Chapter 5

Guardian Angel

Yang slouched in her cramped chair having lost count how many times she'd been requested to wait in the lavish office where an imposing ebony desk and a much more comfortable-looking seat gazed out a floor to ceiling window with purple drapes to one of the many outdoor training fields of the student campus. Due to the frequency and length of her reprimanding lectures, she had all but memorized the outlandish room, but for her teammates it had them all on the edge of their seats.

Sitting to her right, Blake was humming while bobbing her head and smiling at photos of kittens decorating the walls and sitting on the orderly desk. Despite the office's unwelcoming atmosphere that smelled of lavender, there was something reassuring about knowing the professor was a cat lover that eased her normally skittish nerves.

To Blake's right, Weiss was studying the large bookcases encompassing the room where leather bound tomes at least a century old sat without a spec of dust as if they had been read as recently as that morning. On their spines were intricate glyphs that even she didn't recognize, and so quickly found herself committing them each to memory.

Sitting less than an elbow's length away from her sister, Ruby peeled open another candy wrapper as she gaped at the dozens of trophies and ribbons behind display cases. Despite the former dueling champion's many accomplishments however, at the forefront were pictures of boys and girls wearing Beacon uniforms as they hoisted large gold cups over their heads bearing the symbol of the Vytal Festival with a tall woman beaming behind them.

The only reason her mouth closed at all was to inhale the mouthwatering chocolate bars that caused her eyes to roll to the back of her head as she deftly unwrapped the next. Occasionally she'd nudge her sister to get her attention, but all she did was nudge her back uninterested.

Out of boredom Yang found herself rehearsing the usual excuses for what trouble she and her teammates may or may not have caused, but was finding her memory a little hazy and the possibilities seemingly endless.

Ever since their triumphant return home it had essentially become 'bonding time' for the team as Ruby still needed a helping hand and couldn't walk very far, and after everything they'd been through together, they found themselves not wanting to leave each other's company. That alone was a recipe for trouble...

Dinner for the hungry teenagers had consisted of pizza being delivered from the unaffordable side of town courtesy of the heiress, but the very first night wound up being free due to the delivery boy fainting when a freshly showered Yang answered the door in a towel, which as Blake wryly pointed out had been far less revealing than her usual attire.

The next night Weiss had preemptively greeted him at the elevator with an apology and a substantial tip, but instead was met with over half a dozen delivery boys bearing boxes on the house with Yang having to be physically restrained by her teammates due to claims of having a way to 'knock them dead and get free food for the rest of my life'.

While she skulked, Ruby and Weiss joined in with Blake's humming, but as soon as the bow atop her head twitched, Blake frowned and sat upright.

*WHAMPH*

The partners jumped as the door flew open behind them, and a towering figure peered down with spectacles that seemed to magnify her steely eyes.

"Morning, Glynda," Yang yawned, having grown accustomed to the dramatic entrance of their combat instructor.

The slender woman well over a foot taller than half the team regarded the girl with an irritable look that bordered on apathy.

Perhaps they were both feeling a sense of deja vu...

"Professor Goodwitch will do just fine, miss Xiao Long," she informed, drawing out her student's name. "And perhaps your unruly nocturnal activities should come to a halt. It's afternoon now."

The night owls glanced at the large clock with kitty paws on the desk confirming her statement. Yang however noticed a cup of coffee sitting off to the side and licked her lips at the dark texture that subtly changed hues.

"Whatever you think I did, I didn't do it," she stated emphatically before rubbing her hands together. "So can we wrap this up early? It's Friday and I've got things to do tonight."

Ignoring her, Goodwitch's stylish heels stomped past the team but not without a quick glance down at the leader whose lips were coated in chocolate. Rolling her eyes, she flicked of her wrist and a small purple glyph appeared clearing the stains and sending the neglected wrappers laying on the floor into the wastebasket where a flame glyph was waiting.

Weiss while unsettled by the display of authority, power, and simplistic elegance, made a mental note to try that later while her partner pouted before happily licking her fingers.

With her round chin held high, the professor took a seat behind the desk and stared at the careless older sister who was still ogling at her coffee.

