A/N: This author's note is going at the chapter's beginning because I need to have this notion solidified as I have seen it appear numerous times. If there is something that displeases you about the fanfiction, say, I don't know, a ship, then you could kindly leave and don't have to continue reading, I wish you the best enjoyment elsewhere but just because you dislike something that appears in my fanfiction does not mean you tell me to stop writing something that I very much enjoy to include, hence why it's there to begin with. I get people putting down simple comments, constructive criticism, or suggestions, and I appreciate them and putting your say down, but to blatantly tell me to stop writing something just because you don't like, will not be tolerated. Everyone will receive comments like these and I know that you're entitled to your own opinion and I'm okay with that but what you need to understand is that this story is mine and I'm allowed to include what I wish. I don't mean to sound like a major asshole of sorts or a prick but this just needs to be addressed. If you still would like to stick around, then thank you and I appreciate all the support and kind words, I hope you enjoy and have a good night/day!
Blake continues to give Sun side glances as she still holds slight suspicion of why he was with her, as she knows her future self plans on going back to Menagerie. Sun nervously laughs as he feels Blake's judgmental stares.
"I'm gonna make a small prediction that we're going to see more of everyone else as the first episode of this volume solely focused more on Ruby," Jaune states, successfully bringing all the attention to him. No one argued as it did seem like the most plausible, and the next question, if they see that that's the case: who will the episode start with?
Everyone, for fun, went around and made their predictions on which of Team Rwby the episode would begin with. Well, except for Oscar as he was still a bit awkward about being here in the first place and didn't exactly know if it was his place to contribute. After a few more moments of putting down their theories, they turned their eyes back to the screen, giving Raider the green to begin the second episode.
(Volume 4 Intro)
Weiss, with her head down, slowly made her way through the manor, walking down corridors, passing a dining table, and descending the main stairwell.
The few who guessed correctly gave themselves a moment to cheer before going quiet. While those people were celebrating, Weiss inwardly cringed as they were now about to get a front-row seat of her home life, which didn't make her the least bit comfortable. Ruby, sensing Weiss' distress, placed a comforting hand atop hers. Weiss flinched at the unexpected contact before relaxing, deciding not to look in Ruby's direction.
She continued to make her way through the manner before she was stopped by her brother, Whitley, greeting her. "Hello, Whitley, you're in a cheery mood today," Weiss noted suspiciously.
Weiss felt mixed emotions about her brother. She and Whitley never had the best relationship growing up, but she also felt guilty. When she went off to Beacon, she left him with Father, all by himself. She repeated the same actions Winter had done to them, leaving them in an unstable household alone with that monster.
Weiss' frown deepened as she looked at the screen, remembering Ruby's hand, but deliberately choosing to ignore it.
"Klein made crepes for breakfast," Whitley responded, but Weiss wasn't buying it, asking her brother what he wanted. "I heard Father shouting with someone in his study earlier," Weiss asks if it was Mother. "No, she's already drinking in the garden."
A few of the people frowned upon hearing that. It was the way it was said as if that was such a normal occurrence, and knowing this worried them deeply.
Weiss looks down at their floor, downcast and lost in thought as Whitely relayed about their mother. Whitley goes on, bringing Weiss' attention back. "No, I think it was a man. I just wanted to warn you, I had heard he asked to speak with you." Weiss answers that she'll be fine, with her arms folded, but her expression isn't reassuring. "I know you will, you're strong, like Winter." Weiss goes on to point out that Whitley has never liked Winter.
Given this information, Weiss, Blake, Ren, and Pyrrha grew a tad suspicious of the boy's motives. Weiss was already on edge as her friends took a look at her home life, but her being the only one to know Whitley on a deeper level, he was compensating for something. Weiss' back became straighter as she focused more intently on her brother's mannerisms, trying to see if she could nitpick anything.
Whitley doesn't argue with her and adds that you can't deny the woman's resolve. Weiss' arms are now crossed as she narrows her eyes at her brother, commenting that he seems different. "And you've been gone. I'll have you know that I didn't stop growing while you were away at Beacon. Anyway, good luck with Father." Whilst Whitley takes his leave, Weiss lets a small smile form, quietly thanking her brother.
As Weiss too walks away, a large portrait of the family is shown on the wall, becoming the main focus before things go black.
