The castle loomed above the rushing waters. Its spear-like towers reached up to impale the twilight sky. Its large base and courtyard sat on a rocky island that would not touch the neighboring world. The only thing that connected it was a thin but ornate bridge that ran from cliffside to cliffside. It was on this bridge that Weiss and her companions were now standing.
"Is this where we're gonna eat lunch?" Yang moaned. In the real world, Weiss had always known Yang to be stubborn and headstrong. Yet she was also the oldest member of the party and often showed Weiss the same care and support which, while incredibly different from Winter, was nonetheless still filled with much of the same sisterly devotion that she showed Ruby. That of course was when she was the oldest teammate.
The blonde six-year-old had thrown tantrums all day. When it first started raining she and Ruby ran ahead, on a mission to jump in as many puddles as possible but within the hour Yang back to cuddling her bare legs for warmth and refusing to walk. Cinder had helped some by holding a small flame near her that somehow kept slipping into the safe distance between the kids and Cinder's flames that Weiss was trying to maintain.
Despite the lack of food on the trip, Weiss insisted that they pressed on and would catch something when night fell, hopefully discretely to not upset the ten-year-old Ruby. Now the rain was making that impossible, and Weiss felt she had no choice but to turn off at the closest castle. They had passed a couple already but thanks to Weiss's luck, this one was far creepier than all the rest.
"You sure they're gonna give us their food, sis?" Ruby asked.
"They'd be cruel not to. And don't call me 'sis'." Weiss answered.
"'Kay sis," Ruby said. Weiss looked back but Yang still hadn't turned to face them.
The door was rather drab compared to the ornate windows that framed it. It was large to be sure, but its only decoration was the two knockers which looked eerily like Grimm skulls. Ruby grabbed one of the rings in its mouth without hesitation. She knocked. After 20 seconds she knocked again. After 10 seconds she knocked a third time.
"Let me see." Yang jumped up to grab the second knocker which was just a bit too high for her to reach with her feet still on the ground. The weight of the six-year old hanging from the knocker turned out to be enough to push the door open. Yang blinked then ran inside. "Yay! Fire!"
Cinder ran in after her. "Wait! We have to stick...Together!"
Weiss groaned and walked into the massive foyer. The place seemed abandoned. Not a single candle was lit in one of the many chandeliers. Cobwebs hung from them, and the furniture, and the walls...Still with a nice dusting and maybe a marble statue here or there, this place could rival even the Schnee estate.
Weiss turned into the next room where Ruby and Yang were silhouetted in front of a fire with Cinder sitting on a cushion off to one side. Weiss jumped a bit and put her sword to her the dress-belt she's been using to carry her sword. Then let go when she realized it was just a fireplace.
"We should find the lord or lady of the estate. We'll probably need their permission to stay here." Weiss said.
And hopefully, the only person left in the morning will be Cinder. Weiss thought but did not say. "Red. Blondie, come with me."
"No!" Yang shouted.
"I'm tired…" Ruby Whined.
"Do it or I'll-"
But Cinder cut Weiss off. "Maybe I should...stay behind with...them. In case the lord...comes here before...you find them."
Cinder did not meet Weiss's eye the entire time. But still, this was more brazen than she had been acting before. Was this a ploy? Or was Cinder suspecting Weiss's intentions? "Cinder-...rella. Why don't we talk amongst ourselves? Just us grown-ups."
Cinder turned her gaze down as she rose. She was still over half a foot taller than the 14-year-old "adult". The two left the kids in the grand hall as they turned around the corner and descended half a flight of steps. Just enough that if keep the gratd doorway insight without being seen themselves.
"You don't remember anything do you?"
If Cinder was still faking surprise, she was very good at it. The older teen's single eyes went wide and held back some kind of squeal. It then softened as one brow furrowed, pulling a bit of scarred skin out from under her eye patch. "Remember what?"
"Everything! Anything! Who I am?" Weiss had to hold the ice back in her voice. She almost wanted Ruby and Yang to hear though. To jog something in anyone. Even if it meant another fight.
Cinder bit her one cheek and spoke to the staircase. "You're Weiss. You're odd. You're mean to me. Don't lie, I know you are. But you're nicer...than my step-sisters. But they're just mean. You hate me. Why?"
