Chapter Five: Weiss' Myrtenaster

Weiss looked at all of them, confidence on full display as she held her rapier toward them. It struck them as odd that she would hold it up and not summon her Semblance.

"You do not use a Semblance to fight?" Blake asked in shock.

"I have many surprises you are not aware of," the Schnee slashed at the air behind her. A glass that was on a different table flew toward her with surprising speed. She slashed it, causing it to shatter into shards of ice that tinkled to the ground.

"She's fast," Maria muttered. "I didn't even see that. But, she caused that cup to shatter."

"I challenge you, Blake Belladonna," Weiss pointed her rapier at Blake, who stood up calmly.

"Very well," The fortune teller took a deep breath, Gambol Shroud appearing like a will-o'-the-wisp, cat's ears twitching as she looked at Weiss. "I will accept your challenge. But, I do hope you can provide me a good one."

"I would expect nothing less," Weiss slashed at the air, the room suddenly dropping in temperature. Blake commanded Gambol Shroud to lunge forward, but Weiss was gone, standing behind Blake. She kicked the fortune teller in the back, sending her stumbling forward.

"So, you also attack me," Blake's breath was puffs of frost as she looked at Weiss. The Atlesian stood in her stance, sword held by her side in a way that indicated she could swing it at any moment, but her guard was lax.

"It is still a fair fight, don't you agree?" Weiss bowed slightly. "Not all Semblances attack like a punchy ghost."

"I see," Blake clenched her fists. "Well, I suppose that you have a point. I will have to be careful then. Gambol Shroud, use Shadow Ball."

A concentrated ball of shadows was gathering in Gambol Shroud's hands, golden eyes locked on Weiss. Weiss moved forward in a blur, waving her hand. Immediately after Gambol Shroud released the Shadow Ball, a black snowflake appeared in front of it, holding it in place.

"My Glyphs are quite versatile, you see," Weiss was behind Gambol Shroud, slashing for it with her blade. There was a tear in the Semblance's back. Blake gave a cry of pain, sinking down to one knee. With another wave of her hand, Weiss dispelled the black snowflake, but instead of travelling its intended course, the attack shot backward into Gambol Shroud. The Semblance shrieked once again.

"Is that all you have to offer?" Weiss asked. While it was a belittling question, Weiss' tone was not one of belittlement. In fact, it seemed she was bored. "I was hoping for more of a challenge. Cinder spoke as if you were all genuine threats to her."

Blake, in spite of her injury, stood up, glancing at the people around them.

"Oh, right, there are innocent people here," Weiss replaced her rapier in her belt. "I suppose we should fight somewhere else."

"You're… not just going to kill me?" Blake asked.

"I plan to do that when you are at your very best," Weiss looked at her. "I would feel cheated if I did not do that. Besides, I am not in the business of killing innocent people either."

"Could we truly have such an honorable foe working for Cinder?" Pyrrha asked in shock. "I did not know that such honor could come from one who has allied herself with Cinder."

"I plan to give her the honorable battle she desires," Blake walked out after Weiss, the Schnee leading them to an open square where no people were walking.

"Is this place not beautiful?" Weiss spread her arms, gesturing to it all. "This will be a grand place for our battle. Are you able to defeat me here?"

"We shall see," Gambol Shroud flexed its muscles, the shadows around the area twitching as their master roared like a lion. Great claws of shadow emerged from Gambol Shroud's fingers, ready to slice and dice its foe.

"Come at me!" Weiss held her arms out wide. "Come taste Myrtenaster!"

Blake rose to the challenge, Gambol Shroud moving behind Weiss to strike from the shadows. However, the Semblance struck at empty air, Weiss having ducked.

"You're fast," Weiss' tone was one of admiration. "But, unfortunately for you, I am faster."

With that, Weiss leapt into the air, a black snowflake appearing below her feet for a split second, slicing her sword in a flurry of slashes. All in all, there were about ten before she even began to fall.

From each slash, a blue snowflake appeared, icicles poking their tips out from them.

"What the—" Blake couldn't manage to get more out before the icicles all shot straight for Gambol Shroud. The Semblance covered its face, the icicles piercing repeatedly. Blake hissed in pain as the icicle wounds appeared on her skin. They weren't very large, but they still hurt and caused her arms to go numb from the cold.

