AN: Thank you everyone for your continued support, and i hope everyone enjoys today chapter! See everyone next Sunday at 2PM EST!

Ironwood was a very patient man. You must be, if you want, to deal with all the problems that have been coursing throughout a life as busy and important as his. The council, some rumors of the Fanus revolution group The White fang might turn more violent, running a school for the future of not only Atlas, but for all of Remnant.

And especially with what his longtime friend Ozpin just told him not just a few months back, such things require great patience. Such things require a clear mind and a plan. Ironwood values such things in not only himself, but also all Atlas soldiers that come to and exit his school.

However, Ironwood felt himself lose a bit of his patience as Pietro Polendina, perhaps the smartest inventor Ironwood had ever known, sat in the seat across from him. The man was as gentle as one could be, never being mean spirited or discourteous to anyone he meets, even to the nihilistic Watts, Polendina has always been kind and excitable, so it was a bit distressing for Ironwood to see him in such a state.

Polendina seemed nervous, very much out of character for the scientist he knew. In the few times that Ironwood oversaw some of the projects Polendina created for the government, he saw them literally blow up in the man's face and he did nothing but laugh and got right back into the fray.

But Ironwood didn't see any of that unending optimism, now he saw a jittery and anxious man, constantly fidgeting in his giant mechanical chair, which Ironwood didn't exactly see the purpose of using it over a standard issued wheelchair, but he let it go.

"Pietro." Ironwood stated, finally finding the end of his patience. "It's been five minutes since you told me you needed to discuss something. Does this revolve around P.E.N.N.Y?"

Pietro suddenly jumped up and chair and shook his head profusely, "No, No sir! The project is going wonderfully, in fact we're above schedule, we expect to have the prototype model running by the end of the year."

Well, that was certainly good news. Ironwood smiled and nodded respectfully to Pietro. "I am very pleased to hear it Pietro, your work is going to help Atlas, and perhaps even the entire world. However, that still doesn't answer the reason for why you needed to have a personal meeting with me."

Pietro just chuckled weakly and rubbed his eyes. "No, no I did not Sir… It's just something distressing a new friend told me, and I think it's best for you to hear it."

Ironwood nodded. Ironwood was prepared for whatever scenario the scientist had an issue, if it's something that he can do, then he sees no reason to not put as much effort as needed.

"Alright Pietro. You have my attention."

/-/

Jaune arc stared at the Glass Unicorn. In his hand was a fresh new scroll he purchased using the money Pietro gave him. He tapped his finger anxiously onto his armor as she gazed at the blue nothingness that the scroll offered.

It's been two days now. Tong very long days.

The huntsman named Rhodes didn't bother him after that, Jaune didn't know exactly where he went, but Jaune found it in himself that he didn't exactly care. What he said disturbed Jaune to no end. How one could just stand there, and just accept a child being treated like a slave and abused to that level.

And just do nothing about it?

Jaune felt himself clutching his scroll a little b it too hard and winced. He inspected the portable machine and was relief to see he didn't cause any damage.

Welp it's official, he was officially nervous. It's been a long time since jaune had experienced that emotion. Much of his time in the Ever after was time defending himself, protecting other, rising to the challenges he imposed on himself. Nervousness brought mistakes, and mistakes would bring their own influxes of misfortunes.

Even if it didn't matter in the end…

Jaune just shook his head. It wasn't important anymore. That life, for as long as it needed to be, was behind him. Jaune continued his watch of the bustling hotel, leaning against another building.

It felt ironic that he was back again, watching. Waiting.

He has done this for twenty years. He can do this for another ten if needed.

Buzz Buzz

Or perhaps it wasn't needed at all, immediately clicking the button, he saw that he was getting an incoming call for Pietro. Letting out a sigh, Jaune clicked the answer button and put it to his ear.

"Hello?"

Mr. Arc, is it?

Ironwood voice pierced her ear. It's been… a long time since he was forced to hear this calm, but dangerous voice of General Ironwood. Jaune didn't exactly have the kindest of thoughts of the General from his past life, but he let it go. Those events are way in the future, and if what he wants comes to pass.

Perhaps they'll never exist in the first place.

"Yes, I'm Jaune Arc."

"My name Is General Ironwood, I'm the headmaster of Atlas Academy, I believe that we have much to discuss. Shall we meet at my academy?"

