RWBY: Shadows of Light

by B.D. Skunkworks

"I want to be a Guardian..." Those are the words that Ruby Rose has lived her life by; to protect those that cannot protect themselves. After proving her mettle in an unforeseen battle, she is invited to The Tower by The Speaker himself to live her dream. It is here that she not only learns the secrets of the Light, but of a threat that could destroy all of humanity's Golden Age...

1. Legend 1- March Madness ((Rewrite))

-Legend 1-

-March Madness-

((Re-write))

…..

A/N:

Yes, this is indeed a rewrite/retcon of the first chapter. I wanted to re-work it from the ground up as to incorporate some details, mechanics, and plot devices found later in the story. I also just wanted to punch up the writing overall. All other details in regards to time and setting and such are the same: New United Kingdoms, Earth; tail end of The Golden Age; leading up to The Collapse. So, I hope you enjoy the new beginning.

…...

"Whoa...it's even taller in person…"

Ruby Rose, stood here in the center of downtown Vale, looked up and upon the object of her dreams.

The Tower. Home to The Vanguard and Earth's Guardian force.

"Hello. Earth to Ruby, come in little sister! Hallooooo!"

Ruby held up her Scroll, both thoroughly alerted and pleasantly annoyed at her sister singing through her device. "How do you even have time to call me?" Ruby giggled. "I thought you were training with dad?"

Yang Xiao Long, her hair tied back in a bushy ponytail and sweat streaming down her face, giggled her answer. "Intermission," did she say. She gulped water from a squeeze bottle and splashed its remainder on her face. "So, what exactly is happening in Vale today? Some Crucible thing?"

"That big Crucible guy...Shanks...or whatever his name is, is gonna bring some of his best fighters down to Vale and hold open matches from anyone that wants to challenge them," did Ruby explain. She had resumed her trek closer to Tower, weaving about aimless pedestrian traffic, talking as she walked.

"Sounds sweet!" Yang said. "Wish I could be there to, you know...watch you get your butt kicked by Guardians twice your size and age!"

"Ha...ha," said Ruby with humor.

The girls' father, Taiyang, had nosed into the frame and conversation then. "I gotta agree with Sunny on this one, Rubes," he said. "Not that I don't have faith in you...but you honestly think the exposure is worth the beating you'll no doubt take from full-fledged Guardians?"

"I think you both are forgetting who trained me," Ruby said with mock indignation. "And also my...competitive advantage. Wink-wink."

Ruby made a gesture to the rare and deadly pulse rifle on her back. At this, she noticed that several oncoming pedestrians had actually fled to the other side of the street to avoid crossing her path. "And besides, what better way to get into The Vanguard than by rumbling with their 'best fighters.'"

"Wouldn't go flaunting that thing in public…" Taiyang said. "But I do see your point. Just be careful, and good luck, kiddo." He sobered here slightly, his next statement trailing thoughtfully. "You're more special than you know, Ruby. I know The Vanguard will see that…"

"Thanks, dad," Ruby smiled.

"Good luck, Rubes! Kick some serious-" Yang's statement was cut short as the image in Ruby's scroll shook violently. "You cheap sonnuva bitch!"

Taiyang could be seen wielding the weapon of his Super, a pole-arm formed of burning Solar Light, his whole body singing with flames. "I think it's time me and you got back to it, Sunny," he said, his Solar staff slung across one shoulder, an Incendiary grenade primed in the other.

Yang growled. "See ya, Rubes, good luck!" were her last words before the call was ended.

Her peripheries fully restored, Ruby could look to see that she was still roughly six or seven blocks from her destination. Not only that, she still had about ninety minutes before the event actually began. All around her she could see the steady increase of simmering activity; people from all over Vale and probably beyond coming to see the upcoming spectacle.

Alone as she was in this crowded square, Ruby's sense of then public privacy saw her gaze drift idly again up the vertical length of The Tower. And from there, up to the sky, where the great and mysterious machine-being they called, "The Traveler" made its home.

