AN: Beta Read by Brawn1984 and Starrmastrr.
AN: I don't own RWBY or Red Hood.
Before they left
Winter was in Mantle talking with Dr. Polendina when her scroll rang.
"Good afternoon sister."
"Winter! It's Whitley! He and Jason went to the mine and he ended up killing three people!"
"Woah, woah. Weiss. Calm down. What happened."
Weiss explained what had happened, and Winter said that she would be right there.
She ran to the center that Jason, Weiss, Geoff, and Pyrrha had created to help the people of Mantle who had been hurt by Jacques. She was more than a little angry that Jason had put Whitley in that situation.
She ran into the center and yelled at Jason before she realized that she had run him through.
Jason looked down and pulled the swords out of his body, she had pierced his lungs, and passed out.
"What have I done?" She asked.
Geoff and Pyrrha grabbed Jason, Geoff grabbing him under his arms and Pyrrha using her Semblance to lift his legs.
"How are you guys so calm?" Winter asked barely keeping her emotions under control.
"This is not the first time this has happened." Pyrrha said.
"Aye lass." Geoff added. "We'll take him back ta Atlas and let him sleep this off like a bad hangover."
"But..."
Winter was interrupted by Weiss coming out of the back.
"What happened this time?" Weiss asked.
"I stabbed Jason." Winter said almost speechless.
"Why?"
"I don't know. I saw red and when I came to, I saw my swords in his hands."
"Oh. Jason will be fine. He just needs sleep."
"What is wrong with you? I kill your Fiancée and you treat it like nothing has happened?"
"Yes. Because Jason is very stubborn, and very hard to kill."
"I see."
"That's not an invitation to try and kill him. He's still my fiancée after all."
"Of course not." Winter said trying to keep her embarrassment in check.
"Would you like to see Whitley?"
"Yes."
Weiss led winter to the room Whitley was resting in.
"Hello brother." She said in a concerned tone.
"Sister." Whitley nodded.
"Are you doing well?"
"I don't know. Jason has been the only positive male role model in my life, and I tried following his example and he ended up needing to save me."
Weiss sighed. "Jason is complicated. Do you know why he is so aggressive?"
"No."
"It's because life has taught him that in order to survive in this world, he had to become that way. He's aggressive by necessity, and that's what makes his love all the more special."
"I see." Whitley thought about that for a second. "We need to get the SDC away from Father."
"Why is that?" Winter asked curious at her brothers' thoughts.
"Because if we don't, he will destroy it."
The sisters looked at their brother.
"How do you know this?" Winter asked.
"When I was at the mine, I saw the working conditions. They are not good. I saw three humans antagonizing the Faunus, but I also saw some humans who were helping them."
"I don't get it." Weiss said. "I mean not all humans are bad, but what does that have to do with Jacques destroying the company?"
"There's going to be an uprising." Whitley said. "I'm not like you two or Jason. I'm not the one who can berserk my way through any obstacle or fight my way out of a Grimm infested area. I am the tactician. I watch and learn what I can before I strike. I'm ashamed to say that before I found out the truth about father that I did so with the intention of taking the inheritance from you Weiss."
The sisters thought about that for a while.
"So, you're saying that you're the smart one?" Weiss asked.
Whitley blushed. "Yes."
The sisters looked at each other. Had they really treated Whitley so bad that he had actually resorted to scheming to get their attention? The only reason they had ignored him was because he had gotten all of Jacques attention. Just how screwed up was their family?
"I have come up with an idea on how to put the SDC back on the right path?"
"How?"
The next day
Winter, Weiss, and Whitley walked into the hospital where Jacques was staying.
They were led to the hospital room that Jacques was staying in traction and entered.
"Father." Whitley said with a nod.
"Whitley." Jacques said. "Have you been well?"
"No Father. Three of your employees tried branding me with a thief's brand."
"What! I will have their jobs!"
"They have already been dealt with father."
"That's good." Jacques said letting his body rest more comfortably.
"We do have something to tell you though."
"And what is that?"
The door to the room opened and the Schnee family lawyers came in.
"What's going on here?" Jacques demanded.
"We have determined that you are mentally unstable and therefore unfit to lead the company." Whitley said.
"WHAT!"
"Father, please. You are in a place of healing. Use your inside voice."
"You bastard! I gave you everything! And this is the thanks I receive?"
"Father." Whitley said in a tone that Weiss could tell was composed, but full of hidden disgust. "You taught me how to be a weasel. How to steal and take from the poor while making them think they got a good deal. Meanwhile since I left, of my own volition, I have seen the truth. You have used the SDC to keep the Faunus oppressed while making them think that they are getting equal pay. You have authorized the use of Branding Irons to mark the Faunus as your property while under the guise of a thief's brand, but the men who wield them use them to Brand anyone they feel like. You have made it so that Faunus have to choose between working in the mines, as servants, or whores. Where is the equality in that father?"
"They have jobs!" Jacques spat. "They're lucky to have that."
"You also attacked Weiss and her fiancée at the Gala?" Whitley said pulling out his scroll to show footage from that night. "You did announce that Weiss would be getting married, and her fiancée did propose. Did you really think that you could force her into a loveless marriage like yours?"
"She was supposed to marry Henry Marigold!"
"Did you know that Arthur Marigold told me that I would be spending my wedding night with him?" Weiss asked trying not to gag at the thought.
