Hello again everybody, ready for a new chapter!
Chapter 10
"Maybe being late for class could be a good idea." Ruby thought as she, and everyone listened to Professor Port.
"Monsters, Demons, Prowlers of the night. Yes. The creatures of Grimm have many names, but I merely refer to them as pray. Ha ha!" Professor Port laughed, but most people weren't listen that much.
Ruby turned her head slightly to see Weiss listen carefully and taking down notes. "I'm surprise that Weiss managed to listen to this stuff." Ruby thought as she looked down at her own notes.
"And you will too upon graduating this prestigious Academy. Now as I was saying. Vale, as well as the other Kingdoms, are safe heavens in an otherwise dangerous treacherous world. Our planet is absolutely teeming with creatures that would love nothing more than to tear you to pieces. And that's were you come in. Huntsman! Huntresses!" Professor Port continued his speech.
He stopped his pacing and winked suggestively, causing Yang to rolls her eyes.
"Individuals who have sworn to protect those who cannot protect themselves. From what you ask? Why, the very world!" Port shouted, causing an awkward silence to fill the room.
"This is what you are trained to become. But first a story-a tale of a young, handsome man. me." Port said, not bothered by the silence.
"This is suppose to be Grimm studies. Not story telling." Ruby thought as she sighed slightly.
Ruby turned her head towards Weiss again to see her glaring at her slightly.
"What's her problem? I'm trying to listen, but most of what Professor Port say is useless." Ruby thought, looking at Weiss with a confused look on her face. Weiss rolled her eyes before focusing on the "class".
"The moral of the story. A true huntsmen must be honorable, dependable, strategic, well-educated, and wise." Port finished his story before looking at his audience.
"Who, amouge you, have the qualities to be what it takes to be a true hunter or huntress?" Port asked, looking at the students. About half of the students, the one's who were listing, raised their hands.
"Excellent! It good to see a fine group of students. Hmmmm. Miss Schnee, Miss Rose. Why don't you give us an example of these qualities?" Professor Port asked, causing both Ruby and Weiss to look at each other.
"Yes Professor Port." Weiss replied, causing Professor Port to nod his head.
"That's good to hear. Now both of you get your weapons." Professor Port instructed, causing both Ruby and Weiss to nod their heads.
After the two girls got their weapons from the locker room, Ruby and Weiss returned to the classroom to see that Professor Port place a cage in the room.
"Now, all you two need to do is slay this Grimm." Professor Port instructed as he made his way to the cage with a double bladed axe.
"Ready Weiss?" Ruby asked as she draw Rose's Hope out of Calamity Rose.
"Hmf! You don't need to worry about me. I'm always ready." Weiss said smugly.
"A simple yes would an okay answer." Ruby muttered under her breath.
"Go and get that Grimm. Ruby, Weiss!" Yang shouted with a smile on her face.
"Do it for the team!" Blake shouted as she wave a small flag that has RWBY written on it.
"When did she made that?" Ruby and Weiss thought at the same time.
"Okay ladies. Ready...go!" Professor Port exclaimed before swinging his axe on the lock, letting the Grimm being able to break free of it's prison.
When Ruby saw the Grimm, her eyes widen. "A-a Boarbatusks?" Ruby muttered under her breath, images of the past flooding her thoughts.
"Ruby!" Weiss's voice brought Ruby back into the present as she saw the Boarbatusk rolling into a ball and charging towards the red and white duo.
Ruby dived out of the way whilst Weiss used a glyph to jump over the Grimm. The Boarbatusk easily turned around and charge straight towards Weiss.
"No you don't." Ruby said as she used Calamity Rose's guns to distract the Boarbatusk, causing it turn it's attention towards Ruby.
"Thanks Ruby." Weiss said as she got close to the Boarbatusk with the aid of a glyph. Weiss prepared to stab the boarbatusk with Myrtenaster.
however, the boar-like Grimm used one of it's tusks to block the attack and locked Myrtenaster in place.
