Our story begins in the island of Patch where lived our two heroines : Summer Rose, the silver-eyed Huntress and Salem, the former Queen of Grimm.

Night had fallen on Remnant and, where previously stood an island filled green, brown and light, there was now nothing but dark tree trunks, shadows, dark grasses and black bushes. The familiar shattered moon was seen lightening the night, shining through leaves, and tall shadowed pines were stretching up, pointing at the dark sky.

At night, just like during the day, many scents could be caught filling the air : rotting leaves, pine needles, fresh air, earthy fungus, tree sap and moss. However, unlike day, at night, the scents seemed to become less pronounced… perhaps it was because of the cold air.

Through the darkness, only silence could be heard. Actually no, that wasn't entirely true : from the shadows, we could hear the hooting of owls, the howling of Beowolves belonging to the creatures of the night, the wind slipping through leaves, creaking tree trunks, the flutter of wings from bats or owls, the barely noticeable rustling of the grass.

But despite how interesting the night was, it was not what was interesting us at the moment.

What was interesting us right now were our two heroines.

Right now, they were both inside the two-story log cabin with a dull red tin roof that was their home. But to be more precise, they both discover each other in the living room. The center of the room was dominated by a light green rug, with a green couch and matching chair along with a wooden coffee table centered in the rug.

Between the couch and chair was an end table with a lamp on it while at the other end of the couch was Zwei's (the family dog) dog bed. At the end of the rug was a wooden TV with a holographic projector lying on its top and a potted plant at each side. On the wall behind the TV stand was a doorway leading to the kitchen, a large portrait showing a night scene, and a shelving unit containing many books.

To the left side of the couch was a large fireplace made of bricks with small pictures on the mantle and a large landscape featured above the grate. To its right side was a staircase leading upstairs, with the door to a cabinet and a pair of small landscape pictures underneath. A low bookshelf and another green rug laid along the wall at the end of the staircase, topped by another lamp. A trio of landscapes was vertically stacked on the wall at the bottom of the stairs.

Right now, Salem was sitting on the couch while Summer paced in front of her, looking agitated.

The reason of her agitation?

Her daughter, Ruby, still hadn't come home. The latter had gone into town to do her little errands and she had promised to return before sunset. The night had fallen barely a few hours ago and still no sight of her ! Yang was with some friends of hers outside and Taiyang was resting after a long day of work. As for Cinder, Salem's adoptive daughter, she was also upstairs, doing whatever she wanted.

But let's get back to the present, shall we ?

"But where did Ruby go ?! She should have been home by now !" Summer hissed to her friend while still pacing back and forth in front of her.

Despite the years, Summer was still young and beautiful. Not a wrinkle marked her face and her silver eyes always shone with vitality and determination. Although now, both of her silver orbs glowed with worry and frustration.

"Summer, call down ! I'm sure she is fine ! She is not a defenseless child anymore !" Salem said to her in a firm tone but filled with concern and compassion, trying her best to sooth her friend's worry.

Salem, like Summer, had also not changed since her curse was broken. She was still stunningly beautiful and she seemed much more fulfilled than before this legendary meeting with the King of the Hidden World. Her blond hair seemed to shine like gold under the light of the room and her blue eyes looked as luminescent as the moon outside. She was sitting on the couch, legs crossed and hands on her thighs as she watched her friend (and former enemy) pace back and forth in front of her.

Summer, at those words, stopped moving before looking over at the former Queen of Grimm and saying "I know… But still… I can't help but worrying for her..."

"I know, Summer… You're her mother and it's a mother's job to be worried about her children… Although I'm not Ruby's mother, I worry about her too. ..and for Yang and Cinder as well..."

Cinder was in her early twenties now, no longer the small orphan she adopted a few years ago, and yet, Salem couldn't help but still sometimes treating her like a child. Yang was 17 now and soon, she will attend Beacon.

And Ruby, her, was still a student at Signal Academy. However, despite being the youngest, Ruby had proven, despite her childish tendencies so similar to her mother's, that she was a capable fighter. Trained by 'Uncle Qrow', Ruby learned to fight with one of the most difficult and deadly weapons in Remnant: the scythe.

At Signal, the girl forged her own weapons and named it Crescent Rose. Her semblance was called 'Petal Burst' and it allowed her to dash with an inhuman speed in whatever direction she chooses… and often leaving trails of rose petals in her wake.

For some members of her family, it was a real pain the butt to deal with the petal roses afterward.

Anyway, let's get back to present…

"I know... sometimes I wish our children would never grow up... I sorely miss the days when they depended on me..." Summer whispered to her friend while sitting down on the couch next to Salem.

The former Queen of Grimm shot her a tiny smile while putting a hand on her shoulder to comfort her, saying gently "I understand, my friend...I understand the feeling very well..."

