Remnant: The Soulless Plains

by Hsuyaa

In the broken world of Remnant, a shadow war that has lasted for thousands of years rages on. But when mysterious spirits begin arriving on the planet's surface, the world and it's people must confront the truth about their genesis and the plot of the forces who brought about it. Note: Siegfried tag is not for Siegfried, but Sigurd, because there isn't one for Sigurd.

27. Chapter 24 - V2C12

Chapter-24

Team RWBY

Ruby found herself in another strange dream again. This time, she found herself looking at Thane in a place she recognized.

"The Vytal town hall." Ruby muttered in surprise. This was the place where the Vytal treaty was signed that ended the Great War. It was considered the symbol of peace all across Remnant.

Thane was walking alongside a black-haired man wearing the armor of a Valeian knight with and a man with grey hair leaning on a cane that looked exactly like Headmaster Ozpin's cane. Thane's right arm was bandaged. The three of them were surrounded by guards escorting them to the town hall.

"You really should be resting, Osmond." Thane spoke as Ruby's eyebrows shut up, looking at the King of Vale. He certainly looked really frail for some reason.

Osmond chuckled. "This is a monumental occasion, Thane. I cannot miss out on the signing of the Vytal treaty and finally put an end to this 5-year mess."

Thane nodded. "Yeah, to think all this began with a single arrow."

The other man frowned. "Salem really outdid herself with that one." He spoke in a low voice to ensure the guards didn't hear them.

"But thanks to all your efforts, she will not be active for many, many years." Osmond replied with a smile.

Ruby tilted her head in confusion. Who's Salem? How was she related to the Great War?

"That's a relief." Thane spoke scratching his ear before looking down at his broken arm. "I broke my arm and nearly blinded myself to freeze that whore."

Again, Ruby still could not understand what Thane meant by all that.

They headed into the Town hall, where inside there were soldiers from the other kingdoms who looked at them as they passed by. Many of the soldiers in Mantle in particular glared at Thane who ignored them.

"They're mad at me for being a turncoat." He spoke. "Even though many of them hated Silver's government. That's Mantleian hypocrisy for you."

Soon, they entered a banquet hall, where many dignitaries stood talking to each other.

"You guys go chit-chat. I'll be doing my own stuff." Thane spoke as Osmond and the other man walked off.

Thane sat down at an empty table by himself. A waiter walked up.

"Anything to eat, sir?"

"A salad." Thane replied as the waiter nodded and walked off.

Thane then reached into his coat and pulled out a diary. He flipped the pages to one section that Ruby saw read 'Future vision'.

In it, she saw some notes regarding things she did not recognize.

Things I need to look into:

1. Who is Goetia?

2. What is this Holy Grail?

3. What are 'servants'?

4. (IMP) Where is the Temple?

"Goetia? Holy Grail?" Ruby asked herself. Goetia sounded like the name of some villain from an old fairytale. As for Holy Grail, is like that really old legend about the 'Cup of Gods'?

But she frowned at the third question. That was familiar. Ruler and Tristan had both described the shadowy figures attacking Cysgod as shadow SERVANTS. The third question sounded as if the shadow servants were like variations and the general term is 'servant'.

And the Temple? There were plenty of old temples on Remnant back when people worshipped a number of gods. Which Temple was Thane talking about?

Thane's silver eyes looked at those questions. "Should I go to the Lamp?" He muttered. He sat in silence before the waiter came in with his food. "Enjoy, sir." The waiter spoke as Thane ate his salad before going to write something in his diary.

"How's the arm?" Ruby heard another voice as she noticed what essentially looked like Weiss' long lost sister. Of course, the lady's white hair was loose and she wore a white gown with the Schnee emblem emblazoned on it.

"Healing." Thane replied before smiling. "I'm surprised you decided to wear a white bedsheet for this."

"Ha, ha, Thane. I see your terrible jokes haven't stopped even with a broken arm."

Thane shrugged as the Schnee sat with him. "So, you're with the icy bastards?"

The Schnee nodded. "What do you expect? As the new head of the Schnee family, I have to start sucking up to those idiots to manage affairs."

They both shared a chuckle as the Schnee looked at Thane's diary. "What entry is it?"

"Oh, just some questions I had in my mind. I can think about them later." Thane spoke grinning before closing the diary and tucking it back in his coat.

And Ruby's dream ended there.

---

Ruby woke up next morning. With her dreams, Ruby now felt that there was something hiding. What if it was one of those secret organisations from her action cartoons?

"That would be really cool." Ruby spoke. Just imagine there was this super-secret organization working to stop some hidden evil from destroying the world.

It would be cooler if this organization had badass huntsmen like Uncle Qrow and was led by…Headmaster Ozpin!

Ruby giggled excitedly at the thought before getting ready for the day. She met up with her team in Onyx's living room. For the entire day, they relaxed, as Professor Port said they wouldn't be required for any patrolling. They exercised, sparred and slept for most of the day at Onyx's house. The man himself was busy most of the day with work, so he wasn't seen a lot.

As darkness came, they all prepared for the mission. All of them carried sufficient supplies for their weapons and did a last few spars before walking out with Port and Tristan standing.

"We're…not taking a vehicle?" Yang asked as Port shook his head.

"This is a stealth mission. I have some hard-light projectors to cloak ourselves from the enemy, but we still have to keep as quiet as possible once we get close. That means we'll have to walk. But don't worry, girls! I am here, and I shall escort you!" Port spoke as Team RWBY cringed at the implications of that sentence.

"Please no…" Ruby heard Blake murmur and nodded in agreement. Professor Port, for some reason, always had a way with making awkward sentences at the worst possible times.

Tristan sighed. "As is our duty…"

"Quite right, Tristan!" Professor Port spoke as Yang put a hand to her head. Team RWBY had pretty much realized at this point that when it came to women, both Professor Port and Tristan were hopeless with their awkward sentences. The only difference was that Tristan had a pretty face compared to Professor Port.

Onyx and Ruler stood looking at them before Onyx nodded. "Good luck, Port. We'll warn you if Cysgod is attacked."

"Thank you, Onyx." Port replied before looking at Team RWBY.

"Ready to go, Team RWBY?"

The girls nodded before the group set out for the final mission of their assignment.

---

They soon walked out of Cysgod and into the grasslands.

"We'll avoid entering the forest through the usual route." Port spoke. "Tristan says many of those creatures have been watching the path. They spot us, and they'll alert the enemy."

"Then where?" Weiss asked.

"Thane showed a path to me and Maria that he took to ambush the convoy during the Great War. The path leads to the far side of the forest, which according to Tristan, doesn't have enemy presence." Port spoke. "But it will take an hour to get to."

Yang slumped. "An hour?"

"Yes, an hour, Ms. Xiao-Long." Port replied. "If we are to accomplish this, then we must take the safest path, even if it is the longest."

Well, another hour before I can kick some ass… Yang thought glumly.

Port led the way, with Ruby and Weiss following him and then herself and Blake. Tristan was at the front.

They continued to walk across the grasslands, looking at the forest in the distance. Yang felt like hours had passed since they started walking but they hadn't even entered the forest yet.

Even if she had slept for the day to conserve her energy, Yang still yawned from boredom.

Gosh, I think I'm going to fall asleep while walking at this rate… She thought.

"Ms. Xiao-Long, could you come here for a moment?" Professor Port asked as Yang walked up. He gestured for Ruby and Weiss to stay a bit back before looking at Yang.

"Well, in all of this mess, the main reason you all were assigned to me crossed my mind."

Yang raised her eyebrow in confusion. "Wait, I thought we were supposed to see how professional huntsmen operated?"

Professor Port laughed. "Yes, that is true. But Ms. Xiao-Long, there is another reason."

"Ok…? Is it complicated?" Yang asked as Professor Port shook his head.

"Well, it's just one question you have to answer. But that doesn't mean you can't complicate it. As long as you speak freely, it will be over very quickly. If you falter, then we could be here for an hour."

That doesn't sound too bad…Yang thought. "Alright, Professor, what is it that you want to ask?"

"Why did you choose to become a huntress?" Professor Port asked.

"Why did I choose to become a huntress?"

"Exactly. Knowing your hobbies, you could have chosen a career like racing or boxing and be very successful. So why be a huntress?"

Yang nodded. "Well, I…" She hesitated.

"Take your time, Ms. Xiao-Long. But remember what I said."

She could tell Professor Port. As much as the guy rambled in grimm studies, he was also open to students who wanted to share something because he was a very good listener. Maybe not too much detail, just the basic framework.

---

The STRQ household, Patch, 70 AGW:

"Yah!" Yang yelled as she jumped on her daddy as he laughed, covering his face with his arms as Yang's arms punched them.

"You're so strong!" Daddy spoke laughing as Yang pumped her fists. "Victory!" She yelled getting off Tai as he scooped her up. "I need to work harder, don't I?" He asked smiling at his daughter.

"Yeah, especially with you gaining some weight." Uncle Qrow spoke watching them as daddy looked at him with a frustrated smile.

"Qrow…"

Uncle Qrow laughed. "Not wrong." He spoke pulling out his flask. But before he could open it, a monkey wrench hit him in the head as Uncle Qrow staggered.

"Gah!" He exclaimed as Tai looked in the direction the Monkey wrench came from to see an annoyed mommy with her left hand outstretched and her sister sitting on mommy's lap.

"What was that for, Sum?!" Uncle Qrow exclaimed.

"No drinking. It's a bad influence on the kids."

"And you think throwing a monkey wrench at me isn't?"

Mommy's eyes widened as her face turned red.

"Uh…"

Sister looked at mommy in excitement. "Can I do that too?" She asked as mommy's face went even more red and Uncle Qrow snorted.

"Very bad, Summer. You're being an irresponsible mother right now."

"Qrow…" Mommy growled.

Uncle Qrow waved at her before walking off. Yang just didn't get the silly things Mommy, daddy and Uncle Qrow did.

"Ok, Yang. Go to mommy and play." Daddy spoke as he put Yang down, who ran towards mommy.

"Did you like it, Mommy?" She asked as Mommy smiled.

"It was amazing, Yang! You're really good!"

"I know!" Yang spoke puffing out her chest as Ruby burped. Mommy smiled before picking up Yang and putting her beside sister.

The two girls continued to play on their mother's lap before they heard loud voices that sounded like daddy's and Uncle Qrow's.

"Hold on, sweetie." Mommy spoke before putting down her daughters and walking towards the house.

Yang tilted her head in confusion. What was going on?

She went to get up but hesitated. Mommy had told her not to go. But she really wanted to see what was happening. It wasn't too bad, right?

So Yang, got up and felt someone tap her feet. She looked at Ruby shaking her head.

"Yang…" She spoke. "Mommy told us to wait." She spoke. "She's not going to be happy if you go!"