"Hold on Weiss!" Ruby said as she charged at the Boarbatusk and swing Rose's Hope upwards, letting Myrtenaster free.
However, the move cause Myrtenaster to fly out of Weiss's hand and landed behind her. "Cover me." Weiss said before making her way towards Myrtenaster.
"Got it." Ruby said as she got in front of the Boarbatusk with Rose's Hope at the ready. The crimson hair girl was about to attack when a image of frighting Grimm appeared in front of her.
Ruby began to become pale when she remember past events. "Ruby!" A voice brought her back her to the present, causing Ruby to blink a few times before realizing that the Boarbatusk was charging straight towards her.
Ruby brought Calamity Rose up in front of her just in time for boarbatusk to ram into it. Ruby bend her legs to absorb the impact and with all her strength, Ruby throw the Boarbatusk of her shield, causing the Grimm to stand on it's hind legs.
"Weiss, weak point!" Ruby shouted, causing Weiss to quickly appear in front of Ruby and stab the Grimm's under belly.
"Bravo you two!" Professor Port exclaimed whilst clapping, along with the whole class.
"Professor Port, I just need some fresh air." Ruby said before disappearing, making everyone confuse.
"Is your sister okay?" Blake whispered to Yang.
"Don't know. I never seen her act like that before." Yang replied, seeing Weiss going after Ruby.
"Just take deep breaths. Just take deep breaths." Ruby thought as she sat outside on one of the benches, Calamity Rose by her legs.
"That's the first time I'd seen a Boarbatusk in 3 years, and it already causing me to remember that Grimm." Ruby thought gaining a sad expression on her face.
"Ruby!" A voice called, causing Ruby to turn her head up to see Weiss approaching her.
"Oh. Hi Weiss." Ruby said as Weiss got up to her.
"What happened to you during that fight? You don't space out when fighting a Grimm." Weiss asked, slightly concerned.
"I'm...sorry." Ruby said as she looked at the ground. Silence surrounded the two girls for a few minutes until Ruby spoke again.
"I'm pathetic." Ruby said, causing Weiss to blink a few times.
"Pardon?" Weiss asked, staring at Ruby.
"I'm suppose to be the leader of our team. It doesn't look good if I act like a frightened child when fighting a mere Boarbatusk." Ruby replied, not making eye contact with Weiss.
"...Does it have anything to do with the nightmare that you had this morning?" Weiss asked, causing Ruby to become silent.
"...Yes." Ruby replied before taking a deep breath.
"It was when me and Mama were sparing. A Grimm appeared and Mama told me to run away. I did and I ran into a hoard of Boarbatusk. When I finished fighting them, I came back to the place that Mama fought the Grimm. I don't need to tell you what happened next." Ruby explained, causing Weiss to nod her head.
"What Grimm killed your adopted mother?" Weiss asked, becoming curious. Ruby took a deep breath. "You won't heard it. The Grimm that killed Mama is a Nuckelavee." Ruby replied, causing Weiss to become confuse.
"Never heard that Grimm before." Weiss said with a frown on her face.
"The Grimm Nuckelavee destroys everything that it comes across. There are a few who seen it to tell others." Ruby explained, causing Weiss to nod her head.
The next thing that Weiss did made Ruby widen her eyes.
"W-Weiss?!" Ruby asked, feeling Weiss hugging her.
"M-My older sister told me that it's okay for a soldier to show fear at times. J-Just do you best to be a good leader, a-and I'll do my best to me a good partner." Weiss explained, trying not to be embarrassed.
Ruby smile slightly.
"Thanks Weiss." Ruby said, feeling Weiss's warmth.
A cough caught their attention, causing both Ruby and Weiss to turn their heads to see Professor Ozpin.
"..." A awkward silence descended between the three of them.
"...AAAAAA!" Ruby and Weiss shouted at the time as they leap off the bench and separate.
"P-Professor O-Ozpin?!" Weiss stammered, clearly surprise to see the Headmaster.
