Chapter 38
Schnee Mansion
Weiss Schnee sits on her bed in her room with her head bowed and her hands folded in her lap. Jacques Schnee paces in front of her.
"Unbelievable. Absolutely unbelievable." Jacques suddenly stops, then turns and points at her. "Do you have any idea what your stunt cost us?"
"I-" Weiss said before being cut off by her father
"And don't think I'm just talking about Lien here! Our reputation! Our... our…" Jacques sighs angrily and holds his head, unable to come up with the words to finish expressing the gravity of her mistake.
Weiss waits for a moment before speaking. "I want to leave."
"I beg your pardon?" Jacques asked
"I said I want to leave. I don't want to stay here anymore. I don't want to stay in Atlas anymore! I'd rather be out there defending Remnant from this current crisis." Weiss said
"Young lady, I don't give a damn about what you want! This isn't about you. This is about the Schnee family name and your apparent insistence on dragging it through the mud!" Jacques yelled
"I have done nothing but fight to uphold the honor of my family name, a name that you married into!" Weiss said standing up
This causes Jacques to slap Weiss hard on her left cheek, sending her head to the side as she gasps in reaction. She puts her hand on her cheek and turns to face her father, looking at him a little incredulously as she lowers her hand. He looks right back at her, unrepentant. When he begins speaking again, his voice suddenly sounds calm yet intimidating.
"This behavior of yours is incredibly disappointing. You couldn't possibly understand the lengths I've gone to in order to keep this family where it is. You think running off like your sister is going to make the Schnee name stronger? You're wrong. Siding with her only divides us."
"I'm not siding with anyone. I'm doing what I feel is right, and that does not include wasting my time up here…" Weiss said as Jacques walks away, rolling his eyes as his daughter finishes her rant "...with these clueless people in Atlas. The Schnee family legacy isn't yours to leave. It's mine, and I'll do it as a Huntress."
Jacques stops and slowly turns to face her again. As he speaks, he moves to stand in front of his daughter, peering down upon her.
"No... you won't. You're not leaving Atlas. You're not to leave the manor grounds unless I specifically allow it. You are going to remain here, out of sight and out of trouble, until you and I come to an agreement on your future."
"What?!"
"Your presupposition that you can simply have whatever it is you want is a clear sign of our failure as parents. But from now on, I'll be giving you the full attention you require, starting by keeping you where I can see you." With that, Jacques turns once more and walks away.
"You can't just keep me from leaving!" Weiss said
Again, he stops and turns to look at her.
"I can, and the staff here will make sure of it."
"So now I'm just your prisoner?!"
"You are my daughter. You're a child, and children are grounded when they misbehave." Jacques said as he walks away, and this time, he continues walking even while his daughter speaks.
"This is only going to make things worse, Father. People will ask questions! They'll want to know why the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company is suddenly nowhere to be found!"
Her father stops in front of the door and faces her. "Which is why you are no longer the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company."
Weiss takes a step back, stunned. "Excuse me?"
"Clearly, the trauma you endured at the fall of Beacon was too much for you. Which is why you've generously revoked your claim to the company and its earnings and passed it on to your brother Whitley."
Weiss stares at Jacques, breathing heavily as she digests the news. "It's time to wake up and face reality."
Jacques turns and leaves. Through the open door, we see Whitley waiting and clearly having been eavesdropping. Jacques turns to the left without acknowledging his son.
Weiss takes a moment to deal with her emotions and then steps out into the hall with her fists clenched, calling out to her brother who is moving down the hallway in the opposite direction his father had gone. "Whitley?!"
Whitley turnd around with a small smile "Yes, sister?"
Weiss walked to her brother, crossing her arms. "Did you know about this?"
"About what?"
"You never liked Winter. You never liked me. But you've been nothing but supportive since the moment I came back." Weiss noted
"If being kind to my big sister is some sort of crime, then I suppose I'm guilty."
Weiss's eyes widen with realization. "You wanted this to happen."
"It's foolish not to do as Father asks." As he speaks, he leans forward, his feigned innocent smile changing into a threatening and angry expression.
Weiss stares with a look of hurt and betrayal. "I can't believe you."
"Don't worry, Weiss. The Schnee family name is in good hands." Whitley turns and walks away, Weiss staring after him.
