Shinegure Pt. II
Jaune seemingly falls into darkness. It was nothing more than emptiness. For what it seems to be the end of him. But he wasn't the only one falling. "What...What's is this feeling?" He began to think.
He turned his head to see two familiar faces. Ruby, and Sun. All three leaders falling through a void of darkness. But that's not all. There was also Winter and Jupiter falling into the darkness.
"Ruby? Sun? Why are you guys falling too? Is this the end of us? Is this the end of Remnant?" Jaune's thoughts kept running in despair. Wondering what will come of it in the future, if there is a future stored for them if they make it out of the void.
His last thoughts were Pyrrha, the girl he had lost his chance to be with after realizing a mistake to chase after Weiss, a mistake to not notice Pyrrha's feelings towards him. The last thing he did was telling Pyrrha that he believed in destiny and that she should accept becoming a Fall Maiden without being careful of his own words.
"Pyrrha. Do you remember the last thing you asked me? Do I believe in destiny? I don't know if there is such things as destiny anymore. I guess its only fate." Jaune thought of his will for final words before falling faster separated from the others. And the scene fades to black.
-Ha Lao, Temple of Ren, 2 years Ago-
Ren, Nora and Mi had received acceptance letters from entrance exams. Ren and Nora for Beacon Academy. And Mi for Haven, much to her disappointment because she wanted to go to Beacon with the people she called her family. "Ren, we got accepted to Beacon! Isn't this great?!" Nora then squeezed Ren into a bear hug!"
"Yes, it is, Nora. After years of studying and training. I think this all have some worth the burden." Ren then turned to his cousin. "What about you, Mi?"
"The only school I got accepted is to Haven. I guess I couldn't come with you guys." Ren and Nora looked at her with worry. They knew she had separation anxiety even if she was training to be a huntress. Although this might be an opportunity to try to manage on her own, with or without a team.
"I get you don't like how things were going right now, Mi. But maybe this is a good chance to make new friends. Maybe learn to find your own path. Haven is also a great school according to your mother." Ren said and assured his cousin.
"Yeah! Besides, once summer starts, we can have the fun like we always have, Mi! You, me, and Ren! Best of all, we can meet again in the Vytyl Festival! Hopefully it would be a friendly match! But we'll contact you even from the distance." Nora adds. Mi was at a loss for words.
"You two..." She began. But then Nora checks her scroll to see what time it might be. The wind danced with petals of the lotus. "Ren, we got no time left, the flight leaves in 6 hours. Sorry, Mi. But maybe we'll keep in touch once we landed."
"It's, fine, sister. I wish you both the best." Mi then hugs Ren and Nora as they parted ways Mi then stops Ren before he can catch up with Nora to give him something. "Big Brother, wait." She said to her cousin. "What is it, Mi?"
"Take this." Mi then gives him a gift box with green tea colored wrapper and a magenta ribbon on top. Ren the. opens it and takes out a Lotus hairpin. "A hairpin?"
"Not just any hairpin. This hairpin is your mother's, she gave it to me during a birthday celebration. But I think she would be happy if you can give this to a special someone." Ren blushed at the thought of finding love. Then he looks at Nora. Who was taking a view from the mountain of Ha Lao. He blinked as his eyes are getting blurry.
"Thank you, Mi." Mi thought Ren and Nora looked cute together and wanted to play matchmaker. And wondered if whether or not they would confess to each other.
Rhe leaned to her cousin's ear. Whispering, "You should tell her already, brother. You'd never know much much time already runs out."
-Mistral, 14 years Ago-
A young Sun Wukong is passing by the streets of Mistral after having to roam around to figure the mystery of where his parents were. It was a place his father and mother started the family, but it is also the place where they were never seen again.
"Argh, not here either. Why won't anyone answer about my parents? It's like the whole world kept that secret from me." Sun complained. The. takes out his scroll, after having to run away from home in Vacuo. "Starr says Dad used to live here before meeting Mom. Was he a huntsman before I was born?"
Starr was the name of his cousin. He lived with her and her mother after his parents somewhat disappeared. The last thing he remembered was being sent to Vacuo after being rescued by a couple of huntsmen. It was all a blur to him. Wondering if something had happened to his parents.
"Why didn't I remember anything? Did I see something I wanted to forget?" Sun asked himself while strolling around the Capital with a bags of bananas over his shoulder. Then he hears shouting.
