May 15th
Location: Unknown
Time: Indeterminate

The wasteland that surrounded her appeared as if it goes on forever. The terrain was rocky; the sky a dark and foreboding red. Overtly large purple crystals that appear akin to raw gravity dust protruded up from the ground in various locations while the dark sky appeared to be stained. Pools of black that resemble tar were peppered around in various locations and from them the creatures of grimm rose out in large numbers - various species as well, not just one. Her hands were cuffed and the faunus man who had captured her was handling her roughly. Her, of all people. Ashlynn's normally impeccable and pristine appearance was marred by her long, black hair in tangles. The white dye that her mother had forced upon her since the age of three was visible only towards the tips as the fading had been taking place since her disappearance. Her pants were stained, her blouse slightly torn, and her blazer faded. The only things about her appearance that didn't indicate how far she'd fallen were her always striking amber eyes and her black pumps.

"Wait here," The man hissed at her while the fear that was beginning to consume her took its stride. He moved quickly, leaving her behind as he went through the doors.

There's no point in running, Ashlynn told herself in spite of her instincts. Here, of all places, they'll find me and do worse to me than I imagine they're already planning to.

Complicating matters further was the fact that she was lucky to be alive. Somehow, she managed to survive the bombing of the motorway in Mistral. She didn't make it out unscathed, however. There was a deep gash on her her right arm and on her back; The blood had splattered everywhere. The last thing she remembered was being pulled out of the rubble and bodies that were charred beyond recognition - DNA testing would be required for identification. The bomb had been planted, almost certainly, by the White Fang: an assassination attempt that had, predominantly, succeeded. She had been with many other Atlesian council members en route to Haven Academy to deal with the recently instituted headmaster, Leonardo Lionheart. It wasn't going to be too long until word reached Atlas about the previous day's bombing and it wasn't going to be long until she was declared to be dead.

After all, no one except her survived it and her DNA would show up in the samples of the other half-cremated council members that had been with her. Emmett and Willow were going to be devastated when they heard her presumed fate. Emmett, likely, more so than Willow but, like it or not, Ashlynn was Willow's twin and her loss would affect her whether or not she wanted it to or would admit it. Jacques would probably give a good show of remorse for her death, but it wouldn't be real in the slightest; the man hated Ashlynn for her efforts to undermine him on the grounds that she believed there was something 'off' about him that she couldn't describe. Even so, realistically speaking, it probably wasn't going to be long before she met that fate for real but at the same time she wasn't ready to die.

You are Ashlynn Madeline Cinder Jaina Schnee. You have no reason to fear other people - they should fear you. You have the power to ruin lives or end careers with just a few words. You can fight for what you believe in without opposition. You, above all, know how to morph to your surroundings if it will help you survive. After all, a Schnee doesn't just die. You didn't just die when you could have, when in fairness you should have. So stop this fear - it should mean nothing. You are better than all of them. Don't get it wrong and pretend that you don't deserve to live, that you don't deserve power. You deserve more than what you have and you will be able to take it soon enough… just once you get out of here. Wherever 'here' is.

"The Queen…will see you now…" The man from earlier hissed as he opened the door and shoved Ashlynn through it with much more force than necessary.

On the other side of the room, a terrifyingly pale woman whose red and purple veins were visible on her arms and even her face stared at Ashlynn. Fear jolted her to her core as the woman moved closer to her in a slow, fluid, graceful movement. As she got closer, Ashlynn could tell that her eyes were red and black and that there was also a black mark in the shape of a diamond at the center of her forehead. Her white hair was elaborately styled with a bun and six offshoots with hanging baubles and her black robe trailed on the floor. Reaching out towards Ashlynn, she lifted up a piece of her hair and examined it before continuing to do so with the rest of Ashlynn's features. As she slowly and a mite unnecessarily tipped Ashlynn's head back with the tip of her finger at the edge of her chin, the woman turned to face the faunus man and coolly addressed him.

"Tyrian," She said imperiously. "Leave us. Now."

The man bowed, his stinger up. "Of course… my Queen."

He left while the woman's gaze followed him, but the moment he was gone she released her finger from under Ashlynn's chin and allowed her head to come back forward. The woman then sighed in irritation, her eyes glowing a brighter red, before turning back to address Ashlynn.

"Who are you?" She demanded.

Ashlynn hesitated, but decided that she might as well accept her fate. "Ashlynn Madeline Cinder Jaina Schnee."

The woman's eyes widened in feigned surprise as she heard Ashlynn's surname and pretended that she hadn't orchestrated all of this for the sole purpose of gaining Ashlynn. "A Schnee…" She mused, tapping her foot against the cold floor. "One would think you'd have white hair."

"I've got my mother's hair," Ashlynn responded, feeling slightly uncomfortable. "And so naturally my hair is black - it's just been dyed since I was a girl."

"Well, as I understand it, you are lucky to be alive." The woman said, not wasting anymore time on who Ashlynn was. "And you should know that the only reason you're alive is because I ensured that you'd be the only survivor."

"Thank you? Just… why, why would you ensure… how could you…"

"Irrelevant." The woman declared, eyes blazing again. "But I know you are capable of handling extreme power." Assessing her, briefly, once again, the woman continued. "How old are you?"

"Thirty-one." Ashlynn answered truthfully. "Why -"

"I need you to obtain the power of a very particular young woman…" She said, turning away from her for a moment and glancing into the mirror. "But first, tell me, do you know the Story Of The Seasons?"

Ashlynn raised an eyebrow. "Of course I do, but why -"

"You owe me your life, Ashlynn. Therefore, you will do whatever it is I ask of you from this day forward." The woman grasped Ashlynn suddenly by her tattered blouse. "And Oum help you if you stray."

