I wasn't planning on poster another chapter so soon, but everyone seemed eager to read more of this story.
Chapter 4
Professor Ozpin, headmaster of Beacon Academy, is troubled. This hasn't got nothing to do with his school, those problems can be dealt with, but instead with the mysterious Rose Paladin.
He'd first heard the name when Qrow Branwen mentioned it when reporting back from a mission, but at the time he took a small interest because he believe that it was simply a rumor. However, that changed when General Ironwood reported that an entire village was saved by a Huntress named Rose Paladin.
The only intel that Ozpin gained from General Ironwood that Rose Paladin wielded a teal-blue hilt sword and wears a mask. Ozpin then set out a side mission to find Rose Paladin.
Ozpin and his group were having difficulties finding Rose Paladin, but that changed when Qrow's niece obtained a video recording of Rose Paladin fighting members of the White Fang a few days ago.
When Ozpin saw Rose Paladin using ice powers, he started to believe that she is the Winter Maiden, considering that the sensors didn't recognize the energy produce by the ice when Ozpin's group scanned the area.
"The question remain is how to find Rose Paladin?" Ozpin thought as he took a sip of coffee at the Arain Cafe (even Professor Ozpin take the occasional trip to Vale at times).
"At least we know she's in Vale, but finding her is the main problem, considering that we don't know her identity." Ozpin thought again with a deep sigh. "She could be useful in finding who Amber's attackers are." Ozpin thought before noticing someone.
He couldn't see the person's face but the person is wearing a red cloak, similar to the white cloak that Summer Rose wears. Ozpin could feel a strange vibe from the person.
"Is there something the matter, sir?" A voice asked, causing Ozpin to turn his head away from the cloak girl to see a waitress.
"I was just wondering about that person over there." Ozpin replied, referring to the red cloak person.
"I see. She's been coming here recently, about a week ago. That red cloak of hers is eye-catching." The waitress replied, causing Ozpin to raise a eye brow.
"Can you tell me anything about her?" Ozpin asked, starting to become interested.
"Well, she as a Mistralian accent and the first time that she came here, she was carrying a back-pack that has a sword and shield hanging from it." The waitress explained, causing Ozpin to nod his head.
"I see." Ozpin said before noticing the red cloak girl getting off her seat, putting some Lein on the table and walking towards the door. "Thank you for the information." Ozpin said before leaving the Cafe and following the red cloak girl.
"Hmmmm. How should I approach this girl?" Ozpin thought as he followed the girl down the street. Ozpin followed the girl until she turned into a side alley. "Where is she going?" Ozpin wondered as he quietly observe the girl whilst hiding.
"I know that your there, Professor Ozpin. You been following me since I left the Cafe." The girl suddenly said, causing Ozpin to become surprise.
"You have good sense of your surrounding for such a young age." Ozpin said as he came out of his hiding place.
"Is there's a reason why you been following me?" The red cloak girl asked as she turned to face Ozpin.
"When I was in the Cafe, you interested me because I felt a strange vibe coming from you." Ozpin replied, causing the girl to tilt her head to the side.
"Would it be possible for you to remove you hood? I usually like to see the face of the person I'm speaking to." Ozpin asked, causing the red cloak girl to stiffen slightly.
However, the girl relaxed before before removing her hood, and when Ozpin saw the girl's face, his eyes widened."...Ruby...Rose?" Ozpin asked slowly, remembering how Summer Rose had a daughter that look just like her named Ruby Rose.
"I'm surprise that you know my name, Professor." Ruby replied with a small smile. "But...how? I was told that you died...10 years ago." Ozpin asked, causing Ruby to gain a sad look.
"I think its better if we discuss this somewhere...more quietly." Ruby explained, causing Ozpin to nod his head.
After a while of walking, Ozpin found himself in a room at a Inn. "So what happened 10 years ago? I know that you and your family went on a trip to Mistral and the village that you were staying in was attacked by a hoard of Grimm." Ozpin asked as he sat on a chair while Ruby sat on the bed.
