So this is my first chapter, I really hope you guys will enjoy it. I have to mention this story is about Ruby and Geo's adventures throughout the world. Also, don't forget that this story is dark so expect horrible moments to happen. With that said, I wish you all a good read.

A Shattered Life

Chapter 1: Broken Rose

Ruby was walking on the road as she smacked another mosquito near her torso, then she caught the sight of an entrance to her right. The fallen leaves crunched beneath her black boots as she approached it. The sign beside her stared out forlornly, there were even some scratches performed most likely by a Grimm creature at the front. "Evernight Forest?" Ruby read aloud curiously. She shrugged, she had seen worse titles than this one.

Much as she did not want to walk through the dark forest of gloomy trees, she knew she had to pass by that strange place to gain more distance between her and home. "If I go through this forest maybe there's a chance I could find a settlement nearby." She said. "It's been a while since I've found a safe place to rest. I have to resupply before I ran out of food and water, so I must risk it and see where it leads me." She mustered her all of her courage and trudged in.

Inside the forest the girl looked around, fearful as a Grimm could jump at her in any moment. The thorns were poking menacingly in her face. She timidly edged her way around them, running with her feet through the dark trees. Ruby wasn't afraid of the dark, nor the thorns. She had been through much more than that. Sometimes when she's sleeping disgusting images about what her horrible father did to her surface, again and again. She does her best to not think about the gruesome events he put her through but that's a constant fight she must endure everyday.

Ruby looked up into the small patch of sky above her, stopping for a second to admire it in peace. Then, a piercing screech rang out and suddenly, the place around her plunged into darkness as the patch of sky was covered by giant black birds flying across the sky. She stumbled to the dirt in shock and watched the dark birds fly away. "W-Was that a group of Nevermores? I've never seen such a large number of them flying together before." Ruby stood up, brushed her hands and continued down her path. Where were they headed anyway?

It was hard for her to walk around with her red and black outfit, but she had no choice - she had to find her way nevertheless. But she had no time - the skies were getting darker. The terrifying looking trees seemed taller and even more harrowing than they had seemed to her. The darkness was growing around her by each passing minute. "Ow!" A short sharp pain shot painfully through her left arm. Ruby looked at it and her eyes widened when she saw that huge thorn had made an deep, ugly gash in her arm. It looked like a streak of red ink upon the porcelain white canvas of her skin. "Just my luck." She muttered.

The girl winced in pain and stepped away from the thorns, only to fall on the ground when her skirt got caught by the thorny shrub at her side. She hurriedly stood up and tried to pull away, but she couldn't. "Come on!" Mustering all her strength, she pulled violently at the skirt and a portion of her skirt got torn. Ruby sighed, looking in dismay at the fabric that revealed more of her legs.

As the skies continued to grow dark, she searched frantically for a way out, her arms were growing increasingly scratched and cut from the thorns she had stumbled upon. Sweat streamed down her cheeks as she was getting tired from walking. She then decided to release Crescent Rose and slash the thorns in front of her, but she had to be careful with the noise she was making because it could attract the attention of nearby Grimm.

Ruby reached a clearing in the forest, guessing that she must be somewhere midway through it. Thanks to her scythe, it was not difficult to cut her way through the sharp thorns that blocked her path. She did get pricked several times here and there, but they didn't really hurt her. Then she noticed a ruined temple just a few meters away from her position. "Maybe, I can spend the night there." She whispered to herself. "It doesn't offer much protection but it will have to do."

She walked towards it. The temple seems to mostly resemble a rotunda of sorts. Three of the ten columns are broken and lying on the ground in pieces, but the rest of them are still standing and holding up the circle of stones above them.

When she found herself in the middle of the temple, she heard the rustle of leaves. Her ears grew alert to the surroundings, she knew something was in the forest with her. A repeated interval of fast and slow pattering of feet. Quick, short breathing. Ruby's silver eyes adjusted to the darkening grounds and she watched a figure half-limping and half-running towards the clearing. "Who are you?" Ruby asked.

But the young girl didn't answered, she then fell to the dirt as she was too weak to continue walking. Ruby ran to the child and saw multiple cuts and grazes spread across her arms. "What's your name? Where did you come from?"

The little girl looked at Ruby and said. "M-My name i-is Mina, I-I'm from a village n-not far from here, it's called Perlshaw." Mina's hair was a rich shade of ebony. It flowed in waves to adorn her glowing, porcelain-like skin. Her eyes, framed by long lashes were a bright, emerald-green and seemed to brighten the world. "P-Please you have to help my parents, they are being attacked by Grimm." She pleaded.

"I will do my best to help them but first you need to point me the way to your village." Ruby tightened her grip around Crescent Rose.

"Just follow that path, it will lead you there." Mina pointed.

"Stay here and hide, I'll come for you after the fight has ended."

Mina nodded. "Please hurry."

Ruby then activated her Semblance and in an instant, she moved through the forest with incredible speed while dodging the many trees and thorns, leaving a trail of rose petals behind. It didn't took long for her to reach the end of the Evernight forest. That must be the village the little girl was talking about. She stared at the burning village while listening to several screams of pain that came from there.

