A/N: To those unfamiliar with how I work, I am a terrible writer who can't not stop creating new ideas for a story. I am so sorry. For a few years now, I had been pondering over what might happen if my bro and I's OCs and OC races were to crossover with the world of Remnant. Each time I had the idea in my head, I put it off until vol.8's final nail with Cinder's character.

Now let me put aside everything I have to say about RWBY off the table and just think of this fic as a "What if" scenario, or a reimagining of the events of the series as a whole. After Cinder's childhood revealed, a glaring plot-point had me thinking: what if someone had rescued Cinder out of that abusive situation. What if Cinder was taken out of the equation and spared before Salem discovered her 'potential'. How much would that crumbling world change if an alien falls into Remnant? The questions haunted me so much I had to write it down.

And so, I'm sharing it with you guys. This work is actually co-written with my brother, Joe, though I take most of the writing while we discuss these ideas together. So, with that said, roast this fic, tear it to pieces because we want to hear people's opinions about this. Criticism is more than welcomed in this fic so don't hold back.

EDIT: after a proper review from anon, all things considered, I've decided to remove the chapter before this to fix the continuity. Thank you for the critic, anon. Both my bro and me agreed it works better this way.

Her knees were bruised and dusted black. Blistered hands gripped the brush as she forced its bristles to scrape the stains off the floor.

She carried no name. Just a pair of golden eyes curtailed with tufts of ebony on her head. She didn't understand why this shody house would make her do all the work while others would play at their leisure.

"Hey, Cinder! Haven't finished the floor yet?"

Snickers.

'Cinder'

'Ash girl'

'Dirt-face'

She may be seven years old, but even a two-year-old could tell a name from mockery. Before she knew it, even the adults called her Cinder, abandoning whatever name was given to her by birth. Boys kicked the dust to her face, to which in turn, earned them a punch to their faces. Well. One by one, of course.

That was what it was like for as long as she remembered. Forever hated and scorned. Forever unappreciated. By the time the adults came around, they would always catch her half-way into beating them into a pulp. The matron would immediately drag her from the bruised boy and throw her into the punishment room.

"For your own good," she often said. Yet this time, it was different. The matron said nothing as she locked the door to her, just as the girl expected her to.

No explanations. Not a hint of a trick to avoid this scenario. By now, Cinder -as she had now eternalised as her name by now- would only sit there in that sooty, dusty room and wait until the night is over. So much so, this familiar space would seem a better alternative than cleaning the permanently dirty floors. Today was no different.

She made room within this confined space of abandoned wares, and sit against the wall, expecting her stomach to lurch at her lack of meal. With the lack of windows, the room was casted into an eternal shadow. But by now, she had found the means to make a light with herself. By summoning it with her own hands. She didn't know when or how she did it, but her hands seemed to summon a small flame to stave off the darkness.

2 years later

Glass Unicorn hotel was at the peak of their business. That is, until the labour laws had banned the slavery of Faunus workers. After they passed that law, there was so little that the owners could do to recruit new and willing labourers.

To not upset the richer classes, the Madame would not serve nor welcome any Faunus customers; but continued to morn at the loss of the lack of 'willing workers' to keep management afloat. Back in the glory days where shock collars weren't a thing to shy away, where Atlas city wouldn't bat an eye at the 'reasonable' punishment enforced at her labourers. Back then, her no good husband would leave the management to her and their two daughters in favour of mingling with any guest who catches his fancy. Back in the days…

Her hand was inevitably forced to turn over her labour to the forgotten ones. The abandoned souls who's lives are just as miserable as they are deservingly discarded. Someone who was as unwanted as the Faunus but is easily forgettable and less eye-catching. Someone like orphans and beggars. A friend of a friend with a connection to one of Remnant's global black markets happened to collect orphaned children by the wayside. They run their orphanages like cattle pens before the slaughter. Except these children would then be passed down to anyone who was seeking for manpower to fill the gaps that Faunus labourers had left behind. And it just so happens that one of these orphanages had a child they wanted to get rid of.

Within less than a year, the madam had already realised her mistake, buying a damaged good like Cinder as an errand to this hotel. Fumbling, breaking, and not to mention; slow in all her labour. The madam fumed at this and realised the better method to make a child more efficient was to 'train' her like she did in those glory days.

