Another completely original chapter here. Hope you guys enjoy it!

Moving forward, more changes can and will be implemented, particularly concerning the Vytal Tournament.

I will give a spoiler at this time: Cinder does not get a chance to rig the matches for the Vytal Tournament.

Therefore, I leave it to you. Leave a comment on two vs two and one vs one matchups you would want to see. The ones I like the most that don't contradict each other (particularly the two vs two part) will make it into the fic. So let me know who you want to fight in the Tournament. Note: Ruby will be in the Two vs Two Portion with another member of Team RWBY. Who it is will be up to you. I'll also leave a post on the Facebook Group RWBY Fanfiction as well, so if you can't leave a review here, you can leave a comment there as well for the same purpose.

This will also determine the fate of Penny. I'm still open-ended with her fate as it is right now. So however the matches end up can save her life as it is now. If not, I have backup plans for her.

Disclaimer: RDF1 doesn't own RWBY, WATCH THE SHOW!

One last thing: The title is pronounced phonetically "Starkier".

(Chapter Begin)

(Recap)

To say Weiss and Blake were a little startled when a portal appeared in their room was underselling it. Yang, though expecting it, still got down from her bed in anticipation. Ruby and Raven stepped through the portal, which closed behind them.

"Ruby, I'm sure you know I'm not normally this patient, so let's get on with this, or do you plan on dragging this out? I can portal us directly to Patch so we don't have to waste public transportation," informed Raven, keeping her irritation to a minimum.

Yang smirked at this statement, though while true... she knew otherwise, "Dear Mother, that's not how this is going to work."

"Blake, Weiss... if anyone asks, we stepped out for a Family Reunion LONG overdue."

Blake and Weiss nodded, figuring how exactly WHO they were going to meet.

Ruby placed her hand on Raven's forearm while Yang grabbed Ruby's shoulder and they disappeared.

(Recap End)

When Ruby, Yang, and Raven appeared in Ruby's office, Raven wasn't ready for the sudden teleportation and took a second to steady herself. To say she was happy was like saying getting a Broken Arm was a good time.

"What the hell just happened!?" demanded Raven, "You're semblance is super speed, not teleportation! What is going on here!?"

Ruby and Yang exchanged a look and smiled in a way that creeped even Raven out, not that she would admit it.

"Silly Raven," said Ruby, "You are long overdue for a reunion, and it's time we made it happen. Follow me."

(AN1)

Yang and Raven followed Ruby out of her office and down a path Yang hadn't seen in years. Walking up to a counter, Ruby got the attention of the person behind it.

"Name?" asked the person behind the counter, bored out of his skull.

"Rose," said Ruby.

"Conference Room 7C. Down the hall, take a left, last door on the right."

"Thank you!" smiled Ruby, before turning to Yang, "I'll be right back. Got to get the other two members of our family here."

"You still haven't explained..." started Raven, before Yang smacked her upside the back of her head, and Oum did it feel good.

"You need to stop talking, and start listening," said Yang, "Move it!"

Ruby allowed Yang and Raven to start down the hallway before teleporting out.

On Patch, Taiyang had just started his day when a bright flash appeared, revealing his daughter Ruby.

"Oh hey, Ruby. What brings you here?" asked Taiyang.

"Raven," replied Ruby.

"Raven?" asked Taiyang, "I haven't seen her in a few weeks to be honest."

"No, I found Raven, and it's time for an overdue Family Reunion," said Ruby, holding out her hand.

Taiyang blinked... this is NOT what he expected waking up this morning.

"Let me call Signal and get one cup of coffee. I'm not ready to deal with Raven without that."

"Fair enough," replied Ruby, dropping her hand as Taiyang did as he said, before returning and placing his hand on Ruby's shoulder, and both of them disappeared.

(AN2)

Qrow sighed. It had been a long night and he was looking forward to sleeping the day away. He managed to get a good deal of intel for Oz, but he needed more. He wouldn't be able to help Ruby if he left now.

Speak of the Devil and she shall appear. A bright flash revealed Ruby, in full Huntress outfit, grinning like she won the lottery.

"Today's the day, Qrow!" she exclaimed happily.

"Ruby... what?" asked Qrow eloquently, "I just got in from an all nighter. Also, the day for what?"

"Same here, but just a fruitful," replied Ruby, "Time for that long overdue Family Reunion I promised three years ago.

Qrow blinked... and then blinked again...

"I'm not drunk enough for that."

"Qrow!" whined Ruby, a bit indignantly, "Do you have any idea what it took to convince Raven to surrender?"

"Death Threat?" asked Qrow, taking a shot from his glass, "Pretty sure she's had worse kiddo."

"Well, it worked," deadpanned Ruby, causing Qrow to spit-take.