"Hold on. I'll be back. They won't see me." Yang spoke before running to the door.

As she got near, she peeked through the hole and noticed mommy and daddy looking at Uncle Qrow.

"Qrow, I can't do it!" Daddy protested as Uncle Qrow scoffed.

"You don't have to. I'm going to her myself." Uncle Qrow growled as Yang shivered. She'd never seen her uncle this mad.

"No, you're not, Qrow. Even if she's back with the tribe, you're seeing what she's doing? She's helping the people, Qrow! She's not the same Rae you knew!"

Uncle Qrow grit his teeth. "7 years, Sum. 7 years since she ran away, hiding like a coward. She even took most of our money and left us struggling all these years. It still frustrates me that the old man just let her go."

Yang saw mommy flinch as she frowned. The only person she knew was 'old man' was mommy's grandpa, who mommy said passed to a happier place 5 years ago.

Mommy regained her composure and glared at Uncle Qrow. "Don't bring him into this, Qrow. You don't know if he let Rae go."

"What? You think Rae could slip past him? As good as Rae is, the old man was on a league of his own when it came to stealth. She could not have let the house without getting seeing by him." Uncle Qrow spoke before sighing. "Sorry, I really shouldn't have accused him. It's just…he had to have known why she left. But he died 5 years back, and now only Rae can tell us the truth." Qrow spoke. "Sum, I need to go."

"Okay, let's assume you went. Then what? You're going to try to bring back Rae while she has the entire tribe in her fingertips?" Daddy asked.

"I can get her while she's alone. Besides, I can crank up my semblance and really mess up the tribe if I've got to fight."

Yang's eyebrows shot up. Uncle Qrow never told her about his semblance. She didn't know who this 'Rae' was, but she could figure out Uncle Qrow's semblance if she continued to peek.

"Even when she's stronger than you?"

"Slightly. And that slight difference won't matter once I use my semblance."

"Alright. Then answer one last question. If you can do that, we'll let you go." Mommy spoke up.

Uncle Qrow groaned. "Fine, what is it?"

"What are you going to do when you bring her back?" Mommy asked as Uncle Qrow looked at her with silence.

"I…"

"I've already forgiven her. In fact, I'm happy she's going and helping people, even if it meant she had to abandon us. You'll get over it because you're her brother. It'll be complicated seeing that me and Tai are married but we'll be able to figure something out. Ruby is very young and won't have any problem with her. But the main problem is…"

"Yang." Daddy spoke as Yang excited smile turned into a sad frown. Why was mommy saying she was the problem? Had she been a bad girl?

"You tell us what Yang's going to think. You said it yourself, Qrow. 7 years. She's already accepted us as her only family. Don't put pressure on her by bringing back her real mother."

Yang tilted her head in confusion. Real mother? What was mommy talking about?

"But…!"

"No, Qrow. I'm not allowing you. If Yang ever finds out that I'm not her true mother…"

"…it'll shatter whatever beliefs she had earlier."

Yang's eyes widened and a gasp escaped her.

"Hm…" Mommy spoke before her eyes looked at Yang's shellshocked face. "No…Oh gods…" She heard mommy speak as the door opened to reveal mommy, daddy and Uncle Qrow looking at her.

"Yang…? I thought I told you to stay." Mommy spoke in her scary stern voice but Yang could register it. Instead, five words were constantly playing in her mind.

I'm not her true mother…

I'm not her true mother…

I'm not her true mother…

"Yang." Mommy spoke again as Yang looked at her. "Did you…" She stopped when she looked at tear welling up in Yang's eyes.

"I-Is it true?" She asked as mommy's and daddy's eyes widened, while Qrow looked at her with a sad look.

"Yang…"

"A-Are you not my mommy?" Yang asked in a shaking voice, desperately trying to believe it wasn't true. Mommy loved her and Ruby so much, she couldn't not be her mommy.

I'm not her true mother…

She felt mommy's arms wrap around her. "Don't think of such things, Yang! I am your mother!"

"Then who is Rae?" Yang spoke as anger built up inside her. All this time, they'd lied to her. Mommy, daddy, Uncle Qrow. They all died.

"Rae…" Mommy spoke before hesitating before Uncle Qrow came up.

"Rae is Raven Branwen, Firecracker. She's my sister and your real mother. The same mother who left you and ran away." He spoke, his last words hitting the final nail in the coffin.

She's not my mommy… Yang thought. All this time, everything she'd believed about her family was a lie. Summer wasn't her mommy. This 'Raven' was.

And my mommy abandoned me… Yang thought as her eyes widened.

"Qrow…!"

"There's no point in it, Sum. She heard everything. Trying to cover up is useless now." Uncle Qrow spoke.

Daddy closed his eyes. "It shouldn't have happened this quickly…" He spoke muttering as Yang wrenched herself from mo…Summer's grasp.

"Yang…wait…"

"Get way from me!" Yang screamed as tears poured from her eyes. She turned around and began running towards the woods. But soon, she felt someone grab her and lift her up.

Yang thrashed against the person. "Let me go!" She exclaimed as Ruby came up, her eyes wide with fear, not understanding what was going on.

"Ruby, go back to where you were!" Summer spoke as Ruby hesitantly walked back.

"Yang, listen to me…"

"No, no, no! You're not my mommy! You're a liar!" Yang screamed before biting at Summer's hand. Yet Summer held on.

"This isn't you, Yang." She spoke softly as Yang's thrashing got weaker, her anger being replaced by grief before she buried her head into Summer's shoulders and cried.

"M-Mommy…" She whimpered as a single tear went down Summer's face.

"I'm so sorry, Yang…" She spoke before looking at Tai and Qrow with a sorrowful expression on her face. Tai had a sympathetic expression while Qrow had a neutral look.

Yet the three of them all felt pain as they watched one of their beloved children's worldview shatter.

---

After that, Yang's relationship with the rest of the house soured. She stayed away from Summer and daddy.

Many times Summer tried to approach her but Yang ran away with anger.

"Don't come to me, liar!" She would scream. She was mad at daddy and Uncle Qrow was hiding it from her, but not as much as she was mad at Summer.

Only Ruby she let come to her. Her little sister didn't know what was going on and she cared for her deeply.

For the first few days, she didn't want to do anything. All she could think of was how her mommy abandoned her.

And then one night while everyone was asleep, she started thinking why. Why was she left by mommy? She couldn't have not loved her. All mommies love their children. Maybe something forced her to leave.

And Yang's eyes brightened. "Then I need to find her." She whispered excitedly.

After that, she began looking for clues that could lead her to mommy. Summer tried to stop her, but Yang was having none of it. She was going to find her mommy! From what she knew from cartoons, there had to be some clue in the house.

After days of searching, Yang finally found a clue in Uncle Qrow's room. It was an old picture of Summer, daddy, Uncle Qrow and a woman who looked like her but with black hair and red eyes standing smiling in front of a shack.

"I know this!" Yang exclaimed. It was the same shack that daddy had built long before she and Ruby were born in Path's northern forest.

That's where mommy could be! She thought excitedly. She had to go there!

"But they can't be there." Yang muttered with a grimace. They'd all stop her. So she had to go when they weren't there to stop her.

Soon, the day came. Summer, Daddy and Uncle Qrow had to go out of the house. Yang could see her chance.

She picked up the picture and was preparing to leave when she noticed Ruby was asleep on the couch. Daddy had told her to watch over Ruby while they were gone. But this was her chance! If she got stuck looking after Ruby then she would waste this chance. She won't know when another chance like this will come again.

But…she couldn't just leave Ruby alone. She was a little baby who needed her big sister to protect her.

What do I do? Yang thought biting her lip before she got an idea.

She put Ruby in one of daddy's carts and carried her into the forest.

Let's find mommy! Yang thought as the girl confidently strode into the forest.

---

That was the last thing Yang remembered when she woke up in the hospital.

She found herself in bandages and a nurse lady stood by.

"Oh, you're awake!" The nurse exclaimed before walking out.

"W-Wait!" Yang tried to call but the nurse had left the room. She then looked around as confusion set in.

What happened? She thought. She had been in the forest looking for mommy, so how was she in a hospital?

Yang racked her brains, trying to remember when…

"HELP!"

"Dad! Uncle Qrow! Mom!"

Yang felt a chill up her spine. She'd almost gotten herself torn apart by the grimm.

Her eyes widened as she realized one horrifying thing.

I almost got Ruby killed…

Horror and shame filled her as she started crying. "M-Mommy…" She whimpered before the door flew open and Summer came in with daddy and Uncle Qrow.

"Yang!" She screamed as she hugged Yang sobbing. "Oh my gods, you're okay!" She spoke as Yang was too grief-stricken to push her away.

Summer broke the hug and looked at her with tearful eyes. "Yang…what did you do?" She asked as Yang stared in fear.

"W-Where's Ruby?" She asked as Summer closed her eyes. "She's safe. Thankfully, nothing happened to her. You both were saved by a huntress."

"Now, would you mind explaining what you were doing in the middle of the woods, firecracker?" Uncle Qrow asked with an edge in his voice.

Yang flinched at his harsh tone. "I…I…"

"Qrow." Summer spoke sternly. "She's badly shaken. Don't be so hard on her."

Uncle Qrow sighed. "Sorry." He apologized.

She lifted her chin. "Yang, what happened?"

With that familiar tone, Yang spilled everything, showing the picture. She told them all she could. By the time she was done, Summer was silent.

"I'm sorry…" Yang whimpered. "You and daddy told me to watch over Ruby, but I almost got her killed…" She spoke with her head hung in shame. She waited for the scolding to come. She honestly deserved it after what happened to Ruby…

Only for Summer to hug her. "Yang." She spoke gently. "Let me tell you something. You can't go looking for your mommy yet."

"But…!"

"You're still a little girl. You don't know what the outside world is like. There's many dangers in trying to look for your mommy. You saw what happened when you went off on your own. First get stronger training with daddy, then when you are ready, you can go. None of us will stop you. But please don't do this again. Even if I didn't give birth to you, I love you as much as I love your sister. We don't want to lose any of you. So promise me you won't go looking for your mommy until you're ready. Promise?"

Yang sniffed. "P-Promise." She spoke melting into Summer's hug.

As Summer comforted her, Yang thought of what she said earlier.

When I was ready…

By ready, did she mean becoming a huntress? She heard huntsmen and huntresses could go anywhere they wanted. They were super strong and could beat up anyone who tried to stop them.

It's perfect when I go look for mommy… Yang thought as a smile blossomed on her face.

At that moment, the girl resolved to become a strong huntress.

I'll become the strongest huntress ever! Then I'll be free to go where I can go! Yang thought. She couldn't wait when she started education in Signal.

