Chapter 61: Slow and steady

"See you dad, see you Raven"

"See you Mr Xiao Long! See you Mrs. Branwen!"

Needless to say, Raven Branwen was not amused at all, as the two women cheerfully waved at the couple, practically hopping along to play their own little games all day long, as she put it. She already had her mind full thinking about the previous night and Summer, this was the last thing she needed. Her husband, however, had a cheerful expression on his face, one that reminded the ex-mercenary of happier times back at the small island of Patch, back when it was just her, Yang and him.

But when one of the women in question was a high ranking officer of the intel department working with Yhwach himself, there was little that a lowly general like herself could do.

She wondered if this was going to be an everyday occurrence, and the thought of such a thing troubled her, to put it lightly. Not just the fact that two adult women were acting as though they were nothing more than two young girls waving goodbye to their parents, but also the fact that one of them happened to be the eyes and ears of the one who ruled them all. Needless to say, her instincts as a survivor never let her sleep peacefully, whenever Brunhilde came along.

"Relax, honey" called out Tai, the ghost of a smile still plastered to his face "I'm sure Ruby wouldn't bring home someone she knew she couldn't trust. You should just take in the fact that we can send off our daughter like the old days once more"

"She's not…" Raven bit her lip before she could complete her sentence. "And don't you dare just go 'honey' on me. You were always like this, always quick to forget the things you had to endure and suffer while choosing to live in ignorance and denial. Or have you forgotten that woman and the one she serves are the reason we're even here in this mess? They were the ones who tore up your home, our home. They're also the reason my entire tribe is in shambles. And the ones who razed Beacon Academy to the ground. Unlike you, I can't just sip coffee and pretend things are just fine"

"My silence doesn't mean I don't care, dear. You know that better than anyone. I'm simply working with what I have, right in front of me, before I lose it again. I'm trying to live in the present, and move past things that happened before. And as I mentioned, I trust our daughter. I know what you were about to say before, but she's just as much your daughter as she is Summer's and mine. Yang is the same, to her and to Ruby" replied Tai simply. "Maybe you can take this time to be more like a parent to her, especially when…especially when Summer and Crescent are no longer with her. And you'd know better than me, just how Ruby must feel not being with her own daughter, wouldn't you?"

"I never said I was-"

"By that logic, couldn't I say the same to you, honey?" said Taiyang, and Raven's brows narrowed. "I was….not in a good spot, to say the least, when you left. I felt a lot of different things. I would be lying if I said I was never bitter about us. I'm still afraid that you'll just disappear someday, like you did back then. In that regard, I'm actually grateful for our current circumstances that allow us to be together" he chuckled weakly.

"That's….that's not something you need to worry…" Raven grit her teeth, from how difficult it was for her to get her words out. You don't need to worry about that, I can't disappear anywhere. Why was it so difficult to utter those simple words? "I have nowhere left to go anyway. My entire tribe is dead" Gods, why were things always so difficult when it concerned family, especially him? The thought did cross her mind, that it would be so much easier if she could just forget it all, drop the burden called family and start anew. Heck, with BG9, she knew she could do it as well. And yet, some part of her never wanted to let go, as though it was an innate part of herself. Something that her husband seemed to fully understand, much to her annoyance.

"Is that truly the only reason?" he asked, with a shrewd smile. "I know…there's more to you than that. I'm surprised Ruby was able to tell too. I wonder if that was thanks to Summer. Still, I'm happy you're around. I tried looking at the better aspects of my life, and they helped me stay sane, and move on. Sometimes, we do things that may go against sound logic for those that we care about, even if we know things might not turn out great. It was the same for you when you tried your best to save your men when Yhwach attacked them, wasn't it? I trust my daughter, even if she's with someone who could be reporting to Yhwach himself, because I'm merely content seeing her recover again, especially after what happened. That's all there is to it"

Taiyang then put his arm around her, leaning her head against his shoulder.

"How…..conveniently naive" She said bitterly. "You're still the same as the person you were when we first met. I….your ways are just not for me. The only thing I ever feel here is being trapped in their twisted grasp, forced to serve those that killed my own. And I pray they don't ever….." she mumbled weakly, but allowed herself to rest against his shoulder, basking in his comfortable embrace.

If I could just forget it all, she thought to herself again. She saw his content face once more, which then appeared before her in her memory when she was left mumbling in chains as her tribe lay dead, now with Tai, Yang, Qrow and Summer's lifeless bodies added to the mix.

The thought then vanished just as quickly as it came, and all she felt was relief, knowing that the warmth she felt right now was real.

"I would love to spend more time, Ruby, but I really have to be on my way now" apologized Brunhilde, hastily grabbing a few things before heading out. But before she did, she came to an abrupt, mechanical halt. "Say….Ruby, is this really alright with you?"

"What do you mean?" asked Ruby, curiously.

"I mean…being here, with the Quincy, the Sternritter and..well, His Majesty. I wasn't sure if you would be willing to help me and the others out with missions, but I calculated you would be in His Majesty's better graces that way, considering that you're a hollow. I know he left everything to me, but I still felt it would do you better if you got along well with those around you" she replied, with concern in her voice.

Ruby sighed, but smiled softly. "Don't think too much about all that Brun. I'm doing just fine here. And you're taking pretty good care of me. I do miss Mom and Crescent, and I do want to see them. Doing these missions with you is also a way for me to look for them. But atleast I get to spend some time with Dad and Raven. I'm….pretty content at the moment. Sure, it may look like I'm helping out my 'mortal enemy', but I look at it as helping the people of Remnant, like a huntress. Something that…she…I would be doing anyways, if 'I' hadn't happened. We can talk more about it later. But for now, just go and finish your work"

Brunhilde gave one quick pause before nodding her head. "Alright. I'll take your word for it. His Majesty hasn't informed me of anything you need to do today, and he's been rather…off hand regarding you actually. Perhaps he does not wish to intervene too much with you, since he left that responsibility with me. And it might not appear too good with the other Sternritter, for His Majesty to be dealing with a hollow. So feel free to do whatever you like. Let's catch up later"

Ruby watched as the orange haired woman made haste following that, surprised at how blunt she had been. But it was very like her, to miss social cues and skip buttering words when giving an opinion.

