Hey guys, here is the next update in this story.

Enjoy the read.

Chapter Cover: Ruby smiling as she stood with Weiss and Yang beside her.

Chapter Thirty-Six

The Day of Decision

Present Day

Vale

Noir stood along upon the lawn of the Schnee Estate. The young man was stared up toward the star filled sky above him, a glazed look upon his face. Just a few hours ago, Sebastian had revealed to him, Ruby and Yang the full truth of what happened a five years ago, the event that had changed Weiss completely into the person he had known.

He never believed that something so horrible could have happened to the girl at such a young age. It was no wonder Weiss avoided to talk about the subject like the plague. The young man frowned to himself as he thought about it.

At least that's explained why she took her Huntress job so seriously, he thought, remembering the number of days she had spend on that Scroll before the White Fang attack, It's the only thing her father hadn't taken away from her…

Noir had never actually like the White Clan leader in the past but now he felt a deep hatred for him at the moment. It was the first time he actually felt such a deep hatred for someone like this before, and not even the White Fang had ever angered him this much. Weiss always was so different than everyone he ever knew before and Noir had always wondered as to why it was like that, but now that he knew…he was now starting to wish that he hadn't learned it at all.

That explain why you wanted Yang and Ruby out of the city that day…, he thought.

Flashback

Noir stared at the girl on the bed. He didn't know why he Weiss wanted to see him, but he was also curious as to why. The only times Weiss actually had him go up her room was…well, now that he was thinking about it, Weiss never had him come here before.

The room had blue colored walls and it was a softer color almost white. The designs were quite something on the walls too, looking similar to waves of the oceans. It was something quite beautiful yet simple.

"What is it that you wanted to see me for?" he asked, a curious tone in his voice, "You haven't figured something that I had missed now have you?"

Weiss's eyes which were seemingly lost deep in her thoughts refocused upon him. Weiss still looked a little pale considering that it was only four days ago that she had been on the brick of death. The white haired girl let out a soft sigh.

"The White Clan is going to come here," she said.

Noir raised his eyebrows.

"Are they now?" he said, "I'm surprised that none of them came to your aid during the entire White Fang attack…but as I know, you're not going to be telling me why…"

"I want you to take Yang and Ruby out of Vale when they do arrive," Weiss cut him off.

That cut him off.

"What?" he said.

"Ruby and Yang," Weiss said, "They need to be out of Vale at the time this happened…"

"No," Noir said, "I heard you the first time…I'm just wondering as to why you want this?"

Weiss looked down, not answering his question.

"Please just do me this favor," she said.

Noir stared at her and he didn't know why but something in Weiss's eyes caused a change within his chest. It was like Weiss was scared of her Family. He didn't think that he'd ever seen such a reaction from the girl…

"Weiss…," he said, "I will do it but what is it about your Family that you're afraid…?"

"I'm not afraid," Weiss interrupted him, "I'm not afraid of them…I just don't want either of those girls near my family."

End of Flashback

Noir opened his eyes as the wind blew through the area around him. His coat danced lightly in the wind as well as the hat he was wearing upon his head.

"I didn't peg you as the one who listen at the door Blake," he spoke out.

From the shadow behind him, two golden eyes appeared and then suddenly, the dark haired Faunus girl was there. She had a light frown upon her face as she stared at his back. Noir gave the girl a glance.

"How long have you known that I was there?"

"Ever since I came back to Vale with Ruby and Yang," he said, "Did you learn what you wanted to from what we were told?"

Blake approached toward him.

"It's not what I expected," she said, "I always knew that Ezekiel Schnee was a monster toward Faunus…I didn't think he treat his own blood like he did to us…I guess I understand now I felt no hatred from her when we battled against each other."

Noir turned his gaze toward the sky above him.

"And that girl chose to walk back straight into that place that took everything away from her," he said, "Despite that, she was mostly worried about Ruby and Yang other than her own safety. I don't know whether to be impressed or whack her on the head for being reckless."

Noir then glanced at the girl beside him.

"Why are you here still in Vale?" he asked her, "I would have thought that the White Fang wouldn't let go of their best member."

Blake gave him a stare.

"I told you before," she said, "I am not here in the city for the White Fang…To think a few weeks ago, I came to this city with the goal to kill her, and now, I can't get the damn girl out of my head so I wanted to know her secret…I wanted to know why she was different…but now that I do…I don't know whether to feel pity for her or…"

Blake cut herself off.

