DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT RWBY AS THOSE STRICTLY BELONG TO ROOSTER TEETH(I THINK) AND THAT THIS IS STRICTLY A FAN WORK AND I ONLY WISH I GOT PAID TO DO THIS.
ADDITIONAL TAGS (because FF's tagging system is still stuck in the dark ages.) : ACTION, ALTERNATE UNIVERSE, ARMY BUILDING, ARRANGE MARRIAGE, BATTLE COUPLES, OVERPOWERED PROTAGONIST, TRAINING, SWORDS GUNS, RWBY MIXED WITH ORIGINAL TEAMS.
SUMMARY:
The world of Remnant is a dangerous place. It has a drug named Dust Infusion which could destroy a country, a group of radical faunuses named the Red Fang that wants to enslave mankind, and the Creatures of Grimm are the monsters that go bump in the night and threaten to destroy all of life on the planet. Inspite all of this, heroes will still rise against the odds... Provided they survive Beacon Academy first.
A/N:
So I've decided to make a new prologue!
Yeah, the story just had too many unknowns in the story and I feel like I should have been giving Ruby and Co. more spotlight despite my fic being OC centric. It took 2 months as I was kept busy with my work. I got a promotion, which meant MORE RESPONSIBILITIES T_T
Also, I've been thinking up how to introduce all the AU things I've done without it looking like a HUGE info dump of changes. I found my solution in the Mass Effect x Starcraft fic "Cycles Upon Cycles" by Incredible Muffin. What Muffin did was have a short "news" at the start of each chapter, a sort of short recap of the events of the previous chapter.
What I'll be doing instead is showing Flash backs! Instead of entire Arcs going for a flash back, I've decided to put most of them at the start of each chapter just give out tid bits of info. Don't worry, they'll mostly be kept to just characters speaking to one another.
So without further ado, let the story begin!
Trails of the Sun
A Prologue
The Moment of Change in Everyone's Life
- ISLAND OF PATCH -
Taiyang Xiao Long was a blond haired man with blue eyes. He was wearing brown cargo shorts, a brown leather vest, a tan dress shirt with the right sleeve cut off, brown belt and black shoes. Currently, he was in his living room and sat on the couch as he flipped through the channels in his television. It's been a while since the last time he's been able to simply just sit and actually see the things in front of him. He gave passing glimpses to the shows he used to watch, making a mental note to try and watch the episodes he's missed online. Then he flicked to the sports channels, though he had no reason why. He preferred actually doing the sport instead of watching others play, and today was no different. After only a few moments, he quickly flicked to the news channels.
'Might as well update myself to what's happening to the world.' Taiyang thought as he watched, idly noting that the news anchor got prettier the last time he saw her.
The news channels talked about officially recognizing Menagerie as the fifth nation was good news. There was no mention of the world ending in the foreseeable future, that was good news too. Then there's the radical, elitist group of faunuses, that were calling themselves the Red Fang, starting to get popular among the young faunuses. That wasn't good news. No, that was not good news at all.
"DAAAAAAAAAAAADDD!"
Taiyang only had a second to look towards the living room doors before it swung open and slammed against the wall with a loud bang. A yellow blur came rushing in and, barely, just stopped right in front of him. Two small hands clasped around his legs and started tugging at it back and forth.
"It's the end of the week! Can you unlock my Aura now, can you, can you, pleaaaaasssseeee?" said the small, blonde haired intruder as she looked up at him with big, puppy-wide, purple eyes.
Taiyang smiled as he looked down towards his eldest daughter, Yang Xiao Long. She had blonde hair, even brighter than his, tied in low pig tails and was currently wearing a large orange sports shirt and brown shorts. In his opinion, she was a bright, cheerful, and an excessively energetic girl that easily gets into trouble far too easily. Oh, the headaches she causes him...
"Isn't it a little too early for us to do that? I mean, most girls wait until they're eight years old before they get their Aura unlocked." Taiyang said teasingly.
"But daaaaad! You promised!" Yang whined and shaking his leg.
"Haha, alright, alright." Taiyang chuckled. "Give me some room and we can do it right now." Yang complied, releasing his leg as he stood up. They moved to a part of the room with a bit more room and he knelt down in front of his daughter.
Aura is the ability to manifest one's soul in the physical realm. With enough willpower, a person can use their aura for a variety of things such as creating a forcefield around them for protection, enhancing their attacks for a more powerful blow, or even heal one's own wounds. It is something that all living beings can acquire; so long as they have a soul.
Releasing the soul for the first time however, is no easy thing. From birth, each soul lies dormant. Awakening it by yourself and bringing it into the physical realm requires a considerable amount of concentration and willpower. As such, what most people do nowadays is just have someone unlock their aura for them. Which is what Taiyang was doing to his daughter.
Placing his hand on Yang's head, he closed his eyes an concentrated. He summoned his Aura and poured it into his daughter, searching for her soul. He found it easily. It was a bright thing, dormant, but very bright. He poked at it, stirring it awake and guiding it out. It protested, wishing to remain asleep, but he was having none of that. His daughter wanted her Aura unlocked, and he was going to do just that.
He poured his Aura further into Yang, rousing her soul further from sleep and grabbing it's metaphysical hand before he dragged it out into the physical realm.
"Annnnnd... There!" Taiyang declared happily, just as Yang glowed in a bright yellow glow, which she missed as she still had her eyes closed. She smiled happily and opened her eyes as she felt her soul wrap around her like a warm embrace.
Taiyang smiled, and rustled his daughter's bright blonde hair affectionately. "That was a very bright glow, young lady! There's a good chance that you'll get a very powerful Semblance!"
"Really?! Do you think I could punch through walls? Or control fire? Or maybe even shoot lasers out of my eyes!" Yang said excitedly, jumping up and down.
Taiyang chuckled at the six year old. He gently grabbed her by the shoulders and settled her down. "Haha slow down, Yang. One thing at a time, you'll find out soon enough."
"Did my favorite niece get her Aura unlocked?" A new voice said from the door. The father and daughter duo turned their heads to look at Qrow Branwen.
"But uncle Qrow, I thought I was your favorite!" Protested Ruby Rose as she rode Qrow's back.
"That's because you're both my favorites!" Qrow declared, bending to let Ruby off.
Qrow had graying black, spiky hair, red eyes, and slight stubble along his jawline. With a red, tattered cloak, he wears a gray dress shirt with a long tail, black dress pants, and black dress shoes.
Ruby had fair skin, silver eyes and black hair that fades to dark red at the tips. Currently, she wore a red shirt and black skirt.
"Why don't you and your big sis go out the back?" Qrow said, patting Ruby on her head. "It's a beautiful day to play outside after all.
"Okay!" Ruby said, before running to Yang and taking her hand. "Come on sis!"
Yang, however, frowned. She knew a dismissal when she heard one. She hesitated to leave, as the last time she got told to do just that was when her second mother went missing. However, Ruby kept pulling on her arm and eventually gave in to her little sister.
Taiyang sighed, then he turned to Qrow and raised a brow. "What is it?"
Qrow reached for something behind him and dropped it on the coffee table infront of the couch. "Do you know what this is?" He asked quietly, but had an undertone of anger.
Taiyang looked at what Qrow placed on the coffee table. Of course he knew what it was. He had used it right after waking up.
It had the shape of a small handgun. But instead of being made of metal, it was mostly grey plastic. Instead of a barrel, there was a replaceable cannister with a medical needle at the end. It was a Dust Infuser. Created for the specific purpose of injecting Liquidised Dust into someone's blood stream.
Contrary to what was previously thought, Dust was more than just raw elemental power; Dust also corresponded to emotions. Depending on which Dust was used, it could have varying effects. Like a blue Dust made people have a clearer head. Or purple Dust used for a night of debauchery. Or yellow Dust that made one feel more joyful. Just like what he injected every morning for the past week now.
Of course, he used with the utmost care and only with the minimal dose. The side effects of misuse were... ugly, to say the least. So much so that it was highly frowned upon by all of the five cities. It was punishable enough to get you behind bars. For life.
And that was the most merciful option.
