A Long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

STAR WARS RWBY

EPISODE I

Friends and Enemies

It is a period of civil war. Squadrons of Rebel fighters harass Imperial convoys, desperate for supplies.

One such squadron, led by the brave RUBY ROSE seeks to ambush an undefended Imperial convoy. Unbeknownst to her however, Imperial Captain WEISS SCHNEE stands ready to intercept the squadron and protect the convoy.

Nearby on the barren planet of Tatooine, YANG XIAO LONG searches for her long lost sister. Unaware of the dangerous Imperial assassin sent to find her….

The near silence of the bridge gave Weiss a sense of pride. The low thrum of computers, the soft beeps of machinery, the clink of Imperial issue combat boots against metal. There was no chatter, her crew were running at peak efficiency, everyone concentrating on their specific task, they had no time for idle banter. Discipline, efficiency, success. These were the principles Weiss drilled into her underlings.

"Captain Schnee, we are about to exit hyperspace," Lieutenant Cardin Winchester said as he came to a halt next to Weiss, both looking out the view port. "Are we prepared for the ambush Lieutenant?" Weiss enquired,

"Yes mam, all systems are functional and ready for combat," Cardin grinning with eagerness for the coming fight. He was a brute, a brute with dangerous ambitions, but he did have great enthusiasm for his work. Weiss let a smile through her usual cold defences, "The rebels will not know what hit them."

"This is Ace leader, all ships report in,"

"Ace one, standing by,"

"Ace two standing by"

"Ace three standing by"

"Ace four standing by"

"Ace five standing by"

Ruby nodded with satisfaction as all her squad reported in. "All right everyone, the imperial cargo ship should be entering the system in under three minutes. The plan is simple, as soon as they enter the system we hit them hard and fast."

"We got it Ace leader, we went over the plan at least a hundred times back at base," Sun chiming in with confidence,

"Yeah Ruby, this is a milk run stop worrying," Neptune laughing along with Sun. Ruby just shook her head, despite the fact that for all intents and purposes it should be an easy mission, she couldn't shake the feeling that something bad was going to happen.

"Okay, here it comes people, lock S-foils in attack position," Ruby triggered hers as she commanded the rest of her squad to do so. Double checking her systems she flew towards the co-ordinance where the imperial cargo ship was supposed to exit hyperspace. Behind her, one by one, her squad followed suit, the six X-wings leaving the small asteroid field that they had hid in.

In a perfect V formation Ace squad emerged from the asteroid field. Suddenly, as predicted an imperial ship emerged from hyperspace almost exactly where the intel said it would. Ruby's eyes grew wide, instead of a cargo ship, before her now stood an Imperial star destroyer. "Pull back! It's a trap, everyone prepare to jump!"

"Ruby, we are too close to the asteroid field, if we jump we will be ripped to shreds!" Neptune shouting in panic over the comms.

"Commander Rose what are you orders!" As the series of panicked cries came over the comms, the star destroyer opened fire, green laser bolts coming just short of the X-wing squad. "Stay in formation, we gotta make it away from the asteroid field," Ruby commanded with determination.

"But the only way through-" Sun started

"Is past the star destroyer," Neptune finished. Ruby pushed her engines to full acceleration, shooting away from the rest of her squad, the turbo laser fire now arcing just past her ship. "Full power to front deflectors everyone! Prepare for TIE fighters!"

"Captain, they are coming right at us," one of the officers informed Weiss from their station. Weiss stayed focus on the six small star fighters that came racing towards her ship. "Very bold, very bold indeed," Weiss murmured under her breath, "Launch TIE Fighter squads A through C, don't let them past us."

"Ace Leader we have three groups of TIE Fighters coming right at us!"

"Stay on course, pass over the star destroyer, their turbo lasers will have a hard time hitting us if they are trying not too hit their friends." Ruby said through gritted teeth as she manoeuvred skilfully through the star destroyers heavy fire. A bolt streaked past her, impacting the ship to her left, the X-Wing exploding instantly. "We lost Ace 4!"

