Author's Note:
Before we begin, I want to say thank you. I was dreading how you would all react to chapter XVIII, and you beautiful people blew me away. I was expecting to lose my regulars, as well as many people who never reviewed before to throw the book at me. But instead I had my regulars as well as some new people, praising the chapter and my explanation afterwards.
I really don't have the words to express the relief and gratefulness I felt reading your reviews, so all I can say is thank you. We sadly live in a world where criticism is conflated into the most vile of malice, thus we can't talk with each other. I've had my fair share of arguments on Reddit about RWBY, and I knew from the beginning I would stir up the hornet's nest with DDCT. That being said, the worst is now over, and we can go back to focusing on telling a story. Since the subject matter overshadowed the scene between Weiss and the rest of her team (my fault entirely), I hope people won't be lost with what happens in this one.
And with that, let us begin.
Chapter XIX: I Vow to Thee
Another day, just as beautiful as the one before, indicating that it would surely be a lively but wonderful one. Unfortunately, there were two hiccups that got in the way of such a day occurring. Blake and Weiss sat at the breakfast table with the others, barely touching their food. Ruby and Yang obviously expected for them to behave this way, and did their best to ignore it. Unfortunately, it was also noticed by Team JNPR, who eyed one another in concern. They did their best to have small talk with Team RWBY, where the Xiao Long sisters did most of the talking, guiding them through the morning without stepping on any landmines.
By the end of their meal, the quiet girls had easily half of their plates remaining, allowing them to grow cold. It was then Weiss who finally placed her fork down and spoke.
"Jaune" she said, causing everyone to look at her. "Can I speak to you for a moment; privately, please?"
The blond swordsman blinked and hesitated for a moment, but with her now looking up at him, he could properly see the turmoil in her eyes.
"Uh, sure" he said, and stood when she did.
The pair walked slowly away from the table with their friends watching them nervously. When they were out of earshot, Ren and Nora looked at the rest of Team RWBY in confusion, though Pyrrha kept her eyes on Jaune.
"What's going on?" Nora asked.
"We don't know" admitted Ruby. "She came home after her date with Neptune that way, and doesn't want to talk about it."
"What?" asked Pyrrha in shock, Ruby's words bringing her back to the conversation.
"That's really it" Yang continued. "She came in looking like she was dumped, and just fell on her bed after saying she didn't want to talk about the date. She even slept in her new clothes without removing her makeup."
"That can't be" rejected Pyrrha with a frown. "Those two have been growing closer for weeks. You've all seen how they look at one another, how they talk to each other; how in the names of all the Gods did the date go badly?"
"We don't know!" moaned the blonde. "It doesn't make a lick of sense. She doesn't want to talk about it, and this one" gesturing to Ruby, "said we should just leave'em be."
"It's not our business!" defended her sister. "We just need to let them figure things out!"
"We're their friends; it's our jobs to know!"
"No! We talked about this last night, Yang. Friends need to be there for them, not stick their noses in where they don't belong!"
"You're both right" Nora remarked, equally confused by the situation. "And she said nothing at all?"
"Not a word" Yang groaned.
"Not to pry and play telephone" Pyrrha spoke, addressing Blake, "but has Sun mentioned anything? He would be the first to notice something wrong with Neptune."
"No, he hasn't said anything" Blake replied quietly, not showing much emotion. Yang frowned at this, and she rightfully wondered if her Faunus teammate had even spoken to Sun in the past twenty-four hours, let alone ask him about Neptune.
"He's said plenty in the past" Ren informed. "Neptune has spoken openly of how grateful he is to Jaune for convincing him to dance with Weiss, and feeling indebted to him."
Pyrrha frowned again before looking back at the end of the dining hall, her worry slowly growing. Nora noticed this, and could tell right away what her friend was considering.
"Don't go thinking that Weiss is having second thoughts about Jaune" she warned, knowing what a conundrum would come about from jealousy.
The redhead looked back at her friend with her cheeks pink.
"W-What? No, I would never think that. Weiss has very strong feelings for Neptune, therefore there has to be a good reason as to why there were complications with the date; complications that we don't know the details of. Even if Weiss was having second thoughts, which I very much doubt is the case, Jaune would never cheat on me or end our relationship to pursue her, nor would she try to lure him into betraying me. All of that would be absurd" she rationalized well, earning herself nods from the others.
Nora kept her gaze on Pyrrha, listening to her words, but nevertheless coming to a slightly different conclusion.
'I hope you believe that, Pyrrha' she thought, glancing at the large double doors.
λΛλ
Jaune and Weiss walked in silence from the dining hall, maintaining a steady pace as they headed north, and passing the Beacon Tower. As they passed the lecture halls and neared the playfield, the blond began to grow anxious, not having a clue as to why she wanted to talk to him, or why they were going so far away from the academy. They then crossed the bridge that led to the Forest of Forever Fall, still having not uttered a word, though Jaune wasn't exactly inclined to do so. It was only when they were well into the forest, that Weiss finally stopped, but kept her back to him. Jaune looked at her for a moment, hesitant to ask her what was wrong, as he noticed they were standing on the edge of a bluff that overlooked the gorgeous red maples that seemed ablaze beneath the light of the sun. As beautiful as the view was, it did not ease Jaune's anxiety, and he knew there was nothing else he could do but directly ask the heiress what was wrong.
"Uh...Weiss, why did you bring me this far into the Forever Fall? What did you want to talk about?"
There was another pause with the blond staring at the back of Weiss' head, waiting for her response. Finally, she turned around to look at him, revealing a sharp but non-threatening expression on her face, and her arms folded, seemingly like a mother suspecting her child of misbehaving.
"Because there is something important I want to ask you, and I wish to do so in private" she replied.
"Sure" Jaune nodded, still a bit uneasy. "Ask away."
The Atlassian Huntress-in-training looked at the swordsman in the eye, and asked the question that had been on her mind ever since the opening day of the tournament.
"Are you high-born?"
Jaune blinked, not understanding nor expecting such a question.
"I'm sorry?"
"Are you high-born?" she repeated. "Born from noble parentage of a prestigious House? Ever since you acquired that new armour" Weiss explained as she walked towards him, "I have been pondering heavily on your family heraldry. I consider myself to be well versed in history, not only my own, but that of the other three Kingdoms. That being said, that heraldic achievement" she pointed at Jaune's cuirass, "I cannot figure out. I have never heard of your House or seen your achievement, and yet, as Pyrrha rightfully said, it is a full heraldic achievement. I can confirm this because my House also has one."
Weiss then procured an expensive looking white guipure lace handkerchief from one of her pockets, unlike the one she normally used, and she unfolded it to reveal a colourful and detailed embroidered achievement. The escutcheon was a heater shield with a flat top, bearing a white and blue quarterly field division, and a white mountain device rising from the base. The top left field, which was white, bore the familiar Schnee snow flake logo, with a pickaxe on the royal blue field to the right, and the same below, only reversed. The supporters were a snow leopard on the left, standing on its hind legs holding a halberd, with the lynx doing the same on the right. Above the escutcheon was a Barbuta helm facing leftward, though a different design to that of Jaune's, with another snow flake crest above it, and stag antlers as mantling. At the base of the achievement, was a blue and white ribbon that bore the words "Kein Berg Zu Hoch", sitting upon a compartment of cornflowers.
"As you can see, my House is one of the few surviving in Atlas that still possesses their heraldic achievement. It was where we settled on the Schnee Dust Company logo, as you can plainly see, is the very same charge that makes the crest. This is most appropriate, as the name 'Schnee' means 'snow' in my ancestral tongue. And since you have done the same, the charge on your shield being your crest and family name, I demand an explanation."
The blond stared at the heiress, completely at a loss for words.
