An Arduous Ascension

Ruby was unconscious for three days. When she finally woke up, her body was weak, her aura practically non-existant, and she had developed a craving for milk.

Milk by itself. As in, not even with cookies, Ruby just didn't get it.

The next few days were spent on rehab. Cinder helped Ruby get her strenght back, even to the point of structuring her meals (or getting someone else to do it. Ruby still didn't know if Cinder had a cook). Ruby was basically helpless for the better part of a week, and it would take even longer than that for her aura to recover. Due to her lack of strength and also as 'punishment' for her actions, Ruby was bound to the penthouse for that period.

Once again Cinder and Ruby's relationship had changed. This was the first time Cinder had ever punished Ruby for anything, even if it was in name only. More to the point, in Ruby's eyes at least, this was the first time Ruby had ever disappointed Cinder.

It... wasn't nice, the feeling of failure, and Ruby wanted, needed, to earn Cinder's forgiveness.

Hence why she tried to get out of bed on her own again as soon a possible, resulting in a rather interesting situation...

"See?" Ruby asked as she stood shakily next to her bed. "I can stand on my own now. I'll be better in no time!"

Cinder only sighed and shook her head mildly. "If you so insist, child."

And that was the other thing. Cinder had started to call Ruby 'child' instead of 'my gem' or any variation thereof.

Ruby didn't want to be a child, she wanted to be Cinder's. And despite how hard she tried to hide it, every time Cinder called her 'child' Ruby felt like a dagger had been stabbed into her heart.

As Cinder rose to leave, Ruby stumbled over to her, clasping the hem of Cinder's dress in her weak grip. "I'm sorry Cinder!" She said again, for what felt like the millionth time. "I swear I won't let you down again! I'm so sorry!"

Cinder had been so, so cold in these past few days. She cared for Ruby, diligently yes, but there was a distance in those golden eyes when she regarded Ruby. The warmth of that omnipresent fire which Ruby had grown so accustomed to had been replaced with an empty hearth, filled with ashes.

Ruby desperately wanted the fire back.

Cinder rubbed her hand on the back of Ruby's head. Shushing her gently. "Do not worry, child." She said. "I'm certain you will never disappoint me again."

And then she was gone, slipping from Ruby's grasp like so much water flowing through her fingers. At the door she paused, giving Ruby a small smile. "After all, you're a good girl aren't you?"

Ruby nodded frantically even as Cinder disappeared around the corner. Before slumping to the ground and letting out a sigh.

Why did it hurt so much for Cinder to be away?

Still, at the very least Ruby Rose had a goal: get back on her feet, and make Cinder happy. So she forced herself back to standing position and made her way to the dining room. A meal was already set out for her, though it took a few tries to get up into her chair.

After breakfast Ruby spent the rest of the day just walking around the penthouse, getting used to moving around again. Whenever she got tired, which was often, she sat down and rested for a bit, dozing almost.

That was Ruby's schedule for the next week or so. Get up, eat, wander around the penthouse, finish book work. She was to weak to train, and her fingers were still to trembly to use her tools, so for another two weeks after standing on her own again, Ruby did very little other than this.

She had just recovered normal use of her aura when Cinder brought a girl home.

Ruby had been sitting on the couch in the living room, idly browsing the magazine Tukson bought her for her birthday.

She glanced up when the door buzzed open, revealing Cinder as she strode into room, a knowing smile on her lips. "There you are." She said, spotting Ruby.

Cinder turned her head to the side, as if she was looking at something on the wall. "Come over here, gem." She said, in a louder voice than was strictly necessary.

Perhaps if Ruby had been in better form she would have noticed the second set of foot steps that moved in time with her own. Or maybe she would have payed more attention to the way her peppy "Okay-!" seemed to echo from the hall.

But even as she was, there was no way Ruby could ignore the sight of the green haired girl with dark red eyes and tanned skin who walked into the penthouse at Cinder's calling.

Both girls froze at the sight of one another. Red eyes narrowed, Silver eyes widened. In unison, both girls turned to Cinder and asked. "Who is she?!"

Cinder laughed lightly into her hand. "Oh my." She said. "I didn't think the two of you would be this adorable." She laughed again. "Well. Emerald, meet Ruby. And Ruby meet Emerald. I think the two of you will get along very well."

