Ok. I know this story hasn't updated in...for fucking ever. Not going to give excuses, but I will say that I wasn't really proud of the direction I was taking. I would literally make up the plot for each chapter the day I'd start writing it, and it got to the point where I had no fucking clue where I was going with the story. However, I've received several messages from you guys, expressing your concerns and wants to see the story update again, so I decided to start re-writing most of the chapters in a way that will help me finally finish this thing. I've got an idea on where I want the story to go and how to go about it, and needed to rewrite each of the chapters. So far, these two are the only ones that could stay, and the others are being scrapped and done by scratch. This chapter was barely changed, the only change being at the end. The next chapter, however, was changed about 50%, so it's still got some new content for you guys to enjoy!

I'll end this authors note, by saying I apologize for making you guys wait so long, and I WILL be finishing this story, and soon.

RWBY

The Princess and the Orphan

The experience of battle forever divides those who talk of nothing else but its prospect from those who talk of everything else but its memory. -James D. Hornfischer

Vale was a kingdom that held great pride in its warriors. The men and women who fought and died were honored as heroes. Without them, the kingdoms prosperity, its liveliness, even its light, would flicker and die. Every man and woman who wielded a blade for the kingdom fought with heart and soul, protecting those who couldn't do it themselves. They swore an oath to protect and serve the kingdom. Everyone, from smaller troops to the high knights of the kingdom, were prepared to die at any moment.

Ozpin knew this better than anyone. He'd trained hundreds of knights, only to watch them die on the field of battle. It was an unfortunate existence. They lived to die. They were aware of the consequences, yet still marched proudly into the field. Sword and shield in hand and heads held high. He had never been more proud of any knight, than he was in one Summer Rose.

In the present, she was regarded as a hero. In the past, she was seen as childish and naive, with her head always in the clouds. She was friendly and outgoing, with the ability to befriend anyone she spoke to. The silver haired man had been shocked when she had approached him for training. It was difficult for women to become knights, due to their smaller stature and the time of pregnancy. Still, Summer had pursued her dream of becoming a knight, taking her training with Ozpin seriously. Her skills had surpassed any other warriors, in both hand to hand combat, and with a weapon. It was a sad day when the news of her sacrifice had reached the kingdom. She was loved and respected by many.

She was one of his greatest friends.

Now, history was seeming to repeat itself, as he trained her daughter. She was the spitting image of her in every way. From her form, to her determination and love for battle. She had been training under his watch for near a month now. Each day, she would arrive before the end of Weiss' training, sitting and watching as they practiced. He watched the way the younger girl stared at Weiss as she trained. It was the same look Summer had when she looked at her husband. It was clear that Ruby held strong feelings for Weiss, even if they were stronger than she would admit. It was almost sad, knowing that Weiss hadn't shown the slightest interest in romance. The princess had built an icy wall around her heart. For what reason, he wasn't entirely sure. Weiss never let anyone close to her, never letting anyone see her frozen heart. Not even him, despite his greatest efforts.

Weiss was currently panting from exhaustion, hunched over with a shaky grip on her rapier. She had been training faithfully for over an hour now, refusing to give up until she had perfected her newest technique. A Schnee never settled for anything less than perfect, and Weiss was no exception. Ozpin narrowed his eyes, watching her make another attempt. It was useless. No matter how hard she would try, with how drained she felt, she wouldn't master it in one day. The girl was stubborn and put far too much focus into mastering everything she learned. While it was admirable, it was also naive. That path would only lead to self destruction.

Ozpin approached Weiss, placing a hand on her shoulder, silently urging her to end it and rest. The princess had felt too drained of energy to argue, struggling to stand straight and sheathe her rapier. Weiss' gaze fell onto Ruby, who sat silently across the field. Once their gazes met, Ruby immediately looked away, trying desperately to hide her blush. Weiss scoffed, before marching off to the carriage awaiting her departure. She got in silently, loathing the rest of the day that was to come.

Ozpin smiled as he watched the carriage depart, before turning his attention to Ruby. With the field clear of any distractions, he could work with Ruby while holding her full attention. It was amusing how distracted the young girl would get with Weiss around. "Now Ruby. Today, we won't be working on combat. But rather, we will be relaxing."

