"WHAT!" Yang yelled out.

"Professor what are you saying? That Ruby was...was..." Blake trailed off ashamed.

"The three of you heard me right." Ozpin told the three girls as they sat there feeling like crap.

The morning after their run in with Ruby the three girls were sitting in Ozpins office explaining everything to him. Ozpin was surprised but a part of him also wasn't, especially after receiving the information he did yesterday. Ozpin had kept tabs on Ruby the best he could while she was incarcerated but he had very little influence with that specific prison. The prison Ruby was sent to was one of oldest and most populated private women's prisons in not just vale but in all of remnant. It was also one of the most dangerous and even Ozpin didn't agree with a 15 year old girl being sent there. Upon finding out where Ruby was being sent Glynda was actually wanting to march down there and raise hell about it.

Glynda might be tough, strict and even harsh, she might have been disappointed and angry at Ruby just as he was, but neither of them wanted Ruby going there. Discovering that some of what Ruby was up to now made him feel bad. After she got out of jail and disappeared she had tried to apply to other combat schools around remnant but was denied every time. After expelling her from Beacon Ozpin had her blacklisted from all the other schools, large, small, private or public there wasn't a single one that would take her. Thinking about it now however, Ozpin knew he had probably went overboard. Because of him Ruby was pushed into a corner and forced to change in way she shouldn't have had to.

A part of Ozpin had always been conflicted about what happened with Ruby and he didn't completely believe it. However despite any of that he still came down on her and harshly, while not even investigating the possibility that she was telling the truth. Finding out yesterday that Emerald started the fire and set Ruby up had Ozpin in a foul mood. He helped ruin a young girls life because of a lie that he should have seen right through. He let his best and brightest student fall into a pit of despair because he failed to protect one of his students.

Why did Emerald come clean after all this time? Simple, after being found in a ditch beaten, battered and broken she was taken into custody. She refused to give them anything out of her loyalty for Cinder. Upon discovery of a grandmother receiving medical treatment paid for with illegal money, gave the authorities the leverage they needed. She broke quickly when they threatened to stonewall the grandmothers treatment. She gave them everything she could including a confession of what happened with Ruby. Ozpin had been there for that part standing there on the other side of the two way mirror.

When he heard it he felt a piece of himself break. Hearing the stuff about Ruby that the girls had found out was making a few things click. For the past year Vale's council has been putting a lot of pressure on him. Some of that pressure was financial as they kept hitting him with fine after fine. One day it was construction with out a permit, another was violations of the noise ordinance and even violations for illegal parking, among other petty things. The bank and Vale tax agency tried foreclosing on his home for unpaid taxes which he had already payed.

His car which was already paid off was reposed and cost a lot of money in court fees to get back. The health department declaring the school unsafe for living was also a pain in his ass. Each student found their tuitions not being paid or their student loans not going through. School money would randomly disappear. Teachers would find themselves constantly being hassled by law enforcement on their way to school. Then there was the random insect and rodent problem they had a few months ago. Oddly enough the only students who didn't seem to have any trouble with anything was Velvet Scarlatina and her team, which was odd.

He now believed that his recent troubles were the result of a now very well connected and influential Rose. If that was the case then she was doing it out of spite, anger and possibly because she wanted to be petty. He'd already suspected that someone influential was the one doing all these things but now knowing about Ruby it would make sense that it might be her. She seems to mysteriously have enough influence to stay hidden and pester him, enough money to open a club and powerful enough to get Roman Torchwick of all people a pardon. Emerald being found the way she was makes things suspicious as well. Emerald when asked, refused to talk about what happened to her, she was terrified. What did they turn that poor girl into.

Now that Ozpin had informed the girls about Ruby's innocence it was time to make a few phone calls, calls that he was not looking forward to making.

Across town at the Crescent Rose

"What did you 'NOT' understand about don't come back here!" Ruby yelled as she punched a man in the face. "You broke 'MY' rules! I let you leave with nothing but a broken arm and a warning about never coming back here. I was merciful wasn't I? I gave you a chance did I not!?" Ruby kept hitting the man over and over splattering blood across her face as well as the floor.

