Glad to get this chapter out. I've mainly been looking for a job for the summer, and I struck luck with Starbucks. Not a huge coffee fan myself, but I think I enjoy the atmosphere the more than the drinks.

Onto the story!


The Caged Bird

It had taken them nearly two weeks to get back to New Vale. Qrow had made short work of what little Grimm had attacked them, and that's what worried them all so much.

Barely any Grimm roamed outside in the wild lands, and those that they had come across either attacked or maintained their distance. There was one instance where a Boarbatusk ran straight past them and straight for their prisoners. It had only murder in its eyes and it would have killed them both had it not been for Nora and Ruby intercepting the beast.

Ruby could have sworn that disappointment flashed on one of the priestess' faces, but a stone cold mask hid any signs of emotion a second later.

Qrow had managed to get some information out of the two, but none of it was very useful as it was only their positions and a brief explanation of what they could do. Even then it had taken Qrow nearly two hours to break that information out of them.

'To heal those yet to succumb.' The brief explanation had only led Ruby to seeing the two as medics or doctors of some kind. She wasn't sure nor did she really care as they didn't give any information on Abell.

"Hopefully Ozpin will be able to get something out of them." It was her uncle speaking as he and Ruby escorted the two to the New Vale police department. It was small for the police as it had been made only two stories high and held a max of only four rooms.

A lot of the buildings of New Vale had been hastily constructed to give citizens shelter while hunters protected from any Grimm threat. At the start there had been a normal amount of Grimm that attacked them, but as time went on barely any even showed up.

Giving strict orders to keep eyes on the two at all times Qrow handed them both off to six awaiting officers who took the two women into their custody. Still not knowing exactly how Abell's portals, or 'rifts' as Professor Oobleck liked to call them, any and all prisoners were to be under strict and constant supervision at all times.

They disappeared into the police headquarters soon after and once they were out of sight was when Ruby sighed in relief.

"There's something interesting." Her uncle mumbled and when she turned to him to ask she was a bit surprised to hear him reply. "I broke two of the taller one's fingers a couple days ago, and now they're all healed as good as new." She didn't say anything at first as the initial shock took her, but she was more mature now.

More prepared for what it would take to protect those she cared for.

"They did say they were healers didn't they?"

"Yeah, but their hands have been bound since the first day we've had them captured so I doubt they could've performed any mystical-voodoo." He waved his hands as though he was summoning some great power and it caused her to giggle at his silliness.

"Mystical-voodoo?" Raising a brow Ruby thought of it more along the lines of magic. Qrow took a sip from his flask before reminding her to meet up with Ozpin soon to give her report.

Nodding she headed off to find Jaune as they both needed to be present to give their official report to the headmaster. Beacon or no Beacon Ozpin was still the headmaster of their school, and he would be once again once they took back the city and Beacon.

Walking past small huts made of cloth and hay, the tightly packed residential areas of New Vale were always bustling with activity. Children running around playing while mothers worked on folding clothes while the men continued to improve and build more huts to provide more space for their families.

Of course there were many other jobs being filled to help aid in everyone's continued survival out in the wilds. Vale's economy wasn't back to what it was in the city, but the Merchant Yard provided plenty of trade in exchange for items.

You got what you could give.

It wasn't the best method, but without means to make lien they had to adapt to their situation. The kindness people shown to one another were just about what kept some survivors going when they didn't have anything considered 'worthy' of trading.

She eventually found Jaune within the southern section of New Vale where most of the hunters and those still in training were housed at. He was busy talking with a local blacksmith about what appeared to be about getting his armor repaired.

Jaune offered the man some of the metal plating that he had managed to salvage from the knights that hadn't been turned into stone. She was told that a lot of Grimm had been attracted to Kuroyuri village and her uncle had said that he didn't want to risk her getting killed.

Bidding farewell to the smith Jaune spotted her and soon they were both walking towards New Vale's city hall.

Both had been ordered to deliver a full report of their mission to the council after the prisoners had been sent to be interrogated. Anyone that was sent out past New Vale's hastily built wall were expected to deliver reports, but her uncle said it was just a way for the councilmen to feel like they were still in power.

Ozpin was the real leader of things in the city, and he was the only one the hunters and huntresses actually respected and took seriously.

"What do you think they did with that Grimm?" His face looked as though it had been carved from stone, and it had been since Qrow had told them everything. Why the school had been attacked, the people that they were up against, and the power of the Maidens.

The powers that had gotten Pyrrha killed.

The question came from out of the blue as she couldn't think of why he'd asked. To be honest she would admit to being curious as well as to what happened to that nightmarish Grimm, but did it matter?

"Does it really matter Jaune?" She quickly explained herself when he raised a single brow at her. "I mean a Grimm is just a Grimm, and whether they're wild or under Abell's control doesn't make that much of a difference does it?" Whether they had glowing red eyes or lifeless black pits didn't make them any less of a Grimm.

