A/N: I don't own any of the characters associated with the RWBY series. All rights belong to Rooster Teeth.


Setting: SDC Charity Concert

The Schnee's concert was about to begin. The event was being held in a massive building owned by the Schnee family. It was where they held all their events for others to witness as well as flaunt their wealth. At the front gates of the extravagant building, guests were entering the building. Before they could take a seat for the concert, all the guests had to donate Lien since this was a charity for the Fall of Beacon. Two guests had already entered the concert and took their seats.

"How do like this stage? It's very grandiose if you ask me," Ebony asked Blood.

The two of them were sitting in seats that were close to the stage. They were one of the first ones to arrive so they had to sit and wait for the other seats to fill. Blood looked around at his surroundings, but he didn't seemed impressed with the architecture.

"Very… magnificent. This place truly is... a work of art," Blood answered though he didn't sound all that happy to say it.

Ebony glanced at him, understanding where his tone was coming from. She looked at this eloquent, decorated building and tried to see the same thing Blood did: the work created by unfair labor laws the kingdom had against the faunus. Buildings and many like these could be found all over Atlas, built by the bleeding hands of faunus. Ebony may not fully understand that kind of harsh experience as a human, but she hated the unfair prejudice and believed humans and faunus were equals in Remnant.

This building's existence was an insult to faunus-kind. Ebony could easily see that and this event was no different. This charity was nothing more than a disguise Jacques Schnee created to get people on his side for his own personal needs.

Of course, this whole event wouldn't have happened without Ebony's manipulation, but she did it for the purpose of something greater than her own selfish desires. Even attending this event was all part of a greater scheme.

Another duo was entering the Schnee building after depositing a considerable donation. Tarax led Violet to their assigned seats while also talking to a few of his friends. They were typical aristocrats and Violet could see through all their bullshit. Underneath all the pleasantries and kind words, they were vultures ready to pick at the wealthy carcasses of their so-called friends if the opportunity ever presented itself. Vanity, selfishness, and depravity were the best words to describe the common rich people of Atlas.

Tarax and Violet walked to their seats where the elderly Underland sat with his friends. Violet was pretty much watching this event by herself since Tarax was mingling with his associates. Their seats were further in the back so she had no idea Ebony and Blood were there and vice versa. Both parties minded their own business to view the concert.

An hour later, after all the seats had been filled, the lights in the theater began to fade out then a spotlight shined on the stage. It was on a lone woman who was walking to the center of the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all for attending the Schnee Dust Company Charity Concert. This event is to raise Lien to support those unfortunate souls afflicted by the Fall of Beacon. The citizens of Beacon are truly helpless after the tragedy of the Vytal Festival and the Schnee family has recognized this. He wishes to grace the kingdom with a portion of our wealth with this charity and prove they are in our hearts with this concert."

"Bullshit," Violet, Ebony, and Blood thought at the same time. They saw through this sham with ease as the woman continued.

"And to show how we are with our Vale brothers and sisters, we will introduce someone who was there during the Fall. The singer of this concert and member the Schnee Dust Company; Weiss Schnee."

The crowd began to applaud as the announcer said the singer's name. She walked off the stage so the show could begin.

"Weiss Schnee… so a Schnee is performing," Violet thought with a neutral expression. She realized this was going to be her first time seeing a member of the Schnee family.

Ebony smiled, sitting back in her seat to prepare for the concert.

Walking to the center of the stage was the very person the announcer said, Weiss Schnee. The young teenager stood there with her head down before raising it to face the crowd. In that moment, Violet noticed her eyes and immediately recognized them. It wasn't because she met Weiss but because she saw that same look every time she looked in the mirror.

