Disclaimer: I own nothing; just the OC
'Thought'
"Talking"
*Action*
"Powerful entity (gods, dragons, etc.)"
[System]
I was looking through the rewards of the last quest and I was astonished at the amount I got. It's understandable considering who I was fighting, so it would yield a lot of rewards. I got a new weapon, an actual radar, equipment, new spells and perks to boost said spells.
Overall, I am overjoyed.
I look through my window at the scenery passing through as I am on a train on its way to Mistral. After our discussion, I decided to take initiative.
(Flashback)
"Now that it's settled, I'm going to head out." I stand up from the floor.
"By yourself?" Raven said. "Wouldn't it be better if you're accompanied by someone?"
I shake my head. "If you or Vernal come with me, we'll be cornered the moment we arrive in the Kingdom and I obviously can't take Amber with me because Lionheart will then tell Salem." I state. "I have a better chance of going into the Kingdom without making too much of a fuss because nobody knows who I am."
"The closest train station is about 60 kilometers from here." Everyone's attention switches to Amber. "If you run, you might be able to catch one."
I look at her quizzingly. "How do you know that?"
Amber just gives me a look. "How did you think I got here? I can be a maiden and be inconspicuous, you know." She huffed.
"Hehe, right." I said nervously. "Well, I should get going. I'll call when I'm ready to go."
I walk out of the tent only to see Vernal looking distressed. "Something wrong?"
"If…" Vernal looks down to hide her blush. "If things get dangerous, don't hesitate to call. Raven will have a portal ready for you."
I smile. "Don't worry. I may not look it, but I'm made of sterner stuff. It'll take a lot more than a headmaster and some grunts to take me down."
"But still! If what Raven said is true, then Salem is not someone to mess with. She likely has something in Mistral to stop you from getting the relic!" Vernal cried out. "Just… come back alive."
"Okay… I promise." I give Vernal a hug, who reluctantly returns it back.
(Flashback ends)
"Vernal really has changed…" I mused.
[It's because of her feelings toward you. The question that you should be asking now is are you going to reciprocate those feelings?]
"I don't know." I said with a sigh. "I've never been in love or had anyone be in love with me. Sure there have been girls that I've considered cute or downright sexy, but I can't say that I've had any feelings towards any of them."
[What do you think of Vernal?]
"She's a brat like Raven and has issues with saying what she feels; in other words a tsundere." I replied instantly. "But she's fun to have around and has proven to be a reliable partner. Does that answer your questions?"
[For now, but I wouldn't keep her waiting if I were you. People do crazy some shit when they're in love]
"Hm." I decide to look through my inventory and see that I have saved three [Gacha Tickets]. "Might as well use them."
Time stops as a wheel appears in front of me like last time, except that instead of gold the wheel is green.
[Would you like to spin the wheel?]
[Y/N]
I tap the "Y" option and the wheel spins and after a few seconds, the wheel slows down and the arrow lands on "items".
You have gained [Remedy] (x5).
[Would you like to spin the wheel again?]
[Y/N]
Of course I want to again so I let the wheel spin and it lands again on "items".
You have gained [Blue Sister]!
[Blue Sister]
Rarity: A
Description: A katana whose blade is made of cursed ice that will never melt regardless of anything. If someone is even cut by this sword, the cursed frost will instantly spread throughout the victim's body, freezing them from the inside out.
"Damn, this is a good award!" I exclaim as I read the description.
[Would you like to spin the wheel again?]
[Y/N]
I let the wheel spin one last time.
You have gained the skill [Dark Matter Manipulation]!
[Dark Matter Manipulation LVL. 1/100]
Cost 9800 MP to cast.
11th Tier Magic. The user can create, shape and manipulate Dark Matter, a hypothetical type of matter distinct from baryonic matter (ordinary matter such as protons and neutrons), neutrinos and dark energy. The name refers to the fact that it does not emit or interact with electromagnetic radiation, such as light, and is thus invisible to the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Although dark matter has not been directly observed, its existence and properties are inferred from its gravitational effects, and it is estimated to make up 84% of the universe's mass and 23% of its mass-energy.
