Disclaimer:
I do not own Avatar, the Last Airbender, the Legend of Korra, RWBY, or any of the associated characters or expanded universes. They wholly belong to Nickelodeon, RoosterTeeth, Bryan Konietzko, Michael Dante DiMartino, Monty Oum and Studio Mir. All of who definitely made for us something truly special.

Summary:
Four Elements. Four Girls. An adventure ten thousand years in the making. In a world of both Spirits and Grimm, human beings possess a remarkable gift called bending, able to manipulate one of the four elemental powers. Air, Water, Earth, and Fire. To harness their skills and learn more about their power, benders often attend the pretigious school of Beacon, found in Vale City. This is where our story begins. The story of Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Yang. The story of Team RWBY. Rated PG-13 for action adventure, fantasy violence, and some romance.

Water. Earth. Fire. Air.

Long ago, the world of Remnant was in a state of conflict and chaos. The forces of Darkness and the creatures of Grimm threatened to destroy everything. No one was safe. Mankind was on the brink of destruction, and it seemed as if all hope was lost. But that all changed when the Avatar came into being.

Ten thousand years ago, Oum, the Spirit of Light, fused with the very first Avatar. Able to wield all four elements, they became a beacon of hope for all the people of the world.

Together, they ushered in a new era for the world. A time of peace and harmony, when people of all four kingdoms would come together not in anger and warfare, but in mutual understanding. Of course, no great peace was perfect. Over the millennia, Darkness crept back into the world, the creatures of Grimm continued to multiply, and factions emerged that would work to undo the fragile peace that the Avatar had sacrificed so much to maintain.

The task of maintaining balance in an ever-changing world was not an easy one, and so the very latest Avatar, a man named Ozpin, built a school to train future defenders of the peace. Those who would wield the four elements as he did, and carry on his noble work when he could not.

It was named Beacon Academy.

And here is where our story begins.

In the city of Vale, down by the docks, there was a warehouse district. Vale being a port town, it excelled in maritime trade and commerce. Thus it tended to always have well stocked and well-protected warehouses down by the docks that were a frequent target of triad gangs and rogue criminals. Both as a temporary hideout between heists and as a source of illegal income.

Tonight the latter was the name of the game.

Security at this particular set of docks was top of the line, nothing less expected of the likes of the Future Industries company, which sold almost everything from military hardware to personal hygiene products, but specialized in advanced mechanics and cutting edge technology. Their contents today were far from the benign or mediocre variety.

Two shadows dropped down from the rooftop, one moving to the crates, the other quickly to the doors, finding them unlocked from the inside. Opening the doorway, he swiftly beckoned a number of other dark silhouettes. The lights flickered on overhead. Now more visible in the light, the shadowy creatures became men in dark suits, wearing gas masks to conceal their features and bearing a red mark on all of their uniforms in the shape of a red axe. They moved with swift, frightening purpose, bringing a truck around back of the warehouse and loading it up with crates bearing the Future Industries logo, a half-gear.

Three of the thieves, not working in tandem as well as they should have, accidently let one box slip, nearly crushing one of their members legs. He gave an awkward soft of hop on his uninjured foot as the others watched with some bemusement.

"Hey!"

A sharp clang interrupted their frivolity, as their leader came into view.

Stepping out of the shadows, clad in a similarly designed suit, the man in charge strolled into the light. His bodysuit was a shade of black instead of dull brown, though it held lighter highlights, and the buckle at his belt bore a pumpkin-like emblem. A pack rested on his back, and he carried in his hand a long metal baton which he waved about like a cane or a swagger stick. Unlike his fully-masked henchmen, he wore no mask to conceal his face, just a pair of goggles with tinted red glass which perfectly offset the bloody orange swirl of his impeccable hair. A pair of similar colored strands drifted down from under his nose to frame either side of his mouth in a thin moustache.

His name was Roman Torchwick, and he was Vale City's number one criminal. At least, that's how he advertised himself.

"Let's pick up the pace, ladies! We're not exactly the most inconspicuous bunch of thieves around you know!"