Ruby looked at him, confused.

"You've been working hard, Ms. Rose. Today, we will simply be talking. Even a knight needs a break." Ozpin said, giving her a warm smile. Ruby had smiled back, taking a seat beside him and staring up at the sky.

The day wasn't as beautiful as it normally was. The sky was more gray, with darker clouds sailing by. The sun had been engulfed by the darkness, indicating the coming of a small storm. The wind was much colder than normal, but not much to bother her.

"So Ms. Rose. Tell me, why is it that you show up before the end of Ms. Weiss' training? Surely you know the schedule well enough by now to show up later and still be on time." Ozpin asked her. While he already knew the reason, it held different meaning actually hearing it. The blush on Ruby's face said everything.

"W-well. I kinda...have a bit of a crush on her..." Ruby said with a stutter. While her mother had been outgoing, Ruby was more shy. A trait she had picked up from her father. "She's just so beautiful and hardworking. I watch the way she fights and it's just...mesmerizing. Not like she even likes me..."

The young girl was caught off guard when she felt a hand rubbing the top of her head, effectively messing up her hair a bit. She looked at Ozpin who was smiling warmly at her. "Ruby. Ms. Weiss doesn't hate you, by any means. If anything, I'd say she sees a rival in you. As for liking you, I can't quite attest to that. Ms. Weiss has a hard time letting other people in, to where even friendship is difficult. She finds it to be a weakness that will just drag her down. The time she spends worrying about other people is time she could spend secluding herself with her training."

Ruby was starting to understand the princess a bit more. While the idea of her liking girls in any way hadn't been put out, it appeared that Weiss wasn't interested in romance as a whole. Thinking about it, Ruby could see the truth behind Ozpin's words by watching her train. She put everything into her training, going so far as to ignore Ruby's existence entirely. It was almost sad. Ruby shook her head, wishing to just forget about the whole thing. Then, a thought came to her mind. "Hey, Ozpin...do you think I'll really be able to become a knight?"

Ozpin was taken aback by this sudden question. The girl had been training with him for over a month now, and had never asked such a question. Ruby was possibly on par with Weiss in terms of combat capabilities. She showed great strength and tactical prowess. He believed she could even be a leader should the opportunity present itself. "Ruby. Training you has certainly been an enjoyable experience. Your strong, capable, and devoted. Such qualities are necessary for being a knight. As for whether you could be a knight, I would say with confidence that you are already on par with even the newest of recruits. You could very well call yourself a-"

Suddenly, Ozpin stopped talking, confusing Ruby. Quickly jumping to his feet, the silver haired man surveyed the area, much like when Ruby had first arrived. This time, however, the problem was very serious. Over the trees of the training grounds, smoke had been rising through the air. The dark gray cloud served as a beacon for impending doom, signaling the kingdoms worst fears.

They were under attack.

Ozpin took off in the direction of the kingdom, Ruby following suit. Even though Ozpin said nothing, Ruby couldn't help but feel something was amiss. As they passed the line of trees that separated the training grounds from the kingdom, Ruby's heart sank. The kingdom was on fire. People were running through the streets, panicking and screaming. She could see a few knights running alongside some of the panicking civilians, trying to protect them and get them to safety. Ozpin looked at the younger girl, expecting tears to begin to fall. He was pleased to see this was not the case. Just like her mother, Ozpin could see the anger in her eyes. Her fists were clenched tight and she was trembling. She wanted to fight for the kingdom.

"Ruby. I need you to come with me to the castle. If were under attack, the king and queen may very well be in trouble, as well as Ms. Weiss." Ruby didn't need any more clarification and took off toward the castle alongside Ozpin. She wasn't going to let anything happen to Weiss, or the king and queen. This kingdom was her home, and she'd protect it with everything she had. Even if her very life would be taken from her.

As the castle came into view, Ruby could see the heart of the battle. Most of the flames and smoke had come from the castle. The bloodied bodies of many knights littered the ground. Some having more minor wounds, and others, weapons lying in their chests. Some of them, Ruby could tell, weren't their own knights, but that of the enemy. At least they had put up a good fight. Ruby was about to rush toward the castle entrance, when several enemy knights had attacked her. Before she could react, the sound of clashing metal erupted in her ears.

