Finally, finished the first revision of my story. So this chapter will look fairly similar to how the first prologue turned out. I've changed quite a few things, especially with how the events transpired and consolidated a few scenes from later chapters. Personally I think it turned out better than I could have hoped and I hope you all enjoy this much needed revision of my story.
Atlas burned or, to be more precise, it was in turmoil. For several weeks a secret war had been waged within its walls, a power struggle between General James Ironwood and an Atlas born mercenary named Calcipher Mordan. While Ironwood had the loyalty of his soldiers on his side, Calcipher had cunning, skill, and knowledge that allowed him to outmaneuver his opponent. With the aid of the people of Atlas, and several well placed individuals within Ironwood's own ranks, the city, along with all of Mantle, had fallen under his control. Atlas, a nation that had forged itself from the frozen tundra of Mantle and withstood countless assaults by both men and Grimm had fallen from within.
From the confines of the headmaster's office at the Atlas Academy, Calcipher Mordan starred out onto the city below. In his right hand he held an ornate smoke pipe, one that had been engraved to look like a dragon winding its way around the pipe before becoming the opening from which the tobacco now burned gently. He took a thoughtful drag from his pipe, the dragon's mouth illuminating at the gesture, before expelling the smoke from his nostrils. His victory, while still fresh, was still far from complete. He had much to do before he could truly claim he had accomplished what he set out to do.
"Sir?" the voice of a young woman spoke from the intercom on the desk.
"Yes?" Calcipher replied, pressing a finger to the call button as he spoke.
"They've arrived," she said.
"Excellent. Show them in."
It didn't take her long to obey his request as moments later the doors to the office swung open to admit several figures, two Atlas soldiers, their prisoner, and a young man and a young woman. The two soldiers forced their prisoner forward before setting him on his knees before the desk. The man looked up at Calcipher, glaring daggers at his foe. Calcipher barely even acknowledged the man's presence. Despite his heavy loses James Ironwood still had so much pride left within him. It was depressing and almost a little pathetic.
"Thank you, gentleman, you may leave now."
"Sir, forgive us, but are you certain? He's a dangerous man," one of the soldiers tried to argue.
"I'm well aware of how dangerous he is," Calcipher rebuked him. "However, this wolf has lost his teeth. He's no more a threat to either of you than he is to myself. Besides, my son will be present the entire time. I'll be more than adequately protected. Now, you may go until I require you to return him to his cell."
Satisfied, the two soldiers gave him a sharp salute before exiting the room. Calcipher then turned his gaze on his prisoner and eyed him with unveiled disappointment. Broken, defeated, and currently missing his robotic arm, the former General of Atlas glared at him from his kneeling position on the floor. His uniform which was almost always ironed, starched, and immaculate in appearance was torn, dirty, and had otherwise seen better days. It seemed fitting that the rest of his overall appearance should mirror his suit as he looked as if he'd been dragged through hell. Considering the war that had been wagged between their two respective parties, it wasn't an over exaggeration to say the least.
"Hello, James, so good of you to join us," Calcipher said, his tone drowning in sarcasm.
"Considering the circumstances, I can't say I had much of a choice," James replied flatly. "I see you've made yourself home in my office."
"No, not your office. This is the office of the Atlas Academy's headmaster, a place set apart as the abode of the man or woman who is seen as worthy and adequately skilled enough to shape young minds in preparation for the world they are about to face and their futures that they will have to brave outside these walls." He moved from his position at the window to the front of the desk, his hands gesturing in time with his speech as if he were a real-estate agent describing the interior of a home they were selling to a potential client. As soon as he reached the head of the desk, however, his gaze returned to James, his expression filled with obvious disappointment, as he leaned against it. "You might have been such a man once, but no longer."
"And I suppose you are," Ironwood concluded. To his surprise Calcipher chuckled, the man finding some obvious hummer in his words that had somehow eluded the dishonored general.
"No, James, I am not. Unlike you I don't make it a habit of elevating myself to heights of power where I have no business intruding upon. No, the man or woman who will fill this seat will be someone far more suitable for the position than I. My talents are required elsewhere."
"Then why bring me here? Why drag me back to my office if not to rub your victory, my defeat, in my face?" Ironwood questioned in an irritated tone.
"You haven't figured it out yet?" Calcipher asked, a small smile developing in the corners of his face at the look of frustration Ironwood gave him. "This is an institution of learning, James. I brought you here not to brag or bask in my victory. I brought you here to learn. I brought you here so that I might teach you the error of your ways and see if you were willing to learn from your mistakes."
"You wish to teach me?" Ironwood asked in as exaggerated a manner as he could bring himself to muster.
"Well, as you know, I was a teacher at Beacon, if only for a short while. I must admit, I don't consider myself the greatest instructor nor the man most suitable for shaping every young mind that wonders the hall of this or any of the huntsman academies. I am, however, willing to teach you if you are willing to learn. A great teacher cannot very well instruct a student who is unwilling to heed the lesson."
"And what lesson is that, exactly?" Ironwood asked.
"That you're greatest undoing is, without a doubt, your pride," he answered, giving him a stern look as he spoke. "I must admit, James, there was a time when I respected you, even admired you. You were ambitious, insightful, loyal. You had all the qualities of a great leader and, had circumstances been different, I might have pledged my allegiance to someone of your caliber. However, overtime your pride began to blind you. You started to believe that you were the only who was right."
"I was right. If Ozpin had simply listened to me- "
"Exactly!" Calcipher interjected, catching the man off guard. "If Ozpin had listened to me," he repeated in a mocking tone. "If Ozpin had listened to you, if he had done exactly as you had wanted, then thousands more people would have died at the Vytal Festival. Your overreliance on technology and your damn automatons was your greatest weakness, a weakness our enemies exploited, quite efficiently I might add."
"It was Ozpin's fault as well. If he had just been more attentive with his security measures then my Paladins would still have remained under my control," Ironwood argued.
"Actually, James, that fault is yours not his," Calcipher said in retort. "Tell me, the night the virus that was uploaded at the CCT, when was that?"
"It was during the school dance that precipitated the festival."
"And was that before or after the breach."
"Before but I don't see- "
"Prior the breach," Calcipher continued, ignoring his interruption, "whose security force was in charge of protecting the CCT?"
