"Are we sure this is a good idea, I think I said before that this was a bad idea right?" Yang asked as Blake rolled her eyes.

"So which is it, headmaster or Vermillion, because we could turn around right now if you want." The cat Faunus remarked as Yang grunted.

"You know that's not a fair choice."

"It's the only choices we have, so which is it?" Blake spoke as Yang sighed.

"Fine, let's just get this over with." Yang stated as the group stopped at a door.

"So this is Vermillion's room?" Weiss asked as she looked to the two ahead of her.

"Yep, this is where Blake made her move." Yang commented as her partner blushed.

"Please don't say it like that."

"Where's the fun in that, you always get so riled up with these things." Yang smirked as her partner elbowed her.

"I said shut it."

"Can we please hurry this up?" Weiss asked as Yang looked back with a teasing smile.

"Why? Got plans tonight?"

"No, but I'd rather we not have a team meeting in the middle of the hallway." The heiress commented as Ruby let out a loud cough, drawing their attention.

"Weiss is right, so let's knock already. We need to know what happened last night, and to see if he's okay." Ruby said as her sister raised an eyebrow.

"Why are you worried all of a sudden?"

"Because he wasn't thinking clearly, even if you don't like him it's still not right to ignore someone in need."

"And what could we do?" Yang challenged as all eyes focused on her. "It's not like we know anything about hallucinations."

"Maybe, but we can at least give him a chance to explain what he saw, to give his side of the story." Ruby reasoned as her sister let out another sigh.

"Fine, alright I get it. We'll give him a chance to talk, but if he tries to do anything I'm gonna kick his ass, got it?" Yang asked as Ruby nodded.

Yang looked to Blake and sent a nod, and with that the Faunus girl knocked on the door. The wait wasn't too long as they all heard footsteps coming towards the door, and a second later it opened.

"Blake, Yang, what are you doing here?" Vermillion asked as he gave a curious look.

"Mind if we come in? We need to talk." Blake asked as the guy stepped to the side and allowed the group of girls inside. He shut the door a moment later before turning to face them.

"Is there something you need?" He asked as they all looked between themselves. Yang stepped forwards with a stern look.

"I'll be blunt, last night was a shit show, and we want to know why." She stated as Vermillion took on a more serious look.

"What do you mean 'Why'?" He asked as the girl let loose a growl.

"Don't try that crap with me. We want to know why you attacked Blake."

His eyes seemed to light up as he let out a breath.

"Oh... that." Vermillion seemed to slump a bit as he focused back on them. "Well, for starters I don't really have much to say on it. I was chasing someone and I thought I caught them. However the headmaster said I was seeing things, so I did as he asked and put what looked like the person I was chasing down. That's all there is to it."

"Really, that's it, that's the excuse you're giving." Yang commented as Blake placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I think we're just asking the wrong questions. How about this: can you tell us who you were chasing, and why?"

Vermillion looked conflicted, his eyes seemed to lose focus before he shut them and sighed. He looked up to them again with a more downtrodden expression.

"I don't know if I'm allowed to tell you anything officially, but I can paraphrase it somewhat. I was chasing someone who was trying to do something bad, someone who was where they shouldn't have been. I chased them around for a while before they ran into the dance and I lost them. I went inside and... well, you know." He explained as Weiss shook her head.

"That doesn't really explain much, but at least it's something."

"I apologize, but that's all I can give you." Vermillion said as Ruby stepped forward this time.

"Can I ask you something?" The young leader tried. Vermillion nodded as she let out a breath before sending a serious look his way.

"How do you feel about us?" She asked as he looked confused.

"Excuse me?" He tried as Ruby spoke up again.

"When we first met it was after you nearly killed one of my teammates, my partner."

"I-"

"Stop." Ruby raised her hand as he silenced himself. "Let me finish. You nearly killed one of us before, then the headmaster said it was an accident. Next you spent your time creeping around the school, and eventually helped us stop Torchwick. Then we learned that you were with him at one point."

Every bit of focus was on the young girl as she sent a stern face towards Vermillion.

"I want to know what you think about us. Why avoid us and everyone at Beacon, only to help us out later? How do you really feel about everything?" Ruby finished as the guy looked lost.

"I... w-well." He stuttered a bit as her gaze beat into him. He let out a sigh as he faced her with a somber look.

"In all honesty: I pity you."

"What?" Yang spoke up as Vermillion walked over and sat on his bed. The four all looked over to him as he faced each of them.

"The headmaster told me about Beacon, about what it was and what it's students were studying to be. And in the end I can only pity you, what it means to be a student at this school."

"Why pity us? We're trying to help people, to be huntresses. We're trying to be like you in a way, to help the world." Weiss spoke up as the guy nodded.

"Yeah, you are, and that's what makes me worry." He rubbed his face as he looked to each of them. "I've seen things, and I've done things that I'm not proud of. I've experienced these things because of what I strive for."

"Then what do you strive for?" Yang broke the silence as all eyes turned his way.

"The same thing as all of you, as most of the other young students: to help people."

"Then why, why do such drastic things? Why go so far?" Blake questioned as he looked down at his hands, flexing his fingers as his shoulders slumped.

