RWBY: A Thorn in My Heart

Chapter 21: Aftermath

"I am sooooooo sorry everybody, please don't kill me!" Ruby pleaded as she bowed on the floor of the infirmary in a dogeza position.

Her friends emitted a dark purple aura as they glared at her intensely; making the air around them suffocating for everyone else as the nurses and other patients winced in fear at the scene from the end of the room. It was no wonder why they were so angry; Weiss and Pyrrah remembered Ruby making out with them while they were semi-conscious and had informed the others as well. They didn't appreciate the attack on their mouths, despite Ruby's explanation of how her new semblance required that. Pyrrah had to use her polarity semblance to keep an angry Nora, whose face and neck riddled with veins, from pummeling Ruby with her hammer, which charged electricity as she laid pressed up against the wall.

"To be brutally honest, I am tempted to let her loose right now." Pyrrah slowly said, her seemingly calm tone belying her extreme anger and embarrassment. She clasped her breasts and lips as she still felt Ruby's body on hers. Pyrrah had been raised to fight for justice as Mistral's hero, a sentiment she shared with Ruby's desire to be since childhood. This made her especially offended her friend would use her body like that even for the right reasons.

"You know I am with Jaune, why of all people would you choose us to do… that?!" she yelled, blushing heavily as she remembered the kiss with each word her mouth uttered. Jaune merely looked away and Ren couldn't tell if it was from disappointment with Ruby or because he was flustered his first friend at beacon kissed him in his sleep. He grinned as he decided to poke fun at him.

"Wish you were awake when a hot girl kissed you huh?" he whispered to Jaune who flailed his arms in surprise, flustered at the accusation. Ren felt his heart stop and his spine tingle as he sensed a chilling breeze down his back once he said those words. He slowly turned his head behind him, sweat dropping from his face profoundly as he saw his girlfriend horse with rage, her own face red and veins streaming down her eyes. She heard very well what he teased and was clearly pissed.

"So you… think Ruby's hotter… THAN ME!?" She yelled as she struggled vainly to force herself to move from the wall to attack, but Pyrrah stood by in shock, enforcing the polarity to gravity bind her teammate.

Weiss merely chuckled from the altercation as Ren gave a sigh of relief his life had been spared. She looked down to see Ruby give a short smile before quickly averting her gaze to return to her bow, continuing to apologize in a panicked tone. Weiss grasped her own chest as she recalled the hot interaction she and Ruby had earlier. It would be a lie to say she didn't enjoy it, or that she wasn't upset she did that, but honestly couldn't fully blame her partner for what she did considering her motive. She looked over to see Yang, sleeping in her bed, a cast over her regenerated arm and ice patches taped to her skin, which was covered in small burn marks from overuse of her semblance. She felt relieved Yang came out of that fire dragon breath alive at all, and being told of her evolved semblances recoil sent shivers down her spine. They almost lost Ruby this month and now Yang too. They had also lost some students to this attack and could only imagine the turmoil their families would be facing. Enough suffering had been brought to them all; she knew she had to stop this fight. She clapped her hands to get everyone's attention.

"Okay everyone, Ruby's clearly sorry for what she did. Maybe we just let it slide this once?" she implored before Nora yelled, making Weiss recoil in fear. She remembered that tone being used by her Father whenever he slapped her or mom and it made her body shook.

"Are you kidding me?! Don't think just cause you like her like her she's gonna get off without a pound from me!" Nora yelled.

Weiss jolted as her eyes went wide open as they darted to see a surprised Ruby raising her head from that decleration.

"Wait? Weiss likes me, likes me?" she said confused.

Ren sighed as he clenched his eyes with his fingers while Jaune and Pyrrah looked on frozen in place from the awkwardness.

"Nice job breaking it Nora." Ren said sarcastically.

Weiss blushed, she was feeling a mix of anger and panic as Nora told Ruby her secret. She thought she hid her feelings well, after all she needed to since Blake and Ruby were together now. In her panic, she yelled,

"Shut up you idiots!

