A small girl in a red riding hood walked briskly down the cobbled street, music pulsing through her earphones. Her red cloak fluttered behind her like a flag in the wind as she moved to the beat, steps purposeful.
With a destination in mind, she pressed forward, humming softly to herself. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips as she reached the front of a shop with a flickering sign that read: From Dust till Dawn.
The bell above the door gave a cheerful ding as she stepped inside, the scent of metal and gun oil greeting her like an old friend.
She gave the shopkeeper a small wave before making her way to the back.
"Still got time to kill," she thought, slipping between shelves. "Might as well check out the new weapon magazines."
It wasn't every day she got to visit Vale. The trip wasn't short, and her schedule wasn't exactly light. So when she did make it out here? She made it count. And nothing beat flipping through glossy pages of the latest tech—new blade designs, scythe mods, Dust combos…
So distracted by the shiny new issue in her hands, she didn't hear the bell ring again. She didn't notice the shop slowly empty. She didn't feel the tension growing in the air.
Until someone tapped her shoulder.
She pulled one earphone out and turned.
"Oh hey—" she smiled. "You into weapon magazines too?"
The man in black tactical gear said nothing. Instead, he raised a baton-like weapon and pointed it at her chest.
"Hands up. You won't get hurt. That's your only warning."
She blinked. Then smiled wider.
"Oooh, classic batons? That's kinda vintage. Me? I'm more of a scythe girl."
The thug scowled. "I warned you, kid."
He swung. Fast.
She moved faster.
With a sharp thud, the man's body flew across the store, slamming into a shelf with a crash of glass and wood.
She dusted off her cloak, pouting. "Honestly. Doesn't anyone teach bad guys to be gentle with delicate flowers anymore?"
Two more men rounded the corner, weapons drawn.
"Don't move! Surrender now!"
"Whoa, whoa—okay, arms up!" she said, raising her hands and crouching down. "See? Nice and slow. No need to freak out."
But instead of surrendering, she dropped into a sprinter's pose.
Before either man could react, she exploded into a burst of swirling rose petals.
In a blink, she was between them.
Two palms to two faces.
Crash!
All three flew through the shop window, landing hard outside on the sidewalk. She twirled once, twice, and her compact weapon unfolded with a mechanical shhk-shhk-CHNK, revealing a massive, intricately designed scythe.
She planted it into the pavement. The concrete cracked under its weight as she leaned against it casually.
"Okay, now you're in serious trouble."
The remaining thugs stared, completely bewildered.
A slow clap broke the silence.
Roman Torchwick strolled out from the back, twirling his cane like it was a prop in a stage play.
"Well, well, well. That escalated quickly."
Ruby looked up, recognizing him instantly.
"You're… Roman Torchwick! The Dust thief! You're wanted in, like, three kingdoms!"
He gave a smug little bow. "Guilty as charged. Though I prefer visionary entrepreneur of alternative Dust acquisition. Much fancier."
"You're robbing this shop!" she said, tightening her grip on her scythe.
"Please," Roman scoffed, eyes half-lidded with amusement. "I'm repurposing underutilized energy sources for the betterment of my clients. It's called innovation."
"You're not getting away with any of it," Ruby warned.
Roman's gaze sharpened.
"You talk real big for someone who's not even a huntress," he said. "What are you—some student out past curfew?"
She didn't answer. She didn't have to.
Roman just chuckled and stepped back toward the shelves.
"Well, boys," he said, spinning on his heel, "I'd love to stay and tango, but I've got somewhere very important to be. Handle our little rosebud here, won't you?"
He snapped his fingers.
More masked goons emerged from the shadows, weapons trained on her.
He tipped his hat and disappeared behind a display.
Three thugs rushed Ruby at once.
She didn't flinch.
The first swung a crowbar. Ruby ducked and swept his legs in one smooth motion. The second followed fast, blade ready. She spun, caught his attack with her scythe's shaft, and kicked him in the chest—hard.
The third tried to grab her from behind.
She vaulted up and over him, landing gracefully. Then jabbed him in the back with her weapon's blunt end, sending him into a shelf.
More came, now five surrounding her, trying to coordinate.
"Classic flanking maneuver," Ruby muttered. "Cute."
One fired a Dust round. She flash-stepped in a whirl of petals, closing the distance and knocking him out with a flying heel to the head.
The rest fell in messy, scrambling order—each one overwhelmed by Ruby's precise movements and advanced skill. She wasn't just fighting—she was dancing through them, reading their moves, outpacing them at every turn.
Meanwhile, Roman Torchwick moved through the back of the shop, whistling to himself. He pressed a remote detonator, and a soft pop echoed above.
The rooftop access hatch blew open.
He didn't even glance back at the crates of stolen Dust. Half of it was still there—but that wasn't his problem anymore.
"Shame about the product," he muttered, climbing the ladder. "But at least I still look fabulous."
He stepped onto the roof, the lights of Vale glittering around him.
With a smirk and a running start, he leapt across to the next building, disappearing into the night.
Back at the shop, the last of the thugs hit the floor with a thud.
