It will be three weeks until the next Service with a Smile chapter due to next week being off for me. Dates at the bottom should be accurate.

I had a few people question whether Cinder really did care for the maidens or just wanted to destroy Vale from last chapter. I never actually got the idea from V1-3 that "Vale" was the main target. I mean, I see the advantages of it, but Cinder and Co went for Amber first, and only Beacon once they took hold of Amber and hid her there. Yes, they attacked Vale with the White Fang and everything, but they focused their efforts on stalling people at Amity while Cinder attacked Beacon and took the maiden. Yes, she killed Ozpin, but only because he got in the way of the maiden.

Meanwhile, when they went to Mistral, they went straight for the Relic of Knowledge and while they did attack the school, they didn't bother attacking the city (to the best of my knowledge, they never even threw a single Grimm at it) – and left immediately after. It seems obvious to me that the Relics and Maidens are Salem's goal. Sure, the destruction of the cities might be nice and all, but it never felt like the main goal. If it was, they'd have done the same for Mistral. Thanks to Lionheart, huntsman numbers were low, so they had not only the opportunity, but plenty of time with which they could have made their move. But they didn't.

And honestly, if she did want to attack each Kingdom, you'd probably leave Vale or Atlas for last. Atlas has the military and Vale has Ozpin, who you cannot kill as he's immortal. You'd leave him there and take Mistral (with Lionheart's aid and before Ozpin realises) and then sweep by Vacuo, eliminating half the population of Remnant before Ozpin and Ironwood can react. And you probably wouldn't bother with the Relics, because that's just extra work you don't need for the task at hand. Also, attacking Beacon instantly alerts Ozpin to who you are, what you're doing and who the agents of Salem are. Tactical disaster.

Long story short, I believe that while attacking Beacon had tactical merit for Cinder and Salem, the main reason it happened wasn't to take the school down, but to claim the Maiden and Relic (which they believed was kept at the Vault in the school as Ozpin hints by saying he moved the Relic of Choice).

Those are my thoughts anyway. After she had them all, maybe she'd concern herself with conquest or whatever, but the first instance of Cinder and Co appearing canonically is when she goes after the maiden. Nothing more.

Cover Art: Jack Wayne

Chapter 60

The table sat in silence for a long moment after Jaune was carried away. Coffee cooled in front of Ozpin, a waste, but one he would allow. To drink was to delay and deflect as he had been for some time, and that would be an insult to their host after everything that had just been said.

"He's naïve," Ironwood said.

"Do you truly believe that?" Cinder asked. "Do you really believe he doesn't know what fate awaits him and the people that surround him?" Her eyes flickered as she stared down the General of Atlas. "He is aware how fragile his life is. Naïve is believing yourself invulnerable; Jaune is many things, but naïve is not among them."

"You would say that. He cussed us all out but had nothing but praise for you."

"No," Ozpin said, "He didn't."

Cinder inclined her head but said nothing.

"Mr Arc criticised us for our hypocrisy, our willingness to fight a war in the middle of Vale but not to sit down and lower our pride enough to speak to our enemies as equals."

"We're not equals. They are terrorists. Criminals."

"Then ignore us," Adam said. "Ignore us, reap what you sow and watch the streets of Vale fill with blood. How many will die before General Ironwood deigns to step down from his high horse? Too many, I think."

"You-"

"Enough, James." Ozpin had kept eye contact with Cinder Fall across the table, as she had with him. "This is not Atlas. This is Vale. We do things different here. And moving back to what I was saying, Mr Arc did not sing Cinder's praises. Quite the opposite. He simply acknowledged that out of everyone here, she is the only one of us not a hypocrite." He watched the woman. "And instead a monster."

Several around the table tensed. The atmosphere ran cold.

Cinder, however, showed no offence. "I am," she said, more bored than upset. "I will kill anyone who stands in my way and I don't care for the lives of the innocent, particularly those I have no reason to care about. I suppose you would call me a psychopath. Jaune knows this, and he knows there is no convincing me not to take such steps."