The Rose Huntress did think about visiting Beacon Academy at first.

After the Fall of Beacon, as the internet of Remnant called it, a lot had changed. Following that night, the Quincy had been quick to start repairs and relocation for the students, teachers and families of those that had come to attend the Vytal Festival. Temporary accommodations had been provided at Atlas City, followed by a re-planning of the Vytal Festival Tournament in celebration of the installation of the new government at Atlas City, as well as the arrival of the Quincy. No doubt many of the events that happened already marked significant milestones in the History of Remnant. And Ruby wanted to see for herself how the students and staff of Beacon were doing, especially under the absence of Ozpin.

Just as she was about to head out, she ran into a rather unlikely pair, who were just as surprised to see her.

"Ruby Rose…" exclaimed Sienna Khan, her eyes slightly wide. "I did plan to meet you at some point, but I'd hoped it wouldn't be as abrupt as this.." By her side was Adam Taurus, eyeing her with just as much surprise as Sienna. Both of them looked no different than how they did in the memories Ruby was shown by the God of Darkness, and seeing them together now, knowing what Adam had done to Sienna in an alternate future made her stare at the pair longer than usual, especially Adam.

"Ah…Sienna...and...Adam. I wasn't expecting to meet you either. Though, I'm surprised you know me" admitted Ruby.

"Of course, I doubt there's a single soul in Remnant that doesn't. You ARE Ruby Rose, the very same who defeated The Pride of Mistral in less time it takes to blink an eye not more than a few days back. Not to mention….the one who put on such a macabre display against the forces of Galathea. But of course, the only ones who know of your true form from that night are the ones here, at Atlas Headquarters, and those that witnessed you transform up close" replied Sienna. "Needless to say, I was rather surprised when I heard you were here, staying as Lady Brunhilde's close confidant. But I am not displeased to know that one of us has such good connections with someone that high up"

"Is she truly one of us though? She seems more trouble than she's worth" grunted Adam. "Half the place hates her for being a Hollow, and half the place's scared of her for what she did to those Arrancar bastards that night. She just brings the Faunus a bad name"

"She saved Blake. Don't forget that, Adam. She protected them despite the state she was in. Or rather, she wouldn't have protected them if it wasn't in her instincts to do so. That alone tells me a lot about her. And for that, she has my gratitude and the Belladonna's for as long as we live" said Sienna, and Adam seemed to step back, out of realization.

"For one, no one outside of us knows about her Hollow self. I heard she was, in fact, helping out the people of Atlas with Lady Brunhilde. Not as a hollow, but as a Faunus. And therefore, I beg to differ, until she proves otherwise" stated Sienna calmly. "But this is a good opportunity. If you don't have any immediate plans, perhaps you would like to join us in our expedition? It would be a good opportunity to get to know each other"

"Sure, I'd love to, Sienna" agreed Ruby with a small smile. "I was also thinking it would be great if I could learn more about you"

Ruby assumed that it would be a rather scenic and quiet trip. But she almost forgot where they were heading, as Sienna was rather animated and kept her occupied. Warm sunlight and the breeze from their transport vehicle moving past the countryside made for a rather immersive trip. But Ruby was just as invested in talking with the duo and found herself enjoying the journey.

"I'm rather surprised. Most people, especially Faunus, aren't so calm when sitting next to the leader of the White Fang. While I admit that it means little at the moment, being nothing more than another military branch for the Quincy, I can't imagine such a symbol disappearing from the minds of people" wondered Sienna.

Ruby raised her eyes. "Now why would I do that? Sure, I'm not as strong as I was before. And I can tell you both are indeed strong. Surprisingly even. Especially you, Sienna. I can sense a bit of…you have Maiden powers, don't you? Even as a Vasto Lorde, I think I'm definitely weaker than you, especially after Yhwach granted you abilities. But still, I have no reason to be scared. I'm rather happy to have a chance to talk, to be honest. I do have some things to say myself"

She then glared at Adam, which sent shivers down his spine "For one, let me put it out that I do not have good impressions of you. You've caused Blake no small amount of misery. I would go into details, but I'll keep it brief for now. I don't care if you're White Fang or if you work for Yhwach. I won't stay put if you or anyone else goes anywhere near those I care about. But at the moment, I simply don't want any trouble, so I'll keep quiet"

Sienna gave a small, curious pause. "You are a strange one. You're in front of those who would kill Grimm, Hollows and Demons without a second thought and yet, you boldly announce yourself as a Vasto Lorde, even making a bold threat like that. However, you're right. I myself have rattled him enough for his past deeds, as have Kali and Ghira. But it's good he knows there are graver consequences for his actions now" she said, looking once more at Adam, who hardly looked pleased but kept his silence.

"It would seem the Quincy keeping such an eye on you makes sense now. I must admit, I was really surprised, when I saw that a Faunus that powerful had been among us, unknown and unseen by any. When I first saw your fight against Pyrrha Nikos, I had half a mind to make it to Beacon immediately and try to recruit you to our cause" she admitted. "As the leader of the White Fang, and as someone who has a rather….complicated relationship with Blake, I was hesitant at first, at the risk of having to face her. As well as the prospect that it might all go very wrong. After all, a lot of Faunus do oppose our views. No doubt thanks to recent events from the White Fang" she sighed, throwing a look at Adam. "And I would've been powerless to stop you if something did happen. But at the very least, I just had to see for myself, the kind of person you were. Of course, that simply never came to pass because of…things that happened later"

"Tch, don't tell me even after everything those Quincy are doing to you, you still think humans are salvageable. And that we can all lap it up like nothing's different and live in harmony and peace, do you?" asked Adam. "With that power, I would be very disappointed if you thought we were-"

"I don't think the White Fang are necessarily good or evil" answered Ruby, surprising them. "However, I'm not really interested in joining a group either. It's not that I don't support your cause. As I mentioned before, Blake is very dear to me as well. I daresay much more than she means to the two of you. Not to mention, the White Fang is a painful reminder of her past for her. It's not something I wish to propagate, not unless she comes to terms with it first. And so, I'll keep her and those around me safe using my abilities. As best as I can. As for the rest, I simply won't interfere. I might go out of the way and help out someone in trouble, sure. But I will not overwhelm myself trying to fight for a cause or help out an entire race. That's all"

"That sounds rather self-centered. So you'll just ignore the cries of those that have been oppressed for god knows how long, even if you see them happening right in front of your eyes? Can you really, as a Faunus, keep quiet while watching another Faunus being tortured or beaten down for being who we are, by those that simply discriminate against us for the way we look? And what of people like us who put our bodies on the line to make a better place for our people?" demanded Adam.

