The group was starting to get impatient. Dark had said he was going to go do something, he hadn't said what, and it had been what felt like an hour since he left and he hadn't returned yet.
Suddenly he returned in a flash of light.
"I'm baaaack!" he announced.
"What took you so long?" Weiss snapped.
"Well I was searching the multiverse for some more things to show you," Dark explained, "and I got super interested in this one discoverer's findings."
"Discoverer?" Ruby asked.
"That's just what we travelers like to call people who write stories," Dark said, "and by travelers I mean people like me."
"So is that what we'll be watching this time?" Jaune asked.
"No no no no," Dark said, "these are even darker than the vampire one from before."
Ruby shivered at the reminder.
"How bad could it be?" Nora said. Most of the others seemed to share her sentiment.
"Fine," Dark threw his hands up, "I'll play it. But don't complain to me when it gets dark."
Yang snickered at the unintentional pun.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, the star of Atlas, the Winter Songbird, WEISS SCHNEE!"
The applause roared like a waterfall as the white-clad singer stepped from the edge of the stage, and daintily walked into the spotlight. Brilliant stage lights made her long, white hair shine like fresh-fallen snow, and the diamonds in her tiara shone bright as stars in a cold night. The audience fell silent as she stopped, and haunting strains of piano music floated from the darkened instrument section.
"Mirrrrror, tell me something..."
Winter Schnee closed her eyes, exhaling deeply as she soaked in the sound of her younger sister's voice. She was proud of Weiss. Focused, intelligent, independent, and talented in a wide variety of fields, Weiss could have been whatever she wanted. Promising careers stood open to her, not only in the SDC, but also as a professional singer. And so, with the world at her feet, Weiss had insisted on leaving Atlas and studying to be a Huntress at Beacon Academy in Vale. General Ironwood had personally offered Weiss a position as a Specialist in the Atlesian Long Range Reconnaissance Brigade, but to Ironwood's surprise, and to Jacques Schnee's fury, Weiss refused. That had been the right decision, and Winter knew it. A girl with a mind and a personality like her sister would have never been happy in the stuffy boardrooms of the SDC or the finery of high society or in the rigid environment of Atlas's military. Vale would give Weiss a chance to grow, and to find her own identity.
"...I'm the loneliest...of...allll." Weiss finished the final notes with a beautiful crescendo, and the cream of Atlas society leapt to their feet to applaud her. Winter felt a satisfied smile play at the corners of her mouth. The people here would have applauded Weiss no matter what she did, after all, she was Jacque Schnee's daughter. But this was different, this was real. She could see it in their eyes, and could tell by the energy of the crowd, they were applauding for the song, and not just the singer. Winter leaned over towards her father, seated a few feet away in their private family viewing box.
"Winter!" Weiss gasped upon seeing her older sister.
"Who?" Ruby asked.
"She's my sister," Weiss answered.
"A brilliant final performance, wouldn't you say?"
"Hmmpf. I wouldn't. It only serves to underline how much she's walking away from here. Why, if she would stay, and develop this, in five years she could..."
"She could be a lot of things," Winter snapped, "But she would be miserable. Trust me, I know."
Jacques snorted and waved his hand dismissively as Winter stood to join the ovation. Neither one really cared anymore what the other thought, and Winter was never more happy with her decision to walk away from the SDC than she was at moments like this.
As the applause died down, Weiss gave a final bow and walked proudly off the stage. Winter turned to her father and younger brother. "I'm going to go down and congratulate her. Will you accompany me, Whitley?"
Whitley yawned, dramatically covering his mouth with one hand. "No, you go ahead, I'm afraid the evening's festivities have left me quite worn out. But do give our dear sister my most sincere congratulations."
Winter walked from their private seating without another word, disgust curling the corners of her mouth. Whitley Schnee, the youngest of the family, was the embodiment of everything Winter disliked about Atlesian society. Lazy, self-important, proud of who he was rather than what he had done, Whitley was the product of an upbringing almost totally devoid of challenge and responsibility.
Winter quickened her pace, brushing through the milling socialites in the atrium outside the concert hall. She looked forward to seeing Weiss. It would be a welcome change of company from Whitley and her father. Publicly, Winter was critical and demanding of Weiss. But on the inside, she deeply loved her younger sister. Weiss was the only member of her family Winter felt anything in common with.
The security guard standing at the door to the backstage area nodded at her as she passed. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, the Schnee name did open doors that would be closed to others. Winter walked purposefully down the corridor, checking the name tags on each dressing room until she stopped in front of a door labeled only with a distinctive white snowflake.
With a long sigh, Weiss let her back slide down the wall of her dressing room until she came to rest, seated on the floor. It felt... different than she had expected. She had imagined that, as she stood ready to leave Atlas and begin her Huntress training in earnest, she would have felt nothing but relief and excitement. But now, with her final concert complete and her time as Schnee family showgirl behind her, she was surprised to feel, of all things, empty. It wasn't easy to walk away from everything, even if she knew it was for the best.
Kicking off her uncomfortable wedges, Weiss pulled herself to her feet, and crossed the dressing room to the vanity. She took a deep drink of her lemon-infused ice water. Ahh... the perks of fame.
As Weiss placed the glass back on the vanity, she glanced into the mirror. The girl looking back at her served as a reminder to her why she made the choices she had. The girl in the mirror sported a perfect ponytail, hanging properly behind her head. Her face shone with blemishless perfection, the long scar from a training injury hidden under professionally applied makeup. The girl in the mirror wasn't Weiss.
Annoyance sparkled in the heiress. In a flash of motion, her hand shot up and pushed her hair over to one side. The other hand reached for a washcloth. She was going to scrub that makeup until not a speck of it was left.
A single firm knock at her dressing-room door interrupted her hand as it raised the washcloth. Years of high society training kicked in, and Weiss threw the washcloth back on the vanity, before frantically straightening her hair. Crossing the room into long steps, she slipped her feet back into the discarded wedges, and within 10 seconds of the knock on her dressing room door, a perfectly groomed Weiss Schnee had her hand on the doorknob. Pausing just long enough to take a breath, she pulled the door open.
"Winter! What are you doing back... I mean, I wasn't expecting you," Weiss quickly corrected herself. "Thank you for coming by."
"You must never allow yourself to be mentally unprepared to meet someone," Winter lectured in a matter of fact tone. "What if General Ironwood, or an important government official had been outside your door? You would have looked like a stuttering child."
"You are right Winter, as usual," Weiss conceded. "I apologize. Are Father and Whitley with you?"
Winters suppressed a face of distaste. "No, I imagine they have already gone ahead to the reception. Father is quite fond of these meet and greet affairs."
"I wish I didn't have to go," Weiss grumbled. "I'm leaving for Vale tomorrow morning, couldn't I be excused just this evening?"
"Now Weiss," Winter replied, slipping back into older-wiser-sister mode, "You should know by now that these social functions are an invaluable place to meet people who could be useful contacts in your future career."
Weiss made a face. "So Father says. I don't see how a room full of business executives and their high-priced arm candy will serve much use to me as a Huntress."
Winter gave Weiss a half-hearted slap across the top of her head. "And that just shows how much you still have to learn about the intricacies of the career you are pursuing. What if, someday, you need the latest in night vision technology to help you clear a Deathstalker hive? Or what if someday you are tasked with hunting a giant nevermore and need an armored Bullhead? Or maybe you just need a connected friend to warn you that a certain Vacuo customs official has taken a habit of extorting hunters for safe passage of their equipment? All of this and more would prove difficult, if not impossible, for you without a network of useful, reliable contacts. Contacts that it would be impossible for you to make if you stay barricaded in your dressing room. You want some useful advice? When you get to Beacon, find the strongest and smartest students you can, and make friends with them. Get them on your team if you can. Nothing makes a new endeavor easier than strong allies to back you up."
