Opal knew from the moment Iridescence's involvement in current affairs was finally revealed across the continent that both she and her teammates' lives would be forever changed. Later, when they were called into Ironwood's office and wove their alliance ever closer together, she understood that whatever would happen in terms of her day-to-day life would be unlike anything she'd ever experienced before. No longer was she the mere leader of yet another team of Huntsmen-in-training, but rather, her name alone carried with it the authority of a Huntress who'd earned General Ironwood's respect through her valor. Forevermore would her actions be scrutinized by the citizens of Atlas, which made her ability to assure every mission she embarked upon became an undeniable success that much more important.

Over the handful of weeks since that fateful day Iridescence spent firmly in the spotlight, she'd concluded that it wouldn't be an exaggeration to state that her efficiency when out in the field had risen to the level that'd almost certainly impress anyone who paid much attention. Spruced in between every mission of hers that was kept strictly classified due to its involvement with the Amity Tower's construction were a wide variety of other duties that were easily noticed by the public. Patrols along Mantle's outer wall, eliminating Grimm inside the city, security detail in miscellaneous parts of the lower city – missions such as those were the ones that slowly enabled her to build an upstanding reputation among the people.

Fortunately, she wasn't entirely alone in her endeavors. Aurora, Lux, and Tenebris were all expected to emphasize their capabilities through the missions they'd complete on their own, but so too did Ironwood inform them that they should still work together whenever their schedules allowed. Those rare occasions where Iridescence performed its duties either with pairs or perhaps even all of its members present served as a reminder that theirs was a group of top-notch fighters whose capacity to protect the kingdom only increased exponentially when any number of them arrived on the scene.

On a somewhat less grandiose note, personal encounters between Ironwood and Iridescence's members had become increasingly frequent since their official announcement. Ironwood always excused his subordinates from whatever paperwork would usually follow their missions through real-time reviews of their missions, offering occasional words of wisdom and advice to assure that they'd continue to rise above their peers.

Opal figured that it might've been a mix of the general's heartfelt commitment to her team, Iridescence's potential impact on the world, and their various small victories in terms of public perception, but she found herself on something she could only describe as a happy streak. Her life was busier than ever, leaving little time for excessive pleasantries, but her teammates' ability to always reconvene each night at their apartment with the air of confidence about them never failed to set her at ease.

Iridescence's endeavor to garner support among the people was a slow and steady one, but she was sure it was one that they'd all continue to succeed at so long as they continued along the path they had been walking so far. Their stronger political opponents remained stalwart, but she remained certain that her team would triumph over their disdain eventually, but as always, the present demanded her attention once again.

"Any idea why the general only called us here?" Lux asked.

Opal silently stared at the door into Ironwood's office before finally shaking her head. "No. Not really. My best guess is that this might have something to do with how he told us not to assign ourselves any other missions before this meeting was over."

Lux hummed. "Maybe. It's kinda weird though that Tenebris and Aurora were told they didn't have to change their schedules and come here. The last time we worked together on a mission was on the outer wall two weeks ago, so this can't be some follow-up."

"And since it's only us here, we can't be discussing anything important for everyone on the team to hear," Opal continued. "Still, I don't think we should be worried. We've been doing our jobs perfectly ever since the general showed us off to the kingdom, so no matter why we've been brought here, I'd like to think we aren't in any trouble."

"Well, there's only one way to find out." Lux gestured toward the door. "Ladies first?"

"Feeling chivalrous this morning, I see," Opal quipped.

"Aren't I always?" Lux returned.

Opal didn't dignify that statement with a response; instead, she simply rolled her eyes and playfully jabbed her elbow into her boyfriend's arm before she stepped forward. The sensors contained within Ironwood's office door registered the unique signal her scroll passively gave off in situations like these, and the way became clear. Neither of the recently licensed Huntsmen delayed in accepting the inanimate object's invitation and stepped into the increasingly familiar room shortly thereafter. Ironwood's attention remained firmly focused on some informative hologram above his desk until the pair stopped in the center of the room.

Ironwood then pressed a button on his desk, and the hologram flickered away as his eyes came to rest exclusively on his allies. "Opal. Lux. It's good to see you two again. While you're here, I might as well ask – you've both fully adjusted to life here in the kingdom, right?"

"Absolutely," Opal confirmed. "Thank you for your concern."

Lux shrugged easily. "Almost. Needed a quick pick-me-up this morning, but I've figured out how to function for a few days when we don't have any back at our place."

"Good," Ironwood said approvingly. "I'll also go ahead and assume that both of you might have some questions about why only you two have been called here."

"Somehow I get the impression that we're gonna learn why anyway in like… ten seconds, but yeah," Lux confessed. "My guess is that, for whatever reason, you might've wanted to provide us our missions for the day personally."

"Then you'll be pleasantly surprised to hear that your guess was partially correct," Ironwood praised. "Indeed, I requested your presence here this morning to not-so-subtly instruct you on what missions you'll be tasked with today, but there's another reason. One that, given one of the fundamental objectives Team Iridescence exists to fulfill, either of you could rather easily infer."

"Oh, so politics," Lux guessed.

"Yes," Ironwood confirmed. "More specifically, politics regarding the faunus. It's no secret that although most politicians and businessfolk alike harbor discriminatory attitudes toward your people, there are those among them whose platforms mainly revolve around selling themselves as heroes fighting for the faunus. Insofar as the election is concerned, one of the more popular candidates supports anyone that feels they're a second-rate citizen in their own kingdom."

Opal's lip scrunched to the side. "You're referring to Robyn Hill."

Ironwood pressed the tips of his fingers together. "I am. Given how you were subjected to the discrimination of the kingdom firsthand down in Mantle, I figured it'd be prudent to make sure we're all on the same page when it comes to Robyn."

