AU: Merry Xmas everyone I wanted to get this out earlier today but due to some delays I was unable to. but I did it! in celebration of the holidays I wanted to present you all with this small side chapter which takes place years before the main story. I initially wanted this as a true xmas chapter but one thing oead to another and it transformed from an Omake chapter to its own side story. Which i'm not unhappy with and even though it is a side story I suggest reading it why I cannot say. But you will be glad you did down the line. Now without further delay enjoy.

Patch, Xiao Long-Rose residence. Many years ago.

"Now Ruby it's time for bed." Scolded Summer who watched her youngest desperately try to stay awake. At this point she looked no older then a small child and acted the part with a small pout.

"But I wanna see Santa!" Exclaimed Ruby who refused to leave her position from the couch and watching the now cold chimney like a hawk as it's still flaming embers died. Summer gave her a loving smile and set herself in front on the tiny Rose.

"So you don't want any gifts this year? He only comes when everyone is asleep you know. If you don't sleep no one gets anything!" Summer said in mock horror.

"No one!?"

"Yup. No one, not me, you, your father or Yang." This revelation made Ruby's face contort in sheer terror.

"I don't want that!" She shouted in a hurry.

"Then you better get to bed then." Ruby's face fell in a sad frown, a terrible atrocity on its own.

"Yes Mom." The disheartened voice made it even worse. Thankfully Summer refused to let that stand so she did the first thing that came to mind.

SWOOP!

She knelt down and picked up Ruby who gave a small Yelp which turned into a child's laugh and to capitalize all this Summer did the one thing all children fear; and Ruby was especially ticklish at this age. Her laughter permitted throughout the house like a madman's cheerful cackle as Summer took her to her room until Summer began to tuck her into bed. Though she noticed Ruby still seemed sad.

"She why do you want to see Santa?" Ruby tensed a little bit at the question.

"No reason, I wanted to see him." Summer gave a reassuring smile.

"You know you look behind me when your lying. Cmon what's the real reason, I promise not to tell anyone." Ruby looked at her wearily.

"You promise?" She asked shyly.

"I'll do better." Summer held out her pinky finger "I'll pinky promise." The greatest promise one could make; how could Ruby not trust that?

"I wanted to ask him for something next Christmas?"

"Oh, What were you going to ask him for?" Ruby paused a moment as if debating if she should tell her mother.

"A Weapon." That raised some alarm bells in Summer's head. She tried to make sure it didn't show.

"Now why do you want a weapon my little Rose?"

"In case the bad man comes?" The bad man? Who could that… oh.

"Did you over here me and your Dad talking talking yesterday?" Ruby fidgeted a bit. It looked like she would need to talk to Tai about keeping that particular topic to outside the house, or at least make sure the girls weren't around, a discussion for later though.

"The bad man isn't coming and if he does he won't lay a finger on you, I won't let him."

"But what if he takes you away and Dad away!"

"He won't, the old God's themselves could walk through the door and we wouldn't let them take us from you." Summer looked at Ruby's face which was on the verge of tears, there was something else here.

"Does this have to do with the Nightmare you had last night?" The mere mention of it made Ruby froze, it made her feel nauseous and she once again become overwhelmed by her dream. The severed hand, the crimson blade shattered, a Broken Scythe, the scent of blood and ash as the cabin was set a flame; she saw again and so many hands came for her. She felt someone wrap around her, when did she start crying?

"Shh I'm here, don't worry I'm here and I'm not going anywhere." Ruby her chest, balling her eyes out. She told herself she wouldn't let their fear of Ozpin affect Ruby's life but it seems she failed in that regard. How did she not notice here as dropping when her and Tai were talking? She and Tai would have to be more careful. Ruby finally went to sleep two hours later, though Summer hoped she didn't just send her daughter into another nightmare. She looked back and made sure she was soundly asleep. It didn't look like she was having one; small blessings.

Gloriana class Battleship: Seal of Soloban, Second Legion Flagship.

The Seal of Soloban was a storm of activity despite its current posting above the Throneworld itself. This was not a result of upcoming deployment as the Master of Mankind had bid they remain until he called upon them. Legionaries and serfs alike prepared for what was perhaps the most beloved and destructive of the second Legion's traditions: The maker's contest. While they were not as renowned as the Salamanders or Iron Hands legions the second legion were expert craftsman especially in the art of weapon crafting. Thus they put their talents to use at the end of each year should time permit to host a contest judged by the greatest Tech marines of the legion. Experimental weapons, restored archeo tech and even modified versions of standard weaponry would be entered and tested to its full destructive capability. To this end Thanaton Nylex brooded in his workshop as his own entrée was proving a troublesome creation.

"You could always present next year you know." A metallic voice sounded from the vox.

"What like you and your experimental siege Dreadnaught pattern you've been working on for the last ten years? Some say it's never getting finished."

"It's not ready for presentation yet, have to make sure it doesn't drive the user insane not to mention the power…." Thanaton cut him off.

"So you keep saying Heph. Will you be judging this one?" The vox remained silent for a few moments.