Ironwood sneered, averting his gaze to instead look at the floor. Calcipher took no apparent joy from the small victory, though his eyes did take on a brighter sheen to them.
"So, it was your soldiers who were guarding the tower when they were overpowered and the virus was uploaded, wasn't it?" he continued.
Again, Ironwood said nothing. His expression did all the talking for him, however, as his look of irritation slowly morphed into one of silent furry.
"Which means that, from the very start, it was your own inadequacies that led to your army being hijacked and turned on the people of Vale. Following Beacon's fall, it was your own pride which continued to lead you to making decisions that placed Atlas in a vulnerable state, allowing me to overthrow its government with relative ease. Yet, despite all these blunders you continue to blame Ozpin for your own incompetence rather than take responsibility for your actions."
"And what of you, Calcipher?" Ironwood asked, the man in question raising an eyebrow in obvious surprise and intrigue. "What would you have done in my place? Would you have relied on Ozpin? Would you have placed your faith and trust in his abilities?"
"No," Calcipher answered flatly.
His answer struck Ironwood hard, causing him to hesitate. He hadn't expected him to answer him so curtly nor to be so blunt.
"You assume far too much about me, James. I may have trusted Ozpin but I never had trust in him."
"I don't understand," Ironwood answered, still perplexed by what his adversary had said.
"I'm not surprised," he said in the same emotionless tone as before. "Let me elaborate. From the moment I came into Ozpin's service, I treated him the same way I had learned to treat my previous employers. I trusted them to act according to their nature, to the defaults in their personalities. I trusted Ozpin to act in the best interests of the people of Remnant and that his actions would reflect his desire to keep them safe from the vile being that threatened their existence.
However, I understood that, despite how much the man may have respected us and treated us as equals, we were still nothing more pawns in this little game of theirs. Anyone one whose life was lost to the enemy was considered a necessary sacrifice. I trusted him to act in the best interest of Remnant but never with my own life. I knew that, if it came down to it, he would place greater emphasis on protecting the maidens and the relics rather than our lives or the lives of his students."
"As would I," Ironwood interjected. "To allow the relics or the maidens to fall into the hands of the enemy then our position would have been compromised."
"Of that I cannot disagree with," Calcipher admitted. "However, Ozpin's method of protecting both was something to be desired. To place his students in danger like that, not to mention pressuring young women into taking on such a heavy responsibility, was irresponsible."
"We didn't pressure her into taking on the maiden's powers. We gave her a choice."
"Ha!" Calcipher said loudly, the laugh forced and mocking. "Gave her a choice? Please. I was there, James. I heard everything that was said and it was obvious the young woman was expected to take on that responsibility. There was no choice in the matter."
"You're wrong."
"Really? Then explain it to me, James. If, for whatever reason, Pyrrha Nikos had refused, would she have been allowed to walk away, to continue her life as if that conversation had never happened, as if everything that had been revealed to her had never existed?"
Ironwood said nothing. Despite his reluctance to answer, his silence was very telling.
"Of course not," Calcipher spoke for him. "She never had a choice in the matter. It was expected of her. Just one more expectation among so many that had been heaped on her shoulders. Of course, had she refused, I'm you would have seen to it that she met with an unfortunate accident."
"How dare you insinuate- "Ironwood snapped.
Before he could finish, Calcipher snatched the front of his collar, hoisting the man up so that his eyes were level with his own. He glared back at him, his expression devoid of empathy as he hissed, "tell me I'm wrong, James. Tell me you wouldn't have had that girl killed to keep what she'd seen and heard secret."
Despite his best attempts, Ironwood couldn't maintain his gaze. It was enough for Calcipher as he allowed the man to drop back down to his knees, a particularly disgusted expression spread across his face.
"You never cease to reach new levels of disappointment with me, James. I had such faith in you when we first met but somehow you've managed to squander it all in the period of a few months' time.
You had a chance to rekindle some of it after Beacon's fall. A simple apology, that's all it would have taken. Admittance of your guilt, of your failure to maintain control over your army and apologizing to the families who'd lost so much. You never said a word, however. Through it all, you never once attempted to offer them some small bit of sympathy for their losses.
The worst came after. Your decision to halt any export of dust from Atlas to the other kingdoms was a foolish decision. Our relationship with Vale was already in tatters but now you had to add fuel to the flame by cutting off any and all supplies of dust from reaching the rest of the world. Add to that your decision to close off the borders and it's a wonder there wasn't rioting in the streets. How you managed to last this long is a mystery I doubt I will ever begin to understand."
"Understand? I was attempting to protect Atlas. Everything I did was to protect our kingdom from suffering the same fate as Vale. It's not my fault that the other kingdoms would misinterpret those decisions as hostile actions."
"Are you truly that delusional?" Calcipher asked in a perplexed tone. "It's their fault for misinterpreting your actions? They're the ones at fault, not you?"
Calcipher rubbed the bridge of his nose, his expression a mixture of exhaustion and disbelief. From his position next to the door Jaune Arc, his adopted son, let out a tired sigh of his own. He could truly sympathize with how his father was feeling. He'd met more than a few people much like James Ironwood, all of them self-deluding and egotistical to a fault. Next to him Weiss Schnee glared at the young blond. Her expression was a forced one, however, as she found Ironwood's actions equally revolting though she would never openly admit it.
"You know, James, I was hoping that our enemy's accomplishments in being able to overpower your forces and seize control of your armies was merely due to expert planning and well timed execution of their part. Now I see that the answer is so much simpler. The fault lies squarely with you and your pride leading to your own incompetence as a leader and a protector of the people. I see now that my faith in you was greatly wasted. I shall endeavor to do better in the future.
The nations outside these walls understood your actions better than you did. In fact, if you had taken the time to learn what they thought of your policies you just might realize what a horrible mistake you had made. By cutting off the world's dust supply you made a statement. Atlas is, after all, the number one supplier of dust in the world. It's like having control of the only water source for miles in the desert. By cutting off the supply so suddenly and without any explanation you set the tone. You made a statement, that in order for them to attain any more dust they either heed your demands or start stealing from one another just to get by. Neither option is very appealing and both would have eventually led to an all-out assault on Mantle, just so they could force open the flood gates and regain what was lost.