Ozpin had successfully blocked an incoming strike, using the blade he concealed within his cane. Ruby was surprised and awe struck as Ozpin sent a flurry of attacks at the enemy, disarming him quickly before landing the final blow. Without hesitating, the silver haired man moved on to the other three knights that surrounded them. Slamming his sword into the ground, Ozpin lifted himself up and kicked the knight in front of him in the chest, using the momentum to swing around and kick another in the side of the face. When he landed, he quickly pulled his sword from the ground and sliced upward, killing the third knight and leaving a bloody gash in his chest. The other two knights tried getting up, but were quickly impaled by two of Vales own knights before they could rise.

Ozpin nodded at the two. "What's the status of the kingdom?" he asked.

"Not good. The interior of the castle is in shambles. They attacked from inside and moved to the streets. We're trying to evacuate the civilians now, but they keep coming. We're losing men fast and the king has ordered that civilians take top priority." One of the knights said. Ozpin nodded again.

He knew the king and queen were kind souls. They were putting the civilians above their own lives. But a kingdom would falter without a ruler. If he could help it, the queen and king would evacuate with them. "Where are the king and queen now?"

"Sir Ozpin. The king and queen have never left the castle. Lady Schnee is also up there. We wanted to stay and protect them, but orders are orders." The second knight said.

He bit his thumb. If Weiss was up there, they had more of a reason to help out. Weiss was strong, but she was in no way ready to take on a war. An attack of this scale would certainly bring her to her death. The young princess was far too exhausted after training. "Very well. Follow their orders and continue evacuating the civilians. Leave no one behind. I will join our rulers and rescue Ms. Schnee."

"But sir. The king and queen ordered all of us to-"

"I have made more mistakes than any man, woman, and child on this planet. If rescuing them is a mistake, it is one I will gladly give my life to make. You have your orders."

Without arguing any further, the two knights hurried off to protect the innocent. Ozpin returned his attention to the castle, running off into the flames that blazed through the inside. Ruby ran after him, trying to keep her cloak from catching fire. She was horrified by the scene inside. Wooden beams had fallen over, large holes decorated the stone walls. There were even more bodies of knights scattered throughout the hall. As they went further into the castle, she could hear the sounds of metal clashing with metal. A fight had broken out just above them.

Ozpin led Ruby to the stairs and cursed under his breath. The stairs had been blocked off by more flaming debris. It was impossible to move without putting out the flames. In desperation, Ozpin ran forward, crashing into the debris with his right shoulder. Ruby panicked, running to Ozpin to put out the flames on his shoulder. Ozpin shrugged her away, taking off the burning jacket and throwing it to the side. He had successfully unblocked their path, but had severely hurt his shoulder. Ruby could see the blood seeping into his shirt.

Without uttering a single word, Ozpin took off up the stairs. When they reached the next floor, they were immediately met with the sight of Aldo Schnee engaged in a sword fight with several knights. He was struggling to keep them at bay, though putting up a great fight. Seeing Ozpin and Ruby, he desperately called out. "Ozpin! Get to my daughters room! Her mothers already dead, so you must protect her!"

Ozpin understood the severity of the situation, grabbing hold of Ruby's wrist and dragging her along. The amount of damage had lessened as they ran toward the princess' quarters. Aldo and Isana must have fought valiantly to keep them from their daughter. Her room had appeared untouched, aside from the large lock they must have placed on the door. Raising his blade, Ozpin swiftly cut the chains, freeing the door from the confines of the lock. He kicked open the door, revealing an angry princess.

Without thinking, Weiss had rushed forward with her rapier, attacking Ozpin. He quickly moved his own blade, blocking the incoming strike. Weiss went wide eyed when the realization of the situation hit her. She had mistaken Ozpin for the enemy and lowered her rapier. "Sorry." she quietly muttered.

"Ms. Weiss. We must leave now. Your father ordered us to take you to safety." Ozpin told her. Weiss' grip tightened around her rapier.

"No! I'm not leaving my parents behind! I can fight! You trained me yourself Ozpin!" Weiss yelled. She wasn't about to abandon her kingdom. Her parents. She was going to stay and fight, even if it meant she'd die. It was a better alternative than fleeing like a coward. Ozpin shook his head, which infuriated Weiss. Why couldn't he understand that she had to stay and fight? She wasn't just some useless damsel in distress. She wasn't just some princess. She was a warrior.

