Leaves and stones alike crunched softly beneath the two girls' feet as they walked through the forest. The sun glared through the canopy above, casting long rays of light down towards the forest floor. Neo nervously gripped the parasol in her hands, eyes scouring the woods around them for any sign of grimm. Her heart pounded in her chest, mind fighting back against the constant visions attempting to assail her.

Ariel walked a little ahead, much more casual in demeanor than her younger counterpart. Her hips retained their confident swagger, sword remaining sheathed as she hummed a light tune.

"You doing okay back there?" Ariel asked, interrupting her own soft melody to glance back at her sister.

Neo cleared her throat, trying to rid herself of the itch that had formed since leaving home. "I'm… doing alright. When do you think we'll uh… see some grimm?"

Ariel smiled comfortingly and shrugged, "Who knows? The hunters that protect the town usually keep the surrounding area pretty clear. With you drawing them in though…? Anyone's guess, really."

'I'm…?' Neo realized what Ariel meant, then silently berated herself for not thinking clearly. The grimm could sense negative emotions. Of course she would act like a beacon for their hatred. They had yet to even see one and she was already shivering in her boots. Neo could only imagine herself smelling like a sweet and savory snack, begging to be found by the black-furred monsters.

Ariel fell back to walk side by side, wrapping her arm around Neo's shoulders. "Relax~ Honestly, I think this will be a learning experience for you in more ways than one."

"How so?"

Ariel hugged her tight before letting go and raising a hand to her chin. "Hmmm, better left as a demonstration, I think. Let's just say for now that your fears are a bit… unwarranted? Really though, it'll be better to show you."

Neo frowned, wondering what Ariel could possibly mean by that. Was her fear of the grimm unwarranted? 'That can't be it…' Grimm were nightmares made real, creatures of endless hatred and destruction that would stop at nothing to massacre mankind. Only a fool would take them lightly.

'...Right?'

Neo's thoughts were dragged sharply from the depths as a howl pierced the air. Her blood froze, eyes immediately darting in the direction it had come from. Ariel put a hand in her way but Neo had already stopped, fear grinding her body to a halt while her fingers clutched her parasol in a white-knuckled grip. Pain lanced through her throat, denying her any opportunity to speak whilst tensions were high.

Neo took a single step back as a beowolf appeared in the clearing ahead. It's black fur seemed to almost consume the light, casting a dark shadow on the foliage around it. It's white-skulled snout was down to the ground, sniffing deeply in search of its quarry. A small puff of dust billowed up from each exhale, the creature's powerful lungs working with feverish excitement as it sensed itself drawing near.

Ariel looked back at Neo and smiled confidently, still outside the range of the distant grimm's hearing. She spoke softly, "Sooner than I expected, but no trouble there." Ariel drew the weapon from the sheath at her side and smirked, glancing back at the singular beowolf before stabbing her weapon into the ground. It pierced nearly a foot into the hardened soil, Ariel leaving it there as she stretched.

Neo could hardly bring herself to sign, but did so with great effort. 'What are you doing!? Don't you need that!?'

Ariel smirked, "No. And that goes hand in hand with what I wanted to teach you. You aren't a little girl anymore, Neo. You aren't the same child who's town was attacked, who was helpless to save herself. You're an Arc, and not only by name. You have most of my father's aura at your disposal, and you're own. I think it's high time someone taught you what that really means…"

Neo's confusion was drowned out by a sudden pounding of fear as another howl pierced the air. The beowolf had finally found them. Its blood red eyes were raised, glaring at them from beneath the depths of the bone white mask covering its face.

It tilted its head back and howled again. Neo shivered in fear when it was answered by a distant chorus.

"Now it's a party~" Ariel mused joyfully, stepping forward to intercept the initial beowolf. It had begun a mad dash towards them on all fours, claws digging deep grooves in the ground with each rumbling step. It's throat growled out a ferocious challenge, hellbent on rending life itself from the two creatures that dared stand against it.

Ariel waited until the beowolf made its final leap before moving. Neo's eyes widened in horror, watching as the weaponless blond darted forward to meet it head on. A scream tore itself from her throat, hand raising in utter terror for her sister's safety. 'Did she come out here just to get herself killed!?'

Neo's hand froze in surprise, her echoing scream cut off as her fears were proven unfounded. Ariel stood with the beowolf's throat clutched in one hand, laughing as its claws grazed harmlessly off her golden aura. She spun and slammed it to the ground in one fell swoop, kneeling against its shoulders to pin it to the forest floor. Neo watched as it desperately scrambled for purchase, incapable of freeing itself from the blond huntress's grasp.

