Cold. Oppressive. Suffocating. These were the words Weiss would use to describe her room in the Schnee manner, a sharp contrast to her room back at Beacon, and all she'd known since her father brought her back to Atlas after the Fall of Beacon, she still didn't know how her younger self had been able to stand it for so long. But now she'd had a taste of the freedom the outside world could give her and suddenly being dropped back into those old routines she had long since thought left behind, required a small... adjustment period
Weiss sighed, leaning back into her chair as she watched the SDC airships zip by one after the other, transporting various goods or high ranking individuals to and from the manner. On days like these, her mind tended to wander back to her life there, her real life, her life with Team RWBY, JNPR, Alex and Koan... It was still all so hard to believe he was really gone, in all the time she'd known him Alex had always seemed so... infallible, back then they all did really, the fall of Beacon put an end to that illusion, and however rude of an awakening it may have been, it was a necessary one.
Still... Weiss turned her attention back to the scroll resting in her lap, with the destruction of Beacon and subsequently, Vale's CCT tower, cross-communication as a whole throughout the kingdoms had been cut off, leaving the four kingdoms isolated from one another. Flicking through the various icons on her scroll to the image gallery pulling up, probably the only photo taken on her scroll since the day she'd bought it.
It was a picture of her, with her face scrunched up alongside Ruby, with Koan, Alex and Blake squeezed in alongside Yang in her bed behind them, all the while she was busy glaring at her partner for taking her scroll and dragging her into the scene. Weiss closed her eyes, a fond smile forming on her lips, she could still remember it like it was just yesterday.
~/~/~
Weiss eased back into the chair and opened her textbook to one of the marked pages. With their team no longer competing in the Vytal tournament she needed something to fill the large time gap they would usually be used for combat training, Blake and Alex had been spending more time together outside of them visiting Yang, Ruby had just about never left her sisters side, much like Koan. It wasnt a secret there were some unspoken feelings between the two of them, some of there friends had even started placing bets on when they might final confess to one another, ironic considering the situation between Jaune and Pyrrha, honestly how that dolt could be so dense was beyond her.
She, on the other hand, had taken it upon herself to get some extra studying in for the classes that would follow at the start of the next semester, something she'd introduce the others to once Yang was back on her feet, in the meantime a rest would be nice for all of them, especially after what the two sisters had been through.
"Weiss, hey Weiss." The heiress looked up from her textbook towards her partner.
"Yes, Ruby?" She asked as her partner practically skipped across the room towards her
"Can I borrow your scroll for a sec." Ruby asked
Weiss raised a slender eyebrow " You have your own don't you, is something wrong with it." After a moment of thought, a long sigh left the Schnee heiress "Please don't tell me you dropped it in the toilet, again."
"That happened one time OKAY!" Ruby cried out, earning a few snickers from the room's occupants her cheeks turning as red as her cloak from embarrassment "And no, I just need to see it for a minute." Ruby added, hitting Weiss with her signature puppy eyes, for added effect.
Weiss sighed "Fine" She replied fishing her scroll out of her pocket, she held the device out towards her leader "Just don't..-Wha!" Weiss was dragged up and out of her chair, Rubys arm wrapped around her shoulder pulling her over to the end of Yang's bed, the others sat by watching the display in clear amusement.
"Everyone say cheese" Ruby called out pressing her face beside Weiss, as she aimed the scroll back towards everyone.
Regaining her footing, Weiss turned to glare at her partner "Ruby!" One bright flash later and her partner released her, stepping back to examine the photo before holding her scroll back out towards her, the heiress took back her scroll casting an annoyed looked towards her leader "And what exactly was that all about?" Weiss asked narrowing her eyes in suspicion.
Ruby shrugged in response "I thought it'd be nice to get a picture of us all together, you know, to remember the moment."
Weiss rolled her eyes in response to her leader's antics, while she did find the sentiment rather sweet, it was rather odd, Ruby was acting like this would be the last time their friends saw each other again... no, none of them would let that happen, not after what they'd all just been through with Yang. Weiss sighed, her anger fading into nothingness "Alright" The Heiress stepped forward pulling the younger girl into a hug, surprising not only her but their friends as well "I'll keep the photo, so long as you stop acting like we're all going to disappear, ok."
It didn't take long for Ruby to recuperate the hug "...Ok"
"Awww" Yang cooed from her bed, clutching her hands together beneath her chin "What went and warmed your heart Ice queen." she added earning a small bput of laughter from Alex and Koan, with Blake attempting to muffle a small giggle into her fist.
Weiss pulled away from the younger girl, crossing her arms over her chest as she turned away both out of annoyance and in an attempt to hide the light dusting of pink on her cheeks "Oh, be quiet you." she grumbled back, although nothing could hide the small smile she now wore.
~/~/~
Weiss brushed her thumb across the image a look of longing in her eyes, she'd give anything to be back with them now rather than being stuck here. A sudden knock at the door pulled Weiss from her thoughts, the Heiress sat up in her chair adopting the same Primm and Ladylike look she was expected to wear, after taking a moment to smooth out her dress she answered "Come in"
Her bedroom door edged open, a balding man with brown hair, a large moustache and light brown eyes - for the moment at least- clad in the standard uniform set aside for the Schnee manners staff entered. Weiss smiled fondly at him, the portly man hesitated for a moment, glancing back towards her door before returning the gesture in kind.