Weiss returns to her room, collapses face down across her bed and cries. Two airships fly past the window. A second or two later Weiss lifts her head and tightens her fist, a determined look in her eyes.
She walks to the window and pulls the curtains shut. She moves her bed over several feet, pushes a desk and kicks aside a low glass bench at the foot of her bed. A wide shot shows the furniture askew. A cushioned stool is on its side on the floor, and a long white box marked with the Schnee snowflake symbol rests on her vanity. She approaches the box and opens it to reveal Myrtenaster and Dust vials inside. She lifts her weapon and poses with the blade held vertically in front of her face.
"Rough night?" Weiss stops as she turned towards the voice. Standing close to the window while inside her room, Scorpion has his arms folded as he watches Weiss.
"Hanzo!" Weiss gasped not expecting to see the Spectre
Meanwhile
Tyrian pulls his tail back. Qrow turns around, swinging his weapon and holding at the ready by his side.
"As I live and breathe, Qrow Branwen." Tyrian said while performing a mock bow. "A true Huntsman has entered the fray!"
Ruby gets up and sets Crescent Rose on its end. Qrow glances back at her.
"I don't know, this guy's weird." Ruby said
Qrow facing Tyrian then spoke. "Look, pal, I'm not sure who you are, but you need to leave my niece alone."
"Why, friend, my name is Tyrian. And I'm afraid that is not possible." He chucked, while placing his hands together before gesturing at Ruby. "My assignment from Her Grace was to retrieve this young girl. So, that is what I must do. One does not upset the Queen."
"Queen?" Ruby asked
"Salem." Qrow answered
"Of course." Liu Kang groaned in realization
"Who?" Sonya asked
"You know Bruce Lee, when ever something weird seems to happen, you kinda always know." Johnny said
"Pecks of growing up in the Wu Shi Academy I guess." Liu Kang said
"Hmm, I think we've had enough talk now, don't you?" Tyrian assumes a crouching position.
"You took the words right out of-" Tyrian rushes Qrow before he can finish voicing the thought and the two begin fighting. Qrow blocks two strikes with Harbinger, then slashes at Tyrian who jumps trying to pierce Qrow as he lands. Qrow dodges then swings but Tyrian back-flips away and rushes back in.
The two clash as Tyrian goes flying, he comes to a stop digging his weapons into the ground. He ducks to avoid a slash from Qrow then leaps aside to dodge a horizontal strike. He follows up with a slash, using the force to transition into a kick that Tyrian slides under, then the Faunus tries to strike his back but it is stopped. Tyrian attacks again as Qrow parries several thrusts of his tail. As Tyrian blocks a downward strike pinning him on his knees a roof gets damaged by the shock-wave and Tyrian uses The Queen's Servants built in guns to get free. As Qrow blocks the shots with Harbinger Tyrian circles him firing a steady barrage, Ren and Nora join in, but Tyrian catches their sneak attack and dodges then easily knocks them away. He moves to chase them as the two land back near Jaune and Pyrrha, but Qrow intervenes to hold him back.
"Don't come closer!" Qrow yells as the two men continue to fight.
"Fine!" Ruby growls as she takes Crescent Rose to the top of a building and waits for an opening to shoot Tyrian. However, both he and Qrow move too fast for her to get a clear shot. Ruby grimaces in frustration.
Qrow blocks a jab from Tyrian"s tail then counters, Tyrian parries before retaliating with a slash followed by a kick.
Qrow ducks before swinging three times as the Faunus avoids them all, before using his tail as a spring to gain altitude as he opens fire again. Qrow blocks the attack then fires a shot of his own then dodges another thrust. Tyrian manages to uses his tail to disarm Qrow flinging the sword away as he rubs his wrist. This slows things down enough for Ruby to repeatedly shoot at him from the roof, but after the first shot misses an amused Tyrian just deflects each with his tail.
"Aren't we going to help?" Johnny asked Liu Kang
"He said not to interfere. But if things go sideways, get ready to jump in." Liu Kang said causing the others to nod
Qrow curls his hand into a fist then switches to punching Tyrian in the face. He groans in pain backing up before Qrow lands a few more hits. With a final kick, he manages to send Tyrian flying and casually moves to retrieve Harbinger from where it embedded in a wall. A frustrated Tyrian waits crouched until Qrow has his back turned before striking, but Qrow merely leaps on top of his own weapon and partially changes it to scythe mode. Using the gun barrels he propels himself to a roof top, Tyrian follows as their battle continues.
