Epilogue:
The Future Flashes Before My Eyes
As she smelled the ashes of a once brave and kind friend she treasured dearly scatter away, all Ruby could see was that brilliant shine that encased everything after the deed was done. She closed her eyes painfully as she held her hands over her chest, the burning sensation within them was nothing compared to the aches her trembling heart was experiencing.
"What if I mess up again? What if I'm not ready for this?" Ruby thought with fright.
To say this was the hardest moment of her life was an understatement. The uncertainty of her inner strength to handle this great battle she was about to enter was consuming her. She had many horrifying and dangerous experiences in life; learning to live without her hero mother, losing faith in her team and cousin, losing the use of her arms for a while, all were horrendous to say the least, but none more so than….
"Losing her." Ruby tearfully thought as the blank lifeless eyes that once belonged to her friend Penny etched into her mind, making her shudder as she remembered Cinder incinerating them after.
"One second; just one freaking second too late to save her! How can I be strong enough now when I wasn't then?!" Ruby thought bitterly. Penny chose to bear Ruby's burdens to protect her, to give her a better chance for a bright future and look where it got her.
"Because I didn't take the power when I had the chance, you lost your life fighting the one who got then instead, against a foe you couldn't hope to win against. Why Penny? Why did you keep fighting?" Ruby sadly thought, keeping her tearful eyes closed as her spine chilled at the thought.
"You said I had a heart and soul, right?" Penny's words echoed from within her.
Ruby's breath hitched as she felt soft hands on her back, as well as muffled voices that sounded familiar and oddly….as warm as the Penny's right now. Almost instinctively she reached for her sides, hoping to grab Crescent Rose for comfort only to gasp when she did so.
"T-That's…that's right. She did have a heart. A big one that wanted to help others like a true huntress. Oh jeez! If I was actually one I wouldn't be doubting why we fight even at the risk of our lives. Penny did it because she loved me, she loved all life and wanted to protect it. She gave me this chance even if it cost her everything because she wanted too." Ruby thought with a smile as her hands finally loosened up and her breathing grew steady.
She realized then and there if Penny could be so brave in that battle, then Ruby needed to grow a pair and be brave for this one. She took a deep breath as she braced herself for the most frightening thing imaginable before her. She slowly opened her eyes to meet her most fearsome foe head on. It was not Cinder nor the Witch Salem though, no! It was herself in the mirror wearing make-up and a white dress with roses enveloping it.
"Ease up Ruby! Your gonna knock him off his feet with that look." Weiss said with a smile as she applied some light pink blush to her partner's cheeks.
Ruby was outfitted with black eyeliner, lipstick as red as the roses on her dress, red glitter on black nails she had done for this event, as well as the blush Weiss just patted on her cheeks that were red right now as her friend's words made her more anxious and embarrassed.
Normally for events like these Ruby would squirm and resist so much, but she couldn't do so now, not on a day like this. She had to remain strong to overcome her own anxiety for such things to head down that alter and meet her fiancé head on.
"She's right Ruby, just breath. You look so natural in that so you'll do great." Her other bridesmaid Blake said soothingly as she rubbed Ruby's back.
Her warm touch and breathing exercises helped the bride calm down a bit to her relief. She knew despite all the crimson reaper's skill with that Scythe in beheading Grimm, she was likely losing her own head over how scary this upcoming moment was going to be. It was moments like these she had to be there for her friend, especially as she eyed the scar on her right shoulder bitterly.
"Hey Weiss, maybe add some blush to her shoulders." Blake said a bit tense as she pointed to the scar.
Weiss shuddered a moment, almost dropping the blush for a bit as she realized what she meant before nodding nervously. It had been almost 5 years since the attack on Beacon where Adam gave them all scars including their leader. She could only imagine how guilt-ridden Blake must have felt when she cried out apologies to everyone as they recovered in the hospital.
"He was her old flame after all, and to have given Ruby of all of us another scar must have tormented her so." Weiss thought as she eyed Ruby's hands sadly.
From that attack to Ruby's many injuries such as the ones from Yang's mom, she felt her heart about to burst each time, as they were slights against her pride as Ruby's partner and best friend as well.
"O-Oh right! Yeah, it will go great with her roses!" Weiss stuttered as she heard Blake cough impatiently and snapped out of her thoughts.
She gave a forced grin as she applied it rapidly, covering the jagged cut mark. Ruby sighed as she realized what they were looking at. She looked down at her arms. Though they were covered by her long-sleeved wedding dress, she could always see the scars as if fully exposed.
She knew they weren't pretty, so it was natural to cover them for events like these but come on! It's not like she was ashamed of them or anything; they were the price of war. But Ruby eyed something she did feel ashamed off wrapped around her left risk.
"Penny." She whispered as she rubbed Penny's bow.
