The weeks turned into months as the girls continued their training. It had taken a while but Ruby had finally figured out how to use her sword, that is at least to actually strike her target.

With Weiss's help Ruby had significantly improved her sword skills over the last few months and together they were able to challenge and help each other. Weiss had to constantly remind Ruby to be careful of her tail so that way it didn't get cut off in a real fight.

Every time Weiss mentioned it ruby would always say, "It's not fair," to which Weiss would respond, "neither is moving at super high speeds."

Ruby was amazing at agility and could run incredibly fast but her endurance while using a sword was another story. To practice Ruby would run around their training field while Weiss shot ice crystals at her. This way ruby could increase her endurance and sword skills while Weiss increased her glyph ability.

"Maybe if you didn't eat so many cookies you could run longer," Weiss suggested with a laugh.

"No not the cookies!" Ruby exclaimed, "You wouldn't dare stop making cookies for me!" Weiss had been making Ruby cookies for quite a while and had yet to share her recipe. Of course Ruby would eat other cookies but Weiss's were always the best. There was just something about them that made them special.

"You better put in a little more effort then," Weiss said while trying to hold in her laughter.

"It's not funny," said Ruby as she continued to slash Weiss's ice shards out of the air, "No one else makes cookies like you do."

"Just so you know no huntress was ever made by sitting around all day," Weiss stated as she yawned and continued their exercise, "It might also help if you woke up when the sun does and not at noon."

"No way am I waking up at that hour" Ruby shook her head side to side for emphasis, "No one does that..."

"I gave you an offer it's your choice if you take it," Weiss stopped shooting ice shards at Ruby, "I think we should be done for today." Ruby jogged over to Weiss and they started to walk back towards the house. "I know we usually practice in the afternoon too but the morning should be fine for today, after all we do have our test tomorrow."

"Wait what test?" Ruby panicked momentarily since she had forgotten about it.

"The one where dad tests out skills at the end of the year," Weiss stated like it wasn't a big deal, "I'm going to guess you forgot."

"Oooh that one," Weiss chuckled a little at Ruby's remembrance of it, "Stop laughing Weiss you know I'm not the best at remembering things."

"I know, and I'm sure you'll remember what we've gone over in the past year." Weiss said comfortingly as she walked over and put her hands on Ruby's shoulders, "I'll be right there if you need any help."

"Thank you Weiss," Ruby said the panic now gone, "I'll be there to cheer you on too." Ruby pulled Weiss into a quick sisterly hug and then they continued back to the house.

The rest of the evening consisted of Ruby reading a book, this time about sword skills instead of her usual fiction, while Weiss cleaned and polished her sword for tomorrow.

After a while Weiss spoke, "One year ago tomorrow you gave me this stone"

"Jewel" Ruby corrected.

Weiss continued on as though she wasn't interrupted, "It's one of the best presents I've gotten," Weiss paused for a second, "Thank you Ruby"

"Huh, what?" Ruby asked as she turned to face Weiss.

"You mean you weren't listening?" Weiss questioned.

"Nope," Ruby held up her book, "I'm pretty sure I was reading about sword technique."

"You even corrected me how could you not be listening?"

Ruby just shrugged in response.

"I guess I can just say it again," Weiss sighed and then continued, "Thanks for being an amazing sister Ruby. A year ago tomorrow you gave me this jewel and at the time I didn't understand what it meant but I'm glad I do now. There's no one else in the entire world I'd rather have as a sister."

"Awe thanks Weiss, you're the only person I would want as my sister too." Ruby looked back down at her book. "By the way I heard you the first time, I just wanted to hear you say it..." Ruby never finished her sentence as he was struck with a pillow. Once Ruby sat up she saw a very rosy cheeked Weiss looking back at her.

"You're such a dolt!" exclaimed Weiss.

"Thanks for the pillow," Ruby said as she smiled at Weiss and then went back to reading.

Weiss mumbled to herself as she finished putting away her sword. Afterwards she went and got ready for bed. When she finally got back to her bed she realized she'd need her pillow back. As she turned to ask for pillow it hit her straight in the face.

"You might want that," Ruby chuckled as she closed her book and ducked beneath her covers.

Weiss sighed knowing by Ruby's tail wagging back and forth that she was just being playful. "Sleep well Ruby," Weiss reach over to turned off her lamp, "And remember to wake up early tomorrow for the test." Weiss knew Ruby had heard her since her tail stopped moving right before Weiss turned off the light.


Weiss yawned as she got out of bed and made her way to the closet to get her clothes. To her surprise she found Ruby was also awake. "Look who finally work up early."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ruby continued to father her clothes for the day, "I've just taken a liking to sleeping in recently."

"Whatever you say," Weiss said with a laugh, "Oh by the way we are officially 15 now."

"15..." Ruby pondered the age for a few second, "Does that mean dad will send us to school now?" Ruby walked out of the closet and began to put on her combat clothes.