Looking at a complete stranger, someone who had no impact in her life, someone she saw and acknowledged while Weiss just stared at the masses before her, there was a connection. Violet felt a kinship with Weiss she didn't expect to feel with anyone else living in Atlas. The young Schnee's eyes said the same exact thing as Violet's;

"We're prisoners"

Weiss took a deep breath and began to sing. The theater room was enveloped by Weiss's voice as she sang. Many from the audience felt Weiss's songs and voice were beautiful and Violet was one of them. Each song was professionally done, but they lacked something. Violet didn't pick up on it because she knew nothing about the performing arts, but Ebony did. These songs were done well, but she knew there was no soul to them. Weiss was only through the motions as she sang and Ebony recognized this as Weiss not believing in what she was singing. Ebony wondered if here was a song that contained Weiss's soul. One that would let her sing her heart out for all to hear.

The concert was almost over. Weiss had performed several ballads and only had one more to do. The heiress knew her father wanted her to finish the list of songs her father gave her, but Wiess didn't want to do what was ordered of her. She wanted to show she was her own person, proving to her father and the people watching, but mostly to herself.

Weiss decided to forget the last song Jacques had for her and present to the audience a song she just created and possessed the right lyrics to express herself. She called this newly crafted song; This Life is Mine.

This song possessed something the others didn't. The lyrics, every word Weiss uttered had weight to them, emotional weight. These were the feelings Weiss had been keeping bottled up inside ever since she returned home and she was letting it all out for everyone to hear even if they had no idea how much this particular song meant to her.

Everyone in the audience just thought Weiss was singing another song, but two people knew better. Ebony smiled to herself as she watched the young girl sing from the heart. Violet was stunned by this song. It not only expressed Weiss's feelings and experiences, but Violet's as well. They were dealing with the same situation so this song was also what Violet wanted to express. Weiss's song also gave Violet something else; resolve.

She didn't notice at first, but tears were streaming down Violet's face throughout the duration of this song.

Once Weiss finished singing, everyone in the audience gave the heiress a standing ovation. Violet was the only one not standing and she stood once she heard people applauding. She clapped too, then realized she was crying. She wiped the tears from her face so no one could see them.

The concert part of the charity was over and now it was time for the late-night mingling.

The aristocrats and rich citizens attending this charity moved to an art gala where they looked at different paintings, statues and other pieces of fine art. Tarax was there, talking to his friends about how well he was doing and how Violet would be his successor. She paid them no attention as her father mentioned the prospect of marriage.

Violet was in her own world while her father spoke. She did look at some of the art pieces in the large room. She could admit she had no refine eye for art, but thought they were all nice to look at.


Meanwhile, somewhere else in the charity building, Jacques Schnee was in a private room, counting the Lien and checks given to him by his guests. He was pleased with the massive boon this charity has bestowed. The corrupted man was even considering whether to actually donate this money or keep it for himself since he wasn't making a lot of Lien with the company thanks to the closing of borders.

He was very close to keeping it all for his own profit before someone knocked on his door.

"Who is it!" he shouted.

Ebony opened the door with a mischievous grin on her face. Jacques didn't have an amused look at seeing the charming Vantablack in his private quarters. He also remembered that he locked the door before closing it and wondered how she unlocked it.

"What do you want? Can't you see I'm busy?" he said with obvious anger in his tone.

"No need to be hostile. I came to personally thank you for this spectacular event and for inviting me to attend," Ebony as she curtseyed in respect.

Jacques thought it was strange she was here because he doesn't remembering inviting her in the first place. He was getting suspicious of this young woman he has been seeing more often in the past few days.

"I hope my donation is put to good use. I'm positive the amount will be a massive boon to those in Vale."

Ebony's words satisfied the old Schnee, knowing he received Lien from her made him less distrustful of her intrusion to his charity, but it also meant he really had to donate the money to Vale to avoid misgivings from others.

"I hope that's all you wanted from me, then could be so kind as to leave me to my business? I have to finish sorting through everyone's donations."

"Actually, there are a few things I'd like to ask," Ebony said as she closed the door behind her.

She was ready to make a move for her plans in Atlas. Ebony locked the door behind her and walked toward Jacques. Standing on the other side of the door was Blood, guarding it so Ebony could get her work done with no interruptions. He leaned against the door so he could try to hear a little of what Ebony wanted to ask.

"There are some questions only a member of the Atlesian Council can answer," she said while activating Charm. Jacques Schnee was putty in her hands as well as all of Atlas's secrets.