Winter clenched her hands into fists.
"Stop lying!" Jacques yelled. "You're only saying that so you can run off with that bastard!"
"Mr. Schnee." A lawyer said. "Your children have filed to have you kicked out of the SDC as well as the Schnee family because you are a danger to them and the company. What I am seeing is not helping your case."
"Are you stupid? This is obviously a scheme made up by Jason Todd to get the SDC out from my influence."
"Speaking of Jason." Whitley said. "Jason and Weiss will be getting married. As of their union the SDC will be merging with the TDC. This is the only way that we can save the company. Otherwise, the SDC will be gone in... fifty years?"
"That would match the numbers we have." The lawyer said.
"I don't care!" Jacques said. "Let someone figure that out whenever I'm dead!"
"Father." Whitley scolded. "Do you really want to leave your children penniless?"
"I had to make my way in life, why can't you?"
"You're wrong." Winter said with a cold rage behind her words. "I had to make my way in life. After you kicked me out! You just weaseled your way into mother's money and made yourself comfortable. You have no idea what it means to work for anything!"
"Don't you dare!" Jacques yelled.
"We have seen enough." The second Lawyer said.
"Oh, but you don't know the best part." Whitley said swiping his finger across his scroll sending a document over to the lawyers.
The Lawyers scrolled through the document. "What is this?" The first Lawyer asked.
"That is a list of all of the horrible things that the Faunus of Atlas have had to suffer through." Whitley said. "I think that you will find page nine most enlightening."
The Lawyers moved to look at page nine and lost the contents of their stomach.
"Even animals deserve better than that." The second Lawyer said holding his hand to his mouth.
"Make sure to look at page fifteen." Weiss said.
"No. We'll take your word for it." They said before leaving.
"We will have your things brought to you Mr. Gelé." Winter said.
"What did you call me?"
"Jacques Gelé? That is your name, is it not?"
"No. My name is Jacques Schnee."
"No. There is no one by that name at the SDC."
"You will be given a small sum of half a million Lien a month for a year." Whitley said. "I suggest you invest wisely if you want it to last the rest of your life."
"You can't do this!"
"Do what Mr. Gelé?"
Jacques was stunned into silence. This was real. This wasn't some nightmare that he could wake up from. This was happening.
"Have a good day Mr. Gelé." Whitley said before the Schnee siblings left.
Weiss nearly collapsed when they left the hospital. "I cannot believe we did that." She spoke.
"I can't believe we pulled that off." Winter said. "And it's all thanks to Whitley."
Whitley blushed at the praise.
The day before
Whitley looked at his sisters. "You beat someone like father with three things. The carrot." He held up a finger. "The feast." He held up a second finger. "And the stick." He held up a third finger.
"What does that mean?" Winter asked.
"First." Whitley began. "You wave a carrot under his nose. Like the SDC. You tell him that you are going to take it from him. Then you lead him to the feast."
"What's the feast?" Weiss asked.
"You tell him Who's going to take the SDC. What they are taking, in this case it's the SDC. Where they are taking it. When they are taking it. Why they are taking it. And finally, how they are taking it."
"And what is the answer to those questions?"
"Simple. Who's taking the SDC?"
The sisters looked at Whitley.
"The answer is us... and Jason."
Comprehension dawned on the sisters faces.
"Next. Is what. That is obviously the SDC. Followed by where. We will tell him tomorrow at the hospital."
The sisters nodded.
"When. We will tell him that as of Jason and Weiss's wedding we will merge the SDC and the TDC."
"Why?" Weiss asked.
"Because dear sister. That will give him time to plot his revenge."
"Why do we want him to plan revenge?" Winter asked.
"And why do we want him crashing my wedding?" Weiss asked.
"Because that will lead to the stick. While he is plotting his revenge, we are setting the trap."
"Trap?" Winter asked. "What trap?"
"What happens when someone or something you love is threatened?" Whitley asked with a straight face.
"I defend it... oh. So, you want Jacques to get reckless and crash the wedding."
"Yes. That leads us to the Why. Why are we taking the SDC away from him?"
"Because of his treatment of Faunus?"
"Close." Whitley opened his Scroll and showed them the video of Jacques attacking Weiss at the Gala. "Father is not mentally stable to lead the SDC anymore."
Winter and Weiss looked at each other before smiling.
"Then we have the numbers. The SDC was doing really well in the beginning, but now the numbers are low, and will only continue to drop unless we change something."
"So as long as Jacques stays in charge..." Winter began.
"...He will only lead the SDC towards destruction." Weiss finished.
"Exactly. And finally, is the How. How will we take the SDC away from father?"
"How?" Weiss asked.
"We will merge the SDC and TDC through your wedding."
Weiss thought about that.
"Where does the stick come in?" Winter asked.
"Ah. Yes. The stick is the trap we have set for father."
"Is the wedding the trap?" Weiss asked.
"Yes. Jacques comes to crash the wedding in an attempt to get the SDC back, and that's when we spring the trap."
"What is the trap?" Winter asked.
"It will rely on Jacques taking the bait."
Weiss gulped. "And what is the bait?"
"Jason."
Weiss looked stunned. "You want Jacques and Jason to go at it?"
"If it's self-defense." Whitley said.
"Do you think this will work?"
