January 2nd
Beacon CCTS Tower; Beacon Academy
City Of Vale; Vale

"Well, now we know that you're developing your powers well enough," Ozpin said after Glynda finished demonstrating what she and Rose had been working on. Summoning, elemental powers, and levitation and although she was still struggling particularly with the elemental abilities and levitation, her summoning was fairly advanced and her telekinetic proficiency with the powers of the maidens was high though her semblance of telekinesis certainly helped. "A few more weeks, I would say, though and you should be mostly in control of the powers."

Rose rolled her eyes. "Oz, with me teaching her, I'm pretty sure she doesn't mean that much more."

"Actually," Glynda said, taking her crop into hand from her boot. "I think Ozpin's right. Rose, how long did it take you to develop your powers."

"That...that…" Irritably, Rose blew on her hair. "That's not fair! I was born a sorceress and -"

"How long did it take you?" Emmett asked, smirking and leaning against the wall. "Seriously, I know you're powerful, Rose, but we already took a million risks in attempting to transfer the powers to her because the general cut off is around thirty and she's ten years older than that. It wouldn't have happened naturally, and so we already risked her life. Let's not push her over the edge too soon after inheriting them because you've trained her for hours since the day she inherited them. At least we know the Atlas Technology is strong though, if it broke one of the oldest rules of maiden power inheritance."

"It was a forcible aura transfer, and my age probably allowed for my aura to overtake hers," Glynda said, crossing her arms. "So even though it was a risk, it succeeded though I agree that I need a few more weeks."

Rose sighed. "If I up our training from six hours a day to ten then -"

"Absolutely not!" Glynda told her, glaring heavily. "Not because I don't want to have control, but because I know that I need to have a life outside of training! In case you've forgotten, I have classes to run, I have three kids, I -"

"Okay, okay!" Rose said, putting up her hands and looking at Ozpin with slight tears in her eyes. "I get it, we won't do that. We'll take another few weeks, and it will be fine. I mean, you won't be perfect, but you should have a decent amount of control."

"Roz…" Ozpin said, getting up and gently wrapping his arms around her waist. "What's wrong? Is something bothering you?"

Rose met his eyes and shook her head before burying it in his chest. "No, I don't want to talk about this, not here. Not unless it's just us."

"This isn't like you," Qrow commented, taking a long draught of his questionable liquid that he placed in his flask. "You're never like this and -"

"Fine!" Rose screamed, walking towards him and clenching her fists while standing almost eye to eye with him. "You want the truth? You want to know exactly what I've dealt with in the last few years but only identified recently? Well do you, Qrow Branwen? Well, here's the thing: I'm jealous of Glynda and James, I'm jealous of Emmett and Emmeline, and I'm even jealous of you because all of you...all of you were able to have children I just am not! I...I…" Trailing off and wiping her tears away while Qrow stared at her in shock, Rose turned to face Ozpin who was staring at his wife in concern. "I...I...I...Ozpin, I'm sorry, I'm...I'm so sorry about this, about all of this…"

Beginning to run from the top of Beacon's CCTS Tower and towards the elevator for not the first time, Rose felt her feet stopped and unable to move. Turning around with tears still streaming down her face, Rose saw Glynda's eyes surrounded by the sparks through her thin, ovular glasses. Her hands were shaking and she sighed before she released the hold and shook out her wrist and James wrapped an arm around her waist lovingly. At the same time, Rose and Ozpin stared at each other until he picked her up and brought her tightly into his arms before kissing her forehead and staring into her violet eyes that were slightly less vibrant as a result of her tears. Trailing his fingers through her hair, Ozpin didn't speak before she gently shifted her legs down to the ground and she wrapped herself tightly around him and he held her just as securely though he was worried about her - even more so than he usually was.

"Roz…" Ozpin said gently, his voice low and a hand cupping her face. "I know you've had strong feelings on the subject, and I know it's difficult for you but I didn't realize...oh Roz, I wish you had said something."

"I have said something," Rose snapped though her voice was incredibly weak. "I've said it more than once but I've pushed it aside because I don't want to be needy. I am strong, and I need to see that in myself. I can't...I can't be weak, not again, not even on this."

"Rosalinde," Ozpin murmured, kissing her lightly. "My sweet Rosalinde, it's alright. You don't have to play strong in front of me, and I will never think of you as weak. You are not weak, Rosalinde everyone has moments in which they're weak but moments are simply that. Moments don't define you, they are only points in time in which you were something. But that doesn't mean you are that and that what you were once is what you are now."

"But Oz…" Rose said, crying still in spite of herself. "Oz, I -"

"Rosalinde Diana Varna," Ozpin told her, still cupping her face. "I love you no matter what and, I told you, even if I get killed I will be myself soon enough and I will still love you. Rose, if I die and I find you, I promise I'll marry you again. Just as soon as I'm myself again, okay?"

