Standing resolutely in the wide circle of grass cleared of snow, Yang squared her shoulders, widened her stance, and took a deep calming breath of the sharp morning air; letting it fill her lungs and energize her anxious muscles. She held the cold air in her chest, feeling it with every inch of her body as she focused on her senses. With her eyes tightly shut she could feel the faint shift of her long golden locks drifting along the smooth skin of her exposed shoulders. She felt the movement of the wind spreading across her face and shaking the boughs of barren branches surrounding the little clearing in their backyard.

With explosive force, she exhaled sharply, her eyes shot open as she stepped forward hard and thrust her fist out into the open air, her other moving to chamber at her hip. Even though it only struck air, the force behind the punch was palpable and the speed contained within would put most kids her age to shame.

Pulling her fist back with just as much speed, the young girl gave a pivot forward before bringing his other fist to bear; this time, opening up her grip so that her fingers were clawed downward like a bear's. Whipping that clawed hand upward, she brought it crashing down into the space in front of her again, and once she completed that full devastating swing, she redirected it and brought it whirling back out as if she were gouging out the air.

Giving a few more swings with the strange partially open-palmed array of strikes, the girl capped off the show by thrusting both her hand forward as if to deal a final punishing blow. She held her position, her face stern as she concentrated. Her clawed hands hovered in the open air, her palms facing forward as she let out a final breath of exertion.

"You're slowing down, Yang." The young girl blinked and glanced over, still holding her position. She stared questioningly at the marginally older boy who was seated cross-legged in his own cleared circle in the grass. Yin scratched lazily at the bandage on his face as he met her stare. "Haven't you woken up yet? This should be a piece of cake for you by now."

The girl shattered any illusion of discipline when she broke out into a sheepish grin, "Ahah… I kinda underestimated just how heavy these things are… Its hard to get used to them."

Yang flexed her hands for emphasis. Usually she was capable of much faster and more accurate blows during her shadow sparring, but this time around wasn't so easy. The reason was made plainly obvious by the silvery metal spread over her knuckles, palm, and part of her wrists.

The young girls hands were covered by a sturdy looking pair of silver gauntlets, each one leaving her fingers and palms open while covering the rest of her hands.

Yin examined her as she made a couple more abrupt yet fluid maneuvers. He had to admit, the weapons were a good fit. Weighty enough to supplement her strength, while also not restraining enough to hinder her movements. A pair of gauntlets were pretty much the perfect weapon for her.

"Ugh…" Yin sighed and massaged the bridge of his nose. If only it wasn't for that…

Giving one last arcing slice, the girl gave a whoop and pumped her fist. "Alright! I'm all warmed up now! Toss em here, Yin!"

The first twin gave another withering sigh before tossing what he had in his hand toward the girl. Swiftly snatching it up, the girl grinned as she watched two pure white dust crystals lazily roll across her palm. She held them up close and examined them, positively shaking with excitement the whole time.

"Alright uh… How do I put it in?"

Yin reached behind him and pulled up a small booklet his mother had given him this morning before sending he and his sister out here. On the front cover was a replicated drawing of the very gauntlets Yang was wearing.

He perused the pages for a moment with a critical eye before speaking up, "Back of the wrists. Should be a compartment you can lock them into."

Yang quickly found the cylindrical latches exactly where he said they would be. Opening them up, the girl tossed a single crystal into each gauntlet before sealing them once again. She gave a quick shake of her hands to make sure they were locked snugly in place, before smirking.

Yin huffed he turned another page. Yes they were good weapons, but he should have expected his sister would go a bit overboard with her weapon choice. There was absolutely no reason that she needed a weapon that integrated dust into it. Not at her level. And not with her track record.

"You can be smart when you want to. But you have no common sense…"

"Huh?" Yang glanced over to him, "Did you say something?"

"Its nothing," he dismissed her easily. "More importantly, are you sure it's a good idea to be using dust so soon?"

"Its fine, it's fine! Dad said as long as we don't use fire dust it shouldn't be a problem!"

After last night, it was a given that Taiyang had disposed of all the fire dust in the house. For the sake of their safety, they would have to forgo using that kind of dust until he was absolutely certain of it. Normally, for a weapon like Yang's they would be using fire dust to get the hang of its power... But for now they would have to make do with ice.

Ice dust was still dangerous in its own right, of course, but it wasn't nearly as bad as fire dust could be.

Giving one last glance over her weapons, Yang gestured toward Yin in a flippant way. "Anyway! Come on, how do I activate it?"

Yin scowled at her and turned back to the book. As he flipped through the pages, a devious smirk pulled at his mouth as he glanced up at his sister darkly.

