You were the one, who held me down and told me I was heading nowhere. You said know your place, accept your fate and show good face, and be thankful that you're there. That was so long ago, when you owned me. I believed it was true. Bend me shape me. Build me break me. Why was I your fool? And now I'm so much stronger, I'm not yours any longer, I've got a message here for you. Time for you to learn, it's my turn.
Weiss
This has to be a joke, how, how did they find me? Why, why is winter helping them? I can't go back, I won't.
"Before you panic, I brought on a little extra cargo," winter explained
"Yang?" ruby whispered
"RUBY!"
Yang ran for ruby embracing her in a tight hug, tears streaming down her face. If yang and Blake are here that must mean, maybe I'm not going home after all, maybe winter will take us to vale.
"Dad," ruby sobbed embracing her father
Ruby's father looked at her uncle, they shared some kind of silent understanding, bringing a smile to her father's face.
"Thank you, for going to find my daughter, I'm forever grateful," he said to me
I simply smile in response. Something doesn't feel right, why is everyone staring at me with a cautious expression, and what are they hiding? Why does Blake look sad every time she glances at me?
"I had no idea, it was you I was talking too" ruby's uncle said to winter
"Well, you needed help, so I thought why not. Why don't we get everyone on the ship" winter instructed
We all headed over to the ship, but ruby paused. I turned to her, she was looking at something in the distance, cinder. I feel the hair on my neck stand up, and a sick taste in my mouth. Why is she here?
"Ruby" I tug on her hood trying to get her to follow me
We share a look, she's confused. Even after everything she still has second thoughts. These past few days we've really bonded, we became more than just friends. And still she thinks of cinder. I noticed everyone is stopped and they watch us, closely.
"Weiss, I… I'm scared" she admits
"You don't have to be, you're with friends, and family. No matter what we love you ruby" I reassure her
"What if they find out, about…? Weiss what if yang, or my dad hate me,"
"They would never in a million years hate you, you know that. Please let's go. It's time to leave this place behind us once and for all."
She nods and pulls her hood up, sparing cinder one last glance before heading to the ship. I look over to cinder who stares at me, her eyes flash orange like fire for a second, then I blink and she's gone. A chill runs down my spine.
On the ship no one sits down, there is a tense atmosphere. They stare at us. Me, ruby, and ruby's uncle are the only ones out of the loop, they know something we don't.
"What's going on" I finally ask
"Weiss" winter starts
The way she says my name I know that whatever follows, won't be good. I clench onto ruby who gives me a concerned glance.
"We are going to atlas, I'm taking you home" she finally says
I feel numb, like my entire body suddenly forgot how to feel. No, I can't go back. I'm shaking my head and backing up towards the door, but I know it's too late I'm trapped in here.
"Why, why are you doing this to me? I can't go back, father will"
"He's sick Weiss" she cuts me off
"Sick?" I trail off
Then I feel the gravity of the situation hit me. He's sick. I'm the heiress. If he dies, then I… I'm not ready, I don't want to. I want to be a huntress, not the head of the Schnee dust company. What about ruby? Or my friends, yang, Blake. What about beacon? I sit down my legs giving out underneath me.
"But, he'll get better right?" I ask
Winter looks down, and shakes her head no.
"it's serious, he told me the day you ran away, he was going to tell you at dinner when you first arrived, but he said you got into a fight with him and stormed off, Weiss he's been sick for a long time. When you left again he took a turn for the worse, they say he doesn't have long" she explains
My skin tingles like a thousand needles poking and prodding me. I feel light headed, and my mouth is dry. I'm not ready, I can't. Winter sits in front of me and grabs my hands. She has a look of sorrow in her eyes. I feel something wet and hot trail down my cheek, I think I'm crying. I feel the ship take off back to atlas.
"It's going to be okay, nothing is final yet. There is still time to sort everything out," she reassures me
I always knew it would come to this eventually, in the back of my mind I knew I could never run away from my destiny, but I always thought I'd have more time. I haven't even turned 18 yet. I glance up at ruby, who is staring at me in horror, she must be scared I'll leave her, I'm scared too.
How had I been so blind? How many times did I ignore his calls, he's been trying to get in touch with me all this time, and he was trying to tell me. Is that why mother was acting so strange, she knew what was coming, she knew.
The ride is silent the first day, no one talks or really does much of anything. Ruby and I share a room even though there is enough room for her to get her own, I ask her to stay with me. She holds me at night, neither of us say much of anything.
