The next morning I started awake, instinctively leaping off the bed, the blankets flying as I got into a defensive stance, madly looking about for potential threats. But then my memory of yesterday's events returned, and slowly, I relaxed.

It had not been any sound or other sensory cue that had called me to consciousness, but rather the lack of them, the subtle sounds the other Flock members made when we had settled down for night. Wherever that might have been at the time.

Tossing the thrown blankets back onto the bed, I made my way to the connected bathroom. I think a shower is in order, I thought, unable to remember the last time I'd had one.

As the warm water poured down on me, all the emotions I'd been holding back came roaring to the surface, and I felt raw emotional pain start coursing through me. The urge to just curl up and sob over everything I had lost, that being the most painful thing to lose, my family. It was all to overwhelming as I felt a few tears escape to run down my face, quickly washed away by the water of the shower.

In one instant, with one utterly stupid decision, I had separated myself from those I cared about, with the gap being literal worlds apart.

My mind started spiraling downward into depression and guilt, memories of the Flock flashing through my head, of all the dangerous decisions I had made. All the times that I had lead them into situations that we only got out of due to luck and circumstance.

Perhaps they're better off without me. I thought, the tears beginning to flow freely.

NO.I punched the shower wall, forcing my thoughts and emotions into a complete one-eighty before I fell too deep into that emotional pit, a spiderweb of cracks appearing on the tiles. I will not give in! I will not give up! I cannot quit on the Flock, as no matter what I may think or feel, they will always need me. Somehow I got here, so somehow I'll get back! And when I do, there'll be hell to pay from whoever is behind this… situation.

With this resolution in mind I crushed my feelings of despair and loss, along with all negative thoughts, and hurriedly finished my shower. As I got ready to head out, I looked into the mirror with the intention of fixing the rat's nest that is my hair, but instead I found myself gasping in shock, the brush clattering to the floor.

My eyes, which had previously been a warm-ish brown, were now a much darker shade, more the color of a dark chocolate. And, as I looked closer, my curiosity having overcome my shock, seemed to now also have thin lines of deep, yet vibrant, purple running through them, as well as a thin ring of the same purple color around my pupil.

I checked over the rest of my facial features, finding no other difference other than my hair did seem slightly darker in color, but it could just have been a lighting difference.

Though, seeing as this was the first time I had access to a mirror since… well… Antarctica (as I don't think the half-second of reflection in a skycraper's windows should count), and considering my wings had gone thru a complete overhaul during whatever had occurred to bring me here from Maine…

At least whatever happened didn't make my skin some random color, I thought, might as well go speak with the Headmaster and his right hand… After breakfast.

Picking up the brush, I quickly finished with my hair, tying it into messily braided half decency as I turned to exit the bathroom. Glancing about to make sure I didn't miss anything, I winced at the quite prominent spread of cracks on the shower wall,before I grabbed that see-thru phone-thing.

Messing with it a bit, I figured out how to turn it on, and after a quick scan of it's contents found this device's equivalent to a text app, and lo and behold, as promised, there was a map of the campus grounds sent by Professor Goodwitch, it having been marked with the location of the room I was in as well. Isn't that just thoughtful.

Quickly throwing on my clothes, I headed for the door, throwing on my jacket (although now missing it's left sleeve, it could still hide my wings thankfully). Opening the door, I glanced down at the device, doing my best to memorize the cafeteria's location.

Collapsing the Scroll, I started jogging down the chosen route. Having seen in the Professors message that the cafeteria didn't start serving breakfast until 8:00, which unless I was wrong (who knows what time is like here), wasn't for another 2 hours. Thus my decision to take a more scenic route, get to know the layout of Beacon Academy better at least.

Making my way outside, I was surprised I didn't see anyone else out and about. Maybe this "Aura" also gave a person peak physical form? That or there was a physically demanding class that negated the need to exercise. Either or I'll likely find out from Ozpin later, for now less thinking, more seeing.

Looking around, I once more saw the large tower first, constructed at the center of the other buildings that made up the campus, all interconnected, but with a path that lead straight from the main road and aircraft landing/docking area, right up to the base of the tower. No matter where I looked, I saw no forms of weaponry or strategic design in it's construction, and it seemed to simply be built to function as some form of school.

