She’s not sure where she’s going. Not really. Just away. From her friends, family, from Weiss.
She’s glad she didn’t look back because Ruby knows if she had, if Weiss had asked her to stay she would have even if it killed her.
She just…she just can’t anymore. She can’t be the leader, she can’t be the huntress, she can’t be their friend, or sister, or partner.
She’ll just fail. Like always. Who even was she anymore?
She’d wanted to help people. She’d told Blake that she knew the world wasn’t sunshine with happy endings, but really she’d been right. Ruby had only thought she knew what was out there, but the truth was she was just a kid.
A stupid kid who got in early because she got lucky stopping a dust robbery and she had magic eyes.
Not because she was Ruby Rose, and wanted to help people. Not because of herself, but because she was useful, or at least her eyes were.
Did no one care about anything except those damn things?
Ozpin, or Ozma, wanted them as a weapon against Salem. Salem wanted her dead. Maria had been blinded for having them, her mother had…she hiccuped and slowly stopped her random journey.
There in the distance was the tree, and in front of her a ledge that lead into nowhere.
Maybe she could rest here. If she was lucky she could avoid thinking about everything.
What did it even matter?
She sat her weapon to the side despite what she heard coming toward her.
She was just…so tired. Just one last thing to do before she could rest.
“Ruby I-” Little said, looking upset and panicked.
“Hey, can you do me a favor?” Ruby asked softly with a small smile, all she could muster at the moment.
Little merely tilted their head and looked around nervously, likely sensing whatever it was approaching Ruby from the side.
“Can you get back to my friends? To…Weiss? They’ll take care of you,” Ruby said sadly.
“Only if you do something for me!” Little said seriously.
“Oh?”
“I’m lending you this hug, but it’s really valuable so you gotta give it back to me later!” Little bargained before they did their best to hug Ruby as tightly as they could.
“Alright. Deal. Now get going alright? And stay safe. Thanks…for everything,” Ruby said, setting them down and giving them a little push in the right direction.
Little stared at Ruby fretting with themself, but she was smiling now and she had promised so Little lunged forward and hugged her fingers before running away.
Something was wrong but it wasn’t their purpose to know what was wrong but the white-haired girl Weiss! It had to be hers! She could help!
Ruby stared a few moments and waited a moment to make sure Little was gone before the smile dropped from her face as she turned back toward the edge.
A few moments later they emerged from the trees. She’d expected to be pulled into their realm but for whatever reason they’d come personally. Strange, but it hardly mattered.
“Here,” Ruby said negligently tossing Crescent Rose to the Blacksmith who caught it with the expertise of someone who’d had a lifetime of experience.
“You wish to lay down your burden for another weapon, Ruby Rose?”
Ruby shook her head. “No, I don’t think so, but maybe someday you can find someone that can use her. Better than I ever could. Someone that won’t fail.”
“I see. So that is the path you’ve chosen. Are you sure of this?”
Ruby merely shrugged with a sad smile.
“That being the case a trade is required. This, is meant to be important to you,” the blacksmith said, setting the axe Ruby had seen earlier against a nearby tree.
Ruby gave it the barest glance clearly disinterested before her silver-eyes made their way back to the figure.
“You do not have to do this alone,” the blacksmith said after a few moments before they amended themselves. “You should not do this alone.”
A cry echoed from the trees further back.
The blacksmith seemed almost desperate this time. “You should not do this at all!”
Ruby merely shrugged face full of tears once more as the blacksmith slowly put Crescent Rose on her back and gave what Ruby could describe as a mournful look before she seemed to vanish.
The cry echoed once more. Closer this time. Finally moving closer now that she was alone.
She smiled as the sound came closer. That was soon. For now she’d enjoy the view a little while longer.
“Where IS SHE?” Weiss screeched well past the point of panic. After the initial shock had worn off Jaune had already mounted Juniper and taken off the direction Ruby had went.
After another moment Weiss summoned the Nevermore from initiation and hurriedly gestured for the others to get on.
The Nevermore had never moved faster she was sure.
“There! Look!” Blake said pointing to movement in the foliage.
Quickly setting down they were only met with Little.
“Little, where’s Ruby?” Yang asked carefully as she picked up the exhausted mouse.
“Over that way!” Little chirped. “I made her promise to give me back a hug but we have to hurry. Something is wrong!” Little said, looking specifically at Weiss.
“What’s wrong? What do you mean?” Weiss asked, nearly demanded to know.