---

"I wanted to become a huntress because I was looking for freedom and adventure."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, I'm not much of a stickler for rules…"

"I can see that from you snoring in my classes."

Professor Port laughed as Yang coughed. "You knew?"

Professor Port smiled. "My dear, I may not look like it, I know who all pay attention to my lessons and who don't. You all are first-years, and the curriculum essentially revises your pre-existing knowledge so I don't mind. Of course, you'll see a different side of me when you come to your second year. There is a reason I'm the most feared teacher among your upperclassmen."

That does not sound reassuring… Yang thought with a shudder.

"But anyways, continue."

"Yeah, so…I'm not much of a stickler for rules. I just want to go wherever I want and explore the world. Being a huntsman gives you so much liberty. So, I want to use that liberty and enjoy my life."

She didn't mention the fact that it would also give her the resources and freedom to go after her mother. She still wanted to know why her mother Raven abandoned her.

"So, yeah. That's all I have to say." Yang spoke as Professor Port nodded. "So you yearn for freedom by becoming a huntress? Very well, I understand. Call miss Belladonna. Don't tell her why." He spoke as Yang nodded before slowing her pace to join her team.

---

"What did Professor Port ask you?" Ruby asked as Yang shook her head. "He said it's a secret. But I can tell you that it's a little simple yet complicated question. Blake, you're up."

Blake nodded and went to join Professor Port.

"Why did you want to become a huntress, Miss Belladonna? You used to be in the White Fang, I heard. You could have stayed, even if it had made you our enemy. What made you change your mind and become a huntress?"

Blake frowned.

"Do not worry. I shall not pass any judgement. Even if you don't wish to give some details, I am fine. You can only give me the core of your reasoning."

Blake looked back at her team. They hadn't really talked a lot about it, but she'd felt a growing pit of despair the more she saw the White Fang drag itself down an irredeemable path. But she had talked to Professor Port some times after the Nepotain shootout. She felt a little comfortable talking to him because he simply took in her information and did not bother her about it.

Blake sighed. Again, she remembered Tukson's words.

You won't be able to support its weight.

It seemed like a distant time when she'd been an idealist working with Adam, foolishly believing she white fang was an incorruptible organisation.

---

Mantle, 73 AGW:

WE WANT OUR RIGHTS

WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS

WE ARE INNOCENT

These were some of the many signs that rose up from the crowd of faunuses walking through Mantle. After 6 years, Atlas had passed an extremely unfair law that gave the Atlesian military full authority to detain any faunus they found suspicious without any trial or any lawyer to defend themselves.

The reason for this was the Night of the Fangs that had said to have taken 6 years back. But Blake did not believe such a thing.

Her father would never allow such a thing from happening. It had to have been propaganda spread by members of Clan Humanitas to curb her father's growing popularity across Remnant.

Blake had been too young to understand when her father had made his speech of retiring after the Night of the Fangs made a negative impact on his popularity. But as she grew, Blake wanted to continue her father's struggle. She wanted to take up his cause and see its conclusion.

And so, Blake found herself among the protestors, enthusiastically walking beside them through Mantle's Heisenberg avenue.

Soon, the group noticed a bunch of clan humanitas members approaching them.

JUSTICE FOR HUMANITY

BLOOD FOR BLOOD

At that moment, Blake felt a sense of dread but gulped and kept moving.

"Come on!" The leader of the protest, an old faunus exclaimed. "We will not falter, no matter how much they taunt us with their empty words!" He yelled as the group continued to move forward. Blake herself invigorated. If they kept moving, the humans' tactic of intimidation through threats would be useless.

However, the group then pulled out all sorts of weapons and Blake froze.

They're going to attack us… Blake noticed as she saw the other faunuses beside her freeze up in fear.

"GET THEM!" One of the members screamed as the crowd surged forward.

Blake stood paralysed with fear as many claws sprang out from the fingers of the faunuses and they surged ran forward.

Blake immediately ran back as the sounds of fighting reached her ears.

Bile rose up in her throat as Blake went into an alleyway and hid in it. Her heart was pounding as the sounds of fighting reached her ears.

Soon, she noticed familiar faunuses in grimm masks show up with guns.

"HELP OUR BROTHERS!" They yelled as the sound of gunfire joined in. Blake covered her ears and sat up against the wall before she heard footsteps.

She looked up and noticed Sienna Khan, her father's old second-in-command and leader of the white fang looking down at her with relief.

"Sienna…" Blake spoke as Sienna gently patted her head. "There, there, Blake. It's alright. We've got it under control."

"Sienna, I-I saw them brandish their weapons. I saw the hatred in their…oh gods…"

Sienna frowned. "This is why I didn't want you to come, Blake. Times have changed ever since your father stepped down from his position. Earlier they yelled at us. Now, they want nothing more than to wipe us out."

"B-But father…"

"Your father refuses to see the reality, still thinking that appealing to the humans is going to bring us equality. Blake, look at what you saw today. Even if outnumbered, the humans were better armed. Can you imagine what would have happened if we didn't arrive on time?"

Blake gulped.

"They would have been massacred. All butchered by the humans while your father would express his condolences over their deaths, instead of doing something about it." Sienna spoke with a growing edge to her voice as Blake shrunk back.

Sienna let out a sigh.

"Sorry. You're getting even more scared. But it is the truth, Blake. If we're going to get our equality, we're going to have to fight for it." She spoke before a white fang grunt came up.

"High leader, Atlesian armored vehicles are approaching our position."

Sienna nodded. "Get the protestors into the trucks. Close your eyes, blake." She spoke scooping her up as Blake closed her eyes.

She soon found herself in a stolen armored vehicle with Sienna having an arm around her shoulder.

"If we're going to get our equality, we're going to have to fight for it."

Blake thought back to Sienna's words. Today had been a terrible day. Even with the white fang's arrival, Blake was sure that many had died. And it was only through Sienna that they had been saved.

Was father wrong about our methods? Blake thought as the vehicle headed for the docks to leave for Menagerie.

---

Over the next couple of years, that question soon became the turning point in Blake's life. She found herself distancing herself from her family and her support growing for Sienna's methods.

The process was only sped up when a boy named Adam was taken inducted into the White Fang. She met him many, many times whenever he visited Menagiere, and soon found that his passion for faunus equality was just as much as hers.

The two would sit together, discussing about what a world without discrimination would be like.

"Whatever we think, we can both agree it would be the most beautiful world ever." Blake resting her head on Adam's shoulder as he smiled.

"No argument on that." He spoke as they shared a laugh.

However, her parents refused to change, continuing to champion for non-violent means even when no progress was achieve through it. It served to stoke Blake's frustration and anger. Her parents didn't noticed the boiling anger that was growing within their daughter until it all burst out one night.

The Belladonna family was having dinner. Blake was in a particularly sour mood because the news came of a group of faunus being beaten to death by their human employers in Mistral.

She hate her fish with gusto while her parents talked.

"What do you think, Ghira?" Her mother Kali spoke as her father looked down. "What can I say, Kali? I have sent letters to the Mistralan council demanding punishment be given to those humans. But considering they work for the 13 Hanzai, I highly doubt the council will be able to do so."

Blake's grip on her fork tightened. Of course her father would beg and plead to the humans, not taking matters into his own hands.

"But it doesn't mean I'll stop trying. If they don't reply, then I'll cut off Menagerie's iron ore supply." Her father spoke as Kali frowned. "Are you sure? What if they don't listen and this happens again? Sienna's definitely going to do something about it?"

Her father grimaced at the mention of Sienna. "I know, Kali, and I hate it. We can't simply retaliate against the humans for every crime they commit against us. They are at the helm of this world order. Attacking them would make us look like we're disturbing the peace. And that will only worsen our situation. I wish Sienna could realize the foolishness of her actions."

At that, Blake snapped.

"What do you mean foolish actions?!" She snapped as her parents looked at her in surprise.

"Blake…" Kali chided her daughter. "Calm down."

"No! Not when dad keeps blinding himself to the truth like this!" She yelled as her father frowned.

"Blake, I have told you many times. It's not good to talk to Sienna and that boy…"

"Because they're right!" Blake cut him off. "I can still remember that day. When I was so proud and believing that your methods would work, up until the humans decided to go for the kill. It's not Sienna who needs to realize, it's YOU!"

"Blake, don't speak to your father like that!" Her mother scolded her but Blake was having none of it.

"For years, I've watched as you brushed aside the deaths of all those people, fruitlessly begging and pleading to the humans for retribution. It's been driving me crazy."

"Blake…" Her father tried to speak, but all Blake could think of was that day in Mantle. All her frustration, anger and sorrow she'd gathered in that 2 years spilled out in her rant against her father."

"Where is your dignity? Where is the pride that I had heard of, dad!" She snarled.

"Blake…" Ghira tried to speak again.

"You threw away your own pride for a pointless cause, and you're criticizing Sienna for…"

"THAT'S ENOUGH, BLAKE!" Her father yelled as Blake shrunk back, a temporary jolt of fear going through her body before the anger returned.

"So that's it…you'll never change." She spat, staring at her father.

"Stop it!" Kali yelled. "Blake, go to your room!" She spoke as Blake stormed up the stairs and into her room.

She slammed the door before leaning against it. She grimaced and gulped before she started crying.

He doesn't listen… Blake thought in frustration. So many die, and he doesn't want to stand up. It hurt her so much whenever her father would beg the authorities for anything that Menagerie required. She just couldn't understand why he did nothing about it.

She cupped her face in her hands and continued to cry before hearing someone knock on the window.

She looked up to see Adam, who was looking at her with concern.

"Is this a bad time?" He asked as Blake wiped her tears and quickly got up. "No, no! Come in!" She spoke opening the window as Adam came in.

"What happened, Blake?" He asked as Blake sniffed. They both sat down and she told him everything that had happened.

Adam was silent until Blake was done. "I can't believe it…all that I heard of your father, and he has no spine to stand up against the injustice of humans, simply standing and doing nothing while our people die in front of him." He spoke before standing up. "I think it's time, Blake."

"What?"

"Time for you to join the white fang."

Blake's eyes widened. "Adam! I can't do that!"

"Why can't you? Because you're young? Many younger than you have joined us to fight."

"No, its not that. It's…" Blake looked at a photo of her smiling with her parents on Menagerie's beach.

Adam looked at it as well. "Your parents?" He spoke before looking Blake in the eye.

"Tell me Blake, do you think your parents are right?"

"…No."

"Do you think they'll ever support our cause?"

"…No."

"Think of our dream, Blake. Didn't we talk of the world we were going to bring to our people? I know its very difficult for you, but sometimes to achieve our dreams…" Adam touched an old tattoo on his neck. "We must let go of our attachments."

He brought up his hand. "I'm returning to Mistral with the Albain brothers. You can either stay here locked up in your parents' house, or you can come now, and join me in the fight to make our dream a reality."

