Chapter 7: Serenade in the Night.
Summary: After being told off by her teammates, Weiss heads off to blow off some steam. Here, she meets another being from Shade's realm, a beast that also shared a burden.
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the crap shown here. All rights go to RoosterTeeth and Capcom.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Emerald Forest, 8:00 PM...
Weiss stormed down the path leading to the Emerald Forest, blood boiling with anger. How dare Ruby and that THING stand up to her like that. She went through all of that trouble to prove that she can handle herself (and get back at that show-off of a creature.), but she was still told off regardless.
She walked down past the launch pads Ozpin used for training, and descended the slope they used to return to both professors after Initiation. That Ozpin had made a mistake! Who in their right mind would select a child to be leader!? It's bullshit!
Looking up from her thoughts, Weiss noticed that she had come into a clearing. Other than a few fireflies that dotted the grass every now and then, there was no sign of life under the stars and bright moon.
Perfect for taking her mind off of things and unwind.
Weiss then walked up to a nearby tree and sat down at the base. Despite prefering to stay away from Nature, Weiss liked the many sounds that nature produced. Closing her ice-blue eyes, Weiss let out a breath as she listened to the crickets.
It was then her mind wandered back to earlier, back to that fateful class, and the argument that followed. Just thinking of Ruby made Weiss grit her teeth. Everything about the Crimsonette was wrong to her. Her optimism, her perkiness, her childishness, her...smile, her...obliviousness...
The more the Heiress thought about it, the more Ruby reminded her of herself, when she was a child. Albeit, a tad bit more mature and aware, but it still stood. Ruby technically everything Weiss had been, but she got to live her freedom longer than she had.
Freedom.
The word sparked a combination of deep hatred and sadness in the Heiress. It brought back memories of how she became the "Ice Queen", of how she went from a girl who had everything to just another stepping stool in her family's business.
Her family. Weiss' family had been close, long ago, but as outside forces began threatening them, her father turned cold and manipulative, and her mother turned to the bottle, dividing the family. All Weiss had left were her siblings, her older sister, Winter, and her little brother, Whitley.
For a time, she had a strong bond with her siblings, who would help her cope with the increasing ire of her father as the years went by. Sadly, as the years went by, the siblings grew apart, with Winter leaving to join the Atlesian Military and Weiss coming to Beacon a few years after that, leaving Whitley all alone. Even though Whitley wasn't really as close to Weiss as she was with Winter, they were still family regardless.
Weiss felt her throat tighten a bit, and she had to shut her eyes to stop the tears from flowing. It wasn't fair, that Ruby and her sister, Yang, had each other for all of their lives, but Weiss hadn't had anyone to support her (minus her butler, Klein, But there was only so much the man could do).
The truth was, she wanted to be close to her teammates. She really did. But the years of hatred built from resentment for her father had caused her to become irate and harsh, always quick to snap at anyone who made her day worse than it had to be. Just like her father...
Weiss touched her face and felt the wetness. She hated crying. It made her look weak, which Weiss had learned the hard way when her father lashed out at her when he noticed her sympathy for the Faunus servants in the mansion.
"Alright, enough depressing crap." She thought, wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. "I need to just relax."
Taking a few breaths to regain her composure, she whipped out her scroll and turned the volume up to max, then chose a song on her playlist. A familiar medley, one with a piano, started filling the night air. A small smile appeared on her face.
A little singing couldn't hurt.
Across the clearing and in a grove of trees, a beast was on the prowl.
A lean form, covered in white scales and fur, walked between the trees as it searched for a later night snack. A series of large white scales, each accented with black, trailed dow the creatures tail, which was forked at the tip. Long forelimbs, with membranes of skin covered in fur, served as wings for the predator as it walked on paws tipped with black long, black, spear-like claws. It's head resembled an ancient sabertooth-cats of ages past, with small ears to prevent heat loss and massive, orange tusks pointing downward from the upper jaw. The most frightening thing of all though, was its eyes, which shone sapphire in the dark forest.
This monster, as he was known by the locals of his home realm, was a Barioth.
This particular male, Douglas, had wound up on Remnant during a routine perimeter check of his territory. An avalanche caused by a rogue Banbaro (Of course it was a bloody Banbaro) had forced the Barioth to fly to escape. Unfortunately, he hadn't been watching where he was flying, and before he even knew it, a rip in Space-Time appeared on his flightpath, catching the wyvern off-guard and sucking him into whatever hell-hole this place was.
