Salem watched the bloodied horizon from afar, admiring the sight of her creatures leaving their spawn to cause fear upon the world. Watching from the window, the doors to her meeting hall had opened. Then she turned around sighing that she had to dismiss the sight only to be met with a crystal ball matching with the essence of the Grimm. Its tendrils remained low as she saw face she knew too well. "Cinder, have you found the Winter Maiden?"

Cinder's voice sounded like it was mixed with water, but it was in fact the crystal ball doing such work. "Yes mother."

"Good, eliminate her once and for all."

"I… I can't." Her daughter replied.

"Did you just defy my order, Cinder?" Salem questioned with a grate distaste.

"Mother, he's here. Father is here." Cinder explained. "His nevermore found me."

"Leave Atlas and return to me immediately." The witch ordered. "We are to bring in our council and speak upon the matters of how to deal with your father."

"But mother, what about the Winter Maiden?"

All the mother could do was sigh. "As much as your target is close, your father will intervene on her behalf. The only person who can fight him is me, so return to me."

"Yes mother."

The crystal ball left her meeting hall as Salem watched the world outside. "Now we have returned to our little game of war. I wonder what you have been doing in the other world, my dear."

Captain Monte Durante took another sip of his beer bottle as he sat in his seat, contemplating on how to honor the man without causing any trouble. The door to his apartment room was open and a rear echelon entered the room. However, the person who came in after had surprised as he recognized Specialist Schnee in her uniform. "Thank you Jenkins, I'll take it from here."

After the rear echelon saluted and left the room, he continued.

"Miss, what can I do for you?"

She usually expressed a motion of disgust whenever she was around him. Maybe it was the fact that he was not exactly the 'normal' kind of military officer or there were other reasons for her dislike against him. Yet, the woman simply showed signs of distress. "I came to ask you a question and it is about Colonel Jackson."

He nodded his head. "Shoot away, I don't mind talking about him."

"I was looking at his reports about his experience and he mentioned that he held a great respect for members of your military, especially you."

"Is this going somewhere?"

"I have been wondering, why would he hold any respect to a man like you?" Winter asked. "My first impression of you suggests that you are unsuitable for your rank. Your personality does not fit that rank."

His response was a smile. "Truth be told, he was right." Then a chuckle followed right after as he rose from his seat and left the bottle besides the chair, only to look outside of the window. "The only qualification I had going my way was combat experience. I was one of the few people who fought the Germans first-hand."

"And that is how you became a captain?" She questioned. "What kind of military would allow you in the first place?"

"Specialist Schnee, you need to understand this from a point of view that Jackson didn't know of. The citizens of the U.S. didn't want to be part of Europe's war. That also meant we lacked experience compared to the British." Then he added. "Men like Strudwick and Argall, who have been in the war since the first shot was fired."

The specialist lowered her head. "Forgive me if I sounded like I have problem with you, but I do wonder why he would place his respect for you."

"It's easy, ask Captain Derby." The captain answered. "I was one of the few men who understood that war wasn't going to be easy. I wasn't a patriot, but calling me a coward would get a person into the infirmary within ten minutes."

"Strange, Jackson assessed that your methods suggested you wanted to win by any means necessary and you didn't want to use standard military doctrine." Specialist Schnee noted. "Why?"

Then Monte turned away from the window and returned to his seat. "Sorry to say, but the good officers are the ones who don't follow military standards. I've seen replacements from West Point take the positions of dead men who believe we would listen to pups like them." The captain explained. "The only officer from West Point who has told me otherwise was Edwards. He heeded some of my warnings about the Germans and their ways as well."

"Then what does Jackson see in you that I don't." She replied. "I have worked with the man against the White Fang, the very same people you fought at the academy, but you do not fit the duty of an officer."

"If you really want to know, I am a survivor. I had seen what happened to my company and remembered the original faces. I had fought in campaigns and remained sane, the least I could do is give people a laugh before we walk into the fire." The captain looked down at the floor. "I have seen two of my friends killed at this very rank. At one point, we thought there was curse if anyone tried to become the company commander."

Schnee crossed her arms. "Pardon me, but what does this have to do with Jackson?"

"When I first met the man, he and many other officers of their companies didn't have any experience in actual combat and my company commander was killed the day before. So I did what the rest of my men thought was impossible. I took the burden of command and taught them what I knew before."

"I see, he didn't have anyone to look up to."

"None of those boys didn't have anyone to look up to. Until Derby arrived after the beaches, I was the first person who taught them how to survive." The captain explained. "I think I grabbed more respect after Operation Overlord."

Specialist Schnee spoke up. "Wait-was it some kind of massive operation?"

"Yes ma'am, but I was heading to Pointe du Hoc to make sure the big guns didn't train their sights on other beaches. Luckily, Jackson wasn't with us because many Rangers died trying to holding that ground with our backs against the walls. Unlike the other beaches, including the beach Jackson was on, we were on a suicide mission and I didn't expect to survive it."

"I see. Pardon me if I managed to bring up your memories."

"You're forgiven… Winter."

