Chapter Text
Okay, so asking Cinder to kill her was a bit… stupid. There were so many more natural ways to die than having someone murder her and offer no resistance. But the idea of the Maiden Magic following her back was so fascinating, and Ruby was so tired. She had to see if it would.
And it did.
Not for lack of trying to kill her. Ruby coughs up a wad of blood and frowns. Probably shouldn't do that again anytime soon.
Ruby clenches her fist, smothering the flame still dancing above her palm.
She looks around. “Hmm. About three days until the robbery, I think.” Maybe she should just let everything happen as normal. See how far she can go without the Maiden powers being exposed.
The robbery went… okay. Ruby would even say it went better than normal.
Glynda glares at her from the door of the interrogation cell, blood splattered up the front of her shirt.
Well, mostly.
"Three injured," Glynda starts, heels clicking against the tiles as she approaches, "four dead. What do you have to say for yourself, young lady?" Ruby thinks for about a second before blurting out,
"Well, you are freaking gorgeous while you fight!" There! A red tint to the older woman's cheeks. "And really, the four dead were thugs who, and I quote, 'wanted to show me a good time' . Self-defence."
"Be that as it may," Glynda sighs, "there is someone who wants to meet you." At that, Ozpin walks in, cookie tray in hand.
"Miss Rose, is it?" He asks, sliding the cookies over. Ruby nods, and scarfs down half the tray almost immediately. "Where did you learn to fight like this?" He shows her a recording of her slaughtering the thugs and sending Torchwick running, missing an arm. Well, he shouldn't be messing about for a while now. She grins,
"Oh, Uncle Qrow taught me."
"Ah, a dusty old crow…" Ozpin mutters. "Well, do you know what else I noticed, watching this fight?" Don't say her eyes, don't say her eyes, don't- "This, right here." He pauses the video on a specific frame.
"Fuck me." Ruby groans. Frozen on screens is a still of her, silver flames escaping her eyes, as she grins down at a thug. She had felt the magic escaping her due to her excitement, but she had tempered it quickly. Clearly, not quick enough. "Wasn't expecting that to get out so quickly."
Ozpin hums, "Now see, the problem is, Miss Rose, that these abilities you've shown here? You cannot possibly have them." His eyes flash green.
"Mmmm…" Ruby fidgets in her seat, as Ozpin's green magic washes over her. Her own magics call out to his, with an impression of fatherly affection. Ugh. "Well, about that, see…" He raises a brow. "...I've got nothing."
"I've felt this power before, Miss Rose. However, the owner of such is kept safe and alive, hidden for her safety. I know she's still alive, so that leaves me wondering, just where did you acquire them?" Might as well just blurt the truth out then. What's the worst that can happen?
"I'm repeating the past." Ozpin blinks.
"Indeed? How far into the future are you from?"
"Uh… 15 or so years? I dunno, I've lost track somewhere along the line. Probably closer to 20 now." Ruby tilts her head, "Wait, you believe me?"
"Miss Rose, people gain time-related semblances all the time. It leaves little to the mind that one such person could affect an other, sending them into their own past."
"Oh. Cool, cool."
“Hmm.” He looks at the still image once again. “Although, I can't say for certain how the Fall Magic would follow you along.” Ruby shrugs,
“Well, only my soul went back. I have my aura,” At that she lets the tight seal she kept over her entire aura go, flooding the room with the pressure of nearly six lifetimes worth of aura. Both professors' eyes widen at the feeling. The only one who could compare to her aura was Ozpin himself, because of his reincarnation cycle. But his aura almost always has a cap to it, due in part to the limitations of his hosts' souls. Ruby had no such limitations. Heh, being a direct descendant of the God of Light finally did her some good. “because aura is tied to the soul. If the magics tie themselves to the soul as well, then that's why.”
Ozpin clears his throat, “Miss Rose, I would like you to attend Beacon for the upcoming semester.”
“Uh...” Ruby glances between the professors, “Sure. Why not.”
“Who should I partner with this time...?” Ruby hums to herself, as she skips through the Emerald Forest. “Hah, maybe I should try to get Pyrrha again.” She pauses. “No, no, what about Jaune?” She grins, “That'd be hilarious. It'd be me, Jaune, Pyrrha, and Weiss, I bet.” She twists on her heels, sending out aura feelers. Red touches upon blue and dark red, before finally touching locked yellow. “Oh, right, he doesn't have his aura unlocked yet.” She frowns. “That would be a problem. I can't unlock his. If I tried, I'm sure I'd just blow him up.”
“Are you finished talking to yourself, or no?” Weiss' sudden voice cuts into her rambling. Ruby sighs and turns around, silver locking with blue.
“Oh, great, the princess is my partner.” She mumbles, eyes rolling skyward. “So, Weiss, was it?”
