RWBY
Am I Your Teacher or Mother?
Chapter 1: I've Lost Everything!
Before we begin warning! This Fanfic contains content viewers may find disturbing (at least I hope so considering the moral alternative) I do not condone any actions that harm anyone, especially children but will use them as elements to push forward a hard-hitting novel. You have been warned.
The Forest of Death, just the name of this Grimm infested deathtrap would bring a chill down even the most experienced Hunter's spine. But what chilled my soul today wasn't the dark forest or the demon's it housed, NO! What tormented me today was an even greater evil that was unleashed on my best friend and partner.
"RUBY! Were here to save you!" My teammate and Ruby's sister Yang hollered confidently as I saw her smack those yellow gauntlets and prepared to bash anyone or anything that dared threatened Ruby. But even now the image of her cocky smile transforming into a look of terror unimaginable was glued to my mind, just as badly as the cause of that loss of sisterly pride.
Ruby was lying on the ground with a broken leg and riddled with cuts and bruises. Her clothes were in tatters, exposing her and those wounds to the elements as she shivered crying, but was unable to find the strength to move an inch. But it was not a Grimm that was responsible for her horrible condition. Weiss knew this as she was fine when she ran back to Beacon to get her team and Ruby's childhood friend Nora to back them up after getting hurt during a surprise Grimm horde during training, her broken arm being the only thing keeping the heiress from carrying her back. The blame for her partner's state was team CRDNL, especially its leader Cardin, standing above her smirking and patting themselves on the back as they bragged about how "amazing she felt", Weiss's ears still rang from those words and the screams of "NO!" she heard earlier from Ruby as came to her aide too late.
Those words and her partner's ill fate lit a fire in me, even hotter than Yang's hair when it comes ablaze from her burn semblance. I wanted nothing more than to freeze their worthless asses and shatter the ice that encased them, making them just a nasty memory of the past for her and Ruby.
"YOU BASTARDS!" I screamed with a fury as I drew Myrtenaster with my good arm to do just that, but unfortunately would be beaten to the punch. Yang and Nora roared as they leaped past me, frightening me with their speed, as the brawler's eyes became red as blood and Nora's pink electricity semblance powered up her hammer she swung at those bullies and rapists.
"I'm breaking all their legs, THIRD ONE'S INCLUDED!" Nora screamed as she plunged her hammer into Cardin's waist as promised, making him cough up blood and foam at the mouth as he screamed and collapsed. His teammates barely had enough time to avoid Yang's first strike, but Ruby didn't but was fortunately saved by Blake who grabbed her with the wire from Gambrol Shroud and brought her bruised sullied body close to the cat girl who embraced her in a hug and quivered as the impact of Yang's fist shattering the ground rippled through the air and hurt her sensitive ears. But as Blake looked down solemnly at the little 15-year old girl looking at her with near lifeless eyes, completely devoid of hope and happiness the Faunus admired in her leader, she was brought to tears of rage and grief as she ignored the discomfort of white substances leaking on her waist from Ruby while cradling her tightly to her chest. She knew Ruby's pain and discomfort was no doubt infinitely worse.
"I-It's okay now Ruby. They c-can't hurt you anymore." Blake stuttered as she gave broken sobs and rubbed her leader and friend's head tenderly. The sight of this only fueled Yang's anger and guilt as she was filled with envious rage and gave the remainder of team CRDL a murderous gaze.
"You've crossed the line twice." She coldly says, making the boys shiver as they see her fist now melting the ground slowly come out and clenched as its gauntlet glowed red from heat rising.
"First you rape my baby sister, then because of you SOMEONE ELSE is comforting her instead of me! I'M GONNA KILL YOU!" Yang roared as she gave off a massive aura burst of fire and yellow energy. Weiss froze in terror like those rapists, as much as she empathized with the desire to kill them for what they put Ruby through, she knew this would be hard to avoid punishment from their teachers, just as it would be hard to stop Yang's rampage. Beacon was one of the strictest schools in regards to Vale's law against murder. Vengeance wasn't a viable defense under law and Weiss knew CRDL may just have robbed not just Ruby her innocence, but Yang her future as she drew closer to them to snuff out theirs as well.
