Author's Note: Took a bit of inspiration from the RWBY fanfic Red Thorn written by moguera. Highly recommend you guys check that out if you haven't already. It's by far the best RWBY fanfic out there and is my favorite. Moguera also has other works that are among my top favorites, Crimson Eyes and Lost Rose.

I really like the idea of Ruby running away because of a toxic overprotective father. But no, no Mibu clan in this one. That one is solely mogeura's.

So yeah, wish me luck on this.

PS: This is a rewrite of the original chapter, adding more stuff and slowing the pacing so it doesn't feel rushed. I did not like how the first version turned out. So this will hopefully be better.

/-\

Chapter 1

When a child runs away from home, there is a rift between the family. Such is the case for Ruby Xiao Long… no… Ruby Rose. At eight years old, she had enough of her father's unreasonable overprotectiveness and decided to leave home with whatever she has in her backpack, stowing away in a ship bound for the unknown. Although she could have sworn she heard some people say the ship was headed for a place 'beyond the veil'. If she remembered her classes in school, no one ever dared venture past the continents. That's good though. That meant no one would come looking for her there.

She really didn't think this through though but she was desperate.

Her father Taiyang wasn't this overprotective until a few years ago when her older sister Yang had decided to go looking for her real birth mother, putting her sleeping form in a wagon and going out into the woods. Had it not been for their uncle Qrow saving them from those beowolves, things would have gotten bad.

Since then, her father had pulled her out of Signal Academy, a junior school that trains would-be huntsmen. He kept on raving about how she needed to be kept safe. She was no longer to go on sleepovers with friends, no longer allowed to go on the annual festivals. Added with the fact that her father hadn't gotten over her mother's death… she was being turned into a doll that was going to be locked away for the rest of her life. She could not stay.

All she ever wanted was to become a huntress like her late mother. She did not want it for the recognition. She just felt compelled that she can help make the world a safer place. All she ever wanted was that.

She didn't know how long she was there in the ship's hold, feeling it rock to and fro. It was dark and damp. And then she felt it rock violently as the various cargo crates tumbled. She got up and got out of the way but in doing so, she did not see the pipe. Her vision immediately went dark.

When she came to, she found herself in a bright room with a beautiful woman of long dark hair sitting by her, smiling her.

"Hello there." the woman said. "Welcome to Divinity's Reach. My daughter."

/-\

Hours Earlier

The girl had lost a large amount of blood and was dying due the Risen attack. There was only one course of action.

"My queen." a royal advisor said in protest. "I must advice against it. The ritual is..."

"I heard her soul." Jennah, Queen of the Kingdom of Kryta, spoke in a fierce tone while gently caressing the girl's pale cheek. "I heard her soul crying out to me. Why else would the gods lead me to her? For years I have prayed for a child. Years. And now… the gods have granted me my truest desire. Summon the high mages. We will begin theritual."

Using the blessings and powers of Dwayna, the goddess of healing, air, warmth and life, the Ritual of Claiming, also known as Dwayna's Embrace, would essentially give the recipient familial blood relation to the giver. In short, the recipient's body changes to match that of the giver while retaining outward appearance. It was rarely done but Jennah was stubborn. She refused to marry for politics and was already reaching her mid twenties. Though she had a relationship with her champion and current commander of the Seraph, but their regular nightly unions had yet to bear any fruit. She was not going to turn away this gift from the gods.

"The ritual will require a second giver, your majesty."

"Then get Logan in here, NOW."

"We are ready to begin, your grace." one of the high mages announced right after Captain Thackeray was came in and was informed of what was happening. He was shocked of course but saw the determination in the queen's eyes. She was not backing down from this.

"Then let's not wait any longer." she declared and turned to her lover. "You ready?"

Logan smiled. "Always."

She held the girl in her arms as she knelt down on the floor with the high mages circled around the three. When the priests began the chant, Jennah herself began praying to Dwayna while cradling the child in her arms. Light surrounded them as they felt a stinging sensation within her bodies. The ritual was not only transferring some blood into the girl, it was also giving the girl her magical energies to aid in the healing. Minutes had only passed but it felt like an eternity to her. She held on to the girl for dear life.

She held on to her new daughter.

When the ritual finally ended, she let out a gasp of breath as her champion, Logan, caught her from falling.

"Jennah." he softly spoke to her.

"We're fine." she croaked.

"The child is yours through your blood now flowing within her veins." a priestess of Dwayna declared. "Dwayna has willed it! Kryta now has a new princess and heir!"

Though it was unorthodox and strange how it came to be, the whole kingdom nonetheless rejoiced. Kryta's future was now truly assured. And just like that, a festival was in full swing for the new princess.