“Weiss Schnee, heiress of-”
“Yeah, no one cares. I'm Ruby Rose.” Ruby breezes past her outrage, “So, who do you want as teammates? Broody and blondie? Sugar high and quiet buddy? Vomit boy and the amazon? Or a couple of racist assholes?”
“I... what?”
“Teammates. Who do you want on your team.” Weiss takes a moment before answering,
“Pyrrha. I wanted her as a partner, but-”
“You got me. Yeah, yeah, whatever. Okay, so Jaune and Pyrrha.”
“Lie Ren, Blake Belladonna, Nora Valkyrie, and Yang Xaio-Long.” Ruby studiously ignores Weiss' questioning glare. So she rigged the teams, boo-hoo. She can do what she wants. Ozpin continues, “From today forth, you will be known as Team BYRN <burn>. Led by Blake Belladonna!” Ruby claps politely, as the four teens walk off the stage. “And finally, Jaune Arc, Weiss Schnee, Ruby Rose, and Pyrrha Nikos.” Ruby skips onto the stage and waves at Glynda,
“Hey Big-G!” Glynda sighs and waves back. Aw, she's already used to Ruby's antics. It hasn't even been a full day. Ozpin chuckles,
“From today forth, you will be known as Team JSPR <jasper>. Led by Jaune Arc!” Ruby blinks. That's new. She's never not been the team leader before. She looks over at Jaune, who is shaking in his sneakers.
“Well.” She mumbles, “This is odd.”
“It's because of the magic, isn't it.” Ruby says, the second she steps into Ozpin's office. Glynda and Ozpin glance up at her, before returning to whatever they were talking about. “I could totally be team leader and the second Fall Maiden.” Ozpin writes something down before looking up at her.
“Miss Rose, you're early.” Ruby shrugs. “I figured you will have enough on your plate, without the burden of being team leader.”
“Like what?”
“Oh, planning for the future, mostly. I 'm also sure you're going to try and take out our closest mutual enemy before the tournament. And training your magic will take a good chunk of time.”
“Wow Oz, you got me in one. I was definitely going to absolutely annihilate Cinder the second I see her.”
“I would prefer for you to wait before,” He smothers a chuckle, “annihilating her.”
“Why? I know where she'll be in like four months.”
“Yes, I do too. Right here in Beacon.”
“Oh, right, forgot I told you that.” Ruby frowns, “So why wait?”
“If you remove Miss Fall as soon as you can, you unleash the possibility of Salem sending someone stronger.”
“Ah, like Tyrian or Hazel.” Ruby nods, “Yeah, that'd be bad.”
“Hazel?” Ozpin's brows draw down, “Where have I heard that name before?”
“Hazel Rainart. He thinks you killed his sister or something.”
“Oh.” Ozpin sighs, “Him.”
“Yep.”
“And this Tyrian fellow?”
“Tyrian Callows, scorpion faunus. One fucked up man.” Ruby explains, “I think he's wanted for mass-murder or something? He's fucking insane, Oz.” She shudders, “Really. I've fought him up close and personal, and like, he's horrifying.”
Ozpin frowns, “So you see why I would prefer you wait?”
“Yeah. I get it.” Ruby rolls her shoulders. “So, why'd you call me up here again?” Ozpin grabs something off his desk and holds it out. Ruby reaches forward and grabs it. “A scroll? I have one already, Oz.”
“I'm sure you do. But this scroll is special. It was made by James' elite scientists. It's impenetrable.” Ruby hums.
“Was one of those scientists named Arthur Watts?” Ozpin shakes his head.
“Miss Rose, Arthur Watts has been dead for nearly six years.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” Ruby grins, turning the new scroll on. “More like he faked his death and is now hanging around Salem's creepy-ass castle.” Ozpin raises a brow,
“Indeed? I'll have to tell James about that then.”
“Go ahead.” Ruby messes around with the scroll, entering her own encryption codes into the system's database. After a moment she smiles, “There. Now it's impenetrable.” She turns the scroll off and shoves it into one of her skirt's pockets. “Anything else, Oz?”
“Just that Qrow will be arriving sooner than we thought.”
“Oh?”
“He should be here by next Friday.”
Friday happens far too soon for comfort. Ruby really would prefer waiting a few more days for this conversation. Glynda excuses her from an excursion to Forever Fall, and she waves goodbye to her team and heads for the tower.
The elevator ride is both too long and too short. The doors open to Ozpin's office with a ding. Standing in front of Ozpin's desk is her uncle, drinking from a flask.
“Hey, Uncle Qrow.” Ruby says, nose wrinkling from the smell of the alcohol. Qrow grins,
“Hey, kiddo.” He takes another sip. “So, why'd you call Ruby up here, Oz?” Ozpin leans forward, hands clasped,
“Miss Rose has provided us with... unique information.” Qrow raises a brow.
“What does that mean?” He looks down at her. “Ruby?”
She looks away, “Uh, I'm repeating the past.”
“Funny joke, kiddo.”
