“One more time Ruby.” I said, leaning against a tree as Ruby tried to get her breath back. I didn’t even turn as I calmly blast a Creeps head off with Blush as it tried to jump on her. It had been a couple weeks since that Dragon Rider Displaced came by and let some of the girls have dragon eggs, and while Weiss, Penny and Pyrrha have been taking care of the eggs, the others have been mostly training as well as finishing up some projects they started while I was comatose.

Ruby in particular wanted to train with me in how to use her eyes. I have so far managed to keep my own secrets, but I have also have been helping out my fellow Silver Eyes. No one appeared to suspect anything from me as of yet. I just....wasn’t ready to confront Ozpin, or I guess I should say Ozma, about his actions. I knew I needed more time to fully wrap my head around everything I learned after I woke up.

Ruby didn’t seem to pay much mind to my sudden advice in how to use her eyes. She trusted me completely, willing to spend the afternoon in the middle of the Everfree as Grimm after Grimm came by. I didn’t let any get too close to her, as Ruby meditated. I didn’t need telepathy to know she was repeating my words in her head.

“Our eyes are gifts from the God of Light, to counteract his brothers creation of the Grimm. It is our light that the Grimm fear, and our want to protect and save that opposes the Grimms desire to destroy and kill. To use our light, we must know what we are protecting, what we want to protect, Who we want to protect, and how far we are willing to go to achieve that. Only when you have that state of mind, that state of consciousness, can you use your own light.”

While Ruby did ask how I knew it was the God of Light that granted us our eyes, I managed to deflect the question by saying it was a simple correlation when you thought about it objectively. She agreed after a full minute of thinking about it. Since she agreed, I managed to play it off as coming up with the idea for her eyes to activate in the presence of Grimm, mostly by pointing out her previous encounters with Cinder. From there it was a simple task of coming into he forest and letting her practice while I covered her.

That was a little over three hours ago, and so far we have actually made a bit of progress. Ruby has managed create the mentality needed for her eyes, mostly by thinking about her mom apparently, and while I have been covering her, I allows one or two smaller Grimm get close. So far she’s managed to petrify a small Creep and disintegrate a crow-sized Nevermore.

Unfortunately it still left her a bit winded, and it was clearly using up both a portion of her aura, but also a chunk of her magic. While Ruby couldn’t access her magic in the same ways as Penny, Ozma, Raven or Cinder, the fact its gotten to the point she can consciously make her eyes glow shows she has magic energy pumping through her veins. And I know she isn’t the only one who will have that magic unlocked.

I sighed as I watched Ruby take a breath, her closed silver eyes having the smallest of silver ember emanating from the sides of her eyes to show her magic coming through. With a small switch on my view, I watched as her very soul began to pulse and writhe, not like a creature in pain, but almost like a baby in the womb.

Ruby, despite everything she has been through in the recent years, still has a small, and more honest soul. One that was splashed with heartbreak and battle, but not drowned. One that is still relatively weak, but is not stagnant. Even now, she continues to grow, and with her team by her side now, I know that growth will be exponential. And perhaps, the most simple things she reminds us of, would be victory enough.

I smiled in response to her own, knowing that her mind in showing all the happy moments she can think off. I heard a branch snap and bushes move as a Beowolf entered the clearing we were in. I placed a hand on Wilt, but didn’t draw it as the Grimm crouched and growled, eyes locked on Ruby’s still form. I narrowed my eyes and lowered my own stance just in case I am needed.

The beast growled again, before with a small roar it pounced. Time seemed to slow as I watched the black beast fly through the air towards my young friend, before her eyes snapped open, and flecks of silver embers appeared before her eyes turned pure white. I watched a bright light fill the clearing, and a second later, it was gone, and all that was left of the Grimm was a stone statue, that immediately fell and shatter into dust.

I smirked as Ruby blinked a couple times, before coughing and waving at the dust in her face. I laughed as I walked over and pat her shoulder.

“I think that’s enough training for now Rubes. Let’s head back.” She nodded with a smile and tried to stand, only to stumble and force me to support her. She sighed.

“I guess this is going to take a while before I can use my eyes without much trouble.” She looked to me as we made our way through the woods. “But still, progress is progress.”