Professor Ozpin and Goodwitch were in their office sorting out paperwork. Ozpin was leisurely sipping his coffee cup while Glynda placed a stack of files on his desk. Soon a massive tremor shook the office, the sight of the massive aura eruption making Ozpin drop his mug and shatter the drink over the files.
"Darn it, that was my favorite cup." Ozpin groaned while Glynda sighed in annoyance.
"That's your main concern!? What about that blast from the Forest of Death!?" Goodwitch yelled flabbergasted as she pointed towards it. She remembered granting 2 teams, team CRDL and 2 members of Team RWBY permission to train there today. The thought paled her skin as she bolted out the office, fearing the worst. Ozpin merely sighed as he smirked, enjoying seeing his old friend show her true kindness and care for students beyond her usual strictness. Here adherence for order usually made her rigid, but it was a good quality in the sense just like her semblance. She could restore most damaged goods back in place with telekinesis, fitting for an instructor of students who tend to get rowdy or in danger from that. It was something Ozpin was indeed concerned about right now, but felt confident to leave it to his old friend.
"Just wished she could have fixed my mug before running out though." He sighed as he began to clean up the mess in his office the hard way.
When Goodwitch came upon team RWBY and Nora in the Forest of Death, she froze in her tracks as she came upon a frightening scene. Her fears for a Grimm taking her student's lives crept into her heart every day she lived since becoming a professor. She wasn't willing to show it to avoid being seen as soft, but they were her pride as a hunter and teacher. Now she saw Yang Xiao Long, one of her students, standing over a pile of 3 charred and corpses with faces smashed to a bloody pulp while she huffed, tears streaming down her cheeks.
To add further to her surprise, Blake Belladonna was holding Cardin in place with Gambrol Shroud's wire as Nora walked towards him menacingly, both girls having looks stinking worse than the charred corpses of her students as they were filled with murderous intent.
Goodwitch knew those glares, and Nora gripping her hammer, meant the life of a student was in danger. She didn't know why Team RWBY and Nora would kill 3 students, but she didn't have time to ponder this uncharacteristic assault. She raised her riding her crop to try and freeze them in place as it glowed from her purple aura, before something in the corner of her eye distracted the huntress professor, making her gasp in terror.
"M-Miss Rose?" Goodwitch fearfully stuttered as she saw Weiss Schnee crying while giving a visibly beaten and almost fully naked Ruby Rose a lap pillow, constantly apologizing for failing her and her sister. The sight of those usually powerful and overconfident girls in such a defeated state, especially Ruby, momentarily froze Goodwitch with shock. This moments hesitation would come back to bite everyone still alive as a result as Nora raised her hammer and cried.
"Forget your dick, I'm smashing something else!" Nora yelled.
"Wait! Don't!" Glynda yelled but it was too late to use her semblance. Nora's hammer descended, plowing into the head of the frightened Cardin, smashing his skull as his eyes ruptured and blood gushed from his mouth as his neck became mangled from breaking. Glynda covered her mouth in shock and disgust, Cardin was dead no doubts about it, by her own students hands. Not willing to see anymore-grotesque killings today, Glynda raised her weapon quickly with a bitter frown.
"ENOUGH!" She hollered, the crop glowing purple and freezing in place Yang, Nora, and Blake. They felt immense pressure keeping their bodies still as their professor approached them, disdain in her look.
"You all have a lot of explaining to do! Why did you murder 4 students? Do have any idea the consequen-" She began lecturing with venom in her tone before a roar from a tearful Yang cut her off.
"THOSE BASTARDS RAPED MY SISTER!" Yang roared, making Goodwitch recoil in horror as her eyes widen. Blake and Nora's however, were riddled with tears as they heard this bitter fact.
"They hurt our friend, Yang's little sister, they deserved it!" Blake yelled. The normally quite girl couldn't keep calm with all that's happened. She'd be damned if Team CRDL got away with it or at least Yang wasn't defended for what she felt was justice.
