Sorry this one is late, the Windows 10 update from hell messed my computer up, and I need to get a new one. This. Was written on mobile so please excuse any typos.
The windows rattled as the blizzard howled outside. Weiss kept her head down as she made her way through the mansion. Butlers and maids bustled past her, some pausing to look at her as she passed them. She rubbed her wrists, trying to keep from looking at them.
She climbed down the stairs, passing the Arma Gigas statues. She glanced over at the King Taijitu statue as she went through the next room. Why did her father need so many statues of Grimm in the house?
She kept walking, hearing the house creak as the wind and snow gusted. She swallowed, her stomach in knots as she entered the long hallway. She grabbed her wrist, anxiety eating at her stomach; this was never a good place to be.
"Good morning, Weiss." Weiss stopped, and looked back, cocking her head to the side in confusion.
Her younger twin sister stood behind her; her hair had been cropped short and she was wearing pants and a vest. Her voice seemed deeper than it had been when she had left, and her chest seemed….flatter?
"Whitley? Is that you?" Weiss asked. Whitley nodded, smiling.
"Indeed, dear sister." Weiss turned around, facing her, her arms crossed.
"You seem….different." Whitley cocked her head to the side.
"Oh? In what way?" Weiss squinted a little as she looked her sister over. Why would her voice be….oh. Oh.
"Is your name still Whitley?" Weiss asked. Whitley's smile grew.
"I see you haven't become any less observant while you were away, sister." Whitley started to pace. "I may not care for the body I was born in, but I do believe this name suit's me well enough." Her brother stopped pacing, and looked over at her. "Given the way you asked that, I assume this isn't an issue with you?" Weiss shook her head. "Excellent."
"Did you need something, Whitley?" Weiss asked. Whitley shook his head.
"Not really. I just haven't seen you at all since you got back two months ago. I know not to disturb you while you're in your room, and when you're not in there you're out at that Dust temple." Whitley rubbed his chin. "I don't remember you being this religious before, Weiss. Why the sudden change?" Weiss looked away, a hand going to her wrist.
"I just… it makes me feel a bit better." Whitley shrugged.
"I suppose it's to be expected given the trauma you endured while over in Vale." She let go of her wrist when she saw Whitley's eyes flicker over to them. He cocked an eyebrow as he looked up at her face. "Did you enjoy the crêpes Klein made? Blueberry has always been your favorite, hasn't it?"
"I… I didn't eat them. I wasn't hungry." She fidgeted as Whitley stared at her for a moment.
"I see," he finally said. He glanced past her, at the door further down the hallway. "I thought I should warn you, I heard Father yelling at someone earlier."
"Him and Mother are already at it?" she asked. Whitley shook his head.
"No, I saw her in the gardens." He chuckled. "She practically lives out there now; she had a small building built. Has heating and everything." He glanced back over at the door. "It sounded like a man this time." He motioned with his hand as he spoke. "He sounded rather upset," he said. Weiss' gaze fell; she could already feel the sting of his hand against her face.
"I'll be fine," Weiss said.
"I know you will be," Whitley said. Weiss looked up at him. He smiled reassuringly. "You're stronger then you think, Weiss." Whitley turned, and began to leave. "Anyway, I have studies to attend to. Good luck with Father." Whitley said. Weiss smiled as she watched him leave.
"Thank you." She said.
Snow fell onto her head as she stood up from the grave. Ruby wrapped her cloak around herself, her breath a mist in the air.
"Ruby," several voice behind her said. She turned from the grave slowly, the cold seeping into her. She smiled; Penny, Jaune, and her mother stood in front of her, smiling at her. She threw her arms out, running toward them, awaiting their sweet embrace. They held their arms open, smiling at her.
Ruby screamed as the ground gave way beneath her, snow and stone falling around her as she flailed in the air. She heard Jaune and Penny's voice as she fell in the darkness, their screams echoing all around her. She hit the ground, groaning in pain. She got up, rubbing her stomach, her head spinning from the fall. She inhaled sharply; Beacon lay in front of her, the campus in flames, Grimm soaring through the skies, Jaune and Penny's screams filling the air.