“I don’t know but your purpose is to help Ruby right? You have to know!” Little proclaimed.
Weiss was so worried she didn’t spare a single thought to what Little had implied unknowingly.
“Come on then we don’t have any time to waste,” Weiss commanded as she ordered the Nevermore to ascend once more when they heard that cry once more from close by.
“You know it’s actually not a bad view, all things considered,” Ruby said to the Jabberwalker.
It was strange. The closer it came the louder all her doubts screamed at her, but she couldn’t bring herself to care. Not really. Especially when they were right.
“Don’t suppose you want to talk or anything?” Ruby asked as it croaked at her.
“Yeah I figured,” Ruby lamented as she felt herself picked up.
Once she saw its mouth unhinge and widen like a snake she closed her eyes. At least she could give something a meal. Maybe she wouldn’t fail at that.
She almost thought she heard Weiss and then she heard nothing at all.
“RUBY!” Weiss’s scream echoed across the clearing, having arrived just a moment too late as the Jabberwalker swallowed her team leader, best friend, and more whole.
“Let. Her. Go!” Jaune screamed as Juniper pounced toward the beast which appeared unusually strong compared to before as it batted him away.
Blake and Yang were already on the move, Yang’s eyes burning red as her hair blazed bright enough to light up the area for miles around.
Weiss…she just stared as she felt Myrtenaster slip from her nerveless fingertips and hit the floor. Her summon wailed echoing her all consuming grief as she tried to focus, but everything was out of sync.
The edges of her vision was distorted. The sounds were...wrong? What was…why? How had it come to this? How could it be over? Before she, they’d had a chance to make things right?
Had Ruby been that…
No. No. No she refused to allow it.
She spied the axe leaning against a tree. It called out to her. She’d never used one before but picking it up felt good. Right. Like she needed to have it.
“HOLD IT IN PLACE!” Weiss commanded with a scream as Yang and Blake put Gambol Shroud to work along with Jaune and Juniper hacking at its knees to try and bring it to the ground.
Weird. She’d always thought being dead was…well it was something, or nothing. That could be possible too, but the endless black was kind of a downer.
Or was that just because she wasn’t finished being eaten? Kinda gross but it really didn’t matter now. Now they could let Jaune lead them. He’d get to be a leader again, and they’d have someone who didn’t fail at everything, who didn’t drag them down.
A flash from the corner of her eye caught her attention.
“Mom,” Ruby whispered in awe as she saw a memory being played. Almost like a projection in the air.
Summer Rose was smiling down at the Ruby in the memory with a cheery smile despite the bit of flour smeared across her nose.
“I’m sorry, mom. That I wasn’t really worth all this. That it came to this,” Ruby apologized to the memory that faded from view.
Another memory. Uncle Qrow this time with dad showing her and Yang ‘cool fighting moves’. Uncle Qrow smiled fondly at her as he ruffled her hair despite her pout.
“I failed. Both of you,” Ruby apologized to the memory which was replaced again.
Meeting Blake on the airship. Talking about being a huntress. Port, Oobleck, Ozpin. JNPR. So many memories. So many people to apologize to…
“Salutations friend,” Penny said with a smile as she took a seat in the black void with her, surprising Ruby who’d expected another memory instead.
“You’re dead,” Ruby said and then winced at how blunty she’d stated it when Penny’s smile dimmed the slightest amount.
“Yes. I suppose I am.”
“How…how are you here?” Ruby asked before she lost the fight and took her friend into her arms and sobbed.
“I’m so sorry Penny. I couldn’t help you. I couldn't save the relic, I couldn’t save Pyrrha, or you, and now,” Ruby apologized as she wailed into her friend’s shoulders.
“It’s alright. Truthfully I’m not sure how I’m here either. I just knew that you and friend Weiss needed me, and so here I am!” Penny declared.
Penny, always the selfless one. Ruby smiled through her tears, happy to be reunited with her friend until her stomach sank.
“I guess that means. I really am dead too,” Ruby said feeling a twinge of regret.
Penny merely shrugged. “How did you come to be here?”
“Same as you I guess,” Ruby tried to joke.
“I do not believe our circumstances were the same,” Penny said in return as she hugged her knees to her chest.
“I guess not. Cinder didn’t kill me,” Ruby said with a snort. When she saw Penny start she narrowed her eyes.
“Penny, how did you die?” Ruby asked with narrowed eyes.
“It was Cinder’s fault,” Penny said.
“But she didn’t actually kill you,” Ruby growled.
