RWBY: Avenge Me

by PhantomBlaster1

In an alternate universe, we explore Ruby's thought that Pyrrah would fight to avenge her if the shoe was on the other foot. Ruby has sacrificed her life Beacon, she and Penny becoming its sole casualties. Filled with rage at the loss of her friend, and WBY too injured and traumatized by the loss of their leader and sister to help, Pyrrah's out for Cinder's blood and mad as hell.

5. Chapter 5: Much Needed Discussions

RWBY Avenge Me

Chapter 5: A Much Needed Talk

"Nobody blamed her. I was there for her, how can I be there for her when she doesn't let me?" – Yang Xiao Long

Whether it's out of arrogance, guilt, or a deep sense of love…we can no doubt cause the greatest pain to our loved ones with our words and actions. Especially when we don't think them through.

Blake was in the kitchen fixing up a cold jar of Lemonade. It seemed fitting for a hot day like this. Yang was outside sparring with her father Tai, working to adjust to her new cybernetic arm. It had been a few weeks since Yang decided to finally move on from her losses, and to go to Haven to try and avenge her sister. She finally started eating right and regained her natural figure, now all that was left was getting back into fighting shape as her father pointed out. Naturally with all the exercise she and the old man were doing things were getting hot and bothered in a bad way, especially Yang as her eyes flared when Tai offhandedly told her she dulled in skill and intelligence when she lost her arm.

"Better put her out soon before the forest burns." Blake groaned as she grabbed a tray to put the lemonade and cups on. She was about to head out the door when suddenly she paused, rolling her eyes in annoyance.

"Stupid! You gotta get them a snack too." Blake groaned as she set the tray down.

Tai spared her a quick glance as he heard that, twirling behind his daughter and pushing her back so that she fell face-first into the dirt so that he could have a moment to admire her.

"I see what Yang sees in her. It's Summer all over again." Tai thought, a warm smile etched on his face. He couldn't begin to express how grateful he was for all the help this girl had been this last year after all their losses. Unfortunately, he was quickly knocked out of his thoughts as he managed to avoid being knocked off his feet from a kick from an angry Yang, her face scorching off the mud as she growled at him.

Blake noticed this, hoping the snack she picked would alleviate her temper. She decided on something sweet, so then reached inside the food pantry, grabbing a bag of store brand chocolate chip cookies.

"Can't have a good day without having some sweets once, Ruby always said-" Blake said with a smile before gasping, dropping the bag onto the floor, her hands trembling.

"She's gone" Qrows heartbreaking words echoing in her mind, tears began to sting Blake's amber eyes, making her sniffle as she slowly went to pick up the bag. Her body began to feel heavy as she bent down.

"Why?...why did I let her go?" Blake whispered. They were all there at Beacon, most of them including her injured but still. Why did she let Ruby go off alone to face her doom? As she looked out the window, hearing Yang roar, she saw her answer as the metal fist slammed into her fathers arms covering his face.

"I'm sorry….I'm so sorry." Blake had whispered to an unconscious Yang, the same night they lost Ruby, the same night she lost her partner's arm to Adam. That man came for her, he led an attack on Beacon that nearly claimed her partner, but did claim her sister. Blake couldn't help but loath herself the more she thought of this. She had wanted to help her partner through her misery, yet what had she really accomplished the year she spent taking care of her?

The angry cry of Yang startled the Faunus, making her cat ears fall flat as her heart shuddered. She saw the rage in her partner's attacks, she sensed what was driving them as the scowl on Yang grew. She knew it wasn't really directed at her, but Blake's fear and guilt didn't make her dwell on it, the mere sight of being a constant reminder of attack her former lover conspired in that essentially severed their team forever.

"What right do I have to even be near her? It's because of me Ruby's gone. Why would she forgive me for that?" Blake whispered, ignoring the drinks she prepares as she slowly strolled upstairs to her room. She did spare a glance to the floor as she walked upstairs, seeing the scattered cookies still remaining. She froze as her instincts told her to pick them up and throw them away out of a sense of cleanliness. But the more she eyed them, the more she saw that pure smile from Ruby, the girl who loved them almost as much as her team.

"Justice for my cookies will be swift, painful, and will be DELICIOUS!" Blake chuckled as she heard Ruby's childish yell that day in Beacon, as if it were only yesterday Yang had snuck into her personal stash.

With a heavy sigh, Blake chose to ignore the cookies, not having the heart to discard that thought and just preceded upstairs. She needed this pain in her chest to go away, and she knew just how to do it as a dark scowl was etched onto her face.

Outside…..

