In a large ornate room sat Ruby Rose, as she unceasingly replayed the events that had brought her here. If you asked her how she felt right now she would reply that she felt cold. Perhaps colder than she ever had in her life. Though it was not for the chilly temperature in the room, the cold wooden chair she sat in, nor the cold steel that currently bound her wrists and ankles.

If Ruby had to give a reason it would be the events that brought her to this point. When this ordeal had first started she had no doubt that it was all a mistake. She knew everything would be sorted out in time. She was wrong though. It wasn't a mistake, what she was currently experiencing was a very intentional charade. One meant to solve many of the ensuing political problems immediately following the breach.

She had no idea at the time what would come of her actions during the breach. Ruby had felt like an emotional wreck since then, and thought that she had experienced nearly every emotion a person could feel. It wasn't until the verdict had been passed down that she realized there was one thing she had not felt, regret.

A red blur flew down the street of vale taking with it the heads of two beowolves. Ruby stopped to get her bearings and choose her next target. Deciding on an ursa chasing a nearby woman towards an alleyway she disappeared in a storm of rose petals.

The ursa began to swing it claw towards the back of the fleeing woman when a red flash filled it's vision knocking it on it's rear. It began to stand when it saw a brief flash of steel as Ruby brought Crescent Rose swinging down severing it's legs. The beast began to let out a cry when the end of Crescent Rose was shoved against it's chest, and with one thunderous "bang", was silenced.

Ruby looked the woman over quickly for injury deciding she was fine. "Run," Ruby shouted at her before scanning her surroundings. Her team mates were all engaged in combat as were various other teams from Beacon. She decided that everyone was managing to hold their own so she would take her next target separately. A large shadow passed over Ruby as she looked up to see a nevermore circling overhead. When she liked up it wasn't the nevermore that drew her attention however. It looked to her that a short distance away a few figures were standing on a rooftop overlooking the carnage. She instantly recognized on as Roman Torchwick, another looked to be a tall man with red hair wearing a White Fang mask, the last looked like a dark haired woman who seemed vaguely familiar. Ruby wondered if she was the woman who was with Roman the night at the dust shop. Though the figures were too vague at her current distance to make out well.

In that instant Ruby made a decision that would shape the rest of her life. Ruby got ready to use her semblance figuring out the quickest way to her goal through the mayhem. Activating her semblance and watching the world slow down Ruby quickly crossed the battlefield. As she prepared to make the next jump to the top of the building she heard Weiss shout at her.

"Ruby, where are you going? There's no Grimm that way!" Weiss shouted as she dodged the attack of a beowolf.

"Take charge Weiss! I'm going to end this!"

With that Ruby was gone with nothing but falling petals left in her place.

"All rise for the honorable Vale Council!" the cry thrust Ruby back to reality and out of the shadows of her memory.

This was the end of what had been the longest three months of Ruby's life. The actual trial had already concluded. Things had not turned out for the worst, but Ruby could not say they had turned out well either.

Immediately following the breach the political fallout was tremendous. Forty one had died and another hundred twenty injured or wounded. Vale's council had a difficult time answering for the catastrophe. People demanded justice, even if the culprits would not be easily caught, the call for someone to be held accountable was, in the end, answered.

It was decided that Ruby Rose, huntress in training and leader of team RWBY, would stand trial. After the breach Ruby and her team had been the center of much of the talk about the breach. Some believed her and her team to be heroes while others said that their recklessness was what had caused the disaster. Though what was perhaps the most common subject was Ruby Rose's questionable action during the breach. It was decided the she was to be tried as a huntress, and charged with; forty one counts of negligent manslaughter, one hundred twenty counts of criminal negligence resulting in bodily harm, destruction of government property totalling ten and a half million lien, dereliction of duty, and desertion.

