I was expecting you all to threaten my life about last chapter. I'm really glad that didn't happen. In fact, I'd say the only gripe some of you had was that I'm not shipping Pyrrha and Russel. I apparently made one of you really sad over that decision? Sorry about that.

Is it in good taste to celebrate receiving 100 reviews? Even so I'd like to thank you all for leaving all for leaving your feedback over the past twenty sum chapters!

Thank you jin0uga, Baoh joestar, Zhalo Shadowcell, The Novice Storyteller, winddemon199, Guest #1, .Chaos97, Nordlending, Guest #2, Jack, noon297, and A sad person.

I'm just really glad you all enjoyed that last chapter. Like I said in the previous author's note, I had no idea if any of you would be up for it. The whole concept of a Cardin/Pyrrha one night stand was something I was moving forward with but I didn't know if you guys would actually like it.

Before we kick off with the next Arc, we have another Interlude. Sorry if these aren't your thing. This one takes some beats from Interlude 2 Story Time. I hope you enjoy this one also.

Reframe

Half past noon on a snowy day. Darkened skies outside and flakes crashing against windows. The schools were closed for the day, let the kids stay home and rest for a bit, maybe they'll take to the streets and have a smashing snowball fight.

But for the powerful men and women in Mistral, as well as for every other cog in the grand machine that made up the governing body, their days were not spent at home curled up by the fire or in the company of loved ones. No, they were busy keeping the world going.

Up in the highest points of the capitol building, sitting behind a desk overlooking official documents sat a woman dressed in the traditional Mistral council uniform. Some may be deceived with her appearance, she looked rather fetching for a woman in her mid-forties. It was as if time moved slower for her, she did look a day past thirty. Her eyes still shone bright with fire, just as they did on that fateful day back in Beacon.

She finished reading the document, a proposal from one of the other council members, some economics proposal that would cut tax breaks to the rich. They'd be voting on the proposal tomorrow, but the woman had already made up her mind on the matter. She set it aside for later use, but she made the mental note to chuck the damn thing the first chance she got.

And then after that, the woman turned to grab whatever official business was next on her list of things to do. Her eyes widened in surprise as she found a vacant in-box. So for the first time in a very long career, she had a moment's free time to herself.

There was much she was grateful for. Those she loved were all doing fine, her job was rewarding and the world wasn't ending. She had much to be thankful for, that was something she would never forget.

And then the woman's emerald eyes drifted over to the many photos that littered her desk. Most of the photos were clean and crisp behind their glass frames. Recently taken and thrown onto the desk as a reminder of what she had. Every once in a while, someone with purpose would walk into her office and notice her pictures. They'd compliment her family and her appearance.

But they all would say nothing about the old photo in the oak wood frame. The woman's eyes fell onto that particular photo. A brief sadness fell onto her features.

There in the photo was the woman in her early twenties in full mute green combat dress. There was that award winning smile that the crowds had always loved, but her eyes were dimmed from the harsh realities she'd witnessed in those days.

The photo itself was a group shot, with several others there standing and posing. The tallest among them, a familiar face that she knew well, that burnt orange haired fellow with the mace acted all stoic in battle, but he was allowed to sneak in that stupid goofy smile of his.

Beside the woman stood a familiar bonde haired doofus. He wore his familiar hand me down armor over the standard mute green. Corcea Mors rested in place by his feet. And beside him sat little red riding hood herself. She wasn't so little anymore, almost as tall as the rest of them now.

And then the woman's eyes fell onto a familiar figure. The color of his blended in with the uniform. Once, she recalled, the young man had once thought of shaving it. Maybe one day he'd let it grow after everything was over.

When she'd first met the young man, formally met him, they were opposites. But latter, she'd sought him out in need of his help. They didn't become friends then. That happened later, after the last dance at Beacon. It was hard to believe that school was gone now.

"Madame Council Woman?" A short haired aide in her mid-twenties called into the office. "Your two o'clock appointment is here."

"Hm?" The woman looked away from the photo and to the doorway. She brushed a strand of her lovely red hair out of her face and smiled. "Send them in would you?" The aide bowed and then departed, to fetch a rather bombastic orange haired woman who'd been trying her damn best to see her old friend again.

The woman looked back to the photo and smiled kindly at it. She looked to the faces present, and then came back to that green haired mohawk sporting young man she could never thank. If it weren't for him, she wouldn't be the woman she is today.

And then she finally took into account how old and damaged the frame was. Compared to the others, she was doing her friends a disservice. Eventually she'd have to go out and buy a new frame. Maybe after the snow let up. But for now, the woman would have to say good bye once more. She turned away from the photo and greeted her guest. They had so much to say to one another, so much catching up to do. But before that familiar bubbly woman entered through the doorway, the Invincible Woman spared one last glance at the photo.

"There's no such thing as Destiny Pyrrha." She could hear that boy's words even now.

The woman smirked, thankful for the life she had. "Damn right there isn't."

The interludes allow me to play with every aspect of the story, like flash forward and see what the characters are up to in their later years. I don't think I'll be doing anymore flash forward chapters for a while, however.

Also, I don't think anyone's written Russel/Any of the five Vacuo girls before. Huh. That's neat.

The next Arc is going to be taking us back to Oakwood. And that's pretty big all things considered. After I finished writing chapter five, before even considering 'Welcome to Beacon' I set up a lot of stuff involving Marlowe and The Iron Nail. Expect to see them again real soon.Next Arc: Who Dares Wins

'Til then faithful readers! Later days!