Summary: Ruby and Blake have survived the darkest day in Vale's history. Now they have to struggle through and find away to save their school, friends, and maybe find that special person in their life. A tale of what if Ruby and Blake were partners, and how that changes the path these two would walk forever.

Pre-A/N: Yes! it's another story, but I'm sorry this one needed to be put down so I can actually think about the other ones I'm working on. Now I'm going on for a bit but I want to put things in perspective as well as the Canon changes I'm making. This is a Ruby x Blake story, most everyone else will be straight except them, but I don't really care about getting into the sexual aspects of this story so don't expect any Smut. The POV is going to be Blake and Ruby in first person. Each Chapter will be a POV swap, So Blake is Chapter One, Ruby is Chapter Two, Blake is Chapter 3, etc etc.

So here are the basic changes I want to make:

Blake and Ruby met in the forest mission first
Stronger emphasis on the two person partners [though there will still be the 4 man teams]
Yang and Weiss are partners [and nothing else!]
Each Partner shares a room, rather than each team. I.E. it's two person bedrooms in a suite style dorm
I will be attempting to put a bit more emphasis on day to day activities as well as Blake and Ruby's past, there will be slight variations to the main story. Kinda like RWBY Chibi, only a bit more serious

Big Change: This starts at the end of Volume 3, Blake didn't abandon Yang or Ruby [though Yang still lost her arm] Instead she was invited back by Taiyang to stay. Yang is still despondent to both Blake and Ruby because Weiss was taken away and she couldn't stop it.

So that's everything. I'm going to start at the end of Volume three than flashback for a while. I apologize but this will not have planned updates. Unlike the others there is no script, I'm just letting the words flow onto the paper. Though it will eventually end up like BoTs in that I will have to at least outline chapters.

Alright enough from me, enjoy chapter one!

Chapter One: Storytime!

I don't know where to begin with this.

Right now, I'm sitting here next to my partner. She's been in a coma for 2 weeks now. Her uncle said that she was just tired and would come around soon. It was hard, sitting there staring at my partner, while she lay there unable to move.

Her dad was very kind in allowing me to stay. I have nowhere else to go, so it's nice to have a warm place to sleep and a roof over my head. I have also seen where Yang and Ruby get their view of Faunus from since staying here. When their dad saw my ears after I came out the shower once, he was very tempted to pet me, saying my ears made me looked really cute. When I asked him what he thought of Faunus he said, "They're just like me and my daughters, but they can see and hear better than I can… well some do anyways." Not sure if he was referencing different races of Faunus, or if it was from his time as a Huntsman, but I figured I would let the matter drop.

I haven't left her side very often. It didn't feel right. Ruby Rose. My partner. My best friend. The first person to bring light to my shadowy world, is lying here on her bed, in her rose stamped pajamas, and there is not a damn thing I can do to help. I feel horrid. Not only was I not there when my partner needed me most, but her sister, Yang, lost her arm trying to save me, because I had to try and be all noble and stop Ada-.

It's pointless to play that game again… I lost, and it nearly cost me one of my closest friends. It nearly cost Yang her life.

That night has to be... the worst day of my life...

….

[Insert a general Volume 3 Season Finale here]

After we were carried to the medical copter I got some stitches for the stab wound in my side. I was sitting next to Yang staring bleakly out the hatch when the brightest light I had ever seen shined in the night sky. It was really beautiful and it filled me with a sense of calm that I didn't understand. Calm, my world was crashing down around me. Burning down to the ground really, and yet I felt calm.

A short time later Weiss and Jaune came back with an older man carrying Ruby. I later found out this was Ruby and Yang's uncle, Qrow. I got up quickly and came over to Ruby. She was passed out and had a few bruises and her lip had become swollen on one side, but otherwise okay. I was relieved, I'm not sure I could take it if she had been hurt horribly. I mean we all were injured, but Qrow said that she just needed rest. I could understand that after a night like this.

That's when it hit me, right after they put Ruby down on the bed next to Yang, I remember that she and Weiss had gone after Pyrrha. "Weiss… what happened to Pyrrha?" That was when I noticed tears in Jaune's as well Weiss's eyes.

"We can't really say for certain… There was nobody found up at the top of the tower except Ruby…" Weiss paused, as if she was gathering her thoughts. "But we found Pyrrha's tiara as well as the broken pieces of her sword and her shield. There's no trace of her anywhere…." Jaune broke down and Weiss gave him a tentative hug.

