Chapter 11: World Tour

It has been a month since the liberation of Menagerie. Rebuilding this city is going smoothly and quickly because the other kingdoms have offered aid. The one who offered the most was Atlas. They even gave their soldiers to make up for the ones who died. Cinder couldn't refuse them because they are still the issue of the criminals that still reside in her new kingdom.

Exhausted and wounded soldiers to make easy prey.

Luckily, Raven is a leader of a bandit tribe, so she knows when and where the criminals will attack.

The Vulpes moved in and helped out with the restoration and security.

With the food and supply lines set. Patrol routes established. Cinder finally had a moment to rest. She picked the throne room in her new castle to relax, "And I thought fighting was tiring!" Cinder sighs and sits on the throne. It's the same one Jacques would sit on, but Cinder can't have it replaced at the moment because she wants everyone to focus on the restoration.

Cinder is not alone in the throne room. Her family and friends are with her, "How long are you going to rub my chin Aqua?" Ven asked. Now a young man, Ven has reached Terra's height. His blonde hair is a darker shade and is lengthier and less spiky. He wears a long dark green coat, black shirt, blue jeans and dark brown cowboy boots. Around his neck hangs the charm Aqua made him a long time ago.

"Sorry, Ven. But I never thought I'd see you with a beard!" Aqua giggled and kept rubbing Ven's chin, "Terra didn't grow a beard when we turned 18!"

Winter is watching Aqua and Ven, then leans toward Whitley and whispers, "You know she's going to do that to you when you turn 18,"

Whitley's eyes widened, and he stopped drinking his juice.

"Still want to grow a beard when you grow up?" Weiss teased.

Aqua suddenly stops rubbing Ven's chin and asks, "Oh yeah, I've been meaning to ask, what happened to our order? I heard the Keyblade war has begun,"

"I want to know too. Weren't you guys supposed to be on the same side? What gives? Why are you killing each other?" Barret asked.

Cinder sighs, "I'll start. It began when I had golden light," the Faunus king said and looked at her hand.

It was a peaceful day at Scala ad Caelum. The sun shined brightly, and a gentle breeze blew through the city. Perfect for being outside and enjoying a nice nap. Something a 17-year-old Cinder is doing right now.

She's still wearing the outfit she had on when she was 15. But with some changes, it's been refitted. So it fits her due to being taller. The marking on her small breastplate and skirt has changed too. On her breastplate is her emblem, while her dress has the symbol of the Keyblade wielders. The end of her cloak has some rips and holes because she wears it in every battle.

Cinder's is not only a bit longer, but she also has red highlights. That's because her biological mother had red highlights too.

The place Cinder picked to have a nap is a large field of flowers. The wind feels nice where and the scent of the flowers calms Cinder. But the flowers' scent doesn't cover the smell of someone familiar. With a sigh, Cinder gets up and dusts off the grass on her blue dress.

"I'm up. I'm up," Cinder said. She picks up the cloak she used as a pillow and shakes the grass off it, "I don't want a repeat of last time," Cinder mumbles and puts on the cloak. "I still can't believe you threw an ice block at me," Cinder sighs.

"How else am I supposed to wake you up?" Winter chuckles. She's wearing an outfit that Weiss will wear when she turns 17. On the back of her white jacket is the symbol of the Keyblade wielders.

"I don't know, like a normal person?" Cinder asked and rubbed the back of her neck.

"It's fine you have, Aura," Winter chuckles. She grabs Cinder's hand, "Now come! Let's not be late for class," Winter said and dragged Cinder to a waiting aircraft.

"Class won't start for another 2 hours!" Cinder groans.

"It's good to be early!" Winter smiles.

"Why does my best friend have to be such a nerd!" Cinder groans again.

"Your mother approves," Winter smiles.

"Of course she does," Cinder sighs.

On the way to the tower, Winter offers Cinder some tea to get her energy up. Cinder drinks it because Winter made the tea, "You're getting better," Cinder smiles.

Winter smiles back, "Thank you. I have to thank Klein for teaching me," Winter said and drank her tea.

"So, how's the family?" Cinder asked.

Winter sighs. "Dysfunctional as usual. I'm worried about my little brother and sister. I can see my father's influence starting to affect them. Just yesterday, they called you an animal. I'm sorry,"

Cinder puts a hand on Winter's shoulder, "It's not your fault. The ones to blame it your dad and the White Fang,"

Winter is puzzled, "I thought you liked the White Fang,"

Cinder shakes her head, "Not anymore. Since the change in leadership, they became nothing but thugs! I know they want peace between Humans and Faunus but stealing and kidnapping is not the way to do it!" Cinder puts her teacup down and holds Winter's hand, "Standing side by side working together and standing up for one another. That is the answer for peace!"

