A few months past and winter came around. Everyone else were in high spirits due to the snow as most of the Village kids played in it. Qo spent most of the time with Ruby who, after school hours, played outside. I however didn’t really go out that much, mostly due to the fact that I didn’t like the snow or cold.

But there were times when Ruby and Qo got me to come out to play, mostly from Ruby’s promises of pets.

Right now though I let out a sigh as I sat in the nice hot springs in the Valley which Mother was kind enough to have a key for me to use. The hot springs decor changed to look more Japanese.

“See, this is how one spends the cold season.” I said as I leaned back.

“Sitting in a hot spring naked?” Yang asked as she sat across from me.

“What? There are countries in other worlds that have a number of people sit in a bath naked and it was still okay.” I told her in a informative tone. Yang rolled her eyes as she took a wooden bucket and poured some hot waver over her head. Due to how much hot water was here she had to leave her arm behind. “Hey, why did you come with me here?”

“Viri… hot springs.” Yang answered in a way that I should’ve known that. I rolled my eyes as the two of us relaxed in the hot water. There was a bit of snow here but it wasn’t in the way and wasn’t cold, just made things pretty. Soon enough I let out a sigh.

“I wished Ruby was here…” I said with a hint of sadness.

“Missed your girlfriend already?” Yang asked me. I simply nodded to which made Yang chuckle. “Man you are simply head over heels for her.”

I was going to say something until I saw Mother walk in wearing a bathrobe as well. She smiled when she saw the two of us chatting.

“Mind if I join?” She asked. It’s been odd trying to get used seeing her like this, a younger version of her female form who also happened to be dating my friend… yeah, odd.

Though it was funny when I saw Yang jump at what she said. “Huh, what, I umm, oh boy…” I giggled at her blushing face as I looked up at her.

“Yeah you can join in.” I told Mother… Mavis… yeah, still odd. For the past few months Yang had always wondered if she was in a wonderful dream ever since Mother kissed her. She stuttered and struggled to form coherent words upon sight of Mother being with her, which is something I wouldn’t ever expected to see from the buxom blonde. I watched Yang dump another two buckets of hot water on top of her head in quick succession as Mother got close as she was undoing her robe. Soon enough Mother was in the water with us, sitting next to Yang with a smile. Yang was still blushing like crazy at this.

“You okay?” I asked her.

“Uhh, yes! Yes, I’m fine it’s just… hot water, yes good hot water… In the hot spring… Yes.” Yang said with a nervous laugh.

“Aw, is someone shy?” Mother said, wrapping her arms around Yang before kissing the blonde on the cheek.

“This feels like it should be a dream but it’s real...how am I still questioning it?” Yang asked mostly to herself as she leans into her girlfriends hold.

“You two seemed to be enjoying each other.” I told the two of them.

“She seems to enjoy it more.” Mother said while looking at Yang’s blissful face. I couldn’t help but laugh at this, gaining a chuckle from Mother as I laughed. “So Yang, have decided to tell your friends?”

“Huh? Oh…” Yang blushed a bit. “Yeah, I did… That was… something.”

“Weiss asked if with me dating Ruby and Yang dating you was a good idea.” I told her as I picked up a brush. “I answered yes and left it at that.”

“Weiss needs to understand the oddity of our ever-growing family.” Mother said, resting her head atop Yang’s head. “What of the others?” She asked, glancing down at Yang.

“Blake and Indigo don’t know yet but I believe they heard rumors… then there’s Ruby and Qo.” Yang said, shifting a bit nervously. Mother arched an eyebrow before looking at me.

“We had a small party due to the news, both Ruby and Qo were that happy for Yang.” I said as I grabbed a bucket and dumped water on top of my head. “Qo even made the cake!”

“The cake had a few egg shells in it.” Yang commented.

“It was delicious.” I said with a bit of a forced smile at Yang. Mother chuckled at this, knowing the feeling.

“She went through all that trouble to congratulate you, the least you can do is be grateful for her.” Mother said to Yang, gaining a nod with a little smile from the blonde. “Though egg shells in the cake? Weren’t any of you supervising her?” Mother asked me.

“Ruby was helping… she said the eggshells helped build stronger bones.” I explained to her.

“Oh, Ruby…” Yang sighed.

“You know she means well.” Mother said to Yang, brushing her hair as she did. Yang smiled at this.

