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I had never been so glad to be as incompetent as I am right now. Sure I didn't think ahead, preferring to believe the plans would work flawlessly the first time. That had only bitten me in the ass… one-two-four times so far. I didn't get the entire maiden power because I rushed in and forgot to make sure Amber was alone, I got blown up by the silver eyed problem child on the top of Beacon, all of Haven, and then I couldn't let myself claim the Winter power. So I'm glad at least once the incompetence worked in my favor; I failed to barbecue Oscar.

The others may not enjoy the hug but I could feel the warmth rising on his face as I held him firmly in my bosom. He was so small, so frail. I couldn't believe I had attempted to- "GODS DAMMIT!"

I practically threw him across the table. This put everyone on the defensive. Jaune had a stunned look on his face as he wanted me to apologize not attack. Weiss rushed to Oscar's aid while the other three raised their weapons at me. Wait, was that Emerald? How'd she know I was here? Did she? Or did she come here on her own? Please let it be the last one.

I reflexively covered my chest as Oscar sat back up, "Sorry…"

"Oscar why- Oh gods-" Weiss was trying to help him up before she dropped him herself, "Really? I mean she's evil-"

"Ex-Evil," I tried to clarify as Oscar hadn't stood up. The others chose to ignore me as they focused on him instead. He was just sitting on the ground with a massive blush on his face… Yang immediately got it, Blake took a few seconds, Jaune finally got it when he saw my face, Emerald remained silent, while Ruby was left confused.

"Oscar..?" Ruby was the only one trying to talk to him.

"Leave him be, Ruby." Yang tried to drag her sister away but was unable to stop her when Ruby rushed to his aid. I couldn't hold it against him, but also he needs to learn to hide it better. I'll cover for him just a little this time but next he's on his own.

"I think we all kind of forget he's still a growing-"

"OH GODS!" Ruby may have been a bit confused but she got there eventually. Or more specifically when she was at his side.

"WHAT DO YOU ALL EXPECT!? I'm fourteen and surrounded by a bevy of above average women who dress in the most complex skin tight outfits I have ever seen!" Hard to argue that. But also. He may have gotten a little Ozma in there, and if Salem was to be believed, he now had a thing for goths with dark tentacles. I only had one of those things so hats off to him. But as Jaune shook his head the others kind of just shared several looks before Penny's head whirred to life to ask.

"Does Oscar's heightened blood pressure mean he has an erection?"

PFTPH!

I tried to hold it in knowing full well that anything I said would endlessly embarrass him. The others tried to do the same but we couldn't hold it in as we began laughing endlessly at his suffering. Then Ozpin gave him a little piece of advice, oh good he was back, the others may not know but he turned away for a second as if listening to someone who wasn't there. When the laughing finally died down he shot back.

"You all laugh at me but what about Jaune? How do you think he deals with it?"

"Tape." I turned back to Jaune as I saw a soulless broken man. When we all saw that, a dead silence filled the room. I had to know.

"When'd you start that?"

"Cinder no-" Yang didn't get to finish her indignation as Jaune began telling the story.

"Back at Beacon, Glynda set up doubles matches and during the one between RWBY and JNPR she was called away leaving us to supervise ourselves. We poorly chose Weiss and Yang vs Nora and Pyrrha… it didn't go well. Especially when the steam turned the dirt floor into mud… Then Nora got handsy in the mist. I don't think any of them came out of that without something getting torn or exposed." How was that haunting? That sounds hilarious. And if the blush present on Yang and Weiss's faces were any indication, it had to be better than that, "Then class ended leaving half the women and all the men stranded in our seats… We were stuck there for days. Just waiting fruitlessly for it to go away until the bravest of us abandoned shame and made the charge to the cold showers in the locker rooms… But I did get a few pointers from Coco about the wonders of tape while we sat there."

I ratcheted my head to Weiss to get clarification. She and Yang were trying to hide their faces as the shame was plastered like a fine coat of red paint. I also noticed as Blake was biting her finger at the memory. I meandered my gaze to Oscar where I found an even more stunned silence as his jaw rested firmly on the ground. Ruby just looked excited... Oh no, she did not understand, "They would have won if Nora didn't pants Yang in the middle of it!"

"Ruby... no…" Weiss was trying not to cry.

"If I had blood, it would be pouring into my cheeks right now."

"Penny… no…" Yang was trying not to die.

"Kind of explains how you guys are so close." I stifled my laugh but the others felt more shame than joy at the funny memories. But when that died down Ruby blurted out.

"I guess, but you should remember you were there- I mean Pyrrha was." Oh no. That brought attention back to me and away from their shame. I didn't know what to say. Hell I didn't even remember how to speak at this point.