Ruby had a simple set of rules in her club and this man broke those rules. She gave him one chance and he ruined it. He not only came back to the club but also didn't seem to know that no means no. Ruby could be mean, strict and at times even cruel, but she always took care of those who worked for her. To find out this man had the nerve to come back in here and rape one of her girls had Ruby pissed.

"No one and I mean 'NO ONE' disrespects me, my club, my rules or my employees!" She shouted and continued to hit him.

Eventually Ruby dropped his limp body to the floor, walked over to the bar and started wiping her face and hands off. Junior checked the man's pulse.

"Is he still breathing?" Ruby asked.

"It would seem that Mr. Perry here has expired." Junior told her. "Was all that really necessary?" He asked.

"'NO ONE TOUCHES ONE OF MY GIRLS LIKE THAT!" She yelled! "No means no Junior. He had already broke my rules once before and he had the balls to come back here and do what he did."

"What do you want done with him?" Junior asked her.

"Call the police commissioner. Tell him we had a break in and the robber was unfortunately killed by security personnel after pulling a weapon." Ruby turned around to face him as she continued to clean herself up. "Tell him I would be very grateful if he personally took care of this for me. Now if you'll excuse me."

Ruby walked off quickly passing Neo who had been standing there and headed for the back. After passing through the employee only door she ran to the bathroom. She burst in and hunched over the toilet vomiting. It wasn't long before Neo walked in and looked at her with a frown.

"What do you want Neo?" Ruby asked.

{You went to far.} Neo said using sign language.

"He deserved it." She told her calmly.

{He deserved a lot of things but death wasn't one of them.} Neo emphasized.

"So I lost my temper, sue me." Ruby rolled her eye's as she stood up flushing the toilet.

{Ruby your acting like you killing someone isn't a big deal.}

"I've killed before, you know that. Sure I don't do it often but I have done it. So of course it's not a big deal." Ruby said as she went to walk out.

{Bullshit! You hate killing anyone regardless of the reason. You get sick like this every time you do it.} Neo blocked her path.

"No I don't." She responded in a defensive tone.

{Yes you do!} The multi colored girl told her. {I'm not stupid Ruby, I see right through your bullshit.}

"You don't know anything!" Ruby yelled.

{I understand that the world can't understand your pain, and that you see the world just look at you with hate...} Neo started to tell her.

"Shut up!" Ruby told her.

{You feel the weight that's crushing down on you and you contemplate if life is just a game. It's very clear that you feel betrayed by the world while also feeling like it's getting colder all around you...} She continued.

"Be quiet!" Ruby yelled.

{I know your darkness Ruby, you may have changed but I Know your not heartless.}

"Just...just shut up! I...I..."

{I've heard you in your sleep, Iv heard you whisper for someone to hold you, to save you.}

At that moment Ruby snapped and punched Neo in the face causing the other woman to fall backwards.

"I don't need saving! I don't need help! I don't need anyone or anything!" Ruby vented. "You have no idea what your talking about! I do what I have to, to survive!"

{Ruby...} Neo started to sign.

"Don't ever act like you know me! You don't know me, only I know me!" Ruby yelled as she stormed out of the bathroom.

Neo stood up holding her now bruised and busted lip. She let Ruby go instead of giving chase. She needed time to calm down. By the time Ruby got out of prison she had developed a temper, which Neo knew. However she never expected the woman to hit her of all people, but maybe she should have expected it. She knew Ruby better than anyone, even better than Ruby knew herself. She wants to help Ruby, it's all she's wanted to do for the last few years.

It went from morning to late afternoon. It was a few hours before the club opened before Neo decided to go check on Ruby. When Ruby gets upset about anything she always tends to drown herself in sex, alcohol and drugs. The alcohol wasn't so much the problem, that was more so the drugs. Her drug problem started while she was in prison. Ruby was hesitant at first to use it but quickly succumbed to the poison as a way to deal with things. She claims she doesn't have a problem but she does and Neo knows it. When Ruby gets sick from her problem it's always Neo that cleans her up.

