In the quiet night, a wooden cabin nestled deep within the woods on a rural island, west of the former city of Vale; stood aglow under the pale light of the shattered moon. Inside, the warmth of the Fire Dust-powered stoves filled the cozy space with a comforting hum followed with the occasional cracks of flame, and the inviting aroma of dinner being prepared wafted through the air.
A blonde man stood at the kitchen counter, his brow furrowed slightly, focusing at his task as he rolled out cookie dough, carefully shaping it into round pieces and placing them on a tray. His hands moved with the practiced ease of someone who had done this many times before, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
"Where are those two?" he murmured under his breath, glancing toward the door. The late hour gnawed at him as he worried about his daughters, Ruby and Yang, who still hadn't returned home. The gentle crackling of the stoves and the sizzling of the main dishes cooking did little to ease his mind as he wondered why they were late.
Outside the cabin, the night was alive with the subtle sounds of the woods. The gentle chirping of crickets filled the air, creating a rhythmic lullaby that blended with the soft rustling of leaves in the breeze. Here and there, small clusters of fireflies danced among the trees, their faint glow adding to the ethereal atmosphere of the forest.
He paused for a moment, listening to the distant sounds of the woods outside, and glanced once more toward the door. The sight of the fireflies flickering in the darkness through the window brought him a brief moment of calm, but the concern for his daughters, Ruby and Yang, lingered as the night deepened.
The blonde man's hands moved almost automatically as he shaped the cookie dough into neat, round shapes on the tray, but his thoughts were far from the task at hand. Yang, his eldest, was a young adult now, capable and strong-willed. He had taught her well—everything from puns that could break the tension in any situation to the skills she would need to pursue her dream of becoming a Huntress. She had grown into someone he could trust to handle herself, a point of pride but also a source of comfort. He knew Yang could take care of herself out there, even if the night grew long.
But Ruby... Ruby was different.
His youngest daughter was still so young, so full of innocence and wonder, but also so heartbreakingly naive. She had been raised in a sheltered world, far removed from the harsh realities that Yang had learned to face. That sheltered lifestyle had only intensified after Summer's death. The memory of that night came back to him vividly, the night his baby girl was taken from him.
It was a night he would never forget. His four-year-old Ruby had been forcefully taken away by her great-grandmother—his late wife's grandmother—in the middle of the night. It had been so sudden, so shocking as he was still grieving for his loss. He remembered those once steel-grey eyes that had turned feral, blood-red and bloodshot from grief, glaring at him with a fury that chilled him to his core. Her eyes had been puffy from crying over Summer's loss, and yet they had held a fierce, almost inhuman determination.
The memory of that wet, choking sensation in his throat came back to him, a visceral reaction to the helplessness he'd felt as he and Qrow had tried to stop her, demanding an explanation. But she had been unstoppable, her grief and resolve overpowering their protests. She had taken Ruby away without a word, leaving behind a family torn apart and a home that felt emptier than ever.
Yang had been so scared that night. She had tried to stop Ruby's great-grandmother, tears streaming down her cheeks as she cried and begged the older woman to stop and let Ruby go. He remembered seeing his daughter's small hands clung desperately to her leg as Ruby was being dragged away. But her pleas fell on deaf ears.
With a harsh, almost casual motion, Ruby's great-grandmother yanked her leg forward, causing Yang to lose her grip and suffer a painful fall, leaving her with bruises that would fade, but the emotional scars would not.
Yang trashed around as she was held back by his and Qrow's hands, her body shaking with fear, confusion, and helplessness. She could only watch in horror, her cries turning into heart-wrenching screams as her half-little sister was taken away, still somewhat asleep in her great-grandmother's arms despite the commotion.
The image of Ruby being taken away under the cold, uncaring night would seared itself into his eldest daughter's memory, a moment that would haunt her for years to come. Despite the slow thaw in their interactions for the last five years, the deep-seated fear of Ruby's great-grandmother remained, rooted in her young heart, a fear that had never truly been washed away..
Fortunately, her little sister's return at the age of ten had been a bittersweet moment as Yang spent every moments being by her sister's side in every opportunity she had.