But Ozpin knew better. He had his orders, and knew that, strong as she was, Weiss wasn't capable of doing much in this situation. The sound of footsteps quickly approaching alerted Ozpin that they were out of time. Aldo must not have been able to hold them off any longer, and he feared the worst. Within seconds, two knights crashed into the room, weapons at the ready. Ozpin was able to block one of them, while the other managed to sneak around and aimed for Weiss. Not having anticipated the attack, Weiss stumbled, trying to bring up her own weapon. Ruby knew she wouldn't be able to block the attack, and lunged forward, grabbing the knights arm and moving it upward.

While she had succeeded in saving her life, Weiss had still been hit. The blade had move upward, no longer on course for her chest, but skimming across her face. The blade made contact with the princess' right eye, causing her to shriek out in pain. She clutched her eye, in hopes the pain would cease. The blood seeped through her fingers, still managing to fall to the floor.

Anger welled up inside Ozpin as he brutally shoved his opponent off of him and impaled his chest, striking his heart. Pulling the weapon from the now lifeless body, Ozpin repeated the process on Weiss' attacker, killing him instantly. He knelt down, placing a hand on her back. "We'll get you help Ms. Weiss, but you need to go. We'll protect you and get you to Vacuo, where you'll be safe."

Weiss cried, the pain becoming unbearable. Ruby was heartbroken, thinking quickly of a way to ease her secret crush's pain. She took a hold of Ozpin's sword and used it to carefully cut part of her blouse at the sleeve. She moved down and wrapped the cloth around Weiss head, covering and suppressing the wound around her eye. Then, without thinking, Ruby hugged the girl, successfully stopping the tears.

Weiss wasn't sure why she had stopped crying. Perhaps it was because the pain had slightly calmed down, or perhaps it was something else entirely. Whatever the case was, she shrugged Ruby off of her and stood. "I'm not leaving. I'm staying and defending my kingdom, and nothing you say will change that."

The sounds of more footsteps were heard from down the hall. Ozpin hadn't the time to handle the situation. He ran out into the hall, being met with five more knights approaching their room. If they got inside, they would surely overrun them and kill Weiss. He wasn't about to let that happen. Grabbing the sword of one of his fallen enemies, he ran forward, intercepting the incoming threat. Kicking off the wall, the silver haired man jumped over the first knight, landing behind him. Grabbing the back of his armor, the knight found himself being thrown into his teammates. Two of them had been knocked over, leaving only the other two knights to counter Ozpin's maneuver. Swords coming down, Ozpin swung upward, blocking both blades. Behind him, he could see Weiss and Ruby staring at him.

He could see the emotions in both of their eyes.

Their eyes held fury, confusion, fear. Or rather, Weiss' did. Within Ruby's silver gaze, he saw something different. A pleading look, silently asking him what to do. If Weiss stayed, she would surely engage in a fight she could not win. "Ruby! Take Weiss and leave! Take her to Vacuo! You must keep her safe!"

The knights increased their pressure, slowly pushing Ozpin's blade back, trying to disarm the man. The others were slowly getting up, getting prepared for another attack. Ruby stayed silent, trying to process the information. While the younger girl hesitated, Weiss' eyes searched the area behind Ozpin and the knights. Her eyes went wide, tears welling up in the corners. Lying atop fallen debris, she could see the lifeless body of her father. The king of the kingdom of Vale lie dead within his own castle. She assumed her mother had met the same fate.

Weiss always felt like she were alone, having only Myrtenastr as her true companion. She still loved her parents dearly, but lacked a certain closeness with them. It came with being of royal blood. Even so, she couldn't bear to lose her parents. With them gone...

She was now truly alone.

Ruby saw the tears falling from Weiss face and her heart dropped. She had to get Weiss out of here, away from all of this destruction. The dark-haired girl grabbed a hold of her wrist, urging her to follow. "Weiss, we need to do what Ozpin said and get out of here-"

"No! I won't leave them!" Weiss screamed, attempting to break out of Ruby's hold. Ruby struggled to keep hold, trying to urge the princess to reconsider and leave the kingdom. The princess broke free of her grasp and made an attempt to regroup with her parents. However, surprising both Weiss and Ruby, the princess suffered a blow to the neck, knocking her out. Catching her unconscious body was Ozpin.

