Hey everyone, here's the second chapter for ya, at least twice as long as the first, tho I'm not sure If I'll go up to 5k a chapter for this story, but we'll see. Anyway, on to review responses!

MereC55 Chapter 1: Yeah, I can understand that, it makes me sad too honestly, but I suppose it's evoking the right emotions then eh? And as far as Oz, he'll definitely find a way to work around this development somehow...

Essiter1987 Chapter 1: Great to hear from ya again, and no worries! I've been busy myself? So I totally get it, you were one of the first to review my first story anyway, so you're good. I'm curious where this will go as well, I'm honestly winging it here!

Alright, that's it then, on to the story!

Disclaimer: RWBY is owned by RoosterTeeth

Remnant's Greatest Loser: Alternate

Chapter 2

The Lost Bet Part 2: Grave Discovery

When Jaune made it back to the Xiao-Long residence, he had a slightly hollow look in his eyes, bloodshot from crying. He trudged to the door, but before he could knock, the door opened, with a somber looking Ruby standing just behind it.

"Hey."

"Hey..."

Both teens tried to smile, but it kept failing before it could start.

"Y-you uh... w-wanna come inside?"

The slightly raspy voice from the little reaper meant that she had been crying... even harder then he was, which made him feel like it was his fault.

"C-can I.. uhm... stay out here for a b-bit? I wanna just... get myself together a bit first.. if that's o-ok."

"O-oh... okay then... d-do you want me to... to leave you alone?"

Ruby's face seemed to wilt even more at Jaune's words, a sniffle escaping her lips as she prepared to close the door again.

"W-wait! I didn't... I didn't mean it like that. I was... I was hoping you could... m-maybe come with me? Take a little... walk y'know?"

Ruby turned back, looking up at him with her own bloodshot silver eyes, a glimmer of hope in them mixed with... something else.

"Y-you sure?"

Jaune nodded, holding out a hand to one of his most treasured people.

"Please. I don't... I-I don't really wanna be alone right now... but too many people would be..."

"Too much," Ruby finished, both of their voices strained and low, but more than easy enough to understand each other.

"Trust me... I know that feeling all too well."

After sending a quick message on her scroll to alert the others, Ruby took Jaune's hand, feeling the usual warmth he'd give off, being much more dim than usual.

(That's fair... he doesn't have much reason to feel warm right now...)

To Jaune, the usual cool breeze he felt from Ruby was reduced to tiny wisps, barely any sensation at all.

(It's the same as I'm probably feeling... damnit.)

Even so, they continued to keep the connection. As weak as it was, it was all they had, and they took a small comfort in that.

Since they'd be going their separate ways in only a week.

"S-so..."

"Y-yeah?"

"Do you... uhm, have a favorite spot you go to? To like... think about stuff or..."

Ruby nodded at Jaune's question.

"I do... I... I actually haven't been there in awhile... so maybe now would be a good time. It's a bit further up north, a nice little clearing with a cliff that lets you see our house and the lake. It's... very beautiful, at least to me."

Jaune felt the wisps from Ruby's hand grow slightly stronger as she spoke, which in turn made his own warmth grow in strength to her.

Both felt their mouths twitch upwards just a bit at that, as Ruby led them further up north.

"That's sounds... nice. I'd like to see it... if that's ok. I've never really... had a place like that."

Ruby felt her heart ache at his words, having an idea why that was.

"W-well, I don't... mind sharing it... with you, i-if you want."

Jaune looked at his sister figure, surprise and uncertainty in his eyes.

"Are you sure? I don't wanna just... intrude on a place that's yours... I mean, it's your special place right?"

Ruby's silver eyes brightened a bit as she squeezed her bro bestie's hand, a small smile just managing to form on her face.

"It could be our special place. Besides... you wouldn't be the first person I'd come here with. I'd sometimes bring Yang or Uncle Qrow... to be honest... it was Dad who... who first brought me here... 11 years ago now."

Ruby chose to stay silent after that, and Jaune understood. After the description, he figured where they were going was... far more than just a good view.

They continued their trek for the next 15 minutes or so, enjoying a companionable silence as they neared the hill. As they got ever closer, Jaune saw what he figured would be there... a gravestone.

As they got closer, he could read the inscription.

'Here lies

Summer Dahlia Rose

Heroine, Leader, Friend, Wife, Mother

"And thus I kindly scatter'"

Jaune felt... a comforting presence here,as if this place was protected by something. Something gentle, yet powerful. He wondered if this presence protected the place from any stray Grimm.

Despite the positive feeling of this place, Jaune stopped moving as Ruby continued forward, wanting to give her the space she may need to speak to her... or whatever she needed to do since it had been awhile.

She didn't go for that, and pulled him along with her, a knowing look on her face.