"How do you mean?" Opal asked.

"I mean that we can't afford to align ourselves with her," Ironwood explained. "Robyn was one of the top trainees in Atlas Academy back in the day, but she was always the loose cannon on whatever missions she was sent on. She prioritizes her self-assigned mission to put the lives of those in the lower city above all others, and while commendable, diverting resources away from the Amity Tower project to appease her isn't an option. With election day closer than ever and the conditions in Mantle largely unchanged, the probability that you'll encounter Robyn on one of her misguided missions while going about your duties only increases."

Lux furrowed his brow. "And if we do encounter her?"

"Remind yourself why our operation is a closely kept secret," Ironwood answered. "And I didn't say that to be obtuse. Robyn might be one of the only politicians in recent memory that's gained some traction despite openly seeing the faunus as humanity's equals, but that doesn't mean she's trustworthy. Her aims have always been shortsighted but giving her information about Amity or the private military caravans that have been steadily siphoning supplies away from the lower city could be disastrous."

"Remain conscious about how open we are with her, basically," Opal simplified.

Ironwood nodded. "Know that this conversation wasn't meant to discourage either of you from feeling however you do where the faunus are concerned. Iridescence is still intended to change things for your people here, but Robyn's too dangerous to let our emotions take control when she's around."

"Yeah, no arguments there," Lux agreed. "Besides, politicians are politicians. Robyn might have graduated with top marks, but she hasn't exactly proven she's the morally justified underdog she wants everyone to believe she is."

"We won't let you down, sir," Opal asserted.

"With how hard you two have been working, I've been given no reason to think otherwise," Ironwood complimented. "But on a more current note… are you ready for your respective missions today?"

"Yep," Lux replied.

"Sounds like a plan," Opal said.

"Good," Ironwood approved. "Lux. Your objective is to support your friends with theirs. Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie's efforts to bolster the defenses of Mantle's outer wall have borne significant fruit in the reduction of outside Grimm incursions, but the presence of another friendly fighter there with them should help make their lives a little easier. Opal. Your objective will have you involved with…"

'Escort duty…'

Opal consciously fought back the urge to yawn. When it came to the wide variety of missions everyone embarked upon in their continued efforts to assist in Amity Tower's construction, the simple act of being stuffed into an armored vehicle for hours on end wasn't quite the most exciting task that needed to be fulfilled. Bandits or Grimm would periodically find some invisible spark of interest that'd lead them to try and interfere with the journey of any given military vehicle, but those instances of adrenaline-pumping activity had become less frequent as of late. Bandits became discouraged as their efforts only earned them wounds and arrests while the Grimm's proximity anywhere near the assigned route the supply runs would pass through had been reduced to an almost negligible number since Iridescence, RWBY, and JNPR bolstered the already impressible number of capable combatants Ironwood had at his disposal.

For better or worse, nowadays, being assigned escort duty more often felt like more of a test of patience than the important objective regarding Amity that it was. Only an hour into her mission, though, Opal managed to discern that there was at least one positive she could identify amidst the boredom of her current predicament. Her company.

Even if escort duty remained a rather fundamentally dull mission to be assigned whenever no other members of Iridescence were there with her, it wasn't like the familiar faces she'd already spent a large amount of her day with weren't interesting in their own rights. The squad assigned to this mission consisted of four fighters, including Opal – two would sit in the front alongside the AK-200 that drove the vehicle, while two remained with their cargo in the rear of the van in case of an attack from the rear. Opal was a member of the former category. The adoptive uncle-niece duo of their not-so-small faction were members of the latter.

Ruby released a groan of frustration. "Dangit! You win again, Uncle Qrow…"

Qrow chuckled. "Don't worry, kiddo. I'm sure you'll win one. Eventually. Maybe."

"This is the second time in a row you've won with a royal flush!" Ruby exclaimed, the sound of paper hitting metallic boxes indicating that she'd thrown her cards onto their makeshift 'table' among the many crates of cargo. "How's that even possible?!"

"Dunno. Maybe luck's just on my side for once," Qrow quipped, an audible smile in his voice.

"No way!" Ruby protested. "Your semblance never works constantly like that! Oh, I know what must've happened! You cheated, didn't you?"

"Feel free to check my sleeves, Ruby, you won't find any cards," Qrow defended, idly shuffling the deck for what would be the pair's fifth game already. "But I'll take that wager you made in cold hard cash when we get back to base."

Ruby sighed. "You're really holding me to that, huh?"

"For five hundred lien? Definitely," Qrow confirmed. "Back when I still drank, that'd be enough to keep my flask filled with Vacuan whiskey for a solid month. Lien's lien, kiddo, and think of this as an old crow teaching you a lesson. Never bet on a game you don't think you can win."

"I'll keep that in mind…" Ruby quietly confessed.

"You do realize that you're setting an abhorrent example for your niece, don't you?" Winter questioned. "Whether your semblance aided in your repeated victory or underhanded tactics, teaching her the ins-and-outs of gambling isn't quite what I'd classify as teaching your niece a good life lesson."

"Oh yeah, you're still here," Qrow muttered. "But just so you know, Ruby should know how to play cards! If she wants to be an effective Huntress, it's a necessity!"

Winter sighed, keeping her gaze straight ahead. "In what capacity, Qrow? You're reckless, but you wouldn't dare drag her down into the seedier sects of society across Remnant, which means that you could only intend for her to use these skills somewhere else. Vacuo, I presume?"

He didn't immediately respond, and his shuffle stopped.

"Uncle Qrow?" Ruby said.

"For the record, this is the only time she's ever been right about something," Qrow mentioned.