At level 2, you are able to fuse physical combat with dark matter, enhancing certain parts of your body.
At level 10, you are able to use [Dark Matter Radiance] allowing you to mask your presence completely as well as granting temporary invulnerability. It can also enhance physical capabilities such as speed, strength and durability.
At level 22, you can use [Dark Matter Constructs] to create things out of dark matter. Users can turn Dark Matter into tools, objects, weapons and other items, create semi-living constructs and/or create structures/buildings of varying permanence. Users who have mastered this ability can use it for almost any situation, creating anything they need.
At level 55, you have access to [Dark Matter Physiology] allowing your body to be made up of or transform your body completely into dark matter. This transformed form can be anatomically identical to your normal form, aside from being made of dark matter in which case it contains all organs and is somewhat vulnerable to attacks.
At level 71, you have access to [Gravity Manipulation]. This can range from basic things like increasing gravity to make things heavier or make things lighter to controlling attractive and repulsive forces achieving an effect akin to [Telekinesis], ignoring or defying the laws of gravity altogether, allowing one to walk on walls or ceilings or manipulate orbital fields on anything. You can also control your personal gravitational field, allowing you to move faster, be more agile, conserve stamina, fly, and even generate black holes.
At level 100, you have access to [Continuum Distortion] allowing you to distort the space-time continuum. This power allows you to teleport, travel through time, travel to parallel universes, and so much more.
"Ho… ly… shit…" I mutter as the world returns to normal.
[How is this even possible!? That was just a regular Gacha Ticket. It shouldn't have been able to give you something like this. You aren't even supposed to have this yet!]
I arch an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'yet'?"
*CLICK*
Tobi cuts the connection, something that I didn't even know was possible. "Ass…"
"Excuse me, is this seat taken?" A refined female voice asked.
I look up to see a fair-skinned woman with slate-blue eyes. She wears her white hair tied up in a bun, low on the right side of the back of her head, while her bangs are shaped around the left side of her face and a small curled lock of hair reaching almost to her shoulders.
Her attire is colored navy blue, white and gray, consisting of a white coat with sleeves that expose her upper arms, a red-lined high collar and a red brooch.
Willow Schnee
Level: 32
Title: Caged Bird, Drunken Schnee
HP: 4,655
MP: 0
SP: 1,861
AP: 3,133
VIT: 225
STR: 262
DEX: 111
INT: 211
WIS: 101
MAG: 0
LUK: 36
CHA: 48
Description: The mother of Weiss, Winter and Whitley Schnee, as well as the estranged wife of Jacques Schnee and daughter of Nicholas Schnee. She was the former heiress of the Schnee Dust Company before her fiancée Jacques tricked her bedridden father to give him sole ownership of the company, effectively leaving her with nothing under her name. During the following years, Willow has tried to make their relationship work until she found out that Jacques merely married her for the company causing her to spiral into alcoholism and depression. She has turned a completely blind and indifferent eye towards all of his amoral actions in the SDC and the emotional and psychological state of her children.
Before she married Jacques, she was a Huntress-in-Training who was said to be on par with James Ironwood and had met Team STRQ on a few missions before her engagement. Due to her emotional and psychological state, however, her stats have taken a massive dive leaving her much, much weaker than before.
Semblance: Glyphs
Current thoughts about you: Nostalgic, curious, looking for the nearest bottle
Current Status: Depressed, Drunk
[Depression]
Description: The inability to go on, to believe that everything and everyone in the world doesn't understand you and mocks you behind your back. The persistent feeling of sadness or loss of interest that characterizes major depression can lead to a range of behavioral and physical symptoms. These may include changes in sleep, appetite, energy level, concentration, daily behavior, or self-esteem. All stats are halved by 2.
