1.) Offer of a Lifetime
The pale light of Remnant's moon pours down on the city of Vale, casting eerie shadows in between the buildings and alleyways devoid of streetlights.
"Legends. Stories scattered throughout time. Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easily that they are remnants, byproducts of a forgotten past – a past of Demons, Gods and Magic."
Out of the shadows, a group of four men dressed in black suits with red ties, led by a ginger man in a black bowler hat and white trench coat brandishing a cane. He takes a drag of his cigar then tosses it to the ground, stamping it out as the group makes their way – the scant amount of people in the streets knowing to stay out of their way.
"Man, born from dust, was strong, wise and resourceful, but he was born into an unforgiving world. An inevitable Darkness – creatures of destruction – the creatures of Grimm – set their sights on man and all their creations. These forces clashed, and it seemed the Darkness was intent on returning man's brief existence to the void."
Roman Torchwick and his goons enter the shop 'From Dust till Dawn', he walks up and taps his cane on the counter, startling the old man keeping shop.
"Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a Dust shop open this late?" he smirks, one of his goons pointing a gun at the shopkeeper. The poor old man raises his hands, visibly shaking and sweating.
"P-please! Just t-take my Lien and l-leave!"
"Shh, shh, shh, shh, calm down, we're not here for your money. Though that would be a nice bonus." the old man opens the register, stacking Lien onto the counter. Roman smirks, pocketing the money; he then turns to his henchmen. "Grab the Dust."
A henchman opens a case and removes one of the several cylinders, which the group uses to take Dust from the tubes on the walls. Roman then pulls a case seemingly out of nowhere, opening it and placing it on the counter.
"Fill 'er up." the thief commands, to which the shopkeeper immediately complies.
"However, even the smallest spark of hope is enough to ignite change, and in time, a new breed of warrior with bright silver eyes rose up to light mankind's way through the darkness – and in the shadow's absence came strength, civilization, and most importantly, life."
As one henchman was collecting Dust, he spots a young girl standing in a corner, her bright red hooded cloak being her most standout feature. He approaches her, gun at the ready. She doesn't hear him though, due to the headphones blasting music in her ears.
"But even the most brilliant lights eventually flicker and die. And when they are gone… Darkness will return. So, you may prepare your guardians, build your monuments to a so-called 'free world'; but take heed… there will be no victory in strength."
The henchman points his gun at the young girl, now inches away from her head.
"Alright kid, hands where I can see 'em!" he commands, but his would-be victim doesn't respond. "Hey! I said hands in the air! You got a death wish or somethin'?!" still nothing, so he pokes the back of her head with his gun. She jumps, dropping the magazine she was reading and spinning around, her bright silver eyes looking up at the man. She lowers her headphones, tousling her red tipped black hair.
"Um… yes?"
The henchman trains his gun right at Ruby's face, she grimaces, but still doesn't really react.
"I said put your hands up, now!"
"Are you… robbing me?"
"YES!"
Ruby's eyes scan the shop before widening – she can finally put all her training to be a Huntress to work! She remains calm as she reaches behind her back.
"But perhaps victory is in the simpler things that you could never understand. Things that require a smaller, more honest soul."
"Oooohhhh…" Ruby smirks.
Sounds of struggle can be heard from inside the shop before Ruby drop kicks the thug through the window. He lands hard on the ground, unconscious, while Ruby lands on one knee. Roman and the three other henchmen scramble out of the shop. Roman scowls while the Huntress-in-training smirks, reaching behind her, standing up straight, and unfolding her trusty partner – Crescent Rose into its scythe form, twirling the weapon around, striking it into the ground and turning off her headphones.
"Okayyy… get her!" Roman commands.
The thugs rush Ruby, who spins around on top of her scythe and kicks the first one in the face. She dislodges Crescent Rose from the ground and spins around, hooking the blade around one of the henchman's legs, tripping him; then she spins, knocking him away with the side of her weapon. Ruby then plants her scythe into the ground and fires a sniper shot at the final henchman's chest, knocking him back past Roman.
"You were worth every cent. Truly you were."
