RWBY: The Honored One - CH4 (Patreon)

[Alabaster Schnee. POV.]

Willow was pregnant again.

She was due in May.

It was honestly baffling how she still let Jacques sleep with her. He didn’t force her, that much I was certain of, otherwise I would’ve killed the guy already.

Their relationship reminded me a lot of the relationships of the Gojo clan. They were all out of interest, to keep the clan alive. 

I suppose in the end, I was to be an older brother again. I wonder if it will be a boy this time.

Chuckling, I continued walking, pushing those thoughts aside for the time being. The soft crunch of snow beneath my feet was oddly satisfying as I moved through the Schnee garden to a secluded pot. 

Today, I had a very special mission, which was to learn more about the entire 'semblance' business.

Aura was, to put it bluntly, child's play. 

At first, I'd thought there'd be some complexity to it, something challenging. But nope, it was just another energy to tap into. So mundane that it was borderline boring. Give me cursed energy any day.

I let out a small chuckle, glancing down at my hand. With a flick of my fingers, a delicate ice glyph formed, floating serenely above my palm. The Schnee family semblance was all about glyphs and summoning, a lineage of warriors or whatever. 

I've heard the spiel a dozen times.

Tilting my head, I focused on the glyph, and it began to glow brighter, shifting and morphing, until a small Beowolf formed, snarling and snapping its jaws.

"Adorable," I remarked. It seemed the strength limit of the summon was directly correlated to the strength the creature had before dying, and the power of the summoner itself.

Meaning that if I wanted to, I could probably make this little guy a powerhouse by the species standard. I chuckled at the thought, I wasn’t one for using summons. 

Not my style.

Though… I had to admit, the idea of  having some summons, if anything, to keep an eye on Winter, my future sibling, and scare Jacques every now and then was pretty enticing. Based on the energy consumption they had, I was pretty sure I could keep them active for a long period of time, even if I wasn’t around.

I could probably even copy Mei Mei’s technique if I really got to it.

Sighing, I waved my hand, dispelling the creature and letting the snow flurry around me. 

"I wonder if I can make it dance," I mused, bringing forth another glyph, this time letting it take the form of a Boarbatusk. I focused, manipulating the energy within, directing its movements.

To my amusement, the Boarbatusk began to dance, twisting and turning in a hilarious rendition of ballet. I couldn't help but burst out laughing, the sight too ridiculous to ignore.

Wiping a tear from my eye, I decided to push the semblance further. Combining glyphs, layering them, testing their limits, wondering how Aura would react to Curse Energy. 

I grinned, as newfound excitement bubbled within me. Perhaps Aura wasn't so boring after all.

—---------------------------------------------------------------------

[A few weeks later.]

Inside the Schnee library, I sat in a lavish armchair, the golden imprints on the leather binding of the book I held shimmering slightly under the room's soft lighting. I'd picked up a detailed account of Remnant's history, specifically about the Faunus. 

Mostly because, well, I was curious.

Despite knowing they existed. I had yet to see one, I had seen Grimm, but not Faunus. Which I suppose had something to do with Jacques being a racist.

As I flipped through the pages, taking in the sketches and notes about Faunus anatomy and their unique abilities, I couldn't help but chuckle internally. These Faunus were fascinating, not in the sense of their physical abilities or unique traits. 

I mean, come on, I've seen curse spirits that made your usual Faunus look like a domesticated house cat. But there was something undeniably...  adorable about them.

An image of a Faunus with little cat ears twitching on top of her head made me grin. The idea of someone having ears like that, it was just... cute. And then there were those with tails. I couldn’t help but imagine them wagging it when they're happy or swishing it around when annoyed. 

I had to stifle a laugh imagining Jacques with a fluffy tail, probably raised high in arrogance or tucked between his legs when I have my little 'chats' with him.

And those with more unique features, like wings or scales? Just as endearing. I couldn't help but think of how they would manage everyday tasks, like how one would put on a shirt with a set of wings on their back or if those with scales had to moisturize to keep them from drying out.

I shook my head, a smirk playing on my lips. Of all the things in this world, who would've thought it would be the Faunus that'd make me feel this... giddy? In a way, they were this world's version of the unexpected, a quirk in the fabric of what one would deem 'normal'.

Drawing a deep breath, I closed the book and set it aside. Maybe, just maybe, I should venture into the city one of these days and meet a few Faunus for myself. 

It would be fun, and I was all about having fun. 

—------------------------------------------------------------

[May.]

