Chapter One

There are whispers of her in the towns Ozma passes. He does not think too much on them, at first. Many warriors or heroes start up this way. He does not like to dwell on why their rumors fade away. His status rises with every monster he defeats and every person he helps. Almost everyone knows him on sight, his description and sketches having been passed around often.

"He's someone you can count on," they say.

"He's a hero," they say.

He's become a legend.

"Ah, should have been here before yesterday," the innkeeper chortles when he asks if he can help. "I'm sure you can find someone who needs a little assistance, but Ruby cleared out everything. Why, she even helped with the last of reconstruction! Apologies you came all this way for nothing, sir."

"It's good to hear everything is well," Ozma assures the people. He greets the children and helps with the small tasks before continuing his journey.

Now, he listens to the whispers of the silver-eyed woman in a tattered red cape.

(The Reaper, some call her. Her weapon a scythe like none seen before.)

Sometimes, he ends up a few days behind her trail. There is no reason for what she does, except asking for a little food and water for her deeds. The whispers are soon everywhere he goes, as though she's a ghost haunting the world. The Ruby Reaper is both a hero and a warning as he reaches his destination. She will gladly give help for free, but cross her and you will disappear. On your grave, all that shall remain are-

"Rose petals," Ozma mutters, glancing around the field of weapons. Many have died here, wishing to reach the woman locked in the tower. Now, however, the enchantments have all failed and any enemy inside is gone. All that remains are red petals scattered to the wind. He is too late.

Someone saved the woman first.

Ozma smiles.

;;;

A year passes. Everyone knows of the time the father of the girl in the tower hears of her release. Rumors come out soon after, saying things like he had it cursed that whoever freed her would die of sickness. For a long time, Ozma worries. It takes months of hearing the whispers of the silver-eyed warrior and her powerful blue-eyed companion before he can begin to relax.

For the year, Ozma saves villages from monsters. He helps the townspeople with their problems. He teaches others the basics of protecting themselves. All while keeping an ear out for the whispers of the two.

The legendary hero slays a sea monster. He kills the wizard that sends diseased rats into a town. He teams up with other great adventurers and defeats a manticore.

He mourns the losses.

News comes that the king is to marry. Ozma laughs and starts his way back to see an old friend.

"My fiancé," the king introduces with a smile warm and full of joy.

The woman bows kindly, short chopped hair falling around her face and blue eyes crinkling in joy. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Sir Ozma." She leans in and winks. "Your reputation proceeds you."

The story between her and the king goes, they met when the silver-eyed warrior knocked out the bandits attacking the royal caravan. Ozma knows who she truly is, even though she does not look like the described lady of the tower. He thinks she knows as well, for though she does not introduce herself as Salem she does not hide her fear of being alone. Sometimes, her innocence of the world can be seen through the confident front.

"We heard stories about you," Salem tells him with a fond smile as they stand off to the side of his welcoming party. "The hero who was to rescue fair maidens and slay giant beasts."

"Well," he smiles kindly, sorely back. "I've succeeded with at least one of those."

She nods, not forgiving nor holding his lateness against him. "I will miss travelling with my friend, but," the glance she gives the king says all she won't, "well, some people are worth staying for."

Ozma is glad his friend found someone who loves him equally and deeply in return.

"Ruby should return before I marry," the next-queen tells him. "I will introduce you two. I am sure you'll have a lot to talk about." There is sarcasm hinting there, and full-blown in the next sentence. "She has never met a hero before."

From the few stories he hears over the next few days, the parting sentence becomes clear. Ozma had thought The Ruby Reaper a hero. Many do not.

He remembers what it was like, being treated as the wary unknown. And so, Ozma waits around the big city for the month until the wedding.

Salem's best friend arrives when the moon is full, and on the back of a nevermore she ends up killing with a weapon he's never seen before. The next-queen smiles with minor annoyance, "Must you always make such an entrance?"

