The Queens of Remnant - Chapter 42 (Patreon)

Menagerie sprang to life overnight.  By the time early morning rolled around, more people were coming and going than Ruby could have fathomed when she arrived at the small settlement in the middle of the Badlands. From her spot sitting on an old general store’s front porch, she watched Resistance fighters of all walks of life shuffle past.  Many were on foot, some on horseback, and a handful pulled wagons of supplies.  The only thing they shared was their destination: the settlement nearest to Vale.

Observing their worn-out clothing, tired expressions, and ragtag collection of weapons, Ruby sincerely hoped that they wouldn’t need to fight.  If things didn’t go as planned though...someone needed to stop Cecelia from destroying the rest of the Badlands.  Or at least try to stop her.

One knee hopping up and down, Ruby watched another set of fighters ride by and wished that she could do something other than wait.  Waiting had never been her strong suit.  Her spark begged her to jump in and start fixing things - the sooner the better, as Vale’s future hung in the balance.

Despite how greatly she wanted to rush back to Vale, she stayed out of the way and waited.  The more time that passed without chaos erupting on the horizon, the more Blake’s suspicion proved correct.  This battle wasn’t Cecelia versus the Badlands; this was Cecelia versus Blake.  She would wait for Blake to show up and, if Blake lost that fight, determine everyone else’s fate.

As several more Resistance fighters arrived, Ruby shook her head and clasped her hands around her jittering knee.  She had known Cecelia for a long time yet still didn’t understand what made her tick.  And Ruby often figured people out.  If she didn’t, Yang did.

How was it that Cecelia baffled them?  Both of them had severely misread her intentions and let her catch them off guard.  Were they overconfident in their ability to read others?  Or did Cecelia’s motivations change like the wind - first blowing one way before rapidly changing directions and blowing another?

Maybe they just didn’t understand how to deal with a psychopath.  They thought that they did - they thought that they could - but that was a mistake.  Yang, especially, never lost her belief that Cecelia could become better.  Even after Ruby lost her certainty, Yang held onto that hope.

No longer.  Cecelia had crossed too many lines, and dragging the Badlands into the mix went too far. The Badlands, however, seemed nonplussed by the newest threat to their existence.  The frenetic yet organized action only confirmed that the scattered collection of towns needed a ruler like Ruby needed the Phage.

The people living here were fiercely independent.  They relied on their own two hands for survival.  When those weren’t enough, they turned to their neighbors for support.  The last thing they needed or wanted was some far-off queen telling them how to live their lives.  They lived day-to-day, night-to-night, in an unapologetically self-sufficient way.  At this moment though, they recognized the threat to their existence and banded together like close friends.  They recognized that they needed a leader, and that leader was Blake.

As the morning wore on, Ruby’s respect for Blake only grew.  She commanded attention yet was fair and judicious in allowing others to offer input.  She listened to those suggestions carefully, weighed those options heavily, and made decisions with an air of finality that no one questioned.

The Badlands might not want a leader, but it had a great one.  Blake might not want to be that person, but she accepted the responsibility as if she’d been born for it.

Watching Blake direct fighters where they needed to go made it obvious why Yang liked her so much.  Unlike the girls who Yang typically went after, Blake had the backbone and intelligence to challenge her at every turn.  Blake didn’t care if Yang was the Queen of Vale, a farmworker, or a shopkeeper; Blake cared about helping others, and she wanted Yang to care, too.

That redeeming quality made Ruby even more curious about the circumstances leading to Blake being labeled an assassin.  No one watching her right now would see an assassin.  They would see a leader.  They would see someone who cared.  Someone who wanted everyone to have better lives than the day before.

Ruby’s spark slipped from her like a light breeze when she thought about Yang and Blake together.  Thinking about Yang at all was enough to make Ruby absurdly happy and relieved, but knowing that her sister had found someone - someone perfect for her in many ways - was another level of delight.  Even if Yang was sparkless forever, she was alive.  She had more stories to tell, with Ruby and now with Blake too.  Of course, they needed to deal with Cecelia before they could return to Vale and figure out what that future looked like, but for now...a Phage-free Yang was everything that Ruby had wished for.

Before leaving her post to check on Yang, who’d specifically requested that she keep an eye on things, Ruby sat a little straighter as a familiar face approached.

“Hey,” Sun said, flopping down on the porch beside her.  “What’re you up to?”

“Just waiting.  How’re you?”

“Tired,” he admitted.  “But we’ll head out soon, so at least something will happen.”