"Clench your fist and then flick your wrist back."

Yang did so, and as soon as the action was completed the compartment on the back of her wrist shot open, the dust crystal rocketing out of the space like a missile. The young girl didn't even have a chance to flinch before it slammed directly into her forehead and ricocheted off like a pinball.

Immediately Yang crouched down with a yelp, her hands flying to cover the red welt on her forehead as she hissed in pain. The girl glared up at her older brother with tears in her eyes, clear betrayal swimming in those lilac pools.

"W-what the heck?! What was that for?!"

Yin looked back down to the book, "Hm… Oh! I must have skipped a line or two. That's how you remove the dust, not activate it."

"No duh!" Yang roared as she shot back to her feet, crystal firmly in hand as she fought the urge to chuck it at him. "Get it right, idiot!"

He only rolled his eyes and adjusted his seated position, "Yeah yeah… Alright, it says here that you should pound your knuckles together to activate it. Or slam the back of your hand into something, if you want." Probably just in situations where one of her hands couldn't be used, he imagined.

Yang glared at him for a moment longer before doing as he said and pounding her knuckles together sharply, the metal crashing into one another with a sharp ring. The action had an immediate and profound effect; when the girl pulled her hands back she could only marvel at the faint blue glow and hum that her gauntlets now gave off.

Dust could be activated in a variety of ways, but for the impatient and aspiring hunters and huntresses in the world force was the most reliable means. Just a sharp strike or hit to a refined dust crystal could activate it, releasing its elemental properties like a leaky faucet. Most likely this was due to the volatile nature of dust crystals, but very rarely do any dust accidents ever cause meaningful trouble because of this.

And this only applied to refined dust. With the main means of collecting dust being mining, it would be next to impossible to harvest large quantities of it if it blew up every time you took a pickaxe to a vein of the stuff. Something about the refinery process turned the naturally stable material into something entirely different.

There was probably more to it than that, but Yin really didn't care enough to learn more about it. It did its job and it was fairly safe, that was all he needed to know.

Regardless, with the dust activated the true strength of Yang's new weapons began to make itself known. Particularly the frigid white mist that began to coalesce around her hand like a veil, bending to the slight twitches of her fingers. It was almost ethereal in appearance, like a ghostly shawl.

Slowly testing the new fairly pleasant feeling of the frosty mist, Yang set about throwing a couple more slicing strikes. Each punch was accompanied by a trail of ethereal ice that tracked her every move and hovered beautifully in midair.

Yin had to admit, it was a sight to see. The combination of Yang's ferocious fighting style and the majestic dust run-off was unlike anything else he had witnessed. He still wasn't exactly sold on her weapon choice, but he could definitely see why she was so taken with them.

"Yin! Rubes! Check it out! Isn't this awesome?!" Yang punctuated her excited squeal with a showy somersault that sent flecks of ice scattering in all directions.

"Go Yang!" Ruby cheered, waving a couple sticks in the air behind her unamused brother. The boy of the hour himself said nothing. He had a lot of things he wanted to say, not all of them nice, but seeing how exuberant Yang was made him change his mind.

The complexity of her weapons would definitely be a challenge for his sister, but if she managed to master them they could become a very formidable tool indeed. It wouldn't be an easy task of course, especially from the cursory glances he had given the manual in his hand. Complicated didn't even begin to do it justice. But if anyone could do it it would be Yang.

Yang may be as stubborn and hard-headed as a brick, but she had an almost startlingly powerful ability to adapt. Though young, she seemed to pick up the skills their father taught them at an almost monstrous pace. And even her physical strength was above and beyond what it should have been- and only continued to grow with every day.

In terms of pure strength and dexterity, Yang outclassed him by miles. If she just got a handle on her temper and impatience she could maybe stand a chance against adults.

Though, not their parents. Monstrous didn't even come close to describing their might.

"Okay…" Yang, sweating lightly from the exertion, stared at her gauntleted fists. "It's kinda chilly… I think my fingers are starting to get numb. Is this safe?"

"Don't worry, idiots can't catch colds."

"Har har, Yin. How do I get the dust out again?" Yang deadpanned.

He didn't even bother to look at the manual. "Fists out in front of you, roll your wrists outward."

As Yang focused on her task, Yin picked Ruby up and placed her in front of him. The girl didn't even register the movement, her innocent smile remaining the same as Yin handled her like a statue. Though she did tilt her head when he placed his palms over her ears.

