The kitchen was an absolute disaster. The trio had spent hours taking turns cooking whatever came to mind. The two off the stove would pick from whatever had been made while the person on the stove rushed to finish the next breakfast item. As a result, by noon the counters were littered with various half-eaten breakfast foods. Ruby understood it was basically a massive distraction for her sake, but that didn't stop her from enjoying it. She did miss spending time with her father and sister after all.

Ringing came from Taiyang's pocket, and the man pulled out the offending device. Ruby recalled the girl on the beach offering her a similar device the night before. "Wait, is that what scrolls look like now?"

"Yup," Taiyang nodded as he opened the screen to check the Caller ID.

"Wow," Ruby stared, "I really have been away a while..."

"What the..." Taiyang's face showed confusion when he saw who was calling him. "I should take this, I'll be back in a minute," he walked into the back yard.

Yang smirked, "Guess that means we can skip his turn!"

Ruby did a double take at her sister. "How is there anything left to cook in this kitchen?"

Outside, Taiyang answered the call. "Ozpin?"

"Good morning, Mr. Xiao Long," Professor Ozpin greeted formally.

"Good morning," Taiyang politely returned. "What's with the call? Is there something wrong with Yang's paperwork?"

"Not at all," Ozpin assured, "I believe everything is fine on that front. I was actually calling about your other daughter."

"Ruby?" Taiyang looked back through the window toward his daughter. She hadn't even been back on-world twenty-four hours. She spent almost no time on Remnant to begin with. Why was Ozpin of all people calling after her? With the World Order to think about among other things, he couldn't help but be on guard. "What about her?"

"As I'm sure you're aware, I had the good fortune of running into young Ruby Rose last night after she helped foil a robbery," Ozpin informed him.

Again, Taiyang was surprised, though perhaps not quite as much. Hearing she put her own worries aside to help someone else wasn't very surprising at all. What was vaguely surprising was Ruby not mentioning it. Although, considering what she must have gone through, Taiyang quickly deduced his daughter likely simply forgot about the robbery. "I wasn't aware, actually. Of either of those things. Truth is, the morning has been… hectic."

"Is that so?" Ozpin sounded surprised himself.

Taiyang smirked, thinking about Ruby fighting off crooks on the dark streets of Vale. He may have been worried if he wasn't sure of the skill Ruby already possessed. "So, did she do well?"

"Very well," Ozpin answered, sounding like he had been caught off guard by the casual question. "She has a surprisingly high level of skill for one so young. In fact, I offered her a spot at Beacon."

Taiyang noted Ozpin's optimistic tone. "And did she accept?"

"Well, not yet, no," Ozpin admitted, "though I have confidence. Perhaps you could speak with her? It is quite the opportunity."

"I doubt it would change her mind..." Taiyang told him, knowing full well why Ruby would turn down a four-year commitment.

"Regardless, I was preparing a file so that in the case she accepted last minute we could still take her," Ozpin continued, seemingly unfazed, "and there seems to be a gap in her information. What school did she attend for her combat training?"

Taiyang suppressed a groan. This wasn't a good sign. At the thought of the World Order, Taiyang was once again on the defensive. "She didn't attend a combat school."

"Really?" Ozpin pressed. "Then where did she learn?"

Taiyang did not like this line of questioning. "Look, Oz, I don't see how this is important. Her record isn't incomplete, and a recommendation from you should more than make up for her lack of 'formal' training."

There was a pause on the other end. "Of course, you're right," Ozpin eventually conceded, "I suppose I wanted to sate my own curiosity. Please pass along to Ruby that my offer still stands."

"I will. Talk to you later, Oz."

"Goodbye, Mr. Xiao Long."

The call ended, and Taiyang furrowed his brow. He wasn't quite sure how to read that conversation. Eventually he shrugged, taking away only what he was told. There was no reason to read farther into it than that right? It's not like Ozpin knew anything…

"Who called?" Yang asked as Taiyang stepped back into the house.

"Ozpin," he answered, looking to Ruby pointedly.

"Oshpin?" Ruby asked through a mouthful of eggs, "Why doesh that name shound fami-iar?"

