A/N: PLEASE READ THIS AUTHOR'S NOTE, WOULD YOU KINDLY?

Well, this happens to be one of my weaker stories, but hopefully this gets a few reviews. This chapter gets...tense, so I feel I should warn you of that.

There's also something else I'd like to say.

I...may be putting one of my dogs to sleep soon. Just saying it hurts. They're both really old by this point, but younger one's in a really bad way, she's not living a good life as she is now. Worse still, its become all but impossible to take care of her due her expensive medication and health issues. *Sigh* So that's been weighing me down something fierce.

Hmm. I suppose I'm rambling. I don't know what I'm going to do.

In any case, I just wanted to say thank you to everyone for hearing me out during this difficult time. The trolls are still running rampant -though they're not here yet- but the positive feedback that I get from all you guys and gals really helps to keep this old man afloat.

As ever, reviews are my lifeblood. Without them, I wither and die. We pick up right where we left of here...with a surprise. Of course, there are References ahead, references for daaaaays.

As ever, I own no quotes, memes, or themes and as As ever, chapter title is a lyric. From where, you ask?

Why, All Things Must Die, of course~! Hehehehe, I regret nothing~!

"You were right earlier, you know. If I did Kaguya's bidding I could burn this world to the ground. I could boil the oceans. Scorch the earth. Black out the sky. I could suck the very life out of this planet, make it mine, and leave a dying husk behind. Rule like a god, and no one would be able to stop me. But I wouldn't be me anymore. You wouldn't like what I would become."

"Is that a threat?"

"Not at all. I simply speak the truth. You think you want power, Cinder. You don't. Power is a curse. You don't use it; it uses you."

...you would know, wouldn't you?"

"I would. These eyes of mine allow me to see many things; not only the past, not only present, but...possibilities. Endless choices. Like a web, you know? Branching paths. But one thing remains certain at the core of that web. You're going to make a choice soon, very soon indeed. Even I don't know which. I wonder if you'll be happy with it."

~Memoirs of a Sage.

Black Out The Sky

Was this what it felt like to live?

No one to answer to, no one to fear, no one to worry for. Just the simple pleasure of being alive. Cinder found these halcyon days almost pleasant. Days soon bled into a week and try as she might rail against it -and their new guest!- she found a small part of herself grudgingly accepting the new order of things. With no recourse left to her but to wait for news from the city, she found new ways to preoccupy herself. There were no plans here, no plots, no schemes of world domination, and certainly no thoughts of betrayal. Her position was secure...well, as secure as it could be given the way Fate had actively screwed her over recently.

And so, in the absence of any sich schemes, Cinder began to train.

Time passed like so much wind and still Cinder's strength proved slow to return; like a jilted lover it steadfastly avoided her grasp and refused to come crawling back to her no matter what she did. Oh, her Semblance was still very much hers to command and fire remained her ally in all things, but her might was a shadow of what it had once been; what it always would be. No matter how hard she trained in the morning, no matter how she focused her rage and threw herself forward, her body simply refused to keep up with her mind. Though she'd lost her limp, she still felt dazed. Weak. Disconnected from herself. It was galling.

If there was a cause for this, a reason, she couldn't find it.

Each day she would wake and bathe in a nearby stream, dress, eat, then throw herself headlong into physical exertion until she could no longer move. It didn't matter what or where, so long as she was in motion. Be it running or exerting her Semblance, pitting herself against Mercury or Emerald, or even that little hellion Neo, anything that to bring her body back to its prime. From there she would inevitably exhaust herself and blunder into Naruto -or one of his clones!- who would in turn heal her, leaving her to run herself ragged all over again. Perhaps she'd skipped a few steps here and there. Perhaps this was cheating. Semantics. Didn't matter.

In this way, she sought to restore her former strength, no, to exceed it.

She'd become overly reliant on the Maiden's power; that much was painfully obvious to her now. Her fight against Neo had been stiff. Sloppy. She'd forgotten her skill and without it, her movements were sluggish. Slow. If not for Naruto, she would have died in that back alley. And now that little minx was following him around like a lost puppy. Thus was Cinder left fight and train, all the while waiting for new that never came. Where was the girl? Where was Ruby Rose? WHERE?!

"Raargh!"

A sudden fit of pique lent Cinder's next swing strength; rather than carve another slice into the tree before her, her blade cut straight through it. Even in her fevered state the former Fall Maiden still had the good grace to wince as the mighty oak toppled backward into the forest with an almighty crash. Blast it. She scowled at the scorched stump and sheathed her twin swords with a hiss, knowing she had lost control again. She was better than this. Where had her poise gone? She was meant to instill fear and anger in the hearts of others, not succumb to these base emotions herself.

"Not bad." A slow, steady clap resounded behind her in the fading evening light, echoing into the void she'd left behind. "Keep this up and we'll have more than enough firewood for the winter."

