Hey guys, here is the next chapter in this story.

Enjoy the read.

Chapter Cover: Ruby lying down upon the ground with headphones in her ears a small smile upon her face.

Chapter Fifty-One

Under the Skin

Three Days later…

Those three days have passed quite quickly given the amount of activity that the Clan had launched itself unto. Since Schneider was found dead, hanging on the flagpole of the Clan, Lord Ezekiel had him pulled down and taken to the Clan's morgue where they will soon have a funeral for him. The White Lord also had launched an investigation about Mercury and where the man was staying to find any clues about the man's past but there was nothing to be found. The man's entire house was completely empty despite the search about him and no trace of where he could have gone was found.

On another note, Ruby, Yang, and Noir were staying inside the White Castle, thought more likely in the wing where Weiss stayed. The White Lord had allowed them to stay more by Weiss's request for he was ready to throw them out of the Clan compound.

"Why did you expect to accomplish by coming here?" Weiss said rubbing the bridge of her nose, "I did everything I could so that you could keep away from my family."

"What did you expect us to do when Schneider had told us that you were about to be executed," Yang told her, "Just let it happen?"

"It wasn't your affairs," Weiss answered, her blue eyes glaring at the blonde, "You didn't even understand what was truly going on."

Yang narrowed her eyes at her.

"So this is what we get for worrying about your safety?" she said staring at the white haired girl in front of her, "You are our friend Weiss, you don't expect us to help you when you need it?"

"But I didn't want you to help," Weiss answered, curtly, "If I wanted it, I would have asked Yang."

"That's what friends do," Yang told her, "We help each other even before we ask for it."

Weiss's eyes narrowed at her.

"All I see is you poking your noses in other peoples business," she said.

Yang stared at her.

"Are you serious?" she yelled, "Ruby back me up here."

Her sister had stayed silent during the entire thing. Her silver eyes were staring at Weiss with a sad look upon her features.

"Do…Do you really feel like we're a burden Weiss?" she asked.

The white haired girl actually looked shocked at what she said.

"What?" she repeated, thrown off, "No…"

"The way you're acting said different," the smaller girl said, "You disappeared without saying anything to us. You wanted to keep us away from your family and you never once explained to us why you wanted that. And now that we've come to rescue you because we were scared to lose you, you're now telling us that we were nothing but annoyances."

Weiss had the decency to look shamed at that. The white haired girl looked away from her letting out a small sigh.

"That really hurt you know," Ruby said staring at the girl with tears shining in her silver eyes.

Weiss took a seat down upon the bed. The girl had placed her hands upon her lap as she stared down at the ground in front of her, silence settling in the room around the three girls. Noir, however, who was leaning against the window of the room was staring at them with his dark eyes. His traditional hat was seating upon his head, almost shadowing his eyes.

"So…are you finally going to tell us the reason why you didn't want them near your family?" he asked, drawing Weiss's eyes toward him, "Now would be a good time."

Weiss shook her head.

"I knew there was something wrong with the Clan ever since I was exiled," she spoke out, drawing the people's attention toward her, "It wasn't that I was bitter toward my Father for what he had done to me, but more likely, it seemed to be too good to be true and even when the blame for what happened in Vale was turned upon me, I knew there was someone who was manipulating things in the background."

The white haired girl lowered her gaze.

"I was even more shocked that my father believed it too," she said, "It wasn't like him to be so…cold toward me and Winter. While he may be strict with us, he was never like this before...and for a time, I really thought he believed that I was responsible and was going to have me executed."

She looked toward them.

"I didn't want any of you to be near the White Clan if something like that was to happen."

Weiss let out a soft chuckle as she shook her head, "But even when I tried, you three somehow ended up in the White Dimension no less. Maybe it was wrong to keep things from you."

"You bet your ass it was the wrong decision," Yang told her shaking her head, "I mean…if you never tell us anything Weiss, how you expect us not to worry about you?"

Weiss stared at them for a few moments.

"I guess I was wrong on that part," she said.

A knock on the door drew everyone's attention toward it. Weiss stood up from where she was seating down and walked toward it. She was surprised to find her sister standing on the other side of the door. The young woman was wearing her white robe upon her form and her sword by her waist.

