Weiss Schnee

"Are we fully prepared?"

"As prepared as we can be on such a short notice. Guards have been informed, transport is ready, the feast and festivities for afterwards have already been prepared. The cities barrier is also live and fully operational."

"The tests were a success then?"

"Frankly, it passed every possible metric we had prepared for. The royal wizard has truly outdone herself with this new barrier, its perhaps the most mana efficient barrier of any size in the world at the moment."

"And that's not even mentioning it's new abilities." Oobleck chimed in to agree with Ozpin, and it left Weiss smirking. Her smug attitude was obvious to anyone that glanced at her, but she coudlnt help it as much as she didn't care. Appointing Ruby to royal wizard had been met with some backlash from the council, Glynda's name being thrown around a lot in that particular meeting. Yet the Queen had stood by her decision, and the fruits of her wifes labour had already changed the councils mind.

"The improved defences of the castle... the barriers upgrades... the new standard issue armour and weapons for our Knights... the Abaddon Bolts and arrows... all of this in a little over a year. In a few years time, who knows what else Ruby will cook up."

The current Rose Dragon was perhaps one of the most dangerous people in the world thanks to her knowledge. With her information on how to cast the Abaddon Curse, the Curse Breaker, and of course the only person currently in possession of the full Dragon Formula... Ruby could destroy a kingdoms defences in under a minute before unleashing a literal army of Dragons onto the defenceless populace. While yes, it was likely she wouldn't beat Glynda in a direct fight - yet - her knowledge put her on a higher level as a wizard simply thanks to her ability to cause greater change in the worlds power dynamic.

Not that Weiss wanted to change more people then necessary into Dragons. After Emeralds betrayal, the people she trusted had become a much tigher grouping of individuals. Turning even five people into Dragons would likely create enough of a force to overthrow her rule... it would likely take four of them to put down Qrow, and maybe three for Pyrrha... but Qrow wasn't here at the moment, still stuck in Vacuo until tensions had fully died down. Though that eventuality was closer then previously expected.

"So. What I'm hearing is that we are fully prepared to welcome the King of Atlas?" She loved saying that. Her smile having over-ridden her smirk as she spoke of her younger brothers new position. While not yet official, he had spoken to their father after Emeralds betrayal, and rather then wait for him to find a new bride to crown the Prince... they would instead do so after his ascension into a Dragon. Weiss was overjoyed about the situation. Whitley's eighteenth birthday had come and gone recently, which meant his soul was finally that of an adults. They had given it a month or two of breathing room to make sure that the changes had fully gone through, but now that his soul was fully formed, changing into a Dragon would give him the full power of one... baring his physical might. For whatever reason, that was universally attained at the age of twenty for all species. The full development of a soul took eighteen years for humans however, and it was the earliest age at which it happened.

"The Prince-" Ozpin emphasised the word as if to correct Weiss. "-should be here within the next few days... accompanied of course by a reasonably sized portion of the Atlas fleet."

"Hopefully they don't try and open a portal through the barrier..." Weiss's mutters were an offhand comment at most, but she noticed Ozpin quickly whisper to someone to send that information to Ironwood. The Queen briefly pondered if she had just saved countless people from being turned to ash against the cities barrier, but cast those thoughts aside and moved on with the meeting. "Now then, do we have anything else to discuss today?"

"Ah. Actually I do." Ozpin calmly took a sip from his drink and relaxed into his chair. "I will be retiring within the decade."

Weiss raised an eyebrow, she had expected him to use the power his position provided for as long as possible. "May I ask why exactly?"

"Oh, I'm dying." He casually took another sip without a second thought, and everyone just stared at him in a mixture of shock and disbelief.

"I'm sorry... what??" Weiss didn't get a chance to interrogate him further, her words and the whole meeting really being interrupted and derailed by the doors slamming open... and the Royal Wizard running in with an excited looking child in her hands... one who had wings.

"Weiss!!" Ruby's voice was incredibly excited, though her expression matched as she held Argus up with pride, her arms fully outstretched and holding him by under his shoulders to show him off completely. "Look!!"

