Chapter 24

Shame

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

Flashback

"Scroll Communications / Tv"

Location / Date / Time Change

Weiss looked at Ryuko with a smile, something she hasn't done since Beacon academy. "Glad to see you've gotten out of those rags you called an outfit."

Ryuko looked down out of her outfit and chuckled. A dark blue jacket went over her white dress shirt and a short blue skirt went halfway to her knees, held up by a red belt with a silver buckle. A pair of red gloves covered her hands and her legs were dawned in a pair of black stockings with a red line leading down to a pair of red heels. "Well, we can't all be a princess."

"So, what are you doing here?" Weiss asked as she stood up.

"My moms here on a 'issue of the utmost importance to Atlas'." She explained. "I don't know what that means, but I think it was just an excuse to get me out of my room."

Weiss reached her and the two shared a hug. "It's so good to see you again. Have you heard from the others?"

Ryuko shook her head as they separated. "Been too busy. My sister is making me catch up on all the work I missed at Beacon."

The mention of the academy caused the two to share a somber look. "Hard to believe it's been almost a year since that horrible day..." Weiss said.

"Yeah..." Ryuko nodded. "Looking back, I keep wondering why I didn't just call my mom for help."

The statement confused Weiss. "She doesn't have an army..."

"I meant with Yang." Ryuko clarified. "You think I got my Semblance by accident? It's hereditary. She could have helped with Yang's arm..." Her anger overwhelmed her and she punched a wall. "But I just had to prove myself. Now, Yang's a mutilated freak and it's my fault!"

"Ryuko..." Weiss placed her hand on her friends shoulder, but before she could say anything, the door opened and Klein walked back in.

"Forgive the intrusion, but Mr. Schnee wishes to see his daughter." The butler said.

The heirsess nodded and the butler left. "Come on, we're not done talking." Weiss grabbed Ryuko' hand and lead her out the room. She let go of her friends hand and the two walked side by side through the mansion.

The two talked about many things as they passed by the Schnee dinning room, giant metal knight statues, and a stone King Taijut. "And I thought my house was gaudy..." Ryuko joked, making Weiss chuckle.

"Good to see you smile again, sister." Both looked up at Weiss' brother in front of them.

"Oh, hello Whitley." Weiss said.

"You have a brother?" Ryuko asked. "Never knew that."

"He's been away at business school." Weiss said.

"And who is this fair creature?" Whitley asked, holding out his hand.

Ryuko whacked the hand away. "Don't sweet talk me. You know who I am."

Weiss gave her brother a look as they walked past him before turning back to him. "Why are you so happy?"

"Klein made crêpes for breakfast." Whitley chuckled.

Both girls weren't buying the explanation. "Why are you bothering us?" Ryuko asked.

"If you must know, I heard father in his study arguing with someone in his study." Whitely confessed. "And it sounds like it was a two on one experience."

"Could Mother be one of them?" Weiss asked.

"That's what I thought, but then I saw her drinking in the garden." He answered. "But one was definitely a woman, and the other was a man."

Ryuko and Weiss shared a look. "You don't think that this is what she was talking about?" Ryuko asked.

"Well, what ever the case, I just wanted to warn you." Whitely told his sister. "I heard he wanted to talk to you."

Weiss knew her father's temper well and she drew scared. "You'll be fine." Ryuko grabbed her friends shoulder and pulled her in. "I'll be right there with you."

"Of course she'll be fine." Whitely agreed. "My sister is strong, like Winter."

Weiss stared at her brother in confusion. "You've never liked Winter, ever."

"True, but you can't deny her resolve." He added.

Weiss stared at her brother in confusion. "You... seem different."

"And you've been gone." He said rocking back and forth in place. "For your information, I didn't stop growing while you were away at Beacon." He waved goodbye and turn around. "Well, good luck with father."

Both listened to the muffled shouted as Weiss gave a small smile. "Thank you." Ryuko stared at the family portrait on the wall, taking note that not one of the girls looked happy. "Are you coming?"

"Yeah, sure." Ryuko nodded as she followed her friend.

With RYVANJR/AVYNJRR

'Do you believe in destiny?' 'Yes.' 'Jaune.' 'Pyrrha!' Ruby's eyes snapped open with a gasp. Ruby looked around at the others still sleeping before grabbing her head in pain.

"You okay, sis?" The redhead looked over at her sister sitting next to a tree, calibrating her arm.

"I... think so." Ruby answered as the others started to wake up. A few hours later, the seven were walking down the road with Ruby in front, reading the map. "So, the next town is... uh, is... we're lost."

"Gee, what gave you that idea?" Vergil asked annoyed.

"We're not lost." Jaune spoke up. "The next town is Shion. My family went to visit there all the time."

"Oh yeah." Ruby remembered the conversation from a few days ago. "Don't you have like, four sisters?"

"Its... seven, actually..." Jaune confessed with a sigh.

"You know, that actually explains a lot about bunny boy." Yang joke with Nora.

Jaune pulled a doubletake and stared at the blonde. "Hold on, what do you mean-"

"So, what did you guys do there?" Ruby asked.

