A/N: Lots of Fate Strange Fake vibes in this chapter~!

In other news depression's starting to hit real hard these days. Sometimes I wonder why I do anything at all. I can't claim to understand what's going wrong with my head.

I don't even know why! One moment I'm fine, then my mood craters for a few hours, then I'm back again for a bit, and the cycle repeats. Its rather annoying; as though I've become a prisoner in my own mind sometimes. Sure, what's one more mental problem on the pile. Not like I don't have enough, what with already being this old. Feels like every day is a battle sometimes.

*siiiigh* Don't mind the rambling of this geezer...

Meanwhile, "Whistle of Death" is being worked on alongside Far From Home. I'm trying to put more stuff together with the rest of my team, health and time permitting. Claws of a Lion and Demon of Ashford are FIGHTING ME as is Son of the Stag and all my other Game of Thrones tales. Its maddening.

Don't get me started on behemoths like A Boy's Journey and Blood Upon the Snow.

Bloody difficult to write long chapters like those. Doing my best!

With my fifteen year anniversary on this site finally here, I find myself reflecting on the little things in life. What was once a lazy pastime meant for me and a few friends really grew and evolved over time. There are days when I look back on the last fifteen years here and I wonder if anyone will remember me; if I made an impact, despite never making a single cent on any of these stories. Some days were happier than others, and some stories I enjoyed writing WAY too much; to the point where I'd stay up all night working on them.

There are times when I look to the future and wonder what will become of things when I'm gone.

Of course, I try not to dwell on the latter overmuch; I'm still alive and still writing. In an ideal world, I'd like to keep doing so for as long as I can. But old age is catching up to me and these days, the world is filled with so much madness and death. Even before that, so many friends and fellow writers I once knew are gone, now. Will I still be here in twenty years? Ten? Five? Its a chilling thought. But for now, I'm still here, still writing.

We have a brief Q&A this time, as its needed:

Q: Wait, wait, wait. He has the chains, right? Tell me he has the chains.

A: He does. Read and see. It'll be explained.

Q: Kurama IS around, right?

A: I suppose I can spoil that much.

Yes, For those who haven't realized it, yes, Kurama has reincarnated as well, though I'll not go into specifics as to who or whom. You'll be quite pleased and the duality of it is intentional. That's all I can say.

We'll be a getting an Enkidu/Gilgamesh form of reunion when they inevitably meet again.

I wonder if you've figured out who he is?

Q: If Naruto has become more like Gilgamesh, is Weiss his Enkidu in this?

A: Not quite. Another fills that role. In lieu of a long explanation, let me put in this way:

Kurama is to Naruto what Enkidu is to Gilgameish. Likewise, Weiss is to Naruto what Saber was to Gilgamesh...but on a more familial side. He's quite protective of her, yet also enjoys teasing her as any sibling would their twin.

Just you wait. The Weiss in this story is far more driven, and out to put her canon counterpart to shame.

Q: The Schnee semblance is broken! And so is Naruto, it seems.

A: Absurdly so, and you ain't seen nothing yet. Death has a way of changing you, and with that vow he made on his deathbed, he's certainly changed. But our boy remains a softy for those he cares about.

You're REALLY going to see what the Schnee semblance can do in this chapter. Someone did once say it has great potential, after all.

Q: ...why do I sense some impending chaos?

A: YOU'D BE RIGHT~!

As ever, I own no references, quotes, themes or memes. Not a wit or a one! Really, they're just tributes to legends far greater than me.

I'm just a humble author trying to make his way in this wild world, one word at a time.

Time and feedback will determine if this remains a story. Simple as.

In other words...its up to YOU, the reader. Do let me know~!

"Mirror mirror on the wall...show me truth...or naught at all...

...Break the glass and walk away...

...I'm done with everything.

~An audible manifestation of arrogance...and also a reference.

Checkmate

The Schnee Semblance was almost limitless.

Once again, Naruto realized this immutable truth relatively early in his new life. And why wouldn't he? Death had stripped away his naivete, leaving behind a cunning mind filled with pride and the determination never to be laid low again. To that end he resolved to become the strongest in Atlas before he reached his teenage years. Needless to say he succeeded.

