Chapter 35

Taking off their shoes and jackets, Blake and Ruby lay side-by-side on Sun's bed. Holding the baggie in the air, Blake examined the tabs within, each about the size of her fingertip. She wrapped her arm around Ruby, pecking her on the cheek. "You place the tab under your tongue, then hold it there." Blake instructed. "It only takes a very small amount of LSD to have an effect, and apparently this Sauce stuff is more potent...but LSD is non-addictive, and technically you can't overdose on it, so unless everything Sun says is bullshit - and the jury's still out on that - we should both be fine. Are you sure you're ready for this?"

"Meet new people, do new things, new experiences, new memories." Ruby nodded, moving to straddle Blake's legs.

"That going in your yearbook?" Blake huffed a chuckle, cupping Ruby's face.

"No one will ever guess the context." Ruby laughed, rubbing Blake's thighs.

"You think Yang would get a laugh out of it?" Blake asked.

"Oh yeah, 'I came up with that just before Blake and I tripped on homebrew LSD.'" Ruby scoffed. "Good times!" She flicked the bag for emphasis, drawing a laugh from Blake.

"I'm not sure if she'd high-five you or kill me." Blake smirked.

"She'd probably go for both, but I wouldn't let her touch you." Ruby noted.

"You'd go against your sister for me?" Blake asked.

"I'd go against the world for you." Ruby declared.

Blake could not form a response, staring into Ruby's eyes as her own stung. She smiled, pulling Ruby into a kiss and pouring all her feeling into the embrace. "New experiences?"

"New memories." Ruby nodded. "I'm ready when you are."

Blake released Ruby, opening the baggie and fishing out the tabs. She handed one to Ruby. "LSD takes around a half hour or so for a standard dose, but this isn't LSD and we're still high-ish, so no idea when it'll kick in, but you'll know when it does." Blake warned. "Things might get existential, you might think your head is a balloon and the world will end if it pops...that's probably a bad trip for most."

"So, don't pop the balloon?" Ruby asked.

"Probably not the best idea." Blake confirmed.

"Right, heh...under the tongue?" Ruby put the tab in her mouth.

"Like this." Blake opened her mouth and carefully placed the tab beneath her tongue. Ruby followed suit. "And now we wait."

"Hmm...kinda' anticlimactic." Ruby observed.

"Think of it like a rollercoaster ride." Blake suggested. "You gotta' climb to the peak before you can enjoy the thrill."

"You know a lot about this, huh?" Ruby asked.

Blake nodded, eyes downcast. "Alcohol, 'nip and LSD are the only things I indulge in now, and hopefully you'll follow my example. Don't eat 'nip brownies though, they make humans sick, stick to pot."

Ruby bit down on her curiosity. From the moment Blake revealed her familiarity with drugs, Ruby had been itching to ask, but at the same time she was afraid. Anything tied to Blake's past could be painful, and pushing her to talk about it could be damaging. She was reminded of the fear Blake had shown upon the mere thought of hurting her, the scars that peppered her body, and the nightmares that still occasionally shook them awake at night. Blake would cling to her, trembling, stifling her sobs in Ruby's chest.

It broke Ruby's heart to see Blake in such a state. This woman had strode into her life offering nothing but love and care, and Ruby had fallen so quickly, so easily, that she could barely question it. Blake made her feel so utterly safe, in this seemingly cold and unforgiving place. Fearful for her sister's wellbeing, stuck in her own head, Ruby would have broken without her. Their first embrace was so cathartic, strong, warm arms holding her close, husky voice in her ear soothing her. It was like another Yang had come out of the woodwork, a darker, seductive Yang that was far more acceptable to fantasize about. It had taken no time at all for Ruby to grow attached, and evidently, Blake felt the same.