"Does it make a difference? Are you serious Ruby?" Jaune was surprised as he went on saying, "Wild Grimm are just that: wild. They can be unpredictable at times sure, but they still are just aggressive mindless beasts that just try and kill us."

"But with someone to give that mindless aggression direction though? Look what happened to our home Ruby! Those guys were working alongside the Grimm and proved to be a lot stronger together than by themselves." Where all this anger had come from she didn't know, but she didn't like seeing Jaune like this.

Her thoughts were interrupted a second later as they had arrived to their destination sooner than she had thought, but as they entered through the large wooden doors she made a mental note to talk to him about this later.

The inside of city hall wasn't anything grand.

A large circular room with only a few smaller rooms depicted by doors leading to them made up most of the building. With a large half-circular desk sitting in the center of the room the rest was filled with chairs for people to sit in during town meetings.

Ruby spotted Ozpin sitting in the middle seat of the desk with two other councilmen on either side of him. She didn't remember either of the other two councilmen's names, and she'd of thought with only there being seven members of the council there she would recall their names better.

"Greetings Ms. Rose and Mr. Arc. You both know why you've been called to this debriefing, so please feel free to start." Ozpin offered them both a warm smile while the other two just sat there without uttering a word to either of them.

They went over everything from the villages they had stopped by for supplies to the ones that had been either abandoned or overrun. She told them how little Grimm they had encountered throughout their journey, and the new intelligence that Abell's forces were gathering up Grimm.

She and Jaune went into their run in with Abell's men at Kuroyuri and how her uncle had came to their rescue before they could be taken down. Jaune sent a suspicious look towards Ozpin, but whether the former headmaster noticed was hidden as he remained silent.

Finally, Ruby told them about how white cloaked figures brought knights back from what looked like death, and that they managed to take a powerful nightmarish Grimm through one of their portals.

Silence filled the hall as all three councilmen talked amongst themselves.

"We need to get Atlas and Mantle to deliver those supplies they owe to us now so we can further build up our defenses. If what the girl says is true then we won't survive the Grimm King's army let alone a legion of the Grimm he surely commands." The man to Ozpin's right stated as his brow creased with worry of what Abell would do to them.

"Those supplies and walls won't do us any good from where we are now Royce! He will wipe what remains of Vale's people off the face of Remnant from this piss-poor excuse of Vale." The other councilman was older and more experienced than the younger Royce.

"What are you suggesting Ryan?" Ozpin asked as he turned towards his fellow councilman. Both Ruby and Jaune seemed to have gone ignored and neither were sure if they should stay or dismiss themselves as Ryan went with his proposal.

"I say that we gather up all of our forces and make a push to recapture our home. Our real home! Those bastards think they can just take over our lands and not expect retaliation? Well I say let's show them why they shouldn't have ever set foot on our soil."

One who wanted to hide and hope for the best and another who wants to fight and take back their home.

Ruby knew which side she stood on, but ultimately it would end up with Ozpin's decision on what they would do. "Both of you make valid points. Royce," Turning to the younger man he went on, "While it would be good to bolster our defenses in case of an attack that I'm sure is to come, we can't just sit here and do nothing."

That made Ryan cross his arms and smile in victory, but it slipped off when Ozpin turned to regard him next. "You want us to mount an attack to take back our home, and we will in time, but we don't have all of our strength up yet. Many are still recovering from that terrible night, and if we are to take both Vale and Beacon back we'll need everyone ready."

"For now we'll continue rebuilding our strength to take back Vale, while also improving our defenses in case of any attack against us." Both men didn't seem entirely happy with the decision, but neither could complain as in the end Ozpin held the most sway with the people. All three stood up and both Royce and Ryan left while Ozpin remained behind as he turned to both of them.

Having seen the looks on their faces Ozpin said, "Rest assured neither of you are in trouble for hearing that talk. Any debates of real importance would be discussed in private, and now that they're gone I can rest a little easier. Politics were never my strongest trait I'm afraid."

"Professor, now that I've caught you I wanted to ask you about something and…" She looked to Jaune as she bit her lip.

"I'll see myself out. Good day professor." Ruby mouthed a silent apology as he made his way out of the room. Once Jaune was gone she turned back to Ozpin and asked what had been on her mind ever since that fight with the knight commander back in Kuroyuri.

She went into what the man had said to her during their fight and how she hadn't been able to grow strong enough for some plan of theirs.

"He called me the 'Ark', but what could that mean professor?" Ozpin remained quiet through it all and only spoke once she had finished. "I simply do not know Ms. Rose. Be glad that you will no longer have a target painted on your back if what the man said was true."

He was trying to dismiss her, and deep down she knew it had something to do with those Maidens her uncle had told them all about.

"Is it the same thing as the Maidens?"

