A/N: RE-READ CHAPTER 11! Haha, I re-did that chapter, it's a LOT better than the old one. So go re-read that chapter before reading this one if you'd like. I don't think it gave the notification because it was re-done, so yeah. Thanks! Onto the story!

Chapter 12 (Epilogue)

After Neo died and Emerald got knocked out, the rest of the battle ended fairly fast. Blake and Weiss took Mercury out easily, and he was resting in one of Ironwoods jails awaiting his sentence alongside Emerald.

Cinder had carefully taken Neo's body to the infirmary, where Ozpin said he'd take care of what to do with her personally.

Though people looked for Roman, he had suddenly become very scarce. Though there were reports of him or someone looking like him every once in a while; he was causing little to no trouble, and Ozpin had people keeping tabs on him to see what would happen.

As for the battle, there were fairly small amounts of casualties on both sides; but there were a few. A small group of First Year Huntsmen sneaked out of Glynda's watch and tried to take on some White Fang members. At least three of the group was mortally injured. Luckily, the other Teams reacted quickly, and got to them before the White Fang could do more damage.

Not as much White Fang members were killed as suspected; the Teams from Beacon doing their best to not kill them. There were a small number of White Fang that died though, making their casualties amount to 10. This made 14 casualties overall; including Neo.

While some Hunters and Huntress's were still in shock over the battle; the ones who needed more special treatment for dealing with the battle were recommended good people who could help them recover quickly. Most of them were overjoyed at fighting their first real battle and winning, and there was a great celebration at Beacon the following Saturday. Ozpin gave a "well done students" speech, and gave awards to some for their admirable actions.

Team RWBY, JNPR, and others were all gathered in the cafeteria for the victory celebrations; which had been turned into a 'Glorified Cafeteria', as Weiss called it. Ruby had been allowed to leave the infirmary fairly quickly. Nurse Joy had said she had overused her semblance, and her body passed out to regain more energy. Cinder had carried Ruby to the infirmary, and hadn't left her side the whole time; except for carrying Neo there after Ruby. When Ruby woke up she had a slight headache, but otherwise Joy said she was free to go. Cinder and Ruby had headed straight to their shared dorm room and took a much-needed nap.

They spent the following days after the battle with the rest of Beacon; repairing damage done to Beacon from the battle. Saturday had finally came around, and now; Ruby and gang were sitting around 'Glorified Cafeteria Tables', as Weiss called it.

Yang and Weiss were bantering back and forth, but wore smiles. Blake was initially very disturbed over the White Fang deaths, but after Yang talked to her, she still seemed sad, but was getting better. Now she was reading a book next to Ren, the two of them silently keeping an eye on their partners. Jaune and Pyrrha were talking different ways to discover his semblance, and Nora…Nora was eating pancakes. Lots of pancakes.

Everyone was happy and joking around….except for one person.

Ruby was a mess. She tried really hard to be happy, and to hang out with her friends, but she just couldn't do it.

"And then I was like "HAMMER TIME!" and knocked him so hard that his boots came flying off as he flew backwards! It was awesome!" Everyone laughed at Nora's stories, and she grinned wide.

Ruby quietly stood up from the table. Yang took notice and started whining. "But sissss you can't go! You never got around to telling the story of how you beat Neo and Emerald!"

Ruby waved her off. "Haha nah; Cinder can tell you that. I have to go to the bathroom and then check on my sweetheart. I'll see you guys later!"

She tried to casually walk away, but all she wanted to do was run as fast as she could away…but deep down she knew she couldn't keep running away from the awful truth. Ruby had killed someone.

Ruby had sworn never to kill anyone; only creatures of Grimm. She had broken her promise, and it tore her up. How could she fight for good when she was taking life?

She sighed deeply, and before she knew it, her legs had taken her wandering up to the roof of Beacon. She had seen Jaune and Pyrrha on a similar one, but it was on the other side of the dorms.

Ruby sat down on the ledge and looked out at the stars and the bright, shattered moon.

Her mind kept on drifting to Neo, and how a pool of her blood had slowly started to spread around her…Ruby had hit very close to her heart; she died very quickly. Of that, Ruby was somewhat glad. Nobody deserved a long and painful death.

Ruby sighed deeply. If only she had been faster; more aware…maybe she could have prevented it; or done something to only minorly injure Neo…What if-

"Ruby? What are you doing up here all alone?"