Yang pointed her knuckles off into the forest, repeating her brothers instructions in her head before quickly twisting her wrists. The moment she did, a mechanical hiss erupted from the weapons and the steel knuckles protectors sprang open. With a sharp 'bang' the weapon flashed, the ice dust within being forcibly shattered and ejected from the weapon with stunning force. The shards of crystalline dust scattered in a wide cone, pelting the snow and shattering against the distant trees with clear 'pops'.

The young girl yelped in shock, the recoil of the blast sending her flying onto her back. Thanks to the braces along the weapon, she wasn't injured, but she was certainly dazed as she stared up at the blue sky with ringing ears.

Silence reigned. Ruby looked worried, Yang still stared blank-faced at the clouds, and Yin looked smug.

In an instant, Yang sat up, her face livid as she pointed accusingly at her older brother. "W-what the heck was that for?! Are you doing this on purpose?!"

"Oops~ my bad. I guess I read the manual wrong." Yin shrugged his shoulders as he moved his hands from Ruby's head. "Hmm… Maybe its because I didn't get enough sleep last night. I wonder why?"

"Wh-! Are you still mad about that?!"

"Yes."

Having not only his least favorite person clinging to him like a sloth, but also his loud twin snoring directly against his throat, it was a miracle he had gotten any sleep last night. He woke up just a little grouchy that morning and still hadn't quite let it go.

"Grr… Get over here and fight me, Yin!" Yang barked, rocketing to her feet and brandishing her gauntlets.

Before he could say anything, a different voice barged in. "While I understand how you feel Yang, your brother is still injured. You can't fight him."

Taiyang walked up to them, stepping up next to his livid daughter and ruffling her hair. The girl looked even more miffed, both at the way he messed up her hair and the fact that Yin was getting off scot free.

"Though, once he's all better that's another story."

Yin blinked, his smug countenance evaporating when he faced the now dangerously eager look on Yang's face. Looking up, he found his father smirking with thick dark rings around his eyes.

"Uh… Dad? You don't look so good…"

Taiyang smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Oh, don't worry about that, Yin. I just had a… long, night."

Yin gulped uneasily, not sure why he felt so guilty all of a sudden. But the strange gleam in his father's eyes disappeared quickly, replaced with that familiar warmth.

"Anyway, me and your mother got to talking. Since Yin got hurt, we think it's time that we finally unlocked your auras."

The three children blinked, the two girls girls dropping their jaws while Yin reeled back, stupefied. Of all the things he expected when Summer ushered them out of the house this morning, this was the furthest thing from his mind.

Ruby cheered loudly, seizing Taiyang in a spear tackle that bowled him over on the spot. Yang still hadn't moved from her spot, but the ecstatic grin and the tremble of anticipation in her frame was hard to miss.

Yin looked thoughtful.

Aura… He knew about it. Roughly. Summer had described it thoroughly in the stories she told them, and the simple books he'd read had some descriptions of it too. He had to admit, the idea of a shield bubbling up from the soul was indeed an enticing possibility.

Most of all, it was humanity's greatest weapon. The great equalizer. Even a frail old man with aura would be stronger than a normal person. Proper training and skill could make anyone strong, but having aura elevates the strength of anyone onto a completely different plane.

Though, no matter how his siblings pestered their parents, they always refused to teach them how to use it. Now, his father was finally going to teach them the mythical power. Even he was giddy at the idea, even if he hid it easily.

However, his cautious nature flared up as he stared at the man.

"Are you sure? It still isn't too soon?"

Taiyang chuckled, "Relax, Yin. It's not dangerous or anything. We didn't unlock your auras because we wanted to make sure you were ready for it. I know you three are ready."

Well, if his father was so adamant, then who was he to complain?

"Finally! Oh, I am so pumped up now!" Yang roared aloud, fists outstretched to the heavens. "C'mon, c'mon! Let's do this!"

"Ease up, firecracker," Taiyang chuckled. "You don't need to do anything. Unlocking aura is actually pretty simple. Just stand still and I'll use my aura to pull yours out."

Yin scratched his bandage again, "What, like opening a dam?"

"Exactly."

Yang's vigor was stifled just a bit at that.

"Oh… I thought it would be something like meditating at the top of a mountain and not eating for a week, or something." She pantomimed pulling air into her chest, her cheeks bloating up momentarily. "Drinking in the 'energy of the universe' or whatever."

Taiyang rolled his eyes, "You've been watching too many movies, Yang." Yin agreed.

"You couldn't fast for one hour, let alone a week."

Yang pointed her gauntlets at him and made the 'dust release' gesture again. Luckily, they were empty, so nothing happened. But the intention was clear.

