Chapter 9

With a handwritten note from Weiss, Winter had reluctantly allowed Ruby entry into her home to gather a list of items. Winter still followed her around as she collected Weiss' journal, securely locked, several changes of clothes, all shades of white, grey and blue, except for her underwear which tended towards red, not that Winter appreciated Ruby going through those particular delicates. And lastly, Ruby retrieved her sword, Myrtenaster Weiss called it, a long slender silver blade with an oddly bulky hilt.

Winter took the time to explain that Weiss would no longer be able to handle the weapon bare handed, and that Ruby should not be able to either. Templar blades contained a steel core, coated in blessed silver. They were crafted with the sole purpose of vanquishing the supernatural, and generally burned any such being on contact. And yet Ruby was holding it with both hands. She seemed fine, much to Winter's shock and displeasure. Ruby took some gloves before fleeing the home. She really did not like being disliked.

Upon arriving home, Ruby threw a couple logs into the hearth. Yang was out hunting Grimm to blow off some steam, and would appreciate a roaring source to relax in. It had not taken long for everyone to become used to Yang's presence. Glynda and Pyrrha borrowed her if they needed something heated, or disposed of properly. Blake often curled up in front of the flames to rest, allowing Yang to gently pet her. Ruby asked the two why they got along so well without saying much. Blake had replied that the brightest lights cast the darkest shadows. They had laughed at length, causing Ruby to feel she had missed a hidden meaning behind the joke.

Heading toward Weiss' room, Ruby stopped by the fridge to fetch a fresh blood-pack, this one containing Winter's blood. In a morbid fashion, perhaps it would be of comfort to Weiss, that her sister would help sustain her today...yeah, probably not. Shifting the bag containing Weiss' belongings over her shoulder, Ruby softly knocked on the door. After a few moments there was still no response.

"Weiss?" Ruby called. "I got your things."

"Come in Ruby." Weiss' muffled voice spoke.

Ruby obeyed, quickly slipping in and closing the door behind her. "Winter said the silver on your sword will hurt, so I picked up some gloves as well." She set the bag down on the bed and opened it. "She said these were your favorite." Ruby pulled a pair of grey riding gloves from the bag, holding them up for Weiss to see. It was then that Ruby noticed her change of position, cross-legged, angled away, blankets pulled over her head.

"Thank you Ruby." Weiss said. "Was Winter kind to you?"

"Yeah, she just followed me around frowning." Ruby replied. "You know, like she was thinking bad things instead of saying them."

Weiss laughed softly at that. "Yes, that sounds like Winter." Her voice was shaky. "Seethe in silence, then vent on some unsuspecting Grimm. I believe she and Yang would get along if they set aside their differences and went on a hunt together."

Worried by Weiss' composure, or lack thereof, Ruby crawled onto the bed. "Weiss, are you okay?"

Weiss sighed. "I miss the sun Ruby, the light filling my room each morning, the warmth of its light upon my skin, reminding me with each passing day that life was worth living. If I could just see the sun once more, unimpeded by the everlasting clouds of Atlas…" Weiss turned to look at Ruby, who gasped at the sight. An angry red burn covered the left side of Weiss' face, her eye clouded over, though it seemed to be slowly fading. "How bad is it? I can't look in the mirror" She managed a watery laugh.

Ruby plastered on a reassuring smile. "Just looks like someone slapped you. I think it's clearing up...did you-"

"Try to get some sun?" Weiss interrupted. "Yes. It seems my transformation is not yet complete." She laughed, this time bitterly, her face contorting with emotion. "Transformation, it's like I'm a caterpillar, metamorphosing into a beautiful butterfly, with fangs, and an allergy to light, and a compulsion to f-feast upon human blood." Weiss choked, huddling into her blankets and sobbing.

Ruby threw herself forward, wrapping Weiss in the tightest hug she could muster. Weiss did not shake her off, instead nuzzling closer, burying her face in the fabric of her shirt. "You are beautiful Weiss."

"I'm a monster." Weiss whimpered.

"Yeah, so, monsters can be beautiful." Ruby defended. "Nora and Ren turn into big man wolves and even then they look beautiful."

Weiss choked a laugh. "I'll be sure to remember that when I look like a living corpse Ruby."

