J. Chadwick

1) RWBY: Remnant

Anniversary

Ruby opens her eyes. Her room is dark, the ceiling fan spins lazily.

"Ruby you awake yet?"

Ruby rolls to face the wall, her back towards the door. Muffled steps approach, and Ruby holds her blankets more snug. The door opens, and light floods into the room.

"Hey I need your help moving something, can you help me?"

Ruby hums a response, but whether it was a yes or a no is uncertain. Yang tip toes into the room, careful not to walk on the piles of clothes. She sits on the bed next to Ruby and runs her fingers through her hair.

"What's wrong?"

Ruby sits up, and avoids Yang's gaze.

"Will I ever make a difference?"

Yang holds Ruby's hand and looks her in the eyes.

"You made a difference in my life, so yes, you can."

Ruby bows her head.

"Now come on, I have something for you."

Yang stand and leaves.

Ruby walks downs the stairs of their small two floor apartment. On her left is the kitchen and on the right is the sitting room, filled with a couch and tv.

"What did you need me to move?"

Yang throws a box wrapped with paper at her. It hits Ruby in the chest and she falls over.

"Moved it."

"Thanks."

Ruby sits up and examines the package.

"What is it?"

"It's a gift, don't even think I forgot what today is."

Ruby looks back at the poorly wrapped package. Scotch tape losely holds the paper together and the cardboard box underneath shows in places. Ruby uses her finger to tear through the paper, then gingerly lifts the lid of the box. Red cloth hides in a bundle underneath the lid. Ruby brushes her hand across the fabric, confused at first.

"Take it out."

Ruby removes the bundle and it unfurls like a scarf, because it is a scarf.

"Its a scarf!"

"I realize that. Thank you."

Ruby stares at the red cloth. In her heart she knows this was a meaningful gift from Yang, but somewhere she lost the emotions to convey it. Her hand trembles and she cautiously looks at Yang. She has her back turned to her, and is scraping the grease off a pan. Ruby silently thinks to herself, does she know?

Ruby stands on a cliff side, the wind blowing her hair and scarf. Her hand brushes against the cool stone of a grave. She can't even look at it, her eyes brimming with tears. This is good enough, Ruby thinks to herself.

"I can't live without you anymore. You left me, you promised you would never leave me."

Ruby waits, almost like she expects a reply, but nothing. The wind blows and rustles the leaves. Ruby hugs herself and turns to walk away.

'You are wrong.'

Like a whisper on the wind, Ruby stops. The tone so familiar, yet the words sounded so far away. Ruby thought her heart warmed for a second. The hoar frost melting away revealing the scars deep within her emotion. And like that, it was gone. Ruby walks away.

Ruby runs into the Diner her hair a mess and her shirt half tucked in.

"Sorry Mrs. Jones, my bus broke down on my way here, I'm so sorry I am late."

"You are on the grill tonight, you should be thankful that I don't just fire you."

"Thank you, Mrs. Jones." Ruby puts on an apron and goes to work cooking the numerous dishes and orders. Several hours later, She walks out to a booth and sits down. Her face hits the table and she lets loose a loud sigh.

"This isn't what I ordered."

"It's been a long day Yang, please don't." Ruby sits up and stares at her roomate. Yang, is about five years older than her and works for The Academy. Yang is something of a prodigy. Her ability to control Essence, the energy that flows through the body, allowed her to pass the entrance exams and become an instructor. The Academy trains youth in the ways of combat. The from is ancient, but the school is largely modernized. The locals know the school by the exceptional warriors it produces, and have given them the name, Hunters.

"Did you like my gift?" Yang asks.

"Yes I did, thank you."

"How do you feel?"

Ruby slouches in the booth.

"I'm tired, but I feel ok."

"I got a surprise for you."

"You finally paid your rent so we can have hot water again?"

"Ha, Ha, no. I have a letter for you."

Yang pulls a letter out of her pocket and slides it across the table. Ruby opens the letter and reads the first word. BEACON... the academy.

"I asked you not to talk to him."

"He contacted me."

Ruby leans over the table and whispers.

"I told you already, I am not going to that school."

"Like you have other options."

"As a matter of fact I do Yang. I just got accepted to a culinary program."

"Oh god, is that what you've been calling this Diner?"

"Hey!"

"I literally killed a rat on my way in here."

"Yang it's been a long day I don't want to talk about it here."

Yang stands to leave and taps her fist on the table.

"You asked how you could make a difference, here it is."

Yang walks out of the diner, leaving Ruby alone with the letter. The letter mentions a meeting at a restaurant, one hour, and a large fancy O.