Silence filled the entire hall and Ozpin looked as though he aged right there on the spot as the man's mouth set itself in a frown. "This is neither the place nor the time to be discussing this Ms. Rose-"

"No! I want some answers here. Everyone's been so secretive lately, and I'm sick of being left out in the dark. Tell me something professor. Please…" Before she never would have raised her voice to a teacher, but Ruby was just tired of not knowing anything that were affecting her and everyone else.

Ozpin remained silent for a while as he seemed to be thinking of the consequences of giving her the answers she sought.

"Very well Ms. Rose. I will tell you what I can." Gesturing for her to sit down Ruby did so as Ozpin began. "As Qrow no doubt informed you, you already know the story behind the Maidens I presume?" Nodding her head Ozpin went on. "We believed that you would be the next Spring Maiden, and when the time came for the power to transfer itself to you, you would have already been safe within Beacon's walls."

"But Beacon's gone now, and we're out here in the wilderness without the same defenses Vale had."

"Yes, and while there are still many huntsmen and huntresses around to guard the citizens they can only do so much if an enemy of substantial force came." The words were not comforting, but Ruby would fight until her last breath to protect the innocent and her friends.

"This Ark as they described you could just be their own way of describing the Maidens, but I'm not entirely sure. We know very little about our new enemies Ms. Rose, and I fear for whatever reason they sought you out it would end in disaster for Remnant." Ruby sat there stunned at the just the thought of not only Vale, but all the kingdoms across Remnant being destroyed.

Could she, no, anyone stop something like that?

'Of course we could, and I'm going to make sure that doesn't happen.' With newfound determination Ruby stood up and was out the door of city hall with only a parting goodbye to Ozpin.

The old Headmaster chuckled to himself as his demons and fears were suppressed a little at seeing that look in the young huntress. Not only her, but all the youth that had survived Beacon had the same look.

"You can come out now Qrow."

He heard his old friend flap his wings from the open windowsill and before there was a crow now stood a man. "Think this whole Ark deal is somehow related to the Maidens?"

Turning to face his old friend with a gentle smile Ozpin said in a light tone, "Of that I have no doubt."

Sunlight slowly crept through the dark room of her bedroom as Klein opened the curtains.

"Five more minutes." Weiss Schnee groaned into her sheets as she wrapped them over her head to block out the invading light. She'd been kept to her room ever since her father had dragged her away from Beacon after the invasion, but she doubted it was actually because he wanted her safe.

Besides being forced to continue her studies at Atlas Academy Weiss Schnee had been kept prisoner by her own father for months now.

"I'm afraid that it's time for you to get up Ms. Schnee. You can't expect to be cooped up in your room and locked away forever now can you?" Klein ripped the sheets from atop her head before she could get a better grip as the sun nearly blinded her. "Now I've prepped your breakfast in the dining hall, and don't even try to starve yourself, otherwise I'll just carry you there myself."

"Don't be ridiculous Klein. I'll be down in a few minutes, and thank you for getting me up again." She'd never been that desperate and she certainly wasn't now. She was much stronger than that, and she would be damned to choose the coward's way out.

Klein offered her a small smile, and she returned it as her friend left her to get ready. The smile dropped when she thought of the dark circles under his eyes.

All the aid had looked more tiresome than she remembered, and it was troubling her more than anything that she couldn't do anything to help them. Her father had become more aggressive than he's ever been, and it didn't stop with just those under Schnee employ either.

Her family was also suffering too.

Winter had become much more distant with her position in Atlas' military, and when their father tried taking advantage of that Winter had to cut them all off for some time. It was the most heartbreaking for Weiss since she and her sister had always been close, and now she felt abandoned by her sister and left to her fate.

Whitley had changed much from what she remembered of her little brother.

Before where there was a spoiled child who got what he wanted and held himself higher than those he deemed "below" him now stood a complete stranger. Her brother too looked tired and stressed like the servants, but there was something else that had taken over who he once was.

Her mother… well they never had to worry about running out of wine.

Walking through the halls of her home Weiss ran into Whitley along the way as the two passed one another.

"Hello Whitley." She greeted him in a formal manner, just as all Schnees were supposed to. It took him a second to even acknowledge that she was even there, and his normal smug smirk was plastered across his face. It was a poor imitation, but his refusal to meet her eyes already gave him away.

"Hello dear sister. It's good to see you out of your room up and about." Nervous was how he sounded. Silence hung between them where neither made a move to continue the conversation, and just as she was about to leave to continue her walk Whitley shouted after her.

"A warning sister. Father is very upset right now, more than usual." He added when she sent him a raised brow. "From what I heard he was talking to Winter." Weiss didn't miss how his hands clenched at the sound of their sister's name, but the feeling had passed just as quickly.

Whitley had always held a sore spot for Winter, but even now that had disappeared making her wonder just what had happened to her brother while she had been away at Beacon.

She would have to ask Klein to see if he had any insight, but that would have to come later.