"Even then I'll think you're beautiful Weiss, because you are, you are all to me." Ruby insisted. "Existence is beautiful, every sight, every sound, every smell and sensation. It's awesome, life?" She pulled away to meet Weiss' teary gaze, streaks of murky red running down her cheeks. Weiss once again found herself frozen in silver. "Weiss, life isn't breathing, life isn't our soul, it's our story, and every day I see and experience new things, a new animal, a new flower, a new tale from my friends, and I've only seen a tiny little part of what this world has to offer. And you're part of that. You're part of my life and I'm part of yours. You died Weiss, but you haven't stopped living, not yet, and as long as you don't give up, that won't be for a very long time, and I'll stay by your side every step of the way if I have to." She buried herself in Weiss' chest this time.

Weiss blinked, that strange feeling filling her mind once more. But this time, it felt right. "Because you're my friend." Weiss whispered. She felt Ruby nod against her chest, along with a swell of warmth. She chose to latch onto that warmth, and wrapped her arms around it. "I'm not okay Ruby."

"But you will be, someday." Ruby murmured.

"Hmm...someday." Weiss sighed. "Perhaps when I can walk in the sun once more."

They stayed like that for a time, basking in the calm. Ruby's scent was a constant, it surprised and concerned Weiss that she did not feel some need to feed. Perhaps it was Ruby's nature as a summon. Blake and Yang were the same, not that she had seen Yang more than once, promising to hunt down the creature that harmed her, then running off to do so. But even so, Ruby's scent was...something.

"I have an idea." Ruby piped up, pulling away, a grin on her face. "I can't give you the sun, but maybe I can do second best." With that she hopped off the bed, barely stopping to avoid running straight through the door in her excitement. "I'll be back soon, I promise!" She yelled as she slipped out the door.

As the door thudded shut, Weiss was left a tad shellshocked. She laughed, shaking her head, reaching up with her sleeve to wipe her tears away. Her sleeve came away stained red. "Shoot."

Glynda arrived soon after Ruby had left, the latter having informed her of Weiss' injuries. She fussed over Weiss' singed facial features, making her feel like a little girl again, when Winter would worry over her every scrape and bruise. There was nothing for Glynda to do beyond admonish Weiss for her foolishness, as the wounds would soon heal themselves. The sun might weaken and burn vampires, but unless they were in a seriously weakened state, it rarely did permanent damage.

Weiss spent the next hour unpacking. Pyrrha had brought some of her clothes while she was still unconscious, but she did not know which Weiss preferred. Ruby's list included her favorite nightgown, thickened socks, tights - which Weiss was shocked Pyrrha had neglected - and her cloak, lovingly sewn by Velvet Scarlatina. Her journal's wards were unbroken, which either meant no one had tampered with it, or knew exactly what she used, and how to perfectly replicate them. She chose to believe that Winter had not pried.

Alongside a blank notebook, inkwell and her favorite fountain pen, was Myrtenaster. Her beloved rapier was wrapped in a black cloth. She could feel warmth radiating from it, and for the first time in her life, it felt dangerous, as if it would shock her should she touch it. According to Glynda's book, it could do much worse than that. Steel could scarcely inflict more than a papercut upon her person, but silver alone would render her flesh as mortal as any human's. She would scar like any other. The blessed nature of this blade would sicken her to boot.

Still, Weiss preferred to keep it by the side of her bed. Harmful as it may be, the ability to defend herself brought a peace she found had been lacking since her awakening. The riding gloves Ruby brought would protect her in any case. Happy with the neat state of her belongings, Weiss spent the rest of her wait reading more of Glynda's book. Blood in her tears was apparently normal, as vampire bodies needed far less water than humans. Inconvenient, but Weiss rarely if ever cried anyway, she had been taught better than that.

Striga and Vorvolaka were variations of the common vampire, rare natives of remote regions of Vacuo and Mistral respectively, and the most powerful vampires were the Nosferatu. Weiss already knew this, having familiarized herself with vampiric kind during her training, but then only so she could kill them more effectively. The chances of meeting a Nosferatu, let alone killing one, were extraordinarily slim. Regardless, they tended towards peaceful, or at least as peaceful as vampires could be.

Weiss was halfway through a paragraph on vampiric bloodlines when two loud knocks rung upon the door, and before she could answer, it opened, revealing a beaming Yang. "Heya' Weissy!" She chirped, barging in.

Ruby quickly followed, closing the door. "Yang, keep it down. Her hearing is still adjusting."

