(Weiss POV)

I was walking down the halls in my mansion... through the halls and past our family's piano.

After everything that happened at Beacon, it's only understandable that I would be a little bit down right?

As I headed for my father's office, I suddenly heard the voice of my little brother... Whitley.

Whitley: A pleasure to see you out of your room for a change.

It took me a bit, but I turned to face him.

Weiss: Hello, Whitley. You're in a cheery mood today.

Whitley: Klein made crepes for breakfast.

Whitley clasped his hands behind his back and smirked.

Weiss: What do you want?

Whitley: I heard Father shouting with someone in his study earlier.

Weiss: Mother?

Whitley: No, she's already drinking in the garden. I think it was a man.

Whitley feigned a concerned look.

Whitley: I just wanted to warn you. I heard he had asked to speak with you.

Weiss: I'll be fine.

Whitley: I know you will. You are strong, like Winter.

I got a little confused by that comment.

Weiss: You never liked Winter.

Whitley: True, but you can't deny her resolve.

Weiss: You... seem different.

Whitley: And you've been gone. I'll have you know I didn't stop growing while you were away at Beacon.

As he said that he turned and walked away.

Whitley: Anyway, good luck with Father!

I waited for him to leave before finally responding.

Weiss: ... Thank you...

(Ruby POV)

Everything seemed black and blurry. I could hear voices in my head.

Pyrrha: Do you believe in destiny?

Cinder: Yes.

Pyrrha: Jaune?

Ruby: Pyrrha!

I woke up from the nightmare. I was sitting in the forests I looked around. Ren and Nora were sleeping in their sleeping bags near a burnt-out campfire. I got up and looked around. I saw Sonic resting on top of a tree as Amy and Jaune were looking out for Grimm. 

I looked around at the peaceful forest and sighed as I put my hand on the side of my head.

Later that evening, the team and I were walking down a sunny road. I was in the front looking at the map. 

Ruby: So the next town is... uh-huh... uh-huh... yeah, we're lost.

Jaune: We're not lost. The next town is Shion. My family used to visit it all the time.

Amy: Oh yeah, don't you have like four sisters or something?

Jaune: Uh, seven.

I giggled a little.

Sonic: Y'know, that explains a lot.

Jaune: Wait, what do you mean?

Ruby: So, what did you guys do there?

Jaune: Oh lots of stuff!

Jaune went to point at spots on the map.

Jaune: Over here is a great hiking trail, and over here is where we went camping all the time. I got my own tent because I was special. Also, so my sisters would stop braiding my hair.

Amy: Didn't like the look?

Jaune: Yeah, they just kept doing pigtails, but personally, I think I'm more of a "warrior's wolftail" kind of guy.

Ruby: That's just a ponytail.

Jaune: I stand by what I said.

Nora suddenly stopped and looked ahead.

Nora: Uh... guys?

Ruby: Huh?

Jaune: What?

We looked up from the map as our eyes widened and our jaws dropped. What was in front of us was a desolated village filled with dead bodies. I dropped the map as we all dashed into the village. Ren tossed his backpack on the ground and moved ahead.

(Amy POV)

Amy: There may be survivors! 

We all went to look around until Ren finally found something.

Ren: Over here!

We followed him as we found a young man in armor propped against a broken building wall. He was breathing heavily and holding his bloody wound on his stomach.

Ruby: A Huntsman!

Jaune: What happened? Who killed these people?!

Huntsman: *cough*... Bandits... the whole tribe...then... with all the panic...

Ruby: ... Grimm...

Ren started to pace around with his hand on his head as the rest of us stepped away to confer.

Ruby: Alright, we can get him to the next village and try to find a doctor there!

Jaune: Yeah. Ren and I can take turns carrying him there.

Nora: I don't know if he'll make it.

Sonic: It's better than doing nothing.

Amy: Right. If we move now, our chances will be better. Sonic and Ruby can run ahead and look for help!

Ren: Guys...

