Location: Alternate Remnant
Weiss was stricken with a mixture of disbelief and nervousness as she was approaching the gates of the fortified Atlas.
This was Adam's plan. And when he first explained it, Weiss was completely dumbfounded and had refused profusely to go through with this very dangerous and borderline crazy idea.
"You want me to infiltrate Atlas as her? Are you crazy!"
Adam sighed and rubbed his temples, the scar on his face making the frustrations he was feeling quite abundant. "Look," he told her "I get it. What we are asking of you is very big and is a huge risk…"
"Huge risk!" Weiss interrupted "this is not just a huge risk, it's walking right into the lair of the beast. A beast that absolutely hates me and wants me dead! If she spots me then…"
This time Adam interrupted her "DO YOU REALIZE WHAT IS AT STAKE!"
Weiss quieted her protests as Adam shouted and Pyrrha came forward to calm him down.
"Darling calm down. We all understand what's at stake here, but asking this of Weiss…it's not easy,"
Adam gave a longing look towards his wife and smiled at her "you're right my dear," he said before turning to Weiss again "and I'm sorry to you Weiss for my outburst. I know asking this of you is a huge risk, but you being here provides us an opportunity to dismantle Atlas's forces from within. And they will lay down their weapons if the Queen of Atlas demands that off them."
Weiss was still unsure. She understood the thought behind the plan, on paper it was great. But in practice one large obstacle was still in the way.
"But she's there…if she sees me then…"
Blake stepped in "Weiss we will be right there with you. We'll keep a close eye we promise."
"Yes," Adam agreed "we won't let anything happen to you. You have my word."
His smile was reassuring and Weiss looked around. Remembering the camps outside, the White Fang members, in this world a peaceful organization, all fighting against the regime her alternate self was leading. She had to make a choice.
And as such she had made that choice. With a replica of her doppelganger's outfit and make up to cover her scar, Weiss was now walking towards the gates of Atlas. Her step was confident, her posture was calm, but inside she was terrified.
As she arrived at the guard post, the single solitary guard standing on the outpost saw her and almost looked terrified as he got into position and saluted.
"General Schnee…you are back…we thought you were…"
Weiss gulped before she made sure to make her expression as stoic and professional as possible. Pulling the cap on her head straight she thought about how her doppelganger would speak to a guard.
"Thought I was what?" she asked condescendingly.
"Uhm well. The rumors where around you where gravely sick your majesty and…"
Weiss took a step forward and gave a long menacing stare at the guard "do I look sick to you soldier?" she asked with a voice dripping with contempt. Mentally Weiss thanked the acting lessons she was forced to take as a kid.
"No, no of course not your majesty!" the desperate soldier spoke up "I will let you in!" he finished as he opened the massive gates allowing her to enter her through.
As she walked through the courtyard she saw the soldiers all standing in line, their hands up in a salute as their ruler had returned to them. Weiss was slightly overwhelmed, she was used to formality but this was a little much. So she just kept looking straight forward and kept on walking towards the entrance of the castle.
The castle was massive, bigger than her own home by a significant margin. As they entered she took note of the striking visual design of the castle, all white just like she expected, kept in pristine condition. Up the stairs they went, she saw the portraits glorifying her alternate self as she reigned supreme over Atlas. It was sickening too see.
As they ascended the stairs, the guard led her to the general's study. As soon as they reached it, Weiss moved forward to open the door until the guard said.
"We will inform your sister of your arrival your majesty."
"No! don't" Weiss yelled instinctively, catching the man off guard before she recomposed herself and said "you don't think I'm capable of informing her myself?"
The guard immediately recoiled in fear "no, no your majesty. I wasn't suggesting that at all…"
Weiss stepped forward, trying to look as menacing as possible "I can inform her perfectly fine myself. Now get back to your position before I hang you outside on the flagpole!" she threatened.
The guard saluted and turned around muttering a sorrowful "please not again…"
As soon as he turned around Weiss entered the study and closed the door behind her, leaning against it and catching her breath. She was in, that what's important but her nerves where killing her. She hadn't run into Yoru yet and she had successfully made sure that guard wouldn't get her but she still felt like she was on a timer.
She breathed in and out and began to look around the room. A comfortable couch, a whole lot of book shelves and a desk in the middle. She walked over to the desk and began to inspect everything around it.
She wasn't sure what she was looking for. Documents, weak points within this stronghold of a castle. She did notice however saw something that caught her eye. A framed photo, it depicted her doppelganger holding a baby in her arms as Thanos stood beside her, a proud look in his eyes.
Weiss couldn't help but pick it up and inspect it further. It gave her an odd feeling, it was nothing more then a family photo. Father, daughter and granddaughter and yet it was oddly heartwarming. Her family wasn't like that. Cold, distant just like ice. Her own father could barely be considered a parental figure and yet in this photo, without question the most dangerous being in the multiverse was looking with such pride at his adopted family. It made her feel…she didn't know how to describe it.
As she placed the photo back, she noticed a folded piece of paper right next to it. She grabbed it and saw Kara's name written on it. It was a letter. She opened it and read it.
"Dear Kara,
I know I have been away a lot and it breaks my heart. I know Zemo is taking good care of you in the times I am unavailable. I promise one day I will make it up to you. I have been trying to locate your father, I have an idea where he might be but I can't risk plucking him away from his life. But he deserves to know about you, you deserve to know the great man that he is and I know he will be the perfect father to you my beautiful little snowflake.