"Stay on course!" Ruby shouting as she grimaced at the loss of one of her squad mates. The star destroyer's fire lessened as the TIE Fighters came within range. "Open fire! disperse the TIE fighters!" Ruby slamming the triggers as hard as she could. Several streams of red laser fire erupted form her squad, taking out a pair of unsuspecting TIE fighters. The enemy ships broke off in two groups, flying to the squads left and right, attempting to engulf them. "Break away!" Ruby cried out, spinning her X-wing violently. Her squad broke apart, all attracting smaller groups of TIE fighter in pursuit. "I got three on my tai-" the comm cut suddenly, another X-wing behind Ruby succumbing to the blaster fire of TIE fighters.

Ruby feinted left and right, only just avoiding the fire of the TIE fighter pursuing her. Flipping her deflector shields to cover her behind, she started her pass over the star destroyer. Occasional laser fire shots out from the turbo laser turrets now below her. Cautious fire, the captain doesn't throw away lives like most Imperials. Ruby was glad she had trusted her instincts on this one.

"Hold your fire unless you have a clear shot, do not hit our fighters, I will not have friendly fire on my ship." Weiss ordering with a forceful wave of her hand. Cardin looked at her with confusion, "Captain, if we hold our fire then they will surely escape,"

"Have confidence, we will prevail," Weiss speaking with a supreme confidence. Cardin grumbled, muttering under his breath. "Lieutenant if you have something to say then say it," Weiss finally looking away from the battle, her scrutinising gaze falling upon her Lieutenant. Cardin frowned, "No mam, nothing to say,"

"Good."

"I can't shake them!" Neptune cried out as he ducked his ship underneath laser fire.

"I'm coming in," Sun said, managing to stay calm. Twisting away from his own tail, Sun flew up behind Neptune, blasting away the TIE fighter in pursuit of his friend. Behind them more of their squad mates met bitter ends, unable to outrun or out manoeuvre their attackers.

Three ships, Neptune, Sun and Ruby passed by the star destroyer. A horde of TIE fighters pursuing them, the main ship now having access to more easy shots. Ruby flew ahead of the three ships, the other two keeping in V formation behind her. "Ruby we are nearly there, just a little more… There! ready for hyperspace jump!" Neptune cheering enthusiastically into the comms. Ruby felt no joy over the small victory of escaping, it had cost her most of the team. Suddenly both Neptune and Sun's ships shuddered. "Oh crap, they have a tractor beam is getting a lock on us!" Sun cried out as he frantically tried to escape the hold on his ship. Neptune didn't say anything, too absorbed in trying to find a way out of the lock. "I've got you!" Ruby yelled as she flipped her ship back around, now turning to face the small fleet of TIE fighters and the menacing star destroyer. "No Ruby get out of here!" Sun calling on Ruby's now silenced comm system.

Ruby flew above her two team mates, opening fire with her laser cannons. She caught another pair of TIE fighters with her fire. Now she flew in between her friends and her enemies, the tractor beam now catching her instead. In retaliation, frustration and defeat ruby fired her proton torpedoes, the explosion destroying several more TIE fighters. Behind her Sun and Neptune zipped away, managing to jump away just in time. Out of options and surprises, Ruby admitted defeat, slamming her hand down on her control panel as she was slowly pulled towards the metal behemoth that assuredly meant her end.

"Captain, we have pulled in one of the rebel fighters, the other two managed to escape."

"Very well, have the pilot escorted to the holding cells for interrogation," Weiss turned to leave, her eyes flicking to her Lieutenant as she did so. Once again she caught hints of anger in his face, "Something wrong Mr Winchester," Weiss purposefully leaving out his rank. Cardin grew red in frustration,

"You let two of them escape! If we had used all of our weapons we would have obliterated them!"

"If we did we would have most assuredly killed our own people,"

"Why did we even send out the TIE fighters then!" Cardin moving to within striking distance of Weiss. She had expected this, he had after all been the one scorned for promotion in her place, it was only a matter of time before something like this was to happen. "Those X-wing class fighters are incredibly agile, and even have shielding capabilities, our fire power while great, is not precise enough to take out so skilled a group of pilots."

"That rebel scum could barely be called pilots, they are just jumped up criminals, terrorists!"

