Well, it's been a while since the last chapter. I would like to take some time to confirm that I am indeed still alive. I've been busy with work, studies and being lazy (some books, a few shows, a few audiobooks and such). And of course, picking apart the timelines for season 4 of RWBY for use in this story. I thought I had it all figured out already but when I double-checked I noticed that I had gotten everything wrong! so back to the drawing board. No really, I draw actual pictures to make sense of the timeline.
Rest assured that I will continue working on this story, as fast as I am able.

But now, after such a long wait, chapter 28.

On a farm

Oscar Pine was very tired as he worked on his aunt's farm. It was not the work that was tiring him, it was the poor sleep he got at night.

The nightmare had not stopped ever since he woke up in a cold sweat that first time. They always seemed so livid and detailed but whenever he tries to remember them they slipped away from his mind's grasp. And they left him with little to no sleep.

His aunt kept on telling him that all he needed to sleep more soundly was more work and exercise and so had increased his workload. But he still slept poorly.

And it was so he was sleepily clearing the floor of the barn with a pitchfork, gathering what was worth keeping in a pile. He found it a bit dull. He had doe the same thing so often in the past without thought or care for how dull the work was but now? The inexplicable desire to take to walking and leave the farm had not left him yet and if anything it was growing stronger. Like he had someplace to go and be and something important to do.

In the corner of his eye he caught something moving. Looking up he realized that it was little more than his own reflection in an old and dirty mirror.
"My nightmares must really be getting to me." he said to himself. "Next I'll be jumping at my own shadow."

But even so he paused with his labour and stepped closer to the old mirror. Something had looked… off.

He slowly stepped closer, thinking if he was in his right mind to do this. When he got closer he wiped the glass with his sleeve and got a good look at himself.
Something felt off.. Or maybe he was just losing his mind from lack of sleep.

But part of him told him that it had changed, along with other things. Without thinking he raised his hand to his face as if to adjust a pair of spectacles in order to get a better look. He caught himself and instead pulled his fingers through his dark hair. Had it gotten darker? No, that would've been ridiculous. It looked normal. Just like everything else.

'What a silly thought.' he thought to himself and looked into the mirror. Another silly thought came over him and he leaned closer to the mirror.
"Hello?"

There was no answer.
"Yep, still just the same old Oscar Pine." said Oscar and picked up his pitchfork again.

'Who are you? Where am I? Did we win? Does the tower stand?'

"AAAHHHH!"
The voice seemed to come from nowhere and yet it was everywhere for Oscar who threw himself back from the mirror with a yell. He fell over and the pitchfork fell to the floor with a loud noise.
Who had said that? From where?

Nothing moved around him. No one was there, or so it seemed. Oscar got up carefully and looked around.
"Oscar! You be careful with those tools." shouted his aunt but Oscar didn't bother answering her. Slowly and cautiously he moved closer to the mirror.
Why was he worried? It was only a mirror. What could a mirror do to him?

Carefully he peeked at the reflective surface. He only saw his own face. Oscar let out a sigh of relief.

'Hello! Sorry about my shouting earlier. I'm professor Ozpin.' said a voice, and now Oscar knew where it came from.
It came from his own head.

"AAAHHHHH!"

'Oh, is this a bad time?'

On a boat

Seagulls followed in the wake of the ship, calling for food. The passengers just ignored them, having been told to do so by the crew to prevent the pests from getting worse.

Blake ignored them as well, having more dire matters on her mind. To anyone else it might have seemed that she just stood there, just as she had for the last hour or so and just kept looking out on the waters.

The bow that had once covered her faunus trait was gone, thrown away in a fever dream as her journey began. Where it had gone, she did not know. Nor did she care for she would not need it where she was going.

But even as she looked out at the waves and listened to the sounds of the ocean she couldn't help but to think and remember what happened at Beacon:
Adam and his promise to destroy everything she loved, him severing Yang's arm, her pleading for the faunus to not hurt Yang more, the delight the faunus had in hurting a human, the arrival of the astartes and the slaughter of the White Fang soldiers.

