Happy New Year Everyone!

How about that Volume 6, right? Good start, tripping into the end game, and then blowing people's mind at the end. All in all, a nice Volume, even if some people can't get their minds off the negative.

Question: What does this mean for my fanfic?

Answer: Not too much. I mean, the reveal of Maria Calavera, the Grimm Reaper, means little, but still has some importance, though that's way later on the story. Summer being revealed? Again, means little, because unless there's a big departure from the loving mother we're told about, shouldn't be too different from my interpretation. Silver Eyes usage? Actually nothing, everything shown so far falls in line with what I'm using for my story. Ruby's Mastery? Ruby in canon is learning, and has to learn by fire to balance power and conscious activation.

One thing: Maria said it only works in the presence of Grimm, and that Cinder having a Grimm Arm in V5 explains to us why Ruby's activated off then, but as Salem said in V4 (who's far older and wiser when it comes to Silver Eyes) that it also affects Maidens. Maybe it doesn't activate in the presence of a Maiden, but that doesn't mean it cannot AFFECT a Maiden. Raven, having known Summer, might or might not have known this, but wasn't around when Ruby's eyes glowed before being knocked out, so it doesn't disagree with the knowledge we have so far.

Now, onto Volume 2 where things expand. Knowledge is exchanged and fun is had. So, without further ado... REAPER OF GRIMM, VOLUME 2!

Disclaimer: RDF1 doesn't own RWBY, WATCH THE SHOW!

(Chapter Begin)

(Recap)

Ruby revealed her secret to Blake and Weiss after an argument nearly tore them apart. With bonds mended and forged stronger, Team RWBY is ready to face the new semester. New Friends, new enemies, and hi-jinxes to be had.

(Recap End)

It was the last day before classes resumed, meaning harder studies and their first field missions, well at least for WBY, Ruby had already taken several missions as a Reaper of Grimm, but it would eventually be her first team mission. Things were rather mundane as straggling students returned and those that did were enjoying lunch. Ruby, if she had still been the naive girl without dying five years ago, had thought of a bunch of activities they could do to spend the afternoon together, but she managed to get it down to a few things, all of which did NOT involve training or visiting the office. Ruby could only have so many people so often without abusing the system.

"Friends... Sister... Weiss..." started Ruby, getting an indignant response from Weiss, "We are stronger than ever after last semester and I have a few activities we could do to bond more as a team today."

"I think I'll pass," said Blake, having hidden away a notebook that had a picture of Adam Taurus in it. Ruby's revelation was eye opening for her and she couldn't see Adam the same way again, "I'm not up for big activities."

"I think whatever we decided to do, we should do it as a team," spoke up Weiss, "I mean, we've come a long way in just a single semester. We can't le-"

Weiss was cut off by a pie to the face from the table over where JNPR was sitting, and Nora and Yang were playing with their food between tables. Glaring at Nora, Nora immediately pointed to Ren, who groaned while Jaune and Pyrrha were a little apprehensive themselves.

"EVERYONE OUT! FOOD FIGHT!" declared Ruby, getting everyone scrambling for the exit as RWBY and JNPR took sides in the Cafeteria, and Nora being the "Queen of the Castle" as she was, used several tables in a pile as she made her declaration to RWBY.

"Justice will be swift! Justice will be painful!" responded Ruby in kind, taking up a Milk Carton before crushing it for dramatic effect, "It will be... DELICIOUS!"

"YEAH!" cheered WBY as they joined Ruby in this Food Fight.

"Off with their heads!" called out Nora, as she and JPR sent a barrage of Watermelons at them, but Ruby was ready.

"Yang, Turkey!" ordered Ruby, as Yang did just that.

Yang infused her aura into the Turkey so she could use them like boxing gloves, breaking apart a few of the watermelons.

"Blake, move in!" continued Ruby.

Blake moved quickly, grabbing two loaves of bread, quickly infused with Aura, and created an opening for Yang to send the turkeys flying, knocking Jaune out of the fight.

'Sorry Jaune,' winced Ruby, though he was going to be fine. He DID have a large amount of Aura, so he was safe.