A psychopath. There were so many who misunderstood what that simple word meant. He blamed movies personally, along with the internet. It was now tossed at anyone who committed any crime, especially a bloody one, but the reality of it was that psychopathy was a personality or behavioural disorder. It could happen in someone who never broke the law just as much as it could someone who did, and it wasn't necessarily a condition someone was born with. It could be gained.

Anti-social behaviour is common for it, but not necessary. Mostly, it's a lack of empathy and remorse, along with egotistical traits. Even megalomania. Boldness, a lack of inhibitions, arrogance and a propensity for violence. A psychopath wasn't a madman by any means. They could measure the consequences of their actions, reason on whether the gains were worth it and decide to hold back if it benefitted them.

Nothing at all like the raving lunatics popular media made them out to be.

If Jaune had realised that sooner than them, it made sense he would spare Cinder in his criticism of them. She wouldn't care for his opinion and had at least been forward with her intentions. Cinder hadn't lied, because there was no reason to lie.

"Psychopathy is often caused by precursors in early life. Was that same for you?"

"It's a little early to try and save me, headmaster."

"Humour me. If you're truly as you say you are, it won't bother you to say it."

Cinder sighed dramatically and looked up to the ceiling as if bored by the question. That was confirmation enough for him, a complete detachment from her own affairs that could only speak of mental illness. What she spoke after did little to change his mind.

"I lived in a village and was loved by my family." Her tone was even, bored, aloof. "One day, a team of huntsmen found themselves in trouble and under pursuit by Grimm. Desiring to lose them, they led the Grimm to the village and used the people there as distractions."

Pyrrha Nikos gasped, unable to comprehend such behaviour. Young. Naïve. Even if he himself would have never condoned it, there was simply no way to ensure every huntsman who passed beyond Beacon shared his code of ethics.

"My home was destroyed. My parents murdered. I was hidden away, eventually to be found by someone who wandered the ruins. Someone who Ozpin knows personally." Her eyes smouldered, burning into his mind. "She took and raised me, taught me, and when the time was right, I hunted down the huntsmen who had caused the death of my family and, one by one, destroyed them." Her hands lay crossed one over the other on the table. Her face was flat. "Is that enough for you? Or was there something else you needed?"

"No. That is all." He adjusted his glasses. "For what it's worth, I am sorry for the pain they caused you."

Rather than spit at him, she shrugged. "As you will. It changes little."

"I suppose it would not." All in all, he'd only been curious to confirm a theory. "Moving on then, it makes sense why Mr Arc would not bother to condemn you. There's no real helping you. You're like an avalanche bearing down on the city. Better to mitigate the damage you'll cause. That said, we cannot just give you the fall maiden. That's out of the question."

"The Relic of Choice, then."

"Ridiculous!" James growled.

Cinder ignored him. Focused on Ozpin instead.

"That is also not an option, but for different reasons. I'll give you something for free, however. A little knowledge that may well aid us both." Dangerous as that sounded. "The Relic of Choice is not kept within the Vault unsealed by the Fall Maiden."

"Is that so…?"

He ignored the frantic look James sent his way. Admitting this all but told Cinder, and thus Salem, that the Relic was up for grabs and unprotected. It was a risk, but it was also a liberating factory. As Jaune had so rightly pointed out, he had unwittingly invited death upon Beacon by bringing Amber there. In truth, there hadn't been much in the way of options at the time, but the fact remained that Beacon, and every student there, was imperilled.

"The Vault's protections have been removed, allowing anyone entrance to them. If you wish it, I will even show you or a chosen associate down there as proof. You would have my assurance no harm would befall you. In fact, send Mr Arc if you wish. He could hold a scroll for you to witness the truth for yourself."

Cinder's fingers drummed on the table. "I'll consider that. Why?" she demanded. "Why is it not there?"