Taiyang gave his daughter a moment to think. Obvious realization dawned on her face, and she swallowed slowly. "Oh. Right."

"Wait, what happened?" Yang piped in.

"I… may have stopped a robbery while I was trying to figure what world I landed on," Ruby explained.

"What!?" Yang smiled. "Awesome! But… what does Professor Ozpin have to do with that?"

"Apparently Oz was there," Taiyang picked up, "and invited Ruby to Beacon."

Yang's eyes lit up. "That is so awesome!"

Ruby arched her eyebrow, "you know I'm not going right?"

Yang's smiled faded slightly. "Y-yeah, of course… sorry, the thought of going with you just… made me super excited."

"You're going to Beacon this year?" Ruby quickly deduced.

"Yup!" The older sister tried recovering quickly. "I may not be a Keyblade wielder, but I can do my part protecting our home world."

Ruby smiled widely, "Well, congrats on earning a spot!"

"Thanks," Yang smiled back.

"Kinda weird, though, right?" Ruby asked her father. "I mean, that he would call just to tell you that?"

"Well, he did want me to remind you the offer still stands," Taiyang passed along.

"Really?" Ruby sighed, "It hasn't even been a day. Why does he want me so badly?"

Ozpin's eyes narrowed, staring at his scroll that still displayed Taiyang's contact. He wouldn't give so easily. Ruby's power was an unknown variable, and he could not afford to keep it so. Ozpin cycled his contacts to Qrow Branwen, his most trusted agent and close uncle to Yang and Ruby. Ozpin had been toying with the possibility that Qrow knew of Ruby's power and had kept the secret for years. It was time to confront that possibility. He sent the call.

"What's up, Oz? All good?" Qrow answered with concern. He knew Ozpin didn't call if it wasn't important.

"I had a very interesting encounter with your niece last night," Ozpin opened carefully, gauging the situation.

"What did Yang do now?" Qrow seemed exhausted by the thought.

"No, Qrow, your other niece," Ozpin clarified, "I encountered-"

"Ruby!?" Qrow interrupted, "Last night? Ruby's in Vale?"

That certainly got Ozpin's attention. "Is she not supposed to be?"

"Tai said she wouldn't be home for another week," Qrow explained.

"Where would she be if not home?" Ozpin asked.

"Training somewhere," Qrow answered.

"Training where?" Ozpin pressed.

"I wish I knew..." Qrow lamented, "the number of times I tried to wring it out of Tai… but he only ever said it was someplace 'very far away'. No real name or location."

"Very far away..." Ozpin mulled, "Ruby said something very similar."

"That doesn't surprise me. Yang would probably give you the exact same answer, too." Qrow sighed deeply, "a while back, all three of them started treating Ruby like she was some big secret. Tai pulled her out of school, sent her to wherever 'very far away' is, and refused to answer my god damn questions. She visits for a week or two every few months, but other than that she may as well be on a different planet."

"I see," Ozpin nodded to himself.

"Why you're so interested in her of all sudden?" Qrow asked.

Ozpin considered his options. He didn't want to sew distrust between Qrow and his remaining family, but having another angle of attack could prove valuable. "First, I have to apologize. For a brief moment, my trust in you was shaken."

"Why?" Qrow sounded genuinely surprised, "What did I do?"

"Nothing, as it turns out," Ozpin explained, "I met Ruby last night after she helped foil a robbery. I watched the recording of her fight time and again, and I believe she has access to magic. Not Dust, genuine magic."

"That's ridiculous," Qrow countered immediately. "All this started years ago when we still had good track of all the maidens. Ruby can't be one herself, the time period doesn't fit."

"I believe so as well," Ozpin confessed, "but I know magic when I see it. Which means there is another method of magic, one we must strive to understand. As such, I attempted inviting Ruby to Beacon, to keep watch over her and study her magic. So far, she has refused."

"I… I don't know what to think, Oz," Qrow admitted, "You know I trust you, but I trust Tai, too."

"I don't intend to drive wedge between your family," Ozpin promised solemnly, "but I felt I at least owed you my… suspicions."

"I'll talk to Tai soon," Qrow announced, "see things for myself. I'll talk to you later, Oz."

"Good luck, Qrow," Ozpin offered.