The sound of another round being fired catches Roman's attention, but instead of a bullet, Ruby is flying his way. She slashes at his head, but he deftly leans his head back to dodge. Keeping the pressure on, Ruby skillfully swings her weapon around at Roman – as if it weighed nothing at all – but he's able to deflect her strikes with relative ease. Ruby then suddenly bursts into rose petals, her form and weapon disappearing completely; Roman's then caught off guard by Crescent Rose hooking around his waist. Ruby fires off a shot, using the recoil to spin around and throw the thief across the street. Ruby then goes in to attack while he's down, but he quickly rolls out of the way. Both combatants hear police sirens in the distance, attracting their attention.
"Well Red, it's been an eventful evening," Roman bows. "But that's my cue to leave."
Roman points his cane toward the sky and fires the crook off, it hooks onto a building and he presses a button to retract it, pulling him up. Ruby turns to the shopkeeper, who was watching the whole scuffle transpire.
"You okay if I go after him?"
The shopkeeper nods and she sets off, bursting into rose petals again. Roman reaches his roof and starts running, with Ruby landing right behind him.
"Hey!"
Roman stops at the edge of the building, scowling at the Huntress-in-training.
"Persistent, aren't we?"
Ruby readies to fight him but a Bullhead rises and opens the hatch to allow Roman inside. He smirks and loads a red Dust gem into his cane.
"End of the line Red!"
The bottom of Roman's cane opens, and a fireball is shot at Ruby causing a large explosion.
"Hope you like extra crispy, ha ha! What the?"
The smoke clears and reveals Ruby being covered by a purple barrier; she looks around and spots the person that saved her: a woman, her green eyes behind ovular glasses and her blonde hair done up in a bun with a single strand falling in front of her face. She wears a white blouse that shows off some cleavage and a black pencil skirt, black stockings and black heeled boots; she finishes with a black cape that was purple on the inside. With her is a younger man with black hair and crimson eyes; he wears a red leather coat, a pair of black feathered wings emblazoned on the back. A simple black shirt adorns his upper body along with a silver breastplate, a pair of grey jeans and black boots complete his ensemble. He takes a hand off his red-sheathed katana and crosses his arms.
"Ruby? What are you doing here?"
"Heh, heh… heyyy Robin."
"Robin! Look alive!" the Huntress orders.
"Yes ma'am." Robin deadpans. "Ruby, go home, we'll handle this."
Ruby gets up, switching her weapon into its sniper mode.
"I can help too y'know!"
Roman grimaces, retreating to the cockpit of the Bullhead.
"Things aren't looking good for our heroes…" he turns to the pilot: a diminutive young woman with pink and brown hair and similarly colored outfit. "Get us the hell outta here!"
The Bullhead's engines roar to life, but Glynda waves her weapon – a riding crop – and shoots several streaks of purple Aura at the aircraft. Roman gets thrown around a bit as the craft shakes, knocking him to the floor. He shakily gets up, pulling an entire Dust powered rocket launcher out of his pocket.
"Open the hatch, I'll take care of this!"
The woman nods, pressing a button on the dashboard. Roman preps the launcher, pointing it directly at his pursuers.
"Eat this Hunts-jerks!"
Roman shoots several rockets at the Huntsmen. Glynda waves her crop again, using her Semblance to stop them all.
"Robin!" she commands.
"Got it!" Robin quickly draws his sword, unleashing an Aura wave that destroys all the rockets. As the smoke clears, the Bullhead is far off in the distance. "Damn, they're getting away!" Robin was about to jump off the building, but Glynda stops him.
"That's enough, we'll get him next time."
Robin sighs and sheathes his sword as Ruby sidles up to the pair, specifically Glynda.
"So, you're a Huntress, right? CanIhaveyourautograph?!"
"Hey, I'm a Huntsman too!" Robin protests.
"Yeah, but you're family, so you don't count." Ruby giggles.
"I'm so telling Qrow you said that."
"Wait no, I didn't mean it!"
Glynda clears her throat, catching the two's attention.
"If you come with me, I'll give you that autograph you want."
Ruby's eyes light up.
"REALLY?!"
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Ruby was now sitting in what looked to be an interrogation room, Crescent Rose sitting in its compact form on the table. Robin was leaning against a wall, arms crossed.
"I don't think she's actually going to give me her autograph." Ruby pouts.
"Gee, ya think?"
Just then, the door opens and Glynda walks in, riding crop in hand. Her bright green eyes study Ruby intently, making the young girl squirm in her seat.