Rose shook her head, horrified by the thought of him dying. "No, you won't die, you won't -"

"If Emmett's right," Ozpin began slowly, looking at the man who sighed irritably. "And Beacon does in fact fall to Cinder, then it's a possibility. But if you survive and I don't…" Ozpin looked at her seriously before kissing her again. "If I don't, you'll take my cane and I'll come find you and ask you for it. Okay?"

Rose nodded weakly, tossing her arms around her neck. "I love you so much, Oz...I need you…"

"I love you too, Roz…" Ozpin said, pulling her closer. "I love you too."


January 5th
Amity Colosseum
5:34 PM

"As our last fight in the doubles round," Oobleck began in his typical fashion. "We will have Team CI of Beacon Academy versus Team CAFE of Beacon Academy in order to break their tie to decide which team will send a member to the finals!"

"That's right," Port continued, winking at his partner who winked back through his large glasses that dominated his face. "Team CI is only two members as the other two left several months ago so, throughout this tournament, Caitlin and Ivy Ironwood have fought as doubles even against full teams of four! As for Team CAFE, the two members that went on to this round were Allen Ironwood and Casey Ciel-Schnee! Let's see the terrain!"

"Oh, this will be an interesting battle," Oobleck commented as the terrain rose up against the two teams. "The terrain for this last round in the doubles is cyber, urban, forest, and mountain! Let's see how these teams do against that…"

On the ground, Ivy had her hand at the ready to fire Marfil if necessary but also at the ready to grab her sheathed knives from the inner lining of her jacket. Caitlin had one hand on Catalejo though as soon as she saw the mountains rise behind them as well as the urban terrain, she and Ivy shared a look that decided that she would disappear into the urban landscape while being ready to catch Allen or Cas off guard while Ivy would go at them head on, strengthening herself with her semblance. At the same time, Cas bit her lip so heavily that it started to bleed a tiny bit as she held Shimmer in her hands and Allen readied his sword. The second the match began, Caitlin concentrated on disappearing and succeeded though she was still struggling with control over her semblance and she began to run into the damaged urban landscape while Ivy took both of them head on, sparring with her knives hand to hand with Cas until Cas fired her sniper though Ivy bounced out of the way and ran into the forest landscape while Allen and Cas focused temporarily on finding Caitlin.

Deciding to try and find his sister while Cas ran into the woods after Ivy, Allen headed towards the mountain top before remembering his sister's hatred of heights and changing direction into the urban landscape. On the other hand, Cas was slowly wandering through the woods before she saw Ivy who was perched atop a tree and shot her though the bullet didn't damage her through her aura. Shooting up at the tree while Ivy continued to fire some of her rounds in Marfil, Cas continued to jump out of the way until Ivy spent all of her bullets and cursed, hopping down from the tree and glaring at Cas before throwing a knife her way that barely missed her and the few seconds Cas spent watching the blade allowed Ivy to get away before shifting her appearance to that of Allen. She had intentionally dressed in the same way that her brother had; Dark washed jeans, black sneakers, and a grey and silver plaid shirt. Knowing that now she had a form of an upperhand, Ivy ran through the woods and back towards the main area and the urban landscape before she ran out of the urban landscape as if she was Allen and distracted Cas long enough to knock her near unconscious by depleting her aura to the 15% that was the cut off and Cas was taken out of the match.

Shifting back, Ivy haughtily flipped one of her knives in her hand before sauntering into the urban landscape though Allen saw her and began to charge at her; Ivy met one of her knives with his blade and he reminded himself that his semblance would be no use on her as a result of her psychic abilities. Drawing her aura down even further than she had already depleted it by shifting into his form, he almost had her when Caitlin kicked him from behind and shot Catalejo at his foot. Though his aura still reflected the bullet, Allen screamed in pain when she shot his foot and he began to engage her in a hand to hand fight. Blocking a punch that he threw to her face with her arm, Caitlin steeled herself from the pain and pushed up her glasses before she kicked him in the groin and used the moment to her advantage by flipping him over and firing one last shot that depelted his aura to almost the end though his sword hit Ivy hard enough to send her out. Pushing himself up, Allen channeled the rest of his strength into an attack on her though she shot him again and he looked up and saw that his aura was depleted while the buzzer rang out and he finished sliding across the centre floor while Caitlin reached down to help him up and he smirked before embracing his sister.

"Well that concludes the doubles round!" Port exclaimed as Ivy half tackled her sister in excitement at having one while Cas stopped her from falling before taking her into her arms and kissing her lightly while Caitlin tinged pink. "Team CI is victorious and one member will be continuing on to the finals!"

"You're going on," Ivy told her and Caitlin looked at her before shaking her head though her twin didn't relent. "No, I mean that, you're going on."

"No, you are because there is no way I'll win," Caitlin told her, crossing her arms while Cas wrapped one around her waist. "Your chances are higher."

