(A/N) Howdy everyone! Sorry for the delay in this chapter. With everything going on, I haven't had much time for writing. I am working on average, seven days a week and just about fifteen hours a day, lol. Logistics ftw! Other than that, hopefully things start to equal out again, I'm ready for a vacation, haha. Finally finished watching the new season of MHA...I kept running out of tissues!

Chapter Twenty-Three

Ashe could never find herself getting used to this setting, no matter how many times it happens. She was floating through an endless void that chills to her bones, yet she feels nothing. With a half-lidded expression, Ashe gazed up toward the glassy sky, the once beautiful stained glass now beyond recognition with cracks. It has been so long since it was whole. What was the picture?

She could not remember.

A slow stream of aura trailed from below to the cracked glass, patching and melding the crevices in a temporary solution. Tilting her gaze downward, Ashe looked into the abyss. She saw Fairy within the depths, a speck in the distance. There was no need for Ashe to get a closer look, she already knew what she would find.

The red was bleeding from Fairy as she withered and fought against the tide. Closing her eyes, Ashe turned away. There was nothing she could do. Even if she tried to help, she would only get in Fairy's way or face her wrath. At least the worst of it had passed. The other half just needed to purify it out of her system.

Ashe had rested long enough. Fairy gave her a job to do after all. Her own responsibility. Taking in a deep breath, her body was pulled down by gravity. A heavy weight bore down upon her petite figure in a wave of pain. Her eyes were heavy, but with enough struggling, they opened.

Instant regret broke through when fluttering eyes were met with a blinding, white light. She tried to whimper at the burn, but her throat was dry and hoarse. Was she still sick? She felt hot and sweaty. That was annoying, but at least she was alive. At that point, she wasn't sure if that was a good thing though. Slowly sitting herself up was a struggle. Her left arm was completely bandaged in a sling, so that did not make the chore any easier.

It didn't take long to scan her surroundings and find out she was in the academy's infirmary. How she got here, she doesn't know. At least its somewhere recognizable.

The other few times, she had awakened in the middle of nowhere.

Finding a pitcher with lukewarm water beside the bed, Ashe poured herself a cup. Rather, she attempted it, anyway. Her body was sore, and her fingertips were wrapped in bandages. With a sigh, she laid in bed for someone to return. Thankfully, it didn't take long for someone to enter.

Peach returned with a mug in hand. She gave Ashe a stare before massaging her temple. "Of course, you would wake up when I'm gone."

"Mm."

Setting down her mug, Peach approached the bed with her medical bag. "Let's make this quick and then the questions can start." The check-up was quick. Her bandages did not need any changing and a small intake of medicine was all she needed. "Let's start at the beginning, what do you last remember?"

Pondering to herself, Ashe began to think of an alibi. Miyako more than likely told her everything on her end already at least up until they separated. This meant Peach more than likely had information that Ashe was unaware of. Straying from the truth would only expose any fabrications and make her situation worse.

"Mm, I remember separating from Miyako after we were ambushed." Peach nodded and gave nothing away. "I tried to escape my pursuer, but nothing I did worked. Eventually, he cornered me at a silo of some sort."

Peach crossed a leg over the other.

Ashe took it as a clue that she already knew where. "We fought, and with my injury, I was on the losing end. I was going to run, but his partner showed up. I don't know who they were, but I found out they were targeting people leaving the club at random."

"You don't know who they were?"

"No. All we found out was that they were staking the club and anyone of interest was their target. Though, what we did find out was what they were looking for."

Peach crossed her arms and stared with an emotionless mask. "And what was that?"

"Me." No reaction like she thought. Miyako must have already informed her of this.

"And you do not know who they were?"

Ashe shakes her head, "I've done many unethical things in the past. They could be related to any number of them. I won't know till I get more clues." With a hum, Peach motioned for her to continue. "After that, I was losing the fight, badly."

"How badly?"

"They were about to kill me."

Peach showed only a fraction of a twitch, but she did frown. "But you're not dead, so what happened?"

Ashe casually shrugged, "More people showed up. It was one big party, I guess."

"Sounds like it."

"Apparently, they had a grudge against my assailants, so they fought. I tried to escape during the feud, but my pursuers were annoyingly persistent about not letting me escape. Last thing I remember is trying to escape down a tunnel and a big explosion. I don't remember anything else after that."

"Hm…" Peach bored into Ashe with a steely gaze. Sadly, for her, Ashe was used to an even more frightening stare from Slappy, so it wasn't an issue to keep face under the scrutiny. "So, you do not remember anything else after the fuel depot explosion, and you had nothing to do with it?"

"Nn, I don't remember anything else. How long have I been unconscious?"

With a sigh, Peach begun to collect her things. "In my infirmary? Roughly a week. I thought you'd wake up sooner, but you have a knack of doing what you want." Well, she couldn't deny that. "It's about time. I was getting fed up with keeping the other brats away. Animals, the lot of them."

"Mm?" What was Peach talking about? Ashe suddenly found her top hat thrown in her direction from Peach.

"Put that on, they should be here any minute now. I swear, they can't show up to class on time, but that orange firecracker is always here on the hour." Following the order, Ashe got a sense of déjà vu.

A loud and robust banging on the door was followed by a shout, "Listen up toots! Today's the day you let me in! My patience has run out. You will open this door or so help me I'm breaking it down! Try me! I dare you!"

