Arc Two: Mirror, Mirror
Part Two

She stood, frozen in shock and fear. The sky above her head roared with thunder as rain began falling, washing away the sticky, red substance that now stained the grey ground. Weiss could not comprehend the scene before her - refused to comprehend it. Just a few feet away she could see Blake, the Faunus also petrified with her eyes glued to the gruesome scene before them.

The tricolored mute - ‘Neo’, as Torchwick had called her - slowly pulled her sword out of the corpse that lay at her feet. The rain continued to pour and thunder clapped, accompanied by a bright flash of lightning that provided nothing but a better view of Yang Xiao Long’s dead body.

Neo bore a sadistic, triumphant grin and she held her sword in front of her face. She seemed to conjure a cloth from nowhere and took her time wiping the blood away from the blade. She flashed her grin to Weiss and then to Blake. And then with another flash of lightning she shattered into pieces, just as she had after the fight with the giant mech.

Weiss heard Torchwick laugh. She heard his fake apologies and could practically feel his smug grin. She refused to look at him. Instead she turned to face the one who caused this. The reason she couldn’t help Yang. The rain masked her tears as Myrtenaster’s blade gleamed with every flash of lightning.

Mercury Black stood with his arms crossed and an uncaring look on his face as he shifted his weight from side to side. He let out a small yawn as he looked at Weiss from the corner of his eyes. “Oh, are you done crying?” He asked as his trademark grin grew on his face. “Can we get back to fighting now? Or will you just roll over and die already?”

She didn’t say anything. Her grief and rage overruled any remark she could have made. Nothing escaped her mouth but a scream of sadness and fury as a glowing white glyph materialized beneath the girl and rocket her forward.

For Ruby and for Yang...

“Luna.”

Her eyes snapped open and she saw her sister standing before her. Princess Celestia, the white alicorn who controlled the sun. Luna nodded and wrapped a wing around her sister and felt Celestia do the same to her. Their embrace was short and they separated barely a moment later.

“I suppose we have much to talk about.” Celestia stated.

“We do.” Luna replied, and then sighed. She used her magic to grab two chairs from the side of the room and placed them behind herself and her sister. Luna sat as she said “I fear that this will go on for quite some time, yes?”

Celestia also sat. “Unfortunately. I’ve been so distracted with this situation, I haven’t had time to respond to Twilight’s letters.” The older sister’s eyes flicked towards the ceiling as she stretched her wings. “I suppose we should begin, then.” Celestia looked at Luna and the two locked gazes. “You went into the creature’s mind?”

Luna nodded slowly. “I did. I gathered enough information to create an illusion of myself as a member of its species. I was also able to hold a conversation, however brief.” Luna paused, letting her words sink in.

Celestia's face turned contemplative. “And...” Both sisters knew the question that needed to be asked, but neither wanted to be the one to do it. “Is it...” Eventually the white alicorn bit the bullet, shooting Luna a look as she spoke. “Is the creature dangerous?”

Luna fell silent. How should she answer? She had seen the alien's memories, relived the life of Weiss Schnee in the blink of an eye. Luna had seen great feats of strength from the girl and had seen how she handled herself in a fight.

Those fights were all against those hellish creatures that humans called Grimm, or against evil forces for the protection of innocent lives. Luna had lived these moments, and as such held insight that no other could gain. But the experiences she lived hardly mattered now.

Weiss Schnee's last moments were not pleasant, to put it mildly. There was no telling how she would react to her situation, her new world, her deceased friends...

Luna opened her mouth, but then closed it. This repeated a few times, her eyes closed as she continued to think. She needed to answer.

“I don't know, sister.” Luna said dejectedly, lowering her head with a somber look on her face. She wanted to speak on Weiss’s behalf, but couldn't bring herself to do it. “My experiences in her memories... Her final moments were taxing on her mind. I can't say if she's even the same as she was.”

