/==/ Chapter One /==/

"I'm not comfortable with this. To be frank, it is a ridiculous and asinine idea." Glynda regarded Ozpin over the rim of her glasses, "I brought this to your attention, and brought her to Beacon, so we could help her. This is not the help she needs."

"This is the best option. Her safety is our primary concern; and considering what happened with Amber, any method that keeps her hidden is the best option... no matter how asinine you think it is."

"Just let me train her."

"Amber was trained, and she was not new to her abilities. Whomever almost killed her is obviously powerful... too powerful to leave Jaune's safety to chance." Ozpin turned from the window and regarded Glynda, "I know you have a special attachment to her, and you are looking out for her best interests... but the threat is out there and as exceptional as you are in teaching... the risk is too great."

"I can protect her. She won't be alone..." Glynda paused as if looking for the words to say, "Make her my TA. Then she will always be near me. You know I can keep her safe. She has already moved into the guest room of my quarters. I'm already looking out for her."

"Are you really?"

"Yes..."

"Then where is she right now?"

"She..."

"She's in Vale... shopping."

"She needed..." Glynda's eyes narrowed, "How?"

"I understand Glynda, I do." Ozpin returned to looking out the window, taking in the bird's eye view of the Emerald Forest. "I have Qrow shadowing her."

"I won't... her parents won't accept this."

"It is for the best. It will give her freedom, and keep anyone from noticing her. She'll be able to move around... it's the best idea... hiding her in plain sight." Ozpin returned to look at Glynda, making note of the conflicted look etched upon her face. "Again, let me underline the main point... Amber was overpowered by an assailant or assailants unknown to us. You know what that means in the larger picture."

"She's making a move."

"She's been oddly quiet and then this happened. Yes, she is making a move, and we have to counter it to the best of our abilities." Ozpin once again returned to look out the large arched window of his office. "I know her and what her end game is; as do you... and I have an inkling as to why the attack happened..."

"She wants the relics."

"That is the only answer."

"Do the other Headmaster's know about this? About Amber? About..."

"I have made my concerns known to the others, but" Ozpin returned his attention to Glynda and smiled, "I have not made mention of our new Summer Maiden. That is going to remain only known to you, Qrow, and I."

"Bart and Peter?"

"I'm keeping them in the dark... I think it's necessary. Too many powerful individuals closely watching the same single person would defeat the purpose of this plan. It would draw notice to her... which is what we don't want."

"If they find out..."

"They will understand."

"I still have to object to this plan. Again, it's ludicrous, and you have no idea what complications may happen." Glynda crossed her arms beneath her generous chest. "It could cause her distress, or hurt her. You promised to keep her safe... her family holds promises in a very high regard."

"I understand all that, and I appreciate you voicing your concerns... but unless you have a better option, we'll go with this option."

"I mentioned one. It would allow her all the same freedoms you are saying your idea would."

"Except she would draw notice. Especially at her age, level of training. Being employed as a TA, will make people look into her further, and they will trace her back to her family, and a small settlement where people could talk. There are already enough questions about the suspicious nature of that fire." Ozpin moved from the window to his desk. Picking up his mug, he took a sip before continuing, "While your option is viable, I don't feel there are enough protections built in. We are not only protecting her, but her family as well. They are not equipped to handle the dangers that would darken their doorstep."

"But you don't even plan to change her name. How does that make sense?"

"The less she has to remember to react to, the better. Using the same name means she will know when someone is addressing her, and it will prevent unnatural pauses." Ozpin took a sip from his mug before continuing, "I'm also arranging for a full set of documents, ones that will support her new identity, and distance her from her family."

"So you're going to falsify records? If that is uncovered..."

"It will besmirch Beacon's reputation, and my competence, which is of little concern, when one looks at the bigger picture. Besides, reputations fluctuate all the time... we're already getting flack from Mistral..."

"Yes, I've seen the headlines. They think we poached her from Haven."

"We did, and we didn't; but again, it matters little... The end result is what is important."

"You're planning something else... Ozpin?"

"Ms. Nikos is exceptional... I feel she is the best candidate for our other plan."

"I know you..." Glynda's eyes narrowed as Ozpin took another sip from his mug, "you're considering something else as well."

"I am. Ms Nikos will need a partner, a little tweak of the pads, and we can almost guarantee specific pairings."

"Two maidens on the same team is a massive risk..." Glynda's eyes narrowed even further; Ozpin could tell his Deputy Headmistress was suppressing some obviously hostile emotions and thoughts, "You are NOT putting her through that farce! I'm putting my foot down on that. Find another way because I will NOT allow you to fling her into the forest to look for a fucking chest piece!"

