Weiss Schnee

I thrust my blade into the chest of a Beowulf, it falls limp and before long begins to fade away. Another takes a swipe at me from behind and I use time dilation to slow it's attack down just enough that I can quickly sidestep out of the way and decapitate it. A pair of them charge at me from the trees and I respond by quickly creating a pair of ice glyphs, launching razor sharp icicles directly at them and impaling them.

Looking around, I realize that must have been all of them so I sit down against a tree. I look up at the shattered moon in the night sky and let out a frustrated sigh.

"This just isn't cutting it anymore."

We have been attending Beacon as Team WIYB for at least six months now. I won't say I haven't improved in that time. In fact it's actually been pretty drastic. My swordplay has greatly improved, I'm getting really good with my glyphs and I'm just overall faster and stronger. That doesn't begin to cover the amount I have learned about battle tactics and coordination but…

I feel like I have hit a brick wall. No matter how much I train I don't feel like I'm improving and I still need to get stronger before I can take on the likes of Gadriel or any of the others that took Ruby. I have even taken to 'bending the rules' a bit and sneaking off to the Emerald Forest to fight Grimm outside of sanctioned training hours but it's not enough.

I still don't think I'm physically strong enough to take them on and while my skills are dramatically better now, I'm still struggling in a few areas. Especially my summoning. At most I can get part of a head to appear but that's it.

I hear my scroll go off and I check to see that it's Inu messaging me. 'Hey leader, remember that we have to get up early to practice for the tournament tomorrow so don't be out too late! :P 3'

That's right, the Vytal festival tournament is in a couple of months. I really didn't want to participate at first, not with Ruby still missing. Not to mention the fact that the Grimmiore have been super quiet since the attack on the hospital and Alan's intel he's been feeding us isn't super reassuring. A lot of dust moving around, strange 'White Fang' activity going on outside of Dawn and Dusk's jurisdiction. Then there is the unmarked transport he stopped which ended up being loaded with weapons.

We just have so much to worry about right I didn't think it was a good time to be messing around with some silly tournament…then Blake brought up how it would make for a good opportunity to further our abilities and test them against the best students on Remnant. So naturally, I decided I'd allow it. She always seems to have some level headed response to everything.

Deciding there wasn't much point in staying out any later than I already have, I carefully made my way back to the dorms. After all, I'm not really supposed to be out of the dorms after a certain time, let alone training in the Emerald Forest. At one point I had to hide behind a pillar to avoid Professor Goodwitch. She might be one of my favorite teachers but she can be pretty ruthless when it comes to following the rules.

Finally I can relax as I reach the well lit entryway of the first year dorms. I debated stopping to grab a drink from the common room but decided it'd be better to just head straight up to our room.

"So you really aren't gonna be able to visit until the tournament?" As I groggily step into the room, I see Inu is laying in her bed and talking to Alan on her scroll. I'm surprised they have that solid a connection, he must be really close to a functional support tower.

"Yeah sorry, I'm still pretty far from Vale and I'm following a solid lead. I promise I'll be there to watch you guys though."

"Any word on Ruby?" I ask, sitting at my desk.

"Nothing good…I have heard from a few villages that were attacked, about a terrifying girl in a red hood."

"I see…"

"Yeah, I was helping a young girl and her mother out of their destroyed house and they told me how she and a girl in a Grimm mask who fought with red wire rolled into town."

"Gadriel…" Inu says.

"Yeah…they brought several people, also wearing Grimm masks along with dozens of Grimm."

"I'm surprised there was anyone left alive.."

"There weren't many…I guess they left once they got what they came for." he sits down next to a campfire. "Why risk getting caught by any nearby Huntsmen just for a few stray humans.."

He says that as if he's had that thought himself before. Given that he used to be one of them, he probably has.

"Same as all the other towns?"

"Yep..strong able bodied young people were taken, at least a dozen. Most of everyone else though…" he sighs. "Things were already pretty scary out in the world before and it just seems like they are getting scarier everyday."

"You can say that again...just keep us in the loop okay?" Yang asks. "About Ruby and…the woman who attacked you."

"Sure thing Yang." he yawns. "I should probably get going, long day tomorrow."

"Okay.." Inu pouts and her ears drop.

"I'll see you guys in a few weeks and Inu..sweet dreams." he says before hanging up. Inu just blushes and holds her scroll to her chest.

You'd think after that little goodbye kiss she gave him on the cheek they'd make some progress. I suppose they have, in their own way, I just wish they'd take some bigger strides.

"Where's Blake?" I ask, only just now realizing she wasn't in our room.

"She's reading in the library, studying." Yang leans back in her chair. "I was studying with her but that girl is a machine, my brain needed a break."