"Be careful around him Weiss." With how their father's been acting the warning was unnecessary, but appreciated nonetheless. Turning her back to her brother Weiss thanked him for the information before heading off to see what she could learn.

The answer came to her not a moment later as her hand balled up into a fist. Fear had taken control of her brother, and she was heading to what she believed to be the source of it now.

I sat meditating within the garden of the old blacksmith's home.

Calm, quiet, and undisturbed this was the best place for me to practice my skills with the sword. The Darkroot Garden rarely received visitors save for the common thief trying to loot the treasures the Garden held.

Smiling to myself I recalled the last one becoming a chew toy for Anna, Brey, and Cynthia. He didn't last long as their feline fangs tore into him, but a warrior such as myself would not show pity for those that wished to harm what I hold dear.

If I'm going to join the Forest Hunters one day then I would need to learn not to show mercy to my enemy.

A loud snap sounded behind me and immediately I drew my bokken in a flash and readied myself in an instant. The brush in front of me began to shake and just as I was about to lunge a small boy with sandy blonde hair fell to the ground before me.

I placed the tip of the wooden blade to the boy's chest and whispered, "Dead."

"Darn it. How'd you hear me this time Alonne?". . . asked me as I chuckled at his thirteenth attempt to "sneak attack" me today alone. He has yet to succeed and likely will not for a long time. Unless, of course, he suddenly found a way to mask his movements like some of those assassins from the magic schools.

Helping my younger brother up before dusting him down I pointed out his mistakes. "You snapped a tree branch, rustled enough leaves to make me think it was fall, and tripped down right in front of me. If I were an enemy you would have been dead already."

Seeing his defeated expression I whispered the magic words that always made him smile, "You are getting better . . .. One foot closer than last time." Giving him thumbs up I saw the determination spark right back into him as a smile bloomed across his face.

"Next time I'll get you Alonne. You won't be expecting it when I finally get you." He pointed at me like he always did when he made such declarations, and I knew he would one day get the better of me, but that day just wasn't today. "Oh I know! Let's go play with uncle Roy and see what he's working on now!"

Roy was a hard working blacksmith, and while he wasn't blood related to either me or . . . it didn't stop the man from taking us both in when we separately showed up at his doorstep one day.

. . . and I grew up together for the last few years, and I've made a vow to both Roy and my honor as a warrior to protect my innocent brother. Even if it meant giving up my life for his, or even not becoming a Forest Hunter I would always place him first.

When we had first met I tried getting . . . to become a warrior like me so I could relate to him better, but he had refused to kill. Not even the tiny insects that flooded the Garden's forests and I had come to accept that from . . . Our uncle loves making the jest of how . . . is the fair maiden and I'm his knight in shining armor.

We both hated that joke, but it's not like it wasn't true.

Lost in my own thoughts . . . had vanished. Probably going off to find our uncle, and feeling a bit stiff in the legs for meditating all morning I decided to go and catch up with him.

The distant clanging sounds of a hammer beating on an anvil grew closer as I neared uncle Roy's workshop. When I arrived I took note of all the swords, shields, pieces of armor, and other various things that were strewn about. Most littered the floor since the walls were all taken up already, but Roy's customers never cared for how clean the weapons or armor were.

As long as they could deliver a kill or prevent one was all that mattered to the Forest Hunters.

Taking notice of me soon after I began rummaging through some of the pieces of armor that intrigued me Roy greeted me, "Hey there brat. Finished your warrior's training for today Alonne?" There was no mock in his voice as Roy respected the warrior's way and me as well. Despite the man being nearly five times my age he knew a fighter when he saw one.

"I've decided to take a small break and play with . . ., and he'd mentioned coming up to bother you. Is he here by any chance?" The workshop wasn't large or anything, but knowing my little brother he would probably be trying to hide under some breastplate or something trying to surprise him.

"The squirt? Nah I've yet to see him since this morning. Have you checked the area surrounding the base?" I nodded my head and an uncomfortable silence fell between the both of us as neither of us knew where he was. Clapping his hands together Roy put down his tools and stood up saying, "Welp, guess it's time to go'n find the little squirt. Probably gone off to the deeper forest again."

Though he tried to hide it I could hear the fear in my uncle's voice as the deeper parts of the Garden were not safe for kids our age. My training would only get me so far, and the dangers were why we were only allowed to go out when Roy was with us.

Grabbing one of the many short swords off the rack Roy tossed me a small dagger. "For your own protection ya hear? I'll take care of anything big, but just in case Alonne."

I would have preferred a katana, but Roy didn't specialize in those. Nodding we were both outside the safely of the walls of our home and deep into the forest as nightfall was setting.

It didn't take long to feel as though we've been searching for hours.

The torch Roy had lit for us had begun to run low, and we were both tired from all the searching. We couldn't even call out his name since we might attract unwanted protection, and when I asked why we hadn't visited the Hunters Roy shook his head.

