I do not own RWBY

Ironwood really hadn't spared any expense for the Menagerie delegation; considering that the large airship had several rooms along with a training hall that wasn't an exaggeration. It also had an open bar where Qrow had decided to hide out for the time being to avoid his sister who had shown up the moment they left Atlas. Ruby was vaguely sure that the woman had been stalking them just so that she wouldn't have to talk to Yang, but she wasn't going to mention that to either her father or aunt. No, it wasn't simply because the woman had a training sword at her neck either. Raven's style of combat wasn't all that different from something she'd seen Adam do during the canon universe; even the color of their blades was similar.

Did her aunt have some kind of connection to Adam, if so then what did that mean for the future? She didn't really care to find out at the moment considering that the woman had left bruises down her spine from correcting her posture. Apparently swinging a scythe or dagger was not the same as using a sword. It didn't help that in the last two days since they'd started this trip, Raven had barely left her alone. If she didn't know any better she would think the woman was trying to make up for lost time, however, this was Raven Branwen the woman who left her daughter then avoided her for almost eighteen years. That still wasn't a conversation she was going to get into.

Stepping back Ruby held up the training sword and blocked Raven's matching blade. Even if they were only dulled training swords it still hurt when she got hit, not to mention how violent Raven could be if she thought laziness was at play. The woman was a real slave driver, not to mention how easily she lost her temper sometimes. Her aunt was a good teacher as well, she never failed to give some kind of helpful advice although her methods were a bit blunter than most. Then again, this type of hands-on training wasn't exactly something that Ruby hated.

Instead of pushing the woman back she tilted her blade down and stepped to the side allowing Raven's blade to hit the floor with a loud thud. That didn't stop the woman from kicking at her chest. Using her semblance to avoid the blow would've been easy, that was why she wasn't allowed to do it. Instead, she brought up her blade to block the kick only to stumble back; it was nice to use her momentum to move away from the woman, but it only lasted for an instant. Her aunt was very fast to recover no matter what happened during their training sessions. Moving almost faster than the reaper could notice the woman sent her blade flying.

That was completely expected. Raising her hands in surrender despite the sword that touched her nose she knew that she would never win against Raven in a battle of just swordsmanship. Not only was she lacking in experience but every time it was like her sword didn't have enough reach. She could understand using a lighter weapon, but it was too short; she needed something longer. Well, it wasn't like standing here and thinking was going to help her figure out her weapon problem.

"Auntie, do you have any other students?"

Slapping a hand over her mouth she felt like an idiot as the woman stared at her. For a long moment, Raven seemed to simply process what she'd been called before she chuckled. The sound was far from comforting; it was like death was hovering over her shoulder. Paling a bit Ruby shifted the grip she had on her practice sword as the woman considered what to say.

"I have three more idiot students," Raven stated trying to conceal her amusement. Ruby had just given away the secret that her brother had tried so hard to hide. Watching the girl's eyes light up she couldn't help but feel a bit amused by her niece.

"Will you tell me about them," she asked eagerly. The expression on her face was exactly the same as an eager puppy.

"Vernal is the youngest, she's reckless a bit like Yang. Dakota is my second student, he's a bit...strange, but my problem child is just like you."

Vernal and Dakota neither of them were mentioned in canon but then again her knowledge stopped at the end of volume three. Still, they sounded interesting although the problem child sounded even more intriguing. Raven had a student that was like her; what did that mean. Was he similar to her in personality or skill?

"Problem child?"

"Adam Taurus, I believe your berserker had a run-in with him."

Completely bypassing that Cardin was called a berserker, she tilted her head in thought. That wasn't what she was expecting but it wasn't all that shocking. They had similar fighting styles and weapons; now that she was thinking about it Adam's semblance seemed a lot like Yang's. Not that she would ever compare her lovely sister to the man who was a lot stronger than both her team and all the others that studied at Beacon.

It might be foolish, but she wanted to fight him, to test him as she did Weiss. That was the only way she could be sure of who he was as a person. People may lie but their actions in battle did not; something always shined through that could connect people be it anger or something else entirely. The only way to be honest with someone was to put both their and your life on the line without hesitating. It was only then that she would be able to tell who exactly Adam was and if she should kill him or not.

"Will you tell me about him?"

"Plotting revenge?"

The cautious glint in the woman's red eyes brought a small smile to her face. Swinging her practice sword, she knew that if she said yes Raven would make sure she never met Adam. The idea of an overprotective Raven was amusing but she also knew the woman was dangerous.

"Cardin said that I should try to become his ally. He told me that Adam was strong," she admitted. The way her aunt paused at the words was enough for her to know she'd said the right thing. Moving to put away her practice sword she said, "I want to know more about the man that earned praise from my friend."

