Broken.
That's how Blake felt when she finally woke up. Her head hurt tremendously, as if something had been drilled inside her skull, making it difficult to form any coherent string of thoughts. She tried to move her arms, but pain surged through her entire body, ceasing the effort immediately.
And worst of all, she couldn't see anything.
"Oh, hey," a vaguely familiar voice reached her ears. Right, left - she was so disoriented, it was impossible for her to tell where it came from. "She's finally awake. About time. If she'd taken any longer, I might have killed her out of mercy."
"How sweet of you," another person replied, and this time, Blake recognized them as a man, at least. "Go fetch the… urgh, boss. He said he wanted to talk to her as soon as she came to, right?"
"Right. And what are you going to do?"
"I am going to have a nice little chat with her. Do you have a problem with that?"
"Not at all. Have fun."
Blake heard a door opening and someone leaving, just before a chair was dragged on the floor next to the bed she was lying on. The unpleasant noise made her grit her teeth and curl her legs in reflex.
"Sorry, kitty. Your ears must be sensitive, right? I don't have much experience with your kind, you see, so forgive me if I do anything to aggravate you," the man said charmingly. "I am Roman Torchwick. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Belladonna."
Blake frowned. Where had she heard that name before? She tried to sit up, but her strength failed her again, and she fell on her back again.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Roman chuckled. "Let's focus on getting your eyes open first. That sound aggreable to you?"
"W-whe… where…?" She croaked. Her throat and mouth were dry, making it difficult, if not a bit painful, to speak. "Why…?"
"All good questions, though I'd appreciate a thank you first of all," he sighed. "Here, let me help you."
She froze as two fingers touched her eyes and not so gently opened them. The faint light of a torch burned her eyes, and she had to blink several times before she felt well enough to keep them open.
The man seated by her side was still a strange to her. He had visually striking orange hair and an unusual round black hat on top of his head, but she still couldn't recognize him. Something about the way he stared at her while playing with a wooden cane on his lap made her feel very uncomfortable.
They were in a room illuminated by a single torch only, it walls made of the blackest stone Blake had ever seen. She would have guessed to be in some sort of noble castle, but she could see that water trickled on the walls and ceiling, which meant the building was probably at the mercy of outside elements, and no Lord or Lady would be happy with that.
"Now, to answer your questions!" Roman spoke again. "Where? Fort Blacknight," he sighed. "Trust me, I did not come up with that name. As for why… I don't understand the meaning of that question…?"
"Why… am I here?" Blake elaborated further.
"Ah. Well, we found you broken on a dark alleyway, surely the victim of some unspeakable villainy," he explained, and she sensed he was keeping most of the truth from her. "We don't like to see faunus like you in such poor conditions, so we took it upon ourselves to save you. How about a thank you now?"
Blake only stared at him, lips pursed warily. Roman shifted in his chair, clearly bothered by her cold response.
"How long have I been out?" She asked.
"Depends on how long you were in that alleyway," he said. "We found you nine days ago. The doctor said your injuries could have been inflicted days before that."
Blake's eyes narrowed suspiciously. She didn't buy his lies for a second. She couldn't have survived more than a day after Summer struck her down.
Summer.
Everything came back to her suddenly – how Summer wasn't truly Summer; the magical scheme that pervaded in Vale Castle; Velvet; Weiss learning that she was a faunus and trying to kill her.
And then falling. Her eyes wavered and her arms trembled. She wanted nothing more than to curl into a ball and stay asleep forever.
"Woah, ease there, kitty," Roman waved his hands at her. "You look like you've seen a ghost."
"I need to go." Blake said. She sat up, and this time, stayed that way.
Ruby was still at the castle, sleeping, defenseless. Any moment now, Summer could conjure a reason to have her gone and kill her supposed daughter. Blake had to get her out of there before it was too late.
"I'm afraid that won't be possible," Roman said. "First off, you're in no condition to walk, much less go trotting out into the streets. Second, there's someone who wants to talk to you."
"I don't care," Blake gripped the sheets of the bed beneath her and glared at him. "Thank you for saving me, but someone more important than your boss needs me."
"This isn't up to discussion. You're staying," he interjected, his voice deadly serious. "You shouldn't fret. Maybe your intentions will align, if you play your cards right."
Blake was about to try and get off the bed, but the door to the room opened. An ebony face peered inside, green eyes examining her for a brief moment, and Blake recognized who they belonged to. Emerald Sustrai.
