June 27th

Beacon Academy Courtyard

Beacon Academy

City of Vale

Vale

Downtown

6:37 PM

"Weiss!" Ruby screamed, panting slightly as she ran to catch up with Weiss on the main avenue of Beacon, towards the docking bays. "What is the big deal? Who is it? Who is she?"

Smiling as she stopped and Ruby finally caught up, Weiss turned slightly to face her. "Winter."

As soon as the ship landed, it slowly opened the door to allow Atlesian Special Operative Winter Schnee to exit her airship, if escorted by crimson colored Atlesian soldiers and several Atlesian Knight 200s. It was sundown and there were still several streaks of red, orange, and yellow color in the sky while several other Atlesian Military Aircraft flew overhead. The temperature was slightly chill for summer, but it wasn't unpleasant, and there was only a faint breeze and the lingering smell of rain from the previous day's storm. Though she was curious about her partner's sister, a woman that Weiss had spoken so fondly of, she was more so conflicted in her mind about the state of her family. Despite the fact she had agreed to not let the knowledge get between her closeness to Yang, she couldn't deny that it had been keeping her up until she finally dozed off from exhaustion while Zwei licked at her feet. Even more nerve wracking for her was the fact that Tai and Elizabeth both said that Qrow would be back from his mission in a few weeks and so although she had time, she couldn't help but feel nervous though she forced herself to not focus on that for the time being.

"Wait…" Ruby began slowly. "Your sister?"

Weiss nodded as she shouted towards her sister before the two of the ran towards her as she turned to face them. "Winter! Winter, I'm so happy to see you! Oh…" Suddenly remembering her upbringing, Weiss curtsied. "Your presence honors us."

Looking around as she approached them, Winter sighed as she recalled the last time she had been at the Valerian huntsman academy with Emmeline and Emmett.

"Beacon… it's been a long time," She said softly. "The air feels...different."

Awkwardly, Ruby shrugged and began to mumble. "I mean...eh, it's probably colder...so..."

As she punched Ruby in the shoulder, Weiss gasped in pain before turning back to her sister. "So, what are you doing here?"

Winter looked at her sharply. "Classified."

Weiss bit back her nerves. "Oh, right. Well, how long are you staying?"

Winter sighed. "Classified."

"Of course." Weiss said as she smiled weakly while nodding in understanding as Ruby looked about the silence curiously before assessing the situation.

"Well...this is nice...I think."

"You're going to love it here!" Weiss exclaimed, letting her excitement take her over. "I know you travel a lot but so much of Beacon is different from Atlas!" Continuing with a faint whisper, Weiss smiled even brighter. "Vale, too. The government and school are completely separate! Can you believe it? I -"

Winter narrowed her eyes, addressing the stress of being back with her cold facade. "I'm more than familiar with how this kingdom handles its...bureaucracy. That is not why I came."

"Right!" Weiss said quickly. "I'm sorry!"

"Nor did I come here to watch my own blood fail so miserably in battle." Winter told her with her sharp gaze still retained as she couldn't help but wish that Weiss had been trained more like she had, believing that it would have made her more skilled. "But it appears that I have no choice in the matter."

Weiss looked at her in utter confusion. "But...we won!"

"Only a novice would refer to that as a victory," Winter replied as she began to turn to her security. "I counted at least three strikes missed. Leave us." Sighing before smiling at her sister with a little more genuine warmth, Winter continued. "How have you been?"

"Oh, splendid!" Weiss said, her excitement returning. "Thank you for asking. I'm actually in the very top ranking of our sparring class, and the rest of my studies are going wonderfully too! I'm -"

Irritated and unable to restrain herself, Winter slapped Weiss. "Silence, you boob! I don't recall asking about your ranking, I'm asking how you've been. Are you eating properly? Have you taken up any hobbies? Are you making new friends?"

Weiss shrugged nervously, knowing that the last thing Winter wanted to hear was that she was more or less lonely still. "Well, there's Ruby."

Poking the spot on Weiss's head where Winter had slapped her, Ruby giggled childishly. "Heh...boob."

Tightening herself, Winter applied all of her self-restraint in her reply. "I see. So this is the leader you wrote of. How appropriately...underwhelming."

Ruby looked at both of the Schnee sisters in confusion. "Uh...thank you!"

"Greetings. Ruby Rose," Winter said, forcing herself to be pleasant though in spite of her surface misgivings she was relieved that Weiss had a friend other than their cousins and the General and Glynda's daughters. "I wish to thank you for taking an interest in my sister."