"I hope you realize your actions tonight will not be taken lightly young lady." she lectures. "You put yourself and others in great danger."
"B-but they started it!" Ruby protests. "I was just acting like any Huntsman or Huntress would."
"Yeah, Glynda c'mon, cut her some slack… uh m-ma'am."
Glynda sighs, rubbing her temple with her free hand.
"If it were up to me, you'd be sent home… with a pat on the back… and a slap on the wrist!" Glynda slaps her crop on the desk for emphasis, making Ruby jump. "But there's someone that would like to meet you."
A new person walks in through the door, a mug in one hand and a plate of cookies on top of a manila envelope in the other; his head full of messy grey hair and his brown eyes behind small, round dark glasses. He wears a black suit jacket covering a black vest and green undershirt with dark green dress pants with black dress shoes. Around his neck is wrapped a green scarf, a purple cross where his Adam's apple would be. He sits in the chair across from you and Ruby, setting the mug and plate down in front of him, keeping the envelope in his lap.
"Good evening." he says taking a sip from his mug before his eyes focus on Ruby. "You... have silver eyes." he mutters.
Ruby was too distracted by the plate of cookies, staring at them hungrily. She sees him give a short nod and she reaches out and takes a cookie and immediately stuffs it in her mouth; her face lighting up at the taste, and she takes another... and another... and another. The man pulls out a tablet showing Ruby's fight against Roman and his henchmen.
"Now where, may I ask, did you learn to do this?"
"Simmghngl Acammghdemmghy." Ruby answers first, her mouth full of cookies. She gulps and chuckles sheepishly. "Hehe... sorry. Signal Academy." the man chuckles.
"As I recall, there's only two people that can wield a scythe with such skill: the Grimm Reaper… and a dusty old crow."
"Oh! That's my uncle Qrow! He teaches at Signal. Yeah, I was total garbage until he took me under his wing; now I'm all like 'whoaaa, achooo'." mimicking karate gestures.
"So why does an adorable little girl like you want to train to fight monsters?" his attention turning to Ruby.
"I've wanted to be a Huntress ever since I knew what it was; my mom was a Huntress - dad too - so I guess it's because of that. It's just so exciting and romantic and... wow." she says dreamily. "Plus, I get to help people, so it's a win-win, right?"
The man smiles and hums, nodding his head.
"Do you know who I am?"
"Duh, you're the Headmaster of Beacon Academy, Professor Ozpin!"
"Hello." Ozpin greets bowing his head slightly.
"I just have one last question for you; would you like to join my school?"
Ruby's eyes widen and her jaw drops.
"R-really? Just like that?"
"Just like that." he confirms.
"I... I wouldn't want anything else."
"Very well then."
Ozpin smiles. He turns to Glynda, who only shoots him an unsatisfied glare. He then pulls out the manila-colored envelope, passing it to Ruby.
"I need you to fill out a bit of paperwork; nothing major, but your father should be able to help you if you need it, Miss Rose."
"Oh... uh... okay." Ruby mutters.
He motions to the door for Ruby to take her leave. She does so, enthusiastically waving at Ozpin.
"I can't believe it... I'm going to Beacon!" she squeals.
"Tai's not gonna be a fan of this…" Robin mutters.
"I know," Glynda grimaces. "He's already lost Summer; if Ruby- "
"That won't be an issue Glynda," Ozpin interrupts. "I guarantee it."
"How can you be so sure?"
Ozpin smiles, the light reflecting off his glasses eerily.
"Because unlike Summer, she won't be alone."
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Ruby slowly opens the door to her home, tiptoeing inside, and gingerly closing the door behind her.
"And where have you been?"
Ruby yelps, quickly spinning around and seeing her father, Taiyang, cradling a small black and white corgi in his arms.
"Oh, uh, hey dad, I was just… y'know…"
"Uh-huh…"
The duo's attention is drawn to the newscast on the Vale News Network playing, with a man in a blue suit talking about the robbery and showing Roman's mugshot.
"While the robbery led by nefarious criminal Roman Torchwick was thwarted by a mysterious, red-hooded Huntress, he continues to elude capture. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Vale Police Department. Back to you Lisa."
Tai puts the small dog down, letting him retreat to his dog bed and turns off the TV, casting an expecting look at his daughter.