At least escaping won't be to much of an issue if needed, I thought, continuing my observations. And with a city out front, and a forest out back, as long as I'm not grounded I can just vanish, so no worries there.

Finishing my first circuit I checked the time…It was only 6:15! I must have picked up the pace while scoping the place out. I'd better be more careful in the future, who knows whose watching, and I'd like the extent of my abilities to be unknown in future fights. I started a jogging second circuit.Especially since this is more than likely real and not a hallucination.

I had pretty much dropped that idea since last night, as there was almost no chance that the Whitecoats would have gone to such lengths. I mean, in all seriousness, what could they gain from whatever sick experiment this could be? I may not be a Whitecoat, but I'd been poked, prodded, and cut open enough times to get an idea of how they worked.

Constructing an entirely fictional world thru hallucinogenics didn't quite sit in their style of direct and to the point. Heck, even the time that Jeb lied and said some of our past had just been a hallucination experiment it had had a direct purpose, and I can't even findonefrom the scenario I find myself in.

Then again, I'm not a Whitecoat.

So although I may be discarding the idea, I still planned on keeping my eyes peeled for any irregularities that can't be attributed to normal stuff. Or Aura and Semblances, apparently.

Deep in my thoughts, I promptly lost track of time as I jogged, and it was only after my brain registered that I was passing the front of the academy for the tenth time that I managed to pull myself from my thoughts.

Checking the Scroll, I grew pale at the time. 8:45.

Well… dagnabbit!

I took off at a decent pace, no more than a regular person could attain at least, and a few minutes later made it into the cafeteria in the nick of time, nearly crashing into the two groups I'd met yesterday as they made they're way out.

"Oh hey Max!" I turned, seeing Yang waving at me even as I made my way over to the food, the others turning at this, but not stopping as they took their leave. "We've got to head to class, so we'll chat over lunch. You owe me a story you know!" She called, just before her, her team, and the other group vanished among the throng of students in the academy's halls. Probably on their way to some class.

Quickly working my way thru what was left of the food line, I was left with a fairly simple breakfast of cereal, a bagel with cream cheese, and orange juice. It was absolutely divine (to be fair, I hadn't eaten in who knows how long, and even you would have an appreciation for any fresh food after some of the things I've been forced to eat to survive).

While eating, I noticed several people with animal traits, and I tried my best to not stare, but it was admittedly difficult. For some strange reason I felt a kind of kinship with them, even if I wasn't naturally part bird.

Finishing quickly, I headed towards the tower once more, and as I entered the elevator I was grateful that I'd learned to eat fast a long time ago, as when I checked the Scroll it was 9 o'clock on the dot.

Technically not late.

"I wonder what this offer is," I wondered out loud. Considering this is an academy I'm guessing it's going to be an offer to join, but I would never be caught dead in another regular school, not after the whole mess with Anne-the-FBI-agent-then-Whitecoat-in-disguise… Although… this is a new world, so perhaps it would be better to-

Thankfully, my internal debate was interrupted as the elevator doors gave off their signature *Ding!* before opening once more into the Headmaster's office.

"Good Morning Max." Ozpin had apparently foregone standing up this time, remaining seated in his chair, one hand holding onto a tablet sized Scroll device, the other motioning towards the chair placed across from him.

Giving the room a once over, I saw that Goodwitch wasn't present, and as I sat down I asked about her absence. "So… where's Goodwitch at? From my understanding she was going to be here as well."

"A fight had broken out in the students armory, so she went to take care of that, but she should be back in about..." Ozpin glanced at a pocketwatch, a thin smile coming to his face. "Three… Two… One..."

I twisted around as with another *Ding!* the elevator doors opened, and as predicted, out walked Goodwitch, an agitated air coming off of her for a second before she relaxed, walking to stand next to the seated Headmaster.

"I will discuss the disturbance in the Student Armory with you after we're finished here Ozpin." Goodwitch said, tapping at her own Scroll-tablet.

"That is fine Glinda." Ozpin turned towards me, his expression, while hard to read, came off as immensely curious as he looked me over, seeming to come to some form of conclusion before he spoke.