Ruby and Emerald stared at each other again, this time with confusion and no small amount of hostility.

But Cinder didn't give them time for that. She clapped her hands once, walking between the two girls. "Come now. It's time for dinner isn't it?" She asked with a small smirk. Wordlessly, Ruby and Emerald followed her into the dining room, where three plates of food had already been prepared.

Cinder, of course, sat at the head of the table, placing the girls at her right and left hand, directly across from each other. No doubt this was intentional because, regardless of how hard they tried, Ruby and Emerald were forced to make eye contact with each other almost constantly.

Cinder seemed to enjoy the tension in the air, if her constant smirk was any indication. It looked like she reveled in the thinly veiled barbs and hidden glares.

But all the same she took care not to incite the girls against one another. The conversation was quiet, and rigidly controlled by Cinder as she ensured both of the girls remained on edge around each other.

At the same time, Cinder forced Ruby and Emerald to be polite to each other, despite how each felt threatened by the other girl's presence.

At the end of the meal Cinder stood "I'll be out for the next few hours, my little gem stones. Feel free to train or study or spar if you so desire, but when I return I expect both of you to be uninjured."

"Okay Cinder!"

"Of course, Ma'am."

When the door thunked shut both girls glared at each other warily. A tense silence filled the apartment for several seconds before Ruby sighed and gave Emerald a tentative smile.

"Hi." She said. "I'm Ruby Rose. It's... nice to meet you."

After a moment Emerald huffed and looked away. "I'm Emerald. It's nice to meet you too I guess."

Ruby shrugged. "Sooo, wanna spar?"

Emerald looked over at the younger girl in surprise. When Cinder had mentioned sparing she though it had been as a joke. This little girl was YEARS younger than her, not to mention she looked about as sturdy as a dry twig.

"You're kidding right?" Emerald asked. Ruby just smirked, bouncing on her toes.

"Well, if you're scaaared..." Ruby said, making her way over to the door. Emerald stiffened and Ruby almost giggled at her reaction. That trick had only worked on Blake once, but Emerald seemed just a bit more prideful.

"Whatever." Emerald said, following Ruby across the hall to the training room. "but you better not chicken out just because you skin a knee."

"Mmmm." Ruby looked at the palm of her left hand. Her eyes traced the thick burn scar that marred her pale skin. "I think I can manage..."

Emerald was suitably awestruck by the size of the training room.

"It's sooo great isn't it?" Ruby chirped. Emerald nodded in reply. "Oh!" Ruby pointed over to a small chest in the far corner of the room. "That's my stuff over there, don't touch okay?"

It took a second for Emerald to gather her wits enough to reply. "Hm?" She looked from the metal chest then back to the waifish girl in front of her. "Why? Don't want me messing with your dolls?"

Ruby smirked. Emerald was struck by how... CINDER... that expression was. "Well..." Ruby said. "go ahead and take a look if you really want to. But if you're not careful it might explode!"

Emerald blinked once. "You're joking."

Ruby just shrugged and made her way over to the center of the training room. "Ready to start?" She asked eagerly.

With one last look at Ruby's box, Emerald snorted and took up a sloppy stance across from the younger girl. She had the look of a street brawler, all experience and no technique.

Ruby just grinned widely. She bounced lightly on her toes, arms hanging loosely from her sides. She had almost no combat training or experience. But her time on the street had given her not only her semblance, but also an uncanny ability to move and dodge.

"Let's get this over with." Emerald said. "I have other things to do brat."

Ruby giggled, taking a pace and a half backwards. "You want it over quickly? Okay, Emerald!" She said. "Just say 'start'!"

Emerald smirked lighlty. "Don't be too cocky." She said. "Start!" Emerald charged towards Ruby.

Ruby crouched, sliding one foot backwards as Emerald closed distance. She ducked the punch. "Hiiiya!" In a burst of rose petals she pushed off the ground.

Her fist took Emerald in the gut, blowing her off her feet even as Ruby flew up above her.

She gasped, red eyes opening wide. As she flew backwards she saw Ruby in the air above her, a grin on her face as they both reached the top of their arcs, and gravity took hold. "Look out below!"

Emerald landed hard on her back.

Ruby landed hard on Emerald.