Adam smiled at her. "I know you'll make the right choice."

Blake stared at Adam's hand before at the old photo. The photo was of her fondest memories with her parents. Yet she knew that they would never support her.

Blake looked back at Adam with determination and grasped his hand.

"I knew you could do it, Blake." Adam spoke with pride as Blake blushed. "Leave your belongings except for essentials. I'll be waiting outside." He spoke before going to the balcony. Blake quickly changed her clothes and packed her essentials before switching off the lights and coming to the balcony with Adam.

"Ready for your new life?" Adam asked as Blake smiled. "Can't wait."

The two then jumped off the balcony, landing on the outer walls of the Belladonna estate and escaping into the jungle.

---

And with that, Blake left her parents to join the white fang. Sienna was more than happy to accept her. She trained under Adam and Sienna, learning to incorporate both of their styles into her weapon Gambol Shroud and her semblance, becoming an efficient operative of the White Fang.

Despite her young age, her passion and enthusiasm in serving the White Fang was unparalleled and she quickly rose up the ranks, becoming one of the organisation's top operative alongside Adam.

For Blake, the 5 years that went by was one of the best moments of her life. She found so many people who had the same hope and willingness to strike against oppression. They freed illegal faunus labour camps across Mistral as well as provided aid to faunuses living in Atlas. She strived to succeed in every mission she was assigned, and she felt like she could do anything with Adam by her side.

Then one day, she and Adam were called for a difficult mission.

"It's an SDC train running through forever fall. We require its dust shipments." Sienna spoke standing in front of her and Adam.

"Once you have secured the dust shipment, inform our team standing by. We'll get the dust and leave." Sienna spoke. "be warned. This mission is extremely dangerous because the dust wagons are heavily guarded by Atlesian Knights."

"Don't worry, Sienna. We'll get it." Blake spoke as Sienna smiled nodding. "Good luck."

Blake sat on a hill looking down the track the train was going to pass through, while Adam practiced with Wilt. Adam had grown more serious over the years, losing a lot of his earlier soft-spoken nature and becoming harsher each day, snapping at new recruits a lot more than he used to.

Blake, although concerned, wasn't too worried. Adam had been appointed as the leader of the Vale branch when he was 18, so he had to develop a bit more assertiveness, since the recruits are at first lazy and unaware of the extent of the threats they face.

Blake's ears picked up the distant sound of engines and looked at Adam. His face was set in a scowl that seemed strangely bloodthirsty. Blake ignored that and called out to him.

"Adam! It's here!" She spoke as Adam stopped. "Understood." He replied walking upto her at the ledge.

"Alright, Blake. It's all on you." Adam spoke as Blake continued to listen to the SDC train's engines.

Not yet… She thought as the sound grew louder before the engine passed by along with the wagons carrying passengers at the front.

"Now!" She exclaimed as she and Adam jumped, both running down the hill as Blake threw Gambol shroud to hook onto the dust wagons.

"Hold on, Adam! This is going to be a bit wild!" She called as Adam's arm wrapped around her waist before the both of them were launched off by the train's momentum.

Blake's arms screamed from the force of the whiplash she got, but she held on.

"Adam…" She spoke wheezing. "Blush…"

Adam nodded and fired a gravity dust round from Blush, propelling the both of them up and onto the wagon they were in.

"Alright! The team can only hold dust from two wagons, so get to the back." She spoke as she and Adam ran to the back.

"Freeze!" They heard noticing the SDC's private guards and Atlesian knights climb up.

First them… Blake thought as she and Adam sprung into action, dodging and deflecting bullets while knocking and throwing the SDC guards into the wagons and destroy the Atlesian knights. However, Blake noticed Adam was fighting a bit rigidly, as if he was being held back.

Of course, their fight got more complicated with the appearance of a spider droid but after a long battle, they eventually brought it down.

"Decouple the wagon, Adam!" Blake spoke as Adam looked back at them before sighing.

"Sorry, Blake. I can't do that." He spoke as Blake tilted her head.

"Why not?! Your semblance is charged up!"

"It's not about my semblance. It's about what I'm feeling right now." Adam spoke. "You see, there's a lot of SDC officials sitting on this train right now…"

Adam hadn't finished and Blake realized what he was implying.

"Adam, no. Don't be crazy. There are lots of innocent people on this train. We're already done, so let's just finish this and leave." Blake spoke.

"Innocent people? Blake, I don't think you get it. The only innocent humans here are those who actually care about us. Who don't try to force fake sympathy as if we're some sort of weaklings but genuinely want to help us. All others, even those who choose to turn a blind eye, are guilty." Adam spoke.

"Adam, no! This isn't what the white fang is! Sienna wouldn't want this!" Blake yelled.

"She wouldn't. Because she's lost her touch too. Like your father, who went from a brave and kind-hearted activist to a spineless coward, Sienna went from a headstrong leader to a baby throwing tantrums all the time. We can't make any major moves, only retaliation whenever some wrong or the other is done to us."

"No, that's not true…" Blake tried to protest as Adam scoffed.

"Don't be delusional. Our enemies have gone from simple clan humanitas members to entire crowds of civilian humans to the Atlesian military and huntsman. If our enemies get more dangerous, then we'll have to be equally ruthless. You can get off, Blake. I'll go finish it."

Blake pointed Gambol Shroud at him. "Adam…don't do this. This is neither you nor the White Fang."

Adam looked back at her. "No, this is me…and that is the White Fang. The dust will be enough to provide us with firepower to launch a major attack. We will bare our fangs and sink them into humanity's throat. Sienna Khan's leadership will soon come to an end."

Blake trembled. This can't be happening… She thought.

"Adam, step away." She tried to speak in a stern voice, but her despair showed.

"Or what? You'll shoot me?" Adam spoke as he removed his aura, making Blake's eyes widen.

What is he… Adam walked up to her and pressed Gambol Shroud against her head.

"If that is the case, then do it." Adam spoke as Blake stared at him in shock. What was wrong with Adam? What is he doing?

"Come on, Blake. Do it. Stop me." Adam spoke as Blake's arms shook.

"I…can't…"

"Then we're done." Adam spoke, not putting up his aura.

"W-what are you doing?" Blake spoke as Adam took his stance.

"Simple. I'll keep one wagon connected to the rest of the train. Once we're at a safe distance…"

Blake's eyes widened.

"NO!" She screamed, running towards Adam and in a moment of terror, swung at him.

Adam raised an eyebrow before dodging the swing. However, he went too much to the side and his subsequent slash hit the front engine.

The engine erupted in flames just as the train reached the turn before it flew off.

Adam, grabbed Blake and again used Gravity grounds to soften their fall before the dust wagons exploded, sending both of them tumbling. Blake felt her ears ring but she could faintly make out another bunch of SDC mercenaries come out and then get cut down by Adam.

Blake soon got up, staring at the train's burning wreckage.

It's all my fault… She thought. All those people were dead.

She noticed Adam as his black coat fluttered in the wind, the bloody corpses of the SDC mercenaries behind him and the train's wreckage to his side.

Blake trembled as she held Gambol Shroud in front of her, ready to fight.

Adam stared at her silently, not making a move. He then sheathed his blade.

"Run, Blake." He spoke in a harsh voice. "Run and create a new life for yourself. Feed your lies to your new friends. Create another mess that ends in tragedy. Once that happens, I will be waiting for you." He spoke turning around. "Until we meet again, traitor."

And Adam walked off, leaving Blake alone.

Blake slowly lowered her gun before collapsing to her knees.

"What have I done?" She spoke in horror looking at the scene in front of her.

But it didn't compare to the betrayal she was feeling right now. Adam had been one of her closest friends since she was little. She even abandoned her own parents just for him.

"And he cast me away, like our past it didn't matter." Blake spoke as she got up. She had to get to Sienna.

But then she remembered Adam's words.

"Until we meet again, traitor."

Blake felt her heart stop. "He wouldn't do that…" She muttered in fear. Adam wouldn't declare her a traitor to the white fang and have her excommunicated, would he?

But what if he did? She thought. If he did, then going back to the white fang was not safe.

A blank look crossed Blake's eyes as she walked off. Before, she had had Sienna and Adam to guide her through these messes. But now, she had no one. She didn't know where to go from this.

What am I going to do? She thought before remembering an old friend of her father's.

"Tukson."

---

She arrived at Tukson's many days later.

"Welcome to Tukson's, how can I…Oh." Tukson spoke looking at Blake who looked like she'd gone through hell. Her eyes had dark bags under them, and Tukson could see marks of tear stains on her cheeks.

"My goodness, Blake. What happened to you?" He asked in surprise as Blake glared at him. "A lot of things, Tukson. A lot of things."

Tukson frowned before ushering her into a private room.

"Have you eaten anything?" Tukson asked as Blake nodded. "Good. Now, what happened?"

"I left." She spoke blankly.

Tukson blinked. "You…left?" He asked. "That's…surprising. I'd heard from your father how much you were clinging on to the white Fang. In fact, you were its most passionate operative. What made you leave?"

Blake looked around. "It was a mission. Adam and I had to steal some dust from an SDC train. It was a bit difficult, but we eventually made it. But before we could decouple the wagons, Adam…He said he was going to blow up the passenger wagons with a wagon while keeping the rest for ammunition."

Tukson's eyes widened. "I knew the kid was loose in the screws, but this…can't he not see how bad of an idea this is?"

"That's what I'm thinking!" Blake snapped. "Why did he do it? He wasn't this violent before. Or this confident that he can start another war with the humans. What happened? What made him change so much?"

Tukson stayed silent. "I don't know, Blake. But whatever it is, the huntsmen will handle it. Ozpin's a pretty crafty guy. Now, you left. So should I tell your father that…"

"NO!" Blake suddenly shouted as Tukson stopped. "Please no…"

"Blake…"

But Blake kept shaking her head in fear. Tukson tried to talk to her but the girl was adamant about not going back to her parents.

Soon, Tukson had to concede.

"Fine. If you don't want to go back, then why not become a huntress?"

"Huh?"

"You're not much of a well-known operative outside the white fang. Almost no one will be aware of your past. You're 17, and hence the perfect age to attend Beacon. You've got combat training, so you'll be able to get in. You get the added benefit of prestige becoming a huntress, and you can use that prestige to gather support for faunus equality in the huntsman community. You don't need to fight for equality through the white fang. Many faunus community workers have significantly improved relations between humans and faunus in villages across Remnant. Even though you can't believe it, your father's methods have been responsible for the lessening of humanity's hatred while the white fang has only brought about more hate and distrust."

Blake was silent. "So what do you say, Blake? I can help prepare your papers. You just have to say yes."

For the first time, Blake smiled and nodded.

---

"You decided to become a huntress in order to gather support for the faunus equality movement?" Port spoke as Blake nodded. "That is very ambitious."