Weiss's body then started to have ice dust stick out of her skin that glowed blue. Everyone gasped at the sight as Weiss's eyes turned blue and her dust crystals released a blue stream of light that froze everyone in place. As Weiss breathed heavily, her crystals returned into her skin, the process feeling like multiple injections being stuck into her skin.

"Ow, what the hell was that guys?" she said as she composed herself with one more deep breath before getting up to see the end results of her attack. Velvet walked in at that moment to see, in awe and shock, her patients all frozen, their eyes darting as they retained consciousness. She could hear Ruby mumble something she could only assume was "get me out of her its cold!" before eyeing Weiss, who she knew was the source since she wasn't frozen and had ice powers. Weiss only gave a sheepish grin before rolling her eyes and groaning, ready for the earful to come from the now visibly angered Nurse.

2 hours later…(French Narrator)

Weiss used a pick to shatter the last ice block around Blake's leg. The cat girl shivered as she clenched her own arms, desperate to regain her warmth. Ruby drank a hot coffee that Velvet prepared for her once she was free and saw her lover's condition. She had an idea how to get Blake comfortable… in a way.

"I'll warm you up, how about I start with your soft ears?" she said as she caressed her girlfriends cat ears slowly, her voice growing more seductive as Blake blushed.

"Uh Ruby I don't think that…" she tried to protest, her teeth chattered from the cold before she felt the warmth of Ruby's hands all over her ears. She moaned a bit before starting to close her eyes from relaxation. The heat and motion felt good on her head as her body began to heat up. Seeing this was working, Ruby decided to do something to seal the deal to help. She breathed into Blake's cat ears.

"Tonight we'll have some "playtime" in my room my little kittie." She softly said, eliciting a small shriek from the cat girl who was now very flustered, her icy cold boy completely melted as sweat enveloped her from the heat and seduction. Blake darted out of bed and jumped on a bookshelf as she breathed heavily, she knew there were others in the room and couldn't think of continuing this process. She felt her reason draining each second it continued and had to have some privacy before even considering it. Ruby merely ignored the looks of the blushing teens around her, satisfied her plan worked.

"Oh well, guess playtimes over… till tonight." She said, licking her lips a little. Blake and Yang gasped, they realized a while ago Ruby was a lot more bashful then they assumed, but her behavior was almost alien-like. Weiss especially was conflicted from this display.

"H-How could you be so shameless?!" she said flailing her arm as she pointed at Ruby. Ruby merely rubbed her head as guilt overtook her.

"Yeah, I guess I have overdone things lately." She meekly said. She still felt awkward about her "attacks" on her friends and learning Weiss was in love with her. As she turned her head towards the heiress, she made quiver as she gave a stern gaze.

"Listen, I appreciate your feelings Weiss I do, but." Ruby started. Weiss's heart sank as her mouth hung open a little and her eyes widen in anticipation of what she knew was going to be said next. She hated every moment of this, and her reaction drew sighs and saddened looks from Team JNPR and Yang, who knew how badly she was gonna take it. Blake merely averted her gaze and closed her eyes.

"Were partners, feelings like that would interfere with our missions, it can't work between us." She said as her heartstrings tugged at the sight of tears forming in Weiss's eyes. Ruby knew her relationship with Blake, a teammate was risky enough, but her partner would certainly be more dangerous as she was usually closer to her in battle. Any loss of concentration would be detrimental, she knew this especially well after her rampage and Yang's one earlier that cost her an arm. Fighting her guilt, Ruby thought she should ease her tension by making her rejection less professional.

"I admit that kiss was… wonderful, but I don't deserve you after everything I did to you guys. I am lucky enough I still have Blake after that." She said.

Her response causing Blake to give her a glare as she gripped her pants, her nails nearly bleeding from the pressure as anger filled her. Blake didn't like the fact her girlfriend kissed so many people and was now using that as a rejection excuse. Before she could open her mouth to let Ruby have it, Weiss ran out the room, bawling her eyes out as she covered them with her arm. She just couldn't stand to look at Ruby right now after her heart felt so broken by her crush.

