Hello once again my ever lovely peeps!

So yeah i know i said the next chapter would be showing where everyone went but since this is an "Interlude" and NOT a chapter, it's technically not a chapter at all. Just something to spice up the story and more of a reason for the Avengers to be involved within Remnant, as they hold not one but TWO Maidens!

Talk about a case of bad and good luck, otherwise known as the Devil's Luck. This'll be a short one but one that'll get the ball rolling on some more heavy shit to come. So as always i own nothing.

So please read, review and "What the fuc-BOOM"

Interlude 2: Changing Season's

"I'm sorry James, Winter but this power is simply too dangerous and too powerful for Atlas to have. You two may mean well but you're just that: two people. Forgive me you too and you as well, Ritsuka Stark. This power is too dangerous to leave to chance and i can only trust someone with a noble heart, powerful allies and a strong to have this cruse."

Fria no last name, a fully realized Winter Maiden sighed heavily to herself as she settled into the soft bed, feeling regret creep into her heart, despite knowing full well what she had to do, as it would be better in the long run. James was a good man, his position within Atlas was a strong one but he was but one man in the grand scheme of things.

The position of General and Headmaster could easily be reversed at a moments notice, be it because of an accident, death or even be removed for one reason or another. It was just too uncertain and while Winter was a powerful, skilled huntress, the woman was a soldier first. She was loyal to Atlas and James above all else and if needed, Fria was sad to say, she believed Winter would abandoned everything else, just to ensure Atlas's future.

That's what a soldier would do and while a huntsman was suppose to guard all of humanity, the hunters of Atlas were still soldiers no matter how you dressed it up. James had merged the military and Atlas academy together, creating huntsman skilled soldiers. Good for a lot of things but the powers of the Maiden weren't meant for a soldier.

Remnant already had enough of both.

What Remnant needed, what it TRULY needed was not a huntsman or soldier, but heroes.

Heroes like the Avengers.

Like Mage.

Oh how Fria did not want to push such a heavy burden onto someone so young, as the life of a Maiden is often lonely, isolated and filled with nothing but running from people who would seek the powers. If not from Salem or sometimes, Ozpin then it was outside forces like the kingdom's, oh so "wise council" and other organizations that wanted their unique power.

Organizations like Chivalric Arms.

The weapons manufacturing company that was responsible for kidnapping Willow Schnee's younger brother. Fria knew, because those bastards had tried to kidnap her more then once and it only ended with complete and utter failure. Despite what she did, no matter what evidence she could bring to James's attention, the council would simply write it off as circumstantial evidence or outright deny it's entry into evidence.

In her younger days, Fria was wanted by Atlas for "Murder" because she killed CA soldiers sent ti kidnap her and it was only after James became general, did he get them to resend the "capture on sight" order. But he made a lot of enemies that day and she feared, if Winter gained the Maiden powers, she WOULD be taken. She already guessed Chivalric Arms took Willow's brother to figure out how the Schnee family semblance worked and if Winter gained the Maiden powers, they wouldn't stop till they had her.

Dead or alive.

It would paint an even bigger target on the young woman's back and what's worse, James had a bad habit of thinking only he knew best, resulting in him doing less then pleasant things. But that didn't mean he was too arrogant to believe it all the time and knew when to stand up or back down and look for another route to do something.

Like, rather the wage war on the Avengers like many in the Atlas's council wanted, James wished to make peace and allies. Something Fria believed was the right move, as the Avengers could easily bring Atlas to it's knee's. Honestly watching the footage she got from James, if the Avengers were to attack Atlas, they wouldn't stand a chance.

"They'll won't even have a leg to stand on soon enough, as i plan to have Ms. Stark as my successor."

Her only regret, was that she wished she could apologize to the girl for putting this heavy burden onto her shoulders. But it had to be done, as she had something all the pervious Winter Maiden, no all the Maidens before her didn't have:

Help.

Friends.

Family.

The Avengers, despite being new, would clearly never abounded one of their own. That was one of the main reasons why Fria decide to chose Gudako as her successor, as she would have people that would be their for her. To help protect her against their enemies and all those who would seek her out.

Idly, Fria knew the girl was already being hunted by many on Earth itself, even after proving herself during the invasion that caused their worlds to merge. It was one of the reasons why Fria decided to make Gudako the next Winter Maiden, the girl already had magic. She had training, she KNEW what she was doing, she was brave, she had experience with magic, she was apart of a powerful group of people, she couldn't be swayed to fight against humanity, as she's already fought to protect it once and would not hesitant to kill either.

That last one might not be a good thing but those who hunt the Maidens, won't show any mercy to the redhead. They will do WHATEVER it takes to capture her, kill her and steal her powers. Killing the girl, while it would possible dampen their plans, wasn't off the table. If they couldn't control the Maiden, they just kill the present one and hope the next host would be more cooperative.

"But Ms. Stark has proven to not only be resilient but she's smart, resourceful and is a fighter. She won't be sacred too easily and can call for help in an instant."

All those would help the girl in the long run and the fact she's in a position of power, only helped reinforce her decision to pass the Maiden's power onto Gudako. Not only would the new Winter Maiden be safe from Salem's forces but would also be safe from the kingdom's council who would want to use the Maiden's as weapons for their own stupid ideals.

"Though Ozpin won't be happy about that last bit, as he wouldn't be able to press the girl into the fold, nor would she be controlled so easily."

Make no mistake, Fria knew Ozpin was a good man, a good leader and someone that wanted to do what was best for humanity. But that didn't mean he wasn't above sacrificing the lives of the few to save the many when needed and had a bad habit of demanding people's secrets and loyalty, without giving any in return.

"Not to mention he has a bad habit of keeping everything to close to the vest. While it's understandable, to keep a couple of select secrets to himself, he hides crucial info, the kind that gets people killed."

It was a rare thing, but when a Maiden reach's the peak of their power, they can see the previous memories of all the hosts before them. Fria had seen her in her younger years and as a result, put a huge strain on her relationship with the headmaster of Beacon. A good man Ozpin is...but he was also that, a man. Despite his ability to reincarnate, he was prone to making mistakes like everyone else.

Even with all his experience, all his many lifetimes, it's not only made him one of the greatest tactician ever born but he was also the most paranoid man to ever grace Remnant. He hid it well but Ozpin never really, truly trusts anyone.

At least not fully and as a result, in his paranoia creates a self fulfilling prophecy and his allies betray him because he didn't trust them with need to know information. Fria understood why he was so paranoid and honestly, she pitied Ozpin. The human mind could only take so much before it cracks under the pressure and it was never, ever meant to do what Ozpin has been doing for gods knows how long.

"Let my death open the door, that will bring an end to Ozpin and Salem's pain. Ritsuka 'Gudako' Stark, may you, you're brother and friends finally bring an end to the suffering and the Grimm once and for all. I entrust you with my power, to do what needs to be done. James, Winter...i'm sorry dears, but this power is simply to dangerous to be left to chance and Gudako, i won't ask for forgiveness for what i ask of you. I only ask, that you do what needs to be done."

With that. Fria closed her eyes and let out her last breath, a smile on her face, as the Winter Maiden powers flew from her body and towards it's new host.

Done.

And yes, before you ask Chivalric Arms is indeed from Coeur Al'Aran story "Null" as they will play a part that is similar to how they dealt with Jaune and the Arc Family and let me tell you, it won't be pretty.

Devil out!