The landscape finished changing back slowly and the others who were set to compete in the finals were brought to the centre stage while Ivy looked at her sister seriously before Cas kissed her one last time while she slipped and fell over unexpectedly. To her surprise, though her sister, brother, and partner were no longer on the stage with her, she felt someone touch her shoulder though she couldn't see them for a brief moment while a nasty black haze overtook her vision and, even as it slowly cleared, a nasty spike headache was left behind. The all too familiar feeling of falling coupled with the feeling of being sick rose in her for not the first time and increased as she saw the girl who was holding out her hand to her to help her up. Her vintage inspired outfit would have been a dead giveaway if she hadn't recognized the curly red hair with the large pink bow in the back. Glancing at Pyrrha in the periphery of her vision who was smiling, the sinking feeling continued to increase and she tried to shake it off before taking Penny's hand and smiling weakly at her as she stood up and tried to steady herself on her feet.

"Salutations, Caitlin Ironwood!" Penny exclaimed with a bright smile that she thought was adorable.

"Hey Penny," Caitlin said, lightly embracing the android before sighing. "How have you been, I haven't seen you around much."

Penny giggled before she waved at Ruby who was in the audience with her sister and Team CAFE. "I have spent some time with my friend, Ruby, and my teammate. I've also had to speak with your father, General Ironwood, and Ruby's step mother, President Morell."

Caitlin smiled, trying not to betray what she knew though it was a futile struggle. "You're not in trouble, are you?"

"Oh, quite the opposite!" Penny said as they got in the line. "It's simply just checking up on me, you know, normal Atlas Academy stuff."

Unable to stop, Caitlin raised an eyebrow. "That's not normal for Atlas Academy, Penny and I know it's not just because you're proficient."

Penny's eyes went wide before dragging her off to the side as soon as it was declared that Yang would fight that Mercury Black that Caitlin knew was on Cinder's team. "Caitlin…" Penny whispered, clearly nervous. "General Ironwood didn't tell you, did he?"

Caitlin shook her head. "No. Emmeline Ciel did...indirectly, I mean, through information on her scroll."

"I though General Ciel's scroll was lost when she was assassinated," Penny said though she stopped when Caitlin flinched. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you."

"What?" Caitlin said, staring at her in shock before sighing. "No, I'm not offended, I'm just...I can't tell you where her scroll is now. You understand, right?"

Penny nodded furiously. "Of course. You were sworn to secrecy by the Atlesian Council and are one of my observers."

Caitlin didn't respond immediately and gave her an odd look before nodding hesitantly. "Uh...yes! I am... sworn to secrecy…by the...the Atlesian Council's Department Of Foreign Affairs...And Military Action and...and...and...and the Department Of Scientific Advancement And...Eth...Eth...Ethical Oversight!"

"This is so great!" Penny exclaimed, pulling her into a bone crushing hug that she didn't expect. "I am so excited to know someone else who knows and isn't bothered by it!"

"Who else knows…" Caitlin asked before recalling how close Ruby and Penny were. "Ruby, of course."

"Miss Ironwood!" Glynda said, as Penny released her and went back to her team. As soon as she was gone, she pulled her daughter into her tightly before sighing. "I saw your fight, you did well."

"Thanks…" Caitlin said, the headache still throbbing and Glynda looked at her in concern before dragging her off to Emmett's room and letting them in while he looked up at them in surprise.

"Glynda?" Emmett said, setting down his mug. "Okay, I swear this time it actually is cocoa. I'm honouring the rule, I swear it."

"I wouldn't doubt it," Glynda said as she looked at her daughter sharply to sit down while Emmett looked at them both in concern. "Caity, are you alright?"

Caitlin shook her head, rubbing her forehead. "I have a headache but I'm...I had a…"

"Psychic experience?" Emmett suggested, and she nodded. "Vision or just a feeling?"

"Just a feeling...though I had a moment of black haze," Caitlin admitted, looking at her mother who was almost twitchy. "Mommy, is something wrong?"

Glynda didn't respond and instead shared a look with Emmett who shrugged. "Caity -"

"She already knows most of it," Emmett pointed out and she sighed. "Well, you don't have to tell her if you don't want to -"

"Wait…" Caitlin said, looking at them and feeling sick. "You two aren't involved, are you?"

Emmett and Glynda looked at each other in surprise before shaking their heads though it was Glynda who responded. "No, Caitlin, I promise it's not that. It's just...the maidens, remember?"

"Amber didn't die, did she?" Seeing the look on her mother's face, Caitlin groaned. "No, now Cinder's going to get the -"

"We did the transfer," Emmett corrected and she snapped her head to face him and he sighed. "And we transferred it to, well…"

"I took on the powers," Glynda told her and Caitlin stared at her in shock before using the powers to cause her eyes to spark, then stopping them and adjusting her glasses. "And if you had needed proof that was it."

"So you're half a maiden now?" Caitlin asked and Glynda nodded.

"Mostly, considering that it was just over half the power that was left."

"She's going to target us now, isn't she?" Caitlin said while Glynda sighed. "Salem and Cinder."

"Yes," Glynda told her, but pulled her close and stroked her daughter's long, dark ponytail before shifting her wavy side bangs away from her face. "But we're going to fine, I promise."