"So Max, I had asked for you to be here after breakfast, and you have fulfilled that simple request, so I find it only fair that you should have the first question in our discussion."

For a second, my mind blanked at this, I having fully expected him and Goodwitch to just start questioning me, but thankfully all the unanswered questions from yesterday, including some new ones I'd come up with this morning, filled my head.

"Uh, ok. So I guess the obvious place to start would be where am I? You said I'm no longer on the world I know, and I'm inclined to believe you with everything I've seen, so I'd like to know a little about where I've ended up."

"Ah, a simple, but truly necessary question. You are currently in Beacon Academy, which lies between the Emerald Forest and the outskirts of Vale, the capitol of the Kingdom of Vale. I don't know what all is different from your world to ours, so I feel a more elaborate explanation should wait until we know what does and does not need explained. Unless you wish for me to elaborate further?"

I shook my head, a small smirk crossing my face before I replied. "No I understand, and a generalized answer was what I had been seeking anyways, I don't want to take up your entire day after all."

Some tension left the Headmaster, as he had apparently been preparing himself to tell me about everything. "Thank you, now, I believe it is my turn. Having determined you are from some other world, I would like to know just a brief overview of your world's history."

"Alright, but fair warning, what I tell you will be pretty much all I'll know, as due to my past I didn't exactly get the chance to have a good education." taking a deep breath I started. About twenty minutes later, just as I started covering World War II, Goodwitch signified she had a question.

"So you've told us of several major events, including some fairly horrid wars, even if only as a brief overview, but as they were never mentioned once I'm guessing Faunus are not present on this Earth?"

"Faunus?" I asked, perplexed. "What are they?"

"I would guess that is the answer to your question Glinda." Ozpin said, an amused smile on his face before he turned to me. "Faunus is an umbrella term for the animal-human races as a whole, there are about as many subspecies as there are animals, but they look mostly like the human race, only some animal traits are present, such as ears, horns/antlers, or a tail. Usually only one trait is seen per Faunus, however it's not uncommon for there to be more traits present."

"Oh…yeah, Earth doesn't have Faunus as you describe, the closest Earth has are… unnatural."

At that, both the Headmaster and Goodwitch appeared intrigued but didn't question… yet. Continuing my botched history lesson, the two of them got depressed expressions as I told them what I knew of the weaponry developed, and how the second World War ended with the threat of WW III hanging over everyone's head in the form of the nuclear bomb.

Everything after took only five minutes before I was finished, not having covered my personal history, or the Whitecoat operations.

"So..." Goodwitch looked up from her Scroll-tablet, "…thank you for sharing that with us, from what I've seen you will definitely be needing lessons concerning Remnants past and overall geography. Although I do have a question."

"Shoot."

"You didn't mention Dust either, so what did your world use as a propellant?" She glanced towards Ozpin, he sharing a look with her. Apparently he was interested in the answer as well.

"Wait, you guys don't use fossil fuels here?" At this they had confused looks, so I elaborated. "You know, coal, oil, and gasoline? Although I guess gasoline is just processed oil isn't it?" the last part I muttered to myself, but they seemed to have heard it.

"So also add lessons in Dust use to the list Glinda." The Headmaster stated, while looking at me. "However, there are several people I know who would like to hear what you know of you're worlds propellants, coal and oil were used in the past for heating and the powering of early machines, but have been replaced by Dust for several decades now at least. It's curious to find they have more use than we thought."

"So I guess it's my turn to question you again?" Ozpin nodded in confirmation. "Alright, since I had already guessed that you were going to offer me a place at your academy, I'm not curious as to what Goodwitch's list is for, however I would like to know why you would want me here?"

"Now that is easy to answer." Ozpin tapped a button on his tablet, and the room darkened a bit as shutters closed over the window. "I did a bit of scrounging about, and was able to find this footage of the fight you had with the Ursa Major, apparently one of the students, Ruby I believe, started taking this video as soon as they arrived on the scene."

A projector started displaying the video, minus sound, onto the shuttered window, showing in high detail as I sprinted up to the creature, punching it under the jaw and knocking it's body upright from the force delivered.

I winced and rubbed my hand at the memory of the broken wrist and fingers that punch had left me with.

