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Winter (Part Two)

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It brings the Cold.

It ushers everlasting Sleep.

When it falls, the world becomes more Silent.

So we may better hear the ghosts of our Memories.

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The darkness of night was taking the day.

As the snow began to fall in greater sheets and increasing volume, those who attended the ceremony grew less inclined to endure the weather. Despite their cold-resistant wear, the temperature drop was simply uncanny. With every minute gone by, another dense layer of frost accumulated on any exposed surface.

Finally, it got to the point where many of the paparazzi decided they had taken enough pictures. News reporters retreated to their vans. The disgruntled members of the Board seemed to have had enough of the event as well.

Whitley still had more of his speech remaining, and there was the rest of the ceremony planned. But in light of seeing the disappearing crowd, the young man had no choice but to cut the event short. Not that it mattered to most, in any case.

And so, the official commemoration ended in abrupt fashion. The expression on Whitley's face was practically wrinkling like crumpled paper underneath.

Weiss, Ruby, and Blake couldn't help but feel gladdened by the timely parting of the Board and its fanfare.

"—That was rather juvenile of you," Ironwood commented on his approach.

"I'm not quite sure what you mean," Weiss replied innocently.

"Of course."

The General smiled, seemingly grateful for the commemoration's premature end. His gaze then, went from Weiss to the other two, whose hats and hoods hid their faces. But there was little doubt in his mind who they were. He turned to the Brigadier General before him for explanation, but was only met with an icy stare.

"…More secrets?" he asked worriedly.

"…"

"I suppose you can't tell me why they are here, or what it has to do with what you've been up to recently?"

"…It's better you have plausible deniability, sir."

"Please, Weiss. I can help you. I promised I would—"

"Thank you… But it's better this way."

Ironwood opened his mouth briefly to retort but closed it, deciding this wasn't the time or place. After a time, he simply nodded.

"If there's anything you need," he said softly, "Anything at all, just ask."

"Thank you, sir," Weiss revealed a genuine and consoling smile. "I'll be depending on you in the future."

"…I see."

After paying one more glance to Ruby and Blake, Ironwood walked back to pay his last respects to those lost during the Spriggan Campaign.

In spite of the sudden temperature drop, and the prompt departure of government officials, there were many who stayed behind. As if the heavy snow had fallen only to deter those insincere away, it lightened in lieu of those more honest. Families and friends of the deceased gathered quietly. They lit candles and laid flowers. Hushed words and gentle sobbing were swallowed in the cold wonderland that gifted both isolation but also communion.

Weiss was about to make her own way down, when a voice called from behind her.

"I'm sorry," Blake said.

Weiss was surprised for a moment, but it faded on understanding what the other was referring to. Ruby smiled knowingly, and went ahead to give them privacy.

"The things I said before," Blake continued with her apology. "About your sister and—"

"You were angry, and it was warranted," Weiss replied.

"That doesn't forgive what I—"

"I forgive you."

"…"

"You were angry, and you had every right to be. I understand that. I expected it. I'm also sorry it had to be done that way."

"…Are you really?"

"Yes…Blake. I really am."

The two were silent for a moment, which seemed even quieter in the frosty atmosphere. Their issues were still far from resolved, but at least for the time being, a mutual agreement was reached.

"I'll still be watching you, Weiss."

"It's what I'm counting on, Iris."

After a short nod, the two went down to join Ruby. On reaching her, Weiss saw a trio of familiar figures, who almost looked to be intimidating her partner.

"—Um, hi," Ruby greeted uncertainly. "You must be Molly. Heard great things about you…"

"Sure," Molotov furrowed back. "I heard a lot about you, too."

"Oh. Like…what?"

"Like you were the one who killed my dad."

Ruby gulped painfully. She noticed the look in Neo's glare was also particularly murderous.

"…" Molotov tipped his bowler hat over his eyes. "You would be dead too, if Aunt Yang and great Uncle Tai didn't tell me and Mom not to kill you."