There is a smile from under the red hood. Ozma pulls his cane back and watches with awe as the scythe folds into itself. Under normal circumstances, he would have never thought the small, thin young lady to be the Reaper of myths. The hood is pulled back to reveal a pale face, crinkling with laugh lines, and silver eyes that take his breath away. "Nice to see you too, Queenie."

Salem makes a face, "I told you not to call me that."

The Reaper shrugs. One moment she's there, and the next she's in Salem's open arms, rose petals falling and disintegrating behind her. Ozma completely relaxes at the sight of old friends catching up. He hears the Reaper mutter, "I missed you."

"I know."

The Ruby Reaper laughs and makes his night brighter.

;;;

They officially meet when he finds her raiding the kitchen a couple hours later. "I believe those were meant for lunch."

He can't help smiling. She yelps, caught, but doesn't turn around. There's a mutter; he realizes she's talking around the cracker in her mouth. She eventually swallows and turns, flicking something in the air. "I wasn't going to eat olive it."

She tilts her head back and catches the falling olive in her mouth. It takes him a moment, and he's straightening with disbelief. "Did you just-" words fail him.

"What?" her smile is a smug one. "Too…" She holds up a brick of- "cheesy?"

The laugh escapes him unbidden. Her happiness rises, seeming to light up the dark room. "Very."

The Ruby Reaper shrugs and shifts a few steps. He watches every move, entranced. She knocks a hand on the cold storage, before stacking her loot to the side and opening it. "I find puns are a good ice breaker."

His laugh is also a groan.

"Alright," she laughs too, still not looking at him. Ozma wants to see her eyes, curious as it is one of two of her identifiable marks from the whispers. "I'll stop. Hi there. Call me Ruby."

"My name is Ozma." He sees her shiver and wonders why she keeps the cold storage open when nothing seems to catch her eye. "It is a pleasure to meet you. I have heard a lot of your deeds."

"Oh?" She finally shuts the door, but only to turn to the cupboard where he knows the chocolate lies. "Hopefully only the good stuff."

"You are a hero." She freezes, and he knows this is not from the cold. "Those I meet only have good things to say."

She sighs, resigned. Does not call him out on lying, which he is not. A warning story does not always make the killer a villain. "I'm not a hero. Definitely nothing like you, Mr. Legends-Are-Told-About-Me." He's never been called that before. "Your reputation precedes you."

"And what does it say?" He sits down and watches her move around. Cannot see her use magic to light a fire and is polite enough not to ask. She grabs two thick mugs and readies a pot. Once everything is set to her liking, she finally turns to meet his gaze.

He goes breathless at the tired knowing she shares in a single glance. Her smile is a sad, peaceful thing. It's her eyes, though. Starlight, he thinks. She is a star, weighing him with no judgment. For he is a traveller she will – she does – remember.

Then her smile becomes brighter, happier. He feels worth in a way that's unquantifiable. "That you are a brave, kind man."

There is something he is missing. Some reason she looks at him with respect and honor, yet he can do no more than whisper out a, "Thank you for saying so."

"It's the truth, is it not?" she smiles wider and turns back to her… whatever it is. "Anyways, how do you feel about chocolate?"

Salem is jealous to find them acquainted and drinking hot chocolate, but Ozma would not give this drink up to the Gods. He watches her pester Ruby into making more, a fond smile coming and going between sips.

He learns quickly, how much Ruby cheers up a room by being in it.

;;;

No matter how many assurances he gets from the castle staff, Ozma still runs out to the gardens with his staff at ready. The knights there nod politely and return to watching the training exercise. They do not flinch as he does when another loud bang echoes in the air.

"You gripped it too tightly that time," Ruby hums and adjusts Salem's grip on what he had thought was the next-queen's strange accessory. Apparently, the thing still on her hip was just a holster. He hesitates, watching and listening and not understanding. The sound echoes again, making him flinch. The archery target across the yard now has a new hole. "That's better!"

"What… is that?" Ozma asks softly, as to not startle them. Ruby waves and greets him, while the next-queen hums and flicks something on the weapon.

"This is a pistol," Salem says, as though the weapon is a normal object in the world. "Ruby made it for me."