Jaune took a moment and closed his eyes. Atlas academy, how long it's been since he saw that place. It was the last little refuge he had before falling that void.

Perhaps it would do his soul some good to see it again.

"That sounds good General, but if you heard this issue then you understand that this might be a time delicate matter."

"I understand your concerns Mr. Arc, I just need you to confirm some things before I can go ahead and act, you're presence would be a great benefit for me."

Jaune sighed, but he nodded anyways. "Alright, I'll be there as soon as I can."

All Juane heard was the neutral 'hmph' from Ironwood before the man hanged up. Jaune took one glance last at the hotel. Where the women he hated the most was being abused and enslaved.

It was insane to believe that he wanted to save her, but who knows, with her under the country watch, perhaps Pyrrha or the many others wouldn't have to die this time.

And for Jaune, that was just enough for him.

/-/

Atlas Academy was as grand as he remembered it being all those years ago. Instead of the archways and medieval architecture that made Beacon beautiful, Atlas academy mirrored Atlas itself, being risen above the rest of the kingdom. The giant CCT tower was an imposing force for all those who entered its doors.

Jaune find it hypocritical that Atlas portrayed so much might, but it needed an outsider like him to saved one little girl, but Jaune figured he should be the better man and can it for now, much more was at stake then his silly opinion. Jaune thanked the bullhead pilot as he got off and began to walk to the front doors of Atlas Academy. Remembering the first time he saw it brought a pang of nostalgia.

To him, the couple of months before everything started to fall apart were the best of times, even if he was stuck as basically a traffic cop for most of it.

As he walked up the steps, he could see two familiar faces. The kind and gentle Pietro in his mechanical chair, and the Imposing Ironwood, Younger then he ever saw the man, with no facial hair of any kind and his hair was a solid black. Jaune could still see the metal plate imposed in his forehead, and a part of him wondered if he still had the metal arm, but Jaune felt like that would put the general into a sour mood.

"Pietro, General I assume. It's an honor to meet you."

"Likewise, Arc." Ironwood said, offering his hand which Jaune responded in kind. "We certainly have a lot to talk about."

Jaune offered a small smile. "I'm here to help as best as I can, General."

Ironwood responded with a polite smile of his own, turning towards the doors of the school. "Let's discuss this in my office, gentlemen." The general said, stepping into the school, Pietro followed right behind him. Jaune took one last glace as the opposing tower, and entered the school, the last true home he remembered.

It was amazing how much of the school he remembered despite his twenty-year absence. The pristine white and blue color scheme fit the cold nature of the academy perfectly for Jaune. Atlas expected perfection, and will produce perfection, anything less isn't Atlas. As he walked, he remembered small snippets of his past, on how Penny showed them around the first time, basically giving them a tour big enough to were them out, getting their own bunk beds, and most importantly, entering Ironwood office and the many plans that spawned up there.

Speaking of the office, Jaune was surprised to see them was no change. The single desk stood in front of the open window, which looked down below onto the city of Atlas, a part of Jaune wondered if he could see the glass unicorn from here. As for decorations, the bookshelves stood there as he remembered it the last time he was here, but emptier. In the smack dab middle of the room was the holographic table. Ironwood stood by one side of the table and waited patiently for Jaune and Pietro to take their places. As they did Ironwood pressed a button on the table, bringing up a 3D replica of the Glass Unicorn.

"Mr. Arc." Ironwood started, his cold blue eyes staring at him. "Please, if you would."

Jaune nodded and began to spill everything once again. Some of the information he already said to Pietro, but it seems neither the scientist nor Ironwood minded as Jaune began to tell everything that he learned from what Rhodes said about Cinder. The indentured servitude, the shock collar. Everything injustice that he could think of he told the two.

Looking over at Pietro, Jaune could see he was very troubled, perhaps even disgusted. Looking over at Ironwood he saw that the general kept his natural, professionalism stance. Perhaps the general activated his semblance for this.

"You said you got this from another source, Rhodes I believe you called him?"

"Yes. He was the one who was training Cinder to be a huntress, he said Cinder told him majority of what she went through."

Ironwood took this into consideration, his gaze moved from Jaune to the render of the Glass Unicorn. He never blinked. Not even once. His cold eyes were completely and utterly focused.

"Tell me, is it a possibility that she's lying." Ironwood asked coldly, his gaze never leaving the hologram.

