AN: Hey guys and girls, this is my first RWBY fanfic. It is a project of mine, along with a friend. So some updates may take longer to come out than others. Sorry for the character description in the beginning. I couldn't think of a better way to describe him other than that. Enjoy the ride. See you next week. Don't feed the guard dogs. – Phoenix Commander signing off.

I DO NOT OWN RWBY IT IS THE SOLE PROPERTY ROOSTERTEETH PRODUCTIONS

Commander Martin Phoenix Rose - 28 year old Phoenix Faunus. The 28 is the number of revival cycles he has gone through. Has a strong sense of right and wrong, confident even when the odds are against him. Commander of all of the Hunters of Vale, but does defer command to Ozpin while working in the classroom at Beacon. He is the Father of Ruby and Yang, adoptive father of Weiss and Blake. He is the husband of Summer Rose, brother of Thamior Rose. Is very protective of his family, does not take threats to them lightly. Commander of team RWBY and team MSQT. He is the Dust and Semblance professor at Beacon Academy. He is the leader of the strike team MSQT (Mascot) that ended the Faunus war.

- Faults: Has a horrible temper, but is not easily angered. He slips into a depression whenever a family member enters a revival cycle, even though they would wake up again. Has a borderline obsession with Grimm meat. Is constantly plagued by the instinct of his semblance to burn everything in sight.

- Physical appearance: Slim build, Blonde hair, and lilac eyes – red when excited. He is a Phoenix Faunus (as are Ruby, Weiss, Blake, Yang and Summer) the only way to tell though is if he gets angry.

- Weapon and skills: Close and long range combat expert. His weapon is Resurrection a Repeating Dust-Steel Crossbow that fires four types of bolts. Explosive-Dust, Lightning-Dust, and Ice-Dust tipped for Grimm and standard bolts for when dust is not needed. The bolts are loaded into 30 round magazines each bearing his personal crest. The crest is also engraved on the stock of the crossbow. Unarmed combat expert. He uses his semblance to enhance his punches and kicks. An expert dust weaver and is always looking to find new ways to use it in combat and everyday life. Expert violinist and tends to play while thinking.

- Semblance: Capable of projecting fire and controlling it. He prefers to only use his semblance in melee combat, lining his fists and feet in flames to augment his strikes. He can also teleport certain distances if there is at least a spark near the destination. An aspect of his semblance is that wings and armor of fire always form on him while using it. It has earned him the nicknames The Angel of Death.

- Combat Attire: White and gold cloak and hood with gold trim, a gold long sleeve shirt with white trim on the arms and hem, and white pants with gold stripes down the leg, and white boots with gold buckles. He also wares a pair of white and gold fingerless gloves with his crest on the backs. There is dust sewn into them to help Martin control the dust he works with from a distance. His crest consists of a crossed white and gold scythe, visible on the broach of his cloak, his belt buckle and his gloves.

Prologue: Phoenix and an Oath

Martin Rose, patriarch of the Rose family and phoenix, looked down at the four beds, the signs read Belladonna and Schnee. The four occupants were his closest friends and they were dying right before his eyes. "Please Martin…take care of Weiss for us." Daniel Schnee wheezed.

"Of course I will, she may not be mine but I still see her and Blake," Martin looked over at the Belladonna's, "as my daughters." He said trying to reassure them as best he could. The four of them broke out in to a simultaneous coughing fit as the illness that affected them attacked their lungs. The four parents were lying in the beds before Martin were phoenix, just like him, but even the abilities of a phoenix couldn't cure the Burning Plague. When they finished coughing. He promised, "You have my word as your brother and friend that I will protect our daughters and they will always find a reason to smile again. A phoenix always keeps his promise." He saluted his friends, his family; with a fist to his heart their old salute. "I'll send for the girls." He tuned to the door; gold and white cloak flowing behind him.