/-\

Present Time

Ruby didn't know what to think. She was on a large bed in a rather large room with just this pretty lady seated right by her.

"How are you feeling?" the woman asked.

"O-Okay." she stammered. "Where am I?"

"Your room." the woman replied. "I had this room prepared just for you."

"Me?"

The woman nodded. "That's right. My name is Jennah. What's yours?"

"Ruby." she muttered. "Ruby… Rose."

The woman beamed. "A beautiful name for a beautiful girl. You must have a lot of questions."

She nodded. "What did you mean by my room?"

"We found you in a shipwreck." said the woman. "You were the only survivor when the undead Risen attacked it. This was also with you."

Ruby gasped when Jennah produced a red cloth. She immediately grabbed it and hugged. "Mommy's cloak. She made it for me."

Jennah thinned her lips. "Your mother?"

"She died. This is all I have of her."

"I'm sorry."

"I had to leave." she began. "My dad was getting worse. He won't let me leave the house. He won't let me be with my friends. He says it's for my safety. It's all because my mom died. Because I look too much like her. I had to leave… I c-couldn't take it."

"Shh." Jennah moved close and gently wrapped her arms around her. "You're here now. That was very brave of you to do what you did. Other children are not so fortunate. But what you did was dangerous as well. You were lucky we found you."

"I know."

"But now you are here." Jennah began. "You were gravely injured and near death. We had to use an ancient ritual to make you better. We had to use my blood, now flowing within your veins. It also changed your body in some ways."

Ruby tilted her head. "Changed?"

Jennah smiled. "We are now related by blood. The goddess Dwayna has made it so."

She wasn't stupid. Her eyes widened. "Does that mean… you're my new mommy? Is that what happened?"

Jennah beamed as tears welled in her eyes. "Yes, child. I am now your new mommy, if you'll have me."

Ruby gasped as he flung her arms as wide as she can and brought herself into the woman's embrace. "Mommy!"

The new mother and daughter pair just sat there on the bed in each other's arms, the former rocking her back and forth as the latter cried. They stayed like that for a while until Ruby calmed down. Jennah then called for servants to prepare a bath for her new daughter and then dinner. It was at that time that Ruby found out that she had become a princess.

It was strange. She never thought that she would become one. She liked to pretend that she was one when she played with her friends from school. And now she is not only a princess but heir to the throne of Kryta. She will remain the heir unless her new mother gives birth to a prince. The only reason her new mother is queen is because she was the only heir to be sired until her father's untimely death to assassin's of an organization called the White Mantle.

'Would I make a good queen like my new mommy?' she wondered.

Her new mother smiled at her, as if reading her mind. "You don't have to worry about that, Ruby. Not for a while. You don't have to make that choice yet."

"Okay." she mumbled, nodding all the while.

Mother and daughter ate together at the royal dining room. They talked for a while.

"So huntsmen and huntresses are like the adventurers here in Tyria." Jennah mused. "That's quite fascinating. But what disturbs me is the inequality between humanity and the faunus people. Such a thing would be unacceptable since Tyria is home to many races. Though relations with the human and charr is tense, we are working to mend those wounds and bring true peace. I like to think we're doing a great job at it."

"Some people say that faunus are nothing but animals." she said.

Jennah frowned. "That thought was once believed when it came to the charr. But that is untrue. The charr in fact are some of the most innovative people. If it weren't for their inventions being shared all across Tyria, Kryta would still be behind. It's thanks to them that we can be considered modern. Another advanced people are the asura. Their technology is beyond anything that the rest of Tyria could create. But thanks to diplomacy and friendship, they are slowly opening up to us. The Asura Gates are a good example of that."

"What other races are there?" Ruby asked, becoming increasingly curious.

"There are the Sylvari." said her mother. "They are tree people in a sense. Think of a human but made of plantlife. Then there are the Norn. They look very human but are much larger in size. These are the five main races of Tyria. Though there are many other races, we five are considered the most powerful and most influential."

"Wow!"

"Now come on." Jennah urged her. "Finish your meal. We're having desert next."

Ruby beamed and nodded, eagerly eating her meal. She never thought she would feel this kind of happiness again.

Life could not be any better for Ruby. While she still finds it weird that maids have to tend to her, this was far better than being caged by her… former father. Her new father is far better. Logan would always take the time to train her in how to use a sword when not practicing magic with her mother. She finally got what she wanted and she could not be any more happier.

