Deep End
-Atlesian Rebellion, 21 years Ago-
Gathered around during the rebellion was Team STRM (minus Saturn who was out scouting the city) in the bar of Mantle. Alongside them was Team STRQ, led by Summer Rose. Who took off her hood. "Is everyone here?" Asked Summer.
"Saturn shouldn't be long." The young huntsmen and huntresses nodded. gathering around the small table. There was Summer, Taiyang, twins Qrow and Raven, Li, Mai, and Tamaku.
"I never expect for the rebellion to be this much." Then Sai entered the room. "I came here as soon as you called, Taku." Sai said the nickname to her then-boyfriend before they married. She then eyes on Raven.
"Ugh! What is she doing here?!" Sai growled. Raven's eye narrowed. "Why am I not surprised? Only dead weights don't come with a team." Raven said. They two were urged to fight. But Summer intervened.
"Enough! While you two don't have to like each other! But we're in this together!" Summer reminded them. Sai only stepped down only because she cannot hold grudges in the middle of a upcoming war. For now they have to hate each other in silent.
"Fine! Only because of Tamaku." Sai replied. She then went over to Tamaku, who held her hand. And Sai did the same for him. As Raven jealously stared at the two. How love can make her sick and loathing. It sickens her enough to hate the two.
"I never imagined the day I would fight alongside with you again, sister." Li said to his twin sister. Though estranged from Li, she has no problem replying to her brother. "I'm surprised to admit that I'm glad to see you. I hope you and An around are well." Mai replied calmly.
"I want to apologize for leaving the clan and our family." Li said, sighs of the shame he had to go for all in the name of the love he has for An. "I know I disobeyed Father...but..."
"Save your regrets later, brother. We have to focus on the now. We have a battlefield to finish." Being the warrior Mai is, she is more focus for the fate of Atlas. Her then-fiance, Choi, was ordered by Mai to be in charge of guarding the bar. While also keeping watch.
"Very well. Congratulations on gaining leadership on the clan, though." Said Li. On the one hand, he regret disobeying his father for not marrying an opposing clan's heiress arranged for him in the name of obligation. But on the other hand, he did not regret being with An. All he wants to know was to reconcile with his family. Mai understands how much Li loves An, and knows there was nothing he can do to stop him. Mai decided to take his place as heiress of the Ren Clan, even if it means marrying Choi as arranged by her father, Liu.
Saturn then went inside the bar to meet his comrades in battle against his own father, Uranus. Disgusted with his father's plans to take over Atlas, Saturn has no other choice but to rebel against his family, and his tribe.
Along with him came a young woman in a blue hood. "Sorry, I'm late. I came with an informat who knows more of the city than any of us." Saturn said, gesturing the woman to came closer to the group. She unveils her cloak to reveal her face. The group was shocked to see who it is. White hair and ice-blue eyes.
"Forgive my presence, I do not wish to take part of this war, but I need your assistance to aid my father. I am Willow Schnee." The daughter of Nicholas Schnee himself.
"We apologize for bringing you into this, Miss Schnee." Li said.
"Do not apologize. You might need me in order to guide you in this city. I recently caught word that Uranus was sending out spies among the huntsmen in the academy. Neither Father and I can't trust the huntsmen in Atlas. But you're the hope we need to stop Uranus." Willow explains.
"We understand the situation. We appreciate you helping us, Miss Schnee." Summer assured Willow.
"Please, just call me Willow. To Atlas, I am Willow Schnee. But I prefer my first name to any of you all."
"It's whatever you like, Miss." Said Taiyang.
"Can you tell us what else you knew?" Summer asked.
"Yes, I also heard of sightings of my elder sister, Eitel allying herself with the Vasilias Tribe to take down the city, as revenge for Father commiting her to an asylum after trying to eliminate us both." Willow adds the details. Though she cares for her sister, Eitel was beyond help. Even equal love from their father can't save Eitel from herself. "I have to warn you. My sister might have learned dark sorcery. I know it's hard to believe, but this is something I cannot keep silent."
"In that case, we need be careful of who we might fight next. We have Uranus' forces swarming around the labs, they're trying to steal the battlemech that Dr. Poledina was processing." Taiyang informed. "We managed to get him to safety before Uranus gets his hands on him."
"Thanks, Taiyang. I knew I can trust you." Summer said.
"No prob. Anywhere you go, Team STRQ is in with it, Leader." Replied Taiyang, with a smile. Summer blushed as Taiyang assured her. But she had no chance since he was dating Raven at the time. Taiyang then looks at Raven as they look at each other. Even Raven doesn't want to admit, but Taiyang is alright in her book. But on the other hand, she was calmed down when he's around.