"Safety. When the maidens were first created, it was with naivety in mind. My personal failing. You know yourself just how spread and vulnerable they are, and with the fall of Amber, I instantly knew the vaults were no longer a secure method of containing the Relics. I made the choice to move Vale's because I did not know for sure that you could not open it already, having stolen a little of Amber's power."

"A reasonable precaution. I should have considered it…"

"It wouldn't have mattered if you had. With Amber alive, you would have attacked Beacon regardless."

Cinder agreed with a nod. James fumed silently while Glynda waited, bothered but willing to give him the benefit of the doubt. It was Miss Nikos who was the most vocal, though more with surprised sounds and noises than words. On Fall's end, her people kept a united front that gave little away, all except for Torchwick, who had pulled his hat down over his eyes and begun to smoke in as clear a message as any that his involvement in proceedings was as useful as Jaune suggested.

"You're suggesting there's no need for me to seek the Fall Maiden's power. That we should ignore Beacon and hunt down the Relic instead."

"I am suggesting the vault need not be your objective," he admitted. "It's useless now."

"I shall need to confirm that myself, but I'll take it into consideration." Cinder sighed angrily. "I hate having my time wasted."

Resources too, he imagined. An attack on Beacon was many things, but `easy` was not among that list. While she was confident in success, as were they, everyone at the table knew there was a risk their plans might blow up in their faces. It was one thing to risk your life for the Fall Maiden and the Relic of Choice. Another to throw it away for neither.

"That doesn't change the fact she is at Beacon," Cinder said, nodding at Miss Nikos. "Thus, your school is still my target. Adam's suggestion was not a poor one. I would agree to a duel to the death between us. Win or lose, Beacon would be spared my wrath."

"I'd agree to-"

"Do be silent, Miss Nikos." Though he tried to keep his voice even, a little fire leaked through. "I am not, nor will I ever be, in the mind to send a student of mine to their demise, be it on my behalf or that of others."

"Then patience," Pyrrha argued. "I'll graduate in a couple of years and be out of Beacon."

"A couple of years in which you'll grow stronger and more familiar with your power. Years to make us sit around doing nothing and to give up on the opportunity to step in and take that power for myself. If anyone is naïve here, it's you. When you're asking someone to give up something, you usually offer something of equal or better value."

Pyrrha's lips sealed up. Her skin flushed bright pink.

Really, he wouldn't have brought her if not for the fact she'd made it a condition of her accepting the maiden's transfer that she be included in matters related to her. He'd have spared her this otherwise.

"Miss Nikos is inexperienced," he said, "Please forgive her."

The girl looked even more embarrassed. He saw Glynda reach out to touch her hand beneath the table and calm her down, something he was grateful for. It was no ill-will that had her make a fool of herself. Only a desire to help.

"Inexperienced and vulnerable. I know her Semblance; it wasn't hard to figure out." Cinder watched Pyrrha flinch. "My goal is simple. Relic. Maiden. I don't care about the blood that needs to be spilled to achieve it, so you should keep in mind that this attempt to limit bloodshed is only appealing to you." She tapped her finger on the table. "I'm here as a favour to Jaune. Not because I need or care about anything coming from this."

In other words, she wanted a better deal. If she didn't think she needed to be here, she wasn't going to be satisfied with a deal that left her the losing party. She'd rather kill people to get what she wanted in that case.

"Can you agree anything?" James asked. "We both know you're not in charge, despite what your ego may tell you."

"I have my own autonomy. So long as I achieve the goals set to me, she doesn't care what I do."

"And that is only the Relic and Maiden?" Ozpin asked. "You don't seek to kill me…?"

"Would it matter if I did?" Cinder rolled her eyes, apparently more than aware of his circumstances and what they meant. "Better the enemy we know than the one who… steps in to take your place after you fall."

Efficient. Killing him was a waste of effort and a pointless risk seeing as how he might kill his attacker in return. And for what? To inconvenience him for a period of a year or two? James and Glynda knew the truth, as did Qrow, still waiting and watching from outside. He could be back and in control within a few months of awakening, and the only thing Salem would achieve was losing track of where he was.