Peach sighed with a growing headache while attempting to rub it away. "Speak of the thunderous typhoon, and she appears." She glared toward Ashe, "This. This is all your fault. I have suffered her ear-piercing shouting and battering ram knocks on my door."

"Sorry?"

"That's it! I'mma countin' to three and then I'm breaking through this door! One! Tw-Will you let me go! I'm trying to be intimidating here! Ren! You're ruining my thunder! I-said-let-go!" A dull thump smacked against the wall from the outside with a groan. "Two!"

Ashe shrunk into her bed to hide away behind the blankets when Peach stormed toward the door in heavy footsteps. "Three! Ready or not lady, I'm huffin' n puffin!" With a scowl, Peach threw open her door and stuck out her foot.

Nora suddenly barged through the doorway with her shoulder and a shocked expression. Tumbling over the extended foot, Nora faceplanted into the tiled floor with a loud smack. Professor Peach took a deep inhale with a look of relief.

"My god, that felt great."

Standing up, Nora had a bright red mark upon her nose and jabbed her finger into Peach's chest. "Hey! What's the big idea? That's not how this works! You're supposed to let me barge in through the door and look appalled that I'd actually do it! But you went and tripped me! Who do you think you are, Lucy van Pelt?!"

Without a word, Professor Peach reached out and used an iron claw to grab onto Nora's head. If it hurt, Nora showed no sign of discomfort before Peach spun her body around to the bed. "She's awake now."

Nora lit up like a firecracker. "Mousey!" She tried a running hug, but the iron claw kept her firmly in place.

Peach was not amused, "She's still sick and weak. Keep contact to a minimum and let her rest."

"Yea, sure. Whatever you say."

The two stared at one another before Professor Peach let her go. "You only have a few minutes. If you go overboard, I'm throwing you out."

As if by teleportation, Nora threw her arms around Ashe and smothered her into a hug. "Mousey! I've missed you so much!" Thankfully the hug wasn't too strong, but Ashe still required oxygen. "Where have you been? Who did this to you? I'll break both their legs! Why were you unconscious, for so long? Tell me, tell me, tell me!"

Before Ashe could pass out from a lack of oxygen, a hand grabbed Nora by the back of the collar and pulled her away. "What did Professor Peach just tell you? She needs rest. Don't overwhelm her. I am sure she has been through a lot."

With a huff and pout, Nora kicked out her feet. "I know, I know, but I can't help it, Ren. It's Mousey!"

Catching her breath, Ashe nodded her thanks to Ren. "Thank you, Ren."

"My pleasure, and hello, Ashe. It does me well to see you. How are you?" He offered a soft smile.

Ashe sniffled while motioning her bandaged arm, "Mm, could be better, and yourself?"

Ren salutes with a fist upon his chest, "I am well, thank you for asking."

Nora cut herself in and plopped upon the bed, halfway over Ashe's legs. "I am doing great also!"

A tiny smile broke free upon Ashe's lips. "Mm, so I see. Have I missed out on anything?"

"Eh? Not really, I mean besides boring schoolwork. There was a huge explosion in the city, and we could see it from team RWBY's window. It was awesome!" Ashe twitched at the comment. "Other than that…Oh!" That was where Nora scowled, "That Cardin jerk has been coming around more often recently. He keeps picking on Jaune. Every time we try to step in, he tells us not to worry about it. That's annoying."

"Mm?" Ashe filed that tidbit of information away for later.

"Enough about that, lemme give you the juicy gossip around the block!" Nora proceeded to turn into a chatterbox. Telling her about all the drama and gossip around the academy, from relationships to school issues within the students. Nora was quite the heckling hen and loved to get sensitive details. Ashe didn't mind the one-sided conversation. It took her mind off things and Nora didn't even try to ask why she disappeared or ended up unconscious and injured. Ren did not talk much either, just casually stood to the side and gave them his calming presence. It was highly welcomed.

Ashe appreciated it immensely.

As the time passed, Nora wormed her way upon the bed beside her. It was at that point when Professor Peach finally had enough and kicked them out. Nora swore to come back later, while Ren quietly departed with a soft word of letting the others know of her awakening.

Closing her eyes for a nap, Ashe almost instantly fell asleep. The medication soothed her body and made her numb with a tingly sensation. A dreamless nap welcomed her before she woke to an unexpected visitor within the infirmary.

Rubbing the sleep out of her eyes, she was thankful to falling asleep with her hat upon her head. "Mm…Hello?"

Closing her book, Blake nodded politely, "Hey, I didn't wake you, did I?"

"Nn, medicine wore off, I guess. What are you doing here?"

Pocketing her book, Blake stood and stretched toward the ceiling. "I came to pick you up, but I figured I'd let you sleep some more. Professor Peach said someone needs to escort you back to your room. Ruby and Yang both have detention for making a scene during class after Nora and Ren gave the news. Weiss needed to make a call, so she won't be back till later."

With a slow blink, Ashe looked around and found the sunlight to be gone and replaced with the light of the moon. "Nn, sorry. If I had known, I'd have waited before napping."

"Don't worry, it gave me plenty of reading time in peace." Blake politely began to help collect Ashe's belongings, which was more in the line of bandages and medicine. "Here, I'll carry these for you."

"Mm, thank you."

