RWBY: Moon Reflection-Chapter 119: Waking To A New World

The night was heavy with anticipation. The medics had informed the group that Summer Rose was stable—alive after 15 long years. Her body bore the marks of her captivity: disfigurations etched into her skin like grotesque reminders of Salem's cruelty. A portion of her face, once so bright and warm, was marred beyond recognition. The doctors explained she would need months of rehabilitation before she could even walk unassisted. Yet, despite the grim news, one fact stood above all: Summer was alive.

Crimson, Ruby, and the others sat vigil by her bedside that night, a quiet determination in their hearts. Ruby never left her mother's side, her hand tightly clutching Summer's as if letting go might make her disappear again. Qrow leaned against the wall, silent but watchful, while Yang paced the room. Even Raven stayed, her typical stoic demeanor softened by an air of anticipation. Crimson sat slightly apart from the group, a small, quiet smile on his face. They had brought Summer Rose back.

The dawn broke gently, the soft light of morning creeping into the room. As if in harmony with the rising sun, Summer's eyelids fluttered open.

Ruby was the first to notice, gasping loudly enough to alert everyone. "Mom?" she whispered, her voice trembling.

Summer's eyes blinked, unfocused at first, before locking onto Ruby. Her lips moved, forming a name that carried fifteen years of longing. "Ruby..."

The room erupted into tears. Ruby threw herself onto her mother, sobbing openly. Yang followed, holding both her sister and Summer in a fierce embrace. Qrow, uncharacteristically emotional, wiped at his eyes before stepping closer. Even Raven, who rarely showed emotion, had tears glistening in her eyes.

The joyful chaos grew as Raven opened a portal to Vale, bringing Taiyang into the room. The sight of his long-lost friend left him frozen, his legs trembling before he rushed to her side. "Summer... you are here!! And Alive," he choked out, his voice breaking.

Amid the joyous reunion, Crimson stayed in the background, watching with a small, contented smile. Looking back, he did things he never thought he would do, he did what he once thought impossible. And his reward is seeing his family reunited was enough for him. It filled him with content.

But the joy was tempered by confusion. As Summer tried to piece together what had happened, the truth struck her like a blow. She couldn't remember anything from her confrontation with Salem. Her memories felt like they stopped abruptly, as if she had merely gone to sleep.

"How... how long has it been?" she asked, her voice fragile.

No one wanted to answer, but eventually, Ruby whispered, "Fifteen years, Mom."

Summer's face crumpled as the weight of those words hit her. Tears streamed down her cheeks, and she sobbed uncontrollably. "Fifteen years? I've been gone for fifteen years?"

Crimson, stepping forward for the first time, knelt beside her bed and placed a comforting hand on hers. "It's okay now," he said gently. "Everything is okay, you are here, with us. That's all that matters."

But his words only seemed to make her cry harder. Crimson blinked, momentarily taken aback, until understanding dawned on him. In that moment, he realized why Ruby cried so much—she took after her mother.

For the next several days, Summer was never alone. At least one member of the family was always by her side. Ruby practically attached herself to her mother, telling her stories of what had happened during her absence. Yang joined in, recounting their adventures and struggles. Qrow and Raven shared their own tales, though they all glossed over the darker parts.

Much of their time was spent talking about Crimson. They spoke of his dedication to the family, of his heroics, his battles, his unique mindset, and his unyielding determination to protect the world. They told her about his fight with Salem, his countless victories against the Grimm, and even his old plans to become a musician instead of a huntsman. The more they talked, the more Summer listened in stunned silence.

"Our son is... remarkable," Qrow admitted one evening, grinning widely. "He has a unique way of thinking and has done what no one else could."

Summer didn't know what to say. Hearing these stories felt surreal, as though they were talking about a mythical figure rather than her own child.

Then they told her about the promises she and Crimson exchanged, the ones that had driven him all these years. "He said he promised you to make sure everything will be okay till you come back and you promised to come back" Ruby explained, her voice thick with emotion. "No matter what. He held onto that promise all this time. Since our childhood, he was the anchor of the family, when we joined Beacon and Salem attacked, he was the first to take a stand and protect us"

Summer cried again, her heart aching. "I don't remember..." she murmured. "I don't remember him making a promise, I don't remember anything from that night."

