A/N: Hello everyone, here's a new story and no I'm not overloading myself, this is a team effort with a good friend of mine Winter1112, go check her out if you don't know her, her works a ART.
This Story will be replacing Healing Rose but for those of you who liked Healing Rose don't worry I'm not giving it up. Healing Rose will be on Freeze because I don't believe that my skills as a writer are up to that big of a challenge yet so for now it's on Weiss... *facepalms* why do I do this to myself, anyway I hope you all enjoy this first chapter.
Saffron Arroya grumbles as she stumbles towards the front door of her small home on Patch. She has had a long day, complete with Yang Xiao Long wrecking her waiting room to avoid getting her vaccinations. Granted, Tai helped her clean up while Raven all but sat on the scared five year old to get her shots. But she stares in shock as she sees Alex Garibaldi standing in the rain holding a sleeping Ruby, her tail hanging limply over his arm.
"Do ya mind if we come in? Kinda rainy out here." He rumbles quietly as he shields her with a familiar white cloak.
Saffron nods as she steps to the side to allow him access. "Alex where is her mother? Where's Summer?" She all but demands as she shuts the door behind him and glares. "She would kill you if she found out you have that poor baby out in this weather."
"Summer's dead Saffron." Alex replies sadly as he continues holding a sleeping 3 year old Ruby closely. "Killed on her hunt, along with Adaliz Schnee. Kali Belladonna and Glynda Goodwitch barely escaped themselves." He explains quietly.
Saffron cups her mouth and gasps, she was clearly shocked and shaken by the news of her friend's death. "That can't be." She finally blurts out. "They're the best huntresses in the world right now."
"It's the truth." He informs her as gently as possible. "Ah ain't got no reason to lie to ya, specially when it comes to Sum."
Saffron nods as she looks up at him. "I'm so so sorry, Alex. Is there anything at all I can do?"
He nods. "Ah still got ah job to do. And ah Grimm to hunt down before it can kill any more good Huntsmen or Huntresses. An Ruby's too young for me to take along on my hunts still, so will you do it? Will you help me take care of my baby Rose while ahm out on hunts?" The large man asks, his calm demeanor threatening to crack at any moment as he begins to tremble.
"But why me?" She asks. "Wouldn't Tai be a better choice since he has a little girl of his own that Ruby could play with?" Saffron was the one who delivered Yang, so it'd only make sense that Alex take Ruby there.
He shakes his head as he snorts in disgust. "I already tried that, but Tai turned her away saying it's too painful since Ruby is the spitting image of her Mama."
Saffron was shocked, annoyed and a little pissed. "Are you fu-" She stopped herself remembering that there was a small child present. "Are you kidding me?"
"Ya know I wouldn't joke around with stuff like this." He reminds her. "Specially since me and Tai never really saw eye to eye back in Beacon. You know that."
Saffron sighs at the reminder, as well as the memories of all the times she had to patch them both up after another one of their brawls. "Alright Alex, I'll take care of Ruby whenever you're gone."
Alex smiled as he handed Ruby over to Saffron gently, chuckling softly as she remains asleep. "Thanks Saffron, you don't know how much this means to me." He informs her as he motions to a suitcase just inside her door. "This has all her stuff in it, I know you ain't gonna need it, but I'll still send you money for her till I get back."
"You better come visit us Alex, I'm not going to have you pull a Jacques on her." Saffron says sternly.
Alex chuckles. "You ain't gotta worry about that, I'm the only family she has so I ain't going ta leave her alone, but I still have a job ta do." Alex gave the sleeping Ruby a kiss on the head between her wolf ears. "You behave for yur Auntie, you hear? She'll take good care of you mah pup." With that Alex turns to leave before stopping once more. "If you need anything before you can get ahold ah me, call Salem. She knows what's goin on."
Saffron nods as she gently bounces the sleeping pup. "Be careful, Alex. Safe journey."
Alex smiles sadly and nods before leaving, closing the door gently as he goes. Saffron can't help but start to cry softly as she continues to rock the now motherless girl, as she begins to mourn her lost friends….