On the day she returned, he also met Summer's grandmother, a very tall woman with cold expression that had a similar ruby-red eyes that greatly contrasted her pale white skin like Summer's but hers looked as if it was never kissed by the sun—whom Ruby sometimes affectionately called with the nickname of: Nana Swordfish—that brought Ruby home to him, she explained was finally allowed to come back to him after a six-year-long debate.
Nana Swordfish explaind to him that she and her step-daughter, or well... his daughter's "almost non-existent in her entire life" grandmother whom returned home after her long search for clues–to deal with the situation, both had fought fiercely against Ruby's great-grandmother to return her back to her family, Summer's family; but it had taken years to convince her. Six long years of Ruby living Under the Tides, away from him, away from her home, and away from her sister to reach a compromise.
Yet, the worst wasn't over. Not long after Ruby was taken, Yang had vanished too. It was the same sense of panic and dread all over again, but this time it was compounded by the guilt that gnawed at him. She was just seven years old, and losing her sister had affected her deeply. He and Qrow (And Raven, after some difficult convincing from Qrow) had searched the entire island of Patch, desperate to find her.
When they finally did, Yang was barely clinging to life. She had gone out on her own during the night, determined to bring Ruby back home. She hadn't made it far before she was found by Qrow, almost drowning on a nearby beach. But they hadn't found her alone. Two strangers that looks a bit similar to Summer and the rest of her family; Blood-red eyes, pale skinned, and silver hair that shines an ethereal glow under the moon like Summer's. Ægirians they called themselves, had come across her first. One of the two, was a man who carried a massive, four-bladed anchor in his back, had been the one to pull Yang from the water.
The memory of that encounter still made his blood run cold. The Ægirian had warned them in a gruff, almost accusatory tone. And those words were burned into his mind to this day:
"You and your family should be wary of the rising tides and what lies below, Land-walker. The pale... shattered moon may offer you light, but it casts long shadows where unnamed horrors lurk. Don't let curiosity lead you down paths best left unexplored for you."
The ominous warning had left a lasting impression on him. After his meeting with his late wife's grandmother, he realized that the dangers they, the "Land-walkers" that includes him–faced weren't just from the Grimm or the ordinary perils of their world like the Faunus racism and more. There were deeper, older threats, tied to the tides and the mysteries of the ocean depths, that he knew too little about. And with Ruby's time under the tides, and the impact it had on her, that warning seemed all the more foreboding.
As he shaped the last of the cookie dough into a rough fish shape, the blonde man sighed, his thoughts heavy with the weight of the past.
Ruby had returned, yes, but the years they had lost could never be regained in five years. The bond between his daughters was strong, but he knew there were scars that would never fully heal. The fireflies outside flickered in the darkness, their light a reminder of the warmth that had returned to his home with Ruby's return, but also of the shadows that still lingered in their lives.
He slid the tray of cookies into the oven and carefully set the timer, his movements almost mechanical as his mind lingered on memories he wished he could forget. The sounds of the crickets outside seemed to grow louder in the quiet cabin, the fireflies flickering like tiny stars against the backdrop of the darkening woods.
With a sigh, he began collecting the dirty kitchenware, bringing them over to the sink. As he turned on the tap, the cool water rushing over his hands, a shrill ringing sound cut through the peaceful ambiance of the cabin. He frowned and wiped his hands on a dish towel before reaching for his scroll, the device vibrating insistently on the counter. He wasn't particularly fond of technology—truth be told, he was practically blind to it, despite Yang, Ruby, and Qrow's best efforts to bring him into the modern age.
He fumbled with the scroll, nearly dropping it twice before he finally managed to swipe the screen and answer the call. Holding the device up to his ear, he spoke in his usual cheery tone, though there was a touch of hesitation, "Xiao Long Household, this is Taiyang Xiao Long. To whom am I speaking?"
There was a brief pause on the other end before the voice began to explain, quickly and urgently. As the words registered, Taiyang's eyes widened in shock. His breath caught in his throat, and his heart started to race as the full weight of the situation hit him.
The shock and fear that followed found release in a single, powerful shout.
"WHAT?!"