"Are you two gonna bicker all day or do you want your auras unlocked?"

"Sorry." "Let's do this already!"

Taiyang shook his head, even if he was grinning internally. Having such spunky kids really was worth all the trouble they caused now and then. "So, who wants to go first?"

"Me! Me!" Ruby bounced into sight, leaping right in front of their father with stars in her eyes.

"Then i'm next!" Yang pounded her chest, grinning widely. "My aura is gonna blow you away!"

"I can wait."

"You're such a buzzkill!" The younger twin roared right in Yin's face, even as he stuck a finger in his ear uncaringly.

The twins stepped away toward the perimeter of the cleared circle, leaving Taiyang and Ruby standing in the middle. The little girl looked a little uneasy at all the attention, but her overwhelming excitement was clear as a sunny day. Taiyang knelt before her, his big hand taking her shoulder while the other settled on her head.

"Now, stay still. It'll probably tingle a little bit, but it won't hurt."

Ruby nodded, and Taiyang's aura flared around him violently. It wasn't the first time Yin had seen it, but it still stole his breath away. Pure spiritual energy flowing across his limbs like a flame, coating his skin with power that seemed to excite the very air around him. Taiyang's hair began to stand ever so slightly as the aura continued to bloom.

Then, it flowed. The beautiful well of energy seeped into his arms, traveling down to Ruby where it arced across her skin and glowing prints. Ruby gasped. The feeling of being suffused with aura was an incredibly exhilarating feeling by itself, but deep down she could feel something climbing up from the very depths of her being.

The feeling grew and grew until, with an incredible feeling that she couldn't even come close to describing, it peaked.

Red energy erupted from her body, flowing across her limbs like water. Ruby stared at her hands in amazement, flexing her fingers this way and that to watch as it shimmered on her digits. The girl's newly awakened aura was especially brilliant, seeming to gleam as it thrummed around her.

Taiyang removed his hands, watching as his daughters aura beamed on its own strength before it dimmed, receding back into her. Even still, Ruby's amazed expression was present. She could still feel it, her body felt leagues greater than she ever knew it could.

"Now I'm just like mom…" She marveled.

"Red suits you, Ruby." Taiyang caressed her hair. "I'm really proud of you."

If it was possible, Ruby beamed even brighter.

"Alright Yang, your turn."

As Ruby walked over to her brother who was trying not to look interested, Yang all but ran up to her father. The duo assumed the same position as before, Tai knelt before her with a hand on her shoulder and head. Like before, his aura flared to life as he focused on the task before him.

The physical soul energy stretched down to her, siphoning into her as Taiyang's very soul reached out to the buried strength in her. Much like before, where the aura went it left a bright trail in its wake.

...However, something was wrong. As he reached toward Yang's buried aura, Taiyang felt… resistance. The aura was certainly there, he could even grasp it and tug. However, when he pulled it felt as though her aura was actively resisting his goading. Like trying to pull on a chained animal, it pulled away from him.

Seconds passed. Taiyang upped the strength of his aura, exerting more will to try and forcibly bring the aura to the surface. Yang shivered a little at the influx of power but otherwise didn't react. Taiyang was visibly sweating, the exertion of trying to bring the resistant power under control more taxing than he was prepared for.

He frowned in confusion, before gritting his teeth and going all in. In an instant, all resistance faded. The power bloomed, visibly exploding from the small girl with so much force that it bent the grass beneath their feet.

Just like Ruby had, Yang was left floored by the intense feeling of pure power that filled her bones. The lilac energy was much starker and violent than Ruby's had been. It teemed with vivacity as it coated her body, almost pulsing.

"So cool…"

Taiyang wiped his sweaty forehead. "Jeez… That was way harder than it should have been. That must be one powerful aura you have there, Yang."

Yang looked shocked, but her amazement was clear. "For real?! I get a super cool aura?"

"Looks that way... It will still shatter like normal, of course, but I'm guessing you've got a lot more aura in you than most people do." Taiyang nodded appreciatively, proud of his daughter.

Yang rounded on her brother. "You hear that?! My aura is stronger than dad's!"

"That's not what I said!"

Yin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Good job, Yang."

Yang puffed her chest out, either not hearing or not caring about his sarcasm. The girl strutted past her exasperated father to stand beside her little sister. Both of them gushed over their auras to each other.

The eldest stepped up next and the two girls quieted down to watch with rapt attention. Taiyang nodded to him, and Yin stepped closer, his sharp blue eyes watching his father's every movement.

Unlocking people's auras… It was an interesting ability, and it no doubt had its uses. Would it be possible to replicate it? Theoretically, he could mimic his father's movements, but the concept itself eluded him for now. An interesting thought for another time.

