So, this chapter is a week late. Life got... crazy, yeah that's a word for it, over the passed couple weeks. That combined with realizing I needed to change a couple things within this chapter I wasn't able to post it last week. There was also a change made to Chapter two, I realized I made a bit a of an error with Adam being the husband in the incident pertaining to Eis. Fear not, Adam will still have a rather important role in this story, just needed to change a detail for things to still make sense. Anyway, here's chapter 4. I cannot guarantee that chapter 5 will be up next Saturday as life is still sorting itself out. But it will come. Please favorite, follow, and above all else, leave a review!

It had been roughly an hour and a half since Jacques gave his speech and the time for the recount of the Fall of Beacon was fast approaching for those that were present. Currently the group of students sat at a table chatting about topics ranging from some of the antics at school over the last year to other past experiences.

Weiss looked over the team before noticing their lack of formal clothing for the first time. Flynt and Neon were dressed as they were during the Vytal Festival. Flynt's state of dress didn't really surprise Weiss, it was at least semi-formal. Neon on the other hand… Normally Weiss would've been completely embarrassed to been seen associating with someone with her dress code at an event like this. But now, she honestly didn't even care.

The other half of team FNKI wasn't exactly formally dressed either, semi or otherwise. Kiera Damos, the girl that was having the largest impact on Weiss this evening, was dressed in a pair of dark blue skin-tight jeans with black skate shoes. Her top consisted of a black short sleeve shirt with white edges on the end of the sleeves, collar, and bottom of the shirt. Over that she wore a bright pink half jacket with half sleeves. She wore fingerless black gloves and had her long crimson colored hair tied into a ponytail with two long strands on either side of her face.

The last member of team FNKI, Marshall Impello, was dressed rather plainly, almost as if he was trying to draw as little attention to himself as possible. Though that did seem to fit his persona given he was rather quiet and rarely contributed to the conversations unless he deemed it necessary. His outfit consisted of white skinny jeans, and a plain white tee-shirt. He wore a black flat brimmed hat with a white triangle with the point at the bottom in the center.

Even though at one point in her life, their state of dress would have caused an issue with the heiress, her time at Beacon had seemingly changed that. It gave her a new perspective on things and thawed out quite a few of the tendencies that were bestowed upon her by the man she called father. Weiss smiled at the thought. She was happy that her friends from Beacon had a lasting impression on her.

Weiss was dragged away from her thoughts when her father once again took the stage and brought the attention of the room to him. "I do hope everyone is enjoying their evening thus far. At this time, I would like to invite my daughter, Weiss, and her friends, team FNKI to the stage so they may retell the events that took place at Beacon Academy some months ago."

Weiss and team FNKI stood from their table and made their way to the stage. The heiress led them to the center of the stage where Jacques smiled at the group and gestured towards the microphone and crowed before stepping off. The stage was all theirs.

"Hello everyone." Weiss started. "Before we start, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone for coming out and allowing us this chance to shine a different light on the tragedy that was the Fall of Beacon. I would like to especially thank the emissaries from Vale, Vacuo, and Mistral for coming out tonight. Without out you being here, I don't think us speaking would serve much purpose." Weiss took a breath to sort her thoughts out before continuing.

"I guess the best place to start would be the Vytal Tournament. It's where everything started to go wrong. The first two rounds of the tournament went without any issue, it was the singles rounds where things started to go wrong. The first incident was when my teammate, Yang Xiao Long, fought against one Mercury Black. The fight itself was nothing to cause concern. It was after the fight when issues started arising."

"After the fight, what it looked like to anyone watching, was Yang striking Mercury, breaking his leg. However, upon speaking with her afterwards, she claimed that he attacked her, and she was acting in self-defense. I believe what she said, after all, its not really a stretch given that there are a large range of semblances. I don't find it hard to believe that there is one out there that could cause someone to see something no one else can."

Flynt walked up to the microphone, wishing to add something. "Actually, two members of my team have semblances that do alter their opponent's visual perception. Though neither of them is capable of doing what you are describing."

