Hello everyone, this is my first RWBY fanfiction ever, or my first fanfiction ever to be honest. I intend to upload once a week, every Thursday. I hope you enjoy it as much, or even if you don't thanks a lot to everyone who will spend even a few minutes to read my chapters!
-After careful consideration and since I cannot gather my thoughts without a proper timeline, I have decided to use the end of The Great War as date 0, therefore assuming that RWBY Vol. 1 started at 80.
-The story has been written after volume 6, so everything happening in volume 7 and after that will differ from my narration of the past.
The sound of metal clashing on metal filled her ears, as Crescent Rose finally managed to knock the second kusari-gama out of its owner's hands. Ruby stopped, retracting her scythe back her shoulders once more, taking in Emerald's state in front of her.
The girl was heavily battered and bruised, with several bloody cuts all over her body. Her aura had also been severely reduced. "It's over Emerald. Time to surrender" she stated as a matter of fact. "Huff…never! NEVER!" a pair of bloodshot eyes, filled with hatred, stared at her. "You took her away from me- I will never surrender to you!"
The red girl narrowed her eyes in sadness; she already knew Emerald was just that- another victim of Cinder. She had hurt lots of people, but she could still be saved. "Please, Emerald. I don't want to hurt you and right now you can't defeat me!" "…" the girl smiled at her "I don't want to defeat you; I want to break you!" and then she turned her gaze away, looking behind Ruby's back-
Right where Jaune was occupied with fighting Mercury. No! Ruby's body moved on its own; desperation and fear filled her very being. It took her two seconds to teleport next to Emerald and another one to swing her weapon towards her.
However, in the last moment, Ruby Rose, the fastest huntress in Remnant, found herself unable to deal the blow and kill her target. It took her one more dreadful second to move her arms and strike with all her might. One extra second was all her enemy needed.
Jaune's cry of pain filled her ears with dread one second before Crescent Rose sliced Emerald's chest open wide, filling Ruby's vision with red.
-o-
November 27th, 85
Beacon Memorial Hospital, Reconstructed City of Vale.
Ruby Rose opened her eyes, the morning light gently caressing her eyelids as it passed through the curtains. That horrible nightmare again! She scratched her head, and stretched out, her entire back stiff from the uncomfortable sleep, looking that she was in her pajamas.
I slept on the chair, didn't I? Her gaze quickly ran around the private hospital room, falling onto the familiar sight; Jaune Arc lying on top of the bed, with state-of-the-art hospital equipment placed next to him to ensure that his body would be preserved enough for whenever the poor boy managed to return from his comatose state-if he ever did.
She rubbed her eyes and got up from her seat. "Morning, Jaune!" She said; her voice as chipper and enthusiastic as she could be. "Sorry for oversleeping on your chair- I have been pretty tired recently, with the bad dreams and such!" she moved next to him, gently rubbing his cheek "but you know that already, right?"
Ruby felt her eyes water as she retracted her fingers and covered them "a-anyway! You don't mind if I used your bath, right? I will be back in a few minutes!" she moved into the bath, undressed and let the cold water take away her grief.
A few minutes later, Ruby stepped out of the bath, droplets of water running down her hair and body. She looked at her image in the small bathroom mirror, letting a sigh escape her lips.
The last five years of fighting and training, both in the Salem War and as a member of the Vale's Special Huntsmen Unit afterwards, had toned her frame even more, the baby fat vanishing and giving place to a few developed muscles. Despite that, her body had become slightly more feminine as well, with ample curves in all the right places, despite being accompanied by lots of scars and battle wounds.
She had also put on a little height, much to her partner's dismay. The only things remaining the same were her gunmetal eyes, shining brightly as if they hadn't lost their powers since long ago, and her trademark dark, red tipped, shoulder length hair she was now drying with a flower-patterned towel.
"It's been almost a year, Jaune…" she said from inside the bathroom "…and still no sign of them; the girls are becoming even more skeptical about Salem's parting words…but…" Ruby stopped "…I can feel it somehow…I wish you were here… I wish you could tease me about this" her eyes started watering again and her shoulders trembled.
"…I miss you, Vomit Boy. I know you will come back; I know you are strong. But I miss you… I have never felt this way… and I hate not knowing what to do with this…" the sound of her scroll buzzing mercifully cut her off. She wiped her tears, took a deep breath and picked it up, noticing a message from Goodwitch.
"Team RWBY is to report to my office immediately."
Before she could even realize it, her mind had sprung in action. She wore her long, thigh-high stockings with the rose pattern on, along with her traditional black combat skirt with red lower cuts. Her corset and beige blouse had given way for a red shirt with long sleeves and a black sleeveless vest with rose-colored buttons.
A large silver belt hung on her waist, Crescent Rose attached to it. The only jewelry she wore was a pair of silver, sword-shaped earrings and a safe-color rose pin she used to hold her trademark red cloak in her shoulders.
She put on her black boots, picked up her backpack and tenderly kissed Jaune on the forehead "I am off to save the world; and save Yang from Weiss' wrath as soon as they learn their vacation is suspended." She moved to the door, before turning around and whispering "I love you. See you soon."
-o-
Ozpin Academy was considerably away from the hospital, but Ruby didn't mind. Walking through the buzzing city filled her mind with pointless thoughts that helped her forget that awful memory- and the even worse reality that had followed it.