Yin stared right at his father as his hand settled on his head. Then, after releasing a silent breath, he closed his eyes.

The process was the same as before. Taiyang's aura began to fill Yin's being as it searched for his dormant power. Taiyang was careful this time, as he drew nearer and nearer to where he could feel Yin's aura, he readied himself for the same kind of resistance Yang's had given him.

He was completely unprepared.

When he grasped Yin's aura, he immediately grunted. His eyes jolted open as his body seized ever so slightly. A resistance unlike any before stalled his progress. Unlike Yang's, where it felt like he had hit a wall, this time it actually felt like it was actively pulling away from him.

If unlocking Yang's aura was like trying to reign in a tiger, then Yin's was like trying to pull a ship anchor out of the ocean with nothing but arm strength.

He pulled and rallied. He surged forth with every ounce of aura he had to try and push that strength to the surface, but it wouldn't budge even an inch.

"W-what the… Are you resisting me, Yin?" Taiyang asked through gritted teeth.

Yin winked an eye open, honestly confused. He could feel the incredible power his father was exuding, but he couldn't really feel much on his own end. "No? Is something wrong?"

Taiyang only grunted and continued to exude his aura. Yang and Ruby watched from the sidelines, worry beginning to worm into their hearts at how long it was taking.

After a few more seconds, Taiyang gave up. His aura dimmed, pulling away as he openly panted from his effort. Yin looked at his hands a few times before looking up at him questioningly.

Taiyang wiped his sweat off, still a little out of breath. "Sorry, Yin… Your aura is just too…" He paused and mulled over his words. "Well, I don't know. But I can't unlock it."

Yin looked honestly surprised. "I don't have aura?"

"No," Taiyang shook his head in the negative. "You definitely do. I could feel it in there. I just can't pull it out."

"Yin doesn't have an aura?" Yang stepped up and asked. The look of pure worry she shot at her brother was uncharacteristic, and hurried Tai to console her.

"It's probably just beyond me to unlock it. I'll ask some of my friends about it and see if they can figure it out," He assured, patting her head comfortingly. "Don't worry, nothing is wrong with your brother."

"I'm not worried!" She defiantly stated, stamping a foot.

Apart from the anomaly that was Yin's aura, things were as calm as always that day. Yang and Ruby set about doing their normal training, only now they began to test all the new sensations and possibilities that their aura offered.

Yin assisted them. While he didn't have an aura of his own at the moment, he was still pretty knowledgeable on the matter thanks to some books. Ruby and Yang were utter novices, but their auras were already impressively strong for their age. Given time, they would surely manifest beyond the norm.

"It's too bad you didn't get your aura, Yin." Yang said to him, poking his side as they watched Ruby zip around the yard faster than she ever had before. "But if even dad cant unlock it, it must be really strong."

Not necessarily, but he wouldn't deny the possibility was fun to think of. "Maybe so."

"Jeez… You don't look down at all. Shouldn't you be at least a little disappointed?"

"Why would I be?" Yin looked honestly confused, "I've gotten by just fine without aura so far. It would be nice to have, sure, but I don't need it."

Yang actually stopped to think about that, her face turning pensive. It was clear she was impressed, not quite having looked at it that way before.

Yin was like that to her. Usually he just said nonsense that she ignored or teased him for. But occasionally he would give a piece of advice or insight that she couldn't help but latch onto.

A flick to her forehead destroyed her concentration. Yang yelped and covered herself while glaring at her brother. Even with aura it still stung when he did that. Yin smirked at her.

"Tell dad I'm going for a walk. I'll be back in a bit."

That foreign feeling of unease once again filled her. "Do you want me to come with you?"

Despite his words, without an aura it was an undeniable fact that he was more fragile than she was. If something were to happen…

"I'll be fine, Yang. I'm not going far. Plus…"

He wouldn't be alone.

With that, Yin turned away and walked off into the small pathway leading into the treeline. Within moments, the bare trees and mounds of snow hid him from sight as he ventured away. Yang still looked uneasy, but she trusted Yin. She knew he was stronger than he acted.

Yin's trek carried him a rather impressive distance from his home and into a clearing. Yin scratched at his cheek as he looked around the place. While snow was still around and obscured him from sight for the most part, grass could be seen peeking up from the ground, and new leaves had begun to bloom on bushes.

The forest was silent, cool and comforting this early in the morning. There wasn't a soul around to see him.

"Okay then… Let's see how this works."

