3

"Well… so far we know that it's some sort of self-enhancement, with a lot of heat as a byproduct of the enhancement. The rate of power up seems to rise linearly with the amount of aura damage you sustain times two. The emitted heat also seems to be tied to the amount of immediate power you are holding in. The aura needed to keep your semblance going is minimal on its own but you always have to sacrifice a portion of it to absorb the impact. Your semblance is clearly unstable because you can't hold it in forever and you must put it to some use before it starts damaging your body, so far the optimal time limit is about three minutes and five being the maximum. You want to add anything? " Ruby finished reciting her notes. It has been a week since Yang activated her semblance for the first time and considering she was grounded after her mishap at school, the sisters would always spend several hours per day experimenting, observing and trying to understand how to make the most of this new ability.

"Not really, just that it gets easier to fire up and keep going, you know? No deep focusing, just a thought and go."

Ruby made a small note and put the notebook down. "Okay then, wanna call it a day or you want to try something else? I wouldn't mind some target practice!" She cheerfully finished while caressing an airsoft gun.

"Ehhh… sure, why not?"

-BBW-

Dammit! Damn it all! Yang thought as she kept running through the woods, a rubber bullet flying near her every few seconds. For an eight year old child Ruby was scarily competent with ranged weaponry. Pneumatic guns, self-made bows and even throwing spears. So instead of being surprised that her sister could somehow see her in the forest, Yang was very angry at their father who, in what he probably thought was some genius punishment, allowed Ruby to use her as a target practice. She had an aura so she might as well use it as a way to build up endurance. Sure, sure, just wait when she decides to use you too! With emotions running high, frustration and anger being the prevalent two, her semblance ignited, and immediately earned her a pebble-sized piece of rubber to the nape of her neck. While not painful it was very unexpected. It broke Yang's concentration on her footing, which led to her stumbling over a free root and falling on her face.

"Enough of this!" Yang screamed in rage, while she picked herself up from the ground. Thankfully, the rubber rain stopped and she could hear shuffling of leaves as Ruby ran up to her.

"I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Please don't be hurt…"

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," Yang waved her off "but I think I have enough for today. Let's go home, I could really use a shower."

-BBW-

Later that evening the sisters were watching tv. Yang was choosing some cartoon with an excessive amount of explosions and the main character being a guy with a sword and dubious understanding of shirts. Ruby had run off to the kitchen to get ice cream for herself and some of her cookies for Yang as an apology. She settled on the couch by her sister's side and started eating her sweet treat. She had to do it fast, it was rather hot inside and the ice cream was melting fast. Although… it wasn't that hot when we were outside. Ruby looked around the room for the heater, mornings could be cold and maybe they forgot to switch it off. She saw that it was turned off, so she decided that she might as well open a window to let some fresh evening air in. She put her dessert on the floor near the couch and got up. After taking a few steps she noticed that the temperature dropped, not thinking too much about it, she opened the window, got back to the couch, sat down and lent into her sister's side.

I should take all that sugar away, she hasn't been still for more than a minute after we sat down. Yang thought. After Ruby sat down with her, she kept squirming, like she couldn't find a proper spot. Sure, Yang had the same problem occasionally but twenty minutes was too much. Then Ruby put her hands on Yang's forearm, not that she minded. Ruby frowned and moved her hands up to her bicep. Then shoulder and then neck.

"Ruby, what are you doing? You're being really weird right now." Yang finally decided that something was wrong with her sister. Ruby looked up and locked eyes with Yang, worry clear in her gaze. Ruby climbed into Yang's lap and put her palm over her forehead.

"Yang! You're burning up!" She exclaimed.

"But I'm feeling fine." Yang protested. She really didn't want to deal with any minor cold. Ruby could be such a worry-wart and make a headache out of herself.

Ruby already bolted towards the kitchen where the first aid kit was kept. Their father made sure they could find and easily access it after they started playing and later training in the backyard and nearby forest. Ruby came back with the kit, dropped it on the floor and started rummaging for a thermometer. Yang decided to let her get it out of her system, she would play along and when Ruby saw she was worrying over nothing. She kept the thermometer in her mouth while giving Ruby the best iteration of a deadpan stare she was capable of. It finally beeped and Ruby immediately went for it. She almost dropped it before managing to hold it steadily enough to read. Her eyes widened and she looked at Yang in fear.