Ruby Rose, Yang Xiao Long Rose, Weiss Schnee, and Blake Belladonna were outside in the hall waiting for Martin to come out after speaking with the Belladonna's and the Schnee's. "Blake, Weiss…I-It's almost time." Martin stammered. He was doing his best to not break down in front of the girls. They stood up to go to their parent's bedsides. Ruby and Yang tried to go with them. But Martin stopped them with a hand to their shoulders. Holding his daughters to him, waiting for the inevitable. "Give them time…this is something we can't help with. No matter how much we want to." He said tears running down his face; he had given up trying to hold them in. The four girls had been close almost like sisters.

"Weiss, Blake, we have been talking with Martin and we have decided that you will live with Martin as a member of the Rose family." Daniel Schnee said his breathing labored.

"What do you mean by that dad?" Weiss asked tears in her eyes.

"You're all going to be fine." Blake said firmly, but her voice shook slightly; she didn't want to believe that her parents and godparents were going to die.

"Blake you know that's not true. Just promise us you will live your life and be happy, no matter what." Sarah Belladonna whispered with a sad smile on her lips.

The girls already at the breaking point broke down and wrapped their arms around their parents. "We promise." Both of the grief stricken girls said simultaneously.

When the girls stepped out of the room a few minutes later, the monitors had flat lined. Martin, Ruby, and Yang walked over and embraced the two girls who they had considered part of their family since the day they were born. A few days later the Belladonna's and the Schnee's were laid to rest in the Rose family cemetery on the outskirts of Vale city. Unlike most phoenix deaths the four friends would not be re-awakening. The Burning Plague that had claimed them neutralized their abilities. The Belladonna's and the Schnee's were truly dead. It was a small ceremony with only Martin, Ruby, Yang, Weiss, and Blake in attendance along with a few close friends from Signal and Beacon Academy.

"I promise you both that you will find a reason to smile again." Martin said to Blake and Weiss his arms and his white and gold cloak wrapped around them. Shielding them from the rain that mirrored the somber mood of the funeral.

Unfortunately for the small group the media was already waiting for them at the entrance. The news of the illness had been known for some time and now that the wait was over they were circling for a story. "Damn vultures, they just can't wait for a story. We should be allowed to grieve first." Thought Martin scowling at the reporters. The reporters were already trying to surround them as they left the cemetery. Martin was shielding Blake and Weiss from view with his cloak. Yang and Ruby were also doing their best to shield them from the front.

"Commander Rose, Commander Rose a moment!" a reporter hounded him, blocking their way. He had gotten through the Hunters that were trying to keep the mob back.

Martin, arms and cloak protectively around his daughters, growled "One question and only one!" He was tired, distraught and wanted nothing more than to hold his family and tell them everything would be ok. The media was not helping. He even contemplated drawing Resurrection – a gold and white repeating dust-steel crossbow - from its holster on his back just to get rid of them. He shook the thought away. Summer, his wife would not want him acting this way. It was commonly believed she was dead killed in action during the Faunus Rebellion. Martin and his brother Thamior were one of the few who knew the truth.

With the dust-tipped bolts it used - even with the normal bolts it used - he would make short work of the pests. He thought better of it, now was not the time to let his emotions get the better of him. "As the new guardian of Miss. Schnee, do you have plans for the Schnee Dust Company?" That was the wrong question to ask at a time like this.

"No, I have no designs what so ever on the company. To anyone who might try to take advantage of Weiss because of her age, I say this, try to take advantage of her and you will learn why I am called the Angel of Death." His eyes shifted from their usual lilac to blood red in his anger. The reporter backpedaled to get away as fast as he could. Martin led the girls to a waiting car to take them to his home in Vale city, just a few miles from Beacon and Signal Academy. The very Hunters from those schools were what formed the barrier between the five grievers and the mob of reporters. As they entered the car and the door closed, Martin woke in a cold sweat at 2am. That day was seven years ago, the girls were only ten at the time, and he still dreamed of the day he lost half his family. He then remembered that they would all be moving to Beacon in about a month, he to begin work as the Dust and Semblance Professor there, his daughters to be his students. With luck, if they graduated they would join him as his teammates. They would be a team in the field, as well as a family. He smiled thinking about how far they had come since that day. Then he fell asleep with a smile on his face, thinking of the future that lay ahead for his family.