"How many powers does she have?" Maria gasped. "I saw several different ones. But, that sword is what worries me. A sword that can harm a Semblance. Such a thing shouldn't exist."

"What if it is a Semblance?" Ruby suggested. "Explains how she can carry the thing in that restaurant and not be talked to about it."

"Who knows," Maria bit her lower lip. "I hope Blake can beat her. This Weiss is quite the formidable foe indeed."

"Blake's not fighting at full power, is she?" Ruby asked.

"If she isn't, she may be able to scrape it out," Maria shrugged. "We'll see."

"You're very fast," Blake lowered her arms, Gambol Shroud flexing to cause the icicles to break as the shadows surrounded them. "And, you can summon multiple abilities at once. But, they all seem to be one Semblance, as all the times you've used it, the same emblem appears. But, it is always in a different color. I'm guessing that has to do with your Semblance."

"Even if you did know, would it really help you here?" Weiss asked, standing in a battle ready stance.

"I suppose I would give me insight into how to stop you from attacking me," Blake glanced around her, Gambol Shroud narrowing its eyes as it stared at Weiss. Another ball of shadows gathered in its hands, the concentration of it distorting the area around them, as if it was sucking in all the light. The area became blanketed in shadow, the area darkening.

"I can fight even in total darkness," Weiss scoffed, moving toward Gambol Shroud. "You cannot beat me, even in your element."

"I will defeat you," Blake closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. Weiss sliced the air with her rapier, the darkness itself parting for a split second. The glow of a dozen blue snowflakes lit up around Weiss as twelve icicles shot off in all directions, exploding in a burst of snow. From behind Weiss, a claw raked across her back. A hiss of pain escaped the Schnee's lips as she dropped to her knee. With speed Blake couldn't expect, she sliced for Gambol Shroud, cutting it across the chest.

As Weiss stood, her back dripping with blood, she stared at the Semblance, her rapier poised to strike, Blake had to admire the tenacity of the Schnee. Not too many people could handle the power of her Semblance like that. She had even given Ruby a fight (though, that was due to Ruby having only just summoned Sundragon, but still). And, yet, on her human body, Weiss was holding her own against the Semblance. It was remarkable, her tenacity.

"You have revealed your position," Weiss moved behind Gambol Shroud, inflicting a wound in its shoulder. Blake grasped her own shoulder, hissing in pain. Gambol Shroud began charging up another Shadow Ball, pointing it toward Weiss.

"Oh, this trick again?" Weiss stood there, unmoving. "You wouldn't just fire something that powerful when I'll just stop it. Besides, you don't want to hurt anyone that might be behind me. I can't see through your darkness, so I'm not sure."

"Gambol Shroud, Shadow Ball!" Blake commanded. The Semblance obeyed, Weiss moving forward to stop it. Blake smirked as Weiss kicked the Semblance in the arm, Gambol Shroud grabbing Weiss with that arm, shoving the ball of shadows into her chest. The resulting explosion flung Weiss backward, the Schnee slamming into a wall with the force of a wrecking ball.

"That was… much harder than I thought it would be," Blake panted, the injuries she had sustained catching up to her. She recalled Gambol Shroud, the darkness around the area receding. "But, I have succeeded. For all her boasting, she was formidable and could even fight without a Semblance."

"Wasn't her weapon a Semblance?" Pyrrha asked her.

"It could have been," Blake looked where Weiss had been thrust back. "But, she was quite formidable with her particular skillset. I do hope that when she wakes up, she decides to pursue a different life than that which Cinder has set for her. It could only end in her destruction."

Suddenly, there was an explosion of ice fragments, shooting off in all directions from Weiss' impact zone. Blake blocked the fragments headed toward her with Gambol Shroud, watching as Weiss dropped to the ground, arms outstretched as if she was a god.

There was definitely something different about her now. Her outfit was now white, the lace underside now red. Even her boots were white, not as high heeled as they were. They seemed to hug her leg even tighter. It also seemed to lose its wintery feel, the jacket now shorter, stopping at her waist. Her rapier was cracked and broken, a good deal of it gone now.