Celestia hummed to herself and turned her head to the door. “The creature...” She began. “She believes she is still on her homeworld, correct?” Celestia turned back to Luna, who raised her head.

“Yes. Even if she does not remember our conversation she has no reason to assume otherwise.” The worst case scenario was that Weiss remembered dying, but even then Luna could just say the wound was treated fast enough to save her life.

Celestia smiled and nodded. “Good. Then I would like you to keep the charade going. Until we know more about the creature and her current mental state, I would like you to keep a watchful eye on her, Luna.”

The younger sister nodded. No more words were exchanged — Celestia and Luna simply hugged and exited the room. They then went their separate ways.

When she woke up for the second time, Weiss immediately threw the thin blanket away and bolted upright.

Her icy blue eyes were wide with fright, or perhaps simply unease. Her head no longer hurt, the pain replaced by a dreary fog inside. Weiss blinked a few times and shook her head but she still found herself unable to focus.

Weiss’s head felt fuzzy and her vision blurred. Her head swayed with her unsteady torso and uneven breaths. She blinked again but it only served to make herself even more dizzy. She slowly lifted a hand, and placed it in front of her eyes. Despite the limb’s shaking it did a decent job of shielding her eyes from the light so Weiss left it up.

Weiss looked around, moving her head as slow as possible. Through the gaps in between her fingers she saw that the walls matched the stark white of the ceiling, complemented by the purple curtains that hung in front of what Weiss presumed to be a window. The curtains blocked most of the sunlight from entering the room but left just enough for it to bother her eyes.

The heiress groaned and dropped her hand from her face. She flopped backwards, letting her body sink back into the mattress. If there was one thing that pointed to her being in Atlas, it was the bed -expensive and just uncomfortable enough for you to stay awake. Weiss hated it.

There wasn’t a television in this room. In fact Weiss hadn’t noticed any electronics anywhere. Even the walls were bare of any light switches or bulbs. She could deal with the lack of light, but the absence of the television and her Scroll were different matters.

Weiss had no access to the news. No way to talk to the outside world. But most of all... She didn’t know what happened to her team. She knew that Ruby and Yang were... dead. But Blake... Did she manage to escape? For that matter, how did Weiss herself escape?

Her last few memories were hazy. She knew that the mute girl had escaped. She knew that Mercury had knocked her down and diminished her Aura to nothing. And she knew that Myrtenaster had been taken from her. Weiss closed her eyes and took a deep breath. That’s where the memories stopped: her, helpless, lying on the rain-soaked ground without her Aura or her weapon. Weiss brought a hand to her abdomen. It ached horribly.

She jumped in her skin as the door opened suddenly and in walked that woman. Her long, flowing dark blue hair trailed behind her as she walked towards Weiss. The door closed behind her. The woman flashed Weiss a warm smile that she guessed was supposed to be comforting as she pulled a chair towards herself and sat down.

“Hello, Weiss.” The woman greeted smoothly. The heiress did not respond, simply nodding her head for a greeting. The woman’s smile didn’t falter as she spoke again. “It seems you are feeling a little better. That is good. I was worried that you would not wake up today.”

Weiss’s eyes widened just a little bit as she turned her head to stare at the woman. “Luna,” Weiss suddenly spoke, the name having jumped into her mind. As the word left her mouth Weiss’s vision seemed to clear and her head no longer swam. She was able to focus!

Luna’s face straightened as she leaned forward. “Yes, Weiss?” Her voice was even with a formal tone, one that Weiss was very familiar with. This woman reeked of high-class living. Even her clothes were high-class: a dress that matched her hair, lacked shoulder straps and came down to her feet. From the sounds that she made when she walked Weiss assumed that Luna wore some sort of heels.

“Weiss?”

She jumped yet again. Had she spaced out? Weiss blinked and sat up again, supporting herself on her shoulders. “O-Oh... I apolo-” She interrupted herself with a cough. Pain rocketed from her middle to her throat. She groaned and closed her eyes tightly.