"Uhh… that could be any red-hooded Huntress, y'know?" Ruby laughs nervously, fidgeting with her belt. "Oh hey, look at this!" she shoves the manila envelope from Ozpin in her father's face. "IgottomeetProfessorOzpinhewassupercoolandmysteriousandheofferedmeaspotatBeacon!" she takes a breath. "CanIgopleasepleaseplease?!"
"Ozpin huh?" Tai mutters tentatively. "I don't know Ruby…"
"Oh, come on! This is all I've ever wanted dad. If I go to Beacon, I'll be that much closer to being a full-fledged Huntress!" Ruby pleads. "Please, I promise that I can handle it."
"Hmmm… alright."
Ruby squeals, capturing Tai in a bone crushing hug.
"YES! Thankyouthankyouthankyou!"
Tai chuckles, managing to pry himself away from his daughter.
"But! I'll be in touch with Ozpin while you're there. If he says you're slipping, it's back to Signal."
"I… but… alright, that's fair."
"Yup. Now then, you go and get some rest, there's only a couple weeks before the school year starts, and we've got two years' worth of lessons to get in."
"Ugh, daaaaaaaaad!"
"Hey, I'm a teacher too y'know." Tai chuckles. "Maybe I'll get Yang to help out, I'm sure she'll be happy you're going to Beacon with her."
Ruby's face drops. In her excitement she entirely forgot about her lovable, over-the-top, and overprotective older sister.
"Uh… yeah, sure." Ruby stretches, fake yawning. "Well, I'm tired, see you in the morning dad."
Ruby dashes up the stairs to her and Yang's shared room before Tai can get another word out. He sighs, placing the envelope on the dining room table.
"Ozpin… you better know what you're doing." he mutters bitterly.
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Roman Torchwick throws the last case onto a couch in his safehouse. It was a small apartment on the shady side of Vale, full of mostly run-down buildings and plagued with gangs. He smiles as he looks over his haul of Dust, his partner sitting in a chair nearby.
"We're in the money now Neo!" Roman laughs. "Running water here we come!" Neo only rolls her eyes.
"Well now this is just sad." a smooth voice comments.
Torchwick spins around to see a fair-skinned young woman with ashen black hair that covers one of her amber eyes in a long, dark red dress with one long wide sleeve hiding her left arm with gold designs going down the sleeve. On her right hand was a grey glove with a gold-colored metal ring with curvy branching extensions going up to the top of her arm. The right side of her dress was slit from the hip down with a feather ornament on her right hip. Under her dress she wears black pantyhose with black glass heels. She lets herself in, grimacing at the thieves' living conditions, while Neo readies herself to attack at any time.
"This is where the great thief Roman Torchwick does his business?"
"Heh, it ain't much but it's home."
"Well, what if I told you that you could have so much more?"
"How much more?"
"The entirety of Vale more." the woman smirks.
Roman gestures to have Neo stand down, which she does begrudgingly.
"I'm listening."
The woman chuckles, sauntering up to Roman.
"Then let's talk business."
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Ruby sits awkwardly on the airship heading to Beacon with her blonde firecracker of a half sister, Yang. When their father broke the news of Ruby going to Beacon two years early, Yang took it well… by trying to talk her sister out of it; but Ruby wouldn't back down no matter what she said.
"So… this is new." Ruby whispers in response to all the people on the airship. "Not used to being the odd one out."
"Please tell me you're having second thoughts." Yang responds hopefully. Ruby immediately hardens her look and sits up straight.
"No! I'm just saying…"
"Well, I've got dad on speed dial whenever." The blonde gestures to her Scroll.
"Yang please," Ruby pouts. "Aren't you supposed to be, like, proud of me or something?"
Yang pulls Ruby into a one-armed hug.
"Of course I'm proud; I'm just… trying to look out for you."
"I can look out for myself y'know." Ruby grumbles, freeing herself from her sister's grasp.
"I know that, but you never know when you'll need help."
Ruby rolls her eyes, turning around to look out the windows of the airship.
"Yeah, yeah."
The two sisters hear a passenger – a blonde boy in white armor – groaning while hunched over a trash can, losing whatever he ate for breakfast. Yang chuckles quietly.
"Guess the view isn't for everyone."
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