It didn't take long for Neo to realize the flaw behind her plan when she met Winter again before reaching Sasuke.
The princess had stopped along the way to help people caught up in the chaos, especially children, which surprisingly included some faunus.
Considering the fame and hatred that motivated the White Fang to commit their acts of terrorism, Neo, like most people, believed that all the Schnee were first-class racists.
The abusive practices and slave labor conditions in the Dust mines only served to fuel these beliefs.
Winter's genuine show of concern in helping a child of the opposite race, however, contradicted all these rumors.
Perhaps there was prejudice present in the way the Schnee family business was run, but that didn't mean that the whole family, including the daughters who hardly had any power over the decisions made, were also like that.
Reason enough not to blindly believe everything people say.
That aside, seeing Winter of all people postponed her reunion with her 'beloved', even if for a noble reason, made Neo realize what she needed to do.
In the end, as much as she didn't want to admit it, Sasuke was a big boy and more than capable of looking after himself. Even if he was being attacked by that hungry goddess, Sasuke could hold his own or he wouldn't have been thrown into this world by her in the first place.
The ones who really needed help were the patients in the hospital and the normal people caught in the crossfire.
How quickly things have changed. The last time Neo witnessed the result of Sasuke's power, the streets of Vale had gone crazy with fear and she ignored it all by focusing only on what mattered to her. Now, here I am, about to do the opposite and help people I've never seen before in my life... almost like a Huntress.
Hard to believe, especially when she was a criminal, but more insane things had happened in the last few days.
Besides, there was another reason for her decision to help these people.
Despite all the darkness impregnated in his soul, deep down Sasuke was a good boy. His display of caring by going out of his way to appease a little girl's crying and being moved to tears when he was praised for it was proof of this emotional side that many would consider a weakness.
A line of thinking that failed to reflect the truth.
Emotions were a formidable source of power, usually being responsible for awakening the Aura and Semblance of most people in this world in a time of need.
However, it was also true that emotions were a source of ill omen for attracting Grimm and, consequently, triggering disasters.
Now, however, there were no more Grimm on this continent to worry about. On the other hand, the faunus were being affected in a rather alarming way by all this negativity.
Considering the way Sasuke's aura was oscillating as he moved through the hospital towards the upper floors, Neo was sure he was holding back and even avoiding a fight.
Whatever he was up against, something Neo couldn't identify even after having her senses heightened to another level, it was clear that Sasuke wanted to get out of the hospital but couldn't or was being prevented from doing so because of the innocent people being put in danger.
In that case, Neo needed to do her best to help and her evolved Semblance would be just perfect given the situation.
The irony, she couldn't help but notice as she smiled in the face of the chaos. My greatest weapon, normally used to escape, hurt, and kill, is about to help me protect, heal and save.
Truly, how things had changed and Neo blamed Sasuke for it as her Aura glowed like pink crystals.
If there was a silver lining, it was the incredulous reaction she would get from her rival at what she was about to do.
Soon another impact made the building shake violently, almost as if explosions had been set off repeatedly and had everyone losing their balance. Patients and visitors, doctors and nurses leaned on the corridor walls and nearby objects. As if that wasn't bad enough, the lights went out and the red emergency lights came on to create an atmosphere befitting the chaos of the current situation.
"W-what in the world is going on?!" one of the nurses shouted in panic, trembling as she tried to help one of the many patients to his feet. "If this keeps up, the hospital will collapse!"
No one could survive something of that magnitude!
The building needed to be evacuated immediately!
However, that was easier said than done when you consider that most of the people present were debilitated in one way or another.
Worse still, because of the incident and endless celebration for the elimination of the Grimm in Vale, the hospital was operating at less than half capacity!
No matter how you looked at it, this situation was precarious and more than enough to raise the intensity of the fear in the air to another level.
"Everyone, listen to me!" Winter decided to take control of the situation and exercise her role as Huntress instead of going ahead and helping Sasuke. "I am Winter Schnee, Lieutenant of the Atlas army!" A half-truth, but one that managed to gain the desired attention. "I need you to remain calm and focus on evacuating the building, where everyone must move in an orderly fashion towards the emergency exits!"
