A/N: Ahhhh...I'm tired.
Life's been kicking my ass lately, and now my computer's being stupid. Siiiiiiigh.
Getting ready to update big stories soon, but I just want able to swing it today thanks to an early shift.
So today's a plot bin day; for this, and other stories. I whipped up these four last night -Shards of Shattering, Fragments of Remnant, Fragments of Arcane, and A Most Unlikely Collection- in an hour or so. I repeat, I should have the big guns ready pretty damn soon.
As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes.
They're tributes to those better and I, one and all.
Now then, hope you enjoy this little AU.
A fragment that may or may no be.
Well? Should it be a story?
"Damn, Tai. Why didn't you and Summer listen?"
I told you they would come for her...
I'll avenge your deaths.
I swear it.
~?
First Hunt
"Take the shot."
Ruby inhaled. Sighted down.
The buck never saw her. Never heard her.
She closed one eye and opened the other, left it flash with silver flames. No. Bad Ruby. No Maiden powers here. They'd throw off her shot. She reeled her newfound might back in, took aim, and forced herself to focus; to ignore the foal and doe nearby. She needed this kill, or they wouldn't eat tonight. Zwei nosed her leg. She shushed him...and squeezed the trigger. Crescent Rose bucked against her arm. One shot. One kill. She wouldn't miss this time, surely...
It was a good shot all things considered. Through and through. Poor deer never saw it coming; it dropped without a sound.
"Heh." she took the scope from her eye, breath pluming before her in the frosty hair. "How was that, mom?"
Craning her neck confirmed that yes, Raven was still there, impassive as ever.
She held her stair, waiting for the words she wanted -needed!- to hear.
Red eyes softened. "Well done. Now go get it."
She sulked. "Its down the cliff!"
"You can fly, Ruby.
"But its too cold for that...
"Then use your semblance."
She stood and scuffed the snow with a boot. "One in the cold is just as bad as flying, you know."
Raven arched a black brow. Zwei barked once.
She glared them both. "Alright, alright. I'm going, I'm going."
With but a thought she flared her semblance and vanished in a cloud of rose petals.
Raven was a harsh taskmaster, and some might say an even harsher mother. Ruby disagreed. She kept her and Yang safe, fed, and warm. The Tribe took care of its own. Mom only pushed them this hard because she wanted her to be better, better than what she'd been, wanted her to avoid the same fate that nearly happened to Vernal.
Heh. Big sis was gonna love this. Venison was her favorite. Might even help her recover from the cold...
Movement in the brush drew her attention.
The brush stirred. Ruby whirled, bringing her scythe to bear.
An Ursa's head poked out from a bush. She froze. Her blood turned to ice. Shit. Shit, shit, shit. She was only twelve! She couldn't handle one of those!
Something shifted beneath it and the Grimm rose, but not on its own two legs.
"Hey~!" A familiar voice crooned. "There's my little princess! I thought I heard Crescent Rose out here.
"Dad?!"
Naruto had a bloody Grimm slung over his shoulders. Because of course he did. Might make for a warm cloak once he brought it back to camp. Everyone knew Grimm tasted foul, but their hides were good for clothes come winter and their bone plates made for solid armor. Maybe if she asked him nicely he'd skin for her first; then she'd have a nice blanket for her bed.
Still! Dad! Here! Why?! He was supposed to be clear across the kingdom, getting medical supplies from Lionheart...
Silver eyes narrowed. "Where you shadowing me?"
Dad had a shit poker face. "No...?"
"Then why do you have a dead Grimm on your back?"
"Because it was stalking you."
"Aha!" She thrust a finger in his face. "You WERE following me!"
His smile didn't waver. "Only to make sure you weren't ambushed, sweetie."
The faint humm of a portal told her Raven had noticed the commotion and come to check.
She could FEEL mom glaring at him. "You're making her weak, Naruto. This was to be her first hunt alone."
"And she did fine." he slumped the Grimm down, threw another atop it, and belatedly, Ruby realized he'd been dragging a Beowolf behind him. "I just kept the Grimm off her. There's more back there." a thumb jerked up over his shoulder. "You know the forest is teeming with 'em this time of year."
Ruby thought Mom might protest, but for some reason, her face closed down. "Fine. You can drag them back to camp."
"Such a cruel wife I have...
She laughed and slapped his flank as she walked past. "I'll see you later tonight."
He flipped her off. "And I'll have you screaming like always."
Mom saw her chance and changed gears.
"Say, Ruby," she all but purred the words, "How's that Jaune boy you saw in town? You claimed him, yet?"
"Boy?" Naruto stilled. His head whipped around with an audible crack. "What boy?"
Ruby's face went scarlet.
"Mooom!"
A/N: Soooo? Should this be a story? Once again! This is an AU.
Mama!Raven and Papa!Naruto indeed.
If it wasn't obvious, Summer and Tai's deaths were obviously implied due to aforementioned reasons. Whether it was Ruby's silver eyes, or inheriting the powers of a Maiden, it didn't change the fact that Salem struck. Raven and Naruto responded to that and whisked a young Ruby and Yang -and of course, Zwei!- away to the tribe, ...and the rest is history.
So...in the Immortal Words of Atlas...
...Review...Would You Kindly?
Have some previews!
(Preview)
"A weapon is only as good as its wielder." He flung them over his shoulder. "Lets see how you girls do without yours. Today, you'll fight unarmed."
Ruby squeaked.
Weiss whimpered.
Blake's ears flattened against her head.
Yang absolutely swore. "That's no fair, old man!"
"Nevertheless, this old man is your teacher. Show some respect Miss Xiao-Long, or you'll be serving another attention with Mercury."
"Daaaaaaaad, c'mon!" She heard him whine across the ring. "I didn't even do anything this time!"
"That's another detention, son. Shall I make it two?"
"Jeez, ya break a guy's legs one time...
R&R~!