Cinder absolutely twitched. It was just a clone. She mustn't kill him. Slicing his head off would serve no purpose.

She still turned to face him. "Your wit is lacking as ever, I see."

The sage sketched a bow. "Still made you smile, though."

A small smile had touched her mouth. "Bastard."

Today she was chuffed to find that he'd changed his outfit for once; shedding his tattered robes and leather armor in favor of more casual wear; little more than dark boots alongside a worn pair of blue jeans and a red shirt over which he'd thrown a black blazer etched with orange flames. He'd even gone so far as to slap an eye-patch over his Rinnegan eye. It almost made him look human...if you ignored the latticework of scars that crisscrossed his arms and face. A mere plebeian might have fallen for the act.

Cinder wasn't fooled.

No matter how Naruto might play at normality -or wish to be!- he could never be one. He was something...more. It was still there in the way he held himself, poised to spring at the slightest provocations. Even his clones held the same body language. He was a warrior, a lion among sheep. They were the same in the regard, and she took pride in it.

"See something you like?" A blond brow arched as he caught her staring.

Cinder met his gaze levelly and crossed both arms beneath her bosom. "That remains to be seen."

If anything, he seemed to enjoy her cutting witticism; at least the easy grin he granted her seemed to say as much.

"Did you have something for me?" she changed the subject instead, knowing he wasn't going to elaborate. He always seemed content let her get the last word in. Why was that? Pity perhaps? Something else? Even after all this time she still didn't wholly understand him.

"I do." he beamed. "Catch."

He lobbed a red apple at her and in her hunger Cinder reached without thinking. Until her Grimm arm spasmed.

She caught the twitch immediately and snatched the apple with her true arm instead, but the moment was past and Naruto noticed.

"Does it still hurt?" came the question. "Your arm, I mean."

Cinder sank her teeth into the apple and refused to answer. Even now her arm continued to itch.

It had begun slowly at first, little more than a stray spasm that started one morning. Not a normal itch, but rather a tingling sensation that seemed to come and go at odd intervals. Now? It felt like spiders crawling in her veins, as though the limb were actively trying to get away from Naruto. Perhaps her false arm sensed what he was and feared him. Perhaps it missed her old power. Perhaps it was simply Salem's way of expressing her displeasure with Cinder from afar. Perhaps her body was simply rejecting it given her mood. Who could say? Cinder didn't know and it was this lack of knowledge that terrified her more than anything else.

"Cinder."

"What would you have me say?" she swallowed harshly and glowered at him when he didn't relent. "Yes, I'm experiencing some discomfort. There." she flung up her free arm and hurled the half eaten apple back his way with a vicious twist of her wrist, one he easily dodged. "Happy now? Its none of your concern."

"No," Naruto stepped to her, even as she stood her ground. "I think it is. Why are you keeping quiet about this? I don't like seeing you in pain."

When he reached for her hand and she batted it away. "I said its none of your concern."

She wouldn't have his pity; didn't need it, didn't want it. Pity was poison. Pity was weakness. She'd sworn never to be weak again. No matter how she might feel. No matter what this fool did. Power was her only goal, and with power came the right to rule. Once she had that power back, she'd never be weak again; never lower her guard for anyone else. So what if her arm was being rebellious? She was strong. It would not steal her power, and she would master it once again as she had before. There was nothing to be concerned about...or so she told herself.

"You think you want power, Cinder." as if sensing that very thought, Naruto turned away from her. "You don't. Power is a curse. You don't use it; it uses you."

His eyes traveled the length of her trembling arm. "I know my destiny."

"Is it your destiny?!" Naruto spun back and rammed a clenched hand against the ruined tree behind her, forcing a flinch from the former maiden as the bark splintered beneath his fist. "Or is it some destiny Salem forced on you?" Clone or no, his gaze still bored into her like a dust-powered drill. "That arm is killing you! Even I can see it!"

Killing her? No. Nonsense. She'd felt weak over the last few days, but surely that wasn't the cause. Salem wouldn't give her something what would kill her, surely.

Unless it had been feeding on her Maiden Power. Power that was now lost to her, leaving only-no! She refused to believe it!

Her chin jutted out in defiance. "Its mine. This power belongs to me."

"You don't need it!"

Sparks skittered in her palms. "Watch your words!"

"I'm begging you, Cinder!" Naruto took her by the shoulders, heedless of her burning golden orbs as they seared into him. "Its time for you to look inward and begin asking yourself the big questions. Who are you?!" Amber eyes met blazing cerulean, as he shook her. "And what do you want?! Answer me! Is it power?! You have your own skills and Semblance! I've seen you fight! You're not weak!" he pinched her chin and forced her eyes to meet his when she tried to turn away. "Is it comfort, then? You have that. So what is it then?! WHAT DO YOU WANT?!"

Her hands balled helplessly at her sides.