Were it anyone else or had her father been present at the time, he never would have attempted such a display, the repercussions for him would be more than catastrophic, no, the gentle smile that brightened her days in the Manner and that proud look in his eye- a look she often wished her father had given her when she was young- was reserved for her alone.
He cleared his throat "Apologies for interruption Miss Schnee, but your Father wishes to speak to you." He said evenly
Weiss previous good mood left her, it seems it was time to don her mask once more "Thank you, Klien" Weiss said, Klien offered her a small smile before casting one final glance out of her bedroom window before rising from her chair. Falling in step behind her as she exited out into the hall, they paused out in the hallway Klien giving her a reassuring nod before leaving to resume his other duties around the manner.
Weiss took a moment to watch him go, before turning back down the opposite hall beginning her long trek towards her father's study, passing through the numerous sections of the manner, each room more extravagant than the last, "As befit a Schnee" her father would say, she spared a glance towards a marble statue of a King Taijutsu as she passed and found herself rolling her eyes 'More like gaudy and overwhelming.'
She'd trade everything around her in an instant if it meant waking back up in her dorm room tomorrow morning, alongside the team she now saw as Family.
"Good afternoon sister" Weiss almost jumped back in surprise as she was pulled from her thoughts. The youngest of the Schnee siblings Whitley filled her vision, young teen bowed politely to his elder sibling "A pleasure to see you out of your room for a change"
"Hello Whitley" Weiss greeted, eyeing her younger sibling curiously, something seemed about him seemed... off "You're in a cheery mood today."
"Klien made crepes for breakfast." Whitely answered in a chipper tone
Weiss gave her younger brother a strange look, Why was he acting so nice all of the sudden... of course." What do you want?" Weiss asked dryly
"I heard father shouting with someone in his study earlier." Whitley replied, ignoring his sisters' remark
"Mother?" Weiss asked
"No, she's already drinking in the garden, I think it was a man" Whitley replied glancing out one of the windows lining the hall, before adding "I just wanted to warn you, I heard he asked to speak to you." Some concern present in his tone.
Weiss glanced off to the side gripping her right arm with the left, a small tick, she'd picked up over the last few months "I'll be fine" She said, glancing away from her little brother.
"I know you will." Whitley said, pride filling his tone as he went on "Your strong, like Winter!"
Weiss found herself dumbfounded by her brother's words "You never liked Winter" She said
"True" Whitley admitted, he still held some resentment towards his eldest sister but that didn't mean he didn't admire her in some way "But you can't doubt her resolve."
"You..." Weiss hesitated, crossing her arms over her chest narrowing her eyes at her little brother in suspicion, they'd never been the closest of siblings, not like herself and Winter "Seem different." She decided on, perplexed by her brother's sudden change in personality.
"And you've been away." Whitley replied waving off her suspicion "I'll have you know I didn't stop growing while you were away at Beacon." His piece said the youngest of the Schnee siblings turned to leave "Anyway, Good luck with father" He remarked gesturing towards the door to their father's study, true to her brother's words, muffled voices could be heard from within.
Weiss sent a small smile towards her brothers retreating form. "Thank you" She said
/
It was still hard to believe they'd been on the road to Mistral for over half a year now, 'they' being the remaining members of Team JNPR Pyrrha, Ren and Nora and the sole member of Team RWBY Ruby Rose or as they were now called team RRVN, Team Raven.
Ruby wore a white high-neck décolletage blouse with brown studded wristbands on her arms and a black corset and skirt with red trimming, with thigh-high stockings reaching to a few inches below the hem of her skirt, decorated by an image of a long-stemmed rose disappearing into her red-soled combat boots, her silver rose emblem replacing the cross clips that once held her now tattered cloak in place.
Ren had grown his hair out down to his waist and wore a sleeveless tailcoat with black and silver trimming. Under it, he wears a black, sleeveless turtleneck with red, tasselled ropes over the hips, pants that get tighter below the knees and calf-high open-toed sandals. From his middle finger to his biceps run gradient pink-to-black detached sleeves ending in metal armbands.
Nora wore a white top with a diagonal cut running through the heart cut out over her cleavage, with a short detached white sleeve on her left arm and a long pink skirt with pleats that create some flair and two wide belt loops at the waist for her matching belt. On top of that, she wore a zippered navy blue bomber jacket with pink stripes along the sleeves and her emblem printed across its back alogn with a pair of knee-high pink socks just visible above her calf-length boots, which are white with pink laces and black mid-wedges, soles and tips.
Pyrrha wore a black blouse underneath her bronze breastplate, with the rolled-up sleeves stopping just above her elbows, a single brown opera length glove trailing up her right arm and disappearing into the sleeve, and a bronze fingerless gauntlet-Where Akouo MKII resided -lead up her left arm, connecting to her left pauldron. With a pair of skin-tight dark maroon pants trailing down her legs and disappeared behind her thigh-length grieves and into her knee-length heeled boots. Her signature emblem hung from the red sash braided around her belt.
It had been a long and if she was being honest a little boring of a journey- from all the stories she'd heard about the area outside the walls of the Kingdoms she'd expected there to be far more Grimm activity-, but it would be well worth it in the end once they managed to meet up with Ben and Rook in Mistral, then they'd finally be able to get some answers.