“Is that really better…?” Ruby mused while he leaned back and tilted his face toward the rising sun.

“As long as I don’t die, it will be.”

Even though Ruby laughed, she understood the sentiment.  With Vale’s army and Cecelia’s mercenaries within striking distance, sitting here made her anxious.  Flying into battle wasn’t exactly preferable, but she’d rather it already be upon her than keep overthinking the outcomes.

“So, uh, you can do it, right?” Sun eventually asked.  Mulling over her primary task for the impending confrontation, where success or failure could determine the fates of too many lives, she eventually nodded.

“I think so.”

“That’s good enough, I guess.”

As they drifted into silence, they watched Blake give directions to more new arrivals.  She must have repeated herself hundreds of times by now, but she still patiently answered all of their questions.  Once they understood what they needed to do, they nodded and hurried out of Menagerie.

“All she wants to do is be with Yang...” Sun mused when Blake ran an arm across her brow.  “Sucks she has to deal with this instead.”

“I know the feeling...”

Ruby’s thoughts drifted to Weiss, and she felt another pang of regret that she’d left so suddenly.  In different circumstances, she would have stayed in Atlas as long as she was welcome.  She would have embraced the opportunity to learn everything about the new Atlesian queen.

“You and the ice queen?”

When Ruby’s eyes widened, Sun laughed and slapped his knee.

“I knew it!  I totally knew it.  That explains why she was so worried -”  His eyes suddenly widened. “Holy shit!  I never told you what happened!”

“What?”  Considering the topic, Ruby’s alarm instantly shot to catastrophic levels.  “What do you mean?  What happened??”

“Right after you left!  Some guy tried to kill her - or us, I guess.”

Ruby’s heart stopped while the blood left her cheeks.

“Don’t worry,” Sun assured her.  “She’s fine.  We’re fine.  But the guy trapped me in some really cold ice and went on this whole rant about how he was going to kill her and frame me, then kill me too.”

Ruby didn’t need a description to know who it was.  Ironwood, that bastard.  She knew that she shouldn’t have left Weiss with him…

“But then the Queen used her spark and beat him down in a few seconds.  He didn’t even stand a chance, so I don’t know why he even tried...didn’t he know how strong she is?”

While Sun mulled that over, Ruby couldn’t help but smile.  She wished that she could have seen the look on Councilor Ironwood’s face when he realized that Weiss wasn’t sparkless.  He thought that Weiss would be easy to get rid of, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

“What happened next?” Ruby prodded.

“Oh!  Well, then all these Knights rushed onto the roof, and the evil dude tried to say that she attacked him.  But she told them to arrest him, so they did that.  Then she asked me to find that James guy and tell him where you went, which I did, before flying back here.  She looked really worried about you though, which is why I thought, “She’s pretty worried…I bet they’re getting it on.’”

When Sun grinned at his astute observation, Ruby blushed but didn’t disagree.  Admittedly, she was a little delighted that he so easily picked up on their feelings.  That made it feel more real, in a way.  As if they felt so strongly for each other that they couldn’t help but be obvious about it.

“Thank you for helping her,” Ruby told him before taking a deep breath and releasing her worry in a sigh. If Councilor Ironwood had attacked while she was still there, it would have been even harder for her to leave.  It had already been incredibly difficult, but Weiss was right - she could take care of herself.  She was far stronger than anyone gave her credit for.  Still, Ruby missed her.

She missed James, too.  It was weird not having him around, but she was glad that he stayed behind.  She hadn’t told him to, but he was pretty good at reading her mind.  He stayed in Atlas to protect Weiss so that Ruby didn’t have to worry, which is exactly what she would have done.

Hopefully, they would all see each other again soon.

“Sun.”

Broken out of those thoughts, Ruby looked up and smiled at Blake.  Blake gave a hesitant smile in return, but she looked far too distracted to let that emotion linger.

“Can you help me for a second?” she asked Sun.  When she motioned to a large, wooden cart that appeared to have broken down, Sun hopped to his feet and dusted off his legs.

“Sure thing!  I’m an expert at fixing things.”

“That’s why you’re only going to help pick it up.”

While Sun chuckled at the clarification, Blake glanced at Ruby before leading him over to the cart and its owners.  If Ruby had to guess, Blake wanted to talk to her about something - probably a lot of things considering how eventful the last day had been.  Now wasn’t a great time though, especially when Blake had the entire Resistance to organize plus the not-so-trivial matter of Cecelia to deal with.