Over the years Alex did more than just visit his little girl. He cut down on alot of his smaller hunts, farming them out to younger Huntsmen and Huntresses that need the valuable experience. He began working with larger groups to cut down on the time he would be gone from Ruby as well. And when the opportunity presented itself, he accepted the position of Huntmaster of the Vale branch of the Huntsman's Guild and turned it into an even bigger success than it already was. All for his pup and in memory of his beloved wife.
Ruby grew up knowing what it was like to be loved and cherished by her Mountain of a father, and when she showed an interest in being a Huntress, he taught her how to fight with her hands as well as smaller weapons like knives and hatchets as well as started taking her out on smaller hunts. When she came of age, he personally enrolled her into Signal Academy which was a Combat school in Vale for those wishing to work their way up to being Huntsman and Huntresses. And through it all, Alex and Ruby both visited Summer regularly, making sure to celebrate all of her achievements with her, despite her being gone all of these years now.
Signal was the first stop for those who wanted to be a Huntsman or Huntress and after they completed their years there, they would move on to one of the four great huntsmen schools located in each of the four kingdoms. From the moment she started, all the instructors knew that she was something special. She was already a naturally talented sharpshooter, and thanks to her father's teachings, was already advanced in combat basics as well as field survival. She even inherited his natural curiosity for history as well as weapon's creation.
While Ruby was attending Signal, Alex was pleasantly surprised to find out that Qrow, unlike Tai, had taken a liking to Ruby and kept an eye on her for him while he taught her at the combat school. It also seemed that Ruby had taken to Qrow's weapon of choice as well, creating her own scythe with both his, as well as her father's guidance.
But like all children, Ruby Rose-Garibaldi had to grow up. And like anyone, human or faunus, her destiny found her in the oddest of places, in the back of a small shop called from Dust till Dawn reading her favorite weapons magazine and listening to her favorite rock band while humming along. Of course, being a faunus has benefits like two sets of ears. But her headphones covered both sets of ears, so she didn't hear the small gang of thugs storm in and start robbing the store of all the dust it has. Nor did she hear the one thug that noticed her yell for her to put her hands up. Ruby only had ears for her music, and eyes on the brand new Sniper Rifle from the SDC's weapons division as well as the gorgeous white haired woman holding it.
But said thug definitely got her attention when he grabbed her shoulder and physically turned her around to face him. He was wearing red tinted glasses, a black business suit, and a matching Fedora hat. He signaled for her to take her headphones off, which she does with a sigh as she revealed her wolf ears to the man who didn't seem to care. "Yes?" She asks calmly, despite quickly realizing the situation she has been brought into.
"I said put your hands in the air now!" he ordered as he pointed his sword at Ruby, who points at herself.
"Are you talkin to little ole me?" She asks innocently enough as she drops the magazine behind her.
The thug nods. "Yeah you! Are you brain damaged or something?!"
Ruby frowned at the insult, and before the guy even knew what hit him, she kicked him hard in the gut, sending him flying across the store and into a display case full of gossip magazines like her friend Diane would read religiously. This catches the attention of another guy who came running and made the even dumber mistake of pointing his gun at her while yelling "Freeze!" Ruby rushed him and tackled him through the window of the store while using the momentum to propel herself outside as well to get more breathing space, and cause less damage to the poor old guy's store.
As Ruby stood up, the other men who were robbing the store run outside as their boss just casually walked out after them. At least he seemed like their boss since he was the only one who didn't look like a clone. Taking a quick headcount, she smirks as she takes her beloved scythe, Crescent Rose, off its magnetic holster on her back and settles it calmly on her shoulder. Only six of them total. Her Dad would offer to put both hands behind his back to try to make it fair for them, even though it wouldn't be remotely close.
"Well don't just stand that gawking at her, go get her." The man in the bowler hat commanded his men. With varying roars and war cries, they charge her clumsily, in a disorganized manner that any first year Signal student could handle easily. Slamming the heavy blade of her weapon into the ground, she prepares for close quarters combat.