His body was covered in scales, the boy completely lacking any and all clothes probably due to his transformation ripping then from his body... they hadn't seen a point in giving him Shifter clothing yet, that was most likely going to change now. His horns were smaller then expected, most likely a sign of his age. His wings hung rather limply down at his sides, the boy probably having no clue how to control them, and the same being said of his tail which almost wagged under his legs. The scales covering everywhere baring his head were a beautiful colouring, an almost clear colour in most places that seemed to have dancing light under them that didn't give off a glow. He almost had a rainbow like effect covering his body, his wings kept that same pattern, only excluding the membrane between them. The leather like material was white at the top and black at the tips, different almost 'cracks' of colours stretched from the black and thined towards the white at the top. He also possessed those claws on his wings like Ruby and Yang had... it made Weiss wonder if that was just a feature of their family.

"Truly, the royal wizard is an inspiration to us all." Ozpins words were joined by the sound of Weiss slumping back into her chair. She shot the rest of the council a glare and didn't even need to ask them to leave, all of them already understanding and moving from their seats of their own accord. Ruby watched with mild confusion, but that dumb smile never left her face. It almost gave her the look of an airhead, and Weiss wasn't sure if she wanted to kiss the fool or chastise her.

"Ruby-" Weiss went to talk once the doors had closed behind Ozpin and the others, but before she got the chance to say anything more the adorable half-Dragon in Ruby's hands stuck his own arms out excitedly... as if asking for Weiss to hold him for once. She was quick to jump at the opportunity, racing from her chair and practically snatching the boy from her wifes arms to hug him tight. Weiss couldn't remember the last time he had wanted to be held by Weiss instead of Ruby... probably because such an event had never happened.

"You were saying, Weiss?" Ruby gave her a smug grin, one that showed off that she had known exaclty what she was doing by bursting in here.

"Ruby... thank you, but you can't just-"

"Nope." A finger pressed to the Queens lips interrupted her once more, and Argus tried his best to copy the action. Weiss once again removed her sons hand from her face after he had slapped her without meaning to, and let off a groan. "He misses you, you know."

"Our son is a mamas boy, Ruby. And I am his mother... we both know he prefers you." She put the child down and tilted her head as she looked over him. "Do you know how to get him to change back...?"

"You could just ask him."

"Ruby-"

"Argus? Can you change back, buddy?" It always stunned Weiss seeing Ruby shift from silly goofball to a loving parent so quickly. Her maternal... or perhaps paternal... instincts were overpowering to low-ball it. She had crouched down to look at him eye-level, and her expression was one of pure love and affection as she stared into his eyes. The boy responded with a happy nod and quickly did as his Mama asked... resulting in a now naked prince standing in the middle of the council chamber. Besides his cloak of course.

Weiss narrowed her eyes and almost glared at her child, though she would never actually look at him the same way she looked at people that actually pissed her off. "Favouritism at its finest."

"Or-" Ruby pulled Argus's cloak around his body, trying to cover him up a bit before she picked him up. He almost resembled a swaddled baby in her arms. "Maybe he's just more used to being around me? I do spend more time with him then you do."

"That's not-"

"Its not fair. I know. You would spend way more time with him if you could, Weiss." The Queen practically pouted, annoyed at once again being interrupted... and also because Ruby quite literally stole her words.

"I'm never going to be the mother he needs... not properly anyway. When he's older... I hope that he understands..." She reached over and gently rubbed the boys cheek, he was already drifting off in Ruby's arms, the sight too much for Weiss's heart to handle. "Adorable..."

"He's smarter then you think, Weiss. I'm sure he gets it now... and I know he'll get it later. Besides, it's not like you're not here. That would be way different." They shared a small smile, one that they often exchanged. "I should probably take him to bed if he's going to sleep so much."

"A year old and he's still so lazy..."

"Don't you think you're setting your expectations a little high?"

"No." Weiss answered without remorse. "He's got the development of a two year old."

"That's not much better, Weiss..."

"Trust me Ruby... he'll be five before you know it." An age he would seemingly be locked at for five years. His studies proper would start then, as well as his training in combat and magic. The boy had a long list of things waiting for him in the near future, and Weiss would make sure he passed them all with flying colours.

While she wasn't confident that there was much for her to provide him with for these first years of his life... when he was a little older, she would be there non-stop for him. Training and mentoring her heir would become her top priority, and she was sure that he would come to understand why all of this was necessary. Five years wasn't that long a time, not for Dragons. He would feel it pass in a heartbeat, and that same feeling would soon etch itself onto Weiss and Ruby.

Time moved differently for beings with eternal lives. So long as they were happy. And how could Weiss not be happy? Staring down at the sleeping face of her beautiful son.

"Ok... one more time. Come on sweetie, transform for me." She gave her best reassuring smile, an expression meant to hide her desire to plead and bargain with the child for him to just once do as she asked.