"I...Did you come here to just to harass me?"

For a moment she thought he'd fight her, but no, Naruto surprised her by holding back.

...no." he relented at last. "That's not why I cam here. I know where your little Fall Maiden is; my contact finally got back to me."

"Where is she?!" His words coursed through her like a searing flood as she jolted upright, but he held her back. Cinder allowed it, uncaring of his scowl. At last! Vengeance would be hers! "When do we strike?!"

Now it was Naruto's turn to hold his tongue and the silence between them grew sullen and heavy like a wet blanket. There was an quiet anger in his gaze now, one that hadn't been there before; belatedly Cinder realized the mistake she'd made, the peril in which she'd placed herself. He was well and truly furious with her -as he had every right to be!- and could just as easily withhold the information he'd received. If he did that, she'd be right back where she started or worse; he could lie to her and send her on a wild goose chase across the kingdoms.

"Well?!" She demanded, balling her fists once more "Tell me!"

"What are you going to do with this information?" he tilted his head, the falling shadows draping over his right eye. A cold core of dread settled in her gut.

"Miss Malachite was quite curious, but she's something of an old friend." Naruto continued, ignoring her sullen look. "And she told me a great many things. This girl you're looking for is little more than that." when he hung his head Cinder wanted to hang him herself. "Her name is Ruby Rose. She's just a girl. And you...you're going to kill her, aren't you?"

"She stole what was rightfully mine!"

"Did she?" his brow arched higher still at her rage. "Did she actively play a part in killing you and taking your power?"

No. She hadn't. She'd left her scarred and wounded at Beacon, but she hadn't deliberately snatched the might of the Fall Maiden from her. Chance and her final thoughts at the time had sent the power to the girl. That didn't diminish her dislike of her. Not in the least. She was a danger, one that Cinder couldn't possibly bring herself to abide. For better or worse, Ruby Rose still had to die, if not for her silver eyes, then for the power she now commanded. There could be no avoiding this.

"She has to die." Cinder said as much. "There's no other way."

"Yes, there is." Naruto retorted, butting his head against hers. "You just don't know it."

"Then by all means, elucidate." She challenged in kind, slamming her head right back into his own. "Tell me."

Naruto growled, but didn't back down, even as Cinder pushed human hand threateningly against his chest. At such close proximity his scent wafted over her; bringing with it the faint aroma of charcoal and sweat. It was a strangely heady scent, one that caused something to burrow up in her heart. No! Bad girl! Focus! If she could charm him into telling her, all the better. If not, then she lost nothing. What was the saying? Nothing ventured, nothing gained? Such was the lie she whispered to herself.

"Tomorrow." he said instead, jolting her in place as he stepped back. "I'll give you your answers and we'll deal with this tomorrow. On one condition."

His eyes strayed to her Grimm arm. Cinder clutched it behind her back. "No. Absolutely not. I refuse."

"Then you don't need my intel." Naruto bit back.

By now the sun had long since begun its descent; there was yet light enough to see, but in another hour that would no longer the be case. Cinder didn't much like the idea of stumbling back to the village in the dark, not with so many Grimm about. Blast him. He was making this impossible!

"Damn you!"

"Don't be so dramatic." twin fingers flicked her forehead, eliciting an angry hiss from the master schemer and she swiped at him to no avail as he darted away. "I'll gladly give you back your left arm for it. Just...let me get rid of that thing. Please. You don't know what its doing to you."

There was a strange earnestness to his words just then that Cinder didn't quite understand; almost as if he were begging her. Why did he want her Grimm arm gone so badly? There was something here that she'd failed to see, but what? Perhaps it weakened her. Perhaps not. What was she missing here? Did it allow Salem to track her? Or was there some more sinister purpose at work? Did she truly need her Grimm arm? It afforded her the means to surprise her opponent to be sure, but at what cost? If it was killing her, draining her very life force...

Her arm twitched again, and she felt another surge of weakness.

...very well." she offered Naruto her twitching limb with a growl. "Be quick about it."

"Of course." His visible eye seemed to burn with blue flame for a moment. "Nothing simpler."

Compared to the hell she'd gone through regaining her eye, this process was a quick and ugly thing. He gripped her Grimm arm by the wrist and muttered something in a foreign language she didn't understand. With an angry hiss, the inky blackness dissolved under his touch, leaving the ruined stump of her left arm behind. When he stepped forward and gripped that, Cinder knew to brace herself. She told herself it wouldn't hurt. That it would be painless compared to the hell she'd already suffered through.

She was wrong.

Naruto's hand pulsed green and a a full-throated yelp tore out of Cinder's throat as blood and bone and sinew erupted in ghastly fashion from the ragged stump of her left arm. Her stomach protested violently at the sight and she turned her gaze away just as healthy flesh flowed over her muscle like milk. It was quick, he'd been honest in that much; but he'd neglected to mention the bone-jarring agony that would follow. When he released her arm she toppled backwards to the forest floor, retching violently.

