The Winter Knight
Volume 1
Prologue:
Disclaimer: RWBY belongs to Monty Oum and to Rooster Teeth. I own nothing.
Wynn Schnee was panting slightly as the remaining black training mechs fell to the floor in a cluster around him. Sweat drenched his simple white training clothes as he loosened the bright red scarf around his neck. Wynn walked to a nearby table, took a fluffy white towel from and wiped the sweat from his face. He heard the sound of soft clapping coming from an alcove above him.
"Splendidly done young Master Schnee." A pale man with glasses and a neatly tailored light blue suit emerged from the shadows in the balcony above the training area. He walked to the railing and looked down at Wynn. "As expected of the heir of the Schnee Dust Company, you possess a truly exceptional talent. I have been studying your progress since your early training sessions and your control of the Schnee Family Glyphs semblance has exceeded my expectation. Furthermore, you have quickly mastered such a complex weapon as the Multi Length Dust Messer."
Wynn held up the white bladed weapon in his left hand, "It wasn't hard, I did design Silverthorn after all." He glanced up at his father's secretary, "enough flattery from you today Alexandre, please don't further interrupt my training."
Alexandre started to pace looking over down at his scroll, "your training is not enough to make you a Hunter yet. I understand you will to continue your studies at Atlas Academy this year."
Wynn turned his back on Alexandre and sheathed his weapon at on his hip. "I have already told father that I will be attending Beacon Academy in Vale, my mind has not changed."
"The President of the Schnee Dust Company is an incredibly busy man and decided to entrust this small issue to me, there is no need to bother him. Why did you choose Beacon over Atlas?"
Wynn sighed and turned back around. "Ideally, I would have spent a year at each of the Hunter Academies. I could have gained firsthand knowledge about each of the Kingdoms and how their Hunters operate. None of the headmasters seemed keen on this idea. As heir to Schnee Dust Company I must experience more of the world than just Atlas or Mantle. Attending Beacon was just a compromise."
"Beacon is far away in Vale and we can't respond quickly to protect you."
Or cover up any incidents, thought Wynn. Things have been so boring of late I could use a little excitement. "Professor Ozpin is the headmaster of Beacon Academy and the youngest headmaster since the inception of the Hunter Academies after the Great War. Even General Ironwood thinks highly of him. I am confident in his capacity of keeping myself and the other students safe."
"Red Fang attacks are on the rise across the kingdoms and especially sharp increase in Dust convoys being attacked in the Kingdom of Vale. What's to prevent them from attacking you again?"
Wynn's hand rose and lightly touched the bright red scarf that hung around his neck. "I have dealt with their kind before. Besides not even the Red Fang would be foolish enough to attack a Hunter Academy."
Alexandre sighed and looked up from his scroll, "Is there nothing I can say or do to change your mind?"
"No."
"Fine, a final test to prove your worth is in order. If you defeat this opponent the President will let you attend Beacon without further issue." He steepled his fingers. "If you fail, you will attend Atlas Academy as the President has planned. Do we have a deal?"
"Yes. When is this final test?"
Alexandre thin face twisted in to sneer. "Right now, open the gate."
Wynn tensed as the metal gate under the balcony started to creak open. I wasn't expecting it right now. What could it be, a new Paladin prototype perhaps. He drew Silverthorn and took a few long steps back to put more distance between himself and whatever he was about to fight. As the door continued to open a massive great sword swung out of the darkness. The sword crushed the stone floor where he had been standing mere moments before. It left a giant gaping hole. The sword was connected to an equally massive armored arm.
Wynn reflexively covered his face with his right arm as he was pelted with rubble. However, the rubble bounced harmlessly off his passive aura.
Another armored hand grasped the slowly opening gate and with a continued creaking of hinges it pushed the gate the rest of the way open. An armored knight stood in front of Wynn, it had to be at least fifteen feet tall. Wynn recognized it as one of the suits of armor from the Schnee Family Museum. Is this intended to mock me?
Alexandre called down, "this is the Arma Gigas, a Geist, a type of Grimm that has possessed this suit of armor. The Schnee Dust Company created it from several smaller specimens. The foremost duty of Hunters is the suppression of the Grimm. Since you insisted on being so selfish your father expects you win against this formidable foe." He leered down at Wynn. "Although I certainly have my doubts."
