Authors Notes: Well, here I go again. This came a bit faster than I though, though it's more of a prologue, just a little getting to know you thingy. So I decided that I really wanna do my Dragon AU thing, so here it is. A quick bit of info to dump on you. Obviously, AU. There are still Grimm, but there are no humans, only Faunus, that means everyone is a Faunus. Sorta. Maybe a couple exceptions but those'll come up eventually. Otherwise, largely the same, though Weiss and company are of somewhat different ages. Weiss is about 24 here, give or take. Oh, and she and the Schnee's are Foxes. Almost went with Wolves, but I think this fits their Snow motif better.
As usual, please read and review. And if you got time, go follow me on Tumbr under the name BonhomieDragon. I'm kinda sorta entertaining, plus I sometimes post crap up there too, when I gots time! And uhhh...no I think that's about it.
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RWBY: Frozen Hearts and Fiery Prides
Chapter 1: We've Made a Grave Mistake...
A mixture of feelings began to well up in her stomach. Were it simply annoyance or irritation, she could just ignore it as those were so commonplace in her life she had become accustomed to it. No, it was a tingling feeling she got in the tip of her tail when something was about to go wrong,. Something about how she got a call only half a night ago and was being dragged back to Atlas from Vale to inspect some sort of new product. Or merchandise, or policy, or something along those lines. Regardless, she had a feeling of something unfortunate on the horizon and the tingle she was feeling on the tip of her tail was all the proof she needed.
Honestly, Weiss didn't know what it was. Her father was surprisingly nondescript in his summons, " Weiss, you will head back to the SDC Head Quarters immediately. Transportation has already been arranged. Please make sure to study the accompanying schedule and that you arrive at the designated locations at the prearranged times. Your sister will also be attending, so plan accordingly. Upon arrival, I shall unveil to you both the future of the Schnee Dust Company."
It was very unusual for her father to make such a demand out of the blue, and with so little advanced notice. Wilhelm Schnee, the man who headed the SDC, operated like clockwork, always on schedule and was highly prone to routine. Whenever he would request or demand Weiss attention or presence, he usually had their secretaries set up the meeting and the two of them would follow through. This was different though. This was something much bigger, and considering it involved both herself and Winter, it must be serious. Taking the time alone to be unladylike, the fox scratched the base of her left ear to alleviate an itch that had been irritating her, enjoying the brief sense of relief.
Still, it didn't help to worry about it, whatever the news may be. More so, Weiss dreaded having to sit in a car with Winter for the hour or so it would take to head to this special R+D facility that she had never heard about. Despite being an executive on the board of directors, a possible candidate for CEO of the SDC, and the current Chairwoman of Foreign Affairs across the entire company, Weiss was feeling more irritated knowing that there was yet another facility that she had no knowledge of. The number of secrets her father kept was alarmingly high, and as this was apparently a big one, she began to wonder about what the legal ramifications it held.
However, before she could really start to work her brain around the problem that was on the horizon, a new problem had just arrived. Wearing a similar long pale blue coat with the family emblem emblazoned across the back, Weiss' mirror image stepped out of a vehicle and waltzed up to the young woman, invading her personal space with intended offense.
" Oh my Weiss, it's been so long since I last saw you. You...look well...I can barely see that scar on your eye! Did you finally get some work done on it? Oh and your tail looks ever so lovely! It seems you've been taking very good care of your coat..." the shrill voice complemented in a backhanded manner. Weiss shook her head and did nothing to hide the scowl on her face, " Winter...it's...it's you..." Weiss said flatly between sighs.
To certain degrees, Winter was everything Weiss wasn't. As she was the first born between the twins, she was immediately favored across the family. Winter received the most attention, the most praise, the most expectations. She was always the first one roused from bed and the first one dressed. She was the first on out of the car and the first one in line. It wasn't that Weiss didn't try and fight against such a fate, it was that it was already predetermined by the rest of the family, and so Weiss would always be stuck in her sisters shadow. An accident in her early teens as the pair practiced their fencing against one another led Weiss to be scarred for life across her left eye, further emphasizing this notion to the Schnee family.
