Chapter 8: Crucible of War

Friedrich the Youngest

Much of the world's color was absent; at least it felt that way stepping outside into the grey snowfall. First major snows of autumn had hit the white river, inland enough that on a cold day like this with the heavy precipitation, the whole of the north vale would be covered in a blanket of frost. It was this snow, this floating ice, which Schnees took as their symbol. Represented them as this beautifully magnificent force of nature that was unstoppable. Rubbish, all snows melt, and all Schnees die. His uncle was the first for Friedrich to see, but not the first in time or the last. Everything melts, only the castle remains. Only legacy remains, and when his Uncle's name grows so old it loses all meaning from both mind and tongue, what he invented will remain. A little bit of solace Friedrich supposes in the chill of this news.

"Friedrich, are you okay?" Summer asked pulling Friedrich further into the snow of the city. Of course he wasn't okay. What sort of question was that? His Uncle was murdered and no one even knew why. How does one reconcile something that can't even understand the reason for? Adults said this sort of thing happened, but it shouldn't. It was allowed to happen, people did this. What about justice, what about right? No one even had a reason to kill him. They say the gods made it snow as tears in Wernher's memory. Liars, no one believed that. If Gods are real, and Friedrich was not convinced they were, why would they allow such cruelty and disorder if they cared so much? "Friedrich?"

"No Summer. Stop,." Friedrich mumbled a meek reply. He always had a hard time expressing himself, though he didn't know why. Everyone always said to just speak what he felt, but Friedrich was old enough to know everyone was lying already. His brother and sister lied about fighting, Qrow lied about not caring about the war, and anyone with eyes could see it. Father lied when he was nice and mother lied about father. No one seemed to say what they meant, for exactly what reason Friedrich still didn't understand.

"We can build a robot? We could make it out of the scrap; maybe use my pennies for its eyes and one of the mops for hair!" Summer seemed to though, speak sincerely that is. She had cried the first day the news came, but was sunshine the next. Said she didn't want to feel bad anymore, wanted to play. Qrow yelled at her for being selfish, but it seemed to make sense. Uncle Wernher would have preferred robots over tears anyway. Why would that change now that he's dead? "Friedrich…"

"That's stupid. How would it see with pennies? Wouldn't we need dust to make it work?" Friedrich replied, coarser than he intended. Summer seemed pleased though, stupid as it was that was the biggest reaction he had towards anything Summer had said to him all day. He had to admit, for a moment the idea of building a robot was an interesting enough one to be distracting. "My brother won't fund a silly thing with mop hair," he added trying to be a little more playful. Summer was a nice girl, nice to him at least, even if a little too fixed on him. Enough so that as Friedrich tried to take a stroll through the city she forced her way along. He didn't mind so much the company, though he rather not admit it.

"Do you have any better ideas for fun?" Summer asked kicking up some snow as she ran ahead. They were crossing over the Castle Bridge, into the city streets, the grey skies and sparse walkways. Some people would still be out, shops still open, but not much on a snowy day. Everything was too frosty to change much, even the river below seemed desolate, no supply ships coming or going, all waiting for the autumn snows to stop.

"What if I don't want to have fun?" Friedrich knew it was childish to act that way, but couldn't resist. He hated being, not quite outsmarted, but made the fool by people. The bridge ended and the markets started a few of the street shoveled to make a path and what poor few open air vendors that were open kept fires running for warmth. An illegal hazard, but no guards stopped them. A few faunus huddled by an open flame dressed in brown ruined cloaks, their feline ears making them as different from everyone else. They turned to look at Friedrich, look meekly, almost not at all, but they looked. Friedrich wasn't afraid, but even he had some sense and ran closer to Summer as quickly as he could without tripping on the soaked ends of his white cloak.

"Everyone wants to have fun…" Summer started staring into a candy shop for a moment loaded up with goods. She was a poor girl, something Friedrich really didn't understand. Staring into the store the candy inside was cheap-low quality goods, why bother pining over something so cheap? 'She can't buy even this?' Of course not. Looking deeply inside he almost considered buying her whatever she wanted. Something about Summer made him want to make all the silly little girl's dreams come true. "Hey Friedrich!" that same little girl shouted, shouted loud, but at a distance he didn't even notice she had gone. When he turned to look white struck him, white and cold and wet too. Snow.

"How dare you!?" Friedrich shouted whipping away the frost from his face, the fine white cloak and shirt he wore already turning wet from the melt on his skin. Summer just stuck out her tongue at him, pelting him with another snowball smacking him right in the chest.