Weiss was smart enough to know the voice of experience when she heard it. "Alright, Winter, I see your point. I'll go up to the reception, and thank you for your advice."
Winter abruptly broke form, and through one arm around Weiss's shoulders and pulled her into a hug. "I'm going to miss seeing you, little sister. I know you will do well in Beacon, and I'll come visit you if I can."
"Thank you for caring, Winter," replied Weiss, somewhat taken aback by the uncharacteristic display of emotion. "I'll do my absolute best, and I'll make you proud."
"I know you will Weiss, I know you will."
"Well, this is it," Weiss observed to nobody in particular. She stood in Terminal B of Snowgate, Atlas's Transcontinental Air Terminal. Klein, her loyal butler, pushed the cart bearing her luggage behind her as she stared out the huge window at the anchored airships. Winter stepped up to the window beside her. "Second thoughts, sister?"
"No. I'm going to Beacon, and nobody's going to talk me out of it now."
Winter laughed. "I know that, I meant are you having second thoughts about taking a commercial airship. I could still arrange a private transport for you."
"If I'm going to be a Huntress, I'd better learn to get along with less than the best sooner rather than later," Weiss replied. "Besides, I had Klein book me a first-class ticket."
Weiss thought back to her moment of departure. She had actually taken Winter's offer and took a private bullhead.
"Then you will be traveling better than I will," Winter observed. "After you leave, I'm joining a Reconnaissance Brigade mission to the east coast. It seems that a particularly aggressive pack of aquatic Grimm has been harassing fishermen near Valentine Bay, and they've called in us to clean them out."
"Lady Schnee!" Klein called from further up the concourse. "I don't mean to be rude, but if we don't hurry you are in danger of missing your flight to Vale."
Winter turned to face her sister. Unlike at the dressing room the night before, now there was no hint of emotion or familial love in her demeanor. Now, she was all business, Specialist Schnee, LRRB. "I expect nothing less than your highest performance. I will be watching you, and will hold you to the most exacting of standards. Do not disappoint."
Weiss drew herself to her full height, and looked Winter square in the eye. "I haven't begun this to fail now. I won't let you down, you'll see."
"In that case, I'll see you in the field. Good luck, Huntress."
And the two sisters parted.
The viewers smiled. It was clear that they cared for each other a lot.
"I thought you said this was a darker one?" Yang said.
"Yeah, well, that's about where the happy part ends," Dark explained, "most of the stuff from here on out is dark."
"Welcome to the Vale Transcontinental Airship Terminal. Please follow the instructions of Sky Marshal employees, and adhere to all posted regulations." The pre-recorded announcement played yet again as Weiss Schnee stood in line at the customs desk. She tapped her foot impatiently, and thought, not for the first time, that the Vale Immigration Services could benefit from some good old-fashioned Atlesian efficiency. By now, her luggage was probably being unceremoniously dumped in the baggage collection area. Perhaps it had been a mistake to turn down Winter's offer of a private airship.
"No!" She quickly reminding herself, "That's not what I am now. It's time to leave behind the privileges of wealth, and face the world head-on."
"Next!" The attendant at the customs desk called out over the top of her computer monitor.
Weiss picked up her duffle, and stepped in front of the desk. She placed her passport and identification beside the computer, and the woman took it. Her eyes widen as she read the name, and she gave Weiss an all too familiar look.
"Miss Schnee! I saw your performance last night on the CCTV! I have all your records at home! I'm a huge fan, and... and, can I have your autograph?" The woman finished hopefully.
Pyrrha winced. She knew all too well what it was like to have fanatic fans. She herself had been stopped several times when traveling for things such as autographs. Other times she had been stopped for… less than pure requests.
Weiss fixed her with the coldest stare she muster, and nodded towards the temporary residency paperwork sitting beside the computer. "I would be happy to supply my signature to any and all necessary forms."
"Yes, yes of course Miss Schnee." With a look of extreme embarrassment, the woman ducked her head and began furiously typing information into her keyboard. Weiss stepped back and crossed her arms, silently waiting until the customs officer ran the forms through her printer, and pushed them towards Weiss.
"Please sign and date here, and here."
Weiss took the offered pin, and signed her name with a flourish. She picked up her bag, and slid the papers back across the desk. "Will that be all?"
"Yes, yes it will. Do enjoy your stay in Vale, Miss Schnee."
Weiss slung her bag over her shoulder, and marched past the customs counter. Her first impression of Vale was not favorable. It didn't get any better as she entered the baggage claim area. Hundreds of people milled around three baggage carousels, and Weiss could determine no pattern to the luggage racing down conveyors.
"Are you in need of assistance, miss?" A deep, professional voice cut through the noise beside her. Weiss turned, and saw a tall man dressed in the light blue uniform of the Sky Marshal staff. His badge told her his name was "Jax", and beneath his name tag was embroidered the words "Luggage Handler".
Blake's eyes widened. "He's White Fang," she stated. (AN2)
"But," Weiss said, "he's human."
"No he's not," Blake said, "he only looks human because his ears were cut off."
"Why yes," Weiss replied, hoping that she had finally found some competent help. "I have just arrived from Atlas, and need to claim my checked bags."
"Did you land on the 3:30 Remnant Air?"
"Yes."
"Then your bags should be on Carousel 1. How many bags do you have?"
"Seven," Weiss replied, well aware that this amount of luggage somewhat exceeded the normal baggage needs of a small family.
Jax laughed. "In that case, I'll get a cart. Head over to the carousel and look for your bags, I'll be along in a few minutes."
Weiss made her way through the press of travelers. Maybe things were starting to look up. Reaching the conveyor, she scanned up and down for her bags. A familiar white case caught her eye, and she plucked Myrtenaster's travel box from the carousel as it passed. By the time Jax returned with a cart, she had a small wall of luggage beside her. Without waiting to be told, he stacked her parcels onto his car.
"Is that everything, Miss?"
Weiss took a quick inventory. "Yes, it's all here."
"Will you be taking a taxi? I can recommend the best drivers."
"Thank you, yes, I do need a ride to my hotel."
"Alright then, follow me."
"No!" Ruby shouted, "Don't follow him!"
"They can't hear us you dolt!" Weiss reprimanded.
Jax took hold of the cart, and pushed it through the sea of people. Weiss followed close behind, taking advantage of the path he made for her. Things were starting to look up. Maybe Vale wouldn't be all bad.
Weiss followed her new-found porter through the terminal. He led her under a large sign reading "Public Transportation", and through a glass door that opened to the taxi park. She blinked as she stepped into the afternoon sunlight, the heat radiating from the concrete being a sharp contrast to the chill air of Atlas. Several dozen taxis sat alongside the curb, and drivers leaned against the sides of their vehicles waiting for fares.
Jax pointed to a dark red car with tinted windows near the end of the line. "That there is Francois. He's the fastest, most professional driver in the business. I wouldn't point a friend to anybody different."
"Ok," Weiss agreed. "Let's go meet him." Weiss felt pleased with herself as she followed her luggage down the sidewalk. Make contacts, Winter had said. Well, now she had a contact at the Vale Airship terminal. A good start, for her first day in Vale.
Jax rapped on the roof of the taxi as he passed, and the trunk popped open. He halted the cart behind the taxi, and with practiced efficiency stowed Weiss's luggage in the trunk. "There you go, Miss. Francois will take you wherever you need to go. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day."
"Thank you, I'm certain I will." Weiss reached into her purse, and handed Jax a wad of lien. "For your troubles."
"Happy to help." With a friendly nod, he walked away. Weiss turned, and let herself into the backseat of the taxi. It wasn't quite up to Schnee family limousine standards, but the backseat was clean, comfortable, smelled nice, and was separated from the front of the taxi by a glass partition.
The driver turned his head, and Weiss froze. He was a dog faunus. "Where to, Miss?"
