A/N: EDIT: This is what I get for writing a happy chapter, huh? Hardly any reviews and more flames than I can count?

*sigh* Why write something if no one likes it...?

As ever, this story remains under the Embers rule. If folks don't like it? Poof! Gone! To the void it goes! DELETED. So by all means, speak up! Every bit of feedback, every review, no matter how large or small, means the world to this tired old man.

Now lets answer your burning questions, shall we:

Q: More Kid!Neo! We demands it!

A: Wish granted!

Q: Hey, is it wrong that Naruto Reminds me of the Doctor? I speak of the Twelfth, of course. He's a bit of a grump, but he's a kind grump.

A: Suppose he does. Might write one like that. Not yet, though. The difference being that Naruto is ice cold to most, with very few exceptions.

Q: When will all the lasses meet?!

A: *grins*

Q: Can you tell us who the Spring Maiden is?

A: Come now, giving that away would spoil an entire arc!

Alright, I've kept you waiting long enough.

Once again, I own no references, themes, or memes. Not a wit or a one.

As per the story, each story will have a unique "Heart" theme for it.

Now then...prepare yourself. Quote is meant to be familiar.

"He's a bit of a grump, but he's my grump. Leave it be, Tai."

"Summer, you're not ready to be a mo-

"I SAID! LEAVE IT!"

~Future.

Hearts of Peace

This was the life.

Warmth? Check~!

Food in her belly? Double check!

All the love and affection a mute child could ever want? Triple check!

Squeaky clean? Ick. Neo wasn't much a fan of that last bit -just as all children loathed all things associated with baths-but three out of four wasn't bad. Really, all that awful scrubbing and cleaning had been horrid. Dirt was good. Nobody paid any attention to you when you were dirty. Why did everyone in Vale have to be so clean?! Hopefully she wouldn't be needing another bath anytime soon.

Content in her small victory, Neo snuggled deeper into her blanks with a silent sigh.

Cocooned in a shell of warmth on the sofa, she took a long moment to simply bask in it all.

This? This was bliss.

After spending so many days on the run, scraping and scrounging just to survive, she was safe. Old habits died hard, but she refused to give into them. No. She was safe here. She could finally kick back and relax for the first time in...well, forever! She couldn't remember the last time she'd been able to do something like this. To just live without fear. This was a good place.

No lunatics out for her blood, no Grimm trying to gobble her up, just...what was the word? Mama had said it only a few minutes ago.

Peace? Yes! That was the word!

Neo wrinkled her nose and considered her surroundings.

Yup. It was official. There could be no greater peace than this.

Spying her prize on a nearby table, she wriggled her arms from beneath the blankets and darted forward to claim it. Pale hands caught and cradled a cup of hot cocoa, letting the warm mug melt away the evening chill like a bad dream. Its faint aroma caressed her nose like a teasing breeze while she sipped at it. The ghost of a smile touched her face as it warmed her spirits. Bliss. The only thing that could make this even better would be-

Aha! There!

"Comfortable, are we?"

Neo's head bobbed in a pleased nod, mismatching eyes half-lidded with glee as Summer took the now-empty mug from her hands and plonked down on the cushion beside her. No sooner had she done so than the little Maiden latched onto her. The huntress chortled a little, but made no move to extricate herself. A soft hand stroked the back of her head in smooth, circular motions.

"Good girl."

Naruto claimed the rightmost space beside her, effectively sandwiching Neo between the two of them.

She pivoted and took the opportunity to burrow into his side as well.

"Heh." Summer smiled indulgently. "You're a cuddler. Just like Yang."

Neo tossed her head with a huff. She took offense to that slanderous statement! She was nothing like that surly blond!

"C'mon, don't tease her." the low drawl of Papa's voice broke through her musings. "Kid's had a long day." Neo glowered at him, and he amended his statement. "Long week, really."

Neo agreed wholeheartedly.

The Mane With The Cane had put her through so many tests! He kept prattling on and on about training and duty and other big words she couldn't be bothered to understand. She didn't much care for them, either. So what if she had an odd power? This was her home.

Her. Home.

Forever and ever, and ever.

She wouldn't give this up for the world.

Neo's gaze strayed to Summer as she devoured her meal and chased it down with a glass of juice. Not wine. Juice. She'd stopped drinking it days ago. Papa had noticed too; or maybe he only noticed now; because he was looking at her strangely. When Neo leaned forward, he mirrored her.

"You've been awfully hungry lately."

Summer stilled, the sandwich hovering before her mouth. "Its nothing."

Beside them, Neo tilted her head.

Summ began to sweat.

"I'm fine, really."

"Summer."

To be fair, the huntress tried to bolt. She just wasn't quick enough. Neo got ahold of her arm and turned pleading eyes on her mother figure. Was she sick? She couldn't be sick! No! Not allowed! That was enough to slow her; time enough for Naruto to move and sit on the opposite side of Summer. Just like that, the silver-eyed warrior found herself hemmed in between the two of them.

Beneath their combined stare, Summer faltered.

...I'm late." she mumbled. Her face went red.

Naruto blinked. "Late for what?"

Summer's chin kissed her chest. "Whaddya think?"

"I don't know." The man with the Heart of Stone quirked a brow. "That's why I'm asking you."

Summer all but rounded on him. "Do I have to spell it out for you?!"

Another blink followed the first. "Yes, please?"

"Aaargh!"

She made a keening noise through her teeth; it reminded Neo of stem escaping a kettle. Before her very eyes Summer shifted and settled a hand on her stomach. Almost as if she were protecting it. Now it was Neo's turn to blink. Realization broke like the dawn. She admittedly knew little of the world, but she knew enough. A sibling?! Already?! She rather liked the sound of that.

