Chapter Text
Ten years ago the Grimm disappeared without a trace. No big war to end it all, no move on the Kingdoms from Salem or protective measures from Ozpin, nothing. It was like they never existed in the first place.
The reaction was almost immediate. Every Kingdom scrambled to find the answer, digging for anything concrete, and yet they found nothing. No answers in the records, and no explanation even from Headmaster Ozpin himself. He was as dumbfounded as anyone else.
The entire population felt like they had just woken up from a nightmare that seemed all too lucid. Even now, almost a decade after the fact, no answers have surfaced, be it from scientists or Huntsman-based academics alike.
But time never stopped, even as the answers continued to elude them.
Things had to be done, jobs had to be finished, and people had to live their lives. The world must continue to survive and thrive, lest it all mean nothing in the end.
So eventually the world moved on.
Expansion programs began anew. Incentives to increase the population were implemented. Every Kingdom worked together to expand their territories, in the shared interest of regaining what they had lost.
And so, Remnant flourished for the first time in its history. It was free of its greatest threat. Everyone moved on, except for one kind of person.
After all, what was a Huntsman's place in a world without Humanity's greatest threat?
Unbeknownst to them, this very world was brought upon by one of their best. Someone they had unknowingly casted away… yet did everything to save it all the same.
Alas, the Rusted Knight tale simply wasn't that popular a fairy tale among children anymore.
Well, all except the one little girl who had lived through it with him.
"Uncle…" A young girl named Akane asked as she laid on the ground, having just finished a training session together with her Uncle in their secluded Mistralian cottage.
"Hm?" Her uncle stood before her with an eyebrow raised and concern in his face. He had blond hair, blue eyes, a clean shave, and a sharp but kind gaze that was endless. Looking no older than thirty, her uncle's broad shoulders and confident gait enforced the impression that he was a tall figure, but not as much because of his physicality but more so because of his sheer presence.
He was the very personification of a Knight – though, the odd lack of care he had to his Rusted armor rubbed many the wrong way.
Akane sighed as she gathered her thoughts. For a long time he had been her only source of warmth, her rock to lean on…
And of course, it helped that he was also the strongest person she had ever known.
"So, you see… I've been thinking about it, and… I want to go to Beacon."
"Beacon, huh…?" Her uncle clicked his tongue as his hands ran across his armor. It was rusty and unkempt, though his family blade still shone as bright as ever.
He looked at her again, his gaze concerned. "And why do you wanna go there?"
"Just…" Akane had waved her hands, "I wanna see the world. I want to see what it was like for you."
"They kicked me out, you know."
"But you never say anything bad about them."
"…"
"Uncle, please! I can't stay my entire life here. I want to- I want to see, uncle!"
"…"
"U- Uncle…?"
"No." Her uncle had shaken his head and said firmly. "You're too young for that."
"But you told me the Red Reaper started her adventures at fifteen! And her sister, the Goldenlocks Brawler, never complained!"
"Those are just stories, dear Akane. To help you sleep at night."
"That's not the point! I just-!"
"I said no." Her uncle had said more firmly this time. He levelled one of his looks at her, one she knew meant there would be no more arguing. For that look had cowed the coldest of maidens, had sent mooks and criminals packing, and had become intrinsic whenever he had something that he'd bend the world to accommodate.
But Akane wasn't intimidated. She had seen that look a thousand times and knew the differences between when he truly meant harm and when he was just protecting them with his bleeding heart.
Akane scoffed and crossed her arms, turning back and going back to her room with a huff. "Fine then."
She did her best to ignore her uncle's sigh as he sheathed his sword, tidying up the garden of their cottage behind her. Did her best to ignore the way it tugged on her heartstrings… but she couldn't stay beneath her uncle's shadow forever.
He had saved her back when she was just a toddler. Had kept her close and taken care of her as he and his allies travelled the world, had protected her from 'a big evil witch in a big evil tower' as he had told her – and she had lived through too, of course.
Not that she didn't believe his stories, she enjoyed them very much whenever he sat her down as he told them; it was always a delight to hear his tales of the Flying Valykrie, of the Silent Lie, of the Red Reaper, of the Snow Angel, of the Goldenlocks Brawler, and of the Feline Ninja.
And also, the story he seemed to enjoy so much, the story of the Invincible Spartan…
But those very stories were the ones that were pushing her to grow. She wanted to be like them , like those heroes in his stories, like he had protected her too.
