Guess who is alive?! I am extremely so sorry for making you all wait. With personal life, school and work problems, I couldn't be able to update. And before you ask, yes I love my new job as a security guard. It is the best job I could ask for. And no, it's not like Five Nights at Freddy's. I hope this chapter can make up lose time. I promise to update this story and my others. Again, I am so sorry for making you all wait, you are all the best followers I can ask for. Also, the contest for an OC Maiden character is still up. So if anyone of you want your OC Spring or Summer Maiden to make their debut, now is your chance.

Also, Season 4, oh my god, so much good stuff! Can't wait for Season 5! I might take some aspects and elements from season 4 into my story, you will all see. Anyways, let us begin!

Chapter 33

Almost an hour later, Weiss was heading to the landing pad with Ruby chasing after her. As Ruby was chasing her, she cried "Weiss! What's the big deal?!"

When they arrived near the landing pad, Ruby saw a woman in an Atlas uniform stepping out of the ship along with a handful of Atlesian Knights. Ruby then asked "Who's that? Who is she?"

Weiss, with a smile on her face, said "Winter."

Ruby remembered what Weiss said about Winter during their time at Beacon, looks at her and said "Wait...your sister?"

Weiss then cups her mouth with her hands and shouted "Winter!"

The woman, identified as Winter, turns around and saw Weiss and Ruby. Excited, Weiss rushed up to her and said "Winter! I am so happy to see you!"

She then composed herself and said "Oh! I mean, your presence honors us."

As Ruby stood there clueless, Winter had her hands behind her back, looks around, and said "Beacon...it's been a long time. The air feels...different."

Ruby rubs her head and said "Well it is fall, so...there's that."

Annoyed, Weiss held up her left fist and slams it on Ruby's head. The impact from Weiss' punch caused Ruby to fall on her knees all hurt. Once Weiss regained her composure, she asked Winter "So, what are you doing here?"

Winter just gave her a stern look and replied "Classified."

"Oh right," Weiss said, "So how long will you be staying here?"

While Ruby was getting up and rubbing her head, Winter said "Classified."

Weiss gently bowed and said "of course."

There was an awkward moment of silence all while Ruby was standing there completely clueless. Ruby decides to speak by saying "Oh...this is nice...I think..."

Couldn't contain her excitement any longer, Weiss said "You are going to love it here! I know you travel a lot, but so much of Beacon is different from Atlas! Vale, too. The government and school are completely separate! Can you believe it?! I —"

Winter interrupted her by saying "I'm more than familiar with how this kingdom handles it's bureaucracy. That is not why I came."

"Right," Weiss said, "I'm sorry."

She then narrows her eyes at Weiss and said "Nor did I come to watch my own blood fail so miserably in battle. But it appears I have no choice in the matter."

A bit hurt, Weiss said "But...we won."

"Only a novice would refer to that as a victory," Winter said harshly, "I counted at least three strikes missed."

As Weiss looks down in shame, Winter raised her hand at the Atlesian Knights and said "Leave us."

As a few knights took a few steps back, Winter sighs relaxing and said "So...how have you been?"

Excited once again, Weiss said "Oh, splendid! Thank you for asking. I'm actually in the very top ranking of our sparring class. The rest of my studies are going wonderfully too. I'm—"

All of sudden, Winter smacks Weiss on the top of her head. As Weiss cringed in pain and covers her head, Winter said sternly "Silence, you boob! I don't recall asking about your ranking. I asked you how you've been."

She then said comforting while Weiss removed her hand, revealing a small bump on her head "Are you eating properly? Have you taken up any hobbies? Are you making new friends?"

"Well," Weiss said as she motions Ruby, "There's Ruby."

Ruby snorts and said while pushing the bump on Weiss' head back "Boob."

"I see," Winter said as she looks at Ruby, "So this is the leader you wrote of. How appropriately...underwhelming."

Ruby, feeling awkward, said "Uh...thank you?"

Winter smiled a bit and said "Greetings Ruby Rose, I wish to thank you for taking an interest in my sister?"

Ruby chuckles nervously and said "Uh actually, you should be telling her boyfriend that...so..."

The moment Ruby said that, Weiss' face turned brightly red, turns to her and smacks her across the head, causing Ruby to fall face first to the ground. When Ruby said that, Winter's eyes widen in interest, turns to Weiss and said "Boyfriend?"

