Wasn't sure what story this would be but when I figured it out... I felt it would fit here considering other people have written stories like this in a somewhat similar fashion with near constants.
I know I've made a RWBY story in the past (or more if you really want to look into things I'm doing either now, in the future, or before considering when I'm writing this).
But I've decided to change some thing's up, I've decided... to take a few concepts I've seen other people produce. I've read a story that... well, was interesting to say the least relating to an OC being abused by Taiyang along with Yang and Summer with Ruby being... well Ruby and just being nice. And said OC left them, met some guardians (so to speak) and Qrow was there.
If you know what I'm talking about, you spend a lot of time on the internet like me with pretty much nothing to do but to browse around Fanfiction due to boredom (ironically wasn't posted on this website)
I figured that was an interesting concept and... looked further into other stories like it and realized... there is some potential here that I could use, I mean... I'm still a rookie writer but hey! I think I've got this... or I hope so.
I know I'm ranting here and your glancing over this but... I feel as though this needs to be said besides a few simple words about how I feel about this story. It is gonna be dark... yes, it is still not M-Rated purely due to the fact there are routes I can... express detail on and choose not to for the realization that would be very messed up and that it's not my style.
So, a lot of things are going to be implied or stated in the aftermath considering that it is a detail and not an outright description. That kind of thing is more my style and if you don't like that, then you can leave now.
Point is... I'm sort of going down the same route, so call this an AU or IU or whatever U. I don't care, I'm going to make this story the best I can.
With that... let's jump into it, shall we?
Also, there are some major changes here from the original plot if that wasn't obvious enough, so... if you don't like that, leave now as I have said before with my style of writing.
If it angers you, there is no need to say anything too rude, constructive criticism in detail is nice and would help but saying this story sucks plainly without any context doesn't help anyone.
It makes an ass of people if you think about it really.
Again, sorry for the long rant. Let's get into the story now.
I... never knew who my real parents were, I was dropped here a long time ago by... well someone related to the family, Qrow I think his name was. Not gonna lie... I wish I could rue him, I wish I could hate him but... honestly, I can't hate him.
I don't think he knew what he just did or is even aware of it, I know he visits but... well, he can't see me for the obvious reason of what I look like currently.
And to which if you're curious, I basically have hair that's sort of a dirty blonde... I think, skin as pale as the moon with splotches of dirt and dried blood, and eyes as shining like the sea itself. My blood is... well you'd never expect me to say what my blood is, it's as scarlet as you and I are... sort of. It's complicated really, especially since I mentioned the dried blood.
Any normal person's really would ask 'Wait, you know what blood looks like despite being like what... four years old?' and to that I sadly say... yeah. I know what it looks like not due to asking a question or looking at a book, nah... I don't even know how to read actually or... write.
You want to take a quick guess why? Why I can't do two relatively simple things despite being four years old and sort of smart? Here's the answer if you didn't either take a guess or really didn't care.
I have been living in this household, abused, beaten both physically and verbally, and... treated in ways that most would ask 'why?' and by now... I should have given up hope.
Strange... I haven't... I've never lost hope, even after everything. Even after all the abuse both physically and sexually, even after all the times spent in a dark room, cold and alone without anyone to cry out for.
There is one person who helps me... my little sister, Ruby Rose. Weird isn't it? A little girl like her sticking her neck out for her brother who's the source of all their problems so to speak? I've never even spoken a word to her or even said my thanks (mainly cause I've never talked out of fear of being beaten again), and yet... she loves me all the same... that's what she says to me every time she helps me.
When everyone else is out doing stuff and they need Ruby to stay behind and make sure I don't do anything bad (yeah, they hate me to THAT point), you know what she does? She gives me some food, she gives me love, she gives me... a reason to keep going.
I... can't believe someone like her exists, I've never really met anyone else so this is pretty much the only comparison I have. I'm a smart kid because of what I did learn, I've learned this is wrong (no duh huh?), I've learned that sooner or later... I need to run before I lose my hope because... if I lose my hope... then is there a way to survive.
My name is Scarlet Rose and this... is my story.
This the story... of how I met my new family.
{=========}
"SCARLET!"
A young man with dirtied hair and skin slowly got up, bruises all over with a blackened left eye, he had an old cloth shirt with the back entirely ripped from something and old cloth pants, he got up and limped over to where he had to go.
