/==/ Chapter Thirteen /==/

The cleanup of the aftermath of the cafeteria incident was fast and efficient. Medical staff quickly arrived and started to check up on those few students who had yet to regain their feet, while Port and Oobleck restrained and escorted the resisting Sky Lark away. The remainder of CRDL stood aside and watched as the troubled young man vanished through the main doors.

Coco breathed in ragged gasps. The arcs of electricity that had covered Jaune's huddled form had cut away what remained of her aura, leaving her spent. Velvet helped her to her feet as she watched with concerned brown eyes as Glynda scooped Jaune off the floor and proceeded to carry her away. Glynda's scent tickled Velvet's nose, but she pushed that from her mind. Her focus needed to be on her team leader, nothing else.

Doctor Peach met Glynda at the cafeteria door and after what appeared to be a cursory check-up stepped aside, allowing Glynda and Jaune to leave, while she moved into the expansive room to help treat the other victims of the event. Coco made to leave, to follow Jaune and Professor Goodwitch, only to have Doctor Peach approach and cut their path off.

"Ms Adel?" The doctor asked as she moved in and started to check her over. "How do you feel?"

"I'm fine…"

"She was near the centre of whatever this was." Velvet chimed in. "I think her aura broke."

"Vel?"

"I see." Doctor Peach piled out a pen light and shined it into Coco's eyes. "Dilation response seems good, however if your aura did break I need you to go to the infirmary for a more thorough examination."

"I'm fine." Coco protested.

"You either go willingly or I have you escorted." Peach's eyes narrowed. "I have a lot of injured students to help look after, I don't need you collapsing due to injuries because you are trying to tough it out."

"I need…"

"You can see Jaune after your check-up."

"You know?"

"Of course I know. Professor Goodwitch informed me." Peach replied with an amused smirk. "Now to the infirmary. Ms Scarlatina, please assist her."

"Is Jaune?" Coco asked as Velvet started to help her move towards the main doors.

"She'll be fine. I'll take good care of her, and before you ask, Professor Goodwitch is taking her to the infirmary."

Coco nodded, as Velvet adjusted her positioning to provide the maximum amount of support that she could. Doctor peach watched them leave before she set to her main task. Assisting the on duty Doctor, a slender raccoon faunus named Ambrosia, with triage.

/=/

It was a couple of hours later that Coco, still being escorted by Velvet, was directed by one of the nurses to Jaune's room. She stopped at the door and knocked before pushing it open without waiting for a response. Inside, she found Jaune sleeping with Glynda Goodwitch seated at her side, holding one of her hands while the other carefully ran through the young woman's golden hued locks.

"I knocked." Coco spoke up, causing Glynda to turn her attention from Jaune to the coffee themed fashionista. "I didn't… can I?"

"It's okay. Come in." Glynda gave Coco what the young woman could only describe as a motherly smile. The type of smile a parent put on to ease the concerns of others. "She's resting."

"Is she?" Coco died as Velvet followed her into the room.

"She's been sedated, but she is physically okay."

"I'm sorry…"

"Enough of that." Glynda spoke as she continued to brush Jaune's hair with a gentle hand. "It was not your fault."

"I…"

"Coco, it is NOT your fault. So get that idea out of your head."

"Can I?"

"Yes you can, just don't wake her."

While Coco pulled up one of the uncomfortable plastic chairs next to the bed, Velvet's eyes narrowed slightly. In the closed room, the individual scents were more pronounced. She was easily able to recognize Coco's due to them being teammates for so long, but the other two had her wondering and questioning. It was obvious the other two were Jaune and Professor Goodwitch's. The issue she was having was how similar they were to each other. Velvet wasn't sure what was going on, but she knew through her sensitive nose that Jaune and Professor Goodwitch were very closely related.

"This is the second time." Coco spoke up as she mirrored Professor Goodwitch's actions and softly clutched at Jaune's free hand. "What's going on with her? What happened?"

"Her semblance." Glynda lied without hesitation, while continuing to look upon Jaune's form with concern filled eyes. "I haven't been able to work with her, as much as I like…"

"This is twice… twice it's gone out of control… I'm sorry… this all seems like…"

"It's not your fault. It has never been your fault, nor will it ever be."

"Still..."

"Coco…" Glynda lifted her eyes from Jaune's form. "If anyone is to blame, it's me. I'm the one who is supposed to be training her."

"But…"

"Coco… I think you and Jaune getting closer will be good for her. " Glynda's sharp green eyes never strayed from Coco's warm brown. "I've seen her so happy when she is messaging you, and almost giddy when she tells me of her plans to meet up with you…"

"I…"

"Coco," Glynda returned her gaze to Jaune's sleeping form. "You're a bright spot in my precious angel's life. She needs such things in her life… it's been hard on her these last few months."