She looked around, breathing heavy, her knees weak. Yang stood across from her, her right arm missing, a bloody stub all that remained. Yang pointed a finger at Ruby, pus drooling from her mouth as she spoke.
"You left me," Yang's voice was joined by several other voices. Blake materialized next to Yang, pointing at her.
"You never looked for me," Blake accused. Jaune appeared next to Blake, his body a burnt corpse.
"You weren't fast enough." Penny appeared next to him, holding her severed head, blood gushing from her missing leg and the hole in her stomach.
"I thought you loved me? Why didn't you save me?" Ruby felt tears drip down, her voice gone as she tried to cry out. Weiss appeared next to Penny, a noose around her neck, her arms bloody, every inch of her flesh covered in gaping slashes.
"This is all your fault," Weiss said. They all pointed at her, chanting, their voices growing louder and louder. Ruby fell to her knees, clasping her hands over her ears, squeezing her eyes shut.
She looked up, her friends all fusing together in front of her, her mother materializing from them. Summer blinked at her, her silver eyes shining bright in the darkness. Summer frowned, and sneered at her.
"I never wanted you," her mother said.
Ruby's eyes snapped open. She sat up, clutching her head. The fire was crackling, the sun beginning to break the horizon. She lowered her hand as she saw Ren staring at her, their uncooked breakfast in his hands.
"Nightmares?" Ruby shook her head, forcing a smile as she climbed off her bedroll.
"Nope, I'm doing A-okay!" She forced a laugh as she rolled her bedroll up. Ren sighed, and looked away from her, going back to cooking their breakfast.
Pyrrha trailed behind Ruby and Ren as they looked over the map. Nora walked alongside her, humming a tune.
"You're sure we aren't lost?" Ruby asked. Ren shook his head, pointing at a point on the map.
"I'm positive. My parents grew up in Shion, they talked about it often back home." Ren said. Ruby looked up at Ren.
"Really?" Ruby asked. Ren nodded.
Pyrrha slowed to a halt, Nora stopping and looking back at her. Pyrrha sniffed, a faint smokey smell on the wind.
"Do you smell that?" Pyrrha asked. Nora cocked an eyebrow before sniffing. Her eyes shot open, and she started to run, darting past Ren and Ruby as they poured over the map.
Pyrrha ran after her, hearing Ren and Ruby start running, calling after them in confusion.
The smell of smoke grew stronger and stronger, the skies growing grayer and grayer as they ran. Nora slowed down as snow began to fall around them. Pyrrha stopped, holding her hand out, gray snow drifting onto her hand. She frowned, snow covering her hair and cheeks. She lookked over at Nora, hearing Ren and Ruby as they caught up. Nora looked further down the road. Large stone walls were at the end of the road, thick smoke billowing from behind the walls, the gray snow drifting on the winds.
"Ren... is that..." Ruby asked.
"Yes." Ruby ran past them, shouting over shoulder as she went to the villages entrance.
"Look for survivors!" They ran after her, Pyrrha gagging as the smell of death and burning flesh wafted over her.
Ruby slid to a halt at the village entrance, her hand going to her holstered scythe. Pyrrha inhaled sharply at the sight before them.
The buildings were collapsed and smoldering, mutilated corpses littering the streets, blood staining the gravel roads. Young Nevermores were picking at the stray corpses, cawing at each other. A mass pile of naked corpses was in the center of the village, burning, smoke billowing and the smell nauseating.
"Split up," Ruby said. Pyrrha nodded, and ran toward a building. It was completely destroyed and flames sputtered inside. Pyrrha grimaced, and went to the next building. The roof had caved in but seemed okay otherwise
She kicked the door in, drawing her spear as she went through the ruined door. She heard coughing from the nearby room, and tightened the grip on her spear as she entered.
A Huntsman was pinned to the floor, a part of the cieling crushing him. Blood dribbled down his chin, his breathing labored, a piece of wood impaling his stomach.
Pyrrha rushed to his side, setting her spear aside and grabbing a hold of the part of the cieling, groaning as she started to lift.
"Don't...waste your strength. I'm not... gonna make it." The Huntsman said. Pyrrha looked wt his wounds, and then at him before nodding, lowering the cieling back down. She crouched next to the Huntsman, resting a hand on his shoulder.
