Ruby's eyes began to flutter open as a thin veil of light crept through the curtains, a comforting warmth from the sun coating her. With a stretch and a yawn she sat up, but when her eyes adjusted she was shocked to find herself in her childhood bedroom rather than the shared dorm of Beacon Academy. Her yawn seemed to draw attention as her father, Taiyang, opened the door, his eyes widening at seeing her awake.

Taiyang: "Ruby! You're awake!" He yelled, running to kneel next to her bed, before pulling her into a hug.

Ruby: "What happened?" She asked, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

Taiyang: "Your uncle Qrow found you after everything. He brought you and Yang home-" He said, pulling away.

Ruby: "Wait! Is she alright!?"

Taiyang: "Uh... She's uh..." He paused for a minute. "She's gonna be alright. I think she's just... I think it's just gonna take some time for her to get used to things. She's too strong to let this stop her." He smiled and wiped his eyes, trying to hide his welling tears. "I'm just glad to have my girls back at home."

Ruby: "What happened to the school?! And Vale?! Were they able to clear out the Grimm?"

Taiyang: "Things at Vale are under control, but the school... It's... it's not that simple. That Grimm Dragon thing, whatever it is, doesn't seem to be dead. Don't get me wrong, you did a number on it, but it's not disappearing. It's... kind of... frozen? I know that doesn't sound too bad, but it seems to keep attracting more Grimm to the school."

Ruby: "I did... what?" Taiyang looked confused at her. "You said I did a number on it, what do you mean?"

Taiyang: "I... Look, that's not important right now. We can talk about it later. Things are just... kind of a mess."

Qrow: "It's always a mess."

Ruby and Taiyang turned to the door to see Qrow walk in, taking a swig of his flask as he did. He sealed up the drink and pushed it back into his pocket. He smiled at Ruby before looking at Tai.

Qrow: "Mind if we have a minute?"

Taiyang: "What, I can't stay here?!"

Qrow: "Tai. Please."

Taiyang stood and sighed, before he leaned in to give Ruby a kiss on the forehead, slightly brushing her hair as he did.

Taiyang: "I'm glad you're alright. I'll go make us some tea."

Taiyang glared at Qrow on the way out, which he ignored as usual. Qrow simply grabbed a chair and spun it, sitting it next to Ruby's bed, before sitting down on it himself, leaning forward.

Qrow: "So, how you feeling?"

Ruby: "Um... I kind of hurt... all over."

Qrow: "That makes sense, after what you did." He chuckled.

Ruby: "You guys keep saying that. What are you talking about?"

Qrow: "What's the last thing you remember?" He asked, adopting a more serious look.

Ruby: "I ran up the side of the tower, and when I got to the top, I... (Y/N)! Where is he?"

Qrow: "I was hoping you'd be able to answer that for me..." He frowned sullenly.

Ruby: "I... I... I got to the top..." Tears welled up in her eyes. " and I saw (Y/N)... and Cinder..." The grip on her blanket tightened as drops of tears stained it. " and then everything went white!"

Qrow: "Anything else? Did you see what happened to him?" Qrow reached out, gently holding her hand. "Ruby... please."

Ruby: "It was all so fast... he was hurt I know that... he might have been glowing?" Tears began threatening to spill again. "But he always comes back! So where is he?!"

Qrow: "No one has seen him since then... you were the last lead we had..."

Ruby began bawling and Qrow pulled her in for a hug, the two staying like that for a minute or two as the loss began to set in. Qrow wouldn't admit it, but he needed that hug just as much as she did.

After what seemed like an age the two pulled away, Ruby's eyes a puffy teary mess.

Ruby: "The last thing I remember... is my head hurting." She shook her head, Qrows head hanging. "Why can't I remember?"

Qrow: "The night you met Ozpin, what was the first thing he said to you?" He asked, sitting upright again.

Ruby: "I... I don't know. I think it was something about..".

Qrow: "Silver eyes. That's an extremely rare trait."

Ruby: "So?"

Qrow: "You're special, Ruby. And not in the 'Daddy loves his special angel' kind of way. You're special the same way your mom was. Remnant's full of legends and stories, some of them true, some made up. But there's one Oz told me from a very long time ago. Back before Huntsmen, before Kingdoms, it was said that those born with silver eyes were destined to lead the life of a warrior. You see, the creatures of Grimm, the most fearsome monsters mankind had ever encountered, were afraid of those silver-eyed warriors. They were the best of the best. It was said that even a single look from one of these fighters could strike a Grimm down. Heh. It's a ridiculous story."

Ruby: "But... you think that I might be..."

Qrow: "Well, a giant monster is currently frozen on top of Beacon Tower. And you're here, safe in bed." He got to his feet and walked over to a window, leaning on the windowsill and staring outside.

Ruby: "Wait, how did you know what Ozpin said to me... the night we met?"

Qrow: "All those missions I go on... all the times I'm away in some far-off place... it's been for Ozpin. Something's been set in motion, and with Oz gone, I'll have to pick up where he left off."