Ruby hung her head in shame as she reeled from this. She had such a horrible day, smelling the blood of her dead classmates at the courtyard, seeing her sister hurt, and now having hurt her closest friends and her partner.

"Well damn, this is a mess." Yang sighed as she sat next to Blake, still glaring intensely at her girlfriend. She could tell her partner was upset, but she wanted to help her baby sis more. She placed her good hand over Blake's shoulder, ignoring her attempts to shrug her off.

"I get your jealous, but Ruby really is the devoted type. That's why she kissed everyone, to protect us. She feels bad for what happened, and for rejecting Weiss, but do you think she could live with herself if we got hurt while she did nothing?" she asked.

Blake felt her rage subside as heard this question. She began to sense the turmoil Ruby was going through, and realized Yang was right. Ruby had always felt pressured to keep them safe from harm and always mutilated herself whenever she failed that, just like when Thorn was kidnapped. Kissing everyone and betraying her was hard, but if they weren't reckless in that battle, Ruby never would have needed to resort to it. She felt her blood begin to boil, though, when remembering Ruby kissing Weiss.

"She really does take our relationship seriously but, I just can't get that image out of my head!" she said aloud, causing Ruby to shudder. Yang sighed as she pushed her partner towards Ruby.

"Then go kiss everyone to make it even or try and forgive Ruby if you take it seriously too." She bluntly said, eliciting a squeal from everyone. Ruby looked up to see Blake, rubbing her ears nervously. Ruby gulped with anxiousness, she clasped her hands together and put on puppy eyes,

"Sorry, forgive me pretty please" she said as she smiled. Blake felt her heart melt a bit from this scene, as did team JNPR.

*Bomp*

Ruby groaned as she clasped her head, which now had several large red bumps protruding out of it (comic relief).

"Forgiven" (Everyone)

Gloom and Doom

Weiss ran down the halls crying,

"You dunce! How you could you say that?" she said to herself, fighting hiccups as she ran. Her mind was racing so much she didn't think who she really meant that for. Ruby for rejecting her so bluntly, Nora for leaking her feelings out so tactless, or just herself for thinking she even had a chance. She stopped running and leaned up against a small grimm pedestal, panting as her tears flooded her face.

"Yeah right, no chance in hell!" she bitterly said as she sobbed into her legs and arms. Ruby was with Blake, there was no way Weiss could have her. But that kiss and this weird sensation her chess felt from Ruby's touch, she really wanted that feeling again.

"No chance of what happening Ms. Schnee?" Ozpin said as he wheeled over to see his student a sobbing mess. Weiss averted her eyes, despite her current status she couldn't sacrifice any more pride; she couldn't stand to be seen this pathetic right now.

"Nothing sir, just my… monthly. Please leave me alone I am fine." She stuttered, but her hiccups and somber tone didn't convince the headmaster. He could already surmise why the heiress would be crying right now.

"Miss Rose didn't return your feelings I see." He somberly stated, but with hints of professionalism in his voice. Weiss looked up in shock, finally revealing her eyes, red from crying to him. His heart fluttered at this sight, but he was then filled with determination to do something right for a student this once.

"I saw… what happened… in the courtyard, and it may have given you false hope I assume." He said.

Weiss gritted her teeth, a part of her really wanted to lock him in the jaw for that bluntness, it really reminded her of ruby's rejection.

"Yeah, so what, it doesn't change anything!" She yelled.

"At least you were open with her, even if the result hurts its better than lying to yourself, believe me I know." He said, earning a sharp glare from the young heiress.

"What the hell do you know about what this feels? You ever have your hopes crushed?!" she angrily retorted.

Ozpin sighed as he simply began to wheel away, before Weiss could open her mouth to yell at him to stop running from her (or wheeling), he simply turned his head back a bit and gave her a sharp glare, freezing her in place. She never saw Ozpin look angry and it sent shivers down her spine.

"Follow me and I'll show you a real-life example." He venomously said.