As the first man got close, Ruby dodged the wide swing he made with his sword and kicked him in the side of the head knocking him to the ground and unconscious. As another goon rushes her, she leaps into the air and grabs her scythe, using it as a balance beam to knock him into a third unlucky thug and blast them both into a nearby wall with an almost sickening crunch. Spying the fourth idiot, she finishes her spin and lands perfectly to rip her scythe from the ground. Using the momentum of her spin, she slammed the back of her Scythe into the guy and sent him flying into his unlucky friend, number five, sending them crashing back through the broken window of the store.
The last of the goons had stayed back and started firing at Ruby with a sub-machine gun, but with very little accuracy. She almost wanted to stop him and force him to calm down before he accidentally shot himself, he was in such a panic. Instead, Ruby pulled the trigger on the handle of her weapon, showing that it was more than just a scythe. The force of the fifty caliber gravity infused dust round easily propelled her to the left and out of immediate danger. She pulled the trigger a few more times as she dashed around until she was behind the gunner and brought her scythe down on him hard enough to knock him out, but not to kill him. Spinning around quickly, she smiles at the leader as she grounds her scythe once again, this time the razor sharp butt end in the shape of a cross buried into the ground. "Your move." She tells him as she takes an almost relaxed pose while leaning slightly against the massive weapon.
The man with the bowler hat looks at his men littering the ground. "You were worth every cent. Truly you were," He said sarcastically as he takes his cigar out of his mouth and puts it out with his cane. "Well, Red, I think we can all say it's been fun but as much as I'd love to stick around..." He says as he levels his cane at her, "I'm afraid this is where we part ways."
Judging from the way he was holding his cane it was also some kind of gun, a suspicion that is confirmed a moment later as he tosses a red dust crystal at her as a target sight flips up. Ruby sighs as she reacts faster than he was obviously expecting by the look of shock on his face as she triggered her semblance. Moving at half the speed of sound, she darts forward almost as soon as the crystal is launched in the air and grabs it in hand. Staying on the move, Roman looks like he is moving in slow motion as she jams the dust crystal into the now exposed barrel just as he was about to physically pull the trigger. Dashing past, she grabs the surprised looking owner and ducks for cover behind his open door as the cane explodes from the impact of the bullet on the red dust crystal.
With a scream, The man barely has enough time to toss the blocked weapon away before it explodes. But it still was enough to leave him holding his hand as it was shaking from the shock of the sudden turning of the tables. He let out a frustrated growl, but put his hands up as sirens could be heard approaching.
"The name's Roman and who are you, Miss?" Roman asked seeing if he could get a name with the face.
"It's Ruby." She told him nonchalantly as she helps the shopkeeper to his feet. Roman of course had moved his eyes past her face and down to the rest of her. She was wearing a pair of black shorts showing off her long, muscular yet shapely legs that end in a pair of red and black sneakers. Moving back up, he took note of the black and red tightly fitting long sleeved V-neck shirt that had her emblem printed over her well endowed chest. She also had her signature red hood on, which she was currently brushing dust and a few small pieces of his now destroyed cane off of.
He also took note of the rest of her features other than her bust and rear. Ruby had charcoal black hair which faded into a bright red as it reached the middle of her back and her right bang reached just past her chin, while her left was held out of her face by a simple beret type clip. She stood at least five foot eight and held herself with a quiet grace and dignity.
"So, how long have you been an active huntress, Miss Ruby?" He asks curiously as the police arrive and surround them both.
"Who, me? I ain't no active huntress yet. I'm only fifteen." She replies as she takes her student ID out to show the police, Signal Academy's emblem clearly visible.
Romans jaw almost hit the pavement but he had a good poker face so he managed to keep his composure. "Your joking right? You're only fifteen?!" He said in shock as he looked to her ample chest once more.
Ruby followed his eyes and immediately shielded her chest with one arm as she kept holding her student ID in the other. "I-I told ya mah real age and ya shouldn't question a girl's age when she tells ya, it's rude!" She replies, her odd accent coming out even thicker.