"Wunderbar!" She exclaimed, an entertained grin on her face. "Now, that is more like it! Give me a real battle! I'm sure you were wondering how I could manage such feats, are you not?"

"I suppose I can ask you when I defeat you," Blake clenched her fist. "I once again must applaud your incredible fighting spirit. Of course, I have questions."

"I'm willing to answer any of them you have," Weiss gave a simple bow. "I'm sure you're curious after all. I aim to please, Fraulein. I prefer a fair fight with us knowing each other's power."

"How were you able to attack my Semblance without having one?" Blake asked, Gambol Shroud eyeing the Schnee curiously.

"Ah, but you see, I was using my Semblance," The smirk on Weiss' face gave Blake a chill. "My Semblance is Myrtenaster, represented by the Knight card, which symbolizes vengeance and honor. In fact, I was using it the entire time. You merely broke my shell."

"Shell?" Blake asked.

"That outfit I was wearing earlier was part of my Semblance," Weiss made no motion of attack, simply choosing to pace back and forth. "I summon a shield of ice as a small illusion to look like a dress. It's no master illusion, but it looks pretty so I keep it. It is pretty heavy and weighs me down, while also restricting my further Semblance use until it's removed."

"She was moving like that while wearing heavy weight?" Pyrrha gasped. "If only she were on our side."

"So you're telling me you're much faster now?" Blake asked.

"But, of course," Weiss was suddenly behind Blake, the wind whipping at Blake hard enough to shake her uppermost bow loose. Underneath, two cat's ears were revealed, twitching in the cold breeze. Weiss then moved back to her original position. "Obviously, though, I'm physically less defensive in this form, so one good hit would finish me off."

"Then, I shall do that," Blake said.

"Oh, I'll never let you hit me with that attack again," Weiss pointed her rapier at Blake. "But, remember how I said that it also restricted my Semblance use?"

"Yes." Blake's reply was short, but the newly revealed catgirl understood the implications of such a statement. Weiss spread her arms out wide, fifty blue snowflakes shooting toward Gambol Shroud. While the Semblance was busy dealing with that, Weiss tossed her rapier back, rushing toward Blake to engage her hand to hand.

Out of the corner of her eye, Blake could see the rapier behind held by an arm made of ice. She focused on Weiss, the Schnee getting up close and personal.

Blake defended as best she could, but Weiss was extremely quick, managing to put her back into a corner. A solid punch from Weiss knocked Blake to the ground, leaving her rubbing her jaw. But, the glint in the fortune teller's eyes was telling to those watching her.

"It looks like I have you beaten," Blake smirked, glancing out in the corner of her eye to see a construct of ice in the shape of a knight engaging with Gambol Shroud, who had managed to deflect the icicles. It was holding Weiss' rapier, making quick and powerful strikes against the Semblance, who was dodging and deflecting them all, but just barely. Weiss was still pressing the attack, but Blake stood up, socking her in the jaw. Weiss stumbled back, the fortune teller taking advantage of her being stunned and landing a powerful kick to her jaw. Immediately, Weiss crumpled to the ground, falling unconscious.

The construct of ice shattered into fragments, Gamble Shroud looking over it and the rapier. The rapier seemed like it was fixing itself, but Gambol Shroud stomped on it, breaking it into more pieces. The Semblance then hovered over Weiss, snapping its fingers as the shadows began to pull Weiss into them.

The Schnee began to stir, opening her eyes and seeing the shadows surrounding her.

"Use this knife," Blake flicked a blade at her. "Those shadows will do the equivalent to drowning. Pretty painful way to go, I must say. This will allow you to die more painlessly."

Weiss looked at the knife, picking it up with one hand as she felt herself begin to suffocate. She glanced at Blake, who was walking away. She made a motion as if she was going to throw the blade, but threw it to the ground instead of at Blake.

"There is no honor in suicide," She muttered, lying back against the shadows as they pulled her in. "I have lost. I accept my fate."

