HOLY FUCK. This is the longest chapter of anything I've ever written like, ever. Bear in mind my internet is being very shitty at the moment and I wrote most of the episode based on the transcript and memory. I've decided to go with the script style due to this, added with the fact I need to develop my script writing skills for VCE Media. Top Screens, here I come!

Summer shifted in her seat, glancing at her team mates. Taiyang was frowning in confusion, Raven was darting her eyes from the blond to the ground, occasionally meeting Summer's silver eyes, and Qrow was scowling with his arms crossed. She had a good guess as to why he was angry.

Summer herself was confused. They began with questions, and four visions later none have been answered. Why was a girl who looked exactly like her – her daughter, probably – called 'sis' by Yang – who was so visibly Tai and Raven's girl? Who was the masked man in the third vision? And, most importantly, where were they?

Peering over to the two teachers, she clutched her white cloak and pulled it closer to her. The action gave her comfort. The pair were fixated on the screen. She opened her mouth, thinking of what she could say to break the uncomfortable silence.

"Something wrong, Miss Rose?" Ozpin asked, glancing at Summer. She swallowed, closing her mouth. Her team's attention was brought to the two.

"No, sir," she answered, bowing her head. Locks of red hair fell from behind her ear, covering her cheeks. She gazed up before adding, "I'm just confused."

"I think we all are," he reasoned, smiling softly. "There's no need to fret, Miss Rose. I'm sure all will be answered soon enough."

"You sound a tad too confident in that statement, Oz." Qrow eyed the professor warily, before pointing his finger and declaring, "you're the one who brought us here!"

The others ignored the accusation (although Raven turned around and glared daggers at him). Summer sighed. "I just… this is all too much to handle right now."

"Don't worry – I'm sure you're not alone there," Ozpin reassured. She glanced back at her team, who shrugged back at her, all smiling sheepishly. "For now, I believe it would be best for all of us to continue to watch these visions and learn from them."

"Not like we have a choice," Qrow grumbled.

The lights dimmed once more. Summer turned her attention back to the screen. There was so much she wanted to know – so many questions she wanted to be answered. And now was the time.

The screen fades in to a painting of Beacon Academy, panning up as a narrator speaks.

Narrator: "Legends. Stories scattered through time. Mankind has grown quite fond of recounting the exploits of heroes and villains, forgetting so easily that we are remnants, by-products, of a forgotten past."

Her voice – for the narrator was a woman – was alluring and powerful.

"It can't be!" Ozpin gasped. His eyes were as wide as saucers, his jaw hung and sweat dripped from his forehead Summer had never seen the headmaster so… emotional before. He was beyond scared, he was terrified.

It seemed that this was also a strange scene for Professor Goodwitch, as she began shaking Ozpin's shoulders. "Professor!" she cried out. Ozpin stayed frozen on the spot, fixated on the screen.

The gems on the tower in the painting glow emerald green and fade. In its place, an image of a man rises from Remnant. He is soon surrounded by creatures of Grimm, held back by warriors.

Narrator: "Man, born from dust, was strong, wise, and resourceful, but he was born into an unforgiving world."

Raven snorted. "That's an understatement."

Summer found herself agreeing. During their previous year, she had seen cruelty first-hand. The experience had forced her to strip away her naïve nature and to lead her team – to make sure those she was responsible for survived. She glanced at Ozpin, remembering his gentle words whenever she asked him for advice. He was ashen white still.

Who is that woman? Summer thought, heart beating. To make Professor Ozpin like this…

Narrator: "An inevitable darkness – creatures of destruction – the creatures of Grimm – set their sights on man and all of his creations. These forces clashed, and it seemed the darkness was intent on returning man's brief existence to the void."

The darkness brought by Grimm consumes the screen, but suddenly lessens as a light grows brighter. A dust crystal rises from the light, and lowers in the hands of man.

Narrator: "However, even the smallest spark of hope is enough to ignite change, and in time, man's passion, resourcefulness, and ingenuity led them to the tools that would help even the odds. This power was appropriately named 'Dust'."

"How is 'dust' appropriate?" Taiyang wondered.

"Well, it is," Qrow said.