For once, Weiss was looking after Argus while Ruby worked. With her brother set to be here any day now, Weiss had begun to think about all the possible issues still left with Vale... mainly the ones that Ruby could handle, until finally she'd remembered an unreseloved issue. Amity Colosseum. Currently, the floating arena was just that, floating without a care in the world and taking resources near constantly in order to do so. So, while the royal wizard toiled away at that problem, Weiss was free to spend some more time with her son... though the question of if he actually wanted to be here with her was one she was near constantly asking herself.

It was infuriating. He listened so well and did everything that was asked of him when it was coming from Ruby, so why was he so indifferent about Weiss's requests? Here she was, kneeling in front of him to look him in the eyes, a gentle smile on her face and a warm disposition of encouragement ready for him... yet nothing. No action or response was gleamed from any of her pleads, the boy could reduce her to begging in a matter of minutes by just simply doing nothing. Not even Ruby could do that!

"Ok maybe she could... just in a very different context."

"Is it this room? Do you not like being in here?" She glanced around, the library was near empty besides them right now. Only rows upon rows of books to keep the Queen and the Prince company while the other member of their family worked away in her lab.

For once he decided to respond. His little arms reaching out for her in a confusing manner, but she leant forward to help him reach better even without knowing his intentions. The boy grabbed her clothes, pulling both of them together while Weiss wrapped her arms around him. It was confusing... why after all of that had he wanted a hug...?

"Are you ok...?" She wished and pleaded in her mind, begging for anyone who might be listening for them to tell her what she should do. Weiss loved her son, and she hated not knowing how to help him... or if he even needed help. For all she knew, he was the one trying to help her. With a gentle sigh, she used one hand to pull the hood of his cloak up, the pure red covering his head full of white hair nicely... but she felt something odd once she did. A heat emanating from the boy now, or at least from the cloak maybe. It wasn't a terribly hot feeling, rather it felt more like a soothing warmth one would feel when being hugged.

"Did Ruby do that...?"

Who else would have? It was the only answer, but that spawned the question of why she had made the cloak able to do that. Perhaps it was meant to just be for warmth, perhaps it would be so that their son could always recieve the feeling of a hug if he wished for it. Weiss glanced down at her necklace, the pendent she had recieved long ago from Ruby and still hung onto for dear life when she needed strength. Ruby was a constant aura of warmth for them both it seemed. Perhaps they were more equal then Weiss had previously thought... but shouldn't she be the cold and calculating mentor and mother that he would need growing up? That was how she herself had been raised afterall-

"Oh wow... I'm an idiot..."

As if she wanted to raise her child in the same way that she herself had been. Weiss hated her parents, and that was a trait not exclusive to one of their children. She didn't want Argus to hate her, she didnt want to give him a reason to hate her! This was her child, and she loved him with all of her heart.

"You don't have to transform if you don't want to... I just wanted to see it again." She whispered the words into his ear. It didn't matter if he understood or not, it didn't even matter if he would care. All that she needed, was to make sure that he knew. And of course, that was the moment that her eye was poked by a sudden horn emerging from the boys head.

"I have no one to blame for this but myself..."

Ruby Schnee

"You know, Sister... you didn't have to go that far."

"What do you mean?" Both Ruby and Whitley exchanged a look after Weiss's question. "I'm lost..."

"Weiss... sweetie... honey... baby-"

"Get to the point." Her words were emphasised with folded arms and a squinted almost glare.

Ruby didn't need to be told twice. "There was a literal red carpet..."

"I was welcoming a foreign King into our kingdom-"

"Prince, actually." Whitley chimed in, but the only result was Weiss scoffing.

"Not for long."

"And thank God for that!" The Schnee siblings raised their glasses in a toast, and Ruby was left sitting awkwardly between them. She didn't feel too comfortable with encouraging their... well... animosity for their father. But she wasn't about to try and stop them either. With a glance over to the gardens proper, she reconfirmed that the kids were still playing. Sun, Celica, Jasper and thankfully Argus all looked to be having the time of their lives as Yang led them around in all manner of play and fun. Ruby smiled at the sight before turning back to the table, catching the woman opposite herself eye and smiling even brighter. Seeing Blake sitting at the table with them was a sight that filled her with warmth, it was like a constant reminder that the rulers - or future ruler in Whitley's case - of Vale and Atlas were nothing like their father when it came to Faunas.

