Ruby Schnee

Quiet.

The birds had stopped chirping, it was too late in the night for even that.

The campus had died, no one was outside. It didn't even feel like anyone was inside, just empty halls and abandoned rooms.

No rain. No wind strong enough to cause sound through the open window.

It was quiet.

Finally.

"Certain creatures have a higher chance then others of producing a Silver Affinity, but none are guaranteed... well, besides a Dragon in my case."

He could talk out loud if he wanted. He had the room to himself afterall. The campus didn't want to risk having a student accidentally kill a human student so... room all to himself.

It came with heavy enchantments on the door and walls as well. Nothing short of an attack loud enough to wake nearly the whole campus could break into his room.

Though he had the window open so that didn't really matter.

He chose not to talk out loud anyway. Choosing to keep the silence as it is.

The papers in front of him were enough company. It was his life's work. His plan.

Every parchment and paper mattered... but three were most important.

He liked to think of them as blueprints.

The first? A magic weapon strong enough to allow him to defeat anyone... it wasn't done yet obviously. He was having an issue with the space... when making a magic item, depending on its rank, it had a certain mana 'budget' to work with. This was a hard limit on how much the item could do without just evaporating, or worse, detonate into Dust.

The second paper was a theory of his plans. Essentially, a timeline of what he could do to gain the title of War, and how he would defend his life after that target was placed on his back.

And finally... the last paper. A pet project of his.

"Intention based magic is too complicated for even me to fully wrap my head around... My Affinity should be letting me use it in rituals and enchantments but..."

He sighed. It was a matter of personal aptitude. Something complelty different from his Affinity.

That's fine. Affinitys separate peoples abilities with a hard cap... aptitudes don't. Just because he hadn't figured it out yet, dosent mean he couldn't.

It would just take time.

He glanced over to a different part of his desk... recently... a fourth paper had become very important to him, a drawing.

Maybe it was a little creepy but... well...

He looked away from it with a blush. When he had made it, he was practically in a daze, not thinking straight and tired after an all nighter...

He hadn't expected to draw her so accurately anyway.

Rory leaned back in his chair with a sigh.

"Eirwen Schnee huh..." Not only had he met a Dragon but... she was now his friend...? And she was super pretty!

He let out a groan as he sat forward again.

"I should sleep..."

A soft tapping on glass interrupted his thoughts. It was quiet, very quiet. But there were no other sounds to hide it. Was it rain? Sure his window was open, but the glass was still exposed to the air.

Rory stood from his chair and turned to the window that had been behind him on the opposite side of the room, and just beside his bed head.

"Yo." He froze and blinked... right outside his window was-

"Eirwen...??" She giggled a little and nodded, slowly drifting closer to the window.

"How you been?"

"How are you flying?? Oh-... right. Dragon." He felt silly for forgetting that part.

"You see any wings silly?" She did a spin in the air just outside his window and low and behold. No wings.

"Then... how are you-"

"Just a simple anti-gravity spell."

"Simple??"

"Wanna get out of here?" He blushed a little at her words. Sure, they had hung out a bit since there first meeting but... ok they had hung out a lot... everyday... class was basically just talking time, rather then lecture time.

He knew he could ace the class without paying attention anyway, though he was a little worried about her.

"And go where?"

"I dunno. Figured you might want to see the Atlas skyline." She tilted her head with a smile and he crossed his arms.

"From where." He tried his best to strike an intimidating pose... while in his winter pajamas and talking to a Dragon that could apparently use gravity magic like it was nothing.

"I'll give you three guesses." She pushed herself away from the window a little and did a flip while staying at the same elevation... he looked away as she was wearing a skirt.

"Eirwen I-" She moved to the window again and shushed him, extending her hand in with an open palm.

"Do you trust me?" Her soft smile was so geniune... it always was. She was always so happy to see him...

It was a foreign feeling. One he had quickly gotten addicted to.

He slowly took steps closer, not answering with words. Rather, he slowly slipped his hand into hers, and she gently grasped his.

"Hold on tight." He felt a pulse of magic run over him, and his red hair and simple brown and grey clothes began to float a little... she had extended the spells effects to him?

She gently hovered away and up from the window, tugging him gently along with him as they moved. His nerves hit an all time high once he was fully out of the window but she pulled him closer and rested another hand on his cheek to distract him.

"Eyes on me. Don't think about the height." She didn't really have to say that... it wasn't exactly easy to focus on anything else besides her touch.

He stared into her beautiful eyes. Unable to keep himself from losing time... how long had they been drifting for? Where even were they?

He didn't care.

Not until she stopped touching his cheek and drifted away a little, letting their arms outstretch to keep their hands held.

Finally, he took a look around.

They were in the clouds... not that there were many. He could clearly see Atlas below them, the whole city was lit with an almost blue glow at this time of night. The castle resembled a spire of white brick that seemed to be lit on all sides using magic. The city sat right next to a glacier made nearly entirely out of dust, the giant crystal perpetually giving off a soft glow too low to light the city, but bright enough to never lose sight of it. The city around the castle looked alive. Who knows how many people were actually out and about right now, but the lights never stopped moving.