"But appropriate? Why not just call it 'magic crystal' or something?" Taiyang pointed out. "It seems a little… weird to call the word 'dust' appropriate."

Qrow frowned for a moment, looking for a counter. He sighed. "The name sounds cool?"

"…Eh, I'll take it," the blond brawler shrugged, crossing his arms and leaning back on his chair. Summer chuckled lightly.

Ozpin had somewhat calmed down from his episode before. He was no longer as pale, nor were the whites of his eyes so large, but he still appeared unsettled. Goodwitch whispered something in his ear. He glanced at Summer for a moment before murmuring a single word back.

The scene zooms out to show men shooting lightning, raising swords, and aiming guns at the retreating beasts as a castle appears behind them.

Narrator: "Nature's wrath in hand, man lit their way through the darkness, and in the shadow's absence came strength, civilization, and most importantly, life."

The castle zooms out to show a map of Remnant, which houses other buildings until they disappear in flashes of white and the map is lowered to show the scattering moon over a city at night.

"Is that Vale?" Raven asked.

"I think it is," Summer answered. The architecture was very much Vale design – although it may have been Mistral, as the two continents had very similar cultures.

Narrator: "But even the most brilliant lights eventually flicker and die. And when they are gone… darkness will return."

A shiver ran up Summer's spine. The woman narrating sounded so confident in her last statement. She could somewhat understand why Ozpin would have been so scared by her (his fear, however, was more than likely personal).

"Like dust darkness will return!" Taiyang shouted, raising his fist. "Not as long as we, Team STRQ, are here to defend the day!" He stood up and posed dramatically on his chair.

Raven tugged at his shorts. He laughed, scratching the back of his head awkwardly before falling back down on his chair.

A well-dressed man in white walks on screen, followed by a posse of Junior's thugs. He has flaming orange hair and a cigar set between his teeth. He relights the cigar as he walks down the street, grinning. He frights the nearby civilians as they make their way to a shop labelled From Dust Till Dawn.

"Why are that bastard's bastards there?" Raven growled. She had developed a hatred for Junior ever since the 'almost kiss' in the last vision.

"They better prepare themselves for another ass-whooping," Taiyang added. The two eyed each other and gave each other small smiles - thinking about Yang, no doubt.

"I'm surprised that store is still up," Glynda commentated. Summer nodded in agreement. She knew the store, the middle-aged man running the store made terrific noodles and she would eat them whenever she had the chance.

Narrator: "So you may prepare your guardians, build your monuments to a so-called 'free world' but take heed… there will be no victory in strength."

Summer narrowed her brows. The narrator's tone had changed significantly. It was no longer alluring, informative. She sounded threatening. Dangerous.

The man and Junior's thugs enter the store. The camera lowers to the red-cloaked girl in the corner, reading a weapon magazine while blaring music from her headphones.

"Yes!" Qrow pumped his fist in the air, grinning wildly. Raven, Taiyang, Summer and surprisingly Glynda smiled at the sight of the familiar girl.

Ozpin: "But perhaps victory is in the simpler things that you've long forgotten. Things that require a smaller, more honest soul.

"Professor Ozpin?" Summer swallowed. All eyes were set on their headmaster. He closed his eyes and sighed. "Do you know that woman?"

He gazed at Summer, a sad reflection in his eyes. "Yes."

The room stayed silent. No one knew what to say.

The henchmen glance around as the orange-haired man approaches the elderly shopkeeper. He flicks his cigar.

Man: "Do you have any idea how hard it is to find a Dust shop open this late?"

One of the thugs aims his gun at the shopkeeper, who raises his hands in surrender.

Shopkeeper: "P-please! Just take my Lien and leave!"

Man: "Shh, shh, shh, shh. Calm down, we're not here for the money."

He turns to the henchmen.

Man: "Grab the Dust."

"Why do they need dust?" Taiyang wondered. "Why not just steal Lien?"

"Ammunition, most likely," Raven said. "Either they want more weaponry or they want to take away theirs. Or both."

"They were hijacking a Schnee train before," Qrow pointed out. "They were probably after their dust too."

A henchman opens a case and removes one of several cylinders, which the thugs use to take dust from tube containers on the walls. Another henchman slams an open case on the display to the shopkeeper.

