A Sun for the Schnee

A hero… what a wonderful fairy tale. Sometimes… I still wish for a hero. My husband… he is a monster… I can't stop him. I'd never be able to… Winter… Weiss… Whitley… I wish that I could help you all… but I'd never be able to on my own. I… I need someone, anyone… who could help me!

Karna

Karna was silent as he sat at the table inside a small interrogation room. He looked towards one wall, well aware that on the other side, his Master, as well Jaquees, were standing there… it was good that she was, or else he would have to burn through the reserve he still had leftover from the Command Seal.

Alongside the man and Willow, was a military officer, the same one from the house who'd practically dragged him, with help from Jaques, to this table. Willow at least, had put her foot down, and refused to leave his presence. Something Jaques had objected to… but the officer, a General apparently, Ironwood, had decided to stand by Willow on, at least in this matter. He understood that Jaques wasn't a good man, but wasn't about to completely oppose him…

A part of him wondered, just how powerful Jaques really was, not physically, but mentally, politically, and what other strengths he held. His goal was going to be a tough one, at the very least.

As he was staring at the window, the door to the interrogation room opened, and he turned his head towards the man who entered. A young officer, maybe twenty years old, who held a journey, a cup of coffee, and moved to take a seat at the table. He would have gotten up and moved the chair for him, but he was aware that it might cause more problems than it might solve.

"Alright… let's get this over with," the officer muttered, opening his notebook and grabbing the pencil between his ears, holding it to a page before looking directly into Karna's eyes. "Name?"

"Karna Pandava," he said, giving the name of his birth mother, Kunti, and that of the house he'd fought against most of his life. Even disowned, it was still who he was, and he couldn't change that fact, as much as some might have wished it so.

"Ok… odd name," the man muttered, scribbling it in his notebook before looking up. "Can you please explain why you were at the Schnee residence at the time of the attack by the White Fang?"

"Lady Willow had requested my presence, and I arrived ten minutes before the attack occurred," he stated, deciding to state the truth, while omitting magecraft. If there was an association in this world, it was likely that if he mentioned it, they would find out, and attempt to kill his Master because she had summoned him, and it would have been his fault. Willow wasn't even a practitioner. She was a mother who needed a hero.

"Ok… checks out with that…" the officer muttered before moving on to the next question. "What is your occupation?"

"Before today, I had no current occupation. My current occupation is lady Willow's personal bodyguard," he stated, and he could just barely hear the grinding of teeth behind the window/mirror to his right. Jaques most likely.

"And before that, where did you live?" he asked, before taking a sip from his cup of coffee.

"I am a drifter, I had no permanent residence," completely true. The dead didn't have a 'residence' of course, but as a Heroic Spirit, he had been summoned to many places and times to give his aid.

The officer in front of him just scratched his head, as behind the window Jacques started talking to both Willow and Ironwood, and despite their best attempts at sound proofing, he could most certainly still hear the conversation.

"Where did you meet this man! Why had I been informed you've been meeting-"

"Jaques, don't start, or I will have you arrested,"

"I told you, he's just an old friend… I asked him to come,"

"I hardly believe that a man like him could just wander around and not be noticed in that armor. General, do you not have records of every hunter who's graduated from Atlas?"

"I might, but I'm not at liberty to release them,"

"Oh for, find out who this man is!"

As they were arguing, the officer spoke up again. "Right, mister Pandava, can you please tell me your… prior relations with Willow Schnee?" it was a simple, but private question, but he would still tell the truth.

"Before today, I had not met her in person. But she had called for my aid, and like any who do, I answered as best I could," he stated, and the arguing started again.

"Willow where did you… hear of this man?" that was the general, rather than Jaques this time.

"From… father. I didn't actually think he'd…" she started, a lie.

"From Nicholas? You can't be serious, that man looks no older than thirty, at best… honestly he's a bit pale… but I doubt he has any prior relations to Nicholas," Jaques started again.

"Then why don't we ask him," he started, before the officer in the room raised an eyebrow as he was writing, and Ironwood's voice came from both behind the glass, and from the earpiece the officer was wearing.

"Ask him what prior relations he has with Nicholas Schnee," Ironwood ordered, and the officer looked directly at him.

