Chapter 21 - A Competition's End, A Journey Home

Weiss wandered around her home, talking with people, exchanging business cards and other methods of contact information with wealthy sons and daughters of industry or those from their parents, mostly hoping to find Blake to escape from this madness. Weiss had had a long night, and it was soon to be an even longer one. Checking her watch, she saw the time was seven-thirty. Only another half an hour until the ball started and the announcement of the winner of her little competition. She sighed, wishing to have had some time to talk with her best friend. Even seeing Ruby again wouldn't have been all that bad. The doltish girl did seem to make an impression on her.

She smiled, remembering that little wave she gave her at the end of the competition. She was the only one of the lot that had looked at her during the closing speeches and not her father. It warmed her, to know that even with the altogether rocky start, there was a friendship that seemed to be blooming. Weiss would make sure to remind herself to have Blake give the girl her number.

Not for anything strange, of course, she told herself.

Just to talk.

Yes, just talking.

Talking over the phone was definitely something that friends did.

Yes.

Rolling her eyes to remove whatever thoughts she had, she continued her pace around her estate.

"That was not what we had arranged!"

The angered voice of her father seeped from behind a closed door. Weiss had to know what angered him so much. Standing with her back against the wall, holding her phone in both hands to fain being busy, she perked her ears, listening for anything more. And most importantly, using her phone to record whatever could be from that room.

"I don't care who that Rose person is, or how good their weapon may be. The Winchester boy's was forged by expert weapon-smiths; the best money could buy! How could it have lost?!"

Weiss's smile grew. They were talking about her choice. Her new weapon. It wasn't Cardin's. It wasn't Cardin's!

She almost squealed with glee before remembering her surroundings. Hopefully this Rose boy would be willing to go to the dance with her. Just to rub it in poor mother and father's faces. Not that she would ever say such a thing out loud.

"We cannot let the public know," her mother's voice was calm and collected. Very much unlike her father's. She was planning something. "If we can get the weapon-smith to take money in exchange for relinquishing claims to the blade, or even a glowing recommendation from us to whatever school or job they want, then maybe we can still play this right."

"And if they refuse?"

"Then we blackmail them," Weiss could almost feel her mother's lackadaisical shrug through her words.

Weiss leaned in closer to the door but could not seem to make out anything else her parents were saying. Just the occasional hushed whisper and her father's voice raising in anger, only to be calmed, then silenced by that of her mother. Weiss scowled. Of course the two of them were plotting something.

But, at least she knew that Cardin was not the winner. She doubted her parents would reveal to her the winner's full identity, but at least she had a last name. Or maybe a first name.

"Ugh," Weiss sighed. Too many potential people. The best-case scenario would be her parents mistakenly 'losing' the identity of the winner and ask the maker of the sword to come forward with conclusive proof. It's what she would do in their place.

There was not enough time to think too hard on it just then. There was still a ball to prepare for. Half an hour with which to take a ludicrously fast shower and change into her formal attire. Thankfully, there were perks to hosting a ball inside one's own home.

A quick shower later and Weiss was sitting in front of her desk, her hair wrapped up tightly in a towel and her dress laid out on her bed, just waiting to be slipped on. Weiss, however, was paying more attention to her reflection in the mirror in front of her. Her eyes darted across those of her reflection, trying to map out every ridge and imperfection in their shape and colour. She always felt like something was wrong with her face. There was just something about it which ticked her the wrong way.

Maybe it was her colouration. It was too pale to her. Almost like porcelain. Like it would crack at any moment. Weiss's lips tugged into a small smirk. Maybe a crack on her face would do her some good.

There was a knock on her door.

"Come in," she said, pulling her attention away from herself.

The door opened to her mother, who looked exquisite in her own dress. "Daughter, why are you not yet ready? The ball is very soon."

"I was waiting for my hair to finish drying. And haven't you always said that to be late to a party shows power and authority?"

Weiss's mother let out a delightful giggle. Something that sounded so perfect it had to have been rehearsed. Willow always was a master of perception. "To true, my dear."

"Excuse me for sounding abrupt, but what exactly did you come here to speak with me about?"

Best to get right down to business.

"Well, my dear, it has to do with the weapon you chose."

"Isn't it grand?" Weiss asked, her smug attitude easily resting on both her face and her relaxed posture. Something Willow quickly picked up on.

"So you know it was not Mr. Winchester's weapon?"

"It was some guy named Rose."

Willow frowned at hearing that name. "So you heard?"

"I heard."

"Then you know why I cannot release the results of this competition."

"That wasn't part of our deal, mother," Weiss was fuming. How dare she go back on their deal?

"I am sorry, but… he has already accepted the money. He's been paid off handsomely. Cardin will be declared the winner. You may keep Mr. Rose's weapon, but it will be claimed by Mr. Winchester."

"No."

"What was that, daughter?"

"I said no."

"And pray tell why I will give in to your demands?"

It took a moment for Weiss to think. She knew she did not want Cardin but lacked any clear reason for her mother. She could refuse without a reason, but where would that lead? Her mother and father had only rarely indulged her requests, and something as important as this? There was no way to refuse them. No, she had to be smart. There had to be some card she could play. Something, anything. Then it hit her.

"Because I know the truth about Cardin's weapon. And if you go through with this, I will ensure everyone knows."

"I don't know what you are talking about, dear."

