The Leads

Eternal darkness and eternal curse. One step into the depths of the grim world will shatter your deepest sorrows. Deep into the void, your inside is empty, your soul is empty, your bliss is empty. Can there still be a happily ever after?

-R.D.

-23 Years Ago-

Sai is running towards her way to Salem's main location. All she can feel is the wind through her own speed. In the ominous forest of the death. Sai could feel someone's presence moving towards her. The last thing Sai wanted was to see Qrow following her and talking her out of a mission she was willing to sell her soul for to defeat Salem. But it wasn't him. Signature white rose pedals fly passed her and Sai realized whose aura this is.

"Sai, wait!" She turned around to see a woman in a white hood and cape. And a black dress. She has silver eyes and short hair tied back. Said knew someone like that woman would try to stop her friends from getting killed. And that woman was none other than Summer Rose herself. "Summer, what are you doing here?" Asked Sai.

Summer walked towards her. The look of concern and worrying in her expression, Sai knew that it was a sign of reluctance of letting go. Summer had always considered Sai a friend in their times at Beacon together. But Sai was never close to Summer. But it didn't stop her from being friends with a former assassin. "I knew what you're going to do and there was no point talking to you, wasn't it?" Asked Summer.

Sai is at a loss for words. Summer somehow knew about her past. Sai was an orphan from Vacuo prior to meeting her husband, Tamaku. Salem found her and raised her as her own to become the ultimate weapon. By going to Shade Academy, Sai has her skills learned. Here own mission was to kill every huntsmen that stood in her way. But after meeting Tamaku Ayana. Who would know the truth of her past, but accepted her to release her from all this pain and regret.

Even after redeeming herself. Sai did not feel like she deserve to have the man she loves. Nor the son she gave birth to. "Ozpin sent me. And I am going to help you release yourself from whatever Salem had made you become." Sai was shocked as Summer confirms about her knowledge. "How did you-?" Sai was cut off when Summer told whatever detail she knew of.

"Ozpin, Tamaku...they told me what you've been through. I am not going to judge you for this. I understand what Salem made you was wrong. And I am happy that you decided to redeem yourself. From the moment we met, I knew there was something off about you..." Summer was cut off when Sai turned around attempting to walk away.

"Go home, Summer. This is my fight and my fight alone. I made that mistake looking up to Salem. And I am going to fully redeem myself by killing the woman who made me a weapon." Summer doesn't knew her intention would get herself killed. Being a pacifist leader she was in Beacon, Sai knew she would try to stop her pursuing Salem to end her life to keep the world of Remnant safe. Summer decides to make other plans for her holding a canteen of coffee. "Coffee?" She asked, with a smile. "I also made biscuits too." She adds. Sai could not say no for a break she offered.

"I guess one break cannot hurt." Sai sighed agreeing to sit down and have a chat. Summer could only remember the time she attended Tamaku's wedding. Not only her friends are Team STRQ, but also the members of Team STRM. And Tamaku was one of the members. "So, you and Taiyang. Huh?" Asked Sai. As she took a dip of coffee. Summer hearing Tai's name and coughed a bit. "H-how did you know?!" Summer asked in shock.

"Tamaku called me and told me you have a little tyke already. Congratulations." Sai complimented as she showed Summer a photo she was sent by her husband while she was away. It showed a picture of the younger Yang hugging her little sister. It amazes Sai to see the same silver eyes as Summer. She knew about the story of silver eyes. And never knew they turned out to be real when meeting Summer. "She's beautiful. What's her name?" Asked Sai.

Summer is at a loss for words. But felt surprise that Tamaku would share this photo. Taiyang must've sent that photo. Summer giggled at the photo. The girls looked adorable. "Ruby. We named her Ruby. After my mom." Answered Summer.

"It's a nice name too. I'm surprised Yang also seemed to be very attached to you. How was she?" Asked Sai. "And Taiyang?"

"She seems to be doing fine. It was a bit hard raising a little toddler before Ruby was born." Summer admits. "But as time passed. She started to call me, "mom." Let me ask you this, Sai. Am I doing the right thing to help Taiyang raising her as my own? I mean, I know I am not her mother. But I also love her too. It's just, with her bio mother gone, it felt like I was replacing her. It just doesn't feel right. Taiyang felt like he did something wrong to make Raven left. I had feelings for him since Beacon. But Raven beat me to it. I remember how kind he was towards me whenever I felt down about being a leader and all. But her brother, he also supported me whenever Raven and I had differences." Summer admits.

