Chapter Two

The Small One: Hey Uncle Qrow! So many exciting things happened this weekend! I really wanted to tell you earlier, but I'm sending this at the allotted time like I promised. Turns I'm not going to be missing you not-teaching because I'm going to Beacon! Not that I won't still miss you, I just won't be at Signal. Some days I can't believe it. I got into a fight earlier in the week and had to be saved by Professor Goodwitch (I can call her that now!), and then Professor Ozpin offered me a spot at the school. I didn't think anyone got in early, but there's no turning back now. I hope you're safe wherever you are. I'll text you next week to let you know how Yang and I are doing. Be careful out there!

Message Received: 2:38 am

Delete message?

Message deleted.

Oz is lucky I can't send any messages right now.

;;;

"Are you okay?" Ruby dives headfirst into the plot, sure she won't like her future 'friends'.

"Just," Jaune hiccups a little, cheeks looking green, "not used to being up in the air so long."

"Here," Ruby slides into the seat across from him and holds out a ginger candy. "Tastes awful, but should help with the nausea. If you're not allergic to ginger, of course."

"I'm not," he huffs a little and unwraps the candy. "Do you have problems on airships too?"

"I need to keep my ears popping," Ruby admits, opening a candy for herself. "Had an ear infection on a trip, and I've been scared to not have something to suck on since." Truth. Just not in Remnant. "How long have you been on the transport?"

"Couple hours." The blond smiles at the face Ruby makes. "And you're the first one to come up to me, you know?"

"Really?" Ruby smiles a bit. "I mean, you looked like you needed some help. And I'm kind-of hiding from my sister." Amythest thought it would be funny if they didn't correct Yang about Ruby getting accepted now and not in two years. "But, no one?"

"Yah, it's been a disappointing flight." He smiles sheepishly. "I'm Jaune Arc, by the way."

"Ruby. Sorry I didn't introduce myself."

"It's no worries. So… sister?"

"She doesn't know I'm coming," Ruby shrugs helplessly, still smiling. "I told her, but she thought I meant I was coming in a few years."

"Ah, early admission?"

"It's because I'm short, isn't it?"

"Huh?" He tilts his head. "What, no, that's not what I meant. A sister of mine got an early admission a few years ago and forgot to let us know she meant admission into that year. I didn't even know the schools did it."

"Same!" Ruby throws up her hands. "I accidently got into a fight and poof. Here I am."

He laughs. They talk the next couple of hours, as the school's airhead picks up first years from towns around Vale. Ruby finds herself getting along with Jaune. As in, truly liking him as a potential friend.

She is in no way prepared.

Keep smiling.

"Ruby?" calls out a voice. The girl freezes. "Ruby!"

"I'm dead," Ruby whispers. Jaune looks nervous but ready to jump in. Ruby's smile stretches as innocently as she can. "Hi, sis!"

Yang takes it well ("Oh, I can't believe my baby sister is going to Beacon with me! This is the best day ever!"). She meets Jaune, almost crushes his hand, and the three share a nice moment where the ship swings back around and both Signal and Beacon can be seen.

"Do you have any more of those ginger candies?" Jaune asks, queasy. Ruby wordlessly hands over a full package. "Thanks."

"Keep it." She brought them for a reason, after all. Yang side-eyes her. The debate from her older sister is did she know it was going to happen or was it just a coincidence. Ruby keeps smiling and offers her sister a chocolate bar.

"Thanks, sis," the blonde lets the matter drop.

How to explain that in the scheme of things, this is just a kindness? If the real Ruby knew what would happen, she would have prevented it. Something as little as an upset stomach is an easy fix in the scheme of things.

Saving the world is the harder part.

;;;

"Does this happen a lot?" Jaune asks.

"More than you'd think," Ruby's smile is tight but still there. A small part of the girl, that jealous part which clings to her sister and wants to be the focus of Yang's world, hopes none of Yang's friends make it through initiation. She'll never voice the thought out loud. Yang deserves happiness; Ruby wishes it didn't involve ditching little sister all the time. "Do you want to walk around a bit, or do you have people to meet with as well?"

