Broken Wings

by DySyncZ

Weiss Schnee was born rich, powerful, important, and with white wings. She is cold, reclusive, and has a built in wall from everyone else. Will her time at Beacon expose her wings and ruin her name? Credit for cover goes to 0blue-bird0 on tumblr. Rated M for darkness and self harm (in a way).

3. Initial Ice Test

Broken Wings Ch. 3: Initial Ice Test

Okay, so y'all are literally the best. Like... 70 FAVORITES AND 100 FOLLOWERS I SERIOUSLY LOVE YOU ALL! Ugh, your kindness is too OP, plz nerf. But uh, back on track, let's do the story part.

Dreamless.

That was the only way to describe Weiss' sleep.

It was a blessing ultimately, one that made her extremely happy.

When she dreamed, she dreamed of pain and birds.

For now, she was rid of it.

Weiss' eyes opened up very slowly, and she very silently rose to a seated position. She very silently took a look around her, and noticed that two other members of her team were still sleeping. There was only one who was still awake, and it was the raven haired girl.

"Morning," the girl said in a soft voice.

"Good morning," Weiss replied politely. "How long have you been awake?"

"Not long," Blake replied. "I didn't think any of you would wakeup this early, most people don't wake up this early."

Years of nightmares of my own father separating pieces of my body from me really has made my sleep cycle a bit different, Weiss thought.

"My family conditioned me to wake up on a regulated schedule," Weiss replied. "It made attending my private lessons slightly easier." A half lie was better then the full truth, but a half lie was also easier to sell. Blake didn't react to her words, merely looked away from Weiss. Weiss didn't make an attempt at conversation with Blake, fearing that her cold shell would be broken if she attempted to speak so soon after waking up.

Within an hour, Weiss and Blake changed into the Beacon uniforms and Ruby woke up and forced her sister out of bed. It was clear how excited Ruby was for the day, just by the wide smile resting on her face when she awoke. She was only just able to keep from bouncing off of every wall in their small dorm, which made Weiss smile internally. Externally she was sure to wear a disapproving frown, but quietly she felt happy to see Ruby getting to be a kid.

"Gooooooooood morning teaaaaaaaam RWBY!" Ruby said enthusiastically.

And suddenly Weiss' frown became more then just external.

"Now that all of us are up, we can officially begin our first orders of business!" Ruby exclaimed.

"... What?" Weiss managed.

"Decorating!" Yang cried out. Weiss looked over to Blake, sensing that the girl may be her best option for a voice of reason.

"We still have to unpacked," Blake said. She calmly lifted up one of her bags, and the contents spilled out onto the floor. "Aaaaaand clean."

Well isn't this morning shaping up to be a lovely morning... Weiss thought sardonically.

"Aaaaaalright!" Ruby shouted. "Weiss, Blake, Yang, and their fearless leader Ruby have begun their first mission. Bonsai!"

"Bonsai!" Yang and Blake echoed. Weiss stared at them blankly, and then looked back at her suitcases. The only things she had brought were her clothes. She didn't have any photos of her family or posters of anything to bring with her. She had quite literally only brought clothes to put on her back.

"I suppose the swiftest way through this is to start it," Weiss said dejectedly.

"That's the spirit Weiss!" Ruby called out. Weiss sighed, and walked over to her suitcases.

She quickly unpacked all of them, and stored the clothes in the dresser. Several copies of similar items, the jacket remaining constant throughout her outfits, all stored away calmly. After she was done, Weiss watched everyone else work.

Yang hung up a poster of some kind of boy band, Blake unpacked multiple books, and Ruby just zipped from place to place to watch over things.

Weiss smiled sadly as all of them seemed to have something a little bit more personal to them, while Weiss choose to remain without that item. Of course, it was simply because there was nothing personal that she owned. The way she was raised saw to that.

After everything was unpacked and put up, Weiss realized that all of the beds had become a messy pile in the middle of the room.

Well isn't this wonderful? Weiss wondered. Now where are we going to sleep?

"This isn't going to work," Weiss finally said.