Wynn froze in shock for a moment. Since when has the SDC been experimenting on Grimm? Things are far worse than I'd thought.
The Arma lumbered out of the gate in silence and swung its sword horizontally at Wynn.
Wynn activated his Aura and a bright white glow enveloped his body and blade. He raised Silverthorn to parry the blow from the great sword. The blades connected and Wynn was launched sideways from the force of the blow. He flew back a dozen feet and slid to a halt. Strong but slow, nothing I can't handle. Still I wish hadn't used up so much aura in my earlier training. The shining white glow vanished as Wynn ended his Aura.
Wynn summoned a white glyph at his feet and used it to propel himself forward at an accelerated speed, the Arma swung in response but Wynn slid under the blade and was behind the Grimm in a flash. He swung his Messer into the back of the Arma's knees where a regular suit armor of would have had a weak point little or no effect I think, I'll have to use aura to penetrate its armor. Wynn retreated again.
The Arma's helm turned to face Wynn and if it had felt any pain it gave no indication. The Arma's great sword swung again at Wynn who nimbly ducked under it and stepped back out of the range of his enemy's sword.
First things first, lets get rid of that annoying sword. The pommel on his Messer was filled with Dust vials of various colors, as it started to spin the Arma leapt into the air swinging its massive sword for an overhead cut. Faster than he looks. I just need to keep evading him. Wynn dodged to the side as the sword came crashing down into the floor of the training room leaving a large crater in the stone floor.
The Arma quickly pivoted and swung the blade horizontally, Wynn elected to leap over the sword but Grimm had expected that. A large steel-clad fist smashed into his face sending him flying back. His face throbbed in pain, but his passive aura shielded him from the majority of the blow.
Wynn was wincing from the blow. He summoned a glyph and landed on it. He raised his right hand to his face as blood started to flow from a cut over his left eye. Smarter and faster than it looks, I can't believe I was suckered in by this Grimm. This one seems smarter than most, is that what the experiments are for? Are they mad? "It's time to finish this Grimm."
"Finish him?" rang a mocking voice from above him. "You look more like the one about to be finished."
"I have not yet begun to fight," Wynn coldly spat back at him.
"Please do understand the President loves you very much young master Schnee, he has told me on several occasions how much he is impressed by your constant improvement. With the increase of Red Fang activity all over Remnant your father has many issues to deal with. Your sister has abandoned the family to become a dog of the Atlesian military. You, the heir, are needed here in Atlas more than ever. So, you should stay by his side, say yes and I will call off the Grimm."
Wynn shifted his stance slightly so he could keep the Grimm in sight and glanced sideways at the secretary. "You won't be able to manipulate me using my father, so please be quiet while I finish this."
The Arma started to lumber towards Wynn. His white aura flared to life as yellow dust flowed down and hardened on the blade of his Messer. The blade of the Arma came down but Wynn parried the blow which forced the Grimm off balance. The pommel spun to a navy-blue dust and Wynn thrust the blade of Silverthorn into the ground and ice appeared and shot in a line towards the Arma. The ice snaking up the legs of the Grimm immobilizing it.
Wynn leapt forward pressing a button and the blade of his Messer shifted and extended almost doubling the length of the blade turning the pale white blade to a silver color. Lime green dust swirled around the blade as Wynn ducked under the horizontal slash striking upwards knocking the Grimm's sword clean out of its hand. The burst of air dust sent it flying and it clattered to the floor behind him. "Time to die monster."
The Arma struggled in silence against the ice pinning its legs to the floor. The Grimm struggled as thin cracks like spiderwebs started to appear in the ice.
Wynn took Silverthorn in a two-handed grip and summoned a white glyph under his feet, shooting him high into the air then summoned another to propel him towards to immobilized Grimm.
The Arma aimed another punch at the incoming Schnee heir, but Wynn was ready this time.
Wynn cut cleanly through the left arm of the Grimm which clattered off the ice to the floor below. He landed on a black glyph which reversed his direction back towards the Grimm. White dust arced up the blade of Silverthorn and with a single swift strike Wynn removed the head of the Grimm with a lightning infused strike.