"I'm assuming he is also White Fang," Pyrrha said.
Blake simply nodded.
A faunus! Her father would be beyond scandalized. The very thought of the Schnee family heiress riding alone in a car with a faunus man broke enough rules for an entire magazine's worth of gossip columns.
Weiss winced. Was she really that bad?
"Miss? Are you alright?"
Weiss fought down the urge to step out of the taxi and the demand they unload her bags. With an effort, she found her voice. "Continental Hotel, please."
"Ahh, Vale's finest. We'll be there in 15 minutes."
Francois put the taxi in gear, and pulled away from the curb. Weiss seethed in the back seat as they merged into traffic. Did Vale have absolutely no standards at all? Fangirl customs agents, complete chaos in their airport, and worst of all, faunus taxi drivers! Just sitting around where decent people could climb into their vehicles without warning! Any taxi company that tried something like this in Atlas would have been run out of business by the end of the day. It was no wonder that Vale had some of the crime problems it did. She had heard her father raging about dust shipments being stolen and how the White Fang was behind it and how Valean authorities were powerless to stop it. Frankly, after what she had seen this afternoon, she was surprised it wasn't worse.
Weiss yawned. The reception had gone late last night, and the demands of travel had worn her out. Maybe she could catch a quick nap on the way to the hotel.
"Don't fall asleep!" Ruby screamed. Weiss just sighed at her partners antics.
Wait.
The taxi hadn't smelled like that when she got in.
The need for sleep suddenly crashed down on her like deep water. Her mind was a haze. She scrabbled for the door handle, found it, and pulled. It fell off in her hand. Weiss panicked. She tried to summon a glyph, and tear the door from the taxi. Can't... Focus... In desperation, Weiss hurled herself at the window. Francois watched as the white-haired girl beat weakly against the window, then swayed, and fell back across the seat.
"Dog Catcher to Red Bull. I have a case of Atlas's finest on ice. Want to come over for a party?"
Blake paled at the familiar code names.
Blake Belladonna hated stereotypes. Just because she was a cat faunus didn't give anyone the right to shine laser pointers at her, or ask if she always landed on her feet.
Yang whistled innocently.
When she was 13, she had broken a boy's arm for offering her a catnip mouse.
Yang burst out laughing. Ruby and Nora were giggling a little bit too, and everyone except Blake, whose face was a deep shade of red, was holding back laughter.
"Did that actually happen?" Yang asked between breaths. She didn't get a response, but she didn't need one. Blake's red face was all the answer she needed.
In retrospect, it may have been an awkward attempt at flirting. Oh well, didn't matter now. She yawned and stretched, then went back to dozing in the sun, her back against the boulder she used as her private haunt. Here, she could read, or sleep, or practice her weapons forms away from the bustle of the White Fang camp. The fact that sunny afternoons often found her relaxing against its warm face was pure coincidence.
Blake's mind drifted dreamily back to Menagerie. Ahhh... those had been the days. Nothing beat summertime on the island. Her father would take her down to the ocean, and they would fish for bluestripe in the shallows. By afternoon, they would have several stringers full, and the promise of succulent fried fish for dinner.
Blake started drooling at the thought of fish.
If they had done exceptionally well, they would have an extra stringer to sell in the market. The noise of the market was a stark contrast to calm of the seaside.
The noise of the market...
The noise...
Blake shot to her feet, transforming from sleepy girl to lethal warrior in a heartbeat. Gambol Shroud slipped into her hand. The noise was real. And the noise was close. In fact, it was coming from the camp. Without hesitation, Blake set off at a dead sprint, her passing churning the carpet of red leaves that perpetually blanketed Forever Fall.
Bursting into the cluster of camouflaged tents and dugouts that constituted their advanced base, Blake was relieved to discover that the commotion was not a surprise attack, but rather some type of celebration. Slowing her headlong pace, she sheathed her weapon and approached the throng of cheering operatives.
"What's all this about?" She asked a deer faunus at the edge of the crowd.
"Jax and Francois snatched the SDC heiress at the air terminal in Vale!" The man replied, his face lit up with excitement. "Now we can force those pompous thugs in Atlas to negotiate."
Blake pushed through the crowd, fighting down her annoyance at being kept in the dark about this operation. It was another sign of the widening rift between her and Adam, once inseparable partners. She made her way to the front, and stopped to take in the scene.
Francois, one of Adam's top undercover operatives, was climbing out of a dark red taxi. He waved as the assembled White Fang send up a vigorous cheer. Rounding the vehicle, Francois opened one of the rear doors. He reached inside, and drug a bound, gagged, and blindfolded girl out of the car. His captive was no older than Blake, but slighter of build. Her clothes, now badly wrinkled and torn in several places, looked like they would have cost a year's salary for one of the SDC's underpaid faunus workers. Jax, a cat faunus and an old associate of Blake and Adam from the Menagerie days, climbed out of the car as the crowd hurled abuse at the girl in white.
"Thief!"
"Murderer!"
"Scum!"
The shrieks of pure hatred came with such force that the girl seemed to cower back, as if facing a strong wind. Jax slapped her across the side of the head.
"You hear that, heiress? You're in our world now."
He ripped the blindfold from her head, and grabbed her chin with one of his powerful hands. "Nobody is coming to save you."
The girl twisted violently in Francois's grip, and with a desperate effort tore herself loose. Her hands were bound behind her, but her feet were free. Ducking past Jax, she bolted for the edge of the camp.
"Run Weiss! Run!" Ruby shouted again.
"Yeah, run, you spoiled brat! See how far you get!" Jax shouted after her.
Blake stood, unwilling to join the pursuit. She knew how this was going to end. But to her surprise, the white-haired girl was not instantly recapture. She was fast. Very fast. As Blake watched with growing interest, the Atlesian girl evaded a dog faunus's diving tackle, and slipped between two tents, the mob close at her heels.
Blake knew that the way the girl was heading would bring her to the fortified fence guarding the road to the camp. She would be forced to turn, and head out in to Forever Fall. With a calculating look darkening her features, Blake jogged across the camp and crouched behind a large stack of camouflaged food crates. The sounds of pursuit faded, then turned, and headed in her direction. Blake readied Gambol Shroud.
Wait for it... and... Now!
The hooked blade of her weapon shot out, trailing the ribbon behind it. It sunk in into a nearby tree with a solid whack, and Blake jerked the ribbon tight. The fleeing heiress never knew what hit her. The taught line caught her in the wishbone, and she executed a complete backflip before falling awkwardly to the ground. Blake's eyes widened as she saw a thin web of light flicker across the girls skin. She had aura. Operative word, had. It was broken now.
"Why would you do that Blake?" Ruby glared at the cat faunus.
"I don't know her yet," she defended herself.
The mob was on her in an instant. With her hands tied behind her, and the wind knocked out of her from Blake's punishing takedown, the girl could do nothing to ward off the rain of blows. Kicks battered her from all sides, tearing her clothes and bloodying her face. Jax stomped viciously on her ankle, and Blake could hear bone snap from where she was standing. Until now, the girl had borne the abuse with a clenched jaw, but now she let out a primal scream of agony, piercing even through her gag.
The viewers winced.
Jax laughed. "That hurt? Well take a look at this!" He tipped his face forward, and pointed to two lumps of scar tissue on top of his head. "I used to have it ears there," he snarled, "Until a gang of SDC goons sawed them off. I've been waiting for this day my entire life. By the time I'm done with you, you'll be lucky to be able to..."
"Stop."
The single word, authoritatively barked from the edge of the mayhem, brought everybody to a standstill. Adam Taurus strode into the crowd, White Fang parting before him with fearful reverence.
"Blake?" Ruby asked, "Who's that?
"That," Blake answered, "is Adam Taurus. The Fang of Vale (AN2)."
"Jax."
"Sir!"
"Did I give you orders to abuse the prisoner?"
"No sir!"