That was yesterday, though. Now, the Barioth stalked his way out of the treeline and out onto a clearing, illuminated by the moon (which had actually been partially obliterated). It was quiet, save for the sound of crickets and quiet sound of Douglas' own foot steps.
It was a pleasant night, though a bit warm for his tastes. Being from Hoarfrost Reach, Douglas wasn't too tolerant of warmer temperatures, only ever venturing South during Winter, when temperatures were a bit more suitable for the wyvern.
His eyes locked onto a potential prey source.
A single deer, a buck because of the antlers on it's head, grazed on the grasses. Its ears turned in multiple directions, obviously listening for danger. Lowering himself to the ground, the Barioth prepared to pounce on the animal and dig into it's flesh.
Even though it wasn't chunky and fat like a Popo, it would suffice.
Suddenly, the deer's head shot up, causing the Sabertooth-mimic to freeze, not making a sound. The deer then took off, bounding into the brush and disappearing.
"Dammit..." He hissed, his voice containing an Northern British accent. He had eaten recently, but he wasn't the kind to miss a chance to eat.
It was then, he heard it. His ear twitched as he heard the sound of a human instrument, he remembered it was called a piano, filled the air. It was...nice, but then he heard the singing.
He turned and saw the source. A young girl, dancing slowly and fluidly, like a ballet dancer. Her lithe form twisted and pivoted with grace and beauty as she danced and sang. He sat on his haunches and closed his eyes, listening as her voice filled the night air.
(Mirror Mirror Pt. 1 by Jeff Williams. Feat: Casey Lee Williams.)
Mirror...
Tell me something...
Tell who's loneliest, of all...
Douglas' ear twitched upon hearing something that didn't belong. A bestial growl. His eyes snapped open and searched the clearing for the source. His gaze landed on a creature, built like a bear, covered in bone armor and appearing to have a bone mask with red markings. It's red eyes showed no emotion except mindless rage as it stalked slowly towards its target.
More growls followed as others of it's kind, smaller and covered in less armor, appeared out of the trees.
The Barioth felt something within him. An urge to protect, which was strongest when he looked at the girl. If it was Paternal Instincts, then why her and now? Whatever reason, he arrived for a performance and he wasn't gonna let it end in tragedy.
With a flap of his wings he took to the air and began circling over head.
Weiss serenaded her feelings into the night, enjoying the feeling of being free for a few seconds in her life. However, the mood was killed when she heard movememt to her right.
Heading straight for her was a pack of Ursa, led by a massive Ursa Major!
Unsheathing Myrtenaster, Weiss summoned a glyph and shot forward.
Mirror, Tell me something...
Tell me who's the loneliest of all...
Weiss sets her rapier's dust chamber to fire dust, summoning several glyphs in front of the Ursai. Flicking Myrtenaster like a wand, the glyphs exploded, destroying a couple of Grimm and forcing the rest back.
Mirror, what's inside me...
Can my heart be turned to stone?
As the piano solo came in, Weiss switches to ice dust, summons a trail of glyphs ahead of her. She blasts forward, creating ice-spikes that impale each Grimm they came into contact with. She looked ahead and panic began to set in.
The Ursa Major was right there, and was about to pummel Weiss with a mighty paw. With so much momentum in her, Weiss wouldn't be able to stop herself. She screamed as she neared the Ursine Grimm, awaiting the punishing blow...
But then, a projectile from above hit the ground in front of the Grimm, exploding into a twister that lifted the Bear-like Grimm into the air before crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust.
Surprised and shocked, Weiss used a glyph to halt herself and looked up.
(Insert Epic Vocal Solo)
In the sky, silhouetted by the light of the shattered moon, a winged form circled overhead, it's sapphire blue eyes locking with her own icy blue ones. It was built like Shade, except a bit bulkier and having a forked tail.
A strange feeling came into her, as if a voice was calling her to the creature. The beat of began kicking back in as her mysterious visitor moved in for another pass, its sights set on the Grimm, who of which were rising up from their assault, shaking their heads to clear their heads.
Deciding to take a gamble, she dashed forward.
Mirror, Mirror? What's behind you?
Save me from from the things I've seen!
Why'd you keep me from the world?
Why won't you let me hide from me?
