Epilogue: Dawn

Yep, this is the end. I'll leave my tears and notes for after.

Disclaimers: No escaping them, is there…? RWBY isn't mine. If you want, you can check. If you find out differently, let me know.

The events of the battle with the Grey's Son were too vast to slip unmentioned into the annals of history. It was later known as the Grey Night, though few knew why. Many accounts spread throughout the world of Remnant, but all agreed on one thing only. All knew who it was that they owed their thanks to. Teams RWBY and JNPR led the rest of their lives with fame, even if they themselves sought to stay from the limelight. Each member continued on to great things.

History agrees that Ren and Nora were married at a quiet ceremony with only close friends and family. Ren never enjoyed the attention that came their way, and out of respect for her childhood friend and husband, Nora allowed them to fade out of the spotlight. Many mysterious hunts were still credited to their name. As were some rather flamboyant ones.

Pyrrha and Juane also married, though theirs was a public event. She was an unparalleled warrior who maintained many world records, while still being a successful huntswoman. Eventually she put up her spear after the birth of their third child. Each of the children became a renowned warrior. Juane raised his shield and sword only when necessary, instead taking a leadership position and helped begin the world down the path to peace. He never quite overcame his awkwardness, but it led to him becoming a beloved figurehead, rather than a joke.

Blake and Yang never married, but after they quelled the White Fang, they took over Beacon academy after Ozpin and Glynda retired. Yang never regained the use of her damaged eye, but the eye-patch that she got added to her aura of danger. None lightly crossed her. Blake was a shadow to the blonde, her Yin, if you would. She never shone brighter than her partner, but her knowledge and presence was her shadow wherever she went.

As for Ruby and Weiss…

Three years after the events of the events of the battle with the Grey's Son, Ruby breathed anxiously as she stood at the front of a huge crowd of people. The gathered assembly was huge. Large enough to make her forget where she was standing.

Weiss elbowed her fiancée in the ribs quickly, grinning at the mass beneath them. "This is your wedding day." She hissed, her lips remaining perfectly in that mask she presented to those gathered. "You're supposed to look happy."

The two girls were dressed in white dresses. The cut to Ruby's was simple, yet elegant. It wasn't adorned with gaudy baubles, and instead let the fact of its appearance speak for itself. Weiss's on the other hand, was adorned with many elaborate additions. Yet it somehow maintained a regal elegance. Like those additions belonged on the dress because the woman wearing it deserved more.

"I am happy," Ruby whispered back. "But there are so many people…"

"What did you expect? I'm a Schnee, and you're one of the heroes of the Grey Night. Everyone wants to see our ceremony." The heiress rolled her eyes.

"I still don't know why we couldn't have eloped. We could have found a quiet little out-of-the-way place… And then made like bunnies." The corner of the scythe-wielder's mouth barely moved, even while her face heated up.

"You keep up that sweet talk, and I might just take you up on that offer."

Ruby was about to lean in to whisper more nothings into her lover's ear when Ozpin walked onto the stage. He was the one to administer their ceremony, and there was absolutely no backing out now.

Being that the headmaster was not big on grandstanding; the words he gave were simple. He spoke briefly of commitment, heroism, and the endurance of love. Then he motioned towards the brides, and it was time for the vows.

Up first was Weiss, who serenly smiled at the crowd. She then turned to Ruby, devoting her attention to her and joining their hands. The younger girl could see through the façade the silver-haired girl was presenting, and gave her an encouraging nod. Weiss acknowledged the gesture with her own nod and then drew a deep breath. "When I first met you, Ruby, I was convinced that you were an absolute fool. A bumbling ignoramus, worse maybe even than Juane."

She grinned shyly. "But it was as if you matured right under my eyes. You proved yourself a capable leader, a good tactician, and an excellent warrior. You were even a great friend, one that I had been blind to at first. Then I realized that you had always been those things, right from the moment I met you. It was me that matured during our time together."

Ruby, you've shown me how to be a better person. How to grow and challenge not only those around me, but myself. You make me realize each and every day that my love and devotion can only lie at your feet. Today is about formalizing our relationship, but I've been yours for a long time. I can give you nothing more of myself than I already have, but I hope, no, I know that as I grow I will give anything new of mine to you. Body, heart, and soul; it's nothing but what belongs to you."