Her authoritative voice and attitude, along with her name and high ranking, were enough to dispel the fear present and give room for some hope to shine through again.
With this, even if reluctantly, people were doing as instructed and trying rather than giving up.
Unfortunately, this was only true for this floor.
To think that there were fourteen more, ten below and four above, made Winter's heart waver and almost sink.
The scope of the situation was so absurd that it made her question why Sasuke would allow something like this to happen, especially when so many people were being put in danger.
While yes, Sasuke was cursed by his emotions, he wasn't irresponsible like that!
Before, when Winter found him at the top of Beacon, Sasuke was doing everything he could to contain his powers and not hurt anyone.
He suffered pain and agony instead of taking the easy way out and unleashing all that power.
The current circumstances justified that altruistic choice.
Sick and injured people were coming out of their rooms with fear etched on their faces as they did everything they could to follow the instructions given and evacuate as the building shook more and more.
The faunus especially, because of their keen instincts, were quickly panicking, fainting and even attacking other people who were trying to help...
It was pure chaos and once again Winter could understand where the General's hostility was coming from.
As he had already shown by exterminating all those Grimm, Sasuke could be extremely dangerous if he so wished.
However, it wasn't the power but the person wielding it.
Power in itself was nothing more than a tool that, depending on how it was used, could be good or bad.
If it weren't for the fact that Winter had been exposed to Sasuke's heart in a way that hardly anyone else could understand, she too would share the General's extreme mentality.
However, this was clearly not the case and she knew better.
For Sasuke to be using this much power, where his Aura oscillated in a way that she could only describe as frustration as he moved around the upper floors, said that he was in combat with something or someone not because he wanted to but because he had to.
The question now was what exactly in this world was capable of pushing Sasuke this far.
Then it occurred to her that there were indeed some entities in this world that could force the hand of someone as powerful as Sasuke.
Salem and the Fragments of Darkness... Winter's mind turned to these enemies, which perhaps justified that bad feeling from before. Or maybe it was that goddess Kaguya?
If so, that only made the situation even more desperate.
After all, Sasuke was after allies for a reason, and facing Kaguya before he had a chance to prepare could mean the end of Remnant.
Lost in these dark thoughts, Winter was forced back to reality when another impact struck hard enough for the surrounding structure to begin caving in as countless cracks spread.
Suddenly, possibilities ceased to exist to face the reality that not even she, someone protected by the Aura reinforced by a god, would survive if this building collapsed!
"Everyone, move!" Winter shouted and tried to save some children who were with her before finding herself face-to-face with falling debris just above. Oh, no!
Her heart heaved with fear and everything seemed to move in slow motion as she tried to use her new strength to the limit to move out of the way but to no avail because there were more people to save.
I won't make it in time! Winter then chose to use her body to protect these children and hugged herself for the impact that never came. W-what happened? She opened her eyes and moved her field of vision in confusion to find countless Glyphs of her Semblance glowing with an intensity capable of holding back the debris. A barrier, like the one I used to protect Sasuke...?
But how?!
Winter looked at her hands without understanding how she had done it, especially unconsciously, and realized that she wasn't emitting her Aura, meaning it wasn't her.
Then who?
It didn't take long for the answer to come to her in a completely unexpected way when she saw a white-haired woman amidst the dust that clouded her vision.
Winter immediately thought of her little sister, but even with her limited vision, she could tell that this woman was taller and had a more developed body than Weiss. What's more, this woman didn't have long hair and there was only one more person who looked like that in this world.
"M-Mom?!" Winter couldn't believe her eyes and with good reason. That's... not possible.
Not only her mother being in a Vale, but also being able to use Glyphs like that!
In fact, as far as Winter knew, Willow didn't even have access to her Aura and Semblance!
Even if she did, the amount of alcohol Willow consumed and her constantly drunken state would never allow her to demonstrate this level of control.
But then the dust settled as the debris drifted away and this woman approached Winter to see her reflection in a mirror, but with a difference: instead of the icy blue characteristic of a Schnee, her eyes glowed in a heterochromatic pattern of brown and pink accompanied by a cynical smile that she would recognize anywhere.