"I'm sorry for interrupting your...bonding time. But there's something I want to discuss with you, Miss Rose." Ozpin explained, causing Ruby to become curious.
"What do you want to speak to me about, Professor Ozpin?" Ruby asked, causing Ozpin to hum slightly.
"I want you to meet me in my office after lessons. It's involve...your mother's sword." Ozpin replied, causing Ruby to become confuse for a few seconds before realization appeared in her eyes.
"Is Ruby in trouble?" Weiss asked, causing Ozpin to shake his head.
"Not at all Miss Schnee. I just require a word with her. I think its best if you two returned to your class. There's still time before first lessons finishes." Ozpin explained, causing the two girls to nod their heads.
Lessons have just finish and Ruby is making her way to Professor Ozpin's office.
"I wonder what Professor Ozpin wants to talk to me about the Maidens?" Ruby thought as she went up the lift.
A "ding" signaled Ruby that she arrived at the office that is located at the top of the tower."Good evening, Miss Rose." Ozpin said as he looked up from his place at the desk.
"Good evening, Professor Ozpin, Professor Goodwitch." Ruby greeted, noticing that the blond hair teacher is present as well.
"I hope that me calling you up here didn't cause the other members of your team to become worried." Ozpin said, causing Ruby to shake her head.
"Blake and Yang became worried slightly, but I explained that I wasn't in trouble." Ruby explained as she entered the circular room.
"That's good to hear. Now, please sit down, Miss Rose." Ozpin instructed, causing Ruby to sit on the chair opposite side of the desk.
"You remember that night that you fought that Maiden and told us that the magic level she possessed where half than yours?" Ozpin asked, causing Ruby to nod her head.
"There's a reason behind that. The person you fought on that night. Is a fake Maiden." Ozpin explained, causing Ruby to become confuse.
"I don't understand. How could she be a fake Maiden? The magic level felt genuine." Ruby asked, tilting her head to the side.
"You see, the Maiden powers that the women used, she stole them from another Maiden." Ozpin replied, causing Ruby to become wide eyed.
"Stolen? But, Mama didn't say anything about the Maiden powers can be stolen." Ruby said, causing Ozpin to shake his head.
"We thought that was true as well, but this women managed to steal half of the Maiden powers." Ozpin explained with interlocked fingers.
"...We?" Ruby asked, noticing the term.
"Yes. Me, Glynda and some others are a group of people that help to protect the Maidens." Ozpin explained, causing Ruby to nod her head.
"So what happened to the Maiden that had half of her magic stolen?" Ruby asked, causing Ozpin to stand up.
"Miss Rose. There's something I need to show you for you to fully understand the answer. Come." Ozpin replied as he made his way to the lift. Ruby quickly followed after Professor Goodwitch into the lift as well.
"Miss Rose. Have you told anyone about your status as the Winter Maiden?" Glynda asked as the 3 of them made their way down.
"I only told Pyrrha. I told her during my travels." Ruby replied, making Glynda to blink a few times. After a few minutes of moving downwards, the lift's doors opened up and Ruby's eyes widened.
"Where are we?" Ruby asked as she gaze at the massive space.
"We're in the vault underneath the Academy." Glynda replied and it was then that Ruby felt something.
"You feel it, don't you Miss Rose?" Ozpin asked, noticing the surprise look on the crimson hair girl's face,causing Ruby to nod her head.
"This is the same Aura that I felt when I was in the auditorium." Ruby thought before noticing Professor Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch walking into the gloom, causing her to follow them.
After a few minutes of walking, Ruby started to make out something. When she got a clearer look, Ruby saw two capsules that have tubes connecting to each other.
In one of the capsules is a young women with brown hair and a nasty scar on the left side of her face.
"This is the current Fall Maiden, Amber." Ozpin "introduce" the now named Amber to Ruby.
"She's the actual Maiden?" Ruby asked, causing Ozpin to nod his head.
"What...happened to her?" Ruby asked slowly as approach Amber who has her eyes close.