Today, the Schnee Manor was abuzz with activity, murmurs of excitement and anticipation echoing through the hallways. And how could it not, today was special. The Schnee family was expecting its newest member.

Winter and I stood outside the door to our mother's room, both of us dressed in our best clothes for the occasion. While I had experienced this once before with Winter's birth, for her, this was entirely new.

"Do you think she'll be pretty?" Winter whispered, her eyes filled with a mix of wonder and uncertainty.

I smirked, looking down at her. "She's a Schnee, isn't she? Of course she will be."

Before Winter could reply, the door opened slowly, revealing a tired yet beaming Willow holding a small bundle in her arms. Nestled inside was a baby, her skin pale and hair a snowy white.

Aura sure helped women recover quickly from birth.

Winter's breath caught in her throat as she approached, her fingers gently brushing the baby's cheek. "She's... perfect," she whispered.

I couldn't help but agree. The little bundle, with her soft coos and innocent gaze, was enchanting. And just like that, as if on cue, the tiny infant reached out, her fingers wrapping around one of mine. The gesture was simple, yet in that moment, it felt profound.

Bending down, I whispered into her tiny ear. "Hey there, little snowflake. Welcome to the world. Just so you know, big brother's got your back. Always."

Winter looked up at me, her eyes misty. "We'll both protect her," she vowed, her voice filled with determination.

The sentiment was appreciated, but unnecessary. As long as I was here, as long as the strongest existed, I would protect them.

I ruffled her hair, grinning. "That's the spirit, Winnie."

As Winter and I stood there, lost in the moment with our newest family member. The familiar scent of expensive cologne preceded Jacques as he entered, his footsteps echoing in the silent chamber.

His eyes, usually cold and calculating, momentarily settled on Weiss, judging her worth. However, whatever he was doing vanished as soon as he locked eyes with me.

We didn't need words. In just a glance, I conveyed a silent warning.

Remember your place.

—-------------------------------------------------------------------

[Willow Schnee. POV.]

Gazing out of the large window, the chilly air of Atlas fogging the glass momentarily with each exhalation, I lost myself in a whirlwind of memories and emotions. 

The grand manor, the lavish parties, the tinkling laughter, they all felt like a distant mirage, a facade. Behind the glittering curtains, a tale of regret, sorrow, and fear unraveled.

I had once believed in the naive fantasies of love. 

The idea of falling for someone, marrying them, and living out the perfect life was all I had wanted at one point. 

And then Jacques entered my life. 

With his charming smile, eloquent words, and the promise of eternal love, he had swept me off my feet. But reality was different from those tales of old. Our love story wasn't one written amongst stars; it was etched in the contracts of boardroom tables.

The birth of our first child, I had hoped, would be the glue that bound us together. The miracle of life, surely, would thaw Jacques' cold heart, and perhaps just perhaps we would finally love each other. 

Alabaster. My beautiful boy. Was my hope at the time.

But as the days turned to weeks, and weeks to months, I noticed a shift, and not the one I had expected. Not in me, or in our child, but in Jacques. 

He seemed... distant, more so than usual. His gazes were wary, his smiles forced. 

Whispers around the manor spoke of Jacques' peculiar behavior around Alabaster. Staff members shared stories of our child's genius, of an air of dominance he carried, which unsettled the usually unflappable Jacques. 

I brushed them off initially, attributing them to idle gossip. But it wasn't just gossip. The undeniable terror I saw in Jacques' eyes whenever he looked at our son was enough to confirm the rumors.

As Alabaster grew, so did the chasm between Jacques and me. Jacques was kinder, or should I say more tolerable, but it wasn’t out of love, it was out of fear.

Fear of what would happen if our eldest son confronted him.

Deep down, I sometimes wonder if Jacques' fear is justified. Is there something in Alabaster that even I, his mother, fail to see? Or is it merely a reflection of Jacques' own insecurities, projected onto our son? 

Whatever the truth, one thing is certain: Alabaster has become the shield protecting me… no, us from the evil that is Jacques. 

And for that, I'll forever be grateful.

If I told someone this, they would probably ask me… why are you still with him, if you don’t love him.

At first, I wasn’t sure why. But now, I know. Because despite all his faults, Jacques has one redeemable quality, and that’s his seed.

Perhaps in time, I would divorce him. Perhaps when I was certain I didn’t want any more children. But until then, he would play his part, and I would play mine, knowing that if he ever hurt me again.

My son would be there.