The next morning is different, yang and Blake cuddle up next to each other, and ruby stares out the window. That's when yang finally ask.
"So ruby, what've you been up to in haven?"
Ruby stiffens at the question, yang notices.
"Nothing really, just hanging out with Weiss" ruby says looking to me for help
"Well I know that, I'm talking about before that. What happened to you?"
Ruby's dad leans against the door frame, winter sips her coffee sitting next to ruby's uncle. He also stiffens.
"Uh, nothing really" she says staring at the floor.
Ruby drags her foot across the floor nervously. I get up and sit next to her, she smiles at me.
"What about cinder?" Blake ask
"What about cinder?" ruby ask back getting defensive
"Do you know where she went, or what she's up to?"
"No, why would I" she says standing
"Ruby it's okay" I reassure her
But she ignores me, and walks off. I sigh.
"The kids been through a lot, best not to push the subject" her uncle says drawing everyone's attention
"What do you mean?" yang ask
"Is she okay" her father ask
"I don't know yet, she's not the same girl anymore, that's for sure. Just give her space."
"Well what about cinder" Blake asked again
"She went into hiding, I tracked her to an abandon town on the outskirts of mistrial. For now she's staying silent, but I don't know how long it will be till she's ready to strike again. Hopefully long enough for everything to be put back in order"
"Cinder has to be stopped before she gets more people killed, who knows what that monster is up to"
"She's not a monster" ruby says cutting off winter
I feel sick again. Why does she always defend her, cinder is a monster. One who needs to be stopped and put down. Everyone is silent and stares at ruby. Her dad shifts uncomfortably.
"She may be a lot of things, but she's not a monster"
"How can you say that" Blake says getting defensive
"Because she isn't she's just misguided. You were too once, are you a monster? You shouldn't judge her, she's been hurt, and the person who helped her wasn't the best. Cinder just needs a friend is all?"
"She's killed a lot of people, she doesn't need a friend, she needs to be put to justice." Yang joined in also getting defensive
"Maybe putting people to justice isn't working anymore. So what we lock people up, they just get out anyway and then they do it again. The system is corrupt, that's why it fell so easily"
I feel my mouth drop to the floor, did she really just say that? That sounded like words straight from cinders mouth. What did cinder do to her, what did she put in her head? Ruby what happened to you?
"How can you say that, ruby what did cinder do to you?" yang said standing to walk to her sister
"Cinder didn't do anything to me, she opened my eyes. It's the truth, we just choose not to see it. She's not a monster, she's a victim who lost her way, and wants to hurt those who hurt her. Don't judge people if you don't know anything about them" she spat
"Ruby" I say standing trying to get her to calm down
"What could have happened to her that is so bad, that it's make it okay for her to do all of this" yang yelled
"Yang" ruby's uncle said standing
Yang clenched the fist of her new robotic arm, as if to make a point.
"She lost everything, her friends, her family. And when she needed answers, needed help, no one came. She saw them get murdered right in front of her eyes, by the people who were supposed to be in charge of mistrial, the people who were supposed to be protecting her. She tried to get justice, but the system is corrupt, no one believed her, they pushed her aside and ignored her. Imagine how she felt, imagine what it's like to lose everything you ever loved or cared about! Imagine that the system you trusted for so long, betraying you, hurting you. You don't know anything! Cinder may have done bad things, but so have I, does that make me a monster? Do you hate me for it? She just wanted answers." Ruby sobs staring at the ground
"Ruby" I try walking over to her, she steps back
"She was right about you, she said you guys wouldn't understand. Said you'd say this. She was right"
Ruby turned to leave pushing past her father and running off. Rose petals slowly falling to the ground.
"I told you not to push it" her uncle sighed
"She's different" I say to no one before continuing on
"She's been corrupted, she's confused. She doesn't know what to believe anymore. Whatever cinder showed her, changed her. She doesn't smile no more, or laugh, or be dorky. She's always sad, quiet. She doesn't sleep, and when she does she cry's in her sleep. I tried helping her, but she won't let me in. she's scared we will abandon her, I don't know what to do"
"Weiss, it's okay, were here now, you don't have to try alone, and we will find her again" Blake said placing her hand on my shoulder
"I won't let her go again, we're a family, we have to stick together, if ruby needs us, then we have to be there no matter what" yang said placing her hand on my other shoulder
My heart sinks, how can I be there no matter what if I'm head of a company, if I have to run a corporation. Where in my life would my friends fit into, would ruby fit into? I saw what happened to my mom, with father always gone, or paying attention to work, it drained her. Made her hollow, she may have loved him once upon a time, but that was long ago. I don't want ruby to turn out like that, never. She's scared we'll abandon her, I'm scared she's right.
