Disclaimer: I do not own My Hero Academia, RWBY, Soul Eater, Fullmetal Alchemist, Sailor Moon, Magical Lyrical Nanoha, Madoka Magica, Kill La Kill, Bleach, Fairy Tail, One Piece, Cardcaptor Sakura, Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, Dragon Ball Super, Blood Blockade Battlefront, Little Witch Academia, Black Rock Shooter, Hunter x Hunter, JoJo's Bizarre Adventures, and Yuki Yuna is a Hero. They all belong to their respective owners such as Shonen Jump, Studio TRIGGER, CLAMP, Studio Gokumi, Naoko Takeuchi, Yasuhiro Nightow, Monty Oum, Akiyuki Shinbo, Hiromu Arakawa, Atsushi Ohkubo, Hirohiko Araki, Ryohei Fuke, Gen Urobuchi, Akira Toriyama, Tite Kubo, Hiro Mashima and Yoh Yoshinari.
Anything I didn't mention does not belong to me and belongs to the original owners.
The World of Heroes Heroic Tales
Chapter 19
The life of Whitley Schnee
Whitley Schnee was looking at a spreadsheet on a scroll given to him by his secretary and mother, Willow Schnee. The sales were booming as usual. Of course, this was only possible because Whitley made it so. With all that he had learned from his father regarding his experience as a businessman, he would work diligently in upholding the company, only this time, he would do this through legitimate means. No controversial labor force, no shady business partnerships, no embezzlement of any kind, nothing that would damage the Schnee Dust Company's reputation and the reputation of the House of Schnee.
The Company's previous CEO and Whitley's father, Jacques Schnee, was arrested and later convicted of embezzlement, corruption, domestic abuse, and conspiracy. Whitley, upon being made the new CEO of the Schnee Dust Company, began making changes to the company while sending expeditions into other regions outside what is now known as the Remnant Ocean. The Atlesian surveyors found huge deposits of dust in Russia and Alaska. Meanwhile, he had overhauled the workforce and made partnerships with more legitimate business partners. The company took part in Kiseki-Mirai's construction, fitting it with the latest technologies that Whitley and the SDC could provide.
Of course, all of this was not going to be enough. He knew that. He knew how difficult it was going to be in restoring honor to the name of Schnee. That is why he had begun to train with Winter to become a huntsman. She was rather reluctant on training him, given his likeness to his father, but seeing the determination in his eyes told her that he was dead set on becoming something else. He was determined to go through with this no matter what cost came to him. It was upon this realization that she would agree to train him, but he must make his own weapon as part of the agreement.
And he did.
He made a revolver that could change into a sword. It was based on a General Ironwood's personal hand cannon and Weiss's Myrtenaster while incorporating his own ingenuity. The revolver had two cylinders. One for the dust and the other for bullets. Each dust chamber affected the bullet coming out of it. It could hold thirteen bullets per clip. The revolver could fold into a sword in which the handle is made to straighten out and cover the barrel under a blade so that when the trigger is pulled, the blade not only vibrates, it also lets off dust depending on the chamber.
He named it after one of William Shakespeare's plays.
It was called Macbeth.
He had just read it by the time he was done making the weapon. He found it to be poetic for its simple message about the damaging psychological and physical effects of those with political ambition to seize power for their own sake which is conveyed through the titular character and everyone surrounding that character. His father has been inflicted with these effects, as he had ambition and sought power, nonetheless.
Ironic.
The main character of Macbeth would die in the midst of a civil war while Jacques Schnee would be left in a prison cell for thirty years, forever contemplating his own actions and how he could have had it all if only his children didn't dare defy him even once.
Yes… how ironic indeed.
After that, he would train with Winter, improving himself both physically and mentally. He not only mastered the usage of the Glyphs, but he had at one point been able to summon a copy of a Grimm. It was a Beowolf.
He could still remember that moment like it was yesterday.
"Whitley?" His mother's voice called to him.