The living room, he saw his 'father's' blonde hair and angry blue eyes glaring at him with the rage of more then any suns that anyone can count, this caused the young man to look away from him.
He can't look him in the eyes, that's considered being defiant and... well you know what punishment that would be in this household.
"Listen here boy, it's time for your punishment again." He said in a harsh tone
The young boy doesn't say anything, he walks over to his usual spot and stands there. His father grabs a whip and smacks it against this hand with a malicious grin.
"Now... hold still." He said in a malicious tone
He then whips the body repeatedly, causing fresh new wounds to open from the previous whippings, the boy doesn't cry out in pain for he knows if he does... it will only get worse and yet still... he holds onto his hope that it ends sooner then usual.
"Honey!"
He... doesn't wish for this to happen instead but... she may finish sooner this time, he hopes for that at the very least. It may have not worked before but it might happen this time.
A woman wearing a white cloak walks out, she has a perverted grin on her face. That grin... he knows what time it is.
"Let me handle the poor boy." She said with fake sympathy
That sympathy was always false, she did it to try to gain his trust but after what happened the first time, trust towards her was... not one to be given. She isn't what she seems outside of this household if that wasn't obvious by fake sympathy and the perverted grin.
She grabs the boy's hand and guides him upstairs, he knows what's going to happen... and he hates it but he can't stop her... he never was able to. He wishes for it to stop but... wishes don't come true apparently.
Two hours later
The young man is in his room again, his parents have left with his other younger sister (whom joins in on the torture quite a lot) and have left Ruby behind. He then starts to cry, tears slowly spilling out.
He doesn't want to cry, he really doesn't but the pain here is too much, the suffering he feels, the agony. He may not lose hope but that doesn't mean he doesn't cry over what happens, that doesn't mean he wants to stay here, that doesn't mean... he doesn't feel sadness ever.
He feels sadness... except-
"Scarlet." He hears a soft kind voice say
He looks over to see... Ruby, holding two cookies. She walks over and hands him one.
"I'm sorry about what happened." She said feeling sorry for her young brother
Scarlet shakes his head at her and makes a few gestures, she sighs softly.
"I know, I know I it isn't my fault." Ruby said with a sad tone
She's a fairly smart girl despite being at such a young age, she's innocent to what her mother does to him but she is aware of what her other family members do to him. Completly aware and can't speak out against it lest she gets hurt, she wants to but... she doesn't for Scarlet, she doesn't want to have him worry over her. Her job is being a big sister for both her half-sister and herself.
She carries the weight of being an inspiration two times over for one person. And she doesn't mind, someone has to care for him, and if no one else will... then she'll do it herself.
"Scarlet... I have a plan, Dad's going to get a super-strong bottle of alcohol for her and mom with Yang staying somewhere with friends in a couple of weeks. I'm going with her since... we're sisters as you know, you'll be able to run at night since they'll be knocked out. I want you to get to Vale and... find someone, anyone to keep you safe. I love you Scarlet... never forget that." Ruby said
Scarlet... then gives her a hug, smiling slightly before speaking this in a hoarse and quiet tone.
"I love you too Ruby... and thank you." He said
Ruby stops hugging him and goes out the room, she knows if she's caught... she'll get grounded and Scarlet will be punished even more. She can't risk it, she can't. She doesn't mind getting grounded if it means helping Scarlet but if it means him getting punished, then... she doesn't want to think about it.
She then looks at Scarlet one last time, seeing the small bit of hope radiate in his eyes.
"There is Lien I have hidden in my stash of cookies, you know where it is right?" Ruby asked
Scarlet nods, she smiles slightly.
"Good, now... fly Scarlet Dove... fly." She said in a soft tone
Ruby always called her Scarlet Dove... it's because she always feels at peace with him when he's safe and feels he tries to keep the peace by making sure he takes the blame.
A somewhat fitting name, he'll make sure to honor it more when he escapes.
Days pass
It's night, his parents are asleep and his sisters are away, he sneaks over to Ruby's stash and takes the Lien. He silently thanks her before sneaking over to the door, he sees a pair of dirty old shoes that Ruby used to wear, he takes them and was about to open the before hearing.
"What the?"
He recognizes the voice before opening the door with all his strength and running, not looking back as he hears his father yell for him to get back here drunkenly with his mother saying 'My sexy little baby!'.