Henchman: "Crystals. Burnt. Uncut."

The shopkeeper proceeds to fill the case. As another thug goes for a tube, he heard muffled beats from the red-haired girl's direction. He snarls and unsheathes his sword - a red blade – and approaches the girl. He aims the blade at her back.

Henchman: "Alright kid, put your hands where I can see 'em."

Summer let out a short laugh. As if a thug could take down her.

The girl gives no response – she cannot hear anything over the sound of her music. The thug narrows his brows.

Henchman: "I said hands in the air! You got a death wish or something?"

He tugs her shoulder and turns her around. Her red hood drops, revealing red hair and surprised silver eyes. He motions for her to lower them. She does so, furrowing her brows.

Girl: "Yes?"

Henchman: "I said, put your hands in the air, now!"

"Really? He's robbing her?" Qrow raised a brow, crossing his arms, unimpressed.

Girl: "Are you… robbing me?"

The male Branwen twin gestures at the screen. "Exactly!"

Henchman: "Yes!"

Girl: "Ooooh…"

The orange-haired man waits for his men to finish the heist, when suddenly cries are heard from the other side of the shop. A henchman flies past him. He rolls his eyes and calmly motions for another thug to handle the girl.

Team STRQ cried with laughter. They knew the girl would win – they had seen the henchmen's skills and her own skills, and it was evident who was the better fighter.

Henchman: "Freeze!"

The scene cuts to outside the store. The henchman and the girl crash through the window, shattering the glass. The other men look outside as the girl stands up and unfolds her weapon into its scythe form.

Glynda tutted in disapproval. "Honestly, causing so much collateral damage."

"Don't be so harsh, Glynda," Taiyang said. Glynda's eye twitched at his use of her first name. "She's just trying to save the day."

"A huntsman must always be cautious of their surroundings," Ozpin added, agreeing with his co-worker. "Lest they cause any unwanted causalities."

The orange-haired man scowls. The red-haired girl smiles. She twirls her weapon around, striking the tip into the ground and clicking her headphones off.

Man: "Okay…"

He nods to the girl, addressing the thugs.

Man: "Get her!"

The thugs head out of the shop and charge at the girl. She spins around her scythe and lands a kick on the first henchman, knocking him unconscious. She pulls her weapon from the ground and fires dust bullets to another one with the butt of the weapon, sending him flying. She fires again, bringing it down to another thug and dodges gunfire, knocking him in the air and beating him away to the orange-haired man's feet.

A surging pride arose in Summer's chest. Just seeing the girl fight filled her with satisfaction.

"Go, girl!" Qrow and Taiyang cheered.

The man glances down at the thugs.

Man: (sarcastically) "You were worth every cent. Truly, you were."

He addresses the red-haired girl, dropping his cigar and crushing it with his cane. The alarms of police sirens are heard in the distance.

Man: "Well, Red, I think we can all say it's been an eventful evening, and as much as I'd love to stick around…"

"No! Arrest yourself!" Qrow yelled.

Raven rolled her eyes. "Yes. He's going to hand himself in."

He raises his cane, opening up the bottom to reveal a rife with a cross grid.

Man: "…I'm afraid this is where we part ways."

He unleashes a red blast at the girl, who fires at the ground and leaps over it. She looks up after she lands, searching for the man. She spies him climbing up a ladder on a nearby building.

"Coward!" Taiyang growled. "Stay and fight! Let her kick your ass."

"Again," Raven said, "he's going to stay and fight the girl who just defeated all of his men."

The girl turns her head to the shopkeeper.

Girl: "You okay if I go after him?"

The shopkeeper nods in approval, and the girl rushes off. The scene cuts to the rooftop. The man has just made it to the top, with the girl high-flying and landing right behind him.

"Using her gun to jump higher." Glynda stroked her chin, thinking. "How creative."

Girl: "Hey!"

The man stops at the edge of the building.

Man: (muttering) "Persistent."

A getaway airship rises and opens a hatch, allowing for the man to step inside. He turns, holding up a red dust crystal.

Man: "End of the line, Red!"

"Get back!' Summer cried out, eyes wide.