"If you're asking me if I'll stay quiet when I see the weak being bullied, of course I'll help out" replied Ruby, looking out the window of the train. "But I will do so knowing that I may not understand the situation fully. What if the person being beat down was actually the one who instigated something and was simply getting retribution? What if jumping in based on my presumptions led to other unwarranted circumstances later on for the person I 'saved'? Can I truly say that I was fighting for the 'right cause'?"

"That's…..that's not what I meant, woman" replied Adam, somewhat irritated. Sienna on the other hand, had an odd look on her face. One of respect, but at the same time, one of curiosity. "I didn't mean on a case to case basis. That was just a metaphor, an analogy if you will"

"I can, and I have looked at the kind of situations you've described. Far too many times for me to count, and not just of strangers. I've seen…." she let out a long breath of air. "I've seen...quite enough pain. I'm simply numb to it now. And I've empathized with those around me more than you'll know. I understood their pain as though it were mine. I mourn them and I grieve for them. However, I would rather help those around me properly, than try to play the heroine and do everything half hearted. That's all. But you don't have to listen to me. I'm just an old withered rose rambling to herself about days long gone, and I'm not sure I can be of much help in your goals to begin with"

"So you're just running away then" scoffed Adam. "And pretending to be blind"

"We all have our own ways of looking at the world, and the fact that she harbors no ill will towards us, and is willing to look after those that she can is good enough. Let's just leave it at that, Adam" cut in Sienna, and that was that. She seemed satisfied by Ruby's answer, evident by the expression on her face. "Although, it is a darn shame I can't have someone like you on our side. You seem to possess good insight and judgment. I can assure you that I'm trying to make amends for the stain our name has caused amongst Faunus folk, Blake included. However, that also makes me wonder the kind of life you had to go through and the things that you've experienced"

They traveled in silence again with the only sounds interrupting them being the sounds of the train and the rolling winds brushing up against their cheeks.

They crossed grasslands, crossed over the blue seas, before they were the island city of Menagerie.

Needless to say, Ruby was already lost looking at the cultural looking architecture and aesthetics of the town, not to mention the abundance of Faunus folk. While she did spot the occasional Quincy officer here and there, it hardly stopped the hustle and bustle of the town.

So this is Blake's hometown. I thought she was exaggerating when she spoke about this place she thought to herself. Makes sense that Sienna and Adam would visit Menagerie. I wonder if the Belladonnas…

"First time?" asked Sienna, to which the rose huntress nodded.

"You've never been to Menagerie?" asked Adam, surprised.

"A bit surprising, to be sure. But it's not so strange that some Faunus never found the opportunity to leave the city they were born in. But atleast now you can see for yourself. A true safe haven for people like us, our own recluse" added Sienna.

And Ruby had to agree. Despite the fact that she was not always one of them, the sense of belonging and welcome she got here made her feel as though she was always a cheetah Faunus. She even enjoyed some of the local specialties from the food stalls around town, munching and snacking on them as though she was returning home after a long time.

And yet, for one of the largest cities on the planet, Ruby had to admit that it was still a far cry from how big Earthen cities were. Before long, they were standing in front of the largest mansion directly overlooking the entrance of the city.

The doors flung open and the chieftain and his wife rushed over to Sienna, with the latter hugging her with a hearty smile on her face. Ghira maintained a stern gaze at Adam, while Ruby seemed to have been completely ignored.

"Oh Sienna dear, you're back! Is everything fine? How have your missions at Atlas been? Do tell me you have some news?" questioned Kali.

"All in good time Kali, just give me some space to breathe" requested the tigress Faunus with an amused smile. "Things have been fine, and I do have some news. Let us speak inside" she suggested, and it was then that the couple noticed Ruby, who gave a warm smile and a small bow.

"Oh my…aren't you that Faunus that defeated Pyrrha Nikos?" asked Kali, surprised. "I didn't know you were acquainted with Sienna! My Blake spoke so much about you in her last messages! Although, when I heard you were the leader of her team, I expected someone her age. I'm rather surprised an adult woman like you is part of the same huntress team as the other young'uns"

"If you're with these two…don't tell me you're a part of the White Fang?" asked Ghira, curious.

"Let us speak inside, Kali, Ghira" suggested Sienna again, and the couple nodded, leading them inside their house.

Once again, Ruby could only look in amusement, knowing that Blake had likely spent a good deal of her childhood here, as a chieftain's daughter no less, living in one of the most posh areas of town.

In a sense, she's not all that different from Weiss, she snickered to herself. Though, her parents are rather doting as opposed to Weiss's, atleast from the things that the God of Darkness showed me.

Once they were all seated, Kali brought in refreshments which Ruby, Sienna and even Adam helped themselves too.

"Alright. Let me start by talking about my mission to the Soul Society" she started. And so, for the next half an hour, Sienna went into detail about the White Fang soldiers who were involved in the initial assault, the captains and vice captains they fought, as well as Sienna and Weiss's encounters with Ikkaku and Yumichika, and their deaths by the hands of the Sternritter.