"Thank you, Flynt." Weiss turned back the audience. "This, however, was only the first of two tragedies that day. The second, was during the fight with Pyrrha Nikos and Penny Polendina. You see, Penny, unbeknownst to everyone at the time, was a synthetic human. The first to be able to create and maintain an aura. Her opponent had the semblance of polarity. During the fight, Pyrrha seemed to be struggling, not with the fight, but with something else, something on a more mental level. She seemed to be almost panicking. At one point, Pyrrha defected an attack with more force than required, sending Penny's own swords back at her. The wires attached to them wrapped around her body with enough force to cut through her."

Weiss took a moment to compose herself. The memories were still difficult to talk about, but she had a purpose to speak of them. She pushed onwards despite her own mental struggle. "Penny didn't survive the incident." Weiss took another breath, attempting to calm herself as she held back tears. While she wasn't close with Penny, the girl was still a friend to her. "These two events were quite tragic, and still are, but they both caused a lot of negative emotions to fill the kingdom. This in turn caused the Grimm to be drawn in. Whomever orchestrated the attack on Beacon, used this to their advantage and the launching point of their attack."

Weiss took a deep breath, breaking away from the microphone for a moment. Kiera walked over to her and whispered in her ear. "Would you like us to take over for a moment while you compose yourself?" Weiss nodded to her and stepped away. Kiera nodded to her teammates to come over.

Flynt spoke up first. "Hello everyone, my name is Flynt Coal. I'm the leader of team FNKI. Behind me is Neon Katt, Kiera Damos, and Marshall Impello. All of us were present at the coliseum when the attack started. After the fight between Pyrrha and Penny, something went wrong with the broadcast. It's as if an outside force took control for a time."

Marshall took up the microphone next. "A woman came over the speaker and gave a small speech about the headmasters and what she believed the state of the world to be. After her words a Nevermore broke into the coliseum. Many of the students there took to action to defend the people."

Keira spoke next. "We each played a part in defending the school. It seemed as if the White Fang were the ones that caused the attack, but I don't think they were. I think they were under orders from someone else." Kiera paused for a moment deciding not to pursue that train of thought further. "Everyone fought for the school, regardless of where they came from. This included the Atlesian students and General Ironwood. During the chaos of the fighting, the Atlesian Knights seemed to turn on the students. However, I don't think it could have been Atlas' doing. There's no way that Atlas would turn on the students to start a war, especially with their own in the mix."

Weiss came back the microphone, much more composed than she was previously. "It is our belief that the Knights were taken control of in the same way that the broadcast was." There was a murmuring in the audience as those listening talked amongst themselves as they digested what the group on stage had said. After a few moments one of the emissaries, Marcus Holloway, the Valian emissary, stood up and approached the stage.

The man walked up next to Weiss gesturing towards the microphone so everyone could hear what he had to say. "Much of what you've told everyone tonight checks out against the records we created of the event. I do believe a forceful takeover of the Atlesian Knights is a strong possibility. I believe this because the notorious criminal Roman Torchwick was being held on one of the military ships. If I recall, during the attack control of that ship was also lost as it attacked it's brothers in the sky. Would that be correct, General?"

General Ironwood stood up and approached the stage as well. Once he reached the microphone he spoke the answer everyone was waiting for. "It is indeed. Roman Torchwick was being help prisoner on my flagship for his crimes. However shortly after the attack started, I lost contact with the crew and before I could react, it was shooting down the other ships. That ship also held the controls for the Atlesian Knights. We were also able to recover… proof, of the intrusion into the Knights control systems. I will speak with the emissaries about this in more detail later on." With the that General returned to his seat.

Marcus took up the microphone once again. "Thank you, General. I believe your words, on top of what these students have told us all tonight, has indeed shown a new light on that night. I do believe this can help the relations between kingdoms. Thank you, Weiss and team FNKI. You are trying to do the world a great service, and I won't forget your intentions." With that, Mr. Holloway gave the group behind him a slight bow and left the stage.