Was it arrogant of him? Almost certainly.

Did he care?

Not a bit.

In this world he was King -or would be- and he would protect those he deemed precious to him. Nothing more, nothing less. Naruto Uzumaki had run himself ragged trying to protect everyone and everything and for what? Betrayal. Never again. He had learned his lesson, taken it to the grave, and been reborn anew as William Schnee. In the absence of pointless things like morals and ideals, he began to experiment and in doing so, learn all sorts of things about his semblance.

Oh, yes. He learned many things indeed.

Not only did the Schnee glyphs allow him to create weapons -frankly, his imagination was the only limit on that front- but he soon realized he could store things within them as well. Food, drink, MORE weapons, even supplies and lien, though he had no shortage of the latter. It was merely a matter of how much chakra or aura he was willing to expend to put said object there or otherwise draw it out. Given how quickly both energy sources recovered for him...

.

..

...in layman's terms?

Yes, broken semblance, much useful.

He'd taken to calling it his Gate, for lack of a better term.

Sadly, he couldn't store living people or animals within his glyph. That was a bit of a shame. Although he had no limit, reality did. He might be the exception to the rule, might never summon a single foe he'd slain, but that was fine. Being unable to conjure fallen Grimm was a small price to pay for his power.

Some might say such power was its own reward.

He disagreed. Power was a means to an end, pointless without a goal.

Jacques didn't know how to use power. Or if he did, he chose to do so...poorly.

Such dark thoughts soured his mood as he moved another chess piece across the board. "Check."

His opponent scowled but remained silent and move another piece accordingly.

He let his thoughts tunnel inward, acting on instinct as the game continued. The SDC had so much potential. In the right hands, it could change the world. Instead their "Father" used it as a blunt instrument, crushing all before him. Any who dared to resist him, be in the political or financial arena, were summarily ground down. Competitors? Crush them. White Fang? Slander the peaceful organization and bury them in litigation. Ironwood disagreed with his methods? Raise dust prices and threaten to move the company to Mistral.

Mongrel.

A king crushed his adversaries, yes, but Jacques just enjoyed tormenting people.

Naturally he disagreed with such tactics and had thus been "forbidden" from departing the manor since his last argument with his so-called father. But in truth, he had little desire to leave these days. His resources were here, his contact were here, and his treasures were here. What need had he of the outside world? None as of yet. Let the world think him reclusive. He didn't care. They meant nothing to him.

And speaking of dear and precious people to him...his opponent was distracted as well.

He saw an opening and took it. A chess piece clicked down on the board.

"Checkmate."

Weiss reared back in surprise, regarding the said board arrayed before her as though it had somehow betrayed her. Seven years old-and much improved for having her Winter and Willow around-she nevertheless managed an adorable scowl. "How did you do that?!"

"Elementary, dear sister." When she reached for one of the pieces, he batted her hand away. "No. We've been over this. use your glyphs to move the pieces, not your hands."

She glowered at him, rubbing her wrist. "Whyyyy?"

Precious, precocious girl. Must protect.

"Because that would be simple." he moved his own glyphs, effortlessly rearranging the board before them as his sullen twin looked on with scowl. "We are Schnee, and that makes us anything but. Besides, this will help you fine-tune your control. You'll thank me for this later."

...as you say." she subsided with a sigh then looked to him again. "Another game?"

He smiled but a little at her stubbornness. "But of course, my Saber."

"Must you use that insipid nickname, Will?"

His grin grew. "Yes, we must."

She huffed.

He watched patiently as they swapped sides, letting her array her forces before his once more. Weiss was learning in her own way; her talents simply branched in a different direction than his. Where he chose to specialize in a singular field, she opted for the Schnee fencing style...among other things. Winter had rubbed off in her in that regard. Myrtensaster was a powerful tool to be sure, but at the end of the day tools broke and one could not become solely reliant upon a single weapon. She'd been forced to select a secondary...even if she'd chosen an absurd name for that longsword of hers.

Heh. Weiss did so love her fairy tales about the Sword in the Stone...

