Original upload date: 06/24/2020

Revised upload date: 06/22/2022

Basically changed this from present to past tense, while also making the flow between the characters less jagged.

Metal like Roses

By ReaderWarrior

I do not own Mistborn or RWBY.

Answers

When the woman who attacked Ms. Nikos collapsed, Ozpin quickly picked her up in his arms. As he did, he felt her body shudder as she sobbed into his chest.

Oh, you poor child, whatever has happened to turn you into this?

When he first arrived, Ozpin noticed how Ms. Nikos and the girl were very close in combat abilities but their training styles were too different. While Ms. Nikos had years of tournaments under her belt, this strange girl was obviously more cutthroat. The way she handled those knives and where she had tossed them, there was too much skill in that to have been spent on fighting Grimm. In fact, almost every move she made seemed to be deliberately meant to kill her opponent.

Like an assassin.

As the Bullhead landed, General Ironwood, James to Ozpin, stepped out. The Atlesian soldiers surrounding Ozpin quickly snapped to attention and saluted.

"You are dismissed," ordered Ironwood before they could speak.

"Yessir!" The soldiers began to disappear, rushing back to the barracks provided during the Festival. James stepped up to Ozpin, his white uniform as immaculate as ever, and glared at the girl in his arms.

"I suppose it would be of no purpose to ask that she be put in Atlas custody."

Ozpin gave a small smile before turning back to his school and making light traction back to the medical wing. "Yes. That would be a waste of breath."

"Seriously, Oz, she snuck in when our security is at its peak and attacked some of your students. She could know any number of things."

"She did not sneak in, James," Ozpin replied. "She was brought here after being found by some of my students. Apparently, she appeared in a flash of light and, until now, was unconscious."

James faltered for a moment but quickly returned to Ozpin's side. "And you didn't think to tell me this?" The two headmasters entered the main hallway leading back to the health center as James cried, "she could have been a spy sent by our enemy."

Frowning at the mention of his lifetime foe, Ozpin shook his head. "Up until now, I did not think this girl was of any danger. As for her, she wouldn't send in a spy to start attacking immediately."

"She would if it spreads panic. Let me at least place sentries to guard the door in case she tries to leave again."

Ozpin sighed as they entered the medical facility. "If you think that is necessary, then by all means go ahead." Then, to his surprise, Ozpin noticed team JNPR waiting for his arrival with the girl. He also saw what appeared to be the shattered remains of one of the heart rate monitors crushed on the floor. He sat the girl down slowly on the next cot over. Team JNPR, noticing the return of their headmaster and the girl, as well as General Ironwood, quickly stood up straight.

James waved his arms. "There's no need for that, you are not any of my soldiers."

Ms. Valkyrie and Mr. Arc immediately relaxed while Mr. Lie Ren and Ms. Nikos remained upright.

"However I must commend you, Nikos, for noticing the attacker. And you as well, Arc. Not many soldiers are willing to leave their allies behind to accomplish a mission."

"Um, thank you sir?" stuttered Mr. Arc.

"I only did what any good huntress would do in my position, sir." Ms. Nikos replied confidently. "I saw the broken metal pieces on the floor and while looking around, I noticed her hiding in the corner of the ceiling."

On the ceiling? Ozpin stood up and smiled at Ms. Nikos. "Very astute of you. Did you not say she had a semblance similar to yours?

She nodded. "Yes. Right before you showed up and saved me, sir, she forced my weapon out of my hand."

Mr. Lie Ren interjected. "But that doesn't make much sense. How could she have both a levitational ability as well as Pyrrha's Polarity? With the exception of the Schnee family, I don't believe there to be many accounts of similar semblance-users, much fewer are ones that meet."

"Yes, that is true," James answered. "But some semblances are and can be similar. Speed and strength for instance. Some semblances make do at a certain speed, have weight limits, or even require certain requirements."

"Like how I only get strong when I absorb lightning!" Nora posed dramatically and flexed her arms.