Velvet was trying to tune out the conversation between Coco and Professor Goodwitch, as she shifted uncomfortably near the door. She was a third wheel here, and she was definitely feeling like she should be elsewhere. Until she heard that combination of words. Her eyes opened in surprise as everything clicked. She glanced at Coco, and it was obvious she hadn't caught the implication of the comment, but that was understandable for many reasons. But Velvet had, and mainly because of the scents that filled the enclosed space. She had been trying to piece together why Jaune's scent was so similar to Professor Goodwitch's. At that small comment, it all clicked within her mind.

Now that she understood, she could see the resemblance, and it was obvious to her now. Jaune was directly related to the authoritarian professor. Jaune was Glynda Goodwitch's daughter. Velvet had to fight her body's response to this revelation, to hide her surprise. But other questions surfaced. If Jaune was Professor Goodwiitch's daughter, then why did she smell the same as the young man they helped? The scent was the exact same, which even in twins was not possible. She wanted to tell Coco, but what could she say?

"Hey, Coco. That girl you're pinning after is Goodwitch's daughter and also seems to like to pretend to be a man." Velvet thought, and dismissed it. She needed more information, before she could even consider telling Coco anything. The problem with that was how to get that information, where to even look for it, and what that information would be.

"Can you sit with her?" Professor Goodwitch asked without taking her eyes from Jaune.

"Yes, I can, but why?"

"I have an important meeting with the Headmaster about today's incident, and I would like there to be a friendly face here for when she wakes up."

"Sure."

"Thank you."

After one final gentle brush of Jaune's hair, Glynda arose and made her way past Velvet, leaving the pair of second year students with Jaune. Velvet nodded to the Combat Professor before returning her attention to Coco and Jaune. Velvet felt her heart tear a little at the sight of Coco seated next to Jaune's unconscious form, holding her hand gingerly, while lightly running her free hand through the mane of golden hair. She needed to be there for her friend, and right now her friend was hurting.

/=/

"It is NOT that simple!" Ozpin snapped at the pair of women who were currently trying their absolute best to verbally eviscerate him. "And this is a PRIME example of why I took the steps I did."

"What the fuck is that supposed to mean?" Peach growled, as she leaned forward over the edge of Ozpin's desk, her hands bracing her body against the smooth top.

"It means I KNEW an accident was going to happen. She has almost no control over her abilities, it was only a matter of time. As a male, she couldn't access her powers!"

"She WOULD have control if I had more than one week a month to actually work with her!" Glynda retorted, seething anger in her voice.

"You had all summer!"

"She had a broken leg! She was not healthy enough." Glynda countered.

"Enough!" Peach bellowed, her petite form actually shaking with anger and frustration. "Do something positive, Oz, and do it now! That poor girl is fracturing under the strain you've put her under."

"Is that your 'PROFESSIONAL' opinion?" Ozpin snapped.

"If you have something to say, say it." Peach shot back.

"I WANT my baby girl back!" Glynda growled as she made to move about the desk and get into Ozpin's personal space. "You will fix…"

"Back off." Ozpin snarled, pointing his finger directly into Glynda's face as he rose from his seat. "I don't care if she IS your daughter! The safety of the Maiden Powers is the top priority here! NOT your half-hearted attempt to make up for lost time."

"Glynda?" Peach's anger totally evaporated at Ozpin's announcement. Her focus instantly moving from the Headmaster to her longtime friend and colleague. Glynda looked as if she had been physically struck, as she staggered backward, pure and utter shock stamped upon her face. "Glynda?"

"How?" Glynda whispered as all her strength fled, and she crumpled to the floor. Peach was at her side in an instant and as she attempted to assist Glynda to her feet, she shot Ozpin a murderous look.

"I must admit it did take some work, but once I saw the signs, and took notice of the hints, and some discrete inquiries, it became rather obvious." Ozpin snorted as he fell back into his chair, looking exhausted. "Jaune's parentage however is not my concern. Her safety, and that of the Maiden's powers, is."

"She's going to break Oz." Peach spoke as she assisted the emotionally spent Glynda to the nearest chair. "And YES, that is my Professional Opinion. If something is not done and done soon, we will lose her and those, oh so precious, powers you care about."

"It's not that simple. Amber was…"

"We all know what happened with Amber. She was ambushed, but she was also ALONE." Peach cut Ozpin off. "Jaune is not alone, and with a little effort we can make certain she never is."

"That will draw undue attention to her. A single student being watched so closely by the staff…"

"It doesn't have to be the staff. Surround her with friends, bring them into your confidence… let them know what makes Jaune so special…"

"It still isn't that simple." Ozpin sighed. "In a perfect world, it would be, but we all know this world is far from perfect, and with Salem making such aggressive moves… there are already too many who have fallen, who I have failed."

"Jaune is not a failure," Peach offered, "But if we, … if you don't correct this mistake she will be, and if you fail her…"

Ozpin watched Peach's gaze settle on Glynda, before returning to him. The warning was clear. If Ozpin failed to keep Jaune safe, not only would he lose the Summer Maiden, he would potentially alienate or down right turn Glynda from his cause. All it had taken for Hazel Rainart to tread the paths of vengeance was the death of his sister, what would Glynda do if she lost her child? Ozpin imagined, for starters, she would probably throw him around the room with her semblance until she bludgeoned him to death, and then she would follow down the same path of vengeance.