While the majority of the thieves followed his instructions and began working, two kept watch for the police who guarded Vale from their likes. However, they were bored, and one had taken to wandering off to see the sights. It was fortunate he did, however, because he spotted something odd on the empty parking lot beside the warhouse. Across the way by the street was a bench, normally used by individuals who were waiting for the transit system. Except the buses and the trolleys had long since stopped functioning for the evening, so there was no real reason it should be occupied. Yet occupied it was, by a lone figure. A small one, barely coming up to the thieves chest, and slim of figure. Possibly a woman, or a child. A red cloak was thrown about her shoulders, the hood up around her head, covering her ears and presumably muffling her hearing.

He wasted no time in drawing a baton from his belt and making his way over to her before she could spot him.

"Freeze! Hands in the air!"

The dark-haired girl blinked as she glanced up, having only caught the last word of the statement as her hood fell around her shoulders. Now that she'd turned around he could see her face, he realized she was even younger than he thought, perhaps no more than fifteen years or so, with an innocent countenance and the brightest, widest pair of silver eyes ever seen. Even so, the hoodlum didn't have time to be gentle just because she was a kid, and repeated his demand.

"I said, put your hands in the air!"

"Are you... robbing me?" she asked.

"Yes!" he shot back bluntly.

And that single word put everything into focus, and made things so much simpler. "Aaah," she cooed.

Without a word she began to move her arms. But not to reach for her money pouch or show she was unarmed. Instead, they began to form a kata, as her feet followed suit, smoothly shifting underneath her. Her hands moved in a soft, flowing sort of motion. Unnoticed by the Equalist, the air had begun to flow along the path of her moving arms and body, invisibly running between them.

"What're you-?" was all he managed to get out before the girl thrust her hands forward. A gust of wind slammed into the thugs gut and sent him tumbling across the parking lot pavement until he landed almost right in front of the thieves get away truck and Roman's feet.

Quirking an eyebrow at the display, Roman glanced up to see the girl making her way towards them, crimson cloak billowing in a breeze that seemed entirely centered around the small little girl. Airbender, he realized. That could be bad.

Glancing left and right at his stunned subordinates, he spurred them into action. "Get 'er!" he said in exasperation.

Two of the thieves took off running, moving swiftly across the open pavement towards the one unarmed, red-cloaked girl. She, in turn, responded with more air strikes, knocking them back or sending them crashing to the ground, unable to see the wind as it suddenly came alive with violent intent. When more of them started coming she threw down a whirl of wind underneath her and took a seat atop of it, taking off on a rolling ball of air she liked to call the air scooter. Within seconds she was whizzing back and forth amongst the fighters like in a pinball machine, knocking them down with her small but very powerful body or whipping up the air around them to send them crashing to the ground.

As an Air Nomad, she was of course using non-lethal strikes, but she would be lying if she said she wasn't taking a certain delight in smashing up these bozos and showing them just who they'd tried to mess with. Hopping off the air scooter and sweeping her leg out in a wide kick, she knocked the remainder of them off their feet.

It seemed she'd run out of opponents, for most of the gas-masked thieves lay on the ground in crumpled wreckes, unable even to find the strength to stand back up. The red-cloaked girl grinned and gave a whoop of joy, spiralling skywards before dropping back down on one of their chests, knocking the wind out of his lungs.

"Looks like you boys picked the wrong night to steal! My name is Ruby Rose, and I'm a student of Signal!" she declared, her cloak flapping behind her in a self-conjured breeze. "Anyone else think they can commit evil while I'm around?"

Suddenly her body convulsed, as something hard slammed into her back, and a million volts ran through her system. Half a moment later, Ruby collapsed against the ground, as Roman gave her a grin, tugging back on his baton and resting it against his padded shoulder.

"Sorry kid, nothing personal, just business," Roman said, holstering his electro-baton and scurrying over to his getaway truck. Gunning the motor, he peeled out of the parking lot and towards the streets of Vale, determined to complete his getaway. Several of his cronies climbed onto the back or through the window of the passenger side, but the rest they had to leave behind. Roman wasted no time sparring another thought to their fate as he put the petal to the metal and sped off.