"Catch me!" The game started and with a silver twinkle in her eye, the girl melted into white rose petals, popping back into existence in an explosion of petals just a few feet away, a glow of aura on her. The nerve of her, ambush him in a snow ball fight without even the decency of warning him and then to use aura to, to teleport! That was cheating. Impressive, but cheating.

Flush with anger Friedrich chased after her, kicking up snow as he went. Summer caught this and ran ahead, zigzagging between the piles of snow along the market square. She wanted to cheat using aura, fine and well, Schnee had mastered the use of aura in elements, something him and Wilhelm shared. Reaching into the boys pants pocket a small crystal, ice dust, shined with a deep blue glow. Deep enough to change Friedrich's eyes from an ice blue to a deep water azure. The snow piles that had impeded Summer burst apart as he approached catching a few feet on Summer, dull girl didn't realize she wasn't the only one with special tricks.

Seeing the gains, Summer turned back nervous, her own worn and torn red cloak flapping as she ran. She could tell Friedrich was catching, something that made the small boy smile just a little. There was an addicting quality to winning. Summer, shifted direction, bolting headlong toward a vender. Dolt had no idea; Friedrich could only guess she was too focused on what was behind her to see the mistake in front. At least that was what Friedrich thought.

A gleam of petals as white as the white roses of spring burst from the aether taking Summer to wherever they had come from. 'Of course idiot, she can teleport.' An unbelievable semblance and completely unfair he would most certainly add. Of course following her in a beeline put Friedrich in path of the vender. Stopping, but sliding on icy cobble stone, Friedrich slammed headlong into the vender. It knocked nothing over, and the vender stopped yelling as soon as the cloak brazened with the Snowflake became clear. Still it hurt, the crash dizzying for a moment. What hurt more was feeling like a fool. It was that feeling that pulled Friedrich onto his feet.

"Friedrich are you okay?" Summer called. He gave no answer, only an annoyed growl. He wanted to kill her, making him look like an idiot in front of everyone. Didn't Summer get it? He was Friedrich Schnee, third son of Otto Schnee Herzog of Castle White and the paramount noble of North Vale. He wasn't going to look like an idiot, not to a little girl two years younger than him. Blue eyes still colored by the azure crystal, Friedrich channeled the dust again the, this time calling the snow around Summer to his command small blue glyphs glowing only for a moment in the piles. Like a snake it swirled around her quickly grasping her legs in place. Sure she could teleport, but the surprise got to her and Summer didn't even try. This was his moment of victory, charging full in Friedrich tackled Summer into the pile.

"Stupid little girl I don't have time for your kid games!" Friedrich shouted as they collided. A puff of snow greeted them as they landed; covering them both. They wrestled each other down angrily. Friedrich was a bit older, able to hold her down, but Summer growled at this, the impudent girl biting down on his hand. Friedrich despite himself yelped and let go, letting Summer push him off. "That hurt!" Friedrich shouted, more surprised than actually in pain.

"Don't call me little! I'm more mature than you! You're the little kid!" Summer screamed back. She was red faced and cross, the color of her cheeks ironically matched her cloak so well. In their week together Friedrich had never seen Summer mad about anything, everything was a game to her, barring this apparently.

"I'm older than you!" Friedrich yelled back in complete awe of how mad she was. Friedrich wouldn't back down though, as meek as he was, Summer was still the younger one, still the little girl. He was the sophisticated noblemen by contrary, something she had to know meant a lot. "Exactly how are you more mature than me?!"

"You couldn't do this!" Friedrich was about to ask what before being interrupted in a way that would have never occurred to him. A first in his life, a girl, Summer Rose, reached out and kissed him. It was light awkward and shocking, but it managed to leave Friedrich confused and vexed. She parted, eyes still pale silver plates dyed with just a little red of anger and agitation. Friedrich could feel a slight and unsightly burn on his cheeks. He didn't know what to do, he was only just eleven after all. This was supposed to be moment in a far off time. "Told you!" Summer cemented her point with a pout stamping her foot in the snow. Friedrich had no response, he was still standing surprised in the middle of market square. The only thing that could wake him from his awkward panicked daze was more wet and frosty snow. Straight to the face, a delivery of ice.

`"I win! Don't let your guard down dummy!" More balls pelted him, the irritable little girl showing her true villainous colors. This was not Friedrich's first kiss from a lady, Summer was no lady, just a cheating fox in a little girl's body.