Then, someone else entered, a man so tall his head almost touched the ceiling. His hair was red as fire, and a mask covered most of his face, leaving only his eyes and below his nose visible. A huge sword hung down the side of his right leg.
"Blake Belladonna. My name is Adam Taurus," he spoke. "I have a proposition for you."
Weiss sighed in frustration and put her book down. She pressed her forehead against the old wooden desk in front of her and flicked her hand distractedly, blowing out the candle she had been using to read beforehand.
Vale Castle's library wasn't the largest or most famous in the world, but it would be ignorant to say it was lacking in any manner. For centuries, scholars had traveled to the north, wanting to experience the cold of the kingdom for themselves, and with them they brought books, scrolls and other interesting artifacts. Those had been all stored at the library, so it contained information from all over the world.
And yet, Weiss couldn't find anything relating to Summer's supposed magic. There was no record of witches who could enchant people to do their will by word alone, much less assume a dead person's form. Every time Weiss thought she found something worth of her attention, it quickly derailed into tales of dragons or other such nonsense – and the authors seemed to believe them as much as she did.
She told herself repeatedly that it was foolish to seek such information in the first place, that she was letting Blake's and Pyrrha's unfathomable claims get to her, which was probably their intention in the first place. Strike at the queen's securities, make her doubt her closest ally, then take her down. Perhaps everything was a plan from Mistral.
But, as much as she tried, she couldn't lie to herself. There was something wrong about Summer, something she had never noticed until her sister died. She found herself lingering on the general's every word, and every move of her body had Weiss entranced. And underneath all that, there was something hidden, and she had only a faint idea of what it was - a primitive hunger for power and control.
"Ridiculous," she whispered to herself, rubbing her eyes tiredly. "Dragons and fairytales. She's not a witch."
It was easy to think of the day Summer had changed as the day Winter died, but from Summer's perspective, that was the day Ruby died. The daughter she had thought she had lost a decade ago, who she had reunited with for so little time… taken away and betrayed like a meaningless pawn. Weiss might not be comfortable with the way Summer was grieving, but she certainly couldn't condemn her for it.
"Or maybe you're just finding excuses to let it go on, Your Highness." She smiled ruefully.
Aside from the terror and self-loathing that came with waking up on Summer's room every morning, it wasn't too bad. If only she could shed away her fears, Weiss could… grow accustomed to that odd relationship.
"Your Highness."
Weiss almost jumped to her feet, so startled she was to hear someone else's voice so suddenly. She had scoured the library before getting to her research, and had found no one there. Had she been so absorbed in her books that she hadn't noticed a new arrival?
She looked to the side and saw Lady Goodwitch standing there, a dusty old tome in her hands, wearing a concerned expression on her face. Weiss was momentarily taken aback. She had never seen Glynda look anything but judgmental or impassive.
"Are you feeling well?" Glynda asked. "There are dark rings around your eyes, and your face looks paler than usual."
"Is that so?" Weiss touched her own cheek self-consciously. "I must have been here longer than I expected. Has lunch hour passed yet?"
"The Moon has reached and surpassed its peak already, my queen." Glynda frowned.
"Oh. Well. I… have been here longer than I noticed," the queen swallowed dry. "I suppose I should eat something and retire to my room."
She stood up and returned her book back to the shelf it belonged. Hopefully, it was too dark for Glynda to read its title. A History of Witches and their Nefarious Dealings was probably not something a proper queen should be sinking her time into.
"General Rose was asking after you," Glynda told neutrally. "She seemed very worried about your well-being."
"I swear I am fine, Lady Goodwitch," Weiss sighed. "I only wanted a day away from court. Everything is a mess. Surely you can understand that?"
That had been too curt of an explanation, Weiss realized after she gave it, and not in any way appropriate for someone of her station. She couldn't have days for herself, no matter how difficult it was to deal with the Council, the White Fang, and everything else. She was the queen, after all.
"I understand," Glynda nodded. "Have a good night, Your Highness."
"Thank you," Weiss made to walk away, but stopped briefly when a thought popped into her head, something that might actually alleviate her worries in a concrete manner. "Speaking of General Rose. Has she succeeded in getting information from the prisoner?"
"Emerald Sustrai?" Glynda tilted her head slightly. "I'm afraid not. But she's trying very hard."
"Yes. Of course she is," Weiss frowned. "Good night, Lady Goodwitch."
Adam dismissed Roman and Emerald soon after introducing himself to Blake, leaving them alone in the dingy wet room she'd awakened in. Blake kept her eyes trained on the tall man, afraid that he would take action on her, but he only stared back with little emotion.
