Well seeing as you people want this and I always live up to my promises so I present you a happy alternate ending. I'll let you choose which you prefer. Also so you all know this was the original ending I had planned until I started to read all of the Cú Chulainn stories... and the mythological cycle... and the Fianna cycle. Irish folklore is filled with sad endings because that is all the major saga's.

Chapter 25: Burial of Fionn McCumhail

3 Years Later...

Ruby was fading in and out of conscientiousness. She heard crying but she couldn't make out who was crying. She felt a bird land on her shoulder. Ruby could recognise it was a raven by the sound of its caw. 'Hmmm guess this was the last day I'd ever see Blake. I'm sorry Blake. I wish I could see your face just one last time.' Ruby thought. She felt someone begin to untie the rope holding her and checking for a pulse.

"She doesn't have a pulse Dad. She also looks like she lost a lot of blood." Yang shouted trying to desperately find some sign that Ruby was still alive. She needed her little sister alive, she needed the wolf eared girl who broke her bed every chance by jumping on it. The one who in their first year at Beacon suspended her bed from a tree because she poured water onto her. 'Come on Rubes I promise I will never pull pranks on you again nor will I bet on you.' Yang pleaded to any deity that would listen to her.

"Come on Ruby... you dolt. Open your eyes, twitch your tail or ears... anything." Weiss pleaded with the cape wearing Faunus she had called a partner for four years. The one that opened her eyes to all forms of discrimination and hate but proved there was still love and hope that everything would be better come tomorrow. The same person that had caused the both of them to explode when they first met. The same one who would listen to stories that anyone would read to her. The same one who desperately attempted to read the pornographic literature Blake and herself had in common.

Tai hearing his eldest daughter's comment left the hug he was giving Blake to go see if this was just a poor joke on Yang's part. He quickly put his index finger and middle finger onto her neck. It was bone cold and worst of all no pulse. He put his ear on her chest to hear her breathing or a faint heartbeat. There was one. Very faint. And growing fainter. "We need to get some other medics up here! Yang call them tell them where we are!" Tai yelled as he applied pressure to Ruby's chest to stop some of the bleeding.

Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep...

That was all that was that was filling a pair of red tipped ears. It was starting to annoy the individual. Her eyes felt heavy, and she was getting ready to gnaw her arms. It felt heavier than normal and seemed to constantly itch. She heard some soft mutterings and she was getting furious. She would love to hear what they were talking about but all she heard was the same thing.

Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep...

Blake hadn't left the bedside for one week with the slight exception to go to the bathroom. She stayed constantly observant. The nurses that came in and the occasional doctor to check on her vitals could swear she didn't even blink. It was somewhat unsettling to them. But Blake was preferred over the blonde that needed to be subdued and drugged to prevent her from injuring the staff.

Weiss Schnee was the major surprise though. All the staff thought that they would never see a Schnee caring about a Faunus' wellbeing. Let alone one of the considered 'damned' races. Weiss was there every day during visiting hours to try and convince Blake to return to a proper bed and get some sleep. Always in vain. Even the staff gave up getting her to leave after the first two nights she would get back in just as fast as they chased her out.

Qrow would come to make sure Tai was alright, Tai meanwhile abused his right as the parent to stay with Blake. He had next to no information other than she was stable. He knew he looked like Blake but he at least attempted to sleep. It was at most an hour each night but he still got some. He also left them a few times to get food and brought some back for Blake. It was only something small but it was enough to keep her over.

The same noise just filled their ears as Tai attempted to break the silence, "Blake... I'm going to get some coffee. Do you want some?" His voice just above a whisper knowing that she could hear him. Blake just nodded slowly. Tai nodded back and walked out. Blake walked up and grabbed Ruby's hand tightly, but not tight enough to harm her.

"Come on Ruby, you fought death back a few times... all you need to do is wake up. Please, Ozpin pushed back the graduation because he refuses to step down as the strongest until he can shake your hand and you can return it. Just please... wake up... if not to live your dreams but for me." Blake said as the same sound filled her ears.

Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep... Beep...

A new sound filled her ears. It was the sound of someone crying. And a simple "Wake up... For me" she couldn't decipher what was said in the middle but she couldn't care. The person sounded like Blake. Which meant Blake was crying. Which meant someone was going to get an angry Ruby. But her eyes felt heavy, but Blake was sad. She needed to make it better.