“Not a joke, Qrow.”
“Time travel.” Qrow says, for the umpteenth time. Ruby sighs,
“Yes. Time travel.” Qrow looks at her, and then at his flask, and then back to her.
“Okay, but time travel?!” He grabs her shoulders. “Ruby, it's been two months since I've last seen you?! How'd you manage to perform the impossible in that amount of time?!” Ruby snickers,
“I ran really, really, fast.” She makes a running motion with her fingers. “Woosh.” Qrow levels her with a deadpan stare.
“Kid. Seriously.” Ruby shrugs,
“I don't actually know. I just woke up one day in front of my mom's grave. Last thing I remember, Salem had just thrown a bolt of magic at me.” Qrow sighs,
“Well.” He looks at Ozpin, “So what do we do now?”
Beacon is surprisingly boring when you don't participate in extracurricular vigilantism. Even training her new magics with Ozpin is boring. It's all 'no, don't use the fire like that' and 'okay see why I said summoning lightning inside was bad?' And don't get her started on the lectures. Ugh. Constantly reminding her that her gifts are not for general use and are for the protection of humanity and whatnot. All because she popped some popcorn with her fire.
“Kill me.” She mumbles, head resting in her palms as she watches Pyrrha and Penny fight. She glances at the large holo-screen. “Twenty minutes? Ah, time is flying.” She stands, excusing herself from the rest of her team. She stops for a moment outside of the arena, and glances back, just in time to see Penny torn to shreds by her own sword cables. Ruby's eyes narrow. “Showtime.”
Ruby stands behind Ozpin's desk, palms resting flat against its surface. She takes in a deep breath, as the elevator dings, doors opening. Silver meets amber.
“Cinder Fall, is it?” Ruby says, walking around the desk. Cinder frowns at her, staring at her as if trying to figure out a puzzle. Ruby lets just a fraction of the fall magics run through her – just enough for Cinder to sense.
“You...” She trails off, eyes widening. Two short swords form in her hands. “What are you?!” Ruby smirks.
“Me?” She raises a hand, letting a fireball appear. “Why, I think you already know.” Silver eyes ignite, flames waving in a non-existent wind. Cinder snarls, her own eyes beginning to flame. Ruby raises a brow, “Oh, why bother?” She lets the fireball dissipate, and unfurls Crescent Rose. “You've already lost.”
Okay, so, freezing a giant Grimm dragon on top of Beacon's tower was probably not her best idea, considering Cinder also got away. And that she knocked herself unconscious for nearly two whole weeks. Ruby groans, and sits up in her bed, jostling the blond man sitting at her side. Her eyebrows raise.
“Dad?” Her father smiles and straightens,
“Ruby! You're awake.” Ruby blinks at him, eyes wandering around her childhood bedroom. She hasn't survived for this long in... well, since her first and... third? Lifetime. Honestly the memories are beginning to jumble together and make little sense. She shakes her head. Usually using the Silver on Cinder kills her. “-uby? Ruby, were you listening?”
“Sorry, dad. Say,” Ruby looks at the door. “is Uncle Qrow here?” Her dad scowls, but nods. “I think we need to talk.”
Pyrrha lived.
Ruby grins.
One of the few things she'd never been able to stop! She managed it this time!
“Pyrrha lived. That's good.” She says. Qrow grunts,
“Yeah. She was the one who found you on top of the tower.” He sips from his flask. “So, you're from the future, yeah?” Ruby nods, shifting to exit her bed. “That mean you already know all about your eyes and whatnot?”
“Yep. Big bright light explodes from my eyeballs and evaporates Grimm.” She walks towards her dresser. “Also seems to work on Cinder, for some reason. I think Salem did something to her.” Qrow nods.
“Sounds about right.” He stands, cracking his neck. “Well, I think this might be the last time we speak for a while, kiddo.” He pats something attached to his hip. “I've got a mission from Oz.” Ruby waves at him.
“Yeah, go find his next self. I'll see you in Mistral.”
It's two months after the Fall of Beacon that she hears it.
“Ruby.” Wow, her inner voice does sure sound a lot like old Ozzy boy. “Ruby, wake up.” Her eyes crack open.
“Fuck me.” She murmurs, sitting up. “Oz? That you?” She blinks. “FUCK ME!” She grabs her head, eyes wide. “ME?! REALLY?!”
“Can't say I enjoy this either.” A sensation that almost feels like someone is reading a book in her head crosses her mind. “When you said 'repeating the past', I didn't think you meant multiple times.”
“Get your wizardy fingers away from my memories dammit!” A hand grabs her shoulder. Ruby turns, meeting Pyrrha's gaze.
“Ruby? Who are you talking to?” The redhead asks, confused.
Ruby laughs, “Oh you know, just the wizard in my head.” She taps the side of her head. “Old Ozzy boy himself.” Pyrrha tilts her head.