The video continued, and I watched in fascination as my past self rolled underneath, the bear, between it's legs in order to get behind it, one of my feet lashing out, kicking the bear creature in it's no-man's-land, before hopping upright and taking advantage of it's downed form, hopping on top of it, breaking off a spine, and jabbing it into it's eye before with a final kick, the fight was over, the creature falling over dead as I stood watching it nearby. All in all the fight only lasted eight or nine seconds, max.

The video ending there, I looked at both Ozpin and Goodwitch, waiting for their explanation.

"What is it that you saw in that video?" Ozpin asked me, cocking his eyebrow as I stuttered in response.

"Wha? What do you mean by that?" I motioned to the ended video, the image of me standing over the bear, back turned to the camera still visible. "I fought and killed a threat to others. What's so amazing about that?"

"The fact that not only did you take out an Ursa Major, an elder of it's species, who can be downright challenging at times, with seeming ease, on top of the fact that you did so while not having your Aura unlocked, which would be considered a feat in and of itself, and that you did so in defense of others, showing your selflessness and courage."

Ozpin gave me an appraising look before nodding in my direction. "This world could only benefit from us offering to train you as a Huntress, as per this academy's purpose. Even if you decline the offer, we would still be willing to unlock your Aura, as not only do I believe yours can be, but with the kind of character you've shown both in and out of conflict, if something goes wrong, and you are needed, you won't step down from the call to action… will you?" The last bit he said with a smile, as if knowing what my answer will be.

I gave a snort in reply, trying to hold back my laughter. "You have no idea. Conflict seems to follow me wherever I go, and I won't stand by while others get hurt. I accept your offer. I think that you deserve to know a bit about my personal history though, all things considering."

"Yes, I do believe that would be nice to know." Goodwitch stated. "And if I'm not mistaken, our questions regarding Whitecoats, and the unnatural version of Faunus you mentioned earlier will be answered during it?"

"Yah," I said, giving them both a stern look, "but you'd better brace yourselves, my life isn't a tale for the faint of heart, the worst of the worst happened to me and those I was close to."

The two shared a look, before with a deep breath, Goodwitch spoke. "You may start when you are ready."

"I am not human. Not fully, at least."

Whatever they'd been expecting me to say, it hadn't been that. After a moment of contemplation, Ozpin's eyes brightened in realization.

"You mean to say that you are one of these unnatural Faunus?" I nodded in confirmation as I stood, backing away slowly.

"Me and five others where my family, we'd been created in a lab, some of us injected before birth, others straight up test tube babies, but we all had something in common."

The two shared a shocked look, watching as I stopped moving, and started gauging the distance between the walls and myself before nodding in satisfaction.

"And what was that? Goodwitch asked, a hint of curiosity making it's way across her features.

"Is this room sealed off?" Ozpin nodded, some confusion on his face. "No one else can see or hear what we speak" I nodded in reply, rolling my shoulders forward a bit, readying my wings.

"We were two percent avian." I stated, and I snapped open my wings, a smirk appearing on my face as they ogled my wings. Shock evident on their faces.

A few moments of silence passed, the two speechless as I struggled to not laugh at their expressions. Thankfully Ozpin managed to collect himself before I cracked.

"Are you… are you capable of flight with those?" He managed to ask.

"Yes," I replied, before closing my wings tight to my back once more, hiding them underneath my jacket once more. "I can average about 80-100 miles an hour depending on how much I'm carrying, and can keep up that pace for nearly a full day if I've managed to eat recently."

"That's incredible." Oh good, Goodwitch got her voice back. "But what do you mean by 'if you've managed to eat recently?' Was food not as readily available on this Earth?"

"Oh, it was," I replied, "but it's kind of hard to go to a grocery store or sit down in a restaurant to eat when you're being hunted by things that would rather kill you than follow orders, those orders being to recapture me and my pseudo family, the Flock, and take us back to the School, the facility we'd been created at, for more unethical and non-consensual experimentation. At least usually, later they just wanted us dead."

Before they could reply, expressions of horror on their faces, I pulled up my right sleeve, showing off the two scars prevalent there, one jagged and angry looking, the other thin and precise, overlaid across each other in a flattened x pattern.