"Ruby. As a knight, you'll need to keep the princess safe, no matter the cost. Be it your life, your reputation, or your relationship. If you cannot accept that, then becoming a true knight will be impossible. Do you understand what I'm telling you?"

Ruby slowly nodded before looking around to truly take in the damage. Everything was crumbling and burning. She remembered the rooms she ran through before this one. The bodies of many soldiers she'd seen just days ago. Proud to be serving the king and queen. Happy.

Breathing.

How things could've gone so quickly from happy, to sour...it sickened her. Could she really do this? She was starting to second guess everything she'd ever known about her dream. Yet, what Ozpin said next made her decision for her.

"You and Weiss have a lot in common. You're both determined and passionate. Ready to make your own marks on the world. You're the only one who can understand what Ms. Weiss is going through. She needs you."

Ruby closed her eyes, trying to fight back the tears. Ozpin had given her the opportunity to achieve her dreams. Had trained her and cared for her, and was now risking his life, for both hers and Weiss' sake. Now wasn't the time to be crying. She had to get Weiss out of the castle, lest she make Ozpin sacrifice himself in vain. Still hesitantly, she nodded. Ozpin handed her his sword and belt, which she promptly fastened around her waste. She then carefully hoisted the princess into her arms in a bridal carry, Weiss' head limply falling back and arms dangling. Ruby readjusted her arm so Weiss' head was secured, and Ozpin placed her hands in her lap to keep them from dangling.

"I leave the princess in your care, Ms. Rose. A caravan was instructed to await in the forest for a short time, should the princess or royals escape. Hurry now, and you should make it there in time. I wish this were under better circumstances, but on my position in the kingdom..."

Ruby was confused when Ozpin placed his left arm behind his back, and raising his right into fist, placing it firmly against his chest where his heart was. He stood tall and strong, starting intently at her. "I proudly appoint you as the princess' personal body guard. May you serve her proudly."

Once again, Ruby had to fight back the tears, and failed. She bowed her head and uttered a small, almost unheard 'thank you' before turning to leave. The two had made it to the stairs that led to the back of the castle, offering one last look at Ozpin. Another group of soldiers managed to get into the castle. Ozpin had been disarmed, relying solely on his fists. Sending an uppercut at one knight, he kicked off of his chest to avoid a downward slash aimed at his shoulder. It was just like he had been telling them during training. When you cannot draw your weapon, you must be able to rely on your fists.

Ruby decided she had seen enough and made it to the fire had begun to catch up to the rest of the castle as a wooden beam above her had been burning, causing it to break and fall. With a quick burst of speed, Ruby barely avoided it, saving her and Weiss from being crushed to death. Without any interaction with the enemy, Ruby had managed to get Weiss and herself out of the castle and found the forest. She had no idea which direction they were waiting in, and began to panic when she heard fighting not too far from her. She frantically looked around, not seeing anything. After a few moments passed, she nearly gave up until she heard a horse. She ran in the direction of the sound and found herself in the path of a several horse drawn carriages. She was nearly trampled before the horse stopped. A hefty man stepped out of the carriage, weapon at the ready.

"In the name of Vale, I order you to raise your weapon so we may engage in battle!" The man enthusiastically yelled.

Ruby was wide eyed and tried to speak, but failed. She was petrified with fear. The man got closer and got a good look at her. He seemed to show no interest in her until he noticed the girl in her arms.

"Ms. Schnee? So you're a citizen of Vale?"

Ruby was still scared, but managed to choke out a reply as she took a step back to distance herself from the man. "Y-Yes! I was appointed as her guard by Sir Ozpin!"

The man seemed to stare at her for a while, but a sudden explosion from the kingdom attracted his attention. He looked back at Ruby. "Make haste, young one. Get the princess in the carriage and we can discuss things later. Come!"