Ruby notices that Weiss and her siblings don't appear particularly, happy. Well, a blank face is expected of this kind of picture, but she sees that Weiss and Winter are both visibly frowning. Winter's fist is even clenching on her skirt.
Weiss' home just seems so… lifeless.
Pyrrha and Cinder's conversation echoes across a black void, the only color being white circles floating around. The last thing heard was Ruby's painful cry as the girl herself abruptly wakes up, gasping as she looks around her. Ruby grunts as she brings a couple of fingers to her temple.
Ruby felt shivers course through her entire body as she heard the agony in her scream. Ruby shuffles in her seat for a few moments in an attempt to distract herself. As she moves she remembers her left hand and promptly snatches it away, her face turning red. Weiss looked over with concern, about to ask the question Ruby knew was coming but reassured her before the words came out. Weiss looked like she wanted to say more but kept quiet, grasping her hand and firmly keeping it in her lap.
Team RNJR heads down a dirt road as Ruby looks over the map. "The next town is…" She trails off, making offhanded noises, "We're lost," she concludes. Jaune tells her that they're not lost, the next town is Shion which he and his family used to visit dozens of times. "Oh, yeah! Don't you have like, four sisters?" Ruby asks. Jaune corrects her, telling her it's seven sisters.
"You have seven sisters? Woah! And you're the only boy?" Sun exclaims, turning around to look at Jaune in disbelief. The boy nods, his hand following the same motion as it does on screen.
Nora adds that that actually explains a lot. Jaune looks down for a moment before asking what Nora means by that.
"Yeah, what do you mean by that?" Jaune's eyes narrow as he looks at his friend, wanting an explanation for that statement. Nora simply ignores his question, only chuckling lightly to herself.
"So, what did you guys do there?" Ruby asks, changing the subject. Jaune lights up excitement as he comes up to Ruby's side, pointing out multiple spots on the map. When talking about a camping trip, he informed the others that he got his own tent because he was special. And so that his sisters would stop braiding his hair. "Didn't like the look?" Ruby asked.
"Yeah, they just kept doing pigtails but, personally, I think I'm more of a warrior's wolf tail kind of guy." As this is being said, Jaune swipes his hair dramatically. Ruby reminds him that's still a pigtail. "I stand by what I said."
A few chortles resounded around the room, but Jaune didn't cower as he secretly loved those times he got to spend with his sisters.
Nora and Ren freeze as Jaune and Ruby continue to look at the map, not bothering to lift their heads.
When seeing this they knew nothing good could come from it so they took a few seconds to prepare themselves for what they were about to witness.
Ruby and Jaune finally look up, their grip on the map loosening at seeing the destruction that once was Shion.
People gasped and Jaune slowly shook his head, in a current state of denial. He didn't want to believe what he was seeing, but what choice did he have? All that came to him were the cheerful memories he had with his family and the many times they'd been to the village. "W-what happened?" Jaune mustered when he finally had the strength to speak.
The most common theory was Grimm, and that probably could have been it, but it felt like there was a small inkling that it was something else.
Team RNJR rushed into town, Ruby telling everyone to look for survivors. Ren spotted someone and they all ran over to the wounded man. Ruby gasped that it was a huntsman and Jaune was the one who asked what killed everyone.
The man held onto his stomach, grunting out "Bandits. And, with all the panic…" He couldn't finish from the pain, but they all put together what else. Ren walked forward, needing a minute to compose himself while the others came up with a plan on how to help him.
Would it be possible? How long had the man been like that with the open wound? No, no, they can help him! Oscar internally argued with himself, doubting the situation but knew that wasn't what the man would need. He needed help.
"Alright, we can get him to the next village and try and find a doctor there," Ruby started, with Jaune following, planning that he and Ren could take turns carrying him. Nora had her doubts, thinking that the huntsman wouldn't make it, but Jaune wasn't leaving any room for doubts.
While they continued their planning, Ren grabbed their attention, shifting it, unfortunately, to the dead huntsman.
The room grew colder as they all stared in dismay at the now-deceased man. Ugh, we should have just acted and tried attending to him, why did we need to make a plan when we should have been acting faster!? Jaune scolded himself. We didn't even do anything, we just stood around while he died.
Ruby and Jaune were quiet as Nora suggested that they bury the body. Ren didn't give them time to answer as he told them that they should just go and it wasn't safe. Nora began following behind while Ruby and Jaune stuck around, Ruby placing a hand on his arm. "I'm just tired of losing everything…" That was the only thing Jaune said.
