Prologue 1
The streets of Vale are cover in snow as the wind harshly blew, making the young woman shiver. She pulls her hood up to her face and tightens the black Sheepskin cloak around her body. The scythe on her back clank as she walks. From the distant she could see the lights of the castle shine through the windows. Her feet sink in the pearly white snow. She's relieves to be back home. Grateful to finally be out of the unbearable weather. The night is falling fast and the sky has a timid orange glow. The red hair girl is lost in her thoughts when she's stop by two knight. They're standing in the front gates. They bear heavy cream wool and bolt weapon. The young woman hands her papers along with the queen mark. The guard eyes widen when he sees the name on the papers, Ruby Rose. He bows and apologize, letting the young woman pass with no hitch. Ruby hides the slight embarrassment with a blank face. She always had a great respect for the military. Men and women who serve the country and fight with no aura. The Huntresses fight the dead and if there is one thing in this world Ruby loathes the most, it would be the dead, but most called them, Grimm. They are many story and theorist on Grimm. The most common fairy tales told by the elderly to scare children in to behaving is their creation. Story goes, Grimm were born when human first sin. That's why they're attracted by chaos and strategy. Ruby wasn't sure she believes such stories but they were always quite interesting to hear.
The young huntress enters the castle with common folks walking about, carrying food or tending the furniture. Some pick up portable stairs and light up the torches on the walls or chandelier. Word spread quickly of the young woman's return. The commoners murmur behind the huntress shadow. Ruby while lost in thought, accidentally bump one of the maids. The commoner is spook and upon seen the huntress, she quickly drops on her knees and begs forgiveness. Ruby lift her hood up and reveals her soft face with kind eyes. She smiles and dismisses the young maid who quickly thanks the huntress as she speeds walk out of sight. She dislikes the fear common folks show her and she hated the name they bestow her. The grotesque name of The Reaper.
On her way to bring news to the queen, she was stop by a burly man with blond hair and a heavy set of armor. "Hey Cardin" Said Ruby. The man welcomes her with a smile, a rare greeting for the not so scary Reaper. Standing next to Carding, the young huntress looks like a child holding a large weapon which she found funny. Cardin accompanies Ruby to the Queen's presence. The throne room is fill with many huntresses who serve and protect the majesty. Ruby stands below the stairs and bow. The Queen brush her blonde hair while she lay comfortable in her blackish gold chair. She has a long white dress covering her body, only exposing head. Next to the Queen is Ruby's dear old friend Velvet Scarlatina. A kind and thoughtful faunus girl wearing blue robes. She sheepishly waves hi but hastily turns serious. "My majesty, I have return from Atlas" Ruby announce to an uninterested Queen. "And we have concerning matter to discuss"
"At a later date" retort the Queen.
"Atlas nor Mistral will wait no longer" Ruby warn "And Vacou denounce the peace treaty, it will be lift soon"
The Queen expression sour her and scoff "Let them try!". She raises her arm with a book in hand. A brown book with leather texture. The sigh of the book made Ruby's skin crawl. The book claims that it holds supernatural power but really, it just smells like cat piss. Ever since that book was found, it has turned our world upside down. Our majesty believes in the book imaginable powers but all it has done is cause her to become sickly and paranoid. The Queen began to cough uncontrollable and dismisses Ruby on the process. The young huntress regrettable follow her order. She bows and exits the room, wishing she could speak some sense into her and tell her that the path we are heading will only lead to more destruction and bloodshed. A war cause by pride is something Ruby will not participate. But no one could retort nobles unless you're a pureblood. Pureblood, another hideous concept. She has seen a lot of blood in her line of work and there all the same. Ruby begins to swear under her breath. She's to tire to deal with anymore problem for the day. All Ruby wanted right now is a bed but Cardin keep following her. "Pray, tell me you have some good news" Said Rose. Cardin's eyes fell and Ruby huff but remain silent.
"Our majesty had another downsize to the military. Ruby, you have to do something or Vale will be put at risk at any attack" said Cardin. Again, with the random downsizing of the military. How many times must she bring up the same concerned to the consult.