Does she know that I'm romantically interested in her sister or not? Does she know that we've actually kissed? Ruby thought before she responded awkwardly. "Oh! Uh, yes, of course!" In an attempt to salute and curtsy, Ruby found herself nearly falling to the ground and began to wave her arms wildly until she managed to steady herself. "The honour is in my...court!"

Turning back to her sister, Winter smiled genuinely again. "I have business with the General and your Headmaster. But, seeing as I'm early, why don't you take me to your quarters?"

Weiss looked at her with her eyes wide. "Really?"

Beginning to walk towards the main gates of the Academy while followed by the elder Schnee's security detail, Winter continued. "Yes. I wish to inspect them to make sure that they are up to my personal standards."

Weiss nodded. "Of course. Just so you're aware, the bunk beds only look unstable."

The concept was almost revolting to her. "Bunk beds?"

Waving behind them as she wandered off to think, Ruby tried to imitate their diction. "I'll catch up - I mean, I will...reconvene with you both at a later...juncture!" Raising a finger before stepping away, Ruby began to reassure herself, missing the sight of Qrow by mere minutes. "At a juncture. Yeah."

Continuing to walk along the main avenue of Beacon Academy, however, Winter and Weiss, alongside the Specialist's security, steadily made their way to into the Beacon Academy courtyard without realizing that they were being followed. Incredibly drunk from his time in one of the local bars of the City Of Vale, Qrow Branwen nevertheless had Harbinger with him in case of a fight which, a part of him, he was hoping to find. Apart from still being annoyed that James, Emmeline, and the Atlas Military were in Vale, he was also stressed by the news he had received from Elizabeth and Tai about Yang both having met with Raven by accident and learning about his daughter, going as far as telling Ruby. He wasn't terribly surprised by Yang's choice but it made him nervous to know that his daughter might be angry with him. At the very least, he knew she was going to have more than a few questions for him. That didn't even include the fact that he had information for Ozpin and the absolute last thing he wanted to do was to walk in on another fight. Especially if became less than innocent. Reaching one of the AK-200s, Qrow promptly decapitated one before kicking the head towards the group while still holding the rest of it.

"Hey!" Qrow shouted as they all turned to see him while he tossed the android aside. "Yeah, I'm talking to you, Ice Queen!"

"Halt!" Winter commanded one of the AK-200s as it began to advance with a raised rifle.

Unrestrained, Weiss angrily walked up to his face, snapping. "Excuse me! Do you have any idea who you are talking to?"

Placing a hand on Weiss's face as he pushed her aside, Qrow began to clarify as he glared at Winter while she narrowed her gaze. "Ssshhh...not you. You. Saw that gaudy ship of yours in town. I guess you're here too."

Winter replied shortly. "I'm standing right before you."

Squinting at her in large part due to the alcohol, Qrow shrugged. "So it would seem."

Winter continued in irritation that was only increasing. "You realize you just destroyed Atlas Military property."

"Oh...oh I'm sorry!" Qrow told her sarcastically, his hands up as he looked around. "See, I mistook this for some sort of...sentient garbage."

Walking towards him, a hand on one of her swords, Winter glared. "I don't have time for your immature games, Qrow."

Weiss looked at her in shock. "Wait...you two know each other?"

Qrow and Winter both ignored her as they continued their increasingly heated row. "Geez...you Atlas Specialists think you're so special, don't you?"

"It's in the title," Winter told him irritably.

"Well, you know what you really are?" Qrow asked her rhetorically before answering his own question. "A bunch of sellouts, just like your boss."

Winter's eyes narrowed as her voice shook. "I'm not sure what you think you're implying, but I've heard enough."

"Oh I heard too," Qrow told her with a smirk. "I heard ol' Ironwood finally turned his back on Ozpin."

"Ozpin?" Weiss asked, puzzled as her sister shoved her aside.

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

"What -"

"Listen to big sister, Weiss," Qrow told her seriously before shifting back to his sarcasm. "She'll protect you, just like Atlas is going to protect all of us, huh."

Drawing her sword, Winter glared. "If you won't hold your tongue, then I will gladly remove it for you!"

Slicking back his hair, Qrow smirked once again. "Alright then… come take it."