I couldn't believe it… one of our group had died… I mean, Yang was out of commission, possibly permanently but she was still alive. I looked over at the sisters, they both looked to be sleeping. I almost ran. I couldn't believe it. It was my fault that she died. If I had just ignored Adam, If I had just went to Ruby when she needed me, If I had just…. I turned towards the door when suddenly Weiss was there in front of me.

"You can't leave." she said simply.

"Why not…" I replied sullenly, looking away from her. "There's nothing her-"

The sound of the slap reached my ears before it was joined by the stinging feeling in my cheeks. I looked back to Weiss in surprise. Tears were streaming down her face. They probably would flow down mine, if I had any tears left to cry.

"What about Ruby!? Are you going to abandon your partner!?" Weiss screamed angrily. "Don't give me tha…. That crap that there is nothing here for you. There is Ruby, Yang and myself! Team RWBY! And you are a part of that team!"

I stared at her in shock. Weiss, the Ice Princess herself just swore at me. If I wasn't in shock I may have laughed at the absurdity of it all. She broke down and I hugged her, she hugged back. "Okay…. You win."

"Promise me… no matter what happens, that you will always have Ruby's back." Came the muffled voice of the white haired girl.

"I promise," was my reply. And I meant it too. The brief thought came that to keep her safe I should leave, but I scratched it away. If I truly wanted to keep Ruby safe, I would need to train and become a better partner. Ruby was one of the brightest student at Beacon, goofing off aside. She was a team leader of people 2 years her senior. I was just a runaway hoping to hide from my past. It was long since overdue for me to pick up my slack and stop relying on Ruby to do everything for me.

The medical copter landed a short distance away in Vale in the few remaining safe zones. Weiss and I followed Ruby and Yang as they were moved away to one of the buildings being used as a medical station. It looked like it was an old coffee shop of some kind. A medic came and checked on the girls to make sure they were stable before he moved on to the me. I waved him away, my aura had begun to deal with my side and the stitches would keep me together for now.

After that everything became a blur. I stayed by my partner and teammates' sides, not really doing much but watching over them. Weiss's father showed up at some point, the despicable low down human garbage that he is, and dragged her away kicking and screaming along with that Winter woman. However when our eyes met, I saw that Winter did not agree with what was happening.

A short time later, Taiyang came for his daughters. I must have looked like a broken kitten cause he asked me if I had anywhere to go, or if I would like to stay with the girls and him. I really didn't have a place to go, but I also didn't want to impose on them either. I didn't reply. He must noticed how I went in on myself, because he offered me the couch at his place until I found a better place to stay. I smiled and thanked him as we left together with Qrow and the sisters.

Yang woke up on the trip home and asked what happened. I brought her up to speed about what happened after Adam… well… After she was hurt. Alongside Qrow, we explained how Ruby was found unconscious but alive, most everyone was hurt but fine except Pyrrha. That whole night was a mess. Yang became very quiet after we finished. She hasn't really talked much since than. I wish she would talk with me, then maybe I would start feeling less guilty about her arm.

…...

Ruby hasn't woken up again this morning. I've taken to reading to her during the day. Her dad, who insists I call him Tai, brought me one of her favorite books, The Light Against the Dark: Myths of the World. The book seems to mostly be about different heroes and legends of Remnant. Currently, I am reading about the Solar Knights , a knightly order made up of humans and faunus who are said to be the precursors to Huntsmen and Huntresses. They were meant to be the light of the world and bring peace to all of Remnant. According to Tai it's her second favorite story after hearing stories about her mother. After awhile Tai came in to feed her again so I got up and left.

I've gotten into a routine these past couple weeks. I get up and shower in the morning. Then I go and spend time with Ruby, generally I read to her but sometimes I just watch her. Hey! It's not weird, I just… I just want to be there when she wakes that's all. Then Tai comes to feed her and I go to see Yang to share breakfast and try to see if I can get her to talk. After that I spend time honing my skills as a huntress, sometimes Taiyang comes out to coach me and the other day Qrow was there to give me some pointers and a practice partner as he checked up on his niece. After that I have lunch with Ruby -I finally got Tai to let me help take care of Ruby- and continue reading. Afterwards Tai comes in to do dinner, Okay so it's only lunch I feed her, but still it's something, then Tai, Yang and I will have dinner, which usually includes an awkward conversation of Tai trying to learn about me, Yang being really quiet, and me keeping to tales of Beacon and Team RWBY's misadventures.