"It's a bit of a long game, but I'm confident that it will work."
Geoff came in. "Hey guys. I just wanted ta let ye know tha' Jason is resting at the mansion."
"It's still odd how you can be so calm." Winter said.
"Ye get used ta it lass." Geoff said. "What are ye doing if'n ye don't mind me asking?"
"We are plotting Jacques's downfall." Weiss said.
"Oh." Geoff said taking out his scroll. He opened a file and sent it to Weiss. "I found this. It might be helpful."
Weiss looked at it and was horrified. "This will be the final nail in the coffin."
"Good. I hate the bastard. Do ye know what the Faunus go through?"
"Not really." Whitley said ashamed.
"I was talking ta Tyra and she said that the Faunus are given three options of work. Four technically, but she doesn't count the military because its leagues better than the other options."
"What are they?"
"The mines, servitude, or..." Geoff swallowed the lump in his throat. "... the brothel."
Winter and Weiss went more pale than normal.
"What?" Whitley asked.
"It's a place where people go pay to have sex." Winter said pinching the bridge of her nose.
"Why don't they just do what Weiss and Jason do?" Whitley asked honestly confused.
Weiss blushed and Winter looked at her.
"How did you find out that they were involved?" Winter asked.
"I Uh... I accidentally walked in on them." Whitley said blushing as well.
Winter looked at Weiss. "I hope you're using protection." She spoke.
Weiss went even more red. "Y-yes." She squeaked. "Jason and I aren't ready for kids yet, and it's only happened a few times."
"I'm not mad at you." Winter said. "It's perfectly normal for two consenting adults to make love to each other. I just want you to be careful."
"Before this touching moment becomes a T.V. Drama." Geoff said. "Can we get back ta the point."
"Yes. Of course." The three Schnee's said in unison.
"Tyra says that the main Faunus who get sent to the Brothel are rabbit and dog Faunus. She also says that their treatment is poor, and if they get pregnant then the child is raised until it's old enough to work and is sent to the mines or to be trained how to be servants, unless they are rabbit or dog Faunus. Then they are..." Geoff swallowed another lump. "'Trained' until they come of age."
"That's disgusting." Winter and Weiss said.
Whitley looked like he was going to be sick.
"It gets worse."
"I'm afraid to ask how it could get worse." Winter said.
"Patrons can pay fer 'special' services where the best-case scenario is gang rape, and the worst case..." Tears started rolling down his cheeks. "The worst case is death."
The three Schnee's looked like they were going to be sick.
Weiss looked at Geoff. "Have you been having nightmares about Velvet?"
Geoff cringed and the tears began falling more freely. "Yes." He said with a gasping sob. "Ever since Tyra told me. I wake up in a cold sweat."
"Has Jason talked to you about this?"
"No. I haven't told Jason because he has more than enough ta deal wit, and they're just nightmares."
"I thought Jason could sense other people's problems." Whitley said.
"He can. I just tell him that I miss Velvet and he leaves it alone."
The three Schnee's looked at Geoff.
"I'm going to fix this." Whitley said.
"So." Winter said. "What do you guys want to do now?"
"I actually have to go talk with mother." Weiss said. "See you guys later?" She asked hesitantly.
"Of course." Winter and Whitley said cordially.
Weiss headed back to the Schnee family mansion.
When Weiss got back to the mansion, she felt cold, but she had to do this. She walked through the house towards her mother's room.
She knocked twice before opening the door. "Mother?" She asked before walking in.
Willow Schnee was sitting in the corner of her room with a glass of some expensive brand of wine. She looked up when she heard Weiss and dropped her glass when she saw her daughter.
"Mother?" Weiss asked concerned. "Are you all right."
Willow held a hand to her mouth.
"Mother? What's wrong?"
"You're glowing."
Weiss looked down at her hand. She was afraid that her mother was drunk again.
"It's not a physical glow, but your countenance is different. You seem happy."
"I am." Weiss said. "I've met someone, and we are getting married." She said holding her hand out to her mother.
Willow took Weiss's hand and looked at the ring. It was simple but beautiful "Is he good to you? Does he have your best interest in mind? Did he pick out this ring?"
"Yes. He's good to me. He does have my best interest in mind, and no. I picked out the ring."
"Are you sure? You know about your father."
"Jason is nothing like Jacques. For one he actually knows the meaning of loss and hard work."
"How do you know?"
"His name is Jason Todd."
Comprehension dawned on Willow's face. "I see. What does your father think?"
"Jacques is out of the picture. We disowned him and kicked him out of the SDC. He will no longer be a problem."
Willow started crying.
"Are you okay mother?"
"I'm fine." Willow said with a watery laugh. "Thirty years. It's been thirty years since I married him. I found out what kind of a man Jacques truly was on your tenth birthday."
"Yes. I was there."
"What he did to you was not fair. You were such a beautiful little girl, but he made you grow up too fast. I remember when I saw the bruises on you and Winter, oh I was so mad, but I couldn't do anything. He told me that he would tell the media that I did it if I went to the police."
"Not that they would have believed you anyway." Weiss said. "Jacques was friends with half of them and bribed the other half. I wouldn't be surprised if he were blowing the chief on the weekends."
"WEISS!" Willow scolded. "Where did you learn such disgusting language."
Weiss blushed. "Sorry mother. Jason's sister and her fiancée have a rather wide vocabulary. I must have picked it up from them."