"It is a bit cramped..." Blake agreed hesitantly.

"Maybe we should ditch some of our stuff?" Yang offered.

Common sense being displayed by the entirety of the group, Weiss thought. Finally, perhaps they're not as bad as I initially-.

"Or we could ditch the beds," Ruby muttered. "Aaaand replace them with bunk beds!" She shouted.

Moment's past.

"That seems incredibly dangerous," Weiss said.

"Aaaaaand super awesome!" Yang called out.

"It does seem efficient," Blake agreed.

What is wrong with everyone? Weiss wondered.

"I am strongly apposed to this idea," Weiss said haughtily.

"But nobody else is," Blake said. "In a democratic system, I believe that we win. In fact, in any system we'd win because the leader agrees with us."

"Fine," Weiss said. "We will assemble the bunk beds..."

The four girls spent the next few minutes fixing up makeshift bunk beds. The one that was designated to Weiss and Ruby was held up purely by ropes, while the one designated to Blake and Yang was only held up by books that Blake was choosing not to read.

I've spent so many years in my life wishing for death, Weiss thought. Just for a way out of the pain, and it looks like I'm going to be killed by a bed, gravity, and idiocy.

"Alright!" Ruby said happily. "Our second order of business isssssssssssssssss! Classes..." Ruby's voice lost most of it's enthusiasm at the word, classes. "Now, we have a few classes together today. At nine we've got-."

"At nine?" Weiss interjected instantly. "Do you mean nine o' clock?"

"Uhm...?"

"IT'S 8 FIFTY FIVE YOU DUNCE!" Weiss called out. She instantly took off out the door, and made a beeline straight for their first class. She didn't care if the rest of her team was behind her, but she couldn't have a black mark on her attendance sheet the first day of class.

Late on the first day, she could hear her father saying. How incredibly disappointing that is, not to mention intolerable. Do you remember the last time you put a black mark on our family's legacy?

Weiss shook the voice from her mind, and continued her pursuit to class.

Weiss arrived into class a few moments ahead of her team, along with the other four students that had aided them in the Emerald Forest (team JNPR as they were now known). She hurriedly got to her seat, and watched as everyone else fell into place shortly after her. Weiss immediately pulled out a book for note taking, and looked over at the professor.

He was an older man, one who clearly had a lot of experience. But he was also a man who had let himself go, falling onto the more plump side of the weight spectrum. He had a gray mustache that shielded his mouth, and Weiss began to wonder exactly what kind of class she was in.

"Welcome to Grimm studies!" The professor boomed. "My name is Peter Port, and I will be your teacher."

At least I know what class I'm in, Weiss thought.

"Monsters," the professor said instantly.

I regret this already.

"Deeeeeemons. Yes, the creatures of Grimm go by many names. But I merely call them... Prey! Haha!" His words were only greeted by silence, and immediately Weiss longed for any of the teachers she had back home. At least they taught something.

He carried on in his speech, loosing the interest of most of his forced audience almost immediately. Weiss did her best to remain focused, but she found it difficult to do. Her ears picked up on the sound of a pencil furiously working, and Weiss turned her head to see her partner working quietly. She inwardly smiled, happy to see that her teammate was taking the class so seriously.

But it was shattered upon seeing the childish image that the girl had drawn. It was just a stick version of Port, labeled simply, Professor Poop.

"Pay attention!" Weiss hissed instantly. Ruby, Blake, and Yang all couldn't contain themselves from snickering a little bit, leaving Weiss to sit there in fury.

How is she not taking this seriously? Weiss wondered. The amount of people who would kill to be here, the fact that I was more then willing to kill to be here, and she is treating her assignment like a joke. Who does she think she is?

Weiss forced her thoughts back to the class, and noticed the professor going through a checklist of things. He kept describing a true huntress, something that Weiss knew she could never be.

"Now," he said suddenly. "Who believes themselves to be the embodiment of a true huntsman?"

Silence.

Silence was the only thing that greeted him.

A room full of hunter and huntress hopefuls, and not one of them said a word.