"Show me what passes for fury among your misbegotten kind!" echoed the voice of the space marine in her head as he had begun his bloody task.
She did not know what terrified her more: the blood thirst of the White Fang or the brutality of the space marines.

Regardless, she had ran away. She had to run away because she was afraid of it happening again.
From what little she had heard before she set out, Adam had not counted among the dead. That meant that he might be going after Yang or any of the others again. After what she had seen at Beacon, she didn't doubt that he would.

But all of that did not scare her as much as what she had been pondering during her whole trip: how would the Imperium of Man react to it? How would the astartes deal with the faunus if the White Fang continued on its current course? Would there be a repeat of the slaughter that happened at Beacon, only on a much larger scale?

Blake could not let that happen. She could not let the White Fang continue with these acts of wanton violence against humans. Not only would it not help them to achieve what they had sought for in the beginning: equality and rights, but it would also bring down the wrath of the Imperium upon them.
If the White Fang wasn't dealt with then all faunus might face extinction.

Blake was woken from her dark thoughts by the chilly wind making the scar on her belly ache.
She winced as she tried to ease up the ache by gently prodding it.
"You should be resting." said a voice disapprovingly. "In a bed."

Blake's paranoia spiked and she grabbed her blade and looked around. No one was there. The only people she could see were far away and not paying her any attention. They had not even seen her reach for her weapon.

"Down here." said the voice and Blake now noticed that the voice came from below her feet, on the other side of the railing.

She kept her hand on her weapon, ready to draw it at a moment's notice, and carefully and slowly peeked over the railing. She was at a loss for words at who she saw.
"Wha- What are- How?"

"Surprised?" asked Sun, hanging from the railing by his tail, donned in a ugly brown cloak that was right now dangling towards the ocean, revealing his bare chest.
He flashed her a Sun-smile and pulled himself a bit higher up by the strength of his aura-enhanced tail.

As Blake was processing Sun's presence her hand left her weapon and she looked around to make sure that no one else had spotted Sun.
"Sun! What are you doing here? How are you here? Why are you here?" she hissed and tried to act as casual as possibly.

"Hm? Oh I'm just keeping tabs on you. I figure that you were going on a one-woman-rampage against the White Fang so I decided to tag along in case you might need someone to watch your back. As for how I'm here, I'm stowaway...-ing. I think that's a word. Please don't tell the crew about me. I've just gotten my hideout all cozy-like."

"Your hideout? Cozy-like?"
Blake wondered if she had gotten cabin fever from the voyage, but then she remembered that she was talking to Sun. Of course he would do something like that.

"Yup. Got myself a nice hammock, some lights, decent plumbing. And bananas. You gotta have bananas on these trips." said Sun and seemed to shine like his namesake with pride over it. Because Sun was not just some stowaway. He was a great stowaway. He put actual effort into his shenanigans
.

"Oh, and I'm diggin' the new outfit, by the way!"
Before Blake could even say anything Sun continued. "I meant you ditching the bow. Never did like it. Not that you don't look amazing otherwise."

"You been following me?! Since Beacon!" said Blake and forced herself not to think of the given compliments, even if she did feel her cheeks grow a bit warmer. She did however reach up to her ears. Right, she had made away with the bow as she embarked on her journey, and when she tossed around in her fever dreams it had been lost.

"WelI du-uh. I saw you run off from the hospital. There was no way you could've been okay yet back then, so I followed you. The only reason why I didn't approach you if because I didn't know what cabin was yours. And that the crew might've spotted me. And let me tell ya, these cruise ship folk do not like stowaways."

"And how did you know that I'm going after the White Fang?" asked Blake, surprised by Sun's apparent insight.

"What else would you do? You ain't with your team, so you ain't doing something with them. AND! The White Fang has always been your fight. So it made perfect sense that you would go after them after they thrash your school and hurt your bestie, and the guy who did it is still on the loose. And what happened at Beacon really goes against what you've fought for since… well, for a long time. And after what they did at Beacon, I want to get a swing at them as well."