"In that case, I will have to join my father in one of the war meetings. By infiltrating in the tribe, I might bring back some information back to you all." Saturn suggested to go undercover, so he might need one of his teammates to temporarily lead his team. In case his father caught his betrayal. "Father doesn't know that I was the one who gave word of the rebellion. I'll need to keep cover for awhile. So, Li. I am going to need you to lead this team for now."
Li nodded. "Are you sure about this?" Being second in command, Li could've been made leader as well due to his mastery of stealth and archery. "I know you are capable of leadership, but also the heart of the team. So I trust you can lead your archery squadron to keep my father's remnants at bay." Saturn assured his friend.
"Are you sure of this, Saturn? He is your father. It must be hard that you have to face him." Summer asked, concerned for his indecisiveness. But Saturn's mind is made up, and will never take back the vow of protecting those who cannot protect themselves. And he cannot let his father involve innocent people to be caught in harm's way.
"I appreciate your concern, Summer. But I am not just Saturn Vasilias. I am a huntsmen. Long ago, I only did what I had to do for loyalty toward my father. But today, if he can't be brought back to his senses. Then I have no choice but to stop him. He hurt too many people long enough over such a needless vendetta. Today, all of us will bring down the tribe. Stop the Rebellion before it gets out of hand." Saturn said to his friends. Though he hates to turn against his family, Saturn knew he cannot let his father be to continue the rebellion. He is not just a tribe member, he's a huntsmen. A friend and leader, and warrior. The young huntsmen and huntresses were not just monster hunters. But also protectors of Remnant.
Taiyang then rushed towards Saturn and clenches his fist in the air, scaring him. "That's the spirit, man!" He said, cheerfully and aggressively. That personality made Summer giggle at the sight of Taiyang's personality.
"If that were my old man, I would have knock him dead." Qrow sighed, taking a sip of his wine in his canteen. "Qrow!" All but Raven shouted in response to his joke.
"Kidding. I was just out of it." Qrow took a sip of it again, but Tamaku walked towards him and snatch away the canteen. "Give me that, you drinking would've make things worse." Tamaku then tosses the canteen in the trash to keep him from getting any ideas of drinking more.
"Let's get back to the plans of stopping the Rebellion." Summer said, the other agreed. "Also for those who are hungry, and a bit anxious..." Summer then turned and represent a box of chocolate chip cookies. "Cookies, anyone?" Summer asked. Willow didn't seem to mind. "Perhaps some snack wouldn't hurt." Willow said.
Taiyang then took a turn to take some. Then takes a bite of it. "Oh, this is great." Taiyang munches down on the cookie, then takes another. "Summer, your cookies are the best." He said. Summer blushed at the compliment. Then Li takes a bite of one of her cookies.
"I agreed. It's like the flavors were made with such genuine emotion." Li stated as he takes another one of those cookies and gives another to Mai. Tamaku gives a handful of cookies to Sai. Raven reluctantly take one of the cookies since Qrow prompted his sister to give those cookies a try. Though Raven hates to admit, but it tasted good, as if the flavor exploded in her mouth.
-Present-
Neptune heard an explosion. "What the-?!" He gasped as he felt the space shaking in the shop as there was another boom. He fell to the floor. But was still handcuffed with the pipe. He got up, and noticed the soldiers running for their lives.
"What about the prisoner?!" One soldier shouts.
"Forget about him! It's every man for himself!" Another one objects. Only he can see though the window of the white door in front of him. But the window was circular and too small for him to see more.
"What was going on?" Neptune asked himself.
When he feels something flowing beneath his feet, that's when it hit him. He sees water seeping through the door. Neptune's eyes widened. His worst nightmare coming true. As the ship was about to sink.
He fearfully climbed onto the seat, not willing to let the water touch him. Neptune hyperventilates as tried to call for help. "Hey! Can anyone hear me!" He shouted, but the water was rising faster than he can imagine. Already reaching his lower body. "Somebody help!" Neptune tried to shake his handcuffs off the pipe to break it, but to no avail. But the more he tries, the more his wrists bleeds.
-Schnee Manor-
Weiss patiently circulates the glyphs to make her summon functional. And just as she thought no one was coming to her room. She was then interrupted by a voice. "Hello, sister." To her annoyance, Weiss turned to her younger brother, Whitley.