"…I see."

"Count yourself lucky, little red."

"Eeeeokay…"

Totally not creepy he's a mini Torchwick.

"—Hey, if it isn't the little hellraiser?" Coco joined. Fox followed behind, while pushing Velvet's wheelchair.

The woman in sunglasses picked up the stubborn child, who fought her as much as he could. At the same time, the rest began to mingle and exchange old greetings.

After Yang finished speaking with Velvet, she found Weiss some ways away.

"Mind telling me what you're thinking, Ember?"

"Hm? About, what?"

"You know what," Weiss glared. "Neo."

Yang threw her a narrow look in return.

"Well, it's not really any business who I sleep with, right? You were the one who broke off whatever we had going on."

"This isn't about that, and you know it."

"…You said Cinder has a spy in Team CFEN. The obvious suspect is Neo. So, I'm going to see if it is."

"By sleeping with her."

"It's one of the best ways."

"Are you going to sleep with Coco and Fox, too?"

"Only if it makes you jealous."

"…"

"…I'll be careful."

"Be discreet,"Weiss jabbed Yang's chest with her finger of emphasis.

The rest gathered before a certain monument.

Weiss looked on the decorated grave with a sense of serenity and sorrow. It was the place her sister's body rested. She often thought one of these days, she would simply burst into tears before her. The sense of loss was something Weiss carried with her to this day.

In spite of that, the expression never surfaced. The sadness she felt for her sibling never so much as cracked her mask. Even when she felt like she was dying inside.

Or maybe…

I already cried all my tears that day.

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X

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My name is Weiss Schnee.

And I am burdened with Wisdom.

…

It starts at the tip of my fingers. Always the tip of my fingers. It's the sensation I remember the most.

I can see the life fading from her. The blood pooling from her back and down my knees. But more than that, I can feel her dying. Winter's last vestiges coursing through my hands, while I'm trying to keep her alive.

"Don't be afraid."

She tells me that, but how can I not be?

How can I not be afraid when I'm losing her?

"It's okay, Weiss."

She puts a hand to my face.

"I'll always be with you."

Her hand falls to the side. She's drifting off to sleep, and all I can do is shake her. All I can do is scream her name, asking her to stay with me.

"You're not alone."

…

…And she's gone.

…

Winter dies in my arms.

Destiny makes sure I know my sister is dead.

Because with her last breath, I feel the Winter Maiden's Inheritance merge with my soul.

I was the one my sister held in her last thoughts.

I am Weiss Schnee.

I am also, Winter.

And I am burdened with a power that never should have been mine.

And I have taken a name that does not belong to me.

…

I can hear her laughing. In this dark corridor of the Witch's castle, I can hear her. Salem, cackling like some lunatic beast.

The rest of the world comes back to me, and we're in the ruins of her throne room. Ironwood is unconscious on the floor. My team, or what's left of them is in the same severe shape.

Velvet might be dead.

Yatsuhashi is gone.

There are still Huntsmen and Huntresses fighting Grimm outside.

…

I can hear the Witch laughing.

Again, it starts at the fingertips. My fingertips caked in Winter's blood, and all I have to do is reach out.

A Glyph that normally takes me thirty seconds to cast, is constructed in the blink of an eye. My knight answers my fury and towers over Salem. And I watch as she laughs, while my summon drives a massive blade through her body.

She was already defeated. Winter made sure of that.

And delivered a decisive blow that cost her life.

…

By the time I'm standing over Salem, her mind and body are already broken. Her regenerative abilities are stunted and overtaxed. I'm ready to kill her. I'm ready to kill this filthy bitch who took my sister away.

She's still laughing, but she won't be for long. I'll silence her once and for all.

…And I will never stop wishing I had.

The Witch plays one last trick.

She's studied countless Maidens since the first were gifted. In order to Inherit their ancient powers, it requires the merging of the soul. So during that time, and a little after, the spirit of the Inheritor is vulnerable.

