Ruby

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Ruby grins as each shot from Crescent Rose finds its mark, the massive Nevermore screeching in fury. This is what being a Huntress is all about! Her heart races with the thrill of battle and the pride of fighting alongside her new team. Sure, they literally just met and there's still some awkwardness to work out (especially with Weiss, yeesh!) but the important thing is they've got each other's backs.

The Nevermore wheels around for another pass, its razor-sharp feathers slicing through the air. Ruby yelps and activates her Semblance, bursting into rose petals to dodge the deadly hail. She rematerializes next to Weiss and gives her partner (partner!) a thumbs up.

"I've got a plan!" Ruby announces, bouncing on her heels. "Weiss, use your glyphs to launch me at its head! I'll slash its face and blind it. Blake, Yang, you—"

"Excuse me?!" Weiss sputters, pale blue eyes wide with disbelief. "We are not launching you at a giant Grimm's face, you absolute dolt! You'll get yourself killed!"

"Pssh, I'll be fine!" Ruby waves off her concern breezily. "I do this kinda stuff all the time. Well, usually with milk cartons, not people, but how different can it be?"

"Milk cartons?!"

Further argument is cut off as the Nevermore dives again, beak open in a ravenous caw. The girls scatter, Weiss summoning a shining glyph beneath her feet to leap away. Suddenly, Ruby spots a familiar head of messy hair in the chaos below - it's Jaune! Aw, she was hoping he'd do well in the initiation. Focus, focus! Gotta take out this birdbrain first!

Yang and Blake are peppering the Nevermore's underside with shots and slashes, golden hair burning and shadow clones flickering. Ruby allows herself a fierce smile. They're all so cool! She darts in to join them, Crescent Rose a whirling blur of steel. The Nevermore thrashes and screeches, trying to shake off the pesky humans.

"We need to ground it!" Ruby shouts over the wind. Her mind races, a dozen crazy ideas bouncing around her skull. They can do this, they just need to work together! "Yang, Blake, keep it distracted! Weiss, with me!"

She grabs the heiress's hand and activates her Semblance again, rose petals swirling around them both as they rocket across the battlefield. Weiss shrieks in surprise but quickly recovers, Myrtenaster flashing out to leave icy patches in their wake. The Nevermore's claws skid and scramble for purchase as it lands.

"Now!"

At Ruby's shout, Blake hurls Gambol Shroud with all her might, the ribbon-bound blade sinking deep into the Nevermore's wing and staking it to the cliff face. Yang leaps from a glyph-turned-springboard, Ember Celica pounding a matching tether into its other wing. The beast writhes and pulls, but slowly, inexorably, Weiss locks it down with a barrage of ice.

"Alright, time to lose your head, birdie!" Ruby crows, ejecting Crescent Rose's spent magazine with a clack-click and slamming a fresh one home. "Weiss, slingshot!"

"You're insane!" Despite her words, a huge glyph shimmers to life in front of Ruby, angled toward the Nevermore's neck. Ruby hops up to brace her feet against it, Crescent Rose cocked and ready. She meets Weiss's gaze and grins.

"Think you can make the shot?"

The heiress scoffs, but there's a glimmer of respect in her eyes. "Can I?"

A beat. Ruby blinks. "Can y—"

"Of course I can!"

Ruby's laughter mingles with the roar of acceleration as Weiss launches her forward, glyphs flashing to life down the cliffside. Each one pushes Ruby faster, rose petals and rifle reports trailing in her wake. The Nevermore's head looms before her, its beak open in one last desperate screech—

CRACK!

Crescent Rose bites deep, shearing through feather and flesh and bone. The Nevermore's body goes slack, its head tumbling down the cliff as it dissolves into smoke. Ruby rides the momentum up and over the edge, touching down with a little stumble and a fist pump.

"Oh my gosh, that was AWESOME! We did it, Team RWBY!" She turns to high five her teammates, only to pause when she notices someone standing nearby. It's that student she saw earlier, watching the whole fight with wide eyes. Oops, she probably scared the heck out of them!

"Uh, hehe, sorry about that!" Ruby zips over in a burst of rose petals, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "We kinda wrecked the place, huh? I'm Ruby, by the way! Ruby Rose!"

She holds out a hand, silver eyes bright and earnest above a beaming smile. "Thanks for cheering us on! I mean, I assume you were cheering. Unless you were screaming in terror. Which would be totally understandable! But, uh, yeah! Go Team RWBY!"

The night air hums with tension as shadows dance across the docks, the shattered moon reflecting off still waters. Suddenly, the silence shatters with the crack of gunfire and clang of metal on metal.