The real clincher came when you closed off the borders. You thought it would protect Mantle. You assumed that by closing yourselves off from the rest of the world it would make you safe. To those on the inside, you were merely closing them off, preventing information from leaking. To anyone outside of Mantle your actions would appear to be in preparation for war. They wouldn't have been wrong. The downside of closing off your borders is that, while you shut everyone else out, whatever enemies you might have had here were shut in with you. That, of course, meant me."
Calcipher moved from the desk, his focus no longer on James as he looked out the window down to the city below. For a while he remained silent. Jaune know his father was lost in his thoughts, sifting carefully through every action he was about to take, every outcome that could arise as consequence. There are so many ways his plans could go wrong, could go awry. For anyone else such thoughts would be overwhelming, a horrible burden that would leave them unable to act. Jaune knows his father well, however. He knows he is always prepared for the path that lays before him and able to adapt to any surprise changes that might spring up along the way.
"This world requires new leaders. It requires men and women who not only possess the ability to lead but also have the skills necessary to do what they must to ensure our people survive the coming conflict and thrive. They need leaders who are loyal, courageous, humbled, and willing to put their own lives on the line, if necessary, to ensure their people live to see tomorrow.
Atlas is only the start. One by one the other kingdoms will follow suit, either through their own choice or through necessity. I will not stand idly by while corrupt politicians and bureaucrats grow fat on their people's misery and suffering, ignoring the obvious problems that torment them on a daily basis. If there is one thing regarding our enemy, of this I can say we agree. The leaders of Remnant have lost their way. It's up to us to put it back on course, to ensure it is set back on a noble path."
"And you think you're the man with the skills necessary to accomplish such a task," Ironwood said, phrasing his words in such a way that they were more a statement than a question, though one that was meant to mock his adversary.
"I am the man who will spearhead this operation, yes, but make no mistake, I have no intention of ruling over the four kingdoms, nor any of them for that matter. My job is merely to remove the filth and corruption that has tainted our governments. Those who will rise to replace them will be men and women who act with the best interest of their people in mind. They will not seek to fulfill their own ambitions. Their goals will be centered around unifying our peoples and building stronger relationships that help to impede any future attempts made by Salem and her servants to bring Remnant to its knees."
"If that is your goal then you're a long way from accomplishing it. Take a good look outside, Mordan. Atlas is in tatters. The military is without leadership and as a result the people are being made to suffer. Even now their fear and trepidation are attracting the Grimm. It won't be long before your men are rushing to defend the walls, ill prepared for what is about to come."
"Did you honestly think I hadn't planned for that?" Calcipher asked, his tone mirroring his tone of disgust at being underestimated. "I knew my stunt would tear down the military hierarchy. Once you were out of the way I made sure to establish a chain of command, one which was put in place after I forced you to step aside. Even now they are manning our walls, keeping their eyes peeled for any signs of Grimm incursion. If anything, our people can rest easy knowing that I formed my plans around ensuring their livelihoods went unimpeded."
At this point he'd returned to Ironwood's side, kneeling down so he could glare into the man's eyes. James Ironwood glared back, a defeated scowl etched across his face. It was obvious his tactics were being out maneuvered at every turn.
"Now, if you're finished grasping at straws in the hopes of finding some flaw in my plans, we can move onto more important matters. I'm sure you're eager to know who I choose to take your place as the leader of Atlas."
"I'd be giddy with anticipation if I weren't handcuffed and on the floor," Ironwood answered in a sarcastic tone.
Calcipher chuckled, obviously amused by the man's tactful humor. "Well, all things considered, James, I very much think you'll like who I've picked out. In fact, I guarantee this decision is one that both you and I can agree on, if you can believe it."
James rolled his eyes but otherwise kept them glued to Calcipher. He didn't like the way he was phrasing it and he was certain he wouldn't like knowing who from among his many enemies he'd chosen as his successor.
"Yes sir?" the secretary asked as Calcipher pressed the intercom button.
"Send her in please."
"Right away, sir."
There was a momentary pause as they listened for the sound of muffled footsteps outside the office door. It wasn't long before the doors opened to admit their new guest and a single person entered the room. Of all the people there half of them starred at her with a mixture of astonishment and disbelief while the others showed no such signs that her presence was anything but expected. Ironwood and Weiss looked to her, each attempting to collect their thoughts as they tried to ascertain just how Calcipher had gotten to her or what her reasons were for joining his side.
There was little doubt that she was a military officer. The manner in which she held herself spoke volumes as she stood at attention with her hands clasped at her back. Her uniform was crisp, clean, and without a hint of a blemish, an image that mirror her snow white hair which was immaculately tied in a tight bun with not a single strand of hair out of place. The only thing that seemed out of place was the pair of insignia she wore on her lapel, signifying her rank as General of the Atlas military. To anyone else it would seem almost fate that Winter Schnee would one day replace Ironwood but in that moment neither her sister nor the defeated general kneeling at her feet could fathom the thought of her enforcing Calcipher's regime.
"General Winter Schnee, reporting as requested, sir."
Several Hours Earlier
Winter Schnee sat waiting in the interrogation room, her hands cuffed to the table. Breaking out of the room would have been a small feat for the young woman. With her skills and training it would have been child's play for her to escape, even weaponless. However, Winter was not there against her will. On the contrary, she had surrendered, a fact that still hung over her head like a dark cloud. Even now her head was bowed out of disappointment, unable to even gaze upon her reflection in the one-way mirror. No doubt she would see that same disappointment starring back at her, the woman reflected in the glass disgusted with the girl who had allowed herself to be brought to such a low point in her career. How had it happened?
The answer to that was simple. Winter had allowed it to happen. It was her own oversight and overconfidence that had led to her defeat. She had underestimated her enemy and he had in turn taken full advantage of the opportunity it had afforded him. It should have been so obvious. It should have been starring her right in the face from the very moment Atlas came under attack. Why hadn't she acted on it? The answer, unfortunately, was one she did not want to admit to herself. Shame and guilt tore at her heart, her total disregard for what was truly important to her being thrown in her face the moment Jaune Arc walked into that briefing room and slide his scroll across the table. It was a moment she would never forget nor ever live down.