"For once, miss Xiao Long, you are not here because of your indecent behavior."

Yang let out a breath glad to not be reprimanded again as last time she had nearly needed resuscitation after narrowly avoiding dying of boredom.

"I can hardly believe it myself," Goodwitch shook her head feigning disbelief, "but I suppose I could always arrange a room check if you'd like."

All eyes widened except the blonde's which were threatening to close.

"I'm curious to see what sort of beverages are sitting in your fridge and what might be hiding on your side of the closet."

Yang smiled innocently and began whistling a tune she couldn't keep.

"I'm also interested in searching for these supposed perfume bottles that reek of wet dog, and see if I can't find any weapons of mass destruction underneath your mattresses."

She glanced at the leader who tried to whistle like her sister but the chocolate stuck between her teeth made it impossible. Weiss and Blake on the other hand stared straight ahead with stoic faces trying to avoid all eye contact and association with their partners.

"This isn't Signal!" Goodwitch nearly spat. "Which means your father and uncle aren't here to coddle you, and that the students and professors don't fraternize over drinks together."

"Hey!" Yang cried defensively. "It's not my fault the combat instructor's favorite drink was a strawberry sunrise, or that it runs in the family."

She nudged her sister who looked up anxiously into her current combat instructor's eyes.

"Strawberries are my favorite and I like sunrises..." Ruby mumbled. "Uncle Qrow and Yang told me they found a way to combine them in a drink, but it made me sick..."

Yang slapped the back of her chair laughing. "She swore off strawberries for nearly a week and has been more into sunsets ever since."

Goodwitch blinked clearly not amused by the story, or pleased about the young girl's maltreatment and her family's so-called inheritance.

"So why did you call us here?" Yang asked cheerfully. "We've been sitting here forever and we're all really thirsty. Mind getting us some coffee? I'll take whatever you're having."

"Five sugars please!" Ruby cried now fully attentive as she held up five fingers before turning to her teammates who held their breath.

"We're good," they whimpered, trying to distance themselves from the contentious blonde and her oblivious sister. It had long since been established that Yang's death wish was deliberate while Ruby's was usually more unintentional, but sometimes it was a thin line...

The professor pursed her lips together and pushed the drink out of the smirking girl's sight.

"Miss Xiao Long, if I had called you to my office we would be discussing something along the lines of your language in the classroom, or-"

"Here we go again," she groaned. "For the last time, I thought Cardin said his name was Richard. He looks, acts and, sounds like a Richard, and all I was trying to do is be friendly."

Ruby snorted and received a glare that paralyzed her with fear.

"Besides," Yang gave a wry smile, "I've been told you it mutter under your breath whenever Ironwood is around."

She gave her partner a sideways glance as the professor's eye twitched, but before she could speak again received a sharp elbow to her right side.

"-what could only be described as attempted murder in your exhibition matches," Goodwitch seethed between her teeth continuing as though she had never been interrupted, "your inability to follow the dress code-"

Yang eyes glazed over as everything that had been stated since the first week of school was being repeated once again.

"-harassment of the male students, and I'm sure I could find something incriminating on your scroll."

Once she realized the professor had stopped speaking Yang shrugged. "And yet I've held back in every single one of my matches except with Pyrrha," she said with a cocky grin, "and being pared with either of us usually means you're punishing them for something."

Goodwitch responded with narrowed eyes but also the slightest of curt nods.

Yang glanced down at her casual attire and despite the uncharacteristically loose-fitting clothing that covered both her arms and legs, she found herself highly pleased with herself and fluttered her eyelashes at the professor.

"I also wear the school uniform better than anyone ever has, and I've never once heard a guy complain about my clothes, my teasing, or anything else for that matter."

The room was silent as the blonde reveled in the glares she was being given before finally poking her partner in the shoulder. "And speaking of incriminating and having things to hide..."

Blake slapped the accusatory hand away before trying to sink into her chair and meld with the shadows.

With a chuckle, Yang glanced down at her sister. "Sis, we're lucky you haven't blown us all to pieces yet. And Weiss," she purred, shaking her head dramatically, "don't even bother acting innocent."