"Whoa! That thing packs a punch!" Taiyang yelled after rubbing his bruised left arm with a painful wince.

Yang just ignored his compliment, just sighing in frustration and impatience.

"Gah…we've been at this for days! I get it, you want to make sure I can still fight, but I think I'm doing just fine." Yang whined as she bumped her own fists, ignoring the soreness the heavier metal hand caused her human knuckles.

"Your close" Tai countered with a serious glare, no longer nursing his bruised arm.

"Oh really?" Yang said with an eyebrow raised, not amused.

"Your still off balance." Tai chuckled.

"No I'm not!" Yang yelled, before averting her gaze, looking at her cybernetic with a smile. Tai smiled as well, despite her cocky attitude. This was the first time she ever smiled while looking at the reminder of her loss. It was an improvement, if a distraction he would take advantage of.

"I thought it would be a huge weight…. but it feels so natural. They did a great job with this thing-OOF!" Yang grunted as Taiyang delivered a left hook right into her face, her upper body rearing from the impact as she staggered, just barely lifting her arms in pure reflex to avoid a spinning elbow jab to her jaw as she locked it in place with her wrists, but this left her open to a leg sweep the more experienced hunter took, knocking her left foot off the ground, making her wobble and rely on one leg to his amusement.

"I didn't mean your actual balance." He chuckled as he poked her, making her fall on her butt.

"Though that could use some work too." He quipped to her annoyance.

"Meaning?" She grumbled slowly.

"I saw your tournament fights, during the Vytal Fesitval." He explained.

"Let me guess." She said in a mocking accent. "I was sloppy." But Taiyang just shook his head to her surprise

"No, no, you were predictable, and... stubborn. Aaaaand...maybe a little boneheaded." He ranted with a grin, making her growl unamused, but that just proved his point.

"Do you realize that you used your Semblance to win every fight after the qualifiers?" Taiyang asked as he passed her a towel to wipe her sweat off.

"So what? How is me using my Semblance any different than someone else using theirs?" Yang asked as she wiped, feeling indignant.

"Because not everyone else's is basically a temper tantrum. "Tai laughed before crouching by her side and patting her shoulder hard. "I'm serious! Once you take damage, you can dish it back twice as hard, but that doesn't make you invincible! It's great when you're in a bind, but what happens if you miss? What happens if they're stronger? What then? Now you're just weak and tired! You've always been one to burn brighter than everyone else, whether it was with your smile, or, well, I remember your first haircut." He ranted as he playfully tugged the hair on the back of her head.

Smiling, Yang bats him away. He chuckles and gets up, walking away a few paces with Zwei just behind him, before turning around and giving her a serious fatherly stare, making her shudder. She knew he was serious and not joking anymore and it reflected in his tone.

"But you gotta keep your emotions in check. Keep a level head, and think before you act. Your Semblance is a great fallback, but you can't let yourself rely on it. It won't always save you….Obviously." He said sadly as he eyed her scars near her mechanical arms joints. "You definitely have your mom's stubbornness." He bemoaned

"Oh, so now we can talk about her? Or do I just remind you too much of her and hurt you?" She asked annoyed.

"No, it's fine. Raven was great in so many ways - her strength, her ambition, her dedication to whatever cause she thought was worth fighting for, I'm proud of how much of her I see in you. But, I'm glad I don't see all of her in you." Tai said with a sigh of relief.

"Why's that?" Yang asked curiously.

"Your mother was... a complicated woman." Tai awkwardly said as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Like everybody, she had her faults, but those faults are what tore our team apart. She was selfish and it did a real number on our family. You both act like the easiest way to tackle an obstacle is through it. It's what cost you your arm Yang, you need to slow down….*looks up* and clearly see the things around you before charging in." Tai said as he pointed to the house. Yang's eyes darted to where he was looking and pointing, turning red as she saw Blake in her room packing.

"What the!? She's leaving?!" Yang yelled as she got on her feet. She was feeling a surge of emotions right now, and none good, as her heart beat wildly increased. She grinded her teeth as she headed for the house, her fists clenched.

"How could she think of leaving without telling me!?" Yang thought with a fury before Tai grabbed her human wrist to her surprise. Her father knew WHY she felt this way, and also knew his words hadn't sunk in for the hot head.

"Remember…see CLEARLY." He lectured her before slowly releasing his grip as her eyes returned to lilac.

"Fine. But if I don't like her explanation she's dead!" Yang roared as she entered the house.

Atlas

"Your actions have sullied the Schnee name." Jacquees said with a calm tone filled with tranquil fury toward his daughter, who just glared at him for that.