Whitley was leaning against the doorway folding her arms like he owns the manor since he is now the new heir. "What do you want, Whitley?" Weiss interrogated.
"I was having a meeting with some business partners that Father require me to meet with. And I was hoping that if you want, you can come, since you're stuck here." Whitley said, offering the chance. But Weiss wasn't going to waste her life being locked in the mansion.
"What's the point, Whitley. And make it quick because I am busy." Weiss demanded. "Let me ask you this. Is it because you hate me and Winter that you're desperate for the recognition from Father? Or was it because you're jealous?" Weiss asked.
"Just so you know, your needs of being huntsmen was nothing but pointless and barbaric like that low-class lawyer's son you met in Beacon." Weiss had enough of her brother and father bad-mouthing those she is close to. It was her boiling point. But wasn't going to take out her anger. She only wants to get out of Atlas and that's what she is going to do.
"Get out." Weiss demanded pointing her sword. Whitley was about to leave without a care anymore. "Fine, good luck in your little training." He taunted. The smirk on his face disgusted his own sister. "Your loss, Whitley." Weiss gets her last word out as she uses her glyphs to close the door in front of his face. Whitley was at a loss for words as he was stunned.
Just as she was finally alone. Weiss continued to practice her summoning. And she can tell that she was this close to master it. Then an arm emerged from the floor where the glyph was spiraling. Then coming out of the glyph was a projectile of Armor Gigas from one of her training sessions.
After the emergence, the Armor Gigas shattered the walls and windows of the bedroom. Weiss felt satisfied with content and confidence. Knowing her father will never break her anymore. Then Klein frantically entered after hearing the commotion.
"Miss Schnee, are you okay?!" Klein asked, concerned for her safety, unlike her father who would neglect her well-being. Weiss then turned to her butler, who is the only one in the mansion she can trust with no doubt.
"Klein, I need a favor." Weiss said. And without hesitation. Klein nods, willing to help the former heiress without hesitation.
Meanwhile Neptune tried to keep his head up as the water rises. Trying to use a hairpin he stored in his pocket to pick locks on the handcuffs to get them off. Which is something he saw in one of the detective movies.
But to his dismay, he accidently dropped the hairpin. "No! Aw, come on!" Then waves of water rushed towards his face as he climbed onto the pipe as the ceiling was a bit high, but it was futile. "That's it, this is the end. I am not sure if my parents, my sisters or Sun will find out. I'm sorry, Weiss." Neptune said it, as the water kept getting in his mouth and he coughs it out.
Finally it reaches the top of his ceiling. Desperate, Neptune tried to shake the pipe more. But the steel was too hard and strong. Trying to hold his breath. And without his weapon, he can't cut the handcuffs off.
His heart begins to beat rapidly to the point he was about to lose his breath. Neptune begins to cough, no crew members or soldiers left to come save him. The pipe was now loose when it tilted left, Neptune loses consciousness.
He closed his eyes as he thought his life was over. He mentally said goodbye to his family, Sun (his best friend), his team, and Weiss. Knowing he will no longer see their faces. Fading out in the dark. He can no longer feel the chills of water as he now feels lifeless. Just when he was about to give up. He began to dream, as if he has vision of the after life.
A 13-year-old Neptune was sitting next to his father in the beach. "What is troubling you, son?" He asked him. Neptune laments about his fears holding him back.
"I hate it. You're perfect, Jupiter is awesome. Why can't I be like either of you? It's not fair. Seeing the ocean, it's like it's out to get me! It reminded me of how dark it is. And it's where Pluto was found. I am so sick of how I was being compared to you, my brothers and sisters! It just feels like the world expects too much!" Neptune threw a stone towards the Sea as it skips and dips in.
Neptune sat still in anguish and anger at himself. Saturn looks at him somberly. He understands where his youngest son was coming from, how it felt growing up with an unloving father himself.
"I know where this is going." Neptune looks at him in astonishment. He never saw this side of his father before.
"My name, and my recognition from my previous battles, it never makes me happy. There are times I have regrets. There are times loved ones turned into enemies, and sides were taken. People looked to me, even during Haven. But no one knew the cost of being a huntsmen. I didn't like it either. I only become a huntsman because I was afraid of losing the people close to me." Saturn reasoned with his son.
"How did you deal with all of this, Dad?" Asked Neptune.
"The key of facing your fears was that you think of the people you love. You don't fight for war and hate. You have to fight for ones dear to you. That's how you forget your fears. From my younger days, I thought of your mother. No matter how hard times get. She is the reason why I have to keep looking forward. And never look back at fear." Saturn advised. "That is the secret you need to remember."
