Notes:

Late as 's been a series of crises in my city, so yeah.

Winter Schnee was aboard the Atlesian battleship, Magnum Kite, with her was the latest shipment of Atlesian Paladins, among other things. The General hadn't told her everything, but she knew that war was coming.

War on this scale though? In a world that had only known peace for a century, what could suddenly inspire this level of conflict?

"I can't believe that you guys quit!" Weiss shouted at Cardin, referring to the awesome match that her cousin and his team had had with team NVL and the Invincible Girl. They controlled the match for the most part, but they ended up forfeiting at the end.

"Yeah," Shouter said shyly, caressing his glass, "It was pretty embarrassing after all that my talk about not being able to lose."

"It couldn't be helped," Cardin virtually sighed out as he took a sip from his, "Her attack would have taken Shouter out, and we'd have been hopeless against her without his support. There was no need for him to take the hit if we weren't going to win. So, I called it off."

"I guess that makes sense," she pouted as she took another sip from her drink.

"Besides," he declared pensively as he raised his glass to his lips, "We were compromised."

With this declaration, an atmosphere akin to what the burnt orange haired leader's Semblance would produce descended on the group.

"Ladies and gentlemen! We were moments away from what would have been one of the biggest upsets in Vytal Tournament history, but it seems the Invincible Girl was building up the tension up to the final act! Amazing! Amazing!"

This was the backdrop as the members of team CJS returned to the locker rooms, heads hung in their failure.

BOOM!

Immediately they walked in, Cardin had unslung his Executioner and struck at Jaune with it. Luckily, the blonde caught it on time with Crocea Mors.

"Oookay then," Yang said, turning to Weiss, "What's the plan for today?"

"Well, there's some Vytal Festival activity to be had," she declared as she dropped a binder that had the words "Death Games" crossed out, "I propose we start off with the Sky Maze."

"Interesting," Blake commented, being a foreigner, she hadn't really experienced the Vytal Festival or some of the more known kingdom activities.

"We'll break into groups of two and head into the mazes, it'll take a while, so there's going to be a picnic when we're done."

"Oh, how're we going to divide it?"

"Easy," Weiss said, "We'll each go with a member of the other team. Ruby's paired with Shouter, Blake with Jaune and Cardin with Yang."

"Cool," Cardin said with a nod, winking at his new partner, "We can get lost together."

"Careful what you wish for," Yang teased back with a grin.

"What about you?" Blake enquired, acknowledging her own new blonde partner with a nod after.

"I'll be taking Whitley," she responded, "Just have to pick him up from the hotel."

"Okay then."

"You wanted to see me, General?" a green-haired professor asked as he walked into the Vice-Principal's office, which Ironwood was using for his purposes.

"Yes, Barry. Have a seat."

"Sure. And who's this?" With those words, three pairs of eyes turned to the man in his pristine uniform.

"I'm Commander Lars Astree, I am a Council Enforcer; a Manus Dei if you prefer."

"Good day, Commander. I assume I'm here at your request?"

"You assume correctly, Professor. I'm here t-"

"It's Doctor," the three other people in the room interrupted, Glynda and James well amused by it.

"I didn't get the PhD for fun," he insisted, adjusting his glasses.

"Of course not," the Commander continued, showing no sign that he had been bothered by the interruption, "This is in regard to the Yue Lao, the White Fang member."

"I recall," the Doctor acknowledged dourly, "I took him in, following which he was executed. Is there something about those events you'd like clarified?"

"A little… The boy was said to have a journal of some sort on him. It wasn't found on him at the time of his arrest, you wouldn't be privy to anything regarding this would you?"

The Doctor pondered the question for a few questions.

"I recall that he possessed a notebook detailing the plans of some planned and undertaken White Fang plans. It was confiscated and used as evidence in his 'trial'."

"You're right, but there seems to be one other than that."

"Well, I can't say that I recall any other such document… Will that be all Commander?"

"Yes," the Council Enforcer said, his words still clear despite the thin line his lips had been constricted to, "I suppose that will be. I pray your pardon for any inconvenience."

"No need," Oobleck disagreed, rising to his feet, "Rather, I'm sorry for being no help."

"Not at all, that's one more place crossed off the list."