She lay there for a few moments, whimpering in pain as she curled into a ball gasping for breath. Naruto -his clone!- pretended not to see.

Cinder willed herself to gaze at her restored arm, forced her trembling fingers into a fist. It was hers. Perhaps a bit paler than she would've liked, but some imperfection was to be expected. A glowing green hand alighted on her shoulder, bringing with it a sudden rush of vitality and numbing relief. She sighed almost pleasantly and leaned into hit.

"You feel better, don't you?" Naruto hummed somewhere above her as he retracted his palm. "I knew you would; without that parasite gnawing on your life-force you'll be pleasantly surprised by what you can achieve."

Though it galled Cinder to admit it, he'd spoken true on that front. In the absence of her false arm, with her stamina now restored, she did feel stronger. Stronger than she'd been before Beacon certainly. The thought sent a tingle of anticipation through her. If she was this strong now after training, how much stronger would she be when she recovered the other half of herself?

"Why the wait?" she gasped out at last. "The sun's nearly set. Now would be the perfect time to strike."

"Because if I tell you now, you're going to run off and try to kill her the moment I fall asleep." he muttered aside, drawing her attention. "From what I've been told you'll be running right into a trap. You may have come leaps and bounds above what you once were but, well," A hand rose, idly palming her face and for a moment, just a moment, she leaned into it. "I wanted the four of you to be further along than this."

"Four?" she frowned.

"Neo." he put in pointedly, helping her stand.

"Oh, you mean the mute." her lips pursed into a thin line of displeasure. "I was under the impression we were going to kill her."

"Cinder."

"I trust you have a use for her, then?" she challenged.

"Something like that." he opened his mouth to say more, but a harsh crack in the distance caught his attention. It sounded eerily like gunfire. "Oh." a slow blink followed as he craned his neck toward the noise. "That was sooner than I expected. They're early.

That dread she'd felt before? It was back now, slithering through her stomach like a snake. "What?"

"Listen to me, Cinder." Naruto grabbed her by the arm, eliciting a wince. "There's a point where your life begins to tip. There's a point where it breaks," he prodded her shoulder when she swatted at him. "There's a point where it bends," Now her collarbone, "And finally, a point where you just can't take anymore." she ducked when he tried to poke her forehead and his slim shoulders rose in a helpless shrug. "We've finally reached the latter, I think. I've done the best I can to prepare you for what's to come, but from here on out, this isn't my story anymore. Its yours. Go back to the village. Quickly now. I'll be right behind you."

"Damnit, wait!" She snatched at him to no avail, he eeled through her grasp. "I don't understand! Whatr'e you on about?!"

"Oh, and keep an eye on the original." the clone went on, "He's fond of you, I think. Lucky guy. I almost envy him."

"I swear by the brother gods if you don't tell me what this is about I will END you!"

The smile he favored seemed almost sad, somehow.

"Sorry. We're out of time."

With a rush of movement, the clone threw itself into the woods she could ask what he'd meant by that. Toward the noise. Concerned and suddenly fearful, the former Maiden reluctantly marched off in the opposite direction. Just now...it felt like he was saying goodbye. Odd. She'd see the original soon enough. It didn't change the face that fallen into a rut that she just couldn't seem to escape. Tomorrow may well free of it...wouldn't it?

How the mighty had fallen.

Salem must've realized her failure by now; but still, she'd made no moves against her and she dare no return without the power of the Fall Maiden. She might be able to hide the truth from Watts or Tyrian, but Salem would know. She always knew. And while her mistress might brook failure on occasion, but to lose so spectacularly? Never. No doubt she was even now scouring Mistral to find her. Would she be replaced with someone younger? Someone more easily molded? Had it already happened? Who knew?

Ducking under a low hanging branch, she found herself forced to summon a small flame to her hand just to see as she stalked into the night. Her semblance should have provided her some small comfort; instead it made the shadows writhe and twist, more monstrous than her own thoughts.

Mercury and Emerald had already gone native, while Hazel was yet to return from his journey. Wherever he'd gone. No one spoke of it, but the silent message remained. His loyalty to Salem was clearly compromised now more than ever. It should have relieved Cinder; knowing that there was another turncoat in whom she might trust. It did not; not when her own loyalties lay in question.

Salem wouldn't tolerate their absence for much longer. She would send someone or worse, she would come herself.

When that time came...she would have to make a choice.

Did she throw her lot in with Naruto? A man capable of reviving the dead, one held the world's end at bay with his body alone. Or did she reaffirm her allegiance to Salem? That woman was a terror in her own right; she held all the Grimm in her sway. She was immortal. Eternal. A living goddess in all but name. Regardless of her choice, she would have to make one. Soon. She couldn't stay here forever. Could she?