"Oh," Port replied. "I suppose that this is a shy crop this year. No matter! How about a volunteer from the group of more laugh-prone students." He calmly looked over RWBY, causing Weiss to inwardly smile.

Take it seriously next time, she thought.

"How about you, Ms. Schnee?" Port said suddenly.

I hate you all.

"Of course," she replied politely. Weiss calmly rose to her feet, and looked over at him.

"What a well mannered reply!" Port exclaimed. "Now, why don't you come up here and prove it?" He held his arm outward, and Weiss noticed a single cage resting there. Her eyes were already able to pick out the pair of red eyes that lay in the cage.

"Of course," she said, her voice remaining polite and even. Weiss stepped down onto the floor, and drew Myrtenaster. She looked straight at the cage, and narrowed her eyes.

Single combat, she thought. This is exactly what I was trained to do. Things like the Knight, they were all tests to prove my single combat skills. I can do this. I can win a single fight. But against what Grimm?

"Goooooo Weiss!" Yang called out.

"Fight well!" Blake added in.

"Yeah Weiss, represent teaaaaaaaam RWBY!" Ruby finally called out.

"I am trying to concentrate!" Weiss finally snapped. "Keep it down!"

"Oh," Ruby replied. Weiss re-centered Myrtenaster, and stared down the cage.

"Let the match," the professor exclaimed. "Begin!" He brought down his own weapon (a mix of a blunderbuss and an axe) on the lock, and the cage door fell open. Weiss immediately identified her opponent as a Boarbatusk, a smaller Grimm with an armored hide, and she watched it walk out of the cage.

Almost instantly, it charged at her. Weiss rolled out of the way, and took a defensive swipe at it to test it's armor. Even with the sharpened edge on Myrtenaster, it had no effect. The beast simply kept moving forward, not even noticing the damage.

"Haha!" The professor called out. "Wasn't expecting that, were you?"

Not entirely, Weiss thought.

"Hang in there Weiss!" Ruby yelled out. Weiss shook her head, and rushed forward. She attempted to bring her weapon into one of the beasts eyes, but it anticipated her movement and turned it's head. The new angle was just enough so that her weapon got stuck between it's two tusks.

"Bold new approach, I like it," Port said.

"Come on Weiss, show it who's boss," Ruby contributed.

I am so glad that I have two incredibly helpful sources of input in the background.

The beast sensed her momentary lapse in concentration, and violently turned it's head to throw Myrtenaster behind it. Instantly the Grimm followed up this attack with a single hit to knock Weiss to the back of the room.

"Oho, now what will you do without your weapon?" Port challenged.

Nothing.

Weiss watched as the Boarbatusk ran forward, and calmly rolled out of the way. Luckily for her, the Grimm kept along a straight line directly into the wall. Weiss charged away from the Grimm, and picked up Myrtenaster from the ground. She held it in front of her, and waited for the Grimm to charge again.

"Weiss!" Ruby called out. "Go for it's belly, there's no armor undernea-."

"I KNOW!" Weiss finally yelled. Ruby stopped talking instantly, and Weiss did not continue looking on to see any of the other results of her words. She watched as the Boarbatusk got into a ball, and began to roll forward at her. She raised up a glyph, which met the Grimm head on. It was knocked onto it's back, and Weiss took the opportunity to propel herself with another glyph to add on more force to her sword's thrust. The pig shrieked out one more time, and then stopped moving altogether.

It's done, Weiss thought. She pulled her sword out of the Grimm, and sheathed it.

"Bravo!" Port boomed. "Bravo! It appears we are indeed in the presence of a true huntress in training."

If only you realized how false those words were.

"I'm afraid that's all the time we have for today," Port continued. "Be sure to cover the assigned readings, and, stay vigilant! Class dismissed."

Weiss instantly turned to return to her dorm, wanting to get the work done and be done with everything. But on her way, Weiss heard something she really did not want to hear.

"Weiss!" Ruby yelled out.

"What?" Weiss responded.

"What's wrong with you? Why are you being-?"

"What's wrong with me?"

