Chapter 40

Time to Say Goodbye

(A/N: While Chapter 39 is what I consider to be the true finale, this will serve as an epilogue getting our heroes and villains where I need them to be. If you have enjoyed reading "The Petals Scatter Now" and wish to continue its narrative and see where team RWBY goes from here, then please check out its sequel "The Patchwork Prodigy" which takes place between Volumes 2 & 3, and follows Ruby and her team as they prepare both physically and mentally for the Vytal Festival Tournament, as well as the insanity that always seem to follow them. Thank you and I hope you enjoy. God bless)

The tires of a white convertible squealed as they made a sharp turn around a corner before speeding past ruined buildings that had once proudly stood in the commercial district of the City of Vale. At the helm was a young woman wearing an expensive pair of aviator sunglasses missing its left lens while a brown beret covered her dark chocolate hair.

She leaned forward and jerked the steering wheel as a shadowy creature darted towards an alley.

"Coco?" whimpered a girl with rabbit ears as they were now traveling on the sidewalk. The driver put all her weight down on the accelerator causing her and the other passengers in the backseat to have their necks whipped back.

A Beowolf cocked its head to the side as if hypnotized by the sports car and the glowing brown eye of the driver.

*splat*

Black tar spattered across the windshield impairing the driver's vision, but with a flick of her wrist the wipers turned on and by driving over twice the legal speed limit the Grimm's blood was cleared in seconds.

"We leave town for three weeks and this is the welcome we get!?" The disgusted driver shook her head before taking a long sip from her half empty coffee cup barely missing a light pole in the process.

Behind her seat a throat cleared. "Perhaps I should drive," suggested a calm voice.

She glanced in the rear view mirror at a young man with tanned skin and copper colored hair watching her with with blank white eyes. She noted that they were an inch too high however and were actually staring at the sun.

"Sorry, Fox." She clicked her tongue. "But we're gonna let those who can actually see do the driving today."

He furrowed his brow but remained calm and his voice patient. "You know I can see just fine with my aura," he reminded his partner for the millionth time in their three years together.

"Alright." She pursed her lips as they passed a green sign. "What street are we on?"

"Twenty-seventh," he answered without hesitation. Fox had the entire City of Vale mapped out in his head and could still smell the morning bread from the previous morning despite the air being filled with smoke and ash.

"Wrong," Coco sang. "Velvet, tell him what street we're on."

The faunus girl in the passenger seat set down her antique camera and she turned her head, but the large antenna like ears never changed position. "Um, we're technically on a sidewalk not a street." She grinned reassuringly but the gesture was obviously lost on him.

Coco turned around looking up from her glasses despite losing a lens in the battle and wore a confident smirk on her face, which would have also been lost if she hadn't flared her aura just as she had while running over the Beowolf.

"No backseat drivers allowed, especially blind ones."

Casually Fox pointed up ahead and muttered something under his breath.

"What!?" she snapped.

"I said, 'fire hydrant'," he repeated, once again blaming his partner's poor hearing on her mini-gun handbag.

Turning back around she cursed and swerved at the last second narrowly avoiding a large red object sticking out of the ground. Once her heart stopped pounding against her chest and her breathing returned to normal she spun her head around and stuck her tongue out. Only when her eyes were back on the road did Fox return the gesture and smiled as his head snapped backward due to her stomping on the accelerator.

Beside him a giant groaned and hung his head out of the car. It seemed the driver was coming closer to killing him than all the Grimm in the district combined as he was the only one to leave the battle virtually unscathed. Directly in front of him, Velvet had to tilt her head to see his face as he was partially sitting on the trunk of the car while his feet rested on the floorboards and his knees pressed against his heavily armored chest.

"You alright, Yatsuhashi?" she asked worriedly. Her faunus sight and hearing were directing Coco through the war torn city, and she couldn't help but feel partially responsible for his motion sickness.

"I'll be fine." Although a giant his voice was soft but also thick with an Atlesian accent despite wearing the clothes and physical appearance of a Mistralian.

His large body shuddered as a bug splattered against his aura shield causing his face to turn green. "I'm okay," he choked, covering his mouth with a tattooed arm. "I'm just worried about my father is all."

Velvet reached out and grabbed a hand that made her's looking like an infants in comparison.

"I wouldn't worry about him," Coco remarked dryly. "If he's half as big as you that'd make him about the size of an Ursa."

Yatsuhashi's normally stoic features returned as he recalled the mask that had given him nightmares as a child. "He has more in common with an Ursa Major actually."

The team leader let out a breath and shook her head as the vision wouldn't fit in her imagination. Even Fox being a tall young man found himself staring up at the giant with a curious expression.

"I thought you said he wasn't arriving until the Vytal Festival? Wasn't he was going to take the SDC's train?"

Yatsuhashi clenched his fist but nodded. "Plans changed so he arrived ahead of schedule."

Velvet clasped her hands together and sighed dramatically. "I just love the ride through Forever Fall. It's so romantic."

"I personally just like the train," Coco purred. "Schnees know how to build machines and their heiresses sure do like to shop." She petted the steering wheel and held up her coffee cup as a toast. The giant glared at the SDC symbol on the side of her drink then at the hood ornament in the shape of a snowflake.