/-\

Some of the nobility were skeptical, especially the more conservative ones who opposed her egalitarian policies. But Jennah stuck through it and with the backings of the High Priest of the Temple of Dwayna, they could not say anything against it. The ritual may be old and considered archaic, but it is potent and powerful. Ruby is now a princess of Kryta and a full-blooded member of the Salmaic Dynasty, descendant of Queen Salma herself. But not only that, she was also a Thackeray, descendant of legendary heroes who fought against the charr invasion centuries ago. A direct descendant of Gwen Thackeray, the Goremonger. None can deny that. When news of that reached Ebonhawke, the streets were filled with rejoicing.

Kryta finally had an heir to the throne. Hope had come for what remained of the human kingdom of Ascalon.

And that in itself is a problem.

"Jennah?"

The queen smiled softly at the voice of her lover, Captain Logan Thackeray, commander of the Seraph, the kingdom's primary military force.

"Once she turns thirteen…" she mused. "Nobles will flock for the opportunity to ask her hand in marriage. The same way so many did when I turned thirteen. All those predatory hungry eyes. They will all want her. Marrying her would mean a chance for the throne. I prayed for a child and I can't be any happier but… I'm scared that I might have just condemned her as well. She will just be too enticing for them. Or worse… the White Mantle. They'll see her as a threat."

Logan knelt down and grabbed hold of her hands. "We're not going to let that happen, love. She's my daughter too now. It's funny… saying that."

Jennah giggled. "Yes. Yes it is."

"Your majesty?" a maid came in. "The princess is here."

"Send her in, Leyla."

Ruby, with her red hair, came in while clutching a red cloth. It was all she had left of her birth mother. She was wearing a pretty little dress. Logan couldn't help but smile.

"Ruby." Jennah gently spoke, already knowing about the situation as to how she came here. "I would like you to meet someone. This is Logan. Your new father."

Ruby was wary, and for good reason. Logan of course was informed about.

"Hi there." the Seraph commander spoke, his tone soft. "You have no idea how happy this makes me, Ruby. I've always wanted to be a dad."

Ruby immediately hid behind her mother's leg. "You… you're not going to hide me away?"

Logan shook his head. "No. I can't wait to teach you how to wield a sword. Did you know that your great-great-great-great grandmother was a powerful warrior?"

The girl's eyes lit up a little. "R-Really?"

The man nodded. "That's right. Gwen Thackeray was her name. She was a powerful mesmer. The charr feared her, calling her Goremonger. During the war, she killed a lot of them in defense of her home of Ascalon. Even now, the charr use her name to scare their children. Kind of like a boogie man. Or… boogie woman?"

Jennah snorted. "Logan… though I can't deny that. It sounds silly… boogie woman? Really?"

"Well… I guess we can stick to Goremonger."

Ruby smiled. "You… you're really gonna teach me how to fight?"

Logan gently smiled at her. "Can't have a Thackeray who doesn't know how to fight. Gwen would probably haunt me if I didn't teach you."

The princess slowly came out of her mother's shadow and approached the man. And then, she stretched out her arms and hugged him. "D-Daddy?"

Logan gently wrapped his arms around her. "I'm here, baby girl. I'm here. I'll do whatever it takes to give you a good and happy life. I promise."

She sniffled. "Daddy…"

Jennah soon joined in on the hug. Both of them placed their lips on their daughter's cheeks.

And soon after, announcement of the marriage between the Queen and the Captain was made. If they were going to raise Ruby, and possibly even expand this new family, they were going to do it properly.

/-\

"A sword is just not just a weapon, Ruby." Logan instructed. Today was their first day of training and Ruby was excited. "It is an extension of your arm. You want to be a mesmer like your ancestor, that's good. Mesmers also know how to use a sword. Your mother will teach you magic later."

The princess nodded enthusiastically, holding her practice sword. It was made of wood but that didn't make her any less happy. "Okay!"

"Alright, now follow after me."

Jennah was just nearby, watching the two train.

"Well this is certainly a surprise. But a welcome one."

The woman before the queen was someone who had been a part of her life for a very long time. Some say she is immortal because of her beauty despite being past her fifties, perhaps even sixties. No one truly knows. Others think she is just using her mesmer abilities to hide her true age. Either way, none could deny her prowess as a mesmer.

Countess Anise, Master Exemplar of the Shining Blade, the personal guard of the royal family that also functions as a covert unit ranging from message delivery, spying and other activities that require them to move in the shadows.

"She acts like you when you were her age."

Jennah smiled, sipping tea with the countess. "You think so?"

Anise chuckled. "Oh please, Jennah. I practically raised you and trained you. You surpassed all my expectations. Kryta's new princess will do the same, I'm sure of it. That kind of enthusiasm and desire to learn is extremely rare. She's going to go far, just like her mother."