"How'd she feel about the… betrayal..?" Weiss shamelessly tried to shift the conversation away from her.

"Well… she… I-I don't know…" I stood there as I averted their gazes. I didn't know how to tell them she was gone and I had no way of talking to her. I didn't even know what possible explanation I could come up with that would make them even slightly trust me.

"She's asleep again right?" Ruby gave me a perfect out. I shook my head letting my hair sway as I did.

"She hid herself?" Was that better or worse? I shook my head again. The desperation from them was rising.

"Is she… gone?" I couldn't help it as tears began to well up in my eye.

"I don't know! Maybe! I just made a deal with the parasite in my gut and it made her disappear... and now I-I can't hear her." I didn't want to look up. Until a red cloak marched it's way into my line of sight.

"That thing… Can we remove it?" Ruby asked as she was trying to console me. But when I looked up into her eyes I couldn't help but let several tears fall.

"No… it wrapped itself around every one of my vital organs while replacing the ones- I mean I blew myself up and-" She gasped as she looked at my arm.

"I didn't just get the arm, did I?" I shook my head as a conflicted look grew on her face. She wanted to apologize but I couldn't let her open her mouth. I clasped my hand right over it before she could let it out.

"Yea… but I deserved it for what I did to Beacon." I tried to smile as her eyes looked ready to burst, and not in a magical Grimm bomb way. When I released her she hugged me. Oh no she was going to apologize!

"If Pyrrha's not in there then why are you here?" I couldn't see Ruby as she posed the question but I could see the others. The kind and brave team that I had once hated. They all stood firm and tall and I knew.

"I chose to come back because I felt better being corrupted by you fools than I ever felt doing anything for Salem." A small chuckle grew but as I looked across them my eye found its way to Emerald as she was looking at a corner… I needed to know why she's here. I hope it wasn't for me. She pulled away as I stared at her escaping into the halls… I wouldn't be able to find her if she didn't want it.

I turned to the others as the mood in the room began to shift. I had to do something to make it better again! Uh, funny dance. No, that wouldn't work. Flash Jaune and get their reactions… Wait, was I the cause of the shift? Ruby refused to let go… I could feel something wet forming on my chest. What had I done? I needed to- "At least you're back. You even helped fight the… but there's still nothing we can do..."

"Uh- I can-" Ruby didn't give me a chance to apologize to her when she burst into rose petals and disappeared. My hand absentmindedly moved to my chest where I felt the wet spot. My eye tracked Yang as she went after her sister.

"Are they-"

"They're alive… but… the hound. He had silver eyes… And Salem said something about their mother…" Weiss was gritting her teeth as she wanted to inquire about something, but the hesitance drew attention to how knew she shouldn't prod at information she didn't really want. Too bad I didn't know the truth she was looking for without the question. She instead turned her focus to Penny…'s head, "You broke her. So I think it's only fair you put her back together."

I looked at Penny's head before going back to Weiss then the head again. This went on for several minutes before I answered, "I can't."

"I've seen you make things out of glass on the fly. How is this any different?"

"Well. I melt particles around me into forming shards that I shape into usable weapons…" She was following along at this point, "PENNY! ISN'T! MADE! OF! GLASS!"

"Alright, alright. I get it. But we still need to put her back together." Weiss didn't exactly understand my ability but hers was also a mystery to me so it evens out.

"I do have a very angry mustachioed solution to that."

"So you're sure he'll still be here? I mean you think he stuck around all night?" Jaune asked as he carried Penny's body while little boy Weiss was forced to carry the bits I knocked off. Her head was surprisingly light though I was able to easily carry under my arm. She had been dipping in and out of consciousness since last night, which was easy to explain from her head getting chopped off. At least she wasn't trying to get to the vault in this state.

"I have complete faith that he has remained where I left him." They looked unconvinced as little boy Weiss looked more concerned that we forced him to help.

"That makes perfect sense but why do you need ME!?" Oh there he goes.

"The others were busy..?" I looked to Jaune for that one. Little Boy Weiss was already collecting the scraps of metal when we arrived to take her. He just got lumped into it as well. Jaune nodded as we found the room I had left Watts in.

"He should be in here," I popped the door open and peered quickly into it holding out hope. It was a workshop, all the tools one would need to forge a weapon or make modifications to the ones they already had. It looked like the last person to use it was Weiss. But when I looked inside, yep, completely empty.

"AGH! You made us walk all the way to the workshop for nothing!" Little boy Weiss complained too much.

"No, I would have to be foolish to do that." I set Penny's head on the workbench as I walked over to the large wall locker. Jaune groaned as he saw it.

"Please don't tell me-" I didn't let him finish as I threw open the door.

"Watts! Time to do me a favor!"

