Intermission

World of Remnant: The Winter Solstice

The Winter Solstice.

One of the few holidays celebrated on Remnant and each are usually celebrated in one of the seasons.

(Snow began falling against the black background of the screen)

This occasion is to mark the end of a year, looking back on the previous year, taking a moment to reflect on the possible good and bad times happened and to anticipate the new year with hope that it will be a wonderous year to remember. As the year ends, this holiday gives friends and family a chance to come together in the name of fostering friendships and fraternity, exchanging gifts with loved ones to make the holiday memorable.

And on Remnant, a chance to lift one's spirits and encourage positivity is almost an absolute need.

(The map of Remnant is shown with snowy weather being shown over places like Vale, Patch and Mistral.)

Winter weather usually comes to places like Vale, most of Sanus which includes Patch and you can expect a lot of snow in the north of Anima but around this time, even Mistral get's it fair share.

To say nothing of Solitas.

(The camera zoomed in on the continent of Solitas.)

It's even colder than you could imagine so thankfully Atlas and Mantle have their heating grids to protect them.

(Atlas was shown next with snow falling)

I won't claim to speak for everyone in Atlas, but if there's place you wanted to party at during the Winter Solstice then look no further than the Schnee Mansion.

(The Schnee Emblem is now shown)

Nicholas Schnee, in case you didn't know, lives by the old saying 'Go big or go home'.

When the Winter Solstice comes along, he throws the biggest party and not just in his mansion. He takes the party everywhere.

(A parade is shown moving from Atlas to Mantle, floats coming down the streets and on one of them, a giant looking sleigh is Nicholas Schnee along with his wife)

Jolly Old Saint Nick wanted to build something that could bring together. First it was his company that gave Atlas a new supply of Dust, treating his workers both Human and Faunus fairly and finally he went out of his way to make the Winter Solstice in Atlas something to remember.

(Nicholas was shown holding his wife close to him in one arm and his daughter in the other)

For both his company and his family.

"Please hold still, Lady Willow. We're almost done."

Willow Schnee was fidgeting as the servants finished dressing her up for the special night. It was naturally challenging for a girl her age to stay still long enough as the servants dressed her in an azure gown with white fur. Her hair had been braided but this time she was going without make-up.

Given that tonight's party wasn't that kind of party Willow was naturally happy to skip that part.

She would have thrown a fit if she had to wait that long…again.

"Oh, look at you!"

Willow braced herself as a pair of muscular arms lifted her off the ground and wrapped around her tightly. "Daddy!"

"That's right, my sweet little snowflake! I'm your daddy!"

Nicholas Schnee was an absolute bear of a man thanks to his life of working in the Dust Mines as well as fighting Grimm all across Remnant as he built his company. His muscular form was only more noticeable in the three-piece white suit he wore for tonight's party with fine gold stitching, a pair of black dress shoes and a red with a furry collar and gold trim.

In many ways Nicholas Schnee looked like a king, even though he would fervently deny it.

Right now, he was acting more like a proud good of a father because of how cute his precious daughter looked.

"Daddy!" Willow tried to break free.

"I love it when you call me that!" Nicholas gushed.

"Master Nicholas, I think Lady Willow wishes to be put down." One of the servants, a maid spoke with an amused smile on her face.

Nicholas gasped, eyes widening in horror. "How could you ask me to do-"

"I mean be put back on the ground, sir!" The maid hastily said, embarrassed she even had to make the distinction.

"Oh." Nicholas said bashfully before reluctantly placing his daughter back on the ground. "But I was so happy."

Willow looked as embarrassed as the maid, blushing as she straightened out her dress. Even as young as she is, she liked to think she was mature for her age and she was certainly mature enough to be embarrassed by her father's affection.

Her father was just so full of…joy.

Enough joy he had almost no sense of self-control.

There was only one person who could calm him down.

"Where's Mother?" Willow quickly asked, hoping she was nearby to keep her father calm.

"Oh, she's probably in the dining room already." Nicholas answered with a wave of his hand blinked as his daughter literally scampered out of the room and could only chuckle. "Ah…daughters."

Willow made it to the dining room a moment later, stopping for a second to admire the multi-light decorations that had been added.

It was always a sight to behold for young Willow.

She spent a moment looking at all the decorations and then she looked at the further window down the room where she saw her.

Her mother, Aqua Schnee.