Fighting the sleep from her eyes, and ignoring the blinding light. She had to make sure Blake was alright. That was the top of her priorities right now. Not the burning sensation in her chest where it felt like she got stabbed. Not the itchiness on her right arm or the pain in her shoulder. No Blake was sad. That is what mattered. Blake needed to be happy.

Once her eyes opened she coughed a bit. It was the only way that she could communicate. The next thing she knew was she received a slap and a hug in a split second. She could hear something dropping and judging by the smell it was coffee. It was odd. She felt someone else hug her but she couldn't quite tell who the other person was. Right now her nose was filled with the scent of Blake. Her eyes only saw Blake hugging her carefully. Her ears where filled with the sound of Blake crying.

"Ruby, you dumb pup!" Tai yelled as Blake seemed to just fall asleep holding onto Ruby. Ruby wasn't sure how long Blake was crying for. It felt like hours and it probably was, but Ruby would gladly have Blake crying right now. Tai seemed furious and whenever he was furious it may have hurt her ears but he would always have a reason.

"Do you have any idea how much pain you caused us all? This is the first time Blake slept in a week! I honestly thought Yang was the dumb one! The stress you caused alone in a week will send me to an early grave!" Tai yelled. Whenever Ruby tried to divert her attention she was reminded how sensitive her ears are when he would pull her attention back.

"You had to have two metal poles implanted into your arm because whatever chomped down on it turned the bone to dust! Thirty stitches in your shoulder and you died once in my arms getting here and twice more on the operating table when they tried to patch the hole in your chest!" Each time he yelled Ruby just seemed to shrink and scratch Blake's ears.

"But I'm glad you are alive." He said softly rubbing Ruby's ears as she smiled dumbly. She was alive and she didn't miss her graduation. She could still have her dreams come true and have Blake but from the stunt she pulled she would be sad to lose her but she would understand.

One Week Later...

Ruby was sitting next to her teachers as Ozpin was talking but the only thought that was in her mind was how much her arm itched and how many times she had to tell the same story of how she was the reason the graduation was pushed back because she killed a deranged villain and her men in one evening. Glynda was furious that Ruby fought them by herself but like everyone else she was over joyed Ruby was alive and just a little banged up.

Ruby received a glare from Blake who was sitting in the front row just in front of her. Ruby looked down and saw how close she was to biting the cast off just to scratch the itch. She quickly used her arm to brush her bangs out of her eyes making it look like she going to do it anyway.

"Normally I would ask the top scoring individual to say a few words but she is currently in an injured state because she fought a criminal. Cinder Fall. She was able to beat Cinder and her men. Cinder did manage to get Ruby a few times but was out shone. She was able to attend but needs to head back to the hospital for further treatment. So if you would like to have a conversation with her I simply ask on behalf of her family that you keep it brief." Ozpin said as he began to finish his speech while Ruby began to resist the urge to gnaw her arm off. It was beginning to agitate her to new degrees.

Ozpin walked over to Ruby and offered his hand to Ruby. She took it and shook it with pride. "It does me great pride to pass my title as the strongest onto you Ruby. I knew since the first time I saw you fight. The way you just danced through the men and dispatched them was something akin to how I fought. Even though it was a trick your mother taught me I could just never do it the same way as she could." Ozpin said enjoying the expression on Ruby's face changed.

"Wait... you knew my mom? What was she like? I only ever hear what dad and Uncle Qrow say." Ruby said as she stopped shaking his hand. She has to know what her mom was like from someone that wasn't biased

"She was an extraordinary woman. While I was a skilled fighter and learner she was a caring person. I feel like she was really the strongest. She had the hearts of every man including both Tai and Qrow. She broke the hearts of them all when she turned them down but she made sure they were alright. She always kept true to your biological father while he was truly a monster. He gave into the aggression that became notorious with the wolf Faunus. But he always said if he had a child he would make sure that the child was well cared for." Ozpin said brushing a tear falling from Ruby's eyes.