With a small hop Ruby got back to her feet and took a few steps away. Emerald gasped once more as the younger girls weight vanished from her chest. She tried to sit up once, before collapsing back to the ground, letting out a groan.

Right before her eyes slipped shut a small hand reached out to her. "Was that fast enough for you?" Ruby asked cheerfully. Emerald gave a pained chuckled before grasping Ruby's hand and letting the younger girl pull her to her feet.

"Hah... your pretty good for a kid." Emerald said.

"Than-"

Emerald wrapped her arm around Ruby's shoulders, twisting backwards. She pulled Ruby over her hip and elbow dropping her onto the mats.

"Owie..."

With a labored huff, Emerald pushed herself back up to her feet and staggered backwards a pace. "First rule of fighting..." She puffed out. "Never assume the fight is over."

"That was meaaaaan!" Ruby whined as she pushed herself back up to her feet, nursing her bruised stomach.

"Oh? and using your semblance on me wasn't?"

Ruby pouted and looked away "You said you wanted it done fast..."

Emerald gave a short laugh. "Well, I WAS asking for it." She conceded. "but so were you. So don't let me catch you whining about it." She said with a small smile.

After a moment Ruby smiled back and walked over to Emerald's side and put Emerald's arm across her shoulders. "C'mon, let's go get the bandages."

Emerald laughed. "Lucky little brat. You get bandages after your get beat up?"

"... It was a really good take down." Ruby said. "Can you show me how you did that? I barely know how to fight at all, I'm just, you know, really really fast."

"Hmm?" Emerald glanced at Ruby as the two made their way back into the penthouse. "where would a kid like you learn to fight?"

"Well, the same place as you right?" Ruby said. "I'm an orphan, Cinder found me on the streets one night." Emerald did a double take. "It's that same with you right?"

"Yeah... but"

"Huh?"

"You're not Cinder's daughter?"

"Whaaaa!?"

"... I'm guessing that's a no."

A second later Ruby said, "I wish I was her daughter."

"Huh?"

Ruby giggled as Emerald sat down and she got the bandages. "You'll figure out what I mean sooner or alter. Cinder's... the best." She said. "And I- I just don't want to let her down."

Emerald hissed when Ruby helped her out of her shirt and put on some ointment before wrapping the bandages. Afterwards Emerald helped Ruby get two packs of ice and the girls retired to the couch.

"... You want to learn how to fight?" Emerald asked some time later.

"Yeah."

"Ok."

"Really?!"

"Ugh, get off of me you brat!"

"Oops!" Ruby giggled as she moved back to her side of the couch. "But really? You'll teach me?"

"I said yes already didn't I?" Emerald replied. "But I'm not helping you for free. You're gonna have to teach me something as well."

"Huh? Like what?"

"Something you know that I don't, obviously."

"Oh, okay..." Ruby frowned, brow creasing in thought. "Hey Emerald, what does 'ob-viosly' mean?"

Emerald sighed. "It doesn't matter what it means just-"

"Oh duh!" Ruby bopped herself on the head once. "I know what it means, obviously."

Emerald looked at her for a moment. "Just decide what you want to trade in return for combat training." She said.

"Well... Cinder will probably want to teach you to use dust, herself so-"

"Cinder is teaching you how to use dust?!"

"...yeah?"

"Hold on for a second." Emerald said, sitting up.

"Umm, to what?"

Emerald almost groaned. "You can use your semblance and you can use dust, already."

"Well, yeah. What's so weird about that?"

"How old are you exactly."

"I just turned nine."

Emerald just shook her head and relaxed back into the couch. "It's weird, okay?" She said. "I don't consider myself a normal kid, but last time I checked most nine year olds couldn't do all of that."

"Okay..." Ruby said, shrugging. She glanced off to the side with a small smile. She was special then? Good. She could do even more than just that though.

"Oh! I figured out what I can teach you!" Ruby said suddenly.

"Hmm, what?"

"How to make weapons!"

Emerald looked at the younger girl for a second before closing her eyes. "You know, I'm not even surprised any more." She said. "Okay, that sounds fair. You teach me about weapons, I'll teach you about street fighting."

"Sounds like a deal!" Ruby chirped.

The two girls sat across from one another on the couch in a friendly silence for a few minutes, nursing their respective injuries. But Ruby was never one to sit still for long.

