"You're a fool for taking the side of a fucking fiend over your own daughter!"

"Did you hit your head? You're willing to cut such valuable ties for your dyke fantasies?"

"Jacq!" James pressed his hands harder into the smaller man, "You did not!"

Weiss strode over to the two men, she motioned for James to let go of the man.

Only for the former Schnee to plant a well aimed knee into Jacques' stomach. The businessman doubled-over while James looked on with a hint of a smirk on his face.

"I will not let you tell me how to live my life, what I should or should not do, nor who I should love." Weiss leaned over to the man's ear to ensure that he got the message loud and clear, "And I will most certainly not stand by and let you insult the love of my life like that."

"You're an insolent idiot. I should have never sent you to Mistral." The Schnee patriarch looked up at Weiss, "Don't even think about using the Schnee name for a damn thing."

"I want nothing to do with this damned name, or with you. Not any more."

Without another word, Weiss stood tall. She glanced over at General Ironwood and then left her father's quarters.

She didn't even walk ten feet before she caught sight of Winter, the Commander had heard the commotion and was briskly making her way to the source of the issue. Winter had managed to catch the tail of the altercation and chose to wait it out since General Ironwood was more than capable to handle her father.

Winter didn't say a word as she caught Weiss easily into her arms.

Despite how rarely it ever happens, it always killed Winter on the inside to watch her sister cry.

"You're gonna go with her?" Qrow asked, it was just the two of them at the bar.

Yang slammed her ale, "She's so fucking stubborn… but I can't leave her alone."

"What about Blake?"

"Blake already made up her mind to go when Ruby said she was going."

Qrow sighed, "Stay safe."

"Is… is this what you're sure you want?" Jaune stood tall before the Corporal.

"Yes, sir." Ruby Rose was dressed smartly in her Valesian uniform, Bolin wore simple trousers and a tunic in good repair while he stood off to the side.

"I'm assuming this is what you're here for as well?" Pyrrha looked at the seasoned fighter.

"Yes, myself and a few other wish to formally enlist into Mistral's ranks." Bolin nodded his head.

Pyrrha smiled, "We don't have much forces here, but I won't say no to good help."

Jaune crossed his arms, his eyes rested on the rank that signified Ruby's status as a Corporal. "We'll have to fix something about that." He motioned to the insignia.

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked.

"I'm going to request that you be promoted."

"Does he know?" Octavia looked over at the men in the corner of the tavern. Their energy was infectious – they had purpose with a sword once more. The three toasted and drank their ale while the two women sat a part at different table. A look from Octavia was all it took to have Neptune and them give them space.

Reese drank her water, "No – not yet." She was still processing the conversation Bolin had just had with her that morning before he left with Ruby to go to the castle.

"I told him that I'm going to stick around with you and his family while he's gone." Octavia placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"Thank you, Octavia." Reese smiled forlornly.

"When will you tell him?"

"When the time's right." Reese looked over at the guys in the corner drinking, "He needs to focus on getting ready."

"I'm sorry – "

"Don't be sorry." Reese interjected, "I've stood by him while he was a slave – I can stand by him as a free man."

Weiss was already at the cottage by the time Ruby came back that evening.

"He disowned me." Weiss wasn't quite hysterical, just more in shock.

"He's a snake if he's willing to side with Roman…" Ruby reached out to touch Weiss' arm. "Whose not even around anymore." This perked up Weiss a little bit.

Deep blue looked into steel, "What's this I hear about you going to war?"

Ruby clenched her jaw, "Did Yang tell you?"

"She wants me to talk you out of it."

"Are you?"

Weiss leaned in to catch those soft lips on her own, "No."

Ruby could see the melancholy in her gaze, with a gentle hand she catches her cheek, "I'll come back."

"Don't make promises you can't keep."

"I will come back to you."

Weiss closed her eyes and leaned her forehead onto Ruby's. She was out of tears and her body too exhausted to even think about crying again.

Instead, she just wanted to feel this moment with Ruby while she rubbed her hand affectionately on her back. Memorizing the way her fingertips pushed into the lower part of her spine, how the scout's breath felt against her cheek.

"Weiss… You're my whole world, I promise that I will come back to you – no matter what it takes."

"I'll hold you to it, dolt."

"You're drunk." Blake deadpanned, the moonlight shone brightly through the window of their shared room.

Yang stumbled to her bed, "I'm going to war." She hunched over and proceeded to stare off into the distance, her mind in a haze after her binge with Qrow.

Blake stood and made way to where the Huntress sat, "You don't have to go, you can – "

Yang cut her off with a rant, "I refuse to sit still while my sister willingly goes back to that Oum forsaken – "

Blake leaned forward and planted a chaste kiss, "Get some sleep." She figured the blond had ranted enough about the situation today.