"Th-That's..." he stammered, "no, I'm not high-born. My family is just a small one from the north. My great-great-grandfather was a captain of the King's Guard, something we have prided ourselves on since the death of King Alexandre. It's why we still wear old armour and fight with swords and shields. And besides, with the King's death, all nobility aren't recognized by the Council. Every title from Duke to Baron, was stripped from those who held them. There isn't a single Lord in Remnant; not in Vale or anywhere. So no, I'm not high-born, especially since we Arcs became a 'House', for lack of a better word, after the fall of the King."
It was a sound explanation, but Weiss wasn't so convinced, and maintained her stern gaze at him.
"You said your ancestor was a captain in the King's Guard, correct?"
"Yeah, he was."
"That would have made him a Knight, would it not?"
"Yes, obviously."
"Then you are high-born" Weiss concluded. "Knighthood is hereditary; therefore the title, and its noble providence, passes onto you. An ill-made Knight you may have been when you first came here, I should now be addressing you as Sir Jaune."
"Only Kings, Lords, and other Knights can dub someone a Knight" Jaune corrected. "I need to be trained under a Knight, and go through the process before being dubbed. And again, without a King, none of this has any meaning. I'm not a Knight, I'm not a Squire; Hell, I'm not even a Page. All of this" he indicated by passing his hands over his armour, "is just tradition."
Again, Weiss was silent for a moment without breaking her gaze.
"Even if there is no monarchy, the power of the Houses remains for those who remember them. My own House for example, carries its majesty throughout the Kingdom of Atlas; and that was before the forming of the Schnee Dust Company by my great-grandfather, Keiser Schnee, who brought it to global prominence, along with his son, Nicholas Schnee. Great-grandfather Keiser oversaw our family legacy with his father, Eberhart Schnee, which at the time was known as the Schnee Dust Mining Works. While all three were miners, they were also warriors who upheld their ancestral Knighthood, even if the last King of Atlas died well over a century ago. This is why my House is referred to as 'Atlas' most treasured family', for we have stood at our Kingdom's side, always ready and willing to serve. That being said, I can understand what you mean by it being tradition. Grandfather and great-grandfather would clad themselves in full armour, and fight alongside the Huntsmen and soldiers of Atlas, despite being miners and businessmen."
"My family's the same exact way" Jaune remarked. "Despite the King's Guard being dissolved, we've served in the Valian Military. My father, uncles, cousins, and my brother-in-law are all officers, and have made a name for themselves within the army. It all stems from that call of duty my family have always heeded. My father always says, 'If a man cannot be useful to his Kingdom, he is better dead'. Rather blunt, isn't he?"
"Why didn't you enlist then?"
"It wasn't for me" he shrugged, only partially lying. "I figured I'd do better as a Huntsman. I could ask you the same thing, by the way."
This finally broke the strict expression on Weiss' face, as the corners of her mouth turned upward, with the ice in her eyes melting just a bit.
"Yes you could" she admitted. "It was not for me either. We all have to carve our own paths, I think."
"True, but it's nice to sort of know where you're going" Jaune pointed out, before looking into the rapierist's light blue eyes, trying to read her. "Was there anything else you wanted to talk about, or was that it?"
Weiss paused for a moment, making it clear to the blond that she was wrestling with the idea of sharing more.
"No, I think that will be all. Thank you, Jaune. Forgive me for wasting your time" she replied at last.
Jaune maintained his gaze, not buying for a moment that she had dragged him all the way into the Forever Fall just to ask a couple of questions about his family.
"Are you OK?" he asked at last.
"Yes, I'm just a tad under the weather" the heiress answered.
Again, Jaune wasn't convinced by this, and knew he needed to get to the point, as there was only one thing that could explain her behaviour at breakfast.
"Did everything go OK last night? Your date with Neptune, I mean?" Weiss' face managed to stay stony, but her eyes dimmed greatly, which Jaune saw instantly. "It went badly?" he asked, very dubious of his own words.
"No it...it went very well" she confessed, her eyes falling. "Neptune was a gentleman and romantic and...it could not have gone better..."
"But?" Jaune knew from her tone of voice that there was a massive issue that troubled her immensely.
Weiss looked away entirely, clearly wanting and not wanting to speak of what ailed her. Jaune didn't want to be disrespectful and pry, but he nevertheless wanted to help in any way that he could; for a reason that he then openly expressed.
"Look, I don't want to step on your toes or stick my nose where it doesn't belong, but you're my friend just as Neptune is, so if there is any way I can help, please let me know" he offered as politely as he could. "Also, given that I was the one who convinced Neptune that he was being an idiot, and to go back and ask you to dance, I feel kind of responsible for the both of you. I know it's hypocritical given that I was also stupid and brushed Pyrrha aside, but Neptune admitting to me his pettiness, making me realize my own, made me want to correct my mistakes. Because of that, Pyrrha and I are together, and I want the both of you to experience the same happiness we found."
His words touched Weiss, causing her to lightly blush.
"Thank you, Jaune. That means a great deal, however I don't know if you could help me with the problems Neptune and I are facing."
"I can try."
The white-haired Atlassian took a slow and deep breath, thinking of how much to reveal to the young captain. She had originally planned to fully explain her situation, but held back once learning the truth of his family. However, he did display enough of an understanding that he could be of help, if only to a certain extent.
"As you are well aware, I am the heiress to the Schnee family, and the Schnee Dust Company" she began to explain. "There are a mountain of responsibilities that rest on my shoulders by holding that title. Not only in how I train as a Huntress, how I compose myself in day to day life, but in my relationships; whether they be business, companionship, or romantic. I must always consider the implications of associating with a person or group; how it reflects on my own standing, and that of the family name. I am as much as an individual as I am a face of the Schnee Family. Thusly, I must be careful in who I pursue romantically."
"Then what's the issue?" Jaune asked. "Neptune's a great guy. I thought he was a bit too aloof, but after getting to know him, he's actually more down to earth and well mannered than you'd think."
"I know that better than anyone; other than perhaps Sun" Weiss confessed, smiling slightly at the blue-haired Vacuan's traits. "Unfortunately, there is more to social standing and social perception than one's character. Do you remember what the initial article about Neptune and myself said? How there was disappointment that he was not a politician's son and not Atlassian? These things matter, especially in the circles that I have walked in since my birth."
"But it also said that plenty don't care either way. And trust me, who cares what people think? People aren't happy about me and Pyrrha. Their happiness doesn't matter; only ours matters. And the only person's approval that I want is Pyrrha's mother."
"And that is the issue" Weiss sighed. "It is my father's approval that I must consider. Yes, that is entirely natural and expected, however, he values the approval of Atlas and the furthering of the family. Someone like Neptune, a boy from Vacuo, the only son of a fisherman training to be a Huntsman, would be a black mark on the family image in his mind."
"But he hasn't even met him."
"It does not matter. His pedigree speaks for him."
"No it doesn't!"
"It does for my father."
"How do you know for sure?"
Weiss shut her eyes and sighed.
"Because he has called me every day since that photo of us was taken and plastered on every newspaper in Mantle" she explained. "I know what he wants to discuss, so I have avoided him until now, though I will have no choice but to answer to him directly when I return home for the summer holidays. I just wanted to enjoy myself for a little while longer...as incredibly selfish as that is of a desire..."
Jaune looked at the depressed young woman with commiseration, now understanding the situation, and he began to feel a fire ignite in his belly.
"Your father is the one who's being selfish here" he spat, his eyes broadcasting that fire. "You have every right to be happy, and the fact that you found someone who cares about you and not your name or money, speaks louder than any pickup line or social standing."
Weiss fought to stop a smile from growing across her face, as well as a laugh at how well the swordsman understood what she felt and how frustrating the situation was. There was still a part that he couldn't understand, but he still saw through it, and it was comforting.
