(Christmas Chapter)

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Cinder's Christmas

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"For it is in Strife, we realize our Destiny.

Through this, we become the Epitome of Resilience and Tenacity to rise above all.

Infinite in distance and unbound by Law,

I release your Soul,

And by my Blood and Bone,

Arm thee."

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"Raven?" Cinder asked worriedly of the woman, who seemed out of breath.

"It's fine. I simply used my Aura to unlock yours. But understand, the energy you use to fight from now on, is your own."

Raven saw a glimpse of smoldering fire stoke behind Cinder's eyes.

"And you possess much of it."

In an abandoned lodge, a young Cinder helped Raven into a nearby chair.

"Why now?" she asked.

"I thought it would make a good Christmas present," Raven answered. Her expression then, changed from casual to uneasy. "One day, I'll leave you… And when that time comes, you'll have to fend for yourself."

"No," she shook her head violently. "No! I don't want that!"

"Cinder…"

"NO! I want to stay with you forever!"

Raven grasped the girl's narrow shoulders tightly.

"Never bind yourself to another. This world is cruel and it will take away those you…"

Raven stopped herself.

"What?" Cinder pleaded. "What is it?"

"Nothing. I thought about lecturing again, but it might be better to let you find your own path."

"Raven!"

"…"

"Raven, please! Promise me, you won't leave! Not ever!"

"…"

The little girl searched the woman's eyes, and couldn't find anything contradictory to what was already said. It was painful, but she could tell Raven meant her words. One day, this woman would disappear from her life. It would be sudden—and it would hurt.

As this realization donned on her, Cinder tried to grasp for something. Anything that would help her cope with the abandonment she experienced too often. Something that could sustain her, no matter how destructive.

"What was the girl's name?" she asked after a time, pressing herself into Raven's arms.

"…Who?"

"You know who."

"The true descendant?"

"Yes."

…

Raven was going to withhold the name. For a second, she thought it better for the girl to live unknowing. But knowing what she knew, Cinder would find the subject of her vendetta sooner or later, regardless of what she did.

"Are you sure you want to know?" Raven asked.

"I am."

"It won't do you any good. Besides, you wouldn't last two seconds against her. Not with who she has by her side."

"The one who was with her. She was wearing a white cloak."

"Yes. She's a Maiden. A fully trained one, at that. I have no doubt she'll impart some wisdom onto her new apprentice in training."

"Then, teach me."

"I've already invested more time in you than I should have. You have the tools to survive. I'll arrange some false identifications for you to live in a quiet corner of Mistral and—"

"I have to find her," Cinder said viciously.

"And then, what?"

"I'll destroy her!"

Raven shook her head.

"Revenge isn't something you make into a life ambition."

"I thought you said you weren't going to lecture me." Cinder blinked slowly. "It's not her life I want. Her death would be a consolation. But what I truly want is what she has."

"…The Fall Maiden's Inheritance. Even if it's rightfully where it belongs?"

"I need it. And it is rightfully mine."

Raven thought deeply. The bitterness she felt at Mantle's fall, along with the rage she bore towards Qrow and Taiyang still burned fresh.

"Her name is Amber Autumn. That's all I'll give you."

"…I see."

The small girl curled up to Raven and leaned her full weight against the other's armor.

"Please… Don't go, Raven."

The woman only cooed the young Cinder's head, offering only one small answer in return.

"I can only promise I won't leave yet."

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X

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(Years Later)

"Doesn't matter, when or where. There's always someone working during the holidays."

"Raven," Masa acknowledged, not looking up from her workbench. She pointed her screwdriver to the far table. "Your order is ready, this one indicates. As usual, the materials you provide make for especially unique wares."

"Is that a compliment, I hear? You'll make me blush."

"Who does this go to this time? Your daughter? Or perhaps, another apprentice?"

"Someone I met a long time ago."

"An apprentice, then."

"…No. Not an apprentice."

Raven took the parcel and left a stack of lien in its place. With a swift slice of her sword, she was gone.

She had to take great care in infiltrating the castle. Although it had been some time since she deserted Salem's service, she still remembered the best ways to bypass the palace's securities.

With a quiet step and a keen sense of timing, she made her way to one room in particular. Raven opened the door as silently as possible, trying her best not to wake the person inside.

A precaution she found unnecessary, upon first sight into the room.

"—It's been some time," Cinder greeted her, while sitting atop her bed. "I was worried you'd forgotten about me."

"Sometimes I wish I could. I'd certainly sleep better at night."

"…Why are you here?"

Raven closed the door behind her, then removed her helmet.

"I heard you killed Autumn."

"I did." Cinder's eye glowed with power. "Halfway, at least."

"And with the help of a couple new friends nonetheless. I was starting to think you were going to stay a loner forever."

"They're not friends. They're subordinates. 'Do not bind yourself to others', remember?"

Raven strode across, examining Cinder with every step.