Ruby quickly turned around from her spot on the roof of Beacon, but relaxed once she saw who it was. "Hi Cinder…" She turned back around and faced the sky, her head slightly lowered.

Cinder frowned. She slowly walked over to where Ruby was sitting and gently put a hand on her right shoulder. "Rose, can I sit by you or do you want some space?"

Ruby shrugged. "You can sit by me if you want to; you don't have to though."

Cinder knew her well enough by now to know that meant please don't leave me.

Cinder sat down and wrapped her arms around Ruby and pulled her close. She activated her semblance a little, not too much, but just enough to emit heat. Ruby loves warmth, and the way she scooted closer to Cinder and leaned into her made Cinder smile.

"What's wrong, Rose?"

Ruby sighed softly. "How could you do it?"

Cinder frowned. "Do what?" She was puzzled.

"When you were…different…did you kill people?" Ruby quietly asked. Cinder was stunned.

"Um, I did, actually, yes." Cinder looked down at Ruby, and could see something was seriously bothering her. "But I was different then, thinking back on it now makes me sick and feel like I'm looking at a cruel villain. Truthfully, I don't know how I could do it before."

Ruby looked deep in thought. Cinder's brow furrowed further. "What is this really about, Ruby?"

Ruby clenched her eyes shut.

"Just…Neo…I killed her…I made a promise not to kill anyone, but I broke it…how can I do good things when I'm a murderer?!"

Cinder frowned. "Ruby, look at me." Cinder waited until Ruby looked her way, and she gently cupped both sides of Ruby's cheeks.

"Ruby Rose you are beautiful, and I don't just mean your outside. Your soul is kind, and caring, and you don't have a sliver of any murderous intent in your whole being. You are not a murderer and never will be. You showed me how to be a better person, and without you, I would have caused a lot more pain in this world."

Ruby's eyes filled with a mix of happy and sad tears. "Then why do I feel so bad…"

"You care about people so much, and that's why. You wouldn't be my Rose if you didn't; caring is not a bad thing. The fact that you care about Neo proves you are a good person. You didn't kill Emerald, remember? I saw you use your semblance so fast, you could have killed her easily. But you didn't. You had a choice to spare her or kill her and you spared her. With Neo, you didn't have a choice. Your semblance even wouldn't have spared Neo. She teleported after you fired your bullets. She made her choice, and if you didn't fire Crescent Rose she would have found a different way."

Cinder brushed a tear from Ruby's cheek with her thumb. "You are the best Huntress, Team leader, and girlfriend ever. Nothing will ever change that, Rose."

Ruby smiled a bit from that, and she blinked her silver eyes at Cinder. "You…you really think so?"

Cinder leaned her head forward so their foreheads were touching. "No, I know so."

Ruby's smile grew, and Cinder felt those small butterflies in her stomach that she gets every time Ruby and she are close like this.

Ruby tilted her head up a little and gently brought her lips to meet Cinder's.

Cinder melted a bit. Kissing Ruby was like heaven…she tasted like cookies and strawberries, and smelled like rose petals…Cinder loved it and couldn't ever imagine getting tired of kissing her.

Ruby smiled and hugged her close. "Thanks, Cinder…I feel a lot better now….You're the best."

Cinder smiled too, and hugged her back. "You're welcome, Rose."

They sat like that for several long, comfortable minutes; resting a few feet from the ledge in each other's arms, before Cinder suddenly started laughing.

Ruby looked up at her. "What, Cin?"

Cinder grinned and looked down at Ruby. "Have I ever told you how old I am?"

A/N: So here it is; the final chapter for this fanfiction! :D Sorry/not sorry about me re-doing the previous chapter, haha you couldn't review the new chapter if you did on the previous one, lol so if you want to put in your two cents in like a two-part review you can! Or just review to this, or I guess you could not review if you really wanted to, but seeing as how this is the last chapter of this story I'd love your guy's input!

Did you like the ending? Think I should have done something different? I hope you guys really like this chapter; sorry for taking forever to write this! (again, lmao)

I really like how I made Cinder in this, and so tell me what you think about her- did you like my good Cinder?

Thank you guys so much for following; favouriting, and reviewing. You guys gave me the encouragement to keep going! I hope you guys have an awesome day! Thanks again!

Peace! Jackie out!