"Um, no," he looks away, abash. "Just me."

"Then let's see the grounds!" Ruby excitedly turns her back holding out a hand. "I need to find a good place to attempt a race track?" Her hand falls when Jaune doesn't take it, but it's not awkward. She doesn't let the atmosphere sink, smiling and giggling as she turns again and falls in step with him.

"Why do you need a race track?"

She explains semblances to him as they walk down the long strip towards the school; explains her own semblance. Tells him how it's not appropriate to ask others what their semblance is, but they'll probably learn their team's semblances since they need to know each other's strengths and weaknesses.

She stumbles a bit when he stops. His mouth falls open, "Who's that?"

Ruby follows his gaze, still smiling. "Don't know," she lies. "Let's go introduce ourselves!"

"What- Ruby no."

But the redhead is already marching over. "Excuse me!" Weiss turns away from the people carrying her bags. "Hi, I'm Ruby. Sorry to bother, I was just wondering, why all the dust?"

Weiss splutters, fists clenching. "W-why all the dust?"

"Well, yah?" Keep smiling. Expected things aren't fun, but what are the chances they end up partnered? "I mean, the school gives some out, don't they? It was in the read-up, but it's my first year so I guess I thought I'd ask."

Weiss sniffs. "I didn't realize they let children into this school."

Still smiling. "I didn't realize there was an age cut-off. No need to be rude, though. It was just a question. You do know how to admit if I'm bothering you, right?"

"The school barely hands out enough dust to fire a round," Weiss grounds out. "If I want to be an effective huntress, I have to supply my own. Not that I'd imagine a kid would understand."

"Being a huntress isn't about how much dust you carry?" Ruby keeps smiling, eyebrows drawing together. "It's a just a bonus."

Weiss' scathing remark is held when Jaune comes over. "Um, Ruby? Is everything alright?"

"Oh, yah," she perks up and smiles at the tall guy. "Sorry for taking so long. Oh, Ms., this is Jaune. Sorry, I never got your name."

"You don't… know who I am?" Weiss' eyes narrow.

"You're the girl with a lot of dust?"

"I'm Weiss Schnee," she stresses the name. When Ruby fails to react besides a 'nice to meet you', she turns to Jaune. "You, at least, know who I am, correct?"

"Um, sorry?" he scratches the back of his neck. "Am I supposed to?"

The girl's face goes beet red. Cue a new voice. "Weiss Schnee, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, one of the largest producers of energy propellant in the world."

"Finally!" Weiss smiles proudly, looking to the new girl, impressed. "Some recognition."

Blake deadpans. "The same company infamous for its controversial labour forces and questionable business partners."

"Ooo," Ruby's smile gets more real at the sick burn. Blake's bow twitches at the soft exclamation, but no more than a glance is spared.

"Wha-" Weiss looks ready to throttle someone. After spluttering, she picks up the last suitcase and storms away.

"Guess the excess dust makes sense," Ruby chuckles, watching the heiress march away and Blake strolling calmly in another direction. "Um, thank you, Ms."

Blake's bow twitches again, ever so slight. Ruby grew up trying to spot her crow uncle, she notices these things. The other girl isn't subtle; how did canon miss it for so long?

"Well, that was eventful," Ruby smiles back at Jaune. "Want to try to meet more people?"

"I think that's enough for the day," his shoulders slump. "Let's just… go to the gym. Maybe we can get a good spot."

"Okay!" Ruby pulls out a map. "Help me find it?"

"Why do you even have a map of the school?"

"Why don't you? This place is huge!"

"…Fine. Let's look for a landmark."

;;;

They definitely aren't the first to arrive, but they for-sure aren't the last. Since there was no call for her, Ruby thinks they might even be here before Yang. Or maybe the blonde hasn't seen her. One thing is for certain, the amount of people – strangers – here makes her smile strained even as she bounces in place.

"Are you always this full of energy?" Jaune asks.

"You should see me on caffeine," Ruby's smile loosens as she focuses on him.

Then comes a surprise. Something very unexpected. Ruby likes unexpected.