His dark thoughts were drowned out however as the driver flipped on the radio and to his surprise Velvet turned it up so he could no longer hear himself think. Yatsuhashi felt his stomach twist and turn inside out as the convertible sailed over a hill with its wheels leaving the pavement. His only thoughts became those that were playing on the stereo and what half of the city was hearing.

*Caffeine! Caffeine!*

The rain clouds above the City of Vale disappearing should have cleared the way for blue skies, except they were being engulfed by a thick haze that seemed to strangle the entire city causing its inhabitants to choke and their eyes to burn. Even across the great falls and atop the guest dorm of Beacon Academy the scent of fire was being carried by the wind, but for three spectators it was the smell of conquest and they each took deep savoring breaths.

A woman with raven colored hair wearing the attire of Haven Academy's staff watched as the city burned with flames kindling in her eyes while two students in uniforms resembling something worn at a funeral stood on either side. On her right was a young man with metal boots carrying the look of indifference with his hands behind his head, while on her left a dark complected young woman with green hair kept glancing over her shoulder nervously.

Through the smoke she could see dozens of bullheads flying through the air carrying soldiers and huntsmen alike with the emblems of Atlas, Vale, and the SDC on their wings. Her red eyes began glowing but faded as they passed by.

"Cinder," she urged, "I think we-"

"Hush, Emerald." The raven haired woman brought a finger to her lips immediately silencing the subordinate.

For this woman the City of Vale had never looked more beautiful and she could hardly blink. To the southwest a brilliant flame was raging in the agricultural district as what was once known as 'The Breadbasket of Remnant' was burning orange. Somewhere in the city a Beowolf howled and she sensed the body to her right relax as the beast discovered more prey.

"I wish I were a Grimm," the boy said as if in a daze.

Cinder turned and caressed the side of his cheek. "Oh, Mercury," she cooed. "Soon your queen will have need of her butcher and then no one in all the kingdoms will be safe."

He smiled but the voice of his partner interrupted the pleasant daydream. "Ma'am," Emerald swallowed. "Should I go ahead with the plan?"

Cinder shook her head. "Not yet," she said patiently. "The huntsmen must've found Roman for him to have moved so far ahead of schedule, but that shouldn't affect our plans, or my contact in Atlas."

A grin began to creep on her face as she gazed upon the large white airship floating below the waterfalls of Beacon. "Actually this might work out even be better..."

Mercury turned to his partner as a thought came to him. "Why don't you go into town and see if your doughy friends still have their wallets? It'd be a shame for all that lien to end up in the bellies of Grimm."

Emerald narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms but this only seemed to please him more.

"How moral and virtuous of you to steal from the living but not the dead. When they're handing out medals after the battle I'll be sure to give you mine."

She opened her mouth for a retort but Cinder held up her hand.

"Let's just enjoy the moment shall we? The next time the city burns only embers will remain."

Again Emerald looked around nervously. "We need to leave, ma'am. After pretending to play huntress with Mercury, I don't know if I can fool anyone else. I could probably make them hallucinate, but they'd probably still see the three of us together."

Mercury glanced toward where his partner was staring and frowned seeing hundreds of windows that could be spying on them. "I hate to agree with her but we should go. This place was getting dull anyway."

"What's wrong Mercury?" Cinder teased. "Did you lose your picture book already?"

He shook his head letting silver locks fall in his eyes. "I gave it to charity, and donated it to a lost cause with glass slippers. You could say I'm giving her a sneak peek."

Cinder smiled and grabbed them by the hands prepared to lead them away. "Then come. Today is the day of Grimm not of the fallen queen, nor her thief and butcher."

"It definitely isn't the day of the faunus," Mercury remarked. "The White Fang aren't gonna be too happy about a hundred or so new recruits and half a dozen officers getting blown up."

They turned as light footsteps greeted them. "I wouldn't be so sure about that..."

A dark figure stepped out of the shadows wearing a Grimm mask over his face. Crimson hair styled as a rose covered what looked to be two bull horns, and at his side was a black katana in its sheath with gloved fingers scratching exposed steel. Emerald and Mercury readied their weapons but Cinder laid a hand on their chests and took a cautious step forward.

"Adam," she said evenly. "What brings you to Vale?"

The masked man ignored her and glanced toward the city following the pillars of smoke to Mt. Glenn. "Today many martyrs were made fighting for a noble cause, and tomorrow faunus will be joining the White Fang in droves."

Mercury snorted. "And what makes you think that?"

Adam turned and almost grinned. "Because a Schnee was aboard that train."

A flame flickered in Cinder's eyes as her face darkened.

"And they'll blame her?" Emerald asked uncertainly.

"The youngest Schnee daughter is now the most wanted criminal on Remnant, and she'll be the rallying cry for the third and final crusade." He took his finger and drew a long scar across the left eye of his mask. "And she'll never find mercy from a foolish faunus girl ever again..."

"Make her pay," Cinder instructed, her voice rising. "Show the Schnees what happens when you trade your kingdom's crown for an old dust mine. Show them what happens to traitors."

Adam turned his sharp eyes back to the city and smiled seeing a black cat running hopelessly from the flames.

"They all burn..."

From atop the Emerald Tower the crestfallen city appeared shrouded as if it were wearing a veil in mourning. Sitting behind a clockwork desk overlooking it all, the headmaster of Beacon Academy listened to the symphony of gears turning while his cane rested beside a large desktop scroll in full view of a video conference.