"There will be questions." Ozpin commented while his tense shoulders suddenly dropped.

"Then we'll come up with plausible answers then, but we have to deal with the now first." Peach countered.

"I'll need time, and reagents."

"How long?"

"At least a month." Ozpin replied to Peach's question. "It took me two months to learn the original ritual. I will just have to confirm my research for reversing it."

"And the reagents?"

"I'll prepare a list of the items and ingredients I require." Ozpin slumped further into his chair, his brown eyes moving from Peach to the obviously emotionally exhausted Glynda. "I am doing what I thought was for the best. I never wanted her to come to any harm. Please believe me, Glynda."

"What will be done about Sky Lark? From what I understand, that boy was the root cause of both incidents and is clearly a disturbed individual." Peach asked as she moved to Glynda's side.

"I will make sure that he will be examined thoroughly by psychologists. I know the best in Vale, in which you are in the top 5, you can perform his evaluation but if you would like to step away from this case I can ask one of them to make this a top priority case."

"I will take this, he is still a Beacon student, for now."

/=/

Emerald Sustrai was more than a little hesitant as she approached Cinder's room. The young woman, in addition to her main duties, had also been assigned the task of monitoring Social Media, in particular anything to do with Beacon. A recent series of posted videos had her very concerned. She was under no illusions about what they were in Vale for. Undermine the academy and retrieve the Fall Maiden's powers. All at the whim of a God like entity, or more appropriately a Demonic one.

But that was neither here nor there. Emerald knew the distinctive trademark signs. She had seen them when they ambushed that woman, Amber if she recalled the name correctly, on the road to Vale. She saw it when Cinder's own emotions got the better of her, and she witnessed it happening to the blonde in the video. Flame like tongues of pure energy seeping from the eyes. It was obvious to Emerald, and she knew it needed to be reported to Cinder. There was another Maiden at Beacon. One that was not the target of their plans.

Reaching the door of her destination, she paused, before knocking.

"Enter." Came the muffled command a minute or so later.

"Cinder, mam?"

"What, is it Emerald? I am a little busy." Cinder remarked as she sat cross-legged on the floor, her eyes closed as if meditating. Emerald knew what Cinder was in fact doing was practising her mastery of her new-found abilities.

"I have something you should see." Emerald offered as she fully entered the room and stood before her leader.

"Is it that important? Could it have not wai…"

"You need to see this Cinder." Emerald cut off the easily angered woman. Cinder's eyes snapped open, and she gave her underling a withering glare, which Emerald to Cinder's surprise weathered well, while holding out a scroll to her. "Just tap the play icon. You'll understand why I say this is important."

Cinder rose to her feet, smoothed out her dress, before snatching the scroll from Emerald's outstretched hand. Emerald knew the video wasn't long, maybe two minutes at most, but it was the longest two minutes of her life, as she waited for Cinder's angered reaction.

"This is a joke. A scam, it has to be fake."

"There are at least six more. Like it, all from different angles, all posted by different accounts." Emerald informed her leader. "They all show the same girl, and I see the same signs. There's a…"

"A second Maiden at Beacon." Cinder cut off Emerald, finishing her statement. "Why did we not know of this? How long has she been at Beacon?"

"I don't…"

"Then find out! I want to know who she is, and where she came from!" Cinder snarled as she threw the scroll back at Emerald, who just barely was able to catch it. "I will speak to our Queen about Lionheart's omission in regard to this… maiden."

/=/

Peach had escorted the stricken Glynda back to her quarters, and set about making a couple of cups of tea as Glynda sat limp and defeated on the couch. Once made, she set a steaming cup before her friend, and took the seat next to her.

"Is it true? Is Jaune your daughter?"

"Yes." Glynda mumbled in response.

"Do you want to tell me about it? It is obviously bothering you. Let me help you, just let it out, Glynda." Peach offered as she laid a comforting and gentle hand upon Glynda's wrist. "Just between us. Just between good friends."

"I'm a horrid mother. I… I couldn't even raise my own child." Glynda spoke, her tone defeated and dripping with guilt.

"Why would you think that? I'm sure you had your reasons, and it is obvious to me that aside from this maiden shit, Jaune is a very well-adjusted young woman."

"After she was born… she was the light of my life… but then… when…"

"You can tell me, Glyn." Peach tried to fight Glynda's self depreciation by using her nickname that Peach only used when alone with her friend.

"Her father was out on a mission when she was born… and he… never came back. He never saw his child, and she's never going to know her father." Glynda looked at Peach, tears threatening to spill from her broken eyes. "She was four months old when I was informed… it broke me."

"Glyn?" Peach asked as she shivered, noticing the far away look that clouded Glynda's normally sharp green eyes.