"What, then, did I tell you to do?" Adam's voice was flat and dangerous.
Jax gulped. "Sir! We were ordered to secure the Schnee girl and bring her here unharmed to be used as a hostage!"
"Correct. Since it appears your problem is inability to follow orders and not poor hearing, I hereby confine you to quarters until this matter is resolved. Dismissed."
"Sir!" Jax turned, and jogged away toward the dugouts.
Adam looked over the assembled White Fang. "If any of you lay a hand on the prisoner without my permission, you will answer to me." He looked slowly across the crowd. No one spoke. "Good. Then come, Brothers, rejoice! The spawn of the snake is fallen into our hands! We shall force the over-fed Atlas robbers to bow to our righteous demands!"
The crowd roared its approval. Adam waited for the cheering to subside, then spoke again. "Arwen, Laramie. Take our guest to lockup. Get her some medical attention, and make her look presentable. Tomorrow, she's going to have the role of a lifetime."
Two White Fang operatives stepped forward, and picked up the battered girl. The rest of the crowd, sensing the moment had passed, began to scatter to their respective places. Finally, Blake stood alone, Gambol Shroud still clutched in her hand. Adam saw her, and walked over.
"Blake. I saw what you did there. Good work. I wasn't sure at first if you would have the stomach for this sort of thing, but I see now I was mistaken." He clapped a hand on her shoulder. "It's good to know I can always count on you."
Blake glanced up into the mask Adam never took off. It was as much a part of him now as was his red hair. "What are you going to do with her?"
"Use her as a bargaining chip to put some leverage on the SDC."
"And if they refuse to negotiate?"
Adam leaned closer, and when he spoke, his words fell like chips of ice. "Then I'll use her as an example. This is no time for half measures, Blake. Are you with me?"
The viewers understood exactly what he meant by that and paled at the thought.
Blake swallowed. Why was nothing easy anymore? "Yes, Adam. I'm with you. We have to do this, for the good of the faunus."
Adam almost smiled. "Then this is a good day." He ran his thumb across her cheek. "I'll talk to you later. I need to debrief Francois."
Adam turned, and walked purposefully away. Blake slowly sheathed Gambol's Shroud. The blood spilled as the mob had beaten the Atlesian girl had nearly dried. Blake carefully kicked dirt over it. Maybe if she erased the evidence, she could erase the image from her mind. A familiar feeling of unease gnawed at Blake. Try as she might to justify the actions of Adam and the White Fang, she knew, deep down, that this wasn't right. None of this was right.
"So this is around when I really start doubting Adam and the White Fang?" Blake asked.
"Yep," Dark confirmed, "It's actually only a few days away from the mission that you left the White Fang."
The pungent smell of Polar Fire filled Jacques Schnee's office as he slammed his wine glass down on the desk. The military attache standing at attention in front of him flinched.
"I do not care what time it is in Vale!" Jacques roared. "Call as many people as you need to, wake up everyone in the Kingdom for all I care! I refuse to sit idly by while those terrorist animals hold my daughter!"
The officer shifted uncomfortably. "Sir! Vale Security Service has identified the perpetrators and the vehicle used at Vale Transcontinental. We are working closely with them to attempt to track the vehicle. It is likely that the White Fang will send a ransom demand, at that time we will bring every effort to bear to track the source of their communication."
"I don't think you understand the gravity of this situation. If this ever gets as far as a public ransom demand, the perceived balance of power will shift. They will be in charge, and we will be reacting. And this is why we must leave no stone unturned, and search that entire Kingdom until we find these animals and exterminate them!" Jacques finished his monologue with an authoritative thump of his fist on the table.
"As much as I hate to admit it," Weiss said, "he has a point. A ransom demand like that would definitely shift the people's perception of power."
"Sir! We do not have the authority or jurisdiction to deploy Atlesian forces at this time."
Jacques ground his teeth in frustrated anger. "Then you better pray that whatever you're doing now is enough, because if anything happens to the heiress of the SDC, I'm not going to let borders, or jurisdiction, or anything else stand in my way."
"At least he seems to care for you," Ruby said hopefully.
"Only because losing me would cost him a ton of support," Weiss retorted.
Darkness covered Forever Fall. The inky blackness of the new moon night closely matched Weiss Schnee's spirit. She lay in the corner of a dugout, a steel collar around her neck. A short chain bound her to a ring in the wall. Her hands were cuffed together, but her captors had cuffed them in front of her, permitting her a limited range of motion. She lay on a dirty mattress, and sleeplessly tossed back and forth. She ached all over from the beating given to her by the mob. Her broken ankle had been set by a White Fang medic, but it still throbbed painfully every time she moved.
They had injected her with something, part painkiller, part hallucinogenic. It dulled the pain, but it left her mind struggling in a thick fog. She could process events around her, but the part of her brain that controlled her semblance was an impenetrable mess. After she had been thrown into her prison, she had made a few attempts at summoning a glyph to break the chain. The only result had been a splitting headache. Weiss had finally given up in despair, and flopped down to await the morning.
She wondered if they had missed her yet. Surely the SDC Heiress not checking in at her hotel would draw some attention, even if it was only from tabloids. Were they looking for her? Would they find her? She doubted the White Fang planned to kill her, at least, not right away. They had spent too much effort patching her up for that. Ransom was more likely, but this did little to comfort Weiss. She couldn't imagine the shame and reproach of her return to Atlas and her father as a defeated hostage.
A soft thud in the dugout suddenly jerked Weiss out of her self-pity. Someone, or something, was in here with her. Panic lanced though every fiber of her being. This was it! She was going to be tortured! Raped! Slaughtered like an animal!
"Paranoid, much," Yang said.
"And what would you think in that situation?!" Weiss defended her counterpart.
The terrified girl struggled to a sitting position, desperately trying to look into the pitch blackness beyond her. A hand clamped over her mouth, muffling her scream of fear and surprise. Weiss did the only thing she could. She bit down on the hand. Hard.
"Ow! Stop it!" A female voice hissed from the dark. Weiss kept her jaws clamped. The voice in the dark grunted in pain. "Listen! I'm not here to hurt you. Let go, and keep still."
Weiss thought for a second. The unknown visitor had made no effort to hurt her. At this point, what did she have to lose? She slowly opened her mouth.
The hand pulled free. There was a brief rustling sound, and a match flared into life. Weiss blinked in the sudden glow of light. As her eyes adjusted, she found herself staring into the face of a black haired girl, not much older than herself. The girl produced a small candle, lit it, and snuffed out the match.
"What do you want?" Weiss demanded, some of the old fire coming back to her voice.
"My name is Blake," the girl replied. "I wanted to meet you."
Weiss sniffed disbelievingly. "I'll bet. Is this the part where you pretended to be my friend and pump me for information? Well, it won't work. You might as well just skip to the torture and get it over with!"
Blake looked faintly amused. "Believe me, if Adam thought you had information he needed you would be out in the stocks with coals in your hands and ice on your feet. And that would be just to soften you up."
Weiss turned slightly green, "He wouldn't."
"He would," Blake shook her head.
Weiss shuddered inwardly. These faunus terrorists were every bit as horrible as she had heard. "Barbarians," she muttered. "You expect me to believe that you just came here because you wanted to say hello?"
Blake nodded. "You know what they say about cats and curiosity. Believe me, I'm taking a big risk sneaking past your guards to talk to you."
"And why should I talk to you? You're a criminal and a terrorist, just like the rest of them."
Her visitor looked pained at that accusation. "I'm not like that," she protested. "I don't want any more of this war and death. Everybody loses. And besides, I brought you this."
Blake produced a canteen, and unscrewed the cap. Weiss's eyes focused on the open container like it was the only thing in the world. She hadn't realized till now how overpoweringly thirsty she was. Blake held the canteen to Weiss's lips, and carefully tipped it forward. Weiss greedily drunk in the cool liquid, before gasping in surprise as the flavor struck her tongue. Blake lowered the canteen, and wiped Weiss's chin.