"Prime Minister," he greeted respectfully to a tall elderly gentleman who nodded back. His eyes narrowed as he glanced down to a short middle-aged man with red puffed up cheeks. "Mr. President..."

When the kingdom's ceremonial figurehead curled his lip, the headmaster turned toward another video of a large man standing at attention on his airship in front of the emblem of Atlas. His eyes shifted as the taller of the two men spoke up.

"Ozpin," he sighed, "we know you cannot be held completely responsible for this act of terror-"

The Prime Minister pausing caused the ruddy man to interrupt. "However, we cannot overlook the fact that in less than two weeks the CCT has been attacked and City of Vale has been breached twice!" He paused for a much needed breath. "And as headmaster of Beacon and grand marshal of the huntsmen operating in the kingdom of Vale it is your sworn duty to defend its citizens and boundaries!"

"And I have," he replied calmly, taking note of how steam was rising from his bald head.

"Then what would you call this, Ozpin!" the little man cried. "And where are your so-called huntsmen?"

The headmaster's face grew dark as he leaned forward. "That, Mr. President, was an orchestrated attack conducted by the enemies of Remnant. As we speak my children are in the streets protecting you and this city from unspeakable nightmares, and if you'd like a word with them afterward then I can arrange a meeting in the hospital."

Before another outburst could interrupt him again, the taller man raised his hand and brushed what little hair he had left to the side. "Regardless of the circumstances, Ozpin, the council had to act." His droopy eyes and long face glanced toward the screen with the man in white. "We've contacted Atlas, and they've agreed to send another fleet of airships and double the soldiers Winter Schnee is to bring in time for the Vytal Festival."

Ozpin took a sip from his coffee. "Is that all?" He raised a brow sounding rather unimpressed.

"No..." said the man in white.

The prime minister lowered his gaze. "General Ironwood from this moment forward will be the acting chief of security until the conclusion of the festival."

"After which," snarled the short man, "the council will be discussing your position as grand marshal and headmaster of Beacon." His eyes narrowed at the cane resting against the monitor. "The huntsmen of old are relics of the past Ozpin, and nothing more than fairy tales men like you won't let go of." He shifted his gaze to the general. "It's long past time that we took the same measures to secure our kingdom as Atlas."

The headmaster set the drink down and in doing so knocked over his cane causing its silver blade to fall beside the short man's throat.

With steady hand Ozpin sheathed the blade in front of the short man's wide eyes. "Prime Minister, Mr. President." He nodded. "I'm afraid I must be going. I have an academy to run and huntsmen to coordinate. Will that be all?" Just as the little man opened his mouth the headmaster ended the call leaving just him and the general staring back at one another neither man blinking.

"It's the right decision, old friend," Ironwood promised. "Atlas will protect the people of Vale. You can trust me."

The video feed cut out leaving Ozpin staring at his reflection in the screen. He leaned back in his chair to watch the gears spinning on the ceiling and listen to their music.

"It seems you'll be sitting in this seat a few years early Glynda," he said almost lightheartedly.

Professor Goodwitch stepped out of the shadows holding a scroll in her hand and a scowl on her face. "Now is not the time for nonsense," she chided. "You and I know full well that the council can't legally unseat you."

"Hasn't stopped them from trying," He mumbled, taking another sip before pushing it aside and bringing his hands together. "What's the condition of the city walls?"

"Holding and stable, but still under attack," she said, glancing at a city map with dozens of red marks around the border. "The military and every available huntsman is stationed around its perimeter, but it'll be weeks until the Grimm fall back, and even longer for them to forget about this."

"What about the Alphas?"

Glynda swallowed. "The Goliaths destroyed a small outpost but there weren't any casualties. I haven't heard a word about any Griffons yet, and any Alphas that may have entered the city have been dealt with."

Ozpin's shoulders relaxed but the rest of his body was still on edge like her's.

"As we speak the Goliaths are circling the city and more are on their way. We're lucky they didn't charge straight for the southern walls when they had the chance."

"Fortunate, not lucky," he corrected. "They've been waiting over half a century for an opportunity like the lost city again but decided to be patient. What does that tell you?"

She cast her eyes out the window. "That they can sense something bigger on its way..."

The headmaster nodded and continued on. "Civilian casualties?"

"Fatalities at the moment are expected to be in the low hundreds, and injuries in the thousands."

Ozpin shook his head. "Once again we should count ourselves fortunate. I never thought she'd be capable of something like this..."

With the headmaster deep in thought Goodwitch glanced at her scroll. "Haven and Shade are flying half of their students back to Mistral and Vacuo as a precaution in case their kingdoms are next."

"They need all the protection they can get but this is just a timely excuse," he noted. "I'd already spoken with their headmasters and they'd been planning on returning home since the CCT was attacked." His eyes glanced toward the hospital and lingered. "What of the children and staff?"

"Over three dozen students are lying in the infirmary," her voice cracked, "but they're expected to make full recovers."

He closed his eyes and let out a breath he'd been holding for seemingly hours and she had to clear her throat before continuing. "Professor Oobleck is finally awake, and is currently being scolded by Dr. Heilen for drinking yellow dust again."

Ozpin chuckled darkly. "What of our masked friend Bartholomew was found lying in the crater with?"

"Unconscious, and will be for some time. Oobleck says miss Rose was the one who saved his life and that he simply wanted a shield against the Deathstalker as well as a soft landing."

Ozpin's eyes twinkled but something in her's made them harden. "What is it?"