Strapping a collar around the girl's neck, Cinder received her first punishment. The child convulsed at the pulse of electricity, coiling and writhing on the floor.

"I think it's time to know your place, child," she said, releasing the shock button, giving the child room to breathe. "Have you no sense of gratitude? If I hadn't plucked you from that filthy place, you wouldn't be starving out in the dregs of Mistral."

With a press of a button, the girl convulsed again, screaming with tears streaming out of her eyes.

"Without me, you are nothing," the madame said. "Now what do you have to say for yourself?"

"I- I'm sorr-!" the girl convulsed again, writhing on the floor.

"Not good enough!"

"I- AAAHHH!"

The madame then released the button, towering her figure over the girl. "Repeat. After. Me."

Cinder raised her head up, swallowing as her limbs tremored.

"Without you-"

"…Without… you…"

"-I am-"

"I… am…"

"-Nothing."

"…" To the madam's distaste, those golden eyes flecked a sign of defiance, inciting her to press the switch once more. The girl hollered and screamed; her body rolled to the side on the floor. After a long minute, the madam released the button once more, bearing an expectant glare at the child.

"With…out… you… I am… nothing…"

"Good," she said with a satisfied nod, then turned away to tend to head over to her desk. "Now go and take out the trash, I don't want our guests to see the bins filled with a day's worth of garbage."

Languid steps dragged across the hall. Unable to think, unable to understand.

Where did I go wrong?

Her stomach rumbled as she wheeled the tall waste bin out into the cold air. Her small body could barely pull its weight, right before she slipped on the icy floor and fell forward, face down. The cold hard ground stung her body all over; bringing out fresh tears from her eyes. Pathetic, as it was humiliating to be in this mess.

The mere thought of serving under that cruel woman brought about a boiling anger welling up inside, only to simmer the moment she remembered. Compared to the musty orphanage, the hotel was a haven. But even then, she only had a scrap of meal just like that crummy place.

Cinder was about to pick herself up until a strong, warm hand helped her up. As soon as she raised her head up, the first thing she saw was a woman whose skin glowed beneath her hooded face. The sight startled the child til her back hit the bin.

"Slow down, kid, you'll hurt yourself again," the woman raised her two hands in an effort to calm her down.

Cinder gaped at the sight of the glowing woman. With another look, she noticed this adult wore a tattered cape whose hood was pinned to her gold locks; donning black clothes that contrasts her glowing skin. For a moment, her hunger, pain and anguish were replaced with awe and shock.

"…How are you doing that?" the child asked.

"Hmm, this?" the woman pointed at her face. "But I'm always like this?"

"There's gotta be a trick to that," Cinder insisted.

The adult opened her mouth, then paused before she covered her mouth. "…Yeah, no. I'm not smart enough to make a proper comeback."

It was strange to see an adult wear such an expression before. Normally, her eyes were often met with anger and scorn. It was weird to see one wear a dumb expression like this. The moment her eyes met with the stranger's red eyes, she immediately flinched, lowering her head to the ground.

I should hurry up with this before-

"Aren't you too small to be dragging that alone?" the glowing woman pointed at the bin.

Cinder felt her face flush in humiliation; "Aren't you too suspicious to be standing around a back-alleyway?"

She immediately regretted her words, expecting the woman to slap back at her-

"…Smart kid," the woman said, raising a corner of her mouth.

Oh.

To the child's surprise, she wasn't angry nor insulted at her words. The glowing woman crouched down before Cinder to her eye-level, red eyes staring back at her with a strange sense of eagerness.

"Something's special 'bout you kid," the woman smirked. "Something tells me you're gonna be worth something someday."

Those words confused her.

Me? Special?

Then the madame's words echoed in her thoughts.

'know your place.'

'Without you, I am nothing.'

She shuddered at the memory; realising if she didn't finish the rest of the work soon, there's only pain at the end of this-

"I have to go," the child said, quickly turning around to wheel the bin towards the giant dumpster that sat by the hotel's back wall. "I have to finish this quickly before-"

"-Alleyoop!" the glowing woman effortlessly picked up the bin and tossed the contents into the dumpster. She then put the bin down next to the girl, wearing a satisfied smile.