"We may do trade with them, but they still don't like people walkin into their territory. We'd be lucky if they let us go with a warning, and I'm not risking leavin you two to fend for yer'selves."

"What if they have . . .?"

"They'd never harm a child. Even they have certain morals, and I doubt . . . would go there anyways since he hates how they kill people." That had me feel bad as I wished to become what my brother hated, but as long as he was safe I would follow my dreams.

The torchlight was doused a second later and when I turned to Roy in alarm he placed a hand over my mouth. Silently pointing ahead I saw another light not too far.

It was much larger and immediately I thought that it was a campfire. Probably a couple of thieves that had managed to make it past the Hunters, but why did Roy have us stop here?

It wasn't until I heard the muffled screams of a child that my blood ran cold and I clutched the dagger in my hand tighter.

Up ahead I could see the two thieves, whom both looked thin and a little malnourished. One was sitting by the bonfire while the second was holding down the small wriggling form of . . .

Roy and I inched closer, careful not to make a sound as we came within earshot.

"Surprised we managed to get by those damn pricks. Some'll say they protect some bloke's grave, but I know they're just a gang of thieves like us." The one sitting by the fire said as he chewed on some meat. . . . cried out again for help and I had to resist the urge to lunge out to get to him.

"Oi Richard! Get that brat to shut the hell up already! I'm trying to enjoy m'meal here." Richard, the other thief that had still been holding down . . ., smiled before delivering a punch to the gut to my brother. The air knocked from his lungs he made a small huffing noise as he tried catching his breath once more.

"Oh ho ho that's it little bugger. Keep strugglin. I like my toys nice and warmed up before I get to play with em'." It was then I saw the man begin to pull . . .'s pants down, and that's when I snapped.

"You're a sick fuck you know that Rich- Shit!" Without warning I plunged the dagger into Richard's back. Dark crimson blood flowed forth followed by a startled cry as the man turned around to look at his assailant.

It unnerved me when his eyes showed excitement instead of fear.

"Another toy come to me? How wonderful." Before I could even react Richard was atop me and even with his weakened state he proved stronger than I. With a sickening crunch the man pulled the dagger from his back and immediately tried plunging it down into my stomach.

My hands caught his wrist before it could though, but my strength was still no match for this man's. Desperately looking for a way out my mind came up with only one solution. A technique that I had seen quite a few women use when outmatched by a male opponent back when I had roamed the streets.

I kicked the bastard in the crotch.

He howled in pain, and while he still kept hold of the dagger I used the time to escape from underneath him. "You're a bad one. That's fine though. I still have a fresh toy to play with." Slowly recovering from my kick I began backing away as Richard inched closer to me, dagger in hand and poised to strike.

"Dammit boy!" The blade of a sword was run through Richard's gut as the iron was stained red with blood. Roy freed his weapon soon enough and I thanked Lord Gwyn and the gods above for seeing Richard not emerge once more.

A second later Roy was tackled by the other thief, but my mind was focused on freeing my brother.

Without thinking I pried the dagger from the thief's lifeless fingers and rushed over to . . . He was crying and I tried calming him down as I made sure to be careful when cutting him out of his bindings. When his eyes widened I first thought he'd been looking at me, but when he looked behind me was when I turned around.

A fist collided with my eye and sent me flying. My eyes were swimming and I couldn't concentrate as multiple men were coming at me at once.

The remaining thief then kicked me in the stomach knocking the wind from me before punching me once more. I fell to the ground as I heard . . .'s cry just barely over the ringing in my ears.

"I knew taking that brat would bring trouble. Damn you Richard and your fucked up fetish." It didn't seem like he was talking to me, but I guess that doesn't matter when you're about to die. Was this really going to my end? I'd never get to reach my goal of becoming a warrior and joining the Hunters.

A final thought entered my mind as the thief raised his own wicked dagger. Preparing himself to plunge it deep into my throat.

A scream that had me chilled to the bone broke out, and it shook the thief too as he was stunned just long enough for . . . to plunge my discarded dagger into the man's spine.

Screams of pain and anger escaped past his lips as he fell to the ground, but he wasn't able to defend himself as . . . plunged the dagger into the man. Again and again.

Once I could stand I ran over to him and held his arms back as he went in to stab the long dead man once more. "Stop! Please stop this!" He fell limp in my arms and the dagger fell to the ground with a gentle thud.

"I-… I just wanted to go and play with the cats in the f-forest." He looked over and silently sobbed. "U-uncle R-oy…" His voice was hoarse from the screaming, and I shushed him as I held him in my arms. I didn't let him see the unmoving form of our uncle that lay unmoving by the fire.

. . . just killed a person to save me, and that was when I swore then and there to never let my brother cry again.

"-re you okay master?"

Alonne shook himself out of his memories and looked to find Shiva standing beside him with a concerned look. He smiled to himself as he simply replied, "Forgive me my student. Just… lost in my memories was all."