We all turned and saw the huntsman was already dead.

Nora: Oh... should we... bury him...?

Without saying a word, Ren walked past us.

Ren: We should go... it's not safe here.

Nora: ... Ren...

Nora went to follow Ren as Jaune looked frustrated. Ruby put her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.

Ruby: It'll be okay...

Jaune: ...I'm just... tired of losing everything...

I continued to look around. I saw Nora and Ren walking towards something and look at each other with serious looks on their faces. Before I could see what they were looking at, I stopped and noticed something myself.

Amy: Um...Sonic? You may wanna see this...

Sonic heard this and quickly joined my side.

Sonic: Yeah Amy? Whassup?

I pointed at a building that had a bunch of holes in it. It looked like someone had been climbing up it... with their fist.

Sonic: I see... I only know one guy who can pull off something like this...

Amy: But it can't be him right? That's impossible...

Sonic: ... I guess we'll just wait and see...

(Weiss POV)

I was standing right outside my father's door, listening to the conversation inside. I was about to open the door but hesitated.

Jacques: I'm not talking about the good of my company, I'm talking about the good of Atlas, our entire Kingdom!

Ironwood: That is a load of garbage and you know it.

I went to peer through the door a bit. My father was sitting in a chair in front of a bookcase.

Jacques: I beg your pardon?!

Ironwood: Jacques, will you please, just hear me out?

My father roughly placed his glass down on the table.

Jacques: You are a trusted friend and ally to this family, James, but what you're suggesting is absurd!

Ironwood: You are blowing it out of proportion.

Jacques: The council will never agree to it!

Ironwood: You forget, I hold two seats on the council.

Jacques: Your Dust embargo has already cost me millions! I can promise you, I have not forgotten!

Ironwood: So this is about you.

I quietly entered the room. The door suddenly closed behind me and startled me, causing both Ironwood and my father to notice me. Ironwood bowed.

Ironwood: Miss Schnee! My apologies. I should have been gone by now.

Weiss: It-it's okay.

Ironwood: We'll continue this at another time.

Jacques: Indeed. Klein can show you out.

Ironwood: Don't worry, I know the way.

I moved out the was as Ironwood went to leave

Ironwood: Next time Jacques

My father nodded at him as he turned to me.

Ironwood: Please know, you'll always have a home at Atlas Academy, Miss Schnee. We'll be back in session before you know it.

Ironwood left as my father spoke behind me.

Jacques: Did you forget your manners while you were away?

I was a bit annoyed by his comment, but I calmed down.

Weiss: No, Father. I'm sorry.

Jacques: Can you believe there are still people in the world that blame Atlas for what happened to Beacon? To Vale?

Weiss: Well, they weren't there.

Weiss begins walking across the room to stand before his desk.

Jacques: It's a wonder Ironwood wasn't stripped of his rank.

Jacques finally sits down, swinging the seat so that his back is to Weiss.

Jacques: I suppose the council trusts him, for better or worse.

Weiss: I trust him.

Father let out a small sigh.

Jacques: 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.

I blinked a bit as I was surprised.

Jacques: We need to show the people of Remnant that we are on their side. That we are all victims of the fall of Beacon.

Weiss: That's... wonderful news.

Jacques: I know. And I think it would make a lot of people happy if you performed at the event.

Weiss: Excuse me?

Jacques: Many forget that you were there. My own daughter, a Schnee, on the grounds, defending another Kingdom! We need to remind them! And we need to show them that the Schnee family is just as strong as ever!

Weiss: Are you asking me if I'd like to sing... or telling me?

My father leaned up in his chair... his answer was obvious.

Jacques: I think it would make a lot of people happy.

Weiss: *sighs* I'll start practicing.

Jacques: That's... my girl.

I turned and left his office, closing the door behind me. I looked up to see Klein in front of me.

Klein: Hot coffee, Miss Schnee? I always find he keeps his study dreadfully cold.

I took the mug off of the tray with a smile.

