One life is all we have

And we live it as we believe in living it.

But to sacrifice what you are

And to live without belief,

That is a fate more terrible than death.

-Joan of Arc


Ruby walked casually through the halls of Beacon. She wanted to find Weiss; who bet the day before that her partner couldn't get to Vale and back in two minutes. Ruby was confident she was going to get that twenty-five Lien. She approached an intersection and decided to go left; but she stopped when she heard voices coming from around the corner.

"Ozpin!" Someone shouted, it was a boy who sounded like he was in his late teens. Ruby didn't dare look however; as she didn't want to risk them seeing her.

"Yes? And who are you." Ozpin replied, Ruby understood that Ozpin knew most of the students' names by heart, so it was safe to assume the boy did not go to Beacon.

"My name is Simon, and I was wondering if you knew this girl." Ruby heard the crinkle of paper, then a questioning grunt from Ozpin.

"Yes I do, she goes to this school." He told the boy.

"Finally!" The boy sighed with relief. "Thanks Ozpin that's all I needed to know." Ruby heard the boy's heavy footsteps before Headmaster spoke up.

"And may I ask why you are looking for her." Ruby heard the boy stop.

"Questions for later." He replied before continuing on his way.

Ruby waited until she heard Ozpin start walking before she turned the corner.

"Ah, Ruby." He greeted.

"Hello Sir." She replied, deciding not to bring up the boy's question, "Do you know where Weiss is?"

"I believe I saw Ms. Schnee in the mess hall." He answered, coaxing a sigh of frustration from Ruby.

"I was just there!" She whined before running off, but the bet could wait; she needed to tell everyone what she just heard.


"I think this is none of our business." Blake said without looking up from her book.

"Well I think that you are no fun." Yang commented, earning a short grunt and a page turn from the Faunus.

"I say we get to the bottom of this!" Nora said after devouring her third helping of pancakes. "After all he may a spy from one of the other schoolsheretoobserveourstrongestwarriorssothey-"

"Nora," Ren interrupted, stopping her breathless rant. "I don't think he's a spy."

"That's exactly what he wants you to think." She said before skipping away, most likely to get another helping of pancakes.

"Even if he was a spy here to observe our strongest warriors- like Nora said- who? He was looking for a girl so who would it be?" Weiss asked, bringing everyone to thought.

"Perhaps it's Pyrrha." Ruby suggested, only to be shot down by Weiss.

"She's participated in a lot of tournaments; if they wanted to know about her they could just watch those." She corrected.

"What about you guys?" Jaune said to them. "I mean you're pretty strong."

"Then again he was only looking for one girl." Pyrrha said.

"Maybe it's you Jaune!" Yang laughed.

"Very funny." He replied, crossing his arms. The group laughed together. However; Ruby noticed Ren was deep in thought, so she decided to speak up.

"What about you Ren?" She asked. "Who do you think it is?"

"Honestly," He said, looking up at her. "You Ruby." She was surprised but he continued. "You skipped two years, wield one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed, and despite your age you still ended up as the leader of one of the top first-year teams."

They all thought about it for a minute, but their thoughts were interrupted when the first bell rang. They stood and proceeded to their respective classes, but all the while; Ruby was still thinking.

Why me?


He dangled his feet over the cliff as he watched the sunset. The sky was painted many shades of pink and red, and stars had begun appearing on the horizon. He watched as the birds flew home to their nests, while the houses and shops below him snuffed out their lights. He watched Beacon in the distance; its tall spires piercing the sky, its magnificent structures giving the entire view a very homely feel. He reminisced in is younger days; when he would hope to be part of something as great and beautiful as the castle that watched over his home town.

He laughed at the thought.

When would he get to see those walls that he once called home; he hoped it would be soon. He also hoped that when he walked through those gates; someone would be there with him. Side by side.

And hand in hand.