Leap of Faith
Weiss glares at Neptune, like she doesn't remember him anymore. Her mind locked by the necklace. Neptune couldn't believe that such a man like Carlos would use a woman to control for his plans. Seeing her in a trance hurts him. He already saw his friends in pain for having to lose Beacon and Haven as a second home to them all. "Weiss, don't do this. It's me." He tried reasoning to her, but Weiss isn't listening. As Neptune sees the necklace on her neck, he sought his chance to remove it to return her to normal. As she steps forward while pointing her sword. Neptune walked backwards, being taken aback.
If I can just remove the necklace without hurting her, she'll be fine. If only I can knock her out first. Hold on just a bit longer.
Neptune's back has touched against the pillar. Weiss lunges her sword at his face, but Neptune dodges it and takes our his Tri-hard and turns it into a guandao for combat. By blocking her sword when Weiss strikes again. Carlos stood by to watch the duel, hoping the hypnotized Weiss will end his life once and for all. This time, Neptune was ready for anything. Weiss circled her glyphs around him to speed up her distances and cross him with her blade multiple times. But Neptune deflects every move she has made. Picking up to her level.
Weiss then collides her blade with his to an inch close to his face. Neptune looks into her eyes, and sees tears falling from her lids. Begging him to leave and not get killed. But he knew it wasn't right to leave her here in the hands of the enemy. It is a sign that she heard his voice, loud and clear. But her body still wouldn't allow her free will. Being suffocated by the necklace. Like a puppet being pulled within the strings. With Carlos as the puppet master. So the one thing he has to do, is to break her free form Vega's control. Weiss jumps back two times in a 25 meter distance, and summoned an Armored Gigas, different to the one Winter has summoned, this time it was a knight-like armor. He had defeated it before, and he could do it again. He first ran behind the pillars to let it cut them. They all toppled like dominoes.
"Hey, they're all private property, you're going to have to pay for it!" Carlos yells, but the battle continues. Neptune got behind the Gigas and jumped on its back. Once he pierced his spear on it, he creates the electric barrier, dissipating it in the process. Weiss stands on the corner of the walls and sprints from the glyph. And dashes at Neptune. But he swifts back and smashes her to the walls to create the damage to her aura.
Only for Carlos to throws a rose at him, pinning it at the back shoulder. Causing him to hiss in pain. He could feel the poison running through his veins. Neptune was quick to figure it was his semblance. Death Amor. But he continued to fight the poison to fight back. Being pinned down by Weiss as she pushes her blade, while Neptune pushes back against her. He successfully pushed Weiss away from him. She stumbles back from the heels she had been wearing. While recovering her position. Half of her aura was shattered. She panted from fighting. Fighting in a long dress with heavy frills. It was Neptune's chance to knock her unconscious as she charges at him once again. He once again turns it into a trident, with sparks of lightning. He lunges at her to put her at ease, but Weiss keeps twisting herself to not get electrocuted by his weapon. Even when hypnotized, Weiss is still capable to fight anyone.
Carlos then drinks some wine while watching the fight. He continued to throw roses at Neptune to amuse himself a bit more, getting bored to not have to do anything until the duel is over. "How boring." He didn't even realized how tired Weiss is becoming, not that Carlos would care as long as his goals are complete. But he never knew whether or not this plan will succeed. He threw another poisonous rose at him. Only this time, he hit Neptune in the torso. But he kept fighting the poison in his veins. It's amazing that his aura is protecting him, but for how long?
Neptune then swats her sword away by swinging his guadao. It landed between Carlos' legs and it pierced through the floor, making him jump in fright. Then Neptune proceed to electrocuted Weiss with his trident. Sparks have lightened from the ends of his weapon, and when the shocks have send Weiss in pain. The necklace have been fried from the electric dust infused within the Tri-hard. When the necklace have been split in half, it was broken as it fell to the floor. Weiss has finally calmed down and panted for her breath. As soon as she keeps breathing, she loses consciousness. She fell into Neptune's arms. He checked her pulse, and it was still beating. "You're going to be okay. No one's going to hurt you anymore." He assured her. And lifts her up, bridal style. He was about to walk away with her to make a run for it. He then shot a glare at Vega. "How could you? Weiss is not your puppet." Neptune growled while examining the broken necklace. But Vega called out someone who was thought to be locked up in prison.