Sometimes, she couldn't help but feel like he was keeping a world of secrets from her… but after raising her with love she couldn't find anywhere else, she knew that he deserved her trust back at least.
But not this time.
And so, on that night, when she was sure that her uncle had fallen asleep…
…Akane ran away from the only home she had ever known, all to achieve her dream and make her Uncle proud.
…And unknowingly, do the very same mistake her Uncle had done in his younger days.
Vale, Present Day. 10 Years after the "Grimm Wipeout."
Standing on the sidewalk of Downtown Vale, 15-year-old Akane couldn't help but gape in awe at the tall buildings surrounding her. The bright lights, the skyscraper buildings, the blend of tradition and modern, she wanted to absorb everything she saw to her memory forever.
"So this is Vale, huh…." She gasped out. It was just… so different than home!
So exciting!
Things weren't near as fancy as Vale back in her small Mistralian village. In the few times her uncle brought her away from their cottage in the woods and down to the city, they mostly went to the markets to buy groceries and other knicks and knacks.
On more special occasions, though, he would take her downtown proper to get her anything she wanted. Those days were the best! She'd get ice cream, get toys that she'd never dreamed of, and even the odd comic here and there!
Then again, that was only after he had trained her to the bone… but still! She loved him all the same!
But back to Vale. This, this whole thing, this whole city was just so different! She couldn't wait to properly explore it all… and without her Uncle's constant presence and guiding hand, for once.
She was a big girl now – her aunties had said so!
With that thought, she concluded that she had made the right choice in going here, it seemed. No matter what the cost of leaving her home was, this was the right step to take to follow her dream.
Her 'family' would understand with time; she was sure of it! Because her dream was only to-!
CRASH!
Akane's thoughts were broken when she heard glass shattering. People screamed and ran in panic, and she shot her gaze to the source.
It was from a Dust store across the street, getting robbed by some thugs wearing black hoodies! Akane narrowed her eyes.
Interestingly, they had a unique emblem on their backs as they pranced around. She felt familiarity spark in the back of her head. Where had she seen those before…?
"Police! Call the police!" The crowd had shouted as they ran past her, still frozen in spot. In mere seconds the street had cleared out, leaving her alone standing across from the store. From where she was, Akane saw the 'leader' of the thugs get closer to the terrified shopkeeper. He waved a gun around, intimidating the panicked and terribly scared old man.
"Well? What're you waiting for?!" The thug leader screamed. "Give us the goods!"
Akane narrowed her eyes. This was it, the entire reason she came to Vale. To reach her dream…
Helping people who need it.
Akane smiled. And since that was her dream, now seemed like the proper chance to reach it, wasn't it?
Akane silently crept closer to the store. The thugs screamed louder as she crept closer, and of course none the wiser. She peeked as she walked closer around the broken window. It seemed that a thug was standing behind the door, though why was he guarding that with a broken window on the store, Akane didn't know.
But still, that meant around that door was a blind spot.
Akane reached the door and hugged her back against it, careful not to open it as she listened in. She had to be patient…
But then she heard the 'leader' fire a warning shot. "Hurry it up, old man!"
Oh, screw patience.
"HYAH!" Akane kicked the door open.
"AH!" The grunt on the other side of the door went flying, face-first to the floor. The other guards quickly looked to the door, including the leader. An intruder-!
Akane dashed inside the building and punched the first guard she saw. He yelled and fell to the ground, not prepared for the assault.
"LITTLE BRAT!" A thug screamed. Behind her!
Akane ducked and dodged a swing from a wooden katana. She turned around and kicked the thug away, sending him crashing against several racks of Dust.
"Cocky girl! Have some!" The leader shouted. He waved his gun and pointed it in Akane's direction, finger on the trigger.
Akane's eyes widened. If he missed, then he'd hit the Dust and blow up the entire store!
"TAKE THIS!"
Akane shielded herself with her arms.
BANG BANG BANG BANG!
The shot hit her straight on, hitting her skin and bouncing off it harmlessly.
The thug looked at his weapon and stared at its smoking barrel in confusion. "What the hell…?"
"Hyah!" Akane dashed forwards and brought her heel to his chin. He flew up, crashing to the ceiling head first and getting planted there stuck. The gun clattered to the floor with a smoking barrel, aimed safely away from the store.
Akane let out a sigh of relief.
