Queen Ruby

Chapter 34

Monday morning is always a pain. No interesting classes, only boring classes and lectures about subjects Roman already drilled into my head. Every time a teacher asks me something I can answer them easily. I only once slipped up and accidentally said something that even the Teachers knew was the truth. Of course, they said I got it wrong and I pretended to have mixed up information from my fantasy books and my history books. My team is still acting weird, but I stopped noticing them when they glance over and whisper behind my back. They believe me now, but now they don't know how to act around me.

At lunch, I can hear the students around me talk to each other. The rumor of a new leader coming to fight a war against a demon, evil god or corrupt government was everywhere. A lot of different versions were going around and most were completely false. No one believed them, but those who did believe them didn't trust some stranger popping out of nowhere, claiming to know everything. They were the smart ones. They were the ones my team approached and invited. They were the ones who we asked to inform other, trustworthy individuals who would be willing to fight. This tactic worked quite well. At lunch team, JNPR, who we invited to the meeting like everyone else with a letter, won't stop talking about it.

"You guys got a letter to right?" Jaune asks excitedly. We all nod.

Do you think its real? I mean, it could all just be a stupid prank."

"You'll have to go to find out." Yang says before catching a piece of carrot in her mouth.

"Are you guys going?" Pyrra asks me.

"We would, but we are busy tonight. Ozpin wants to talk with us. I think we might be in trouble again." I sigh. Over the last few days, I discovered that Princes Ruby was much better of a liar then Huntress Ruby.

"Well, then we'll tell you if you miss out on anything interesting." Pyrra comforts me as I whine.

"Who do you think this leader is?" Jaune asks Pyrra.

"I think I'm pretty sure I know who she is." Ren suddenly interrupts the conversation. He looks straight at me when he says it.

"You think it's a girl?" Jaune asks him. He nods and turns his attention back to Nora, who just started another food fight with Yang. Since their big fight, they stay content with a few pies to the face. If they make another hole I the ceiling of the cafeteria, Professor Goodwitch would kill them.

'Ren really is smart, isn't he?' I hear a little voice call from inside me. I smile to myself and get back to the conversation with Pyrra and Jaune.

When evening comes, we put on our plastic masks and big capes to hide our clothes and hair. Until we know who we can trust, we can't afford to give away our identities. This was Oz idea to protect us in case of spies. Together with Oz, we make our way over to the temple an hour before the meeting even starts. No one is there yet. Not even guard. We sit down behind the temple and go over my speech again. One last time we rehearsal what I'm about to tell the world. When people start gathering, I send Blake and Yang to make sure everyone has their invitation with them or are with someone with an invitation. For extra security, we told everyone to wear something that hides their identity. Most wore masks or capes. I can recognize a few figures in the growing crowd. Uncle Qrow is standing in the front. He didn't even bother putting on a mask. Team JNPR and other students are scattered everywhere. I wouldn't be able to recognize them if I couldn't smell them. Roman calls me and tells me he is running late. I will have to summon him as soon as he texts me that he is ready. When it's finally time to go talk to everyone, about a hundred people are standing before me at the temple. I swiftly let my transformation fall and pull take off my cape. I keep my red mask on. Barefoot I walk into the middle of the temple. Oz follows me. Everyone in the crowd starts talking when they see the headmaster of Beacon next to me. When I raise a hand silence slowly falls over the crowd. I breathe in one last gulp of air before addressing them.

"Thank you all for coming this evening. I know you all must be dying to know why we are assembled here today." I pause and look around. The crowd is uneasy. "I have called soon this meeting because it is time for us to stand together and fight. An enemy is here, it already infiltrated us a long time ago and if we don't stop it soon, it will tear us apart from the inside. This enemy I talk about feeds of our fear. It uses outlet emotions against us. I called you all here to warn you and ask of you to help us fight. We can't win on our own, we need to stick together, trust each other and work together. The more people know the truth, the more people join the fight, the weaker she gets." I speak loudly so everyone can hear me.

"How can we trust what you say?" A voice calls out from the crowd.

"For now there is not much I can do to prove what I am about to tell you all, but our dear Professor Ozpin here can confirm everything I tell you. If his word is not enough to convince you, you are welcome to leave at any time."

"But of course, I must add, if any information we tell you here gets leaked, we make sure you end up behind bars. You will be treated as traitors to your country." Oz adds from behind me with a softness in his voice and a smile on his lips that would have crept me out back when I first met him. As soon as his words are spoken, a dozen masked figures leave. I sigh and continue. "If you need a reason to trust me, I can give one to you." Oz looks at me confused by those words. "The enemy I talk about calls herself Salem. She is quite literally the mother of Grimm. Her power can only be matched by her bloodlust. Even Oz isn't strong enough to kill her. The maidens could only ever keep her down for a little while. The only person with power, magic, strong enough to seal her away, even if only for a couple hundred years and at the cost of her life, was my ancestor. Her power was passed on to her daughter and to her daughter's daughter. Now it is with me." A laughter comes from the crowd as I tell them that.

I close my eyes and reach out.

'I hope you're ready.'