"My lemon water!" Weiss exclaimed in an excited whisper. "How...?"
"I went through your luggage," Blake admitted. "When I saw this, I knew you would need it. Sometimes, our...guests... don't get the hospitality they should."
"I shudder to think what you have done to the innocents who fell into your hands," Weiss accused.
"No worse than your Atlas government would do if I was taken prisoner," Blake shot back.
"The difference is, you're a terrorist!"
"What choice did I have? On one side was the slave labor conditions of the dust mines, on the other was the White Fang. What would have you done?"
Weiss didn't have an immediate answer for that. She knew what she would have done, she would have ended up exactly where this faunus girl had.
Blake sensed Weiss's hesitation, and changed the subject. "I saw your combat gear. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting an Atlesian heiress choose the life of a huntress. What led you to that?"
Weiss bristled at the thought of this girl combing through her bags. "Why should I explain my reasons to you?"
The faunus girl shrugged. "You don't have to. And I don't have to stay. In fact, I think I'll just take this canteen and go out the way I came."
"Wait!" Weiss's thirst betrayed her. Blake paused, poised to blow out the candle. "I...I wanted to help people. I have had many opportunities given me in life, and I wanted a chance to give some back."
The viewers listened, most of them hadn't heard Weiss's reasoning for becoming a huntress. The heiress herself, on the other hand, wasn't too keen on the others listening in on something so personal.
Blake tipped her head, eyeing the white haired girl with renewed interest. "Go on..."
"I could have done and had whatever I wanted, but I wanted to go and make my own success in the world. I didn't want everything I owned given to me. My older sister is in the Atlesian Long Range Reconnaissance Brigade, and I wanted to be like her. Strong, independent. Being a Huntress was the natural way to achieve my goals."
Blake digested this information for a few seconds, then spoke carefully. "I think you understand why I do what I do more than you realize. My parents are well off by faunus standards, and I could have had a relatively comfortable life on Menagerie had I chosen to. But there is so much injustice in this world! Faunus men and women are abused and taken advantage of everyday, all across Remnant! You wanted to make your mark in the world, so did I. We couldn't change the injustices around us by peaceful means, we tried that. So what choice were we left with? We were forced to risk our lives, and to give up every comfort we had, in the hope that we could fight for a future where our children and our grandchildren could live peacefully alongside humans as equals!" As she spoke, Blake leaned closer to Weiss, whispering with an intensity she had seldom felt.
Weiss snorted. "And you think that kidnapping, terrorism, and extortion is the way to achieve your equality and justice? All you criminals are doing is making honest people hate the faunus more."
Her words struck Blake deep in her heart. She knew that the Schnee girl was right. Blake sighed regretfully. "I know. The White Fang isn't what it was when I joined it. Adam and Sienna Khan have taken it to a dark place. I wish all of this violence and hate could go away. I've tried to tell Adam this, but he won't listen. He insists that the only way to gain the respect of the humans is to make them fear us."
"You know, I'm not blinded to the realities of the conditions of the faunus," Weiss conceded. "Some of the labor practices my father's company employees are... less than equitable. Someday, I would change that if I could. People deserve a chance to prove themselves. Most of the faunus I have known have been criminals and scalawags, but there's no reason that the good ones should be punished for the actions of the bad."
"And where was this reasoning when Blake revealed herself as a faunus?" Yang teased.
"She also revealed herself as White Fang," Weiss defended, "give me a break!"
"And do you think I'm one of the bad ones?" Blake asked.
Weiss looked at the chain that bound her to the wall, then at the canteen in Blake's lap. "I don't know. Give me another drink of my lemon water, and I'll think about it."
"Even with Weiss being captured," Yang said, "this one has been fairly lighthearted."
"It more the ending that's dark," their host replied, "this particular discoverer is known for darker endings. This particular story he grouped together with a bunch of others, most of which are different universes, and they all have one thing in common. It ends with someone dying." (AN3)
"Oh."
Weiss paled, it was pretty obvious who was going to die in this one.
Valentine Bay was a cold and desolate corner of Atlas, inhabited only because of the world class rock shrimp that could be found in the frigid waters off the coast. But these days, the shrimp catch had slowed to a trickle as aggressive Sawfin Grimm had rendered the risk of fishing too great for all but the most foolhardy. The A.L.R.R.B. had encamped at the edge of town, and set to work immediately. Commander Valerian had dispatched Specialist Schnee and her squad of support troops to deploy locational beacon buoys around the mouth of the harbor. The task had been uneventfully completed, and now, Winter Schnee was disembarking from a Prowler class fast attack boat at the largest dock in harbor. As she stepped from the deck onto solid ground, Valerian and two of his officers approached.
Winter snapped off as crisp of a salute as she could muster in her cold and soaking overcoat. "Sir! The operation was completed without incident. All buoys placed and functional. No Grimm were encountered, but sawfin normally aren't found that close to land."
"Understood, Specialist Schnee. Have your men secure the Prowler and debrief. I need to speak to you privately, at once."
"Sir!" Winter turned back to the boat. "Sergeant Murdoch. Finish up here and file a mission report. I'll rejoin you as soon as possible."
Winter's second in command saluted, and continued cranking down the anchor. Commander Valerian turned, and walked towards a waiting utility vehicle. Winter followed. One of the officers took the wheel, and Winter joined the other in the back seat. Valerian rode shotgun as the 4x4 rattled through the streets of Valentine Bay. The locals shouted and waved as they passed, thrilled to see Atlas's finest come to their aid.
Winter sat silently in the backseat, ignoring town and the cheering people. Something terrible was happening, she could tell it. The tense silence of the other passengers only increased her unease. As much as Winter wanted to ask what the purpose of this meeting was, her military discipline forced her to remain silent. Commander Valerian would tell her what she needed to know when he was ready.
The 4x4 rolled into the hastily erected military camp, and stopped in front of the command pod. The Pod was a marvel of engineering. Constructed of lightweight tubing and composite panels, it could be assembled in a matter of minutes and withstand everything it from hurricane-force force winds to ursa attacks. As Commander Valerian and his followers entered, the small group of officers inside the pod snapped to attention.
"At ease. I need everybody out of this room, on the double. I need to speak with Specialist Schnee in private." The assemble officers filed out of the tent without a word, and in seconds Winter was left alone with the commander.
Winter could contain herself no longer. "Commander Valerian, what is going on? I know something serious must be afoot for you to pull me out of the field."
Wordlessly, he sat behind a field desk and opened a laptop computer. Commander Valerian paused, and looked Winter square in the eye. "Specialist Schnee, it is against my better judgement to show you what I am about to show you. I am only doing this at the personal request of General Ironwood. I trust that what you are about to see will not impede your professionalism and discipline for the duration of our time here at Valentine Bay." He punched a button, and spun the computer around so Winter could see. "This video was released on the holonet 45 minutes ago."
The video opened with a close up of a red haired man in a white mask. "Citizens of Remnant. I am Adam Taurus, and I represent the White Fang."
Taurus... the name was familiar. Winter had seen it in a briefing about terrorist activities in... Vale! Weiss! A pit opened in Winter's stomach as the man continued to speak.
"She figured that out pretty quickly," Jaune stated.
"Winter has always been one of Atlas's best," Weiss said.
"We Faunus are done with half measures. The cruelty and Injustice that the human race has exhibited toward us demands nothing less than justice and retribution. You enslave us for your own profit, and deny us basic rights as though we were less than animals. Nowhere is your cruel and arrogant behavior more perfectly displayed than in the leadership of the Schnee Dust Company. Your empire of greed has been built on a foundation of the bones of your slaves and cemented with the blood and sweat of those you have abused. You cannot escape the guilt of your legacy, and today I bring richly deserved justice upon you. Jacques Schnee, say hello to your daughter."