"Do you have any idea what your stunt cost us? And don't think I'm just talking about Lien here! Our reputation! Our... our..."

Jacques sighs angrily and holds his head, unable to come up with the words to finish expressing the gravity of her mistake.

At the Schnee Manor, Weiss was having her own "father-daughter" talk if she could even call it that. All it entailed was him berating her for embarrassing the family name with her outburst at the party. But Weiss held firm, not willing to let the man who sullied their name to begin with bully her any longer.

"I want to leave." Weiss said firmly.

"I beg your pardon?" Her father asked in shock at the declaration.

"I said I want to leave. I don't want to stay here anymore. I don't want to stay in Atlas anymore where I can't even mourn my friend." Weiss bitterly said. She was through being a prisoner in this mans snooty prison and was going to make it known.

Jacquees flared his nostrils as he inhaled slowly, his rage building.

"Young lady…I don't give a damn about what you want! This isn't about you. This is about the Schnee family name and your apparent insistence on dragging it through the mud!" He roared, but Weiss stared daggers at him as she stood up in anger, getting in his face.

"I have done nothing but fight to uphold the honor of my family name, fighting for my life and the lives of others like Ruby did, or at least I could before being used as a tool by you. Just so you could piggyback off me like the family name you married into." She bitterly stated before feeling a burn on her cheek as Jacques slaps it hard, sending her head to the side as she gasps in reaction. She puts her hand on her cheek and turns to face her father, looking at him a little incredulously as she lowers her hand. He looks right back at her, unrepentant.

"This…behavior of yours is incredibly disappointing. You couldn't possibly understand the lengths I've gone to in order to keep this family where it is. You think running off like your sister is going to make the Schnee name stronger? You're wrong. Siding with her only divides us. You don't deserve this company if you can't see that" Jacquees said coldly, but Weiss didn't cease her glare. She wasn't going to be intimidated.

"All YOU ever did was oppress people like me, Faunus like my teammate too. Your just a parasite who feeds off the efforts and joy of others. Keep your stinking lien, I don't need it or you anymore….I never did." Weiss said firmly.

With that, she was left alone. No company, no lien, no father to support her as he left her room in a huff. Weiss was no longer the Schnee heiress….and she smiled as she couldn't be happier. She laid on her bed, feeling giddy as the weight on her finally lifted. She took a photo frame by her bedside, showing Team RWBY together at Beacon. Ruby insisted they take it after their initiation, despite them all being tired as it showed on Weiss's image, showing an annoyed scowl at her partner who smiled brightly.

Weiss hugged the photo, feeling a calming warmth as she did so. It felt Ruby was right here giving her strength and approval for finally standing up to her father. She missed her, but she couldn't help but feel the girl would scold her for being mopey about her death for so long, especially when the others were no doubt hurt as well. With that, her own smile widen as she stood up on her bed, feeling a surge of confidence now as she gained her resolve to finally do what she wanted, not what her father wanted.

"Okay! Time to get the team back together!" Weiss cheered as she fist pumped the air. "Now I just need some help getting to Vale." She said as she remembered the whole, not having money issue as she pushed on her butler pager.

"Oooooh Kleinnnnnnn." She hummed.

"Yes Miss Schnee." He asked in a joyous manner making her chuckle.

"I have a BIG favor I need to ask for." She said with a grin. Boy did Ruby rub off on her as she felt crazy and excited to do this.

Mistral

It was dusk when Team JNPR finally arrived at a town of Higinbana, one the map said was only 2 days from Haven Academy. At last their year long track across Anima from Vale bore fruit. Speaking of fruit, Jaune's stomach growled as he whined for food. Nora whipped her arms into the air in excitement at the prospect, so Ren and Pyrrah could only chuckle in amusement and agreement.

"Then lets go to that Inn and have dinner, and quickly. I don't want to be staying up all night starving for the battle we have ahead of us." Pyrrah announced as she bolted to the inn.

"Great! Hope they got pizza!" Jaune yelled as he tailed right behind her without hesitation.

Ren's smile soon faded as he noticed Nora beside him, looking down on the ground sadly. It wasn't like her not to be excited at the prospect of food.

"What's wrong?" He asked her.

"Lost my appetite." She moaned.

"Was it because….of the monster?" Ren asked wearily. To his surprise, Nora just shook her head in denial.

"No. I'll tell you while they eat…unless your hungry Renny." She asked but he shook his head, having lost his appetite due to wanting to hear her out.

"Lets hear it." He said.