The sound echoed across the island of Patch, reverberating through the trees, startling the sleeping critters and birds into flight. The once-peaceful night was now filled with the flapping of wings and the rustling of leaves as the wildlife scattered in panic, driven by the raw intensity of Xiao Long Patriarch's voice.
+++++++
Location:
Vale Police Department
In the dimly lit interrogation room of the police station, Ruby sat nervously across from the Huntress, the same stern woman she had seen on the rooftop earlier. The room was quiet, save for the soft hum of the overhead lights, which cast a harsh glare on the polished table between them. Ruby shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her mind racing as she tried to process everything that had just happened.
The Huntress—whose name Ruby had overheard as Professor Goodwitch—stood tall, her posture rigid, and her expression a mix of disapproval and curiosity. Her stern demeanor reminded Ruby of her Nana, especially during moments when Ruby had made a grave mistake or did something unforgiveable to her standard. Goodwitch's sharp eyes bore into her, assessing, judging, and—Ruby sensed—questioning.
"Did you not stop to think about your actions and put others in harms way?!" Glynda's voice was cold, authoritative as she walked around her, and it sent a shiver down Ruby's spine. The young girl sat up straighter, trying her best not to appear as nervous as she felt.
"I'm really, really sorry!" Ruby stammered, wringing her hands together in her lap. "I didn't mean for any of this to happen! I just... I just wanted to do something nice for my sister!"Glynda arched an eyebrow, her stern expression not softening in the slightest. "Your sister? Explain."
Ruby took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "M-my sister, Yang—she just got accepted into Beacon, and I wanted to get her some Dust as a congratulatory gift. I thought it'd be something she could use, you know? So I went to the shop to buy some..."
Glynda's eyes narrowed slightly, some pieces of the puzzle starting to come together in her mind. "And then what happened?" Ruby hesitated for a moment before continuing. "Well, while I was there, this group of thugs came in, and they tried to rob the place. I didn't want them to get away with it, so... I tried to stop them." She paused, her voice trembling slightly as she added, "They started it first! I was just defending myself and the shop!"
Glynda sighed, clearly unimpressed. "Help? You call blowing up a street in the middle of the night in Vale, 'helping'? You're lucky no one was seriously injured. What in Oum were you thinking, do you really think you're strong enough to put a stop them?"
Ruby flinched at the reprimand, her gaze dropping to the table. The more Glynda spoke, the more Ruby felt like she was being scolded by her Nana for sneaking out of training.
"W-well... uh... n-no...," Ruby murmured, her voice small and uncertain, "B-but I still have to try and protect everyone..."
Glynda's stern gaze didn't waver. "You put yourself in harm's way and endangered others in the process. That was reckless and irresponsible." And cracked her riding crop at the table, causing Ruby to flinch.
But as Glynda was about to continue to berate the troublemaker, her thoughts wandered. Something was off about this girl. Her's appearance was strikingly familiar, yet also bewildering. The silver hair and pale skin reminded Glynda of her late friend, Summer Rose.
I never thought I'd see that face again...
But Ruby's eyes—those eerie, ruby-red eyes, instead of Summer's silver eyes—were unlike anything Glynda had ever seen in both her parents, which not even Tai had that shining red eyes. Overall, the girl seemed almost like a mirror image of Summer, yet there was something distinctly different about her.
The girl looked human enough, and she remembered that her mother was too. At least physically, but those ears... They weren't Faunus ears, that much she could tell. And there were no other animal traits on them either. So, what was she? Glynda found herself grappling with the questions, her stern expression never faltering as she examined Ruby further.
The confusion only deepened as Glynda noticed how Ruby's silver hair, much like her mother's seemed to shimmer under the lamp's light, giving her an ethereal quality. The girl and her mother's skin was so pale it seemed almost untouched by sunlight, as if she had spent her entire life in the shadows.
"Let me ask you again," Glynda's voice broke through her thoughts, her tone still as firm as before, "Considering that you're carrying a giant scythe almost twice yout size, I would assume that you are a student of one combat academies. Which school do you attend?"
Ruby hesitated before responding, "I'm... a student of the Schola Venatores Abyssi." She said the name with a slight hint of pride, though it was clear the mention of her school did little to soften Glynda's gaze.
