It's official: For the time being, this is gonna be a daily thing :) That last cliffhanger was evil, I know, but I had to quickly finish up the chapter to be able to still release it that day. Anyway, we'll be starting right where we left off.
Chapter 7: Guardian Part 1
Ruby sat down in one of the chairs, anxious to know what was going on. This whole situation seemed so strange and unreal to her, even though she had been ordered into the headmaster's office before and never had a problem. Ozpin sat down on the other chair, putting his cane down between his legs and looking her deep in the eyes.
Ozpin: „Ruby Rose... I must admit, you have shown yourself to be quite remarkable. Even though you have two years less experience than most students of this academy, you are amongst the most skilled Huntresses ever to attend it."
Ruby: „Th-thank you, sir."
Ozpin: „Would you like some water? I see you are still nervous."
Ruby: „No, I'm fine. But thanks."
Ozpin: „Then let me continue. What I wanted to ask you is, for what reason do you want to become a huntress?"
Ruby: „Wait, haven't we talked about this already? You know, back after I tried to go after Torchwick and helped out Miss Goodwitch?"
Ozpin: „Yes, but I wanted to know whether your reasons for following that path have changed over the course of your time here."
Ruby: „Nope."
Ozpin: „Excuse me?"
Ruby: „Nope. They haven't. ...But what has changed is my conviction. The world out there is full of evil people, trying to destroy the peace and hurt others. I have seen it myself. When the train opened up that tunnel and Grimm almost overran the city, I realized that I couldn't just act like a child anymore. If evil tries to take over the world, someone needs to stop it. And if I didn't at least try, what good of a Huntress would I be, really? The others figured that out long before me, though..."
Ozpin: „Is that so? Well, I'm glad to hear that."
He made himself more comfortable, moving a bit away from her face.
Ozpin: „Then, I have another question here: An unmanned train waggon is on a collision course with another waggon, containing twenty people. You are standing at the controls and are able to send it over to another rail so that it will miss the other waggon. But on that other track, a waggon containing Miss Xiao Long has come to a halt. What will you do? Will you intervene to save the people on the first waggon? Or will you sacrifice their lives for your sister's?"
Ruby: „I- I don't even..."
She thought about it for almost a minute. Ozpin patiently waited, correcting the position of his glasses at the opportunity.
Ruby: „I would do it. I would push the button, pull the lever or whatever I needed to do in order to save those people."
Ozpin: „Miss Xiao Long would inevitably die, you are aware of that?"
Ruby: „Yes. But I also know she would do the same. We can't just act selfish, sacrificing others for our personal interests. Otherwise, we would be no different from Torchwick or the White Fang."
Ozpin: „Interesting..."
He stood up and went over to his desk. It lighted up again just like a scroll being woken from sleep mode. He put his finger on a circular icon and said:
Ozpin: „Come in. I believe we have found our Guardian."
Yang: „CINDER!"
She threw open the door to Summers room. Her step-mother was nowhere to be seen, only Mercury was there, lying in bed with a pack of ice on his forehead.
Mercury: „Uuuugh, shut up! You're making my head hurt even more than it already did!"
Yang: „YOU!"
She went over to his bed and grabbed him by the collar of his shirt.
Yang: „How could you fuck up beating up someone who was TRYING to loose!? Because of you, we're in deep shit right now!"
Mercury avoided looking her in the eyes.
Mercury: „Yeah, yeah, beat me up even more. It's not like I've had enough after that whipping from Cinder."
She was going to fulfill his wish right there, but when she noticed the cuts and bruises all over his face, she felt a little bad and stopped herself. Summer must have really let herself go this time. The spanking she got after leaving the one-year-old Ruby alone on a park bench to go play with her friends was nothing compared to what he probably just went through.
Yang: „Forget it. Can you tell me where Cinder is?"
Mercury: „She and Emerald went away to talk things over with the White Fang."
Yang: „Okay, and where can I find them?"
As Mercury was about to answer, a petite, black haired girl wearing a black tanktop and skirt with white laces entered the room.
?: „Hey, asshole! I got your coke!"
She threw a can of cola at him.
Mercury: „Thanks a lot, Neo..."
Yang stared at her.
Yang: „You..."
Neo: „Oh shit!"
The entire group had assembled around Ruby: Ozpin, Goodwitch, General Ironwood and, surprisingly, her uncle Qrow. They were all eyeing her appraisingly.
Ironwood: „I'm sorry, but are you sure that this little girl is the one we have been looking for?"
Ozpin: „I am as sure as I can be. Remember, we don't have much time left. She is our last chance."
Goodwitch: „I can confirm her skill, at least. Her skill has so far only been surpassed by Miss Nikos."
As the other three were arguing, Qrow only stared at her, deep in thought.
Ruby: „Uncle Qrow?"
Qrow: „Wait, who, what? ...Sorry, kinda was somewhere else there for a minute."
Ruby: „What's going on? What are they talking about?"
Qrow: „About some ancient prophecy bullshit they want you to fulfill."
Ruby: „Oh. Cooooooooool!"
He facepalmed. Of course Ruby would react like that.
Ozpin: „This matter is not to be taken lightly Miss Rose. All Guardians that came before have faught... and fallen. It is a role of sacrifice, young lady, and not one just anybody can assume."
Ruby: „Wait, so... if I fullfill that prophecy-thingy, I will die?"
Ironwood: „Well, it is not a certainty, but there has been no precedent for a different outcome."
Ozpin: „Take some time to think this throu-"
Ruby: „I'll do it."
Qrow: „What!?"
Ozpin: „Miss Rose, do you not wish to hear what all this is about before deciding?"
Ruby: „...Okay, fine. Give me a rundown of the basics."
Ironwood: „If I may,"
He took out his scroll and tapped on it for a moment, after which the giant gear in the middle of the room stopped and started projecting a holographic screen. Three black figures appeared on the left side, while the right displayed „Senatus Saecula Ordinem" in bold letters.
?: „We see, a Guardian has been found."
?: „This is a satisfactory result. See to it that she is properly prepared. Show her what lies deep below Beacon."
Ironwood: „Yes, Senator Brutus."
The circle around Ruby opened up towards the door, Ironwood motioning her to stand up.
Ironwood: „Come with me. We have a long ride ahead of us."
Neo: „Ow! Ouchiiiiiiie!"
Yang had pinned her down, that smug little bitch. Oh, sweet revenge!
Mercury: „That's what you get for acting like a di- nevermind."
Yang: „Not so in-control now, kiddo?"
Neo: „Hngh! I'm twenty-two!"
Yang: „The way you squirm suggests twelve."
She pulled at the petite's arm.
Neo: „Aaaaaaaagh!"
Mercury: „Okay, chill out, blondie! Aren't you supposed to be on our side now?"
Yang begrudgingly let go of Neo and let her get back on her feet.
Yang: „Okay, okay, now we're even. Before Cinder goes apeshit."
Just as she said that, Mercury's and Neo's scrolls received messages.
Neo: „It's from Cinder!"
Mercury: „'Emergency! Prepare for plan G immediately!'"
Plan G? That meant...
TO BE CONTINUED XD
You'll notice that I'm trying to broaden the roster of characters. Let me explain why: I originally intended this to be around 10 chapters long, but the ideas that popped up in my head over the course of the last few days led me to speculate that this might go on a „little" longer... This is probably going to turn into a longer story than the actual series. I'm just so on fire right now :) Anyway, until tomorrow :)