"Ok, the next town is ..." Ruby's eyes scanned over the map in front of her trying to distinguish the next village on their journey, from the various roads and other villages scattered across the continent of Anima. "Uhuh-uh-huh-huh." She couldn't tell heads or tails of what she was seeing, she was following the road the mayor had suggested they should take to Shion before they'd left the village, but then that split into two other paths and then that one, no, that one lead back off towards Vale... and now she'd lost her place... Ugh, why did maps have to be so difficult?
"Were lost." Ruby sighed in defeat
"Don't fret." A gloved hand reached over her shoulder, pointing at one of the villages shown on the map. Pyrrha smiled down at the young leader, taking the right side of the map in hand. "Were on track for Shion, it's just a little further up the road."
"Thanks" Ruby replied
"Isn't that the place Saphron mention," Nora spoke up scratching the side of her head in thought
"Yes." Pyrrha replied glancing back over her shoulder at the red-haired bomber with a sombre smile. "She and the rest of her family vacationed there frequently when they were younger." She recalled her conversation with the eldest Arc sister rather well, she just wished it had been under better circumstances. The Arc family had been in full attendance for the memorial in Vale, even Saphron, her wife Terra and their son Adrian had made the long trek from Argus to pay their respects to their brother and all those that were lost that day... but none of them had the heart to tell them the truth behind Jaune's fate.
"Cool." Ruby muttered, she and Pyrrha turning her attention back towards the map, it had been months since the fall fo Beacon but they were still hesitant to bring up their fallen friends.
"Uh, you guys." Nora spoke up, pulling Ruby and Pyrrha out of their states of melancholy and into the horrifying reality in front of them.
Shion... it... it was destroyed. Tendrils of black smoke rose from numerous burned-out houses, the bodies of its inhabitants lining the cobblestone path leading into the town and further in, where the remains of the airship they'd been hoping to take into Haven resided half-buried under the remains of the home it had collided with, its body blackened and warped by the flames
Their shock passed in an instant, discarding their map by the town gate the RVNN sprinted down the cobblestone path leading into the centre of town, Nora and ruby pausing by the few bodies sprawled out along their path, checking for any signs of life... and then moving on when they found none.
Pyrrha paused in the street, staring up at the burned-out remains of what used to be the town hall. "What could have done this?" She asked herself the green-clad ninja of RVNN dropped his backpack beside her before continuing on without a word.
"There could be survivors." Ruby pointed out glancing around the desolate streets
"Over here!" Ren called out to them from further down the path as he sprinted towards an armoured figure slumped against some rubble, the three girls shared a glance some relief in their eyes before moving to join him.
"A huntsmen" Ruby realised as the closed in on the armoured figure Ren knelt beside, the man hacked into his free hand the other clutching the wound in his stomach in an attempt to staunch the bleeding. Pyrrha knelt down beside her teammate and the wounded hunter "What happened here. Who did this?" she asked him
"Bandits" He wheezed "The whole tribe... Then with all the panic-" The man broke down into a small coughing fit, the pain in his abdomen growing with every breath he took.
"...Grimm" Ren finished, rising back to his feet the green-clad ninja took a few steps away surveying one of the collapsed buildings behind them in the event someone may have survived, meanwhile Ruby, Nora and Pyrrha huddled up "Alright, we can get him to the next village and try to find a doctor there." Ruby said, taking charge of the situation.
Pyrrha nodded along with her leader's words "Nora, you Ren and I should be able to carry him. Ruby, you should scout ahead further down the road, with your semblance you'll be able to cover ground faster than the rest of us."
"Right" Ruby nodded in agreement
"You guys." Nora interrupted after glancing back at the Huntsmen, he looked like he was fading, fast. " I don't think he'll make it that long."
"We have to try." Pyrrha argued, they couldn't just leave him there.
"Pyrrha's right" Ruby agreed "If we get going now his chances will be a whole lot better."
"Guys..." Ren spoke in a sorrowful tone, pulling them from their conversation and back towards the situation at hand, the huntsmen they had been speaking to only moments before lay motionless at there feet, having succumbed to his wounds. Silence washed over them like a flood, the three members of RRVN could do little more than stare in shock and sorrow at the poor soul.
"Should we... burry him?" Nora asked hesitantly.
"We should leave" Ren interjected before anyone else could voice their thoughts. "It's not safe here" Grabbing his pack off the ground Ren started making his way back up the cobblestone path leading back out onto the road.
"Ren!" Nora called out before chasing after her childhood friend. Pyrrha looked away from the huntsmen's lifeless body "I'm... I'm sorry" She whispered a tear slipping from her eye, her hands were shaking, she clenched them shut in an attempt to make it stop... he didn't deserve this, none of the people here did, so why, why did this have to happen.
"Pyrrha?" Ruby asked in concern reaching out to the red-haired girl, a low groan echoed through the empty village making Nora, Ruby and Ren freeze, their hands hovering over their weapons in response. All the while Pyrrha remained oblivious 'Maybe that's just how the world is now.' She thought to herself, unaware o the dull black aura surrounding her hands.
"What was that?" Ruby whispered to the others in alarm, a metallic screech followed and the crashed airship shifted, a familiar black aura surrounded it as it inched off the ground hovering into the air, suddenly the rubble around them shifted with more of the metallic debris surrounding them, pots, pans, pitchforks, hammers swords once wielded by the village's militia, were engulfed in a dark aura and began to hover off the ground.