"I wish it was that simple...Gods how I wish it were. However, as heiress, I must follow the customs, responsibilities, and duties that come with that title. My elder sister relinquished her claim when she fully committed to her military career, and my younger brother cannot use our Family Semblance. This does not mean that his children cannot be born with Glyphs, but it gives more prestige if the head of the family and the company is proficient in both Glyphs and business. My sister is an outstanding swordswoman, tactician, commander, and Glyph user, but has never had a mind for business management, Dust design, or engineering. My brother has an above average mind for business, but cannot use our Semblance. I on the other hand, inherited my grandfather's knack for innovation, and being able to use Glyphs, though far from my sister's abilities, still make me the best possible candidate. Furthermore, my mother cannot use Glyphs, nor had she ever had the necessary grit for running the company, which my father amended by marrying into the family. Naming me his heir further amends our public image; or so he believes. And my father is always right."
The disgruntled heiress said the final phrase with almost no energy, as if it had been draining her for a long time. She looked up to Jaune, who had remained silent throughout her monologue, and remained so, for he could see the turmoil in her eyes.
"That you can understand, can't you, given how you spoke of your own father."
The blond was suddenly very aware of his tongue, as things had changed since he had mentioned his relationship with his father.
"He's...sort of like that" he admitted slowly. "He cares about the family greatly, and he is careful of who marries into it; given he has seven daughters. Only my oldest sister, Bridget is married, and my brother-in-law is an officer in the Valian Army, which definitely helped win my dad over, but it's because of his character that ultimately made my father give Bruce and Bridget his blessing. My two other older sisters, Lillian and Élise, both have boyfriends, one is studying to be an engineer, and the other is the son of a tailor. Certainly not warriors by any means, but they're good guys. My father wants his daughters to be happy, but he still has a grip on his standards, and wouldn't let any of them make a mistake that he could prevent."
Jaune swallowed uncomfortably when he saw that his explanation only caused Weiss' expression to grow dimmer.
"Your father sounds like a much better man than mine" she confessed, with the way she said it causing the blond's stomach to squeeze queasily. "My father is not a Schnee by birth. He married my mother, the only child of my grandparents and heiress to the Schnee House and company, and took the name when they married. His shrewd business skills impressed my grandfather, but I wonder if there is anything else that can be said in his favour. My mo–" Weiss caught herself, realizing what she was about to say, and knew she could not. "My father values the family name above all else...though not in the way grandfather speaks of."
"What do you mean?"
"Ever since I was a child, grandfather would tell us that our family name, Semblance, and honour, are not our own, but borrowed from our ancestors. We must return and pass them on without damaging them upon our deaths. Return our family name unstained, give our honour to our children unbroken, gift our blood to generations yet unborn, and all must be carried with care" she breathed, pride rising in her throat. "I have done my best to adhere to those words, and will not stray from them, as abandoning one's principles is an unforgivable dishonour. I honestly do not know if he has always held these beliefs himself, or if they developed once his relationship with my father slowly began to sour, and he wished to instil them into myself and my siblings."
Jaune couldn't suppress a smirk.
"Your grandfather sounds like a very wise man" he remarked. "I think he's trying to tell you to be happy."
"Perhaps..." Weiss replied softly. "But for as long as I have known him, and from our family records dating back to his youth, he would say, 'For King and Kingdom'. I feel compelled to honour both, and do whatever I can to not shame either my family name or Atlas. I love my family and my Kingdom, and that love drives me to succeed and do better."
"Yeah, I get that. My father's the same..." Jaune nodded, "though he does point out the fallacy of all of us having Kingdoms but no Kings. 'Family and Kingdom are worth fighting and dying for, but I'll do neither for bureaucrats'. He's not a fan of the Council."
"Nor I, or anyone I know personally in Atlas" she noted. "The militaries and Huntsmen Academies are always on bad terms with their respective Councils; budget allocation being the most common dispute."
"No need to tell me" groaned Jaune. "I grew up hearing those arguments at home between my father and uncles. I think I developed a contact-dislike of the Council because of them."
Weiss genuinely laughed at this, thankfully bringing some well needed levity.
"Yes, so have I" she agreed, starting to smile once again. "Thank you Jaune, truly."
"But I've hardly done anything" he pointed out. "And what are you going to do about Neptune? I don't even understand what the problem really is."
"Everything that I've explained to you is what I told Neptune during our date" she clarified. "As you said before, that your date with Pyrrha was about placing everything on the table, mine was to inform Neptune of what it would mean officially courting me. I couldn't hide that from him any longer."
"And how did he take it? As dumb as it is."
Weiss sighed. "He appeared to understand this is a serious endeavour, and he will be thinking it over. All I can do now is wait for his response." She looked away from Jaune, and gazed over the bluff forlornly. "I know how serious all of this is, and yet...I was secretly hoping that he would embrace me without hesitation, and accept the tribulations that would come. But life isn't a fairy tale. I won't be swept up like a princess and live happily ever after in my castle. I truly loved every moment up until yesterday, for at least a while, I was just a girl smitten with a boy. But I have to grow up and be an adult, for these are the responsibilities of being an adult with a legacy that I must uphold and maintain."
"Weiss..." Jaune said softly, unable to think of anything else to say.
"I envy you and Pyrrha..." she continued, looking back at him. "How open your love for one another is, how you don't pay attention to those who stare and judge you, for you know just how real your love is. All that matters is your love for one another, your happiness, and the future you will build together. You two were made for each other, no matter what anyone says."
"And what about your happiness?" Jaune demanded. "What about your future? Does none of that matter at all?"
"My future is to be a Huntress until my father retires as president of the Schnee Dust Company, to which I will take his place" Weiss replied flatly. "How happy I am during that time and beyond, is up to me. If Neptune decides to continue courting me, then I will stand by him every step of the way, even if that means having to stand up to my father. I'm hoping that with my position as heiress, being able to wield the family Semblance, and my skill with Dust and development, he will accept Neptune and allow us to date officially. If Neptune feels it is too much to bear and wants to walk away, then I have to accept his decision. Please keep in mind that I also take relationships seriously, just as you do, which means I always maintain an eye towards marriage. That makes courtship even more delicate a venture, and requires greater vigilance. It also does not help that this would be a long-distance relationship, but I should have thought of that back then. As I said, childish desires."
Jaune remained silent as he mulled over her words. It now made sense as to why she was dejected, left to wonder if the boy she liked, and who clearly liked her back, would be put off knowing that there were requirements outside of a normal relationship. Weiss hadn't disclosed this initially, but given that Neptune was her first boyfriend, she was just so excited that he felt the same way, that she just wanted to enjoy herself. He couldn't blame her in the slightest for this, and if there was anyone he felt animosity to, it was towards her father for being so unreasonable. He began to rack his brain to think of something to say that would give her hope, or at the very least sooth her, but nothing was coming to mind other than calling it all outrageous. What did come to mind, and had been there at the forefront the moment Weiss confessed her feelings, was the realization of her similarity to Pyrrha. The heiress' desire to just fall in love and be treated like a regular girl, was exactly what Pyrrha wanted. It was by that very revelation which caused Jaune to become angry in the first place, having seen the pain it caused Pyrrha first hand. Of course, it was slightly different in Weiss' case, as there were legitimate responsibilities she needed to consider, whereas Pyrrha's were mere inaccurate perceptions by the public. He very much disagreed greatly with both, given he knew how Neptune and Weiss felt for one another, but nevertheless understood the differences.
"How much time does he have to give you a proper answer?" he asked at last.
"Until I have to return to Atlas; in a week's time" she replied. "I can wait for a bit longer, however my father will be asking questions the moment we have dinner together, if not the instant I step into our Schloss. I'd like to be able to give him a proper answer, and state my case as to why Neptune is a fitting suitor."
"Isn't being decent good enough?"
Weiss smiled dispiritedly.
