Chapter 1

Ozpin watched the distraught man in front of him lashing out in anger. Which was completely understandable considering the topic at hand.

"Damn it Ozpin! How could I let this happen!"

"It's not your fault Taiyang, there's nothing you could've done."

"Yes there was I should have noticed something was wrong, and because I didn't they… they're gone."

"Don't lose hope Taiyang, It's true that Mrs. Summer Rose may be, I hate to say it gone. You should not lose hope about your daughter. She is lost not gone, and we will find her."

"She's only four Ozpin, only a baby she can't survive out there on her own."

Three years later…

Ozpin walked with Glynda at his side towards the source of the disturbance. Normally he would leave this sort of thing to the police but, the reports received about a young girl had piqued his curiosity. So there they were walking to an abandoned warehouse that had reports of petty criminals hanging about. Though what they found was far from a petty criminal but, perhaps a very small one though. What he saw before him was a young girl of around seven and… a dead body of someone Ozpin recognized as a small time drug dealer. The young girl in ragged clothes, ripped up hair, and one bloody knife looked at him with cold calculating silver eyes. Ozpin looked in disbelief at the child in front of him. The spitting image of the late hunter Summer Rose, if not a little worse for wear. When Ozpin took a step towards her she took a step back and readied her knife. Ozpin took a quick look back at Glynda.

"There's no need to be afraid child we are not here to hurt you." Ozpin told her. She did not let her guard down though she took a step closer. Curious but careful, clear signs of someone who has grown up on the streets.

"Come with us young Ms. Rose we can help you." In clear shock of hearing her name from someone she did not know she dropped her guard long enough for Ozpin to take a quick decisive step and deliver a gentle blow to the back of the neck to render the young girl unconscious.

"Was that really necessary Ozpin?" Glynda asked.

"I believe so. She was to mistrusting and would not have come with us. She would've ran and we may never have another chance like this one."

Glynda sighed "If you say so, though I do not condone knocking out young children with martial arts."

Ozpin chuckled "Neither do I Glynda but, sometimes you need to make exceptions."

Ruby slowly opened her eyes a gentle throbbing in the back of her head. Her grogginess immediately disappearing with the gentle rattle of chains restraining her legs. Replaced with fear. She couldn't be back there! She couldn't! Panic soon began to take over when the quiet click of a door drew her attention. A man with silver white hair and a blond woman entered the room. Ruby instinctively shrank back from their approach.

"N-No! S-Stay away! I-I don't want to go back!" The two stopped in their tracks and looked almost pained.

"Ms. Rose please calm down we're not here to hurt you." Ruby just stared at them shaking almost in tears.

"My name is Professor Ozpin and this is Glynda Goodwitch, we just want to help you."

"Th-Then! Why am I chained!?"

"We had to make sure you would not try to run away before we had time to talk."

"What do you want then?" Ruby asked some of her composure coming back. Ozpin walked over to the small table that was in the room and took a seat.

"We simply wish to reunite you with your family."

"I don't have a family." She said coldly

"Oh but, you do your father Taiyang Xiao Long and your sister Yang Xiao Long. They would be very eager to meet you."

"They're not my family." Ruby said quietly.

"Excuse me?"

"They're not my family, if they were I wouldn't have had to grow up on the streets." Ruby said coldly.

"They have been searching for you for three years Ms. Rose, and they are your flesh and blood you cannot say that they are not so."

"Then I will not acknowledge them as my family. I have suffered on my own all this time and they have been nowhere to be seen. So why should I call them family?" Ozpin was shocked at this statement from this young girl. Normally a young child who had grown up on the streets would be ecstatic at the aspect of meeting their family. This young girl though showed no interest. No a shred of want to meet her family, just cold hatred. What had happened to this young girl to make her so cold?

"Just let me go back to the streets. I need to find some food and shelter for tonight." Ruby said calmly thinking about the night ahead.

"I can't do that Ms. Rose." Ruby's eyes narrowed.

"I thought you said you wouldn't hurt me."

"I did and I plan to keep my word but, I can't let a young girl like you live alone on the streets." Ozpin walked over and undid the chains binding Ruby's legs. "I'll give you a place to stay for as long as you need."

Ruby followed Professor Ozpin down the empty halls of Beacon.

"Beacon is a school for training hunters and huntresses which I am the headmaster of. Though many of the students are gone on break. You will be staying here for the time being and you will have free reign of the campus though I ask you to be mindful of the students when they return." Ozpin explained to Ruby. Ozpin looked back at the young girl to see her eyes shining a little brighter than when they first met. Even if it was just a little it was good that the young girl could still find childish joy in exploring new places.

Ruby looked around the big airy hallways of the school barely listening to the Professor. It hurt her pride to be taking charity from some old man she barely knew but, she knew where pride got you on the streets, it was dead. Even with her hurt pride she didn't want to risk losing her nice place to stay. So she followed the Professor in her usual quiet solitude. Until they made their way some distance to the on campus houses for the other Professors. Professor Ozpin gave a quick knock on the door, for it to quickly open and reveal the frame of Professor Goodwitch.

"Ruby from now on Professor Goodwitch will be the main person looking after you, and I expect you to be courteous and polite." Ruby gave a small nod, not looking up from the ground. "Thank you again for doing this Glynda." With that Professor Ozpin left Ruby and left to go attend to his busy schedule.

Ozpin sat in his office and let out a large sigh knowing this wasn't going to end well. Nevertheless he had to they deserved to know. So with great reluctance he dialed the number of his old friend.

"Hello?" came a voice.

"Hello Taiyang, how have you been?"

"Oh! Ozpin it's been a long time. I've been good but, what's up with the sudden call?"

"Well I have a um… delicate matter to talk to you about."

"Delicate matter? Well I'm all ears." Taiyang chuckled "Sorry Yang's making a monstrosity out of her breakfast."

"Well… I have recently found young Ruby Rose." A pause with no response.

"Ozpin… Th-that's amazing! Is she there? Can I talk to her? Wait no scratch that Yang and I are going to jump on the fastest airship and be there as soon as possible!"

"Taiyang there's just one problem" there was a hesitant response.

"Wh-what is it? She's not hurt is she?" Worry palpable in his voice.

"No she's doing quite well… it's just that… she said she doesn't want to see you." Silence.

"Wh-what! she doesn't want to see me!? What do you mean!?" Taiyang practically shouted.

"She has said that she doesn't think of you of family, because… because she has been alone all this time."

"I-I" Taiyang started shakily "understand I don't deserve to talk to her, to see her. Not when I was never able to find her, not when I let her mother die and her be taken."

"Taiyang you mustn't blame yourself for this it was never and never will be your fault. I believe young Ms. Rose has distanced herself from her emotions to cope with what has happened to her. These things take time Taiyang and time will heal this emotional distance she has created. I just ask that you be patient."

"No you… you're right Ozpin… I just… just promise me you'll look after her."
"I promise old friend… I promise."