'Cold, Cruel and Unforgiving, just like the monsters that occupy it.'
Pyrrha clenched her teeth, in that instant she found herself back on top of beacon tower, sprawled out on her back as she stared up at the visage of Cinder Fall and Psycho red, the Psycho rangers sword raised and ready to end her life, his twisted cackle echoing through her mind. The memory shifted to Beacons airdocks, she watched herself, desperately reaching out towards Jaune, as he disappeared into the dark Glyph beneath his feet.
Snuffing out one light after another
The debris hovering around them screeched as they were violently twisted and warped as the black aura intensified around them. "Pyrrha!" Ruby cried out in alarm, she grabbed the older girl by the shoulders and began shaking her, Pyrrhas eyes snapped open. The Debris floating in the air around them dropped back to the earth, the airship shaking the ground beneath their feet as it landed. Pyrrha's eyes snapped down to Ruby, the red-cloaked girl staring up at her with silver-eyes filled with fear and worry.
Pyrrha stepped back out of Rubys hold, staring down at her hands in shock, she'd lost control of her semblence, for the first time in... years, a decade even, she'd lost control. Her Semblence was an invaluable tool during her days as a championship fighter, allowing her to deflect or halt her opponent's attacks while also adding to the speed and impact of her own.
But that power, like most semblances, required an immense amount of concentration to be used both effectively and responsibly, her own even more so. The power to wrench the weapon from someone's hand or control their movement through a piece of armor came with a list of complications, and dangers. One wrong move, one slip up and she could easily injure or even cripple someone with ease, something she had learned the hard way... after breaking one of her instructors arm when she was fourteen.
It was just after she'd won her first tournament, the recent victory combined with all the praise and glory practically dumped on her by some of the higher class families in Mistral, had made her prideful, overconfident... arrogant about her combat abilities, at the time she'd truly believed she was The Invincible Girl. During their next bout, her instructor showed her just how wrong she was, he'd held nothing back overwhelming and pinning her in minutes, his victory was all but assured.
Then in her attempt to free herself, she'd lashed out with her semblence and took hold of one of his bracers in an attempt to free her sword arm, after that failed, fueled by her growing frustration and the humiliation he'd subjected her to, she crushed it... along with everything up to his elbow.
The accident was a wake-up call, not only was her power an asset to her career as a Huntress but a weapon that was just as dangerous as any Gun or Sword, she had to respect that power and the dangers it posed should she ever lose control again... as she had just now. "I'm... I'm okay." Pyrrha stuttered, sucking in a long, calming breath through her nose, the black aura surrounding her hands dissipated.
"You... Your sure" Ruby asked hesitantly, looking past Pyrrha towards Nora and Ren who both shared a worried look with their previous conversation forgotten, they seemed just as shocked by their teammate's outburst as she was.
"Yes." Pyrrha said her voice now much firmer "And Ren is correct" Pyrrha turned on her heels and began making her way back down the cobblestone path, purposely tilting her head down to adjust the strap of her backpack as she passed her teammates, quickening her pace she added. "We should move on while we can, we don't know what might be drawn in by such devastation."
"Uhh..." Ruby trailed off, sending one last questioning look Nora and Ren's way, the red-haired bomber met her gaze worry clear in her eyes. "R-right" She finally said after a long moment, the red-clad reaper jogging off after Pyrrha, leaving Nora and Ren in there wake. Nora reached out touching her childhood friends arm, the two sharing a knowing look... before turning their gaze towards a large hoofprint beside them
Distracted as the two redheads were, they'd missed it. And with Pyrrha's current state that was probably for the best right now... at least she wouldn't have to worry about the eldritch horror that was stalking the dark forest around them.
/
Weiss reached out towards the doorknob as her father's voice grew in volume" I'm not talking about the good of my company!" Her hand paused in front of the handle, stepping closer to the door Weiss pressed her ear to its surface listening in on the conversation within. " I am talking about the good of Atlas, our entire kingdom!"
Weiss winced, pitying the man on the other end of her father's tirade."That is a load of garbage and you know it" Weiss's eyes widened... General Ironwood?
Cracking the door open, Weiss peered through the opening and into her father's office, the general was sat in one of the sofas across from her father, the elder Schnee's face twisted in rage by the general's word's.
"I beg your pardon!" Jacques demanded
"Jacque..." Ironwood sighed in exasperation "Will you please just hear me out."
The Schnee patriarch slammed his glass down on the coffee table separating them, before leaning back into his chair, narrowing his eyes at the general as he spoke " You are a trusted and valuable ally to this family James" Jacques began, his tone ever respectful "But what you are suggesting is absurd" Jacques bellowed slamming his fist down on the arm of his chair.
"You are blowing it out of proportion" Ironwood tried to assure him
Jacques rose from his seat "The council will never agree to it!" Jacques argued outrage clear in his tone.
"You forget" Ironwood was quick to remind the Schnee patriarch. "I hold two seats on the council." As the two continued to argue Weiss opened the door further slipping inside without a sound, just as her father's, as well as Generals Ironwoods patience for one another, began to reach its limit.
"Your Dust embargo ahs already cost me millions, don't think I haven't forgotten!" Jacques bit back
"So, this IS about you" Ironwood pressed, earning a drawn-out sigh from Jacques
The door clicked shut behind Weiss making the heiress jump in alarm, she glanced back at the door before turning back to face the men in front of her, as Jacques and Ironwoods eyes landed on her, Weiss immediately adopted the same respectful posture she had been expected to show since she was just a girl. "Miss Schnee" Ironwood began, surprise clear in his tone... had his meeting with Jacques really ran over for so long.
