Chain of Stars
Miyu floated up in the air, surrounded by magic circles. The crackle of clashing blades barely reached her ears. Her amber eyes barely managed to turn towards her brother's last stand. Her rapidly fading consciousness made it impossible to make out what was happening.
A tear ran down the left side of her face as the darkness of unconsciousness took her.
The wish of her brother to find her own piece of happiness filled her in those final seconds.
Miyu slowly opened her icy blue eyes. There was no emotion within them. No happiness, excitement, anger, sadness, or regret. The dream of her past life had become so come place that it no longer elicited anything from the girl.
She sat up in her bed and looked around.
Her room had a cold or possibly sterile feeling stemming from its dark blue and white color scheme. The few furnishings only amplified that atmosphere. The space may have been large enough to belong to royalty, but it only had a desk, a bedside table, and bookshelves.
Said shelves were filled to the brim with books from all over the world. The titles were organized by title, without a single one out of place.
Miyu reached out to her bedside table and grabbed her scroll to check the time. The quick glance told her she needed to get ready for breakfast. So, she quickly got up and went to her large walk-in closet to change out of her night clothing.
After doing so, she left the room and made her way toward her family's dining room.
The air in their mansion was as cold as always, but it never bothered her. She had always lived in cold frozen places, whether Fuyuki or Atlas, so the environment was typical for her. It was what she was accustomed to.
She was just as used to the deafening silence of her home.
Miyu eventually reached the door to the dining room. It was hard to open the door with her younger body, but she still managed to open it.
On the other side of the door was a high-class dining room with an extra long dining room table running vertically from Miyu's perspective. There was another set of doors on the other side of it. A single person was sitting towards the center of the table.
"You've arrived, sister," Winter coldly acknowledged her youngest sister. The thirteen-year-old was wearing a white overcoat with blue highlights. Her white hair cascaded freely down her shoulders.
"Yes, good morning," Miyu greeted with a slight bow. The girl walked forward and sat across from Winter. Each one of her footsteps was audible as she did so. The sound echoing off the walls.
"Morning to you as well," the older sister robotically responded. Her blue eyes never left her sister's as she spoke. It was always proper to look someone in the eyes when conversing. Especially, someone you respect or care about. "You don't have a book with you?"
"I already finished the ones you gave me yesterday," Miyu informed Winter.
Winter almost always gave Miyu books daily. They were on a variety of subjects ranging from scientific studies to the history of Remnant. No other child would be interested in reading such high-level texts, but most other children didn't spend their lives locked away. Their only window into the outside world being the stories of others.
The sound of a door opening interrupted the siblings before Winter could respond. Both of their blue eyes turned to see who was coming now.
A young girl no older than eight-years-old entered the room. She wore a white dress with red highlights, and her snow-white hair was tied up in a bun. "Winter… Miyu."
"Weiss," Winter said as her younger sister moved to sit next to her. "Anyway, Miyu, did you learn anything from the books on dust?"
"Yes! The scientific mechanics and applications of Dust were interesting, especially in advanced research and development fields. I do wish they went into more detail on the mechanisms behind Atlas's anti-gravity generators. The amount of Gravity Dust required to constantly keep a city in the air would be massive if my estimates are right…."
Miyu went off on a tangent about what she learned from the Dust books Winter gave her. She couldn't help but find the way this world developed with a resource not present in her old world fascinating.
Dust has replaced every other source of energy, such as electricity, solar, hydro, nuclear, or geothermal. In some ways, it was superior to all of those as its highly portable and environmentally safe. As long as they could mine Dust, they would never have to worry about an energy crisis.
"Miyu," Winter interpreted before her excited youngest sibling could really get going. "You shouldn't forget your manners."
"I'm sorry," Miyu said while looking down. She had gotten too excited by what she had learned.
"If you can't control yourself now, what hope do you have of doing so tonight?" Weiss added in. The older sister flicked her hair with her left hand at the same time.
Miyu turned toward her other sibling. Her eyes widened slightly.
She had forgotten what today was.
The girl had been born to the Schnee family in this life – the wealthiest and most politically powerful clan in Remnant. Her bloodline's influence comes from the Schnee Dust Company, a corporation that deals in the Dust trade. Weiss had even told her that it was impossible for people to buy Dust without their family's snowflake logo on it.
As a member of said family, Miyu was expected to represent it. Tonight would be her first time doing so at an SDC function hosting many of its top investors and the elite of Atlas.
"You forgot, didn't you?!" Weiss accused her sister.
Miyu looked toward the ground once again. Her stony expression tried to hide her answer.
"Unbelievable," the middle child rolled her eyes. "You better not embarrass us tonight."
"The same could be said for you," Winter said. "Tonight is extremely important – beyond the Schnee family – and I will not tolerate any embarrassments."