Willow held her hand to her face. "I'm sorry. I haven't been much of a mother since you turned ten, and I'm sorry." She took out an envelope. She took out some paperwork and wrote something before giving it to Weiss.
Weiss read the paperwork. "You're... handing custody of Whitley to me. Why?"
"I wanted to be there for you and your brother, but I couldn't bring myself to get sober after what your father did."
"That's no excuse! We needed you! Do you have any idea what it was like for us? Jacques hurt me! He would verbally, emotionally, and physically abuse me! And where were you? Where were you when I needed you?"
Willow looked at Weiss. "I'm so sorry." She said with tears in her eyes. "I knew what Jacques was doing to you, but I was afraid of him. I should have been there for you and Whitley. That's why I'm giving Whitley to you. You will be a better caretaker than I ever could be."
"What! That's not how being a parent works! You can't just quit when it gets hard. You have to be strong!"
"Well, I'm not!" Willow snapped.
Weiss was taken aback.
"I'm not strong. I'm not like you or Winter. I'm not smart like Whitley. I'm just a woman who was tricked into marrying a man who loved her money more than her."
Weiss gasped and tears began rolling down her cheeks. "You're stronger than you give yourself credit." She spoke. "You stayed for us."
Willow looked at Weiss with tear filled eyes, and mother and daughter hugged. They both realized that they needed the hug and stayed like that for a long time.
When they were content with the hug Weiss looked at Willow. "I will take custody of Whitley on two conditions."
"What are they?" Willow asked nervously.
"One. Don't cut yourself off from Whitley. He is your son, and you are his mother."
"Okay. What's the second one?"
"Have dinner with Jason and me. I can have winter and Whitley join us as well."
"Very well."
"Great. I will take care of everything."
With that Weiss and Willow said their goodbyes before Weiss left.
One week later.
Jason and Weiss stood in the foyer with Winter and Whitley waiting for Willow to show up.
Jason was fidgeting with his suit, While Weiss, Winter, and Whitley stood poised.
"Hey." Weiss said putting her hand on Jason's forearm. "What's wrong?"
"You may be used to wearing this fancy attire, but I'm not."
"If you can last through dinner then we can get out of these clothes later." Weiss said making sure to leave the implications clear.
Jason looked at Weiss. "I love you." He said raising her hand to his lips to kiss it. "But I will always respect you..." He was interrupted as the door opened and Cliff walked in with Willow.
"Presenting. Miss Willow Schnee." Cliff said respectfully.
Jason could smell the alcohol on her. "No more wine for her." Jason whispered to Weiss.
Weiss nodded trusting her fiancées judgment.
"Mother." Winter said with a curt bow.
Whitley followed suit.
"My children." Willow said with a slur that only Jason's hearing was able to pick up.
"Mother." Weiss said before the trio walked forward to greet their mother properly.
After the Schnee children greeted their mother, Willow looked at Jason. "And I suppose that you are going to be my future son-in-law?"
"The Gods willing ma'am." Jason said walking forward. He raised his hand to shake Willows.
Willow activated her Semblance and made Jason stick to the floor.
"Mother!" Weiss yelled.
"Mother?" Winter and Whitley asked confused.
Willow held her hand up. "You listen to me young man." She stalked towards him. "I will not let my daughter marry an ass hole like Jacques. Is that understood?"
"Yes ma'am." Jason said not flinching.
"Why are you not cowering?" Willow asked. "I thought all boys cowered under their mother-in-law's gaze."
"With all due respect ma'am." Jason said. "I lost the ability to feel fear the way normal people do when I was nine years old. You do not scare me."
"What?" Willow asked insulted. "And why not?"
Weiss, Winter, and Whitley tensed because they knew where this was going."
"My sister was murdered in front of me by my uncle who was a lot like Jacques."
Willow gasped and took several steps back completely deflated of all bravado. "I'm so sorry."
"Thank you for your concern. Unfortunately, the experience left me... broken, but with your daughters help I was able to piece myself back together."
Willow looked at Weiss.
"Shall we move into the dining room?" Cliff asked.
"Yes, yes. Of course." Willow said canceling her Semblance.
They walked into the dining room and sat down.
"So." Willow said. "How long have you and Weiss been dating?"
"Going on two years now Ma'am." Jason said.
"So, you met at Beacon?"
"Yes." Jason said blushing. "We had a pretty rocky start."
Weiss blushed as well. "Yeah. It was pretty bad, but the restart was better."
"Yes. Yes, it was. I'm so glad that we decided to do a redo." He said taking Weiss's hand.
Willow looked for any signs of deceit in Jason but couldn't find any. So, either he was a good person, or he was really good at lying like Jacques.
They made it through dinner without any outbursts, and soon they were onto dessert.
"So, Winter." Willow said. "How is life in the military?"
"It is a good career." Winter said in a voice that held barely controlled rage. "I am glad that I left from under Jacques's thumb, and am also glad that Weiss took the initiative to get herself and Whitley out."
Willow took the barb. "I know that I wasn't a good mother."
"Something that we both can agree on."
"How about we move into the sitting room?" Weiss asked.
"No." Winter said. "I am finished. I am sorry. I tried, but I cannot spend any more time in her company."
"Why not?" Whitley asked.
