Chapter Three: Bounty
"Hello, dear sisters." The being said, an evil smirk on his face. "So nice to see you again."
"Weissy." Winter said, holding tightly onto Weiss and trembling. "I scared."
"I know." Weiss said, stroking Winter's hands gently. "I am too."
"Another Schnee." Blake growled, clenching her fists. "It would seem this one needs a few pegs knocked out of him."
"Who's this guy?" Ruby asked, feeling the negative energy coming off of him. "I sense evil in him."
"Oh, forgive me." The being in front of them said, chuckling. "I see I am not as well-known as I assumed. I am Whitley F. Schnee. The eldest of the Schnee children."
"I don't think he's a good guy." Ruby said, reaching for Crescent Rose. "I know he's not like you."
"He's not." Weiss said. "He's as corrupted as the head of the organization. He will not be an easy fight."
"Oh?" Whitley said, amused. "You plan to fight me? How cute. Well, I guess I could humor you. Since I am generous after all."
"what's the deal with him?" Ruby asked.
"He's a full Frost Demon." Weiss said. "He has no other skills to hinder them or enhance them."
"Too bad we don't have a Pyromancer." Blake said. "That would help immensely."
"It would." Ruby said. "So, what should we do here?"
"Try not to get killed." Weiss said. "That's the obvious decision."
"Right." Ruby said, nodding. "Blake, get ready. Weiss, you and Winter back off a bit. Keep her safe."
"Right." Weiss said.
"I don't think you could hide them if you tried." Whitley said, smirking. "But, I'll give you a good shot to."
Weiss moved Winter behind her as Ruby and Blake rushed forward, Ruby firing off a shot from Crescent Rose and Blake pulling back her claws for a slash across his face. Whitley stepped back, holding his face.
"Dirty animal!" He shouted, firing a burst of ice magic at Blake, the Faunus bracing herself. She then used some of her own magic, Whitley's shadow grabbing onto him.
"Ruby! Now!" She shouted, Ruby nodding and firing Crescent Rose twice into his chest.
"If you think" Whitley said, chuckling. "That that was enough to beat me, you're mistaken."
Whitley shrugged off his shadow, moving forward and punching Ruby, ice piercing her chin as he punched her.
Ruby cried in pain as the ice left three cuts on her chin. She was thrown back heavily by the force of the blow, hitting the wall.
"Winter." Weiss said, putting her hands on her shoulder. "I need you to go wait in that corner over there, alright? It will be safe for you."
"Okay, Weissy." Winter said, nodding as she moved over to a corner in Blake's cell where she wouldn't be hit by a stray projectile, sitting down and curling her knees up to hold them as she watched the fight, trembling. Weiss walked over to the fight, ice forming in her hands as she summoned her magicks to aid her.
"So, sister" Whitley chuckled darkly. "this has become a fight between us. Let us settle the dispute."
"I'll settle you!" Weiss shouted, firing her powerful Ice magicks at Whitley, the Frost Demon dodging them. He punched Weiss in the gut, causing her to cough out blood. He then kneed her in the chin, causing her head to jerk backwards.
"Weiss!" Ruby shouted, firing a blast at Whitley, hitting him in the side.
"You bitch!" He shouted at her, shooting a spear of ice that impaled Ruby through her neck, causing her to fall over on the spot.
"Weak trash." Whitley said, spitting.
"Ruby!" Winter shouted. She ran towards Ruby, Blake holding her back with her shadow.
"No, Winter." She said.
"oh, don't worry." Whitley said, smirking. "She'll suffer as well."
"You bastard!" Weiss shouted, landing a punch on his face and sending him flying. He stood up, pissed off as he punched Weiss, impaling her through the chest. He kicked her unmoving body across the room, impaling it further.
"Weissy!" Winter shouted, running over to Weiss, shaking her.
"Please wake up, Weissy." She whispered, tears coming. "I scared."
"You're going straight to hell!" Blake shouted, using his shadow once again and slashing at his face. He dodged every one of them, punching Blake in the face, firing ice shards at her that pierced her from all directions.
"Now" He said, stepping toward Winter. "Time to finish off this little shit."
"You hurt Weissy." Winter said, her anger rising as she turned to Whitley, her eyes glowing blue. "You're gonna regret that!"
Whitley threw a punch toward her that was covered by an icy glove with spikes on the knuckles. However, Winter smacked his hand away, giving a yell that sent a pulse of energy outward, throwing him backwards.