His student seemed to accept the answer, and they both focused their attention back to their current task at hand.

A young woman was kneeled down before them both, and behind them a large city was currently being burned to the ground.

Runes and soapstones surrounded her as the summoners kept her at bay. A dark purple ring enclosed itself around her neck as her powers were nullified for now. Alonne was never much for sorcery, but Grandahl really did know his books to be able to counteract the Vow of Silence miracle to keep the summoners' own magic intact.

Her pale blonde hair was nearly stark white, but it matched well with her slightly tanned skin tone as the two complimented one another. Carmel brown eyes looked into Alonne's own glowing white ones and neither ceased starring as both showed no fear of the other. Her clothes were suited for traveling as her damaged leathers suggested as much, but they hadn't been that way when they had arrived.

Many of his men had fallen trying to take her down, and many more had been frozen, impaled, and shattered.

All his students, but their fall will not have been in vain.

Kneeling down to be eye level with her Alonne spoke in his ever calm voice, "Greetings Maiden of Winter. My Lord offers his most sincere apologies."

The Winter maiden spat in his face, but he did not react as she had wished. Wiping away her spit Alonne called forth for the golem that would contain the soul this girl was unfortunate to inherit.

Heavy footfalls could be heard coming ever closer as the bulky, hollowed-faced golem drew nearer.

The golem's chest cavity opened up like a hungry maw waiting to have its next meal as the pitch black Abyss crept out steadily towards the girl. Or more likely it opened for the great soul that it sensed within her bosom.

It was then that the maiden's expression changed. Fear began to creep into her features as Alonne ordered Shiva to hold her head down, but Alonne knew what that fear was for.

Not for the life that she was about to lose.

Stepping beside her Alonne readied his sword as he prepared to play the role of executioner once more. A part that he was becoming much more accustomed to he was afraid.

"Do you wish to speak any final words Ms.?" His voice was calm as he spoke, and his grip tightened when he saw the tears falling to the ground beneath her. They were ones of both anger and regret.

"What do you even plan to do with it?" A careful question that required a careful answer, even if she was about to be executed Alonne would not take any risk lest his Lord's plans become jeopardized.

Adjusting his sword ever so slightly Alonne offered a quick prayer for this girl's soul to find peace in whatever afterlife she believed in.

"To give ourselves a second chance."

His sword came down.

The halls had been fairly void of any activity, and the silence became unnerving when Weiss thought back to how loud Beacon had been. Shouts could be heard coming up ahead though, and ones that she had all but gotten used to for years.

Creeping closer towards her father's study Weiss made sure to not be heard as she listened in on the conversation. It was muffled, but clear enough where she could make out what was being said.

"How do you still not see the potential your position would have for the family?! The SDC could move far beyond just Atlas, and I'm not just talking about distributing dust Winter!" The name had surprised her, but not because it was her sister being yelled at currently.

'Has Winter been promoted?' Weiss knew of her sister's role as the late general Ironwood's second in command, but she had not heard anything from Winter since it had been announced that Ironwood was listed as killed in action. It was only a few months after the fall of Beacon, and while no body had been found there had been the remains to suggest his passing during Beacon's fall.

A close friend to the family, but Weiss hardly knew the man and didn't wish to get to know him. Even during his attempts to get closer to her Weiss shut him out.

"I know what you're plans would entail father, and while Atlas' military will remain allied with the SDC I will not allow any further influence by you or anyone else."

"Where are your loyalties dear daughter of mine? With the family that have raised you or the military that only plan to use you for their plans for war?" A deep silence followed right after, but as soon as it had appeared it had vanished as Winter gave her answer to their father.

"As General of the Atlas military I am forbidden to use my position to influence anything outside my own jurisdiction. And that right now is telling me to not aid you father in your endeavor to spread your power over the world." Her father must have slammed his fist on his desk as the sound of glass cracking was heard from beyond the door.

"I see then." His voice was unnaturally polite. The same kind he would use whenever he would be conducting business with partners. "Well it was kind of you Winter to visit your family. Now get out and see yourself out of my house" The clicking of heels was coming closer towards the door, and before Weiss could get away Winter had opened the door.

Her eyes widened in surprise, but soon relaxed as her sister smiled at her. It faded fast though when their father beckoned Weiss into his study. Winter placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed it gently before heading off without a word.

Weiss turned back towards the dread that awaited her, but squaring her shoulders and putting up a straight face she entered her father's study with confidence. Even if it was false it felt better to have the thought than nothing at all.

His chair was turned to face away from her when she first entered, and the first thing she'd spotted was the half-filled shot glass. The bottle wasn't too far away as its contents were nearly a quarter of the way gone.

'Well at least his drinking habit has improved somewhat.' Still, he was beginning to become like her mother with how much alcohol he's been consuming. The only difference between her parents was that her father took his rage out on them much louder than her mother.