"What?" Jaune was completely taken back by his question. He never would have thought of that in the slightest. "How could you even-"

Jaune stopped talking when Ironwood raised his hand, he pressed a button on the table and the render was gone, and now it was a blueish picture of the Young Cinder fall. Jaune never saw this back in his time, perhaps Watts had something to do with it?

"Record state that Cinder Fall is an Atlasian citizen, formally a resident of Mistral, adopted by one Tremine Azure." The picture changed from that of Cinder to The Madame he saw in the glass unicorn. "For all intended purposes, Cinder fall is the legal child of Ms. Tremine, if she wasn't, we wouldn't be having this discussion."

Ironwood closed his eyes and let out a sigh, as he opened them, they seemed a bit duller, but also friendlier, not as cold and demanding as it once was. "Theres a lot of legal channels I must go through to get this operation started arc. What you told Pietro not only disturbed me, but also the council when I brought it up to them. But I need all the facts, do you believe she is lying? Doing this for some level of attention? I know this question might sound cruel, but I need the truth."

Jaune closed his eyes and began to think. He could picture the Cinder fall of his time, the cruel and sadistic mass murderer, the one who orchestrated the fall of an entire kingdom just to get what she desired. She saw the egocentric face nearly cut down by his sword at Haven.

He tried to pin this on the girl he saw behind that counter. With her tired sad amber eyes looking at him fear. The way she always kept her head down, never bothering to meet other people's eyes.

It would be so easy to say yes, she was lying, to get back at Cinder. The women who ruined her life.

But that scared girl wasn't Cinder Fall.

"No." Jaune said confidently, matching Ironwood gaze head on. "She isn't lying."

Ironwood sharp gaze never faltered against Jaune, but Jaune tired gaze didn't either. After a long while Ironwood responded with a quick nod. "Then lets begin."

Jaune responded with his own nod while Pietro let out a long sigh of relief.

"You two are going to give me ulcers…"

/-/

Ironwood led the two away from his office into an empty conference room. There was two other people that Jaune didn't recognized, a man and women who were talking idly, but immediately snapped to attention the moment that Ironwood stepped in, they gave him a salute which Ironwood mirrored. "At ease specialists." The general spoke. The two nodded and stood at attention.

Jaune took a seat, feeling a bit awkward that he was still wearing his rusted over armor. Perhaps I can commission Pietro for something new later. Pietro took a seat right by Jaune, or as well as one could in a giant spider like chair. After everyone got settled in, Ironwood walked to the front of the room, and turned on the hologram board.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice." The picture changed from the empty screensaver to a street picture of the glass unicorn. "Normally this would be a task that would've been too low the military, however due to the severe nature of the crime and other reasons, the council has asked me personally to lead and carry out this assignment quickly."

The picture then changed from the hotel to the picture of the Madame of the hotel, besides here we're two children, and standing next to the Madame was a middle-aged man, wearing a standard blue and black suit over his overweight gain. His brown hair was slicked back, and a pair of spectacles adorned his pudgy face. To Juane it looked like Professor Port and Jacques Schnee had a son.

"The man's name Amoncio Glass." Ironwood pointed to the man. "He is the owner of the glass unicorn, and frequent other hotels through the Atlas area, authorities and other special cases believe that he's been using his hotels and other properties as some sort of smuggling ring, however proof is vastly limited, and therefore not our target for today. The women next to him, Tremine Azure, however is." Ironwood eyes snapped to Jaune. "Mr. Arc and one other huntsman have reported of child slavery, child endangerment, and frankly a list too long of charges for us to go through right now."

Jaune gazed focused on the picture of Tremine. In the frame she was smiling as Amoncio was shaking her hand, the Glass Unicorn was behind them with a red ribbon covering the doors. It seems to be the start of the Glass Unicorn itself, a rest or haven for the Atlas elite and huntsman, and for one girl it was her personal hell.

"The reports of Tremine Azure are limited, however we have official records of civilian education. A standard high school diploma with a college degree in business, no official huntsman training has been recorded, now usually because It's a civilian perpetrator, I would've only sent one of you." Ironwood's attention now turned to the two soldiers. "However, we have some extreme circumstances…"

The picture then shifted to Cinder fall. Jaune felt himself tense as he looked at her. She seemed nothing like the fearsome megalomanic women he fought before, a part of Jaune still felt afraid and angry to even be seeing her.