Yin shut his eyes and gently placed his palm over his chest. His heart pounded strong beneath his skin, his breath was sturdy and controlled, and a presence burned right beneath his fingertips.

"Sheer Heart Attack!"

Golden energy erupted from his left hand, fanning out in a beautiful mirage of crystalline beauty that transformed into the tank from the other day. The tank, Sheer Heart Attack clattered onto the snow at his feet.

"So it really wasn't a dream..."

Maybe the black bruises on his back were proof enough that yesterday really happened, but could you blame him for doubting?

Stooping down, he picked the strange weapon up. Just like before, it stared right back at him. Only, now its beady eyes were not nearly as intimidating as before. The sense of familiarity returned as he turned the unresponsive tank this way and that to examine it.

Setting it back down, he mulled over just what to do with it. Taking a step back and glancing around to make sure he was really alone, he began.

"Erm… detonate?"

It did nothing. He sort of expected that, but still, it was good to know that it wouldn't explode unless it was physically activated. He gave a couple more orders, this time only mentally as he was sure he didn't actually need to talk to the thing. While he had very little meaningful control over it, he could at least make it do simple movements and gestures like donuts.

Before he could run any more tests, Sheer Heart Attack instantly pivoted on the spot, its treads roaring as it spun itself toward the treeline. Without any fanfare, the tank blasted off from the spot, speeding off toward a hapless squirrel that had peeked out from the snowbank to search for food.

Yin didn't even have time to blink before it collided with the animal, a loud 'click' resounding as it detonated in a muted explosion that rattled the nearby trees. He immediately rushed over, wincing when he found his tank sitting atop a scorch mark. There was no trace of the squirrel.

"Not even a tuft of hair…"

He wasn't sure how to feel about that, but it surely had its uses.

Getting an idea, he once again picked up Sheer Heart Attack and trekked deeper into the woods. It was only a minute before he found another animal rummaging around in the snow. A deer, chewing languidly at the brambles of a bush.

Setting the tank down in front of him, he focused. His weapon instantly zeroed in on the deer, but it didn't move an inch. Yin could actually feel himself mentally restraining it, keeping it from acting on its heat-seeking ability.

Taking a couple tentative steps backward, he kept his eyes solely affixed to the deer. One step, two… after four steps, the mental leash vanished. Sheer Heart Attack raced from the spot again, and Yin actually had to cover his face at the size of the explosion that billowed out.

"Looks like I can restrain it if it's within a yard of me… and that the size of the explosion depends on how hot the target is."

Once again, no trace of the deer. Impressive…

Opening up his jacket, Yin pulled out a small book that he had hidden in his pocket. It was mostly yellow in color, its title being "Aura for ***holes."

...He wasn't sure where he found it.

Sitting cross-legged in the dirt, he let Sheer Heart Attack run free, his focus on the book. None of the pages really mattered to him, but one section in particular stood out to him.

Semblances.

An aura based ability that is completely unique to every single person. Often considered a representation of a person's character, no two semblances could be the same and the abilities associated with them could often be so incredibly astounding that they almost seemed impossible.

It certainly fit what he knew about his strange power. Semblances didn't require aura either, after all Ruby already could use her impossible speed long before Taiyang awakened her aura.

Sheer Heart Attack was his semblance? While it made sense, he couldn't help but feel that he was missing something.

Well… It would work for now. He couldn't imagine what else it could be.

"I don't have a semblance of an idea."

…

"Right then," he stood, his cheeks burning red. "That should be enough for now."

With only a simple twitch of his mind, Sheer Heart Attack disintegrated back into the depths of his soul. One thing that made it hard to judge it as a semblance was the sheer level of control he had over it. From what the book said, it was common for Hunters to have to train and learn to use their semblances over many years. But Yin knew that he had absolute control and understanding of his.

Well, not control. Rather, it was more that he somehow knew exactly what its limits were.

It had been an hour or so by now. Staying around any longer would probably be a bad idea.

However, once he turned back toward where he came from, he paused. Frowning down at how the snow crunched beneath his boot, he couldn't help but raise a brow in confusion. Using his shoe, Yin swiped away a long strip of snow, revealing the ground beneath.

Dirt. No grass.

"A path…?"

This was the middle of the forest. Why would there be a path out here?

Only sparing a single glance back toward the direction of his home, Yin set off on the path, periodically clearing the snow to make sure he was following it. It took him deeper and deeper into the forest, beyond what he realized was probably the safe parts of his home. Yin's curiosity only grew the father he walked, until he began to reach out to his semblance anxiously.

When he climbed up a hill, he saw it. Through the thick copse of trees, he could just barely make out the silhouette of a building.

