No, I haven't given up on RWBY Movie Night, but by Dust, this idea wouldn't leave me alone. Obviously, this is kind of AU, as we know almost literally nothing about these people. But, eh, enjoy anyway.
Disclaimer: I am not Monty Oum, nor am I affiliated with Rooster Teeth. Ergo, not mine!
For Tomorrow's Sake: Red Like Roses
Summer Rose was tired. Scratch that, she was downright exhausted. Today had been the busiest day she's had since…well, since having Ruby. First, her mission lasted way longer than expected. It seemed that they had underestimated the number of Beowolves that would be there, next she had to break up a brawl in the city, between some racist idiot and the Faunus that accidentally scratched his precious car. Summer couldn't stand people like that. It was all so frustrating. And of course, she'd had no respite at home. Really, she'd even say that trying to tuck a hyperactive two-year-old into bed was harder than what preceded it. At least Yang helped.
Sighing slightly as she entered the bedroom (Finally, some rest!), Summer took off her signature white hooded cloak, dropping it carelessly into the floor. She approached the bed, removing her high ponytail and letting down her dark red hair. She smiled as she saw her husband, Taiyang Xiao Long, already fast asleep, snoring and with some drool dripping from his mouth. She suppressed the urge to giggle. Tai was just so adorable when he was sleeping. He's had a busy day as well, and he certainly didn't waste any time getting to sleep.
Minutes later, Summer was snuggling her husband's side as she let sleep take her consciousness. Sometimes, she still wondered what she did to deserve such good fortune. Married to Tai, mother to two wonderful girls (Yang was her daughter, not that woman's. Frankly, Summer didn't know why you would even WANT to leave such a perfect little girl. Hmmph, her loss.). Well, she thought sleepily, maybe this day was really worth it. Yes, that's right. This family made everything worth it. Everything she did as a Huntress, they were for them. For Tai, for Yang, for Ruby. And with that final thought, Summer Rose fell asleep, her face buried into her husband's chest…
….And then she promptly woke up as her face unceremoniously smashed onto the cold marble floor. Cursing under her breath, she stood up, ready to tell off Tai for pushing her off the bed. Her words died in her throat when she noticed her surroundings. She wasn't in their bedroom. In fact, she was pretty sure this wasn't her house.
"W-what…?"
The room she was in was completely unfamiliar. The floor and walls were black marble. There weren't any window, nor were their doors, meaning there was no way in…or out. It was shaped like a large rectangle, with couches and seats dotting the room, and there was a rather large round table off to the side. The most striking feature of the room was the gigantic screen right in the middle. Probably because it was floating, which pretty much flew in the face of every law of reality that Summer knew.
The Huntress was snapped out of her shocked staring when she noticed that she wasn't the only person there. There were at least eight others, including…
"Snrk…Wait, what?! Summer, why am I on the floor?"
Her clueless husband. As Tai got up, absently rubbing his messy blond hair as he stared uncomprehendingly at the room, Summer turned to face him. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. This was far too bizarre.
At that moment, another voice spoke up. A voice that was very familiar to both Summer and Tai.
"Summer? Tai? Can someone tell me what the Grimm-infested hell is going on here?" The tone was sharp, annoyed. It seemed that the speaker was more irritated at the situation than confused.
Tai frowned at the speaker. "Qrow? Is that you?"
"No. I'm the tooth fairy. Obviously, it's me." the man replied sarcastically. Summer turned to look at him, with his black cloak, dark grey hair and sharp black eyes. Yes, that was definitely Qrow. He was scowling, obviously frustrated at the whole thing.
"Geez, Qrow. That time of month again?"
"Tai, can you be serious for one-!"
And with that, the silence in the room was broken as the people inside got over their shock and started to speak all at once.
"What's happening? Where are my babies?" A chubby blonde woman with her hair done in a braid asked, fear and worry in her eyes.
"I demand to know where I am!" Another woman, tall, fair-haired and imperious looking, a regal and haughty scowl on her face.
"This is most disturbing…." A third woman, petite and with black hair done up in a practical bun. She said this matter-of-factly, as if she wasn't much bothered at all.
"Everyone, calm down. This won't solve matters." A man this time, red haired and broad shouldered, the perfect build for a soldier. His voice, deep, calm.
"Hey! Do you think they have Beer here? I haven't drunk anything good in weeks!" A very large man with ginger hair, and a rather wild-looking beard. His voice was loud, cheerful.