"Argo, take it away." He snapped his fingers. "I'll be taking back my bride now and then."
"Not so fast, you're not going anywhere, Vasilias!" Yelled a voice. Then emerged from the ceiling, it was Rick Argo. Who was thought to be in prison after an assassination attempt on his older sister. The now ex-huntsman who hated him since the day they met. The flame of destruction. Drey's notorious cousin, who nearly stabbed him to death. "How're you here? I thought you were in jail back in Vale." Said Neptune. Still holding onto Weiss, and not letting go.
"Drey really thinks he can just rat me out and spray me with a hose to have me locked up. Too bad, the Vale police had no idea what I was capable of!" He then lit the flames of hatred from his hands. Neptune cannot fight them both, he knew it would put her at risk, and she has yet to regain consciousness. So he ran back to the balcony with Weiss in his arms and was about to stand on the rails if there are soft spots to land if he jumps off. But to his fright, it was his number one enemy. His worst fear since childhood. One that is deep blue. The ocean itself. "Give it up, Vasilias. You're stuck between me and my client. 18 stories down, 400 inches deep into the ocean, trapped like a dolphin in a net." He snickered. His heart beats every time he sees the deep blue. "Death in both directions."
He had nowhere else to go, the exits' already blocked since his battle with Weiss. If he jumps into the water, there's a chance that they'll drown, or his semblance being active by accident. On the other hand, it was supposed to be the only way out. But he is stuck between those choices. That is until Weiss stirs awake from the shock. It gives him relief to see her still alive. Her eyes fluttered to find herself in the arms of her Romeo. "Neptune?" She moaned. He glanced into her eyes, and he knew that there is no other choice but to jump. For one brighter side, it should be a soft landing. Weiss then saw a poison rose on his shoulder and tried to pull it out. But he stops her, like now is not the time for it. "Hey. Sorry that I have to knock you out, Snow Angel." It all felt like a dream to her, even though it is real all along. "It's okay. At least thanks for snapping me out of it."
"Look, I know it's going to sound dangerous. But, do you trust me?" Weiss knew what he meant, an idea that was about to come crashing. But it was better than to be married to a man who will have total control in all of Atlas. This way, Vega will fail. "Yes, I do trust you." Weiss then wraps her arms around Neptune's neck, and never letting go. Closing her eyes, feeling safe and warm. "Alright, hold on tight." Neptune then turns in front of their enemies at some point and leans back to fall into the water. Rick was too late to pull them back, and bangs the rails in anger. Carlos froze in shock at this apparent suicide. But it will take a twist to make it out of the mansion alive. "What in a world?! This is suicide!" He stammered.
They continue to fall as Neptune falls back to shield her from hitting the ocean floor. To prevent injury.
This might be risky, but now I am free. Can you feel it Neptune? Your aura is flowing to the oceans beneath us.
They hit the water as it came to a splash. At long last, they are out of the mansion. Out of nowhere, Jupiter is standing on the rooftop, with Tyler Shepard coming over to him about to talk to him about something. He knew he threw away his identity to protect his younger brother, and it was too tempting to see how he is doing. "Jupiter, what were you doing? You know you cannot be anywhere near your brother." Said Tyler. Then he saw what was happening, two huntsmen in the middle of falling down. "What was that all about? They could've died." Gasped the wolf faunus.
"Leave it to my brother for pulling off something like that. I never thought of the day he would take the dip. But now, he has flow with the ocean." Assured Jupiter, crossing his arms, like he knows he will survive. "There are people down in the manor's basement, according to the witness passing by. Luckily he was able to give us the information. Let's get going."
