Just the Way you Are
Vale City Hall
Weiss is in the Vale gala for the presentation of the new products from the Schnee Dust Company. Being a 10-year-old in a dress, it was the most important rule of being an heiress of the dust industries founded by her grandfather. While she was walking around the party for some space, considering how large the crowd is, or rather to find Winter because she feels more comfortable being close to her sister as crowds make her nervous. But without looking, a man bumps into her and drops his glass of wine above her head, unintentionally. She yelped as it splashes all over her, Winter found her and quickly recovers her little sister from the crowd. She took a look at her, no cuts on her head, thankfully.
Then she notices their father heading their way, but didn't see the sisters. "Weiss, go to the restroom and wash up. I'll meet you there." And that she did. As she looked in the mirror, she is covered in purple-reddish colored wine. Every gala has wine for the adults to drink, but it would also mean trouble for any children attending. But seeing her mother drinking wine, it affects her badly. She would pass out at any chance, and sometimes cry. But Weiss chooses not to do so, and remains tolerant about her status as an heiress. But the way her father would pressure her, she cannot handle it any longer.
Fear of being punished and being turned on. She desperately tried to wash the stains off. But with the color, white, it was impossible to get it off. "Come on, come on, come on! Get it off, get it off!" She cried. She feels panicking in her body. She grasped her hands and runs outside of the city hall in tears. She cannot bring herself to face her father. And Winter wasn't done covering for her. By the time she sprint outside the building, she knelt down and looked at the sidewalk, hyperventilating, her heart beats nonstop at the panicking. "Why are you crying?" A voice asked. She looked up and saw a boy her age with light blue hair. Wearing a grey t-shirt and blue jeans. Also red sneakers. She isn't answering, but his kindness have led him to hand her a tissue. "Here." He said with a sincere smile.
Weiss takes the tissue and wipes off the tears. "Why are you giving me this?" She asked. Normally she would be criticized because of her name and who her father was to have tainted the Schnee name. Every child her age never wanted to be friends with her. All she ever wanted to be is being accepted for who she is on the inside, but because of her status. "I wanted to. I just hate seeing everyone else miserable. No matter who they are." Said the boy. He then got up and offer her his hand. "Wanna go to the park for a bit?" He asked. But Weiss is a bit hesitant at first, considering of how strangers are very tricky and could take advantage of her. But the boy insisted. "It's nearby the hall, a little walk will not hurt. I'm sure it will make you feel better." She then feels the need to get away from the party for a bit and takes his hand. Luckily the park is circular, so they wouldn't be far away. They then continue to walk.
"So, are you going to tell me what you're tearing up about? Cause by the looks of things, you weren't happy. And I could tell by the stains in your dress. Something tells me you're not from around here. My buddy and I are here for some trip. We are just staying in a hotel cause my dad is busy with something, and boy it was pretty long. He said there was a problem in Vale and thought I could take a look around the city to go out a bit." Explained the young boy. Having his arms raised behind his neck. While the white-haired girl is winding her thumbs in nervousness. "I will never be perfect that my father asked of me." Said Weiss. Then the boy turned to her in confusion. He can tell something is messed up in her home life. "What do you mean?"
"I lived in a fancy house, and my father is a tycoon for dusts, we have it all. But it all went wrong for my family. Why can't I be as good as anyone else in the family?" Weiss told him. "Nobody wanted to be near me because they keep comparing me to him. Sometimes I wished we weren't rich, this way, my family would've been much happier." She whimpered.
"So what, who cares?" Then Weiss looks up at him. He then turned away to see where he was going. "I mean, it must've been hard being in an environment like this. Your dad doesn't have the right to choose for you. Yes you lived in a comfortable life, and pretty have much everything. But the way you weren't happy about it, looks to me you have opened your eyes very quickly. I mean come on. I didn't choose to unlock my semblance. But my brother said it was worth it, because who knows when the next wars will start. I wanted to become a lawyer at first, like my mom is. But when my semblance was unlocked, I have to give that up and train to become a huntsman. But it has to come up with something good with it. My big bro said I can be too soft at times, when he trained me. And he was right. It just got my eyes opened to realized there was no going back. So I cannot have let this training go to waste. Cause I realized that this is all for survival." He then stopped to see Weiss far behind and walked back to her. "Are you okay?"