To say that they had no idea what it was, would be like calling the sky it rested in "blue". It had simply...arrived one night. Though clearly extra-terrestrial, it had tripped none of the Earth's orbiting satellites or defense batteries. It had settled itself over the heart of the city of Vale, capitol of The New United Kingdoms of Earth.

And from there, life as the world knew it, began in earnest.

The Traveler brought with it a great many miracles. The most prominent and potent of these, was the energy mankind came to call, "Light". With this new "Light", all things became possible. Terra forming of all the worlds of the Sol system became a reality; great cities being built on Luna, Venus, Mars, and even Mercury. Human life span nearly tripled, and sickness and disease became a thing of the past. And perhaps even greater than that, were the new breed of soldiers that The Traveler's Light had given birth to.

The Guardians.

In possession of extraordinary amounts of Light, the Guardians could wield the Light of The Traveler as a weapon; a directed elemental force against those that opposed them.

For some, it was lightning.

For others, it was fire.

For other still, it was a destructive energy harnessed from the depths of space.

These vaunted and blessed soldiers formed the force known as The Vanguard, the protectors of the Sol System.

And the system was indeed in need of protecting. For The Traveler had brought with it not only its miracles, but a plague of its dogged pursuers. They were a race of alien bandits known as The Eliksni. But The Vanguard referred to them by another name.

The Fallen.

Their single-minded determination in hunting and capturing The Traveler had earned them that moniker. The pirates they were, they scavenged for resources wherever they could; gutting ancient and decommissioned vessels and raiding others, killing hundreds; thousands in the process.

The Guardians were all that could stand against them.

And they were the reason that Ruby was here today.

Bringing her out of this reflective stupor, was an alert from very much within.

Her stomach rumbling.

She had intentionally skipped breakfast, not wanting to be heavy and full of food when fight time came...but a little snack and a few carbs couldn't hurt about now…

She wandered over to a crepe vendor, finding herself in line behind four people. The young mother just in front to her was accompanied by her son, no more than six years of age by the looks of it. Coupled as he was to his mother's hand, he swiveled his small body about as he saw Ruby's shadow cast itself over him. His little green eyes beheld her then, full of the non-invasive and very inquisitive wonder that only children could posses.

"Well, hello there," Ruby said to the boy, leaning down on her knees. "May I speak with you, please?" Her head cocked adorably and her smile disarming, the young boy nodded enthusiastically. "What's your name?" Ruby asked him.

"John…" the boy squeaked quietly.

"It's very nice to meet you!" Ruby said.

"Your eyes are pretty, Miss…" little john said.

"Thank you," Ruby said. She noticed then the portable game system the boy held in his hand, the screen flashing 'Game Over.' "You like games? So do I." Her smile widened.

John then, seeing the weapon on Ruby's back, blinked several times. He gasped, a tiny, nearly inaudible intake of breath. "Uh, Miss Ruby…"

"Yes?"

"Are you...a Witch?" The last word was a strained childish hush; far too loud to be an actual whisper.

The boy's mother then became privy to the conversation. "A Witch? What are you on about, John…" She turned and saw Ruby, moreover, she saw the weapon on Ruby's back. "Traveler above!" said she without breath. She scooped her boy into her arms and fled from the scene, not looking back once.

A short while from there, her belly half full of strawberry crepes, did Ruby's idle wanderings bring her across the local gun shop. Her nerd senses immediately tingled, compelling her through the doors of the place.

"Welcome to The Gunn Show!" did the portly proprietor pontificate. "In honor of the third day of the third month of the year, you pay a third of the price on select models!" He set his hand on his hips. "I'm Master Gunns. What are ya lookin' for today?"

"Nothing in particular," Ruby said, holding back a giggle at the man's sales pitch. "Just browsing…"

"I see…" the man's enthusiasm was only slightly diminished. "Well, let me know if ya see anything that catches your eye." The entry of another customer took his attention then. "Welcome to the Gunn Show!"

Ruby sauntered down the isle, her now betwixt walls of mounted auto and scout rifles. She made her way passed these to the section that held her most preferred of all weapon types.

