Disclaimer: I do not own anyone
RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth
Little Nightmares belongs to Bandai Namco
Chapter 1: Flickering Lights
Ruby shuffled in her chair. Her current environment made her feel nervous. A featureless cellblock with a bright light directly overhead. The focus of the light cast the rest of the chamber in shadow. Despite this, she felt no sense of alarm. She was afraid she had gotten herself into trouble. No arguing that. But no danger either. That had passed. It passed when the bull head caring that criminal and that strange woman flew off.
The day had gone well. Ruby had taken a flight to Vale. Wandered around, seeing the sights. Catching a glimpse of Beacon in the distance. Having some lunch and continuing her search for sister's gift. Eventually she found a nice little dust shop. She may have overstayed her welcome, but in her defense, they had the latest issue of Mechashift. Her favorite weapon magazine. Which Ruby prided herself on never missing an issue. Have to stay up to date with weaponry. Luckily, the store owner did not seem to mind. What a nice man.
Then the robbery came. The thugs did not notice her at first. The same in reverse too, since she had her headphones on. They were not much of a threat. No aura, no proper training. Just thugs with guns and swords. The guy with the cane and white suit was a different matter. He was surprisingly fast for a man in such constricting clothing. Good thing the shop was barely damaged, and practically no dust was taken. Way to go Ruby. Then the bullhead and that strange woman came. An odd sensation of Deja-Vu washed over Ruby when the woman attacked. Also, a bit of frustration, blocking all of her shots with her bare hands. How was that fair. Yet, even with all that her day was still pretty good. She even met a huntress.
"I hope you realize that your actions tonight will not be taken lightly, young lady."
Who was now scolding her.
"You put yourself and other in great danger." The huntress said, pacing behind her while tapping on a scroll.
"They started it!" Ruby protested.
It was unfair. She helped that old man, when she could have easily run. He would have lost all his dust long before the police could arrive. Not to mention she did not really hurt anyone. She knew this for a fact, because she held her Cresent Rose in reverse to be non-lethal. Yet here she was. In an interrogation cell. Wonderful thanks for putting herself in the line of fire. And fire dust.
"If it were up to me. You'd be sent home." The blond woman said, walking to the front of the table Ruby was seated at. Ignoring her attempt at justification.
"With a pat on the back."
Ruby smiled at the small praise. At least it was acknowledged that she did a good thing. Then the lady pulled out a riding crop and gave her a stern glare.
"And a slap on the wrist." She snapped the riding crop on the table.
Ruby flinched out of surprise, rather than fear. She had not expected the snap. She had seen the lady fight and had no doubt that she was dangerous. Probably capable of flooring Ruby at any given moment. Still, she was not afraid. The huntress did not want to hurt her. This was a law-abiding woman. Someone principled. She would not strike Ruby without reason.
"But there is someone here who would like to meet you" The huntress said, stepping to the side of the of the table.
To which an elderly man with white hair and glasses walked in. He was dressed in a dark green suit. In one hand he held a coffee mug, with steam rising out of it. In the other was a plate full of cookies. Now that caught her attention. She was starving. Not eating from noon to after dusk can do that to you.
"Ruby Rose." The old man said stepping slowing into the room. He made his way to the table and leaned forward slightly. Staring straight at her.
"You, have silver eyes" He stated.
Ruby stuttered a little. It usually takes hours for a person to notice that her eyes are silver and not grey. Also, who points out someone's eye color before even saying hello. The old man must have forgotten his manners.
"So." He continued, straightening his posture while the lady held out her scroll in front of her.
"Where did you learn to do this?" He gestured to the scroll with his coffee mug.
Ruby's eyes widened when she saw the device. The scroll was replaying her quick dispatching of the thugs outside the dust shop. She did not pay attention to this. Her focus was not on the video. it was on the screen. To Ruby, it was blank, and for a moment the sound of buzzing static reached her ears. She backed up in her chair, making it skid slightly. Her legs shaking with the effort it took to keep them still.