The Arma's head thudded to the ground as it and the rest of its body started to dissipate into pale white flames before disappearing all together.
Wynn let out a deep sigh of relief as his aura blinked out. He reached into the pocket of his pants and withdrew a light blue handkerchief with a stylized snowflake of the Schnee Family embroidered on it. He gingerly started to wipe the blood from his face as he heard a slow clapping from above him. He looked up to see his father's secretary looking down at him with a blank expression.
"Are you alright young master Schnee?"
"I'll be fine," said Wynn coolly. He looked down at the handkerchief stained in his blood, "still summoning the doctor seems to be in order."
"Well done, young Master Schnee but of course it was to be expected of the heir to the SDC. Your father will no doubt be impressed by your victory."
I'm sure he will. 'Anything less than perfection was unbecoming of a Schnee', or so his father always said.
"Shall I call for a specialist to remove the scar?"
Wynn walked over to a small mirror as he wiped off most of the blood. He exampled the scar in the mirror, without my aura I could have lost the eye. "No, I think I'll keep it as a reminder."
Alexandre looked curiously down at Wynn. "As a reminder of what precisely?"
For the first time Wynn's light blue eyes met Alexandre's green, "Not to underestimate my enemies." Also, it looks like a lightning bolt, which is cool.
After a long moment the secretary looked away, "the President always did say you were a fast learner. You are finally starting to learn." He turned to go, "Wynn one day you will become a formidable President of the Schnee Dust Company."
"My first act as President will be firing you."
"We shall see about that."
Wynn allowed himself a small smile, he was going to Beacon to forge his own path and nothing not his father, the Grimm, or even the Red Fang would stop him.
OoOoO
As Yang Xiao Long rode up on her black and yellow motorcycle she could already feel the rhythmic bass of the music coming from inside the club. She looked up to read the name of the club, the Bearly Buzzed, complete with a giant stylized bear face in red neon lights on the roof. She was in the right place. Got to make this quick if I'm going to catch the last ferry back to Patch.
After sliding off Bumblebee she removed her helmet before placing in on the seat. She looked to her left and right at the darkened buildings on either side of her. This was an unsavory part of the city of Vale she scarcely visited. She recalled her father warning her to avoid it on numerous occasions. It took forever for him to fall asleep before I could leave on this little adventure.
She fervently hoped her uncle was right about this place. Yang squared her shoulders and walked confidently towards the front door. It was a Tuesday night and there was no line in front of the club.
As she approached the front door a big burly arm blocked her entrance to the club. "No ID? No entrance!" said a gruff voice.
Yang looked up at the bouncer and flashed him a grin and handed him her Beacon Academy ID.
"A student at Beacon huh? You aren't planning on causing any trouble, are you little Hunter?" He tossed the ID back to her.
Yang caught the ID and slid it down the front of her shirt. "I'm just looking for information from your boss, not here to pick a fight."
The bouncer eyes narrowed and he looked around but no one seemed to be eavesdropping, "just keep that on the down low," he growled. "This is a respectable establishment."
Yang smiled, "will do, thanks for the advice."
"Go on in." The bouncer stepped out from in front of the door.
Yang continued into the club, after passing a small coat room she walked out unto a balcony overlooking the dance floor. She looked across the sea of heads that comprised the busy dance floor, and saw a DJ wearing the same bear head that had been on the sign for the club. Seeing the bar along the left-hand side wall Yang took the stairs down to the dance floor.
The man matching her uncle's description was sitting at the bar and he seemed to have been given a wide berth by most of the other patrons. With the exception of two young ladies who were dressed gaudy ornate dresses of red and white respectively that sat on his right side.
Alright let's do this! As Yang's feet hit the dance floor she started swaying her hips in time with the music and took out her scroll.Her face assumed a bored look as she continued to scan the bar area. A man with orange hair and a black bowler hat had walked up to her target. They spoke in hushed voices for a few moments and orange haired man slid a tan envelop towards the other man who opened it and nodded once. Her target was tall, had short black hair, along with a matching beard. Junior had a black vest over a white dress shirt, black gloves and black dress pants.
As the orange haired man walked past her Yang put her scroll away and took a seat two over from Hei "Junior" Xiong an information dealer and owner of the club. Yang caught the eye of the bartender. "Strawberry Sunrise, no ice." Yang paused for a second, "oh and one of those little umbrellas."