There! Ruby spots the source of the commotion, a lithe figure clashing with a familiar white coat and black bowler hat. Blake!

The faunus girl weaves between shipping containers, Gambol Shroud flashing as she trades blows with Roman Torchwick. The notorious criminal sneers, cane sword lashing out in vicious arcs. Behind them, White Fang soldiers pour out from a docked Bullhead, masked faces snarling as they level guns at Blake.

"Hey!"

Another figure leaps into the fray from above, bo staff twirling to deflect a hail of bullets. Sun Wukong lands beside Blake, teeth bared in a defiant grin. The two faunus stand back-to-back, surrounded but undaunted as they face the White Fang and Roman.

"We have to help them!" Ruby turns to her companion, silver eyes wide and urgent. Beside her, Penny nods, green eyes hardening with resolve.

You crouch behind a stack of crates, ears flattened beneath your White Fang mask as you watch the confrontation unfold. Brothers and sisters in arms, about to gun down one of your own. One who left. Traitor, the Lieutenant spat her name like venom. But this...this doesn't feel right.

"The White Fang and Roman Torchwick, huh?" A new voice cuts through the din, high and clear with challenge. "Since when did you guys start working with scum like him?"

A streak of red blurs past you, rose petals scattering in its wake. It comes to a stop between Blake and the White Fang, resolving into...a human girl? She's small in stature but looms large in presence, a massive crimson scythe unfolding in her hands with a shiiing of metal. Crescent Rose, you realize, the weapon unmistakable. Ruby Rose.

"Ruby..." Blake's amber eyes widen with surprise and worry in equal measure. "What are you doing here?"

"Looking for my friend," Ruby replies simply, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. She aims a fierce glare at Roman over Crescent Rose's wicked blade. "Leave her alone!"

The crime lord laughs, cruel and mocking. "Well well well, if it isn't Little Red! Isn't it past your bedtime?" He levels his cane at Ruby's face. "This is no place for children. Run along before you get hurt!"

But Ruby just smirks, Crescent Rose humming eagerly in her grip. "I'm not the one who's gonna get hurt. I'm putting an end to this, right now!"

BOOM!

An explosion rocks the docks as Bullheads erupt in flames, scattering White Fang like ragdolls. Through the smoke strides...a girl? No older than Ruby, with short orange hair and green eyes that glow. Floating swords dance around her in a halo of shimmering emerald light.

"Sal-u-tations!" the girl chirps with an unnervingly cheerful wave. "I'm combat ready!"

"Penny?" Ruby gasps. "When did you-"

"I'm here to help!" Penny declares brightly before charging into the fray, swords flashing as they slice through metal and aura like butter.

What happens next is a blur of rose petals and shattering moonlight. Ruby is a crimson whirlwind, Crescent Rose singing as it cleaves through ranks of White Fang. Blake and Sun are twin shadows, afterimages flickering as they strike from every angle. And Penny...Penny is a hurricane of emerald death, swords felling faunus and Bullheads alike with merciless precision.

You watch in awe, breath caught in your throat. Faunus and humans, fighting side by side against you. Against the White Fang. Is this what we've become? you wonder, dread coiling in your gut. Monsters to be cut down, even by our own kind? Is this what justice looks like?

CLANG!

Crescent Rose flashes through the night, deflecting a wild slash from the White Fang lieutenant's chainsaw. Sparks fly and metal screams as Ruby ducks and weaves, rose petals fluttering in her wake. Just gotta keep this goon busy until-

"Hey! Heads up!"

The shout from behind makes Ruby's head snap around, silver eyes going wide. A lone White Fang soldier lunges from the shadows, tackling Roman Torchwick to the ground a heartbeat before his cane-gun barks fire. The shot goes wide, whistling past Ruby's ear to punch a hole in a shipping crate.

What the heck?

Shock gives way to opportunity as Ruby spots Roman struggling beneath his surprise attacker. She blurs into motion, Crescent Rose whirling.

WHAM!

The blunt end of her scythe crunches into Roman's jaw, snapping his head back against the pavement. He goes still, his aura flickering and fading as unconsciousness claims him. Ruby kicks his weapon away before rounding on the White Fang member, Crescent Rose raised warily.

"Um, thanks?" The words come out uncertain. Baffled silver eyes peer out from beneath her red hood, trying to puzzle out this sudden turn of events. "But aren't you with them?"