"Be that as it may Cardin," Weiss now dropping all form of respect for the man, "they are our enemy, and it pays not to underestimate them. Two may have escaped, but we managed to capture what I believe to be their leader, the information we pull out of him could be invaluable to hunting down the rest of the rebels."

Blake knelt before the holo projector. A blue light enveloped the dark room as a hologram phased into existence. "Inquisitor Belladonna, you have a new mission," the hologram speaking in a neutral tone. Blake looked up to see Adam's face, his eyes covered by his red visor. "You are to go the planet Tatooine, there is rumoured to be a young Jedi there," Adam's voice as usual was filled with a mixture of anger and glee.

"What am I to do with the jedi?" Blake asked hesitantly, yet interjecting an air of reverence. Adam looked down at her quizzically, "You are to destroy them of course. Hmm, is something wrong Blake… you seem… different."

"I'm fine Adam," Blake subconsciously started playing Pazzak in her head. Adam continued to looked confused, "You are hard to read Blake, just don't fail this time. Lord Vader is becoming frustrated with your recent… performance." Blake nodded, lowering her head as the hologram faded.

She breathed a sigh of relief, glad the Pazzak trick had worked and hidden her surface feelings. Blake strode out of the small dark conference room, moving with purpose in order to further avoid any contact with the stormtroopers and naval officers that inhabited the star destroyer. Thankfully for the most part they all avoided her, all cautious of the dangerous inquisitors that worked for the Emperor directly.

Blake found her quarters without interruption. The room was sparse, the life of an inquisitor was spent on the move, leaving little room for personal effects. All she had to her name was the clothes on her back, the lightsabers on her belt and above all these, the Jedi holocron. She retrieved it from the hidden compartment she had made. The gold trimmed crystalline cube felt comforting in her hands, the holocron always being strangely warm to touch. Puling back her dark hood she sat crossed legged, placing the holocron on the floor in front of her. Closing her eyes she cast her mind outwards. She felt the life moving around the ship, she could feel the soft thrum of the engine, the methodic breath of the ships life support systems.

She let out her own breath. Focusing now on the holocron, she could hear the soft clicks as it opened. She opened her eyes as a blue image took form. The old Jedi master started the recorded lessons. At this point Blake had nearly memorised all of the lessons, but they were still calming to listen too. Yet while comforting, there was always a small feeling of regret that hit Blake when she listened to the holocron.

It had belonged to a young Jedi, like all that remained he was on the run form the Empire. He was just another target for Blake. She caught up too him on Dantooine, a planet that held the ruins of an ancient Jedi temple. In those very ruins she fought the Jedi, using her hatred and anger to overpower him. In the end he laid down his lightsaber, accepting his death.

Blake struck him down without hesitation. There in the ruins she stood victorious. Then it hit her, the years of repression, frustration and sadness. In the ruins that reminded her of her homeworld, she realised her true enemy.

Since that day Blake had studied the ways of the force anew, in secret. Any Jedi she was sent after somehow escaped. Her ruse could only last so long, and she knew it. They had begun to suspect her and she had decided that now was the time to run. First though she had to warn the young Jedi on Tatooine.

Yang slammed back another drink, adding the empty cup to her small collection. The cantina was quiet at this time of night, only a few regular patrons still in attendance. Thankfully the band had finally stopped, after having played the same song for what seemed like an eternity at the request of an Ithorian sitting the front row. It was all quiet now, leaving Yang truly alone with her thoughts.

For the second time in her life she lost her sister. Both times at the hands of the Empire. The first had been when they had come for her father, she could still picture her mother pulling them away as her father fought off the Imperial assassin. Yang broke free of her mothers grasp and had tried to help, but it was too late. She remembered her fathers face as he was struck down by the red blade. Her hand drifted down to her boot, where she hid her fathers lightsaber. Clutching it lightly she remembered the last time she saw her sister, all those years ago.

Over a year ago Yang started her search, after spending several years moving from place to place, she finally had her own ship. Taking what jobs she could, Yang had slowly bought information and made certain friends, all to find out where her sister was, and if she was still alive. Finally a friend had told her of a crack pilot who had joined the Rebel Alliance, Yang had known it was her. As much as she hated her 'gift', the force was damn useful for these things.

