Hey everyone! I thought I would try my hand at an RWBY fic. Ruby is sixteen in this, and so legal in my mind. She will be paired with Ozpin, Glynda and James in this so if it offends you in any way please don't read. Instead of Pyrrha Ruby is chosen for the fall maiden. I hope you like it, and please be kind it's my first time writing in this fandom. Constructive criticism is welcome however. I hope you all have a great day! :)
-Pumpkinraindrop

Ruby stepped out of Ozpin's lift, looking around at the four people stood in front of her.
"You can not be serious oz!" Qrow blew up, startling Ruby as he moved to stand infront of her. Wearily she looked under his arm.
"Qrow, you know I will only choose the best candidate for the job…." Ozpin moved over towards the two, Glynda and James flanking the headmaster defensively.
"Uncle Qrow? What's going on?" Ruby's voice was soft as she looked up at her professors who instantly stared at the small dark haired girl. Qrow looked over his shoulder, and seeing her unusually serious face sighed, bringing a hand up to his face.
"Come take a seat Miss Rose and we will explain everything." Ozpin gestured to a few chairs set out in front of his desk, Ruby stepped around her uncle following the headmaster. She sat down on the middle chair, Glynda and James taking seats either side of her as Qrow moved to stand behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"I want you to understand first of all Miss Rose that everything I have to say can not leave this room…. You also are free to leave at any point. Do you understand?" Ozpin asked maintaining eye contact with the young girl who held it calmly.
"I understand." The headmaster nodded, sitting himself behind his desk, bringing his hands together. Ruby felt her curiosity climb as silence lapsed between the five.
"What is your favourite fairy-tale Miss Rose?" Asked the headmaster making the two either side of Ruby sigh as they settled in for the long conversation.
"Umm… I…. There's so many. I don't think I could choose… Why? Are we holding some kind of play?" Ruby tilted her head to the side, confused, causing the other inhabitants to smile at her innocent mind.
"No, I'm afraid not…. Do you remember the tale of the four maidens?" He watched as the young girl's eyes brightened.
"Well sure. But what does that have to do with anything?" Glynda smiled softly at the utter confusion the girl was clearly displaying. She couldn't blame her.

"What if I told you that the story is true? What if I told you that there are indeed four young women in the world who can wield such strong, powerful magic without dust?" Ruby blinked for a minute, thinking this over.
"Okay." Was Ruby's simple reply causing the two leaders and deputy head to look at her surprised.
"You have never steered me wrong headmaster. If you say that the story is true then I believe you…. Have I met any?" Ruby got excited towards the end and they all chuckled.
"Thank you for your trust Miss Rose…. As for your question, not yet." Ozpin smiled at his youngest student fondly, feeling through his bonds with Glynda and James the same amusement and care they all held for the tiny girl.
"Your welcome. So why are you telling me this? Wouldn't you want to keep it top secret?" Ruby's bubbly personality helped the conversation flow better, but none of them could relax.
"We are telling you Miss Rose because we believe that you are going to inherit the Fall Maiden's powers." They all stared at the pale girl, watching as she tried to wrap her mind around that. What would happen if she did inherit them? Would she be a different person? Would she still be able to continue her life? So many questions ran around Ruby's mind and she took a deep breath to help calm her mind. Ozpin and Glynda watched this proud of how far she had come.
"So what now?" Ruby asked, her voice sounding too loud to her own ears.

They led Ruby back into the lift wedged in between Ozpin and Glynda. The young girl looked around nervously. She met James eyes and he held her gaze for a moment before turning away. She couldn't help but wonder at the guilt and concern that she saw there.
"Where exactly are we going?" Ozpin looked down at her and she realised just how tall he actually was.
"There is a vault under the school, which is where we are heading." His eyes were full of sadness and Ruby couldn't help but reach out and touch his hand softly. Qrow watched this with narrowed eyes, not liking how close the others were to his youngest niece. Glynda gazed at her worriedly as the girl looked down. The blonde woman sighed internally, wanting nothing more than to reach out and comfort her. Ozpin quickly squeezed her tiny hand before letting go as the lift stopped and they stepped out.
Glynda paused for a moment, watching as Ruby peered around anxiously. She was struck by the difference, wondering where the bright young girl she had met only a couple of months ago had gone to. Ruby came to stand beside her slowly, looking up at the usually stern woman.
"I'm sure you have some questions for us Miss Rose." The huntress stated trying to keep her tone soft so as not to worry the black haired girl more.
"Maybe a few." Ruby gave a weak grin, trying to lighten the mood between them at least a little. The elder woman appreciated that allot, glad to see she had still managed to maintain her sense of humour.