Weiss once again took the microphone. "Thank you, everyone, for listening to our experience. Please, continue to enjoy the rest of your evening." Weiss and her friends left the stage to take up the seats at their table. Once seated they all relaxed the slight stress build up from what had just transpired.

"Well… I think that went better than expected." Neon said, smiling.

The group just nodded at her in response. Jacques once again took the stage moments later. "Next we will have an art auction. The detail I left out earlier about this auction is where the proceeds will be going. I'm sure many of you wish to know the answer to that question. You see, when my daughter proposed this idea of trying to alter the way the other kingdoms viewed Atlas. It gave me an idea. The proceeds from this auction will be donated to building a new CCTS tower in Vale. With world communications crippled, its hard to fix how people view our kingdom. I want to fix that issue."

The room was in a stunned silence. The sound of a pin dropping could be heard if there was one. Nobody knew how to react to his announcement. Jacques Schnee, wanting to help the world. That was a concept many in the room had not thought a possibility. But here he was, proposing just that.

"Klein will be the auctioneer tonight. The floor is yours, Klein." With that the head butler of the Schnee manor took Jacques place on stage and brought out the first piece of art that was up for sale.

Weiss and her friends tuned out the action. None of them had a real interest in buying the art available, nor the funds to really participate if they did have said interest, well except for Weiss when it came to funding.

"So, uh… that was a thing…" Flynt said, still dumbfounded at Jacques prior statement.

"I did tell you he was changing." Weiss explained. Her tone wasn't defensive, nor did she see her words as defending the man.

"You did. But I think I can speak for everyone here when I say that that was beyond unexpected."

"Even I didn't know about where the money was going, just that there was to be an art auction." Weiss looked up at the first piece of art being sold. It was a piece showcasing Atlas many years ago, before the city really grew into the metropolis it is now.

"So, Weiss. What is your next move?" Marshall asked. Weiss had to look at him for a moment to even confirm it was him that had spoken given his silent tendency. He nodded at her as if hearing her unasked question.

"What do you mean?" She asked, a bit confused at the seemingly random question.

"Well, you've completed the first step of what I assume is your plan. You've told the truth about what happened at Beacon to the other kingdoms. What do you plan to do next?"

Weiss took on a thoughtful expression. She had thought passed this step, but in light of recent events her plans needed to be altered and she hadn't the time to actually think through the possibilities yet. "Originally I planned to try and find a way to get communications up, most likely using SDC resources. However, it seems my father beat me to it, assuming this auction pays off that is. After that, I was hoping to get in touch with my team."

Team FNKI understood her desire to reconnect with them. The rest of team RWBY had become a part of Weiss, whether she realized it or not. Deep down, a part of her needed them in her life. "That may be a bit harder than you think." Neon stated with a bit of sadness showing on her face.

"Why do you say that?"

"If you recall, after the attack on Beacon, Blake disappeared, and so did you. As much as I hate to think this, your team may not exactly be happy with you at the time being. Especially given both of the other members were unconscious when you left." Neon explained, the sadness on her face only growing. She felt for Weiss. The situation presented to the heiress was quite a difficult one, one that Neon would wish on anyone.

Weiss thought hard for a moment, trying to figure out the potential reactions Ruby and Yang could have to the events described by Neon. She wasn't entirely wrong, especially in the case of Yang. Ruby is forgiving, to much so for her own good. But Yang on the other hand… not so much.

"I'll just have to take that one step at a time. I at least have to try." Weiss said, looking down at her lap.

"Weiss, I was by no meaning suggesting that you don't. I just don't want you to be caught off guard by their reaction." Neon supplied with a smile in an attempt to comfort the now much sadder heiress.

"Thank you, Neon. I hadn't even considered the possibility." Weiss looked up at the feline Faunus with a bit of the sadness now gone.

Keira looked up at the auction going on. She tapped the white-haired girl on the shoulder to get her to look too. The picture currently up for sale was a painting of Beacon Academy from the perspective of the airship docks. Weiss' eyes grew a little wide. "Excuse me a moment." She said, not really paying any attention if anyone at the table had even heard her.