Not long after General Ironwood returned to Atlas, news came from the top brass of an inquiry into the General's decisions and actions during what was being coined as The Vale Tragedy which would ultimately determine the fate of his career. To say that this news had taken her by surprise was an understatement as the young woman had begun an investigation of her own in order to determine what exactly had transpired in Vale not long after her departure. Through various resources she was able to determine that, through some means unbeknownst to them, the entirety of Atlas's cybernetic infantry had been hijacked, along with their fleet. This, along with an unfortunate accident orchestrated during one of the Vytal Festival's matches, caused mass panic to sweep through the coliseum. The result was catastrophic as the large concentration of negative activity, further fanned by the appearance of the White Fang, attracted the attention of a large number of Grimm which proceeded to storm the city.
The death toll had been immense.
Thankfully, Weiss' name had not been among the list of a casualties, a detail which brought Winter immense relief despite her belief in her sister's skills and ability to survive. What had at first been perplexing, however, was seeing Torchwick's name on the list instead. As she recalled, the criminal had been taken into Atlesian custody shortly after the Breach. Thinking on it, as well as the fact that the destruction of their lead ship had led to their mechanical army being powered down, caused Winter to surmise that the criminal had wanted to be captured, giving himself easy access to their ship from where he could take full control.
The means by which he'd escaped, not to mention hijacked their army, was something she would have liked to delve into, if only to prevent something similar from happening in the future. Unfortunately, any evidence of his tampering had been destroyed along with their ship, though, it seemed he had paid for it with his life. While Winter felt some grim satisfaction in knowing karma had caught up to the man, it was a fact she would never openly admit. She was a Schnee, after all. She had an image to maintain.
Three months, that's how long it took for the inquiry to be resolved. While many had voiced their opinions that General Ironwood should be ordered to step down, the overall consensus had been that he be allowed to maintain his rank and position. Winter was more than a little relieved to know this. She knew Ironwood was not at fault so why should he be made to suffer for something he could not have prevented. The events at Vale had sparked something in Ironwood, though, a new life that hadn't been seen in the man in quite some time. The moment he was allowed to return to his position he began work on strengthening Atlas in order to prevent the same events that had engulfed Vale to happen to them. Had she been more attentive, more rational in her thinking, she might have seen what was happening. She hadn't, however. Like the loyal soldier she was she simply stood by and did just as she was told. She had been a fool.
Ironwood, free of the charges, began making drastic changes to Atlas. The first came in the form of their trade laws. All at once the exporting of Dust ceased and with it a large chunk of the profits that came in from around the world. While Ironwood made sure the military didn't suffer for the consequences of her actions, Winter wasn't as greatly concerned with a dip in her paycheck as she was with the toll this would take on the people of Atlas as a whole. Despite what many may have assumed, the profits brought in from the exporting of Dust benefited more than just the SDC. Ever since her grandfather, Nicholas Schnee, first discover the Dust mines within Mantle, their entire economy and livelihoods became tied to the product. One might say it was the very foundation of their society and by removing it they would remove the only guarantee they had of standing on solid ground. Many voiced their concerns with Ironwood's brash decision, most notably her father. Many were unhappy with his decision and through it all Winter kept silent. She trusted Ironwood. He had never led her astray in the past. She would remain loyal to him. She was a soldier, after all, and in the end the only thing a soldier had left was their loyalty.
It would be nearly half a year before the second of Ironwood's political decisions was put forth and Winter found herself at greater odds with her superior's decisions. Fearing for the safety of Atlas, Ironwood had ordered all borders leading in and out of the continent to be closed off. All military personnel currently stationed outside of Mantle had been recalled and anyone seeking entry or leave from Mantle were required to have a special permit, signed by Ironwood himself, allowing them to do so. While Ironwood thoughts his actions just, Winter saw them for what they truly were. James Ironwood, General of the Atlas military and holder of two seats on the Atlas council, had effectively turned their country into a prison with himself as warden.
Winter was conflicted. She could no longer fool herself in believing that following Ironwood's decisions was the right course of action. She respected the man and had trusted in his decisions and ideals but his time in Vale had changed him. He was shutting out the world and turning on anyone who he saw as disloyal or a threat. How long before he looked at her that way? How long before he saw her as a threat or worse attempted to harm her family? Her best course of action would be to strike first but how could she do such a thing? While Winter wrestled with her loyalties to Atlas and the reality of what was happening to her home, another arose who showed no such conflict, only determination.
She shouldn't have been surprised but somehow it caught her off guard all the same. A coup d'état, led by Calcipher Mordan, rose up and overthrew Ironwood in an instant. Within days the Atlas military headquarters was under his control along with a vast majority of their military's resources. From there he moved swiftly, expanding his territory and influence in a bid to place all of Mantle under his control. Had it been Ironwood she might have hesitated but against Calcipher she felt no such conflict. With renewed determination focused on a new foe, Winter gathered as many soldiers still loyal to Atlas and made a stand at the council building. They held, against impossible odds they maintained their hold over their small patch of freedom.
The ever increasing defeats that the enemy was mounting up helped to fuel her troop's moral but Winter did not share in their revelries of victory. Something was off. Calcipher wasn't utilizing everything at his disposal and this caused a subtle wave of fear to wash over her whenever she looked towards the academy.
The moment Calcipher had taken their headquarters he'd gained access to their greatest weapons including their vast naval fleet. Hundreds of Atlas battlecruisers, all equipped with cannons capable of turning their small building into a pile of rubble and ash. Even something as simple as a cargo ship was more than a match for them, not simply because of its armaments but rather it's capability of dropping a dozen or more Atlas paladins onto their heads, metal cannon fader that could be easily replaced. It was obvious to her that Calcipher was planning something but what?
Her answer came a few days later when a young boy about Weiss' age with blond hair made his way towards the front gates of the building. Unarmed and hands held high, he came under a banner of a truce and requested an audience with Winter Schnee. Despite the protests of her officers, Winter allowed him entry. Curiosity at Calcipher's tactics and the realization that he could have destroyed them ages ago but had chosen not to weigh heavily on her mind. Whoever this boy was he was not intended to kill her.
She met with him in one of the briefing rooms, her sitting at the desk while the boy stood on the opposite side. He introduced himself as Jaune Arc, Calcipher's adopted son, and claimed that he come here voluntarily to issue an ultimatum to her. Before she could ask any questions of her own the boy slide a scroll across the table and instructed her to look at the pictures displayed there. Winter grabbed the scroll, keeping her eyes focused on the boy, before flicking the screen and found them glued to it. Before her were various images of her family members, including her sister, held captive by Calcipher.