"I… I was supposed to do that," Cinder murmured. "If… they find out someone was helping me, I-"

"Well, if that's the case, why not we make this our little secret, eh?" the woman winked.

"I… I…"

The woman then frowned, seemingly troubled at Cinder's hesitation. "Dear oh dear. Looks like I might have missed a step on the social cues, haven't I?"

The child grew puzzled at this. "Social- cues?"

"Say, kid. You don't happen to be working at this hotel, do you?"

Cinder lowered her head, giving a small nod.

"Dear me, no wonder why you looked troubled," the woman sighed. "I basically took your job from you. I am so sorry."

"Ah, no, that's not-" the child dared to look at the stranger in the eye one more time, realising how guilty the glowing woman was. This was a first. And for the first time in her life, Cinder didn't know what to do with that.

Without another word, Cinder grabbed the empty bin's handle and wheeled it back inside, not looking back at the stranger as she hid her flustered face.

"My, my, it's good to see our patrons in tip-top condition."

The hotel owner gave a welcoming smile to her 'special' guests, eyeing the lack of frays and tear on the huntsmen's combat gear. She then eyed the hunter standing a good breadth away, the shadow of their hood covering their face as they faced the direction towards the second floor. The madam then turned her gaze to where Cinder was.

The madam half-expected the girl to be kneeling there idly, only to nod in satisfaction when the child crouched forward on the floor in a tandem motion.

"I see there's a new member on your team," the owner said to the leader. "Are you sure you should be so trusting to recruit a new one so soon?"

The leader leaned in cupping his hand to murmur at her ear; "I know how it looks, but believe me, this one's a good catch."

"Oh," she mused. "But can they be trusted?"

"Heh," the leader smirked. "Believe me, when she's around, it's a guaranteed smooth-sailing all-round Remnant."

"Well, I suppose if you trust this person with your life, then business is following as planned, I see," she nodded. "Now shall I show you your rooms? Or shall we discuss proper arrangements in my study?"

The small encounter she had last night became a mere speck in her mind as she scrubbed the hounding piles of dishes in the sink. The flurry of chores, the humungous scale of things to be kept made her think less of herself, adding more fuel to her desire to burn things around her. But alas, if she were to singe a thread or an inch of wood, the collar would bite back at her tenfold.

Just when she thought she had finished early, the two pests would purposefully delay her by a mere stain on the towel or floor; or even smear dishes without a second thought.

And just like that, the entire day was, once again wasted. So far, the shock collar wasn't used; much to her relief. Just as she wheeled the bin over for the night, to her surprise, the strange glowing woman was there by the alleyway with her back turned towards her.

The stranger pulled her hood back to reveal a mop of gold with a glowing hand raised to the night sky, clutching a glowing dust crystal. The glowing woman flinched before she turned around, then made a frightened expression.

"Did you… see?" she said, clutching the dust crystal close to her chest.

Cinder's eyes narrowed. "No."

The child then turned to resume her duties as she struggled to lift the bin up to toss the garbage out.

"Let me help," the woman then walked over, holding the bin's bottom to help the child pour the out its contents.

The moment the bin touched the ground, the two looked at each other; exchanging looks of uncertainty.

"Well, this time, I technically 'assisted' rather than 'did' the job for you," the woman said proudly. "I guess that means I didn't rob you of your duties so-"

"…Why?"

"Hmm?"

"Why would you do that for me?" Cinder glared at the strange woman. "I didn't ask, so what's in it for you?"

The woman crouched down to the Cinder's eye-level once more. Her smile now softer than any other adult she's ever known. "Is it strange to help someone who needs it?"

"I…" the child lowered her head. "I didn't ask."

"I don't know the ways of this world," the woman said, "But I believe struggles are universal, regardless of what world you're born in. So, I just thought maybe lightening another person's burden might lessen that."

Despite the big words the woman said, something about her tone felt oddly comforting and unreal. Like the soft beds that she could never lie on. Or a proper plate of food for one meal. Something that looked so enticing, and yet unreachable, she found it difficult to believe in those words.

"What's your name, kid?" the woman asked.

"…Cinder."

"Strange name for a girl like yourself," the woman said. "But then again, this world is full of odd names no doubt."

"What's it to you," the girl retorted, only to bite her lips at her own words.