[Drunk]
Description: The result of drinking too much. You become disoriented and unable to speak well, and suffer from mood and behavior changes. In most cases, people can become completely dependent on it depending on the user's mental state.
'Well, this is unexpected.' I thought. "No, no. Please have a seat." I gestured to the chair in front of me.
Willow gives me a light smile and she sloppily takes a seat. I can see that her face is flushed and she has the strong smell of alcohol lingering around her.
'I can't believe she's already this drunk.' I thought. "To think that the wife of Jacques Schnee would be willing to sit with me."
Willow looks at me surprised. "I didn't think you'd know who I was. My husband would suppress any information about me because as he puts it 'my presence brings shame to Atlas and the Schnee family name'."
"Shouldn't that be the other way around since he married into the family?" From what I remember, Jacques was pretty much adopted into the family. He changed his name and even dyed his hair and mustache white so that he could pass off as a Schnee.
"Well, there's a lot of Atlesian nobles who think otherwise..." Willow said, remembering all the praises Jacques got from the nobles at one of his many dinner parties.
"Well, they're just short-sighted morons like everyone else in Atlas, no offense." I said.
"None taken." Willow smiles.
"Anyways, what's a Snow Angel like you doing so far away from Atlas?" I asked.
Willow chuckles at the nickname, a completely different reaction from her daughters. She leans in a bit. "Would you believe me if I said my husband is trying to kill me?"
"Usually no, but then again this is Atlas we're talking so shit like this is highly likely." I replied with a shrug.
"You are not wrong about that." Willow chuckles a bit.
+3 Affection with Willow Schnee (3/100)
"So why would Jacques want to kill you?" I asked.
Willow huffs. "I decided to no longer turn a blind eye to the direction he is taking my father's company, and as it turns out a lot of my father's old associates don't like it either. The SDC was meant to be a bridge between humans and Faunus but that idiot Gelé has made it a symbol of oppression." She states. "I'm going to file a lawsuit against Jacques and sue the SDC for racial discrimination, moral neglect, ignorance of safety regulations and so much more."
"But wouldn't that mean you're condemning your own livelihood?" I said.
"I don't care, Jacques has turned my father's dream into a cesspool of lies and slavery; I can't even stand looking at it." Willow sneered. "I would rather see it burn down than let it go on as it is."
I can't help but be surprised by her resolve. She is willing to give up her high-class life just to get back at Jacques. She is completely different from her canon self . I can see the burning flames under her blue eyes, reinvigorated by her [Determination] to set things right.
"Well, you can count me in for that. I would love nothing more than to see karma biting Jacques in the ass." I said.
"Thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me." Willow smiled.
+12 Affection with Willow Schnee (15/100)
I return her smile with my own though that smile quickly disappears as I notice something off. There are no passengers here even though the car was full when I got in.
"What's wrong?" Willow asked.
"Something's not right here…" I said.
Emergency!
Quest: Plucking a Snow Angel
Something on this train feels off. Make sure Willow is unharmed.
Objective 1: Protect Willow Schnee
Objective 2: Stop ?
Objective 3: Make it to Mistral
Rewards: 33876 EXP, 22193 Credits, Willow Schnee's Affection Greatly Increases
*PING*
A map suddenly appears as it tracks something fast heading towards us. I open the window and see a Bullhead heading straight for us as it proceeds to unveil its guns aiming them right at us.
"GET DOWN!" I pull Willow down as the Gatling guns begin unloading their ammunition at our car. The barrage of bullets easily pierce through the car walls quickly shredding everything around us.
"Ahhhhhhhh!" Willow screams as she instinctively wraps her arms around her head.
Eventually the Bullhead stops shooting at us and flies away, leaving the noises to be the train itself and the cold air lingering around us.
"Is it over…?" Willow asked as she slowly stood up.
Suddenly the car door bursts open as a group of six people wearing what looks like white uniforms with black hoods and Grimm masks on their faces similar to the one Raven wears rush in, though the design is different.