Say what you would about Pietro Polendina and his...eccentricities, but the man was a marvel when it came to aura. He could do just about anything with it...even infuse weapons with the stuff. And so he handed the man millionsof Schnee lien -discreetly funneled of course, wouldn't do to kick up a fuss- to make Weiss a weapon without peer a sword of radiant light and death, a tool of such unrivaled destruction that the world hadn't seen since the days of old.

He'd never forget the look on Pietro's face when he handed him that lien.

"Thank you, thank you, a thousand thank you's! I'll never forget, this I swear! With this, I can truly make my Penny one of a kind! Why, I can even give her those leg thrusters I was thinking about...

Pietro's Penny Project would benefit from their generous donations tenfold, and one day, years from now, he would create a truly sensational girl.

He had said something about making him and Weiss honorary siblings to this "Penny" of his. Amusing.

He'd have to see where that project went in the future.

But that was another story.

A little more lien greased Pietro's palms as and soon enough he went to work a weapon of his own as well, even better than hers, a terror that would've made Kurama proud.

It was sitting in his Gate even now, ready for the day when he deigned to use it against a mighty foe.

And through an act of simple greed, he changed the world.

But that too, was another story.

Hence, Weiss had become his little Saber, much to her chagrin. Despite her gripes she did him proud. His twin she would be a fine warrior some day. She just needed a bit of encouragement and a supportive shoulder to lean on every now and again. He'd give her whatever she needed.

Belatedly, he noticed Weiss was still fiddling with her chess pieces. "You're taking your time, sister. Would you rather we spar?"

"No!" The panic in her eyes both delighted and annoyed him in equal measure. "That's quite alright!

"You'll never improve if you don't fight, Weiss."

She sniffed, no doubt perceiving it at as a light. "I can fight...

"You can," he granted her a grave nod, "In a controlled environment."

She lifted her chin. "I killed that Arma Gigas just the other day! I was even able to summon it afterward!"

A fact he was inordinately proud of it, given they were only children, but he wasn't about to tell her that. "Once again, you did that under supervision.

Weiss made angry Weiss noises and bolted to her feet as her temper finally got the better of her. "Fine! Lets fight! Right here, right now!"

Naruto stood slowly, taking his sweet time. "Ho?" his smile made her nervous, he could tell. "Feeling brave?

Some of the courage flickered from her eyes. "Y-yes."

Really, she was just too adorable sometimes.

"Ha!" Naruto closed his eyes, threw his head back and cackled at the ceiling. For once his mirth wasn't feigned. "Very well! I'll gladly trample you and make you stronger."

She could be so proud, so defiant, so fierce, but also fragile, not just in body, but in spirit. They'd have to work on that. One day she would encounter something she would have to face alone. When that day came, would she be ready? He must make sure of it. Who knew when their paths might diverge? He'd happily help her, but he wouldn't always be here to hold her hand. He had the idea of comissioning armor, but that seemed pointless until they left for Beacon. Something to consider at the very elast...

"In the foyer, then?"

She smiled a little. "Father won't like that."

"Good." Anything that irked Jacques was his cup of tea.

He strode forward and she hastened after him.

A thought occurred to him as they made for the entrance. "Don't use your secondary sword."

Weiss glanced at him out the corner of her eye in return. "So long as your promise not to use that thing."

Naruto laughed again despite himself. It might be entertaining to use that here, but doing so would likely level the mansion and half of Atlas besides. That would hardly be sporting now, would it? He could use another, less powerful relic he supposed, but which one? He'd made a habit of collecting -and creating- all sorts of weapons within his semblance. Which to use, which to use...?

Weiss pushed a door open ahead of them and belatedly, he realized they'd arrived.

The foyer was much as he remembered; a grand wide open space leading up into a winding staircase. Plenty of room to range about here, with not a soul to hear. A grand statue of an Arma Gigas watched over them near the stairwell, much like the one Weiss had slain. He granted it a wry grin and walked by, having a feeling she'd summon her new "toy" the moment their bout started.

She stomped past him, heels clicking across the marble floor. He counted nine steps before she whirled to face him.