"Winter?" Weiss said surprised.

The young woman stared at her.

"The White Lord had summoned you and your friends," she said, "He said that he wants to speak with them."

Weiss blinked before glancing back toward both Ruby and Yang. The two girls were looking confused at what was being said.

"Summoned us?" Yang repeated, "What for?"

"He will tell you about what he want to ask you," Winter answered them, "If you would follow me."

"The White Lord wants to speak with me?" Noir said raising his eyebrows, his voice mocking tone, "That's quite a new thing."

Winter gave him a stare.

"I couldn't care less about what you think," she said, "The White Lord wants to speak with you and I will drag your unconscious body to him if I have to."

Her hand was placed upon the sword handle.

"That won't be necessary," Weiss told her placing a hand upon the older girl's hand.

Winter stared at her for a few moments before turning away.

"I will wait outside," she said.

With that the young woman turned away from them and the door closed. Weiss turned toward Noir with raised eyebrows.

"What was that about?" she asked.

"If you don't know," Noir told her, "Most of us Faunus don't have a very good relationship with your Clan Weiss. The White Fang is proof of that."

Weiss narrowed her eyes at him.

"So you just want to continue what the White Fang had started?" she said.

Noir stared at her for a few minutes before chuckling.

"Sheesh," he said, "No need to get so serious. I was just kidding around…but in reality, I really am surprised that he wants to talk to us."

Weiss had relaxed but she smacked him on the side of his head.

"You idiot," she said.

"Hey watch it," Noir said, "You're going to mess up my hat."

Weiss glared at him.

"I'll mess up more than your hat," she said glaring at him.

A few minutes later, the group had stepped out of the room finding Winter standing there with her arms crossed. The older woman glanced toward them, her blue eyes as impassive as it was before. She then turned around and walked away with them following after her. They made their way through the Castle many corridors before arriving in front of a double door.

Winter knocked only twice before opening the door entering inside it. Ruby, Yang and Noir had wide eyes as they stared at the large room they had entered in. it was a large empty room and the White Lord was seating there at the end of it. The man looked up toward them, his blue eyes shining lightly as they stepped inside.

"Well," he said, "It's been many years since members of the Rose Dragon Clan have entered inside this Castle."

Ruby and Yang were surprised as well as Weiss.

"You…You know who they are?" she asked.

"I have fought side by side with members of that Clan," he said standing up from where he was seating down, "I come to know their characteristics quite well."

"Why is it that you wanted to see us?" Yang asked.

The White Lord's eyes turned toward her.

"Straight to business then," he said, "Tell me, do you know a man by the name of Qrow Branwen?"

Both Ruby and Yang's eyes widened.

"Why are you asking about our uncle?"

That seems to surprise the White Lord.

"He is your uncle?" he repeated, "I have been looking forward to talk to him and even searching for him but I have never been able to locate him…but then again, Qrow always knew how to keep himself hidden from unwanted eyes."

"Why are you asking about him?" Ruby asked, "Was he your friend?"

The White Lord frowned.

"I wouldn't use that term to describe us," he said simply.

Ruby and Yang blinked at him at the answer they had received.

"Safe passage to Vale will be given to the two of you tomorrow," he said, "Now that the crisis which had drew you here is over, your help will no longer be needed…that was all that I needed from you two."

Ruby and Yang blinked at him and turned to walk away from the man.

"Weiss…stay behind," the White Lord spoke out, "I would like to speak with you privately."


Weiss stared toward her father, feeling surprise through her form. The young woman stared toward where Ruby and Yang was, noticing their curious look but Winter pulled the group out of the room leaving the two behind. Weiss turned toward the man in front of her.

It had been five years since she had last been in this room, alone with her father and now, she was looking at the man in front of her. The man's features haven't changed much but Weiss can see a weariness on his features, probably having to lead the White Clan since he was fifteen. She had heard her mother tell her the stories and how serious her father used to be when they had first met each other.

The man was staring at her as well.

"You have grown since you were last here," he commented as he stared at her.

"I had to," she answered, "Since you exiled me."

A strange emotion appeared in the man's feature at that.