Ruby: "Then what can I do? If I'm so special, then I can help, right?"

Qrow: "You really wanna help? Get some rest." He turned and walked to the door. "You're in no condition to go anywhere right now." He smiled cockily. "Besides, I'm sure Pyrrha would love to speak to you, she's outside."

Outside of the home, Pyrrha sat atop a white wooden rocking bench, gently rocking back and forth as she stared at a Scroll in her hand. She was examining it for the one hundredth time since arriving at the Xiao Long family home, the illuminated screen displaying a photo of herself and (Y/N) while the prompt for a pin code stared back at her, keeping her locked out of her only connection to the one she had lost. The sound of a crows caw pulled her out of her thoughts, just as Ruby walked out of the front door, looking around before smiling at Pyrrha, one that she returned. Pyrrha stood as Ruby walked over and the two embraced.

Pyrrha: "I'm glad to see you're okay, we were all worried."

Ruby: "I'm glad you're okay too. But I'm surprised you're here."

Pyrrha: "Most travel is locked down at the moment, only certain people can get past the restrictions." The two separated and sat down. "Weiss for example, apparently her father collected her only a day later, deeming Vale no longer safe for her."

Ruby: "What happened to everyone else?"

Pyrrha: "You and Yang were brought here after treatment. Ren and Nora are staying in Vale for the time being in a shelter, along with some other students. Blake apparently left after we evacuated and no one has seen him. Jaune... Jaune was killed during the attack, while saving my life." Ruby gasped and covered her mouth.

Ruby: "Jaune... Pyrrha I'm sorry."

Pyrrha: "I think... he was okay with it... and someday maybe I'll accept that." She looked to Ruby. "As for (Y/N), apparently you were the last one to see him..." She started to say but trailed off, unsure how to broach the topic.

Ruby: "I'm sorry. I don't know what happened after I got to the tower. I saw he was glowing but then it all goes white from there." Ruby looked downwards while Pyrrha looked puzzled.

Pyrrha: "Glowing?"

Ruby: "Yea, like an orangey red." Ruby tilted her head. "Is that important?"

Pyrrha: "The power of the Maidens..." She muttered, her eyes narrowing.

Ruby: "Maidens?"

Pyrrha: "Were you ever told the Story of the Four Seasons?" When Ruby shook her head she sighed. "There are slightly different iterations, but the one I was told goes as such. There was an old Wizard, who lived alone. He was visited by four sisters, who were kind to him in their own ways. Winter encourages him to meditate and reflect; Spring brings him fruit and flowers and revitalises his garden; Summer convinces him to step outside and embrace the world; and Fall urges him to be thankful for what he has." Pyrrha smiled as she saw Ruby completely focused on her words. "Moved by their kindness, the old man gives the four sisters great powers so that they may travel throughout Remnant continuing to share their gifts."

Ruby: "Ooooh... I'm not sure I get it."

Pyrrha: "The story is real, the great power is magic, and the Fall Maiden is now... Cinder." She said the name through gritted teeth. "Ozpin told me all of this, just before the attack."

Ruby: "She wasn't that old was she?" Pyrrha stifled a laugh before frowning.

Pyrrha: "No, no. The power of the Maidens transfers upon the bearer's death, to either a random individual, or those who were the last thought of the bearer. But she stole the power somehow." Ruby noticed a tear drop into Pyrrha's lap. "And, I think that power is how she killed (Y/N)..."

Ruby leaned over and side hugged Pyrrha, the two embracing while rocking back and forth in the chair quietly, not a word said. The only noise being the quiet cries of a crow as it took off away from the house.

Ruby: "Could you explain the whole Maiden magic thing again?" She asked, confused.

Pyrrha: "Of course Ruby." She laughed lightly, before beginning the story again.

...

Light. You felt light on your face.

Your face. You still had a face. And you could feel your face, as well as the rest of your body. You tried opening your eyes only to be blinded by a brilliant white room, the tile of the room, walls, and floor seemingly made out of some form of reflective white brick. It was smooth to the touch and cold, a chill going up your spine as you touched it. You screwed your eyes shut again as you waved your arm around, trying to find something to grab.

You finally reached out and grabbed what felt like a leg, feeling soft fabric wrapped around muscle. A shadow draped over you allowing you to open your eyes without being blinded.

Above you, wrapped in a white halo light of the room, you saw someone who looked incredibly familiar. The brown hair with red tips, as well as brilliant Silver eyes reminding you of Ruby, but you had seen this person somewhere else. It was in a photo Ruby had shown you while telling you about their mother who had passed, Summer Rose.

Summer: "I'm so Sorry."

The words rung in your ears, all too familiar as well. The recurring dreams now coming to the forefront of your mind as you looked at the dead woman before you.

Summer: "I'm so Sorry."

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Archer: It may be a shorter chapter, but I think this was the best way of closing out Volume 3. There won't be an ending song, cause I haven't done that in so long.

So what was your favorite part of Vol 3? The yearly wait between chapters? Same.