Frowning, Ruby felt her concern grow while watching Blake and Sun carefully move the cart.  As great of a leader as Blake may be, taking on Cecelia was a death wish for all but the best, strongest fighters.  It probably wouldn't end well.  And if that happened...even if they reclaimed Vale...how would Yang respond?

“Excuse me.”

Embracing the distraction, Ruby turned toward the voice and hopped to her feet as soon as she saw who it belonged to.  The similarities between Weiss and Winter were so striking that Ruby’s heart instantly ached for the girl she’d left behind, yet Winter possessed a reserved, regal aura that made Ruby feel like bowing.

“Queen Rose,” Winter added with a polite nod.  “I’m not interrupting, am I?”

“Not at all.  And please call me Ruby.  No need for formalities, remember?”

Winter thoughtfully weighed the reminder before nodding, though Ruby couldn’t decide if it was a nod of agreement or simple acknowledgment.

“Do you have a moment to talk?” Winter asked instead.

After a glance around, Ruby nodded and motioned Winter into the abandoned general store.  Even though the hood covering Winter’s stark-white hair provided some anonymity, they couldn’t risk anyone learning that the eldest Atlesian princess was here.  The Badlands had enough to worry about as it was. The dusty interior of the building provided privacy from prying eyes or eavesdropping ears.  Since Winter must have sought her out for a reason, Ruby clasped her hands in front of her and waited for Winter to speak first.

“How’s Queen Xiao Long?” Winter eventually asked.

“She’s good.  Still weak, but said she feels a little stronger than yesterday.  And you can call her ‘Yang,’ you know.  She asked you to call her Yang.”

“That’s a little improper.  She’s a queen.”

The response reminded Ruby so much of James that she chuckled to herself.

“Do you want us to call you ‘Queen Schnee’ then?” she teased, but Winter took the question seriously.

“That wouldn’t be proper either.”

“Why not?”

“Because I was never queen.”

Realizing that she just stepped into a mountain of family history, Ruby attempted a small smile to show that she meant no insult.  Fortunately, Winter was unperturbed by the statement.

“I was never meant to be queen,” she added.  “The people would never accept me as their ruler.  If they did, it would be with the same terror and fear my father ingrained in them.  But Weiss...Weiss is a fresh start.”

If Ruby believed the rumors, she understood why Winter felt that way.  But she didn’t believe the rumors anymore - she believed Weiss.  And if Weiss said that Winter was a good person, then it was true.

“Well, for what it’s worth, I think you’d make a great queen.  I know we haven’t known each other long, but...that’s how I feel.”

Winter looked like she might argue.  When she said nothing, however, Ruby added, “But I understand.  A fresh start might be just what everyone needs.  Besides...Weiss is strong enough to do it.  Even though she doesn’t think so, she has this...incredible strength in her.”

“She always has,” Winter agreed with a small smile.

Ruby’s heart warmed when she thought about how far Weiss had come in such a short time.  From hesitant and uncertain to determined and capable, the transformation suggested that this was what Weiss had been capable of all along.  As soon as she started believing in herself, not even the Council could stand in her way.

“She told me what happened.  With your father.”

Winter’s eyes filled with surprise and disbelief as they snapped to Ruby.  Ruby nodded at the silent questions playing in stunningly familiar blue, but several seconds passed before Winter finally believed it.

“She did,” Winter said mostly to herself, her brow furrowing.

“She did.  And I’ve been wondering...why did you run?”

Ruby had wanted to know that answer ever since Weiss told her about that fateful night.  From everything that Ruby knew, Winter was the more knowledgeable one…so why had she left Weiss to fend for herself? From the way Winter studied Ruby, blue eyes almost looking right through her, Ruby knew that she might never learn an answer.  Then Winter sighed, letting her shoulders slouch as a weight settled upon them.

“It happened so fast...” she explained softly.  “One second, he was his usual, angry self.  The next second, he was gone.  It was an accident, but...I panicked.  I didn’t know what the Council would do, and I didn’t know if I could stop them.  So I ran.  What clearer way to shoulder the blame?”

While Ruby processed the explanation, which sounded like a horrible situation for both sisters to have been in, Winter sighed again.

“Weiss had never even been outside the city...how could she survive on her own?  I thought that, even though there are snakes on the Council, she would be safer in Atlas.”

Not many people could fathom facing that situation and even fewer would make that sacrifice.  Of course, any close sisters would understand perfectly.  For each other, they would risk their lives without a second thought.