"Then my initial statement stands," Winter proclaimed amusedly. "Among the group you've guided thus far, the Griseo twins should possess all the knowledge about the inner workings of their home kingdom's society that you'll ever need, should either of you ever go there. Your argument's fallen flat."

Qrow's rhythmic shuffle resumed. "You've got me there, but it's not like we have any other options to occupy ourselves."

"Yeah, he does have a point," Ruby seconded. "If we just took all this cargo to Amity in an airship instead of a truck, then these supply runs would be way shorter."

"Indeed they would," Winter agreed, "but the issue with that proposed method of transport is that the components required for Amity Tower's construction are extremely heavy. All that weight carried within even the finest Atlesian airships would necessitate the consumption of a rather large amount of dust. That same dust would better be utilized in the launch of the tower itself, to speak nothing of the defense effort against the Grimm that'll invade after."

Ruby released an exaggeratedly pained noise. "But why…?"

"If it makes you feel any better, you can always admire the scenery!" Opal encouraged.

"Eh…" Ruby stressed. "I'm good. Endless mountains, snow, and penguins aren't my style anyway. Start up another round, Uncle Qrow!"

"Will do, kiddo."

Opal smiled to herself. 'The more things change, the more they stay the same…'

Winter glanced at her, but briefly. "It would seem that many of your friends lack any admiration for the finer things in life. It's a shame, really. They're missing out."

"I wouldn't disagree, but…" Opal paused, surprised at Winter suddenly being the one to strike up a conversation between them, but opting not to question what spurred the specialist into that course of action. "Does that mean that you admire nature, too?"

"Among other things," Winter confirmed. "You're somewhat surprised, I presume?"

"Well, yeah," Opal confessed. "Don't take this the wrong way, but Atlas isn't anything like back home. Just about everyone who's born in Mistral's raised to respect mother nature – revere it, even. Atlas' prosperity may have been built upon the backs of faunus, but industry played a major role in the kingdom's history too, and nature isn't exactly known for faring well where excessive industry's concerned."

"No. It doesn't," Winter agreed, her expression turning slightly thoughtful. "Atlesian dust mines and refinement plants have wreaked havoc on the environment for decades now, but their presence' interference in the natural order never deterred my interest. Some of my earliest happy memories largely consist of the times I'd learn something new about the various flora and fauna indigenous to Solitas."

Opal's expression brightened. "Huh. I never would've guessed that someone like you would have a soft spot for mother nature. Color me impressed."

"Contrary to popular belief, Atlesian specialists such as ourselves are allowed to have interests outside our line of work," Winter reminded. "My passions just so happen to include reading about wildlife when I'm not particularly busy with my little sister."

"Oh right, you two have been training together in the combat simulator, haven't you?"

Winter nodded. "We have. Weiss will never quite match my level of experience or discipline, but she's consistently sought to prove that her present fighting style should always prove sufficient for her purposes. While I'm not quite convinced of her claims as of yet, she'll have ample time to make a more compelling argument tomorrow, when we'll have time to spar again."

"I'm sure she will, too," Opal mentioned. "Weiss hasn't spent all that much time around me and my team, but I've seen her in action enough to know that she's pretty clever when it comes to her summons. Pressure her enough and she might even figure out how to beat you."

"Confident in one of your sisters-in-arms, are we?"

"Always."

"Then I'll be sure to mention that confidence whenever Weiss figures out how to actually hit me while we spar," Winter smirked. "But what about you? What're your plans for tomorrow, should you complete your daily objective early?"

Opal leaned back in her seat. "Training, probably. Iridescence is supposed to be the most elite team of licensed Huntsmen in the world, so it'd only make sense that their leader's the most combat-capable of them all. The only way to make sure that's true is to train."

"An admirable pursuit, and one I'm sure that the general appreciates," Winter applauded.

"Thanks," Opal returned.

"Think nothing of it." Winter crossed her legs before her hands came to rest atop her knee. "But aside from officially approvable pastimes, how would you choose to utilize your spare time?"

"Oh, tons of different ways," Opal began. "Cooking, reading, writing, listening to music are all passions of mine that I've always loved to pursue, though knowing myself I'll probably end up wasting away most of my off-time tomorrow with Lux. It's been a while since we've spent some quality time together."

Winter hummed. "Ah. Given your professionalism, the fact that you two are partners in more ways than one has often escaped me, recently. I suppose it'd only be proper of me to wish your relationship all the best at this point, wouldn't it?"

Opal gave her an amused look. "That isn't necessary. Our relationship is somewhat like Jaune and Pyrrha's – it's one of the things that mean the most to us in life, but we avoid letting it control our every action. My parents taught me that the strongest relationships they've ever seen were the ones built and maintained by friendship above all else."

"Sound advice," Winter mentioned. "Or so I'd assume. Romance has always been one of the few facets of life that I've never taken the time to investigate, personally."

"Oh…" Opal's ears perked up slightly. "Then it wouldn't be wrong to guess that you and Qrow never had something between you, huh?"

"Ha!" Qrow laughed. "In her dreams."

"In my nightmares, more like," Winter retorted. "But to answer your question, no. We didn't."

Ruby's head poked out from behind their seats. "Really? Everyone's always thought that had to be the reason you guys fought during the Vytal Festival!"

"Believe me, my disdain for your uncle has plenty of justification," Winter stated. "Qrow, surely you remember the first time we met, yes? The time that you were caught flirting with my mother while father was speaking to some business associates?"

Opal's ears flattened. "Qrow, you were what?"

"In my defense…" Qrow paused. "We were both drunk, and it didn't go anywhere."

"Only because mother had enough sense to avoid walking down the road your flirtations would have led her," Winter commented. "Given that incident, his habitual drunkenness, and his utterly incorrigible lack of decorum, I believe that you two could understand where my frustrations originate wherever Qrow is concerned."