Yeah, I know that. Blake thought. Her initial plan had been to not only gather support, but wait for the White Fang to kick out Adam. Yet, they didn't. In the time between her meeting with Tukson and now, Blake could see the growing support for Adam. She had seen in that warehouse how many new recruits naively followed Adam, not realizing how much worse things had gone for them. She saw the stiff opposition the White Fang faced.

"Attacking them would make us look like we're disturbing the peace."

Blake remembered her father's words that night. While earlier she dismissed them as her father's delusions, now they brought doubt in her. After seeing proof of Ghira's statement, Blake couldn't help but think…

Was dad actually right? Were we in the wrong the entire time?

"I wish you good luck, Ms. Belladonna. Now, call Ms. Schnee."

---

"Well, Ms. Schnee, I must say I was surprised when I heard you were coming to Beacon, considering how much Sophia tried to put her family away from that legacy?"

Weiss stared at Professor Port. "You knew great grandmother?"

Professor Port nodded. "Thane and Sophia Schnee were the best of friends. As Thane's student, I was bound to have met her at some point. She was frankly not willing to let her family continue down the path of combat, especially after her father's death. In fact, Thane told me that as much as she hated your father, the only good thing he would do was not set you down the path of warriors. So, why did this change occur?"

Weiss tensed. She did not want to be reminded all that took place that motivated her to become a huntress. But considering it was an assignment, she had no choice but to say something. Doing so would mean remembering how her father slowly butchered her great grandmother's legacy.

---

Schnee Manor, Atlas, 75 AGW:

Weiss walked through the halls of the Schnee manor beside the family butler Klein with look of trepidation. Moments before, her father had been listening to her practice for her upcoming concert when he got a call and his expression had turned stormy.

"You may leave, Weiss." He had spoken in a cold voice and Weiss was now being escorted by Klein to her rooms.

"Klein…" Weiss spoke up with unease. "Do you know what could have gotten father so angry?"

Klein shook his head. "It's better that we don't try to find out, Ms. Schnee. Especially with the ongoing stand off between your father and your sister."

Weiss winced. Winter had recently declared that she wanted to join the Atlesian military, saying she wished to 'serve her kingdom in maintaining peace and security'. Of course, Weiss knew some of it was Winter's own personal desires of vengeance against the White Fang and other criminal organisations. Weiss supported her sister's decision, wondering if she could do the same. But it all ended when father vehemently opposed it.

What could Winter do against the word of father? Weiss knew it wasn't possible for her if father was not allowing Winter. Yet Winter refused to back down, thus leading to the standoff.

They walked past her mother's room where Weiss could hear the sounds of her mother launching into another drunken rant. Klein had said that her mother's condition was already bad by the time she was born. But it'd taken Whitely's death to completely send her off the rails. After that, anything which was remotely dangerous was taken from her room lest she tried to commit suicide. Even the bottles of alcohol she was served were not made of any fragile substance like glass.

All it took was one day for everything to go wrong… Weiss thought with a frown. She truly hated the White Fang for taking her brother and mother from her as well as turning her father into a heartless person.

"Ms. Schnee…" Klein spoke up putting a hand on Weiss' shoulder. "Keep away from those thoughts."

Weiss looked down. "I'm trying, Klein, but everything in this house reminds me of the Night of the Fangs. Father's cold-hearted demeanor, Winter's desire to join the Atlesian military, Mother's depression and…"

Weiss didn't have to say anything for both of them to understand the last fact.

Soon, Weiss spotted one of her favorite paintings in the entire house.

She stopped in front of the paintings, showing a white-haired woman looking a lot like herself with a calm yet stern look in her eyes as she stood clad in Atlesian steel armor holding a thin Atlesian longsword. Underneath the woman's painting was the description:

Sophia Schnee, 26th Baroness of the House of Schnee, Founder of the Schnee Dust Company

Painted by: TR

She never really knew what TR meant. Some of the older servants told her that TR were the initials of grandmother's Sophia's best friend, but they refused to tell the person's name.

Grandmother Sophia had died a few minutes before she was born, so all she knew of her came from the old servants. And what she had heard was entrancing. She'd heard about grandmother Sophia's struggles against the liberal council of Mantle during the great war and her efforts towards building and developing the SDC into what it is now.

All that Weiss looked around in the manor was grandmother Sophia's legacy.

She smiled softly. Despite her achievements in creating the SDC, Weiss was always more attracted towards grandmother Sophia's combat achievements. They say she had a reputation as a powerful yet just knight, being able to utilize dust and glyphs to the point that it looked like she could bend nature to her will but using that power to uphold the ideals and honour of the House of Schnee.

Yet, her hard work and kindness were now being repaid with scorn. She was the one who took in faunus slaves after they were freed by the Vytal treaty. She was the one who gave them a new life and hope to be able to live a better life. She was the one who sent funds to develop Menagerie's infrastructure to make it hospitable for faunuskind.

And how do they repay her? By trying to slaughter her family and destroy all that she had built.

Goes to show she never should have helped those monsters… Weiss thought in anger. Even though she disliked her father and didn't trust what he said, faunuskind being the monsters they are was something she found herself agreeing with her father.

After all, how could she not remember the faunus who slashed her eye open and the one who mercilessly threw her brother to his death?

Her fists clenched.

"Ms. Schnee…" Klein spoke as Weiss remembered he was there.

Deep breaths, Weiss… She thought calming herself down, before looking back at grandmother Sophia's painting and going to her room.

Inside, she began humming softly, practicing her tune before she heard a knock on her door.

"Yes?" She asked.

"Can I come in, Weiss?" Winter's voice came in.

Weiss immediately stood up. "Of course!" She exclaimed. She didn't have the chance to show Winter how much progress she'd made in her song. Now was her chance!

But as she opened the door, her excited expression turned to horror. Winter stood there in front of her, a red imprint on her cheek as well as a bruise on her eye.

"W-W-Winter?" Weiss stuttered. What had happened to her sister? She was perfectly fine this morning.

She immediately led her sister inside and looked at her face. "Who did this to you?" She asked in panic as Winter's neutral expression morphed into a scowl.

"Father found out I was talking to Colonel Ironwood behind his back." She spoke sitting down on the bed. Weiss' eyes widened at the implications.

"Father…did this to you?" Weiss asked, disgust mixing in with horror in her voice.

What is he thinking? We're his children! She thought.

"I'll go get a wet towel." She spoke picking up a towel, soaking it in cold water and dabbing it on Winter's bruised eye.

"He was angry. Yelled at me for some time. And when I called him a bunch of names, he slapped me and then kicked me in the eye." Winter spoke blankly taking deep breaths. "One of the servants was able to calm him down, otherwise he wouldn't have just stopped at a tight slap and a bruised eye."

Weiss clenched her jaw. "…Why do you keep doing this, Winter?"

Winter looked at her. "What do you mean?"

"Why do you let father abuse you? You know that you can't join the military without his permission…"

"What." Winter cut her off as Weiss flinched. "Are you telling me I should just let go of all my dreams and aspirations just to serve that scum?" She asked, her voice growing louder with each word.

Weiss shrunk back as Winter blinked before sighing. "Sorry. I shouldn't have taken my anger out on you."

"I-It's okay." Weiss replied.

"But Weiss, I always wanted to serve Atlas as a child like grandmother Sophia did. It has been my dream for so long. Even Colonel Ironwood said that I have the skills, the resolve and the character to fit in with the Atlesian military. Yet, father doesn't listen. Whenever I speak, all he does is yell back and insult me, telling me that I should let go of these 'silly wishes' and start preparing to become the CEO of the SDC!" Winter spoke in frustration before shutting her eyes, her calm façade slowly unravelling to reveal her grief-stricken face before she covered her face with her hands.

"I can't throw away my dreams, but father doesn't want to listen. How many times do I have to take his shouting and beating before I can go?" She spoke in a shaking voice. "I can't remain in this manor anymore, but…but, I just don't know what to do anymore, Weiss…"

Weiss heard soft sobbing as her eyes widened. Was Winter crying?

Throughout her childhood, her sister had always been a strong figure, remain calm and composed in most situations. But to see her like this…it broke Weiss' heart.

What do I do? Weiss thought. She didn't know anything about Winter's plans. She was just in the dark, unable to offer anything to her sister.

Weiss then did the only thing could do, hugging Winter as her sister cried into her shoulder.

As she comforted her sister, Weiss felt a growing sense of fear. Seeing Winter reduced to tears like this, she didn't want to disobey her father.

---

After that, Weiss became more obedient towards her father, in fear of receiving a beating like Winter. Her father didn't focus too much on her actions, only nodding before going back to his work.

Beside her newfound obedience, Weiss' concern grew for Winter, who was falling into a pit of depression. Ever since that day, it had become a frequent practice for Winter to come to Weiss' bedroom and pour out her emotions in tearful outbursts while Weiss comforted her. Sometimes, Winter would even sleep in Weiss' bedroom, which was the few times Weiss ever saw her sister sleep in peace before waking up in the same pit of depression. As time went on, Winter continued to grow more moody and depressed despite Klein's and Weiss' best efforts in comforting her.

She had developed a habit of letting her hair come loose in a ponytail instead of her previous bun and had developed dark bags under her eyes from the depression.

Weiss was worried that her sister didn't turn out like mother. She hadn't seen Winter touch a single glass of alcohol, but she wasn't sure whether Winter would be able to resist the temptation.

This went on for a year, until one night, everything change.

Weiss was in the living room with her father, who was sifting through some papers while Weiss sat reading a book.

"Weiss." Her father spoke as Weiss looked up. "Yes, father?"

"Have you seen Winter this morning?" He asked as Weiss shook her head.

"No, father." She replied. It was something again of concern. She hadn't seen Winter at all for the entire day.

Her father narrowed his eyes. "…Strange. I was honestly expecting her to come ramble about her childish dreams at some point."

Weiss bristled at his disregard but kept her control.

Don't lose it, Weiss… She thought.

"Oh well, tell her I wish to talk to her about her inheritance."

"That won't be necessary." A voice spoke as Weiss noticed Winter walk in with a tall man in formal Atlesian military attire.

"General Ironwood?" Weiss spoke before noticing something. Winter looked a lot better. Her eyebags had disappeared, the confident look had returned to her face. It was like she was the old Winter again.

Her father raised an eyebrow. "So, you went to Ironwood again?" He asked in a cold tone

Winter simply pulled out a scroll and showed a video of him beating her up.

"Winter came to me with this in the morning. I must say, Jacques, I always knew you were a sick bastard. But to physically assault your own children? Those are grounds for arrest."

Father's cold look turned into one of boiling rage. "You…" He snarled as Winter smirked.