"Heh, don't insult me," Qrow teased with a short laugh.

The call cut, and Ozpin was left with his thoughts. He had hoped to find answers, but only had more questions. The mystery of Ruby Rose deepens…

The next few days were incredibly slow for the young Keyblade wielder. She knew all she could do was either repair her armor or wait. She didn't know how to repair her armor and just waiting was killing her. She constantly reached out with her heart to feel her connections with increased frequency. Each time Ruby felt that her friends were safe, but it was helping less and less as she couldn't act.

Yang woke up on her last full day at home before leaving for Beacon. She checked on her bags, which were by her open window. From there, she could hear something in the backyard. Yang looked out the window to see Ruby, Keyblade in hand, running herself through some kind of drills. Yang frowned. She hated the stress Ruby was putting on herself, but didn't know how to help her sister.

That's when Yang noticed her huntress weapons, the shotgun gauntlets she had dubbed the Ember Celica, on her bedside table. She picked them up with a grin and ran outside. "Hey Rubes! You ain't overworking yourself, are you?"

Ruby stopped mid-swing. "Yang? No, it's only been… maybe an hour?"

"Maybe an hour?" Yang scoffed. "That's not overworking yourself?"

"I'm pacing myself," Ruby assured. "An hour is nothing. Master Kairi and I once spent an hour on a single heartless in Neverland. We had to keep casting Stop on the clock tower, it kept hiding it's core, it was super annoying."

Yang's face was blank. "I'm not gunna pretend I understood any of that. So, if you're not too exhausted already..." She switched her gauntlets to their combat mode, extending down her arm and cocking Dust bullets, "wanna spar? For old times sake, before I leave tomorrow?"

Ruby smirked, turning to face her sister fully and placing a hand on one hip. "You sure about that? Not to brag, but… I have been in pretty heavy combat training for the last three years."

"Make ya' a deal," Yang smirked just as confidently, "You don't use magic, I won't use Dust, and we'll see just what you're really made of."

"Sounds fair," Ruby settled into her combat stance.

The sisters dashed, closing the short distance between them in an instant. Ruby swung first, A strike Yang easily blocked with her left gauntlet before throwing her right fist. Ruby simply tilted her head, feeling the air from the punch while dodging the fist itself. From the position Ruby was in now, Yang's gut was open to a quick swipe of Crescent Rose.

Yang stumbled back. "Whew. I guess the Land of Departure don't cheap out on the Wheaties."

"You've gotten pretty good yourself," Ruby returned praise, "that punch almost hit me."

"Now that I'm warmed up," Yang raised her fists again, "the next one won't miss!"

She wasn't wrong. After trading blocked strikes and empty blows, Yang ultimately landed the next solid hit. Right across Ruby's jaw. The brawler quickly followed up, landing three more punches. The last one was an uppercut that launched Ruby. Yang tried to follow Ruby into the air, rearing her arm to add a fifth attack to her combo.

Her face turned to one of shock when Ruby, in a blink of an eye, flipped upright and blocked the strike. Ruby pushed against Yang's fist to unbalance her and struck her three times before either of them touched the ground. Ruby landed on her feet. Yang landed on her butt and quickly rolled backward and onto her feet.

"You hit like a fright train, sis," Ruby smiled and rubbed her jaw. "Not bad."

"Well, thank you," Yang breathed, "but I'm wondering how you did that re-balancing thing in the air?"

"Ariel Recovery?" Ruby asked, "It's an acrobatic technique. I can try teaching it to you, I guess? It doesn't take any-"

"Uncle Qrow!" Yang helpfully cut her sister off before she said the 'm' word.

Ruby spun around. Indeed there was her uncle Qrow Branwen, in all his grayed, grizzled, alcoholic glory. "Uncle Qrow?" Ruby's response was more of a question. Usually her father warned her when Qrow was on his way…

"Hey kiddo," Qrow smiled, "Little birdy told me you were home early. Thought I'd drop by."

"Right," Ruby stood dumbstruck, trying to process. She shook her head. "Sorry! Just took me by surprise," she smiled.