"My apologies" He bowed "I should have been gone by now."
"I-its okay" Weiss replied hesitantly
Nodding in response the general turned his attention back towards Jacques "We'll continue this another time."
"Indeed" Jacques confirmed "Klein can show you out"
Ironwood scoffed "Don't worry, I know the way" Weiss stepped aside allowing General Ironwood to pass, grasping the door handle he turned back to offer one last goodbye to his host "Until Next time, Jacques." he said receiving a small nod from the Schnee Patriarch. Ironwoods gaze then shifted to Weiss " Please know, you'll always have a home at Atlas academy, Miss Schnee. We'll be back in session before you know it."
With that, the general pushed the door open into the hallway, leaving the two Schnees present in momentary silence. Weiss watched him go a forlorn look in her eyes, were it within her power to do so, she would have accepted the opportunity. If only to use it as a stepping stone in order to make her way back to Vale and the teammates her father had forced her to leave behind.
"Did you forget your manner while you were away?" Speak of the devil and he shall appear before you.
Weiss sighed, hiding her scowl behind her mask as she turned to face Jacques. "No Father, I'm sorry" She replied
Jacques paused on the steps leading to the elevated floor of his study "Can you believe there are still people in the world that blame Atlas for what happened to Beacon? To Vale?" Jacques moved to take his seat behind the large oak desk at the back of his study, his own self-portrait adorning the wall behind him.
"Well, they weren't there." Weiss replied as she began crossing the distance to her father's desk
If only thing could be that simple, everyone besides herself and a select few others who knew about the Psycho Rangers and Cinder, had no idea knew who was truly responsible for what happened that day, and as such had chosen the safest option at the time, levelling all the blame on the so-called 'incompetence' of Atlas and General Ironwood. "It's a wonder Ironwood wasn't stripped of his rank, I supposed the council trusts him." Jacques mused leaning back in his chair "For better or worst."
"I trust him" Weiss admitted, she'd seen enough to believe the General only had Atlas's best interests on his mind, and so far she hadn't been given a reason not too.
Jacques sighed in disappointment, couldn't she see the bigger picture " Thanks to him, Atlas is forbidden from exporting dust to the other kingdoms!"Jacques adopted a mocking tone " 'A Precautionary measure', as he puts it, until we're certain no one is going to declare war." Jacques shook his head in frustration, Ironwood may have been a 'friend' of the family, but his actions as of late were costing him more then that title may have been worth. "How anyone could find that to be sound logic is beyond me."
Weiss glanced off to the side in frustration, though it vanished just as quickly as it came. She supposed her father couldn't be blamed for not knowing the full story "Which is why " Jacques voice pulled Weiss from her thoughts and back to the conversation at hand "The Schnee Dust Company will be holding a charity concert in the weeks to come."
Weiss blinked in surprise, that actually sounded... great, better than great even. "We need to show the people of Remnant we are on there side" Jacques went on to say, clutching his hands over his heart, his voice taking on a softer tone. " That we are all Victims of the fall fo Beacon."
"That's... Wonderful news!" Weiss replied, for the first time in months she wore a genuine smile while in her father's presence.
"I know" Jacques replied somewhat smugly, he then gestured to his daughter " And I think it would make a lot of people happy if you performed at the event."
Weiss smile fell "... Excuse me?"
"Many forget that you were there" Jacques went on to say " My own daughter, a Schnee" Jacques emphasised by rapping his knuckles down on the desk " On the grounds, defending another kingdom! We need to remind them. And we need to show them that the Schnee family is as strong as ever." A moment of silence passed between the two as Weiss thought over what her father was asking of her.
In reality, she should have known her father would pull something like this. In the past, her singing career had been one of the ways her father had used her to spread their family's influence, through Concerts, Galas, Charity events, everything and anything that would let him flaunt her and her abilities to Atlas's elite... as well as the sons of many promising business partners.
She'd taken that away from him when she'd focus more of her attention on her Huntress training, and now with her back in the manner and her career as a Huntress, just about nonexistent, she'd be expected to slip back into that role without issue. "Are you asking me if I want to sing, or telling me?" Weiss inquired
"I think it would make a lot of people happy" Jacques pressed.
Weiss glanced off to the side, she'd admit to being all for the Charity Concert, although the thought of returning to that way of life, even for just one night, didn't sound very appealing. But knowing her father she either agreed to take part and sang for the guests or risked the concert as a whole, he could easily call it all off and- with how extravagant the guest list most likely was -blame it on him airing on the side of caution with White Fang activity on the rise.
Her father could be rather petty at times, she wouldn't put it past him to do such a thing. "I'll start practising." Weiss relented
Jacques smirked. "That's my girl." With nothing else to say, Weiss turned on her heels and moved towards the exit, she'd need to start right away if she wanted to be ready to perform in time for the concert. Closing the door behind her as she left, Weiss paused mid-step, a logn sigh leaving her. If it meant helping those in Vale affected by the fall of Beacon, then she supposed sacrifices would have to be made.
"Hot coffee, Miss Schnee" Klein spoke, pulling Weiss out of her melancholy. "I always find he keeps his study dreadfully cold." True to his word, he held a platter with a mug of steaming hot coffee out towards her.