Blake's cat ears twitched, looking back at the Schnee. Weiss had a relaxed look on her face, accepting the drowning as the shadows began to spill into her mouth and nostrils. With a snap of her fingers, the shadows immediately retracted, leaving Weiss lying on the ground, hacking and coughing as the shadows retreated.

"Your honor…" Blake walked over to her. "Even serving such a cruel monster, you have honor. You could have thrown that knife at me when my back was turned. I was even baiting you to do it, but you didn't."

"There is no honor in underhanded tactics," Weiss spoke as Blake knelt down beside her.

"She's also possessed by that thing," Ruby walked over, punching Weiss in the stomach and beginning to grab the Grimm Cells.

"How did you know?" Blake asked.

"It looked different," Ruby began to pull, Gambol shroud holding Weiss still as Sundragon pulled it carefully free. With a swipe of Maria's hand, the Grimm Cells were destroyed.

"You… You have freed me," Weiss looked at them once the procedure was over. "Why?"

"One so honorable as yourself needs not serve such a disgusting master," Blake spoke.

"I… thank you," Weiss looked down at her hands. "I don't know what I could do to repay you all."

"Think nothing of it," Blake pat her on the shoulder. "Your honor has earned you salvation."

"But, one thing bothers me," Weiss looked at the fortune teller. "How did you figure out that I couldn't take too much damage?"

"Well, your punch wasn't very strong, so I assumed that without your Semblance protecting you, you can't hit very hard with your own strength. After that, it was a matter of hitting you in just the right place to knock you out," Blake's cat ears flicked. "I studied pressure points."

"So, what's your story of being caught up in Cinder's trap?" Maria asked Weiss.

"My brother, Whitley was killed ten years ago," Weiss stood up, dusting herself off. She picked up the broken rapier, sheathing it at her waist once again. "I heard about it from his friend, but he had been killed by a monster. Now, I could tell from his friend's description that he had a Semblance. The monster was described as having a shimmering, glowing form. He killed my brother and his friend barely managed to escape. I've had my Semblance since birth and had secretly been training it, but once I learned about his death, I had to push it to its limits. But, the only evidence I had to go on was the fact that they had a symbol of a beast's head and claws tattooed on their left hand."

"I see," Maria nodded.

"Mrs. Rose, could you take your glove off?" Weiss looked at her.

"If it will put your mind at ease," Maria took it off, revealing her robotic hand. "I lost it in a fight, one I fought with Lieutenant Polendina."

"You're certainly a remarkable combatant," Blake crossed her arms, interjecting before Weiss could ask more questions about her hero. "I'm surprised that you managed to give me the fight you did."

"I've honed my skills," Weiss bowed in respect. "But, I did not expect you to be as powerful as you were."

"Well, I suppose this could have gone way worse," Maria laughed, rubbing the back of her head.

"I plan to find his killer," Weiss clenched her fist around her rapier, which seemed far more whole than it was. "My stupid sister did not respond to any messages I've sent her. She cares too much about working at prisons for her 'ministry' than actually grieving her brother's death."

"Well, what do you plan to do?" Maria asked her. "I mean, we're going after Cinder. There's a good chance she knows where the killer is because there's a good chance that she is using them too."

"That bitch," Weiss clenched her fist even harder now. "I can't believe that. And, she was so charming… sickeningly so."

"How did you meet her?" Blake asked.

"It was three months ago," Weiss looked at the catgirl.

Flash

Weiss had tracked Whitley's killer to Menagerie, a strange source giving her that information. She also felt… drawn to it. It was a strange hunch she had, a pull like that of a magnet. She couldn't help her initial draw to the place.

She strolled through the Menagerie streets, the magnetic pull leading her like a leash to a mansion. Her head was in such a fog that she couldn't even remember how she'd made her way there. It was almost as if she'd teleported there. She could barely remember anything other than this mansion.

A heavy weight settled in her chest. It felt as if she was walking into a place that would be hard for her to leave. She clenched her fist, walking into the mansion. Immediately, that weight doubled as she felt a presence so overwhelming that it felt like she was under a hydraulic press.

"Ah, a visitor," A green haired woman with piercing red eyes walked up to her. "We just had two visitors the other day. Such cute children. And, what brings you here, girl?"