Oh, she might send her agents to try and kill him as a child, but all that would do was delay him a little longer. He couldn't be captured as he could take over and force his host to kill himself. He couldn't be killed because of the curse. Salem was better off keeping an eye on him. And likely sending spies to keep an eye on me.

"You can speak for her, then?"

"Not for her," she corrected. "Only for myself. But I am the one planning this."

"And you could stop the White Fang?"

"You'd need to make some other deal with me," Adam said. James looked like he might explode. "But I'm prepared to be reasonable about it. Officially opening talks with your Council would be enough to convince me to call off the attack on Amity."

"Really? For so little?"

"Negotiations with the Council of Vale isn't a little thing, as Ironwood can attest with his fury."

"You're legitimising them," James snarled. "You're giving terrorists a voice."

"James, they already have a voice. The White Fang are known all over Remnant, have cells in every major city and minor town, constantly conduct attacks on dust supply lines and have sympathisers among the population." Ozpin sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Pretending otherwise is quite frankly pointless and only proves Mr Arc right. Just because we refuse to acknowledge them does not in fact mean they don't exist."

Adam Taurus nodded. "Exactly. The only thing refusing to talk does is ensure our only method of communication is bloodshed. If that's all we can do to get your attention, that's what we'll have to do. So, Ozpin. Would you agree?"

"I cannot guarantee how receptive the Council would be. I assume you want to propose some form of labour laws?"

"Yes. And the nature of their attitude doesn't bother me, only that it is an official meeting and one publicised across Vale. Provide that, and reach an agreement with Cinder, and the White Fang shall withhold from our attack."

It was generous. For all that James was fuming, Ozpin knew it was a better deal than they should have had. Miss Nikos seemed to agree, looking his way with so much hope in her eyes. If it had just been Adam, he'd have not only accepted but put pressure on the Council to deal in good faith. Sadly, it wasn't that wasn't that easy. Cinder had to be dealt with first.

If only I hadn't made those blasted maidens. If only the Gods hadn't made those blasted Relics.

So many stupid mistakes. How had it even sounded like a good idea at the time? In what universe had he thought splitting his power and giving it to random people might help? Of course, the maidens hadn't been random at first, but he'd known the power would pass on and that he'd have no control over to whom.

"I think we may be able to make a deal… depending on how receptive she may be."

Cinder raised a single eyebrow. "I'm listening."

/-/

Jaune blinked up and past the bright light above, centring his vision until he could see both Miltia and Pyrrha hovering over him like a devil and angel respectively. Confused and strained as he was, he still had the presence of mind not to say that.

"Whe-"

"Your room. Morning after. Vale is alive. You passed out. In that order." Miltia rattled it all off with a grin and said, "Figured we could skip the `where am I` bullshit and get straight to the point. How you feeling?"

"Headache."

"That'd be the blood loss," Pyrrha said.

"Not that you lost enough to be in any danger, but I guess you're a bit of a pansy." Miltia tapped his cheek patronisingly. "Don't worry, baby. Your big, strong, girlfriend was there to carry you back to bed and kiss your boo-boos better."

He'd have normally whined about that, but the memory of the meeting filtered back into his mind and he lurched up. The girls got out the way before he could headbutt them, and Pyrrha caught him when he groaned and trembled, vision going hazy at the sudden change in altitude.

"Slow," she chided. "You're still out of it."

"Ozpin," he rasped. "Cinder. What – What happened…? Is Vale…?"

"The Vytal Festival is ending today. Russel is fighting in the finals."

Jaune stared at her, uncomprehending.

"It was supposed to be me, but I couldn't feel it after everything. And if I'm not there, I'm not a temptation to Cinder. They… I don't know what really happened. Ozpin and she made some kind of deal. I couldn't understand anything of what they said, but the attack was… not called off, but delayed."

"It's not happening…?"