Weiss drew Myrtenaster in a flourish of steel. "Aren't you going to use your weapon?"

Naruto crossed both arms before his chest. "Will you make me?"

Her brow furrowed. "I might...

"By all means, try."

She stabbed her weapon down, conjuring a glyph beneath her.

An armored arm dragged itself out, followed by another, hauling a great towering behemoth into existence. He could've easily interrupted the summoning and she knew it; because a hand swept out, conjuring a wall of ice between her and him. He made no attempt to breach it with his Gate. Mentally, he ticked down the seconds and made his plan.

Weiss didn't give him much time; she'd grown faster with her summons.

In less than three seconds her "Knight" emerged to face him.

Naruto watched it loom over him, sword in hand.

A fresh peal of laughter burst forth from him as the Arma Gigas surged forward at full tilt. Some might see that as rude, but it wasn't, not really. He just couldn't help himself. He was so damn proud of her. After all, she'd singlehandedly defeated this thing a full ten years earlier than she would have in another life. She would only improve from here on out...

.

..

...but as he knew, pride came before the fall.

Perhaps a little lesson in humility was in order after all.

He could have blasted it apart with a hail of weapons, but where as the fun in that?

A bout of inspiration came to him just then. He stabbed a hand into one of his glyphs, emerging with a simple metal buckler over his right wrist.

Weiss saw it and balked at the small thing. "Is that all you intend to use?!"

"It will serve."

"Have you lost your mind?!"

He didn't deign to respond further.

The knight's icy broadsword filled his vision.

Naruto parried it.

The sweet sound of steel striking steel was music to his ears; moreso as her knight lurched back, weapon-arm going wide.

He leaped up and drove a fist into its chest, knocking it flat on its back.

Weiss was on him the moment his feet touched the floor, surging forward on a road of white glyphs. Fast, but not fast enough. He parried her as well and swept her legs for good measure, sending her sprawling head over heels. She was quick to right herself on one knee; he watched Myrtenaster flick his way, and felt the gravity glyph ripple into existence beneath his feet. He looked down and quirked a pale brow.

"You do realize I can attack you without moving, right?"

"I know." her smile was smug. That was just meant to distract you."

Her loyal Arma Gigas rushed him again while he was distracted. Portals met it, glyphs blooming from the ether. Its sword swung down for his head, intent on shattering his aura...

.

..

...only to find its limbs snared in lengths of frozen chain.

Ah, the good old Uzumaki bloodline came in clutch once more. Or perhaps that was a leftover blessing from Kushina -Mom!- meant to protect him in this strange second life. He didn't know, and frankly, he didn't care. The chain were his last line of defense and nigh unbreakable by even the mightiest of foes. And mighty or not, the knight wasn't getting through that.

Its sword hung only inches from the back of its head.

Naruto glanced backward at it with a smile. "So very close...

It strained against him, to no avail. For all its strength, it couldn't get throgh.

Weiss clawed her way back to her feet with a hiss. You said you'd only use the buckler!

"I said it would serve...for now." he wagged a finger at it. "And I made no promises for your champion.

He thought about drawing another weapon to use against the restrained knight, then thought better of it. Sometimes the classics were the best. He raised a hand, fingers clenching into a cruel claw. Chakra ignited within, burning in a cold blue sphere. Curious. His semblance affected even his chakra. This Rasengan was...cold. No matter. With a laugh he smashed the jutsu right into the knight's chest. Kushina's chains retracted swiftly and momentum did the rest. Back it went, smashing into a wall, where it dissolved into motes of icy dust, dust that fogged the air.

Weiss lunged through them, Myrtenaster thrusting for his face!

'Thatta girl!'

He turned aside with a wild grin and let it rake a harmless line against his cheek.

Aura sparked furiously. Her eyes widened.

And he brought his knee up.

Weiss folded in half with a pained gasp as he struck her in the gut. Breath burst from her lungs and Myrtenaster went flying out her grasp to skitter across the floor. For a moment, he felt a flash of pity. Two children wailing on one another. To an outsider this would've looked vicious. Without aura it might've been dangerous. It still was, in a sense. That didn't stop her. She rushed him unarmed and hands swung back, brandishing a glyph each hand. He allowed it. She swung them in at his head, and he realized a heartbeat too late what she intended.

