A/N Rest In peace, Monty Oum...

Please read...

When I first heard the news, I was perplexed. I didn't want to believe it. It was so fast, too fast. I tried doing things to feel better but after I just ended up crying like a bitch. RWBY's future may be uncertain right now, but I'm undoubtedly sure that it will continue. It'd be insulting to throw his amazing creation to the wind. He's had a lasting effect on me, and the majority of you I'm sure.

As a community, we'll do what we can. Monty was a huge creative inspiration, so write something, draw something, get together, give someone a hug, just do whatever. I can promise you guys that, just like Monty, I'll NEVER QUIT. We'll carry on. Through our art, stories, RP'S, reviews, re-blogs, follows, fav's, likes, shares, comments, videos, and of course, our hearts.

... I listened to 'Ashes' from the Halo Reach soundtrack non-stop while typing this. Fucking depressed as hell right now. It relates too much...

Like always friends; thanks for your reviews, those favorites, and the follows. It's just fucking amazing to see support in such succession. Sorry if the chapter is short.

Chapter 15. On Two Fronts Pt.1

Doors. For some, they're a metaphor alluding to new beginnings or adventures. For others they're nothing more than a thin piece of material separating one area from another. But for Cinder, the door she stood in front of was offering protection from an uncontrollable person she in no way meant to harm.

Yang stood fast on the other side. Her posture rigid, like a predator closing in on its prey. Her normally bright and beautiful lilac irises were narrowed, fists by her sides -waiting to see the reason she'd come here in the first place.

Word travels fast to say the least. Prior to what led to this, was a normal after school afternoon. She and Weiss had made plans to meet up at the rich girls estate to relax. Just the two of them. Roughly fifteen mind before she was supposed to be there, Yang got ready and left on her motorcycle. She planned on stopping off at a local coffee shop to pick up some drinks for Weiss and herself when she received a devastating text from Neo;

'Weiss got hurt, get to the hospital ASAP'

Yang had read that message while at a red light and immediately turned her bike around in the other direction. Fueled with intense worry, she got to the hospital within record time and met up with Neo in the reception area. The exact same one she had been in when Ruby was there.

Neo laid out a half ass story that Yang didn't believe one bit. Neo's extreme hesitancy was a red flag, and in truth she was lying. The blonde had taken a stern disposition towards the shorter girl; and she spilled the truth.

The truth being that Weiss got the business-end of Cinder's boots. After that everything seemed to go silent for the blonde. And when it came down to it, she resented herself for even giving Cinder a single chance. The girl didn't even deserve that. It solidified her opinions about the ebony-haired girl. That she was a no good wretch and Ruby made a big mistake befriending her.

When Yang had slightly returned to her senses, she caught the end of Neo's rant. About how Cinder was having a mental meltdown and it was just one of those "Wrong place, wrong time" type of scenarios. The blonde pushed Neo's words aside and went to visit Weiss when she was allowed to. She didn't believe Neo's words for a second, the multi-colored girl begged and pleaded for Yang to listen, but all the blonde said was simple "Thanks" for getting Weiss to the hospital, and that was the end of it.

But it wasn't an end to the stipulation all together. No, it was the beginning of the end.

All Yang wanted to do, was put Cinder in her place. Show that the girl doesn't deserve anyone -not even a friend...

Yang knew it was more than that.

From day one, the blonde knew Ruby was lying through her teeth about Cinder. About their relationship. And about her sexual views.

Her mind rewound to the day she asked Ruby about her crush, who it was, and where the lies began.

"So who is it?" Yang asked bluntly. Ruby jumped at how fast she got to it and started blushing, unable to speak.

Yang continued through her sisters nervousness. "Aww you do have a crush on somebody! ~" Yang said in a sing-song voice, causing Ruby to stutter madly before she forced herself away from the blonde's gaze.

"Yeah yeah…" She scratched the back of her head. She trailed off again, having no clue what to say.

Seeing Ruby wasn't going to talk Yang started naming; "Is it... Neptune?" Ruby shook her head. 'Wrong gender actually...' Ruby thought.