Pyrrha, having dodged the turkeys, took up another loaf of bread and infused it with Aura to counter Blake's next attack, but Blake managed to block it. As they continued fighting, there were basically no rules in this food fight, so Semblances were fair game. Blake used this to her advantage to avoid some unblockable hits from Pyrrha, who was just that good. Pyrrha, noticing the pattern, managed to knock Blake back with a quick thrust before launching several loaves of Aura infused bread, which managed to overwhelm Yang despite her best efforts.

"Weiss, I'm going in. Get ready to cover me!" informed Ruby, before grabbing a tray with a bit of super speed so she could surf along the remaining tables.

Weiss nodded, not that Ruby was paying attention, trying to dodge projectiles, before jumping up to block another one that would have hit her sister, before continuing and stopping Pyrrha. Nora and Ren took this opportunity to get past her and to her teammates. Using the momentum Pyrrha was trying to give her, she pushed back, managing to get Pyrrha to stumble back. Ruby managed to get between them and Weiss, allowing Weiss to use a ketchup bottle for an impromptu slick surface, getting Ren off his feet. Nora took to the air and grabbed a flagpole that had been relieved of its flag some time ago during the fight. Impaling it on an unbroken watermelon, the makeshift hammer ready to take Weiss out of the fight in one-shot.

'Sorry Nora, but you're not taking my partner out that easily!' thought Ruby, taking the blow for Weiss, but due to her durability, even if she was still alive, could still keep going afterwards.

Unfortunately, she only delayed the inevitable as despite Weiss's best attempts with a swordfish, was still knocked back by the watermelon hammer. It didn't help that she went smack straight into a pillar, breaking it. Luckily, Weiss managed to have enough Aura to protect herself, but she was still hit hard and out of the fight.

"No Weiss!" said Ruby, holding on to her partner in a truly melodramatic fashion, "Stay with me!"

Meanwhile, Yang got back into the fight, grabbing the turkeys again, but ultimately decided to kick Ren, who blocked it with Leeks.

'Seriously? Beacon must have some budget to have such a variety of foods here,' thought Ruby, before realizing the ridiculousness of the situation in general, 'Not that I'm complaining, mind you.'

A few exchanges later left Ren crashing to the ground, but Nora took advantage of Ren's opening and managed to knock Yang out of the fight... literally blowing the roof off, or at least a hole through the roof.

Ruby could only watch as Blake managed to counterstrike Nora back into a vending Machine with a well placed Aura-infused Link Sausage strike, but Nora wasn't done yet. She started chucking soda bombs, and Pyrrha helped with her semblance and Blake was ultimately left KO'd by the combo.

'Okay, time to end this with a masterpiece!' thought Ruby, grinning a bit fiercely on the inside. And Ruby couldn't help it, for all the dulled emotions she had felt over the years, she could only imagine the emotional high she'd be feeling right now if she was alive if she felt this energetic as she was now.

Ruby got into a runner's starting position and was off to the races, crossing the cafeteria in an extremely fast few seconds, catching not just Pyrrha, but all of JNPR into her vacuum as she spun into a tornado, moving faster than she had before... well in front of JNPR that is. Coming to a stop just before the wall, leaving an impact with a radius 1.5 times her height. She posed for a moment as JNPR smacked into the cracked wall before jumping up and out of the way as the contents of the food fight came crashing down around them (nothing actually hitting them directly that their Aura couldn't protect). Ruby landed after the storm was over.

'I give you "Rainbow Whirlwind", by Ruby Rose... featuring Team JNPR,' thought Ruby, a bit smugly as her emotional high waned.

"I love these guys," said Sun, getting Ruby's attention. When did he get here, and who was that with him covered in grape soda?

Any attempts at conversation was cut off by Professor Goodwitch's entrance, a stern frown on her features as she used her semblance to put everything back in order... at least interiorly. Some of the mess, like Ruby's masterpiece, was still there after Glynda fixed up the structural damage.

"Children please," reprimanded Glynda, though compared to how she could have reacted, this was taking it far better than anyone would, "Do not play with your food."