The pulse rifle.

"Let's see…" She tapped her chin with a connoisseur's contemplation. "Level-white...lame."

She moved on.

"Level-green…" she blew a raspberry. "Level-blue...okay, now we're talkin'…" She looked closer. "Black Suros SWB-42...Painted Apollo Msc...Baryon Msc...this guy's got good stuff!"

"I see you found your calling!" said Master Gunns behind her.

Ruby smiled. "Yeah, I guess."

The man then took notice of Ruby's weapon. "I see you're uh...pretty well-equipped there…" he said nervously. "Doubt I got anything that can measure up to The Red Death…" He folded his arms, but only inquisitively. "That said, what actually brought you in here today?"

Ruby nodded sideways, a small grin gracing her face. "I don't know. I...just like to be around them…" she said, her eyes on the mounted weapons.

"I guess that makes sense," Master Gunns said. He looked closer at the girl before him. "You got them eyes…"

Ruby glared at him, though only askance.

"Last person they said had eyes like that mixed it with one of them big Eliksni things, came off worse. Ozpin was in a state for weeks."

"Yeah…" this barely escaped Ruby's tightened lips.

"So...you a Guardian or what? I doubt the authorities would let you open-carry that thing otherwise."

"No…" Ruby said quietly. "But I'm gonna be."

Master Gunns guffawed. "You must be here for the fights Lord Shaxx is holding! Now, how's a pretty little thing like you gonna-"

His eyes now open from his jovial laughing fit, Master Gunns beheld the then empty space that the young Guardian-to-be had just been occupying…

…..

Back on the street, Ruby's vacant but directed gaze was again on the great sphere above her, above all of them. She often wondered why more people weren't seen simply...staring at the thing. She supposed that, as alien as it was, people had simply gotten used to it. The honeymoon phase of enchantment had worn off; now it was just another part of the sky.

Her gaze returned to level and she then became aware of an acute change in her immediate surroundings. The people in her immediate surroundings.

They had begun to stream in a single direction, away from something. They were hurried to begin with, and soon that gave way to all-out panic. Rivers of humanity flowed in fright; screams trailing in the wake of their flight.

Ruby hurried to the middle of the street, her gaze locked opposite to the direction the masses were fleeing. The throngs streamed around her in a wide berth; panicked as they were, they still seemed to be wary of Ruby and her weapon.

"Hey! What's happening! Hey!" She shouted as the crowds screamed by.

"Vandals!" said someone at speed. "They're attacking the display in the square!"

The display? That old Arcadia ship?! Ruby ran the reasons for a Fallen attack on the thing through her head as she made her way up the street.

If it was true that Fallen had attacked in the city, then the Guardians that Lord Shaxx was bringing down should be all over them! The obvious lack of gunfire reaching her ears quickly disproved this. Well if not the Guardians then somebody had to be doing something!

Ruby was alone in the street by this point, her path to the center square clear. She unstrapped her deadly Crescent Rose from her back and loaded a magazine from her belt. Now armed, she cleared and rounded the corner that lead to her destination.

And The Fallen were crawling all over it.

The first Arcadia class jumpship ever produced was displayed here in the city of Vale. A testament to human kind's humble beginnings of FTL travel. And now it was swarming with Vandals and Dregs; cutting at its hull and tearing at its internals.

Ruby wondered for a while longer what they were actually after in the thing. And then one of alien scavengers let out a squeal, its prize held in its four arms.

Of course! The ship's NLS drive!

Ruby had seen now what she needed to see. She pulled the hood of her red cloak over her head, and she whipped out around the corner.

TWULAT! TWULAT! TWULAT!

The three-round report of The Red Death echoed through the square. Half of the Fallen unit were dead before the other half even knew what had happened. But they recovered soon enough and readied their weapons and rebuttal.

Ruby performed a deft tuck and roll, evading the incoming Arc projectiles. Her path was then cleverly barred with a crackling Arc grenade.

VROON! Ruby Blinked backwards, swiftly retracing her steps.

