"Come on Ruby you have to come with us!" Ruby's older sister Yang groaned as she was about to leave with Weiss and Blake, the other members of Team RWBY.
"Yang, I told you I already have plans." Ruby remaining firm Informed her half-sister for what felt like, and most likely was, for the hundredth time.
"So important that you can't hang out with your favorite big sister!" The blonde argued.
Ruby snickered lightly at Yang's comment, 'If she only knew.' She thought to herself. "I already made plans with Penny, and I've already had to cancel twice so I'm not going to cancel again."
Yang crossed her arms in a pout and mumbled something about how that line normally works. "I think Ruby's dedication to her friend is admirable." Weiss defended.
"Shut up ice queen." Yang mumbled again.
Weiss hearing Yang's comment walked of annoyed shortly followed by the blonde in question. Blake about to follow turned to the young leader, "See you later Ruby." She said with a smile.
The three remaining members of the team left the school and caught the next bullhead into Vale. They had made plans for a team bonding experience alongside Team JNPR. They would meet in the town square, then split off into groups for a brief shopping trip, followed by lunch, then they would separate into teams for single activities. Weiss had put forward the idea of going to an art museum which Yang protested only to be shot down by Blake.
They arrived at the square shortly after JNPR arrived, and after a short greeting Jaune was quick to point out the absence of the teams leader.
"Where's Ruby?" He asked.
"She is spending the day with Penny. They have had to cancel their plans several times now so I doubt we will be seeing her today." Weiss informed.
"What are you talking about she's right over there!" Nora pointed to the other side of the small park at Ruby sitting on a bench looking at her scroll.
Yang running over to her sister shouted her name. Ruby hearing the call looked around and saw the blonde running at her. She jumped out of her seat and held her arms out to stop her sister from tackling her in a hug.
Yang was wearing a brown sweatshirt, even though it was spring, and a yellow undershirt with blue jeans and brown boots with yellow lacing.
"RUBY!" She shouted trying to hug her.
"What's going on here?" The team's leader asked uncharacteristically annoyed at her sister's actions. Yang backed off and the rest of the group got a better look at the girl she just tried to strangle in a hug.
She was wearing a simple outfit. She had on a black t-shirt and red fleece jacket and blue jeans. She had on bright red boots; she also had a golden chain tucked under her shirt.
"We were meeting up here so we could get started on the days activity's." Weiss spoke up. Weiss was wearing a short white dress decorated with blue snowflakes and heels.
"Oh." Ruby exhaled.
"Ruby are you okay? You seem upset. Did your plans with Penny fall through again?" Blake asked stepping forward. Blake was wearing a white leather jacket and black leggings. Her signature bow wrapped around her head concealing her cat ears.
"Uhhh…. yeah. They did." Ruby said rather slowly.
"Damn that sucks. Well, I guess you can hang out with us now!" Yang proposed her voice growing in excitement as she threw her arm around Ruby's shoulder.
'Did Ruby just flinch?" Blake thought to herself.
"I-I don't know. I think I should just leave." She stammered out trying to release herself from Yang's grip to no avail.
"No way Rubes. You're a part of this team so you're going to spend time with your team." Yang protested.
"No getting out of this now." Ruby mumbled. "Can I at least so to the bathroom first?" She asked.
"Oh, I think I saw some over there." Jaune pointed over at a small building with the typical bathroom logos outside.
"Thanks." Ruby said running over to the small structure.
Walking inside she made sure all the stalls were empty, which they were, and pulled out her scroll to make a call. The phone rang for only a few seconds when the other person picked up.
"Hey Scarlet! I can't talk long I'm hanging out with Penny." Ruby shouted over the sounds of arcade games.
"Ruby your team is at the mall, and they think I'm you." Scarlet quickly informed.
"WAIT WHAT!" Ruby screeched.
"Yeah, I don't care who you're with, but I need your help to get out of this." Scarlet pleaded.
"What do you mean by that?" Ruby asked.
"I mean that I don't care if we have to explain our unique situation to your friend." Scarlet clarified.
"O-okay. I'm on the other side of town it could take me up to an hour-and-a-half to get there. Maybe longer." Ruby informed her twin.
"Well then make it less." Scarlet half begged half ordered before hanging up and walking out of the bathroom.