Yang slumped over, face red, "I'll make damned sure she comes back." Her lip burning with the sensation of having Blake's pressed against it.

The Faunus refused to leave the woman alone; instead she chose to curl up next to the inebriated Huntress – allowing Yang to nuzzle up into her side, her face damp with a few tears.

"I'll make sure we all come back." She wrapped her arms around Blake a little tighter, "Why are you going?" Her voice barely above a whisper, but Blake's sensitive ears still picked up the question.

"Because it would feel wrong to stay back and watch Ruby fix something that I technically broke."

"It wasn't your fault." Yang murmured into Blake's shoulder, her nose gently caressing the exposed skin there.

"Not completely, but I was a part of it." A tentative hand ran through the blond mane that was sprawled out next to her, "Like Ruby said, I'm not done yet."

"Oum, I can't leave either of you alone." She looked up at Blake.

Despite how dark it was, Blake could clearly see those shining and beautiful eyes that were slightly red from all the tears. She arched down to plant yet another kiss on the Huntress' lips, she felt magnetized by the pull of those bright eyes. Before the Faunus could pull away, Yang snaked an arm around her neck to keep their positions in place.

Carefully, the Huntress leaned over the Faunus until she had both of her arms on either side of the woman. Yang had been careful about pushing Blake into this position before tonight - she didn't want to scare her away. However, the look that Blake was giving Yang was anything but fear.

It was trust, it was faith, it was...

"...Love..." Blake's raspy voice echoed lightly through out the empty room.

Yang remained silent, she knew what she had heard from the woman beneath her.

"Do you?" Yang asked, her mind completely sober.

"I'm not sure." Blake confessed, she locked her arms around Yang to keep her in place, "But I want to find out...together, with you." She pulled the Huntress closer.

Yang closed the distance, burying her senses in the lavender smell and the electrifying feel of Blake's skin against her own.

Together, the two made love for the first time.

A man dressed in elegant armor and a flowing forest green cape looked out at the open balcony. The sword in hand he received as a young man from a good friend who was now the King of Vacuo.

King Ozpin stepped out into the morning sunlight, the regiments of troops lined neatly down below in the castle courtyard. The Kingdom's finest officers lined the front with swords out and used them to salute to him. Wise eyes looked over the faces of the young men and woman.

One in particular stood out to him (possibly due to the ornate wolf plate that she bore on her chest) – the face of Captain Ruby Rose, former slave and gladiator now turned officer of the 127th Brigade and personally took command of the 3rd Battalion that was composed entirely of scouts and light cavalry. Ozpin considered their role as one of the most vital in his army, they were tasked the treacherous mission of forging ahead and returning with timely and accurate information so that the Commanders and Generals could formulate a strategy.

A job that has proven time and time again to be extremely lethal.

"It is with a heavy heart that I call upon you once more to offer your services – no." Ozpin's gaze lingered on Commander Jaune Arc, the Shield of Vale. "I ask each and every one of you to lay down your lives not for this Kingdom, but for Remnant itself." He took a deep breath, "So I would understand, whole heartedly, if you choose not to."

A slight gasp erupted from the line of troops.

"I will not hold it against you if you choose to do so, and as your King, I promise you that there will be no reprimands for those that choose not to march once more to the shores of our enemy." Ozpin paused.

For a few moments all was still – then the first stepped out of line.

An officer in line yelled out, but a look from Ozpin told him otherwise.

It was like watching a flock of sheep, one by one, then two by two, and then whole rows left the courtyard to stand off the side. Even a Commander walked off leaving an entire Brigade in shock.

Ozpin did a quick sweep of those who remained; only two-thirds persisted of the original amount.

"Generals and Commanders, as your King I order you to not reprimand nor ostracize those who have chosen not to go to Mistral. I remind you that each of you have volunteered, and each of you have already fulfilled your commitment to Vale and to it's people with the war that had just recently passed." Ozpin's voice swept through the courtyard, "Life is precious, do not blame those that have chosen it, because some times it is harder to uphold life more than anything else."

A slight murmur.

"Those of you that are left in the files and ranks – I am proud to not only serve as your King, but as a fellow comrade-in-arms for this fight." Ozpin raised his sword, "We fight, not for ourselves, not for our country, but for everyone!" Like a rolling thunder in the distance, the King's voice began swelling throughout, "We fight for freedom! For equality – and not just for ourselves as humans, but for our fellow brother and sisters who are Faunus!"

The crowd before him began to rile.

