Rose starts to put a few items in a small shoulder bag. She puts the letter in st, before closing it up. She then heads up stairs and passes by a room, filled with tools, taken apart weapons and workout equipment.

  Rose comes to a stop just past the door, and she slowly takes a few steps back. She pokes her head inside, looking around, seeing a few band posters on the wall, and several photos of Rose and Ambré.

  This was her room, just as she and Rose left for Beacon. Her mouth becomes dry as she grips the door handle, and swiftly shuts it. She then quickly runs to her room and takes several deep breaths.

  She calms her breathing and walks over to her desk, and grabs her coat off her chair. She quickly slips on the coat and gnces over at the pictures on her desk, she then gnces over to the gun on her desk.

  She reaches out to it, but then hesitates; before grabbing it and slipping it onto the back of her pants. She adjust her coat a little, before heading out of her room.

  She quickly heads down stairs and grabs her bag, and slips it over her shoulder. She then heads for the door.

  "Honey?" A voice calls out.

  Rose stops and looks back at her mother.

  Gold Rose has long white hair, that goes down to her waist. Sparkly golden eyes, that hold great softness in them. She has smooth skin, not even a single blemish in sight, though she is on the thinner side.

  Gold wears a simple white dress with blue stockings. A diamond ring on her left hand shines in the light. She stands just a couple inches taller then Rose at 5'4'' (163 cm).

  "Are you heading out?" Gold asks as she tilts her head.

  Rose nods. "Yes, mother."

  Gold smiles softly. "Have fun, and make sure to be back before dinner."

  Rose gives a small bow. "Yes, mother."

  Rose runs for the door and quickly opens it up. But then she hesitates, her hands shake a little as she looks outside. She tightly curls her hands.

  'T-Thorn? Can you-' 'Ugh, what a loser!'

  Rose's eyes turn red, as her Sembnce Thorn, which is basically a split personality; takes over. Thorn looks around, before stepping out, and closing the front door behind her.

  Thorn heads down the street, passing a few people who wave to her, but she just ignores them. She passes a few faunus sitting on a steep.

  "Hey, Rose!" A familiar bird faunus greets.

  Thorn gres at them, as a squirrel faunus speaks up.

  "Um, I think that's Thorn."

  "Ohhh... um... I Thorn, please don't hurt me."

  A dog faunus then speaks. "Up to Ats, again?"

  Thorn nods as she passes the three.

  "Well, have a good day!" The Bird faunus calls out.

  Thorn quickly makes her way through Mantle, and reaches the airpad. She walks onto a Bullhead after showing the pilot a bck card with the Schnee symbol on it.

  Thorn sits down and after a few minutes the Bullhead takes off.

  'Thank you for this.' Bell's voice rings out in their head, making Thorn roll her eyes. 'You're lucky that I want to see s?ur, as well.'

  Thorn looks down at her hands, seeing a small burn scar on her left palm, causing her to rub it. Then memories of that dark night start to py in her head, then the memory of Byzan just up and disappearing pys in her head. Thorn frown and grits her teeth in anger.

  'If I see that cat again, I'll rip his nuts off and nail them to my door.' 'Please don't do that.'

  Thorn just huffs as she crosses her arms and closes her eyes.

  'I wonder what Weiss, is up too.' 'Probably sitting in her "Castle", enjoying the rich life.'

  Up in Ats in the Schnee Manor, Weiss stands outside her father's door. She's wearing a new short glittering dress, with a color gradation of gray blue to pale blue at the hem. A sweetheart neckline, and a white, tulle petticoat.

  A white sash is wrapped multiple times around her waist, and over the outfit is a worn a slightly sheer long-sleeved gray blue bolero fastened at the colr with a rge sapphire broach that has three pendants dangling from it. Printed on the back of the shrug is the Schnee Crest.

  Completing her attire are gray blue wedge heels and sapphire drop earring on her left ear. On her right ear is a small blue feather earring.

  Weiss reaches for the doorknob, but hesitates for a few seconds. But then Jacques muffled voice is heard from within.

  "I'm not talking about the good of my company; I'm talking about the good of Ats, our entire Kingdom!"

  Ironwood is then heard. "This is a load of garbage and you know it.

  Weiss opens the door and peers in.

  "I beg your pardon?!" Jacques shouts.

  James Ironwood, with a bit of a stubble, sits in a chair in front of a bookcase. Standing behind him is Calico Ash.

  Calico Ash is a tall female, who stands at 7'4'' (223.5 cm).She has piercing golden eyes with long wavy white hair that goes down to her shoulders. She is wearing a white military coat with blue accents, and white pants with golden accents. Over her shoulders is a rge cape with a fur lining.

  She has on red gloves and thick bck boats. Several small scars line her chin and neck.

  "Jacques, will you please, just hear me out?" Ironwood asks.

  Jacques pces his gss down on the table roughly. "You are a trusted friend and ally to this family, James, but what you're suggesting is absurd!"