Roman hummed. "That's quite an accent you have there Red, I take it your not from around here?"
Ruby cleared her throat. "No ahm from here, just mah Dad has an accent and as his daughter ah just picked it up growin up." She explains as the police begin to handcuff Ruby and Roman both. "Oi! What the cookies?!"
"Please wait, that young lady stopped them from robbing me." The old store owner said as he walked outside, looking better than when Ruby shielded him from the exploding cane.
"We are aware she helped you but we still will be taking her into custody to question." A blond woman with a riding crop said as she walked up. "And we have many questions for the young lady." She adds before she used her semblance to fix the store owner's window.
Ruby was at the woman's side in a flash, the handcuffs spinning around one finger as she gets glared at. But just as she opened her mouth to say something, Roman called out to her.
"Hey Red!" Roman called out causing Ruby to look at him while he was being put into the back of a cop car. "Who's your dad?"
Ruby turned her body to him as she spoke, unconsciously covering her chest again. "His nickname is The Mountain." Ruby replied with a wide grin. "And I'm the Mountain's Rose!" Roman lost his poker face at that point. He went wide eyed at the fact that he just had a run in with The Mountains daughter, and actually survived in one piece.
"Yea I like living." That was the last thing Ruby heard him say as the police closed the door to the car. That explains why she looks like that. He thought to himself as they pulled away, his car leading a white van packed full of the fallen thugs.
Ruby turned her attention back to the blond woman as she keeps spinning the handcuffs around her finger, making the older woman snort. "So, you are that gigantic idiot's little girl." She comments as she snatches the handcuffs away. "And he taught you some of his dirtier tricks too, I see."
Ruby can't help but grin widely. "He is mah daddy!" And hey, you're a huntress, can I have your autograph!" Ruby asks excitedly as the back of her cloak begins to move excitedly. Glynda can't help but smile softly at how absolutely adorable she looks at this very moment. Just like Summer…..
"I hope you realize that your actions tonight will not be taken lightly, young lady." The blonde Huntress scolds Ruby as she paces back and forth across the room while Ruby just sits with a deflated look on her face. "You put yourself and others in great danger."
"They started it." Ruby blurted out.
"If it were up to me you'd be sent home... With a pat on the back..." Ruby perks up at this before the woman sharply turns her head to glare at her, continuing, "And a slap on the wrist." She smacks her riding crop on the table in front of Ruby's hand for emphasis, causing her to let out a cute little squeak as she jerks her hands away. "But…" She sighs out. "There's someone here who'd like to meet you."
As she finishes a man in a black and dark green suit with glasses and gray-silver hair walks in carrying a plate of chocolate chip cookies and a mug of coffee in his hands.
"Ruby Rose..." The gray haired man says, leaning in for a closer look. "You... Have silver eyes." The man states calmly.
"U-Um…" Is all Ruby can get out.
The man straightens back up and nods at the screen the Huntress is holding as it broadcasts her fight with the thugs. "So! Where did you learn to do this?"
Ruby answers, "S-Signal Academy. Also where was the camera?"
"They taught you how to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?" The man asked, completely ignoring Ruby's question.
"Well, one teacher in particular." Ruby answers.
"I see..." The man replies as he sets the cookies on the table in front of her.
She looks at him skeptically before slowly reaching out, she quickly took one of the cookies and ate it in one bite. After she sees that they are okay to eat she proceeded to eat the others in quick succession.
The man continues as Ruby eats her cookies, "It's just that I've only seen one other scythe-wielder of that caliber before….. A dusty old crow."
"Yeathat'smauncaqra." Ruby says with a mouth full of cookies to which the man arches a brow at her. Ruby swallow's what she has in her mouth and wipes it on her sleeve.. "Sorry, that's my uncle Qrow though he's not my real uncle, he's a teacher at Signa I was complete garbage trying to use a full sized weapon before he took me under his wing, well complete garbage is a bit strong but now I'm all like- Waaaah! Whacha! SLICE! With a weapon, but my hand to hand combat was already good since because of my dad, he's a Huntsman."