“Yeah, yeah she does.” Yang replied before giving Mother a kiss on the cheek.

“Hey Yang, how’s your training going?” I asked her. Ever since Yang got together with Mother she had gotten some training that she doesn’t share with anyone.

“Brutal,” Yang said, resting her head on Mother’s chest with a blush. “Even if the trainer is my girlfriend she doesn’t hold back.”

“Why should I? I plan to make you as strong as you could ever hope to be, making it easier won’t help.” She said with a little smirk.

“Never doubt you would make things easier.” Yang said as she looked up at Mother with a smile. “Though I’m not complaining.”

“Much…” I said as I was then hit with some water.

“You earned that one.” Yang snickered. Mother chuckled before unwrapping her arms from Yang, gaining a disappointed whine from the blonde before being quieted by full on kiss. Leaving Yang in the state of bliss, Mother walked out of the water with some of the steam following her before it formed her traditional white dress.

“I will see you two back at the school.” She said, waving at me as she walked off. Yang watched her leave before turning to me.

“I got to learn how to do that.” Yang said with a large smile.

“But you can’t use magic.” I replied.

“That’s not going to stop me!” Yang proclaimed. As she said that I thought I heard Mother giggle at this.

“Until later, Yang~” Mother said, giving Yang a seductive look as she sashayed her hips as she exited the hot springs with a flash of a golden light. I looked back at Yang to see her reaction. Her face was red and smiling happily.

“I’m both nervous and excited for what she has planned.” she said with her smile.

“You do know she’s simply teasing you.” I told her. Yang simply blinked at me.

“And I’m okay with that.” she answered. I simply laughed at her response.

The two of us stayed for a bit before it was time to get out. After drying a bit and putting on our robes the both of us went to two doors that led to our rooms. I opened my door to see Ruby and Qo at my desk.

“Okay, try reading it.” Ruby asked.

“The… leaves on...the tree...were green and… the trunk was...brown.” Qo said as she practices English. Ruby smiled brightly at this.

“Very good Qo, try the next line.” Ruby said happily. Qo smiled at this as I came up behind them and kissed Ruby on top of her head.

“How’re my two favorite beings in all worlds?” I asked them.

“Great! Qo is getting better at speaking English.” Ruby informed me. My smile grew at this as I ruffled Qo’s hair.

“Good job honey.” I said to her. Qo grinned as she continues practicing as Ruby went over to the bed and helped my brush my hair and tail.

“How’s Yang?” Ruby asked me.

“Same old same old.” I said with a grin. “Mother teased her a little before leaving.”

“Should I be worried?” Ruby asked. I shook my head as she brushed my hair. “Qo made a small snow Faunus outside the school.”

“Did she now?” I asked with a smile.

“Yeah, she hopes that you can go see it.” Ruby told me.

“I see, well I’ll see what I can do.” I told her.

“No, you’ll go see it.” Ruby said firmly. I glanced back at her as she continued. “I know you don’t like the snow or cold but… you’re missing out a lot of fun stuff with all of us. Mostly with Qo.”

I frowned sadly as I looked over at Qo, who was happily reading. I sighed as I turned back to Ruby.

“Alright, I’ll go look after my hair and tail drys.” I told her with a smile.

“Thank you.” Ruby said as she pulled me into a kiss. I kissed her back happily for a few moments.

“Hi bo wah wahl tir??” Qo asked. [You two going to make out?] Ruby blushed at this as I laughed.

“No kid, just talking oddly.” I told her with a little laugh. “Anyway, after I dry we’re going to go see this snow Faunus you build.”

“Really?! Yay!” Qo cheered. I smiled at her as I felt my hair poof out a bit from drying. With Ruby’s help we got it under control and spent a few minutes putting on warmer clothes. Qo and I headed outside and went towards where Qo built her snow Faunus. It looked like a normal snowman but with large ears on top of its head. Qo looked up at me happily to hear what I have to say. I smiled as I petted her head.

“Good job honey.” I told her with a smile. So beamed at me as she soon ran around playing in the snow some more.

“I thought you didn’t like the snow?” I turned to quickly face the owner of the voice, seeing Indigo in a peculiar set of clothing fitting for desert expeditions. To make it even more odd, he was covered in sand and dirt. “Never really expected you to go out in a time like this? Qo begged for you to come or was it Ruby?” He asked.