"I have to go back, my sister is probably looking for me." She said. And he decided to walk her back to the city hall before they get into trouble. "Well in that case, I have to go too. Dad gets pretty worried when I went out without his permission. That's the sort of habit my brother would have. Guess I must've picked that up too. The point is, you should love yourself just the way you are. Be whoever you want to be. Don't let them all hold you back." He advised. Weiss' heart beats with butterflies in her stomach. Those words are full of heartedly feels. She then thought to herself, why didn't she think of it then? They then went back to the city hall. Winter just stepped out to find the two in front of her.
"Weiss, there you are. You have me worried sick." Winter rushes to her and hugs her tightly. Then breaks away form her. Then another voice calls Neptune. "Hey Neptune! I've been looking for you little..." A young man paused to see Winter and glared at her. He also has blue hair like the younger one. "You!" They shouted in unison before pulling their weapons and started fighting, huntsmen style. Trees in the park are being wrecked. And lampposts are cut in halves. Then a car flew and was bout to hit Weiss overhead. "Look out!" Yelled Neptune, and then tackled Weiss away before it crashes. "Why are they fighting?" Asked Weiss.
"I wish I knew." Replied Neptune as they stand watching.
Ocean Temple
Weiss dashed at Cascade with her Myrtenaster. Neptune has saved her from Carlos Vega, and now it is her turn to break him free from possession. Cascade uses Tri-hard to block her slashes while she avoids his spiraling techniques. Her glyph have appeared underneath her feet. Then her friction of her heels have slide her way from being slammed down by Cascade who broke the middle layer of the floor into pieces. Sun, Ruby, Jaune and the others arrived too late to see them fighting. While Winter and Jupiter remained watching as there was nothing they could do to get through the cyclone. Jupiter tries touching it to vaporize it. But it was no success to this amount of water. Even for the slightest bit.
"Weiss, don't hold back no matter what!" Shouted Winter. Weiss then sees his broken goggles on the floor after rolling. Those are important to him. She picks them up and retrieves them before he brought his weapon down again. He uses Neptune's semblance to blast water at Weiss, but she blocks them with one point to deflect them. Jupiter left the scene, knowing he'll have to find Hyperion before he does worse. Winter then glances. "Where are you going?"
"Going after Hyperion. I'm going to give him payback for what he did." Jupiter response. "He's the main instigator of this curse, if I could stop him, he won't be a threat anymore. After all, he's no family to me." Jupiter stated. He was fully aware that he is his flesh and blood, his father's younger brother. But today, he's the main villain in Hyperion's own story. Jupiter will take his chances to take him down to lift the curse. "In that case, I'm going with you!" Winter said with determination. Much to Jupiter's shock, rivals can't stop being cooperative.
"But-!" Jupiter is cut off.
"One thing we have in common is that we have deadbeats for flesh and blood. Hyperion is no different from my father, in such cruel ways." Winter said. And Jupiter reluctantly agrees with a nod. Winter then turned back to the two younger Schnee and Vasilias. "My sister is a grown woman now. If she can beat him, hopefully she can save your brother."
Meanwhile, the rest of the huntsmen have regrouped in the caves. In the same spot Neptune have dove into for when he discovers his ancestors history. But Saturn have caught them by surprise resurfacing from the pit. Ceres have frozen Sage's feet without him noticing, causing him to be stuck while moving.
Mi blows away more of the Sea warriors with her pair of fan blades. Scarlet wraps his pistol hook around Juno's ankles and looped around a hole in the cave's ceiling. to hang her upside down.
Saturn pushes a chunk of water at Ren. But Jaune blocks it with his shield. Ren then felt something like two auras on the other side of the pit. He then points it out to his group. Ruby and Sun head to the pit and dove down to head on while the others remain to buy them some time to recover Weiss and Neptune. By the time they surfaced to the other side, they made it to the chambers.
But they also saw the cyclone blocking their way. It upsets Sun that his best friend is being used as a vessel for vengeance, at the hands of his uncle. He cannot bear to see Neptune in pain.
"Neptune, stop what you're doing! You need to come home with us and let us help you!" He yelled. Sun tries to pry through the cyclone, but it fails as he hits against it. Like a brick wall made of water. "What's wrong?!" Asked Ruby.
"This thing is like a brick wall! We need to get through somehow!" Ruby then uses her shifts her scythe into a sniper gun to blast fire dusts to dissipate the cyclone.