When Crimson visited later that day, she looked at him with tearful eyes. "I... I forgot," she said, her voice trembling. "I am a bad mother, I forgot the promise I made to you."

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Crimson smiled softly and shook his head. "You're here now," he said. "That's what matters. Your promise was to come back no matter what—and you did."

His words were kind, but they only deepened Summer's guilt. How much had her son endured to keep a promise she couldn't even remember?

The days continued, and as Summer grew stronger, the family introduced her to Pyrrha, Crimson's girlfriend. Summer immediately took a liking to the polite and kind-hearted girl, finding comfort in the thought that her son had someone who cared for him so deeply. They also introduced her to Weiss, Blake, Nora, and Ren, each sharing stories of how Crimson had impacted their lives. Weiss spoke with her usual refined poise, emphasizing Crimson's leadership and his ability to inspire those around him. Blake's words were quieter but filled with admiration for Crimson's unyielding resolve. Nora's exuberance added a touch of levity to the otherwise heavy atmosphere, while Ren's calm and measured praise highlighted Crimson's loyalty and strength in the face of adversity. Summer could hardly believe how many lives her son had touched and changed.

One day, General Ironwood visited, accompanied by his trusted second-in-command, Winter Schnee. Summer remembered Ironwood from her time in Atlas, though she hadn't known him personally. He was uncharacteristically warm, expressing his gratitude for Crimson. "Your son is a hero," Ironwood said earnestly. "A savior to all of Remnant. I can't thank you enough for having him." Winter, standing just behind the general, bowed her head respectfully. "It's an honor to meet you, Mrs. Rose," she said with sincerity. "Your son's efforts have brought hope to a world that desperately needed it." Her tone, formal yet heartfelt, left Summer touched by the weight of their admiration.

Later, the leader of the Ace Ops, Clover Ebi, along with Vine Zeki, arrived to pay their respects. Clover greeted Summer with a firm handshake and a warm smile. "It's a privilege to meet you," he began, his voice filled with genuine respect. "Crimson's deeds have not only saved countless lives but have also inspired every Huntsman and Huntress to be better. He's not just a hero—he's a symbol of what we all strive to be." Vine nodded in agreement, his serene expression reflecting his deep respect. "Your son's compassion and strength transcend mere duty. He has shown us what it means to fight not just for survival but for a brighter future." Their words left Summer overwhelmed with pride and a lingering sense of awe at just how far her son had come.

Summer didn't know how to respond. The weight of her son's actions and reputation, the admiration he commanded from even the highest-ranking officials, left her speechless.

But the biggest shock came weeks later when Summer learned about Crimson's dealings with Salem. She overheard a conversation between Ruby and Qrow, and the words "spending hours with Salem" froze her in place.

When she confronted them, Ruby hesitated before answering. "He doesn't hate her," she said softly, her voice wavering. "He... he said he pities her, and... he's trying to make her normal." Her uncertainty was evident in the way she stumbled over her words.

"The queen of grimm, Salem? Make her normal?" Summer repeated, stunned.

Ruby nodded hesitantly. "He believes there's a way to help her—to break her out of this cycle. And... he's actually been making progress. He even managed to turn her back into a human."

The idea was incomprehensible to Summer. To her, Salem was the ultimate evil, an unredeemable force of destruction. The thought that her son was not only interacting with her but also trying to save her left her reeling.

"I don't understand...what is going on?" she murmured, sitting down heavily.

Neither did anyone else, really, but they all trusted Crimson. And that trust had never been misplaced.

As the days passed, Summer began to marvel at her son in a new light. His strength, his resolve, his compassion—all of it felt almost too extraordinary to belong to one person. She even joked to Qrow one evening, "Maybe your semblance stole and stored all the good luck in the world so we can have him."

Qrow laughed, though there was a hint of seriousness in his reply. "If anyone's going down in the history books, it's him. Crimson Rose—the living myth."

Summer couldn't argue with that. Her son was more than she ever could have imagined, and though she still struggled to process everything, one thought remained constant: she was proud of him.

No matter what lay ahead, she was determined to stand by his side—her family's side—and face the future together. After all, they had already overcome the impossible.