At the arcade where Ruby and Penny where Ruby had just gotten off the phone. "Ruby you seemed distressed. Did something happen?" Penny asked her friend.
"No but something might happen if we don't get down to the mall as soon as possible!" Ruby yelled over the loud games dragging Penny through the arcade towards the entrance.
"I'm confused what would happen if we don't go to the mall?" Penny asked allowing herself to be dragged by the reaper.
"I can explain on the way." Ruby stated, looking around the street for a bus station or subway track, the whole time she was holding on to her silver necklace.
"Hey Ruby, you ready to go!" Nora shouted seeing the youngest member of team RWBY leaving the bathroom.
"As ready as I'll every be." Scarlet said putting on her best cheery smile.
Scarlet had chosen to follow Weiss around the mall sense she seemed the safest. Yang was her sister so hanging around her could get messy. Blake was quiet and was always starring at her for some reason. As for Team JNPR, Jaune was an idiot and that got annoying quickly, Pyrrha seemed, from what Ruby had told her, very insightful and might be able to see that the Ruby she was with was a fraud. Nora was… 'Where do I start with that girl.' Scarlet thought to herself, it didn't help that she was always near Ren, and he was even more quiet that Blake. The only quiet person Scarlet could tolerate was Neo and that was because she grew up with her.
So, Weiss it was. She was Ruby's partner sure, but Ruby annoyed her, so she was more likely going to overlook any of Scarlet's mistakes in her act. Not to mention she was the prettiest out of everyone present, so that was a bonus.
"I still don't get why you wanted to go clothes shopping with me." Weiss chuckled.
"You have the best fashion sense, is all." Scarlet lied.
Weiss looked back at her partner, "But wouldn't you want to do this with Yang? I know I love to go clothes shopping with my older sister when I was little."
"Well, you've met Yang she can be…"
"A bit too much to handle." Weiss finished.
"Yeah." 'And she might realize I'm not really Ruby.' Scarlet mentally added. "You said you had a sister?"
"Oh yes, I also have a little brother. My sister's name is Winter she's with the Atlas military and works directly under General Ironwood." Weiss stated a large smile growing on her face.
"You look up to her don't you."
"Of course, I do." Weiss expressed.
"So, what about your brother what's he like."
Weiss sighed her smile dimming, "He's basically a carbon copy of my father. His name is Whitley."
Scarlet nearly broke out into laughter. "What Is so funny about why family's names Ruby!" Weiss shouted very offended.
"Sorry I couldn't help it! Does your family have a rule on the letter 'W' or something?" She snickered.
Weiss sighed and pinched her nose before looking up with a small smile, "Yeah something like that." She chuckled lightly.
After a short walk they entered a fancy clothing store that Weiss seemed right at home in, meanwhile Scarlet was trying to find anything that looked remotely comfortable.
"Having trouble finding something Ruby?" Wiess asked walking around the corner with a dress carefully folded over her arm.
"You wear stuff like this?" She asked.
"Right, you don't wear the same kind of clothes as me. There is another store next to this one that seems more your style. Just let me pay for this and we can head over there."
"Cool. Meet you over there." Scarlet said walking past her twin's partner ignoring her plan to go together.
Weiss didn't take long to catch up with who she thought was her partner. When the heiress rounded the corner into the other clothing store, she saw Ruby standing by a rack of jackets on the far side of the store. "You could have waited." She huffed as she approached her partner.
"Didn't feel like waiting." 'Ruby' stated with her normal cheery smile and a shrug.
"Dolt." Weiss mumbled.
They spent the better part of an hour looking at clothes. Weiss even found a few articles of clothing that she liked unlike Scarlet who never picked anything off the racks, even if she wanted to. If she bought something and Ruby never wore it Weiss might question her about it.
'Maybe I'm just being paranoid." Scarlet thought to herself reaching for a simple grey jacket.
"Finally decided to get something huh." Weiss mocked.
"Shut up, I'm picky okay." She instinctively responded. "We should get going. Don't want to keep the others waiting."
"Yeah, we should." Weiss agreed eyeing her partner suspiciously. 'Sense when did Ruby talk like that?' she thought to herself.