Hearing Raven's name infuriates Sai. Not only as a life long rival, bit the fact that she left her own daughter behind and the man she had for Yang's father shut down. Sai always hated Raven for as long as she can remember. Wanting to kill her for all the wrong she did. But let's that slide. Not wanting to show anger in front of Summer. "Why bringing up that traitor? You know she is beyond help anyway."

"I believed being in the tribe, this isn't what Raven even wanted. If you saw how much Taiyang makes her laugh, it's a side of her you never saw before. Maybe her mind just wasn't set. Qrow is like a big brother to me, unlike his sister. He even considers Ruby his niece with blood or no." Summer laughed, at the memories she will cherish forever.

Sai could not hold back her chuckle. "Dusty old Qrow," as anyone would put it. "Dusty old Qrow. That's him for you. You seemed a bit conflicted when raising Yang. You mentioned it felt like you were replacing Raven. How's that?"

"Yang started to call me mom. I was shocked at first cause she had no memory of her whatsoever. When I thought about it, I kinda feel bad. No child should have their mother replaced. I thought maybe if Raven comes back, Yang should know." Summer explains. Still feeling guilty for replacing her biological mother, who is Summer's former teammate. She held her photo of her daughters while her mind is set on two sides. Sai, in her case thinks Yang is better off without Raven as she is dead to her.

"It's probably for the best. Yang is better off without Raven. If you ask me, she is dead to us all." Sai remarked, causing Summer to be shocked at that comment. She would never say anything bad about Raven. But would defend her even though she is not a bright person anyone would expect her to be. "I know Raven pushed us away and you don't like her. But don't you think that's a bit harsh?" Summer asked.

"What? That traitor can rot in hell for all I care. She cares about nothing and nobody but herself. Or did you even forget she tried to kill me?" Asked Sai. Summer knew Sai would bad-mouth about Raven. After all, they both disrespected each other during their years in the Academy. Raven would look at Sai with contempt, and Summer is the only one to break the outburst between the two. Sai would defend Summer whenever Raven insults Summer for being a terrible leader. And would result in a blood-bath. "I'm sorry, but it's true. The next time Raven shows up, I won't show her any mercy. Qrow won't be taking the blame for this, but she will. Tell me, Summer. Why forgiving her for the pain she caused you?"

"She's my friend and teammate too you know." Summer countered. But Sai didn't believe her. "Sai, let's not forget the times she also helped you."

"More like she wants me to drop my guard to kill me. Let me tell you a secret about Salem and my reason to never trust anyone. Since you knew about Salem more than anyone, this is between you and me, this is something neither Tamaku nor your team should know. Unless I am ready to say it." Summer respects some people with secrets for some reasons. Even the darkest ones yet. What Sai did not know is that this will be the last time she would see Summer alive.

After Summer told Sai the secret of who knows what she did tell. Sai nodded and told her she already knew. "Why insisted you come?" Sai asked.

"Maybe for your family's sake, you have to go home to them." Summer said.

"I will, once we rid that woman, maybe I could live in peace. Salem doesn't know about my child and it's better this way."

At that time, I didn't realized that this would be the last night I saw you, Summer. There was a dream I had after I defect from Salem. A vision in my younger years told me a prophecy. A child with silver eyes who will shine the light for Remnant to regain hope that was already lost.

Sai is in the forest watching Qrow being apprehended. She wore a tiger mask with the orange outlines and stripes on each corner of the mask. She had faked her own death since the night she left her son to her husband. Sai partially wonders how her family was doing, but knowing how the temptation of meeting them would cost them their lives, Sai thought it was better for her son to think she was dead. She is now Tigress, known as the "Ghost Huntress." Salem is not aware that her daughter figure and former protege was still alive this whole time. "Dusty old Qrow. Same as always." Sai said putting her mask over her eyes.

On the day Summer had been killed, Sai promised her one thing. To protect her daughters, should they be out on the battlefield, and to avenge her by finding the way to kill Salem, and to kill Raven. Those are her three goals.

Summer, I promised you that not only your daughters will be protected, but I shall avenge your death. This I vow to make it happened. My only mistake was trusting Salem. May the Infinite and Unbound guide me. Tamaku, forgive me, but I have a death wish that I have no choice but to make. Look after our son.