“Ruby, I think you should get some sleep.” She frowns, worried. “I think you're hallucinating.”
“Brothers, I wish.”
Qrow comes swinging down with a vengeance, knocking Tyrian back. Harbinger slashes right through the faunus' tail, separating the stinger from the body. Tyrian screams, grabbing at his tail in anguish.
“You!” He growls, eyes flickering purple as they land on Ruby's silver. She smiles brightly and wiggles her fingers at him. “I'll be back!” With that he bounds off, disappearing over a broken wall. Ruby waits a moment, before looking at her uncle.
“Hey, Uncle Qrow.” Qrow grins,
“Hey, kiddo.”
“Ask for my cane back.”
“I, uh...” Ruby looks away from him and holds a hand out. “I'd like my cane back.” Qrow balks, skin paling considerably.
“R-Ruby – you – Oz – I -” She rolls her eyes,
“Can I have my cane or not?” He fumbles for said cane, and holds it out. Ruby snatches it up, silver eyes flashing green. “Thank you Qrow.” Oz leans on the cane with a serene smile that looks out of place on his current face.
“Oz? You... you're Ruby?” Oz shrugs,
“More like Ruby's me. It's all very complicated.”
“Wait, wait, wait!” Nora shouts, eyes darting between Ruby and Qrow. “You're saying that Professor Ozpin, our headmaster, is actually an immortal reincarnating wizard?!”
Ruby shrugs, “Sounds about right.”
“And he's in your head, Ruby?!”
“Believe me, I'd rather he not be too.”
“This is... super fucking weird.” Nora looks between Ruby and Qrow once again. “So, now you have even more supernatural powers?”
“Yeah, it's fucked up, right? Too OP, please nerf.”
“I... don't know what that means.”
“Ruby, that is not how you unlock my magic.” Oz sighs from within her head. Ruby rolls her eyes, pulling the fall magics back into her body.
“Well how do you then?”
“You cannot just force the use of my magics. It will only come to you when...” He trails off, and guilt, not her own, rises in her.
“Oh. When we've... merged more.”
“...I'm afraid so.” Ruby frowns down at Long Memory, the cane twirling in her hands.
“Say, Oz?”
“Yes?”
“If I die again... would you follow me?” It takes Oz a while to answer.
“...I'm... not sure.”
“You're attached to my soul, Oz. I can feel it.” She presses against her chest. “The magics also attach to the soul, and they followed me back.”
“It's... a possibility.”
Ruby and her team stride into Haven Academy, late at night. They'd been here before, not even a few days ago. In that time, they'd told Lionheart that Oz had indeed reincarnated, but that they couldn't yet say who he went into. They then spent a few days planning out the coming encounter.
During the few days where they planned a big show to put on for Salem's minions, Yang and Weiss had shown up, which... complicated a few things. The less said about telling Yang about Oz being Ruby, the better. Brothers, the blonde punched Oz so hard that he was ejected from the front-seat of Ruby's body. It... was a weird experience.
Lionheart is waiting for them in the lobby, nervously playing with his pocket-watch. Ruby can easily sense the nearby Seer Grimm, and she sends Qrow a near imperceptible nod, which Qrow returns. Time to start the little play they designed.
“Leo.” Qrow says, red eyes narrowing. Ruby, and by extension Oz, had told everyone that Lionheart had betrayed them, allying himself with Salem in his cowardice.
“Q-Qrow! Old friend, it's been a while!” Lionheart says, plastering on a clearly fake smile. He glances at the seven teenagers. “And... which of them...?” Qrow sighs, gaze darting briefly to Ruby.
“It's... complicated.” Ruby scoffs, stepping forward,
“Qrow, we've been over this. I may be your niece, but one day, I'll be Oz. Just get over it already.” Qrow snarls, turning a fierce glare on his niece,
“You think I can just get over this that easily?!” He grabs her by her shirt collar, lifting her easily, “You think I can just get over the fact that Ruby is essentially dead?!” Ruby returns his glare with her own,
“I'm not dead yet! I have a year still, and you know it!”
Lionheart interrupts them, “T-The silver-eyed... is Ozpin?” Qrow throws Ruby to the ground and stalks off to lean against a nearby wall. Lionheart's eyes are wide, and he has paled dramatically. Ruby huffs as she stands, brushing dust off of her skirt.
“Well fuck, Qrow, throw me harder would you?” Qrow sneers, a barely noticeable guilty look in his eyes,
“Shut up, Ozma.” Oz flinches heavily at that, making Ruby curl into herself briefly. Unfortunately, the name was one of Ruby's better signal words, despite whatever misgivings Oz had on it. When Qrow mentions Ozma, that meant that he had seen Raven's bird form nearby, and that the show was truly about to begin. Ruby lets herself fall into the backseat, her silver eyes flashing green as Oz takes control.
“Qrow, I'm sorry -” Qrow growls and slams a fist into the wall.