"Sucks to be you, loser!" Sun then went to the alleyways to see what was going on. And saw a young blue-haired boy with reading glasses. Surrounded by two other boys and they seemed to be single him out.
"I don't want any trouble. Just leave me alone." The blue-haired boy pleaded. Sun could tell the boy his age was alone and scared. He knew he had to do something. The last straw was one of the bullies pushed the boy to the wall, causing the glasses to fall off and the lenses to be broken.
"Yeah, no wonder your brother is dead! He was weak." The young boy was on the verge of tears. Hearing this hurts him like a sword stabbed him in the heart. Sun then steps in. "Hey! You two." Then uses his tail to wrap around one of the bullies' leg and sweep his ankle to cause him to fall.
"Why you!" Another one of them charged at Sun. But he cooly kicked his feet to trip him. He had learned combat from his cousin after his parents were nowhere to be found. "Let's get out of here!" The bullies ran out of fear Sun will attack him more. Sun then turned to the young boy on the ground.
"Are you, okay?" He asked. The boy cried after going through hard times. "Hey, man? Why are you crying? Did something happened at home." Sun asked. He then stopped to rub his tears off. "Dad and my brother were always fighting, my oldest brother died, my sisters were sent to Sanctum and I never saw them much! And Mom was always busy with work! It was just hard! It's all my fault my family is falling apart! I was weak!"
The boy sniffled after telling Sun about what was going on at home. Sun felt sympathy for the boy next to him. Then he takes about a banana from his bag. "Here, maybe this'll cheer you up. I stole it from a ship."
"You're lying." Sun just smiled in response.
"If I was, I wouldn't be giving you this." The boy grew a bit hungry after having just ran away from home. The boy reluctantly takes the banana and peels off the peel. "I'm Sun by the way." The boy looked at him. This was the first time he has someone to talk to.
"Neptune." Then the two sat down to relax and talk. "How come you steal if you knew it was wrong?" He asked.
"Well, duh. I kinda left home too. I'm too young to work. I went all the way from Vacuo to solve the biggest mystery in my life." Sun responded, taking one bite of a banana. "I'm a bit of a stowaway. I wanted to find out more of where I came from. Who my parents are. I was only raised by my cousin and aunt. They were Mom's only relatives."
"Wow. And here I thought I was the only one in Mistral not having things the easy way."
"Dude, if you went to Vacuo, life was not so easy either. People say you have to fight to survive and all that stuff. But I was one of the lucky ones. But I wouldn't call myself lucky. Coincidence? Not really?" Sun said. The boy felt better after getting things out of his chest.
"Dude, it's not your fault your family was falling apart. Just enjoy life while it lasts." Sun advised. Neptune was astonished that while the path was a rough ride, he still smiles and lives the way he wants to.
-Shinegure, Present-
"Alright, Kids. Hands where I can see them!" The Black Vipers' Beta squad surrounded Ruby and Scarlet with their hands in the air as they all pointed weapons at the two.
Ruby then turned to Scarlet as they tried to think of a plan. Then Ruby noticed a pipeline nearby, and it hits them an idea. One of the Black Vipers grabbed his scroll to call Gamma Squad. "Gamma to Beta, we secured the area. We got two trespassers who was not one of us." Unknown to them, the Gamma Squad was defeated at the hands of Team RNJRSS.
When the Gamma team did not entered, the Beta leader tried again. "Gamma Squad, why aren't you answering?! Beta Squad to-!" His sentence was cut off when Ruby used her sniper to cut a leak of the pipe steam to make hers and Scarlet's escape.
"Hey they're getting away!" One of the Vipers shouted when Ruby grabs Scarlet and uses her speed to escape to the stairway. Just 8 levels above to get to the top. "Come on, let's go!" Ruby said while Scarlet follows.
Ruby was then dialed by Jaune when he called through scrolls. While making their run, Ruby picks up. "Ruby, are you seeing any Vipers?!" Jaune shouted.
"Yeah! Down the basement! You?!"
Back on the rooftop where Jaune and Sage were guarding. Jaune was deflecting blade hits when one of the Vipers charged at him with another sword. "Feel the Viper's fangs!" One said. Then Shoji attacked one of the Vipers after he uses his jaw to grab the gun that was about to shoot his master. Sage saw this happening and pets his wolf. "Attaboy, Shoji. Find and Scarlet." Shoji complied without protest and ran on his four paws.