“She misses you,” Ruby said, and Winter’s eyes filled with sadness.

“I miss her, too…” Winter whispered before staring down at her hands.  “Hopefully...once this is over, I’ll see her again.  Although...after the things I’ve done...I don’t know why she’d ever want to see me.”

Reaching out, Ruby set her hand over Winter’s and smiled when Winter met her gaze.

“Weiss loves you.  Whatever he made you do...he was her father, too.  If anyone can understand what you went through, it’s her.”

In time, Ruby hoped that Winter forgave herself for her perceived sins.  Or, at the very least, learned to accept her past while looking toward a better future.  Ruby knew that she could only help so much with that, but Weiss could help too.  As could Yang, and Blake, and every positive interaction Winter had from here on out.

“That reminds me,” Ruby said once she came up with a subject to lighten the mood.  “How would you rank your spark compared to Weiss?  Because it felt like she has the strongest spark of anyone I’ve…”  Noticing Winter staring at her now, Ruby trailed off and asked, “What?”

“She told you?”

“Oh.  Um, yes.  She showed me.”

After staring at Ruby for another few seconds, Winter let a slow smile lift her lips.

“I see.”

“Was that not ok?”

“It’s fine.  I always wondered who she’d share that secret with.  I’m not disappointed in her decision.”

Ruby’s brow creased while she sorted through that sentence, but she turned away when footsteps hurried across the porch just outside.  Moments later, Blake opened the door and poked her head into the store.

“There you are,” she said after spotting Ruby.  “We’re about to head out.”

Taking that as her cue to leave, Ruby turned to Winter and opened her mouth to say goodbye.  Instead, surprise flitted through her veins when Winter purposefully nodded and headed to the door.

“Wait, what’re you doing?” Ruby asked while catching up.

“I’m coming with you.”

“But…”  Ruby glanced at Blake, whose brow furrowed, before turning back to Winter.  “This isn’t your fight.  And, after all you’ve been through, everyone understands if you stay behind.”

Pausing by the door, Winter gave Ruby a small smile.  Her blue eyes faintly sparkled as she held Ruby’s gaze with a calm, certain one of her own.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’d like to stand on the good side for once.  Besides, while I’m sure you can hold the line, the two of us together can turn the tide.”

Ruby had never imagined fighting beside an Atlesian princess, but she didn’t automatically decline the offer.  Her spark might be powerful, but Winter’s was probably equally so.  Both of them fighting on the side of the Badlands greatly increased their chances of success. But this wasn’t Ruby’s call, so she turned to Blake for a decision, and Blake thought through the suggestion before eventually nodding.

“We’d be happy to have your help,” she added, to which Winter nodded before following Blake out of the general store.  Ruby was right behind, a hop returning to her step as the battle neared.

A group of Resistance fighters milled around the street now, giving off the same restless energy that was coursing through Ruby’s veins.  Two riderless horses were tied to the post nearby, but Blake motioned to one of the men.

“We need one more,” she told him, pointing at the horses.  While he raced off to find another, she told the rest of the group, “We’ll leave in a few minutes,” before turning to Ruby. “I’m going to see Yang before we leave,” she explained, already backing toward the small house nestled at the edge of the settlement.  She didn’t say anything more than that, but her eyes offered for Ruby to come with her.

Considering Ruby wasn’t going anywhere without seeing her sister one last time, she took a step away before glancing at Winter.  Once Winter motioned that she would stay behind, Ruby nodded and fell into step by Blake’s side. Realizing that a fight lay on the horizon, where lives could very well be lost, Ruby tried to temper her nerves while matching Blake’s fast strides.

“Is everyone ready?” she asked as the house came into view.

“As ready as they’ll ever be.”

Blake might have said more than that, but they fell silent when the door of the house opened.  As soon as Yang appeared on the front porch, Blake’s steps quickened and Ruby lengthened hers to keep up. Yang kept her hand on the door handle, but her free hand shook from the exertion of standing.

“What’re you doing??”

Worried that Yang might fall, Ruby rushed to her side and wrapped an arm around her waist.

“What do you think?” Yang asked, but Ruby hardly glanced at Blake before Blake shook her head and pointed to the house.

“I don’t think so.  You’re staying here.”

“While you two risk your lives?  Hell no.”

“This isn’t a negotiation.”

“You’re right.”  While Blake folded her arms over her chest, Yang pulled away from Ruby’s support and stood straight and tall.  Even so, her fists shook when she clenched them.  “Because I’m coming.”