Hopefully when you're older you will understand why I did what I did. That everything I do, I do it for you. A better world, a better multiverse for you. Your grandfather and I will make sure of that. Until then, whenever you may read this, I hope you will forgive me for being away for so long.
Much love,
Your loving mother."
Weiss folded the letter back up and stuck it in her pocket, temporarily overwhelmed by seeing her doppelganger's vulnerable side, a side she didn't know she had. She looked down at the desk and just imagined everything so very differently then what she thought. So lost in thought that she initially didn't hear the door opening.
"Well, well, well what a pleasant surprise" she suddenly heard. Looking up she saw none other then Yoru enter the room, dressed in a formfitting black tracksuit, her signature bone dagger on her utility belt, her black hair unkempt and wild and the notable scars on her face.
Weiss felt a lump in her throat. This was the exact scenario she had been trying to avoid and running now wasn't an option. All she could try was to bluff her way through it.
"Yoru. What an unexpected surprise to see you here" Weiss said holding her head high and her tone regal and professional.
Yoru side eyed her for a good few seconds before responding "I could say the same thing about you. Last I checked you where still in the Upside Down hanging on to life by a thread and yet here you are, seeming like nothing has happened. I guess what father did must have worked then…"
The War Devil took slow step towards her and Weiss couldn't help but beginning to feel nervous although she tried to keep a straight face.
"Did you ever doubt father's capability?" she asked with a bit of a harsh tone.
Yoru grinned slightly as she made her way to the desk and leaned against it.
"No not at all. After all for you he'd do anything, you are after all his favorite" she said with clear mocking contempt in her voice.
Weiss stepped forward and took a few steps from the desk before turning around to face Yoru. The War Devil looked at her, expecting an answer or a rebuttal. Weiss tried to think of what to say but with no context to the relationship between the two adoptive sisters aside from outright hatred from Yoru's side it felt like there was no correct answer she could've given.
"I am fairly certain father loves us both equally Yoru" Weiss replied.
Yoru snickered, reaching backwards and grabbing the family photo from the desk and looking at it. "Oh no Weiss, you are his favorite. I mean think about it, he send another version of that boy you were so lovesick for to you to ease your sorrows. He chose to save you over acquiring the relic we could've used to defeat our greatest enemy and now he moved heaven and earth to save you from the predicament you got yourself in after that witch infected you….so let's not pretend Weiss, you are his favorite plain and simple."
Yoru stood up and walked towards Weiss, who instinctively took a step back.
"Let's not beat around the bush Weiss," Yoru started "from the moment father adopted me I have been the second fiddle to you. It's always Weiss this and Weiss that! You are so talented, you are so strong! Even back with my own sisters I was always the runt of the litter, not strong like my other sisters. And now when I've been taken in by the most powerful being in the multiverse I'm still second best to the likes of you! and do you have any idea what that feels like. That's why I hate you sister, because no matter what I do it's never good enough as long as you are around!"
She was all up in Weiss's face, seething with furious rage. In that moment Weiss wanted to respond with something to ease her anger, she knew very well what it felt like you had to live up to expectations, she was an expert at it. In this moment all she saw was the sadness and wanted to bring her comfort. But instead…
"That sounds like a you problem sister. Whatever your issues with me may be, they are still your issues and as such not my problem" she said harshly, keeping up the façade.
She expected Yoru to start swinging at her, but instead the War Devil just took a step back, allowing Weiss to move around again. Although she didn't say anything in rebuttal, Yoru's golden eyes spoke volumes.
"What are you even doing here in my stronghold Yoru?" Weiss asked her as stoically as she could manage.
Yoru crossed her arms, still holding the family photo in her hands "I was send here because as it turns out after that scuffle at the Jujutsu Academy that father send your doppelganger and that catgirl here and I'm tasked with finding them."
"Ah," Weiss casually responded "and how is that progress going?"
Yoru's expression turned into a grin "actually. I think I found her."
Weiss could barely process what was happening as in an instant Yoru leapt towards her, she was able to pull Myrtenaster and block the strike of her bone dagger. The framed photo smashed to the ground and the glass broke in pieces as Weiss held back Yoru.
"Did you really think I didn't see right through you!" Yoru yelled at her as she disengaged and took a step back, holding the dagger forward.
"You may look and talk like her, but you don't even come close to her attitude" Yoru sneered as she again lunged at Weiss. She tried to block her strikes but the ferocious assault the War Devil provided eventually knocked her to the ground.
"Father told me to bring you in alive…but you know what, accidents happen" Yoru declared ominously as she raised the dagger in the air preparing to strike Weiss. But before a hit could occur a loud crash was hurt and Yoru turned her head only for her to be hit by flying metallic object and swung right into the nearby bookcase.
Weiss looked and saw Adam, flying on grey glider, having smashed to the balcony door behind the desk and extending his hand saying "come with me if you want to live."
And she didn't hesitate, she grabbed Myrtenaster of the ground and grabbed Adam's hand and he pulled her onto the glider and motioned it towards the now broken glass door leading outside. Weiss saw Yoru slowly standing up, her face now full of ferocity and she screeched.
"I KNOW WHERE YOU ARE HIDING! I WILL BRING ATLAS'S ENTIRE ARMADA AND BURN EVERYTHING TO THE GROUND BEFORE I SLAUGHTER YOU ALL!"
Adam motioned the glider and sped off out of the castle and with Weiss in tow flew away with incredible speed until the castle became almost a blur in the distance.
Weiss sighed in relief, but she couldn't be relieved for long as she recalled Yoru's words.
"Adam?" she asked.
"I know," he confirmed looking straight ahead "we'll think about that when we're back at camp."