"Glynda please calm down." Ozpin spoke in a placating tone, slightly taken aback by the uncharacteristic curse uttered by the normally reserved woman. "This whole plan requires keeping up appearances. She needs to participate, and she needs to become a member of a team. She needs to blend in with the rest of the student body. No exceptions."

"She's not trained! She doesn't even have her aura unlocked! You're just putting her in unnecessary danger!"

"No I'm not..."

"You fucking know you ARE!"

"I have it planned out." Ozpin took another sip as he filed away Glynda's emotional response to the situation facing them. "You are going to train her, and unlock her aura."

"Newly unlocked aura and a couple of months of training will not bring her up to the standards or levels of the other applicants. This plan of yours is getting more and more asinine! She's also injured, or have you forgotten that her leg has yet to fully heal?"

"I have not, which is why you guide her landing. I know time is short, do what you can, we can fill in the gaps as the year progresses."

"No. I refuse." Glynda actually snorted; an obvious sign to Ozpin that the reserved woman was close to completely losing her considerable temper. "She is going to stay with me and be my TA, and during my free time I will be training her."

"Yes, you will be training her, but the plan stands. We will hide her in plain sight, discussion over."

"No, this discussion is far from over..."

"We are done here, Glynda the discussion is over." Ozpin placed his mug down and gave Glynda a knowing but stern look in return. "I'm going to leave explaining the whole situation to her up to you."

"So not only are you not going to consider my fe... my reservations about this, you're putting it on me to explain this whole plan to her."

"I am." Ozpin sighed, "You have a connection to her and her family. It's obvious you deeply care for her, and that is understandable. You are basically a member of that family."

"How?"

"You spend every chance you get with them in Ansel. Plus, there is your obvious and passionate concerns about her. She is important to you, and I am considering that, but in the end regardless... this needs to be explained to her by someone she has implicit trust in... I am not that person."

"If anything happens to her..."

"If this all goes as arranged... nothing will." Ozpin reached down and opened an ornate, aged leather-bound tome."I will contact Qrow and have him escort her back to Beacon."

"I'm warning you, Ozpin... if she comes to any harm..."

"She won't. Follow through with my plan and she'll be safe. You have two and a half months to work with her before we need to have her hide." Ozpin picked up his mug and took a sip. "I know you will use that time wisely."

/=/

Qrow sat on the edge of a roof, legs dangling out over the street below. He had his flask in hand, and was in the process of taking a sip when his scroll rang. Taking a swig as he pulled out his scroll, he thumbed the accept icon.

"Qrow."

"Oz."

"What is your situation?"

"Don't you mean how is the babysitting going?"

"Qrow... please."

"You do know I have other things I should be doing, besides watching some kid I don't know from a hole in the wall hobbling around window shopping."

"Qrow, we went over this, and you know why I called you back, she is more than just some girl."

"I know, I know." Qrow took a swig from his flask, "So everything is quiet. Aside from making some salespeople upset, no one has approached her, or is following her. She is perfectly content and safe."

"Good to know."

"So was that the only reason?"

"We're going through with it. Glynda will explain everything to her when she returns to Beacon."

"Seriously? You're going with that idea? I thought that was a joke."

"No, it wasn't a joke; and yes, we are going through with it."

"You know, that whole idea sounds like something a bad fan-fiction writer would use as a plot device."

"What?"

"Nothing." Qrow took another swig before putting his flask away. "So, what do you need me to do?"

"Escort her back to Beacon. Glynda will pick her up from the bullhead pads."

"This whole gig is so much like babysitting... don't even deny it, Oz. It is exactly what I'm doing."

"Qrow, just bring her back to Beacon."

"I will. I will." Qrow stood up on the edge of the roof. "Let Glynda know we should be back in about half an hour."

"I will."

Qrow put his scroll away as soon as Ozpin ended the call. Moving away from the edge of the roof, he allowed his body to shift. Soon where there was once stood a dishevelled man was now a rather prime looking crow. It hopped a few times along the gravel covered roof, before taking to the air and circling around toward the street; aiming directly for a nearby secluded alley.

/=/

Ozpin sighed and allowed his shoulders to slump as Glynda stalked back and forth before his desk. For the last almost three months, she had been coming into his office at least once a week to complain about the plan. To push her own option and to vent and fume at him. He knew there was something more going on with Glynda than just being concerned and unhappy with the agreed upon course of action.

"She's not ready. We need to use my idea, Ozpin. This experiment of yours is going to be a failure."

"Glynda I've heard your objections to the plan for months. Nothing is changing. This is the best course of action, and it has the most protections available for her." Ozpin retorted, his own temper fraying. "Impress her on the need to comply with my wishes."

"She's even more resistant to your idea! She's scared, and I don't blame her!"