"Following that, there wasn't much else to do honestly. The Sternritter pretty much made it clear that we were merely foot soldiers for them to use as the leading force. To water down the enemy so that they can swoop in and finish them all off. You'd think it would give people an idea about the kind of beings the Quincy are, but when the King himself awards you with power, and you can take on regular hollows like they're mere annoyances, all of it becomes lost to you" said Sienna. "For one, the smirk on Cinder Fall's face when she was personally 'anointed' by His Majesty himself for her role in taking down Byakuya Kuchiki would've told you enough"

"What about….what about Blake…? And the other students of Beacon?" asked Kali. "We know that most of the students from Beacon are now safe and are being house by the Quincy, but…"

"As far as we know, Blake and the others are-"

"They're safe" said Ruby firmly, surprising the rest. "I…haven't been back home. But Brun…sorry, Brunhilde tells me that they're with Urahara, atleast as far as the reports from the scouts in the World of the Living. Which means they couldn't be with safer people, Kali, Ghira" she assured.

The couple didn't know what it was, but somehow she sounded very convincing. And yet, they were parents regardless, while Ruby was someone they barely knew.

"When can we see them?" she asked, a bit more worried at this point.

"I won't lie, Kali. It's going to be tough. I'll do all I can to try and make arrangements. But if one of us, from His Majesty's side went over to visit Kisuke Urahara…I can't guarantee it won't spark another massive conflict"

"Please believe me when I say that they can't be with better people. They were the ones who took care of me when I was at my lowest point in life. They know Blake and the others are akin to family to me. They will never let anything happen to them" stated Ruby again, this time even more firmly. "However, if you still want to see them…I'll do my best to open a portal to Earth. I..don't have the means just yet, but I'll think of something"

The couple looked at each other again and while their discomfort was present still, they sounded less worried.

Ghira sighed. "Very well. I hear you were rather close to my daughter. I shall choose to trust you. Please let us know any information as and when you know. As for you Sienna, Adam, I did warn you things are not what they seem. But still, I suppose this is the best possible outcome to ask for. How many…..how many of the White Fang members died in that battle..?" he asked.

"Casualties in war are a given, wouldn't you say? We suffered a few losses, yes, but that pales in comparison to the numbers the enemy lost. If the Quincy truly don't want us around, then they're really out of their mind enhancing all of us to the point where even ancient Grimm would've been nothing but fodder" scoffed Adam.

"Bah, these are just borrowed powers, alms given to us out of our will, not something we earned ourselves. Mark my words, nothing good will come out of such a thing, but right now, we all need it, for the sake of our kind" retorted Sienna. "I would rid myself of them the moment I knew I didn't need them, or if the Quincy left us be. Still…I admit that I am conflicted. Objectively speaking, they have helped our kind a lot. For example, by completely re-working the laws and working conditions of those who were forced to work for the SDC or other industries. Or by making laws that sought to equalize the differences between the two races. Without a powerful influence like the Quincy, this would've never happened. And….not all of them are disagreeable, even within the Sternritter. For example, His Majesty had nothing bad to say about Winter, who was captured by enemy forces and whom he knew was sympathetic to the Soul Reapers"

"I understand your viewpoint. But the way I see it, they are simply too different from us, both in terms of how they see the world and their race, to fully understand us. You are not wrong to be vary of them, but you are also wise to be on their good side. I have thoughts similar to you. They have been nothing but helpful in developing Menagerie. As its chieftain, I can only say that they have been a godsend. Still something within me won't allow me to blindly accept. It must sound strange, considering that I myself used to proclaim co-existence between the Faunus and Humans, and yet I cannot do so for the Quincy" said Ghira.

"The other day, we had an extremely powerful Grimm, one that looked like a minotaur with 6 horns and an upside down face….I've never seen such a grotesque looking Grimm before. The damage it did….I don't even want to think about it" shuddered Kali.

Sienna had concerned looks on her face, while Ruby had a serious expression.

"The Kaiserdaemon…" she muttered silently. "Except, it would seem it's a lot stronger after merging with the Grimm here under Galathea's control. I'm surprised your town is in one piece. Though, at the same time, I'm sure it wouldn't have normally attacked, not unless there were sinners here or unless someone attacked first"

"You know of it?" asked Sienna, curious. Ruby nodded.

"I've…fought it before. A long, long time back. Still, an encounter with the Kaiserdaemon…to think one would show up here…"

"That's what it's called? Yes, you're right. It just….stood there, looking around for a while. But naturally people panicked and some of them attacked, which then led to the onslaught. If not for that Sternritter called Bazz-B, our home and our people would've been no more. It's no wonder our people are so grateful to the Quincy. But you know…I'm still worried. It feels as though it won't be long until we will all lose our culture, our traditions and our ways in exchange for 'protection and development'. They've already started teaching our children Quincy history and Quincy fighting techniques for Combat. We still have our own knowledge and subjects being taught too, but…." added Kali, a worried expression on her face.

"It's not strange at all, Ghira, Kali" cut in Ruby. "We all share the fear of the unknown and the fear of death. Faunus, Human, Hollow, Soul Reaper, Quincy. We look so similar and sometimes identical to each other, and talk and interact in such a similar manner that I don't treat one differently than the other. And the final destination for all of us, is the same, always determined by our actions rather than our origins. But in times of dire need, people find a way, even against mountainous odds. That's just how it is. Heck, by talking to me, Sienna and Adam, people who are right under the noses of Yhwach, aren't you already taking bold steps against what you consider a threat?"

Kali had an odd look at Ruby. "You…speak as though you've personally experienced it all"

"You say that, but can you truly remain that passive no matter the circumstances?" asked Sienna. "I may be mistaken, but I heard you were rather close to the Soul Reapers. It would explain why you felt Blake was 100% safe with Kisuke Urahara, and the fact that you mentioned them taking care of you. Knowing that we were indirectly responsible for some of their deaths, can you confidently say that you hold no grudges whatsoever? No pangs of personal feelings over logical ones?"

"As long as those that I hold dear are safe, yes, I can" she replied curtly. "This is war, as you said Adam. If two factions I care about go to war, there's little I can do alone. My relationship with the Soul Reapers, with my family here and my family there, isn't mutually inclusive. Even so, I'll admit that if someone dear to me got hurt or injured, I wouldn't think twice before flying off in a rage ahahaha!"

"That just sounds….like you're making convenient excuses to do as you please" replied Adam Taurus. "Hypocritical almost"

"Maybe. But I don't care. That is my way, and I don't expect everyone would agree with me, nor do I need them to" stated Ruby.