In a dance of wind and elegance, the two souls were in sync with the other. Weiss would stagger some Ursai with her Glyphs, and the monster would launch them into the air with a wind blast, freeze them with its frost breath, and let them fall to shatter on the ground. Or the monster would mount a Grimm and steer it directly onto Weiss' waiting blade.
Mirror, Mirror!
Tell me something!
Who's the loneliest of ALL!
As the song reached it's finale, Weiss launched the Ursa Major with a gravity glyph, sending it flying into the air. The white blur that was the creature tackled the airborne Grimm, crashing to the ground and creating a cloud of dust.
I'm the loneliest of...all.
As the music came to a stop, the creature severed the Ursai's windpipe with its MASSIVE fangs, causing the Grimm's movements to slow to a halt. Weiss then got a better look at her savior.
It definitely resembled Shade, except it had white scales and fur in contrast to the Nargacuga's purple/black. Where Shade's head was covered in feathers (or fur), had a beak, hellfire eyes, and large ears, this thing had exposed scales on its face, which resembled the Saber-Tooth cats Weiss had researched back home, with the gigantic sabers teeth that extended below the lower jaw. It's small ears twitched and it glanced back her, its sapphire eyes strong enough to challenge her family's signature glare. And that alone was saying something.
With snort, the creature hopped of the Grimm carcass, which had begun to disintegrate, and began slowly approaching towards her.
"Gog, that was crazy." Thought Douglas as he regained his breath. Those creatures weren't too difficult to kill, but the maneuvers he had to perform with the girl were pretty taxing on the Wyvern's body, despite it being built for doing sharp turns and the like.
Speaking of the girl.
Douglas turned and locked eyes with the white-haired woman, who took a step back in mild fear. Snorting, the Barioth hopped off of the dead bear-creature and began slowly moving towards her.
With every step forward Douglas took, the girl took a step back, her ice-blue eyes never breaking eye contact. After about a minute, the white-haired girl bumped into a tree, making her jump and look back. She looked back at Douglas and unsheathed her weapon, a thin Rapier, and pointed it at him, shaking slightly out of fright.
"Stay back! I-I'm trained to k-know how to use this!" She stammered.
Douglas looked at the weapon, then the girl. While it could kill him if the girl find an opening and stab him, his scales were too tough for a blade to simply pierce through. The mere thought of it forced him to hold back a snicker. Regardless, he smirked and lowered the blade with a paw. No need for violence.
The girl looked at him suspiciously for a moment, scrutinizing him under her icy gaze. After moment, she spoke
"Why didn't you go after me?" She asked, causing the Barioth to raise an eye-ridge in confusion. Did this girl really think he of all things living could answer that. Why ask that if she couldn't understand a damn thing he said.
Seeing his confusion, the white-haired girl decided to explain what she ment.
"I have a translation device." She pointed to an earpiece inside her ear. "So I can understand any word you say."
The Barioth blinked once before speaking.
"So you would believe me if I told you I was watching you sing from the grasses?" Douglas said bluntly, causing the girl to flush in embarrassment.
"Y-you saw that?" She stammered.
"Not exactly. I didn't even realize you were here until I heard your singing. You do have a beautiful voice by the way." He complimented the girl, who's cheeks tinted pink a bit.
"Oh, u-um, thank you. Mister...erm..." She shifted on her feet.
"Douglas, madam. No formalities needed." He waved her off. "Got a name I can call you?"
"Weiss. Weiss Schnee. Heiress to the Schnee Dust company." Weiss introduced herself, a bit of pride slipping into her voice.
"Oh. So she's rich?" the Barioth thought to himself as he looked the heiress over. "She definitely looks the part." He grunted. "Well, Weiss, I helped you because A: I wasn't gonna let such a performance such as yours be ruined by whatever those things are. And B: I know when something is on someones mind."
Weiss huffed and turned away from the Wyvern, crossing her arms.
"How would you know? You've just met me." She said.
"You don't need to know someone well to know that they have something biting their ass." Douglas said flatly. "So, tell me. What's wrong?"
Weiss glanced back at the monster for a moment before sighing, her form deflating into a slight slouch.
"I had a fight with one of my peers earlier today. A petty fight for leadership, all because I was mad that I didn't get the position." She clenched her fists. "Because it is SO mature for teen to throw a tantrum when they don't get something want!" Weiss raised her voice at the end, Throwing her hands up in the air in frustration.