"N-Neo!?" Winter revealed the identity of this woman she had come to loathe before realizing something just as unexpected. "You...just saved me?"
Not just her and these two children, there were more than a dozen copies of Neo scattered around to help others in danger!
If it hadn't been for Sasuke's sinister Aura in the air to keep her awake, Winter would have been sure she was in the middle of a nightmare!
What happened next only reinforced this.
One of the children Winter had tried to protect was crying out in pain as she clutched her leg and blood could be seen, having been injured in the fall just now. Then the form of Winter that Neo had copied crumbled under the characteristic glow of pink crystal fragments to take on the appearance of someone else.
Suddenly, Doctor Argento was there to help and using his Semblance to heal this child.
"No way..." Winter muttered in disbelief, especially at this familiar display of power. "You're just like Sasuke and can use other people's Semblance."
The only difference was that Neo had to take on the appearance of the person she was copying, almost as if it were some kind of personification.
It may have been inferior to the way Sasuke copied a Semblance, but it was still an impressive ability and one that could have easily turned the tide of the battle they had at Beacon.
Meaning that she must have only recently obtained this power, after being blessed by Sasuke, and it bothered her.
While this girl's Semblance had evolved, something described as a rarity so great as to be considered a myth, Winter had gained nothing but a more powerful Aura and heightened senses...as far as she knew.
The fact was that she still hadn't used her Semblance after being healed by Sasuke, so there was a chance that something had changed.
Until she had the chance to confirm a significant evolution in her power, Winter would have to accept the reality that at the moment, she was less than Neo and it hurt more than she would have liked to admit as she found herself envying someone she had come to hate.
On the other side, Neo almost lost focus of her makeshift healing, not expecting to receive confirmation of this significant ability from Sasuke.
Earlier, when he had healed her after that fight, Neo theorized that Sasuke had stolen the doctor's power or at least copied it. It was because of that and the fact that she was able to replicate everything she'd seen someone else do, that Neo realized she could impersonate other people and use their abilities, especially one she'd witnessed in use several times like Winter's Glyphs and the doctor's healing.
However, that didn't matter, because it didn't change how monstrous that little god was.
The comparison Winter had made between Sasuke and her, on the other hand...put a smile on the face of the old doctor Neo was impersonating, to the point of being comforting for the child she was healing.
Knowing that she had even more in common with Sasuke filled her with satisfaction.
Unfortunately, now was not the time to revel in this feeling of victory, especially when her supposed rival had become so depressed.
At any other time, Neo would have been even happier and disdainful of this woman. Given the current situation, however... this weak reaction only irritated her.
"All right Winter, what's wrong with you?!" Neo finished healing this child and returned to normal to express her indignation in person. "Unless someone killed your dog, you'd better snap out of it!" To emphasize her words, she had Winter by the collar of her military uniform stained with blood; the result of the fight they had before. "The woman who beat me should be stronger than that!"
As much as she hated to admit it, despite all her advantages, Neo had lost that fight and was only alive right now because this woman had spared her life.
But now, a new fight had begun for Sasuke's heart and while Neo had been the last to arrive, she didn't intend to lose. Otherwise, she would never have gone out of her way and even neglected Roman's well-being for the sake of others.
"I'm sure you must have noticed too, but we don't have time to worry about Sasuke." Neo forced Winter to her feet and pointed at the surrounding scenery, where she was already doing everything she could with her copies. "Then let's focus on helping those who really need it!"
Winter reread what was written, more than once, and still found it hard to believe her eyes.
Not only was Neo openly acknowledging defeat at her hands, a victory that had almost cost her her own life, but she was also willing to help random people instead of focusing solely on Roman Torchwick.
This day can't get any weirder. Winter expressed a defeated smile as she removed this girl's hands from her. But she's right. This was no time to let a mere inferiority complex put her off. With this Semblance, Neo can save countless lives and is willing to help.
At least now, with eyes devoid of hatred, Winter could see why Sasuke had chosen this girl and it wasn't for something superficial like her looks, which was good and showed that he was serious about his recruitment.