"Hey Blondie, let me buy you that drink," a slightly slurred voice called to her.
Yang put on her most charming smile and turned to look into his gray eyes. "Well thanks sugar."
Junior returned her smile and waved off the two girls that were with him. Both of them gave Yang an icy stare but walked off towards the dance floor. "Aren't you a little young to be at my club?"
"I've been 18 for a couple of months now. A girl has to get out and have some fun while she's still young. You must be Junior then."
"Indeed, so what's your name little lady?" Junior leaned forward.
Yang leaned towards him, "my name… isn't important but I heard that you know everyone in the Kingdom."
He pulled back with a slight frown then looked her up and down. "That's right but if its information you want it's going to cost you."
Yang pulled out her scroll and turned it towards Junior. "What do you know about this woman?"
Junior blinked at the photo of a woman with long black hair and red eyes who looked similar to the young blonde in front of him. "I don't really know her, and I know everyone worth knowing in the Kingdom of Vale. Her name is Raven Branwen, an Ex-Hunter who left Vale years ago."
Yang flipped the scroll back towards her, "that's not good enough, I need you to find her."
"Well well little mystery lady, we haven't discussed payment yet. Information from outside the Kingdom is pricey. How much Lien are you offering me?"
"I'll do you one better," Yang turned the scroll around to the pictures that she had taken earlier from the dance floor. "You find out where she is and I won't tell the Vale News Network or the Police that you are working with the notorious crime boss Roman Torchwick."
"Playing dirty I see and after I was being so pleasant," Junior turned away and whistled. One of his henchman walked over, "is there are problem here sir?"
"This girl is annoying me, take her scroll and escort her off the premise."
"Yes sir," the henchman. He grabbed Yang by the arm.
Yang responded with a right hook that sent the henchman flying several feet away and crashing through a table. Her aura flared to life enveloping her body in a soft yellow glow. From her wrists her shotgun gauntlets extended from her yellow bracelets. Ember Celica clicked into position as Yang dropped into a fighting stance, "I'm ready to dance if you are."
Junior sighed, "I was having such a nice evening too." He motioned to the bartender who came over at once. "Get me a cup of coffee and bring my guest her drink, no funny business."
Yang put her scroll safely away in a pocket of her shorts. Several henchmen had continued to gather around but no one made a move towards her.
The two drinks arrived and Junior took a long sip from his coffee then waved his men off. They dispersed but kept their eyes on her. "What connection do you have to Raven Branwen?"
"I'm her daughter," said Yang simply. She ignored her drink.
Junior sighed, "Look I don't like getting involved in the affairs of Hunter's, but you are too young to be one."
Yang pulled her Beacon ID out of her shirt. With a grin she showed Junior.
"Being blackmailed by a junior woodchuck Hunter… wait Xiao Long, does that make you Tai's daughter?"
Yang perked up a little, "you know my dad?"
"As you said I know everyone in Vale, Hunters are normally important people." Junior finished his coffee with a grunt, "why not ask your dad or uncle?"
"Dad refuses talk about her and my uncle has been gone for months."
Junior looked thoughtful, "Krow is out of the kingdom that is good to know."
Yang's eyes narrowed, "I thought you didn't want to cross the Hunters."
Junior laughed, "I certainly don't but information is always valuable. Look Yang I have some contacts in the Mistral underworld. The Branwen's were an infamous bandit tribe awhile back, that's all I know. Bandits aren't really of interest to me but I will ask around."
Yang quickly stood up from the bar not wanting to waste anymore time, "thanks I'll check back in awhile to see what you have learned."
"Agreed just keep that picture on the downlow. If I get so much as a whisper of you going to the press or cops the deal is off… agreed?"
"Agreed." Yang's aura faded. She grabbed the drink and downed it elation flowing through her. She dropped a few Lien for the bartender and she departed the club with a new spring in her step
Yang straddled Bumblebee and after putting on her helmet she rode off on her motorcycle into the night. I am finally going to get some answers about my mother.
A/N: Alright here we go. We have my changes on the White and Yellow trailers. The Red trailer is practically perfect as in and we will see the events of the Black trailer later in the story.