"Would you care to listen to my proposition?" He asked.
"…Go ahead," Blake answered cautiously. "I don't have a choice anyway."
"You do, though I would be very displeased if you refused," Adam crossed his arms. "I am the leader of the White Fang, the force who rescued you from near-death. I know who you are, Belladonna – or, more appropriately, were, for a while. The royal bodyguard…" He smirked. "I would like you to join our revolution."
Blake kept staring at him, taking in his words in silence. Her first instinct was to flee, but that soon faded. The White Fang had been her enemy before, a name spoken with ire and disgust in Vale Castle, yet she had never had reason to actually hate them. If anything, they were her allies.
But what exactly was the White Fang? A bunch of assassins, thieves, kidnappers, fighting in the name of faunus liberty. And, apparently, her saviors…
It was all too confusing.
"It's a lot to take in. I don't expect you to answer immediately," Adam said, then gestured to the door. "Would you take a walk with me? There's something I need to show you."
"How do I know this isn't a trick?" Blake asked. "You could just drag me to a dark corner and do whatever you want with me."
"Watch your words," he warned, eyes narrowing in anger. "I did not rescue you to hear thinly-veiled accusations. If you won't listen, someone can show you the way to the streets."
"…Sorry," she looked away. "I'll do as you say."
She turned and extended her legs beyond the edge of the bed, slowly laying her weight down. Her feet touched the floor gently, sending jolts up her legs, and when she let go of the bed behind her, she went plummeting down helplessly. Before she collapsed fully, a hand wrapped around her right arm and brought her back up. Blake looked around faintly and realized Adam had dashed to her side in the blink of an eye. He was looking down at her with such intensity, every hair in her body was standing up straight.
"Your injuries have healed, but it will take some time for you to recover your full strength," he said. "I'll help you walk. Are you comfortable with your current clothing?"
Blake looked down. She was still wearing her black leather uniform she had been given by Weiss, but it was singed and torn in some places.
"I can live with it."
"I'll make sure you get a proper change after our talk," Adam assured. "Let's go."
He guided her out of the room and into a series of narrow hallways. Blake kept her guard up, even as she saw other people – faunus, in fact – cross their path. They gave her and their leader curious looks, but otherwise seemed more focused on other tasks.
Adam didn't speak a word as they walked, which only made Blake more nervous. There was an intensity about him, as if every action he took had a definite purpose, whether it be his steps or a simple look at her.
Finally, they arrived at short stairway. Blake looked up and saw that the steps lead into the open, as the sky was visible above. At least now she knew it was night, and if the worst came to pass, she could try running away, though she would probably not make it very far in her current condition.
They climbed up the steps and arrived at their destination at last. Apparently, Adam had led her to the fort's open roof. From there, she could see most of Vale. The light of candles and fireplaces showed in nearly every window in every house, making the city like a mirror of the sky – dark with bright spots spread within it.
"This is what you wanted to show me?" Blake asked.
"Yes. I want to tell you what I fight for. What you should fight for," Adam said, letting go of her arm and joining his hands behind his back. He walked to the edge of the roof and looked into the distance. "Do you know how many faunus are out there, Blake?"
"No. I don't have the slightest idea."
He smiled sadly and tilted his head slightly, inviting her to stand beside him. Blake gathered her strength and complied. Luckily, she didn't collapse again.
"Few. And if I were asking about the free faunus, the ones not imprisoned in some Lord's castle… Too few," Adam said. "We are the pillars of this nation, Blake. Without the faunus, Vale would have nothing. No economy, no strength… nothing. Our sweat and blood built their kingdom, and yet the humans treat us like animals. I can't stress how unjust that is. Do you feel the same way?"
"…Yes," Blake replied, her voice barely a whisper. "I was a slave for most of my life."
"I'm sorry to hear that. You'll find that most of ours started the same way," Adam paused. "I, too, was a slave. You wouldn't know it, but I am a faunus. They used me to work their planting fields and fix their machines. When I showed rebellion, they tore my horns off my head."
Blake winced. She could only imagine how painful that would feel. Her ears were already sensitive to a simple touch. If someone were to…
She gulped and shook her head, not wanting to linger on those thoughts.
"I want to free them all, no matter how long it takes. But I won't stop at that," Adam stated. "Once we're all together, we'll take back Vale. Make no mistake. This is our kingdom, and its throne belongs to the faunus."