I was once an orphan in Vacuo, I had no choice but to steal to survive. Fight and kill to survive, that is how I unlocked my semblance. Salem was the one who found me and took me in. Promising with a greater purpose. I became her personal assassin by night. After I turned 17, I was ordered to carry out the plan to eliminate huntsmen. To do this, I must adapt to strategic battles in Shade Academy. The unwritten rule is that to fit in, you must survive. And if you survive, then you are welcomed. Little did I know that when I went to Beacon as an exchanged student, I fell in love with Tamaku, a student who graduated from Haven. Although it was my intention to kill him. Something about him prevents me from doing so. It was as if his aura has calmed me down, when he smiles, I felt warm. Falling in love was the forbidden rule in Salem's domain. Fighting an emotion like this was difficult to kill. It was feeling wrong at first. Later on, Tamaku freed me from the shackles of regrets and pain. All this love he had given me, it felt right.

"Sai Tarayuki is dead. Now I am Tigress." Sai told herself, her vengeance begins now as she scurried through the trees. Her stealth is very useful. Even for a woman in her 40s, she is a skill ex-huntress. She then notices three people while being out of sight. Heading to the direction towards the campsite. "My hunt for the current Fall Maiden begins here. Prepare to meet your end, Salem. But not today." Sai said to herself.

"Can you tell me more stories? Please?!" Asked a toddler with blue hair to his father. Then a 3-year-old Lie Ren also joined in for the pleading for more stories. This is something Ren would remember of his childhood. But not of the other boy or the boy's father. "I would like to hear more of it. Tell us, any story." Ren said.

The man chuckled at joy to see innocence of children. He knew that that innocence would not last long. As much as it saddens him that children are born to defend the world. And that they would have no choice but to face heartache and pain as they get older.

"Alright, but that's it. And then it's off to dinner. What I am about to tell you is very nostalgic. This story is called, "The Girl who fell though Time." Said the man.

-1 year Ago-

Jaune is informed by Qrow about Pyrrha Nikos' death as he carried his niece Ruby on his back. Unconscious due to her silver eyes awakening. Jaune fell to the floor as he holds what was left his partner and friend.

"This is..." Jaune began looking at the golden tiara she wore in battle. Qrow was at a loss for a few seconds before he opened his mouth and said, "I'm sorry, kid. That was all it's left of her." Qrow apologized.

Ren and Nora cannot believe either as they held onto each other tightly and Nora is comforted by Ren as she cannot bare to think what happened to Pyrrha. Ren cannot find the right words to say to Jaune, or Nora.

Qrow then bents to his other niece, Yang, who was still injured from an encounter with Adam. Blame disappeared as Sun looks around. Upset that she ran off. Weiss and Neptune, hearing the news were shocked to say the least. Weiss cannot hold back tears as she spun to Neptune and buried her face onto his shoulder.

Neptune was just as devastated for the loss as Weiss is. And he gently wraps his arms around her as he cannot imagine losing his friends and loved ones in the ring, holding her close. The reality of fighting as a huntsman or a huntress is as cruel as it gets.

Qrow then looked at the unconscious Yang, as he was ashamed of himself for not taking Yang's words seriously when she said she attacked Mercury Black because he attacked her first. But he now realized that Yang was tricked by Mercury to attack him in order to make her out to be a villain. "I'm sorry, Yang. I should've known you were tricked. I'll get you and Ruby home." He apologized. Making sure both the sisters are safe.

But not without Jaune makes an outburst for the loss of Pyrrha. Not only who was his first and last kiss. But also the woman who truly loved him for who he is on the inside and believe in him as a huntsman.

He then marches angrily at Qrow, who he blamed for persuading Pyrrha to take on Cinder alone, just because he agreed with Professor Ozpin that Pyrrha should be the Fall Maiden.

"You! This is all your fault! You shouldn't have force Pyrrha into the Fall Maiden!"

Jaune started as he pushed him while Ren watched over Ruby and Yang as he does not want to stress them out in the conflict. "Kid, wait-!" Qrow was cut off as Jaune was about to attack him.

"How could you tell her all this?! Do you have any idea what you just filled her in for?!" Before Jaune can rant any further, Neptune then tried to interrupt, and Sun helped. But Jaune was getting a bit too strong. "Jaune, that's enough!" Sun shouted.