Ruby doesn't come to lay with me that night, I know she's on the ship so I try not to let it bother me. Though I can't sleep. A light knock on my door has me sitting up.
"Ruby?" I say opening the door, but it's just yang and Blake
"Hey" yang said stepping in
"I guess you can't sleep ether?" I ask
"Kind of hard when your 1000 feet in the air" Blake says
"You get used to it" I say sitting down
"So ruby's not with you" yang ask
"I'm afraid not, she probably just needs space"
"Has she told you anything about her time with cinder" Blake ask
I stare at my hands, should I tell them, ruby would get mad, or sad most likely. Besides it's not my story to tell. Though they need to know, yang is ruby's sister after all.
"Weiss?"
"… She has, but she told me not to tell anyone" I finally say
"What? What happened?"
"I can't say, all I can tell you is she has no idea what cinder is planning next, or so she says. Also she has this new strange power I've never seen before. It's kind of scary"
"What do you mean?" Blake ask
"Her eyes glow silver, she can freeze time, or something. She hasn't talked about it, that's just what I saw"
I want to tell them, I need to tell someone. Though ruby said not to, she's scared, not that I blame her. I just, ugh.
"Weiss, can't you tell us anything?" yang begged
I shake my head no. ruby doesn't want them to know, then I won't tell. That's what someone who loves you does, they keep your secrets, even though they shouldn't.
"Weiss?" ruby says coming into the room
"Ruby" I stand
"What's everyone doing in here?" she ask
"Can't sleep, join the club" yang says sounding like her usual self
Ruby sighs and grabs my hand before sitting down. I sit next to her.
"I'm sorry for freaking out earlier, I just, I mean"
"You don't have to apologize, we are the ones who should be saying sorry. What you said is true we have no right to judge her" Blake said
"I am?" ruby asked confused
"Yeah sis, we get it, we're sorry. No more fighting okay"
"Okay" ruby smiles and nods
That's the first time I've seen her smile since I found her, a real genuine smile. Makes me smile.
"So, how's the new arm" ruby ask
"It's different but I'm getting used to it, what about you anything new?"
"Well Weiss and I are together"
"I noticed you two were closer than usual" Blake comments
I feel my face go red
"Well you two are looking awfully close too" I point out
"That's because we are together too" yang said wrapping her arm around Blake, Blake blushed.
Ruby smirked and wrapped her arm around me, mimicking yang.
"So how's zwei?" ruby asked
"He's zwei, we left him at your house Weiss. Hope you don't mind"
"You left your dog at my house, oh god who knows the trouble he's causing"
"He's a good boy don't worry" yang reassures me
"Define good" Blake ask
Ruby giggles. I smile, this is the most positive reaction I've seen ruby make since I found her. Yang and Blake smile too.
"I missed you guys" ruby says out of nowhere
"I missed you too" yang says
"Yeah me too" Blake adds
"You already know how I feel" I say
Ruby smiles, her eyes water, and then she looks down.
"Ruby" I rub her back
"I'm just happy we're all together again, team rwby." She smiles
"Yeah team rwby" I say
Maybe this was all ruby needed, for the team to be back together again. Team rwby.
Everyone ended up falling asleep in my room. The next morning reminded me a lot of old times. Blake was up reading a book, yang still snoring away. I got up to get ready for the day, ruby waking up shortly after. She poked yang, till yang woke up, with complaints.
We are only hours away from atlas, my destiny. Breakfast is also somewhat normal, ruby overloading with sweets, Blake hardly touching her food, yang eating things that hardly qualify as breakfast, and me eating what I always eat. Winter, Qrow, and Taiyang went to another room to eat leaving us be. I half expected ruby to say she had our next mission planned, and yang to volunteer without even hearing the deeds. It's like we are trying to fit into a mold that is too small now, it's awkward, tense, and weird.
"We are an hour out from landing, be prepared for departure," the pilot said over the intercom
This is it, time to finally face my father. Even if I'd rather not. We all gather our things, and before I know it, we're there.
"Welcome back Ms. Schnee your father request your presence," flaxes says as soon as I step foot on the drive way
"Whoa, Weiss this is your house," ruby said in awe
Yang gave a whistle at the sight, and Blake just stared in awe.