Weiss smiled, after today she could certainly go for a cup of Klein's personal blend right about now. " Thank you, Klein." She said taking the mug from the plater, bringing it to her lips she took a deep breath, taking in the almost sinful aroma, before taking a sip.
"You know what I think." Klein said, bringing up the platter to hide his face in a comical manner, the platter dropped a few seconds later Kleins once dark brown eyes, having shifted to a deep red, his posture now far more assertive than before. "I think, its to balance out all his hot air." He said in a far gruffer and gravely voice.
Weiss sputtered into her coffee "Klein!" Weiss chastised, the Schnee heiress breaking down into a mix of coughs and giggles alongside her family butler.
"Achooo!" Klein sneezed, his eyes shifting to a light blue "Hah...heh, Apologies Madame" He apologies in earnest, before sneezing one more, his eyes shifting to a deep yellow a jovial smile forming across his lips "Ahh, there's my happy little snowflake."
"Thank, you Klein." Weiss rolled her eyes in mirth, grateful for the emotional boost "Well, I should be on my way, thank you for the coffee." Nodding to Klein as she stepped past him, she had some practising to do. Weiss glanced down at her mug " If it's not to much trouble do you think you could keep these coming?" Weiss asked. "I think I might have a long night ahead of me."
Kelin chuckled in response his eyes returning to their usual dark brown. "It would be my pleasure, Miss Schnee." He replied, as he watched her go.
'What would I ever do without you.' Weis thought, taking a long sip from her mug as she went.
/
"Raugh!"
Rubys eyes snapped open, the red-clad reaper sucking in a sharp breath as she was jerked from her slumber. Sitting up Rubys hand shot towards Cresent rose, as her silver eyes scanning around their darkened campsite in search of... Nothing, nothing but the slumbering forms of her teammates and the smoking firepit from the night before.
Ruby sighed her hand settled on the grass beside her weapon, as she rubbed her tired eyes, a dream, or well a nightmare, she'd been having a lot of those, she could have sworn she' heard a fig-
"Hah, Hraugh!" A voice cried out from the darkened forest around them.
Ruby's head jerked in the direction of the voice, that sounded like... Ruby's head snapped back towards her teammate's bedrolls, Nora and Rens were occupied, but the third was empty "Pyrrha" She whispered in alarm, throwing her cover aside Ruby snatched Crescent Rose and darted off into the forest in the direction of her teammates voice leaving a trail of rose petals in her wake.
"Pyrrha!" Ruby called out into the darkness "Pyrrha!" she tried once more
"Hugh, Ha RaH!" There it was again, to her left just beyond the treeline, she was so close 'Hold on Pyrrha I'm right... Here.' Ruby paused at the edge of the treeline, her adrenaline rush fading along with her grip on Cresent rose, as she looked out over the clearing. Pyrrha knelt in the centre of the clearing, sweat pouring down her exposed skin as she panted for breath. Milo MKII was clutched tightly in hand while Akouo was embedded in the centre of a tree some yards away.
The ground around her was torn up, alongside most of the surrounding foliage, that going by the large chunks blown out of there trunks, and severed branches appeared to had lost a fight with an out of control weed wacker. But there was no Grimm, no bandits none of the threats they'd been warned to look out for in the towns they'd passed through on her journey.
"Come on~" Pyrrha wheezed, forcing herself up onto one knee. "Get. up." She ordered herself, she couldn't stop now, no matter how much her muscles burned, no matter how much her bones ached, she had to keep going. If she was going to have any chance of holding her own against Cinder, she had to get strong as possible by the time they made it to Mistral.
Pyrrha winced, rolling her ankle in response to the sudden stab of pain in her achilles, it had been seven months since her injury, seven months since she'd been cleared by the doctors, and ever since then, the phantoms pains stood as a constant reminder of her failure, and all that it cost. "Alex... Jaune." Pyrrha whispered to herself, touching the edge of her left pauldron a pair of crescent arcs ran horizontally across the plate, the outline of a longsword passing through the centre, a reminder and tribute to those they had lost.
"I won't let your sacrifices have been in vain." Pyrrha whispered, her words echoing across through the night and to her hidden audience. "I'll stop them, so long as I live I won't rest until the once responsible for all this death and destruction... all the pain and misery they've brought down upon our world, are brought to justice for their crimes, I swear it." Pyrrha growled tears trailing down her cheeks.
"No..." Pyrrha froze as a hand settled on her shoulder. Her head snapped towards its owner, Silver eyes stared back into her own.
Pyrrha stared at her friend's hand, after a moment of silence she took it and pulled herself back to her feet. "How... How long were you..." Pyrrha trailed off gripping her right arm with her left.
"Long enough." Ruby replied in a soft voice, taking a step toward-
Pyrrha stepped back from the shorter girl turning her body away and began playing with a stray strand of her hair. " We should... We should probably start heading back to camp now."Pyrrha spoke her voice rising from a horse whisper back to its usual chipper tone, far too quickly for Ruby's liking. Pyrrha turned on her, her smile was forced that much was obvious, as were the tears she'd attempted to scrub away at the edges of her eyes "We'll need to be up bright and early if we want to set out on time." The red-haired spartan marched back towards the treeline, content with just crawling back in her sleeping bag and forgetting any of this had happened
"Pyrrha." Ruby reached out and grabbed the older girl by the arm as she passed, it seems her friend had other ideas.