"And you want me to help you," Blake said. "But why? You have no reason to trust me."
"I have every reason to trust you," Adam corrected. "The humans enslaved and betrayed you. Your heart burns with the desire for vengeance, I know it."
Blake closed her eyes and clenched her fists. In her mind's eye, she could picture Weiss Schnee, and it filled her with rage.
But things weren't so simple. They never were.
"I'll join the White Fang," she said. "But there's one condition."
"Hmm," Adam raised an eyebrow at her. "Name it."
"I have a friend in Vale Castle. Like me, she was betrayed and hurt. She was put into eternal sleep, so she's defenseless… and harmless," Blake explained. "She's a human, but she's good. Her name is Ruby Rose. I want to save her."
"I see. Unfortunately, we don't have the strength or motive to invade the castle as of now," he said. "But when the times comes, no harm will come to your friend. That, I can promise you."
Blake nodded.
"Then so be it," she said. "What do I do?"
"For now, regain your strength. Familiarize yourself with our comrades," Adam ordered. "When you are ready, I'll have a task waiting for you. Go."
Blake waited a moment before walking away. Her weak steps gained purpose as she descended the stairs, and a faint smile appeared on her lips.
This was it. This was how she made a difference.
Weiss approached the dungeons with a sense of unease. She felt like she was about to make a trip that had consequences she could never undo, but she couldn't very well turn back now, could she? For her peace of mind, she had to go through her self-imposed mission.
To her surprise, when she came before the door to the dungeons, the guards to either side of it crossed their lances in front of her, blocking her passage. Weiss looked at them in turn, waiting for them to realized who they had stopped… but they just stared back, with dread, but not regret.
"What is the meaning of this?" She demanded.
"General Rose has decreed that none shall enter the dungeons without her written or spoken consent." One of them explained.
"I am the queen of Vale. She has no right to deny me anything," her anger flared even more. "Now, let me pass."
They wavered for a few seconds, then finally withdrew their lances. Weiss nodded regally and opened the door. Inside, she took a lantern and lighted it before walking down the steps.
She held her breath as she approached one of the cages. Even with the lantern, it was difficult to see what was in front of her. She narrowed her eyes, trying to get a better look into the cage, but it didn't help.
"Emerald Sustrai," she called. "The queen orders you to step forth."
A minute passed, but there was no response. Weiss took a step back and lowered the lantern. Her arms were shaking, realization dawning slowly upon her. Emerald was gone.
But for how long?
Weiss raced up the steps and back to the hallway outside. She turned to the guards, who looked just as startled as she was.
"Where's Sustrai?" She asked. "When did she escape?"
"Escape?" One of them repeated unsurely. "My queen, she is still there, in her cage. General Rose interrogates her every day.'
"No," Weiss shook her head. "No, she doesn't. Stay here."
She turned and marched away, heading straight to Summer's room. Without meaning to, she laid a hand on her rapier's hilt, and the temperature around her dropped subtly. She arrived before the general's door and knocked twice, then waited with bated breath.
Summer responded quickly and with a smile on her lips, but when she saw the distressed expression that the queen was wearing, she frowned and ushered her inside.
"Is something wrong, my-"
"How long has Emerald Sustrai been gone?" Weiss interrupted, taking a big step away from the general.
Summer looked down, taking in the distance between the two of them. Her silver eyes wavered for a moment, then she fixed them on Weiss calmly.
"Did you visit the dungeons?" She asked.
"I did. Her cage was empty, and the guards had strict orders from you to keep anyone from entering." Weiss stated harshly.
"I suppose there is no point in lying to you, then," Summer sighed. "I was hoping you wouldn't notice before I fixed things. Yes, Emerald Sustrai did escape. It happened the same day Belladonna turned on you, so we can assume they were allies – Belladonna broke her out, as well as that faunus of yours."
"Why did you not tell me immediately?!" Weiss exclaimed. "And don't lie to me!"
"As I said, it was the same day Belladonna revealed her true colors. I didn't want to make things harder for you than they already were," the general explained gently. "I assigned a team of my most trusted men to search for Emerald. So far, they have gotten nowhere."
Weiss looked away, barely being able to keep her anger at bay. Everything was crashing down on her too fast – the tenuous trust she had maintained on Summer, her refusal to listen to Blake and Pyrrha… She had taken all the wrong moves, and now found herself trapped.