"MMPH!" There he was, bound and gagged. I was very thorough when I tied him up last night. Getting his legs tied together before tying his hands behind his knees made it very difficult to escape especially in such close quarters.

"I don't know what I expected." Jaune groaned even more as he set Penny's body on the workbench. Watts was furious as he glared at me from his state, but if I let him speak he was going to insult me so I had to ask my favor first.

"I'll only let you out if you promise to put the sex doll back together," Watts gave me the furious look before he rolled his eyes.

"Ihhh ooooo mnmk mhm oomnmo oo hmmhp-"

"Right, gag-" I loosened the gag, freeing him to speak his mind. I will regret this.

"IF YOU THINK I AM GOING TO HELP YOU AFTER YOU TIED ME UP THEN YOU'VE GOT ANOTHER THING COMING MISSY! I WILL MAKE YOU RUE THE DAY YOU CROSSED ME!" I rolled my eye at that.

"Wait, is that the guy that can put Penny back together?" Little Boy Weiss was concerned about the semantics of Watts but he brought up an even better point, "I thought he was just some foolish business partner of father."

"How dare you! I will have you know I am a doctor at the top-"

"He's really smart." I wasn't going to let that rant go on.

"That is an oversimplification of my-"

"But then again he isn't that smart," His eyes narrowed as I looked him dead in the eyes while saying that, "After all I doubt he can put Penny back together. Maybe he'll be able to fix her body, but the program in her mind is far beyond his capabilities."

"Cinder…" his eyes remained narrow as his mustache furrowed, "Do you really think reverse psychology will work on me? I literally taught you reverse psychology!"

"Oh of course you did, I had forgotten. I knew it was beyond my capability to fool you into undertaking such a simple task," I could see his mouth fall out underneath his mustache, "It's not like it would even be a challenge for your great mind."

"Was that… reverse reverse psychology? Cinder that's not gonna work either," Now I had him where I wanted him. He was confused.

"I knew you would just refuse to help me while Salem wasn't issuing the orders. You're like Tyrian in that sense, or well, Hazel." I checked him as he looked at me like I had just said the most offensive thing he'd ever heard, "I had no other choice than lying to you. Stoking your competitive nature into believing you could easily beat Mister Polendina in a robot building contest by rebuilding his machine better than it ever was. Then taking that to Ironwood to shove it up his, probably mechanical, ass. But since that was foolish from the start I may as well free you to make your own decision."

I cut the bindings freeing him in an instant. Jaune and Little Boy Weiss looked confused. But Watts just looked at me like I had shattered his worldview, "I can't honestly tell if you're trying to manipulate me, lying to me, or telling the truth."

"In all probability, all three," He stood up as his confusion was still there, "But I have one last trick-"

"Whatever it is, you may as well save-"

"Please." This caused him to recoil as he wasn't expecting me to ask nicely. He hadn't taught me that.

"I'm not just some repair-"

"Watts, you are literally the smartest person I know. Hell you are one of if not the smartest men on the planet. I can't trick you into helping me. But I can ask… Please will you fix Penny?" He crossed his arms as I just admitted something he already knew. But as he shook his head, I could feel it wasn't working.

"I can't put her back together. The parts alone are far too damaged, besides I need to prove I'm better…" He pushed passed me as he came to the bench, "I will need her blueprints if I am to do this in a timely manner."

I smiled as he began poking and prodding at her chest cavity. But he just turned to Little Boy Weiss and shouted, "I was talking to you Little Boy Jacques! Go get me the blueprints!"

"Wha-No-Why would-" I shook my head as Little Boy Weiss looked at me while I was swiping my hand near my neck to signal not to question Watts.

"NOW!"

"EEP!" He didn't have time to think about it as he ran out of the room to retrieve them. Jaune was just standing there stunned. I just grinned as I looked between them. Watts was attempting to undo all the patchwork repairs the butler had done but they were fairly difficult so progress was a little slow. Watts with his steady hands began methodically taking pieces off of Penny's exterior. It was calming to watch him work, until a thought popped into my head.

"Watts?"

"I'm busy. Stop asking questions that eat up time," I was getting tired of rolling my eye. But when Watts was working he would absentmindedly answer any question posed to him.

"What do you know about the hound?" Jaune looked at me like I was crazy but he would shrug it off when Watts didn't even look up as he answered.

"He's one of Salem's pet projects. They picked him up shortly after you and she has been attempting to break him since," Watts absentmindedly asked a question of his own while working, "Why?"

"I killed it…"

"Well that's damn near a decade of work down the drain. She was so ecstatic when they found him too…" Wait, could he actually read her emotional state? Probably, that would explain how he gets out of trouble easier than I did. But what changed her mind… she used to kill silver eyed warriors so why was she trying to take them now?

