Disclaimer: I don't own RWBY, that honour goes to the late Monty Oum (R.I.P.) and all of Rooster teeth just in case it wasn't clear.
A.N.: Hey guys, its Spartan25798 here, this was my first fanfic that I ever wrote so don't judge it to harshly.
It has also occurred to me that my writing style back then, to be perfectly honest with myself, sucked. Because of this, I'm planning on giving Beacon of Hope a complete re-write before the sequel gets onto the net anymore than it has. It won't be like before either, where I changed up some dialogue, and made some scenes more "Readable"
Am I ashamed of this story? Hell no... just the first half of it... that wasn't a good setup, and I wasn't experienced enough to know that. The second half of the story though, I quite like. That doesn't mean that it's not getting fully edited as well. If you'd like to read the story, go ahead and do so, I'm sure that once you get passed say... chapter 13, you'll like it... Probably.
If that's the case, follow, favorite, and hell, leave a comment. My favorite thing about writing stories like this is talking to the people that read it. But, if you don't want to read this one, go read my beta, rwbyfan5's story: Into the Glyph. It's about him, the writer, getting transported into an alternate dimension... The RWBY one to be precise. It's one of my all time favorite stories on this site.
You're still here, well, then that's enough ranting. Here's (the needs to be updated version) Beacon of Hope.
Enjoy
Beacon of Hope
Red like Roses
"If ever you are lost in darkness, always look for the light in your heart, and you will find your way again."
These were the last words that Summer Rose had said to Ruby before she left for that mission. Ruby always thought that the world was full of happiness everywhere, until that day her mom didn't come back from that fateful mission. That was almost two years ago and no matter how hard Ruby tried to forget, those words kept her mom in her memory. Although she missed her mom a lot, she was still the bright happy little girl that everyone knew her to be. Sometimes she just needed a moment to herself.
"I miss you so much, mom," Ruby said quietly. She jumped at the sudden sound of a knock on the door.
"Come on Ruby. We're going to go visit Summer after supper, so come down and eat." A voice from the other side said.
"Coming, Yang, just give me a minute." Ruby responded.
She cleaned herself up a bit before heading downstairs. As they all sat down, there was a knock at the front door.
"I wonder who that could be." Yang wondered out loud.
Her father went to open the door.
"Well, hello there, good sir." the man outside said.
Ruby practically shot up from the sound of the voice.
"Uncle Qrow!'' Ruby squealed running up to give him a big hug.
"What are you doing here I thought that you were on a mission near Atlas?" Taiyang asked. Qrow cleared his thought as Yang went up to hug him as well. He gave Taiyang a smirk.
"Come on Tai, you didn't notice? I'm not drunk for once." Qrow joked.
"Nah, you're lying, I know you when you're drunk."
"How many times do I have to tell you that there is a difference between drunk and tipsy.
"Too many times." Taiyang replied with a mild chuckle.
"Well now that we have reconvened." He said turning toward Yang and Ruby "Ruby, Yang I am very happy to see you two again, the old man hasn't been too hard on you now has he?" this earned a chuckle from Taiyang
"No" Ruby piped up" He has just been as good as gold!" She exclaimed.
"We were just about to have supper, would you like to join us?" Taiyang asked.
"Well I guess I could refuel the old gas can a bit." Qrow joked "Oh, that reminds me, Yang I have something that I need to tell you about later, possibly." this made Yang jump with happiness as she ran to give her uncle a giant hug."I will talk to you about it after supper ok." He said
"Sounds good." Yang said with a hint of defeat in her "Oh but we are going to visit Summer after supper, care to join us?" Yang asked
"Perfect idea, we will discuss it on our way there."
"Alright let's get seated and eat up." their father said.
"I hope you like chicken" Yang said pulling off the tinfoil allowing the aroma to fill the room
"Love it." Qrow replied happily
"You two go on ahead Yang and I need to discuss that little detail I was talking about." Qrow stated. Ruby and her dad both agreed and went on leaving them behind just a bit. "Now then about this lead. The man's name is Junior, not much is known about him although he isn't exactly the most open minded individual to say the least. He owns a dance club and his own private security force, the best time you could find out anything is at his party in the dance club a few nights from now." Qrow explained to the high alert blonde
"Will I need an invitation to this party or is it a social gathering" she asked with a trace of humour in her voice
"Fortunately it is just a gathering that anyone can attend that feels like it. Qrow explained. "And you can't kick the door in and demand to see him, before you ask you can just try to strike up a conversation, just try to be somewhat discreet about this matter."