This was all she had left of her friend after that battle. She wanted to wear it as a corsage to feel like she was standing beside her, giving her the strength she needed for this fight against her nerves today like the ones she had when she and her unit fought and lost to Raven, and Ruby lost her arms.
Ruby just took another deep breath to calm herself, remembering her therapist Klein's teachings as Raven's red eyes felt like they were bearing down on her skull, making the scar from her surgery burn a bit. All her important battles came with losses that scarred her, but she knew she couldn't let that dictate her life anymore.
Penny helped her move on, so she had to calm down or she would sweat through this expensive dress and ruin her big night.
"Man Weiss, I can't believe you bought me this dress as a gift, as well as that honeymoon suite in Atlas, and the first class flight tickets….and the wedding venue….Geez! Overkill on presents much!" Ruby giggled to Weiss who blushed and stuttered nervously.
"O-Oh please you dolt! I'm rich and y-you deserved the best wedding and honeymoon!" Weiss protested.
Ruby and Blake felt immense pressure to not laugh at the blushing heiress right now, knowing how much it would hurt her pride. It honestly was almost as nerve-wrecking keeping it all in as it was dealing with Weiss's overly generous and lavish gifts, she was excited buying. But no pressure was more heavy for Ruby as she sat down and took heavy breaths, bracing herself for her wedding.
Now she knew how scared Seth was when he had to ask Dad, Uncle Tai, and Yang their blessings to marry her. She chuckled as she still remembered his silly bruised grin and thumbs up, he gave her when they got through with him to get it out of their systems before accepting.
Honestly it so stressful keeping her family off his case for being her lover back then, now it was a miracle her heart didn't rupture like her arms once did keeping Seth alive from just Yang sometimes.
"Come on Ruby! Uncle Qrow's ready for you!" Yang yelled impatiently as she ran burst through the door to the private room, throwing away the doorknob and wiping some wood chips from the broken door off her yellow tux with her black gloves. She wanted to look good for her cousin's big night after all.
"Speak of the devil" Ruby thought with a grin.
Weiss and Blake sighed, not amused at their friend's brutish behavior, but also at the sight of her leg, another in the long list of injuries their team had suffered. Weiss's blood froze as she could still hear the doctor's cold professional tone when telling them calmly somehow that Yang's leg couldn't be reattached in time, so she needed the cybernetic one she currently wore.
Blake felt horrible eyeing it, feeling like a failure as her partner for letting Adam take her leg, while Weiss felt it was her fault for not having enough aura to encase the severed leg in ice in time to save it for reattachment. She really felt nauseous each time she thought of it, still smelling the blood and rotting aroma in the air her severed leg gave off as its stump turned purple.
But while her teammates felt shame at the sight of the prosthetic, Ruby gave a bright grin as she eyed her cousin lovingly at her arrival, it being just what she really needed, despite the start of her entrance, to bring her nerves down. The sight of her leg, in fact, made the stress almost vanish in fact. To Ruby, what was once a source of guilt for her was now a sign of their bond, proof of Yang's dedication to her.
"Hey Rubes! You up for a challenge?" Ruby remembered Yang saying to her 4 years ago as she waved at her silver robot leg.
After the school shut down for a while after the attacks, they had time to go home and lick their wounds but both girls were very depressed. After Yang fought off her nightmares of Adam and adjusted to the leg, she noticed Ruby would wince every time she heard a footstep from the robot leg, walking off to tinker with her scythe or target practice.
That's when Yang, being the sister she prided herself on, asked Ruby to help her upgrade the new leg into a shotgun weapon like Mercury's, as well as spray paint it her favorite colors black and yellow. The nights they worked on it together helped ebb away any lingering awkwardness they had despite burying the hatchet from Yang's past betrayal and behavior. It was just what the cousins needed to ease both their hearts, like Ruby's was as she eyed her handiwork on her grinning cousin, whose presence also soon warmed her heart up.
"Thanks Yang, I really needed to see you right now. Now I feel like a million lien." Ruby said softly as she clasped her hands together.
Yang's jaw dropped a bit as she took the comment to heart, then eyed her cousin's figure. She was radiating a glow right now that was almost overwhelming in that beautiful dress and make-up. She looked almost exactly like Summer Rose. It soon brought tears the brawler's eyes as she wiped them, hiccupping a bit as she began to get overwhelmed with pride and joy at the woman her little cousin had become.
"No *hic* problem Rubes. Y-You look *sniffle* so beautiful. Mom would be so proud." Yang tearfully said with a small smile. Ruby's breath hitched as she cried at those kind words.
"T-Thanks cuz. I-I love you." Ruby whispered as she held out her arms, welcoming Yang into a hug she gladly accepted, though was careful not to make it an Ursa one, not wanting to rip the dress Ruby prepared.
Blake and Weiss couldn't resist the temptation and joined in the tender hug, not that the cousin's objected. To them, team RWBY was family, and the hugs were always welcomed. It was with a heavy heart that they separated, knowing now was the time for the big moment Ruby had been waiting for.