Winter froze in horror as the camera panned out, and Weiss came into view. She was seated in a chair, her hands cuffed in her lap. She looked unharmed, but that did nothing to reassure her older sister. Adam Taurus continued his monologue.
"This is Weiss Schnee, heir to the SDC. A product of the wanton decadence and greed of Atlas, I now offer her to you as a bargaining chip. Schnee, tell your father my demands."
Winter leaned over the desk, shaking with fury as the camera zoomed in on her sister.
Weiss gulped. Nothing in her singing career had prepared her for this kind of public speaking. Adam's threat rang in her mind "And if you don't say what I told you, I'll shut down the camera, rip off a toe, and we'll start all over." She stared into the camera and steeled herself.
"Father, I am unharmed. The White Fang demands the immediate release and guaranteed safe passage of the convicted bombers known as the Mantle Five. In addition, the joint Atlas/SDC dust mine expansion in the Vaccuan desert is to be immediately suspended." Weiss stopped, the next part sticking in her throat.
"Go on," came the flat, menacing voice of Adam.
"If steps have not been taken to comply with these demands by noon tomorrow, the next video you receive will be of my execution."
Adam stepped closer to Weiss, and bent down so his head was beside hers. "You heard the lady, Schnee. You've got just over 24 hours. This is not a negotiation."
He straightened up, and the camera crew switched off the recorder. Adam grabbed Weiss by one arm, and pulled her to her feet. "You did good, princess. Now we'll see how much your over-priced skin is really worth to good ol' Papa Jacque."
"Atlas will never bow to the demands of a thug like you!" Weiss spat back.
Adam looked at her with amusement. "Really? You seem to be awfully pleased to sign your own death warrant. Believe me, if my demands are not met, you will not live to see sundown tomorrow." He pushed her toward two guards. "Get her back to holding."
One of Adam's goons took hold of Weiss's elbow, and pulled her roughly along. She bit off a gasp of pain as her broken ankle took her weight. She was not about to show weakness in front of these animals. The faunus dragging her along paid her injured leg no heed, and marched her rapidly through the camp. Weiss did her best to take weight off of the ankle, but the trip quickly turned into excruciating torture. She stumbled, and went down on one knee.
"Get up!" the man snarled at her. A poorly aimed blow glanced off her shoulder. The thought crossed her mind that with the ransom video out of the way, the White Fang had no further reason to show restraint with her. With a monumental effort, she forced her foot to take weight, and shakily stood. As she looked up, she found Blake Belladonna standing two feet in front of her, hands on her hips and an expression of disapproval on her face.
"Can't you see she can barely walk?" Blake demanded of the guard.
"Can't you see that I don't care?" He shot back. "If it was up to me, we'd kill her right here."
"Well, it's not up to you. Help her walk, or I will report you to Adam for violating his orders about abusing his prisoner."
For a tense moment, Blake and the guards stared each other down. Then, the faunus spat on the ground, and took a step backwards. "Fine. If the Atlas whore means so much to you, take her back to lockup yourself." The two men turned, and walked away.
Blake stepped in, and it took Weiss by the elbow, supporting her injured side. "Sorry about that. Come on. I'll help you walk."
The two girls set off though the camp, with Weiss leaning heavily on Blake's arm. "Why are you helping me? We should be enemies."
"We are, sort of," Blake responded. "I'm not letting you go, but it goes against common decency to make you walk on that ankle. I'm a soldier, not a monster."
"Fair enough," Weiss allowed.
The pair walked in silence until they reached Weiss's prison dugout. A White Fang operative let them in the door. Blake walked Weiss over to her mattress, and helped her sit down. The dark haired girl reached for the chain and collar, then paused. An awkward moment of silence hung in the room. Weiss stared at the faunus girl, a challenging look in her eye. Blake looked at the chain, then at Weiss, then back at the chain. Finally, with a grimace, she dropped the collar around Weiss's neck and locked it. With a muttered apology, she practically ran from the dugout.
Weiss exhaled deeply, and leaned back against the wall. She stretched her injured leg out in front of her, curling the other leg underneath in an attempt to find a position that gave her some relief. She looked better than she felt. The White Fang had dressed her in a long grey evening gown they had found in her luggage. A deer faunus woman had done hair and makeup on her that morning, in order to cover up the effects of the beating she had taken the day before. But underneath her nice clothes and styled hair, Weiss Schnee was a wreck. She hadn't eaten properly in the last two days. Aside from the lemon water Blake had smuggled her, she had been given nothing but some tough jerky, dry bread, and stale, lukewarm water. It was a far cry from the fare of Atlas.
As the heiress sat alone in her prison, doubts and fears began to creep into her mind. Her defiance to Adam had been real, after all, she had not been raised to grovel. But Adam's calm dismissal of her defiance and promise of imminent execution had rattled her. She accepted the risk of early death as part of being a Huntress. It just went with the job, one couldn't dwell on it. But she had always imagined some heroic end, holding a bridge to let civilians escape, facing down impossible odds with the calm resolve of a warrior. Being slaughtered in cold blood by faunus terrorists looking to make a political statement was somehow... anticlimactic. And so she sat, brooding about the evils of the world, as the afternoon wore on.
"Anticlimactic?" Blake questioned, "that's not the word I would use to describe your situation."
Tick, tock Tick, tock Tick, tock Bong Bong Bong Bong
The enormous, ancient grandfather clock in the corner of Jacque Schnee's office steadily tolled out its 4 A.M. chimb. A defeated giant sat behind the massive desk, a half-empty bottle of Vintage Glacier beside him. Jacques Schnee had poured every last one of his vast and varied resources into finding his daughter, and had come up completely empty. He hadn't slept since he had learned Weiss was missing the previous afternoon. He had been a fool, he could see it now. He had driven both his daughters away, driven them away with his business-first obsession, viewing them as resources to be developed instead of children to be raised. Now, barring a miracle, Weiss was gone forever. He slowly picked up the telephone from its ornate cradle, and dialed.
"Ironwood, go ahead."
"James, any word?"
"No, Jacques, there isn't. Vale Security is tracking down possible broadcast locations, and our Intel people are working as fast as they can."
"Well have them work faster! Weiss might have only a few hours left!"
"You have to trust me, Jacques, we're doing everything we can."
"We need to release a statement, try to draw the White Fang into negotiations. Buy some time."
"You and I both know that negotiation is out of the question. If we even hint towards giving in to the demands, they'll take five more hostages tomorrow. And besides, our profilers don't think they actually intend to harm Miss Schnee. It does them no good to kill their most valuable asset."
"That's a serious gamble you're taking with my daughter's life!"
"I know, Jacques, I know. But it's the only course of action available to me at the moment. Look, I'll keep you updated to the minute on anything I learn. I have to go, I'm due in the command post for a briefing."
"Fine. But remember this, Ironwood, if this goes wrong, I'm holding you accountable."
The line went dead, and Jacques Schnee sank back in his chair. Oh yes, he would hold Ironwood accountable. And that was just for starters. If anything happened to Weiss, he wouldn't rest until he drowned the White Fang in their own blood.
Everyone's eyes widened at the morbid description.
A gentle prod against her side instantly pulled Weiss from her pitiful sleep. A gentle hand held down on her shoulder, and a voice came from the darkness.
"Shh. It's ok. It's only me."
"Blake?"
"Yes. Here, I brought you some decent food and the water."
"How did you get in here?"
"I'm a cat faunus with a clone semblance who has lived outside of the law my entire life and not been caught yet. There are very few places anywhere I can't get into if I try hard enough."
Weiss had to admit, that made sense.
Blake carefully placed a cold sandwich in Weiss's hands. "It's not much, but we aren't exactly living in the lap of luxury here ourselves."