"What happened?" She asked. The Huntsmen coughed, blood spurting out. He wiped at his lip, blood drooling down.
"Raiders... a whole tribe of em, led by some woman in a Grimm mask and a red sword." He started to cough, his body shuddering violently. He gasped for air, the blood dripping onto his armor. "After they were done, the Grimm showed up." He pointed at her spear, straining to breath. "I got trapped here when one of those bastards blew the cieling up...I can't feel anything below my chest." Pyrrha's gaze fell as she grabbed her spear, resting the tip over his heart. The Huntsmen nodded. "Do it quick," he said.
She closed her eyes, and thrusted forward. She heard him gasp, feeling his body quiver on her spear. She yanked her spear out, collapsing it. She opened her eyes, sighing as his eyes glazed over. She put her her hand over his eyes, closing them.
Pyrrha stood up, holstering her spear as she left. She searched the nearby buildings, finding nothing but death. She went back to the pile of burning corpses, her teammates showing up a moment later.
"Find anyone?" Ruby asked. Pyrrha shook her head. Ruby looked over at Ren and Nora. Ren had a pink glow around him, his hand trembling, his eyes on the Grimm tracks in the grass. Nora shook her head, looking over at the corpse pile.
"Should... should we bury them? We can't leave them for the Grimm, can we?" Nora asked. Ren shook his head, the pink glow around him growing brighter. He walked past them, his trembling hand going to his chest, clutching his shirt.
"We need to leave. This place isn't safe," he said.
"Ren..." Nora glanced over at the corpses before going after Ren, wrapping an arm around him as they walked. Pyrrha stared at the corpse pile, hearing Ruby leave, following after Ren and Nora.
Pyrrha clenched her hand into a fist, her lip twitching into a snarl, the ashes falling all around her as she watched the flames consume a young blonde boy.
fuck this world
Weiss hesitated, her father's voice loud even through the door.
"-I'm not talking about the good of my company, I'm talking about the good of all of Atlas!" Her father yelled. Weiss swallowed, and opened the door, quietly slipping into the room.
General Ironwood sat across from her father. Ironwood scowled.
"That's a load of shit and you know it," he said. Her father's eyebrows shot up, his lip twitching into a snarl.
"I beg you're pardon?!"
"After the failure of the machines your company made, and Mistral and Vacuo breathing down my neck, I cannot afford to use the AK-200. Starting next month, the SDC will no longer be the sole funder of the Atlesian military."
"The people of Atlas will never fund the military. You think they will let the Council tax them like that?" Ironwood chuckled darkly.
"As Headmaster of Atlas Academy, and the General of the Atlesian military, the Council has given me emergency powers; no one else can handle the threat from Mistral and Vacuo. If the rich want to complain, my mailbox will be open." Ironwood rose from his seat, her father clutching his chair as Ironwood glared at him. "I would advise you to learn your place, Jacques. You don't want another embargo on Dust exports, do you?" Her father narrowed her eyes, and opened his mouth to respond-
Weiss gasped lightly as she heard the door click shut behind her. Ironwood and her father looked over at her. Her skin crawled, her scars burning as her father's eyes bore into her. Ironwood adjusted his uniform, nodding at her.
"Ms. Schnee. I didn't hear you come in. My apologies, I'll be leaving." Ironwood went to the door, and Weiss stepped out of the way as he opened the door. He smiled at her as he stood in the doorway. "You are more than welcome in my school, Weiss. Spring semester is coming up if you would like to enroll." Weisss bit her lip, and looked away. Ironwood looked back at her father. "Until next time."
Weiss kept her back to her father as she watched the door close, her heart thumping against her chest, anxiety eating her innards as the door shut.
"Did you forget your manners while you were gone? You couldn't even have the decency to come here dressed?" Weiss swallowed, her pajama's feeling sticky against her skin. Weiss took a breath, and turned to face her father. Her father was walking over to his desk, sitting down in the large leather seat.
"I'm sorry, Father. I was sleeping, and didn't want to keep you waiting," she said. Her father snorted.
