Guilt
Winter flew towards Cinder, poised to slash at her, but noticed her attention was elsewhere. What she was about to do…?
Weiss and Jaune were stumbling towards the exit, with a fireball flying towards them from behind them. Luckily, Jaune caught on quickly and blocked it with his new shield. But they flew back several feet and failed to react in time to the glowing circle under them.
Winter flew towards her sister as fast as she could. She pleaded, hoping to get there in time.
But she wasn't fast enough.
The ground below them exploded, causing Jaune to fly towards the side as his aura broke, while Weiss flew off the edge and down into the dark abyss below.
"WEISS!" Winter screamed as she tried to reach her sister in time, but she failed to catch her. The elder Schnee's eyes stung with tears as she watched Weiss disappear into golden dust before her eyes.
Why...?
Why, when they were finally reunited? When she finally decided to wake up and see that Ironwood was just like Jacques, the man she tried to run away from.
When she decided to follow her heart for the first time in years and wanted to help her sister protect Atlas.
When she could ask Weiss for forgiveness after everything she'd done and said to her…
Winter flew back onto the golden bridge and fell to her knees. Tears fell from her eyes as she slammed her fist onto the bridge.
"I'm not always going to be there to save you, Weiss."
If only she were stronger. Faster. Seeing Weiss in danger, Winter forgot what she told her when she saw her back at Beacon.
"Emotions can grant you strength. But you must not let them overcome you."
Winter realized she had let her feelings of wanting to protect Weiss get in the way. She could've easily attacked Cinder. Perhaps it would have distracted her enough before she blasted Weiss off into the void.
The other part was saying it probably wouldn't have mattered. That Weiss still would've fallen and there wasn't anything that she could do about it.
Either way, Weiss was dead because of her.
Winter gritted her teeth as she glared at Cinder. This was her fault. From the stories she'd heard from Weiss, this woman keeps coming after them. But for what? Just to antagonize them? It was such a petty reason.
"You will pay for what you've done!" She spat with venom within her voice and flew towards the exit.
She didn't even notice until it was too late that Jaune was running towards the exit as the bridge quickly disintegrated behind him.
Just as she was about to go into the portal, Winter reached out to him but couldn't stop herself in time before she flew into the light.
The portal closed and she found herself in somewhere entirely new, followed by the sounds of many people crying out in fear. She looked around, having a hard time seeing. She, as well as the people of Atlas and Mantle, were standing in the middle of a sandstorm, and Grimm were swarming them from all directions. Ren, Oscar, and Emerald were doing their best to keep everyone safe, but it wasn't enough.
She flew out to prevent the Grimm from advancing and harming anyone within her sight. It was the least that she could do, seeing as Weiss and her friends did their best to save both Atlas and Mantle. She couldn't let their sacrifices be in vain.
Winter noticed three people approaching her and glanced towards them. She saw both Klein and Willow looking at her, concern clear in their eyes, while Whitley looked at her with nothing but hate.
How was she going to tell them that Weiss was dead because of her? How she was too slow to reach her in time and grab her hand?
That she saw Weiss die in front of her eyes?
Winter gritted her teeth as tears fell from her eyes. Later. She'd have time to mourn later, but right now, she had a duty to fulfil.
Protecting the people of Atlas for Weiss and the people of Mantle for Penny.
Rage
Whitley waited anxiously for Weiss to come out of the portal. Willow had her hands on his shoulders as a form of comfort for both of them. At first he didn't think that he needed her near him, seeing how distant she was throughout most of his life, but he found her touch… oddly comforting. Especially after what went on within the past few hours.
He walked towards the portal with Willow and Klein after seeing Winter flying out alone as the portal faded.
But this doesn't make any sense. Where are the others?
Where's Weiss?
He frowned as he looked up at Winter. She looked back at him for a moment before tears fell from her eyes.
Tears?
His eyes widened. Winter came alone. Nora couldn't get back in earlier. No one else came out before the portal disappeared.
No… no…!
He clenched his fists as he looked up at Winter, tears threatening to fall. Weiss was strong and stubborn, the latter being more prominent from what he'd seen growing up.
There's no way that she could've died!
Winter had to have left her behind. It wouldn't have been the first time that she left them behind, after all.
Just as he was about to yell and berate Winter, Willow pulled him back and into a weak hug. He struggled at first, enraged and in disbelief that Weiss was gone.
His eyes watered. He thought that he had finally gotten his sister back for the first time in years. The one that actually cared for him. He remembered how warm and caring her hugs could be. Whitley shook as he clutched onto Willow's sleeve, biting his lip hard enough to bleed while glaring at his sister with watery eyes.
She'll pay for this. This is her fault!
Sorrow
Willow's hands shook as she walked out of the portal with Whitley and Klein. There were Grimm everywhere. She held onto Whitley, not wanting to lose him in this sandstorm.
She looked and saw Ren and Emerald shooting the Grimm, doing their best to prevent any from getting too close to them, and Oscar whacking any that broke through.
She could help them.
Willow shakily released her hold on Whitley and was about to summon something, anything to help these children, but the screeching of the Grimm stopped her.
Her eyes widened as she held onto Whitley again as a way to anchor herself down, and was thankful for Klein placing a hand onto her shoulder to help ground her as well.
She gave him a thankful nod and took a deep breath. She may not be able to help, but she could at least watch their backs.
Soon, Winter appeared as the portal disintegrated behind her.
Wait. Something wasn't right.
She shakily walked towards her eldest daughter with Klein and Whitley, concerned as to where Weiss and her friends were, and why Winter came alone.
Willow's eyes widened as she saw tears falling from Winter's eyes. No. She couldn't have lost Weiss as well.
Hearing Winter's anguished scream was confirmation enough. Weiss was gone.
The daughter that changed their lives… was no more.
"I didn't forget about you."
"We won't forget you, Weiss." Willow sobbed as tears fell from her eyes, holding onto Whitley tightly to prevent him from lashing out at Winter.
She wasn't going to let her family fall apart any more than they have now.
A/N: Hai hoped that y'all enjoyed this as much as I did. Probably could've done more, but really wanted to get this part done. Got a surprise coming up when I'm not distracted by work, Rise, and health stuff. See y'all next time!