When everything was said and done Ruby was found guilty of dereliction of duty and desertion. She counted her blessings that Ozpin had represented her during the trial. Today was the sentencing . Ozpin seemed certain things would turn out well, and looked at Ruby confidently as three elegantly robed men entered the room and stood in front of a large pedestal atop a raised platform at the end of the room.

The one in the middle spoke with a booming voice, "Take your seats."

"Today this council shall sentence Ruby Rose for the charges of dereliction of duty and desertion." The man spoke with authority and what sounded to Ruby like spite.

The man was tall with chiseled features. He had short grey hair and dark eyes. Many said that even though all three member of the council were of equal position he was the true head of the council.

He cleared his throat and began to speak again,"I am Councillor Baillergeon, and I shall be leading the proceedings today."

He glared at Ruby and raised his voice once more," Ruby Rose, on your feet."

Ruby stood and looked into the man's eyes. Ruby couldn't say that he didn't intimidate her, however she refused to let it show and kept a stoic look on her face.

"Ms. Rose you have been charged with and found guilty of dereliction of duty and desertion. Do you have anything you would like to say before your sentence is announced?"

The room got eerily quiet as all eyes were on Ruby. Eyes of teachers, family, her now estranged friends and teammates, complete strangers, cameramen, all of Vale was watching her. Ruby couldn't help but think of what everyone of them thought of her. At the same time she questioned if she should be concerned about their opinion at all.

Ruby thought briefly about what her team thought of her at that moment. After the events of the breach her teammates had been awkward around her and had even gone so far as to avoid her. Ruby pretended not to notice, instead trying to figure out why. She had originally believed that it was a lot of the negative publicity they were receiving, assuming they were just frustrated about all the negative attention. Many people had doubted Ruby's recollection of events and many had been adamant that she had ran away from the battle.

Shortly after she was arrested and put into police custody they had come to visit her. It was a huge relief for her to see her team, and she was glad they had come to cheer her up. They had come to urge her to take a plea deal. Yang was adamant that if Ruby was apologetic then they would be easy on her. Weiss said much the same though she had offered Ruby her family's lawyers. Blake had offered little to say only that she wasn't angry at Ruby. It was then that she realized that they had never believed her. Even her teammates believed her to be a liar and a coward.

Snapping herself back to reality Ruby felt herself grow colder thinking about her teammates. Ozpin had advised her before hand that if given the chance to speak, she should remain silent and not risk antagonizing the council. Ruby decided she no longer cared though, She could tell from the smug look on Councillor Baillergeon's face that her fate was already set In stone. So she decided to speak.

"Just one thing your honor. You are all wrong, and I regret nothing!" Ruby exclaimed with as much authority in her voice as she could muster.

The silence that had just moments ago filled the room, erupted into outrage and shocked disapproval over her words. Councillor Baillergeon had done a good job of looking apathetic, but Ruby could swear that for just one brief moment she could see anger flash over his face.

"Silence!" his voice boomed over the audience causing the commotion to quickly die down.

"Will that be all Ms. Rose?" He spoke with an air of arrogance to his voice.

Ruby did not answer, instead choosing to continue glaring at him. Ruby knew what the possible sentence was for desertion. The worst she could receive was the death sentence though Ozpin assured her that there was no chance of that. No matter the sentence though anyone charged with desertion was stripped of their title as a hunter. Once someone had been stripped of their status as a hunter they could never be granted it again. Today would be the end of her dream.

Councillor Baillergeon looked out at the audience before he spoke once more.

"For the charge of dereliction of duty this council has decided that Ruby Rose shall be expelled from Beacon. On the charge of desertion, Ruby Rose shall be barred from reenlistment at Beacon and shall be barred from applying to take the hunter's exam. In addition you are sentenced to two years probation and two hundred hours of community service."

Councillor Baillergeon looked at Ruby smugly likely hoping to see her distress In the situation. When he looked down all he saw were two cold silver orbs staring back at him. The expression on her face hadn't changed. Ozpin and Ruby had made what he had hoped would be an easy trial far more difficult than he would have liked. When Ruby was only found guilty on the two lesser charges he had made it his mission to crush her. He had found out that Ruby's dream was to become a hunter. He had expected the sentence to destroy her, however it almost looked like she still held onto hope.