"Did you have any idea what you did to me Father?" Weiss asked, "That day five years ago, did you have any idea what you did?"

The man stayed silent as he stared at her, wanting her to continue.

"When I was a child," Weiss said, "I was only thirteen and yet you cast me out like I was nothing more than yesterday's trash. You…You scared my heart with the actions you took that day …you scarred my back…and when you announced my execution…I truly believed that you hated me."

The man's eyes became sharp.

"I never once hated you," he said.

Weiss stared at him.

"All the actions I have taken that day are actions expected of the Leader of the White Clan," Ezekiel spoke to her, "You may have been my blood but no one who disobeyed the orders of this clan is clear of punishment, regardless of who they are…thought as a father, it was one action I wish to never have made."

The man turned away from her, placing both of his hands behind his back.

"But I have not been a father long to know how to threat a child," he said, "Ever since I was your age, my own father had only groomed me to become his successor and when he passed on, I was the most likely candidate to replace him. I could understand what you have gone through, in a way."

Weiss stared at the man in front of her.

"What do you mean?"

"Before becoming the White Lord," Ezekiel told her, "The decisions I have made have only affected the team I was on and the missions we have gone on…but being suddenly thrown into such a responsibility when I was barely a man…It was completely overwhelming. Now, I was making decisions that will affect the future of my Clan."

He turned toward Weiss.

"Despite all of the training I had with my father," Ezekiel said, "My own worries almost crippled me and I could have completely destroyed the Clan mere weeks after I became the White Lord…but my father told me something, something that resonated within me."

The man closed his eyes in reminiscent.

"Fear is an understanding part of life," he said, "that fear is the only reason that mankind continue to walk and persevere. We are not perfect, nor can we ever be perfect. Let that fear and uncertainty be the fuel that guides you down the road that will take you where you need to go, and when you finally start to move forward, resolution will be there waiting."

Weiss stared at him for a long moment. She remembers back when she was kicked out of the Clan and how terrifying and painful it had been for her. She raised a hand and touched toward her back where the scars of that day were.

"But what I did was because of false information," Ezekiel said, "False information given to me by a traitor."

The man let out a sigh.

"The past can't be changed," he continued, "No matter how we wished it…but what can be changed is the future that is in front of us."

Weiss stared at him, "Are you finally going to tell me why you wanted to me stay behind?"

"Yes," Ezekiel said, "I have made this decision five years ago already and you told me that it was because you weren't experienced enough to be able to take the position."

Weiss's eyes widened.

"What?" she asked, "But what about my Exile?"

Ezekiel stared at her blankly.

"The entire reason you were Exiled was because of false information," he said, "Mercury revealed to us that he was the one who manipulated everything to work in his favor. I have since removed the Exile that was placed upon you Weiss."

The girl stared at him shocked at what he had revealed.

"Will you accept?" he asked.

Weiss stayed silent for a long while. The young woman didn't know what to say. Ever since she was exiled Weiss hadn't thought about being a captain at all. Weiss has a desire to end the war between the Faunus and the White Clan. She had seen first hand during the attack on Vale. She had long since accepted to only fight for Vale…

If I become a Captain, then I should be able to end the war between the Faunus and the White Clan, she thought, I haven't done anything these past five years except protect Vale and work with Noir and Sebastian…

Weiss looked up toward the man in front of her.

"I accept," she said, "But there is an idea I have in mind, if you would like to listen to me."

Ezekiel looked interested.

"What do you have in mind exactly?"

Weiss stayed silent for a few moments.

"I want to continue to work in Vale," she said, "I have grown fond of the place and I have some friends to look after since they're still a little green, thought I'm sure they are powerful."

Ezekiel stared at her.

"You're talking about those two girls from the Rose Dragon Clan," he said.

Weiss stared at him.

"I could feel their power when they entered here," Ezekiel spoke out, "They could become quite powerful in the future if they continue to grow as they are."

Weiss nodded, "If that's all…"

She turned away from the man and then came to a stop when the White Lord called out to her again.

"What about the young man?" he asked, "I presume you already know about him?"

Weiss stayed silent for a few moments before turning her head toward her father.

"I'll handle it," she said.

A new development...

Next Time: Hidden

Jacques0 out.

R&R