It looks like you're not the little boy you used to be, Bro. Sorry, Zerena, but it looks like I'll have to turn myself in. Thought Jupiter, as he regretted for having to put his brother in his place. His plans is to come to Atlas and confess for his crime. This way, his little brother will be free from anything else. But the future of Remnant is at hand.
Weiss woke up in the cold chills of the winter season in Mantle. As she opens her eyes, she is lying on the snow. The flurries have been carried by the wind. After stirring from the fall, she finds Neptune unconscious. To her horror, his skin have turned blue from hyperthermia. And the rose is still attached to the shoulder, while streams of blood have dripped from. Weiss crawled to him and he was still breathing. She felt guilty to have put him in this state. "Neptune. Oh no." She caressed his cheek, and it felt cold from the water in low temperature. Her hands are also shivering from from the cold.
"You dunce. I told you not to come for me. You hated water, but you still risked your life for me. It can't end like this." She said, frantically. Weiss still doesn't have a scroll to call for help. She pulls out the rose before it can spread the body even further. "Please wake up. There isn't much time. Neptune, please?" Pleaded Weiss. Then a thud was heard, by the landing of the ex-huntsmen who was waiting to kill Neptune for the past decade. Weiss spun to look at him in fear. It was Rick, the one man who has sold them out for bounty. Hired by Carlos to kill Neptune and hand Weiss over to him by force. Then came along Carlos Vega. "Argo, you got your wish, kill the blue-haired commoner, but spare my bride, she is still in use for me." Carlos orders.
Weiss then sees her Myrtenaster in Neptune's satchel. To her luck, she takes it out and puts herself in a stance. "Wrong. You're both going to have to kill me first." Weiss warns. She takes off her veil and torn off the bottom half of her skirt of her wedding dress to balance her position. Ready to fight against her now ex-fiancee. To protect the man she loves with all her heart. "Wedding's off, Vega! You won't be ruling Atlas when I'm done with you!" Weiss now free of Vega's grasp, will now show him for what it's like to not get whatever he wants. She will not be a prize to anyone who will get their way of claiming her as a jewel. "And I won't let you kill Neptune because I care for him, more than you think! And I will stay by his side until the end, no matter what!" Weiss admits her love for Neptune with all her heart to clarify that she won't stay be forced in a position she never chose to begin with.
You kept it this whole time. Thank you, Neptune. Now it's my turn.
Meanwhile, Drey was too busy fighting Rina. It overwhelmed him to fight this many hair she stretches. The enraged soldier who allied herself with the malevolent CEO for personal gain of hair products for free. "Trust me, Lady! You don't want to do this!" He reasoned, but he was nearly struck by her length of hair. But the angered woman before his eyes have threw a dresser at him before Drey had dodged it.
"You ruined my hair! And you're paying the price, boy!" Drey keeps rolling under and between the lengths of hair. Rina is proven to be incredibly powerful. He then ran into the bathroom and closed the door to block the hair from getting in. But Rina punches two holes between the doors, startling him. "There's no point in hiding! You're still going to get what's coming! Aw, don't run away, I'm just getting started." She said seductively. Drey then slices her lower halves of her hair. She then screams in agony to see her hair have been fired again.
Drey then sees something, her hair being burned means she cannot stretch them. It was her only weakness. He hates the fact that he has tp fight a woman. But seeing her aggressiveness tonight, he doesn't have a choice. He came out of the door to scare her with the fire for his chance to escape, hoping the ceremony fails. Which actually succeeds, seeing the ails being burned to the ground. But where are Neptune, Weiss, and Vega? That's what got him concerned. But then sees flames on the curtains. What are flames doing in the aisle? He wasn't there when he distracted Rina. But it hit the idea for who was here and who was not.
Oh no, Rick what did you do? Thought Drey.
"There you are, you barbarian!" Yelled Rina, storming into the ballroom. Drey keeps springing away from the hair. For his final chances, he burns up his semblance using his twin daggers, with molten heat to cut the hair. Although Rina cannot feel any physical pain. She whined like it was for real. Seeing her hair getting chopped off from the heat of Drey's Inferno. That's all she is, a petty person who care nothing but herself. Drey drove himself closer and closer. While Rina uses every last piece of her hair to extend without thinking twice.