"When I got separated from my family, I was rescued by a tiger Faunus named Kagura Luna. I've been living with her until 3 years ago." Ruby explained, causing Ozpin to become confuse.
"What do you mean by "until 3 years ago"." Ozpin asked, causing Ruby to gain a sad expression on her face.
"When me and Mama were sparing, we were attacked by a Grimm. Mama fought whilst I escape. When I came back, she...was dead." Ruby explained, becoming more depress.
"I see...what do you mean by "sparing"? Did Miss Luna taught you how to fight?" Ozpin asked, intrigued.
"Oh yes. She taught me how to wield a sword." Ruby replied as she got off the bed and walked over to her travel bag. "This is my custom-made weapon I made at Leporian Academy, Calamity Rose." Ruby said as she showed Ozpin her weapon.
"A shield?" Ozpin asked as he examine Calamity Rose.
"Its a shield that is equipped with two guns and has a sword built into it." Ruby explained as he draw Rose's Hope out of the shield. "It also has a third form which I use on occasions." Ruby further explained as she put Rose's Hope away.
"...I see that you inherited your mother's love for weapons." Ozpin said blankly, causing Ruby to smile sheepishly. It was then that Ozpin notice the other sword next to Ruby's travel bag.
"That's was Mama's sword before she died." Ruby explained, noticing where Ozpin was looking.
"I see." Ozpin said as he gazed at the teal-blue hilt sword...? "So why did you travel back to Vale? " Ozpin asked as Ruby sat back on the bed.
"I remember that my Uncle is still alive, so I figure that I would go and find him. I've been spending the last few days trying to think of a good way to approach him. But then I found out that my whole family is still alive." Ruby explained before taking a deep breath. "Now I don't know how to approach my entire family." Ruby said whilst looking at the ground.
"Tomorrow will be the day when your family will be visiting...your "grave"." Ozpin informed Ruby, causing her to look up.
"Are you suggesting that I will make my reunion with my family at my "grave"?" Ruby asked, causing Ozpin to shrug his shoulders.
"It's up to you how you meet your family. I better get going now, Glynda will probably be wondering where I am." Ozpin said as he stood up.
"Its been good seeing you professor Ozpin." Ruby said, also standing up and smiling. "Yes, its good to see you as well. Ruby Rose." Ozpin said, smiling as well.
Its the next day and Ruby is on the island of Patch and currently making her way to her "grave".
"It should be here somewhere." Ruby thought as she walked through the trees with some roses in her hands. After a few minutes of walking, Ruby found herself on a cliff's edge when a grave can be seen.
Ruby place her travel bag on the ground and walk towards the grave. "Ruby Rose. The last rose of summer." Ruby read the inscription before placing the roses on her "grave".
"...Its rather depressing really. Seeing your own grave." Ruby said to herself as she stared at the grave.
"I hope that Mum, Dad, Sis and Uncle Qrow manage to get through life as normally as they can." Ruby said whilst smiling. "I've lead a slightly normal life whilst in Mistral, except for the nightmares that plagued my sleep." Ruby explained as she began to smile sadly.
"Mum, Dad and Sis will probably been having nightmares about that night 10 years ago as well." Ruby said as she gazed at the grave. "I wonder what their reaction will be when they see me." Ruby said, chuckling slightly.
It was then that panting can be heard, causing Ruby to look down to see a black and white dog staring at her. "Hello there. What are you doing out here?" Ruby asked whilst crouching down and scratching behind the dog's ear, making it bark happily.
"Zwie! don't go running a head. You don't want to hurt yourself." A voice called, causing Ruby to stiffen slightly. Ruby stood up as a person burst out of the trees. Yang was left breathless as she chased Zwie, leaving her parents and Uncle behind.