A pair of Vandals intercepted her, their electric blades whirling through the air.

Ruby planted her heel, spinning on this pivot while swinging Crescent Rose in an arc, deflecting the Vandal's sword with the butt of her rifle. She then lanced the creature through the throat with the bayonet at her rifle's end. And almost in the same motion, did she repel the second of her attackers with a stiff front kick. The Vandal still reeling from the blow, did Ruby loose a throwing knife from her thigh holster at its head. It hit its mark, a plume of gaseous Ether streaming from its fatal wound.

Her world was rocked then by a wire of Arc energy that struck her square in the back. Ruby staggered, her cry audible for all her adversaries to hear. Her Light had absorbed a fair bit of the damage, even stored some of the Arc energy that had hit her.

But she could not stand another direct hit. One more and…

VROON! She Blinked from the spot, now atop the gutted remains of the Arcadia ship. And from there, did she rain down fire. TWULAT! TWULAT! TWULAT! Vandal after Vandal fell, her weapon absorbing their life force and using it replenish her damaged Light.

As The Red Death did.

Ruby reloaded at lightning speed and did a visual sweep of the square below her.

Nothing moved.

But she she did not relax. For then, crunching up from the bowels of the ship, did there emerge a viscous Fallen Captain. Now extricated from the jagged hole it tore through the hull, it towered over Ruby; the shadow of its menace deepened by four Arc-charged swords readied in its hands.

Ruby trained the sights of her weapon upon it, knowing that kinetic force alone wouldn't break its shielding easily. She took a step backward. Her right hand now at her side, did it crackle with Arc Light, Ruby willing a Skip Grenade into existence. She reared back to throw-

-And was falling through the air.

She could feel the heat of the wound scored into her back. The concrete below met her quickly, separating her from the last of her senses.

Even with her vision spinning, she could see the Vandal that struck her drop its camouflage. It was soon joined by the Captain thudding down from its perch on the ship, as well as a fresh flock of Eliksni reinforcements.

Her limbs like lead, and coordination having abandoned her, Ruby flopped like some desperate fish toward her fallen weapon. The Captain laughed, a series of dry clicks from its throat, before kicking Crescent Rose away, it clattering across the cobblestones. It roared at the sky, setting the mass of Eliksni into a blood rage as it prepared for the kill. It raised its swords to strike-

-And was blasted into The Void.

Ruby rolled away from the anomaly, its corrosive Void particles not distinguishing friend from foe. That is, if the castor of the thing was indeed a friend.

Ruby, having recovered her weapon and her senses, watched as the Void grenade ate a hole in the concrete before her. The Fallen watched with equal awe and caution as they looked about for the source of the anomaly.

And then, as if in answer to this unspoken question, did a figure fall, as though from the sky, to land between Ruby and her attackers.

It was a woman. Tall, elegant, and imposing. Her purple cape flapped about as she made a stylishly intimidating adjustment to her glasses. Her bright green eyes behind the lenses soon glowed violent purple, Void Light brimming inside them.

The Captain chattered something to its forces then, as they readied themselves to face this new and seemingly potent threat.

The tall Warlock woman held her right hand down at her side, it wide open. In a flash, the hand cannon strapped to right boot was propelled up and into her waiting hand. Her left hand then came alive with a spark of Void Light.

And from there, was she in constant, killing motion.

CLOUGH! CLOUGH! CLOUGH! The pinpoint power of her weapon ended many a Vandal then and there. The others were lost to the storm of Void Light she cast from her hand.

'Traveler...she has so much Light!' Ruby could only fathom this mentally, her voice stayed in her throat by the Warlock's awesome power.

The Captain charged the woman outright. But its swords found nothing but air as the Warlock activated her Burst Glide, carrying her above her target. At her apex, her body came alive with Void Light. She tore into space-time as she activated her greatest power.

KATHEEW! A trio of deadly Void bolts collided with their target, rendering the Captain into no more than space dust.