Or, he would have.

But another player had entered the game. Stepping out of the shadows of the alleyway across the street, the light of a street lamp illuminated this new player, a tall, slender woman with a curvaceous figure wonderfully showcased by her dark blue gown, which flowed around her figure like the waves of the ocean. Her shoulders were bared to the elements, along with a hint of cleavage, and at her throat was a dark blue collar. Her long cloak was purple-tinged and lined with a fur as white as snow. But it was her face that truly arrested attention, with eyes like jade chips hidden partially behind a pair of wire-rim glasses, and a stern, no nonsense expression on her achingly lovely features.

With a sweep of her arms, a cascade of wader erupted out of a nearby fire hydrant, spraying across the road and instantly freezing solid into ice. Roman lost control of the truck almost immediately, spinning around helplessly until his vehicle crashed into a nearby light post. Before they could make another attempt to start up the truck another swell of water had splashed over the entire vehicle and freezing it solid, with its occupants still inside. They would survive, but they might come down with a wicked cold once they thawed out.

The blonde woman breathed out slowly, lowering her hands as she exhaled with the utmost calm. As if she did this sort of thing every day. But Ruby was flat out amazed, unable to tear her silver gaze away from the sight. Never had she seen such an incredible display of bending before. The power, the grace, it was everything she'd ever hoped and so much more.

"That was amazing..." Ruby gushed.

Vale police arrived shortly thereafter to handle the clean-up. The majority of the Axe Gang Equalists were charged with theft, quickly pleaded guilty to avoid worse, and swiftly incarcerated. Their leader was a different story. Roman himself would be locked up on charge of theft, assault, and myriad others and soon transferred to a facility in the Earth Empire for his trial.

But as for what to do with Ruby Rose...

"... reckless, foolhardy, dangerous..."

Ruby continued to sink lower and lower in her seat, as if hoping to vanish away entirely as the waterbender continued on her tirade about just what she thought of her performance down at the warehouse district.

Her name was Glynda Goodwitch, Ruby had found out, and she was a professor at Beacon Academy, as well as a waterbender of incredible prestige. Which explained why she was spending her spare time busting up two-bit thieves with frightening ease. They were currently in a detainment cell at Vale City Police Department, as Beacon staff had a great deal of pull with the law enforcement.

"... if it were up me you'd be on your way back to Signal first thing in the morning."

Ruby made a pained noise in the back of her throat, like a dog that had been kicked.

"Unfortunately this matter is not wholly up to me," Glynda said, turning with a flick of her long furry cloak. "The police will settle on what to do with you. But I intend to recommend to them that you be returned to your family. Immediately."

The door slammed closed behind her, leaving Ruby alone in the cell. She recoiled at the noise, her head lowering shamefully. She'd thought she was doing the right thing, but in the end, maybe she had been in over her head. But no one had been hurt and the bad guys had been stopped, hadn't they? Wasn't that a good thing? Wasn't that a really good day? Why didn't anyone seem to think she had done the right thing?

"Hello Ruby."

Her head snapped up, blinking in surprise at the newcomer in the room.

She hadn't even heard him come in. She must have been really absorbed in her problems not to notice the door opening and closing, but there he was, sitting across the table from her like he'd been there from the beginning. His hair was gray, but not from age, his cheeks were still smooth and unlined by wrinkles. A pair of glasses rested loosely on his nose, and his golden gaze was clear as he regarded Ruby curiously.

Ruby recognized him instantly (how could she not?) but said nothing. She wasn't even sure what she should say. She felt an overwhelming urge to just leap out of her seat and bow but for once stifled the impulse because she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of him. As it was, she said nothing as he settled into the seat across from her, easing into it with a tired sigh. She wished she knew what to say, but she couldn't quite find the words.

"I'm told you used a most impressive airbending form," he complimented her. "Particularly the Air Scooter technique. I've only known one other bender who could pull off anything like it... a dusty old crow..."

Ruby nodded quickly, pleased to have something to talk about. "That's my Uncle Qrow! He's the one who taught me how to be a bender. I was terrible before he showed me how to do it right."