Blinking away a few tears, Ruby squeezed the heiress's hands tightly. "Wow, I uh…" She raised one gloved hand to wipe her eyes. "You're going to make me cry in front of all these people." She took a couple of calming breaths. "Whew. Okay."

The dark-haired girl focused on Weiss and suddenly it was as if the rest of the world had faded away. "Weiss, I love you. I know I'm not very capable when it comes to playing with words, despite the fact that I've faked that fact a few times over the years. Like you said, I'm very simple, and don't have much to offer. So what I do have to give you is something that I sometimes worry isn't enough. You're the type of person that should expect the greater things from life. Not because you're stuck-up, but because this world wasn't made for someone as good as you."

So when you say that you're mine, I'm left wondering what I did to deserve you. 'Cause I honestly don't know." Ruby sniffed as her vision began to cloud. "Just know that as much as you have to offer, I can only offer myself. I pray that it's enough, because my soul couldn't bear to be without you. I'm unmistakably and irrevocably yours. And I have no regrets."

"You may now exchange rings." Ozpin smiled at them gently. The girls hastily exchanged rings. "By the authority I carry, I now seal your marriage. You may kiss as equal spouses."

Ruby had thought that Weiss would want to keep the kiss chaste and short, particularly in front of such a large crowd. She was wrong. The kiss was heated and hot, and nothing if not arousing. It lasted just long enough for Ruby to start to kiss back before her wife teasingly pulled back, grinning evilly from ear to ear.

The younger girl remembered very little of the party that came after the ceremony. She was intent on paying Weiss back for that kiss. Later that night, she did.

Some weeks past, and Weiss returned from a mission to find her wife sitting with a shocked expression at the table in their small house. She dropped her gear unceremoniously by the doorway and rushed to her side. "Ruby, what's wrong?"

The silver-eyed girl blinked several times before she noticed that Weiss was back. "Oh, hi Weiss." She looked up and smiled vaguely. "I thought she was joking."

"Who was joking? What happened?" The heiress had never seen her wife look like this before, and she was starting to panic.

"Dust. Remember what I told you about me being the last of her line…?" Ruby's eyes started to clear.

"Yeah, that your very being is important to our survival." Weiss prompted the younger girl to continue.

"No, not that bit. I try not to think about that. It's the other thing about that."

"You mean where she said that you'd… eventually…" The older girl trailed off. "Uhm… Ruby… Are you… Late?"

Ruby nodded slowly. "Weiss, we're going to be moms."

Weiss knelt next to Ruby as if she'd been it over the head at least as hard as the Grey's Son had ever hit. Then she burst into tears and pulled her wife to her tightly. "Oh, but I do love you!"

… Weiss made good on her proposal, and the girls' wedding was the event of the century. Mysteriously afterwards, they disappeared from the records for a time, along with a certain old Qrow. Fifteen years later, the Grimm of the world suddenly stopped being as aggressive, less a threat to civilization and more a dangerous nuisance. A young woman, closely resembling Weiss and Ruby made her appearance. Named White Rose, she enrolled at Beacon academy, where she was heard to call Blake and Yang forms of the word "aunt". She tried to avoid the topic, but when pressed she would admit that Weiss and Ruby were her mothers. When asked about Qrow, she would merely say that he "got his wish".

And… And that's it… I'm… done with "Tsubomi". Holy Qrow! I know there are some problems with the story as a whole, some holes that you could probably drive a semi through, but I like the way it's turned out nonetheless. Obviously, like I mentioned before, this story diverges from the cannon of "RWBY", but I hope I made enough nods towards it that it was good.

I just want to say a few more words in closing. It's been awesome writing this, and everyone's been very inspiring. The amount of positive feedback I got was overwhelming. I may eventually come back with another story for RWBY, but probably nothing on this scale. It's been exhausting, as equally as it's been fulfilling. I hope you enjoyed reading this story.

Quick addendum: I posted this chapter and then Ash mentioned something to me. The whole magical pregnancy thing is a little much. Really, it was an afterthought that grew on me. I had the idea of Ruby being the last living descendant of Dust about two months ago, but when I was writing chapter 15, I realized that the line would die out with Ruby. So, I just sort of tacked on that bit. I apologize if it's too much, but the idea kinda tickles me, so it stays. Hope you understand now, even if it's still really weird.

I still plan on writing, so check out my profile page and leave a review. Have a wonderful life, and thanks for reading!