And that is when Salem embeds a fragment of her soul in mine. A trick she was used to utilizing, after switching between numerous vessels throughout the ages.

The Witch's memories become mine. A cruel gift and a worse curse.

"What are you doing?!"

I can hear Yang calling to me.

"DO IT! KILL HER!"

She's confused. I can understand why.

Salem's screeching laughter feels like glass clawing across my skull.

"What are you waiting for, Weiss?!" Yang tries to limp over. "KILL HER ALREADY!"

"She can't!" the Wicked Witch screams. "She can't kill me! Can you?!"

I have Myrtenaster lodged right on her throat. I can end it. I can kill her.

"You can kill me, but it won't change what you've learned! You're too smart for your own good! Hahaha!"

"What the hell are you doing, Weiss?! She killed Yatsuhashi! SHE KILLED WINTER!"

…

But I can't do it.

Even though my heart breaks, even though my heart begs for it, I can't kill her.

"HAHAHA! HahHAhAHha!"

All I can do is punch her with the hilt of my sword. I'll capture her. I'll torture her into telling me everything she knows. I'll use her to stop the Four Grimm from bringing the Apocalypse onto Remnant.

Through her bloody mouth, she spits with broken teeth.

"How does it feel to be blessed with knowledge, Weiss Schnee~?"

I hate her. There is nothing in this world I could hate more.

"I knew the moment I saw you, there was a will that would not let me die, if they knew the Truth."

Just hearing her voice sickens me to my soul.

"Tell me, Weiss Schnee…"

"How does it feel to be burdened with such Wisdom?"

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X

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"—So, did the cuckoo bird say anything interesting?" Yang asked.

"Three days of visits, and nothing fruitful," Weiss gritted her teeth. "A few insights into unrelated matters, but nothing pertaining to our team's main objectives."

In the present, everyone was making their way home after visiting Winter's grave. For Weiss and her team, they would be convening back on the Nautilus. While walking the halls of their secret hangar, Yang spoke to her leader in private.

"You plan on letting the others in on this little secret?"

"Only if the time comes. Currently, there's no need for Ruby or Blake to know that Salem is alive."

"Or that you're waterboarding her on a daily basis."

"…"

"…Do we have to keep Salem alive to find the Relics? I thought the Maidens were in tune with them."

"And how are we supposed to find the rest, when I can only track Pestilence? Or is there something you're neglecting to tell me?"

"Well, we know where War is. Famine is safe with my mom—for now. And Death is… okay. Maybe, Death we could use some help with."

Weiss gave a sympathetic sigh.

"You think I don't want to dispose of Salem as quickly as possible?"

"…I just don't like keeping her around," Yang grunted her dissatisfaction. "Coco and Fox would trip, if they knew we were letting her breathe. Ironwood, too."

"She's a means to an end, Ember. Once she's outlasted her usefulness, I'll gladly hand her over to Coco for execution by firing squad, or whatever she wants."

"I don't like keeping secrets from our friends."

"As it so happens, that might have been a good thing considering there's a spy among them."

"Are you still keeping secrets from me?"

"…Don't ask me that."

"I can't help, if I don't know what else you've got in play."

"Wisdom is a burden, Ember…"

"I thought you would understand that by now."

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X

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Parked along an extensive airstrip, a number of Galleon-class warbirds were being prepped for deployment. Soldiers and commissioned Huntsmen and Huntresses boarded the aircrafts. Various equipment and supplies were loaded into cargo bays. And from an adjacent building, looking on high at the bustling scene, was a particular government office.

Cinder Fall surveyed the fleet with a discerning eye. While she did so, an encoded message was being played on her earpiece, loud enough only for her to hear. Once she finished listening to its contents, she removed the device and clasped her hands behind her back.

"According to our little bird, the White Queen has tasked her with gathering intel on the Board of Directors. This confirms our other information stating her new team will operate in Atlas for the foreseeable future."