After Jaune and Pyrrah enjoyed a hot meal at the inn, both decided to retire to their rooms. Thankfully they saved lots of lien from camping so they could splurge on some warm soft beds for a change. Pyrrah's leg in fact could use some rest, feeling extremely heavy and sore more than usual. In her room she took a glance at the bolts, noticing some wear and loosening. Her cybernetic shin hadn't been worked on in some time, and now was as good as time as any to do some maintenance before bed.

"Ruby would just love to see my work on this thing." She whispered as she took out some gun components she bought from the blacksmith. She didn't have much time back then to work on adding weaponry to her shin, or at least felt she didn't. She also didn't like the thought of someone else touching her, except maybe Jaune. The mere thought gave her a massive blush. She knew she had been distant from him this year, a fact that paused her sudden tinkering.

"Maybe I should give him a good morning kiss? Try to make up for lost time." She mused before going back to tinkering with her shin. She wanted to add a small dust bullet compartment to her leg, much like crescent rose had a gun function, to catch her opponents off guard if she ever found herself in a blade lock or facing hordes of Grimm. She didn't find her progress with her new scythe spear that impressive and needed all the help she could get at this point as she neared her goal.

Suddenly a knock came at her door, making her drop her screw driver, and nearly sliding her off her bed.

"E-Enter!" She stuttered as she quickly tried to pick up the scattered bolts and tools.

Soon Nora and Ren entered her room, both carrying sad looks on their faces that made Pyrrah pale.

"What happened? Something wrong?" She shuddered to ask. She shivered as Nora's somber gaze soon turned into a scowl.

"Something's been wrong for a year Pyrrah." Nora coldly said. Pyrrah looked on confused, further aggravating the Valkyrie.

"Pyrrah….you can't keep doing this." Ren said softly, but Pyrrah could sense the tranquil anger in his tone.

"Doing what?" She hesitated to ask.

"THIS! ALL OF THIS! Pyrrah….you keep rushing things." Nora yelled before calming herself, careful not to anger the innkeeper or fellow residents with her volume.

"I-I just wanted—" Pyrrah stuttered in protest before Ren raised a hand cutting her off.

"I know. We all know why. You feel responsible for what happened at Beacon." Ren softly said. The mood turned darker and somber the moment those words were said, Pyrrah glancing at her knee and scythe spear beside her bedstand.

"Because it WAS my fault. I killed Penny….I got Ruby killed. I need to make those monsters pay for making me do that." Pyrrah cried, tears stinging her eyes.

"Pyrrah that doesn't mean you should keep running yourself, or us ragged. You almost got us crushed by that Grimm in Kuroyuri." Nora retorted.

"I KNOW! I know I just…I feel so weak and I hate it. Whenever I fight Grimm and win I feel strong again. I don't feel like…like a-" Pyrrah choked on her breath, the words growing harder to come out of her throat.

"Like a loser? Join the club sister." Nora sighed as she sat beside her, giving an empathetic stare, soon followed by Ren.

"We all lost. We lost a couple of sweet girls who touched our lives. We want revenge too, we want to feel like winners against the bastards who did this to them, but your not being fair to us or yourself." Nora retorted.

"Pyrrah you spent this whole year rushing from battle to battle nearly getting us or yourself killed. We don't blame you for Ruby and Penny…but you are to blame for that." Ren said sadly but sternly.

Pyrrah could only hung her head in shame at those words, finding nothing wrong with them. It was true, her recklessness had endangered the friends she had currently and it began to disgust her, but even more so now that she realized it took a year to figure out.

"I'm sorry. This is why I wasn't made leader. I tried to be one, like Ruby, but she always cared how her friends felt. No wonder Jaune slapped me. I deserved getting hit for hurting you all." Pyrrah moaned, soon squealing as Nora slapped her rump.

"Then that's one for me to make it even. Renny…." Nora grinned before fixing Ren a dark glare, warning him not to follow suit and he sheepishly grinned and nodded, knowing it was suicide. Pyrrah could only chuckle a bit as she felt a sense of normalcy she hadn't felt all year return.

"Glad we're square again. I promise I won't rush things anymore and hurt you again." Pyrrah promised, brining a smile to her friends faces.

"Good, we don't want to loose another friend." Ren sighed as he hugged her, Ruby, Penny and his parents in mind.

"Me neither. Now I just gotta make it up to my special friend Jaune." Pyrrah sighed.

"Then just go into his room for some "fun" sweaty." Nora growled teasingly making Pyrrah's face flush as she grinded her teeth at the suggestive remark. She quickly grabbed the Valryie and Ren to their surprise as they were hurled out the room.

"GET OUT! YOUR LUCKY MY KNEE GUN ISN'T READY!" Pyrrah roared from her spot, unable to get up due to her knee still not being tightened. Nora quickly closed the door, not wanting to push her luck anymore.