She couldn't help but quiver her lips and comply; she felt so much pressure from him she just couldn't protest. Each step down the hall made her heart feel heavy. When they got to the charred remains of Ozpin's office, with the hole in its walls sealed off, she noticed no one was around. Even is she screamed she felt no one could hear it. The pressure from his intensified as he turned around and glared at her. At that moment of helplessness, she feared she was 100% totally going to be molested. But what came next was even worse, not just for her but for Ozpin as well.

"Allow me to show you just how much I understand your frustrations." He said bitterly as he reached into his coat.

Ozpin pulled out long memory, his heart pounding as he gripped it intensely. He knew Weiss was stubborn, so what he was about to do had to be done to convince her to move on, no matter how much it hurt.

Long Memory flashed a green light, shocking Weiss as she saw glowing images of people she didn't know and students she did know appear. She shuddered as she soon recognized a student shown. It was a one of the students who died during today's attack.

"So why do want to attend Beacon?" Ozpin asked the image. As soon as he did the student responded, making Weiss realize she was seeing Ozpin's memories.

"I want to be the strongest huntsman smith in history!" the student said as he grasped an axe. His smile shining bright, which made Weiss dejected, knowing his fate. Soon a new image appeared showing a sobbing woman punching Ozpin's chest repeatedly.

"I thought you were going to protect my son and make him a strong hunstman! She yelled.

Weiss noticed Ozpin was wincing with each strike despite it just being a memory. Then she saw an image of Ozpin, who had brown hair rather than the signature white knew him by. He was sitting comfortably in his office chair and looking out the window.

"Well Ozpin, you made it. Now your leading the most prestigious school in the world. These kids will have nothing to worry about with me around." His young selfs smugly said. Right after this scene a new one shined showing him passed out on his desk, a flask in his hand showing he had been drinking.

"I couldn't save her" he simply grumbled as this scene repeated many times only to have him say a different gender or name each time.

Weiss finally understood what Ozpin wanted her to truly see, "his" failures.

"Do you see? When I came here I was arrogant and naïve, I thought I could lead this school and its children through any danger. But time and time again I destroyed not only that dream but the dreams "they" due to my own hubris." He bitterly said.

"How did you get passed it all?" she asked nervously. She was hoping for some encouragement to avoid this fate.

"I never did." He replied venomously. Weiss covered her mouth with her hands in shock.

"Now I have a question for you. How are "you" going to avoid ending up like me, a bitter failure who wallows in misery over his old dreams not coming true?" he asked her sternly.

Weiss stood there frozen; she just didn't know how to answer that. The air became silent as she struggled to think about how to answer. Soon long memory shined on her, causing her to open her eyes and see a memory of her own. She was with Team RWBY,

"Banzai!" they all said in unison. This was one her happiest memories of beacon, it was after they defeated Roman and his Ace Mech. She had reconciled with Blake for driving her away due to her faunus and white fang heritage. She teared up as she saw the image of past self laughing with her team. She had found her answer.

"Banzai" she softly stated as she hugged the headmaster in gratitude. Ozpin smiled as he realized her answers meaning.

It didn't matter if she couldn't have Ruby as a lover, as long as she stood by her team in earnest she could remain strong and find happiness from them, and that would be enough. She supported Blake before then and could do it now with her and Ruby's relationship. As these positive feelings flowed through her, the door to Ozpin's office opened and Long Memory ceased shining.

"Glad to see your wonderful answer, now go share it with your friends." He ordered, but he didn't really need to say anything as she beat him to it, darting out the door and nearly trampling Ironwood, whom she ignored as she ran back to the infirmary.

"General, I thank you and your men for helping to clean up my mess." Ozpin said. He had called the atlas forces to help the main branch here at Vale clean up the damages and inform the parents of students who died what happened. It was only thanks to his old friends help with Penny as well team RWBY and JNPR saved as many as they could, it was no kidding to say he owed general Ironwood a lot, but the latter gave him a somber look that tore up his sense of self-security in that moment.

