"That concludes today's lesson, Ruby." Ruby panted outside the dorm room of Mistral as Oscar walked back to the dorm room. It had been yet another grueling day of training for her and Jaune. None of them had mastered what they were being trained on. Jaune wasn't anywhere closer to unlocking his Semblance and Ruby was still struggling with hand to hand combat.

She wanted to master it though… Had she learned hand to hand combat, maybe she could have gotten past Mercury and saved Penny… Maybe she could have prevented the Fall of Beacon… Maybe…

That's when she remembered something.

"Ozpin! Wait!" Ruby pleaded to Oscar, who stopped and turned around. Ruby noticed Oscar's still golden eyes. This definitely means it's Ozpin. "… Why am I learning this?" Ruby asked.

"Because, you're not good with fighting without Crescent Rose. We're going to a tribe of bandits to-"

"No! That's not what I mean!" Ruby raised her voice, just a bit. "I mean…" She quieted herself. "Why am I not learning about the Silver Eyes?" Ruby asked. Oscar raised an eyebrow.

"You've… activated them?" Ozpin asked.

"…" Ruby remembered the first and only time her powers were activated. And what it took to turn them on. "Yes…" Ozpin could see some tears form in her eyes. "Yes, I have. And I don't know how to turn them on again!" Ruby's voice cracked.

"Why would that be a pro-" That's when Ruby stomped her foot down.

"IT'S THE ONLY THING THAT STOPPED CINDER!" She shouted. "… You and Pyrrha failed to stop her… Two of the strongest Huntsmen I knew, and yet it's me that stopped her… But I didn't stop her with Crescent Rose or my hands. I stopped her with some magical power that I still don't know about." She calmed down again. "Had… Had I known about the Maidens or the Silver Eyes… Maybe I could have stopped Cinder earlier. Before she… Before she…" Ruby's tears began to fall from her face. Oscar frowned.

"And… The fact that it can stop Grimm as well. Maybe I could have stopped Beacon from falling. Or stop that breach from happening or…" Oscar just put a hand on Ruby's shoulder.

"I understand what you're trying to say, but there are many reasons why you didn't know about it beforehand. You know what happened with the Spring Maiden. She ran away knowing the burden she has on her shoulders. I remember how, when I allowed you into Beacon, you were hesitant. You didn't wanted to be treated as special."

"That was before! None of this was supposed to happen! If I had a chance to tell my past self that I had an amazing power that can save lives, I would tell it!" Ruby said.

"And you might be overwhelmed with that burden. I didn't want this to happen either. I would have been happy with you graduating happily from Beacon Academy with your friends. A shame that Salem thinks otherwise."

"That's another thing… Salem… She probably knows how much of a threat I am. That's why that man was sent after me. She might have warned Cinder about my powers, and yet I don't know how to do it. We might have another Great War, we must find the Spring Maiden, Cinder might still be alive, and we now know that the Grimm are led by this Salem person. I feel like the entire world depends on me knowing how to use the Silver Eyes and yet I don't know how! So please! Teach me! I may not have wanted to know about the Silver Eyes back then, but I have every right to know now!" Ruby's voice cracked even further.

"Ozpin... Please… I don't want to see her cry." Oscar's voice entered Ozpin's head. Ozpin just sighed.

"And if I teach you, will you use them?" Ozpin asked.

"Yes! Most definitely!" Ruby exclaimed.

"For almost every situation?"

"YES!"

"Then…" Ruby beamed at Ozpin. "You'll turn that very power into a burden." Ozpin's words shattered Ruby's smile. "The reason Cinder fell victim to your power was that she over relied on her Maiden powers. She grew cocky, felt as though no one could stop her. That's why she killed Pyrrha. She grew so power hungry that she felt as though killing a strong huntress in training would serve an example to her strength. However, that in turn cause you to despair and, in turn, activated your powers."

"You might end up being exactly like Cinder. Thinking you're all-powerful if you use the Silver Eyes to win your battles. One with Silver Eyes is just as vulnerable as one without. I once had a woman with Silver Eyes under my employ. She thought that, by relying on the Silver Eyes, she can end the war with Salem and ensure peace throughout Remnant. That's what led to her demise. I'm trying my hardest to make sure you don't follow in her footsteps. That's why you're learning everything but the Silver Eyes. Sometimes the greatest weapon is one you never have to fire." Ruby just glared.

"Perhaps you didn't hear me, Ozpin… Remnant's in danger and I might lose my friends again if I don't know more about how to use the Silver Eyes! My uncle nearly died saving me from one of Salem's henchmen. All because of my eyes! I feel like I need to know about them!" Ruby said.

"And you will… But not now." Ozpin said.

"Then when!? When my friends are torn apart or incinerated? When my home is in ashes? When I can't look to tomorrow with a fake smile on my face!?" After that, Ruby broke down and began to cry. "When?"

"When you're ready. Many people make the mistake of trying to obtain a greater power before they are ready and paid heavy prices for it. There are many secrets I prefer to keep hidden, even from you, but I promise you, your Silver Eyes and how to master them are not one of those secrets. Perhaps, once you master hand-to-hand combat, I can teach you how to at least activate them." Ruby looked up and smiled a bit. "Now, if you excuse me, I feel like this is a good moment for Oscar to step in."

"Huh? What!?" Oscar's body rippled with green aura as he fell limply into Ruby's arms. She grabbed him and suddenly wept a bit in his arms. Oscar realized what Ozpin meant and gave Ruby a comforting hug, followed by a brief stroking of her back.