"I've asked you when I had to tell you but now you know the truth. Did he live up to that promise? Are you well looked after? Are you happy?" Ozpin asked as he led Ruby down the stage. He was curious as to if Ruby's answer changed. "Yeah... Dad may yell but he always has a reason. And when they found me and brought me to the hospital apparently Yang needed to get subdued because they refused to give me all their attention. And well you met Blake. She is pretty and smart and constantly wanting me to be happy when she is willing to sacrifice her own happiness." Ruby laughed as Blake walked up and flicked her head.

"If you didn't want your arm to itch you shouldn't have ran off like that!" Blake yelled and then hugged Ruby. It wasn't due to the fact she was still furious. She was. It was more so because she was still so happy that she was alive. She would fight anyone who would dare steal her from her. But she also wanted Ruby to know she was mad.

"But it's soooo itchy!" Ruby pouted as her eyes grew Blake along with her friends had agreed to show Ruby no sympathy. Her ears flattened against her head as her lip began to quiver and her tail went between her legs and started to let out a low whine. "Not going to work Ruby. I'm still mad. Three times you died. Three times you almost tore my world apart." Blake said looking Ruby in the eyes showing that the infamous pout wasn't going to work.

"Fine... I'll still complain though. It is just the damn cast. I'm fine with the shoulder and chest pain from being stabbed. Honestly I was debating the pro's and con's of gnawing my arm off." Ruby said quickly standing next to Blake. Ruby quickly attempted to intertwine her fingers with Blake's. Blake pulled her hand away and faced Ruby.

"I may be mad at you, but during one of the many days while your dad was asleep and I was staring at you I finally figured out how I can prove my love." Blake said getting down on one knee as the rest came around the corner to see what was taking Ruby and Blake. They all stopped and let out silent gasps as Blake produced a small black box from her pocket.

"It was something so simple but I want to spend the rest of my life with you. The point I'm trying to make is….Ruby Rose... Will you marry me?" Blake asked and was over joyed when Ruby tackled her planting kisses all over her head punctuated with a 'Yes!'

"Oh my god... I think I'm going to cry a bit..."

"Dad you're a forty plus year old man. Act your age will you" Yang said punching her dad in the shoulder. As Weiss and Tai just started to tear up a bit. At the site before them. Ruby stood up and held her left hand out offering it so Blake could slip the ring on it. Blake quickly took the ring out and put it on Ruby's hand.

"Oh god... I can't hold them back now." Tai said trying to hug Qrow receiving a punch from both Yang and Qrow. "Get yourself together you blubbering buffoon!" Qrow yelled as Tai held on alerting the two Faunus to their presences.

"I can't my little pup got engaged after she killed a dangerous person, Shattered all previous records of all the training schools on Remnant and best of all I didn't need to chase some boys out of the house because of her. Unlike my other daughter." Tai said wiping his eyes getting another punch from Yang. "Right here. Not funny. I may settle down eventually. Or may beat seven colours of shit out of you in the meantime."

"Dad look... look... look it is so pretty and now we are one step closer so that Blake will only be mine. This is now the bestest day ever!" Ruby shouted jumping into Tai hugging him. Tightly. It truly was the greatest day for both Blake and Ruby.

Five Years Later...

"Ruby get up now or I swear I'm sending the Calvary in!" Blake yelled at the sleeping red head that just got back from a hunting trip in the night at some time Blake wasn't sure when. All she knew was Ruby was asleep in their guest room.

"You wouldn't..." Ruby responded registering the sound of the door open followed by some soft murmurings and a few giggles. Ruby was really too tired to even move. She got home around three after a thirteen day mission. She didn't want to wake Blake so she chose to sleep in the guest room. Ruby felt the bed dip partially as someone began to jump.

"Come on Mommy! Get up. Mom made pancakes and you owe us some stories." Ruby heard her daughter.

"Sorry, Dahlia. I'm really tired. Go play with your brother or sister." Ruby muttered covering her ears as her daughter began to bounce higher and land on Ruby's back by mistake and falling down and hugging Ruby.

"Mom sent us in here as well. She said the only way that it will be okay to leave here is if you are in front of us." Ruby's eldest spoke poking her feet to get her up. "Obsidian stop poking my feet. Either crawl in here or you can wait for pancakes with your mom." Ruby said and felt the bed shift again. Ruby moved over to accommodate the new person.