Blake nodded slowly. Yeah, she could see what Sun was getting at. Gods, was she really that transparent about her actions?
"Well, you're… sorta right." she eventually said in a very low voice.

"Oh?"

"I'm going to deal with the White Fang, but there is something I've got to deal with first."

"Right. Right."

Sun didn't press for more answers from Blake and let the matter be for now.
They were quiet for a while, looking over the calm ocean, Sun still upside down.

"Sooo… why aren't you resting? I doubt that wound in your gut is quite healed up yet." said Sun.
He was right of course, but Blake had found that staying in her cabin all the time didn't suit her. She had already read every book she could get her hands on and there was no signal for her scroll. Going outside was the only thing left for her to do.

"I'm thinking." said Blake.

"Thinking of what?"

"What happened at Beacon. And how to deal with the White Fang. I just can't shake the memory of what happened at beacon."

Returning her hand to the railing, Blake too a deep breath. It was time for her to confide in Sun about her intentions, as half-planned as they were. Gods knew he deserved to know since sticking with her ever since she sneaked away from Vale. And him knowing her plans might also prove helpful in the long run.

What she had seen in Vale had changed her, or rather, her perception of things. Things like the White Fang and what it had become.
"Sun, do you remember what I told you when we first met? About my past with the White Fang?"

"Sure do. I mean, how could I forget that night, what with the infiltration of a terrorist meeting, fighting robots and Torchwick at the same night?"

"It was. But do you remember what I told you about my involvement with the White Fang?"

"Yeah. that you were practically born into it. What brought that up?"

"What I saw at Beacon, I can't let it happen again."

"Yang getting hurt or…" asked Sun, hoping for clarification.
What had happened at Beacon was tragic to say the least, but there were just so many things Blake could be specifically getting at. Was it Yang's injury, the fact that the White Fang had attacked in the first place?

Blake nodded.
"That, and also what happened to the White Fang soldier that didn't evacuate before the astartes arrived."

"Don't tell me you feel sorry for them." groaned Sun.
"Look, I admit that some of them died in... less than pleasant ways, but you can't tell me that they didn't have it coming. I mean, just look at what they did to Yang! Do you think they would have settled with just scalping her? Had that space marine been any later they might have r-"

"I know!" hissed Blake, having contemplated that matter more than was strictly healthy for her young mind.
She looked around, checking if any of the other passengers had reacted to her outburst.

"It's just that, what if the Imperium begins to believe that all faunus are like them?"

Sun was quiet for a while.
"Do you really think that they would pursue all faunus just for what a few extremists did?"
There was a hint of worry in his voice. He must have never thought about that possibility.

"You remember what Jaune said about them? 'They are the defenders of humanity.' Well, these defenders of humanity have just seen a lot of White Fang attack innocent humans without remorse. And those White Fang got no quarter for what they did. If the astartes deem the faunus to be a threat to humanity in general they might just exterminate us all."

"You're sure about this?" asked Sun. He had no love for the White Fang, even having called them "stupid, holier-than-thou creeps that use force to get whatever they want", but he was under no illusion that the astartes couldn't do it if provoked. He himself just hoped that Jaune would intervene before that, provided that he was awake agian.

"I am." said Blake and recalled that scene in the burning cafeteria.
The space marine, a Flesh Tearer, had showed up suddenly and put the faunus hurting Yang to the sword and bolter. The sheer brutality had said more about the warriors contempt for the White Fang than words ever could.

"Show me what passes for fury among your misbegotten kind."
The space marine had said to them before tearing them apart. Had those words referred to the few right in front of him back there and then, or had he referred to all faunus?
Either way, the White Fang must not be allowed to commit any more deeds of violence like that ever again. This was not a matter of rights for faunus, it was a matter of survival. And because of that Blake had decided to go forth and deal with the threat, either by pacification or elimination of the White Fang.