“Sorry isn't going to bring my niece back!” The doors to the academy slam shut at that, and Oz sighs, turning to look.
“Oh dear.” He mutters, playing the part as Hazel glares across the foyer at him. “Ruby, are you sure about this plan?” He mumbles inaudibly to himself.
“Fuck yeah I'm sure, Oz. I mean, you should still be able to use the fall magics through me, right? We've been practising!” He can feel her shrug in his mind. “Sides, if we die, I'll just restart and everything will be a-okay again.”
“Very well.” Oz grabs hold of Long Memory, and, as Hazel begins stomping across the room at him, he begins to feed the fall magics throughout his body. One way or another, at least one of the souls in this body was getting out alive. The lobby tilts and warps, as using the fall magics always made his vision a bit blurry. The vertigo, however, was a new feeling.
And then a sensation much like the one of falling from an airship courses over him, and everything goes dark.
Ruby groans as she wakes. Her scroll is ringing off the hook, loudly screaming at her. As she reaches for it, she frowns. What happened? The last thing she remembers, Oz was about to fight Hazel. And then everything went blurry and wonky, and she felt like she was falling, and now she's... she looks around. She's... in her childhood bedroom? Silver eyes widen.
“Fuck!” She dives for her still ringing scroll and, upon seeing a number she had memorized in her previous life, answers it quickly. “Oz?!”
“Ruby, it seems we have a lot to talk about.”
Ruby speeds through the empty Beacon campus, and hurriedly enters the elevator leading to Oz's office. She jabs at the button for Oz's office with quite a bit of force, and begins to pace the length of the elevator.
“Fucking, fucking, fuck.... Oz followed me back. He followed me back! Fuck!” She tugs on her hair. “Is this a one time thing? Or will he follow me back again?!” She tugs harder. “Fuck, what if the person he reincarnates into also begins coming back? Oh geez...” The elevator dings, and Ruby steps into Oz's office. Said man is sitting behind his desk, frowning heavily at something on his computer screens. He looks up at her, brown meeting silver, and sighs,
“Miss Rose.” He shakes his head. “Ruby.” He steeples his fingers. “So, it appears your theory was correct.”
“S-Seems so.”
Oz sighs, “I do not blame you, Ruby.” He offers a small smile. “After all, this is surprisingly a first for me.” Ruby blinks.
“But you reincarnate all the time.” Oz rolls his eyes.
“I don't restart time like you do. I reincarnate to a new body – you reincarnate into yourself, years into your own past.” He looks down at himself. “And now, so do I.”
“And... also whoever you reincarnate into next.” Oz frowns.
“That will most likely be the case.” Ruby bites her lip.
“What do we do now?” Oz leans forward,
“Now? We plan.”
“I... have an idea.” Ruby starts, five minutes later. Oz nods at her. “It... unfortunately requires the death of... someone nearby.” Oz's eyes sharpen.
“Ruby, no.” Ruby shakes her head frantically.
“Not me!” She lifts her hands in peace. “I meant... well, I still have the fall magics.” At that, she summons forth a fireball. “But, the current Fall Maiden is still... technically alive.”
“Ruby.” She flinches.
“Look, how do you think everyone will react, if I suddenly show up with magics I can't possibly have? I'm sure you remember last time.”
Oz frowns, “Glynda did react quite poorly.” Ruby's eyes roll.
“Yeah, she only beat my ass during training.” She huffs, “With my fall magics, I can sustain the current Maiden long enough to give her... a peaceful chance. We can't let Cinder get the full power. We can't. ” Oz looks down with a weary sigh.
“I...” He begins, fingers tapping against his cane, “...I understand your logic, Ruby. But the thought of Amber... dying... of m – of you, being the one to...” Of me, she knows he was about to say. A mere hour before they had been sharing a body, sharing a soul. Ruby looks out the window, at the brightly shining full moon.
“Oz... I just want to give Amber the chance to choose her own fate. I want to give her a choice. ” Silver meets brown, both with varying degrees of guilt drowning them. After a long, silent, moment, Oz dips his head.
“Very well.”
The aura transfer machine is surprisingly small, for how intimidating it is. Ruby and Oz walk up to one of the pods, and Ruby rests a hand against the cool glass. Inside lay Amber, clinging to life by mere threads. Ruby can sense the magics inside the woman reaching for her and for Oz, screaming in pain and terror. Ruby flinches back, drawing her hand to her chest.
“She's... in pain.” She mumbles, as her own magics reach for the comatose woman. “Her magic, it's... calling for me.” Oz presses a button on the console beside him, a pained grimace on his face.
“Her magic does the same to me.” Ruby frowns at the ground.
“But it's worse... for you. You... you're the magic's father, Oz.” He doesn't respond. The pod clicks, and the door swings open. Ruby steps closer, and places a hand on Amber's cheek. She channels the fall magic through the woman. “Amber, please, wake up.” Brown eyes crack open, blearily looking around.
