Author's Note: And Now For Something Completely Different.

Cinder Fall was biding her time. So far, to say that the plan was going.. lackluster would be a drastic understatement.

"ROMAAAN!" she roared.

In an instant, Torchwick was at her side.

"Yeah, Cinder? What d'you need? More Dust? Some more soldiers from the White Fang? Perhaps a lady of the night or two?.." Torchwick quipped.

"Would you please care to tell me how exactly you were defeated by a little girl in a red hood, Torchwick?" Cinder replied in a bitter tone.

Torchwick raised an eyebrow. "Wasn't my fault. She had the silver eyes, Cinder. An formidable little beast, that Red." he shrugged.

Cinder's eyes widened. "You will tell me this beforehand in the future, Roman," she hissed. Then, quick as lightning, her hand lashed out and backhanded Torchwick across the face.

"OW! FUCK YOU!" Torchwick spat as he was thrown to the ground.

Cinder looked at him with pity. She paused for a moment before speaking again.

"I can never stay mad at you for long, can I, my dear Roman?" she mused. Torchwick put on the smirk that was so often frozen on his face.

"Why don't we waltz like we used to, before all this? We did it all the time back then..." Torchwick suggested. Cinder's smile was a real and genuine one.

Torchwick whipped out his Scroll and put on a fitting, heated waltz. He set the Scroll down on a table, ever so gently. The two linked arms and began to dance, smiling genuinely. Their steps were in perfect sync, as if they had practiced together on nights before..

The two twirled and stepped together as one for several minutes. It ended with Cinder ever so gently ghosting her lips over that of Torchwick's, as if to breathe her fire into his locked-away, withering heart.

Then Mercury stumbled into the room, panic setting his eyes alight with feverish desperation.

"Guys, come look at this. Somebody managed to hack into our monitors. Whoever he is, he's requesting to speak to the both of you on behalf of some.. shadowy organization." Mercury managed to say over his heavy breathing.

Torchwick and Cinder looked at each other before racing into the main planning room.

They got there just in time. Looking up at them was a.. human figure that wore white glasses and looked almost shadow-like. Everything was monotone. There was scribbled text up on the screen. Weirdly edited music was playing.

HELLO, it said. The figure waved accordingly.

Then the video cut to a faceless man in a suit.

I SEND THIS TRANSMISSION WITH THE REGARDS OF THE ADMINISTRATOR

This figure, this.. Administrator, tilted its neck in a very inhuman manner.

The video cut to the shadow man again.

I AM THE OBSERVER

I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF THE COLLECTIVE

The Observer tapped his glasses.

WE HAVE BEEN WATCHING YOUR EXPLOITS HERE WITH QUITE SOME FASCINATION, MISS FALL

It cut to footage of the Dust Heist they had pulled off a few days back.

Then it cut to video of a familiar girl - the one that had beaten Torchwick.

BEATEN BY A LITTLE GIRL? SHAME

Again, the Observer was there, now wearing a white grin.

WE CAN HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR PLANS, MISS FALL

It cut to footage of Cinder's employer, Salem, shaking hands with this Observer.

AFTER ALL, WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH YOUR.. MUTUAL FRIEND, SO TO SPEAK

The Observer nodded.

SHE IS TRULY AN ADMIRABLE WOMAN WHO WOULD SERVE US WELL IN THE COLLECTIVE

BE PROUD YOU WORK FOR SUCH A STRONG AND FIERCE CREATURE

Then it went back to the Observer, who held his hand up, signifying one of something.

WE WILL HELP YOU ON ONE CONDITION

It cut to an unfamiliar man, sleeping in his bed.

BRING US OUR MISSING PIECE

NOAH MAXWELL

WE DESIRE HIM FOR OUR OWN PURPOSES

It cut to Beacon Academy.

YOU WILL FIND HIM AT THE SAME ACADEMY AS THE SILVER EYED GIRL

BRING HIM TO ME BEFORE THE MONTH'S END

The final thing the video displayed was the Observer's grin before the video cut out, leaving everyone in the room stunned. Who was the Collective? What did they have planned for Remnant?

And most importantly…

were they to be trusted?

Author's Note: That motherfucking Collective is back..

Also, a review a chapter keeps the procrastination away!