Would it be so bad? A small, traitorous voice whispered in her ear as she walked. You could have a life here.

Just the thought of it made Cinder hasten her pace that much more.

Yes! Whatever her cohorts thought of Naruto, she was different. She was not some blushing -ex!- maiden to be tamed! She was Cinder Fall! She was fear! She was death! She was...

A soft purr at her heel said otherwise.

...oh, blast it." she swore softly. "Where did you come from?"

Somehow that damn kitten had found her once again and belatedly Cinder realized she'd reached the village proper; by now the sun had all but set; leaving only a few flickering torches on the walls within. Still the damn cat continued to nuzzle her leg, thereby forcing her to extinguish the flame in her hand pick it up as she made her way through the gates. The guards there gave her a knowing look until she glared them into submission, the insolent fools. She wasn't being weak, she told herself. This creature brought her comfort. She was simply cultivating a resource. An asset. Yes. That was it. Certainly. She had no ulterior motives. Nope. None at all.

It licked her cheek and something deep inside of Cinder absolutely squealed. Nope. No ulterior motives. She would butcher anyone who dared say otherwise.

In the end, she was almost relieved to find the spectacle taking place withing what passed for the town square; at first her paranoia deemed it an attack, were it not for the crowd that had gathered to watch. Sure enough she spied Emerald's distinctive hair mingled with that of Naruto and Neo's. A flash of silver locks in the faint lighting heralded Mercury's presence as well...right before a boot cracked into him and sent him sprawling down into the dirt.

"No, no, no!" a familiar voice bemoaned. "You're doing it all wrong! Control my central line! Faster! Destroy my focus!"

Cinder paused, idly stroking the kitten in her arms as she watched this beautiful disaster unfold.

She watched them fight from afar with a keen eye. No. This couldn't be called a fight. Not truly. More a brawl than anything else.

There was no choreography on their part, no strategy, nothing. They didn't work together and as such, Naruto picked the three apart time and time again with ease. He fought like an absolute maniac on a drug trip of epic proportions, bending and twisting at impossible angles to catch blades and boots alike before flinging them back in their faces. Her mind howled at the absurdity of it all. Neo she couldn't care less for, but Emerald and Mercury were sloppy. Or perhaps Naruto merely made them seem so.

Of the unlikely trio, only Neo managed to land the occasional blow, and even then she was easily dismantled.

Naruto didn't so much move among her minions as he did dance, a seamless blur of black and gold that harassed them to no end. Wreathed in eerie saffron light he caught Mercury's right leg when he tried to kick his shin and bodily levered the younger man into Emerald. In the sane moment he caught Neo's thin blade, clubbed her head with the blunt end, and used its momentum to launch her into the air. Mercury saw his opportunity and bounded upright in a whirl of silver and grey, but his rising roundhouse kick only met a plume of white smoke and slugged his partner instead.

"Watch it!" Emerald pushed at him.

"You watch yourself!" Mercury pushed right back.

"Now, now," Naruto chided. "I told you to come at me with the intent to kill."

Neo crashed down on his head like a vengeful missile, only to find her blade inextricably snared in a log. An appreciative whistle granted her.

Cinder saw Naruto erupt from her shadow and chose not to warn her. The girl's poleaxed expression and the soft gasp that followed was sweet, sweet retribution for her.

"See? Just like that." he hummed, kicking her away. "Neo's got the right of it."

Mercury lunged again, with Emerald a heartbeat behind.

Naruto claimed to be many things, but first and foremost, he was a shinobi. He could've killed the assassin in that moment; indeed, Cinder saw his eyes pulse for an instant as he considered it. Instead he drove the heel of his palm against the boy's neck and sent him stumbling into Emerald once more. Neo tried to cut out at his exposed arm and earned a sweep to her legs that slammed her right into Mercury's back. The resultant squawk that followed was strangely satisfying. Was this what it felt like to have pride in someone else? Such a shame, then, that it was overshadowed by all this unyielding rage.

"You need to trust one another." he reprimanded them with a shake of the head. "Back in my day, this would've gotten you lot killed and-

His eyes caught Cinder's from within the crowd and widened.

"We'll call it there for the day." he raised his voice to be heard by all present parties. "Alright, you lot! You've had your fun, but the show's over! Off with you! Shoo!" tan hands flicked outward in a shooing gesture and the crown reluctantly began to disperse back from whence they'd came. Not nearly fast enough for Cinder's liking, but she decided to choose her battle widely and glided to her side. They could all go and get themselves right and properly soused in the bar for all they cared. With that thought her earlier anxiety began to bleed away, replaced by mild annoyance as Mercury climbed to his feet.

"What was that disaster?" her voice lacked the bite it always held with a kitten in her arms. "You barely put up a fight."

Emerald made noise that might have been a scoff. "Sorry, Cinder. Perhaps you'd fare better with him...?"

Was that snark, just now? She was almost proud. Almost. "What was that?"