Weiss gulps and said "Uh...hehe...yeah."

Winter smiles a bit and said "We will talk more about this matter later. But I came to meet up with the general and your headmaster. But since I am here early, how about you show me to your living quarters."

"Really?" Weiss asked.

"Yes," Winter said as a couple of Atlesian Knights followed her, "I want to see if they are up to my standards."

"Right," Weiss said as she walks by Winter, "Oh and just to let you know, the bunk-beds only look unstable."

Confused on what Weiss said, Winter asked "Bunk...beds?"

Getting over her pain, Ruby got up and said "Okay! Um...I'll just uh...go and...uh...find our teammates! Yeah!"

As Ruby awkwardly walks away, walking towards Beacon, Winter turns to Weiss and asked "So...boyfriend?"

Weiss blushed and said nervously "Uh...hehe...yes."

Winter said "Well? Where is he?"

Weiss replied "Ah, well, he and his team are recovering from their fight against Team EMSS."

Winter then said "Oh them? I saw their fight, and though they fought well, they still lost."

"Yes," Weiss said, "To be fair, their opponents were tougher than they look."

Winter gave her a playful smile and asked "So which one is your boyfriend?"

Weiss blushed and said "H-His name is Arthur Knight. He is the leader."

"I see," Winter said, "Well I would like to..."

All of a sudden, they heard something being destroyed and heard something thrown at them. When they turn around and saw the head of an Atlesian Knight, they then look up and saw Qrow holding a headless Atlesian Knight. Sounding a bit drunk, Qrow said "Hey! Yeah...I'm talking to you, Ice Queen."

As Qrow threw the headless robot to the side, the two Atlesian Knights that were by Winter and Weiss slowly started to move towards Qrow until Winter shouted "Halt!"

When the Atlesian Knights stopped moving, Weiss walked up to Qrow and said "Excuse me!"

Once she was near him, she said "Do you have any idea who you are talking to?"

However, Qrow place a hand on her shoulder, shushed her and said "Shhh, not you."

After he said that, Qrow pushed Weiss away, stares at Winter and said "You."

As both Qrow and Winter stared at each other, Qrow was the first to speak by saying "Saw that gaudy ship of yours, that means you're here."

Winter huffed and said "I am standing right in front of you."

Qrow squinted his eyes to look better and said "So it seems."

A bit annoyed, Winter said "You do realize that you destroyed military property."

Looking at the Atlesian Knights that her destroyed, pretending to be scared, Qrow said "Oh, oh! I'm sorry! See, I thought these were some...sentient garbage."

Irritated, Winter said "I don't have time for your immature games, Qrow."

Weiss, already by Winter's side, asked "Wait, you two know each other?"

"Jeez," Qrow said, "You Atlas specialists think you're so special."

Winter replied "It's in the title,"

"Well you know what you really are?" Qrow asked, "A bunch of sellouts...just like your boss."

"I'm not sure what you THINK you're implying," Winter said, "But I've heard enough."

"Oh I heard too," Qrow said, "I heard Ironwood finally turned his back on Ozpin."

Confused, Weiss said "Ozpin?"

Winter then said "Weiss, it's time for you to go."

"What?" Weiss asked.

"Listen to big sister, Weiss," Qrow said as he was waving back and forth, "She'll protect you. Just as Atlas is protecting all of us, huh?"

Winter glares at him and said as she drew her saber-sword "If you can't hold your tongue, then I will gladly remove it for you!"

Qrow chuckles as he combed his hair back and said "Alright, come take it."

In a flash, Winter dashed towards Qrow and started to thrust her sword at Qrow's face. But with ease, Qrow manages to dodge her attacks with ease. After one of Winter's attack missed him, he took a bow as Winter swings her sword downward and clashed on Qrow's condensed large sword. When Qrow grabbed the handle of his sword, he pressed a button and his sword expanded. As he spins his body, Qrow knocks Winter's sword away, throws his sword into the air, grabs it with his left hand and points it at her. Seeing he was in his fighting position, Winter placed her sword close to Qrow's sword, and after a few taps, Qrow fully swings his sword, to which Winter blocks. Qrow then swings his sword multiple times before Winter does a few back-flips before blocking his last attack. Then the two started to clash their swords together.

As Weiss watched from the sidelines, Ruby appeared out of nowhere, walked up to her and asked "What's going on?"