Ruby runs home and jumps in the shower. The hot water runs down her back and legs. She wrestles on a pair of heels, and a simple dress, then squirts a spray of perfume.

"You won't regret it," sings Yang.

"Shut up," Ruby yells back.

On her way to the restaurant Ruby ties her hair into a braid. She finishes just as she arrives and takes a deep breath. I can just leave, I don't have to do this, she thinks to herself. She sees her reflection in the window. Then why are you here ten minutes early, in a dress? she thinks to herself.

Ruby finds the mysterious benefactor already seated, sipping on a glass of white wine. He is hidden behind the menu and doesn't say a thing. Ruby takes her seat, and glances at the table. In front of him is a letter with a stangle symbol on it. A circle, with feathers at the bottom. A waiter comes by and takes their orders, he orders the steak, and Ruby orders the quiche. As the waiter walks away, the gentlemen across from her clears his throat.

"I guess I should introduce myself. I am Doctor Cornelius Ozpin, headmaster of Beacon Academy."

"I think we met before, after my friend Yang went through The Induction Ceremony."

"Help refresh my memory."

"I drank too much and was standing in the fountain yelling. Bacon Academy!"

"That I do remember, we actually considered changing the name."

"Doctor-"

"You can call me Ozpin."

"Mr. Ozpin, I've told Yang I don't want to attend your school a thousand times."

"I see you two don't get along."

"No we do, it's just things have been different lately. I am not a fighter and she really wants me to be. I am sorry if she roped you into this."

"No not at all. You have intrigued me ever since I first saw you."

"A glass of wine, and something Yang gave me. I know I get drunk really easy."

"That's not the first time I met you."

Ruby tilts her head and furls her brows.

"I was at your wedding."

Ozpin takes a sip of wine.

"I don't want to talk about it," Ruby looks away.

Ozpin laughs.

"He told me you would say that?"

"How did you know him?"

"I was his instructor when he went through hunter training."

There is silence as Ruby collects her thoughts.

"Why are you here?"

"Forgive me if I seemed misleading, but I wanted to personally invite you to the Academy this year."

"You know I will say no."

"I will let you make that choice."

The waiter returns and serves them their food. They eat, and engage in lively banter. Ruby is impressed. Ozpin understands art, music, love, it was not something she expected from a fighter. Especially living with Yang, who forgets how to tie her shoes sometimes. At the end of the meal Ruby places her napkin on the plate and stands from her seat.

"Thank you for the meal Mr. Ozpin, but my answer is still no."

"The meal was not for the school, but for your anniversary. I still owed one last favor."

Ruby's hand curls into a fist.

"I apologize if I come off a bit rash, but what the fuck do you see in me?" Ruby takes a few deep breaths. "Sorry."

Ozpin laces his fingers together and contemplates his answer.

"You are different, it's as simple as that."

"Nothing is simple."

Ruby turns to leave.

"You are the only person I know who cares more deeply than myself."

"Then you should know that I am dying inside. I don't know what to do with my life now that he is gone."

"You loved him, I can see that, but he is gone. No one can change that."

"Not even me."

Ozpin waits a second then replies.

"Two days ago, one of the graduates from Beacon was killed in an accident. I feel personally responsible. I keep telling myself, if I trained him better, if I gave the lessons myself, then maybe he would be alive."

"I am sorry, but what does this have to do with me?"

"I know you were going to kill yourself today. So I came to give the lesson myself."

Ruby is quiet and considers her next move.

"So you think enrolling is what is best for me?"

"I think you need purpose, and I believe you can find that at the school."

"I have to go, I have a lot to think about. Thank you for the meal."

Ruby bows her head, then walks out of the restaurant.

Ruby returns home and sits on her bathroom counter. She stares into the mirror, her blank expression stares back. She follows her features with her eyes. Her black hair, her round ears, her small nose. She traces the ring on her finger, then places it on the counter. Yang slams the front door shut and Ruby slides off the counter. Ruby walks into her room, and tries to close the door.

"Hey how did your meeting go?"

Yang walks in.

"I asked you not to."

"What else are you going to do? Do you really believe you are not a fighter?"

"What if I want to be something else, what if I want to be a mother?"

Ruby sits on her bed, and Yang leans against the wall.

"Maybe there is another way you can do that."

"Like?"

"Mothers help people, they comfort them, can you do that while you fight?"

"It seems odd to harm with one hand, and heal with the other."

"I don't know Ruby, I just think you would be happier if you joined the academy."