Weiss could tell her. She could explain that Cinder was a supervillain. Would that jog her memory? Would she give a villainous monologue about how this was all part of her plan and burn down the entire estate. This was just some new maiden power meant to fuck with them. Weiss almost wanted it to be. Just have someone, anyone tell her she wasn't crazy. She wasn't meant to be here. She was Weiss Schnee, heir to the bloody reputation of the Schnee dust company, not a petulant child whose strongest power was a piece of vanity. Right?
No, that was idiotic. No way her whole life could be a lie, a coma dream of some village girl trapped in a glass coffin? Atlas, Beacon, Team RWBY, they had to be real. At least more so than this world of talking bears and dying crows. Unless-
Weiss had been so busy contemplating her own mental breakdown that she had failed to notice Cinder's movement. Not good. What was she reaching for? She was...kneeling?
Cinder lowered herself so that her head lay barely above the stair Weiss stood on. And in her burnt throaty voice, she croaked. "I will help you. I will do any...thing you ask. Just please don't leave...me."
"This- this is a ploy." Weiss stepped back up another step.
"No… I will follow...you. I will pro...tect the kids. I will take the...blame. I will fight with...you against those… horrible twins. Please just don't...leave me alone...again."
"I hate you. You said it yourself. So why are you groveling on your knees like some kind of peasant?"
"My godmother...sent you. You freed me. I have to be...lieve in that. And…" Cinder looked up at her, water danced on her gold eye. "You were the first...person to ev...er be kind to... me."
Now that was just sad. "Get up. We still need to find the owner of the mansion. You can watch the kids."
Sure enough, Yang had already fallen asleep on the grand sofa. Ruby sat next to her, reciting some story about two girls wandering into the woods to be attacked by Grimm. It was a ghastly tale, but it seemed to bring her comfort. Cinder followed into the room and fashioned a blanket for them out of a discarded tapestry. While draping it over the girls Cinder looked up at Weiss and smiled.
Weiss's stomach churned. So she did what she always did when she didn't want to see someone. She went upstairs.
Cinderella stoked the fire while Rose Red read to the younger child. The flames crackled like a chirping insect. The air hung musty and still. It was cold, even with the fire, but Cinderella did not shutter. The flames danced in front of her eyes just as they had the night she burnt the bear. It was all her fault. And yet it was so easy. It felt like she was in control. There was some comfort in that. And the crackling of the firewood, it almost sounded like a song she knew as a child.
Shake and quiver little tree
Throw silver and gold onto me
Rook di goo! Rook di goo!
Why do you look so blue?
"I'm finally free." Whispered Cinderella, "But she still doesn't trust me. I hurt everyone I touch. I am nothing."
The fire laughed and grew a deeper shade of crimson.
Is that all you'll need to be free?
You're already headed to the Emerald City.
Rook di goo! Rook di goo!
Stay with them now, I will save you!
"Thank you fairy god-mother"
Cinderella couldn't be sure if she fell asleep before or after talking with the fire. But a primal fear gripped her when she woke to that silver eye staring down at her. Was it her sisters? No, wrong color. It was just Rose Red. Why was she so scared of Rose Red? The girl was even more terrified, all huddled together with her red hood up. And she spoke in a hushed whisper, as if afraid that Weiss may hear. "We lost Goldilocks."
The upstairs of the mansion was in even worse shape than the foyer. The windows were broken, the candles unlit, and it looked like an animal had taken its claws along the walls. Most of the paintings were completely torn up by claw marks but Weiss was beginning to make out some symbols here and there; a portrait with no face save a tuft of black hair above, a nature illustration of a massive jaguar, A rampaging bull. Near the far end of the hall was a huge tapestry, along the east wall. It was perhaps a pale blue with a white insignia, but in the night time it looked nearly black. The flames from the candle Weiss stole dyed the pale white image red. It was a beast's head, with three large gashes torn right through the cloth. Weiss nearly dropped the candle.
All her thoughts froze only for new conclusions to break through the ice with a pick. The White Fang was here. The actual White Fang. What new form would they take on? Did they wield magic? Were they talking animals? Was that last thought racist? Oh damn, it was probably super racist. Weiss has got to be better about that! But either way whoever owned this castle could at least be assumed to be a member, former member, or some kind of sentient candle with the head of a former member. That could be very good, but was likely extremely bad.
The slush in Weiss's head melted a bit more into a thin stream of cool realization. The White Fang are from Remnant. Whoever put up this tapestry remembers the real world. They'd have perfect knowledge of proper fighting forms and potentially were already seeking to reform the organization in this new world. The thought was terrifying so why did it make Weiss feel so giddy? Less alone?