"Well that was my first plan, but hey I'll give your idea a shot, could be fun." Yang teased
"Come on, let's catch up to your sister and dad, they should be almost there by now. Qrow said.
And with that they took off to go see Summer Rose.
Ruby sighed and kneeled down at the sight of the gravestone, on the stone read:
"Thus kindly, I scatter"
"Hi Mom, it's been awhile since we saw you last. Don't worry, Yang and Uncle Qrow are coming too." Ruby began before feeling a hand on the shoulder from her sister "Oh, never mind, I guess they're here already." she giggled softly.
"Hey Summer" Yang began "Ruby is fine by the way, she thinks about you a lot, although I guess I do too." Yang sighed and took a breath in the cold air. "We all miss you Summer Rose." she said as a tear began to form in her eye as she stood up. and her dad stepped forward.
"Hey honey, I'm trying but I just can't do it. Ruby goes through the cookies I make before there even out of the oven. I will never understand how you managed to keep up with her, but I will try. Have a good rest dear." her father finishes. giving Ruby a pat on the back
"Hey Summer." Qrow began as a tear fell down his cheek onto the slightly snowy ground. "I really miss the good old days where we would do," He looked back at small group behind him. He turned around again to face the gravestone and continue.
"A number of things at school that don't really need to be mentioned right now." He said earning a small laugh from Taiyang."
"Well no matter how bad things seem, they can't be any better, and they can't be any worse, because that's the way things are and we can't do anything about it. You told me this once, I didn't know what it meant until a while ago. But, since the good old days are over, and the only thing that we can do is keep moving forward. We all miss you Summer, but it's time for us to go now." He finished and turned again to walk up to the group.
"Ready to go?" He asked,
"Wait I want to sing something, a lullaby that she used to sing me when I was younger. I want to sing it in her memory." Ruby protested
"All right, go for it." her uncle said cracking a smile.
"Thanks." Ruby cleared her throat and close her eyes,
"Red like roses fills my dreams and, brings me to the place you rest.
White is cold and always yearning, burdened by a royal test.
Black the beast descends from shadows.
Yellow beauty burns, gold..."
She stayed kneeled by the stone with everyone smiling behind her. "I remember that she used to sing that to me every night." She said as a tear trickled down her eye
"Come on Ruby, let's go." Yang said in a comforting tone.
"You guys, uh, you go on ahead, I just want another minute" Ruby stated as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"Ok, catch up soon though." her father said smiling leaving with her uncle and Yang.
Ruby stayed there for another minute or two, thinking of all the good times they had when she was younger.
"I love you," Ruby whispered as she got up slowly. Rose petals rolled across the ground as she said that. Ruby then got up, turned slowly, and started walking trying to stay strong as she walked away.
"Don't turn around Ruby." She told herself as she continued walking into the forest. Ruby was fast when she wanted to be but it was one of those times that she just wanted to take things slower. She continued walking through the forest when something caught her eye, but she simply dismissed it as a shadow. As she continued on, more things caught her attention but were too fast to visibly see. as she approached a clearing in the woods she heard a low, menacing growl. She looked up to see a pack of Beowolves looking at her with their burning red eyes.
"Why today of all days." she muttered irritably. Suddenly, three of the Beowolves rushed at her. "Fine, you guys want to play? Just come a little bit closer." she thought to herself. "And...now!" she leaped into the air dodging the three Beowolves' attacks. "Ok, time for some fun." she said under her breath and, quick as a flash, transformed her weapon, Crescent Rose, into its sniper form. She pulled the trigger leaving a large hole in one of the Beowolf's heads. She launched herself head on into the Beowolf pack with an abundance of rose petals to follow in her wake.
A.N.: Okay okay, here's what I'd like all of you readers out there to do when reading the story. Before you judge anything, keep reading. I didn't really have a clear path when I started writhing this thing, so the earlier chapters pretty much mirror the things in the show. Trust me, you'll probably like it if you keep reading. If you see anything wrong with the story, write a review about it, and I'll look into it.
P.S. this is also one of the only normal Authors Notes in this story. After chapter 12, they start to get… a little out of hand. Thank you dear readers, and I'll see you in the next one.