"Sie sind das Essan? Nein, wir sind die Jäger!"

There is a long pause as people turn to the door. The orange haired girl who shouted is striking a pose. Her tall, dark shadow is shaking his head with a sigh.

"We have to be their friends," Ruby declares loudly over the whispers starting up about the weird girl. "Come on, Jaune!"

"Wha- Ruby!"

"Have you seen Attack on Titan?" is Ruby's first sentence as she speeds over, Jaune panting as he runs up.

"Ohmygoshyes!" Nora shouts, tackling her. Jaune and Ren both start and stop apologies to each other for their feminine counter parts. Ruby squeals and hugs back. "Wait." Nora pulls back, clinging to the younger girl's shoulders. "How do you know about it?"

"How do you?" Ruby counters. "I thought I was the only one!"

"Same!"

"Nora sees into parallel realities when she has too much caffeine," Ren explains. A look of dawning horror crosses Jaune's face.

"Is that what it is?" Ruby widens her eyes and keeps smiling. She doesn't get that effect, but it would be nice to have someone who gets her references without having to explain the reference. "Makes sense. I don't have caffeine unless I must, and it is a trip let me tell you. Oh, I'm Ruby."

"Nora!"

"Hi. Jaune Arc."

"Ren."

Thank goodness she's not completely alone. Fifteen years of unnoticed references and other-worldly knowledge, and she's not the only one. It's not the same, not reincarnation, but it's better than five minutes ago. For this reason alone, Nora gets a place on the kindness, smiles, and protection list. Ren too, since they're a package deal. The girls devolve into exchanging memes while the guys share long-suffering glances, trying to sort out the conversation.

"Ruby!"

"Oh," the redhead looks over to where Yang is waving. She finishes her conversation with the three, "I'll meet you guys after the speech! And introduce you to my sister!"

"Surely, you can't be serious!" Nora mocks.

"I am serious! And don't call me Shirley!"

While the girls break into peals of laughter, Jaune asks, "Did you get any of that?"

Ren shrugs.

"Aw, look at you," Yang slings an arm around her sister. Ignores Ruby choking. "Making friends. See? You didn't need me!"

"It would have been nice if you'd stuck around," Ruby grumbles when she can breathe. "But we're going over there after and I'm introducing you. Nora is a riot. She's got that thing that I do. The, er," Ruby wiggles her fingers, "no-sense thing?"

"What, really?"

"Yah! She even understands when I slip-up! Though apparently her thing is caused by caffeine overload."

"Huh," Yang noogies her. "This, I have to see." She ignores her little sister's protesting to smother her again. "Oh, I just knew Beacon would be good for you!"

"Yang!"

"We'll have to figure out what causes your premonitions," Yang relents, but only because a few professors gather by the stage. "Did you tell her about them?"

"No," Ruby shakes her head and leans on Yang's arm. "We just traded jokes no one would get. Well, maybe Ren and you would get some of them."

"Thank goodness I won't be the only lost one here."

If Yang only knew how much Ruby told her sister. If she only knew how close the stories will mirror some of their lives. It is a wonder how much Nora and Ren understand in-jokes from another world, and how many parallels will be picked up on.

The microphone on the stage makes feedback, grabbing everyone's attention. There, in the center, is Headmaster Ozpin. "I'll… keep this brief."

The joy zaps out of her as Ruby listens, but her smile keeps on. There is a lot of shifting amongst the first-year students. When the man gets to the 'wasted energy' part of his speech, the girl wonders if this is the start of weeding out recruits, or if something else is going on. Amber should be beneath the school, if her timeline is correct. The headmaster does look tired, leaning on his cane even as he walks away.

It really has begun, hasn't it? A plot she was hoping wouldn't come true.

"He seemed kind of… off."

"Glad I'm not the only one who noticed," Ruby mumbles, glancing over to the JNR group chatting away with each other. "Come on, sis. Time for you to meet new people!"

Yang and Nora get on like a house on fire. Ren enjoys Yang's company as well, if only because he can understand all of her puns. Jaune's still a little wary.