  "You are blowing it out of proportion."

  "The council will never agree to it!"

  James stands up. "You forget, I hold two seats on the council."

  "Your Dust embargo has already cost me millions!" Jacques angrily points at Ironwood. "I can promise you, I have not forgotten!"

  "Is this is about you."

  Weiss steps into the room, and watches the two men awkwardly while the door shuts behind her. She stares at the sound while, James, Calico, and Jacques turn and look at her.

  Ironwood bows to Weiss. "Miss Schnee! My apologies. I should have been gone by now."

  "It-It's okay." Weiss stutters.

  Calico gives Weiss a soft smile. "Weiss..."

  Weiss gives her an awkward smile. "Hi, Calico."

  James gnces at Jacques. "We'll continue this at another time."

  "Indeed." Jacques agrees. "Klein can show you out."

  "Don't worry, I know the way."

  Weiss steps aside so that Ironwood and Calico can reach the door. James then calls out to Jacques.

  "Until next time, Jacques."

  Jacques solemnly nods back at Ironwood, who turns to Weiss.

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

  Ironwood leaves and Calico starts to follow, but Jacques, calls out to her.

  "Calico, we're having a fine dinner tonight, why don't you join us for once."

  Calico stops and gres at him. "I'd rather not. I have trainees to instruct, so I'll be busy." She turns to Weiss, putting a hand on her shoulder. "It was nice seeing you."

  Weiss smiles in return. "Likewise."

  Calico leaves, leaving Weiss and her father alone.

  "Did you forget your manners while you were away?" Jacques turns and walks to his desk, which is a few steps up from the chairs and tables where he and Ironwood were sitting.

  Weiss looks annoyed at the comment, but calms down with a sigh. She then puts her hands behind her back, and straightens up.

  "No, Father. I'm sorry."

  "Can you believe there are still people in the world that bme Ats for what happened to Beacon? To Bale?"

  "Well, they weren't there." Weiss behind walking across the room to stand before his desk.

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

  "I trust him."

  Jacques sighs and turns towards his daughter. "Thanks to him, Ats is forbidden from exporting Dust to other Kingdoms. 'A precautionary measure', as he puts it, 'until we're certain no one is going to decre war'. How anyone could possibly find that to be sound logic is beyond me."

  Weiss blinks at her father, clearly uncomfortable. There is one framed picture on the desk, and it's of Whitley.

  Jacques continues. "Which is why the Schnee Dust Company will be holding a charity concert in the coming weeks." Weiss looks up at him in surprise. "We need to show the people of Remnant that we are on their side. That we are all victims of the fall of Beacon."

  "That's... wonderful news."

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

  "Excuse me?"

  "Many forget that you were there. My own daughter, a Schnee, on the grounds, defending another Kingdom! Even the Bell's, a side family they may be, but were also there and one is even in a coma! We need to remind them! And we need to show them that the Schnee family is just as strong as ever!"

  Weiss stares at her father for a second. "Are you asking me if I'd like to sing, or telling me?"

  Jacques leans forward and makes a tent with the fingers of his hands as he meaningfully gazes at Weiss.

  "I think it would make a lot of people happy."

  Weiss sighs. "I'll start practicing."

  "That's... my girl." Jacques leans back in his chair. "I'll even invite Bell... if that makes you more, cooperative."

  Weiss just bows. "Thank you." She heads for the door, but stops as her father calls out to her.

  "Now don't forget, we are the ones paying for Ambré, medical bills."

  Weiss grits her teeth as she exits the room.

  Over in Ats Hospital, Bell, having taken back over, walk-ins into a room. Her breath hitches slightly as she stares at the figure in the bed. It's her older sister Ambré, who's covered in bandages, and has a tube down her throat and several wires attached to her arms.

  Rose walks over to the bed, and reaches into her shoulder bag, and sets a letter on the table next to the bed. There's a small stack of letters on the table, along with cards and flowers.

  Rose then grabs a chair and sits down beside the bed. She reaches out and grabs on her sisters hand.

  "Hey s?ur, it's me again." Rose whispers as she rubs her thumb over the back of her sister's hand. "I uh... I just wanted to visit again... but honestly, it's kinda hard to get out of the house. I..."

  Rose ys her head on the side of the bed, staring her her sister's hand. "I can't believe it's just the two of us left... Maize... Byzan... Why must the world be cruel to those who are good. To think I was scared of my own shadow a year ago... now I'm scared to even leave the house. And I can't help but feel bad, by working extra hours to give to me. While I can't even help her."

  Rose turns her head and stares at her sister's scarred face.

  "Sometimes when I fall asleep, I wake up back at Beacon. With me, you, Maize and Byzan all getting ready to go to css. But when we leave the dorm, I wake up. What I'd give just to have all of us back together again."

  Rose closes her eyes.

  "Why must life be so difficult. I just want my family back together..."

  She curls her free hand into a fist.

  "Life's never easy for a Bell."

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  04-04-2025

  2000 words