Chapter 40

Atlas and Menagerie

Faunus and non-faunus

Both had a rich history of strife.

And today, a faunus would ask the headmaster of Atlas for assistance.

"Mr Belladonna, my name is Winter Schnee. I'll be guiding you today, as for your associates, I'll have them guided to the student dorm." Looking past the bearded father, was a strange sight.

A faunus girl, clearly the mans daughter in a long white coat. On her shoulders was a child, one that made her do a double take.

A white haired child, in a dress. A fancy one, Winter even mistook her for a schnee.

'Who is that?'

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Walking back to Atlas, were the two women fond of a certain man.

"To think that tomorrow could be our last day..." at the thought of the assault, Neo had only on thought.

Not of death.

But of the owl.

The glee that she would take at that things death. Sadism was a wonderful thing.

Walking through the cold streets, Neo couldn't help but breathe into her hands, rubbing them together for warmth.

"Cold isn't it? Sometimes it's nice, sometimes it's miserable." The light comment surprised her, someone who's always lived in the cold... wouldn't they prefer the summer?

"Summer is nice, but sometimes it's worse to be covered in sweat. Your clothes stick to your skin, you feel hot and out of breath. I'd much rather be numb in the fingertips than baking in the sun." Neo could understand that view.

Sometimes the heat was the worst.

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Stepping onto academy grounds, Weiss saw a woman in a white coat enter the academy.

'Not shady at all...' like the good samaritan she was, Weiss rushed after the shady individual. Its not like she was a Lieutenant...

It was her day off after all.

Peeking into the academy door, there was a little girl next to her.

"Let's go find big brother!" Big brother? White hair... a rare hair colour even in atlas. There's no way she's... there's a possibility she's a schnee. Even I don't know all the antics my father got up to.

But I find it unlikely. Then... the only other person...

But that... that doesn't make sense.

By now, Weiss had noticed that it was just Blake. The cat ears gave it away quite quickly. It seemed that they got along quite well.

No point in tailing any further.

"Blake! How've you been?" Turning around, Blake gave a light smile. Though it seemed forced considering the bags under her eyes. Weiss could guess why.

"Tired. A lot has happened in such a short time."

Uncaring of the conversation, Lina locked onto Weiss and launched herself at the Lieutenants chest.

"New person!" Smoothly, Weiss caught the mess of hair in a dress, holding her up as she examined her. Red eyes....

'But he said she was gone... I suppose she could've just disappeared. But it seemed like he knew what happened.' The child held a grin, Weiss then thought of a question.

But Neo butted in.

'What's your name?' The little girl looked to the lover of her brother.

"You look like Ice-Cream! The Neo... Neo... po... li-tan?" Neo would've giggled at the girl if she could. Tapping her card again, lina placed her hands on her hips despite being held up by Weiss.

"Lina... G-gunsche?" The girl stuttered, unsure of how to pronounce her last name.

"Günsche. That's how you say it Lina." Her soft voice reminded Lina of her Mother...

"How... do you know?" Neo once again butted in, holding a card up.

'Because I'm his girlfriend!' Lina grinned, climbing from Weiss' powerful grip to leap onto Neo's shoulders. The girl caught her, the reflexes and abilities that she gained from her connection to Hans at full throttle.

And then, she sat down.

"Take me to big brother!" As if commanding a loyal steed, Lina pointed forward. Completely clueless to where he was except for a faint scent.

"Neo, take her to him. I'll get Blake to bed. She needs to sleep. I'd like to be there for a touching reunion, but I'd rather Blake was okay. Just, record it for me." Neo gave her a thumbs up, casually walking off.

"Alright, let's get you to bed. Before you pass-" Blakes body relaxed, Weiss being forced to catch her slumped, sleeping body. "Out..."

Weiss smiled, such ridiculous antics...

"Just like before the fall..."

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As Neo carried the little girl, she swayed from side to side. Happily humming as she awaited seeing her brother.

It'd only been a moment. She couldn't remember what happened, just that she woke up with... someone.

She couldn't remember anything about him, just that he was nice.

But none of that mattered, because now, she'd be with big brother again.

The door opened for the two, and Neo could immediately tell he was tired. Hans was a very... reactive man. He'll turn to the slightest noises with full alert. Yet, no response.

She didn't know what went on at night, only that it was a tiring experience for him.

Slowly, his nose sniffed a strange scent. One that should've been completely impossible. As if he had been awake moments prior, his eyes cracked open to an impossible sight.

Lina

He had saw a bullet go through her head. He'd seen her blood staining the snow. He'd mourned her corpse.

"Big brother!" Lina hooked her arms around his neck, snuggling up to him. He... he could feel her. This wasn't some illusion...

It was real.

Neo watched, staring with her scroll out and recording. A small, happy smile could be seen. Hans carefully, as if holding an egg, hugged her. Such gentleness, it was like she could shatter in his hands.

"I missed you!" Lina pushed up against him even more, completely ignoring his personal space. Hans didn't care.

He reached out his hand to Neo, who gladly took it.

The three sat there, silence aside from the occasional giggling. It reminded him of the old days. Before all of it...

Oddly enough, that all seemed so... unimportant now.

The present was nice.

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Why are humans so... weak? Decade after decade, century after century, millenia after millenia.

Humans never get any stronger. They can never surpass their own mortality, nor gain the magic that resides in their soul.

They've achieved semblances, yet never anything beyond that.

The only exception to this, have been the silver-eyed warriors. On that day, where I fooled the gods, I saw the god of light use those eyes...

So how on earth do they exist?

The god of light is not so kind as to do such a kindness without a plan in mind.

Ozma's task... could it be related to that?

I don't know... the inner workings of those gods are a mystery.

Only now does it come to mind, but why did I never think of that?

As I headed to the grimm pool, I passed by Watts' room. I could see him working on something, he'd already fully recovered by now. His new grimm physiology being much more repellent and malleable made it child's play.

Pushing open the castle gates, I knew a storm was coming.

It wasn't difficult to guess, the white haired man headed to Atlas? They must be preparing for something.

Watts informed me that they seem to be gathering their forces. It seems another fruitless battle is about to occur. What a fool Ozma is.

As I stood above the black lake, I knew exactly what I wanted to do.

With my hands, I got to work. Slowly molding a figure. The one from my memory, one I fervently hated yet still held dear.

If only he hadn't been turned against me... no, that's simply a fools dream.

I know I changed, looking back on it all, I changed ever since I lost him. When we reunited, I was no longer the same woman he fell in love with.

Nor was he the same man I fell for.

Both of us had changed, our desires and lives had long parted. I... I only wish... they could've...

Oh... I'm... done.

Looking at my work, there he was, my ex-husband. Donned in his old armor, when he was still the old hero Ozma. What a... strange thing it was. Seeing him again.

Oh my... it... would seem I gave him some of my magic. Oh well, no matter.

"Is that you, my dear?" His groggy voice, as if waking up from a long dream. I passed him a sword, a living one made from the pool. Taking it, he held it fondly.

"Indeed, it's me." Holding my hand to his cheek, I had so many conflicting feelings about him. But I missed the simpler days. Yet he was taken from me.

Taken too soon.

And soon, he and I can be together. Together in the afterlife.

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Sheesh, my lazy ass has been neglecting my other story entirely to try and focus on finishing the RWBY arc.

See ya