"Maybe, although he could also continue training us at home." Weiss still hadn't decided which of her white dresses she wanted to wear, "Technically we should have gone to signal last year but dad decided he could teach us more then we would learn there."

"I know I learned more this way, I probably would've fallen asleep during class... wait I did that here too..." Ruby, ready for the day, started to head downstairs, "Hurry up slowpoke, I'll be waiting for you on the porch." She quickly closed the door behind her as to not hear her sister's response.

About 15 minutes later Weiss joined ruby on the porch. "Dad said for us to meet him at the practice field when we were ready," Weiss handed Ruby her sword, "You might want this."

"Thanks for not throwing my sword at me like I did your pillow," Ruby quickly stood up and as started walking to the field so Weiss wasn't in distance to hit her.

Weiss caught up with Ruby a few seconds later, "You afraid of me?" Weiss asked teasingly, "You know we might have to spar today."

"Nope I'm afraid of you," Ruby quickly tried to find a way to change the topic, "Are you going to wear those earrings during our test?"

Weiss's hand went up to her earring, "I don't see why not, I wore them to all our previous training sessions."

"Just don't lose them," Ruby took a closer look at them, "They're very pretty."

The rest of the short walk was done in silence, but neither of the girls cared as they were try to recall what they had learned. They eventually reached the field and found their dad and two guards waiting.

"Happy 15th birthday my darlings, are you ready to show off what you've learned over the past year?" said Mr. Schnee as he gave them each a hug."

"You bet," they replied in unison.

"That's the spirit," Mr. Schnee then got down to the girls height, or at least Weiss's since Ruby was shorter, "Show me your best girls, I know you are both capable of great things."

With that their testing began.

The test consisted of multiple different topics ranging from; sword skills to wilderness survival, geography to creatures of grimm, and first aid to the history of huntsman.

After both girls were done being testing over the knowledge they had been taught it was time to show what they had learned on their own.

Weiss had been training with glyphs and showed a barrage of different types. She was able to demonstrate the basics of jump platforms, speed boosts, and ice shards.

Ruby after reading so many books had run across the use of dust in bullets. Since she was unable to demonstrate she instead told everything she knew like she was teaching a class.

At the very end Mr. Schnee congratulated both girls, "You both did wonderfully in not only what I taught you but also in your own private studying too. If you liked the topic you picked I would suggest that you continue to pursue it for that will set you apart from everyone else." He paused for a second and looked at his girls, "I'm glad to be able to call myself your father." With that he turned around and walked back to the house.

The girls not knowing what to do just stood there awkwardly, "You can do whatever you want the rest of the day," Mr. Schnee called over his shoulder, "You both deserve a break."

The girls decided to go relax in the forest since they couldn't think of anything better.

"I knew dad had guards but I didn't realize they were so good." Ruby laid down in the forest next to Weiss, "Do you think we will be as good as them someday?"

"I'm sure we will be much better, they may be guards but they weren't huntsman." She stretched out her arms and got into a more comfortable position, "From what I could tell father was very pleased with both of us."

"Do you know why he didn't test us himself?" Ruby kept shifting positions unable to stay still.

"He's already seen us while he trained us," Weiss looked up into the leaves, "He probably wanted to see how we would do against different opponents."

"That makes sense," Ruby picked up a leaf and examined it while listening to the forest, "I didn't get you a present this year."

"That's fine," Weiss lifted the small leather pouch from around her neck, "This is a present that will last forever."

Ruby unable to stay still any longer got up, "I'm going swimming would you like to join me?

"Nah I think I'll just lay here," Weiss's hand waved lazily through the air as if seconding her response.

"Suit yourself," Ruby got onto all fours ready to run, "Watch the squirrels if you can they seem pretty chatty today." Weiss just gave Ruby an okay and then went back to relaxing.

Knowing she had to get rid of some of her energy so she could sit at the bottom of the lake she took of at a run. As she made her way through the forest she noticed the other animals were chatty too, 'Something must have happened, I'll have to check it out after my swimming'.

Ruby, not even bothering to take off her clothes, leapt gracefully into the lake and swam a little below the surface. 'Ugh my wolf ears are still picking up the commotion above the water, I just want silence'. She swam back to the top of the lake and started to slow her breathing.

Ruby had been working on seeing how long she could hold her breath underwater, so far her record was about 10 minutes. She was sure one day should could beat the world record of 22 and 1/2 minutes.

With one final breath Ruby swam down to the bottom of the lake and placed a rock in her lap so she wouldn't float up. The noise of the forest dimmed to only a whisper compared to before. With the cool water all around her Ruby closed her eyes and let the tension of the day flow away with the current of the lake.


Somewhere in the forest a voice called over a headset, "Sir we're in position."

So my beta decided to take a hiatus hence the reason this took a little longer to post. Thank you for reading though and I'll see you next chapter!

Hopefully I didn't miss anything while editing!