They appear evenly matched until Qrow notices a damaged beam. He tricks Tyrian into landing on it and the Faunus descends into the building and uses his tail to drag Qrow down, too. As the two land, the remaining roof collapses inward. This is enough to make Ruby decide to no longer stay back. Staring at the dust cloud in concern she descends to street level. Just as she reaches the building, Qrow comes crashing out through a wall, his body bouncing. He tosses Harbinger which lands with its blade in the ground, and Qrow perches atop it. Red flickers of damaged Aura move over his body twice.
Tyrian comes out of the floating dust and grime inside the building, purple flickers moving across his body. As the two begin to strike again, Ruby jumps in between and deflects Tyrian's blades with Crescent Rose.
"Ruby!" Yang yells but Blake holds her back from moving forward.
"Do you wish to be taken?" Tyrian asked
"No! But I won't stand by and watch someone get hurt!" Both Qrow and Ruby move in to attack Tyrian who parries both weapons and the three clash. He kicks Qrow away then shoots and jabs at Ruby with tail, she blocks and tries to counter but the blow is knocked aside.
His eyes purple again, Tyrian closes in and almost gets her with his stinger, but Qrow blocks it. "Ruby! What did I say?! Get back!"
"This is my fight, too!" She attacks Tyrian while he's still locked blade-to-blade with Qrow, but his legs arch away from the swing of Crescent Rose.
"No, it's not that. It's-" Qrow tried to say as Ruby attacks again, and Tyrian moves to her. He flips and sends her back with a two-footed kick. She slides closer to the building and gains her ground, but the wooden beams near the roof have been shaken up too much and a heavy one breaks and descends upon her. Qrow slices it in half so it falls in pieces to either side of Ruby without touching her.
She smiles at him in gratitude and affection, and he raises his head from his stance to look at her.
Tyrian tried to use this opportunity to attack Qrow with his stinger, but suddenly a green arrow pierced his tail, causing Tyrian to reel back as be cries out from the pain. Standing, he whirls to face Nightwolf, who is approaching the group, alongside Sub Zero, Smoke and Kenshi.
"You bastard!" Tyrian takes a step or two forward but is off balance. The rest of the Kombat kids all move to block his path to Ruby and Qrow. Tyrian takes a few awkward steps, not engaging.
"She'll forgive you." He said to himself before running away.
"Tomas." Yang called, rushing towards the Assassin
"Hey, guess we made it in time." Smoke said as Yang enveloped him in a hug
"You know, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you and your friends usually get into a lot of trouble." Kenshi told Sub Zero
"You have no idea." Blake said as she approached Sub Zero. "Kuai, you're back early. Did something happen?"
"As of now, the Lin Kuei are no better than the White Fang." Sub Zero said balling his fist
"What happened?" Liu Kang asked
"The Grandmaster went through with the Cyber Program." Smoke said
"What's that?" Johnny asked
"They've turned all my former comrades into Cyborgs." Sub Zero said causing the group to gasp
"What, but why?" Nora asked
"The Grandmaster believed the Mortal body is weak, fragile. We barely escaped had it not been for Nightwolf and Kenshi." Smoke said as Blake placed a comforting hand on Sub Zero's shoulder, causing him to calm down
"So, who do I have to thank for saving Tomas's butt?" Yang asked
"I am Nightwolf."
"Kenshi."
"Nice to meet you, but I think we have other problems." Sonya said before facing Qrow
"Yeah, who was that guy?" Nora asked
"How did you get here?" Ren followed
"Why are people after Ruby?" Jaune asked causing Sub Zero to raise a brow
"Someone is after Ruby?" Sub Zero asked
"That's what it looks like." Blake said
"Uncle Qrow? What's going on?" Ruby asked
Signing, Qrow then sat down on the floor. "What's your favorite fairy tale?"
Schnee Mansion
"Hanzo." Weiss muttered as she rushed towards Scorpion, hugging him. Hesitantly the Spectre returned the hug. "You came."