"Yang, it's 115F! We need a doctor! Hospital! Yang, you need to call for amublance!"

"What? Ruby, I'm telling you I'm fine! Also, it's ambulance.

At that exact moment the front door opened and Taiyang walked in. He still looked tired, his shoulders were slumped but at least he didn't have bags under his eyes anymore. He looked around and soon saw his young daughters. He smiled weakly and greeted them.

"Hey girls! How ar-"

"Dad! Yang is ill! You have to do something!"

Ruby ran up to him almost teary-eyed while trying to put the thermometer into his face. Tai immediately looked to Yang to see what was going on. Yang just rolled her eyes in exasperation. She looked completely fine, only slightly annoyed. He carefully took the device from Ruby before she had a chance to drop it and looked at the measurements. And kept looking. Then he looked up to take one more look at Yang. Then on the numbers again.

"Huh?" He looked surprised but not really worried. "Okay, so, are you hurting anywhere?" He asked Yang in a calm tone.

"Not really, but my head starts to hurt from all of this! I. Am. Fine! Can you calm down already?!" Yang was losing her patience really fast now. She could deal with Ruby being a worrywart who didn't know what she was talking about but if Tai would take her to the doctor and waste her time she was going to punch him straight in the face no matter what it took.

"Yeah, I can see that." Tai answered good-naturedly. "Anyway, you will need to see the doctor. You need to know how much your semblance messes with your body's natural processes. It's not urgent but we will need to get it out of the way before Signal. You can't go to combat practice if nobody knows how much your semblance can backfire on you. Or someone else." He finished with a nod towards Yang.

"So… does that mean that Yang will be overall warmer?" Ruby chimed in, a notebook already in her hands and an excited smile on her face. Any traces of worry for her sister were already forgotten.

-BBW-

Yang was very tired and the only thing she wanted right now was to stay in her bed forever. A month after the unlocking of her aura and subsequent discovery of her semblance Tai decided that it was enough time for her to be used to the changes and she could start to train in earnest. That was the moment when Yang remembered that, for all of his faults, Tai was a veteran huntsman who specialised in close combat and given that Yang herself was more in tune with martial arts and other forms of close combat he decided to teach her as much as he could. While Yang was somewhat happy that Tai was spending some time with her for once, it didn't stop her from bemoaning her fate. Endless drills, sparring matches and a workout routine that she had half a mind to sue him for child abuse. As if to add an insult to her suffering she had to be Ruby's target on a regular basis. Something about getting used to being at a disadvantage at long range. Joy… She heard druncle Qrow was making a practice scythe for Ruby so maybe she would get a break from being shot at. At least now she could go to sleep and let her muscles rest. A door creaked. Great. What is it now? Yang tiredly turned to see who dared to impose on her rest. In the doorframe stood Ruby with a pillow and a blanket in her arms. Yang calmed down, her baby sister probably had a nightmare. She used to have them but about two years ago they pretty much disappeared.

"What is it, Rubes?"

Ruby outright ignored the question, threw both the pillow and the blanket on her bed and jumped under them all the while trying to get as close to her as possible. Alright sis, I know you like to get all mushy from time to time but this is weird. She kept looking at her sister with one eyebrow raised, still waiting for an answer to her earlier question.

When Ruby settled down in a comfortable position she looked her sister in the eyes and answered in a perfect deadpan.

"I was cold in my room." Like it was a perfect and reasonable answer.

Yang just rolled her eyes and threw one arm around her sister. Ruby would continue to sleep in her bed for almost a month. When the next winter came she did it again.

-BBW-

It's finally happening! Ruby was ecstatic. It was finally her tenth birthday and her father would unlock her aura! She would be able to train with proper fire-arms! And proper weapons! She even had a prototype of her scythe ready! She definitely wouldn't miss that crime against smithing that was the supposed practice scythe from uncle Qrow. It's a stick with a curved piece of metal on one side. And she would finally be able to start catching up! Yang got really strong and fast in the last year and a half. If only she could learn how to dodge better, her semblance may allow her to redirect the energy from all the bullets but they would still take a toll on her aura. Although seeing her sister covered in orange paint after Ruby switched to paint balls was priceless. But now she was feeling a bit sad. Yang already went to Signal combat school and they didn't have that much time to train together anymore. No matter. Fighting people wasn't why she wanted to be a huntress. Kill grimm, save people, make awesome weapons and learn how to make decent cookies! Can't mooch off Yang's time for the rest of my life. The party was a blur. She knew there was a cake. Chocolate and strawberry, just how she liked it. Yang gave her training gloves and her dad gave her an introductory set of Dust and some handbooks. She could do without the books, she already read about the basic uses, combat Dust casting and advanced dustforging. Uncle Qrow sent her a letter from a mission in Atlas. Maybe he sent her photos of some weird grimm or Oh my gosh are those weapon schematics! Yes they are! Oh, aren't you a beauty! Project Queenslayer? Hmm, how do I get all these things to Patch. Have to ask him to give me some of it for the next birthday! This was, in Ruby's mind, the best present she ever got. Schematics for an anti-material GW(gravity-wind) sniper rifle, made to be equipped with bullets with variable Dust coating. No! She had to focus! Unlock aura now, make beautiful babies later! Somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered where her uncle found it, maybe there was more!

Meanwhile

"Explain." General James Ironwood commanded.

"What exactly?" Answered inebriated Qrow Branwen, not caring in the slightest.

"Why did I receive a report that for some reason, two weeks ago, you walked into Argus research facility with two barrels of beer and got both the engineers as well as guards so drunk that seven of them had alcohol poisoning and the entire place was out of order for almost a week!" Ironwood said across the scroll, cold fury clear in his voice.

"Hey! It was either that or spending time with that crazy hag Cordo-what's-her-name" Qrow replied with a laugh.

-BBW-

Showtime! The celebration had ended hours ago and both Yang and Her father should be asleep right now. Ruby also made sure to feed Zwei some chicken legs, it always made him lazy and sleepy. No barking would stop her! She sneaked out of her room and went to her workshop, sometimes referred to as the garage. There was her latest baby and now with her aura unlocked it was time to test it against the forces of darkness! Crescent Rose mk.1. Rather simple in design really. Just a scythe. Only things that set it apart from being an average farming equipment were that it was entirely out of metal, both the pole and the blade, there was a small set of gears that could change the scythe into a warscythe, just in case she needed more range and finally, the blade was sharpened to the absolute best to her abilities. During one of her secret night practices she was able to cut a branch that was the same width as her leg in one swing! And that was without aura.

Ruby Rose slowly tracked through the forest. The night air in November should have been cold to her, but aura made her more resistant to temperatures. Unless it started freezing she would be fine. She carried her weapon over her shoulder. Normally her baby would be rather heavy for her use and carry casually. Now? Only slightly tiring. Ah, the wonders of aura. Ruby was a bit worried about using so frivolously, she didn't know her limits yet and keeping it activated the entire time could add-up.

Her musings were cut short when she heard a low growl from the underbush to her left. A one set of red eyes glared at her in hatred, as it would at anyone living. Ambush type, found in forests… Beowolf! Ruby switched to a warscythe mode and started running towards her prey. Knowing it was already seen, the beowolf leapt out of its hiding spot. Seeing the grimm flying at her through the air, Ruby stopped and put the rear-end of her weapon firmly into the ground. In it's jump, the beowolf impaled itself on a blade. With a twist of her hips, Ruby bisected the beast and threw it's dissolving body under some random tree.

Her instincts screamed at her to dodge. She slightly turned her head and saw another one charging right at her back. Not enough time to turn, dammit, I only got one! How am I supposed to get better like that! I need to get better! I have to be a

"Fable come to life" she uttered the words that kept coming back to her in her dream time and time again. The beast was mere inches away from her now.

MOVE

One instance she was bracing herself for the pain of getting hit by a young beowolf, then in the next the world was tinted red. Everything was so slow now! She easily went around the monster and stood in a stance to decapitate the beast. The world continued to move and the red tint disappeared. So moved her weapon and her second of the day was secured.

There were petals floating around her. Is that my semblance? Superspeed? Time-stop? Teleportation? And what's with all the petals? Ruby kept looking around her in wonder. But her thoughts on her possible semblance were interrupted when more red eyes lighted up around her. Ah, of course, the rest of the pack.

"So… I take it you won't let me leave? Don't worry, I wouldn't let you run away either!" Ruby changed Crescent Rose back to the usual scythe form and got ready. Come! I already got two of you and that was just a warm up! You think I'm afraid of your growls, little puppies? Then Let the wolves howl, let the petals dance.