Weiss made her way over to her father who was talking with some of his business partners. "Excuse me, father, may I borrow you for a moment."

"Of course, dear." The other men nodded at Jacques as he got up and walked with his daughter a few feet away, as to not be overheard. "What is it?" he asked, surprisingly calmly.

"I want the painting currently being auctioned. Am I allowed to partake in the auction as well?" she asked, all the while staring at the painting.

Jacques chuckled a little. "Of course, you may, however the money used must come for your own account. You may not use any additional from the company." Weiss nodded at the man and returned to her table.

For quite some time, Weiss had been saving the money that she had been given to her by her father and what money she received from the missions she'd done while at Beacon. The first few rounds of bidding had already gone on and the price of the painting was already up at thirty-five thousand lien. The heiress raised her hand. "What is your bid?" Klein announced.

"Forty-five thousand lien." Weiss replied loud enough for all to hear.

"Very well, current bid is forty-five thousand lien. Do we have fifty?" Klein announced.

"Weiss, just how much money do you have?" Flynt asked, his curiosity getting the better of him.

Weiss thought for a moment and did a little mental math. "Well I've been saving for quite a long time, and given who my father is, I think I have around a quarter million lien."

The jaws of every member of team FNKI simultaneously dropped to the floor. How on Remnant could someone of her age have such a massive pile of cash?

"Sixty thousand lien is now the current bid." Klein announced the new price.

"Eighty thousand!" Weiss retorted. She didn't really know why exactly, but she felt a pull towards the painting. She felt like she just needed to have it. She didn't really mind spending the obscene amount of money that it was currently going for either. All the money was going to helping fix the state of the world anyway.

The back and forth continued for several minutes as the painting crossed the hundred thousand lien threshold. As the price continued to rise, Weiss could see her opponent start to get a bit nervous. He was reaching the bottom of his pocket. Weiss grinned at him. "Two hundred thousand lien." Weiss blew her opponent out of the water by adding an additional seventy-five thousand lien to the price.

"Two hundred thousand lien is now the current bid." Klein stated.

Only silence emanated from the room.

"Going once…"

"Twice…"

"Sold, to Weiss Schnee!"

Weiss nodded at Klein before he moved on to the next piece of art. She looked over at the man who she had a bidding war with. When their eyes met he stood up and made his was over to the heiress. He reached her table and outstretched his hand. Weiss stood to shake it with a smile. "Well played Ms. Schnee." He said returning the smile.

"Please, call me Weiss."

"Very well, Weiss. So, tell me, what is it you see in that painting that caused you to bid so highly?" He seemed to hold no ill-will towards her over his defeat. Just mere curiosity with a tinge of respect.

"I see my home away from home. I attended that school last semester and it was like a home to me." The man could see many emotions within the heiress' eyes. Emotions of happiness, comfort, fun, but also sadness, regret, and loss."

"I see. Well then, I'm more than happy to have lost to someone who will treasure that painting." The man smiled at her before starting to turn and walk away.

"Wait." Weiss called. The man turned back to her. "Why did you desire it? If you don't mind my asking."

The man chuckled a little. "I too, used to attend that school, though long before your time. I was quite saddened when I heard of its fate. But it's people like you, and the group behind you, that truly give me hope for the future." The man gave Weiss one last smile before returning to his seat.

The white-haired girl also retook her seat with team FNKI. The rest of the auction went by rather quickly, with the total amount of money earned reaching well over fifty million lien. The amount well exceeded what was needed to accomplish its purpose. The rest would be donated to Vale in order to help efforts in retaking Beacon Academy and start its reconstruction. Shortly after the auction team FNKI and most of the other guests left for the night.

Jacques, with a bit of hesitation, approached his daughter who was sitting alone at a table lost in thought. He took a seat across from her, but it seemed she didn't notice. He took a moment before deciding to speak. "Well, I'd say tonight was quite a success, wouldn't you?"