"I'd do it again in a second! Give me my hammer and I'll prove it with that pedo's body!" Nora yelled, her body cackling with electricity as she gritted her teeth angrily. She grew up on Patch with Ruby and Ren after losing her home in Mistral. The little girl was her only other family besides Ren and Yang, and now these bastards defiled her. Nora wasn't going to apologize for killing and smashing them, she wanted nothing more than to do it again.
Goodwitch's eyes widen in shock hearing their reasons, as well as Ruby's traumatic encounter with CRDL. It all made sense, why Ruby was a naked sobbing mess in Weiss's lap and why her huntress students killed these boys. As much as the teacher in her wanted to admonish them for executing defeated enemies, the woman in her couldn't bring herself to speak right there, she too was disgusted with what the boys did to this poor girl but she almost wept if not for her pride once hearing a sniffling Ruby utter these words.
"I-I can't get m-married like mom anymore." She cried softly as Weiss cradled her bruised face tearfully. Goodwitch covered her hand with her mouth, wincing in fright at the girls despair. From their interview a few months ago, it was clear to Glynda part of the reason Ruby wanted to be a huntress was because she idolized Summer Rose, her mother. Not that Glynda could blame her with that white cape and badass Sunder Rose weapon she used. She spoke from experience that Summer was also kind and loving to most, especially children. It was no wonder Ruby once said she wanted to live the life she had, becoming a huntress and starting a family to protect and cherish one day. Now that dream seemed lost for good. Not only would this no doubt scar the poor girl for life, but Glynda knew from past cases like this being assaulted would bring a student Huntress no end of strife in their romantic lives. They would have hard times adjusting to safe sex, any interaction could reignite their trauma and push away even healthy relationships like one girl Glynda counseled in the past.
"Just being touched by a boy hurts now! I see "him" whenever it happens and I want to puke." One poor teenaged girl once told her in her office, the memory infecting her as did many other soul shattering ones, but one of them made her pale as she thought of Ruby's future.
"Why did she do that to me? I told her I had a girlfriend? Oh God! What's she going to think of me after this?! How would she believe it?" One boy said, it was honestly something Glynda shuddered remembering as she had no idea what that stigma boys would feel would be like, but she knew Ruby would be forced to endure similar ones. Ruby would not be seen as "pure" by those who knew she wasn't a virgin anymore, it would be difficult to find a man empathetic to her plight that could see her beyond her loss. Hell, Ruby certainly couldn't see herself beyond that loss right now, as did her partner whose cries snapped Glynda out of her stupor.
"I'm sorry Ruby! I should have been there for you. Please forgive me!" Weiss cried, filled with complete shame for not preventing this. Glynda could feel that shame radiating from Weiss, a shame she empathized with. No matter how powerful she was, Glynda was still one woman, she couldn't be everywhere at once though she'd kill to have been here right now to save Ruby and prevent these killings. She had failed her duties as a teacher and huntress today, and was going to have to enforce them now no matter how tempted she was as a woman to ignore what happened to CRDL and let these girls off the hook.
1 Hour later….
Officers from Vale arrived on campus and soon cuffed Blake, Nora, and Yang after Goodwitch explained the scenario. Paramedics also arrived to escort Ruby in ambulance to the Vale Hospital, though Weiss insisted on accompanying her, as did Yang who roared as she tried to break off the aura dampening cuffs on her but failed.
"NO! Let me go! You can't take me from her, I'm all Ruby's got!" Yang screamed tearfully as she was forced into a police cruiser, her last sight before the doors closed being of her sister covered by a large blanket she curled up with, too weak to meet her sisters eyes as she cried. Weiss winced as she saw Yang and the others being carried off, she warned them but they didn't listen to her despite knowing this would happen. As much as she wanted to freeze those cops and free her friends, Weiss knew better than to pick a fight right now, her lawyers could defend them for her and now Ruby needed someone to help her through this, especially as she heard Yang's comments about them being orphans.