"They are in good health and will remain as such should you do as we ask. Surrender and your family will go free."
If the boy had said more or intended to, Winter was unsure. All she knew was that rage had overtaken her as he saber left her side and found it's tip hovering just inches from Jaune's neck. The boy made no move to counter. In fact, he showed no signs of fear whatsoever. His calm, collected attitude, while admirable, disturbed Winter more than she cared to admit. Before long he bid her goodbye and left, the scroll still in her hands as she contemplated what had just happened. She laughed. It was all she could do. She'd been defeated before she even had a chance to fight back. Realizing it now it should have been obvious but she had been so deluded, so determined to retake Atlas from someone she was convinced was the real enemy that she didn't realize he'd out maneuvered her before she even had a chance to take a single step. A few hours later she surrendered.
Now she sat in this interrogation room, awaiting the arrival of her captor. Various scenarios flashed through her mind. She could just imagine the man himself, how pompous and arrogant he would be. The very thought of having been outsmarted, out maneuvered by such a man angered her to no end. Even while handcuffed she would still be able to overtake him and the moment he let his guard down she would strike. Her thoughts were soon interrupted as the door to the interrogation room creaked open. Winter's gaze snapped to the doorway, the image of the man she had borne into her mind at the forefront, and was momentarily surprised to see he looked nothing like she'd suspected.
The man himself was tall, taller even than Ironwood who was himself a good foot above most men. The pudgy, grotesque physique she'd imagined was anything but as he was well built and toned with not a trace of fat on the skin that was exposed. Despite being middle-aged he looked fairly young, his hair cropped short in a military fashion. His overall uniform was sleek and built for combat though notably devoid of any sort of weaponry, obviously to prevent Winter from using it against him. As he pushed the door open she noticed he was carrying a pitcher of water in one hand and a pair of glasses in the other.
He walked calmly over to the desk, set down the glasses before filling them both, then slid a glass over to her before taking a long drink of his own. When Winter made no move to sip her own he gazed at her in confusion before a spark of realization flitted across his eyes and he produced a small key which he used to unlock her handcuffs. All of this surprised Winter while at the same time put her more on guard. It was obvious he didn't consider her a threat and even more so considered himself more than a match to subdue her should she retaliate.
"Sorry I'm late," he said in a sincere manner, "you have no idea how much paperwork is involved in running a government. It's a wonder James ever got anything done."
"I'm surprised you didn't take that into account when you decided to stab Ironwood in the back. Tell me, did you even consider the implications, the consequences of your actions that would arise from your rebellion or were you just so focused on seizing control that you didn't even care?"
The guilt and anger Winter had been holding within boiled over, directing itself at the only other person in the room aside from herself. In truth all of it had been meant for her but Calcipher was an easy, if not willing, target and she was all too happy to alleviate herself of these negative feelings through him. In all honesty the man took it well. He showed no signs of having been insulted or offended by what she'd said. Like a parent listening to their child throw a tantrum he waited patiently for her to finish before replying.
"You haven't touched your water," he pointed out, completely evading her previous questions.
"Did you hear a word I just said?"
"Yes, all of it in fact. I simply noticed you haven't touched your water. I understand you've been waiting in here for quite some time so I assumed you'd be thirsty."
"I have no desire to sample anything you have to offer me," she replied in a snide tone.
"Oh? Why is that? Afraid I might have poisoned the water? No, not the water. The cup, perhaps?" he mused.
Without waiting for an answer he sized the glass and drained its contents. As soon as the last drop had slid down the glass he held it out and upside down in an exaggerated display. "See, perfectly safe. If you're thirsty I can get you another glass. I'm sure you'd prefer not to drink from the same cup as myself. If you'd like something I can have someone- "
"I'd prefer it if you answered my questions!" she interrupted.
Calcipher, who had been caught by surprise at her sudden outburst, relaxed his face into a tired smile. He set the glass back down, leaning back in his seat as he regarded the young woman sitting across from him with obvious interest.
"You haven't changed. Even when you were just a toddler you were just as impatient," he said. When he noticed the confused, disbelieving look she shot him he continued, "Tell me, Miss Schnee, why do you think I never took you into custody sooner? Why did I allow you and those still loyal to Ironwood to remain isolated in the council building for so long unimpeded? Did you think I was incapable of simply storming the building and taking you by force?"
"Of course not. I'm not so arrogant to think we had any chance of repelling an assault by you and your conspirators nor was I so naïve to think you were incapable of taking us by force. You have complete control over our armies and navies. It would have been child's play for you to waltz right up to the front doors and demand our immediate surrender. I simply believed you had deferred your forces to some other purpose."
"How very astute of you and right on the nose, I might add. You are correct in your observations. Eliminating your rebels would have been as simple as pressing a switch and watching as the cannons on our cruisers reduced you and yours to ashes. Now that it's been established, why do you think I took so long getting around to you?"
"I'm not sure. Why don't you tell me? You're obviously dying to inform me, anyway."
Calcipher said nothing to her in response. His expression, having shifted into neutral, didn't change. He instead poured himself another glass, took a thoughtful sip, savoring the taste, before finally giving her an answer.
"Earlier you ask if I had considered the consequences of my actions. I had. In fact, I had predicted a great deal of what transpired not long after I removed James from power. Atlas dissolved into panic. Fear gripped the hearts of many Atlesians, all wondering what was to become of them and their futures. That fear, of course, attracted the attention of the Grimm.
The moment I had James in custody I immediately turned my attention towards seizing control of our armies and navies. I knew that, once word spread of my hostile takeover, for lack of a better term, that the ensuing fear and panic would draw the Grimm in mass like sharks who'd caught the scent of blood in the water. Needless to say my prediction was right. I doubt you've had a chance to see what the border walls along the frontier look like but, for the first few days, it was an ocean of darkness as far as the eye could see. We've only just brought things under control but it's only a matter of time before something else stirs up the Grimm once more and has them hounding at our gates."
While Winter would never admit it, certainly not to her captor of all people, she was grateful that he had overlooked her and followers, instead opting to focus his attention on the encroaching hoard of Grimm. The fact that she had been relegated to playing second fiddle, which in any other situation would have been insulting if not downright offensive, was something she could respect when considering the overall safety and well wellbeing of their citizens. Regardless, though, it didn't dismiss his actions which had led to this point in time. He was still a usurper and that was something she could never allow herself to overlook.