Rose petals dance on the evening breeze as Ruby makes her way through the courtyard of Haven Academy, Crescent Rose a comforting weight at the small of her back. The scent of late blooming flowers mingles with the distant aroma of street food wafting up from the city below. Elegant arches and towering pagoda roofs paint striking silhouettes against the twilight sky.

It's so peaceful now, Ruby muses, silver eyes drinking in the tranquil scene. Hard to believe that just days ago, this very courtyard was a battlefield—White Fang and Salem's forces clashing with Faunus from Menagerie in a desperate struggle for the future of Haven. For the future of Remnant.

But they did it. They won. Blake and Sun arrived with reinforcements in the nick of time, and the attack was thwarted. Even Ilia, Blake's old friend from the White Fang, turned over a new leaf and joined the fight against Adam Taurus. In the end, the bad guys were driven off and Haven was saved.

And Team RWBY is back together! The thought brings a smile to Ruby's face, the memory of that tearful group hug still fresh and warm in her mind. After all the hardships and separation, her friends, her family is reunited. She couldn't ask for more.

Well...maybe one thing.

As if summoned by the thought, Ruby spots a lone figure sitting hunched on a bench across the courtyard. Even at a distance, she recognizes the student—a Faunus, if the distinctive animal trait is any indication. They'd exchanged passing greetings a few times since Ruby arrived at Haven, but never really talked beyond that.

No time like the present!

With a skip in her step, Ruby makes her way over, crimson cloak fluttering behind her. As she draws near, she can't help but notice the way the Faunus seems to tense, ears flattening against their skull as if anticipating trouble.

"Hey there!" Ruby calls out, infusing her voice with as much friendly cheer as she can muster. She stops a respectful distance from the bench, not wanting to crowd them. "Nice evening, huh? Perfect weather for a post-victory celebration!"

The Faunus glances up, eyes widening slightly as they take in Ruby's beaming face. Their posture relaxes a fraction, but there's still a wary edge to their voice.

"Mind if I join you?" Ruby gestures to the empty space beside them. "I promise I don't bite. Unless it's cookies. Then all bets are off!" She follows this with a playful wink, hoping to coax a smile.

To her delight, the Faunus' lips twitch upwards, just a little. They scoot over, making room.

"Thanks!" Ruby plops down on the bench, legs swinging cheerfully. "I'm Ruby, by the way. Ruby Rose. Leader of Team RWBY, at your service!" She throws in a jaunty salute for good measure. Then her expression softens, eyes shining with empathy. "I heard things have been pretty rough for Faunus here in Mistral. Qrow—uh, Professor Branwen told me a bit about the discrimination in the city..."

The Faunus' ears droop, shoulders slumping as if under a heavy weight.

Ruby's heart clenches, an ache blossoming behind her ribs. She can't even imagine how painful it must be, facing that kind of cruelty and prejudice day in and day out. The unfairness of it all makes her want to march right up to every bigoted human and give them a stern talking to!

But she knows it's not that simple. Centuries of fear, mistrust and misinformation can't be erased overnight. Changing hearts and minds takes time, patience, and a whole lot of love.

Good thing those are Ruby's specialties.

"I'm so sorry you have to deal with that," she says gently, reaching out to place a comforting hand on the Faunus' arm. They tense for a split second, then relax into the touch. "You don't deserve to be treated that way. No one does."

Ruby takes a deep breath, choosing her next words with care. "I know things seem bleak right now. There's still so much hate and misunderstanding in the world. But I truly believe it doesn't have to be that way forever."

She thinks of Blake, who spent years hiding her Faunus heritage out of fear, only to cast off the bow and embrace every part of who she is. Of Sun, who never lets the hate dim his sunny spirit, who's always the first to stand up for his fellow Faunus. Of Ilia, who had the courage to leave the White Fang's path of violence and forge a better way...

"Look at what happened here a few days ago!" Ruby continues, eyes alight with growing conviction. "Faunus and humans, fighting side by side to protect Haven—to protect each other! Blake and Ilia proved that we're stronger when we stand together."

She turns to face the Faunus fully, taking both their hands in her own. Her callused fingers are warm against their palm, gripping with gentle strength.

"Change is possible," Ruby says fervently, willing them to believe it. "Equality, acceptance, unity—we can make it happen! But we've all got to do our part, no matter how small." Her smile turns rueful. "I know I'm just one girl with a sniper-scythe. I can't fix everything by myself. But that won't stop me from trying!"

Ooh, where is it, where is it? Ruby's silver eyes dart across the towering bookshelves, scanning the titles with single-minded focus. Her crimson cloak flutters behind her as she zips down the aisles, a rose petal or two drifting in her wake. Weapons Through the Ages, Dust for Dummies, A History of Huntsmen... aha!