"Look...I know you're still hurting after everything that's happened" Had she really been that obvious, she was sure she'd been able to keep her emotions under control for most of there journey, that incident back in Shion was her first slip up since they'd started out, although that was probably more than enough to say something was wrong.
"But I need you to know you're not alone in all of this." Ruby pressed, taking a step forward she reached out to touch Pyrrha's arm. " Were here for you Pyrrha, all of us, you don't have to keep treating everything like it's your burden, your responsibility to see this through."
Pyrrha stood there in silence allowing Ruby's words to sink in, and in the end, she couldn't help but find the result all the more ironic. It was just like what Alex said to her back in Beacon when she'd told him about Ozpins offer. Even after all this time, it seemed she hadn't changed as much as she hoped.
Here she was, doing the exact same thing again wasn't she, throwing herself to the wolves, without any consideration for herself or the well being of her friends, all because she thought she was the only one out there who could do it. She laughed bitterly " You know, sometimes you sound just like Alex." Pyrrha replied whipping away one of her tears. "I'm... I'm sorry for worrying you, I just-" A pair of arms wrapped around her waist, their owner pulling her into a gentle embrace.
"It's ok." Ruby assured her, the smaller girl tightening her hold around the older girls waste ever so slightly" I miss them too." she whispered into Pyrrha's shoulder tears welling up at the edges of her silver eyes. After a moment of silence passed between the two, Pyrrha leaned into Ruby's embrace her arms snaking around the smaller girls back.
All the emotions she'd been holding up until that point, all the pain and anger she'd forced herself to endure alone washed over the red-haired girl like a flood. "Why did they do it?" Pyrrha whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Ruby sighed, she'd been asking herself that same question for a while now. So what if she had some magic silver eyes or whatever, Alex was a ranger, someone ten times as strong as her, with more years of experience under his belt, then any of them had combined. So why did he do it, what made him give his life up for hers?
"I don't know" Ruby admitted, as she pulled away from the older girl. She stared up into Pyrrha' tearful eyes before giving her arm one last comforting squeeze "But I do know, we won't let it mean nothing. We'll stop them." The red-clad reaper continued "But we'll do it together, as a team."
Pyrrha smiled down at her friend, whipping her eyes clean "Yes, as a team." She confirmed
/
Hell, that was probably the most accurate way Emerald could describe the landscape surrounding their new base... home? She didn't know what to call it
A barren wasteland dotted with almost impossibly large purple crystals, that sprouted from the ground and stretched up into the dark red sky above, the light from remnants shattered moon shone through them casting a deep purple light down on the landscape and the pools of eldrich black below where the creatures of Grimm were born.
Emerald walked two steps behind Cinder, Mercury to her right. They'd been summoned by... Her, for a meeting. Despite her loyalty to Cinder if she had the choice she'd would have liked nothing more then to keep her distance from that -Monster, Witch, Demon- woman. But due to Cinders injuries, she and Mercury were to act as her voice while she was recovering.
Something, 'she' had been seeing to personally over the last few months.
Her eyes flicked back towards Cinder, she now wore a long dark red dress with one long, wide sleeve hiding her left arm along with the majority injuries that marred her body after her battle atop Beacon tower, with a logn grey glove running up her right arm.
The edges of the collar and the opening for the right arm are gold-coloured, and the upper chest and left sleeve are decorated with golden designs. The right side of her dress is open from the hip down with two gold-coloured straps made up of interwoven ropes connecting the front half to the back half of her thigh. Her hair was cut short, with a black mask obscuring the left side of her face, the edge of one of her scars stretched out across the bridge of her nose.
She'd changed since the fall of Beacon, she was far more reserved, she'd even go as far to say Cinder had been traumatised. something the others, those bastards Tyrian and Watts most of all had taken notice of, the taunts and jabs at her were almost endless, at least when their master wasn't present, speaking of which.
The trio came to a halt in front of a set of large double doors, leading into her council chamber. Cinder closed her eyes taking a small calming breath, she could not afford to show weakness in her presence, not after the kindness her mistress had shown her in recent months. Stepping forward her nerves steeled, for the time being, Cinder reached out towards the ornate handles.
She recoiled as the door creaked open, sucking in a small breath she took a few short steps back making way for the one departing her mistress presence. Her amber orb met the soulless black void of Psycho reds helmet, Cinders lips quirked up ever so slightly at the sight of the Psycho ranger. Red paused outside the doorway, regarded the new arrival "She's waiting for you." He said holding the door open for them, sending a small nod to Cinder as she passed.
The Fall maiden returned the gesture in kind, while Emerald and Mercury shared a glance. Since their first meeting Cinder had always expressed some form of contempt for her fellow Pyromancer in one way or another, but ever since the night Bacon fell the two of them had suddenly become awfully... chummy with one another. Any further questions they had on the matter were swept aside as the double doors closed behind them and they were left alone with... 'Her'.
Across the room staring out one of the stain glass windows stood a woman, deathly pale skin lined with dark purple veins concealed by a lavish black robe, her emblem emblazoned across her shawl, her hair tied back into a bun with six offshoots, though she remained motionless her power pressed down on the souls of all those present.
Her name was Salem, Queen of the Grimm.