Blake told Sun of these thoughts and what she had been going over in her head over and over again ever since embarking on this journey.

After being quiet for a moment Sun voiced his agreement, albeit a bit hesitantly. He had had a feeling that Blake was planning on going on a one-woman-mission to take down the White Fang for what happened at Beacon but now it was even more justified. But the destruction of the White Fang was more than he had been expecting.

"So when do we start?" asked Sun, filling with resolve. He was already on the boat, so it was too late to turn back now.
"You do have a plan, right? Please tell me you have a plan. Things are always so much better when you have a plan."

"No, I don't really have a plan. And there is something I must do before that."

"And that is?"

"Go home. To Menagerie. To my family. I haven't seen them in a long time and… there are some things we have to talk about."

"Yeah, makes sense." said Sun.
"Heh, I've always wanted to travel someplace far away. This will be a real journey to the west!"

"Menagerie is eastwards, Sun." corrected Blake.

Sun shrugged. "Same thing. If you go enough eastward you will get to the west. Only through the back door."

Blake looked out at the sea. So calm and peaceful. Then a thought hit her.
"Hey Sun, where is your team? Are Sage, Scarlet and Neptune hiding away on the boat as well?"

"Nah, it's just me here. I told the rest of the gang to fly back to Mistral and wait for me to catch up with them later. They can look after themselves. Besides, how would I get Neptune on a boat?"

"Yeah. That would've been something." She recalled Neptune's reaction to water during the tournament.
"Hey, do you know what happened in Vale after we left? I kinda lost track after I got to my cabin and fell asleep from my injuries."

Sun shrugged. An odd sight as he was still upside down but it was emphasized by him pulling himself a bit upwards by his tail.
"I heard a bit over scroll before we got too far away from land. Vale got beaten pretty bad but the space marines really saved it. Beacon still stands, but classes are cancelled indefinitely. From what I've been able to piece together over the ship's comms, the astartes are busy hunting down any grimm in Vale."

"But they already saved the city." said Blake confused and surprised over Sun's apparent tapping of the ship's systems.
"Haven't they already dealt with the grimm?"

"I meant the kingdom, not the city."

"Oh!"

"I know right! These guys are awesome!"

Awesome or terrifying, Blake couldn't tell. She only knew that it was something for her to keep in mind. For if they could take on a kingdom full of grimm, what could they do to Menagerie?

Atlas

White, pristine aircraft flew by as she sat by her window and looked out. Atlas had not changed much since she left for Beacon. Nor had it since her return a bit over a month ago.
Maybe there had been a few more military vehicles and personnel around now, but all in all, it all seemed quite normal for Atlas.

Sure, there had been a bit of unease since the attack on Vale. People were a bit worried but many high-ranking officials, including General Ironwood, urged all to be calm and assured them that they had little to worry about. And in order to assure all that the council was not idle, more troops were moving about, making an effort in seeming effective and that they were there to protect and serve.

Weiss had even spotted some protesters from her window, pro-action protesters at that. There were the usual anti-faunus protest, motivated by the confirmed presence of White Fang at the Battle for Beacon. But most importantly, the protesters wanted protectors against what had happened in Vale. They wanted safety from the grimm and the White Fang terrorists.

These things did not surprise Weiss one bit. It was natural. But she did not appreciate the anti-faunus sentiments that had flared up. She now understood why Blake had been so hellbent on stopping the current form of the White Fang and its operations. Their current methods would only breed more resentment towards faunuskind.

Oh yes, Blake would have been furious with what was going on. Or rather, she would've gone into her single minded stupid-mode, driving herself into a wall to stop them just as she did anytime the White Fang had been mentioned back at Beacon.
Weiss found that she missed that, in an odd way. She also missed the rest of her team. Even if Ruby could be such a dolt sometimes, or if Yang could be rather brash at times. Ah, good times.

There was a knock at the door and Weiss was awoken from her thoughts.
"Yes?" she called.

Klein Sieben, her family's chief butler, came in, looking a bit worried.
"Pardon the interruption, Miss Schnee, but your father wishes to speak to you."