"You did mention your views about Adam before, which were completely understandable, but leaving him aside, I assume you mean the same for me as well?" asked Sienna.

"Even you, Sienna. But I would atleast question myself a couple of times as to why you would want to harm those around me, before I flew off into a rage. That's the trust I have in you. I hope that answers your question" replied Ruby simply, her eye possessing an odd glint. There was uncomfortable silence before Kali felt the need to change the subject, and no more unpleasant topics were brought up after that.

The rest of the day was relatively uneventful, with other small talk and with Ruby looking around town and meeting other Faunus. Sienna and Adam however, stayed back a bit longer.

"What a strange woman" admitted Ghira. "For once, I can't tell if she's really insightful, or ignorant, or if she's something else. She speaks like a Faunus, a Human and even seems sympathetic to the Grimm and the Quincy, to a certain level"

"I wonder what happened with her" said Kali with a sympathetic expression. "She just seemed so…tired. As though she was tired of fighting and simply wants to live out an uneventful life. It looked like she wouldn't even defend herself if her enemy attacked her simply because she has no will to keep on fighting but would put her life on the line if something happened to her family, despite not wanting to fight"

"I don't know the full details, but a lot has indeed happened with her. Let's just say that the Quincy aren't exactly welcoming of her. Yet, she's staying there without a single complaint. She was also forcibly separated from her daughter and mother not too long ago" explained Sienna, surprising the Belladonna couple.

"Oh that's absolutely horrible…!" she exclaimed, aghast.

"And yet, she looked completely…blank for someone who claimed she would do anything for those that she loves" stated Ghira with a mixture of empathy and curiosity. "I wonder if…she's simply depressed to the point of not caring about anything around her"

The couple however, did calm down once they were told of Ruby's current status, living with Brunhilde and her father Taiyang.

"Well, I think there's little to do from our end, except express our sympathies" stated Sienna. "We have…..our own issues to deal with. Of course, being in good graces with Ruby will help us get through to Blake, no doubt. But unless we fully understand her, we might do more damage trying to console her and trying to help her"

"Yes. And..despite everything, even if she still has her father, nothing will ever soothe a mother who has just lost her daughter and mother" said Kali with an empathetic expression. "Please let her know that she is welcome here at anytime, and both I and Ghira are there for her to share her grievances and troubles with. A friend of Blake is our friend as well. And if you can, please be there for her"

Sienna nodded, and shortly later, the two of them left joined by Ruby

"You stayed quiet about a lot of things about me" stated Ruby.

"I stayed quiet about a lot of things, some of which pertained to you, yes" corrected Sienna. "They don't know you, but so don't I. I already have some preconceived notions because of that, and I don't want them to go down the same path. For example, the way you went berserk on that night against the hybrid Grimm and Galathea in Beacon. Since BG9 practically played out the entire scene to the whole world, I know what they think about your…onslaught. Nobody saw a girl desperate to save her kin, only a feral beast worse than the Grimm themselves"

"They aren't wrong" said Ruby, looking down. "And…I'd rather Ghira and Kali find out now, than later. I don't want to look like I'm betraying them, by allowing a beast to stay and look after their daughter"

"That remains to be seen, whether you believe so or not" cut in Sienna. "You said you were weaker than me, and therefore had no reason to worry about me. But in reality, the one who was fearful was me, even if my spirit energy reserves right now are greater than yours. Even I felt nervous when you threatened to put Adam in his place if he stepped out of line. But I am willing to look at the bigger picture, and the reason why Blake trusted you, despite you telling them everything. So pray that you prove yourself wrong, and prove me right in believing that you're more than a beast, Ruby Rose"

"Yes, I would love that" remarked Ruby with a smile, feeling delighted about the time she spent with the Tigress Faunus.

Following that, they made their return to Atlas City.

Even amongst the war torn wastes that was now the Soul Society, one location stood out like a sore thumb. Caused not by the invaders or the invaded, but rather by the instincts of a solitary Zanpakuto. Corpses of enemy, ally and bystander littered the area around her, as well as scars to the battlefield caused by mindless carnage and destruction. Her allies tried approaching her, to placate her and soothe her. And yet, they too fell prey to her instincts. The girl herself lacked any awareness of herself, only letting her instincts guide her actions while her mind lay in an automated trance. Eventually, even the strongest of the girl's allies let her be, out of empathetic helplessness and out of fear of what this girl's actions might cause, were she to go berserk in the midst of their already ruined civilization.

Even after a whole day, her state remained unchanged. She would respond to none, and merely attacked and slaughtered on sight, fiercely protecting the bodies of two fallen Soul Reapers which also lay right beside the comatose body of her master.

And in all that time, the hooded girl watched her best friend lose herself to the carnage, unknown and unseen by all others who had tried to approach the solitary Zanpakuto. Her companion was the Zanpakuto of one of the worst criminals to ever exist in the history of the Soul Society. Crescent was a being born in Hell, her current role more deep rooted within her soul, even more than her grandmother. Even in their current states, the two sword spirits were intertwined, round and round. Such was their fate, and a bond that Crescent held dearly.

She landed next to the pink haired girl in a lithe manner, curiously eyeing her. Yes, she had her enforced duties as Salem's diviner. However, she ill cared for the morals and principles of adults beyond the point of her duties. In reality, all this was, was yet another playtime for her to spend with one of her dearest friends.

"Shura"

A voice filled with childlike longing, Crescent called out to Yachiru for the first time in her life while speaking out aloud in the tongue of the living.

Yachiru stopped in her tracks, eyeing her companion curiously. She slowly made her way towards Crescent, vastly different from how she automatically lunged and pounced at anyone trespassing voraciously. The pink haired girl almost seemed to whimper as she tried to make sense of the familiar presence around her, almost snuggling up to her.

And Crescent could feel it too, the emotions of her companion. A moment's sensation of calm, a hidden, beastly bloodlust, and something that wasn't there before.

Pure, unadulterated anger.