"So it seems." Scorpion said causing her to look at his face
"How long have you been here?" Weiss asked
"You sing well." Scorpion said causing her to blush
"Guess you were here the entire time huh." Weiss said rubbing her elbow. "Sorry you had to see what happened."
"There's no need to apologize." Scorpion reassured. "I believe I would have acted no differently from you."
"I doubt you would have summoned an Arma Gigas." Weiss joked
"Maybe, but a Giant Skull the size of a building would probably have been worse." Scorpion said jokingly
"Wait you can do that?" Weiss asked
"Pecks of being an Undead I suppose." Scorpion signed
"You're not a monster, I already told you that." Weiss said
"Still I betrayed all of you."
"You didn't have a choice. I'm quite certain if any one of us were in your shoes we'd do the same thing." Weiss said causing them both to stay in silence
"It would seem your father has decided to lock you in." Scorpion noted
"Yeah."
"You're going to escape, ain't you?"
"Yeah."
"And you're planning on attending the Tournament." Scorpion noted, glaring at her slightly
"It's my duty." Weiss said
"And nothing I'll say will make you change your mind." Scorpion signed. "Summon your Arma Gigas."
"What?" Weiss asked
"Summon your Arma Gigas." Scorpion repeated. "The sooner you master summoning it, the less worried I'll be with you participating in the Tournament."
"Okay." Weiss said with a determined look. "But first, I'll need some motivation. Take off your mask, I want to see your face."
"Seriously?" Scorpion asked slightly amused.
"Yes."
"Skull Face or Human Face?" Scorpion joked
"Hanzo."
"As you wish." Scorpion said taking off his mask, letting Weiss see his face. "Are you motivated ye-"
He didn't finish as Weiss planted her lips on his, causing him to pause. It took a while before Scorpion finally gave in and returned the kiss.
"There, I'm motivated." Weiss said turning completely red after breaking from the kiss
Before Scorpion could reply however, Weiss lowers Myrtenaster and resumes her Summoning position. The glyph appears and this time Weiss looks at the portrait of the Arma Gigas on the wall. She repeats the same twirl and stab. The glyph glows brightly and spins faster.
The books shake in the bookcase on the wall. One particular tome, decorated with floral relief, falls off the shelf and opens on the floor.
The window bursts outward as the room is consumed in a bright white light. The light abates to reveal Weiss covering her eyes with her arm. Scorpion merely looked amazed and proud as Weiss smiles at him and turns to face the Arma Gigas she successfully Summoned. The Arma Gigas goes down on one knee Infront of her.
"You've done well." Scorpion said.
"Thanks." Weiss said
"I think it's time I left." Scorpion said. "I believe your brother is heading here."
"Guess I'll see you at the Tournament then." Weiss said as Scorpion nods before teleporting away
Not a moment later, the door of her room opened. "Hello, sister." Whitney propped up against the frame of her open door.
"Ugh, leave." Weiss groaned
"How hurtful. And here I am, about to offer you a favor. Father's taking me to town to introduce me to some of his business partners. I'd thought I'd see if you wanted me to pick up anything since you're... well, stuck here." Whitney said mockingly
"Are you jealous?" Weiss asked. "Is that it?"
"Whatever do you mean?"
"Is that why you hate me? Are you jealous of my abilities? Of Winter's?"
"Hmm... no, not really." Whitley said stepping away from the door frame. "Honestly, I find it barbaric. It's beneath people like me. Like Father. What can a single Huntsman possibly do that an army cannot? That's why we have one, even if it is run by a fool."
"A single Huntsman killed a Wyvern at Beacon." Weiss said
"Ah yes, the traitor right?" Whitney asked
"Don't mock him." Weiss warned
"You know, I heard rumors that you were involved with-"
"Leave." Weiss said
"Fine, fine. I've got better things to do." Whitney said. "Enjoy your... training, however pointless it is. What is your plan, anyway? What do you hope to accomplish while trapped in your own bedroom?"
A black glyph appears on the open door, promptly swinging it shut on Whitley's briefly surprised face.
It didn't take long, as the door to her room is pushed open by an urgent Klein Sieben.
"Miss Schnee! Are you alright?!" The butler's eyes widen and he leans backwards, looking amazed. Weiss smiles at him and turns to face the Arma Gigas she successfully Summoned.
"Yes." Weiss said looking out the broken window. "Klein, I need a favor."