AN: So, I want to attempt a schedule so you guys, the readers, have something constant to read. Honestly, it's kinda difficult to do so but I want to give constant quality content to my readers. It makes me respect Coeur a lot more, given he juggles multiple stories at once AND uploads multiple times a week. For me, at least, I want to upload chapters once a week on Fridays or Saturdays. Now onto chapter 4!

DISCLAIMER

The following is a fan-based

FICTION

RWBY are all owned by Rooster Teeth LLC and by Monyreak 'Monty' Oum (R.I.P.)

Please support the official release.

.

Atlas is stupidly cold.

Now, in my previous life, I lived in the desert, specifically Las Vegas. I was well adapted to the dry heat that felt like hell during the summertime. Sometimes, it would get up to 120 degrees at the hottest time of the year. Now, I'm not saying that I live in the hottest place on Earth, just that I'm a desert animal used to the extremities of the desert.

It was definitely a shock by how cold the floating city can get.

It was the beginning of April, which means that the snow has started to melt. However, Mom would get on my ass if I didn't layer my clothes. As I inspected myself in the mirror to make sure everything was up to standard. With a white sleeved shirt and a charcoal sweater with jeans made me look like any average child. Pulling on my navy-blue puffer jacket with a silver Schnee snowflake logo on my left shoulder that Auntie gave me. As I tied on my sneakers as I waited for Auntie's limo to arrive, I made sure to grab my graphite beanie to cover my horse ears.

In the show, there is a large misconception that most people are racist assholes in Atlas. Unfortunately, however, the fact that there are still veterans of the Faunus Revolution on both sides remember the war, it is a given that the animosity would be passed down to younger generations. Thankfully, people like Cardin and his father are few and far between.

I snapped out of my musings as I was startled by a car beep on the front lawn. Making my way to the limo, I opened the door to the car and was greeted by the Schnee family, with Klein in the driver's seat.

"Ah, young master, it's good to see you again. I hope your morning has been well." Klein said, looking back towards me.

"Good to see you to Klein, and my morning has been good, but why do you insist on calling me by that embarrassing title?" I asked.

"Well, it's obviously because you're a part of the family Master Jien!" with what I can only assume is 'Happy' talking.

"I see, it's only fair if I call you Uncle since I respect you, would that be okay?" I questioned.

"Aw, you don't need to do that, but I'm okay with it!" Klein said with bashful pink eyes.

Turning my attention towards the white-haired family, I ask "So what are we doing today Auntie?"

"Since Winter is eleven years old now, she will be attending Prometheus Preparatory Academy in two weeks. I could have ordered her supplies online through the CCT, but I wanted to enjoy the nice spring weather we've been having by going shopping." Willow replied.

"I am rather enthusiastic about being able to attend Prometheus Academy, but I must ask, why do we require to bring Jien along? He does not need to come." Winter enquired with a frustrated look on her face.

"Winter! Don't be so rude to your nephew, apologize to him for your attitude!" Auntie demanded with the anger that I have never seen before from the kind woman.

"My apologies Jien. I don't know what overcame me. I hope that you can forgive me." Winter atoned for having been called out by her mother. Honestly, I don't know what to make of it.

However, I'm not one to hold grudges so I accept her explanation. "It's fine Winter, everyone gets upset every now and then."

"Such a mature young man! I'll be sure to tell your mother how you've been such a good boy!" Willow exclaimed, much to my embarrassment as heat crept up my neck.

"Auntie! You don't need to do that!" I nearly shouted with discomfort.

"I'm only teasing you. Now off we go to the mall!"

This is going to be a very long day.

.

The Mall of Atlas was a massive place.

Stretching twenty floors tall and 1,100,000 square feet, which is about 14 soccer fields of the given area designed with marble and steel. With over 500 shops ranging from clothing, food, and scrolls left us walking for hours. After what felt like the hundredth store, I'm pretty sure there were blisters on my feet. I don't want to be an inconvenience but I have to ask. "Auntie, I hate to bother you, but I'm getting kinda tired. And hungry."