Goodwitch took a deep breath. "Bart tells me he found evidence of an ancient Grimm in the lost city. I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but he has reason to believe it was a Mimic."

The headmaster's hand gravitated toward his cane but he caught himself. "And he's sure?"

She nodded. "He says miss Rose fought it and lives to tell the tale."

Ozpin turned his chair around to face his reflection and the shrouded city down below. "Mimics don't just let you escape, Glynda. Once a Grimm has your scent it's for life, and we both know what happened to the last huntress who thought she escaped a Mimic..." He felt the blood drain from his face as the stories from when he was a child began to surface. "Have you been able to contact Qrow?"

She shook her head. "Not yet. I've also tried the girls' father but Taiyang already left on a mission. He shouldn't be too difficult to track down however."

With the help of his cane the headmaster got to his feet and stared into the dark haze looking out toward the Isle of Patch where a faint light could be seen through the smoke as Signal Academy's tower shined as a sign of solidarity with the mainland. Using the light as a guide his sad eyes rested to the north.

"Tell me, Glynda." He removed his glasses. "Tell me, how is Summer's daughter doing?"

The professor closed her scroll and stood by his side finding the village hidden in the mountains by memory. "Miss Rose led her team and JNPR from the initial breach all the way through the residential district," Goodwitch paused to swallow, "after she had just spent two days in the lost city and discovered the White Fang. And apparently a Mimic..."

"I know that ,Glynda." He grabbed her shoulder. She glanced back at the broken hinges caused by the caped-girl when she'd slammed the automatic doors just days prior.

"Bart tells me your suspicions were right," she whispered.

His hand fell from her shoulder and he lowered his face which looked as mournful as the city.

"I was afraid of that..."

Below Beacon Academy not far from the waterfalls floated a grand Atlesian airship large enough to transport and house hundreds of soldiers, half of whom were also students. The massive wings bore the kingdom's insignia as well as the Schnee Dust Company's which had it greatly outnumbered. Standing behind floor to ceiling windows a large man wearing a white coat gazed upon the radiance of the Emerald Tower causing his hardened eyes to glow green.

"I'm sorry..." The general closed his eyes and turned his back toward the school. "But you brought this on yourself, old friend."

His eyes returned to their natural cold blue that was ever so common in Atlas, but there was also compassion found in them that was contrary to his heavy footsteps as he marched into an elevator and selected his destination. "You wanted to be patient and let the war come to you. Now it's here and I hope your children are ready."

Looking into the reflective walls he frowned at the wrinkles and darkness around his eyes that he didn't remember seeing before arriving in Vale. A twinge in his right hand caused him to tighten the white glove and massage his wrist. It still hadn't gotten used to the southern kingdom's climate that seemed to change on a daily basis, if not hourly. Many of his men proclaimed the fair weather as a heatwave since they were much more familiar with knee high snow by the middle of fall. Because of this, the air conditioning was constantly running to make its occupants more comfortable, and it wasn't uncommon for visitors to wear coats aboard as the coldest autumn day in Vale was still warmer than that of Atlas'.

Just as the general was satisfied that his hand would no longer act up the elevator signaled his arrival causing him to stand up straight with his hands folded behind his back. The doors parted and his heavy boots echoed throughout the dimly lit halls, along with something that caused him to pause.

*hic*

Hearing the sound of humming the general turned his head around the corner and watched as a girl with orange hair and carrying a backpack skipped down an adjacent hallway without paying any notice of him. And although her footsteps were curiously loud she seemed to hang in the air with every step.

He raised a brow as two soldiers chased after her wearing red and blue accents on their armor but were failing to catch up. Seeing the large man they gave polite nods but soon recognized the polished boots and pristine white jacket with four stars on its collar.

"General Ironwood, sir!" They stood at attention and saluted.

The tall man noted they were both breathing heavily and could sense the eyes under their visors following the oblivious young girl as she roamed the halls aimlessly.

"At ease men." They lowered their sweaty hands which were shaking slightly. "As you were."

The general turned to leave but before he could take a single step the partners took off running toward the girl who had a substantial lead by now.

"Miss Penny!" they cried. "Please, wait for us!"

Out of the corner of his eye Ironwood thought he saw what looked to be a rose petal floating through the air before dissipating causing him to glance out a small round window and find the Emerald Tower again.

"You have your guardian, Ozpin, and now I have mine..."

He continued his journey never slowing or averting his gaze from a large metal door with a pair of soldiers on either side. As he approached the men lowered their custom rifles and saluted.

"At ease, gentlemen," he instructed, taking a look at the kingdom's emblem beside the mark of the huntsmen on their chests denoting them as serving in Atlas' Special Operatives Unit, the finest the military had to offer. "The prisoner and I will be having words now."

His soldiers nodded and the one the left swiped a card in a terminal while the other punched numbers into a keypad. Once their panels lit up green the general pressed his gloved hand against the door and it clicked open.

He stepped forward letting the door close behind him and took a moment for his eyes to adjust to the darkness and his nose to the odor. Chains rattled on the other side of the room that more resembled a closet, and the general began taking note of the small confined prison cell furnished with only a small cot and wash area.

Finally he glanced at the source of rattling and narrowed his eyes at a man sitting on the cot wearing filthy rags that reeked of smoke and burnt flesh. A pink arm was curled against his chest while a bare foot rested in an awkward angle on the tile floor. Orange hair fell to the side of the prisoner's face but even in the dim lighting Ironwood could see a large burn across his cheek in the shape of a fist.