Blinded by anger for the loss of her hair. She keeps extending her hair, but Drey slices them more. Until he reaches the end, near Rina. And then strikes her in the face. The last of her hair was burned at the bottom edges. It was now shorter like a boy's cut. For a soldier who made her way to Atlas Academy, what she lacks is weaponry, and combat skills. Her hair, she treats it like a child of her own, and a personal weapon she cared for her life. She reminisce of her life prior to the age of 17, how her parents complimented her hair. How boys adored her because of her beautiful locks. And how many girls are jealous of her beauty. How it boosted her confidence. Because of how much she cares for her hair, her semblance was unlocked. "Hair Extension."
My beautiful locks. It was the one source of my many accomplishments. My only soulmate. My only friend. But now, it's burned. Oh well, it was nice while it lasted. Thought Rina, tears have swell in her face. Her loss is a lesson she'll have to think about for a while. Slamming to the walls near the doorway. Before hitting the floor. Drey saw her tears, feeling guilty for having to hurt a fellow huntsmen. But it was the right thing to do. Her superiors will not be happy for what happened.
Weiss forms ice on the ground to block Rick's flames. Rick went over the ice walls and begins to attack Weiss with the blade in his hand. But Weiss crossed her Myrtenaster to push Rick away. While blocking the roses that were thrown by Carlos. Then he uses his whip to grab Weiss. But she dodges them from every swing. Drey is still inside the mansion, for some reason. But to her luck, he arrived and combats Rick. Fighting fire with fire. Weapon against weapon.
Carlos was fling by a glyph, but he regained his balance and dashes towards her. But Weiss collides her weapon against his. They blew each other away before they charged at one another. Her priority is to call for help, protect Neptune from harm, and then free the huntsmen from the mansion. The last swing Carlos made with his whip was cut short by the slash of fire from Weiss' rapier. Frightening him, he underestimated her for getting this far to fight his dominion.
Drey and Rick continue to backlash at each other. Still throwing each other some fire. Rick charges at his cousin with pure hatred. Drey now has his eyes opened and does the same with his molten daggers. Castor and Pollux, the representation of brotherhood. Something he has once with Rick when they were young. But now seeing his true colors of bloody red. Then they slayed passed each other. Until they regained their stances and waited to see who fell. They keep standing far apart, and not looking at each other, no longer acknowledging as family. Neither of them have fallen like the lava they are standing on.
They then turned to each other once more, eyes burning flames. Body heats lighting up like the volcano in the winter air. Rick then rolled his eyes to Neptune and decides to quickly end his life to make his life goals accomplished. So he spun to him in an attempt to burn him alive. He then throw his flame at him. Neither Drey, nor Weiss are close by to prevent him from being hit.
"No!"
"What are you doing?!"
Then the flames was dissipated with one shot of a bullet. Out of nowhere. A voice have spoke up. Something that Neptune remembers who it belongs to. As he stirred nearly awakened. "Attacking the wounded, right in front of your opponent. That was a cheap shot coming from you. I kinda knew that someone like you would pull that off. But in the end, it was you who will lose." Appeared behind Neptune is a man with a similar hair color as him. Black goggles over his eyes. He flips them up and reveal those ocean blue eyes. Almost as if he and Neptune are twins, only he is around his 30s. Weiss is astonished to see his look alike and nearly collapsed. "Neptune? No, you not him. You're...you're..." Rick is also jumped to see a very face that he hates for a long time. It's unknown for why he hates the Vasilias family for some time. But he didn't want to give his reasons for it. "No, you're...It can't be! You're supposed to be dead!"
"That's what we want everyone else to think, Argo. I have known you since the first day you picked on my little brother. And here I thought you matured. But I guess I was wrong. Looks to me that your cousin knew better than you."