"You cheater!" He shouted picking up his own snow, the red anger in him pushing his desire for victory even more. He did not know how to from snowballs properly, but despite them falling apart in air, he never stop. Friedrich wanted to show her exactly what messing with a Schnee met. Unbroken and uncompromising. Roses would never beat snowflakes in the ice, not while he breathed.

"Summer Rose you will stop this instant!" Friedrich hadn't seen Qrow come up behind them, couldn't see the hunter from the red glaze of anger that colored Friedrich's vision. The hunter always scared him a little bit. He wasn't that much older than Summer, but much taller with thick messy black hair and a wickedly curved scythe. He had a touch of barbarism that put Friedrich on edge. Perhaps that was hunters, they need the baser instincts to hunt monsters. Summer did stop though she pouted in protest. Wilhelm was right behind Qrow. He dressed in his usual winter coat and false smile. There was a paleness to him, one Friedrich found synonymous with worry. He hid it well, but any of the siblings could spot it. Came with knowing Wilhelm near since birth. No one was born a liar after all.

"Hey you two." Wilhelm started; picking up Summer and lifting the eight year old up onto his shoulder, something that made her seem to giggle while Qrow grimaced. Another thing that made Friedrich distrusting of Qrow, he scorned them and Friedrich seemed the only one who could tell. "We need to be back at the Castle. Miss Nimh has arrived and we need to be there to greet her." Nimh, she was the fox faunus, the one that practically raised Friedrich. She always put him at odds and now Uncle died right under her nose. He didn't know how to feel about her.

"It's about Uncle isn't it?" Friedrich asked and Wilhelm answered.

"Yeah."


"And you are sure the bolt that struck him was tipped with a nevermore feather?" Herzog Otto Schnee spoke and the entire hall went silent, something that was always astonishing to Friedrich. His father had that kind of power, the power to speak and turn all around him into dazed mutes. Even Wilhelm struggled to deal with the harpies of the great hall in Castle White, Weiss silenced them for a time, but some would always mock her as an unproven tall-talker. Their endless chirping against the ancient stones here in his home was nauseating.

"Yes Herzog. I pulled it out of his wounds myself. It was on the road here. I was struck as well, but only as an afterthought, they were not so careful with me." Nimh stood alone as the grey light poured in with the snow from the exposed ceiling. It gave her a desperate look, the fragile flakes of frost catching on her ears and the blood stained bandages around her shoulder. Everyone looked at her with pity, the poor woman frozen, ambushed and put on trial here in a court that seemed almost made of ice.

"Why didn't my brother leave with my son and his knights? Why was there no escort?" Otto questioned, his voice still tainted with bitter grief and irritation. Friedrich's father was a cruel man, loved humiliating others, his children included barring his heiress Weiss. Especially Friedrich. The useless one. Wilhelm was good with money, good with people, Weiss was the oldest strongest and commanded authority from the knights if no one else. Friedrich tried to find something to latch a meaning to, be it piano or science, his father didn't care. No matter how much he tried father laughed at him for bothering, for wasting his time trying to mean something when he was born without purpose. Still even Otto loved his brother, loved Uncle and wanted something to blame.

"He didn't care about safety, Herzog, he wanted to finish the new 'Ballistic Chain Scythe' he made for General Lagune, the half prince. In your honor of course. Which he did manage to do." Nimh pulled out what was a put together variant on the designs of Uncle Wernher's weapon, though it lacked the new finished design Summer had come up with, perhaps he had found a simpler solution? Luckily the Summer variant design was still on paper and Summer would keep her credit. Friedrich didn't know that the weapon they were designing together was for the half prince Lagune. To think his Uncle didn't even mention that.

"My idiot brother….I loved him, but that fat fool couldn't think of anything, but his robots. Not his safety, not the country, nothing. Everything was just an excuse to build more, even a gift for a prince!" Otto was shouting in fury, but seemed to almost cry. This was still hurting him; everyone loved their siblings no matter how much they could be annoying. Losing Weiss would be...unbearable. The thought of it sent a quake of discontent down Friedrich's spine. As mean as it sounded and as much as Friedrich loved his Uncle, he was happy it was Wernher and not Weiss or Wilhelm who had died. "Fat idiot...The world will suffer immeasurably from this death. Whoever killed them robbed the world of its doctor. I hope the damn Prince Lagune likes his new toy, hope he doesn't mind my brothers blood on his hands."