Crescent's vision did a 180 as she felt a strong punch land on her cheek. And the ripping sound told her enough about her current predicament. She gazed at her own body falling headless several feet away from her, before her own vision blinked out and reappeared a few moments later, with other sensations from her body returning shortly after.

But the pink haired girl's attacks hardly stopped there. Punching, scratching, biting and kicking at her, she continued to sloppily pound away at Crescent, with each 'attack' leaving the hooded girl in pieces, before she reformed again. There was no beastly instinct to hunt nor rage, but only pure anger, almost as though she was but a child throwing a tantrum. One that Crescent continued to receive. While the others on the outside would hear nothing but senseless grunts and snarls, to Crescent, her cacophony of sounds spoke an entire story altogether. Of abandonment, of concern, of loneliness and other reasons which were simply swallowed up by the other emotions that had gone out of control.

It didn't take long however, before Crescent began fighting back, or something resembling it. The hooded girl was much weaker compared to the pink haired girl. Yet, this was never a battle of strength. Crescent's face, which was passive at first, was now flushed with anger. They tugged, rolled, punched and scratched at each other, pulling at each other's hair, clothes, and throwing whatever they could find nearby. Though her words were silent, Crescent's soul was just as loud as Yachiru's. Like two children dishing out their tantrums and complaints at each other.

Minutes would turn to hours, and the sounds of their scuffle were just as strong as before. Crescent had her namesake scythe out, while Yachiru had a weapon that looked like a jagged, broken cleaver. Just as the two rushed at each other one more time, both girls found themselves deprived of their anger, bloodlust or any other emotion that occupied their minds at that time.

"I'm gone for less than a moment and you both nearly manage to turn the Soul Society upside down. Unlike last time however, I'm not sure Kyoraku and the others will look at this as 'two little coots in cahoots giving the Gotei 13 a run for their money'. Whatever am I to do with you both?" sighed Lily softly, grabbing the wrists of Crescent and Yachiru. However, Lily's hand that grabbed the pink haired girl was ripped clean off, putting a surprised expression on her normally monotonous face.

"Just how strong are you..? Anyone else would've been ground to dust from the force of that. Thank the 'gods' I'm one of the four. Hehe, get it? 'Gods' ?" she chuckled. Her arm regenerated almost instantly.

"..Lily….?" Yachiru blinked a few times, like awakening from a daze. Her presence was unmistakably familiar, yet her form was not. She looked at Lily's soft expression and then at Crescent shamefully. The latter too, watched Lily with wonder, before retreating her head back into her hood. Both averted their eyes from each other.

Lily let out another sigh.

"I almost feel like Summer and Ruby now, handling you two little rascals" she then grabbed both of them, placing each one on opposite sides of her lap. "Your little tantrums today wiped off a good chunk of the map from Soul Society. Lucky for you both, they seem to be rather used to it. Let's just chalk it up to my siblings' antics, shall we?" she winked. "For now, let's just take a moment and talk for a bit, shall we? Now that both of you have cooled down a little"

After what could only be summarized as a rough day, Kyouka looked at teams WBY and JNPR with a smug smile as they were sprawled on the ground. Alongside her were Rukia, Renji, Nanao and even Rangiku.

"Please tell me we passed" gasped Weiss.

"That was fun" grinned Nora. "We should do this again!"

"Gimme a break" groaned Jaune. "I couldn't even get my sword and shield back…"

"Hopefully we get reruns…" consoled Pyrrha, also lacking her weapon.

"Dammit, if I only paid more attention to that last stretch..!" complained Yang, pounding the ground.

"I did barely make it, however….I'm not satisfied I had to struggle this much" mused Blake, cleaning her weapon. "Thanks for helping out with clearing up things later, Rangiku"

"Based on your performance today, I would rank it…..third rate, at best" she stated, earning her additional groans from the two teams.

"But I managed to retrieve my weapon!" protested Weiss. "And why are we being ranked together! If anything, we should be ranked by our own skills or at the very least, by our own teams!"

"Because it would hardly make any difference. Your individual performances were just as lacking as your teamwork, and therefore I saved myself the trouble of having to explain it all" she retorted. "You call yourself a team and yet, you were each more focused getting your weapons back rather than reaching out to your teammates. Your individual skills have improved, no doubt. You are more in tune with your abilities or 'semblances' as you know them. However, it is but the beginning"

"...just, wow…..that's savage…." noted Nora, scratching her head.

"I'm sorry to say, but while I would not put it that way, in our current situation, it is true that running by yourself is not the best idea, especially when the Quincy have such coordination between their forces, not to mention their own individual strengths" added Rukia. "Personally, I think for humans you did extremely well. In fact, you did much better than the humans here, when they were in your situation. But…"

"It wont be enough" sighed Renji. "But there's no rush. It's not like you guys have any obligation to do this. Take your time and figure things out"

"And if there's anything you'd like assistance with, you may reach out to me or Glynda" added Nanao.

"Not sure that's supposed to make things any better" sighed Blake.

"If it's any consolation, your seniors are in no better condition" answered Kisuke in his usual aloof manner. Over at the other side, teams WBY and JNPR could see the same dejected arguments and groans from the Arrancars, specifically Grimmjow and Qrow, who seemed to be having a rather animated conversation, with Nel and Amber reeling the two in respectively.

"...I said it once, I'll say it again, dumbass! I couldn't give a shit if you're a human or a damn crow! With your skills, you're just an appetizer for the hollows! So why the hell would you even bother trying to take on something that's clearly out of your league?!" growled Grimmjow, irritated. "And how the FUCK do you even have such shit luck to trip on your own damn clothes and weapon 3 times, not to mention landing right into the mouth of a hollow that just happened to be there?!"

"...Well, excuse me for not being a jackass and abandoning my team rather than saving my own ass" rasped Qrow. "...And excuse me for being a 'weakling human being'. It's not like I can change what I was born as. Or perhaps you'd like to guide us in your hollow ways, o wise one?"

"Well, to be fair, humans can't exactly turn into crows, you know" snickered Nel mischievously, and despite the situation, Amber found it hard to suppress her own smile. "I think we should just leave them be. Let them work out their feelings a little bit more, wouldn't you say?" winked the teal haired Espada, and Amber's mood certainly improved, seeing how lighthearted she was about the whole thing. The two men however, narrowed their eyes at her in unison.