"Our mother stood by while that bastard used us to get rich. She just watched as he exploited us for our talents. SHE JUST SAT BACK AS HE ABUSED US! WHERE WERE YOU WHEN WE NEEDED YOU!"
Willow looked at Winter. "I-I-I have no excuse good enough."
"Of course, you don't." Winter said getting up and walking out.
Weiss got up and followed Winter.
"Winter!" She called out. "Why did you say those things?"
"I'm sorry Weiss. You may be able to forgive mother so easily, but you forget who the older sister is. Not only did I suffer Jacques torments, but I had to watch you suffer from them as well. Did you forget who comforted you when Jacques gave you that black eye? Or what about when he crushed your dreams? Who was the one who stayed up with you while you cried yourself to sleep?"
"You did?" Weiss said sheepishly.
"That's right. She was never there when we needed her. That was when I decided that I would never become like her." Winter turned around and left.
"But you're becoming just like Jacques." Weiss whispered.
Later that night.
Weiss was sitting on the edge of her and Jason's bed When Jason walked in.
"I'm sorry about Winter."
"I just can't believe that Winter turned out to be just like Jacques."
"That's pretty harsh."
"I see where she's coming from, but still. Did she have to say all that about Mother?"
"Being an older sibling is really hard. Winter, Yang, and Loki have had it really rough."
"What do you mean?"
"Winter raised you after your mother shut down. Yang took care of Ruby until Tai Yang decided to be a parent again. And Loki had to take care of me after I became an angsty, moody kid after Shira's death. Being an older sibling is hard. Cut her some slack."
"I don't know if I can."
Jason turned Weiss so she was facing him. "You can." He said kissing her. "You just have to have an open mind when you talk to her."
"Are you sure."
"Yes."
"Fine. I'll call her first thing in the morning."
"Why not call her now? That way you won't be tossing and turning all night?"
"Maybe you're right." Weiss took out her Scroll and called Winter. "She's not picking up."
"Do you want to go looking for her?"
"Yeah."
"Let's go." Jason said getting dressed in a pair of black cargo pants with a charcoal grey shirt. He put the side holsters for 'Steel Lead' on before pulling on a red zip up hoodie. He put 'Scarlet Sunrise' on his belt and turned to see Weiss.
Weiss pulled on a pair of white pants with a white tank top. She put her hair in a ponytail and put it down her back before pulling on a white hoodie and putting 'Myrtenaster' on her hip. "Are you ready to go?" She asked.
Jason was quiet.
"Hello?" She asked turning around.
"I thought you looked good in a dress... but wow. You really pull that off."
Weiss blushed. "Thanks, but we need to find Winter."
They went downstairs and stopped in the dining room so Jason could pick up Winter's scent.
He found it and began following it.
They walked for half an hour before they found Winter... she was at a bar.
"You know..." Jason said walking up to her. "...for someone who is nothing like Willow you're acting just like her."
"Screw you." Winter slurred.
"No thanks. I don't want to cheat on Weiss."
"Shut up."
"Why?" Weiss asked choking up. "So, you can go back to drinking and drown your sorrows? You're just like mother!"
Winter spun around but had to catch herself. "I... I am nothing like that bitch!"
"Really?" Jason asked. "Because from what Weiss has told me, you're a dead ringer for her right now."
Winter pulled her sword from her waist, but it was knocked from her hand by Weiss.
"No Winter! You talk about how you were there for me when I needed you. Well now you need me." Weiss dropped 'Myrtenaster' and hugged Winter.
Winter tried breaking from the embrace, but the last few months training with Jason had given Weiss lean muscle that Winter couldn't break from.
Eventually Winter hugged Weiss and began sobbing into her sister's shoulder.
Jason picked up their weapons and sat down at the bar before creating shadow clones around the sisters to give them some privacy.
"Give me top shelf vodka." He said to the bartender.
The bartender looked at Jason before reaching up to the top shelf and pouring him a shot of Vodka.
"Cheers."
The bartender raised the glass he was drying.
After several shots, the sisters came out of the Shadow blockade.
"Can Winter stay at the mansion for the night?"
"She can stay as long as she needs." Jason said.
"Thanks."
Winter was leaning against Weiss, and Jason created a shadow clone of Whitley to carry Winter equally.
They got home and Weiss took Winter to a room where she took some time to get her ready for bed before joining Jason.
"Did we do the right thing?" Weiss asked.
"I'm sure we did." Jason said hugging Weiss.
the two got dressed in their lounge pants and hoodies before climbing into bed.
"Good night Jason."
"Good night Weiss.
Present day
Weiss woke up next to Jason, but something was wrong. It felt like he was having trouble breathing.
She rolled him over and unzipped his bed roll before she took off his armor. She saw burns and scars across his body. "Jason. What happened to you?"
A shadow Clone of Damian appeared. 'Hello Ice Queen.' He spoke.
"Damian. Do you know what's wrong with Jason?"
'Yes. His fight with Raven and Tyrian took a bigger toll than he let on. He was severely injured by Raven but killed his sense of touch to keep you from noticing. Then Tyrian's poison made matters worse by consuming his healing factor.'
"But I thought Jaune healed him."
'Jaune was only able to do so much. It purged his body of the poison, but there is still infection and residual poison coursing through his veins.'
"Can Jaune help?"
'I do not know. Jaune can try."
Weiss began crying.