“Qo made a snow Faunus and Ruby told me to go check it out.” I told him. “Ruby can be quite confining when she wants to. Anyway, where did you head off to?”

“Your Aunt offered me a job out in some place called Scorched Earth, the name doesn’t lie, it’s nothing but a wasteland under an unbearable sun.” He said, removing his sand covered cap off. He shook his head and ruffled his hair causing sand to fall down onto the snowy ground. “Job done, I get paid in bits.” He said shrugging his only arm as he did. “I think I prefer the cold over the heat and sand.” He said before pulling out his pocket, causing sand to pour out from it.

“Well, I prefer the heat than the-” I was cut off a strong wind blew past us. I shiver all over as I rubbed my arms. “Cold and snow…”

“Your kid seems to like it, loves it even.” Indigo said, looking at the giggling Qo as she and Ruby made snow angels. “Even Ruby enjoys it.” He said. I stared at the two of them, at Qo’s smile and giggling as she had fun in the snow.

“Well, I’m glad she loves the snow. That means she’s getting good memories of it.” I said softly. Indigo frowned at this, knowing the meaning behind my words but said nothing. We stayed silent for a while before he sighed.

“I guess I’ll get going and leave you to it.” He said as he turned to walk away but stopped as he remembered something. “Oh right, if you see your Aunt tell I got the thing she asked for.” He said, gesturing at the bag he carried that emitter an ominous orange glow. I nodded at this, not knowing how to respond to that. He thanked and walked towards the school. It wasn’t long before I began to shiver from the cold, a memory of a time I rather forget creeping itself back into my mind. Before my mind could delve deeper, I was suddenly enveloped in a very warm blanket.

“I saw you standing outside and thought you might need this.” Mother’s voice greeted my ears. I looked up and saw that it was indeed her in her usual long white dress. I smiled as I pulled the blanket closer to me.

“Thank you.” I told her. She smiled down at me before noticing Qo and Ruby.

“Why not join them?” She asked curiously before looking back down at me.

“I don’t know… I’m still kinda-” before I could finish a snowball hit me in the head. I turned and saw Qo giggling at me. Something clicked when I saw her. “Oh, it is now on!”

I dropped the blanket and ran after Qo who’s laughing as she ran away. The two of us played in the snow for a few hours and it was the most fun I’ve had ever had.

“AAAHCOO!” I sneezed as I had three blankets wrapped around me. I sniffled a bit as Mother handed me some tea. “Thank you again…”

“Perhaps spending a long period of time out in the cold wasn’t the smartest choice.” Mother said before glancing to a sneezing Ruby and a red-nosed Qo, both of them bed ridden like me. “For either of you.” She said just before Qo let out a cute sneeze. Mother quickly grabbed another tissue before cleaning Qo’s nose.

“You started it.” I said towards Qo who simply stuck her tongue out at me. I did the same before I started sneezing. Soon the door opened and Yang came in with a few more blankets.

“Okay here most of the blankets from my room and what I could get from some others.” she said as she started to pass it around.

“Thanks, sis.” Ruby said as she got a blanket. Qo muttered incoherently when she got hers, gaining a laugh from Yang.

“What about you? Don’t you need more blankets?” I asked after I thanked her for giving me one.

“Eh, I’ll manage.” Yang said before seeing Mother and giving her a wink.

“Help me take care of them, then I’ll give you a reward.” Mother said, a smirk noticeable to only me having been raised by her. Yang blinked at this for a moment before her face became red as Qo’s nose, a dumb smile on her face from whatever was on her mind.

“Yes, ma’am...wait.” Yang paused for a moment before shaking her head and went to help with her sister. I looked at Mother with a questioning glance.

“Something the matter?” She asked, noticing my staring.

“What’s the reward for Yang?” I whispered. She arched a brow at me, shaking her head with a chuckle.

“Oh her reward is nothing you three should be concerned of.” She said in a playful tone, loud enough for Yang to hear. I glanced at Yang as her face went even redder than before. “I can see why she enjoys teasing others so much, the results are always so satisfying.” Mother said to me with smile. I giggled a bit before I sneezed a few times. Her smile was soon replaced with a look of concern before she took my temperature again. “I’ll go inform you teachers of yours and Ruby’s absence.” Mother said, standing up from the chair she sat on and walked towards the door. “I will return soon.” With that the door closed behind her, leaving us in Yang’s care.