"I see, so strategically I was unimportant," she concluded.
"Don't sell yourself so short, Miss Schnee. Were you unimportant we wouldn't be sitting here, having this conversation. You were simply not my highest priority at the time. Now, however, you have my complete undivided attention."
"Then I am to assume your presence here is to try and convince me to support you in your takeover of Atlas?"
"Eh, in a manner," he admitted.
"Then forget it," she snarled. "My loyalty is to Atlas and its people, not you. I would sooner die, running my saber through my heart, than betray my people to swear loyalty to you."
"You know what I find rather humorous about our little exchange here? You think you're insulting me, defying me by refusing what you perceive to be an offer on my part for you to join my regime. The irony is that you couldn't be further from the truth. I have no intention of recruiting you to my cause. I brought you here for a completely different reason, one closer to home, in more ways than one."
"And what could that possibly be?" she spat.
Rather than answer her, Calcipher instead reached a hand into his combat vest. Winter tensed, her aura activating as she prepared for a weapon of some sort to fly across the table and imbed itself into her flesh. Calcipher noticed this and chuckled, obviously amused by her reaction, before removing his hand once more. It was empty, or appeared to be, but his hands were clenched shut. He reached across the table, depositing its contents with an audible clink of metal on metal before retracting his hand once more.
Winter's eyes never wavered from Calcipher. Even when he placed the item on the table, hers remained fix on his face, studying his expression. The amused and joking facade had faded, set now in a firm, serious expression that seemed almost foreign for the man yet at the same time seemed almost natural, as if he had worn it so often before that to see him without it would feel strange. She finally allowed herself to gaze down and was confused by what she saw set before her.
She had seen them often enough. Her first time had been when she entered the Atlas Academy and watched as General Ironwood gave his welcoming speech. She'd seen the insignia clipped to his lapel, polished and immaculate like the rest of his uniform yet they somehow stood out. Perhaps it was the fact that, to reach such heights required a great deal of skill, patience, and determination. Though she would never admit it, Winter would sometimes fantasize about one day wearing those same insignia on her lapel as well. The thought had made her giddy at the time but, as she grew older and more experienced, she'd found a greater satisfaction came from simply serving her people and working under General Ironwood himself.
To see them now, though, sitting on the interrogation table confused her. What was he getting at? What was the purpose? Was he attempting to make a veiled threat, as if to say he'd removed Ironwood and would do the same to her? No, not likely. Calcipher had shown he was more than capable or willing to remove someone who was in his way publicly. It obviously didn't bother him who knew it. So why, why place them before her? What was their purp-!
The realization struck her like an Ursa's paw to the face. Her eyes instantly flicked to his, hoping, praying it was all a joke. The icy cold realization spread slowly through her body as his stone carved expression looked back. He was serious about this. It wasn't a joke. It wasn't a game. He was offering to make her a General.
"No," she spoke softly.
"Winter," he replied, his tone firm as if her were speaking to an unruly child.
"I refuse," she said, her tone loud and defiant.
"Be reasonable, Winter," he tried to argue.
"Reasonable? You're attempting to bribe me with a promotion and you want me to be reasonable?"
"Yes, because you still think I want you to work for me, under me, and it's anything but. I have no intention of ruling over Atlas and its people. My work requires my presence elsewhere."
"So you're running away? You're going to take your men, our armies, our resources, and leave us to fend for ourselves against the Grimm? Ha, you're more of a coward than I thought."
"Damn it Winter, that is enough!" he roared, rising to his feet.
Winter was on her feet as well, glaring across the table at her captor. The two were locked eye to eye, neither giving the other a reprieve. After a moment Calcipher relented, his gaze softening as a tired sigh escaped from his lips. Though the man was only fifty-five years old he had seen and done much in that time. It was not uncommon for hunters and even soldiers at his age to retire, the stress of the lives they'd led taking their toll on them.
"Winter, child, I want to make one thing perfectly clear," he said, his tone exhausted, "I have no intention of abandoning Atlas and its people. I have no intention of leaving them defenseless, leaderless, naked before the enemy while I race off to my next destination. I overthrew Ironwood, yes, and I would do so again because he has become a blight on this people. Under his leadership they were suffering, suffocating. You of all people must have noticed.
I removed a man I believed to be a cancer and now I'm replacing him with someone I believe can help Atlas to heal and possibly grow stronger under their guidance. Winter, my being here and offering you the rank of General isn't a bribe, it's a request. I'm asking you to take up James' mantle. I'm asking you to lead your people."
Winter was silent, his words sincere though heavy. While her suspicions persisted she couldn't help but feel somehow he spoke the truth. Still, something was bothering her. Of all the people to ask to replace Ironwood why choose her? She held no loyalties to him, no obligations. Aside from a few brief exchanges here and there they'd never really come to know one another. How then could he have judged her as being fit to lead?
"Why?" she asked.
The question, while broad, was not so cryptic so as to cause him to wonder.
"Did you know that I was raised by your grandfather, Nicholas?" he asked.
Winter cocked an eyebrow, the action earning her a chuckle from the man.
"I don't mean he adopted me and raised me in secret. I came to live with him and your mother as her personal bodyguard. I was an employee, a man who had no business being seen as anything more than a hired hand. Yet, he treated me with kindness and respect. He never shied away from asking me to sit with him and his family at meals or to speak to him as plainly as I'm speaking with you now. I was there as a bodyguard and yet he treated me like a son.
When you and your siblings were born I paid a great deal of attention to your progress. I was interested not only in what you would accomplish but in what ways you would develop. I wanted to see how much of that man I came to love and respect resided in you. You were the first, Winter, and you did not disappoint. Even from a young age I saw a great deal of that man's spirit in you and despite your father's best efforts to stamp it out you defied him at every turn. That's not to say you didn't learn from him. On the contrary, you took his lessons and learned everything you needed to succeed, to excel, and then left him behind completely, stronger than he could have ever hoped.
I am a soldier, Winter. I have been ever since I was a child. As such a soldier's abilities are limited to two areas of expertise; protect our people and kill our enemies. I've proven quite effective with the latter and as for the former," he paused for a moment, his eyes growing misty and distant before remembering where he was, "well, it could use some improvement. That being said, my ability to lead people on the battlefield does not translate to being able to lead them in the civilian sector. I am useless here. They need someone better, someone who knows how best to guide them.