"I am sorry for your loss, Herzog." Nimh finished, bowing though the action clearly hurt her to do it. A small groan escaping her lips earned a look of pain and pity from every person in the hall, a million voices whispering sweet words. Even Otto no matter how cruel knew that pain was caused by being close to his brother, being there for him. Even the king of Ice has pity for that.

"In the meantime, Nimh I will have the doctors see to you, once you are capable we shall find you work in the kitchens until you are well to do work more becoming of you. You raised my children, I'm sure I can trust you to bring me stew. Dismissed." Otto motioned, shoulders slumped and breathing a heave. This was an emotional moment for him and it showed for once. "No more petitions, I've had enough for today." Friedrich's father finished waving off all protests for the day and emptying the hall. Someone still stepped up into the grey snowy light. A woman in white, long silver hair let loose with a look of conviction. It was Weiss.

"I mean to protest. Father, they murdered Uncle. They murdered him! Give me the order and I'll burn the forests down. I'll skin the Black Cat of Fort Castle alive!" Weiss screamed as she spoke, no one willing to step in the light with her. She didn't need it though; Weiss was always brave, rash and emotional. She had hurt and pain to motivate her. It was enough determination to freeze everyone in place, even her father whom turned shocked to the lady who stood ablaze while the open ceiling dropped fresh snow on her silver head.

"Burn the forests around Fort Castle? Are you insane?" Otto spoke in shock, ignoring all the pain in favor of sense. Something that whispers around them suggests most were in agreement, though a few proud knights did stand tall looking towards Otto in indignation. She had her knights, Weiss always did.

"An army will get chewed up in that forest, but if we burn it it'll burn the black cat and all his bandits out. We can run them down, get justice for uncle!" Some more of the onlookers began to nod in agreement, the sentinels of Vermilion, the old knights of Avarice, riders from the North Gate, even the captain of the Faunus irregulars. Plenty of people wanted blood, everyone loved Wernher. The most surprising was that Wilhelm didn't nod in agreement, but shaking his head in frustration. He seemed pained by it, but in total disagreement of everything. Friedrich didn't know enough about this to know which side was right. He wanted to see whoever did this was brought to justice, but what that entailed was beyond his knowing.

"It's Autumn, the forest is too wet to catch, not to mention you'll send the grimm into a frenzy!" Grimm were always a problem, they made everything complicated, even Friedrich knew that, but still that accusation made Weiss smile. She was waiting for it. His sister wanted blood for this crime and she knew how to get it.

"The fire dust rockets, the ones Wernher made, they'll light wet wood! The frenzied grimm will be a bigger problem for them than us, we'll be ready with every hunter one could want. Grimm, faunus, traitors, all of them straight to the abyss father. Just give the word." Weiss finished sending the crowds into a mutter, not fully on her side, but wild now not silenced like her father preferred them. Wilhelm seemed even paler, putting his hands to his face, completely upset by the whole mess. Qrow crossed his arms in discomfort and Summer hid behind all four of them, a small shadow on the moonstone hall.

"And what about Fort Castle, would you burn our allies down, start civil war?! Is that what you want? I heard about you harassing the merchants on the river road, what are you thinking!" Fort Castle was the problem. They were bitter rivals, but the next big thing Schnee Financing wanted to absorb. They had mines full of dust, not as many as the white river did, but more than most others. Wilhelm talked about it a lot, how much he worked on trying to get the mines under Schnee control. He was going to even marry for it.

"Our allies?! Oh haven't you heard father? They have been attacking our merchants, and the noble Lady of Fort Castle has seen to end your son's engagement in favor of the brigand Charles the Black Cat of Fort Castle. They have pissed on all of us. Murdered our Uncle, your brother and you want them to get away with it!?" Weiss didn't seem like she was acting or lying, instead she shouted with passion, with all sorts of heartache and red eyes wanting to cry, but Schnees don't cry, Weiss taught Friedrich that. For all her emotion and severity she had the passion that seemed sincere and it was winning over people, it even froze Wilhelm whom turned a deeper pale. Or could it be that he didn't know about that? Friedrich hadn't, but no one told the third child anything. He was used to that.