Yang helped Ruby and Qo into my bed after blowing up one for me. She went complete nurse mode. After a few minutes of this, the three of us were tucked in with some hot towels on each of our heads.

“Kinda wish we have chicken noodle soup, that would help.” Yang said with a frown. As she said that there was a knock at the door. “Is that Mavisath?”

I shrugged at Yang opened the door and we all saw Oz standing there.

“Hello there, I heard the three of you caught a bad cold.” he said.

“Yeah… kinda got it when we were playing in the snow.” I told him before I sneezed.

“Yes well, be careful with the weather here. It seems this place is wilder than others.” he said as he hands a thermos to Yang. “Here’s some tea that Headmistress Zecora made to help you recover.”

“Thanks.” I said to him before continuing. “Is it weird not being the Headmaster anymore?” I asked him.

“No not really, I’ve done other things before I became Headmaster.” he explained before turning away. “Remember to do your homework, being sick isn’t an excuse for you to fall behind.”

With that, he left the room. Yang got us some tea cups for us to drink the tea.

“Thanks Yang…” Ruby said as she was handled her cup. “How’s your arm?”

“It’s still good sis, though the metal kinda gets really cold and burns my arm a bit.” Yang said as she showed Ruby that.

“Oh I knew I forgot something, I need to…” Ruby stopped to have a sneezing fit. “Ugh… anyway, I need to write down some plans and-”

“No, what you need to do is drink some tea and lay down.” Yang said, pushing a notebook nearby away. Ruby frowned at her sister but Yang gave her a look. “Ruby Rose.”

“Alright alright fine.” Ruby grumbled as she laid back a bit.

“Good to hear, now drink up.” Yang said, helping Ruby to drink her tea. I was sipping away when I saw Mother standing in the doorway watching Yang.

“I see Ozpin has dropped off the tea.” Mother said, smiling a little before looking at Qo, who took a sip of the tea and grew look of disgust. “Piin nii vok, mal gein. Nii fen krif vau daar gaas germs.” She said to Qo. [Drink it up, little one. It will fight off those nasty germs] Qo’s ears flattened on top of her head before she looked over at me. I simply showed her my cup and drank from it. The taste was a bit bitter but I pushed through it as I smiled. She looked down at her tea and sip some more. Ruby on the other hand drank a bit and made the same face as Qo did.

“Ugh, bitter.” she said as she frowned at the cup. Yang rolled her eyes at her before standing up.

“Come on Ruby, drink your tea.” Yang said before arching a brown. “Or do I have to do that thing again when we were little and sick.” Ruby went pale from that.

“No no! It’s fine, see!” with that Ruby changes the whole thing down. When she was done she made a disgusted face and twitched a bit. “See… all gone.”

I shook my head as I looked back at Mother. “Guess the teachers know?” She nodded before sitting beside Qo, whose face was slightly green once she finished the whole cup.

“Your assignments will be sent to your scrolls, you’ll need to turn them when you’re better.” Mother said, rubbing Qo’s back in a soothing manner as she groaned. I nodded as I glanced at Qo, seeing her like this worries me. I would go over to her if it wasn’t for my own unwellness.

“Did I do good?” Yang asked with a smile. This made Mother laugh as she got up. As she turned away I watched Qo push off of her bed and crawled under my blanket. Only her tail poked out from under the blanket.

“Don’t worry, once we’re alone you’ll get it.” She said to Yang, her voice taking a bit of a seductress tone as she caressed Yang’s cheek. Yang seemed to shiver a bit at what she did as I rolled my eyes.

“Wow Yang, never thought I see you like this.” Ruby chuckled at her sister. Yang glanced over at Ruby before looking at her girlfriend.

“Totally worth it though.” Yang said with a bright smile. Mother giggled at this as she stood beside Yang. Ruby shook her head as I felt Qo wiggle around until she was curled up beside me and finally fallen asleep. Mother saw this and smiled.

“You two head on out, I think the three of us will sleep.” I said to the two of them. This made Yang look at Mavisath happily as she chuckles. With a wave of her hand, both Yang and Mother soon vanished in a flash of golden light.