The old man was puzzled by her reaction. Gaze switching between her and the scroll until realization dawned on him.
"Oh. I'm sorry." He said, understanding the girls plight. "Glynda, please turn that off."
The lady, now called Glynda complied without a word. Setting the now deactivated scroll at the edge of the table. It took Ruby a moment to stop staring at it and begin to relax.
"Forgive me. I did not take the report of your condition seriously." He placed the plate of cookies in front of her like some kind of peace offering, before taking his own seat across from her. She did not rush to take a bite.
"You know about my 'issues'?" Ruby asked. It was a dumb question in hindsight. The first this he said was her name when he walked in. Of course, he knew who she was.
"I read your file from Signal, when I got the news, you were detained. You have quite the reputation there. Both good and bad."
Ruby took a small breath as the last bit of tension left her. Leaning forward in her seat, she took the topmost cookie from the plate and bit down on it. The taste was satisfying.
"I'll admit, a lot of the bad aspects they reported were ... difficult to believe."
"You mean crazy." Ruby corrected, before shoving a whole cookie in her mouth. Swallowing and repeating the act over and over again. Each tasty treat gone in one bite.
"Are you feeling better now?" He asked continuing with his questioning.
Ruby replied with a quick set of nods. Her mouth was still full of the remains of the last cookie. Glynda gave her a sharp look of disapproval from behind the old man.
"Good. Now where did you learn to fight so well with a scythe?"
"Signal Academy."
"Graduates from Signal are capable fighters, but none are taught to use a weapon like yours the way you do. There are very few people who can. I happen to know one. A dusty old crow."
"That's my uncle." Ruby cut in, slightly excited at the mention of her mentor.
"I see. Qrow always seemed like a family man. Despite his habits." Glynda rolled her eyes at the man's comment.
"Yup. In my first years at Signal he would give me extra lessons. I wasn't very good at first." She admitted shyly.
"I can see that's changed." He replied with a chuckle. "So, why is a bright and kind girl like yourself attending a school that trains warriors?"
"I want to be a huntress." Ruby answered.
"You want to hunt monsters?"
"I want to help people."
"There are plenty of ways to do that. Why choose such a dangerous career?"
That was the question. One that had bothered her for some time in recent years. She already had the answers, but something felt off every time she thought about it.
"My family are all huntsmen. My dad. Uncle Qrow. My mom."
"Yes. All excellent huntsmen."
"You know them?"
"I do. Team STRQ were quite the rising stars when they attended Beacon." He said, taking a sip from his mug.
"And a mountain of trouble." Glynda added in an exasperated tone.
"Don't mind her." He chuckled. "She's still sore about being dragged along with the mischief your parents came up with. I do recall that she and your mother were still close friends despite this."
Ruby locked her eyes on Glynda. "You knew my mom?"
The previously harsh and stern woman stared back for a moment. Her gaze becoming softer as the seconds ticked by. "Yes. Summer and I were good friends."
Ruby wanted to ask more questions. Eager to glean any and all information on her mother that she could get. Her family never talks about her anymore and Yang knows about as much as she does.
"That little note aside." The old man spoke up. "Do you have any other reason for wanting to be a huntress?"
Ruby took a short breath before answering. "The world is dangerous. I've known that for a while now. There's plenty of ways to help people, but there are a lot of problems out there. Problems that only huntresses can solve. I want to help them by making the world safer."
"Mmhmm. Do you know who I am?" Another dumb question, only he's asking this time. Of course, she knew who he was. Otherwise, she would have asked.
"You're Professor Ozpin. You're the Headmaster at Beacon."
"Hello." He said with a smile.
"Nice to meet you." She replied in a chipper manner, extending her arm for him.
"And you." He returned the gesture and reached out.
When their hands locked grips, Ruby froze. The single light in the room began to flicker sporadically. In her eyes, Ozpin vanished in one of the flashes and was replaced by a tall, dark-haired woman, wearing a Mistrilian kimono and a blank mask. She said nothing as she proceeded to just stare at Ruby, while the light started to buzz. Ruby's breath quickened at the sight of the woman. Her heart began to race.