The glyphs struck not his face, but each other, and imploded.

With a keening roar, the world went white.

Clever girl.

Closing his eyes to center himself, he took a short step back to avoid the followup punch that followed, then swayed left, right, left, left, and finally right again, evading her with ease. A frustrated growl reached his ears. Ha! Such a silly Saber his Weiss was. Blinding him was a new tactic, a clever one even, further proof of her' willingness to adapt. But it wasn't enough. She'd always been better with the sword than she had her fists. He suspected she wanted to give him a smack only to prove him wrong.

Through ringing ears he heard her heels click across the floor as she abandoned her assault and dove for Myrtenaster.

Silence followed.

His grin grew to shit-eating proportions. Oh? Had she realized the noise she was making and cast her shoes aside? How unadlylike like.

Jacques would have a fit.

He loved it.

An all-too familiar noise reached his ears; she'd resummoned her Arma Gigas again. Since when could she do that-no, no, focus. It was blitzing him even now.

Pity for her his vision cleared just then.

'Checkmate.'

Dozens of pale portals bloomed at his back, stretching to the ceiling. Weiss yelped and dove behind her knight for cover. Too late. Countless weapons shot forth. Her knight even managed to deflect most. Most, but not all. A spear slammed into its shoulder, causing it to falter. A sword caved in its chest. A whistling ax disarmed it, a hammer ruined its le... and that was it. Her summons faltered beneath the barrage and fell to a knee. So too did she. He felt the moment her aura took a nosedive

"Okay, okay!" Weiss cried! "I give! You win!"

He let the barrage taper off with a smile. "What have we learned?

Overrought, the Arma Gigas dissolved for the last time, leaving his weapons to crash to the floor.

Wasted and gasping for air, Weiss glanced at the fading armaments. "To not rely on my summons overmuch?"

"Aaand?"

"To improve my other skills.

"Precisely." he offered her his hand.

She took it. "Your semblance is absolutely broken, you know that?"

In that instant he glimpsed Winter and Willow watching from the balcony.

He grinned their way let them see how powerful they were. Ha! Let them tremble.

Those he cherished he would protect; even if had to break them down to do it, even if they only numbered in the single digits at present.

Weiss.

Kurama...when he found him.

Winter and Willow might yet earn a place.

Everyone else would be ground under his heel.


(.0.0.0.)


"...?"

Kurama opened his eyes.

He rose slowly. Cracked his neck.

Stretched young humanoid hands over his head now.

"Alright, then." he picked up his weapon. "Lets get back to it."


(.0.0.0.)


The White Fang attacked that very night.

In truth Naruto wasn't surprised that they struck at the manor, only that it took them so long to sack up and make a move. Really, the once-peaceful organization had been changing for some time now; the writing was on the wall. He pitied them. He'd tried talking once; he'd believed that words alone could save the world. They couldn't. They never had. People listened to actions. Not words.

He was even more surprised when they went for Weiss. Not Jacques or Willow, not Winter nor him, not even the newborn Whitley.

That wouldn't stand.

He'd sensed the moment of their intrusion-they'd had help from the inside-and left his bedroom to stand guard over the nursery, thinking that their target. There were unspoken-unwritten-rules of war. You didn't target children or infants. It simply wasn't done. Had they no decency? Had they no shame?

Evidently not, because they went for his . His little Saber.

MONGRELS.

He rounded the corner ahead of them, smiling. "Going somewhere?"

Five of them in all, three women, two men. They faltered, unsurprisingly. Further proof of their disjointed intentions.

One, taller than the rest pointed a thim. "Kill him!"

A second faltered. "He's a witness!"

Yet a third argued. "No, wait! He's a child!"

The fourth had an unconscious Weiss slung over his shoulder. "We should run!"

And the foolish, oh so foolish fifth drew a gun. "Not a chance! He's a Schnee! Kill him!"

A gun barked. Pain snarled through Naruto's skull. His head snapped to the side. He'd have a nasty welt come morning...as planned.