Seeing no way out of this, Ashlynn nodded in assent. She had two choices: suicide or do this woman's bidding and, having such a high instinct for self-preservation, Ashlynn chose the woman's bidding. "What do you need of me?"

The woman laughed mirthlessly. "Many things, but the first is that you need a new name. No one can know who you are - as far as the world is concerned, Ashlynn Schnee tragically lost her life en route to Haven Academy alongside colleagues. So… what shall you call yourself? What is the name I shall call you?"

Ashlynn let her thoughts fall through. She didn't want to lose herself, but at the same time she couldn't get out of this. Whether or not she was happy about it, Ashlynn had a new life.

It's a chance to reinvent yourself, She decided. A chance to be whoever the hell it is you are now while not totally changing yourself.

"Speak." The woman commanded her, before glaring at her. "Well if you need a push, I am Salem. I control the creatures of grimm, and I am Remnant's queen - even if the kingdoms don't know it."

"I am… Cinder Fall." She told her, taking one of her middle names and one of the seasons to form an amalgamation. "Yes, I am Cinder Fall."

Salem gave a curt nod of approval before responding. "Cinder… these next few years are not going to be easy for you. I am going to freeze your aging until you are capable of taking the powers of the Fall maiden and manage to do so. I am going to perfect your semblance and alter it. As I said, I am going to teach you how to steal the powers of the maidens so that you can take on the title of Fall Maiden. And above all, I am going to teach you how to fight. You don't look like much of a fighter now, but I can assure you that once I'm done with you that you will be. Now, as a former Schnee, what do you know about dust and dust trade?"

Cinder-Ashlynn sighed and when she spoke, her life was no longer that of Ashlynn Schnee. She was no longer Ashlynn Schnee. She was Cinder Fall.

"Let me tell you something about that..." She said, laughing a bit nervously as her eyes sparkled in a way no one had ever thought possible.

May 17th
Schnee Family Manor;
City Of Atlas
United Kingdom Of Atlas
1:34 PM

As Emmett walked into the manor, he carried himself loosely. Dean held his hand tightly, trying to comfort him despite still wanting to end their romantic relationship. The news of Ashlynn's death had reached Emmett early that morning in the form of the Atlesian morning news and while he didn't believe it, he felt that Willow had a right to know about Ash's alleged demise. It was believable - she was on the scene and her DNA was the first to pop up on the scanners. Most people didn't have their DNA stored in Atlesian records but, as always, the Schnee's were the exception. After months of being missing, Ashlynn was killed in a scenario that was far too obvious. Things seemed suspect, which was Emmett's primary reasoning in believing that even if Ash stayed gone to him and the family for the next seventeen or eighteen years that someone would find her and take care of her.

"You shouldn't do this Emmett." Dean told him as they stopped in the middle of the corridor. "Willow will hear about it -"

The sound of breaking glass reverberated from down the hall, from Winter's room. Voices began to rise and, even from the other end of the corridor, Emmett's heart broke even further upon hearing the rising argument.

"...Winter! Please, please control yourself!"

"...Why should I? All you care about is getting ready for Weiss or Whitley! What about me? Emmett is the only one who has told me the truth -"

"...Winter, I'm so sorry that you've had a hard time dealing with this but you're ten years old and I -"

"...I'll be eleven in four months from today! It's not fair to me that -"

"...I am doing the best that I can Winter! Why do you act out so much? You've been acting out more and more in the last two years and it's only damaging your relationship with me and your father."

"...I hate him! He doesn't love me… he's replacing me… he thinks I'm a failure -"

"... He doesn't think that!"

"... He told me that I can train because the baby will inherit the company if I go to Atlas in a few years!"

"...Well, I suppose -"

"Willow?" Emmett interrupted the argument as he entered the room, noticing with dismay the shattered mirror in the corner with one of Winter's swords lying next to it.

"Emmett!" Winter smiled and half-bounced when she saw him. "Are we training today?"

"Not right now, pipsqueak," Emmett said as his sister narrowed her eyes at the endearment. "Willow, there's something we need to talk about - something serious."

"If this has anything to do with my husband -" She began darkly.

"It doesn't. I promise." Emmett turned to Winter and gave her a meaningful look. The girl picked up her swords and left while Dean entered and shut the door to give the three of them some relative privacy.

"What is this about?" Willow asked wearily, collapsing into the chair by Winter's bed.

Dean crossed his arms as he motioned Emmett to speak.

"Willow, have you seen any of the news reports today?" Emmett began gently, his voice low and unusually kind.

"Of course not. I've been dealing with my daughter since I woke up. Why? Don't tell me it's more of the usual bullshit with the council." Willow shook her head in agitation. "Emmett, I swear to god -"

"Ashlynn is dead, or at least that's, technically the most plausible explanation." Emmett looked ready to cry and, in slight contrast to what he was expecting, Willow burst into tears.

"No…no…no!" Willow stared at him. "Why? How? My… she's my twin sister - it's not supposed to be like this…"

"Willow -" Emmett began gently.

"Just... leave…me... alone..." Willow told him and Dean as the tears continued to fall and her voice broke. "I can't deal with this right now…"

Emmett moved over to his elder sister and pulled her into a hug. "We'll talk again later, okay?"

"Okay…" Willow buried her face in between her chest and her knees.

As Emmett left, he turned back one last time and waited before he and Dean awkwardly embraced one last time before going off to find Winter. It wasn't hard - after all she was in the training room. The minute he walked in, she came bounding towards him.

"Time to train?" Winter asked, her enthusiasm written all over her face.

"Time to train." Emmett confirmed, drawing his sword. "Now remember kid, I'm not going to go easy on you."

"I don't want you too!" She exclaimed as she drew her longer sword.

"Good," He replied.

And they began - Emmett remaining determined to believe, and eventually prove, that his sister was still alive and well. Wherever she was.