"Alright then. Ready to complete your last mission?" Weiss asked her partner. Ruby grinned as she heard this, knowing exactly what to say.
"Yup! Team RWBY, operation GET RUBY MARRIED! Is about to begin, BANZAI!" Ruby cheered as she fist pumped as hard as she could.
"BANZAI!" WBY all cheered in unison as they did the same.
Meanwhile…
Seth tightened his tie around his neck nervously as he eyed the door to the church with a shiver. Like his fiancé, Seth was not handling his stress for the biggest day of his life well, having sweated through 3 undershirts and needing Sin to give emergency dry cleaning to his blue suit once as it is.
It wasn't made easier by the throbbing headache he had to deal with after that crazy bachelor party with his groomsman, the male members of team JNPR and his Atlas unit who were all grinning at him expectantly. Not just them, but all of Seth's family, his bosses and the General, plus the faculty of Beacon and Haven they invited for the ceremony had eyes on him as well. The pressure was intense.
"Man will these guys wipe those goofy grins off their faces!? Having Ruby's family give me death glares wasn't embarrassing at least!" Seth thought as he struggled not to hurl the knot in his stomach.
It wasn't helped by the fact he sadly really wished his partner Hyde survived to see this. He would have been Seth's best man in fact, it hurt that he wasn't here in person, but Seth knew Hyde was here in sprit. Luckily his knots began to unwind a bit as his replacement best man Jago patted him on the back lightly.
"Don't worry brother, Ruby's not the type to care too much about how a guy looks." He said with a grin. Seth began to breathe easier until what he heard next.
"All you got to do is say "I do" and BAM! You got yourself a smoking hot wife instead of a girlfriend now!" Jago said cheerfully. There it was again, the knot returned as the pressure of those words made Seth grow a little pale to his face.
"Hey man careful. I'm "vomit boy" not you." Jaune chuckled as he whispered to Seth to others' amusement as the latter grew red to the face.
"He's right buddy, after this the hard parts over then it's loving and smooth sailing from her." Sin added but Seth rolled his eyes.
"Oh please, you think THIS was the hard part? How about when her Dad almost neutered me once when I proposed?" Seth countered quietly, mindful of the audience.
"And the time when Yang and Qrow blew up after learning you slept with Ruby?" Bakugo quipped quietly as he nudged Seth's shoulder, making him groan.
"Oh lord don't remind me, and Yang literally blew up. You know we still haven't skinned Blake for that…" Seth said darkly as he put his hand under hist chin.
It took a while, but Ruby's family knew that Seth wasn't a bad guy, no matter how much they wanted him to be. Seth remembered that awkward apology Yang tried to give last year after she roasted him once.
"S-Sorry about the beating and…you know turning you into a fried ch-YOU KNOW WHAT? NOT NOW!" Yang had run off flustered, Ren even recalling her smashing through a wall absentmindedly.
"I knew she was prideful, but who'd have guessed Xiao Long was capable of being so bashful?" Seth chuckled.
"Careful, she hears that your boys and girls are smashed for sure." Jaune joked, but his small grin didn't make Seth assured he was kidding.
Honestly, Seth thought it was a miracle after all the hoopla that happened over the years with his soon to be in laws, his head hadn't been chopped off too with his boys and girls.
(Here comes the bride) watch?v=lgh9XTkQTDI
As the wedding music started playing, all stood at attention as their eyes, some like Goodwitch and Nora's watering with joy, drew to the door opening slowly. Seth's also watered by whom he saw come out first.
"*Sniff* Speaking of girls." Seth whispered to his groomsmen as he saw an adorable infant girl wearing a rose tiara, with black hair with white streaks, dressed in a short white dress and Ruby's cloak, with eyes as silver as her mother's waddling down the aisle supported by her grand uncle Taiyang as she threw rose petals at everyone absentmindedly to their giggling amusement.
"SHE'S SO CUUUUUTE!" Nora couldn't resist crying out. Ren didn't even fix her a glare, thinking the same thing as he whispered to Seth.
"No question there. I guess we both know now the hardest part really did pass huh?" Ren whispered and Seth nodded as he wiped the tears from his eyes.
"Yeah, having my little Summer Lily sprout was way scarier than Ruby's family or Grimm." Seth whispered as he proudly eyed his 1 year old daughter.
His heart fluttered as he remembered how nervous he and Ruby were when she got knocked up in her near their last year at Beacon. It wasn't just the threat's Ruby's family gave to the man; it was not being sure if they could be the proper parents to their daughter.
But as he saw her being picked up by her grand uncle lovingly who gave him an approving nod as he sat down in the front isle, Seth knew he had made it work. Not just him, but Ruby too. She had given him so much confidence in himself to face any challenge head on like he knew she would.