"The Schola Venatores Abyssi?" Glynda repeated, frowning. "I've never heard of such a place. Where is it located? Is it in Atlas?"
Ruby shook her head quickly. "I-I can't tell you that. M-my Nana and great-grandmother forbade me from saying where it is..." Her tone seemed sincere for Glynda's ears, but it only seemed to deepen her suspicions.
Glynda narrowed her eyes, leaning forward slightly. "Why, exactly, would they forbid you from telling anyone? And who, exactly, are your Nana and great-grandmother?"
Ruby remained silent, uncertain how to answer without revealing too much. The mention of this mysterious school, combined with Ruby and Summer's strange appearance, set off alarm bells in Glynda's mind. Could this girl be an agent of Her? No. Neither Tai, Ozpin, nor that drunk bird, Qrow or even Raven regardless of her disagreements with Ozpin in fighting Her would never let that happen and put a stop of it in a heartbeat.
Yet, the thought still sent a chill down her spine, but she kept her composure, determined to get to the bottom of this pieces of enigma sitting across from her.
For now, though, Glynda decided to keep her suspicions to herself. She needed more information, and perhaps Ruby wasn't even aware of what she might be involved in. But one thing was clear—this girl and her mother was far from ordinary, that even the Headmaster of Beacon is still having decades of struggle to understand what they were, and even Tai never told him anything about what Summer and her family are.
Glynda sighed deeply as she pulled out her scroll, her eyes flickering over the police reports and images of the damage done in the Dust shop and the surrounding streets. The chaos that Ruby had unwittingly unleashed was extensive, and it only served to deepen Glynda's frustration.
It was then she received a notification from the Headmaster that he's near the Interrogation room, and is waiting for the refreshments from the officers. Which Glynda nodded slightly, unseen to Ruby.
"Very well then, if it were up to me," Refocusing the focus back to matter. Glynda began, her tone deceptively calm, "you'd be sent home, with a pat on the back."
Ruby's face lit up with a hopeful smile, thinking she was off the hook. But that hope was short-lived as Glynda snapped her a very familiar ice-cold gaze to her, her eyes narrowing sternly.
"And a slap on the wrist," Glynda added sharply, bringing her riding crop down with a sudden, sharp motion that cracked against the desk near Ruby's hand.
Ruby flinched, instinctively pulling her hand away, thinking for a split second that Glynda was about to strike her.
Glynda's expression remained stern, not a trace of sympathy in her gaze. "Once again, regardess of who taught you to fight, which I'm sure that they had also taught you something similar to what I have repeatedly been saying. There are consequences for your actions. Running into a fight like that without thinking could have cost you your life—or worse, someone else's."
Ruby quickly nodded, now more aware than ever of the gravity of the situation, nodded silently, her previous optimism completely gone. She realized that she was far from out of trouble, and Prof. Glynda was not someone to be taken lightly.
++++++
Vale Police Station
- Lobby
In the bustling lobby of the police station, the stark, fluorescent lights reflected off the polished floors. A blonde girl with golden, wild, and flowing hair that cascaded down her back burst through the entrance. Her violet eyes were filled with urgency and concern. Dressed in a brown bomber jacket with yellow accents and a tan scarf around her neck, she exuded both confidence and worry as she scanned the room.
Her gaze immediately locked onto a familiar figure—her father, a man with the same shade of blonde hair, though his was shorter and more disheveled. He was sitting on one of the benches in the waiting area, with their family's pet Corgi, Zwei, fidgeting nervously. His eyes darted around the room in a panic, his hands wringing together in a gesture of anxiety.
Without a moment's hesitation, the girl rushed over to him, her voice laced with fear and concern. "Dad! What happened?! Is Ruby okay?!"
Her father looked up, his expression filled with a mixture of relief and distress as he saw his eldest daughter sitting next him.
Tai looked up at Yang, his face strained with worry. "The police haven't told me much," he began, his voice heavy with concern. "All I know is that Ruby got involved in some kind of fight at a Dust shop nearby. It spilled out into the street, and there were a lot of damage. They're saying that there were reports of a strong scent of blood, but... they didn't find anything."