Then she vanished and there was Ozpin. Glancing at the flickering light. He had not noticed her freeze, and neither had Glynda. Slowly, she released her grip, finding it strangely dissatisfying. Like she had missed an opportunity. Why was she so nervous? Wasn't she just shaking hands with Ozpin?
"Hmm. Remind me to tell the Commissioner to check his cells." Ozpin said to Glynda.
There it was again. That sense of Deja-Vu. The same as when she saw that woman earlier. This time it was different. Stronger. Almost recognizable.
"You seem determined to become a huntress. Does that mean I'll be seeing you in my school soon?"
Ruby blinked, shoving the feeling away so she could focus. "Yes. My sister is attending Beacon this year, and in two more so will I."
"Then how would you feel if you could go along with her?"
"It would be a dream come true. We both wanted to become huntress's together."
Ozpin turned to Glynda and gave her a knowing look. She responded with an eye roll, but with a ghost of a smile along with it.
"Well... alright." Ozpin said.
Ruby tilted her head in confusion. "Umm?" She muttered.
"Would you like to come to Beacon?" He clarified not losing his smile, even when sipping from his mug.
"RE-REALLY!?" She yelled, almost shooting up from her seat.
"I believe your actions tonight have demonstrated your capabilities. I feel you are ready."
"But... but I'm still two years behind! How will I know what to do?"
"Ms. Rose." Glynda cut in. "You're not the first to receive this offer in Beacon's history. There is a system for this. Please clam down." Her tone was less stern than it was at the start of all this.
Ruby kept quiet for a moment. This was a big decision.
"Don't feel intimidated. No huntress begins their journey alone. Plenty of people will be on hand to help should you feel you need it." Ozpin said, placing his mug on the table and interlocking his fingers. "But it is still your road to walk. Want to take your first steps to becoming a huntress?"
Ruby glances at both of them. Her mind weighing her options. Possible consequences. Added difficulties. Get a head start on her dreams or continue as is. Going to Beacon now would definitely be more difficult. She would be the youngest of her year. Not to mention the extra work she would have to put in just to keep up. Then again, when has she ever let that stop her?
"More than anything." Ruby answered with glee.
The streets of Vale were dark, and dimly lit. Street lamps, billboards, and passing cars provided patches of light to this dark urban jungle. Standing in the door lights of the Vale PD, was a young woman with long golden hair. Wearing a brown jacket, black shorts, and gold cuffs on her wrists. The low light made her form cast a long shadow that stretched down the tar of the road.
Yang Xaio-Long tapped her foot in frustration. The fear that her sister had come to harm nearly overriding her sense of reason. Around thirty minutes earlier she got a call from her dad, saying Ruby got caught up in a robbery. He asked Yang to fetch her since she was already and Vale. Within thirty seconds, she had reached Bumblebee and accelerated to full speed.
She wanted to rush in the second she arrived, but her dad told her to just wait outside. Which she was altogether ok with. She did not have the best reputation with the police, and it would do Ruby no good if her sister was locked up along with her. After tonight she would probably have a few more charges on her list. Not that those meant anything compared to Ruby. Yang would storm this place without a second thought if Ruby was hurt. It was her responsibility to look after her sister.
Not a simple task. Ruby, sweet and well-intended as she was, had always been a magnet for trouble. Literally everyone at Signal knew it. Both intentionally and not. That aside, Yang still loved her sister. She always would. Which is why this was so frustrating.
The steel-guarded doors of the station opened and out walked someone she was not expecting to see.
"Yang Xaio-Long, I assume?" Enquired Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon.
"Ah. Yes, that's me." She replied, dialing down her causal attitude. This was not a man she could ignore if she wanted to accomplish her goals.
"Your sister is inside." Ozpin said, surprising Yang again. How did he know Ruby. Did she get in trouble? That would be really bad for her.