"Take a seat." It wasn't a kind gesture, and she refused it as she remained standing. "Can you believe how many people are still placing Atlas at fault for what happened to Vale? Even after all the refugees that we've taken in everyone is pointing fingers at us!"

Weiss knew that her father wasn't happy about the refugees. He'd call them "leeches" for how they were mooching off the other kingdoms instead of staying in their own like those in New Vale had.

"None of them were there. They didn't see what I had." The countless bodies littering the ground as monsters in black armor and Grimm stood together to snuff out every last life.

Beacon standing alight with fire and smoke as they'd been forced to retreat, and even kept from helping those that had been left behind. She remembered it all, and cursed those that had taken her home, and broke her team apart.

"Then that idiot Ironwood had to go and get himself killed. 'All for the safety of Vale' I'm sure he'd say if he were standing here now. The damn fool had completely forgotten about the people that he swore to protect first!" A fist formed as she felt yet another pang of anger pulse through her as she tried to remain calm and focused before the scum she dared called her father.

"I thought he was doing what he felt was right at the time." It took all her willpower to keep her voice even. General Ironwood had died protecting Vale and her citizens, and in her eyes no one deserved higher praise than that.

"Well, thanks to him and his mistakes Atlas is forbidden to export Dust to any of the other kingdoms. A 'precautionary measure' as the council puts it to make sure no one's going to declare war. I've already lost thousands not being able to sell outside of here, and I'll be damned if I allow the Schnee Dust Company to lose another lien."

"How do you plan on fixing that father?" His brow lifted a little when she spoke to him as a mature young woman. Weiss Schnee wasn't the same submissive girl that her father had come to control over the course of her life.

His eyes narrowed on her, but only for a brief moment before they settled back to his usual stare. "The Schnee Dust Company will be holding a charity concert in the coming weeks." Weiss' eyes widened at the shock of hearing him suggest such a thing. Though he hadn't said it yet she knew what he would soon be asking her to perform in this concert. The last time she had sung was during her final concert a few weeks before Beacon had started.

The last time when she had still been under his thumb.

"We need to show the people of Remnant that we're on their side. That we're willing to stand up to threats such as the White Fang and the Grimm King. We need their trust back if this company is going to survive the next few years, and to show them all that we are all victims of the fall of Vale."

"That's…" A lie. Terrible. Manipulative. Horrible. The list went on and on and Weiss knew her father saw the brief flash of her anger that appeared before she could hide it. "Wonderful news." The words tasted bitter on her tongue and left a bad aftertaste.

"Good. It will make many people happy to know that you'll be performing."

"Excuse me?" Though she had known it was coming Weiss still held onto to hope that he wouldn't have asked. "Many forget that you, my own flesh and blood, were there at the fall. A Schnee, down on the ground defending another kingdom. What better way to win back the other kingdom's trust than with someone who was there?"

Bile rose up in her throat at the mere thought of being his pawn again, and everything in her mind and heart was telling her to deny him her voice. Yet she asked him anyways.

"Are you asking me if I'd like to sing, or telling me?"

"What do you think the people of New Vale would want?" That had her thinking alright.

"The people of New Vale?" He nodded confirming that she had heard him clearly. A chance to see her team again? She had been forbidden from contacting anyone from Beacon once her father had dragged her home, and this would be the first time in months that she would get to see anyone again!

While she kept herself calm Weiss couldn't help but jump at the opportunity, but she caught herself before she could. "Will the concert actually be happening in New Vale?" If it were anything but then she would refuse.

Weiss Schnee was no longer her father's pawn.

"But of course. Right now the people of Vale are at their weakest, and what better way to forge a fresh new bond of trust than striking the heart of the problem?" That sounded less endearing than how it probably did in his head, but Weiss ignored the fact as she would finally have a chance to be with her friends again, with her team.

'They can break me out of this cage. I just need to get in contact with them once I reach New Vale.' Still keeping her excitement well hidden Weiss said, "I'll begin practicing again."

"Good. I look forward to hearing your lovely voice once more Weiss." With that she was dismissed from his office and off to her rooms. Klein had tried to get her attention, but she was too focused on preparing herself to stop.

Locked away in her rooms once more Weiss did not begin to practice her singing, but continued her training instead.

Nevermore swirled atop the tower of Salem in droves as the shattered moon looked down onto the Grimmlands like a pale eye. The maroon sky only further brightened it as if it were a beacon in the night.

Salem's fortress stood like a tall shadow. Casting its darkness across the land as Grimm flocked towards it like a bee to honey.

Within a meeting was currently being held by the true monarch of all that was Grimm and her devote followers. "They were found earlier this morning just on the outskirts of your territory." Watts bowed his head under his mistress' gaze as her crimson eyes glowed with a silent fury.

"I rule all the Grimmlands and I will continue to do so for as long as I draw breath. That thing that calls itself king is only occupying my lands temporarily." There was emphasis there as the only reason she didn't wipe that stain off her lands yet was the strange power he possessed.