"Sun is right, Jaune. You have to calm down!" Weiss agreed. But Jaune isn't listening. Hearing those words made Jaune snapped. As he turned into a different person. "Look, kid, I-"

"Why didn't you stop her when she went up to the tower?! It should've been you who was dead, not her!" Jaune made the last straw to punch Sun in. Jaune then gasped as he realized what he has done. "It's cool man, we are all angry. But we are not your enemies, Jaune." Sun points out.

"Whoever killed Pyrrha, is at fault. Do not forget who the real culprits were since. Jaune, I get you are angry, so are we. But taking out your anger isn't going to help. The least we can do now is give Pyrrha the Justice she deserves." Sage told Jaune as he offers emotional support. Scarlet then scoffs when he was about to say something. "Yang was right." He started.

"What did you say, Scarlet?" Asked Nora. Then Scarlet let out the secret.

"Yang isn't lying after all! Back when the match between her and Mercury, I knew something was off about him.

Then I saw him standing like that fake injury was nothing! The moment him and Emerald arrived to Beacon! I knew something was wrong! I heard her taking about making Yang hallucinate about her getting attacked by Mercury using her semblance!"

"If you knew about this, why didn't you say anything?!" Nora retorted. Scarlet then has more to say about the crisis at hand. Looking back on how he brought up his suspicion to his headmaster, Leonardo Lionheart. The lion Faunus brushed it off saying they are just new exchanged students, but Scarlet was one of the few who didn't believe him. "I had my suspicion from the beginning and when I brought it up to my headmaster, he just brushed it off like it was nothing. And did anyone believe me?! Bloody no! Clearly we were all fooled from the beginning! Yes, I heard it all. I saw Mercury attacked Ruby after Yang was accused of attacking him, that's why I went to see if he was truly injured. Oh, and her this, his legs were made of metal! Good thing I grabbed one of those before he can kill Ruby."

Scarlet grabbed one of Mercury's prosthetics and threw them to the ground for everyone to see. Flynt and Neon were also shocked. "Yang isn't lying after all. But who would also made her see things?" She asked.

"Emerald was with him on this one. I suspected her semblance to be illusions. That's why we did not see Mercury attack Yang. And that also caused Pyrrha to panic and kill Penny. More like Emerald killed her. Jaune was right about one thing. It was Qrow's fault. Maybe none of this would've have happened if he took Yang's words seriously!" Scarlet scowled at the older huntsman, at one point, Qrow did not argue. The plan made for Pyrrha had cost her her life and now he will be haunted by this for the rest of his life.

"That wicked witch and her minions thought they can fool everyone. But not me!" Scarlet points out. "It was all their fault! And did Ironwood believe me when I told him I saw Mercury standing in the Arena and attacked Ruby?! No, he bloody didn't! And said I was just defending Yang! I saw the whole thing, guys! The whole thing!" Scarlet spats out what he is said. He was a witness along with Ruby to see Mercury and Emerald's betrayal.

"Sage...Baby...Lycanthrope..."

Sage awakens to the voice he has heard before. All he dreamt of was him as a baby, being held in the arms of a woman who he guessed was his mother. Shoji, who sensed his owner having a strange dream, walks over to him and nuzzles him. Sage pets him on the head as he sighs of relief, but couldn't help but wonder about the dream. And the fact he was called, "Lycanthrope."

A term for a wolf. "Yeah, I'm okay, boy. Just a really strange dream. Nothing bad." Sage ponders if that was his mother's voice. A bit dark, but most of all, loving.

Wonder how Dad was doing? I might have to talk to him by the time I see him back in Mistral. Old man must be in a middle of his hunts. Not even Grandpa can explain who my mother was. In fact, he never knew her at all.

Sage thought, a lot has changed since the Fall of Beacon. He stayed with his adoptive grandfather (his father's adoptive father) until Ruby invites him to her expedition. Since his father is out for some missions to hunt down the monsters who destroyed Beacon, which includes White Fang members who participated in this downfall. Sage tried to call Sun multiple times, as he thought something was up. Sage lets Neptune off the hook, knowing that the events at Beacon reminded him of the loss of his eldest brother. And needs some time to process. Sun on the other hand, did not leave a note, no text, nothing to know why he left for a moment. Sage wants to understand what has gotten into his leader. It can't be Team SSSN without two of his missing teammates. Even if he hadn't known them much.