"Why was she looking for him?"

"I don't know, a little over a decade ago she declared that she wanted a silver eyed warrior and the plan suddenly changed." WHAT!

"What do you mean the plan changed? To change it would-" Jaune looked confused as to how the plan functioned. But Watts wasn't paying attention to us so he didn't notice when he cut me off.

"Well when she first picked me up the plan was to take a Grimm army and destroy the kingdoms. Simple and barbaric, but one day she came back to the castle furiously shouting about how her millions strong Grimm army was gone and the plan was scrapped. With the army gone we needed to recruit spies." How did that happen? What can destroy mil- Silver eyes… So the hound was petty revenge? That… that is not surprising. He yanked off one of the plates freeing a large portion of the core, "So she wanted me and Tyrian to pick out several assets and well you know the rest as you were there for the rest of it."

"Wait so Tyrian picked me as his choice? That's mildly-"

"I'll rephrase. She wanted me to pick out the candidates for him to abduct." That made more sense, I was probably somewhere in the middle of the list. I couldn't pry any farther as Watt's got the final plate out revealing her core. With that Watts immediately went for Penny's glowing green heart. He violently yanked it out of her chest like it was a balloon. He muttered to himself as if he didn't just literally rip out her heart "There's her soul…"

"WATTS! I SAID FIX HER!" He lowered his nose as he looked down on me.

"She's fine. I'd be more worried about the code I implanted in her. Chances are, now that it's merged with her, I can't remove it." Of course there was some caveat to his help. He couldn't- "Hang on a second… Is she not… Of course not… that was intel from Ironwood."

"What? Is she dying? Does she need aura? What can I do-"

"Cinder calm your boyfriend down, I can't think with his prattle." Watts commanded me because he didn't care enough to order him around. Jaune however was just confused by the whole thing.

"Jaune…" I tried to give him a reassuring look before I asked, "What's wrong with her soul?"

"Nothing," Oh that's good it just means, "but she's not the Winter Maiden."

"Huh? I thought you confirmed it!" I demanded as he inspected the orb.

"No, Ironwood demanded I reprogram Penny to open the vault. Which was a pretty clear indicator who the Maiden was. But it looks like Jimmy's intel was just a little bit off." I recoiled as the revelation came. Then a little thinking I realized something...

"Oh no… What did I do?"

"Cinder?" I slowly turned to Jaune with a halfhearted smile. Raising both of my arms like he had earlier.

"Oops…"

"Okay don't be mad."

"No," Nora had just broken the heart of her long time brother turned down boyfriend. So needless to say she was in a bit of a state. And I had chosen her to be the one I burden with my thoughts… and incompetence. But there was like a 1 in 5 or 6 chance so it was going to be a difficult conversation.

"Fair enough." I raised my eyebrow as I began, "So… when I was talking to the Winter maiden-"

"Fria?"

"That's her name? Huh- Right focus- I may have shown her something that made the power… hide," I was trying to be as unspecific as possible. Nora arched her eyebrow as she thought about it, right before her eye shot wide.

"What did you do?!"

"You said you wouldn't be mad-"

"TELL ME!" She slammed her fist into the bed.

"I don't know who the new Winter maiden is, but I know who it could possibly be! There is at least a 1 in 6 odds of me being right!" I reflexively covered my face as I tried to block her anger. But when it never came I opened my eye to find her just staring at her hands.

"1 in 5… I don't have it." I placed my hand in hers before I continued.

"Well… maybe. Sometimes over a distance and without any real connection the power doesn't exactly unlock right away. It has been known to lay dormant for decades or even entire lifetimes." Salem made sure I knew everything about them so I could better hunt Amber down… I don't regret killing her. She was a bit of a monster or at least she soon would be one. Ozpin didn't exactly instill her with 'morals' but then again Salem didn't do that with me either.

"Tell me- is an alternating current of 5 millions volts enough to unlock it? Because I just threw myself into that without thinking and it didn't seem like I unlocked anything!" Nora was furious and it showed through the tears.

"Well… I mean… the door." I tried to joke about it… that was a bad idea.

"Hah! Yeah, I stupidly risk my life and all I get is an open door and- this!" She shook her hands to accentuate the scars. I lowered my eyelid as I glared at her. Welp I'm doing this. I reached up and tore the eye patch off right before swiping my hair out of the way. Nora just stared at it for a second as I leaned on the left side of the chair I was in.

"If we're comparing stupid scars, this goes all the way down to my knee. You can ask Jaune, he'll say he's pretty sure I don't even have a nipple," As I said that Nora was taken aback by my brazen disregard for my shame, "What used to be my greatest triumph now has only turned into an ugly reminder of how bad a person I am. So a few lightning bolts that you got for helping a friend I might add, are proof..."