Those eyes of his were really special and could see the hidden potential of even someone who had lost their way.
"Very well, then." Winter took a deep breath and made her Aura boil around her body before manifesting her Semblance in a much freer way than usual. "Let's do this!"
Put differences aside and work together for the greater good!
Neo smiled and responded accordingly as she followed her enemy/rival/ally's lead.
From that point on, words became irrelevant as they did everything possible to help these people get out of the building safely.
While Winter was giving the orders because she had some experience with rescues and the authority to make people obey, Neo was the one doing most of the heavy lifting.
Her Semblance was absurd like that now.
Fortunately, it was during this joint effort that Winter discovered that a change had in fact also occurred in her Semblance. While it wasn't as significant as what had happened with Neo's power, she could now move her Glyphs around freely and even make use of some of its abilities, such as gravitational manipulation, without the need for Dust as a catalyst. Thanks to that, the transportation of debilitated patients and the clearing of blocked passageways was made immensely easier.
It might have been less compared to Neo, a lot less since there were more than a dozen multicolored girls running around, but Winter was also doing her part, especially when it came to getting people with precarious conditions out of the building.
Considering that the elevator and even the stairwells were out of the question because of the delay, danger, and limitation on the number of people who could go at the same time, Winter and Neo opted for something more...extreme and fast.
Given the chances of more structures collapsing, there was no room for subtlety, especially after they saw the damage done to the place where the battle probably began.
The scene was one of destruction, where a huge circular hole had been created to consume parts of the floors above and below, not to mention the walls knocked down in a straight line that stretched to neighboring buildings.
The damage was that absurd and to imagine that innocent people could have been caught in the middle of it, had Sasuke not saved them, only served to show how weak they were even now.
After realizing what was at stake, their determination rose to start acting faster and expanding their efforts to more floors except those above where Sasuke was fighting.
That and practically throwing people out of windows.
Their Semblances had evolved enough to turn something absurd like that into a viable solution.
Winter used her Glyphs as stretchers to levitate weakened people to the ground and Neo created countless spiral toboggans connected to the windows around the hospital.
Both methods were extremely efficient and in a matter of minutes, they had succeeded in evacuating a large number of people.
Everything seemed to be going well, but that was only until Neo fell to her knees sweating profusely and her copies began to disappear one by one.
"I...don't think I can keep this up much longer," she used the minimum of Aura to inform Winter of the problem at hand. "I've used too much power."
As if the clones and personification weren't enough, she had created and was still maintaining dozens of solid constructs that couldn't be undone or people would literally fall to their deaths!
"Hang in there, Neo." Winter knelt down beside her to offer water and treats from a destroyed vending machine nearby. This isn't good.
The way this girl was trembling as she accepted food in an attempt to replenish herself, even if just a little, said volumes about her current state.
Worse still, I don't think we've managed to evacuate even half the people so far. Winter didn't want to imagine how much worse it would be if Neo collapsed and that couldn't happen. "The woman who almost defeated me should be much stronger than that."
In response, Neo stopped chewing a bar of chocolate and looked at her with a mixture of surprise and skepticism.
Really? She rolled her eyes, almost smiling tiredly. Using my own words against me?
This woman could be many things, but she definitely wasn't good at motivational speeches.
"What?" Winter didn't understand this reaction, but only until she realized that perhaps it sounded arrogant of her, so maybe it was better to opt for a more direct approach. "Sasuke will like it if you give it your all."
Honestly, that would motivate any girl in this world and Neo was no different.
It was like watching a flame ignite in her multicolored eyes, determination burning to fuel her weakened power.
"That's right, you can do it." Winter couldn't help but smile at the irony. I wonder what Sasuke would say about this.
Surely he would be as confused as he would be proud to see them working together like this.
In truth, Winter still had her fears about this unexpected development and for more than one reason, but she would admit that Sasuke was right to accept this girl even after all she had done, especially now that she had in her hands a Semblance that could easily be considered the most powerful in this world...a title that many believed belonged to the Schnee family.