"Because it needed to be done. There are times I need to make a choice, and sometimes there's no good choice to be made; I need to pick between bad and worse." Vermillion looked up to the ceiling and stared. "Sometimes I needed to chose who died, sometimes it was between one or two; the numbers always changed. And sometimes I couldn't save them, and I had to chose whether to let them suffer a long death, or to kill them myself to put them out of their misery, their pain."

Yang flinched at that, rubbing her arm as she looked away.

"Are there really times when you can't do anything?" Ruby asked as Vermillion gave her a somber nod.

"Sadly yes, sometimes I can only put an end to their pain." He told as Ruby looked to shuffle on the spot.

"Surely that can't always be the case, there has to be times when we just can't see all our options." Weiss reasoned as he looked to her.

"Maybe, but if an option can never be found is it really an option?" He asked as she let herself slouch. She looked like she wanted to speak up, but the words weren't coming to her.

"It makes sense, sometimes we don't always get the right options." Blake spoke up as Weiss and Yang gave apprehensive looks.

"Then why does it feel so bad?"

The voice belonged to Ruby who was looking straight at Vermillion.

"If it's the best choice then why does it hurt?" The young girl questioned as her focus zeroed in on Vermillion.

"I don't know." He admitted. "I've never really had an answer. Instead I like to think that it reminds us of our humanity. It hurts because it reminds us of our morals: we know it's wrong, and even if it's the best or only choice it still pains us because we know we harmed someone."

The room went silent as each of the girls put it to thought, said silence only being broken as Blake decided to voice her own thoughts.

"Then why, why keep at it? If you're chasing after something and causing so much pain along the way then why not stop? What if the thing you're hurting others over isn't worth it?"

Vermillion stood, letting out a breath as he faced her with a soft look.

"Because it gives them meaning. If we stop, if we quit, then it means that all the people we hurt or killed had suffered for nothing. If we quit then it means that all the death and pain was meaningless."

"And what if it's not worth it?" Blake was shaking. A few tears welled up at the corners of her eyes as she spoke. "What if the thing you were fighting for had too high a price, what then? Do you just keep killing? Do you just keep doing terrible things all to make sure it had meaning? When is it enough?"

Vermillion looked tired. "I don't know. In the end I guess it all comes down to what happens."

"Well... what if you changed your goal?" Weiss asked as everyone focused on her. "What if you realized that the goal you were chasing was wrong, and you changed it to something else? Would that make all you done before meaningless?"

"I... I don't know." Vermillion admitted as she stepped forwards.

"Then tell us your own thoughts. What do you think?" She asked as he looked surprised. A moment passed as his features relaxed into a calm expression.

"Well, I think it all comes down to moving forward. I think that even when you change paths the things you went through still had meaning. Without them you might not have realized your folly, so it was thanks to it all that you had your eyes opened." He answered as she gave a slight nod.

"So even when you've made mistakes you're saying that as long as you keep moving it doesn't matter if you change your goal, so long as you don't quit." Weiss clarified as Vermillion held a slight smile.

"Yeah."

Weiss felt some concern flow through her as she saw his eyes.

"Is something wrong? You're eyes look glossed, like you've been crying." She asked as he shook his head.

"It's nothing, you just reminded me of someone that's all."

"Oh." She let out as she stepped back to the group and took her place next to Ruby.

"Is that all you needed." He asked as they all looked to each other.

"Yeah, I guess it was." Yang said as she let out a breath. "Just wanted to know what happened back there, so I guess we got what we needed. You're still on the chance by the way. I'll overlook last night, but know that I still have my eye on you."

The others started to leave the room, with Yang sending one last retort his way.

"The others are starting to think you're not that bad, and in a way I hope they're right. Don't let us down."

.

.

"And then she got all covered in mud!" Exclaimed Pebble as Mrs. Blossom giggled.

"Oh really now? And what did you do then?" She asked as the boy puffed out his chest.

"I helped her up anyway, even though she lost." He wore a proud look as the older lady let out a faux gasp.

"My my, such a gentlemen."

With a small smile Ruby watched as Pebble continued to tell his story of earlier that day, taking no liberties when it came to visual expression; mostly through the use of flailing arms. Like an artist caught in the storm of inspiration the boy waved to and fro as he recounted his adventure with his friends.

And there it was again, that inkling feeling in the back of her throat; the feeling of pride that washed over her as she listened to the small boy. He was growing close with the other children of the town, focusing on the smaller more simple aspects of life. No longer did he keep to himself in a bubble of guarded solitude, instead he seemed to be happy with getting to know the other children.

It was a far cry from the shaky thief she'd caught, and even though she felt joy at the sight of his change Ruby couldn't help but to feel a bit of pain shoot through her heart. Pebble had quickly become her main source of happiness over the past week, so much so that as the last few hours ticked away she was beginning to feel a sense of longing.

She would leave them all behind to continue her journey, and with it a new pain filled her, one that she was all to familiar with.

The pain of loss.

There were many events and creatures in Remnant that could hurt people, but for a huntress like Ruby the most damning was not the physical pains that her career brought, but the mental scars that it left her with.