"Proof… of what?"

"...Heart. You proved you have a heart… and a good one at that," I kept smiling. Then she did… for a few seconds at least before it faded again. Nora next spoke in a regretful and hushed tone that made me lose my smile.

"Why are you so convinced I'm...so... great?! I mean I'm a destructive little-"

"Didn't the short girl with rabbit hair say that?" Oh that bitch. I had to cut Nora off otherwise she would believe that.

"Yeah… she called me that when I destroyed-"

"Look. You can't take the word of people like her-or me for that matter to heart... They lack something in their hearts. Something like a conscience, but it's a little more than that. Because of this lack they can only get so strong before they reach their limit. Then they have to get creative. I got the Maiden power and she… she has to use her words as weapons because they're all she has. The way you beat them is simple." I think I needed that speech as much as she did even if I was the one giving it.

"And how do I do that?" She didn't look at me clearly when she asked that but I smiled as I answered.

"Live. And I mean this honestly, Ruby pissed me off considerably and she beat me by just continuing to exist. So, let's just live. Day by day if necessary," Her eyes were full of thought when she came back down for a few seconds.

"Wasn't that one of Weiss's songs?"

"No! Shut up! Maybe!" I tried to push her but she didn't even budge. She just giggled. Before shifting around uncomfortably, had I hurt her? I tried to pull away, "Nora-"

"Gotcha!" She got my hands and pulled me in swiftly enough that I was in a headlock before I could even realize. I could breathe but it was uncomfortable.

"Nora!"

"Say uncle! Say it!" I burst out laughing as she had me in the least effective headlock ever. But she was able to keep me pinned close to her heart. It kept beating on rapid fire.

"I give! I give!" She loosened her grip but I chose to remain close for a little longer. But we were both out of breath as the laughing had hardly subsided. It was nice, warm… love… the warmth is love. It's taken me too long to realize that. But as I brought myself up I came face to face with Nora, "I think I love you."

"Oh… I love you too." Oh no. Those words always ended with me naked.

"D-Do I-I just…" I was screaming internally as I kept leaning in getting inches from her face. Then I stopped. Not of my own free will, Nora stopped me. She had placed her hand over my mouth.

"I mean I love you like a sister."

OHHHHHH

I nodded, allowing her to release me, "Oh, thank the gods, I don't think I could keep up if I had to satisfy both you and Jaune…"

PFTPH!

"Don't laugh! I'm not good at this stuff," She burst out laughing at my expense. A hardy cry of happiness that made me feel more full than power ever could. I climbed off of her as I made my way out of the room. When I got to the door I looked back to see her chuckling finally subsiding. I was glad, "See yah."

On the other side of the door I was greeted by Ren. He was waiting for her. He finally admitted that he likes her. Now it was just waiting for them to sync up. When he looked at me he gave a nod before I went back to the dining room. I would need to figure out which one of them was the Maiden very soon… I had a plan.

But as I entered the foyer I found the sisters Xiao Long-Rose crying on the steps. Okay there is one thing to do here.

…

…

...

Don't engage and hope they don't notice me.

I slowly and silently began walking through the room. Silent is an overstatement. The loud clicking of my heels made me want to take them off as I was interrupting their cry. But they just chose to ignore me. Or didn't notice me as they were too wrapped up in themselves. Getting to the other door was easy. I just needed to not draw attention, "That's not what happen!"

"12 years Yang! And Salem knew her! She was turned into one of those- things!" DON'T GET INVOLVED! DON'T GET INVOLVED! Wait, 12 years is a little more than a decade. No, don't think like that. Besides, Salem doesn't remember anyone by name much less a face. Hell, in a decade I doubt she'll remember me… unless I annoyed her. But really what could I do that really annoyed her? Ruin the plan-

No, stop. Don't butt in! This is their dramatic coming of age story! You have nothing to do with this! Don't open your big beautiful succulent mouth, "How long ago did you say again?"

Oh I immediately regret that. Yang turned to me with red eyes while tears were streaming down her face. My hand found it's way over my mouth as I tried to flee. I turned to run but Ruby very quietly murmured out, "12 years… Did she… ever end-"

"I don't know what happened to her but I do know Salem never held her captive." I didn't turn to look. I couldn't. This was information that I didn't know how correct or close it was to the truth. If I said something too far from possible then it could end up hurting them even more. Still… Some hope is better than none, "But 12 years ago… the plan suddenly changed."

"So? What does that-" Yang was furious. She wanted me gone so cutting her off before she could continue was the fastest way for that to happen.