Ariel looked up smugly, tilting her head to the side. "Is this what you're still so afraid of?"

Neo couldn't respond. Fear once again clawed at her throat, strangling any attempts at speech. She hesitantly used her hands instead, body still ready to flee at a moment's notice.

'Why wouldn't I be?'

Ariel shook her head. "I know why you are, Neo. I'm saying… this is why you shouldn't be. The grimm… They're terrifying for normal people. But you aren't normal anymore, are you? The grimm are something else entirely when compared to people like us. Hunters." The beowolf gave another heave, only earning itself a hard blow against the back of its head from Ariel's fist. She sighed when it started to go limp, turning her attention back to Neo. "You've never really had the chance to realize it, but… the grimm? Compared to people like you and me? They're weak. They're our prey. We're called 'hunters' for a reason."

Neo breathed shakily, 'I'm not strong like you, though.'

Ariel shook her head. "You are, and that's the point. If there's one thing I learned from our spar all those years ago, it's that you're even stronger than I am." She waited a few moments, watching as Neo tried to internalize her statement. Afterwards, she nodded towards the weapon she'd left stuck in the dirt. "The only thing holding you back is your fear. Trust me, I… I know how terrifying this must be for you. I still remember all those nights you spent in my bed, huddled against me to try and hide from your nightmares… but you're older now. It's been eight years since then, and… I don't want you to be afraid anymore..."

Ariel's voice cracked slightly by the end, giving light to her true intentions. Ariel cared for Neo. She wanted her younger sister to finally push past her trauma, and embrace the powers she'd been given.

Neo shuddered slightly, glancing down to the sword in front of her. It was clear what Ariel wanted her to do. Neo's hand raised, fingers hesitating near the hilt. Could she really do this? Could she pick up this sword, willingly walk closer to the grimm and… and try to put an end to her terror?

"Please, Neo. Trust me. I would never do anything to hurt you. I just… If you do end up going to Beacon…" Ariel's voice cracked once more. "I can't stand the thought of what might happen… I need you to push past this. You need to push past this. For Jaune's sake, and you're own…"

Neo closed her eyes, heart pounding from her chest while she fought against the visions of her past. Her hand slowly moved forward, fingers shakily wrapping around the hilt of her sister's sword. Neo only opened her eyes after she'd pulled it free. Light flickered along its length, the ripples almost seeming to urge her forward, closer to the restrained grimm.

Neo took her first shaky step, the muscles in her body tightening while she fought for control. 'I can do this. I can do this...' The tendons in her arm refused to relax, the tip of the blade quivering more and more with each step. Neo gulped, trying and failing to take a deep breath.

The beowolf's eyes latched on to her own, glaring from its place smothered against the ground. Once again, it began desperately clawing for freedom. Neo could feel the seething hatred in its gaze, the lust for blood begging to be satiated. Deep gouges marred the ground's surface, growing longer with every attempt to right itself.

Neo finally stopped within a few feet of the grimm. Her toes curled, body seizing with fear as she slowly raised the sword above her head.

"Whenever you're ready. Just swing." Ariel spoke softly, hardly noticing the grimm's ever-increasing struggles beneath her. She let out a quiet chuckle, "Try not to hit me, though~"

Neo nodded. Against every instinct in her body, she inched slightly closer. Now within range, the sword froze above her head. Neo urged herself on internally, fighting against the terror in her soul.

'Do it. End it. Kill it!'

Neo's courage prevailed. She swung, bringing the sword down on to the beowolf's head with all the aura-infused strength she could muster. Ariel flung herself out of the way as the ground itself erupted, a crackling shockwave of dust and stone exploding out from the epicenter of where steel impacted earth. Bits of black fur and ash were launched in every direction, the grimm itself turned into nothing more than a fine dusting of dark residue that hung in the air, coating everything before slowly vanishing into the aether.

Neo breathed heavily, staring wide eyed at the pure devastation her singular attack had caused. The ground itself was shattered, large cracks rippling out from the point of impact like a spider's web. She coughed to clear the dust from her throat, dropping Ariel's sword to wave a hand past her own face.

"Wooooooo!" Ariel cheered loudly, jumping up to throw a fist in the air. "That's my girl! I knew you could do it!"

Neo couldn't respond with anything but a weak smile. She was still shocked, baffled by the pure devastation her single attack had caused. Had she really been this strong all along? Neo paled, thinking of all the close calls during her spars with Jaune. She'd be sure to pay absolute attention from then on. There wasn't a chance in hell she'd risk replicating the feat against her brother.