"A little banter to clear your head is good, yes" added Tier, exasperated. "But don't go too overboard, Grimmjow, Qrow. You still have ways to go, and we'd make no progress if you're too injured to train. Although, your luck today does intrigue me as well. While it is an underestimated facet of battle, this is the first time I've witnessed for myself, just how important it can be"

"As for you both, while I think you have good synergy between yourselves, I would advise you to try and explore by yourself as well, and not to sabotage your peers, even if the opportunity presented itself" stated Kyouka with an amused smile, looking at Roman and Neo.

"Wait a minute, why does she get to stay with the grown ups?" asked Nora, sprinting up to Neo with a sudden burst of energy. Her teammates did wonder just how she had that much energy to spare, and Neo herself was startled by the imposing presence the girl had. "She's not a lick older than I am!"

"Now now, my lively lass, as adorable she may be, no touching~" interrupted Roman. "And I do believe you're misinformed. While she's no doubt young and petite, Neo here is of a slightly…older disposition"

Nora had a doubtful look, to the point that she leaned in closer to Neo as though examining her. The ice cream girl's hands were itching to bat her away using her umbrella, while the other half was simply weirded out by her. It was the first time someone other than Roman felt such enthusiasm around her with no restraints.

"I can already see this going nowhere" said Winter with concern. "I would be surprised if even Yhwach can do something about Qrow"

"Which makes it all the more interesting, doesn't it?" smirked Kyouka.

"Tch, I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up high thinking this lot would be as good as Ruby was…" growled the blue jaguar, before kicking off, dejected. The moment he made that comment, it sent a wave of unease amongst the residents of Remnant.

"...Sorry.." was the only thing Pyrrha could find herself saying.

"...It's not exactly fair to compare her to us, we didn't exactly go through the things that she did" said Ren simply.

"And neither should you need to" replied Nelliel firmly. "You're not her, nor will you ever be. But that also means you can be better. Just keep that in mind. And that goes for you too Grimmjow" scolded Nel, but the blue jaguar merely responded to her with the rudest gesture he could come up with, before disappearing back to Hueco Mundo.

"She was no better than you were, when she first came to this world. Or perhaps even weaker than you were" added Tier, in a reminiscing way. "Little Ruby, so small, and so weak. Always getting into trouble, always breaking our ways. But she was also the light of our lives. I have no doubt that you too will find your own paths here. Paths that are different from hers, but your own paths nonetheless. Grimmjow simply has trouble accepting her absence, as with everything else, that requires him to be upfront about his thoughts. Do not pay too much heed to him. I'm sure he'll come around eventually. And I have no doubt he means well, especially considering that some of you are her family" she said, looking at Yang and Qrow.

Not long after that, they were left wondering about the things around them as the children were making their way across the streets of Karakura Town, to be taken to their new places of residence for their stay. They were joined in by Rukia, Ichigo, Orihime, Tatsuki, Chad and Uryu. Roman and Neo however, had elected to stay with Urahara, Yoruichi and the rest, which was also readily agreed upon by teams WBY, JNPR and Qrow, while Amber and Glynda felt they needed to try and get along better.

Orihime would get the shock of her life when Yang and Pyrrha would practically flail the girl around, grabbing her hands and shaking them, flooding her with questions "Thank you so much for healing us all back then! Are you alright? You were pretty wasted back then! You MUST allow me to treat you to some dinner at the very least! If there's anything at all that I or anyone else here can do, please dont hesitate to let me know! And-"

For nearly 5 minutes, the helpless orange haired teen was subjected to their whims of niceness, before Ichigo decided the whole thing had gone long enough and separated them forcibly.

"I wanna stay with her! Renny, you're cool with that right? You'll even have your own personal hare-" chimed Nora, before Lie Ren put a lid on his livid companion's mouth, silencing her.

"Remember Nora, we do not want to cause trouble for our benefactors. And I have spoken to you about your wild fantasies, yes? We may have shared our dorms back in Remnant, but we musnt assume that to be the case everywhere" he stated in a deadpanned manner.

"The girl can stay, as for you, it'd be better if you stay with him instead" suggested Tatsuki, pointing at Jaune. "Maybe four eyes can arrange something for both of you"

"Our house does have a few empty rooms, yes" agreed Uryu. "It was a bit difficult but my father did ultimately agree to host those from Remnant"

"I'd also recommend Ichigo's closet, I used to live there for a good deal of time, and it's rather snug as a bug!" chimed Rukia in an uncharacteristic manner, making them do a double take.

"Wo-woah wait…you used to stay in this guy's closet…? I didn't take you for a player…" admitted Yang, sizing up Ichigo, much to his annoyance. It took him another good 10 minutes before the situation calmed down again.

In the end, Nora was paired with Orihime, Uryu with Pyrrha, Jaune and Ren given that they had multiple rooms at the Ishida household (which also made team JNPR, Yang and Blake compare Uryu's house to Weiss's own), Rukia with Tatsuki and Blake with Chad (who was still in disbelief about his name), with Yang staying with the Kurosaki family. Following that, each one began walking through the streets of the town, until they all reached their respective destinations.

"Woah…the buildings here look so different…" gasped Yang, looking around. "I can't recognize those vehicles either. Some of 'em even look ancient compared to the stuff we have back in Beacon!"

"They remind me of things Yatsuhashi spoke of" stated Ren. "I wonder if there's a connection"

"Is that….the moon?! It's….round…" commented Blake, clearly mesmerized by the sight. But so were the rest of her companions.

"Oh…right. I forgot you guys didn't have a full moon back in Remnant. We were taken in by surprise too…" admitted Ichigo.

"Tatsuki told me the moon in your world had shattered….how did that happen?" asked Orihime.

"From what the professor told us, a god blew it up as he left our world" answered Jaune nonchalantly, leaving them with more questions than answers.

Conversation dialed down soon after, with the group splitting off in the direction of their homes, leaving Yang with the Kurosaki family. She stood by their doorstep, looking lost.

