"Where do you think you're going young lady?"

Lotus paused, her hand already on the door that would lead her outside and across town to her eventual freedom. Her shoulders shook, the bag she had slung over the top of one shoulder ruffled with them. She had packed only the essentials. A few extra sets of clothing, her weapon, and a few hundred thousand lien. Lotus didn't plan on coming back here for a long time. Likely never, if she had her way.

Lotus calmed herself, expelling the air she had been holding in as she turned to face Widow, "I'm leaving."

Concern flashed across her mother's face, "That's a relatively vague way of putting it… What do you mean by that?"

Drawing herself up, magenta eyes met red as Lotus kept her eyes focused on Widow's, "I'm taking a ship to Vale. I found someone that can get me there." She refused to back down, no matter what Widow might say.

A series of complex emotions flashed across Widow's face for a few seconds, but she finally settled on a tentative smile, "I see… I wish you would have told me so I could pack sooner. This is such short notice…"

Lotus tensed up, her hand shaking, tempted to just rip the door open and run, "Listen… mom," Widow's eyes brightened at the title, it was the first time Lotus had actually said it out loud, "I was going to message you after I got there… Part of the deal to get me there was that I help my employers with a mission near Vale. I can't bring you with me on the same ship… So, if you want to pay for a ship to take you… I still want you to be there with me when I finally track down Nicholas."

Widow slumped back in her chair, foot tapping against the floor as she refused to meet Lotus's eyes, "So that's how it is, then. And I suppose Beacon's next semester starting in only a month has a hand in your… eagerness… to leave your dear old mother?"

Lotus winced, but stood firm, "I want to become a huntress."

"Why!?" Widow stood up in her frustration, hands going out to her sides, "What could the life of a huntress offer you that I cannot? Do you hate being with me so much!?"

"N-No! Of course not!" the young faunus's eyes widened, taking a single step away from the door and back towards Widow, "I want to make something more of myself, Widow!" Lotus gave an exasperated sigh, shaking herself and turning back towards the door, "You're not going to convince me to change my mind! We already had this argument last night. We both know how it ends."

Lotus felt Widow cross the room and shrunk in on herself slightly, still gripping the door knob with a shaky hand. Widow's hand fell on her shoulder, drawing her eyes back to her. There was a desperation in them. Widow's own body shook as well, "Lotus, please! You need to understand that all I want is what's best for you! Going down this path you've chosen is a mistake! None of them have your best interests at heart, they'll use you, abuse you, and once they've broken you, they'll dispose of you!"

Lotus placed her hand on top of the one Widow held to her shoulder, and very delicately pulled it off, now holding it in her own with a trembling grasp, "I… I know they hurt you. But… I need to be able to make my own mistakes. Please, mom. I love you more than anything, but what I want the most right now is for you to believe in me. I can do this!"

A silence fell between them. Widow's face contorted in a convoluted mess of emotions as she stepped back, pulling her hand out of Lotus's grasp.

"I… I need to go. If you want to help me, then… I hope to see you in Vale. I'll call you once my mission is over," Lotus quickly ripped the door open, hand slick with sweat, and stepped outside into the light downpour that slowly misted on to her face from the sky above. Widow didn't follow her out.

Lotus set her feet, and started the next chapter in her life.

'I will become a huntress.'

'We were so close!'

Widow had no doubts that Lotus would ace whatever entrance exams Beacon might throw at her and get accepted with flying colors. 'My daughter is beyond worthy for that silly school.' Lotus just didn't know it yet. Widow had the very real desire to find out whoever romanticized huntresses so early on in her daughter's life, and go back in time to choke them to death before they got the chance.

Even as the door closed behind Lotus, Widow was already headed to her own room to pack, 'There's not a chance in the world that I'll leave you to face that pain alone. I'll be there for you, whether you want me or not.' She could at least try and ease her daughter's pain. No one had been there for Widow when her life had been destroyed. She had been left to pick up the pieces on her own.

'You can't get rid of me that easily, my little spider.'

"Glad you could make it," Mercury said, arms crossed as he leaned back against the wall outside the warehouse. Lotus had looked up the address on her scroll, and followed the tracker all the way here from the slums. They were only a few streets over from where her past life had ended, in the more run down and deserted portion of the warehouse district.

"Some of us have to walk on real legs," Lotus replied sarcastically. It was a lie, though. Lotus constantly kept her limbs shrouded these days with her semblance. Being physically tired had long since become a thing of the past for the young faunus.

Mercury scoffed in mock offense, taking the comment in stride, "I'm hurt. Can't you spare a little empathy for a dear friend?"