"I know, you've told me the whole situation is making her uncomfortable, but her safety is a little more important than pampering her."

"It's not pampering her!"

"Glynda, you've been in my office at least once a week speaking on this very issue. You are coddling her. I know you have connections to her and her family, but enough is enough. She is almost an adult, and she needs to start making compromises like any other adult."

"Her comfort is not up for compromise!"

"It is, if it is the only thing keeping her at risk. You will get her to understand the need to follow through with our plan, regardless. Her safety is paramount, even with your training she's not fully capable of protecting herself yet. We need to hide her."

"Why won't you..."

"I've been listening to you, Glynda. I have. You have brought these same concerns to my attention weekly. It's time to stop and follow through with what we agreed to. It's not just her, but her family at stake as well."

"And initiation?"

"She is still going to take part, and you are going to do what I have asked."

"Use my semblance to assist her descent into the forest."

"AND guide her into the path of Ms. Nikos. They need to be paired up."

"You think a first year student, even if she is a championship fighter, is better protection than me?"

"No, I think someone her age needs to be near others her age; and knowing what I know of Ms. Nikos, there is potentially a chance that she will step up and help with training."

"Ozpin..."

"I know all of your concerns, and every objection to this plan. I have heard them, I understand them and I have considered them... but at the end of the day this plan has the greatest chance of allowing her the freedom to grow and gain more control of her abilities." Ozpin clasped his hands before him on his desk, "I made a mistake with Amber. I won't make the same one a second time. She will get the time to become proficient with her powers and ability to defend herself. We will not rush her, we will support her fully."

"But you're still going to make her go through with this farce."

"I am."

"I can't change your mind, can I?"

"No, I'm sorry Glynda but no. We are taking the course of action I laid out almost three months ago. It's for the best."

"I swear Ozpin... I swear."

"I know Glynda, I do. If anything happens to her... I'm answering to her family."

"No..."

"No?"

"You're answering to me." Glynda gave the Headmaster a glare that he could only describe as heart stopping, before she turned on her heels and stalked out of the office. Ozpin let out the breath he had been holding. That look unnerved him, and confirmed there was definitely something more to this situation than he was currently aware of.

/=/

Jaune was not a happy person when she saw her Aunt reenter their shared accommodations. She instantly could tell by the look on her face that "the Plan" was going to happen, even if she didn't want to go through with it. It was stupid, far-fetched and made no sense. There was no way the Headmaster could make her look like a guy. Even with baggy clothing, which wouldn't work considering Beacon's uniforms, a hair cut, some creative use of make-up, and bindings… there just wasn't any way to truly hide her like that. She would be outed the first night.

"He said no." Glynda said in a defeated tone. "I'm sorry, sweetie, but he's pushing with his idea."

"How is it even possible?" Jaune asked in an exasperated tone. "It makes no sense. Even if I dress like a guy, and use bindings, people will notice!"

"We went over this. You know what the Headmaster is going to do."

"Magic." Jaune scoffed with a snort. "I know I'm not that smart, but even I know…"

"Jaune," Glynda paused, "We've gone over this. The nature of your powers…"

"No!" Jaune screamed out in frustration, "I'm not doing it. It's all shit! I want to go fucking home!"

"Language!"

"I don't fucking care!" Jaune snapped back. "Send me home! You taught me enough, there will be no more accidents or incidents."

"You are NOT going home. You are staying with me, and we…"

"You can't tell me what to do! You're not my mom!" Jaune screamed at her aunt. So caught up in her own emotions, she never noticed Glynda's flinch at Jaune's venomous statement.

"Enough!" Glynda shouted, the tone of her voice causing Jaune to flinch and cease her own yelling. Glynda took a moment to compose herself before she continued speaking. "I agree with you about this plan, but there are no other options. IF I had more time I could train you up enough to be a passable TA… but we don't have that time. Your leg is just now healed enough for you not to need that walking cast."

"I…"

"Come here." Glynda spread her arms, inviting the obviously upset young woman in for a hug. Jaune hesitated and then quickly crossed the short distance separating them to get wrapped in a warm embrace. "I'm not happy about this either, but remember I am always, and I mean always, available to you. No matter what, you can come to me. You're not alone in this. I'm here for you. I'll always be here for you. Understand?"

"Yes." Jaune's voice was muffled as she pressed her face into her Aunt's generous chest. Glynda could feel the wetness starting to seep through the fabric, but she did nothing, aside from starting to rub Jaune's back in gentle, comforting circles.

"It will all be okay, baby. I promise. It will all be okay."

/====/

So I do have an upload schedule planned for this story.
Every Monday will be the next chapter.

PS: There is a Volume 2 in the planning stages.