"Yes. You do. It would be a real shame if Mr. Cardin Winchester, the heir to his father's company is discovered to be a fraud, right before he is set to marry the heiress to the Schnee Conglomerate. Imagine all the negative press. On both companies."

Willow frowned, fingers curling into fists. Then, a small smile appeared, "well, I did not expect you to learn blackmail quite so well."

"I learned from the best, mother."

"I won't be telling people who won. If you do, we will do away with this whole charade and marry you off to the man of my choosing."

"And if you do that, then I will tell what I know."

"It will be your word against mine."

"And whose word will the press be more interested in? The one which paints the Schnee family as they normally do? Or the one which brings about controversy?"

Weiss knew she won, the moment she saw her mother scowl.

"Then, I propose another deal, as we are at an impasse. You have four months to find the victor. Without any help from us. If you can prove without any doubt that he is the winner, then we will continue along with your foolish plan to keep Mr. Winchester from being your fiancé. Otherwise, we will progress forward, and you will marry him."

"That seems less than fair," Weiss admonished.

"And you have no more cards to play. We both know who controls the deck. If you go public with your information, then I disinherit you. We both know I don't want to, but it is something I am able to do. And besides, the only other card you can have, is by coming forth with the true winner of your little competition. I like to think that I am being more than generous with you."

Willow held out her hand. Annoyed at her situation, but knowing it was the best chance she was going to get, Weiss took it.

Only a short time later, Weiss was in her dress, her done up in an off-centre ponytail which she thoroughly enjoyed. Walking through her estate, she bumped into a panicky Blake.

"Have you seen her?" Blake's head was on a swivel.

"Seen who?"

"Ruby."

Weiss shook her head.

"I need to find her. Yang said we have to be back at her home by a specific time, meaning we have to leave here in the next five minutes."

"What's so important?"

"Yang and Ruby are meeting the headmaster to Beacon University. It's their chance to get scholarships to go there! I cannot blow this; Yang will never forgive me if I'm late."

"Whoa Blake, calm down I'll help you look for her. And I promise you both will arrive back to the Xiao-Long household in no time."

"Thank you," Blake said, finally giving herself time to take a deep breath and relax.

As Blake and Weiss parted ways, Weiss felt a frown emerge. Ruby wasn't staying for the ball? As strangely upbeat as that girl was, she was the only person that Weiss had met so far that day that only truly cared about the competition part of the competition. Not anything to do with Weiss.

Weiss turned down another hallway, looking around for that girl, no doubt bumbling her way through sections of the house that were off limits. Weiss could faintly hear the music start up, signalling that the ball had officially begun. Not that Weiss really cared of course. Her plan was to get a weapon out of this day. The ball was purely for the benefit of her parents. The same parents who had now gone against their original plan to force Weiss once again to do as they said. Her mother was right. The only way to gain the upper hand would be to find whoever that Rose person was. From the way her mother was talking, Weiss felt confident enough that he was a man.

That did not help much, however. Most of the contestants were male. And Weiss doubted that her mother would keep the records of who participated. Not after today's series of events.

Weiss continued looking, asking her servants if they had spotted the silver eyed girl, to no avail.

And then, she heard it.

"Weiss?"

Weiss spun around, looking outside. To the grounds where the smithing competition had taken place. "Ruby!"

There she was, looking around her table. Her hands were filled with her things, clutched together with no order. She looked seconds away from dropping everything, and still she jumped up and around her table, looking for something.

"Ruby, Blake has been looking everywhere for you. You need to go."

"I know, Weiss. But I can't go yet!" Ruby replied, not even bothering to look at her.

"What are you looking for?"

"It's… it's a metal pin. I need it."

"What could be so important about a small piece of metal? It's just a pin."

Ruby ducked under a table. "It's not just a pin. It's the basis for the weapon I designed. Well, it's a pin that is attached to a toy I designed my weapon around. But I need it if I ever want to rebuild the weapon and improve on it." Weiss heard a bump, followed by a high-pitched Ruby squeak, as the girl hit her head on the underside of the table. "And I need to show my idea to Beacon University. I really need that scholarship."

"Then let me help look," Weiss finally decided, slowly settling down to her knees to help Ruby look for a metal pin.

Weiss rolled her eyes. This was all for a pin. Weiss was crinkling her dress for a piece of metal. That Ruby girl better want to be her friend after this, or she might just kill her.

"Weiss, Ruby!" It was Blake. "Come on, we're already late. I'm going to need the driver to speed and hope we don't get a ticket, or you'll be late."

"But-"

"No," Weiss interrupted Ruby, staring into her eyes. "I promise you I will find it and have it sent to you. Please go."

"Thank you so much, Weiss." Ruby dove at the girl, forcing her into a hug.

"You're a good friend." Ruby whispered into her ear, before standing up and running off with Weiss.

Weiss stood up, watching her best friend and her new friend run off. Weiss could only stare after her in slight shock. She still felt the weight of the girl on her arms, and her chin on her shoulder.

"Good luck." Weiss whispered to no one. "My friend."

Sorry for the delay. And the mini-hiatus. But we're back!

KillamriX88 - Not intentionally designed to stress you out, but I am happy that it's a good sort of stress!

Read and Stayed - Ruby is as Ruby does

hirshja - Glad you are liking it so far

Darknight2124 - This story is cliff-hanger central!

iamking - Thanks

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