"No, but I could use some spare parts. How much for the legs?" Lotus smirked evilly, letting her eyes drift down to the covered limbs, "Maybe I could use them to build that empathy thing you were talking about."

Mercury laughed and pushed the door open, gesturing for her to enter, "That's a lost cause. Come on, we're ready to take off."

Lotus stepped past him into the dimly lit interior. Sure enough, a large Mistral ship sat tethered to the ground, floating only a couple feet above the smooth concrete floor. Cinder and Emerald were already standing near it, talking amongst themselves while they waited.

Cinder noticed Lotus's arrival and brightened, "Ah, finally. I hope you have everything you'll be needing?"

Lotus nodded as she approached and tossed her bag into the open door, "Just the essentials," Lotus turned back to Cinder, giving her outfit a glance. It was a very revealing red dress, with a black hem along the bottom that left little to the imagination, "Love the look, by the way."

Lotus caught Emerald's eyes narrowing, and flashed a smirk, "You look good too, Em."

"Wish I could say the same. Do you always wear that bulky hoodie?" Emerald sneered. 'Feisty…' Lotus quickly realized why. The girl had an obvious crush on her leader, if the small glances she kept stealing in Cinder's direction were any indication. That, and the way she stood just a little too close were a pretty clear indication.

Lotus sighed, placing a hand on top of Cinder's shoulder. She didn't seem to mind at all, "Sorry if that was a little too forward, Cindy. Innocent girls are more my type, and I doubt anyone here could claim to be innocent."

Emerald tensed, reaching down for her sickle revolvers and Lotus flashed her a smile, moving just a little bit closer. Cinder seemed entirely amused at Lotus's shenanigans, and brought her hand up to place it delicately on Lotus's cheek, "Well, just don't let it happen again, okay? I would hate to get my hopes up only for them to be crushed." Her head finally turned back to look at Emerald, "Are we ready to leave?"

With a relieved nod from Emerald, the two ended their contact and stepped away from each other. Cinder motioned for Emerald, the two heading into the pilot's cabin, while Mercury walked up next to Lotus.

"You're insane." Mercury said it with a hint of admiration in his voice, giving Lotus a once over as he did.

She shrugged, leading him into the back of the bullhead, "Ladies appreciate confidence, Merc. Let's hit up Vale some time, I'll be your wingman!"

Mercury chuckled, "I can get the ladies for myself, thanks."

"Your right, who could say no to legs like those?" Lotus leaned down and rapt a knuckle against one of his legs, smiling as she earned herself a distinct metallic clang.

"Hey! Careful with the goods, sister!"

Lotus feigned a pout, "But I like it rough!"

Mercury just shook his head, eyes downcast while his cheeks heated up, "What happened to the tiny murder machine that froze up if anyone even mentioned something sexual?"

"She's been pent up in more than one way her entire life, and has now found her freedom," Lotus replied, giving a light laugh and sitting down in one of the seats lining the walls of the bullhead, "You can't blame me for being a little… excited."

The ship began to whirl to life, and Lotus spared an eye out the window as the roof opened up, creating an exit. They lifted off, and Lotus stared out the window for the first ten minutes of their journey. She could barely contain her enthusiasm to see the city of Mistral beginning to disappear in the distance. 'I'm never going back to that hell hole.'

Once the city was entirely out of sight, Lotus turned back to her current company, "So, what happened to your legs?" Lotus winced at herself, 'Wow, so tactful.'

Mercury laughed at her, "It's fine. I've gotten used to them."

"So it's been awhile then?"

"Uh, about three days?" Mercury seemed to think it over, then shrugged, "My legs got messed up bad by a trap that I stepped on. Of course, my father wasn't going to just let me go that easily. He drugged me and replaced them with these," Mercury lifted his pant leg again, letting Lotus get a better look at them.

"Well, they are impressive. Better than the real thing, I'd imagine?"

Mercury nodded, letting his pant leg fall as he sat back, "I was freaking out pretty bad when I woke up. My legs were gone, replaced with these… things. I attacked without really even thinking about it."

"So, Marcus is…?"

"Dead, yeah."

"I'm sorry for your loss," Lotus smirked, letting him know that she could tell he wasn't sorry in the slightest.

Mercury laughed, "I'm just sorry that it took so long. You told me that my aura was stronger than his, but even still… I had to be sure. The thought of that man making my life a living hell, and getting the last laugh? I wasn't going to let that happen."

"How'd you meet Cindy and her little pet?" Lotus let her eyes drift to the front, and was glad to see that the door to the cockpit was sealed off.

"They showed up after I killed him, wanting to hire Marcus," Mercury grinned, "They found me standing over his corpse while our house burned in the distance."