"No, no, nothing," she then pocketed the dust beneath her cloak. "If it's any compensation, I'm practically named 'Nameless'."

"Nameless?"

"Yeah. I have no name. so. 'Nameless.'"

The girl found herself giggling at the revelation, the mere absurdity of being granted such a name seemed dumber than what she had expected. "Who calls themselves nameless?" she wheezed.

"Funny story that," Nameless chuckled. "One day, I fell into this world with no memories of myself. Since I can't remember my name, I had a choice between 'Nobody', 'Idiot', or 'Nameless'."

At this, her laughter died down, now curious of what Nameless meant. "Fell?"

Nameless nodded, pointing her finger up to the night sky. "From a world beyond this one, I fell into this world without my memories."

"That doesn't make sense."

Nameless shrugged. "True. But then again, this world's social cues seemed to be inconsistent and almost ironic."

"Ironic?" The fact that Nameless kept dropping big words on her just makes it harder for Cinder to understand. Just as the thought flew past her, her stomach churned with a grumble.

"Oh dear," Nameless remarked, to which Cinder flushed.

The glowing woman stood up, gathered some snow in her hands only for the snow to evaporate into steam within seconds. She then turned her head from side to side then turned her gaze back to Cinder. "I don't suppose you have time to wait around in this terrible weather, do you?"

Hearing those words, Cinder frowned, realising if she won't turn in for the night early; she wouldn't be able to get much sleep for the rest of the day.

"By your expression, I suppose I've been keeping you for too long," Nameless shook her head, only to perk up again as if a thought had struck her. "-Ah, that's right. I might have something- ah-ha!" she brandished a bar with a branded label 'pumpkin pete cereal bar' from her pocket. "…oh wait. Is this even good to have? I heard human's stomachs are sometimes sensitive from eating-"

The mere sight of food had Cinder's mouth water, her eyes gleaming at the sight of the treat.

"-Oh," Nameless' lips fell, eyes reflecting a saddened gaze. She crouched to Cinder's level and handed over the plastic-wrapped treat. "Eat it slowly, okay? It wouldn't be good to swallow it down without something to drink."

Cinder didn't really care, but any opportunity to have her belly filled was enough.

"Do they not… feed you well?" Nameless asked as the child tore the plastic open. The girl then took a big bite from the bar and was greeted with a mouthful of sugar on her tongue. It wasn't before long did she finish the bar, feeling a satisfied warmth in her stomach. Only then did Cinder realise she had ignored Nameless' question and raised her head to her.

"Sorry," Nameless said in a low voice. "If I had known- maybe I would have given you something better."

Bypassing the meaning behind that saddened gaze, Cinder grew wide-eyed at a stray thought; would she give me something better? Better than this?

The child hadn't dared to think about something like that before.

Nameless then looked to the sky, her frown deepened. "It's almost midnight. I think it best we both turn in for the night before both of us gets in trouble." The glowing woman then put her hands on the child's shoulders, her frown changed to a comforting smile. "I'll see you around, kid. Now, go."

That night as Cinder settled into bed within the cold cellars in her room, she sucked her tooth with her tongue at the memory of the sweet bar she was given. It wasn't much, as Nameless said it was, but thinking about her promise to be given something better made it hard to sleep.

What will she give me? Is it bread? A full meal?

For the first time in her life, the child fell into a blissful sleep at that happy thought.

The child howled and screamed.

Volts of power pierced her senses, sending her to convulse at the touch of a button. The madam was angry again. Cinder didn't know what she did wrong, but-

The madame is angry.

"Now think about what you did to deserve this punishment," the madam released the button. "Think carefully of what you did wrong."

"What… I did… wrong?" Cinder raised her head up, seeing the two pest sisters sneaking a glance through the split opening of the door. As soon as she glared at the two, another wave of pain coursed through her, making her scream.

"Your prideful stubbornness is unneeded, child," the woman chided. "I don't want to see any more of this unneeded rebellion from you. Think of what you did wrong!"

Her neck was boiling. Her arms were both numb yet doused with endless pain. Heat grew within her chest; despite the pain, she felt something welling up within. The madam released the button, losing connection from both pain and that strange sensation within.