Emmett snorted. "Yeah, even if Beacon falls, which it might."


January 5th
Amity Colosseum
7:02 PM


"Yang!" Ivy screamed one last time before her partner began to walk into the arena. "You'll do great, I promise."

Smirking, Yang grabbed both of Ivy's hands before hugging her tightly and kissing her. "Aww, thanks Ives."

Shifting away while Yang went to the centre of the battlefield's stage, Ivy sighed as the broadcasting system began and Port began to speak. "Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for! The one on one finals! Barty, why don't you explain the rules?"

"Ah, it's quite simple, Peter!" Oobleck began in his erratically fast speech. "Instead of a bracket system, each round of the finals will be randomly determined immediately before the match takes place!"

"And let's go through the contestants!" Port began. "Now, there are a few new faces but we all recognize Caitlin Ironwood, Yang Xiao Long, Penny Polendina, Pyrrha Nikos, Sun Wukong, and Mercury Black. Of all of the contestants, they were the ones with the highest scores in the previous parts of the tournament. And as Barty said, it is much like any good hunt! There will be zero time to prepare!"

"Ah, yes, yes!" The highly energetic doctor said, pointing to the screens while the roulette on them started spinning for the selection of competitors instead of biomes. "Let's see who our first match will be!"

The roulette stopped spinning and the faces of the two competitors were shown as Port announced them. "Yang Xiao Long and Mercury Black! Would all other combatants please leave the stage!"

Below, the others all did as he requested and Yang sassily walked towards Mercury in the middle of the floor while the lights fixed on them and she smiled. "You better not go easy on me."

Laughing darkly, his plan in mind, Mercury replied. "You wish."

Port spoke as they faced the crowd one last time as the slowly advanced with their arms raised defensively. "There! Two! One! Begin!"

Throwing a sharp punch as soon as she was able, Yang inadvertently created a shockwave between Ember Celica and his boot. Firing a shot from Ember Celica, Yang stopped him from shooting her feet though he rotated out of the way. A moment of hand to hand fighting followed though he landed a heavy blow on her, causing her to fall backwards while he shot himself upwards, getting further away from her, and smiling devilishly. Refusing to relent, Yang began to shoot though he managed out of them while she blocked him from dropping down on her leg. Kicking her, she landed in a crouch and grimaced heavily from the jolts of pain shooting through her but still bast him though he attempted to hit her with his heel by way of a roundhouse kick. Jumping out of the way, he barely missed her and he leaped out of the way, hitting her as she attempted to get him by a punch to the ground.

Continuing to fight as he knocked her to the ground again, Mercury ran forward after sending her backwards once again though she punched his chin and torso, knocking him down to the ground on his stomach. Getting back up, he found himself being shot at again and rolling backwards though one of her explosions nearly sent him off the stage. Firing his boots downwards, he flew back towards her and attempted to kick her sequentially once again though she deflected them with her arms. Barely escaping one of his following attacks, he still managed to knock her back before shooting her though she manages to evade this with no effort. Still, not realizing he's still behind her, Mercury begins to shoot at his entire periphery while kicking though only a few of them were actually aimed at her. Dodging out of the way of all of them, Yang fought fist to fist with him again for several minutes until he kicked her hard enough to have her fall to the ground.

With his opponent on the ground, Mercury began to shoot at her directly with all of his shots aimed for her. As soon as they stopped, he slowly pushed himself up from his crouching position and grins evilly while from the corner of his eye he can see President Morell Of Atlas watching him suspiciously with Ruby while his gaze met Emerald's for a moment, nodding his head to remind her of the plan though she didn't need it. Dusting himself off, he groaned upon seeing the faint wisps of smoke behind him turn into flames while Yang, her eyes red and screaming. Punching him hard, she knocked him back and avoided his following kicks except for one and instead used it to empower herself and she continued beat him with each fist and he groans in pain while she hits him in the stomach while his aura attempted to prevent him from injury though she punches him hard enough in the face that she depletes his aura down and he falls to his back while the buzzer goes off to call the match and audience roars wildly.

Looking over to her step mother, sister, and teammates, Yang let her hands fall to her side as she closed her eyes gently and breathed deeply, opening her eyes to their normal lilac as Port continued his commentary with Oobleck. "What a way to kick off the finals!"

Oobleck nodded, watching the stage reconvene with the floor of the stadium. "Yang Xiao Long wins!"

Tightly wrapping her arms around Elizabeth who pulled her in equally tight, Ruby screamed in excitement for Yang. "Yeah! You did it, Yang!"

Back on the floor while they were all cheering for her, Yang looked over to Mercury who was still hunched over. "Better luck next time."

As she began to leave, Mercury stood up behind her before growing in anger. "There's not going to be a next time, Blondie!"