Neo made her way to Ruby's apartment which was in the club itself. A few girls were passed out on the couch, clothes strung everywhere, powder residue on the table and alcohol bottles scattered about. Ruby herself was passed out on the floor wearing nothing but her lacy underwear. Neo woke the girls up and made them get dressed before she booted them out of the room. She then started cleaning the place, throwing bottles and trash away, as well as sweeping up the drug residue and other debris. Eventually Ruby started waking up, as she did she quickly bolted up and ran to the bathroom. Once again she was hunched over a toilet vomiting.

Neo walked into the bathroom with a set of fresh clothes and some water. She sat the stuff down, kneeled down and started rubbing Ruby's back to help calm and comfort her. After Ruby was done vomiting she looked at Neo. Ruby looked like shit and if it wasn't for her constant exercising, healthy eating and her aura she would look like any other addict. Eventually however it would start catching up with her, her body would start to break down and it will wreck her body if not kill her.

"Neo what are you doing?" Ruby asked.

{Making sure you don't kill yourself." Neo signed. Neo could tell Ruby was still high and drunk and not very sober or even lucid.

"I'm not a child. I know what I'm doing, so don't baby me." Ruby hissed out as she started to stand up.

{I'm not babying you. I just want to be sure that your okay.} Neo told her.

"Yea well I'm fine. So leave me alone, I'll..." Ruby trailed off as she got dizzy and her legs started to give out.

Neo caught her before she hit the ground and then sat on the floor while holding Ruby.

"Why?" Ruby asked blushing at the closeness.

Neo tilted her head and gave Ruby a confused look.

"Why do you always do this? Why do stay with me? Why do you put up with me?"

{Because I care about you, your my best friend.}

"But I hit you." She said.

Neo simply shrugged.

"Your...your the only person I truly trust Neo." Ruby slurred before passing out again.

Neo held Ruby close as she cried a little bit. She knew Ruby wouldn't remember this conversation. She was worried about her, she was afraid that one day she would find Ruby dead from an overdose. She didn't want to lose Ruby, she didn't want to lose the woman she cared about more than anything. She would risk her own life to keep Ruby safe if it came to it.

Inside of Ruby's unconscious mind memories were swarming.

3 Years Ago: Ruby's Time in Prison

Prison was awful and Ruby like most people hated it. It was dirty, unsanitary, had no privacy, and everyone was mean. The place didn't have many working cameras but she figured that was more because of how shady the place was. The guards were abusive and shock inmates using the collars. Ruby had practically been tortured with the collar to the point that she a scar on her neck. Other staff members didn't give a shit and the warden was an opportunistic asshole. She knew some people wouldn't be nice but no one here seemed to be nice in any capacity, not unless they wanted something. Ruby mostly kept to herself after the first week. She felt uncomfortable around the others, she saw how they looked at her, how they eye'd her up like a piece of meat.

At first keeping to herself seemed to work and people didn't bother her, however it didn't last. Ruby was in the showers when someone came in. A crocodile faunus woman named Tock. Tock was arrogant, aggressive and one of the meanest women in the prison. She was everything that made faunus look bad, the type that gives off all the stereotypes. She came in and undressed but since it was the showers Ruby didn't think anything of it. Footsteps got closer and closer, the slapping sound of bare feet meeting wet floor echoed. Suddenly Ruby found herself grabbed from behind, a hand covering her mouth while the another held a make shift knife to her throat.

Ruby was roughly pushed against the hard concrete wall. She could feel the woman's breath on her neck and ear. She was told not to scream or she would slit her throat. Slowly she lowered the one hand and let it wonder her body. Tock did things to Ruby that she didn't want and then Tock made Ruby do things to her in return. It was humiliating, degrading and Tock was in no way gentle. After every thing was said and done Ruby thought it was over but it wasn't.