So after reading Ruby more tales of the Solar Knights, I went to check on Yang and share some yogurt with the fiery blond. I was happy for once, because she actually talked to me. It was only in one word answers to questions on how she was holding up, but she asked how Ruby was doing as well. Maybe she'll go check up on Ruby tomorrow but... I'll accept today's progress for now.

After that I went back to Ruby. I just sat there for a moment and then, from somewhere I don't know, I started to talk to her as if she was awake. I don't know why. The last few days my world has been consumed by darkness and I needed an escape. I need to talk, I need to get things off my chest... I need my partner. I can feel her listening to me as I begin to talk. Even if she isn't conscious, I know she is listening to me. I can feel that somehow she understands what I am saying and gives me all the support that only Ruby can.

I started at the beginning, at the night I left the White Fang... and Adam, behind me.

…..

"Goodbye," I swing hard at the car cables, slicing clean through them and separating the back end of the train from the front half. I watch as Adam disappears into the distance, holding his hand out to me, not completely understanding what I had just done, or maybe even why I had done it. To be completely honest, I still wasn't 100% sure myself. I just knew that I was done with the killing, and the violence. Well, at least the violence against innocent people.

I curled up on the end of the cart, it rumbled gently as it continued on its way to Vale. My actions still confuse me, I mean, I know why I did it. But I... I don't know. I guess I had a massive feeling of regret for doing it. Adam had been my closest friend for so long, and now I felt empty... worse… I felt alone.

Adam was there when humans destroyed my home. (*See Post AN note) He saved me when I lost my family. It's been just the two of us for so long. Whenever I had a problem, he was there to help me out. I also helped him. Adam also taught me how to fight, both with my semblance and my sword.

I tried so hard to get him to stop. But it only escalated as time went. I got to him at first, but after a man hit me with a rock at a rally Adam... he was never the same. And it was... horrible watching him slowly become consumed by rage and hate. It's like watching watching a family member die, only instead of dying… they become the very thing you swore to stand against.

I cried then. I cried for all I lost. All I had given up for vengeance, and all I just turned my back on. It was the first time I had cried since I was six. But I sat there and bawled, cried until I had nothing left to cry, and yet I found more tears. I'm not sure how much time had passed but I had deemed it long enough to prepare an escape. I hoped to the top of the train car and looked out at the distance.

I could see Vale in the distance. More importantly I could see Beacon, and that's when the idea crossed my mind to enroll. What better way to escape from the White Fang then to become a Huntress? I'll be better trained, have access to the vast books and knowledge that I craved and even a place to stay.

I'm lucky, this wasn't a spur of the moment decision. I had been planning to escape for awhile so I had started to horde money and a few caches of food and supplies around. Unfortunately none of the caches where anywhere near this part of Vale, but the monies where in a few seperate banks that I could access and use to get by.

But I'll need a cover story… and some way to convince Beacon to take me in as a student. I'm of the proper age, another lucky thing that happened, but I have no background, at least none I want known and no prior schooling. This was going to be difficult…

…

I stare down at Ruby as I come back to the present. Tears had formed in my eyes as I remembered that incident.. I angrily wiped them away as I began to feel another presence in the room.

Tai was there, he was holding out a plate of sandwiches for me and the processed food shake for Ruby. Oh god! He knows! He knows I'm a threat to his daughters and he'll send me away! Or worse! This man is a trained Hunter for Oum's sake! I jumped and began to stammer as he looked at me with hard eyes.

Suddenly, Tai sighed and set he food down. He turned the other chair in the room around and sat in it in that weird way that fathers like to do when they are about to lecture you, completely backwards. "You missed training today." He said to start the conversation.

I can feel my heart pounding in my chest as panic rises. I try to master it. I sit down in the chair and look back at him. "Sorry… It… I… Just… I understand if you want me to go…"

"Go?" Tai said looking puzzled, "Why would I want you to leave? I have two daughters on the mend, one who hasn't said more that 20 words to me since she got home missing an arm and the other who has been asleep for nearly 3 weeks. Blake, you're an Oum send for me. I need another person's help."

I looked at him with wide eyes, this man had to be mad to let a known White Fang member stay in his house, "But… I… how long were you listening."

"About the time you started explaining to Ruby why you left the White Fang," He said. "It's obvious to me that you closed the door on that part of your life."

"No…" I said looking at my feet, "I haven't. Not really."