Cardin was stubborn, he would never praise someone unless he meant it. She trusted his judgment more than she trusted her own eyes sometimes. Besides, it wasn't as if she had anything to lose by giving Adam a chance.

"I found him in a Schnee mine when he was ten. His father begged me to protect him, so I did. His semblance is similar to Yang's but his weapon is similar to mine. He's always been stubborn and reckless, when he commits himself to something it's always one hundred percent. He's my problem child."

A Schnee mine; he would have issues with Weiss. From the way, Raven spoke his father had also died to protect him and with a semblance similar to Yang's he most likely had anger issues when he was younger. Being trained by Raven made him strong; she wanted to fight him.

"I want to meet him."

(Qrow)

He'd failed to protect Summer's daughter, his daughter, at Beacon just like he'd failed to protect Summer. In the end, he was nothing more than a worthless bandit with broken claws. Sighing he pushed away the empty glass in front of him in favor of staring out the long window of the airship. Even now he was unable to do anything for his daughter; it would be better if he wasn't in her life at all. Then she would be safe from his semblance and the chaos that followed him. He didn't deserve to be around her considering it was his fault Summer was dead. It would've been better if he'd died on that mission instead of Summer.

Not even getting drunk was enough to keep the memories from haunting him. He was nothing but a weak man trapped in the past. At this rate, he wouldn't be able to protect his daughter either. Reaching over the counter for another bottle he tensed when a hand grabbed his wrist in an iron grip. Narrowing his eyes he wasn't expecting to meet the dark red gaze of his sister. The knowing glint in her gaze did nothing to make him feel better.

"Don't," she warned with just enough force to make him chuckle. Tugging his wrist from her grip he rolled his eyes before grabbing the bottle anyway.

"I'm not drunk enough for you."

"Get up."

"Go away."

Her eyes flashed. Reaching out the woman snatched the bottle from his hand before throwing it at the wall. The slack-jawed shock in his gaze lasted for about five seconds then he was yelping as she dragged him from his seat. Keeping a tight grip on his collar she stomped toward the training room intent on kicking him sober.

She'd never been this angry. Of course, he'd been getting drunk while she trained his daughter. The only thing he knew how to do now was stuff liquor down his throat until he died from alcohol poisoning. He'd never do anything to change who he was right so having him die early and leave his daughter alone in this world was just one more perk of being Qrow fucking Branwen.

Tossing him into the training room she sneered at the fact he was too drunk to catch himself. What the hell did Summer ever see in this drunken fool.

"Fucking hell Rae," he wheezed. Holding his nose, he glared up at his sister wondering if she'd finally lost her mind.

"I didn't take your fucking place so you could waste your life," she snarled. For an instant, it was if time stopped as his eyes sharpened. Neither of them noticed the curious silver eyes that peaked around the open training room door.

"You figured it out," he guessed. With how dangerously the room was spinning he didn't dare to push himself up off the floor.

"Of course, I did; your adorable daughter called me auntie. Now I don't know why you decided to hide your daughter from me, and I don't care. Ruby is under my protection now making her a candidate for taking over the tribe you ran away from," she stated. Four candidates for her successor; she would be happy for any of them to take over the mercenary force she was slowly building. Yang was the only person she would never allow to run her tribe; her daughter was too bright to be held down by their family's bloody history.

"I didn't run," he argued. It was the only thing he could think to say to the woman who'd taken his place without hesitation.

"No, you shoved all your responsibilities onto me and went to live out your fairy tale with Summer," she stated without caring how badly the words hurt him. Her nails cut into her hands as she said, "Then she died, and you've been slowly committing suicide ever since."

The truth in those words hurt. Leaning back against the wall, Ruby closed her eyes hoping that her father would deny Raven's statement. The silence was enough to know that her aunt was telling the truth. Her father was depressed she'd known that. He also had an alcohol problem that he didn't even deny. He was suffering but there was nothing she could do to help him unless she could bring back the dead.

That was impossible. No matter how much she missed her mother there was no way to bring her back the only option was to keep moving forward. Her father was trapped in the past; he still allowed that one moment to haunt him. It was something she understood all too well, but she'd never let herself be held down by the past. Making the choice to let go of the past was something that everyone had to make on their own; she couldn't help him through this. She could only be there for him when he needed her.

"Stop being a coward before you get your daughter killed."

Kicking off the wall, Ruby walked away before she could hear any more of their argument. This was between them; she wasn't about to interfere. Her mother was a sensitive topic for all of team STRQ in a way she would never understand. Reaching up to touch the feather in her hair she sighed; this world was just as cruel as the one she left behind. Except now she was strong enough to live her life the way she wanted. Covering her dark thoughts with a smile she skipped into the dining hall.


Yay, the next chapter starts the Menagerie part.

Anyway have a good day and stay safe

-Shyla