Chapter Text
3rd person POV: Qrow Branwen
Qrow cursed as he flew over Patch scanning the forest for his nieces. Just moments ago, he had arrived at the Xiao-long household to visit them but instead he was met with the stench of beer, an unconscious Tai and the girls nowhere in sight.
I know summers death hit all of us, but this is a step too far.
The distant howl of a Beowulf filled his heart with dread as his mind snapped back to the present.
Right, Patch is infested with Grimm. I have to find them fast, but where could she be going.
Suddenly a glimpse of something in the distance and an idea struck him. Abandoning his previous heading he turned sharply his wings flapping with a new urgency as he flew to a long-abandoned building that held many warm memories and just as many regrets.
The old house where Raven lived with Tai. I don’t know where Yang found it or how she even knows where it is, but I can’t think of anywhere else.
As Qrow sped towards the shack he saw Yang pulling a cart with a sleeping Ruby for cargo. He couldn’t help but let out a triumphant caw as relief filled his heart.
Maybe I haven’t been the best uncle, but I swear from now on I will do my best to be there. Yang... Ruby... I’m on my way.
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3rd person POV: Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao-Long
Ruby was fast asleep bundled in a pile of blankets to keep out the winter cold. She didn’t really know why Yang insisted on sneaking out while their father was away, something about getting a new mother, but it didn’t really matter to her because she was sleeping.
As Ruby slept dreams of her mother filled her head, dreams of being a huntress and protecting the world from monsters until suddenly a strange thought struck her.
Wait where does the hunt part come in? Uncle Qrow uses a scythe, but that isn’t a weapon.
As if summoned by the call of a hunt, a sapphire star exploded into Ruby’s dream glimmering briefly before shining with a blinding light that transformed Ruby’s dream to show a new image.
In the waking world Ruby’s silver eyes filled with color and the roots of her once red hair turned blue.
When the light subsided Ruby beheld a beautiful landscape filled with strange creatures beyond imagination. Enraptured by her new dream as she was her mind fell deeper into the dream unconsciously asking the star for more.
It’s so pretty. I wish I could show this to daddy and Yang.
Almost unconsciously Ruby began following the beckoning light of the star towards a campsite, her short legs proving no hinderance in a dream. She effortlessly scaled the hill between her and the answers; she sought.
Right as Ruby was about to crest the hill concealing her destination from her, something else important was also happening in the real world. Yang had finally arrived at the shack, stopping in front of the house she numbly fished the photo of her mother out of her pocket and raised it before her eyes to compare the two. There was no doubt they were the same house but seeing the decrepit structure before her brought up every doubt she had suppressed to get this far.
Suddenly the night seemed much colder, the forest was just a little darker, her wounds ached with a new pain, and she realized she had dragged Ruby into this. As she spiraled, her despair awoke the abominations that infested this building.
Eyes of red shone with hatred beyond human capacity to rival, and as Yang stood there Paralyzed a roar shook the house announcing the presence of the creatures Grimm.
Ruby was just aware enough to hear the distorted echoes of the roar as her mind tried to fit it into the world she saw before her. To her the Grimm were simply a monster from fairy tales to teach kids a lesson. They had burning red eyes, their flesh was as black as tar, and they were the ENEMY of humanity.
The Saphire star heard this, and recognition glimmered in its depths. It was more than willing to show the monster Ruby was no doubt referring to. As the roar washed over Ruby’s mind, the landscape flickered and was swiftly consumed by one much more hostile.
Whats happening. Where did the field go. What was that roar. I want Yang.
Now Ruby was in a cavern, the light of the Saphire star now distant as if something was rejecting its light. Oil and fire bathed the area with an orange glow, but they also filled the area with a dry heat that would bake a cookie in seconds. Her toddler mind already overwhelmed by the clear images being conveyed to her still managed to notice that one rock was different.
The roar that had existed for mere moments in the real world finally found a place in Ruby’s dreams.
The rock shifted and thick viscous oil cascaded from the now revealed BEASTS back. Small beady eyes glowed red with the hatred of grudges that stained the beast’s soul just like the oil did it’s hide. Its head rose up and its maw opened wide giving voice to the roar Ruby had heard with a soul scorching screech. The scene, which had once been hazy and dreamlike, snapped into focus as if the world beyond Ruby’s perception finally existed.