"Phew!" Akane rubbed the sweat off her forehead. Now, time to call the cops and get this all sorted out. She just wanted to help, after all! Hopefully, this wouldn't ruin her chances of getting to Beacon, eh-?
"Those were some pretty good moves, young lady." A voice said from the doorway. Akane turned her head towards it and found a Huntress leaning against the open door.
Leaning on the door, 27-year-old Ruby Rose did her best to smile reassuringly. Ah, a young girl stopping a Dust Store robbery. Not to mention in the night and doing so without proper supervision!
How time flew by, right? The scene reminded her of her old days…
Ruby smiled at Akane, "Maybe a trip to the police station could explain things, though. So why don't you come with me?"
Akane groaned, and Ruby responded with a mirthful smile. She saw the young woman cover her head with her hands in embarrassment. Yep, some memories here.
Vale Police Department.
"Well, it's not the first time I've seen someone do this, y'know?" Ruby said, sitting across Akane with her hands on the table. They were both inside VCPD's interrogation room, consisting of a one-way window, a table with two chairs, a lamp, and a door.
Ruby was sitting as relaxed as she could be, a small smile on her face as she looked at the other side. The young girl, on the other hand, started squirming under her gaze.
Seeing this, Ruby chuckled. "Oh, there's no need to panic!" She tried to calm Akane down. "It's just, well…" Ruby coughed into her fist. "A bit funny, is all. Eheh… Anyways, we should get on with what you just did."
"I mean…" Ruby leaned in with a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. "You do know what it was, right?"
Akane mumbled.
"What was it again? I couldn't hear you clearly~!"
"I intervened too early…" Akane mumbled while looking at her lap.
Ruby nodded in encouragement. "Yes, correct! And not to mention, you just recklessly risked other lives too…" the professor hummed and leaned back. "But I get where you're coming from. Honest! You just wanted to help out, right?"
Akane nodded weakly.
"Well, at least you have pure intentions. That's more that can be said for some people these days." Ruby leaned back. "But still, we can't let you off the hook that easy now, can we?"
Akane stayed quiet, and Ruby took this to ask again. "What's your name?"
"Akane. Enko Akane."
"Hm. Sounds Mistralian…" Ruby said. She tilted her head, "Are you a tourist? Taking in Vale's sights before getting some shuteye?"
Akane shook her head but didn't say anything.
"Oh, okay then…" Ruby thought it over again. "Hm, maybe… then, are you from a Combat School? You had your Aura unlocked, after all."
"I've never been to a Combat School." Akane finally spoke said. She started to speak louder, for some reason growing more interested than dejected. "Everything I did, I learned it from Uncle."
"Uncle, huh?" Ruby asked. She smiled, "Is he a Huntsman?"
"Something like that." Talking about her Uncle, Akane seemed to brighten up even more. She raised her head and looked at Ruby with nothing but adoration in her eyes.
Mentally, Ruby took note of this information and made sure to remember it. So this Uncle must be pretty important to her, huh…?
"He used to help people a lot and helped me a lot too." Akane continued, growing more invested with every passing word. "I just wanted to be like him. Help everyone in need!"
"Yes, well that's certainly a noble goal, Akane." Ruby nodded her head approvingly. "One I can get behind for sure. Not a lot of people have that these days, unfortunately. Is that why you're here?"
"Yeah! I wanted to join Beacon." Akane said. Then, she seemed to be sad again. "Oh, but that plan's shot now, I guess…"
Ruby tilted her head. Her age didn't match up, though… she seemed a bit young! "You seem kinda young. How old are you, Akane?"
"I'm 15."
Ruby's eyes widened. Oh, well that's- that's… disturbingly familiar. Way too close, this time. "And you figured you could get into Beacon early?"
"That was the plan." Akane confirmed sadly. "I just couldn't wait anymore. A-And, Uncle always told stories of someone who started her adventures around my age… I guess I just wanted to be like them."
"Oh?" Ruby tilted her head. "A fairy tale, maybe?"
"The story's called the Red Reaper!" Akane chirped. She didn't seem to notice Ruby's flinch as she recited the tale – a tale of a young, awkward prodigy who always did what her heart told her. Even if it was often impulsive.
She told her the story of someone who fought groups that caused terror all with her friends the Goldenlocks Brawler, the Snow Angel, and the Feline Ninja…
…Told Ruby a story that was eerily like her own.
And, judging by how Akane had smiled innocently and nodded to herself as she finished her story, Ruby knew that Akane didn't have a lick of clue that she was talking to the real person herself.