He keeps running, he doesn't want to look back, he won't look back, he can't. If he does, he'll die, he'll die painfully.
He's got to keep running, if he stops, he'll go back there and end up in the same situation, he can't let that happen.
He doesn't want that to happen, they won't feel bad for him anyway when he runs.
He keeps running for what seems like an eternity when it was an hour, he begins to slow down before coming to a complete stop as he has run out of breath.
His breaths are shaky and painful, it still hurts to breath considering the hour-long whipping session he had to deal with earlier with Yang punching him and breaking his arm. It still hurts to use it, but he has no choice if he's going to get away.
He holds his broken arm as he keeps walking, he doesn't have anywhere else to go... so he just walks. That's all he CAN do anyway, he has to get to Vale and... he doesn't have a plan yet but he'll figure it out. He still has hope for the future and to him... that's the most important thing.
He then hears a growl, he looks over to see a small Beowolf, he looks at in fear. He can't die here, not now. He then runs, the Beowolf not far behind him, it was starting to catch up to him even.
'No, no, no, no, I can't die here. I want to live, I want to keep feeling hope, I want... I want a family who loves me still. I...'
Scarlet then starts to cry a little as he remembers the pain he has felt over the years, he then trips over a branch and falls (luckily) on his non-broken arm. He looks up to see the Beowolf was right before him, he closes his eyes and resigns himself to his fate.
He was stupid to think he can even get this far, he isn't strong enough.
"Hey." He hears
He opens his eyes to see a young girl beside him, she has pure white hair and a white silk dress on. She grabs his hand on his nonbroken arm and gets him up with a run.
He looks at her confused as she guides him away with a smile, she looks at him.
"Don't worry, I'm here. I'm... your guardian so to speak." She said to him in a kind light-hearted tone
He... looks at her with a shocked and awed look, Scarlet... feels an alien emotion he's never felt before. He doesn't recognize it at all, he looks back to see the Beowolf was still chasing after them.
The two then fall over again, tripping over another branch, Scarlet looks up... he doesn't want to die. He grabs the girl and dodges the swipe, he has an angry look on his face.
'I'm not letting an innocent girl die over me, I can't allow that. She's... too nice.' He thought to himself
He grabs a stick and holds it like a weapon in his nonbroken arm, he glares at the Beowolf before hitting the stick over its head a couple of times before it breaks. He then punches the Beowolf in the snout with his strongest punch, causing to recoil in pain.
"Little Dove, it's dangerous to fight those without a weapon." The girl said scared for the young boy
He looks at her, a determined look on his face, saying that she won't let her get hurt with his eyes rather then his mouth.
"But... you'll die." She said afraid that will happen to him
Scarlet looks back at the Beowolf, getting into a stance, he has seen Yang get into this stance while secretly watching her. He has practiced at night for the hope that he can defend himself one of these days.
He may have ran away from home before but he still wants to defend others, he wants to help those who need it, he will not let anyone end up in the situation he was in before.
That's when the Grimm dies by a loud gunshot, a man then lands before the two. He has greying hair, stubble along his jawline, and a red tattered cloak with a giant sword propped on his shoulder.
He then looks at the two before looking at Scarlet in shock.
"Scarlet?" He asked, secretly hoping it wasn't a worst-case scenario
The aforementioned young boy backs away slightly in fear, thinking the man was going to take him back to his own personal 'Hell' to speak.
"It's me... Qrow." The man said in a soft tone
Scarlet... looks at him shocked before looking at him with his normal look which was basically a nervous puppy that was kicked around a whole bunch.
This made Qrow's heart break slightly, he'll deny it but... it really did break his heart a little to see him in such a sorry state.
'What the hell happened to him.' He asked himself in a slightly angry tone
He saw the boy's scarred malnourished body with splotches of unwashed dried blood on it, he saw his dirty hair shine dully in the moonlight. This wasn't the beautiful child Qrow saw years before, this was a boy long since abused.
"...Who did this to you?" Qrow asked in a firm yet soft tone
Scarlet looks nervously at him, the Huntsmen sighs with a soft expression.
"I'm not going to hurt you kid... just tell me who did this you." Qrow said again firmly yet still soft
"...Father did this... as did Yang..." Scarlet said nervously
This news... it made Qrow angry internally speaking while shocked externally he was shocked, he was going to have a... 'chat' with Tai when he sees him again and a chat with his niece also.