"It's for you," Yang's smug look as she hands her scroll to Ruby inspires no confidence.

"Hello?"

"When were you going to tell me you wouldn't be in Signal this year?" comes Taiyang's voice.

Unbelievable, her family. "You signed the forms!"

;;;

"It's like a big slumber party!" Yang flops beside her sister.

Ruby doesn't look up from writing her letter, "I don't think dad would approve of all the boys, though."

Nora's dragged Ren off… somewhere. Jaune's getting changed. Just the two sisters, guarding their sleeping bags. Already a few students have left. Of all the boys Yang's admiring, Ruby doesn't think half will make it through initiation.

(Will she make it through initiation?)

"What's that?" Yang asks, drawing her little sister from her thoughts.

"A letter to Amythest," because long-distance scroll texts are expensive. Letters are just unreliable. "I promised to tell her all about Beacon." They'll video-chat when things calm down. "She's promised to brag all about the computer classes I'm missing."

"Aw, I'm sure they have some here," Yang croons.

"And your friends?" Ruby says innocently back.

"Losers, the lot of them," Yang sighs fondly and looks towards the group on the other side of the room.

"Thanks for sticking with me tonight."

"What are big sisters for! Oh."

"What?" Ruby looks up to see where he sister is staring. "Oh, hey, I remember her?"

"Yah?"

"Yah, she destroyed Weiss with just a few words."

"The ice queen girl?"

"That's the one. Want to go talk to her?"

"You know I do. You talk, though. I don't speak bookie very well."

Ruby smiles and lets her sister drag her over. Plot is a hot knife twisting in her chest, but she still chooses not to go against it. Just, better it. Mary-Sue it.

"Hi, I'm Ruby! This is Yang. We wanted to know about the book you're reading."

And so, Blake might not like them (yet), but she at least doesn't write them off. She may think Ruby is young and naive, and Yang a bit too pushy, but they get a smile out of the hidden Faunus. They get to chat, at least until Weiss comes over and demands silence.

Then it's like being back to square one.

Except that Yang is the only princess here that Ruby will devote herself to. From an acceptable distance. Where nothing can be inferred.

… See, canon-Ruby had it right. It would be so much easier if she could pair up with Yang for initiation.


Finally being in Mistral, the capital, isn't all she hoped for. Yes, Ruby is worried because her future knowledge is running out. It is also freeing. Finally, she can make her own path, but still following the guidelines. Keep smiling, be kind. Protect her friends.

She never realized how much she misses the team until this journey. This house they're renting is a bunch of single beds, and she's alone. Jaune is alone too, but at least his room is next to his team. Ren and Nora's room is one of two that has two beds. Qrow's has one. They are spread everywhere for safety, but Ruby can guess she'll spend most nights on the couch. At least there she will wake if anyone enters.

She misses Weiss' shuffling waking her up in the morning, misses Blake staying up late to read a good book. Most of all, she misses Yang.

("I love you."

I'm sorry to leave with only a letter.)

Tonight hurts a lot. She could go out, return the dim-light into herself and put down the newspaper to socialize instead. Maybe even scout out bars to sing at. But…

Qrow is out drinking, and she didn't make a fuss since he promised one glass only. When Jaune, Ren, and Nora left for team bonding, Ruby waved them goodbye and didn't invite herself along. She doesn't let the hurt and anger fester, shoves down the loneliness and disappointment, and she found a newspaper to catch up on events and read comics. Wipes away a few unshed tears, then sets up in her single-bed room and forgets everything hurts for a while.

Forgets that she is alone, that her foresight will end, and that she is not a piece which fits smoothly in the other's team puzzle. The version of her before sits beside her, just bright enough to read while she pretends she is asleep.

It's easy to hear when team JNR comes back. The smell of warm food would give it away if their normal footsteps and loud voices didn't. The version of before dims a bit more in response to her despondent feelings. Like planned, they think she is sleeping and ignore her room, moving back to the living room to relax. She should go out there, but she doesn't think she can smile right now.