“Where...?” Oz forces a smile,
“You're at Beacon, Amber. And... I'm sorry, but you don't have much time left.”
“I'm... dying...?” He grips his cane tightly. Amber stares at him for a moment, before locking her brown eyes with Ruby's silver. “You... have my...?” Ruby shakes her head,
“Not from this lifetime.” She pumps more magic into the woman. “Amber... you have a choice. I...” Ruby swallows against the rising feeling of guilt. It's one thing to kill your enemies and to kill in the heat of battle. This... this is a woman who can't even stand on her own, and who would die the second Ruby even takes her hand away. Her life is literally in Ruby's hands. “I can...” A faint smile crosses Amber's face.
“ Please... ” Ruby looks back at Oz, who nods and closes his eyes, turning away.
“Alright...” She begins to draw up her aura, sharpening it inside her much like a blade. “I'm... sorry. I'm so sorry. ” She plunges her aura and her magic into Amber, causing the dying Maiden to seize and whimper. Ruby's magic eagerly devours the fragment of fall remaining in Amber. It takes less than a minute for the woman to cease. Ruby stills, drawing back her aura and magics. She gently pats Amber's cooling cheek, holding back tears. “Oz...” She turns to look at him, barely catching the devastated look on his face before it leaves. He had, in a way, just relived his own child's death. “I'm sorry. I am. I...”
“Ruby, Amber chose this.” He walks forward and drops a hand on her shoulder. “I'm glad that her assailant now has no chance to acquire the entirety of the fall.” Ruby nods, and steps away from the pod.
“Now what?” Oz pushes the door to the pod shut, and frowns.
“For now, return home.”
“Oz?”
“I have a plan, Ruby. In about a week,” He turns and begins making his way to the elevator. “please demonstrate your... new abilities, to Qrow.” Ruby follows behind him, eyebrows raised.
“But Uncle Qrow is in Anima.”
Oz hums, “Not for long.” He digs through his pockets, and withdraws his scroll. “Head on home, Ruby. I have a few... unpleasant phone calls to make.”
True to Oz's word, Qrow shows up barely a week later, drunkenly stumbling through the door of the family home. Ruby frowns at him.
“Uncle Qrow? What are you doing here?” He smiles at her,
“Hey, kiddo. Just thought I'd drop on by and see my favourite nieces.”
“Uncle Qrow, we're your only nieces.”
It takes Ruby nearly a whole day to figure out how to demonstrate her 'new' abilities. She's out in the woods, training with her scythe, when it comes to her. Qrow is watching her, red eyes focused in a way that she knows means he's mostly sober. Ruby is greatly downplaying her true skill, as she swings her scythe at a tree. Slowly, over a few minutes, she pretends to get more and more worked up and frustrated, as if the move she's practising is difficult.
“C'mon stupid move!” She sees Qrow shift slightly, a frown marring his face. He's definitely watching her now. Shooting her scythe a glare, she (and she apologizes to Crescent Rose so much) throws the weapon away with a yell. She then lets the fall magics course through her as she throws a punch at a tree. Silver flame burst from her eyes as she howls in anger, wind and fire magics coalescing over her fist. The tree, and several others behind it, go flying. Qrow leaps to his feet, a look of blatant disbelief on his face. Ruby blinks, pulling back the magics and looks at her outstretched arm with convincingly fake awe. She glances between the destruction and her fist and mumbles, “I... did that...?”
“R-Ruby? You...” She turns to look at him. He's staring at her in shock and awe.
“Uncle Qrow? What was that?”
“I...” He flicks his gaze to the destruction and frowns. “I need to make a few phone calls.”
“B-But Uncle Qrow, what-” He runs a hand through his hair.
“I'll tell you later kiddo. For now, just...” He gestures vaguely towards the house. “Just go inside, and wait for me to come back, alright?”
“O-Okay...?”
Ruby watches as Qrow grabs her father and leads him outside, scroll in hand. She tiptoes quietly to the door, and eavesdrops on them.
“It's Ruby, Tai!”
“What? No it isn't. It can't be.”
“Tai, I saw her use it!”
“But-”
“Tai!”
“I don't want to lose her, Qrow! Dammit, she's all I have left of Summer!”
“I don't want to lose her either, Tai, but this is bigger than just us. She'll be targeted, now more than ever.”
“I know. I know goddammit! ... Just... fine. Call Ozpin.”
“Yeah, I will.”
Ruby stops listening there. She can guess what Oz was going to say anyway. They had shared a soul after all. She walks into the living room and plops down next to Yang.
“Hey, Rubes!” Yang says, grinning. “Wanna watch the newest Huntsman with me?” Ruby smiles.
“Yeah, Yang. That sounds awesome.”