She felt a sharp pain in her stomach followed by several more. Looking down she saw blood, her blood and it was running out like a fountain. Tock laughed and mocked her, telling her how pathetic she was. Apparently the other woman was the paranoid type and always got rid of anyone that might snitch on her. She left Ruby laying there on the dirty, wet floor while she bleed out. She was alone and afraid. She didn't want to die and it scared her but it wasn't death that scared her so much. Being alone is what truly terrified her, being cold and alone was far more scary than death itself.

She shook, shivered and cried as the warm water had turned cold and her body started giving out. Her vision was blurry and her body hurt. She was going to die, die cold and alone. No family, no friends, no one. As her vision dimmed she could have swore she felt someone holding her, putting pressure on her stomach. She could have swore she saw a woman with multicolored eyes. Everything went black and quite and at that moment she knew she would die.

No...no-no-no! She refused to die! Not here, not like this! Her eye's shot open and she found herself alone. No one was there like she had thought. Ruby used all the strength she could muster and crawled out of the shower room. She crawled down the halls making her way to the infirmary. She passed plenty of other inmates who stared in shock and surprise at her as she left a large trail of blood. No one helped her but she wasn't surprised, she couldn't rely on anyone but herself.

Life was nothing but a lie, real life wasn't a fairy tale. Life wasn't black and white, in real life no one truly cared about you. You can't rely on anyone else but yourself in this world. After everything, after everyone treated her like shit she refused to give up. Her life, her rules! Fuck everyone else she didn't need them anyone. She would show them, she would show them all that she didn't need them. She would get stronger, she would get smarter, she would become more successful than any of them could ever hope. They wanted to label her as the bad person, fine let them, they can think what ever they want.

She made it to the infirmary where after the shock wore off the prison doctor got her up and onto a bed. The damage was pretty bad and would require surgery to repair. Normally a person who's aura was unlocked would recover from this without surgery. In this case though the prison collar didn't allow them access to their aura or semblance. They were not to be removed for any reason unless you were being released. Unsurprisingly the infirmary didn't even have proper medical equipment. They couldn't use any anesthetic, or pain killers either.

Both of those things could cause a change to someone's blood pressure. The lose of blood made it dangerous to use them and there wasn't enough time to try. The surgical equipment was old, rusty and obviously not safe. Now she understood what people meant when they said infirmary visits were a death sentence.

She didn't like it but it was this or die, so she let him operate. It hurt a lot and she was more likely to die from an infection or tetanus at this point. She made herself stay awake the whole time and only let herself pass out after she was patched up and knew she was safe. While she was there she started making deals with the staff and other inmates. At one point she even got the warden to talk to her and make a deal. She would be the wardens eye's and ears in the prison. She would report everything to him and on occasion deal with any problems that needed taken care of. In exchange Ruby would have money put into an account for her that she would have access to upon release and most of her actions would mostly be ignored.

Despite her injuries it only took her a week before she left the infirmary. They couldn't believe she was alive let alone up and walking around already. She should have died, they knew that and she knew that. Her body still hurt and she still felt weak because of the blood lose. Honestly it was mostly adrenaline that was keeping her on her feet. This proved how strong she was, and to think she was going to give up.

On her way out of the infirmary she stole one of the doctors scalpels. She made her way out to the yard and scanned the area. She found who she was looking for. Standing right there laughing and tormenting someone was Tock. She walked up to Tock who turned around to face her and without a single word Ruby slit the woman's throat. She stood there and watched the life drain from her eye's. Eventually she made her way to the bathroom where she emptied her stomach into the toilet. She killed someone, she didn't like it. It didn't feel right or satisfying but it had to be done. That woman was a threat and Ruby would remove any threat if it meant surviving.

