Chapter 1: Ruby Rose

Ruby landed silently onto the roof of a building on the outskirts of the town they had stopped at, Qrow behind her.

"Aright, kiddo. Just follow your instinct, and it'll be over before you know it." Qrow said, causing Ruby to nod.

"I know, Qrow." Ruby called, before a pinch of rose petals was all that remained of the silver eyed girl.

Tearing through the nearby surrounding forest, Ruby sensed Qrow flying beside her as she caught the trail's scent. Trees became green and brown smudges in her peripheral vision as Ruby blazed onward, following the scent.

The only sound was the wind roaring in her ears, almost drowning out Ruby's own racing heart. Her nostrils were flared as she caught other scents, but they seemed dull in comparison to the trail she was following.

She was single-minded, her thoughts, her focus, her desires, and her senses were all following the trail.

Her peripheral vision blurred with speed, but the rest of the world was slowed down to a fraction of its normal speed. This is what Ruby loved about hunting, her only goal was to follow the trail, and her senses were sharper than normal, for ease of hunting.

The sun beat down hot across her back. Ruby finally skidded to a halt, a clearing in the forest.

A man lay dying on the ground, Ruby could smell his lifeblood draining away. Too late for him, she knew.

But then, Ruby froze. The scent changed. It had changed. The scent had changed…

Someone else had killed this man.

Turning slowly around, Ruby's hand went instantly to Crescent Rose - and drew the scythe.

A woman stood behind Ruby, a glimpse of red hair and stormy grey eyes was all Ruby saw, before a fist knocked Ruby backwards.

"Hello, young Reaper…" The woman purred. Ruby looked up, and saw the blood of the dying man on her hands.

Her. Was all Ruby could think.

"Now now, don't be feisty. I love savoring death of your kind. But you're special, little Reaper." The woman said, and Ruby froze. She couldn't move an inch.

Ruby longed to speak, to move. But something immobilized her.

"Don't struggle, little Reaper." The woman said. Ruby screamed, but her throat wouldn't make a sound.

"Now… what to do with you…?" She purred.

"W...h...o…?" Ruby struggled to speak, the one word was all she could say before she exhausted herself trying.

"Who am I, young Reaper?" The woman purred, "I'm hurt you don't recognize me. I have many names. But to Remnant, I am known as Rosetta Stormee." Rosetta growled.

In an instant, Rosetta kicked Ruby onto her side, and Ruby felt a searing pain on the back of her neck.

Ruby wanted to scream. But she was mute.

Rosetta finally walked back into Ruby's vision and smiled, showing perfect teeth.

"We'll meet again. Ruby Rose." She hissed.

And vanished into thin air.

The spell was broken. Ruby stood up, the scent was gone. The new scent had vanished, but the ache in Ruby's neck told her it had been all too real.

"Hey, Ruby!" Qrow called. Ruby didn't realize it had started to rain, whisking the scent trail away. It would linger for a few more hours after the rain passed, but it would be too faint for even the best Reaper to catch on and pursue.

"I lost him." Ruby said blankly. She had originally been tracking an assassin named Marcus Black.

"It happens to the best of us. The rain started up and you lost the trail." Qrow said, resting a hand on her shoulder.

"Yeah…" Ruby said softly.

Four months later...

Ruby walked into From Dust Til' Dawn. The shopkeeper smiled and Ruby nodded a greeting.

Walking to the magazines, Ruby picked one up and started reading while putting her headphones on and listening to her playlist.

Ruby felt a tremor go through her body after a few minutes. She froze, her instincts were kicking in. But why?

"We're not here for your money. Grab the Dust." A voice said.

That explained it. A robbery. And right under her nose.

Almost as if on cue, a man with a red machete tapped her shoulder. "Hands in the air!" He shouted.

Ruby could feel his heart racing, but his scent wasn't what she seeked. At the counter, Ruby caught a whiff of the supposed leader of the group.

A man with a cigar. Orange hair. Hat. Cane. It wasn't hard to identify him. Roman Torchwick, criminal.

She locked onto him.

"I said hands in the air! You've got a death wish?!" The hired help shouted.

But Ruby was already blasting towards Torchwick, and knocked him over.

Torchwick was helpless, it would be so, so easy to twitch her wrists and snap his frail neck. But there was onlookers. A shame.

Ruby stood up, and a scent drifted towards her. Undeniable. Unforgettable. A trail she remembered instantly.

Rosetta.

Leaping off of Torchwick, she spun around. Torchwick got up, but Ruby didn't care. She only had sights for Stormee.

The cruel fragrance twisted around Ruby, everywhere and nowhere at once. Blood and steel. Ruby's head whipped around, the scent wasn't a trail, it was just there. Wreathing around Ruby and not leading her anywhere.

It was too late, a cane was pressed on her chest as a foot kicked her down. Torchwick laughed. "Look at you, I'm feeling merciful. She's just a girl. Let her be." He gloated as if Ruby hadn't had him pinned down half a minute prior.

Ruby's vision narrowed, her breath sped up, and then in an instant - Torchwick was sailing out the window.

"You little…" Roman hissed, but Ruby spun around to a voice in her ear.

"We meet again, young Reaper." The horrific voice purred.

"Sayonara, Red!" Torchwick yelled, blasting Ruby with his cane. She took the blow, tumbling backwards.