"So... what do you want to do next?"

Emerald rolled her eyes. "Is sitting here until my chest stops aching not an option?"

"Nope!"

"Of course not." Emerald said. "Why do we have to do something right now?"

"We have the whole day ahead of us!" Ruby said, throwing her arms wide, before wincing. "Ow- ow." Emerald laughed. "Anyway-! We can just waste an entire day sitting around and doing nothing!"

Emerald, frowned for a moment. As much as she didn't want to admit it, the kid had a point. Emerald didn't feel comfortable wasting so much time, because when you lived on the streets wasting time was a good way to end up hungry, beaten up, or dead.

She wasn't used to this luxury that surrounded them, and after a second thought Emerald could tell that Ruby wasn't at ease either. Not really.

Oh she was more comfortable amid the opulence that surrounded them than Emerald was, but she had to be doing something, otherwise the fancy penthouse would become suffocating in a heart beat.

"Yeah." Emerald said. "Let's do something."

"Yay! Give me just a second!" Ruby dashed to her room and came back with two rather large books. Right as Emerald was about to make an incredulous remark Ruby dumped both the books on her chest.

"Oof!"

"Ah!" Ruby snatched the books back. "Sorry! Sorry! I forgot, honest!"

Emerald sent Ruby a glare. "Why'd you go grab a pair of books." She got out around the coughing. "When you said do something I thought you meant something, you know, interesting?"

"But this is interesting, look!" Ruby opened up the book with a smile. Emerald frowned as she was presented with pictures of different mechashift weapons.

"This is what you want to talk about?" She asked.

"Well it's either this or go for a walk." Ruby said cheerfully. "And Cinder told me I'm really not allowed to go on walks anymore..."

"Okay, that's great." Emerald said. She didn't want to know anymore, she really didn't. "Let's look at some weapons."

"So what's your favorite?"

After a few minutes of looking Emerald pointed out a pair of curved sickles called 'kopesh'. "These." She said. "I like how they have pretty good melee range but can also be used to grapple." After giving the diagram a second look she added. "They look to small for anything but pistols, though. Which is stupid."

"Hmm." Ruby took a look at the pictures. "I'll see what I can do!"

"Wait, you're planning on making these?"

"Psh- no." Ruby scoffed. "I'm gonna make something even better!" She paused for a moment. "They are really small though... it'd be kinda awkward to fit anything actually cool into it unless..."

Ruby sank in a trance, her fingers tracing over the diagram as she ran through ideas. "Awww." She said a minute or so later. "I so don't have the parts I need- but I have the best idea ever for this!"

Emerald rolled her eyes. "Whatever." Still, after seeing Ruby's obsession with weapons she had to ask at least one question. "So what are you planning on making for yourself?"

Ruby giggled, hugging the book close to her chest. "I think I'm gonna make one of everything." She said conspiratorially. "After all, I have to know how they all feel before I could settle on just one!"

Emerald gave a short laugh. "I'm not even surprised anymore." She said. "I'm really not."

Another week and a half after that, Ruby was finally allowed to go back to Tukson's book trade. Due what happened last time, however, Cinder told her that Blake was still banned from the penthouse unless given her explicit permission.

To be more precise, it was at that time that Ruby was no longer grounded. However, between the increasingly serious workouts Cinder put the girls through, the school work, weapon making, and sparing with Emerald, she didn't actually get to see Blake for another few weeks after that. Nearly a month all told.

In that time Blake had not been idle. Her own punishment, administered by Tukson, had been to help him organize his book.

All of his books.

After the first week, she was dusty, and had a runny nose constantly. By the end of the second her hair was starting to look grey and her arms were sore. After three weeks of moving ALL OF THE BOOKS, Blake decided that she couldn't bear to look at them anymore.

For at least a few days anyway, it would take more than that to cure her of her rampant book addiction for good. But for a bit she just avoided the book store entirely.

Luckily, the lure of the books proved to strong for the cat faunus to ignore and she was back in the shop by the time Ruby showed up again.

It would turn out to be an awkward meeting.

Ruby opened the door slowly and the bell gave a small chime. Between her recovery and her time being grounded, Ruby hadn't seen Blake in nearly a month. Not to mention that last time she SAW Blake... well, those memories were confusing to say the least.

