A/N: Thanks for the reviews and favs and follows! I'm excited you guys are excited about the plot development! There's more where that's from! So I thought more about the Katekyo Hitman: Reborn inspiration and realized that I watched it in middle school, and if I watched it now I might be more critical. I still love it, but I understand if people are put off by the sudden genre shift in my story. Do you guys want a more humor-focused fic without all this drama? I will put a poll on my profile so you can vote. Or just review. Enjoy the chapter!

Emerald leaned back on her metal chair. She made sure to remain silent, if only to mask the cacophony her head.

"She abandoned me! How? Why?"

She'd done everything Cinder had asked, and more. She was the perfect partner. Cinder loved her.

So how could she abandon her?

She'd come back from leading that monkey faunus, making believe that he was taking the cat girl back to her dorm, when actually they had kidnapped her.
It had been her plan, Emerald remembered. Since the cat girl had obviously known too much, she needed to be taken care of. Or at least out of the picture while they questioned her on how much they knew. And, Emerald had long since known that Adam was quite interested in the girl. It was a good plan. Cinder had thought so.

Cinder had said she was pleased. Emerald still felt a little warm remembering that.

So why?

When Emerald had come back from her little escort job, she had found their room swarming with Atlas soldiers. Cinder and Mercury were nowhere to be found.

Emerald gritted her teeth. There was no way Mercury was more useful than she was. It had to be a mistake. Or Cinder was caught by surprise and had to flee without telling Emerald.

But what if it wasn't? What if Cinder waited for this chance to ditch me? What if she doesn't want me?

Emerald hugged herself. She found herself trembling before letting her arms down. She hadn't done that since she was on the streets, before Cinder had picked her up. Back when she had nothing and no one.

The door clicked open. Emerald froze and very naturally smiled at the entrant.

"Hello, Headmaster."

"Good day, Miss Sustrai. I apologize for keeping you here so long. Precautions and all that. You understand."

Emerald nodded.

"I know you've said you didn't spend a lot of time with your team, but did you happen to overhear anything about their plans. Perhaps they inadvertently said something while you were nearby?"

Emerald had her Semblance up the moment Ozpin came in. So it was easy to fake the facial cues and body language that allowed her to lie perfectly.

"No, Headmaster. I never heard them say anything out of the ordinary. They mostly just talked about the Vytal Festival."

Ozpin looked thoughtful. "Hm. Well, perhaps. I won't keep you then." He pushed the door open. Emerald nodded thankfully as she walked through.

She made it halfway to her dorm when she realized it would be empty. She didn't know what to do. She'd always been by Cinder's side. If not that, at least Mercury the asshole would annoy her. Now she even missed that. She hadn't felt the need to make friends at Beacon. Actually, now that she thought about it, she didn't really have friends period. Cinder had always been enough. And now she was potentially gone.

She'd never felt so alone before.

She found herself walking past her dorm, through a door, and up some stairs. Space unfolded before her. Fresh night air greet her noses.

Emerald sighed. The roof was a good place to be alone.

"Sniffle." Emerald froze. Or not.

In the corner was none other than…Emerald had to blink. Pyrrha Nikos. The Invincible Girl was crouched in the corner crying to herself. Judging by the veritable puddle around her feet, she'd been at it for awhile.

Emerald let her cry some more while she stood there and figured out what to do.

Nothing. Pyrrha Nikos would probably be dead by the time Cinder was done with Beacon. And besides, Emerald didn't care about anybody else. It was how she'd lived her life. It was how she'd survived until Cinder had picked her up. That was what, ten years ago? The year was only 8 A.C., (After Cincer, obviously), so then eight years ago. Back then, you had to look after yourself. She'd had friends, of course. She just didn't keep them after they stabbed her in the leg trying to steal her bread. She'd learned not to cry really fast. Crying got you noticed. Getting noticed was bad.

But sometimes she hadn't been able to help it. She'd just felt so…alone. Emerald blinked. What was wrong with her. She hadn't been herself since last night.

Snff. A gasp. A shuddering sigh.
Emerald turned to look at the red-haired girl again. Her shoulders were shaking again, as she hugged herself. Emerald's chest was tight.

"Hey." Pyrrha jumped, and looked back, eyes wide. Emerald was just as surprised. What was she thinking, what was she going to say?

"Are you all right?"

Pyrrha's eyes looked downward. She had a sad smile on her face. "Yes. I am…fine."

"You don't sound fine." Emerald sat down next to her, legs dangling over the side.

"You know, I used to be sad all the time. I didn't have anyone to talk to when I was. But I wish I did. Even now." Emerald thought bitterly of Cinder (her heart ached). "It's not good to keep it all in. Sometimes you just need to let it out."