The man in the green jacket walked around the table, leaning in quietly to study Ruby. "You... have silver eyes..."

"Mmhmmm, I get them from my mom," she replied.

"Do you... know who I am?" he inquired with some amusement. He sounded like he wasn't sure she did.

How could she not? "You're Avatar Ozpin," she identified. "Headmaster at Beacon Academy."

"Very nice to meet you," he said, dipping his head to her politely. "So, I hear you want to go to my school?"

"More than anything," she replied unhesitantly.

He studied her then, golden eyes boring into silver ones, reflecting them, seemingly mirroring them. Regardless of colors, they shared the same sort of soul within. Then, his lips curled upwards into a small smile.

"... well okay," he agreed. "I'll see if I can't help make that happen."

"R-really? That's awesome!"

A voice broke into their conversation. "... what's awesome?"

Ruby nearly fell out of her chair as Glynda came striding back into the room, holding a clipboard under her arm. But this was great, Ozpin could talk to her, and everything could be fixed up right here and now. Swiftly, Ruby turned back to where the Avatar was seated... but the seat was empty. Ruby blinked in confusion. She was sure he'd been there just a moment ago.

"Where'd he go?" she asked aloud.

"Where did who go?" Glynda asked, paying less attention to Ruby than she was to the report in her hand.

"Avatar Ozpin," Ruby replied immediately.

Clatter.

Ruby watched in some astonishment as Glynda just seemed to freeze, the report clattering to the floor as she looked at Ruby as if seeing her for the first time. "... you... saw... Avatar Ozpin?" Glynda asked, adjusting her glasses as she peered through them.

Unsure of how to respond to that, Ruby meekly nodded her head.

Glynda glanced left and right, then back at Ruby, staring at her as if she'd just spouted a second head. That was speaking backwards. Finally, she managed to find her voice. "What did he say?"

"He... we... spoke of airbending, and his school... and I said I wanted to go and he... he said he'd try to make it happen."

She recoiled as if physically struck, and Ruby sunk down in her seat, afraid and confused. Glynda was acting very strange. She leaned over the desk, her eyes boring into Ruby's as if trying to catch her in the midst of a lie. The little girl did her best to assume an innocent smile, aware of just how fake it felt plastered on her face. But evidently it sufficed, for the blonde woman gave a heavy sigh.

"Well then... the Avatar has made their will known," Glynda said, with a sort of 'why me?' expression, but a resigned tone. "I'll get the paperwork."

In less than a week later, Ruby was onboard the Lion-Turtle, a luxury cruiser with the specific purpose of ferrying students from all across Remnant to the prestigious academy of Beacon. Hailing as they did from all over Remnant and each of the Four Kingdoms, there was a wide variety of people onboard the boat. Teens big and small, tall and short, long-haired, short-haired, dark of skin, light of skin, and every shade in between. Students already in full uniform, representing their respective kingdoms, or else a wide variety of more casual garments, cloaks, robes, tunics, sashes, and the like in every conceivable shade.

It was an incredible journey, everywhere you turned there was something new to see, someone new to meet. Some of the students gave demonstrations, a few of the Fire Nation even performed an Agni Kai to showcase what it was like. By as with all things, it had to come to an end. Someone finally spotted their destination on the horizon.

"There it is!" someone exclaimed.

"Oh wow it's beautiful!"

"Come take a look!" another said.

Students jostled one another lightly as they made for the railing, trying to find the best possible view at the bow of the ship. Ruby leapt up onto the railing, deftly tucking her legs onto a lower rail and her arms on a higher one so she could stand as high as possible. Given her height, she still barely passed the heads of some of her contemporaries, but it didn't matter. There, off in the distance, they could see Beacon. Hewn of white marble from the Earth Empire and gilded with green gemstones, it seemed to shine like an emerald in the noonday sun, an Emerald City just waiting for them to arrive. More than just a place of learning, it was a symbol of everything good and pure in the world. Peace, harmony, order, and righteousness.

"So... awesome..." Ruby breathed, unable to help herself.