"I think she got the message!" Nora grinned to Ren's amusement.

"Yup." He said with a grin, before he and Nora stiffened as they sensed the cold glare of the innkeeper, a burly woman with a black ponytail and one eye, bearing down on them. She was obviously well equipped to handle rowdy guests, ebbing away any resistance from them when they got a severe tongue lashing from her for the noise that night.

Back at Patch

Blake finished packing the bare essentials she though she'd need in her backpack. Some clothes, soap, a tiny shovel and toilet paper for outdoor "necessities" among some medicine and gauze. She had spent years surviving in the wilds amongst the White Fang. The mere fact brought a bitter scowl to her face, hating she actually felt grateful to them for teaching her this when they were the ones who helped decimate her school…her family.

"Never again. Not to Yang at least." Blake whispered as she swung her backpack over her shoulder and turned around, before gasping as she met said girl hanging off the bedroom doors hinges, her arms crossed and glaring at her displeased.

"What about me?" Yang asked her bitterly.

"I…uh….nothing I was just going for a-" Blake stuttered, desperately trying to make up a lie but Yang was having non of that.

"You take a walk with a backpack? Bullshit." Yang spat. Blake just cowered under her tone, retreating a bit onto her bed, noticing the window by it.

"It'd hurt my knees but maybe I could-" She thought before a pair of hands gripped her shoulders, the mechanical one hurting more.

"Blake. Please. I know what your thinking but don't leave." Yang said gently if firmly.

"But if I stay your just going to get hurt again. I brought Adam and the White Fang to Beacon. They-" Blake said, tears sting her eyes, but Yang silenced her, forcing her to sit on the bed before relaxing her grip on her, grabbing her hand tenderly.

"Then why did you stick around this long? That makes no sense." Yang pointed out. Blake took a moment to ponder that notion. She sighed as she found the answer in the cyborg hand that rubbed hers.

"You were broken. But now you DON'T need me. You can protect yourself now, you're getting stronger." Blake retorted softly, making Yang scoff.

"Yeah, I'm glued back together but I'm still fragile like my dad says. You leaving me's just going to shatter me again." Yang said softly.

"B-But what if he comes for me again!? What if he takes your head this time and I can't do anything like last time!" Blake yelled, her lower lip bleeding from the strain her frustrated biting put on it.

"Blake…no one blamed you for….this." Yang said sadly as she waved at her mechanical arm.

"BUT I DID! I WAS THERE AND COULDN'T SAVE YOU OR RUBY!" Blake roared, before wincing as she recoiled from her outburst, realizing the dangerous territory she just tread. While Yang was shocked for a moment, her eyes briefly flickering red, she remembered what her father said and just sighed, pulling her partner into a reluctant hug, letting her cry as she rubbed the back of her head.

"But I don't. Not for my arm, not for Beacon….and CERTAINLY not Ruby. You don't have to be afraid and alone anymore. I was there for you, we lost her together, but it will hurt MORE if we lose again….alone. Please don't leave me alone Blake." Yang pleaded softly, tears flooding her face.

As much as she wanted to in the long minutes they spent stuck in that hug, Blake found herself unable to refuse, or even speak as she weakly nodded onto Yang's shoulder.

As they finally separated, Blake wiping her face as she sniffled, Yang found her chest finally easing its rapid heartbeat, glad she got that off her chest.

"I won't hold you back anymore Blake. I'll get stronger and think before I rush in and lose another limb. You won't ever have to blame yourself for my fault ever again, I promise that if you promise not to think of leaving me again." Yang warned.

"D-Deal." Blake said with a sad smile. She soon pressed her forehead to Yang's, making the latters face flush in embarrassment, though she put off retracting her head, knowing this was just Blake letting off steam as well.

"just sorry it was 1 year too late." Yang thought with a grimace. Hating how she kept Blake from mourning or from ceasing her self-loathing with her own for so long.

Soon the two girls would find themselves both feeling even disturbed as a cry from downstairs separated them.

"GIRLS, DOWNSTAIRS HURRY!" Tai cried out in panic. Both girls instantly bolted out the door and downstairs, giving thousand yard stairs as they eyed the man holding Sun with one arm. The boy was breathing heavy, face flushed with sweat, but what made their hearts skip a beat was the thick cut oozing blood on his neck up to his lip.

"What happened to him!? Why's he here!?" Both girls thought coincidentally. Blake was in tears as she saw her old friend in such a sour state, fearing the worst for him.