"It's quite alright Ruby." Weiss waved her off. "Loud noises no longer hurt. Hello Yang, how went your hunt?"

"I haven't found her yet." Yang lamented. "But I've been taking out a ton of Grimm. If nothing else I'm keeping the people safe."

"Thank you, the people take precedence after all." Weiss nodded. "Ruby, what was your idea? You neglected to inform me."

Ruby gestured toward… "Yang! Daughter of the Dragon God of Fire."

"Otherwise known as the Great Sun Dragon." Yang added.

"She isn't literally the sun, but she's related to it!" Ruby cheered.

"Someone told me we had a Weissicle on our hands." Yang teased.

"Yang!" Ruby whined, looking from her to Weiss. "I didn't call you that Weiss."

Weiss merely chuckled. "It's okay Ruby...it's not entirely inaccurate." She rolled her eyes. "So what's the plan exactly?" Yang answered that by shrugging off her clothes, entirely. It was as if they were flames melting from her form, as in a way they were. "Oh gods." Weiss covered her eyes, but not before getting a face-full of Yang's considerable, perfectly sculpted assets.

"Yang, humans don't like nudity." Ruby admonished.

"I-it's not that we don't like it, it's that it's...improper." Weiss stammered. She could not recall if vampires could blush, but if they could, she surely was right now.

"The best way to conduct heat is skin to skin contact!" Yang explained. "Trust me, I've done it before." She explained bouncing, in multiple places, over to Weiss' bedside and lifting the covers. "Come on, move a tad, don't be shy, I won't bite...dunno' about you, but I'd advise against it, because, you know, burning." Yang laughed. Weiss groaned, but moved forward enough for Yang to slip behind her, an arm wrapped around her midsection, and she suddenly found herself surrounded by the warmest embrace she had experienced in her life, and it was only getting warmer. "Just tell me when it's warm enough."

Weiss felt herself shudder, the increasing warmth was an ecstasy she had sorely missed. She found herself melting into the embrace, sliding her arms beneath Yang's until she got the hint and took hold of Weiss' hands in her own. "Perfect." Weiss borderlined moaned, eyes sliding shut.

"Why thank you Weissy, I am pretty awesome." Yang chuckled behind her.

"You're truly a goddess Yang." Weiss complimented. "Thank you Ruby, I never would have thought of this."

"You're welcome!" Ruby cheered. "Is there anything else I can get you?"

Weiss thought for a moment. She felt tired, like she had just had a glass of warm milk before bed. Perhaps it was time for an early rest. "Come lay with us, until I fall asleep." She finally requested, much to Ruby's delight.

"Of course!" Ruby chirped, scrambling onto the bed until her head rested on Weiss' stomach.

Weiss shifted her hand to run through Ruby's hair, impossibly soft for how messy it looked. It only made her smile again. "Thank you both for your kindness...and friendship." She murmured as her eyes slid shut.

"Anytime Weisscream." Yang teased.

Weiss chuckled, just before she fell asleep.

Winter stood at attention on the edge of the clearing. It was not too far from town, nor too close. She wanted to avoid alarming the townspeople with the sudden arrival of an Atlesian Bullhead. Though the outside world was familiar with Atlas magitech, few had actually witnessed it in action, outside of select pieces of civilian technology, refrigerators, radios, televisions and the like, even washing machines in recent years. Still the airship about to land was far beyond what most non-Atlesians would ever lay their eyes upon. It was the size of an ocean-going warship, painted a gleaming white, and yet from it distance it seemed to hover with hardly a sound, as if light as a feather. Of course close up it was quite a lot louder.

Patch was particularly unlikely to have seen such a craft. The insular nature of Atlas meant external influence was minimal. The farther one traveled from the capital, the more primitive the world became. Patch was an odd assortment of cultures and technological periods, a haven for many seeking solace from the harsh realities of their homelands. There was good reason Templar presence here was minimal, why Glynda and Winter made it their home. It offered no strategic value, few natural resources, and required a boat or airship to reach.

Or teleportation magic, but that was expensive to craft and maintain, and only a few very powerful magicians could use it without technological aid. Glynda was one, and even she rarely used the skill. Winter was still attempting to learn. She had made it from one side of her room to the other recently. Granted she landed flat on her back. And vomited right after. Still, progress was progress, and Winter had time to burn.