"Jupiter..." Drey began as he hears what he says. And started to put and two together. "Vasilias..." Weiss finished to see him alive and well. The one man who was thought to be dead for a decade. He then turns to the two huntsmen. "Neptune's not dead. His aura is just depleted." Jupiter assured them, carefully wiggling the rose off his shoulder. Carlos is also in dismay to see more huntsmen interfering with his plans. "Great, more rats I have to get rid off." Jupiter seemed offended to hear such words. He may be the calmer member of Team ZRVT, but he isn't one to back down like his brother was. And so he stood up and draw his spear to his neck. Giving him a warning, knowing the coward he is now. "I...I..." Carlos stuttered, shaking at the sight of the huntsman before him. "You're wasting my time, the next time you placed a bounty on my brother, or any innocent people. We will find you." Warned Jupiter. Then Tyler throws an element of surprise with a cable wire meant to restrain him from the legs and arms to keep him from escaping. And by "we," he means him along with the rest of his team.
Rick had enough seeing the blue eyes, and he is extremely heated up from his anger. Squeezing his sword as he didn't hold back. "One Vasilias is to kill is boring. But killing two of them is even better!" Rick roared by rushing towards Jupiter. But with the snow around the area, he knows that it was frozen water. It gives him the advantage he needs to create a fog. Turns out throughout his journeys, he already mastered his semblance. Rick then got taken aback to see nothing but mist. That is until Jupiter jumped him. "Over here." Right behind him, Rick clanged his sword against his spear. Then Jupiter swings his spear at Rick, but he leaps two times. Then with one down swing, he creates a wave of fire aimed for the eldest Vasilias. But Jupiter deflected it. He ran behind him and and swept his spear underneath his feet and sent Rick in midair. Giving Jupiter the chance to slam him forward until Rick got sent to his concussion.
"Should've listen to my brother when you have the chance." Scoffed Jupiter. Drey and Weiss are amazed while looking after the younger Vasilias who is still unconscious. He then walks over to them. "So you're Neptune's brother. I heard you were only playing dead for some time to keep your brother out of danger. Thank you." Weiss thanks him. Feeling nervous, seeing the resemblance between the brothers despite the age differences. "Trust me, you might want to get out of this place as soon as possible." Jupiter knelt down to his younger brother and notices he was barely breathing. His pulse is too slow on his neck. Jupiter finds a quick way to revive him by punching his chest. "Ah!" Neptune grunted. By then, he sputters the water off his mouth and coughs as a sign for life. He then opened his eyes, and sees the very face he has longed to see.
"Jupiter...is that you...bro?" He coughed. Thinking it was just a dream. But when he reaches his hand, he was still weak from the body temperature. It was about to fell back, but Jupiter catches it, as proof of life. "Hey, bro." Neptune then feels tears of joy to see his brother alive, it was the same feeling if familial warmth he have never felt in a lifetime, until now. Weiss and Drey are melted by the family reunion. But to Jupiter, he knew it wasn't going to last long. Weiss then remembers what she was going to tell him.
"Oh no, I almost forgot! There are podded huntsmen still in the mansion! We have to get them out!" But Jupiter shook his head like he knew something was up. They all thought it was too late to save them at first. However, there is a twist to it. "No need to worry now. My team and I took care of it. Thanks to you, we received word form the escaped witness about the Vega Corporation's elaborate schemes." Jupiter explains. Smiling at Weiss for playing smart. Neptune also thought of her as a heroine, and the witness as a hero as well for exposing the CEO's plans for an attempt to take over Atlas. Then a spotlight shines over them as they covered their eyes. It was the Atlas Military coming to arrest Vega, but also someone else. "Jupiter Vasilias, Tyler Shepard! You are under arrest!"
"Jupiter, what is this all about?!" Neptune asked.
"I came here turn myself in. Knowing they're coming after you for a mistaken identity. Sorry, bro, it was my fault that you took the fall. That hair sample left at the embargo ship meant to sail for Vacuo by Carlos Vega. It was mine. But the embargo was a trick to think that it was only dusts. But the truth is, they're actually shipping huntsmen for the Red Eye's Grimm-Hybrid project left by his father. So we rescued them and captured the crew for some answers. So nobody is dead." Jupiter explains his side of the story.