Following the Doctor's departure, James and Glynda looked at the Commander pointedly, wanting answers.

"The document is if great importance -and great concern- to the Council. I've been instructed to look into the matter, you need not worry about it."

"If it's so imp-"

"Anything else regarding the matter can be taken up with the Council itself, there's a limit to what a soldier of my stature can say."

"I understand then," the General accepted, "Should you need anything, Atlas' resources are available to you."

"Thank you, General Ironwood. I'll be sure to remember that. Farewell."

On walking out, he looked at the text he had just received on his scroll.

"Didn't find anything."

"Tsk." His source said he confirmed it just recently, he needed to interrogate him more later.

"What do you think?" James asked the Vice-Principal a few moments after the Commander had left them.

"I think the Council is keeping secrets… Then again, that's nothing new."

"Winter's arriving today with more Paladins," he said after a while, "These ones won't be compromised."

"James," she started softly, staring in the soldier's sapphire eyes, "Do you sincerely think that more weapons is the answer?"

"Not always, but we're approaching war, nothing's ever been gained by being the weaker side."

"There are ways to be discreet though."

"How?" he questioned angrily, his gloved fists clenching, "The assault could come any day and both the Summer and Spring Maidens are lost. The Winter Maiden can't even move and the Fall Maiden isn't any better. Not to mention that her assailant will most likely be coming to finish the job."

"My weapons were compromised, meaning that we'd already lost the battle of discreetness. If someone is deeply rooted enough that our weapons could slip into their hands, then we can't battle behind the scenes anymore. We need to take action and be firm in it."

He had done his best to prevent himself from shouting, but the tension that was the result seemed to have been no better if he had. It took several moments before the blonde belle of Beacon decided to respond.

"This, this is why you always lose to him."

She said those words.

She said them fully aware of how much they'd hurt the man who heard them. And it showed in his eyes, his eyes that were bright and sparkling and blue for a second and cold and distant the next.

She couldn't stop though, maybe he needed to hear these words, maybe she needed to say them.

"You're so convinced that you're right that you'll smother what you love in the name of protecting it."

That

"I… don't know that I'm right," he said after a while, his face turned down, not able to look at her, "But I know what happens if I let that stop me from doing anything. I can't afford your faith in Ozpin; I can't afford to stay still while everything crumbles around me, trusting that someone will come."

His words brought her eyes to his arm, knowing what he meant by that.

"I'm not asking you to do nothing."

"But you are," he insisted with a humourless smile, "I'm a soldier, this is the only thing I can do."

"I can only afford, as worthless as I am, to be the pillar. If it falls still, then it'll have to come down on me."

"Jam-"

The General interrupted her, his hand holding her chin softly before delivering a chaste kiss on her surprised lips.

"I love you Glynda," he whispered, their lips just millimetres apart from each other, "I know that the path I've chosen means I'll lose you. It's part of me, I wish I could ignore it but I can't."

After his declaration, she buried her face in his chest, whether it was embarrassment or tenderness or something else, neither of them were sure.

"No, you don't," she started, softly striking his chest, "You don't wish you could ignore it. You're proud to be the soldier, you're proud that you can carry the load. It doesn't matter that you break my heart because of it, does it?"

Mid-sentence, tears had started down her cheeks but she didn't allow them to interrupt her speech, she wanted him to hear every word.

The General made no reply though, he only tightened his grip around her and felt her do the same.

"Welcome everyone, to the Sky Maze," Weiss declared as her classmates followed behind her, "A modern recreation of the ancient Celestial maze that was captured and ravaged by Mistral during the Great War, the maze spans an area of 3600 square metres and is considered the most complex in all of Remnant. What's more? It's afloat."

The students couldn't help but ooh and ahh in awe as they beheld the beautiful structure.

"I can't believe you memorised their entire Qwikipedia page," Cardin said abruptly, showing his scroll to partner and eliciting a giggle from her.

"Shut up!" she shouted, before turning to her giggling brother in annoyance.

"Either way," she recovered, "We'll split up at the different entrances and convene at the centre, where a picnic is waiting for us."

"Welcome to the Sky Maze," an automated voice declared as the teams made their way in, "Enjoy one of Remnant's most memorable tourist attractions. Do remember, so as to keep decorum, the use of Semblances, weapons and scrolls is prohibited. Do not fear though, on reaching the garden, reception will be restored and you'll be free to use your scrolls as you'd like."

