Chapter 4:
Your guys support is amazing and all the emails I get remind me to continue writing. I don't have any excuses for the spaced upload, so let's hope it won't happen again. Enjoy the chapter!
"Come on," Ruby called from the bottom of the steps as she waited for Weiss to make her way downstairs.
"If you took the stairs like a normal person and didn't slide down the railing you wouldn't have to wait for me," Weiss remarked.
Eventually the girls made their way downstairs and turned into the kitchen to be greeted by their mother. "I thought I'd make breakfast this morning," Mrs. Schnee commented as she took the strawberry coffee cake out of the oven.
Ruby looked over to Weiss. "Better her then me," she chuckled.
"That's the truest statement I've heard in awhile," Weiss responded while she made her way over to the table with Ruby.
Before Ruby got to the table Mrs. Schnee called to her, "The kitchen is still a little dirty from yesterday." She threw a washcloth at Ruby. "Clean up a little more and then you can have breakfast if there's some left."
Ruby just stood there not fully proceeding what just happened since she had just been hit with a washcloth. "But mom, strawberries are my favorite fruit!" she exclaimed. Mrs. Schnee just stood there and looked at Ruby. "Fine," Ruby huffed.
Weiss snickered at the exchange from her seat at the table. "Be careful or you might join her too," Mrs. Schnee said as she brought the food to the table. Weiss stopped laughing instantly and sat up straight.
Right as Weiss was about to take her first bite Ruby appeared at the table, "Done!" Both Weiss and Mrs. Schnee turned around to see what looked like a clean but now very disorganized kitchen. When she saw their questioning looks, Ruby quickly commented, "At least it's clean..."
"Just eat for now," Mrs. Schnee said as she shook her head. "You'll have to reorganize it after breakfast."
"Cool!" Ruby responded as she plopped down into her chair and grabbed the pan, almost as fast as she grabbed it she let go of it as it was still hot. "Ow!" Ruby exclaimed, shaking her hands in the air. "Why is it so hot!?"
"I'm guessing it came out of the oven just a little bit ago," answered Mr. Schnee as he joined the rest of the family downstairs. "Happy birthday to my two daughters," he said as he sat down at the table.
"Thanks dad!" they both responded in unison as their mother dished out the rest of the food.
"Since it's both of your girl's 14th birthday, I have something special for both of you," said Mr. Schnee as the girls leaned in a little closer. "I'll show you the surprise later today."
"Is mine a sword?!" Ruby asked excitedly. She'd seen her dad's swords before and had always wanted to have her own. She had gotten in trouble for playing with one when she was little. How she got to it way above the fireplace, no one knew.
"I don't know, you'll have to find out later," Mr. Schnee responded as he took a bite of his coffee cake. "Thanks for making breakfast dear, it tastes really good," he said to Mrs. Schnee.
The rest of breakfast went by uneventfully until Mrs. Schnee reminded Ruby she had to fix the new mess she'd made in the kitchen.
"But mom..." Ruby complained as she put on her best pouty face, "I've already cleaned it once."
"I told you before breakfast that you would have to reorganize it after we ate," Mrs. Schnee remarked.
"Can't Weiss help too?" Ruby asked since she didn't want to clean by herself.
At her name Weiss had started listening, "What are you pulling me into?"
Ignoring Weiss for the moment, Mrs. Schnee commented, "You know what, that sounds like a good idea. You two should help each other since, after all, you are twin sisters."
"Can someone please tell me what's going on?" Weiss asked. "For once, I wasn't paying attention."
"Ruby volunteered you to help her organize the kitchen," Mrs. Schnee informed Weiss
Weiss gave her mom a look of disbelief. "You okayed this?" Weiss paused before continuing, "Well, it could be worse."
"You two clean the kitchen and then you can have the rest of the day off," she concluded.
At this, Weiss shrugged her shoulder, "Okay, then that works."
Together the sisters fixed the extra mess Ruby had made and after about an hour, they had finished the task they had started. "Now we can just relax," Weiss stated.
"That we can," Ruby responded as they made their way outside to enjoy the weather. "Thanks for helping me sis!" said Ruby as she jumped on her sister and gave her a bear hug.