Ozpin smiled warmly as James frowned with a confused look. "Exactly, Ms. Valkyrie. In fact, most semblances can be traced back to a small list of abilities. Most, in fact, relate to simple enhancements like speed and strength. Although there are those who have powers that do not fully follow this formatting." Ozpin nodded to Ms. Nikos, who blushed

Then, stepping back over to the remains of the heart monitor, Ozpin kneeled down and picked up one of its shards. "Am I correct to assume that neither of you or your teammates caused this mess?"

Mr. Arc gulped and nodded frantically. "No sir, that wasn't us! We came in to check-in and find out more about that girl. But when we got here, that was already, um, smashed up."

"Why would she destroy it, then?" he asked with a frown. "It seems like a deliberate focus of violence, not something to occur randomly after waking up."

"That's not all sir," Ms. Nikos offered. "I spotted these on the ground right before I noticed her." She then held out her hand, palm upward, with a small pile of remains from the aforementioned machine displayed. Ozpin walked over and brushes the pieces onto his own hand.

"James, I believe you are right. What she did to the heart-rate monitor might not have been as accidental as it may seem. However, I believe that is a topic for another time and, especially, one in private."

Team JNPR sighed, most likely wanting to spend more time past their curfew. "Yes professor," they replied as they headed back to their dorm room. But before they could leave, Ms. Nikos turned around and looked at the strange girl.

"Will she be OK sir?"

Ozpin smiled kindly at the young huntress-in-training. "I do not think she is in any grave danger of dying. However, only time will tell whether she will remain safe with us or not."

Ms. Nikos nodded before running to catch up with her team.

Waiting for the door to close, James took a closer look at the girl. "She doesn't seem to have any distinctive markings to tell us anything about where she is from."

Ozpin sighed and removed his spectacle. "This girl has more markings than I care to think have been on any person in many years, James."

Confused, James turned to Ozpin and asked, "what do you mean?"

"When she first arrived," he explained, "she was dispelling a large amount of heat and steam from her body, almost as if she was burning on the inside. It was only thanks to an ice bath that we were able to bring her temperature back to safe levels. And afterward, when the doctors examined her body, we found something much worse."

James turned to the girl. "And what is worst than boiling alive?"

With a dark glare, Ozpin answered. "Scars. Across her back were marks of lashes and beatings. Many of them are so old and ingrained into her flesh that we can only guess she had been given them since she was barely a child."

The room seemed to freeze over. James ran over to Ozpin and grabbed his shoulders. "What the hell Ozpin?! Of course she would try to run! There's no telling what her life has been!" He let go of him and turned back to the girl, still clenching his fists. After a few moments of heavy breathing, James asks, "was there anything else?"

"She was also found with a cloak, one I have never seen such a design before in all my years."

"All of them?"

Ozpin nodded, earning another sigh from one of his few remaining friends. "Is it at all possible to get a piece of this cloak? Maybe one of my scientists can trace the fabric to a source."

Pondering for a moment, Ozpin gave a small nod. "I am sure that no harm will come of it. I will have it sent to your quarters tomorrow."

"Thank you." James took one last glance toward the young girl. "What was it she said? 'Heir to the survivor'? Who is this survivor? And what kind of pretentious man calls himself 'Lord Ruler'?"

Ozpin looked down at the girl, having wondered those exact questions moments earlier. "I'm afraid they hold no meaning to me. However, if this woman claims to be his executioner, I worry he was someone with great power and influence. She obviously meant to impress us."

"But it didn't. I've never heard of anyone she mentioned before. I'll have someone run a scan and see if there is anything in our archives."

"That would be most helpful, James. However, I think that only time will tell us all we need to know. It's been a long night, and who knows when she might wake up next. I think we should both try to catch some sleep."

James studies Ozpin and sighed. "You're right. The Vytal Festival is soon and we need to be ready for anything. And sleep deprivation has never been helpful in a situation like this."

Smiling at his friend, Ozpin gives a small nod. "Of course, General."

James chuckled before walking out, saluted by the new guards found outside.

Waiting for the door to close, Ozpin sat back down and took a shaky breath. Then, with a low voice, he whispers, "you know, we meant what we said. We have no idea who you are and to whom you were referring. That doesn't mean I don't know when someone is faking being asleep. I am a teacher after all."