"Wha—? Yes, mother?"
"You were spacing out." Willow said, "Is everything alright?"
"Yes, mother, everything is—"
BRRRRRRR!
"One moment." He sighed before picking up the scroll on his desk, "Yes, Whitley speaking."
"Master Whitley, how are you this evening?"
"Klein? Oh, I'm just doing outstanding." Whitley said, "How are the dinner preparations going?"
"Quite smoothly." Klein said, "Your sister Weiss is on hold, she wishes to speak with you."
"Weiss? Very well, put her through." Whitley said.
"Right away." Klein said.
…
…
…
BEEP!
"Hello?"
"Ah, Weiss, sister, I was wondering when you would call." Whitley said, "Are you still looking for a boyfriend?"
"Bite me." Weiss retorted.
"You know, you could learn a thing or two about boys from… Yang, was it?" Whitley teased.
"I swear to god…" Weiss said, "I did not call for you to tease me on the fact that I haven't gotten a boyfriend yet."
"And why is it that you are calling me?" Whitley asked, "Is it about mother?"
"Yes… actually. How is she?"
"Well… she's doing as expected. She's drinking less, socializing with people more… and she's been…" he sighed, "She's been with me ever since things changed and she's steadily improving."
"And you?"
"Everything is as usual." Whitley said, "The people of the world are becoming more respectful towards the name of Schnee. More and more people are becoming convinced that we are not as we were when father was in charge."
"Yes… you are making that… quite obvious…" Weiss said.
"In fact, I just finished up with a new partnership with a company called BetaByte." Whitley said, "They're a tech conglomerate in North America and are currently being run by Theo Lyons. I've met him in person."
"Theo Lyons? Wait, you mean that rich playboy who's about your age?" Weiss asked.
"Yes, I got to play chess with him. It was an awfully close game." Whitley said, "I did tell him about you and how people often called you Ice Queen."
"Ugh…"
"And then he says the funniest thing I've ever heard." Whitley said, "Ice Queen? More like an Ice Princess who needs Prince Charming to warm her icy heart with a passionate flame."
He chuckled.
Willow could not help but smile.
"Really now? A princess?" Weiss asked, "And I suppose he'll want to climb up my tower and lead me out through the window."
"Now Weiss, how are you ever going to get a boyfriend if you keep acting so cold?" Whitley asked, "Besides, I think he might be into you."
"And for what reason should I give him a chance?" Weiss asked.
"He's a bit of a philanthropist and he's an absolute genius." Whitley said, "You wouldn't believe how smart he is under all that hot-blooded enthusiasm and womanizing charm. His company took part in the Kiseki Mirai Construction Project. His company mostly worked on the operating systems of the numerous drones the city uses."
"Interesting…" Weiss said, "Before I go… Can you put mother on the phone?"
"Alright… hold on."
He handed the scroll over to Willow.
"Hello sweetie." Willow said, "I'm so glad to hear from you. How's school?"
"It's been fine really." Weiss said, "Although, I liked it when things weren't always followed by explosions everywhere…"
"Huh?"
"Do you know the name Katsuki Bakugou?"
"Oh? You mean that boy who shouts a lot?" Willow asked.
"Yup… he's one of my classmates…" Weiss said, "He and Yang keep getting into fights with each other and some of my classmates think they're in love or something. I swear… the Japanese are really… strange. I do not mean to sound racist or anything, it's just… Shoto? What are you—! Out! I am on the phone with my mother! That is none of your—! What?! AGAIN?! UGH!"
"Um… Weiss?"
"Sorry mother… I gotta hang up… Yang and Bakugou are at it again…" Weiss said.
"But what about the rest of your friends?" Willow asked.
"Ask her about Penny!" Whitley said.
"H-Huh? Who? Why?" Willow asked.
The call dropped.
"Oh… she hung up."
"Drat." Whitley silently cursed.
"Now who is Penny?" Willow asked.