"The sooner I get there the better." She dashed to Perlshaw's location to help fight against the darkness.

The battle raged ferociously across the settlement. Clang of weapons filled the dark night sky and screams of horror could be heard everywhere. Men and women fell to the mud, shock was registered on their lifeless faces. Bullets flew through the air and eliminated several Grimm that were trying to breach the defensive perimeter created by the soldiers.

When Ruby arrived to the battlefield, the first thing she did was aim her weapon at the incoming Beowolves. She focused intently on the targets in the distance, and then she fired the first shot, followed by another shot and another. The three Beowolves went down with ease, as Ruby was a skilled sniper. "I don't have much Dust left so I need to make these last rounds count." She reloaded.

One Beowolf came out from a burning house, and she aimed at him. She focused on the target for a moment before putting pressure on the trigger and sending a bullet screaming through the air. The creature's head blew into tiny pieces, after that the body dissolved.

More Grimm charged at her position, so she grabbed her scythe with both hands and dashed towards them. Her speed was too much form them as they couldn't even lay a single attack on her. She cut through the pack with exceptional skill, dismembering a few of them with just one slash. The remaining Grimm were easily killed as none of them could match the red hooded girl. But the battle was far from over as there was still a strong presence of Grimm in the area.

A loud screech gained the young girl's attention, she looked up and saw a Nevermore headed her way. Fortunately, heavy artillery bombarded the monster, making it crash on road quite violently. "That was some heavy firepower, these guys are well equipped." She was impressed by the type of weapons the locals were using because usually only the military forces that belong to the kingdoms possess that kind of firepower.

While Ruby was distracted a Beowolf rushed at her, but before she could react, a pair of black boots slammed into the creature's white mask, shattering it to pieces. "Wow!" Ruby was surprised by what just happened. "I don't know who you are stranger, but thanks."

The young boy rose up. He was wearing black pants with a belt that had a large silver buckle, a black V-necked shirt that was worn underneath a black trench-coat with silver lining going down the sleeves. There also were silver plates worn on both shoulder pads to offer more protection against certain attacks. "You should pay more attention to your surroundings, I mean we are in the middle of a battle." He replied. "My name is Geo, Geo Casterwill, and you are?"

"I'm Ruby Rose." She introduced herself.

"Were you the one who exterminated the Grimm in this section? Because some of men said they saw a red girl dashing around slashing her way through a pack of Beowolves."

Ruby smirked as she twirled Crescent Rose. "Yup, that would be me."

"Then you have my gratitude, many people would have died if you hadn't shown up." Geo bowed his head. "Captain Solomon is still fighting at the village's market, but he and his soldiers can beat the enemy if we keep this section from being overwhelmed with Grimm."

"I'll do my best to help." As she finished speaking more Grimm appeared and they charged at them.

One of the Beowolves made a downward strike, aiming at Geo's figure, but the boy moved his body slightly to the right and dodged it, while the claw ended up piercing the road. This allowed Geo to be close enough to his enemy. Using his sword, he carved the Beowolf's chest and sliced it in half. Another Beowolf rushed from behind but with a quick spin he decapitated the incoming creature with his blade.

Then he leaped into the air and with a yell, the young man cleaved a Grimm into two pieces causing the monster to let out a large roar as it died. Geo tightened his grip upon his sword's handle as he turned toward the other Grimm creatures that glanced at him. Their glowing red eyes stared straight at him and Geo found himself reminded that the look in their eyes never changed. "I shall send you back from where you came." He pointed his blade at them.

They let out a bloodthirsty roar before charging right towards him. Both Geo and Ruby made a few attack combinations to dispatch of the creatures more easily. "I have to say that you are quite the fighter. I don't know many people that can hold a scythe like you." Said Geo, as he pierced the chest of a Beowolf.

"Hehe! It took me a while to get this good." She replied.

Within a couple of minutes they finished the remaining Grimm without much effort, so the battle was over and the village was saved, thanks to the effort of some brave souls. With the fight over Geo placed his blade back at it's holster. "I must thank you once again for your help, not many dare to fight against the Grimm."

"It was my pleasure." Ruby smiled. "I'm glad I was able to help."

Geo then noticed several wounds in her legs and arms that were still wet with blood. "Follow me please, I'll take you to my medical officer, she'll treat your wounds and make some repairs to your clothes."

"My clothes?" She looked at her outfit and saw how much of it was torn. "I can't walk around looking like this. Lead the way."

As they made their way towards Perlshaw's market, they encountered many injured civilians and soldiers that needed medical attention, fortunately for them, Captain Solomon had a wagon full with medical supplies. "It's good to see you are alright Captain." Said Geo.

"It will take more than a few Grimm to take me down young master." He replied. "Who's the girl? If you don't mind me asking."

"Her name is Ruby, thanks to her, we were able to save this village." Answered Geo.

"Really?" Solomon was surprised as he didn't found Ruby to be much of a fighter. "Well, I appreciate what you have done for us, but you should go see Sunny, she'll fix those nasty wounds you have."

"Are you sure? I mean these people need it more than I do."

"Don't worry Ruby, there's plenty for everyone." Said Geo.

"Thank you for your kindness." She said.

"Don't mention it."