It wasn't just her funny personality or beauty that attracted him, it was the drive she gave him to always improve and fight for what he wanted. And right here, right now, he wanted Ruby to be his wife and he was about to get his wish as he saw her slowly walk down the isle with her father Qrow, WBY behind her holding her dress's train so she wouldn't trip on the fabric.
"Wow." Seth sighed as he eyed her beauty.
The other men were astonished as well, Ren and Jaune in particular as they were not used to Ruby looking so…mature.
As the bride made her way to the altar, blushing as she eyed her soon to be husband expectantly, Yang made sure to tie her train up so it wouldn't be snagged when she ran down the isle after it was done, giving her a small hug that she made sure wouldn't suffocate her cousin.
"Knock him dead Rubes…or I will." Yang teased as she fist pumped towards Seth, though both weren't sure if it was a joke.
Seth rubbing his stomach as it remembered the painful punch she gave him when learning Ruby was pregnant, though he was still amazed it didn't cleave right through him. Ruby just chuckled a bit, knowing her cousin wouldn't try to kill him again. Her teasing was her way of apologizing and showing approval, though only Seth didn't seem to know this as he was sweating nervously like a waterfall.
"Come on Firecracker, don't make him soil himself." Qrow quipped as he nudged Yang aside, sparing Seth a stern glance that froze his spine to his amusement. He soon eyed his daughter lovingly as he noticed her teasing glare. It was his way of showing her he approved for sure.
"Proud of you Petal, really." He said softly before being startled by a quick hug from her around his neck.
"I love you too." She said softly before detaching.
Qrow sighed lovingly as he heard those sweet words. He truly felt blessed to give her away this day, as well as the fact he hadn't caused any misfortune for her this day. At worst his semblance made it rain outside for a while, yet that's why the couple insisted on a church wedding, and Qrow couldn't complain.
Soon as the father and bridesmaid stepped aside to watch the ceremony, they all teared up as Ruby and Seth exchanged their vows. Seth said how he admired Ruby's skills and passion, while Ruby said how she always loved how Seth was so driven to be by her side, to support her even when she felt lost and didn't want help.
He had gotten her through her worst times when she lost her arms and kept her from losing her friends and family, and gave her the best times of her life, especially a beautiful daughter she eyed lovingly as they heard her giggling in her grand uncle's lap. As they exchanged rings, they surprised the audience with something else, they exchanged their weapons as well. For the couple, it was the ultimate sign of trust and love in one another.
"My sword, the eliminator, I promise to lend to you any day to destroy any nightmare that comes for you, my love." Seth said passionately as he handed his blue dagger to his fiancé as she handed him her folded up scythe.
"Crescent Rose was something I created, to become strong like my mother. For so long, that's all I wanted to be, a huntress as strong as her. But now there's something I want to be more than just a huntress like her, I want to be Ruby Dreyar, your wife. With this scythe, I promise I love and trust you with my life, my dreams, my whole future Seth. I love you." Ruby said softly with tears in her eyes as she handed him the weapon.
All the audience also cried joyfully as they heard these words, Seth's legs wobbling as he struggled to stay composed. He drowned out the priest's words until he knew what he had to say.
"I do. Anytime." Seth said softly.
"And Ruby Rose, do you-" The priest said before Ruby sped around Seth's body in a flurry of rose petals that flew around the church as she kissed him passionately.
"It's Ruby Dreyar now. And yes, I do." Ruby chuckled. She soon grabbed Seth's hand and they ran down the aisle.
(Wedding March: watch?v=l7_m1om82o4).
Everyone rose from their seats, erupting the church into a chorus of cheers and claps as they saw the couple run down the aisle. Ruby had to contain herself to resist the urge to fly out in a hurry with her semblance, wanting to savor their cheers; to savor this moment as long as she could. Yang wiped a single tear from eye as her cousin's happy face.
"M-My little Rubes is all grown up now." Yang sobbed. Her hand was soon clasped by Weiss, bring her a slight blush at the unexpected action.
"She was a woman when she had a kid Yang." Weiss teased.
"S-She didn't do it properly. It's marriage first then kids, man don't remind me of that day!" Yang pouted.
Weiss and Blake chuckled as they heard this, remembering how Yang incinerated their dorm room when Ruby and Seth announced her pregnancy. To say Yang was embarrassed after Goodwitch scolded her was an understatement, and Weiss yanking her arm down the aisle after the couple only further flustered the brute.
"Then we got to make sure one of us catches the bouquet to start that order!" Weiss cheered.
"HEH!?" Yang yelled in exasperation as Sun and Blake cheered and ran past them.
"Us first!" Blake argued joyfully.
Soon all the girls were crammed in the doorway, trying to beat the other outside for the big moment. Ruby chuckled as she stood underneath the awning, protected from the rain, and turned around readying herself for the toss.
"Ready girls?" She called out.