"Glad you took at least some of my lessons to heart."

From her back, she revealed a box and presented it.

"What's this?" Cinder asked, looking the parcel over.

"A Christmas gift and a congratulations," Raven answered. "Something to commemorate the new Fall Maiden."

Cinder opened it to reveal a stunning red dress with feathers and gold rune embellishments. The older woman could see the subtle excitement in the other.

"Try it on."

"If you'll help me," Cinder grinned with a slyness.

Raven revealed a slight smirk, as she turned the young woman around. While helping the girl undress, she noticed bandages wrapped around Cinder's back, as well as other injuries.

"You were sloppy."

"I did face a Maiden after all."

"Summer hardly trained the girl from what I know."

Cinder scowled at hearing the fondness spoken in that name.

"My subordinates were still fairly untrained."

"Excuses," Raven assessed, while tying up the back.

"They make for good words on a tombstone," Cinder echoed something the other said a long time ago, and furrowed her brow with shame.

Once the dress was on, Cinder felt her Aura drawn out. The yellow threads in the dress glowed in concert with her newfound Inheritance. She couldn't help but admire it.

"You never fail to surprise, Raven."

"The cloth is imbued with my essence. It should prove especially potent, considering I was the one who unlocked your Aura."

"I love it."

Cinder traced the grades of thread. Her fingertips almost felt like she was touching against the other's skin. The way the young woman looked made even Raven pause slightly.

"…Will you be staying the night?" Cinder offered.

"I shouldn't."

"I wish you would."

"Salem will notice."

There was an underlying temper that stoked behind Cinder's expression now.

"…Why am I surprised? You were never one to stick around."

"I didn't expect you to go to Salem."

"Then you should have stayed! You should have stayed with me!" Cinder's outburst was so against her normal volume, it hurt her throat. "Or you should have taken me with you!"

"It was war, Cinder. The Crusades were nothing I ever prepared you for."

"Get out," she hissed through gritted teeth. "GET OUT!"

Raven caressed the side of Cinder's face. The younger tried to pull away, but Raven held her still.

"Why torture yourself with me?"

"I can't help it…" Cinder anguished. "You made me need you."

Raven checked the date and time on her scroll.

"Christmas is almost over, and the clock is striking midnight."

"…"

"I'll stay…but only for tonight."

"…"

Raven pressed Cinder's bandages slightly, causing the girl to wince.

"You should probably avoid anything strenuous."

"Too late. You're already here." Cinder went on her tip toes to plant her lips firmly on Raven's.

"You really do torture me."

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X

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…

"No gifts tonight, it seems."

From the loft above Junior's club, Cinder stared outside the living room window. Earlier, she had snuck out of the bedroom, in case Raven wanted to visit her in private.

But as the clock struck midnight, any hope she held quickly faded.

"Why?"

Why long for something I will never have?

Why purposely subject myself to such weakness?

Why?

Cinder tightened her hand into a fist so hard that her nails sunk into her skin, causing them to bleed.

When she noticed, a girl was suddenly unwrapping her fingers, and putting bandages on her palm. Cinder could only stare at the other Maiden, who took her place on the other side of the table.

Before she could say anything, Yang started.

"Em, would've asked me to take care of it, anyway."

"I assumed so." Cinder went silent for a moment, before giving a tired sigh. "You may join us. I know you've been listening next to the door since a while ago."

With guilty expressions, Emerald, Mercury, and Neo left their bedrooms to join them.

"What to do now that we are all wide awake," Cinder pondered.

"Iunno. What do normal people do?" Mercury asked, which prompted everyone to turn to Yang.

"—What."

"You're the only one here who's had a normal family routine," Emerald said. "What do normal people do? Wait for Santa to come, and then rob his ass?"

"Definitely, not that. I guess exchange gifts?"

"That never made sense to me. Why give gifts when you could just keep yours and take theirs? The Holidays make no sense."

"Not about to unwrap that present of worms. Why don't we just do what we did last year?"

"You mean, go after some crimelord, and get the shit kicked out of us?"

"…Yeah."

"…"

Emerald turned to Neo and Mercury, who only shrugged. Their way of saying they were completely fine with it. She lastly turned to Cinder to gauge her response.

"I'm in the mood to burn somethings or someones."

"Okay, then," Emerald clapped her hands. "Let's go find us some trouble."

With that, the sound of screeching chair legs cascaded the loft. Their group members made their way downstairs.

While they filed out, Cinder leaned close to Emerald's ear.

"Will you too leave me one day?"

The surprise was apparent on Emerald's face, but it quickly turned serious.

"Never," the girl answered faithfully. "I'll never leave you, Cinder."

"Hmph," she smiled nostalgically. "Do you ever wonder if I'll leave you?"

Emerald stared at her for a moment.

"…A little."

Cinder bent close to Emerald and kissed the girl's cheek fondly. Her seductive words tickled the other's ear.

"I really do torture you, don't I?"