"Thankfully I managed to get the computer chip they had been using to track me removed, professionally of course, not that I didn't try earlier with a piece of seashell." At that statement, Goodwitch looked about ready to lose her breakfast, while Ozpin looked on with worry, probably concerned over my mental state. Thankfully he chose not to press the issue, as even I'm not certain anymore of the answer to that question.

"Something that might come up while I am here, due to our having been unnaturally created, our bodies are still somewhat in a state of flux, and though I've only had one occur to me so far, each of the Flock members have had at least one further mutation, enhancing or expanding their abilities. In my case I can go super-speed, and have been recorded going slightly above 200 miles an hour in flight, I haven't tested if I can go faster on the ground yet. And I haven't yet tested what limitations said speed has."

Goodwitch's jaw seemed to drop, or rather, it opened a fraction as shock once more crossed her expression. In the Headmaster's case, he just looked intrigued by this information, but then, he's probably seen or heard of weirder due to his position.

Collecting herself once more, Goodwitch asked me the next question. "Earlier you stated you where hunted by things. I'm guessing that they were like you? An unnatural Faunus?"

"Yes, but no, they were nothing like me and the Flock. They were worse, much, much worse." I replied, sitting back down. "Is the idea of werewolves a thing here on Remnant?"

"Yes," she replied, "are you saying…" I nodded. "Yes, except they could choose when to change, enabling them to act and look the part of normal civilians, until they decided to tear out your throat. They were called Erasers, and acted as the enforcers of the School. When shifted they didn't look much different then you're bipedal wolf Grimm, just minus the bone plating and burning red eyes."

"So, I'm guessing you may be uncomfortable with sharing everything from your past," Ozpin stated, correctly assuming how I felt as he seemingly tried to steer the conversation away from this dark topic. "If at any time you are ready and willing to share more we will be here, but in the meantime if you could tell us what you last remember of events on Earth, it may help us determine how you arrived here."

"I died." I said, completely pokerface, but cracked at their expressions, shaking from laughter. A few seconds later I finally started winding down, gasping for breath. "Hooo… I haven't laughed that hard in a long time, I needed that." I smiled thinly. "In all seriousness though, I had gotten caught in the storm-wall of a hurricane, category four or five, both my wings were busted, and I was sent hurtling headfirst through the window of a skyscraper, clearly feeling myself getting shredded to bits by the glass before losing consciousness. I honestly don't know how I could have survived that outside of some kind of higher power's intervention, and I'm fairly certain this isn't heaven or hell, so if you have a better explanation I would love to hear it. Especially since I'm not really certain I believe in higher powers, all things considered."

Goodwitch opened her mouth to answer, before holding herself back, contemplating what I'd said. As for Ozpin, he simply steepled his fingers before replying.

"I cannot fathom just how you survived such an event, nor how you may have arrived here, but do know this, there is an answer, and while you are here I and my colleague will not stop in our endeavors to find what that answer may be." Pushing up his glasses, he leaned back in his chair before continuing. "I appreciate your honesty with me and my colleague, and am glad that you decided to take us up on our offer, which in all honesty was more Glinda's idea than mine."

With that revelation I was startled somewhat, but managed to send Goodwitch an appreciative look. "However there are a few things that need to be taken care of, and that you need to be aware of before I can ask you to sign the necessary documentation."

"And what exactly are those?"

"First, though me and Glinda have approved you joining this academy, in order to maintain the story we've fabricated for you, it is necessary that you complete an initiation test."

"Easy enough."

Ozpin smiled at my reply before continuing. "Second, that there are some who hold great animosity towards Faunus, which for sake of appearances you will be registered as, otherwise you will encounter issues further down the line when your wings are inevitably discovered. So simply a forewarning that others will look down on you for your believed heritage."

"Makes sense," I replied with a shrug, "people dislike what they don't understand, and its not like it'll ever be as bad as anything I've experienced before."

"And last but not least," Glinda said, continuing where Ozpin left off, "we must unlock your Aura before your initiation, as it is a required in order to attend this academy."

"Okay? I mean, are you certain that I even have an Aura to unlock? I do come from another world after all."

Glinda stood, walking towards me as she answered. "Ozpin and I have discussed it, but we feel it is more than likely you do, if potentially atrophied do to your home-world having no knowledge of it's existence."