"The plan- no matter how much interference or alteration in variables remains the same at the core. The plan is the plan no matter what order. To change it would mean the entire scenario changed… And it did… along with another plan forming. Salem wanted silver eyed warriors…" I had no idea what they felt. But Watts dropped the truth whenever he was working, it was the only time I could get it. Their bated breath was the only thing I could feel coming from my back, "The hound was the first one to my knowledge…"

"Then… mom…" They were silent. For several minutes I just stood there waiting for them to yell or tell me how none of that is true. But I remained firm, I at the very least deserved this reaming.

"I don't know," for the first time since I turned around I let myself peek over my shoulder. Ruby was resting comfortably on Yang as the two gazed at me through bloodshot eyes. The stupid grins plastered on their faces grew as they filled me with such contempt. I wanted to slap the shit out of them, "What? Stop that! I haven't said anything nice!"

"Thank you." Ruby said as she rubbed the tears out of her eyes. I fully turned around as my head retreated into my neck.

"For what? I haven't done anything." I was squinting as they were trying to shake off the sadness. It wasn't happening but they still tried. They stood up as they began to approach me. I tried to retreat but they were too quick as I was wrapped up in the largest bear hug of my life, "~LET ME GO~!"

"~Not until you admit you like it~" Ruby chirped as she accidentally began fondling me. It was uncomfortable but warm. I kicked my legs as the blonde sister hefted me like I was nothing. Why? I had hurt them countless times, how are they so forgiving? Should I be? Had I forgiven her for my face? Yes, I had. But had she? NO- I shouldn't doubt her because of paranoia. She could have killed me in the bedroom so now I just need to put my trust in her… Yang however had her hand on the small of my back in such a way that she'd pull my spine out if I did anything out of turn. I hope she realized that wouldn't work.

"Alright! Alright! I like hugs!" This didn't stop them from hugging me... Well I didn't really try to let them get away. That was until out of the corner of my eye over a blonde mop I saw green. Not for long before it disappeared entirely. Stop avoiding me! NO! I can't command her that will ruin all this progress of hers. But when their grips began to loosen I was able to free myself. Now it's time for the serious conversation, "Do you know where the other two are?"

"Watching from behind," Small white and too rich for her own good said from behind me. I grit my teeth as I turned to see the rest of the team along with small and inflammable grinning as if they were planning to join in. I didn't want to be in the middle of this oyster fest but I needed to tell them anyway.

"It's nice to see you actually attempting to be nice," Blake who the fuck where you to talk about nice, I don't even think you've ever had a direct conversation with Ruby! And who's attempting! I just told them that Salem didn't have their mother's corpse! I WAS NICE DAMMIT! I squinted my eyes. I probably shouldn't say it… but I'm gonna.

"Yes, as it turns out all you need to be considered nice is to talk to people. Something that is like pulling teeth with you," This caused her mouth to drop. She had clearly not expected me to fire back. This was the first time we had really interacted after all… but standing at the same height was hardly- Waitaminute. I sized her up and down as I realized where all the underwear Jaune got me came from.

"Wha- No. I'm not that hard…" She slowed down as the other three members of her team weren't looking at her, "Oh come on! We talk all the time!"

"I mean… yeah. But how many times did it take for us to start that?" Yang asked the right questions.

"Back at Beacon I couldn't get you to say more than three words to me at a time…" Weiss was pulling up all the oldies.

"I'm pretty sure the first solo conversation we ever had was yesterday." Ruby coming in with that oddball. Did that make them friends via proxy? Irrelevant right now.

"We've never met- I'm Oscar." That one cracked me up and with it the others did as well as Blake rolled her eyes and joined in. What I need to do is much more… painful. And since they're all here, well there is no reason not to. So as we stood chuckling like loons who had no plan or way to actually solve any problems I had to point out.

"I messed up…"

"Yes, we know. And while you still have to make up for it we for-" Weiss as polite as ever but clearly lacking the context. Should I just- yeah I'm gonna blurt it out.

"Penny's not the Winter Maiden, it's one of you!" The joyous smiles suddenly converted into disdained disbelief. But I wasn't going to stop now, "I talked Fria into not giving her power to Winter by showing her a picture of you guys…"

…

…

...

"You have got to be shitting me!"

"Language." Weiss was quick to correct Yang but her eyes were still twitching like the rest of them. I gave a nervous grin as their heads began to shake. Through several heads shaking Oscar pointed out something important.

"Wouldn't we have noticed by now? I mean it's not like this is as simple as a battery, one of them would have had a considerable power up." Reasonable… yet I knew why it wasn't working like that.

"Not if it was technically random. When it naturally passes onto someone… well it has a tendency to hide in her until..." Oscar looked up as he heard that, trying to get confirmation from the big man himself, "Until she goes through a strenuous event."