"Anything else?" said the huntress. Cardin took out a notebook with pages writing from top to bottom with complaints. Ruby is definitely not in the mood to deal with anyone else problem. "Cardin, I'm dead beat. Could we discuss this at sunrise?"
"Yeah, your right. I'll leave you be. Night ma'am" He excuse himself and parted ways. The huntress walks up the long staircase and reach her room. Ruby's room is small and simple. It has a desk for study, a bed and a window view of the city. Her room is on the third floor and it has a bird's eye view of Vale and the city wall. A giant wall around the city that block the beautiful of the outside world. She understands why they a wall but why did it have to be so high. Ruby pore over the split moon and marvel it beauty. Some folks say the moon is useless because it's broken but she disagrees. Just because it was shatter did not mean it serves no purpose. It still provides light when night falls, may not be as bright as once was told but it still lights our path at night. A breeze blows by making the young woman shiver and she close the window. The light still emerges to the room through the cracks of the wooden window door. She strides up to her desk and opens the top drawer. Taking out a jar of oil and using a paper to rub a bit of oil on the string inside a lantern. She grabs the Firestarter, a device in which connect flint and steel and after a couple scrape, the spark caught the string in fire and illuminates the room. Her eyes fall on the stack of papers and thoughts about her love ones. She should write more often to her friends and family. She wonders how Weiss is faring. We could not meet in Atlas. She's probably working with her people in softening up this rough patch were heading. Weiss is the smart one of the team after all. Ruby feels completely useless in this type of situation but there is only so much she can do when no one tells her what is actually going on. It's like solving a puzzle without all the pieces and the room was dark.
Ruby shake her head in hopes of forgetting her worry. She takes off the black sheepskin cloaks and sets it down on the bed. Next, she takes off the leather armor she wears tightly on her skin. She always hoped of wearing metal armor but god knows she could never handle the weight. The young woman also hope she would be taller by her mid twenty's. That's why she drank all her milk but no, life was cruel and left her just under five foot tall. Ever since she was a child, she had to looked up when she spoke to others, not much has change sadly. Lasts she heard, there is a rumor going around the castle that a teenybopper likes to stroll the hallways with a huge weapon. Life wasn't fair sometime but she learned not to complain, too much. She grabs the scythe and holds it on her hands. It was her mother's scythe and it's handmade by her father. Ruby loved hearing her mother's tale. Her mother, before attending Beacon Academy needed a weapon. So, she embarks to Patch. Folks spoke of a brilliant blacksmith who live on that little island not far from Vale. Summer is surprised when she found a young blacksmith with such delicate detail to his craft and the rest is history. Ruby couldn't help but form a smile on her otherwise stony face, a helpless romantic at heart. She places the scythe on the desk and eyes the handle of the scythe. It has a message above the handle that says, 'For Ruby Rose: I may not be able to solve all your problems but I promise you won't face them alone'. Her mother had that message engrave the day Ruby was born. She didn't see her mother much growing up. There not much time for family when you are solving everyone else problem. Like mother like daughter or the apple didn't fall far from the tree like her father always said. It didn't matter now because she could always visit her folks on Patch. Ruby trades her cloths for a white nightgown and decided to write a letter to her old folks before going to bed but a soft knock distracted her thought.
"Knock, knock" A woman said. Ruby first reaction was to quickly cross her arms around her bosom. She asks who had knock and Velvet responded. She has come all this way to visit the huntress. Ruby got up and peak through the door. Velvet is indeed by her door and she made a small passage for the faunus girl while Ruby cowers behind the door. Rose made sure she's alone and shut the door. The young woman offers a chair on her desk and Velvet accepted but looked guilty in doing so "Sorry, were you sleeping?"
"Not at all" Said Ruby. Rose lack under cloths and put on a simple but nice-looking red coat on top of her night dress. She has always been self-conscience of her looks, even among other women. Probably because she never saw herself as nice looking like most. She knew how to deal with Grimm but never had to use make-up or groom her hair. Yang likes to poke fun and call me a tomboy but this never bother Ruby. Velvet notice Ruby was lost in her thoughts and quietly waited to be address. "What brings you here?" Said Rose.
"I just wanted to welcome you back" Said Velvet. She's calm but her eye averted Ruby's own. Her two feet are steady but her hands grip her rope. Obviously, something was bothering her.