White Fang Grunt Level 21
627/627 HP
0/0 MP
0/0 AP
White Fang Grunt Level 23
687/687 HP
0/0 MP
0/0 AP
Willow looks up and begins to hyperventilate as she recognizes the uniforms. "The White Fang!"
"There's the Schnee whore, kill her!" The White Fang team aim their guns and open fire on the Schnee matriarch… but the bullets don't reach their target.
A black dome made entirely of Aura surrounds Willow leaving the White Fang stunned. I walk towards them and take out my weapon. "If you think I'll just let you kill my friend, you better think again." I pull the trigger and begin to shoot down the White Fang grunts. One of them tries to rush in with a sword, but I mechashift [Panlindel] to its sword form and easily parry the attack and kick him away. I raise my hand and fire a couple of [Magic Missiles] killing some before rushing in and strike down the rest of the team while they're distracted.
You have defeated White Fang Grunt (x6)! You have gained 997 EXP! You have gained 1200 Credits!
Level Up!
Skill Level Up!
[Magic Missile LVL. 86/100]
"It's done." I wipe the blood off the blade and move back to the black dome. I dismiss the dome and see Willow unharmed but shaking uncontrollably.
I take a knee as I lower myself to Willow's level. "It's alright, they're gone now." I assure her.
Willow looks up with her makeup running down her face as she is crying. She tilts her head and sees the unmoving bodies behind me. "D-did you kill them?"
I slowly nod before standing up and offer her my hand. Willow slowly takes my hand as I pull her up, but loses her balance and falls on my chest. "Careful now."
+13 Affection with Willow Schnee (28/100)
Willow nods and pulls herself off my chest.
I let her go and walk towards one of the bodies. "I…" Her breathing is strained. "I don't understand. How did the White Fang manage to locate me so fast?"
"I don't think they did…" I pull the hood off the head and take the mask off revealing no animal traits at all.
Willow walks forward and looks at the corpse in confusion. "A human?"
Inspecting one of the weapons, I see an engraving of a kingdom's symbol that I recognize. "This is an Atlas weapon." I inspect the other weapons. "They're all from Atlas."
"But why?" Willow asked.
I stand up and turn to Willow. "Jacques was likely aware of what you're planning, so to stop you he ordered someone to kill you. Now, it wouldn't make sense to have a bunch of random people kill you, so they dressed up as White Fang soldiers in order to stage this as an assassination attempt." I explained. "If people found out you were killed by the White Fang, it would create an even bigger rift between Atlas and the Faunus which would make the council effectively turn against Faunuskind and make it easier for Jacques to gain more political support." I let out a chuckle. "Killing two birds with one stone, huh? Clever."
Just then we both hear the sound of the door opening as another fake White Fang grunt walks in. "Hey, is the job- HOLY SHIT!" The grunt takes out his gun and starts to shoot me. Willow hides in one of the ruined chairs while I charge in, punching the daylights out of them.
I don't have time to catch my breath as I see more of them coming from the cars behind us. I run to Willow and grab her hand. "Come on!" I kick the car door in and run to the next car but not before disconnecting the car from the rest of the train leaving the assassins stranded. "That should take care of them…"
Just then another group of White Fang soldiers who seem shocked at seeing us. 'Me and my big mouth.'
"What the!? I thought this was supposed to be an Atlas cargo train?"
"Wait, is that a Schnee!? Holy shit, it is!"
"We gotta tell Commander Taurus about this!"
"I don't think those are disguised assassins." Willow meekly states as the real White Fang begins to close in on us.
*PING*
My [Radar] goes off as the Bullhead from earlier is now back and with a missile in its ram. "Oh shit…" The missile launches as I make a dash towards Willow and hug her tight.
The missile makes contact and explodes, destroying most of the train.
Pilot POV
"It's done." One of the pilots says as they overlook the nearly destroyed train. "Hm?"
As the smoke clears, the pilots see a black dome within the remains and disappears, revealing an unharmed Willow Schnee alongside her accomplice, shocking them both.