Qrow smiled and crossed his arms. "You were looking pretty good out there. I knew you were training, but I've never seen you in action. Gunna have to show me that 'Ariel Recovery' trick at some point, too."

"You were watching?" Ruby asked, trying to mask her concern. Her and Yang weren't subtle about certain secrets. "For how long?"

"You were already sparrin' when I showed up," Qrow unwittingly assuaged Ruby's fears, "Just a bit before Yang's uppercut. I can see why Ozpin was impressed with ya."

"Ozpin?" Ruby caught quickly.

"Qrow?" Taiyang called out from the backdoor. "You should have told me you were coming, I would have made an extra plate for breakfast!"

"Sorry, Tai," Qrow offered, "I was on my way through, just thought I'd stop by real quick."

"Well, come on in!" Taiyang smiled. "Girls! Breakfast!"

"Coming, dad!" Yang called out, eagerly jogging inside.

Qrow took the opportunity to give his younger niece a visual pat down. He had been around the maidens enough in his time to know how magic feels. Those unusual clothes of Ruby's definitely had an energy of some kind, not to mention that strange sword that seemed to overflow with potential… "Interesting weapon," Qrow dared call it out. "And here I'd always thought you'd end up with a scythe like mine."

Ruby looked down to her Keyblade. "I guess Crescent Rose just feels more natural. I mean, weapons are supposed to be an extension of us, right?" And if only you knew how much.

"Fair enough," Qrow shrugged, though he kept a suspicious eye on the weapon. Ruby felt his gaze, but didn't dare dispel her Keyblade in front of him.

"Hey, get inside already, you two," Taiyang interrupted the moment. Much to Ruby's relief. She had no idea what the sudden tension between her and her uncle was about, but she knew she didn't like it. The two joined the rest of the family inside and seated themselves. "I was able to scrape together an extra plate!" Taiyang announced as he passed the plate to Qrow, "buuuut that means no seconds."

"Aw man!" Yang dismayed, before striking up a more casual conversation with their uncle. "So, what kind of work are you doing lately, old man?"

Conversation flowed naturally with the usual catching-up kind of conversation. However, the conversation inevitably turned to Ruby, as it always did. "So, Tai, when are you going to tell me where Ruby trains?"

Taiyang groaned, Yang winced, and Ruby sighed. Qrow asked this nearly every time Ruby had visited home, and it was a topic everyone hated. Taiyang responded, "Why is that so important to you?"

"That Ariel Recovery trick is not something I've ever heard of before, and I've been all over the place. If they're teaching her more moves like that, maybe I'll sign up for classes myself," Qrow rationalized.

"I don't know that they would take you," Taiyang told him.

"Why not?" Qrow pushed. "Is it 'cause I'm old? It's 'cause I'm old, isn't it?"

"There's… special criteria," Taiyang tried his best to toe the line, trying to give Qrow an answer he could be happy with.

"Criteria Ruby meets that I don't?" Qrow pressed, resolved not to leave without answers this time. "Well, maybe I just want to visit my niece more than two or three times a year?"

Ruby knew this conversation needed to stop, and decided to interject. "Uncle Qrow… Ozpin told you I was here, didn't he?"

The table fell quiet as Qrow was successfully caught off-guard. Taiyang rubbed his face, "Really, Qrow? Don't tell me you're here because of him..."

Qrow felt the tide turn against him. "I'm not here for him, since that's what you're really asking. But… I am curious why Ruby turned him down?"

"I already have training, you know that," Ruby reminded him.

"Secret training with an unknown teacher?" Qrow pointed out, "not exactly a certified huntsman academy. Can they even give you a license?"

"She doesn't need one," Yang defended bluntly. Perhaps a little too bluntly, given the metal boot that then kicked her shin under the table.

"What, you're going to do your thing without an official status?" Qrow raised an eyebrow. "Maybe Ruby shouldn't be training at this mysterious school of hers."

"That's for her to decide," Taiyang stood his ground. "Whether you're here for Ozpin or not, did you come here just to convince her to attend Beacon?"

Qrow frowned. "No, I didn't. But it's an opportunity she shouldn't dismiss out of hand."

"And I didn't," Ruby deadpanned.