"Gotcha!" she whispers triumphantly, grabbing a thick tome with a worn leather cover. A Comprehensive Guide to Mechashifting, the title reads in faded gold leaf. Just what she needs to get some inspiration for her precious Crescent Rose's next upgrade!

Hugging the book to her chest like a cherished teddy bear, Ruby spins on her heel to make a beeline for the checkout desk...only to plow headfirst into someone standing right behind her.

Oof!

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry!" Ruby yelps, stumbling back and nearly dropping her prize. "I didn't see you there! Are you okay? I didn't break your nose or anything, did I? Yang always says I've got a hard head, which I guess is a good thing since I'm training to be a Huntress and all, but I really need to watch where I'm going and..."

She trails off, finally getting a good look at the unfortunate victim of her bibliomania. Huh. She's never seen this student around Beacon before. And with the Vytal Festival in full swing, that can only mean one thing...

"Hey, you must be one of the students visiting from the other academies!" Ruby exclaims, her embarrassment forgotten in a burst of excitement. "I'm Ruby! Leader of Team RWBY, at your service!" She throws in a jaunty salute, only to realize she's still holding the heavy book. Whoops.

Fumbling to tuck the tome under one arm, Ruby sticks out her other hand with a beaming smile. "Welcome to Beacon! What brings you to our neck of the woods? Here for the festival? Ooh, or are you scoping out the competition for the tournament? Not that I'm trying to psych you out or anything! I'm sure you'll do great! Even if we are totally gonna bring our A-game and-"

Ack, babbling again! Way to make a first impression, Ruby.

She cuts herself off with a nervous chuckle, rubbing the back of her neck sheepishly. "Ehehe...sorry. I tend to get a little carried away sometimes. Hazard of being a weapons geek, I guess."

Her gaze darts to the side, catching sight of Team RWBY's usual study table tucked into a cozy nook. A lightbulb goes off in her head.

"Hey, why don't you come sit with me and my team?" Ruby offers brightly, already reaching out to snag your sleeve and tug you along. "No better way to get the inside scoop on Beacon than from the source, right? Plus, Weiss has been drilling us on Vytal Festival trivia for weeks now. I bet we could totally dazzle you with our knowledge of...um...important historical...festival...stuff."

Smooth, Ruby. Real smooth.

But her smile doesn't falter as she leads you over to the table, plopping down into one of the cushioned chairs with a happy little sigh. She sets her book aside and leans forward, elbows on the table and chin propped in her hands. Those silver eyes sparkle with genuine interest as they meet yours.

"So, tell me about yourself!" Ruby prompts eagerly. "What's your name? Where are you from? What's your weapon of choice? Ooh, and what do you think of Beacon so far?"

She pauses, then adds with a conspiratorial wink, "And be honest. I promise I won't get offended if you say Haven's dining hall has better cookies. Even if you're totally wrong."

Her grin is playful and inviting, putting you instantly at ease. There's just something about Ruby's guileless enthusiasm that's impossible to resist. She radiates warmth and acceptance, a welcoming presence in this unfamiliar place.

Yet beneath her bubbly exterior, there's a glint of something sharper in those quicksilver eyes. An alertness, a keen perception that misses nothing. The instincts of a leader, always attuned to her surroundings and the people around her.

It's subtle, but unmistakable. This is a girl who's seen the darkness in the world, who knows the threats lurking in the shadows. The White Fang, Roman Torchwick, the Grimm...Ruby and her team have been fighting to uncover the truth and protect the innocent, even as the rest of Beacon is swept up in the Vytal Festival festivities.

But Ruby refuses to let that darkness dim her light. If anything, it only makes her shine brighter, a beacon of hope and determination in the face of the gathering storm. She knows the power of a smile, a kind word, an outstretched hand in friendship.

And right now, that hand is reaching out to you, inviting you into her circle of warmth and trust.

"I'm really glad I ran into you," Ruby says sincerely, her voice softening. "I know being the new kid can be tough, especially coming from a different school and all. But I want you to know that you've got a friend here at Beacon."

She reaches out to lay a gentle hand over yours, callused fingers warm and reassuring against your skin.

"If you ever need anything, whether it's help studying for a test or just someone to talk to...I'm here. And so is the rest of Team RWBY. We've always got room for one more at our table." Her smile turns impish. "Even if Weiss pretends to be all 'ugh, you again?' at first. She's a total softie once you get past the prickles, I promise."

