Breaking Remnant: Bound by Shadows
Rating: T/M
Series: RWBY
Volume 5: Revelation
Summary: Aganju came to Beacon wanting to be treated as equal. Pyrrha wanted to be viewed as a normal girl. Neither of them expected to be that fate would have them meet. Now, they navigate the academy grounds and beyond, with secrets and danger awaiting them at every corner. The alternate timeline takes place just before the start of RWBY volume 1 and AU in the Breaking Remnant series.
(Rewrite of RWBY: Shadows of Destiny)
Author's Note:
Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to RWBY... that honor belongs to Rooster Teeth. I do own the rights to my OCs.
Chapter 31
Raven backed away from the visage of her past deliberately.
Her heart flew with a rush she'd not felt since facing Salem's forces during her time with team STRQ.
"Summer...?" Her voice was no louder than the flowing breeze around her. "You... You can't be here! You died trying to fight Salem!"
Raven Branwen, the tough and strong warrior was trembling, shivering like the scared little child she accused her firstborn of being. The pain and anguish bubbled in her throat; a knot of burning bile tearing its way to the surface. There was no denying it now, the fear and trepidation that took hold of her weighed heavy on her whilst her former leader and friend approached with that accursed gentle smile on her lips.
"I assure you, Raven. It's me..."
"No!" Raven pointed Omen at the hooded woman, flaring her eyes with the maiden's power. "Whatever trick this is, I won't fall for it."
The shorter Summer sighed deeply, clearly realizing that there was no reasoning with the bandit queen.
"Alright, Raven..."
With a soft frown, Summer drew her own weapon, further stoking the furious terror within Raven. That scythe... That damned white and silver scythe that this imposter wielded was virtually identical to the one her ex-leader once held with humility and strength. For a moment, Raven entertained the idea of this not being an illusion, but she knew better.
Reaper's Rose?!
"If you're not going to listen to reason, then..." she paused a moment, clenching her eyes shut only to flare her own vigor. Silver flames danced along the sides of her eyes with a brilliance that would further confound the woman. "...then I'll just have to speak your language."
"Roll call, filthy animals!" a soldier yelled out, his voice reverberating throughout the prison hold. He was joined by a chorus of his comrades barking out the same orders as each cage door retracted. "Wake your miserable asses up and line up for inspection!"
The open space soon became filled with dozens of faunus who were tired and worn out from the previous days' list of chores. They were outfitted in dingy grey rags that barely passed for clothes, further cementing their status in this world. Many of them were freezing cold from the lack of sufficient heat or blankets, yet very few complained about the conditions for fear of the harsh repercussions that would inevitably come.
One by one, they were looked upon by a young woman with a clipboard. Her eyes were glued to the notes and charts given to her, only sparing a glance when an unfortunate soul's number matched a special order implemented. This usually spelled disaster and anxiety for the unlucky man, woman, or child as it usually meant that they were finally to be sold, usually to some ruthless owner who viewed them as another addition to their labor force or worse, their personal plaything.
Each one that was dragged away expectantly unnerved the bunny as the woman drew closer. Every step; each pause she took made Velvet want to explode into a sprint. Finally, cold eyes fell on the brunette faunus, an icy stare hardening with each passing second with judgment and contempt. If it wasn't for the restraints around her wrists, Velvet would've attempted to hide from the cold glare.
Fortunately, the woman passed by without a word, returning her eyes to the paperwork in her hands. Velvet let out a soft sigh, allowing her heart to calm itself; at least she wasn't to be sold to some cruel owner or worse, the Schnee Dust Company, at least not today. She had no idea what was to come, but at least she could take solace in her stability within the ranch. At least for the moment, she'd have the comfort of going about her day doing some form of manual labor.
"Hey, you! Rabbit!"
So much for that thought... Before she could settle into the awaiting day's trials, Velvet flinched at the harsh roar. The rhythm of her pulse hastened once again as terra optics lowered to the ground. She didn't have to see who it was preparing to harass her, she recognized his voice all too well. Velvet almost wished that she'd been called to be sold.
