To everyone else, Ruby looked upset about something. Well, she was. But she was also miffed by the realization that Professor Ozpin extended the invitation because her mom graduated from Beacon. Ruby thought—in fact, she dared to hope—she got into this school two years early because of her talent as a fighter. Maybe she did; perhaps pedigree was only part of why she was here. But she had to hear it from Professor Ozpin.

"Ruby? Ruby!"

"Huh?" Ruby ceased her determined march and turned to see who called out to her.

Weiss had her arms crossed over her chest. "You've gotten us all worried about you. Now what's going on?"

Ruby pursed her lips out of vexation. "I don't want to talk about it right now."

"But we're your team," Weiss continued. "Your problems are our problems. So I like to think we're all here for you."

"Are you being serious right now!?" Ruby angrily commented, turning around to face Weiss fully. "Yang and Blake, I understand, but you? You, who's called me a cow, a dolt, clumsy, and a bunch of other things, are here for me? You've done nothing but doubt me since I stepped foot at Beacon, and you expect me to believe you care about me?"

"I was wrong!" Weiss exclaimed as she raised her arms from her sides. "Okay? You've made it abundantly clear in the Emerald Forest and Professor Port's class that I was wrong. I know you find it hard to believe, but I'm sorry for acting how I did. I really am." Weiss got closer and placed a hand on Ruby's shoulder. "And I want to make it up to you in any way I can."

Ruby wasn't sure what to say. She was touched by what Weiss said. But it didn't change the situation at hand. Ruby gently grabbed Weiss's wrist and moved her hand off her shoulder.

"Thanks, Weiss, but..." Ruby's voice was almost flat as she spoke. "What I'm going through right now is something between me and Professor Ozpin. I'll see you in history class later." She waved to Weiss while walking away.

Weiss waved back but felt terrible about the situation. She just hoped that whatever Ruby had to talk with Professor Ozpin about would get resolved.

"She gets like this occasionally. She just needs time to herself."

Much to her surprise, Weiss heard Yang's voice from behind. She turned around and saw that Blake was there too.

"Do you know what's going on?" Weiss wondered.

Before Yang could say anything, Blake took the opportunity to answer with, "I think I know what's on her mind."

Ruby continued walking down the halls of the academy. It helped clear her mind enough to realize Profess Ozpin pulled the wool over her eyes. How could she have been so blind this whole time?

This has been about my mom the whole time!

Ruby ignored the opening that led to a balcony overlooking the academy plaza. She nearly walked past it but stopped when she realized who it was that stood there.

Without looking, Professor Ozpin addressed Ruby with, "Hello, Miss Rose. May I help you with anything?"

How did he know...? Ruby brushed the thought aside and stepped out onto the balcony. "Yeah, I just have a quick question. When you invited me here, you said I was on the path of being a warrior. If I wasn't related to my mom, would you still have me attend Beacon?"

The Professor paused, then glanced at Ruby with a smile. "Miss Rose. I didn't choose to have you here because of your family ties. But I fondly remember your family at my academy."

"Wait a minute, you and Ruby are related to an entire team of Beacon graduates!?" Weiss exclaimed, staring at Yang in awe.

"Yep! Our dad, my mom, Ruby's mom, and our uncle," Yang explained. "Together, they're Team STRQ."

"I know Ruby mentioned as much when we first met," Blake commented. "But I'm still impressed by the odds. Still, it's a shame what happened to Summer. Did you guys ever learn why she left?"

"No, not really," Yang answered. "All we know is that she left for one last mission and never came back."

Weiss pondered what had happened. "Well, it must have been important if she had to up and leave. But I understand why Ruby would be upset about that. I'd feel miserable too if my mom left me."

"That's only part of the problem," Yang elaborated. "Ruby told me she wants to be a Huntress and hero, but I think she's also feeling pressure to succeed like our mom did."

"I hate that feeling!" Ruby exclaimed. "I know my mom's one of the best Huntresses in the world, and I hope I become the best someday, too. But..."

"You simply don't want to ride her coattails," Ozpin mentioned.

"Thank you!"

Ozpin calmly set aside his mug (emblazoned with twin hatches over a ring of wheat) and focused his gaze on his student. "Ruby..." The Professor dispensed with the formalities to speak with her as a mentor instead of school faculty. "Even if everyone knew of your lineage, you are not doomed to have it be your sole defining trait. As such, being a Rose should mean whatever you want it to be."

"Take me, for example!" Weiss went on. "I'm a Schnee. I was born wealthy, live in a manor too big to do much with, and my father's responsible for the SDC being as controversial as it is. But do I let him define who I want to be? No. I want to help the less fortunate. I want to make a difference in the world, even if it means starting with nothing but my weapon and the clothes on my back."

"That's awfully brave of you," Blake remarked with a smile. "I thought you were just a spoiled brat at first, but now I know you're someone who's throwing her life away and wants to change for the better."

"I had you attend this academy because you've shown how well you fight," Ozpin continued. "Even before the Dust Shop robbery, you had piqued my interest for quite some time. Starting with that encounter at the local comic book store."

Ruby knew what Ozpin was talking about. A year ago, she first tried her hand at vigilantism. It was a mixed success; on the one hand, she repelled Roman Torchwick. On the other hand, the comic book store had to shut down because the fight led to excessive damages, which Roman wanted to happen anyway.

"You know about that, huh...?" Ruby sheepishly asked.

"Of course," Ozpin replied. "Roman Torchwick is an elusive criminal mastermind and bested fully-trained Huntsmen and Huntresses. So hearing about a fourteen-year-old who handled herself against him raised some eyebrows."

Ruby smiled faintly at no one in particular as she remembered that day. "That's true..."

"You have a great deal of potential, Ruby." Honorifics were set aside so he could address her as one person to another. "Not just as a Huntress, but also a team leader. If you intend to prove yourself as your own person, there is no better opportunity than to learn everything we aim to teach at this academy. But remember: this is not a race. You have four years ahead of you to become the very best that you can be."

Ruby smiled up to Ozpin. "Thanks for talking with me about this, Professor. And... thanks for bringing me here."

"You're quite welcome," he replied. "Now, I believe you have other classes to attend?"

"Oh! Right! Thanks again!" Ruby quickly walked off so she could be at her destination on time.

Ozpin gave a small laugh as he watched Ruby leave. He could see she still had parts of her personality that reminded him of her mother. He turned around and reached for his mug to sip his drink. His gaze returned to the setting sun before him.