He turns to the short woman. The dark red hair is held back in clips today, letting him see her strong, blushing embarrassment. "It's just to help her defend herself."

"We were not always safe on the road."

He can understand giving the woman a weapon, but, "What does a pistol do?"

What is a pistol?

Ruby sighs like she's disappointed. He almost does not catch the longing on her face. She is quick to smile and explain, yet a weapon like that continues to make no sense to him. What good is it for, when they have magic? Why shoot bits of metal when one can use all the elements to attack?

He asks to try it. Salem begrudgingly hands it over for one shot. Ruby explains what to do, after she 'releases the safety'.

He almost breaks his nose at the recoil.

"I think I better keep to my staff," he chuckles and gives the pistol to Ruby, seeing Salem is laughing so hard she's crying.

"Can you use any other weapons?" Ruby asks innocently.

Ozma learns quickly that Ruby is a weapons connoisseur.

;;;

He sees The Ruby Reaper at least once a day in the week leading up to the wedding. Sometimes she is playing with children. Other times she is sparring. The few rare moments he sees her in the market, she is showing diagrams to the blacksmith or helping elders with their shopping. He greets her whenever they lock eyes. She is still a star, he thinks, but when he finds himself seeking her out in a crowd he contemplates of her as a beacon.

Word of a Grimm hoard comes, and the king asks him for help slaying it. The next-queen has asked Ruby to deal with it. The king and Ozma both realize this when she tells them there is no need to worry about planning for an attack, Ruby has left to slay them hours ago. While the king and his fiancé go to have a chat about the development, Ozma takes a horse and rushes after the young woman. His heart pounds in his throat and he worries for her. The number of Grimm coming would be difficult to manage by himself, and he has no measurements of how she fairs in actual combat.

He wants to trust her, but he's known too many rising heroes who have died taking on foolish tasks like Salem has given.

Ozma jerks the reigns towards the sounds of a battle. He's leaping off the saddle and pouring magic into his staff before he touches the ground. On instinct, he fires.

"Glad you showed up," The Ruby Reaper says, rushing to his side with her enormous scythe unveiled for all to see. The monsters growl, but do not advance. There are much less than he expected, and Ruby looks no less for wear. "I take the left ones, you take the right ones?"

"That can be handled." As soon as he finishes, she's disappeared with rose petals left in her wake. He does not think too much on it, since the monsters charge him. The battle continues, blood pumping and eyes bright as he throws all he has at the creatures.

He does not see Ruby until she's cut off the head of the last beowolf. They are both panting a bit, and he finds the energy to return her smile. She blinks and seems to come back, glancing around the battlefield in sheepishness. "Whoops."

He can't help the laugh, still giggling when she catches him from falling. It has been a while since he's laughed as much as he has around her. "You are a wonder, Lady Ruby."

She blushes brighter, and he sobers realizing this is the first time he has used her name. "You're not so bad yourself, Ozma." She helps him stand and find the horse. "I think you can add assisting the Reaper to your resume."

"You did not seem to need my help."

"It was still appreciated."

"Why do you not use magic?" He feels bad immediately at her flinch. "My apologies."

"No, no it's fine." She bites her lip and assists him into the saddle. When he holds a hand out, she turns down the offer. "I do not have magic. Not- not like you think of it."

"Oh?"

She smiles and shakes her head. "It's difficult to explain. At least a couple hours worth of story, and I don't want to be out here anymore than I have to. Race you to the castle?"

He blinks. Looks to her. Looks to the horse. "Are you… sure?"

She grins secretly. "I can give you a handicap if you need one."

Now he is curious. "Alright. What are the rules?"

"First one to the castle gets bragging rights. Anything goes. So yes, you can use magic. If you can catch me, feel free to attack. I'll go at half speed, just this once."

"Then I shall see you there."

She winks, and he sees a blur of red before all that's left once again are rose petals. He huffs another laugh and gets the horse moving after her.

;;;

He steps around the corner and is brought out of his musings by the figure. They are at a standstill.