"Flaxes please escort our guest to the lounge for me." I order before walking with winter to my father's chambers
I can do this, he's still alive, and he can get better. Winter gives a light knock on the door, a servant comes to answer. She is surprised to see us.
"Sir, your daughters have arrived." She steps aside to let us in.
The room is dimly lit, and is suck clean. Mother sits at father's bedside. She was reading to him. When she sees us she sets the book down. Father is pale, his blue eyes are dull, and his breathing slow and forced.
"Weiss" winter tugs trying to get me to move
I'm glued to the floor. I can't move, I can't believe this is actually happening. He looks at me with a soft sad look, the vulnerability behind it breaks me.
"Father, what, how, I'm sorry I didn't know"
"Come here" he orders
Even in his obvious bad condition he still can speak with power. I slowly walk to his bedside, the servant leaving us alone.
"Weiss, I'm glad you're back. I didn't want you to find out like this. I had hoped for a decent conversation over a nice meal, but things never go as planned."
"Father, what's wrong, what happened?"
"I'm sick, I've been sick for a long time. It's a curse that comes with this name. My father had it and his father before him, but lucky for me I'm blessed with two beautiful girls, who will never have to feel this pain."
"Father what are you saying" I sob
He takes my hand in his, he is so cold. Suddenly the family crest makes sense. The Schnee's forever destined to live a cold lonely miserable life full of beauty and fortune. Even in death the cold grabs them and holds onto them like a plague, ready to claim the next victim.
"I always thought I'd have more time, thought that I'd get to see both my girls grow up and become beautiful women. I knew I would get it, I just never thought it would be so soon. I got the disease just around the time you were born, and have been living with it since. I know I should have told you, but I couldn't. And every time I wanted to, you shut me out. I know it's unfair of me to do this to you, but soon this burden will be on your shoulders. I didn't want this life, and neither did my father or his before that, but it's a responsibility you must live with. Weiss do you understand"
"No I can't I'm not ready, father please, don't do this to me. I don't want this, I'm scared." I take my hand away
"It's time to face reality Weiss, this was always meant to be your life. I know it's not what you want, but it's what you've got. I have tutors ready and waiting to teach you everything you need to know, sure the company might suffer little bit, but I have no doubt you can run it"
"The company… tutors. You don't get it. This isn't about sales or the best deal, this is about me, and you. A daughter and her sick father. You never understood me. I don't want to make shady deals with people, or put families out of a job. I don't want to live with the constant death threats. I don't want to be a tool used in a war."
"Weiss" he tries
"No listen to me, if I'm getting the company then I'll run it the way I want to. I don't want you to die, I don't want any of this. Your my father, and no matter what I will always love you, but you don't control me anymore. I used to think you didn't love me, I would try my hardest to get your attention, to be the best at everything. All I wanted was for you to come to one recital, one show, one match, you never came. You gave me everything I wanted, except the one thing I needed. Love. I hated you for that, I was so cold on the inside, I felt like I was being suffocated here so I left, I'm sorry. I get it now, I know why you did the things you thought you had to. But you were wrong, and now here you are dying. I don't want to lose you dad please." I cry
Winter rubs my back, trying to comfort me. Mom sighs and places her hand on fathers shoulder.
"That's enough, listen I will die and you will get the company, and how you run it is all on you. Don't make the same mistakes I did, be a better person than me. I love you Weiss, I love both of you. I know I always told you that you should be grateful you were even born, but the truth is I'm the grateful one. I'm glad I have two amazing daughters, and I understand that I can't control you any longer. I'm so proud of you, both of you. Look at the strong beautiful women you have become. I don't know how much longer I have but I know it's not much. When I die it will be your turn to carry the Schnee name, how you carry it is up to you. I know you'll do great things I believe in you. You both make me so proud"
I stay with father all day and night, sometime around midnight he passed away, and I, Weiss Schnee became the head of the Schnee dust company.
3rd person
Haden watches from a distance as the Schnee family cries at their loss, the plan has been activated, and he knows soon that they will be crying from losing so much more. Cinder smirks next to him. She was excited about the new plan, not only would she impress Salem, but she would get to have revenge on the new head of the Schnee dust company. Things were looking better and better. She needed to talk to ruby, it was time she reclaimed what was rightfully hers.
The two watched the mansion and waited, for soon they would bring the Schnee dust company to its knees.
Hey everyone I know it's been a while sorry, but hoped you enjoyed the new chapter. I know I said I would rewrite the first few chapters, I will I swear. Anyways if you have any comments please feel free to leave them, all is welcome. Also tell me what you think will happen next.
-batty