Then, a few hours earlier, her same friend had informed her that her sister had been ambushed, and was presumed dead. Yang paid the bartender, giving a handsome tip as she sauntered out of the cantina. Tatooine nights were cold, but Yang was too drunk or upset too care. Stumbling through the empty streets Yang let a few tears roll down her cheeks. Her purpose for the last year was gone, her sister was gone, she didn't have anything else to push her on. She was defeated.

It took Yang much longer to get back to the spaceport than she expected, having taken several wrong turns. As she walked towards her ship she noticed a figure out of the corner of her eye. Pretending to be more intoxicated than she was, Yang slowed down, hand always close to her double barrel blaster carbine that sat holstered at her side.

The figure remained in the corner of her vision, clearly following her. as Yang entered her hangar she stopped, standing idle for a few seconds. Straining her hearing she heard the soft patter of feet. She spun, pulling her blaster free and pointing it at the entrance.

Standing in the darkness stood a figure garbed in black. The figures face was hidden by a black hood, but the slightly revealing outfit proved the assailant to be female. Yang grew panicked, visions of her fathers death flashing before her eyes. "Assassin…" Yang muttered under her breath, "Jedi, I'm here too wa-" the figure was cut off as Yang fired.

Her twin blaster bolts missed Blake, who had dodged just in time. Yang continued to fire, her bolts were wild and random. Blake pulled her lightsaber from her belt and ignited it, now swatting away the blaster fire. "Stop! I'm here to warn you!"

"Shut up! I'll kill you!" Yang screamed in anger, her eyes alight with fury, watching the familiar red blade in Blake's hands. Blake pushed out with the force, throwing Yang back into the hull of her own ship. With a grunt Yang steadied herself, throwing aside her blaster. "You… You killed them, you took my family away," Yang said through gritted teeth. Blake looked stunned, staring at the woman before her. She had felt hate, felt the darkside before, and had used it. This was no Jedi, whoever this woman was, she was consumed by anger.

"Calm down, don't use your hate, you're a Jedi," Blake pleaded. Yang took no notice, only growling in response as she circled her opponent. Closing her eyes Yang touched the force, letting it flow through her once more. It was like a drug, one that Yang had not used for some time, now flooding back into her system. The lightsaber in her boot shook slightly, before jumping up into her hand. She activated it, the yellow light further illuminating the open hangar. "Listen to me, I'm not here to kill you, I'm not here as an inquisitor. Calm down let us speak for a moment," Blake lowering her lightsaber as she spoke, deactivating it.

Yang rushed forward, swinging the yellow blade in a downward arc. Blake rolled out of the way, reigniting her own blade. Yang's lightsaber cut into the ground, her body rushing forward from her momentum. Pulling it free she swung again, this time her blade met Blake's. The two lightsabers crackled against each other, the two now locked in a battle of strength. Yang pushed Blake back, her face set in a look malice as she did so. Blake used to force to trip Yang up, disrupting her focus Blake managed to push her back, and move to a safe distance. "Stop! I don't want to fight you!"

"You took them away from me!" Yang screamed back, lunging desperately. Knocking Yang's lightsaber to the side, Blake stepped to her left as Yang came barrelling after her deflected blade. Letting out another cry Yang spun, her lightsaber spinning with her. Blake pulled forth her Shoto lightsaber, igniting it and forming a cross with her other blade. Yang hit Blake's defence, becoming locked in another battle of strength. Yet this time, Blake closed her eyes and focused, channelling the force to give her extra strength. On the edge of her mind she could feel Yang's anger, she could feel the seductive call of the darkside. It begged her to unleash it, to beat back this sorry mistake for a Jedi, to strike her down and prove her power.

Yet she resisted, opening her eyes to focus on her opponent. Blake watched as Yang's eyes slowly changed, the lilac iris' slowly growing yellow with hints of red forming on the outer ring. She had seen those eyes many times. "Don't succumb to the darkside… calm yourself…there is no need to fight… We are on the same side…" Blake managed to say through grunts as she held off Yang.