"You can throw tantrums as much as you want, father. Your lawyers can't save you from a year of evidence against you."

Weiss, simply stared in shock. It was like she was watching something impossible happen.

Someone was defying her father and actually winning.

I can't believe it. She thought as Winter puffed up with pride.

"But, Winter here suggests that showing such things won't be necessary unless you permit her to enroll in Atlas academy." Ironwood added as Weiss' mouth fell open. If Winter was getting enrolled in Atlas academy, that meant…

She is joining the military! Weiss thought filling up with happiness for her sister. After a year of watching her sister lose hope, her dreams were finally coming true!

"Are you blackmailing me?" Her father asked gritting his teeth.

"Compared to what you've done to our family, you deserve much worse." Winter spat as Ironwood put a hand on her shoulder. Winter looked at him before sighing.

"Sorry."

"So, Jacques, what will it be?" Ironwood asked Jacques and Winter stared at each other before Jacques slumped.

"…You can go to Atlas academy, Winter." He spoke as Winter beamed.

Ironwood smiled. "Very well. Send her transcripts in a few days." He spoke. "And if you lay a finger on her head after this, Jacques, then I will be seeing you in jail." He spoke walking off, leaving the three Schnees.

Father got up and looked at Winter. "Enjoy playing soldier, brat." He spoke before storming odff.

Once father was gone, Weiss hugged Winter. "You did it!" She exclaimed. "I'm so happy for you!"

Winter grinned before hugging her sister back. "Well, it is all thanks to you."

Weiss looked at her in confusion. "What?"

Winter looked down. "In this one year, you were willing to put up with my outbursts, always willing to listen and comfort me whenever I needed it. I don't think I could have done it without you."

Weiss blushed. "T-Thank you." She spoke before remembering something. "But if you're enrolling in Atlas academy…"

Winter's smile fell. "I have to leave." She spoke as Weiss frowned. Even though she was happy for her sister, it stung that now Winter was going to leave the manor.

"So, this is goodbye?" Weiss spoke as Winter shook her head. "No. I'll still visit this place, but only for yours and Klein's sake."

"I see." Weiss spoke before hugging Winter again. "Then I hope you become one of Atlas' best."

Winter tightly hugged her sister. "Of course, little sister."

They broke the hug before Winter returned to her rooms.

A few days later, Winter prepared to leave for the academy. Father had, as expected, not come to see her off. Only Weiss and Klein had come to drop her off.

Klein drove the car to the academy, driving up the roads to stop at the docking bay where many students could be seen entering the academy and helped bring out Winter's luggage.

Before she entered Atlas academy, Winter hugged Weiss one last time.

"Thank you, little sister. For staying by my side and supporting me all these years." Winter spoke.

"I'm going to miss you, Winter." Weiss replied before breaking the hug as Winter took her luggage and walked off, waving to Weiss and Klein.

The two then sat back in the car and headed back to the Schnee manor. Weiss wiped a tear from her eye as she reminisced of all the moments she and Winter shared together.

Good luck for your future, sister. She thought closing her eyes.

Once she returned to the manor, Weiss noticed her father standing at the main gates, a glint in his eyes that sent shivers down her spine.

As Weiss approached him, a smile formed on father's lips, yet she could not see any warmth in it.

"Father?" She asked as he put a hand on her shoulder.

"Welcome back, heiress of the SDC."

---

With that began what could be one of the worst times of Weiss' life. Her freedom had been significantly curbed by her father, who forced her to attend board meetings to see how the company was going to function. He'd become even more strict with her behaviour so that she looked presentable at any business meetings as well as concerts.

Weiss soon found herself frantically trying her best to keep herself under father's good graces. Now that she was the heiress, Weiss simply could not find the time to be free, being forced to either prepare for another meeting or for another concert. Things got even more hectic with the white fang's increasing attacks on SDC assets, resulting in her father calling Winter to train Weiss how to fight in case she had to defend herself. The attacks on some of the SDC board members also left her father's mood souring even further.

Trying to manage all of these together left her drained and exhausted and she sometimes made some mistakes. With those mistakes came father's rage and Weiss found her feeling like she was in a prison, stuck in a cycle of grief and resentment, being unable to really do anything without her father butting in. Weiss felt herself getting lonelier and lonelier each day. Winter was gone, Whitely was dead, mother had locked herself away and father was not even acknowledging her presence most of the time. Only Klein kept visiting her. In those moments, Weiss felt rare moments of happiness.

Being the heiress, she could see the full extent of her father malicious nature, engaging in illegal business practices, going behind the backs of the authorities in order to make profits and even sometimes aiding criminals if he could get something out of it. In the house, he sacked the old servants except for Klein and replaced them with new ones. He closed down many of the charity funds setup by Sophia and Nicholas because they were draining too much of the SDC's resources. Weiss soon found herself wanting to escape from her father's grip.

After Winter's act of defiance, Weiss realized that it was possible to escape. As she watched her father continue to spoil her family's reputation, Weiss continued to look for anything she could do to have some freedom.

And then, he did something that Weiss found unacceptable.

Weiss was now 16, walking through the hallways after another exhausting session of practice for her upcoming concert.

And then there's more combat training with Winter… Weiss thought putting her hand to her head. She was walking to her room when she noticed some of the new servants removing grandmother Sophia's painting.

What…What are they doing?! Weiss thought as she stormed over to them.

"What is going on?!" She yelled as the servants jumped.

"Ms. Schnee…" They spoke in greeting but that didn't cool down the rage Weiss was feeling right now.

"What are you doing? Don't you know what that painting represents?!" Weiss yelled as the servants looked down.

"M-Ms. Schnee, we were told to remove this painting." She spoke as Weiss' eyes narrowed.

"On whose instructions?"

"…Your father's. He said to replace it with a portrait of himself."

Weiss stumbled back in shock.

Is he going this far? Weiss thought. For all her life, she had been told that the painting of Sophia was one of the two most important symbols of the Schnee estate alongside the rapier Myrtenaster. What was father thinking that he could just throw away Sophia's painting like it was some sort of garbage?

Weiss walked past the servants and into her room.

"This is it." Weiss whispered. Her father was now fully committed to wiping out all the great deeds of the past and instead making it look like as if he built the SDC with his own hands.

Weiss gulped in fear. What was going to happen to her under such a person like that?

Weiss then looked at Myrtenaster sitting on her table and held it up.

"The Schnees are nobles and warriors. To be a Schnee is to be elegant like a noble and strong like a warrior." Weiss repeated one of the few things she'd heard from her mother as a child. Myrtenaster was an exemplification of this fact. Its blade was beautiful yet strong, elegant yet harsh. It was no wonder that grandmother Sophia made it a symbol of the House Schnee when she received it on her birthday.

At that moment, Weiss reflected upon all that she'd seen. Her father tearing down her family's honour, her sister leaving to join the military, the white fang targeting her family. It was like she was watching the fall of the Schnee family.

Even with all his power, father would eventually hand on the company to her. And she would inherit this entire mess.

A thought began developing in Weiss' mind.

No…I refuse to let my family's legacy fall apart like this. She thought defiantly before remembering Winter's admission into Atlas academy.

At that moment, Weiss felt a strange sense of calm as she finally realized what she was going to do.

"I'm going to be a huntress." Weiss spoke raising Myrtenaster. She would become a huntress and fight against the forces threatening her family.

I'm going to bring the Schnee family out of the cesspool father has dragged it into. Whether it be the white fang, father, it doesn't matter.

She remembered the aura of confidence Sophia exuded in her painting.

I will carve out my own path among huntsmen, and I will restore the Schnee family to its former glory, great grandmother.

---

"I became a huntress because I wanted to succeed without compromising my family's ideals." Weiss spoke. "I want to restore my family's prestige and honour, even if I have to walk down the path grandmother Sophia didn't intend for me to go to."

Professor Port was silent before letting out an amused chuckle. "That sounds familiar…Alright, Ms. Schnee, time for our final ward. Call in Ms. Rose."

---

Ruby twiddled her fingers in nervousness as she walked up beside Professor Port. Even though she was calm and smiling in the outside, inside she was worried looking at her teammates. All of them had a sad contemplative look on their eyes when they came back from Professor Port. So, she timidly came up to Professor Port

"Well, I suppose I don't have to ask you your reason for becoming a huntress, Ms. Rose." Professor Port spoke as Ruby perked up.

Oh… She thought. He'd been asking them why they wanted to become a huntres…And Ruby had rambled on about such things in his class.

Ruby blushed as Professor Port let out a laugh. "Yes, I can still remember your little rant in my class."

"It is our sacred duty to protect our fellow humans from threats!"

"I-I…" Ruby spoke as Professor Port put a hand on her shoulder. "Never had I ever had a student as passionate as you. Not even your mother.

"Thank you…" Ruby replied nervously. "So…am I done?"

Professor Port's expression turned serious. "No. While I may know your reasons, I never really knew what made you take up those reasons."

Ruby froze up.

"Tai did say you didn't like talking about it. If you do not wish to talk about it, it's fine. I already know your reasons."

"N-No…Dr. Birch said I should share it with someone." Ruby spoke as Professor Port nodded. "Do your friends know?"

Ruby shook her head. "No. I want to tell them when all of this is done. I am telling you because I trust you will not pass judgement, Professor Port."

"Of course, my dear. Do start."

---

Island of Patch, 73 AGW:

"Oh look, it's her again." Ruby heard one of the boys speak in the playground in Patch's park and frowned.

"Don't come over here with your spooky ghost talk, crazy girl!" One of them yelled as Ruby flinched. She did not have a good reputation among the other kids in patch, being told that she was crazy because she saw ghosts.

"But they are real…" Ruby muttered in dejection. They didn't even look like ghosts! Mommy always said that ghosts are pale and really scary, but the people she saw didn't look like ghosts at all!

She looked to her right and saw a bare-chested man with a spear stabbing a grimm.

"AAH!" Ruby screamed jumping back.

"Oh look, another one of her 'spooky' visions." Another boy taunted as Ruby pointed with her finger towards the man and the grimm fighting.

"Look, look! He's right there!"

"Run! Crazy girl's seeing another ghost!" They yelled before running off.

"Wait, no! I swear I'm not lying!" Ruby called for them desperately before pouting. No one wanted to be friends with her. Every time she tried, they would all call her crazy and run away.

She thought of the very reason she visited this playground. Mommy said that she had to make some friends, and a good place would be the playground.

But how can I make a friend when no one trusts me? Ruby thought dejectedly before noticing a girl of her age in an orange dress. She had dark-blue eyes and orange hair.

She looks pretty lonely. Ruby thought. She made a step forward before shrinking back.

What if she thinks I'm crazy too? She thought. It hurt her whenever people called her 'crazy girl', she didn't want to go upto her in hopes of making a friend, only for her to call her crazy as well.