Most people would cave when Yang wanted something, but Blake refused to back down.

“You can hardly walk,” she pointed out when Yang took one wobbly step toward the edge of the porch.

“I’ll figure something out,” Yang said, hobbling down the two measly steps to the ground.

“I already figured it out for you,” Blake quipped while following.  “It’s you staying here where you’re safe.”

“I’m not letting you go out there without me.”

“I’m not letting you put yourself in harm’s way.”

Yang opened her mouth only to yelp when the earth suddenly rose up and locked around her ankles.  Instinctively, she fought against the living rock holding her in place.  But the more she fought, the more Blake’s spark slowly dragged her to her knees.

“Blake, come on,” she whined when she could no longer move.

“If you’re strong enough to fight, you’re strong enough to get out of this.”

Dismayed by Blake’s humorless ultimatum, Yang looked at Ruby, who shrugged, before struggling against the restraints.  Once upon a time, when her spark was active and healthy, she could have easily freed herself.  Absent her spark and most of her energy, her effort lasted mere seconds before she gave up and hunched over.  Her breathing was heavy now.  Perspiration had broken out along her brow.  And she looked so defeated that even Ruby, who knew as well as Blake that Yang had no business doing much of anything right now, felt sympathy.

Before Ruby offered some measure of consolation, however, Blake sighed and walked over.  The rocks crumbled away as she knelt by Yang’s side and set a hand on Yang’s shoulder.

“I know you want to do this,” Blake whispered while Yang looked up to meet her eyes.  “But you know I can’t let you go out there.  You need to stay here, where you’re safe, so we don’t have to worry about you.”

Yang didn’t want to agree, but she didn’t argue either.  Instead, she swallowed and, after taking a deep breath, nodded.  Blake smiled and tenderly brushed her fingers through Yang’s hair before helping Yang to her feet.

When Yang briefly lost her balance, Ruby flashed to her side to catch her.  She sent Ruby a grateful look, but she’d lost her confidence and bravado from moments earlier.  Wrapping an arm around Yang’s waist, Ruby quietly said, “Come on.  Let’s get you back inside.”

While Yang tentatively made her way up the steps and across the porch, Ruby shot a curious look Blake’s way.  When Blake blushed and avoided the gaze, Ruby smiled and focused on getting Yang through the open doorway. Blake’s actions revealed much more than her words.  She must have felt it too, which was why she looked so embarrassed.  Ruby didn’t know why Blake would try to hide it though - Ruby could only be happy that someone cared so deeply about her sister.

“I’ll wait here…” Blake whispered once they reached the bedroom door.  Recognizing the opportunity to say goodbye to Yang on her own, Ruby nodded and helped Yang to the bed. Once Yang sat down, her hands shoved into the covers as if she might try to bolt at any second, Ruby sat in the chair across from her.

“Can’t remember the last time I saw you take orders from someone,” she teased, hoping to lighten the mood.  Thankfully, Yang chuckled, and Ruby’s heart lifted.

“I can’t either.”  Yang’s gaze flitted to the door, briefly dwelling on the girl waiting just beyond, before returning to Ruby.  “Where’s your shadow?”

“He’s on an important mission.”

“What mission could be more important than protecting you?” Yang asked in disbelief.

“Protecting someone else.”

Thinking about James and Weiss, Ruby smiled.  Yang, however, looked confused but started shivering before she could ask for an explanation.  Ruby grabbed the blankets strewn across the bed and quickly bundled her sister up in them.  Once buried in more layers than necessary, Yang clutched the covers close and smiled.

“T-thanks.”  Her teeth chattered for several seconds, but her shakes came under control.  “What’s it like out there?” she asked, nodding toward the settlement she’d yet to explore on her own.

“Busy and chaotic but...good, I think.  Blake got everyone organized in no time.  She’s a great leader.”

“She is,” Yang agreed before sighing.  “I still think this is a horrible idea.  If we just wait a few more days for me to get back on my feet -”

“Cecelia’s not going to wait,” Ruby pointed out.

“Then stall her,” Yang argued.  “Delay the meeting.  Tell her I’m sick and see if she’ll wait - I don’t care.  Just...anything but this.  Once I can stand for more than a few minutes at a time, I can reason with her.”

“Yang...when will you accept that she’s just not who you thought she could be?”

Faced with that sincere question, Yang deflated.

“I know that…” she whispered as she hung her head and stared at her hands.  “I just...never thought she’d do something like this...”