"That's good, isn't it?" Emerald Sustrai stepped forward. "I mean, if she's busy working an angle back home, her hands will be too full to deal with our campaign."

"Yes…on the surface, it does seem that way."

Cinder continued to ponder the situation.

"She did well in throwing Vacuo into complete chaos, ensuring we could not take over while the Kingdom is in such a divisive state. The White Queen must know there are only two options left to us."

"Do you think she expects a direct invasion?"

"At this stage of the game, we both stand to lose more than we would to gain in a head-on conflict. No, she must know what we're planning. Preparation of our fleet has surely reached her ears by now. So, why focus on Atlas? Why focus on home?"

"Maybe, her brother's making more trouble than she thought. The White Queen's always hated the Board of Directors, and now with her brother being the president…"

"…No. The next theater of conflict is obvious. There's also little doubt of Famine's location. So, there must be something integral in Atlas she must obtain. Something that supersedes interfering with our campaign immediately."

"Or she's just preparing for it," Emerald suggested. "She could be trying to strengthen the Atlesian Fleet, before coming to face us."

Cinder scowled slightly. That theory didn't sound right to her either.

"I suppose in any case, interfering in Atlas affairs is no longer as simple as it once was. Especially with the formation of this new team… She's taking measures to insulate her core operations from our spies. A slim possibility exists she knows who they are."

"What do you think we should do? Cut off communications or book them for exfil—or maybe, eliminate them altogether?"

"…They probably haven't been exposed yet. The intel they gather continues to be valuable. Hm… How is the Third Armada?"

"They are ready to deploy at 23:00, ma'am. Shall I confirm the order?"

"…Do it."

"By authorization of Mistral's Lord of Arms, the Third Armada will deploy at 23:00."

"Also, prepare the Second and Fourth."

"Ma'am?!"

"Mercury?"

From the shadows, Cinder's personal assassin stepped into the light of the office.

"Sortie your family with the Third Armada," she ordered.

"Whoa, we're really going all out on this?" he chuckled.

"Do you know the light people talk about at the end of the tunnel?"

"Are we talking the good one or the finally sweet embrace of death one?"

"Either or," Cinder smoldered. "I take pride in my ability to take that light in my hand and snuffing it out. Move up the timeframe for the Third's departure. Use my authorization to accelerate the deployment of the Second and Fourth."

"—Yes, ma'am!" Emerald confirmed.

"We'll place the White Queen in checkmate before she finishes settling her affairs in Atlas. The time has come for War to ravage the land once more."

At the Fall Maiden's words, she materialized an ancient Relic of a warrior's helm. The steel work was elegantly smelted, and some ancient being seemed to whisper from the slit of its mouth and eyes. The bright red plume extending out its back caught fire, burning with an unquenching furor.

Cinder raised War aloft in her out-stretched hand, like reciting a poetic vow to the gods or maybe destiny itself.

"The world will start over again from the ashes of my War."

"And it begins with Vale."

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X

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Deep in the forests of Vale, the sounds of clashing steel echoed through the trees.

A small black-hooded figure danced through the air, like a swallow in flight. Her nimble body swerved to avoid the slashes of her opponent's long katana by a thin, but calculated margin. When she saw a slight break in the swordswoman's attack pattern, she swooped in.

"—Naïve."

Raven Branwen adjusted the grip of her weapon, aiming the pummel of her sword downward on the other's head.

A sudden flash of silver light stopped the blow from following through. Raven could feel a familiar sensation binding her arms.

A good move, but not enough.

It's time to up the difficulty in her training.

Raven's Aura bolstered, and the invisible wires that were supposed to keep her body in check were cut like fragile string. The girl in the black cowl conjured a short blade in response. Raven's downward strike and her opponent's defensive posture collided.

The result ended with the little warrior's body being knocked into the dirt.

"—Peh!" she spat and coughed. "That's no fair, Raven! You've never done that before!"

"I've never seen you try that brand of tact before, either. So, how is that not fair?"

"But, but!"