"Can we please drop this conversation?" Taiyang sighed, "It's been a rough enough week, lets just… enjoy breakfast?"

Qrow looked around the table, reading the mood of the room. He could tell things had gone badly, for everyone. "I… I think I should just go," he lamented, and stood to leave.

"Qrow..." Taiyang called after him. "I'm sorry, okay? I don't mean to alienate you… It's just… complicated."

Qrow stopped with his hand on the door, looking back at Taiyang. He knew now they were keeping secrets. But aren't I keeping some secrets of my own? Maybe they have perfectly valid reasons, like I do… At the end of it all, it came down to if Qrow trusted Taiyang or not, and the pair had been through too much together for Qrow not to trust him. He believed Taiyang didn't want him estranged. He believed, because he felt the same way. "I understand," Qrow nodded.

The day never really recovered after Qrow left. The sun had set and Yang double checked her bag one last time before dinner. She began walking to the kitchen, bringing her past Ruby's room. Yang looked in to see her sister at her desk literally hunched over the Gummiphone, waiting.

Ruby had tried to look at her vambrace, but couldn't figure out what was wrong with it. It wasn't like it was built traditionally as a device. She had called contacts on the Gummiphone to yet more silence, and checked her connections yet again to see no change. Now she was simply sitting over the Gummiphone with no idea how to proceed.

Ruby felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to her sister. "Hey, Yang. Is dinner ready?" Yang sat down on Ruby's bed nearby. Her posture, energy, and solid gaze told Ruby her sister wanted to talk about something serious. "Is everything okay?"

Yang took a deep breath, mentally preparing for the conversation to come. "I think you should go to Beacon."

Ruby groaned, "not you too! You know why I couldn't if I wanted to!"

"Do I?" Yang countered. "Ruby, how long are you going to be here? Do you even know?"

Ruby found herself unable to answer.

Yang powered on. "I get it, I do. And if Kairi and the others are still kicking, I've no doubt they'll come for you at some point. But what are you going to do until then? Wait here, staring the phone? What if it takes weeks? Months? What if they're not answering because they're in their own battles right now and it's safer for you to leave you here? Maybe they just lost their Gummiphones and are stranded like you are?"

"You just want me to go with you so we'll be going together," Ruby argued.

"I admit that," Yang nodded. "But I really think that it will be good for you as well. If sitting in your room, staring at the Gummiphone is your plan for the immediate future, you're only going to depress yourself. If you go to Beacon, you can stay busy, and the combat training will keep you from getting rusty."

"I can't make a four year commitment," Ruby reminded her sister.

"Who's saying you are?" Yang countered. "Whether it's a few months or a few days, who's going to stop you from dropping out? From just not showing up to class? You don't need a huntress license."

Ruby floundered. Yang was systematically breaking down her arguments. And worse still, Yang was making sense. Even if all Ruby could do was wait, then sitting still while doing so would do her no favors. "What about my Keyblade? My magic? How do I explain these things?"

"You never did find a Semblance, right?" Yang pointed out. "We'll just pretend your summoning and dispelling Crescent Rose is a part of that. Spatial Manipulation?"

Ruby's brain started to consider this, despite herself. "That could also explain Flowmotion abilities..."

"As for magic, most of it is elemental, right?" Yang thought out, "Just carry some Dust in plain view and act weirdly secretive if anyone asks how your weapon works."

"That actually might work..." Ruby muttered. "Not like anyone on Remnant would assume my magic is natural anyways. Natural magic doesn't exist here."

"Look, it's ultimately up to you," Yang conceded. "But I don't think it's a bad idea. It may even be a good one."

With that, Yang left the room. Ruby looked back over the Gummiphone with a frown. Her sister hit a lot of good points, including how she was just stagnating. She fished Ozpin's card out of her pocket. I still don't like it… but it's better than doing nothing… Ruby stood and found Yang and her father at the dining table. "Can I borrow one of your scrolls?" Yang smiled as she offered hers, and Ruby quickly dialed the number.

"This is Professor Ozpin."

"Hey. Um, this is Ruby."

"Ms. Rose?"

"I don't know how long I can stay. If other things come up, I am leaving. If you can accept that, and the offer is still open… I'll come to Beacon."