Uncle Qrow comes back later than he should. Ruby sighs and puts the newspaper off to the side, listening to the soft footsteps outside the house. He's not stumbling too much, so maybe he really did only have one drink.

The shouting startles her. Sparks a bit of irritation from the hole filled with her repressed feelings. She needs to go deal with this. Why couldn't they have let her mope for the night? Gearing up to smile, to be kind, she absorbs her other and calls out, "What is going on our there?!"

Ruby winces and reels in the irritation so she isn't stomping out. If only her yell had been more joking. She trusts her uncle not to get into any fights with her friends, so it's a matter of shuffling him to bed. Seeing him on the couch, arm over his eyes, just proves this. He needs to sober, though, and take his medication. Exasperated, practically rolling her eyes, her gaze zaps around the zoom. "Can't a girl read her comics in peace?"

She really does roll her eyes when her uncle hiccups a chuckle. She trusted him. One week of moderation before he can get too tipsy, ruined. "Qrow, did you get drunk again?"

Like they both don't know the answer, he smirks a bit, "Maybe."

And she just… wants to give up for the night.

"Whoa."

That startles her. While she noticed a figure, she thought it was Jaune. Just because this was expected, doesn't make it any less startling. She never expected it so soon. They've been in Mistral for three days.

Oscar stares, almost flinching under the attention he's drawn at his soft exclamation. He's brave – if a little strange – when he steps forward with narrowing eyes. Like he can't believe what he sees. "You… have silver eyes."

Those words restart her lungs. Her lips turn up, smile rueful, then cheerful. "And you have hazel eyes." She steps forwards, holding out a hand. The boy blinks, taken aback for a second before stepping forward more confidently to meet her. Up close, his freckles really stand out. "I'm Ruby. I'm so sorry for whatever my uncle did."

"Oscar," he shakes her hand a little hesitantly. "You, um… probably know me as Professor Ozpin?"

She stills for a second as the others let out small exclamations of confusion. He looks worried when she takes her hand back, but Ruby is smiling with a soft huff. "Well, at least this won't be the strangest conversation I've had. It's nice to meet you, Oscar. Glad you're still with us, sir."

Meanwhile Qrow laughs. They all turn to look when he shouts, "I did it!"

He falls off the couch.

Ruby sighs long and hard. Her smile at Oscar is a more forced. "Have a seat. I've got to sober him up. Do you want anything to eat? Drink?"

Overwhelmed, Oscar stiffens when his stomach growls.

"Got you covered," Ruby winks and speeds over to her uncle. "Jaune, close the door! Ren, Nora, think you can throw some of my leftovers in the microwave? Oh, and maybe fill a glass of water? Thanks!"

"Are we going to talk about this?" Jaune waves his hands towards Oscar while marching to the door.

"Yah, but after everyone's settled and able to remember this," the last bit it thrown towards Qrow. "You promised only one drink. You're still recovering from being poisoned."

"Poisoned?" Oscar blurts out, awkwardly shuffling from foot to foot.

"Long story," Ruby replies, hefting Qrow until his giggling self is sitting up on the couch. "We'll tell it while you eat."

The poor cinnamon role looks so tired and hallowed-eyed that Ruby just wants to wrap him up in a cocoon of blankets. If she could separate him and Ozpin, she would. She gently guides him to a chair, asking what he wants to drink. "We've got water, milk, tea, and hot chocolate."

"Hot chocolate, please," Oscar clenches his hands together.

"You've got it," Ruby smiles and winks, disappearing in a flash of rose petals.

Ruby holds her groan back until she's alone in the kitchen (Ren and Nora leaving to question what's happening with Jaune). Kindness, smiles, and protection. Oscar is going to get all three, immediately. She knew he was going to be a cinnamon roll, but she didn't expect him to be so adorable.

She's going to give all three and mean it for this kid.

(Ruby swears this, low and unheard over the sound of water boiling.)


A/N: Thanks for reading. A big thank-you to Blaise Welshman, MrSlendy69, Kevin Bakeland, and Trougue for reviewing!

(Just going to assume Chibi!Nora's powers are canon…)

I hope people enjoyed this chapter