Weiss bit in greedily. The bread was old, and the salami fit only for dog food by Atlas standards, but to her it was the best meal she'd ever had. After a couple of bites, she paused, and asked the question that was uppermost in her thoughts. "Has there been any word from Atlas?"
Blake hesitated. "The government has officially refused to comply with Adam's demands."
Neither girl spoke, the implications of Blake's announcement being all too clear. Finally, Weiss broke the silence. "So... how are they going to kill me?"
"I don't think Adam actually plans to have you executed," Blake replied. "After all, what good is a dead hostage?"
Weiss took another bite of sandwich, not at all reassured. "It would be a statement, Blake. He would put Remnant on notice that he will follow through on his threats."
Blake digested that thought for a second. She didn't want to say it out loud, but she was terrified that Weiss was exactly right in her assessment of the situation. Finally, she changed the subject.
"So, tell me about Beacon. What do you have to do to get accepted?"
"What, are you planning to infiltrate a huntsman Academy now?"
"Maybe I'll go be a huntress someday," Blake replied carelessly. "Who knows?"
"Well, you have to have strong academic skills..." And Weiss was off, dropping straight back into the role of A+ perfectionist, lecturing Blake on everything she would need to do to join an academy. Privately, Weiss was also doing more than a little bragging on all of her accomplishments.
The night wore on, and something close to friendship formed between Weiss and her captor. As Blake told her about Beowulf hunting parties, and Weiss recounted defeating the giant suit of mechanized training armor, both girls realized that, had events taken a different turn, there was no person they would have rather had as a partner. Finally, Blake picked up the canteen and sandwich wrapper, and stood to leave.
"Adam and I have a job tomorrow afternoon. He'll notice if I'm too tired."
"Wait, Blake, before you leave..."
"Yes?"
"Well, I know you're a criminal, I guess, and we should hate each other, but I don't. You've been honorable, even if you're on the wrong side."
"Thank you, Weiss . For what it's worth, I don't hate you either. Friends?"
"Friends."
The audience tried to smile at the scene, but they couldn't get Dark's words out of their heads. "It ends with someone dying". It was now painfully clear what was going to happen.
"I warned you," Dark sang.
"Sergeant Murdoch! Status report!"
"Commander Valerian, sir! Still no trace of Specialist Schnee. A local traveling doctor and his Bullhead are also unaccounted for. We surmise that Specialist Schnee has commandeered them, and is traveling to destinations unknown."
"Understood, soldier. Reassign your squad to shore support duties. I'm going to contact high command, and inform them that Specialist Schnee has deserted."
"Winter no," Weiss thought, "Don't waste your position for me."
Blake sprinted through the woods beside the camp, panic making every breath come in a ragged gasp. She was taking the long way to her destination, but there was no alternative. Detection now would cost her life. "Faster! Faster!" She drove herself on, vaulting logs and ducking branches. Time was not on her side. The second she had seen Jax out of his tent, she knew her worst fears had come to life. But when she learned what was planned, something inside of her broke. She had no choice. The White Fang had been taken over with blood-lust, and if she didn't take a stand now she would be sucked down with them.
Sliding to a halt behind a giant tree, Blake surveyed the edge of the camp. Her goal was to reach Weiss's prison unseen. Patrols were light on the back side of the camp. She had an opening. Moving with the grace and precision of her feline nature, she slipped under the perimeter fence and made for the dugout. Voices ahead sent her diving under a camouflaged supply truck.
"...a real message to the kingdoms. Nobody is beyond our reach."
"Indeed it is. It's an honor to fight beside Comrade Taurus."
Two White Fang walked past. Blake let their steps fade, then rolled out and ran to the door of the prison. Glancing over her shoulder, she fished a skeleton key from her pocket, and unlocked the door of the dugout. She slipped inside, and shut the door behind her.
Weiss sat bolt upright as Blake entered. From her tense demeanor, and the visit in the middle of the day, she knew immediately why Blake was here.
"It's time, isn't it?"
"Come on," Blake responded with urgency in her voice. "Get up, we have to move right now." She crossed the room in a flash, and unlocked the collar around Weiss's neck. She hauled the white-haired girl to her feet.
"Move? What? Where? What are you talking about?"
"I'm not going to let them murder you in cold blood. This has gone too far, it's wrong, and I won't be a part of it."
"You're... helping me escape?" Weiss asked dubiously.
"Yes, I'm helping you escape," Blake replied in an exasperated tone. "But we have to go right now or they'll come for you and it'll be too late."
Blake took Weiss's elbow, and steadied her as they crossed the room. Weiss couldn't quite believe this was happening. A faunus terrorist was going to save her life. The pair reached the door, and Blake froze.
"Don't stop!" Ruby said, desperately hoping that what Dark said wasn't true, "You're so close."
"They're here."
"How can you tell?" Weiss whispered.
"I have four ears. I can hear them."
Weiss couldn't argue with that logic.
"They've stopped outside, maybe thirty feet away."
"I guess this is it," Weiss said in a resigned voice. "Thanks for being decent to me. I wish we had met under different circumstances."
"No!" Blake snapped. "I'm done giving in, done being an accessory. Here's what we'll do. When we open the door, I'll jump whoever's out there. You make a run for it, head west. I'll buy you as much time as I can."
"Blake."
"There's train tracks 4 miles from here. A SDC train is moving past here late this afternoon, Adam and I were going to rob it. If I can't get away, you'll have to get on the train."
"Blake, stop it. Look at me. I'm beat up, aura-less, and can barely walk across the room without help. Even with your help, Do you think we could really make four miles before the White Fang ran us down and killed us both?"
"I... we... I can't just abandon you to them!" Blake clenched her hands on her head in anguish.
"There's not a choice in the matter," Weiss replied, keeping her voice calm and steady. "You will only throw your life away in a pointless attempt to save mine, and I won't hear to it. If this is to be my fate, I won't let you be destroyed alongside me. Now open the door, and let's get on with it."
Blake hesitated for a long moment, her hand gripping the hilt of Gambol Shroud. But the logic of Weiss's argument was impossible to ignore, and finally she let out a long sigh of defeat. "I'm sorry, Weiss. I am so, so, sorry."
"No," Ruby whimpered, all hope of a happy ending was gone now.
Weiss noticed and gave the hooded girl a hug, "Don't worry. I'm not going anywhere," she said.
Weiss nodded, and Blake pushed open the door. Adam Taurus stood squarely in front of it, his hand on the hilt of his sword.
"What are you doing, Blake?"
"Delivering the prisoner for execution, why?"
"I didn't order you to do that."
"Well, I know things haven't been the same between us recently, and I was hoping to prove to you I was still on your side. You know, show some initiative."
Adam studied her for a moment, then apparently decided he believed her story. "Very well, bring her as along." He turned on his heel and walked to back towards four other waiting White Fang.
Weiss felt a strange feeling of numb calm as Blake tugged forward on her elbow. She was going to die. She couldn't fight, she couldn't run, she couldn't bargain. She realized that she still didn't know how she was going to be executed, but she hoped it would be quick. Firing squad, maybe. Beheading wouldn't hurt as long as whoever wielded the axe knew how to swing it.
"That's rather morbid," Jaune said.
"Whore!"
"Say your prayers, thief!"
A pair of loitering White Fang hurled insults at her as the party walked through the camp. More faunus were gathering, joining the procession and making their way towards a gathering point. The insults came thicker, invectives being screamed from all sides.
"You're going to rot in the forest!"
"I'll feed your heart to the Grimm!"
Weiss kept her head down, focusing on putting one foot in front of the other. It would all be over soon.
"We'll have a nice, slow fire for you, scum!"
That got Weiss's attention. They weren't really going to do that, were they? She threw a sidelong glance at Blake. "Blake, what are they going to do to me?"
Blake didn't answer, but bit her lower lip and looked straight ahead.
"Blake? Please Blake, what are they planning?"