Her body twisted and she clung ever more tightly to her.

"Well," Summer unbent enough to pat her head, "At least someone's taking this well...

Neo stole a look at Naruto. His face was curiously blank. Oh, dear. A hand waved before his face. No response came. Had they broken him...?

And of course she was taking this well! She'd have a minion to boss around. Come to think of it, she'd always wanted a big family. The more minions the merrier! Still, she couldn't quite ignore the feather of fear that tickled her heart. They wouldn't try to replace her, surely. No. They wouldn't do that. Not ever.

None would usurp her place as First.

She wouldn't let them.

Never.

(.0.0.0.)

"Well, here we are."

Weiss managed a weak nod as she traipsed to a halt beside him. They'd made it safely. She could put aside her rage, her grief, her burning need for vengeance...for now. It still burned in her chest, but it was a cold burn, a constant reminder of what she'd lost. The little Schnee held it tight, even as her eyes flashed with pale blue flames.

"We're finally here...?"

"This is it." Naruto's clone exhaled in a world weary sigh. "Home sweet home. Sorry it took so long...

At a glance she didn't think much of this place; if only because she couldn't. She was too afraid to grow attached to anything other than the man who had saved her life.

And besides, the abode of Summer Rose truly left much to be desired.

It was a cozy little collage to be sure, nothing out of the ordinary. She could see a fireplace burning merrily through one of the windows.

Winter would have liked it, she thought. Winter, who still hadn't stirred, who seemed weaker every day now, as if she'd simply lost the will to live. She looked so frail. So thin. Was that Tyrian's poison at work, or something more sinister? If...if Winter died...she would be alone in this world for real. The last Schnee, cursed with a power she'd never wanted, never asked for, never needed-no! she wrenched her mind away! Don't think like that! Winter will live! She has to!

Still, Naruto -or rather, his shadow clone- had proven instrumental in smuggling them out of Atlas safety. For that she owed him her trust, if not her life.

It had been a hard journey, a long one indeed, but here at last she saw the end of the road.

No more sleeping on the road, or in shoddy tents. No more standing idly by as Winter's breathing grew weaker and weaker. No more field rations or ghastly travel fare. Beds! Warmth! Comfort! Anything that might distract her form the specter of death hanging over her sister.

The distant rustle of a parting bush caught her ears.

She rounded on it, expecting another ambush.

Thus, she was quite surprised when someone wearing Naruto's face emerged from the opposite end of the clearing. He was carrying a girl on his back. Unlike her copy, he looked rather tired. Exhausted, even. His eyes grew wide at the side of her. Weiss shrank back.

"And who are you?!" she demanded of that chaperone.

"I could ask you the same." the girl absolutely glowered at her from her perch on his back, gaze ablaze. "What are you doing here?!"

She felt the air shift between them, stirring with a power she recognized. One so like her own.

Burning eyes met flaming orbs. "You're like me?!"

The blond bridled. "No, you're like me!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Yeah-huh!"

The door creaked open before they could come to blows.

"What's all this now?!" A woman thrust her head out, shirt askew and silver eyes narrow. "Do you have any idea how late it...is...?"

Then she saw them.

Silver eyes grew very large indeed.

"Oh!" A startled blink bled her anger away. One hand came up to cover her mouth. "Aaren't you dears just adorable. Come in, come in!" she craned her neck back and shouted inside, "Naruto! Neo! They're here!"

A dull thud answered, accompanied by rapid footsteps. Not a moment later, a young girl thrust herself between the woman's legs. Her eyes too, were alight with flame. She took one look at them and flashed a jaunty little wave, but it was the man behind her that truly caught their eyes.

"Well?" The original considered them for a long, pointed moment. "What're you standing there, for? Food's getting cold."

Without so much as a backward glance he pivoted and stalked back inside. Well. That was...brusque.

Weiss exchanged a resigned look with Arslan. The blond girl shrugged helplessly.

Together, they set aside their grudge and sallied forth into the unknown.

Just like that, their fate shifted that much more.

A/N: EDIT: As ever, flames make me not to write. At all. Anything. So does silence. Keep that in mind.

Well this was a nice fluffy warm chapter~!

So lets clarify!

Neo = Fall Maiden.

Weiss = Winter Maiden.

Arslan = Summer Maiden.

Go ahead. Guess who Spring is. Really! You'll never see her coming.

As ever, reviews keep me writing. They're the only form of payment I'll ever receive. Without them...I can't write.

So in the Immortal Words of Atlas...Review...Would You Kindly?

And of course, enjoy the previews.

References for daaaaaaaays!

Surprise, surprise~!

(Previews)

"Oh, wow, a baby...

Neo held up a freshly inked sign that conveyed her intentions where words could not. "I was first."

Arslan bridled at the slight. "Hey! No fair!"

Weiss joined her. 'How rude!"

Another sign joined the first. "Get on my level, newbloods."

Watts threw his head back and laughed.

"Ha! Do you see now?! Simple strength is no match for an intellect such as mine-

A familiar hand clamped down on his shoulder and squeezed.

"Don't get cocky...you inferior creature."

And then there was pain.

EDIT: No, this ain't the Spring Maiden. Now stop sodding flaming me for it before I BLOODY QUIT.

The Tribe had finally stopped beating her.

The Girl knew it if only because everything had stopped spinning.

"Do you desire power, child?" Salem's voice whispered in her ear.

"Who's the kid?"

...not sure. She won't talk. Hasn't said a word."

"Beat her some more." the bandit shrugged. "Might talk than-ack?!"

"My name," their captive growled as she tore out his throat, "Is Vernal. And this camp? Your tribe? Everything you have? THIS IS MINE NOW."

R&R~!