Summery/disclaimer: Time for another chapter of A Frostbitten Arrow. Enjoy the 3000-word chapter. I don't own RWBY or Destiny, Monty Oum, Rooster Teeth, and Bungie do.
(Solitas, Atlas, Schnee Castle 12:30PM December 12th.)
Mason turned, his gun firing as he went, the bullet punching through the skull of a vandal. Mason ducked under a dreg's shock blades which reached for his skull as did so.
The vandal's body collapsed into the snow as Weiss parried another blade aimed at her face. Her feet danced across the frostbitten ground, she turned to stab through the dreg, turning to Mason as she did.
She lanced out her right hand in time for Mason to grab it, pulling her towards him as she kicked out her feet. Her armored boots crushing a vandal's helmet and killing the soldier. Mason pivoted in time for a bullet to cut into his light.
He cursed and turned to see the remaining fallen risking them as Mason sighed. Weiss turned to Mason as he reloaded his gun. They forced the duo into cover, grown tired of fighting the duo in close range. Both leapt over a low hanging wall, bullets cutting through stone and flowers.
"And now they decide to just shoot us." Mason muttered as he turned to Weiss. "I think I might have to use the light I've stored today. Do you have any ideas besides that?" Mason questioned to which Weiss nodded.
"Do you think you can hit a target dead center with your void arrow?" Weiss asked which caused Mason to chuckle.
"You really did plan this all out in advance." Mason stated before nodding. "Yeah. I can, you're going to use that fancy semblance your family is famous for?" Mason questioned to which Weiss nodded.
Weiss held up her pointer and middle finger again and curled her other fingers inward, her eyes turned blue once more as a glyph appeared, spinning while it did. Weiss nodded to Mason as he returned the gesture.
Mason flipped over the island, vaulting into the air and using his light to jump once more. Weiss watched as a purple ethereal bow manifested from the glowing light, similar to her glyphs as Mason tugged the pull string. The arrow cracked outwards from the string, whistling through the air towards her glyph.
Weiss watched as the arrow sailed through the glyph's center, spinning into the helmet of the captain and exploding. It lanced out in a mass of energy, disintegrating their bodies as Mason landed in a crouch, their ashes mixing with the snow before he hummed. Weiss flipped over the wall, Myrtenaster clasped in her left fist.
Mason and the Atlesian princess looked around before holstering their weapons on their hips. Silence fell over the courtyard as Weiss walked over to Mason.
"So, first real fight, huh?" Mason asked which garnered a nod. "Then you did good for that…. I wouldn't tell your dad, though. Might not go over well knowing his youngest daughter is a badass who can outfight a squad of fallen." Mason said before Nomad appeared, audio streaming from his body.
"Attention, all units? We've had a raid on the dust depot. Masked assailants made off with a few crates." The voice said before another cut in.
"Secondary objective, commander. Enemy forces are retreating." The voice put in to which the duo looked at each other. "AP-290 engaging enemy walker. Commander Clove? Secure the area, I'm returning to the castle. My sister needs my protection." They heard as Weiss hummed.
Mason crossed his arms. He could take enough of a guess NOBODY in Weiss's family saw her as a warrior. That proved she trained in private considering how the panic and grief in Winter's tone suggested that she had NO idea Weiss was able to handle herself like this.
"Do you think you can sneak back into your room without the royal babysitters finding out?" Mason snarked to which Weiss smirked.
"I believe I have an idea." Weiss stated as Mason nodded. "Can you pretend you rescued me from a group of Eliksni? And Nomad? Can you shut off the lights to levels 20-34? That should give us enough time for me to return to my room." Weiss said to which Mason chuckled.
"You planned this ALL out?" Mason questioned as she nodded. "I think being a princess is neglect of your talents, no offense to you or your family. Their more warriors than I thought… I got an idea." Mason said before he sighed.
Weiss watched as Mason pulled off one of his gloves, revealing pale and cracked skin. He sighed and looked at Weiss who couldn't see past his armored mask.
"This would help if you turn around." Mason said to which Weiss did so. "Ok, let's try… OW! Ok, that will sting, but the cold will freeze it up." Mason said before Weiss turned.
Mason raised a finger to Weiss's temple, crimson liquid dripping down it which ran down her face slightly. Mason cursed as the light quickly healed up the wound. Mason flicked his knife aside, cleaning it off. Weiss felt the droplets fall down her face. She was quite perplexed.
"You let yourself bleed?" Weiss questioned as Mason nodded, pulling the glove back on. "Why? Doesn't that hurt?" Mason asked as Mason hummed.
"I've been shot a lot of times and stabbed, but yeah." Mason said before shaking his head. "If I brought you inside without any wounds or something close? They'd wonder what's up. You held your own, consider it a sign of respect. Anyway? Let me carry you, Nomad can hold your sword for now." Mason stated to which he nodded to her.