"Yang! First aide kit now!" Tai yelled, snapping her out of her trance as she nodded and bolted to the kitchen to grab it.

"S-Sun! You okay!?" Blake asked as she ran up to him. He could only nod and give a weak thumbs up before his arm went limp and he was set onto a bar stool, allowing Yang and Tai to open the med kit and dab his cut with some medicine.

"OW! Not anymore….*sigh* what is that acid?" Sun weakly yelled.

"It will disinfect the wound before we gauze it." Yang pointed out. He could only sigh in defeat as he allowed them to finish reluctantly. His heart stung worse than the cut as he eyed his tearful crush. He hated what was coming.

"Wondering why I'm here?" He bluntly asked. She could only nod, fear for the answer holding her back.

"Well…Adam got me too." Sun bitterly said, freezing Yang as her arm began shaking at the sound of that name.

"He…he did?" She asked nervously and he nodded as Tai resumed bandaging his neck.

"He offed my team, ambushed us on a mission. He said he let me live….to give THIS to you." Sun reluctantly said as he pulled out a photo from his jeans.

"He knew Blake and I were….close. So he said I only had myself to blame for their deaths." Sun said as he closed his tearful eyes, sniffling as the memories of Mercury and the others deaths flushed through his mind.

Blake weakly grabbed the photo, despite every instinct in her yelling at her not too. She knew Adam did something else awful, and just had to know.

"Blake?" Yang called for her, but she couldn't hear it even with her enhanced hearing. All time froze as her eyes widened in terror at the sight before her. On the photo….her home in the Menagerie was on fire, and her parents lied dead in a pool of blood outside, her fathers corpse charred and her mother's throat slit. She began to gasp for air as worse, written in dried blood she smelled was theirs, in Adam's handwriting was,

"YOUR FRIENDS IN HAVEN ARE NEXT!"

At that moment, Blake dropped the photo as she collapsed onto her knees, gripping her arms as she screamed in agony, her worst fear proven true.

Yang slowly picked up the photo, seeing its contents making her roast it as her hair caught flame. Adam taking her arm was one thing, but taking her friends parents and tormenting her further? That was the last straw.

"HE'S DEAD!" She thought with a fury.

Meanwhile….

Qrow was busy sitting in a bar across from the inn, sipping down some cheap liquor that burned his throat as he eyed the teens enter their lodge.

As much as he wanted to join them, and even congratulate them on their victory in Kuroyuri, he knew it wasn't a good time. They were tired and dealing with personal issues, and he had is own to deal with right now, taking out a picture of his nieces he quietly placed on the table, next to a shot glass he had emptied. It had only been a few weeks since Ruby's passing, and a year since leaving behind Yang as she recovered, yet it felt just like yesterday each night he spent without them. He had to keep drinking even this cheap crap, the booze and this photo of them smiling with him and Tai was the only thing keeping his sanity in check.

"Barkeep another ro-" Qrow called out before a waitress in a Chinese looking dress walked up to him with a glass of tequila in ice she gently placed on his table, careful to avoid his photo.

"I uh…didn't order that but thanks." He said in confusion.

"It's from the lady in the booth over there." She said with a wink.

Qrow spared the direction a glance, though groaned as he soon wished he hadn't, having to look for even a second as an unwelcomed but familiar pair of red eyes met his.

"Hello brother." The woman said coolly as she walked over to his table, taking a seat without his permission.

"What do you want Raven?" Qrow growled, not wanting to beat around the bush.

"What? A girl can't just catch up with her family?" She asked in an innocent tone Qrow knew was fake. Nothing with this woman could be defined as innocent.

"She can, but we both know you're not. Now cut the crap. Unless you plan on keeping these coming." Qrow said sternly as he waved his glass. Raven scowled at him before sighing.

"What's the situation with her?" Raven asked. Qrow snorted, a normal mother would likely mean her daughter, considering what she suffered, but Qrow knew what she meant and didn't like it one bit.

"Well… Yang lost her arm." He bluntly told her, drawing a furious look on his sister.

"That's not what I-" She said indignantly before he cut her off.

"I know! I also know you know. It's just obnoxious that you'd bring up family and then carry on like your own daughter doesn't exist." He growled while rolling his eyes.

"I… saved her." Raven retorted with a groan. But Qrow shook his head not impressed in the slightest.

"Only Once." He fired back while raising his finger to empathize his point. "Not because mommy loves her little spitfire, but because that was your rule, right? Real "Mom of the Year" material, sis. When you haven't even spend a full day with her." Qrow said sarcastically yet bitterly.

Raven leans forward and grabs Qrow by the forearm, stilling his sarcastic, nonchalant motions. She slowly grabbed the photo on the table before he could grab it, fixing her a murderous glare as she snickers.