But Ruby mentally scratched her head – sure she was an exceptional Huntress, but she was pretty sure RWBY wasn't some fairy tale…?
Ruby leaned back and kept herself composed. It was just too similar. Either Akane's uncle was talking about her, or someone who had a story that was way too similar to be a coincidence. She had to dig in deeper later.
But for now…
On the off chance that Akane's Uncle knew about her, and if so, clearly on a much more personal level than most people, then it was her responsibility to look over Akane. Made sure she saw her Uncle again, at least.
Everything else they could smooth over later.
"You never told me. who's your Uncle again, Akane?" Ruby asked.
"Oh! Um, you wouldn't know him." Akane said. Despite this, Ruby didn't see any signs of deceit. She genuinely had no idea this 'person' that her Uncle probably talked about was sitting right across from her. But still, it seemed that Akane didn't want to divulge his information.
And that didn't match up with her adoration at all…
…Then, more reason Ruby had to keep Akane close to her chest.
Regardless of Ruby's thoughts, Akane continued, "He hasn't fought for a long time now. Today would make it…. Ten years. Yeah, ten years."
"But still, maybe I've run into him sometime?" Ruby decided to press. "If I know, then maybe I could take you back-."
"NO!" Akane shouted.
Ruby went still for just a moment. So then, maybe her suspicions were true-?
"No, please don't tell him." Akane whispered. "He can't know I'm here."
Ruby narrowed her eyes. "… Is he abusive to you?"
"Oh no!" Akane shouted in horror. And then, she cast her gaze down in shame and mumbled her next words,
"It's just, I ran away, you see, without his permission. I-…" Akane sighed, "I don't want to make him worry… he'll definitely be if he knows I'm here."
Ruby closed her eyes. So thaaaat's what it was. But still, she couldn't just let Akane keep recklessly endangering her life like this. Either she went back to her Uncle, or she got some guidance on how to get to her dream. Just like herself.
But the entrance to Beacon wasn't in her hands, though. She didn't exactly have the power for that.
Ruby tapped her fingers on the table as she leaned back. What to do, what do to….
Her thoughts were interrupted when someone knocked on the door. "Come in!" Ruby shouted. Not a moment later, a person stepped through the door carrying a cup of cocoa. A person Ruby knew well.
"Oh, Headmaster Ozpin!" Ruby smiled. "Having a nice night, professor?"
"Just like yours, Professor Rose." Ozpin smiled. "I take it you've spent quite the time with our young companion here?"
"Oh, we've been in here for a few minutes." Ruby chuckled. "Is there anything you need, Headmaster?"
"Well, it's regarding our young friend here." Ozpin turned his gaze to Akane. "Miss… Enko Akane, correct?"
Akane's vision shot from her lap to Headmaster Ozpin. With eyes wide in surprise, she nodded vigorously at his question.
"If I may ask, why exactly did you want to be a Huntress?"
"So I can help those in need," Akane said firmly. "Everyone around us has their own problems, and sometimes they can't finish it themselves. So why don't we take a little bit of our time to help them? That's what Huntsmen should do, right?"
"Correct, and quite the admirable trait." Ozpin nodded. "And do you know the risks that come with being a Huntress?"
"I do." Akane nodded solemnly.
Ozpin looked into those eyes. There was something different there. She fully understood what she was talking about, it seemed. No trace of ego or false pride. But that signature youth was still there, a youth that made her prone to mistakes should she not be trained.
"Hm… very well." Ozpin put his cup down and looked at Akane straight in the eye. "If that's the case, then what would you be willing to do to achieve that dream?"
"Anything." Akane answered in a heartbeat.
Ozpin continued to stare into Akane's eyes. Searching and searching, he stared without blinking for what seemed like several hours.
When Akane didn't back down one bit, Ozpin smiled and retreated his gaze. "Well if that's what you really want, then I have good news. As of today, you are eligible for the entrance exam to Beacon."
Ruby's head shot to the side to look at Ozpin's. This was sudden! And without telling her as well! What was his game here?
Ozpin didn't look at Ruby and kept his gaze on Akane. "Any charges today will be dropped. As long as you stay on good behavior, keeping the books clean shouldn't be too hard. Be sure to arrive at the test in three days, starting at 10.00 AM."
Meanwhile, Akane shot out of her seat in surprise.
" Seriously?! " She shouted. Without waiting for Ozpin's confirmation, she grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously. "Oh thank you thank you thank you! I promise I won't let you down!"