"For now," Miltia said. "The whole thing should have happened by now but the city is quiet. Well, it's not. It's loud as fuck with people screaming and watching the finals and all, but then they don't have any idea how lucky they are."

It… worked…?

No. It hadn't, not yet, but he'd averted the attack. That… That alone was incredible. He tried to laugh but gasped instead, falling back and into Pyrrha's hands. His eyes scrunched up and he bit back a cry as his hands ached.

"Idiot," Miltia huffed. "Your hands are bandaged, so don't make fists. Why are you laughing?"

Why indeed.

"I–I'm just so relieved…"

"Sheesh." Miltia looked away. "You're such a dork. A cute dork. Actually, you were kinda hot last night when you were shouting at them all. That was a bit of a turn on. Well, until you started bleeding everywhere. It was fun to see Ironwood's face when you told him off!"

"Ughhh." That was the one thing he'd forgotten. "How much trouble am I in?"

"Not much." It was Pyrrha who answered. "Ozpin and Cinder talked properly once you were gone. They talked for at least two hours, then agreed to depart but continue later. Deals were made. I'm not sure of the details, but I don't think they would have been possible had you not called them out before."

"Is Vale safe?"

"I don't know. I think it's safe for now, but whatever they agreed to is probably going to mean a fight later down the line. That can be outside the city, though." So basically, she wasn't safe, but Vale might be. For now. "It's better than the alternative," she said. "Cinder was going to hunt me down and kill me. And… And I think she might have succeeded."

"Is she going to let you live now?"

"Not forever. Maybe not even for long. It'll depend on what they decide, but Ozpin is trying to tell them they don't need me to find this Relic thing they want." She shook her head, as in the dark about that as he was.

That was fine.

Ozpin and Cinder had their secrets, and by the sounds of it, they deserved to stay secrets. Things like that didn't need to be shared or understood by everyone, but what he'd really tried to push was that they shouldn't let the impact of those secrets fall on people who didn't deserve it. He didn't care who was right or wrong, only that they don't have their war to prove it in the middle of the city.

"Cinder took her pooch back with her," Miltia said. "I think that's a good sign. Ironwood looked pissed as all hell, but everyone else was mostly okay with how it worked out."

"Ozpin wants to speak with you after the festival," Pyrrha reported.

"How soon?"

"After the festival," she repeated, pushing him down. "It's still going on now and will be all through the evening."

"Are you safe here?" he asked. "With you being a target…"

"Ozpin has someone watching me." Pyrrha looked out the window, but when he followed her gaze, the only thing he could see were a few birds on the gutter opposite. "And if she does make a move, she forfeits any deal made and I'd be ready for it. I don't think she will. If she wanted to break it, she might as well do that now and start the attack again."

The lack of screams, Grimm and combat spoke against that.

Finally, Jaune let Pyrrha lay him back down. He couldn't quite believe it, let alone that he'd a hand in it – not much of one, mind, but he'd at least provided the venue – but it seemed like the battle really had been averted.

"It's over…"

"Not over," Miltia warned. "Roman told me that much. If Ozpin can't secure a deal, it's on again and Cinder will strike instantly. He's pinning his hopes on you, much as the egotistical prick won't admit it." She laughed. "Main thing is that even if it does come to violence, at least it won't be in the middle of the Vytal Festival. Not saying it's good, but it's better there won't be so many people."

Yes. That was true. He couldn't believe Cinder agreed at all. She had all the cards, or believed she did, and she obviously didn't care about how many people died. Ozpin must have offered her something she couldn't refuse.

I dread to imagine what that could be, but Ozpin probably knows best.

Or more than he did at any rate.

"As long as everyone is safe for now." He looked to Miltia. "Is the diner open?"

"Sure. I have Bruno and Albert running it."

Pyrrha frowned. "I thought they said their names were Boris and Archie."

"Oh, who cares. They all look the same anyway. I have two of Junior's men handling it," she explained. "They've been told to be on their best behaviour or Melanie gets to play with them. And not the good kind of play."