Yang cringed at the mention of blood, her expression tightening as she processed what her father had said. "Well, we both know that it must've been the after-effect of Ruby's Semblance," she muttered, more to herself than to Tai. "It can leave that kind of smell sometimes, but it usually dissolves pretty quickly." She frowned, clearly uneasy of her sister's not so normal Semblace. "I can't really say much about the smell it leaves behind, though. It's... not something I like to think about."
Tai sighed, nodding slightly as he rubbed the back of his neck and patted a sleeping Zwei on the back, his mind clearly troubled by the whole situation. "I'm just worried, Yang. I don't know what she's gotten herself into this time," he said, his voice tinged with frustration. "It should've been a simple night out for both of you to celebrate your acceptance into Beacon..."
Yang nodded, guilt creeping into her expression. "We shouldn't have split up," she admitted, her voice low. "We... we thought that dropping her off near the Dust shop while I went to find the other gifts was a good idea, but now..." She trailed off, frustration evident in her tone.
Tai gently patted Yang's shoulder, trying to reassure her. "It's okay, Firecracker," he said softly. "Nobody could've expected this. And while it could've been worse, I know you both already know how to fight and defend yourselves."
Yang looked up at him, concern still in her eyes. "Does Uncle Qrow know about this? Have you told him?"
Tai nodded. "Yeah, I did. But Qrow's out of the country right now, doing solo Huntsmen missions and doing drunk stuff when he picked up the call. He's not exactly in a position to drop everything and rush back."
Nearby, neither Tai nor Yang, even Zwei; noticed the sliding door opening for another guest. The nearby Vale police officers, however, stood up straight and saluted as a man entered the room. He was tall, with a composed demeanor, dressed in a dark green, well-tailored coat that gave him an air of quiet authority. His silver hair was neatly combed, and he wore a pair of round spectacles that reflected the light as he moved. In one hand, he carried a slender cane with an ornate, circular handle, which he used more as a statement of his presence than for support.
As he entered, the officers greeted him with respect. "Sir, Professor Ozpin."
Ozpin nodded at them, a small, polite smile on his face. "Just stopping by for a quick visit," he replied calmly, his voice carrying a soothing yet gentle authoritative tone.
Ozpin scanned the room briefly, his eyes settling on a familiar face—his former student, Taiyang Xiao Long, sitting with his eldest daughter, Yang. With a calm demeanor, he walked toward them, his cane tapping lightly on the polished floor. As he approached, he greeted them with a gentle nod, "Good evening, Tai."
Both father and daughter turned their heads toward the sound of the voice. Taiyang, caught off guard, stuttered, "P-professor?" He quickly stood up, fumbling with his words, "Uh..."
But before he could continue, Ozpin interrupted him with a soft, reassuring tone, "Don't worry, I merely wish to speak with your daughter for a little while." He gave a polite nod, signaling that there was no need for formalities.
Taiyang, still a bit flustered, nodded in understanding as Ozpin moved past them. Yang, who had been staring at Ozpin in awe, stood up next to her father. With wide eyes, she asked, "Uh... is that who I think it is?"
Tai nodded, a small smile on his face as he answered, "Yup, that's the head of Beacon Academy."
As Ozpin walked calmly through the police station, his sharp eyes scanned the surroundings with familiarity. Approaching a nearby officer, he paused and politely requested, "Would it be possible to get some cookies and a glass of milk?"
The officer, slightly surprised but quick to respond, nodded and hurried off to fulfill the request. Waiting for their arrival, he pulls his scroll and messaged Glynda of his pressence and current situation and sent it to her. Moments later, the officer returned with a small tray carrying a plate of cookies and a glass of milk. Ozpin accepted the tray with a nod of thanks, balancing it effortlessly in one hand. With his other hand, he slung his cane into his belt with practiced ease.
Continuing his path towards the interrogation room, Ozpin approached the door and gently pushed it open. The first sound to greet him was the sharp crack of Glynda's riding crop slamming against the table, punctuating whatever stern words she was directing at the young girl sitting across from her.
