Chapter 9: The Lesson
Remnant, Kingdom of Vale, Beacon Academy
POV: Weiss Schnee
Premise: "Revenge? No. That never solves stuff, but karma will get you and set everything right."
In an elegant twilit pavilion area of ivy-covered pillars, rounded archways, and lion-decorated fountains, Weiss Schnee and her elder sister Winter are sitting at a simple table with a plate full of croissants and strawberries. Weiss then said something out loud while Winter took a sip of her tea.
"You're...leaving!?" she shouted
"Yes. I was merely needed to oversee the transport of additional units to Vale." Winter explained as she set her cup down, "Our last shipment was lost to an ambush. I believe you and the Reds and Blues had a run-in with its cargo, actually. It's fortunate those Paladins were in the prototype stage; otherwise your team and friends may not have fared so well."
Weiss sighed and looked down dejectedly until Winter put her hand on hers, "Weiss, you've done... well, out here, on your own. You should be proud. Because of you, your friends. Father has paid for his crimes, Mother is sober, and the family is healing. I'll be honest, it was quite amusing seeing Father's face the day you left for Beacon!"
Weiss then straightened herself and smiled, "I can't wait to show him what I learned!"
"Oh? And what have you learned?" Winter asked
"What do you mean?" Weis questioned, "I've learned to work with a team. The Reds and Blues gave me and my friends insight on that and military doctrine. To top it off, I'm getting better and better with my glyphs! I've even started Time Dilation!"
"And what of your Summoning?" Winter asked intently
Weiss sighed, "You know I can't…"
"Don't be ridiculous." Winter said to her, "Every Schnee has the ability to summon. We have for generations."
"I've tried!" Weiss cried as she waved her hands, "It's just... it's the one thing I've been having trouble with!"
We Schnees are unique." Winter said to her, "Unlike many, our semblance is hereditary. But that doesn't mean it will come easily."
Winter then opened her palm, summoning a small, elaborate glyph over it, "Your Semblance is like a muscle. The more you practice with it, the stronger it will become. But if you only focus on one aspect of it…"
The glyph then expanded suddenly in a bright flash, causing Weiss to turn away before looking back up in awe at the white-and-blue Beowolf now at her sister's side.
"...If you fail to test the limits of what you think is possible, then you'll never truly grow."
Weiss smiled at the display of power she hoped to achieve.
POV Change: Caboose
The blue soldier stood in Beacon's medical wing, as he watched Kai rest. The yellow soldier was already awake, but was arguing with Ozpin and Glynda for some odd reason. Caboose was then joined by Ironwood and Qrow.
"I hate to do this to her…" he muttered, "But it's the only choice."
Qrow scowled, "Only choice? You're not giving her much of a choice. Removing the maiden powers-"
"-And giving them back to Amber is our best option." Ironwood cut him off, "Kai is weak, vulnerable. Until then it's the only option we have to keep the Fall Maiden safe."
"How will you do that?" Caboose asked innocently
"Captain Simmons' expertise in aura transfer has been greatly confidential." Ironwood answered as Glynda held up the exact same device that was used to cure Agent Washington of his Cerebral Hypoxia…
...the same device that gave Kai the Maiden powers…
"That doesn't belong to you." Qrow growled, "Where'd you get it?"
"I'm borrowing it for the time being." the general replied before sighing, "Look, I don't approve of this either. I'm just being-"
"Cautious." Qrow cut him off, "We know."
Ozpin and Glynda then left the room, now with Simmons' device holding the powers of the Fall Maiden. Ironwood then took this time to leave with them both, as Qrow and Caboose watched from where they stood.
"I don't like this." the blue soldier muttered in a childish voice
"Ditto." Qrow replied, "Something big is gonna happen. Can you feel it? The dread. The angst. Wherever your friends are right now? I hope they come back soon."
Caboose looked back at Kai, but in his view, all he saw was an injured Ruby.
POV Change: Weiss
Back in the pavilion, a caterpillar slowly inched around on the edge of a fountain as Weiss pointed her Myrtenaster at the ground, creating a rotating glyph made of blade symbols with Winter behind her, appraising the effort.
"Excellent form!" the elder Schnee praised her sister, "Now think of your fallen foes! The ones who forced you to push past where you were, and become who you are now…"
The glyph flickered in and out of existence as Weiss grimaced in concentration.
"...Think of them, and watch as they come to your side."
Weiss, doing her hardest to make the wobbling circle follow her will, eventually dismissed it and stomped the ground angrily, "I can't!"
Winter then slapped her sister on the head, "Stop doubting yourself!"
"I'm trying!" Weiss hissed
"If this is what you call trying, then you have no hope of winning the tournament, let alone succeeding as a Huntress!" Winter retorted until a smile formed on her face, an idea quickly formed in her mind, "Why don't you just move back home? I'm sure Father would give you a nice job as a receptionist!"
Weiss grimaced, "I don't need his charity!"
"But you do need his money, right?" Winter asked as she leaned
"What? No! The money is now the family's once again!" Weiss stated as she focused more, "I have a team! New friends! People who look out for me!"
Then a massive glyph appeared in front of Weiss that summoned a Geist. Both Schnee's looked surprised at what had happened, but Weiss' look of astonishment resulted in the glyph disappearing.
"I-I did it…" she muttered
"Yes…you did…" Winter added as she placed her hand on her sister's shoulder, "It was only for a short amount of time but…progress nonetheless. You've come a long way in a short amount of time. I'm glad you chose to study here at Beacon rather than at Atlas. The elite are not pleased with the state of the world. The Reds and Blues clearly have shook up society."
"That's what they do." Weiss snorted, "They're good at that."
Winter raised an eyebrow, "Is that so?"
"Yeah, I used to think that they were a bunch of idiots, causing trouble for everything and everyone. Honestly, they still are. But the more I spent time with them, I realized that they acknowledge it, and took their flaws to heart." Weiss said to her sister, "They have hearts."
Winter was surprised to hear her sister speak highly of these soldiers. She's heard reports of them prior to their sudden dumping of info regarding Torchwick and the White Fang. Now she recently saw them in person, and they seemed less than capable of anything other than insults and crappy jokes. But her sister saw the real said to them. She smiled before embracing Weiss.
"Its time for me to go…" she muttered
"It was really good seeing you again Winter." Weiss replied
"Until next time, sister."
POV Change: Starseeds
The Prowler exited slipspace overlooking a massive blackhole. Orbiting it was massive space station of some kind. The ship then landed and the Reds and Blues disembarked, and were greeted by a figure in white armor
"Ah, the shisnos have arrived." Atlus announced
"Atlus." Tucker said to him, "Is the prisoner ready?"
"Yes…" Atlus replied, "Labyrinth has her ready for interrogation."
"Good." Grif muttered, "We need answers from her…"