“Enough,” Penny said seriously.
Ruby blinked. That might have been one of the first times Penny had actually done that to her.
“Regardless of anything else, Cinder Fall was the one ultimately responsible for my death. Had she not coveted the maiden powers or tried to kill me nothing else would have followed. Please friend, if you ever truly cared for me don’t worry about it any more than that. I'm sure it will eventually come out but keep your anger directed at Cinder Fall.”
“Penny…ok. You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“It’s alright. You never did tell me how you died though friend Ruby.” Penny said, perking up a small bit despite the morbid question.
“I uh…we fell off the bridge and it brought us to Ever After, and there’s this Jabber monster. I let it eat me,” Ruby admitted feeling embarrassed at how stupid it sounded.
“I have to admit that does not seem like one of your better plans,” Penny joked, “and what did friend Weiss think about that?”
“She…didn’t know. It’s…a mess. Everything fell apart,” Ruby admitted with a small hiccup.
“I see,” Penny said, grabbing one of Ruby’s hands and giving it a squeeze. “Perhaps you would tell me of it?”
“Sure…”
Despite being hobbled, hamstrung and battered the beast refused to fall. It still fought occasionally rippling and becoming stronger than before, and sometimes weaker. It was a fascinating contradiction that Weiss was sure she’d be interested to study further IF RUBY WASN’T INSIDE THAT BEAST WAITING ON THEM TO RESCUE HER!
That thought in mind she ordered her summons forward to add their power, and fury at what had happened to Ruby to the effort to restrain the beast.
She wouldn’t fail. She’d promised to be the best partner, and while she hadn’t been recently she was a true Schnee, and she was going to keep her promise!
“That’s quite a story,” Penny said, rocking back and forth on her backside as she listened patiently to Ruby recount their journey.
“Yeah it’s been pretty crazy,” Ruby agreed. “Not that it’s not great to see you again, but I assumed if this was the afterlife I’d see others too, like my mom and stuff.”
“I don’t think this is the afterlife.”
“I guess. It’s not so bad though cause I got you though you know?” Ruby said as Penny frowned at her.
“And what about the rest of your team?”
“They’re better off without me,” Ruby insisted.
“The Ruby I know would never leave them behind, especially Weiss,” Penny said as a memory of the three of them in the craft displayed. Weiss and Ruby hugging Penny from either side trying to reassure her.
More images played then. Weiss getting her coffee. Covering her sleeping form, slipping her cookies, playing tag on the train to Atlas. Encouraging her, sparring with her. In all her darkest moments there was Weiss and sometimes even Penny.
The long series of images finally came to an end as Ruby turned back to Penny who had stood patiently by.
“We had plans, Penny,” Ruby said brokenly.
“I know.”
“For after the war.”
“I know.”
“You had plans!”
“I…did.”
“It’s not fair!” Ruby declared her tears overflowing again.
“It never is, but Weiss is worth fighting for isn’t she?” Penny asked even though she knew the answer.
“Of course she is, but you don’t understand! I was dragging them all down. They deserve better!” Ruby cried out.
“You were overwhelmed, and you took everything on your shoulders. You never should have had to do that, and you should have shared. Salem is strong,” Penny said standing up as another image of Salem showed in the void.
“But she is alone,” Penny finished as the rest of her minions vanished. “Even her own servants aren’t really loyal to her except maybe Tyrian. They don’t love her. They don’t cherish her.
Not like our friends, family. Not like Weiss, and I do. Please Ruby. Don’t give up. Fight, for Weiss, for everyone else but do it with the others.” Penny implored her as images of all of Ruby’s friends, and loved ones filled the void around them.
Ruby laughed bitterly. “I appreciate the pep talk but it’s a bit late for that isn’t it? I left Weiss, all of them all alone. Failed again. Screwed it up just like always.”
“Weiss has never given up on you. Even now,” Penny said severely as another image showed up.
Finally they’d gotten it contained. Weiss readied the axe, instinct guiding her hand as she approached the large and very distinctly Ruby shaped lump as she brought the axe up high.
“GIVE ME BACK MY PARTNER! Ruby Rose you get out here!” Weiss screamed as she brought the axe down.
“Not yet,” Penny said, drawing Ruby’s attention.
Penny stared off into the distance at something Ruby couldn’t quite discern although she could almost hear Weiss yelling her name.
“There’s still a chance,” Penny said with a soft smile as she got down on a knee in front of Ruby.