"Your one to talk. You left her too, and for what? Helping some brats way in over their head?" She retorted.

"Nothing I could do to help her then. She had to fight her own demons. Besides…Ruby would have wanted me too-" He sighed sadly.

"They'll fail too." She retorted coldly, cutting him off as she slammed the photo on the table to his concern. He didn't have many of them, so he treasured that one.

"I told you…Ozpin, Beacon, the maidens, they would all fall before Salem, just like those kids will. I refuse to let my tribe fall too, just like that pathetic little girl of Summer's you deluded yourself into thinking you could make strong enough to survive." Raven spat.

At that moment, Qrow lost all his patience with her. She had no right to mock his nieces death, especially since it came as the price to save so many parents innocent children.

"She was stronger than both of us! Because she wasn't a coward!" He yelled as he jerked his arm free he grabbed the photo and kicked the table towards her, his sister jumping over it in time before it could pin her to the wall. He quickly tucked the photo away in his coat, not wanting to get blood splattered on it as he drew his longsword and Raven drew her red blade.

The bar's inhabitants quickly scurried out like rats, careful to avoid the battle they saw coming as the air turned tight from the suffocating bloodlust the siblings gave off. The bartender and waitress were cowering behind the bar.

Raven soon surprised Qrow as she held a hand up.

"Now tell me, before I lose my patience too and slit your throat. Does...Salem have the Beacon relic?" She demanded.

"No. Why do you want to know so bad anyway? Thought Salem was beneath you and the tribe you ditched us for?" Qrow spat, his hand trembling as it itched for her blood.

"You…ditched us first. You chose to raise a weak little girl who fell to the enemies I'm trying to protect my tribe from." Raven spat.

"I chose to raise someone I loved, just like her mother. I'd choose them again over a pack of murderers and thieves unlike you." He spat back angrily.

"The tribe was your family." She said, her tone a bit hurt.

"You have a VERY warped view of that word. Now go see your family, I mean your real one, your daughter and husband, and stop wasting both our times already." Qrow demanded but she just huffed as she formed a red portal with a slash of her sword.

"I'll see my family all right. One that can actually survive cause they're strong unlike those weakling." She retorted.

"WAIT!" Qrow hollered before she went through, before she could put on the mask that covered her annoyed eye roll.

"What?" She asked angrily.

"Does your tribe have the spring maiden?" He coolly asked. He didn't fail to notice Raven's hand shake a bit as he asked that before going through the portal with a groan. It only confirmed his suspicions.

As he sat back down in his chair, grabbing the ice cold drink his sister gave him, he slowly took out the crumbled up photo of his nieces. Raven's words making a deep sense of shame arise within him that made him want to chug the whole thing down. He soon eyed the bartender and Waitress slowly take their shivering heads out, making sure the mess was over.

"Sorry for the scare. Do me a favor…make this a double." He whined as he waved his drink in the air.

As Qrow soon chugged his 5th drink, his face flushed as laid back in chair, about to let the buzz ease him into a deep sleep, he quickly rose to his feet as he heard footsteps approaching.

Reaching to his waist for harbringer, readying for another fight, he was surprised as he saw a dark skinned boy with Green eyes approach him cautiously and for good reason. His short stature and skinny appearance could make him no more than 14, hardly a match for even a drunk huntsmen. But what caught Qrow's attention was the thing he was holding in his hands.

"Um….sir?" He asked sheapishly, the cane in his hands shaking.

"Where'd you get that *hic* kid?" Qrow asked curiously.

The boy winced as he smelled the drunkards foul breath, but he shook his head as something in his head nagged him to ignore it. Qrow could only raise an eyebrow at him seeing the boy mutter to himself, before his eyes widened in realization as he heard what came next, a familiar voice as the boys eyes shined a green light for a bit.

"Remember me old friend?" The voice of a man echoed overlapping with the boys.

Qrow just sighed as he fixed the odd stranger a warm smile.

"Hell there Oz." Qrow said warmly.

Patch

The next morning, Taiyang and Sun watched Yang and Blake packing their backpacks with food and water bottles in the kitchen before bolting to the shed outside.

"Are they really doing this? Right now?" Sun asked the older huntsman concerned. Blake hadn't any real time to mourn, just one night to cry into everyone's shoulders.

"It's the only way they can move on." Tai explained shortly, fixing his eldest daughter a sad glare as he walked to the shed. Sun rubbed his shoulder in remorse, wishing he hadn't given the letter to them. They lost Ruby already, giving them this news obviously shattered his crush, but Sun just kept feeling Adam's deadly stare at him from that night. He couldn't help but fear not complying with that hurtful demand would kill him.