Summer frowned. Her brain had started working again, and she was now trying to figure out what had happened. A kidnapping? But why them? She was a Huntress, but she wasn't that high up in the hierarchy…
A thought hit her like a bullet, making her panic. Where were Yang and Ruby? Oh, Dust, if they really HAD been kidnapped…Were her girls hurt?! She couldn't bear it if something happened to them because of her?
"Tai! Tai! What about Yang and Ruby?!" She called out to her husband, barely able to speak because of the lump in her chest.
Tai's face paled. He turned away from Qrow, whose face immediately softened. "I…damn! What happened to them?"
"I'm sure they're fine…" said Qrow, a bit awkwardly.
"How do you-!"
"Enough! Everyone calm down and stop talking. We need to approach this rationally. Panicking won't help any of us." Another new voice. This time, it was someone she recognized. And for the first time since waking up in this strange room, Summer felt they had a chance of figuring things out.
"Prof Oz! You're here too?" Tai asked, turning to look at the Beacon Headmaster, his face breaking into a relieved smile, although the worry and fear were still visible in his eyes.
"Indeed. But, like I said, we all need to calm down. Think things through." Ozpin said, calm as usual, but Summer noticed the tense grip he had on his cane.
Summer breathed deeply and tried to calm himself. The Headmaster was right. Panicking wouldn't help anyone. For Ruby and Yang, she had to keep herself together.
At that moment-!
Something fell from the sky, which Summer caught. It was a piece of paper. She looked at it. Perhaps a message from whoever put them there? But who could make things appear from thin air?
"Summer, please read it." ordered Ozpin, his face completely calm.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Summer nodded and began to read.
"Dear people, welcome to the Room of Visions. You have been brought here for an experiment. A few minutes after you read this letter, the screen will play visions of the future. Your future, basically. All you have to do is watch. At the end, you will be given a choice. Retain your memories and avert your fate, or erase said memories and let said fate come to pass. Also, you don't have to worry about anyone outside this room. When you are returned to your reality, no time would have passed. Have fun, then!
From, The Entities.
P.S. There's Beer in the cupboards. Also, lots and lots of popcorn."
Summer blinked. They had to be kidding. There was no way she was believing this. Any of this. This was completely and utterly insane.
The regal woman scoffed. "Entities indeed! What a load of nonsense!"
Qrow nodded. "This is bullshit. I say we just destroy the walls and fight off anyone who tries to stop us."
The large ginger man grinned. "I like your style! But before we go, I'll get some of the Beer, okay?"
"Qrow. We don't have our weapons." Tai pointed out flatly.
"Calm down, everyone. I believe we should see this through. These so-called "Entities" did manage to send us all here, not to mention make that message appear from out of nowhere. Besides, they promised to return us immediately afterwards." said Ozpin.
"You propose that we play along with this nonsense?" asked the red-headed man skeptically.
"Indeed. Or at least until we figure out how to leave."
The black-haired woman nodded. "I think it is a good idea. Or at least, the best one any of us has."
Summer sighed. She was still worried about her girls, but the Headmaster had a point. Besides, if these "Entities" were telling the truth…She would see them soon enough. And the future? Summer couldn't say she wasn't curious about her fate, or the fate of her family.
Summer reached out for Tai's hand, and he entwined his fingers with hers. Summer gave her husband a brief smile, and addressed everyone in the room.
"I say we do it."
Slowly, all the others nodded their agreement, with the blonde woman nodding first and Qrow and the regal woman last.
"Excellent. Now, before we proceed to, well, watch the future, or so they say, I do believe we need to introduce ourselves first. After all, we will be doing this together." Suggested Ozpin, a small smile on his face.
"I will go first, then, my name is Ozpin, Headmaster of Beacon Academy."
The others stared at him for a while, obviously scrutinizing such a famous figure. Then the large man laughed, and patted the Headmaster on the back (Which looked rather painful to Summer. She noticed that Ozpin had flinched ever slightly) and laughed loudly.
"Ha-ha! So, you're a bigshot, huh?! Nice ta meet ya! The name's Thorin! THORIN VALKYRIE, GREASTEST HUNTSMAN IN EXISTENCE! I also have the most adorable little girl in all of Remnant! No else can say otherwise."