"I only did this because I wanted her and all this schools heroes to have a proper burial." He simply retorted. Ozpin lowered his head in shame understanding his declaration. His heart sank as he knew he had to prepare a school memorial for the children that perished, especially Neo. His spirit wracked with guilt as he remembered he had been the one who commissioned her to save Ruby's baby and that mission failed. He had failed her and she paid with her life for his mistake, a sentiment Ironwood shared whole-heartedly.

Seeing how depressed his friend was, Ironwood decided to shift the conversation to a more positive topic.

"So… Team RWBY and JNPR really came through today." Ozpin nodded, a lot of lives were indeed saved today thanks to them.

"They acted as true huntsman and huntresses that's for sure." Ozpin said. Ironwood smiled as he thought of something.

"What say we reward them like true ones as well?" he said.

"Reward them how?" Ozpin said raising his eyebrow.

1 Week later…

The school auditorium was silent as even the footsteps of so many students were deaf. They walked slowly to the main center, placing white flowers before the cluster of pictures of the many students who died during last weeks attack. RWBY were the last students to arrive, their injuries fully healed as they all wore black, even the normally red loving Ruby, who seemed the most glum of all the students.

"If only we were here, maybe it wouldn't have been this bad." She solemnly said. Her voice was wracked with guilt, feeling she shouldn't have taken a vacation, true huntresses shouldn't take them was what gone through her mind. Even though some of the students who died, like Cardin, were the ones who bullied her, she didn't feel she could find it in her heart to keep hating them or wish this fate upon them.

Weiss placed a hand on her shoulders, understanding this guilt she was feeling.

"Were huntresses, but we aren't gods, we can only do so much." She softly said. Blake hugged her girlfriend tenderly as she softly placed her head on her shoulders.

"We should just be grateful we could save the ones we could. The ones we couldn't… they went out like true huntsman. We really shouldn't live with regrets right now." Blake said. Ruby sighed in response, she knew they were right but it was hard to let this feeling go. Especially after she saw the photo in the center of the stand. It was Neo, the girl who risked her life and died trying to save her baby Thorn. Ruby reached into her pocket and took out some pink cherry blossoms. It wasn't just to match Neo's pink hair color, as Yang jokingly suggested, it was because she remembered seeing a cherry blossom tree with mom. It was one of her happiest memories with Summer, and she felt both sadness and joy right now as well. Neo had been the reason she was impregnated by the White Fang, but she was also the reason she enjoyed so many blissful memories with Thorn as well, so she wanted to pick something less depressing and more majestic from her past. It just felt fitting for Neo, who suffered a rape of her own as a child and so Ruby felt she could understand her. As she placed her blossoms on Neo's photo and everyone took their seats, the staff of Beacon walked to the podium.

Ozpin and Ironwood soon joined the staff for the ceremony. They gave the school a depressing but somewhat inspiring eulogy, something Yang wasn't exactly keen on listening to. As she hugged her sister and closed her eyes to rest a little from the depression, all she made out were things like "hero" or "sacrifices", things she believed fit her sister exactly.

As the memorial service ended, Team RWBY and JNPR and Sun chatted outside the school grounds, which had now been reconstructed into its original bleach white structure from Goodwitches semblance. Blake could still see the sight of blood on the floor, despite it not really being there. Her trauma-induced hallucinations brought her bad memories of Adam and Ilia's deaths. She remembered sobbing her eyes out in bed at night, a bed she decided to share with Ruby. Her own body quivered with excitement as she remembered the feel of that girls body. It was her only source of comfort, as selfish as it was she felt Ruby owed her one for letting her kiss Weiss and the others. She couldn't help but ignore her pain and smile, despite her instincts telling her bad news was coming as Ozpin and Ironwood soon approached them.

"Hello students, good to see you all in brighter spirits, especially you Miss Schnee." He said, earning a smile from the heiress.

Ironwood tapped the headmaster's shoulder.

"I thought we were going to take care of the "student" part." Ironwood said.

Blake's cat ears perked up in shock,

"Oh my god! Don't tell me were expelled!" she yelled in panic. It was no lie they devastated the courtyard with their fighting last week, forcing poor professor Goodwitch and the Atlas forces to clean up a lot while they recovered. Revenge was a bitter dish she felt the general of Atlas was beyond serving her.