With a heavy sigh, Sun just decided all he could do was wish her well off as he and Tai saw them filling up Yang's motorcycle Bumblebee with gas.

"You girls ready for this?" Tai asked and they nodded without hesitation, fixing him a determined look.

"Yeah, we're done wasting time moping around. Don't try to stop us dad." Yang said firmly and Blake nodded.

"Don't worry. I'm a little too sore from our last fight to try." Tai chuckled as he rubbed his shoulder.

"Just let me ask you one thing." He said firmly.

"What is it sir?" Blake asked.

"Yang, despite telling him a hundred times not too, I know your Uncle Qrow told you where Raven's tribe lives." Tai said annoyed.

"So what?" Yang asked, not getting the point.

"I know you want to go to Haven to get revenge, to save your friends, but I got to ask if that's your priority. Her tribe is on the way their once you take the flight in vale. Are you going to help them first, or see Raven first?" He asked wearily, remembering what happened the last time Yang went on a quest for her birth mother. It nearly got her and Ruby eaten alive, and now she had another dark haired friend tagging along. He already lost one daughter, he couldn't stand the thought of Yang getting herself killed over this desire again.

"I'm seeing Raven." Yang declared without hesitation to his discomfort, but she quickly raised an arm up, showing she wasn't done speaking. "BECAUSE…..he also told me her semblance. How she can teleport. I'm going to have her teleport us there to save time, seeing as how he's been tailing team JNPR all this time." Yang explained.

Tai sighed as he reluctantly smiled. It was a smart idea, and he was proud she was finally using her head, but couldn't help but hate the idea of her meeting Raven. Yet…

"Okay." He finally said to her surprise. "It's your choice. Your and adult just…please be careful. Raven's dangerous, even with those who were close to her believe me." He warned and she nodded, soon giving him a massive bear hug in gratitude for his blessing.

"I promise. And I promise I'll come back once Ruby can rest." Yang sadly said, bringing tears to the old man as he hugged her back.

"Good to hear sunny dragon." He chuckled.

Sun meanwhile gave Blake his own to her surprise.

"Good luck. Mr. X was kind enough to offer for me to crash here so please write to me when you get to Haven so I know your fine." Sun pleaded softly, but Blake just fixed him a confused stare.

"What do you mean? Your coming with us." Blake demanded to his shock.

"W-WHAT!?" Sun exclaimed in shock.

"Sun….you lost just as much as we did. Adam can't keep taking our families and expect to get away with it. We packed enough for 3, so what do you say?" Blake said as she offered him her hand as she sat down on the motorcycle.

Sun's hand shook as it slowly drew towards his crushes hand. To be honest, he was reluctant to take it, not just from the pain he helped cause her, but out of his fear for the bull faunus who maimed them both.

"I'm…I'm really scared but-" Sun whispered, but Blake grabbed his hand firmly to his surprise.

"I am too. But we can't let him rule us with fear anymore. I hurt Yang too much that way, I can't let you hurt yourself anymore that way. Otherwise the bad guys win." Blake said firmly.

With a heavy sigh, Sun simply nodded as he jumped onto the cycle, wrapping his arms around her waist to Yang's annoyance.

"Don't get too handsy with us okay? Or I'm knocking you off that thing before we knock off Adam's head got it!" She warned and he sheepishly nodded with a partial grin, his lips still bandages making it hurt to move his left side partially. Honestly that was the only reason the jealous Yang allowed her partners request to come true.

Feeling enough time was wasted, Yang gave her dad one more quick hug before she hopped onto the cycle, turning the key into the ignition, its loud rumble drawing excitement to her, as well as a bit of fear, as she realized her quest was finally going to begin.

"Alright then…lets go make that bastard pay back all he took from us." Yang sighed as she had her robotic arm clench Bumblebee's ignition, revving up the engines more as she, Sun and Blake took off.

"SEE YA SOON DADDY!" Yang cried off as her motorcycle sped off towards the forest on the way to the docks.

"I….I sure hope so sweetie." Tai sighed sadly, finding it hard to hope that as the smiles of Summer and Ruby flashed before his eyes. If only he had the strength left to blindly hope for that.

Author Notes

And there off! Next chapter we have Weiss trying to convince her butler into helping her escape Atlas to reunite with her friends, Yang and Blake confronting Raven, and Oscar/Ozpin meeting team JNPR. Question is, will these discussions be pleasant?...HELL NO! See how ugly things are gonna get in CH 6: Fault!