"You managed to hit me." he smiled as aura crackled. "Wonderful. You have my undivided attention.

Countless white portals bloomed behind him, teaming with steely death.

"I HOPE ITS EVERYTHING YOU WANTED."

Spoiler. It was not.

Not at all.

A/N: Aaaand scene.

As ever, we're sticking with the tried and true "Embers" Rule for this story.

If folks don't like it...well, it won't be continued. So speak up! Make yourself heard! Your voice matters! That's no joke!

I have very little time to write these days, so feedback plays a large part in this. Daily updates ensure that I'm constantly busy working on one project or another. I cannot afford to stop and write something that folks don't like; if only because I feel that would a cold disservice to those of who who have stuck with me for so long.

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas....Review...Would You Kindly?

And enjoy the previews! Potential ones, I suppose.

Granted, some are far off:

WARNING! WARNING! WARNING!

SPOILERS AWAIT YOU!

YE BE WARNED!

(Previews)

*Note to self: Potential Team Name notes for initiation, keep this for later. Don't forget. Can't forget.

Maybe it was time for Jacques to have...an accident.


"So we meet again!

I admit, I had my doubts."

"Ha! Of course you would. Not me. I never doubted for a moment.


EDIT: WARNING! This preview is deliberately condensed to prevent spoiling a MAJOR event down the line. Sorry about that.

Also verbatim from Gilgamesh vs Enkidu.

Read at your own risk~!

The reunion was an unexpected one. Neither planned for it. Neither expected it. And yet it happened. I'm happy to compare my abilities against yours for once. In more modern terms...I'm gonna go all out, Naruto! This reminds me of the beginning. A grin split his face, uncaring as the wind tore the words away. "I'm sure you feel the same. The moment we died, the second we split...but now its time for a celebration! White light built in his hands. Dark energy swelled in Kurama's!-palms. It won't be that easy. Show me you haven't gone soft while you walked with humanity. I've had hardships of my own. They grinned up at one another, words echoing one anothers.

BIJU!

DAMA!"

The world erupted. We've both found a reason to walk on for our people, haven't we? Please. You have no need. You cold destroy the world if you wanted. I have a duty to others. I can't afford to die from some interference. I'll flee for now. The great Kurama, running away? Kurama scratched his cheek. "Must you call me that? Then we'll continue the next time we meet. Don't make that face. You're the one running away. Even after all these years, you still haven't changed. Consider this the final blow of the evening! May we meet again!

Of course. I wouldn't be satisfied otherwise...


"You're not going to Beacon. Neither of you."

It began with a snicker.

Weiss knew that noise well; just as she knew what was about to happen. Wisely, she took a step back. And well that she did, for her brother's snicker soon enough it became a chuckle, followed by a wry laugh, then an outright cackle. Her brother palmed his face and threw back his head, covering his eyes with one hand, shoulders shaking as he quivered with mirth.

William was her twin. Her older brother, technically, born nine seconds before her. Her other half, both like her and so unalike her.

He favored Grandfather in many ways; from his mild blue eyes to his crisp white hair, right down to his choice of weaponry and armor. He was in every way a knight; no, to call him such was an insult. Remnant hadn't had a king in centuries, but her brother had the bearing of one. It showed now, as he laughed at the top of his lungs.

Father flushed. "Why are you laughing, William?! Stop that! Stop that at once, I say! Stop laughing at me!"

"I can't help myself! You're no Father of mine! You're even a man-not really. You're just a...MONGREL."

William possessed the Schnee semblance, just as she.

One might think he was slow in all that armor. He wasn't. He was fast.

His hand found father's throat, ripped him off the floor, and flung him across the room.

"I'll have you sued for this...!"

"Of course, father." William tittered merrily, eyes dancing with malice. "Because that's just what you do, isn't it?" His head tilted, gaze half-lidded in thinly veiled scorn, teeth flashing in a sneer. "How has that worked out for you? You stormed in here, thinking you could use your wealth and influence to dictate our destiny. But you can't."

"Why you impudent-

A brilliant white glyph opened behind him as he climbed to his feet. William's head twitched just so. An ancient white blade burst forth from its shimmering confines. Blood spattered the wall. Jacques crumpled to his knees with a scream, clutching the bloody, ruined remnants of his right wrist.