If there was one word that Willow had to describe her mother, it was beauty. Aqua Schnee emitted grace and beauty, even when she was not moving at all, and Willow hoped she would grow up as beautiful and graceful as her mother. For tonight she wore a long-sleeved, strapless, and pleated sky-blue gown with a white collar, as well as a gold necklace. Her hair flowed down to the bottom of her neck that was pulled into an elegant bun and matched her gown in color.

"Mama!"

Aqua turned around slowly, smiling at the sight of her daughter, and gracefully glided towards Willow, kneeling down in front of her with a beautiful smile. "Well, well, you look amazingly beautiful tonight, Willow."

Willow shifted a bit, feeling a little embarrassed but at the same time pleased to hear her mother say that.

"Has your father seen you?" Her mother asked.

"Yes." Willow pouted a bit.

Aqua giggled, running a hand through her daughter's hair. "Did he compliment you on how beautiful you look?"

"Mama!" Willow blushed.

Aqua laughed softly, retracting her hand. "Sorry. Are you looking forward to the party?"

"I like the float but the party…" Willow shyly said, glancing away.

Aqua brought a hand to her daughter's chin. "You'd rather go ice skating, don't you?"

"…Yeah."

Aqua's smile remained as she chuckled softly. "I know how you feel. Tell you what, we greet our guests and after a little mingling, we can sneak out and go ice skating out back."

Willow perked up. "Really?"

"At least until the float is ready." Aqua finished. "Does that sound good?"

"Yes!" Willow nodded eagerly.

"All right then." Aqua said happily as she stood back up, holding out a hand to her daughter. "We just have to say hi, pretend to know Daddy's friends and let them know that their business makes Daddy happy."

"Okay." Willow took her mother's hand.

They headed to the main lobby where the guests were already arriving. Willow had practiced for this many times with her parents, always having a smile on her face as she greeted the guests courteously. Her mother had taught her to always be polite, no matter the company and to never forget her manners. She didn't care too much for parties like this, but she still went with it, if only because her mother had made a promise to take her ice skating and once her mother made a promise she never, ever broke it.

She made some small talk here and there but honestly these people were just so boring.

How did her father manage to talk and laugh with these people?

How did her mother manage to keep her beautiful smile through it all?

Maybe she would get better at it as she gets older.

She wasn't sure how long it would take but she was patient through it all until her mother excused herself from her father and came up to Willow who had been waiting patiently near the stairs.

Aqua leaned forward and whispered in her daughter's ear. "Still want to go skating?"

Willow nodded in excitement.

"Okay. Daddy's keeping them all busy for the moment so we can slip out into the courtyard. Just try to look tired and they'll all think I'm taking you to bed." Aqua said, taking her daughter's hand.

Willow nodded again and let out a yawn, playing along as Aqua turned to Nicholas. "I think Willow has had enough for now. I'll take her upstairs and let her rest until we go out in the float."

"Of course, dear." Nicholas nodded with a smile, waving at his daughter. "Remember our float, darling? You love the float."

"Yes, daddy." Willow nodded as Aqua led her up the stairs.

Once they were on the next floor, they headed to Willow's room and Aqua brought out a blue coat, a pair of earmuffs and white gloves for Willow to wear and a pair of white child sized skates. Willow waited with an excited smile as Aqua replaced her shoes with the skaters and then picked her up. Aqua then headed for her and her husband's room, grabbing her own skates before heading out to the courtyard behind the Schnee Manor.

"Here we are, Willow." Aqua said, coming up to their own personal skating rink.

It was about the size of a small field which was to be expected considering how large the Schnee Manor was. Once Willow was on the ice, she let out a joyful shout as she began skating.

Willow Schnee loved skating.

Ever since she was very little she loved to skate on the ice behind her home and her mother would bring her out here where she could skate until she was tired. Aqua was wearing a blue coat with a white furry collar over her gown as she softly glided along the ice, keeping close to Willow in case she fell.

Even on ice, her mother could move with such grace.

Willow joyfully laughed as she and her mother skated along the ice rink, snow falling around them as if to bring a form of beauty to enhance the joy Willow felt. They must have skated for some time before someone else joined them out there.

Her father, letting out a bellowing laugh as he came out and caught Aqua in his arms, spinning her around. "Well, if it isn't my two favorite ladies."

