A/N
Hello all, I am WolfOfTheLegion and this is my first chapter in my first story.
I've never published anything before in my life and quite frankly the prospect is downright terrifying. So if you can find a few seconds to review (and please do) please be gentle.
Alas, onto the story.
In Passing is a series of one shots that describe the moments in which different characters unlock their Auras. The manifestations of their souls. Our first chapter takes a look at the Heiress with a heart of Ice. Weiss Schnee.
Sorry about the short length of the chapter. But i'm still trying to get a handle on my style and I've always believed in quality over quantity. I have a few planned which show my unique twists on the RWBY universe. I'm treating canon as more guidelines instead of rules. Using this story to experiment with what works and what doesn't.
And for you shippers. This chapter has got some WhiteRose.
Thank you so much for even reading this far, and enjoy.
ˆ˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ˆ
The screaming warble of a Scroll alarm shattered the peaceful calm of Weiss's room. She reached over to silence the infernal contraption. Pawing lazily at the screen while trying to brush her ivory hair out of her face.
Reluctantly throwing the covers aside she climbed out of her four poster bed and trudged to the shower. After completing her morning ablutions and dressing in the clothes she had designed herself she stood at a loss of what to do.
Weiss was finding that a recurring theme lately. With no real friends and a less than warm relationship with the rest of her family she was left to pursue her own hobbies.
It wasn't a problem on weekdays. She had her studies to keep her occupied but with all her work done in advance she was at a loss of what to do with herself.
Saturday's were the worst. People her age were supposed to worship the weekend. Instead she faced two days of idle boredom.
Weiss hated it. Hated it so much.
Sighing she reached for the door handle only to hear a gentle knock on the door. Straightening her dress Weiss opened the door.
"Winter. What a pleasant surprise." she said politely.
Winter smiled at her sister. "Good morning Weiss. May I come in?"
"Of course" Weiss said, ushering her inside.
They sat at Weiss's table. Unbidden servants arrived with tea. Weiss contemplated why Winter would be here. Has there been another White Fang attack?
Had those filthy Faunis taken another person from her?
"Weiss…" Winter began. She seemed to be deciding how to broach a delicate subject.
Weiss's heart began to thump wildly. Winter was rarely uncertain.
"What do you want to do with your life?" She asked finally.
Weiss was taken aback. Winter knew perfectly well what was in store for the young heiress. She would grow up to take control of the company. Marry a suitable husband and produce an heir. It had been mapped out for her from birth.
"You know what I want doesn't matter." She said angrily.
Winter simply rose an eyebrow. "Do you think what I wanted mattered before I decided to become a specialist. To break free from the control of our father? A Schnee takes what is theirs. What they desire. So I ask you again Weiss. What do you want?"
Weiss opened her mouth to say she wanted to be the heiress. To say she wanted the life that had been chosen for her.
But the words wouldn't form. She couldn't say them as a traitorous voice in the back of her mind screamed to be heard.
She went to finally say it. To seal her fate as the heiress of the SDC.
Her eyes caught herself in the mirror.
Who am I?
"I want to be a Huntress" she blurted out.
Winter simply smiled as she remembered her own beginning to her forbidden dream. Except she had no one to help her along.
Weiss reeled from her own declaration. In her heart a small ember was burning. Fighting to melt the ice around it and break free to realise her dreams.
"I train in secret." She admitted to Winter. It was a secret only a few servants knew. "I've been training every spare day I have since I was old enough to know what a Huntress is. What it means to be one."
It felt so good to pour her heart out. To give voice to her forbidden fantasy.
"I'll need to see what you can do first. Follow me." without another word Winter swept herself from the room. Weiss followed behind eagerly.
They arrived in a room Weiss wasn't familiar with. It was a wide open space with various obstacles and training implements on racks in the corner.
They took positions across from each other. Practise swords in hand. A cutlass for the older sister and rapier for the younger.
Slow your breathing. Back straight. Right foot forward.
Without warning or ceremony Winter came at her with a flurry of strikes. Pain blossomed on her arms as Weiss failed to block all but two of the strikes.
Winter withdrew and seemed to contemplate. "Sufficient" she remarked.
Weiss felt her anger rise. She didn't want to be sufficient she wanted to be perfect.
Bracing her sword in front of her she shot forward as fast as her legs could carry her.