Weiss looks at Ruby and replied "Some crazy guy started to attack my sister."

Worried about Winter's safety, Ruby said "Oh no! Who would do such a..."

The moment Ruby saw the fight between Winter and Qrow, her worries faded and was replace with excitement as she cried "That is my uncle!"

Shocked, Weiss shouted "What?!"

"Kick her butt, Uncle Qrow!" Ruby cheered.

"Uh..." Weiss said as she turns to the fight, "Teach him a lesson, Winter!"

While that happened, Team JCME was walking towards the entrance when they saw the crowd gathered around the fight. Curious, Mercury asked "Yo, what is going on here?"

Emerald replied "Must be a fight. Maybe a school rivalry?"

When they saw the fighters, Blackheart groan and said "Oh no."

Cinder looks at Blackheart and asked "What is it?"

Blackheart replied "That guy is my uncle."

Emerald raised an eyebrow and asked "Your uncle? And...he is fighting someone from the Atlas Military?"

Blackheart replied "Yeah...he and Winter have a...history together."

Walking behind the crowd, Sheeva was near the crowd when she saw the fight. When she saw Qrow, she gasped silently as she ran towards the school. Once she was gone, Qrow and Winter continue their fight as neither were landing a blow on one another. But that all changed when Winter saw an opening and whacks Qrow across his face with the handle guard of her sword. Instead of being knocked down, Qrow looks back at her with a smirk on his face and raises his sword over his head. Seeing Qrow about to make an attack, Winter summoned a glyph under her feet and moved out of the way just as Qrow slammed his sword to the ground, creating a huge crater. As Winter glided back in the air and landed, she looks up and was surprised when she saw Qrow near her. He swings his sword, Winter manages to dodge his attack and Qrow sliced through a column.

While the two of them were continuing fighting, far off, Taiyang and Summer were walking around. While looking, Summer said "Where are my babies? I wanna give them a big hug for their wins!"

Taiyang chuckled and said "Please don't baby them. They are young adults, they don't need any of that."

Summer pouted at him and said "Says the man who begs me to make him soup while he was sick."

"Hey!" Taiyang cried, "I was weak and you know it."

As Summer playfully shook her head, she hears the fight, looks over and saw Qrow and Winter on the top of the buildings as Qrow was shooting at her. Summer gasp and said "Is that Qrow?!"
Taiyang looks up, sees him and asked "What the hell is he doing?!"

When Qrow manages to shoot Winter, it created a large smoke that concealed her. As Qrow straightened his sword, and looked closer at the cloud, Winter leaps out of the cloud and let out a battle cry. As Qrow got into his fighting stance, Winter held up her sword, pulled a handle switch and a smaller rapier appeared and she held it with her left hand. Once she was close, she swings her blades and Qrow manages to block them, only for the impact sends them crashing to the ground. As soon as they were on the ground, they resumed their fighting until Qrow was forced backwards and he drags his large sword into the ground to slow down before he stop and held it in a reverse grip. As Winter calmed down, she spins her right sword and stabs it into ground, creating a large glyph and a flock of small white Nevermores appeared and began to fly towards him. Qrow did his best and protected himself from the birds and, when Winter thought she had the upperhand, he swings his sword and sends an Aura arc at her, causing her to jump back and making her lose her concentration on the summoned birds as they vanished.

In rage, Winter summons a large glyph behind her while Qrow pressed a button on his sword and caused the gears to spin. While the blades on his sword began to separate and curved, Winter got into a launch position. As Qrow narrowed his eyes, he saw something in the corner of his eyes and smirks. He cancels the transformation sequence of his sword and sheaths it behind his back. As Winter stood there confused, Qrow stood straight and made a 'come here' motion to her. Irritated, Winter let out a battle cry as she lunged at Qrow with her right sword traveling to his neck.

"SCHNEE!"

Only inches from his neck, Winter stopped as she recognized the voice. She turns around and saw Ironwood with Penny standing behind him. As he walked towards her, Winter stood firm towards him and said "General Ironwood, sir."

Ironwood said "What in the world do you think you are doing?'

Winter replied "He started the altercation, sir!"

Qrow put his hands behind his head and said "That's actually not true, she attacked first."

Ironwood narrowed his eyes at Winter and asked "Is that right?"

