Okay, so, I have a little confession to make…

I love this concept. So much so that I made another chapter!

This is inspired by RealTerminal's review of what would happen if Emerald came into play.

Remember, in this universe, the girls are at their second year, and while the events of the Fall didn't happen, Cinder's appearance are still more-or-less like the one from Volume 4…

Where she has short hair.

"Hey, Ruby?"

Her dolt of a girlfriend looked up, tearing her gaze away from her childish comic and answered, "Yeah?"

"You once said that Yang is obsessed with short hair, right?" the heiress cautiously whispered. They were in the library, so they must obey the rules and not speak at a loud volume.

"Well," the brunette cringed. "I wouldn't say Yang's obsessed with short hair, per se, but…" She sighed desperately. "Yeah, she's obsessed with short hair."

"Then… How does she feel about Cinder Fall?"

Ruby blinked, tilting her head to the side… just like a cute little pup.

"What?"

"Cinder Fall," Weiss repeated. "The exchange student."

"Oh…" Ruby slowly nodded, putting her finger on her chin. "I don't know, I've never really thought of it before."

That answer certainly didn't quell Weiss' uneasiness, but it wasn't like she had a choice in the matter.

She couldn't just walk up to Yang - a girl who was already taken - and asked if she had feelings towards a girl who was not her girlfriend.

But still…

Weiss shook her head - it wasn't very appropriate, and not to mention courtful, to be thinking of these things - and went back to reading the book she'd chosen about dust.

After a few minutes, however, another question started to plague the heiress' thoughts.

"And what about you?" The brunette, again, looked up at her with a face displaying her confusion. "What preference of hair do you like?"

The brunette looked up in thought as she hummed before answering cluelessly, "Pigtails."

… Unbeknownst to the team leader, that simple answer was about to trigger something shocking from the Schnee girl.

…

Emerald sat down in the comforts of the solitude place known as the library.

She didn't come here to read - only weird girls would come to the library to read of all things, she was only here so she could get some alone time… preferably, away from a certain silver-haired rat.

She didn't expect anyone to be here…

Which was why she was shocked to hear the familiar voice of the leader of Team RWBY and the Schnee girl.

So, Emerald, being the normal girl that she was, did the only normal thing anyone would do with this situation:

Eavesdrop.

"Well," the squeaky voice of the rose girl rang, "I wouldn't say Yang's obsessed with short hair, per se, but…" A sigh; one of hopelessness. "Yeah, she's obsessed with short hair."

Oh… was this what they were talking about?

This was just lame and a waste of her-

"Then… How does she feel about Cinder Fall?"

Okay… scratch that, this was anything but lame. And this would certainly be benifical and worth her time.

"What?"

"Cinder Fall. The exchange student."

Oh no. No. No. No. No!

She would not let that blonde-haired bimbo take her precious Cinder away!

Emerald needed to act - needed to do something, anything!

That Yang girl was an idiot, sure, but everyone knew she was a beautiful idiot!

If she wanted to date someone - anyone at all - from this school, she would date them.

And… if this was true… if she had a thing for short hair…

Emerald needed to do something!

…

"Emerald," the low, husky voice said. The voice that belonged to none other than Cinder Fall. "Why… would you want me to put on this wig?"

The green-haired girl in question gulped, too scared to notice how the only male member of their team was watching this exchange with mirth in his eyes.

"B-because… I read from research that longer hair causes more aura of trust."

It was a complete lie, of course. But desperate times called for desperate measures.

Her eyes twitched when Mercury snickered not-so-guiltily.

"Really, now?"

Emerald knew Cinder didn't trust her - not fully, at least. But she was in too deep. There was no other way than to go deeper.

"Y-yes. I've tried it once using my semblance - making my hair look longer than it actually is, people actually like me more."

There was a whispered "Seriously…?" coming from the silver-haired boy.

Cinder got up from her desk and walked towards the girl, stopping when they were one inch away.

Emerald could smell her shampoo…

It was vanilla. She loved vanilla.

"What is the color you most hate?"

The green-haired girl blinked.

"I-I'm sorry, what?"

"The color you most hate," Cinder said again with little hesitation. "What is it?"

Emerald looked at Mercury once and answered bravely, "Silver."

"Hey!" The girl smirked at his cry.