Ruby attributed Blake's attachment to her desire to protect Ruby. Discussions had led them to conclude that on an instinctual level, Blake viewed Ruby as a potential mate from the onset, and the Ruby viewed Blake as a protective figure, a sister surrogate given her lifelong reliance on Yang. Weiss found the idea amusing, likening it to the fantasy of love at first sight, instead proposing they had things the wrong way around. They got together with minimal fuss, and overthought things afterward.

"I won't do anything like this without you." Ruby promised. "I love you Blake, I trust you, and...I think that poster is looking at me."

Blake glanced at the poster in question, one depicting a sweaty martial artist, holding a fighting stance, glared back. "I think that's normal, Ruby."

"Oh, hehe, well." Ruby giggled.

"Just lay down and get comfortable." Blake suggested. "Think about life, things you love, positivity is key. Did you bring earbuds?"

"No, should I have?" Ruby asked.

"Good music can help, for future reference." Blake replied.

"Ah." Ruby nodded.

"But it's not essential." Blake added. "Relax Ruby, come here." Blake shifted, laying down proper. Ruby cuddled into her side. Closing her eyes as she attempted to drive out all thought but of Ruby, Blake threaded fingers through her hair, the strawberry scent of Ruby's shampoo filling her nostrils, allowing a gentle purr to bubble in her chest. Ruby's thoughts wandered however, lulled by the rhythm rumbling beneath her.

Existential, that was a word and a half. Ruby tried not to think too hard about life, how it came to be, spiritualism, the Maidens, God the Creator, evolution. It had always intimidated her, the sheer enormity of the universe, in comparison to her small, small life. Maybe there was a God, maybe he did send the Maidens to walk the lands, embodying and sowing the seasonal elements, or maybe they were children's stories from so long ago they became gospel.

Ruby did not know. She wished she could have the same unwavering faith Pyrrha held, reverent and devout, or the sureness of Weiss, steadfast in her disbelief of what she regarded as fairy tales and legends. Ruby could only tread water, part of her wanted to believe, in a higher power, in destiny, that she would pass on to a better place, a perfect place, someday, reunite with those she lost along the way...she really hoped she would not lose many. Above all else that scared her, her mother, her father, Raven, Glynda and Qrow, even Winter was older by almost a decade. They would grow old before her. They would more than likely pass on before her, a near certainty, and it terrified her.

"Don't be sad." A familiar voice encouraged. "For every death, a thousand new lives are born." Ruby suddenly became aware of her surroundings, very nearly falling over. When did she even stand? Wait...were those leaves on the ground? And grass? "Like the place? Very natural and all. I think Fall would like it more though."

Ruby turned to look at the figure speaking, only to come face-to-face with… "Nora?" Ruby gasped.

"Nora" giggled, rolling her eyes. She looked like Nora, wearing the same manic grin she tended to wear, but instead of booty shorts and a singlet top, a frilly green sundress made up her attire, apart from which she walked barefoot in the grass. "I'm spring, silly." "Nora" smiled. "Can't you tell?" With a flourish, the Spring Maiden conjured a throne of roots from the ground, reclining on it with a satisfied sigh.

"I'm tripping!" Ruby exclaimed. "I'm on a trip! This is weird! This is warm and-a-and I'm naked!" She hastily attempted to cover her breasts and privates, or at least her nipples, those were for Blakey's eyes alone, not some Nora/Spring hallucination.

"Relax cutey." The Spring Maiden chuckled. "We're all born this way. Let yourself bond with nature, as was intended by the Creator." The Maiden's sundress transformed into petals and floated away, leaving her just as bare, if not half as modest as Ruby.

"This is weird." Ruby complained.

"Anything out of the ordinary is weird." The Spring Maiden noted. "That doesn't make it bad."

"I feel funny." Ruby said. She felt a gentle hand upon her shoulder.

"It's okay Ruby, you're safe here." Another familiar voice said.

"Yang?" Ruby turned to face the new figure, who smiled brightly at her, literally. She seemed to emit an ethereal glow. Even her eyes burned lilac, her wispy golden robes flickering like flame.