It was a quiet walk back to Ashe's dorm room. She very much enjoyed Blake's silence. Just her presence was comforting in itself, knowing that someone was there is a welcomed feeling. Regretfully, Blake was unable to stay after setting Ashe's belongings into the room. She had her own schoolwork that she procrastinated for reading time.

Blake stalled at the doorway, as if she had something to say, but shook her head and left with a farewell. Ashe barely managed to throw on her pajamas before crashing upon her bed. Not even hunger could keep her awake from rest.

The knock on her door roused her from sleep. Did she even lock it? Ashe can't remember, but she grunted out a response to enter. The voice that followed was easily recognizable.

"Good morning~, I didn't wake you, did I?"

Ashe mumbled an affirmation, because yes, Pyrrha did wake her up. What is she doing up so early? Rather, why the hell is she bothering her this early?

Pyrrha awkwardly chuckled, "Ah-ha, yea. I didn't really think this through. My apologies, but I thought you might like some food." She held out a paper bag in tribute.

With a groan, Ashe shuffled into a sitting position with her injured arm. Already she could tell it was going to be an annoyance till she could use it again. "Mm, just set it over here." With a jolt, Pyrrha did as she was told and placed the food upon the bookshelf.

She stood back with an awkward pause to fill the room. Ashe watched when Pyrrha shuffled upon her feet. It appeared like she had something on her mind. "Do you…have something to say?"

Pyrrha balked in surprise, "Ah! Sorry, I didn't mean to stare. It's just…I wanted to see with my own eyes, that's all."

Ashe tilted her head in confusion, "See what?"

A small smile crept upon Pyrrha's lips. "Nothing of importance. I should be going if I want to get a morning work out before class." Ashe watched Pyrrha head toward the door, hand on the doorknob before she turned back around. "May I…ask a small favor?"

Ashe grabbed her small pillow from Ozpin and set it on her lap. "Mm."

Pyrrha nibbled on her inner cheek for a moment, "Do you think you could…speak with Jaune when you are able? He has been…distant lately. He won't talk with anyone. Not even with his own team."

Her? Talk? Communicate with someone about being distant? Pyrrha really did not think this favor through. "Mm…Am I really the person you should be asking for this? I'm not exactly what you'd call…social."

"Well…yes…you have a point." Ouch. "But Jaune seems to hold you in a different light, and it doesn't hurt to try."

With a sigh, Ashe nodded. "Mm, sure. I won't make any promises though."

"That's all I ask. Thank you." Pyrrha was halfway through the door, "By the way, I see what you mean." Ashe perked up. "It is more difficult to keep my focus on you without your bell. Good day." Pyrrha closed the door behind her.

The room suddenly collapsed; Ashe felt her lungs constrict with shock at the revelation. How did she not notice? Her good hand shook uncontrollably and reached for the bell around her neck.

Ashe clutched on nothing.

Repeatedly grasping at the missing heirloom, wishing for a different result with each desperate clutch. "Where is it? What did you do?!" Throwing off her blankets, Ashe scours her bed for the bell.

'You know it's not here.'

Ashe ignored Fairy and stumbled around her room, raiding through her desks and closets. She threw what few worldly possessions she had upon the ground. "It has to be here. I just misplaced it."

'Don't be stupid. Let it go.'

"Let it go?!" With a furious shout, Ashe lashed out in anger, kicking her desk chair onto the ground and slamming into the wall. "You threw it away!"

'Then get a new one.'

Ashe collapsed upon the ground, coughing and struggling to hold herself up. The anger and violent tantrum were stirring up her fever. The pain in her throat made it difficult to speak and internalize their argument. 'I can't just get a new one. You know that, it was special.'

'Don't make me laugh. The bell lost its value long ago. We don't know who that person was. We don't know why they bought it for us. We can't even remember what they looked like. Special? Come back to reality, that bell no longer holds a meaning for us.'

Ashe choked on her breath, vision becoming a wet blur upon the ground. 'Can't you for once, show some compassion?'

Fairy was silent for only a moment, and Ashe could feel her cold presence, 'Compassion, makes you weak.'

The door cracked open when Ashe spat out vehemently in denial, "I am not weak."

"I never said you were. Who are you talking to?" Ashe whirled in surprise having failed to notice her intruder. She found Weiss surveying her room in mild disgust. "What happened in here—" Weiss's expression fell before slamming the door behind her. She stomped toward Ashe and dropped down to cup her cheeks. "What's wrong? What happened?" This was not the scene Weiss had expected to walk into.

Ashe couldn't tear her watery gaze away, "Fairy threw away my bell…I can't find it."

Using her thumbs to wipe away the tears from the Ashe's eyelids, Weiss sighed quietly. "Is that all? Don't worry, you'll have it back later today." Wait, what? As if reading her mind, Weiss rolled her eyes while lifting Ashe to her feet. "It came into my possession, but I noticed it was dulled and covered in scratches. So, I took it on myself to get it repaired. Should be ready by today, the shop does quick and efficient work."

Ashe was unable to hear all the details because there was only one thing she fixated on. "You have my bell?"

Weiss nodded, "Yes, that is what I said. Well…Technically, I do not have it right now, but I will in the evening." A sudden warm weight wrapped around her. Weiss felt an arm thrown around her with ash colored hair burying into the crook of her neck and shoulder. "H-hey! I don't really do this hugging thing."

