Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on multiple existing anime/manga series. The characters and settings used in this story belong to their respective owners and creators, and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to infringe upon any existing intellectual property. I do not own any of the original works that inspired this fanfiction, and I fully support the original creators and their works.
I'm also exceedingly exceedingly exceedingly rarely chilling in JaxWolf4's (Author of Nah, I'd Adapt and Zenin Days) Discord Server. It's a chaotic lobotomy mess. Not for the faint of heart.
Here's the link:
Disc: HrPrTeam
-Story Start-
Weiss believed that today would be as pleasantly mundane as the rest of their between-semester stage.
She found it astonishing that she found pleasure in simplicity, but even she couldn't remain unaffected by her teammates, colorful bunch that they were.
They were, technically, on 'vacation'. With the semester over, their days fell into a comfortable routine.
The early wake-ups, studying to retain information, training, strolling across campus, dining in the cafeteria, and hanging out with her teammates and other acquaintances within Beacon.
And sure, today promised to be interesting, at the very least - with the foreign exchange students coming for the Vytal Festival and all.
A nice change of pace, to the pleasantly mundane, nothing glaring to it.
She was grateful for it; it was... good for them, after that debacle over a month ago.
Her resolve to be a huntress; she knew what to expect - but experience and expectation were two fundamentally different things.
Just another bright day.
The only lamentable thing was that she couldn't manage to actually go out into Vale itself, having to resort to getting that inert idiot to purchase what she needed.
Right... buying.
That's where she felt something was amiss.
"Huh?" Her eyebrows rose to her forehead as she tried to purchase a small packaged cookie from one of the many vending machines dotting Beacon.
It was almost ritualistic for her.
For Ruby, she'd occasionally get her a cookie and help her study.
For Pyrrha, it was a protein bar, but she always warned her that too many muscles wouldn't look good on her, to no avail.
And for Alex, it was an energy drink. She never quite understood the point of that; was he even getting any benefit from that much caffeine in his system?
Almost seemed like a futile, meaningless indulgence.
She sighed, her arched brows lowering in favor of a more narrowed, stubborn gaze.
Her scroll swiped once, twice at the check-out of the vending machine.
Nothing seemed to work; the error persisted, insisting that no funds existed.
She stared at it for a long moment lasting almost a minute. A sinking suspicion welled up in her gut.
"It's been a month... why now?" She mused with a calculating frown.
Rising up and straightening her back, she turned around to stare at the distant setting sun, the evening bleeding into the sky.
Scroll still in hand, she sent a message to her teammates.
[Start without me; I might be late. There are matters that I must attend to.]
She'd rather not be tardy... but if this is what she thinks this is, she might have no choice.
-----------------------------
Weiss had gone to a more private place, a spot Alex recommended and usually went to. Given he was still in Vale attending his session, this place should be free by now.
Sitting alone, she let the cool breeze soothe her nerves as she placed the call. Trying to make sense of the oh-so innocent declining of her card.
A professional, feminine tone radiated from her scroll, "I'm sorry, Miss Schnee, those are the CEO's orders. We cannot allocate any more funds into your account."
Weiss's expression hardened, unreadable and cold. "I understand." Her words came out slowly, in a practiced manner.
"If you would like, given your status as his daughter, you may call him through Beacon's CCT to-"
That was an odd way to address her. Daughter of the CEO, rather than heiress to the company.
Weiss filed that discrepancy away. It was probably nothing more than another petty attempt to diminish her.
She kept her words short and curt. "I'll decide on my own. Thank you for your service."
"It was my pleasure. Have a good rest of the day, and happy festivities, Miss Schnee." With her goodbye given, she hung up the call.
There it was again; they never called her simply 'Miss Schnee' unless they were her close and trusted attendants.
Huffing through her nose, a peculiar vindicated smile formed on her lips. "As petty as ever, Father."
But it still bugged her.
"Why now?"