"Something the matter?" asked Ichigo. He could tell Yang had something in her mind, and almost looked uncomfortable. "If there's something bothering you about staying here, you can let us know and we can try to find another place"

Yang snapped out of her daze, shaking her head. "Oh..sorry, I was just thinking about….never mind. It's nothing like that, I'm really happy I have a place to stay given the circumstances. This would've been much harder back in Remnant. Pardon the interruption!" she announced, entering in. While her tone was higher spirited, her thoughts still hadn't caught up.

She was soon greeted by the enthusiastic faces of Karin and Yuzu, and to her surprise, Isshin, who wasted no time comically praying and crying to the poster by the wall.

When she looked at the poster however, that sinking feeling was back again.

Alongside the gentle looking woman, whom Yang assumed was the Kurosaki siblings' mother, was Ruby, with an equally content expression.

"Welcome home!" chime Yuzu, clearly unfazed by the whole situation. She had a bright smile on her face. "I'm really happy you'll be staying here, it'll be like the time onee-chan stayed with us!"

"I don't think we've removed any of nee-san's things from her room, so I think you should feel right at home" added Ichigo. "Of course, I don't think she'd mind you using her things either".

Karin, on the other hand, took it upon herself to discipline Isshin from his tomfoolery. "Just be careful of this old blockhead, it took Ruby-nee a while to get used to his antics too"

The twins practically dragged the dazed, blonde brawler to the adjacent room.

"Make yourself at home!" they chimed. Instantly, every possible stimulus was hit with remembrances of her sister. The scent that still hung in the air, clothes that were neatly packed in one corner of the room, as well as some basic cosmetics huddled against the dressing table amongst other things. The twins then hurried off to the dining room, before inviting her for dinner and joining them for a quick shower.

Yang however, was hardly listening, her heart in disarray.

Her subconscious mind welcomed the familiar feeling within the room, filling her with warmth. And yet, she could also feel a nauseating chill traveling down her spine, the beastly visage of her sister's face filling her mind.

Oh dear lord, is this what I'll have to endure from now on? Tormented by my own conflicted feelings about my own sister? She asked, before letting her belongings slump to the ground.

The moment Ozpin saw light at the end of the harrowing tunnel he passed through, there were many things he theorized about the land he would find himself in.

Ruins of destruction, a thriving place for students to learn now infested with otherworldly Grimm, a place occupied by the Quincy, a combination of one of the above, or all of them.

Lush, ethereal gardens brimming with life was not one of them. It was as though the destruction of Beacon Academy was nothing more than a false reality, existing only in his dreams and visions. At the distance, he could even make out lights and the sounds of low murmur and chatter, indicating the presence of people. The buildings themselves looked different stylistically, and were clearly still under construction, but mostly built.

How could this be..? Just two nights ago this place was….Who was responsible for..?

His thoughts were cut short when a familiar, and yet bone chilling voice called out to him.

"I've been expecting you, Ozma. It is rather bold of you to wander into my brother's territory defenseless"

His hands immediately reached out for his cane as he instinctively turned around to gaze upon his mortal enemy. To say that he nearly suffered a heart attack was an understatement.

Galathea herself, however, was completely expressionless and passive, her entire form and stance open and defenseless. She seemed to oddly blend in with her surroundings. Ozpin took a few breaths to collect his thoughts and calm his mind.

"Salem….why are you here? And what did you mean when you said you were expecting me?" he demanded, putting some steps between themselves. It felt stranger still when he could not feel her presence in front of her at all, despite her clearly standing there in front of him.

Salem's eyes continued to hold no malice, and her tone was even slightly softer than before. "You have nothing to fear of me, Ozma. I am not here to harm you, unless you do so first. Even if eons have passed, even if you no longer harbor affection for her, even if her soul does not control this form, it does not change the fact that in the age of the gods, your soul and hers were united in wedlock, with the gods as your witnesses, as you forged your vows. A contract such as that is not broken, regardless of time or circumstances, as long as your souls exist. By accepting her soul, I accepted her boons, banes and her karma. And therefore, our destinies are tied together. And as such, we are as one, unless the gods themselves release us from those bonds"

He took one long, hard look at her, and even now, he was having trouble accepting that the one in front of him was once his wife, as well as his mortal enemy. Be it her hair that was now loose and framed her forehead with bangs, her bat-like wings, her white horns, or her appearance in general. And yet, she looked far more content, youthful as well as filled with purpose and filled with life. "...even if that were so, it does not mean I need to take your side, follow your principles or ally with you. I also see no point in you doing the same. What benefit does gaining my trust and confidence give you?" asked Ozpin, still clutching his cane.

"None. I am an arbiter of rules, of karma. And I am not exempt from those rules, nor are you, therefore, I felt it necessary to mention the same. You are, of course, welcome to my abode, as is your right as her betrothed, as am I. I promise a safe passage, as long as you are bereft of sin, Ozma" she said, before her presence vanished entirely, leaving him alone in the lush gardens once more.

Edit: I made some small revisions with some dialogues between Ruby, Sienna and Adam to make Ruby's views on the two a bit more obvious after the issue in chapter was pointed out to me. I believe now it reflects the situation and characters better. Appreciate the feedback for pointing it out!

Response to reviews:

Monster King: Thanks!

Argorok: Hope this was soon enough ahaha!

PhenomsServant: Yeah I had time and fewer responsibilities, so I could make it work! Hope this one was quick enough as well!

Xeno01: I guess, but well, events have proceeded much differently here than in canon. In a way, Raven has gone through some stuff as well, like her whole tribe that she valued even more than her family being slaughtered. Won't deny that she has a lot to learn and develop. That's my intention too.

Regarding that, I didnt want to make it too obvious, so I tried giving it a bit of a different twist that made sense with things that had been hinted at before, but was still different.

Not just the two of them. There will be more day to day dialogue between all of the teenagers and even the adults.

A vengeful Rukia feels almost…..off character for her. Atleast when I picture it. But well, it's an interesting angle and of course Rukia is going to change from her usual self, especially when Byakuya lays dead.