Hey there readers, it's the author again, and im back because i have way too many ideas and honestly a terrible sleep schedule :p also on a more serious not i realized i havent fully described ruby in this, imagine her in dmc3 dantes outfit without the missing coat arm and a croptop on cause yknow, but she has half of the amulet
comments:... none as im writing this, so if theres anymore, they'll be in the next chapter XD
without further delay, enjoy chapter 4
Chapter 4: A Rosey Reunion
After agreeing to Ozpin's terms and finally learning his name, i was well on my way, and twords Patch for the week to see my family... that feels so weird to think about after so long. The last time I saw any of them, I was six when i last saw them, i thought to myself and it has been nine long years since. "Well no point stressing it while im in the air," I said to no-one but myself. Deciding that i was rather tired and having more than 5 hours of flight time I should get some rest. With that thought i proped my feet up and closed my eyes.
Orange fire-like energy shot out of the demon Argosax's hand twords me at breakneck speed. Jumping over the attack in a back flip I let loose a barage of bullets twords the Energy like demon. Hearing at least a few hit him I crouched and lunged twords him with rebellion drawn cutting at his chest. Scoring a hit and stagering him he jumped back to gain some bearings. He then proceded to let loose a torrent of energy attacks all around me on the burning building. I split the ones heading twords me with rebellion in a horizontal slash and-
"Ouch! son of a-" I cut myself off having fallen from the seat onto the ground of the bull-head, waking myself from that eerily real dream. I sat up, rubbing my face with the palm of my hand. "What the hell was that thing, and why do I feel like I've fought it..." I thought aloud with the weird feeling of that dream still lingering. "We're expected to land in ten minutes. Please remain seated until specified," said the pilot to the passengers... which was only me. Regardless, hearing that prompted me to look at the window and see the island i grew up on, the place i couldn't bring myself to go back to after I'd thought they were gone.
Ten minutes passed, and i was walking out of the bull-head and twords the terminal on the island. Looking at the long line to check into the island in disdain, I had a brilliant idea... Run like hell! "You'll never take me alive, running that slow!" I yelled at the air security as I cackled madly while sprinted, leaving them in the dust. Finally ditching the apparent equivalent of mall cops but for flying. I looked and noticed the town I was in felt smaller than it used to.
Making my way out of the town and twords my family home, I followed the path twords the cliff my mother and I used to sit at and watch the sky. As i approached, i saw a headstone with a red cloak tied to it. Bend down to one knee I read the message aloud, "Scattered far too soon, little rose. -Ruby Rose-Xiao Long," I paused for a while contemplating those words. "Wow, yknow, it's actually really sad to be staring at your own grave Ruby, gotta be the second loneliest activity I've done yet," I said to myself. I stood there staring at the setting sun, contemplating how I was gonna talk to my family after almost a decade.
I was brought out of my stewing by a couple of voices heading my direction. Quickly, I decided to hide in the tree above my headstone to see if it was actually them, and I didn't need to go and force feed a mug down Ozpin's throat. I saw yellow hair peak through the bushes first realizing it was actually my sister. I got even more nervous but calmed myself and dropped from the tree silently. My sister not noticing me yet motioned for whom I assumed was the rest of my family to follow. After that, she turned to look at the headstone and noticed me and froze, dropping the light red roses she had to the floor.
"So Ozpin, he seriously just let you go home early without complaining?" What sounded like my father getting closer to the cliffside. "More like he insisted, forcing my hand even, I only agreed because id been out in the field for 5 months straight," sounding slightly more rugged than my uncle used too but still unmistakably him replied to Tai-yang. "Well, regardless, im glad he sent you home, and he let you stay the week," I teared up a little, recognizing my mother as well. All three remaining members of team STRQ walked out of the bushes to see that yang was frozen stiff and pale white.
"Yang? are you ok?" My mother called out sweetly, then turned her head to see what she had been looking at, me. Her eyes widened and grew tear-filled. "Tai? Am i drunk, or do i see what looks like my niece but with white hair?" said my uncle in shock. "I- I see her too you arent drunk." said my father. I also, in shock, just kinda gave a slight wave while trying to disappear into my coat. My mother moved slowly twords me scared id suddenly disappear if she moved too fast twords me. "R-Ruby? i-is that you?" she called out with tear-filled but hopeful eyes. "Y-yeah, it is mom," i said, mentally kicking myself for losing my voice. She suddenly rushed twords me and pulled me into her arms, almost afraid she'd pass right through me. She then started crying with me, and we fell to our knees together, "My baby, my babies alive!" she cried. My sister ran over and joined us in our crying fit/dog-pile, followed by my father and uncle.