"Thank you, Klein." said Weiss with a sigh.
She had no real desire to speak with her father, but nonetheless she began making her way to her father's study.

The mansion was big and all in white and pale blue. And now found it to be dull. So dull. She missed Beacon and its myriad of colors. Beacon's decour might have been simple at times, spratanic at worst, but it had always felt alive, not like this sterile monument to her father's greed and arrogance, his wish to show of his money.

As she walked along, eyes on the ground she somehow noticed someone ahead of her. Looking up, she saw Whitley Schnee, her younger brother. He seemed uncharacteristically pleased about something.

"Good afternoon sister." he said with a small bow, as if he was entertaining the idea of being nobility greeting another noble.
"I am glad to see you have finally decided to venture outside of your room."

"Hello Whitley. You seem to be in quite a good mood today."
Perhaps even too happy a mood. What could have made Whitley so happy? A great success perhaps?

"Yes, Klein made crepes for breakfast today. It's the small things in life."
Klein clasped his hands behind his back and continued smiling with a too great a smile for the occasion. Weiss thought she spotted an armband around his upper arm. It was white and perhaps decorated with silver, making it hard to make out against Whitley's white shirtsleeve.

"What's on your mind, Whitley?"

"I just came to tell you that I heard father arguing with someone earlier."

"Mother?"

"No, she's in the garden, drinking".
Weiss could not help but think that Whitley said that a bit too nonchalantly.
"It sounded like a man, but I wasn't really listening. Anyway, I decided to warn you when I heard that he wanted to have a word with you."

"Your concern is touching, but unnecessary. I can look after myself."

"I guessed as much. Mostly because you are more like Winter than me."

Weiss arched an eyebrow at this. "You never saw eye to eye with Winter."

"Perhaps, but one cannot deny her resolve."
That was a flattering thing for Whitley to say about anyone. Especially about Winter.

"You've changed, Whitley."

"Have I? Well, I suppose it's possible that I've changed a bit while you were gone. Made some new friends that think like me. Somewhat like you, perhaps. Anyway, good luck with Father."

"Thank you." answered Weiss, a bit perplexed.
That had been… odd, to say the least. Whitley and Weiss hardly spoke normally. And for him to approach her almost unheard of. Did he seek to provoke her in some way? Get her off her usual calm and composure? If that was the case then, loath as Weiss was to admit it, it had worked. If only a little.

Weiss continued walking, ignoring the family portrait on the wall as it only brought up bad thoughts. It showed how their family really was. The women: Weiss, Winter an their mother all frowned or looked stern. Only Whitley smiled as he stood closest to Jacques Schnee. He would always be his father's creature. Never thinking of seeking his own path like his sisters.

As Weiss got closer to her father's study she heard the sound of two men arguing. What surprised her was that it was not just anyone Jacques Schnee was trading words with. She recognized general Ironwood's voice.

Weiss took a deep breath and prepared to enter. Her father had called for her and as was his norm, did not expect her to waste time on requesting entry to his study.

"I'm not talking about the good of the SCD. I'm talking about the good of Atlas, our Kingdom!" shouted Jacques.

"That is a lie and you know it." answered the general, matter of fact, his patience waning.
"This is about your loss of profits from the embargo, and you know it!"

"Bah!" scoffed Jacques, refusing to admitting Ironwood right. "Can't you see? The people want action! Atlas can't just leave Vale at the mercy of the attackers."

"And the council has taken action and enacted the embargo to keep the White Fang and Cinder Fall's associates from getting hold of any more dust to cause more trouble."

"And what of the "Angel" and his forces. Are we to assume that we can starve them out by cutting of their supply of dust?"

"No. We are not intending to deny them dust." said Ironwood. "Vale being denied dust is just a consequence of the embargo. As for the Angel, we are hoping to establish communications with him once the time is right. Atlas doesn't need a war right now. And surely you must realize that a war would be… costly. Taxes would have to go up."

