Guardians and Royalty (Part I): Prelude

Characters: Weiss Schnee, Ruby Rose, Blake Belladonna, Yang Xiao Long, Adam Taurus, Cinder Fall, Roman Torchwick, Neopolitan, Emerald Sustrai, Mercury Black, OC(Athena Blut), OC

Pairings: Whiterose, Bumblebee, Emeraldwings

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters or settings, these belong to Rooserteeth and Monty Oum, may he rest in peace.

Summary:

Princess Weiss Schnee must reclaim her right to the throne, but doing so will be challenging, especially given her only help lies in a hyperactive blacksmith, a former gang enforcer, and of course a traitorous assassin. What could go wrong?

White Castle, Atlas (Capital of the Vytal Empire)

Standing there Weiss groans, must Father continue to throw these suitors at my feet? I believe I've made it abundantly clear that I don't like anyone he has sent… Without another look at the man kneeling before her patiently Weiss stepped away. The white haired beauty shakes her head in exasperation as she hides behind the door of the next room. Maybe I should go back? I mean he definitely wasn't the worst… Looking through one of the frosted panes of glass though Weiss watches the suitor continue to kneel, obedient like a dog… Squashing the thought of going back Weiss spins on her heel and with a chin held high slams into the girl behind her. The two women are sent sprawling, much to Weiss' displeasure and the other's fear.

"Oh no oh no oh no. I'msosorryIcan'tbelievehowmuchofaclutsIam! My sister is always telling me to watch where I'm going better… Oh Dust I am so dead! You'rePrincessSchnee! IjustranintothePrincess! I'm gonna get jailed, or behanded… Or Beheaded!"

Weiss just stares as the slightly younger woman picks herself up and extends her hand to the fallen princess. Weiss was captured by the mysterious Silver orbs of the brunette, red dye highlighting the tips of the Silver eyed woman's hair. A pointed chin and adorably distressed face only made it harder for the princess to regain control of herself.

"Oh no! Please tell me I didn't get you sick somehow! Are you alright you're becoming red!" The silver eyed woman shouts as she frets over the fallen princess before Weiss' mind takes control. She's adorable!

No! She's a dangerous pest, I mean she was carrying a rapier… Oh Dust that's Myrtenaster. I can't yell at her! She's my weapons engineer! Standing up without warning, or assistance Weiss struggles to fix her face into its usual glare.

"What is your name?" The Princess asks coldly, her crystaline blue coloured eyes focusing on the metallic pools fixed upon the ground.

"Ruby… Ruby Rose. Am I in trouble, Princess Schnee?" Ruby asks meekly. Dust she's even more adorable like this! Weiss mentally slaps herself to take over her mind once more. Snap out of it Schnee! You're stronger than this!

Yah but she's cute, whines the other voice in the Princess' head, only serving to anger her further, at herself that is.

"Ruby? Ruby, let me ask why it is you were bringing my beloved weapon to this room," Weiss states, attempting reign in her emotions.

"Well I was told this is where you'd be… And well… I'd thought you might want to take a look at the modifications I made. I mean you are the Princess you need the best weapons, and I was hoping you'd like the work I'd done…" Ruby peters out, shuffling her toes and twirling her thumbs. Weiss knew then that it was probably impossible for her to control her emotions, or feelings around the bumbling weapons expert.

"Well then, let's have a look, shall we?" Weiss motions to the discarded rapier, already noticing it to be much shinier than she'd remembered. Ruby stood there for a second before her mind rebooted and in a flash of rose petals the rapier was in its wielder's grasp.

Better balance than it used to have, especially given this redesigned guard… Wait a second is there small spikes coming off the guard's Dust chamber? Those spikes would give me better leverage if I ever got into a guard clash with another opponent. Plus the cylinder and revolution device has been upgraded, the Dust cylinder will rotate even faster for Dust selection, and it looks like it's been upgraded to an eight Dust Vial cylinder as well. The handiwork is amazing, and still manages to function without any changes to primary functions, I can't help but believe that just maybe this work is near, if not, perfect. Running her hands along the magic words carved delicately into the blade Weiss smiles. Sadly for the white haired woman her smile is caught by the weapons expert. Ruby's hyperactive tendencies shoot into overdrive.