"Because we are Schnees, and Schnees do not settle for 'good enough'. The very motto of our heraldic achievement, 'Kein Berg Zu Hoch', means 'No Mountain Too Tall'. Whether it be in battle or in mining, there is no challenge we won't rise to meet and conquer."
The blond sighed, audibly exhaling through his nose as he rubbed the back of his head.
"I get it. It's damn dumb in my opinion, but I get it" he muttered. "Neptune's going to say yes. I don't know why he didn't say it right away given how much he brags about you, but that was before you told him about the red tape, so I guess he has to think on it a bit. I'm not a betting man, but I really do think he'll still say yes in the end."
The heiress' smile brightened slightly, honestly glad to hear those words of encouragement, even if she knew there was still no guarantee.
"I hope so."
She looked at the swordsman's expression, which clearly displayed his cynicism. She knew it bothered him, and the explanation she gave wasn't satisfactory, as he valued the simple and admittedly more important aspects of relationships. This only added to her envy, so Weiss decided to try one last time to help him understand her position.
"You said that your family has served in the Valian military for generations because they want to protect and serve the Kingdom. I understand that sentiment exactly. The Schnee family has served the Kingdom of Atlas for centuries, before we became the internationally company that we are now famous for. We were once Knights for the kings of old, miners supplying Dust and arms, and now supply, design, and build equipment for the military and civilian markets. I am proud to come from a House as loyal and integral as Schnee. I wish to continue honouring that legacy, making full use of my Gods given talent and skills. That way, I can honour both my family and Atlas. I know such patriotism doesn't make sense nowadays. I've spoken to others over the course of the year here at Beacon, and there just isn't that level of dedication, despite that they are studying and training to become Huntsmen. There's an overall lack of enthusiasm for their homelands. The Vacuans certainly have enough to spare, and Pyrrha, along with her mentors, are perfect examples of warriors who love their Kingdom. But not the Valians, or anyone else for that matter. I have no doubt that the active soldiers of their respective militaries are patriots, but our generation overall does not display that same passion. The Vytal Tournament was meant for young Huntsmen-in-training to gain honour for their Kingdoms through combat, but most see it solely as a means for personal gain. It almost feels as if being a Huntsman is something trivial, as if the Kingdoms we have fought to build and defend just appeared in the world and will stand on their own."
Jaune listened quietly, and found himself instinctively resting his left hand on the pommel of Crocea Mors. Her words brought back memories of his childhood, being surrounded by his family who felt the very same way. They would tell stories of the early days of Vale, and the wars of old. Those tales of warriors fighting for the Kingdom, the kings and queens, and facing hordes of dangerous Grimm, had flooded his dreams for as long as he could remember. He could see the passion in the eyes of his father and uncles as they told those stories in the form of books, poems, and songs. His family were the most loyal people to the Kingdom of Vale that he knew, a loyalty that he felt as well, and had grown ever since he and Pyrrha became an item. He rested his right hand on the achievement painted onto his cuirass, and looked down on it, specifically to the supporters on either side of the escutcheon that bore the Valian crest, and the ribbon around it.
"I know what you mean" he said. "During my training with Pyrrha, she would talk about how seriously she takes being a Huntress, and how she wants to inspire others to join our ranks. For her, it's a holy cause, and she's dedicated her life to it. It brought back memories of my childhood, and for the first time in my life, I felt like a proper Arc. My family have sworn a sacred oath to always fight for Vale, choosing to be deployed in the border guard, so that they can always face our enemies before they could ever reach Albion. One of our mottos, 'Desiderantes Meliorem Regnum', which means 'Desiring a Better Kingdom', is a vow to defend Vale forever, for her to rise to greatness, and remember her history. Because of our past as Knights of Vale, serving until the death of King Alexandre, we want to continue honouring that past, and serve the Kingdom. I've always had trouble with combat, and I still do after all this time, unable to awaken my Semblance and properly control my Aura. Because of that, I decided to become a Huntsman, hoping I could still serve, and overcome my shortcomings. I'm so far from where I need to be, but because of Pyrrha and all of you, I feel like I'm actually on the right path, and becoming a man that my family can be proud of. I'm the only son of eight children as well, so I have even more resting on my shoulders. But I don't feel as burdened as I did before, and more than ever I want to be a warrior of Vale. And yet, it feels as if it's only Pyrrha, you, and I that have such a sense of duty; that we owe our Kingdoms our service since we've been blessed by the Light with our powers. I'm sorry for rambling; I'm just having trouble finding the words."
Weiss smiled, understanding exactly what he meant.
"No, you were perfectly clear" she assured him, looking at the view beyond the bluff. Her eyes rested on a point on the horizon, one that Jaune or the rest of their friends wouldn't know where it led to. Then suddenly, she heard the blond begin to sing.
I give you a toast, ladies and gentlemen.
I give you a toast, ladies and gentlemen.
May this fair dear land we love so well
In dignity and freedom dwell.
Though worlds may change and go awry
While there is still one voice to cry.
There'll always be a Vale Land
While there's a country lane,
Wherever there's a cottage small
Beside a field of grain.
There'll always be a Vale Land
While there's a busy street,
Wherever there's a turning wheel,
A million marching feet.
The axes two
What do they mean to you?
Surely you're proud, shout it aloud,
"Vale folk, awake!"
The Kingdom too, we can depend on you.
Freedom remains
These are the chains
Nothing can break.
There'll always be a Vale Land,
And Vale Land shall be free.
If Vale Land means as much to you
As Vale Land means to me.
Jaune then stopped when he saw Weiss look at him in wide-eyed amazement, and he rubbed the back of his head sheepishly, his cheeks turning red.
"S-Sorry" he stammered, smiling shyly. "I didn't feel that I was being as clear as I wanted, so I decided to use one of Vale's old patriotic songs. My cousins and I would go marching around in the forests near our property singing it, pretending to be a company of Knights marching to battle; so I figured to sing that one, since I'm sure my country folk of old did a better job than I can. Sorry for singing out of nowhere, but that's how I started developing my love for the Kingdom; just singing with my family."
Weiss continued to gaze in silence, once again seeing him in a different light. However, when she turned her back to him, Jaune felt as if he had made a mistake, and mentally kicked himself. As he quickly tried to think of what to say, she breathed deeply, filling her lungs to their limit, and began to express her feelings in the only way she knew how.
I vow to thee, my Kingdom,
All earthly things above.
Entire and whole and perfect,
The service of my love.
The love that asks no question,
The love that stands the test.
That lays upon the altar,
The dearest and the best.
The love that never falters,
The love that pays the price.
The love that makes undaunted,
The final sacrifice.
And there's another Kingdom,
I've heard of long ago,
Most dear to them that love her,
Most great to them that know;
We may not count her armies,
We may not see her King;
Her fortress is a faithful heart,
Her pride is suffering;
I heard my Kingdom calling,
Away across the sea.
Across the waste of waters,
She calls and calls to me.
Her love that asks no question,
Her love that stands the test.
That lays upon the altar,
The dearest and the best.
And soul by soul and silently
Her shining bounds increase,
And her ways are ways of gentleness
And all her paths are peace!
And all her paths are peace!
Her beautiful voice was carried over the bluff by the gentle wind that came at her back, causing her long white hair to flutter like a pennon war banner. Weiss now felt better than she had been since telling Neptune of what would lie ahead for them, and she turned to face Jaune, who she found smiling at her with an almost amused expression on his face.
"What is it?" she asked, now slightly shy herself.
"I've never heard you sing like that before" he replied.
"What do you mean? I've sung like that for years."
"No, not like that" he assured. "When I liked you as a woman, I began to watch all the available videos of your concerts online, and I was blown away by how amazing you were. But there was always something off about your singing. Not in a musical way, but I could never put my finger on it; until now. The way you sang that song was entirely different. It had...soul. I don't think there's any other way to put it."
