Hello again my faithful readers, the positive feedback on this story has my motivation in high spirits. So I give unto you a new chapter. Please do enjoy. Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, the quotes bellow are sort of a heads up of what the chapter will be about.

"Let us always meet each other with a smile, for the smile is the beginning of love." - Mother Teresa

-Northern Winds; 2 years prior-

The Northern Winds, said to be home of the oldest and wisest of Grimm. Those speculations could be questionably immature, for none have ever ventured into the vast tundra and lived to tell the tale. Of course, no human whom trespassed into these lands would feel the suns warmth again, because those who lived in these dense forests were indeed intelligent. One adapted to these harsh environments to the point where their evolution gave them certain traits even the humans, in their ignorance, would find; admirable. There have always been signs of compassion and honor displayed by the Grimm, yet none so well displayed as the Kaidons. Though little is none about their numbers, strength, and weaknesses, survivor accounts claim these beasts to strategically hunt in groups, intelligent enough to know when outmatched, and even mourn the loss of their own. But these few reports are all researchers can work on, when very few Veteran Hunters can barely hold their own against these Grimm, and those who manage to survive, if one can call it surviving, suffer the loss of their teammates. While it is true that other Grimm inhabit the Northern Winds, even the enormous Mamadons turn to stampede when these Grimm hunt. Though, they would soon be feared more with the assistance of their new arrival. Her role was; disposable when the time came. But as her training progressed, so too was how the Kaidons viewed her.

On the peak of Mount Seoul, five figures stood out in the freezing cold with little clothing. Only a single wooden helmet for protection. Three stood on the sidelines while the other two faced one another in combat.

The match didn't seem fair, the girl was roughly 5'8 in height while the other towered her with 7'9. Luck would only take large beast so far, it charged with its customized falcon talons aimed directly for her head, she merely grinned and managed to avoid the attack gracefully. However, it quickly caught hold of her arm, and threw her own the ground. Before she could regain her stance, it pressed it foot down heavily on her, leaning down and roaring. She flinched slightly, then used the opportunity to swing the chains from her Kusari-gama scythes to wrap around his neck. While it tried to remove the object that was retaining air from entering. One advantage to being small and petite; better agility. Using the frozen ground beneath her, she slid under her opponent, yanking the chain, hard. Causing him to slip and fall. As it removed the chains, a pair of scythes were aimed directly to its neck.

Both opponents glared at one another before grinning. The girl assisted her opponent as he sat up. The three others approached them, "Well done Emerald, you've improved."

One of the approaching figures removed its helmet, revealing the reason for her involvement with the Kaidon. Vadam then turned his attention to the defeated Grimm, "Val, you must always assure your opponent is completely immobilized, and do not hesitate, otherwise the next time it won't be a stinging chain wound around your neck."

The Kaidon nodded.

"Tsar and Teal take him to Rava; let us hope that fall didn't damage his head too much. Emerald, stay with me, we must converse." The two mentioned assisted their comrade back into the depth of the mountain. Once they were out of hearing range, Vadam then turned to his pupil. "Well done, you've exceeded all my expectations. I never thought I would say this, but I'm proud to have you here. More so when you accepted the tribal initiation. How's your mark?"

Emerald turned her body, revealing a mark burned into her upper back, a sign of what she accepted to being a part of. "Still kind of hurts, but it doesn't impede my progress." She replied with a grin. The two stared off unto the entrance to the Northern Winds, a passage that very few hunters dared cross. The mountains surrounding this beautiful forest assured that no human or Faunus would allow even the most experienced survivalist to overcome their jagged cliffs, and insurmountable weather.

"Your next assignment begins in 3 weeks; will you be comfortable being around humans again?"

"My duty comes before my personal needs. The White Fang are hunting down our brothers and doing who knows what with them. I will not fail my mission." Emerald's eyes burned with more fury than ever before. Living amongst the Kaidon, learning their culture and traditions, she was surprised to see how much a single Grimm species evolved. From her time with them, she came to conclude that the Kaidon are a proud race of warriors, constantly training, and repopulating their numbers.

It wasn't until her second year of training did some of them begin to accept her. Slowly of course, the wounds from the Great War were still fresh.