The council of Vale had put a great effort in rebuilding the city after the end of the War and, despite Weiss' continuous remarks of them doing it for political reasons they had done a pretty great work in that. Most city blocks had been restored and even after one year, construction works could be seen all over the place, even with the thin layers of white covering the terrain since the snowstorm a few days ago.
All Grimm had been pushed back to Forever Fall forest and old Beacon Academy-now renamed to Ozpin Academy upon Goodwitch's request- had been extensively renovated and undergone lots of aesthetic changes, including the removal of a huge petrified Wyvern from the top of the huge central tower.
Ruby merrily reminisced the day her team had been called to celebrate the reopening of the city's symbol of hope and peace. If only the numerous protesters about the Academy system being outdated and useless weren't present back then…
She stepped on the Academy grounds, the familiar image of the lantern-covered road leading to the entrance brought a soft smile on her face. She moved faster, taking in the new additions, especially the large emblem located above the entrance, right behind Ozpin's statue; a golden tiara, surrounding two crossed red swords- the symbol of Vale's Special Huntsmen Unit, created by Glynda Goodwitch in order to reclaim Vale three years ago.
After the reopening of Ozpin Academy, she decided to continue leading the Unit along with directing the School, therefore turning this establishment into both an institute for training new huntsmen and the headquarters for the seasoned ones like team RWBY.
It was this exact fusion that made 20-year-old legendary huntress Ruby Rose, leader of the 15-person team that infiltrated Salem's stronghold and defeated the Queen of Grimm one year ago, stand in front of the main gate while trying to listen to any children noises.
After a few seconds had passed, the girl took a deep breath and stealthily walked inside. She tiptoed through the empty corridor, stealthily passing unseen from all classes. "Asyoucanseepeople,historyplaysafundamentalrole…" Dr. Oobleck's voice echoed in the empty space as she made haste for Beacon Tower and the directress' office on top of it.
She had reached the top of the staircase, when her eyes fell upon a familiar image sitting in front of Goodwitch's door; a young man, with dark skin and deep green eyes, framed by long, wavy black hair. He was wearing a long olive overcoat with a white shirt and black pants underneath.
A thick red belt and shoulder pads on top of the coat finished his outfit and a long black cane rested on his hip. In his chest, the Unit's emblem proudly rested. Upon seeing her, he gave a big smile. "Ruby! Nice to see you here!"
"Good morning Oscar!" she merrily replied "how are you doing?" "Ah, I am fine. Actually I am better than ever; thanks to your sister."
The silver-eyed girl looked at him in confusion, before her mind managed to connect the dots, which led to a happy squeal that might had shattered the window behind them "You finally asked Alice out!" she snapped her head towards the shy boy in excitement.
"Yeah; Yang's advice was on point- it turns out she likes me as well" he sheepishly scratched his head, before the red girl enveloped him in a swift hug. "I am so happy for you, Oscar!" she grinned at him.
Everyone in teams RWBY, LEAD and JNR knew about Oscar's old crush in Ruby and how it had nearly dragged him down when she and Jaune had started dating mid-war. Listening to him finally moving on after he hesitated for so long with his second crush and current teammate, Alice Lime, was a very pleasant surprise for her.
"Thanks Ruby. It means a lot to me; really." "Well, what did you expect? Of course I would be happy!" They both smiled at each other, before she decided to change subject. "Are you waiting for a mission, too?"
"Actually, no. Team OLIV returned yesterday and we are resting for today; I came to submit a report about some strange findings in south Vacuo." Before she could ask him what these strange findings were, he continued "and Ms. Goodwitch told me to wait here and send you to the combat classroom when you arrived."
Ruby raised an eyebrow in confusion "the combat classroom? Why there? We usually get briefed on our mission here."Oscar let a sigh escape his lips "She said something about wanting to teach you how a proper huntress behaves in public."
She opened her eyes wide in displeasure "I don't like being on TV! Besides, Weiss did excellent in the interview with Lavender!" "Well, if you tell her that, she may calm down a little; she was furious about RWBY being the only team sending a replacement leader."
The girl laughed awkwardly "of course she would-I am not that lucky of a person. Thanks for the heads-up Oscar." "You are welcome. Good luck, Ruby."
She moved back towards the main hall where the combat classroom was located- and where the entire student body of Ozpin Academy would be right now, attending Glynda's class. It made sense; Goodwitch knew that Yang and Weiss were in Patch right now, so it would take them a few hours to be here at best.
And taking into account that Blake was already at Ozpin, helping Sun demonstrate advanced aura control to the few advanced students it meant Ruby coming here so early was a trap. A devious trap by her commander; who also was the only thing she feared more than Salem's warning.
Its fine she told herself. Even Goodwitch is not that wicked; it's gonna be all right!
She opened the door and her gaze fell upon a vast classroom, filled with students who were looking at her in excitement- wait, was that a Ruby Rose banner in the back? Glynda Goodwitch, prim and proper as always, dressed in her classic outfit as if a day hadn't passed since they first met in that police station, turned around and looked at her with a devilish smile.
"As I told you children, today we will be having a special guest for our class, who agreed to take an hour off her busy schedule and talk to us about combat tactics and skills; Ms. Ruby Rose of team RWBY. Please go easy on her!"
Her silver eyes opened wide in horror.
She is that wicked!