Or did she? Maybe there was still a way out, if she played it smart…
"I'll forgive you this once," she said calmly. "While I don't agree with your keeping information from me, at least you did it out of compassion, and that's something I've little of these days."
"Words cannot express how happy that makes me, Your Highness," Summer smiled. "How can I make this up to you? I'll do anything."
"Keep searching for Emerald. That's all," Weiss ordered. "I'm going to sleep now."
She turned to the door and laid a hand on the knob. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Summer tense up and purse her lips in displeasure.
"You can always sleep here, my queen," she said, trying to sound humble. "Has this incident truly taken away so much of the trust you had in me?"
"No," Weiss smiled. "I'm just punishing you. Have fun sleeping alone tonight."
Summer's lips parted in surprise as the queen promptly opened the door and stepped outside. Weiss didn't waste a fraction of her time before distancing herself from the room. She had one chance to salvage everything, and one chance only.
"Hey, Yang!" Nora called out as she stepped outside into her porch, carrying a mug of hot chocolate in her hands. She peered into the raging blizzard, trying to find her friend in the middle of it, but it was to no avail. "Come on, you big oaf! I got you something warm to drink!"
The inventor tapped her foot impatiently on the wooden floor. She waited for Yang to appear, but all that she got to confirm the blonde was still alive were some flashes of fire in the distance.
"Come! On!" Nora called again. "Don't force me to go into that filthy-feather-cursed blizzard and drag you back here myself!"
A minute after, Yang emerged from the veil of the blizzard. Her eyes were a vivid shade of red, and her fists were still drenched in flames. Nora took that all in stride and shook her mug of chocolate up in the air.
"What do you want, Nora?!" Yang exclaimed.
"I'm making sure you're not a block of ice!" Nora rolled her eyes. "Seriously, you've been out there for hours! You need to get yourself warmed up again!"
"I am warmed up!" Yang pointed out in exasperation. "I am on fucking fire!"
Nora gaped slightly. That did make a lot more sense than it should.
"Still!" She objected. "Hot chocolate!"
"No! Fuck off and leave me alone!" Yang yelled. "Just go back inside!"
A weird feeling rushed through the blonde's body, as if fire had flooded her system for a split second and then disappeared. She blinked and shook her head, then looked up, only to see Nora going back inside the house. Riddled with guilt, Yang rushed up the steps to the porch and followed the orange-haired woman.
"Nora! I'm so, so sorry!" She exclaimed. "It's just, when I go out there, I just… I just lose control, you know? I didn't mean to yell at you."
"Huh? Oh, you mean the swearing and stuff?" Nora asked. "I really don't mind. Just don't do it around Penny."
"But…" Yang frowned. "I thought you were hurt or something. Why did you go inside?"
Nora stared at her in silence for a few seconds, then shrugged.
"Just felt like going back inside. It's as cold as a Beowolf's snout out there," she said. "Hot chocolate?"
"…Sure," Yang took the mug hesitantly and took a sip. "It's… nice."
"Nice? Please," Nora scoffed. "I make the best damn hot chocolate in this house! And, little secret, we don't even have chocolate."
The inventor trotted off and went down to her lab, no doubt to resume one of her new experiments. Yang lingered on the first floor, drinking silently, and wondering if there was something wrong with her, or if she was just imagining things.
Pyrrha's eyes snapped open as someone knocked on her door insistently. At once, the mistralian warrior sat up, inadvertently causing the boy beside her to roll off the bed and crash to the floor.
"Pyrrha!" Jaune exclaimed. "What was that for?!"
"Sorry!" She poked him in the back of the neck, as if to check if he was alright. "Are you hurt?"
"My feelings are."
Pyrrha smiled slightly and stood, stepping carefully around him. Swiftly, she tied her sleepwear more tightly around her and went to the door. She opened it curiously, not really worried as to who was knocking, and to her surprise, saw no one but the queen.
"Pyrrha," Weiss whispered. "You were right about Summer Rose."
Pyrrha blinked once, rubbed her eyes to shake her sleepiness away, then ushered the queen inside the room. Weiss complied silently, giving Jaune an impassive glance before turning to the mistralian.
"I'm sorry for not listening to you sooner," she said. "I need your help. I-I've made a huge mistake."
"I know you gave her the title of Regent," Pyrrha nodded. "That shouldn't be too much of a problem. You can take that back, and then we'll deal with her."