"Or, would it make you happier?"

Yang grows quiet and her face turns red.

"I'm sorry I asked."

Yang walks out of the room. Ruby stares at the wall and tries to understand the events that played out that day.

Ruby and Yang walk through the market. They pass by shop fronts and street vendors, all looking to sell them their wares. Yang stops at a booth of jewelry, Ruby knows Yang isn't into jewelry and must be planning to get it for her.

"You don't have to get that."

Yang's face turns red, and she quickly turns from the vendor. Ruby is confused, she wasn't getting that for herself, was she?

They buy churros from a cafe and eat them in the square. Ruby has her scarf around her neck and mittens on her hands.

"Thanks again for the scarf."

"Don't mention it."

"I am sorry if I have been selfish lately. I'm having a hard time dealing with fate."

Yang bites off too much of the churro and coughs.

"I might have been a little forward," Yang says through coughs.

"Why do you want me join?"

"There is a lot of team building, and just thought it would be cool to work together for once."

"I don't really like teams, they never work out."

"You never know, you might just like them."

A shout interrupts their conversation.

"Stop thief!"

Ruby and Yang turns towards the sound of the shout and sure enough spot a man running through the crowd. Yang stands up.

"We need to help."

"It is just a thief, let the cops handle it."

"And what if he hurts someone."

"Then it sucks to be them?"

Yang drops her churro and bolts after him.

"Come on!" Yells Yang.

Ruby sighs and follows.

Yang and Ruby run around a corner and barely see the thief duck into an alleyway. They sprint to catch up. They enter the alley way and find a small park between high rise buildings. Its empty.

"Where did he go?" Yang asks.

"He couldn't have gotten far."

They walk into the center of the park.

"He didn't get far indeed."

Ruby and Yang turn to find the thief and several other hooded and masked men.

"Look here guys give back what you stole and we won't hurt you."

"Yang one of them is a girl."

Yang looks at Ruby then to the thugs she is pointing at. Yang looks mortified and starts to bow.

"A thousand apologies miss, could you ever forgive me."

"How about you give us all your money and we won't hurt you."

"I don't think it works like that," says Ruby.

"What, you're not cops, and even if you were that is why we set up this ambush."

"Ya well we might not be cops, but we are hunters," shouts Yang.

"I'm not a hunter."

"Ruby, not in front of the bad guys."

"Holy shit you guys are here to kill us? We only stole a few watches."

"Are you kidding me, we are here to take back what you stole," says Yang.

"That's pretty low, Hunters resorting to stealing."

"We aren't here to- shut up!"

"This is a pretty long conversation," comments Ruby.

"I was thinking the same thing."

The leader of the thugs steps forward, and the others start to surround Ruby and Yang. Ruby and Yang brings their arms up and face back to back.

"Have any tips?" asks Ruby.

"Don't get hit."

"Easy for you to say."

A thug pulls a knife out of their pants, and Yang dashes forward. With three quick blows she knocks him out and sends him flying. Another thug tries to hit her over the head with a baseball bat, and makes contact. The bat explodes into a million pieces and a shimmer of light appears just over Yang's head. Yang sweeps her leg around, and jumps into the thug, punching her in the face.

Ruby stands still, waiting for the thug to move.

"Your move little miss riding hood."

"Its a scarf, thank you, and for the record I didn't want to be here."

Out of the corner of her eye, Ruby notices a chain lashing at her head. She ducks and a second later the chain flies over her head.

"What the fuck?" yells one of the thugs.

Ruby throws a rock at the thug with the chain and walks towards his friend. The thug kicks at Ruby's head, and she moves with the blow almost like water. The thug spins around and almost loses his balance. Ruby punches him in the side, focing him off center. Ruby feels the chain wrap her leg, and she jumps, a second later the chain wraps around the leg of the thug on the ground.

"How is she doing that?"

Ruby grabs the chain and uses it to propel herself towards the thug and kicks him in the throat. Two down. Ruby hears a gunshot and turns towards Yang. Almost in slow motion, she hears the shot again. Yang parries the shot with her Essence, but misses the second shot. Ruby watches as the bullet tears through Yang's side, spraying the ground with blood.

In one fluid movement, Ruby takes a step, jumps, and crushes her leg into the jaw of the thief with the gun. He crumples to the ground. Yang squirms on the ground, yelling and screaming.

Ruby sits next to Yang's hospital bed. She pulls herself close, and eyes the white surroundings with distaste. The last time she was here, she lost someone. The heart monitor steadily beats along and various fluids drip at their own rates. Yang lies in the bed, hospital gown pulled loosely over her shoulders. She breathes, but every breath is labored. She will live, at least that is what the doctors told her. However, Ruby's heart is full of guilt and dread.