Pyrrha was silent. But slowly her shuddering gasps slowed. "I have someone I like. But he loves someone else. I confessed to him, but he rejected me." Pyrrha laughed. "I know it's silly. But he was the first one that saw me as who I am. And because of him I made so many friends. I had such a happy life. He brought me out of my misery. It all started with him. He was so special to me." Pyrrha sighed. "I just wanted to be special to him too."

Special. Brought me out of my misery. Special. I wish I was special to him too. I wish I was special to Cinder.

"I know how that feels." Emerald whispered. "To love somebody, but they don't look at you. And then they leave, and you feel so empty, like they took a part of you with them." Pyrrha was watching her now, but Emerald didn't notice. Her thoughts were distant. "I feel so adrift."

"So alone." Pyrrha whispered. Emerald looked at her in surprise, then nodded. "Yeah, I feel lonely."

Emerald breathed through her nostrils. "You know, Pyrrha. You're not half bad. I was expecting you to be cocky and stuck-up. But you're not like that at all. You're kind, you're humble. Down to earth. Likeable, even."

Pyrrha smiled a little. "Well, you're not seeing me at my best."

Emerald chuckled. "That I'm not." Pyrrha's eyes were red, and her red hair was stuck to her face, as she looked up at Emerald. But somehow she was beautiful. Her green eyes glistening in the moonlight. Her pale, heart-shaped face like a painting. Emerald felt an urge to see her face better and stopped herself from brushing away Pyrrha's hair. What was wrong with her.

"You're not like what I thought either, Emerald. I wish I'd gotten to know you sooner."

"Ah, well." Emerald was blinking furiously. "Yeah, me too." Her heart was beating like she was getting ready for a fight. Stop! Stop! She couldn't feel this way! Think about Cinder! Then she thought about Cinder, and her heart fell. Was Cinder coming back? Did she really leave her?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a soft hand on hers. She looked into deep green eyes, and her heartbeat smoothed out.

"Would you like to be friends, Emerald?" "…Yeah, I'd like that."

"Wonderful."

As they sat against each other, watching the moon together, Emerald couldn't help but feel her heart just a little fuller than before.

Eventually Pyrrha got up and said her goodbye. Said she couldn't avoid Jaune forever. Emerald smiled and waved her back. Having no team to return to in her dorms, she decided to stay on the roof a little longer. The cold breeze and night sky were welcome companions.

"Emerald." A soft voice made Emerald shiver. With excitement, or shock, Emerald didn't know.

Cinder came back for her. There she was, on the edge of the roof, looking as beautiful as ever in her red dress against the dark sky, as if she had never left.

Emerald knew Cinder would never leave her! Emerald wanted to laugh and cry. She was punching herself inside for doubting Cinder. Mercury would never let her live it down if he knew. Emerald struggled to school the bright smile on her face.

"Mistress. I am glad to see you."

"Mm. Our plans have been thrown a little, but all is not lost." Cinder looked into her eyes, and those ravishing golden eyes…Emerald struggled to keep track of the conversation. "…of you. You are irreplaceable. In the coming days, I will be counting on you, Emerald. Do you understand?"

Emerald blushed. She was irreplaceable. Cinder was counting on her!

"Yes, Mistress."

"Good, then in addition to your role during the Vytal Festival, you will also look for the Fall Maiden. Or any of Ozpin's little candidates. Make friends with RWBY and JNPR. See what you can find. Report to me."

"I understand, Mistress." The longing and hurt from a few hours ago had long been forgotten, replaced by steely purpose. "I will see it done."

Cinder nodded, satisfied, then stepped off the roof. Emerald squealed, did a little dance, of course after making sure there was no one there-

"Hey, missy." Emerald's blood froze. She turned around to see a large red-headed boy in armor, smirking at her.

Did he see her dance just now?!

"Couldn't help but overhear an interesting conversation. Something about an evil plan, set to happen during the Vytal Festival, hm? Wonder what Headmaster Ozpin would think about this. Or maybe even General Ironwood? What do you say Emerald?" Cardin grinned wildly.

"How about some quid pro quo, hm? You do something for me, and I won't tell anyone what I just heard, alright? We'll be the best of friends, that all right with you?"

"Good. I like them obedient. Let's consummate our friendship, shall we? Why don't you lose that shirt. Come to me. I'll treat you right."

Emerald stepped into his arms.

Then she shoved him off the roof. Cardin's panicked scream was interrupted by a meaty splat.

Emerald picked up her shirt and headed back to her dorm. She had a mission. Nothing would get between her and Cinder.

Nobody.

A/N: Credit to E31174 for inspiring me to write the fall of Cardin. Hah. Read his one shots. They're creative.