Noir stared at her for a few moments, a light frown upon his face. He never saw Blake so curious about someone before. Sure, when he used to train her back when Blake was younger, she had seen the girl get curious about people and all of that but to actually seen her like this was quite something…

"I saw when they took her," Blake said to him, "They were White Knights everywhere and Commander Winter was there as well…that girl saw me but instead of telling the others, I could have sworn that she smiled…Why the hell she would smile about?"

Noir smirked.

"If I didn't know any better, I would have said you've got a crush on Weiss."

Blake gave him a glare, one he was quite familiar with.

"Don't be ridiculous," she snapped at him with an angry look crossing her face.

Noir actually laughed at her.

"You haven't changed a bit. You're still as prudish as ever" he said, "I'm glad."

Blake let out a sigh, "I see you still have your same weird sense of humor Noir."

The duo fell in a comfortable silence as the wind blew around them.

"Tell me Blake, honestly," he said, "Why did you decide to join the White Fang in the first place?"

The dark haired girl stayed silent for a moment.

"When you left all those years ago," Blake said, "I had believed that I was ready to make a change…but I was deeply mistaken and almost got myself killed for it. Adam was there and he was the one who saved me. He was the one who introduced me into the White Fang and he told me of their purpose to bring change for the Faunus. I had joined almost immediately…"

Noir stared at her.

"You must have seen what they really wanted," he said.

Blake nodded.

"Yes, but lately," she said, "Adam had been working with Torchwick about something that could change the White Fang. He left for a meeting but hadn't returned yet. This was why he wasn't there the day of the Invasion and I was chosen to lead in his stead."

"Torchwick," Noir repeated, "Roman Torchwick?"

Blake glanced at him, "You know him?"

"No but I heard the name before," Noir told her, "Why are you still with the White Fang Blake? You can walk away you know…"

Blake gave him a glance, "And where should I go? I have no home out there. The only home I have known for my entire life is them. I'm not like you brother, I can't just turn away…not right now."

With that the girl disappeared in a burst of wind, leaving him standing alone.

It was worth at least a try, he thought.

Ruby Rose was lying upon her bed at home but she couldn't find it within herself to fall asleep. The young girl couldn't believe what had happened to Weiss as a child and she felt horrified now that she knew why Weiss never spoke about her past to any of them. She didn't understand how a father could do something so horrible to his own daughter and learning how Weiss family actually was, and what Weiss had endured, it made the girl feel sad.

She was sad that Weiss had lost her mother to the White Fang. She was sad that Weiss had grown up alone and she was sad that Weiss had suffered because she had wanted to do the right thing…

Oh Weiss, she thought.

She couldn't help the tears that were falling from her eyes as her heart wept for the pain that the white haired girl had gone through.

On her side, Yang was in her room with both of her hands behind her head. The blonde now find herself understanding why Weiss avoided talking about her family and how every time she actually glared at them to drop the subject whenever it was asked of them. She was frowning to herself knowing now why Weiss had wanted them to be out of the way when her family had came into the city.

And from the Aura we sensed then, she thought, It was even more powerful the White Fang we faced during the Invasion and something tells me that with her Released weapon, that power would increase even more…

The blonde tightened her hands into fist.

Each time she felt that she had grown stronger than the enemy they had faced, someone even more powerful appeared making their progress seems like they were worthless. Yang hated that feeling…hated the thoughts that there is someone out there that is more powerful than she is right now currently. Weiss was stronger than her, that much Yang could admit and it was alright because Weiss was their friend, but with someone that even Weiss didn't want them to face that had that kind of power…

She thought back to what the young man Noir said about Weiss during her training when they were summoning their Soul Weapon for the first time…

Flashback

"I don't hold a candle on Weiss. As I said earlier, I am more of a behind the scenes kind of guy. Weiss, however, is the girl that had been trained to fight to the death since she was old enough to generate Aura…

End of flashback

Yang stared at the ceiling, these thoughts mulling over her mind.

That would mean…whoever that was had to have had the same upbringing as Weiss did, she thought, Trained to kill since they were nothing but children…and I barely had powers for a month. Compared to them…I am nothing…nothing at all…I thought by learning my Weapon's name, I will be powerful enough to take any enemy on but…that power…it made me feel like I was insignificant…

She turned over on her bed and was now lying upon her side, staring at the night sky out there. The blonde stared at the few stars she could see. The girl knew that they stood no chance of facing those enemies in a battle and be able to come out alive. Maybe Weiss had the right idea in getting them out of the city before her Family could get to them…but Weiss had chosen to walk straight into the Lion's den by herself…

You best come back you hear me Princess, she thought, tightening her hand into a fist upon the bed sheets, and when you do, I'll make sure that this is the last time you face something like this on your own.