The sounds of dirt and grass crunched under heavy boots only stopping in front of the young woman. Her body shook, not due to the cold, but from her blood beginning to boil. She could feel that smug grin. His blue eyes filled with arrogance and malice bore down on her shorter frame. She knew who this was looking down upon her existence; the very reason she was here in the first place.
"Well well well," Velvet's skin crawled as his gaze burrowed deep into her soul. It was nauseating how a single person could have so much impact. "Why don't you come with me. I'd like to have a word with you, bunny."
Her thoughts refused to form as her ears drooped, knowing her predicament. She clutched the rags draped on her body. She tried to locate some semblance of aid, but there was none to be found as each of her fellow slaves kept their gazes firmly locked on the snowy ground. She opened her mouth to protest but found her body begin to betray her intentions with a single step forward. As a result, she was met with a tight grip around her right ear, forcing a squeal of pain from her lips.
"Ow! You're hurting me!" she whined pitifully.
The male ignored her pleas as he dragged her into the building. Her tears of anguish went ignored as she clawed at the meaty hand to no avail. Only when a door opened did his grip loosen, allowing Velvet a moment of reprieve.
Sadly, that moment wouldn't last when her sore ears picked up the sound of something heavy hitting on the cold floor. With horror-filled eyes, Velvet slowly raised her eyes to see where she was. Restraints and other forms of torture devices decorated the room. Despair filled her heart as fear slithered around her, suffocating the faunus with each tool of torment she noticed. Velvet silently prayed that this wasn't her fate...
Only when her gaze halted on a woman across from her did her heart finally accept the woeful truth. Unlike the cold look she received from the woman earlier, this person had a twisted spark behind her golden eyes. It was a stare that oozed with lust as the woman traced the floor with what appeared to be a whip. She wore a black bodysuit showcasing her dominance while the scent of leather filled the room. Her auburn hair sat in a ponytail, reminiscent of the woman Velvet once served loyally.
The door behind her suddenly slammed shut, making the girl jump as her fate had no been sealed.
"You have every reason to be afraid..." The woman stood up, her thigh-high boots clicking against the tiled floor. She looked down on the faunus, savoring the image of her prey on her hands and knees; as she should be, she thought. She was a firm believer that those like her were superior and seeing a faunus 'bowing' before her feet did little to dissuade that notion. She licked her lips like a snake as a gloved hand tugged on her victim's hair, forcing brown orbs to lock onto her own. "I do hope you last longer than the last one..."
"NO!"
"What's wrong?" Velvet turned to the owner of the voice, a vulpine faunus. His violet eyes, wide with distress shook softly at the sweaty lagomorph. "Is your ankle bothering you again?"
"No... No, I was just... I was having a nightmare. I'm sorry for disturbing you."
Velvet felt a warm hand rest gently on her shoulder, leading to an empathetic grin from her canine counterpart. The worry behind the pools would melt away in favor of understanding as the moon bounced off them. Immediately, the bunny's stomach began to settle while she savored the breeze from a nearby open window. It certainly helped to have one's kinsman around; someone who understood her plight.
"You didn't disturb me," he chuckled slightly.
"Are... Are you sure?"
"Velvet, we both know what hell feels like to some extent and it manifests in different ways. For you, it was your mind."
Brown eyes lowered down to the sheets that concealed her lower half, though not the small shifting of her toes. For her to be in the presence of a soul capable of destroying others only to see the stark contrast in his demeanor now was both complex yet understandable.
"Thank you, Aganju..."
"No problem. We'll have you back with your family in no time, once the south-eastern borders are opened, we're-"
"What?!" she interjected, eyes growing in terror, making Aganju flinch slightly.
"Yeah... Jaune and I... We talked with a contact of his and we're supposed to be heading to the main docks to reach Vacuo and return you to Vale."
Velvet shook her head violently, muttering something as she clutched her head. Her heartbeat began to speed up. Tears began to well up, stinging her eyes. Her breathing grew shallow as each rise and fall of her chest grew more labored by the second. She bit her lip so hard, the fox worried that she'd bite it off completely.
"No... No. No. No..."
"Velvet?"
"I can't go back. I won't-"
"Velvet. What's wrong?"