"What the hell?!" He exclaimed as he looked at Winter, who was floating, her wings flapping as her tail twitched. A seal was beginning to form around her, its color blue and glowing.
Weiss opened her eyes slightly to see Winter, confused.
"What's she doing?" she thought. "Does Winter have unlocked powers?"
Winter shot forward, slamming her child sized fist into Whitley's face, a resounding crack sounding as Whitley was thrown through the wall behind him. He stood up, enraged as Winter glared at him, pure power surrounding her body.
"What the hell is she?!" Whitley exclaimed. "A child can't have that kind of power!"
Winter held her hand out toward Whitley, dark spikes extending around him, stabbing through him. He could feel the poisons in the spikes, a type of Succubus power.
"I will make you suffer!" Winter shouted, her voice sounding dissimilar to her own, more… mature and commanding, as she held out her hand, Whitley rising into the air. Winter then began to wave her hand wildly, Whitley following the directions of her motion, smashing around into the walls around them as Winter used some strange power she'd never exuded before. She followed it up with slamming him into the ground, impaling him with another Poison spike.
"You think you have power, Whitley." She said, holding her hand towards him, a seal appearing behind her. "You think you're such a powerful force. Well, I'm about to show you the true meaning of power and fear."
From the seal emerged a monster of pure darkness and ice, a monstrosity that terrified Weiss to the core. It was eight feet tall and was covered in a powerful suit of deep purple armor. The armor was crafted of a blend of darkness and ice and resembled that of a knight's. It held a five foot long blade in its left hand that was twisted and curved an icy cold power radiating from it. Two eyes, glowing blue just like Winter's shone from its armor, Winter's intensifying. Winter raised her hand, the monster raising it hand exactly like it. It ran towards Whitley, Winter's movements being copied exactly. Winter raised her left arm, the monster raising its left hand.
"Taste the blade of vengeance!" Winter yelled, bringing it down in a slashing motion, the monster copying it and crushing a hole in the ground where the blade struck. Whitley had just barely managed to dodge, the blade slicing part of his jacket.
"You bitch!" He shouted, firing ice spears at Winter who smacked them away.
"You die today, Whitley!" Winter shouted, making a lunging motion as the monster copied it, Whitley being impaled by the monster. He coughed out his own blood, Winter making a twisting motion as the monster twisted the blade, causing him to cry out.
"You will feel all of the pain you have inflicted on others." She said, clenching her fist. The blade began to glow, a power shooting into Whitley that burned his Frost Demon body and caused parts of it to disintegrate.
Winter made a pulling motion, the monster pulling out the sword, causing Whitley to fall to the ground, coughing. Winter moved towards him, turning her palm up and lifting her hand. Whitely was lifted into the air, moving towards Winter, stopping directly in front of her face.
"You will not continue this." She said, Whitley looking into her eyes, recognition flashing.
"You?!" Whitley said, trembling. "But, how—?"
"Die." Winter simply said, spikes impaling Whitley from the inside, extending out, covered in his blood. Whitley gasped once, coughing out blood one last time before falling over onto the ground, Winter releasing her grip on him.
Winter looked over at Ruby, floating over to her.
"Summer." Was the word she whispered. "Wake up."
Ruby groaned slightly regaining her consciousness barely and looking up to see Winter floating above her.
"W-Winter?" Ruby asked, her voice strained.
"Hush, Summer." Winter whispered. "You will strain yourself."
"Wh-what?" Ruby asked.
"Rest." Winter said. "I have taken care of your opponent."
"What happened to you?" Ruby asked.
"I have simply used my power." Winter said. "All will be made clear to you in due time. Though… you are different…"
"What?" Ruby asked, pushing herself to her feet, putting her at eye level with Winter. "What's going on, Winter?"
"We will meet again in this manner." Winter said, lowering to the ground. She curled up in a ball, falling asleep.
"What?" Ruby asked. "What was that?"
"You" came Whitley's voice from where he had fallen. He had stood up shakily, but still alive. "Will pay for this! I will destroy you! Even if you manage to defeat me, father will kill you a thousand times over!"
Ruby aimed Crescent Rose at him, firing three shots into his chest.
"We'll take our chances." She said, picking Winter up.
"So" Ruby said, feeling her wounds healing slowly. "You did that? But, what was that? And, what was she talking about?"
It was at this moment Ruby noticed Weiss was awake.
"Hey, Weiss." Ruby walked over to her. "How long were you conscious?"
