Chapter 6

Frost & Officials

Schnee Company Private Docks

Weiss, Shara, & Schnee Guards

Weiss stood on the edge of the docks as a large Schnee Dust Corporation cargo ship began pulling into the harbor. She couldn't help but smile; she hadn't seen her cousin, Shara, in five years. It had been during an annual party hosted by her father for Atlas' upper class and bureaucrats that the two of them had met. Weiss had hated those parties; there was no end to the false praise and hollow compliments sprouting from the mouths of pompous crooks and power-hungry bigots. But that night her cousins, who controlled the Vacuo branch of the Schnee Dust Corporation, had come to talk business with her father. It was thanks to this that Weiss met Shara Frost, her youngest cousin.

Shara was two years younger than Weiss, making her the same age as Ruby. Shara was also a full head shorter than Weiss as well. She had long, pale blue hair that reached down to her waist, and she always wore a white lily in her hair. She was thin and had pale skin, most would describe her as sickly looking, and they wouldn't be entirely wrong. She suffered from a very weak immune system, meaning that she got sick easily and often. Her usual attire was a short white dress with no designs or special trimmings on it, just an innocent plain white. She had always looked like a small angel.

Weiss couldn't help but smile, as she saw Shara waving on the top deck. The cargo ship, Gold Dust, docked a moment later and various cranes began offloading large shipping containers, taking them to various locations along the Schnee's private pier. Despite being happy at Shara's arrival, Weiss couldn't help but feel a little worried, the Gold Dust rarely ever docked for longer than an hour or two. It was meant to protect the Schnee family's most precious artifacts, yet Winter was planning on using the most precious object for a ceremony; a very public and open ceremony at that.

Her thoughts of unease quickly left her though as Shara ran along the gangway to reach Weiss. She practically tackled Weiss as she embraced her. "Wei! It's been so long!"

Weiss laughed as she patted her on the head, "Hey Shar, how've you been?

"Vacuo is so boring; all the other girls only want to talk about is when the next fashion line comes out. You'd think that they would want to talk about boys but no… It's just stupid clothes."

Weiss looked at her skeptically, "Have you been thinking about boys a lot lately?" Weiss smiled as she teased her.

Shara blushed, "Well actually there is this one guy back in Vacuo…" She shook her head trying to clear her thoughts. "Anyway you have no idea how happy I am to see you."

"What do you mean?"

"Ever since I got on that stupid boat, I've been having these horrible nightmares. Every night I hear screaming, every night I hear pleas for help, and last night I heard feral howling."

"That sounds horrible, but I am glad to see you again. It's been far too long."

"You know you don't have to speak so formally right? Oh! You have got to see the centerpiece, it's amazing!"

Armored vehicles were now pulling up to the side of the boat and Atlesium Knights were being powered on. Dockhands were rushing all over the place directing cranes towards the ships central cargo door. Machines whirled and clanged as the large hatch on the floor of the deck slid open and a metal platform began rising from its depth.

On that platform was quite possibly the world's largest Dust Crystal. It looked like a dark blue glacier, with large crystal obelisks jetting out from it around the top. At the point of each obelisk were chains coming out of the crystal probably for hoisting the crystal up.

Weiss stared at it in awe, "I've never actually seen it in person…"

Shara turned to Weiss with a huge grin. "Isn't it amazing! Winter said that protecting it will be the most important thing that we've ever done."

Weiss raised an eyebrow, "Really… Why do I get the feeling that you're leaving something out?"

Shara's grin quickly changed to an apologetic smile, "There may have been a threat or two, should anything bad happen to the crystal."

Weiss sighed as she looked at the crystal sadly, "Then I guess we'd better get started then." She knew what her older sister was capable of. People were only tools to her, and when a tool didn't do what she wanted, she'd get rid of it.

Family was only tools that could be handled more often to her.

Junior's Club

Junior (Hei Xiong) & Various City Officials

Junior stood in front of the cities elite, along with Headmaster Ozpin and the visiting General Ironwood. "Now I know what you're all thinking. Why should we let Grimm into the city, especially after last week's catastrophe? The answer is exactly that, the people want vengeance; they want to see the beasts that have tormented them for so long beaten down. They want to see the brave souls that protect them in action, fighting back the beasts that they fear so much. This arena will show that even with the most recent disaster, we have not lost. If anything we are stronger for it!" Junior hastily paused here to judge his audience's reactions. He was no stranger to public speaking but Phantom had worked fast… impossibly fast, as if she already knew that he'd accept her proposal.

Ironwood however interpreted Junior's pause as a time for comments, "What makes you think this could possibly be a good idea? What if these Grimm were to escape? What guarantee do you have that this won't lead to an even bigger catastrophe?"

Inwardly Junior smirked; he was actually hoping someone would be skeptical of the proposal. "Well General, I'm glad you ask. I've been assured that the containment will be handled with extreme care, but if the Grimm were to ever escape I guarantee you that my employee's are more than capable of handling a few Grimm. Besides each Grimm, regardless of its type, will be stored separately from each other. I am not asking for funding on this project, only that you grant me permission to open this establishment within the lower levels of my bar here."

Ironwood seemed shocked for a second and was about to complain further before Ozpin spoke up, "What kind of clientele are you expecting here Mr. Xiong?"

"Hunters, Huntresses, even those in training. Along with those who go under the radar yet still have remarkable talent. I believe you have a few students like that at your school now Ozpin." Ozpin rose an eyebrow at this but otherwise didn't speak up.

Finally the head councilman stood and addressed Junior directly. "You are certainly able to build an arena downstairs, which if you wish can house training bouts between Hunters, and if it meets our standards then we shall consider the request of your… Grimm Arena. We'll be in touch Mr. Xiong."

With those last words the councilmen and Ironwood left, though he was still steaming. Ozpin stood and spoke, "May I ask how you knew about my students?"

Junior scratched the back of his head for a moment before saying, "Other than underground rumors, a new acquaintance of mine mentioned it when I told her about the girl who busted up my bar a few months ago."

"I see… She wouldn't be acquainted with our old friend Torchwick, would she, Hei?"

"Not from what I've seen, Ozzy. If anything, she's a new player, with extremely wealthy friends."

Ozpin nodded and silently left his old classmate, wondering about this new potential threat.

I'm seeing interest from the community on Google+ for this story so you'll all get the remaining chapters I have but after that it will depend on the response from the community here. Whether that be by reviews or PMs with questions.