"No, mom. Nothing mom."

Neo howled with silent laughter.

"Yeah, boss, he's got a mean kick for an old man." Mercury grinned, massaging his jaw. "Ow! Damnit, I think you knocked a tooth loose."

"Then spit it out." the blond granted him a bleak laugh as he helped a bashful Emerald rise. Neo snapped up a finger when he didn't give her the same treatment.

"Keep acting like that and I won't bring your boss back." when the injured little minx flounced back onto the ground with a wordless sigh and signed at him anew, his expression darkened. "No, you can't go out and kidnap some random mook. Either a bad guy, or no one at all." Neo gestured again, her hand movements going considerably more crude with each pass. "No! Not one of those."

Cinder began to wonder when he'd started to adopt all these misfits. She didn't think it would stop anytime soon. Not bloody likely-

A crimson portal opened on Naruto's exposed flank and her world ground to a halt.

"Hmm?" Naruto turned, annoyance flashing across his whiskered visage.

The kitten wriggled out of Cinder's arms with a hiss.

She recognized the portal at once of course; after all, she'd stepped through one such gateway back in Haven. There was only one woman in the world capable of creating those. Raven. Naruto had made mention of her ages ago, so long now that she'd nearly forgotten. Supposedly she visited him for for supplies on occasion. Just the thought of her set Cinder's pulse alight with anger, bringing with it the stinging memory of her defeat. She would kill her. Murder her. Tear the very flesh from her bones...why hadn't she emerged?

As if waiting for that very moment, the Spring Maiden emerged, sword in hand.

Wait.

That wasn't her sword.

Cinder had seen the woman's blade before in the heat of battle, and this was most assuredly not Omen. That weapon in her palm looked older. Stranger. Stronger. A long weapon with a curved guard, there was an eerie presence about that ancient tool that all but seemed to scratch and claw at the air like a living thing, wild and angry. It seemed to both call to her and rebuke her in the same moment. No, she shook her head. Absurd. A weapon couldn't be alive.

That couldn't possibly be what she thought it was. It just couldn't.

"Hey, Raven." Naruto smiled amicably, but there was an edge to his grin that hadn't been there before as he reached up to remove his eye-patch. He saw Raven's new sword and suspected something; because the portal had yet to close. Cinder saw it too and a pit of black dread opened in her stomach. "What brings you here at this hour? I'm afraid we're a bit low on rum-

"I'm sorry." Two words. Two simple words damned them.

Mismatching eyes widened. "No."

Cinder wasn't prepared for who emerged after Raven. In hindsight, she should have been. Perhaps she'd gone soft. Perhaps she simply hadn't expected this. Who could say? As such, when Arthur Watts and Tyrian Callows stepped out of that gaping red portal and back into reality, she could be forgiven for freezing up. Mercury swore softly and Emerald jerked backwards. Neo merely tilted her head in quiet contemplation and shifted her dirty parasol over her right shoulder.

"Well, well, well." Watts drawled, pausing to brush a bit of dust from his coat. "So this is where you were hiding. You made it quite the hassle to find you."

Naruto glared bloody red daggers at Raven. "I knew you were a coward, but this...? Do you have any idea what you've done?"

The bandit pointedly refused to look at him.

"Don't be too heard on the girl." Arthur crooned. "She simply saw the benefits of allying herself with us. Is it not better to serve than to die?"

"Quite so~!" Tyrian cried. "Our goddess is a most benevolent ruler! And forgiving, too!"

In that singular moment Cinder understood what the clone had said earlier, where it had gone, as well as the sacrifice it must have made; left to run interference and allow her the chance to slip back into the village. It must've sensed them coming and worked to delay them. It had never meant to win at all, not that it could given how little energy it had. Its purpose had been to stall, little more, and it had accomplished that task at least. Somehow, such an ignoble end only angered her.

"Such a merry band of misfits! And what's this? Oh? Oh!" Still the madman continued to giggle, dancing from one foot to the other like a mad jester. "Oh, my~! Has our dear Cinder been tamed?" he clasped both hands before his chest like a child clutching at a new toy. "I never thought I'd see the day!"

"Quite so," Watts didn't smile, but his mustache twitched at the sight of her restored appearance. "Domesticated. How quaint."

"Domesticated?!" Cinder practically spat fire at them. "You dare?! I'll burn you both ALIVE!"

Tyriain cackled. "Without the power of the Fall Maiden? Unlikely, dear Cinder."

His words struck her like a slap in the face; more powerful than any poison, so too did his retort silence her immediately. They knew. Which meant Salem knew. Dead. They were all dead. There was no way out of this for her now. No. Wait. She told a lie. There was a way out of this. She wasn't going to like it.

...she knows?"

"Oh, yes!" By the gods she wanted to throttle this twit! "Our queen has known for quite some time now. Poor Ruby Rose, hiding in Haven. Such a foolish girl. Such a simple soul to be snuffed out...