And here it was once again, another companion she would need to say goodbye to. Yet she found a small sense of comfort in the knowledge he would have a better life. Unlike most of her lost friends Ruby knew that Pebble would be fine - happy even - in his new life.

Her fork pierced the meat before her, and Ruby let the sensation wash over. It had been too long since she'd been able to savor a home cooked meal, and she intended to enjoy it to the fullest. Pork roast with a few choice cut greens, and Blossom's skill in the kitchen was on full display throughout every bite.

Ruby didn't know that the woman was so skilled in the culinary arts; then again she really get the time to ask. Mrs. Blossom had made a rather large feast for the tavern with the help of the other girls, and according to them the constant menu changes through the week was what brought most people in. However not all the food would be finished, which always left some for supper each day.

Yeah sure it was leftovers; but with how wonderful it tasted Ruby felt more than satisfied. Despite her enjoyment of the meal Ruby found herself called upon by Blossom, the woman sending her a content smile.

"And how was your day dear?" She asked as Ruby felt worry creep up her spine.

It had to come eventually.

Although she really wished that it hadn't been so soon; there was still a few hours left. But it had to be said either way, so there was no use in keeping quiet anymore.

"He said that we can depart earlier tonight, during the last few hours of dusk." She spoke as the woman's smile dropped slightly.

"Oh... I see."

"Hmm?" Pebble looked her way, curiosity strewn across his face. "Where are we going?"

Ruby looked down to the boy, holding back the pressure in her throat as she walked over to him and paced a hand on his head; ruffling his hair.

"Nowhere, you are staying here with Mrs. Blossom and all your friends. I will be the only one leaving." She told as the smile of the boy dropped completely.

"W-what?" He mumbled, his tiny fists clung to her as the pressure in the back of her throat grew.

Why was it so hard? The look on the young boy's face felt as though it tore her heart in two. She'd known him for a little over a week, and even so she felt like her world was ending once more.

Damnit, I knew what would happen and I still got attached!

It was accidental, she only wanted to make sure Pebble was safe and happy. Yet in the short time she spent with him they'd grown too close, and now she was suffering the consequences.

However she wasn't the only one feeling that way, the look on the boy's face made his emotions clear. He'd come to see her as a parental figure, as a mother, and in doing so it seemed he was feeling the absolute dread of her departure. He already lost one mother, and the thought of losing another must have been devastating.

Ruby felt silent tears well up at the corners of her eyes, but she held them back with all her might; if she broke then surely the child would as well.

Once upon a time Ruby thought she'd lost the ability to truly care about anyone and anything. For so long she had been moving simply for the sake of it, trudging along the only path she had. For so long she had been faking all of her emotions in a bid to manipulate people into giving her what she wanted and needed.

For the first time in years she felt an old sensation, one that was much stronger. The sensation felt as though it could rival even her apathy and rage; the only emotions that fully stayed with her over the countless years.

Ruby murdered Aether without so much as a sniffle, witnessed the gruesome state of Mineral and let her rage quietly blaze, yet in the end it was a small boy that threatened to bring her mental walls crashing down.

Gently Ruby brought her hand to his cheek, wiping away his tears with her thumb as she gave him a soft smile.

"Don't cry, I know it's sad to say goodbye, but sometimes we need to let people go. Look at you, look at how strong you've been. Even when you were all alone you kept moving." Ruby let out a small giggle as she rubbed his cheek. "But it's okay now, you're not alone anymore. You've got friends, you've got family, and you've even got a home all your own. You fought day after day, and look at how you turned out; so strong and clever."

"But I'm only strong because of you!" Pebble cried, clinging ever tighter to her and causing some tears to leak down the sides of her face. "You saved me, I only got to here because of you. Don't leave me, please don't leave me."

Each plead and cry felt like a dagger to the heart, stabbing in and out with each pain filled wail. Ruby couldn't hold it back anymore, and so she shut her eyes as the sorrow flowed throughout every inch of her.

She wrapped her arms around him, bringing him close as he cried against her. His body shuddered with each breath, and his tears stained her clothes, but even so she held him close.

Why? Why must it hurt so much?

Author's note

...

So we're back again, this time with a heavier chapter.

As I'm sure you've all noticed: this chapter is smaller just like the last one. This will mostly be the new size for coming chapters as a way to avoid burnout. I'll still keep updating Mondays and Fridays, but it'll be this size.

This chapter is more of a... cooldown of sorts, an in-between for the coming arcs. But even so it is just as important as all the other chapters.

This time we finally got to see RWBY and V have a full on discussion; probably not the way anyone expected, but I think it turned out well.

On the flip side we had future Ruby break the news to Blossom and Pebble, with the latter not taking it too well. And we get to see how she reacted to the crying boy, as well as revealing some of her own thoughts.

Things are starting to heat up again, and who knows what's in store now.

Also, a special thanks to those of you who posted your thoughts in the reviews, and to those that sent PM's. You all have no idea how much encouragement it gives me.

Hope you enjoyed the chapter, tell me what you think and see you next time.