"Roman Torchwick," he said in a somber voice that hid his true anger. "I don't believe you and I have been antiquated yet."

The prisoner's lip curled as he glanced up. Ironwood noticed he was shivering slightly due to the cold but found himself pleased nonetheless.

"We both know what the punishment for treason is in all the kingdoms. If you comply with my investigation I can guarantee you the harshest punishment you'll face is life in prison. And if you make my job easy I'll even guarantee you'll be sent somewhere nicer than Atlas, but if not I'm willing to sign the papers for your execution today."

Torchwick's labored breathing picked up and he raised his hands but since he had a visitor the chains restricted his movement. "I want my lawyer," he growled.

Ironwood shook his head. "You won't be needing one."

"Actually-" He shook the heavy chains that also drained his aura. "I'm pretty sure I do. Also no one read me my rights."

The general cleared his throat. "Alright. You do not have the right to remain silent. You do not have the right to an attorney. Within three weeks you will receive a military trial courtesy of the kingdoms of Atlas and Vale where you will be found guilty of terrorism, treason, genocide, homicide, kidnapping, armed robbery, theft, arson-"

"Okay, okay," the prisoner grumbled. "I get the picture, and as much as I'd like to hear about my glorious so called 'crimes against humanity', I don't exactly have all day."

"Actually you do." Torchwick smiled but it quickly faded seeing the general's. "Until the time of your execution that is."

The prisoner took a venomous glance around his cell and how the walls seemed to close in on him.

"Now," Ironwood said calmly, "why don't you tell me who you take your orders from and perhaps we can make a deal."

"You're looking at him." Torchwick chin raised arrogantly and his head bobbed side to side.

"I find that," he paused, looking at the tattered rags that used to be his jacket, "rather unlikely."

Torchwick leaned forward as far as his chains would allow and stared straight into the tall man's eyes. "Trust me," he whispered. "No matter what you see or what you hear, I'm the one who's really running the show and who everyone should be running scared of."

Ironwood blinked clearly not impressed. "Then I have the most wanted criminal on Remnant in chains with blood dripping from his nose and a jaw my doctors had to put back together just so we could understand him. Injuries he received from a female freshman student I've been told."

The chains rattled as Torchwick laughed causing him to cough violently and for drops of scarlet to fall from his mouth. "Then I bet you're real curious to know how I survived the train ride through the entire city."

Ironwood pressed his hand against the door and a second later it opened. "Not particularly, but I shall investigate it along with exactly how many faunus died."

"All of them," he said cheerfully. "See? I did you a favor by cleaning up what Atlas should have finished decades ago."

The general stared at the prisoner coldly. "You and I will be having many more talks like this, Roman, but I promise you they won't be half as pleasant as this one." Before the doors closed he turned his head one last time with a slight grin on his face. "You look feverish, Roman. I'll be sure to turn the air down for you."

The doors closed and once again Torchwick was left in almost complete darkness and he rubbed his hands together feeling the room's temperature plummet.

"That's good," he muttered, "because I like to talk." He glanced at the reflective tile floor beneath him and smiled with crooked teeth. "Isn't that right, Neo?"

His reflection winked back at him with a brown eye that turned pink when it reopened. Something shined in the reflection's hand and slowly he slowly opened his hand which was empty.

In the reflection's however was a lock of blonde hair being held in bloody fingers.

"Looks like you've made a friend." He grinned. For a split second the image shifted to a young woman with pink and brown hair before changing back to the prisoner in chains.

Torchwick followed the motions of the reflection bringing his other hand to his throat. A knife shined on the tile floor and together they mimicked a throat being slit.

"It's good to see you making friends, Neo." He shook his chains. "Especially since it looks like I'm going to be stuck here for a while."

The mismatched eyes grew worried and sorrowful as if suddenly lonely, but they patted their backs reassuringly which seemed to calm his reflection.

"For now just play along with the witch and her street rat and amputee. They'll get what's coming to them in the end."

He and the reflection caressed his throbbing red cheek gently. Mismatched eyes caught the lock of hair and again the reflection flickered again.

"Which reminds me, could you pick me out a dark suit?"

"..."

He motioned the tipping of a hat with a devilish grin. "You and I have quite the number of funerals to attend..."

Rays of sunlight streamed through half open mini-blinds into a cramped hospital room originally made for two beds that now had four positioned in such a way that their occupants had to climb and crawl over each other just to get in and out.

The doctors had tried separating their patients but it hadn't gone over well with the team, particularly with the hot tempered blonde. After her threats had turned out to be idle due to torn biceps and half a dozen other torn muscles, a few broken bones, wounds stitched shut, aura exhaustion, hints of dehydration, and an assortment of other injuries, she instead found a group of male interns her age who after asking them in her hospital gown they'd been all too willing to carry the extra beds to the aromatic room.

Just passing by one could smell the various soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, gels, and other cleansers the girls had used during their well deserved baths and showers. The blonde at first had insisted upon a sponge bath courtesy of the interns but had quickly changed her mind when her partner pointed out that her golden mane looked as though it had birds nesting in it and saw what she'd thought to be a split end. Fortunately for the heiress she had nearly finished in the bathroom as she'd been unceremoniously kicked out still dripping wet. She hadn't complained however as it had given her a logical reason to go back to the dorm room for a hair dryer and returned hours later with pruned skin and damp hair.