"Are you planning on going back?" Taiyang said, his voice was hard, but I could see the compassion in his eyes. "Are you planning on hurting me or my daughters?"

"No!" I said in shock, "Ruby is the best friend I have ever had! All of Team RWBY… they're like the only family I have left."

Tai gave her a wry grin, "And that's why I'm not going to toss you out of here." He reached across the bed and pet my head between the ears. "You're a good kid Blake, and you'll be a fine woman one day. You just had a rough life, that's all."

I continue to widen my eyes in surprise, and with his petting I felt my heart rate slow. I sat there and let him comfort me for a few moment before my eyes narrowed. "You're just using this as an excuse to pet me aren't you…"

Tai's grin widen further as he pulled his hand back. "Guilty as charged." He gestured to the food on Ruby's night stand. "Why don't you feed Ruby and tell her more of your story. If anyone will understand you it's her. I'm going to try to see what I can do about getting our other patient up and moving. If I can't get her at least jogging soon, her muscles will start atrophying."

I nod and give him a smile, as he reaches the door I say, "Thanks Tai… It… It means a lot. Your acceptance of me."

"Well," He started with a smile, "if I didn't, Ruby there would kick my ass when she gets up. Now make sure she drinks the entire shake. I swore she put up a fight with me over it this morning." He pointed to the cup and left the room, closing the door behind him.

I sigh and my arms sag to my sides, that drained me more than I thought. The aroma from the sandwiches fills the air and I begin to drool. He made tuna salad sandwiches! I cross the room and one of the halves disappears into my mouth. I then pick up the drink and sit next to Ruby.

"If you drink all this Ruby… I'll finish telling the story of how I got into Beacon... " I tell her gently as I tip the cup to her lips. Tai was right, I felt her resist for a bit before swallowing. She didn't resist long though and soon the entire gross mess was in her stomach. "Good Ruby… when you wake up I'll make sure to get you your favorite cookie."

I swear I felt her shift at the mention of cookies. It may have been my imagination, just like the resistance but I swear to you that she twitched at the word cookie. "I guess I owe you more of my story…" I picked up the other sandwich half and began to nibble and savor it, "Well… before getting to Vale I hopped off the train."

….

It would be obvious to anyone really. A young, armed faunas stowed away on a train, especially one that had been attacked by the White Fang. Best to take my chances coming in from the woods as a traveler or refugee then to have come from that particular train.

I decided it would be best to approach by night. I could easily sneak into the city then walk right in through the front door. You have to understand, it's hard for Faunas even in countries where they are more accepted. We get extra searches, are always a first suspect in a crime, and are in turn faced with a lot of abuse, neglect and other… less wanted attentions. And as someone who had something to hide, I thought it'd be best to come in through other channels.

The woods directly around Vale are rather clear from Grimm. So I was able to find a nice tree to rest in. However, I was so wound up and worried about getting caught, and so hungry with nothing to eat and only a small stream to drink from that I didn't rest at all.

It was… difficult to say the least. I knew it would be, but being so close to Vale without actually being in Vale is where I felt most vulnerable. I started hunting for berries, and stuff to eat.

Let me tell you something Ruby. Just because I'm a Faunas, doesn't mean I instinctively know how to hunt. I have a faster reaction speed and stronger senses to use for catching food, but I never really had to do that sort of work before. I knew a few good berries to eat and manage to find some, but you'd be surprised with how… cushy the White Fang have it.

The White Fang has more to it then just the criminal front you saw at Beacon. There are plenty of Faunas who rebel 'quietly' by making sure the White Fang has food, water, places to sleep as well as other necessities. It's one of the strengths they had, that came from the old roots. Before we were… before they were terrorists.

So, while I can on some levels more easily navigate the woods, I never needed to. I can travel through them, but I always had plenty of supplies to survive without worry. I really should have prepared better. I mean, I know I set out money and caches to use, but I should have taken the time to learn to survive off the land… I'm getting off topic.

Suffice to say, that day taught me one thing. I was getting into Vale one way or another.

That night, weary and very hungry, I scaled the walls that kept the grimm out of the city. A few patrols of students were on the wall, like that one time Professor Goodwitch sent us out for wall duty, but most of them were look for the red eyes and protruding bones of the grimm. I was… more or less successful in getting into the city undetected.

I had thought about heading into the water and circling around to the port but… well… you know my hatred of swimming. And no! I'm not a cat! I just… don't like getting water in my ears!