Yang continued her naming process; "Is it...Ren?" Another negative nod. Ruby felt warmer by the second; she was pretty sure if Yang found out that she too was interested in the same sex Yang would wallop in joy, but there's a con to every pro; if Yang found out her 'crush' in question was Cinder, the blonde would go off-the-wall insane.

"Is it... Jaune?" Yang's words broke Ruby from her thoughts, she weighed her decisions, either she could keep denying who it was until Yang gave up [Which would probably be next week] or she could lie her way out; after all there was things she needed to buy, time waits for no one!

"Remnant to Ru-"

"Yes!" Ruby blurted out.

After she had taken Ruby to the mall that day, Yang came up with her own sound answers. As soon as Ruby had said yes that it was Jaune, she knew the girl was lying. Jaune was with Pyrrha, but it made sense that Ruby hadn't known that. The girl never hung around with anybody but Blake, Weiss, or Yang herself. And when Cinder came along, the crimsonette disappeared all together.

Yang hadn't called Ruby out on her lie, because nothing was actually set in stone yet. Deep down she was hoping Ruby would've eventually came to her about it.

But that never happened, and the blonde waited. Days, weeks, months.

Nothing.

Normally Yang would've been the one to directly ask Ruby about the truth, but the idea of Cinder being the one Ruby was taking a liking to would end in an explosive argument.

More over, Yang knew that her relationship with Cinder ran to a deeper level than just friends.

Today was different. Today everything relating to the secrecy had come toppling down.

After leaving Neo back in the hospital waiting room, Yang went to visit Weiss. The white-haired girls injuries were far from severe. Just some bad bruising, and a fractured rib. Nothing that threatened her life.

Yang was thralled at the fact Weiss was okay, she sat in the room taking to her for only a short while. Weiss didn't want to talk about what happened, so Yang merely comforted the girl. Telling her she'd deal with Cinder.

Weiss had shut her down immediately. Telling her that it wasn't necessary. In fact Weiss had greatly urged the blonde to leave it alone until the following day. When Yang asked why Weiss took such a defensive stance on the situation; she simply refused to tell her what happened.

Or rather, she lied.

Weiss looked at it tactically. She knew what Cinder had gone through was total mental disintegration. The ebony-haired girl left with Ruby in an unstable state to hopefully talk things through. Unless things got fixed faster than Weiss assumed, Yang heading over there to, "deal" with Cinder wasn't the best of ideas. Not in the sense that Cinder's state would worsen, rather, Cinder's whitewashed mindset, and Yang's need to settle things would likely result in a frenzy.

Weiss felt so helpless and stupid for not telling the truth, even more so that Yang didn't heed her advice on not going. It also angered her at the same time. Angered at how self-righteous Yang can be sometimes. Asserting herself as the one who needs to settle things.

As it was, Yang had left Weiss with a promise of coming back later on. New target in mind, Yang backed out of the hospital, hopped back on Bumblebee, and took off to Cinder's place. She remembered the location from a time when she dropped Ruby off, back near the beginning of school.

Yang had settled her bike on the opposite side of the road and hopped off. It was later in the evening by then, which made her believe she spent more time with Weiss than she thought.

The blonde made the final step to Cinder's door. She straightened her posture and made her presence to those inside, known. She still stood there, yearning for the moment when that door would open, and she'd come face to face with the problem, and the solution.

On the other side of that door, Ruby watched on in fear. Cinder stood idly by the door. Her body was trembling slightly -all the color drained from her face.

The ebony-haired girl wasn't ready. She wasn't ready for more acrimony to be sent her way.

Ruby was lost on what to do. She scanned over the situation, Yang wasn't going to leave until she had the chance to come in. Ruby herself wasn't going to run. And Cinder...

Even in Cinder's state, Ruby still detected the angered glint in her saffron eyes. Cinder wasn't going to back down.

And that's what Ruby feared most.

"I-I'll answer it." Ruby whispered.

Cinder was unfazed, as if Ruby was non-existent. She didn't even move as Ruby brushed past her and stood by the door, her hand reaching for the knob.

"Ruby w-wait." Cinder interjected. "I'll open it."