But she didn't let such ostracizing views slow her down. She still worked hard, and her grades and all other facets of her life mimicked those of her sister. She showed every one at every step that she was a match for Winter despite being born second. And despite being twins, Weiss was of the opinion that the fur of her tail and the hair on her head was a much softer and far lovelier shade of silver than that of her sister more 'gray' colored locks.
Their lack of pleasantries aside, Weiss stepped into the car and the pair were off onto their unknown destination.
" So how about it Weiss. Care to guess what Daddy has planned? Perhaps he'll finally name me Heiress tonight." Winter inquired with a boast.
" Hardly Winter. I don't know what Father wants, and in the long run, it doesn't matter. We show up, he tells us what he wants, and we take care of it." the twin stated flatly again, allowing her disapproval to shine through.
" You're no fun, like always Weiss. I suppose I don't blame you though. You're...you. And I'm me! You work with the foreigners and low rung laborers while I get to woo the CEO's and chairman to invest in the company. Being head of Domestic Affairs really is such an enviable position. Perhaps you should come shadow me sometime Weiss! I'm sure you'll love it. When I'm head of the company, if you keep doing well, maybe I'll move you into my position!" Winter boasted once again.
Aggravation welled up in Weiss' chest. She didn't outright hate her sister, but she certainly didn't possess a great deal of love for her either. Winter loved to rub Weiss' face in the fact that she got the cushy, higher profile position while Weiss toiled and negotiated day and night to expand the company into various new territories. Despite being used to Winter's constant harassment, it still always found it's way to the Weiss' very core.
" Winter. Please. Just...be quiet." Weiss said, reining in her anger before it got explosive.
Winter gave her sister a half glare before turning away to watch the scenery, snarking out a quiet " Whatever."
Ceasefire achieved, Weiss laid back in her seat and closed her eyes, happy with the small victory she bought for herself. The car ride lasted nearly 2 hours, and it was a wonderfully peaceful 2 hours of silence that Weiss needed before she would march into the storm. Finally, a small building appeared in view and as they reached it, Weiss found it strange that it looked so small for a research facility. Disembarking the vehicle, the twins made their way inside, and were greeted by a large elevator as well as an accompanying staircase. Waiting for the pair was a tall man with neatly cropped silver hair and pencil thin mustache, wearing a white suit with the Schnee emblem embroidered in silver. Along his sleeves, the embroidery continued in various patterns that seemed to almost dance across the fabric. He held his cane in both hands as he rested gently against it, nodding to the pair.
" Winter. Weiss. Good to see both my daughters looking well." he affirmed, his voice very even and stately.
" Oh Daddy, I just saw you a couple weeks ago! You're so silly sometimes!" Winter exclaimed as she flourished her arms in a flattering manner. Weiss shook her head at the act as Wilhelm changed his gaze to his other daughter.
" Hello father. It's good to see you too." Weiss said, genuinely though equally even.
Unlike Winter, Weiss hadn't seen her father in well over a month. Possibly 2. She did carry an affection for him as he was her father and had provided well for her, but the rules of her birth and the restrictions she had been tied with always kept him at arms reach for her.
" Well then, let's be off. It's time to show you what we've come across." he gestured with his arms as he lead the pair onto the elevator.
A quick press of the button and it began to lower.
" My dears, you're about to see that which could become the greatest find in over 50 years." the elder man began, speaking in a rehearsed manner.
As the elevator continued lower into the ground, Weiss had sworn she heard a faint bellowing.
" This could really push the balance of power for our family and the company. Once, a little over 50 years ago we came across a similar discovery before, but our technology, and our capacity for information had failed us and we were forced to scrap the program. But now, fortune once again finds the Schnee family, as it has always been in our favor through the blood and sweat of our fore fathers!" he continued.
Again, Weiss heard that bellowing, but this time, it was less faint. It was definitely audible, and it seemed that even Winter had heard it this time, as the fox found herself glancing about to see from whence it came. Wilhelm didn't seem bothered by it in the least, the the pair suspecting he was well aware of it, if not approvingly so.