The blast cleared her head. She couldn't let Roman get away. Blasting with her semblance, Ruby caught up.

"Hey!" Ruby called. Roman sighed.

"Persistent…" he hissed, and a bullhead flew up as Roman leapt into it.

"End of the line, Red!" Roman yelled, Ruby drew Crescent Rose and leapt up to dodge the Dust crystal Torchwick threw, and landed in the bullhead.

"Not yet!" Ruby declared, neatly landing a roundhouse to Torchwick's crotch.

Roman crumpled to the ground, and Ruby moved onto the cockpit.

But before she got a glimpse of the pilot, the aircraft violently jerked, and Ruby stumbled back. The scent of Rosetta's trail wafted through Ruby's nose again, but Ruby was already falling towards the street below.

A flash of purple caught Ruby's gaze as she seemed to float to the ground below safely.

"Are you alright?" A woman said, distinctly Ruby realized was Glynda Goodwitch.

"I'm fine." Ruby said.

"Good. Because you have a lot of explaining to do." Glynda Goodwitch said.

"I hope you know that you could have killed yourself, young lady!" The furious huntress declared.

"Yes. I know that." Ruby replied blankly.

Almost on cue, Ruby's scroll rang.

"Branwen!" Goodwitch snarled when she spotted who was calling Ruby.

But Ruby already picked up.

"Ruby. Why the hell are you in a police station with Glynda and Oz?" Qrow demanded.

Ruby sighed. "Look. I… got in a fight with a criminal. It was nearby, and somehow Miss Goodwitch found me after. She dragged me here and is starting to lecture me. Help." She said, the last part a deadpan.

"Yang's on her way. I'll see you back home." Was all Qrow said.

Hanging up, Ruby faced a fuming huntress. "Look. I get it "You're reckless, Ruby. You shouldn't be stopping robberies and falling out of bullheads, Ruby. You're too young and innocent, Ruby." Yeah. Now, if you excuse me - I have places to be." Ruby stated, standing up and pushing her chair in.

But a voice stopped her. The scent of coffee and cookies caught Ruby's attention, "Miss Rose. I know you have things to do and places to be, but if you could allow me to have a moment of your time." Professor Ozpin requested, stepping into the light.

"For what?" Ruby asked.

"An interview." Ozpin said simply.

"I'm not interested." Ruby retorted.

"Humor me." Ozpin said with a ghost of a smile.

"Fine. What do you want?" Ruby replied sharply.

Ozpin smiled thinly. "What is a Reaper doing in downtown Vale? An apprentice, nonetheless. Where was Qrow?" He asked.

Ruby fidgeted under his gaze. "Sir. I wasn't meaning to find the robbery tonight. I just acted as protocol demanded." She said.

"And you restrained yourself from acting on your instinct to kill Roman Torchwick. I haven't seen that much restraint before, only once. Your mentor is a remarkable Reaper." Ozpin said.

"Why are you so interested in Reaper protocol and me?" Ruby demanded.

"Because I see something special in you. True potential as a huntress. A diamond in the rough, if I may say." Ozpin replied.

"I am sorry, sir. But I cannot attend Beacon. I have chosen my path as a Reaper." Ruby said, seeing right through Ozpin's ploy.

"Reapers are just like huntresses and huntsmen. Defending those in need. I can offer you additional training in the few Reaper arts I know of." Ozpin replied.

"Professor Ozpin. I am not blind to your motives. The Reapers hold no allegiances to any kingdom or group. Although Qrow is an ally to you, I refuse to give away my free will." Ruby said.

"Yes. I truly know I cannot control a Reaper. I can only hope to help you and feed your fire, rather than snuff it out." Ozpin said.

"Professor Ozpin. It is pointless to keep hoping I will ally to you. But seeing as my sister, Yang, is attending, I suppose I could attend. On one condition." Ruby stated.

Ozpin nodded, "Name your condition, Miss Rose." He replied.

"I will not be your pawn in the coming war, you will not influence me or attempt to. I will attend Beacon of my free choice, and I may leave at any time to hunt, or whenever else deemed necessary by me or Qrow." Ruby said.

Ozpin nodded again, "That can be arranged, although my one request is that you cannot kill or hunt any of my students. Their choices are their own. Do we have a deal than?"

Ruby could smell Yang's presence outside. Burned rubber and motor oil. "Yes."

Ozpin smiled again. "Then welcome to Beacon, Miss Rose. I believe you and Miss Xiao Long will arrive on your separate ways. I will alert Qrow of your choice." He said.

Ruby nodded, and left the room. Yang was outside.

"Hey. You hunted someone again?" Yang asked. Ruby shrugged.

"Almost killed a criminal. Got away. Oh. And I'm going to Beacon." Ruby said.

Yang grinned. "This'll be great!"

The blonde's grin was infectious as Ruby mounted Bumblebee behind Yang and they tore through the streets of Vale.

A/N

Hello again! I am so incredibly sorry for the insanely long wait! Things came up, Word stopped working for me for a while, and a MASSIVE writing collaboration project started up with a friend of mine that we have worked on the whole time! I hope that I never end up taking a… *looks at calendar* almost FIVE MONTH break! Rest assured that if I haven't posted in a long time, it's because I'm busy, but always taking some time on Google Docs on my phone to write up a new chapter!