"You don't ha-"

"No. S-she's here to see me. F-for what happened." Her voice cracked.

"Then we'll do it together." Ruby affirmed. "She needs to truth too..."

A tear slipped from Cinder's eye, she looked on as Ruby entwined their fingers together and braced to doorknob. Feeling the cold metal on both of their hands; they gave it a gentle twist, and pulled the obstacle open.

Three pairs of eyes met. Lilac filled with assertion, silver filled with worry, and gold. Gold filled with emptiness. Emptiness glittering with unhinged discord.

"Y-Yang." Ruby piped up.

The blonde ignored her sister. Eyes locked in a vicious stare with Cinder's. For a split second the blonde looked down, and saw Cinder's hand entwined with Ruby's. It made her heart beat a little faster, confirming her previous assumptions. Something felt... off however. She took in Cinder's expression. The ebony-haired girl's face was paler than normal, her eyes bloodshot red -dry tear stains running down her cheeks. Ruby had looked almost identical. Like they'd both been crying. Not for a short while, but for hours.

Still Yang had already formed a plan on her way over here. She gave Ruby a small nod, a type of nod that asked if she could step in. Cinder stood her ground and didn't move, but Ruby did. She slipped her hand away from Cinder's and stepped back. The blonde gave her sister a meek smile. A smile so meek it looked fake.

Cinder looked to Yang, the blondes back facing her. "I know-"

Yang tensed up at hearing Cinder's voice, she tore away from Ruby, swiveled around, and with quick force; struck her fist right into Cinder's face. Feeling the girls nose collide with her right knuckle.

"ERGH!" Cinder twisted back in pain. She stood her ground however, reeling backwards but not falling to the floor.

"Yang!" Ruby screeched, "What the hell?!" She took to the blonde, only to get shoved back. Before she could react, Cinder turned back -blood running from her nose, filling the gap between her lips.

Breathing heavily, Cinder took in the coppery-tang of her own blood.

She wasn't going to take anymore shit today.

She stepped forward, ready to retaliate on Yang. With an exaggerated movement, she went for the blonde. Yang doing much the same.

"STOP!" Ruby thundered. The young girl arbitrarily stepped in between them. They both drew back, eyes still seething hate into their former's.

"What is wrong with you two?!" Ruby gave both of them a strong shove backwards, "Don't you think there's been enough for one day?!"

"Stay out of this Ruby." Yang uttered a command.

"Do... it Red." Cinder added with a spit of blood.

"Don't speak to her." Yang seethed.

Cinder didn't say a word. Not because Yang told her to, but she honestly had no clue how to go about this. Everything was such a mess. Her mind was unable to form coherent thoughts. One minute she felt like breaking down and crying again, and the next she resisted the urge to charge at Yang. But not once did running cross her mind, but her shoddy though processes showed she was still pulling out of her breakdown from earlier. Spilling your horrible life to someone and then having to take on anger and hatred from another was all too much for her to handle. Cinder felt her mind slip, and every time It did; her control on the situation slipped too.

"Why'd you do that to Weiss, hm? You just can't l-"

"Yang stop, right now." Ruby barked an order.

"I told you to stay-"

"Shut-up! You don't control me! I don't need your protection!" Ruby's face heated with intense fury, sick and tired of the way Yang treats her.

"Sis, that's not what-"

"Not what you meant right?" She spat, completing Yang's sentence, "So you've asserted yourself to protect me? Like I'm some dumb girl who can't think on her own?!"

"Red, this-"

"Get out Cinder." Ruby muttered under her ragged breath. "I need to be alone with Yang. Get out." She imposed.

"I'm not leav-"

"This isn't up for discussion. Leave, please." The crimsonette's voice cracked a little.

Against her own volition, Cinder reluctantly listened to the scarlet girls plea, and walked out of the living-room. When the sound of the balcony door was heard, Ruby's attention went back to Yang.

"Ruby this... isn't about you." Yang paced forward, only to be stopped by her younger sister. Ruby glared back with a knowing look in her eye.

"Stop lying." She spoke, "Stop pretending like you're okay with it. Like everything in the world is fine."