Weiss blinked before nodding as Mason hummed and scratched at the back of his neck, caught a bit off guard by this. Mason slowly scooped up Weiss, sweeping the princess off her feet with care as Nomad hovered up. Weiss watched Myrtenaster vanish into the ghost as he began to march out inside.
"You don't plan on staying here, do you?" Mason questioned as he paused, a bit caught off guard as he did so. "You know about hunters and Vacuo and Fallen. Either you've been nose deep in books the entire time? Or someone's been teaching you. I told you, I know adventure in someone's heart." Mason said before Weiss closed her eyes.
"I would not advice speaking currently." Nomad stated before they walked around to one of the side entrances. "Plus, she is pretending to be hurt." Nomad added before he turned the corner.
The snow and ice gave way to the blue and snow whites they were used to. Mason hummed, looking up at the skyscraper sized roof.
"Where are they?! She isn't in her room…!" They heard as they turned into the damaged foyer. "WEISS!" He heard while he looked down at Mason.
Ironwood was at the top of the stairs, a pair of handguns at his side which he held which smoked. He ran to Mason who presented the wounded princess.
"She took a hit from one of the fallen." Mason said, slowly walking Weiss towards the sofa. "She's good, just took a bit of a hit before I showed up. The fallen are all dead, sir. I made sure of that." Mason added as he hummed, clicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth.
Ironwood looked at Weiss who groaned, making Mason internally chuckle. This woman had a future as a warrior, it just seemed she didn't want anyone to now, something that was her choice to make, not his.
"Thank you, I… Thank you." Ironwood said as Mason nodded, he turned to the door. "There is obviously not enough security here, if my wife had listened to my warnings…" Ironwood added before Mason shrugged.
"I'm going to mop up the remains of their army if you don't mind, your highness." Mason stated, pausing to crack his back. "These guys are ruthless; I'd stay inside for now. I'll make sure they back off." Mason said before he hummed, curious to how this would end up going.
He knew Ironwood would end up probably asking questions if he lingered, plus? He didn't want to think about how this would change. There was bound to be some changes in this kingdom's future. There was plenty of work to do when it comes down to it.
"I'm going to guess you plan on staying the night?" Ironwood asked, pausing Mason's walk out the door. "You saved my daughter, it's the least I can do when you think about it." Ironwood added to which Mason shrugged, unsure of what to say at the end of the day.
"I couldn't possibly insist on it, sir," Mason stated, pausing to think. "On second thought? I'll stay here, the fallen won't make another attack. They pick on things without teeth, Atlas has plenty of those." Mason stated as he hummed, looking around as he shook his head.
Weiss peeked an eye open before he spun his gun, placing it on his hip as he did so. She watched her father turn to pull out his scroll.
"Winter, where are you?" Ironwood questioned to which Mason turned to Weiss to which he nodded. "There was plenty of Grimm and these 'Fallen', I'm worried one of them could have hurt you, where is your team?" Ironwood asked as Mason slowly walked towards his friend.
Mason bent down towards the princess, ignoring Ironwood which was quite amusing in his mind rather than alarming.
"Do you want me to get you to your room to talk?" Mason whispered as he turned to look over his shoulder. "There's not a lot I can do unless you want to pretend. I know your probably good when it comes down to it." Mason stated, watching Nomad pop out of his body as he tried to look around.
Mason knew there was plenty of work to do, unfortunately for the woman? He wasn't planning to let the fallen pillage and burn the city down to nothing. He was a hunter; it went against everything he was taught.
"Yes." Weiss whispered as Mason nodded.
"Your majesty?" Mason questioned before he turned to look over his shoulder. "Do you mind if I carry your daughter to her room? There's plenty of hostile creatures outside and while I have faith in the Atlesian military? I don't believe it's very smart to leave someone whom is so important alone around them." Mason stated, brushing off his helmeted face as he did so.
"I will be having Klein look at that wound on her head." Mason heard to which she nodded as he turned around. "Take her upstairs to where her mother is. I need to make sure the rest of the area is fine and everyone is fine." Ironwood stated as he looked around.
"On it, your highness." Mason said before he grabbed Weiss, sweeping her off her feet. "I wouldn't recommend staying down here, though. If the fallen find a weakness? They exploit it to hell and back. Trust me, I've beaten enough of them to end it." Mason stated as he shook his head, slowly climbing the staircase with the princess.
"And Hunter?" Ironwood questioned, turning the warrior around. "If you do come back? Allow me to welcome you properly next time, your welcome in Solitas anytime you wish." Ironwood said before he turned to leave.
Mason simply nodded, turning and carrying her up the stairs a few moments later. He waited until the footsteps faded before speaking.
"So, do you plan on me lying to the emperor of Solitas for a while or…?" Mason began questioning as he did so. "Because I'd gladly remind you your dad is a very scarry man. You sure your still good there? I don't want you getting messed up for real." Mason said as he began to climb up the stairs.