The host of students mumbled some form of acknowledgement and slowly walked into the maze.

Adam sat solitarily on the edge of a balcony. He was thinking about the previous day, when he had guided Jacques Schnee to Professor Oobleck. He was surprisingly nonchalant about it. Although he had already taken his revenge, he had expected that he'd have more of a reaction when he met the man who was ultimately responsible for Sheena's death and his brand.

It was until they met that he realised that he held no hostility towards the man himself, he didn't need revenge. That wasn't why he joined the Fang and regardless of how blurry everything had been until recently, that had never been a goal.

However, Jacques was still his enemy, and he was prepared to destroy him completely at the point it would be most beneficial to the cause.

His eyes lowered back down to the needle in his hand and fabric on his lap. Pausing to remember exactly what he pictured at first.

"What's up, Cap?" Emerald asked as she took a seat next to him. "Ooh, I didn't know you could sew."

"I raised two brats for a good chunk of my life, so it was an essential skill."

"Interesting," she mused, "Either way, it's about time for lunch so I came to get you."

"I didn't notice," he said with a smile, "Thanks."

"It's no problem, after all you're the boss."

"Good one, I'll be down in a minute."

Despite already passing the information that she came to deliver, the green haired thief still stood there.

"Um, how was it?"

"How was what?"

"Raising those 'brats'," she clarified making sure to make the appropriate air quotes.

"Well…" Adam pondered, although he didn't need to think about it in all honesty.

"It was exhausting, and frustrating and I found myself hating them a few times. Still, it was the best time of my life. Before the Fang, before things got so complicated. It was just me and them, and… it was good."

"To be honest," he continued, turning to her with a quizzical smile, "I had nothing else to live for before them. Between the Grimm and the bandits and the wild, I would have given up."

"Whoa!" Emerald shouted getting up from her seat, "No need for that much revelation!"

"Why not? We're teammates after all."

"Um," she hummed in confusion, "I guess you're right."

Adam had noticed that his guard was always lowered when he was around this girl. Something about her made it difficult for him to think.

He hadn't been able to place it previously, but he felt it even now and after his eyes were opened by his trial, he was certain.

"Yeah… Either way, I'll be down soon."

"O-okay then."

Cinder was tired of being cooped up. She'd been in the city for weeks, but Watts had grounded her. She was stuck sulking in Steoul.

Not today though, she was going out no matter what.

She climbed onto the roof of the home she was staying on. In her head, she recited the levitation spell Salem had taught her.

Magic is structure, she recalled her saying. Whether it takes the form of speech or lines or song. You must find a structure for the power to flow through you. Every magician starts off with something like spells, but with time you'll find yours. Unique and powerful.

"Wingardium Leviosa." (And yes, I am stealing from Harry Potter)

With those words, the amateur magician lifted off, slowly at first and then higher and higher until the clouds were beneath her feet.

"EEE!" her scream was because of how suddenly she had lifted; Salem had made her keep it under a few stories before but now... Cinder's scream soon turned to laughter, loud and airy laughter.

This feeling was exultant. She could feel the magic course through her continuously and high above the rest of the world, she felt like a goddess.

After basking in the feeling a little more, she bounded farther away from the city that had stifled her for the past few days.

"Woohoo!"

Now far away from the city, the sultry sorceress swirled swiftly in the sky, untethered by anything. After a while, her high wore down. She still had the zeal and excitement of her power, but it only heightened her hunger for more.

Soon, she would have the rest of that power, her power. Huh? She thought as an object in the distance caught her attention.

What's that?

"How far are we from Vale's outskirts?" Winter asked one of her subordinates for what had to be the dozenth time.

"We're a few d-"

BOOM!

The officer's report was interrupted by the sudden rattling of the Magnum Kite.

"What was that?"

"We were hit, ma'am!"

"By what?"

Her question was answered when the image of a woman was displayed on one of their screens. She was right outside, waving at them with a cocky smile.

"Should we alert General Ironwood, ma'am?"

"Don't be ridiculous!" she answered coldly, "Someone just needs to be taught manners, no need for the General to be bothered by this."