Blake didn't reply, but she nodded ahead. Weiss looked up, and her eyes widened. A thick stake, with wood piled all around it, stood before them.
The people who recognized what it was all gasped.
"Yang?" Ruby asked, "What is that?"
The blonde ignored her however, turning to Dark and shouting, "You can't make her watch this!"
"It's her choice," Dark said, "she doesn't have to watch it, she can simply look away from the screen, I won't force anyone to watch this."
Blind terror seized Weiss. "No!" Her voice came in a choked whisper. "Not like that!" She stopped, pulling back against Blake's guiding hand. "Please, not like that!"
"Scared, Schnee?" Adam taunted. "You should be."
Somebody gave her a shove from behind, and her broken ankle gave out, sending her sprawling to the ground.
"Get her up!"
"Drag her to the stake!"
Somebody got hold of Weiss's long, white hair, and pulled. She twisted and pushed with her good leg, trying to take the pressure off of her hair. Somebody else seized her by her bad leg, and they started dragging her towards stake. The mob whooped and cheered at her pain and humiliation.
"Please! I don't want to die like that! Anything but that!" Her pleas fell on deaf ears, and she was roughly tossed against the stake. Someone grabbed her throat, and drug her to her feet. She found herself looking straight into the face of the man who it helped her in the airport.
"This is for my ears!" He spat, forcing her head back against the wood. Chains were wrapped around her legs and body, pinioning her fast. Loose wood was thrown against her.
What was left of the unfortunate girl's composure broke. "I don't want to die," she sobbed. "I'll give you anything!"
Adam stood to the side, shouting into a nearby camera.
"Please! Somebody, help me! Blake! Winter! Anybody! Please don't let them burn me!"
Blake stood to the side, sick to her stomach. She debated killing Weiss with a merciful headshot, but she didn't have the courage to risk the wrath of the bloodthirsty crowd. Adam finished his monologue, and walked over to her.
"Prove you're on my side." He held out a torch. Time seemed to stop. Blake knew that if she refused, she stood a good chance of joining Weiss in the fire. Nothing she could do now would save the heiress. With trembling hands, she took the torch, and stepped forward.
"You were my friend..." Weiss whispered.
"Ruby," Yang said quietly, "don't watch this." Yang herself then turned away so she wouldn't have to watch, Jaune did the same. Ruby however kept her eyes fixed on the screen.
Blake couldn't speak. She was the worst kind of traitor, she felt filthy and evil and helpless. Closing her eyes, she thrust the torch into the kindling and turned away.
The crowd screamed and cheered as the fire caught, and rapidly spread.
Weiss screamed in fear as the flames spread around her. They licked in closer, blistering her legs. Shattering, primal pain lanced through her body. She tried to scream again, but smoke and heat filled her lungs and choked her. The fire was around her now, her legs and lower body were a mass of agony. She twisted and fought against the chains, animalistic survival Instinct driving her to try and escape. Her clothes caught fire, wreathing her in flames. A ghastly odor filled her nose, and Weiss realized she could smell her own flesh charring. Her prized hair burst into flames, but her entire body hurt so much that nothing could make it worse now. She closed her eyes, and desperately hoped for oblivion. The unstoppable torrent of pain came from all sides, came without respite or mitigation. Her mind swam, her muscles stopped responding. Merciful blackness danced at the edge of consciousness, and Weiss embraced it.
"It's over now," Dark said to the two blonds.
Yang turned and saw Ruby shivering from what she just saw. Weiss was much worse off however. The poor girl was curled up in a ball mumbling to herself.
Dark noticed this and walked over to Weiss, but the heiress jerked away.
"It's okay," he said in a calming voice, "I'm not going to hurt you. Everything is going to be okay."
Whatever he was doing seemed to work as Weiss started to calm down just enough for him to get close. Dark lightly tapped the heiress on her forehead with his finger and she instantly fell unconscious.
"This is why I didn't want to show this one," Dark said, "she'll be okay, but I'm going to have to erase her memory of this. I'll be right back."
The red head picked up Weiss and in a flash of light, they were gone, but, like he said, they were back rather quickly. Weiss was now conscious again and looked like nothing ever happened. Without another word, they started watching again.
Blake ran. She ran, blinded by tears and pursued by guilt. She stumbled against her sitting rock, and collapsed to her hands and knees on the far side. She threw up. The sights and sounds and smells of that poor girl burning to death would haunt her for the rest of her life. She sobbed great hot tears, crying for Weiss, and herself, and for what the White Fang had become. Her father and mother would be so ashamed of her. She couldn't stay here, not anymore. This wasn't fighting for freedom, this was hate driven butchery. Ice cold resolve hardened in the back of her mind. Weiss hadn't got the chance to be a Huntress, so Blake would do it for her. In her memory. Wiping away the tears, Blake sat on her rock one last time, planning the next few days. She was still sitting there when she heard Adam's footfalls approaching.
"Blake? It's time."
"Ok."
The door to Jacques Schnee's office exploded open. General Ironwood spoke without even turning to see who had entered. "Specialist Schnee, you are absent without leave from the Valentine Bay operation."
"Curse you, and curse it." Winter's voice was flat and deadly.
Ironwood turned, regarding Winter evenly. "Specialist Schnee, I am willing to make exceptions given the tragedy your family has suffered. But I am warning you as a friend, please don't say something I can't ignore."
Winter walked purposefully across the room until she stood mere inches in front of the general. "Didn't you see what those bastards did to my sister? How they've splashed the video everywhere?" She hissed. "Why are you here, instead of out there hunting them down?"
"I assure you, we won't rest until we find the responsible parties and it bring them..."
"I think you'll understand if your assurances aren't worth much to me right now." Winter snapped.
"Specialist Schnee, I'm warning you..."
"James." Jacques Schnee spoke in a low voice from behind his desk. "I think it would be best of you left."
Winter took a step to the side, clearing the path to the door. General Ironwood held her gaze for a second, then brushed past her. He paused in the doorway, and looked over his shoulder. "I'm granting you indefinite leave, Specialist Schnee. I imagine you have some things to take care of. And both of you, I'm sorry for your loss."
Winter stared after him until the even tread of his boots faded. Then she turned to her father. The two looked at each other for what seemed like an eternity without a word being said. They both were proud, composed individuals. Finally, Jacques Schnee spoke.
"Whatever you want. Whatever you need. Whatever it takes. The resources of the entire SDC are at your disposal. Find them, Winter. Find them, and kill. Them. All."
Winter stepped to the desk, and put her hand out. "For Weiss."
Her father grasped it, and shook it once. "For Weiss."
Winter turned and walked from the office without another word. Jacques Schnee sat back in his chair, and a vengeful smile spread across his face.
"Brace yourselves. Winter is coming."
"That bastard!" Yang shouted, eyes turning red, "he doesn't even care that Weiss died!"
"Yang!" Ruby whispered harshly.
"It's fine," Weiss said, "I agree."
"How much do you remember, Weiss?" Blake asked.
"I remember right before my counterpart's," the next word caught in her throat, "execution, but from there it's a blank until we came back."
"So do you guys want me to show you the next part or…" Dark joked.
"NOO!" was the immediate response from all of them. Dark just chuckled.
AN1: Though it's never directly said, I'm just going to assume that Team JNPR knows that Blake used to be in the White Fang.
AN2: This is just a title I came up with for Adam's ranking in the White Fang, since he seems to be the leader of the Vale branch. There would also (theoretically) be a Fang of Mistral, Vacuo, and Atlas.
AN3: The story I got this from is "Before Their Time" by Blackholeoflogic, big thanks to him for letting me do this. Go give it a read, if you're willing to be sucker punched in the feels every chapter.
AN: And that's the next chapter (finally). Thanks again to Blackholeoflogic for letting me use his story. Go check it out, seriously.
Keep it simple.