"What is wrong with you!?" Qrow yelled in anger, taking his brother-in-law's silence as confirmation. "Were you even thinking about the consequences?"
Taiyang shrugged and collapsed into the sofa. "After losing Summer... It's the only think that let's me feel anything else other than crippling despair." Taiyang closed his eyes. It was a wonder to him how his heart hasn't just stopped beating so that he could just drop dead.
The pain he felt in his heart was greater than all the injuries he ever received combined. There was his first wife, Raven. She had inexplicably vanished from the face of the planet and Taiyang had search high and low for her. But there was no trace. No trail left behind, leaving him with his one year old daughter and a broken heart.
Then, there was his second wife The bright, bubbly, and joyful woman that made him smile no matter what, and the one who always had his back... He could still picture her. 'Summer...' he thought bitterly. Even after months have passed after her death, the thought of her still hurt him. Her still, unmoving form, lying down in a casket was such a stark contrast to her normal self that it shattered his heart to pieces. More than Raven's disappearance ever did.
Qrow however, didn't care for Taiyang's inner turmoil. He walked over to him, grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off his seat. "Like hell your feelings matter!" He yelled at his long time friend. He sympathizes for losing two wives, one of them was his sister after all, but in his view, Tai was playing with fire. "Dust Infusion is highly illegal! Not only is it dangerous to you but everyone around you as well!"
"I know the dangers, Qrow." Taiyang said as he pushed his hands away, and sitting back on the sofa. "I'm only taking the minimal dose. Just enough to get by."
"Bull. Shit!" Qrow kicked the sofa. It annoyed Tai, but he really needed to hit something already. He also needed a drink but he needed to be sober for this. "It's a proven fact that even the tiniest dose leaves Dust inside a person."
"What do you want me to do Qrow!?" Taiyang rose from his seat. He was getting annoyed and Qrow kicking his sofa did not help. "Drink myself to an early grave like what you're trying to do!?"
"What I want you to do is STOP." Qrow said slowly, ignoring Tai's jab at his drinking habits.
Taiyang scoffed at him and started walking towards a nearby drawer and unlocked it. Neither Yang or Ruby knew he hid a pack of cigarettes inside, and he intended for them to never find out. Just like the Dust Infuser. He lit one and took one long drag and breathed it out. Oum nicotine feels good.
"Look at you! You're a disgrace!" Qrow accused.
"Why the hell do you care!?" Taiyang whirled and pointed a finger at himself. "It's my damned life! I live the way I want!"
"Can you say that to Raven?" Qrow asked, crossing his arms. "Or what about Summer? Can you imagine what they'd say if they walk in this room right now while their daughters are outside? Or what if the girls find out their father was on the fast track to being a drug addict"
Taiyang felt like someone dumped cold water on him at the mention of his wives and daughters. He looked down to the cigarette in his hands and pictures the reaction from the women in his life.
If either of his wives saw him, they'd probably just kick his ass for being a possible bad influence to the girls.
His daughters? His two precious princesses? They'd probably look worried or, even worse, scared. Scared of what he could become... Or that he'd just be an empty shell. Aside from Qrow, he was the only one they had left. He couldn't do that to them.
Without him noticing, Qrow approached and took the cigarette and killed it.
"I'm going to need you to stop, you hear me Tai?"
He nodded dumbly. "I'll... I'll try."
Qrow sighed. "Good. Until then, I'll take the girls away-"
Taiyang gasped violently. 'T...take the girls away? Ruby, and Yang? They're all I have left... No, I won't let you take them away! No... No, no, no, nonono, NO! "NO ONE'S TAKING THEM AWAY!"
Qrow cursed as flames burst out of Tai's arms and red cracks started surrounding his eyes. Far too quickly for a normal human, Taiyang's flaming fist came straight at him. Unable to form a proper defense, he was only able to bring up his arms in front of him, just as the attack landed. It sent him flying to the opposite side of the room, slammed against the wall, before finally falling down to the floor in a heap. It felt like a small car had rammed him full speed.
Taiyang gasped. "W-what have I done!?" He looked at his arms that were burning "No! I took a yellow dose! I didn't-"
"Yellow is pretty fucking close to red, you dumbass." Qrow said with a grimaced, cradling his left arm as it took most, of the blow. He took harder blows, but he was caught off guard and it HURT. "It's pretty easy to mix in red in yellow, since there isn't a lot of people that buy liquidized red in the first place. The black market is pretty well known to cut corners after all."
"Qrow I- I..." Taiyang started, wanting to apologize but his arms were still flaming. "Take the girls." He said coming to the decision. He didn't want them to look at him like this. It was going to take days for the effects to even begin to wear off. "Qrow, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to just... Lose myself like that. But please, take the girls."
"Don't have to... tell me twice." Qrow let out a humourless laugh, trying to stand at full height, though he seemed to be wincing with each step. "I'll grab them outside... and let them grab their things."
Taiyang watches Qrow leave the room and looks back to his arms. Fire was no longer present, but it was black and small embers fluttered in and out. He looked to a mirror and the red cracks around his eyes accused him with unmistakable proof of someone addicted to Dust Infusion.
How could he have been so stupid? He walked back to his coffee table and reached down to his Dust Infuser. He hesitated only for a moment.
Then he crushed it with his own hands.
He needs to be a better father after this.
"TAI!" Qrow yelled from outside the house. The panic in his voice made Taiyang's heart leap at his throat. Not a moment later Qrow entered, still clutching his injured arm, and panic written all over his face. "The girls are gone! I think they went into the forest!"
Taiyang cursed. He REALLY needs to start acting like a father.
- THE CITY OF MENAGERIE -
Ghira Belladonna was a large, muscular, cat faunus with black hair and golden yellow eyes. He used to keep an unkempt beard as, in his opinion, made him look quite manly and rugged. However, due to his occupation, had to keep it well maintained and trimmed. He wore a black and white formal robe with black markings, black pants, a pair of lion head vambraces, and a white sash around his waist.
Currently, he was fighting an enemy no mortal in any plane of existence ever wanted to fight, unless they were mad or have gone insane.
His foe was white as snow, as numerous and countless as the stars, was as tall as a mountain, and had black markings written all over it's body.
It's name was...
Paperwork.
Ghira leaned back on his office chair and released a tired sigh. After working for eight hours straight, he had finally finished the mountain stack of paperwork in front of him. And yet... there were mountains more behind him!
He groaned. He didn't always work in a desk job. In fact, he used to live in a small faunus community in Mistral. Well, community was the polite word. Slums was the accurate description. He, along with the other faunuses, had to worked various menial, underpaid, and late-shift work. His dear wife got lucky and worked as a cook in a small restaurant and they were able to just make ends meet.
But when Menagerie opened it's doors three years ago, inviting any and all faunus, the Belladonna family didn't pounce on the chance. Living in the slums of Mistral was indeed difficult. But the Belladonna's had friends and they wouldn't abandon them at the drop of a hat.
So they stayed in Mistral and decided to get everyone to leave together. After two years of long, hard work, one entire section of Mistral's slums found itself vacant as everyone had packed their bags for their new home.
Of course, someone in Menagerie heard of what the Belladonna's did, and promptly offered Ghira a job.
He was now working as the council representative for one of the seven great clans that made up Menagerie, clan Pathkeeper. They were his family's sponsor clan and we're the first to welcome him and their community to Menagerie and took them under their wing.
His primary work was supposed to be working with the six other councilors and vote on which ideas, plans, design, or decision would best improve Menagerie.
Instead, the time spent by all the councilor was used mostly on dealing with the vast amount of paperwork thrown their way. They barely had the time to schedule council meetings to decide and go forward the damn things!
Ghira thought of creating a new department for all the councilors and have them filter the paperwork. But then that meant he had to draft up a proposal for it, which meant, more paperwork!
He let out a groan again. 'Maybe I should just bring it up as an informal proposal...' Ghira thought as he massaged his temples. 'I'm sure the others would pounce on the idea and it'd probably get passed like a cheetah.'
"I hope you're not thinking of quitting on me Ghira."
