A/N:

So how do you guys like the story so far? As of now, I am kind of at a standstill with the story. I have the final chapter pretty much planned out but I am having a bit of trouble for the plotline in between now and the end. So this is the point where the chapters become more spread out.

Also, I am beginning to write of a new dark fanfic. It will not be in any way related to this one and will have a completely different plot line. That one will be out shortly but for right now, my main focus is on this one so don't fret.

Starting Writing: December 18, 2016 at 10:44 A.M.

Ozpin sometimes hated his job. Well actually, most of time, especially now. With the Vytal Festival coming to Beacon in the coming weeks and rumors of an evil plot beginning to surface, he had his hands full. But now he had an even more terrible plan ahead of him: Telling the parents of Ruby that she was missing, presumably dead.

Ozpin rarely had to make calls home to parents. Most of the time it was to inform them of a student's behavior or grades. Sometimes, however, it was to inform them of an injury the student suffered that required medical assistance and that would put them out of combat for a few weeks. But never had he have to make a call home to report a student's death. Not until now…

Ozpin put on his work face, the face the students see when he is giving them an announcement or a speech before a mission. Calmly, he dialed two people, Taiyang Xiao Long, father of Ruby Rose, and Qrow Branwen, uncle and mentor of Ruby. Taiyang was the first to pick up and his face appeared on Ozpin's screen. A few seconds later, Qrow's face appeared.

"Ozpin, what's this about?" Qrow said, demandingly

"Mr. Branwen and Mr. Xiao Long. There has been an incident at the school involving one of your children." Ozpin replied

Taiyang face palmed and said "Let me guess. Yang blew up part of the school."

"Unfortunately, no. This isn't about Yang…" Ozpin said.

Qrow and Taiyang both looked at Ozpin with a mix of confusion and curiosity when they heard that Yang wasn't the source of the call home.

"…It's about young Miss Rose"

"Ozpin, what happened?" Taiyang demanded

"During a recent mission, young Miss Rose was attacked by a number of Beowulf's. She was partnered up with Pyrrha Nikos, you may have heard of her. Anyways, Pyrrha explain that once they thought they had killed them all, an Alpha Beowulf suddenly appeared from the bushes and attack Miss. Nikos, knocking her against a tree and unable to fight. She then explained she saw the Beowulf grab Ruby with its mouth and take off with her. Pyrrha tried to go after her but was unable due to a large gash in her arm."

"Ozpin, what are you saying?" Qrow sounded like he was angry yet, still curious.

"Ruby Rose is dead." Ozpin said, emotionless

It was the four words neither of them wanted to hear. Ruby Rose, the fifteen year old prodigy was dead, killed by the creatures of the dark. Taiyang looked distraught. First he lost Raven, then Summer, now Ruby. Pretty much everyone he cared about was gone. The only thing left for him was Yang. Qrow just starred at Ozpin, a mix of anger and sadness could be seen on his face. All three of them just sat in silence for a few minutes. Finally, Qrow broke the silence.

"What about her team?" Qrow said.

"Pardon?" Ozpin said.

"What about her team, Ozpin?! Where were they at? And why wasn't she with them?"

"Miss. Xiao Long explained that Miss. Belladonna, one of Ruby's teammates said that they should split up into teams of two, to better learn each others fighting patterns to help them in the Vytal Festival." Ozpin explained.

"So why was Ruby with a member of another team?" Qrow sounded angrier at this point.

"You see, Team JNPR went with them. The two teams have been friends since the first day and decided that they should go together on the mission."Ozpin told him.

"What mission were they on?" Taiyang said finally, but without looking at them.

"The mission was to go into the Emerald Forest to take out a large herd of Boarbatusks that was spotted in the region." Ozpin continued.

"That still doesn't answer my question of why Ruby was with someone of a different team." Qrow sounded like if he didn't get the answer he wanted soon, he would try and punch Ozpin through the screen.