"Youlikeit! Ohmygod! Howdoyoulikethenewcylinderandtherevolutionchange! AlsoIenchnacedthemagicbyinfusingitwithamoremagicreceptivematerialandgivingtherunesandwordsaboost!" Ruby shouts gleefully. The Princess merely stares at her weapons engineer, mind numb from the stream of unspaced words as she tries to decipher the vomit of words. No wonder I've never met her, of course there is definitely a reason Father hired her, and given this work I think I know why. Doing her best to school her face into a neutral expression Weiss turns back to Ruby and holds her hand out for Myrtenaster's sheath.

"You've gotten my attention Ruby Rose, let's see what you can do. Come with me," Weiss commands as she heads for the training room, a smirk on her face. This is going to be very interesting, I really hope I'm right.

Slum Districts, Atlas

Why do they always run? Growling in anger Yang charges down the alleyway, her heavy combat boots stomping through the puddles. Yang's anger only grows as her socks are quickly soaked, water levels rising in the slums of Atlas' bowels. Sliding across the ground and soaking her pants as she jumps, tackling her target onto the ground.

"So you thought you could skip town without paying your debts, didn't you?" Yang growled as her metallic arm hissed. I really hate that sound! Slamming her fist into the ground and cracking the stones. Tuckson, the Panther Faunus, jerks his head to the side, avoiding the ground pound which would have pancaked his head.

"How many times do I have to tell you! I don't have any debts to the Flame Gang! Torchwick cleared me himself, so why in Dust are you still after me!" Tuckson shouts angrily, trying to shake off the enforcer on his back.

"Torchwick always expects to be paid, so where's the money Tuckson, you have until three and then I take you to Torchwick himself."

Groaning impatient Tuckson quickly realizes he can't get rid of Yang. With one last final push Tuckson gives up when he fails to knock Yang off.

"How many times do I need to say it? Torchwick cleared me, get your hands off!" Tuckson shouts. Yang grabs the back of his head and pulls it back to slam into the cobblestones. He just doesn't seem to get it… does he?

"Torchwick may have said he cleared you, but that doesn't protect you from me, doesn't protect you at all!" Yang shouts slamming his head forward into the ground. Repeating the action again and again Yang shouts in anger. Finally giving in and dropping the bloody faced Faunus' head Yang stands up and off him, clockwork arm clanking with the slightest movements. Dust Damn this mechanical arm! Turning Yang is quickly alerted to the appearance of another person in the alleyway, the distinctive sound of clockwork legs instantly recognizable. "So, who do you work for?"

"I'm my own woman, but the man you're beating down is important to me, alive," the newcomer states. Yang twists her body to stare at the other woman. Clothed in a long red jacket accented in white, a lord guardsmen style vest is buttoned up beneath the jacket, and a large broadsword is sheathed on her hip. One hand on her thigh, long pants no doubt covering the clockwork prosthetics the woman had for legs. "So how's about you stop beating him to death and you and I make a deal?"

"I'm listening…" Yang says skeptically, her mind wondering what this woman wanted to talk about it.

Fang Castle, Far side of Remnant Isles

"This could be going better Adam," Blake hisses at her Lord and the Master Assassin of The White Fang. Adam grunts in response, his eyes still glued to the map before him. The blood red glow of the Mark of The Dark on Adam's hand intensifies, before the world around him fades.

The Timekeeper, his green suit and scarf highlighted by the darkened area surrounding him, the world seeming shattered. Glasses hide The Timekeeper's eyes as his silver hair bobs with his head.

"You've lost my interest Adam… these plans of yours aren't what I had hoped. I look forward to seeing how you fare, without my guidance."

Author's Note:

I hope you like this AU, it is my own design of a Steampunk RWBY AU with some inspiration coming from Dishonored and the like given the sequel having recently come out. I'm wondering whether or not Ruby should be a Faunus of some type though? And whether or not Ironwood and Winter should play a major role. Please message or review if you have suggestions, ideas, opinions, or feedback.