The immediate reaction followed as the specialist pulled out her sword. "How do you know my first name?" She demanded. "I never told that to you."

A smile fell upon his lips. "Of course you didn't, but a decent man named Qrow told me. I had a drink with him and we both talked about you."

"Oh, him." Winter said as she sheathed her blade. "Forgive me for, arming myself."

"No worries, ma'am" The captain assured her. "I'm going to admit, Winter sounds very… unique. I like it."

She flushed at his comments, but a thought occurred to her. "Thank you for taking your time with my questions, captain."

"Have a good day, zee-mah."

Then Winter stepped out of his apartment room as the captain grabbed his bottle and took another sip of its burning contents.

Pyrrha Nikos arrived outside of the general's office, only to hear a loud conversation coming from inside of the room.

From behind, someone grabbed her attention with a "Psst!"

Pyrrha looked over her left shoulder, only to smile at the familiar face of a former student of Beacon Academy. "Weiss, what are you doing here?" She greeted as she took her seat beside her old friend.

The heiress of the Schnee company didn't seem to have the same kind of expression she once had back at Beacon. "My father is currently speaking with Ironwood about his policy of banning the export of Dust for the time being. Right now, he's passionate about his sales."

"It's good to see you again, I haven't had a proper conversation with you." Replied the Mistral girl. "Besides, where is Team RWBY?"

Weiss looked down as if her revelation would shame her. "We… separated. My father took me back home, I heard the Ruby returned home to take care of her sister, and Blake went missing."

A hand covered her mouth. "Did something happen to Yang?"

Her fear was confirmed when the heiress nodded her head. "One member of the White Fang… injured her badly."

"I'm sorry to ask."

"Don't worry about me, Pyrrha. I want to know what happened to you. You look different than usual."

"I'm fine Weiss. I really am."

"So… what happened?"

"I was accidentally teleported into another world by a man named Doctor Sauer."

Immediately, Weiss raised her head out of surprise. "Wait, did he have white hair and have a strange liking for sweatshirts?"

"You know him?" Questioned Pyrrha. "How?"

"He used to be part of the Schnee Company before I heard that he was sucked into his portal machine and went missing for nine years." She explained. "Besides, it is not hard to forget that he was always giving me presents when I was a little girl."

"Wow."

Then a smile fell upon her lips. "I know, it is weird to know that."

"I don't know, he didn't even seem to have that kind of personality." She replied. "I am quite surprised to hear that."

"Pyrrha, I heard and seen the news about the people on the other world. What was it like?"

All she could remember was the fact that she was caught among a conflict she had little knowledge of. "That world… was filled with danger. There was a war going on and the doctor and I were caught in the middle. I was lucky enough that it was near the end of the war."

"Well, I am sure Jaune will be happy to know you are alive."

At the mention of his name, Pyrrha had almost forgot about Team JNPR. Above all, she was more concerned about the fate of guy she kissed. "Excuse me, but what happened to the rest of my team?"

It would have seemed that Weiss was speechless to speak about the events before her eyes trailed away. "When the news of your disappearance had grabbed their attention, they took it hard, especially Jaune. I don't know what happened to them since the CCT fell afterwards, but I think they went to help Ruby take care of Yang."

She smiled at the thought. "At least he's okay."

Suddenly, the door to Ironwood's office swung open as Mr. Schnee stepped out of the doorway and turned his gaze towards his daughter. "Weiss, it is time for both of us to depart. I have finished my business with the general."

Acknowledging his words, Weiss looked to her friend. "I have to go."

Pyrrha smiled. "Don't worry, I will still be here."

After she saw Weiss and her father off, Pyrrha walked over to General Ironwood's door and the wood was met with three knocks.

A voice from within had spoken. "You may come in." When she had turned the doorknob, she was surprised to find that the general had a bottle sitting on his desk as he was wiping the liquid off with a box of tissues. "Ms. Nikos, I wanted to speak with you." His hand gestured down to the one of the two seats across from him. "Here, take a seat." Then she followed her host's request as he tightened his collar. "Ms. Nikos, I have come to ask for your help just like Headmaster Ozpin."

Pyrrha lowered her head at the mention of his name.

"Though, I know you have gone through enough hardship that I might be asking too much from you."

She was quick to reply. "Actually, I want to stop the people who attacked Beacon."

"Ms. Nikos, allow yourself some time to think about this." He explained. "What I am asking could get you killed?"

"General Ironwood, I have had enough time in the other world to give myself some time to think." The former Beacon student answered. "Unlike the first time, I was a bit hesitant when Ozpin asked me. I won't hold back after what happened to the Fall Maiden."

"I understand." Stated the general. "However, I am asking you to protect the Winter Maiden this time. The same enemy which has killed the Fall Maiden."

"Okay, so if I am going to protect the Winter Maiden, I am going to need a weapon. Mine was… destroyed back at Beacon."

"Don't worry, I'll pay for the weapon expenses, just tell me what you need."

The sense of doing good again was a relief. "Thank you general. I will see to it that I do my best."