The first thing I did when I got across the wall was hide. I kinda… sorta… botched my landing on the down side. My stomach grumbled loudly just as made the jump and it caused me to screw up my landing. Instead of using a clone to change my trajectory and turn my vertical moment to horizontal momentum, I clutched my stomach from the sudden pain and crashed into someone's garbage. While it cushioned my fall… I did not enjoy landing in someone's week old spaghetti scraps.

I was quick to move into a nearby alleyway just as the junior Hunters looked over at what happened. What could only amount to good luck, a opossum slipped out of the trash can making a huge racket as it ran for cover. I sighed in relief, hoping the poor little thing was okay, but happy I managed to make it in. I cleaned myself off of the muck and red sauce, and made my way into the city.

I then followed a list of priorities of the first things I needed to do. My mental list went as follows:

Get food, preferably seafood.

Find a bathhouse to clean up in. I really smelled from the trash.

Find place to sleep for a few days, as cheap as I could get.

Get a meeting or talk with someone about getting into Beacon. Ozpin if I could manage it.

It's a small list I know, but it gave me focus. In my tired, hungry state I needed the direction of the list to not get caught.

I found that ramen place we went to before. I ordered my 'special' for the first time and the old man grinned at me, saying he had to make such an order in a long time. I was lucky that he stayed open late. He was also a very generous man, giving me the meal on the house. Whether it was from the enjoyment of the challenge, or if it was pity because I smelled like I just fell into week old garbage didn't matter to me. I had very limited funds and every lien counted back then.

I manage to talk him to him and got a location of one the bathhouses that had private stalls. He was kind enough to point me to that bathhouse I took everyone too during our second semester, "The Wash Room." Like when we went, it was a nice little place, but more importantly I was able to wash my hair and ears without anyone knowing. A couple of the faunas I think noticed my bow, but were kind enough to leave me be.

So then, two things down, two to go. I figured showing up to Beacon near midnight, with smelly clothes and looking dead on my feet wasn't a good first impression. Unfortunately, all the stores were closed too, so I didn't have anyway of fixing the first problem. But I could find somewhere to sleep.

I went down to the docks that night and looked around. I'm not sure why I went to the docks other than it smelled like fish. There wasn't many places open at all. Most homes had their lights off and the two inns over there seemed booked up due to a series of shipping vessels from Haven arriving that morning. I sighed as I began to struggle to stay awake. Between the train attack, the multiple breakdowns, the fall from the wall, and paranoia of getting caught by… well… anyone, I was exhausted. I found a warehouse more or less abandoned. I grabbed a tarp and jumped up to the elevated gantry. I set he tarp down to settle in for one of the worst nights of sleep I had since my parents died.

I woke up at sunrise. I glared outside at the rays of light as they forced me awake. I was sore, and hungry again. I felt a huge weight on my heart as well. But I felt overall better than the night before, so that was something. I hopped down from where my 'bed' was on the 2nd story rafters and headed out into the city to try and figure out how the hell I was suppose to get into Beacon.

…..

I paused in the story to take a sip of water that Tai had provided with lunch. Who knew that telling your life's story could work up a thirst.

"And then what happened?" Came a soft voice.

I jumped in surprise. I looked around for Taiyang or whoever came into the room, maybe Yang finally deemed it time to see her baby sister. My eyes scanned the room until they came across a pair of soft silver eyes. I couldn't believe it! She was finally awake!

"Ruby!" I exclaimed as I jumped on the newly awoken girl and embraced her tightly in a hug.

Post A/N:

ObsidianFlames, continuing the trend of wayyyy too long ANs since 2010.

So I started this story a while ago, -like before season 4- and just found this story. I'm thinking of starting it, but I went ahead and finished this chapter and posted it for funsies. So at the time we knew nothing of Blake's family or her life. My thought at the time was her family was lost to anti-faunus riots. I assumed this is what pushed her to joining the White Fang. So please excuse my changes for this, I know a lot of peoples love Blake's family but this kinda works for me. I may still include them as like, a favorite aunt/uncle or honorary parents, or maybe even adoptive parents, but Blake's original family died.

Personal Update: I have been going through a lot since the last anything update I did. I've lost my job, found another shittier job, started making video games and streaming the making of said games, got married, got better job and stopped streaming -still making games, just not streaming it-, got into a family fight at grandparents funeral, etc. etc. it's been a trip. So I will be doing an update soon on most of the stories to at least tell everyone what's going on, in more detail.

Cheers!

ObsidianFlames