Fatigue was beginning to show across everyone's faces, yet it was Yang that finally asked, "We have been through near death experiences all day, what are the chances we wouldn't have unlocked it by now?"

"Well… strenuous by your standards-" Weiss just raised her hand as if asking why while the look of disgust formed, "I mean you all nearly die on a daily basis at this point so you got used to it…"

"...So how do we tell then?" Blake was pragmatic about this, but a little fear on her face made me realize how much she feared.

"Can Ozpin?" Ruby asked but Oscar shook his head. I had a way… I just didn't want to say it. Still they would need it.

"There is one way to tell…" I raised the shadow hand as I gave a mild yet deeply sad grin. But that grin was broken when I got a text. Well, a conversation with Jaune would be better than the tension- Neo? Why was-

"Oh."

Standing in the guard booth at the gate of Schnee manor I felt nothing but tension as I watched both Grimm and Atlesian knights pass by. But the alternative was far more painful… At least I had company. Even if Emerald didn't want to talk to me. I couldn't fault her. She had fled from Salem only to have her former boss show up to declare that she quit and was taking her place in the band of idiots… How did she feel about that? Should I ask? Was this tension noticeable?

"Why?" Or she could ask first.

"Why what?" I wasn't playing coy, I just didn't know what she wanted to know.

"Why are you here with them? Was this all some master plan to have me desert just so you could have your henchwoman still? Do you-" I had to cut her off as I turned to face her.

"Emerald, I had nothing to do with your defecting… And for that matter I don't approve of it," this was going to be the most mixed signal I would ever give anyone, but her confusion was only mildly palpable, "Because it was your choice and yours alone. I had nothing to do with it."

Her look turned from confusion to hate. I was telling her to make her own decisions but at the same time if they didn't line up with mine I hated them, "SO YOU CAN-"

"Because if I approve of your decisions… You wouldn't be making the one you actually want, just the one I like." There was the crux of the argument. I needed her to make her own decisions completely free of my influence. When she realized it she sunk lower into one of the seats.

"So… you want me to make my own decisions?"

"Yes…" I leaned over as if I was going to put my hand on her shoulder but at the last second I hesitated and moved it back to my side.

"Then… I think you're the pettiest-" I am pretty but I need her to come up with her own thoughts.

"Look Emerald. I think of you like a sister, and not in a Ruby/Yang sort of way. So there is no chance I'm going to bang you." She scrunched her eyebrows as she heard that. Then the comm link whirred to life as Yang shouted.

"I'M NOT BANGING MY SISTER!"

"And I believe you," I lied as I shook my head to Emerald. This didn't placate Yang as she was determined to curse me out. I just took out the earpiece. As Emerald had the most glazed over look I asked, "What?"

"Can I go or are you going to interrupt me again?" She motioned as if I ever did that. Don't be ridiculous- waitaminute.

"Yeah sure, go."

"Cinder you are the pettiest, and I want to stress this PETTY, NOT PRETTY," Oh no. I don't like where this is going already, "-Egomaniac on this side of Remnant. Sure you taught me to read, write, fight, and you gave me a place to live when I was at my lowest, but you used me like I meant nothing to you. I'm pretty sure I'll be trying to get over years of Stockholm syndrome at this point! I don't think there is anything that you could say at this point that makes up for the years I essentially spent as your slave! In summation I THINK YOU MAY BE THE WORST PERSON I'VE EVER MET!"

…

…

…

The only sound in the guard booth was a light sniffle coming from me as I felt both pride and immeasurable sadness at the end of that speech, "Are you kidding me? You are one of the worst people I've ever met and you're crying."

"I-I'm ju-just so p-proud y-you c-can sp-speak-" I can't let her know how much that hurt. And before the tears could flow a little pink miscreant walked right through two of the bars. She was so small she barely had to turn at all. I quickly tapped on the glass. Which drew her attention allowing her to give me the most indignant look as she expected to booze around the mansion. And if she meets Willow that's probably what will happen. Quickly we exited the booth as I tried to solve this right away with a hug. Too bad she wasn't really looking forward to that as she sidestepped me. I didn't fall to the ground… okay only a little.

When I got back up she gave me the look of someone who needs attention… or love. No wait, that one is revenge. I wasn't just mixing up my own feelings at this point. But the disgruntled scowl was producing lines on the little girl's face as she raised her umbrella towards me. The hardest part about this was going to be pinning her down… or I could talk her down.

"Look, I know I haven't exactly had the best track record with following through on my promises-" that wasn't really going to change. But Neo didn't need to know that and Emerald showed it as she shook her head slightly, "But I will get you… the catharsis you are looking for."