The heiress' face turned scarlet just like her teammates' as anger mingled with embarrassment while Yang leaned back in her chair fully satisfied with her results.

'Let's kill her when Ruby's not looking.'

'We could try poison, but then again she hasn't even had indigestion from her own cooking.'

Goodwitch, seemingly reading Blake and Weiss' thoughts nodded as if agreeing to help bury the body.

"So..." Ruby squeaked, playing with her saliva coated thumbs. "If you didn't call us here, who did?"

"That would be me."

Everyone jumped including the faunus as an even taller visitor leaning on a silver handle black cane stood in the doorway.

"Ozpin!?" they shouted.

"Professor Ozpin," Goodwitch greeted straightening her desk, "good afternoon."

The headmaster with only three steps casually strolled to the students' side wearing his trademark dark green suit with a turtle neck before raising his coffee mug as a salute.

"And it's a good thing too, otherwise you would all likely be in trouble."

They glanced at the combat instructor whose eyes were making the Ice Queen's seem warm and friendly.

"So why are we here?" Ruby swallowed, wishing her hood wasn't still being repaired.

Beneath the headmaster's wiry spectacles his eyes twinkled at the young leader and her team. "I simply did not wish for you to limp all the way to my office for something so trivial yet important as this."

The puzzled team glanced between each other before tilting their necks again.

"I know we've spoken since, but to say many lives were saved by the four of you nearly sacrificing your own would be an incredible understatement, and I'm very proud of you all." The young leader beamed as did her teammates. "And despite the mission being only your first steps to becoming full-fledged huntresses, you all acted admirably and beyond all expectations. The citizens of the City of Vale owe you their lives and gratitude, but being true huntresses means very few will ever learn your names or sacrifices. Instead, you have my thanks, and the respect among your fellow huntsmen."

"I'd rather have a cash reward," Yang said humorously.

The headmaster chuckled lightly while his assistant scowled.

"Unfortunately that isn't how things work," he heartened.

"Besides," Goodwitch added snidely, "you likely caused more damage than the White Fang and Grimm combined. And going by the preliminary reports, it's sheer dumb luck that you and your teammates weren't killed when you lost control of your semblance. Your rage drew not one but TWO Alphas straight towards you and hundreds of Grimm into the streets of the residential district. You may have saved thousands of lives, miss Xiao Long, but make no mistake, you nearly killed everyone around you."

Yang's features hardened as she met the woman's gaze refusing to reveal how much or if at all it bothered her to think civilians or her sister and friends could've easily been turned to ashes or fallen victim to Grimm because of her.

"I guess it's a good thing I trained at Signal then," Yang said with a red tint to her eyes, "because-"

She paused feeling a small, comforting hand around her's and the smell of roses which caused clear lilac to return.

"-because that was nothing compared to my 'indecent behavior' on Saturday nights, or school nights for that matter."

A shameless crooked grin hung on her face as she received an infuriated glare, but in the back on her mind she finished what she was going to say.

'Because Signal has the best combat instructor on Remnant, and unlike you, he actually held the Vytal Festival cup over his head. Three times...'

'Should've been four...'

Ruby squeezed tightly and the united team looked up in support of the blonde who had been their cornerstone throughout the entire battle and the reason why two Alphas and countless other Grimm were dead and they weren't. They let their gratitude and respect shine on their faces, as well as their displeasure and contention with the professor's statement.

Yang took a deep breath calming the dark thoughts tied to her fiery semblance as something even as mundane as flickering her eyes depleted her already exhausted aura. The past few days when she wasn't lifting half a ton over her shoulders or adding to delivery boys' sweating, she was using her aura to heal the numerous injuries hidden beneath her baggy clothes. Patches of pink skin were leftover from where her raging fire had burned through her flesh, and despite the bites and claw marks fading, it felt as though her entire body was being held together by tightly wound bandages, as well as her unbreakable resolve and sisterly pride.

Her emotions had lured those walking nightmares toward them which saved countless lives, but the three sitting beside her were more precious than all of the City of Vale combined and worth every waking moment of her discomfort.

The headmaster cleared his throat interrupting the heavy silence. "Despite that however," he glanced between them and Goodwitch. "I've recorded your first mission as successful, as well as the other two."

