Beacon Academy: The Broken Jewels

One week ago:

It's been a while since the four of us have been in the same place. We are all here to discuss one thing. It's fitting that this doesn't take place in my office. It wouldn't be right if it took place anywhere else.

"Blake, Yang, thank you both for coming. It's good to see you."

"No Problem Little Sis." It's almost funny now I'm almost six inches taller than Yang.

"It's good to see the both of you, Ruby. It's been much too long."

"So why didn't you call us into the office Teach!

"Yang, The three of them are going to be here this year."

"Oh... Yea.." I can see the look of concern on her face. She raised all three of them."

Blake calmly steps in, "You're talking about the Signal Graduation Exams."

"Yes more importantly we need to discuss Auburn. That's why I thought here would be more appropriate." Every time we talk about her and our concerns we always meet up here. It's why we have the small sitting area at the foot of Weiss's Memorial.

"Ruby, I have a favor to ask that involves her too." I knew this was coming ever since Auburn graduated. I could see the Pain in Yang's face and I'm pretty sure what she is going to ask.

"Yang, I'm not going to allow Auburn to be on a team with Ruby or Yin." I could see her relief. She raised Auburn like a daughter but the Signal final exams has the three of us extremely concerned. Auburn has pushed herself harder than anyone we have ever met. Without any care for own her well being. She passed the combat part of the final exam with one move and two years early.

"Thank you." I could see tears already flowing from her. "That move horrified me. No one has ever used dust like that. She could have lost her arm."

Blake sitting there calmly, "She feels she has so much to prove. I'd guess that she feels she has a lot to live up to."

I'm haunted by that move still and it's been months since the Exam's finished. She completely destroyed the simulation Ursa used in the exam. She took a single Vial of dust she mixed herself. Fire and energy dust combination. flicked it into the air then with one punch she drove it into Simulants chest. The resulting explosion caused massive devastation and we all still don't know how she kept her arm yet alone survived. But it was horrific, the three of us learned something that day. She will do anything to win. It scares us all. I'm just glad she is on our side.

"I'm presenting her with her with Weiss's rapier during the opening ceremonies next week. I think we need to start letting her know what kind of person her Mother was. It may save her life."

Yang still shaken horribly about the conversation, "I love her ya know, as much as Ruby and Yin... But I'm afraid that if she leads them they won't be around long."

"You're assuming a lot that she is going to be a leader here. But I see your point."

"Ruby, you know as well as Yang the lengths that girl will go. She won't settle for anything but a lead position and she will earn it too."

"You're right Blake. I just wish she wasn't so self destructive. She's better now than any of us were back when we first got here. She's suffered a lot."

"Ruby, I thought Myrtenaster was destroyed.", Blake asked puzzled.

"For the most part yes it was. It's taken many years to rebuild it. I didn't really have much to go by. But after seeing Auburns Design for hers I was more able to rebuild it."

Yang finally composing herself, she hugged me, "Thank you"

"I need the two of you at the opening ceremony. The students need to see what being a huntress or huntsman is all about. " Ozpin really should have shown us this. Looking at my old team mates, Weiss dead, Blake missing a good portion of an arm, yang and myself covered in scars, and the loss of my eye. The cost has been grand indeed.

"Ruby, are both you and Yang thinking the same thing about Auburn that I am?

Yang lowered her head. She couldn't speak.

"Yes Blake, I think she might have that problem. I'm working on steps to prevent her from having the same Issue I do."

Yang was shaking now and in a low whisper, "Red Queen Syndrome."

Blake and I both were horrified by those words. Ever since they gave it a name she has never said it out loud. Just hearing it scares all three of us, myself the most, I am the Red Queen.

"Well I do need to be going, I've got some White Fang business to attend to."

I stifled a laugh. Blake looked at me strangely. "Could you imagine what Weiss would have said about that twenty five years ago."

We all stopped and had a laugh.

"Blake, Ruby, we need to spend more time together, we've been avoiding each other too long.", Yang tried to give one of the old smiles I remember.

"Yes, yes we do."

We all stood gave each other a farewell hug and I returned to my office. The walls lined with pictures Team RWBY had the same picture taken every year almost. Going down the line you can see as we turned from young girls to battle hardened huntress's. Seemed every year new scars emerged in the photos. I lost my eye only a year after Graduating Beacon. It could have been worse if Weiss hadn't been there. We all saved each other so many times. RWBY grew into a Legend. We were the ones who finally put Cinder away. Neo almost killed Weiss on three separate occasions but She finally came out on top. Weiss had never taken a life before it hit her hard. Blake took out Adam, she seemed to do well despite her connection to him. Yang was lucky she somehow stayed clean, no fatal incidents on her hands. She ended up becoming the reason the rest of us stayed sane. Me I'm as dirty as they come. Even got the nickname the Red Queen, during the war. Torchwick was the first. It like all the others were in the line of duty. Take lives to save lives, it's a horrible way to live. It was all much simpler before when we really only had to worry about Grimm, Then the new species started appearing, weaponized Grimm, and then Cinder Starting the war. Seemed like I couldn't go a week without being forced to take another life. Yang saw what it did to me. Weiss and Blake knew only a fraction of what I have been through. Then I snapped the Red Queen butchered hundreds of Cinders men. I don't even remember it. I don't ask questions I don't want to know. Yang said Weiss Died trying to protect me after I passed out from exhaustion during that rampage. Blake lost her arm. I always wonder if I'm the real reason for Blake's missing arm. I still wonder did I?

"Argh. My head hurts. " I always get these headaches when I try to think about what happened.

Then the Jaune 's voice comes over the office intercom, "Ruby she's here."

"Thank you Jaune"

The door to my office opens and a young blond Wasp Faunus walks in.

"Ma'am you asked for me."

"Yes Leonia I have a favor to ask you."