"You might want to dock that complaint about me being drunk all the time, though," Qrow idly commented. "I gave that up right when we left Argus."

"Congratulations," Winter deadpanned. "You've successfully conquered one of your countless reprehensible behaviors at long last. With any luck, you might even learn how to respect figures of significant authority next."

"Now where's the fun in that?" Qrow questioned.

Winter rolled her eyes. "We should refocus ourselves on the mission. Bandits, Grimm, and even the Happy Huntresses could strike at any moment, and with any luck, we can easily resume this conversation never."

Qrow chuckled. "I'd choose my words a little more carefully when I'm around, princess, but point taken. Ruby. Lay off, for now."

"Will do, Uncle Qrow!" Ruby said, slipping down and out of sight.

"Happy Huntresses?" Opal questioned.

Winter glanced at her. "Ah. Your dossier didn't mention them, I presume?"

"No. This is the first time I've heard about them, actually."

"They're Robyn's three most committed loyalists," Winter explained. "Each of them ranked among Atlas Academy's top graduates, yet they share an equal degree of fanaticism with their leader regarding the prioritization of Mantle above all else. Given their immense talent and flagrant disregard for General Ironwood's authority, their lack of interference in these supply runs so far could only be classified as a miracle."

"Then that's one miracle that isn't about to last any longer." Opal grimaced as she noticed two figures down the road, though she could only identify one face from the pair. "Look."

Winter sighed softly. With the quick input of an encoded command into her scroll, the vehicle's robotic driver released an audible beep of acknowledgment, and their transport finally started to decelerate. "Qrow. Ruby. It appears that Robyn has finally decided to interfere with our official military operations."

"We heard," Qrow said.

"What's our approach?" Opal asked.

"Given the number of unknown variables here…" Winter paused. "Qrow and Ruby will emerge from the vehicle alongside myself as a precaution while I handle negotiations. If it's quite alright with you, Opal, I believe it'd be for the best if you remained hidden and kept your ears out for signs of an ambush. Robyn will only assume even greater importance of these transports if she were to see both myself and the leader of Team Iridescence here together."

Opal nodded. "Good luck out there."

'Here's to hoping this doesn't turn into a fight…'

While Opal swapped places with the adoptive familial duo, Winter emerged from their squad's armored transport first. Her expression remained utterly unreadable as her hands clasped firmly behind her, betraying not a hint of an emotional reaction to the situation she'd suddenly been placed in. By the time she slowly advanced another couple of feet so that she stood in the center of the road, the vehicle's doors slammed shut in an indication that Qrow and Ruby had finally emerged as well. Winter hoped that they'd remain silent and simply let her handle the delicate discussion that would inevitably take place here.

The specialist briefly took in the environment. Their transport had been forced to stop on account of the shoddily made sheet metal barricade that had been erected before the snowy canyon their supply run would've taken them through. Guarding the barricade their bodies were two figures whose faces the specialist had committed to memory a dozen times over by now.

Robyn Hill dressed exactly as anyone could've expected a woman who saw herself as the ultimate champion of the continent's downtrodden would. Her outfit consisted of a black sleeveless coat with gray accents over her red double-breasted sleeveless vest, a brown high-neck shirt, and a light grey short-sleeved shirt all layered atop one another. Her brown pants tucked into black knee-high boots with dark brown cuffs, while her neck was offered additional protection from the elements through a practical olive-green scarf with tattered tails that flowed in the wind behind her. Her weapon – a clever combination of a fan, crossbow, and winged shield – remained inactive and collapsed around her left forearm.

Fiona Thyme, a young sheep-eared faunus with olive eyes and messy swept-styled white hair that also happened to be one of Robyn's first diehard followers, stood tall beside her leader. Her crossbow staff, the same weapon each Happy Huntress had adopted in honor of Robyn herself, remained planted upright at her side. Winter didn't quite spare the faunus enough attention to make any significant note of her outfit, save for its inclusion of the same distinct robin-themed brooch that had become emblematic of many individuals' admiration for Robyn as the woman's reputation grew.

After one final glance at the woman's barricade, Winter's gaze returned to Robyn herself. It was about time that she began the conversation with a verbal show of strength.

"Is there a reason that you're blocking an official military transport?" Winter firmly asked.

"That's one way to greet someone," Robyn commented. "Do you know who I am?"

"Robyn Hill. Mantle's 'hometown hero," Winter curtly returned. "My question still stands. Is there a reason for your interference here?"

"Maybe there is," Robyn said dismissively. "Maybe this is all one big misunderstanding, or maybe you could help me understand why this truck that's supposed to be taking construction materials to fix Mantle's outer wall, is on its way to the middle of nowhere. Are you lost?"

"If you can perceive the Atlesian military as that incompetent in the navigation of its home continent, then you're beyond ignorant," Winter jabbed. "Your concern is unnecessary, but your cooperation is. My associates and I both will return to our vehicle and proceed without any further obstruction."

Robyn's eyes narrowed. "You're in no position to make demands, Schnee. If you three were to start a fight with us, then you'd be attacking one of Ironwood's political opponents."

"You're right. That would be the case," Winter responded icily. "But no shots have been fired, no weapons unsheathed. Your accusations are only hypothetical, while your actions right now are actively obstructing official military operations. You're lucky that we haven't pressed charges for your innumerable previous slights."

An arctic breeze billowed between the pair.

"You really aren't gonna play it straight, huh?" Robyn sighed. "Fine. I'll just go ahead and ask, then – what's Ironwood doing with Amity Colosseum at the abandoned SDC mine?"