More things then you will ever know, she thought.

"What's wrong with you?" Weiss shot back instead. "When I met you in the Emerald Forest, you behaved akin to a child. I made the false assumption that you would put together a concerted effort to behave as more than just a child, but you have done nothing of the sort!"

"Weiss, where is this coming from?" Ruby asked. "I thought that you and I were closer after the forest?"

We are you idiot! You just have to show that my only way out of hell is serious to you as well!

"Then you should've avoided behaving with such adolescence," she fired back. Weiss turned her back to Ruby, and took a deep breath in.

"Ozpin, made, a mistake," she said simply.

With that, Weiss left Ruby. She left her there, most likely crushed, feeling doubtful, confused, but Weiss didn't care. It was time for her to learn how harsh the real world could be, along with how harsh the consequences could be that accompanied it. Weiss considered this a very polite introduction to the way that things could be.

Now she couldn't return to her dorm, that much Weiss knew. At the very least, Blake and Yang would be there. While neither of them had behaved as if they were a small child such as Ruby had, she knew that they would most likely fall to Ruby's side. Normal people didn't do what Weiss had done, but she didn't care.

Monsters behave differently then normal people.

She found herself outside, and Weiss diverted her attention to the setting sun. She smiled briefly, but then shielded the expression underneath her cold mask.

Weiss noticed Port standing across the way from her, and she had a sudden urge to speak with him. Although the man was loud, self-absorbed, arrogant, and obnoxious, he seemed intelligent. Weiss wanted to have a conversation with someone that didn't end with her giving off a strong feeling of disproval or anger.

"Professor Port!" Weiss yelled out. The professor turned around, and lifted his head up at her.

"Ms. Schnee!" He boomed back. "To what do I owe this fine pleasure?"

This is more of what I'm accustomed to, she thought happily.

"I thoroughly enjoyed your lecture today," she replied formally.

"Why of course you did," he replied. "You have the blood of a true huntress."

Lies that you let grow are just as bad as the ones you spread, but this one can only keep me shielded.

"Something seems to be troubling you," he noticed. Weiss looked at him, and nodded slightly. "Dear girl, confess to me your strife!"

"I don't believe that Ruby should have been named team leader," Weiss said instantly. Port eyed her cautiously, and lowered his head.

"And who do you believe should be leader instead?" He challenged.

"Perhaps Blake," Weiss replied thoughtfully. "She seems... Intelligent, strong, and more centered then Ruby."

"Centered doesn't surprise enemies in battle!" Port fired back. "But what I find interesting here, why not yourself? Typically a girl who would grow up in the Schnee household would view herself as the rightful leader of any team here at Beacon."

"Professor, please," Weiss said instantly. She could feel her back beginning to burn, and she did her best to focus forward on the conversation. "I have my own reasons for knowing that I would be the absolutely least licensed person to lead a team."

"Intriguing," the professor replied. "Well, what I will say Ms. Schnee, is that Professor Ozpin is a man who has never once lead me astray in all of my years of knowing him. That mine is wise, and he did not simply pick Ruby for how she is now, but how she will be. The girl did not get into Beacon this young by a fluke."

That would make sense, she thought.

"In four years, Ruby Rose could be an exceptional huntress," he continued. "We will simply have to wait and see. Does this make sense to you, Ms. Schnee?" Weiss took one breath in, and looked Port straight in the eyes.

"Yes sir," she replied calmly.

"Then prove it," he challenged. "Be there to support her in her journey, and she will do the same for you. It is a team after all, you are not a single fighter." Weiss nodded once more.

"Yes sir. Thank you, sir."

"You're welcome. Now, I believe you have business to attend to." Port looked up from Weiss, and brought his gaze to the school behind her.

Yes, Weiss thought. Yes I do...

"Of course," Weiss replied politely. She watched as Port left, and Weiss took a seat on one of the benches laid out for her.

I have to apologize, Weiss thought. I know I have to. But if I am to do it, I cannot say more then what I intend to.

She looked back at the sun, and took in several deep breaths.