She is going to understand what she did was wrong after her father's ass was kicked.
"What about Summer and Ruby?" He asked, hoping they didn't hurt him also or rather helped him
"OH, Ruby... she was the one who convinced me to escape... she was the only one who treated me right... with Mother... I don't want to talk about it." Scarlet said in a somewhat quiet tone
Qrow knows those words... those words that Scarlet uttered about not wanting to talk about it... those are the words of many a victim he has met... now he was going to have a chat with Raven about this later, Summer was gonna need some sense smacked into her.
A LOT of sense smacked in her, as in a truckload. A small tangent, a good one but a tangent nonetheless. He needs to focus to the task on hand now.
Helping Scarlet.
"...Let's get you to a hospital kid, you don't look good." Qrow said noticing the bruises on his broken arm
"Excuse me." The two heard
Scarlet then remembered the girl, the two look at her.
"Forgot you were here, wait why are you here?" Qrow asked
"I... honestly, no clue. I just felt... a presence and found myself in this forest. I heard someone cry out for a guide, that was a year ago by my estimate. I've wandered here for a long time and I later found Little Dove here in the forest. I decided to help him escape that Bewolf and well... the rest is history." The girl said with an enigmatic grin
"Oh... wait, you're calling him Little Dove?" Qrow asked
"Well, his skin is white like a dove's and he doesn't seem like the fighting type... hence Little Dove, plus he's shorter then me." The girl said in a light airy tone, her mysterious smile still there
Qrow... didn't question it at that moment, kids are weird and thus he's not questioning it.
"Okay kid, what's your name?" He asked lightly
"My name is Claire Nella." She said in an upbeat tone
Qrow nodded while Scarlet's eyes shimmered at her name.
"What a pretty name." He said in a quiet yet chipper voice
Claire... felt her heart stop a beat at what he said, this kid was going to kill her with adorableness. She smiled slightly at the compliment she was given.
"Thank you." She said happily
"...What's Thank you?" He asked innocently
Qrow then looked at him silently... screw the 'chat' with Tai, he was going to beat him to near-death for this. He didn't care if it was illegal to use that level of violence, what he just heard was so unnatural and so strange and out there that Tai must have fucked this kid mentally speaking.
"...We'll tell you have we get you a hospital." Qrow said, knowing they might provide more insight then a simple look over
"What's a hospital and why are we going there? I'm not going back home am I?" Scarlet asked slightly afraid
Qrow silently felt sorry for this kid especially since he saw the fear in his eyes, it wasn't the normal type of 'I'm going to be in trouble for this' it was the kind of fear that said 'I'm going to die' and then he sighed softly.
He hoped to never see that kind of fear again in those kids eyes, that fear... that fear should never be in any kids eyes ever.
"No, you're not going back there. You're never going back there after what you've just told me, dammit Tai what did you do." He said the last part to himself
Thus the party of three left the forest, going to Vale... a new hope was brewing with Scarlet as his connections with people with soon grow stronger. But many questions remain.
Who is Claire? Why is she here? How did he find him? And where did she come from?
Those questions and more... may possibly be answered soon.
So yeah, that's that. Now for some things that I should mention.
I know that this is similar to that story I mentioned earlier, I was inspired by it quite a lot. It actually was fairly interesting, I'm putting my own spin on the concept which makes it a lot more different then the original.
So there's that reasoning.
Now for some information relating to the names.
Scarlet is well... a shade of red obviously, and Scarlet Roses are sort of a thing (I checked, they are) and Nella is basically Vanilla which I got from a RWBY name generator. Credit to that since I'm not exactly original with names.
That's pretty much all I need to say there, now I'm going to be incorporating a lot of characters. These are Scarlet's Guardian's so to speak (that name will be a lot more important later, remember that) Those who haven't been introduced will have their name's kept secret.
Guide: Claire
Teacher: ?
Knight: ?
Mage: ?
Queen: ?
Jester: ?
Yep, we're sort of going with a Royal Court theme here. I figured it would work considering the situation at hand here, there has to be someone to help him and well... these people will.
I know this story is pretty dark and honestly, I haven't written a story this dark. But soon, I'll go back to my lighthearted tone ways when I finish this first part of the story.
You read that correctly... first part, I'm making sure this is a long one. I've got time on my hands before I graduate.
I'll see you guys in the Fandom.