Glynda solemnly looked at the two as she walked up to the ambulance, having the same thought. Her heart still skipped a beat every time that fact was brought up, the fact her old friend from her school day's, Tai Xiao Long, was killed by a mysterious woman with black hair as Qrow described her. The fact that Yang was Ruby's sole guardian meant that with her arrested there was no one to help Ruby right now aside from a teenager, granted a rich one, but Glynda still felt more comfortable overseeing what was going to happen from here, knowing Weiss Schnee wasn't experienced with traumatized students like she was.
"I'll be going with you two to the hospital, AND NO BUTS MISS SCHNEE, an adult needs to handle this from here out understood." Glynda said firmly but with an empathetic hand on Weiss's shoulder that filled the heiress with a mix feeling of fear and comfort. She could only nod silently as they both got in with the paramedics and Ruby. The hour ride to the hospital felt like a bitter eternity as they both winced and averted their gazes with each scream Ruby gave off when a male paramedic tried to wipe off the results of her attack from her body, the rose girl convulsing violently as she even kicked him away.
"I-It's okay! I'll help, just please tell me how I can do." Glynda said quickly as she grabbed the cloth from the medic and did the job herself. The medics said she'd need to have a split put on her broken leg and bandaged to avoid aggravating the wound so Glynda did just that. With each second she wrapped the gauze, Glynda's gaze narrowed sadly at the girl shivering despite her blanket covering the rest of her body.
"Ruby….what's actually going to happen to you now?" Glynda solemnly thought. She couldn't imagine Ruby wanting to go back to Beacon, the place of her attack. She also hoped Ruby would still want to be a huntress, perhaps use this attack as a drive to grow stronger to prevent such a tragedy again, but knew that was wishful thinking. Many rape victims gave up their careers from the strain of the trauma, even resorting to abusing drugs or alcohol to alleviate the painful memories that plagued them.
"Hell, Qrow certainly has his demons considering the 8-10 glasses he chugs down a day." Glynda thought disappointingly. She soon frowned as she feared Ruby might now take more from her Uncle than just his scythe skills after this. Speaking of Scythe, Weiss walked over and placed Crescent Rose near Ruby's side, allowing the girl to cradle the weapon she forged tightly for comfort.
"Why? Why couldn't I have you beside me back there?" Ruby quietly whispered as she hugged her weapon. She always hated being separated from it, but now she felt frightened beyond belief, believing if she hadn't lost it to those creepy boys while she rested, she wouldn't have lost her virtue.
Weiss gasped slightly, not sure if Ruby meant the scythe or Weiss herself. The heiress covered her mouth and cried as she thought this, starting to believe both were the case before Glynda walked over and hugged her to her shock.
"It wasn't your fault Weiss." Was all Glynda said, earning a scoff in return as Weiss glared at her with teary eyes.
"Yeah right! This all happened because I was weak, because I couldn't keep her safe from those Grimm…. From those pigs!" Weiss cried into Glynda's chest as the teacher patted her back empathetically.
"They made their choice Weiss, only they are to blame for hurting Ruby. Your hurt yourself, but always thought of her first, it's what huntresses do, even when things go wrong." Glynda said as she touched Weiss's limp broken arm, making the girl wince painfully. Glynda sighed in response.
"Now, lets get that fixed and we can then focus on getting your partner through this." Glynda said.
"B-But how can we? How can we get Ruby through this, I haven't the faintest clue?" Weiss said scared. Glynda's eyes narrowed sadly, to be honest she was unsure as well. Most of her students who suffered this usually never recovered. Therapy and medication helped, but Glynda knew that wasn't always a sure fire way to recover, a loving family members support could be a great remedy, but Yang was now in jail and Ruby's parents were dead. She had no one but her partner, a Schnee maybe but Weiss wasn't trained to handle another persons life like this Glynda knew, just as she knew her own family was not likely to lend aide to a commoner from Patch. Atlesian's, especially Schnees aside from Weiss and her sister Winter were known for looking down on less wealthy people and those not from Atlas, it wasn't likely for them to show care and allow Weiss to help Ruby. Surely, no one came to Glynda's aide for a long time when her parents were killed by a Grimm horde as a child. She was honestly grateful to Ozpin in her teen years for helping her get back on her feet and build up her career as a huntress, he was like a father to her even.