Narut absolute hissed. "Not if I have anything to say about it."

"My dear fellow, you have absolutely no say in the matter!"

"Where is Hazel?" Watts inquired suddenly.

"Away." Naruto pointedly folded both arms before his chest. "I don't know when he'll return."

"He's dead, then." Naturally, he made the wrong assumption.

"Nope."

...I see. Very well, then. I have been authorized to offer you this once chance." grimacing, Watts forced himself to stand at attention, folding both arms behind his back in a manner he no doubt thought to be imposing. It was not. "Salem commands the three of you to return to the Grimmlands with us at once. And as for you," his gaze drifted to Naruto, considering the blond for a long, pointed moment. "I don't know who you are, but her grace has expressed an interest in your talents as well...I don't suppose you'd be willing to come quietly?"

"Oh, that's just precious." Cinder knew his answer before she could defend him. "Serve the embodiment of all evil? Yeah, I don't think so."

...seconded." Mercury was the next to speak.

Emerald's head snapped towards him. "Idiot! What're you doing?!"

"No?" Watts coughed in surprise. "My dear boy, I was not asking. This is a command. You will return with us at once."

"Nope." the assassin shook his head and nimbly stepped to Naruto's right side to stand with him. "Consider this my resignation."

"I thought you might say that." the scientist extracted a small device from his coat. "Such a pity. I'll have to tell her grace that you perished."

In a single savage movement he depressed a button within and Mercury -rather, his legs- buckled like rotten driftwood. Watts nimbly pressed the button again and something gave with a horrible crunch as the boy found himself violently electrocuted. Bereft of balance he toppled to the earth with a startled yelp. All eyes rounded on Watts, suddenly wary. Another pressed ceased the shocks.

Mercury absolutely spasmed. "What the...hell?!"

"How many times did I modify those legs for you, boy?" Watts sneered, a hint of a smile peeking out behind his mustache. "Did you think I wouldn't be prepared for a situation such as this?"

"Greasy little...!

Naruto made to step forward and the scientist hefted his prize high.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you. It would be such a shame if something happened to him."

Rather than back down the blond merely frowned. "You won't live to press that button again, Watts."

"I'll offer you one final chance." in turn, the scientist extended his hand to them. "Return to her side or die with this fool."

Naruto blew out a breath. "Leave. Both of you. "You don't want this fight."

"Ah, but we do!" Tyrian cackled. "And we brought a surprise!"

"More Grimm?" he growled. "They'll die like the rest."

Tyrian only grinned. "I think not."

Naruto lunged at Watts in a liquid blur and Raven spun with impossible speed to bring her strange blade crashing down into his chest. True to form he saw the attack coming and ducked out of its reach; only for a searing wave of heat and angry force to struck him regardless. Mismatched eyes widened in surprise before he was ripped from his feet and sent him crashing into a tree.

"The Relic of Destruction." Watts confirmed Cinder's worst fears with a satisfied smirk. "Its quite potent, wouldn't you agree? Vacuo was right to hide it. Tyrian, go help her-

"Neo!" Naruto's voice boomed across the clearing. "You want your boss back?!"

The petite girl perked up like an eager puppy.

"Kill the scorpion!"

Say what you would about Neo, but her loyalties were never in question. Cinder had always known that from the start. Neo didn't serve a cause, and Neo certainly didn't care for prestige or power. She served her interests and hers alone. The moment Naruto offered her something she wanted, no, needed in her life? Well. Cinder witnessed the precise the moment those mismatching eyes turned hooded, narrowing in thinly veiled pleasure as only a murderer's could. Neo gathered her legs beneath her, drew her legs taught as Hush's blade flew free from its scabbard...and flew at Tyrian like a missile.

The poor faunus squawked in surprise, suddenly in the fight of his life.

Incredibly, he laughed. "Oh, sweet treachery! Another lost soul to dedicate to my goddess!"

"How unfortunate." Watts simply sidestepped the confrontation, uncaring for the combat behind him. "It seems they've made their decision. Now make your choice, Cinder."

Choice? What choice did she have?

Power, or her life. That was the offer she had been given. What did she desire? The return of her power certainly; she wanted strength and prestige, to be feared and respected by all. If she refused, Salem would surely kill her, or make an attempt at the least. Could she best Watts as she was now? Mercury wouldn't be moving with his legs disabled, so she'd find no help there. Emerald...well. Emerald followed wherever she went. Wouldn't she? What she'd once taken for granted was suddenly in question. She looked absolutely torn.

And yet...

She stared at her hands, her human hands, healthy and whole. Only a few hours before her left arm had been Grimm. She'd felt so weak and thought losing it would make her weaker still. Now? She felt complete. Whole, as if in restoring her limb, Naruto had unlocked something deep within her. It sounded foolish, but there could be no denying that she felt stronger. She had all the power she needed. She knew where that blasted little bitch was and more importantly, where she would be going. What need did she have for this place? And yet...