Watching Ruby with a bemused smile on her face was a blonde girl in Fire Kingdom clothes. Yang Xiao Long, tall for her age, muscular and curved in all the right places, drew stares wherever she went, and enjoyed every minute of it. Her garments were meant to highlight this, a midriff baring crimson top and leggings, complimented by bracers of solid gold encircling her wrists. An orange scarf was wrapped around her neck, and part of her glorious golden mane was done up in a topknot.

"No need to ask if you're excited," she commented, coming up beside Ruby and leaning casually against the ship's railing.

"Of course I'm excited! How can you not be?"

"It's the school of Ozpin, the Avatar... who wouldn't want to go there?" replied Yang sarcastically.

"The only man in the world who can master all four elements," Ruby breathed out in awe. "It'll be incredible to learn from him."

"From his teachers," Yang corrected. "You know Avatar Ozpin hasn't taken any direct students in years now... then again, who knows, maybe you'll get lucky and some day you can teach her too, eh sis?"

Ruby giggled, finally catching on her big sister was teasing her. Especially when Yang grabbed her younger sister in a headlock and proceeded to lightly noogie her.

Not fully sisters, Yang and Ruby shared a common father, Taiyang Xiao Long, a Fire Nation official who'd travelled a great deal in his youth. Sadly, his first wife had vanished, and his second lover had later been killed. Such tragedy could easily drive a man into depression so dark he might never again emerge. But Taiyang remained blessed by two wonderful daughters, and he could not be more proud to know they were both going to Beacon. He'd hugged them both, said his farewells, and left them with three simple bits of advice.

"Be good," Ruby recited.

"Study hard," Yang continued. "And...!"

"Watch out for boys!" they said in chorus, then burst out giggling. Their father was a wonderful man, but he could be very protective of his little girls, no matter how very little they were not anymore.

And speaking of boys...

One of them just politely pushed his way between the girls and to the railing, and they stepped back to give him room as he noisily lost his lunch over the side. Evidently he didn't travel well. Somewhat ironic, given he looked like he was from one of the Water Tribes.

He was a tall, lanky boy with messy locks of bright blonde and a pair of startling blue eyes. He was dressed in traditional water tribe clothes, a heavy fur pelt of blue trimmed in white, and long leggings that ended in sturdy boots. A breastplate of whale bone covered his chest. Ruby grimaced in sympathy at his plight. She never cared for sailing much either. Why sail when you could fly instead?

"Ugh, sorry about that," he apologized, wiping the back of his mouth. Thankfully it had turned out pretty clean. "Didn't mean to bump you just..."

"No it's fine," Ruby replied. "You okay now?"

"I think so... don't think I have much breakfast left in me," he replied, patting his stomach. "Still queasy though."

"It'll pass," Yang said. "So, you're a new student at Beacon too, huh? Waterbender?"

"Uh, yeah, sure! Totally!" he said, reaching out for the railing to lean non-challantly against... and nearly pitching over the side as he missed it completely.

Ruby barely stifled a giggle behind her hands. Yang wasn't even half as subtle, giving a full guffaw as she watched the blonde boy climb back to his feet.

"Uhehe... uh yeah, I'm Jaune... of the Southern Water Tribe," he said, offering his hand.

"Ruby Rose," the dark-haired girl replied, shaking his hand enthusiastically. "This is Yang."

"Nice ta meetcha," the busty blonde said with a wave.

After the ship had docked, Yang, Ruby, and Jaune were caught up in the mass of students disembarking and making their way up the hillside towards Beacon Academy. Ruby was briefly separated from the other two as her shorter legs prevented her from keeping up. The excitement in the air was palpable, everyone was practically bursting with it. Ruby was caught up in it, almost lost amidst the chaos, swept up on the winds before noticing someone walking past. Someone who stood out even amongst the other students. Ruby blinked as they slipped by.

Her shockingly white hair was braided in a trio of ponytails, one behind her head, the other, shorter two framing the sides of her face. A face that fit the very definition of nobility, dainty chin, high cheekbones, delicate nose. Like the boy from earlier, her eyes were blue, but unlike his, hers were a paler shade that seemed more sky blue than ocean blue. A shallow scar marred the left side of her face, running through her eyelid.