Ruby nodded and approached the door to the carriage. The hefty man opened it and helped Ruby gently lie Weiss down on the wooden seat. She got in after, readjusting Weiss so her head was in her lap. Before she knew it, the carriage was off, leaving her to look back at the fiery remains of her home. The fires continued to flare through the air, illuminating an empty kingdom. Their was no one left to watch the kingdom fall. Everyone had either been evacuated, or killed. Ruby and Weiss were all that was left, watching as the kingdom burned to the ground. Ruby thought about her mothers mantra once more, but it was pointless.

Not every shadow had a break of light after all.

Vale was nothing more than a memory now. A pile of ash that served as a reminder to a time when it had been one of the worlds greatest beauties. It was a monument to an era of prosperity and a beacon of hope. But every era must come to an end. It was truly a bloody end.

Time would pass, as it often does. Even in the face of tragedy, the world keeps spinning, and life continues moving forward. Life holds no sympathy for those in despair, never stopping and always leaving the past behind. You were either expected to move with it, or be left behind if you continued to live in the past. If you moved with it, you could not guarantee that the wounds would heal, but you could hope. If you stayed behind, you died without ever knowing if things would have gotten better. You died with your final memory being that of sadness.

You died a broken body, void of a soul.

When Weiss awoke, taking in everything that had happened, was sure she'd be one of those people. For all of her life, she had been expected to prepare herself for her future, eventually taking over the kingdom. Her life had been pointless, her kingdom having been ripped from her grasp. She never wanted to inherit the thrown, but now...she wanted nothing more than the return of her kingdom. Even her rapier offered nothing in terms of condolence. Only a bitter memory of everything she tried to avoid that she now wanted back. It was true, that you never know what you had until it was gone. But this was truly an extreme way to learn such a lesson.

Was it really worth it?

She knew the answer. Going through such a pain, losing as much as she did, would never be worth learning such a lesson. She felt her hand move up to the makeshift bandage along her eye, tracing the area the sword had hit with her fingers. She was sure it would scar over, offering her yet another permanent reminder of what she would never get back. Her kingdom, her parents, her life.

It was all gone, and she'd never get it back. Life wouldn't be the same.

Ruby watched the inner struggle occurring from within Weiss. She had no idea what to do, or if she should even do anything at all. She had been certain that Weiss disliked her during training, and there was no way that had changed now. Perhaps she'd blame her for everything. For dragging her away from her home. For not allowing her to stay and fight.

Could she blame her?

Ruby looked out the opening in the carriage at the forest around them. They had long since left Vale and the ravine. They were now surrounded by various trees and brush. She knew where they were going, but had no idea how long they had been traveling. The sun was beginning to set, and she was beginning to feel exhausted. Despite having been asleep for a few hours, being unconscious didn't exactly fit the bill of proper sleep, so she was sure Weiss was just as exhausted. Both physically, and mentally.

"Weiss. We should probably get some rest."

No answer.

Perhaps it was for the best. Weiss had just gone through so much, losing everything she had once known in one foul swoop. Even if the two had been close, her reaction probably wouldn't be any different. The princess probably had no idea what to do or how to deal with the loss. Ruby knew that feeling all too well, and time was the only way to mend the emotional wound. The princess needed space, but to also know that someone was there to help if she needed it.

"Right...for what its worth Weiss, I'm here if you need it."

Ruby wasn't expecting a response, and she hadn't gotten one. Weiss just continued staring straight ahead, void of any emotion. She was battling various emotions and thoughts on the inside and it was too much to process. The girl hardly had any idea of where she was right now. She was broken.

Ruby was the only one who could mend the pieces.

It was a tale of two souls, once opposites, but now seemingly the same. One, an orphan who only had her dreams. The other, a princess who had everything but. Or perhaps, their roles had been different than what they expected, and they were always destined to be the same. They were now both orphans, princess being a false title.

The tale had only begun for them both. Two hearts now able to share similar wounds, but unable to understand one another.

The orphan was now a temporary knight, tasked with protecting the princess who now held her title. Princess never really existing, but only masking the truth behind her destiny. What lie ahead was shrouded in the darkness of uncertainty. The only way to see what rested inside, was to move forward and light the way with hope. Hope, that everything would get better. Hope, that they could pull together all of the pieces of their shattered lives. Hope, that they could rebuild.

Hope was all they had left.