"So I've noticed. And what is a beautiful young woman such as yourself doing at a school designed train warriors?" He asks quizzically before sitting down.
Ruby sits up straight and answers, "Well… ah wanna be a Huntress."
"You want to slay monsters?" He asks.
"Yeah! I only have two more years of training left at Signal! And then I'm going to apply to Beacon! You see, my dad is a great Huntsman and I'm trying to become a huntress cause I wanna help people. And my parents always taught me to help others even if they neglect and discriminate against you, so I thought, 'Hey, I might as well make a career out of it!' I mean the police are alright, but Huntsman and Huntresses are just so much more romantic and exciting and really, gosh, you know!?" When Ruby finishes her yammering.
The man just looks at her with a slight smile and asks, "Do you know who I am?"
"You're Professor Ozpin. You're the headmaster of beacon."
"Hello."
"Nice to meet you." Ruby says happily.
"You want to come to my school?" Ozpin asks already knowing the answer but he asked anyway.
"More than anything." Ruby says full of determination.
"Well okay." Ozpin says with a smile, he then stands up. "Now I believe your father is here to pick you up." He says as a Mountain of a man walks into the room causing Ruby to pale but she was also internally happy to see him. "Hi Daddy!"
Alexander Garibaldi chuckles as he removes his wide brimmed jet black Stetson hat and looks at her. "Hey there, pup." He returns her greeting before looking at Ozpin. "You done with her, Ozzy? We got an early hunt in the morning. Need ta get some sleep."
Professor Ozpin nods as he motions with his cane towards the door. "I trust you heard the news?"
Alex nods. "Ah did. Ain't too sure who would be prouder, me or Summer. Pretty sure Sum would be." He declares, causing Ruby to all but tackle him in a hug, which he returns with one arm. "See ya Ozzy. Salem's waitin on us outside."
"Have a good rest of your evening, both of you." He tells them as they walk past, a proud father and his excited daughter.
The trip home was anything but silent, with Ruby and Salem talking excitedly over the good news. Of course, Alex had fallen silent since leaving Vale proper, his normal half smirk gone and a stoic mask in its place.
"Daddy, are you mad at me?" Ruby asks suddenly. Alex just bursts into a hearty laugh as he shakes his head.
"Angry? Why would I be angry at cha for doin what ya Mama would've done!" Alex continues to laugh which relaxed Ruby. "I woulda been disappointed in ya if ya hadn't done something."
Salem nods in agreement, the older blonde woman all smiles as well. "He's right. Summer would have been furious if she found out you did nothing at all." She states in agreement.
"And your ok with me going to Beacon early?" She asked nervously as she pokes her fingers together, just now realizing how much trouble she could have really been in tonight.
"Of course, you've proven yourself more than capable with stoppin that robbery." Alex replies as his smile stays on his face. "Saffron will be sad to see ya go though, she thinks of ya as one of her own."
"I for one will be thrilled to have you there." Salem adds. "Even though this old Mountain is going to bother me constantly asking for updates on you."
Ruby smiles. "Ah know and ah like to think of her as my second mom, just like ah think of you as mah auntie."
Salem looks at Alex, tilting her head at him. He shakes his head back as he looks in the rearview. "Ah already got ah list ah stuff you're gonna be needin. We can grab it all after our hunt tomorrow." He informs her, the pride still present in his voice.
"And Blue dorm just opened for use this year. You'll have a lot more room in there." Salem adds as she looks back at her. But she shakes her head with a smile as she realizes Ruby isn't paying attention anymore.
Ruby Rose-Garibaldi looked out the window of the truck and up at the broken moon. She never thought she'd get to go to her dream school early, or in such a way as she did tonight. And the thing that stood out most to her is the fact that her father and Salem both said her mother would be proud of her for her actions tonight. And that alone gave her comfort as well as pride.
Summer Rose-Garibaldi would have been proud of her, on the best night of her life…...
Thank you everyone for reading, next thing I post WILL be the next chapter to Elegance of a Blake Rose so until then I'll see you all next time, Piece out!