Atlas

The Next Day

Weiss was awoken by the sound of her cell door unlocking. The white haired girl blinked to herself, momentarily at lost as to where she was but then, the memories returned as quickly, reminding her that she was locked in a cell underneath the White Castle. She had chosen to face her father in a battle that will take place today, after invoking Law 55 upon the man, considerably challenging their honor as well. That may have brought her time, but despite that…she will still be facing her father into combat today.

She turned her gaze toward the entrance of the cell door finding two Huntsmen standing there.

"C'mon," one of them said, "It's almost time."

Weiss stood up and walked out of the cell door with the two Huntsmen. The girl walked through the familiar hallway and then passed cell door, one that seems to be different than the ones around them. She glanced at the cell door for a few moments before realizing that it was the exact cell unto which Sun was placed in five years ago.

"L…Lieutenant," one of the Huntsmen said shocked.

Weiss instantly looked forward finding a familiar silver haired young man standing by the entrance. He was dressed in white robes and he had armors on his shoulders. A smirk was upon his face as he stared at her.

"M…Mercury," Weiss said shocked.

The man looked the same as Weiss remembered him, thought, his hair was longer than she last saw him.

"How about I talk to her for a few minutes?" Mercury asked, a small smirk upon his face.

"Sir, we really shouldn't leave you alone with her," the Huntsman said.

Mercury chuckled, "And what is she going to do? Last I checked, she was the one who challenged the White Lord into combat. I doubt she is going to simply try to escape because if she were, she would have done it during the night…just like before isn't that Weiss?"

The girl's eyes narrowed at the man in front of her but the two Huntsmen bowed to Mercury before leaving the duo alone together in the empty hallway. Mercury glanced behind him as they retreated before glancing forward again.

"You know," he said, "I hardly believed it when I heard that you challenged your father into battle. I saw that something about your defiant nature is as wild as ever."

Weiss glared at him, "and I see that your silver tongue is still as treacherous as before Mercury."

The man laughed.

"Wow, you really have grown up," he said, his eyes looking straight at her, "But challenging your father into battle isn't a smart move you know…I'm sure you still remember how devastatingly powerful his release is…after all, he crushed a small Army by himself once didn't he…after your mother died…?"

Weiss tightened her hands into a fist at her side.

"I am well aware of how powerful my father is," she said, "I don't need you to remind me of it."

Mercury walked toward her until he stood right in front of the girl. Weiss stared up at him as his dark eyes stared down toward her.

"Then, if you know," he said, "Why are you challenging him…unless there is an alternate goal to what you're planning here."

"What are you insinuating here?"

Mercury chuckled before turning away from her.

"Oh I'm just looking at all the possibilities," he said, "I'm sure that you'll give us entertaining match. I'm actually very curious as how strong you have become since your Exile. Good luck today."

With that the man walked off leaving her standing here staring at his retreating form.

I really hate that guy, she thought.

A few minutes later, Weiss was then led straight into the large Arena where she'll be facing her father in battle. The girl noticed that many members of the Clan had showed up and could even see Winter in the stand as well. Then she turned her gaze away from Winter and noticed her father walking forward toward where the Arena was. He wasn't wearing his heavy robes but was dressed in simpler ones that still bellowed after him at each step he made. The man was wearing a coat upon his form as well and it was blue in color and as he approached, the people around the Arena quieted down.

The man walked upon the stage of the battle, his long white hair flowing behind him as he came to a stop across her and then the bleu eyes found her own and they were empty of all emotions.

"I have come," he said, "for your challenge and on my Clan honor, I will fight you and defeat you here traitor."

Weiss's Aura surged around her as her ordinary clothes disappeared and then the black robes she was familiar with took shape upon her form as well as her sword that held on the sash she had around her waist. Her father barely bats an eyelash at the robes she was wearing, but Weiss could hear the murmur going around her at the different robes she has on. Her father's hand rose up and pulled the side of his robes away from him revealing the handle of the large blade that was at his waist. With his other hand, he pulled the broad sword out, the blade gleaming into the light above him.

His Aura had surged forth as well and Weiss drew out her own sword raising her own Aura.

"BEGIN," a voice called out.

The fight for honor and freedom begins as father and daughter clash...

Next Time: The White Lord's Power

Jacques0 out.

R&R