She paused just inside the door, almost losing her courage before Tukson spotted her.

"Didn't expect to see you back here so soon Squirt." He said, snapping Ruby out of her revery. He made his way to the front of the store, ruffling her hair once as he drew her inside. "With the stunt you two pulled, I expected Cinder to lock in in that gilded cage of yours for at least another week."

Ruby giggled lightly. "She tried to." She said. "Then I gave her the puppy eyes!"

Tukson grinned at that. "Diabolical." He said. "But enough of that, Blake's where she always is, you should go talk to her."

"Yeah..."

Tukson patted her once more on the head and returned to the counter. Ruby's feet traced a well worn path through the shelves.

Blake was sitting in their corner. She had a big book in her lap and was trying desperately to look like she was reading it and hadn't just heard every single word that Tukson and Ruby had said.

Ruby moved over to her side and sat down. "... Hiya, Blaky." She said, with a tentative smile.

Blake set the book aside and gave a small smile in reply. "Hello Ruby."

"So, whatcha been up to?"

Blake shrugged, shifting slightly as Ruby leaned against her side. "Hmm, I've been..."

"Busy." Both girls said at once.

Blake nodded. "Cinder's put you through a lot hasn't she."

Ruby just smiled. "It hasn't been that bad." She said. "It's just more school stuff. Oh, and I'm finally learning how to fight! It's so much fun!"

"That's good." Blake said with a nod. "I've been training more too, because you unlocked my semblance I've been put into special training."

She gave a very tentative smile after that, ears flicking backwards to lay flat across her hair. I'm so sorry about what happened, her expression said.

Ruby just grinned and patted Blake on the shoulder I forgive you, was her reply.

Then Ruby pulled a face, "Training with Adam?" She asked.

"Yes, he's not that-" Blake stopped. "Wait, how do you know about Adam?" He'd been there in the alley way on that night, but there's no way Ruby could know that he was Blake's old trainer.

"Huh?" Ruby cocked her head sideways. "You told me about him didn't you?" She ask curiously. "I remember that he was really important to you or something..."

"Ruby. I never told you anything about Adam." She said slowly. She shook her head once, trying to make sense of Ruby's sudden knowledge. "That would be like... like" She cast out her thoughts, trying to find a suitable analogy. "Like me knowing about Yang!"

Ruby flinched away, even as Blake froze as she realized the implications of her words.

The girls looked at each other, breathless and confused, neither knowing what was going on.

"How?" They whispered in unison.

But despite their apparently shared knowledge, it was still Blake who reached a conclusion first.

"After you unlocked my Aura!" She said, reaching out and grabbing Ruby the shoulders. "Afterward, we did..." Blake didn't actually have a word for what had happened back then but all the same... "After we did what we did, it was like our Auras were merging together remember?"

Ruby nodded, instantly seeing where Blake was going with this. "Yeah, yeah! And everything was like 'bloooshe' and 'shwhwhwhhwhwhhh'! and, and I couldn't tell if I was me or me was you! And then it was like we were the same person and-"

"And then this." Blake said, shushing Ruby with her finger. "We know things about each other that we shouldn't." She glanced away, "Things that neither of us had the courage to tell."

She let go of Ruby and sat back against the book shelf with a sad sigh. Why did all of her relationships have to be so complicated? It was driving her insane. It was just so awkward, not to mention terrifying, knowing that she had memories about Ruby's life in her head. Just like Ruby had memories of Blake's life, she didn't know where to go from there.

"Well..." Ruby said after a moment. "Yeah it's kinda weird, I mean," She giggled. "I actually was inside of you Blaky!"

Blake frowned at her, and Ruby giggled once more before placing her hand over Blake's.

"But." She said. "I don't think it's a big deal. You're my friend, and... and I'm not scared because you know more things about me, and you shouldn't be either!"

"Oh?" Blake cocked an eyebrow.

"Yeah! Because I'm your friend, and I don't care what you've done!" Ruby proclaimed. "You'll always be my Blake."

Leaning forward, she captured Blake in a hug and held the older girl close. Blake's eyes widened for a moment, practically freaking out as Ruby rubbed their cheeks together. Despite how cheerful Ruby normally was, she had never been this physical before.