The gentleness of his tone was all the invitation Velvet Scarletina needed to act. With a swiftness unseen before, slender limbs coiled around the young man, followed by eccentric whimpers and stifled sobs. Her face now buried into his shoulder, Velvet clutched at his shirt, fearing that he'd vanish if she didn't. The voice of that woman once again tormented her, stirring the seeds of chaos within the faunus' heart.
"Please... Don't..." she quietly pleaded.
"Okay."
Strong arms wrapped around her slender frame, wrapping the girl in a protective cocoon as she wept bitterly. Surely, this was the product of her past. He wouldn't push things though, not when she was releasing so much. How much have you been holding in, Velvet? he pondered, watching her shoulders hitch with each sniffle.
"We'll talk with Jaune and the others tomorrow; figure out another way to get you home."
Aganju noticed Velvet's stirring beginning to slow. The tenseness soon loosened, though her grip remained firm, showing there was no getting away from her anytime soon. As her cries soon flickered out, the fox faunus simply carried the now calm bunny to the nearby chair, allowing her to rest in his lap. He grabbed a nearby blanket, draping the feather-like fabric over them as Velvet's outburst gave in to the clutches of the sandman.
Whoever hurt her, he was certain that it was before their meeting at the arena, must've been a cruel soul to still wield such power long after throwing Velvet away. His mind reflected on his own past, eyes filled with terror. Amber and emerald? It was confusing, but Aganju wouldn't dwell too long on the mental vision. Instead, he continued to monitor the girl's status, noticing her deep in slumber.
"I promise... I won't fail again."
[Atlas-Schnee Manor]
Military-grade heels clicked against the pristine floor of the Schnee Family Manor. The owner walked with her head held high with enormous amounts of integrity and dignity as she passed the dozens of servants and caretakers of the household. Despite this air of astuteness, Winter Schnee was anything but pleased to be back at the place she spent the majority of her life.
Her icy blue eyes scanned her surroundings with each sight and greeting from the servants and chambermaids elicited a courteous nod but, there was one face that always brought out the inner girl that resided inside her.
"Ah, Miss Schnee! Welcome back," a portly, balding man approached her, his smile both bright and infectious as he pulled her into a big hug. "I trust your travel wasn't too rigorous?"
"It's good to see you again, Klein. My journey was nothing short of pleasant."
"I'm so glad to hear that. Your safety is truly a blessing to this house, Winter," the woman's smile grew slightly larger at the way Klein spoke her name. There was so much love and affection, that of a father to his daughter. She missed the feeling of being cared for unconditionally. Unfortunately, that sentiment wouldn't last long when the sound of a boisterous voice erupted down the halls.
"Klein!" The family butler's smile quickly fell into a wince at the sound of his name being called. "Come quickly!"
Winter gave him an empathetic smile of her own before the two went down the corridor to the source of the summons.
They both knew it all too well and neither was eager to face the master. Still, they both had a reason for meeting with the man and they would complete it, even if they'd rather be anywhere else. Klein Sieben opened the door, granting access to the taller woman first before following behind her into the study. The older man sat with his back to the door so he was unaware of the extra visitor.
"You summoned me, Master Schnee?"
"It took you long enough, Klein! I-" The face of Jacques Gelé, known throughout as Jacques Schnee, lifted in shock at seeing his eldest daughter alongside his most trusted servant. "Ah, W-Winter! I wasn't expecting you."
"I can see that, sir. This is an impromptu visit on behalf of General Ironwood."
"Ironwood? What could that glorified boy scout want to talk about?" Jacques raised an eyebrow. "If he's looking for a raise, he can forget it. It's bad enough that I'm paying him to bark orders and attend meetings but-"
"He's looking into the future of your security division... Specifically, those in place around and within your... private interests."
Jacques' complaints were silenced immediately upon hearing this, his eyes narrowing in disgruntled comprehension. He motioned for Klein to leave the room and turned his focus back to the woman. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the wooden table between them.
"So..." he smirked behind his mustache, his eyes filled with surmise. "Am I speaking with the specialist or my daughter?"
Winter's scorn toward the man knew no bounds, yet she kept her stillness and peace.