"Jupiter, you need to come home. Mom and Dad are waiting, and they're going to be happy to see you again." Neptune tries to convince him to escape with him. As much as Jupiter yearns to reunite with his family, he cannot bring himself to put them all in danger. But there was one decision he has to make. Keeping them all alive. And safe. "Sorry, but that you mean you'll be a fugitive for life. Like I already am. Which is why I have threw away my past, a long time ago."
Later on, Neptune becomes devastated for his brother's arrest. They were just reunited and this is how it ends. Or so they thought. Winter still gives the elder Vasilias a dirty look for having to put his brother in his place. But gave him his regards. "You know, for a fugitive who have been on the run for a very long time, you did the right thing for your brother." Winter said. But Jupiter also gave her a dirty look for having to been dishonest to herself and her sister. "Funny, I couldn't say the same thing to you when you're not telling your sister the truth." Remarked Jupiter as he was led to the cargo meant for prisoners as Tyler is among him. The abducted huntsmen, free from the pods, named Carlos Vega as their kidnapper. As a result, he was arrested as well. After hearing about the debt and the forced marriage placed upon Weiss, Winter gives him the slap in the face and dismissed him from his position as specialist. Blaming herself for not checking his background.
Winter tries to apologize to her younger sister for this. But another fact she has hidden was that she was part of the experiment of Grimm-hybrids from the Red Eye. "Tell me, Winter. Is this true? You have taken it, didn't you?" Weiss deduced, turning away from her elder sister. Stepping back, predicting a Grimm limb from either arms. Which she hid with a glove she always wears. Winter didn't denied this and confessed for having participation in this. For honor in protecting Remnant. But at the cost of her free will, should the effects happened. Weiss couldn't even look at her anymore. Neptune tried to falsely confessed to the crime to set Jupiter free. But genealogist made it clear that the hair sample belonged to Jupiter. And Winter told him it was the right thing to do, even if it means seeing a loved one in cuffs. Neptune covered his eyes in shame of where the accident has led them. Weiss wrapped around his arm to comfort him.
Then there was a rumbling noise. "Tidal wave!" One shouts. It was too late, the ships have already boarded. A tidal wave has rushed its way to the people standing before it. Just as the ship lifts from the ground, Jupiter knocks away the soldiers and jumps off the ship. As everyone else runs from the wave too fast for them to get away from. As the last crowd ran passed them. Jupiter pushes the waves and turns them into mist, but more water keeps rushing over. Neptune then glances at his brother and is about to go after him to keep him from getting hurt. "Jupiter! Jupiter!" He runs after him.
"Neptune! What are you doing?! It's too risky!" Weiss shrieks, Winter tries to pull her back to not risk her life. But Weiss snatches back her arm and went after him. Instead, Winter created the projection of the armored Gigas for it to grab Weiss and throw her into one of the ships.
Jupiter then sees Neptune. "Neptune!" He shouts. But the waves already overtook him and swallowed him whole. "Ah!"
"No, Jupiter!" Neptune shouts back, desperate to save his brother. Tears in his eyes to find his brother being washed away. And so was he. Neptune then tried to swim to find his brother. But he keeps falling back into the water. Moving his hands to keep himself to the surface. But his fear have overtaken him once again. He swallowed the salt water into his throat as he keeps panicking. There was no sound underneath the waters of doom. Tears still flow as it separates from water. His heart, now stops from the water filled in his body.
Dang it. Not again, We were just reunited. But now, I lost him again. When will this end. Oh well, I guess my time is up. If there's one thing I wanted now, is that I took the courage to use my semblance. Jupiter, I'm sorry.
The last thing he sees before blacking out, is that Weiss has been swimming towards him. Her eyes are marking worrying. Then she pulls him back to the surface. Waving to the ships to pick them up. Weiss grabs onto a piece of wood for her to hold on while wrapping her arm around Neptune's chest to keep him afloat.