"Just make sure to keep your grades up Yang."

"You got it.." she offers me a tired thumbs up.

"In the meantime, you should probably go get Blake." I lay down in my bed. "Tell her she needs to get some sleep, we have an early training session with Team JNPR, besides she could get in trouble for being out of the dorms this late."

Not that I can talk.

"On it leader." she yawns and leaves the room.

I lie back on my bed and stare up at the ceiling, all my fatigue hitting me at once. It doesn't take long before I am out cold.

(The Next Day)

I barely managed to evade a direct hit from the tip of Pyrrha's spear and I had to use time dilation to do it. That ability really drains me but I didn't have much of a choice. Pyrrha is unlike anyone I've ever fought.

I propel myself at her, raising an icewall behind her to keep her from simply jumping back and avoiding my attack. Just when I think I might land a decisive blow, she uses all her might to completely deflect my attack. She then spins around and delivers a kick to my stomach, sending me flying.

"Go Pyrrha!" Nora shouts from the sidelines. Nora is an odd one and not the most agile fighter but she makes up for it in brute strength that rivals Yang's.

"You got this!" Jaune cheers her on as well. He is…quite peculiar. He actually hit on me the first day, before quickly realizing he was barking up the wrong tree. That aside, he isn't that skilled of a fighter. To the point that I question how he even got into this school, let alone was named the leader of his team.

To nobody's surprise, Ren doesn't really cheer but silently waves a little JNPR flag. He isn't one for words but he might actually be the second most skilled fighter on the team…a fairly distant second but still.

"Don't give up Weiss!" I hear Inu shout as I try to catch my breath. I check my scroll and see that I am one good hit away from dipping into the red.

"Show her what our leader can do!" Yang cheers while Blake waves a pair of WIYB flags. Not sure where everyone is getting these flags from but that isn't really important right now.

I decided to try an old but effective trick. I raise Myrtenaster, pointing just up and behind Pyrrha, creating a glyph. I then make several more all around her, much more effortlessly than in the past. It takes much less time and focus than it did in the past, I no longer have to rely on my opponent being cocky, which is good because I doubt Pyrrha would ever make that mistake.

I create one final glyph behind me and take a quick breath. I jump up and plant my feet on the glyph behind me, kicking off as I activate the glyph, launching me forward toward the glyph just behind Pyrrha. Pyrrha figures out what I am up to much more quickly than I would've liked. I raise Myrtenaster into a striking position and launch myself forward again, managing to land a hit. I continue launching myself between the glyphs, trying to go as fast as I can.

For a moment I am actually impressed with my own speed. Not only is my strength and stamina much better than back then but my control over my glyphs is leagues ahead of where it used to be.

For a moment I think it might actually work but then, for some reason I can't explain, I feel Myrtenaster pull slightly to the right which sends me off course. I try to course correct but Pyrrha took advantage of the opportunity and she landed a huge hit to my side not only causing me to miss but using my own momentum to send me flying down onto the ground. With that the buzzer sounds and I look up to see that my aura has dropped to almost nothing.

I suppose I should take some pride that I managed to put that big of a dent in Pyrrha's aura, no one else has managed to lower it by that much and she is one of the best after all. That said, I can't help but be incredibly frustrated. I am far better than I was back then but once again I am reminded that it's still not enough.

Pyrrha and I bow to each other out of respect before retreating to our respective sides of the arena.

"That was amazing Pyrrha, you're incredible!" Jaune shouts as the rest of the team celebrates her win.

"Hey don't sweat it Weiss, there is no shame in losing to Pyrrha." Yang gently pats my shoulder.

"Yeah, besides it was crazy close. Not a single other person in the school has managed to do that well against Pyrrha." Inu smiles, trying to cheer me up.

"Yeah I guess.." I offer them a fake smile. One I hope they can't see through. I know they are just trying to keep me from getting down on myself, but I just don't think that's possible right now.

I sit down on a nearby bench and wipe the sweat from my forehead. To my surprise, I look up and see Pyrrha walking over to me, smiling and waving.

"Oh..hey Pyrrha." I take a sip from my water bottle.

"You were certainly very intense out there today." she says, sitting down next to me.

"Yeah well, I kind of have to be when going up against you." I smile.

"You flatter me" she wipes the sweat from her forehead. It's true though, Pyrrha is just on another level. Way better than anyone else our age. People have used the word prodigy to describe Yang or myself but if anyone truly embodies that word it would be her. "But…I feel like it's more than that."

"What do you mean?"

"People who fight with that kind of passion are usually driven by something." she says, leaning forward. "For me, it's my dream of becoming a huntress..it's all I've ever wanted to be and I'll do whatever it takes to get it."