“Hey.” I looked over at Ruby as she moved some blankets over and her gesturing for us to come over. With a smile, I picked Qo up and moved her over to the bed and got in with her in between me and Ruby. The three of us soon fell asleep in bed happily and together.

The next few days went by as the three of us got better. It was a day before me and Ruby could head back to classes but with Weiss and Blakes help we weren’t falling behind. Oddly I haven’t seen Yang at all for those days. One day as Ruby and Qo were taking a nap and I was finishing up some homework I heard something go under my door. I turned and saw a note there. Staring at it I went over and picked it up. It simply says ‘Come to Yangs room.’ on it.

Curious I slipped some warmer clothes on before giving both Ruby and Qo a kiss on their heads. After that, I left the room and headed off to Yangs room. I soon got there and knocked on it.

“Hey, I’m here. Is everything alright?” I called in. When the door opened, Mavis poked her head out with tired eyes. Her usually well-kept hair was in disarray.

“Yes, something the matter Viri?” She asked, rubbing her eyes a little. I stared at her oddly for a few moments.

“I’m fine, is there something the matter with you?” I asked as I showed her the note. “I found this at my door.” She looked at the note, taking it in her hand before shaking her head.

“I didn’t write this.” She said, looking back up at me with an arched brow. I gave her an odd look before looking at the note.

“Odd, maybe it’s Yang… wait why are you in Yangs room?” I asked her. She blinked at this, silently trying to come up with an explanation.

“Hey… you up already?” The voice of Yang came in from her room. I slowly blinked at Mavis as she stared at me as I saw Yang poke her head out. “Oh hey, Viri. Sup?”

“Would this happen to be your handwriting?” Mavis asked, taking the note and showing it to Yang. Yang took the note as the two of them were still behind the door. Yang squinted her eyes a bit as she read it.

“I… think so…” Yang said as she looked at it some more. “I think I had a few of those bottles you brought from your place.” Wait, bottles?

“Did… did you two drink?” I asked the two of them. It wasn’t because of being underages, I believe they were of age, but the idea that Mavis drinking was… surprising.

“Only a little, though I can’t say the same for Yang.” Mavis said with a chuckle.

“ ‘Only a little’ she says.” Yang said with a laugh. “Girl you drank me under the table from what I remember.” Mavis looked back at me before saying.

“The most I’ve felt was just simple buzz.” She said with a roll of her eyes before adding. “To me you are, what you mortals call, a lightweight.” Mavis said.

“Lightweight! Oh it’s on!” Yang said before ducking back into her room.

“Wow…” Was all I could say before adding. “All this after you got together with Yang.” She shrugged before saying.

“I can only thank the halfling children for this really, they’ve grown into fine adults and to my surprise, have learned how to keep the Dovah in check and prevent them from wiping out one another.” She said, smiling at the mention of the halflings.

“Wow, they came a long way.” I said with a smile as I remembered them when they were young and pulling pranks on me. Now that they are helping Mother with taking care of her home made me smile. “Well, that means you can as we mortals say ‘let loose a bit’.” I added.

“I haven’t felt this free in a very very long time, I intend to enjoy it.” She said before wincing at the sounds of a few bottles smashing.

“Sorry!” Yang yelled from within the room. I shook my head as I looked back at Mavis before I tilted my head as I thought of what she meant by free.

“Are you… naked behind that door?” I asked. She blinked at this question, though a blush formed across her cheeks.

“Is there a problem with that?” She asked with a single brow raised as the blush subsided.

“Oh no, just realized that you were really taking the whole being free part quite far.” I said with a chuckle. “But it’s nice to see you’re having fun.”

“Hey, Mavis! Get your sexy ass in here! I’m going to show you who’s a lightweight!” Yang yelled in the room. For a moment I saw Mavis’ face lit up as if she was going to burst out laughing at this.

“I better stop her before she’ll regret it. The brew is made for Dovahs.” She said before reaching an arm out and giving me a quick hug. “I will see you later, sweetie.” She said before closing the door. I stared at the door before chuckling at myself. I turned and headed back to my room where Ruby and Qo would be waking up.

Author's Notes:

The power of Freedom, it’s great.

Sorry for a lot of the stories not really meshing well with each other. I just find season one of MLP kinda borning so mostly until later the story is focusing on the group of Forever free :)