Aqua laughed softly as Nicholas spun around and put her down. "Sorry for leaving you in there. I promised Willow-"

"It's no bother at all." Nicholas raised his hand. "I'd rather put up with them myself and let the two of you have fun rather than all three of us getting bored dealing with them."

"Daddy!" Willow around them before Nicholas caught her.

"Having fun, my little princess?" Nicholas laughed as he picked her up. "You did such a good job tonight, Willow."

"Are we done?" Willow asked, looking a little sad.

"For now. We have the float to take through Mantle and deliver presents to so many good children." Nicholas answered with a smile. "You love being on the float, remember?"

Well, Willow loved ice skating more, but she loved being on the float with her parents, so she nodded. "Hm-hm."

"Well, let's hurry then before the children have to go to bed."

There was a float parade down in Mantle as part of the celebration of the Winter Solstice. The Schnee Float resembled a large sleigh colored red and white.

"Ha-Ha!"

The Schnees were seated in the float with a decorated tree behind them and next to the tree was a large bag filled with various presents. The float was part of a parade and people were lined up along the streets, watching in excitement as the Schnee Float came past them.

"Happy Winter Solstice everyone!" Nicholas called out, reaching into the bag and passing out gifts and presents to the people who cheered for him.

Aqua just watched with a proud smile and waved to the crowd while Willow rested on her lap. "Do you see this? How happy your Daddy makes the people."

"Uh-uh." Willow nodded. "Daddy likes to make people happy."

"Yes, he does." Aqua nodded. "Because he understands that not everyone is able to build castles for their families like he did for the two of us. They live in much smaller homes and work hard to keep those homes along with getting food for their families. Your Daddy wants to help these people by making their lives a bit better."

"Really?" Willow looked up to her mother.

"That's right." Aqua said, looking down at her daughter with a beautiful smile. "And maybe one day, you'll be able to make lives better for everyone too."

"Really?" Willow asked with a small smile. "You think so?"

Aqua nodded. "I do. Remember this Willow, material wealth may make you think you have everything your Heart desires, but money doesn't get you everything. If there is something you want, more than anything in the world, you have to consider what you have to do to get it and what you might have to give up to have it."

"Give up?" Willow asked, looking confused now.

"Nothing lasts forever, Willow. Not even money." Aqua said softly. "But don't worry about that tonight. I am sure you will understand when you are older, and tonight is about making everyone here happy. And that includes you, my little snowflake."

Willow smiled as she leaned in and hugged her mother. "I love you, Mommy."

"And I love you, Willow…Willow?"

"Willow?"

Willow opened her eyes, turning away from the portrait she had been standing in front of.

The portrait of her father and her mother.

She turned around, seeing her husband behind her with a concerned look on his face. "Are you all right, milady?"

"You haven't called me that for a long time." Willow recalled.

"Old habits die hard." Ansem said with a small smile. "Was something on your mind?"

"Just remembering Winter Solstice when I was young." Willow admitted with a nostalgic smile as she looked at the portrait of her parents. "And remembering what my mother told me."

Ansem stepped up next to Willow. "She always hoped that you would be as considerate to other people as she and Nicholas were."

"She did." Willow said softly. "I never cared for the gala parties my father would have to meet business partners and their families. My mother didn't either and when enough time passed, she would sneak me out to take me skating in the courtyard rink."

"Much like you did with Winter and Weiss when they were at that age." Ansem recalled with a smile. "You learned rather well."

"I am glad to hear that." Willow sighed and closed her eyes. "Everything I've done has been about trying to measure up to her example. From how she showed compassion to others, no matter who or what they were, to even being the greatest Huntress in the kingdom."

"I can safely say she would be proud of you for what you have accomplished." Ansem placed a hand on Willow's shoulder. "You even continued the Schnee tradition of taking the Schnee Float out on Winter Solstice. Speaking of which, it's almost ready. Weiss is most excited to try it."

Willow smiled. "Well, I better not keep her waiting then."

Willow followed her husband out of the room but stopped at the door, looking back at the portrait with a slightly sad smile. "…Merry Winter Solstice, Mother."

She left the room to spend the solstice with her family, hoping it will be a happy one just like the ones she had as a little girl.

The Winter Solstice Holiday was inspired by UGX7, author of RWBY: Destiny of Remnant who has given me permission to use this idea with my own take on it and showing a flashback of what Remnant's equivalent of Christmas was like for the Schnee family with golly Nicholas Schnee and Aqua.

Merry Christmas everyone!