A heavy gunshot rung out through the stadium and silence suddenly overtook everyone as Elizabeth let go of Ruby and ran down to the stage in time to see Mercury leap forward to kick her while her guard was down though when Yang scowled and shot his leg before he could hit her, several gasps of shock were heard and the boy seemingly reeled backwards in pain. Shaking as she leaned against the wall, Elizabeth was sure that he had attacked her though she wasn't sure why. Looking upwards, she tried to steady her breathing as she stopped herself from moving any further with one hand reaching for her gun before remembering that pulling it out would be a horrible idea. It wasn't until she saw the screens that were showing the footage of what seemingly happened that she doubted what she had seen despite trusting her own eyes more than the footage in which Yang was circling the boy before shooting him in the leg while a breaking sound was heard and he screamed, falling over heavily in pain.

"My word!" Oobleck exclaimed as he got up from his chair and Port turned to someone near them before giving orders.

"Cut the cameras!"

"My leg!" Mercury screamed as he held it and rocked on the ground. "My leg!"

Glaring at him for attacking her, Yang chastised him. "That's what you get, you little son of a bitch, for…" Looking at the Atlesian Soldiers and Special Operatives circling her with guns raised and one AK-200, Yang felt the faintest bit of fear rise in her. "Huh?"

"Yang Xiao Long," One of the soldiers said. "Stand down!"

Confused and shaking, Yang looked at them in horror. "What? Why? He attacked me! Do you even know who I am? My mother, Elizabeth Morell -"

"Why'd she do that?" Mercury exclaimed as he cried hysterically and his partner comforted him while also scowling at Yang in disgust. "Why'd she attack me!"


January 5th
Beacon Academy CCTS Tower; Beacon Academy
City Of Vale; Vale


"Awful, simply awful," Elizabeth said, glaring at Ozpin as the man sighed heavily behind his desk. "I haven't the slightest clue as to whether or not that was your doing but even if it wasn't I am more than simply appalled. I…" Angrily groaning as she fought back tears, she and Rose shared a look before Rose gently tapped his shoulder to force him to look up while Elizabeth continued. "Do you have any idea what it's like to not even be convinced of your own daughter's innocence?"

"President Morell," Ozpin said, choosing his words carefully. "I for one don't think Yang is guilty. Yes, I know what we saw, what the world saw, but that's completely out of character for Yang. The girl would never attack anyone unless they were doing so to her -"

"Then explain why we all saw differently in the footage," Elizabeth told him, her voice shaking with one hand on her gun to steady herself. "Because if I find out that you had even a fingernail of involvement in this, you will be coming down hard."

"Liz!" Rose exclaimed, forcing herself to meet the troubled woman's gaze. "That's not at all necessary, I hope you know!"

Biting her lip before nodding weakly, Elizabeth sighed. "Ozpin, whether or not this was your doing or not, people are in fact blaming you for the attack. The VNS, the ANS, hell even the MNS, and each kingdom's RINSE Network and even the Vytal RINSE Network are all collectively blaming you for Yang's actions. Personally, I am inclined to believe she is innocent because, like her, I saw him attack her rather than the other way around but...but the world, and frankly the footage and media, insists."

"I know," Ozpin admitted, glancing at the ever growing reports. "And I am more than ready to -"

"Resign your position and take up the consequences of your actions?" Elizabeth suggested though Rose gasped and her eyes went wide, causing Elizabeth to look at her and shake her head. "Rose, as much as I hate the suggestion -"

"You don't understand!" Rose exclaimed, knowing the damage that could happen to the group if that happened. "Liz, there are other reasons that -"

"Then would either of you care to explain them?" Elizabeth challenged, looking more so at Ozpin than Rose and the man sighed, motioning for her to sit down, which she did. "Ozpin -"

"This is incredibly complicated, Elizabeth, if I may address you as such," Ozpin began, continuing when the Atlesian President did not correct him. "Elizabeth, how familiar are you with the legends and fairytales of our world?"

Elizabeth grimaced, remembering how Cinder had described Salem to her as a tactic to scare her into submission that had worked. "What do you know about Salem?"

"Salem?" Ozpin repeated, shocked by her knowledge of, at the very least, the name. "Elizabeth, where did you hear that name?"

Hesitating, Elizabeth ran her fingers through her hair before she exposed the same scar she had shown Qrow the other day. "From the same woman who did this and, amongst other things, to me."

"Cinder?" Rose guessed, shaking her head. "Liz, that isn't the worst of it, is it?"

Elizabeth nodded weakly, tears finally escaping her. "Well, there was the rape, the other times she scarred me, the times when she would literally point a gun at my head to keep my silence..." Noticing the Vacuoian Prime Minister's horrified expression, she sighed. "Did you really think that she managed to keep me silent for fifteen years by being nurturing to me? I was terrified of her, I was living in constant fear and that…"

"She raped you?" Rose asked and Elizabeth nodded weakly before the woman came around from Ozpin's desk to pull her into a tight, comforting embrace while the woman cried. "Oh, Liz, I'm so sorry, that's awful…"

Elizabeth tried to force herself to speak despite her voice being broken by her crying. "I was stupid, okay, I shouldn't have bent a knee to her but she did so many things to ensure my silence and...and in the end it failed. I'm a terrible person for even bending to her but...but...but it resulted in thirteen hours...nonstop, mind you… of testimony against her in which...in which I had to explain, in detail, everything to the Atlesian Department Of Justice. After that I had to take a polygraph which...which proved that what I had been saying was true...and…"

"You don't have to go on," Rose and Ozpin told her simultaneously before he looked at her seriously and waited for a moment before going on.