"I promise I wouldn't…" the young Schnee muttered with red cheeks.
The youngest Schnee tilted her head in confusion. Winter saying something was more important than the Schnee family's reputation was unthinkable. As the perfect heiress, she would never say that. The family always came first.
Miyu's desire for knowledge compelled her to question Winter. "What – "
Her question was interrupted by the sound of the doors opening, followed by a mouth-watering aroma. Entering the room was Klein Sieben, the Schnee family's butler. He was a slightly pudgy man dressed in a white collar shirt with a black vest over it. The older man also had a bright blue tie that was customary for people who worked at the Schnee manor.
Sieben was pushing a cart of food in front of him. The food smelt great and looked even better. All of it was Atlesian-style food made by the world-class chiefs in the Schnee family's employ. Her new homeland's food was characterized by being more meat-based, consisting of very few vegetables.
Miyu believed this came about due to Solitas – the continent Atlas belongs to – making it impossible for early settlers to grow plants due to its near Ice Cap Climate. The lack of fruits or vegetables left a gap in their diet that needed to be replaced – which they did through meat.
"Hello, young ladies," Sieben said. He pushed the cart forward and began placing it on the table. "You all look lovely today."
"Thank you, Klein," Weiss thanked him for the compliment. Miyu and Winter didn't say anything. The former still didn't feel comfortable with butlers or servants.
"So mother and father wouldn't be joining us today either," Winter coldly commented to Klein. Her eyes were narrowed as they bore into Klein's. The butler simply looked away from his charge, prompting the eldest Schnee to sigh. "Fine. Miyu, Weiss, we'll start getting ready for the SDC function after breakfast."
"I guess we can work together," Weiss said while taking a bite of her breakfast.
"Ok," Miyu agreed. She felt slightly nervous, but she didn't know if the butterflies came from a positive or negative place.
Winter stood in a large room with her two youngest siblings. The space was filled with several person-sized mirrors and racks full of expensive clothing. There were jewelry boxes full of expensive gems individually worth more than many who work in the Schnee family's mines could ever earn.
Their father made sure they had a variety of clothing and jewelry so they could dress for any situation.
It made Winter feel disgusted. Their father was using her and her siblings as dolls to dress up and show off. The goal of which was to increase his reputation and standing among the elite. The same elite he would probably stab in the back if it increased his profits by even one percent.
Meanwhile, their mother was trying to keep the family together and failing miserably. Where they used to eat together as a family, they've begun to eat apart. And on days like today, neither one of them ate with the siblings. Both were too focused on getting ready for the SDC function tonight to spare their children a few minutes.
Now, Winter had to take up the role of preparing her younger sisters for tonight. She could have left it to the servants, but that didn't sit right with the elder Schnee.
"Miyu. Weiss. We'll choose our clothing first, then jewelry, and finally do our makeup and hair," Winter ordered her younger sisters, to which both agreed.
Winter chose to focus on picking out her own outfit first and let her siblings do the same. The oldest Schnee sibling didn't want to force the other two to wear what she thought was best. Instead, she let them choose something and either agree with it or veto it if it wasn't good. That way, they gain experience choosing their clothing and have the ability to express themselves.
Winter spent a while walking beside a row of dresses specifically made to suit her body. They weren't made to suit who she is. She preferred something simpler and functional than elegant or extravagant. Yet, the dresses were the latter.
There was one dress that Winter took an interest in. It was slightly more plain than the others, and it had the white and royal blue color scheme was what she preferred. Of all the clothing, it was the only one Winter considered acceptable.
The eldest Schnee took the dress in her hands and went to check on her sisters, starting with Weiss. Said Schnee wasn't that far away. She was still slowly looking through the dresses.
Winter thought her sister looked nervous and unsure of what to wear.
"Weiss, I see you haven't chosen a dress yet," Winter coldly said while looking down at her sister. Her expression was emotionless.
"Sister! I was considering this one," Weiss studdered. She grabbed the nearest random dress. The dress was an elegant white dress with red highlights.
It may have been suitable for Weiss, but Winter knew her sister hadn't been considering it until she appeared. The clothing just happened to be the nearest one she could grab.
"Is that so?" Winter questioned. She wouldn't call out her sister's rash action nor support it. What happened next would be fully in Weiss's hands.
"Of course," Weiss said with a hand on her chest. "A Schnee never goes back on their decisions."
"Very well," Winter sighed. She wouldn't get in the way of her sister's choice. Even if she didn't like the way Weiss used their family name as justification. Clinging to it. "Let's go check on Miyu."
"There's no need, eldest sister," the youngest Schnee's voice came from behind Winter, prompting her to turn around.