Ruby, she began thinking. I profusely apologize for the way I was acting- What are the odds she even knows that word? It's already time to retry this.

And that was how Weiss spent her afternoon. She carefully calculated every word of her apology, not because it was insincere, but so that she wouldn't slip up her words.

When the Sun set, Weiss made the decision that her apology was ready. She rose to her feet, and made her way back to the dorms.

I can't sound like a machine, she thought. I have to make it sound like it isn't rehearsed, even though clearly it is.

Weiss took in a deep breath, and opened up the door to the dorm.

She heard the deep snores of Yang.

She heard the quiet breaths of Blake.

And she heard quieter snores from Ruby.

Looks like I'll have to wake her. Hopefully she's a light sleeper.

Weiss walked over to Ruby's bed, and instantly noticed something.

Paper.

But it wasn't just blank sheets of paper, they all had text on them.

Ruby was studying.

Weiss hesitated to move. Ruby had done what Weiss had been so furious with her for not doing earlier.

She was taking it seriously.

Taking in one more breath, Weiss calmly shook Ruby. There was a few moments of nothing, but then the girl got straight up.

"Weiss!" Ruby said. "I was studying, and then I fell asleep, and I'm sorry." Weiss raised up her hand to signal for Ruby to be quiet, and then looked over at the empty coffee cup beside her.

"How do you take your coffee?" Weiss asked.

This is not what I planned.

"I don't..." Ruby said idly.

"Just answer the question," Weiss immediately said, cutting Ruby off.

"Cream and five sugars!"

"Of course you would," Weiss grumbled. "Hang on." She grabbed the coffee cup, and filled it up with coffee. She added in the five sugars, and then gave it back to Ruby. "Here."

"Thanks," Ruby said gratefully.

"Ruby," Weiss said immediately after, trying to keep her tone even. "You and I have been at odds since we've met, and this is due in extensive parts to me. You have been remarkably immature, however I also recognize your intentions. I will do my best, Ruby, to ensure that I support you so that you can... You can excel." Ruby smiled at Weiss, and nodded.

"I promise I won't let you down," Ruby said.

"I sincerely hope you won't," Weiss replied quickly. She dropped down from the bed, and looked towards the door.

One more walk.

She stepped towards the door, and stole a look back at Ruby. She could see the girl watching her as she left, and briefly Weiss pondered staying. It wasn't as if things were going to remain completely bitter between the two, and it certainly wasn't as though Weiss wanted to remain on bad grounds with Ruby. But she needed time, time to clear her head.

Weiss walked out the door without another word, and left to browse Beacon.

Weiss wandered the halls alone, her eyes allowing her to see absolutely everything that was in the school. She smiled to herself, knowing that no one was there to see the emotion. It never ceased to amaze her at how little appreciation you could get for things when they were shrouded by the veil of people.

Soon, Weiss came to a room. It was large, open, and it had a large stage right in the middle of it. Instantly, Weiss took a step back.

She had only ever been in a room like this twice.

The second time, it was merely to perform.

The first time, it was for another reason.

One that left Weiss with the only scar she ever allowed to be visible.

She felt herself become taken back in a memory.

Weiss Schnee: Age 14

It had been one year since she had first received Myrtenaster, and one year since she had started cutting off her own wings. Things had accelerated quickly for Weiss. Her combat and academics were coming along at a rate much faster then anyone could've predicted, causing Weiss to feel some satisfaction. Gratitude was an emotion she so rarely came by, that she would take every second of it.

But she should've known that it wasn't going to last long.

She had been in the sparring room, practicing idly with Myrtenaster, when she heard a dreaded voice behind her.

"Weiss."

"Father."

Ritter approached her, and looked her straight in the eyes.

"You are completing all of your instructors drills deftly," he said. "I must say, the improvement in one year alone is astounding."

"Thank you, father," Weiss replied stiffly.

"But now it is time to see if you are as good as you seem to believe," he continued. "Come with me, to the amphitheater." Without waiting for a response, knowing full and well that Weiss was forced to follow him no matter what, he turned and left. Weiss took in a deep breath, and followed him closely.