Ozpin stood up and walked to my other side, placing a hand onto my shoulder. "For those who have atrophied Aura, it will resist all efforts to be unlocked, thus why, with your permission, both I and Glinda will work together to unlock your Aura."

"I mean, I get the sense this is usually something somewhat personal, due to the whole using your Aura/soul to unlock mine," I said,"but I have no issues with this."

Nodding to each other, they each placed a hand over my heart and on my head. "Now relax, and with your mind look within yourself as we start the process, focus on who you are at heart." Ozpin stated.

Doing as he asked, I relaxed, closing my eyes to concentrate as I delved within myself, trying to think of who I was, all that made me the person I was today.

Then I felt two tendrils of pure energy start forming within me, looking for my center as with one voice both Ozpin and Glinda spoke.

"For it is in passing that we achieve immortality…"

I felt the tendrils connect briefly, before continuing their search deeper within.

"Through this we become a paragon of virtue and glory to rise above all…"

Something within me sparked as the two tendrils came in contact with it, even as I heard both Glinda and Ozpin's words strain.

"Infinite in distance and unbound by death…"

A feeling of warmth washed over me, originating from the spot the two tendrils had reached, it seeming to flare brighter and brighter even as the tendrils grew weaker.

"I release your soul and by my shoulder protect thee."

They removed their hands from my head and from over my heart, and I opened my eyes to see both of them panting hard, as if they had just sprinted a couple of miles, both with mixed expressions of confusion and wonder.

Looking down at myself, I saw a thin glow encompassing my body, fluctuating between a deep blue and the dark purple of my wings. I felt… amazing… I felt like I was faster, stronger, and more perceptive than I already was. In that moment I felt like I could accomplish the impossible.

"Whoa" I had no words, and as the glow, no, as my Aura faded from view, it was as if electricity was thrumming through my veins, a power I never knew I had now able to be felt within.

"That was...Unusual" Ozpin stated, having regained his breath.

"What do you mean?" I asked, worried something was wrong.

"Firstly your Aura wasn't atrophied as we'd believed, but rather seemed to be in a state of hibernation, present, but much more difficult to awaken." Glinda said.

Ozpin swiped a steaming mug off his desk, downing the contents in one go. "Also, it appears that some kind of energy has attached itself to your soul, and though I know not what it could be or where it came from I would guess it has something to do with however you arrived here on Remnant."

Glinda cut me off before I could speak, seeming to sense what I was going to ask. "It doesn't seem to be malevolent in nature from what we could tell, but it seemed to boost your Aura, making it even more difficult to awaken, and I doubt either one of us could have successfully unlocked your Aura had we not been working together to do so."

"Huh, ok, so that purple was the other energy then? Makes sense…"

"What do you mean by that?" Glinda asked.

"Well, when I first woke up from unconsciousness in the Forever Fall, I noticed my wings were different, larger, eighteen feet instead of fifteen feet wide, and no longer colored like that of a hawk's. And this morning I noticed my eyes were darker, with purple highlights. Just for reference my eyes used to be a light-ish brown color."

Though both appeared somewhat confused at my words, I noticed Ozpin's head slightly nod, as if I'd confirmed something.

"That reminds me." I said, moving towards them and sitting down once more. "Although you know of my wings, I would appreciate it if they could remain a secret for as long as possible. Even if that makes people suspicious due to the whole 'registered as a Faunus, but unable to see any traits' situation that will arise with the other faculty" I stated, crossing my arms.

"And why would you want us to keep this under wraps?" Ozpin said, steepling his fingers. "Not saying we won't, as this falls under the rules of student/faculty confidentiality, I would just like to understand what reasons you may have."

I nodded, crossing my arms. "Tell me if I'm wrong, but at some point in Remnants past, and probably still in society's dark corners, Faunus were slaves, only freed due to a civil or world war concerning said slavery?"

"That is correct." Glinda said surprise evident on her face. "It's a testament to your skills that you deduced that, but how does that answer the Headmaster's question?"

I felt my expression grow dark. "Think about it, if a Faunus slave can simply fly out of captivity, what do you do?" I smirked as Glinda went pale, realization crossing her features. Ozpin only gave me a contemplative look.