"I'm looking for the one who knows about my brother's killer," Weiss spoke plainly. No sense beating around the bush.

"Ahh, the mistress may be able to help with that," The woman smiled. "Follow me."

Weiss was led through the mansion, almost like a maze. The woman made no mistakes, traversing as if it was like breathing. She stepped carefully through. All the time, that pressure Weiss felt was getting stronger, but now, she could identify its type; evil lurked in this mansion. Her hand reached for her rapier, prepared to do battle with anyone here if need be.

"Oh, there's no need for that," The woman put a hand on hers. "You must calm yourself, Weiss."

"How do you know my name?" Weiss demanded.

"The mistress knew you would be coming," The woman smiled, but Weiss didn't like how she smiled. It was like a cat looking at a mouse caught in a trap. Of course, in this case, the cat wasn't going to get flattened with a safe or hit by a baseball bat. "If it makes you feel better, my name is Emerald."

"It doesn't," Weiss looked at her with suspicious eyes. Emerald for her part, made no motion to feel threatened, her smile widening to a creepy degree. Weiss looked to the door Emerald pushed open, seeing a woman enshrouded in shadows, two glowing eyes staring back at her. One was orange, flames leaking from it and the other was silver, such a liquid color that it looked as if it was crying. Weiss couldn't make her face out, even as she stood and walked over to Weiss.

"Ah, Weiss," Weiss stood at attention at that, her hand slowly reaching for her rapier. "I'm so glad you managed to make it to my humble abode."

"Who are you?" Weiss demanded.

"Oh, don't be that way," The woman laughed softly. Weiss couldn't miss the unmistakable fangs in her mouth and the blackness behind them. "Let's be friends. I've made quite a lot of friends since I emerged from my dive at the bottom of the ocean. I believe we can help each other."

"I'm not sure how you can help me," Weiss glanced to the side, looking for an exit.

"I believe you were looking for the killer that ended your brother's life," The woman was behind her, Weiss whirling to face her; she hadn't moved. The woman had practically teleported behind her. Who was she?!

"I believe this is who you're looking for?" The woman put a hand on Weiss' shoulder, her other hand holding up a small glass ball with an image of a mountain of a man with a mask covering his entire face. It was white with red outlines and black eye sections. On his left hand was clearly a tattoo the same as Weiss remembered from Whitley's friend's account of the killer.

"That bastard," Weiss clenched her fist.

"Why don't we be friends, Weiss?" The woman was now in front of her, opening her arms wide. "I can help you find this man if you would be friends."

"What else do you want?" Weiss' suspicions were beginning to be confirmed.

"This body of mine below my neck and this silver eye here used to be long to a woman named Summer Rose," The woman gestured to her body, taking care to point out the scar at her neck. "Because of my use of an ancient relic, I have been denied the sun's embrace forevermore. But, you can be my feet to go out into the world to help me."

"What sort of help?" Weiss looked to the woman, the body horror story she had told putting her on edge.

"I have some… friends that I'd like you to go see for me," The woman gave a smile not unlike Emerald's. "You see, they haven't seen me yet and I'd like you to deliver a message."

"And, if I refuse?" Weiss asked, hand on her rapier.

"I was hoping it would not come to that," The woman sighed in a way one would sigh at a child that has misbehaved. "I suppose I'll have to convince you some other way."

Black tendrils grabbed Weiss' arms, injecting themselves inside. Weiss felt no more conscious thoughts after that."

"And, that is the story," Weiss looked at her rapier. "I swear I'll kill that man."

"I'm sure he's in Cinder's employ," Blake looked at Weiss. "So, I believe we're fighting the same foe."

"Then, I suppose we should team up," Weiss held her hand out to Maria.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," Maria took it and shook it. "We're heading to a boat on the docks. It's been provided by the Branwen Foundation."

"Such powerful allies you have," Weiss said.

"Raven Branwen was my aunt," Maria said. "But, we've precious little time to waste. My daughter's life is on the line."

"Then, off we go to Menagerie." Weiss nodded.

With that, the Crusaders gained another ally, preparing to battle the evil Grimm.


And so, they are once again heading toward their enemy. Will they arrive in time? Or, does Fate favor the evil one?