The moon nowhere in sight, he realizes. The only reason he notices her is because of the tattered red cloak. "You are leaving?"

"Uh-huh," Ruby says, shifting on her feet.

"Why?" His question stills the air between them. She glances towards the windows, looking into the dark of the night. He wonders if her eyes still shine under her hood. "You could have everything if you stayed."

A life. Clothes that are mended. Skirts which still bounce. Food. Friendship. Happiness. The people here love her, but he knows it will fade back to whispers of the Reaper if she leaves. Ozma does not want others to forget the kind soul in front of him. The thought leaves him aching for her acceptance to stay.

"Maybe one day," Ruby says, turning back to him. Her hood does not lift, and her grip on the backpack tightens. "There are still things I need to do."

He lets out a breath, resigning to not pressing. He falls into step with her as she walks past. Quietly, he asks a long-pondered question he's afraid won't be answered if she leaves. "Did you know about the prophecy before you saved her?"

"Did you?" Ruby snaps back, dark amusement on her tongue.

"Are you not worried?" he deflects.

Her dark laugh is one of bitterness. He wonders if this is closer to the side of the Reaper, since there is no possible way a person so kind could make others disappear with no remorse. (Unless, those are what the rose petals are for.)

"I'm not worried about her," Ruby says with true confidence. "She and her husband won't cause the end of humanity."

How can he not believe her when she's so certain? As if she has the experience to back the claim.

Salem stands at the entrance doors. Ruby takes a deep breath and whispers her goodbyes to him. "May we meet again, someday."

"May we meet again," he mutters softly back. Ozma watches her ghost over the floor to the queen. The taller woman is crying before they meet.

"Stay," Salem begs, hugging her best friend tightly.

Ruby returns the embrace. "You know I can't."

The queen chokes on a laugh. "Come back?"

"Always."

Ozma lets out a relieved breath at the promise. She has the experience to back the claim.

The women break, and he feels like an intruder. The legendary hero goes to slip away just as Salem tries once more. "Please, for me?"

Ruby sucks in a deep breath. Ozma pauses, back against the wall and unable to see them. He just needs to know-

"You are worth fighting for," Ruby answers. "Let me fight for your future."

;;;

The next day, the king offers the same thing to Ozma as his wife did to Ruby. Ozma has turned down this offer before, but this time feels different. This time, he looks around his guest room and knows there is nothing in the Castletown for him. He has many great fears about life as a hero, but he can finally put a name to why he strives to help. It is not simply for the momentary smiles or to spread hope.

Ozma fights for a better future. He wishes to help better life for everyone.

"Here," the queen drops a letter in his hands with a scowl. "She left this for you."

In the nights he feels hopeless or broken by the world, Ozma rereads the letter and smiles. (Even through his tears.)

;;;

He returns to the castle a few times through the coming year. He does not realize he always asks about Ruby until the queen, halfway through her pregnancy, hands him a few letters and tells him to read and stop pestering. She admits Ruby writes every week, though most don't make it on time. Ozma finds relief in the simple joys filling the pages. The whispers about the Reaper have been fading. He was getting worried.

By the surprise on Salem's face, she obviously didn't mean to give him the letter with a warning in it. "What is this dragon she talks about?"

The queen bites her tongue and shares a glance with her husband. Ozma's friend sighs, "If you do not tell him, I will."

"Stay away from the territory near the Brothers," Salem says 'brothers' with such disdain and hate, Ozma takes a step back. Later, the king explains which words Ruby and the queen use describe the Gods. Not all are so tame. "Ruby plans to meet with them and free some of their creations. They are not going to be happy and will likely cause trouble."

The Reaper wishes to challenge the Gods.

He returns to worrying for her. No matter how many promises she fills her letters with, it leaves him cold. He drops the letter she addressed to him on top of the pile Salem let him browse, it is no longer comforting. He starts the trek towards the God of Light, praying she had not the idea to challenge the God of Darkness first.