"Other two?" They cocked their heads to the side.

"Professor Oobleck tells me the four of you each killed well over a hundred Grimm in the lost city." His eyes fell to the leader. "And that a peculiar bet was made with the winner coming out ahead double or triple that of her teammates when all was said and done."

Ruby blushed and went back to playing with her thumbs, but hearing Goodwitch snicker she looked up, and judging by the pleased look on her face it appeared perhaps Ruby hadn't been the only one to win a bet. To her annoyance however, she realized that she hadn't been able to reap her reward until returning to the dorm.

Ozpin brought her back to blushing though as his bright smile was directed toward her, as well as her teammates'. She really missed her hood...

"That wasn't your true objective however, or the reason I sent you on that particular mission," he said growing serious. "You also managed to discover the White Fang and thwart a terrorist attack that could have easily cost tens if not hundreds of thousands their lives if another month had passed. Afterward, the four of you acted as true huntresses saving lives not caring what could become of your own."

Yang's aura brightened the room as she wrapped an arm around her sister who was smiling ear to ear, and even Weiss and Blake's auras flared feeling the full weight of their achievement together.

"And as I'm sure you're all well aware, as per the requests of Mistral, Vacuo, and the Isle of Vytal, and to ensure the safety of travelers from all kingdoms and territories, the Vytal Festival Tournament will be delayed until General Ironwood's investigation is complete."

They nodded but out of the corner of her eye, Yang read the woman's lips before quickly turning back to the headmaster after interpreting them, and their target.

"It shouldn't be anymore than a few extra days or perhaps a week, but because of this time of uncertainty and its always changing format, I've spoken with the other academies and they've all agreed to reward any team who fought on the front lines to protect Vale with the three completed missions needed to enter the tournament. It's the least we could do for our selfless students like yourselves."

The air was sucked out of the room and Ruby's head began to spin.

"I told you sis!" Yang shook her arm making sure she didn't faint. "I told you!"

"Team RWBY will not be an exception, however," he paused causing the ecstatic team to hold their breath, "it'll depend on-"

"Me..."

Everyone slowly turned to the quiet voice as she kicked her legs into the air wiggling her unbuckled and loosely tied boots.

A growl escaped from the back of her sister's throat as she glanced up at the headmaster. "We'll be ready," she promised, "and we'll win."

"Count on it," said Blake and Weiss in unison.

Ozpin smiled at their declaration and united spirit, but looking down at the small, broken leader his eyes carried remorse.

Kneeling down with a slight grimace he retrieved something from his coat pocket and motioned for the girl to hold out her hand. "It's the policy of the huntsmen never to hand out medals for acts of valor..."

Ruby felt something warm placed in her palm and looking down she saw a silver brooch not much larger than a coin with the emblem of the huntsmen between broken pieces of the shattered moon. She turned it over and saw what looked to be great oak leaves scattering in the wind that caught her breath.

Beside her, Yang stiffened as she leaned closer into their embrace and gripped the armrest so tightly her knuckles turned white.

"It's called The Guardian's Token," Ozpin explained. "Long before the academies were built centuries ago, the huntsmen of old carried emblems similar to this to designate which kingdom they were aligned with. This one represents-"

"Us." Ruby pointed at the trees which she recognized from her field trips north of the campus. "We're 'The Fall Kingdom'."

Despite countless civilizations rising from ashes over the centuries in the land now known as Vale, it had always been titled 'The Fall Kingdom' due to Forever Fall, the majestic forest that refused to shed its autumn leaves even through the harshest of winters.

"Uncle Qrow has one of these." Ruby spun the brooch in feeling history between her fingers. "I think he got his sometime after graduating."

He slowly nodded. "I thought it appropriate to give to you, miss Rose."

"Thank you," she said breathlessly as Yang played with her red tipped hair as if by habit.

With the help of his cane, the headmaster got to his feet and regarded the team. "Well children, you must be going. Your classes return on Monday and I do not wish to stall you any longer."

His students began to rise with a stiff Yang helping her entranced sister to her feet, both still staring at the emblem when Ozpin spoke up again.