Jennah grinned. "Perhaps even further."

/-\

Though Ruby was a little apprehensive, she came to understand what it meant to be a princess. Before, she always thought a princess was glamorous and whatnot from having watched all those movies before. Now? It is anything but glamorous. The role of a princess is a difficult one. Countess Anise, her new godmother, had explained to her what it means to be one. The woman was in charge of her schooling and academics as well as joint teacher in the ways of the mesmer alongside her mother Jennah.

"Many of the nobles will see you as an enticing target." Anise said. "Once you're thirteen and make your royal debut, many will ask for your hand in marriage. What they want is a chance at the throne."

"Mmm." Ruby shrunk back. "But… isn't that wrong?"

Anise smiled. "It was the same thing for your mother but she stuck through. Soon, she will marry your father. Many nobles will still look down on that despite the legend of the Thackeray name. Some are still stuck with the old ways. You must be strong like your mother. You have every right to refuse any of them. That will certainly deal a blow to their pride."

Ruby gave her godmother a small smile.

"Now come on, these studies won't finish themselves."

At that, the princess let out a groan, causing the countess to laugh.

/-\

Two Years Later

Ruby, with her personal maid and a pair of guards were touring Shaemoor's new orphanage. Many of the children were excited to see her. Some of the girls had starts in their eyes. But then all of a sudden, the centaurs of the Tamini Tribe made a bold surprise attack on the village. Her two guards were killed in the attack, prompting the maid to hold the princess in her arms.

"It's that new princess!" one of the centaurs barked.

"Let's take her!"

"NOOO!" the maid cried out while Ruby's eyes were wide with fear. The centaurs were about to reach them when a shadow emerged and slashed their throats.

There… Ruby witnessed a fifteen year old boy with a pair of daggers leaping forward and making another strike, dispatching more centaurs.

"You two okay?" he asked them.

The maid let out a cry of relief. "Thank you!"

"Get the princess to safety!" the boy told the maid.

"Sergeant!" a female Seraph soldier saluted the officer. "More centaurs at the bridge! Captain Thackeray is requesting reinforcements at the garrison!"

Ruby gasped. "Papa needs help!?"

The sergeant furrowed her brows, especially since the princess is present. "If he's calling for help it must be serious, but I can't spare anyone. We've already got our hands full here."

The princess's eyes widened. "No…"

"I'll go." the boy with the daggers stepped up. "Captain Thackeray has never failed Divinity's Reach. If I can help him, I will."

The sergeant smiled. "Balthasar bless you. That's the spirit that will help win this war. Good luck."

So Ruby watched as the boy rush towards the garrison against an oncoming horde of centaurs. She saw his face. He was handsome. That made her cheeks redden.

"Come princess." the sergeant spoke. "Let's get you back into the city. The queen's probably worried by now."

Ruby nodded dumbly and was carried off. All the while, she was staring at the direction of where the boy went. Her cheeks were red all the time.

/-\

Jennah hugged her daughter. Of course she was worried. Ruby is her first and only child.

"Thank the gods!" she said, kissing the girl's head. "Are you alright?"

The princess nodded. "Mhmm. Someone saved us. He's really good with daggers."

"Then I will like to see him later so I can personally thank him."

"He's volunteered to aid Captain Thackeray at the garrison." Ruby's maid informed the queen. "He looked to only be fifteen or so. He charged those centaurs without a single ounce of fear."

Jennah was certainly impressed by that.

So they waited. It had gone on for hours until footsteps were heard from the door and in came the Seraph's commander.

"LOGAN!"

"DADDY!"

Logan came up to them and brought them into a fierce hug.

"It's over." he told them. "We've won. That boy was something else."

"Is he okay?" Ruby asked.

"He's at the Temple of Dwayna getting patched up." said Logan as he both of their heads. "That earth elemental knocked him out and injured him but we got to him in time. Wish the Seraph had more like him."

"Can I go see him?" Ruby asked.

Jennah shushed her. "Not right now. He won't be awake for a few more days. Once's he's up, we can go see him. I want to thank him. But right now, you need to go get washed up and ready for bed. It's been a long day."

"Okay."

/-\

Few Days Later

"Ugh…" Stryder groaned and opened his eyes to see bright lights. The Temple of Dwayna.

"You're awake." a priestess spoke.

"Did…" he stammered. "Did we win?"

"You did." the priestess replied in confirmation. "You saved many lives that night. That blast injured you and knocked you out. You've been unconscious for roughly three days."

The boy groaned. "Remind me not to face a giant elemental again."