Jaune slashed up the Viper with his sword before hitting him with the shield. Sage then camouflaged himself when another came behind him for a quick attack, but missed. "What the?! Where'd he go?!"
"Behind you." Sage spoke after reappearing after making a one swipe movement. "I took no pleasure in this, but High Leader's orders are necessary." The Viper stated. Jaune is determined to find Cinder by interrogating one of the Vipers.
"You're going to tell me where Cinder is." Jaune snarled at the Viper he was fighting against. The Viper spun back and jumps midair to make the blow on Jaune, but he uses his shield to bounce him back to where he leapt from.
While they were occupied at the rooftop, Ren and Nora rushed through the town where Ren aims at the Vipers chasing after them. "We got Vipers on our side as well! We'll hold our faction! Meet us on the west!" Nora then shot her grenade launcher at two of the Vipers with sniper guns. Causing them to back off.
"What do we do?!" Nora shouted at Ren. "We regroup!" Ren replied. Then Ren uses his father's bow and arrow to create an explosion to slow down the Vipers, two of them were blocked after Ren shot one arrow at a support beam meant for attempted construction hung by the crane, and it fell in front of them. Nora then swung her hammer to block the Viper's attack from above. Then held her handle above to push another Viper away. Nora then stopped in her tracks to see what was going on in the left side of the path. "Ren look!" Nora called. Ren then sees what Nora was looking at. There is a faction of the Atlas soldiers battling the Vipers' beta team.
"The Atlas Military? What are they doing in the continent of Anima?" Ren asked.
"Don't look at me." Nora replied.
"Whatever the case, let's back them up. For all I know, the Vipers' intentions were to eliminate the militia." Ren suggested. Then takes out the scroll he stole from the Vipers' Gamma team and smashed it to pieces to not let them follow them should they found out.
Ruby and Scarlet made their way out. And hid behind the wall of one of the homes. Both had to catch their breathes before moving forward with the traces. The Vipers went for the exit to look for the two teens, but nothing as they continued the search for the two. Ruby had took some time to think after seeing some revelations in the lab. Scarlet is the most frightened of all to see the horrific side of Merlot Industries. "So this is what my sister's been. I don't understand, how was this all connected?" Scarlet asked himself as he hung on his head in shock. Understandably, Scarlet was terrified to see Rouge's name on the files.
"Scarlet..." Ruby began. Then hears gunfire and fighting. Ruby could tell they weren't alone. She then shifts to the other corner of the walls as the sounds get louder and louder. Then she hears barking. Ruby and Scarlet turned to see Shoji behind them. Ruby was glad to see the wolf. Ruby then knelt to the wolf to see what he's trying to say. "What is it?" She asked. The wolf then gestured to follow. "Do we follow?" Scarlet asked.
"Better than to hide here. Come on." As they ran to where they were heading, Shoji then hears cocking and turned as he snarls in vigilance. Then ran into another alleyway and attacked the Viper about to shoot also. Ruby and Scarlet are amazed on how quick Shoji was to figure who or what is attacking.
-Atlas-
Neptune uses his skills to hack into Zeos' scroll to see what he's truly up to. There was a possibility that his own cousin is about to do something in Atlas. Either it was only to conspire against him, or he knows something about the mysterious woman who's been meeting Jacques.
Either way did not seem good to him or Weiss. The only thing mattered to him was that she has to get her away from harm's way. Checking a series of text messages, names of the individuals he's been contacting. To his shock, Mercury, Emerald and Cinder were one of his contacts. Then another name caught his eyes: "Eitel. Who was that?" On the profile picture, it was the same woman who's been seeing Weiss' father.
"It's her. What does she want?" Neptune questions himself. Then opens it and reads the texts.
Eitel: How long will it take to ship the heiress to the White Fang?
Zeos: Give me a few days and I'll have to find some way to cover my tracks.
Eitel: Do not take to long. Jacques was very easy to fool that my own sister cannot earn his affection. What ashame that Willow survived of her own alcoholism, why can't she just finish herself?