'Don't worry Ice Queen. Jason is tough. He will survive. There is one thing that you should know.'
"What is it?"
'Ever since Jason found out that he is the Alpha, he has been subconsciously unlocking seals.'
"What does that mean?"
'I only know what the Alpha told me. The seals are there for a reason. The brother Gods both helped create the Alpha as their last creation for this world. They gave it the ability to protect, but they also gave it the ability to destroy.'
"What do you mean?"
'The brother Gods made the Alpha with the purpose of protecting Remnant, but also the ability to destroy it. If all of the seals are broken, then Jason will destroy Remnant with everyone on it.'
"How did you find this out?"
'The Alpha told me. He is not able to tell Jason personally, but Jason's Semblance is a loophole for that. The Alpha isn't telling Jason directly.'
"Why does the Alpha want Jason to know?"
'Because. Jason is the only vessel that is truly happy. The Alpha doesn't want to see that happiness taken away.'
"I see. Thank you for telling me. How many seals are there?"
'There are twelve seals. With each seal that breaks Jason gets stronger. That explains his increase in power after the Fall of Beacon. He is getting stronger.'
"Do the seals also turn him more apathetic or aggressive?"
'I do not know. The Alpha doesn't know.'
"Is that a bad thing?"
'The Alpha doesn't know because Jason is not like the other Vessels. If Jason were like the others, then yes. He would be growing more apathetic or aggressive, but since he is not like the others then the Alpha doesn't know.'
"I see. Thank you."
'You're welcome. See you later Ice Queen.'
Weiss went and woke up Jaune. "Jaune." She nudged him. "Jaune. Wake up."
"Five more minutes mommy." Jaune said in a tired slur.
"I'm not your mom." Weiss said sternly.
"Dad?"
"What? NO!"
"Saffron?"
"NO! I'm Weiss."
"Oh. Sorry Weiss, but I'm with Pyrrha now. You should have taken me when you had the chance."
"For your information. I am engaged to Jason, and why am I arguing with you when you're asleep?"
"I don't know. Why are you arguing with me in your sleep?"
Weiss facepalmed before getting an idea. "Healers down." She spoke.
Jaune woke up. Oh gosh! Our healers down! We need to get to the next town fast before..."
Weiss slapped Jaune hard enough to wake him up. "Are you awake now?"
"Yeah. I had a really weird dream just now. You were in it."
"No. That wasn't a dream. That was me trying to wake you up so you can do another healing thing on Jason."
"Oh. Why? What's wrong with Jason?"
"Just come look at him."
They walked over to Jason.
Weiss saw that he looked better but could still use a pick me up.
Jaune got to his knees, put his hands-on Jason's shoulders, and began enhancing Jason's Aura to promote healing.
Jason was outlined in white Aura with a central pink outline and an inner red outline.
Weiss watched in amazement as the burns and scars faded.
Jason jumped up and puked out red and purple liquid before slumping down.
"Are you okay?" Weiss said wiping his mouth on her sleeve.
"I can feel the poison inside me. It burns."
Weiss saw Jason sweating. "What can I do to help?"
"Get cold water and towels. You need to kill the fever, and the easiest way to do that is to cool down the body."
Weiss took out her water bottle and tore off a piece of her skirt before pouring the water on it and ringing it out.
She put it on Jason's forehead, and could still feel heat. "Is this okay?"
Jason nodded. "Yeah. You didn't have to rip your dress."
"It's just a dress. You're more important than a dress."
"Thanks babe."
"You're welcome."
"Stay with him." Weiss told Jaune before leaving.
"Right." Jaune said.
"I'm sorry that I can't do more." Jaune told Jason.
"Don't worry about it." Jason said with a wheeze.
"I also have to apologize because I modified the 'Vulcans'."
"Now might be the wrong time for that."
"Oh. Right. Sorry."
They sat in silence for a while before Ruby came over. "I'll stay with him Jaune."
"Okay. Call me if you need me."
"Thanks. I will." Ruby said sitting next to Jason. "Hi Jason."
"Hey Ruby." Jason said weakly.
"I'm sorry that you got hurt because of me."
"Please don't say that. I didn't get hurt because of you. I got hurt because of Tyrian."
"But Tyrian was after me."
"And I kicked his ass."
That was when Weiss came back.
Weiss went to her bag and pulled out the bundle that she had asked Viridian to make her before creating a wall of ice around her to offer her some privacy.
She pulled her dress off and pulled on the dust infused pants. They had been crafted to harden on impact yet remain comfortable. Next, she pulled on the white tank top and long-sleeved shirt that had also been infused with dust to harden on impact. She pulled on a long white greatcoat that went down to her knees and put 'Myrtenaster' on her belt before sliding her boots on and zipping them up the sides.
Weiss pulled 'Myrtenaster' from her belt and stabbed it into the ground before the privacy screen disappeared.
She began ripping her dress into strips so that they could kill Jason's fever and get moving.
When she was done, she headed back towards where she and Jason were sleeping.
When she got there, she heard Jason and Ruby talking.
"But Tyrian was after me." Ruby said, her voice breaking.
"And I kicked his ass." Jason said weakly.
Weiss sat down and began pouring water over some of the strips before putting one on Jason's head and taking the other strip off.
"Did you change?" Jason asked. "Or am I hallucinating?"