"We need to keep an eye on that dog." Yang thought as she took deep breaths. When she saw Zwie again, she notice a person in front of Ruby's grave. "When did Mum get here?" Yang thought confusedly as she gaze at Ruby.
"Hi Sis...its been a while." Ruby said, and silence descended between the two sisters, except for Zwie's panting.
"...Rubes?" Yang asked slowly, not believing her eyes. Ruby took a few steps forward before three people came bursting out of the trees.
"Yang, don't go running ahead. It not like Ruby's grave will disappear." A male with black hair and red eyes said through deep breaths.
"Qrow. Yang ran a head because Zwie ran first." A male with blond hair and blue eyes said.
"Tai, Qrow. This is not the time for arguing." Summer said before noticing Yang's statue-like state.
"Yang? Is there something wrong?" Summer asked before looking in the same direction that Yang is staring at. She blink a few times to register who she is seeing.
"Have I been drinking too much. Or can I see a teenage version of Ruby in front of me?" Qrow asked slowly.
"Considering I can see her and not been drinking, you are not drunk." Taiyang replied with wide eyes.
"Ruby...is that you?" Summer asked as tears threatened to appear.
"Yes Mum, its me." Ruby replied with a small smile as tears started to come out of her eyes. Summer slowly approach Ruby before hugging her tightly and crying.
"Your alive. Your alive." Summer muttered through tears of joy.
"Yeah, I'm alive." Ruby said as she close her eyes and leaned into her mother.
The family walked back to the house and currently everyone is in the living room.
"So what happened to you on that night?" Qrow asked Ruby who is in the arm chair and Zwie is in her lap.
"After I got separated from the rest of you, I was saved by a female tiger Faunus named Kagura Luna. I've been living with her for the first 7 years." Ruby replied as she scratch Zwie's ear.
"What have you been doing whilst living with this Kagura Luna?" Summer asked, becoming interested.
"I've been attending Leporian Academy where they let you make their own weapons. That how I got Calamity Rose." Ruby explained, causing the rest of the family to become confuse at the name.
"A bit like Signal Academy. The student there make their own weapons." Taiyang explained, causing Ruby to nod her head in interest.
"Wait a minute. You said that you been living with this Kagura women for 7 years. What happened?" Yang asked, causing Ruby to gain a sad expression on her face.
"3 years ago, we were attacked a Grimm, Kagura fought it but..." Ruby began to say but stop as she became more depress and everyone could guess what Kagura's fate was.
"...Is that Kagura's sword?" Taiyang asked, referring to the amber coloured hilt sword.
"That's right. I've been using it...on occasions." Ruby replied, thinking of a good way to disguise her activities as Rose Paladin.
"Why did you travel back to Vale?" Qrow asked whilst taking a sip of alcohol, something that made Summer glare at him.
"I knew that you were still alive Uncle, so I decided to come back to Vale to find you...then I found out that the rest of you are still alive." Ruby explained.
"That must be a real shock to you." Summer said, causing Ruby to nod her head.
"On your travels Ruby, did you hear the rumors about a powerful huntress called Rose Paladin?" Yang asked, causing Ruby to perk up.
"I've heard a few rumors about Rose Paladin. Including one that she fought Pyrrha Nikos, the invincible girl." Ruby replied, causing everyone to become surprise.
"That must be some battle." Qrow said, causing everybody to agree with him.
"Well lucky for you Ruby, I'd managed to get a video of her in action. I'll go and get it." Yang said whilst smiling before leaving the couch to get her Scroll.
"When Yang first showed the video to us, she was very excited. A bit like you when you were young." Taiyang explained, causing Ruby to chuckle slightly. However, on the insides she was nervous.
"Here we are." Yang said as she returned to the living room with her Scroll and went over to Ruby. The silver eye girl watch "herself" fighting the White Fang members and she felt strange watching "herself".
"So, what do you think?" Yang asked whilst smiling at Ruby.
"...you have a good angle for the video." Ruby replied, causing everyone to laugh. However, Qrow frowned slightly at Ruby's behavior.