Zeos: The sooner I get rid of Neptune. The sooner we get the Schnee heiress. He won't see it coming. Neptune is too gullible to seek my help. Jupiter is gonna cry out in rage when he finds out I had his precious brother caged up like a little baby.
Eitel: For a Vasilias. You're very cunning.
Zeos: For a Schnee, you're the only one I can get used to.
Neptune is shocked. That the woman now called, Eitel, is somehow connected to Weiss and her mother with the fact that they are blood relatives. Zeos could frame him at anytime. Because their looks are similar. Ironwood could be fooled easily. As predicted.
Not only Zeos will try to get rid of Neptune, but it also confirmed that Weiss will be in danger at the hands of the unknown relative of hers. And that he will have to warn her of something that will be happening.
"Oh, no." He gasped quietly. His worst fears had come true. Not only there will be an attempted kidnapping, but the fact that his older brother is alive as Zeos stated. "Weiss being targeted, Zeos involved in Beacon's destruction, and worst of all, my brother alive and allied with the enemy. This is bad. Gotta warn Weiss."
"I'm already here." Weiss stood in front of him. The sight of her caught his eyes to see her elegance and beauty in the dark. How Neptune missed seeing her face. She wore a hood to make sure no one knows. "Hello, Neptune." Weiss said softly.
Neptune wanted nothing more than to embrace her and comfort her from the horrors they will experience next. But he knew he cannot as he shook his head. Then he turns around to see if others are around. Thankfully, Zeos isn't watching and they were in another alleyway.
Then he turned back to the heiress. "Great to see you again. Listen to me, Weiss. After you called me, I looked up onto the woman who had been seeing your dad. And I found something and this might relate to you and your mother."
"Wait, my mother? How's does that involve my mother?" Weiss asked.
"I know this is gonna sound strange. I know this is going to sound crazy, but my cousin Zeos. He was trying to trick me into thinking he was helping me getting you to escape. And worst, the woman, he was in contact with the woman. Her name is Eitel, and I think she was up to something no good, and they're planning to turn you to the White Fang."
"The White Fang? Eitel? Where have I heard that name before? Come to think of it, it sounds too eerie in my memory." Weiss said. Something she remembered a long time ago before the start of the events. "And wait, your cousin planned to get rid of you? For what?"
"I found out that Zeos impersonated me to infiltrate into Beacon and he was with the enemy, and the main reason Cinder, Mercury and Emerald was able to bring the school down. And he was somehow connected to him. He even planned to kidnap you in order for the Black Vipers to gain the White Fang's trust for an alliance."
"Black Vipers?"
"In Mistral, they were a group of rogues that were anti-militia, like the White Fang. They even hated your family and the company. If Zeos and my brother were somewhat involved with them, this would be bad."
"What's your brother got to do with this?" Weiss asked.
"I don't know, but I guess he might have some grudge against your family, or rather your sister. I noticed this after I see the text. My brother was thought to be dead, but I found out yesterday that he faked his own death to work with the Black Vipers." Neptune explains.
"It must be hard for you to take this. To found out what you wished to never find out. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have asked you to come here. I just can't stand this."
"No, don't apologize. I'm glad you called. I wouldn't have known the danger you were about to be in if you didn't contact me. Cause then I will never forgive myself if anything happened to you. Cause before, I was a coward, a jerk and an idiot to have let your father take you away, and for not knowing about your feelings. But today, I wanted nothing more than to set you free. If it was my brother or my cousin, even your father, I'll fight them to protect you." Neptune assured her with words he will not regret saying.
What was precious to him was the woman he cared for standing in front of him. Weiss stared at him in awe. Noticing the change in his personality. She can feel her heart beating. She felt like she was being selfish to ask him, feeling that asking for help was a weakness. But Neptune's words were the opposite, it helped her open up.
Weiss then walks up to him and hugs him. Neptune lets her feel the comfort she needs. Neptune wraps her arms around her as the two feel light. Weiss realizes how much alike she and Neptune were despite different backgrounds. How alone they were in the past. But this is then, and this is now. He could feel Weiss shaking, of the thought of being in the arms of warmth. At that moment, their auras glowed bright for the more they held onto each other. It was even more warmer than before. They say with love, their auras became more immense. Though the two did not notice as they were both lost in a moment of sorrow, but also solace.