"Uh… a friend of Weiss. She's a ginger and—"
She began to smile.
"Has my baby boy got himself a girlfriend?"
"Mother—"
"Oh Whitley, I'm so proud of you!" Willow said, "Having a girlfriend already…"
"M-Mother!" Whitley said, his cheeks turning red, "Not in here… it's embarrassing…"
His scroll rang again. Willow gave it to him.
"Hello?" Whitley spoke.
"Master Whitley, it's me, Klein." Klein said.
"Ah Klein, what is it now?" Whitley asked.
"It's Ms Hill, sir, she wants to see you." Klein said.
"Robyn? What for?"
"She says it's urgent."
He hung up. He stood up.
"Mother, I'm leaving you in charge until I get back." Whitley said.
Schnee Estate
He got into the foyer of the manor where his butler Klein and a woman were on the top of the stairs. The woman in question looked to be in her mid-20s. Her hair was a light blonde that was tied in a ponytail and her eyes were violet. Whitley's butler, Klein Sieben, was a slightly overweight man with balding brown hair and a large mustache. The woman next to him wore a black sleeveless coat with gray accents over a red double-breasted sleeveless vest, a brown high neck shirt, and a light gray short-sleeved shirt with one right short sleeve that has a black cuff whilst the other sleeve is longer.
"Well, I was wondering where the Ice Prince was." The woman said to him as Whitley approached.
"Robyn Hills, The most dangerous woman in all of Mantle (aside from Winter)." Whitley said, "Now what is this urgent matter that needs my attention?"
Klein's eyes turned red.
"I was just about to tell you until you hung up on me!" Klein said, shaking his fist with a cranky voice.
His eyes returned to a light brown. He cleared his throat.
"Ms Hills had visited your father."
"Did she now?" Whitley asked.
"Yeah… and the old man wants to see you." Robyn said.
Whitley stopped, then frowned. He had to stay calm. He had to stay cool. He should not show any emotion. Especially if it is about him.
"And just why would he want to see me?" Whitley asked, "What could possibly motivate such a cowardly man to want to see his own son when he cared less about his daughters and cared even less for his own wife?"
"Er… M-Master Whitley…"
"I was foolish enough to idolize such a man when he was nothing more than a cowardly, pathetic, arrogant, short-sighted, senile old man who only cared for himself." Whitley said, "After all the things I did, to find out that it was all a lie that he fed me just so he could have some pawn for him… I… I…"
Robyn grabbed Klein and dropped to the ground.
Whitley reaches for Macbeth, pulls it out of the holster, aimed it at the wall, and then…
"DAMNIT!"
BANG!
The bullet slammed into the wall, leaving a hole in it. The red dust tipped round made the hole bigger.
"HE DIDN'T CARE ABOUT ANYONE!"
BANG!
"EVERYONE WAS JUST A PAWN TO HIM!"
BANG! BANG!
"ESPECIALLY ME!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"BECAUSE OF HIM, WEISS AND WINTER LEFT ME ALL ALONE!"
BANG! BANG! BANG!
"And mother… she… she feared me… all because of how I reminded her of him… DAMN IT ALL!"
BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG! BANG!
"AND I WAS A FOOL TO EVEN CALL HIM MY FATHER!"
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
Whitley had tears streaming down his eyes. Those tears had been flowing ever since the first gunshot. He opened the chamber and dumped the bullets out. He brought out a speed loader full of bullets and put the bullets into the chamber before closing it.
"And all I feel now for that man is nothing but hate…" Whitley said, "IT'S THE ONLY THING I FEEL FOR HIM!"
He resumed firing, the gunshots ringing loudly in his ears as the concussive force of every gunshot visibly shifted the air around the barrel. He kept pulling the trigger until…
CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK! CLICK!
He dropped to his knees; the barrel was smoking hot. Robyn got up and looked at Whitley, his tears falling onto the gun.
"Ok… are you done throwing your temper tantrum?" Robyn asked.