Trying to find the right words, Winter realize Qrow was right and looks down in shame. As Ironwood looks around at the people looking at them, he looks at Qrow and said "And you."

As Qrow looks at him and points at himself in a mocking tone, Ironwood walks up to him and asked "What are you doing here?"

Qrow replied "I could asked you the same thing."

Before Ironwood could reply, a voice behind them said "Now, now, everyone…"

They turn and saw Ozpin and Glynda arriving at the scene as Ozpin said "There is a sanctioned fight happening just around the corner at the Colosseum that I could assure you has better seats. And popcorn."

Glynda then said "Break it up, everyone. We will take care of this mess."

As Ironwood, Winter and Penny all were leaving, Penny looks back, saw Ruby and waves a bit. While Ruby waves back, she looks at Qrow and cried "Uncle Qrow!"

She ran up to him, leaps towards him and latches onto his arm. Feeling Ruby's hug, he looks down at her and she simply said "Hi."

As he lift his arm, he also lifts Ruby in the air as she shakes her legs happily as she clings onto his arm. She then asked excitedly "It's so good to see you! Did you miss me? Did you miss me?!"

Qrow stood there for a few seconds before giving her a small smile and said "Nope"

As he playfully ruffles her hair, Ozpin turns to Qrow and said "Qrow."

When Qrow looks at Ozpin and out his arm down, which caused Ruby to slip down to the ground, Ozpin said while Glynda was fixing the damage "A word, please?"

Once Ruby was on her feet, Qrow leans in on her and whispers "I think I am in trouble."

Ruby giggles and said "You did tear up the courtyard."

Qrow chuckled and said "Yeah, I did. Catch you later, kid."

When the two fist-bumped each other, Qrow followed Ozpin. As soon as Qrow was leaving, Weiss walks up to Ruby and said "And now I know where you foolishness came from."

Ruby gave her a playful smirk and said "You're just mad because he whoop butt."

A bit irritated, Weiss said "That was a draw a best."

Out of nowhere, Blackheart and his team walk up to her and said "Oh yeah. Considering the fact that Winter is a highly trained warrior and she was fighting a professor who is always drunk and was barely using his full strength. So yeah, a draw."

All Weiss could do is drop her mouth to the ground.

Cinder chuckled and said "Still, I feel bad for your uncle. I wonder what will happen to him."

While Ironwood and Winter were waiting for the others to arrive, Winter was pacing back and forth until the elevator ringed and Qrow, Ozpin and Glynda stepped out. In rage, Winter shouted "What were you thinking?!"

Ironwood then said "If you were one of my men, I would have you shot."

Qrow huffed as he took out his flask and said "If I was one of your men, I'd shoot myself."

As Ozpin and Glynda made their way to the desk, Glynda said "While I wouldn't condone his behavior, retaliating like you did certainly didn't help the situation."

Winter shouted "He was drunk!"

"He's always drunk!" Glynda shouted back.

Everyone then looks at Qrow, who was drinking from his flask. When Qrow felt them looking at him, he give them an innocent look before shrugging. Ozpin sighed and said "Qrow, why are you here?"

"You've been out of contact for weeks!" Ironwood shouted, "You can't just go dark like that in the field!"

Qrow then said "I am not one of your special operatives, Jimmy."

"General," Winter corrected him.

"Whatever," he replied, "You sent me to get intel on out enemy, and I'm telling you, out enemy is here."

Ironwood crossed his arms and said "We know."

"Oh!" Qrow said, while getting a little mad, "Oh, you know! Well, thank goodness I'm out there risking my life to keep you all informed!"

Ironwood sighs and said "Qrow..."

"Communication's a two-way street, pal," Qrow said as he took out his Scroll and points at it, "You see this? That's the SEND button!"

Winter then said "They had reason to assume you'd be compromised."

Qrow looks at her and said "And I have a reason you don't need to be here. Seriously, who invited her?"

There was a moment of silence when Ironwood said "Schnee, we'll discuss this incident back at my ship."

A bit surprised, Winter said "But sir..."

"Winter," Ironwood firmly said, "Leave."

Leaving with no other choice, Winter saluted and said "Yes sir."

She then turns and walked towards the elevator, but she looks at Qrow, who gave her a wink, and then she entered the elevator and left the office. Once she was gone, Ironwood looks at Qrow and said "Go on."