Am I guilty for being a Schnee? Or am I guilty for loving you? By loving you, it felt more right than being a Schnee. Hands more warm than that of my family. Eyes as deep as the sea and the starry night. He even sees me more than just a silver platter. How did we ended up finding each other? Masking this outside appearance, is a heartful sea. But also pain he withheld. Neptune, have you been feeling alone?
This feeling. The sense of fear was gone for the moment. But this was just temporary. For the moment you leave, the demons of the sea might come back. Weiss, my Snow Angel. A world without you, is my greatest fear than water itself. I would give my life as a means to free you from this prison. Outside, you seem like ice. But deep down, she is someone who melts my heart. And whose smile was more beautiful. It will pain me more to see you sad and imprisoned. My brother asked me if there was anyone I will fight for. Back then, I didn't have anyone. But today, it is you I will fight for. I want to be the shoulder you can hold onto. I want to be the one to make you happy. But was I too selfish? Would any of that happen.
"I can't live like this, Father might try to kill you. I don't want you to die."
"He can try. I got an idea. But it will take a little while to proceed. Think you can wait a bit longer?" Neptune asked. Weiss nods, knowing she can trust him. Neptune then takes out a piece of paper and pen to write down a number. "Here, my mom's a lawyer. She had taken cases against your dad before. If anything happens to me, use this number, and maybe she can help you. This way you can testify against him." Neptune gives the paper to Weiss, knowing that Zeos must be planning something against them. Weiss, feeling touched by the offer, and mellowed after hearing his tone, contrasted to her father's, She decided to accept his help.
Weiss then gives him a light kiss on the cheek. Before heading back to the manor, since she has the security team distracted, but not for long. "Thank you. Performance is tomorrow, I'll see you there." She said softly before making her leave. "Anytime, Snow Angel." Neptune was but surprised, but felt happy that that his help was accepted. After Weiss left, Neptune was left to come up with the next plan on how to get Zeos off his back before he completes his schemes. Knowing his cousin, he can pose as him in order to frame Neptune. He then walks out in a hood, he noticed a tailor store and sees his reflection on the mirror to see a color of blue.
He then realized that he can somehow become unrecognizable. In order to infiltrate the Schnee Manor. "Now I figured how to get in. This can actually work." He whispered to himself. He then notices a pile of dirt and applies it on his hair to darkened it. So that Jacques cannot recognize him as the boy he punched in Beacon.
-Shinegure-
Sage and Jaune were simultaneously fending off the Black Vipers. As they finished holding them off at the rooftop, they met with Ruby, Scarlet, Nora and Ren, including Shoji.
"You guys, okay?!" Jaune asked.
"We're good! But we got Vipers on our tail!" Scarlet then shot a Black Viper sniper shooter behind him, causing him to fall on an empty fruit stand. Nora then knocks the two Black Vipers behind Ren.
"Ren, what's going on?!" Ruby asked.
"We found hostages in the East section! There were Atlas Military!" Ren replied.
"That must be their plan! But why the military?!" Nora adds.
Ruby then twirls her scythe to blow away the Vipers behind Jaune. Jaune in turn lunges his swords at the Vipers behind Ruby. Both Ruby and Jaune smiled at each other as they knew they got each other's backs. Sage sees the bond between the two.
With trust, it comes with a bond. Even if bonds don't last forever.
Scarlet jumps in midair to give a slash at a Black Viper in front of him. Then uses his blade to break his aura. Rendering the Viper unconscious. Then climbed onto the rooftop on a house, and glide with his semblance to take out the snipers.
Nora takes on the big grunts, she looks up and sees a lightning. Raised her hammer as the lightning was drawn to Nora. As soon as lightning strikes, Nora's eyes sparked with the thunderous strike. And smirked at the Vipers. As they became scared of her.
"Lights out, guys!" She then swung down her hammer and breaks the ground, trapping the Vipers by the feet stuck in it.
Ren then uses his blades on his pistols to slash at the sword user and the spear user. He kicked at the spear user to give it his all. Martial arts is one of his skills. Born in the Ren Clan, Ren will take on anyone sneaking up from behind.
Sage leapt backwards after an attack from an axe user. He ordered Shoji to halt, not wanting his wolf to get hurt. Slashing upwards as one of the Vipers charged at him.
Ruby then uses her speed to rescue the rest of the Atlesian soldiers, one of the Vipers were about to attack her. But the way saved when a mysterious girl in a cloak. "What the, who are you?!"