Ruby plays the part of nervous teenager very well as Qrow leads her through Beacon's empty halls. Probably because she actually is nervous. She and Oz may have once been in the same body, but that lasted barely two months. She had figured out his plan thus far, but now she's running on vague guesses. She knows that he's told no one about the impossible reincarnation, as she's sure Qrow would have mentioned something if he had.
The elevator dings, making Ruby yelp in surprise. Qrow chuckles and pats her head,
“Calm down, kiddo. You're not in trouble.” Ruby gulps and follows him into Oz's office. 'Ah, fuck,' She thinks, upon seeing the two extra people inside. Glynda stands beside Oz, while James Ironwood leans against the window. 'Ol Jimmy boy and Big-G. Great.'
“H-Hello...?” She says, and all their eyes focus in on her. Oz smiles and sends her a conspiratorial wink,
“Miss Rose, it is nice to finally meet you.” He looks at Qrow, amused, “Qrow has told us all about his prodigy niece.” Oh so they're playing that game, are they? Ruby can do that, sure. She fakes a gasp and looks up at Qrow, who has begun to redden.
“Uncle Qrow! You gossip about me to the Glynda Goodwitch and the headmaster of Beacon and the General of Atlas' military?!” Qrow coughs and looks away,
“I... may have said some things.”
Oz clears his throat, “Might we get back on topic?” Ruby focuses back on him. “Miss Rose, I've been told you've recently discovered something... extraordinary?"
She nods, “U-Uh, yeah, um, I did something like this...?” She activates the fall magics, and brings up a hand, a fireball forming above it. “It, um, destroyed a lot of trees.” Oz's smile widens,
“Tell me, Miss Rose, what's your favourite fairy tale?”
“So I'm one of those Maiden thingys?” Ruby asks, like a typical confused teenager.
Qrow nods, “Yeah, kiddo.”
“How?” She asks, despite knowing the answer. Oz waves a hand,
“When a Maiden dies, the powers go to a woman somewhere in the world. Sometimes, if the last thoughts of a Maiden were of a specific person, the powers will go to them, provided they are female.”
“So I got them randomly?” Oz frowns,
“I... do not think so.” That draws the eyes of the other three adults to him. Qrow bristles,
“What do you mean, Oz?”
“While Amber, the previous Maiden,” He begins, “was in my care, I often went to visit her. I... would talk to her.” He admits it like it is a big secret. “Her aura always seemed to respond when I visited. Shortly before I found her... deceased, I was telling her about...” He looks Ruby dead in the eyes. “...well, I was telling her about you, Miss Rose. Qrow had shared the most interesting story of how you defeated a pack of Beowolves, and so I repeated it to Amber.”
James steps forward, “Ozpin, you're not suggesting?” Oz nods.
“Indeed. I believe Amber was conscious, at least briefly, during my talks with her. And through those talks, she latched onto Miss Rose's name. Thus, Miss Rose now possesses the Fall Maiden's powers.”
“Are there more Maidens?” Ruby asks, after the adults finish arguing about Oz's tale. James nods at her,
“Yes, Miss Rose, there is. We have the Winter Maiden in Atlas custody.”
“So then, is there a Summer and a Spring maiden?” Qrow smirks,
“Got it in one, kiddo.” He draws a sip from his flask, “Although, we're not quite sure where they are right now.” Ruby and Oz share a glance. They both knew who the Spring Maiden was, and neither were keen on sharing that information right now.
“Then,” Ruby starts, “would it be possible to... meet the Winter Maiden?” Oz levels her with a thundering stare, and Ruby just knows that he's trying to figure out why she wishes to meet with Fria. Really, she has no ulterior motive. She doesn't want the winter magics yet. She truly just wishes to make sure none of Salem's minions are close to her. “I... I'm not really convinced about this whole Maiden thing. If I could meet another...?” Oz's eyes narrow, as he and Ruby stare at each other. After a moment, he seems to have seen something acceptable for he looks at James,
“Well, James? Fria is in your custody.” James seems to be thoroughly considering something, as he pins Ruby with a serious glare.
“I... do not see a problem with such a request.” He starts, “However, Miss Rose must be sworn to secrecy.” Ruby nods,
“I won't say a word.”
Fria is surprisingly frail looking, Ruby decides, as she stares at the elderly woman through the one-way glass. Oz had accompanied her down to Atlas alongside James, while Glynda and Qrow stayed behind at Beacon. Currently, she and Oz were standing beside James and Winter Schnee, just outside of Fria's room.
“Miss Rose, may I speak with privately for a moment?” Oz asks. Ruby spares James and Winter a glance, but lets Oz sequester them in the deserted hall. “Ruby, why did you want to meet with Fria? And tell the truth, please.” Ruby looks up and down the hall, sending out a short aura burst to check for anyone watching.
“Oz, trust me, I don't want the magic.” She says, “When I first travelled back with the fall magics, it nearly killed me. Honestly, I'm good with just the fall magics. I don't need any more.”