Jaune paused for a moment, honestly trying to find a better explanation for his deduction, as anyone listening to those videos of her would applaud her Gods given talent. So what was the true reason? He looked at her, almost as if he was expecting her to provide him with an answer, and noticed that she quickly looked away. Her cheeks were painted pink, almost like a child caught with their hand in a cookie jar. Then, the pieces began to fall into place.
"You don't like to sing" he breathed. "That's the reason why it's never sounded like you put your heart into it, and why you didn't want to sing at the karaoke bar the other day."
Weiss' cheeks darkened further, confirming that indeed, the blond's deduction had been the right one.
"Why? You're incredible; and even better now than you've ever been."
The heiress sighed, knowing there was no avoiding the truth now.
"Because it is yet another skill that my father feels can be used to better our family's status" she explained. "Jaune, please" she continued, seeing him begin to try and protest. "I love to sing, I truly do, but I have never been able to sing the songs I wanted to, or even the songs I have privately written. It is a small price to pay, especially as most of those concerts were for charity events. In any way to help Atlas and her people, I will gladly do so."
The blond captain bit on his tongue in annoyance, and exhaled loudly through his nose.
"Fine. Just promise me that you'll sing for us properly. I'll practice my guitar so I don't sound so terrible, and then you, me, and Neptune can play together. Deal?"
Weiss blinked in surprise at the request, and couldn't stop herself from smiling, even letting a two pronged laugh escape her lips.
"Deal" she replied, extending her left hand. Jaune graciously took it, and shook respectfully, glad to see her in better spirits, even if he did have issue with her father's mindset.
"Anything else you want to talk about?" he asked, though he suspected that there was none.
"No, that will do for now" she replied. "Thank you again, Jaune. I greatly appreciate it."
"Hey, what are friends for? I still think your dad is an overbearing ass, by the way."
Weiss let out a rather unladylike snort, which she quickly tried to cover up with a cough, entirely failing to convince the swordsman.
"W-Well, you are not the first to think so" she admitted, composing herself. "Shall we return to the dining hall?"
"Actually, would you mind joining me on a small errand?" he asked.
"And what would that be?"
"I need to pick up the rest of my armour" he explained, indicating the exposed sections of his body. "I figured, that as heiress of the Schnee Dust Company, you would be the best judge of the quality of the armour, as well as the modifications."
Weiss smirked at this, and folded her arms in approval.
"Well reasoned. Are we going to the school forge then?"
"Yup" Jaune replied, gesturing where they had come from with his left hand across his chest. "Ladies first."
"Just one thing" she said hesitantly, causing the blond to look up at her curiously. "You said previously that you have a new nephew."
"Yeah, Jacob. Why?"
Weiss' cheeks turned pink and she looked away shyly.
"M-May I see a photo of him?"
Jaune wasn't entirely sure as to why she was asking, though he had shown Pyrrha and Nora with pride, who gushed over how cute he was. He fished out his Scroll, and noticed that Pyrrha had texted him, wanting to know if everything was alright. He quickly swiped the message away to reach his photos folder, but made a strong mental note to text her back when Weiss returned his Scroll. It took him only a moment to find the photo of his nephew, which was of him taking a nap snuggling up with a stuffed lion toy and a sucker in his mouth. Jaune passed his Scroll to Weiss, and saw something he could only describe as magical.
As soon as the heiress' eyes gazed upon Jacob, she began to bubble over him, with trembling but very warm eyes, and she slightly bit her bottom lip. He had seen her icy exterior melt when around Neptune, but here, there was not a single spec of ice remaining, replaced entirely with shining warmth. Jaune couldn't stop a massive grin from spreading across his face, and he folded his arms like a proud uncle; which funny enough, he was.
"Now I get it" he remarked. "You're totally baby-crazy."
"Th-They're just so cute~" she replied, not taking her eyes off Jacob's photo. "His cheeks are so chubby, and how he's snuggling the lion, and his little onesie pyjamas, and how small and cute his hands are, holding onto his toy so tightly..."
Jaune's grin only grew from this, as it was a side of her he had never seen before. He had grown up surrounded by babies; not only because of his four younger sisters, but his younger cousins as well. He wasn't entirely sure if that was the reason why he loved kids and wanted a family of his own one day, but he knew it certainly helped. He was used to seeing the women in his family fuss over new additions, despite there being so many of them. For Weiss, all she had was one younger brother; and with her family having such a tight restriction on who can marry, she certainly never had any experience with children as a whole. It was such a fascinating transformation, though not an alien one, as his own father would change from stern military officer, to cheery uncle, and now even cheerier grandfather. How much would Weiss change when she had children of her own?
"You and Neptune are going to be busy" he said at last, which finally brought the Atlassian out of her fawning.
"D-Don't say something so uncouth!" she retorted, her blush growing at his implication, and took one last look at Jacob before handing Jaune back his Scroll. "Shall we go then?"
The blond nodded, causing the rapierist to strut down the path leading away from the bluff with Jaune just behind her, typing a reply to Pyrrha as they made their way out of the Forest of Forever Fall. He made sure to leave out the more personal details, but let her know that everything was alright.
'I hope' he thought as he sent the text, and put his Scroll away.
λΛλ
The pair walked briskly back towards the campus, and headed eastwards towards the forge. They arrived at the familiar building, and Jaune pulled one of the double doors open, allowing them both to be hit with the expected blast of hot air trapped within. Despite the tournament coming to a close several days ago, the forge seemed just as lively as ever. Given that the academy was a hub for Huntsmen coming in and out of the city, it wasn't a jump to assume that the forge would still be up and running, ready to supply any and all that required its service.
Jaune quickly scanned the forge, trying to spot the Master-at-Arms, and found him seated at a workbench, berating his younger blacksmiths, Browning and Savage being amongst them. He walked towards them with Weiss, and was going to wait for his opportunity to request a moment of his time, when Winchester noticed his approach.
"There you are, sonny!" he shouted, folding his arms. "Congrats on your team winnin' the tournament. Miss Schnee." He made sure to nod curtly at Weiss, who bowed respectfully in return.
"Thank you, sir. I owe you for getting my armour ready last minute" Jaune replied honestly, genuinely feeling guilty for not acting sooner.
"You won your match and your lieutenant won the tournament for Beacon. That's thanks enough" the master smith dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Speaking of which, very ballsy stunt ya pulled at the end. Things progressed like ya said?"
"Yeah, we're dating officially now."
"And she alright with ya comin' here with Miss Schnee behind her back?"
This comment caused the pair to blush in embarrassment. Never before had they been matched together outside of Jaune's attempts to woo her early in the school year, and all would agree they were not compatible.
"We're just friends!" the blond rejected. "She and I are both in committed relationships with other people. Seriously, how did I go from being terrible with girls to being accused of cheating on my girlfriend?"
"I'm just messin' with ya, kid!" Winchester laughed. "And speakin' of which, you never told me that you were datin' Pyrrha Nikos."
"I didn't think that was important information."
"It's a tad important. That certainly explains why she was givin' ya solid advice on upgradin' your armour. Very nice" he grinned, smoke escaping from his mouth as he held his pipe with his teeth.
"I'm very lucky" Jaune admitted with a blush.
"So now are ya going at it like rabbits?"
The blond's blush grew rapidly at the comment. It was one thing to have his friends remark about sex, it was another to hear adults make the same comments.
"L-Like I said last time, it's a bit too soon for that" he stammered, but quickly regained his composure. "But speaking of my armour, I was hoping I could get the rest of it today."
"I was wonderin' when ya'd show up to get them" Winchester sneered, removing his pipe from his mouth, not liking being made to wait. "You and Miss Schnee go on up to my office, and I'll be back with the rest of it. The rest of ya, get back to work."
