Third person PoV

"How'd things go with Ruby?" Yang carelessly tossed the magazine to the side as she had only been using it to take her mind off of her dear sister.

"... it didn't. I didn't get anywhere. I was… I guess this is what I once wanted our partnership to be; distant but cooperative, I guess, but not now! Now I want to… to be friends with her. To see her smile with me. I… I just want her back, as she was…" Weiss exhaled deeply.

"... eesh, I asked how it went not your deep, inner monologue." Yang teased in an attempt to lighten the mood. She rubbed the back of her head for a moment before continuing, "Listen, if I know my little sister, she will come back. She may not be the happy-go-lucky wannabe-so-bad huntress, but she'll come back and we'll love her all the same… at least I will. Kinda have to as her older sister and all." She snickered at her ending comment.

Weiss scoffed, "Whatever." Before flashing a grin. Yang had been successful!

The happy moment was short lived. Their scrolls lit up, a red danger dialogue box across the center of the screen. This warning prefaced an urgent message that the headmaster transmitted in real time to all available hunters and huntresses.

It seems they're on the move again…

After the failure that was the usurpation of Beacon by the hands of Cinder Fall, the crime organization under her command dissipated. The White Fang seemingly disbanded and its "leader," Adam Taurus, nowhere to be found. The Grimm population seemed less active and less populace.

No one really knows where the Grimm come from or how they come to be. So there isn't a widely-agreed upon theory as to why there is a notable lack of humankind and faunus-kind's greatest enemy.

So where did all the evil go? And who's to say what is good and what is evil? If something goes against one's desires, they will naturally think of the opposition as vile, evil, bad. On the other hand, if a force is with their desires, that same individual considers it good. To every desire there is opposition and with each opposition is a different kind of struggle. That being said, Beacon's hard-earned victory over the Cinder Fall's invasion, is a good thing for the good guys. While it is a bad thing for the bad guys. In this world of shifting powers; powers of wealth, powers of knowledge, powers of force and will and determination, forces of aura and magic, forces of legends, there is almost no middle ground. Everyone secretly wants something and that desire has opposition and support. With that we're back to square one.

At one point of time, she wanted to be a good guy who would fight for the good and the light of Remnant. She worked to be the very best. She strived to become the best huntress anyone has ever seen. Her intentions and actions undoubtedly would place her under the good guy category. However, the day when evil did show itself in and form more than just Grimm… that heroine learned a very, very harsh truth. If she wanted to be a good guy, she would have to swallow the fact that she would have to do some treacherous things. Because if she didn't, she'd be like those who opposed her ideals, dead. But she couldn't. She couldn't! She couldn't be a good guy and believe that the bad guy actions she's committing in the name of self-preservation were justified. After all, to those lives she took, she was the bad guy… and since she won, she truly was… is the bad guy. She is the villain to every life she took. She is the thief who stole a family member from countless families. She! Is the most monstrous individual to those who only desire was to usurp Beacon! And because of that… because of that she sat staring mournfully at her disassembled weapon.

There are no sides of good and evil. It's all up to the individual. Whether that individual is a single person, one company of similar persons, a corporation if like-minded peoples, or even one nation! Whatever it may be, a decision is both good and bad. It just depends on who you ask.

It's maddening! I want to do good. No matter what you do, it is also bad. I want to help people. Being a huntress, you're helping some and hurting others. This constant battle inside herself. It never died. It just hid away for awhile. Being a huntress, you're helping Ozpin and the others but hurting those against him, who you've only wronged by being a huntress. Not being a huntress, you're not necessarily hurting Ozpin and them, nor are you helping his enemies. And that's how Dr. Rose came to be. First, do no harm. The motto of doctors.

Saving lives without any discrimination, now truly, that's as neutral as one can be. Since taking someone's life is never the answer, including your own, she isn't hurting those that tried to kill the patient if that may be the case. Yes… yes! That is how she will bring peace to her mind. She cannot undo the wrongs she did to the fallen. Nothing can. But she can do her best to make sure none suffer the same fate! At least… that was her goal. She swore she would never take up her blade again… and yet, she lifted the glass case and took hold of the shaft, with tears welling up in her eyes, she began reassembling her once beloved Crescent Rose.