"Long enough to see Winter demolish him." Weiss said. "What did she do? It kind of… reminded me of what happened you in the forest with that Grimm."
"Really?" Ruby asked.
"Yes." Weiss said, nodding. "But, different… I can't explain it."
"Don't try." Ruby said. "We'll figure it out. Now, let's get out of here."
Blake stirred, pushing herself up, hissing at the pain in her chest.
"How did he manage to do this much damage to me?" She asked. "I should have been able to destroy him."
"Maybe the cuffs sealed your magic?" Ruby suggested. "I can't break them, though. The chain was weaker so I could break it, but I can't destroy the cuffs."
"We'll find a way." Blake said. "Let's get out of here. I can sense he's gone. What happened?"
"Winter happened." Ruby said. "She did something and demolished him."
"Wow." Blake said, impressed. "That's amazing."
"Yeah." Ruby nodded. "Now, we need to leave. They'll be looking for us."
"Right." Blake said, Ruby helping Weiss up and supporting her as she limped out.
Once they'd made it a good ways away from the prison compound, they gave themselves time to rest, lying down and falling asleep.
Later
Ruby woke up, yawning and stretching. She looked around to see that Weiss and Blake were sleeping, Winter curled up next to Blake, her hands on Blake's feline ears and was holding them in her sleep. Ruby pushed herself up, thankful that her healing factor had kicked in, healing her enough that she would be able to move painlessly.
She stretched backward, popping her back and causing her to sigh in relief. She looked over Weiss and Blake, who were cut in places still.
"I should grab them some stuff for that." Ruby said.
"Ruby?" Winter muttered, blinking her eyes open. Ruby noticed her voice seemed more normal than previously.
"Morning." Ruby whispered. "How are you?"
"I sleep good!" Winter said, Ruby clamping a hand over her mouth.
"Shhh." She hushed her. "Be quiet. Weiss and Blake are sleeping."
"Kitty soft." Winter said, Ruby's hand still over her mouth.
"I know." Ruby whispered, removing her hand. "Now, whisper, alright."
"Alright!" Winter whispered loudly.
"We'll work on that." Ruby said, chuckling.
"We get treats?" Winter asked, Ruby gulping.
"Can't say no to her." Ruby thought, panicked. "Too adorable."
"Alright." Ruby whispered. "Let's go get treats."
"Yay!" Winter cheered. "I want snow cone!"
"Alright, kid." Ruby chuckled.
"I no kid." Winter said, pointing to herself. "I Winter. I Suck-bus."
"You sure are." Ruby said, patting her on the head. "Now, let's get us some treats."
"Yay!" Winter cheered, climbing up on Ruby's back. Ruby couldn't help but laugh at the small Succubus, whose tail swung freely behind her.
"Now" Ruby said, walking towards where she thought a town would be. "What should we get them?"
"Snow cones!" Winter cheered.
"Probably not." Ruby said.
"Aww.' Winter pouted, slumping forward.
"Don't worry." Ruby said. "We'll get snow cones for us, alright?"
"Yay!" Winter cheered. "Snow cones snow cones snow cones!"
Ruby laughed, arriving in the town, looking around for a convenience store where she could get something.
"There store!" Winter pointed at a building.
"Good eye." Ruby said, walking into it. Winter became excited, pointing at various things she thought were interesting.
"Ooh ooh ooh!" She said. "Kitty picture!"
"So it is." Ruby said. "Well, let's get us a snack or something."
"Snow cones!" Winter said, pointing at a Shaved Ice vendor inside the store.
"Alright." Ruby said, walking over to the man.
"Hello." The vendor said, nodding his head at her. "What can I get ya?"
"Boo Rasperry!" Winter giggled, mispronouncing the name.
"Alright." He said. "And, what for you, Miss?"
"Strawberry." Ruby said.
"Alright." The vendor nodded, getting them each a Shaved Ice with the appropriate syrup inside. Winter took hers, licking it and grinning, trying to look at her blue tongue.
"Mah thung byoo!" She giggled, seeing it in a mirror.
"It sure is." Ruby said, snickering as she licked her own.
"We get kitty picture?" Winter asked. "Kitty want?"
"I'm sure she would." Ruby said. "Let's get it."
They got the cat picture Winter had indicated, the smaller Succubus giggling at it.
"Weissy want snow cone?" Winter asked.
"I think it would melt before she got it." Ruby said.
"Oh." Winter said. "We get necklace?"