"Their luck. You're a much better catch than that old man," Lotus winked, "What's in the cards for dear old Merc once this mission is over, anyway?"

Mercury shrugged, "Cinder has a long term goal beyond this one kill. I'm going to stick with her for the time being, see how it goes," he eyed Lotus thoughtfully, "You know, I bet she's going to extend that offer to you as well. I recommended we bring you along in the first place. Are you still planning on becoming a huntress?"

"I am. Sorry to say, murdering people in a brand new city doesn't sound like the right way to go about starting a new life," Lotus tilted her head to the side and shrugged, "Even if I already plan on helping with yours, and killing one of my own. I can forgive myself for those, right?"

"I doubt you're going to lose any sleep over them, so who cares? Just make sure you don't get caught and you should be fine. The hunter exams should be a breeze."

Lotus frowned, "Do you think there's a written portion? I haven't exactly been able to study much over the last few years," Lotus noticed his smirk and raised her hands, "D-Don't get me wrong. Widow still made sure I got the basics down. I'm competent enough in a general sense, but history always bored me, and I haven't done much studying when it comes to the Grimm."

"Eh, Mistral's license exam was pretty easy. If it's anything like that, you should be fine with just the basics as long as you can kill a few Grimm."

"Wait…" Lotus stared intently at Mercury, "Did you already get a hunter's license?"

Mercury cracked his knuckles and leaned back in his chair, resting his arms behind his head and giving Lotus a smug grin, "Yeah. It was under a different name and everything, but it's worth having for some missions. Hunters are more willing to give away information when they think you're just another one of them."

Lotus threw her hands up in frustration, "Well, I'm jealous. What did they have you do?"

Mercury put a hand to his chin and frowned in thought, "There was a written portion, but it was less a test of knowledge and more a test of character... They asked obvious questions like, 'Have you ever killed anyone?', and 'What are your goals?'. It was pretty pathetic. Fighting Grimm was the most important part of it, though. They had a trained huntsman go out into the woods with me. The longer you lasted, the higher your rating."

"Rating?" Lotus tilted her head in confusion.

Mercury dug through his pack and pulled out a small laminated card. He tossed it nonchalantly over to Lotus, where she caught it in her lap and held it up to look. The words 'Hunter License' were very boldly displayed across the top, along with Mercury's fake name, and a red 'C' that took up half the card."

Lotus laughed when she read the name, "Ash Ketchum?" She had never played Pocket Grimm, but had been tempted once or twice while scrolling through the app store. She'd seen the description enough times to recognize the name.

Mercury smirked, holding his hands wide, palms facing up in a 'what can I say' gesture, "Hey, they didn't notice and neither did Marcus. I thought it was hilarious."

"It is hilarious," Lotus returned her gaze down to the card, "What's the 'C' for?"

"That's the rating. The more you impress the huntsman, the higher your rating. 'B' is the highest you can start with if you didn't attend an academy, but Marcus told me not to stand out too much. We were out there for three days before the huntsman told me I'd qualified for a 'C'. I figured that was good enough. Aaaand I wanted a shower."

"What's the rating matter if you're still killing Grimm anyway?"

"The higher your rating, the more dangerous missions you can go on, the more lien you can make. Most hunters only ever reach a 'C'. After graduating from the top of your class at a huntsman academy you could start with an 'A', and with a few dozen missions under your belt you can qualify you for an 'S'. That's mostly just the Atlas specialists that end up with those, though."

"You're certainly… knowledgeable about all this," Lotus squinted at Mercury with suspicion, "What's the highest rated huntsman you've killed?"

Mercury smirked, "An 'A'. He was a tough bastard, though. You?"

Lotus shrugged, "I had no idea that was even a thing, so I never really checked. I wonder what Nicholas is…"

Cinder stepped through the door, apparently hearing the tail end of their conversation, "Well, you'll have a chance to prove yourself during the mission," she turned back to look over her shoulder for a moment, listening to the muted voice of Emerald behind her, "I know it's your first time, Emerald. Just aim for the blue, and avoid the ground, okay?"

Cinder turned back and took a seat near the front, eyes able to roam over both Lotus and Mercury with relative ease, "So, I thought it would be prudent to bring you up to speed on your part of the mission."

When Lotus simply nodded and leaned forward, Cinder continued, "Our target will be on the road to Vale. Mercury, Emerald and I will be the ones to ambush her. While we're busy with that, you are to wait in Vale itself. Our target is supposed to meet up with a huntsman in one of the diners there. It would be… easier for all involved if he wasn't alive long enough to wonder why she's taking so long to show up."