As she did so, Yang blasted with ember Cecilia the church doors hinges, to her father's annoyance knowing the bill coming for repairs, freeing the cluster at last before darting up first.
"TOSS IT CUZ!" Yang cried out expectantly.
Ruby instantly complied and soon it was a frenzy for the bouquet, Blake using shadow clones to hold the others down and leapt for it, about to grab it with her teeth before Weiss froze everyone with ice dust and snatched it.
"Oh yeah! Ice Queen gets married next!" Weiss cheered.
"Ch-chea…ter…bi" Blake grumbled in the ice to Ruby's amusement before she and Seth got in their limousine with Qrow and Lily, readying themselves for the after party at Beacon.
To Our Future!
To say the wedding reception was beautiful was an understatement. For Ruby it was like living in a fairy tale. She was truly blessed Ozpin let them rent out Beacon Hall for the after party.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome Mr. and Mrs. Dreyar!" Coco announced on a microphone before her voice was overshadowed by dozens of cheers from the bride and groom's friends and family.
Ruby almost felt like covering her ears at the loud reception before her eyes widened and sparkled at the sight beyond the audience. It was a massive tower cake with whipped cream icing, hundreds of glazed strawberries encircling it with pink frosting borders. The fact she and her new husband both preferred vanilla and strawberry over chocolate was one of the many deal closers for Ruby accepting his proposal.
"It's going to be gone before I get a slice right?" Seth teased, but Ruby simply yanked his arm, disappearing the couple in a flurry of rose petals to Seth's shock, especially as he soon felt the cold texture of whip cream and fluffy cake smash against his mouth.
"Nope! Eat up honey!" Ruby teased with a laugh after hitting him with cake. Seth grinned as he licked the cake off his mouth and grabbed a slice himself.
"You too dear!" He yelled as he began chasing her around with the cake in his hand, almost about to throw it at his wife to the crowd's amusement.
It wasn't just the cake that made the venue amazing, it was lit up with red and purple club lights and a DJ Blake and Sun rented for the occasion. He played many popular songs like Celebrate good times and Thunderstruck (which Yang joked fit Seth and Nora perfectly).
But what really hit Ruby's heart heard was the slow pace romantic music "And I'm ready to take a chance again with You!", the one she got to dance with her new husband. It truly spoke volumes about what she went through.
Over the last 5 years she was betrayed, neglected, and suffered. But it was thanks to this man she trusted her life to now and forever that she was willing to give those who hurt her a second chance, especially herself. She locked lips with the man of her dreams, a sign she was fully healed at last and ready to let others into her heart and stay there.
The passionate moment was soon broken up as a hand tapped on Seth's shoulder. He initially was annoyed this moment was intruded until he saw who it was, darting his eyes around nervously.
"Ehem! Mind if I?" Tai coughed as he held out a hand to his niece.
"Oh! S-Sure U-Uncle." Seth sheepishly said as he stepped aside.
For all his power and prestige as an Atlas detective and huntsman, Seth just couldn't avoid tensing up around his in-laws, despite having gotten the trio's blessing. Tai just rolled his eyes at his new in-law's awkwardness but brushed it off as he set his sights on dancing with the girl he raised like his own daughter.
"May I?" He asked and Ruby nodded, taking his hand as they danced slowly.
She remembered how heated the argument between Tai and Qrow got about who would give Ruby away at the altar. Ruby did feel Tai was fitting because he raised her, but she didn't want to live a lie before God as she married.
So, she intervened and cooled things down by promising her Uncle to dance with him before Qrow if her biological father could give her away to their agreement. She took the dance nice and slow, wanting it to last as much as her walk down the aisle, resting her head on her uncle's chest.
"Is this everything you ever imagined of my little Rose?" Tai asked lovingly and she sighed.
"It's more than I could ever dream of, I really don't want this night to end.." She said soothingly to his joy, and he agreed.
The fact this day went off without a hitch, helped by the fact he made sure there was no booze around for Yang, Nora, and especially Qrow to get hammered and look like jackasses at those bachelor parties again, was a godsend after all his Niece had lost. She lost her mother, then her bond with her team and cousin, and then her arms and friend Penny.
"Though I would love it even more if a certain group would be more respectful to my husband…" Ruby said with a glare and Tai chuckled nervously.
As the song "At Last" played, Tai sighed with relief at the meaning of that song's words.
At long last indeed, things were finally going Ruby's way and Tai couldn't be more relieved. It was helped by the fact that later Seth and Qrow had their turns to dance with Ruby, but Tai was gushing as he saw his adorable grandniece waddling around the dance floor with her hands held by her parents. He couldn't resist taking photos with his scroll.
"I'm glad I didn't kill that punk. Now I get to embarrass Summer's future boyfriend with cute baby photos!" Tai thought with a teasing grin.
After everyone had their fill of dancing and cake, and giving coos to the baby, everyone sat at their seats as Ruby and Seth tapped a wine glass at the main table, getting their attention.