Ariel stepped forward and retrieved her sword from its place on the ground, just as another howl of beowolves echoed out. They were closer now than they'd been earlier, coming from several different directions at once. Ariel sheathed her weapon and drew close to place a hand on Neo's shoulder, grip only tight enough to pull her free from her current shock.

"There's more coming. Are you ready to try that again?"

Neo raised her eyes, seeing the serious expression on Ariel's face. With only that glance, she knew her sister would protect her if Neo said no.

'Will I, though?' A strange feeling had flooded itself through Neo's body. Her hands no longer shook, her legs no longer refused to cooperate. The distant howls still created a queasy feeling in her stomach, but her heart remained calm. Was this… 'confidence'?

Neo raised the parasol still clutched in her other hand. She turned to face one of the distant howls, leveling the frilly pink object as if it was a sword. She managed to find her voice again, the pain retreating to leave only a dull itch in her throat.

"Let's fight…"

Ariel beamed, spinning on her heel to face the opposite direction of Neo, backs to each other. Her voice held the joy she felt, thankful her plans had paid off. "That's what I'm talking about! Just focus on one at a time. I'll try to keep the rest off you, okay~?"

Neo nodded, more focused on the grimm she could see barreling through the trees than on whether or not her sister would notice her agreement. The beowolf spotted them immediately. It slowed in its approach only for a moment, throwing its head back to call upon the rest of its ilk.

Neo felt Ariel dash away in a sudden burst, the sounds of combat igniting as she kept her word and fought to keep the rest from intervening. Neo exhaled deeply, steeling her nerves as the beowolf drew near. The parasol was gripped in a steady hand, raised between herself and the beast. Clearing her mind of what fears remained, Neo allowed her instincts to take over.

Unlike with Jaune, she didn't need to hold back.

Neo moved without conscious thought. The beowolf was taken off guard by her sudden dash, Neo closing the distance between them in a burst of speed that shattered the ground at her feet. Her parasol lashed out in a blinding streak of pink, aura enshrouding its length and gifting it the same potency of a real weapon.

Neo caught the beowolf with a blow to its ribs. Its forward momentum was suddenly reversed, the hulking mass of muscle and bone launched backwards by the strength Neo put into the attack. It flew backwards and slammed into a nearby tree, the ground rumbling with the effort of roots remaining below ground.

Neo followed up the attack. A shout of triumph tore itself from her lungs as she felt the chains of her past shatter. The tip of the parasol stabbed through the beowolf's chest, pinning it to the tree. Black ash exploded out from the wound, the grimm itself disintegrating as the damage proved too much for its hellish form.

Neo panted heavily, excitement and glee giving life to her limbs. 'I… I did it… I did it!'

Her heart pounding, Neo turned to eagerly seek out the next target. One wasn't enough. She was free. Finally free of the terror that had gripped her for so long. Neo needed more. Needed to visit that same fear upon the grimm, until they were the ones fleeing from her presence.

Seeing another beowolf winding its way towards her through the trees, Neo rushed to greet it.

Neo breathed a heavy sigh of relief, tearing her parasol free from the final beowolf's chest. It gave one last, pitiful whimper as it fell, dead and disintegrating before it could hit the ground.

The trees around them were filled with the scattered bodies of grimm, a dozen trails of black ash rising into the sky before being blown away into nothing. Ariel panted nearby, her hand raising to wipe the sweat from her brow.

"A month away really takes a lot out of ya." Ariel sheathed her sword and turned to inspect the carnage, finally catching her breath. "I must not be as recovered as I thought."

Neo frowned, "What do you mean? You were amazing!"

Ariel snorted, "About half as good as I usually am. Good thing you were here to pick up the slack, eh?" She eyed Neo closely, taking note of her bright demeanor. "Looks like this did a world of good for you~"

Neo smiled and shook out her parasol, freeing some of the black ash that remained. "You could say that again. I was scared at first… terrified even, but…" She raised her eyes, staring off into the forest. "I feel like I could take on the world now. And it's all thanks to you!"

"Heh, give yourself some credit," Ariel wrapped an arm around Neo and began guiding them back through the forest, "My plan never would have worked if you didn't have the courage to go through with it. You have no one to thank but yourself. Be proud, kid. This was a huge step forward."

Neo stepped closer to wrap Ariel in a hug. She spoke softly, feeling all of her happiness spilling free in a few simple words. "Still… thank you~"

Ariel laughed kindly and ruffled Neo's hair, pushing her away so they could continue walking. "What else are big sisters for?"