Hearing Jaune's words, everyone was picturing Pyrrha disintegrating away at the Fall of Beacon.
Ren was silent, his expression hardening as he stares down at the large imprint of a hoof. Nora stands next to him, and upon seeing the same thing, she mimics Ren.
Everyone, except the two in question, looked at the screen quizzically. It seemed like they were thinking the same when seeing the hoof print.
"I'm not talking about the good of my company I'm talking about the good of Atlas! Our entire kingdom!" Weiss' father yelled as she stands just outside the door. His voice is slightly muffled but the words are as clear as day.
Weiss quietly opens the door as the man, General Ironwood, lets out his retort. Jacque doesn't hide his offense as Ironwood goes on, "Jacque, will you please just hear me out?" Jacque slams his glass down on the table-
Weiss involuntarily flinches at the action. Now, Ruby isn't the only one who gazes at Weiss in clear dismay, Yang, and everyone in the back took notice of the tiny movement.
"Weiss…" Ruby starts but Weiss shuts her down in an instant with a cold look.
"You are a trusted friend and ally to this family, James, but what you're suggesting is absurd!" Jacque punctuates by banging his fist on the armrest of his chair. James attempts to be the voice of reason, telling the man he is blowing things out of proportion. "The Council will never agree to it!"
"You forget, I hold two seats on the Council."
Blake couldn't help the small huff and smile at seeing this man be put in his place for once.
"Your dust embargo has already cost me millions, I can promise you I've not forgotten!" Jacque shouts, and James reiterates that this whole thing is about him, his tone letting it be known that it's a question. Weiss remains where she is until her presence is announced due to the click of the door. Their attention is brought to her, which General Ironwood bows in apology for overextending his stay. Weiss excuses his sorries and Ironwood informs Jacque that their conversation will be brought back at another time. Jacque agrees, telling him that Klein will show him out, but Ironwood declines, stating that he knows the way.
Once he's at the door, General Ironwood reminds Weiss she will always have a place at Atlas Academy. He finally leaves as Weiss watches the door close.
Weiss sits in quiet anticipation as she waits for multiple bombs to drop the moment her father begins speaking. She gives her friends a quick nervous glance and tries to squash down the uneasy feeling in her stomach.
"Did you forget your manners while you were away?" Was the first Jaxque said as he walks back to his desk. Weiss frowns, unknowing to his knowledge, before releasing a sigh, then answering and apologizing.
Everyone was very aware of Mr. Schnee's questionable ethnic choices, but only after hearing that single sentence directed at Weiss did they hate the man even more.
"Can you believe there are still people in the world that blame Atlas for what happened to Beacon, to Vale!?"
"Well, they weren't there," Weiss reasons as her father takes a seat behind his desk.
"It's a wonder Ironwood wasn't stripped of his rank," Jacque goes on, aggravatingly, "I suppose the Council trusts him, for better or worse." Weiss tells her father that she trusts him.
"Yeah, he's done a lot to help the people. The question is why doesn't your father? What's his vendetta against him?" Nora asks, looking down at Weiss.
"All my father has only ever cared about was money, and if he isn't getting that then he'll just take it out on any person he can until he gets his way," The Heiress responds spitefully, even at the unfortunate cost of many innocents.
Jacque lets out a sigh, "Thanks to him, Atlas is forbidden from exporting dust to other kingdoms, a 'precautionary measure' as he puts it, until we're certain no one is going to declare war. How anyone could possibly find that to be sound logic is beyond me. Which is why the Schnee Dust Company will be holding a charity concert in the coming weeks."
Weiss felt a small bubble of happiness at the prospect that her father might actually be doing some good for once before it was quickly taken over by her suspicion of just what this man truly wants. Her father has never been a good man and never will be, so what is it that he's really after? Just to make himself look good and put up a facade that he wants to help? Most likely.
"We need to show the people of Remnant that we're on their side, that we are all victims of the Fall of Beacon."
"Psst, Weiss, would it be outright rude to tell you that I hate your father to your face?" Yang "whispers".
Weiss rolled her eyes as she answered her friend, "The context of telling the person that would be a definitive yes, but I've already disliked my father long before this. So, for your question, no."
"Okay, good, just checking because I really hate your dad." There were collective hums of agreement as Yang turned back to the TV.