Turning her own Grimm against her, and worst, he could control them.

It was otherworldly.

Attacking in any force would most likely only result in losses on both sides, but she would ultimately come out the loser in that battle. The Ashen Lord would just capture more of her Grimm and turn them on her.

His forces would only strengthen while hers grew weaker.

"Show them to me Watts."

The doctor didn't bat an eye, as did no one else when he brought up the dual severed heads of Cinder's underlings Emerald and Mercury. Tyrion even let out a whooping cackle before falling silent when Salem eyed him. "From the bruises and fractured skulls I can only guess that they had been beaten and possibly interrogated before being executed."

"Not to mention that they had been impaled on pikes when they were found." Hazel pointed out as he broke his usual silent demeanor.

"Was there anything else near them when you found them? What of their bodies?" Curious more than caring as the two were just tools for Cinder to use, and in turn for her use as well.

"No bodies, but those could have been eaten up by the Grimm that were there when I arrived. There was something else however." Hazel crossed his arms before thinking back onto what he had seen. "Oohhh how I wish I could have seen the looks on their cute little faces when they were executed! A tragic really."

"Quiet you psychotic faunus." Watts commanded as Tyrion drew a knife with a bright smile on his face. "Make me."

"Silence." Her command was absolute and both men knew better than to disobey her.

"Yes mistress." Both said in union as Tyrion lowered the knife, but kept eyeing Watts with the usual mad glint in his eyes.

"What did you find?" Salem looked at Hazel expecting a good reason to continue to use up her time. Nodding he went into what he had found at the piked heads of the two criminals.

"A single man stood near where I had found them. He was too far for me to pursue, but just close enough that I could see what he looked like." Looking out towards the Grimmlands outside Hazel went on. "At first I thought him a man, but I was wrong. Upon closer inspection I saw that its armor was covered in ash. So much that I thought it was entirely made of the stuff."

"I was proven right a second later when it completely broke down into an ash cloud and was taken away by the wind." Salem remained silent as she sensed that there was something else to what Hazel had seen.

"Just before it completely vanished I took note of the visor. It glowed with black and orange fire. Whatever powers this man possesses I fear that they may rival the Maiden's, maybe even…" Salem already knew what he was going to suggest without having seen Hazel look at her.

"It's quite possible that the Ashen Lord holds powers equal to my own, and now it is in possession of the Fall Maiden's soul. Not even to mention that it had managed to kill dear Cinder."

Silence filled her meeting room as the three of them looked to her for her next orders.

"The Ashen Lord poses a great threat to my plans for Remnant, but since it has managed to establish a strong foothold into my lands we'll need to treat this with delicacy. I will need time to think on this, and for now the three of you will continue to monitor the kingdoms that you have been assigned."

Turning to Tyrion she said, "I'm sending you to the remnants of Vale to seek out the next Spring Maiden. She'll be surrounded by hunters so you will need to seek her out when she is alone. Do not fail me like Cinder had Tyrion." The crazed fool's smile only grew as he readily nodded his head.

"Of course, of course my goddess. I will succeed where the witch had failed you!"

"Watts, your spies reported seeing the Summer Maiden last in Mistral. That was two weeks ago so I doubt that she has gotten far, but make sure to track her down so she can't escape."

He nodded in understanding. "It will be done my mistress."

"And Hazel your mission remains the same. Report any more spottings of the Ashen Lord's forces whether that is in the Grimmlands or in your assigned kingdoms. Do you all understand?" Each of them nodded and once she saw that only then did she smile.

"Once we claim the rest of the Maiden's powers the one it holds will be able to do nothing to stop us from taking it back. We'll crush its armies for good and remove the stain that it has made on my home." As they all departed Salem stood looking out into her lands.

'You're not of this world are you?' No such power has existed on this world for as long as she has been alive, and that was saying something. Age was irrelevant to her, but still…

At first she had thought it of a very rare Semblance, but something so sudden and powerful wouldn't have shown up without her knowing. No, this power was far beyond humanity's power. Maybe even more powerful than her own indeed, and she was no fool to underestimate the Ashen Lord.

"In my entire life I have never seen anything like you before Abell, and I look forward to tearing you apart to see what you're truly made of."


The next few chapter we'll be seeing what each RWBY member is up to, but with smaller twists that'll be leading them back to Vale sooner than in the show. Personally, Volume 4 just had them all going around doing their own thing without the plot actually moving forward all that much. I don't want to drag it out too long like RT did, but just a heads up really for everyone.

Hope all of you are enjoying your summer out there, and as a heads up I'll be finishing "Shell of a Soul" before the next chapter of this story gets out. Also, another side story I've been working on is underway. It'll be a long one-shot story revolving around Destiny's Rise of Iron dlc, and should be out before D2 launches.

Talk to you all in the next chapter!