"So Ruby, why are you in such a rush to get over to the mall?" Penny asked tilting her head to the side.
"It's a long story, and I don't really know where to start." Ruby sighed leaning back in her bus seat.
"Well then who were you talking to on the phone?" Penny asked finding a work around to her friends block.
Ruby sighed and leaned forward and looked her robotic friend I the eyes. "My twin."
"You never mentioned that you had a twin."
"Well, I didn't know about her until a couple months ago." Ruby's voice was getting a little shaky. "You ever see one of those movies where there are identical twins, and they end up separated?" She asked.
Penny nodded. "Well, that's a pretty good example at our situation."
"What happened to the two of you?" Penny asked intrigued.
Ruby went on to explain how a Grimm attacked their home when they were only a few months old and somehow took Scarlet with it only for the Grimm to be killed by Roman Torchwick and Scarlet ending up in his care. She then went on to explain their random reunion on their birthday two months ago, and how she was really the girl in the black cloak and Grimm mask simply known as Red and that she was trying to help them take down Roman's operation from the inside.
"That's a rather dramatic story Ruby." Penny got out at a loss for words.
"Yeah, and right now my team is in the mall with Scarlet, and they think that she's me." Ruby explained, feeling a huge weight being lifted off her shoulders.
"You need to tell Professor Ozpin about this." Penny expressed her thoughts.
"I want to but… I don't know if Scarlet will be willing to do that." Ruby sighed.
Penny rocketing up from her seat turned to face Ruby with a huge smile on her face, "Well then let's make sure that your sisters cover remains intact until then!"
Ruby wiping the beginning of tears out of her eyes chocked out a response, "Thank you."
Team RWBY or the WBY members plus Scarlet were spread out around a famous art museum looking at the equally famous paintings. Team JNPR had left them after lunch for their own activity that they never shared with them.
Scarlet was standing in the middle the museum looking at a painting that for some reason had caught her eye. It depicted two rose flowers intertwined by the stems in the center frame. The flower on the left was in a beautiful sunny field and was in full bloom. The other on the right side was in a dark foggy area, the painting didn't give much detail other that the wilting trees in the background, the flower was slightly drooping and seemed to be wilting but this flower had large sharp thorns running down the length of its stem.
"Taking an interest, I see." Weiss spoke up walking up from behind the silver eyed girl.
The sudden noise made Scarlet jump a little and reach for her weapon that she didn't have equipped. Collecting herself Scarlet turned to see her twins partner standing a few feet behind her.
"Y-yeah this one just kind of caught my eye." She responded.
"It makes sense It is rather beautiful." She said standing next to her.
"Well, I just like the roses on it." Scarlet informed.
"Of course, that's why you're looking at it, you dolt." She mumbled exasperated.
"What's it called?" she asked tilting her head to the side looking back at the painting.
"Well, the artist never gave it a name, but most people call it 'The Twin Roses' but a few people also know it as 'The Petal and the Thorn'
"I think I like that name better." Scarlet mumbled to herself. Right after Weiss walked away, she felt a buzzing in her pocket letting her know she had a notification.
'WERE HERE WHERE R U!'
Starring at the text for a few seconds she finally got what it meant.
'Meet me at the entrance.'
'K'
Scarlet made sure that the others weren't looking before she left the room and made her way down a short hallway towards the entrance. Rounding the corner, she saw her identical twin standing by the bathrooms with another girl with orange hair.
"SCARLET!" Ruby yelled.
Scarlet walked over and shushed her twin before unzipping her jacket and handing it to Ruby. "Take that and your team is down the hall first room on the left."
"Thanks Scarlet." Ruby thanked taking off her jacket and putting on her twins. Ruby was quick to leave Scarlet and Penny behind as she ran into the room that Scarlet had pointed out.
"So, your Penny?" Scarlet asked turning towards the orange haired girl.
"SALUTAIONS SCARLET ROSE!" Penny greeted energetically with a salute.
Giggling at the girls antics Scarlet held out her hand for her to shake. "It's nice to finally meet you. Ruby has told me a lot about you."
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well Scarlet." Penny stated shaking Scarlet's hand with vigor.
The two of them left the museum and started walking down the street. "You know I kind of feel bad about ruining your plans with Ruby. Is there anything I can do to make up for it?" The silver eyed girl asked.