“Me neither.  Yet here we are.”

As they drifted into silence, Ruby reached over and squeezed Yang’s hand.  Cecelia had fooled them both, after all, but there was nothing wrong with believing the best in people.  People could change for the better.  They could change in wonderful, surprising ways.  Just because some couldn’t, or wouldn’t, didn’t mean that she and Yang should write off the rest.

“Then I wish I could fight,” Yang eventually said, clenching her fingers.  “She’s my mistake.  My responsibility.”

“Our responsibility,” Ruby corrected.  “We’re in this together, remember?  And, since you’re still recovering, I’m fighting for you.”

“I don’t want you to.”

“No offense, Yang, but I don’t think you can stop me.”

Ruby offered a small smile, but Yang’s brow furrowed.

“I don’t want you to go.”

“I know.  But now that you’re feeling better, Vale’s future is secure -”

“I don’t want you to go,” Yang repeated more forcefully.  Her violet eyes briefly flashed with some of their trademark fire, but she quickly sighed and gently clutched Ruby’s hand.  “I just...thought I’d be the one saying goodbye.  I don’t want it to be the other way around.”

“But Blake’s going -”

“I don’t want her to go either.”

“And you know you can’t stop her,” Ruby gently pointed out.  “Would you rather she go out there alone, or would you rather I’m there to help?”

Faced with that dilemma, Yang looked so miserable that Ruby felt bad for being stubborn.  This was for the best though.  They all knew it - even Yang, who eventually sighed and held Ruby’s hand a little tighter.

“Cecelia will kill her...”

“I’ll make sure that doesn’t happen.”

Once Yang looked up, Ruby offered a reassuring smile.  As soon as she saw the tears shimmering in Yang’s eyes, her smile wavered, and she suddenly didn’t want to leave at all.

“Please make sure you come back,” Yang whispered before pulling Ruby into a hug.  “And bring Blake back, too.”

“I will.  Promise.”

Returning the hug, Ruby closed her eyes and memorized as much of this moment as possible.  Yang might not be as warm or strong as she used to be, but there was still plenty of comfort to be found in her arms.  But Yang had never needed a spark to make Ruby feel safe and protected - she did that all on her own, just by being a big sister. Even though Ruby wanted to hold on forever, she eventually pulled away and lightly patted Yang’s shoulders.

“Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

“I’ll be back soon,” she added before standing and backing out of the room.  Tears stung her eyes, especially when she saw them reflected in Yang’s, but she still smiled before opening the door and stepping into the living room. After clearing her throat, she briefly met Blake’s gaze and nodded.  Blake walked into the room to say goodbye next, so Ruby headed outside and waited on the front porch.  Looking at Vale, she took a deep breath and let it out in a long, shaky sigh.

Leaving Yang felt like leaving a piece of her heart behind.  She wished there was another way, but...in Yang’s current state, they couldn’t put her at risk.  If something happened to Ruby, Yang would be the only surviving leader of Vale.  Ruby had no intention of dying, but there was no way of knowing when their day would come.  It could be today.  It could be tomorrow.  The uncertainty of life was why they should take the days one by one, leaving no regrets behind.

The thought brought Weiss back to the front of Ruby’s mind, and a pang of regret quickly followed.  They’d only known each other for a short time, yet she was more certain of her feelings than ever.  If something happened to her today, her biggest regret would be never even attempting to tell Weiss how she felt.  Did Weiss already know, or would she spend the rest of her life wondering?

If Ruby could say goodbye to Weiss right now, she would make sure that Weiss knew.  Maybe she could even steal a few kisses for good luck.

Hearing the door open, she turned around right as Blake stepped onto the porch.  For a second, their eyes met, and they silently agreed just how horrible this situation was.  But Blake quickly regained her steadfast aura, nodded to Ruby, and led them away from the house.  Away from Yang.

Blake didn’t say anything as they regrouped with Sun and Winter.  Equally lost in thought, Ruby mustered a small smile for Winter before hoisting herself up onto one of the horses.  After pulling the hood of her cloak over her head, she picked up the reins and nodded that she was ready.

“Let’s go,” Blake said before clicking her tongue and spurring her horse towards Vale.  Ruby did the same, prodding her horse into a trot as they left Menagerie behind.  As a telling sign of the impending, inevitable battle, they traveled in silence broken only by hooves hitting the compacted dirt below them.