However, another part pities her. Her entire existence she seemed to be constantly mistreated, abused and thrown away like she was nothing. Jaune never experienced such travesty as she did. Sure, his own life had as many black spots as a kindergarten would've dot if they went ham with a pencil, but he always had one thing, his friends. His family. What exactly did Cinder have? Who could she rely on?

Perhaps it makes sense on why she took comfort with the devil herself.

"Mr. Arc, if you would please elaborate on the collar?" Ironwood motion for Jaune to take the floor. Jaune nodded and walked up to the front. Ironwood stood patiently to the side, as Jaune turned his attention to the two soldiers.
"According to my source, Miss fall is wearing some sort of homemade shock collar. Madame Tremine has been using it as discipline and punishment for Cinder. My source said he was hesitant to remove it, not only so the madame didn't notice and do something to Cinder, but also didn't remove it in case there was… a removal trap."

The two soldiers seemed perplexed, which Ironwood decided to explain it to them.

"A removal trap is whenever a hostage decides to try their luck by removing the device, in which the device itself usually detonates. This is usually the case with the rare bomb collars, which we thankfully won't have to deal with right now, however due to the nature of this shock collar, we have no idea if Tremine had it program to shock the girl to death if it would be removed. I won't let a girl death be on the hands of this kingdom because we decided to roll for a chance."

The screen's picture then switches back to the glass unicorn, Ironwood stood straighter, his eyes turned a bit colder and sharper.

"Here's the plan. Jaune Arc is the only one who had contact with the hostage, so he will be sent in first to secure her safety." His eyes switched to the two soldiers. "Specialist Ebi, Specialist Tortuga." Jaune eyes widen a little bit at the mention of Clover Ebi name, the man looks incredibly younger then he did when Jaune first met him, but he kept his cocky easy-going smile

The woman, Tortuga, Jaune had never heard off or seen, and perhaps that speaks ill of her future. But she looked incredibly tired. Her dark skin and flowing brown hair spilled out of the Atlas soldier cap, her eyes a deep yellow. The most prominent feature about her was that she looked like she was about to fall asleep at any point. She had to be extremely powerful if she was a considered the same league as Clover.

"You two role is simple but the most important, you will enter the hotel, and serve the arrest warrant, and then you will capture and arrest the perpetrator, Tremine azure. Then perhaps more importantly you will gain the acquisition of the shock collar remote, once that is acquired…" Ironwood turned towards Pietro. "Pietro here has offered his services to disarmed both the remote and shock collar." Ironwood nodded to the scientist.

Jaune head swiveled towards Pietro, who just responded with a small smile and a nod. A part of him felt intensely grateful for his support throughout this entire ordeal. He took a gambled calling him a couple of days ago, and he was extremely grateful that it managed to pay off."

"Everyone has their roles?" Ironwood waited for all of them to nod. "Good, we leave in sixty minutes."

/-/

It was fascinating just how in five short minutes a single event could change a person's life.

Five minutes ago, Cinder had her first meal in roughly a day in a half, a measly loaf of bread that would not have been enough for anyone, but to Cinder it was the most delicious thing she ever had.

Madame punishment was the roughest thing she ever had to endure. She thought not having to deal with the near daily shocks would've been a godsend.

But hunger? It was worse, oh so much worse. It ate at her slowly, soon it was getting painful to the point where the shocks would've been a mercy, just so she could focus on anything else.

Cinder was so close to stealing food from the kitchen but was too scared to ever go through with it. What would the Madame do if she saw her taking fresh bread? Would she extend the punishment? Would she start to deny her water as well? Cinder didn't know so she didn't want to risk it.

Eventually she started to be too weak for her chores. Her scrubbing of the halls because much harder, her muscles refused to work.

She felt like she was dying. She probably was dying.

The madame noticed, and instead of worrying that she might drop dead, she just gave her a single small loaf of bread, so she would have enough energy to finish her chores.

She wouldn't. Madame knew she wouldn't. But if the Madame believed Cinder was lying to her, she would continue this punishment for as long as she deemed necessary. So, if Madame wanted to starve her, Cinder would just have to deal with it.

Cinder tried her best to keep up with her chores, even with the hunger pangs hitting her deep. But she couldn't. So, she rested. She leaned her body against the railing and tried to conserve her energy.

A minute had past, and she saw two people walking in, both wearing Atlas military uniforms. Cinder didn't take any of this at first. Military customers are rare, but not something to gawk at. At least they weren't Schnee's.