She knew this was payback for her public showing with the new faction of the White Fang at the funeral.
And certainly, Ozpin had made it clear that none of RAWP, her included, were actual recruited members of the organization.
Even so, her father wouldn't tolerate even a bit of it.
How could he?
All movements, regardless of how 'right' they were, how 'justified' they were for the greater good of both Faunus and Humanity...
Would only damage the Schnee Dust Company.
The cheap labor that they so clearly relied upon, that unethical labor that allowed them to overtake any competition.
All those times she asked for a tour of the mines, even at the risk of her life, and all she could see were actors and clowns dusted with make-up.
Questionable business ethics that allowed them to monopolize the Dust trade almost globally, and most certainly the entirety of Atlas.
All those times, all those news reports of attacks and gangs utilising SDC equipment and providing dust.
How could all of them be truly forged and false accusations?
And as she grew older, it had gotten trivially easy to catch her Father avoiding certain questions.
...Damn it all.
She despised those terroristic animals, those that murdered friends of the family in the name of Faunus Rights.
Yet, even then, she could not ignore the fact that her family's company was in the wrong either.
It had been so easy to turn her eyes away from it; her father and the company's partners made it so straightforward.
So she had to do something... deep down in her heart, she wanted to follow in her sister's footsteps, become a Huntress and carve her own path.
She'll do that, but she's also going to be the future heiress of the company.
She'll fix it, even if it means sinking the company into mud; the weight of the sins had already done that much.
Showing that she, the company heiress, sides with the right side this time. Pushing for Faunus rights.
That speech of hers, putting her foot down and what the future may look like.
For now, that was the best she could do.
...
'That's a lie, isn't it?' She admitted, in her heart of hearts.
"Hah." A chuckle left her lips; she couldn't help but notice a severe hypocrisy glaring from within her.
She was reminded of her words in the past, meant for a certain boy on her team.
Those words were a repetitive question, a question he always answered clearly and without change, well, at least as of recently.
"Why are you here? You've got all that power; just go and be a Huntsman right now."
"Haha." She laughed again; she couldn't help but find it mortifying that she was as much of an uncommitted coward as Alex.
Had she been condemning his cowardice, his slothful nature all this time... or recognizing her own?
Her vision began to swirl; her heart hammered.
She pressed a palm to her burning forehead. "Don't think about it." She released a slow breath, trying to subdue the headache.
She turned her head to the setting sun, noting that if she were to head back right now to her dorm room, she might still make it in time.
Rising up, standing tall, she plastered a practiced neutral expression, one she had mastered to keep away any attention when she wanted to be kept alone.
Her education and life in Atlesian high society taught her many things, and this was a favored tool.
She walked calmly, fluidly towards her dorm room, intent on keeping a measured air to her. She'd prefer not to burden anyone with her troubles.
In truth, it was no such dramatic issue. She simply lost her funds, that's all.
Nothing to concern themselves with.
"Ah, right." As she walked, she withdrew her scroll and texted a swift message to Alex regarding his continued therapy sessions.
Given how much the Headmaster favored him, he'll spearhead the rest of the cost; she was confident in that.
She strolled across the countless lit paths towards the Dormitory building, noticing that her practiced visage held up well enough, as certain gazes crossed her path and left her quietly alone.
Even from fellow acquaintances among the upperclassmen and freshmen.
Foreign students did much the same, perhaps lingering a bit longer when it came to the Atlas Academy students, but she paid it no mind.
She was, after all, royalty in all but name in that floating city.
"Weiss?" A cutesy tone announced her name from behind her. A voice that scratched on the edges of her mind.
It sounded familiar.
Turning around, she was met with an Atlas Academy Freshman, and not just any freshman.
That voice, that purple hair, and that dignified smile.
Her eyes widened considerably.
It was one of her old playmates from back home.
"Violet? Is that you?!" Her lips unconsciously rose into a delighted smile as she stepped toward the girl roughly her height.
