Chapter 8:

Reversal of Fortune

"Our Situation Has Changed…"

The room was cold. The chairs and table made of a dull metal. The bulb above was soft, light unable to penetrate the shadows in the corners of the room. She shifted in her seat. Her stitches were still new so she took care not to strain them. A soft click came from the other side of the room. She watched as the door opened, revealing one of the police officers that had been guarding her.

"Ms Colt, your Lawyer is here."

The officer cleared the doorway, allowing the stout frame of her lawyer to enter.

"Hello Dora, it's good to see you." He greeted from the door frame. He pulled out the chair opposite her. Slightly ruffling the blue suit he wore as he sat down. The black bear ears on his head twitching occasionally. He brought up a brown leather briefcase and placed it on the table. The officer closed the door, allowing the two to talk in relative privacy.

"Thanks to your cooperation I have been able to put together a plea deal." He opened the briefcase and pulled out some documents. He handed one to Dora. "Judge Burra has looked it over and approved it. Now we just need you to say okay."

Dora looked the sheet of paper over. Reading the stipulations.

"First of all are the details of the plea. You get a five year suspended sentence with three years probation, and seven hundred hours of community service. Mandatory check ins with the court and mandatory attendance with a rehabilitation and therapy program. On top of that is eight-hundred hours of community service. You are not allowed to leave Vale. However, if a family member dies and their funeral is in another Kingdom, something can be worked out. You will be under constant surveillance if that does happen. If you break any part of this agreement you will have to serve the five years. If you were to meet any active White Fang members, it will be considered a violation of your plea and you will be arrested. If you are found with a weapon of any kind, it will be considered a violation of your plea and you will be arrested. If you miss one of your mandatory check ins, it will be considered a violation of your plea and you will be arrested."

Dora placed the paper back on the table. Her lawyer pulled out a pen.

"I just need your signature."

He handed Dora the pen.

She looked up to her lawyers' large smile that was supposed to be reassuring.

She stared at the pen, weighing her options. She grimaced and signed the paper.

"Fantastic!" He took the paper and placed it back in his briefcase. "I shall file this once I return to my office." He took his pen back and started to pack up.

Dora looked at the cold table.

"Would you have taken my case if I wasn't willing to reform?"

The ruffling of his suit stopped.

"No."

Dora looked up.

"I have no interest in meeting with White Fang members not willing to reform." He sat down again across from Dora. "I have done this dozens of times. The amount of Faunus I do this with only to immediately flee and re-join is more than I'd like to say. You are genuine in your effort, so I don't fear you will run as soon as you leave."

Dora looked down and felt tears sting her eyes.

"I have been in your position. I was once a member too. But when I saw my friends break into some innocent human's house and brutalise them to 'send a message'. I knew I had to get out. It took me months but I finally did. I left behind friends I had known since childhood, family who wouldn't follow me. My wife, who threw knives after me, calling me a traitor. But I managed, it isn't perfect, but I'm happy. And I want Faunus like you to be happy too. That's why I believe you will go through with this."

She felt the tears fall. "Thank you," She looked up into his smiling face. "Thank you, Mr. Urs, for believing in me."

"Please, call me Cole."

He stood and made his way to the door.

"I'll check in with you in a week, Dora. Until then, stay well."

He knocked on the door, the officer opened it allowing him to exit.

Dora wiped the tears from her eyes and a small smile crept onto her face. Things were finally looking up.

"DAMMIT!" Cinder roared, sending a bolt of fire into a stack of crates.

Cinder looked through the Seer Grimm to Salem on the other side. Her Queen watched with impassive eyes.

"Are you finished venting?"

Cinder steadied her breathing. She looked to her queen.

"Report again, without destroying boxes." Salem spoke, her measured tone coming from the Grimm.

"The soldier, the drone, it attacked Roman. It protected those children. It took the paladin down like it was nothing. Weeks of work were undone in minutes. Adam also informed me it could have been the reason the five bases disappeared. Four more bases were raided by the police last night. That isn't a coincidence."

Her queen nodded. "You seem to be acting out, Cinder. Has something put you off?"

Cinder glanced past Salem before averting her eyes just as quickly.

"Nothing has put me off. This thing is strong, and whatever it is, Ozpin is controlling it."

"A mere distraction to be crushed underneath marching boots." An old voice rumbled.

Cinder closed her mouth. This thing…unsettled her. It wasn't a pleasant feeling.

"You will continue your task." The voice rumbled again.

"You have what you need, Cinder. Infiltrate the tower, gain us access. The rest of the plan will proceed as normal. Leave this one to me." Salem smiled.

"At our enemy's doorstep we stand unknown. Our foes arrogance lets us lie within their walls unfettered. Watching, waiting, listening. A viper, readying to strike. This is just an incursion, the true war is yet to begin."

The Seer Grimm went dark, cutting the connection between the Grimm.

Cinder shivered, the sense of unease finally leaving. Cinder steadied herself before finally leaving the room. She walked up to the railing of the balcony, looking out over the warehouse they were in.

"Listen well. Everything proceeds as planned. This is not a setback, this tells us that the Kingdom's fear us. We will use this fear against them. Keep working."

Cinder walked away from the balcony, heading to the exit. Emerald walked up to her.

"Cinder, do you think it's a good idea to-"

Cinder stopped in her tracks, turning to face Emerald.

"Everything will proceed as planned."

"But Roman's back. He can barely move."

Cinder levelled a glare at her subordinate.

"Everything will proceed as planned." Cinder bit. She turned, leaving the warehouse. Leaving Emerald standing alone.

A shorter chapter this time. Setting up for the next one. It could have been longer but then I would have been forcing myself to write and that's no fun.

I wanted, when I first started writing, to have the first chapter length be the Mean chapter length. Or is it Mode? It doesn't matter. It's good to have shorter chapters to break up the flow so you don't have giant walls of text.