Beginning to charge at Qrow, having lost her temper, Winter made several quick jabs towards his head though he easily evaded her blade and had the nerve to tease her before bowing mockingly before her blade was blocked by Harbinger's base; Qrow quickly drew his scythe and left it unopened as he pointed towards her while they fought blade to blade before he managed to swipe at her aggressively - something she managed to avoid through several back handsprings. Managing to block his great sword, they moved quickly as they traded blows though he didn't notice his daughter entering the crowd by the side of her partner.

"What's going on?" Ruby asked her, her voice quick.

Weiss crossed her arms, replying irritably. "Some crazy guy just started attacking my sister!"

"Oh no! Who would do such a thing -" Ruby exclaimed in shock before seeing her opponent, her heart sinking and a sickening feeling growing inside her as she ran off to find Yang. "I'll be back later…"

Running quickly to her team's dormitory, Ruby half kicked open the door and Yang and Blake both screamed and she covered her mouth in embarrassment when she realized that Yang had pinned Blake down on her bed and was on top of her, kissing her intensely. Awkwardly attempting to cover herself though neither of their clothes had come off, Yang shook her head and looked at her sister in shock while Caitlin, Sam , and Lysithea slowly entered the room, looking at all of them in confusion before Sam realized what had been going on and whispered it to Caitlin who squeaked awkwardly, blushed, and buried her face in Sam's shoulder while she laughed. Simply wrapping an arm around Blake's waist, Yang looked from Caitlin and Sam to her sister before sighing heavily.

"Are you alright, Rubes?" Yang asked gently. "You look like you just saw the grimm reaper."

Ruby's hands shook as she met her sister's gaze. "Qrow's here...and he's fighting...Winter Sch -"

"He's fighting my cousin?" Sam asked, beginning to laugh.

"Damn…" Lysithea shrieked excitedly. "I have to see that!"

"Guys!" Yang exclaimed angrily. "Shut the fuck up, this is a sensitive thing for Ruby."

"Why?" Sam asked, her face in perfect, genuine confusion. "I mean -"

"Qrow is my dad…" Ruby admitted quietly and staring at her feet while all except Yang looked at her in surprise. "And...and I don't know…"

"Hey," Yang said releasing herself from around Blake and bending down in front of her cousin, stroking her arms. "Rubes, it's going to be okay. Do you want us to come with you so you can -"

"I'm scared, Yang!" Ruby exclaimed, curling into a ball as she fell to the floor. "I don't know what to do, or to say, or to...to..."

"Rubes," Yang said, hoisting her up off the floor. "It's okay, we'll go together. Just be yourself because nothing has changed...except for knowing."

Though Ruby nodded, she was far from convinced as they all made their way back to the courtyard, seeing Winter flying towards Qrow and separating her sword so that she had both of her blades in hand though Qrow managed to block her attack, the arch collapsing under the force that had collided into it. Continuing to fight fervently, Qrow found himself being forced backwards, dragging Harbinger into the ground to slow himself while holding it in one hand as the crowd of students from all four academies cheered and he met the gaze of Emmett Schnee and Emmeline Ciel who had been walking past with their seven-year-old son. Emmett seemed to have found himself unsure of who to support before he met his niece's gaze, winked at her, and began to yell excitedly in response to the fight.

"Winter!" Emmett screamed, half bouncing while his wife shook her head and probed her forehead in exasperation. "Kick the old man's ass!"

Qrow glared at him. "You're older than me, Schnee!" He yelled back. "And I don't give a fuck about your ridiculous long, white, wavy hair or that sword of yours! My scythe and hair are so much better!"

Turning back to his opponent as Winter stabbed one of her swords tightly into the ground, Qrow rolled his eyes as he saw her use a summoning glyph to create a large flock of diminutive, white Nevermores that began to fly towards him furiously. Almost blindly swinging his sword at the flock before adopting a more defensive stance while some of them turned to pale, wispy clouds of steam before he sent an amplified shock of his aura towards her - an act which forced her to jump back and eliminate the summoned grimm. Her anger guiding her, she summoned a new glyph behind her as he began to transform his sword to a scythe in its clockwork gear sequence but immediately sheathing it while motioning her towards him as Emmett and Emmeline yelled at her to not attack. Not listening to her uncle and aunt in her still dominant anger, Winter propelled herself forward though stopping just as the tip of her blade grew close to Qrow's throat upon hearing the voice of the last person she wanted to have witnessed the preceding events.