Winter giggles, "Nice speech. Got that from a fairy tale?"

Cinder pouts, "Hey!"

Winter giggles again, "Thanks, Cinder. I feel better now. One of these days, I'm going to introduce you to make family and show them how wonderful of a person you are,"

Cinder blushes, "You make it sound like we're dating,"

"Maybe we are," Winter winks.

Cinder's face became brighter red, "HUH!"

"I'm just teasing you," Winter giggles and pokes Cinder's cheek, "You're easy, aren't you?"

"No, I'm not," Cinder mumbles.

"We have arrived at the tower," the pilot said.

"Thank you, same time tomorrow," Winter said and got off the seat.

"Goody," Cinder groans and follows Winter out of the aircraft.

Sure enough, Winter and Cinder are the first to arrive in the classroom. This classroom is not like the ones found in other kingdoms. For one, this classroom has a great view of Scala ad Caelum and the sea. On the right side is a huge bookcase. Unsurprisingly, Winter went right to it.

There are no desks, only one large table in the middle because only nine students attend this classroom.

"I've been meaning to ask, but what happened to your eyes? I remember they were amber," Winter asked as he took a book off the shelf.

"That's because I have awakened to the golden light. My silver eyes are proof I have that power," Cinder explains. She takes off her cloak, puts it on the chair and sits down, "Those training sessions with Master Ava were brutal," Cinder sighs.

"Is that why you nap all the time?" Winter asked and sat next to Cinder.

"YES!" Cinder frowns, "You know those full body workouts Master Aced has us do every Friday? It's like that but worse!"

"Wow. Really?" Winter pales.

Ava enters the classroom. Cinder and Winter's classmates enter soon after, "I'm sorry about that. But you know that intense training is required. They are people who want to see your golden light destroyed. The Grimm are not the only ones who feared warriors with silver eyes,"

"The Grimm are afraid of something? That's new," a redheaded boy wearing a blue jacket with a white fur collar. His name is Bragi.

"I never knew the Grimm are capable of feeling fear," a gray-haired girl said. Her name is Urd.

"Are you sure, Master Ava? The Grimm looked mindless to me," a boy with dark blue hair asked. His name is Hermod.

"Why would Master Ava lie to us? She hasn't before," a short girl with beige-coloured hair said. The sleeves on her outfit are so long that they hide her hands. Her name is Vor.

"Aw, thank you, Vor," Ava smiles and pats the short girl.

"Cinder wasn't kidding how hard the training she had to go through. I had to help out sometimes," Ven said. His hair was a little longer, and his voice deepened a bit.

"So did I," Vernal said. She's wearing a black and yellow biker outfit. "It wasn't pretty, trust me,"

"Sit down, everyone. I have exciting news!" Ava said happily.

The rest of the students sat at the table and eagerly awaited what Ava had to say, "For these past few years, you have all gone through training after training. The only real danger you've faced was with the Killer Rabbit Grimm. So I think you all are ready to broaden your horizon," Ava smiles.

"Wait, you don't mean?!" Bragi gasped. He has a big smile on his face.

"Yup!" Ava smiles and pulls out eight tickets from her sleeve, "All of you are ready for the world tour!" the students cheered when they heard that.

"What about Balder? Is he not coming with us?" Vor asked.

"Aced told me this morning that he has a mission for him. So, unfortunately, he won't be joining. But if he finishes his mission and all of you are still on your world tour. I'll send him to where you are,"

Suddenly a boy with white hair and gray eyes bursts into the classroom. I was Balder, "Sorry I'm late. Master Ira found someone better for Master Aced's mission,"

"That's great!" Vor said happily.

"Looks like you'll be joining the world tour after all," Hermod smiles.

"The what?" Balder asked.

Ava walks up to Balder and gives him a ticket, "You that the others will be visiting the four kingdoms,"

"Really?!" Balder asked with a bright smile on his face.

Ava nods, "Yup, I feel all of you are ready,"

"So, when do we go?" Balder asked.

"Right now, follow me, everyone!" Ava smiles. She leads everyone to the top of the tower. Waiting for them is an aircraft. "This will take you to Vale. I think that's a fine place to start. You need to use those tickets I gave you to go to the other kingdoms, so don't lose them," Ava instructed. "Remember, the dangers in the four kingdoms are great. Not just Grimm wants to do you harm. You'll meet people who'll try to trick you. So stay and rely on each other,"

"Right!" all of Ava's students said at once.

Ava smiles, "Good," she stips aside, "May your heart be your guiding key,"

So begins Cinder's trip with her friends and family to the four kingdoms. They will soon learn that sometimes the game is rigged from the start.