Weiss: Thank you, Klein.

Klein: You know what I think?

Klein lifted the tray to cover his face before dropping it dramatically as he leaned forward toward me making a less-than-formal face, his brown eyes having turned red.

Klein: I think it's to balance out all his hot air.

My eyes widened in delight and I turned and looked over my shoulder at the closed office door giggling.

Weiss: Klein!

We giggled together before he let out a sneeze and his eyes turned blue.

Klein: Ah, there's my happy little snowflake.

I let out a sigh that released some weight off my shoulders and gave him a genuine grin.

Weiss: Thank you, Klein.

(Ruby POV)

Everything was black and blurry once again.

Pyrrha: *echoing* Jaune! Jaune!

My eyes opened as I woke up from the dream. I let out a sigh and let my eyes close again.

Pyrrha: Jaune.

I opened my eyes again after hearing Pyrrha's voice. I got up to look around. Ren and Nora were still laying down and Sonic was sleeping onto a tree still. I saw Amy and Jaune's sleeping bags were still empty. I decided to go look for them as I followed what sounded like Pyrrha's voice... 

As I did, I saw Amy sitting down behind a tree. I spoke quietly.

Ruby: ... Amy...?

Amy: ... ... ...

She didn't say a word as I looked ahead of the tree she was leaning on.

Blaze: Okay Jaune... try not to overwork yourself.

I saw Jaune drawing his sword. He posed with it and his shield before dropping his shoulders and turning to his right. His scroll was leaning on a stump as Pyrrha's face was on it... it was a recording... 

Pyrrha: Alright, Jaune, just like we practiced. Follow these instructions. Shield up.

Jaune lifted his shield so that only his eyes up are not protected.

Pyrrha: Keep your grip tight.

Jaune tightened his hand on Crocea Mors.

Blaze: Don't forget to keep your front foot forward.

Jaune hasn't forgotten and didn't need to move.

Pyrrha: Ready? Go.

Jaune stepped forward with the sword, cutting at the air and making a fighting cry.

Pyrrha: Again!

Jaune moved forward with his other foot, again slashing the air and releasing a cry.

Pyrrha: And again.

Jaune spun in a circle, putting a lot of feeling and effort into his next cry and slash. It cost him a bit, and he panted. I heard Pyrrha letting out a small giggle.

Blaze: Something funny?

Pyrrha: No, it's nothing. Now... assuming you aren't cheating, we can take a break.

Jaune stood upright and let his head fall forward a bit, closing his eyes.

Pyrrha: I know this can be frustrating...

Jaune turned toward Pyrrha's image on his Scroll.

Pyrrha: ...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.

Blaze: Yes... but of course... this is just the beginning.

Pyrrha let out a small smile.

Blaze: Anything you want to say before we go?

Pyrrha's smiled a bit more before that smile faded. She looked like she was struggling with her thoughts for a moment.

Pyrrha: Jaune, I-I...

Pyhrra mustered up the words and confidence as she placed her hand on her heart.

Pyrrha: 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.

Blaze: Yeah... we all will...

The scroll rewind and I took a step back. Amy finally spoke quietly.

Amy: A training video... from before the incident... I think... Blaze helped record it... 

I turned to Amy who buried her face between her legs.

Amy: This... this is all my fault. Back before we came here... I'm the one who got us captured. I brought Eggman here and made everything worse... and because of that... Blaze... Pyrrha...

Amy started to let tears fall from her eyes. I quickly went to hug her and try to comfort her. As I did, we could still hear the recording.

Pyrrha: Alright, Jaune, just like we practiced. Follow these instructions. Shield up.

Jaune sighed in pain before belatedly re-following the instructions.

Pyrrha: Keep your grip tight.

Blaze: Don't forget to keep your front foot forward.

Pyrrha: Ready? Go.

Jaune resumed the exercise as I continued to comfort Amy.

Pyrrha: Again. And again.

Jaune made one extra fighting cry and slash.

-To Be Continued-