We just sat there admiring that our family was back together... for the most part, 'im pretty sure Yang's birth mom doesn't really count,' I thought to myself. It was Yang who broke the silence first by asking, "Ruby? Can i ask you a question?" I looked over at her and smiled coyly, "sure, but you already did," I said jokingly. She pouted a little while the others kinda chuckled. "Where have you been all this time, if that's ok to ask?" she said after the chuckling had died down. "Well, I've been all over the world. If im honest, I somehow ended up in vacuo after we were... separated." I said a little hung up on the last part of my sentence. "From there i made some money by killing some small grimm and beasts for the farmers there, After a couple of years i made my way to Atlas and didnt stay long, I made my way to Mistrel and stayed there for a couple of years honed my skills and started to take odd jobs for money before making my way back to Vale last week," I said gaining awestruck looks from my family.
"Alright, kiddo, that's one hell of a trip, but I gotta ask, What's up with the hair?" asked my uncle. I give them a moderately uncomfortable look and say, " You give up a few things to survive, yknow." I couldn't tell them the full story yet, but i would eventually. Though thoroughly confused, my uncle seemed to kinda understand. My mom looked at me and asked, "Ruby, would you like to come home?" Having noticed it was getting dark, I nodded and got up and followed them twords the house i should have grown up in.
The next morning, I awoke thankfully from a dreamless sleep. Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I breathed in through my nose and smelled breakfast being made. I made my Way twords the kitchen and saw my mom making breakfast with the others already sitting at the table making small talk. Finally noticing me, i saw my sister get a gleam in her eye, "Good morning, Ruby," she let out excitedly. Smiling, I returned with, "Good morning, Yang." I then sat down right next to her.
"Hey Rubes?" she asked with a nervous look in her eyes. "What's up, Yang?" I asked back, curious about why she'd be a little skittish around me? "You said you'd honed your skills, but never who taught you?" she asked, curious but trying to tread easy. I look at her and smile kindly, "Well, that's because I taught myself almost everything, although I did learn some valuable lessons from some old retired huntsman," I stated. My uncle drawn away from his conversation with dad looked at me and said, "Oh yeah kiddo, well maybe you'll have to show me what you're made of, I got a call from Oz last night said you got invited to Beacon a year early, and well i need to see for myself if you're ready," he said with a challenging smirk. My parents were shocked and proud at my invitation from one of the most powerful huntsman to ever live, turn, and look at me with interest. My sister howeverbrought me into a crushing and slightly relieved hug, "my baby sister's going to Beacon with me!" she yelled. while still being hugged I turned to my uncle, "I dont know Uncle Qrow, you sure you're old man knees can keep up?" I quipped playfully. "Heh, good one kiddo but im not that old," He replied cooly.
Having finished breakfast and walking outside into the yard, I found myself with my gear standing across from my uncle, who was looking at me, way to relaxed for a fight. 'Old bird is probably trying to get under my skin, guess I'll play along,' I thought to myself. I let out a breath and pulled my sword off my back. "Ready, set..." I heard my father call out. "Go!" he yelled and I shot off like a rocket twords my uncle in a stinger, not expecting me to have attacked that quickly he had to dodge quickly. Not letting him get a break I turned my blade behind me a and crouched letting loose the flurry of over drive.
Having not seen it coming, he barely managed to get his sword up in time to cut them away from him. "Damn kiddo, you're not holding back, are you?" my uncle said flabbergasted at having been put on the backfoot. I let out a smug laugh, "What, getting tired, old man?" Qrow laughed and shifted his sword into its scythe mode. "You kidding, I'm just getting started!" With that, he used the shotgun on his blade to push him faster in a downswing twords me. I dodged back and threw my sword like I was swinging a bat. He dodged it by ducking, but what he didn't expect was for it to come back and got hit from behind. "How did you do that?" he asked. I smirked as i caught my sword, "Its a little trick i picked up, I call it a round-trip," I said.
With both of us getting serious now, I charged forward at a fast pace, unfortunately missing a rock that I hadn't noticed and tripping backward. "Sorry Rubes, gotta watch your footing," he said, pointing his scythe at my throat with a smirk. "Oh, I dont think this fights quite over yet uncle," I replied, smirking. With that i snapped my finger making a doppelganger appear to my side, she immediately socked the old bird in the jaw. Having her help me up, "You delt with one of me but how about two."
Both of us charged side by side, swords drawn, putting him on the backfoot again. We'd attack in tandem slicing away at his Aura he'd block one of our attacks only for the other to score a hit. "Neat little semblance you got there," he said after being given reprieve from my onslaught. "Well, its not quite a semblance, it's a little more complicated than that," i replied as my doppelganger disappeared.
"So one last clash?" he asked pointing his scythe at me. I thought for a second, then i gave a sharp grin, "sure, lets end this." With that we both rushed, he aimed a strike for my chest and I aimed for a horizontal slash. As both weapons were about to collide, I smirked and stopped my swing. His blade pierced my chest all the way through.
A.N. no Rubes where harmed in the making of this chapter, also yes that rock trip was caused by Qrow's eternal bad luck :p