"You let gangsters run my diner!?"

"Sure. Was I not supposed to?"

Jaune was halfway up before Pyrrha stopped him. "It was a joke! A joke. Velvet is looking after things. Her team didn't make it through and she heard what happened here and offered. Miltia just thought it would be funny to see your reaction." Pyrrha giggled. "It was fun to see you panic."

"Sure. Laugh at the injured man."

"You have cut palms, Jaune. You're not dying."

"I passed out."

"From stress. And that's bad," she said, "but nothing a good long sleep won't fix." Gently, she pushed him until he was laid out flat. "I'll talk to Ozpin and see how soon he has to talk with you. If it's important, he can come here to see you." Pyrrha raised her voice, directing it to the window she'd indicated before, "Meanwhile, I'll return to Beacon. And hopefully my stalker won't get lost at the nearest bar this time."

Outside, a bird cawed angrily.

"Are you okay?" he asked her.

"I'm talking to a bird," Pyrrha moaned. "I'm so not okay. But as best as I can be." She patted her hands on her knees and stood. "And better for seeing you're okay. Thank you, Jaune. You… You may have saved my life. To think I'd need that from a barista…"

"You know," Miltia teased. "I'll look away if you want to give him a thank you kiss. It'll be a freebie."

"Miltia!" Jaune and Pyrrha shouted in unison.

"What? I'm being generous here."

Groaning, he pushed her away with one hand, trying not to think too hard on his girlfriend offering him out to other women. "Thanks for staying to fill me in, Pyrrha. Let Ozpin know I'm okay and… and tell him I'm sorry about what I said."

"Why?" Miltia asked. "You weren't wrong."

"I wasn't, but I am now. He proved me wrong by cutting a deal."

"Still no reason to apologise…"

Pyrrha was less proud and smiled. "I'll tell him. Get well soon, Jaune. I'll come down tomorrow with my team, and I'm sure Team RWBY will as well. We should make a party of it."

"Yeah. That sounds good. Can you tell Ruby as well? She must be worrying."

"I'll tell her," Pyrrha promised, stepping out his apartment and making her way down the stairs.

Once he was sure she was gone, he let his smile fall. "Is it going to work?" he asked Miltia. "Or is this just a plan by Cinder to get them to let their guards down?"

"If it is, it's not working. Ironwood has everyone on high alert. As for whether it's honest or not…" Miltia shrugged helplessly. "We've no way to know. At least not until today is over. For what it's worth, I saw Roman in the Club earlier today. I doubt that was Cinder's plan for him."

Suggesting Roman had time off or wasn't needed, which may or may not a good thing. Or it could have been a trap. There was no telling how far Cinder might have changed her plans. In the end, Miltia had a point and they could do nothing but wait and see.

Wait and hope.

"Take a breather," she advised. "You've done your bit, so get some rest and leave everything else to the people who should have been handling it from the start. That's their job after all." She grinned suddenly and asked, "Is there room in that bed for two?"

There wasn't. It was tiny.

Jaune pulled the blankets back.

"Sure."

Miltia kicked off her shoes and snuggled under, intertwining her legs with his and selfishly hogging most of the pillow. He didn't mind, leaning into her hair and smelling its fragrant scent. With her warm body against his and one arm working its way around his back, he could, for a moment, forget the promise of an attack at all. Of death and destruction and friendships torn apart. For a short while, there was peace. He hoped it might last.

In the distance, the crowds in Amity cheered for a new champion.

/-/

In a dark warehouse in downtown Vale, Cinder approached the Grimm Seer.

"You have news for me, Cinder."

"Yes, my Queen. I do."

Peace. But at what cost, and what did Ozpin offer?

I guess we'll find out in the new year! Look on the bright side, it can't be politics any shittier than what's currently going on in the world today, can it?

Next Chapter: 7th January (Three Weeks)

P a treon . com (slash) Coeur