Ghira whirled his head up and saw a man in his mid-forties with long, and regal brown hair like a mane and lion's ears. He was leaning against the door frame to his office and wore white, black, and gold robes under a sleeveless vest, reminisce to they style of ancient Daimyo Shoguns. He was none other than, Vennrak Hiyamovi, clan chief of the Pathkeeper.
"Chief Vennrak!" Ghira bellowed and stood up to try and salute. He brushed against the stacks of paper behind him and almost caused an avalanche right on top of him. Luckily, he was able to stop it just in time by holding it back.
"Whoa, easy there." Vennrak chuckled and entered the room. "It's just me here, Ghira. There is no need to be so formal."
"Even if you say that, it's hard for me to be at ease with my history." Ghira said as he stepped away from the paperwork after making sure it wouldn't fall. "I've only been in Menagerie for a whole year while I've lived my whole life in Mistral. I was a simple faunus there after all."
"Bah! Screw Mistral." Vennrak scoffed. "They are a nation where the rich just get richer and the poor are forced to go further down the path of darkness."
"Indeed." Ghira nodded, agreeing wholeheartedly. Then he gave his clan chief a grin. "Never said it was a good life. Just that I was a simple man that knew who to ass kiss to keep my family out of trouble."
Vennrak laugh. "Hahaha! And that's precisely one of the reasons why I made you the council representative of our clan! Your ability to appeal for everyones benefit is just what Menagerie needs as a whole, Councilman Belladonna."
Ghira groaned at being reminded of his position. At best, what you could call managing experience was him getting everyone he knew to leave their dump of a home and make a new one.
And here he was now, being a part of a council for the prosperity and security of the first new city in decades.
"Have you come here to ask me of something chief? Or have you come here just to torment me?" Ghira asked miserably.
"Mostly the latter actually." Vennrak said which made Ghira throw a dry glare at the man. "Oh, and of course, I escorted two lovely ladies who wanted to meet you."
The remark made Ghira raise a brow, wondering what his chief was getting at.
"Daddy!" Came the call from a voice that Ghira smile. That owner of that voice alone was half the world to him. The other half being his wife.
Vennrak then stepped to the side and two black haired females entered the room and approached them. Both of them were cat faunus with ears on top of their heads and tails swaying behind them. They wore black-on-white and white-on-black Mistral-styled robes respectively. Something reminisce of their time in the Eastern nation. Albeit, a lot more regal than the garbs they used to wear.
The younger of the two held a tote bag with both of her hands while a book was tucked between one arm and her side. "We brought you some snacks." She said as she raised the bag with both of her arms.
Ghira chuckled and knelt down to his daughter. "Thank you, kitten." He said as he took the bag and gave her a one armed hug. He then turned to his wife and gave her chaste kiss on the lips. "What are you two doing here, Kali?"
"Well, I needed to get some groceries for dinner tonight and Blake wanted to come with." Kali Belladonna said as she patted her daughters hair. "So I thought why not come here, pick you up, and just have dinner out."
Ghira raised a brow. "Was that before, or after you escaped from your guards?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Kali said, crossing her arms and looking away.
"Oh really? Then why aren't Ferren and his subordinates guarding by the door when their specific job is to be your bodyguards?" Ghira asked with a smirk. Kali was a simple and kind woman, having no desire for an overly opulent life. She liked working with her own two hands, and was the reason why no one was left behind in Mistral. As such, thanks to his new station in life, she had faunuses wanting to do everything for her. She had put her foot down when she couldn't cook for herself and her family and told them to take a hike. She couldn't get rid of the guards, though not for the lack of trying.
"Hahahahaha!" Vennrak let out a booming laugh. "You're husband knows you too well, Kali!"
Kali threw a glare at the two. It would have been threatening if she wasn't pouting at the same time. "Oh, fine. Blake and I first went to the grocery store as I was still thinking of cooking dinner. Of course, Ferren and the others insisted that they 'keep us protected' and came with us. But then the staff announced an impromptu sale and we decided to lose the guards in the crowd. Then we made our way here, but bumped into chief Vennrak here who volunteered to escort us. There, happy?" She said, hands on her hip.
Ghira smiled, but all the same shook his head at his wife's actions. "I can understand why you don't want them following you Kali." He said just as his voice turned serious. "But you shouldn't act so reckless these days. Especially when the Red Fang are gaining more and more momentum."
The Red Fang. Just the thought of them brought a sour taste in Ghali's mouth. In Vennrak's opinion, they were nothing more than a bunch of idiotic teenagers with too much free time on their hands. In Ghali's however, they were a growing threat. A group of radicalized youths who fully believe that it was high time for faunuses to take up their position as the true master race. It was a detestable ideology. One that had Ghali and his family end up with the shorter end of the stick. To be sure, he resented the humans that classified him as an animal or as second class citizen. However, he had better things to do than go looking for revenge. Things like making sure the city he now lives in actually survives for example.
"And because our clan is the leading advocate for human and faunus equity," Khali said, unaware of her husband inner mussings. "we're the most likely target for harassment." She then sighed and crossed her arms again. "I know, I know. But even before the whole juvenile Red Fang debacle, the three of us barely had any time to go out and act as a family. Thanks to a certain someone pushing responsibility on you." She threw a glare at the clan chief. It looked really threatening this time.
Vennrak raised his hands up, palms toward Kali in a gesture of surrender. "In my defense, clan Pathkeeper, the whole of Menagerie even, would fall apart without your husband."
"And because it's for the greater good you decided to keep my husband working to the point he mostly sleeps when he gets home!?" Kali yelled, indignant.
"Dear, calm down." Ghali said, taking his wife's arm less she attacks the clan chief. "That's my employer. You know, the one that pays my wages so we can send Blake to the best combat school and buy her an entire library?"
Blake's eyes widened. She looked up at her mother at that, pleading for her to not harm her father's boss. Her hunger for books was almost legendary. With Ghali's income as a councilman, he had more than enough money to commission a private library in their penthouse suite(something Vennrak pushed on them despite Kali's protest), and Blake had finished about half the books already.
"Fine... Now can we just go ahead and have dinner now?" Kali said and released her anger with a sigh. Then she spotted the mountain of paperwork behind her husband, which just made her anger flare right back. "Unless of course someone is going to hold you back, which will make nothing hold ME back."
Vennrak shook his head at Kali's glare. "Nope! Certainly not from me! Ghali, you're done for the day."
Ghali nodded, thankful that he actually gets to leave on time after months of overtime. "I finished my quota for today anyway." Then he turned to his family. "So. How does sushi sound?"
"Sounds good to me." Kali said, then she turned to her daughter who was nodding voraciously. A slight drool was leaking out the corner of her mouth which Kali wiped away. "I think we're good on sushi."
Ghali nodded and took Blake's hand while Kali took her other hand. He then turned to Vennrak. "What about you chief? Care to join us?"
"Well-"
Before he could respond however, rushing footsteps could be heard echoing outside the office. A second later, a Menagerie soldier rushed into the room and gave a salute. "Councilor Belladonna!" The soldier shouted. Ghali took one look at the soldier's uniform and recognized him as one of clan Seeker's message runners. Whatever had the soldier so flustered, he knew it was important. "There's been a situation."
Ghali sighed and let go of Blake's hand. "Alright soldier, what-"
"No."
Ghali stopped mid sentence as he was interrupted Vennrak with an authoritative command. He turned to him. "Chief?" He asked, but Vennrak just waved him away.
"Ghali, go enjoy your night with your family. Whatever it is, I'll deal with it and you can take over in the morning."
Ghali smiled at this. Then he cupped his fist with his other hand and bowed, giving the lion faunus a formal Menagerie bow. "Councilor Belladonna thanks his clan chief Vennrak." He told him. Then he turned to look at his family, who gave him a smile as he resumed his position besides Blake.
Vennrak smiled as he watched his friend and his family exit the room. Ghali was one of the most hardworking faunus he knew and he deserved a break instead of getting tangled up in whatever new problem arose. 'Speaking of which...' he thought and turned to the soldier. "What is it that you have to report, soldier?"