"Summer, but call me whatever makes you comfortable, dear." The Summer Maiden smiled. Ruby could not help but smile. Though it was strange talking to a hallucination of the Summer Maiden, who looked and sounded like Yang, her aura of sheer warmth and calm seemed to wash away all tension and fear in Ruby's body. She dropped her hands. "Look at you, so beautiful. Don't you agree Fall?"

Ruby followed the Summer Maiden's gaze to see… "Pyrrha...wow." "Pyrrha" wore an elaborate crimson kimono, a golden circlet upon her head, gleaming in the Summer Maiden's reflected light.

"She is quite the budding flower, so young and full of life." The Fall Maiden praised.

"And love!" The Spring Maiden added.

"And fear." Another voice hissed.

"W-Weiss?" Ruby stammered. She felt a chill in the air as she turned to face her friend's voice, only to be met with such a chilling glare that it sent a shiver through her entire being. Unlike the others, Weiss bore not a stitch of clothing, temporary or not. Her skin was pale, deathly so, her lips, fingertips, even her nipples were a sickly blue, near black, and her hair, normally so perfect, straight and flowing, was tangled, fraying and dirty. It was such a tragic look, it hurt to behold.

"You fear so much Ruby Rose." The Winter Maiden accused. "Your sister's wellbeing, your father's distance, your mother's disappointment, your lover's violent past, the family you love crumbling before your very eyes, and you allow these fears to break you. Time and again, your reaction is to curl up in a ball and whimper, begging for help like a child, and every time someone is there to save you, like the damsel in distress you so enjoy playing."

The warmth at Ruby's back faded away, Spring, Summer and Fall washed away in a tide of white, the icy wind burning her skin, the ground turning to ice beneath her feet. Ruby could barely move, the Winter Maiden's stare paralyzing her with loathing.

"When your father left you cried, even as your mother grieved for her broken marriage, and your sister nursed her bruised face." The Winter Maiden continued. "They put aside their misery for your wellbeing, coddling you, comforting you."

"I was only a kid!" Ruby protested. A wave of frost stung Ruby's skin, and she fell into the gathering snow.

"When Penny left, you promised you would be happy, and yet the moment she was gone you broke." The Winter Maiden charged. "And once again, Yang was there for you, in ways no sister should ever need to be. The secrets you carry will burden you for the rest of your life."

"I-I didn't th-think it would hurt so m-m-much!" Ruby stuttered.

"And how do you think your sister felt?" The Winter Maiden asked. "Cradling you in her arms as you vented your pain, did you stop to think about it? The wounds of her split with Nora still so fresh, was it surprising she broke along with you? Was that what you wanted? Someone to share your pain, your agony?"

"Sh-shut up!" Ruby fought back. "I love Yang! And she loves me! We're sisters, we took care of each other! We always have and we always will, and you don't get to judge me, judge us for what we've done with that love!"

"How do you think everyone will feel if they find out?" The Winter Maiden pressed. "Imagine the pain it will cause them, cause you. What happens then, when you crawl into a ball and whine and cry about how unfair it is, who will come save you? Who will put you back together when you shatter?"

Ruby grit her teeth, forcing herself to her feet. She clenched her shaking fists and glared back into freezerburnt eyes. "If someone finds out, if everyone finds out, I'll own up to it! No matter what everyone thinks of us, I'm not ashamed! And yes I cried, yes I broke, I was in pain, emotional pain, and instead of bottling it up and destroying myself I let it out because it was healthy! Because I knew I could rely on my family, my sister to be there for me, to listen and understand. And I knew she would understand, because she's older than me, more experienced. She made me feel safe, she's always made me feel safe, and that's why I love her so fucking much! So much more than I ever should, and I won't apologize for what we've done, not to a figment of my imagination! It's between us and us alone! Get out of my friend's body you witch!"