He hears stories about the king's first born. A daughter. There are no more whispers about the silver-eyed warrior, and he turns back with fear and a heavy heart. Spring is a cute baby, so excited with the world. He stays the week, learns of Ruby's recent letters, and sets out again. It is more worry than determination that drives him.

Two years since he last saw Ruby, while nearing the shores of the kingdom and amidst an ambush Ozma does not realize the ground is shaking until it throws him backwards into a tree. He is a bit dazed, but nothing could hide the roar that threatens to suffocate the air with its pressure. The monsters he was fighting whimper. They turn tail and disappear, leaving him and his group to their own panicking. Deep in the recess of his mind, Ozma knows whatever happened must have involved The Ruby Reaper.

There is only one place he can source for information on her.

It takes much longer to return to the castle. He tries to bring comfort to the towns, and over time the thoughts of what made the roar fall to the back of minds. The Grimm seem more plentiful, and the legendary hero finds himself grouping up with others more often than not. Other, well known adventurers have the same idea of returning to castle town. They need to hear what the royal order is and will decide if staying or protecting the more defenceless villages is the right choice. They are a group of four arriving at the castle doors and being let in as friends of the king.

Ozma sucks in a sharp breath at the knowledgeable eyes of a blue skinned girl glaring them down. He is not the only one shocked by the sight of her, one of his teammates reacting worse and rudely shouting, "What is that?!"

The queen turns on her heel, magic on her fingers and rage in her eyes. She is also heavily pregnant. "Get. Out."

The knights 'escort' the adventurer from the room. Threat gone, the queen moves to the girl of maybe-five years who holds little Spring's hands. Once she's made sure the girls are alright, she turns to greet the adventures. "These are my daughters, Jinn and Spring."

"Hello," the blue skinned girl greets. Her dressings remind Ozma of those in the west. She stands out much that way as everyone else in the room wears layers of clothing. She holds a sly smile, even as she glares at each of them equally.

"Hi," the smaller child mumbles when nudged.

Salem sighs and shakes her head. She turns to the adventures with a cool smile. "If you'll follow me, I will take you to my husband." To the knights, she commands, "Make sure the girls do not get into any more trouble."

The king ignores the calls for answers about Jinn. "She is our daughter," is all he says on the matter, a glinted eye promising retribution if any harm befalls her. The queen settles on the free couch, lifting her feet up with a sigh. The monarchs share explanations of the standing orders, and then the king pleads to them to protect the villages. "If the Grimm have it their way, the castles will be the only buildings standing."

"Do not go places alone," the queen warns them. "Adventurers had started going missing, and there are rumours that-" she breaks off and looks at them wearily. She says the name of a man Ozma knows, "…is dead."

Outcry. How did such a respected man die?

Killed, is the answer. The rumours say he went missing. When he came back, he went berserk and slaughtered a village. He betrayed them all.

Ozma… can't breathe.

He manages to choke out a promise to go north and check the villages with another adventurer. Then he flees to his guest room.

He mourns. How could this have happened?

"I was wondering when you would show up," Salem drawls, closing the book she was reading. She sets it aside, on the table at the heart of the sunroom. Ozma sits in the chair near her, gazing out to the gardens where Jinn is playing with Spring. The queen gives him a sly look he ignores, her hand coming to rest on her stomach. "I told Ruby you gave up her letter to you. She expressed surprise you kept it so long."

"She has come back?" he whispers, trying not to feel awe or hope. The little puzzle pieces are coming together, and he does not want to think of what it means if she succeeded in her quest. It would be worse if she failed.

"Ruby should be back within the month if all goes well," Salem's lips thin. "She is the one who gave us Jinn."

"She seems a sweet girl."

"Jinn is a rascal," Salem smiles, relaxing and closing her eyes to bask in the sun. "She is also Knowledge."

"I… do not understand." Ozma does not like the implications. The prophecy rings in the back of his mind, yet he finds it overshadowed by a Ruby's promise it won't come true.

"Ruby carries around a lamp now," the queen smiles, sharp and vicious. "It has no magic, but it once was Jinn's prison."

The man does not like the implications. "Why tell me this?"