Normal POV
I put my weapon away and summoned two large skeletal hands. I reach out and the hands mimic my movements, heading straight for the Bullhead and grab it.
"What the hell!?" The pilot cries out loud. "What kind of Semblance is this!?"
"Those things are holding us tight!" The other pilot exclaims. "We can't break free!"
I slowly close my hands which causes the large ones to do the same, slowly crushing the Bullhead. Its engines give out as they are crushed under the extreme pressure leaving the ship unable to no longer fly. The hands release their grip letting the Bullhead fall to the ground though miraculously the pilots survived. The pilots crawl out of the wreckage and can't help but look up and see the train continue on its journey.
The pilot takes out their Scroll and makes a call. "Mr. Schnee, we have a situation…"
I turn to Willow who is attempting to get her bearing though failing spectacularly. How did this woman manage to get all the way here with such an unstable mental state? It's a miracle she hasn't suffered a panic attack yet.
Beyond the mountains I can see the outline of a city on the horizon with a wall surrounding it. That must be the Kingdom of Mistral. "We're almost there…" I help Willow up and lead her to the next car and leave her in one of the chairs that are still intact. I looked around for something to calm her nerves and notice the remains of bottles scattered all over the floor, meaning that this car was also a bar. I search through the broken glass and destroyed wood and manage to find an intact bottle of brandy and a glass cup.
"I couldn't find any of the strong stuff, hope you like it." I pour the brandy in the cup and give it to Willow who happily takes it. She drinks the brandy like no tomorrow and then proceeds to snatch the bottle from my hands and drain it completely of its contents. "Eager, aren't you?"
+13 Affection with Willow Schnee (41/100)
"Tell me," Willow puts the bottle down. "Who are you? You are definitely no Huntsman."
I ponder for a moment on what to say. Suddenly, an idea pops up. "I'll tell you, but you gotta keep it a secret." Willow nods.
I smile and lean in. "I'm a mage."
After some time, we arrived at our destination… and I got to say we left quite the impression on people. They were all screaming and yelling things like "what the hell happened!?" and "was this a terrorist attack?" or my personal favorite "does this mean I'll have to wait longer to go home?"
The conductor (the train had a conductor?) and the security guards came in to calm down the masses and ask them to promptly leave the station. Meanwhile, Willow and I manage to blend in with the crowd and leave the station without anyone noticing. If we had stayed they would have asked us questions, questions that they would either dismiss or get us arrested.
"Well, I guess that's that." I said. "Needless to say, that was not how I expected my train ride to go down."
"Yes…" Willow weakly said, clutching the empty brandy bottle tightly. "Forgive me, I'm still trying to compose myself with me almost dying and all."
"Understandable, it's not everyday you get assaulted by assassins, especially ones contracted by your own husband." I assured her.
"Regardless, this just affirms my decisions to destroy Jacques' ambitions. He doesn't care who he has to step on even if they're family." Willows let out a sight. "I'm just worried about what he plans to do with the children."
"Your children?" I asked with false interest.
Willow nods. "My eldest daughter Winter, my youngest daughter Weiss, and my eldest son Whitley. Winter left for the military and became James' right-hand woman, Weiss wants to branch out and become a Huntress. She wants to go to Beacon instead of Atlas, but I fear that her sheltered lifestyle will have a negative effect on her team." She gains a depressed look. "Whitley is still young and Jacques, like the vulture he is, has been molding him to be the heir of the SDC despite Weiss being the heiress right now. He is waiting for the moment Weiss makes a mistake and will use that to revoke her from inheriting the SDC."
"It sounds like he doesn't like Weiss." I remarked.
Willow huffs. "I'm not really surprised. Unlike Whitley, Winter and Weiss got to grow up with their grandfather and inherited most of his ideals. Since Jacques never liked my father, it would make sense that he never liked Winter and Weiss who are too much like their grandfather. Whitley never met his grandfather and almost never interacted with anyone outside of Jacques, not even with Klein who was more of a father to them than Jacques ever was."