I nodded in agreement as we made our way past Zecora’s hut. Once we arrive at the Poison Joke patch, Ruby could walk without my support, but I still kept an eye on her to make sure she didn’t call into the flowers. The last thing we need is to find out what happens to someone from Remnant when exposed to Poison Joke.

I nodded to the side as a certain crow flew past us back to town. I knew he was watching since we started, not that I minded. I am not sure if Ruby knew, but if she, did she didn’t mention it. Ruby and Qrow had been hanging out a bit more than before recently, but I knew the dusty old crow was still lost in the past. At the very least he isn’t as bad as Kakashi.

Once we past the treeline to town, Ruby and I separated. She went off to town to grab Yang and Blake for dinner while I head back to the house to get some rest. I knew Penny, Weiss and Pyrrha have been spending their days relaxing until their eggs hatch. Heh, RBY had been treating their last member like she was pregnant and on maternity leave or something.

Not that I can blame them. According to Blake, getting that egg seemed to have kick started Weiss’s maternal instincts. She was constantly hovering over her egg, but she was also double checking to make sure Ruby at all her food, helping Yang when they were doing laundry, and even helped cut Blake’s hair when she decided to get it done. Heh, I could only imaging how Winter would react to Weiss right now.

I’ll admit, Blake looks good with short hair, and I know Yang would agree. She cut it to barely above her shoulders in a, I think Lex described it as, hime-style. Now all she needed is a different outfit. Not that there is much wrong with the one she has now, (Ghira is right it only covers so much), but it just doesn’t look right with Blake’s hair now.

With a sigh, I tilted my head left, avoiding a small water balloon, before turning and catching the next one, looking to the one responsible. I smiled a bit as I saw the distinct yellow propeller cap and mismatched horns hiding on my roof.

“Alright Screwball, Discord. Come on out.” I stated calmly, before there was a quack, and both chaos being were infront of me.

“Awww! How did you know it was us?” Screwy pouted. I just laughed and pat her head.

“You’re one of the only one who would think a water balloon filled with orange juice would be sneaky enough to get me.” I stated before tossing said balloon into the air where it burst on Discord’s horn. I barely held in a laugh at the draconequus stunned expression, before the three of us lost it.

“Hahahahahahah!!” The three of us laughed and laughed, at least for a few minutes, before we managed to get our bearings. I invited the duo in, who nodded in thanks, and made my way to the living room. I smiled as I saw Penny laying on the couch reading, the back of her head to me, and her egg gently placed on her stomach. She had one hand on her novel, while to other was slowly rubbing the egg.

I smiled and quietly walked over, surprising my girlfriend as I gave her a quick kiss on the cheek. She barely started before she smiled as I wrapped her up in a hug, gently patting the egg.

“Won’t be too much longer. I can tell.” Penny whispered, marking her spot on her book before sitting up, still holding her egg.

“I’ll get started on dinner. Want anything in particular?”

“Not really. I’m good.”

I nodded and left Penny to herself, making my way over to the fridge to look for what to make. I vaguely noted Screwball sitting on my shoulders, she was really light, and nodded as I grabbed some ingredients for chicken salad. I smiled as I heard Pyrrha walk in and begin talking to Penny and Discord. Since her team isn’t here yet, Pyrrha is still staying with us, not wanting to live alone in an empty house. Plus I knew those two were especially hanging out in anticipation for their eggs to hatch.

I went about the needed steps for dinner, handing the odd piece of lettuce or tomato to the chaotic earth pony on my shoulders. I could hear as Qrow and Oscar came back, the small group all hanging out and watching some videos from Pyrrha’s scroll on the holoscreen. I really have to thank Discord again for that thing. It has really been helpful for passing the time, just rewatching things from Earth like Glitchtale, Jacksepticeye and some of the Let’s Plays I saved on my own scroll. I remember Weiss and Blake’s faces when I first showed them a Rage Quit.

I smiled as I finished tossing the salad together, and separated it into their plates, before placing them on the table. A whistle later, and everyone was seated and eating their food. Though I did have to push Discord’s Sci-fi Novel salad out of the way before it fell in mine.

“So Penny, Pyrrha.” The two girls turned to me, one hand on their respective eggs. Did those two go anywhere without those things now? “Can you two meet me and Ruby at the stream by Fluttershy’s tomorrow afternoon. I want to go through some things with the three of you.”