"You wished to know what she was doing," Salem meets his gaze. Her eyes are bright, contrasting the sickness he feels. "This is it. She is taking control of our lives from the hands of the Brothers."

"So, it was her who caused the ground to shake?"

"She did not do anything," Salem snaps, fury overtaking her features at the accusation. "The Dark Brother is a sore loser."

"What did she win?"

The queen sniffs and turns away. She watches the children once more, hand tracing circles as the baby kicks. Ozma almost believes she won't answer, until the easy, happy word comes from lips barely moving. "Destruction." When Salem turns to face him, there are no words to describe how at peace she is. "She took Destruction out of their hands. We will all live, Ozma."

He swallows his questions, not wanting to upset the queen. How do you know it is not more dangerous in our hands? How do you know they cannot still destroy us? Why would you think they would destroy us? "Thank you for your time, my queen."

Jinn stops by the window, shouting up to them before the hero leaves, "When will Aunt Ruby be back!"

"Soon!" the queen laughs and pick ups her book. The girl pouts and runs back to Spring. Ozma pauses at the door when Salem gives one more parting remark. "She loves hearing Ruby's stories because she does not know them. Have you heard any of our favourite lady's tales?"

"A few," he replies, thinking back to the talks they've had in the few short weeks they conversed before and after the royal wedding.

"Ask her about a place called Remnant," Salem hints with a note to her tone that makes Ozma worry. "She has the most wonderful stories about her home."

"I will. Take care, your highness."

Her giggles do not inspire confidence.

;;;

Ozma finishes his checking of villages just in time to hear about the queen giving birth to a second daughter. He is quicker this time in returning to bid his good wishes towards the family. However, he does not make it to the castle. Instead, in the castle town he spots red that draws his eyes like a beacon. Ozma is moving towards her before he can realize. Then he is rushing to catch her in the market. "Ruby!"

She startles. He stops before her just as she turns. She is frozen, yet just as beautiful. Her hair is longer, braided and twisted in a style he's never seen before. Ozma realizes he's smiling like a loon and holds out his arms. "It is wonderful to see you again."

He huffs, dumbfounded as she hugs his middle. This isn't what he meant, but he gently wraps his arms around her. He smiles, bright as the sun, as she muffles her reply against his shirt. He does not quite catch it, but thinks she says it is wonderful to see him too.

(What she really says is: "I missed you.")

He only feels his mood faltering when she steps back and asks how he has been. "Well. And yourself?"

"I've been doing alright," she smiles and winks. "Still in one piece."

"You are lucky," he says, voice choking on the emotions threatening to overwhelm him. She is okay, he reminds himself. She is alive. (Would it be rude to ask for another hug to affirm it?) "Most who deal with Gods do not walk away."

He thought her pale before, but she turns ashen at the mention of who she visited. "Oh," she looks away, shoulders hunching. "So, you heard about that."

"…I'm glad you are alive," he chokes out.

"It would take a lot more to kill me," she jokes.

He asks for that second hug.

;;;

Who was once the Relic of Destruction watches baby Summer with a curious sort of awe, letting her play and bite at fingers stuck between cradle bars. It is adorable, once one gets past the thought of the embodiment of Destruction playing with a child only a month old.

"Destruction is not evil," the queen is quick to remind everyone who questions her two new children in close quarters. "It just is." The former relic is to be treated like a person, one who is about the safe size as sister Jinn.

"We were on a bit of a journey," Ruby says when Salem demands she explain to Ozma why it took the woman so long to return after the Dark Brother raged. "A self-discovery type of thing. Like we've said, Destruction is not evil. After being used for nothing but evil their entire life, I had to show that truth to them."

Ozma feels his heart clench. "Please, no more dangerous acts alone. Or by yourself with only children around."

Ruby groans but does not promise. He misses the latter when he listens to her talk about their journey here and how she protected others. Worry and relief war in his chest, knowing she is so capable only means she will knowingly get into worse situations. The question is on the tip of his tongue. Will you travel with me?