"Elizabeth, and I'm not sure how much you know already, Salem is the creator and master of the creatures of grimm," Ozpin watched as she shifted to look at him in shock while Rose kept her steady. "Do you recall The Story Of The Seasons?"

Elizabeth nodded. "I hate that story...it reminds me of my childhood, but, yes, I know the story."

Ozpin sighed, hesitating until Rose glared at him. "The four maidens of the story are real...although currently there are five."

"What?" Elizabeth said, more shocked than anything else. "That story is real?"

"Elizabeth, let me ask you this," Ozpin began slowly. "Is this story any less crazy as Salem?"

She considered that before shaking her head. "No, but if there are four maidens -"

"There was a split in the powers of the Fall Maiden," Ozpin told her. "We believe that the woman who possessed the powers before the split, Amber who, regretfully, is dead, was attacked by Cinder Fall -"

"No!" Elizabeth screamed and Rose gently began to rub her back. "She killed her?"

"Not quite," Ozpin said, eyeing her anxiously. "She almost did and stole a little less than half of her powers as the Fall Maiden. We kept Amber sustained by Atlesian Technology related to aura in the vault under the Academy for months until the end of December when the rest of the power was transferred to Glynda."

"Glynda's a maiden?" Elizabeth asked, trying to comprehend the situation and Ozpin hesitated again.

"Mostly...but until Cinder dies she won't be fully. We had to transfer the powers into someone because if we didn't then the chances were that the power would have sought out its other half and that would not have boded well for anyone if Cinder really does have that other half. So, until she dies, the power won't go entirely to her and, as a precaution, when and if Cinder gets killed, it will almost certainly have to be by Glynda."

"So you forced -"

"We would have found someone else," Ozpin told her. "But Glynda wanted to take on the powers because my next option was her daughter, followed by Miss Nikos."
Elizabeth was shaking and Rose was still trying to hold her steady. "So then -"

"The last thing is that I was cursed by the gods," Ozpin informed her almost in a relaxed way. "Since I failed to defeat Salem in the past, I am cursed to reincarnate into a like minded person that will become me until the time in which I defeat her. Once I defeat her, I will live a normal life and die like everyone else."

"So…" Elizabeth started, biting back her fears. "Does this -"

Rose laughed weakly. "Welcome to our little group of protectors, better known as Ozpin, Emmett Schnee, myself, Glynda Goodwitch, James Ironwood, Qrow Branwen, Emmeline Ciel - who I sincerely wish was still here - and, unfortunately, Leonardo Lionheart."

"Emmeline was part of the group?" Elizabeth asked, her voice breaking and Ozpin nodded. "I...I...I… is there any way for us to -"

"No," Rose told her, tears forming in her eyes. "I wish there was though…Emmett misses her dearly and she should have -"

"This is all my fault…" Elizabeth said, sobbing as she collapsed on to the floor. "If I had never been involved with Cinder's Faction, even coerced, then she would still be here instead of me which, admittedly, is how it should have been."

"Have you gone mad?" Rose asked her, her voice gentle in spite of her harsh words. "Liz, you have no way of knowing that Emmeline would still be here and, to be honest, the information you had saved her life."

"Once!" Elizabeth exclaimed as she continued to weep bitterly. "I...I...if I had only been a little faster, then I could have stopped that bitch from killing her!"


January 5th
Team RWBY Dormitory
9:29 PM


"Let me in there!" Ivy shouted at the soldiers guarding the door to Team RWBY's dormitory before finally deciding to play her least favourite card. "Do you have any idea who I am?"

One of the soldiers sighed and dismissed one of the AK-200s that was there. "Miss Ironwood-Goodwitch, I have orders not to let anyone in there -"

Anger taking her over, Ivy ignored the soldier's words and kicked the door open with all of her strength channeled into her foot. Turning around in shock, James watched as his daughter glared at him and clenched her fists before wrapping an arm around Yang. Forcing herself to meet his gaze, Ivy found herself speaking quicker than she had even thought she was capable of doing so. "Yang would never do what she did unprovoked! Ever, that's not who she is and even Elizabeth thinks so and she's -"

"Ivy," James said, forcing himself to be patient. "Elizabeth isn't even sure of what to think, she said so and -"

"Because dozens of reporters were asking her that question!" Ivy insisted, forcing herself not to cry out of stress. "She had to be impartial because that's her job. Publically, she isn't sure what to believe but she told me that she doesn't think Yang -"

"Ivory Glynda Ironwood-Goodwitch!" James snapped, looking at her seriously. "I know that you don't want to believe this but…"

"Fine," Ivy said, gently giving Yang a squeeze before storming towards the door but turning back with tears in her eyes. "Trust the idiots in the world, not your own daughter."