The other smiths nodded and dispersed as their master slid off the stool he was perched on. As he began to walk to the stairway that led before the forge, something struck Jaune that made him feel incredibly foolish.
"Master Winchester! I forgot to ask you about modifying those remaining pieces" he called, mentally kicking himself for not remembering.
The old man paused, and looked over his shoulder with an expression on his face that made it seem as if Jaune had asked him if he enjoyed rolling around in molten iron.
"Do you really think that I wouldn't go ahead and finish the entire suit while I was at it, and just leave the rest be? Ya think that my title as master is just for show? Kids these days." He then carried on and vanished from view, leaving Jaune and Weiss alone at the workbench.
"I guess I should have figured that out" he admitted sucking on his teeth.
"I think he likes you" Weiss remarked with a smirk.
"You think?" Jaune wasn't entirely sure.
The pair made their way to the Master-at-Arms' office, as both knew its location from previous visits. They didn't need to wait long for Winchester to return, appearing with the modified sabatons, cuisses, tassets, and a visored Barbuta helmet in his arms.
"Here ya're!" he called, placing them onto his desk.
"Thank you, sir. I owe you greatly" Jaune said, lifting the sabatons, made with perfectly overlapping layers ending in a slightly pointed toe, and began to attach them to his boots.
"Like I said last time you were here, I'm just glad that this old armour gets a second chance at protectin' the Kingdom instead of gatherin' dust in the basement" the smith reminded, tapping the bowl of his pipe into the ashtray to clear it.
"Old armour indeed" added Weiss, picking up the helmet and running her thumb over the left cheek of the visor where one of the axes of the Valian Royal crest was cut into. "This is armour made for the Knights of Vale."
"Good eye, Miss Schnee" grinned Winchester, as he refilled his pipe. "This is one of the many suits left over from the last King's Guard Knights. When the King was killed, and the Royal family lost its control of the Kingdom, the Knights were no longer needed; their Knighthood no longer recognized by the newly formed Council. They either became soldiers in the regular army, became Huntsmen, or retired. The Council had ordered to destroy these so called 'relics', so as to be expected, many people hid them away for safe keepin'. Just because the Royal family was gone, didn't mean that the people of Vale were goin' to forget them. Many of my predecessors left the defunct Royal Armoury to work for Beacon Academy, and took the stock of armour and weapons to both store and repurpose their work for current and future Huntsmen. Never thought I would get the chance to carry on their wishes, but when this brat turned up lookin' for armour, and showed me that sword, I knew I couldn't pass this up."
"I had a feeling that's what it was" Jaune remarked, fastening the tassets over the cuisses. "I can only hope I can make my great-great-grandfather proud."
"Speakin' of which, what was his name?" Winchester asked. "I tried to find him in what records we have left, but I found nuthin'."
"Jacques Arc, funny enough" the blond replied, smirking at Weiss.
"Nope. No such luck. But, I'm not too shocked" the smith snorted, lighting a match and puffing his pipe to life. "We lost a lot of those records after the formin' of the new government. Maybe the Huntmaster's got somethin' hidden away in that giant library of his. Anyways, see if that helmet fits. It might not, since I forgot to measure that melon of yours last time."
"It's fine; I'm not too fond of helmets, which is why I didn't ask you to modify one originally" he dismissed as politely as he could.
"What? Don't want to mess up ya hair or hide that pretty-boy face?"
"Well...we Arcs take pride in our blond hair, considering it like a lion's mane, and we don't put on helmets unless they are our custom made ones."
"Alright, Yang" Weiss commented with a smirk.
"Hey" Jaune replied, sounding wounded. "One, I'm not nearly as bad as her, and two, it's not what you think; it's tradition."
"And ya won't be defendin' it when ya catch a stray bullet to the forehead" pointed out Winchester as he tapped his temple with the stem of his pipe. "Now put it on."
Weiss held out the helmet for Jaune, causing him to sigh in defeat and accept it, placing it over his head. Naturally, it fit just as well as every other piece of armour, and he finally stood fully clad before the more knowledgeable pair. It was as if a painting from a museum had come to life, as Jaune looked like a living relic, though was brimming with much more life. Weiss especially found a great amount of pleasure of seeing the young captain fully armoured, as it reminded her of the painting of her grandfather in a chrome-like suit of armour that hung in the grand hall of her Schloss, holding a Barbuta helmet of his own, though without a normal visor. Thankfully, Jaune's helmet was properly made, allowing a good sight picture, and permitting his azure eyes to be visible, which matched the armour brilliantly. Each cheek had an axe cut into them, clearly that of the Royal crest, with the laurel wreath of the crest placed on the temples giving him a crown of bay laurel leaves.
"So how do I look?" he asked, his voice only slightly muffled from behind the visor.
"I must comment, you are doing a very poor job of convincing me that you are not a Knight" the heiress remarked, maintaining her smirk from earlier.
Jaune lifted up his visor to reveal a slightly perturbed frown at her statement.
"Tradition" he reinforced.
"Nah, I agree with the lady" Winchester grinned. "Your grandpappy was a Knight, that's Knight's armour you're wearin', and it fits ya like it was made for ya; so you're a Knight through and through."
Jaune scratched his left cheek, slipping a finger between the openings of his new helmet.
"I've got some ways to go" he said at last.
"Good lad. Now off with ya! I've got a lot to do before the school year ends" shooed the Master-at-Arms. "You kids might have the summer off, but we're up to our armpits in work. Now git!"
"Right, thank you again, for everything, sir" Jaune said quickly, extending his right hand.
The old man was about to repeat himself once again, but knew that Jaune was simply being honest and respectful, wishing to show his appreciation, which was in short supply these days. He took the young man's hand, and shook it as he retrohaled steadily.
"You're welcome, son" he replied, before turning his attention to Weiss. "And thank you, Miss Schnee. Your advice on the Dust processin' machines has helped the forge greatly, and thanks again for helpin' the young bucks here wrap their thick skulls around Dust. You're a brilliant lass, and I hope I stick around in the world to see what amazin' new heights you'll take your family's company when you take the reins."
"Thank you, Master Winchester" replied Weiss, smiling warmly and bowing respectfully. "I hope to work with you again in future."
Saying their goodbyes, the pair left the forge and slowly walked away, passing by the small body of water that surrounded the Lecture Dome, just outside the forge. Jaune had removed his helmet and carried it under his left arm, and was mentally evaluating how his body was taking the additional armour, which already seemed to be just fine. He then heard Weiss chuckling, and turned to look at her.
"What's so funny?" he asked, thinking that he had accidentally done something to amuse her.
"Nothing really" she replied. "You saw how the Master-at-Arms treated me, yes?"
"Yeah. You apparently worked with him. I didn't know that."
"Yes, on several occasions. I originally paid the forge a visit to have my sword-carriage repaired" she informed, tapping the red leather attachment that held Myrtenaster to her sword-belt. "It was then that we became more acquainted, leading to more visits and conversations. However, what I am referring to are his expectations of me; how he, as a master, is looking forward to see what I will do as president of the Schnee Dust Company. That is what I spoke of regarding the international prestige and expectation of my family name. That is what I want to uphold and maintain. It is that legacy that matters so much to me, and why I have striven so hard for the past two years. And by doing so, I can bring further glory to my House and to Atlas herself. We are a jewel in Atlas' crown, and we shall never abandon her."
Jaune scratched the back of his head, reluctantly admitting she had made her point clear as crystal.
"Yeah, I get it. But I'm sticking to that your happiness matters just as much as your achievements and family legacy" he muttered. "I just hope you're dividing your attention properly so that you aren't just focusing on the family business. There's got to be more going on in your life than that, surely."
"Of course I am" Weiss defended. "I learned at a young age on how to manage my time and attention efficiently. In that vein" her tone shifted to one of concern, "did you notice Blake this morning?"