"Rubes, I'm serious."

"So am I!" She gave Yang's shoulder a shove, "Tired of you and everyone around me feeling the need to protect me because it's under the assumption that I can't." Ruby didn't give Yang a second to respond, "Cinder and I are dating. Since early October." She finished flatly.

"I know..."

Ruby felt her stomach turn at Yang's answer. The blonde looked up and continued, "You calling me a liar... is hypocritical." Yang's irises narrowed, "You've lied from the start, Ruby. Remember when I asked who you liked? I knew you were covering up for Cinder since then. You can't seriously think I'm stupid enough not to realize it; by how much time you spent together?"

"Like you made It easy." Ruby snarled, "You're the last person I would've went to. You made everything so difficult. Like you'd be ashamed if I told you the truth. Asserting yourself as the one to tell me who I should and shouldn't make friends with, let alone talk to."

Ruby came forward, tears beginning to form in the crooks of her eyes, "Because I couldn't go to my own sister about it, you know where I went? Where I had to go so no one could find out?" Ruby sniffed, her voice faltering.

Off the top of her head, Yang couldn't find any specific answer. Ruby didn't go to their father, her friends, and even the blonde herself.

"I... went to Mom's grave."

The heat in Yang's chest dissipated in an instant. Hearing her sister say that broke something inside her. Ruby only visited Summer's grave once. And that was the day of the funeral. After that, she turned down any offer there was to go visit. The crimsonette could never bring herself to do it.

'Is Cinder's influence really that strong?' Yang mulled. It wasn't only that. She couldn't imagine the pain Ruby suffered through just to find the courage to go there. Summer's death was immeasurably difficult for the girl.

"Ruby, I'm..."

"Don't." She halted the blonde. "T-The d-day you got back from... Weiss' b-banquet, I... hung around until night, a-and snuck out when everyone was... sleeping."

Ruby choked back an audible sob, "Y-You know w-what I said to her?"

"..."

"I told her everything..."

Remnant's shattered moon rested high above the midnight horizon. It coasted an awry glow down on the outskirts of town. Alone walked Ruby, against the biting late night cold. She sniffed and shuddered. Resenting how under dressed she was. A simple pair of jeans and a heavy white hoodie wrapped her form.

Tonight was a night she couldn't sleep. Restlessness was a new feeling for the girl, but it was brought on by something she did know;

Solitude.

After that night she just spent with Cinder, combined with her realization of compassion, Ruby wanted to tell someone. That's all she wanted to do.

But she couldn't.

Her solitude was brought on by the feeling of being surrounded by invisible walls. She couldn't tell Yang, Weiss, Blake, or anyone. She just couldn't find the courage. The world seemed to be against the idea of her and Cinder being a couple. It saddened her to no end.

But there was one outlet. One she's haven't had the courage of seeing in a long time...

She couldn't, could she? Visit her mother's grave for the first time in years?

She had to.

Ruby didn't see it as a choice, nor as something obligatory. The girl saw it as right. Something she felt so horrible for not doing sooner. To disregard her mother like that... it killed Ruby on the inside. Bringing her mind back to a time when she was selfish enough to hurt herself over it.

Things were different today. She'd speak everything. About herself, her friends, and of course, Cinder.

She'd left shortly after midnight. Sneaking out of her home with ease. The walk over to the graveyard however; was trial-some to the girl.

With every step the crimsonette took, every step that got her closer to a sense of liberty, was like a slow knife to the chest. Every minute her mind ran with ideas on what she'd tell Summer. Ideas that could've been said sooner.

The repressed pain began to pull at her emotions -just like it had before. Countless tears left her eyes as she walked. Trying to figure out how she was such a heartless jerk over the years. All to the one she loved most.

But talking was always a great start.

Within time, Ruby reached the side entrance of the cemetery. A road that split into three directions was centered by the gate, with a fountain resting in the center. Bare tress dotted the yard, the grave plates under them catching the moons glow.

Ruby followed the road that went deeper into the cemetery. Even after years her young mind still remembers where the grave was.

A short distance from the far back was Summer Rose's final resting place. Her plot was singled out from others, with ample distance between them.