I hoped she took the deal, then we could just talk it out. Otherwise it was the hard way. And we kind of just assumed the hard way was going to be the default. So even if I was stalling for time Neo would be a hard target to pin down. That's why Emerald was making everyone else invisible while they circled her. I just needed to make sure my attention is never drawn to them so she won't notice.

Neo however didn't even lower the umbrella as my words clearly didn't work on her. I extended my hand, "I just need the relic…"

Neo's eyes darted to Emerald as she was looking for confirmation. Emerald made the most subtle nod. This got Neo to pull back her umbrella as she planted it in the ground and popped off her hat. Then she flipped it over and reached inside pulling out the relic. Great now-

*CRACK*

A tree branch. How could Weiss step on a tree branch? Better question had Neo noticed? She quirked her eyes at it, I hoped Emerald could cover this up. Why was there even a stupid branch in the middle of this massive castle? It had fallen from one of the many trees dotting the property. Where was the gardener? Had he just failed- He fled with the rest of the staff didn't he? Oh gods. When Neo spotted it she didn't even react as Weiss stood there completely still on top. Please tell me Emerald had this.

Neo didn't react but she kept her arm straight ahead with the relic. I didn't even pause as I reached over and plucked it out of her hand. I let out a gentle sigh as it was in hand… And so did Yang. Oh gods. Neo's eyes darted right to Yang who froze in place as well. When Neo didn't find anything she flipped her hat back on before focusing on Emerald…

…

…

…

Then her hand found her forehead. And the other found her umbrella as she made a wide swipe around her. It didn't hit anyone but it was just close enough to Emerald to distract her. And with that everyone was visible again. Team RWBY and JNR surrounding Neo… That doesn't sound like a fair fight. But Neo was always exceptional at evening the playing field.

The clones of her proved that point when eight identical copies of her appeared and immediately began attacking them. For some reason she didn't bother with Emerald... probably because she's still invisible. As the Neo clone approached I blasted it with enough fire to engulf Yang. It was excessive but with Neo I could never be sure.

Great. Now I have to find the real one. The problem with that is Neo is also a competent sociopath that understands when not to show herself. She wouldn't be one of the eight clones; she would hide herself to create an opening to flee. Everyone was panicking as the handful of Neo's were hard to deal with. I took a step back… Something was off. Neo was dodging every attack but she wasn't attacking. The clones could attack… so why weren't they?

*TING*

Of course. She wants revenge more than she wants to flee. After a second a of searching I found her. There she was attacking Ruby... I shook my head as I stuck the relic to my belt. I didn't even draw my weapons as I charged at Ruby. Well flying to her was quicker and easier allowing me to sweep her off her feet to be tackled to the ground. Neo just stood there awestruck as I held Ruby.

When the others noticed I had already wrapped my arms around Ruby lifting her off the ground forcing her to kick her legs in the air. But the cries of everyone else were drowned out when I nearly lost grip on the squirming girl, "Neo! Stop! I'm- OW! TRYING! TO! HELP!"

Ruby planted her teeth into my flesh arm, my aura wouldn't break from that but it was still annoying. However when the clones began to get shattered they all rushed over to me, only for Neo to stop them. Not by force she planted her arm in Yang's path, "You aren't stopping me you pink little-"

"Pink?" Neo dropped in a very familiar heroic voice, "What are you talking-"

"Wait, has she been able to speak this entire-" Weiss interrupted clearly not having realized it.

"Yeah, my entire life. You know that!" It wasn't dawning on anyone… even her. But I couldn't call out as Ruby was determined to escape my grasp. I had to resort to using the freakish strength of Shadow hand as I wrapped it around her body several times. This was around the time when Neo noticed what she looked like, "Wha- Oh come on! I thought she was copying me to be confusing! Not that she swapped places!"

"Swapped… ohhhhhh." Now Yang was getting it. Neo tapped her body a couple of times trying to break the illusion. And after a few hits slightly harder than necessary the illusion shattered to reveal the real Ruby. I barely had a grip on the fake one so I didn't even bother trying to shatter the illusion. I just planted shadow hand around her arm as I demanded.

"NEO! I WILL HELP YOU! I JUST NEED YOU... TO... CALM..." I cut myself off when I noticed the light flowing through shadow hand coming from her body… Well. I guess my prediction was a little… off. I released my hand as she kept trying to squirm free. I positioned her while calling to Yang, "A little help!"

Yang didn't even take a second to think about it as she immediately punched her sister in the face. Ruby grimaced as she witnessed that, "You enjoyed that a little too much didn't you?"

"Yes."

"Immensely," Yang and I spoke at the same time. But the currently unconscious dangling form of Neo would need help later… I just hope we can convince her to take it.

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I would say that was a plot twist but I didn't properly build it up. Regardless I did tip a hat at it earlier.