"To think there are people out there who genuinely think what happened to Vale was Atlas' fault." Her father's nose wrinkled with disgust. "And instead of stripping him of his rank, the Council has made Ironwood the Honoris Consul for Dust knows how long." Weiss made her way to her father's desk as he sighed in annoyance. "The Council is full of fools if they want to trust him with running this kingdom." Weiss hesitated, biting her lip as she thought of what to say.
"Well... none of them were there." Her father looked over at her. She looked away. "T-the people who think it's our fault. And I'm sure the Council has a good reason to trust Ironwood like that." Her father snorted.
"Because of him, our company is forbidden from exporting Dust to the other Kingdoms. A 'precautionary measure' until he's sure war won't break out." Her father rested his head on his hand. "Maximus has been breathing down my neck to increase our revenue somehow due to it. Since he lost that son of his he's been nothing but a thorn in my side." Weiss cocked her head to the side.
"Cardin? He's dead?" Her father nodded, a bored look in his eyes.
"Yes. Killed while fighting during the Fall. Very heroic death I'm told." Her father adjusted himself in his seat. "The funeral is next month, and they asked that you attend." Weiss raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Me? Why?" She asked.
"The boy was quite fond of you. He told his family that he planned on marrying you, that you were the only bride fitting for someone like him. That that blonde friend of yours kept getting in the way of your love." He chuckled. "And to think Maximus was so adament on not scheduling a play date when you two were little. Thought those political marriages were a relic and wanted Cardin to find his own lover."
"I... I see." Weiss felt like she was going to throw up, her legs feeling weak. Did Cardin plan on... she shook her head, trying to clear her head of those horrible thoughts.
"After you're back from the funeral, I want your assistance with a project of mine." Weiss cocked her head to the side. "The Schnee Dust Company will be holding a charity concert several months from now, to help aid in the reconstruction of Vale City. To show the people of Remnant that we are on their side; that we have all suffered from the Fall of Beacon." Weiss felt a smile tug at her lips.
"That's wonderful." Her father smiled, a glint in his eye.
"I'm glad you feel that way. You will be the star of the concert, after all." Weiss blinked.
"What?" She asked.
"Many don't know that you were there, Weiss. My own flesh and blood, fighting to protect another Kingdom. I need you to show that the Schnee family is as strong as ever. And who better to show our generosity to Vale then you."
"Winter was there to-" Her father's glare grew icey, and he raised his hand. Weiss flinched, he smiled, and moved his hand, stroking his mustache.
"I would think it wise not to discuss her around me. You know I don't like punishing you more then I have to."
"Yes, Father. And... I'll begin practicing." Her father's smile grew, and he rested his hands on his desk, his fingers interlocked.
"That's my girl," he said. He pulled his scroll out, motioning for her to leave.
Weiss sighed in relief, her stomach unknotting itself as she closed the door behind her.
"Hot coco, Lady Schnee?" Weiss looked over to see Klein smiling at her, a tray with a steaming cup held out in front of him. She took tbe cup, the warmth seeping into her hands. "I always find Lord Jacques' office dreadfully chilly." Klein blinked, his eyes turning red. "Probably because his heart is so cold."
Weiss held back a laugh, nervously glancing back at her father's door.
"Klein!" Klein smirked before letting out a sneeze, his eyes turning blue.
"My apologies, Lady Schnee." He sneezed again. "You know how my temper gets sometimes." Klein said. Weiss giggled, wrapping her other hand around the warm mug.
"It's okay, Klein. You're not wrong." She said. He snorted, and she giggled again; he had the oddest laugh. Klein's eyes returned to their normal yellow.
"There she is; my precious snowflake. I knew I could get you to smile today." Weiss looked down at her mug, the steam wafting against her skin. She allowed herself to smile.
"Thank you, Klein," she said.
The arena was dark, a red light flickering above her. A lone woman stood across from her, her body a shadow, her eyes glowing orange.
Pyrrha charged at the woman with a scream, thrusting her spear forward. The Shadow Woman dodged it, laughter echoing around her as Pyrrha slashed at her, the Woman skirting around her every attack. Pyrrha snarled, and pounced, tackling the Shadow Woman to the ground. Pyrrha stabbed her spear down into her neck, cutting her head off. The shadows dissipated, a green and gray dress, and pale freckled skin appearing. Pyrrha dropped her spear, getting off of Penny's corpse, her breathing growing faster. No, no, no, this wasn't what she wanted.