"It sounds like this Klein is a really great person." I said.
Willow smiles. "He really is. He is one of the few servants who actually stayed not out of duty, but for the sake of the children. He became a father figure to Winter and Weiss and I always wondered if things would have been different if I had married Klein instead."
"Sounds like someone has a crush." I quipped.
Willow blushes a bit. "You think so? I know that Klein is great but I don't think such a great man would go for someone like me." She points at herself. "I mean look at me. I'm an alcoholic, I'm too skinny and the worst part of all I'm a terrible mother."
"It doesn't matter. If Klein sees how hard you're trying to change yourself I'm sure he'll give you a shot. I know I would." I snicker. "Besides, seeing karma biting Jacques in the ass will definitely make his day."
Willow chuckles. "You're right, that would make his day." She clears her throat. "Well, I believe it is time we go our separate ways now. I am forever in your debt for what you have done, sir…"
"Asmodeus. Asmodeus Endaira, nice to meet you." I extend my hand.
"Willow Schnee. A pleasure." She shakes my hand.
"Say, before you go can we exchange Scroll numbers?" I asked. "I doubt Jacques is done with you just yet."
"Of course, it would be inconsequential if my savior didn't have any way of contacting me." Willow takes out her Scroll and we exchange numbers. Afterwards Willow went on her way to her meeting, probably with an old associate of the SDC.
Quest Complete!
Quest: Plucking a Snow Angel
Objective 1 (Complete): Protect Willow Schnee
Objective 2 (Complete): Stop the false White Fang attack
Objective 3 (Complete): Make it to Mistral
Rewards: 33876 EXP, 22193 Credits, Willow Schnee's Affection Greatly Increases
Level Up!
+40 Affection with Willow Schnee (81/100)
I turn to look at the buzzling city beyond, "phase one begins."
A preview, would you kindly?
I entered the weapons shop. "Welcome, how can I help you today?"
"I'd like to use your forge, please." I said.
"Sure, but that will cost you extra."
I take out my lien card. "That's fine. I have money for days, sir."
"Are you rich or something?"
I shrug. "You can say that."
Blake presses the blade closer to Willow's neck. "Drop the weapon or she dies."
"You don't want to do this, Blake. I know you don't." I told her.
Blake scoffs. "And what can you do about it?"
"What the?" I stare at the hologram. "When the hell did I get a bounty on my head!?"
"Boss... they're here! The Queen's pawns are here!" Vernal yells out from her Scroll. "Raven and Amber are fighting them off right now, but they're not going to last long! You got to-"
*CLICK*
"Vernal? Vernal!?" I cried out.
"Do you think you can stop me, when Ozma has failed so many times?" Salem asked.
"Of course. Ozma is an idiot to think he can… contain you as it were. He could have killed you a long time ago, but didn't because he still loves you just as you love him." Salem grits her teeth. A snicker comes out of my mouth. "Its honestly stupid how idiotic you both are."
"Quiet boy. I have only let you live this long because you interest me, I could easily kill you and your allies right now if I wished." Salem snarls.
The snickering stops as I give Salem a stone cold look. "If you're going to threaten me, at least do a better job at that. I've already killed your strongest pawns and its only a matter of time before I come for you." Black Aura surrounds me as large cracks appear all over the room. "I plan to take everything from you. So send your Grimm, send your pawns, send the White Fang; I don't care. You cannot stop the inevitable."
Author Notes
All done. This chapter is a bit shorter than the last, nothing major and it turned out fine. So the MC meets Willow Schnee, relatively different from her cannon version, and thwarts an assassination attempt made by her husband (I mean who else would it be? James?) I was a bit conflicted on what the MC should call himself for Willow. It was either wizard, mage, or magus. I really couldn't decide.
Anyways how do you think the MC's time in Mistral will change the plot? Will he gain new allies or new enemies? Maybe both?
As always, leave a comment/review.
Peace~