"I see." said Jacques and put a bond on his feelings. "But surely you must realize that many would prefer to Vale back in the hands of the proper not in the hands of this upstart "Angel". There is no legal precedence for him holding power in Vale. That is the role of the Council of Vale. Even some in our council share this sentiment, I hear."

"Yes, but they are wise enough not to pick a fight with Vale" said Ironwood, not bothering to differentiate between Vale and the Imperial forces now covering it.
"And as long as I remain general of Atlas, there will be no action against Vale. I hope I'm clear on this, Jacques." finished Ironwood in an annoyed tone. "Or are you one of those who think that Atlas has to retake Vale from the forces that made a mockery out of our forces there? They have not forgiven us for that yet."

Weiss' eyes widened in surprise as she opened the door. Most men would have dared to lecture her father that way, but not James Ironwood. He met Jacques glare with a determined look of his own.

The door swung open and Weiss was now standing by the half-open doorway, she could see the General and it became apparent why he had lost his temper the way he had. He looked quite worn out. There were bags forming under his eyes and his chin was covered by a clear stubble. His uniform was different from the one Weiss had seen him in before and it almost looked like he had slept in it for it was hardly as pristine as she remembered his old one.

Not to be outdone, Jacques spoke up.
"I've always seen you as an ally, a friend even, to the Schnee family. But what you're suggesting is preposterous! Your embargo has already cost me millions! And your suggestion to restrict the border even more would be disastrous!"

"Jacques, this is bigger than just you and your company."

"Damn right it is! It concerns all of Atlas. The council will never approve of it!"

"I hold two seats on the council. They will listen to me, make no mistake."

"James, you will rue the day your embargo comes into full effect. Mark my words, I will not forget what you've cost me. Nor will many others. Your and the council's current line of moderate action will not be tolerated for much longer!"

"Um?" Weiss voice made both men turn their heads at her in surprise.
"I'm sorry, I see that you're busy. I'll come back later."

"No need." said the general, getting up. "I was about to be on my way. My apologies for not noticing you sooner. You must have had business with your father."

"Um, yes."

"We're not done with this matter. Until later." said the general to the Schnee patriarch with a hint of anger in his voice.

"Quite. Klein can show you out."

"Much appreciated. Until next time, Jacques." said Ironwood before heading towards the door.
He stopped mid step and turned to Weiss.
"And Weiss, I want you to know that you'll always be welcome at Atlas Academy. So keep practicing, we will be back in session soon enough."

Weiss didn't answer, but she gave the man a nod. She had no real interest in attending Atlas Academy. Not after Beacon.

In the corner of her eye she watched as the general exited her father's study and was met with the waiting butler. It seemed like the two of them were talking about something in hushed voices as they walked.

'That's odd.` thought Weiss as she turned her attention to her father.
'Ironwood has been here plenty of times before. Surely he must know his way by now. And how could Klein be expecting him like that?

Jacques picked up his glass and emptied it in one go, clearly not happy about the conversation he had with the general.
"Can you believe it?"

"Believe what?"

"That there are those that blame Atlas for what happened to Beacon? To Vale?"

"They weren't there." said Weiss a bit uncertainty as her father suddenly changed the subject.

As for the actual question, well Atlas' androids had attacked people in Vale. And it sort of was Atlas' fault that the hacking of the CCT went unfixed and not to mention the events that had led up to Penny's death. Just to name a few things.
Weiss didn't voice these thoughts, knowing fully well that her father would have none of it.

"I still think it's a wonder Ironwood hasn't lost his rank after that fiasco. The council still trusts him, for better or worse I suppose."

"I trust him." said Weiss. The man had made quite the mess in Vale, but he was clearly trying to make things right and make amends. And then there was the fact that he actually seemed to know what had really happened in Vale.

"Bah! Thanks to him, we barely export our Dust to other Kingdoms. 'A precautionary measure', he says. 'To make sure what happened in Vale won't happen again'. Madness! How anyone could possibly find that is a good idea? Not to mention letting that mutant stay in power! Gods know what he is planning against us as we speak. He should be dealt with, while there is still time."