"Damn girl... then stop wasting time!" exclaimed Qrow, setting his hand down on Ruby's shoulder as they disappeared.

(AN3)

Ruby, Taiyang, and Qrow made their way to Conference Room 7C to see Yang waiting outside, leaning against the wall. Muffled shouting from inside was heard.

"Hey Dad, Qrow," greeted Yang, smirking a bit, "Give the ladies a couple extra minutes. Summer's had 11 years built up."

Taiyang and Qrow nodded, knowing the fury their Team Leader would have built up over the last decade of being dead, despite the peace she had found.

When the shouting stopped, Summer poked her head out the door.

"Glad to see all my favorite people in one place, come in! It's not a Reunion until everyone's together!"

RQTY entered to see Raven, sitting down, looking like a whipped child, her helmet to the side leaving her face, aflamed with a serious blush, for the group to see.

"Ruby... you tricked me," muttered Raven, not at all liking the girl who put her in this position.

"You were going to end up here, dead or alive. You just chose alive," said Ruby in no uncertain terms.

"So, how are things guys?" asked Summer, grinning as she hugged her husband and teammate.

"Was going to start another day of teaching at Signal," said Taiyang.

"Was going to sleep after an all-nighter," added Qrow.

"But this is more important," said both of them together.

"Glad to hear it!" chuckled Summer.

(AN4)

"So, mother," started Yang, "Care to explain yourself?"

Raven, still thoroughly livid that she now had to answer questions she never wanted to share, sighed.

"At the end of the day, I never regretted my actions. If nothing else, my Bandit Clan will always be my family," stated Raven in no uncertain terms, "But, after I left, I found someone. Someone who needed help. Help that Mistral and Haven Academy couldn't provide. I gave her more than enough time and effort to master her skills, but her personality crippled her potential. A Pure Soul indeed, much like you, Ruby. When it came down to it, I showed her mercy. What do you know about the story of the Maidens?"

"That there is truth to it," replied Ruby, with Yang nodding, "I suppose I should explain myself, and this place."

"No need," said Raven, "You are a Reaper of Grimm."

Ruby blinked. Taiyang and Qrow where speechless. Yang's eyes shifted from Lilac to Red back to Lilac. Summer...

"How long?" asked Summer, her tone even.

"I want to say I've always known, but that would be a lie," explained Raven, "In truth, I didn't understand it until she brought me here, to face your wrath. But I suspected something was different about Ruby after seeing her train with Qrow. It's no secret among you that I spy on you frequently on Patch. It didn't take long for me to notice something off about Ruby, her demeanor changed after she turned ten. While I'd be a hypocrite to say 12 is too young, even then Ruby shouldn't have been ready for Scythe Training at age 12. So... I looked into it. I asked the one person who would tell me, because she's at Beacon on my orders."

"Coco," said Ruby, "I should've known. While Fashion is as fashion does, it wouldn't hurt to have something connecting you to your leader."

"Also Neo," said Raven. "I didn't think about it back then, but I suppose I owe Neo an apology for what happened. Maybe if I had done something different, Neo wouldn't be a Reaper of Grimm herself. I'm surprised she kept the Necklace though."

(AN5)

"As you said, Fashion is as Fashion does. She keeps it as a reminder to avoid you at all costs. I wouldn't recommend trying to speak with her anytime soon, even here, where she can actually talk."

"Figures," said Raven, "Well, back to the topic at hand. There are four maidens, and unless something's changed, Amber, the Autumn Maiden is currently in a coma at Beacon to avoid her death and the Fall Maiden Powers to be fully absorbed by Cinder. Am I wrong?"

"Raven, you never should have left, but... that's not important right now," said Qrow, "Yes, that is correct. Ozpin's working on a way to transfer the remaining power to a new Maiden, hopefully be able to take down Cinder and get the Maiden Power she stole back."

"That's going to be tricky. Did Coco, or in this case Fox, tell you how Reapers regain their lives?" asked Ruby.

"Sadly, they were 'mum' on that subject," replied Raven.

"We have to kill three destiny-related targets the Afterlife deems worthy in order for our lives to fully be restored. I've already killed one," explained Ruby, "My second... is Cinder. The tricky part is killing her without the Maiden Power being absorbed by me or Emerald, and to a lesser extent someone random."

"Your Silver Eyes," said Raven.

"How did you know?" asked Summer, "That's a secret lost to the ages. I didn't even know of it until after I died!"

"I doubt anyone really knows that truth outside some of the oldest beings of Remnant. After I informed Team CFVY of my status as Spring Maiden, she was the one I was trying to help where Haven and Leo Failed, Fox told me to be careful around Ruby, especially during a Grimm Attack. It's why I took the perimeter during the Breach Incident. If I'm not in range of your Silver Eyes, I can't be affected by it."