Winter's brow furrowed just barely enough to escape the political candidate's notice. Rising star of the kingdom's lower city or not, her possession of even a modicum of knowledge concerning the Amity Tower project was justifiable cause for further suspicion. Nevertheless, observation of expertly crafted deflections by political figures and businessfolk alike over the years had more than prepared Winter enough to handle this situation.

"Annual maintenance," she answered. "None of your concern."

Robyn's eyes narrowed. "With the state of the world right now, the next Vytal Festival isn't scheduled to be anytime soon. Only automated drones and a few select Atlas scientists are allowed out here, and Amity's getting invaluable resources we need in Mantle to protect against the Grimm. This is more than just maintenance."

"And thus we're able to add the illegal observation of a private military operation to your lengthy list of illegal acts," Winter noted, her tone not betraying a hint of her frustration. "Well done."

Robyn grunted. "Listen, we can't fix the wall without the supplies on these trucks. I think Mantle deserves to know what they're being used for. It doesn't have to be difficult." Robyn advanced a few steps before she stopped, extending her hand with a smile. "Just tell me."

"Not in your wildest dreams," Winter declined.

Robyn frowned. Her gaze then went beyond Winter, landing upon Qrow and Ruby. "What about you, pipsqueak? Five o'clock shadow? Either of you want to tell me about why Mantle's being put at risk?"

Ruby took the bait. "We're trying to help Mantle. We need-"

"That's quite enough," Winter interrupted, the venom in her voice enough to silence her ally before she could continue. "If you bothered to read the dossier from her days in Atlas Academy, you'd have known that her semblance makes her a living lie detector. Don't fall for her tricks."

"Oh. Right…"

Winter suppressed an instinctual glare as she turned back to their foe. "Robyn. As a potential Councilwoman, you should focus your precious time and resources more on the election and less on the harassment of licensed Huntsmen. Let us pass."

"For all the credibility you've gained as Ironwood's most trusted specialist, you sure have misjudged the situation," Robyn warned. "One way or another, these supplies are going to get where they're supposed to go – Mantle."

"Then I suggest that you do that through the proper legal channels as a Councilwoman," Winter replied. "If you get elected."

Robyn smiled. "Now where's the fun in that?"

Winter removed one hand from behind her back to land upon the hilt of her sword. If this confrontation would end in conflict despite all her attempts to diffuse the situation, then it'd have to be Robyn who attacked first. From the rustle of fabric behind her and the subtle click that indicated the release of her allies' weapons from their magnetic holsters, she understood that her backup remained on the same page as she. Robyn started to lift her arm.

'Remain prepared for all possible outcomes…'

Without even the barest hint of warning, the truck's rear doors slammed into the sides of the armored vehicle as they flew open. Winter glanced behind herself only to quickly notice Opal flip from the cargo bay of the truck onto the roof, eyes narrowed, and hands firmly clasped around the sheath and hilt of her weapon.

"Robyn Hill," Opal authoritatively began. "I'll have to demand that you call off the Huntresses approaching the rear of our transport."

All eyes among her allies on the ground passed by their vehicle. Save for slight snowfall and the occasional rocky outcropping, the tundra remained as devoid of activity as it usually was. Winter knew better than to question Opal's caution in this situation, though, and to her surprise…

Robyn laughed. "Alright. Joanna! May!"

As if an invisible blanket slowly fell from their shoulders, Joanna Greenleaf and May Marigold appeared only a short distance away from where their weapons' effective range would've come into play. Robyn's final two followers kept their weapons firmly grasped in their hands, glaring at their opposition as they then made toward their leader. Winter cursed at herself within the privacy of her mind – she should've known that May would've used her semblance to keep their true numbers hidden.

"Opal Malachite…" Robyn began. "Didn't expect you to be here. Or anyone with good ears like yours, really."

'Don't play into her hands. Stay loyal, Opal…'

Opal inhaled slowly. "Let us pass."

Seconds passed without another word being said. Robyn's expected air of arrogance went nowhere initially, but time wore away at her controlled expression. Opal's eyes met hers, which led Robyn's face to become twisted in some odd mix of interest, confusion, frustration, and eventual resignation. After that, her complete confidence returned before long.

"Fiona. Joanna. May. Open the barricade," Robyn ordered. She waited until they'd all left to carry out their newfound task before she continued. "You know, this isn't completely a loss on my end. It isn't a coincidence that two of Ironwood's top fighters are out here together, which means that whatever's going on at Amity is important. I will find out what."

"Doubtful," Winter contested. "Right now, the only thing that's kept you out of prison is your reputation with the people. That reputation doesn't entitle you to inside knowledge of Atlas military procedure."

Robyn ignored her, still focused on the faunus atop the van. "You know, for someone who leads a team that's supposedly here to help the kingdom, it sure seems that you're on the wrong side of this fight. If you really wanted to help, you'd have allied with me."

"I didn't come here to undermine an entire nation," Opal calmly responded.

"Then why did you?" Robyn accused.

"To fight for it," Opal explained. "To improve it by means that don't directly interfere with the lives of soldiers that are simply doing their jobs."

"Well, guess what?" Robyn gestured behind her. "We're fighting too, only we aren't the ones that have chosen to protect the same institutions that were built on the backs of your people. The same one that's done nothing for the faunus."

"If that's how you view Ironwood, then you're blind," Opal admonished. "Goodbye, Robyn."

No more words were exchanged after that. Winter watched as her allies all returned to their original seats inside their transport, shared one last look with Robyn, and rejoined her allies before their journey finally resumed. The rest of their ride toward Amity Tower's launch site was completed in silence, the atmosphere within the van infected by introspection that not a single soul managed to escape. Winter wasn't one that would question peace and quiet being granted to her, but given how one of her allies in particular had handled the situation… some things needed to be discussed.