Weiss didn't know what her father had wanted, she really couldn't have known. She chose to display and feel no emotions, simply accepting whatever was going to happen.

But then they arrived at the amphitheater, and Weiss saw it instantly.

Silver.

Large.

Armored.

It was one of the Dust Knights that her father had a hand in creating. They were supposed to be a new, high end form of defense for the kingdom. Most importantly, they were supposed to be deadly.

"Father?" Weiss asked.

"This will be your opponent," he said, ignoring her completely. "Full contact, no defense for you, let's see if you're really knowledgable enough to take down this foe."

"Father, you can't be serious," Weiss said. "This is extraordinarily advanced for where I am, I could perish in combat."

"And?"

Weiss stared at him blankly. She felt herself shatter into a thousand pieces, as the truth was once again forced onto her.

And?

He didn't care if she died.

And?

If she died, he could start over with a child.

And?

If she died, he would be rid of the disgrace.

And?

He wasn't doing this to test her, he was doing this to try and kill her.

Birdy back!

"Father," Weiss said, her voice losing it's normal even temper. "Please."

That was when he hit her.

He struck her straight across the face, without a single moments question.

"Do not question me!" He ordered. "Get up there, and fight it!"

The hit hadn't been particularly hard, nor violent. But it was enough to bring memories into Weiss' mind. Memories to the first time Ritter had hurt her intentionally, and his always flawed logic for why he was doing it.

"Yes sir," she said blankly.

With those words, Weiss had fought the Knight. It had gone down, not easily, but it fell. But Weiss had not escaped completely unharmed. She received a blow that left an open wound on her face, one that she could tell would scar, right over her left eye.

She had taken it in stride, however. Pain was no longer a huge issue for her, she could ignore it. Weiss got back up, and beat it. Upon exiting the stage, she found the cold stare of her father awaiting her.

"You suffered an injury," he said simply, his voice showing neither content or displeasure with the situation.

"Yes, father," Weiss replied.

"You would be wise to correct that the next time." He turned around, and left Weiss standing there. She watched as his white suit left the room, and then she dropped to the floor and started crying.

"It's a lovely evening, isn't it Ms. Schnee?" Someone said in the present.

Weiss snapped out of her memory, and looked over at her new guest. She immediately identified coat, glasses, and silver hair.

"Professor Ozpin?" She asked.

"Ms. Schnee," he repeated calmly. "It's a lovely evening." Weiss felt herself grow incredibly confused for a few moments, but then she settled down.

"Indeed it is."

"Lovely enough to the point where you may come to an amphitheater and sit for an hour." Weiss hung her head down, and silently cursed herself for losing track of time.

"My apologies," she said. "I was lost in a memory."

"Of which I'm sure you have many involving places like this," Ozpin replied slyly. "You were a singer for a short period of time, were you not?"

"We pursued my performing talents, yes," Weiss replied politely.

"But you do still have activities tomorrow," Ozpin said. "It would be wise if you were to get some rest now, wouldn't it?" Weiss rose to her feet, and curtsied for Ozpin.

"Yes sir." Weiss turned to leave, but Ozpin calmly put a hand on her shoulder.

"Ms. Schnee," he said.

"Yes sir?"

"Do you always do what those in power tell you to without question?" Weiss was silent for a few moments as she thought up the appropriate response, but her mind settled onto one thing.

"Yes sir." Ozpin smiled at her, and shook his head.

"You and I will have many things to dispute then," he said simply. "Now go, get rest Ms. Schnee."

"Yes sir." Weiss turned, and walked away from Ozpin. Once she was in the hall, Weiss ran.

She wanted to get away from that place, she wanted to be free of Ozpin for now.

She wanted to go into the nightmare that would be sleep.

It was easier to die in a dream then to live a lie that you didn't choose.

End: Sorry that this was a much shorter chapter, but for a lot of reasons I didn't want to mesh this arc with the Blake arc (the Jaune Arc will be skipped). Otherwise, questions, comments, follows, favorites, and feedback is always appreciated.