"Ok Jien, just five more minutes and then we can go eat at the food court."

I made my way to go sit down near the exit of the clothing store we were in, 'Maritime' I think? It's weird since I'm pretty sure this is a parody of the clothing line Nautica. This is yet another reminder that this isn't my original world. I wonder if there are any other parallels in this world that mirror my own? As I was pondering this question, I didn't notice a certain snowflake sitting next to me.

"Jien, are you okay? You had a sad look on your face…" Weiss asked, visible concern in her eyes.

"Hm? Yeah, I'm good, nothing wrong, just… thinking, I guess."

"Yes? What are you thinking about?" with slight curiosity in her tone.

"Have you ever wondered if there is life out in space? I mean, we can't be the only ones in the universe. There has to be some sort of sentient life out there." I said with a hint of desperation in my voice.

"Hm, it is entirely possible that there might be life beyond the stars, but I don't think so, since if there was, we would know by now."

Wanting to steer the conversation away from the possibilities of extraterrestrial life, I decided to pitch a suggestion to Weiss. "Have you ever thought about what you wanted to do when you were older?" Curious with how she would respond.

"I… I want to be a huntress like Grandpa Nickolas, I want to uphold the family legacy so people can look and say "That's Weiss Schnee! She's a hero!" and I want to make my family proud."

In the show, it was never explicitly stated why Weiss wanted to be a huntress. To find this out from seven-year-old Weiss herself was a shock in itself. Honestly, it matches Jaune's aspirations quite a bit. Both of them want to uphold their respective family's legacy and become great on their own. I respect them for that.

"And what do you want to be Jien?" Weiss asked.

I was caught off guard by the question. What did I want to be? I want to save this world from Salem, but what the hell could I do? Greater men have tried… and failed at stopping her. Besides, if anyone could stop her, it would be Ruby Rose, the protagonist of this story. Not some background character that could be killed off at any given moment. Finally, I answered her question after a moment of thought. "I want to protect those closest to me with all my heart." It was a cheesy answer, but it was honest at least.

"Oh, I see…" Weiss started with a slight tint of red on her cheeks. Huh, she must be tired of walking.

Before I can think of more of what we can talk about, I heard Auntie's voice "Jien! Weiss! Let's go eat!"

With that, we head towards the food courts.

.

Atlesian food tastes pretty good.

From what I have observed over the past few years here on Remnant, it's that the cultures of Remnant are a fusion of our own. Atlas specifically is a fusion of Germany and the United States of America. Which means the cuisine is similar to my old home. We went to eat at a stand called "Gray's Diner" which had a 1950's American aesthetic to the place, complete with a red and white tiled floor. I ordered a cheeseburger with Dr. Piper - this world's version of Dr. Pepper, Weiss requested a pretzel and water, Winter asked for bratwurst, a type of sausage with a carton of milk called 'Udder Satisfaction' which is kinda funny, and Auntie bought hasenpfeffer, which is a kind of rabbit stew with Six Swans brand vodka. After finding a table near a window, we could sit down and eat.

We eat for a few minutes in silence, enjoying one another's company while we eat. It reminds me of times like this, back on Earth, where the four of us would eat together as a family. My little brother would get cold from drinking his soda to fast. Mom would lecture him and Dad would have to set him on his lap so that he would get warmer. Those were simpler times, easier times. I wonder if they're okay? Have they moved on? While I don't regret saving him, I do lament not being able to see them ever again. I stare into my Dr. Piper, these heavy thoughts weigh on my mind like lead. Lifting my cup, I down the sugary liquid down my throat which, ironically enough, tastes like Dr. Pepper.

"Now that we have all of Winter's supplies for school, is there anything that you want to look at while we're here?" Willow asked.

"I wish to look at the choir books at the music stores. If you don't mind mother." Weiss stated politely.

"I saw an interesting looking weapon at the gun store, I want to take a look at that, please." I enquired.

"Alright you two, be sure to get what you want, and I'll collect the both of you in an hour. Am I understood?

"Yes, Mother."

"Understood, Auntie."