"Can you please explain what, if any, prior relations you have with Nicholas Schnee?" he stated, changing the question slightly, and Karna thought fast, in order to make sure Willow wouldn't get in trouble.

"Only that he asked me not to speak of the events," he could hear Jacques swearing from the other side of the window. Willow just sighed as Ironwood groaned.

"So you are not at liberty to discuss these events?" the officer asked, and Karna nodded.

"He asked that I do not speak of them, so I shall not," he repeated, and the officer just marked that down, grumbling a bit in annoyance.

"Dammit…" Jacques muttered before continuing. "Who is this Karna?"

"What do you think we're trying to find out… he's a complete blank, and now our only lead is that he knew Nicholas," Ironwood said…

"And Nicholas is dead, and he isn't talking," Jacques complained, obviously annoyed with this turn of events. Willow, for her part, just sighed, in relief to his ears.

The next hour was spent answering more questions, Jaques getting increasingly frustrated on the other side of the glass, and eventually, Ironwood calling off the questioning, saying he was free to go. They hadn't found anything on him, and given his presence had saved several members of an obviously quite important family, and Willow's insistence, they weren't going to press any charges on him, even if Jaques, weakly, tried to get destruction of property on him, which really was the White Fang… mostly. Whitley had apparently told Jaques how Karna had burst into his room through a wall to save him.

Thus, after having his spear returned to him, he was walking beside both Willow and Jaques back to the limo, where Klein was waiting, and the children were still inside said limo, probably very antsy and bored at this point. Klein opened the door, allowing Jaques in first, Willow allowing him to enter after her… husband, and then getting in herself.

The ride was quiet, Willow staying close to Karna, something that caused Jaques no small amount of irritation as the three children remained in complete silent. The air inside was awkward, and perhaps full of fear. Some of it was of him… but most of it was because of Jaques' presence.

But, before they reached their destination, Jaques decided to speak. "Willow… why, did you decide to hire this man?" he asked, staring at his wife, who just looked away from him.

"Because we need someone to protect us!" Jaques whipped around towards the voice, and Karna looked out of the corner of his eye as Willow nearly sat up straight from fear.

Little Weiss had spoken for her mother, and she continued. "The White Fang attack our home, here, and if it wasn't for him, Whitley wouldn't be here," Weiss proclaimed, the ten year old hugging her little brother, who just gripped her back and closed his eyes. He was still afraid of that moment where Karna had arrived just seconds before disaster. "He's a hero,"

Part of him felt happy that she saw him so highly, and Jaques just glared at the little girl, before Willow decided to speak up. "You know how bold the White Fang are Jaques. And as you can see from today… We need more than just the assurance the police will come. So if you wouldn't find a way, I did," she said, staring down her husband, the fire that kept flickering within her burning for a brief moment as Jacques looked her dead in the eyes… before sighing, and laying a hand on his head.

"I… suppose I have been… lax in the security of the manor," he muttered, Karna just staring, but not glaring. He'd been 'lax' because he kept all the security where he was, and since he wasn't at the manor, it had been left unprotected… until his arrival.

"Sir Jaques, rest assured, no harm shall come to your family, for I have pledged to protect them, to the very best of my ability," Karna said, more to reassure the children, and Willow, that he wasn't about to leave. He'd conserve every drop of prana, make dutiful use of what little power he held here, to keep them safe… even from Jaques himself, when he had to.

"You might have beaten a couple of goons, but-" Jaques started before Winter coughed, and Jaques looked to her with a glare as the eldest child spoke.

"He professionally incapacited every member of the White Fang in the building, and, according to Klein, did so with ease whenever he had a chance. And after saving Whitley, he'd instantly returned to mother's side and suggested finding somewhere to hide and hole up. As far as I can see, he's more than a professional," she said, and Karna actually raised an eyebrow in surprise. He knew she was mature, just from reading her expressions, and her intelligence was not in doubt. But that much from a fourteen year old girl was at least impressive.

Jacques groaned, and leaned against the side of the limo before murmuring, "At least its not costing me anything…" he complained before looking directly at Willow. "It better not."

