Author's Notes; Not sure if anyone's gonna read these yet, but in case you do. Hello! This is my first story on here, and if you like it and wish for another chapter, I'll be sure to try my best to deliver. Feel free to give any feedback you like because all feedback is appreciated. (Though keeping things civil would be best.) Anyways, that's enough out of me. Read away!
Chapter 1: A Different Threat
Four months after the fall of Beacon…
Ruby Rose, an extraordinary young huntress the likes of which many had never seen, wandered through a dark forest, trying her best to unwind. Of course, that usually comes with killing some Grimm. The huntress hacked and slashed her way through hoards of the creatures, her headphones blaring her favorite songs as she dashed through the forest.
After her rampaged had ceased for a moment, Ruby stood in a small clearing, lowering her headphones, her music still audible. Her heavy breathing slowed as she glanced around, something feeling off. "Ruby Rose," a voice called. Out stepped a man with a strange mask covering his face. It was a black mask with markings of a purple hand with large claw marks slashing through it, all very strange to Ruby, but he was a clear threat. "I'm glad we could meet. I've been waiting for this for a while," he spoke, his sultry voice unnerving the young girl. "Silent treatment? Mute? Or traumatized from all of those little experiences?" Ruby stuck her scythe into the ground, glaring at the man. "What do you want?" she asked, the cool breeze beginning to turn the other way. "Just testing the waters and seeing if you really are worth all the trouble." He began to walk towards her, but she readied Crescent Rose in an attempt to intimidate him. He put up his hands a knife's blade shining in the light of dusk. The blade quickly disappeared into nothing and the man in the mask chuckled. "You're fun." Multiple footsteps sounded behind Ruby and she turned to see Ren, Nora, and Jaune. Turning back around, the man was gone only a feather floating in the wind.
"Ruby, we're so glad we found you." Jaune said, almost out of breath. Ruby still looked to the clearing, unsure of what to think about the strange encounter she had. "Ruby?" Ren asked, "Is something the matter?" Ruby shook her head as they began to walk. Ruby was silent for a long while, never speaking and keeping to herself, something that didn't sit well with the others. "So, Ruby, where are we going?" Ruby didn't take her eyes off the path, but she glanced down slightly. "I'm going to Mistral," she said simply, her heart aching. "We are going with you, you know?" Nora said. "We don't know what's going on in that head of yours, but we can still help." Jaune smiled putting on a tough guy act, "Nora's right, you can count on us!" Ruby cracked a small smile, her first in what felt like years, and she still shook her head. "This is my mission; I can't do that to you guys." She turned to look at the three of them. "I can't ask you to do that." Jaune put a hand on Ruby's shoulder, smiling. "You don't have to."
After a few days of traveling with the newly formed team RNJR, Ruby's mind began to finally wander, allowing herself to catch up on her thoughts for what felt like the first time in forever. The group walked through the forest, slowly making their way towards their destination, hoping that it wouldn't be too difficult. As night fell, the team decided it would be best to rest for the night.
"Ruby, feel free to get some rest, I can keep first watch," Jaune said, hoping to calm the girl's nerves. "Right, thanks," she replied, leaning against a nearby tree. Ren and Nora had already lied down, and Ruby closed her eyes, sleep overtaking her. Ruby slipped into a dream, a familiar sight in front of her. Beacon Academy was intact, not destroyed and Yang came to greet her, putting her strong arms around her little sister. Ruby glanced at her right arm, normal and still there. The younger girl wasn't quite sure why it bothered her, but something was clearly amiss. Yang dragged her sister by the arm and pulled her inside, quickly being met by Blake, Weiss, and the rest of their friends, including Pyrra. It all felt strange to Ruby, who never said a word as Penny yelled, "Salutations!" while tackling Ruby. Ruby looked deep into Penny's eyes, tears pricking at the corners of her own silver ones. Suddenly, Penny faded, disappearing into nothing as Ruby stood up, looking around her. Yang, Weiss, Blake, and Jaune all disappeared, fading into small, yellow particles. Ruby turned around again to see Pyrra, kneeling on the ground as her body disintegrated, falling into ashes. Ruby screamed, but her voice did not carry as she awoke in the forest.
Ruby's heavy breathing sounded out in the forest as silence persisted. It was almost too silent. The girl glanced around, but a chill ran up her spine as the realization set in. She didn't recognize anything. The trees were all different, not to mention that her friends had disappeared without a trace. Ruby went to ready her weapon, but Crescent Rose was also nowhere to be found. "Are you lost?" a familiar voice asked as Ruby grit her teeth. The masked man from earlier stepped out of shadows, playing with a knife that glistened against the moonlight. "Where are we?" The man clicked his tongue, stepping closer as he put the girl on guard. "That's not important. But what is important… is you." He pointed the knife at her, his unnerving tone carrying through her bones. "What do you mean?" She asked, worry coating her voice. She didn't know who this man was or what he was capable of. The man laughed, turning towards her again. "Haven't you noticed how much everyone cares for you? I mean, clearly those three friends of yours care! And don't get me started on your uncle." The man stopped as he watched the gears turn in the girl's head, a wicked smirk crossing his face under his mask. "I've been following you since Beacon, and believe me, you are one frightening fighter! It is truly inspiring, and so, for the benefit of my employer, I am here to… dispose of you." Ruby's eyes widened as he spoke and turned to flee with her semblance, but a knife made its way past her face and into the tree next to her ear. "Now, now. That's no way to treat your savior." He vanishes in front of her and appears behind her with a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sure that we'll meet again, Ms. Rose." Suddenly, Ruby vanished, far beyond the reaches of her friends.
Cliffhangers, am I right? Anyways, if that got you hooked, be sure to fervently wish for more and I might just oblige! See you next time.