After Glynda's stern warning, Ruby sat there, her mind reeling from the intensity of the situation. She barely had time to process what was happening when Glynda, noticing the door opening behind her, softened her tone slightly and said, "But, there is someone who would like to meet you."
Ruby's eyes widened in surprise as Glynda stepped aside, revealing a tall, gray-haired man who carried a tray of cookies and a glass of milk. He moved with a quiet confidence, placing the tray gently on the table before taking a seat opposite Ruby. He clasped his hands together and studied her closely.
"Ah... Miss Ruby Rose," he said, his voice calm and measured. As he leaned forward, his sharp eyes seemed to take in every detail of her appearance. Ruby couldn't help but feel a little unnerved under his intense scrutiny, but there was something almost comforting in the way he looked at her.
As long as it wasn't the stern cold glare from Prof. Goodwitch which while more tamer than the ones she usually got, it still reminded her greatly of her Nana.
As Ozpin inspected her, his thoughts drifted to both her mother, Summer Rose, and her grandmother, the Consul of Ægir, those folks whose origins he had never fully understood.
Yet, he still remembered both Summer and her family's pale skin, silver hair that seemed to shimmer ethereally under the light, and those distinct pointy ears had always set them apart from anyone Ozpin had ever met in his long life. Neither Human nor Faunus, and certainly not Grimm, All of them had been a mystery to him.
He had once suspected that they might have been a creation of his ex-wife, Salem—an attempt to spawn a human-like Grimm—but Summer and her family had proven to be far more complex than that. And now, sitting before him, was her daughter, Ruby. Like her mother, Ruby possessed that same ethereal appearance, though with some differences. Her mother's eyes were the silver of the now nearly extinct Silver-Eyed Warriors—a trait Summer had claimed came from her father. Ruby, however, had eyes that were an eerie shade of ruby red, almost like the color of blood in certain lighting. Similar to what Salem looked like, last he saw her.
Ozpin hummed thoughtfully, his eyes narrowing slightly as he considered this. "You have... an interesting crimson eyes, Miss Rose," he remarked, his tone even. "I thought they were silver. Like your mother's."
Ruby was taken aback by the mention of her mother, something she hadn't expected from the man sitting across from her. Without thinking, she sheepishly responded, "W-well, I can change it back to how it was if it made you uncomfortable, sir." She then shut her eyes tightly, and when she opened them again, both Ozpin and Glynda leaned forward in shock, their eyes wide behind their glasses. The eerie ruby-red of her irises had vanished, replaced by the unmistakable silver of her mother's eyes.
"Interesting... but still, how?" Ozpin pondered, his thoughts racing as he tried to comprehend what he had just witnessed.
Glynda, equally stunned, couldn't help but wonder, "H-how did she do that? Is it her semblance?"
Ruby, noticing the sudden intensity in their gazes and feeling a bit uncomfortable, stammered, "U-um, you said something about my mother, did you... um... know her?"
Both Ozpin and Glynda quickly straightened up, regaining their composure. Ozpin, with a gentle tone, asked, "Do you know who I am, Ruby?" He reached into one of his coat pockets, pulled out his thermos, and took a sip of coffee, his eyes never leaving her.
Ruby nodded hesitantly, "Um, I think? You're, uh... Professor Ozpin. The Headmaster at Beacon Academy." Her voice was uncertain, still trying to piece together why this man knew about her mother and why he seemed so interested in her.
After taking a measured sip of his coffee, Ozpin set the thermos down on the table and nodded slightly. "Nice to meet you," he said calmly. "Now, I have a question for you."
Ruby blinked, her confusion growing as she listened.
"Miss Rose," Ozpin began, leaning forward slightly as he clasped his hands together on the table, "do you want to attend my school—two years early?"
Ruby's silver eyes widened in shock. "H-huh, what?!" she blurted out, her voice a mix of surprise and disbelief.
From her position by the side, Glynda raised an eyebrow, clearly caught off guard by the unexpected offer. She hadn't anticipated this turn of events, but then again, with Ozpin, surprises were hardly uncommon in this "War".
But before Ruby can answer, the door of the interrogation room was sternly opened, and her red eyes widened in suprise, and a bit of horror as all blood drains from her already pale face.