"You're welcome," Weiss laughed as Ruby hung from her neck, "but maybe get down before you hurt me."
Ruby jumped down and continued to walk beside Weiss. "Have you started learning about how to become a huntress?" Ruby asked.
"Of course," Weiss remarked as they made their way towards the shade of the forest. "I'm guessing you haven't."
"Nope, I kept getting distracted," Ruby replied as she twiddled her thumbs.
"Well I plan on become one of the best huntresses there will ever be," Weiss stated as she proudly walked a little taller, "So I have to start learning now."
Ruby pondered her sister's statement for a little while not quite sure why her sister was putting so much effort in something like that. "What's so important about being a huntress?" Ruby asked as they finally reached the edge of the forest. "I know it's cool and all with the weapons but why?"
"Why don't we find a log to sit down on and then I can tell you a story," Weiss suggested.
"Okay!" Ruby replied happily as she sat down and leaned up against a log, "I'm ready! Wait, do we need popcorn?" Ruby asked, but Weiss had already started her story.
"The legacy of the huntsmen goes back before the time of the great war..." Weiss started as she settled down next to Ruby. "There were, and still are today 4, kingdoms: Vail, Vacuole, Mistral, and Mantel..." As the sun rose above them, Weiss told Ruby the story of the 4 kingdoms, the destruction of the Grim, and the creation of the huntsmen. All of which came from tales decades before their time.
All too soon Weiss's story came to an end, yet Ruby, too entranced by her sister words, didn't seem to notice when Weiss stopped, "And now our time has..." Weiss paused as she heard someone call for them.
"Weiss, Ruby!" their mother called. Her yell only sounding like a faint whisper to the girls in the forest.
Weiss started to get up and Ruby just looked at her in confusion. "Come on let's go," Weiss said.
"Where to?" Ruby asks, still confused as to why she began to get up.
"Mom just called for us," Weiss said. "How did you, of all people, not hear her."
"I was only paying attention to you," Ruby stated with a smile. "My wolf ears would've been able to pick it up but I was really focused on your story."
"Well we better get back to the house real quick," Weiss said as they started to lightly jog back. "Hope we're not late for anything."
They reached the house in no time at all since the forest wasn't that far away. When they walked inside it seemed way too quiet. "Didn't mom just call us in?" Weiss asked as she looked around.
"Maybe they're somewhere else in the house?" Ruby suggested as they continued down the hallway, "let's check the living room."
When they made their way around the corner their mom and dad jumped out and cheered, "Happy Birthday Girls!"
"Thank you!" they said in unison as they gave their parents a hug. Once everyone was done with their hugs, Weiss and Ruby sat down on the couch and waited. In the center of the floor were two presents, one wrapped in red and the other in white.
"It's finally that time," Mr. Schnee announced. "Now that you are both 14, you will start your training to become huntresses."
"Yay!" Ruby explained excitedly as she wiggled in her seat. She knew that new huntresses normally got their weapons at the age of 14.
"Calm down Ruby," Weiss said with a straight face, "You don't even know what you're getting yet, it could just be a bunch of coal."
"Come on Weiss," Ruby said as she gave her sister a slight nudge, "I'm pretty sure mom and dad aren't as mean as Santa."
"May I continue?" Mr. Schnee asked. Both the girls quickly nodded in response. "As I was saying, I'm very proud of both of you and hope you will become successful huntresses one day."
He turned around and picked up the present wrapped in red and Mrs. Schnee grabbed the one in white. "We, as your parents, would like to present each of you with your own weapons. Take care of them and they will take care of you in the face of danger." With that Mr. Schnee handed Ruby her present and Mrs. Schnee handed Weiss hers.
The girls looked at each other, "3, 2, 1, open!" The girls quickly, but carefully, ripped off the the wrapping on their presents.
"Ooh, it's so pretty!" Ruby said excitedly as she looked at the intricate designs on the wooden case.
"Open it up," Weiss suggested as she undid the latches on hers, "You haven't seen anything yet." Following Weiss's lead Ruby unlatched the case and began to open it.
Her eyes widened in excitement, "Look at this sword Weiss!" Ruby exclaimed as she delicately picked it up. "It even has red accents, my favorite color!" She practically jumped on her dad as she gave him a giant hug, "Thank you so much!"