A hereditary, versatile, and powerful Semblance like the Glyphs deserved that honor.
But that doesn't matter. Winter shook her head, doing her best to suppress these feelings. Especially at a time like this.
There were more important things going on.
Fortunately, the lower floors could already be considered completely evacuated, so they would only have to worry about the middle and upper floors...where Sasuke was fighting.
Or so she believed until something strange happened.
Sasuke's immeasurable presence split in two, almost like Neo did with her copies, and one of them practically teleported to appear instantly in the street below where the local authorities were meeting.
As if that wasn't confusing enough, something even stranger, not to say disturbing, happened.
Rising from her feet and Neo's were a pair of white snakes with golden eyes!
"Wh-what in the world?!" Winter jumped in fright and her first instinct was to try and kill this thing only to be stopped by Neo. "What are you doing?!"
Wasn't this girl seeing the snakes crawling up their bodies?!
"These snakes belong to Sasuke!" Neo ignored the fear and discomfort of having this thing crawling across her skin again and used some more of her Aura to stop this woman from doing something stupid. "He must be about to do something!"
The question was what exactly he was up to.
"This is from Sasuke?" Winter stopped, almost in disbelief as she looked at this little thing climbing up her shoulder and realized that it really was emanating the Aura of her beloved! Right, I remember now!
Earlier, when Neo was being stubborn and asking for a kiss, Sasuke suggested using snakes. At the time, she didn't understand what that was about and perhaps it was more of a threat to Neo to stop bothering him, but now it made sense.
This is certainly a...unique ability. Winter couldn't help but be amazed as she lost her fear and used her fingers to caress this little creature. Just another part of what makes Sasuke so special.
Now she wanted to know the reason behind this, and she wouldn't be surprised if the snake started talking.
The answer to her question came in the most unexpected way when her body was covered in a cloud of white smoke. In the next second, when her vision returned along with a sense of disorientation, she was standing next to Neo in a completely different place.
"This..." she looked around and saw countless people, all dressed as patients, doctors, and nurses sharing her confusion about the sudden change of scenery. "The people from the hospital."
Not just the ones Neo and she had saved, there was a much larger number where many carried a snake with them too, probably all of the remaining ones.
Ignoring the fear and commotion these snakes were causing, she had an idea of what had happened.
Somehow, Sasuke had used his snakes as some kind of catalyst or anchor and transported all these people out of the hospital!
How incredible was that?!
For Neo, however, this abrupt change meant that she could finally deactivate her Semblance without putting anyone in danger and focus on what she had forced herself to neglect in order to help Sasuke.
Roman must be here too! Her mind immediately turned to her partner and the desire to confirm his well-being without having to worry about anything else. I just need to... She stopped as soon as she started walking, her vision blurring as a wave of weakness hit her, lost her balance, and began to fall. No, not now...
Neo couldn't faint because no one but her would care about a criminal like Roman, especially amid an emergency like this!
Unfortunately, she had been pushing her body to the limit for some time now and the momentary relief of the weight on her back was enough for all the adrenaline resulting from her determination to leave her at once.
Closing her eyes against her will, Neo waited for the chill of darkness to take over her dreams and turn them into nightmares based on her failure, but instead, she was greeted by a pair of more than familiar arms, whose sense of acceptance was one she had never experienced before and more than capable of moving her heart. Opening her eyes faintly, she was met with red and purple in a state of heterochromia similar to her own; a source of despair that now represented hope and a new beginning. Then there was the warm feeling that came from more than this boy's embrace and the sense of power pulsing to revitalize her.
Sasuke... She smiled as she hugged him and basked in the warmth that heated her heart to no end. It's about time, you idiot!
Winter, too, had her icy blue eyes meeting her beloved's multicolored ones and an indescribable sensation overtook her to the point where tears formed in her eyes. In the next second, she was hugging Sasuke without caring that Neo was in the middle of it because everything would be all right now.
Here is the chapter, so don't forget to leave a review, and if you want to support me and read ahead, take a look at my P t r & on (slash) Bertoti
The next one comes out on the 15th.
Until then.