It wasn't long after this that Neo showed up in Ruby's cell. As it turned out it was Neo that was there in showers. Neo had been popping into the prison and sneaking around from time to time. She was doing it because she wanted to watch Ruby. Ruby had already intrigued her and after being arrested it caught her attention as well as her curiosity. She had found Ruby laying there and thought she was going to die. She tried to stop the bleeding but couldn't and settled for not letting the girl die alone. When Ruby stopped breathing Neo thought it was done and over with only to find out later that Ruby did in fact survive.

Ruby didn't know what to make of Neo's actions. She didn't trust the woman but if she could somehow use her then she when let her stick around. They talked and got know each other and things changed for Ruby when it came to Neo. Even though she would never admit it, she trusted her. No one was there for her, not her former friends, not her former family. Neo, the woman who was supposed to be an enemy was the one who was there for her. Neo was her only friend, her only family and it was enough for her.

Ruby eventually started working out and learning how to fight with out her aura or semblance. She read and studied many topics, everything from business and politics to law and criminology. She even learned about the criminal underworld and all its workings. She got physically stronger and even though she might not look it, she could easily match Yang in strength. Her fighting improved to a point that no one in the prison could take her despite her smaller size. Neo, who had access to her aura and semblance had trouble when sparring with her. She learned that she couldn't always rely on her aura and semblance and because of that it made her stronger. Ruby's only real issue now was her drug use.

When it was time for her to get out she had plans to complete. Plans that she was already making using the connections she'd made so far in the prison. There was still a small trickle of her old dream that made her think what if. Perhaps when she got out she would at least try to apply at other combat school's first. If it didn't work then it didn't work, she wouldn't lament on it any longer if doesn't.

The Crescent Rose Present Day

Ruby woke up to find herself cleaned up, dressed, and tucked into bed. She placed her hand on her neck feeling the scar that was normally hidden by her choker. All her scars were a constant reminder of how cruel the world was. Looking over she saw a bottle of water, aspirin and a clean dress sitting beside the bed. The clock showed it had been a few hours since the club opened. Ruby wasn't sure how she got into bed and stuff but she's pretty sure it was probably Neo. Neo was always cleaning her up after a binge of drugs, alcohol and sex. The last thing she remembers though is hitting the other woman. She couldn't think about that right now though. Right now she needed to get up, get dressed in proper attire and head down there. She had a club to run, people to terrify and women to fuck.

It was several hours later when Ruby was up on stage just as WBY were walking in. She had just started singing when they walked in which was perfect timing. The song she had planned on singing would now be so much better. The song she sang was called 'People Are Fake' by a band named Blackbook. She had aimed the lyrics right at the three girls just like she did last time. The girls sat there with looks of sorrow. Ruby could tell they were here to talk to her. More than likely they all ready told Ozpin, Taiyang and some others about her being here. After she finished singing she headed to the bar to see what they wanted.

"So what brings you to my club again so soon? Wanting to try and start trouble again? Or are you here to actually enjoy the place?" Ruby asked as she poured herself a drink.

"Ruby we...we know you didn't start that fire." Yang nervously said getting straight to the point.

"Oh?" Ruby raised an amused brow.

"Y-Yea, we uh talked to Ozpin and well...well Emerald confessed to everything." The blonde was having trouble looking Ruby in the eye's.

"Did she?" Ruby said with a fake tone trying to sound shocked.

"She did." Yang said.

The three girls took a deep breath.

"Ruby we're sorry." They all three told her.

"Ozpin is sorry to. He actually has an offer for you." Blake mentioned.

"He wants you to come back to Beacon. We want you to come back to Beacon. To be our leader again." Weiss said.

"No." Ruby proclaimed with an uninterested tone of voice.

"Wha-What?!" They muttered out.

"You heard me." Ruby stood straight up and downed the rest of her drink. "I said no. I don't accept your apology, I will never go back to Beacon, now, or ever. Ozpin can take his offer and shove it so far up his ass that he vomits shit for weeks. And the three of you..." Ruby stared at them. "...can go fuck yourselves, or each other doesn't matter."

"Ru-Ruby! Your not serious are you!?" Yang asked as the three sat there with shocked expressions. "Being a huntress is your dream!"