A short silence followed these words until Summer broke it by saying in a hushed tone.

"You know, a part of me wants Ruby and Yang to grow up... just so that, like us, they can discover the Hidden World.."

A few years ago, Summer and Salem had promised, when the time was right, to tell their children about the Hidden World. They wanted until Ruby, Yang and Cinder were all old enough to be responsible before the secret would be revealed. Summer wanted to wait until Ruby attended Beacon Academy before revealing everything to them.

Sure, it didn't seem fair to Yang and Cinder, but it seemed fairer to tell all three of them rather than doing it one after the other. And then, our two heroines knew full well that Yang and Cinder would have refused to hide such a secret from Ruby.

The two women were eager to see how the girls would react to such news. Sure, they'll be a little angry, but otherwise, they may or may not be excited about visiting another world… one hidden underground.

"I know… I'm pretty Cinder will want to skin me for hiding this from her…" Salem said with a chuckle, already imagining what her adoptive daughter would do to her once the truth will come out.

"Nah, I think she will burn you instead !" Summer retorted with a snort and a gleam of mischief in her silver eyes.

Salem gave him a blank look before saying dryly "Ha ha ha...I'm dying of laughter here...see ?"

A laugh escaped Summer's mouth as she laughed at her friend's expense. The sound of her laughter was contagious, however, as soon as Salem laughed loudly alongside her silver-eyed friend, Ruby's tardiness momentarily forgotten.

"What are you laughing about ?" a new voice echoed from nearby.

Turning their heads to the right, they saw Cinder coming down the stairs, looking at them with a raised eyebrow in curiosity. Cinder is a 5'10" tall fair-skinned young woman with ashen-black hair and bright amber eyes. Her clothes matched the color of her semblance (and for her family, it also matched her fiery temper and semblance, Scorching Caress).

She was wearing a dark red, off-the-shoulders, v-neck mini dress with yellow designs. There was a blue accessory on her right hip at the top of an open portion of her dress and the dress ended in an upside-down triangular tail in the back, ending just above the knees.

There was a quarter-circle shaped keyhole on the dress' upper back at the same height as her chest and the sleeves ended in a triangular shape, which were wrapped and/or tied around her middle finger, with the gold designs of the sleeve taking over at the wrists. Her fingernails were painted dark red.

"Hey, Cinder ! We were teasing each other like always !"Summer cheekily responded to her friend's adopted daughter while giving her a mischievous look at Salem.

Salem's left eyebrow twitched at those words while Cinder rolled her eyes in fond annoyance mixed with amusement. She, like Taiyang, Ruby and Yang were used to Summer and Salem's antics by now.

"Of course you were… Say, have you seen Ruby ? I thought she would be here by now..." Cinder asked them with a frown.

"We have no clue about her current location… She might still be in the city or on the way home… We don't know..." Salem answered her adoptive daughter with a sigh.

Cinder's frown deepened at this before grumbling "Something is not right… She said she would be back before the sunset… Something must have happened..."

"Probably… Probably no-" Summer began to say before pausing when a new sound interrupted her and caught everyone's attention.

It was Summer's scroll.

The three women stared at it for a few seconds before finally regained their senses.

"Maybe it's Ruby ?" Summer asked the others as she picked up the scroll before answering the call.

"Summer Rose, I'm listening !"

"Summer… Its Professor Goodwitch..." a feminine voice echoed through the scroll as the picture of a woman appeared on the screen.

It was a middle-aged woman with very light-blond hair tied back in a bun with a curl hanging down the right side of her face. Her eyes were bright green and she was wearing thin ovular glasses. She had dangling teal earrings that match the hanging pendant on her collar.

"Professor ?! What can I do for you ?" Summer asked the Deputy Headmistress of Beacon Academy with worry and concern.

Salem and Cinder seemed just as worried as she was, wondering why Glynda Goodwitch herself would be calling them at such an hour.

"I'm sorry to disturb you at such a late hour, Miss Rose, but this concerns your daughter…"

Dread filled the bodies of all three women who exchanged a look of deep concern and worry.

"Ruby ? Is she alright ? What happened ?! WHERE IS SHE ?!" Summer asked the Deputy Headmistress with all the worry a mother could muster.

"Your daughter is fine, Miss Rose… and we are currently in an interrogation room at the Police Station..." Glynda answered her through the scroll.

Summer, Salem and Cinder exchanged a look of greater dread and stupor at those revelations.

"WHY ?! WHAT HAPPENED ?!" Summer asked loudly as panic and concern filled her entire being.

Glynda seemed to take a deep breath before answering the concerned mother "Miss Rose... Your daughter had an altercation with Roman Torchwick and some of his henchmen..."