Back in reality, Neptune begins to breathe. Even in underwater. Gasping in shock. After the dream, or rather a memory. Neptune awakens to see what he never saw before.
His arms were glowing with blue swirls of markings around his arms. He realized that he didn't feel like suffocating anymore. It is a new technique he just unlocked.
I'm breathing. What is this? Could this be a new skill of my semblance?
That new technique was giving him an ability to breathe in the water. Neptune wasted no time to push his feet against the walls and finally broke from the handcuffs. And broke the door in half. since it was weakened by the water.
He heard knocking. Since the people inside are either dead, judging by the lifeless bodies floating inside the ship. Neptune felt sorry for the people who didn't make it. Or escaped from the sinking in time. Neptune swims as he tires to find the source of the knocking noises.
Following the sound, he swam towards the 4 aisle. Towards the front side of the ship. Neptune came close to the sound as he knocks the walls. The response was confirmed that there is somebody alive inside. Neptune knew he cannot leave the person inside to be sunken in the ship. Because that is not what is huntsman would do.
Neptune then finds a fire extinguisher and knocks away a lock in front of the door. Luckily there is an air pocket near the ceiling and he swims up. And knocks in the closet door. Since it's the only place where the water wasn't reaching completely. "Hey! Anyone in there!" Neptune knocks the door to see is someone is truly stuck inside the ship.
"Hello?! Can someone hear me?!" Must be a crew member.
"Yes, I heard you knocking the walls! Hold on, I'm gonna get you out of here!" Neptune replied.
"There are rebreathers in the weapons room on the fifth door! I am not sure how deep we have sunken in!" The person shouted back.
"Alright, I'll be right back to get them!" Neptune replied as he dove back down into the water, his arms began to glow again beneath his coat. Neptune wasted no time to swim to the fifth door and retrieve the rebreathers. To his surprise, his Tri-hard is sitting on the table. Neptune grabs his weapon and stored it on his back sheath. Neptune swam back to the room the person was stuck in.
"Did you bring them!" Asked the person.
"Yes, I'll need to open the door so that we can get out! Hold on, I'm coming in!" Said Neptune.
"Alright!" The person replied. Neptune dove back in as he pulled the door open. Turns out it was a crew member in the ship. Neptune gives the crew member a rebreather. But the crew member was shocked to see his arms glowing beneath Neptune's sleeves of his coat.
But none of it matters as Neptune leads the crew member out of the shop while also avoiding objects that could've hit them both. But seeing the lifeless bodies of other crew members left behind left them terrified and in grief. Haunting the crew member that was still alive.
Finally, they got to the exit and swam upward from the ship. It scared them the minute they witness the ship falling through a deeper end. They could've fallen in the twilight zone if they had not gotten out of the ship sooner, but thankfully they escaped.
Just Neptune and the crew member resurfaced back to Solitas. It was cold and freezing. But at least there was no blizzard as of now. "Thank you, you saved me. But why? After you were..."
"Just felt the need to help you out. Can't leave anyone behind." Neptune replied. The two sat down as they needed time to breathe.
"I'm sorry about your crew." Neptune said to the crew member. Finding out the way of getting help.
-Schnee Manor-
Weiss was armed and ready with her Myrtenaster and her case filled with dust to arm herself at least for a week or two cause she cannot take to many when escaping from her controlling father. Klein then meets her in the hallway.
"Are you ready?" Klein asked. Weiss nods.
The two then roam through the hallway to get to a secret exit that Klein knows of. But before they can do so. Klein receives a scroll call from Whitley. He has to respond because he can't give Weiss away.
"Yes, Master Whitley?" Klein picks up a call. After hearing from Whitley, Klein ends the call. "Yes, sir. Right away." He hangs up. Then turned to Weiss. "Meet me at the library, it's the only passage there is." Klein instructed. Weiss agrees as Klein has to meet with Whitley.
Weiss was left to head to the library. As she continued in the hallway, she hears shouting.
"I have gotten reports from your daughter!" The voice came from Ironwood in Jacques' office. " a daughter you stole from me!" Shouted Jacques.
"For some reason, after the embargo was initiated, you went against Atlas Laws to go behind their backs and deliver them to anonymous buyers! What were you thinking?!"
"Do you have any idea! This would've cost millions!"
Ironwood slammed his fist on the desk in fury. And sighs as soon as his anger subsides. The. looks at Jacques, with calm and disdain. "Have you even listen to yourself? Those Black Vipers could have been the ones to order those items to cover their tracks."