"Oh?" Cinder mused as she saw Winter rise to the top of the airship where she had been waiting for her.

"You're Winter Schnee aren't you? Rumour has it that you're pretty strong."

"Who are you and what do you want?" the Atlesian Specialist questioned as she took a battle stance.

"Definitely strong," she continued, seemingly oblivious to the threat, "No fun though."

Instantly, the Schnee progressed upon her, whipping her blade in a cold flurry of steel. Cinder was more alert than her attitude let on and pulled out her own blades, countering her continuous attacks.

After a rapid exchange, the two fighters separated, now having a good deal of knowledge on the other's fighting style.

"Okay, I take it back," she said with a crazy smile, "You're definitely fun."

Without a word, Winter summoned a glyph that shot in front of her, its luminescence bearing a flock of birds that attacked Cinder with ferocity.

The black-haired opponent responding with swift and steady strikes before digging her blades into the body of the airship and slicing out panels from it and flinging them towards her opponent.

Before the metal reached, it crumpled and folded. In its stead was a human-sized metal monstrosity with a mask for a face. It was a Geist Grimm summon, and it had possessed the metal Cinder just attacked Winter with.

"Impressive."

"You don't know the half of it," with these words, she threw a canister of Dust at the mask. It was Ice Dust and it coated the beast in frost.

With a sardonic smile, the Schnee Specialist rushed at Cinder with her summon by her side.

"So…" Ruby mumbled awkwardly as she moved through the maze with her new partner, Shouter.

"So…" he continued, not sure he could carry a conversation in the mood he was in.

"Your match was really good."

"I guess."

"No really!" she insisted, perking up a bit.

"Especially you, you were everywhere they needed you to be! It was so awesome, you hit shot after shot after shot."

"Err, thanks."

"And your weapons? Those were insane! You kept everyone guessing, I've never seen anyone layer Dust effects like that."

"It's actually a bit experimental, but it'll be common soon I think… so, it's nothing special."

"Are you kidding me? It's great."

"You're not bad yourself," he said, wiping the sweat from his brow as though conversation was a chore, "You and Weiss helped keep control of the entire field. And the way you drew Reese out was genius."

What had started out as polite conversation to pass the time as they solved the maze quickly turned into an honest one with two people who had common interests. They talked about their weapons, from maintenance to versatility to Dust compatibility. They of course turned it to other topics, because they had been told that just talking about weapons would make conversing monotonous but they went back to weapons when they realised that that was all they wanted to talk about.

"You know," the dog-eared student said, unaware if whether or not they had made any progress in the maze, "I'm rather happy that we got paired."

"Same here."

"I mean… I think you understand, you know?"

"Understand what?"

"The need to prove yourself," he clarified seriously, his fist clenching in frustration, "I used to be a disgrace. I did well in the exams because I knew I wouldn't get hurt. But once any real danger presented itself, I turned to a coward. There's not a day that goes by when I don't feel the shame."

"That's my goal, I think," he said looking her straight-on, "To not look at myself with shame anymore… or something like that."

"Sorry, I just went and started rambling."

"No… you didn't. I mean… I understand what you mean."

With this, Ruby sat on the floor, apparently forgetting about the maze.

"There's something my sister blames me for," she whispered, her silver eyes looking to the distance, "I guess what I'm trying to do here… trying to get her to forgive me. I don't want to be as much of a bother as I was back then. I don't want to be the reason she loses anything again."

"Let's do our best then… or something like that."

"Jaune," Blake called to her blonde partner, "You have something to say. You can."

"Oh," the fourth generation Arc warrior said before turning to his maze partner, "It's just that I never noticed that you had…" As though too embarrassed, he pointed to his head.

"My cat ears?" she asked amused at his circumvention.

"Yeah, I revealed it on an episode of Dare, Dare, Die. It got taken down though."

"Oh, okay."

"Yeah, it's actually funny; I was so conscious about them, about people finding out. But now? I don't even notice."

"I guess it is a little funny."

"I have a question for you now," she said, spinning around and sure that they were now lost.

"Didn't realise it was turn-based," he said with a chuckle, although he didn't refuse.

"It's about… leaving; you left because you wanted to get stronger right?"

"In summary, I guess."

"What's it like coming back? Does it feel like it was worth it?"