She was trained by the very best to hold her tongue and quell her emotions. She was tight-lipped and unwilling to divulge secrets to the enemy but, this was an entirely different situation; this was her... father. Winter Schnee truly reviled the man across from her. He was no parent to the soldier and yet he had the audacity to mention their relation.
She wanted to vomit as a result.
"As a representative of General Ironwood, I'm here to inform you of the updated status of Mistral's faunus ranch. It's been decimated, sir."
"What?! When did this happen? HOW did this happen?!"
"It was destroyed a few weeks back by a group known simply as the White Fang."
"Why am I just now hearing about this?! I should've been informed immediately by..."
"Your business partners were trying to salvage the damage as much as they could" she interrupted. "However, they were only able to successfully gather an estimate of the accumulated losses without stirring things with the general public. Somehow, every bit of data recorded into the ranches' files was lost in the flames and many of our men and women were severely injured in the attack. In fact, there's only one survivor with any possible information about the intruders, but she's currently in a comatose state. The general wanted to ensure that you were informed of your... investments."
This was displeasing to Jacques. His eyes burned with rage at the news being given but, this was no time for an eruption of emotion. Quickly his mind began to process something; a plan. Being the ruthless businessman he was, there was sure to be an opportunity for him to exploit.
"Very well. I figure that it's safe to assume that the Winchester family will be in need of funding to rebuild, correct?" he replied leaning back into his seat. Winter nodded silently, her grimace threatening to arise once more. "See to it that the family and public know that Mistral will have my full support in rebuilding. I trust that Ironwood won't have a problem with sending more of his men to handle these pests as well?"
Unseen to him, Winter's fingers wrapped around the hem of her uniform, the only reaction she'd allow herself to give. She knew the man as a cruel and heartless person and this time was no different. Thankfully, her ability to maintain control was far greater than the average person.
"I'm sure the general will be able to convince the ranks to pull their forces from the Argus and Mantle borders to help in your... personal endeavors of conquest. If it's the will of the regime, then it'll be done."
"Excellent. Is there anything else you'd like to share with me, my daughter?"
Once more, Winter felt that nauseousness begin to stir within her stomach. She forced herself to her feet, the only sign of her displeasure in the man. Her icy stare shifted into blue flames pointed at the patriarch. She refused to speak for a moment and Jacques could almost laugh at the internal battle inside her.
"No, sir. That was all I was informed of at this point," she replied curtly.
"Very well," he eyed the woman in front of him, the spitting image of her mother glaring back at him. The tension between them was thick enough to smother anyone else unfortunate enough to be inside. "You may leave. I have a few calls to make..."
Winter bowed before turning to leave her 'father' inside of his chamber. After she closed the door, she finally released the breath she had no idea she was holding onto. It felt like she was finally able to intake fresh air as she closed her eyes in solace. When she opened them again, she was met with the image of a smiling Klein with a cup of tea on a tray.
The smell of honey and cherry blossoms filled her nose, further calming her senses as she took the cup.
"Thank you, Klein..." she smiled gently before starting down the hall.
"My pleasure, Miss Schnee," his own grin warmed her heart. "I do hope that your meeting wasn't too terrible. It can be dreadfully cold in there at times."
"It was... alright. Thankfully, this time, things were brief, at least. After this, I've been granted a chance to go to Vale for some time away. I've been saddled with so many assignments, mostly overseeing the production of more Dust mines for faunus to work in. With the Vytal festival approaching, I'm hoping to enjoy the scenery in Vale. I must admit, I'm a bit fatigued if I'm being honest."
Klein understood completely. Given his relationship with the eldest Schnee child, he knew when Winter was pushing herself too hard, even when she appeared to be perfectly fine. He watched as the specialist finished her tea as they traversed the length of the homestead. They continued to chat up to the point of the woman's departure. With a final hug from the man she truly considered to be a father figure, Winter left with a solemn frown, stepping into a limousine.
"How did it go?" a voice asked from inside the vehicle.
"He suspects nothing. It appears that Weiss and Whitley aren't around either." Winter replied. "You were right about that information as well."
The figure chuckled, their voice soft and almost passive in volume. "He's always been the type to focus heavily on his business and... even more so on vindictiveness. While you two were talking, I was able to get some information on her without him detecting things. If you want, I'd suggest that you get them out if you can."