"Even after all you went through today, you're still putting my feelings ahead of yours huh? Mom would love you for that..."

(Maybe that's why I...)

Jaune looked at Ruby, noticing her eyes beginning to tear up a little.

"You ok? I mean... well, you're obviously not but... did something um... trigger you a bit?"

The crimsonette chuckled a little as she wiped her eyes for a moment.

"Ah, *sniff* aren't you supposed to be bad at social cues? Or is it... cuz you're like me?"

Jaune could only shrug as smiling started to get even easier. It might have been the atmosphere to thank for that.

"I guess that would make sense. We've known each so long and... Ah, m-maybe we should save that till after we... talk to her right?"

Ruby blushed a bit, but nodded in agreement.

She turned to the gravestone, and began to kneel in front of it, Jaune followed suit.

"H-hey Mom, sorry it's been... so long since I last visited. I've been busy with training and... a bunch of other stuff... growing pains y'know? Oh! And I brought someone new this time! His name is Jaune!"

As she spoke, Ruby seemed to return to her usual cheery self, bit by bit. And when she patted Jaune on the back to speak up, the feeling she gave off was contagious.

"Y-yes Ma'am, I'm Jaune Arc! I uh... I'm glad to meet you! Ruby's told me so much about how amazing you are over the years!"

Ruby chuckled a little over his awkwardness, feeling her heart swell to see him going back to mostly normal for a bit.

"He's great isn't he? Yang and I... we first started talking to him about 4 years ago... a-around the time we last talked... now that I think about it..."

Ruby started to shiver, grabbing her cloak and putting her hood over her head.

"R-remember when I used to say... to say that I wanted... to be j-just like you? A great Huntress, slayer of Grimm and baker of cookies? W-well I... I realized that I... I can't... I can't!"

Ruby suddenly stood up, almost yanking Jaune to stand with her, eyes glowing brightly under her hood.

"My Dad, Uncle Qrow they... they told me things... the things that I didn't see, that I was too young to remember, to understand. How you would... give so much of yourself. Would always be on missions, coming back injured sometimes... but going right back even before you were fully healed. You didn't... you didn't have balance... they said. You always put the mission... the world... before us... before me."

The wind began to slowly pick up around them, the leaves swirling like a mini tornado. Jaune was the only one who noticed, looking around, wondering if this was just a coincidence or-

"I defended you at first y'know?"

Ruby was shaking now, left hand clenched in a fist, right hand squeezing Jaune's more tightly.

"I told them they were wrong, how dare they slander your memory like that! But when Yang said she... she remembered some of what they said I... I couldn't... Rgh!"

Tears began streaming down her face, her teeth bared in a grimace, her pain reflected in her glowing eyes, almost white at this point as they glowed ever brighter.

The wind became stronger, the leaves from the surrounding trees being stripped off the branches, billowing around the two teens.

Not sure what else to do, Jaune began to activate his Semblance, his eyes glowing golden with arcing sparks as he continued to hold Ruby's hand, hoping his power could somehow help her with her ordeal.

(It feels like she's been holding this in for 4 years if I remember right.)

Ruby was so focused on her feelings that she was oblivious to her surroundings, no longer able to stop as the feelings spilled out.

"Those were... the worst moments of my life Mom," she almost shouted over the small gale surrounding them.

"For months I kept to myself, not knowing what to do, what to think, how to feel! I was scared, angry, depressed all in one! And for awhile I... I resented you for it... I blamed you I... hated you! Because it meant that everything I thought you were was a FUCKING LIE!"

At this final outburst, a surge of energy began to swirl around the gravestone, a mixture of silver and gold whirling ever faster as the wind began to rip branches from the surrounding trees, but Joa protected them from any damage, debris bouncing off of them harmlessly.

Ruby had her eyes shut by now, openly crying at this point, letting out everything about her mother she had suppressed for so long.

"I thought I was past it, thought I could get over it, let it go like you probably could have! But I'm not like you, I can't be that selfless, there's no way I can measure up to that and I... made you out to be someone perfect and amazing... And I ended up hating you for not being that... I was... so ashamed to come here... to see you after that. But Jaune..."

Ruby opened her bright silver eyes to look into Jaune's golden ones.

She sniffled as she spoke next, taking his other hand in hers and squeezing it tightly.

"He's so much like you... both how I imagined... and how my family described you. I want to be there for him... support him... and love him.. like I couldn't love you. We're both at our lowest point, and I don't know what to do... So if you're out there somewhere... please... please..."

The gold and silver light surrounding the headstone exploded outwards... encompassing both of them completely in its brightness.

"help us..."

And that's it. Honestly... I have no idea where this came from, but screw it, we're doing this. Read and Review, let me know what you think. Peace.