In contrast, the redheaded man simply nodded politely at everyone. "Patroklos Nikos. Huntsman, from Mistral. It is an honor to meet all of you." Patroklos looked at Thorin with a slight smile. "And I do believe my own daughter can challenge your claim."
Thorin laughed yet again. "Is that so?! Ha! Well, then, I'd have to meet this girl of yours, Patty!"
"….Excuse me, but what did you just call me?"
Summer resisted the urge to laugh at the exchange. She didn't think that would be polite.
The regal woman spoke next, after a formal curtsy. "Willow Schnee, from the Kingdom of Atlas. You obviously know of my family."
"Actually, no. What did your family do again?" That was Thorin again.
Willow looked completely offended.
Summer once again resisted the urge to laugh.
The petite dark-haired woman spoke up, her voice quiet and barely audible but incredibly polite. "Honorable Huntsmen, my name is Lie Mei. I am friends with Thorin, as our children seem to be attached at the hip."
The blonde woman gulped nervously as she spoke. "Jeanne Arc, I'm not anything special, really, my husband is the Huntsman. I'm just a mother of eight. And, Mister Thorin, I still maintain that my girls are the most adorable."
"Good grief, is this a competition?!" Willow remarked, annoyed.
"A competition, you say? I insist that my daughter will win. In any completion, really." replied Patroklos.
Summer was staring at Jeanne. Mother of eight?! She had no idea how the woman had done that. Bearing one was hard enough! In fact, she seemed to remember swearing to never again have another one after Ruby. She also might have thrown something at Tai when she was in labor. Maybe.
The amused smirk on Tai's face probably meant he knew what she was thinking. She elbowed him in the gut, but that damnable smirk was still on his face.
"I'm Qrow Branwen. I'm a Huntsman and a teacher at Signal. Also, I'll never have children. My nieces pretty much scared me off from them." Qrow deadpanned.
"Oy, our girls aren't that bad!" protested Tai.
"….Actually, Tai, I think they are." Summer remarked, smiling. Her girls. Adorable, but high maintenance. They were the most perfect people in the world to her.
Tai shrugged. "Anyway, I'm Taiyang Xiao Long. I'm also a Huntsman and teacher at Signal. And I'm definitely better than that dusty old bird."
Qrow glared at him.
Tai just smirked. "And this is my wife…"
"Summer Rose, Huntress and mother of two. Nice to meet all of you."
Ozpin nodded at all of them. "Excellent, now, I think we should take our seats. It seems the "future" visions are starting."
True enough, the screen had flickered to life. Everyone in the room scrambled to the couches and seats, with Thorin actually grabbing a bottle from the cupboard first. Summer seated herself in between Tai and Qrow, her eyes fixed on the screen.
The future…
She wondered what it held.
The beginning chords of Red Like Roses are heard as the black reveals the words:
ROOSTER TEETH presents
"Rooster Teeth?" asked Jeanne, a confused expression on her face.
"...Cockbite." Tai replied immediately.
"Excuse me?!" demanded Willow, a disgusted look on her face.
Tai shrugged. "It's a pun. Rooster Teeth...cockbite. Do you guys get it?"
Thorin snorted out the beer he had been drinking, while the others simply looked annoyed.
"Tai?"
"Yeah, Qrow?"
"Grow up."
Summer sighed. "But what does that have to do with the future?"
No one had any answer to that.
The text glows and scatters in red and white petals, and the full moon is shown amid falling snow and a floating red petal.
a new series by MONTY OUM
"Who the Dust is Monty Oum?!" demanded Qrow, an annoyed look on his face.
Summer frowned. This was supposed to be visions of the future. Why did it look like they were just watching some TV show?! Maybe the "Entities" were lying! And that meant that Yang and Ruby were...No, don't think like that!
Ozpin scrutinized the screen, an unreadable expression on his face.
Several more petals join the original, which passes over the words and dissolves them in red and black.
A figure in a red hood and flowing cloak is seen under the moon and in a snowy landscape, the cape constantly producing dozens of wind-blown rose petals
"Nice atmosphere." Patroklos commented. He then blushed as everyone other than Thorin (Who was obliviously drinking his beer) stared at him strangely.
"Er...I thought I could comment on it? I mean...we are...watching...in a theater? No? Er, sorry?"
Jeanne smiled at him kindly. "It's quite alright. I guess we can all comment when we feel the need."