The three women, hearing this, all froze as they stared at the scroll with wide eyes of shock and surprise. But once the words sunk in, they all screamed loudly at the same time

"WHAAAAAAAAAAAAATTTTTTTT ?!"

00/(Time Skip)/00

Elsewhere, in a dark room, sitting on a chair just under a bright light, was a young girl. She looked like she was 15 and had fair skin, silver eyes and neck-length black hair with red tips. She was wearing what looked like a black dress composed of a long-sleeved blouse with a high collar and red trim on the sleeves, over which was a black waist cincher with red lacing up the front, along with a matching skirt with red lining and a red petticoat.

The girl was also wearing what could be described as a pair of thick black tights that faded to red near the bottom, along with black combat boots with red laces, red trims around the top, and red soles.

Her outfit was topped by a red hooded cloak fastened to her shoulders by cross-shaped pins. A silver rose-like emblem could be seen as a large silver buckle on her wide black belt and, attached to her belt, was a pocket and a row of bullets.

This girl was none other than Summer's youngest daughter : Ruby Rose.

And right now, she had a look of shame on her face as, before her, stood Glynda Goodwitch with a scroll in her hands. The blond woman had a stern look on her face as her green eyes were locked on the young girl before her.

Not long ago, Ruby was at a store buying ammunition for her gun when Roman Torwick and some of his clowns came to rob the place. She kicked some thugs' ass and chased after Roman. Not long ago, Ruby was in a store buying ammunition for her gun when Roman Torwick and some of his clowns came to rob the place.

She kicked some thugs' ass and chased Roman across the rooftops. Thanks to his intervention and the arrival of Glynda, the thug was arrested by the authorities... and Ruby was taken away to answer some questions.

Now she was facing the Deputy Headmistress of Beacon Academy, the famous school for Huntsmen and Huntresses of Vale.

After a long moment of silence, Glynda opened her mouth to speak in a stern and firm tone.

"I hope that you realize that your actions tonight will not be taken lightly, young lady ! You put yourself and others in great danger !"

"They started it !" Ruby retorted in defense but Glynda was unfazed by her intervention.

"Your family has been informed of your actions… As we speak, they are probably on their way to get you…"

Ruby couldn't help but tense up in fear. His mother, Summer, will no doubt give him a good spanking, while his aunt Salem will surely give him a harsh lecture. As for Yang and Cinder... The young girl was trembling in anticipation…

"I'm soooooooo dead !" she screamed internally to herself with dread and resignation.

But then, she focused back on present when Glynda spoke again "Personally, if I had a choice in the matter, you'd be sent home... With a pat on the back... (a happy smile appeared on Ruby's face at those words) ...And a slap on the wrist !"

At the last words, she slapped her riding crop against the table, which caused Ruby to quickly pull her hand out of the way with a 'Eeek !'

"But... there is someone here who would like to meet you..."

Blinking in surprise at those words, Ruby watched with surprise as Glynda stepped aside to reveal someone else. It was a middle-aged man with tousled silver hair, thin brown eyes, a light complexion, sharp facial features and black eyebrows. He was wearing shaded glass spectacles and a small, purple, cross-shaped pin on the cowl around his neck. His outfit consisted of = an unzipped black suit over a dark green, buttoned vest, green shirt, wears black trouser shoes and long, dark-green pants.

The man was holding a mug and a plate filled with cookies. However, Ruby completely ignored it as her attention was focused on the man.

Why ?

Because she knew who it was. This man was none other than the Headmaster of Beacon Academy, Ozpin. He came to Patch to visit his mother and strangely, every time he came, the little family hid Salem. Of course, at first she thought it was a game but later it was explained to her that it was to protect her aunt because she and Ozpin had strong resentment towards each other.

Every time the man came, they pretended that Salem wasn't there. However, when she was somehow mentioned in conversation, she was always called by a false name: Selena Fall. It was to hide her from the man and it worked so far. Ozpin had never seen her aunt but her uncle Qrow did. However, for some reason, they also called her aunt, Selena around the man. Like before, she didn't know why but because Qrow was a close friend of Ozpin, he might accidentally reveal his friend of her aunt's true name so they had to hide it from him as well.

And because she loved her aunt Salem, she would do anything to keep her safe.

But back to present…

"Miss Rose…" Ozpin said to the young girl in a calm and serene tone as he approached the table before sitting on a chair.

"Professor Ozpin..." Ruby greeted him with slight nervousness while trying her best to not show it.

Internally, she was wondering why the Headmaster of Beacon Academy himself would come see her… it was very strange.

"It seems you are truly your mother's daughter… Always helping others… But I'm curious… who taught you to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed ?" Ozpin asked her with slight curiosity while putting down the plate of cookies on the table.