"We will sail across the ocean and fight for the justice of our slain compatriots in Mistral! To right the regicide that the usurper Salem has brought upon the Kingdom of Mistral and to liberate the oppressed citizens!" Ozpin's gaze was hard as stone, "I ask of you all now, standing before me, you – the best and brightest that Vale has to offer!" The Valesian King closed his eyes, took another deep breath, and opened them with such a steel resolve.

"Will you fight with me for Remnant?!"

Ruby Rose drew her sword made out of the finest Valesian steel, she thrust the pommel high overhead, "Aye!" She roared, the dark wolf armor gleamed in the morning light.

Yang Xiao Long, dressed in a Valesian uniform, unhooked her great sword – the men around her went wide eye at the sight of her waving the sword overhead, "Aye!"

Blake Belladonna smiled at the two sisters, glad that the Valesian Army let everyone stay together under the Gladiator's command, "Aye!" She yelled.

The courtyard exploded in roars and shouts.

Ozpin smiled down at his men.

"For Remnant!"

Reese Chloris was amazed at the amount of warships that lined Vale's dock, Atlas had done well to supply the Kingdom with ships. A chorus of farewells echoed off from down the pier, a ship filled with troops leaned over the side of the vessel to wave to their loved ones.

"Impressive, isn't it?" Bolin stepped next to her, the golden chest piece gleamed in the sunlight, the ornate dragon was well polished and accented well with the Mistrali red cloak he wore to represent his country. The get up turned a few heads, but everyone relaxed when they saw who it was.

Bolin Hori had made a name of himself even here in Vale as a talented swordsman that the Valesian guard was more than happy to have within their ranks.

"Check in with your Captain yet?" Reese teased.

"Ruby isn't a stuck up officer, not like some of these other kids." Bolin was referring to the young lieutenants who thought they knew it all, "Commander Port has given her a lecture already about how she needs to act, but I think she'll be fine – the whole Battalion look up to her."

"They're not the only ones." Reese smiled at her lover, "How long do you think this will be?"

Bolin shrugged, "Some of the guys are buzzing that it'll be quick because it's literally all of Remnant and then Salem's bunch, but I wouldn't write them off completely – Mistral does have a reputation to be fierce."

"Just like you." She mused.

"That I am." Bolin leaned down and planted a kiss on her forehead, "I'm sorry that –"

"Don't be sorry," Reese cut him off quickly, "I'm not sorry, not at all, because this… this is a part of you. That's what I've come to learn about you ever since you earned your freedom."

Bolin remained silent.

"You became a Gladiator, a strong warrior who cares for his comrades and has an impeccable winning streak." A slight smile, "I understand that this is a fight you need to finish – that you, Ruby, Neptune, Sage, and Scarlet need to finish. And you're doing it for them – for Sun and Nadir."

"I'm glad you understand." A tear slid down his cheek, "I can't stand by while this mess isn't cleaned up… and I refuse to let others clean it up, either. Despite all the hardships and shit that's happened, Mistral's my home."

"Our home." Reese smiled gently at him, "Go get our home back." She bit her lip, Bolin tilted his head once he sensed her apprehension.

"What is it?"

Reese Chloris smiled brightly, "Go get our home back… for our family."

"Our family?" Bolin looked down and saw her hand hanging protectively over her stomach, "Our family." He repeated.

"Yes, our family." Reese leaned into him, resting her head on top of his chest piece, "I'm pregnant Bo." Her tone was gentle, "Octavia helped me confirm it."

"You're pregnant." He sank to his knees, two hands place gently on either side of her abdomen, "With our child." His voice cracked.

"I have a name in mind."

"Already?" Bolin looked up in surprise, his eyes glistening with delight.

Reese nodded, she leaned her head down to whisper the name she had in mind.

Bolin Hori picked up Reese Chloris and spun her around in glee.

He could not think of a better name.

Ruby Rose, Captain of 3rd Battalion.

It had a ring to it.

"You do look fetching in your Valesian get up, though that armor hints a little bit to Mistral." Weiss smiled at her lover, the two got away from the docks to be alone somewhere on a pier. Ruby leaned against the wooden railing while Weiss found a place right next to her while clutching on to the Captain's arm.

Ruby Rose got order that her people would move out that evening. She was grateful that Yang and everyone got placed under her command (she suspected Jaune and Pyrrha organized that), the 3rd Battalion was going to have a lot of talent and fire power in their ranks.