"Today's truly been the best one of my entire life, matched only by the birthday of my little flower Summer and the one where I met my beloved. Speaking of which, Ruby wanted to tell you all something herself, you know, being the strong badass huntress she is she couldn't let me." Seth chuckled along with the crowd as his wife pouted before she stood up.
"Thanks dear. Honestly though, we can't even begin to say how much you all being here means the world to us." Ruby began saying.
Sindel and Yang's eyes began swelling with tears as they heard this, already getting overwhelmed with raw emotion to the point Litchi and Weiss had to cover their mouths for them as they muffled cheers of support to the bride to her amusement.
"Seeing all those who love us, who gave us their support not just to marry today, but out in the field, in my bedroom when I was crying from being overwhelmed at times, it showed me who I could not only trust with my life, but who my true family was. I can honestly say, between my new husband and you all, there isn't anyone in this room I would hesitate to entrust my future to. I love you all so much." Ruby said as her breath hitched.
She drowned out the chorus of cheers and claps, trying to catch her breath, not made easier by how WBY charged at her to wrap her in the tightest and loving hug ever. As her vision grew hazy from tears of joy, and lack of air as her team suffocated her, Ruby couldn't help but wonder something.
"Mom. I got all I ever wanted in life now like you did. What else could be in store for me?" Ruby thought.
10 years later…
Within the Atlesian military base, a small office was cluttered with magic eraser boards plastered with tons of sticky notes and photos of criminals. These ranged from minor gang leaders hiding in the grand cities underground to far more dangerous terrorists and assassins. The woman sitting at her desk reviewing these notes took special interest in one photo in particular, one that made her silver eyes burn with rage.
"Fall." She groaned as she gripped the photo, threatening to seep blood into her black gloves.
Though she was a relatively young woman with a fine yet small ponytail, also outfitted in a stunning black and red unitard as opposed to the standard white and blue Atlesian colors that showed off her fine curves and muscles, the immense anger and frustration at the sight of this woman was threatening to give the lady crow's feet and wrinkle off her nice haircut.
It would not be unwarranted though. The stress for searching for this woman and her cohorts who orchestrated many attacks on the kingdoms, including Vale, deserved Atlas's full wrath and attention. Sightings of Cinder Fall in Mistral had been growing over the last few years, and each one came with a trail of bloody bodies or ashes of those she didn't kill by the blade.
"Ashes." The woman sighed sadly.
She looked down upon her left wrist, covered by the only non-black and red coloring, an emerald, green bow. The woman eyed the accessory solemnly as she dropped the crumbled-up photo of Cinder Fall and rubbed its soft fabric tenderly. It was almost like she could still feel the touch of the one who originally wore it.
She was soon broken out of her moping by a sudden call to her scroll. She checked the caller ID with a grimace.
"Xiao Long." She groaned, rubbing her temples with her fingers, headache growing worse. Reluctantly she held the scroll to her ears, before a sharp screech made her recoil.
"RUBY!" a high pitched voice yelled, making Ruby's ears ring.
"Ow! Ow! Fuck my ears, Weiss!" Ruby groaned.
"Oh, screw your damaged ears dolt! Your sister is damaging my wallet!" Weiss cried. Ruby just chuckled, enjoying her old partner's despair as punishment for her damaged hearing.
"She got drunk and trashed another bar, right?" Ruby laughed a bit. Weiss growled as she heard that correct guess, and Ruby's mocking tone pissed her off.
"YES! That's the 8th one this month I've had to pay off! She's your sister, can't you stop her!?" Weiss demanded but Ruby just scoffed happily.
"She's your wife now Weiss. Besides, the president of a prestigious dust company and huntress can handle giant demons and cutthroat businessmen, surely she can handle a rowdy blond brute." Ruby said in a fake grand tone that made Weiss roll her eyes in annoyance on the other end. She soon grinned as thought of a perfect way to pay Ruby back.
"Believe me I can't, especially in our bed. I'm truly blessed she was born a woman, or I'd already have 10 kids bleeding my wallet too." Weiss said in a seductive tone.
Ruby's face turned as red as her cloak at that notion, steam actually erupting from her ears as she began stuttering at the thought of them in bed. Weiss grinned as she heard Ruby's flustered reaction on the other line.
"Mission accomplished!" Weiss thought with a fist pump.
"Alright teasing aside, speaking of kids, how's yours doing? I hate I haven't seen them in months despite us both living in Atlas." Weiss asked curiously.
Ruby formed a bright smile on her face as she eyed a photo frame on her desk. It depicted her family at a picnic on Patch with her uncle and Yang. She and Seth had a 5-year-old Summer in the latter's lap, still wearing Ruby's old cloak and looking more like her by the day. Meanwhile, Ruby was shown cradling her then 2-year-old son, Brandon Corvid Dreyar, in her lap.