If Yang could hear her, she did not make any indication. Using as much willpower as she could, Yang pushed out with the force, sending Blake flying back into the wall of the hangar. A smile crept onto her face as she strode confidently over to the assassin. Blake held out her lightsabers defensively, making no moves to attack. Yang started wailing on her, she had no form, no technique, only the strength her anger gave her. Blake started to buckle under the assault, arms sore form absorbing the heavy blows.

One swing hit too hard and Blake's off hand lightsaber fell from her grip. Now with two hands on her main lightsaber, she endured the continued storm of swings. Panting form exhaustion Blake watched Yang, the flashes of the lightsabers colliding highlighting her face. She grew tired as well, her strikes coming slower. One may think too prove themselves through victory in combat, but the true victory is knowing when not too fight. Blake remembered one of the teachings of the holocron. She remembered the sacrifice of the Jedi she faced on Dantooine, his death being the turning point for Blake. Blake dodged the next strike, throwing her hand out to push Yang back a few steps. Yang grimaced, but returned to circling Blake.

This was her test, her fight against her old self, against the darkside. Blake deactivated her lightsaber and threw it aside. Yang looked surprised, but appeared not to falter. Blake shut her eyes and knelt, trusting in the force she accepted her fate.

Weiss read over the report of the skirmish. She had lost several TIE fighters, most too the captured rebel pilots proton torpedoes. However, even with the losses the mission was a success, the rebels had been routed. Furthermore, she now had one captured, and would soon learn where the rest were hiding.

It was time for the interrogation, Weiss making her way down from the bridge to the lower levels where the holding cells where. Accompanied by two stormtroopers she approached the Rebel pilots cell. To her surprise there was already a pair of stormtroopers guarding the door. "Trooper who is inside the cell?"

"Lieutenant Winchester mam," the stormtrooper remaining motionless as he spoke. Weiss frowned, cursing to herself quietly. "dismissed," Weiss said with a wave of her hand, and the two stormtroopers left, replaced by her own. Weiss opened the cell, and looked in to see a beaten woman laying on the floor of the cell, Cardin standing domineeringly over her. "Lieutenant Winchester! On whose authority are you interrogating the prisoner?" Weiss commanding as she strode to stand in front of Cardin. Cardin looked surprised, and for a moment was stunned, "Uh, my own Captain," he said shakily. Weiss looked down at the prisoner, grimacing at the sight of her bruised face. "I am in control of this ship Mr Winchester, never forget that. I gave no order for her to be interrogated yet, in fact I planned on conducting it myself. You are hereby placed on probation, do not test me again." Weiss turned away from him, Cardin taking this as approval for him to leave.

Cardin turned back to watch Weiss help the rebel stand, moving her to a more comfortable sitting position. He glared with contempt, a plan slowly forming in his mind.

"I apologise for my subordinates behaviour, it was quite inappropriate. However you must understand, you are a traitor to the Empire, a miscreant and a murderer, these things tend to inspire rather negative reactions in others." Weiss waited for a response but got none, "Very well, if you do not wish to speak you don't have too. I will not beat you, torture you or any other barbaric act to pull information out of you." Weiss turned away for a moment, using her comms to call in the stormtroopers. The cell door slid open, and the soldiers stepped inside, accompanied by a floating spherical droid.

Weiss caught a glimmer of fear in the rebels eye, Weiss raising her lips into a sinister smile. "I see you know of the interrogation droid. I will give you two options, I will let the droid inject its serum, a powerful substance that may help you in remembering certain information. If you resist you will be taken to a slave facility in some far reaching part of the galaxy. If you willingly tell me what I need to know I will find you a clean cell on an imperial planet, if your information is particularly useful I may even find it in my heart to downgrade some of the charges against you." Weiss studied the rebel pilot, her face was hard to read under the bruising, but her eyes spoke volumes. They stared at the droid, at the long metal syringe that protruded out towards her.

"Fine, I'll talk," the pilot said is a hoarse voice. Weiss smiled, extending a hand towards her.