"Sir!" The soldier saluted Pathfinder's chief. "Our sources have confirmed that, over a week ago, the Red Fang have deployed their first unit with an unknown mission!"
"Where?" Vennrak asked with a glare, almost dreading the answer.
"Atlas."
Vennrak groaned. It was official. Contrary to what he thought as nothing more than rebellious teens going through a phase, the Red Fang are now an international movement. He just hoped that whatever trouble they were hoping to cause wouldn't endanger any lives.
- SCHNEE MANOR -
Raizar Schnee knocked on a light blue colored door. "Weiss dear, it's time for us to go." She called to her youngest daughter inside.
"Just a minute mama." Came the muffled reply from inside.
Smiling to herself, Raizar opened the door and peeked inside her youngest daughter's room. It was a large white and blue room, fit for a princess, with a queen sized poster bed, hundreds of stuff toys and plushies, and most importantly of all a dresser and mirror set where the owner of the room was currently sitting. "Having a hard time tying your hair?" Raizar half-asked, half-noted. Weiss was currently trying to tie her hair into a high ponytail, but her snow-white hair was stuck in a tangled mess with her brush. The Schnee Matriarch entered the room and headed for her daughter.
"Fufufu, here, let me." She said as she started untangling the brush and smoothing out her daughter's hair with expert hands. "You should be more gentle with your hair, trying rush it will only result in fighting with yourself. Now, what did you want to tie it with?"
Weiss then picked up a tiara-like hair clip from the table and handed it to her mother. It was a simple thing made of thin silver metal. It had several points going around in a semi circle with half the spikes ending with a small gem encrusted in a circle.
"Ara ara, you sure love this one, don't you? You've been wearing it for a week straight." The Schnee Matriarch noted.
"Yes!" Weiss answered happily. "It's my favorite because you gave it to me!"
Raizar smiled, her heart filled with joy as she finished tying her daughter's hair and fastening the tiara-clip making her look like a princess. Aside from her accessory, Weiss was also wearing a white-blue dress with a red interior as well as small jacket to help fight off the cold, though there was no real need as the Schnee Manor was well insulated.
"Alright, it's done. Now, come along sweetie." The Matriarch said as she took her daughter's hand in her own and made their way to get out of the room. They exited into the white and blue hallways of the Schnee Manor.
The hallway itself was long and, surprisingly, sparsely decorated. However, what the halls lacked in quantity, they made up with blue silk rugs, famous paintings and tapestries, and marble floors, walls, and ceiling. The windows were on one side of the hallways, which let in the light of the sun.
Raizar looked out through the windows and saw, all things considered, a beautiful day for the "City of Eternal Winter". The clouds were parted, revealing the azure sky and golden sun, as they gave a much needed warmth to the snow heaped landscape. She then caught a glimpse of her reflection as she passed by the windows.
The Schnee Matriarch was wearing a bluish-purple dress that had puffy shoulder and long sleeves, a white ribbon tied at her back and looping around her waist, and a pair of high heeled winter boots for her feet. She wasn't a vain woman, but she could easily call herself a beautiful woman with her elf-like features(including the pointed ears) and silver hair that reach down to her hips. She wore no jewelry, except for the simple, yet elegant Wedding Band on her ring finger.
They were on their way to their Conservatory and the reason why they were wearing dresses despite their destination was within their own home, was because whenever people came to visit the Schnee Manor, they were also dressed in their best. The Schnee's, being the host, couldn't show they were being impolite or treating their guest lightly.
On a side note, the Schnee's had more formal dresses, which they reserved only special occasions.
- RING - RING - RING -
Raizar blinked at hearing the ringing. Still walking, she let go of Weiss's hand, reached for her purse and took out her Scroll. Not bothering to look at the caller ID, she answered the call. "Good Morning. Raizar Schnee speaking."
"Good morning, Lady Raizar."
"Ah, Haley." Raizar said, recognizing the caller as Jacques' secretary. "Is something the matter?"
"No ma'am. Rather... Lord Jacques is..."
"I see." Raizar said with a smile but the steel in her voice was palpable. There were only two reasons for why Haley would ever call Raizar. The first was when there was an emergency and Jacques got into an accident. The second was... "And what, pray tell, sort of trouble is my husband getting himself into now?"
"He's in a meeting with the board. He's decided to cut some corners on the mining equipment and is planning to push the faunus miners to use their Limit-Break and work them far harder than their human counterparts. For the same pay." Came the secretary's reply.
"I see..." Raizar said. "I'll handle it, Haley."
"I see... I'll handle it Haley." Came the reply from Haley's scroll before the call was disconnected. She put her Scroll away and turned back to watching Jacques Schnee's back. He was making a visual presentation about his future corporate policies in front of the board of directors. Though they were called the board of directors, they only owned about 30% of the company. The rest of it was still under the Schnee name. Still, that didn't mean the Schnee's could do whatever they want with the company without proper procedure or council, thus, the board of directors.
Jacques was looking to gain a bigger capital and was hoping to use it as further funding into Dust research. He fully believed that there was more to Dust than just an energy source and a very, very, unhealthy drug. Unfortunately, his new policies included endangering his workers and Raizar Schnee was not going to have any of it.
"As you can see here, if we distribute the labor to-"
- RING - RING - RING -
Jacques was interrupted by the loud ringing of his Scroll, which gave him pause. He was sure he had put the thing in silent mode before entering the meeting, but it was now ringing in the emergency tone Raizar had convinced him to ALWAYS pick up. Meanwhile, the board of directors could only raise their brows. They recognize that ringtone...
"Excuse me for a moment." Jacques said, before he fished out his Scroll and answered it. "Yes dear? Is something... Yes, actually. How did... Yes dear?"
The board of directors exchanged knowing glances, and continued to watch Jacques in an amused fashion. This was not the first time he got a phone call from his wife in the middle of the meeting.
"Ah alright, I'm... No dear. No. I'm... But, dear... Yes. Yes, but Raizar... No. I... I got it dear. Yes, I love you too... Send Weiss my love as well. Goodbye."
"Dog house treatment, Jack?" Snickered one of the board, before it started spreading down the table. It didn't matter if Jacques was one of the richest man in all of Remnant and had the resources to make a small country. It was damn entertaining to see another man get in trouble with his wife.
"Maybe you'll be sleeping in one of your guest rooms tonight." Chuckled another, before the other members started laughing openly too.
Jacques glared at the laughing board members. Then he whirled around to look at his secretary. "I don't pay you to tell my wife what happens in my business!" He told her angrily.
"Actually sir, you don't pay me at all." Haley said matter of factly. "It's Lady Schnee that signs my cheque."
"Jack, forget any black king! You're own queen has you in checkmate!" One of the board members said.
"Hey, hey Jack!" One of the board members waved his hand to get Jacques', and coincidentally everyone else's, attention. His hand then made a fist, metaphorically holding something in the air, before swinging his arm in a whipping motion. "Wha-ksssh!"
Everyone in the room roared in laughter.
Except Jacques. He just groaned. He loves his wife, he truly does, but sometimes she drives him up the wall.
Raizar disconnects her call and sighs. She loves her husband, she truly does, but his controlling nature gets him into far too much trouble. Nevertheless, she turned to look at her daughter and have her a full smile. "Papa sends his love too."
At this, Weiss beamed. Her father was a busy man and she simply felt happy she even got a reply for sending her feelings to him.
The pair of them again held hands and continued walking. They passed through the hallways, went down to the first floor, and exited through the back.
With each step she took, Raizar was getting less and less upset about her husband's actions and was instead getting more and more excited as they got closer to the Conservatory.
The Conservatory was built a long time ago by one of Weiss's predecessor(as Raizar was the one to marry into the family). The central, cylindrical structure was three stories tall, with it glass and iron ceiling curved inwards and upwards, before rising vertically again and ending with a dome ceiling. Two wings were attached to it's side and stretched outwards from the center with the same curvilinear ceiling, before ending in a half circle.