"I guess…?" he answered unsurely, resulting in the cat faunus' disappointed expression.

"All I can say is that if you need to leave, then leave. There's no alternative."

Blake was admittedly surprised by the firmness in the blonde's voice, especially considering how unsure he had been throughout the talk.

He had changed, not just as a warrior. The obvious growth made her believe that there was no alternative to leaving when you had to.

"I'll choose to believe you," the White Fang deserter said, with a smile, "But I'll hold you accountable if it doesn't turn out right."

"Sure thing, but my advice always works, so no sweat."

"I'm sure. You didn't happen to learn how to navigate when you were away did you?"

"Come on," Weiss shouted back at Whitley as she ran around another corner to find yet another dead-end.

"Huh? I guess it's not the most complex maze in Remnant without reason."

Whitley finally caught up with her, hands in pockets and face showing that he was somehow both apathetic and opposed to being here.

"What's wrong?"

He's ignoring me? she thought after not getting a reply, Well, I know what to do about that.

With this thought on her mind, she pounced on her brother.

"What are you d- ha-ha. Stop! Ha-ha. Cut it out!"

It was too late, and he knew it. Once Weiss Schnee started tickling, she wouldn't stop until he promised to give her a genuine smile.

"S-stop."

At least that was her plan. When she heard hi trying to push his words through tears though, she was sure that she had been unsuccessful.

"Are you okay?" she asked in a panic, she wasn't sure exactly what happened. "What's the matter?"

"You suddenly care?" he asked angrily, pushing his sister away from himself and rising to his feet.

"You suddenly recall that we're supposed to be siblings and you want me to what?"

"You want me to hug you and go into stupid tourist attractions like you didn't abandon me?"

"Whitley, that isn't fair. I've been busy in Beacon, a-"

"I don't care about Beacon! What about…" the struggle was visible in his eyes, the same blue ones he had already wiped against his sleeve but still gave tell-tale signs of sadness.

"Forget it."

"Whitley, talk to me."

"I'm not talking about this anymore," he insisted, trying to walk away from her.

"We have to talk about this."

"No, you have to talk about it. I'm already resolved to this, and I have nothing to say to you."

She didn't want to have to do it, but he was forcing her hand.

"How good is your sense of direction?" Cardin asked as he and Yang meandered through the myriad of paths that formed Remnant's most complex maze.

"If there's food in that direction, then great. Otherwise, not that good."

"Good then," he said, turning back to her with a smile, "Because what I said about us getting lost here might have actually come to pass."

"You guys did great you know?"

"Maybe," Cardin said as he followed behind her, "But we didn't do good enough."

"Why does your mood turn so sour when the fight's brought up?"

"It's just a little frustrating is all."

"I expect an explanation," Cardin said as sat down, his eyes trained on the Arc warrior.

"You noticed then."

"Yeah, I noticed you throwing the match and betraying all our efforts."

"I'm so-"

"Don't apologise," Shouter interrupted testily, "Just explain."

Despite the fact that he had held Cardin back, there was certainly the one who had wanted this win more than anyone else.

"Fair enough."

"What is this?" Ren asked fiercely in team NVL's dorm room, he was holding up a piece of paper; it was a drawing, a drawing with people with Grimm faces.

"It's not what you think," Nora answered placatingly.

"Explain then," he said tersely, looking straight at her.

"Hold on a minute, where did you get that?"

"I found it when I was cleaning and that's beside the point."

"No, the point is that I don't need to explain this to you," she said, snatching the paper from his hand, "I'm not a kid."

"You're my responsibility either way," he answered sombrely.

"I didn't ask for that; I never asked to be your burden or for you to bear over me like some kind of type of tyrant."

"I… understand," he said, his face moving through a range of expressions as he walked to the door, "My mistake."

"Ren," Pyrrha said trying to catch up with her teammate, "Nora didn't mean that. You know that right?"

"It's okay," he said offhandedly.

"I understand what it feels like too."

"I'm really okay though," he insisted, "She needs space, I'm okay with giving it."

" 's admirable how you always seem to keep a cool head."

"What about you? There's clearly something wrong."

"I…" she started, unsure whether or not to tell him.

"…I want to withdraw from the tournament."

"What's the matter?"