(AN6)

"We'll need to plan accordingly, particularly around the Vital Tournament. Cinder has big plans and she'll most likely enact them there," said Qrow.

"It's really good to see all of you... together," said Summer, "And Raven, don't be a stranger on Patch. It won't kill you to stay there with our Husband."

"Hmmph," grunted Raven, looking away with a small tinge of red in her cheeks. "I make no promises."

"I think we've done all we can here. I need to get TRQ back to where they need to be. I love you mom! I'll be sure to visit again before the Tournament," said Ruby.

"Sounds like a plan. Everyone, be careful. I don't want you to move in for a long, long time. You hear me?" replied Summer.

No one disagreed and everyone left the conference room to return to the living world, except for Summer.

Ruby and Yang appeared back in their Team Room to see Weiss and Blake studying, with Zwei eating some well earned food.

"Everything good this side of the living?" asked Ruby, with a bit of a smirk.

"No one's died, if that's what your asking," replied Weiss, getting a chuckle out of Blake and Yang.

"Let's get some sleep Yang. With the Tournament coming up soon, we need to be in top shape," said Ruby, who went to get ready for bed.

"Sure thing sis," agreed Yang.

Ruby and Yang slept better than they had in months, now that they had Raven back in their lives, circumstances and limitations of the arrangement aside. Things were looking up for Team RWBY, and hopefully nothing would stop it.

Ruby appeared in the Courtyard, CFVY waiting for her.

"So, you... lied to me Fox," said Ruby.

"I didn't lie..." countered Fox, "I said I couldn't help you with Raven and that was true. I couldn't ask Coco to contact her leader about a family issue. Raven was your responsibility. If I interfered or helped, it wouldn't have made the moment real. It would have been anti-climatic. Besides, from what I hear, you actually unnerved her enough to not risk death. Kudos."

"I told her the truth. The fact that she is the current Spring Maiden would have complicated things. Though I know Raven would be smart enough to pass on the powers to Vernal, who would be pissed at me for killing Raven over a 'trivial' matter."

"It's all a matter of perspective," said Velvet.

"I had no reason to tell you about my connection with Raven," said Coco, "You may have my respect, and I consider you an ally, but I still consider the Bandits my first family. CFVY being my second."

Neo appeared and handed a letter to Ruby.

'Raven abandoned me, and the orphanage let me die. Forgive me if I don't want to see her any time soon.'

"I don't blame you," said Ruby.

"Neither do I. But I doubt it was personal, no matter how it feels to you. Though for what it's worth, I'm sorry," added Coco.

'I don't blame you, Coco,' Neo signed.

"So... we have three Reapers of Grimm and three VERY good Hunters in training. What say you we slay some Grimm?" smirked Ruby, a bit evilly.

Fox and Neo shared that same grin with Ruby as Coco, Velvet, and even Yatsuhashi looked a bit excited at going Grimm hunting. Team CFVYRN headed out for some 'extra curricular' training, looking forward to what comes next.

(AN7)

(Chapter End)

Volume 2... done!

Author Notes...

AN1: Never cross Ruby. She would have killed Raven too, even if it turned into a crazy battle. Make no mistake, Ruby would have found a way to kill her, even if it was accidentally with Silver Eyes.

AN2: It's still morning in the Vale/Patch region, as it's the same morning as the Breach. So... yeah, Tai getting ready for the day.

AN3: Qrow is still in the field, and that will come into play when he returns.

AN4: Summer's Personality... it's blank. We have very little information about Summer even six Volumes in. So... even if this is different than what I established previously... it's her old team. She's gonna act differently around her Team than just her daughters.

AN5: This is a theory that has been proven false, but considering this is fanfiction... I decided to add it in. Yeah, it goes against "After the Fall", but unless or until I read it, I won't be including anything from it, except for CFVY's Canon Semblances, into the story.

AN6: Let me be clear: What Maria says about Silver Eyes holds true, HOWEVER, what Salem says about Silver Eyes takes precedence. In Volume 4 Episode 1, Salem said 'it is BECAUSE of the Maiden's Powers' that Ruby defeated Cinder like that. Not because of the Grimm parasite that allowed her to take half of the Maiden's Powers, it was the Maiden Powers alone that allowed Cinder to lose to Ruby like that. Maria has either never had her Silver Eyes activate while a Maiden was around, never met a Maiden, or never learned about the Maiden's Power being weak to Silver Eyes. Until or unless RT makes an official statement about Silver Eyes and Maiden Powers, Salem's word as the oldest being in Remnant takes precedence over any other character in the world of Remnant.

AN7: Added one final scene to sort of replace the Red Herring ending of V2.

I really had to think this through before and while writing this. This is yet another completely original chapter and while not my usual style, I feel good about this chapter.

Thanks for reading.

Until then...

Later,

RDF1