Was someone living out here? He didn't think so.

"It looks worn down. What is that…?"

Before he could step any closer, the snow crunched behind him. Yin's eyes shot wide open and he spun around fast, Sheer Heart Attack nearly manifesting from the shot of fear that went through him.

"You're kinda far from home, aren't you kid?"

However, the person before him was not a danger. The man who now held his shoulder was just as tall as his father. He wore a thick black cloak, fairly mysterious clothes, and had a scruffy look that made him look like a recluse.

"Qrow…?"

"What? No 'uncle' for me? You're breaking my heart, Yin."

Qrow Branwen. His father's brother. Yin's uncle was a man he knew well, he had visited often in the past years and his sisters were absolutely smitten with him. If Summer was their favorite storyteller, then Qrow was a close second. Yin himself didn't mind the man. He was kind, if a little crude-mouthed, and he often treated them well when he was around.

He certainly wasn't a good role model though, what with his drinking problem. Yin may not dislike him, but he would never respect him.

"What are you doing here?"

Qrow scoffed, shaking his head exasperatedly. "Shouldn't I be asking you that? This is a lot farther than your dad wants you to be. You know Grimm sometimes stalk this place, right?" Qrow admonished him lightly.

"I got lost." Yin lied easily, a gleam appearing in his eye for a moment as he saw something.

"Jeez… I thought you were more level headed than that, kid."

Qrow took his shoulder and spun him on the spot, aiming the young boy back toward where he knew his home was. "C'mon, I'll walk you back. Your sisters don't know I'm here yet, let's give em the shock of their life."

Yin nodded in acquiescence, but internally his expression was severe. Qrow thought that Yin didn't know what he was doing. But he knew.

No matter how kind or fun Qrow was when he visited, Yin could never bring himself to truly accept him. And that was because of his secrets. Yin knew that the man was hiding things from him. He lied in every other sentence, he directed them away from topics so smoothly it was almost impossible to tell, and Yin just knew the man knew things he would never tell. And now, he was attempting to move Yin's attention away from the house deep in the woods.

'You're hiding something, Qrow. I'll let you believe you have me fooled, but I will find out what it is.'

Qrow laid a hand on the kid's back and began to lead him back home. Yin sent a single piercing look backward before moving on.

Elsewhere…

"Be careful with it, goddammit! If you drop that I'll split your heads open!"

A mighty metal crate groaned, the big hooks attached to it pulled ramrod taught as they cleared the behemoth of steel from the truck bed it laid in. It swung lazily in the air, the jump-suited men nearby hurrying to take hold of the handles on its sides and gently guide it into the cleared space in the middle of the factory.

With a mighty slam, the crane holding the crate finally lowered it to the ground. With a mechanical whine, the iron corded hooks released their tension, falling slack. When it touched down, dust and metal filings were flung into the air, the gathered workmen coughing and waving away the cloud as they stepped back.

With the arrival of the massive truck and crate, some of the men in the large foundry paused in their work to stare at the sight. They turned from their maintenance of large furnaces that churned out molten rods of steel, and the centrifuges that roared and rattled in their metal clasps. It was no odd sight to see new things being trafficked into the building, but nothing that would take such a large group to handle it so cautiously.

Murmurs rose up from the men. For some reason, they could not look away.

A man with ear-length white hair and a severe face strode up, a small smirk pulling at his lips as he stood before the thick container. His crimson, sleeveless outfit stood out starkly among the green and grey jumpsuits.

Three other men, similarly rough yet smartly dressed, joined his side, their attention fixed to the crate as well. The middle of the group was a dark-skinned man with a thick head of wild dark hair, reaching all the way to his shoulders. Another was a tiny, rat-faced man with a peculiar facial-hair style that made his shifty eyes stand out. The last was an impressively tall, and lanky man- his body so gangly and disproportioned that it was a miracle he could stand with his own strength.

Each of them wore a suit, making them stand out all the more amongst the factory workers.

"Incredible…" the white haired man breathed, briefly revealing his razor-sharp teeth.. "You've outdone yourselves, my friends."

The dark-skinned man beside him sighed, smoothing his hair out of his face. "It certainly wasn't easy getting it, Mister Black. Our men barely got it out of there before the place was swarming with Atlesian soldiers. I've never seen so many bullheads in one place..."

The tallest of the group, the bony skeleton, sighed. "If it wasn't for Baba's prophecy allowing us to get there before it was sighted, Atlas would have taken it long before we could."

"Hehe… I'm sure old ironsides is furious that we managed to steal something like this right from underneath his nose."