She sat on a bench, looking at the other children who maintained a distance from her. Occasionally, she would see those people again, but she found no point in pointing them out.

Soon, she noticed someone sit next to her and saw it was the same girl in the orange dress. She scooted away but didn't say anything.

The other girl frowned. "What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing." Ruby replied.

Please go away… She thought.

"Well, I saw you were lonely, so I came to give you some company." She spoke.

"W-Why?"

"Well, dad always says being alone and sad isn't good for you. So, I came to give you some company."

"Oh…Thank you." Ruby spoke timidly as silence set in.

"Say…why aren't you playing with the others?" The girl asked as Ruby shrunk further. This girl was clearly new to patch, so she didn't know what went on here.

"Look, new girl's sitting with the crazy girl!" Another group of children exclaimed recoiling in disgust.

Ruby gulped and looked away, trying not to cry.

"Go away…" She spoke. "Don't stay with me."

The other girl shook her head. "Why? Because you're crazy, like they're saying? Why do they call you crazy?" She asked as Ruby paled.

No, no, no… She thought frantically shaking her head.

"Why not? It can't be that bad."

Ruby continued shaking her head. "Go away…"

The other girl crossed her arms. "Not unless you tell me what's going on."

Ruby looked at the girl again before gulping. "I-I can see people fighting. They use these cool weapons and kill grimm. I see them right in front of…" Ruby noticed a man with a shotgun shooting an Ursa in the head.

"There! I just saw it again!" Ruby exclaimed pointing towards the man.

Please, please, please… She thought desperately, hoping that the girl saw the man.

The other girl blinked in confusion. "What? I don't see anything."

Ruby slumped.

So she doesn't see them too.

"And you can see them?" The girl asked as Ruby lowered her head.

Here it comes…

"Well, I think it's a bit crazy and silly…"

Ruby's hands clenched.

"…But really interesting."

Ruby stopped. "Huh?" She looked at the girl. "You must be having a superpower like a huntsman!"

Ruby's eyes widened.

Did she…compliment me? She thought.

"No, I don't have my aura unlocked." Ruby replied chuckling nervously. "My family members are all huntsmen."

The other girl's mouth fell open. "Really? Could you tell me about them?" She asked as Ruby's smile widened.

"Well…"

And so, she talked with the other girl for a long time. In that time, Ruby couldn't seem to sense anything around her as she told the girl about dad, Uncle Qrow and of course Mommy. It brought her so much happiness when the girl listened to her with wonder.

I-I'm actually making a friend… Ruby thought in amazement as she talked with the girl.

"W-Wow…you really have an amazing family." The girl muttered. "My parents are just engineers and don't really want me to be a huntress, but I always loved huntsmen. They're like superheroes from comics but in real life!"

"I know, right!" Ruby exclaimed as the two continued to animatedly discuss from one topic to the other.

"Ruby!" Their discussion was interrupted by a familiar voice as Ruby jumped up.

"Mommy!" She exclaimed running to her mother.

"Well, you look excited today, Rosebud." Mommy spoke looking down at Ruby.

"I made a friend!" She spoke celebrating as mommy looked towards the other girl who smiled nervously.

Ruby grabbed her mother's hand and pulled her over to her friend. "See, her name is, uh…"

"Tulip Yellowstone." The girl spoke as Ruby nodded. "Yeah!"

Mommy laughed. "Talking to others without asking their names, you naughty child? Did you give her your name?"

Ruby froze as she realized she'd forgotten to give her name.

"Oh!" She exclaimed turning to Tulip. "I'm Ruby Rose." She spoke shaking her hand.

"Silly Rose." Tulip whispered as Ruby giggled before Tulip walked up to mommy.

"E-Excuse me miss, are you a huntress?"

Mommy glanced at her before smiling. "Of course, dear. I'm guessing my little rosebud told you that." She spoke as Ruby nodded vigorously.

"Yeah, she told me all about your exploits." Tulip spoke. "They're so amazing. But I can't do that, I'm just a normal engineer's daughter."

Mommy's smile then became a bit strange. "Well, that's nice." She spoke. "Thank you for talking to my daughter. Ruby's very shy and hasn't been able to make much friends."

"You're welcome, Ms. Rose!" Tulip replied before mommy looked at her. "Come on, Rosebud. It's time to get back home." She spoke as Ruby waved at Tulip.

"Bye, Tulip! I'll see you tomorrow!"

"You too, Ruby!"

---

That was the beginning of a close friendship. Ruby would come to the park everyday to talk to Tulip, telling her stories Mommy would tell her while the girl sat enraptured. In return, Tulip talked about her normal life, which she called 'boring', but Ruby found interesting. She especially listened closely whenever she talked about her father dealing with mecha-shift tools.

As for the other children, Ruby ignored them calling her 'crazy'. After all, they didn't matter as long as she had Tulip by her side.

She would protect Tulip from any bullies, no matter how big or how strong. Even when she got knocked to the ground, she wouldn't give up and would stand up for Tulip. Eventually, Yang would come in and drive them away before scolding Ruby about getting hurt to protect someone. But it just felt natural for her to help someone in need and protect others from harm. It added to her nickname 'crazy girl' but Ruby didn't mind.

---

"Ok, Ruby, your obsession with guns actually scares me." Tulip spoke worriedly looking at Ruby touching her father's gun. Ruby gave her a confident smirk.

"Don't be scared. Nothing will go wrong."

---

"Ruby…I don't think eating so much cookies is good for you." Tulip spoke as Ruby glared at her.

"Have you eaten a cookie?" She spoke with narrowed eyes poking Tulip's chest with her fingers.

"No?"

"Then you can't criticize me."

"Hey, that's not how that works!"

---

All in all, she had a lot of fun and joy interacting with Tulip.

2 years went by and Ruby found her life peaceful, spending time with her family and talking to Tulip. But then, tragedy struck.

One day, Tulip found Ruby sitting on the bench, deathly still with a blank look in her eyes and tears running down her cheeks.

"R-Ruby?" Tulip asked in concern sitting next to her, but Ruby stayed silent.

She's not coming back… Ruby thought, repeating Uncle Qrow's words when he returned from a mission he went with mommy.

"Silly Rose?" Tulip spoke shaking her but Ruby still did not respond.

Tulip kept shaking her until…

"What is it, Tulip?" Ruby spoke in an irritated voice.

"What's wrong, Ruby?" Tulip asked with a frown. "You're not at all acting like yourself today."

Ruby stayed silent. "…Mom's gone."

Tulip's eyes widened as she processed that information before her hand flew to her mouth. "How? Ms. Rose was a very powerful huntress."

Don't you think I'm having the same question? Ruby thought bitterly. Her mother was one of the best huntresses on Remnant. She honestly couldn't believe that she was gone.

"She and Uncle Qrow went on a mission. She didn't come back." Ruby thought as her blank look slowly turned that of sorrow. "S-She promised me she would…she would…" Ruby choked up as she covered her mouth sobbing.

Tulip wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "I'm so sorry, Ruby." She spoke gently stroking Ruby's hair.

Ruby sniffed. "I want my mom…" She spoke with her head resting her head on Tulip's shoulder as the other girl looked down with a somber look.

"It's alright, Ruby…I'm here." She spoke as Ruby continued to cry.

Once Ruby calmed down enough, Tulip hit her with another bombshell.

"Ruby, I'm moving out." She spoke as Ruby's head shot up, staring at her in confusion.

"…What?"

Tulip hung her head. "Dad got a high-paying job in Atlas. We're going to be moving out of patch and settling in Atlas. He's already begun contacting Primary schools for my admission."

"You're…leaving?" Ruby spoke, the hurt in her voice making Tulip flinch.

First mom, now Tulip. She thought clutching her head.

It's all coming down. My entire world is falling apart. She thought as Tulip looked up.

"I didn't want to leave you, Ruby. But I have to go with my parents." Tulip spoke as Ruby immersed herself in her depressing thoughts.

Tulip wrapped her friend in another hug. "So, I guess this means goodbye, silly rose."

Ruby hugged her back. "No…don't leave me, Tulip. Not when I've lost mom."

"I'm sorry, Ruby. But I have no choice." Tulip spoke getting up. "I wanted to give you this." She spoke picking up a red bundle of cloth.

Ruby unfolded it to reveal a bright red cloak. "You said you really like cloaks and the colour red. So, I thought that I combine both of them to give to you as a goodbye gift. I hope you like it."

Ruby stared at the cloak, before looking back at Tulip and wiping her tears.

"I-Its amazing, Tulip. I don't think I've gotten a better gift ever." She spoke as Tulip smiled. "You're the bestest friend ever." Ruby spoke as Tulip's smile fell. "Same here, Silly Rose. I'll try to visit Patch when I have the time. Until we meet again, Ruby." She spoke walking off, leaving Ruby alone on the bench.

And with that, Ruby lost two precious people in her life in quick succession. Yet, as she sat, Ruby strangely didn't feel anymore grief. All that remained was a bitter joy from the bittersweet memories she enjoyed with Mommy and Tulip.

Good luck for your new life, Tulip. She thought before wiping her tears and leaving the playground.

---

She didn't see Tulip for the next few days. Mom's funeral was held, attended by many of Patch's residents who have known her family since her great grandfather came to Patch.

No mourning period was held, since her family's tradition did not believe in such things. Dad fell into sadness and stayed like it until Uncle Qrow had a talk with him. Ruby found herself assaulted by those old feelings of isolation again now that Tulip was soon leaving.

On the day Tulip's boat was to come, Ruby sat on the couch admiring Uncle Qrow's weapon. Just a few minutes back, dad said that he and Uncle Qrow were taking her to see off Tulip and her family along with a few others. Yang was staying over at their neighbour's house for the night.

Scythes are really cool… She thought.

"Come on, Ruby." She heard dad speak as she got up with a smile. She walked with dad and Uncle Qrow through Patch towards the harbour.

"So, are you ready to go say bye to your friend, pipsqueak?" Uncle Qrow spoke as Ruby nodded. It took some time to settle, but Ruby was now ready to wish Tulip as she left Patch with her family.

Just as they neared the harbour, however, sirens sounded as Ruby jumped up in fright.

"The sirens? Why are…"

"This is headmaster Wave of Signal academy. A large group of grimm are attacking the island's walls and the harbor. All huntsmen report to Patch's boundaries and all civilians return to their homes immediately." Headmaster Wave's voice coming out of the megaphones.

Uncle Qrow and Dad exchanged worried looks. "Could it be…?"

"Most likely. With her gone, they're seizing the opportunity to mount an attack on the island."

Ruby, meanwhile, thought of Headmaster Wave's announcement.

Walls and…wait. Did he just say harbor?! Ruby thought.

"Tulip…" She muttered before taking off in a sprint.

