RWBY: Faith Restored (Book 1)

Return of the Willow

A few days after the attack on the docks, everything went back to normal. Weiss and Blake forgave each other and made up. Their break consisted mostly of just them still in Beacon but they often visited Vlad in his castle and talked and had fun. Weiss was feeling down at some point and asked Vlad "Can I see the mirror again?" Dracula nods then lead her to the mirror where Weiss concentrated to her home.

Dracula looked in the mirror with Weiss to see the Schnee Mansion. More importantly, in the gardens where a woman with white hair like Weiss but in a bun with a few strands in front of her ears. Her eyes were a dull blue and sunken, like she hasn't slept in a while. Dracula looked at Weiss with sympathy and asked "Your mother?" Weiss nodded and wiped a tear from her eye. She spoke "Y-yes... She's been like this for most of my childhood. She was the actual head of the Schnee Dust Company until Father took over. It left her ruined."

Weiss looked at her mother and looked down and said "I... still hope that she can find a way out. To start again and take over the company. But it's impossible..." Dracula looked at Weiss then at her mother through the mirror. "What is her name?" Weiss looked up and said "W-Willow." Vlad spoke "Tell the girls I'll be gone for a bit." "Where are you going?" The mirror broke apart then hovered in the ceiling and he said "To pick somethings up." He led her out of the room then disappeared in a tower of flames.

Schnee Mansion, Gardens

The wind was quiet with no birds chipring. Willow's eyes dulled as she held a wine glass with bags under her eyes. Footsteps were heard behind her and she laughed bitterly "Here for another child, Jacques?" Vlad spoke "No. I haven't even taken you out to dinner." Willow looked behind her to see Dracula and she stood up "Who're you!? How did you get here!?" Vlad held his hands out and spoke "Peace, Miss Schnee. I am not here to hurt you. I am Vlad Dracula Tepes. I am a friend of your daughter, Weiss." Her eyes softened and she whispered "My little snowflake... How is she doing?"

Vlad smiled and walked to her "She is the top of her class. She's making friends." Willow questioned "She has friends?" The King nodded "Yes. She has her team and she has friends. She told me about your... Predicament and I decided I want to help you."

Willow looked away and said "You can't help me... No one can. This is my punishment for marrying a man like Jacques. For letting him ruin our family line." Vlad walked to the stone bench and sat down then patted the spot next to him for her to sit down. She hesitated before she sat dow next to him and spoke "Why do you want to help me? What do you want out of it? Money?" Dracula spoke "I have no desire for money. I'm simply doing this because Weiss needs her mother. Because you are the only one capable of restoring the Schnee Dust Company to its former glory."

Willow looked at him then away "It's impossible. Jacques is the Head of the Company.  It's not possible to take control from him." Vlad took her hand into his and spoke "You were the Heiress. You were meant to take control. I can help you in any way I can." Willow looked at his hand then clenched his hand and tears started to spill her eyes and she dropped her glass then hugged him. Vlad hugged her back and shushed her gently as she cried. "I'm such a horrible mother... I left Weiss to deal with Jacques' abuse." He rubbed her back gently and spoke "You have your chance to take it all back. To be the mother that Weiss wanted you to be."

Willow looked up at him then rested her head on his shoulder and cried softly. After awhile, her cries stopped and she calmed down then looked at him "Thank you... You gave me hope. But what should I do?" Dracula looked at her and spoke "First, you must get some sleep and sleep off the wine. Then perhaps you should start making changes behind Jacques' back. Improve conditions with workers in the mines. Then we'll deal with him ourselves."