"Don't!"

All eyes snapped toward the sound.

"You're better than this!" Naruto coughed. "I know you are!"

"And what do you know?" Watts clicked his tongue. "Raven, be a dear and deal with him, would you?"

Across the clearing Naruto struggled to rise, only for another bolt of lighting to last out at him like a whip. This he narrowly caught at the last moment, only for Raven to barrel headlong into his chest; in return the sheer force of her assault drove him through the bark and into the woods beyond. For the first time since she'd known him, she heard the blond cry out in pain. A golden arm snaked out in the dark to yank Raven off her feet before she could bring the Relic to bear again and dragged her away with him. There would be no help for Cinder here. She was on her own. Just as she'd always been. This was her decision to make.

So why were her hands trembling?

"Come now," Watts frowned at her, mustache bristling in annoyance. "Is it really so difficult a decision to make? You owe this fool nothing. Nothing at all."

Yes, there was only one answer to be had here. She believed in destiny after all. There had only ever been a single option...

"No," she murmured, making a fist with her right hand. "I suppose it isn't."

He turned his back on her. "Sensible of you. Shall we go, then?"

For better or for worse, Cinder Fall made her choice.

...and she drew her blades.

A/N: PLEASE. READ. THIS.

Else, you might be confused. Now I'm sure many of you are asking, what choice did Cinder make? Did she go back to Salem? Did she choose Naruto? Well. Next chapter will confirm it, but I believe I made it quite clear here. Will there be repercussions? Of course there will. Either way, she's betraying someone. She won't be getting out of this unscathed.

Weren't prepared for Raven and a Relic, were you? She isn't at all aware of what Naruto is and of course feels nothing going against him.

Hope you're ready; because now we're cranking things up to ELEVEN.

It is HEAVILY implied that Watts and Tyrian raided Vacuo while Cinder was convalescing and forced the Summer Maiden's compliance, thereby securing the Relic of Destruction, which we all know to be a nasty piece of work in the form of a sword. From there they found Raven and...well. For those who guessed it, the poor birdie's firmly under Salem's employ now, and not by choice.

She's afraid of Salem, you see. Terrified of her. She tried to fight. She failed.

Salem's not too keen on losing her pawns; had it merely been one person, that she could have forgiven; ignored at the very least. But Naruto didn't stop at one. Consider this if you will. As far as our angry Grim Goddess is concerned Cinder, Hazel, Mercury, AND Emerald all vanished without a word. And they did. None of them made any effort to return to the Grimmlands, to contact her, anything at all. Meaning someone either killed them, or they actively defected.

Of course Salem takes a dim view on such things. How did you think she would respond to this?

As ever, reviews keep this old man alive during this dark and crazy time. I ain't joking.

Seriously, we're all locked away anyways these days, its all that sustains me.

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

And enjoy these previews! Remember those hints?

Yes? No? Hope you paid attention. Because!

SPOILERS! SPOILERS! SPOILERS!

PLOT DETAILS AHOY!

YE BE WARNED!

Read at your own risk!

(Preview)

"Any last requests, false god?"

A slow, shuddering breath greeted him. "...ay."

Tyrian tilted his head and leaned closer. "I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that."

The dead man grinned up at him; but that didn't make any sense. Dead man told no tales. Dead man didn't move. Dead men certainly didn't grin when they were pumped full of poison.

"I said...I have a request." Naruto croaked, wiping a thin line of blood from his jaw. "Yes, there is one thing you can do for me...

A fist shot out, caught the man's stinger, wrenched it free from his ribs, and slammed its owner to the ground in a single seamless movement.

Raven lunged at him from a portal and the blond backhanded her through a tree with nary a backward glance. He didn't care for her, he'd chosen his victim and there would be no escape.

...pray." a dark shadow loomed over him as a boot came down on his back. Tyrian tried to wriggle loose, tried to flee, tried to scurry away even as it crushed down on his spine, but he couldn't. There was no escape here; because the bastard still had hold of his tail. "That's just about the only thing you can do while you're still alive, Tyrian." there was something wrong with his voice, as if another were speaking with him, through him. Odd. Concerning at the very least...wait. Why were his eyes white? Why was he laughing?

Twin horns sprouted from his head with a sickening crack as tan flesh turned pale.

"Ahhh, and there it is. The fear. I'd almost forgotten what it smelled like. No, no, no, don't pray to me." he drawled, at last seeing his bowel-loosening terror. "I won't be listening." that shaggy blond hair seemed to burn white as he stepped back into the shadows, dragging the struggling Faunus with him. "No, I want you to pray to your goddess. Pray to Salem. Call for her. Beg. Plead. Squeal for her to save you. You have ten seconds."

R&R~!