They had lost almost everything, they were defeated, but there was a girl who stood up and kept going without even knowing what awaited them.



The first thing she did before leaving for Haven was visit Summer’s grave. No words, over Salem’s monologue about a spark and an honest soul, with JNR watching behind her. The thought of her mother was all the strength she needed to move on.

Ruby thinking about Weiss when Nora mentions the SDC. Her friends are always in her mind. She doesn’t say a thing, because she knows that JNR miss everyone just like her, she knows they are always thinking about Pyrrha too. And she knows that Weiss is also thinking about them.



The nightmares and THAT scene. These moments speak for themselves. She’s suffering, but again, no words. Everyone is going through the same thing. When she watched Jaune tearing himself apart she didn’t look surprised, just more saddened.



Still, she tried to comfort him, but knowing that she shouldn’t cross any boundaries or reopen wounds. Everyone was dealing with it in their own way. She just needed to hold up and be there for them. She helped him keep going and he returned the favor later.



The focus on her at Oniyuri and after hearing Ren’s story. Once again, no words. Destroyed villages, Grimm attacks, bandits, tragic deaths. She was starting to see firsthand what Remnant was like. She was thinking about Oobleck’s words in Volume 2: “I see lives that could have been saved.” And so, she realized she had to be stronger than ever and try to save even more people.



“The rose has thorns.” Just like Adam figured out Blake and Yang’s relationship, Tyrian immediately saw Ruby’s true nature before many did. That guy has seen a few things, and before him was a little girl who had already lost too much and was determined to not lose anymore.



She did THAT. The only character in the show who has the honor of being called a bitch, for a reason. The moment that guy seriously threatened what was precious to her she didn’t hesitate and mutilated him without a second thought. A warrior running wild.



She just learned about all this jazz, but Ruby only wanted to make sure of one thing. She wanted her uncle to trust her. She was asking, almost begging, she obviously wasn’t as determined as she is in volume 6, but the idea was already there. She knew what truly mattered. Stay undivided.



Jaune and Ruby’s friendship and bond would need another thread on its own. In volume 4 we see how they always support each other, being more worried about the other than themselves. In the hardest moment of their lives, they were each other’s pillar of strength just by being there.



This fight belonged to Ren and Nora. Still, she came up with the final plan, she acted like their leader. She and Jaune were unwavering during the whole fight and they understood Nora and Ren’s struggle, so they didn’t pressure them, they just kept fighting until they were ready.



Home fits so well here. Ruby fought so hard to get there, she struggled so much, but they made it. She’d gone through hell and back while her uncle’s life was on the line. She took all that pressure and concern and said “Not today, not again.” She won.



That scene in the V6 finale is my favorite moment now, but this is still the most important scene in the series. She reflected on everything they’d lost, she gained the strength and knowledge to avoid losing ever again. She’d proven herself that they could make it if they tried.



Haven. After tearing up because they had made it and Jaune thanked her just by looking at her, the first thing she did was step in between two grown men who were about to jump at each other’s throat. Leader.



And that’s also after Leo reminded her of Penny being ripped apart. Her reaction speaks for itself.

Okay. For some people this was her first sign of character development in two volumes and, well, we’ve proven that wrong. We knew, or should have known, how she felt by now, but more importantly, she used it to encourage and help Oscar. Playing the part of the spark again.



Yang said I love you back.

Yang chose to stay behind, Yang let her go, but the first thing that came to Ruby’s mind was “I’m sorry”. After everything, she still apologized for leaving, she felt responsible. But the truth is that Yang was able to come back only because of Ruby.

Then, the moment the three of them are finally alone together, she can only think about how Blake should be there too. And when Yang reacts like that to her statement she doesn’t look mad like Weiss, or even sad, because she knows Yang didn’t mean that. She’s just worried about her sister, because she realizes how hard this has been for her too and how confused she is about Blake and everything that happened. Empathy.

Ruby asking about Cinder. Ozpin just said that there were many people willing to prevent harm, and then she appeared. After learning the “truth”, her biggest concern was to know how much more damage Salem and Cinder could cause, how many more people she had to protect.



She just learned how much evil Raven had done and how many people she had hurt, and she knew her sister had suffered because of her. But she also knew she wasn’t too far gone, she saw the good in her and tried to bring her back. She was aware that Raven once fought for the same reason they’re fighting now, but at some point she lost her faith in the world. Ruby tried to make her see the only way they would be able to make a difference, by being united. If they were together, giving up wasn’t an option. Raven’s answer: “You sound just like your mother.”



In this important moment for Jaune the focus is not only on him. We get to see Ruby’s concerned face when her friend is hurting. She hates Cinder too, but when Jaune snaps, Ruby only cares about him. She’s the first to go after him to help him fight too. And she was able to activate her eyes because she was worried about him the whole fight. She knew what happened when you got reckless.



Weiss is injured. Ruby’s confused and terrified face when she noticed it as well as her relieved face when they tell her she’s okay says it all. At first, she doesn’t care about who did it or why, she just wants to know if Weiss is okay.



After that, she’s angry. Who knows? Maybe she could have saved Penny if she had shown that anger the first time she confronted Mercury. That’s why she wasn’t going to let something like that happen again, she wouldn’t give them the chance.



“Yang, go!” Everyone was exhausted and Blake just appeared. She knew they had the upper hand, so she recovered from her surprise in a few seconds and acted like a leader. “Your mother is down there, so go solve things with her. This girl will be waiting for you when you come back.”



With a smile on her face, she shot Leo and broke his aura when he wasn’t even looking at her. She had given him too many chances, he chose to oppose them so she made sure he didn’t any further. This left him completely unprotected against Salem.

And she came back. Yang won Haven. In volume 1 Yang looked proudly at her little sister, now it was the other way around. Yang was strength itself, so she pulled herself together and followed Ruby’s steps. Yang got there thanks to Ruby and once there she was able to face all her demons.



And that faunus girl was waiting for her. Ruby made Yang take the right choice, Ruby and Weiss made her trust that Blake would be there for her. When Ruby asked Yang, she already knew the answer. They had spent an entire year thinking about this moment. And Ruby made it all possible.



A smaller, more honest soul. A spark. An indomitable spirit.