Ruby gives your hand a quick squeeze, then sits back with a contented sigh. "Anyway, that's enough about me and my team. I want to hear more about you! What's your story, mystery student?"

She props her elbows on the table once more, chin cradled in her palms.

The screech of metal against metal fills the air as the Argus Limited hurtles down the tracks, wheels sparking against the rails. But the roar of the train is nearly drowned out by the shrieks of the Manticores swooping down from the gray skies, their lion bodies and bat-like wings casting monstrous shadows across the train cars.

There's so many of them! Ruby thinks, a thrill of fear twisting her gut even as she leaps into action. Crescent Rose is a blur of crimson in her hands as she launches herself from the top of the train, rose petals scattering in her wake. The massive scythe unfolds with a metallic sching! as she brings it slashing down on the nearest Manticore.

Black blood sprays as the creature howls in pain, its cry echoing off the mountainsides. But there's no time to celebrate the hit. Two more Manticores dive towards Ruby, fangs bared and talons outstretched.

Crack! Crack! Crescent Rose barks twice as Ruby fires off a volley of high impact rounds. One catches a Manticore right between its glowing red eyes and it drops like a stone, already disintegrating into black smoke before it can hit the ground far below.

But the other dodges with surprising agility for such a large creature, folding its wings and rolling to the side. Ruby yelps as it barrels past her, close enough that she feels the wind of its passing. She spins around just in time to see it land heavily on the roof of the train car behind her, its weight denting the metal.

"Get off of there!" Ruby shouts, panic spiking through her as she thinks of the passengers huddled inside, their terrified faces pressed against the windows. She activates her semblance, the world blurring into streaks of color as she rockets forward.

But before she can reach it, a hail of bullets rips into the Manticore's side, sending it tumbling off the edge with an enraged shriek. Ruby skids to a stop, whipping around to see her uncle Qrow braced on the roof of the next car, Harbinger smoking in its gun form.

"Eyes up, kiddo!" he calls over the wind. "There's more coming!"

Ruby follows his gaze to see a fresh wave of Manticores winging their way towards the train, their eerie cries sending chills down her spine. But her silver eyes widen as she spots something else among them—a lone Grimm, larger than the rest, its shape strange and unfamiliar.

Is that a Sphinx?! Ruby's mind races as she takes in the creature's powerful leonine body and the distinctly human-like face beneath its bone mask. She's only ever seen pictures of them in Port's class at Beacon. They're supposed to be incredibly old, and incredibly intelligent for Grimm. What's it doing here?

As if sensing her gaze, the Sphinx's head swivels towards her. Its eyes, glowing like molten gold against the black pits of its sockets, seem to bore right through her. Ruby feels a shiver that has nothing to do with the cold wind whipping past.

It's watching me, she realizes with a sinking feeling. Waiting.

Ruby knows the Grimm are drawn to negative emotions—that they're living embodiments of destruction, existing only to snuff out the light of humanity. But there's something different about this one. Something almost...calculating in its stare.

No. Focus, Ruby! She gives herself a mental shake, tearing her eyes away from the Sphinx. She can't afford to be distracted, not when so many lives are at stake!

"Jaune! Ren! Nora!" Ruby shouts into her scroll as she takes aim at the oncoming Manticores. "They're coming up on the left side! We've gotta keep them away from the passengers!"

Affirmations crackle through the device at her belt even as she opens fire, Crescent Rose's high caliber rounds punching through black hide and white bone. She hears the distant boom of Nora's grenades from further up the train, sees the flashes of Ren's Stormflower blades in her peripheral vision.

My friends...my team. They're counting on me! We have to protect everyone!

With that thought burning bright in her mind, Ruby leaps back into the fray with a wordless battle cry. Crescent Rose is a silver arc of death in her hands as she meets the Manticores head on, rose petals swirling around her like a tornado of blood and blades. She is a crimson blur zipping back and forth across the train's roof, seeming to be everywhere at once.

But no matter how many Grimm fall to Crescent Rose's wicked edge, more keep coming. They swarm the train like oversized hornets, stingers poised to strike.

And all the while, the Sphinx hovers at the edges of the battle. Watching. Waiting.

What does it want? Ruby can't help but wonder as she chances another glance at the strange Grimm. Its gaze remains locked on her, tracking her every move with an intensity that makes her skin crawl. Why isn't it attacking?

She gets her answer a moment later. Just as she pivots to slash at a diving Manticore, a massive shadow falls over her. Ruby barely has time to look up before the Sphinx is on her, its lion's jaws wide open.