He never held the desire to stay with one person for long amounts of time. He never trusted anyone to constantly watch his back. Through her actions, Ruby has proven trustworthy and a great ally. From the time they've spent together, he knows they would get along. It is almost instinctual, how he can find her in a crowd and is filled with peace every time she smiles with him.

Is it the time apart that makes him feel like this? Or is it because she has not changed from the woman she was?

Ruby still brightens his life by being near. Her eyes still flash with a weighty knowledge. Clothing are elegant tatters, and there is a kindness rooted into her soul. She faced down two Gods and remains untouched. She saved a few otherworldly children and gave humanity a right to its own knowledge and destruction.

There are whispers of The Ruby Reaper symbolizing death. He sees her as life.

And yet, he cannot work up the courage to ask her to come with him. She is a star, so bright and far away. He is a traveller, wandering as long as he can and seeing the world, protecting and creating hope for the future. This time, he plans to leave the castle before her.

"Before you go," Ruby brings him to her room with a smile of boundless energy, "there's something I want to give to you."

She digs up a sword from her closet. He cannot feel any magic on it, and it is rather gaudy and large. Still, he accepts the gift gratefully and with plans to stash it in his own room before he leaves. "Thank you."

"I wasn't using it," Ruby says with a secretive smile. "You'll have to let me know how good it is. I haven't used it since I got it, but I hear there's a real kick to it."

He is still leaving it behind. "How about I try it now in the courtyard?"

For such a flashy sword, it handles very well. It seems forever sharp, as it cuts through dummies and metal with ease. A fine weapon. One day, he hopes to hear the story behind it.

Ozma grants Ruby's wish of a goodbye hug. She tucks nicely against his chest, warming his heart and bringing the question to his lips. It is still not spoken. Instead, he forces out his goodbye while smiling blindingly enough any other admirer would swoon.

If he weren't so far away, he'd wonder if Ruby were wiping her eyes and not just lifting her hands to wave.

;;;

Things do not get better with the adventurers. Some are last seen being taken away by Grimm. Others disappear entirely. Ozma finds himself working harder, fighting more and fighting often, just to keep the swarms away from towns whose people are being evacuated into the heart of the kingdom. He works from the outskirts, slowly moving in. A month passes. Three of his good friends are gone. He mourns as two have disappeared, and the third was killed after razing a town to the ground.

The rumours say the Reaper appears after a town falls. Whether it be Grimm or man, she slays all who took life without remorse. They claim her as death, or a servant of such.

Ozma knows differently. For every ten whispers about her felling others, there is one where she evacuates or defends a village. Mere minutes, the whispers breathe in awe. She saves them all at speeds magic has never been able to achieve. He plans to ask her about it when he sees her in the capital.

Except he does not. Ozma gets a week-long break before being sent out for closer evacuation. She is gone from the castle the first few days, and after those he never sees her no matter how long he looks. There is a sadness in him, knowing that he must leave without ever laying eyes on her. He can not greet her by name and watch her smile. His bright light is close, yet never in reach. He tries to steel himself for the emotional turmoil he is about to re-enter, yet he is tired in mind and body. He continues because it saves lives, no matter how much his heart breaks in the process.

The next time he is welcomed into the castle, Jinn delivers a letter. "I already know what it says," harrumphs the being of Knowledge. "And if you write a letter back, I will know what it says too."

"Thank you," Ozma smiles, tired and weary from battle and loss. The other kingdoms are starting to request aid. He does not know if he could refuse if the king came to him, to ask if he would go.

He holds the letter with care, sitting on his bed and bracing himself to read. Finally, he admits to himself that he misses her. They have not known each other long, but he would like to spend time with her once more. At least once more. When he opens the letter, Ozma prays for a miracle.

It seems she can always make him smile, even if it is just with words.

;;;

Ozma keeps the letter in a secret pocket as he walks towards the kingdom's boarder on the request of the king. He and a hunter keep quiet, moving slowly through the forest and an eye open for the other kingdom's convoy.