After proving her worth, and holding her own against their basic soldiers, Vadam allowed her to join their ranks, despite initial disputes. As the seasons shifted, so too did her rank, rising steadily above the others.

Whenever she wasn't training, most of her time was dedicated to learning more about her hosts. Specifically, their history with humans, none of it peaceful. In fact, the reason the Kaidon were currently hiding within the hollows of the mountain were due to the aftermath of the Great War. When they were discovered by humans, the controversy of a peaceful Grimm sparked great concern in governments everywhere. It was because of their fear that led to the war, and even with their superior fighting force, the lack of technology was the only fault. The Kaidons were almost wiped out had not a great number of them found shelter in the Northern Winds.

Just like Vadam, she was marked. Proving she was one of them, a Kaidon. Her loyalty was unwavering, hatred for her kind knowing no bounds. And who could blame her? 12 years of constant abuse, disgrace, and abandonment, when a single hand offered her a new life. So much so, she never again regarded herself as a human anymore. She enjoyed her new found family, granted most of them didn't warm up to her in the beginning, yet as training and missions passed, she gained their trust and respect.

Before heading back within the cave, Vadam turned to her "The boy, whom you love, if you happen to see him on your travels, what would you do first?"

Emerald pondered the question, so many ideas were bubbling up that she answered randomly. "Well, first; I'd hug him." She replied chantingly.

-Beacon Arena, present day-

One would think 'does she have a grudge against him?' Technically; no, but how else would she vent 10 years of worth of feelings she had for him. The match went as most predicted, she was beating him good. Jaune used his weapon, and aura, Emerald used neither. Using the only weapons she had when in training; her fists and legs. When he wasn't attacking, she'd strike hard, using guerilla strikes in this skirmish. All the while, she had an unusually sinister expression that had most of the audience uncomfortable to think what she was feeling.

The other blonde was watching from the sidelines, biting her nails, worried of how badly Jaune was losing.

Mercury watched closely, thinking back, he never did see Emerald's fighting style. She was good, not having to use her aura or weapon was impressive. Then again, he only met her 2 years ago; her past was her own business, but to be raised to fight as she did. One could only wonder how stronger her superiors were.

The girl took once glance to the board; her aura meter was still fully green, while her opponents dripped close into the red zone.

One quick look at her childhood friend, and she realized he was smiling the whole match. Not because he was losing, but for the fact that he finally saw her again.

Sadly for him, she decided to vent her frustration with one last move. She finally used her aura to enhance her speed, sneaking up behind him. Wrapping both her arms around him, hoisting him in the air, and performing a German suplex.

The crowd flinched as the ground beneath the two competitors cracked. Jaune spewed blood from his mouth, of course shocking most and finally dropping his aura into the red zone.

"Enough! The match is over, the winner is; Emerald Sustrai." Glynda shouted.

Jaune groaned from the impact, unable to rise. After venting her anger, Emerald began feeling remorse for her first impression, seeing him after he left without saying a word brought up all kinds of emotions she couldn't handle.

She kneeled down to him, placing one hand on his chest. The blonde girl dashed on stage, though stopped in her tracks when Emerald directed most of her aura to heal his wounds, or at the least, what she could heal. Although Vadam taught her many things, there weren't many healing techniques she caught up on. Within seconds, her hand dimmed, and Jaune opened his eyes again. Most of his friends had already arrived to make sure he was alright, a few of them shooting glares at her.

'Ungrateful humans.' She thought to herself while walking off stage to rejoin her partner.

After the last match, classes were done for them. Mercury decided to head back to their room, leaving Emerald to wander through the halls. She forgot how fast rumors passed among young humans, and when word got around that she didn't need her weapon or aura to win a match, she received many challenges for a match from egotistic students, mainly males who refused to accept that a girl was stronger.

Though just like before, she dealt with them without breaking too many bones, yet just enough to send a message. A smile she couldn't suppress imprinted itself on her, the power to stand up and fight back was finally hers. Those five years of training, the added fighting styles, and support were just the right push. After strolling about the large school, her stomach finally began begging for food. She glanced to her scroll's clock; 7pm. It was a good enough time to get some food, then search for Jaune. Now that she knew he was here, there was the matter of separating him from one particular student. Judging by her reactions earlier, there could be something between them, or knowing Jaune, he quite didn't catch her advances.