"She is collecting her equipment. She'll be out in a moment." He finished, as the doors opened again. This time a blond lady with glasses stepped out. Wearing a thigh-pencil skirt, pleaded top, brown stockings, and high heels. Yang secretly applauded her for her confidence. Even she did not have the guts to pull off that look.
"She's coming." The lady said to Ozpin. "I'm sorry for the lack of an explanation Miss Xaio-Long but we are behind schedule. Have to prepare for the new year."
A long green car came to a stop in front of the station. The lady walked to the passenger door and opened it for the headmaster. "I look forward to seeming you and sister during Initiation." He said, climbing inside the car.
"We'll be relying on you to help us with her, so please keep yourself out of trouble." The lady said in a manner that sounded like a warning. Yang could not be sure as the woman took her seat and shut the door. Driving away to leave a very confused teenager behind.
Then something crashed into her from behind. Wrapping around her exposed stomach. Looking down, she saw a pair of familiar arms draped in black.
"Ruby!" Yang yelled, breaking her sister's hold and spinning around to return the greeting.
"Yang!" Ruby cried, as the was smothered by her sister's embrace. Being pressed against Yang's chest.
The elder sibling had expected complaints to come from that. Ruby disliked being smothered by her elder. However, what she got in response was just a tighter hug. After a good half a minute, it was Yang who decided to break it off.
"Alright sis. That's enough." Yang released her grip, but her junior did not.
"Eh? Ruby? Hello? Remnant to Ruby? Come in Ruby?"
"Ruby here." She replied in a muffled voice.
" Will you please release your sister?"
"Negative Remnant. Ruby is happy where she is." She answered with a giggle.
In response Yang pinched her sister's side. Forcing the red reaper to jump in shock. Yet, her hold remained strong. So, Yang repeated the action. Again, and again, and again.
"Yang, stop!" There was the whining she was used to.
"Don't force mee to resort to tickling." Ruby looked up at Yang's smug grin and raised hands. All ten digits wiggling around with evil intent.
Ruby immediately backed away to the edge of the light. Wrapping her cloak around herself for protection.
"HA! I'm the only one who gives death hugs in this family!" Yang laughed. " But seriously sis, what was that? You only do that to Qrow when he visits or when dad gets back from a long mission. I haven't even been gone for a day."
"I know." Ruby admitted. "But I just felt like I haven't seen you in a very long time. As weird as that sounds."
"You're weird Rubes."
"Hey!"
They both laughed, yeah it was weird, but that made it fun. Normal and orderly were boring by Yang's standards and Ruby always held standards of her own with how she acted.
"Speaking of weird. Did you meet Professor Ozpin in there?" Yang asked, pointing her thumb at the Vale PD.
"Yup. Why?" Ruby asked giving Yang a look she know well. The look of faked ignorance. Ruby had come close to mastering the art of playing dumb. If Yang were a stranger Ruby would be able to run circles around her with it.
"He said something about seeing 'us' at Initiation. As in, you and me. Know anything about that sis?"
That was when the excitement on her face ruined the facade, and she looked ready to squeal.
Then at a rapid pace Ruby explained the full story of what had transpired in the day.
All while something else occurred. Unnoticed by the sisters. Had Yang simply turned to the right she may have seen it but focused as she was on her sister's story, she failed to register the anomaly.
The shadows cast by the low hanging lights stretched out into the road but were still distinguishable. Had Yang looked she would have seen that Ruby's was short. Almost too short. Less than half of Yang's size in fact. As well as looking almost nothing like the red reaper, with her bellowing cloak. The only form of clothing in the shadow was the shape of a coat.
It did not move as Ruby moved. It matched her steps, but nothing else. It just stood still and stared at Yang's own shadow.
As the two sisters walked away, eager to prepare for the new future that was now open to them. The nearest streetlights flickered for a moment, and Ruby's shadow returned to normal. As far as anyone was concerned it was never there at all.