The girl gasped her breaths, her mind hazily grasping whatever she could recall that earned her punishment. "I… I don't know…"

Another wave of pain coursed through her. This time, her nerves felt more fractured, feeling the volts of energy boiling her from the inside. She didn't know what was happening, but something about this collar was not just giving her pain.

By the time her punishment was served, Cinder was left there on the floor; her small body curled pathetically. Perhaps it was wrong to hope, but even as she did as she was told; she still couldn't figure out her mistake.

Oh, she remembered. Nameless promised she'd give me something better.

That thought alone was enough for her weary limbs to stand.

As soon as she wheeled the bin out to the back, a swell of relief came at the sight of that familiar glowing figure. The child curled her lips up unknowingly, "You're here-!"

A thin thread of light fell from the sky, falling onto the glowing adult's hand. A flash of light followed, blinding her vision. Darkness fell seconds after, followed by Nameless' panicked voice.

"Shoot!" footsteps approached her in a frantic pace. "Are you alright!?"

Cinder groaned as she rubbed her eyes in a poor attempt to regain her vision. Warm, hurried hands rested on her small shoulders, followed by a sensation of having those same hands turn her head from side to side.

"Open your eyes, let me see them," said Nameless.

The child let her hands hang by her sides, opening her eyes to see Nameless crouching before her with a terrified expression.

"Can you… see me?" the adult asked.

Cinder nodded, blinking as her eyes regained their clarity.

"Thank goodness. I was scared there for a second." Nameless hung her head back, raising her head to the sky. "The last time someone saw that light, they were blinded for life."

The child didn't know what to say, confused before she remembered; "Did you… um… bring food?"

The adult flinched, then turned her head away from Cinder's face. "Ah, shoot. Forgot."

"Huh? But… you promised-!"

"I did?" Nameless pointed her finger at herself, eyeing Cinder before she frowned guiltily. "…I guess I did. Sorry."

Sorry?

Once again, adults let her down. It's always been like that, it seemed. Promising things they won't keep; punishing her for things she didn't do; demanding her to do impossible things-

"Liar," she muttered.

"Eh?"

"You're all liars!" the child screamed. "You act all nice but you never keep your promises! It must be nice, going and doing whatever you please; but not me!" -Tears welled up in her eyes, crying her heart out as words spewed out of her mouth- "You, the madam, those girls- all of you! You're all nothing but liars!"

"Wait, wait, wait," Nameless said in panic. "Calm down, Cinder, what do you-!"

"Are you just going to be nice to me?!" Cinder lashed. "Are you just being nice so you could just have your way with everything?!"

Nameless opened her mouth, only to clamp it shut, her red gaze staring back at Cinder. The child continued to cry, rubbing her hands over her swelling eyelids. Everything was a mess. Even though everyday was hell, it couldn't be any worse than today.

Nameless's hand reached for the child's head and thrust it against her chest. The gesture caught the child by surprise, as arms wrapped itself around her small back into a warm embrace.

"Sorry. For real. I really am sorry." She patted the girl's head, soothing the racked nerves Cinder was feeling. With a sigh, she added; "Looks like this world's let you down badly, huh. Welp, you're right about a lot of things. Broken promises are no more than half-truths after all."

"It's not fair," Cinder whimpered. "It's not fair that I get to suffer while everyone else-"

"…So they aren't treating you well too, huh," Nameless interjected.

"Uh-huh," the child nodded.

"Well, ain't that scum. Ah, but then again, I guess I can't speak for myself either."

A small silence followed before Nameless released Cinder from her grasp. Within an arm's length, the glowing woman rested her hands on the child's shoulders. "Care to tell me what exactly they did?"

With a small voice, Cinder recounted her days of endless duties. Scrubbing the floors; eating off of patrons' scraps; cleaning and wiping down surfaces that were impossible to reach. Upon touching the subject with the madam's punishments, the child unconsciously grazed her fingers over her neck with unease. As soon as she finished her tale, Nameless held a tight lip, clearly distraught of what she had heard.

The adult then stood up, turning her head towards the direction of the hotel's backdoor entrance. For a moment, Cinder thought she saw Nameless's skin grow brighter as her jaw clenched.

"I don't know much about the rules of this world," Nameless said gravely. "But times like this, I guess it's a good time to start breaking a few." She turned towards Cinder. "Say, kid. Whad'ya say? Want me to get you out of here?"

Huh?