" I know it might seem a bit far fetched, but we have now something in our possession that could thrust the Schnee's from being a political strong arm, to a world power. Something that could grant us enough power and influence to rival that of any Kingdom. Indeed, we have come across the most rare of species known to Faunus..." Wilhelm exposed with great vehemency.
The elevator reached the bottom finally, and Weiss would have wondered just how far down they actually were had there not been an almost deafening bellow roaring from just a bit further inside.
" Father...you need to tell us...what is it that you found?" Weiss asked, doing her best to shout over the roar.
Her father pointed off into the next hallway, a confident smile on his face. The pair of foxes looked to one another in a bout of alarm, but proceeded into the next hall. With each step that brought them closer, the roaring became longer and louder. Every now and then, they felt a tremor, or some kind of shock wave, to which Wilhelm again seemed to pay no mind. Finally, he led them into a final room. From within, various monitors were set up charting all kinds of information, many of them appearing as vital signs or various instruments of measurement. A small platoon of armed guards stood by, looking fairly confident. Winter perked a brow at the need for such a show of force in a lab so far underground, while Weiss' eyes were fixated on the large dark room before them. From what she could tell, it appeared to be circular, with enough space for a person to sprint about in short bursts. Maybe 20 feet high or so, but that was hard to tell.
Wilhelm gestured his daughters up to the large viewing space as various doctors, engineers, and scientists scrambled about their work. The room was nearly pitch black, but there was something stirring around within it. Despite the Faunus ability to see in the dark, the heavily armored glass construction in front of them distorted their ability to see anything besides the outline of a form within the dark.
" What's wrong? Where's the lights?" Wilhelm asked one of the engineers, who shakily stood at attention as he was addressed.
" About that sir, it looks as though she broke them...again. We should have them back up within a few minutes..." he stammered in a panic.
" Make it a priority. She needs to remain monitored." the elder Schnee commanded.
With a nod, the man took off and issued more instructions via his scroll.
Weiss and Winter pressed their faces against the glass fixture to try and get a better view of what was inside. In an almost cruel joke, there was a sudden flash of light as flames jetted across the room from one side to the other in an instant. A heavy fist smashed against the armored pane, sending a powerful shock wave through it that was felt well throughout the flooring and knocked Weiss and Winter on their backsides. Weiss' eyes fired open as she recovered. In the instant before the impact, she swore that she had seen a flash of wild blonde hair and red eyes that sought murder. But there was nothing there now. She once again turned to her father as she rose to her feet.
" Enough games Father! What the hell is that?" she shouted, her voice understandably fearful.
He put a hand behind both the girls and walked them back up to the panel again despite their reluctance. A moment later, the same thing, a flash of light and flame, and a pair of hands slapped hard against the armored glass, sending another jolt throughout the facility. However this time, the form lingered.
She stood in front of Weiss, staring directly at her with glowing red eyes. Flames huffed from the woman's mouth to reveal herself in full. Long, untamed blonde hair, just as Weiss had seen. Furious red eyes that pierced through her very body and soul. She was tall, slightly tan, curvacious, and wearing what appeared to be only scraps of clothes that were torn and singed. Her arms were toned and her muscles flared as she pressed on the glass, presenting herself as a powerful creature with no equal. Despite her disheveled appearance however, she was gorgeous, though Weiss had little to no time to appreciate the woman's beauty as her enraged stare seemed to move to Wilhelm. Nails began to dig into the glass fixture as tiny cracks began to form at the surface. Weiss and Winter both looked to him now for an answer, and he smiled triumphantly as he gave his answer.
" My dear daughters...this is the key to the future of our company. The future of the Schnee Empire! This, my daughters...is a Dragon!"
As if she had heard those words, the woman opened her mouth and released another deafening roar as fired spewed forth and seemed to wreath her body. She slammed her palms against the glass, prompting Weiss the take a step back, her mouth opening wide as she sought to catch her breath. There were so many things she wanted to say, but the only words she could muster in response to her father were a few of disapproval, spoken just above a whisper.
" We've made a grave mistake..."