"You... wanted to see her, Ma'am." Emerald began hesitantly.
Salem turned to face them, her deep crimson eyes regarding them with interest. "Yes" She gestured to one of the chairs surrounding the obsidian table in the centre of the room, Emerald and Mercury moved with Cinder as she took her place at the table, Salem seemingly gliding across the room settled in the throne at its head. "It regards the individuals you and our newfound allies, encountered during your time at Beacon. Alex Fissure and those like him, these Power Rangers as Psycho red put it.
Though the name was... unorthodox, the description given to her by Psycho Red was somewhat concerning, he spoke of warriors gifted with strength and abilities beyond that of even the strongest of Remnants Huntsmen, with command over fantastical machines that even the top scientists of Atlas could only dream of creating, warriors that for aeons had stood as ever-watchful guardians pushing back all darkness that came into there path.
She would like to know if his tale held any merit."During the Fall of Beacon, you faced him in battle, from what you witnessed can we classify these Rangers as a threat to our operations" Salem inquired
Cinder leaned in and whispered her response into Emeralds ear, the young thief nodded diligently and relayed her answer to the Mother of Grimm " Yes." Emerald Began " After Pyrrha Nikos was seemingly killed, another girl showed up to fight her Ruby Rose, Psycho red was able to deal with her before she had the chance to fight." Salems hummed in response, Ruby Rose, quite possibly the last Silver eyed warrior walking the face of Remnant... something that may yet be rectified should Tyrian and Psycho Crimsons mission be successful.
At first, she had been... displeased, with the creature's tone when she'd ordered Tyrian to bring the Silver eyed girl to her, had any of her followers addressed her in such a manner in the past they would have been immediate 'reprimanded'. However, the creature had raised some valid points, as well as revealed a rather interesting ability he and his brethren possessed, tracking and eliminating one's enemies took time, however, if the crimson ones words held any merit, it would prove to be a boon following their operations in mistral.
Indulging the creatures demands would allow her to gage their new "allies" strength and the range of their abilities, as well as ascertain any weaknesses they might possess, should they attempt to turn on her in the future. "Continue" Salmed went on, turning her attention back to the conversation at hand. Cinder whispered more into emeralds Ear "Alex attacked and stopped him before he had the chance to kill her, after that the three of them fought, Alex did... Good, better than good, he was able to hold his own quite easily."
Now that... that was interesting, Ruby Rose's silver eyes may have bested her acolyte and won her, her life. But to hear this boy- still a novice, if Psycho red was to be believed -held his own against one of her chosen, one that possessed the power of the Fall Maiden no less, did not bode well. "Is there anything else?" She wanted no loose ends, if they were to combat these warriors, they could not afford to disregard even the smallest detail.
Cinder leaned in once more, whispering her response, something that made Emeralds eyes widen. "She said his abilities went beyond anything she'd seen regarding the use of aura or a semblence, Alex was able to shatter her aura in one concentrated attack"Emerald paused, leaning in towards her mistress as Cinder whispered further"And... And that if he hadn't been so distracted by protecting Ruby and fighting Psycho red off..." Emerald swallowed thickly "She doesn't think she would have survived a one on one confrontation."
Humiliating as it was, she would not deny the power the boy wielded at the time, nor would she deny her mistress the truth. If the other five were capable of matching his power and exceeded his skills... she didn't like the odds. Nor did her mistress, judging by the disgruntled expression she now wore, the mother of Grimm remaining silent as she mulled over Cinders words.
"One more thing, Ma'am." Emerald felt the need to add. "Psycho Red said he and Alex were from another world, should we be worried about more people from there showing up."
"Your concerns are valid" Salem agreed, the concept of other worlds was not unknown to her, the gods had created their world long ago and before departing branded it a failed experiment, it was not beyond the realm of possibility to believe that Remnant may not have been the last of the Brothers creations, and although she could not be certain the gods may have had a hand in the birth of the world Psycho Red and the boy hailed from, she knew what awaited those that may follow in their footsteps.
"But take comfort in knowing, that should others like him decide to set foot on Remnant, they shall meet the same demise as he did." Salem replied, a small grown drew the Mother of Grimm's attention to her apprentice, Cinder rested her head in her good hand, her skin had grown pale and her cheeks sunken, an unfortunate but unavoidable side effect of her...'Treatment', it seemed they'd have to end their meeting prematurely.
"Cinder." She addressed the Maiden "Return to your quarters and rest for the evening we shall continue your training at a later date, the three of you are dismissed."
Cinder bowed her head in acknowledgement to her Mistresses decree, without another word the Fall Maiden rose from her seat, Emerald and Mercury falling in step behind her as she departed, leaving the mother of Grimm alone once again.
Salem sighed, leaning back into her throne she cupped her chin in thought, with the information supplied by Psycho Red in mind it seemed that only five of these Power rangers remained and while minuscule in number compared to the Kingdoms Huntsmen population, they were still a notable threat. If left to their own devices there was a high chance they may re-emerge and interfere in their operations moving forward, something she couldn't allow.
Her eyes turned to the creature hoving in the shadows beside her. A floating gelatinous orb, with several tendrils that fell like red rope beneath its body, a jagged spine adorning the end of each, with a number of small armoured plates adorning its head. The creature hovered to her side, its head beginning to pulsed, a red smoke manifesting within.
"Arthur" Salem began "I have a task for you."
'To be continued'