In total the girls had spent nearly half a day bathing and now their scent caused a certain faunus to sneeze constantly, but she much preferred it as opposed to the three day stench of herself and teammates that had made her long for Professor Oobleck's odd choice in Grimm repellent.

With her back facing the open window she sat beside her teammates as their eyes drooped meaning another twelve hour nap wasn't far away. Despite there being four beds in the room only two had their covers pulled and the only one currently occupied had an extra pillow from where the blonde had spent her night and much of the afternoon.

Normally her little sister kicked and thrashed in her sleep, but the caped-girl's injuries had given her the prime opportunity to share a bed like they'd done as kids.

"Yang?" asked a hushed voice. "You alright?"

She blinked at the first words spoken in seemingly hours and turned to the girl beside her. "I'm fine, Blake." She rubbed her eyes and yawned. "Just tired."

The faunus looked up and down her partner seeing all the injuries now hidden by bandages. Pink blotches of skin weren't the result of scrubbing in the bath, they'd come from flames rising to the surface as her semblance overheated. Any lesser human would've died that much she was sure of, but Yang almost seemed to take pleasure in bending her broken body to her will just to prove she could.

"Then get some rest," she urged. "It's the best thing for us right now." Indeed, Blake had enjoyed the best sleep in her life despite waking up barely able to move, and from her partner's lack of snoring it seemed she'd slept even harder.

"I don't want to wake her up," Yang whispered. The blankets fell before rising again rhythmically while tufts of black hair with red tips lay on the pillow.

"I don't think you could if you tried," Weiss remarked from the corner almost out of reach from Yang.

The heiress wearing an elegant long blue nightgown over her equally as expensive pajamas leaned back in her chair grimacing as her backside found a more comfortable position. Although her left arm was heavily bandaged and in a sling, she'd painted her fingernails along with her blistered and swollen toes. Her scroll was in her good hand but being turned to the side Blake couldn't see what she'd been glaring at since she'd woken up.

Yang didn't respond as she studied her sister's breathing with a content smile but also with a tense body that looked ready to pounce if she were to suddenly need water. Yesterday a violent coughing fit had caused tears to well up in her eyes along with her teammates' before mercifully the caped-girl had fallen unconscious again. The doctors were too afraid to give her medication like her friends since her undeveloped aura would naturally fight it and only slow her healing factor, and Blake couldn't help but feeling ashamed swallowing painkillers and half a dozen other pills in front of Ruby in the few fleeting seconds she'd been awake.

Yang could take some unlike her sister but not much, and Blake couldn't help but wonder if it was one of the drawbacks with having physical semblances. All four girls had pushed themselves far beyond their limits and were paying heavy prices, but while the sisters were feeling the results of their bodies torn apart because they'd been too weak for super strength and speed, Weiss was practically chewing aspirin and sharing with Blake who wasn't at all used to aura exhaustion.

The faunus gave a wide yawn causing her bow to perk up as her ears had been folded back for quite some time. While Beacon's medical bay routinely had students due to training accidents, the hospital was now filled due to overcrowding in the city where some were even being airlifted to Signal for treatment. With so much activity she had effectively turned off her faunus hearing which was becoming like flipping a switch between her two senses.

Their floor being used for observation meant it was crowded but also that its most injured patient was likely Ruby, however the young huntress in training had a lot going for her that many of the civilians didn't.

Despite being only fifteen Ruby was physically at peak performance and deceptively muscular to be able to swing Crescent Rose with ease even without aura. She had years of experience pulling muscles and fighting through pain due to her training, and even though she still hadn't mastered aura flow she still had a hundred times more control than the average citizen. And like her teammates she would bite her tongue and lie about the injuries looking worse than they felt, when she was awake that is.

Team JNPR had briefly been seen as they were being patched up but because their injuries were minor in comparison they'd been allowed back into their room to recover. Despite the cramped hospital room they'd stopped by to say hello with a banged up Jaune also wishing to say thanks to his sister team, but particularly to his fellow leader who'd been sleeping. Many of their other friends and classmates had so far all returned with their lives, and despite it normally being against the rules an exception had been made for the parents to visit and stay with their children.

For Blake however there was one parent conspicuously missing, especially from his daughters' description of him. "Shouldn't your dad be here?" she asked her partner.

When Ruby had last visited the hospital their father had written a poem expressing his undying love for her and grief that he couldn't come visit. Her sister and teammates had teased her mercilessly for it and from their tales it seemed his reaction had been tame compared to Yang's first day of school at Signal, which made Blake uncomfortable just thinking about it.

The blonde grimaced as she reached for her scroll laying on the table, and Blake was immensely grateful they'd convinced her to put on pajamas like the rest of them as she'd been seemingly content wearing the too-small hospital gown that had mysteriously lost its tie.

With the device in her hand she growled despite being out of breath and turned the volume down.

"Hello," boomed a warm voice, "you've reached the stunningly handsome Dr. Taiyang Xiao Long. If this is about huntsmen business or regarding Signal Academy you can reach me at my office. If this is about me being a single charismatic blond looking for a good time-"

Somehow it was actually possible to hear Yang's fist travel through the holographic screen before it was slammed back onto the table. Meanwhile Blake glanced back and forth between her partner and from where the voice with a very familiar accent had come from.