"Use to be my dream. But not anymore. This is my dream, this is my life now. I love my life the way it is, I love the path I've chosen." Ruby confidently told them. "So to answer your question, yes I am serious."

"Ruby be reasonable." Yang argued. "We said we're sorry. You don't belong here, you belong at Beacon with you're friends and family."

"Friends and family!?" Ruby's eye's narrowed with a glint of angry. "I haven't had friends or family since all of you turned your back on me! You come in here with a half assed apology and an offer to return to Beacon and expect me to actually accept it?" Ruby started laughing.

"We are tying to be civil here and your laughing and being rude!" Weiss huffed.

"Oh I'm sorry ice queen were you expecting me to be nice?" Ruby asked sarcastically.

"Obviously!" The white haired girl responded.

"Weiss she was being sarcastic." Blake told her.

"Oh." Weiss deflated.

"Jeez, for someone so smart your not very bright are you ice queen." Ruby chuckled.

"That's uncalled for." Weiss said.

"Ruby please come back. I want my sister back." Yang pleaded.

"Your sister?!" Ruby questioned. "I don't have a sister! I stopped having a sister when you told me I was a disappointment and then abandoned me! So screw you, you blonde bimbo!"

"Ruby..." Blake started before getting cut off.

"SHUT UP!" Ruby yelled. "I don't want apologizes, I don't want excuses, I don't want my old life back!" Ruby's hands tightened into fists. "I am not innocent little Ruby Rose anymore! No one controls me anymore, no one tells me what to do anymore, no one gets to demand anything of me anymore! No one gets to disrespect me or talk down to me anymore either!"

By this time Ruby was yelling to the point that the music stopped and everyone was looking. Ruby didn't care if they heard, didn't care if they stared. WBY felt awkward, nervous and oddly scared with the way everyone was looking at them. It was like everyone here wanted a piece of them.

"I have money, power, and influence! People respect me, some look up to me and many want to be me! I am 'MISTRESS FUCKING ROSE' owner of The Crescent Rose night club, the best club in Vale!" Ruby shouted with anger but also enthusiasm and excitement. People around her were cheering her on while booing the three girls. "Here, I am queen and no one 'FUCKS WITH THE QUEEN'!"

Ruby smiled and smirked at the applause and cheers they were making for her. They knew who the boss was, they knew who was to be respected, they knew she had the power. The other three women just stared with mixed amounts of shock, surprise and shame. Perhaps they were finally starting to get it. They had no control over her anymore, she was her own person.

"Now your more than welcome to stop by anytime to enjoy the club. I'll be more than happy to take you're money so long as you follow my rules. However, for tonight I want you gone because you pissed me off and your faces will just make it worse." Ruby adamantly told them.

They got up and did exactly what she said, they left. They walked out to the laughter and insults that the staff and other patrons threw at them. After they walked out Ruby glanced over at the bar and noticed a pair of wiggling rabbit ears poking up from behind the bar.

"Are...are they gone?" A nervous voice asked.

"Yes, their gone." Ruby replied.

"Oh thank god." A pair of brown eye's appeared from behind the counter.

"Velvet if your going to hide, maybe next time make sure your ears are hidden." Ruby smirked. "They only would have needed to look over and you would have been busted."

"I uh...oops." Velvet blushed in embarrassment.

"Your cute you know that." She told her as leaned across the bar.

"Uhm...I...tha-thank you." The bunny girl responded with a blush.

"Your one of the best bartenders working here. I'm honestly glad you took my job offer a few months back."

"Yes well...it gives me the extra spending money. It's also been fun working here. I'm glad I decided to check this place out and bumped into you." Velvet blushed more with a bit of shy nervousness.

"Velvet you got the rest of the night off. Don't worry though I'll still pay you for a full night. Right now I want to dance and your the closet hottie." Ruby pulled a blushing Velvet over the bars counter and started gently pulling her over to the dance floor. "Come on it'll fun I promise!"