Qrow replied "Your little infiltrator isn't just another pawn. They're the one responsible for Autumn's condition."

Shocked, Glynda said "What?"

After Qrow takes another drink from his flask, he said "Despite what the world thinks, we're not just teachers, or generals, or headmasters. The people in this room, the leaders of the other two academies, we're the ones that keep the world safe from the evils no one knows about. It's why we meet behind closed doors, why we work in the shadows."

He then faces Ironwood and said "So you tell me, James. When you brought your army to Vale, did you think you were being discreet, or did you just not give a damn?!"

As everyone stared at Ironwood, he took out his Scroll, place it on Ozpin's desk and said "Discreet was no longer working."

A hologram image of Beacon, Amity Coliseum and his fleet appeared in the center of the room. Ironwood works towards the hologram and said "I'm here because this is what is necessary."

A bit irritated, Qrow said "You're here because Ozpin wanted you here! He made you a part of this inner circle and opened your eyes to the real fight that's in front of us!"

"And I am grateful," Ironwood said.

Qrow shakes his head and said in a sarcastic way "Oh, well, you've got a funny way of showing it."

Ironwood then said "The people of Vale needed someone to protect them, someone who would act. When they look to the sky and see my fleet, they feel safe, and our enemies will feel our strength."

Just then, Qrow starts laughing and said "You...You think they're scared of your little ships? I've been out there and I've seen the things they made, and let me tell you, they are fear."

"And fear will bring the Grimm," Ozpin said, "A guardian is a symbol of comfort. But an army is a symbol of conflict. There's an energy in the air now, a question in the back of everyone's mind...if this is the size of our defenses, then what is it we're expecting to fight?"

As Ironwood looks at everyone, who all stared at him, he walks up to the desk and picks up his Scroll. Without anyone noticing, an image of a white queen chess pawn appeared then disappeared. Ironwood then looks at Ozpin and asked "So what do you suggest we do?"

Ozpin replied "I suggest we find our guardian."

"And you are positive it was him?' Elsa asked.

As Sheeva was sitting down on the chair, Elsa was pacing back and forth while Sephiroth was leaning on a wall and Montezuma was laying on the bed. Sheeva nodded and said "Red cloak, uses a scythe and smells like a run-down bar...it was him."

Sephiroth looks at Elsa and asked "What do we do now?"

Elsa looks at him and said "Nothing. For all we know, he doesn't know who we are, thanks to Sheeva. Though, he did ruin our plan to take the Fall Maiden, but that won't stop us."

As she walks to the desk and picks up her Scroll, Montezuma said "And not only that, we still need to figure out a way to plant fear into the audience."

"You leave that to me," Elsa said as she looks at her Scroll. As she looks through it, she smiles and said "Well, Well, looks like our friend found a new waypoint."

"Anything good?" Sheeva asked.

"Hopefully," Elsa said as she looks at her team, "Get some rest, we have a big day ahead of us.?"

When they all nodded and went to bed, Elsa looked at her Scroll and saw images of students heading to the doubles round. As she thinks about it, she smirks and said "Let's make things more...interesting."

As she scrolls down the pairs, she stops at the images of Blackheart and Mercury while she stops on an image of a young girl with black hair and green eyes and a boy with dark red hair and brown eyes. Smiling at her choices, she pressed enter.

The next day, Amity Coliseum...

The images of Blackheart, Mercury, the boy and the girl appeared in the hologram screens as Port's voice said "And the randomization process had begun! Ladies and gentlemen, the Doubles Round has begun!"

The audience cheered in excitement as the Doubles Round has begun. In the audience, Team RWBY, JNPR, AVGR, Cinder and Emerald cheered for Blackheart and Mercury as they are the first ones to fight. All while that happened, Elsa was sitting somewhere else, along with Sheeva by her side. When they saw the match up, Elsa slowly clapped as she gave an insidious smile and her eyes glowed for a bit. Her plan was about to begin.

Hope you all enjoyed this chapter! I know I said I will work on my stories, but I hope this satisfy you all. Who are Blackheart and Mercury's opponents? What is Elsa's plan? Find out next time! Until then, please review!

P.S: if you all still are interested in the contest, the outline for your OC character is written below. Good luck!

Name:

Race:

Appearance:

Outfit:

Sembalance/Powers:

Weapons:

Background: