Chapter 2: Bleak as Snow
Yang and her dad and uncle had managed to secure a flight to Atlas after some antics on Taiyang's part. Yang was surprised that the police hadn't been called, but fortunately, Uncle Qrow's smooth talking had calmed everything down. He could be very charming when he put his mind to it.
The flight from Vale had been long, boring, and almost completely devoid of other passengers. Yang had spent the time contemplating what an idiotic mistake she was making. The closer they'd gotten to Atlas, the more she'd wanted to go home and crawl back into bed. It was too late for Yang to change her mind now, however. They'd arrived. The three of them were already walking down the exit ramp at the airdocks.
Winters in the northern kingdom of Atlas were bitterly cold and this one was no exception. Yang was dressed appropriately for the weather, with a thick, brown jacket and a yellow knit cap and matching scarf. The right sleeve of her jacket was rolled up and pinned in place to keep it from flopping around. It had actually been a long time since Yang had worn proper winter clothes, even though her dad had kept buying them for her. She'd figured out a long time ago how to use her semblance to keep herself warm. It was something she used to do all the time just to show off when the weather turned cold. However, she didn't feel much like showing off these days.
Qrow was traveling light as he always did, but Taiyang was carrying a suitcase for himself in one hand and a duffel for Yang in the other. Like all huntsmen, Qrow and Taiyang had their weapons close at hand. Qrow's scythe was in its usual place, and Taiyang's poleaxe was folded up into its rifle configuration and slung over his shoulder. Yang was wearing Ember Celica as well—at least the left half of it. Her right gauntlet had been lost along with her arm. For all she knew it had ended up inside some grimm's stomach. She hadn't planned on bringing her remaining gauntlet with her, but Taiyang had insisted. She had humored him rather that argue, for all the good it would do if a fight broke out.
"Ah great," Qrow said irritably, glancing down the ramp. "It's the Ice Queen."
Yang perked up at the mention of Weiss's nickname. She hadn't even thought about it, but last Yang had heard Weiss had returned to Atlas. She followed Qrow's gaze but saw that he was looking at someone else entirely. There was a young woman with ivory hair standing rigidly at the end of the ramp, accompanied by a small entourage that included a few soldiers and mechanical Atlesian Knights. She was dressed regally in an expensive looking pea coat and fur hat. An elegant saber hung from her hip. Her expression was one of carefully practiced aloofness. Yang realized the woman must be Weiss's sister. She'd never had a chance to meet Winter during her brief visit to Vale, but the family resemblance was unmistakable.
"Is that Winter Schnee?" Taiyang asked. "What's she doing here?"
"Ironwood probably sent her here to see what I'm up to," Qrow said. "Or to piss me off. If that's the case, it's working."
As the trio approached, Yang caught Winter's eyes darting to her missing arm. Yang scowled. Everyone always had the same reaction when they saw it. First it was disbelief, then it was pity. Yang hated it, especially the pity. Pity didn't fix anything; it just reminded her that she was broken. To Yang's surprise however, something more akin to disapproval flashed in Winter's eyes until she quickly schooled her face back to its default expression.
"Here for a rematch, Specialist?" Qrow asked as disrespectfully as he could. "Or has old Jimmy sent you to finally apologize?"
"Neither," Winter said in her characteristic monotone. "As hard as you may find this to believe, I have no business with you today."
"Well that hurts my feelings," Qrow said. "So what are you doing here then?"
Winter looked past Qrow and at Yang and Taiyang. "My business is with them."
"Us?" Taiyang asked, scratching his head. "If this is about that little, uh, misunderstanding we had getting tickets to Atlas…"
Qrow elbowed Taiyang in the gut. "Shut up, Tai," he mumbled.
Winter's eyes narrowed, but she said, "I'm here to inform you that Yang Xiao Long's application to transfer to Atlas Academy has been approved."
"It has? But Yang didn't apply to Atlas," Taiyang said, dumbly.
Qrow sighed wearily and went for his flask.
Winter said, "That would be unfortunate, if it were true. Given the recent events at the Vytal Festival, no one is currently being allowed into Atlas unless they have a valid reason. Anyone caught trying to enter the kingdom without proper authorization is to be arrested on sight."
"Uh…" Taiyang said.
"But as your daughter is now a student at Atlas Academy, you both have cause to enter the kingdom," Winter said.
"Oh. Oh!" Taiyang said. "Well, uh, that is why we're here."
"I'm sure," Winter said.
"Well, well," Qrow said mockingly. "The Ice Queen bending the rules. I thought I'd never see the day. What's the occasion?"
"I'm not bending any rules!" Winter said a little too quickly.
"Sure you're not," Qrow said.
Winter's eyes twitched, but she kept her calm. She turned back to Taiyang. "Unfortunately, now that your daughter is here, you must leave Atlas immediately."
"What!?" Taiyang said. "That's ridiculous!"
"You should be grateful that you have been given the privilege of briefly visiting Atlas during these troubled times to see your daughter off," Winter said.
"Well I'm not leaving," Taiyang said. He placed his arms around Yang. "I have to look after my little girl."
"As a huntsman yourself, I think you know that if your daughter needs looking after, she has no business being enrolled in a combat school," Winter said.
"Did you know this would happen, Qrow?" Taiyang asked accusingly.
"No," Qrow said. "I thought the two of you would've been thrown in jail."
Taiyang pointed a finger at Winter. "Well don't you think for a minute that—"
"Excuse me, sir," one of Winter's entourage said in a polite tone. "You needn't worry about Yang. I'll look after her."
Yang recognized the voice. "Weiss?" she asked.
"Hello, Yang. It's…good to see you again," Weiss said, stepping forward.
Yang was surprised she hadn't noticed Weiss there, even given her current emotional state. Maybe it was because Weiss was wearing an Atlas Academy uniform and had her hair up in a bun instead of her usual side-tail.
Taiyang asked, "And who are you?"
"Dad, this is Weiss," Yang explained. "Ruby's partner, remember?"
"You're Ruby's partner?" Taiyang asked.
"Yes sir. At least, I was when we were both attending Beacon," Weiss said.
"Ruby's told me a lot about you," Taiyang said. "She has a lot of respect for you."
"Thank you, sir," Weiss said, briefly bowing her head.
"Yang? Are you okay with this?" Taiyang asked.
Yang realized this was her chance to back out. She could admit defeat and go back home. The trouble Winter was giving them was the best excuse she was going to get.
Yang looked at Weiss. She wasn't sure what she expected to see. Weiss was doing her best to affect the same aloof air as her sister, but with much less success. Yang could see turbulent emotions swirling in her eyes, but there was also something else. If Yang had to put a named to it, it would be hope.
Yang looked back at her dad and said, "Yeah. I'll be okay."
Taiyang nodded. He set down his bags and then enveloped Yang in a bear hug. "Make sure both my girls come back to me, alright?"
"I will," Yang said, hugging her dad back as best she could with only one arm.
"I love you, Little Dragon," Taiyang said.
Winter interjected, "I believe your airship back to Vale is departing soon. I suggest you don't miss it."
Taiyang let go of his daughter. "You be good, Sweetie," he said. He picked up his suitcase, leaving Yang's duffel behind. As he started walking back to the airship, he shouted over his shoulder. "And be sure to write! I want to hear about everything!"
"I will," Yang said.
Qrow took one more long swig from his flask. When he was done, he looked at Yang with an unreadable expression. He put his flask away and said, "Good luck, kid." Then he walked away.
Yang watched her dad and uncle go. She felt a quick stab of panic. Regardless of how bad an idea this was, she was well and truly committed now. Dad was counting on her to find Ruby.
Weiss said, "I've made arrangements for your accommodation until you're assigned a dorm room."
Yang looked back at Weiss. At least she wasn't completely alone in this unfamiliar kingdom. It was so weird seeing someone else from Team RWBY again. It was even weirder because of how Weiss was dressed. It was like Yang had fallen into some strange new world where the people were the same, but all the rules had changed. She supposed in a sense that was true.
"It's good to see you again too," Yang said.
Winter cleared her throat loudly. "As touching as this is, we all have places we need to be."
"Right," Yang said. "Thanks for getting me into Atlas."
"Don't thank me. It was my sister who sponsored you," Winter said in a tone that made it clear she didn't approve. "I trust your performance won't reflect poorly on her. Atlas Academy expects nothing but the best from all of its students regardless of their…circumstances."
"You needn't worry," Weiss said. "Yang won't disappoint."
"We will see," Winter said. With that, she turned on her heels and walk purposefully away, her entourage in tow.
Yang turned to Weiss. "Thank you."
"Anything for a friend," Weiss said. "There's a limousine waiting for us, if you're ready."
Yang reached down and picked up her duffel. "Lead the way," she said.
The car waiting for Yang and Weiss was long and sleek. The Schnee Company logo was emblazoned on it everywhere. It was very clearly as much a display of wealth and power as it was a means of transportation. Yang didn't much like it. The arrogance the car represented was almost palpable enough to choke on.
A fit-looking young man was dutifully waiting by the car. When he saw Weiss and Yang approaching, he stood up a little straighter. He looked at Yang and said, "Can I take your luggage for you, miss?"
"I got it, thanks," Yang said defensively.
"It's alright, Yang," Weiss said. "He's just going to put it in the trunk."
"Oh. Fine," Yang said. She handed the bag to the man. He teetered a bit when Yang let go. The duffel wasn't as light as she'd made it look. Taiyang had packed the bag, and he was not one to leave behind anything that he thought might be needed.
The young man managed to keep his balance and opened the door for the two young women. Yang followed Weiss into the limo. The interior was more like a luxury resort than a car. It was plush and padded and boasted a minibar, data ports to plug in scrolls and even a holographic projector.
After loading Yang's duffel into the trunk, the young man took his place in the driver's seat. He asked Weiss, "What is your destination, madam?"
"To the mansion please," Weiss said.
"Yes madam." The driver nodded and started up the car.
Yang asked, "You're putting me up at the Schnee family mansion? Does your dad know?"
"My father is away on business," Weiss said, not bothering to disguise the venom in her voice. "He's busy visiting Vale to reassure investors that the attack won't negatively impact Schnee Dust Company business there."
"Oh," Yang said.
As the limo navigated the city streets of Atlas, an awkward silence settled between Yang and Weiss. Their relationship had suffered its ups and downs in the time they had known each other. And it had started on a very down note. That was no surprise. Being mean to Ruby was the easiest way to get on Yang's bad side. Weiss's later clash with Blake over her history with the White Fang had not helped matters. However, as Weiss's true character had begun to shine through the mask her father had taught her to wear, Yang had grown to like her. Eventually, she had been just as proud to call Weiss her teammate as Ruby or Blake.
The training that Yang and Weiss had done together to prepare for the doubles round in the Vytal Festival had really brought then closer together as friends. But now, after all the months apart, after everything that had happened, it was like they were strangers again.
"Your father seems nice," Weiss said, trying to break the silence.
"He is," Yang said. She searched for something more to say. All she came up with was, "That uniform looks good on you."
"I don't really care for it," Weiss said, self-consciously picking at the hem of the skirt. "But Atlas is much more strict about their dress code than Beacon."
"I guess that explains the bun," Yang said.
"I don't care for that either," Weiss said.
"So…how is Atlas Academy?" Yang asked.
"Very different. I've been made the leader of my own team. Team WHYT," Weiss said.
"Isn't it weird to be made team leader mid-semester?" Yang asked.
"My father insisted," Weiss said ruefully. "He's one of the Academy's biggest financial backers. He used his influence to make sure I was, 'put in a position fitting of my status as a Schnee.'"
"Wow," Yang said.
"It's been…difficult being back here. Father's expectations for me have never changed, but it was much easier to ignore him when we were an ocean apart," Weiss said. "And Team WHYT isn't like Team RWBY."
"Being leader isn't what you expected, huh?" Yang asked.
"Well yes, but that's not really it," Weiss said. "My new partner, Hazelle, was a team leader herself until my father's meddling. She isn't happy with the new arrangements."
Yang wondered if she should remind Weiss of her own behavior back when Ruby was appointed team leader over her. The old Yang would have gladly made a jibe about Weiss getting a taste of her own medicine, but Yang decided to not bring it up.
"You know I'm not actually going to go to Atlas Academy, right?" Yang asked, hoping she hadn't inadvertently created trouble for Weiss.
"I had expected that," Weiss said. "But when I heard you and your father and uncle had bullied your way onto an airship flying to Atlas, sponsoring you was all I could think to do. Winter was going to arrest you."
"How'd you change her mind?" Yang asked.
"I…I begged her," Weiss said.
"Oh. Um…" Yang said. She knew that begging was not something Weiss would do lightly. "Well, thanks again."
"So why did you come here?" Weiss asked.
Yang looked away. She lowered her head slowly and said, "I'm here to find Ruby. She's come to Atlas. Alone."
"Ruby's here!?" Weiss exclaimed. In an instant, she whipped out her scroll and dialed a number.
"I thought the CCTTs weren't working," Yang said.
"They have the local network back up in Atlas," Weiss said. Her scroll rang several times. "Why isn't she answering?"
"That prick Mercury shot Ruby's scroll," Yang said. "I don't think she's replaced it. No point really with the towers down."
Weiss looked very disappointed. She closed her scroll. "What about Blake? Have you heard from her?"
"No," Yang said tersely.
"Well maybe she's—" Weiss started.
"I don't care," Yang said. Maybe if she said it enough times she would believe it.
"We…we don't know why she ran away, Yang. She could have had a good reason," Weiss said.
"I never thought you'd be the one defending her to me," Yang said.
The hurt look on Weiss's face immediately made Yang regret what she'd said. Weiss opened her mouth to speak, but promptly closed it again.
Yang sighed wearily. "Sorry," she mumbled.