Weiss gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. "What are you doing?!"

Her twin ignored her.

"And let's not forget your deal with Ironwood." William clicked his tongue, cheeks dimpling in a scowl. "Get all your competitors in one place so you can buy them out. Just like you're trying to do with us now." He crossed both arms before his blue-and-silver armored chest and shook his head. "If only someone could have warned you against such a miserable idea. Oh wait!" A finger rose, then jabbed toward his breastplate. "I did! But you pushed ahead and you lost your temper, when all you had to do was keep your word! You think you're entitled to everything just because you have money, but money isn't enough!

Jacques tried to stand.

No, no, no. That wouldn't do. Mongrels belonged in the dirt.

Another sword burst forth from a glyph and cut off his leg at the knee. He crumpled with a squeal. Much better.

"If you raise a hand to Weiss again, the other hand comes off, and your leg besides." He all but spat the word, the turned to face her. "We're leaving, Weiss. Beacon awaits."

He offered his hand and waited for her to make up her mind. Her gaze flitted to his, then back to Jacques.

Father gurgled weakly where he lay. "Don't you dare...!"

Weiss hesitated, if only for a moment. This man had been their father, once, long ago.

William didn't waver, not once. "Never forsake me, and I'll never forsake you."

She took a deep breath to steel herself...and took her twin's palm.

Hand in hand, they walked out the door.


SVRN?* Considering* JWBY? *No, won't work, Coeur did that.* SYBL? *Might work.* CRDA? *Move some letters around. *CARD? What color would that even be?!

Do we even need Jaune this time around...? Can't let the poor boy have a peaceful life?

...thoughts for later.


The world rippled. That was the best way, the only way Weiss felt, to describe what followed. Her brother held a hand toward the sky. A glyph bloomed abov his hand, shimmering just above his fingertips. Then another. Another. Yet another still. As she looked on he reached into it.

Let me show you...what real power is.

And heaven answered.


Laughter split the air. "Not so brave now, are you, MONGRELS?!"

Grimm died in droves, fleeing for their lives.

Weiss palmed her face. "There's no stopping him when he's like this...


"Soooo...you can summon weapons?"

Naruto quirked a pale brow. "I can indeed. What of it?"

"And you can basically summon whatever you want? Any kind of weapon? Like, heroic weapons?"

"With time and effort, yes."

"Eeeeeeeee!"

Ruby jumped him with a squeal. "Can you be my partner?! Please, please, pleaaaaassse?!"

...you've brave, I'll give you that." he regarded his dirty armor with a glower. "I've killed people for less."

Guileless silver eyes blinked up at him. "But you wouldn't kill a teammate, right?

"I never said I was going to be your-

"Please, please, please!"

Hrrngh. Too cute...


"Well, you certainly don't lack for confidence."


Cardin gulped. "What the hell are you?"

...the solution. Now, what was that you said behind my back? I believe you laughed at me.

He spread his arms. The Emerald Forest went still.

"But you're not laughing now.


She frowned at him for a long moment. "What are you...?"

"Many things." he sipped at the flute of wine languidly. "A dead man. A brother. A leader. And also...

He raised his gaze. Blue eyes shimmered red.

...an executioner."


"You can't just be strong! You have to be smart! You can't just be deserving, you have be WORTHY! And you aren't! None of you are!"

He whirled and thrust a finger behind him.

"Only she is."

EDIT: Hey, you made it! Thanks for reading!

As ever, the Embers rule remains: If people don't like this story? If they don't enjoy it? Well it will remain, but...I won't be able to continue it. That's no joke, folks. I'm so busy these days with two jobs; basically, I don't have time off. Not anymore.

Holidays are her, and my free time is limited to the extreme now. As such, I can't afford to focus on something folks don't like. Reviews keep me writing in these times, and keep the daily updates flowing. Silence...silence only hurts. I hate having to beg for feedback, but without it...well, it feels like I'm not making an impact.

Looking forward to chatting with you all when I get back from work!

R&R~!