"Yeah, what's going on? She seemed just as depressed as you were."
"I don't know" the heiress sighed. "She's been that way since our conversation about the White Fang. I tried my best to argue my case as calmly and respectfully as I could, but perhaps I went overboard and damaged our friendship in the process."
"No, I think you did very well, and you were rightly angry for what Taurus did" the blond noted. "I think the reason why Blake is acting so distant right now, is that her whole worldview is being flipped upside-down. For so long she's seen the world through the prism of the White Fang, and now she's realizing that it's not even close to reality. Every time she tried to defend her position, we all pointed out the problems with it, leaving her speechless. If she felt like we were piling on her, then I'll gladly apologize, but I think you did it the right way. You attacked Taurus and the White Fang's actions and beliefs without attacking Blake herself. Friends need to be honest with one another, and criticism is both needed and expected. Pyrrha tries to softball her critiques of my shortcomings because her heart gets in the way of the mind since she loves me, but I've learned to take my licks and improve. I think when the dust settles, Blake will know she's found a true place to belong here, and as her friends, we care for her. She just needs a bit of time."
Weiss sighed, stopping and turned her head to gaze at the calm water to her left.
"I hope so. I truly do. My fear is that she's also stopping herself from being happy in regards to her relationship with Sun, and that I have played a part in that hesitation."
"What do you mean?" asked Jaune, also stopping and turning around to face her. "What's Blake doing?"
"Nothing; that is the issue. She hasn't tried to close the distance between herself and Sun. All of us, even Nora, have been actively trying to get closer to the boys we like, with yourself and Pyrrha obviously getting the closest by becoming an official couple. It is painfully obvious that Sun is madly in love with her, and his patience is inconceivable. I genuinely respect him for it, however, I cannot help get the impression that she is dragging him along. I very much doubt she's doing it maliciously, since it is clear to all of us she likes him back, but in the names of the Gods, what is she waiting for? And now thanks to our spat, I'm afraid I have made things worse."
"You're right, and I don't know" Jaune admitted. "Sun never lets a chance to brag about Blake sneak past him, which I guess is why none of us have poked him back when he teases Ren about Nora. We really should have, now that I think of it."
"Neptune has" she informed. "I've spoken to Neptune about Sun and Blake, and he told me he's had a number of conversations about their relationship. Sun is very aware that his courting with Blake is working, albeit she being hesitant, and he is willing to wait for her to admit it without pressuring her. Neptune said he's never seen him so devoted and smitten with a girl before, and despite Blake being so reserved about the entire situation, Sun is very aware she is wrestling with her demons. I just wish we knew what those demons were exactly, so that we don't have to rack our brains and worry for her, and feel like helpless bystanders."
Jaune smirked as he listened, which caused the white-haired Huntress-in-training to look at him curiously.
"What are you smirking at?"
"Oh nothing" he replied nonchalantly. "You're just not doing a very good job in maintaining your image as the Ice Queen; worrying about your friends and gushing over babies."
Weiss' cheeks tinged pink once again, but she managed to glare back at him with her arms folded.
"Firstly, I never gave myself such a nickname, therefore I have no obligation to adhere to it. Secondly, I can simultaneously worry about my own problems and those of my friends, thank you very much" she retorted. "And as a woman, I can 'gush', as you put it, as much as I want."
Jaune laughed at her peppery defense.
"And don't let me stop you; just wanted to make a comment, that's all" he smirked. "Also, I think you're being too hard on yourself. I honestly doubt Blake's hesitation is your fault, given she had months to get together with Sun. You needed to hash things out given what the White Fang has done, and it'll be a good thing that it happened in the grand scheme of things. It certainly isn't good to worry yourself sick for so long. Speaking of which, we should probably get back to the others. I'm sure they're getting a bit worried with us being gone all this time, not to mention your behaviour isn't helping."
"You're right" she sighed, frowning at herself, realizing she was being a bit sanctimonious by voicing her complaints of Blake's conduct when her own wasn't any better. "I'll have to speak to them on the matter sometime soon, though I have an inkling that they will be even more frustrated than you are now."
"Don't drag it out" he advised. "Trust me. Hiding stuff like this from the people that love you will only make things worse. They'll probably say everything I've already said, but it will give them as much peace of mind as it'll give you; maybe not as in a definitive answer of what to do, but at least knowing that they care about you."
Weiss nodded, knowing he was ultimately right. She still knew there was a core issue she couldn't openly voice, aware that emotionally it wouldn't connect with him or anyone else, but she had to acknowledge her lack of communication with her teammates wasn't helping.
"True" she replied quietly. "Let's not keep them waiting. Breakfast is probably over by now, so I'd expect them to have returned to the dorms."
Jaune nodded at her assessment, and the pair continued on their way, crossing the bridge before turning west towards the path that led to the dormitories.
λΛλ
In the Team RWBY dorm room, their remaining teammates sat around waiting for the return of their friends. They had tried having some conversation about the situation between Neptune and Weiss, as well as why she had wanted to speak to Jaune, but they kept reaching dead ends. Pyrrha shared that he had let her know that everything was fine, though it obviously left them with their questions unanswered. The only person who could share some insight on the matter was Blake, who was not being very talkative, and it was hard for the others to know if she honestly didn't know, or didn't want to talk to Sun to gather information. This left them in a rather uncomfortable silence, as they were all thinking of Weiss, and couldn't think of anything else to talk about in the meantime.
Thankfully they didn't need to wait overly long, as the door of the bedroom opened to reveal the heiress in question.
"There you are!" cried Yang. "What took you so long?"
"My apologies. Jaune had an errand he wanted to run and asked for my help" she replied calmly.
"Which errand?" asked Pyrrha, not aware of Jaune needing any errand to be taken care of, as he hadn't mentioned that in his text.
"Just picking up the remaining pieces of armour" answered the blond stepping into the room, showing his suit was now completed.
It was strange how to the others, with just a few added pieces, changed Jaune's character even more than the first time. Seeing him standing there in the completed set, smiling confidently, showed just how much he had grown over the past year. It was Pyrrha of course who appreciated this change the most, as he now was what she always knew he would be, and smiled proudly at him.
"So what do you think?"
"Awesome!" cheered Nora. "You look like a real Knight now!"
"You certainly do" agreed Ren with an approving smile.
"And that helmet is super cool!" she added, pointing to the Barbuta.
"It's not too bad, huh?" Jaune remarked, holding up the helm so that the others could get a better look. This gave Pyrrha a chance to examine it, and she instantly recognized what it was.
"That design" she breathed. "That is the armour of the Knights of the King of Vale. That entire suit was from King Alexandre's reign?"
"Correct" informed Weiss. "The Master-at-Arms told us that it was from a collection of arms and armour that was stored for safekeeping after the death of the King. I was just as shocked as you were when I saw the helmet and the Valian Royal crest design. It is century old armour, but it will serve Jaune well."
"Yes" agreed Pyrrha, rising to her feet and approaching her boyfriend. "Yes I think it will."
"Put it on! I wanna see what you look like in battle mode" encouraged the ginger excitedly.
Seeing no reason not to oblige, Jaune slipped the helmet over his head, and carefully drew Crocea Mors, the shield attaching itself to his vambrace. And there he stood, sword and shield in hand, clad in white and gold armour, effectively turning the clock back a hundred years. It was a sight to behold for sure, though the more historically inclined members of the group certainly had a greater appreciation for it.
"Our captain is so cool~!" grinned Nora.
"It's alright" Yang commented, somewhat aloofly.
"It is more than alright, and you know it" countered Weiss.
"He needs a cloak" advised Ruby, squinting at her fellow captain.
"I guess I can ask Pyrrha's mentors about that, since they seem to be the experts on cloaks and mantles" Jaune chuckled before turning his gaze to the redhead before him. "If they don't disapprove of me, that is. What do you think?"