"How tough of a huntsman are we talking?"

Cinder smiled, "Oh, he is certainly 'S' ranked. With your appearance and background in assassination, I hope that won't be too much of a problem? He shouldn't be expecting anyone to attack him there, especially if our target hasn't even arrived yet."

Lotus shivered in anticipation, turning to Mercury with a smug grin of her own, "Looks like I'll be topping your record there, Merc. You sure you don't wanna switch to keep your pride?"

"That won't be necessary," Cinder spoke up, "Our target is much more powerful than the huntsman. If I was the type to make bets, I'd say she's more of an 'SS' rank. Not that such a rank actually exists."

Mercury puffed his chest out, "Looks like I'll be keeping that record. Might be a long time before you get a chance to beat me."

Lotus huffed, "I'm liking this less and less. Can we give Emerald the huntsman so that I can at least tie?"

"Unfortunately, Emerald will be staying by my side. Her unique powers will be invaluable in setting up the ambush."

"You mean the illusions she can do? I hope for your sake your target isn't another spider faunus, otherwise your plans are going to fall apart right out of the gate."

"No, she's definitely human," Cinder smiled, pulling out one of her curved swords and running a finger along the edge. Her aura let off a few minute sparks near the tip as she sighed, "I can hardly wait."

"Heh, I feel you on that one. Nicholas had better be worth all this…"

Once she had found out his name from Tyrian, Lotus had gathered as much information as possible on the huntsman. She already knew his address, and had paid a hefty price for a picture of him. The blond haired, blue eyed man was extremely well built, and according to her sources, used a sword and shield style that didn't incorporate a gun. Lotus chastised herself for just now hearing about rankings. She had never known to ask, but would have paid for it in a heartbeat.

'All good things come to those who wait,' Lotus told herself silently, looking out the window for a moment, 'I hope he's an 'S' rank, though. That would be a great way to top off my list.'

"Lotus, I have an important question. One that needs a definitive answer," Cinder broke Lotus out of her thoughts and gave her a very serious expression, leaning forward slightly in her chair as she regarded Lotus intently.

Lotus shrugged, figuring this was probably what Mercury had guessed earlier, "Shoot."

"Would you pledge yourself to me once your quest for revenge has ended?" Cinder didn't break eye contact, instead holding Lotus's gaze with her own.

The young faunus didn't dare look away. Showing a sign of weakness was never a good idea. Even so, she gave Cinder a regretful frown, "I plan on attending Beacon when the new semester starts. I want to become a huntress, not continue down the path that I've already carved myself too deeply in to."

Cinder sat back, seemingly disappointed, "Well, I can't say I'm happy to hear it. I will respect your wishes, though. All this really changes is that we can't fill you in on any details about our target." Cinder shook her head, "At least it won't be an issue, since you'll have business elsewhere."

Lotus shrugged dejectedly, "Sorry to disappoint, Cindy. I'd be pretty bummed about not being able to hang out with me more, too." Lotus grinned, "You don't mind if I borrow Merc after the mission for a bit though, right? I told him I'd take him out to meet some ladies."

Cinder laughed, "As long as the mission is a success, then he's free to do as he wishes in his free time. Do take care of him, won't you?"

"I'm right here…"

Lotus ignored Mercury's little interjection, keeping her eyes focused on Cinder, a bemused curl to her lips, "I'll make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble."

"See that you do. I'm afraid dear Mercury's confidence with women seems sorely lacking," Cinder brought a fist up to hide her laugh with a cough, "As is Emerald's. I swear I should have chosen assistants that weren't still hormonal teenagers."

"How old are you…?"

Cinder smiled, "One should never ask a woman's age, but since it's just between us girls," she flashed a smile at Mercury as he protested the remark, "I'm twenty."

Lotus whistled, "I'd ask you to share your genes, but I'll just have to make due with trying to get in them."

The wordplay was not lost on either of the two sharing the cabin with her. Mercury immediately went bright red, turning his eyes away to look out the furthest window. Cinder smiled seductively and stood, swaying her hips as she crossed the short distance to Lotus and bent down, placing a hand once again on her cheek, "You'd have to swear loyalty to get that chance. Looks like Mercury and Emerald are both beating you there."

Lotus shivered as Cinder turned back around and headed back into the pilot's cabin, "Well done, Emerald. It appears we haven't crashed yet." With one final wink back at Lotus, the door closed behind her.

A full minute passed in silence, before Mercury finally spoke up, "You really are insane."

Lotus had to use her hand to fan herself off. It seemed like Cinder had long since taken Lotus's advice to heart.

Women really did love confidence. Lotus was no exception.