"Woah..."

"Nervous?" He looked at her and she held a cheeky grin.

"No... I'm... I'm not." His hand gripped her tighter and he looked away. "I know you've got me." He looked back at her with a soft smile and her own turned geniune and much brighter.

"Of course I do. I promise I won't let go." She drifted closer and grabbed his other hand with her own. "Wanna dance?" He snorted.

"Dance? Up here?"

"What? You saying you don't want to?"

"You know there's no music right?"

"There doesn't need to be music!" He smiled as she pouted. "You have no appreciation for romance you know."

His smile fell from his face as he blinked.

"Romance...?"

She tilted her head.

"You think I'd bring just anyone up here?" She moved her face closer to his and kept her eyes locked onto his own. "I'm trying to woo you silly." His blush grew tenfold and he looked away.

"O-oh..."

"So... may I have this dance?" Her voice was still so bright.

He summoned his courage... and nodded.

"Yes. Yes you may." He met her eyes again and she let out a small noise of joy.

"Great. We can learn how to dance together!"

He wanted to facepalm... but frankly he really didn't want to let go of either of her hands as they slowly twirled together so high above the kingdom.

"I'm kidding. I know pretty much all the dances."

"Really? All the dances?" His sarcasm was dripping from his voice.

"Yeah! All of them!" She beamed with pride and he started laughing.

He laughed so much when she was around.

How long did they dance for...? He didn't keep track... they only called it a night once the sun had risen...

However long it was... it hadn't been long enough.

"She's waking up." A voice?

"Ruby? Can you hear me?" A different one...

"Ruby...? But just a second ago I was..."

She had two sets of memories burning into her head... it was-

She...?

"Yeah... I'm a girl... that feels right..."

Her eyes tried to open, but the darkness felt more comfortable for now... if one of those sets of memories was right, then it was definitely this one. She let them flow into her head... the information burning as it won against the other.

Her name was Ruby-

"Mrs Schnee? Are you awake?"

"Why is Glynda here??"

Her eyes shot open and she tried to sit up... only to realise her body was still adjusting. She could barely control it at the moment... it all felt numb and... tired. She closed her eyes with a groan again.

"Yeah... I'm awake..." Her voice felt dry too.

"Can you tell me your name?" Glyndas voice was nearby but... Weiss had sounded closer. The room was really bright, even through her closed eyes.

A soft hand on her back helping her up told her where Weiss was. A small smile on her face as she felt her wifes touch... she admittedly leaned into it, which Weiss seemed to accept as she hugged the girl.

"Why? You both keep saying it." She gave a slightly bigger smile as Weiss sighed in relief next to her... she could feel the Queen stroking her head gently. She was really worried but... well, Ruby could remember why now.

She had told Weiss. She had told her all about the dreams and... Rory. They were here for a check up of sorts... Glynda had set up a ritual around the bed to try and run some tests.

"How did it go?" Her voice was still so raspy...

"That's a great question... Your Highness?" Glynda was speaking to Weiss, that much Ruby could surmise, even with her eyes closed again now... Weiss was so comfy... she could fall back asleep again if she wanted to.

"Yes. The alarm worked. It was rather jarring, I'm sure it would wake me." Alarm...? Oh right... Ruby had forgotten about that part. "Ruby? How are you feeling?"

"Thirsty..." She mumbled as she snuggled up to Weiss more. Glynda coughed into her hand and Ruby heard her excuse herself for some reason?

"G-Glynda...! Thats not what she meant!!" Weiss let out a groan as the Witch refused to listen and exited the room.

"What was-" Oh.

"Ohhhhh..."

Well they were in bed already...

"Probably not the right time for our first time..."

"So umm... about that water?"

"Can you open your eyes for me first?" Ruby sighed, but complied.

They were in there room. The alarm was set up around there bed, and Ruby was sure it was perfectly safe... yeah, nothing wrong with sleeping in the middle of a magic circle.

Weiss smiled as she let Ruby go, adjusting the girl and laying her down so she could look into her eyes.

"Good morning Ruby."

"Is it even morning?"

"No. But that's what I'm gonna tell you everytime you come back to me from one of those dreams." Weiss was smiling so genuinely... Ruby felt so lucky to have it pointed at her.

"This is how Rory felt."

She didn't like that she had thought that... but for now she had more pressing concerns.

Weiss was... on top of her. Not just on top of her but... sort of... pinning her down...?

"Umm Weiss...? About that water..?" Weiss simply smiled and shook her head.

"Something else first." Ruby had never heard Weiss speak in that kind of voice... She liked it way too much.

"Oh god I'm a bottom..."

Apparently now was the right time.

"So... are you sure you're alright?"

"I'm fine Weiss, I told you, the biting didn't even hurt-"

"I don't mean that you dolt!!" Weiss's scream was probably the... opposite of what a Queen was meant to sound like. Her flustered expression was complete with a blush red enough to make Ruby's cloak look blue, it was a good thing no one else was in the garden with them.