As she entered the Cafeteria, luck behold, there was the blonde boy sitting with his teammates and friends. He was bandaged up from their fight, the fear he'd be angry with her kept her in place rather than going up and approaching him. She began thinking of what to say, making up different scenarios in her head. 'C'mon Emerald, just go up there and talk to him. He recognized you, so that means he remembers...oh, what would Tsar say at a time like this?' Her mind instantly pictured her brother with his thumbs up and a cheesy grin. 'Go for it.'

Emerald's head instantly dropped 'thanks...'

She took a deep breath, and approached the group.

Meanwhile, Jaune was stirring his spoon around in his soup. His mind clouded over recent events, mainly; Emerald. Looking back on it, he did deserve that beating. He left without saying at the very least a goodbye, leaving her to suffer alone for 12 long years in the slums. It was no wonder she went all out, she hated him.

"Jaune?"

His attention was caught by the blonde brawler beside him. "Care to tell us what that was about back there, that girl did a number on you, and I want to know why."

"It was a match Yang, you're supposed to go all out. And she healed me afterwards didn't she?"

"Yeah, well that grin she had says otherwise. I swear if I see that little..."

"Yang." Came from her sweet little sister sitting on the opposite end of them.

"Yeah, yeah, I know 'watch my language'. But seriously, the way she was fighting..."

"Yang?"

"...the next time we have combat class, you better believe I'm going to..."

"Yang!" Ruby's voice finally silenced her sister. She promptly pointed behind them, to which the initial reactions were hostile glares and confused expressions.

Emerald, however, kept her focus on Jaune, "Can I speak with you?" She glanced to the others who were just about to get up. "Alone."

He thought about it for a second, then nodded.

While Yang and Pyrrha were quick to object to his decision, he assured them he'd be alright. Their urge to protest was great, but if Jaune truly felt he could trust this girl, then they decided, if only for the moment, to back down. The two hunters then proceeded to leave, Emerald taking a quick glance to Yang, frowning slightly before rejoining Jaune.

For a talk, they walked pretty far, to the edge of Beacon cliffs where the initiation for first years commenced. Given his luck, Jaune made sure to avoid the launch pads. They stopped by the very ledge; Emerald took one last deep breath, and allowed what she didn't for so long; her emotions showed "You left..." Just the beginning had her voice slightly breaking. "I went to your house, and there was nothing left. I blamed myself every day for what happened, thinking you hated me because I didn't fight for you, just as you fought for me. I pictured this moment in my head for the last 10 years, thinking of what words to say, if you ever wanted to hear them. You were my only friend, the only person I ever cared about, the only one I ever...I ever loved. Was I worth anything to you? Did you even care about me? If you don't care anymore, it's fine, but just tell me now and put my mind at ease." She couldn't hold it in anymore, her tears were finally surfacing, running down endlessly like before. Only this time, he was there to receive them again. Without warning, Jaune embraced his childhood friend. The height difference showed, he was taller, so her face was buried in his chest, not that she minded. But now, with this gesture and the tear drops she felt falling on her head, she knew for a fact he didn't hate her one bit.

"I still do. I still love you."

Her eyes shot up instantly, unable to believe what she just heard. "Y-you...mean it?"

"Y-y-yeah, I mean, you're like a dear sister to me. My job was...is to protect you. And that hasn't changed one bit." He responded, blushing hard, having never used that word unless addressing a family member.

For a moment, her head sunk, worrying the oblivious blonde. "E-Emmy?!"

His response was a small chuckle, which soon became a loud laughter. "You haven't changed a bit." She commented, wiping away a teardrop from her eye.

The two shared a moment of laughter together in each other's arms; happy their reunion wasn't what they feared would happen.

Although, what they didn't take into account, were the eavesdroppers just a few yards away. Even out of hearing range, they had someone who could help in this situation. After replaying their conversation word for word, some of them, Ruby mainly felt sympathy for her.

Yang on the other hand kept a fixed glare on her; she did feel for the girl, there something about her that didn't feel right. It was almost like; an inhuman feeling.

And done! The next chapters I will try to increase their content, but…College…I think there isn't any other explanation needed. Well, that concludes this chapter. I hope it hasn't disappointed you so far. Once again, thank you for reading.