"Ergo, Faunus with wings that also have the capability of flight are either extremely rare or extinct." I continued, not giving either room to speak. "So now answer me this, how many people, shady or not, would come after a bird Faunus girl who could fly? And how suspicious would it look for one to suddenly appear at Beacon? The flip side is being registered as a Faunus, bird or otherwise, with no visible traits. Probably still rare but not unheard of, and thus a lot less suspicion directed at me and this school."

Glinda looked shocked at the accuracy of the deductions I made, while Ozpin simply nodded.

"I had been thinking along similar lines Ms. Ride." Ozpin stated, a small smile upturning his mouth. "And even though you have not been given even an abbreviated summary of Remnant's history, I am glad we are on the same page. I and my college," Ozpin looked at Glinda, seeing her nod in confirmation, "do promise to you Ms. Ride to keep your secret to the utmost. And if ever it is discovered, to do our best to help you in any way, shape, or form possible within the restrictions the government has placed on this school, which are not that many if I'm being honest."

"Thanks." I said, a genuine smile forming on my face.

Pushing the button on his desk, the window once more provided the office with light, the shutters moving to either side.

"Well, since your Aura is now unlocked, if you can sign these papers of registration, we can have them processed and perform your initiation test tomorrow morning if you wish." Ozpin sat behind his desk once more, pulling out a thin binder and a pen.

Taking the pen, I started filling out the forms, asking for help now and then due to never having filled out forms before. But then a certain question came up, and my brain just froze.

'Age of Applicant…'

A single tear managed to slide down my cheek before I composed myself. "I'm sorry, but I can't answer this question."

"What question?" Glinda asked, looking over my shoulder."You mean you don't know your own age?" She sounded surprised by this revelation

"Well," I started, my tone growing more depressed with every word. "The Whitecoats never thought to treat their experiments like people, heck, I lived in a dog crate for eight years I think, so why would they tell us when we were born? To them we were just numbers, experiments that were a dime-a-dozen, so why would they care?"

The other two in the room looked saddened, and in Glinda's case, also filled with righteous fury, said fury expressing itself by her semblance shattering Ozpin's mug. A deep brown liquid, hot chocolate based on the smell, spreading from the now shattered porcelain.

Giving a sigh, Ozpin stood from his chair, giving a fleeting, yet sorrowful glance towards the now shattered mug and it's spilled contents. "I can see you suffered much at the hands of these 'Whitecoats'…"

I snorted, my eyes still downcast. "You have no idea."

"… But I think we have an answer to your problem." He paused, letting the info he shared sink in.

When it did I looked up from my seated position, curiosity filling me. "How…?"

"Using DNA dating, any hospital in Remnant is able to accurately determine an individual's age." Glinda provided. "In fact I can, with Ozpin's permission, escort you to get your DNA dated this afternoon."

She pointedly looked at Ozpin, who sighed lightly before straightening. "I… suppose that I can manage for a couple hours, but while you are in Vale, do be sure to take Ms. Ride to the necessary stops for her school supplies. I will cover your expenses until you are ranked and able to earn Lien, our currency, by completing huntsman missions."

He motioned to the paperwork left on his desk, all that was left being the verification of identity and my age. "If you send me the age determined by the DNA dating, I will finish this paperwork while you are out."

"Thanks," I said, standing, "Before I head out, my blood is different, as in it has a nucleus like avian blood does. Will that affect the test?"

The two glanced at each other, slight confusion evident on their faces.

"It shouldn't matter." Glinda spoke, "Considering they would be testing your DNA, not your blood itself, it should have the same result."

"Oh, ok." I replied, before turning towards the elevator. Just as I reached for the button, I stopped, turning back to the two behind the desk. Glinda as stoic as ever, but Ozpin had an amused expression on his face. "Uhm, when and where do I need to meet with you Glinda?"

She tapped on her scroll/tablet a couple times before answering. "I've just finished booking a Bullhead for our use, and we will be taking off at 2:30, from the same air-dock as we arrived yesterday, or AD-12." She gave me a pointed look. "Don't be late."

I won't. Thanks again." I replied, walking into the now open elevator, the doors closing behind me.