"She was attacked whilst traveling to a safe house. The scar was caused by the stealing process." Glynda explained as Ruby started to look at the machine.
"Atlas has been researching on how to transfer a person's Semblance to another person. This is the result of that research." Ozpin explained, causing Ruby to become confuse.
"Why is Amber in it then?" Ruby asked slowly.
"The plan is to transfer the remaining Fall Maiden powers to another person." Glynda replied, causing Ruby to raise a eye brow.
"Are you planning on fooling the fake Maiden? Letting them thing that Amber still have the Fall Maiden's powers?" Ruby asked, causing Ozpin to nod his head slightly.
"That's one way of looking it. We don't know how long Amber has much to live, this machine is keeping her alive. If she dies, then the remaining Fall Maiden's powers will find it's other half. The actual plan is to transfer the Fall Maiden's powers into a strong fighter." Ozpin explained, causing Ruby to nod his head in understatement.
"So, have you found a new host?" Ruby asked, causing Ozpin to nod his head.
"Yes. We decided on chosen Miss Nikos as the new Fall Maiden." Ozpin replied, causing Ruby to become surprise.
"Pyrrha?!" Ruby exclaimed, making Ozpin and Glynda to nod their heads.
"That's correct. I'm guessing that you chosen Pyrrha has your successor as the Winter Maiden?" Ozpin asked, looking at Ruby.
"...Yes. But I could change my successor, there's always Weiss." Ruby said, mumbling the last part to herself before focusing her attention back to Amber.
"So, do you who attacked Amber?" Ruby asked, causing both Professors to shake their heads.
"Unfortunately no. the person who rescued Amber was in a hurry to get Amber to safety." Glynda replied, making Ruby gain a sad expression on her face.
"But we're hoping that you can help us." Ozpin said, causing Ruby to look at him confusedly.
"We believe that it is possible for the Maidens to communicate with each other, since you were able to sense the other half of the Fall Maiden's powers." Glynda explained, causing Ruby to nod her head in understatement again.
"So you want me to try and communicate with Amber?" Ruby asked, causing both Professors to nod their heads.
"Sounds easy." Ruby thought as she approach the Fall Maiden whilst taking out Rose Paladin's mask out and putting it on. Rose Paladin place a hand on the glass in front of Amber's face and concentrated.
Rose Paladin started to glow blue whilst Amber started to glow orange.
"Now I need to find a connection with Amber." Rose Paladin thought as she concentrate.
"Hello?" A voice suddenly spoke in Rose Paladin's mind, making her jump slightly.
"Hi. Is this Amber I'm speaking to, the Fall Maiden?" Rose Paladin asked and she could feel speaker frowning.
"Yes, I'm Amber. Who are you?" Amber asked, slightly defensive.
"You can relax Amber. My name is Rose Paladin, the current Winter Maiden." Rose Paladin introduce herself, causing Amber to sigh in relief.
"It's good to hear a fellow Maiden...Is Rose Paladin your real name?" Amber asked and Rose Paladin could feel Amber raising a eye brow.
"No. it's the name I use when hiding my identity when using my Maiden powers. My real name is Ruby Rose." Rose Paladin explained, causing Amber to nod her head.
"It's nice to meet you Ruby. Are you apart of Ozpin's group?" Amber asked, causing Rose Paladin to shake her head.
"No I'm not. Professor Ozpin say that I can help in finding your attackers." Rose Paladin replied, causing Amber to become confuse.
"You mean that Ozpin's group have no idea who my attackers look like?" Amber asked, causing Rose Paladin to nod her head.
"Professor Ozpin said that your savior was in a hurry to get you to safety." Rose Paladin replied, causing Amber to hum slightly.
"I see. I think its best if I show you the memory of when I was attacked." Amber said before Rose Paladin gained the feeling that she was falling.
Rose Paladin closed her eyes to stop the funny feeling in her stomach.