Weiss slides back as she was blown backwards as Cascade is about to get ready for his next move. His glare of anguish and anger pierced her in a similar look on Weiss. They charged at each other with every might of their strength, she uses her star bolts to restrain Cascade, and then Weiss' Myrtenaster glows white to lung at the blade once more. Cascade, or rather Neptune's aura have blocked the attack, but has weakened by the powerful blow. He then recovered, and then raises his palm upward as if he was about to make a turn for the worse.
Weiss then feels wet on her feet, only to see herself standing over a huge puddle of water. Then was raised by the water to the ceiling as she is slammed against it. She then fell from the ceiling, her aura flickered some light of white. But she recovered using her glyphs to slow her fall. And then landed on her feet. Blocking the sprays of water summoned by Cascade. Using Armored Gigas to defend against his semblance. At least it was powerful enough to block them. But the projection won't last long for the more damage it took from Cascade.
Weiss then uses her ice glyph underneath Cascade, but he jumps away from it. Then spun away from Cascade when he pointed his spear at her. "Give it up, Cascade! I know this is painful for you to relive the past, but flooding the world and taking me as a vessel won't bring Avalora back! And I bet your brother was right to have to try and have you stopped in the first place!" Shouted Weiss. But Cascade ignored her words. "I don't care! As long as the land floods. Remnant will be filled with only water."
"There can be another way! Both land and sea are not meant to be apart, they're meant to be one in the world. To bring balance, to bring peace! Don't you see?! Then Neptune collapsed onto his knees. And then grasped his head with his fingers in a fit of a headache. Weiss then notices this, and went to take a closer look for what was happening. "Neptune?" Weiss said gently. She gently holds his head. As the blue-haired man looks up, the cyclone stops spinning, and Ruby and Sun went to check on the two. The aquatic huntsman. His eyes are dark blue, like the deep seas. It was the same man who gave her the gentle look. "Weiss, what happened to me?" He asked. Weiss feels relief that he returned to normal.
"You're okay. We're going to get you out of here and..." She was cut off when Neptune pushed her away from himself. Making her stumbled back. "Weiss are you okay?" Ruby asked helping her up. And she nods in response. But looks back at Neptune as Sun takes a look at him in sincerity. "Hey, Neptune. Are you okay?" But Neptune isn't saying anything and swats Sun's hand on his shoulder off. "Sun, get everyone else out of here." He said shakily, his head is in pain again. "What are you talking about? You're not making any sense. But we're getting you out of here, and you're not going to fight us for it." His eye blinking light blue, and he is screaming in pain. Weiss tries to help him regain control of himself. But was held back by the two team leaders.
"Neptune! Neptune!" Weiss cries reaching out for him. But it was no use. He looked up to her, with sense of sincere and regret. "I'm...sorry...I beg of you...You have to kill me. Or else...he'll come back...and finish what he started." Neptune pleads by pulling out his spear and giving it to Sun. He is shocked that he chose to have his life ended to prevent Cascade from killing the people of the lands with floods. "Stop talking like that, Neptune! Fight it!" Sun refuses. But Cascade's aura was too strong. But then it was too late, he has taken over hiWeiss then s body. Ruby and Sun charged at Cascade to overwhelm him. But he pins them into the walls with the extension of water. Weiss then has no other option but to fight him. Then Neptune briefly retakes control of his body restraining himself from hurting his friends. Weiss stopped at the moment to have see his normal blue eyes.
"Weiss, you have to end me! To save my family, to save everyone from this curse!" Pleaded Neptune. Weiss then shook her head in tears. "No! I won't end you! You have to fight it, Neptune! You have to!" He then gently smiles at her to assure her that everything is okay. "It's okay, Weiss. If you can finish me faster, then you and everyone else will be safe!"