"You're welcome darling," he said with a smile, "Do you like yours too Weiss?"
"Yes father, it's perfect." She picked up the sword and gave it a few quick swing. "It's balanced very nicely and feels perfect in my hand."
"It looks as though you've been studying already," her father said with a slight hint of approval in his voice, "I wouldn't expect much less from you."
In hearing recognition of her success, Weiss sat up a little straighter. "I have been for the last few months. I've learned a lot of the basic sword skills and some survival skills."
"Very good, you'll make a fine huntress one day," her father responded with a nod of his head.
Ruby, having waited long enough in her mind, decided to interrupt. "Weiss, if you're done showing off, I have something for you upstairs!" Ruby said while giving her sisters shirt a light tug telling here to follow.
"I'll be right up," Weiss said as she put her sword back in it's case and stood up. "Why is she in such a hurry," she said to no one in particular. When she arrived upstairs Ruby was standing just inside with something in her hands.
"Happy birthday Weiss!" Ruby smiled as she opened her hands to reveal the jewel she had gotten from the water earlier.
"Is that a rock?" Weiss asked as she looked at the object Ruby held out in front of her.
"Nope," Ruby said, although she was a little disappointed that her sister didn't seem to like it. "It's a jewel."
"Is there something special about it or is it just a stone?" Weiss asked, a little confused at what Ruby was trying to give her.
"No Weiss, it's more than just a stone!" Ruby took her sister's hand and placed it over the jewel in her own hand. "It's a symbol to represent the connection between the two of us, something that will never go away."
"It's still a rock though," Weiss responded. "I don't see how it's a jewel or how it's so special."
"Stop being so close minded," Ruby stated. "It takes forever for stones to disappear, and our relationship as twin sisters will be the same." Ruby placed the jewel in Weiss's hand. "Believe in us, believe in the jewel, and you'll be able to see it like I do! A symbol of our everlasting relationship."
Weiss still looked at the stone in confusion, "Is it supposed to do something special?"
"Yeah! Sometimes it glows. The reason it isn't right now is because you don't believe." Ruby looked her sister in the eyes, "We will always be sisters and we will always care for each other till the end of time."
"But what if something happens to one of us?" Weiss asked.
"We will always be sister's Weiss, and nothing..." Ruby closed her hands around Weiss's, "Nothing will ever separate us." She lifted her hands away. "I will always come looking for you and I will never forget you."
"Thanks Ruby..." Weiss wrapped Ruby up into a hug, "I'll never forget about you either, even if something bad happens!" The girls stood there for a while until Weiss felt a slight warmth coming from the jewel. 'You'll always be my little sister' Weiss thought as she released Ruby.
"One more thing," Ruby said as they started to walk downstairs, "You'll have to figure out how to attach it to something if you want a necklace."
"I'm sure that won't be a problem," Weiss stated. She held the stone close to her heart and felt her sister's love. 'It's weird how after 14 years we finally recognized our sisterly relationship.' For now Weiss placed the jewel in her pocket and headed downstairs, "Even if we follow our separate path I'll never forget you," Weiss whispered as she looked through the glass skylight and into the sky.
The rest of the afternoon passed with Ruby and Weiss getting a feel for their new swords. Weiss tried to teach Ruby a few basics but decided to stop after Ruby almost lost her ear. Dinner was made in the, now, clean and organized kitchen. After dinner, they had a giant birthday cake. To the rest of the family's disbelief, Ruby ended up eating at least half of the cake.
Before Weiss went to bed that, night she placed the jewel in a leather pouch and tied it around her neck. To her, it was more than just a stone, but to others, it seemed like a random rock in a pouch. Although Weiss liked pretty things, she knew Ruby would like the simple pouch better.
Unheard by the rest of the family, Mr. Schnee's stern voice rang throughout his office, "Then post more guards, the safety of my daughters is my first priority! Remember who you're working for!"
Again thanks for all your support and for reading! I'll see you next chapter. For those of you wondering, the pace will be picking up speed soon.
nya~
*Editor's Comment* - Sorry for not forcing this bipedal humanoid to get out this amazing chapter!
P.S. I get to read everything before you =^.^=