"We don't even know if the Faunus murdered my brother, Nimh didn't see the attackers. Faunus use nevermore feathers for arrows, but you know who else does? Deer hunters. Faunus have no grudge against us, loved my brother, I don't want you starting one. Not a soldier leaves our holdings, understood. This is over!" Otto finished it, leaving Weiss alone an aura of anger, angst, and aggression on her almost enough to melt in the snow laden main hall. She was unwilling to back down from this. Even as Otto walked away, others watched her, watched her lips and she whispered coward silently, but visibly. Clenching her fists in rage, the locks of silver and dim grey light blocked out her eyes. No one dare touch her, though knights walked out to join her, dutiful as they were. At some point Friedrich felt a pull on his arm, Wilhelm silently pulling him and Summer along, off into some hall to speak alone. He was upset, defeated and bitter. Friedrich could see it in his paleness, perhaps others could as well, for no one but Qrow followed them into the castle's back corner.

They stayed there for a moment, an open window the only light as Wilhelm marched back and forth frustrated, unable to reach some conclusion Friedrich did not know. It was a little unnerving for a man whom so often practiced seeming pleased under every circumstance be panicked. So unnerving that Summer soundlessly pulled herself behind Friedrich, reaching out and pulling on his white cloak. Qrow cut in front of them both though, arms crossed and eyes focused on Wilhelm, not pleased by any of this himself. The news really had shocked Wilhelm, was he so sure this would not escalate? Uncle was dead, there was no way things would stay the same. It was another crucible of war, forcing pressure on them. Friedrich was just eleven and even he could see that.

"Damn it all," Wilhelm started, but didn't finish stopping his pacing by the open window, taking in some of the outside grey light for his own, though he always did prefer shadows. He tapped his foot nervously, something Friedrich had also noticed with him in these moments. It was enough of an uncomfortable onslaught that Qrow stepped up, taking in some of the grey himself.

"Wilhelm, you said you wanted to stop the war, but since Wernher died you haven't done anything. The pay is good for not doing a thing, but I'm worried here, you're scaring Summer." To Qrow everything was about Summer, but Friedrich kind of admired that. He was exactly the kind of big brother people dreamed of having dedicated and there for his sister no matter what, no matter the money. Perhaps that was exactly why they were so poor.

"The rumors are true…. I need to save my fiancée. I thought this whole mess could be solved before she needed to resort to such desperate methods, but this war isn't what is going to do that." Friedrich had guessed it was something like that. Must have been a difficult position. Wilhelm openly disapproved of martial solutions for the most part. A proponent of local negotiation and neutrality, maybe it would have worked here, though Friedrich didn't really understand it, but it wasn't going to save his future wife.

"I didn't think you the romantic type." Qrow started, but stopped himself looking a little surprised by his words. It made Wilhelm laugh and shrug though, something Friedrich appreciated. "If war does start up, I'm done. I'm sorry, but the two of us are headed south where it's safe." Qrow finished, effectively handing in his resignation. Friedrich didn't really want that, Qrow was frightening, but Summer was a friend, one Friedrich had begun to enjoy despite his initial and some remaining resistance to the idea. Wilhelm shook his head no, refusing that off hand, though the younger brother doubted he had any way to really stop Qrow.

"If a traitor takes a fortress as massive and ancient as Fort Castle, the royal army will meet you coming north, and I promise you will not want to run into General Lagune looking like a refugee." Wilhelm replied, biting his thumb nail in thought, looking not at any of them, but into a wall. Not really there either, more in his head, still working out a scheme or plan to try and save the day. Qrow cursed at this, though Friedrich was not going to be the one to call him out on that. Still the point was true, from the bits and pieces of conversations people had around Friedrich, the prince now General Lagune was a very aggressive man, always looking to prove himself to everyone, trying to replace his heroic sister some said. Friedrich couldn't say if any of that was actually true though.

"Then do something," Qrow replied angrily. He was not the type to be pleased about anything that might be construed as a threat, though Friedrich doubted Wilhelm meant much besides just what he said. He seemed to earnestly like Qrow, and trust him. Wilhelm was not the type to threaten people he trusted.

"I need to investigate this; no one would have wanted Uncle dead. I also need to focus on Fort Castle, find some way to save my fiancée." Wilhelm stated the objectives, plainly and clearly, enough that even Friedrich understand them. Though they seemed counterproductive to each other from his perspective. Wouldn't he need an army to save her, namely the royal army?

"Well then let me do the investigating. I'm not really cut out for the work, but if you really mean to stop the war, I will do what I can," Qrow replied not managing to mention the money as well, they were poor after all. Friedrich could only guess that had some part in convincing them to stay and push for work. Friedrich was kind of surprised as well, after all that was kind of the point of keeping him on wasn't it? Sometimes Wilhelm did things that confused him a lot. His habit of sharing only half of what was on his mind obscured his objectives and made it hard to really tell what was going on.