"No." Weiss said putting on a fake smile that she had perfected over time. "I changed."
"You look good."
"Thank you."
"I should be good to go by tomorrow."
"We can't wait." Ruby. "We have to keep going. We don't want to attract the Grimm."
"Then let's go." Jason said. "He rolled over and forced himself to his feet slowly.
"NO!" Weiss said. "You aren't strong enough to move."
Jason looked at her. "I can make it."
"No, you can't."
"Jaune and Pyrrha can carry you." Ruby said.
"Fine." Jason said before dropping. "Tyrian can take his poison and shove it up his ass." Jason wheezed.
Jaune and Pyrrha came over feeling a bit sad to see their friend in the condition that he was in.
They made a stretcher and put Jason on it before picking him up.
Pyrrha used her Semblance to help with the weight of Jason's legs, and they left with Qrow flying overhead.
They walked five miles at a time taking breaks so that Jaune and Pyrrha could rest.
After twenty miles they stopped for the night. They made dinner and went to bed.
The next morning Jaune used his Semblance to enhance Jason's Aura to help him heal while Ren made breakfast.
Jason rolled over and crawled away before he puked up more purple and red bile. He crawled back over to the stretcher and laid down.
Weiss came over and wiped his mouth before exchanging the cloth for a fresh one.
"Thanks." Jason said a bit stronger than the day before.
"You seem to be getting better."
"I am. I think that my body will be able to heal naturally if we can't find a healer soon."
"You think?" Weiss asked nervously.
"Yeah. I don't know what kind of poison Tyrian has, but it's really strong. I can feel it at work trying to kill me."
"Fight it. I know that you can come back if you die, but I don't want you to die."
"I won't die."
They picked up camp and stopped at a sign.
"There's a town that way." Ruby said. "Maybe they can help us."
"They can't." Ren said.
Jason thought his senses were being affected by the poison, but he thought he heard true fear in Ren's voice.
"We should leave." Nora said.
Jason's senses weren't playing tricks on him. Ren and Nora were terrified of this place. "What happened?" He asked. "What happened here to make you so terrified of it?"
"We don't like talking about it." Ren said.
Jason pushed his senses out and heard something. It was big. When he brought his sense back in, he felt nauseous. He leaned over the side of the stretcher and puked. The bile was mostly red with a little bit of purple mixed in with it.
"Jason!" Weiss yelled. "Are you okay."
"I can't use my senses or else I'll get sick."
"We need to take shelter in...Kuroyuri." Ruby read the name on the sign.
"NO!" Ren yelled. This was the most emotional they had seen their friend.
Qrow walked out from behind a tree and walked up to them. "There's a nasty Grimm in that town. I think that we might be able to kill it if we work together."
"NO!" Ren and Nora yelled.
"You can't kill it!" Ren said. "Anyone who tries to fight it dies."
Everyone but Nora and Jason looked at Ren.
"Let's split up then." Ruby said. "Ren and Nora take Whitley and Uncle Qrow. Try to get to Haven and send Reinforcements. Jaune, Pyrrha, Weiss, and I will hold down the fort here until Jason is healed or you guy's send help."
"So long as we stay away from that place." Ren said before turning to leave.
"Ren!" Nora yelled after him.
"Weiss?" Whitley asked.
Weiss nodded to Whitley who began following Ren.
Qrow followed Ren out of a need to make sure he wasn't going to get hurt. He hated the idea of leaving Ruby, Jason, and their friends, but he knew that the quicker they left the quicker they got back.
Ruby and Weiss led Pyrrha and Jaune through the city. They found a house to make camp in until help came, and they waited.
Their peace was short lived as they heard a clatter of hoofs against the ground.
Ruby looked up to see a massive horse like Grimm walking towards them. "Oh shit." She swore.
Qrow, Ren, Nora, and Whitley walked up the trail until they found a cave.
The cave was full of bones and weapons, and also had no exit.
"We have to get back to the others." Nora said.
"The sooner we get help the better." Ren said.
"You guys go help the others." Qrow said. "I'll go get help."
"But..." Ren said.
"Ren!" Nora yelled. "We can't let what happened stop us. Our friends need our help."
Qrow ran behind a tree and changed into a crow before flying away.
Qrow was flying towards Haven Academy when he saw a Bullhead.
He flew towards it and flew in through the open door, changing into a human and pulling out his Huntsman I.D. "My name is Qrow Branwen. I'm a Huntsman and I need help. Head towards Kuroyuri."
"Why?" The pilot asked.
"There's kids down there with a huge Grimm. One of them is hurt pretty bad and needs medical attention."
The pilot turned towards Kuroyuri without a second thought.
As they came in, they saw black dust floating up.
"I don't believe it." Qrow said. "They killed the Grimm."
Ruby spun out of the way and slashed at the Nuckelavee's arm, but it was too fast and too strong.
Weiss sent ice Dust out towards its leg, but it broke free of the ice, and swung at her.
Jaune intercepted the hit and pushed against it. "RUN!" He yelled.
Weiss ran towards Pyrrha who was using her Semblance to manipulate the Weapons lodged in the Nuckelavee's back, causing them to rip and tear at the unprotected flesh.
The Nuckelavee roared in pain and rage before swinging at Pyrrha.
Pyrrha held up her shield and blocked it.