Violet was looking at the artwork by her father's side. He was still too busy talking to his friends to give her his full attention though his friends were eager to know more about the mysterious beauty that was Alyssa Underland, the heiress of the Underland family who has remained out of Atlas's public eye for years. They found her enchanting and thought she would make a lovely bride for their sons.

One after another, suitors and other male guests approached Violet in an attempt to court her. They tried impressing her with their wealth, complimenting her looks, or saying they fell for her the moment they say her. Violet liked money but didn't care for people who like to brag about their riches. She was in clothes she'd never pick while wearing a wig and make-up she'd never use so compliments did nothing for her. Violet didn't believe in love at first sight and wasn't attracted to any of the men around her.

None of these suitors were to her liking, something she already knew, but Tarax watched as potential spouses left. He wasn't pleased with his daughter's constant rejections so he planned to rectify it. He pulled out the device that controlled Violet' disruption collar and pressed the button to shock her. The setting for the shock installment was set to a low level so it wouldn't be noticed by others but still give Violet significant pain.

Violet felt the shock course through her body even if it was mild compared to the first shock her gave her, but the pain was still there and it still hurt. She gritted her teeth as the pain continued then it subsided. She looked over to her father who was still talking to his friends. He was keeping an eye on her, pressing the button every time Violet turned someone down. She hated this pain but submitting to her father's will was even worse. Weiss proved she planned to defy her family in her song and Violet almost lost that drive somewhere along the way, but she wasn't going to lose her way again.

Ebony and Blood finally entered the room where all the guests were spending the event. She had a satisfied look on her face. Her interrogation of Jacques Schnee was a major success. She learned a number of the kingdom's secrets. Blood was actually quite angry, but it wasn't directed at Ebony.

Ebony, giggled to herself then thought, "Tonight has been very prosperous. I got more than I wanted from that old man, including some unfortunate news that would anger the members of Team VRSZ greatly, especially little Remus. He'd go blind with rage… This one too,"

She looked at her angry retainer who was trying to suppress his rage but was clearly fuming. The information given had no relation to Blood, but he most likely knew this would break his friend's heart.

"Atlas has done some terrible things behind Remnant's back, but now's not the time to bring it to light. It works better as leverage. However," Ebony was concerned of Blood. He looked like he was going to punch someone.

She placed a caring hand to the left side of his face and he calmed down to look her way. He had no idea why she gave him the sudden contact and he noticed her eyes were sympathetic.

"Why is she looking at me like-"

"Ash, I want you to return to the hotel. You've heard more than enough tonight and I want you to calm yourself in a more suitable environment. I'll meet you back there once I'm done here, okay?" Ebony said with genuine kindness and understanding.

Every day he has spent with this woman, he has been surprised by her actions. Blood was finding it difficult to see her as the person behind the destruction of Fortuna, seeing her as an unwilling accomplice of her aunt. Ebony wasn't some villain, but a complicated person with many unknown layers. He didn't know what to make of her.

"Ash?" she repeated when he just stared at her.

"Huh? Uh- yeah. I'll go. Thank you," he answered.

"Now don't go flying around carelessly where people can notice. I don't want to hear about my date being shot out of the sky," she teased and he smirked.

Blood exited the building to do exactly what Ebony told him. She was glad she could help diminish his anger in some way.

"Now that that's done, let's see what else I can gain from this farce of a charity," Ebony thought as she looked at all the self-absorbed people at this charity.

She walked among them, glancing at the pieces of art displayed for all to see, but none of them really caught Ebony's attention. The young Vantablack wasn't interested in art. She was more interested in finding more members of the Atlesian Council to talk to and she did find General Ironwood speaking with another member of the council and Jacques Schnee talking to people with his daughter in his presence, completely forgetting the conversation he had with Ebony thanks to her telling him to forget it with Charm. She also saw Violet dealing with unwanted suitors along with being electrocuted by Tarax every time she rejected their favor.