The two Schnee's entered the building and immediately felt the warm climate used to keep the plants alive. As they continued walking, they passed by a bevy of plant, shrub, and tree in every color from the spring temperament. Finally, they made it to Raizar's favorite spot, the center of the Conservatory where a Snowblossom tree was grown. Under said tree was a set of tables and chairs used specifically to have tea as they soak in the sun.
And occupying one the chairs was a ashen-black haired woman with bright amber eyes. She was wearing a dark-red, off-the-shoulders, v-neck minidress with yellow designs. There is a blue feather-like accessory on her right hip, at the top of an open portion of her dress. The dress ends in an upside-down triangular tail in the back, ending just above the knees. She spots the pair of Schnee's, smiles, and gives a small wave.
"Cinder Fall!" Raizar called happily. She released her daughter's hand and went into a light jog as all her pent up excitement was released. The now named Cinder saw this and stood up to greet her long time friend.
As the Schnee Matriarch neared, she wrapped her arms around the black-haired woman and immediately felt the hug returned. "Oh, it's been so long! You've managed to still look so young. Really though, you should drop by more often! How are you?"
Cinder chuckled. "Slow down, Rai." She said as both of them released their embrace. "To answer your question, I'm doing fine. And yourself?"
"I'm doing quite well actually. Oh, but I've been dying for you to meet my youngest daughter. Weiss dear!" Raizar called as she turned to look behind her where Weiss was just now catching up to them.
However, instead of the happy child that beamed when her father sent her his love, and the one that had a favorite hair clip because it's what her mother gave her, Weiss was now prim and proper princess. Back straight, eyes forward, and steps confident. The very picture of confident aristocracy without the arrogance. It was a fine line to tread, and Raizar was proud Weiss could pull it off easily.
Weiss then picked up her skirt and gave her a well practiced curtsy. "Good morning, Lady Fall. My name is Weiss Schnee, second heir to the Schnee family. It's very nice to meet you."
Cinder raised a brow and directed it at Raizar, who in turn, was giving her a look of anticipation. She was proud at her daughter perfecting the art of introducing herself in such a manner, and was expecting her to play along.
back to Weiss, she gave her own curtsy in response. "Good morning to you too, Lady Schnee. I'm afraid I myself am no Lady though, as I have no title." The statement caused Raizar to scoff for her friend, but Cinder ignored her and continued. "But please, just call me aunt Cinder."
"Okay! Please call me Weiss, aunt Cinder!" Weiss said happily and dropping all pretense of formality as introductions were over and was given permission to be more familiar with her aunt Cinder.
"Good job sweetie." Raizar said. "But don't listen to your aunt Cindy about not having a title. She actually has one but just keeps denying it."
"Really?" Weiss asked.
"Rai, she doesn't need to know." Cinder said in a warning tone.
"Oh, hush! You shouldn't be embarrassed at getting called a Heroine." Raizar said, placing her hands on her hips.
"Really?! You're a real Heroine, aunt Cinder?" Weiss asked excitedly.
Cinder could respond with a sigh. "Yes, dear. People actually call me a Heroine, though I don't really like telling people that."
"Why not?" The little heiress asked, tilting her head.
"I... Don't like the attention." Cinder said and looked away.
"Oh, there's no need to be shy Cindy!" Raizar teased.
Cinder just rolled her eyes at her best friend. "Anyway, I hate to be rude Rai, but could I get some tea? I'm rather thirsty."
"Oh. Actually, Walter should be arriving just about..." Raizar wondered and looked at her wrist watch. "... now." She said and turned to look at the door. Just as it opened and one of her butler's walked in, pushing a tea cart with one hand, and bird cage in the other.
Inside the cage was a large, Snow Phoenix. A rare bird of prey native to the lands of Atlas, which Weiss took an instant liking to when she first saw it. It was tamed and given to the Schnee family as a gift by another aristocratic family. It's feathers dominantly white and ended in a sky blue hue. It's bright, yellow eyes spoke of intelligence and held itself regally like a proud king.
"Nix!" Weiss called happily as the butler approached.
Walter extended the tripod under the birdcage and opened it, releasing the avian king within.
Nix chirped happily and flew out the cage. It circled Weiss, while the little heiress was laughed happily. She then extended out her arm and let Nix take perch on her limb.
"Can I play with Nix, mama?" Weiss asked, turning to Raizar while she kept petting Nix.
Raizar nodded her permission. "Just be careful dear. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Okay! Come on, Nix!" Weiss said, as Snow Phoenix took flight with the heiress chasing behind it.
By the time Weiss was out of sight, the butler had finished preparing the table with a set of tea and a stack of snacks Cinder and Raizar could munch on. Raizar thanked Walter and the two friends took their seats and resumed to chat with one another.
"So are you really shy about being a Heroine, Cindy?" Raizar asked, while she took a bite out of a cookie.
"No." Cinder shook her head, taking a sip out of her tea. "Actually... I like the attention. I like it alot."
Raizar raised a brow. "I sense a 'but' coming..."
Cinder nodded. "But I like it too much. It was actually during the Mountain Glenn incident. All those cameras pointing at me while the crowd cheered my name." Cinder closed her eyes and recalled the memory. She wanted to convey what she felt to her friend that day. "It was... Orgasmic."
Raizar actually choked on the cookie she was trying to swallow, caught completely off guard by the statement. Cinder just watched in amusement while Raizar was giving unladylike coughing. The Schnee Matriarch quickly drank her tea to swallow the offending cookie lodged in her throat. She then gave Cinder a look that said "You can't be serious."
"Oh it's true. Privately, I checked and confirmed I got a little wet that time." Cinder said with all seriousness. "It's actually kind of scary. Knowing that little bit of myself revealed I'm either a huge pervert or really just enjoy the attention." She shrugged. "Oum, it could even be something else and I really don't want to find out."
"So that's why you avoid the press like the plague. But then..." Raizar remarked, then recalled seeing Cinder's name on the front page of every news feed just recently. "Didn't you officially pass the Huntress exam not long ago? Won't being a Huntress give you even more exposure to the public?"
Cinder shook her head. "I don't plan to go out on big missions actually. I actually just took the exam and got the rank it to fill a requirement for the actual job I'll be taking."
"Oh? What job requires you to be an official ranked Huntress to get accepted?"
"A teaching job in Beacon."
"Really!? That's great!" Raizar said happily. "So you finally decided to stop roaming around the world and chose to settle down! Phew! Thank goodness! You know, I've actually been a little worried about you since you're approaching your mid-twenties!"
"Hey, mid-twenties is still young! You just married early! You were fifteen for crying out loud!"
"Well that's because I met my one true love early on." Raizar said, then immediately regretted it as a rueful look crossed her best friend's face. "Oh, Oum... You're not over Artem are you?"
Cinder just gave her a nonchalant shrug.
"Cindy. It's been five years. Surely it's time you moved on? He surely did." Raizar scoffed.
"Maybe. Maybe not." Cinder shrugged. "All I know my situation isn't his fault. He only regained his memories after *that woman* got pregnant."
"I still say he's a right bastard. He could have left her and just been with you." Raizar said, crossing her arms and glaring, hopefully, at the direction of Artem Solis.
Cinder shook her head. "He wouldn't leave the kids. Not even for me. Artem always wondered what happened to his parents while he grew up in the orphanage. He'd hate to do that to his kids."
Raizar rolled her eyes and scoffed again. "I can't believe you're actually defending him. You and Jacques both are insane."
Cinder raised a brow at this. "Why? What did your Jacky do now?"
"... Heengagrfweisswithdante." Raizar said in a huff.
Cinder blinked. "Sorry, what?"
"I said he engaged Weiss with Dante! Artem's son!" Raizar threw her arms up in frustration. "Can you believe him? Engaging my little dove to a spawn of Artem and *that woman*!?" She said, anger clear in her voice.
"Mmmm... I'm all for getting angry at Jacques, but you should just be sure that your anger isn't directed at an innocent child."
"You can't actually mean you like the idea of that child getting my Weiss!?" Raizar nearly shrieked.
"Can't say. I've never seen Artem's kids." Cinder shrugged. "I just don't want our troubles plaguing their generation." She paused, pouring herself a new cup of tea and gave a sip. "I mean, sure I hate Dante's mother, but not like he had a choice in that matter. Besides, for all we know he could make Weiss happy."