Ruby hadn’t ridden a horse in quite some time, but she didn’t insist on using her spark like she usually did.  Her spark hadn’t fully recovered from her race out of Atlas and, knowing that she would rely heavily on it today, she needed to give it as much rest as possible.

With the wait nearly over, not knowing what to expect became the worst part.  She understood their plan, and she knew that it could work, but Cecelia was often too cunning for her own good.  What if their element of surprise was actually just falling into a trap?  What if they’d been outmaneuvered before the battle even began?

If Blake shared Ruby’s worries, it was impossible to tell.  She looked as stoic and resolved as ever, but her furrowed brow suggested that she was going through many thoughts of her own.

With every passing minute, the situation that they were riding into became clearer.  Vale’s army was camped threateningly close to the settlement, which teamed with Resistance fighters.  The army wasn’t in any position to attack yet, thankfully, but its imposing presence made Ruby’s heart race.

Her worry became borderline dread when they slowed their horses to walk through the once-proud town.  The Resistance might have organized quickly enough to set up defenses, but Ruby frowned at the group of rag-tag fighters. Former farmhands and barkeeps against a group of soldiers and formidable mercenaries?  Even if the Resistance had a numbers advantage, which they did not, they would lose due to lack of experience alone.

Winter’s decision to fight alongside them suddenly became even more indispensable.  They needed all the help they could get.  If Cecelia won and decided to vent her agitation on the Badlands...all hope was lost.

While Blake led them through the streets, Ruby glanced at the army every few seconds.  Their position might be posturing, but she wondered how seriously Cecelia considered marching forward.  Staying put suggested restraint on her part, which confounded Ruby as much as it made complete sense. Cecelia wanted Blake out of the way, and a trial by combat played right into her vanity.  If she won, there was no telling what her next move would be.  But for now...she waited.

The wait would soon be over, as Blake stopped her horse behind one of the few buildings still standing on the far side of the settlement.  While Blake hopped down and tied her horse to a nearby railing, the rest of them did the same.  The tension in the air doubled as the four of them likely thought the same thing: this was it.

On the other side of the crumbling building, nothing but destroyed farmland separated them from Cecelia’s mass of forces.  Only one of them would be taking that path though, and they would go alone.

“Are you sure about this?” Ruby asked Blake, who looked toward Vale and nodded.  She looked as determined as ever, but Ruby’s uncertainty grew.  Blake was important - not just to the Badlands, but to Yang - and pitting her against Cecelia made Ruby’s stomach turn.

“She’s a vicious fighter.  Unless you’ve been training your entire life...I don’t think you can beat her.”

Again, Blake absorbed the information before clenching her jaw and nodding.

“I know.”

The response was as expected.  Fortunately, Ruby had a lifetime of experience dealing with someone just as hard-headed.

“Don’t try to beat her.  I’ll help as soon as I can.  You only need to hold your own until then.”

Even though Blake nodded again, Ruby wasn’t sure that she would heed the instructions.  Ruby understood Blake’s desire for vengeance but taking on a superior opponent would end poorly.  Cecelia wouldn’t hesitate to take someone’s life, so Ruby needed to help as soon as possible.  She couldn’t let anything happen to Blake, not with the way Yang looked at her.

After staring at Vale for several more moments, Blake took a deep breath and turned toward them.

“Alright.  You know what to do?”

When Blake looked at Ruby, Ruby nodded.

“Good.”  Blake nodded before turning to Winter.  “Stay here until the battle begins.  You’ll have the element of surprise, but help Vale first.”

Blake’s pointed expression said that she didn’t want Winter’s assistance with Cecelia - at least, not until the battle had been secured.  While that could be a foolish strategy, Winter agreed with a firm nod.

“When should I join the fun?” Sun piped up.

“You should stay here with everyone else.”

“Hell no.  If you’re going out there, so am I.”

Briefly caught off guard by his insistence, Blake stared at him for several seconds before sighing.

“Then wait with Winter.”

Satisfied with that task, Sun stood by Winter’s side as the four of them looked at the army of soldiers separating them and Vale.  While Blake gathered her courage, the rest of them waited in silence.  This was the calm before the storm, and they wouldn’t rush Blake into the cyclone a second before she was ready.

“I’m in love with your sister,” Blake blurted out, drawing Ruby’s surprised gaze her way.  Blake stared straight ahead, but the faint blush on her cheeks suggested that she couldn’t believe she chose now to make that admission.  Ruby, however, understood.

“I can tell,” she replied before chuckling softly.  “She loves you, too.”