"One of the maidens were attacked Ruby which is what is being held down here for now." Qrow told his niece, looking at her from over his shoulder as they walked down the surprisingly long vault. Ruby shuddered as she noticed that the temperature was allot cooler down here than up in the school itself. Glynda frowned at this, watching the girl from the corner of her eyes, wishing she could make the red head feel at least a bit better about all of this. Ozpin and James sent thoughts agreeing with their mate causing her to smile slightly, glad to not be the only one protective of Ruby.
"A part of the maiden's power was stolen, and as far as we know it's the first time something of this nature has happened." Qrow continued to explain oblivious to his companions thoughts, caught up in his own guilt. They came to the end and Ruby saw for the first time the fall maiden. She gasped softly, stepping forwards and pressing her small hand to the incubator.
"This is the current fall maiden who we are keeping alive by state of the art technology… "James watched fascinated as the small girl's compassion was obvious.
"I thought you said that I would be inheriting her power? How will I do that if she is still alive?" Ozpin winced, moving to stand beside his student.

"You cannot inherit this power… As naturally as the other maidens in the past have." Ozpin chose his words carefully, as she looked up at him with her wide silver eyes.
"You see, normally the powers will go to whoever is in the maiden's thoughts…. As you can imagine, that would not bode well for us if it went to her attacker." Ruby nodded at the Generals words, still trying to take everything in.
"We are also worried about her other half of the power, not wanting it to seek itself out." Glynda moved forwards, desperate to be closer to her mates and her student.
"I guess that would be bad for us all…." Ruby's voice was so soft that they all inched closer to her.
"Yeah…. Unimaginable power is something you don't particularly want your enemies to have Ruby." Qrow took another gulp from his flask as Ruby stared up at him. She turned back around to take a closer look at the maiden as Qrow glared at his older friends who glared openly back. Qrow knew he was going to have to have a word with the group.
"So how do I inherit her powers then?" Ruby asked turning around and frowning at the adults who all turned towards her nervously.
"If you accept you will be placed into the other incubator and we will transfer her energy into you." The General told her, rubbing his forehead as he felt a headache growing. There were so many things wrong with this plan but he knew as did they all that they didn't really have much of a choice.
"The only problem squirt is what will that do to you?" Qrow thought back over all the happy memories of him teaching Ruby as a child to wield her scythe. He tried to swallow the lump in his throat as he stared as she looked over her shoulder at Amber.

"But it'll help everyone else?" Ruby spoke almost to herself however Ozpin felt that she deserved an answer anyway.
"Yes Miss Rose, it will likely save many lives... However we are not sure how much of you will be left." He hated doing this but she was the best candidate that they had. Ruby kept going back to her reason for coming to Beacon. She wanted to help people and this would let her do that. She may be giving up allot but she knew she could do it.
"Okay. I'll do it." They all openly stated at her, they hadn't expected an answer right away.
"Why don't you think about it for a while Miss Rose? After all it's a big ask, and you may lose everything." Glynda really hoped the girl would change her mind. She didn't want Ruby to hurt or to just disappear. Ozpin and James winced at this thought agreeing whole heartedly with the blonde deputy head.
"If it'll make you feel better professor then sure I don't mind thinking it over, but honestly, I'm not sure what there is to think about." In Ruby's mind it was clear. She needed to do this. She had always wanted to help others and if this was what needed to be done then Ruby was determined that she would somehow pull through this.