Weiss tried to slip away, but Ashe kept a firm hold and leaned her weight on the slim girl. Weiss is in possession of her bell. Her precious bell that she has held onto for years. She will have ownership of it again. Coming off her adrenaline high, Ashe slumped and burned hot with a fever. She felt a cool palm on her forehead.

"You're burning up. I only came to check on you. I have to get to class because I cannot afford to miss anymore days." Prying the faunus from her figure, Weiss helped shuffle her back to bed. "I'll clean what I can but get some rest. We need to talk, so I will come by after class."

Ashe coughed into a nod. Her eyes were heavy and difficult to keep open.

Once Weiss pulled the blankets up, she cleaned what she could before glancing at the watch on the underside of her wrist. "I really can't afford to miss more class, or he will be more upset. Get some rest, I mean it. Afterwards, we need to have a talk."

Whether Ashe responded, she was not sure herself. She had fallen asleep before Weiss even left. Though the girl cleaned what she could, the room was still a mess. That was how Ashe remembered it.

'Wake up.'

Being spurred by the sound of Fairy within her mind, Ashe groaned and struggled with the sandman of dreams.

"Ah, good afternoon. Quite the light sleeper, aren't you?"

An aroma of hot chocolate wafted through the air as it was something, she had grown accustom to in the clocktower. Strangely enough, she was completely tucked into the bed with a cool rag on her head. Ashe was only able to turn her head, but she found Ozpin sitting beside her bedside. He had his signature mug within his grasp, and what looked to be her scroll upon his lap. That was not what caught her attention. It was something else entirely.

The dark spectacles that covered his eyes made him look different.

Before she could speak, he smiled softly and adjusted the cool rag to cover her eyes. "Now, now, you need to rest, this is but a simple dream." Drowsiness weighed down her consciousness. Ashe couldn't fight it, sleep once more wrestled control into a deep slumber.

It wasn't until the cool rag was removed from her eyes did Ashe stir once more. This time, her body was no longer heavy or stiff. Quickly having sat up, she rubbed a hand upon her temple. 'What…What was that?' Ashe wiped the moisture from her eyes, the sands fall from her eyes. 'That wasn't a dream…was it?' Her vision slowly cleared while staring at her hand. 'Was Ozpin in my room?'

"Sorry, did that wake you up?"

Snapping to the voice, Ashe found Weiss beside her with the dry cloth in hand. She instinctively calmed down at the sight and evened out her breathing. "Nn, I've been sleeping all day. What time is it?"

Weiss checked her watch, "Late evening, nearing nighttime. I see you cleaned up while I was away." Turning toward the bag of food, Weiss perked a brow, with what appeared to be a slight pout. "When did someone bring you food? You didn't eat it?"

"Pyrrha brought it in the morning before you showed up. I forgot all about it."

Weiss hummed quietly in thought. "I see…Well, now that you are awake, there are some things I want to talk to you about."

"Mm, what about?"

Taking her place upon the edge of the bed, Weiss made herself comfortable for a long conversation. "Where to even start…" After drumming her fingers against her slender thighs, Weiss nodded to herself. "This morning, you had a freak out." Ashe grimaced at how blunt Weiss was. "You said it was because something Fairy did, your other…personality? Tell me about her."

Ashe stared at Weiss; those glacial orbs were unyielding. She could instantly tell that there's no escaping this conversation. Not like she could even if she wanted to. Tilting toward the windows, Ashe found the curtains closed. She was not sure about the door. "If…if I do, can you make sure—" Weiss flicked her finger as a glyph sprouted on the door with a locking click.

Weiss never tore her gaze away from Ashe. "Anything else?"

Ashe's throat turned dry at the sound. She really, really did not want to have this conversation. Rather, she hates talking in general. Especially when it comes to sensitive subjects because getting her to talk was equivalent to cracking open a dust vault. That doesn't mean she hasn't before. It was just insanely difficult before someone figured out the trick.

Slowly wiggling out from blankets under the watchful eye of Weiss, she crawled along her bed. Flopping onto her side, Ashe rested her head upon Weiss's warm and soft lap, startling the heiress, "Wha—"

"You know…I'm not good with talking about myself." Weiss clicked her mouth shut to listen. "I don't know how. I get…stressed and anxious. After…separating from my mother. There was only one person I confided in…Slappy." Weiss dared not to interrupt. With a deep sigh, Ashe relaxed her body and sunk into the warmth. "Only because she figured out the trick…though she was forceful with it." A hollow chuckle escaped at the distant memory.

Her breath shuttered once more while snuggling the warmth. It had become intoxicating. "Slappy would lay me in her lap…and pet me. It helped ease my anxiety before confiding into her." Silence permitted through the room. Her slender legs shuffled along the blankets and tapped the pillow with her toes. Weiss didn't say a word, but Ashe soon felt her response.

Elegant fingers cautiously pressed into Ashe's hair, gliding under the soft threads. Ashe could easily tell Weiss wasn't sure what to do, but she enjoyed the cool touch upon her scalp. It took a while, but soon enough, the fingers gently stroked through her hair at a snail's pace. Over time, her body slowly relaxed and eased away her tension. "Mm…What was it you asked?"

"Tell me about Fairy."

Closing her eyes, Ashe took a moment to let the fingers ease her body. "Fairy…is my other personality. It is what we decided to call her, just to differentiate us. It was a nickname given to us, so we may as well use it." She can't remember who started calling her that. Ashe only knew it was a long time ago. Did Fairy know? Perhaps, but if she did, she won't say a word.