At that, Raizar sighed. "True... You have a point. It would be unfair of me to be prejudiced against the child for simply having *her* as the mother... When did you get so wise?" The Schnee Matriarch asked.
"I've always been wise. People just tend to not listen to me." Cinder said with a smirk. "Besides, I have to practice since I'm going to be teaching a bunch of pubescent fighters soon.
"But enough about me. How's life been treating you Rai?" Cinder asked.
Immediately, Raizar beamed. Not that she was vain, but there was a multitude of things she's been wanting to her best friend since the last time they met. However, one topic leapt to the forefront of her mind. "I'm pregnant!" She declared
"Really?" Cinder asked. The Schnee Matriarch gave her a nod and she returned her a full, happy smile. "That's fantastic! Does Jacques know? How long are you in?"
"I'm a little over a month actually. And no. Jacques doesn't know yet as I found out just a few days ago and I wanted to tell you first. I'm telling him tonight though."
"Oh Rai that's great news! What do you think it'll be?"
"A boy." Raizar said with full confidence. "I can feel it in my bones. And he's going to be handsome little devil." She giggled.
The two friends continued to talk and time passed by quickly. Weiss came by with Nix every now and then, taking a cup of tea, nibbling on the snacks, and feeding Nix some crackers before they again ran around the Conservatory. Soon enough, it was time for Cinder to leave. Raizar called up one of her servants to guide her friend where a car and driver would send her back to her hotel. Cinder thanked her friend and bid her farewell. She was then escorted by one of the servants to the car which she immediately entered.
It was only a few minutes. Cinder was only the road and a few minutes away from the Schnee Manor when everything changed.
- BOOOOOOOOOM! -
Cinder gasped and immediately turned to look behind inside the car. He blood ran cold as she saw a billowing cloud of black smoke was rising from the Manor grounds.
She whirled her head to her driver. "TURN THIS THING AROUND, NOW!" She yelled.
"B-But ma'am, we're on the freeway..."
"I DON'T CARE! YOU'RE MISTRESS IS IN DANGER! TURN THIS THING AROUND OR I'LL DO IT MYSELF!"
"Y-Yes ma'am!" The driver stuttered. Their car then immediately whirled around, facing the incoming traffic, and immediately sped their way back to the Manor. They manuevered their way around. Heedless to the other cars as they dodged around and just nearly missing honking vehicles and very angry drivers.
However Cinder paid them no mind. Her only thoughts were of her best friend and her daughter. She turned to her driver and told him, "FLOOR IT!"
The Schnee family gate guard could only gawk at the sight of the rising cloud that was the aftermath of an explosion. In the distance, he could hear gun shots going off. He wanted to grab his two way radio and ask what the hell was going on, but all he could hear was incoherent yelling. He turned to his partner and was about to ask what he thinks they should do. But then he heard a car honking madly. He turned to look at the road to see said car coming at them at high speed. And whoever was driving behind the wheel, was honking like a mad man.
A second later, he recognized it as one of their own vehicles and, hesitating only for a moment, moved in to action.
"Pete! Open the gates!" He yelled to his partner, before running inside the guard house where the controls for his side of the manor doors were located.
"But we don't know who that is!" Came the reply of Pete.
"Doesn't matter! It's one of our cars! Maybe they can help in whatever the hell is going on inside!" The guard replied and it wasn't a moment too soon, as a second later, just as the mechanical doors opened just enough, the car blitz through and headed for the main entrance.
Cinder burst through the main doors of the manor and instantly saw a scene of pandemonium with servants running around like headless chickens and one lone guard screaming at his two way radio. Next to the guard was the butler Cinder recognized as Walter, the one that brought her and Raizar tea awhile ago. She didn't hesitate and quickly marched towards them. "YOU TWO!" She yelled to get their attention.
"Lady Fall!" Walter yelled happily. "Oh thank Oum you returned! As I'm sure you've noticed, the Schnee Manor is under attack."
Cinder grunted, acknowledging Walter. Then she turned to face the Schnee guard. He was wearing a black kevlar vest over a snow-camouflage army uniform, with black combat boots and gloves. He had a pistol holstered as his side arm and a small SMG was slung over his shoulder. His hair cut short and was mostly hid under a black beret. "Ma'am! Jenkins Snowguard. Head of security. It's an honor to meet you Lady Fall." He introduced himself to Cinder with a crisp salute.
Cinder nodded to the captain. "Alright, now someone tell me what the hell is going on and where the hell is Raizar and Weiss." Cinder practically ordered the men and crossed her arms.
"My men are reporting that all the attackers as faunuses. They're all wearing uniforms and wielding assault rifles that are keeping my men pinned down." Snowguard reported.
- BOOOOM! -
A second explosion sounded. At that, Walter paled. "C-Could they be a Menagerie army?"
"No." The guard answered his butler counterpart. "They don't bare any crest of Menagerie OR any of the seven great clans. What they have as an emblem is a beast head with it's mouth wide open."
Cinder was surprised that the guard captain knew Menagerie personnel so well, considering Menagerie was a country no older than two decades, but she filled that questioning for later as time was of the essence. "I don't care who the hell they are. So long as they're between me and Raizar and Weiss, they're as good as dead. Now where the hell are they?!"
"Still at the Conservatory lady Fall." Snowguard answered.
"And why, pray tell, are they still there!?" Cinder shouted. "Why haven't you evacuated the moment the damn explosion happened?!"
"We-we can't ma'am. That's the one place where the attackers have formed a fortified perimeter and my men can't break through. Aside from me and a few other guards who carry submachine guns, everyone else just carries a handgun. Against faunus with assault rifles, we're just out matched. My men are just meant to be bodyguards. Not a private army." Snowguard said.
"You mean to tell me that the richest Dust conglomerate doesn't arm his own guards with heavy equipment!?" Cinder asked in disbelief.
"Lord Jacques does, actually." Snowguard nodded. "But we keep them in the armory, which is one of the first place the attackers hit and have made a stand against my men."
Cinder groaned and massaged her temple. Whoever attacked the Schnee's, they came prepared. But now that she had a rough understanding of the situation, it was time for her to take charge. "Alright, I'm taking command. Ignore the armory. That's just a distraction. Gather what men you can and form up behind me. I'll lead the charge with my Aura." Cinder told the guard as he nodded and started giving commands on his radio. Cinder then turned to the butler. "Walter, I need you to organize the evacuation of noncombatants. Get everyone out of the way instead of running around like this." She waved her arm behind her, gesturing to the panicking servants all around them. "And make sure to make some calls. Police, S.W.A.T., the army, the navy, I don't care. Get them here and get them fast, understood?"
"Y-yes ma'am." Walter nodded, before turning away and calling for all the servants around the room to calm down.
"Snowguard." Cinder called before she started walking towards the Conservatory. The guard captain immediately ran up to her side and waited for her orders. "Tell your men to meet us up on the way and try to keep up. We're saving my best friend and her daughter."
"Yes, Lady Fall!" Snowguard shouted, just as Cinder broke off into a sprint. He didn't hesitate and started running after her while he yelled at his men to meet up with them with all haste.
- BOOOOOOOOOM! -
"Go, go, go!" The vanguard of the Red Fang unit shouted over the sound an alarm. He waved his team to run through the Schnee Manor walls so they could begin their operation.
"Contact!" One of faunuses snarled, just before the sound of assault rifles roared in the air, and soon accompanied by the dying screams of humans.
Their leader strode through the walls and scoured the snow covered courtyard. Three bodies dyed the snow blood red while the nearest windows to the Manor were already shattered. Inside the windows, he could see blood splattered the wall and he took one sniff of the air and confirmed it came from more than one human scent.
'Good. That's a few less humans in Remnant!' The leader thought with a beastly smirk. He was a wolf faunus with yellow hair. He, and all of his men, were wearing snow camouflage uniforms and black kevlar robe-vest with red linings. They didn't wear any helmets as it often got in the way of their ears and impaired their hearing. Instead, they have black mask that resemble each of their base animal.