The woman landed gracefully on her feet and turned her piercing eyes upon Ruby, who only just now realized who she was. "You're from The Vanguard…"

No change came over the woman's countenance at this utterance.

Ruby's smile couldn't help but to form itself. "You're a Void Walker…" Her excitement peaked, did she squeal: "Can I have your holograph!?"

And the next thing she knew…

She was in custody. Guardian's arrest.

…..

Ruby found herself then staring at four gray walls and two angry eyes, who's owner was currently pacing about the room, the sharp heels of her boots click-clacking across the tiled floor.

"I hope you realize, young lady, that your actions today will not go without repercussion," the Lady Warlock said.

"Repercussion for...what, exactly?" Ruby said.

The look on the woman's face made Ruby regret her cheek instantly. "Well, since you asked..." She then ticked her points off on her fingers: "Carrying an illegal, non Vanguard-issued weapon; causing thousands of Glimmer in property damage; endangering the immediate well-being of civilians; failing to obtain proper authorization to engage enemy forces within city limits... Should I go on?"

"No ma'am…" Ruby sank into her seat, utterly defeated.

The Warlock shook her head. "The media is going to have a field day with this…" She then locked eyes with Ruby, Ruby finding herself utterly paralyzed by the powerful woman's gaze. This went on for some time, Ruby then becoming certain that the woman was somehow...looking for something. At length, did she huff a slow breath. "And to top everything off, you put yourself in unnecessary mortal peril."

"Well, that's what Guardians do," Ruby said, her voice returning. "That's what I want to be…"

"Won't make much of a Guardian if you're dead, now will you, Miss Rose?"

Ruby blinked, somewhat surprised that the woman knew her name.

The Warlock adjusted her glasses. "Too much energy and planning has gone into this-into you- for you to go and gaff it all at the first hurdle!" she said sharply.

"I...what?" Ruby was capable of only this nonplussed utterance.

The woman ignored her. "But with all that said, there is someone here that would like to meet you." She retreated to one side of the room's doorway, as to make way for its new entrant.

And from the shadow of the doorway, did there emerge a figure whom Ruby had only ever seen on a television screen. Upon his entry, Ruby saw the Lady Warlock dip into an elegant and earnest curtsy, though she couldn't lift the corners of her high-waisted pencil skirt.

The man's grayiish-silver hair caught the light from the room's single bulb, casting into relief the handsome and well-dressed profile of his person.

Ruby was overcome with the sudden urge to stand.

"Please, remain seated," the man said, seeing Ruby's motion to rise.

Assisted by a cane that he leaned quite heavily on, did he hobble to the table that seated Ruby. He leaned over said table then, as to better inspect Ruby's face. "Hmm. You have...silver eyes…" was his musing. He then turned to subordinate. "It worked," he said to her simply.

The woman nodded sideways.

The man settled into the chair opposite her. His hands overlapped upon his cane, did he study the young girl before him. Ruby met his gaze only fleetingly, not sure if her meeting his stare would be considered challenging or otherwise rude. Ruby then became aware of the Lady Warlock staring at her in much the same way her superior was.

Ruby's eyes found the table again. "So...that's the tone we're going for…"

And just when this dual scrutinisation was becoming unbearable for Ruby, did the man say to her: "So tell me young Lady, where is it that you learned to use...this?"

His Ghost floating free from his body, did it then transmat Ruby's confiscated weapon upon the table between them.

"Umm...at The Signal in Basel City…" was Ruby's slow answer.

"They taught you to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?"

"Well, one teacher in particular did," Ruby said, her prideful smile growing.

"Is that so?" said the man with knowing patience. "And I imagine his weapon was very much similar to this one?"

"I…" Ruby tilted her head. "Do you know my Uncle Qrow?"

"One could say that."

"He's the best teacher ever, isn't he?" Ruby squeaked. "I was complete garbage until he took me under his wing! Now I'm all like PEW! PEW! BLINK! ARC BLADE SUPER!"