Ruby had heard the sentence but was still in shock. It was then that she realized that though she was being tried as a huntress, she had not been granted the actual title. She had prepared herself to be barred from becoming a huntress. Ruby didn't care about jail time or probation. So long as she could still become a huntress one day nothing else mattered. Which was why she was so relieved when she realized that her sentence still left her hope. A nearby police officer came to unlock Ruby's shackles as Ozpin stood to speak to her.

"Ms. Rose, I am deeply sorry that there is not more that I can do for you."Ruby abruptly cut Ozpin off with a hug.

"Thank you Ozpin, you've done enough."Ruby said as she let go of Ozpin and began to walk could swear that as she was walking away he saw a small smile on her face.

Ruby walked quickly out of the courtroom determined to achieve her goal. She had believed today would be the end of her dream, instead that cold feeling was now slowly fading.

Ruby landed hard on the top of the building, having pushed her semblance to ensure that the people she was after would not escape. They had already turned to walk away when Ruby appeared behind them. A brief thought flashed through Ruby's mind that she could end everything in one fell swoop. She decided however that it was not her right to sentence them to death. Instead cocking Crescent Rose regardless of losing the round she had chambered, she hoped it would intimidate them into surrendering.

"Freeze you three!" Ruby shouted in the most authoritative voice she could manage in the situation.

All three turned around to look at Ruby. Roman looked nothing more than amused, the woman looked annoyed, and the tall man that Ruby now could clearly see was a faunus had no visible change to his facial expression.

"Oh, how surprising so you managed to survive the ride here? I hope the accommodations weren't lacking, Red." Roman taunted, obviously unperturbed by Ruby's sudden arrival.

"A friend of yours Roman?" The elegant looking woman asked Roman unenthusiastically.

"She's like a bad rash, I just can't seem to get rid of her." Roman replied.

The tall faunus suddenly spoke up.

"We don't have time for your jokes Torchwick. You two go on ahead I'll take care of this."

Ruby wasn't sure what was going on. She could tell that the three were dangerous, but she was confident that if she took them by surprise she could win. Deciding she had to attack she activated her semblance and went into the air intending to come down and incapacitate Roman, as she assumed if she took care of their leader the other two would be easily defeated. Ruby was mere feet away as she began to swing Crescent Rose's blunt end down to hit Roman in the neck. Out of the corner of her vision she noticed a bright light appear and felt an incredible heat. Barely reacting in time she brought her scythe around to block the ball of flame flying towards her. Ruby was knocked back barely stopping herself before she fell off the building.

" You fool, if you are going to demand that I pay you so much don't go and get yourself killed by a child." The woman said amusedly to Roman.

"Well you are the boss for a reason, Cinder. Besides I'm a far better thief than fighter." Roman replied.

Ruby suddenly felt boggled at this small exchange. Roman wasn't in charge? This woman named Cinder seemed to be in control here. Ruby had a million questions but decided she was better off waiting until after she had dealt with the threat to ponder such things.

She looked back to her opponents readying herself for battle. It was now that she notified that the faunus was nowhere to be seen. She quickly began to look for him when she felt something hard hit the back of her head and saw black fill her vision.

The next thing Ruby saw was her angry teammates looking down at her.

A/N

This is The first story I have ever written. Kinda decided to do so on a whim. I hope to update once a week if not more but its hard to tell as I work a lot.

I plan on this series being pretty dark. I was inspired by multiple other fics on here. I won't name all of them it will be easy enough to guess many on your own. Though I will say that this first chapter was inspired by the beginning of "Ruby Rose Remnant Knight"

Sorry if formatting is weird or their are strange typos. I don't have a computer atm so this bullshit was typed on mobile. Also Baillergeon is pronounced(bay-ler-on).