Prologue
Haven Ruins, Mistral
Storm clouds were beginning to roll in as Ruby Rose weaved between fallen pillars and shattered stone. The memories were still fresh in her mind. It hurt to be here, yet she always returned. When she sat idle for too long, she would get the urge to come back to what was once Haven Academy.
The Fall of Beacon was a memory forever etched in Ruby's mind, the Fall of Haven even more so. She could still hear the sound of flames roaring, towers crumbling. It was so profound standing there now, the only sound being the wind tugging at her hood. The place was a source of so many emotions. Ruby always felt like part of her was forever trapped there, for more reasons than one.
She continued walking through the debris until reaching a small metal monument. Etched on the face of the iron panel, below a emblem of gears and a wing:
Qrow Branwen
Sentry of Guidance
Ruby smiled at the simple memorial. She took a knee in front of it, setting down her bag. From the bag, she pulled out a half-empty bottle of whiskey and two glasses. "Hey Uncle Qrow." She greeted, tugging the cork off the bottle. "Sorry it's been a while. It's been pretty busy in the city." She filled both glasses halfway, then sat the bottle aside. She sat one of the glasses on the iron box, taking the other for herself. She sighed, looking at her glass. "I know you never wanted me or Yang to drink, but hey, if it makes you feel any better, I'm way more responsible about it than you ever were." She chuckled before taking a small sip. She cleared her throat. "You're really missing out. Our new school is actually coming along pretty well. I mean, it's not much. It's just a two-story hotel, but a school's a school. The students practice fighting out near the lakeside. Nora, Ren and Jaune are pretty good teachers, believe it or not." She took another sip. "I sometimes kinda want to try out the whole teaching thing, but I don't think I'd be good enough for it, you know?" The wind suddenly blew her hood from her head, pushing her back a little bit. She resituated herself, sitting cross-legged on the ground. "Being a Huntress is different from how I dreamed it would be. I guess you were right when you told me it was all a business. I guess that means I'm good at it. I make some good money." She chuckled. "Don't worry, I don't waste it on fancy drinks. Just the generic stuff you always liked." She eyed her drink, swirling the brown liquid around before lifting it to her mouth and downing it. He exhaled as she sat the empty glass down. "Just this past week I helped take down an illegal Dust black market in Mistral's underbelly. Pretty epic if you ask me. I got a few free Gravity Dust cartridges out of the deal too." She began to whisper. "Between you and me, I stole them." She chuckled, then sighed. She watched as the storm clouds continued to approach, lightning flashing but making no noise yet. Her hand instinctively went to her glass, only for her to remember it was empty. She huffed, trying to decide whether to put it away or refill it. She chose the latter.
After pouring another serving for herself and taking a drink, she coughed a couple times before continuing. "I heard Yang and Blake are enjoying working in Menagerie. Yang says it's like Patch, only hotter and more crowded." Ruby chuckled a bit. "They really do seem happy together, despite everything." She took another drink. "I'm really happy for them. Oh, and Wiess and Winter are leaders of their own academy in Atlas. I mean, Atlas isn't what it used to be, thanks to the White Fang, but they're still holding out. Weiss told me they dissolved the Schnee Dust Company. Like, they sold off each mine and factory to independent operators! Isn't that crazy? I bet you would've definitely enjoyed a world with no SDC. Dust prices have never been so low. Makes our jobs a bit easier." Ruby chuckled. She finished off her second drink. "I should probably stop there." She told herself before putting away the glass in her bag.
She sighed, hearing thunder begin to rumble in the sky. She knew she'd have to head back home soon. "Uncle Qrow, I'm doing as you said. I'm looking after the Summer Maiden. As far as I know, me, Jaune, Ren and Nora are the only ones here who know about her powers. I'm doing my best to train her, but she's not catching on very quick. I'm honestly not too worried. She's capable, just...unsure of herself. But she knows she's safe with me." Ruby sniffed. "We'll get to Vacuo soon enough."
A sudden crack of thunder made Ruby jump. Rain began to fall. "Crap. I guess I should get going." She stood up and slung her bag over her shoulder. She took the glass of whiskey designated for Qrow and raised it. "I'll come back soon, I promise." She poured out the alcohol on the ground before stowing the glass away in her bag. She then began to leave the ruins, flipping her hood back over her head.