Ruby seemed to have a lot in mind. Can't blame her, what happened in the Battle of Beacon is a nightmare. Even to me. Sun is still not picking up, where is he? What has gotten into him all this time? Could it be true for what he said about the guy he saw back in Vale? Maybe he wasn't imagining things. Can't believe we were deceived in the start. Jaune is up too. Maybe I should check on them. Guess what happened to Pyrrha traumatized him. I cannot believe Scarlet saw the whole thing and no one saw anything. Other than that, why didn't Professor Lionheart noticed anything about Mercury and Emerald?

Sage then notices Ruby waking up and walking away from the cave hole. Shoji followed Ruby, curious as she loves dogs and wolves are as close to them that Ruby did not seemed to mind. Shoji closes his jaw on Sage's sleeve, tugging on it, prompting him to follow. But not before noticing Jaune is missing as his sleeping bag is also empty.

"Alright, boy. I'm coming." Sage yawned. He made it out of the cave as Shoji leads him to his current leader as of now.

Author's note: Sorry it took this chapter long again.

This chapter provides flashbacks of Sage's mother, Sai Tarayuki, a former ally of Salem, was the last person to have seen Summer alive. She is the allusion of the Japanese Sun goddess, Amateratsu. Including the promise Sai made to Summer before her death. But was also guilt-ridden for being Salem's assassin and decided to run away for her family's safety. Since Salem doesn't take traitors lightly.

Sai Tarayuki-Ayana/Tigress- Sai is an ex-huntress graduated from Shade Academy, and Salem's former apprentice and assassin. Sai is also Sage Ayana's mother and Tamaku Ayana's estranged wife. Sai was founded by Salem after being fed up with the mistreatment in the orphanage. She became vengeful then on, trusting no one but Salem (whom she thought she owed at first for giving her the means the survive). After enrolling into Shade Academy, Sai is basically a "one-woman army" according to the headmaster, Professor Theodore, she heed no aid, but doesn't play nice with others either. Later on, Sai went to an exchange program in Beacon to gain information to being back to Salem. But upon meeting Tamaku Ayana, a member of Team STRM from Haven Academy, she fell in love with him (which Salem forbade her to do in fear of betrayal), but remained indecisive until graduation. It is here when Sai broke down and confessed to Tamaku of everything, as he already knew but comforted her while he listened to her side of the story as he also told his story about his life as an orphan and the two fell in love and got married two years after graduation. Upon hearing of Sai's marriage, this gravely upsets Salem, but this however gave her an idea for Sai to conceive a child to take her place should she die. After Sage was born, Sai feared that Salem would come after her family and left her husband and child behind to lure Salem away from them. That is when she encountered Summer Rose, who offered to assist her in her mission before she was killed. Later on, Summer did not make it and was slaughtered by Salem, and Sai vowed to help avenge her friend and Ally by finding a way to destroy Salem. Sai also vowed to keep Summer's daughters (Ruby and Yang) alive while she is still alive. Sai renounced her ties to her former master and seeks the way to kill her for good. Sai is also own to have a bitter rivalry with Raven Branwen (Yang's biological mother, whom Sai hated) after Raven somehow blackmailed Sai for unknown reasons. Sai is an allusion to Amateratsu (the goddess of the Sun). Her weapons are dual sais being trained by Salem, but also has the semblance to wield flammability. While on the run from Salem, Sai went under the mantle, Tigress, legendary defender of Remnant.

Meanwhile, Scarlet is one of the few people suspicious of Emerald and Mercury since Volume 2. When brought it up to anyone he turned to, nobody believed him. A few other reasons he doesn't trust anyone, not even his teammate.

And to add to the list, Sage Ayana wasn't given much of a supporting role in V3. So I thought he and the rest of Team SSSN deserved to be main characters. I imagined Sage should help sympathize with his friends, even his enemies when there is conflict. Never heard he has a big role in Before the Dawn book since he was written as the silent type. I think in my opinion that Sage should help Jaune through his grief of the loss of Pyrrha since his name means wisdom.

He should be described as the wiser one due to his name. RWBY REDUX series is an AU series of fanfics that would give the role of some characters you would like to see in action.