Suddenly Glynda gasped as she realized she never informed Ozpin of what happened. Quickly she pulled away from Weiss to the Heiresses discomfort, having no end of anxiety right now without a teacher or mentors reassurance as she saw one seemingly ignore her, something Glynda failed to notice as she called and told Ozpin what happened, though quietly to avoid making Ruby relieve the memory of what happened.
Ozpin sighed in his office solemnly as he heard this bitter news.
"Okay Glynda, please watch over miss Rose and miss Schnee right now. Their going to need your support right now more than ever, especially miss Rose." Ozpin told Glynda who sighed.
"It's just… what exactly should I do FOR them sir. I've never dealt with an orphan before, usually I had the parents or guardian's to help my previous cases but God knows Qrow can't be trusted with this right now." Glynda said remorsefully with a bit of venom in her tongue as Ozpin picked up on.
"Indeed, wondering hunter with a bad luck semblance aside, his own bad way of handling his depression might give poor Ruby a bad idea." Ozpin said disdainfully.
"So let me ask you Glynda, how did YOU handle it when you were that age?" He asked.
"What do you mean sir?" Glynda said as she looked confused, she was never a rape victim?
"I mean, you had a bad childhood as well, wrought with loss like her. How did you overcome it?" He said, hoping she'd get the hint. Glynda's eyes widen as she remembered just who got her through it.
"It was you sir. You reached out and h-helped me when I needed it." She said, her eyes watering a bit before she collected herself. Suddenly she found herself sitting beside Ruby, almost on instinct as she said this. A paramedic walked towards her as he saw this so she respectfully ended her call to Ozpin.
"I'm sorry to interrupt ma'am, but her injuries were pretty bad and we should administer pain killers for her. Are you her mother? Do you know if she'd allergic to any medicine?" He asked.
Glynda looked unnerved as she heard this question. Though she was about to speak up in denial and mention Ruby had no allergies, something she knew from her file, nor a mother anymore a warm hand soon caught hers as she looked on startled. Ruby was holding her hand on the bed.
"Ma-Mama." Ruby weakly said, her eyes closed as she was too weak from crying to stay fully conscious. She had heard the word mother and in her daze before dozing off could swear she saw Summer Rose sitting by her. She smiled a bit as she clasped the warm hand while holding Crescent Rose. For the first time today, something felt warm but good in her as she drifted into a deep slumber.
Glynda felt shocked beyond belief at this sight and those words. The girl was delusional from stress that much was clear. But Glynda still couldn't help but feel a bit strange. She couldn't tell if she was happy or upset to hear those words. She wanted her own mother back many times as a child, hell even now as she needed guidance on what to do especially now. As thoughts of her family filled her head, Glynda gasped a bit as Ozpin appeared in her head. Suddenly a thought washed over her.
"That's right, you were there for me. You were my family when I need one." She thought as she eyed Ruby who, before she knew it, she had tenderly rubbed her hand through her hair almost motherly as she got a crazy idea in her head.
"Um…. Ma'am are you okay? Is that a yes?" The paramedic asked, drawing Glynda's attention. She soon caught gaze of Weiss crying near her.
"Professor? Please don't ignore us again! How are we going to help Ruby?" She asked sadly.
Glynda merely stood up and placed a hand on Weiss's shoulder.
"Don't worry, I can handle this." She said, with a confidant smile, but Weiss could tell from her nervous tone it was filled with small doubt. Indeed, Goodwitch thought she was crazy for doing this, but if Ozpin could she could too as she eyed the paramedic.
"I'm her guardian now. My d-daughter isn't allergic to anything." Goodwitch nervously said, the word daughter still feeling unnatural for the professor as it did for Weiss whose eyes widen in shock.
"Daughter!" Weiss said confused.
Glynda sighed heavily as she sat back down by Ruby. This was going to be a hell of a long ride and journey for them both now. While the slow wait to the hospital was agonizing, nothing was more for Goodwitch as this small doubt infected her thoughts.
"Am I really ready for this?" She thought painfully. She knew she was a huntress, a teacher, but could the disciplinarian truly be ready to be a mother?