Ruby promised to be there the next time he arrived at the castle. He will do whatever he can to make it back to her (and ask if she wishes to partner with him).

A branch breaks. They pause. After a few minutes, the hunter waves him to continue.

The hunter dies seconds later. Ozma holds off the attack, but even he is just one person. The enemies are many.

For Ozma, the world goes black as the Grim swarm.

;;;

"-up!"

Ozma gasps and shoots into a sitting position. He can still see the inky darkness as he blinks spots from his eyes. Fear clenches his heart at the realization he was not dead, merely unconscious. Bruises and aches are everywhere, the pounding in his head worst of all.

The fear turns to terror when he focuses on the being in front of him.

"Your fear is delicious," the God of Darkness tells him, a strangled cackle leaving the horned being. There is no mouth to speak of, nothing solid to define it, yet it takes the shape of a horned man filled with moving shadows. "You are smart to be afraid, warrior."

Ozma tries to slide back, any words on his lips dying as light appears beside the God of Darkness. The God growls and edges away, almost sulking as the God of Light takes stance. "What are you doing here?"

"I wish to challenge this one, brother" the God of Light replies patiently.

"You said that about the last one," the younger brother whinges. "I am running low on puppets. I worked hard to gather him. He's mine to challenge."

"This would not be a problem if you were more thoughtful about your actions."

"Oh, do not pretend to be so perfect. You have lost your fair amount as well."

Ozma is on his feet, yet his leave is halted by Grimm surrounding the three. He is at an impasse. Maybe he could fight his way out – it is a mercy he still has his staff – but both Gods are before him and fighting over him. Fighting on who gets to issue a challenge to him.

The cold weight in his chest makes it hard to breathe. The dizziness leaves slowly. Ozma is terrified.

"We shall let him decide," the God of Light seems to bring an end to the argument. "It is, after all, his choice."

They turn to the human in sync. Ozma does not understand what is implied, but he wishes to not become a pawn in whatever they are fighting over. Still, he is respectful as he can manage to be in the God of Darkness' domain. "What if I choose to leave?"

"Then you are free to go," the older brother answers.

"If you can survive my pets," the younger brother dares. The Grimm edge closer.

Which, even if Ozma was uninjured, is the problem. He almost risks it. He almost turns down their offer of a challenge. When he asks what would happen if he takes one of their offers, he is horrified to learn what the price of failure is. Success is Ozma's only chance at leaving with his life.

He remembers Salem's words, of the God of Darkness being a sore loser. He faces the God of Light, resigned and terrified. "I will take your challenge."

He prays Ruby will make good on the promise in her letter. He will try his hardest to return to her, but holds her assurance of help when he needs it close to heart. Ozma takes comfort that she will likely never have to go through this, and has succeeded if she had to already.

He understands the others who went missing all failed.

What legendary hero would he be if he did not succeed?

The God of Darkness sighs, long and peeved. A crown appears in his hand and is handed over to the older brother. The last words Ozma hears while in the domain of the Dark God is, "They always think your challenge is the easier one."

"Choice," the God of Light starts, gazing down at Ozma from above his pool, "is given to all living things at least once." The crown drifts from the being of soothing light and into Ozma's hands. "Place the crown upon your head to begin your challenge, great warrior."

The words pull him into a trance. His hands dig into the crown, and the desire to run is snuffed out. There is only one part of Ozma's mind that does not fall into the daze the Relic of Choice makes in effort to have him follow the suggestion of its creator. This part of him stands strong against the oppression. An emotion, a name, and a realization, all wrapped into one desperate attempt to fight back.

The crown is almost on his head. The man holds on to the only clear thoughts left.

(He will do all he can to succeed. Ozma does not want to see Ruby if he fails, because he loves her and has no wishes to harm her. Causing her pain may destroy him.)

The challenge starts.


Disclaimer: I have no claim to RWBY. All rights belong to their respective owners.

A/N: This story will be at least a two-shot. If Ruby's POV gets too long, it may be three chapters.

Ozpin is in the tags since there currently is no Ozma tag.

Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the chapter