"Yes… as will Voldun and of course Forge Master Xion."

"What are the others bringing in?"

"You know I can't tell you that."

"Tell me rumors then Hephaestus."

"I heard Barden is submitting modified bolt shells. Trying to increase the yield to something that can rival a Melta blast."

"Is he trying to get himself killed?"

"No more then anyone else Than. So what's the issue with your design?"

"The Power Scythe has always been an unwieldy weapon. I've increased the adjustability of the grip and now I'm trying to figure out if any other modifications could be." A crash was heard nearby stopping him mid sentence. One of the piles of spare parts, and mechanical machinery crashed out of nowhere and toppled to the floor.

"What was that?" Thanaton didn't answer and instead grabbed the power Scythe from his work bench and moved cautiously to the noise. More clanging and shifting and something was moving beneath a taller tarp. Than removed it and prepared to strike but stopped before he did.

"Santa?" What in the throne is a Santa. The child was small and wore sleep-wear Than couldn't recognize, what surprised him most was the child's black and red tipped hair hair and silver eyes. Those were hallmark features of second legion astartes. He chalked it up to mere coincidence.

"Than, You alive? If your not I'm taking your helmet." Than picked up the child and placed her on his workbench next to the weapon schematic before answering the vox.

"I'm alive Heph. You'll have to salvage my equipment another time sadly."

"Lucky me… So what happened on your end. Not seeing any explosions yet on the sensors."

"There's a kid in my workshop." Hephaestus remained silent for a moment.

"Come again?"

"There is a kid. In. My. Workshop."

"Okay… I'll be right over." The vox cut off from the other end and Thanaton looked to the child who found a drawing pen and was writing on his weapon schematic. He rushed over and grabbed her again but was too late to salvage his design.

"No you don't write on that!" He growled in annoyance as he took the pen from her before placing her on the floor.

"Stay still." He ordered as he looked back to inspect what damage she had caused expecting scribbles and enough childish drawings and that he'd have to redraw the entire thing from memory. But he was astounded instead. Areas of the Blue Print were drawn over and replaced, an integrated ranged weapon of of unknown design was added with the power blade of the weapon being attached to the bottom of the weapon similar to the design of the Guardian Spears utilized by the Adeptus Custodes. It needed work but could be done.

"What's your name little one?"

"I'm Ruby. Are you Santa? Her voice lit up at the mention of Santa to the point

"I am Thanaton I don't know anyone named Santa here." The girl's smile disappeared.

"But I know someone who could help you find him." Ruby began to smile again, thank the throne. The doors to the workshop opened then and the armored giant of Hephaestus Nylex entered the left half of his face a cybernetic mask. He spotted Ruby immediately.

"I thought you were joking. Why did you bring a kid up here?"

"I didn't she just popped out of nowhere." Thanaton stated defensively

"Popped out of nowhere? What is she a warp entity?." Hephaestus sighed and walked up the Ruby. Who could do nothing but stare in awe at the massive giant. They looked scary at first but she couldn't stop smiling at their banter; so much so she started laughing

"Kid, where is your family?"

"Patch!" Well that was no help.

"Okay. Is that a planetary system? Local name?" Hephaestus asked.

"No we've been in the home system for weeks and our last three deployments had no surviving populations by the end of it." Than deadpanned. Ruby rolled her eyes, he was being a bit rude with his answers.

"Alright, this is fine I'll just get…" Hephaestus stopped when a priority vox went through ship wide.

"All second legion assets report to the main Hanger, this is Alpha prioress, repeat this is Alpha prioress."

"Damnation, we'll have to deal with her later. Okay Than get your armor on and get to the hanger I'll sort the kid out and meet you there."

"I don't like the idea of." Thanaton tried to interject.

"Alpha prioress. Means something big to stop worrying and go."

"My name is Ruby!" She said as she was picked up by Hephaestus

"Right, Ruby, okay we got to go. But we'll be back now I'm going to put you right here. Please stay right here and don't touch anything."

"What if I have to use the Bathroom?" Ruby asked

"Umm, Hold it?"

"What if I get Hungry?" Hephaestus didn't have an answer to that one.

"We'll… bring you food. Anything else?"

"Can I go with you?"

"Not yet."

"Aww" she lowered her head. It was her day."

She was left alone then in the room on Thanaton's work station and it took only five minutes for her to look back at the Schematic the giant was looking at. It was an awesome scythe, maybe she could ask for one like it. She then noticed some things and got to drawing again, she was sure Than would appreciate her improvements. She didn't know how long she was drawing but she found herself getting board again and was contemplating what else to do.

"I thought I'd find you here." That voice, It was familiar. She turned to the door but couldn't remember what she saw.

She woke before anyone else and most of the dream beyond that she couldn't remember, trying to was like trying to catch running water, so easy to grasp one moment then the next impossible. but she remembered enough, she went to her desk and took out a pencil and paper redrawing the schematic from what fragments she did have, though their were differences in design she couldn't remember making. After she was done she wrote on the bottom of the page.

Crescent Rose. Mk 1

It seems she didn't need to ask Santa for a weapon after all.