The limousine came to a halt. Yang glanced out the window and saw that they'd arrived. The driver stepped out of the car and once again opened the door for his passengers. Yang had never really wondered what the Schnee family residence looked like, and it was just as well. The real thing overshadowed anything she might have imagined. It was positively massive with imposing arches and pointed rooftops. It was not a home but a castle where the lord of the land could plot his next conquest.
The mansion and its surrounding grounds were situated on a hilltop on the outskirts of downtown Atlas. All the better for the king to survey his domain. The view was simply breathtaking. If Yang had been in a better mood, she might have been inspired by the sight.
Yang saw the driver handling her bag. She immediately snatched it out of his hand. "I got it," she said.
"Are you sure you—" the driver started.
Yang flashed him a look that shut him up quick.
Weiss had already made her way to the mansion's entryway. Yang jogged to catch up with her and followed her through the front door. The grand foyer inside was designed to impress. Lavish carpets and priceless works of art decorated the space. Statues of the great Schnees of the past lined both sides of the room, standing guard like soldiers. As Yang walked past them she couldn't help but feel that their cold, lifeless eyes were judging her.
Yang had had many preconceived notions about Weiss's family—everyone the world over did—but it wasn't until now that she really understood what they were like. Despite everything filling it, the foyer felt empty. The art and statues and decorations all looked too perfect to be real. This might as well have been a museum with everything sealed behind a barrier of glass.
Yang hadn't stopped to consider what kind of trauma Weiss might have gone through these past few months. Weiss had never spoken fondly of her dad, when she had even spoken of him at all. If the foyer was any indication, he was a man that needed to control everyone and everything in his life. That need undoubtedly extended to his youngest daughter.
"I've had the staff prepare a room for you," Weiss said with her back to Yang.
Yang set her bag down and grabbed Weiss's arm, forcing her to stop and turn around. She said, "Look, Weiss, I'm sorry, okay?"
"It's alright. I deserved that," Weiss said.
"No. You didn't," Yang said. "You're not that person anymore, even if you're back in Atlas."
"Thanks, Yang," Weiss said. "So do you know why your sister came here? Does she think Cinder is here?"
"I don't know," Yang said. "My uncle thinks it's because the White Fang are here in Atlas."
"The White Fang? That explains why my father was so agitated just before he left. Do you think…?" Weiss trailed off.
"Do I think what?" Yang asked.
Weiss's eyes flickered to Yang's missing arm. She hesitantly asked, "Do you think he's here?"
Yang lowered her eyes. There was no question who Weiss was talking about. "I don't know," she said softly. "But if he is…and Ruby…"
"We won't let anything happen to her," Weiss said.
"Yeah," Yang said uncertainly.
"Well, if the White Fang really are here, we need to get you back into fighting shape," Weiss said.
Yang looked up sharply. Her eye's narrowed. "That's not funny."
"I should hope not. It wasn't a joke," Weiss said.
"I am sick and tired of everyone thinking that I am going to be alright! Look at me!" Yang waved her stump in front of Weiss. "This is not something you get better from!"
"That attitude certainly won't help," Weiss said.
Yang blinked and her eyes went red. "Are you mocking me?"
"Not at all," Weiss said. "This is Atlas. The finest technology in all of Remnant can be found here. Including the latest in cybernetics."
"Dad already looked into that!" Yang said. "But even if we sold everything we owned, we still wouldn't have enough money for something like that."
Weiss looked Yang dead in the eye. "Think about who you're talking to. Money is not going to be a concern."
"You…you're going to buy me a new arm?" Yang asked bewildered. Her eyes shifted back to their usual lilac hue.
"What good is my family's wealth if I can't use it for something like that?" Weiss asked.
"Would your dad even let you?" Yang asked.
"I'm sure father wouldn't approve, but I couldn't care less what he thinks," Weiss said. "He gave me back access to my trust fund, and I will spend it as I see fit."
"I…" Yang stammered. A small feeling of hope began to rise in her chest. She instinctively pushed it down. She had spent the last few months hiding from her own emotions, terrified of the demons they might unleash. She was afraid that this new glimmer of hope might vanish like a wisp of smoke if she touched it, and she'd be left devastated all over again.
"We'll need to research which doctors are able to perform the procedure," Weiss said. "We can start today if you feel ready."
Yang looked at her stump. Could it really be as simple as that? It was stupid, but she had grown so used to feeling numb and useless that she almost didn't want to feel better. Despair had just become her new normal, and she hadn't been prepared for that to change.
"Yang?" Weiss asked softly.
"Yeah," Yang said. "I'm up for it."
Author's Note: This was written before it was revealed what Taiyang's weapon was, so I had to take a guess. So just remember, if it turns out to be a poleaxe that's also a gun, I totally called it.
Constructive criticism is always welcome so please feel free to review or comment. If you want to be notified of updates or send me a message, you can find me on tumblr under the name electronicyarn.