But after a moment Blake relaxed. Maybe it was the influence of Ruby's aura, maybe it was the assurance of her words, but in either case Blake just sighed and accepted the situation. She wrapped her arms around Ruby and smiled.

"Thanks."

"Mmhm."

The two girls sat like that for several minutes, before Ruby pulled back. She didn't go far though, just repositioned herself to Blake's side.

"So, what else have you been up to?" She asked.

"Other than cleaning the store?" Blake said. "Mostly training. The White Fang has changed a lot in the the past few weeks. The leaders want to open up a side branch to prevent something like the massacre from ever happening again. I want to be a part of it."

"Oh?" Ruby said, smiling at Blake's determination, "What's it gonna be called."

Blake shrugged. "They haven't said yet. I think they can't come up with anything as eloquent as 'The White Fang'."

"Huh? What's so eloquent about that?" Ruby asked.

Blake cocked an eyebrow at the question, apparently not all knowledge had been transferred between them? Maybe it had only been important things... or things that had been on their minds right before?

But anyway. "What it stands for." Blake said. "A white fang is a one that is unstained by blood. The name was chosen to both symbolize what we are, faunus, and also our hope and intention, the creation of a equal world, achieved not through violence but diplomacy. Thus, "White Fang."

"Oohhh!" Ruby's eyes sparkled. "That IS really cool! You gotta tell me what they name the other one okay?"

Blake rolled her eyes good naturedly. "Okay Ruby."

About half an hour later the door bell to the shop dinged. The girls were both reading books at that time, hidden from sight behind one of the chest high shelves. In a shop as cozy as Tukson's however, they could both easily hear the conversation that took place near the doorway.

"Professor Ozpin?" Tukson sounded surprised. "What are you doing here?"

"Ah hello there. Tukson was it?" A brief pause occurred. "I'm actually looking for someone in particular. Forgive me for showing up unannounced like this, but I thought you might be able to tell me where I could find her."

"... Really?" Tukson asked. "Who are you looking for professor?"

"A young girl actually. Her name is Ruby Rose, she's nine years old and-"

"You're looking for me Mr. Ozpin Sir?"

Both Ozpin and Tukson turned to see Ruby, standing next to one of the shelves.

She looked up at Ozpin with questioning eyes, as if confused by someone so influential would want to see her.

Ozpin, on the other hand, was dumbstruck.

His sources had informed him that a girl matching Ruby Rose's description came to this shop often, but that she had not been seen for the past few weeks. In all seriousness, he'd only shown up in person because this was the only lead he had left and he couldn't bear to let it slip through his fingers.

He did not expect to find Ruby today, or indeed any time soon. He was actually expecting to be summarily turned away by Tukson, as he had by every other faunus he'd asked about young miss Rose.

And yet here she was, plain as day, and looking a near sight better than Yang did when she'd been found months ago.

She looked... Dear gods above Ozpin didn't know what he was going to tell Qrow. He didn't know if his old friend could handle know that someone else had been taking care of his niece.

That being said, this meeting required tact. Yes, it required very much tact. There was far too much information he didn't know.

"Ruby Rose..." He said, using all of his experience as a public speaker and politician to keep his voice level. There were so many things he wanted to say. 'Do you know how long your uncle has been looking for you', or 'I see you've acquitted yourself quite well, Miss Rose', or 'Thank the gods that you're alive'.

But the phrase that wanted to escape from his lips most of all was: 'You look so much like your mother.'

Yet Ozpin said none of these, he knew that they would all likely end in disaster. Instead, he smiled his inscruitable smile and said. "You have silver eyes."

"Uuum...?"

This mess, Ozpin decided, was quickly and irrefutable spiraling out of control.

A/N: Sorry that this chapter is late, last few weeks have been busy. Also, found it a bit hard to finish up after hearing the news, so I'm sorry if it reads a bit awkwardly.

For anyone who hasn't yet heard, Monty Oum is dead.

What the means for RWBY, only RS and the rest of the team working on the project can say. But regardless of what happens, I will do my best to finish this fanfic and make it something worth reading.

Updates will probably be coming slower now, and I'll return to my usual author's notes next chapter. If you have any questions about the story, please PM me or leave them in a review and I'll do my best to clear up any confusion bits.

-Argentorum