Behind her was Miyu, who had surprisingly already changed into formal wear. Even more shocking was how much her chosen dress fit her.
Its main color was white like the other Schnee siblings, and it possessed their family's snowflake logo stitched into it. The dress's secondary color was black, which contrasted heavily with its opposite color. The Mistral-inspired design seemed to perfectly match Miyu.
Just like with Weiss, Winter didn't see any reason to object to Miyu's dress. If anything, she was impressed by her youngest sister's ability to find the perfect clothing.
Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Weiss biting her bottom lip. The second Schnee sister seemed frustrated by Miyu's choice of clothing – or, more accurately – how easy it was for Miyu to find the perfect dress.
"Acceptable," Winter told her youngest sister, who seemed happy to hear that. "Let's move on to jewelry."
Miyu accepted Winter's word with a nod. Weiss agreed as well, but she was still sending Miyu a frustrated glare.
Winter led her two younger sisters to where they kept the jewelry. Her view of said jewelry was the same as the one she held for the dresses, if not harsher. The eldest Schnee sibling would've gone without wearing any if she could, but her father wouldn't allow it.
Weiss never seemed to have the same internal feelings towards it as Winter, at least as far as she could tell. The second Schnee child liked the jewelry and wanted to represent their family as best as she could.
Miyu was far harder to read. She always seemed to have a muted or even blank expression, even by Schnee's standards. The only time that changed was when she was talking about something that interested her. From that, Winter could guess Miyu was either neutral or negative about jewelry.
The three siblings reached the part of the vast room where jewelry was held. Before Winter could say anything about how they would choose their accessories, Miyu asked her a question.
"Earlier, you said today was important beyond the Schnee family. Why?" Miyu directly questioned her oldest sister.
Winter sighed and turned toward her sister. A serious expression on her face. "General Ironwood – the headmaster of Atlas Academy – will be attending tonight. I want to ensure he sees me in a positive light."
"Why would you want to impress some random guy?" Weiss asked with a scrunched-up face that said she was utterly lost.
"Because, when I go to the academy, I want to be judged on my own merits and make my own path," Winter directly answered while putting her chosen dress on a nearby table. "And father wouldn't like that."
As a member of the Schnee family, all she has to do to live a luxurious life is follow in her father's footsteps. But that wasn't what she wanted. If she goes to Atlas Academy and becomes a huntress, she'll be able to make her own path and be more than a Schnee. She would be able to make a difference.
To do so, she needed someone who would be able to protect her from her father's influence. Otherwise, Jacques Schnee could use his influence to have her expelled from the Academy for disobeying him. For not doing exactly what he told her to do.
General Ironwood is supposed to be a strong leader who stands for what is right, and he has the power to ensure she can go to Atlas Academy. Winter only needed to make sure he had a reason to.
"But he has us train and hires private combat tutors. Why wouldn't he support you going to the Academy?" Weiss once again asked.
"There's a difference between going to the academy for show and going to becoming a huntress," Winter answered. "You'll understand someday."
Weiss looked up at Winter with big blue eyes filled with confusion, almost demanding a better answer.
Winter turned towards her other sister to see what she thought. Miyu seemed more surprised by Winter's wish to be a huntress than confused. The oldest Schnee could almost seem into her youngest sister's mind as she logically thought through want she had been told.
"You should live your life however you wish," Miyu finally said while looking down sadly. The most enigmatic of the Schnee siblings seemed to be thinking deeply about something Winter wasn't aware of. "The beautiful parts of life only last a short time and can be gone in a moment… you shouldn't waste it."
The eldest Schnee felt no small amount of joy at hearing support from one of her sisters, vindicating her. Still, Winter kept a cold exterior with a small smile. "That is true."
Life was short, and she wasn't going to live it chained down by her father.
Weiss Schnee walked beside her family towards the ballroom.
She had spent the entire day getting ready for the party along with her siblings and then went with them to meet their parents. Now, it was time for them to go to the function together.
Her father was dressed in a white tuxedo with a blue-collar shirt underneath. His tie was a bright white, and he had a bright red handkerchief. The Schnee Patriarch had his white hair combed back, and his matching mustache thoroughly combed.
Her mother was wearing an extravagant white dress with a fur coat over it. Her perfume gave her a sweet honey-like smell, and there was a large emerald necklace around her neck.
Winter was wearing a dress that was plainer than the rest of the Schnee family. As the oldest Schnee sibling, she should've been wearing something better than her or Miyu. And she should've had better accessories than the small blue diamond necklace she chose.
Weiss's eyes turned towards her younger sister, causing her to feel a wellspring of emotions.
The youngest Schnee was wearing a beautiful white and black dress that fit her perfectly. Miyu's white hair had an elegant hair clip made of the blackest gem Weiss had ever seen. And her makeup was done better than the other female family members. In other words, she was the perfect image of what a Schnee should be.