"...That would make things longer." Willow whispered to herself.
Qrow snorted in agreement.
Tai looked at him seriously. "Qrow, I think you have some kind of snorting disease. You should have that checked out."
Summer smiled slightly at their antics.
"I wonder who this figure is..." said Mei softly.
Ozpin nodded in agreement of her point.
An altar is seen near the edge of the cliff that the person is standing at, who turns and walks away to let the audience see the rose symbol on the marker and the words "Summer Rose - Thus Kindly I Scatter".
Qrow was the first to notice the name on the grave marker. He stood up, cursing. "What the hell?! No! This isn't going to happen!"
The others glanced at Summer worriedly, with Ozpin calling her name softly. But Summer Rose couldn't hear anything.
Dead. She was dead. Gone. Rotting below the cold earth. She was...She broke into shudders, as chills wracked her body. She didn't want to die! She couldn't...Oh, no, Dust! She had left her girls! And Tai...
Summer noticed Tai. He had an utterly broken expression on his face, as he looked down at his shaking hands.
No. Don't break down. She had to be strong. For her family. Tai didn't deserve another person to leave him. And the girls needed their mother.
She reached out for her husband. "We can change this. I'm here...here...I won't leave, I promise." Summer whispered into his ear, wrapping her arms around him.
Tai jerked, and nodded shakily.
"Keep going." His voice was hoarse.
Qrow frowned. "Are you sure?"
"I said keep going!"
The red-hooded wanderer slowly walks through a snowy forest, where shadowy, beastly shapes quickly dart through, before coming to a clearing and looking around at the sight of around a dozen black-coated, red-eyed Beowolves circling their prey.
"Fuck! Beowolves!" snarled Qrow, eyes now fully fixed on the screen. Summer knew he was thinking of their first mission together, when they had failed to save a small settlement from a pack of these same monsters. She knew that Qrow was still haunted by that failure, as she and her husband were.
Tai clenched his fists. "Come on, come on. Someone save this girl!"
Summer wholeheartedly agreed. After finding out her own fate, the least she could hope for was that her visitor wouldd be safe.
But who was this girl? She wore a cloak like hers, only red...A red cloak...
Her eyes widened. No, it can't be!
Patroklos stared at the screen in rapt attention. "A Huntsman will come, I'm sure of it. This is our duty, after all."
"Oh, I hope so. I don't want to see that poor girl get hurt!" Jeanne exclaimed, wringing her hands.
Even Thorin was silent as they all waited.
Three decide to dash forward and attack through jumping, but the figure disappears in a swish of rose petals, and the creatures crash to the ground and look up.
Thorin grinned ferally. "It seems this little girl knows a thing or two. Yes, some action. Something to pump the blood! I wish to see these monsters taken down!"
Ozpin nodded. "Then the girl is a Huntress. Interesting. And if the girl was…visiting…Summer, then it stands to reason she knew your family well."
Tai nodded, and it seemed he was trying to keep from thinking about his wife in the grave. "Yeah, but we don't know any Huntresses other than, you know, her. And this girl sure as hell ain't my first wife!"
Summer was silent. She was mentally begging all the gods to please let her be wrong. Her baby girl wasn't fit for a life like this!
Outlined by the moon's light, her cape swirling around her body, is Ruby, who reaches behind her in slow-motion, pulls out a rifle, and fires a shot that blows a large part of a Beowolf's head out in a burst of blood-red smoke.
"Ha! Yes, take them down, small girl! Kill them all!" exulted Thorin, jumping up and down in excitement.
Mei sighed and manually pulled down the larger man. "Thorin, calm down, you're upsetting Miss Schnee."
Willow was, in fact, very upset.
Qrow's jaw had dropped. "Son of a bitch. That's..."
Damn it. She was right. No. No. Why? Why was this happening? From what she'd seen so far, this future was terrible.
Summer and Tai looked at each other, horror etched on both of their faces.
They spoke the same word. At the same time.
"Ruby."
The others looked at them.
"Pardon me, but who is Ruby?" Patroklos asked curiously.
"Their younger daughter." Ozpin replied grimly, as the two parents couldn't seem to speak.
Jeanne let out a gasp and walked over to take Summer's hand. "It will be alright. I promise it will be." She comforted kindly.
Summer and her husband gave her a shaky smile.
They turned their eyes back at the screen. Please, let her get through this unharmed.