"I would also suggest that you begin writing your official field reports for Professor Oobleck's class, that is if you haven't already finished. It'll take quite some time I'm afraid after the adventure you've all had, and I look forward to reading them."

"I've already finished," Weiss said proudly.

"I'm almost there," Blake admitted.

Neither of the sisters responded as Yang half-dragged, half-carried Ruby out of the office. Once outside she put her little sister between Blake and Weiss while hanging onto the door.

"Take Ruby back to the room." She smiled reassuringly. "I'll catch up in a minute."

Before they could raise any questions, their joyous leader began skipping down the hall causing them both to follow anxiously as it looked more as though she were stumbling on hot coals. Yang waved as the pair glanced back worriedly before closing the door behind her, but not without a final peek at her sister.

"Something the matter, miss Xiao Long?" asked the headmaster.

Yang nodded but kept her gaze on the tile floor where she stared at her reflection.

"Our uncle," she said slowly as if to steady her hand around the handle, "he has the same token."

"Yes, your sister said the same just moments ago." By Goodwitch's dismissive tone, it sounded as though she were chiding her student for not listening in class again.

"He got it from his sister when she died," Yang's voice rose as she glanced up. "My mother..."

Both professors she noted began to stand a little straighter, and the combat instructor's face flickered with shame before tightening.

"My stepmother," she swallowed. "Ruby's mom, she had one too and I still remember when she threw it into the lake along with her huntress badge when she quit."

Both were silent as the girl bore holes into them with the temperature rising.

"And it's not called 'The Guardian's Token'," she snarled. "It's The Token of the Maiden's Guardian." She opened the door turning to leave, but after a brief pause looked back with lilac missing along with her pupils.

"There's also another reason we're called 'The Fall Kingdom'," she said calmly with eyes the color of blood. "At Signal, my Uncle Qrow paired me with someone who I became close friends with. We spent countless nights training together because besides him, I was the only other person who couldn't be turned to ash by that kind of aura, and eventually I learned how to hold my own against someone like her.

"Her name's Amber..."

'And someone else was able to do more than just hold their own...'

'But I'll find a way to wake her up...'

'Then there will be hell to pay...'

Yang slammed the door shut causing the pictures on the wall and the professors' coffee to tremble.

(A/N: Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoyed. Thank you everyone for the incredible support last chapter as it was special for me to write and the responses I got were amazing. I'm also sorry this chapter has been a little bit of a wait but I needed to take a few days off from editing to sit back and relax, as well as work out some later chapters/details. Thank you as always for being so patient with me. As for this chapter, I had a lot of fun with the interactions and it sounds like something may have happened to Yang's old training partner Amber. If someone hurt her I pity that person when Yang finds them, as well as the person who nearly crippled her sister. *wink*

I feel as though I must come out and say here that the reason why Ruby as silver eyes is because her mother also had silver eyes, and that is their significance in this narrative. Neither Summer nor Ruby have any powers relating to their silver eyes besides them occasionally glowing when using their semblances, just like the rest of the characters. Ruby is incredibly skilled, smart, and talented for her age, and as we've seen has many secrets surrounding her, but she is neither a maiden nor has powers pertaining to her eyes. The 'maiden's guardian' is exactly what it sounds like but while I'm building towards a possible/eventual Volume 3 pseudo-novelization there are obviously going to be some changes similarly to "The Patchwork Prodigy", and as you've already seen in this story. I dislike giving out so much information in this way but as I've said before, my "end game" is much less dark. I am for instance NOT building towards Yang losing her arm or certain character deaths from Volume 3. I simply do not wish to give the wrong impression or have you believe I'm foreshadowing certain events from Volume 3 as they will/would not take place in a pseudo-novelization when/should the time come. Regardless, I hope you enjoy the ride and do not mind the alterations to the story and characters as I have the utmost respect for their creators. They are simply to tell the story I wish to tell.

Once again, thank you all for the incredible support and kindness you've shown me. Thank you for all of the follows, favorites, reviews, shout outs, PMs, and humble readers. I simply can't thank you enough. All credit goes to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ who has blessed me with all of you and made this story possible. God bless)