Winter nodded without a word.
However, she had no intention of interfering with the lives of her loved ones. No, there was no need for her to complicate things without necessity. Rather she continued to ride to the Atlas Military academy, prepping herself for what would hopefully be a peaceful holiday.
A woman can dream, right?
[Mistral-Upper Level]
Cardin was not happy...
Groaning to himself, he vaguely remembered the evening. Bits and pieces of the banquet remained scattered, fragments obscuring the greater picture. He was there escorting the Nikos girl as part of an agreement between their fathers. It was a business deal; nothing more to be made of it. He resisted the urge to grind his teeth as he recalled the few moments that contributed to his frustrations.
Escorting his 'date' only brought unwanted attention from not only the media but other members of the upper echelon. He was not pleased with having to deal with the lines of questions and growing rumors of the pair's plans moving forward despite it being only the first night of their engagement. He was grateful when he found that the red-head warrior had taken most of the attention when she became lost in mingling with the other guests.
It didn't matter much to him though.
His head was filled with so many other issues as he rode down the many streets and avenues. The unfavorable deal for his family to (hopefully) establish a merger. His future as the heir of the Winchester faunus Ranches. The destruction of one such location by the White Fang. It was all enough to make Cardin's blood boil.
His wounded pride...
"That damned animal..." he growled under his breath as his fury flickered behind terra eyes.
"Is something wrong, Cardin?"
He turned his head, suddenly reminded by the princess of the Nikos clan, her soft smile only further stoking his agitation. She was everything he was not. Where he was tough, she was considered soft. He valued ruthlessness while she advocated diplomacy. He knew his place in the world; That trait alone made him superior to her, yet her family was the one in charge of most of Anima.
To him, Pyrrha was nothing more than a spoiled royal gifted with fame and adoration granted through her father's leadership and blood.
"Don't bother with him, Pyrrha," another voice chimed in. "He's a brute. Of all the things in Cardin's mastery, kindness isn't one of them."
Speaking of privilege...
The knight shifted his annoyed gaze over to a girl with snow-white hair that was tied into a side ponytail; His glower matched by a challenging gaze that just reeked of amusement.
"Why are you here again, Weiss? Don't you have a musical to prepare for or something?" he groaned, his head weighing down on his knuckles. "I would think the Schnee Dust Heiress would have better things to do than to be traveling to a mere faunus ranch."
"I'm here at my father's behest," she replied in a pompous tone. "I'd rather be anywhere else than hanging around a cruel sadist if that makes you feel better."
The amount of fury inside of the military man boiled over as he attempted to lunge at the girl. Unfortunately, the combination of the small coach and Pyrrha's arm stretching out in front of him was enough to prevent such actions. If nothing else, Cardin begrudgingly appreciated the girl's attempt to defuse the situation. The last thing he wanted was to jeopardize his future by assaulting a Schnee.
He settled for a grunt before turning his attention back to the scenery outside.
By this point, they were far from the cultural indulgences of Mistral.
They continued to travel, both Cardin & Weiss bickering the entire time.
Meanwhile, Pyrrha Nikos could feel her stomach stirring from the truth of where they were going. Amongst the aristocracy throughout, it was common knowledge that she detested the state of the faunus. She loved her father, but she always differed from his views of the world. The faunus were not inferior in her mind, quite the contrary. Many of them were born with natural qualities that made them alike, their ideologies couldn't be more different.
This was never more evident as the coach began to slow down, prompting Pyrrha from her thoughts.
There was a massive metal gate that greeted the trio, foreboding and ominous in its appearance. Things were off to a poor start for both of the girls as they observed the surrounding area from their seats. An equally large fence covered the perimeter of the ranch, further strengthening the girl's uneasiness.
"We're here, Captain Winchester," she overheard someone announce with gusto. "As per your father's orders, you are to meet with Admiral Nikos to discuss further arrangements."
"Understood... Just be sure that my lieutenant is present as well, got it?"