Weiss was taken from her thoughts at the question. "Indeed. Though it seemed your plan with the auction caught just about everyone off guard."

"Indeed, it did. It's no secret that everything I've done over the last decade has been… morally grey, let's say. It seems people were expecting more of the same." Jacques said thoughtfully. He knew how his past actions were viewed and that most people outside of Atlas didn't hold him in high regards. He was beginning to think the same of himself.

Weiss shifted in her seat and made eye contact with her father. Her gaze was hard, with a serious unasked question on the edge. "Father… While I do appreciate what you're doing now, and the changes you made, I need to know something. What do you plan to do from here on out?"

Jacques sighed. He knew this was coming eventually. Though to be honest, he was hoping he would have more time to come up with a solid answer before she could muster the courage to ask that question. He clasped his hands together on the table to prevent himself from fidgeting due to the odd nervousness he was feeling. "To be perfectly honest, I'm not quite sure. I'm just trying to do what I think would yield the best benefit for all, not just the company. I think this was a good first step, but I don't really know what I'm going to do next." Jacques eyes fell from his daughters to the table.

Weiss thought for a moment. His response was a little unexpected, but not reassuring enough for her to drop the topic. "I do agree that this was a good first step. But it is just that, a step. I want to believe that you are doing this with the best intentions, but it's… hard." Weiss softened her gaze and gave a sigh.

Jacques looked back up at his daughter. There was conviction in his eyes. The look he held was that of someone who meant every word they say with no doubt. But Weiss knew better than to trust that look. "I want to change how things are done within the company. I've begun to realize just how wrong I've been since Eis passed. Thanks to her, and to you, I want to fix the mistakes I've made over the last ten years. But to be frank, I'm not exactly sure how I'm going to accomplish that."

Weiss could see that her father was deep in thought about what to say next. She decided it would be best to let him think and continue when he had something coherent to say. "I know some of the goals I want to see come to fruition, but I'm struggling to figure out how to accomplish them. There are obstacles in the way of many of them."

Weiss' expression turned to that of confusion. What could possibly stand in the way of Jacques Schnee? Before now if the man wanted something to happen, it did, the end. "What kind of obstacles?"

Jacques looked up to the ceiling as if the answer to his daughter's question was written there. It took a few moments before he said anything. "The board of directors. Most of them agree with the policies I created after Eis didn't come back. They are all ruled by greed and don't care about consequences so long as they get what they want. In order to accomplish what I want; I'm going to have to change the scales.

Weiss thought for a moment. That was going to be a large obstacle. "How do you plan to get around them?"

"I…" Jacques paused. There was no point in trying to give Weiss some made up method to fix his problem. He let out a sigh before running his hands through his hair as if the action would create an answer. "I don't know."

"I… I see." Weiss racked her brain for options. If she remembered correctly the board was made up eight members plus her father for a total of nine. But the CEO also counts as three votes, therefore they only need the support of three other members to hold a majority. "How much support do you have on the board currently?" Weiss was a little nervous about asking this. She wasn't sure if her father would want to even discuss this topic with her on this level.

The question caught Jacques off guard. He didn't think his daughter would be interested in helping him. If anything, he expected her to watch him to see how he moved forward. But the thought of her wanting to help brought a smile to his face. "Currently I would have the support of one member. We would have removed him some time ago if he wasn't as good at his job as he is. But I'm glad we didn't."

Weiss looked to be zoned out a bit as she ran scenario after scenario through her head. There wasn't a clear answer as to what the best route would be. The other board members were made up of the other chief officer positions and some of the shareholders. An idea popped into her heard upon remembering that detail. "You want me to temporarily take over the various officer positions, correct?"

It was Jacques turn to be confused. "I do. What brings this up?"

"The holders of those positions each have a seat on the board. My mentoring under them could be a way for me to try and convince them to change sides."

"Hmm… that could work." Jacques said rubbing his chin in thought. The smile returned to his face once again at the idea of doing this with his daughter. It could be he best bet in getting her to see that he really was trying to change. "We'll try that. You should be able to start in a few days."