He had silver eyes like his mother, but he strongly resembled a miniature version of her father Qrow, what with his black scraggly hair and his constant thirst for his bottle he was sucking on to Ruby's concern.
Qrow never got over his drinking issues and Ruby was terrified beyond belief one of her kids would emulate him in that regard. She had certainly emulated his fighting style and other characteristics at that age as her uncle and Cousin pointed out to her embarrassment. It made her want to lie right now to her sister-in law.
"Brandon really is taking after his grandpa more and more these days. I caught him sneaking a 5th soda can after Seth made dinner yesterday." Ruby groaned.
"Wow. He must have thrice the energy you did back at Beacon. Amazed I haven't heard news about your house crashing down." Weiss teased.
"Oh, you might soon." Ruby groaned.
"Summer just unlocked semblance and found she could turn her body parts into canons to fire aura missiles. She torched the freaking kitchen! My secret cookie stash too! I told her daddy it wasn't time to unlock her aura yet, but he snuck around behind my back. STUPID STAY AT HOME PAPA!" Ruby whined as she unintentiolly broke off a bit of her desk with her bare hands to Weiss's amusement.
"He's lucky he takes trips to Haven for missions on occasion or that would be something he treasured over that desk." Weiss chuckled.
Ruby nervously rubbed her arm, even if she couldn't feel it anymore. Her new strength was an insecurity her bionic arms gave her. It wasn't just nearly killing team CRDL that day at Beacon, it was the fear she would crack her family's spines or crush her babies when cradling them in her hands. It took lots of concentration and adjustments to her cybernetics to get a semblance of control, yet it still plagued her with worry at times.
"Yeah well when he gets back he's sleeping on the couch for sure." Ruby chuckled, but Weiss could sense the hint of seriousness in her tone.
She was worried she touched upon a sensitive issue with her joke but was relieved of that worry soon enough
"At least that means she can start training with me now." Ruby said pridefully.
"Oh great. Another weapons dork to blow somebody important up." Weiss said sarcastically.
"Yeah, hopefully when she's in combat school she won't get a fireball thrown at her by her own partner too?" Ruby asked sarcastically.
"Oh, one time! Let it go already you immature dolt!" Weiss demanded.
"Pay me a million lien then to keep quite Mrs. President." Ruby asked in an exaggerated haughty tone.
"Not one dime." Weiss said firmly as she hung up.
Ruby sighed as she fell back into her chair. Despite being tempted to go back to work and investigate the many criminals she had photos of around her office, she began to ignore them as pressed the photos tab on her scroll, wanting to see the many images she had gotten over this year from her family now that she had been engrossed in such a conversation.
She first eyed the photo Blake and Sun sent them last month. Blake was pregnant with her first child, a daughter the ultrasound she also sent told her, and the two were celebrating with a cruise trip to the Menagerie. Blake said she would return in time for the birth, even asking Ruby if she'd be the godmother which was a definite yes and squeal into the microphone, which the Faunus had exaggerated made her cat ears bleed.
The next one was of Team JNPR at an amusement park with their many kids. Jaune and Pyrrah had 2 daughters with red hair like their mother while Ren and Nora had one son with black hair like his father but blue eyes like Nora. She then swiped to see the next photo of them, with a destroyed wack a Grimm machine courtesy of Nora.
"Pff! Honestly, who's the real child there?" Ruby chuckled.
She then swiped to see more photos of the ace operatives spending time with their spouses and children, especially Akali and Jago at their wedding last year. It made Ruby pause a bit as she recalled a thought she had many times, especially on her wedding day.
"Boy did the years fly by. I honestly wonder what's left for us now?" Ruby wondered.
She had her dreams fulfilled, she was a huntress, a mother and wife, her friends and family were happy and healthy. After Sindel and Litchi retired they had Ironwood even name her the new chief of the Atlas Intelligence unit, giving her and Seth wealth needed to afford any repairs their rambunctious daughter caused to their home. Honestly, what was her goal now that she had gotten everything she wanted?
Suddenly the door to her office slammed opened as if fate wished to answer her question.
"CHIEF DREYAR!" Shauna yelled as she ran in with a worried look.
"Shauna I told you, when it's just us you can call me Ruby." Ruby told her vice-chief with an annoyed tone. Formality was never her strong suit.
"Sorry girl, it's just I got word from commander Schnee! She's engaged Cinder Fall!" Shauna said concerned.
The mere mention of that name made Ruby drop her scroll and bolt out of her seat, grabbing Crescent Rose firmly from underneath her desk. She had been waiting for this day, this chance to avenge Penny, and she wasn't going to lose it.
"Where are they!?" She firmly asked her partner.
"In the south quadrant. She was initially tracking Tyrian Callows when she was ambushed there by Cinder Fall. She says she's injured but holding her off at the moment but needs backup ASAP!" Shauna clarified.