SPECTER OF WAR:
GOGMAZIOS
Ruby felt the oil rise to cover her ankles as if it sought to devour her very soul. The Saphire stars light intensified flashing in panic before being blocked by the towering form of the elder dragon.
"Hello little hatchling. I welcome you to my domain.”
The dragons' voice rumbled with curiosity and mirth. It felt as if its voice was simultaneously inside her head and coming from the dragon itself.
“What could have spurred you to seek me out? Could it have been the light of that foolish star underestimating my power, especially when I am evoked through such a strong image.”
It chuckled. A dreadful sound that couldn’t have been produced by anything human.
“Nevertheless, I feel as if you deserve a reward for your bravery. Those soulless husks that threaten you, I can give you the power to destroy them, and all you have to do is let me in.”
Ruby could do nothing to resist as the oil covered her form seeping into her, seeking to change her into something akin to it. Outside the dream her eyes began shifting to take the shape of a dragon’s, her teeth sharpened, and her soul was imbued with flames.
Yang! Help me please! Somebody anybody HELP!
While there was nobody around to hear her in the dreams, the fear that gripped her had long since permeated her unconscious mind. Ruby whimpered and called out to Yang in her sleep.
“Yang” although her voice was weak it reached Yang’s ears and pierced the veil of fear over her mind.
Yang now free felt a fire ignite deep inside her and she braced herself to protect her sister. A brilliant yellow light briefly enveloped her as she called out to reassure her baby sister.
“HEY assholes I don’t know who you think you are, but if you think for even a second that I am going to let you harm a single hair on my baby sister’s head then you’ve got another thing coming for ya!”
The glow vanished as quickly as it came but a cocky smirk still covered Yang’s face. Probably because she finally got to use the swear word she had just learned.
At her words Ruby seemed to calm falling back into her sleep knowing that her sister was there to protect her.
In her dreams the sapphire light surged with a yellow glow at its center, and the oil relinquished its hold on her like she asked it about an extended car warranty. As if following up the shout a figure clad in heavy armor wielding a strange lance and shield charged Gogmazios knocking it away while shouting the beast's name.
“GOGMAZIOS!”
Soon more armor-clad heroes came to join them as all hints of intelligence drained from Gogmazios’s eyes replaced with an abhorrent loathing. It let out yet another screech, but Ruby didn’t care as her mind was absorbed with the sight of her saviors who stood strong bracing against the force of its roar.
The Sapphire light recognizing a chance to help, supplied Ruby with the word she was searching for.
“HUNTERS”
The hunter who had come to her rescue began backing towards Ruby, signaling the others to cover her. Once she reached Ruby, the Hunter hesitantly took off her helmet and reached out towards her, and Ruby finally got a look at her savior. This was a dream of course so many of the details were clouded but the one thing Ruby recognized was her brilliant golden hair.
“Yang? Is that you”
Grasping the offered hand Ruby found herself swiftly yet gently placed upon the back of a strange bird that darted to the edge of the battle and began lurking around the perimeter.
Before she knew it, the Hunters had set up a strange cannon and fired upon the beast. The beam of energy searing the oil off the elder dragon’s flesh and sending it crashing into the magma below. The golden-haired one mounted the bird that Ruby was riding on and began reassuring her.
“Do not worry Gogmazios is our prey and no harm shall befall you during our hunt”
Those words resonated with Ruby on a level she had never felt before, and something clicked inside her.
Oh. That’s what the hunting part is.
Her answer achieved the Sapphire star shone with a satisfied light, and the rest of the hunt passed in a flash. Once the dragon was slain and the beast was harvested for parts, the glow of the star subsided, vanishing from the sky as a gemstone fell from the sky into Ruby’s hands. Ruby returned to her peaceful sleep but now with a clear image of what it meant to be a huntress in mind.
And she would have stayed that way had it not been for a certain somebody shaking her awake.
3rd Person POV: Qrow Branwen
Qrow’s relief was short lived as once he neared the house; he heard a roar echo from its interior. Terror gripped his heart as a realization struck him.