"No, No! The exact opposite actually." Ironwood said in panic as he waved his arms. Everyone calmed down as they heard this.

"To clarify what the general means, you all know the school is closed down for the next few weeks right?" Ozpin asked. The groups nodded solemnly. They understood after such a tremendous trauma many students went through from seeing the deaths of partners and teammates. It was tough even now for Ruby and the others. They only reconvened here at Ironwoods insistence to honor the fallen at the school they gave their lives up for.

"Like those children we lost, you all acted as true Hunstmen and Huntresses. It would be a shame not to reward you as ones." Ozpin continued, earning confused glares from the teens.

Penny then flew in and landed in between the 3 groups, startling everyone but the teacher and general.

"Congratulations friends!" she said as she splattered confetti and shot fireworks into the sky.

"Congrats on what?" Ruby groaned as she struggled to breath from the startle.

"We were just getting to that Penny, you were a little too early." The General sternly said, causing Penny to quiver and give a sheepish smile. Weiss couldn't help but chuckle seeing a robot feel fear.

Ironwood then sighed as he took out his scroll, tired of the interruptions.

"Though I would have liked to give you a more glamorous ceremony, now with things are aren't the time, but it shouldn't be put off any longer. You all don't deserve that insult, you deserve this." He said as he finished pressing buttons on his scroll.

Everyone's scrolls pinged as they saw to their astonishment the "student license" title change to official huntsman licenses.

"Sir… do you mean?" Sun stuttered, barely processing this event.

"You all graduate as your reward. I am pleased to call you professional huntsmen, and look forward to working with you all in the future." He said proudly as he gave them a salute, followed by penny and a chuckling Ozpin.

Ruby deafened the cheers of joy from her friends. Her dream had been realized. She could also go home, away from shallow bullies, and be with her son more often. These were the thoughts that flooded her mind, but were instantly washed away from a desire that soon replaced them. She grabbed Blake's arm and yanked her away from the group.

"R-Ruby?" Blake said in confusion.

"Sorry guys, need to borrow her for a minute, got one more dream to realize." Ruby said as she entered out of earshot from the group.

"What's she doing right now, shouldn't we be celebrating? And what's this "other dream" she's mentioning." Weiss asked dumbfounded. Being a huntress seemed like Ruby's only goal, but Yang smiled as she knew what other goal Ruby had in mind.

A few silent minutes passed. Everyone stared nervously, some making theories to what they could be saying. One of them brought an air of tension to the group as it echoed repeatedly through their minds and made them nervous at the possibility.

"Think their breaking up?" Weiss asked, Yang thought she could a hint of positivity in her tone and it brought her no end of irritation. As much as she wanted to smack the heiress right now, she knew she had to focus on her sister right now. Was she breaking up though? This battle did leave a scar on the school and its students. Some were even shipped back home by their parents and forbidden to attend the funeral. Ruby also had a major falling out with them a bit ago, so Yang mused the thought of a guilt complex wrecking her sister.

But Yang soon threw away those negative thoughts at the sight of Blake's cat ears shooting up with excitement as her body shook. Yang grinned almost smugly as she could tell Ruby had told her something wonderful.

"Blake's gonna lose her shit in about 5…4…3…2…1" Yang said as she counted with her fingers before the group darted up, surprised from a scream of joy from Blake, who jumped into Ruby's arms and kissed her. Ruby twirled Blake around in glee as they laughed, bringing tears to Yang's eyes as she smiled proudly. She could definitely tell what was said and it brought her heart so much joy it almost burst. The couple ran back to their confused teammates and friends to announce something that made their eyes widen in shock and happiness.

"WERE GETTING MARRIED!" Blake and Ruby screamed in unison.

Thanks for reading. Next chapter is the proposal dialogue, the wedding, and a time-skip that will include nothing but happy scenes of Thorn growing up with his two mothers and trips they take. I feel they deserve a happy chapter after the gloomy guilt and memorial themed episode today. Get ready for some ladybug wedding fun in CH 22: Bliss