Weiss blinked at her father dumbfounded. Did her father not know of what was happening? Did he not know how all had gone down in Vale? And what was this thinking of hostilities against Jaune? Did her father not realize what the appearance of the Imperium meant for Remnant?

She stepped closer to the desk. She saw a picture in a fine frame. It was of Whitley. That was new. It seemed like her father and brother had gotten a lot closer since she left for Beacon. Maybe that was why Whitley had been so happy lately?

"Well, that's neither here nor there." said Jacques, changing his tune. "If neither the Atlesian military nor Council will act against him then neither shall we. Now is not the time for hostilities. What happened in Vale affects us all. And that is why the Schnee Dust Company will be holding a charity concert in the near future. We need to show the people of Remnant that we are on their side. That we are all victims of the fall of Beacon. And not just those who reside in Vale."

Weiss looks up at him in surprise. There had to be a catch in this.
"That's... wonderful news."

"Indeed. It's one of Whitley's best ideas yet. " he said and handed her a paper. A quick glance told Weiss that it was about the concert.
"And I believe a lot of people will be happy to know that you will be performing at the event."

"Excuse me?"
Weiss looked down at the paper. On it, in plains writing, it read:

'Friends of Atlas Charity Concert
Performing: Weiss Schnee, Heiress to the SDC and survivor of the Battle of Beacon.'

So her father was telling her, not asking her to perform.

"Many don't realize that you, my daughter, were there, on the battlegrounds when Beacon fell. We have to remind them! And we need to show them that the Schnees are just as strong as ever!"

Weiss was silent for a while, looking at the paper. This whole thing reeked of an ulterior motive, PR most likely. And greed.

Sensing her hesitation Jacques leaned forward. "Weiss, I think a lot of people happy would be very happy if you performed."

"I'll start practicing." she said quietly.

"That's... my girl."

Weiss did not miss the pause in her father's words. Was it because she had not jumped on the idea immediately? She decided to take an interest, or at least try to be. After all, it was charity for Vale. Not taking part would just be wrong.

"So what exactly will the funds go to? Beacon, or the City? Both got quite tarnished in the battle."

"We will see. At the appropriate juncture. In due course. In the fullness of time. In due time, of course."

"In due time?"

"Yes, we can't just hand over the Lien that we have collected for the poor people of Vale from the good, and honest people of Atlas over to Vale without making sure it will be used responsibly."

"And how do you suggest we do that?"

"Why, Vale will need supplies, and someone to supply said supplies. Supplies like dust, most likely."

"And that is the SDC's bread and butter." said Weiss quietly, seeing what her father was up to.
Dust, was her father really just planning on lining his own pocket with this?

"Yes, is it not fortunate that we are in such a fine position to… help our fellow man in Vale?"

"Yes, but what about other things? Like building materials? Concrete? Steel? And food?"

Jacques held back a sneer. "I'm afraid that we do not deal in such things. Now if you don't mind, I've some other visitors today. Members of the council and other concerned parties."
Spinning his chair around he let Weiss know that this discussion was over but Weiss thought she could see her father pull out a white and silver armband.

Weiss exited the study, the paper about the concert still in hand. To her surprise she found Klein waiting for her with a tray. Odd, had he not been escorting the general earlier?

"The good general was able to find the way out once I gave him directions." said the butler as if he had read her mind.

"Ah, I see."

"Now, would You fancy a hot coffee, Miss Schnee? I always find that your father keeps his study dreadfully cold."

Weiss took the mug off of the tray with a smile. Yes, her father's study was always quite cold.

"Thank you, Klein. It is most thoughtful of you."

"You know what I think?" asked the butler with a small smile before hiding his face behind the tray. When his face appeared again his brown eyes had turned red.
"I think it's to balance out all his hot air."