'This actually explains a lot...'

"After calling home I tried his office five times and he wasn't there," she said trying to restrain her voice. "So I called the front desk and after dealing with a crying secretary for half an hour asking if Ruby and I were alright and reassuring her we were, I find out he-" Yang brushed her hair making it look like she was pulling it out. "I find out he chose the day before yesterday of all days to go on his first solo mission in nearly two decades, and no one has any idea where he went or even when the jerk will be back."

Just when Blake thought red eyes might replace lilac, Ruby groaned in her sleep causing her expression to soften.

"Maybe it's for the best," she said, suddenly blinking back tears. "I don't know how he'd react to seeing Rubes like this, or both of his girls in the hospital for that matter."

Her partner not knowing what to do grabbed her hand.

"I was supposed to protect her," Yang choked. "That was Dad's one condition for her enrolling early." She turned to her partner with wet eyes. "Blake, if anything happens to Ruby I'll lose my dad again, and this time I know it'll be for good," she nearly sobbed. "I can remember what he was like when my mom died, and he still isn't the same after we lost Summer. That'll just leave me and my uncle who I don't see sober enough as it is..."

"And us," Blake reassured. "You'll never be alone, Yang."

"That's right," Weiss promised. "You're stuck with us whether you like it or not."

She nodded but her sister in the hospital bed was forcing her to relive the worst years of her childhood when no one smiled until a little girl with red tipped hair was born.

'You look just like Summer, Rubes. And I can't lose you both again...'

"You'll hear from your dad soon, Yang." Blake squeezed her shoulder. "By then you'll be fully healed and Ruby will be back in the dorm. Then you can tell him nothing happened."

She nodded and quickly wiped her cheeks with her eyes still on her sister. "He and I are gonna have a long talk when he gets back."

'And so are Ruby and I...'

The faunus smiled hearing the fire rekindle in her partner's voice. While she and Weiss had grown up quickly to take care of themselves, Yang had grown twice as fast to care for her family who always came first in her life. Before their own showers Yang had made sure that her baby sister had seen the doctors and had been cleaned up and cared for before anything else.

Feeling a slight chill, Blake glanced at the partially obscured face of Weiss who was listening intently but her eyes had fallen to her scroll. "You alright, Weiss?"

The heiress scolded herself for losing control of her precious aura and flicked the screen.

'Message Deleted.' The faunus read before the device was unceremoniously tossed beside Yang's.

"I am now," she declared, scowling at the SDC symbol all over the hospital room.

'I've been avoiding Father all my life so what's another few weeks?'

Weiss knew she needed to speak with Winter before their father, but she wasn't due in Vale until the start of the Vytal Festival, and what she had to say had to be said directly. If protecting the heiresses was no longer the prime directive of the Schnee Dust Company, then what else could they be changing?

She couldn't trust CCT communications to get in touch with her sister. There was no telling who might be listening now. She didn't even trusted the IV bags hooked up to her partner that had snowflakes on the side.

Blake watched her with concerned eyes wishing she was better with words and that she could use her aura to embrace those she cared about. Unlike her teammates who had families, no matter how cold or dysfunctional, Blake had no one. Everyone important to her were in that hospital room with her.

She had called the White Fang family since she could remember, and had given up hope of ever finding another when she ran away. It had only been in the passing weeks that she realized what she had lost couldn't even compare to what she'd gained. While these thoughts went through Blake's mind, her sharp eyes caught movement around Ruby's legs. She flinched as soulless eyes stared back at her while pinning its prey to the bed. Drool was dripping from its ivory fangs and in its mouth was a squeaky toy.

*squee*

"Ssshhhh," Yang held a finger to her lips. "Ruby's sleeping, Zwei."

The small corgi winked and went back to chewing on its ball.

"Isn't he just the cutest!" Weiss gushed, unable to contain herself as Blake slowly lifted her feet off the floor bringing her knees to her chest.

After Ruby had been taken care of, Yang, Weiss, and herself had limped back to the dorm, and Zwei, or the hellhound as Blake had taken to calling him, had assaulted the other two possibly causing more harm than the King Taijitu and Deathstalker combined.

Thinking fast, she had quickly dived into the bathroom and barricaded the door before taking the longest shower in her life using up most if not all the hot water in the process as her teammates wrestled with Zwei while getting clothes, magazines, and other necessary supplies to survive their extended hospital stay.

Afterward they'd smuggled the dog in a bag hoping to cheer Ruby up like last time, but she'd only been awake for a few minutes at dinner where she hadn't eaten. Now the beast stood guard at her feet showing the faunus his ferocity.

*squee*

"I wonder where he got them all?" Weiss said, referencing the pile of squeaky toys and balls he'd collected while they were gone. "Do you think he found them while going winky-tinky-woo-woo or potty-wotty-doodle-all-day outside?"

Blake stared in fascination of the well mannered heiress trying to sound out what had just been said.

"Maybe he's part retriever," the pale girl mused.

'Klepto more like it...'

"And I wonder who's balls they were."

Yang snorted. "Definitely not Cardin's!" She held up her thumbs. "Am I right!?"

The blonde's yell had been so loud that the pair couldn't believe Ruby hadn't even stirred in her sleep, but finally when they began feeling their insides churning and their faces turning red they had to hold their sides as the laughter caused their chests to ache and tears to roll down their cheeks in agony which only made them laugh harder.