Luna placed a hand on Weiss’s shoulder. “Do not speak, young one. I am simply here to explain a few things.”

The heiress groaned in pain but nodded her head, making a small noise as she sat up all the way. “I...” Weiss began, stopping to take a deep breath before continuing. “My team. Have you heard anything about...” Her voice failed her, her words falling into quiet grunts as Luna’s gaze softened and her head dropped.

Luna sighed sadly. “Your team... It was Team RWBY, yes?” When Weiss nodded, Luna continued. “I’m sorry to say that I cannot say. No news has come my way. I truly am sorry, Weiss.”

Weiss swallowed the lump in her throat and wiped the corners of her eyes. “... I figured as much...” She muttered quietly, turning her head away from Luna as she took deep breaths. “What about my father? Has he been informed about my condition?”

Weiss couldn’t see Luna’s face, but the lack of an immediate answer told her everything. She heard Luna say something, something about not being able to contact the Schnee family. But Weiss was no longer listening. Instead she focused on her own thoughts.

Here she was, in a room that she wasn’t sure was even in Atlas. For all she knew it was in an area not controlled by any of the Kingdoms. This woman was the only person she had seen so far - not counting the man that had accompanied Luna during the first visit but Weiss had never seen him. She lacked her Scroll, her weapon was nowhere to be found...

Weiss crossed her arms as her eyes closed tightly. “I want to leave.” She spoke slowly but harshly, and took great pleasure in the silence that loomed over the two as her words hung in the air. Weiss could not see Luna’s reaction but she assumed it wasn’t pleasant. After all, a prisoner had just figured out what she was.

“... You wish to leave?” Luna’s flat words betrayed absolutely no emotion. The cool way she spoke would have sent chills down Weiss’s spine had she not been expecting it - nearly two decades of living around aristocrats and liars gave her plenty of experience. She heard Luna sigh and stand from her chair. “Open your eyes.”

Weiss did as she was told, but made sure that her gaze was as full of anger as possible. Luna stood to Weiss’s left, one hand on her hip with her eyes staring into the heiress’s. The woman clapped her hands and grabbed at the air with one - and to Weiss’s amazement a white glow appeared in Luna’s grip. When the white light faded, Myrtenaster appeared.

Weiss’s blue eyes were wide as dinner plates as the woman dropped her weapon onto the bed. “Wha-?” She choked out as she reached for her blade’s hilt. “Was... Was that your Semblance...?” Weiss had never heard of a Semblance that was able to transport items from one place to your hands but she supposed it was not much different than her family’s.

“Take it.” Luna said curtly as she turned and walked a few steps away. “I realize that you have no reason to trust me, but please push your thoughts aside and listen.”

Weiss held her weapon, testing its weight in her hands. It felt familiar yet strange at the same time. She stared at the sword for some time before turning her gaze to Luna.

The woman looked over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at Weiss. “Are you listening? I do hope you are.” Luna closed her eyes and let out a short sigh. “I was hoping this would not have to happen for another few days...”

As she tossed the covers aside and slid herself off of the bed Weiss looked quizzically at Luna. “What are you talking about?” She asked with a slightly raised voice. “I have every right to know exactly where I am, and you have been nothing but vague ever since I woke up!” Weiss pointed Myrtenaster at the woman, who tensed slightly.

“If I'm a hostage, then I'll escape. If you're with the White Fang, then I'll have you know I've fought you before and won. You don't frighten me-!”

“Silence!”

Weiss stopped talking — or, rather, found herself unable to talk. Her jaw refused to move and she found that she couldn't even move her head, as if it were being held by an invisible force. She made a noise as she tried to wrench her head free, but to no avail.

“I'm very sorry about this, Weiss.” Luna spoke softly as she turned, her hand outstretched and her fingers pointing Weiss's direction. “I did not expect you to be so lucid so fast. I would have made the illusion more convincing... Alas, my sister has always been the better thinker.”