You are a soldier, Winter, but you are also well versed in politics. You know how to navigate that battlefield and it gives you an immense advantage over me. You also feel a great deal of loyalty towards your people and that makes you irreplaceable. I'm giving you this rank, child, as a request on their behalf. Lead your people, Winter. Be the person they can depend on, that they can trust to hold their best interests at heart without question. Please."
While Winter had her misgivings about the man, and she had many of them, she nonetheless found his speech sincere and heartfelt. She looked once more to the insignia still sitting on the table, the light from the florescent lighting over heart reflecting off their polished surface. She picked them up, gazing at them in the palm of her hand as she careful considered her next move.
"The army and navy?" she asked.
"Leadership and power over them will be transferred directly to you. I'll be sure to update you on what tasks I've assigned everyone."
"Ironwood?"
"Currently in our custody. He'll be your responsibility once I'm gone. I can't exactly drag him around with me."
"My men?"
"Released to your care."
"My family?"
"Safe, unharmed, and under your protection. All except for your sister, that is," he said before quickly adding when Winter's gaze turned hostile, "I'm sending her and my son Jaune to meet up with their teams from Beacon in Mistral. It was her intention to reunite with them prior to the border closure. I see little reason to keep them separate. They'll be perfectly safe, I assure you."
She silently, though reluctantly, accepted his words. Taking a moment, she reached up to her lapel, removing her Specialist insignia before replacing them with the General's. While the two were made of the same material, they felt almost heavier for some reason. Winter knew why that was and though she would usually scoff at such superstition, right now she could think of no other plausible explanation.
"So," she asked, "what's our next move?"
Now…
"James, allow me to introduce your replacement. I'm sure there's no need for introductions," Calcipher said, unable to hide the smirk that spread across his face as he looked at Ironwood's disbelief.
"What the hell is this?" he managed to hiss.
"It's exactly what it looks like. Winter will be taking over your duties as the head of the Atlas military and overall protector of Mantle. Honestly, I thought she was the perfect choice. If nothing else, you made sure she had all the qualifications necessary. Not to mention the fact she's built up such an ironclad reputation within the military that it's doubtful anyone would question her taking the reins from you."
"So she's a traitor!" Ironwood snapped.
"Traitor insinuates that she was working with me from the beginning. She isn't a traitor, not by any means. In truth, it took a great deal of effort for me to convince her this was the right course of action. She truly is a cut above the rest."
"That's it then? You replace me with her and use her as a pawn to run Atlas?"
"Not exactly. I have no intention of running Atlas, let alone sticking around. Winter doesn't work for me, in any form or fashion. She works for the people of Atlas. Her loyalties lie strictly with them and them alone."
"Where does that leave me?"
"Honestly, that depends on your people. Personally, I'd just leave you in a cell and be done with it but they may have bigger plans for you. That being said, my job here is done. I've already turned everything over to General Schnee so I'll be pulling out."
"And where will you be going from here?" Ironwood questioned.
Rather than answer him, Calcipher gave him a coy smile, one that seemed almost crafted to both mock him and elude to something greater. Without answering him, Calcipher instead pressed the intercom on the desk, signaling the secretary.
"Yes sir?"
"James is ready to be returned to his cell."
"Understood, I'll send them in."
No sooner had the words been spoken when the doors to the officer swung open and two MPs waltzed in before taking hold of Ironwood and hauling him to his feet. Despite his defeat the man still struggled. His eyes bore into Calcipher, pure unfiltered hatred burning behind his irises.
"This isn't the end, Mordan!" he yelled as he was dragged away. "I will make you pay for this! Mark my words, you will pay!"
His words became more and more inaudible as the distance grew, leaving the four of them to stand in awkward silence.
"So, General, I trust that everything is in order," Calcipher said, attempting the break the silence.
"Indeed. Everything is as it should be."
"Very good. Well, if you'll excuse us, we should be taking our leave."
"A moment please," she said, stopping him at the door. "I'd like a moment with my sister, if it's not too much to ask?"
"Of course. Jaune and I will be waiting outside."
Calcipher motioned to his son who didn't need to be told twice. They quickly shut the doors behind them, leaving the sisters to silently stare at one another, neither one of them quite certain of what they should say.
"It's good to see you again, Weiss. I'm sorry that it had to be under such unfortunate circumstances."
"It's understandable," Weiss said politely. "Winter, if I may ask, why did you agree to work with Mordan? Was Ironwood correct in saying you've changed allegiances?" she asked, getting straight to the point.
"He was and he wasn't," Winter stated, her answer as vague as it was short. "My allegiance has always been to and will always be with Atlas. That has not changed in the slightest. My allegiance with Mordan is more opportunistic than an alliance of power. He holds no authority over me or our people. At best you might call it an allegiance of convenience."
"So when he said that you'll be working for the people of Atlas?"
"He meant every word," Winter concluded. "In return I've agreed to provide him aid should he ever call upon us. For some reason he seems convinced it will somehow involve you and your team from Beacon. Usually I'd have thought him delusional but, after seeing the records from your first year there, as well as the revelation that you were attempting to escape Atlas to meet up with your team in Mistral, I've come to realize that the man may have more insight than I gave him credit for."
"Indeed," Weiss admitted. "Will I see you again, sister?"
"That depends. My duties will keep me here, for the most part, but should your travels lead you back home know that my doors will always be open to you and your friends."
Their parting, while short, was nonetheless sweet. Winter embraced her younger sister, holding back tears that threatened to cascade down her cheeks. No, she wouldn't allow it. She was a Schnee and now the leader of Atlas. She had an image to keep. Before her sister could completely escape her embrace, however, she whispered softly to her.
"Don't place all your trust in Mordan."
"I know."
"I don't think you do. I'm not saying he's not to be trusted. You can trust him to a certain extent but not fully."
"How do you mean?"
"There is an edge to that man. He means well, of that I have no doubt, but it feels almost as if he expects this to be his end. Make sure it does not become yours as well."
Weiss gave her a quizzical look but Winter waved it off casually. She then opened the doors, revealing both Calcipher and Jaune waiting patiently for the pair to finish.
"Thank you for that. I wish you all safe journeys."
"And to you I wish the best in your new position," Mordan echoed, giving her a firm handshake before leading the children down the hall and out of sight.