Weiss already had trouble comparing herself to Winter, who was so much better than her. Now, the same thing was happening with Miyu.
Miyu Schnee was always an unfair genius. It didn't matter what it was; she always excelled beyond what Weiss could achieve. She was a master painter. A perfect singer. An intellectual who could absorb whatever she read in an instant. Even when it comes to fashion, Miyu was capable of picking out the perfect outfit before Weiss even found the right dress.
Thinking about it made Weiss feel bitter and frustrated. Hopeless.
How would she ever be able to live up to the Schnee name when put alongside her sisters?
"Right on time," Weiss's father said while checking his wristwatch. The older man put his hands on Miyu's shoulders. "You will stay with me."
"What about us, Father?" Weiss asked her father as the servants opened the door to the ballroom.
"Do whatever you want, as long as you don't disgrace the Schnee name," he responded with a sideward glance at his second child.
Weiss nodded in response, feeling slightly down even if she didn't show it. She felt like she wasn't good enough for her father or her family name. Why else would her father basically tell her to go away?
Still, Weiss did as she was told and left her father's side as they entered the white ballroom.
Given the fact that it was a Schnee Dust Company function, her family drew a lot of eyes as they entered. But, most of them quickly either lost interest or focused on her father and, thereby, Miyu.
Weiss, Winter, and their mother were relatively forgotten in comparison once they left the other two.
The former watched the latter move to the back of the room, probably to look for that General Ironwood, where she was less likely to be bothered.
"I'm sorry about this morning," Weiss's mother said from beside her. "I meant to show up for breakfast, but I ended up in an argument with your father."
Weiss looked up toward her mother, feeling happy to have her attention. "It's ok, Mother. I'm sure you were discussing something very important with Father."
Her parents loudly discussing has been becoming more common recently, but Weiss believed it would stop any day now.
"Yes, it was," the Schnee matriarch said as she took a sip of alcohol out of a glass she'd gotten from one of the waiters. Her blue eyes looked out towards Weiss's father and little sister. "Your little sister seems quite popular."
Weiss looked at the pair. She could barely hear what was being said between her father and his compatriots.
"Yes, Miyu is a Mistrali name. I decided to give her one since we were expanding our operation in Mistral at the time of her birth. I had hoped giving one of my children a name from there would make our company more approachable in the eyes of the Mistrali," Weiss's father explained to the shareholders around him.
The middle Schnee sibling felt strangely disgusted at her father's words. She'd never felt that way towards anything he did before, but now… hearing that her sister was given a name just for business purposes… Was increasing profits really that important?
Weiss's looked at her younger sister. Miyu's expression seemed as hard to read as ever, but Weiss's sisterly instincts told her Miyu was feeling overwhelmed. The number of people around her and focusing on her was more than ever before.
"Well, it must've worked. Profits from Mistral have seen exponential growth in recent years," one of the shareholders jokingly commented. "Do you plan on having your daughter here take over the Mistral branch in a decade or two?"
"Possibly, but her's talents might be wasted there," he responded.
Weiss frowned. Her father never talked about her talents like that. He never praised her.
"Weiss," Willow Schnee called out to Weiss. The middle child looked toward her mother. "You shouldn't compare yourself with your sisters; you're not like them."
"What do you mean?" Weiss asked her.
"Unlike them, you are like me," her mother explained after taking another sip of alcohol. "So, don't worry, you can always rely on me."
Weiss's mother placed her hand on her shoulder.
The middle Schnee child looked around the room. She saw Winter talking to a large, well-built man far from her, and Miyu was close enough to hear.
Even though all the sisters were in the same room, Weiss felt so far away from them.
AN:
A random idea.
It is hard to write the characters, though, because the story is set before Winter went to the Academy, Jacques and Willow had their big fight, and Miyu met Illya. So, they all have to have personalities written around that. Hopefully, they're right, and sibling relations – that were the main focus of this intro chapter- are set up well.
Whitely is replaced by Miyu. And Willow's depiction is influenced by how she acted in the DC comic, where she was 'slightly' abusive too.
This fic will divert from canon pretty heavily in time. I was also influenced by Penny's song while writing this and the focus on stars (Like Miyu) and friends. Miyu and Penny seem like cool characters to bounce off each other and grow off of. So yeah, I was thinking of having Miyu pull a Ruby and go to huntress school earlier - just Atlas academy and have Winter decide to put her on the same team as Penny. It will make sense in time. (Plus more details on Miyu's backstory for those who don't know it in time - didn't want to info dump it in the first chapter.)
Sorry, the chapter is so short too, normally I want them to be at least 6-8k and no more than 15k. But the first chapter lent itself to being short.
Have a good day!