Chapter: 4

It was a Fall day. Cool frigid air. A bright sun that shone through thin wispy clouds. Tall, arching openings highlighted the brick walls of the courtyard that Winter and Weiss were in. An elegant fountain decorating the middle of the area.

Weiss and Winter were sparring. Their feet shuffling over the stone textured ground, swords clashed, sparks flew into the air, faces coming together behind crossed blades. Weiss' eyes gleamed into her sister's and Winter returned it with a pompous smirk. They jumped back, preparing for another joining. Their feet spread shoulder length apart, a spring in their step anticipating each other's every move.

Weiss has gotten a lot better and continues to do so but Winter has always had the leg up. She was always stronger, faster, more determined. She had the heart of her father. Winter was decisive, strong-willed, and unwavering. Her every swing carried purpose, a fiery passion to push forward, to be nothing less than the best. Now that Winter had been training in the Atlesian military with Ironwood, the disparity in their abilities had become even more evident.

Deep down Weiss wasn't a warrior. She was a performer. Even when she was very young, her father would push her to take extra Huntress Classes on the side with her sister. Weiss still always insisted on singing in her free time. However, ever since... that day 9 years ago... she couldn't bare to do it, couldn't bare to sing, for it reminded her of her mother, Willow, who inspired her hobby. The thoughts of her were too painful to recall.

Maybe if Weiss had been stronger, just maybe she would have been able to save her. Instead it was her fault. If She hadn't spoken out that day, that Faunus wouldn't have had the opportunity to do what he did, none of this would have have ever happened. She dove head first into being a Huntress to drown those memories out. Memories of sadness, of guilt and shame.

Weiss believed doing this would make her father happy, her father her had buried himself in his work more than ever since losing his wife, the woman Weiss had killed. If nothing else, she becoming a skilled Huntress would bring honor to the Schnee name and to her father. Weiss gave in to the thought that it must have been her destiny.

Time felt as if it had slowed. The air had an icy chill to it, the condensation of their breath lifting into the sky, ice crystals forming on the handles of their weapons. The clashes from their weapons kicked up a flurry of snowflakes.

"At this point I am not sure you would be able to successfully fend off a beowolf. How do you think you will ever compete in the Vytal festival when your form is all wrong." Winter's icy breath cut Weiss like a stalactite.

Weiss gritted her teeth. Thrusting forward her rapier, Myrtenaster, hard and haphazardly at Winter. Diving towards Winter the tip of Myrtenaster coming a hands length from Winter's nose. Winter saw right through the move and stepped to the side. A grin cracked across Weiss' face. A snowflake glyph appeared underneath her feet and rotated ever so slightly, changing her trajectory so that the blade was again on point with Winter. She wasn't expecting it. Caught off guard, Winter ducked back, bringing her saber upward, perpendicular with Weiss', deflecting Myrtenaster over her head.

"I have you, sister, to teach me." Weiss smiled internally cheering an early victory.

Winter grabbed Weiss' arm as it hung over her head and threw Weiss over her shoulder. She landed back-first onto the stony ground, knocking the wind out of her. Myrtenaster hit the ground with a clunking noise before rolling to a still.

Weiss propped herself up onto her elbows, her head spinning. "Hey, I thought this was a sword fight?"

"In a real battle the enemy will be much less forgiving." Winter educates.

"Is that what they are teaching you in the military?"

"It's what a warrior is bound to learn. One way or another." Winter extends a hand.

Weiss grabs it, pulls herself up and dusts herself off. "Again." She demands.

"As much as your gluttony for punishment amuses me sister I think we have had enough sparring for one day. What do you say we get something to eat? A Huntress must keep herself in tip top shape, that means a proper and regular diet."

Weiss bottom lip poked out, her eyes squinted, hands in a fist rested on her hips. "Fine. We are finishing this later though."

Winter chuckled. "You'll get more opportunities in the future. Trust me sister."

A puff of air came out of Weiss' nose as she rolled her eyes. "What place did you have in mind?"

"Why don't we eat in the garden again? I'll have Klein fix us up something yummy, and for dessert, how about a powdered-sugar covered croissant adorned with some freshly picked strawberries from our garden?"

Weiss shrugged.

"What? Do you no longer enjoy Klein's cooking?" Winter inquired worriedly.

"It's not that. It's just." She paused. "Why don't we go out to that newly built hamburger joint in town? We have seldom do anything like that together." Weiss suggested, rocking back and forth from her heels to her toes and back again, her face pointed groundward, eyes cut upward toward Winter sheepishly.

Winter gave her a strange look. "First bunk beds, now this? What has come over you Weiss?"

Weiss' shoulders dropped. Her arms, previously tucked into her armpits fell to their sides.

Winter gave a sigh. "I suppose."

Weiss' eyes lit up. "Hamburgers it is then!"

Notes:

01/12/2016 - Ok, so it's been a while since I wrote any chapters. If you have been reading this story and are still along for the ride, thank you for sticking around. Honestly I have some distinct bullet points for things I want to happen in my story. Connecting the dots... well that takes a little more brainstorming. One thing that helps me more than anything is feedback. Reviews are very welcome. If I can find out what aspects of the book people like and dislike that can give me a lot of inspiration on where to go from here. Doesn't have to be long, just a few sentences would be great. Thanks for reading. Please let your friends know about it if you like it and I'll see you soon with another chapter.

01/09/2017 - The Butler's name was Gray before we learned in Volume 4 of the show that she has a butler named Klein. The butler in this story wasn't going to have that much of an impact in the story so I decided to change him to Klein and incorporate his character in the story as much as I need to.