.

I stood in front of a short front of the weapons store that read 'Atlas Firearms." Stepping inside, I was greeted by a massive wall lined with guns, of my world and mecha-shift. Placed on racks are shotguns, assault rifles, and snipers alike. In the glass, the display case which lays inside handguns, knives, and Dust assorted by size and shape. Making my way toward the back of the store labeled "Huntsman" I found weapons from gun-swords to a tuba that was also a cannon. I mean, how the hell is that practical? A tuba is around 30 to 35 pounds and running around fighting Grimm while blowing into the instrument will just leave you winded. I do despise ineffective weapons that have no substance. As cool as Crescent Rose is, it's a bit too flashy for my tastes.

With these thoughts in mind, I have to plan for the inevitability of losing my weapon while in battle. While I'm well versed in hand to hand combat, I'd rather not have to fight Grimm barehanded if I can help it. If I am disarmed, I want to have a sidearm when that happens. I was thinking along the lines of Ironwood's hand cannon 'Due Process' that's able to blow a Beowolf's head off. I think a Desert Eagle would do nicely as my fallback option.

As I was pondering on what handgun I should get, I was shaken out of my musing by an older voice.

"Aren't you a bit young to be browsing for weapons young man?"

In front of me is a man in his seventies if I had to guess. Wearing a green collared shirt with sleeves rolled up, a maroon apron, and grey slacks are one of the first characters we see on screen, the shopkeeper from 'Dust till Dawn'.

Snapping out of my stupor, "I want to be a Huntsman, so that's why I'm looking at weapons, also my Aunt is coming in thirty minutes."

"As long as someone is with you, I suppose it's fine to look around, let me know if you need anything."

"Thank you, sir."

"Anytime." With that, he walked away.

.

The White Fang is in Atlas.

I suppose it shouldn't surprise me. At this point in time, they are an activist group at the moment. They aren't terrorists, at least not yet.

That's how I figure it, with a group of Faunus wearing blue armbands with a white circle and in the center, with an ivory snarling wolf facing right. At the very least, it doesn't have three claw marks through the center of it, not yet. That doesn't mean I'm not cautious, knowing what the future holds.

Two of their fellows spot me, a man and a woman in their mid-twenties with dog ears, and approach me. They aren't wearing their infamous porcelain-white Grimm masks but I can't help but tense my muscles, sliding my left foot back and placing my left hand on the pommel of my sword, angling the sheathe horizontally for an easier draw.

The two Faunus froze. I was probably an odd sight, a seven-year-old with a sword.

The young woman approached carefully, which she wore with a nervous smile, due to the fact it looked like I was going to attack, slowly drew something from her jacket.

Stuttering "H-here kid, take this."

It was a flyer.

Not a bomb, not a gun, nor a knife. On the front was a flyer that was hastily printed from someone's printer, stating the injustice in the mines, and how the group was going to attempt to have the council pass a bill for clean water and better living conditions. It even showed a human boy and a girl Faunus, arms linked together smiling for the camera.

Damn it Jien! Now you look like a racist that hates his own race! What would Mom say if she saw you like this?

"Jien? Is that you?" a feminine voice said from behind me.

I turn around and see Auntie, looking at me with a worried expression on her face.

Trying to think of an excuse "Sorry Auntie, I got sidetracked."

"Come on then, Klein is waiting for us in the car."

Not wanting to argue, I grab onto her hand as she leads me outside alongside the Schnee sisters.

.

AN: Aaand finished! I honestly wasn't sure if I was going to get this chapter done in time. I had a slight writers-block tripping me up this time. Like I said in the top authors note, I want to try and stick to one chapter per week on Fridays and Saturdays, with longer chapters taking two weeks.

Be sure to read and review, criticism is welcome. Reviews are my inspiration and my very lifeblood as a writer. Every time my email goes off with a review, it brings a smile to my face and makes me want to write more, so please take the time to leave one. Guests can leave them as well, and it only takes a minute, so, please. Even a simple "I enjoyed it, please continue" does the trick.

See you guys in the next chapter!