Pyrrha took a good look at her captain, before raising her right hand and lifting the visor.
"While I am a tad selfish for not liking that the helmet hides your face, it, as well as the completed armour, suits you perfectly" she replied with a warm smile. "And I second the inclusion of a cloak. They will approve of you, so don't fret in that regard, but if you want to have something special, my mother is quite good with a needle and thread. She could make you a custom cloak long before the end of the summer holidays."
"I'm going to have to meet her before asking her for such a favour, but thanks" he smirked gratefully. "And what was that about not liking my handsome face being hidden?"
"I like looking at my boyfriend's handsome face" she repeated unabashed, her smile growing. "Does the helmet make things harder to hear?"
"No. I just love hearing you say stuff like that" Jaune confessed, equally unashamed and leaned forward, kissing her without hesitation. Smiling gleefully, Pyrrha returned the kiss, with the others each having their respective reactions to their friends' display of love.
It was Weiss and Blake's that were the most interesting however. Weiss gave them a small but content smile, happy for them while still being envious of them being so free to love. Blake, though unwilling to admit it, was in the same state of mind. She too envied the young couple, though for reasons that she would still keep secret. For how much longer however, even she did not know.
"Take care not to overly inflate your ego, Sir Jaune" Pyrrha warned, though she hardly meant it.
"Calling him Sir Jaune will definitely inflate it" Yang pointed out.
"Tradition" he echoed.
"Says the guy who swept his girlfriend off her feet bridal style out of the Coliseum, dates for marriage, and clads himself in century old armour" Ren remarked, causing Nora to snort with laughter. "These traditions mean more to you than you want to admit, and you like them far more than you've said previously."
"...I'm not apologizing."
"You better not" Pyrrha added, tapping his cuirass with mock rebuke.
"Never will" he swore, kissing her once again.
"What did I say about getting overly mushy?" groaned the elder Xiao Long sister.
"Not apologizing" the couple said in unison, eliciting groans and laughter from the others.
λΛλ
That night, one hour after sunset and twenty miles northeast of Albion, was a small campfire at the base of the mountain range. A meal had just been prepared and eaten, and now a pot of tea was bubbling away, held above the fire pit by a cooking tripod. Sitting on either side were two cloaked figures with hoods drawn over their faces, and two horses tied to a post just behind them. One of the two reached for the tea pot and poured the steaming liquid into a metallic cup.
"We should reach the capital tomorrow" it said, passing the cup carefully to the second figure.
"Yes, by the afternoon if we do not run into any complications" the second figure confirmed, accepting the tea.
"I wonder how things will go" the first pondered, pouring itself a cup of tea of its own.
"Well, I expect. Though I have no doubt it will be a shock."
"And that is where the fun of it all lies" laughed the first, blowing on the cup. "Try to be nice, will you?"
"I will be as courteous and proper as I always have been."
"Ho boy..."
"What?"
"Nothing" the first sighed sipping the tea. "Just like old times."
Author's Note:
So in complete opposite fashion, this chapter was much more fun to write than the last one XD.
I've said this before, but I could not stand Weiss for the first two volumes. Cold, obnoxious, self-absorbed, and despite being Atlassian, possessed no military or combat prowess, nor had respect for the chain of command. It was only during her match with Flynt did I begin to feel sorry for her. She honestly didn't deserve to be humiliated like she did, and I began to rethink my attitude towards her. Then, in V4, I became a fan. Being the only character to grab the bull by the horns (though Jacques being stupid did undermine it), I genuinely began to become a fan of Ice Queen.
It then should come to no surprise that I began to devote a lot of time to coming up with a story and history befitting a character like Weiss Schnee. The amount of potential was like most things in RWBY, very high. Of course I won't be able to show even half of it here, I can still give you all a good peak.
It took me by surprise by how many of you reacted to my changes to Weiss during the Vytal Tournament. The reactions were positive of course, but I was nevertheless taken aback by how much of a reaction it got. What I've come up with is what I think fits Weiss best as a character, and thus far, you all seem to agree. From making her a proper rapierist, to making her a proper lady, every change I have made for her were in fact, corrections. Weiss should be incredibly proud of her family, their company, and their legacy, regardless if her father is a prick. If not, then there really is nothing to her as a character, for that life really doesn't shape her past wanting to leave her family behind to "carve her own path". I honestly can't help but think, just as Weiss losing to Flynt was an "eat the rich" moment, she turning her back so easily on her family, was a similar stab. This is of course why I made sure to include her relationship with her grandfather; a far more interesting character in concept than Willow; at least for the moment.
This then leads us to Weiss revealing why the date between her and Neptune went "poorly". To everyone who thought I was pulling a CRWBY...Hel no, Gods no. What I was leading up to is that Weiss has responsibilities as heiress of the SDC, therefore dating also has red tape she needs to be conscious of. Of course, the heart wants what it wants, and things between herself and Neptune went much differently here than in the show, therefore she would have to face the music. Much more to come on that in time.
Speaking of which, we then have the importance of heraldry. Since the get-go, I've been focusing on the importance of charges, crests, and achievements. I'm a big fan of that sort of thing, so it shouldn't be surprising that I think the emblems of RWBY are absolutely awful. It's why I changed a number of them like the Atlassian Kingdom crest, and gave new arms and crests to the academies. For some reason, CRWBY (and Monty) thought it necessary to give each character an emblem, but not the schools. Do you know a university that doesn't have some sort of logo? Furthermore, I can understand why characters like Weiss and Jaune have them (as explained in this chapter), but orphans off the street like Nora and Emerald? Why? Who made them? Did each character think they needed a marketing strategy? And who was the drunk intern that designed them in the first place, because wow they are ugly. You can call this nit-picking, but I cordially hate things being done for no reason. RWBY is full of them, and it drives me nuts.
Another thing was that I wanted to touch on the notion of duty. CRWBY have done a terrible job of world-building Remnant, to the point that Huntsmen seem almost trivial. Despite that the Huntsmen are the only line of defense for the Kingdoms (Atlas excluded), you would think that they would be held with high reverence. But no, they don't appear to be all that important, especially that the academies have only been around for eighty or so years. As Weiss said in this chapter, people seem to fight and become Huntsmen for personal gain only. This is why I brought up patriotism. Professor Port said that the Vytal Tournament was about gaining glory for the Kingdoms, but it doesn't look like anyone cares for their Kingdoms. People enroll in foreign academies all the time, and the show goes out of its way to shame those who put the Kingdom before themselves. I wonder if the writers are trying to say something with that?
In any event, the entire point was to touch upon the struggle between love and duty. It's not the first time it's happened in DDCT, hence why Weiss had been keeping an eye on Jaune, and why Jaune understands it better than Weiss thinks, given his own life and being with Pyrrha. I think that this is far more interesting than anything that's happened with Weiss and the Schnee family in the show. Leaving aside the absurdity of the SDC I mentioned last chapter, I think there is a lot of potential to the Schnee family, and it has been a lot of fun over the years developing them. More in time.
And now, we come to V8C13:
I called Jacques' death! Yay! Although, we get baited all the time in this show. Speaking of which, I guess it was time for Ruby to pay Yang back for being such a bad sister. I approve, though don't play with my heart, CRWBY. I want Yang to be truly dead this time...but I doubt it.
After all, we need Yang and Blake to kiss in front of Sun. This episode sets it up (not the relationship of course), and that takes priority over all; whether it be canon, lore, or investment. Buckle up.
Oh, and two more things. One, my hours are changing since we're finally opening up over here, so there will be more delays for future chapters. My apologies.
Two, I was planning to release Project BICO after posting this chapter, but BICO has spoilers for the ending of DDCT, so I think I will hold off for a while longer.
See you next time.