Luna made to take a step closer but put her foot back when Weiss stuck her weapon as far out as it could go. Luna's blank face stared as she lowered her hand. Weiss felt her jaw fall slightly and she moved her head side to side slowly, then looked at the woman quizzically.

Luna crossed her arms. “I am so very sorry to have caused you this stress. I never intended to make you feel as if you were in danger.”

Weiss grit her teeth together and let out a frustrated growl. “I want answers. Clear answers. Now!”

“And you will get them.” Luna's voice, still calm and collected, suddenly echoed through the room. Weiss squinted her eyes as Luna’s form seemed to blur.

And when the blur faded, a pair of animal ears stuck out from the top of the woman's head.

Weiss's eyes widened as she took a step back. “You... You're a Faunus!” Despite herself, she felt her grip tighten around her weapon.

Luna looked at Weiss oddly, but then turned her gaze upward. “Oh. That wasn't supposed to happen.” Before Weiss could ask what she meant, the woman was again blurred. And slowly, the blur was replaced by a blue light.

Luna's voice spoke from the light. “Please try to remain calm. What you see may surprise you.”

The light grew brighter, and brighter still. Weiss closed her eyes and raised her hands to block it out. Just who was this woman? Just when her eyes began to hurt, the light dimmed away.

Weiss opened her eyes and blinked as they readjusted. “Wha...?” She started, lowering Myrtenaster as she stared at the scene before her. “What the heck are you?”

The creature — it kinda looked like a horse, actually — stood confidently on its four legs as it stared at Weiss with big blue irises. Its coat was a darker shade of blue, and it wore a black crown atop its head. But perhaps the most odd thing about it was the mane; a slightly brighter shade of blue but it seemed to flow with non-existent wind. It also seemed to be made out of stars.

The horse smiled a small smile. “Hello, Weiss Schnee. I am Princess Luna.”

Her Aura was gone.

Weiss lay on the ground, her white dress tainted with blood and dirt. She could barely move anymore. Her limbs screamed with white hot pain at every little twitch. Her lungs fought to take in air.

Mercury's smirk never faltered through the fight. At every moment he was in control, and though Weiss had been able to get a few good hits in it ultimately meant nothing. His shoes clicked on the asphalt as he walked closer.

She heard the sound of gunfire from a little ways away. Her mind briefly registered that Blake was still fighting. Still alive. Weiss allowed herself a small smile. The Faunus had lasted longer than the Schnee. Oh, if her father could see her now.

Myrtenaster lay just a few feet away, just out of her reach — not that she could have grabbed for it anyway. But still she tried, lifting her arm slightly and reaching out ever so slowly despite every muscle screaming at her to stop. She had to try, dammit!

Tears began to well up in the corners of her eyes. She needed her weapon. She needed it to fight. She needed her team. Weiss wanted her friends...

The blade of Myrtenaster clicked against the ground as it was lifted into the air... But not by Weiss. She looked up through her wet eyes to see Mercury, his weight shifted to one side and his smirk — that fucking smirk — plastered firmly on his face.

There was pain. Weiss let out a strangled cry of pain as she suddenly found it hard to breathe. She could vaguely hear Mercury walking away. Everything seemed muffled.

Her limbs grew heavy. She tried to lift her arm but could only manage a twitch of her finger. Was the night this cold before? She managed to lift her head to see her own weapon protruding out of her chest. The all-too familiar lure of sleep beckoned to her, welcoming her into it’s sweet embrace for, very likely, the last time.

She heard the cry of Blake's voice just before everything faded away.

Arc Two: Mirror, Mirror
Part Two End

Author's Note

Sorry that this took so long. Hit a mighty case of writer's block and yada yada. Hopefully y'all liked this.

The two-plot structure of Mirror, Mirror is still there, I just haven't had a chance to properly introduce the second plot just yet. Gotta keep things happening at a nice, natural pace.

If you see any formatting errors that I didn't catch while post-edit-editing, please inform me. I hate the GDoc importer even with that new extension.
-Qrow