"A wise decision, I am Captain Weiss Schnee. Lets go to a more comfortable setting to talk." Ruby took her hand, eyeing the interrogation droid carefully as she was escorted out of the cell. Weiss led Ruby through the quiet hallways of the star destroyer, the two stormtroopers standing at Ruby's sides. They eventually came to a stop at what appeared to be a small private chamber. A large stainless steel table dominated the room, black chairs lining either side. Weiss motioned for Ruby to take a seat. Ruby fell into the chair, still watching Weiss with suspicion. Weiss sat opposite her, the stormtroopers standing against the wall behind Ruby. "So, lets begin then, where is your base located, the one from which you launched the attack?"

"Did you really think, I would betray my friends?" Ruby asked, voice filled with genuine surprise and a hint of amusement. Weiss frowned,

"I imagine I will be calling the droid back then, how disappointing," she waved at one of the stormtroopers who left to collect it. "Now I will give you one last chance to tell me under more agreeable circumstances," Weiss' tone was stern now, slowly losing patience. Ruby glared back, the two staring each other down. Suddenly Ruby sprung into action, kicking the table to slide her chair back into the stormtrooper behind her. Using her shackles she swung her hands at the stunned stormtrooper, the metal handcuffs impacting with his plastoid helmet. Weiss shot up, calling her extra security on her comm.

Ruby grasped the troopers blaster, managing to wrestle it from his control, blasting him in the chest at point blank. She spun to aim he blaster at Weiss, whose face was a picture of shock. "Put down the blaster, there is no way out of this the than your surrender. Be reasonable," Weiss freezing under the threat of the blaster. Ruby scowled, "I would rather die than betray the people important to me, the people fighting to stop you," her voice filled with contempt. Weiss cursed herself for not wearing a blaster of her own, she was a captain and had had no intention of entering firefights, but her intentions were irrelevant now.

"You're coming with me, you're my ticket off this thing," Ruby motioning with her blaster for Weiss to move. The door to the private chamber opened, Ruby quickly aiming her blaster in that direction and firing. The stormtrooper managed to let of a wild shot as he went down, just missing Ruby. "Lets move 'captain', I think I have had enough imperial hospitality for today."

Yang held the lightsaber over Blake's head, hovering just inches away. She gripped the lightsaber hard, hands clenching down on the hilt. Her jaw ached as her teeth remained locked together as she fought back her anger. Yang's breathing was heavy, panting hard after the exertion of the fight. "Pick up your weapon," Yang grumbled. Blake shook her head,

"I will not fight you, I did not come here to kill you."

"Then what are you here for, you're an imperial assassin, don't even try to deny it,"

"I won't, although the proper term is inquisitor, but assassin is apt." Blake stood slowly, her face hidden in the shadow of her hood. Yang still held her father's lightsaber in both hands extended towards Blake. "I'm here to warn you that more of my kind will be coming for you, the Empire is on your trail."

"So you came here to scare me huh, well it's not going to work!" Yang shuffled on her feet, anxious for more fighting.

"It should," Blake looking directly at Yang now, her amber eyes glowing in the light of the yellow saber. "If I intended to stay with the Empire, you would be dead right now. You have no control, no finesse. What's worse is you stray too willingly to the darkside, you are supposed to be a Jedi."

"I'm not a Jedi," Yang said forcefully, straightening herself and holding the lightsaber at her side, still ignited.

"Well the Empire thinks you are one, and even if you don't want it, you are force sensitive," Blake crossing her arms as she spoke. Yang squinted in confusion,

"Who are you? Why are you trying to help me, you work for the Empire,"

"I 'worked' for the Empire. I am in the process of leaving that behind." The two of them stood in silence for a few moments. Finally, Yang deactivated her lightsaber, sliding it back into her boot. "Whatever, I got your message, now leave me alone." Yang turned and walked to her ship, shutting the ramp behind her. Blake watched her go, a strange feeling of disappointment coming over her. She had come to help a Jedi, and had found a drunk mercenary.

Even though she was disappointed, she felt a moment of relief. Her task was done, she was free now to follow her own path. Blake walked away, not noticing the blonde figure in the cockpit of the freighter, watching her leave.

Yang studied her as she walked away, "didn't even tell me your name."

Next time on Star wars: Beacon of hope; Ruby's Escape!

Thanks for reading, shout out to Dane-of-Celestia for creating the artwork that inspired this story.

(P.S disclaimer: I don't own either properties, just love them dearly and like to write things on occasion)