The conversation fell to the wayside as Neo became wrapped up in reliving the recent fight. She could feel her aura thrum as she recalled each blow from her parasol, each quake in the ground when she launched herself into the frey. The pitiful yelps of beasts turned prey.

Neo raised her parasol, looking at it in a new light. Nothing of the grimm remained on its surface. It was as pristine as ever, 'Just like I want to be…' Neo had taken a step forward today. She'd conquered her fear of the grimm, pushing past the terror to gain freedom from her own personal hell.

But the scars still remained. Her inability to speak around anyone but the Arcs. The shard of a mirror beneath her bed, a cold reminder of when her life felt the most hopeless. Neo wanted to keep moving forward, to keep freeing herself from the shackles that bound her. One by one, she wanted them all to fall away in time.

"So…" Ariel grabbed her attention, the older girl's eyes staring towards the parasol with a cheshire grin. "Wanna upgrade it? You'd have an easier time killing grimm if it had a blade or two." She laughed, "Or six~"

Neo frowned, looking at it again. "We could do that. I don't want anything too obvious, though. It's still my parasol, ya know?"

"No need to go around terrorizing the locals when they see guns strapped to it~?" Ariel snickered. "I think I can work with that. I'll draw up some designs and see what you think. Dad's never used a gun before anyway so you're probably a terrible shot, too."

Neo laughed, "Probably. Let's just stick with what I know for now."

"Sounds good!" Ariel smiled widely as the house came into view through the trees, the lights guiding them to spite the rapidly darkening sky.

They pressed on, circling around to the front of the house and kicking off their shoes as they stepped inside. The rest of the family was gathered, each looking up expectantly from around the kitchen table. Ariel sniffed loudly and frowned, confused when her nose wasn't greeted by the aroma of food.

"What's everyone doing down here?" She raised an eyebrow, voicing the question that was on Neo's mind as well.

Nicholas grinned, gesturing behind himself towards the table they were gathered around. "Something came for you in the mail. It took awhile and I had to pull a few strings, but… You earned it."

Neo and Ariel glanced at each other. Neo shrugged, reaching back to push Ariel closer to the table. The other Arcs vibrated with excitement as they all separated, allowing her access to the finely packaged box.

Ariel stepped forward with mild trepidation, confused by her family's demeanor but trusting them all the same. Her eyes fell on the box as she drew near, a pair of scissors already waiting nearby. She picked them up and glanced at Nicholas before starting, running a pointed edge along the top to cut through the clear plastic. Pulling it away, Ariel freed the top of the box so that it could finally be opened.

Neo crowded in close, peeking beneath Ariel's arm as she grasped the lid. She lifted it ever so slowly, revealing the contents for all to see. Everyone held their breaths expectantly, waiting for her reaction. No one dared move while she stared in silence.

Ariel dropped the lid limply, turning away from the glistening robotic arm to wrap her father in a ferocious hug. She held herself tight against him, fighting back the sudden tears while pressing her face into his chest. Nicholas wrapped his arms around her, smiling contently for giving his daughter a measure of happiness.

"Thank you," Ariel whispered hoarsely, hiding her tears against his chest. "Thank you."

The rest of the room erupted in cheers. Aurora, Jaune, the other girls, and Neo moved to congratulate Ariel. Hugs were shared by all, until the eldest daughter had finally regained some semblance of composure. She wiped the tears from her eyes and looked back to the cybernetic arm, marveling at the intricate components that went into its creation.

"There's a lot of people that owed your old man a favor or two. It was worth calling them in for this. I hope it serves you well, sweetheart."

Ariel smiled happily, "I'm sure it will, Dad. I'm sure it will."

Aurora called for pizza to get delivered. The Arcs partied, one and all, while buzzing with happiness for their loved one. Ariel spent the night in a sea of smiles, bubbling with excitement and looking the arm over to discover each and every feature. It had dust cartridges of its own, each designed with a specific purpose in mind that blew all of their expectations out of the water.

Earlier battles forgotten, Neo couldn't help but be swept up by the joy they all shared.

I'm happy when my characters are happy. I hope it's the same for you.

With a rough guess, I'd say we're about three chapters away from Beacon? Aside from Neo and Jaune's imminent trip into Vale, most of the loose ends are tied up. Can't wait to finally get to the meat of the story, aka, the destined meeting of a warrior and her ice cream~

Thanks for reading,

- Sybaen