The priestess giggled. "I don't think that will be possible, Hero of Shaemoor. You seem have the knack of throwing yourself into danger."

"Hero of Shaemoor?"

"That's what the people call you now. You saved Shaemoor from the centaurs, killing them by the droves before facing their king Ulgoth and his elemental."

"I think Ulgoth got away though…" he grumbled.

"He did." the priestess agreed. "Still doesn't change the fact about your deeds. You're a hero to these people."

"That you are, young man."

All eyes were wide as the royal family had entered the temple. Stryder groaned and tried to get up. "Y-Your majesty."

"No need to get up." Queen Jennah stated. "You're still recovering. We're here to say thank you for what you've done."

Princess Ruby's cheeks were pink, hiding behind her mother.

"Princess." Stryder bowed his head. "Good to see that you're okay."

"Thank you." the princess muttered.

He smiled at her, causing the princess's cheeks to get even redder. "No need to thank me. Can't let anything happen to our beloved princess."

The priestess could have sworn there was steam coming out of the red-haired princess. Even the queen was smirking at her daughter.

"I tried finding his parents." the priestess told the queen. "But..."

"You won't find them." Stryder said. "Never had them. Been living on the streets in Lion's Arch for years before moving here. My old gang and I went our separate ways not too long ago. One got picked up by the Asuran Progency Protective Services, the other went and joined the Ash Legion… yeah… it was for the best."

Jennah frowned. "And you've been living on your own ever since?"

"Found a lead on my parents." he said. "It wasn't much but… it was a start. Must have been a reason why they left me at the Lion's Arch Orphanage. I need to know if they're dead or alive. At this point, I'm just lookin' for answers."

Jennah nodded in understanding. It saddened her that such a young boy was forced to mature and do difficult things just to survive due to circumstances that were outside of his control. Though she strives to improve the conditions of the common people in the kingdom, it was still a long and difficult path to take. Going against the conservative nobles was always a difficult battle in the world of politics.

"You don't have to worry about me, your majesty." Stryder continued. "I've been looking after myself ever since we were forced out of that orphanage because of that snotty noble buying the property to make a resort."

The queen frowned. She knew what noble did that. Though Lion's Arch is an independent city-state, many nobles from Kryta like to invest in that city. And there was one noble who had been promoting their resort since its opening.

Legate Minister Caudecus Beetlestone.

Suddenly, Ruby did something bold. She went up to the boy and kissed his cheek, her own now ablaze from the audacious action.

"T-Thank you for saving me."

He smiled and nodded. "Don't mention it, Your Highness. Besides, I can't let bad things happen to cute girls on my watch."

Jennah stifled a giggle as she watched her daughter turn into a stuttering mess.

/-\

"SHE HAS A WHAT!?"

Jennah was honestly amused. They had not even been officially married, the wedding merely a week away, and Logan was already acting like an overprotective father.

"A crush, dear." she said. "She's a crush on the boy who saved her, the Hero of Shaemoor."

"A…" Logan sputtered. "A CRUSH!?"

"Honestly, Logan, it's not that bad."

"Not that bad!?" the Seraph commander balked, his tone incredulous. "We've only had her for how long and she's already got a crush!? NO!"

Jennah was honestly expecting a reaction but this was just downright amusing. "Logan."

"I'm… I'm going to talk to her."

"You'll do no such thing."

Logan squawked at the queen. "Jennah… but…"

"I am not going to deny her what is supposed to be a part of her childhood." the queen sternly spoke. "She's already been denied that once by her sire… don't do that to her."

At the mention of Ruby's sire, the Seraph commander let out a sigh and sat down. "Right… I forgot about that."

Jennah sat down beside him and took his hands while kissing him. "You're already being a good father to her. Better than the last one. I know you want to protect her. Just remember where she came from and how she came to us."

He nodded, finally calming down.

Stryder seemed like a good kid though. Just today, he aided the Seraph in squashing a criminal movement within the city. It was thanks to his skills in stealth and scouting that made it possible. Jennah of course had ordered Countess Anise and her Shining Blade to look into the boy's background. The boy's features were Krytan through and through. If his parents were from Kryta, they would know.

When night fell, the pair went into their daughter's room, whom was now asleep. She was hugging a stuffed toy that was given to her. Jennah had commissioned a toy maker to make one just for her. They both knelt down and kissed her forehead.

Ruby is their daughter, no one can dispute that. Through the ritual and by Dwayna's will, she is made theirs. But most importantly…

Ruby is home.

Author's Note: And that's a wrap for this chapter! Definitely happier with this newer version. So I guess for the first few chapters, it will be about Ruby growing up in Tyria.