Slamming the door behind her, Ivy ran as fast as she could to Team CI's dorm though when her sister wasn't there she went to where Emmett and Hope were staying and knocked loudly on the door. When no one answered right away, Ivy collapsed against the wall and began curling into herself, hugging her knees to her chest and crying. Several minutes passed and, by the time she was sobbing, she didn't even hear Emmett open the door and sit down next to her on the ground until she felt him tap her shoulder. Looking up, the forty year old Schnee smiled weakly at her and pulled her into a hug before helping her onto her feet and bringing her into the room where Caitlin and Cas were with Hope before Caitlin saw her sister and stared at her in shock.

"Ivy…" Caitlin began gently as her sister sat down and Emmett took Hope from Cas and sighed. "Did something -"

"No one believes Yang's innocent, not even daddy!" Ivy exclaimed, crying again. "I mean -"

"No, James thinks Yang's innocent," Emmett told her and she stared at him surprise. "Ivy, he doesn't have a choice in the matter of disqualifying her or not because this is an incredibly sensitive subject and, think about it pragmatically, do you really think that now is a good time to make Atlas a target for claims of corruption and nepotism by not disqualifying Yang? Of course James thinks she's innocent, besides knowing her, he knows that Cinder has been placing her pawns in place and we all know that this Mercury bastard has spent at least some time around her in the past, more if you agree with me and Cas in saying that he's on the same team as her since he's on 'Cecily Fallon's' team.

"Now that we've explained James's reasons for doing this, think about Elizabeth's. She, however much she wants to believe her step daughter, knows that, like James, she can't change what the world saw and in many ways she's in a worse place for this matter since she's Yang's step mother. If she came out and denied that Yang was capable of doing what she did unprovoked, then people would immediately accuse her of nepotism no matter how valid her reasoning for Yang's innocence was. Not only that, but you have to consider that she needs to be as impartial and analytical as possible like James but it's even more critical in her position."

Ivy sighed. "I mean, I know that but it's still...Yang doesn't deserve this."

"No, she doesn't," Caitlin said, getting off the floor and adjusting Catalejo on her back before tugging on her dark brown leather jacket. "And I'm going to do something about it...even if I can't change what's happening to Yang, I'll do something."

Ignoring their protests, Caitlin began to walk hastily towards Team RWBY's dormitory though she stopped when she heard voices from inside the room. Pressing herself against the wall and listening, her teal glasses pushing into the side of her face, Caitlin tried to steady her breathing as she rolled her ankle as best she could in her three inch heels. They were black leather and almost stilettos and were open toed with bands going across her foot and connecting at small gold posts. Her leather pants were form fitting and also black with silver zippers for her pockets on the front while her pale pink shirt was tight and exposed some of her curves like her pants did. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to listen though her nerves were growing as she could feel some of the rising tension in the room.

"...I'm sorry," James said. "...But you've left us with no choice."

Yang's voice rose slightly in her ire as she responded. "...But he attacked me!"

Presumably, the footsteps were indicative of James beginning to pace. "...Video footage and millions of viewers say otherwise."

"...But Yang would never do that!" Weiss insisted, her voice a little more irritable than usual.

Ruby agreed. "...Yeah!"

James was silent for a moment before responding. "...Weiss, I know you wouldn't believe Yang without good reason to and I understand that Ruby wouldn't either. As for Blake, you seem like a good student and by all accounts I can imagine you aren't the same girl you were six years ago. Yang, I know you well enough to say that I don't honestly believe you would do what you did unprovoked or the majority of the time, and the staff her at Beacon are fully aware that you would never lash out the way you did… under normal circumstances. What I believe and hope this to be is nothing more than the result of stress and adrenaline. When you're out on the battlefield, your judgement can become clouded in an instant. Sometimes you see things that simply aren't there. Even after the fight is past…" Through the slight opening of the door, Caitlin could see him glancing to the right while rolling his right shoulder and she had a feeling that he was referring to the accident twenty years ago that Emmett had told her cost him his right arm and leg.

Yang looked up, apparently with tears in her eyes. "But I wasn't -"

"That's enough!" James told him, angrily stern and continuing as the room fell silent. "The sad truth is, whether it was an accident or an assault, it doesn't matter. The world saw you attack an innocent student. They've already drawn their own conclusions...and it's my job to inform you that...you are disqualified."

As Yang's shock shifted into understanding while she miserably glanced to the ground, James sighed as they all looked up when the door hesitantly opened and his eldest daughter stormed into the room. By the way she was breathing and trying to steady herself, she seemed damn near hyperventilation and stared at all of them seriously, though there was some anger behind her eyes. Adjusting Catalejo on her back out of habit rather than aggression, Caitlin waited for him to speak and crossed her arms while straightening herself in her artificial 5'6'' instead of her natural 5'3''. Blake looked at her in surprise for a brief moment before finding herself unable to look at her while Weiss smiled at her weakly in encouragement and Ruby shook nervously while they all waited, watching father and daughter in a stalemate as they both waited for the other to speak until James finally looked at her in slight exasperation.