"Adapt to the fluidity of your opponent, Roi. The moment you think you've got your enemy figured out, that's when you're most vulnerable."

"But! That doesn't even make any sense!"

"No more buts."

Right as the little girl was about to protest more, the two heard a bird cawing overhead. Then, a shadow swooped down to drop a folded piece of paper in Raven's hand. The crow fluttered its wings, as it perched on the small Roisin's shoulder.

"Hi, birdy!" the child greeted.

*Caw!*

The crow began nuzzling its head against the child's neck, tickling her.

"Heehee!" Roisin giggled. "What's that, Raven? Another letter from the secret pen pal in Atlas?"

"Looks like it…"

"What's it say?"

"Nothing good," Raven sighed.

"When are we ever going to meet the secret friend?!"

"Not soon, by what they're saying," Raven grinned wryly, as she continued reading the letter's contents. "Someday, though."

"Awww! I wanna meet them soon!"

Watching the black cowled girl hop up and down energetically brought the briefest of laughters out of the swordswoman. It made her think of a baby bird trying its best to fly. Speaking of birds, the crow on Roisin's shoulder was cawing in a panic loss of balance.

Raven wrote down a response to their spy, folded the parchment, and held it out.

"What?! He's going already?!" the little girl cried.

"He'll be back faster than he leaves, Roi. Believe me, I know."

If the crow could scowl, it would probably be doing it at this moment. Eventually, the bird bumped its forehead against the child's once more in affection. Then, it flew, snatching up Raven's letter before soaring into the sky.

The swordswoman watched the black speck until it disappeared from sight. For all the technological innovations Atlas had and high-level security is possessed, sometimes the simplest nodes of communications worked best. No digital trace or trail to speak of. No expensive equipment or complicated encryption software. Just good old-fashion messenger birds.

Raven breathed a mixed breath on remembering her spy's report.

Things sure are getting complicated.

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X

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In the private war room aboard the Nautilus, Weiss observed the members of her team around the table. There was still an estranged vibe in the air, not to mention the doubt and suspicions harbored.

Yang crossed her arms defensively, her finger tapping her bicep in rhythm with her bad mood. Blake kept an eye on everything and everyone, as if suspecting something to go wrong. On the other hand, Ruby seemed detached and was merely spectating how the events would play out.

Her partner caught sight of her gaze, and revealed an unreadable smile.

Must be something she learned as a Professor, Weiss thought.

But even with all that in mind, she couldn't help but express some joy at those gathered in this moment.

They were all here, in one room, for one purpose, under her command. It took some time to recruit them, but her ideal team was assembled and ready.

"Well then, everyone…"

"It's time for our first mission as Team WISE."

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X

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AUTHOR'S NOTES

Happy Holidays, everybody!

This ends the "Prologue Arc" of Team WISE. I hope you guys enjoyed it!

I will continue writing this series, but it will probably occur in short bursts and not as frequently.

That is because I will be concentrating almost all my writing time into continuing Team ENMY.

Anybody who liked this series, please consider giving Team ENMY a read. It's a lot longer, but I dunno. If you liked this, maybe you'll like that. Or if you're just looking for something else to read, there you go.

Otherwise,

I'll see you in the next chapter~

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P.S. Some Q&A?

Q: Will this series follow more of the canon?

A: Maybe. I tried to include some of the newer content here for some cohesiveness, but there's going to be a lot of differences regardless. I think you already guessed it, but the Relics aren't the same as in the show. Salem is different. World settings. Etc. etc.

Q: Do you watch the Rooster Teeth series?

A: Yes.

Q: Sienna's alive!

A: Yes! I always thought it was a waste of a neat-looking character to just get scrapped following a minor appearance.

Q: Winter?

A: Answered in this chapter. Also, other stuff, which will be addressed in the next arc, maybe.

Q: Team ENMY?

A: Going to continue writing it after this chapter.

Q: What the shit is going on?!

A: Keep reading and find out! (Or at least, whenever I find the time to write more for this)