Finally when the last fit of giggles ended having no more air to breath and their muscles unable to take any more, it felt as though a dark cloud had been lifted from the room and everything suddenly became a little brighter.

Blake's shadow stretched across the room as sunshine radiated off of Yang, causing warmth to fill the room and seconds later Weiss cooled it off like a gentle breeze.

The blonde sighed as her stretching caused bones to pop and creak. "This feels worse than my first hangover," she proclaimed proudly.

"The first of many," Blake noted humorously.

"When was this?" Weiss asked, trying to keep her high-pitched giggles to herself. "When you were thirteen?"

She shrugged unashamed. "Something like that."

Her eyes fell on Ruby happy to see her still asleep but also wishing she'd join them. Her baby sister's laugh was like music to her ears after having gone so long without hearing it as a child. Now it was something she cherished close to her heart.

Grimacing, Yang put her arm around Blake before reaching out to drag Weiss' chair beside them and putting an arm around her as well.

"We were awesome," she said bringing them in close so that her head rested atop theirs.

They could only smile as their bodies were being crushed, and their auras began to overlap letting them feel each other's joy until it became their own.

Together they were a family no matter how dysfunctional and had a home better than money could buy. They had stopped the White Fang's plot to destroy their city causing redemption and justice to burn in their souls as well as peace and rest. All those loved ones they'd lost and watched with blurry eyes as they were lowered into the frozen ground were all remembered, but having their baby sister meant they would always find the strength to keep going.

Thinking of their leader caused huntress pride to swell as they knew that lives being saved was what the true huntress of the team was most proud of.

There was still darkness in their auras, but that only caused them to flare their semblances more. For Yang there were only going to be more dangers to protect Ruby from, but her friends were there to look after their kid sister. Weiss' burden was no longer her own, and her grandfather's company and the Schnee legacy was something they would all carry.

Blake's darkness was deep and her shadow created a wilted rose on the floor. The White Fang wasn't gone meaning her task wasn't finished, and the fear she felt was very real with Weiss' losses only adding to that, but so did her sense of justice.

They were in this fight together until the very end ,and when their eyes opened the black wilted rose turned red and scattered. The petals blew past their heads and with shortness of breath they glanced toward the caped-girl still in her bed underneath the covers. At her heavily bandaged feet was Zwei who yawned infectiously causing the girls to do the same.

"That sounds like a really good idea," Blake said as both of their ears pinned back. Weiss tried to stand but her wobbly legs sat her back down.

"Need a hand?" Yang chuckled but found herself also incapable of moving.

They glanced at Blake with pleading eyes but she shook her head being as frozen as they were. What little aura they'd regained had been lost, and it had been the only thing keeping their muscles from going limp. Now suddenly everything hurt twice as much and they really didn't want to sleep in chairs.

"On three?" they asked, and together slowly nodded.

"One..."

"Two..."

Using each other for support and as crutches, they groaned as they slowly stood on their feet with knees popping in unison.

They took a few steps and Blake was the first to be disposed into her bed as it was the closest but also furthest away from the faunus-eating hellhound.

"Why are you so heavy!?" Yang and Weiss complained as they dragged their feet.

Luckily the room was small so after only a few agonizing steps Yang was able to shove the heiress onto her bed. All alone she made the final steps to her and Ruby's bed that barely fit the two. She crawled in as gently as possible before wrapping her arms around her baby sister. Zwei crawled in between them with his squeaky toy still in his mouth, and Weiss and Blake grinned as the blonde raise her fist.

"Goodnight team RWBY," they whispered.

Yang kissed the back of her sister's head and closed her eyes.

"Goodnight, Rubes..."

'Night, sis...'

(A/N: I don't know if 'thank you' are strong enough words for the kindness you've shown me. There was a time when I was hesitant about submitting Chapter One, and now I find myself having those same uncertainties with Chapter Forty but for completely different reasons. I don't like saying goodbye but this is where Volume 2 took its bow and so I must as well. I'm sorry for leaving you guys hanging on so many plot points, I like it even less than you do but this is where "The Petals Scatter Now" comes to an end, but this is also where "The Patchwork Prodigy" begins. Chapter 40 was originally going to be less of an epilogue and have more focus on Penny and team RWBY but this had to be changed the more a sequel came to fruition. Because "The Patchwork Prodigy" will focus more on team RWBY and less on the supporting cast I needed to move their stories along first and I hope you don't mind.

It's been an amazing ride but not one without its moments of stress. Despite that though I wouldn't have traded it or you readers for anything. God has blessed me with all of you and this story, and I hope it has been a blessing to you as well and brought smiles to your faces.

I won't go deep into the characters as I hope my love for them speaks for itself. I was drawn into RWBY day one because of the "Red Trailer" and that's one reason why I've wanted to highlight Ruby, and also because I feel as though she completes her teammates. I hope I've treated them all with the respect they deserve and that you've enjoyed my interpretations of them.

I hope to share this one day with the creators of RWBY and it breaks my heart not being able to show it to Monty Oum. Thank you Monty for creating this show for me to fall in love with, and I hope I've treated your creations with honor and respect. I know I'll be meeting you one day and maybe you can teach me some of your dance moves.

A final goodbye and a final thank you to all the kind people who have supported myself and this story. God bless you.

All credit goes to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who has greatly blessed me and made this story possible. God bless)