He throws the gem at her feet and fires at it, resulting in a large explosion. The man reels his head back and cackles. He suddenly stops when he spies something on the roof.

A blonde woman with vibrant green eyes and a purple cape stands in front of Ruby, casting a glyph of protection over them with her wand.

"Professor!"

The students and Ozpin turned to look at the blonde duelling instructor. She was much younger than her onscreen counterpart, but the similarities were clear. That was her future.

She was silent for a moment, before she slowly settled on a smug smile. "Good to see I'm still alive."

The red-haired girl looks on as Glynda waves her weapon and summons several streaks of purple at the aircraft. The man is thrown around the ship until he reaches the cockpit. A woman in red, face unseen, is struggling with the controls.

Man: "We got a huntress!"

The woman gets up and heads towards the back as the man takes the controls. Glynda glows purple for a moment and aims another blast above the craft, resulting in a dark storm-cloud over the vehicle.

"Woah, I never knew you were that good," Taiyang whistled. "No wonder you're our teacher."

Glynda smiled, pushing her glasses towards her face. "Thank you, Mr Xiao Long."

Man: "The hell?"

With a flick of her wand, large jagged hail starts pummelling the jet and breaks through the window, narrowly missing the man. The red-clad woman reaches the back, glass heels clicking on the floor. Her arms and chest light up like a fire, and she aims a burst of hot energy at Glynda.

The two professors gasped, and Summer caught them just in time to see the two give each other knowing frightened glances. Ever since that vision had begun, the two teachers were growing more and more pale and nervous, even more so than Taiyang and Raven back in the previous vision. The two were hiding something from STRQ, that much was evident. Hiding a lot of things, actually.

Summer gazed back at the screen. They may just find out their secrets eventually.

Glynda blocks the blast, but the flames splattered behind her and a red eye glows hot in them. The woman raises her hand, causing an explosion which Glynda dodges. Glynda then gathers the shards of the building to form an arrow and fires it at the ship. The woman shatters the shards with several blasts, but it reforms just in time to the side of the jet. The wreckage separates and reshapes into smaller arrows that encircle the jet. The woman summons several glowing rings around herself that expand and destroy the shards.

"What kind of semblance is that? It looks like she has three semblances in one!" Raven exclaimed.

Ozpin and Glynda swallowed.

The red-clad girl reverts her scythe into its rifle form and fires at the woman, who blocks each shot with one hand. She creates several blazing circles around her opponents. Glynda telekinetically pushes the girl and rolls herself out of harm's way. She looks up, only to see the jet fly away.

The red-haired girl looks a Glynda with admiration and awe-struck.

Girl: "You're a huntress! Can I have your autograph?"

A blonde blur whizzes past Summer. Taiyang lands on his knees in front of Glynda, raising his hands that were clasped together. "Oh Glynda! Please, give me your autograph!" he pleaded, eyes shining in mock admiration. A red and black blur ran past Summer, and Taiyang cried out in pain. He clutched his head as Raven dragged him back to his seat.

The scene cuts from the girl's amazed face to one of shame as Glynda, scroll in hand, paces around the table the girl is seat at. She sits underneath a single bright light in a dimly lit room.

Glynda: "I hope that you realize that your actions tonight will not be taken lightly, young lady. You put yourself and others in great danger."

"Professor, you shouldn't be so hard on her," Summer said, eyeing her teacher. "She did save that man."

"Why are you blaming me for something I haven't done yet?" Glynda asked, raising a brow.

Girl: "They started it!"

Glynda: "If it were up to me, you'd be sent home… with a pat on the back…"

Summer smiled with pride, reflecting the girl's own satisfied smile.

Glynda: (slapping her crop on the table) "And a slap on the wrist!"

The girl shrieks with horror. Glynda sighs.

Glynda: "But… there is someone her who would like to meet you."

She moves out of the way so the girl may see a man dressed in green approach through the door way, holding a mug and a plate of cookies.

"Ozpin?" Qrow asked. Team STRQ stared at their headmaster, frowning.

"Do you not age?" Raven narrowed her red eyes.

The headmaster ignored the twins' questions, eyes fixed on his older self.

Ozpin: "Ruby Rose…"

"Rose! She's a Rose!" Summer cried out, grinning.