More Beowolves start to attack as Ruby lands. She leaps over the first beast and shoots it in the back, then, still in the air, blasts another one's side and gets into a position where she can fire at the third dead center. She rolls back and stands, unfolding Crescent Rose into its larger - and deadlier - scythe form.
Tai whirled around and punched Qrow in the face. "What the HELL, Qrow?! How could you teach my daughter...how could you let her..."
"I'm helping her survive! Look at how well she's doing!" retorted Qrow, standing up and getting ready for a fight.
"Enough!" Summer shouted, pulling down both men. Her nerves were tested enough with this vision. She didn't need them adding to it.
The two men glared at each other, but didn't say anything else.
...And then Thorin spoke. "Very nice weapon. Useful for cutting AND shooting. She will turn these wolves into mush very soon."
Patroklos facepalmed at his obliviousness, while Willow glared.
Mei sighed yet again. "Thorin, keep your comments to yourself for now. Please."
"What did I say?"
One of the braver Beowolves goes forward, but Ruby merely spins, hooks its body in the curve of her blade, smiles at the camera as the monster growls, and fires the sniper section at speeds that sever the creature's body in a shower of petals. Both halves land on the ground, continuing to bleed roses, and the rest of the pack charges.
Ruby, rotating the weapon, unloads her spent bullet and drives the blade into the ground, firing from a single spot at several approaching monsters until one swipes at her feet, narrowly missing as she jumps up with Crescent Rose and blasts back, digging it into the ground again when she sees more creatures emerging from the woods.
Patroklos looked impressed. "I...have never seen such control. I know this sounds insensitive, but your daughter is truly gifted."
Jeanne's jaw had dropped, and it seemed even Willow was completely speechless.
Summer managed a small, though still sligthly forced, smile. "That's my girl." She had to admit, she was impressed. She couldn't help but be proud of her daughter. Quite frankly, she was amazing. And, now, at least, she knew Ruby had the skills to survive.
"Indeed. Most impressive. She will be a fine Huntress." said Ozpin, smiling slightly as well.
"Oy, I taught her." grumbled Qrow.
"And she is way better than you."
"You shut up, Xiao Long."
It seemed Tai and Qrow were back to normal. Good.
"Hah! Wolf mush!"
"….You can't turn wolves into mush, Thorin."
"CHUNKY SALSA, THEN!"
A Beowolf almost gets her with its claws, but she twists out of the way, fires at the monster in front of her to make the weapon and wielder spin, and kicks at the one behind her. She twirls the scythe and cuts down Beowolves from both sides, dodging another attack to hook a beast in and blast out at an approaching creature to kill both.
Ruby leaps over two, goes in to dismember and cut down one, and catches another's neck in her blade with her on the beast's back before pulling the trigger and beheading it while flying upwards. Two Beowolves follow, but she shoots her way down and slices them up when she has to block from a wolf's swipe on the ground, which pushes her back and lets her see the large number of enemies left.
Nodding, Ruby drops her previous cartridge, inserts another with a cross symbol, loads it in, and blasts off at a higher speed than ever before, coming at the dumbfounded Beowolves like a rocket when she converts the scythe to a sickle-shape and spins her way through the mass, cutting up and down, left and right, leaving bullets, rose petals, and blackened body parts flying into the air. She disembowels them quicker and quicker until the last one falls, she blasts into a jump, and lands in a pose with her scythe hanging behind her as bullets rain from the sky.
And now everyone's jaws dropped as Ruby demonstrated more of her fighting style. They all sat there, completely speechless.
Summer broke the silence, a proud smile growing on her face. "She wasn't hit even once! Not a scratch on her!"
Tai punched the air. "That's my girl! I'm proud of you! You should never do that again, but I'm proud of you!"
Summer nodded, in complete agreement with her husband.
"HA! Chunky SALSA!"
No one even bothered to reply to Thorin. It seemed they had gotten used to the man.
Ruby's form is darkened to a silhouette against the red moon while credits are seen under her image, right before the picture spins and slides itself into the collection of other unseen girls (though Ruby's concept art is seen in a moment) and the title of the show is announced as RWBY - COMING 2013.
As the vison faded, no one spoke, still overwhelmed at what they had seen. The viewers simply waited for the next one.
Summer stared at the screen. This future, it had some terrible events coming up. She had made her decision. She was going to change this.
For everyone's sake.