"Sure." Ruby said. "I'm sure she'd love it."
"Yay!" Winter cheered.
Ruby laughed once again. She got Weiss a small necklace, Winter giggling as she tried it on herself.
"It big!" She said.
"It's made for someone bigger than you." Ruby said.
"Weissy bigger?" Winter asked.
"Yep." Ruby said. "She'd love it."
"Yay!" Winter cheered. The two exited the store, heading back to where they'd set up camp. However, once they returned, they saw no sign of Weiss and Blake was tied to a tree.
"Blake!" Ruby shouted, running over to her, untying her. "What happened?!"
"W-Weiss…" Blake said, slumping over into unconsciousness again.
Ruby made her as comfortable as she thought she'd need to be, setting her up, patting her. Winter sat next to her, stroking her ears and muttering "Kitty".
After a few hours, Blake stirred, Winter perking up.
"Kitty wake!" Winter exclaimed, hugging her.
"Hey" Blake said, strained a little. "Winter. You guys left."
"We went to a store." Ruby said.
"I gots a snow cone!" Winter giggled.
"That's good." Blake said, chuckling. "Did you find Weiss?"
"What happened to her?" Ruby asked.
"Well" Blake said, thinking back.
Flashback-earlier
Weiss and Blake had woken up, both looking around for Ruby and Winter. As Weiss opened Ruby's pack she'd left, she saw a note.
"Weiss and Blake" She read. "Me and Winter are going to the store. We'll be back soon. If you wake up before we get back, that's where we are. We will probably do something else to pass time cuz Winter's asking for snow cones."
"Like she needs that sugar." Blake said, chuckling.
"She loves snow cones." Weiss said. "Her favorite is blue raspberry, or as she says it, "boo rasperry".
"That's adorable." Blake said. "So, what should we do to wait for them?"
"Sit here.' Weiss said. "I feel like I got hit with a damn train."
"Same." Blake said, chuckling "You know, I misjudged you, Schnee."
"Really?" Weiss asked.
"Yeah." Blake said. "I figured you to be a stuck up bitch. Winter I didn't so much because she's a little kid, but I gotta say, you are nothing like I originally thought… your brother on the other hand…"
"I hate the bastard too." Weiss said. "I think he died though."
"Really?" Blake asked.
"Yeah." Weiss said. "I think Winter killed him."
"What?" Blake asked, now confused, tilting her head to the side.
"I think Winter killed him." Weiss said. "She did this weird thing like Ruby did to kill a Grimm."
"What did she do?" Blake asked.
"She seemed like someone else." Weiss said. "Someone else entirely."
"Strange." Blake said. "So, what are we gonna do about it?"
"Not tell her." Weiss said. "I'm not sure she'd understand."
"Understood." Blake said, nodding. "So, what's the plan for where we go?"
"I'm going to Mistral." Weiss said. "I have unfinished business with the Schnee Organizations."
"I'll join you.' Blake said.
"You will?" Weiss asked.
"Of course." Blake said. "Someone's got to help you. I think the three of us can do it."
"Yeah." Weiss said. "Ruby said she'd help too."
"Seems like Ruby." Blake said nodding. "I have to say she is impressive."
"Yeah.' Weiss said, nodding.
"We should stop in Menagerie." Blake said. "They can aid us in training ourselves to take on the Schnee Organization."
"But, they're mostly Faunus.' Weiss said. "I don't think I would make it in there."
"You'd be fine with me." Blake said.
"But, I'm a Schnee." Weiss said.
"True…" Blake said. "Well, we could work it out when we get there."
"If you say so." Weiss said. "I think we could—what's that?"
"What?" Blake asked.
"Don't you sense that?" Weiss asked. "I can sense someone."
"I" Blake said, sniffing the air. "I smell fire. It may be a Pyromancer."
"that's a problem." Weiss said. "I use Frost powers.'
"Correct." Blake said. "But, we can fight if we have to."
"I wouldn't say fight." A voice said, its owner stepping out of the trees. "I'd say you put up a weak fight."
"Who are you?" Weiss asked, getting into a fighting position despite her weakened state.