“Then why are we here?”
“Truthfully? I wanted to make sure none of Salem's minions managed to infiltrate Jimmy's security. You and I both know how hard the common plant can be to spot.” Oz lets out a breath and smiles,
“I see. Very well, let us meet our Winter Maiden then.”
“H-Hello?” Ruby says, once again playing the part of nervous teenager. Fria looks up at her and smiles, blue eyes lighting up with recognition as a cold touch of magic brushes against Ruby,
“Oh, hello sweetie.” The elderly woman waves her forward. Ruby looks up at Oz, James, and Winter, before she trots into the room. “You are like me, are you not?” Ruby nods.
“Y-Yeah. I, um, I also have...” She glances back at the adults. “...the powers.” Fria's smile widens,
“We have a job to do, don't we?” She laughs humourlessly, “I'm afraid I haven't been doing a very good job of it lately.”
“N-Nonsense!” Ruby shouts, “I'm sure you're doing your best!” And, with all the tact of her original 15-year-old self, she says, “You're just old.” Fria laughs for real this time.
“Oh, aren't you precious.” Blue meets silver, and Ruby feels a distinct tug on her magic. Not quite sure what to make of it, she tugs back on Fria's, which makes the old woman smile. “I like you, dear. What's your name?”
“I'm Ruby, Ruby Rose.” Fria settles a hand on Ruby's arm.
“My name's Fria. It was so nice to meet you, Ruby.” Ruby blinks. 'Past tense? Why is she using past tense?' And then, like a bolt of lightning struck her, Ruby seizes, as the winter magics begin to rage through her body. 'No no no, this isn't supposed to happen! Stop, STOP!'
“W-What – Miss Fria – stop – I-”
“I'm so sorry, dear.” Fria chuckles, and then coughs, and then falls over, and Ruby isn't stupid enough to think she's still alive. No, with the winter and fall magics both raging and dancing in tandem within her, she knows that Fria is dead. She drops to her knees, choking on blood, as the magics turn their focus inwards, attacking her organs.
“Ruby? What happened?” She hears Oz ask, as he starts walking towards her. Ruby shakes her head.
“Out – get – need to – get out! Run!” She gasps out between pained groans. The twin magics rise to the surface within her, and she catches Oz's eyes. “I can't-” The magics explode out of her. Balls of fire, bolts of lightning, and freezing gusts of wind surround her. Ruby feels her body jerk into a standing position, as her consciousness is suddenly thrust into the backseat, the magics taking over.
“Fa TH eR f AT he R f AT hE r-” Her voice comes, echoing with the voices of nearly a hundred women. Her body shuffles forward like a marionette, hands raising as she nears Oz. Oz's eyes are wide, and Ruby is sure she can see actual, pure, terror in them. In the reflection of his glasses, she can see that her eyes are fluctuating between silver, orange, and blue. Her hands grab at his clothes. “fa TH eRRR RRrr- ” And then her head slams against his chest and her body drops, like a puppet with its strings cut. Ruby is suddenly back in the front-seat, but it's too late, she knows she's dying.
“O-O-Ozzzz... Ozzz...?” Hands clutch at her as her vision swims.
“Ruby? Ruby, no!”
“ 'm... sor...ry....”
Ruby slams back into consciousness in agony. She throws herself away from the table she's sat at, as the two Maiden magics begin to rage once again, much more angry than before - fall's fire boils her blood and winter's ice freezes her to the bone. She can sense an old magic presence nearby, and her magics seem to hate it with a vengence . Blood spills from her lips as she finally cracks open her eyes. '....fuuuuuuck me.' Salem's minions sit before her, watching her writhe in pain with... fear? Ah, they're scared of the magic. Did they not know how truly powerful the Maiden's magic was? Even Cinder, who Ruby realizes doesn't yet have her fraction of fall, seems terrified.
“My Queen!” Ruby hear Tyrian scream, as heels clack against the wooden floors, nearing her. 'Ah fuck, it's Salem.' And Ruby can't even fight back, not with her magics actively trying to kill her. And succeeding, as she can feel her aura draining fast. She can hear Watts ask,
“What's wrong with Rose?” Salem chuckles, and Ruby's magic burns with hatred.
“Why, our dear Rose has just inherited two of dear Cinder's promised powers.” The magics thrust Ruby into the backseat once more, screaming with a cacophony of agony and hate,
“moTh ER m O Th eR MoT hE rrrr rr-” Ruby's body staggers up onto her feet. “Mo TH e R kIL le D u S K iLl eD u S kIL le D u S w H yyyyyyyy-” Her head lolls as her body moves closer to Salem. And is that genuine human horror in her eyes? “lO v ED m OtH Er w H y mo THe R Lo VE mOt hE RRR RRrrrrrrr-” Ruby's body drops, as her aura breaks. The magics slam back into her, howling with fury rage hatred agony despair -
Ruby blacks out.