Weiss remained silent for a moment, slowly playing with an end of ash colored locks. "I don't recall you saying you had split personality when you were younger with your mother. What caused it to happen?"

Ashe was silent, pondering to herself. What did cause it to happen? Ashe has always known Fairy to be there since her creation. How was she created? Why was she created? When? Furrowing her brow in thought, Ashe tried to remember. It was difficult and jumbled, but she stumbled upon something.

She found a forgotten memory.

A barrage of static roared through her mind; the memory played like a broken television. She could remember being soaked…suspended and fully encased in a bubbling liquid. Ashe couldn't move, she was trapped, encaged. The only thing preventing her from drowning was an oxygen mask.

What kind of memory was this?

Ashe tried to gaze around, but the liquid made it difficult and burned her eyes. She could feel someone staring at her, dissecting, like some kind of lab rat. A white blur was on the other end of the liquid and maybe a light shade of blue. She could not make them out, but a low and dull voice rang out. It was incoherent and unrecognizable, but it sounded male. Something pricked into her neck, eliciting a grunt of pain.

She couldn't fight against the consuming darkness. Whatever was injected into her made Ashe pass out within the pool. Only liquid bubbles filled her vision.

Snapping her eyes open with a deep breath, Ashe found herself back within her mind. 'What the hell?' What kind of memory was that? Nothing like that had ever been mentioned to her before, nor any hints of it. Who was that? She looked down at her hands as they shook. Just what happened to her? What is Fairy hiding from her?

Her hands clutched into fists while the surroundings shifted as if she's sorting and looking for something. Various objects materialized and then disappeared before her. Finally, she stopped on a large treasure chest. It was old, withered, and securely wrapped in chains with multiple padlocks. Ashe could feel a presence calling out to her, whispering into her ears.

Something within the confines rustled within the chest, making the chains strain under pressure. Black and crimson wisps escaped from the cracks, increasing her thundering heartbeat. Ashe was losing control of herself, the whispers kept growing louder to a frightening degree, but she has to know. What was Fairy hiding from her? What kind of memories are being kept hidden?

Her hand reached for the padlock.

A flicker of green energy arced from the rusted metal to her gloved finger. The metal rattled uncontrollably with a screech. The chest dropped through the ground before Ashe could touch it. Stumbling forward at sudden unbalanced, a hand wrapped around her throat, slamming her back into an invisible wall.

"What are you doing?"

Ashe clutched onto the wrist of Fairy, "I saw a glimpse. What was that?"

"What are you…" Pausing for a moment, memories flashed through Fairy's eyes, but something was different about them. Her eye lids were heavy and black permitted under her eyes. Fairy looked extremely fatigued. "How many times do I have to tell you? Stay out of our past."

"Why are you hiding it from me? I deserve to know." Ashe fought and squirmed, prying Fairy's hand from her throat.

Fairy scowled and redoubled her strength. "I am not hiding anything. I'm protecting you, us. You are not yet ready to handle the backlash. The memories will break you. Which means I will be fighting on two fronts." Shoving Ashe away, Fairy ever so slowly walked away from Ashe with shaky legs. Without much energy, she slowly took a seat on the ground to rest and catch her breath. "Never do that again and just do as I say. Now get out, she's getting angry."

Before Ashe could retort, she felt a painful tug on her cheek.

Snapping back to reality, she found herself staring up into Weiss. The heiress wore a deep scowl on her lips. "Just so you know, I hate being ignored. Are you done zoning out?"

Blinking her eyes, she reached up to caress her sensitive cheek. Did Weiss just pinch and tug onto it? That's something she hasn't felt for ages. "Mm, sorry. I was just…having an argument."

Weiss looked at her as if she's crazy, which she was. "An argument? What are you…?" She caught on quickly, "Fairy? Will I have to get used to you zoning out on me?"

How was she supposed to respond to that? "Maybe?" Fairy certainly has become chattier lately. She was always more content to take the backseat and focus inward on other matters.

Weiss fought a growing headache with a calming breath, "Just…answer my question."

Answer her question? Oh, right. She asked what caused it. Ashe nearly forgot. "I can't." Weiss turned red in growing anger, but Ashe cut her off before Mount Weiss erupted. "Not because I don't want to. I want to tell you, but Fairy won't let me."

Weiss perked a brow with her fingers interwoven in Ashe's hair. "Explain. Now."

How to explain this? "Nn…I don't have all the memories. Fairy has control over the memories, and she won't let me see them." When she said it out loud, it sounded really dumb and insane. The expression Weiss gave her only reinforced that sentiment.

"That's…interesting. So, you're telling me you have a split personality, but it keeps certain memories from you?" Ashe grimaced at the sheer dumbfounded expression upon Weiss, "That's stupid. That sounds so absurd, I don't even know what to make of it."

Ashe tried to fade away and out of existence, but alas, it was not meant to be. "Mm…You're not wrong."

"I want to talk to her."

"Mm?" Did she hear that right? Ashe perked up and stared up at Weiss.

"I said, I want to talk to Fairy. Switch places with her or something." Weiss peered down at the gobsmacked expression of Ashe. It slowly begun to dawn upon her what she was asking. Weiss cleared out her throat in embarrassment, "Um…You can do that…right?" Ashe couldn't hold back the snort that escaped before chuckling into Weiss's stomach. "Stop laughing! I'm being serious here!"