All those bad memories, all those regrets they must have lingered in that house for years after we left making it a Grimm hotspot. Just my luck huh what are the chances that Tai would have kept a picture of that place all these years.
He saw Yang bracing herself and moving to protect Ruby. He heard her shout to reassure herself and her sister that everything was going to be okay, and he knew he needed to make sure that promise was fulfilled. Shifting back into a human midair, Qrow raised Harbinger to meet the Beowulfs lunging at his nieces.
“Don’t worry Yang, everything is going to be Just right.”
A single swing of his scythe, and the convenient orientation of the Grimm had the beasts reduced to smoke in an instant. Ordinarily this would have been the part where Yang groaned at his terrible pun and tried to act mature, but when he turned to his niece her eyes were filled with awe and inspiration. After a few moments of hesitation, she opened her mouth to speak.
“Damn uncle Qrow you sure took them out with a Yang”
A shit-eating grin covered her face as Qrow’s own what would have been matching grin was wiped away as he realized how truly terrible of an influence, he had been.
The moment having passed Qrow folded Harbinger into its sword form and rushed to check on Ruby and Yang.
“Are you girls okay? What the hell am I thinking of course you aren’t okay. No, what the hell were you, thinking running away like that. No, all that matters is that both of you are here and moderately okay.”
He took note of the photo that hung limply in Yangs grip and the bruises and cuts that covered her, before gently grabbing her in a hug. As soon as his arms wrapped around him, she collapsed into tears as if just now realizing she was a five-year-old child out in the middle of the woods.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I just wanted to find my real mom. I found this photo and I thought if I found her dad would get better, I could have a mom again.”
Grimacing over Yang’s shoulder Qrow turned over how that would go in his head. His sister was a frigid bitch who had abandoned her child and husband because she cared more about a bunch of blood-thirsty bandits than them made the answer clear. NOT GOOD. He didn’t voice these thoughts though he just held Yang until she began to pull away, before going to check on Ruby.
3rd person POV: Ruby Rose
Ruby was abruptly shaken from her dreams as her shoulders were literally being shaken. A voice began calling her name as her eyes began fluttering open, and she let out a groan.
“Ruby. Ruby. Ruby Rose. You have to wake up”
“Five more minutes”
“Ruuuuuubyyyyyyyyyy it’s time to wake up”
“Zwei, fetch me their souls”
“Ruby, I swear if you don’t wake up, I am going to steal the cookie Jar”
That woke her up really quickly. Ruby’s eyes snapped open with betrayal as she stared at the Villain who had dared to threaten her cookies.
“NOT MY COOKIES”
However, instead of her room and an amused smile on her uncle's face, she was met with a new expression from him one filled with surprise.
“Y-You have blue eyes???”
She giggled. He was silly like that sometimes.
“No uncle Qrow I have silver eyes, remember.”
“Well kid unless you found contacts sized for toddlers then I'm pretty sure your eyes are blue.”
Wait what. I had silver eyes. I got them from mommy.
A curious Yang peered over Qrow’s shoulder before gasping in shock.
“Hey uh Rubes. Where did you find those contacts again because damn do your eyes look cool”
It didn’t feel like a joke anymore.
Ruby began to freak out. Her eyes were one of the last things she had left from mom. Qrow, recognizing her distress, attempted to divert her attention.
“Hey Ruby, want to see something cool. Check this out”
Drawing Harbinger from his back Qrow shifted it into the form of a war scythe and flourished it before cutting down a nearby tree.
“Pretty cool right?”
Ruby had calmed down.
Yes it was pretty cool, but it was also literally an archaic lawnmower. All it did was look cool.
Clearing her throat to speak, Ruby responded in the dryest, most unimpressed, and sarcastic tone she could muster.
“Yes, uncle Qrow that was cooool as you call it.”
Stunned silence followed everyone was too caught off guard to speak before finally Qrow managed to make a noise.
“Eh???????”
A cheshire grin spread across Ruby’s face revealing her sharp teeth to the world.
“Silly uncle Qrow. Don’t you know that scythes are for harvesting crops and chopping grass not hunting monsters.”