Without much hesitation, she subtly slid her scroll from her pocket and began to type. The message she'd soon send would include coordinates and a tag that signified that the nature of the information therein was strictly meant for the eyes of the recipient.

It was time that someone's loyalty was rewarded.

Opal stared at her scroll while she wandered through the intricate maze of halls and research-and-development facilities that laid hidden beneath Atlas Academy's foundations. Far beneath the floating city's surface, the difference in atmosphere between the academy proper and where she found herself now was like night and day. Dim lights lined old metal walls, the stale air she breathed now somehow felt colder than the bitterest winds Solitas had buffeted her with before, and silence reigned with such might that it was almost deafening. The forgotten halls her slow procession led her through now was utterly lifeless, clearly not an area of the academy meant for students to explore… and yet here she was.

Fear hadn't gripped her even once in the short time she had been navigating through the ominous labyrinth thus far. Her life had been filled with far more harrowing experiences over the past few years than her entire life before that fateful day when she decided to become a Huntress. Opal closed the messenger app of her scroll, hesitating to close it entirely as she once again caught a glimpse of the family photo she used as her background.

Her parents were all smiles and full of life less than a year ago, and that simple reminder of the unconditional love they held for her caused a regretful smile to spread across Opal's lips. She ignored the wretched heartache that grasped at her heart when she finally put away her scroll.

'Distract yourself, Opal. Don't let it drag you down again.'

While her eyes adjusted to the minimal lighting of the empty hallway, she spared a thought toward the specialist whose message had brought her here in the first place. Winter was someone whose profoundly professional demeanor perfectly obscured whatever heartfelt emotions laid deep within her heart. That same cold exterior made it almost impossible to tell why exactly she'd informed Opal that she should meet her here. Winter could've very well spent her evening finding some way to decompress, and yet she was committed to spending even more time with Opal after they'd sat right next to each other for hours earlier.

Over the short span of time she was able to spend with her teammates at their apartment before she had to leave, Opal's subconscious came up with a comprehensive list of ideas as to what the military specialist may have called her down here for. She wouldn't have much time to narrow down that list, however, as a familiar figure at the end of the hall quickly brought her attention back to reality.

Winter's posture remained impeccable from her position stood before a pristine mechanical door that looked rather suspiciously out-of-place amidst the plentiful dust, rust, and other indicators of decay that seemed to infect the hallway around them. Opal quelled the momentary impulse to secure her hand around the hilt of her katana.

"Opal. You're right on time," Winter noted.

"Yeah. Life in Atlas has taught me about the value of punctuality, after all," Opal returned.

"Indeed."

"Hey, Winter…" Opal hesitated for a moment. "Is this meeting here happening because of that whole Robyn situation earlier? How I handled myself, I mean?"

"Partially," Winter responded with a short nod. "In reference to that occasion, your unshakable dedication to the mission in the face of Robyn's inflammatory remarks was admirable, but that wasn't quite the main reason I asked you to meet me here."

Opal raised a brow. "Then why are we here?"

Winter didn't immediately respond; instead, she turned toward the small door behind her.

"Follow me. I'll explain on the way."

Silence reigned for only one second before the door swiftly hissed open, seemingly of its own accord. Light cascaded from within the room beyond the senior specialist so strongly that Opal felt the need to squint and let her eyes adjust before she could truly analyze what laid beyond the threshold. Winter glanced over her shoulder at her for only a moment before she started ever deeper inside the mysterious facility, and after a moment of deliberation, Opal followed.

The ensuing change of environment was like night and day.

Uncomfortably pristine whites were the solitary color that filled the expansive lobby the pair stepped into. Whereas the hallways they'd stood in mere moments ago were filled with decay and dim light, the extremely precise arrangement of their newfound surroundings looked about as state-of-the-art and well-maintained as Pietro's laboratory. Various individuals clad in medical scrubs wandered through the lobby, and yet the sensation of lifelessness and mystery that Opal felt in her chest only became amplified. The dozen cameras and dozens of Atlesian Knights that evenly dotted along the walls of the facility as Winter guided Opal even deeper underground certainly didn't help alleviate her unease, either.

Eventually they reached another long hallway decorated with plentiful cameras but lacking in any signs of activity except for the four Atlesian Knights that stood silent vigil outside the sole door at the end of the hall. Only when they'd passed halfway through the hall to their presumed destination did Winter decide to speak again.

"Given your position and growing reputation, I arrived at a somewhat sound conclusion shortly after our mission." Winter paused as they stopped outside the door. "Even if only on the surface level, it's a necessity that you learn who exactly it is that our duties have partially dedicated our lives to protect."

"The Winter Maiden…" Opal uttered, eyes widening in surprise. "That's the only reason that the military would put this much effort into keeping this facility such a secret."

"You're right," Winter confirmed. "But this imminent introduction wasn't solely my decision, either. General Ironwood himself thought it prudent that you be made fully aware of the Winter Maiden's current condition, but your actions against Robyn today reaffirmed our belief in your loyalty. That's why we're here ahead of schedule. Are you ready?"

Opal inhaled slowly. "I am."

With the simple wave of her hand, the Atlesian Knights moved to avoid obstructing the pair's entry into the mysteriously unmarked door any longer. Winter led the way inside again, and their surroundings changed one last time.

Rather than the typical hospital arrangement that she had anticipated would await them beyond the door, Opal was led into a rather innocuous observation area instead. Aside from a control panel and various computers, the room's only significant feature was the angled one-way window that extended along the full length of the area's rectangular floor space. Winter promptly left to descend a cramped set of stairs after instructing Opal to remain in the observation area, which left the faunus fighter the only option to gaze through the window.