She doesn't know how to explain it, but there's just something about this Schnee that could bring out a wide range of emotions. Even with how confrontational and demanding she was. Weiss had a way of just making herself feel trustworthy, innocent, but very pushy. "Mm, I'm sorry, but that was funny." The heiress pouted away with a red hue. "I can do that, yes, but only if she wills it. I can't make Fairy do anything she doesn't want to."

"Well she should want to. You know exactly how persuasive I can be. I won't stop till I get what I want, and I always get what I want."

Ashe grimaced, because she's correct. Weiss would continue to pester and demand an audience with Fairy. Which was something Ashe couldn't just do. She could try asking her, but Ashe doubts Fairy would be up to it. She was looked exhausted and fatigued after all.

'I'll do it, but I have some conditions to be met first.'

'You were listening?'

'Of course I was, I'm always listening.'

Weiss watched Ashe intently, noticing how she froze up and seemed to be conversing with herself. Yes, this is going to be difficult to become accustomed to. 'Mm, what are your conditions? Don't say anything to piss her off.'

'First...'

After hearing her conditions, Ashe's eyes focused back to normal. "Fairy said she will talk with you."

"That's—"

"But she has some conditions first."

"—Annoying. Fine, what are they?"

Nodding to herself, Ashe listed them off. "She wants you to answer some questions, and nothing vague either." Weiss agreed and watched Ashe flick her eyes to the upper corner. A habit Weiss seems to be concluding. The scowl that followed made Weiss amused. "I told you…Are you really going to make me say it?" It was strange for Weiss to see Ashe talk to herself. "Fine, but its on you." With a sigh, Ashe resigned to Weiss in defeat. "Secondly…Don't get pissed off…But she said don't annoy her with your spoiled personality."

Weiss proceeded to do exactly that. With a glare, she pinched onto Ashe's cheek and roughly tugged with a vengeance. Strangely enough, not exactly a first experience for Ashe. The similarities were quite frightening when she had time to think about it. "That does piss me off. Anything else?"

Ashe smacked the pinching hand away, "Mm, but she said she will tell you that personally…I guess we will swap now…I'll be here listening…I think." She's not quite sure about that part. Depends on what kind of mood Fairy is in.

Closing her eyes in a deep breath, she could feel her conscious being pulled aside. It's a funny feeling when its not forced and coming at a surprise. It was weird because it felt like only half of Fairy was coming through.

Only one eye cracked open, the right remaining closed to expose a shining left. Rather, it was a dull shine with a heavy lid, showing fatigue. The two stared at one another in silence, a twitch of the nose for Ashe, and a flick of her hair from Weiss. "You feel different. I take it your Fairy?"

Lips curled into a smirk, "Stardust, a pleasure."

Weiss perked a brow, "Hm, a bit similar to Klein, at least your eyes remain the same color. They aren't the red that I saw last time…You better not be trying to pull a fast one on me. I will see through it."

Fairy snorted, "I rather not waste my time, so let's make this quick. I can not be here for long. Dividing my attention like this is risky enough." She had to watch both the infector and interact with Weiss at once. It was a mental strain. She had never divided her attention like this before, it's new experience for Fairy.

"Fine, I'll take your word for it. Why won't—" She felt Fairy grab her wrist and plop it back onto her head. Perking a brow, Fairy just stared back expectedly. Weiss huffed in amusement and continued her petting. "Why won't you let Ashe tell me about you and the memories?"

"Okay, first off, she can tell you whatever she wants about me. I don't care. As for the memories, she's not ready."

Weiss scowls, "Not ready? Now listen here—"

Fairy heavily frowned in annoyance, "She's not ready. Do not make me repeat myself. If that's all you wanted to ask, then I'm leaving." She was clear and firm, not budging an inch.

The heiress felt a headache coming around with a deep frown as she made to rub onto her temples. But once again, she felt a hand snag onto her wrist and pull it down behind a mouse ear. Apparently, Fairy is much more affectionate, needy, or just plain selfish. Weiss has a good hunch that it's the latter. "Fine, but I will only relent for now."

"Mm, whatever floats your spoiled boat."

Spiteful thing, wasn't she? Ignoring the jab with all her mental prowess, "When I found her…you…with Smoke, Ashe was…different…What's that about? Does it have to deal with the Primal Fang?"

Fairy hummed, "Let's just say…we have some anger issues and keep it at that. I'd suggest not pissing us off or backing us into a corner."

"I'll keep that in mind."

"My turn for questions." Weiss perked a brow, Ashe did mention something about that, didn't she? "Obviously, Elder and you found me. My memory is fuzzy, but I do remember seeing you before passing out." Fairy scowled, "Are you the one that knocked me out?" If so, the score needs to be evened out.

Weiss shook her head, "No, of course not. In fact, Ashe attacked me. Definitely need to handle that later, but Smoke was the one who knocked you out. Quite brutally." She shivered at the ferocity and efficiency of his actions.

Fairy growled and rubbed a hand over her face, "Just how far ahead of me is he? Fine, I don't have anything else to ask you."

"Tell me about the Primal Fang." The thought almost escaped from her line of questions. Weiss still had not acquired any information about the group. She's not letting this opportunity escape her.