"Fine… I will do it…"

Emerald brightened up at that.

"But on one condition."

That brightness disappeared.

…

"Man, that was one good bowl of noodle~!"

Blake smiled, giving her girlfriend a small peck on the cheek.

They had just gone to the familiar noodle shop for their date this afternoon, and were now walking in the grand hallway of Beacon.

"Indeed," the short-haired girl answered.

"I just wished you didn't pay for both of ours, though," Yang said with a regretful pout.

Blake chuckled and shook her head.

"It's fine," she assured. "And it is your fault for forgetting to bring your wallet."

"I didn't forget, per se," the brawler tried to defend - much to her amusement. "I just- oomph!"

Blake was barely able to catch her girlfriend before her face hit the floor.

After regaining her balance, Yang looked at the one responsible for causing her to almost injure herself - and worse, her dignity.

Yet all words died in both of their throats when they saw the familiar shade of white hair…

And it being tied in an unusual way.

"Weiss?!"

The girl in question froze, but didn't turn around.

It was Yang who quickly acted, grabbing the petite girl's arm and spinning her around to meet them face-to-face.

The heiress looked as if she just robbed a bank with how pale and flustered she was at the same time.

It took all of Blake's energy not to burst into laughter… unlike Yang…

Who didn't seem to recognize what self-control was.

"O-oh, crap, Weiss!" the blonde wheezed out in-between chuckles, "W-what- the- frick…?"

Blake put an arm on her girlfriend's shoulder and slowly shook her head - silently motioning her to calm down.

She then turned to see the heiress who looked as if she could faint at any second and asked, "What's with the special occasion?"

"N-nothing!" Weiss glared when Yang let out another chain of chuckles. "Shut it, Brute! I don't have time for this!" Then, she left.

Blake looked back at her girlfriend, who was beginning to calm down, and asked, "Why do you think she's like that?"

"I… have no idea." Then, lilac eyes widened. "Oh, wait, I have an idea."

They began to walk again, but right before Blake could ask what that idea was, they bumped into someone again - only this time, Blake was the one getting bumped into, and Yang was the one who caught her and steadied her.

The blonde turned to look at the woman in question, but just as she was about to shout out something furious, Blake beat her to it, asking with wide eyes:

"Emerald?! Is that really you?!"

The girl in question, unlike Weiss, who appeared very ashamed of her new hairstyle, turned to look at them with nothing but tiredness and cold fury.

"Don't even."

"And is that Cinder?!"

Blake looked at where Yang had pointed, and sure enough, it was her…

Only…

Just like both Emerald and Weiss, there was something different about her as well… something involving her hair.

The woman who once had short hair smiled at the bumblebee pair.

"Yes, it is me, and in case you're wondering about my different look, it's because I want to try a new look." She blinked a few times before asking with a suspicious smile. "Do you like it?"

Blake, out of politeness and second-nature, answered, "Yeah. I do."

However, Yang's answer did more than just surprise her. "I prefer your old hair." When the blonde glanced at her girlfriend, she sheepishly grinned and retreated, "But you still look good."

… Blake wasn't going to dwell on that answer just yet, and instead turned to look at the girl who now supported silver hair.

"What about you?" the faunus asked with a warm smile.

"I… umm…" Was it just her feeling, or did Emerald seem to… hesitate in answering such a simple question.

"She wants to try something new too," Cinder answered for the furious-looking girl. "Now, if you'll excuse us, we better get going."

And with that, the odd pair left…

"... Well, that was a thing."

The bumblebee pair's walk towards their dorm room after that was silent. They were still trying to process what the fuck they just saw.

It wasn't until much, much later did Blake ask, "But who helped Weiss with her hair, though?"

"... I dunno, Ren, probably?"

… Yet, for some reason, Blake doubted that.

It's a headcanon of mine that Ruby's into girls with pigtails. I don't know why, it's just so… fitting.

I surely hope you enjoy this chapter, because I personally enjoyed writing it.

Thanks for everyone who favourites, follows, and reviews my story! It's really appreciated!

For now, I don't think I have any plans to make another chapter. I mean, I planted something in this chapter which can be used for future chapters, but that's about it.

I hope you have a nice day today, be sure to let me know what you think of this chapter.

Goodbye~!