"What? Are you mad?" Weiss eyed her more carefully, and only then noticed the giddy smile on her lips. She looked at Jaune, who had more or less wrapped himself up with a blanket on the floor, making himself look like some sort of human cocoon. She could still tell he was shirtless, though. "Of course. Just my luck," she shook her head in exasperation. "Listen. I can't just take the title away from her. I would need an official reason, and with her… magic… influencing the Council, I doubt I could convince them to agree."
Jaune shrugged – or appeared to. It was hard to tell in his current state of being.
"We could just kill her." He suggested simply.
"…Well, I'd like to agree, but that wouldn't be easy," Weiss sighed. "Pyrrha, do you think you could take her on?"
"Maybe. Last time, I was under restrictions," Pyrrha noted. "But so was she," she shook her head. "Summer could find out you know about her any moment now. You're not safe anymore. We need to get you far away from the castle, hide you somewhere safe, until we are ready to fight her."
"My house could work," Jaune said. "I have seven sisters. You could blend in… except for the white hair, of course."
Weiss bit her lower lip in consideration. She really hated the thought of hiding in an innocent family's house. What if Summer somehow picked up the pieces of her disappearance and tracked her there? And while she was gone, Summer would rule in her name. Weiss shuddered to think of what the witch would do with that power.
"I don't have much choice, do I?" She took a deep breath. "If you are comfortable with that plan, Jaune, then I shall do as you suggest."
"Alright," he gulped. "I hope you like jelly pies. Mother loves making these. I mean, she loves them a lot."
"We should go right now," Pyrrha looked out a window. "It's the dead of the night. We can use that to our advantage."
Weiss turned away respectfully as Pyrrha and Jaune went on to clothe themselves appropriately for the impromptu mission. Occasionally, she heard some girlish giggles behind her, which only made her blush and feel more nervous than she already was.
Finally, they exited the room. Pyrrha held her rifle firmly in her hands and gestured with it towards a particular hallway. Weiss nodded, understanding that the mistralian wanted to take a route where they would less likely be spotted.
They walked through the castle carefully. Weiss was small and light weighted, so she had no problem with being silent. Despite carrying a lance, shield and rifle, on top of the armor she wore, Pyrrha was even more silent. Unfortunately, Jaune more than negated their silence – the queen could swear he was actually going out of his way to slam his sword against the walls and trip on his own feet.
Finally, they reached the entrance to the castle. Some distance ahead was the front gate. Four soldiers stood guard nearby, and they would surely see them if they tried to go past them.
"Dragon's blood," Weiss muttered. "There's no way we can sneak past them, is there?"
"No," Pyrrha agreed. "Does that matter, though? They'll know you ran sooner or later. What changes is that we'll be seen with you."
"I'll go alone, then," the queen decided. "I will find a place to hide until morning. You can find me then."
"That's very optimistic. The city is much too dangerous for you to stay alone in it. There's the White Fang, the common bandits… Anything could happen to you while-"
"Ladies," Jaune cleared his throat. "Fret not. I have a perfect solution."
He walked towards the soldiers with a confident expression on his face. Weiss and Pyrrha watched wordlessly as he chatted agitatedly with the soldiers for a few seconds, before they ran away, shouting something about a faunus invasion.
"No," Weiss stated, dead serious. "I refuse to believe that worked."
"You shouldn't underestimate Jaune," Pyrrha smiled, then gestured at the gate. "Let's go. They'll notice something's off soon enough."
They had just started to walk towards the gate when a chill ran down Weiss' back, and she looked back over her shoulder, just in time to see someone emerging from the confines of the castle. Silver eyes met with her blue ones, and a scythe rasped against the ground sharply.
"Your Highness," Summer spoke. "Where are you going so late at night?"
Her eyes wandered over to Pyrrha. The mistralian hesitated for a brief moment before putting herself between the queen and the general.
"Lady Nikos," Summer tilted her head slightly. "I am sure there is an explanation for this. Surely, you are not kidnapping the queen?"
"Cease your lies," Pyrrha raised her rifle. "You cannot fool us anymore. Your Highness, go on ahead."
"But-"
"Go. I'll handle the witch."
Weiss took a step back, and suddenly, Summer was lunging towards her. In reflex, the queen raised her arm, and a barrier of ice rose from the ground in front of her. The general slammed headfirst into it and bounced off, dazed.
As Weiss turned and ran, Pyrrha didn't lose the opportunity given to her. She aimed at Summer's head and pulled the trigger. Summer dove to the side, and the bullet dug through her shoulder and exited her from behind. Blood flowed from the wound in copious amounts.
Summer looked up, and her eyes were like two flaming orbs of pure ire.