Penny paused for a second to think. "Will you be my friend?" She finally asked.
Scarlet started giggling again, "Penny, any friend of my sister is a friend of mine."
"REALY!" Penny turned to Scarlet with stars in her eyes.
"Yeah." Scarlet responded a little weirded out. "But seriously is there anything I can do. Maybe take you back to Beacon?" She suggested.
"If that would make us even then sure." Penny agreed.
Ruby entered the display room stopping to look around the room. Weiss was looking at some sculpture, Blake was sitting on a bench reading a book, and Yang was trying to look like she was having a good time while looking at a painting that looked like a giant smudge.
Walking over to her older sister she tapped her on the shoulder. "Hey Yang. What are you looking at?" She asked with a smile.
"I have not the foggiest idea. Where did you go by the way?" Yang asked looking down at Ruby.
"Bathroom." She said looking away.
"Can't believe Ice queen dragged us out here. I mean who finds something like this enjoyable." Yang mumbled.
"Someone with culture, brute." Weiss chastised walking over to the sisters shortly being followed by Blake.
"Oh, shut up Ice Queen. You're probably the only person that could enjoy looking at this crap." Yang countered.
Yang and Weiss started to trade insults, and Ruby not wanting to get involved walked away to stand next to Blake. Blake was reading her book still but looked over at Ruby when she approached.
"Did you change your necklace?" She asked eyeing the silver chain around her neck.
A panic set in Ruby's mind but didn't let it show on her face. "No, I didn't. What are you talking about?"
"Your necklace." Blake started out closing her book, "It was gold when we arrived." She pointed out.
Ruby let out a small giggle at her friends statement, "No it's always been silver. Are you going crazy?" She asked hoping that Blake would drop the topic.
Blake stayed silent continuing to eye her leader. Upon closer inspection Blake saw that Ruby's boots had changed as well. When they left the mall for the museum, they were bright red but now they were pitch black.
"Maybe." She played along keeping her thoughts to herself.
Ruby and Blake were able to break up the argument between Weiss and Yang and exited the museum as fast as possible. The team caught the next bullhead back to Beacon and made it back to their dorm room. They all started their nightly rituals and making small talk when Ruby's scroll went off.
She had two notifications on her scroll from a group chat she didn't recognize. The members of the chat consisted of Ruby, Penny, and… Scarlet.
'I know this isn't the best thing to say over a text, but Penny somehow convinced me that I should meet Ozpin.'
'I am great at convincing people. -Penny'
A little shell shocked at the text Ruby quickly sent a response.
'I can try to get ozbin to meat you tonight ware should we meat up'
'For the love of god Ruby, proofread your texts. Also, the amphitheater works for me.'
Ignoring the first half of the text Ruby shot off her bed and ran towards the door.
"Hey where are you off to in such a hurry?" Yang asked exiting the bathroom drying her hair.
"Ozpin needs to talk to me. Be back later!" She yelled back running down the hall. Ruby ran down the halls faster than she ever had before and in only five minutes she had crossed the campus and had arrived at the elevator that led to Ozpin's office. She hit the button to call the elevator and when it opened, she practically jumped inside.
When the doors closed, and the elevator started moving the excitement inside of Ruby began to spoil and the feeling of anxiety began to grow and overtake her. Her mind started to run through hall kinds of scenarios, what if Scarlet doesn't show up, what if he doesn't believe her, or what happens if he arrests her on the spot.
She was pulled out of her thoughts rather abruptly when the door to the elevator opened. The headmaster on Beacon was sitting at his desk looking at his laptop when the door opened, and his attention focused on the girl inside.
"Well, this is a surprise. What can I help you with this evening Miss Rose?" He asked with a small smile on his face.
"I-I-I…Uhm." Ruby stammered not sure what to say.
Ozpin looked at her patiently waiting for her to collect herself and say what she had to say.
"I-I have a confession to make." Ruby finally got out, not sure if she had chosen the right words.
"What do you have to confess? You have done nothing wrong as far as my knowledge goes." He stated.
"The girl in the black cloak and Grimm mask that works with Torchwick. I know who she is." Ruby finally choked out.
