The Bloody Rose

XII: Revelations

"Well then, how long has it been since you two last met me?" Ozpin asked rhetorically as he glared at the two brothers from across his desk. The two brothers stood with their usual cocksure stance, but there was a slight hint of concern that caused Ozpin to feel wary.

"Now is not the time for your resentment, Ozma." The Brother of Light stated in a tone that brokered no argument before the the Brother of Darkness continued, oh how Ozpin hated their twin speak. "We have a problem, and you currently have a chance of stopping it before it reaches a threshold that will destroy Remnant." That caught Ozpin off guard, there wasn't anything that Ozpin could think of that caused the brothers to seem so...human.

"So what is this, problem?" Ozpin asked with an amount of venom that surprised himself. "Ruby Rose." The Brother of Light said calmly as he took a step towards the desk. "And how is Ms. Rose a problem for you two." Ozpin asked, doing his best to keep a smile from his face. "Ruby Rose has sold her soul to a dangerous creature from the realm we gods call our own, and has promised Remnant to this creature. It is a creature of war that-" the Brother of Darkness ranted on until his brother cut him off. "Enough brother. It is wrong to say that it is a creature of war, but that instead it IS war. If she and her followers remain on this world, they will destroy it in the name of her new god. For the good of Remnant, they must perish."

Ozpin simply watched the two, mentally taking notes on what they were talking about. "So, you two want me to kill one of my students?" He asked with a scarily calm tone, catching the attention of the the bickering brothers. "That is correct Ozma." The Brother of Light said with an understanding tone before he and his brother disappeared in a second flash of light. "Bastards." Ozpin muttered to himself with a sigh. He had long ago realised what listening to the brothers had cost him. It had cost him a loving wife, his four daughters, and a kingdom. With a heavy sigh, Ozpin reached for his scroll and dialled a number. "Hello, Tai? I've found Ruby, how fast can you get to Beacon?" Whether they were correct or not, Ozpin refused to kill one of his students, he was an educator after all.

*Scene Change*

Ruby stood in the centre of her war-band's small campsite and looked around with a smile. Her battle against CRDL had been barely an hour ago, but the adrenaline was still flowing through her veins. Her peace was interrupted by the sound of Crescent Rose's demonic voice in her mind. 'We should have killed them mother. We should have killed them and offered their skulls to Khorne.' Ruby nodded in agreement before responding with a whisper. "Remnant is different from the arena, we can't kill them. Not yet." The demonic voice of her rifle responded with a humorous mirth. 'For now it is, and also. Behind you.'

"Behind me?" Ruby muttered to herself before she felt someone slam into her from behind. Instinct took over in an instant and Ruby swung her head around as her hands balled into fists, but quickly found herself staring into the chocolate brown hair of Velvet. "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" The bunny Faunus girl repeated over and over again as she buried her head into Ruby's back. Confusion quickly spread across Ruby's face for a few brief moments before understanding dawned on her face.

Cardin was a well known bully in Beacon and Velvet been one of his favourite targets, solely because she was a Faunus. Looking beyond, Ruby noticed her friends running towards her. "Hey Red!" Coco Adel yelled as she came to a stop nearby. "Sorry about Velvet. Cardin got a lot worse since you disappeared, and given how his father was on the Valean Council, the staff couldn't do a thing to curb his behaviour." Coco explained as she noticed that Velvet was still holding Ruby as though she might disappear. "Right." Ruby nodded as she looked down at Velvet and tried to fight off a blush. "Care to explain this though?"

"Search me." Coco replied with a shrug as she looked at Velvet with a hint of concern as she watched her teammate finally let go of Ruby, but looked at her as with lovestruck eye's causing the fashionista to smirk. But the next words from Pyrrha caused everyone to nearly face-vault. "Hey Ruby, I was wondering if I could have a sparing match with one of your guys."

A.N. SURPRISE CLIFFHANGER! I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Don't forget to voice your thoughts in the comments, and I'll see you all next time.