#spring maiden

(Posting this as a stand-alone)

My PC is too faulty right now (It's not fixed yet, BTW. I'm just test-running), so this event was sadly cancelled.

But I still wanted to at least finish the artworks proper

Hope you guys enjoy it. - WhiteRose (Ruby x Weiss)

- Ladybug (Ruby x Blake)

- Lancaster (Ruby x Jaune)

- Milk & Cereal (Ruby x Pyrrha)

- Sugar Rush (Ruby x Nora)

- Scarlet Rose (Ruby x Velvet)

- Strawbanas (Ruby x Sun)

- Nuts N' Dolts (Ruby x Penny)

- Gemstones (Ruby x Emerald)

- RoseGarden (Ruby x Oscar)

- Spring Flowers (Ruby X Haru AKA: Spring Maiden)

- Fallen Petals (Ruby x Cinder) PS: This is purely exclusive for childhood friend AUs, BTW.

- Rose Storm (Ruby x Gayelette) This one's for me, since Gale is my RWBY OC

- Sheared Roses (Ruby x Ryuko)

- Rose Resonance (Ruby x Maka)

Similarly Yang could become Spring thanks to Raven and Weiss could become Winter through Winter which implies Blake will know or bond with the Summer Maiden when we meet them in Vacuo.

Oz's Goals with the Maidens

The Maidens are unique in Remnant, each embodying one of the four seasons and wielding magic that sets them apart from Dust users or those with Semblances. Their abilities are not tied to Aura, allowing them to perform feats even when their Aura is depleted, as seen when Amber fought despite her broken Aura in "Beginning of the End" (Volume 3, Episode 6). Their powers are elemental, enabling control over forces like fire, ice, wind, and lightning, with no strict limitation to their seasonal theme—though some Maidens favor certain elements, like Cinder Fall’s preference for fire. Their magic manifests visually with a fiery glow around their eyes, matching their Aura color, and they can conjure elemental weapons, such as Cinder’s flaming rock sword in "Downfall" (Volume 5, Episode 13).

The Maidens also serve as keys to the Vaults, hidden chambers beneath the Huntsman Academies (Beacon, Haven, Shade, and Atlas) that house the Relics, artifacts of immense power created by the Gods. Each Maiden can open only the Vault corresponding to her season: Fall for Beacon, Spring for Haven, Summer for Shade, and Winter for Atlas. This connection makes them critical to Ozpin’s mission to protect the Relics from Salem.

History

The Maidens’ origins are rooted in a fairy tale, The Story of the Seasons, recounted in RWBY: World of Remnant (Volume 3, Episode 4). An old wizard—revealed to be Ozma in a past life—granted magical powers to four sisters who showed him kindness: Winter inspired reflection, Spring revitalized his garden, Summer encouraged exploration, and Fall taught gratitude. These sisters became the first Maidens, tasked with using their gifts for good. However, as power-hungry individuals hunted Maidens to inherit their abilities, a secretive group formed to protect them, allowing their existence to fade into myth to safeguard both the Maidens and Remnant.

Secrecy: Ozpin, Qrow Branwen, Glynda Goodwitch, James Ironwood, Leonardo Lionheart, Theodore, Xanthe Rumpole, and later Raven Branwen, Winter Schnee, Penny Polendina, and the Ace Ops were entrusted with the Maidens’ secret to prevent their powers from falling into the wrong hands.

Present Day

The Maidens’ powers remain pivotal in the conflict between Ozpin’s allies and Salem’s forces, who seek the Relics to reshape or destroy Remnant.

Fall Maiden: Amber, the previous Fall Maiden, was ambushed by Cinder Fall, Mercury Black, and Emerald Sustrai around the time of the "Black" Trailer. Cinder used a Grimm beetle to steal part of Amber’s powers, leaving her comatose (Beginning of the End). Ozpin’s group placed Amber on life support beneath Beacon and considered transferring her powers to Pyrrha Nikos using Atlesian technology. During the Fall of Beacon, Cinder killed Amber, reuniting the powers and becoming the full Fall Maiden (Heroes and Monsters, Volume 3, Episode 12). Cinder now uses her powers to pursue Salem’s goals, including attempts to steal other Maiden powers.

Spring Maiden: Over a decade before Volume 5, an unnamed Spring Maiden trained at Haven Academy under Leonardo Lionheart but fled due to the burden of her responsibilities. She was later found by the Branwen Tribe, where Raven Branwen trained her. Deeming her too weak, Raven inherited the powers through an act she described as “mercy” (Vault of the Spring Maiden, Volume 5, Episode 13). Raven concealed her Maiden status, using Vernal as a decoy. During a confrontation at Haven, Raven defeated Cinder in a duel and accessed the Vault but chose not to take the Relic of Knowledge after her daughter Yang’s intervention.

Winter Maiden: Fria, an elderly Winter Maiden, had fully mastered her powers, described as “fully realized” (The Enemy of Trust). Protected by Atlas’ military, she was kept in a secure facility. James Ironwood intended Winter Schnee to inherit her powers, but during a Grimm attack orchestrated by Salem, Cinder attempted to steal them. Penny Polendina, a synthetic being with a soul, received the powers instead after Fria’s death. Later, Penny was infected with a virus by Arthur Watts, compelling her to open the Atlas Vault (Amity, Volume 8, Episode 3). After Team RWBY used the Relic of Creation to make her human, Cinder fatally wounded her. In her final moments, Penny spiritually passed the powers to Winter Schnee (The Final Word, Volume 8, Episode 14), who used them to defeat Ironwood and confront Cinder.

Summer Maiden: The Summer Maiden’s identity and status remain unknown in the main series, with no confirmed appearances by Volume 8. Speculation suggests she may be tied to Shade Academy in Vacuo, but no canonical details confirm this.