She glared at Jacques, but didn't say anything as the limo pulled to a stop, Klein getting out of the driver's seat before coming around and opening the door for Jacques, who climbed out without even a goodbye. With him gone, heading towards a large building with concern of only his profits on his mind, Klein shut the door before getting back in, "Milady? Where too?"

Willow sighed, and tried to go for a bottle that was sitting in a cooler near the front of the Limo, "Now is not the time," Karna cautioned, just before she could grab it, slowly turning towards her children, all of whom were watching from behind Karna. Slowly, Willow turned away from the bottle, before speaking.

"Klein… take us to the other manor," she said, Klein just humming in affirmation before the limo took off, Karna sitting between Willow and Winter as Weiss and Whitley adjusted their positions in the car with their father gone.

After a few minutes, Winter spoke up again. "Where did you come from?" she asked bluntly, looking up at Karna with a glare on her face. He looked down, the realization that she was concerned about his mysterious appearance, even if she was grateful to have saved her mother and siblings, was the source of this animosity.

"You mother called for me, I answered," he answered simply, and Winter glared at him… before Willow spoke up.

"Its my fault he's here," she muttered, resting one hand on her head and groaning for a second, the lingering effects of the alcohol in her system kicking in. "I… brought him here… with my Semblance…" she explained, not even believing it herself.

"You mean like how Winter summons birds?" Weiss asked, her eyes wide with excitement, he could see that she was already dreaming of summoning a powerful warrior like him to her side, some knight in shining armor… a young boy came to mind, and his paladin companion, but he cast that aside for now. Whatever those two were up to right now was of little importance here.

"It was an accident… and now," Willow muttered, the back of her hand, where her command seals lay.

"Even if it was an accident, I am here now. And I will do my duty," Karna restated, Winter raising an eyebrow as Willow spoke up.

"But you can't even get more than twenty feet away from me, how can you?" she muttered, and Karna looked at her, and then at Winter.

"This semblance… it is summoning, yes?" he started, recalling something, words spoken by his former Master during the Great Holy Grail war… those of Amakusa Shirou.

"Yes… why?" Winter asked, and slowly, Karna reached towards Willow, grabbing her hand. She flinched, but didn't pull away as he grabbed one of Winter's, slowly bringing them together, and then leaning in to Willow ear.

"Please, repeat after me," Karna started, before whispering the holy words to his Master. Under her breath, she repeated them slowly, beneath his hand as he held Winter and Willow's together, the second stroke of her seals glowed, before dulling, Winter gritting her teeth for a second… before pulling her hand away a moment after the pain was gone.

Pulling off her glove, she looked at her hand, Karna looking as well as Willow stared at her one remaining seal, and the two faded ones. "They will return in time," he reasoned. It would take weeks, maybe a month, for her to regain even one seal, but that was already more time than he expected from a Grail War… and this was no war.

"What is this?" Winter muttered, Whitley and Weiss staring as well as Karna answered her question.

"A symbol of our contract. The one I made with your mother. That seal means that I am not only her Servant, but yours," he started, noticing that now that he could feel the drain, Winter had barely any more mana to give than her mother, maybe a little bit more, but not a lot. "With that, I can be near you as well, and should you ever require me to save you, call for me, and this," he pointed at the single stroke on the back of her hand. "Shall bring me to you,"

"How would that even?" Winter muttered, before closing her eyes, and pulling her glove back over her hand as Klein spoke up.

"I don't know what you are talking about, but we're nearly to the manor, so I would suggest wrapping it up," he cautioned, and Karna closed his eyes.

"A symbol of the… contract?" Weiss muttered under her breath, just as the limo pulled to a stop, Klein getting out again and opening the door for all the occupants to climb out. Karna got out first, and held out his hand to help Willow out as she held her head. He and Klein helped her towards the manor as the hangover took her, Weiss, Winter, and Whitely behind them talking to each other… about him.

After a few minutes, Karna and Klein managed to get Willow into a large living area, helping her onto a couch as she closed her eyes, Klein grabbing a blanket from nearby, and Karna grabbing a pillow from couch, the two working quickly, but delicately, to make her comfortable as she fell to sleep.

"Can you get Winter?" Karna asked Klein, the portly butler nodding, his eyes were yellow at the moment actually, before coming back a few minutes later with all of the children.