Blake finally met Ruby’s gaze, her piercing amber eyes vocalizing her relief and surprise that Ruby accepted the admission so easily.  Right behind that relief, however, was distress and unease at what was to come.

“If something happens to me...can you make sure she knows this was my choice?”

“Of course.  I’ll make sure of it.”

Ruby didn’t plan on letting anything happen to Blake, but Blake still looked relieved by the assurance.  While she turned forward and took a deep breath, Ruby fidgeted for several seconds before finally deciding that Blake was right - better now than never.  So, before she lost the opportunity for good, she turned toward Winter.

“And um...I’m in love with your sister.”

Blake glanced over, brow raised, but it was Winter who looked truly taken aback by Ruby’s admission.  Ruby fiddled with her hands while clear blue eyes stared at her.  She wished that she could have told Weiss first, but if the choice was admitting her feelings now or Weiss never knowing at all...well, she’d rather Weiss knew.

“If, uh, if something happens to me...can you tell her?”

It felt like a big request, but Winter reached over and gently squeezed Ruby’s shoulder.

“You’ll tell her yourself.  I promise.”

There were no guarantees that they all made it out of this alive, but Winter’s certainty put Ruby at ease.  And, with that huge confession out in the open, she could face this battle without regrets.

“Is anyone in love with my sister?” Sun piped up, making Blake scoff and rolled her eyes.

“You don’t even have a sister.”

“Yeah, but if I did, one of you would be in love with her, right?”

Giggling at the joke, Ruby gently nudged Winter’s side.  Quickly catching on, Winter let a small smile lift her lips before she shook her head.

“I suppose that would be me.”

The rest of them shared soft laughs at the response before the reality of their situation settled back upon them.  Ruby didn’t know Blake well enough to know if she was nervous, but she glanced at the army once more before flashing a quick smile.

“Well, now that we’ve gotten that out in the open...are we ready?”

“Are you ready?” Ruby asked in return while Winter and Sun nodded.  Blake considered the question thoughtfully before nodding.

“I am.”

Sun wasted no time pulling Blake into a hug.  He whispered a few words of encouragement before patting her shoulder and stepping away.  Winter offered a nod of respect, which Blake responded to with one of her own.  It looked like she would do the same for Ruby, but Ruby had already stepped forward and pulled Blake into another hug.

They hadn’t known each other for long, but Ruby hated the thought of anyone facing Cecelia alone.  She tried to convey that through the embrace, and Blake seemed to understand, as she sighed and returned the hug with less hesitancy than expected.

“Remember that Cecelia fights for herself,” Ruby whispered before pulling back to meet Blake’s eyes.  “But we have people we fight for.”

Ruby knew who Blake was fighting for, but Blake’s clear, determined eyes showed no regrets.  After an almost imperceptible nod, she turned around and set off toward the armies on her own.  Her strides were long and certain, and she didn’t look back.  Even as she left the relative safety of the settlement, she never faltered.

“I know we all just met...” Sun said while watching Blake walk away.  “But that’s my best friend…”

“And we’ll protect her,” Winter assured him as stinging waves of cold began to roll off of her.  As if feeling the strength of Winter’s spark wasn’t impressive enough, Sun’s eyes grew larger than plates when she pulled an exquisite, sinister sword from thin air.

“Holy shit…” he whispered before turning to Ruby.  “Do you need a weapon or something?”

“I won’t need one.”

Mystified by the response, he sputtered for several seconds before finally saying, “But...they’ll try to hurt you.”

“They’ll have to catch me first.”

While he stared, Ruby focused on her spark.  The wind kicked up around them, making her sigh as air swept through her veins. As many times as she’d wanted to join the war against Atlas, she’d never imagined facing an entire army with only three people beside her.  Glancing at Winter and Sun though, she smiled and embraced the restless energy within her.

For the longest time, she’d struggled to do everything on her own.  She hadn’t even wanted to burden James with her worries.  They were her responsibilities to bear, and she would bear them without complaint.

But Sun, Winter, Blake, and Weiss proved that she didn’t have to prevail on her own.  None of them had known her for long - they weren’t even from Vale - yet they were willing to fight for her, and for Yang.  They were putting their lives at risk and making sacrifices to fix a mistake that they’d played no role in creating.  All because they wanted to help and believed they were doing the right thing.

Their generosity restored her faith in the goodness of others more than anything else could, and she wouldn’t let it be for naught.  For as much as they were willing to support her, she would do everything in her power to support them in return. That began now...by protecting them with every last ounce of her spark.