The armored man bowed respectfully before retreating within the facility. The carriage soon followed, finally exposing both Pyrrha and Weiss to a clear view of the 'ranch'. It was just as they both suspected; nothing more than a prison facility. Her eyes fell on the destitute faces of the venues' inhabitants, many wearing nothing more than rags just large enough to cover themselves.
"They look so... broken," the Atlesian heiress noted solemnly.
"That's the point! These animals have to be tamed before they're sent off to be sold. It's kind of like de-fanging a snake or removing the claws on a cat so they don't scratch up your furniture." Cardin then let out a boisterous laugh, one filled with disgusting pride and glee as they passed by many of the faunus hard at work.
Digging holes.
Gathering water.
Heavy lifting.
It was all just to keep them busy while they awaited the day they'd be sent off to serve whichever human willing to purchase them, fearing the unknown. Their actions were more robotic, seemingly on autopilot as they completed their tasks for the day while under the watchful eyes of the guards who oversaw them. It was all so overwhelming to witness. Pyrrha figured that conditions in these facilities were bad, but, she would truly get a taste of the extent of such a cruel environment.
After their coach parked near the main building, the three aristocrats were escorted inside.
The place was blinding under fluorescent lighting as they traversed the long hallways of the building. While Cardin had been here countless times, Pyrrha was a stranger in a foreign land, making any sight or sound new and sometimes startling. Though the place was pristine and clean all around, the off-white walls and tiled floors only made the two cringe. Several twists and turns down each corridor revealed hollow tidiness, a ruse to trick any would-be buyers into believing that this was a righteous place.
One such noise nearly caused the girls to freeze dead in their tracks.
"AAAAAHHHH!"
The bloodcurdling shriek shot through the otherwise empty passages. Weiss, not one to hide her feelings, turned around in shock at what could've caused such a horrific sound. Pyrrha on the other hand didn't move. Instead, she just stood there, frozen in place as the screams were suddenly joined with a whipping noise. With each strike, each cry from the unfortunate soul, the merciless assault continued, making the amazon cringe.
"Don't mind that. Probably some dumb animal getting put back in its place..."
The calmness in the young man's voice was almost as disturbing as the terrible sounds coming from off in the distance. Unfortunately, there was little either girl could do about it, so they did their best to ignore the bone-chilling sounds that bounced off of the walls.
Sadly, the only thing that could take Pyrrha's mind off of what she'd just heard was the unfortunate truth of Cardin Winchester himself.
She knew that he was obnoxious and an arrogant spoiled brat, but, Pyrrha never fully realized how little compassion he possessed.
Nobody with a soul could just shrug off something like that and yet, the girl began to wonder if he even had a soul, to begin with. She found little redeeming qualities in the boy, even less that could attract her to such brutish nature, and yet, it was enough to warrant her father's high praise. Even with the report of a faunus anarchist cell destroying a ranch along the northern end of the continent, both Pyrrha and Weiss would only find the brute in high spirits now.
Perhaps it was his ranking under the man's watch? Realistically, Pyrrha figured it was their shared cruelty toward the faunus that made the boy stand out in the patriarch's eyes. Either way, prior to her arrival in Mistral, only a single question remained in her mind, one where the answer may enkindle more fear than solace.
How would her father retaliate?
Pyrrha wouldn't have to wait long for an answer as a metal door opened.
A young woman with long wavy auburn hair and golden eyes appeared with a soft smile. Despite this, Pyrrha, and to a lesser extent, Weiss could tell that something was off about the girl. Something about her made the girls stay on guard as she ushered them inside where the men sat on either side of the table, Valentin flashed a nod toward his daughter while Jacques raised an eyebrow at Weiss, no doubt unhappy about the off-center ponytail; he was a Stiffler for perfection.
"Ah, Cardin! Glad you and our guests could finally make it." Everyone shifted their gaze to a rather slender male with slicked-back brown hair and thin-rimmed glasses. His blue eyes oozed with lust for power notwithstanding his serene attitude. "Please, have a seat and we may begin."
Cardin didn't so much as say a word, alternatively nodding in compliance as he led Pyrrha and Weiss to the other side of the table. The atmosphere was suffocating, largely contrasting the visual of serenity, as green eyes inspected the parties within the room.
This is going to be a long day...