"Oh, a lot of fun stuff." Jaune rushed up and pointed on the map. "Over here is an awesome hiking trail and over here is where we went camping all the time. I got my own tent because I was special."

"That's one way to put it." Vergil whispered.

"Well, actually it was to stop my sisters from braiding my hair." Jaune confessed.

"Didn't like the look?" Aerith chuckled.

"Yeah, they just kept giving me pigtail." Jaune ran his fingers through his hair. "Personally, I'm more of the 'Warrior's Wolftail' kinda guy."

"That's just what guys says so they can wear a ponytail." Yang said.

"I stand by what I said." Jaune said back.

All but Jaune and Ruby stopped and stared in horror. "Sis..." Yang got her sisters attention as the two looked up at the remains of Shion village. Throwing the map down, the group ran into the village. "There could be survivors."

"Over here!" Ren shouted as the group ran over to a Huntsman leaning against a broken wall. "Aerith!"

"On it!" Aerith threw her bags down and activated her Semblance.

"Can you save him?" Ren asked.

"He's lost a lot of blood, but I'll try." The brunette healer said as the others reached the two.

"What happened?" Jaune asked as the wound started to heal. "Who killed all these people?"

The Huntsman coughed up blood before speaking. "Bandits... a whole tribe... and... with all the panic..." He entered another coughing fit.

"Grimm." Ren finished and the Huntsman nodded. Ren stood up and left Aerith to her work as the other turned around.

"Okay, we have Aerith heal him for as long as she can, and then we help him to the next village." Ruby suggested.

"Right, me, Ren and Vergil can take turns carrying him." Jaune added.

"Are we sure he'll make it?" Nora asked as Vergil turned and looked at the man.

"He has to!" Yang said.

"Guys..." Vergil's word was ignored.

"If we go now, his chances are better." Ruby said. "I'll run ahead and look for help."

"Guys!" Vergil shouted, getting their attention. They turned around to see Ren visibly upset, Aerith pounding the wall in frustration, and the Huntsman dead from blood loss.

"Should we bury him?" Nora asked.

"Yes, we should." Vergil answered firmly.

"We should go." Ren walked past them and Vergil grabbed his wrist in anger.

"This man had a life. A family." Vergil stated. "We. Are. Burying him." Ren pushed his arm off and walked away. Vergil reached Aerith and the corpse as Nora raced after Ren.

Jaune sighed and rubbed his head as Ruby placed her hand on his shoulder. "It'll be okay."

"I'm just... tired of losing everything." He explained.

Ren marched away until he stopped at a massive hoof print in the ground. A 'V' shape sank into the top of the hoof and the back gave it the look of a heel. Nora reached him and followed his eyes to the print before the two looked at each other.

Atlas

Schnee Mansion

Weiss and Ryuko reached the office door and were about to enter when they were stopped by Weiss' father screaming. "This isn't about the good of my company! I'm talking about the good of Atlas, our entire kingdom!"

"Don't you dare give us that excuse!" Ryuko recognized her mother's voice as Weiss slowly opened the door.

"You can stay out of this!" Jacques shouted at her as the two girls looked in.

"Both of you, calm down!" James Ironwood said. "Jacques, will you please just hear us out?"

Jacques slammed his glass on the table. "You ARE a trusted friend to this family, James. But what you're suggesting is ridiculous!"

"I told you he would do this." Ragyo shook her head in disgust. "He ALWAYS does this. He takes the smallest problem and makes sound like he's going bankrupt."

"I don't expect you to understand this!" Jacques said. "You still have competition in your market. I have everything to lose in this scenario!"

"Oh, so we're talking about businesses now are we!?" Ragyo asked as everyone was unaware of the fact that the teen had entered the room.

"The council will never agree to this!" Jacques shouted as he stood up.

"You forget..." Ironwood and Ragyo stood up slowly. "I hold two seats on the council."

"And I hold another one." Ragyo added, angering Jacques even more.

"This little Dust embargo of yours has already cost me millions." He growled in anger. "I can promise you, I have not forgotten that."

"I knew this was about you!" Ragyo shouted as the door clicked shut. Weiss and Ryuko panicked as the adults turned and stared at the two.

"Ryuko, I thought I sent you to Weiss to reconnect?" Ragyo asked her daughter.

"We were." She told her mother. "But then he wanted to talk to Weiss, and now we're here."

"You disobedient little-" Jacques started.

"Clearly, this is a matter between father and daughter." Ironwood interrupted. "I apologize, I should have left sooner. The three of us will continue this another time."

"Very well." Jacques nodded. "Ragyo, Klein can show you and your daughter out."

Ragyo looked at Weiss and her daughter with real concern. "I think it'd be best if we stay for a little longer."

Jacques sighed as he walked over to the desk. "Very well, but for now I'd like a moment with my daughter, alone."

Ironwood and Ragyo walked over to the door. "Until next time, Jacques." The general said before turning to the two teens. "Please know, you two will have a home waiting for you both. We'll be back in session in no time." The three left the room, leaving Weiss alone with her father.

"Did associating with that Kiryuin cause you to forget your manners?" Her father asked.

Weiss had been staring at the door since the three left, letting her father miss the glare on her face. "Her name is Matoi, and I'm sorry. I should have knocked."

