~This is my first fan fiction so I am eager to hear what you think. I was inspired by my love for RWBY and thought Velvet could be a more important character. I also I hope you enjoy! I don't own RWBY or any of the characters, that privilege belongs to the geniuses at Roosterteeth.

Chapter 1- New Bow, New Life

Blake Belladonna was eleven years old. She was walking home from the library with a new book in her hand. Blake had loved books for as long as she could remember. Her father always said that, when she was little, she wouldn't go to bed without a bedtime story. Her mother used to - no. She mustn't think about her mother. It brought up too many painful emotions and memories. As Blake walked home, she spotted some people on the sidewalk coming towards her. Her heart started to beat faster, as it did whenever she saw strangers. She instinctively ducked her head and moved to the side, hoping that these people would just leave her alone and she could avoid trouble this one day. She was not so lucky.

When the groups of teenagers, probably averaging around sixteen, saw her they started elbowing each other and pointing then they came up to her and said, "Hey kitty kitty. Want to play a game?" Blake just shook her head and took a nervous step back. The cat ears on top of her head flattened anticipating what was coming next. The kid that Blake took to be the leader stepped forward. He was big. One of the biggest boys Blake had ever seen. He raised his hand and Blake flinched, but no blow came. The boy snatched the book out of her hand.

"Hey!" Blake shouted, startled. "That's mine. Give it back!"

The group just laughed. "Look, the filthy Faunus thinks she has the right to own something. I like this one. She's... feisty. Come here kitten. Let me show you something." The leader gestured for her to step forward, so Blake took a tentative step forward. That was when all hell broke loose. The entire group started wailing on her. Blake screamed and tried to get away, but they were too strong. Finally, once Blake was beaten so that every part of her body ached, they backed off. The leader stepped forward. Blake didn't even have the strength to flinch as he spit on her and said, "Filthy Faunus scum. They think they're so special. Well let me tell you something, kitten. The lot of you should be wiped off the face of the planet. We're only letting you live cause you're just a kid, but if we ever see the likes of you around here again, acting like you are anything more than what you are, well, let's just say it won't be pretty."

With that they left, leaving Blake huddled in a ball unable to move, in the middle of the sidewalk. The worst part wasn't the physical beating she had taken. She had endured more than her fair share of violence, growing up as a Faunus. The worst part was the looks that she got from the people walking past. Looks that said, That's right, stay down, and Finally, someone taught that trash a lesson. Blake must have layed there for an hour before her father found her, scooped her up and carried her home. He tended to her wounds and, before long, she was starting to feel a bit better. Physically, at least. Then her father walked into the room holding something in his hand.

"Blake" he started, "This belonged to your mother. I've held on to it, hoping that you wouldn't need to use it but I see now that there is no other option." He held out what appeared to be a silk black ribbon. Blake took it reverently, and rubbed the smooth material between her fingers. Slowly, Blake looked up and asked her father

"What is it? Why do I need it?" Her father looked at her and spoke in a very deliberate voice, willing her to understand why he had given it to her.

"Blake, this was your mother's bow. I'm giving it to you now so that you can wear it in public to hide your ears. I'm not giving it to you because I'm ashamed of you. Just the opposite. I love you so much and I can't stand to see you be hurt like you were today. If you wear this, people won't know that you are a Faunus, and you can avoid all the hateful remarks and physical abuse. I wish it didn't have to come to this, but I don't see any way around it. Please understand, Blake, I love you so much and... your mother did too." He added the last part slowly, nervously, unsure of how his daughter would react to the mention of her deceased mother. Blake looked at him with fresh tears in her eyes and hugged him ferociously.

"Thank you, Daddy. I'll wear it everyday in honor of Mom" she gushed, surprising herself with the sudden outbreak of emotion.

"You're welcome, Sweetheart. You're mother would be so proud of you."