"Ok ok sorry... What did you mean?"

"Did you want to talk about your dream?" Oh... that's what she meant.

Ruby let out a sigh and took a sip of her... she wasn't sure what it was actually. Weiss had started drinking it a while ago and Ruby had just sorta followed suit. It was good though.

"I mean... not much to talk about. Rory was doing some studying, then Eirwen showed up, they went for a romantic flight in the clouds and danced a bit, then i woke up." It was... well... Ruby has had worse nightmares.

Really the only nightmare part was waking up and... with Weiss already there to tell her who she was... it was made way easier.

Apparently Weiss disagreed with it not being a big deal.

"So... you experienced this from Rory's point of view?"

"Yeah."

"A romantic dance in the clouds with a beautiful woman?"

Was... was Weiss jealous?

"Uhh... Weiss?"

"Yes Ruby?" Her brows were furrowed and she looked ready to stab one of the pastries that sat on the plate between them.

"We did it like... not even half an hour ago." And Weiss was back to the blushing flustered mess she was previously. Seriously, after seeing her in bed Ruby got whiplash.

Weiss cleared her throat to try and salvage some of her dignity.

"Oh honey... you're married to me. You have no dignity."

Ruby kept that joke to herself, she knew Weiss wouldn't appreciate it like she did.

She'd tell Yang later.

"You know we're gonna have to tell your sister right?"

"You wanna tell Yang that we-"

"The dreams Ruby!!" Weiss stood suddenly and slammed her hands on the table, it only accomplished in making the rose haired girl burst into laughter.

Ruby calmed down after a minute or two, but still kept giggling a little every few seconds.

"Ok... ok. I know. We have to tell Yang and Blake and Qrow and all that but..." Ruby leaned forward and smiled gently. "To be honest? I'm... feeling a lot better about it. You were right Weiss."

The Queen smiled as she returned to her seat, picking up her drink once more and nodding.

"Good. I'm glad you can recognise my brilliance."

"I never said you were brilliant." Ruby stuck out her tongue playfully.

"You didn't need to, your enamoured eyes do all the talking for you." Weiss teased in retort. To which Ruby giggled gently.

"Good. They'll always sparkle like that just for you."

They continued there little outing in the garden, both sporting soft blushes.

"Today was certainly something..."

"Things get more busy in the office?"

Weiss snorted.

"Your talking about it like i have a normal job."

"Don't you? At least by comparison to the job I'm working towards."

"What's more strange between Queen and Mercenary?"

"Hey! Hunters aren't mercenaries! ...I think."

Weiss giggled a little as she finished removing her jewellery, grabbing a hairbrush next and beginning to work.

"From what I've learned from Ozpin, their like a halfway point between Mercenary and Knight."

"Huh... probably should look more into the job before the second exam." Ruby rolled over to lay on her back as she watched Weiss brush her hair. Their bed was so comfy that she was confident she could sleep now even with the lights on but... well, her favourite pillow wasn't in bed yet.

She'd have to be way more tired to fall asleep without Weiss with her, and apparently the Queen knew that cause she always took her sweet time with her hair before bed.

"If you don't want to be a Hunter you don't have to be."

"I never said I don't want to, I just..." She thought about that for a momemt. "Huh..."

"What is it?"

"I... what do I want to do?" Weiss put down her brush at that and turned in her chair to face the bed.

"Ruby?"

"I mean... like... being a Hunter sounds cool I guess but... Is it what I want to do...?"

"You can do whatever you want Ruby. I'll always support you. Even if you want to do something different later. For now... why not come up with a goal and focus on it. What's something you want to achieve right now?"

It was a good question... one she had to think on for a moment.

She arrived at two answers.

"I want to be able to transform at will." Weiss nodded. "But I also really wanna beat Cardin up." The Queen snorted.

"What a truly inspiring goal." She stood and walked over, kneeling down next to the bed and leaning her cheek against it as she looked into Ruby's eyes. "But ok. You want to be stronger. You want to be able to match and even beat a Hunter in a fight?" Ruby nodded. "Ok. Then that's what we'll do."

"We?"

Weiss booped her nose.

"Yes, 'we'. You've avoided my help for too long Ruby. Now that I've proven it works, I'm gonna capitalise and show you just how good a partner I am."

"You don't have to prove that to me Weiss." Ruby raised her hand and moved it to her wifes cheek, holding it gently. "I already know how awesome you are."

With a blush, the Queen of Vale climbed into bed, snuggling up with Ruby after barely a second of getting under the blanket while her wife giggled.

The lights were turned off not long after, and Ruby smiled gently as she felt herself start to drift off. She had taken a nap for the test not even five hours ago and yet she was already drifting off.

"Hey Weiss..?"

"Yes Ruby?" Her wifes voice was just as tired as her own.

"Even if I never come up with a proper goal to achieve... I'll always be happy so long as we're together."

She slept easy that night.

Her Frost Dragon would keep her safe.