"Is mom alright?" Whitley asked, Karna looking towards him, as Klein spoke up.

"She just needs some rest after a long day," he said softly, Winter sighing before looking at Karna.

"And you needed me because?" she muttered, and Karna closed his eyes.

"I cannot leave my Master's presence without one of her proxies… and I understand that it is somewhat inappropriate to watch over someone while they are sleeping," he stated, Winter's eyes scanning for his meaning… before she seemingly recalled the conversation in the limo, and clutched the wrist of her right hand, where her command seal lay.

"Well come on then," She started, walking away, and Karna following… and then Weiss and Whitley following after them both as Klein stayed behind, likely to either clean, or to watch over the matron of the house.

Winter led them all outside to a courtyard out back, the snow falling softly, Karna looked towards the sky… he hadn't seen too much snow before. Chaldea had the most, the moments at that shining symbol of Humanity's hopes and dreams he once knew.

"You're a warrior aren't you?" Winter started, as Whitley started to shiver, but Karna nodded in affirmation to her question. "Then teach me."

"Why?" Karna asked, Whitley running inside shivering, and he turned towards him with concern, Weiss chasing after her brother as Winter continued, once both of them had run off."

"Because I'm going to be a Hunter," she stated, determination in her eyes… and her reason being one he already knew.

"To escape him?" he asked back calmly, and her eyes went wide, before returning to her stern look.

"I'm already going to Atlas academy… as much as he wishes against it," she started, and Karna closed his eyes.

"And thus you persist to escape him. I can understand… I am sworn to protect you all however I can. If I cannot be there, you must be capable of protecting yourself until I can arrive," Karna said.

"You won't always be there, I don't even know how capable you are!" Winter shouted at him, and he just opened his eyes… before he threw out his hands, the spear he'd left back in the limo vanishing… and reappearing in his hand, Winter taking a step back in surprise before she seethed for a moment.

"You can summon? Then bring me an opponent," he stated, holding the spear with one hand, Winter raising her own and a circle appeared on the ground… before a white wolf shot out of it, roaring as it tried to go for his chest. It's appearance reminded him of the rare times he saw a certain Avenger's noble phantasm… but he simply raised his spear… and moved.

Winter gasped, and stumbled back before clutching her sides as Karna was standing where he'd been one moment, and behind her the next, catching her before she could fall… and the white wolf completely exploded as a single slash ripped through it a second after he'd caught Winter, who stared in shock as Karna spoke up.

"You wanted proof. There it lies. I am sorry about the drain, but I need to save the reserve your mother granted me for an emergency," he stated simply as Winter just stared forward, still… somewhat in shock at how he'd dispatched her summoned monster with speed so fast she hasn't seen him, and with a single good slash.

Winter just looked up at him in shock, before a serious look settled on her face, and he let her stand up on her own, raising his spear. "Whatever you require of me, I shall answer,"

"...Then let's get started," she stated, grabbing her small sword off her belt, and Karna raising his spear.

It wasn't exactly a productive lesson, as he kept just deflecting while she kept attacking. He did try to give her pointers as he kept trying to find openings in his defenses. Still, they eventually had a small audience in Weiss and Whitley, watching as Winter tried to face off against the man who'd saved them, and was failing to land even a single blow. But by the time she was panting, he was smiling, and she was at least understanding that the gap between them would not be crossed easily, if ever… but still no harm in trying.

He just looked between her, and then at her siblings in the window, and silently he thought to himself about how he would try… to try and mend this family before it completely fell apart. And so when Winter finally fell to her knees, he bent down and carried her back inside with nothing but praise and a little critque.

He had quite the long journey ahead of him, not one of martial prowess… but the test of his abilities of a very different kind.

AN: And here we have the second chapter of Karna's tale. To be clear, Karna is alone, there is no other Servants in this timeline yet, that might change, but for now, it's his story, and the story of the Schnee family. Also, I love hearing from all of you, and what you want/suggest. But not everything can happen as you expect it. A story isn't interesting because everything happens how you expect it to. For those who want Sieg to see Jeanne and Astolfo, I'm sorry, but they aren't there, he's on his own. But that's fine, he'll be a hero all on his own, rather than cardboard-kun hopefully. I hope to hear more from all of you!