Like a weight sinking into a black void, nausea hits Ruby, and her forehead starts to sweat. She pulls a letter from her pocket, it shakes in her hands. She unfolds it. The first line reads, If you are reading this, then I went through with it, and I'm dead. Ruby closes the letter, and shame fills her eyes. Yang didn't even hesitate, she thought to herself. She stands and places a hand on Yang's shoulder.

"I'll be back." As Ruby leaves she throws the letter into the wastebasket.

Ruby walks through the city streets. The night air crisp and cool. The stone paver moist from the foggy air. Her mind weighs heavy the events of the day. I wanted to die, and when I had my chance, I froze, she thinks to herself. Yang didn't even hesitate, but she wasn't trying to die. Ruby stops at an intersection. A few people walk past, a car putts along. The light changes color and Ruby crosses the street.

She was fighting, but it wasn't the thugs or even the army. Ruby stops and looks around. The lights, the smells, the voices. Life becomes full, and it has been a lot time for Ruby. She had forgotten just how beautiful life can be. Ruby chokes back tears as she watches a child pick out a flavor of ice cream. The carefree laughter, the parents smile, and look into each other's eyes. Yang was fighting for life, against the sorrows that bereft us all.

Ruby wipes a tear out of her eye, and smiles. She comes to an intersection. The lights turn green, but the cars remain motionless. A fire truck screams past, lights and sirens build and then fall as they past. Then Ruby smells it. Fire.

Ruby approaches a crowd of people at the base of a torrent of smoke. Faces of worry and fear glance at her as she pushes her way through. This wasn't the first fire they have seen, nor would it be the last, but they weren't afraid of the fire. As Ruby approaches the home ablaze, she feels more of it. Terror, Fear of the unknown, the realization of darkness... death. There were shadows in those flames, Ruby could feel them.

Ruby pushes through the crowd, and stands face to face with the fire. Crews scramble to keep the fire under control, "Keep hitting that spot with the water, they are on the second floor." A family trapped inside. The atmosphere changes, and Ruby is gripped with fear. She wants to turn away, no one wants to watch people die. But why is there a crowd, she thinks to herself. They stare almost mesmerized by the flames, but it wasn't the fire Ruby saw in their eyes. They stood face to face with their own mortality, their own frailties. It wasn't just a random fire in the city, it was their fire, their hopes and dreams.

Under the sound of the fires and hoses, Ruby hears the sobs of a woman. She turns and spots a woman sitting alone. A blanket around her shoulders and trails of tears in the soot on her face. Ruby sits next to her, and puts an arm around her shoulder. The woman leans her head against Ruby.

"Do you care?"

Ruby is surprised.

"Care about what?"

"That my family is dead, burned to a crisp."

"I care about you. I have lost someone too."

"No you haven't"

Ruby is taken aback.

"I lost my husband, I know your pain."

"I am losing my children. You will never know that pain."

A scream pierces the night sky. The fire crews momentarily stop, and the crowd gasps. The woman begins to sob, she holds Ruby tight. Ruby feels a crushing weight, not on her arm, but her heart. It is the woman's pain. The pain of losing her children. In that moment, Ruby is consumed by the pain. Her guilt, her fear, her own pain all consumed. Her heart becomes one with the lady's and tears come to her eyes. The woman stops sobbing, and looks at Ruby.

"Are they gone?"

Ruby wipes a tear from her eyes.

"Not today!"

Ruby stands and walks towards the flames. A firefighter tries to pull wood slats apart to reach the family. Ruby takes his tool, a long pole with a curved blade, and disappears inside the flames.

Inside the house, A man and two children hide behind a table. Their clothes torn, covered in soot, and drenched in water. A column of water rains down on them, keeping the flames at bay. Ruby emerges from the flames, her essence shimmering from the heat.

"Daddy, its an angel."

Ruby reaches the family and helps them up.

"You need to get your family out of here."

The husband puts a hand on Ruby's shoulder.

"Thank you, I could never repay you."

Ruby smiles, and busts a hole in the wall with the pole. She keeps at it, until the hole is big enough for them to walk through. The fire crews quickly move to the hole and help the children out. The husband turns to Ruby before he leaves.

"There is something in here, I could hear it."

"What is it?"

"I don't know, whatever it is, it started this fire and nearly killed us."

"An arsonist?"

"It was a creature, that's all I can say."