"I learned at Signal Academy... My uncle Qrow taught me... he's one of the teachers..." Ruby answered calmly but once again, she was wondering what was going on.

"Of course he did ! That dusty old crow is the only other scythe-wielder I know !" Ozpin retorted with a chuckle and a roll of his eyes.

However, his amused look turned into a serious one as he gazed at the young girl before him.

"But I want to know why a an adorable girl such as yourself doing at a school designed to train warriors ?" he asked her with a serious expression, but there was curiosity in his voice.

Ruby opened her mouth to respond but didn't have time as another voice rang through the air.

"If anyone else were here and heard those words, people would think you were a real pedophile, Professor..."

Ruby, Ozpin and Glynda all stiffened in surprise at the cold voice and they turned their heads to see who it was. The person's face was in shadow as was the rest of their body. However, the eyes glowed like two small amber-colored flames.

At those eyes, Ruby gulped in fear because she knew who it was. Only one person could have those eyes...and the voice was very, very familiar to her as well. And she was proven right when Cinder Fall herself stepped out of the shadow, a look of coldness on her face.

Cinder's amber eyes looked at everyone present before landing on Ruby. At the sight of her narrowing her eyes, Ruby had one thing to think about at the moment.

"I'm screwed!"

At the same time, Ozpin and Glynda had regained their senses and were now looking at the newcomer with firm expressions on their faces.

"Miss Fall, how long have you been listening to us ?" Ozpin asked the young woman with slight narrowed eyes, slightly annoyed by what she jut said about him being a 'pedophile'.

"I got here a few minutes ago... My mother and Aunt Summer both thought it would be best if I came to pick Ruby ... But trust me, they both wanted to come...they have a few words to say to Ruby for her actions..." Cinder explained in a cold tone to the man, causing Glynda to stiffen slightly with indignation but she was ignored.

Ruby, upon hearing this, wanted to groan in resignation and anticipation, knowing that once she returned home, she would receive the lecture of her life.

"Now, what is it you want with Ruby ? Normally, you wouldn't keep her like this so you better start talking !" Cinder hissed at the Headmaster while glaring dagger at him.

Cinder had never liked Ozpin. Her adoptive mother, Salem, had told her about how the man hurt her and since then, she grew to dislike the man greatly. It is part of the reason of why she never went to Beacon Academy after graduating from Signal.

Instead she went to Mistral and her years as students had been… chaotic. Many people were afraid of her because of her fiery temper and she was almost expelled during her third year after she burned a fellow student's genitals (Note : the guy deserved it after he tried to rape her).

After graduation, she decided to act solo and her team was disbanded. Her comrades had no objections and went on with their lives… She never saw any of them again but she didn't care.

Ozpin had always known of her dislike for her and had been a bit put out by it but he had pushed it aside. Right now, however, he was a bit annoyed by the lack of respect showed to him but he was trying his best to not show it. He has an image to maintain after all.

Taking a deep breath to retain his calm, the old Headmaster looked back at Cinder before answering "I want her to become a student at my school..."

Cinder and Ruby both blinked at this and shot a stunned glance at one another before looking back at the man.

"Why ?" the amber eyed young woman asked the man with suspicion and distrust even if curiosity could be seen shining in her eyes.

"Because I'm sure she would make an excellent huntress… and I would be a fool to not have such a talented young girl as student !" Ozpin answered with a shrug.

"Really ? You would allow to join Beacon ?!" Ruby asked him with clear excitement.

"Do you want to ?" Ozpin asked her with a raised eyebrow.

"More than anything !" was the girl's answer.

While Cinder was shooting a look at Ruby, Ozpin exchanged glances with Glynda, who clearly was not enchanted by all of this because she released a "Hmmph" to her boss. Sighing at the blond woman's answer, Ozpin then turned his head back to Ruby before saying.

"Very well..."

Ruby looked overjoyed while Cinder looked at the man with clear suspicion. However, she knew he had no say in this as it was Ruby's life. But Summer and Salem does…

"Can we go now ? It's getting late..." Cinder said to the two other adults in the room.

"You may… I'm sure Summer is a worried for her daughter..." Ozpin said with a nod of acceptance while shooting a glance at Glynda to stop her from berating the young woman for her lack of respect.

Glynda glared at her boss before sighing in reluctant acceptance.

Nodding to the two teachers, Cinder took Ruby with her before leaving the area and beginning their journey home.

"You're in big trouble, young lady..." Cinder said to the younger girl while the two were walking through the streets.

"I know…" Ruby whispered back with a deep sigh of resignation.

It's going to be a really long night... and yet, it will have big consequences for not only Ruby but also Yang and Cinder. But they won't know it before some times…

For now, Ruby has to deal with something much more terrifying : angry family members.

(To be continued…)