Black hadn't really believed in prophecies before this day, but there was no denying that the Old woman's foresight had given them this miracle of a chance. Having the ability to glean the future, even if only for a moment... He made a promise to himself to meet the mythical woman one day. Such a power was far safer in his hands than anywhere else.

The smallest of the foursome spoke up, his face just a little uncertain. "Yeah but… is it really worth it? I'm all for stealing things, but how much can some big space rock really be worth?"

The white haired man, Black, looked livid at the man's statement. The other two looked annoyed as well.

"You fool…" Black growled at him, making him wince back. "Is there a single brain cell floating in that hunk of junk you call a skull?"

"Everybody knows that Remnant has an extremely dense upper atmosphere. It's so dense, that anything that tries to enter from space is burnt up in almost an instant from the friction of entry." Black explained, though he more growled his every word. He wasn't a goddamn school teacher, he shouldn't have to explain something so simple to someone just a few years younger than him.

"Because of that, it's pretty much impossible for anything to leave or enter the planet."

The dark-skinned man spoke up, nodding with his words. "We have in our possession a large meteorite that made landfall almost entirely intact. There is no known mineral on Remnant that could do the same."

The small man's eyes lit up, amazement in his expression. "So you're saying we have some super-metal in our hands now?"

Black's grin was both venomous and ecstatic, glad that he finally understood the beauty of what was before them. "Its something all right. I don't know what it is, but I know it's incredible. ...And I'll sooner die than let it in the hands of those bastards in Atlas."

The group stared at the crate containing the meteorite again, marveling at the sheer possibilities within.

The short man nodded appreciatively. "I don't know what you're gonna do with it, but personally I'd want a sword made out of meteorite just for the bragging rights."

While crude, Black couldn't deny that the man had a point. He wasn't certain just what the meteorite could do for him, but even if he just fashioned a weapon out of it he knew it would be leagues beyond what a normal weapon could ever hope to be. No longer was he constrained to the frailty of Remnants resources. He, and he alone, could go far beyond the bounds that this world had.

With this, the future was his.

"Move it into my workshop. I'll crack open its secrets one way or another." Black said with finality, gesturing toward the gathered men to get the crate lifted back into the air.

The wild-haired man sent him a warning look. "I won't stop you, Mister Black. But we at least feel the need to warn you about what you're doing."

The look Black sent him for interrupting his moment was scathing, to say the least. "...What do you mean."

"Our entire retrieval team fell into a coma once they got back." The man gravely said, his face stiff as stone. "Whatever that meteorite did to them, it wasn't good. Just being near it put them down. ...We aren't sure if they're going to wake up."

Eight men, all collapsing into shivering heaps with weak pulses at the same time. To say the sight was unnerving was an understatement. Was it radiation? Some sort of toxin? There was no way they could know, and they didn't have the foggiest idea how to help them out of their unending sleep.

"The same could happen to you."

Black scowled, but didn't allow himself to lose his cool. Annoyed at their doubt or not, he owed them for the part they played in obtaining the meteor. He would at least have to show them respect, grudging as it was. However, if he continued to imply he wasn't up to the task, Black would kill him here and now. Partners or not.

"I'll be fine, Calhoun."

"As you say." Calhoun bowed, saying no more on the matter. Perhaps he realized Black's mounting annoyance, or maybe he just didn't care enough to warn him again. Either way, he dropped the matter, leaving the white-haired mans fate in his own hands.

Once again, the metal hooks tightened up, even more foundry workers joining the crowd to lead it away. The crate soon disappeared behind heavy doors, the loud noises and activity of the factory slowly returning with its disappearance.

"We will be taking our leave now, Mister Black. Good luck. Although he couldn't be here, Mister Torikku wishes you luck as well."

The three men stepped in front of Black and bowed deeply, Calhoun in the center. His razor sharp grey eyes met Black's own crimson ones. "Should you ever require our services again, do seek us out."

A/N:

Mysterious characters are on the move, plot points(?) are being established, and bonds are being fully fleshed out.

This chapter was especially difficult to write, for a variety of reasons, but I'll simply chalk it up to my limited knowledge on RWBY and my hesitance to introduce plot points while still remaining ambiguous on whats actually happening. Though, Im sure some of you can make some good guesses.

I have A LOT of ideas now cooked up for this story, but slowly advancing to them without overwhelming you readers is pretty tough. Plus, I've gotten sidetracked by a few story ideas that stole my attention. So, sorry for the long wait. The next chapter will have a long wait too, mostly because it'll be in a form I'm not used to writing in. ...Probably.

Thank you for your patience. Lets continue to make sweet music together.