Douglas gave a rumble. So she is on a team? Chances are she fences for sport.
"So you fence for sport or...?" Douglas asked but was cut off.
"No, I'm a huntress-in-training. I'm attending an academy about an hour's walk from here." Weiss answered. "Unfortunately, thing's have gotten a bit tougher thanks to the newcomer we have to watch."
That got the Barioth's interest. He features showed inquisitiveness as he leaned into the Heiress' personal space.
"A newcomer? Care to elaborate?" He asked.
"Well...um..." She rocked on her heels. "He's a wyvern like you, but he has the appearance if a black panther. His eyes burn bright like hellfire, and the red markings around his eyes add to the creepy factor tenfold. Oh, and he also goes by the name: Shade."
Douglas put two and two together and his eyes widened.
"You're bunking with a Nargacuga!?" the Barioth's eyes flashed gold for a second.
"Um...yes?" Weiss expressed confusion. Did this girl not get the dangers?! Sighing, Douglas put a paw to his temple.
"Well, what is he like?" he asked.
"Um...well..." Weiss began. "He's mainly nonchalant, but he is a formidable fighter, even though he can be a showoff. He's also not afraid to speak his mind, too."
"Of course. Nargacuga tend to be arrogant and like to show off their prowess." Douglas growled a bit at that statement. "He's either staying with your team because one of you outclasses him, or he's in it for kicks."
Weiss hummed, putting a finger to her chin in thought. Suddenly, her eyes widened as a lightbulb went off. In a second, she was directly in front of the wyvern, making him jump back.
"You can be my familiar!" She announced.
"Wait, w-what!?" Douglas stammered, flustered from the sudden excitement.
"My leader and the Nargacuga are technically partners, yes?" Weiss inquired.
"I suppose, but what are you aiming at though?" the Barioth narrowed his eyes a bit.
"A partnership." the heiress paced in front of the monster. "If Shade's attitude towards me implies anything, it is that he thinks I expect to be given everything I want without lifting a finger. While it is partially true, to say it always that way would be clinging to false hope. So, if Ruby-"
"Ruby?" Douglas cut in, raising an eyeridge.
"My team leader." She elaborated. "As I was saying, if she can handle a monster, then I can as well!"
"Huh, and how do am I supposed to know this isn't a way to stroke your ego?" Douglas' tone turned inquisitive.
"I do not have an ego! I just want to get a point across!" Weiss crossed her arms and pouted. When she looked and saw the Barioth giving her a knowing look, she sighed.
"Okay, maybe it is? But I need someone that'll make talking to Shade easier. You said you would help a stranger out, right?"
The Barioth looked down in thought. She was right. He did say he would help a stranger out. His thoughts wandered to the white-haired girl. Her personality, her physique, her platinum-white locks and blue eyes. He hadn't seen a face like that since...
He pushed those thoughts aside. Now wasn't the time to think about her. He turned back to Weiss and extended his paw.
"Here's the deal. If you want me to help in getting to know this "Shade" guy, I'll help. Since you gave me a workout, I'm your humble servant, and you are my mistress." Douglas proclaimed, causing Weiss once again to flush, this time at the title "mistress".
"Well then, what do I have to lose?" Weiss took the outstretched paw and shook. It was a deal.
Weiss turned and began walking away from the tree, but then stopped and looked at Douglas.
"You wouldn't mind if I rode you back to Beacon, would you?" She asked.
"You'd have to buy me dinner first." Douglas said smoothly, bursting out laughing at the Heiress' flustered response.
"That's not what I meant!" She shrieked, smacking Douglas on the nose.
"Ow! Hey, I was joking!" The Barioth raised his paws in defense to get the hits to stop.
This was going to be a fun experience.
15 minutes later...
What would normally be an hour's walk was quickly shortened by the flight. Despite being as tall as Douglas, Weiss was able to fit surprisingly well on his back.
It was one thing to fly into the Beacon without triggering the alarms, but to sneak back without bumping into Glynda was another. After a short walk, the Heiress and Barioth managed to sneak back to the Dorms without being seen.
"Wait out here, please. Whatever you do, don't make a sound." Weiss instructed quietly. Douglas obeyed and sat on his haunches.
Giving a small smile, Weiss took a breath and opened the door.