Ruby felt frozen tears on her cheeks, but even as every inch of her skin ached from the blizzard, she stood her ground, returning the Winter Maiden's glare with as much righteous anger as she could muster. The Maiden's visage cracked. In an instant the winds stopped, the world faded away, and Ruby could only gape as the Winter Maiden's very skin fractured, like delicate porcelain, flaking off to fall through the abyss below. Her hair followed suit, floating away in jagged strands, until the woman standing before Ruby was an angel in comparison to her previous facade. The Winter Maiden's skin was still fair, yet with a healthy tint, lips and nipples a rich pink, hair as perfect as reality, and her eyes, truly Weiss' eyes, gleamed in the darkness.

"Good, fight back." The Winter Maiden smiled. "That fire will fuel you in times to come."

Ruby was baffled, the sheer contrast before her overwhelming. She found herself falling, only to be caught by multiple arms. The Maidens of Spring, Summer and Fall beamed down at her. "Having fun?" The Spring Maiden asked.

"I don't know what I'm having anymore." Ruby admitted.

"That will be for you to decide." The Fall Maiden declared.

"But for now you have a more important matter to worry about." The Winter Maiden advised, floating down into their midst. Looking where the Maiden pointed, Ruby saw a dark form at her feet, almost blending in with the void. Pulled to a standing position, Ruby approached to find Blake, staring vacantly upward, tears running freely, a look of fear and pain on her face.

"Blake!" Ruby gasped.

"Her demons will always haunt her." The Summer Maiden sighed. "The only reason she does not speak, is so they will not haunt you as well."

"But one day, she will share them, out of devotion, and you will weather the storms by her side, as you already do, in your own way." The Fall Maiden added.

"It'll hurt, and you know it." The Spring Maiden warned. "It always hurts to see the ones you love in pain."

"It truly is such an agony, knowing they will not let you share their pain, caring more for your well being than their own." The Winter Maiden shook her head.

"An agony worth weathering, I assure you." The Summer Maiden encouraged. "Be strong Ruby, both for yourself, and those you love."

"And good luck." The Winter Maiden smiled.

Ruby glanced between the Maidens, still feeling overwhelmed, but shook her head clear. Blake needed her, and she ran to her side and cupped her face. "Blake, Blake! Blakey, look at me. I'm here, it's okay!"

"Ruby...please, I love you." Blake pleaded, her voice cracking with emotion. "Please, Weiss, Winter, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, please don't leave me."

"I'm not leaving you, none of us are leaving." Ruby insisted. "We're here for you, we'll always be here for you! We love you, I love you. Come back to me Blakey, you're safe here." She slid her hands upwards, fingers finding Blake's ears, which were pressed flat against her head in fear. Stroking them, Ruby planted gentle kisses along her jawline, whisper her adoration, her love and affection for the pained Faunus. "You're my Blakey. I'll take care of you forever and ever. You scars are my scars, your pains are my pains, your heart is my heart, and I will treasure it until the day I die."

Slowly, Blake's pained mumblings faded, her arms wrapped around Ruby's back, and she caught Ruby's lips with her own, reciprocating with desperate enthusiasm. "Mine." She snarled. Ruby yelped as Blake flipped them over. The world blurred until Blake was the only thing in focus, dilated eyes glowing down at her, ears perked, whiskers glinting...whiskers? Wait...fur? She was covered in fur! Dark grey and beautiful, Ruby reached out to pet her, and Blake nuzzled into her hands.

"Hehe, soft kitty." Ruby giggled.

Blake purred, then shivered, eyes rolling in bliss. The feel of Ruby's skin on her own was euphoric. She craved more. Grabbing the neckline of Ruby's top, she tore it open effortlessly. Ruby's bra followed. Ruby could only giggle and squeal as Blake tore the rest of her clothing free, before doing the same to herself, baring more grey fur for the feeling. "Mine!"

"Kitty!"