"Can you believe that there are still people in this who blame Atlas for what happen to Beacon? To Vale!?" Jacques asked.

"They weren't there." Weiss followed her father.

"It's a wonder that Ironwood wasn't stripped of his title!" Jacques sat down and spun his chair around as Weiss reached the front of his desk. "I bet Ragyo had something to do with it. She always seems to make the council trust her, for better or worse."

"I trust them..." Weiss nervously said.

Jacques sighed as he turned around. "Thanks to her and Ironwood, Atlas has been forbidden to export dust to the other kingdoms! 'A precautionary measure' they said, at least until we know no one wants to declare war. And yet they still export Ragyo' clothing. How anyone could call that logical is beyond me."

Weiss looked at the shelf before Jacques spoke up again. "Which is why the Schnee Dust Company is going to be holding a charity concert in the coming weeks. We need to show the people of Remnant that we are on their side. That we are all victims of the Fall of Beacon."

"That's... wonderful news." Weiss said with a smile.

"I know, and I think it would make a lot of people happy if you would preform at the event." Jacques added.

"Excuse me?" Weiss asked.

"So many forget that you were there that day." He explained. "My own daughter - a Schnee - on the ground defending another kingdom! We need to remind them, and we need to show that the Schnee family is just a strong as ever."

The door burst open and Ryuko marched. "That's what this is about, using your daughter as a prop!?"

"What are you doing, listening in on something that doesn't concern you!?" Jacques asked, leaning in on her desk.

"She's my friend! Of course it concerns me!" Ryuko shouted back.

"Children should be seen, not heard." He said back. "If you had a proper upbringing, you would know that."

"Ryuko, please leave." Weiss requested.

"But-" She turned to Weiss and saw the look on her friends face. With a reluctant sigh, the clothing girl left the room and Weiss turned to her father as he sat back down.

"A family of cretins, all of them." Jacques mumbled. "That's the company you kept a Beacon."

"This isnt about her." Weiss said. "Are you asking me to preform, or telling me?"

"I think it would make a lot of people happy." He answered.

Weiss let out a sigh before looking up at her father. "I'll start practicing."

"That's my girl." Jacques said with a devious smile as Weiss left the room.

Weiss closed door behind her as she turn to Ryuko. "That guy is a dick."

"That's my father." Weiss reminded.

Ryuko shrugged her shoulders. "Still a dick."

"You didn't have to do that..." Weiss said about the interruption.

"Hot coffee, you two." Both looked as Klein approached them, holding a tray with two cups. "I always find he keeps his study dreadfully cold."

"Probably to balance out the hot air he's been spewing." Ryuko said as the two girl picked up the cups. Ryuko noticed the disappointed look on his and felt bad. "Did I kill a joke you were setting up?"

With RYVANJR/AVYNJRR

'Jaune... Jaune! Jaune!' Ruby woke up in the night and looked at the sky with groggy eyes. Just before closing her eyes again, she heard Pyrrha's voice and sat up. She looked around at the downed fire with Vergil sleeping by it and the others still sleeping. Finally looking at Jaune's sleeping bag, she found it empty and countinued to hear Pyrrha's voice.

"All right Jaune, just like we practice." Ruby looked up at a bush behind the camp and saw a dim light coming from behind it. Walking around the bush, she hid behind a tree as she found Jaune practicing with his sword. On a nearby stump, was his Scroll with a recording of Pyrrha.

"Alright, Jaune. Just like we practiced. Follow these instructions." The recording said. "Shield up." Jaune braced himself behind his shield. "Tighten your grip." He gripped his sword tighter. "Alwyas keep your front foot forward." He held his feet tight in the ground. "Ready? Begin."

With a scream, Jaune thrusted his sword forward. "Again." Jaune swung the sword and blocked with his shield at the same time. "Again." He spun around asnswung in the opposite direction before panting. "Very good." He turned to the Scroll exhausted.

"Now, assuming you aren't cheating, we can take a break. I know this can be frustrating, and it can feel like so much effort to progress such a small amount. But, I want you to know just how proud I am of you. I've never meet someone so determined to better themselves. You're not the same person as when we started, and I know that this is just the beginning. Jaune... I... I... I just want you to know how happy I am to be apart of your life. I'll always be here for you, Jaune.

The Scroll rewound and Jaune dropped his head. "Alright, Jaune. Just like we practiced. Follow these instructions. Sheild up." Jaune sighed before returnign to the stance. Ruby stared at Jaune for a few swings before leaving Jaune alone to practice.

I was THIS close to having Vergil come in and ruin that tender moment at the end. Surprised no one noticed the marvel comics references in the team names last chapter.

Jacques Schnee. The second I saw this guy my first thought was 'douche bag'! He probably would have issues with a strong business woman like Ragyo. Klein as the seven dwarfs in one guy is cool, but I can't do that joke if Ryuko just killed it. With Ryuko' emblems, there's one on her belt buckle and another one on the left side of her skirt.

Well, given that I can't do the canon Yang scene, I'm gonna do something special. Or rather, several things.

Beta read by Natsu is Awesome.