The man chuckled at her enthusiasm. Ruby then saw his eyes again on her weapon. He drank in its details with the same steadfast gaze previously fixed upon her at one point. And unless Ruby was mistaken, she could detect something of a...fondness in his critical stare. "Red Like Roses…" were his words then, reading the silver-lettered inscription upon the rifle's spiked barrel. "Or maybe...Red Like Death?"

Ruby shrugged a bit uncomfortably, a gesture that did not dissuade his next question. "So tell me. What's and adorable girl like you doing with a weapon such as this?"

"Because…" Ruby said, her cadence slow and honest, "I want to be a Guardian."

The man leaned back in his chair, his eyebrows elevated. "Why a Guardian specifically?" he asked. "Do you not dream of something...more?"

Ruby blinked. "What's greater than being a Guardian?" she said. "They're the heroes I read about since I was little. They're always there when you need them; they're the ones who always save the day. And their motto: 'To protect those who cannot protect themselves!'. I want to do that. I want to have my own ship and Sparrow; to go star tripping through the galaxy, fighting The Fallen all over the system! It's just so romantic and awesome and just….ya know!?" Her speech ended with a squeak, her excitement bubbling over during the course of her statement.

"I see…" said the man after a studious silence. He then posed to Ruby a question. "Do you know who I am, Ruby?"

"Of course. You're Ozpin, The Speaker of The Light. You live in The Tower and command The Vanguard."

Ozpin chuckled again, in a very self-satisfied manner. "Hello there," he said, inclining his head.

"Nice to meet you," Ruby said back.

"Do you want to come to my Tower, Ruby?"

"More than anything," was Ruby's whisper.

"Well, alright then." Ozpin rose from his chair, then turning to his Warlock partner. "Glynda, please see to it that the necessary preparations are made."

"Of course," Glynda said with a bow.

Ozpin, making his exit, paused upon the door's threshold. Without quite turning all the way around he said to Ruby: "You're going to do your mother proud, Ruby."

And he was gone, leaving in his wake that trailing statement, and the one Glynda Goodwitch, her currently scowling at Ruby.

'Geez. Why is she always frowning? It's like she swallowed a lemon or something...' This thought ran its course through Ruby's head as Glynda prepared her statement.

She reached into her blouse and retrieved a small holographic ticket-chip and handed it to Ruby. "The Skylark bound for The Tower will be departing tomorrow at 3: 00 PM sharp; we will be departing whether you are there or not." Ruby had the distinct impression that Glynda much preferred the 'or not' part of that statement.

"Thank you very much," Ruby said to her. Glynda nodded curtly and click-clacked from the room.

Ruby stared at the small trinket in her hands. A scale model image of the illustrious Tower was projected from the chip. After a short time, the Tower was replaced with an image of a Guardian recruitment poster that she had seen in various places around the cities of Basel and Vale. She gasped in soft recognition at the sight of the powerful Guardians held here in the palm of her hands.

"Pyrrha Nikos…"

The Titan Vanguard Captain stood erect, her spine straight as a sword, her eyes dutifully forward.

"Cayde-6…"

The expert gunslinger twirled his signature hand cannon while flipping a knife in his opposite hand.

"Cinder Fall…"

The beautiful Warlock stood with her feet in a classical 'T' pose, Solar Light singing through her body, flames dancing in her eyes.

And in blazing letters above their heads, was The Tower's recruitment slogan:

JOIN THE GUARDIANS

FIND YOUR DESTINY

BECOME LEGEND

Ruby almost snapped the thing in half in her glee. She was really doing it!

She was going to The Tower!

Her mind came alight then with fantastic daydreams of her lying through the galaxy, thwarting evil on worlds beyond her own; to see things that no one had ever seen before.

She was prepared for her greatest moments.

She was prepared for her finest hour.

The dream that she always dreamed was suddenly about to flower.

But it was up to her to take the first step….

….

-End of Legend 1-

…...

A/N:

Not much more to say here, just another thanks for all those who took time to give my content a read. If you liked what you read, a like, fav, or review would be greatly appreciated. If you didn't what you read, I thank you for reading this long. See you again.

-B. D. Skunkworks