"You forget your place, wench."
The general stood and extended her right arm ferociously. A barrage of flames was born from the palm of her hand, racing directly at Pyrrha. The mistralian gasped and jumped out of the way. Fire brushed against the side of her left arm, singing her skin.
Summer followed up with the same maneuver, forcing Pyrrha to keep moving and unable to aim her rifle. The foreign warrior cursed under her breath and tossed the weapon away, then retrieved her shield from behind her back. She raised it swiftly, just in time to block a stream of fire. The skin of her hands stung, affected by the heat, but she held strong.
The flames died down for but a few seconds, yet that was all the time Pyrrha needed to put her plan in action. As Summer attacked her again, she threw the shield at the fire, and it cut through, spinning faster and faster, until it clashed directly on Summer's face.
The witch yelled in agony and fell to her knees holding her nose, which was split open in the middle. Pyrrha took her spear and threw it. The weapon soared through the air, aimed squarely at Summer's forehead… but the general simply raised her right arm and knocked it right off its path.
"How foolish…" Summer's voice reached Pyrrha, low and hoarse… but with a drop of amusement, weirdly enough. "I should have known better. I couldn't conquer the elder Schnees, neither their oldest daughter… Why did I play with the brat too? There's something about them… Their magic serves them like a barrier against mine…"
Pyrrha stood still, afraid to take a single step. She had shot Summer, split open her nose… And yet she remained so calm.
"I should thank you," Summer said, slowly standing up. A smile framed her lips, tainted with the blood that flowed from her nose. "You've laid out the path in front of me perfectly. Sweet Dragon, you took the damn queen out of my hands, and I had to do nothing. And now, what will they say? Who will be the villain, Nikos? You, or me?"
Footsteps approached them, the guards of the gate returning after hearing a rifle being fired.
"You're crazy if you think anyone will believe you," Pyrrha said. "You're a monster. They'll see through your farce."
"I don't agree, but I'll let you believe whatever you want. You won't be alive to see the end, after all," Summer shrugged. "Pick up your rifle."
Pyrrha tried to resist, but the witch seemed to be putting extra effort in her magic, for she felt her stomach turning and her head exploded with pain. She ran to her fallen gun and took it in her hands, shaking.
"I could just tell you to shoot yourself," Summer mused. "Actually, I would love that. Alas, I need to safeguard my alibi. Magic will only get me so far," she sighed. "When the soldiers come, shoot them all. Repeatedly."
Pyrrha shook her head in terror, but she couldn't stop herself from turning around and taking aim. Finally, a soldier came into view, running around the corner. She pulled the trigger, and his head exploded into a bloody mess. She shot again, and again, and again, riddling his body with holes.
The rest of the guards came to his rescue, but they met the same fate as him. Tears streamed down Pyrrha's face, distorting her vision. Their screams echoed without end inside her head.
She pulled the trigger one last time, and her rifle clicked uselessly, finally out of ammunition. Pyrrha collapsed to her knees, staring fixedly at the disfigured bodies of the Vale men in front of her.
"What a shame. For what it's worth, I thought you had great potential, Pyrrha Nikos," Summer spoke right behind her. "Perhaps, in another life, we could have been friends."
The blade of Crescent Rose pierced Pyrrha from behind, poking out of her chest. The mistralian gurgled, her mouth flooding with blood.
"I doubt that could ever come to be, though."
Summer withdrew her scythe, and Pyrrha fell on her side, lifeless.
Weiss looked behind her shoulder nervously as she kept running, expecting Summer to appear at any moment and take her back, or outright kill her. Jaune was right in front of her, and he looked back just as often, though for completely different reasons.
They navigated the streets of Vale swiftly until they reached a beaten-down wooden house, definitely too small for a family Jaune had claimed to have at least seven children. He opened the door and ushered the queen in, and she looked around nervously.
Eight pairs of eyes landed on her immediately. Seven girls were sitting on two benches with a table between them, ranging from two years of age to fifteen, all of them with blond hair and blue eyes. A large woman with the same features was carrying a stewpot and delivering warm soup to each of the girls' plates.
"Ma?" Jaune called awkwardly. "Uh, I've got a favor to ask?"
"Oh, hi, sweetie! It's so nice to see you! Do you want to rest here a while? Soldier work is so tiring, right?" His mother spoke quickly, almost too fast for Weiss to follow. "Oh! Oh! You brought a girl! Is that the sweetheart you talked about? What was her name, Pyr… Pyrca? I thought you were bringing her to meet us tomorrow?"