A dull roar became evident, growing louder, and so Winter began walking into the clearing. The gleaming aircraft came into view, growing larger and larger by the second. It's gleaming white form was majestic even in its bulk. Winter braced herself against the downdraft as it came in to land, landing gear extended. Its sheer size took up more than half of the clearing, its wings nearly clipping the trees surrounding it. With an earth shaking thud, it finally made landfall, and the wind and sound began to fade as its engines powered down.

Approaching the landing ramp, Winter checked her appearance, brushing the hair from her face and ensuring her uniform was relatively straightened. The sky was threatening rain, but fortunately it had not yet come. All in all, she was presentable, but not perfect. She could never hope to be perfect, it was foolish, yet she tried. The ramp reached its full extension with a clunk, and with a whir it began to descend, reaching the ground not ten meters from her person. With a yell, two rows of five soldiers jogged down the ramp, clad in the black leather and white plating of the Atlesian Armed Forces, and the red stake of the Templar order emblazoned on their shoulders.

The soldiers froze at the bottom of the ramp, standing at attention. Winter imitated them, and her gaze was drawn up to the ship, where a tall figure had begun the journey downward. "Former Specialist Schnee." The man greeted as he reached the bottom.

Winter snapped into a salute, her fist covering her heart. "General Ironwood, sir." Winter chanted as he approached.

"At ease Schnee, you are no longer under my command." Ironwood noted. Winter allowed her pose to relax, arms folding behind her back. It helped hide her shaking, though Ironwood immediately turned back to face his troops. "Secure the perimeter, start constructing a camp." He instructed before turning to speak over his shoulder. "Come with me, there is someone you need to meet." The soldiers who had descended the ramp fanned out. A part of Winter wished to join them, following simple orders seemed so menial, degrading even, but with all the free time in the world to do what she wished, there were some days she wanted to just give up that freedom for a hard day's operation. Even the odd hunt did not match up to some of her adventures in the Order. After all, one of them was how she met Glynda, and by extension, Blake.

Following Ironwood into the airship, Winter witnessed more familiar actions, technicians and engineers hauling cargo, soldiers sorting equipment or readying weapons. She swore the scent of boot polish hung in the air, or perhaps it was nostalgia clouding her senses. Vile, chemical nostalgia. "Reminiscing?" Ironwood piped up.

Winter noticed she had slowed, and hurried to catch up with her former mentor. "I apologize General. This environment does inspire certain...fond memories."

"Fond?" Ironwood challenged. "I recall a certain young recruit destroying a combat droid out of pent up frustration."

"It looked at me funny." Winter countered.

"And that is what made you such a fine Templar." Ironwood continued. "Once your temper was properly tamed, you honed it into a weapon of divine justice, and used it to dismantle evil with the precision of a scalpel."

"Thank you...sir." Winter's face burned at the compliment, and she cleared her throat. "I appreciate your praise."

"I appreciate you notifying me of this situation." Ironwood came to a halt before a door, opening it and stepping aside to beckon Winter inside. She found herself in a seemingly unoccupied private quarter, the sort meant for a civilian official or otherwise important guest on long journeys. "Winter." Ironwood's voice softly called. Winter felt her heart clench. "How are you faring, truly?"

Ironwood's demeanor changed, his stern, militaristic voice softening, and for the first time since she had left the Order, Winter found herself transported back in time, to when she was an angry, scared youth, trying desperately to free herself from her father's smothering influence, his lofty expectations and disregard for her individuality, to when Ironwood accepted her into his sect, in spite of blustering and threats from the High Templar, in spite of the objections of her fellow, male recruits, and personally trained her to become one of the greatest warriors in the Templar Order.

"I almost lost her James." Winter whispered, hands clenching her wrists as she took a shuddering breath. "I almost lost my sister, to the very thing that took mother from us, the very thing I swore to destroy in all forms and...I fear I may have regardless." She felt Ironwood's hand on her back, and she very nearly crumpled, turning to stare up into his eyes. "She turned her James. Glynda turned my sister rather than let her die."

"By the gods…" Ironwood murmured in shock. "This is rash, even for Glynda."