"That's wonderful news," Weiss elated to hear this from her father, though continued as he stated it would make a lot of people happy to see her perform at the event.
There it is… Weiss just knew there was a catch and this a part of it.
"Many forget that you were there, my own daughter, a Schnee, on the grounds defending another kingdom. We need to remind them, we need to show them that the Schnee Family is just as strong as ever."
"Are you asking me if I'd like to sing or are you telling me?"
"I think it would make a lot of people happy." He doesn't give her a direct answer, but his words are proof enough of what he means.
Everyone glared at the screen as he just admitted that he's essentially exploiting his daughter for his image.
Weiss relents as she tells her father that she'll start practicing. That's exactly what he wanted to hear.
Weiss steps out of the study, Klein asking if Weiss would like some hot coffee.
"Klein!" The rest of Team Rwby shouted at just hearing his voice.
"Weiss, you really need to bring him over more often!" Ruby exclaims. Weiss shook her head as her friends were pleading to bring him over.
"I always find he keeps his study dreadfully cold." Weiss takes the mug gratefully, thanking the man. "You know what I think?" Klein raises the platter, before bringing it down, his eyes now red, "I think it's to balance out all his hot air, hehe."
"Yes!" Yang and Sun cry out.
Weiss scolds him, looking behind her to the door, but turns back smiling. They share a few chuckles, Klein changing personality, getting the girl to laugh even more.
Weiss sighs happily, she loved Klein. He was more of a father figure than Jacque ever was.
"Aww, there's my happy little snowflake." Weiss thanks the man for the mood laughter, a full grin adorning her face.
Weiss' friends were glad that she grew up with some kind of positive parental figure.
The same thing appears, a black void with circling balls of light. Pyrrha is calling for Jaune. Ruby slowly wakes up this time and is about to go back to sleep when she truly hears Pyrrha's voice. She looks around to find Jaune out of bed.
Ruby makes her way in the direction of the sound, pausing to observe behind a tree, and watching Jaune take out Crocea Mors. He gazes upon the sword before looking over to his scroll which plays a recording of Pyrrha. "Alright Jaune, just like we practiced, follow these instructions: shield up, keep your grip tight, don't forget to keep your front foot forward. Ready? Go!" Jaune follows the steps and repeats them as the video commands him to. As he does so, a gust of wind is created each time.
Watching this pained those close to Pyrrha. The video is a sole and constant reminder to them of what takes place in the future. They hope to change it and that the event isn't something inevitable.
Jaune stops to take a rest. "Okay, now, assuming you aren't cheating, we can take a break. I know this can be frustrating and it can feel like so much effort to progress such a small amount, but I want you to know that I'm proud of you. I've never met someone so determined to better themselves. You've grown so much since we started training and I know this is just the beginning. Jaune, I-I…" The Pyrrha in the recording looks away from the camera, turning back when she's ready to go on, "I want you to know that I'm just happy to be a part of your life, I'll always be here for you Jaune."
Jaune could feel tears welling up in his eyes as he sees the amount of pain his counterpart is showing to be hearing this. Simply the fact that this was to be the outcome if Raider hadn't shown up hurts him and relives him like nothing else ever has. If it weren't for her appearing then what they were seeing really would have been the future. Instead, a greater being wants to use her powers to help them change what's coming.
The video rewinds all the way back to the beginning to start over. Jaune follows the same steps after taking a moment to compose himself as Ruby stays for a couple of seconds. Following those seconds she heads back to bed. Jaune swings his sword for a third time, the screen going black along with him.
With the screen now going blank a few students took the moment to stretch their legs to get that little bit of tiredness out of them. Nora quickly ran off into the kitchen to get a light snack before returning. A few people let out a couple of yawns, signaling that they should turn in for…whatever time of the day it was.
All of them were going to their respective rooms, but Oscar and Sun stayed behind as they didn't exactly have their own rooms. Raider expected this and led them down to the end of the hall. With a snap of her fingers a new room magically appeared with a plate above that read "Golden Monkey". The two look at it confused, eyeing Raider even more curiously as she starts chuckling.
"Two questions: what's so funny and what's ' Golden Monkey'?" Oscar asked, squinting at the plate as if it would give him the answer. Raider waved off both of his questions and left them to their room. Oscar, a tad unsatisfied, stepped inside with Sun close behind.