"Schnee!" General Ironwood yelled from behind her, Penny Polendina nearby.

Lowering her blades quickly and nervously meeting his gaze, she flustered. "General Ironwood, sir!"

"What in the world do you think you're doing?" He asked as he approached her, followed by Penny.

Winter replied quickly, still incredibly nervous. "He started the altercation sir!"

"That's actually not true," Qrow said as he set his hands behind his head, relaxed. "She attacked first."

Looking at Winter, unsure of what to believe, James narrowed his gaze. "Is that right?" The struggle she was having in defense was enough to confirm what Qrow was saying although the general looked at the man irritably as he pointed to himself in mock confusion.

"And you," James said, lowering his voice as he approached him. "What are you doing here?"

Qrow glared. "I could be asking you the same thing."

James flinched. "I -"

"Now, now, everyone," Ozpin began, arriving alongside Glynda, who was glaring at everyone with her arms crossed while he swirled his cocoa. "There is a sanctioned fight happening just around the corner at the Colosseum, that I can assure you has better seats… and popcorn."

"Break it up, everyone!" Glynda snapped, swinging her crop and glaring at Qrow and Winter, and at a lesser level, James. "We will take care of this mess."

"Let's go," James told Winter.

Emmeline and Emmett watched them all start off towards Beacon Tower. A moment passed in silence and they shared a knowing look before Emmett shrugged, pulled off his shoe, and smacked Qrow upside the head with it.

"Motherfucker, Schnee…" Qrow muttered, rubbing his head while he could see his daughter watching him nervously out of the corner of his eye, "The fuck was that for?"

"Is that a serious question?" Emmett scowled and adjusted his glasses while Emmeline started towards him with their seven-year-old son (who was far more excited than she would have liked) in tow. "You just had to show up here and start a -"

"Emmett…" Ozpin muttered to his wife, who rolled her eyes upon seeing her brother restrained by his wife to stop him from causing more trouble for both himself and everyone present.

"Like always," Cristal remarked, half amused by the scene she had walked in on. "What happened?"

"Qrow and Winter had a fight," Ozpin told her, and she chuckled despite the situation. "And it's not as if Emmett and Qrow have ever…"

"Gotten along?" Cristal shook her head. "Damn it, what's he…"

"Emmy, come on!" Emmett protested. "Someone needs to put him in his place, and -"

"Not now," Emmeline sent him a pointed look and subtly gestured to their son. "Okay, and –"

"Okay," Emmett sighed, and she released him. He then walked away from Qrow and picked up his son, ruffling his hair affectionately. "So, Eddie, do you want to go see a sanctioned fight?"

While they continued to talk quietly, Qrow met Ruby's gaze and, however hesitantly, ran his fingers through his messy hair before slowly walking towards her. It was then he noticed that the Ironwood-Goodwitch kids, Samara Ciel-Schnee, and Lysithea Ciel-Schnee shared a look before leaving the Xiao Long-Rose-Branwens alone. Ruby clutched Yang's arms as she found herself unsteady as a result of her nerves. Looking at her sympathetically, Qrow didn't say anything until Ruby hesitantly jumped onto his outstretched arm in an attempt at normalcy that was struggling for both of them. Patting her head and gently setting her down, Qrow shook himself as he forced himself to meet her awkward gaze as she stared at him, trying to comprehend the fact that he really was her father.

"Hi...Q…Qrow…" Ruby stammered, waving her hand nervously.

"Ruby," Qrow said, tentatively pulling her into a hug that she half-heartedly returned. "Tai told me that you -"

"That I know...that I kn...know that I'm your...daugh… daughter…" Ruby said quietly and Qrow nodded, tears in his eyes and fear rising in his heart. "I...I…"

"Ruby -" He started.

"Why...why didn't you tell me?" Ruby asked, tears falling out of her and he sighed heavily, pulling the small girl in to him. "Why -"

"Qrow!" Ozpin said, as the huntsman turned to look at him, gently releasing his hold around his daughter. "A word, please."

Glynda and Cristal shared a knowing look while the Goodwitch repaired the courtyard with her semblance.

"That was so cool mommy!" Jake Ironwood-Goodwitch exclaimed, causing Glynda to sigh. "The fight, the —"

"If you pull a stunt like that," She warned him. "You will get grounded."

Jake shrugged. "You and daddy just watch us like hawks after we do stupid shit."

"If you're trying to take inspiration for Carleigh, don't," Cristal told him, somewhat amused. "She's lucky not to have ever been arrested."