"No! Ma, this isn't Pyrrha," Jaune shook his head nervously, eyeing the girl beside him. "This is… Uh…"
"…Snow," Weiss finished, settling for the first name that came to her mind. She couldn't very well use her real name anymore. "It's an honor to meet you, Miss Arc."
The woman's face lit up with joy.
"Miss Arc? Oh my!" She exclaimed. "Call me Joanna, please!" She pointed to her children. "These are Jean, Jaqueline, Jill, Julie, Jane, Ji, and Ju!"
"It's… an honor to meet all of you too." Weiss said slowly. She had forgotten half of the names already.
The girls replied in differing levels of respect and animosity. Jaune shifted his weight between his feet anxiously.
"So, ma," he said. "About that favor. Snow needs a place to stay for a while. Could she maybe stay here?"
"Of course! Any friend of my son is welcome at my house!" Joanna nodded several times. "Come, you two! Have a seat! There's more than enough soup for everybody!"
"Sure, but I have to do something first," Jaune gulped. "I'll be back in half an hour. Snow, you'll be fine, right?"
Weiss nodded mutely, and Jaune went out the door, leaving her alone with his large family. The runaway queen stood in place, not knowing what to do next.
"Come on," Joanna ushered gently, tapping an empty space at one of the benches. "Don't be shy."
Weiss sat down hesitantly. Her knees brushed against the girls' to both sides of her, and she felt many stares fixed on her, as if she were an unusual piece of art. Joanna filled a plate with soup and put it in front of her. Weiss stared at it longingly, but she felt no hunger.
Sweet Moon. She had run away. Summer Rose – or whoever that monster was – was now Regent. Pyrrha Nikos might well be dead.
"Hey." A faint voice sounded to her right.
Weiss looked at the source of the voice, a girl that appeared to be ten-years-old, at most. Jill, perhaps?
"Has anyone ever told you that you look like the queen?"
"I-I… Yes," Weiss smiled shakily. "More times than I can remember."
"That's good," the little girl giggled. "I think she's pretty. I saw a painting of her once."
"Really? That's… nice."
Weiss looked at the soup again. She could see her reflection in it.
No queen.
Just another girl.
The path was trickier than she had sensed beforehand. Of course, she hadn't taken much time to think before moving, but she hadn't expected to meet with towering mountains and immobilizing swamps.
And now she found herself before a forest of prickly thorns. Just at the other side of it was her objective. Her heart pounded inside her chest. She hadn't felt this agitated in years.
She tried to part the thorns with her hands, but was immediately rewarded with a sting and a slash on her palm. The woman frowned and closed her eyes, steadying her breath. Slowly but surely, the wounds closed, and no blood was left behind.
This would take some willpower, and she was nearly out of that after the treacherous journey she'd had.
Inside her mind, she pictured the plants moving away of their own accord, making a nice, big path for her to walk through. Minutes passed, and when she opened her eyes, there it was. A nice, big path for her to walk through.
She started moving again, her steps quickening by the second. She had to come to a halt suddenly when a Shade passed in front of her, its shadowy form catching her off-guard in her hastened state. Once it was gone, she moved again.
Minutes after – or it could have been hours, or seconds, or years – she found her. The girl was lying on the ground, unconscious, a red cloak concealing most of her form. She crouched and shook the girl gently by the shoulders.
"Hey," she whispered. "Don't be scared. You can wake up now."
Slowly, two eyes opened. Silver. Her heart nearly stopped for a second.
"Dear Moon," the woman muttered. "You're astounding."
"W-what?" The girl blinked. "Where? Who…?"
"Shh… Don't stress yourself. My name's Raven Branwen. Do you remember who you are?"
The girl shook her head slowly.
"You'll remember everything eventually," Raven assured. "But, just so you know, your name's Ruby Rose."
Recognition flashed in those silver eyes.
"Are we…?"
"No. It's alright," Raven smiled and patted the girl's hand lightly. "I'll explain everything."
Yeah! Mixed emotions!
Fun fact: I had planned for Pyrrha to die long in this story long before she did canonically. I was very happy with how I wrote it here, though halfway through the scene, I realized it was pretty... uh... horrifying. I'M SORRY I'M A MONSTER. IT'S JUST FICTION, THOUGH.
Also, Ruby hype. She's alive. Or is she? Who knows. Only one thing is confirmed.
...
Summer is definitely Zwei.
-Zeroan