"Stop talking like that! I didn't come this way to lose you! I don't want to, you dunce!" Weiss hesitates truly to stab Neptune with his spear, as he placed it in her hands. He then wanted to tell her something before the world ends. "Listen to me, Weiss. From the moment you came with me to search for my brother. I just realized how much of a strong woman you have become. When we were ten, I saw you feeling trapped in an environment of socialites, in the Vale City Hall. But watching you fight made me realized how much you blossomed. Your determination is what's keeping you going, and I admired you for that. Whether you're an heiress of your grandfather's company, or a huntress. None of that mattered to me. Seeing for who you really are is what matters to me. I wish I have that courage just like how you gained. In my nightmares, even with my semblance, I was afraid that anything will happened to you. Or anyone else. I also thought that if I ever love someone, I might drown somebody. But being with you, I forgot all about it. And I was happy. The last thing I wanted is to protect you, Weiss. Cause you're the one I love!" Neptune admits heartedly. Ruby and Sun are also stunned to hear it, but not in a shock way. Just some things he kept personal. Weiss is then moved to tears to hear such words she wanted to hear for a long time. "N-Neptune...!" She said tearfully.
Weiss cannot fight back any longer as she rushes to wrap her arms around him. Burying her face onto his shoulder. "I promise this is true! I don't care who you are or what you've become! And I don't care if I was a Schnee anymore! From the bottom of my heart, I will always love you! Just being embraced by you, freed me from my own solitude! I love you just the way you are, Neptune!"
"Weiss..."
Neptune is once again possessed by Cascade. And was fighting him for control of the body. "No! Stop fighting it! We have a destiny, our future of our kind!" Yelled Cascade. Then switches back to Neptune. "I won't let you hurt anyone else!" But Cascade won back the possession. And then attacks Weiss as the team leaders have remained stuck on the walls. Weiss thought about what to do to wake up Neptune without killing him. He lunges forward each time Weiss dodges. Jumping over his spear being swept under. But then a song have been hear in her head. It was the song that Avalora have sung to him before she died. It was the same some that mellowed Cascade's heart. "Weiss, get away from him! You'll get hurt!" Ruby warns.
Weiss heeds her warnings, and then jumps away from Cascade and took the courage to clam him down as a means to bring Neptune back from slumber. She took a deep breathe. And then Cascade stops to see what she was doing. She then sings to him. Cascade recognized this song, as it brought back memories of the Great War. The only peaceful time in the war where Avalora have singed to him the song for when he was in the courtyard. Weiss then walks over to Cascade as her aura glows white as a response to her song.
That song, I heard it a long time ago. Where did you hear it?
Weiss then stops closely in front of him and caressed his cheek. Cascade is tearing up to hear that song. It was full of regret and sorrow that the one he loved is gone. "A...Avalora...I'm sorry...If I could go back. I would understand why you did it. I wished things would end...differently..." He sobs, dropping his spear. Weiss ran her hand on his cheek to gain his attention.
Then a soul float around gently. That light was familiar to Cascade when he saw that light flying between Weiss' and Cascade. Then the soul phased through Weiss as it glowed on her. The radiant aura that Cascade recognized. He was shocked to see who that was. She closed her eyes, for a moment, it's not Weiss, it was someone else.
"Avalora, is that you?" Asked Cascade.
"Yes, my love. In order for me to be released, the girl sang that song for me to see you again." Avalora speaks through Weiss' body. Cascade dropped to his knees, regrets is something he cannot deny. "Avalora, forgive me. I only want to reunite with you. Instead of running away with you. I killed you out of anger and hatred. I now understand what you did to save me."
Avalora (in Weiss' body) then knelt down to caress Cascade's cheeks for him to look at her. The same eyes he hadn't seen in a long time. "No, my love. When I took the moon stones on stones, I too am at fault. If I had defied my father, we would still be alive 85 years ago. However, even in death, nothing would stop me from loving you." Avalora assured him, Cascade's heart hurt to hear words of love and relief. The closure he desired.
"Oh, Avalora. My beloved and moon. Seeing you again is worth living this nightmare." He took her hand and pressed his cheek against it. He stood up as they glowed once more. They drew their faces closer and pressed their lips against each other. Melting in for a kiss.
Cascade's aura have left Neptune's body. And Avalora's aura left Weiss' body. Neptune finally regain possession of his body, and wrapped his arms around her waist, tears still run on their faces. Ruby and Sun are released from the grip of water and then still stared dumbfounded at this romantic moment. They then cover their eyes. They then break away and open their eyes.
"Weiss. What were you thinking?" Asked Neptune.
"Are you going to be okay, Neptune?" Asked Weiss. He then wrapped his arms around her. "Weiss. I could've hurt you. You could've run."
"Never, I won't give up on you. Not now, not ever."