"Nimhe... you are here as well? Because there is still room." Ruby said as she heard a groan from the other two in the bed. "Mom is outside the room right now and she sounds angry. If she had a tail it would be flicking." Ruby's middle child spoke in the same monotone voice that made her siblings annoyed. For the simple fact it was almost impossible to read her.

"Mom just come in. Grumbling won't work." Nimhe said as the door opened and in stepped Blake. The children who were in the bed jumped out and stepped next to her. They may know Ruby was the one who did the dangerous things but Blake was the true head of the household. None wanting to anger her.

Blake rubbed Nimhe's black tipped wolf ears. She laughed partially as the other two attempted to get their ears scratched. "Ruby get up or next it is going to be cold water." Blake said and was over joyed to see Ruby sit up rubbing her eyes. All Ruby could see was the faces of her three four year olds all half wolf half cat, with the feline features only showing on the youngest. She had dark red ears and amber eyes.

The middle, Nimhe had her wolf features prominent but was just like Ruby. She loved her ears being scratched. She had the darkest of the ears with silver calculating eyes. She just sought to know everything she can learn.

Thirdly, the eldest of the triplets, Obsidian. The only way you could tell he was half wolf Faunus was because of the extreme anger he developed if anyone harmed his family. His ears where a dark purple like his namesake. One eye was silver. Calculating and seeking a challenge in a fight that he never found in children his age. The other eye was amber in shade. All it sought was knowledge.

Finally the woman that stole Ruby's heart, Blake. To Ruby she was perfect in every way. From her yellow eyes that have read countless stories to her and her children to her black ears that she loved to have out. Any social stigma that may have developed from years of working with the White Fang have long since been destroyed by Ruby.

"If I tell them a story can I sleep a little longer? I almost got chomped on by five different Beowolves and two Creepers. And we both know how much I hate casts." Ruby said as her children looked towards Blake seeking her approval first.

"Fine. But make sure it is appropriate. I don't want Dahlia coming in crying again. While I do like you spreading culture to them I don't think 'The Death of Cú Chulainn' is appropriate for them." Blake said sitting on the side of the bed waiting for the other room occupants to get comfortable.

"I was going to tell them about the 'Burial of Fionn' it isn't anything sad. Like how that meanie head Cú Chulainn killed a poor puppy." Ruby said and Blake nodded in approval as Nimhe took a seat on Ruby's lap. Dahlia took Blake's lap and Obsidian sat between them.

"I'm sure you all remember Fionn. This story takes place when he is an old man.

While he never did find his wife and his son vanished decades back all Fionn had left was the Fianna. He was still leader who only wanted his family back. Even if he would only see them for a few minutes before the icy curtain of death came for him.

One of his men mentioned an old spell that may be able to help him. It would put him and all the Fianna's men to a deep sleep. They would not age, they would not feel the passage of time. The only cure to it is for the Fianna's ancient battle horn to sound by one of the descendants of the Fianna.

Once all his men agreed to it Fionn lead them down to the deepest cave that expanded the width and breadth of the country and they all laid down as Fionn started the spell. They got blinded by a bright light and became tired. They all laid down and began to feel the affects of the spell and one by one they fell asleep.

300 years later Oisín went searching to find his father's house in disarray and the Fianna are but a distant memory. A few years later was when he fell off his horse and became the old man until the saint came and asked Oisín about his story. To this day no one has used the battle horn, but the Fianna still maintain their deep sleep until it is sounded." Ruby spoke gently bouncing the daughter on her knee that began to yawn. Dahlia already asleep on Blake's lap. Finally Obsidian was wide awake. It was a story he wanted to accomplish. He wanted to be the strongest and the only way to prove it was beating the undefeated.

Ruby laid back down and fell asleep holding Nimhe in her arms as Blake picked Dahlia up and helped Obsidian out of the room to let Ruby and now Nimhe sleep.

Author's Note:

Yeah Fionn is only buried by definition. I hope you all like this happy ending it is shorter than the original but this was closer to the original ending I had in mind. I would like to thank all the people who messaged me asking for it and my editor. This version will not have an Epilogue. I have a tumblr now that will have random one shots uploaded same name as here. Just put me in the tumblr search and I should come up under blog. Again if anyone out there want to showcase their skills as an artist, I'm still looking for cover art. The only condition is it has to be your personal work. You will receive all credit.