“Sure Adam.” Penny agreed, munching on a tomato. Pyrrha just nodded, finishing her own piece of lettuce. I could see Qrow and Oscar giving me questioning looks, but I just shook my head, silently telling them, later.

Dinner was pretty silent after that, and before I knew it I was sitting on the couch with the others while they began watching the second season of Glitchtale from my scroll. I knew they were mostly interested after I explained how SOULs in the Undertale Universe works. I winced a bit when I heard them all gasp as Papyrus was shot with that SOUL blaster or whatever it was called.

I got up and made my way over to the fridge, grabbing a can of soda. I leaned on the counter, thinking about my plan again. I figure this would help out a lot, since they are really strong against the Grimm. With a mental nod, I finished my drink and rejoined the others on the couch, mentally preparing myself for tomorrow. For now though, I just held Penny as the show continued.

The Next Day....

“Thanks for coming guys.” I said, sitting on the edge of the river. I didn’t need to turn to know the girls were walking up. Enhanced hearing and smell for the win!

“So, what’s going on Adam? I was going to hang out with Yang and Qrow.” Ruby said, pouting a bit as she crossed her arms. I ginned and shook my head along with Penny and Pyrrha. I stood and took a second to stretch.

“Well, call it intuition or just a gut feeling, but I figured we could use a small power up for things to come. I dunno, but I just have a feeling things are going to escalate soon.” I said, turning to the trio. Penny and Ruby tilted their heads while Pyrrha just rose a brow.

“Really? So what do you have in mind? Some kind of, super secret training schedule?” Ruby questioned with an excited grin. I rolled my eyes and tapped her on the forehead, making her step back and rub her head, glaring at me.

“Sort of, but also, not really.” I replied cryptically. The three girls frowned but I just kept my grin and hooked my mask behind my horns before taking a breath. I raised my right hand, the tingle in my eyes and hand being the only needed alert as Silver Resonance appeared in my hand. The girls were surprised by this, but their eyes widened larger and as I tossed the keyblade and held the handle to them.

“Wait, seriously?”

“W-wha?”

“Adam, are you sure?”

I nodded with a serious look, my eyes still glowing as I chant, “In your hand, take this Key. So long as you have the makings, then through this simple act of taking, its wielder, you shall one day be. And you will find me, friend. No ocean will contain you then. No more borders around, or below, or above, so long as you champion the ones you love.”

I could feel a small pulse through my weapon as I finished talking, looking to the trio of girls before me with an expression that all but demanded attention. The trio was silenced as I just stared. It was almost like the local animals and insects could tell the seriousness of the situation as even they went silent.

After a moments hesitation, Penny walked forwards, looking to me then to the offered weapon, before steeling herself. With a slightly trembling hand, she grasped the grip of my weapon. I felt a small pulse through the keyblade again, and judging by Penny’s surprised expression, she felt it too. After a second she let go and just looked at her palm, walking to the side next to me.

I rose a brow before a small gust of wind hit me. Unsurprisingly Ruby was now holding onto the hilt of the keyblade, a big smile plastered onto her face as I once again felt a pulse of magic. She let go after she felt the pulse herself, flexing her hand a couple times before tilting her head and walking over next to Penny.

I turned my attention to the last of our little group. Pyrrha looked rather unsure, a small frown on her face as she rubbed her scar on her chest. She had been doing this quite a bit, especially when she is lost in thought. She closed her eyes, clearly thinking hard, before she seemed to hear something, turning away. I rose a brow, seeing her frown more as she seemed to hear someone or something. After a minute of silence, I saw a steely determination fill he eyes as she stepped up and gripped the hilt of my Keyblade tight.

My eyes widened, as well as glowed brighter, as a larger pulse of magic flowed through the weapon, and into Pyrrha, who visibly grit her teeth as I noticed her own eyes beginning to glow. Penny and Ruby entered my peripherals, but I kept my gaze on Pyrrha as she took a breath and closed her eyes. I noticed her scar glowing through her shirt she was wearing, before she let go.

I dismissed my keyblade and tilted my head at Pyrrha, who still had her eyes closed.

“Pyrrha? Are you okay?” Ruby asked, worry on her face. Pyrrha put her hands on her face, taking a few deep breaths, visibly worrying us. Penny opened her mouth, but Pyrrha beat her to it by lowering her hands and opening her eyes.

I am pretty sure I blacked out for a second, my mind failing to compute and comprehend what images my eyes were sending it. Ruby and Penny gasping loudly finally kickstarted my brain as I leaned back in shock.

“What? Is there something on my face?” Pyrrha questioned, her left eye blazing with power. Literally, the outer edge of her eye had emerald green flames spewing from it, while small smouldering sparks were visible in her right eye. Yet she didn’t seem to notice.

Rather than answer her question, I took out my scroll, (closing Penny and Ruby’s mouths with a finger while doing so) and showed her herself through the camera.

Pyrrha immediately grabbed my scroll from my hands and looked through the camera, her eyes shaking as she began to breath quickly. She raised her hand to the side of her face, barely brushing her hand past her eyes, the flames passing through her fingers like water. It didn’t burn her, but rather felt...nice and warm like a bath or shower.

I saw that Pyrrha was beginning to hyperventilate, and quickly grabbed her shoulders and pulled her in. Pyrrha resisted for a couple seconds, before she seemed to get her head on straight, her breathing beginning to even out as I rubbed her back. I felt another couple arms wrap around me and Pyrrha, and the redhead visibly relaxed in the group hug.

The three of us stayed like that for a minute or two, before I slowly let go of her, Ruby and Penny following suit immediately. I looked slightly down to the girl with a small grin.

“Better?” She nodded, taking a deep breath. Penny placed a hand on her shoulder and grinned reassuringly. Pyrrha smiled thankfully in response. After another deep breath, and a couple blinks, her eyes went out and she looked just like how she was before.

“So, I guess your magic is finally unlocked huh?” Ruby stated, smiling wide at the amazon redhead.

“So it would seem.” Pyrrha muttered a reply, looking at her hand. After a second, she seemed to realize something and raised her arm out in front of her. With barely a flinch, she flicked her hand, a small pillar of orange flame appearing in her hand, just like Cinder does. I smiled, then tilted my head at something.

“Hmm, how odd.” The trio looked to me, but I kept my eyes on Pyrrha’s eyes. “Your left eye is aflame, meaning you have about one half of a maidens power, but that shouldn’t be possible since Cinder should have the full Fall Maidens power.” I paused, before looking closer at Pyrrha’s right eye. “And you have sparks appearing in your other eye, showing you have more than half, and I can sense its just growing.”

“But, how is that possible?” Pyrrha asked the million lien question. I rubbed my head, unsure myself, before Penny began to clap her hands.

“I think I know!” I turned to her. “The magic from Remnant was a gift from the gods, but despite that, we’ve seen it is inherently connected to the Maiden’s aura, like a Semblance. Like aura, it probably refills on its own through the Maiden’s aura, but slowly, and a Maiden has a defined limit.” She then began to spin and gesture around. “But the magic in Equestria is everywhere! It’s in the air, the water, the food! Pyrrha has probably been gaining more and more magic from just the environment to fill in what she was missing since Cinder has the rest of the Fall Maidens power! And with the Keyblade, she probably finally has enough magic for it to appear.”

I looked at my girlfriend with wide eyes, running what she just said through my head, before slowly nodding. “I think your right Penny.”

“But, wait a minute. I thought Ed said she was subconsciously locking her magic because she couldn’t fully accept her life here in Equestria?” Ruby added. I rose a brow and nodded, before turning to Pyrrha, who was just staring at the flames in her hand. She noticed our looks, but said nothing and frowned.

She seemed to know what she was doing, as she extinguished the flame in her hand, before holding it out, palm up. I was confused, for a second, before seeing her hand glow and closed her hand while she swiped at the air. There was a small flash of light and something formed in her hand, covered with orange and bronze flames for a second before it seemed to finish taking shape.

Mine and Ruby’s eyes widened as we got to see Pyrrha’s new weapon (Penny was still rubbing her eyes from the flash). The guard was exactly like they outer edges of her shield, just with two almost-hooks pointing inwards. The grip was wrapped in leather red as Pyrrha’s hair, along with the bottom-most part of the blade and what looked like the rifle barrel being a metallic red. It had bronze reinforcements near the guard set into two segments that looks like Milo in its rifle form. The key teeth looked like Akouo with three different sized tips of Milo, all bronze coloured. Finally her keychain was, unexpectedly, an orange leaf. Just like the ones that fell during Jaune and Pyrrha’s attempted heart-to-heart.

Pyrrha herself looked over her new weapon with wide eyes, clearly she was just going on instinct when she summoned it. She tested its weight, swinging it around as easily as her other weapons, before placing it on her shoulder. She smiled as she muttered, “Fallen Pride. I like it.”

I finally managed to pick my jaw off those ground, before smiling to Pyrrha, patting her shoulder.

“Nice Pyrrha. First try too!” I congratulated, snapping the other girls out of their shocked states. Ruby used her Semblance and began going over Pyrrha’s keyblade with stars in her eyes and a huge smile.

“Awesome!” Penny nodded to Ruby’s cheer, looking over the weapon as well. Pyrrha smiled wide before her mouth turned down into a thin line. She let go of her weapon, which vanished in a small burst of light.

“I...” we turned to her. “I know that there is the chance I can’t go home. That I can’t get back to Remnant, and definitely not back to Beacon or Argus. And...I’ve accepted that.” She then smiled. “I have a...unique responsibility right now. I can stay here and protect people, I can be a huntress here in Equestria. And...” she summoned another pillar of flame in hand. “I can make sure, no one else can misuse this power.”

“That’s a lot of things to shoulder Pyr.” Penny muttered, before smiling and wrapping her arm around her. “But that just means you’ll need all the help you can get to keep standing. Just know I’ll be there too.”

“That goes without saying for me as well.” I added, a smile on my face.

“Thank you Penny. You as well Adam.” Pyrrha replied, some tears going down her face. I just smiled reassuringly. We turned to Ruby, after hearing her grumble. She was waving her hand out, trying to flick it or something.

“Ruby it’s not going to be how you flick your hand that lets you summon a keyblade.” I stated with a grin. The girls seemed to ignore me as she kept trying. She even tried using her Semblance on her hand, but all she ended up doing is making some rose petals flying in the wind. I just rolled my eyes and smiled, turning to my girlfriend, who was tapping her chin in thought.

Penny took a second before choosing to sit on the edge of the river, clearly meditating. I stood back with Pyrrha as the other two tried their own methods of summoning their keyblades. I shook my head with a fond smile before turning to Pyrrha, and summoning both of my weapons. She knew what was up instantly and summoned her own new weapon.

I settled into my own keyblade stance, with my larger keyblade on my right shoulder while holding my shorter one closer to my body, spinning it in hand occasionally (think the Valor Form stance from KH2). Pyrrha took a moment to test to the weight of her weapon again, before seeming to come to an epiphany. She relaxed her stance, left leg forwards and raised her keyblade above and slightly behind her while holding her free hand forwards, her free hand clenching and unclenching as spark of embers smouldered in her hand (Riku’s stance from KH:DDD).

With an unseen signal, Pyrrha and I launched ourselves at each other. I smiled as Pyrrha seemed to grasp the concept of keyblade combat really fast, easily parrying and defending against my speedy strikes. Her stance appeared to be more defensive with her outstretched hand being used for spells like Fire and Blizzard. At least, that’s how it looks. She is rather sloppy right now, but I know she’ll grow into her own fighting style with her weapon soon enough.

I am not sure how long Pyrrha and I spent sparing with one another, each taking turns for offence and defence, but we were eventually interrupted by a very triumphant cheer from a certain Rose. Pyrrha and I unlocked our blades from one another, and turned to the younger huntress, who was now jumping around while enthusiastically waving a keyblade above her head.

As I half-expected, it looked like Cresent Rose, but in a keyblade form. The guard looked like two of the large blade of her scythe with a spear like tip, the handle being long and black metal. The blade was slightly curved, yet straight red and black metal. The teeth was of three blades attached to what looked like the scythes retracted form, with the back of it being curved into two more blades. The keychain was, expectedly, her rose symbols with the chain itself being segmented red, black and clear glass, making it look like there is only air connecting the keychain to the bottom of the guard.

(sorry, not the best with descriptions)

I rolled my eyes with a smile as Ruby was gushing over her new weapon, unconsciously using her Semblance to zoom around in her excited pacing. If she wasn’t so distracted by the weapon, and us waiting on Penny, she probably would have zoomed off to find her team and show them. I walked over and placed my hand on her head, stopping her in her tracks.

Ruby flushed immediately upon realizing what she was doing and rubbed her head, before spinning her keyblade in her hand, a huge smile on her face. I can only imagine that this is what she looked like when she finally finished making Crescent Rose.

“So, what’s her name?” I questioned, a grin on my face as Ruby tilted her head for a second before looking at her weapon and holding it in a reverse grip.

“Vermilion Thorn. I heard HIS name when he appeared.” I rose a brow, surprised that Ruby gave her second weapon a male pronoun. Oh well, they can’t all be counted as girls. With a small nod, I turned and stood off to the side, confusing Ruby, but I just pointed to Pyrrha, who had been silent with a smile on her face the whole time. With widening eyes and a slow, understanding nod, Ruby began to twirl her keyblade again while Pyrrha went back into her stance.

After a couple twirls, Ruby nodded and widened her stance, lightly bouncing on her feet as she twirled her keyblade. (Ventus stance from KH:BBS). As expected, Ruby’s style was all about speed, using rushed combos and evasion. She didn’t have a kickback to use like with Crescent Rose, so she utilized a mix of her Semblance and literal flexibility from her training with Neo. While Pyrrha began to sharpen her own stance and style as she continued to spar, Ruby seemed to have her style down near right off the bat.

I really need to check what Neo was teaching Ruby, my eye wide as she preformed a near perfect ninety degree back bend to avoid Pyrrha’s swipe before she did a handstand to launch herself into the air and attack again while in the air. I mentally winced as Pyrrha took some strikes to the shoulders before she could block, then missed as Ruby zoomed behind her.

I left the two redheads (or red-tripped-ravenette and redhead), and took a seat next to my girlfriend, who was just calmly breathing, her hand on her knees, palms up. I knew she had been spending some time with Twilight and Blake, the former teaching her some meditation techniques for focusing her magic, and then the latter when they decided to make a book club together.

I wonder what books they are reading? I know about Blake’s....tastes in literature, but I don’t actually know about Twilight’s. Hopefully they don’t end up turning Penny into a closet pervert or something.

I was broken out of my thoughts as I saw a now familiar flash of light. Penny just smiled softly as she held her new weapon on her lap. It’s guard was a metallic grey with gold enforcements on two sides, surrounding a black and green handle. The blade itself looked like two of her swords stacked and attached to one another connected to the guard with a ‘power button’ shaped blade connector. The teeth were three single sided blades like her swords were cut in half vertically. Her keychain was connected via mint green wire, and was her sword symbol that she had on pretty much all of her clothes.

“You know, somehow I knew the calm meditative route was going to work for you.” I muttered as Penny stood and began to test the weight and balance of her new weapon, then proceeded to dispel and summon it back a couple times.

“Indeed. This just feels...right, in my hands. I am unsure of it just being my keyblade, or something else.” Penny muttered, before turning to watch our friends continue their spar before turning to me. “Well, shall we get going?”

I just grinned and pulled out both of my weapons again as Penny crouched slightly and held her weapon with both hand (Sora’s stance.), before surprising me by channelling electricity through it. I just grinned at her, getting an, admittedly adorable, grin back. With barely a second to pause, Penny and I began our own spar.

It was going to be a long afternoon.

Later that evening....

“Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow.” I rolled my eyes as I adjusted the tired Ruby on my back. She went a little too far in her training and ended up making her entire body so sore she couldn’t walk back, so I was forced to carry her. Pyrrha and Penny had also gone to their limits, and were leaning against each other and stumbling down the street behind me like a pair of drunks as we all made our way back home.

“Well that’s what you get for going overboard with your semblance Rubes.” I stated to the young huntress, who just pouted at me and weakly tried to hit my head, but with how tired she was, it was like getting hit by a pillow.

I’ll admit I was sore too, but since I had at least a little more experience with Keyblade spars I wasn’t in that much pain or anything. Just a little tired. At least compared to these three. I was mostly just twitchy from having Penny’s lightning hitting me.

Side note, my muscles have never been more relaxed afterwards.

I allowed myself to grin as we got closer to RWBYs house. I stepped a little faster before I was in front of the door, knocking a couple times. A minute later, a certain ex-heiress opened up, dragon egg in hand and her hair was down. She blinked a couple times before sighing and pinching the bridge of her nose.

“She overdid it again.” It was more a statement then a question, but I nodded nonetheless as she moved to the side to let me in. I gently placed the tired Rose on the couch while Weiss disappeared to the kitchen before coming back with an ice pack. Ruby just grinned a bit as she rest the ice on her legs.

“Well, I think she should be fine in an hour or so. Just in time for dinner.” Weiss said before heading into the kitchen. Curious, I followed her and was surprised to see her chopping some vegetables to put into a large pot next to her.

“Since when do you cook?” I questioned the huntress, who just scoffed at me, not looking up from her cooking.

“Just because my family has many butlers and maids for things like cooking, doesn’t mean I can’t handle myself.” She gave me a side glance as I handed her some carrots. “Especially given recent events.”

I just nodded with her, knowing she would have to be able to take care of herself prior to running into Raven back in Mistral.

“And besides,” Weiss continued on. “If I left it to the others, we would be having tuna covered in chilli peppers baked into a cookie.” I barely stopped myself from laughing at the mental image. “Besides, I kinda like cooking. I am not really sure why.”

“Maybe because it is something you can have total control over?” I teased, earning a blushing pout from the white-haired girl. “Or it could just be your maternal instincts kicking in.”

“Hmm, probably the latter.” Weiss muttered quietly, letting herself gaze to the left, where I just noticed her egg was sitting on the counter, surrounded in a fluffy blanket to keep it from rolling. “I am excited for her to hatch.”

“How do you know its a girl?”

“Women’s intuition.” I just rolled my eyes, but left it alone as I left Weiss to her devices. I took a quick peek into the living room, and saw Penny and Ruby now playing that fighters game on their scrolls and the holoscreen. Again, gotta thank Discord and Screwball for those housewarming gifts.

I just smiled and let myself relax and lean on the wall, watching my girlfriend actually put up a good fight against the experienced Rose. That was odd, I noticed that Penny is actually really good at video games. She actually beat me in a couple rounds of Street Fighter than I had on my own scroll.

I was lost in thought, wondering about Penny’s uncanny gaming prowess, when I heard a very loud gasp. I wasn’t the only one, as the girls all perked up from what they were doing, and looked behind me.

Into the kitchen?

Weiss Schnee
A Few Moments Earlier....

I sighed to myself, shaking my head as I finished chopping all the food into the pot before grabbing the rice cooker Mr and Mrs.Cake bought for us while she was in Manehatten. I really need to remember to thank those two, they have been such an incredible help when Yang, Blake and I first arrived here.

I quickly added some spices for Yang that I knew the others could also eat, before finishing the rice in the cooker. Now all was needed was to stir the curry and keep an eye on it. It should be done by the time Blake and Yang get back.

I allowed myself to glance into the living room and watched my leader playing games with her friend as Pyrrha was reading a book and Adam was just leaning against the wall, watching the former two as they played.

I smiled as I saw this. Before everything went to hell, back at the start of Beacon, I would have scolded Ruby for wasting her time playing games and not training.

Gods I was such a bitch.

With a silent sigh, I went back to the kitchen, and smiled as I saw my egg sitting on the counter. It should have been impossible for me to become so attached to someone that wasn’t blood, but if Ruby was any indication, I guess I have been relaxing more. And technically, the little life resting in the shell would be a part of my family.

She would be my friend, my partner, my little hatchling. Gotta thank Twilight for clearing up the term for a baby dragon.

I kept my smile as I walked over and rubbed the egg. My egg.

“Don’t worry.” I whispered. “I won’t let anything happen to you. Or anyone else I care about. Not anymore.” I laid a gentle kiss on the top of it, rubbing the smooth surface a little more. I wonder what Winter would say if she saw me like this. Probably scold me for letting my hair get messy and for getting some stains on my shirt behind the apron.

I giggled to myself as I thought of my sister, especially how she would play with me and Whitley. I blinked a couple times. I can’t remember the last time I laughed at such a simple memory before. I guess Mrs. Cake was right about the ‘high of maternity’. I can only imagine how Penny and Pyrrha are feeling when they have their eggs with them.