Nora's stomach had excellent timing as she let loose a small burp from her earlier lunch that she managed to eat. Not two seconds later, Yang crashed down into the table RWB had gathered at, but she got up like it was no big deal. Much like Jaune, though not quite to his extent, Yang had a large amount of Aura herself, which is what made her semblance so... well powerful.

Ruby was glad for friends like these. She never would have been able to have this kind of fun with her friends at patch, no offense to them. WBY and JNPR were amazing, and she wouldn't trading any one of them for the world... not if she could help it anyways.

Ozpin had walked in by that point and managed to keep Glynda from lecturing them on the spot. Though he did have something to say himself.

"Miss Rose, I don't wish to take you away from friends and fun, but I would like to have a word with you, if that's okay," spoke up Ozpin.

Ruby was actually grateful for this opportunity. She had been meaning to talk to Ozpin after the dock incident.

"Alright guys, I'll see you later," said Ruby.

"Wait, shouldn't we all go?" asked Yang, ever the big sister, "I mean, why should Ruby be in trouble for our participation?"

"I assure you, Miss Xiao Long, it's nothing like that," reassured Ozpin, "This is actually about a different matter and this was just convenient."

"Stop worrying sis, Not every trip to the Headmaster's office is about punishment," chuckled Ruby as she walked off with Ozpin.

"I would recommend cleaning up, children," reminded Glynda, "Dirty Uniforms are frowned upon in class."

With that, Glynda used her semblance one last time to fix the table Yang crashed into, as well as the holes in the roof from Yang's impromptu flight before leaving to join Ozpin and Ruby.

After stepping off the elevator, Ozpin and Ruby took their seats as Glynda stood to the side of Ozpin, facing Ruby.

"While no punishment is being given at this time, take fair warning that this doesn't happen again," started Ozpin.

"Understood sir," said Ruby.

"Now onto the topic at hand. Some time ago you found yourself at the docks alongside Miss Belladonna and Visiting Mistral Student Mister Wukong. Amongst the reports I've looked over, something caught my attention. Several witness reports, including your teammate's, mentioned that you blocked Mister Torchwick's blast with your very hand. That is concerning."

"I must agree," said Glynda, "I would hope that you are not trying to imitate the actions of a certain woman we encountered before the school year, Miss Rose."

"Not... imitate per se," explained Ruby, "you were there, Professor Goodwitch, so you could see quite clearly how effortlessly she was blocking SNIPER rounds of all things without even trying. I'm sorry, but I felt really jealous of that woman. But can you blame me? I have a High-Impact Sniper Rifle. It was made for piercing extra durable Grimm Hides. Forgive me if I felt a bit miffed by what she did."

"It wasn't just that," continued Opzin, "it was the circumstances you found yourself in as well. There was no reason for you to be at the docks that night. Not even Miss Belladonna, though her reasoning was understandable, given her history."

"She told us. She entrusted us with the truth of who she was before Beacon," said Ruby, "It... created a rift between her and Weiss, one that I had hoped to mend without something of that scale happening."

"I see," said Ozpin, "though I took note of your investment in that personal history, Miss Rose. You have made great strides at being a leader and maintained a professional attitude towards both your partner and teammate's sides of the story, but you felt a more personal connection, did you not? I did some double-checking into your background, with permission from your father of course and I found an anomaly in your records."

"Anomaly, sir?" asked Ruby, who had started to sweat, this wasn't how she intended this conversation to go.

"Five years ago, you had an encounter with a Beowolf that left a scar over where your heart is," continued Ozpin, "It seems rather lucky you weren't killed by that Grimm."

"Yeah... lucky. I'm glad my dad was there, I might not have made it otherwise..."

"Indeed, and yet..." Ozpin paused for moment to pull out a folder, one that got Ruby's attention. That folder was super private, Ozpin should NOT have been allowed to have it, "I double checked with three different doctors about your injury. All three of them said that you should not have survived an injury of this magnitude."

"Miss Rose, we do not fault you for keeping this a secret," added Glynda, "but at this time, it would be beneficial to us that you be honest about this. How did you survive this injury?"