"Ruby! What are doing?!" She heard Uncle Qrow yell but increased her pace.

Tulip's over there… Ruby thought frantically as she ran towards the harbour. As she got close, she could heard the sounds of howling and children screaming which sent chills down her spine. She realized she, an unarmed 10-year-old, was about to enter an area infested with grimm.

Ruby shook her head. "Don't lose your nerve, Ruby. Get Tulip first." She muttered continuing to run until she reached the harbour.

Ruby almost tripped from stopping in horror at the sight in front of her. Giant Horse-like grimm roamed around corpses of adults and children who had been ripped apart, occasionally digging into a torn corpse before moving on, leaving the scraps to be fed upon by packs of wolf-like grimm that she remembered were called Beowolves.

Among the corpses, Ruby noticed a familiar bloodstained orange dress and her eyes widened.

No… She thought running up to the body, slipping past the grimm.

Ruby reached the body and her fears were confirmed. Tulip lay with her dress stained red from the blood flowing out of deep cuts made by claws on her body. Her left leg had been bitten off, and her face was red from all the blood on it. Yet, Ruby could make out tears flowing down the girl's face.

Ruby then retched out her recent meal of cookies at the sight of her dear friend's mutilated body.

Children screaming…

Howling…

These sounds echoed in her ears as Tulip turned her head to look at Ruby.

"Ru…by?" She croaked out as Ruby knelt beside her friend. "T-Tulip…" She whimpered.

Not you too… She thought.

"Mom…and…dad….eaten…" She spoke crying. "Can't…live…anymore…"

"Nononononono. You're not dying, Tulip. I'm bringing you to the hospital." Ruby spoke as Tulip gently shook her head.

"Thank you…Silly Rose…" She spoke before her eyes went blank and her body stopped moving.

"Tulip?" Ruby asked shaking her friend. "TULIP?!" She screamed, violently shaking the body.

You can't do this to me.

Ý̵̠̀̐̎͘Ö̶̘͍̤̔́̀͝U̶͉̞̽̓̋̽̅ ̸͇̆̊C̷͕̈͒͂̋̍͜Ā̷̢̩̦̀̑̏̌N̵̥͈̂̈'̴̢͐̎̒̎T̶̟̬̻͛̓ ̵̧͖̼̹̯̈́̈́D̴͈̞͖͙̠͗̈́͝Ö̸̟̬̝̯́̆̃͠ ̵̨̰͋̇̃T̶̜̗̊̈H̶̗̠̹̠̻̏͐́͘Ị̴̘̫̙̈́͐͌S̶̥̹͙͇̲̕ ̸̖̣̰̤̱̊̓̑̀̚T̵̬̤͗̈́̌̀͝O̴̫̎̍ͅ ̶͓̒̆M̷̩̮̳͍̺̒̈́̾E̵̙̱̾̈́̏͐̋ͅͅ

Ruby heard howling as she noticed a beowolf lunging towards her.

She covered her face in fright but it never reached her. Ruby opened her eyes to see Uncle Qrow cut the Beowolf in half with his weapon with Dad following him, smashing grimm to pulp with his bare fists.

"Come on, Ruby!" He yelled. "We're getting you out!"

Ruby looked back at Tulip. "But…!"

Uncle Qrow noticed Tulip's corpse but shook his head. "I'm sorry but the kid's dead, Ruby. There's nothing we can do about it!"

"No! We can't just leave her body here!" She spoke defiantly as Uncle Qrow sighed before looking at Dad.

"Tai, pick up Tulip. Ruby, get onto your father's back. I'll clear a path for the both of you!" He instructed fending off the grimm as Ruby got onto dad's back, who picked up Tulip's corpse. Uncle Qrow was a blur as he tore through the grimm, making sure not even a single one got close to dad.

The group soon reached the town's gates.

"CLOSE THEM!" Uncle Qrow yelled as the huntsmen stationed there nodded and closed the gates just as they entered.

Uncle Qrow looked at her with a cold expression. "Ruby…what was that?"

Ruby flinched at her uncle's harsh tone. "H-Headmaster Wave said the grimm were attacking the harbour, where Tulip was…"

"And you thought an unarmed 10-year-old would be enough to save her?" Uncle Qrow cut her off as Ruby looked down, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Not the time, Qrow. She's just watched her friend die in front of her eyes." Dad jumped in as Uncle Qrow sighed.

"Ruby." Ruby looked up. "I'm so happy you're alive. I don't think me and Tai could have handled it if we lost you just after we lost Summer."

"S-Sorry, Uncle Qrow." Ruby spoke before looking at Tulip's corpse and guilt swelled up within her. She was too late her save her friend.

If only I had arrived in time… Ruby thought crying. If she had done that, then she would have been able to save Tulip.

Yet…she'd failed. And both of her loved ones were dead.

---

Tulip was buried in Patch's cemetery with a relatively simple gravestone, unlike her mother and great grandfather who'd been buried in Patch's eastern cliff with elaborate gravestones.

Soon after the mourning period was over, Ruby visited Tulip's grave with a bunch of Tulip flowers which her friend was named after.

Ruby was wearing the red cloak Tulip gave her as a gift. Her family's emblem was pinned on it.

Looking at Tulip's grave, Ruby remembered all those moments they shared together.

She closed her eyes. "Hey. Its been hard to live in my house, knowing that you're gone. I'm starting to feel lonely again, Tulip. I miss you so much."

After Tulip's death, Ruby had learnt something about the world. What she saw in cartoons was certainly not in reality. Her real life was in truth brutal, throwing tragedy after tragedy at her until she broke.

"The world isn't some magical place where all good things can happen. After all, you and mom would still be alive if it was. But that doesn't mean I'll turn a blind eye to injustice and accept the world's cruelty." Ruby spoke in a serious tone.

"If there is bad in the world, then I shall do my best to overcome it. I will become one of the best huntresses ever and I shall strive to protect people from monsters such as the grimm. I'll fight against the world's cruelty, and I'll defeat it, so that no one ever has to suffer like you did." She spoke turning away.

"…I swear on yours and mom's graves."

---

Professor Port was silent as Ruby finished. She'd thought she had moved on from Tulip a long time ago, but yesterday's episode made it clear she hadn't truly moved on.

Yet, even if the pain has faded, Ruby hasn't forgotten about her promise, and she never will. Even as she fought against the White Fang, Ruby remembered that they weren't evil terrorists, but poor faunuses who'd, like Tulip, suffered from life's unfair circumstances. It was why she couldn't really hate the White fang, no matter how much enthusiasm she showed in stopping them.

Ruby was not naïve to think she could end all suffering. But she could lessen it as much as she can by working to get close to that utopia.

"We're here." Professor Port spoke as they reached the entrance of the forest. "That concludes our little session. Now, get ready and keep quiet." He spoke walking in.

Ruby nodded, shifting Crescent Rose to its gun form and walking behind her Professor.

A smile formed on Ruby's lips.

I'll face hardships, maybe even be insulted for such a childish dream. But I'll bear it all, all for your sakes.

---

A/N: You can see from the size of this chapter why it took me so long to upload. I had to work on this chapter in the weekdays because it was 8 chapters put into 1. Even then I ran into obstacles. First, I was trying really hard not to take away the main characteristics of RWBY by explaining how they became what they are at the time of this story's events. Second, My plans for this story had drastically changed as I started from Volume-2. So I had to make some changes to chapters in Volume-1 to maintain some consistency. Of course, in this upcoming hiatus, I'll be going through Volume-1 again to edit some character interactions.

Now, onto the portions:

1. Ruby's dream - Well, this entire sequence is just slowly introducing Ruby to when she eventually gets the big reveal of the shadow war later on, while Thane just can't catch a break, coming out of the Great War only to see what could be another big mess in front of him through a vision of the future. Keep note of this, Thane seeing the future is going to be important later on.

2. Character motivations - I actually don't remember a single thing about Team RWBY's talk with Oobleck about the 'reason for being a huntress' in the Mt. Glenn Arc. Since that is going to be a lot different in this story, I decided to push the talk in the Cysgod arc and it will be conducted by Port.

3. Yang's motivations - I know the wagon story takes place after Summer dies in canon, but for the Ruby portion, I kept Summer alive for a little while longer. Not much I can say on this, since Yang is actually a really simple character to write in my opinion (Please don't bash me for it).

4. Blake's motivations - Yeah, I didn't want Blake to be like this Edgy catgirl whose character is really inconsistent. So, I approached her backstory as that of a poor idealistic girl who doesn't know how to achieve her goals due to the mess of beliefs and ideologies stuffed into her. First she thinks her father is right, then she thinks he's wrong and Sienna's right, now she's slowly thinking that maybe her father was right. In short, poor kitty is confused. And it all comes back to the Night of the Fangs in some way, or at least its aftermath (Being an Indian, there were a lot of cases in my country's history, especially the British Raj, which I could use to be one of Atlas discriminatory laws against faunus). I almost wrote Adam as a human-hating maniac when I remembered that would be inconsistent with his backstory which will come later so I made him more reasonable.

5. Weiss' motivations - This was the one I had the most trouble with, because Weiss is actually really well-written in canon and I had to make sure I got her character and her journey to being the annoying bitch we see in Volume-1 right. But, it felt really satisfying writing the wholesome moments between Weiss and Winter. And we get the added bonus of a little complex relationship between the two sisters since Winter leaving essentially began Weiss' fall into depression.

6. Ruby's motivations - Yeah, no way was I keeping Ruby's motivations as a simple childish dream. If Ruby says that she's wanted to become a huntress as a child, then I needed to give her a strong reason for doing so. Of course, part of that comes from another factor that I won't talk about right now. Looking at how Ruby was shown in the red trailer and what the lyrics of 'This will be the day' are, I had expectations that Ruby was going to be an innocent-looking girl with a tragic past, keeping a mask of happiness, energy and to some extent, naivete, to hide the pain she's gone through. Such a thing would have been perfect with her symbol being the Rose, a beautiful flower blooming amongst sharp thorns. But, the show decided to take Ruby down the 'naive child' route and those expectations were dashed. As much as I like Volume 1-3, It's pretty clear that the story was not very good.

Now, since my exams are around the corner, I'll be going in hiatus for the rest of the month. I'm going to try and upload next chapter on the 1st of October.

Hope you guys enjoyed and constructive criticism is appreciated!

---

Response to Reviews:

Neyl Boo: I'm not doing Fairy Britain. It's PHH Britain. Even though Fairy Britain does sound like a good idea, I've not reached LB6 yet in FGO (I just started LB5, since I was on a long break from FGO) and I don't want to write a fanfic in that with abysmal knowledge of LB6. Glad that you liked Thane, because I paid a lot of attention to his character to ensure he's a likeable OC.

Maglad: Well, check the previous chapter. My response is over there.