What happened that made her change her mind once more? She was there.

No one suspects that they're going to die the day they do. They can be told time and time again the moment they are going to pass away, but they never truly believe it. They cling to that gulden thread of hope that they will wake once more. Breathe another breath. Smile another smile. No one can prepare to fight off Death.

Her hands automatically clicked and locked an extension of the shaft. The sound brought her from her reverie. Her hands trembled. Lightly at first, but as her vision blurred, so did the intensity of her sorrowful quaking.

A spring breeze and a setting sun. The two were snuggled up to one another on a comfortable blanket, leaning against a large oak tree. They were alone, but each other were all they needed. One smiled peacefully at the sunset. The other smiled lovingly at the other. As the day drew to a close, one's smile faded. Faded until it was a frown. "What's wrong?" The other asked. All at once, it came out. A beautiful lie of love… all lies are revealed.

"It wasn't supposed to be like this!" Tears gushed endlessly from her eyes as she shook violently in her mute cries.

Naturally, she was worried about her love. "What? What's not supposed to be? Neo?" she tried to pull the other close, but was shoved off.

With hands hardly under control, she drew the blade concealed within her umbrella. "This."

Aside from the sniffling of the sobbing girl, the night was silent. The air had held its breath and the tree dared not move. It took her some time… "Oh… I… I see." Her throat tightened and her jaw too. She swallowed hard.

A new wave of sobs overtook the mute. "It's not supposed to be like this! I… I wasn't supposed to fall in love… I'm not supposed to be sorry for this! I'm not-"

Gentle, warm hands, well accustomed to tender care and life, sheltered the shaking ones. She looked up with wide eyes. For a moment the silver ones comforted her and her tears stopped. "It's ok."

The tears broke through once more with that phrase and she… she wanted nothing more than to be held! She wanted to be snuggled against her! Not pointing a blade at her! She fell forward and placed her head in her hands as she silently wailed. It's not ok… it's not ok! With a hard gulp she faced her greatest enemy. It wasn't the girl with the red cloak that opposed her. No, it was herself. Slowly, her breathing cane under control and she could once again focus on her girlfriend. The grip on her blade tightened and the hands over hers withdrew. Her eyes followed the retreating figures back to their source.

A sad smile was on her face. A tear had stolen it's way to her cheek. "I… forgive you. And I love you." Her smile grew until it touched her eyes. "I always will." She mouthed.

She clenched her eyes shut and slowly, shakily positioned the blade over the others heart. Her jaw tightened and she held her breath. She couldn't! She couldn't do it. The blade fell from her hands. And her hands found her eyes.

The last light of the sun faded. She grabbed the other's hands away from their owner's eyes. To which, the eyes followed. Gently, the pair opened the others and then wiped away the tears on the cheeks. "Don't cry." Picking up the blade and placing it in wet hands, closing the fingers around it softly. "Don't cry, my love. Smile. For me? I want… I want my last sight to be your wonderful smile." The same sad and regretful smile from earlier came back as she withdrew her hands and placed them on her lap. Her silver eyes closed and with a long sigh, a small, genuine smile appeared on her lips. She forced herself to relax so the blade would have unimpeded passage to the heart that's broken. A familiar feeling.

Her eyes could see the others aura recede and open a hole over the heart she was to pierce. The tears leaking from shut eyes… it appears she has already stabbed the heart. Choking on her own wailings, she positioned the sword over its target… but she never pressed on. She physically strained against the blade to move and get this pain over with, but her hands refused to let it puncture her lover. Because…. Because their hands are special. Others talk with their lips and eyes, but they… they talked with their hands. And whenever they clasped together, it was as though they were kissing. Their hands fit perfectly together. Fingers wonderfully fitting and meshing together to form an impenetrable shell in which they kept their love for one another. And that shell… that shield that protected their love, was protecting her heart now. Despite herself, she couldn't bring the blade to carry out her wished because she didn't really want to. She didn't want do this. She's done it dozens of times in the past and never batted an eye! She's started wars and suffering under the careful guidance of those she worked for! She never once thought twice about it! But now…. Now she can't, for the first time, kill. She finally found someone that made her feel truly… alive. The thrill and adrenaline of her heinous actions before, she convinced herself, were what made her whole. What made her alive! But now… her hands were steady and her mind was clear. She had a job to do, but… she's not going to do it. Instead, silently sheathing the blade, she then leaned in and planted a delicate kiss on the other's lips.