"Eh?" Fairy stretched out lazily, "Don't wanna." Weiss boiled into a shade of red with a grit of her pearly teeth. "Make Ashe do it, I'm almost out of time. I just have one more thing to do. There was a third condition after all."

The red remained, but Weiss remained in control. "I am aware, she said you'd tell me what it is." Though it was strange that Fairy didn't bring it up in the beginning. Why now? Seems a bit of a moot point. What piqued her interest though, was watching Fairy fidget before she scowled in an air of awkward annoyance.

A palm raised toward Weiss. "Give it back."

Blinking in confusion, she stopped her petting. "Pardon?"

The hand invaded her personal space with prejudice, "The bell. Give it back."

Bell? What on earth was she talking about? She doesn't have-Oh. Oh! It dawned upon Weiss. Fiddling with the pocket of her skirt, she found the object in demand. Weiss forgot all about it and exposed a silver box with a ribbon. "I was in a hurry, but I believe he did a good job. I only use the best after all." She never had a chance to hand it over because it was snatched from her possession. "That was rude."

Fairy ignored her completely, focusing only upon the box. She did not even properly unravel the ribbon before tearing it and the box open. A soft chime signaled what she was looking for. The cool feeling of metal rubbed upon her palm, a bright and shiny bell with a soothing melody. She stared with an emotionless mask and clutched it tightly. "Good. This will shut her up."

"What are you talking about and where are your manners?" Who tears open a box like that?

"Nothing that concerns you." A dark presence startled her from within, "Time's up. Let Ashe deal with your questions."

"Wait, what?" Weiss could only watch in bewilderment at what she described as Ashe rebooting. Very strange. Interesting. But strange.

The faunus eventually came around after blinking both eyes. "Mm…That was…weird." Ashe looked herself over for a moment. It felt like she was present the whole time…and like she wasn't at all. Strange, but something she will have to get used to. Fairy had never shared that experience, always forceful subjugation.

Weiss massaged her temple, "This is going to take some getting used to. It is much more different than Klein's…and annoying."

Fairy made no mention if she heard the snip, her attention was elsewhere. Staring at the shiny and clean bell, Ashe had a soft expression. Her precious treasure, back into her possession. Why Fairy pressed on for it, she doesn't know, but it must have been to keep Ashe quiet after her episode. "Thank you…"

With a hum, Weiss fiddled with the tip of her asymmetrical ponytail. "You're welcome. At least you seem to have the manners between you two. Good." She startled when Ashe nuzzled up against her thighs and stomach. "Excuse me?" Was Ashe always this touchy, feely? Weiss prefers to be the one giving contact, not receiving.

"Mm…you are, really warm and comfortable." Finding herself comfortable and in peace, she released a soft breath. "I can't remember if my mother did this for me…but I remember the first time with Slappy." A memory that will always be engraved in her broken heart.

Cold and slender fingers gently glide through her hair, stroking upon her sensitive scalp. "Can you…tell me about that?"

Making herself cozy, Ashe nodded and embraced the soothing fingers. "Mm…it was a few months after I joined the Primal…"

A flickering flame illuminated a dim bedroom as an open window filtered in the starlight of the night sky. The room was fairly normal, a large bed, desk and chair, and a dresser. On the bed was Slappy in her sleep wear, sweatpants and a normal shirt.

But she was far from getting ready for bed. Legs stretched out and crossed, she wore reading glasses with journals and records around her. Scowl prominent, Slappy grumbled while reading and writing on the papers. "I swear to the gods above, no matter how many papers I finish, the damn things keep multiplying! I haven't seen such bullshit in my life. I'm a damn chef, not some pencil pusher. When I find out who pushed the trade routes on me, I'mma put so many laxatives in their damn food…"

Slappy was many things. A self-proclaimed beauty in her own mind, the world's greatest chef, and someone who could make a sailor blush with her language. She was not a trade route merchant who sat behind a desk doing numbers and catalogs.

Her tail twitched in agitation and anger, but it was for another reason other than the paperwork. After all, she will yell and complain, but she's been doing this work for many years. No, her agitation was from another source. Mainly the mushroom that seemed to be growing on the corner of her bed. "Oi, I've had about enough of you. You keep mopin' over there, and you'll turn into a right fungus. Last thing I need in my life are more shrooms. Annoying pests they are to get rid of. But I'll tell you what, they take you on a right adventure, hah-hah!" Maybe that would explain her personality?

At the foot of her bed was a tiny figure in black clothing that leaned on the corner post with her back to Slappy. Whether Ashe heard her or not, she made no sign of moving, which only seemed to piss off the squirrel faunus.

"Oi, what have I told you about ignorin' me? I don't care about all the other bastards out there, ignore them all ya want, but ya don't ignore the cook." When she didn't get a response, Slappy grabbed a hard journal and motioned to lob it onto the back of her head, but a soft sound stopped her.

"Mm…"

Rolling her eyes, Slappy sat down the journal and cleared her bed. "Aye, you and your grunts. I'd skin your hide if you weren't so damn tiny. What's the matter with you now? That old coot mistreating you or somethin'? Lemme know, and I'd gladly beat his ass for you. Gods know, I've been lookin' for a reason for years."

"Nn."

Slappy crossed her arms with a twitching tail in annoyance, "So what is it then? Have to do with that thing I told ya to do? You never told me how it went, so I assumed everythin' went well." Silence was all she received. The woman huffed quietly, "Aye, so that's it, hm? You asked the ol grumps, didn't you?"