"I see.."

"I'm sure there is at least some of that for you as well but it feels like something else too."

"Oh really?..." No one at Beacon, aside from the teachers, knows about our circumstances. Most know that we are here on special permissions but not why. I try to keep it that way, since it could only possibly complicate everything.

"Yes, well, I can tell that whatever it is, you don't wish to discuss it." She stands up and stretches. "I won't pry, regardless, it must mean the whole world to you if it drives you to fight like that."

"Heh..you have no idea." I say under my breath. She has a point though, I do have something that drives me and getting frustrated won't get me any closer to that goal. I have to keep training and improving myself.

Everytime I begin to give into despair, I just need to remind myself why I am doing this all in the first place and keep pushing myself forward, no matter what. I smile and clench my fist, thinking about Ruby's smiling face before getting to my feet.

"Hey Pyrrha?"

"Yes Weiss?"

"I'm ready to go again when you are." I say with a look of determination, tightening my grip around Myrtenaster. She just responds with a knowing smile.

"It would be my pleasure."

Ruby Rose

"How many have we captured so far for Mother?"

"Maybe if you stopped to count instead of having so much fun wrecking everything, you wouldn't have to keep asking me." Gadriel just keeps staring at her scroll. "Besides if you wouldn't kill so many we'd be at least halfway done by now."

The other me just stares daggers at Gadriel and despite tensing up for a second, she just sighs and rolls her eyes.

"Answer the question.."

"Two hundred and thirty five." she answers without looking up from her scroll. "We still need at least a few hundred which will probably take another six months of raids at least."

"Was that so hard?"

(Probably, I've been stuck sharing a head with you for six months and I can't stand talking to you either.)

(Shut up, useless weakling.)

"Whatever."

"Besides, you talk about destroying and killing like it is a chore." Other me slings a backpack over our shoulder. "It's no wonder Mother wanted to find a way to make better Grimmiore, you should crave destruction as strongly as you crave food or water."

"Whatever…"

"I know you your heart hasn't exactly been in it since Mother ordered the execution of that boyfriend of yours but-"

"Sariel has nothing to do with anything! He's dead and I've accepted that." The look on her face clearly shows that isn't true. I can't say I've exactly gotten over it, he was one of my best friends after all..

"Keep lying to yourself if it makes you feel better."

"Shut up! At least I'm not sharing a body with some lame-" The other me grabs her scroll and smashes it. She doesn't take kindly to people bringing that fact up. "Hey!"

"I'm not SHARING anything, this body is mine and it's far better than it ever was when that pathetic waste had the controls." she leans in so our face is an inch away from Gadriel's. "I don't want to hear you bring that up EVER again. Understand?"

"W-Whatever.."

"Good." She grabs Crescent Rose out of the ground. "Let the others know to get some rest, we are moving out in a couple of hours."

"Not much of a rest."

(Yeah, stingy jerk.)

"Shut up, we can rest more once the sun is up, be grateful." She marks another spot on the map, looking at the small village on the horizon. "Mother has great plans for Remnant, plans that she wants to execute by the end of the year and for that she needs us to do our part."

(A part you are all too happy to play.) I say with as much disgust as I can muster. I really do hate sharing a head with her. Part of me wishes I had just faded away entirely, just so I wouldn't have to see the horrible things that she does with my body…then I remember Weiss' promise and tell myself to stay strong.

"By the way, we received a message from Mother." Gadriel gets to her feet.

"Why didn't you tell me that sooner!" she turns and glares at Gadriel.

"I was going to before you decided to smash my scroll." Gadriel sighs out of frustration. "Anyway, she says now that we've made a lot of progress on the serum…thanks in large part to you..she wants another trial run."

"When and where?"

"During the Vytal Festival in Vale. In two months."

(No…)

"Apparently that lackey of hers, Cinder, has been doing a lot of work in Vale lately. Trying to prepare for something big that will help with Mother's plans."

"Okay, so when exactly does she want us to make our move?"

"During the final phase of Cinders operation. She wants to move in and join the fight, kill as many as possible to test the strength and combat skills of our new Grimmiore. It'll also serve as a distraction for whatever Cinder is up to."

"I see…well based on my own experience they still aren't even close to as strong or capable as the Grimmiore Mother creates or myself but they have definitely come a long way since the mindless drones of the original serum or the weaklings of the 2.0 version." She plasters a sinister grin on her face. "Yes, even as they are now, we should be able to have plenty of fun."

I wish I could warn them somehow but…all I can do is hope that they've gotten a lot stronger since I last saw them. With what's coming, they are going to have to be.