Inside, all inhabitants were asleep, the only light-source being a single candle. Yang was sawing logs (snoring) on the top bunk to the right, with Blake sleeping peacefully below.
Her eyes went to the left side of the room, and her jaw dropped.
In her bed, curled up with his head tucked under his wing, was Shade. The wyvern snored softly as he slept, his sides rising and falling with every breath. Weiss felt a spark of anger at the sight, but chose not to act on it. Their argument had probably soiled the Nargacuga's view of her, and she didn't want to earn more of the predator's ire.
She stepped up quietly to Ruby's bed and pulled back the curtain to find Ruby asleep. The girl seemed to have been studying before she fell asleep, as evidenced by the books and notes scattered around her.
Weiss' eyes widened. So she had been studying. Poor must have exhausted herself. Weiss knew that keeping up a grade was important, but it didn't require sacrificing your mental health.
Sighing, she gave her leader a light shake on her shoulder. Ruby snorted a bit before opening eyes a bit. Upon seeing the Heiress, Ruby's eyes snapped open and she immediately straightened herself.
"W-Weiss!" she squeaked. "IwasstudyingandthenIfellasleepI'msorr—"
Weiss silenced the sputtering girl by putting a hand over her mouth. She then eyed the mug on Ruby's pillow.
"How do you take your coffee?" the Heiress asked.
"Uh... I-I don't-"
"Answer my question!"
"Uhh! Cream and Five Sugars!"
Weiss rolled her eyes with a sigh, but complied.
"Don't move." She demanded as she climbed down...
...only to find two glowing orbs staring back at her.
Shade's hellfire gaze held no malice, just mild irritation at being awakened. Irritation that Weiss also felt being directed at her. Was this what it felt to be under her own glare?
"I know what you're thinking." He grumbled, voice level and oddly calm. "You think I'm still mad at you."
Weiss went to the coffee machine on the desk and began brewing the requested coffee. "Who wouldn't? You're the one who told me off."
"It was necessary. Now, I'm too tired to be pissed, but just because you're being being nice now doesn't change anything." the Nargacuga said flatly.
"I know." Weiss sighed as she finished up. "But it is a start." She walked back to Ruby's bunk and handed the Crimsonette her coffee. "Here you go."
"Um, thanks Weiss." Ruby said, obviously perplexed.
Weiss shifted her weight and looked to the side. How was she gonna put this?
"I've had some time to think." She began. "And I think you have the potential to become a great leader."
The Heiress looked down at Shade, who was looking at her suspiciously. He was going to be hard to convince.
"For you...I'm not sure whether or not I can trust you. But for one thing, I know that you have earned your spot here on this team, even if you aren't human." Weiss said sincerely.
"Oh really, and how do I know this isn't just to fuel your ego?" He hissed, his eyes flashing red at that last word.
Weiss flinched at that. She knew she had an ego, but it wasn't that bad, right?
"It isn't. Starting tomorrow, I will try to be a better teammate, I swear." Weiss proclaimed.
"Whatever." Shade snorted and faced away from the girl. "I'll do my thing, and you do yours. Just stay outta my way and we won't have any problems."
Weiss rolled her eyes. This was going to be a very...interesting experience.
"I need to check up on something with Professor Ozpin before I turn in. Be sure to be out of my bed by the time I return. Try and get some sleep." She turned to head out the door, but just before she exited she glanced back at Ruby. "Oh, and Ruby."
"Yeah?"
"I always wanted bunkbeds as a kid." With that said, she closed the door. Her foot steps faded until the only noises were Yang's snoring and Blake's slow breathing.
Ruby looked at where Weiss just stood, then at the wyvern, who was crawling out of the Heiress' silken sheets and curling up at the foot of the bed.
"Do you think she really meant it?" Ruby asked the Nargacuga.
"Beats me." Shade sighed, shutting his eyes. "I'm willing to work with her, but it'll be a while before I can consider her trustworthy."
"Give her a chance. She's probably putting up the for her family's sake." Ruby said optimistically. "We just need her to come out of her shell."
"Easy for you to say." the wyvern grumbled internally.
He suddenly shivered and curled up further into himself.
Why did the air have a sudden chill?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Finally got it done.
It's 2 A.M. in my area as this chapter is being posted, but it was worth it regardless.
Follow, favorite, and review if you like this.
Until next time, stay tuned...