"It's… Jaune, he used his Semblance on me during the battle. I felt my aura rise for a second, it was enough for me to pull Akouo to trip Cardin and gain that advantage. I… didn't deserve that win."

"Hmm," Ren mused, looking straight at her, "But there's a lot riding on this, isn't there? Pumpkin Pete's is expecting you to make it to the finals, outright withdrawing is certainly a violation of your agreements. What about your siblings?"

"I… haven't thought that far ahead."

"You shouldn't withdraw, regardless of how you got here, you need to prioritise your family."

"I was taught back at the orphanage," Pyrrha said looking straight at Ren, "That when trading, the only thing that you couldn't put on the table was your soul. I've stretched that teaching far enough as it is, but I can't take something that I didn't earn."

Her declaration caused him to heave a sigh, it was heavy discussion.

"If you think that your soul is the most important thing, you're wrong."

His declaration was firm, as though he had pondered on this deeply. As though he had lived it.

"Our village had just been destroyed, taken by the Grimm. There were a few survivors, but the food and medicine that was left wouldn't go round. I was just a kid, but I knew that being the weakest, there would be nothing left for us and we'd starve. If they didn't kill us first."

The story was a dark one, but the Mistralian seemed calm, almost impassive about it, even his tone barely showed any variation.

"And so," he continued, holding her hand in his and staring straight into her eyes, "I took Nora to the edge of the city and made her cry, as loud as I could. I joined her too, it wasn't difficult… my parents were in that rubble too after all."

"Our negativity sent the Grimm our way and into the village and I used Serene Surface to hide us from them. This time, there were no other survivors."

"Look at me Pyrrha!" he said intensely, seeing the now tearful warrior look away from him.

"Look into my eyes, is there even a shred of regret in them? That's because I know it was worth it. So what if I sold my soul? She's still here and that's all that matters. That's all that matters!"

"I know your morals are important to you, and I'm asking, begging you to betray the code you live by… but if you don't do everything in your power to protect your family, you'll regret it."

"Think about it, Pyrrha. You know that I'm right."

"Mistress," Arthur Watts said with a bow towards a globe-like like creature that revealed blurrily the image of what could only be described as a monster.

"Arthur."

The monster spoke.

It wasn't the dark or frightening voice one would expect. It was more like a snake, her voice a mix of colourful susurrations that intoxicated the listener.

"Cinder has left the city."

"I am aware, my mistress. It is all a part of my plan."

"Oh?"

"Although I failed in my last task, it wasn't without benefits and I'm already weaving it into a venture that will be of greater rewards."

"Is that so? What do you require then?"

"Well…"

Cinder was just knocked down; she had been cocky and underestimated the Schnee's ability and now she was paying for it.

Winter poised her blade above the fallen assailant.

"In the name of the Great Atlesian Army, you're under arrest."

Cinder had other plans though, she kept her eyes on the Schnee and dropped her weapons slowly to show that she was surrendering.

"Rectorum!" she whispered harshly immediately her hands touched the ship.

The spell sent a ripple through the wing that the pair were on. It emerged at the airship's turbine and took out a portion of it.

The explosion disbalanced Winter, giving her opponent the opportunity to pick her weapons and press an attack on her.

BANG!

That didn't work out though, as a shot sent the black-haired pseudo-Maiden flying right off the airship.

"You have to be kidding me." Winter grumbled annoyedly; the shot had come from a small airship, an airship with the SDC Logo clearly written on it.

"What are you doing here?" she asked through her scroll.

"I'm here to help my daughter out obviously," the voice of her father called back.

"Who's flying that thing?"

"Fenix Atar, Ma'am. I was a former Atlesian Airforce Pilot."

"I'm seizing that airship for Atlesian Military use. You'll make a mid-air transfer of personnel to your ship. Jacques Schnee, I'll need your knowledge of the design of this ship to make sure the cargo isn't affected during the crash."

Without a word, they all followed her orders and got to work.

Cinder had just stabilised herself from her fall. She was lucky that she had cast a defence spell just in time or that blast would have done some serious damage.

Speaking of damage, that was the first time she had gone up against the famed Schnee Family Semblance, every attack from it felt different than an ordinary Semblance, maybe it was the secret to the family's power.

