Weiss Schnee
Beacon Academy; Vale
January 30th
Even though Beacon Tower was destroyed along with varying parts of the city of Vale, most of the dorms of Beacon Academy are still intact. Caitlin ran into me, Velvet, Coco, and Neon shortly after an unconscious Ruby was taken home to Patch by her father and Qrow who promised me that the next place he's heading after Ruby wakes up is Atlas to see Winter. Caitlin fainted almost as soon as she stopped running, collapsing into me and Neon just as General Ironwood followed closely behind with Professor Goodwitch. We all dragged her back to Team CRGE's dorm and laid her down on her bed and I haven't left her side since. She's my sister, after all. Neon won't leave either, and Coco pulled together something comfortable for Caitlin to change into when she wakes up. If I had to bet, Caitlin hadn't eaten enough yesterday and her blood sugar got so low that she fainted. It's happened before, and it sucks for her especially because of her hypoglycemia.
Still, she's alive and that's more than I can say for some of the other people who fought for Vale, for Beacon.
"Has she woken up yet?" Professor Goodwitch asks, coming into the dorm.
"No," I tell her, glancing back at my sister. "I hope she does soon."
"Me too," Professor Goodwitch says, moving closer to me, Neon, Coco, and Velvet. "Especially because I think your father is going to be here soon to take you back to Atlas," She looks to Coco and Velvet. "Miss Adel, your mother sent specific instructions for you and Miss Scarlatina to go with them," Turning to leave, she hesitates and turns back to look at Caitlin. "I'll try and make sure that James knows when she's coming back. I'm sure her parents will be relieved that she's alright."
We all nod, and I feel numb as I watch Professor Goodwitch leave with a quick turn of her heels. Neon brushes Caitlin's side bangs out of her face while I turn away and try to distract myself by observing Coco's deliberation over what shawl will be best to tie Caitlin's left arm to her side until it can be looked at when we get back to Atlas. Part of me wants to cry, I feel a little bit like a child again. How did things get to be this way? Vale didn't do anything to deserve this, and still their capital was assaulted and their huntsman academy more or less destroyed. As I glance back towards my sister, I let out a sigh of relief upon seeing her eyes open. She flinches and her eyes water as she sits up, and Neon immediately pulls her close. When I last saw Ruby, all I could do was gently kiss her forehead before she was taken back to Patch by her father and Qrow.
"Weiss?" She says, gently pushing Neon's arm off of her.
I start to cry. "I'm so glad that you're alright!"
"Me too," She responds through tears. I pull my sister into a hug and help her get up shakily. "Father will be here soon," I tell her.
Caitlin's eyes flare. "Of course he will be."
"You know he's going to make you go back to Atlas whether or not you want to go back."
"I want to go back," She informs me, shaking as Coco, and Velvet begin to help her change into black leggings, a grey tunic with a purple belt and her combat boots. "But not without Neon," Caitlin takes Neon's hand with her right while Velvet ties the white shawl around her, keeping her left arm tied to her body.
"We're all going back together," Coco tells her. "I don't give a damn what Jacques thinks, he has no right to judge you for being in love with a girl who just so happens to be a faunus."
Neon pulls Caitlin into her while handing her Pale Shadow. "Don't worry," She tells her. "He's not your father, General Ironwood is and he's happy that we're together just like your mother is. Don't think about Jacques."
Caitlin sighs as we walk out of the dorm and out to the docks where father's ship is landing. Coco increases her grip on Velvet's hand while Neon refuses to remove her arm from around Caitlin. As my father gets off, I begin to feel nervous. It probably is irrational, but the last few months have changed me. Caitlin is half glaring, and I can imagine that if she had use of her left arm right now that she would cross her arms in irritation. I can see my father's annoyance at seeing Neon and Velvet but I try to ignore it.
"Weiss," He says shortly, looking at me.
"Father," I respond, glancing towards my sister and my friends.
"Coco," He shifts his gaze to her. "Your mother requested that I bring you home with my own children."
"Fine," She says, crossing her arms. "But not without Velvet and Neon."
He looks almost ready to tell her no but decides against it. "Fine."
No one says much after that. We all get onto the ship and I see Caitlin wander off to the window, staring melancholically out at Beacon until it no longer can be seen. Neon comes up next to her, wrapping an arm around her without saying a word. Caitlin may have an excellent command of language, but she's an introvert and this kind of silent communication is very powerful to her. I sit up in the front with my father, feeling incredibly awkward. Neither of us say anything, so I glance out of the window. I let my thoughts take over along with my emotions. I silently cry a little, but even more than that I try to understand how my life got to the point where it is. My parents are divorced, my twin sister isn't even my twin sister, I'm not quite sure what happened to my girlfriend, my mother is involved with my half-sister's father again, I watched my academy get destroyed, the kingdoms are in tatters, and even war amongst the four major kingdoms is a possibility. It wasn't the fault of Atlas what happened to Beacon - if you were there you would know that. I can't blame people in other kingdoms for holding Atlas responsible, though. They weren't there and Atlas did make mistakes. It's incredible to me how much can change in a few days. I'm not the girl I was when I left for Beacon - none of us are. So what gives? What says that I can go back to my old life? What says that I'll be able to go back to being the perfect child again? I may not turn eighteen until September, but believe me when I say that I'll fight against turning my back on the changes I've made. My life isn't in the control of others anymore. This life is mine, and I'll live it how I want to. Even if I can't let go of my past, I can control it. I can be who I am now. I will change things when I gain control over the SDC, I want to help people. I want to make changes - I'm not powerless so why should I let myself be held down?