Ruby stilled, she figured he would have to know sooner or later. Summer had informed her of Ozpin's little group that was fighting Salem behind the scenes, and since Ruby would be targeted by Salem once she learned that Ruby was Silver-Eyed Warrior. Taking a breath, looked at them with a seriousness in her eyes.

"No one can know about this. Not Ironwood, not Lionheart, not the Headmaster of Vacuo's School," started Ruby, catching them off guard, "No one that doesn't already know."

"I'm not sure what the other schools have to..." started Glynda, before Ozpin raised his hand, silencing her in letting Ruby continue.

"What do you know about the afterlife?" asked Ruby.

"I have seen many things in my lifetime, Miss Rose, and while I have never come across any concrete evidence of an 'afterlife'," replied Ozpin, "it would by hypocritical of my to deny such a plane of existence. Many people find comfort in knowing there's a place after this one when we die so that our soul may rest in peace."

"And what about a soul taken before it's time?" asked Ruby, "It's such a tragedy and waste of potential for someone to be taken before their time. Especially when they're ten years old. So much to look forward to. So many dreams... shattered. I died that day, in my father's arms after that Beowolf attacked me. An Elder Beowolf no less. It was never heard of on Patch before, and never again since. I made sure of that."

"I'm not sure how you could, if you were already dead, Miss Rose," prompted Glynda, who wanted elaboration.

"Because I died so young, before my time... I was granted... a second chance. A reprieve as it were. Have you ever heard of the Grim Reaper?"

"The Grimm Reaper?" blinked Glynda, "The Grimm Reaper's a Legend. One of the Best Huntsmen in the generation before mine."

"I'm sorry. I think you misunderstand. Not 'Grimm Reaper', but 'Grim Reaper'. One 'm', not two. A story far older, about a cloaked figure with a scythe that collects the souls of the dead. When I died that day, he appeared. But because it was before my time, he offered me a different path. I chose to become a 'Reaper of Grimm', which is different from 'Grimm Reaper' as it's not exclusive to just one person's moniker. You've seen my scar. That is still there to this day. As a Reaper of Grimm, I have access to places and resources normal adult Huntsman may never achieve, but it's all for the point and purpose of removing the evilest of those here. Grimm, Humans, Faunus. If they've crossed a line, the Reapers of Grimm are charged with taking them down. I know about Salem. I know about Cinder. I want to help... in a way, I kinda have to help. With the Vytal Festival coming up, Cinder's working towards making Vale a statement to the world, to bring the world closer to chaos than people are willing to admit right now. One thing I ask is that you allow me a bit of autonomy in the coming weeks. Like you said, we're not Huntsmen yet, and we're not ready to give up our silly side for the sake of the world. It would only do more harm than good."

"Thank you Miss Rose, for your honesty," said Ozpin, "In time, we will talk more and make plans, but right now, you may return and prepare for classes tomorrow. There is the dance coming up as well."

"Thank you, Professors," said Ruby, standing up and bowing a bit, "I wish you two a good day."

"You as well Miss Rose," replied Glynda as Ruby left.

As Ruby stepped off the elevator, she took another breath. That wasn't how she wanted to do that, but it was done and now she had a foot in. Qrow may not like it, but as a Reaper of Grimm, her involvement was always a matter of time. Though, school was continuing, with or without her, so she returned to her room, and her friends.

(Chapter End)

Okay, I said original chapter... I forgot to remove that from the previous chapter. Sorry!

So, yeah. Ruby's new song 'Indomitable' is awesome. However, once Jinn gives her an extra moment to gather her thoughts and focus her mind, I can't help but think of Domon's Speech from Shuffle Alliance vs Dark Gundam Generator. "All these people in my life. I don't want to lose anymore!..." etc, though changed for Ruby's perspective. Look up a couple of videos regarding Ruby's use of Silver eyes for Volume 6 Finale, and you may find a comment mentioning that. Yeah, that's me. Two specific ones for sure are 'Ruby uses her Silver Eyes Again' and 'RWBY reaction mashup' for the finale. Hope you guys like this chapter! I am looking forward to more!

Until then...

Later,

RDF1