Ozpin: (leaning in) "…You have silver eyes."

Summer's smile faltered. Her mind flashed back to her first meeting with the headmaster. To those exact words spoken to her, by the exact same man. She looked at the professor, who eyed her with what she could only assume was a guilty glance.

Ruby: "U-uh…"

Ozpin: "So! Where did you learn to do this?"

He gestures with his head at the scroll, which shows Ruby's fight with the thugs.

Ruby: "S-Signal Academy."

Ozpin: "They taught you to use one of the most dangerous weapons ever designed?"

"Oi, Oz, don't diss the scythe," Qrow snapped.

Ruby: "Well, one teacher in particular…"

"I wanna meet them! We could compare weapons!" he said.

Ozpin: "I see."

He places the cookies on the table in front of Ruby. She tentatively picks one up, eats it in a single bit, and shovels the rest into her mouth.

Ozpin: "It's just that I've only seen one other scythe-wielder of that skill before. A dusty, old crow…"

Qrow smirked, leaning back on his chair.

Ruby mumbles indistinguishable through her full mouth. She swallows and wipes her mouth, embarrassed.

Ruby: "Sorry. That's my Uncle Qrow!"

Qrow fell back on his chair. "WHAT?" he cried out, eyes wide and staring forward.

"Why is Qrow Summer's kid's uncle?" Raven wondered.

Summer furrowed her brows. Their family situation in the future was impossible to wrap her head around. How could Ruby and Yang be sisters? How can Qrow be Ruby's uncle? She ran her hands through her hair.

Team STRQ glanced at each other, all wearing confused expressions.

Ruby: "He's a teacher at Signal."

"And I'm a teacher!" Qrow whined.

Ruby: "I was complete garbage before he took me under his wing. And now, I'm all like - Hoooowaaaaah! Witchaaaa!"

She imitates fighting poses and noises. Ozpin places his cup on the table as he leans in, then sits down opposite Ruby.

Ozpin: "So I've noticed. And what is an adorable young girl such as yourself doing at a school designed to train warriors?"

Ruby: "Well… I want to be a Huntress."

"Like mother, like daughter," Summer muttered, smiling.

Ozpin: "You want to slay monsters?"

Ruby: "Yeah! I only have two more years of training left at Signal! And then I'm going to apply to Beacon! You see, my sister's starting there this year, and she's trying to become a Huntress, and I'm trying to become a Huntress 'cause I wanna help people. My parents always taught us to help others, so I thought, Hey, I might as well make a career out of it! (giggles) I mean the police are alright, but Huntsmen and Huntresses are just so much more romantic and exciting and cool and really, gosh, you know!"

She flips out at the last few words, staring at the two with a wide, energetic smile. Glynda and Ozpin study her.

"Like mother, like daughter," Raven repeats. She and Summer laugh in unison.

Ozpin: "Do you know who I am?"

Ruby: "You're Professor Ozpin. You're the headmaster at Beacon."

Ozpin: (smiling) "Hello."

Ruby: "Nice to meet you."

Ozpin: "You want to come to my school?"

Ruby: "More than anything."

Ozpin exchanges glances with Glynda. The huntress shows her disapproval with a 'hmph' before he turns back to Ruby.

Ozpin: "Well, okay."

Ruby smiles, wide eyed and open mouthed.

"How old is she? She looks younger than Yang," Summer wondered.

The scene cuts once more as a blonde girl tackles Ruby in a tight hug abroad the large airship to Beacon, crushing the air out of her.

"Speak of the devil." Raven and Taiyang glanced at each other, smiling.

Yang: "Oh, I can't believe my baby sister is going to Beacon with me! This is the best day ever!"

Ruby: (gasping) "Please stop."

Yang: (releasing her sister) "But I'm so proud of you!"

"She definitely takes after Tai more than Raven," Qrow commented. Summer reluctantly agreed with him. She knew it to be rude, but her partner was much more stoic and serious compared to Taiyang's cheerful self.

Raven shot her twin a fiery glare.

Ruby: "Really, sis, it was nothing."

Nothing? Summer stared at her daughter in bewilderment. She just took out an entire team of thugs! The girl was much more modest than anyone else she knew.

