What might have been 1
Ruby Rose sat in an interrogation room, kicking her feet under the metal
table. A stern, middle-aged woman with blonde hair paced around her.
"I do hope you're aware of the gravity of your actions, young lady," the older woman remarked. "You've caused a lot of property damage and endangered several people." Ruby whimpered.
"If it were up to me, you'd be sent back to your uncle with a pat on the back..." Ruby briefly looked hopeful as the woman demonstratively patted her back before she continued, "And a slap on the wrist!" The riding crop punctuating her stinging remark on Ruby's wrist made her yip in surprise and pain. "However. There is someone who has better jurisdiction than I to discipline you." The door to the room opened.
"AUNTIE CHESHIRE!"
The red-hooded girl threw herself at the tall, pale woman in a blur of rose petals. As the teenager glomped her and babbled into her dress about how happy she was to see her again, the woman shook her head and gave a warm grin that masked cruel pride.
"Glynda, I do believe you've scared the poor girl enough. I'll take it from here."
Glynda briefly bobbed her head, "Yes, headmistress.", then left.
The disguised Princess Wrachïod Krom strode to the table with Ruby still clinging to her side. "Little Ruby, if you don't sit properly, you won't get any cookies."
As she placed the treats on the table, Ruby flung herself back into her seat with her semblance, sitting as upright and rigidly as she could.
The headmistress of Beacon sat across from Ruby, the plate of cookies in front of her. She took out a scroll, and pulled up some images taken from her surveillance system. Images of Ruby dueling two women, one with a bow-sword and the other with a spear and shield. Pushing the scroll across the table, she asked, "So… Qrow's been teaching you?"
Ruby nodded firmly. "Yes. I've applied myself wholeheartedly to my combat training, I obey everything Yang and Qrow tell me to do, and I always remember your lessons."
"Good, good…" Krom picked up a cookie from the plate and handed it to Ruby, who grabbed it and began devoured it almost faster than her eye could see.
She's learned well...
"I've only seen one other so skilled at your age…"
Two, if you count him...
"Y-y-you?", Ruby mumbled around her cookie.
"That's hardly a fair comparison, Little Ruby," the Beacon headmistress sardonically replied. "I was talking about your mother."
At that, Ruby paused in her chewing, before swallowing hard. "O-oh. Yeah. Mom…" As the teenage scythe-wielder stared off into something beyond the metal table in front of her, her 'aunt' cleared her throat, waiting for Ruby to snap to attention before continuing.
"I've seen in Qrow's reports that you've stated you'll be attending Beacon in two years. Why do you want to go here? Haven's the most prestigious Academy in Remn-"
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Ruby's outburst took both women by surprise.
After a moment, Wrachïod Krom forced herself to suppress a burst of wicked laughter. "And why is that?" She asked, already knowing the answer.
Ruby paused before steeling her nerves and continuing, "Because it's not run by you! You know more about Grimm, more about Dust, Aura, semblances, fighting, more about anything than anyone else in the world! Yang's going to start this year, I know Mom and Dad always said that you knew best for people, and I know I can be the best possible Huntress I can be if I learn under you!"
Now once-and-soon-to-be princess couldn't hold back her dark chuckles. "You want to learn at my feet?"
"More than anything." There was only joy in Ruby's voice.
The woman the world knew as Clarise Chesire pushed the rest of the plate across to Ruby. As the young girl gobbled down the remaining plate of cookies, Wrachïod Krom smirked.
Soon, you'll be ready, Ruby Rose.
Ready to be reunited with your mother.
Anybody want more?