"Told you I turn heads." She looked down at the wolf head armor that had various nicks and dings to it now. It matched the various scars that decorated her entire body, the men she commanded could see the stories that each told. Ruby was a walking tapestry of strength, courage, and resiliency. "Are you sure you're going to stay here? You can go to Atlas…"

"There's nothing there for me anymore, and Winter's even fighting along with you guys so I have no where to stay." Weiss was referring to how she was disowned from the Schnee name, Winter mentioned in a letter that Whitley was being groomed to help run the Schnee Merchant Company. "And besides, someone has to watch your cottage as well as Ren and Nora's while you're all gone."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be, if I had to choose you again, then I would – as much as it takes to show you that I love you."

"I love you too." Ruby let out, she couldn't say the phrase enough to truly show how she felt about Weiss.

"Oum, it's crazy where we are now." Weiss looked about the port. "I met you almost a year ago now."

Ruby chuckled, "In the Coliseum? After I cut down all your fighters?"

"That was something my Father… insisted on, he wanted the fastest way to the elite's inner circle. Which happened to be having a good gladiator under your belt." Weiss thought back to the first time she saw the bloody sport. "But not that… I meant at the party where you fought Neptune."

The old fighter smiled at the memory, "When I saw you clearly for the first time, I could have sworn eternity passed before I remembered how to breathe again."

"When I watched you get whipped… I wanted nothing more than to yell out for it to stop. I was so angry and frustrated and if Pyrrha wasn't there I think I would have ran out there to shield you myself." Weiss was thinking back on all those hard times, "And when I saw you for the first time still standing before me despite all those bandages, I have never felt such relief."

"And then we slept together for the first time after that." Ruby wrapped an arm around Weiss, "Before you… I detested sex. It was another weapon for me to hold and wield at the command of that monster… but with you, it didn't feel like that all."

The Captain dipped her head, closed her eyes, and then leaned closer. Weiss closed hat her eyes in anticipation, she could feel Ruby's warm breath fan against her lips.

She felt warm from the inside out once she felt that caressing touch.

Ruby parted and then rested her forehead into the side of Weiss' head, her lips a mere inch from her lover's ear, "You were my first time that I truly enjoyed."

Weiss smiled at the words that were whispered for only her to hear, "You are my best." She turned her head slightly in order to taste Ruby once more.

Her lover tasted like sweet sap, wild roses, and a fresh forest. Something she found so much more addicting than sweet wine.

"You make me better, Ruby Rose, in more ways than one." Weiss confessed.

"You're my whole world, I truly meant it when I said it the first time." Ruby replied.

Weiss thumbed at the small burlap sack in her hands, she kept it out of sight until now.

Ruby took note of it, she didn't even realize that Weiss was holding it the whole time.

"What's that?"

Weiss Schnee looked up tentatively at Ruby Rose.

"Another promise."

Gently, Weiss untangled her self from Ruby's side. Her gaze remained steady on the Captain while she carefully went down on bended knee.

"Marry me, Ruby Rose."

The pier shook from the sudden collapse of Ruby's weight falling to the floor, she haphazardly threw both of her arms around Weiss and held on to her as if Oum demanded it.

"I will." She murmured, her voice nearly gone from the shock of it all.

Weiss pulled away slightly, she pressed her lips against the Captain's cheek before leaning in closer to her ear, "I want to take your last name." The whisper rang through like a bell to Ruby Rose.

"You can." Ruby looked down at the ring, she picked it up and held it up to the sun – it was a simple gold band, but the scout thought it to be the most precious gem in the world.

Weiss plucked the band out of her hands and placed it on her left hand.

"Weiss Rose… I promise I'll find you a ring that's just as beautiful as you when I come home." The Captain proclaimed, the way her last name sounded with Weiss' name…

It was poetry.

It was hope.

It was their future.

"Oum, I love you." Ruby whispered.

"And I love you." Weiss replied. "Now go, win this fight and come back home to me."

"I promise."

The sea breeze was uplifting and gentle; the sail's that bore Vale's emblem was caught ever so slightly in the gust. The creak of wooden ships and water splashing about the docks and piers echoed lightly through out the bay. A few clouds decorate the fine blue skies over head and the sounds of children excitedly rushing about the port could be heard.

But, through it all, the tides of war rumbled faintly underneath.

A/N:

And that's a wrap for the proper story. There will be an epilogue posted soon, I finished writing it today and I'm going to hold on to it for a few more days to put the finishing touches.

It's a weird feeling to see Gladiator at the finish line, for me it's a sense of relief and sadness all mixed together. Like I just left behind a piece of myself on a shelf somewhere, I can always come back to it, but it's never going to be quite the same as carrying it around with me. This story has been an absolute journey to write with how complex the plot was and how arduous I made the adventure.

Despite the fact that our heroes are going to war, it seems like a pretty happy ending to me.

I'll see you guys in the epilogue, I have some parting words for all of you that have made it with me on this journey.

Cheers and Thank You,

DevilRed