Before long, Rose Paladin felt herself landing on the ground and when she opened her eyes, she found herself on a country lane.
"I'm in... Amber's memories?" Rose Paladin said to herself, looking around.
Rose Paladin sudden heard hoofs, causing the Winter Maiden to turn around to see Amber riding on a horse and wearing traveling clothes.
"Is this were Amber got attacked?" Rose Paladin thought before crying can be heard.
"What's a child doing all the way out here?" Rose Paladin thought, spotting a little girl crying in the middle of the road.
Rose Paladin watch as Amber stopped her horse and approach the little girl, a apple in a hand.
Amber crouched down to give the apple to the child, however Rose Paladin saw dirt moving slightly. Amber saw this, causing her brown eyes to frown and jumped back. The little girl disappeared a young women with mint green hair and red eyes appeared.
" An hallucination?" Rose Paladin thought as she saw Amber taking out a small staff, which has a red Dust crystal on one end of it and a white Dust crystal on the other end.
The staff extended to be the same size as her just as a male with with gray hair and gray eyes and another female with shoulder-length black hair and amber eyes.
"So these are Amber's attackers." Rose Paladin thought, remembering every detail as Amber fought her attackers.
Amber managed to handle the attackers by herself, using her staff which can produce fire and wind from the two Dust crystals. The grey eyed male is shown to have fake, metal legs when parts of his trousers got ripped.
She also used her Maiden powers, which involved controlling lighting and turning the leaves into iced projectiles.
However, that changed when the black haired female shot an arrow at Amber.
Rose Paladin watch with wide eyes as the mint green hair female and the grey hair male hold Amber whilst the black hair female took out a long white glove and place it on.
Rose Paladin became curious as the black hair female place the gloved hand in front of Amber's face. Suddenly, bug-like Grimm came out of the glove and shot a black substance onto Amber's face.
Rose Paladin watch in horror as the Fall Maiden powers are getting transferred into the amber eyed women. However, a sword slashed through the black substance, breaking it and stopping the transfer process.
When Rose Paladin saw the sword and it's owner, her eyes widened. "Uncle Qrow!" Rose Paladin exclaimed in her head has Qrow quickly made his departure with Amber in his arms and everything started to turn black.
"I guess that's the memory over." Rose Paladin thought before being enveloped in darkness.
Back in the vault, Professor Ozpin and Goodwitch saw Rose Paladin and Amber stop glowing before the Winter Maiden removed her hand away from the glass.
"Have you found out about the attackers?" Ozpin asked as Rose Paladin removed her mask.
"Yes I have. Can you give me a minute." Ruby replied before taking out a pen and paper out of her bag.
After a few minutes, Ruby finished writing everything down that she remembered about the attackers.
"This is good. Thank you, Miss Rose." Ozpin said as he gaze at the writing.
"All we need now are their names." Glynda said, causing Ozpin to frown.
"I think I can help with that as well." Ruby said, causing both Professors to look at Ruby.
"How?" Glynda asked with a raised eye brow.
"I've heard of a place in Vale where information can be gained." Ruby replied, causing Ozpin to nod his head.
"Very well, I'll leave that with you, Miss Rose." Ozpin replied, causing Ruby to nod her head before a question entered her head.
"Professor Ozpin...Does Uncle Qrow know that I'm the Winter Maiden?" Ruby asked, causing Ozpin to become surprise.
"Yes. Your Uncle helps to protect the Maidens. I told him that your the Winter Maiden." Ozpin explained, causing Ruby to nod her head.
"I think it's best if you go back to your dorm now. Your teammates would be worried by now." Ozpin said, causing Ruby to nod her head before the 3 of the started to make their way to the lift.
And here we have it, another chapter finish and I hope you guys like it. Does anyone have a idea where Ruby is referring to? Please review and until next time everyone.
LegendaryOdin29: Thanks for the complement. :)
AuroraNova46: I think you will find it interesting how Salem will find out about Ruby being both a silver eye warrior and the Winter Maiden.