Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-12757511-20130720013429/@comment-10390252-20130908082320

My favourite theory is that Ruby was abandoned by her mother and later adopted by the Long family (much to little Yang's delight - she'd always wanted a Baby Sis). Ruby hasn't been left without any connection to her past. I'm betting that Uncle Qrow is a blood relative and (as well as teaching Ruby to fight) has also taught her a bit about her native culture, which is why she's so stylistically different from Yang despite the two having been raised together.

My guess is that the black-haired woman Yang was hunting in the Trailer is Ruby's bio-mom. Ruby may never say it but, yes, she does miss her and the abandonment is partially the cause of her social interaction issues. Yang was looking for her on her own initiative (the picture 'The Transient Princess' by Monty Oum is he only picture Ruby has of her) so she could demand some kind of explanation as to why she did this.

Naturally, she'll turn out to be Crimson.

CRIMSON: "No, Ruby, I am your mother!"

RUBY: "Well... duh!"

Seriously, I think that there might be a Heel Face Turn in the future or possibly a Dark Master sub-plot. Either Crimson is going to abandon the Dark when it becomes clear that the Grimm intend only destruction of everything (because Even Evil Has Standards) or Ruby is going to start contacting her in secret after their first close-up confrontation trying to reconnect with her. Crimson starts teaching Ruby weapon-less Aura/Dust magic and there will be this constant question as to whether she's trying to corrupt her daughter into the Dark too.

Naturally, I believe that Crimson will ultimately have a Death Equals Redemption moment towards the very end of the story. Maybe she single-handedly holds off the entire Grimm hoard at a bottleneck for a few minutes to buy our heroes time...

CRIMSON: "Lead them on, Ruby!"

RUBY: "No! I won't leave you, Mom!"

CRIMSON: "FLY, YOU LITTLE FOOL!"

YANG grabs RUBY'S cloak and drags her away as the younger girl claws the air,  trying to get back to her mother's side. CRIMSON turns to face the leading edge of the GRIMM tidal wave at the far end of the pass with a sick, sadistic smile.

CRIMSON: "So...! The Shadow against the Flame! You have no idea how long I've lusted for this confrontation...! We shall see if you really are the dark that swallows up all light!"

The GRIM lunge forwards and CRIMSON starts tearing into them with weapons made of solidified Dustfire, casting fireballs and flame fountain in all directons...

In the distance, RUBY hears a scream and squeezes her eyes shut to try to hold in the tears.

This doesn't mean that I've abandoned my theory is that Crimson is Ozpin's estranged daughter. In fact, it might even fit into this theory if you cast Yang's parents in the 'Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru' roles - two honest folk who are trying to protect Ruby from her mother's fall; despite their best efforts, Ruby has gravitated to a Huntress's life and, completely unexpectedly, encountered her paternal great-uncle at Signal Academy (they didn't know anything about Ruby's paternal lineage before that meeting).

RUBY: "Professor...? G... Grandpa? Why didn't you ever come for me?"

OZPIN: "I am a marked man, Ruby.  The... thing that used to be your mother will never stop looking for ways to hurt me.  Hiding you away in this manner was the only way I could think of to protect you from her until you were able to protect yourself."