"Caitlin Marianne," James began sternly while she only hardened her expression with her arms crossed still. "What are you doing here? Apart from that -"

"That's not a serious question, is it?" Caitlin asked with a slight smirk. "I'm doing what has to be done."

"Caitlin," James said, shaking his head as she bit her upper lip nervously. "You can't do things like this."

Incensed, despite knowing he didn't have a choice, Caitlin began to shout in a way that reminded him sharply of Glynda when she was angry. "Daddy, you can't disqualify her, she didn't do it unprovoked, I swear to -"

"Caitlin -" James began tiredly though she continued regardless.

"Yang would never hurt anyone ruthlessly! Ivy can tell you probably better than anybody!" Slight tears of anger laced the corners of her eyes. "Please!"

"Even if that's true, the world has already drawn its own conclusions!" James told her, returning the sharp gaze and tone despite not wanting to. Turning back to Yang as she looked ready to protest again, he sighed. "As I said before, you are disqualified."

"But General Ironwood -" Weiss began to protest.

"Miss Schnee, I have no choice!" James said irritably. "I don't want to do this, but -"

"Alright, you know what?" Caitlin snapped, drawing the attention back to her as she glared at everyone before giving James a slight look of regret. "If you're going to disqualify Yang, then disqualify me too!"

James sighed again, looking at her in shock. "Caitlin Marianne Ironwood-Goodwitch, I can not do that and you know that since you haven't done anything that would reasonably be grounds for you to -"

"Then let me forfeit," She snapped in determination. "I'll forfeit!"

Storming out of the room, Caitlin angrily made her way towards the commentator's box where Port and Oobleck were, waiting for permission to begin the matches once again. Tapping against the glass door, she looked seriously at both of them before Oobleck got up and motioned her into the box before the doctor looked at her oddly for several elongated moments as the paramedics finally picked up the supposedly injured Mercury Black while his teammates watched. Anger growing as she watched Cinder put on her flawless front of being someone she wasn't, Caitlin clenched her fists once again, though more tightly this time as her nails began digging into the palms of her hands. A sinking feeling taking her over as she looked to both Dr. Oobleck and Professor Port, she sighed heavily as she shook out her hands.

"May I borrow that?" She asked, gesturing towards the microphone and Oobleck looked at her suspiciously.

"Might I ask why, Miss Ironwood?" Oobleck asked before Glynda came into the box herself, crop in hand. "Glynda."

"Let her," Glynda told him, pulling her daughter into her tightly before letting her go. "Your father told me what you're about to do. Are you sure?"

Caitlin shook her head. "No, but I have to do so anyways."

"Of course you do," Glynda said as her daughter took the microphone. "I'm not surprised, considering that you're my daughter."

Port looked at her in surprise. "Miss Ironwood is your daughter? Ivy and Allen as well?"

"Yes," Glynda said while both Port and Oobleck looked at her in shock while she crossed her arms and sighed. "What? Are you two actually surprised by that? Ozpin wasn't, for one."

Oobleck laughed. "What does shock Ozpin anyways?"

"Not much," Glynda told him as she watched her eldest nervously.

The PA system screeched slightly as she shifted it in her hand, not quite sure of what to do while the video footage centred in on her, projecting her and only her to the entire world. "Uh...well...I..I..I'm Caitlin Ironwood-Goodwitch, one of the finalists for the Vytal Festival Tournament…" Looking down for a second, she forced herself to speak despite a part of her not wanting to. "I know that the festival goes through May, and that the celebrations of peace and unity between the kingdoms of Atlas, Vale, Vacuo, and Mistral go through then though the tournament ends in February...but… I know what everyone saw and what everyone thinks but I know that what Yang Xiao Long did was provoked. So Mercury Black, I hope you get what you deserve and that payback will be a bitch because you're the real one at fault here...you and your psychotic team leader who thinks that a fake name will disguise who she is and, unfortunately, it has and I know that no one will believe me if I say who this quote un quote Cecily Fallon really is. But until you all realize that Yang is innocent...I forfeit my position in the finals of the tournament."

As the footage cut to black, what she didn't know was that the so called Cecily Fallon was watching the entire thing as Mercury confirmed to her and Emerald that he was unhurt. Her eyes flaring, Cinder Fall felt an involuntary flash of fear wash over her as she realized that the girl knew just as well as Emmett, Glynda, Rose, Elizabeth, and Cas that she was there. What made it worse, was that she knew exactly who she was while she had serious doubts that the others did. While she hadn't said it, it was beyond clear what she was implying to the world and as Elizabeth Morell watched the end of the girl's speech, she immediately looked over to Tai who was holding a sleeping Violet before sighing and showing him the footage herself before making her way back to Beacon Tower so that she could inform Ozpin of the threat and identity of Cinder Fall. Even if she had masked it well, that mask was slowly being tattered.