I let my hand slide off my egg as I turned to the pot, stirring it up a bit as it began to bubble. I was only at it for a few seconds, when something interrupted me.

CRACK

I blinked a couple times, wondering what that noise was, before I heard it again. Slowly, I put the spoon I was using next to the pot, and turned towards the sound.

I couldn’t help the very loud gasp the escaped me.

“Weiss? Is everything-?” Ruby didn’t finish as the others entered the kitchen area and followed my shocked gaze. I could see their eyes widening in my peripherals, but kept my eyes on the object in question.

My egg...there’s a huge crack in it!

I immediately ran over and just hovered over my egg since I didn’t know what else to do. I didn’t need to look to know that Ruby’s as gazing over my shoulder with her wide doe eyes.

“Is...is it...” Ruby just kept stuttering as the egg gained more cracks, and I swear I could see something moving.

“It’s hatching!” I heard Penny finally yell, before I heard the front door slam open. I still didn’t move from my spot, when I felt an uncomfortably large chest pushing against my back.

“No way! Your egg is hatching Weiss-cream!” I just ignore Yang as she tried to get a better look over my shoulder, and noticed Blake just standing to the side to get a look as well. All of us just stood there as more and more cracks broke across the egg and it began to shake. I felt a smile slowly appear on my face as the shell began to fall apart and the membrane beneath stretched and finally broke.

“Awwwww.” I agreed with my leader. She’s adorable!

My little hatchling finally stumbled out of the egg, and onto the blanket covered counter. Her scales were a deep navy blue, with the skin of her underbelly being a deep grey. On her back were a pair of fresh wings that also had grey webbing, and she had a little bit of a white mane and tail.

The little one finally shook her head and opened her eyes, instantly locking onto mine.

“Woah, their the same shade.” I heard Blake, but ignored her as I stared into my partners bright blue eyes. I tilted my head, and she followed suit. I did it the other way, and she copied me. Slowly, I reached out with my right hand, and just kept it in the air. My dragon slowly edged forwards, sniffing my hand, before gently nuzzling into it.

Pain.

I yelled as I felt a searing and freezing pain my palm, the other all jumped back as I stumbled to my knees. I grabbed my wrist and clenched my fist as the pain flowed through my body from my hand. My Aura wasn’t helping at all! After about a minute it died down and I was left breathing heavily on the ground.

I heard a small whimper before me, and turned my gaze up. Somehow my dragon had gotten down from the counter and was now sitting infront of me, her ears were pulled back and I could tell she was frowning.

I couldn’t have that, now could I?

With barely a moments pause I reached out and took hold of my new friend. She tensed, then relaxed against me as I held her softly. She was so, warm. Warmer than Zwei and much smoother.

Click

I turned with a raised brow as I saw everyone was now holding their scrolls and were taking pictures. I just smiled and rolled my eyes before grabbing the blanket from the counter and gently wrapping my little hatchling up. She just nuzzled into my chest as I wrapped her up, and before long a tiny snore was flowing through the room.

“Well, looks like you should go relax Weiss.” Yang said with a grin, walking to the pot that was starting to boil over.

“Indeed.” I turned to Ruby who has the dumb serious look on her face. “Weiss as your team leader, I order you to relax on the couch with your dragon!”

I just covered her mouth as she raised her voice at the last part while motioning to the sleeping bundle in my arms. She just blushed sheepishly but silently mouthed that she was still ordering me. I just rolled my eyes and made my way to the living room, taking a seat on the recliner Big Mac gave us.

I laid back on the chair and adjusted the little one on me as I heard the others silently working in the kitchen. With a smile, I gently rubbed her next, earning a happy coo from her. After a moment, something popped into my head, and after a moment, I knew what it was.

“Welcome to the family, Boreas.”

Author's Note

Apologies for the sever lack of updates as of late. My work has just started to pick back up, my grandmother just got surgery on her knee done, and quarantine has started getting to me.

Not going to lie, some days where I don’t have work, it is incredibly hard to get out of bed, you know. Anyways, I won’t let that stop me from writing on my free time, or providing food at the restaurant, so I hope all of you keep your own spirits up in this very uncertain time.

Best wishes to all of you. Stay safe