His voice was gruff and quite uncouth, but Weiss couldn't resist giggling at that.
Nor could she help but be in awe of Klein's guts, to make such a remark about his employer when they were just outside said employer's door.

Alas, this side of Klein was not very suitable for most of his duties as a butler, and so he began to change to another. A sneeze turned his eyes blue, and another turned them yellow. All while Weiss was giggling. She hadn't been in such a good mood for quite a while.
"And there's my happy little snowflake." said the man that had practically raised her.

"Thank you, Klein. I needed that."

"You're most welcome." said Klein as they began to walk along the hallway. After a while, Klein's face turned serious despite his eyes still being yellow.

"My apologies if I pry, but have you perhaps thought of leaving Atlas for a time? Visit friends? Or maybe take the good general up on his offer on attending Atlas Academy?

Weiss raised an eyebrow. How did Klein know of that? It had hardly been five minutes since Ironwood suggested it to her.

"We talked." explained Klein without missing a beat. "We were both of the opinion that a change of scenery might do you good after being held up in your room for so long. What with all that has been going on with the company as of late and the company your father and brother have begun to keep."

"I'll... consider it." said Weiss, finding Klein's behavior a tad odd. What was he getting at? What about the company her father and brother kept? And what about the things her father had implied about Jaune in Vale?

"But I think I'll retire for now, Klein. I've got to practice after all."
And a lot to think about.

At a farm

'So one more time: it's been a little over a month since the attack on Beacon?'

"Yes!" said Oscar to the disembodied voice of Ozpin, the dead headmaster of Beacon Academy in Vale. Not that Oscar knew anything of that. He had only told the voice what date it was and where they were before finding the need to sit down with his knees pulled close to his chest.

'This is strange, and very worrying. My reincarnations normally take much longer than this. Several months usually, years even. Something must have interfered with it.' mulled Ozpin.
Oscar could swear that he felt his own thoughts begin to turn around as the dead man got to thinking. But that couldn't be right, or could it?

"Interfered? What could possibly interfere with something like that?"

'I have a guess.' said Ozpin. 'And if I'm right it's who could've done it, not what. You would do well to remember that.'

"And how can you be so sure that it is who you think it is?" asked Oscar, becoming more and more concerned with his mental health by the moment.

'There are very few with the power to do something like this. And I believe I've seen this one's hand in a lot of goings on as of late, from Arc's enrollment to Mr. Winchester's 'injury'.'

"I've no idea who those people are." said Oscar groaning. Even as he kept hearing Ozpin's voice in his head it started to grow ever weaker and Ozpin began to sound tired.

'Not yet, but I believe you will in time.'

"Sure. But why?"

'Because you will meet-'

"Not that!" exclaimed Oscar. "I meant, why send you back in the first place if you would have reincarnated on your own to begin with?" asked Oscar.

'I think I was sent back to deliver a warning. And to 'do my fucking job as an educator for a change'.' said Ozpin but his voice was growing ever more tired.

"You think or you know?"

'I think.' answered Ozpin. 'It's hard to remember what happened on the other side. I think he was busy with other things than just giving me instructions.'

"Warn who? About what?"

'I don't know about what. It's all blurry right now. All I know is that something is coming and we need to warn Arc. it can only be him the Emperor could mean. And that is why Oscar, we need to hurry. Pack what you need and let us be on our way.'

"I don't care." said Oscar bluntly and got up and got ready to resume his work.

'Oscar! Don't you understand? We need to get going as soon as possible! Jaune Sanguinius Arc must be warned about what is coming.' said Ozpin but even as he did so his mind fell back into the deep recesses of Oscar's mind.

"Well I don't care." said Oscar to himself. "I don't know who this Jaune Arc is and for all I know, all you've told me is just the product of my sleep deprived brain."

But even as he grabbed his trusted pitchfork he was overcome by the desire to wander away into the wider world.

Well that was that chapter. As some of you might've guessed by now, I will be trying to cover the story of several character now. So not everything will be about Jaune. I intend to give these characters' story a little twist to not make them complete carbon copies of the canon.