Before she could open her eyes, she was alone. Any evidence that she wasn't so disappeared with her… she sighed and started to cry. She cried and cried in the night. The tree and night sky silently mourning with her and the wind whispering sweet, soothing nothings to her. She was alone once more. Alone. Alone. Alone, alone, alone! Why! Why does she always end up alone!

Her mother, her sister, her team, her school, her… her love… they all… they all left her. Left her. Left. Her.

Something broke inside of her that moment. She will no longer know the feeling of heartbreak. She will let no one in! Her heart is a delicate muscle that keeps her alive and if others are not going to protect it with her than she will seal it off so no one can hurt her! After all… self-preservation is what kept her alive when her mom died, when her sister left, when her team and academy turned their backs on her, and now… now she's not going to let anyone hurt her.

Her sobbing stopped. Her body returned to its normal state… her aura returned. Her heart was shut. It's been broken too many times, it will break no more.

Silver eyes turned to the sky and she snarled. She laughed as she kicked over the wicker basket threw the blanket to the wind. She shuddered with anger as she turned towards home. She sighed with sadness as she began her return. But she did not. Feel. Remorse. Sorrow. Nor mournful. She felt… nothing. And that's how she's going to survive.

She was done. Blinking amazement at how her body had rebuilt Crescent Rose from memory, she gave it a test swing before flipping it around and folding it up into its travelling form. Ah, the familiar weight of a friend was back. And to that, she smiled as she flicked the lights off and locked the door on her way out.

Office to office, she let them know she was leaving. Class to class, she informed her students she wasn't going to be their teacher any longer. Patient to patient she faked sorrow as she told them she couldn't be their doctor anymore.

Her heart has been broken so many times she took matters into her own hands. If the ones she gives it to are only going to abuse it, she'll give it to no one! Heart locked in chains and vaults, combinations and lost keys, miles of cold steel and forgotten passwords. Locked up so tight, not even she could reach for it. Shut in so snuggly, not even the coldest voices will reach her! Hidden so deeply, no light can shine on the bruised and abused love… because love never got her anything. All she loved turned against her except for Crescent Rose! So why should she let anyone else take care of her?

"You did what had to be done."

"I know, but why does it hurt so much?! I've done worse for longer but never has it left me like this!" She sniffled and wiped the tears from her eyes before resuming her sobbing.

"Because you loved her. Truly loved her. You weren't just playing a part in the end. No, through it all, you actually came to love her."

For a moment, the mute crying stopped. I… loved her? Truly and honestly? Thoughts of all the time they spent together and how they smiled. Memories of her wishing they would grow old together or live on forever with each other because when she was with her, nothing else mattered. Each kiss felt like the first and each hug made her heart race. Every date made her palms sweat, but in the end, she would smile so brightly into her pillow; reflecting on the day she spent with her.

"I'm sorry it ended up the way it did… but we're part of the good guys now… and sometimes… sometimes we still have to do some really rough stuff." He blew smoke from his cigar and looked wistfully at the cloudy sky. "Who knew the good guys had to make such tough calls…"

She nodded mournfully and rubbed the necklace she was given. A gift from the one she had to betray. It was a locket in the shape of a rose with a heart in the center. Something like, I've given you my heart both here. She pointed at her chest. And here. She handed over the jewelery. At the memory, she clutched it tightly to her chest as a new wave of sadness over shook her.

As she was about to put the necklace back into the safety of her shirt, she noticed something. The heart within the rose… it had a crack in it. An X formed from the center and kissing the edge. The tears fell heavily that day.