The person in question was about seven feet tall, easily a head and a half taller than Weiss and at least three quarters of a head taller than Blake. Her skin was slightly tanned, mostly seen because her clothes were showing off her figure. She had a very muscular body, though it seemed natural for her, not overpowered like some would think. She wore brown combat boots that had yellow chains around them, loosely wrapping around them. She wore light grey pants that sort of sagged, but held up well. Around them veined a black line that seemed to create a knee pad, but it actually didn't. Around where her pants ended, bandages were wrapped, going up to the top of her waist and stopping just where her stomach started. She wore a pair of dark brown gloves that had no fingers and had a square cut out where the backs of her hands were showing. Around her left arm, she wore a band that looked like two belts buckled around her bicep. The belts were brown and the buckles were gold colored. She wore a shoulder cover that was dark brown with a gold outline, guarding her shoulder. She wore a brown vest that had gold outlining, though the vest stopped at her shoulders and just into her midriff. Covering her breasts was a set of bandages similar to those wrapped around her lower body, though they looked like they were barely holding in her breasts. Said breasts were very large, easily size D, maybe bigger. They even looked natural to boot. Bandages wrapped around her right forearm and wrist as well, even covering her hand. On her right bicep was what looked like her symbol. It seemed like a strange combination of two. The outside looked like two red shoes put together at the soles that formed a heart inside. Inside of said heart was a burning yellow heart that was divided into several pieces. Around her neck, she wore an orange infinity scarf that seemed to fit her very nicely. Her hair was blonde, very blonde. It went all the way to her knees, which was a fair distance. It was basically a large mane that was thick and flowing, but it still looked like she took care of it constantly. Her eyes were a deep lilac shade, piercing and powerful. They stared at the two, both of them becoming wary of her.
"What do you want?" Weiss asked.
"you could say I'm a bounty hunter." The woman said. "I'm here for you, Schnee. You got a huge bounty on you."
"You'll have to kill me first." Weiss said. "and trust me, I won't go down easily."
"Fine by me." The woman said, cracking her knuckles. "I've always wanted to hit someone who'd break easy.
"I won't be as easy as you think." Weiss said, summoning her Ice magicks to her hand.
"That's what she said." The woman smirked, her fists becoming cloaked in fire.
"you're a Pyromancer?" Blake asked.
"Yep." The woman said. "Second best one I know."
"If you're this annoying, I hope I don't meet the best one." Blake said.
"Ah, you'd like her." The woman said. "She's just got less of a sense of humor."
"Joy." Weiss said. "But, I won't leave with you."
Weiss fired shards of Ice at the woman, some hitting her. However, the woman simply took them, the Ice doing nothing to her as it melted on contact with her skin. She held her hand out, a ball of fire emerging from it as it sped toward Weiss. Weiss barely dodged it as she fired more ice at her.
The woman moved forward faster than Weiss would have expected, throwing a punch that caused a crack to be heard, its origin from Weiss' ribcage. Weiss felt, in addition to the force of the punch, a pulse of magic that sent her flying backwards into a tree, eliciting another crack.
Weiss slumped back into unconsciousness, pained groans coming from her.
"Weiss!" Blake shouted.
"Huh." The woman said, rubbing the back of her head and laughing sheepishly. "I thought she'd take more than that. Guess I shoulda watched my strength. Sorry about that. You okay, princess? I heard you guys could take a punch. Hello? Princess?"
Blake chose this moment to attack her, using the shadows around her to her advantage, slashing at the woman, causing some damage.
"Ooh" the woman said. "Kitty's got claws. I like that."
The woman punched Blake in the face, sending her flying. She then bound Weiss' wrists behind her back as well as her ankles and slung her over her shoulder. Blake had arrived back at that point, seeing her.
"Oh good." The woman said, grinning. "you're still alive. Nothin' personal with that punch. Part a the job."
"Let her go." Blake said, growling.
"Hmm.' The woman said, thinking. "Nah."
"Now." Blake said, the shadows around her twitching.
"Nah." The woman said. "I'm just gonna head out of here. I just gotta cat a train or something."
"You won't—" Blake said, stopping as she heard what the woman had said. "Wait, what?"
"You say something, kitty cat?" the woman said, looking at her. "Well, guess I gotta knock you out. Or something."
In her confusion, Blake didn't see the punch coming as she was knocked unconscious.
Present
"And, that's when I woke up." Blake said, tending to her wounds.
"Weissy gone?" Winter asked, tearing up.
"Don't worry." Ruby assured the child. "We'll get her back."
"Pwomise?" Winter asked, looking at Ruby with her teary eyes.
"I promise." Ruby said. "We're going to get her back, no matter what."
Will Ruby, Blake, and Winter retrieve Weiss? And, who is this bounty hunter? Find out soon.