Did anyone know it's like impossible to write about music?
Check the A/N at the end if you're confused by how I'm writing magic working. In fact, maybe do that before reading.
Ruby was gone.
Again.
It wasn't unusual. About once a week, she just vanished for the day. The first time it had happened, the queen had organized a full search of the White Palace only to have Ruby turn up at the gates the next morning, joking around with the guardsmen on duty. But over seven years, it had eventually become routine.
So, Weiss had gotten used to her absences. It was nice to have a free day now and then, it cleared her head. On those days she either holed up in the library or wandered the palace, nodding regally to the guards and servants as she strolled down the dark stone hallways. By the age of ten, she was convinced she knew more about the place than the architect.
On this particular day, Weiss had chosen to wander. She was down in the depths of the castle, away from most of the people, as she tended to like her privacy. All of a sudden, she heard music.
Beautiful music.
It drifted down the halls like a siren's call, and Weiss could pick out three instruments, a harp, a flute, and a piano. But who could be playing? She didn't think any musicians were visiting, and they certainly didn't have any on the staff. Her father wasn't one for music, and so her mother only hired the occasional band when he was away.
Weiss ran for the sound, lifting her little dress up so she could go faster.
As it turned out, the music was coming from a seldom used room, where, conveniently, instruments were stored. It was a rather plain, boring room that Weiss hadn't been in for a while. Everything in there was broken anyway, so what was the point? The instruments in there hadn't been played since her father took the throne.
Weiss stood by the doorway, not daring to go any closer. She merely listened to the haunting melody. It was ethereal, eternal, and somehow, profoundly sorrowful. The harp plucked gently, rhythmically, singing like a quiet voice in the background. The flute was high and sad, like a piercing wail. But it was the piano that nearly brought tears to her eyes. A gentle, deep tone, like thunder rolled across the heavier keys, accompanied tinkling melody on the lighter ones falling like tears to the ground.
Weiss didn't know how long she stood there, but she realized the music was reaching a crescendo, the piano notes falling like rain as the harp and flute tried desperately to keep pace, their lighter songs lost in the music. Weiss had to know who they were, these three musicians. She rounded the corner, her little white flats almost noiseless on the stone floor.
Sitting on the piano chair was not three musicians, but one, her teacher. Weiss barely covered her mouth in time to stifle a gasp.
Rose petals flew around her, swirling like they were caught in a strong wind as Ruby's hand, not hands, danced on the keys, faster than she could even see. The other was plucking at the harp, moving impossibly quickly. Both hands would occasionally dart to the flute at her mouth, then back, but so smooth and so swift that none of the instruments ever hitched or faltered. It was beautiful, terrifying, and incredible, leaving Weiss entranced, a siren's call in truth.
Finally, the storm of motion slowed, the song wound down, until it was just the tinkling little teardrop notes, winding down to a finale. The rose petals drifted to the floor, vanishing into puffs of red dust as they hit. Abruptly, Weiss felt like an intruder, like somehow it was a private moment of Ruby's that should have been hers and hers alone. Just as she was about to creep away, Ruby turned and asked "So, what did you think Weiss?" Then she laughed, a discordant note compared to the music.
"You have a Semblance." Weiss breathed. "Your hands..." She couldn't believe it. Her teacher, Ruby Rose, had a Semblance... it explained a lot though. Like how she never seemed to age, how she could know so much but look so young. Anyone with an Aura strong enough to have a Semblance got an extended lifespan in the bargain, the healing energy of their Aura delaying the aging process. It only made sense... But still...
And Ruby's Semblance was incredible! Not like her father's. His... scared her. It was something dangerous, primal, and deadly. Not something beautiful.
Not something like Ruby's. Even her Manifest was incredible... those rose petals seemed so real...
"Yeah." Ruby replied quietly. "Guess I do." She cleared her throat. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. You know that you probably are going to have one too, right? I mean... it kind of comes with the royal blood and all." Suddenly, Ruby giggled. "And, well, now you know why your mom lets us go out of the castle for private lessons. She knew about this when she hired me, it was a job requirement in fact. But the less people who know, the safer you'll be with me."
Weiss was rather put out by that. "Well why wasn't I told?" She demanded, stomping a tiny foot.
Ruby shrugged. "Again, the less people who know, the better. Including the princess." Then she sighed heavily. "Well, I guess we're starting tomorrow's lesson early. Come here."
Weiss obeyed, striding over to stand in front of Ruby. When she got within arms reach, Ruby put a gentle hand on her brow, fingers barely touching.