Vin sat up slowly, glaring slightly at the man called Ozpin. "How long have you known?" She took a moment to study him.

He appeared to be a normal, middle-aged man with tousled silver hair and thin brown eyes. He had a light complexion and sharp facial features, sporting shaded glass spectacles and a small, purple, cross-shaped pin on the cowl around his neck. His outfit mainly consisted of an unzipped black suit over a dark green, buttoned vest, and green shirt. He also had black trouser shoes and long, dark-green pants. And in his hand was a dueling cane with one of the strangest toppers she had ever seen.

Nothing stood out to her in an obvious way, but Vin was nevertheless wary.

Ozpin smiles. "Since JNPR left. Your breathing hitched slightly and you stopped twitching as much as before. If it wasn't for that, I never would have noticed." Vin silently cursed herself, making a mental note of what to do next time. Ozpin leaned forward. "Now, I think it's time you answered some of my questions."

Remaining stoic, Vin countered with, "only if you answer mine."

"Of course. Whatever you wish to know, I will answer to the best of my abilities."

Vin raised an eyebrow.

Ozpin chuckles softly. "I am not perfect in any way. I am human and make mistakes. More mistakes than anyone on all of Remnant, I bet."

"Remnant? Is that this place?" I've never heard of a kingdom by that name.

He shook his head. "This is Beacon Academy. I train huntsmen and huntresses here."

"What do they hunt?"

Now it was Ozpin's turn to look confused. "Are you not aware of the dangers of the Grimm?"

Vin shook her head. "I… I don't think I am from around here. Back in the Final Empire, everything looked different. You have stars lighting up the sky, something rarely seen. Your plants are green. Ours have always been brown, but Ke- my old teacher told me this is what they used to look like."

"That is very alarming." Ozpin rubbed his chin. "I only know of one such place where stars are hidden and plants cannot flourish, and it is impossible for a people, much less an empire, to exist there.

"That's not all… That big shattered globe thing in the sky? I've never seen that before."

Ozpin's eyes went wide, and he was barely able to hold in his shock. "You have never seen the moon before?"

"I've never even heard of a moon," she answered truthfully.

"It sounds to me, dear child, as if you are not of this world."

Vin froze and closed her eyes. "I- I was worried that was the case." I am so, so sorry, Elend.

Ozpin raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that something you are well accustomed to?"

She chuckles softly, briefly reminded of Breeze's sense of humor. "No. But would you believe me if I said I was a god instead?"

"A god ?" Ozpin coughed.

Vin nodded. "It's a long story. There was this pool of power, the power of a god, and I touched it. I freed it, however, in order to save the world." A small tear fell down the young Mistborn's face. "I had to leave someone to die. Elend... Oh, Elend." Vin finally felt it. The full brunt of the loss she has been putting off until now. Vin's face crumbled as she began to sob.

Moving from across from her, to next to her, Ozpin did his best to offer silent support. Instead of rubbing her shoulder or back, the headmaster merely let her flow out the tears she had been holding back for the last few hours. Painful, agonizing hours. A few minutes later, Vin's sobbing became sharp inhales. Ozpin pulled out a handkerchief from his coat pocket and held it out to her.

Vin tentatively took it, blowing her nose softly. "Thank you."

"Of course" Ozpin took back his handkerchief and returned it to his pocket. "I think that I shall let you sleep now." He stood up, brushed his pants, and walked over to the large doors. "Please try not to break any more medical machines, they aren't cheap."

Vin frowned but nodded. Her last thought as Ozpin closed the doors behind him was how much trust she was being given and that the last time a random stranger asked her to trust him, they ended up showing her a new world.

And here she was in another one.

Let's hope he can help me find my old one.

I'm sorry if I am focusing too much on Vin's first few hours (days technically) in Remnant. There is just so much to share between the two worlds.

I would like to address a comment 7Artemis7 made. What weapon do you think Vin should have? Sure, Allomancy is great, but glass daggers won't cut it (Yang would be proud of that one). I'm leaning towards something similar to Ren's Stormflower.