"According to Miss. Nikos, she volunteered to go with Ruby, since Ruby would be eager to train with a professional."

"Ozpin, that doesn't make sense. Why would Pyrrha want to go with Ruby if she was never going to fight alongside her?" Taiyang was beginning to sound angry as well.

"Miss Nikos also told me that she secretly did it to find out how Ruby fought in case they were matched together in the Vytal Festival so she knew how to beat her." Ozpin said.

This seemed to calm Qrow and Taiyang.

"Mr. Branwen and Mr. Xiao Long, I would suggest you to get some rest. I know this must be hard cope with. I will inform you if any updates arise. I'm sorry for your loss."

"Yeah, thanks Oz." Qrow quickly ended the call

Taiyang said nothing but looked at Ozpin through the screen. Ozpin could see some tears in his eyes as he ended the call. Ozpin got up from his chair and looked out the large windows in his office. He looked towards the Emerald Forest. "I'm sorry, Miss Rose." Ozpin said silently as he turned from the window and sat back down in his chair.

Meanwhile in the WBY dorm, all three of them sat in silence. They had been excused from classes for a bit until they could recover. It was one of the rare moments since Ruby had died that yang wasn't crying. The room was never this silent when Ruby was there. There was always something happening. Weiss sat on her bed, thinking of the good times her and Ruby had. Ruby was the first person that Weiss could consider a friend. Ruby always cared for her even when she didn't. Yang lay on her bed, thinking of all the fun times she and Ruby had as kids. Playing in the snow or chasing each other around the house or making cookies with Summer. Yang was on the verge of tears again but held them back for she had been crying for the last 2 days now. Blake was laying on her bed, not thinking of the good times with Ruby or the fun times, but what she did to her. Even though she didn't actually kill Ruby or see her die, she still felt guilty. She had distracted Yang and told her everything was going to be alright, even when she knew it wasn't.

In the JNPR dorm, everything there was quiet as well. They too had been excused from classes, but only for a couple of days. There was little crying in this room, but there was also little talking. Ren and Nora sat together, thinking of all the funny times they had with Ruby, like the food fight at the beginning of last semester. Jaune sat his bed, looking at the wall. He had been the source of the crying in the room for multiple reasons. Mainly, he felt guilty that he didn't even attempt to go find Ruby. He understood the dangers but knew that if it was him that was in trouble, Ruby would try to find him at any cost. Also, Ruby was the first person at Beacon that he made friends with. They were both team leaders with the odds stacked against them. He also loved Ruby. He knew that Pyrrha loved him, but he loved Ruby more. But because of his social nature, he could never confronter her about it. So he was caught in this love triangle. But now that Ruby was gone, he knew that he would never be able to tell her what he felt about her.

All the while, Pyrrha was sitting on her bed, thinking about what she had done. She looked at the bandage that covered the gash on her left bicep that she inflicted on herself. It was a reminder of what she had done. She no longer felt any guilt or remorse for her actions. In her mind, she knew it was the right thing to do. She knew that Ruby had to die in order for her school to not be made a laughing stock at the Vytal Festival. She did not cry so feel bad. In fact, she felt good, even happy at times knowing that Ruby Rose was dead, never to return. Or so she thought.

Unbeknownst to her, Ruby had in fact survived, and she was coming back with a vengeance.

Afterword

So this chapter was mainly about what is happening at Beacon since Ruby's supposed death. The Aftermath it has caused and how everyone feels about it. The next chapter will focus mainly on Ruby and what she is doing. However, I am having problems trying to figure out keep Ruby alive without using bullshit reasons. Anyways, expect that chapter soon. The chapters will be coming out frequently. Most likely there will be at least one a week unless something arises. That's a huge jump for one a month like I was claiming earlier and that's because I have gotten bored of pretty much all the games on my computer. Also because most of them don't work due to me running them on a Windows XP, made in 2001. So yeah, everything is slow.

Finished Writing: December 18, 2016 at 12:14 P.M.

Pages: 4

Words: 1.6k