"Pyrrha!" Jaune yelled. "You're half maiden! Use your Maiden power to fight it!"
"I don't know how!" Pyrrha yelled back.
The Nuckelavee pushed Pyrrha away before throwing her across Kuroyuri.
Pyrrha landed with an "Oomph." and rolled before coming to a stop.
Weiss took advantage of the situation and froze the Nuckelavee's feet to the ground.
Ruby had taken a Sniping position and began firing at the Nuckelavee hoping to do at least some damage.
The Nuckelavee turned towards her and shot its hand out at her.
Ruby turned to rose petals and zipped away before she flew at the Nuckelavee and was smacked away by it.
She hit the ground hard too.
Jaune looked at Weiss, which cost him, and the Nuckelavee sent him flying into a tree.
Weiss watched in horror as it was her against the Nuckelavee. What was she going to do?
A hammer came down on the Nuckelavee's back causing it to stop reaching for Weiss.
A burst of Dust infused Ammo hit the Nuckelavee drawing it towards Ren who was mad, and... crying. Why was Ren crying?
There was the sound of a weapon striking the Nuckelavee's legs, but no one was attacking it.
Whitley had turned invisible and was under the Nuckelavee attacking its massive legs hoping to take at least one of them out.
The Nuckelavee spun around kicking Nora out of the way, and knocking Ren away before grabbing Weiss and Whitley, and crushing the fight out of them. It pulled them towards it's unholy Maw and was about to put them in its mouth when there was a cracking sound, and a portal opened across the Nuckelavee's neck causing the upper half of the neck to fall through.
Ruby was startled when she heard a crashing sound. She looked around and saw the Nuckelavee's head sitting next to her before she passed out.
Jason had heard the sounds of the fight going on outside. What was this thing? It was destroying them. Just how strong was it if it could take on two teams... wait. They were two first year teams. They had been traveling across Remnant for the last few months, but that didn't mean that they knew how to fight a Grimm. Especially if it was as strong as it sounded.
He heard bodies hit the ground. It was going to kill them. He had to help.
Slowly he pushed himself to his feet but felt like he wanted to puke. Tyrian's poison was almost out of his system, but it wasn't any less potent. He grabbed 'Scarlet Sunrise' and used it as a cane to help him walk out of the building he was in.
He walked outside and saw the Nuckelavee spin, kicking Ren and Nora out of the way before grabbing Weiss and Whitley.
"No!" He yelled Weakly before drawing 'Scarlet'. He transferred the majority of his Aura to his legs and the rest into 'Scarlet'. He began running across Kuroyuri before pushing off in an arc that cracked the ground, it was nowhere near where it should have been, but it sent him towards the Nuckelavee's head.
He cut the Nuckelavee's neck leaving a portal underneath its head causing the head to fall through the portal, and land next to Ruby. 'I'm so sorry." He thought before he slammed into the ground and passed out.
The Bulkhead landed and Qrow was shocked.
The Nuckelavee was dissolving into dust, and all of the kids were unconscious.
Qrow began lifting the kids into the Bullhead, one by one. Jason was the most difficult because his legs were heavy.
Pyrrha had woken up long enough to use her Semblance to help lift Jason into the Bullhead, and passed out once he was in.
"GO!" Qrow yelled at the Pilot.
The pilot took off, and not even thirty seconds later Kuroyuri was flooded with lesser Grimm.
Qrow took his flask out and took a swig only to find it empty. 'Just my luck.' He thought.
They made it to Haven Academy, and the kids were moved into the Infirmary.
Team RNJR were just suffering from emotional exhaustion, Whitley's and Weiss's Aura's had been shattered by the Nuckelavee, and they had several broken ribs that would heal with rest, and their Aura. Pyrrha had broken into a fever, and seemed to be having nightmares, and Jason was suffering from the poisoning from Tyrian, and had internal damage from the poison. Turns out that the poison had been slowly liquifying his insides for a slow agonizing death, but the doctors at Haven were able to help Jason.
Qrow went to talk Leonardo Lionheart. The Headmaster of Haven Academy, and a friend of Ozpin.
"Qrow." Lionheart said. "I'm so glad you're safe. The pilot told me about the children. Are they okay?"
"Half of them are so emotionally exhausted that I'm surprised they made it this far. The other half is hurt in one way or another with the worst being a severe case of poisoning."
"My Gods." Lionheart said. "How did they survive this long?"
"For one I kept the Grimm at bay. The second is that they had each other to lean on."
"I'll prepare lodgings for you all. The students are gone for the time being, but I don't think you lot would mind the silence."
"No. These kids could use a break. I guess you heard about Beacon?"
"Yes, yes. Terrible thing."
"Yeah."
"Let me go make those arrangements."
"Thanks. I'll be in the infirmary with the kids, so they at least wake up to a familiar face."
"A good idea." Lionheart said before leaving to make the arrangements.
Qrow went back to the infirmary and sat down next to Ruby.
Before he knew it, he had drifted off to sleep.
Three months later.
Jacques was laying in his hospital bed. He was out of traction but was still on bed rest.
His door opened and an oily snake of a human walked in. "Hello Jacques." The man said.
"Watt's?" Jacques asked in confusion. "I thought you were dead."
"Rumors of my death were greatly exaggerated."
"I see that. What do you want?"
"I want to help you reclaim your fortune."
"I'm listening."