"... Yes… I believe I am out of bullets and my anger has subsided." Whitley said.
"Oh thank god…" Robyn said, "You know, you could have given me a warning about mentioning your father."
"No… I lost myself in all that anger… I… I bottled it up for so long that I… I just…"
"Well in any case, if you are wondering about why he wants to see you again, he said, and I kid you not, he wanted to apologize. For everything." Robyn said, "I don't know if he was being honest about it, but you can go and confirm whether or not he's actually serious about apologizing."
She sighed.
"Of course, you don't have to go—"
"Fine then." Whitley said, standing back up, "I'll find out for myself if he really does intend to apologize for everything he's done, but I'm also going to confirm whether he really has changed in only a year."
Whitley looked to Klein.
"Klein, get the car, and tell mother I'm paying father a visit." Whitley said, "And find me a box of tissues so I can wipe my eyes."
"Er, Yes! I'll quickly get onto that!"
Later…
He had arrived at the prison. He asked to see his father, to which the guards led him in, but only on the condition that his weapon be temporarily confiscated. They led him to the room where he could meet with his father. His father was already in a chair on the other side of the room which was shielded with hardlight dust. He was flanked by two guards.
"Remember sir, you have one minute." The guard told him.
"I know." Whitley replied.
The guards went to the corners of the room. Whitley could see what has become of the man that he once called father.
"You know… I've been reflecting on everything." Jacques began, "At first, I… I thought…"
He sighed.
"Clearly, I've done more than disappoint you." Jacques said, "Your eyes… they have changed."
"Yes, they have." Whitley said, "I believe you summoned me here for an apology. I want to hear it."
Jacques sighed.
"Truth be told… All I wanted was to have a legacy that could surpass your grandfather's legacy…" Jacques said, "I could never be anything like your grandfather. He was a warrior, and I… I was incapable of becoming such a warrior. I had an aura, but no semblance. I did not have the strength and will in me to wield a sword. All I had was wit, and cunning. I figured that I could never surpass him physically. But if I could be remembered as someone that men would aspire to, maybe then I would have surpassed your grandfather."
"And yet, all of you've done is drag yourself into the dirt like a common villain." Whitley said, "And all you did was hurt people."
Jacques lowered his head.
"I realized that all too late unfortunately." Jacques said, "Jealousy can twist a man. Pride can blind him just the same."
Jacques looked at his hands.
"I'm sorry. For everything I have done. To your mother, your sisters, and… to anyone else that I have hurt with my own hubris." Jacques said, "You don't have to accept my apology. It's not like I ever deserved it, or anything for that matter."
"And that includes mother?"
"Yes… even Willow… I never deserved her. She was better off with someone else. Someone who was truly deserving of the name of Schnee." Jacques said, "All I ever wanted was to be recognized as someone who could make dreams come true."
Whitley chuckled.
"Ever heard of the story of Icarus? I think the Greeks came up with that one." Whitley said, "A man was given wings and flew off into the sky, only to fly too close to the sun and met his fate at the hands of his own hubris."
He stood up.
"The company is in good hands. In fact, I got it up to its feet while you've been in that jail cell." Whitley said, "In 30 years, expect your prodigal son to write a legacy that's better than yours in every way and expect your two daughters to become the best huntresses in the whole world."
He turned to the guards. He nodded to one of them.
"Whitley…" Jacques said, "Never mind… this sad old man has nothing more to say to the son he's too proud of."
Whitley turned to Jacques in surprise. He turned to the door as it opened and walked out.
Schnee Estate
He got back home. He saw his mother by the stairs.
"So… how was your visit with him?" She asked.
"Well, for starters, he apologized… for everything." Whitley said, "And that's it."
"That's it?" Willow asked.
"Yup. That's it." Whitley said, "Now I do believe I am in need of rest."
He got into his bed. He looked out to the sky to see the moons in the skies. He could see Remnant's Moon in the night sky. He looked to all the other moons. He went to sleep.