"I am alright." Weiss stated, opening her eyes as she did so. "And I will reveal it to him when I find a reason. He doesn't trust me to even braid my own hair alone. I have plenty of reason to dislike that talk with him, he won't accept my reasoning." Weiss added as Mason hummed to himself.
"Don't think doing the easy thing is that easy." Mason added as he shook his head. "Trust me, it always like that. You deal with the worst the world can throw at you, you go back and forth with the world hating and loving you… I'll be honest, it took guts for you to do that, but I wouldn't have done it without training. These guys had no issue killing you, they kill everything that gets in their way. I've seen them do it to entire towns. Fallen are nasty." Mason added as he shook his head.
Weiss was silent, allowing the Hunter to carry her up the stairs slowly. She knew she could easily walk, but she wanted more time alone with her own thoughts. Would her father really like if she was doing this? No, probably not. Ironwood was many things, but he was not someone who liked his family being warriors like he had been a while ago. It hurt him deep.
"Why did you cut your hand?" Weiss questioned to which Mason turned to the Solitaian Princess.
"Because you have the same spark I did." Mason said, garnering a blink. "You want to be a Huntress or something, yeah? You've been training in private, haven't you? That type of sword fighting style? It takes months or years." Mason stated as he shook his head.
Weiss was silent, looking at the snow-white lights around the room. Mason continued to climb the stairs.
"Yes, I want to be more involved in affairs around Solitas. Maybe even the world." Weiss said before Mason nodded. "Mason?" Weiss questioned before she turned.
Mason reached the hallway where her room was according to Nomad. He turned to her, raising his eyebrows.
"Do you want me to set you down?" Mason questioned, his voice full of mirth and amusement. "I'll talk when we don't have an army watching us." Mason stated before Weiss turned.
She lightly opened the door as Mason walked inside before turning to a sofa. He walked to the snow-white piece of furniture, lightly setting Weiss down.
"Wow, he didn't drop someone this time." Nomad said to which Mason pushed the ghost away.
"What were you saying?" Mason asked, crossing his arms and humming as Weiss removed herself. "Uh, do you need a minute?" Mason questioned as he shook his head.
Weiss was about to say something before she looked down. She was still in her Atlesian Battle Armor. She had to turn to Mason who was busy waiting for her answer.
"Um… Yes." Weiss stated before Mason nodded and turned, walking out of the room. Weiss began to pull her boots off her feet, sighing to herself. "Give me a few minutes, please?" Weiss questioned before the door was locked.
Weiss sighed before she began the tedious work of shedding her dress and undoing her hair.
(With Mason)
"She had forgotten her sword." Nomad stated to which Mason waved his hands. "There's plenty of ways this will backfire on you, you know. There will be plenty of people asking why you're hanging around the princess." Nomad added to which Mason snorted.
He looked up at the low hanging lights. He couldn't understand who would want this type of lighting inside the house. Then again? He was quite poor when it came down to it.
"We're here on guard patrol when it came down to it." Mason stated while he leaned on the door. "You ok in there, your highness?" Mason questioned to himself as he turned towards the door.
"Yes." Weiss stated before there was a soft knock at the door. "You may enter." Weiss stated before she hummed.
Mason was silent as he did so, curious as he did so. He slowly turned toward the door as he clicked his fingers on the door.
"You sure?" Mason questioned, resting his hand on the door as he hummed. "You entirely sure?" Mason questioned as he shook his head.
There was a small squeak as the Hunter entered the room. He made sure not to push it entirely, not wanting her family to know that she was quite awake and alive. There was almost nothing that scared when it came down to it. Mason cleared his throat as he turned to speak.
"Are you ok?" Mason questioned as Weiss nodded, sitting on her bed, her feet crossed under her. "There's plenty of stuff I think we need to talk about it." Mason stated, slowly crossing the room as he did so.
Weiss nodded before Nomad appeared, popping out of his host's body. He shone a light before something popped out of the small machine. Weiss watched as Myrtenaster popped out of the creature, appearing next to the princess.
"Oh, I forgot that you had Myrtenaster." Weiss stated as Mason nodded, walking to the sofa. "How are you doing?" Weiss questioned before Mason shrugged before he sat down.
He was quite unsure of what happened next, he cracked his joints, his armor creaking as the hunter reclined.
"How are you doing is the better question." Mason stated as he shrugged. "You're the one who ended up fighting an entire army of soldiers. I do that for a living, you probably don't unless there's something that I'm missing big time." Mason added, pausing to rest on the sofa.
Weiss was silent, grabbing her weapon as she turned, walking it towards the case Klein had given her. Weiss let out a yawn as snow white hair framed her face. She was far too unsure of what to do next. There were so many variables in her life that making it this far? Wasn't what she expected.
She heard the sound of steam as she turned to see Mason pull his mask off his head.
Author notes
Phew. Another chapter done! I want to point out that next chapter will be 2-10 words and will end up showing Weiss talking and bonding such. Next chapter will be 900-6500 words and such. Until then, Lighting Wolf out!