"Mm."

An agitated finger thumped against her crossed arms, "What about that red headed brat? All he does is train." Ashe grunted a no, "What about that Sienna gal? Gods know all she does is laze around these parts lately." Another negative response. Frustrated, Slappy removed her glasses and massaged the corner of her eyes. "Fine, fine, lazy assholes, the lot of them."

If anything, Ashe slumped against the bed post, ash colored locks tickling upon her neck. If Slappy was less of a woman, she'd say it was a depressing and pitiful sight. "Come here." The girl didn't move when Slappy tapped the spot next to her. "I said get your ass over here, don't make me repeat myself. I don' need a fungus growin' in my room. I'll take it upon myself."

Slowly, Ashe slipped off the edge of the bed with a downcast gaze. Her hair hid the eyes while her feet dragged upon the wooden surface. Climbing up the bed, she sat next to Slappy, looking anywhere but at her.

Turning to a blank paper in the journal, Slappy wrote a few letters before ripping it out. "I'mma busy woman, and I ain't ever done this before, so we'll just have to wing it. If I catch you slackin' or bein' lazy, I won't do this anymore. Got it? But hey, if I can do this. That just goes to show how amazin' I am." Slappy threw her head back in a snappy laughter.

Ashe soon found the paper held at her face. Looking upon it, it had roughly eight big letters and small ones next to them. "Go on, take it. I don' have all night." Looking up at Slappy, Ashe was unsure what to do before the paper was shaken once more. Only then did her tiny fingers reach out to grasp it.

"Right, let's start with the basics." A pen tapped against the sheet to the first letter. "This is the first letter of the alphabet. We call it the letter—" And so she begun to teach Ashe the first letters of the alphabet and the sounds they made.

She had told Ashe to find someone to teach her how to read and write, because Slappy didn't have much time for it. There was always something around the camp that needed to be done. School and education are not commonly practiced out in their part of the world. You learned to fight or a skill to help the tribe. Unless it was mandatory and someone had to take you under their wing that knew how, or if you were lucky and someone liked you enough to do it.

It was plain to see, that no matter who Ashe asked, no one wanted to teach her to read or write. Whether it was because they didn't like her or didn't have the time, Slappy didn't know. Either way, that didn't matter. She just couldn't leave the girl alone. Ashe stuck to her like an annoying tick. Why? She doesn't know herself.

"These are just a portion of the alphabet. Best not overwhelm ya. I have to get back to work, so keep soundin' them out till I say otherwise." Slappy went back to her paperwork in silence. She was not going to force the girl. Either she put in the effort on her own, or she didn't learn. It took a while, but eventually Slappy heard a soft whisper of the child next to her, sounding out the first letters of the alphabet.

A few minutes passed as the pen scribbled away with a scratch of ink, and then Slappy noticed something. The whispering sounds stopped and were replaced by struggling whimpers, setting down her pen, Slappy doesn't even need to look at the sniffling child. She reached out softly and pulled the shivering girl down to rest the back of Ashe's head upon her lap. "Aye…I know…Keep goin'." Slappy's fingers glide through the trembling girl's hair.

Ashe held the paper to hide her face away, a soft, cracking voice struggled to sound out the letters. The paper did nothing to hide the tears that rolled down her cheeks upon the sweatpants. Whether it bothered Slappy or not, she didn't say anything.

She wasn't that heartless.

At some point, Ashe fell asleep upon her lap, letting Weiss tuck her back in bed before slipping out. She found herself back in her dorm with team RWBY and they were awake on their own separate beds. Ruby was the first to perk up and find Weiss with her back pressed against the door. "Oh, hey Weiss, welcome back."

Ruby found it strange when Weiss didn't respond and kept a downcast gaze in silence. Yang decided to prod, "What's the matter Princess, tongued-tied because of a little lady?" She snickered while Blake just rolled her eyes under the bunk bed.

"May I ask you all a question?" She finally spoke up and caught their attention, acting a bit out of character from the norm.

Ruby spoke up for them, "Um, yea, sure. You don't have to ask, ya know. We are all friends after all."

Weiss remained silent for a moment, causing team RWBY look between one another with a shrug. Biting onto her lower lip, she finally spoke. "When and how did you all learn to read?"

Surprisingly, it was Blake who spoke up first in a plain voice. "My parents." She did not elaborate any further. With her piece said, she returned back to her book with an ear on the conversation.

Ruby and Yang shared a look before shrugging as Yang spoke for them, "Um, yea. Same here. Our dad taught us when we were kids. He was hardly home, but he taught us when he could. He was also a teacher at Signal, so we caught on fairly quick. Why?"

Weiss's eyes flicked around in thought. She was given an elaborate education when she took her first steps. Her grandmother used to read her stories in the library before her passing. Weiss's mother was spiraling out of control after that, and her sister was busy with her own education. Klein happily helped her with education, along with tutors. Never was she without someone to teach her. Though she found all of it to be a chore.

"I was just curious." Lifting up her head, she retreated into the bathroom to wash up and change. Staring into the mirror, she found red rimmed eyes staring back at her before washing them away with water. The sound of the faucet rung throughout the confided room. Weiss leaned upon the sink with a shudder. Perhaps…She took the simplest of things for granted.

Not everyone in life received what she did so easily..