"Miss Rose this is a dangerous criminal that has been tied to several robberies across the kingdom, not to mention the attack on your team several weeks ago. I would advise you to not joke about such a matter."
"Wait how did you know she attacked us?" Ruby asked surprised.
"Miss Rose…Ruby. If you are telling the truth, then please explain to me how you know the identity of this girl."
"Well, you see… she's my… sister." Ruby mumbled loud enough that Ozpin could hear.
Ozpin looked stunned at her statement, Ruby seeing his expression pulled out her necklace and handed it to him pressing the small button on the back opening the locket so he could see the photo of her mother holding her and her twin moments after they were born. She then went on to explain how they met and the mix up earlier that day.
Ozpin at a loss for words stared straight ahead. He was made aware of when Scarlet had gone missing all those years ago and he had organized the search for the infant, and now sixteen years later he was hearing that she was alive and working for the most notorious criminal in Vale.
"There's more." Ruby said slowly, snapping Ozpin out of his spiraling thoughts. "She wants to work with you and the Vale police to help bring down Torchwick's operation."
Ozpin's logical side taking over he spoke quietly to himself, "Having an informant like that could prove to be invaluable." Then he spoke louder, "But how can we know that Scarlet is trustworthy?" He asked the young leader.
Ruby looked shocked at the headmaster's question, "She's, my sister! And if you knew everything that she's been through then you would trust her as much as I do!" She blurted out. "She wants to help! If you want to speak to her yourself then you can go down to the amphitheater!" She yelled almost sounding like an order.
"She's here?" Ozpin asked. Ruby nodded staring at the floor. Ozpin stood up, grabbed his mug, and walked past Ruby into the elevator, "Well, aren't you going to follow?" He asked looking back at Ruby. Ruby perked up and ran into the elevator to follow him.
The ride down followed by the walk across the campus to the amphitheater only took ten minutes, but t Ruby it felt like an eternity. Her anxiety was growing with each step she took, and she felt like she was seconds away from being sick.
They walked into the circular arena only illuminated by the dim moonlight coming through the windows high above them. Ozpin walked the center of the room and took in his surroundings. Ruby still standing by the entrance glanced around the large room not finding her elder twin.
"Please don't tell me she chickened out." She whispered.
Ozpin taking a sip out of his mug looked back at the girl standing in the entrance. Ruby froze under the headmaster's gaze and her eyes darted to a small movement on the far side of the arena. Ozpin seeing the change in her gaze turned around to see what had caught her attention.
He saw a female figure melding out of the shadows their cloak parting showing their crimson clothing that was eerily similar to Ruby's hunter uniform. Her face was half hidden by a white Grimm mask parted to the side allowing Ozpin to see her soft features and silver eyes.
"They really are identical." He mumbled under his breath. Clearing his throat, her raised his voice slightly, "So you're Scarlet I assume."
"Well, I don't see anyone else around here." She joked chuckling to herself.
"So, tell me Scarlet. Why is it that you have chosen to reveal your identity to me?" Ozpin asked calmly.
Scarlet's body stiffened a little. "I… I want to help you." She put vaguely.
"I assuming with the Torchwick investigation." Scarlet nodded, "Well then could please explain to me your relationship with him."
Scarlet was quick to explain her childhood and relationship with Roman and her sister Neo. She also told him of her plan to gain Cinder's trust so she would include her in Cinder's plans. By the end of the story Ozpin looked mostly unfazed but his face still held a glint of disappointment and anger, but Ruby looked utterly horrified.
"Now what is your plan after Torchwick is apprehended?" Ozpin asked taking a sip from his mug.
"Move to Patch to live with Ruby, Yang and our Dad, and after that well I'm not to sure. Maybe apply for a hunter's academy or join the military." She stated with a shrug.
"If you truly wish to become a huntress after Torchwick and Cinder have been brought to justice, then I will see if we can find a place for you here in Beacon." Ozpin gave the masked girl a warm smile. "I have been curious how a five-person team would function." He added with a chuckle.
Ruby rushed over to her twin gripping her in a tight hug. "Did you hear that! Once those guys are in jail then you can join come home and join my team!"
Ozpin watched as the identical twins excitedly shared their thoughts at how their lives were going to change in the upcoming months, and a bright smile spread across his face.