"What are you doing?" Weiss asked. Her voice was questioning, not worried. She trusted Ruby completely, considering that they had spent seven long years together. But that didn't exactly mean Ruby was always clear and open with everything she did, and Weiss had always been insatiably curious.
"Unlocking your Aura. Now hold still." Ruby replied, matter-of-fact. Before Weiss even had time to panic, it had started.
A white glow enveloped them both, and Ruby's voice, normally so carefree and casual, became something deeper, stronger. "It is only in others that we find our strength, our pride, and our joy. But it is also only in others that we find weakness, regret, and sorrow. Do not give your heart freely, for the heart has no metrics of form or measure, and all of it, irreplaceable. Weiss Schnee, I release your soul."
The glow faded, gently lessening until it was like it had never been there. Ruby grinned delightedly at Weiss, who was absolutely stunned. She looked down at her hands, expecting to feel somehow... different. And she realized she did. Her whole body felt lighter, stronger, like she could take on the world. It was the most incredible feeling in the world...
"I..." And Weiss had known this would happen eventually. Everyone of noble blood, and those with a great deal of potential, had their Aura unlocked. It could only be done by someone strong enough to have a Semblance.
But the timing of it had been a little... Unexpected. She hadn't thought it would be so soon. She hadn't know it would be so...
Incredible...
"Why?" Weiss asked quietly.
"Your mom wanted it. You know she doesn't have a Semblance, your father is the only one. And I get the sense neither of you like him that much. So she asked me to. I was planning on doing it tomorrow to be honest... But, well, you know me." Ruby laughed, and bent down gave Weiss a hug.
The pale girl frowned. "But I don't understand one thing." She said quietly. "I've read unlocking a person's Aura is much harder if they have a strong one." She looked up at Ruby, her pale blue eyes moist. "Does that mean..."
"Oh. Oh! No, no, no, Weiss. I'm just... A little more used to doing this than most. It you get enough practice, it isn't very bad, no matter how strong the person is." Ruby said, looking down at her pupil with a gentle smile. "Don't worry, you're fine."
Weiss smiled shyly. "So... We're doing lessons on this?"
"Yup." Ruby replied. "And now I'm certain you're strong enough to have a Semblance. So cheer up, kid."
"Like yours?" Weiss asked. She wanted to know more... Ruby was being annoyingly unclear about this. Weiss resolved to go to the library as soon as she could get free, and do all the research she could. There was an entire section on Aura, Semblances, and Manifests... she resolved to read everything there was. Tonight.
"Probably not quite like mine. It's gonna be connected to you, as a person." Ruby replied. Then she grinned, noticing the way the girl kept shuffling her feet and looking at the doorway. "Okay, fine, I know when I'm not wanted. Go to the library, kid. I'll see you tomorrow."
She watched, amused, as the little princess scurried out of the room. Just before she was out of sight, Ruby called to her. "Oh, hey Weiss." Ruby stepped in close, bent down, and whispered something in her ear. "Never forget what I said. In some way or another, they'll be the most important words you'll ever hear." Weiss knew what she meant. Those three, poetic sentences Ruby had murmured to her when she released her Aura. And the traditional ending. 'Weiss Schnee, I release your soul.' Those words still sent a chill down her spine.
Weiss frowned, utterly mystified. "But... they don't make any sense... you heard them too, right? What do you believe they meant?"
Ruby shook her head. "I didn't. It's part of the process. A... part of you, the part that gives you your Aura, speaks through the person who unlocks it. I didn't hear a word." She held up a hand, as Weiss looked like she wanted to tell her. "And I don't want to. It's not something you should go around sharing. It's private, treat it at such. Only tell your mom, if you need to tell anyone."
Weiss nodded soberly. "I understand." She said simply, suddenly seeming far, far older than her ten years. Then she turned and strode off down the hallways, slower this time, and looking every inch a princess.
Ruby looked after her with a little grin on her face. "They grow up so fast..." She whispered. Then she turned back into the music room.
Maybe it was time for something a little happier.
A jaunty, bouncing tune filled the room as Ruby settled down to play once more.
As usual, Wendy Crescent kept this from being awful. In fact, the first draft of this was just absolutely awful, I don't even know why.
Also, I'm basically making things up about Semblances, Auras, and a new thing called Manifests as I go. A brief summary-
Aura - Magical energy present in everyone. With some training, it can be used to heal, protect, and harm.
Semblance - A magical power that people with incredibly powerful Auras have. No two Semblances are alike.
Manifest - The physical representation of the Semblance. Ruby's rose petals, for example.