Ebony frowned at the girl's predicament. The aura disruption collar was one thing, but the shock installment was too much for her and she planned to intervene. Any addition to her plan had to be put on hold for now. She knew that Violet would be extremely aggressive against the one who sent her back to her family, but Ebony believed she'd thank her later for what she's about to do.

Violet was in pain from the electric shocks and the non-stop badgering of five other young men trying to court her. She was in a rock in a hard place and she was reaching her limit. If this continued, Violet would had gone insane and begin trashing everything around, starting with this group of guys who wouldn't leave her alone then to her father for obvious reasons. This, however, never came to pass because someone new joined her.

"I must say, it's so nice to see you after all this time," Ebony said to Violet, interrupting the men trying to swoon her.

She bowed to Violet like a gentleman, not seeing the surprise then seething anger in the Violent Flower's face. Violet already acknowledged Ebony as her enemy since she sold her out to her family and it was because this was a public place that she doesn't attack the charming Vantablack on the spot. The other reason was because her father currently had her at the mercy of the shock collar.

"Could you all be so kind as to leave this lovely lady alone? I'd like to get reacquainted with her," Ebony said, using Charm to convince them to leave and they did.

The young men crowding Violet walked away, abiding the Vanatblack's request without a word. Violet was somewhat grateful for that, but this gesture wasn't enough for her to forget what Ebony's done to her and Fortuna. Ebony saw Violet as a potential friend while Violet only saw Ebony as an enemy.

"Nice suit. You look more like a boy than you already did," Violet complimented with a smirk, but it was meant as an insult.

Ebony laughed because she found her comment amusing then said, "I wish I could say the same about that wig. It doesn't suit you, but I like the dress. You look very beautiful."

"…Thanks," Violet replied.

Ebony walked toward Violet, getting into her personal space then wrapped her arms around Violet's shoulders.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Violet shouted.

"I haven't danced with anyone yet, so would you do me the honor?" Ebony asked playfully.

"…I'm not in the mood to dance and I know I'm not your type. Maybe you should ask Blood since he's aligned himself with you," Violet responded while Ebony still had her arms around her neck.

"Don't think too poorly of Ash. He came to my side out of necessity, not treachery. I thought you knew your friends better than that? Besides, he's not here anymore. The poor thing wasn't feeling well so I sent him back to our residence to get better."

"Really?"

"Really. And you're right about not being my type. I'm not as open as Clair who likes men and women. I prefer men, but a dance between acquaintances is fine, right?" Ebony asked.

"No thanks. I just want this day to end," Violet responded truthfully and with a sorrowful expression she wished she didn't show the Vantablack before her.

Ebony recognized Violet's pain, the pain from being with her family and she smiled. Her smile wasn't because Violet was suffering, but because she just did something to make the Violent Flower happier, that is once she realizes Ebony's good deed. This wasn't part of Ebony's plan, but she did it to make Violet's life easier.

The charming Vantablack removed herself from Violet's person and backed away with a smile on her face. Violet only raised her eyebrow in confusion. She didn't know what kind of game this person was playing.

"Meeting with you again was fun, but my time here is coming to an end. Good night, Violet Tulipe. I hope you have sweet dreams tonight," Ebony said as she walked away with a smile.

Violet had no idea what to make of that encounter. It was definitely odd, but Ebony did get all the boys away from her. And for some weird reason, Violet herself was beginning to feel better, not in spirit or emotion, but physically better. Her father ceased his electric punishments and they weren't as strong as the one she received from her father the other day, so she figured her body was recovering faster than usual.

Looking around to see where Ebony ran off to, Violet noticed that one of the guys trying impress her moved onto court Weiss Schnee. She remembered that guy was one of the more obnoxious suitors.

Violet decided to mind her own business for the remainder of this charity, but that plan failed immediately after she heard the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company shout out in frustration at all the people in this place. She had no idea what that guy said to Weiss to make her upset, but it caught everyone's attention.