"I should go check on the kids-" Blake tried to stand, but was back in her chair immediately after receiving a glance from both Queens of Vale. Her cat ears slumped a bit and her body followed suit as she dropped into her chair, clearly uncomfortable with the situation... but Ruby still found it endlessly entertaining.

"How are your kids? And, Yang and yourself of course." Whitely had fully turned to Blake now, and the faunas woman was sitting up proper in her seat in less then a heartbeat.

"Well... Celica is getting better and better with magic with every coming day, Sun is starting to match Yang in martial arts skills, and... Yang is doing good. Her new arm is practically as good as... before..." Her ears moved back down again, followed by her eyes drooping to look down at the table they all sat around.

"And how are you doing?" Whitley's voice was full of so much concern, it was so strange to see him care like this... not that Ruby had a negative opinion of him, they had only met once before this afterall... rather... he looked different since then.

In only a short amount of time he had matured into a proper looking adult. He resembled a stronger version of his father, like a stag rather then a snake. His presence exuded authority and power, even while still being Human and having only the faintest traces of magic on him. Frankly, his whole vibe was rather impressive, and Ruby knew it would all be compounded to a new level after today.

"I'm... I'm fine. I have to be." Not exactly the most reassuring of answers, but even Whitley knew Blake well enough from their short interaction to know that trying to ask for more details would sooner result in a fleeing Faunas rather then more information.

"Well... umm..." He quickly changed the topic and turned to Weiss again. "How Is Argus?" His expression was more of pleading for a shift in the conversation rather then actual curiosity.

"He's doing well. He only recently transformed for the first time." Weiss answered with a smile, but Blake looked confused at the new information.

"That's rather early... he's only a year old."

"Maybe he's just an early-bird?" Whitley's smile looked eerily similar to Weiss's as he spoke.

"You mean an early-Dragon?" Both Ruby and Weiss let out a groan at the words, the former turning in her chair to look at her sister now approaching. "Oh come on, it wasn't that bad." The blonde was walking completely normal, a testament to her strength given the situation. Argus and Jasper were both clinging to one leg of hers being moved with each step, while the two older children had done the same to her arms. Ruby was admittedly curious as she watched Celica clutch onto her mother's new prosthetic, but even with the Hellhound holding on for dear life with both arms and legs, the metal showed no signs of wavering.

"It was pretty bad, Yang." The Queen spoke with a frown now, another expression that Ruby was sure the prince could replicate without trying. She also noted Blake's awkward glance away, the Faunas woman trying her best to not smile at her wifes joke.

"Well you do have poor taste, sister." Weiss immediately went to argue that fact, but Whitley clarified first. "Besides in women of course."

The Queen stuttered with a blush, attempting to argue... but relenting that fact and handing her bother the win. "Hear that?" Ruby turned to Yang as she elbowed her shoulder. "You're good taste."

Ruby tried her best to not match her wifes blush, but probably failed miserably.

"Are you ready, Your Majesty?" She spoke while only half paying attention, mainly focused on the circle she was currently altering.

"You don't have to call me that, Ruby. Technically speaking, currently you have a higher rank then me." The girl in question chuckled, not wanting to argue with him on that particular point. Sure, she was Queen Consort to Vale and he was only the Prince of Atlas... but the kingdoms power dynamic wasn't exactly equal. For now anyway. Ruby had plans to change that.

"Alright... everyone ready?" She looked up from the circle, glancing around the room at Yang and Weiss standing ready on different sides of the circle. They both gave her nods before changing to their half forms. "Good... then, that means it's time for the final preparations." She stood and smiled at Whitley, the man directly in front of her in the middle of the circle. "So. Dragons have an ability called Pride. It will try and wedge itself into your mind and soul, you have to let it. Otherwise, when you transform, it'll alter your personality."

"What does this power do exactly?"

"Well-" Ruby glanced at the Dust piles all in place around the circle. "The Power of a Dragon lets you alter your body to a stronger form right? The Pride of a Dragon is kinda the same thing for your mind."

"Does a mind have a definitive 'stronger' version?"

"Not really. It lets you choose how it works... it's main application is a confidence boost, removing inhibitions and anxieties and stuff... but, with some practice you can target it. Pride should make you able to work on a particular goal without giving up or losing motivation, no matter how you feel about it."

"Will it actually alter your personality?"