Known Maidens

Winter: Fria (former), Penny Polendina (former), Winter Schnee (current).

Spring: Unnamed Maiden (former), Raven Branwen (current).

Summer: Unknown.

Fall: Amber (former), Cinder Fall (current).

Ozpin and His Group’s Goals

Ozpin and his inner circle aim to protect the Maidens and ensure their powers are used to safeguard the Relics, preventing Salem from accessing them to summon the Gods and potentially destroy Remnant. Ozpin’s approach emphasizes secrecy, training suitable candidates, and, when necessary, artificial transfers to secure the powers in trustworthy hands, as seen with his plan to transfer Amber’s powers to Pyrrha (Fall). He believes the Maidens “choose themselves” (Never Miss a Beat, Volume 3, Episode 3), suggesting a philosophy of empowering individuals to embrace their destiny, though this is complicated by the manipulative aspects of his and Ironwood’s methods, such as using experimental technology. Ironwood, in particular, was willing to bypass natural succession to ensure Atlas’ security, as seen with his plan for Winter Schnee to inherit Fria’s powers (The Enemy of Trust). The group’s secrecy stems from the fear that power-hungry individuals, like Cinder, could destabilize Remnant if they claim the powers, a concern validated by the Fall of Beacon.

Theories

In the world of RWBY, the Maidens—Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall—are pivotal figures wielding immense magical power bestowed by Ozma, tied to the seasons and the safeguarding of the Relics. Ozpin and his inner circle’s goals regarding the Maidens, as well as their knowledge and stance on specific Maidens like Raven Branwen and the Summer Maiden, reveal a complex balance of protection, control, and pragmatism in their fight against Salem. Their primary objective is not to control all the Maidens but to ensure their powers remain with trustworthy individuals who can protect the Relics and prevent them from falling into Salem’s hands, as seen in their efforts to secure Amber’s powers in Fall (Volume 3, Episode 6). Ozpin’s group, including Qrow Branwen, Glynda Goodwitch, James Ironwood, Leonardo Lionheart, Theodore, and Xanthe Rumpole, maintains secrecy around the Maidens to shield them from power-hungry threats, as explained in Rest and Resolutions (Volume 4, Episode 8).

Regarding the Summer Maiden, there is no canonical evidence up to Volume 8 (the latest fully released volume as of June 25, 2025) that Ozpin or his group knows her identity or location, likely tied to Shade Academy in Vacuo. The Summer Maiden’s absence from the narrative suggests she remains hidden or unknown, possibly by design to avoid Salem’s attention, aligning with the group’s secrecy tactics. Speculatively, Ozpin may not prioritize finding her if she’s secure and not a threat, focusing instead on immediate dangers like Cinder Fall, who actively seeks Maiden powers (Divide, Volume 6, Episode 1).

Raven Branwen, the Spring Maiden, presents a unique case. Ozpin was likely aware of her actions with the Branwen Tribe, as Qrow noted the Maiden-like destruction in Shion (Haven’s Fate, Volume 5, Episode 12), but did not suspect Raven specifically. His inaction suggests a pragmatic approach: Raven’s powers were secure with a known ally (albeit a morally ambiguous one), and monitoring her through Qrow’s familial connection was sufficient. Raven’s secrecy, using Vernal as a decoy, likely limited Ozpin’s ability to intervene directly, and his focus on Beacon’s Fall Maiden crisis may have overshadowed Mistral’s issues. Speculatively, Ozpin might have tolerated Raven’s raids to avoid confronting a powerful, unpredictable Maiden, prioritizing containment over conflict, especially since her actions didn’t directly aid Salem.

Ozpin’s stance on Ironwood’s plan for the Winter Maiden aligns with his broader strategy but shows nuanced differences. Ironwood intended Winter Schnee to inherit Fria’s powers, ensuring Atlas’ control over the Relic of Creation (The Enemy of Trust, Volume 7, Episode 13). Ozpin supported controlled succession, as seen with his plan to transfer Amber’s powers to Pyrrha Nikos using Atlesian technology (Fall). However, his hesitation over the ethical implications—warning Pyrrha she might not be the same person afterward—contrasts with Ironwood’s more utilitarian approach. Ozpin was fine with Ironwood’s plan in principle, as it secured the Winter Maiden’s powers for their cause, but his reservations about artificial transfers suggest he preferred natural succession when possible, as implied by his comment that “Maidens choose themselves” (Never Miss a Beat, Volume 3, Episode 3). Speculatively, Ozpin’s acquiescence to Ironwood’s methods may reflect a compromise to maintain their alliance, though he likely distrusted Ironwood’s increasing authoritarianism, which later strained their partnership (Worst Case Scenario, Volume 7, Episode 11).

Theoretically, Ozpin’s group did not aim to control all Maidens in a possessive sense but to ensure their alignment with their mission against Salem. Their efforts focused on protection and strategic placement, as seen with Amber and Fria, rather than gathering all powers under one banner. The Summer Maiden’s unknown status supports this, as does their tolerance of Raven’s actions, suggesting a focus on containment over domination. However, their willingness to use experimental technology and manipulate succession raises ethical questions, potentially foreshadowing conflicts with Team RWBY’s more autonomous ideals. If the Summer Maiden emerges in Vacuo, she could challenge Ozpin’s secretive approach, especially if her independence mirrors Raven’s, potentially forcing Ozpin to reassess his methods in future volumes.

Ruby's the youngest member of Team RWBY and gradually gets overwhelmed by the weight of responsibility (and also trauma) culminating in her breakdown in Volume 9. And she ends up running to Neo's tea party, and. Yeah