"Mhm. I heard you were in Beacon, but you've gotten so much prettier."
Without further words exchanged, the two shared a warm hug, to which Weiss answered. "Oh, don't be so dramatic." She separated from her, giving her a good look at her face. "It's only been two years since we last saw each other, but you've gotten prettier as well."
"Yes, but Weiss, your face..."
"Oh, this?" She pointed at her scar across her left eye. Standing tall, she proudly exclaimed. "A mark of honor, I couldn't ask for anything more gorgeous."
Violet chuckled lightly into her fist. "I guess in your line of work that is something to be proud of."
Weiss's smile lowered into a perplexed look. "That's right! What are you doing here, anyway? If you were going to be a Huntsman, you shouldn't have kept that kind of secret from me. I'd have rushed to meet you the moment all of you arrived-"
"Ah, no. I still work with my Dad in the SDC's supply chain management."
...
"What?" Weiss subconsciously took a step back, confusion marring her pale features. "Then... what are you doing here? Is there some business I am not aware of-"
Her words were interrupted by a thin, grim line forming on her friend's face. "I don't know how to tell you this, but... The CEO specifically requested that I be the one to tell you that-"
"That... what? Speak clearly, Violet Saradeen."
"Your status as Official Heiress to the Schnee Dust Company has been revoked. The heir is now Whitley Schnee... I'm sorry."
...
Weiss's lips parted as her expression froze, her eyes wide.
It was silent, tense and uncomfortable.
Violet continued, adding. "The CEO remarked that if you'd like to get at least your funds back, you must contact a Vale reporter I will provide. You are to record a prepared statement withdrawing your support or association, condemning all factions, and clarifying that you acted without the authorization of the Schnee Dust Company."
"Do that, and you'll get your funds back. At the very least, you are still a Schnee."
...
Weiss's eyes showed no emotion. "Leave me be."
Violet bowed lightly. "I'll be on campus for the rest of the festival if you need me. My temporary number is this-" She gave a small paper slip, which Weiss emotionlessly took hold of.
That paper slip crumpled before Violet's eyes, much to her deepening frown.
With a nod, Violet scurried away, leaving Weiss standing stunned and in her lonesome, under the light of a single lamp.
Weiss didn't know how long she stood there in the quietude, but before she knew it, her legs dragged her back to that other quiet spot.
She wanted to be alone, just for a little bit.
...
Her mind was empty; she couldn't bring herself to even dare think.
Otherwise, the tears would have poured out; she could not let that happen.
So she sat, controlling her breath, gazing upon the breathtaking, shattered moon.
Whenever her sister was gone, this instructed method always helped her keep her wits about her.
Her sister...
"I miss her." She admitted with a sad smile, before shutting off any further thinking.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale-
"Are you... alright?" An unfamiliar voice called out to her, strong and feminine.
Weiss immediately fixed her face and turned to her right, only to be met by a woman wearing no uniform.
Behind her, a bunch of Haven students followed her like curious or excited sheep, which Weiss immediately directed her eyes to the tag loosely hanging on the woman's chest.
'Professor's Aide - Cinderella Beipan.' With the Haven Academy symbol neatly marked beside it.
Weiss denied calmly with a smile. "Oh, no. I'm fine. Thank you for your concern, Miss Beipan."
The older woman's lips curled up to form an uncertain smile. "Are you certain? That look of powerlessness on you... If you'd like, we can talk about it; perhaps you'd be more comfortable with someone you have no connection with?"
Weiss's eye twitched lightly, her smile and expression making no show of her frustration. "I don't know what you mean. I'm perfectly fine."
Cinderella seemed to contemplate for a moment, flashing a friendly smile.
"Hmm, then how about you tell me about life at Beacon, then? Are you going to be fighting in the Tournament?"
Fortune seemed to frown upon Weiss today; she was sure of it.
To Be Continued!