Weiss took down the tapestry, her eyes taking in every stitch. It was surprisingly heavy, nearly as thick as a rug. Whatever made the claw marks were strong, and huge. It was larger than any animal. Perhaps a Grimm? If she could get it at just the right angle perhaps she could identify-
CLINK!
The candle toppled on its side, having been knocked one by the tapestry's bottom. For a second Weiss feared flames, but apparently, the cloth was thick enough to simply put one light out. Well, that was one disaster avoided at least, still how sloppy! If this was the Schnee Estate, Father would've-
One breathe. Two. Three. The last thing this whole trip needed was another panic attack. There was a mystery to solve, focus on that. The light may be out but as Weiss's eyes adjusted she could still barely make out the white snarling beast, dyed red in. Wait. there was another glimmer of light helping her see. Weiss looked down the hall and she could see the last edges of light peeking around a doorway. It was faint, too faint to see when she had the candle so close to her. It did not flicker like candlelight flickered. And it was far too crimson.
Weiss put down the tapestry and picked up Purpleclad's rapier. Winter had always said during their ballet lessons that dance and combat go hand-in-hand. You had to be precise, yes, but also fearless. Above all, you must show the world confidence and sophistication even when you're too scared to go on. A moment of weakness and they'd tear your throat out. It was this memory that carried Weiss to the door.
The light was peeking around the corners of some internal walls which did not reach the ceiling. Weiss navigated the narrow passage and came to another turn. The light was stronger beyond it if only slightly. She followed and came to yet another turn. Just how big was this room? Around and around Weiss spun in the dark labyrinth, the light sometimes growing fainter as she tried to find a path only to brighter once more till the whole chamber glowed an unnatural and solid crimson. What was lying at the heart of the labyrinth?
One last turn, and Weiss came to a clearing. The walls seemed to be formed in an octagon around a central table. On it was- a giant LED? No wait Weiss squinted again and recognized something within a glass case. A rose? It glowed enough that Weiss could be at least more sure of her footsteps in this central room. And when she drew in close she saw the rose was welted, a dozen petals already fallen to the glass bottom of its prison.
Well, that was- disappointing. No one else here? At least that was good...probably. Weiss really should be getting back to the others soon to report the house empty but still. If all this was a glowing rose, then why the maze? What was with all the walls? She sighed and took a seat in a much too large padded chair next to the table. In response, a fireplace just beyond the table roared to life. Around her torches lit themselves with the flames magically jumping from one to the next, all placed above the small dividers and only feet from each other making this easily the best-lit room in the house. The shorter walls were no walls at all. They were bookshelves, hundreds of them. At the edges of the great chamber, the walls rose with more and more books. Weiss had known luxury and seen grand libraries but this was a veritable treasure hoard of knowledge. One could spend their entire life reading and never get through half these books.
Now we were getting somewhere! Weiss kept her sword close but at least allowed herself to be consumed by the cozy reading chair now in view. Maybe she was just getting paranoid. This mansion was creepy sure, but it's been nothing but helpful so far. Maybe the scratch marks were a coincidence, the tapestry certainly wasn't painted to have them like the actual white fang logo. Weiss was just seeing things that weren't there. She was...scared? Hopeful? Who knew. But at least she'd have some time to pour over her books.
Weiss took the closest book, a thin white one, and began to read.
"...Nicholas survived The Great War but returned to find his father had died in his absence. Furthermore, his father's mines, which had promised work to him and many other soldiers, were no longer function, stripped bare to aid in the war effort. It was enough to leave any man heartbroken but Nicholas had a fire in his belly. He left on an expedition into the tundra to find a new source of dust. And this is how Nicholas Schnee helped found the Kingdom of Atlas….
Weiss's nails dug into the old leather of the book. It was bound by hand and looked to be older than her grandfather. Older than Atlas, and from a different world entirely. She closed it solely and found no title on the cover. Just a symbol, the geometric snowflake of the Schnee dust company.
/ / / / / / / / / / / / /
Well it's been a while but RWBY is back from its January hiatus and so am I! This is very much not the reveal I wanted the chapter to end on but it trying to get to the other one proved to be the length of two chapters so you'll have to wait to find out happened to the mysterious owner of the mansion next. Oh and the chapter is told almost entirely from the perspective of Goldilocks cause Weis has had enough for now.
Anyway what's up with those books?