"No..." Ruby concentrated and started forming a barrier around herself. "You'll still be you under all of that unless you boost your confidence... but even then, you can't change who you are with it... only what you'll do." The barrier finished, and all sound was cut off from escaping its clutches. Ruby took a deep breath and begun to recite the Formula.

"Potentia... Elementum... Spiritus..."

"I wonder... that whole... 'forced goal' thing... how far could I push that...?"

"Superbia..."

"It might work as a backup plan... if I actually have to do that."

"Schnee."

Pyrrha Nikos

Deep breaths. Calming breaths. Breathe in, and hold it for a few seconds... then let it out. Repeat. Breathe in, hold, breathe out. Repeat, repeat, repeat.

"Why is this so much harder then fighting...?"

There he was. Not even a metre separating them as they sat together on a couch of all things. Both of them were wearing comfy clothes, outfits meant for a calm day spent inside rather then leaving the property or even the house. The Arc home was a rather large property made up of many different buildings. The main mansion looking structure was the home of the current heads of the family, which was currently Jaune's mother and eldest sister... though he himself was set to inherit all of it and become a Lord proper when the time was right.

And here Pyrrha was... about to throw a gigantic wrench into all of that.

She had been upfront about it to him, saying that they needed to talk and even being honest about it not being good news... yet, he hadn't wavered for a second. Instead, Jaune had just taken her hand and moved them both to the couch to make the situation more comfy. They were facing one another, and Jaune kept a gentle and encouraging smile on his face the whole time... so far, nothing had been said for nearly ten minutes. Yet his will remained iron. All for her... he knew that this was difficult to say, so he was trying to make it easier for her... yet, that just made it so much harder. Why did she have to fail him like this...? Why couldn't she just...

"Jaune... I..." The words fell from her lips like melted metal, and each syllable that left her mouth filled her with the urge to vomit. Somehow she still wasn't prepared for this... not over a year and a half after finding out... she still wasn't prepared to tell him... though, they hadn't been together that whole time, so she supposed initially there was no reason to share it. But now, she had to confront him with that fact... and the fact that she had known about it before they became a couple. "I... I can't... have kids..."

Finally the words were out, and her power betrayed her.

She felt each nanosecond as if it was a century. Pyrrha watched his face move and twitch as he carefully thought about her words... in reality it was probably less then ten seconds, but in her mind eons had passed.

"Oh... well... I umm... wow. Are you ok?" Out of all the responses she had imagined, that hadn't been included in the catalogue.

"W-what...?" She didn't try and hide her confusion, and luckily Jaune wasn't as dense as he once was.

"S-sorry, was that not the right response...?" 'As' being the important word. "I just... I'm kinda still processing it. To be honest...? I kinda thought you were gonna tell me that you had cheated on me or something..."

"What??" Her confusion doubled over and she shuffled closer to him. "I would never even think of doing that!"

"I know! I know!"

"Clearly you don't." Pyrrha let out a sigh. "Jaune... why would you think-"

"Because I'm not good enough for you."

"Jaune... I..." How did she tell him that she thought the opposite? "Only I get to decide that..." Perhaps the most hypocritical thing she could say.

"So... you can't have kids...?"

Another sigh. "Yes, Jaune... but... more importantly that means we can't have kids..." She had gotten multiple opinions on the matter. While rituals could be used to guarantee fertility rates, that couldn't turn a zero percent chance into anything else.

"Oh. I'm fine with that."

"What-?"

"Well, ok... I'm not fine with that... truth be told, I kinda did always want kids, but..." He met her eyes again and smiled. "I have you."

"Are you calling me a child...?" She tilted her head and he quickly shook his own.

"No...! I...! Dammit... I'm really bad at this..."

"I think we both are." She moved closer and pulled him into a hug. "But... are you sure, Jaune...? We... we'll never be able to-"

"Adoption. There, sorted." She rolled her eyes. Pyrrha had considered that option many times leading up to telling him... but that most likely wouldn't go over well with the other members of his family once Jaune became the Head. "So umm... I guess this means you're in it for the long haul...?"

"Are you not?"

"I am. I just... I guess I was worried that you'd get sick of me eventually."

"I could never see that happening."

"Cool... cool... ummm... so... doyouwannagetmarried??" The words slipped so quickly from his lips that even with her increased senses it was difficult to catch them... but not impossible.

Her own answer was not done with words, rather she expressed her excitement over the next hour or so with her actions... which may or may not have left them both a tired and sweaty mess.

Only after all of that did Jaune ask her to clarify if that was a yes or not.