Weiss even did something strange like summon some kind of white Boarbatusk Grimm to attack one of the guests. It all ended quickly with General Ironwood stepping in to kill the pseudo Grimm and end the matter which also brought this charity to an abrupt end, something Violet was grateful for. All the guests began to leave with Violet and Tarax leaving to a hotel for the elderly Underland to get some rest.

Setting: Hotel

Tarax requested a room with two beds for Violet and himself. Violet thought it was uncomfortable being in the same room with someone she hates, but her father wasn't going to allow her out of his sight. The old man didn't waste time getting under the sheets and going to sleep. He was physically exhausted after the charity. Violet stayed up in her bed, staring at the ceiling, then the windows that led to the outside, and at the device controlling her collar that was resting in her father's hand. She sighed to herself, wishing to be out of her father's grasp.

She assumed if she tried to attack him in his sleep, he'd have enough time to activate the device and electrocute her till she learned her lesson. Even escape couldn't be done without waking him up. The sound of the door or windows opening would be enough to rouse him from slumber.

"Maybe I should just go to sleep… huh?" Violet's thoughts were cut short when she noticed something about her father.

He was laying on his side, the left side where he had the device in his left hand. The device was pressed against his body and the bed, meaning the button was being pressed. Violet flinched, expecting to receive a long painful shock, but nothing happened. There was no shock or any kind of response.

"Is that thing jammed or-" Violet thought then remembered her encounter with Ebony.

The charming Vantablack had her arms wrapped around Violet's shoulders and neck. She thought Ebony was just trying to get into her personal space and dance but wondered if she knew how to operate this collar. Was the shock compartment of the collar turned off by Ebony Vantablack?

The next thing Violet realized was something she failed to notice after meeting Ebony. She felt her body recovering faster than usual from the shocks she received and thought it was because Tarax only delivered mild ones, but that wasn't the answer.

Violet took a deep breath and concentrated for a second to feel a familiar sensation she hasn't felt ever since this damned device was placed around her neck. She felt it, a surge of her own power coursing through her body. Violet's aura has returned.

Ebony Vantablack fully deactivated the aura disruption collar.

In that moment, Violet realized she was free from being her father's obedient puppet. What little power he had over her vanished thanks to Ebony. Violet had no idea why she did this, but she didn't plan on complaining about it. What she did do was think about her current options which were plentiful.

She looked to her father with harsh eyes and had one word in her mind.

"Payback,"

Setting: Underland Manor

At the same time the SDC Charity Concert was beginning, another major event was taking place. The members of Team VRSZ learned the location of the Underland's home and made their way to the far corner of the kingdom where it presides. It took them an hour or two to ask around for information and the rest of the afternoon just to walk there, but it was all worth it. They all knew that this was an infiltration and rescue mission. Fighting should be avoided if possible.

Remus Cobalt, Silver Synch, Zelts Allister, Lily, and Azura Cobalt were at the threshold of Underland Manor. Unbeknownst to them, Marigold, Bluebell, Dahlia, Aster, Linnaea and Linnaeus Underland were prepared and waiting for them.

The battle between surrogate family and blood family was about to begin.

Chapter 19: Down the Rabbit Hole


This chapter shows exactly where in RWBY's timeline the VRSZ story is located.

The next few chapters will be about events that transpire during the same time as this chapter.

Violet was introduced to Weiss this chapter and the heiress lit a fire under Violet. Their similar predicaments gave them a mutual understanding though Weiss never met Violet or knew she existed. If they ever were introduced to one another, I think they'd have great friendship.

Violet would also be on good terms with Ruby. Remus would like Ruby and Blake, Zelts would connect with Weiss and Yang, and Silver would have a similarity with Blake because of Greyhound and the White Fang respectively, but he and Yang would constantly be at each other's throats.

Another theme song that goes well with Ebony Vantablack is Deal With the Devil (English Cover): MewKiyoko. Her other theme, Troublemaker, is a song describing the viewpoint of people under her spell while this song is about seeing the world through Ebony's eyes. The beat and style matches well with Ebony's personality and many of the lyrics in the song are definitely things she would say to others, especially making others bend to her will, tempting them into being her pawns or pets, and her word being absolute.