I looked at my Scroll. "Huh, I guess I've got some hours to kill before I need to meet with Glinda. What to do, what to do."

Ozpin and Glinda watched as the elevator closed behind Maximum, a few moments of silence ppassing between them before Glinda spoke.

"She appears to have a good heart, even with all she's been through. I think this school will be good for her."

"True, but I believe, Glinda, that Ms. Ride is more than she seems, even to herself." Ozpin stated, once more activating the shutters to close. "Yesterday, after our discussion with her, I did some research concerning her appearance in the Forever Fall, and I wish to show you what I found."

Glinda watched as the Headmaster projected two videos onto the shutters, one clearly being of the low orbit Grimm tracking satellite Ozpin had ordered from Atlas almost a year ago, the other showing a camera view of the Forever fall. The location stamp in the lower corner marking it as being almost two hundred miles away from where they had been collecting sap if Glinda wasn't mistaken.

"What is it that you found?" She asked her curiosity overcoming her patience.

"Watch." Ozpin then pushed play.

For both images, the scene looked normal. The satellite's feed showed the usual amount of Grimm wandering the area, though it was impossible to tell if they were Elder Grimm or not due to the nature of the device. As for the other image, it seemed like a peaceful day in the forever fall, a light breeze slowly picking up, causing the leaves and branches to subtly dip and sway.

But then something happened.

All the little red blips representing Grimm on the satellite feed stopped moving, and at the same time the wind went from a light breeze to full on gale, the trees starting to bend under its strength in the opposite direction that the breeze had been moving before. Wait, that was wrong, as some trees weren't being effected, while others were bending the opposite way.

For a moment, Glinda was confused, before a realization struck her. The wind wasn't moving in one direction or another, it was circling, and at the center? A small glade, the opening in the trees barely visible due to its minuscule size.

Suddenly a second vortex formed within the swirling wind, this one made of a purple and black energy, arcing like electricity. Glancing at the satellite feed, Glinda saw the Grimm start moving at a rapid pace, all towards the center, as if attracted to whatever the vortex of energy was.

Speaking of, the purple and black vortex collapsed upon itself, forming into a ball just above the treetops, hovering over the glade even as it and the wind continued to swirl. The first of the Grimm reached the glade, a young Beowolf by the looks of it, and fighting the wind, used the trees to propelled itself towards the orb of condensed energy.

But upon getting within ten feet, an arc of purple lightning, to fast for someone without Aura to have seen, reached out from the orb and struck the Beowolf disintegrating it instantly. Instead of just vanishing into smoke however, it's essence was pulled into the orb, it flaring brighter as it did so.

Soon the other Grimm arrived, and just like the first, they all died to the energy, their essence causing the orb to glow brighter and brighter with each Grimm absorbed. Finally the tide of Grimm stopped, several Elder Grimm visible, watching the orb warily. Then the orb started to compress further, going from an estimated forty five foot diameter to maybe ten, and for a split second, Glinda thought she saw… no, that was impossible, a person couldn't be inside! They wouldn't survive that which destroyed Grimm instantaneously, right?

Continuing to watch, the orb almost to bright to look at, it suddenly went black, only thin tendrils of purple electricity remained in it's swirling form, before it pulsed, a shockwave of energy rushing over the terrain, leaving it seemingly unaffected.

Looking once more at the satellite feed, Glinda gasped in shock. As the energy wave, which both it and the orb were visible on it's feed, passed over the land… Grimm disappeared. The orb pulsed again, and more Grimm disappeared, the Forever Fall camera going static for a second as the energy passed over it.

With one final pulse, all the remaining Grimm vanished within the area shown by the satellite, which was nearly forty miles diameter. The Forever Fall camera once more went static, taking longer for the feed to come back, but when it did, Glinda gasped.

Laying on the ground unconscious, wreathed in a fading purple and black fire, was Maximum Ride.

Hey all, sorry I've been late on updating, life got in the way, new job and such.

*Instantly dies due to lameness of excuse, restored by need to continue story*

-Gasp- Now that my life is now somewhat in order, I'll be posting at least once a week to two weeks.

Thanks all who have supported this story, and once more I apologize for the unofficial hiatus this story was in.

Until next Chapter! Zaffreye out.