"When Cate was seventeen she used to trespass onto construction sites to take photographs!" Jake protested. "And she's never —"

"You used to trespass onto construction sites?" Glynda turned incredulously to her eldest, who awkwardly rubbed her neck and sent her brother a dark look.

"Well…" She started. "They were never active construction sites, and I was careful, and I never got caught because it was the dead of midday summer around the neighborhood. I was never in any danger!"

Glynda shook her head. "That was reckless at best."

Cate considered that. "Jake punched a kid last year because they pulled out a hunting knife and threatened to shank him."

"That was totally different!" Jake exclaimed, scowling at her. "I didn't provoke that! What about the fullbacks you stopped from fighting in the ninth grade?"

Cate scoffed. "They were being obnoxious —"

"You're a tiny girl that's only 5'3"!" Jake reminded her. "That was a huge deal!"

"Oh, really?" She countered for the sake of argument. "How about that girlfriend of yours? She still a pussy-whipper?"

She paused when it occurred to her that she had made that statement far louder than she had intended to.

"Did…" Qrow shook his head and Ruby laughed, both of them temporarily distracted. "Wow, for someone who can be squeamish and unaware of a lot of social cues, she's certainly got a mouth on her."

Ruby snickered. "I wonder if Yang tries to gross her out."

Qrow sighed and began to speak discreetly, hating the urge he felt to be serious. "Ruby," He said gently. "It was never that I didn't want you, please don't ever think that, but it was because I didn't want to hurt you because of my semblance. We'll talk tomorrow okay...because I think I'm in trouble…."

Ruby bit her lip and laughed a little. "You did kind of tear apart our courtyard."

"Yeah, I did," Qrow said, winking and giving her a fist bump and hug before walking off to join Emmett, Emmeline, Ozpin, Cristal, and Glynda. "Catch you later, kid."

June 27th

City of Vale

Vale

Downtown

8:34 PM

"You're…hotter than I ever expected…"

Adam Taurus climbed back on top of Ivory Ironwood Goodwitch, who had just snuck out of Beacon an hour before. It was dark in the apartment, and there was a faint breeze that played with her hair and the curtains nearby. Her clothes were on the dusty floor, as were his, and she could feel every sensation his skin on hers. She had never felt so alive, and she liked the danger that seemed to go along with every moment she spent with him. Even her weapons were on the floor near his. The sun was almost gone from the sky, and the night air was calmer than it had been in a long time. Ivy thought not of what her family would have to say if they knew about these stolen moments, and she pushed aside whatever trepidation that she had felt. It didn't matter. Not here and not now.

"I'm glad you think so," Ivy breathlessly replied, gasping when he pushed himself inside her again. "Adam!"

"Sorry," He said, gruffly beginning to kiss her again. "You like this, don't you?"

"I…love it…" Ivy started laughing when he ruffled her hair. "Just don't…don't let my parents find out."

Adam scoffed and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"Believe me," He said, nibbling at her neck. "I'd never let a fucking general find out about these moments I get with you. You're an enigma, but I'd rather keep…"

"I was wrong…" Ivy said, her voice slightly raspy. "About…you and what everyone says. You've made mistakes, you're misguided, but –"

"Atlas has done a lot of wrong," Adam let out an almost primal yell. "Vale too…but you're…not like them. You're an asset, and a –"

"Adam –" Ivy started, gasping for air.

"You are mine," Adam growled, biting down on her collarbone as he spent inside her. "I don't give a damn what anyone has to say about it, you are –"

"This is all…" Ivy felt as if the world was spinning around her. "It's all too fast…"

"It doesn't matter how fast we move something," Adam told her. "Not when we are the revolution."

June 27th

Beacon Academy CCTS Tower

City of Vale

Vale

Downtown

9:17 PM

Qrow Branwen stood eye to eye with James Ironwood who was narrowing his gaze at him further.

"We're the ones that keep the world safe from the evils no one even knows about!" The huntsman finally snapped. "It's why we meet behind closed doors, why we work in the shadows. 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?"

Staring down at Qrow and placing his scroll onto Ozpin's desk, James turned to face them and met his wife's slightly concerned look. "Discreet wasn't working," He said, gesturing to the hologram of Vale, Beacon Academy, the Amity Colosseum and the fleet of Atlesian Airships. "I am here because this is what was necessary."