And then the leader started barking out orders.
"Foxes, get to the armory! Use whatever you can and hold it down!
"Bear, Bull, and Rhino! Form a perimeter around the Conservatory! No one gets in or out!
"Hounds with me! Do NOT kill our targets!"
" " " YES, ALPHA! " " " The pack of Red Fang answered in chorus. Their task was simple. Come in, blow the wall, get the Schnees, get out. Kill everyone that got in the way. It was made even easier to them, since faunuses could pick up their scent behind the wall. Of course, having spotters identify their targets from a mile away helped too.
There was twenty of them, four in each team, as they all dispersed to each of their objectives. It didn't take long for each team to encounter even more humans. They screamed in fear and started begging for their lives once they saw them carrying modern assault rifles. Some even had pistols out and fought back.
However, all the faunuses just gave a malicious smile. Whether they were screaming, begging, or even aiming their pathetic handguns, it didn't matter. The Red Fang squeezed the trigger, filling the air with roar of their weapons and the dying screams of men and women.
They were humans. Just them breathing the same air was a form of them getting in the way.
The Hounds crossed the manor grounds and soon found the glass Conservatory where they could smell the two Schnee's. Predictably, the metal shutters were closed, and the glass doors were reinforced by metal gates, turning the whole Conservatory in lock down which should have protected whatever or whoever is inside until the authorities arrived. Should have.
"Plant the bomb." The Alpha said quietly. One of his men nodded and approached the door. He then knelt down and opened the duffle bag he was carrying and got to work.
"Weiss listen to me. Go and find some place to hide. And no matter what you hear, you mustn't come out." A woman said, which the faunuses assumed was the Schnee Matriarch. A normal human would likely not have heard it, but they were faunus. They were just that much better.
"But-but, mama-" a younger voice said on the cusp of crying.
"No! You must go quickly! Until someone you know comes to pick up, you need be silent. Do you understand?"
"Ye-yes..."
"Good. Now, go... I love you..."
"I love you too..." The younger voice said, before a set of footsteps ran away.
"It's done, alpha!" The faunus that planted the bomb said, just as the two Schnee's finished their conversation.
"Do it." The Alpha said tersely.
- BOOOOM! -
The glass doors exploded, taking with it the reinforce metal gate. As soon as the explosion was done, the Hounds walked into the Conservatory, eyes searching for their pray. They didn't have to try hard.
There, standing under a tree with white leaves, was one of their target, the Schnee Matriarch. The four of them marched their way right in front of her, crushing pottery under their feat as well as a spilled tea pot. A table and chair was knocked down near by, presumably when the first explosion happened. She stood up to them, her back straight in a show of bravado, but the faunuses knew it was just a front. They only needed to look at her eyes and they saw unshed tears.
Humans were pathetic.
"Where's the girl?" The leader asked as his three subordinates immediately trained their guns on the Schnee.
"I'm afraid she's not here. My daughter is out with her father today." The Schnee woman said, which earned her a backhanded strike from the faunus leader. She crumpled to the floor, and clutched the cheek where the faunus struck her. She turned to look back at him gave him a defiant glare.
"You're lying." He told her with a growl.
The Schnee scoffed. "What mother would tell such obvious scoundrels like you where her daughter is?"
The faunus sneered. He wasn't going to let her get away with that. No, he was going to discipline her. He would-
"This is Bull! The humans are starting to push us back! We need back up!"
Just then, his communicator interrupted him. Pushing his thoughts for later, he turned to two of his men. "Back them up." He nodded towards the exit. His men nodded and ran out through the hole. Then the leader turned to his last subordinate and gave him an order: "Find the girl."
The faunus gave him a nod and started smelling the air. The whole of Hound team was made of canines, and he was a bloodhound. It wouldn't take him long to find the little Schnee.
"You should stop this foolishness now." The Schnee said as she was left alone with the faunus leader, who was standing over her prone body. "You're actions will just get more and more of your men killed."
In reply, the faunus leader gave her a kick to her stomach. The Schnee cried out in pain, but the faunus ignored her as he stomped on her stomach again and again, not realizing blood was forming between her legs.
"Lowly humans like you need to learn your place!" The faunus sneered. "Humans are unqualified to be ruling the nations! You're lot has done nothing but create war and strife. Not only do you take advantage over faunuses, but you take advantage over each other! That is only further proof you humans are not fit to be in any position of power.
"Having have to rely on lies and deceit means you humans are weak! Nature does not weaker individuals should mate with stronger, she wishes even less for the inferior ones like you to have such a high standing in life! You call yourself a noble? An aristocrat? Don't make me laugh! The Grimm should have ended you kind all those centuries ago! But instead you took the kindness of the faunuses and put us in the front lines, sacrificing our lives so that your kind can live comfortably! I say no more! We will take what is rightfully ours and you and your family will be the first example of divine retribution!"
"Gotcha!" A voice yelled from further inside the Conservatory.
"Noooo! Let me go, let me go!" Cried the little Schnee.
The Schnee Matriarch paled and looked towards the source of the screaming. Not long after, the bloodhound faunus and her daughter came into view. The little Schnee struggled in the faunus' grasps as he held her in one arm, while his other hand still held the assault rifle.
The little Schnee looked towards the clearing and spotted her mother lying on the ground. "Mama!" She cried out, arms reaching to her mother.
"Shut it brat!" The bloodhound yelled at her and gave her a rough yank as stepped close to his Alpha.
"Don't you dare hurt my daughter you- ahhh!" The Schnee Matriarch started to get up, but then cried out in pain as the faunus leader stomped her on her back.
"Mama!"
"You're not in a position to be making demands, you white haired bitch!" Alpha sneered at her, grinding his foot on her back as screamed in pain.
"RAIZAR!"
A new voice entered the foray, making the two faunuses look towards the entrance.
There, stood another human in a red dress, her amber eyes glaring at them in anger. Behind her was twenty guards of the Schnee family. Most of them was aiming assault rifles at him and bloodhound. The rifles even seemed to be the same model that his men were using. From the looks of it, they had killed three other teams.
"Let her go you bastard!" The red dressed human snarled with fury. From the way she was holding fireballs in her bare arms, the faunus leader could tell that the only thing holding her back was his rifle pointed at the Schnee Matriarch.
Then he recognized the red dressed human.
"Well, well, well... Lady Cinder Fall! I didn't think I'd see you here in this frozen wasteland!" Alpha said in a derisive manner. "Then again, you seem to like putting your nose in a scorching wasteland so I guess this a change of view for you."
The red dressed human- no, Cinder narrowed her eyes at Alpha. "From the way you spoke, I assume your a faunus from Menagerie before it had a city."
Alpha chuckled. "Got it in one."
"Good to know." Cinder said in a derisive ton. "Now, would you kindly get your foot off of Raizar and let Weiss go, and maybe we can all walk away from this."
"Do you think I'm stupid?" The faunus leader sneered. "I hold all the cards. You're precious Schnee is under my boot. You follow my orders or she dies!"
"Don't be a fool! Right now, we're blocking your only exit, but the cops have yet to arrive. You can still get away with your life, as well as those of your me." Cinder replied.
However, Alpha just chuckled. "You really don't get it do you? You don't get to make any demands! I have the hostage! You listen to me, or I'll break this white haired whore's back!" Then, as if to prove his point, he grinded his foot on the Schnee's back.
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHH!"
"Mama! No!" The little Schnee yelled as she saw her mother cry in pain. She struggled and squirmed her body to try and get to her mother.
"Skraaaaaawww!" An animistic screech came from above, forcing everyone to look up and see a White and blue bird swoop down and slashed Alpha's face with it's claws.
"Gaaaah!" Alpha yelled in pain, taking a step back due to the force and one hand clutching half his face as blood leaked out of the gash.
"You damn overgrown parrot!" Bloodhound yelled at seeing his leader injured. He aimed his gun towards the bird and fired, missing the bird due to the recoil.
"Don't hurt Nix!" the little Schnee cried and, out of desperation, bit the hand holding her.