"I thought that perhaps she had simply been maimed during a hunt gone wrong, that she may be scarred or down a limb. I was terrified, but I knew she could pull through. We could defeat simple injury, but this? Glynda condemned her soul to the abyss either way, and her excuse was that she wanted to grant her a choice? What kind of choice is that? To live a half life as a p-parasite, or d-die by her own hand and not even be granted the honor of ascending to the heavens." She failed to swallow a sob, turning away to wipe her eyes, and approached the bed, sitting down to pull in deep breaths, attempting to regain her composure. She felt the mattress dip down beside her.

"Winter, don't bottle this up, let it out." Ironwood advised, wrapping his arms around her shoulder.

Winter hiccoughed. "When I spoke with her, she seemed so...so strong James. She was angry, yes, but unbroken. She looked me in the eye and said she would continue her work, and should she lose herself, she trusted me to...to…" Winter could say no more, huddling into Ironwood's side to softly sob. She had shed more than her fair share of tears already. It was exhausting. She had barely been able to sleep, even with Weiss' awakening she found herself staying awake at night, staring at the ceiling, anguish strangling her heart. There was nothing she could have done, and there was nothing she could do. But this, turn to the one person in this world she trusted beyond Weiss. The only person she loved beyond Weiss.

"I understand Winter, I truly do." Ironwood declared.

And he did, Winter trusted in that. Ironwood did not offer false sympathy. And even if he did, Winter knew he understood her in this. Putting down comrades wounded in the line of duty was something they had all prepared for, and unfortunately, many experienced. "I wouldn't be able to survive James. Without Weiss I...I'd have nothing, just a cave in the mountains, filled with objects of no true value, and a grave to lay flowers upon. I don't have anything else to live for."

"That's not true Winter, you have y-" Ironwood started.

"My what James?" Winter growled. "My work? Meaningless. I left the Order to set an example, to grow stronger, to save Weiss from father, to give her a life worth living. What good is all that without her? She is my soul James." Winter moved. Suddenly Ironwood found himself straddled by a seething, crying Winter, fists clenching his lapels, shaking him with every word. "And my heart seems fit only to be spurned."

At this Ironwood frowned, guilt shading his expression. "You know why it cannot happen Winter."

"It doesn't matter anymore." Winter insisted. "I am no longer a part of the Order. I no longer have duties. I no longer swear by the code." Her grip softened, she leaned in to rest her forehead against Ironwood's. "I can be yours, and you can be mine...just give us but one chance." She whispered, eyes gazing lovingly into her former mentor's. Until he closed them, and turned away.

"No Winter, we can't." Ironwood murmured, regretfully.

And once again Winter felt the familiar pain in her heart, and the cold burn of shame descended upon her. Slowly, she returned to her position beside the general, and wiped her eyes, downcast. "I apologize."

"I know." Ironwood said.

"I-" Winter started.

"I know, Winter." Ironwood once again lay his hand upon her shoulder, and she turned to see a reassuring smile. "Grief clouds judgement. I do not blame you. Thank you for venting your feelings."

Winter could not help but laugh at that. Ironwood's smile always seemed awkward and forced, regardless of how genuine it was, it just seemed so out of place on his stern face. "I have a lot of feelings to vent."

"It may or may not please you to know, the person I wished you to meet is very good at listening to people." Ironwood observed.

"It does not." Winter responded.

"Unfortunate." Ironwood sighed, looking past Winter, to the lavatory door. "Penny, you can come out now." Much to Winter's shock and embarrassment, the door slid open, revealing an automaton, wearing clothing, with a painted doll-like face, and a...rather high quality wig. Winter groaned, hiding her flushed face in her hands.

"I apologize for eavesdropping General Ironwood and Specialist Schnee." The robot said. "I merely wished to provide you privacy."

"It's okay Penny." Ironwood soothed. "This is your room after all. Were you sleeping?"

"For a time, yes." Penny nodded. "This lavatory is very similar in size and shape to my stasis pod."

"Penny?" Winter asked, exasperated.

"Yes Specialist Schnee?" Penny replied.

"Why are...please do not repeat anything you have heard here to anyone else, ever." Winter requested.

"Acknowledged Specialist Schnee." Penny agreed.

"It's just Winter now Penny." She explained before turning to Ironwood. "Did you give her my file?"

"Penny was curious." Ironwood confirmed.

"I would like to ask that you not take out your frustrations upon my chassis." Penny requested. "Unlike my robotic brethren, there is only one of me, and father says I am irreplaceable."

Winter leveled a blank look at Penny, then at Ironwood. "I shall attempt to resist."