Also like the boy from earlier, she was wearing traditional Water Tribe garments, but hers were of a superior quality and cut, and seemed to receive considerably better care in their upkeep. A navy blue choker encircled her neck. At her right hip was a waterskin, probably what she made use of as a weapon if she was a waterbender.

Ruby was about to go talk to her and ask more about her, when suddenly someone collided with her in the rush of people. "Oh, excuse me..." Ruby instinctively said.

"It's alright," a voice replied. "My fault."

The owner of the voice was another girl, dark haired and golden-eyed, wearing a green dress and ceremonial armor of a Kyoshi Warrior. She even wore the beautiful white face-paint, red highlights over her eyes and lips stained the same crimson color. It perfectly set off the gold of her eyes, making her appear mysterious and dangerous at the same time. A green bow rested atop of her head. She dipped her head politely to Ruby before moving on.

Was it Ruby's imagination, or did that bow atop of her head just... twitch?

She vanished into the mass of people, however, and Ruby could spare her no more mind as she and Yang struggled to keep up with everyone. Following the rush of people, the two sisters proceeded along the paved pathways towards the Great Hall of Beacon, where the Acceptance Ceremony was taking place.

The Great Hall was a wonder in design, the ceiling dozens of feet up, almost vanishing in shadows despite the many large, glass windows lining the walls. It fit the hundred or so students easily, and looked big enough for nearly thrice that number. There were no benches, students were standing, jostling to get the best possible view of the stage at the far end of the room. The room was full of the buzz of low murmurs and soft talking, everyone was curious as to what their Acceptance Ceremony would entail. Some were even talking about the rumored Initiation Test taking place tomorrow. Ruby looked but saw no sign of Jaune.

The lights began to dim as a screen was lowered down behind the stadium. After a flicker or two, the picture began to roll normally and sound began to accompany the image of a pale-haired man in an impeccable suit walking up to the screen and turning to face them. It was Ozpin, Ruby recognized him instantly, but for many it was the first time seeing the Headmaster of Beacon.

"Welcome students," the Avatar greeted them. "I'll keep this brief. You have journeyed here in search of knowledge. To hone your skills and learn new ones. To master the four elements and make a positive difference in the world. But you will find that your newfound knowledge will only carry you so far. It is up to you to make a conscious decision... to take the first step."

Blinking eyes accompanied the lights as the movie clip rolled to an end and everyone found themselves puzzled by Ozpin's somewhat strange greeting speech. Ruby most of all. It seemed rather unlike the Ozpin she'd met back in Vale. He sounded a little off.

Glynda took the stage then, calling for attention by drawing up a length of water and freezing it into a very precise crystalline structure of ice. Wrapping on it with her knuckles produced a chime that brought everyone's attention right back to the blonde professor.

"New students will be assigned your dormitories tomorrow, following your initiation. Until then you will be spending the night here. Get some rest, for tomorrow you will need all of your strength."

At her cue, some older students and faculty rolled out some sleeping bags, and the students one by one began to hunker down as the lights flickered off in the great hall. The various children of destiny, benders from all four kingdoms, began to drift off to sleep, dreaming of the future.

Ruby was one of the last to linger awake as she gazed up at the ceiling, her mind racing as she lays her head back against her arms. Tomorrow everything was going to change. She and Yang and everyone here was going to become part of something so much bigger than themselves. An institute that would let them harness their bending abilities and do some real, solid good in the world. The possibility of failure did not even cross her mind, and yet she stayed awake for many long hours wondering at the many possibilities of the future.

Finally, after a time when the shattered moon began to rise in the night sky, her silver eyes began to drift closed, and eventually Ruby Rose also drifted off to the realm of dreams.

Authors Notes:
Please review.

This story dedicated in the memory of Monty Oum, who gave us RWBY and the inspiration to keep moving forward. It's no coincidence I decided to make him the Spirit of Light in my story. This way, he is always with us.

There's accompanying artwork on the deviantart website, by TheRogueSpider, Orisodehime, and others.