All things considered; the area below was rather well-decorated. Within its apartment-sized expanse, the hospital room included a small kitchen, an artificially nourished garden, and even an area that looked like a living room. Where the more comfortable arrangements ended and the sterilized white tile began, however, mysterious person-sized pods stood opposite the wall where the Winter Maiden laid in her hospital bed. An unfinished painting of the continent's cold wilderness stood on an easel just beside her.

Without anything else left to analyze, Opal's gaze eventually drifted over to the green-and-white hospital outfit-wearing patient herself. Her body was thin, her spiky white hair short, and her dark blue eyes entirely unfocused as her gaze fell on empty air. Before Opal could melt a hole through the glass with her intense stare, her feline ears pricked up in detection of the muffled sounds that managed to reach her as Winter finally entered the room.

"Good afternoon," Winter greeted. "Feeling better today?"

"Good morning."

"Would you care for some tea?"

She smiled. "Yes. I do like tea on a cold day. Reminds me of home."

Winter went about preparing the patient's tea in silence. When her expression became clear again and she left the kitchen, the specialist's dutiful mask had cracked. It was hidden well on the surface, but there was unmistakable empathy and even apprehension on Winter's face when she came approached the Winter Maiden's bedside.

"Is it cold outside?"

"Yes, dear," Winter replied.

As the frail Maiden began trembling even through the simple effort of lifting her cup of tea, Opal suddenly felt the urge to look away. Her eyes wandered off to one of the various computers elsewhere in the room, and the sight of the elderly patient's face on one of the screens convinced her to come closer. Upon the holographic screen was an expansive list of medical information that detailed the woman's condition, but Opal ignored most of it in favor of searching for but one fact about the Winter Maiden. Her name.

Opal's efforts quickly paid off.

'Fria…'

The longer she inspected the finer details of the profile, the faster she found her feline pair of ears wilting against her skull. Even the cold hard facts contained within her profile painted a clear picture of the life Fria had lived. Her profile confirmed her family had long since died out, and that she'd given birth to no children of her own. Advanced age eventually afflicted her with dementia, thereby impeding her ability to function in society or even recall some simple details about herself, at times.

Opal forced herself to look away from the screen. Fria still drew breath yet, but without friends, family, or even an absolute sense of self, could her current conditions honestly be called living?

She didn't have an answer to that.

Before she could manage to mire herself too deeply in melancholy, Opal's attention was brought back toward the narrow staircase Winter had descended mere minutes ago. With a glance back into the hospital room proper, Fria could be seen having fallen asleep while Opal hadn't been paying attention. Winter walked into the center of the observation area and stared down at the elderly woman in silence. Opal appeared at her side before long.

"That's the Winter Maiden," Winter started softly. "Among her various mental afflictions, more physical ailments have whittled away at her health for years. Despite our best efforts… she could pass any day now. Until that time comes, I'm the only person she's allowed to see."

"But that means you'll be the next…" Opal slowly looked at her. "How long have you known?"

"Since Beacon fell," Winter explained. "One of General Ironwood's first orders of business, after he brought me up to speed with Remnant's worldwide shadow war against Salem, was to request that I prepare myself to become a suitable inheritor of the Winter Maiden's powers."

"Doesn't it bother you, though?" Opal asked. "I respect the general immensely, but doesn't it bother you that he's practically groomed your entire military career?"

"When he first informed me of my future role, it did." Winter moved her head just barely enough to make eye contact. "But as time went on and the depth of the world's plight started to truly sink in, the more I started to see the path presented to me as a tremendous honor. An opportunity to do some real good for Atlas… for Remnant."

"But your destiny was chosen for you," Opal gently argued. "Without your input."

"Perhaps, but I'm choosing it now," Winter said. "I've made it my own and now take great pride in the future that awaits me. That has nothing to do with my father, nor Ironwood. That belongs exclusively to me."

Opal's posture relaxed. "We all have to forge our own paths someday, huh?"

"Indeed." Winter paused. "Opal?"

"Hm?"

Another pause. Opal's ears pricked up again in rapt curiosity to hear whatever Winter said next, though the split-second shift in the specialist's expression from serene acceptance to something that she could only interpret as raw regret piqued her interest even further. She turned to face the specialist more fully, now.

"Don't falter and make the same mistakes I once did," Winter said.

"What?" Opal uttered.

Winter sighed softly. "Opal. For too long, I've largely accepted whatever the general ordered without question – and in many ways, that habit remains alive and well in me today. Your steadfast loyalty is indeed invaluable, but don't let yourself become a pawn."

"Ironwood once told me and my team to question his actions if we ever had concerns…" Opal quietly recalled.

"Then he must possess the same desire to see Iridescence make a difference in the world that I do," Winter mused.

"Even from what little time we've been working together, it sure seems that way," Opal said.

It was with that observation that both Winter and Opal wordlessly elected to stare into Fria's room for a while longer before either of them would leave. Opal couldn't tell what might've been going through the specialist's mind as they stood there in deep contemplation, but she'd spent enough time around Winter by now to tell that an invisible burden had been lifted from the woman's shoulders. No longer was she almost entirely alone in her knowledge of Fria's tragic past and isolated future, nor did she need to concern herself with the possibility that Iridescence and its members would lose the identities they came into the kingdom with.

Opal smiled sadly at Fria's sleeping form. 'Even without your memories, you're still helping improve the lives of those around you, huh? Dream well, Fria.'

Only after she provided her present company a nod goodbye did Opal finally take her leave. Not too long after she departed from the observation room, she discovered that her position as leader of Team Iridescence earned her the right to an uninterrupted journey out of the academy's secret facility. Neither the Atlesian Knights nor any of the medical personnel stopped her to question why Winter wasn't leaving right along with her – not that Opal had any problem with the lack of interruptions, of course.

