A boy in gold/silver armor over black clothes with a red sash stood in a small room. He looked tired, beaten, a little nervous, and his fingers were firmly fastened around the handle of a large mace. His red hair was in decent condition despite the rest of him, and his blue eyes darted from the desk to the door.

Then, the door opened.

"Professor Ozpin?!" The boy asked, surprised. "But, everyone thinks that you were k-"

"Rumors of my death were..." The man sat down and gestured to the chair on the opposite side of the desk. "Greatly exaggerated." The boy sat down. "Cardin Winchester: one of the most efficient (if brash and arrogant) fighters in the first-year. Known for his violent temper and cruelty towards Faunus."

"Hey-!"

"I have a task for you, and only you. The world is changing, and the fate of Remnant could depend on this task... Can you do it?"

"Um... That depends. What about my team?"

"They cannot know. It is for their safety, and yours."

"What is this job, Professor?"

"Mr. Winchester... Have you ever heard the Story of the Four Maidens?"

"The Tale of the Seasons? Yeah, who hasn't? ... What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well... What if I were to tell you it was true?"

"Wait, what?!" The boy was ignored. Ozpin looked down.

"This task is dangerous, but I believe you can do it. It may even be beneficial... We need you to protect someone as she travels around Remnant, and keep her safe from harm to the best of your abilities. She may be our world's last hope in this rising darkness."

"How long would I be gone?" There was no answer, but then...

"Until the end." Ozpin declared. Cardin's eyes widened.

"Sir, what does this mean? The Tale of the Four Maidens being true, this mission? I don't get it!"

"Well, Cardin Winchester, to put it in simple terms... You have been chosen to guard the Spring Maiden."

/\/\/\/\

Cardin was lead down a dark hallway by Ozpin.

"For the last five years, the position of Spring Maiden has been held by a young girl." Ozpin was saying. "Her mother was the Spring Maiden."

"So, when one of these Maidens die, the girl in their final thoughts gets the powers?"

"Indeed. And for the past few years, Maidens have been targeted. So, we've assigned Shadows to follow and protect them. Sadly, it was too late for Amber... As we've been previously unable to find a Shadow for the Spring Maiden, so she's been attending Beacon."

"She has?"

"Yes. You may even recognize her... It's a pity that one so young was given this tremendous responsibility."

"How young are we talking?"

"Seventeen. She's your age (though in second-year), and a very capable Huntress."

"So, why does she need me?"

"So was Amber." The two arrived at the end of the hallway, and Ozpin opened the door to reveal an underground training facility. Cardin's eyes widened in shock at the scene.

"What?"

"I'll miss you." A young girl hugged abother girl dressed in brown with sunglasses and a black beret, then a blind and scarred boy in red, finally hugging a boy in green. "Try to take care of yourselves."

"No promises, Bun-Bun." The girl in sunglasses smiled sadly. "Be safe." The first girl nodded, then turned around.

Bar the green cloak, she was wearing the same outfit Cardin last saw her in: her armor. At her side was that little box, as always. Her brown eyes widened in fear as they fell on him.

"You?"

"You?!"

"Velvet Scarletina." Ozpin wore a small, and slightly dark, smirk. He'd been planning this all along, hadn't he? "Meet your Shadow, Cardin Winchester."

DUH-DUH-DUUUUUHHHHH! Sorry, someone had to write this story eventually. I just decided that it would have to be me. I own nothing! Please read, review, check out my other stories, etc. Thanks!