"This is where we must part ways, I'm afraid," Mordan said.
Calcipher, along with his adopted son Jaune and Weiss Schnee, had walked in relative silence down to the hangars. While that time was typically spent in deep conversation between Jaune and himself, with the addition of the young heiress it had quickly become an awkward affair. Neither had wanted to start a conversation that might inevitably leave her out but they weren't entirely sure she'd want to speak with either of them. The circumstances that had brought them together were anything but pleasant and the thought of her using it as a means to kill any attempt at a pleasant conversation had soiled the idea before it had a chance to take root.
"My transport is in another hangar. I'm sure I don't need to tell you two to be cautious but, regardless, watch each other's backs out there."
"We will, father. You have no need to worry about us," Jaune chided.
"I'm fairly certain it's because I worry that you've managed to live this long," Calcipher shot back.
The two fell into a chuckle before giving each other a firm hug and departing. Now left alone with Weiss, Jaune felt unnaturally nervous. Stealing a glance towards her he noticed she was purposely averting her gaze, a fact that he found strangely calming.
"We'll be taking off soon. You two should probably climb aboard and get comfortable," their pilot instructed.
They nodded their agreement and quickly clambered into the air craft where Jaune choose a seat with Weiss taking one opposite his and a few feet away. He smirked, amused at her attempt to put some distance between them, before reaching into his pocket to withdraw a bottle of airsick pills. While he'd gained a fairly good bit of control over his airsickness, their flight was due to be a long one and he didn't trust himself to hold out the entire time. As soon as he popped a couple and swallowed, he turned his attention towards Weiss.
The tension between them was thick enough that he could have cut through it with his sword. His actions here in Atlas had effectively soured their once pleasant relationship and it didn't look to be improving anytime soon. Still, Jaune saw little reason to spend their entire trip ignoring one another and, given the fact they would be meeting up with their teams once more, he felt it best if they tackle the issue now while they had some spare time.
"I know you're disappointed in me," he said, making sure his voice carried down to her. Weiss made no indication that she'd heard him but a slight change in her expression told him she'd heard his voice. "Holding it all in isn't going to be beneficial for our relationship, our friendship," he added, knowing she'd bristle at the previous insinuation, "just say what you need to say. Be as honest as you want, I can take it. We're going to be working together and I'd rather it be on mutual terms."
Weiss didn't say anything. He wasn't surprised. If anything he took it as a good sign. He knew Weiss was taking his words seriously and giving careful consideration to her response. It was only after the airship had started its engines and began lift off that she finally found the words.
"You called us friends," she said.
"Yes, I did," he agreed, wondering where she was going with this.
"All the secrets, the lies, the carefully laid plans. Every movement and action you took from beginning to now was with a purpose and still you called us your friends." Her gaze shifted, locking onto his own. Jaune felt his stomach rumble with apprehension, either from the turbulence or the sharp glare he was getting, he couldn't quite tell.
"Yes, you were my friends," he said, assuming her previous statement required a response.
"So was that a code, a term meant to label temporary pawns in you and your father's ever expanding schemes or was it simply a playful pet name of your own design?" she asked in a snide tone.
Jaune was puzzled by the question before his mind slowly unraveled what she was insinuating. His confusion soon gave way to a dull pain as he realized that she thought he'd seen them all as tools, a means to an end. She thought he never really cared about the bonds he'd forged with each of them and that hurt him more than anything.
"It was no code," he said, speaking softly, "I considered each and everyone of you to be my friends. I cared for each of you. For all your faults and the antics you dragged me into," he said, giving her a knowing look that had her shifting her gaze, a blush rising in her cheeks, "the time I spent with you all is precious to me."
"And Pyrrha?" Weiss shot back.
Her comment was like a spear to the heart. Pyrrha had been a friend, that much was for certain, but in other ways she had been more. Thinking on her was not something he often did, mostly due to the unfortunate circumstances that led to her demise. He still had dreams about that night as well, fighting along side his partner against a newly empowered Fall Maiden in the form of Cinder Fall and watching as the woman tossed them around like rag dolls before impaling her with an arrow. The only saving grace had been Ruby's timely arrival to force the woman to retreat but by then it was too late. All that had remained of her was ashes and the few accessories that hadn't been burned by Cinder's flames.
"Pyrrha was my friend, my partner," he said, unwilling to admit the deeper, more unspoken feelings he had to himself, let alone Weiss.
"She loved you," Weiss pointed out.
"I know," he admitted.
"She really cared for you and we thought you felt the same."
"She meant more to me than you realize."
"Then why didn't you ever tell her?"
"It's not that simple, Weiss."
"I beg to differ," she challenged.
"You assume far too much," he countered. "Pyrrha isn't the only person I've lost. She isn't the only person I had who was precious to me, who I had to watch die because I wasn't strong enough, wasn't skilled enough to protect them. I'm alive because of their sacrifices and that means I have a debt which I may never be able to repay."
"A debt or a vendetta?" Weiss clarified.
"You'll just have to wait and see," he said.
For the remainder of their flight they would stay in relative silence, neither speaking any further for fear of what they might let something they would regret slip. Predictably, fate would have other plans. It would not be long before they found themselves assailed by Grimm and thrown to the mercies of the Branwen tribe. That, however, is not where our story shall be headed to just yet.
For now we must turn back the clock. Back before the fall of Beacon, before the birth of Jaune Arc, before many of the events that took place. For now we must return to Atlas, to the dark underbelly of the city where only the strong and desperate survive. Here is where the story begins as a young boy with nothing is offered the chance to claim everything.
And so our time with Jaune and Weiss comes to an end for an unspecified amount of time. In all seriousness, though, the members of team RWBY and JNPR along with the rest of their friends won't be seen for quite some time so you'll need to get used to that.
As part of my consolidation of the timelines I decided to start with the beginning of Calcipher's history and worked my way forward from there. It will make certain events easier to write, make things a little easier to understand as the story progresses, and all around allows me to develop him as a character as well as consider some potential OCs for late down the line. Focusing on a non-RWBY cannon storyline will also allow me to work on the later chapters I have planned for when their teams return to Atlas. All in all, I suspect at least two, maybe three, more volumes of the show will have dropped by the time I've caught up which will give me a lot of material to work with.
Whelp, hope you all enjoyed this rewrite. Let me know your thoughts in the comments and I'll see you next chapter.