"GRRRRRAAAAAAHHHH! YOU DAMNED BRAT!" Bloodhound yelled and threw the little Schnee down.
"Weiss, no!" Raizar screamed. With Alpha's foot no longer on her back, she immediately got up ran towards her daughter.
Cinder watched in horror as everything fell into chaos. She willed her legs to start running, to sprint as fast as she could to try and get to her friend and her daughter, so she could shield them with her aura. But she knew, Oum did she knew, that she wasn't going to make it.
There was nothing she could do as Weiss hit the ground in a heap, then dog-eared faunus aimed her gun at the little girl. Raizar ran into her view, reached her daughter just in time and pushed her away.
Just as the gun roared to life.
"NOOOOOOOO!"
"Mama?" Weiss called out to her mama, who was just lying down on the ground right in front of her. Vaguely, she could hear people scream and felt something hot fly over her head. However, she gave them no mind as she crawled to her mama.
"Mama... Get up mama..." She said, tugging at her mama's arm.
But she got no response.
"Mama, please get up... Mama, please..." She felt tears in her eyes and she started to sob, but her mama taught her big girls don't sob, so she held it in and sniffled.
Weiss then reached for Mama's face. She got scolded once to never grab someone's face because it was rude, but she wanted her mama to wake up.
"Mama... Mama, please... Wake up..."
Her mama's head turned to her. Her eyes were open.
But there was no life in them.
'That fool!' Alpha thought as he saw Bloodhound shoot the Schnee, and immediately get tackled by Cinder Fall. She showed him no mercy as she ripped him apart and burned him from the inside.
He glanced to the side,and saw the body guards were still too stunned at what they just saw. Then he glanced to the whore's daughter. She was still alive, and probably too traumatized at seeing her mother get killed right in front of her.
He still had a chance.
He dashed towards the little Schnee, let go of his rifle, took out his handgun, grabbed and lifted the Schnee, and aimed his pistol at her head.
"ALRIGHT, NOBODY MOVE!" He yelled, getting everyone's attention as the little Schnee cried and struggled in his arms.
"Mama..." the little girl cried, still trying to reach her dead mother.
"Everybody drop your weapons and get down on the ground!" Alpha ordered everyone, stepping away the corpse.
"Mama... Mama!"
The guards looked at each other, unsure what to do.
"I SAID DROP YOUR GUNS AND GET DOWN NOW!"
One by one, the guards complied. They dropped their guns and lied down on the floor.
"MAMA!"
"SHUT UP YOU LITTLE SHIT!" He yelled at her and giving her a rough yank. Then he took another step back.
"MAMA!"
"IF YOU KEEP CRYING I'M GOING TO BLO-"
- BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! -
Cinder let go of the dog-eared murderer, just as her own tears started falling down her cheeks. She's been around automatic weapons enough to know that Raizar Schnee, the closest thing Cinder would ever have for a sister, was dead. The murdering faunus hit the ground moaned in pain. He was still alive, but just barely. Most of his skin was burned black and she had ripped off a limb and crushed the bones of two other. Oh, she wasn't going to kill him. She'd make his life a living hell.
Then she heard the faunus leader demanding everyone to drop down on the ground. Oh she wanted to tear him limb from limb as well... But he had Weiss in his grasp. She cursed herself. She shouldn't have let her anger control her. Now Raizar's daughter was in danger and she could only silently cry, lest she agitates the faunus any further.
She started kneeling down on the ground, but kept her eyes on the faunus leader.
- BOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! -
Then he exploded.
No... Weiss exploded.
Weiss's Aura blasted everything around her away, causing the faunus leader's arm to fly off in one direction while the rest of his body was blown away in the opposite. She floated mid air for a second before her blue-white aura coalesce back around her body, causing her to land back on the ground. Then she got back onto her feet and ran back to Raizar's body.
Cinder gawked at what she just saw. Weiss had unlocked her Aura by herself. Then she got her wits back to her and ran towards the crying Weiss.
"Weiss, dear..." Cinder started, but not really knowing what to say. She knelt down next to the child and said the only thing she could "I'm so sorry..."
"Mama, please get up. Please..." Weiss however, just kept crying and calling out to her mother. She was still shaking Raizar's hand, trying to get her mother to wake up. Cinder's heart was already broken at the loss of her best friend, but it shattered once more as she a little girl desperately calling out to her mother. But she'll never get a reply...
Cinder couldn't hold the Tears any longer. They leaked out nonstop. "Weiss... Weiss dear... come here. Come on, have to go..." She told her softly and tried t gather Weiss in her arms.
Weiss struggled, but stopped as she realized who she was. "Aunt Cinder... Mama is... She won't..."
Whatever Weiss was going to say, it was cut off as she broke down into sobbing and burst into tears. Cinder wrapped her arms around her and let her head rest on her shoulders, while Weiss looped her arms around Cinder's neck. She drew circles on her back, trying to comfort the now motherless girl, while she herself weeped quietly for her best friend.
"... Ma'am." Someone approached the two of them slowly.
Cinder looked up to see Snowguard. His expression was solemn and tears marked his face. She nodded at him, realizing that Weiss wasn't fully out of danger yet. She looked towards the two faunuses, and realized they were still breathing. "Make sure those two survive." She ordered. Maybe Jacques would make the authorities look the other way and torture the faunuses later. She knew she would.
But first, she needed to keep Weiss safe. "Have everyone stay on high alert. Comb through the manor and make sure that the faunuses at the armory don't escape. If there are any more of them, call for help and inform me right away." She told them. Then she got up with Weiss still in her arms.
"Yes, ma'am..." Snowguard said, but fell in step with Cinder. "Where are you taking lady Weiss?" he asked her. He knew it was rude, but his employer's wife just got killed. He needed to know.
"Back to her room." Cinder said simply.
"Is that wise?" he asked in worry. The majority of the murdering animals might have been dealt with, but that didn't mean the Manor was safe.
"No." Cinder admitted. "But she needs to be somewhere familiar, somewhere she'll feel safe... And I'll be there with her."
At that, Snowguard nodded. If anywhere was safe in the Manor right now, it would be next to her. He turned back around and started ordering his men.
Cinder walked out into the snow covered garden, still carrying a crying Weiss in her arms. In the background, Snowguard was yelling orders while his men got to work. In the distance, she could hear police sirens approaching them at a hurried pace. In the air, however, was helicopters, both from the Atlas' Police Department and the local news agencies. Cinder sighed and hurried her steps to get to Weiss' room. 'Things would change...' She thought to herself, 'from here on out, things would change.'
AND THAT'S THE FIRST CHAPTER!
NOT!
There are a few things I still want to write, such as how Jacques is dealing with his mansion getting attacked and my OC's family. But honestly, as I kept writing the Schnee's side of things, it just kept getting longer and longer.
However, with it being Mother's Day and how the last part focused on Raizar, I thought I'd post most of it, if not half of it. I'm not sure how long Jacques scene will take me, as it was just a playful idea that walked into my head... Just like the hostage situation with Raizar and Cinder!
So yeah, I guess it is the first chapter... Maybe I'll do it Chapter 1.5 if the next two scenes aren't that long.
Honestly, I was going to end it with Cinder leaving Raizar, but then I had a very unique opportunity of giving Weiss a lot of backstory. So I took the opportunity of showing who Weiss's mother is... And where she is all this time.
I don't know about other people, but to me, Weiss has the most potential for growth. Out of the main cast, she's definitely my favorite.
Raizar Schnee isn't exactly an OC of mine. She is originally from [The New Gate], A Japanese Light Novel with a Manga adaption(LN has the better character art than the Manga though). I just took liberties with her personality, but I largely based her off of that.
If you like OP MC's that aren't a douche bag, isn't a total saint, and doesn't have a useless harem hanging around him, you should give it a read.
IMPORTANT IMPORTANT IMPORTANT
As of 05/14/2017, the rewrite is still in progress! If you want to read the next chapters, that's fine. But I'll be doing quite some changes to it, especially with Weiss and Cinder's dynamic.
It might take two weeks to properly finish up everything. I'm not just rewriting chapters. I'm also adding new ones to connect the story better.