Ruby shuddered as she heard this news. Winter had become the Winter maiden in secret and had been training over the years to master her powers. Cinder had already stolen the Fall maiden powers from Amber and had burned countless Mistral forests searching for Raven's tribe to capture the Spring Maiden powers too.
Ruby had considered it a great blow to her pride her unit had let both criminals slip through their fingers constantly and was beginning to grow ever more nervous now that she heard not only did Fall change her targets, which implied she might have gotten the Spring maidens powers added to hers, but had Tyrian an expert hunter assassin aiding her.
This wouldn't be an easy fight even with Shauna and an injured maiden backing her. Suddenly a pat on her back out the door startled Ruby, turning to see her partner's confident gaze.
"Don't worry, we won't fail a friend this time." Shauna assured her as she rubbed Ruby's left hand. Ruby eyed her scars and Penny's bow and sighed sadly.
"It's hard to believe that, you know?" Ruby sighed and Shauna nodded.
"I know. Just like I know, despite how naïve it is, that hope for that wish is all we can do to feel better right now. That's something you taught me remember?" Shauna asked her and Ruby smiled a bit at those words.
"Wishing. That's something Penny taught me." Ruby said proudly with a bit of sadness. With that, she shook her head to collect herself. She knew what she had to do.
"Come on! We're not losing this time!" Ruby roared and Shauna yelled in confirmation as they bolted out of the office.
As they made their way down the halls, riddled with burn holes or covered with ice, Ruby and Shauna felt a chill down their spines as they heard the screams of Winter echo. Ruby grabbed Shauna by the arm, and she nodded, bracing herself for a speed boost as Ruby disappeared with her in a flurry of rose petals, not wishing to waste any more time.
As they returned to normal, they caught sight of a frightening scene. Winter was riddled with cuts, had a black eye, and a bleeding limp right arm while the other vainly tried to pry off a scorpion tail choking her as Cinder approached her.
Cinder was honestly uglier, having an eye patch cover a massive burning hole still prevalent where her right eye once was as well as a beowulf's arm in place of her right one that barred menacingly towards Winter's stomach, glowing orange and red as it resonated with a blue light on her stomach.
Ruby knew Cinder was bracing herself to steal the maiden's powers, and she couldn't have that. Nodding to Shauna, the marksman understood instantly and fired an aura and induced crossbow, piercing Tyrian's tail and releasing Winter to the terrorist's shock. Tyrian in fact, was screeching in agony as purple blood oozed from his tail stump.
"MY STINGER! AGHH! YOU BITCH!" Tyrian howled at the marksman who snickered at him.
"Tyrian Callows, my you're even uglier in person. Don't worry though, you can get all the beauty sleep you want in your new cell in the Atlas prison." Shauna said with a smirk as the Faunus growled in anger.
Ruby instantly petal burst beside Winter, delivering a roundhouse kick to the scorpion Faunus's jaw and knocking him away as she brandished Crescent Rose, readying to face Penny's killer who eyed her fearfully.
"R-Rose." Cinder stuttered. Suddenly she clenched her teeth after taking a deep breath. Her remaining eye erupted with a stream of orange fire from it as her rage blew up. But Ruby just glared at her bitterly.
"You. Won't. Rob anyone else I care about. OF OUR FUTURE!" Ruby roared as her silver eyes shined bright, cloaking the room in a veil of light at caused Cinder to howl in agony, her grimm arm disintegrating as her skin began burning, kneeling in pain as she clenched her right side.
Ruby clenched her scythe as she eyed her archenemy, ignoring the burn in her eyes or the headache her powers caused. Her heart was aching much worse as she lost any patience she had. The crimson reaper charged, aiming her blade for the head of Penny's killer. She was going to have her vengeance, she was going to protect a friend's life this time, she was going to go home after and hug her family lovingly, knowing she would succeed in protecting them from this threat so they could have many new days to treasure together, so that Ruby Rose Dreyar could have a new day to share with them.
Author Notes
Phantomblaster1: Well, this is it! It's been a wild year of fun, and I am grateful to TheDemonHei for letting me help him finish this series. Ruby and family have earned their happy ending, and Ruby will be damned if Cinder takes it away from her. Tomorrow will be a new day for me as there will be no more NEW ROSES, but in the words of VISION from Marvel "A thing isn't beautiful because it lasts" its from how it lived for however short. This story was long but had to end sometime and I am happy it got to end on a high note with all of you. Thank you!
TheDemonHiei: First of all, thank you everyone. I know that this story has had a rocky road. I was over writing fanfiction because it took so much time and I was so busy with life. But thanks to PhantomBlaster1, we were able to finish it for you guys and give it a proper ending. I know the journey had its ups and downs, but I truly believe that this fanfic was only possible because of your support. Maybe I will make one shots for shows like JJK, Rent a Girlfriend and hell maybe the New Rose with Ruby and the others as adults. I don't know what the future entails, but thank you all! God bless!