Ruby stood alone in the wreckage, breathing steady, her scythe resting at her side.
She looked toward the back room.
"He ran."
Of course he did.
She retracted her weapon with a metallic snap and turned toward the door as the wail of distant sirens drew closer.
"Coward."
~~Invermission Brought to you by Chibi Ruby surrounded by beaten up thugs~~
Red and blue lights flashed against the broken windows of From Dust till Dawn. The chaos had quieted, but the damage was clear—glass everywhere, shelves overturned, Dust canisters scattered like confetti from a very illegal parade.
Ruby stood outside the store, arms crossed, her cloak fluttering in the breeze. Her scythe was retracted and slung across her back, but the tension in her posture hadn't gone anywhere.
Two Vale police officers approached, one holding a notepad, the other giving her a once-over.
"You the one who stopped this mess?" one of them asked.
"Uh… yeah. I mean… I guess." Ruby scratched the back of her head. "They were robbing the place. I just sort of… reacted."
The older officer narrowed his eyes. "You got ID? Huntress license?"
Ruby froze for a second.
"Technically… no," she admitted. "But I am in training!"
The officers exchanged glances. "We're gonna need you to come with us for questioning. Can't have civilians jumping into—"
A sudden gust of wind swept past them.
A swirl of light particles shimmered in the air as a woman descended from a hovering transport, landing with the poise of someone who did not tolerate nonsense.
She wore a long black cloak over a green outfit, heels clicking as she approached. Her blonde hair was tied in a tight bun, and her eyes radiated calm authority behind narrow glasses.
Ruby's eyes widened. Her jaw dropped.
"Glynda Goodwitch…" she whispered, starstruck.
Glynda gave her a sharp look. "Miss Rose."
The officers straightened immediately. "Vice Principal Goodwitch, ma'am."
"I'll be taking it from here," Glynda said crisply. "The girl is a Beacon candidate. I'll personally ensure she is questioned and that her actions are reviewed thoroughly."
The officers didn't argue.
Ruby, meanwhile, was still recovering from the shock.
"You're her. You're actually you. You did that mission in Mountain Glenn, and that Dust storm interception in—ohmygosh you're taller in person and—" she cut herself off when Glynda raised a single eyebrow.
"Miss Rose," Glynda said sternly, "walk with me."
Ruby followed.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The buzz of the overhead lights filled the silence. The small, windowless room felt colder than it needed to be—just a table, two chairs, and the hum of security cameras overhead.
Ruby Rose sat with her hands in her lap, legs swinging just slightly off the floor. Her cloak was scuffed and torn near the bottom, a bit of soot on her cheek. Despite the fight being over, a nervous energy still clung to her like static.
The door creaked open.
Vice Principal Glynda Goodwitch stepped inside, composed as always. Her heels tapped sharply against the tile floor. She didn't speak right away—didn't need to. Her presence alone commanded enough weight.
Ruby straightened up instinctively. "Hi…"
Glynda didn't respond immediately. She closed the door behind her and approached the table, setting a tablet and folder down before sitting across from the girl.
"Miss Rose."
"Yes, ma'am."
A long pause stretched between them as Glynda observed Ruby closely. Then, in a tone calm but pointed:
"Do you understand how dangerous tonight's situation was?"
"I do," Ruby answered quickly, "and I'm sorry. I know I should've waited or called someone or—"
"But you didn't."
Ruby glanced down. "No. I didn't."
Glynda's expression didn't soften. If anything, it sharpened.
"You engaged a group of armed criminals, alone, in a public venue. You used advanced combat techniques in a densely populated area, and you did so without a Huntress license."
"I know," Ruby said quietly. "But people were in danger. I couldn't just stand there."
"You acted on impulse," Glynda replied, folding her arms, "not training. That's the kind of decision that gets people killed."
Ruby flinched but didn't argue.
"And while you might possess the skill of a licensed Huntress," Glynda continued, "you are not one yet. That distinction matters."
A moment passed.
Glynda exhaled through her nose and leaned back slightly.
"You were accepted into Beacon Academy early because of your performance in the entrance trials… and because of your lineage."
Ruby's eyes flicked up.
"Your father set a high bar. A legacy like his does not go unnoticed. But you are not him. And you are not above the rules."
"I'm not trying to be," Ruby said softly. "I just… wanted to do the right thing."
There was a flicker of something in Glynda's eyes—approval, maybe, but wrapped tightly beneath layers of restraint.
"You will return home for now," she said. "Your scheduled start at Beacon remains unchanged. Three months from today, you will report as a first-year student. No sooner."
Ruby nodded. "Yes, ma'am."
Glynda stood, smoothing down the front of her coat.
"Headmaster Ozpin has been informed of tonight's events. He expects great things from you, Miss Rose."
Ruby blinked, surprised. "He does?"
"Don't give him a reason to reconsider," Glynda said simply.
She walked to the door, then paused, hand on the handle.
"Just because you can fight like a Huntress doesn't mean you're ready to face the world like one."
Ruby looked down again.
"But you will be," Glynda added, before exiting the room and leaving Ruby with a lot more than just silence.