"Miss Rose." He finally spoke up.
"Yeah?" Both twins asked in unison.
Sighing he clarified, "Ruby, I think you should be heading back to your dorm room, and Scarlet I believe you should return to your place of residence."
The disappointed look that took over the twin's faces made Ozpin feel a little guilty that he had to cut their conversation short, but it was late, and classes were in the morning.
The twins said their goodbyes and Scarlet disappeared in a cloud of black rose petals.
"Why do you think Ozpin wanted to speak with Ruby?" Yang asked hopping onto her bunk.
"I'm sure she will tell us when she gets back." Weiss said walking out of the bathroom. She sat down on her bed and after a moment of thought she spoke up, "H-hey did any of you think Ruby was acting a little odd today?" She asked sounding a little self-conscious.
Blake who was sitting up right in her bed reading looked up and raised an eyebrow, "What do you mean?"
"Well, when we were shopping, she took an interest in my personal life, which isn't a bad thing, but later she was very on edge, and while we were at lunch, she practically bit Jaune's head off." Weiss explained.
"Aren't you being paranoid. She had to cancel plans with her friend AGAIN!" Yang broke in to defend her sister. "I think its understandable that she's a little pissed."
"Neither of you noticed her necklace?" Blake spoke up.
"Huh?" Both Yang and Weiss asked in unison.
"Ruby's necklace she got from her dad on her birthday. What color was it." She asked putting her book down.
"It's silver." Yang stated hopping off her bed and sitting at her nearby desk.
"No, what color was the chain when we met her in the plaza?" She corrected.
Yang and Weiss looked at each other and both visibly went into deep thought. "It was gold." Blake interrupted. "Not only that but her boots changed as well. When she stepped out of the museum for the bathroom, they were red but when she came back, they were black." She continued.
"Not only that but when we left for the bullhead this morning, she was wearing a black jacket, but when at the plaza it was bright red!" Blake's voice was getting louder.
"AND-" She started only to be cut off by Yang.
"Blake hold on a second." She quickly cut in stopping Blake's train of thought. "You're being paranoid. You've been looking for a conspiracy sense the night at the warehouse where Torchwick's daughter broke your leg. I've been able to look over most of your crazy ramblings, but not when your latest insane theory involves my sister, so whatever you're thinking. Drop it." Yang's voice was stern, and her eyes had changed to a deep crimson.
Blake stared at Yang like a deer caught in the headlights. The room was dead silent, and the tension was high. Weiss sat on her bed not sure what to say, but she still opened her mouth to speak, "Can-can we change the topic." She stuttered.
"Yeah, I think that would be best." Yang said getting up, her voice devoid of emotion.
At that moment the door to the room swung open and the team's leader skipped into the room.
"Hey! What's up." She asked with her cheery smile on full display.
"Nothing really. Why did Ozpin want to speak to you?" Yang asked getting back onto her bunk.
"OH! Well somehow, he knew that we fought Torchwick on the highway, and he wanted to tell me that he was giving us special permission to investigate the area that he is suspected to be operating out of." She explained.
"Really?!"
"HELL YEAH!"
"How did he find out?" The three members of team expressed.
"One more thing, apparently Team CVFY isn't back from their mission yet, so he wants us to take over the planning for the dance." Ruby added.
Weiss and Yang immediately started to talk about ideas they had for the dance and Blake remained silent. Ruby giggled at her team's antics secretly wondering what it would be like if Scarlet was a member of the team. She grabbed her night clothes and went into the bathroom to change.
Ruby left the bathroom a few minutes later and seeing that Yang and Weiss were having an argument over napkin colors, spoke up. "Come on let's go to sleep." She said turning off the lights to the room.
The argument quickly broke up and Ruby crawled into her bed closing the blankets she had strung around her bed. Satisfied that no one could see her she opened the locket in her necklace. She started at the photo inside the locket imagining a home life with Scarlet. Going out to hunt together, waking up and going downstairs for breakfast, messing with Yang and their Dad.
She was lost in her fantasies for hours, but she was pulled out of them by a heavy yawn and the inability to keep her eyes open. She closed the locket and laid down on her bed falling asleep within moments.
Next Chapter; Beacon Dance