When she returned to the dim, maze-like series of corridors she'd first encountered Winter within, she decided to use the familiar lack of life to her benefit, entering a somewhat thoughtful state as she walked. It wasn't long before she achieved her first epiphany.

Over the weeks she'd spent in Atlas already, she'd changed. While Opal couldn't in good conscience make the same assumption about everyone else who'd come here with her, she could tell that the increasingly familiar cold continent was changing her.

Where once she'd been the simple leader of a tight-knit team of Huntsmen-in-training, that same status and the team she commanded had been brought up to the level of national importance. Where once she was driven mostly by the desire to protect those she loved from the Grimm, now she was actively fighting the dark queen of those demonic creatures and slowly constructing her team's reputation into something that'd impact the lives of faunus everywhere.

Additional before-and-after snapshots of changes her life had experienced came into Opal's mind from there, and the world around her continued to fade. While it was entirely understandable, even fundamentally necessary that people change throughout their lives, she couldn't help but wonder…

Would all these clandestine operations and the shadow war against Salem that she'd become involved with change her even further? And if so, would those changes eventually transform the girl known as Opal Malachite into an individual whose ideals were unrecognizable to her former self? Or even worse, incompatible?

An unexpected stroke of optimism led her to assume that wouldn't be the case. Opal eventually concluded that so long as she remained aware of the path she walked – similar to the request that Ironwood made of Iridescence – she wouldn't turn into the kind of person she'd despise. Not only did she have the self-awareness to prevent her fall from grace, but she also had her teammates and friends to rely upon too. No longer was she the brash Opal of yesteryear that got herself stabbed by Cinder shortly after her parents met their demise.

Opal's scrolled beeped out a notification, and her ears twitched at the intrusion upon her thoughts. Half-expecting the message she received to be another mysterious message from one of her Atlesian allies, Opal felt her eyes narrow when she retrieved her scroll and gazed upon the multiple texts therein.

Aurora, 20:00: Check the news.

Tenebris, 20:01: It isn't gonna be fun. Brace yourself.

With the simple swipe of her fingers across the screen, Opal brought herself to the app that corresponded with all news networks' broadcasts across the kingdom. Several headlines awaited her there, none of which were pleasant, but her brow furrowed as she searched for whatever her friends could've been referring to.

Missing Journalist Found Slain in Her Midtown Apartment

Perimeter Wall Damaged Last Month – Resources and Funding Are Stalled

Surface Level Grimm Attacks Increasing – Mantle Protection Agency Advises Staying Indoors

Weather Special – How to Keep You and Your Family Safe from Hypothermia and Frostbite

And then…

"'Live Broadcast from Schnee Manor,' huh?" Opal shook her head. "This'll be fun."

From the moment she tuned into the broadcast, she fought against the urge to frown at the rather expectable sight that awaited her. Before a podium positively saturated with various news networks' microphones was none other than Jacque Schnee himself, already mid-speech.

"If I'm elected Councilman, I've made it no secret that I'll be opposing General Ironwood and his senseless embargo that's crippling all of Atlas," Jacque said. "It is my firm belief that these measures are not only reckless to the financial prosperity of our nation, but downright criminal acts against its citizens."

Opal pressed her lip into a line. 'The whole kingdom must be watching this. What's your plan here, Jacque…?'

"With no shipments allowed to enter or leave the kingdom, I'm acutely aware that many are suffering, and know that my family has been weathering the same storm as many of you," Jacque continued, placing a hand over his heart. "Due to the catastrophic loss of income to the Schnee Dust Company over recent months, it's an unfortunate truth that I'm forced to shut down all nonessential company operations. If elected to office, I'll make the necessary changes to fix what Ironwood has broken. I hope that all of you ask yourself before the vote… can you trust anyone else to stop Ironwood? Will Robyn Hill be able to get your jobs back?"

Reporters' hands, cameras, and microphones exploded into view from below alongside dozens of questions and inquiries, none of which Jacque dignified with a response. Jacque simply adjusted his tie, brushed off his coat, and provided a dismissive wave to the insatiable crowd his speech had gathered there.

As the broadcast abruptly ended, Opal concluded only one thing.

'He wanted to start a riot…'

Another notification appeared; this time delivered to every member of Iridescence.

Ironwood, 20:05: Iridescence. It's time to hit the streets.

Opal had already entered a brisk jog before she even finished reading the message, one hand secured tightly around Emerald's sheath while her other hurriedly typed a response and stuffed the device within her gi. Her teammates would know better than to delay in formulating their defense against the Grimm that were almost certainly rushing toward the lower city by now, and she could always hitch a ride on another airship with their friends later.

That night would begin to feel like an eternity before peace was restored.

Authors Note: Writing this chapter, I learned that making properly immersive descriptions of technology in fiction is hard. Stylization, too, but let's not talk the mechanics of writing a fanfic within this volume in particular – let's talk story! Yep, faunus affairs aren't gonna go anywhere anytime soon. By merit of Lux & Opal's mere presence as faunus, you can bet that the subject matter's gonna be a recurring thing every now and again, even when evil mustachioed villains like Jacque decide to intentionally cause a Grimm invasion.

On a more interpersonal note however, I will mention that while I never had any grand plans for Winter and Opal's relationship when I first came up with my plan for this volume, I did find the idea that the pair would become quick acquaintances based upon their respective positions of authority rather intriguing. Winter's a bit warmer in this fic than canon, yes, but so too is the Winter Maiden's condition explored more as the isolated and tragic existence that it really is for the once-proud warrior that may have been Fria.

From here on out, things will only intensify until things finally diverge from canon in an extremely major way that'll (hopefully) only become more major with each successive volume after this. Buckle up, it's gonna be a wild ride!