“You need only reach out a hand and take it. Be the leader, the friend I know you are. Can you do that? For me? For Weiss? For your loved ones? Can you share your burdens? If you do, I know it won’t be easy, but I know you can do it!” Penny said, holding out a hand just out of Ruby’s reach.
“You have to reach out on your own friend Ruby,” Penny teased as Ruby’s hand hovered in the air just before grasping Penny’s.
“If I do this…you’ll vanish,” Ruby stated.
Penny’s smile didn’t waver, but her hand did. Just slightly. Just enough to notice. “Yes. I suppose I will.”
“Will I…we get to see you again?”
“I hope so, but not for many more years. I hope when you do you have tons of great stories to tell me,” Penny said, a few tears finally escaping her eyes and flowing down her cheeks.
“Weiss and I will have so many stories to tell you. It’ll take forever, and we’ll make Blake, and Yang and everyone tell you stories forever,” Ruby assured her.
“That sounds wonderful. But first,” Penny said gesturing to her open hand, “you have to go back and make those stories so you’ll have something to tell me.”
“You bet,” Ruby said, rubbing her eyes to try and stop the flow of tears as she stood up not noticing her changing body.
The hair slowly lengthening until it was mid shoulder although with the same red tips, and the tiny bit of baby fat she’d had left was melted.
Ruby smiled and gently grabbed her friends hand. “Goodbye for now,” Ruby whispered.
Penny merely smiled and raised their hands. A flash of light blinded Ruby for a moment before she felt something replace Penny’s hand.
The axe was in her hand now and she was staring at a worried looking Weiss who was weeping as she pulled her out of the belly of the beast.
“You idiot. You stupid dolt. What were you thinking,” Weiss asked a series of questions not pausing long enough for an answer.
“Yeah! You owed me a hug! Those are really valuable!” Little said as she came over seeing the monster finally taken care of.
“I suppose I did,” Ruby said picking up Little and giving him her best hug and then another for good measure before she gave him to Jaune and gave him a small smile.
No words were exchanged but he seemed more content. At peace almost as Ruby gave Juniper a scratch and then grabbed Yang and Blake both. She ignored their squawk of surprise as she lifted them off the ground and spun them around welcoming Blake to the family with a laugh.
Weiss for her part was shocked beyond belief as Ruby stopped to give her summon a scratch with a smile before she kissed it on the head and looked over at Weiss.
Had Ruby’s hair always been that long? Had she always acted so maturely? She could be mature but now something had changed. Some confidence she’d lacked before was present, and it was entirely the wrong time for Weiss to admit that she was blushing a bit.
“Hey Weiss,” Ruby greeted her partner softly, and had her voice always sounded so...sensual?
“Ruby,” Weiss said tentatively, almost squeaked which got even worse when Ruby leaned in and very carefully placed a lingering kiss on the corner of her mouth at the edges of her lips and pulled away with a wink.
Ruby smiled at the axe in her hands and gave it an experimental twirl. It felt right as she set it on her back.
“Ruby are you, ok?” Jaune asked.
“Never better.”
“Have you got a plan?” Weiss asked, hand on her hips trying to joke to cover her mind which was whirling a million miles a minute.
“I think I know how to get us out of here. All of us,” Ruby assured them as she looked over at the tree.
“Are you sure you’re alright?” Yang asked seriously as Ruby smiled at her softly.
“Yeah we’ll probably have to talk about things later, but I really am,” Ruby said, offering a hand to Weiss who took it with only a light bit of coloring on her part as Ruby brought her into a side hug.
“But I know as long as I have you guys we can get through this. After all we’re huntresses right?” Ruby asked with a grin.
“Hell yeah we are!”
“Hey!”
“Juniper can be a huntress too, Jaune. It’s ok!” Yang assured him as Blake and Weiss actually snorted at the man who groaned.
“You’re sure you’re alright? Because I’d hate to yell at you for your idiocy if you’re not,” Weiss said only semi-seriously.
“As long as you’re with me, and keep me on track I think I’ll be alright,” Ruby assured her.
"If you think I'm going to let you shoulder everything all alone again you have another thing coming. You have a lot of making up to do. I expect back pay with interest! You'll be making it up to me for the rest of our lives!"
"I suppose I better get started then," Ruby said as she leaned her face in toward Weiss who squeaked before Ruby smiled softly and flicked her nose. "Got ya!"
"YOU'RE DEAD ROSE!" Weiss shouted as she tackled her partner.