Yang: "What do you mean? It was incredible! Everyone at Beacon is going to think you're the bee's knees."

Ruby: "I don't want to be the "bee's knees", okay? I don't want to be any kind of knees! I just want to be a normal girl with normal knees."

Yang: What's with you? Aren't you excited?"

Ruby: "Of course I'm excited... I just... I got moved ahead two years. I don't want people to think I'm special or anything."

Summer hummed in sympathy. She hated being in the spot light, it wasn't a far fetch for her daughter to be like that in that regard.

Yang gives her sister a one-armed hug, grinning.

Yang: "But you are special."

The girls' attention is drawn to a newscast playing nearby, talking about the robbery and showing the orange-haired man's mug shot.

Newsreader: "The robbery was led by nefarious criminal Roman Torchwick, who continues to evade authorities. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Vale Police Department. Back to you, Lisa."

The mugshot changes to Lisa Lavender, with a photo of animal-eared demonstrators holding signs saying "WE ARE NOT ANIMALS!" followed by an image of the logo of a growling red wolf's head with three scratch marks.

"Is that… the White Fang?" Taiyang asked. The flag was awfully similar to their current own, and they were faunus.

Lisa: "Thank you, Cyril. In other news, this Saturday's Faunus Civil Rights protest turned dark when members of the White Fang disrupted the ceremony. The once peaceful organisation has now disrupted…"

"That's horrible…" Summer breathed. She knew several faunus in the White Fang – they were a peaceful, loving organisation. None of them would ever resort to violence.

"Does this mean that third girl was in the White Fang?" Raven frowned. "And her partner?"

Qrow shrugged. "It's a possibility."

The feed is cut off, and a hologram of Glynda replaces it.

Glynda: "Hello, and welcome to Beacon!"

Yang: "Who's that?"

Glynda: "My name is Glynda Goodwitch."

Yang: "Oh."

Team STRQ snorted, as Glynda herself twitched her nose in disdain.

"Same," Taiyang deadpanned.

Glynda: "You are among a privileged few who have received the honour of being selected to attend this prestigious academy! Our world is experiencing an incredible time of peace, and as future Huntsmen and Huntresses, it is your duty to uphold it."

"It sure doesn't sound peaceful," Summer muttered.

Glynda: "You have demonstrated the courage needed for such a task, and now it is our turn to provide you with the knowledge and the training to protect our world."

With the final words, the hologram disappears. Ruby gives a delighted cry of surprise and runs to the glass walls to admire the town below.

Ruby: "Oh, wow! Look, you can see Signal from up here! I guess home isn't too far after all!"

Yang: "Beacon's our home now."

The two hear a passenger groaning and hunched over nearby, running to the back of the ship. Yang rolls her eyes.

"Reminds me of myself," Taiyang said, nudging Raven. "Remember? How I threw up on your h –"

"No need to remind me," Raven shuddered. It had taken Raven a long while to forgive Taiyang after that incident, although she still stayed far away from him whenever the team were on aircrafts.

Yang: "Well… I guess the view isn't for everyone."

Ruby: "It was a nice moment while it lasted."

The ship is seen approaching Beacon across a large body of water.

Ruby (voice over): "I wonder who we're gonna meet!"

Yang (voice over): "Ugh, I just hope they're better than Vomit Boy."

Ruby (voice over): "Oh, Yang, gross! You have puke on your shoe!"

Yang (voice over): "Gross, gross, gross, gross, gross, gross, gross, gross!"

Ruby (voice over): "Get-Get away! Get away from me! Get away from me! Get away from me! Get away from me!"

The scene cuts to black.

"Ruby Rose…" Summer breathed. The name rolled off her tongue naturally. She quickly glanced at Ozpin. Just as she thought, the next vision gave her even more questions than answers – most relating to Ozpin himself. Some concerning her future… family situation.

She pulled at her white cloak, mind reeling while everyone (save Ozpin) began discussing the vision. She reached up with a shaking hand and touched her eye lid.

Just what makes me – what makes us – special?

For those wanting the reaction to the opening, that will come as a separate chapter soon. Sometime during the weekend, probably.

As always, thank you all for reading! Any comments are appreciated.