Okay then, she thought in excitement, Time to finish them up.

Wow, you're not even trying to be subtle, are you? The voice that said this made Cinder whip around frantically, looking up and down in search of the owner.

Relax, I'm not here. Not really anyway, I need you to do something."

With these words, Cinder felt a foreign and invasive power shoot through her.

"I can't believe you got us kicked out," Whitley complained as he accepted an ice cream cone from his sister at a street cart.

"My bad," Weiss had gone against the maze rules and used her Semblance when she was trying to stop her brother.

The pair stayed in silence for a while, their cones threatening to melt at the tension between them.

"When Caleb died," he started, taking a bite out of his ice cream, "How do you think it felt when it seemed that no one cared?"

"Whit-"

"Dad was as busy as ever," he continued, to make his point, "Mum as drunk, if not more! But at least she found time to come for his funeral unlike Winter who was too freaking busy bending over for the General! And you…!"

"…You just left," at this point tears rolled down his face and he threw his cone away in anger, "You locked yourself in your room and took the first opportunity to leave us behind."

"Now you want me to forget that? To trust you? After you just… left."

He didn't want to cry, but the tears, they just kept falling down regardless of his desire.

Darn it! He thought as he fisted at them aggressively.

"Whitley," she said, grabbing her brother's hand and holding on to it tightly as she looked her brother straight in the eye.

"I didn't know that you felt that way, and it's my fault."

With this, she pulled out Caleb's weapon and presented it before her brother.

"I didn't mean to leave you, I was just looking for this. I wanted to give you some closure... I wanted to be the strongest Huntress I could be just for that."

"I'm sorry."

"Weiss," Whitley said in protest, trying feebly to escape the gentle embrace his sister had wrapped him in.

"Weiss," he said again, this time the fear and shock in his voice making her aware of the screams and gasps in the background.

"What is that?"

"Wow, I'm stuffed." Yang declared satisfyingly as she sat next to her friends after a successful maze run.

Sort of successful at least, only Shouter and Ruby ended up finding their way out, the rest needed the staff to pick them up after a while.

But they say all roads lead to Mantle, so they still enjoyed the lavish feast that was presented before them.

"I forgot to ask, where's Weiss?"

"I asked the staff earlier; she used her Semblance and was asked to be excused."

"Wait!" Blake whispered frantically, "Who's paying for the meal then?"

"The sudden question set the food in everyone's belly to concrete. How were they going to pay?

I small panic started in the group, with the amount they (Yang) had eaten, there was no number of dishes in the whole of Remnant that could pay off their debt.

"I tried calling her, her Scroll is off."

That was the icing on the cake wasn't it? What were they going to do?

"Wait, Cardin! The Winchester family's supposed to be really rich right?"

In that second, everyone's eyes turned to the Winchester heir in desperation.

"Yeah, I could pay," he said casually, lifting up his scroll, "But Weiss booked the place in advance so I don't see the point."

The group fell silent for a second. They were undecided on whether or not to feel relief or anger at Cardin. He had watched all of them freak out and kept quiet for his amusement.

Ping.

Before they decided his punishment though, all their scrolls got notifications and they pulled them out to see what it was.

Close to the outskirts of Vale, Magnum Kite had crashed. It didn't seem much worse than it had been after Cinder's hit though and the cargo was undamaged.

Neither father nor daughter could concentrate on that though.

Above them, shaking the skies with a cacophony of roars and shrieks that a writer of this calibre couldn't even begin to describe, a mass of Grimm flew.

The scariest thing wasn't that their number.

No, it wasn't that they numbered in the hundreds and blocked out the very Sun.

Neither was it that their cries.

Even though the Schnees had now collapsed onto their knees in the absolute despair of their haunting utterances.

No, it was the fact that all of them were organised. The most fearsome things on the planet organised themselves into a terrifying pattern.

Visible in the sky, all the way from Vale was the giant image of a Black Queen Chess Piece.

Notes:

It seems that lateness is a habit for me, I apologise. There was a curfew, couldn't pick my laptop up from where it was being service etc.

What do you think about that ending though? I got goosebumps the first time the idea occurred to me.

Yes, Potter-heads. I know that Wingardium Leviosa can only be used on inanimate objects. I preferred it though.