"And even if it did, what will you do about it?" Jacques questions Ironwood as of he was winning the game.
"There have been reports in Mistral that the Black Vipers are emerging in Mistral. And there had been sightings of exported dust with the brand you possessed." Ironwood concluded.
"Even if that were true. It would have make progress to the company." Jacques said. Taking a sip of his wine in a small glass.
"We've been over this James. You take something and this is where it gets us. And since you manipulated my daughter into leaving the family. I thought of how to sell more of the products. With or without your permission."
"I'm afraid I have no choice. As of today, the final day of the borders closing has begun, no one in, no one out." Weiss gasped quietly as she hid behind the door. Then she hears footsteps coming and knew she will get caught. Weiss uses her glyph to keep the door from opening until she leaves.
"What is the meaning of this?!" Ironwood shouted as he tired twisting the door to budge it open.
"I don't know what you're talking about!" Jacques shouts back.
"The door! It's locked!"
Weiss finally entered the library. She looks back to see anyone around. She was then shocked to see Klein. But breathes in relief to know her father hasn't caught her. "Glad you can make it. You have to take this passage. It's the only way out." Klein said.
"Are you sure your sister is in Mistral?" Asked Klein.
"Trust me, if she's there, that's where I have to go."
Weiss can't thank her friend and butler enough as to her, he is family too. To show gratitude, Weiss hugs Klein for the last time before leaving. "I suppose Winter is your only family left." Klein stated, and he is going to miss Weiss, but knows this is necessary for her to make choices for her own.
"I still got you. Thank you, Klein. I won't forget this." Weiss assured him. Klein nods as Weiss entered the passage for Klein to close it before anyone sees this.
-Solitas-
Neptune and the crew member rested as they watched the seas flowing by the wind. Wondering what else to do, or where to go. Then a ship arrived near them. Curious, they walked towards it.
After it landed, the door opens. To Neptune's surprise, Weiss is in the ship. He cannot help but feel relieved to see her out of the mansion. "Snow Angel?" Neptune asked. Weiss sighs happily as she ran up to him and ran into his arms.
"Can't stay in the manor forever. I got word Winter is in Mistral. I have to get here to see what was happening." Weiss said. Neptune smiles and nods as he hugs her lovingly. "In that case, I'll go with you all the way. Because I realized you're the reason why I was less afraid. You encourage me to not let fear get the better of me. I'll admit, I still have a long way to go." Neptune said as they have this moment. "But I am proud that you're not letting your father take control of you anymore."
"You and I, we will take on what the world was about to throw at us next." Weiss replied as they parted and held hands. Watching the sun rising. "I still have a long way too. But with you, maybe I might find myself as being more than an heiress, because you and the others see me as more than that. But guess what. I realized I don't want the fortune, but I still want the Schnee name to mean something than just the SDC. I will have to restore the Schnee name in some other way."
"You don't mean..." Neptune began, but Weiss smiled at him. "I'm no longer the heiress people expects me to be." Neptune felt bad for destroying her future because he knew that if she was still an heiress, she would do a lot better to run the company than her own father.
"Weiss, I'm sorry. It's because of me that..." Neptune started but Weiss cuts him off.
"I don't care. At least this way, I am finally free. I can finally rejoin my team. And maybe you and I can get to know each other better." Weiss assured him. She didn't want anything to do with a greedy money life. But at the same time, she won't let her grandfather's legacy be in vain either. She will have to figure something out in the future. Neptune still feels guilty for what happened. But he feels happy that Weiss is able to escape. But he still wants to make up for what happened. Even if that's already in the past. His own agenda: make Weiss happy. "And, I love you too, Neptune." She said as her cheeks flushed with red.
The Crew member cannot help but smile at this sweet moment between Weiss and Neptune. They decided to give him a lift back to the Academy before leaving to Mistral.
"In that case. What do you want to do?" Asked Neptune, whatever she decides, he will happily support her. "We're going to Mistral. Together. Meet with our friends again." Overjoyed, Neptune lifts her up in his arms and spins her around as Weiss wrapped her arms around his shoulders tightly, and excitedly. It won't matter to Weiss of her status was removed, rather she has to look forward on what to do next. This was then, and this is now.
Author's note: Inspired by Aqualad in Young Justice TV series. Neptune's semblance evolved to have glowing blue markings that allows him to breathe underwater. While at the same time, Weiss' semblance evolved for summoning from her glyphs.