Ozpin chuckled. "Yes, yes. If your skills are worthy, then the test won't prove hard at all." He softly pried his hands free from Akane's. "Well, off you go then."
With more thank you's and I won't let you down's, an ecstatic Akane practically skipped away out from the interrogation room and into the streets. Ozpin's gaze followed her as she closed the door and left him alone inside with Ruby.
Ozpin kept his gaze away from Ruby but started speaking to her. "You must be asking what I was thinking, aren't you Professor Rose?"
"Something along those lines, yeah." Ruby leaned back in her seat and twisted it to look at Ozpin. "Mind telling me what this is about, Headmaster?"
"… You know the position we're in, right?" Ozpin said slowly.
It dawned on Ruby, and she spoke to fill in her part. "We're short on applicants this year?" She said sadly.
"Correct. The first in our history." Ozpin gave a slight nod. He gave a sad sigh. "Huntsman interest has been declining ever since the Grimm Wipeout ten years ago. The number of applicants has hit record lows year by year, and even after all of our efforts, it has barely improved, if at all. After all, why should you risk becoming a Huntsman when the police or the Expansion Corps are much easier? Better pay and more missions too, despite my struggles…"
Ozpin shook his head. "For this year… adding Ms. Enko should round up our numbers just right. And besides, the situation wasn't too different from yours either, Professor Rose."
"Yeah, that's true and all…" Ruby leaned back in her chair with her hands behind her head. But still, she couldn't help but wonder.
"What do you plan on doing with that 'Uncle' of hers?" Ruby asked Ozpin.
"Nothing." He said simply. "Beacon will give Ms. Enko shelter, and we'll… investigate when the time calls for it."
"Right, right…" Ruby gave absent nods. Then, her voice dropped to a whisper.
"Any news on the ' Queen', Headmaster?" Ozpin sighed and shook his head.
Ruby deflated, but only just.
If Salem was playing the long game with Grimm, then she was certainly winning.
Because compared to RWBY's days, back when they were still in the Academies, and even the year after it, and the year after that… it twisted her heart that there were barely any Huntsmen left. Remnant simply didn't need them if there were no more Grimm to fight.
The times had moved on.
The times had moved on.
And Jaune Arc just could not accept it.
Looking at the last note his 'niece' – his daughter in all but blood – had left him, he couldn't help but feel his body shake and his breath hitch.
'Dear Uncle Jaune.
By the time you read this, I'm probably already gone.
I'm so sorry. I know you've always tried to raise me as best you can. I know I wouldn't be anywhere if it weren't for you. And… honestly, this hurts me as much as it hurts you too.
But I want to see what the world has to offer. The world you told so many stories about.
I know you kept telling me that they're just stories. That they're just things to cling your hope to… but isn't it wrong if I want to know what that hope means too?
I want to see the world you saved, even if you yourself don't want to.
I'll come back, I promise. And if it's one thing you taught me, it's that people like us must never break their word.
I'll always love you.
Wishing you the best.
Akane.'
It had taken him hours to just- just read the note through and through. His sheer shock at the fact that Akane had left…
Had made the same mistake he did…
He knew where she was probably headed, of course. Beacon Academy. The premier Huntsman school in all of Remnant. But even for all his memories there, Jaune couldn't help but clench his fist and let out a shaky breath.
What Akane had said was true – he never said anything bad about the place. Quite the opposite in fact, he loved it with every fiber of his being, even if he only spent a fleeting amount of time there. It was his reason for living.
But it was also a great source of pain for him.
It was the one place where he had broken his word. The one place he fought with all his might to protect… all without a lick of recognition for it.
After all, he too had promised to come back there. Had promised to return one day. But at the state he was, at the things he had done and the sacrifices he had made… how could he come face to face with those he had been forced to leave behind?
The Huntsmen were in decline because of him. Because he had 'saved the world' as his allies called it, had slain a great evil as quote-on-quote 'the Rusted Knight'.
And he knew, deep in his heart, that RWBY and the rest of JNPR probably could've saved the world from Salem a lot better than some faker who was expelled because of his faked transcripts.
But now Akane had gone too – his other reason for living. Gone to the place he was unable – and sometimes, he'd admit that he was too scared - to see.
And Jaune couldn't help but crumple the note in his hands, head filled with worry amd anxiety and fearfearfear, and wonder.
'Why are the ones I love always out of my grasp?'