"Velvet, to you have troubling thoughts?"
"What? No…" Said Velvet but she fools no one, not even herself. Ruby offer to hear her friend trouble and she observe her surroundings before continuing. Velvet when on to express her deep worry for the Queen health, physically and mentally. She just needs time Ruby thought, she recently lost her husband after all. The faunus girl furiously shakes her head and when on and on about the book. It was evil, she calls it. Velvet is adamant in calling this book out of this world. The book has been the key subject of many people, including Ruby herself. No one knew what the book is about. No one except Velvet because she's the Queen right hand. Ruby is happy to have one of her best friends work under someone so important but now they barely spoke. Ruby ask Velvet for any hints on the mysterious scrip. The huntress wanted to help ease her friends worry and if she knew what the book is about, she could offer some advice. It's outlaw to spread the mysterious scrip but this only fuel Ruby's curiosity. The faunus fixate on Ruby's deep black eyes and made her promise that whatever she shares will be keep between them. Ruby nods and promises to take her secret to her grave. Velvet opens her mouth but no words came out. She shakes her head once more before saying and repeating the word. "The dead, it's the dead" she said over and over. The books mention all kinds of monster and how to disrupt their slumber. Ruby stay calm but she's flabbergast. She must of hears that wrong because humans shouldn't wield that power. Velvet mentions that the dead respond strangely in the presence of that book. Nothing the young huntress say could keep the faunes calm.
Ruby got up on her feet and vows to speak with the Queen herself, only them Velvet regain her composure. They change topics after that, something more lighthearted. They talk about team CFVY. Velvet explain that her teammates weren't too excited to join the government. They enjoy being free and not be bound by rules and regulation. Sometimes Velvet felt like she was the only one who was pushing for something bigger. After an hour of conversation, Ruby's eyes became heavy. Velvet notice how tire her host is and apologies to the huntress. Ruby shakes her head and mentions how nice it feels to talk to a friendly face. They got up to the door but Velvet takes tentative steps exiting the door. She turns to give Rose a quick hug before leaving. Ruby locks the door and lets out a tiresome huff. Ruby thought she could take a break after finishing the job but a huntress job is never done. She wouldn't mind having some down time with the family. Ruby drops on the bed and lays back. This is what heaven must feel like but she forgot to turn off the candle on her desk. It'll be alright she thought. The huntress can have it replace. Ruby closes her eyes and her mind starts to drift away. There is a long and stretch pause of silence Until a knock rouse her of her sleep. The person by the door knocks louder and louder until she is fully awake by the ruckus. Ruby opens her eyes to complete darkness. The candle had run out and the moon light has vanished. Someone knocks once more and calls the huntress. It was Cardin and he his voice is shaky. Ruby rise from the bed and walk like a zombie towards the door. Ruby answer the door like a grumpy old grandma. "Cardin, you better have a good excuse to wake me up this late" Said the young woman.
"I apologies but we have an emergency" Said Cardin. "Velvet has been found death and the Queen was shot by our own guards". The news struck Ruby like lightning. This had to be a tasteless joke she thought. Rose just spoke to Velvet herself not even a minute ago. No, she felt asleep earlier, it must have been hours by now. Ruby told Cardin to take her to the incident and they both ran up to the upper level of the castle until they reach the Queen's room. On the way, Cardin explain that the Queen violently stab Velvet on the back of the head. The guards herd the scream and they walk into the room. Then the Queen proceeded to ran at the armed men with a weapon in her hand. The guards claim self-defense but this matter is more complicated. They shoot a pureblood and consequences will be meet, right or wrong.
Maids and noble on the hallways not far from the incident. Ruby wonders for how long they will be able to hold off details. She could already see the headline for the papers tomorrow. Eye catching title to rile up the citizen. Ruby tries to remain focus on her main duties and block the crowd onslaught of questions. She warns the guards standing outside the room and under no circumstances anyone is allowed to enter the scene of the crime unless specified told. Ruby enters the majesty dormitory and is surprise by how big and lavish the is or was. A huge bed to the side, her own bathroom and two large windows to the side. It's beautiful or it should have been. The walls were cover in blood and two of my man were on the opposite end. The color flush from their skin, shaking like a leaf. On the middle is Velvet's body set up on a table with holes on the back of her skull. The Queen is against a wall with an arm across her stomach. Crimson red stain on her white pretty dress. Cardin offer to look for a doctor which Rose greatly appreciated.