She walked quickly and quietly through the dead leaves on the ground. In a few seconds, Ruby stood in front of a gravestone with a rose design on it. The inscription on the stone reading, "Summer Rose/Thus Kindly I Scatter". She knew all of that from memory too. As it was to dark for the words to be legible.

Frozen from the cold, and from her own emotions, Ruby wiped a stray tear away and began.

"H-Hey..."

The wind seemed to die down when Ruby muttered those first words.

"I..." Ruby's voice squeaked. She took in a shaky breath, "I should've been here long ago... I'm..."

"Mom, I'm s-so s-sorry... I w-was... God I'm s-sorry..." Ruby crossed an arm over her chest to support herself. The sudden wave of grief made it hard to stand.

"I'm... a t-terrible d-daughter and I-I, s-should no b-better but..." Ruby trailed off. Sobbing openly.

"I'm sorry..." She began to think of a good place to start. "I'm in high school now. Yang's always getting jealous of my grades. And... Dad's still doing okay."

The wind danced a little before dying down again, "I've made lots of new friends too. One of them is even dating Yang. Her name's Weiss, but I'm sure Yang has already told you about her." Ruby's continued to choke, trying her hardest to from sentences.

"I've met this girl... Cinder is her name. She's... different. She's helped me out. A lot. But... no one seems to understand her. They all... think she's a bad person. But not to me... we started to hang out a lot, and well... we've been together for a few months now."

Ruby paused to pull her hood off of her head, "There's something...troubling her. I try to help, but she won't say anything. I want to help her Mom, I want to know her more, I..."

"I... love... her."

Ruby fractured into tiny sobs again, she wanted nothing more than for Summer to come back, take her home, and make snacks while they caught up.

"But it's not fair... everyone is against me, and I came here to talk but I just feel like I'm using you... and that of it wasn't for Cinder in wouldn't have come to see you... and just sit until it was too late..and..." The crimsonette's voice splintered into a hoarse whisper, "...I wish you were here."

Racking slightly, Ruby got on one knee, placing her hand on Summer's tombstone. Her palm ran along the top, feeling the sharp cornerstone sting hat her fingers, "Just for five minutes... we could talk..."

A feeling of external pity washed over Ruby, how pitiful it must've looked to an outsider. Seeing her cry over something completely in her control.

But was it really?

Ruby dug into the center pocket of her hoodie, producing a dry and wilted vermilion rose. She got down on one knee, and tenderly placed the flower at the base of the plot. She set it in a way where it perfectly matched the symbol on top.

"I'll... come back... I love you, and I promise..."

Ruby turned and retraced her steps back home. The experience wasn't as uplifting as it seemed. It was nice to finally talk to her, but at the same time, it still left many obstacles in her path.

In due time, she'd endure, and come back for sure.

Maybe next time she won't be alone.

######

Ruby finished her painful reminiscing. This time however, she was unfazed. Not a tear leaving her eyes. She choose not to cry. She'd done enough crying for one day. Telling Yang that was what she hoped would be a means to an end. Ruby hadn't planned on it, but the girl wanted to do everything in her power to give Cinder some time to recuperate.

Yang didn't use words, she grabbed onto Ruby's shoulders and yanked the girl into an embrace they'd both been longing for. One that actually meant something for the first time in a long time.

Ruby pulled back unexpectedly, wanting to get something else off of her chest.

"There's something you need to know about Cinder..."

Yang gave Ruby the go-ahead, no malice or contempt in her eyes, "Hm?"

"I'm... In love with her."

Yang's expression reverted, the words shattering in her ears like glass.

This wasn't it.

A/N I know it sucked, was rushed, and not properly looked over, but I wanted to get this out. I'm sure you know why.

There's two people I want to thank;

My sister Sharon, for her amazing friendship, and her beautiful singing voice. And for sharing her time. Making me laugh, making me cry. I couldn't ask for a better friend.

Monty. For being the first legitimate person of inspiration in my life. An amazing role model who gave us an amazing community. We'll endure, and keep this community going. Just for him.

Thanks for reading everyone. Please, take care.