Qrow gave a short, mirthless laugh. "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!"

James looked at him seriously as he responded. "And I am grateful."

"Oh," Qrow commented dryly. "Well you've got a real funny way of showing it."

"The people of Vale needed someone to protect them, someone who would act," James told him while Glynda sighed. "When they look to the sky and see my fleet, they feel safe, and our enemies will feel our strength."

Qrow started to laugh and shook his head. "You...you think they're scared of your little ships? I've been out there and I've seen the things She's made, and let me tell you: they are fear."

"No," Emmeline said gesturing to the security with one hand tightly in Emmett's. "James is right. If the Valerian council wasn't going to act...well there's a reason that Elizabeth and Ronnie have been very clear about not being held responsible for this kingdom's failures."

Ozpin looked to all of them for a long moment, sighing upon his wife gently setting a hand to his shoulder.

"But fear will bring the grimm. 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 minds…" Gesturing to the display, Ozpin shook his head. "If this is the size of our defenses, then what is it we're expecting to fight?"

Glaring at them before sighing and picking up his scroll as it flashed subtly with Cinder's Red Queen, James hesitantly wrapped an arm around Glynda and, to his surprise, she didn't fight it and instead leaned into him while he pushed up her glasses. "So then, what would you suggest we do?"

Ozpin looked at all of them irritably. "I suggest we find our guardian."

"Not my daughter," Emmett snarled, still terrified by the idea of Sam or Lysithea possibly becoming the Fall Maiden. "Either of them, and I don't -"

"Emmett…" Ozpin said, tired of hearing this every time the subject came up. "I know."

"Yes, that's very comforting," Emmeline told him, with a faint scowl towards Cristal, whose nails started to dig into Ozpin's shoulder. "And…" She said, glancing towards Glynda and James sympathetically. "It better not be their daughters either."

Ozpin hesitated, noticing the visibly rising tension of both Glynda and James.

"Ivy has expressed -" Cristal eventually started.

"No way in hell," Glynda told her, her dominant right hand tightening around her riding crop's dark purple base. "I'll take on that power myself and put myself at risk before I let you do the same to my daughter."

"Glynda, while I'm not saying it's impossible, you're forty four years old and the powers are inclined more naturally towards women between seventeen and thirty five. It's already a dangerous procedure and we haven't the slightest idea what having another's aura tangled with someone else's and, if something were to go wrong…" Ozpin sighed. "I will not let you risk your life for it, not after what I've seen the powers of a maiden do to my own wife. Not to mention that you're a close personal friend and –"

"And Ivy isn't even twenty until September!" Glynda shouted in exasperation. "One of my daughters already told you no, which you accepted, but, since Ivy is willing, you're alright with that? If it could kill me or anyone else, if the powers have –"

"I was never meant to have these powers," Cristal said softly, staring at her feet and brushing tears away from her eyes behind her glasses. "And it's…"

"If it's caused you so much…" Glynda shook her head. "It just as well could kill Ivy and -"

"Glynda…" Ozpin said, shaking his head and leaning against his desk while she, Emmett, Emmeline, and James shared a look. "No."

James glared at Ozpin before pulling his shaking wife closer. "If she wants to do this, then let her. If you won't listen to me, we can have Elizabeth -"

"Oh, fuck that," Emmett said, shaking in anger as he approached the headmaster. "We won't even just get Elizabeth Morell's support, we'll get the support of the Atlesian Council -"

"And then Ronnie personally," Emmeline put in angrily. "We can –"

"Emmeline!" Ozpin exclaimed irritably. "You and Emmett aren't thinking rationally at all!"

"Maybe," Emmett said as he shook. "But I also confronted my sister the other day, and so did Glynda -"

"I know!" Ozpin shouted, finally losing his temper and pulling his tinted glasses off and setting them aside. "Okay, fine! Glynda, if you really want to, we can attempt to transfer the powers of the Fall Maiden to you! But I hope you know exactly what the possible consequences of doing so could be! Because if this succeeds, not only will Salem never leave you alone, you will be one of the most powerful magic users in Remnant! And if it fails, you could die!"

Shaking as she started to walk towards the elevator, Glynda sighed as James pulled her into him tightly while Emmett, Emmeline, and Cristal stared at their friends in concern. "Believe me...I know. Just...just get things ready as soon as possible."

Ozpin collapsed into his chair and buried his face in his hands. "It will all be ready for the transfer in a few weeks."