It wasn't enough to match a trained Huntress. Winter seemed to blur as she shot to the side as planted two quick touches on her legs, causing the Heiress to stumble forward. Capitalizing on her loss of balance the older Schnee planted multiple merciless strikes on her younger sister.
Weiss shot to her feet. Clutching a particularly painful bruise on her shoulder.
"I've seen enough." Winter said.
Weiss's heart sank. Had she disappointed Winter? Did she have what it takes to be a Huntress?
"Tell me dear sister. What do you know of Aura?"
Put on the back foot by her question Weiss racked her brain for its knowledge on Aura. And came up very blank.
"I know all Hunters have it. It hasn't been part of my studies though. Father's doing I suspect."
Winter huffed and gestured to a small sitting area off to the side. They both sat and Winter began to explain.
"Aura is the manifestation of our souls. A person who has it unlocked can project their Aura outwards as a force. To deflect even the harshest of injury. If you tried to punch me. You'd break your hand. Our weapons are conduits for our Aura. Extensions of our souls. Our Aura also fuels our semblances. Unique powers that further serve to express our personalities and aid us in combat." Winter smiled fondly. "We are a violent species. But I did once know a man who's semblance was that he could tell when it was about to rain." She waved her arm dismissively "But I digress. Weiss. If you are absolutely sure you want to be a Huntress I will unlock your Aura."
Weiss considered for a few moments. Lightly tapping her nails against the table, a nervous tick of hers. "Does it hurt?" She asked.
"Not at all. For the unlocker there is a lot of exertion required. So do not be alarmed if I stumble slightly. But for the person who's Aura is being unlocked the experience is actually quite the rush."
Weiss nodded assuredly to herself. She had chosen her path. She had chosen to rebel against her father's control. At least as much as she could. Would he let her go to Vale knowing that Atlas had already robbed him of one heiress to the company?
Racked with anxiety she steeled herself. First thing was first. Her Aura.
"Do it" she said.
Winter laid her hand against her shoulder. "Close your eyes" she instructed.
"For it is our minds and spirits that hold our true selves. Here we are infinite in depth, and unbound by limits of the flesh. Though your body may pass, you will live on in the hearts and minds of others. I release your soul, but in my memory I hold you forever"
It started in her chest. Right over her heart. She felt the most incredible rush of power as she felt the ember that was her soul sprout into a raging flame. The feeling spread throughout her until all of her senses were on fire. For a moment she got a glimpse of a mirror with cracks just underneath the surface, all filed with ice.
Cyan light exploded out of them and the room was bathed in the light of Weiss's soul.
But just as fast as it appeared. It was gone. Winter stumbled slightly as she removed her arm from her sister. Weiss maintained her balance with grace. Her senses felt heightened. She felt powerful.
"Thank you Winter. You have no idea how much this means to me."
Winter smiled sadly, a strange expression for her sister before she looked wistfully out of the window onto the mountainscape. "I do. While our journeys may be different. We both share the same goal." She turned and looked Weiss in the eye. "Freedom."
Just at that moment a servant came bursting through the door.
"Mistress's Schnee. Are you alright?"
Slamming her Ice Queen Persona into place she nodded curtly.
"Everything is fine. You may return to your duties."
The man she didn't know by name bowed and the door closed with a soft click.
Weiss couldn't help but let out a small indulgent mental squeal of delight.
She was going to be a Huntress!
ˆ˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜˜ˆ
Weiss found herself reflecting on that fateful day four years earlier. The journey she had made. The familiar grip of Myrtenaster spoke of that to her. About her journey as a warrior. Pouring her heart and soul into making her perfect weapon. How she had made it to Beacon two years earlier and met her team.
She pulled the red cloak of her partner tighter around her as she sat looking up at the shattered moon. She loved her team. Even if she didn't always show it. From the Ninja Faunus who she was raised to hate. But only felt a strange kinship with. To the Buxom Brawler whose protectiveness of anyone she had come to care about melted some of the ice around her heart.
Then there was her partner, and her girlfriend. The Red Reaper. The naive, sugar addicted Dolt. Ruby Rose was the best thing to ever happen to her and she was determined to keep hold of her no matter what. Through crazy White Fang attacks and strangely stylish criminals. She'd come to far to lose what had shattered the moniker of Ice Queen.
Weiss sighed in contentment, and watched the falling snow.