"You can't. People are already asking why I'm paying you still. The smarter ones think you're my spy, and I haven't even had you do any spying yet." Wilhelm replied with a sort of laugh, a bit of his old self starting to shine through. He took a deep breath, letting out a warm visible cloud of vapor as he spoke again. "I took too long, my fault. Uncle's death shocked me a bit and delayed my plans. The money record points to me, I'm better off putting you to work hunting somewhere." He laughed lightly at his own mistake smiling lightly with a warm sort of sad smile. Qrow seemed relieved though shrugging to himself, he seemed happier to go back to normal work. Friedrich didn't know where the courage came, or the idea, but his mouth opened and it floated out lowly, almost a whisper in a soundless cold hall.

"I could pay him. I mean if it looks bad for you to do it, I'll just do it instead." Maybe he wanted to be a bigger part of it, or maybe he just wanted to be useful to the brother that was always trying to be there for him, but Friedrich offered to put the burden, one he didn't fully understand, onto himself. Qrow turned back with a strange confused perspective. Wilhelm just looked shocked at first, though his expression began to morph into a sort of amazed shock. Whatever Friedrich's idea really meant, Wilhelm thought it was brilliant.

"Friedrich you amazing little genius!" he shouted pulling Friedrich into a massive hug, one he really wished he hadn't. The feeling of being lifted was never one he enjoyed. "I can focus on Fort Castle like I should, take one stance, but have Qrow solve this with another and everyone will just think you're just starting to get involved in this spat between me and Weiss! Damn this is brilliant."

"Ahem." Qrow coughed dragging attention back to the Roses whom stood attentively awaiting what this had convinced Wilhelm of. The fire reignited in Wilhelm, he turned to them with a laugh, the old him in full force.

"From now on Mr. Rose you'll be receiving pay from Friedrich. My little brother will make a fine boss I think," He said with a laugh inspiring a glare from Friedrich.

"Are you making fun of me?" he asked, not wanting to be the fool twice today. After all his clothes hadn't even dried yet from the snowball fight.

"Not one bit, you see, I'm going to be checking what I can of the royal army, if they do come I will join them and see about what subtler action we can perform than full out war, you on the other hand will prove who really killed my Uncle, keeping this thing from escalating beyond control," Wilhelm spoke as energetic as he could. He leaned back comfortably against the grey wall, a smile finally crossing his lips, the one he wore whenever he thought he had won something. Won what against whom, Friedrich had no idea.

"How?" Qrow asked, not sharing the same delight as Wilhelm did, probably disappointed he would not be back in the forest hunting monsters, more fitting work for him Friedrich had to admit.

"You will investigate the merchants' leaders, I can't because I'm supposed to represent them, but Friedrich can. They were very big into letting the caravans enter Fort Castle territory and despite losing a lot of money; they don't all seem so remorseful about it. See if they did it on purpose. I do know who could pay them a bribe worth it, but someone's stoking the flames, and it's probably the same group that killed my Uncle." Friedrich seemed to glow there, perhaps the light grey from outside brightened him like it did the moonstone. Maybe it was finally having this opportunity to strike back; maybe it was having any opportunity to do anything at all. Whatever it was, and whatever Friedrich must have done to allow it, he was happy. His big brother was back to himself. "The pressure is on now, things are going to go very poorly unless we get what we need done," Friedrich began again, the glow in his eyes in full effect. "So let's see if you can't save us all yet Mr. Rose."

*** Well here it comes, now the chapters are basically going to be a countdown to the battle of Fort Castle, the big piece of the Faunus war we actually know about from cannon. Personally I'm happy to start heading to the close to mid-way point of this fic. Plus I'm happy to have a release out only a week after the other. Hope you all enjoy and please remember if you're still reading to leave a review to keep this fic going. You all make it possible! :D

If you haven't checked it out I have a new RWBY fic up that is not a Vale series fic, but I like it anyways. Check out Choice, my new RWBY College A.U. with a twist. It's edited and kind of assisted in a million ways by LazyKatze, and check out her Layers of Ice. Very good.

As always thank you very much TCR for your edits, and check out his fic resistance if you like RWBY, WWII, and just really uncomfortably atmospheric things. It's even a little too heavy for me and I like heavy. Definitely worth checking if you like that sort of thing. Buh-Bye everyone! :D