"Ruby, why don't you show us what you learned from Miss Luna?" Taiyang asked, causing everyone to stare at him.
"Tai! Our daughter, who have been missing for 10 years, has just come back to us. And you want her to fight?" Summer asked whilst staring at her husband.
"Its alright Mum. I would like to show you my skills." Ruby said whilst smirking.
"Count me in. I would like to see what Ruby is made of." Qrow said as he took a sip from his flask.
"Kick his butt Ruby!" Yang yelled excitedly. Currently, everyone is outside and Ruby and Qrow are facing each other.
"Okay Ruby, little one's first." Qrow said whilst smirking as he got his sword at the ready. "I'm not little, I'm 15 years old!" Ruby exclamied, her left eye twitching slightly.
"I thought that Ruby said that she was taught how to fight with a sword. What's with shield?" Yang whispered to her parents, causing the to shrug their shoulders as Summer got her Scroll ready for filming.
"Here I come Uncle Qrow." Ruby said as she got Calamity Rose at the ready.
Everyone became surprise when Ruby lifted her shield horizontally and fire at Qrow. "Yikes!" Qrow exclaimed as he blocked the bullets with his sword.
"That was unexpect-!" Qrow began to say but stop when Ruby suddenly appeared in front of him and bash Qrow with Calamity Rose.
"Was that Ruby's Semblance?!" Taiyang exclaimed with a shocked expression on her face.
"It looks like it." Summer replied with wide eyes. "Speed heh? That's interesting." Qrow said before blocking another shot from Calamity Rose's guns before swing his sword at Ruby.
Ruby blocked the attack with Calamity Rose before drawing Rose's Hope, surprising everyone. "That has a sword built into it!?" Yang exclaimed, causing Ruby to smirk at her sister's reaction.
"Here I come, Uncle Qrow." Ruby said before pushing Qrow's sword off Calamity Rose and started to attack with Rose's Hope.
"Maybe I shouldn't volunteer to fight Ruby." Qrow thought as he blocked the rapid attacks from Ruby.
"Ruby, keep going!" Yang cheered with a smile on her face. Ruby swing Rose's Hope in a diagonal slash which Qrow easily blocked.
However, when Qrow looked up, Ruby had disappeared. "Where did she g-!" Qrow began to thought but stop when he sense someone behind him. He turned around just in time to receive a kick to the face.
"Ohf!" Qrow shouted as he crash onto the ground. Qrow was about to get up, but a sword found itself pointing at Qrow's throat.
"And we have a winner!" Yang cheered as Ruby smiled as she helped Qrow to get back up.
"Wow Rubes, you have great sword skills." Qrow said whilst smirking.
"Yes I have. Its a pity that I didn't get the chance to use Calamity Rose's third form." Ruby said, causing everyone to become quite.
"...Third form?" Everyone asked at the same time.
"YeP." Ruby replied before pressing a button on Calamity Rose, causing it to transform into a big, two handled sword. "This is Utopian Rose, Calamity Rose's third form." Ruby said proudly as she stab the sword into the ground.
"...Is it heavy for you to wield?" Qrow asked, slightly worried.
"Sort of. But I only used it when I fight powerful opponents." Ruby replied, causing Summer to become shock.
"Have you been getting into fights?!" Summer exclaimed.
"No I haven't Mum...not often anyway." Ruby replied, saying the part sheepishly.
Summer was about to say something but Taiyang put a hand on her shoulder."Come on now, Ruby has been through a lot. Let's get back inside, we have a lot of catching up to do." Taiyang said, causing everyone to agree with him before walking back inside the house.
Everyone didn't notice that a red eye raven had watched the entire battle.
And another chapter finished. I wasn't planning on revealing Utopian Rose until a later chapter, but everyone looked eager to see it sooner. I hope that everyone notice the subtle hint at the end of the chapter. See ya all next time.
Swainey6: I hope that this answer your curiosity.