Penny's head rolled to the arena edge, blood oozing from her mouth and eyes. Pyrrha backed away as Penny's head grew in size, her flesh rotting and shriveling up. Shadowy figures materialized around her, filling the arena seats and fight ring. They all pointed at her, smoke drifting off their bodies.
"Murderer"
"Killer"
"Failure"
Pyrrha backed away from them, her eyes darting around. She smiled, relief washing through her. Jaune stood in the crowd, emanating light. She ran through the crowd, shoving past the shadows, throwing her arms open, tears welling. Jaune opened his arms, smiling at her-
and turned to dust when they embraced. His ashes coated her, her body feeling heavy. She gasped, covering her ears as Penny's head shrieked, blood gushing from her mouth, flooding the arena. The shadows began to solidify; charred, blackened corpses.
Pyrrha ran for the arena exit, the corpses grabbing her, tugging at her, ripping at her armor. She looked back, the wall of blood fast approaching, Penny's wails growing louder. She looked back at the exit, gasping in surprise.
Ruby stood staring at her, hate in her silver eyes. She sneered, and left the arena, the exit disappearing with her. Blood slammed into her back, throwing her off her feet, rushing over her head. Jaune's ashs were a weight as she struggled to breach the surface. She let out a scream, blood filling her mouth and lungs as the corpses grabbed her legs, dragging her into the murky depths.
Pyrrha bolted upright, gasping for air, her body slick with sweat. She slowed her breathing, grabbing her water bottle and drinking from it, water dribbling down her chin. She dropped the bottle, wiping her lips, looking around the camp.
The fire had died, embers glowing faintly. Moonlight filtered through the leaves, fireflies dancing through the air. Ren stood next to a tree at the edge of their camp's clearing, his back to her. She narrowed her eyes at Ruby's empty bedroll.
"She left camp again," Ren said, not looking back. Pyrrha sighed, and stood up.
"I'll go find her," she said. Ren said nothing.
Dew coated the leaves on the trees, dripping onto her, the fireflies buzzing around her as she wandered through the forest. She stopped, closing her eyes to listen. Owls hooting, snakes slithering in the bushes. She opened her eyes at the faint sound of Ruby grunting. She followed the sound of Ruby's grunting, the moon lighting her path.
She reached the edge of a clearing and stopped, peaking out from behind a tree.
Ruby flipped through the air, grunting as she swung her scythe. Her scroll sat on a log. Pyrrha's eyes widened, her hand hoing to her mouth to silence a gasp. Penny. Ruby didn't seem to notice her. She swiped left, rewinding the video. She pressed play, backing away from the log, her eyes on her scroll as she swung her scythe.
"Is it recording?" Penny asked.
"Yes, Penny, its recording." Yang said. Penny smiled and waved.
"Hello, Ruby! This is my birthday gift to you! Happy birthday!" Penny stopped waving, resting her hands behind her back. "Yang told me that you like gifts like this more than material objects. I hope that this is satisfactory." Penny looked away, blushing. "I wanted to tell you, Ruby, that I love you. That I am so happy I got to meet you. You have taught me so much, I can not imagine what my life would be like without you. I know that I am rather odd, and that to other people it must be frustrating having to deal with me. But you were never like that. You have treated me like a real girl since the day we met." Penny looked back at the camera, resting a hand over her heart, and motioning with the other.
"Encase we get seperated, if I have to leave, and go back home. I want you to know that I love you with every part of my heart. Thank you for letting me be a part of your life, Ruby."
The video ended, and Ruby collapsed, Crescent Rose falling into the grass. Ruby trembled, sobs rocking her body. She rested her head on the grass, her sobbing muffled.
Pyrrha looked back at the video, of the girl she murdered. Pyrrha shook her head, closing her eyes and leaving, Ruby's sobbing growing quieter.
And that's it for now. Idk when I'll be updating again.
Oh and yes, I did change Salem's groups gender because I thought it'd make more sense given Salem's plans.
Due to pacing reasons, Weiss' original chapter amount will be increased to 3 instead of 2.