The husband exits the burning house through the hole, leaving Ruby alone.

Ruby walks down the stairs, her knees trembling. The heat of the flames lick her face, as her essense slowly drains. I can't stay here for long, she thinks to herself. Ruby finds a cellar door in the middle of the stone floor. The heavy wood doors now ash. It must be in there, Ruby thinks to herself as she peers into the abyss below. Just then, a pair of red eyes appear and stare into her soul. A rush of movement, a crash, and sharp pain. Ruby blinks and finds herself on her back staring up into the night sky. Ruby pushes herself up and is shocked. She lies twenty feet from the burning house, and her chest bruised from the blow.

Ruby stands, thankfully she kept grip of her weapon. The creature slinkys out of the burning house, through the Ruby sized hole in the wall, the pair of red eyes fixated on Ruby. Ruby stands guard, and lowers the blade of the weapon, waiting to attack upwards through the creatures attack. He's quick, the creature manages to get behind Ruby before she even reacts. In a squirm of movement Ruby positions the pole between her and the creature. The attack throws her against a building, her weapon prevented several of her ribs from being broken.

Ruby parries the next couples blows and swipes madly at the air. A wild claw gashes at her face, her blood stings and oozes as it drips down her cheek. Ruby dashes back, putting distance between her and the creature. Panic and fear lung at her, almost causing her to blackout. A breath, a groan of dread, and then suddenly her eyes focus on the creature and her ears go mute. You are going to die, Ruby says to herself. Fear consumes Ruby, it sharpens her mind. No not fear...Survival. It burns within her, clearing out any reservation she may had of fighting. Ruby gets mad, her mind scans the battlefield, then her enemy. Almost through instinct, she taps into her essence and quickly notes it is low. If I don't end this soon, it'll kill me, she thinks to herself.

Ruby rushes forward and guards. The creature delivers several attacks, leaving her hands numb. Ruby steps to the side and keeps stepping to circle the creature. The creature attacks with hate, trying to break Ruby's guard. She notices and sezius the opportunity. She waits for an attack, and instead of guarding steps back, causing the creature to almost lose its balance. The creature shouts and charges Ruby. He took the bait, she whispers. Ruby ducks under the creatures claws and hooks the blade of the weapon around its legs. The creature trips, and Ruby follows by slashing a gaping hole along the spine.

It coughs, spits blood, then dies.

Ruby sits in a chair by Yangs bed and watches as she sleeps. Her face is bandaged and blood soaks through. Ozpin stands in the doorway, quiet and still, Ruby nearly doesn't notice him.

"Eventful day, I presume."

"Yes, and the injuries are from two different fights."

"I heard. You are the talk of the town."

"Really?"

"You walked into a burning building and saved every one. That tends to make the front page of the news."

Ruby is quiet. Ozpin sits in a chair and stares at Ruby.

"But that is not why I am here."

Ruby remains quiet.

"Everyone thinks you are a hero, they think you had courage. I hate to believe it, but I might be the only one that knows the truth."

Ruby looks at Ozpin, her eyes still and searching.

"You didn't plan to come out of the fire, did you?"

Ruby looks away.

"I understand life can be hell, what I want to know. Is why you came out?"

Ruby opens to mouth to say something, but no words come out.

"I saw hope."

Ruby tries to fight back tears, she presses her mouth shut, but the tears come and the pain goes away.

"I saw something I could never see before. I saw my pain in someone else, and it made me angry... and scared. After I killed that creature, I could taste it. I could taste just how sweet life could be. So I came back, I came back because someone else might need help. I came back because I saw how weak I am, and how strong I could become."

A tears trickles down Ozpin's face, and he wipes it away with a square cloth.

"I have learned much from you Ruby, and you still have more to learn. I look forward to that day."

Ozpin stands, squeezes Ruby's shoulder, then leaves.

The clock strikes twelve and shortly after, Yang opens her eyes.

"Yang!"

Ruby stands and walks to Yang. Yang blinks her eyes, unsure where she is.

"You are in a hospital. You got shot."

Yang grabs Ruby's hand and smiles, then she looks at her.

"Did he get you too?"

Yang points to Ruby's face. Ruby looks, then shakes her head.

"No this is from something else."

"What you fall down the stairs?"

Ruby rolls her eyes.

"It's a long story, but I think I changed my mind."

"About?" Yang seems alert.

"I am going to try out the school, but if I don't like it, then I am joining culinary school."

Yang laughs and smiles, then tears start to roll down her cheeks. Ruby grabs a tissue and drys her face.

"Thank you, thank you so much."