The girl then then quickly turned away before Ruby can see her face. Using a shadow clone to speed away. "Wait! You can't run away this time! Blake!" She said the name she never heard after a year.
Blake then turns around and her hood was removed. Black hair was let loose. No longer wearing a bow with her cat ears exposed. "I knew it! I knew it was you, Blake. Where have you been? What are you doing here? I was trying to call you and you cut off contact after Beacon..."
"Ruby..."
"Yes?" Blake then draws her blade at her to give her a warning. "This is why I can't let you and the others involve. You have no idea what you're running into."
"Blake, what're you talking about? We're teammates, right? Let's just talk after this." Blake cuts her off.
"No! Things were bad enough as it is! I have already caused enough damage with the White Fang around! And now those Black Vipers are at large!" Blake then walks towards the edge and looks down.
"Wait, come with us! We can help!" Ruby insisted.
"Don't follow me, stop what you're doing, ever!" Blake warned Ruby. But then Blake jumps off as Ruby tried to stop her, but disappears. "Blake, wait!" Ruby shouted running towards the edge. Only to find her gone.
Jaune and the others caught up to Ruby. "Ruby!" He called.
"Ruby, what happened?!" Nora asked.
"Guys, I just saw Blake."
Credits song: Snow Angel
Lyrics:
Snow Angel, I cannot bear to see you cry,
My lovely snow, as luminous as the moon tonight.
Your voice and song had melted my soul, when I see you, the horizon shines.
Somewhere in my heart hurts, at first I was so ignorant, until overtime I felt the melody in your voice.
My Snow Angel, I cannot resurface from the sea, my cowardice had rift me away from you. Am I not worth your time, to reach you from the deep end. I had to be strong for you, I cannot hide any longer.
I had no purpose when I was young, until you came into my life, your smile brightens every day, please don't wipe it off. Though you are far away, you're all I ever had in mind.
I cannot bear to not see you locked away from the world, I want to be the shoulder you can lean to, feel the comfort in me. I wanna set you free, but am I worth to love you?
We both know we lived in isolation, but together we can patch the gap. I am your sea to flow, you are the snow, different worlds meant to be the same element. But too scared to swim, I hid it for so long.
Without you, I felt my whole world has just drowned, but my love for you had lifted me from the deep end. Through the blizzard, is the treasure in my heart, I care for not the riches you grew in.
Snow Angel, I cannot bear to see you cry,
My lovely snow, as luminous as the moon tonight.
Your voice and song had melted my soul, when I see you, the horizon shines.
Somewhere in my heart hurts, at first I was so ignorant, until overtime I felt the melody in your voice.
My Snow Angel, I cannot resurface from the sea, my cowardice had rift me away from you. Am I not worth your time, to reach you from the deep end? I had to be strong for you, I cannot hide any longer.
The way you looked at me, I cannot look away. As thick as the snow was, none of this was easy. I tried to hide it, but not any longer, I ways goofed around and messed it up. What do you see in me as I have seen in you?
My lovely snow, I cannot mask it all away. Voice of your melody, I see your inner beauty. As strong as the blizzard, but also a beautiful soul. I wanna set you free, to see the world with you.
Let me be by your side, I want to be your waves that wash away your fears. I wasn't very truthful of myself. Ignorance is the walls of my inner thoughts. A world without you was my own fear.
Oh my Snow Angel, I will stand by your side. There's nothing that will stop me from loving you. I cannot tell you yet, but who knows when the world ends. But you are the last I will cherish. I have no words to say, I cannot ring myself. I cannot mask it all away. I see a beautiful soul from the blizzard.
Without you, the world seemed to have drowned. But the thought of you have lifted me from the deep end. Through the blizzard, is the treasure in my heart, I care for not for the riches you grew in. Though we are worlds apart, you filled the gap in my heart, I see the light when you appeared.
Author's note: Blake is back, but still wasn't letting Ruby and friends in on the situation. Meanwhile we get a flashback on how Sun and Neptune met. Sun was trying to get to the bottom of his parents' disappearance.
RWBY franchise does not belong to me, nor its characters.
We'll also get a good look at Winter since it was mentioned near the end of Volume 4 that she was in Mistral after informing Ironwood about the incoming dangers ahead.