After Cardin is gone, the huntress examines the room. Behind the majesty are drawing and words written with blood. Whose blood, she rather not knows. There also strange symbols and words that spreads throughout the wall. In the middle of the wall is a triangle the size of a large double door with an eye in the center. Ruby tries her best to make sense of text but the only thing that comes close to comprehension was the texts 'vwxfn rq uhshdw'. She could kind of read It but it just nonsense. Images of Velvet screaming for help cross Ruby's head and made her feel sickly. The sight was repugnant. "They're coming, I know they are" Said the Queen. "I can hear them, crawling in my head. They have woken from a deep slumber and now we are all going to die!". Great, the leader of Vale has gone mad Ruby though.
"My majesty, please place the knife down" Said Ruby in a calm manner. The Queen swipes her hand away and wildly slashes the air whenever the huntress got close. The majesty denied a peaceful resolution, so the huntress thought of tackling the noble. Ruby was preparing herself to take down the Queen when the bloody triangle loudly cracks. Ruby pause and gaze the wall that keep cracking when unexpectedly bust open with a strong gust of wing it pushes everyone to the ground. Ruby had wonder what happened and did a double take to see a tall lean man that lacks any hair on his body. His skin was blacker than black and his skin texture is rough. He wears a tunic around his waist and a nemes on his head. Resembling a pharaoh with white pearly eyes. Behind the anomaly is a long stretch hallway with elaborate designate of black metal construction and flashing lights. Ruby has faced many Grimm in her life but she has never seen this type of undead. Luckily, all Grimm are mindless creature that attack on sight therefore she must strike first. Ruby when to grab her weapon but she wasn't carrying it, she forgot it in her room. Even if she didn't have her weapon, she's still a huntress. Ruby could use her semblance to quickly take out the monster or at least escape with the Queen. She's preparing herself for a fight but completely halt when she saw the anomaly moving his lip.
"I do not wish to fight" Said the anomaly. "I'm nothing but a passenger in this world". Ruby lost her footing when the dead spoke. It spoke like a human and it made a structure sentence like a human. What's going on, it feels like her world is slowly crumbling. Ruby turns towards the armed guards but they have blank stare like they're in a trance. The Queen is on the floor, laying on a pool of her own blood. The anomaly steps towards the majesty and fixate on the woman. "Thirsty for knowledge and a strong will to live. Are sure you want to travel this path?" He asks the Queen. She never responded but the anomaly nods. "Then you should have it". He picks up and carries the leader of Vale on his arms. Ruby stands up and face the anomaly. The monster turns to the girl and warns her of danger.
He's the one who should be worry, Ruby thought. When Rose took her first step forward. She hears a weapon click and a loud bang and immediately feels pain travel her whole body. Two bullet shoot and penetrates her skin. Ruby falls face first on the floor and is unable to move. She glances at the traitors but they still had that lost look in their eyes, like they don't know what they have done. The two of them drop their weapon and slowly walk toward the window. "What are you doing!?" scream Ruby. She tries her best to warn the two men but they step on the edge of the building and jump off. Ruby couldn't believe what she has witness. "What have you done!" Said Ruby. She spats blood on the floor and cough.
"Nothing, I'm just here to watch the chaos" The anomaly grin and along with the Queen, walk into the black metallic hallway. lights turn bright and left Ruby blind for a split second. Enough for them to disappear and leave a hole in the wall. Rose tries to wrap her head on what just happened but she couldn't make a clear picture of the monster in her head, it just causes her to have a splitting headache.
(Updated. Its not perfect but im happy with this for now no more edit unless someone points out a mistake)
Hey, just a heads-up. English is not my native language therefore I will be making plenty of mistake. If you point out any error i won't get mad, I'll fix it. I'm still learning and improving. Thanks for reading.
P.S: Most chapters will be short and I'll probably take my time updating this story. I'm a slow and uncreative writer.