Cinder just closed her eyes and feel like she was almost about to sleep when she noticed everything became quiet… Too quiet. As she reopened her eyes, she saw the two military officers talking to the Madame at the front desk. Cinder saw the madame filled with rage faster and faster.
Then an emotion she never saw from her, something that she didn't think she could show.

Fear. Actual fear. It looked unnatural on her. The military seem to flash some sort of paper in the Madame face, which just begin to further pale.

Then it happened. Something that Cinder had been dreaming of for the past two years of her life. Something that she would think of whenever she needed something to push her through her day or whatever horrible chore the Madame forced her into.

A simple slap of handcuffs onto Madame wrist, the worried and anxious shrieks of her daughters who came from their own chores to see what was going on.

As quickly as the two arrived, they left, with the Madame in toe. She was gone.

Was this real? Is this happening? Cinder couldn't understand what she just saw. The madame could never get arrested. She was too demonic for something as simple as that.

Cinder jumped as a hand was placed on her shoulder. Turning around quickly she saw two men besides her. The man from the pharmacy who had a sad but kind smile. And Mr. Arc, the one who seemed to want to hurt her. The one in the rusted armor.

"What is happening?" Cinder asked meekly, not trusting the reality that she was seeing.

"What should've been done a long time ago." Mr. Arc told her he got onto one knee and seemed to check her over. Cinder wanted to cower beneath his gaze but didn't, mainly because she didn't have the energy too.

Cinder just listened as the pharmacy man and Mr. Arc began to talk for the next minute. She heard some words she didn't fully understand like malnourished, and permanent scarring. They seem to be talking about her however, which just made Cinder want to crawl into a ball. She never liked when people talked about her.

Cinder head perked up when she heard bootsteps heading towards them. It was one of the soldiers who arrested the Madame. He handed something to the pharmacy man that she didn't recognize-

Cinder let out a squeak of fear and began to back away. It was the shock button. Are they going to shock her? Do they even know how? What if they do and they kill her?

"Hey kid, listen to me." The voice of the soldier rang in her ear, he was kneeling beside her, a gentle grip was on her shoulder. "Everything over now."

The pharmacy man seemed to be inspecting the remote, in his hand was a screwdriver. He began to slowly prod and poke at the back of the remote. Mr. Arc was over his shoulder.

"How long will you need?" Mr. Arc as the pharmacy man.

"Well, it seemed simple enough, probably some sort of refurbished dog shock collar. Give me ten minutes and I'll make sure it'll never work again."

Mr. arc nodded and muttered "Thank you, Pietro." The man named Pietro just waved his hand dismissively and started to work with the shock button.

Mr. Arc then turned his attention to her and began to slowly walk over to her. What was his game? Why was he doing this? Many questions of the sort were racing through Cinder mind. She tried to read his face but couldn't see anything of it.

The minutes begin to pass, small flickers of hope we're starting to fully bubble into Cinder. Was it finally over? Her horrible life here? Can it end that quickly?

"Done!" Pietro laughed. He handed the controller to the soldier who simply saluted and began to walk away.

Mr. Arc seemed to let out a sigh of relief and grab something from his waist. It was a simple knife, Cinder eyes widened in shock. Was he going to kill her? Was this it? Did she finally get freedom just for it-

She felt her neck feel slightly lighter, and as she looked down on the ground, she could see the remnants of the shock collar. The damnable thing. How much she hated learned to hate it in her life.

Now it was gone. Destroyed, turned into nothing.

She turned to Mr. Arc, slowly standing up as she grabbed the guard rail in hesitation. She only had one question to ask.

"Why?"

Mr. Arc stopped for the moment, and then he gave her the smallest of smiles. "Because someone had too."

And then for the first time in her life, Cinder fall cried tears of happiness.

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Two days of planning, all condense down into twenty simple minutes.

Ironwood considered it a massive success. Currently taking one of the many phone calls, he already felt a headache coming on as he started to see the beginning of the many news vans and reporters. A small part of him was glad that such an event would gain traction, but also, he knew that poor mistreated girl didn't need to be grilled in interviews.

Ironwood eyes shifted towards the door as Jaune Arc walked out. Ironwood still didn't know what to make of the man. His armor for one needed to be refurbished, the sword on his waist also seemed dull and withered. However, the man seems to have this dangerous aura surrounding him, Ironwood thought maybe this man could be one of Hers but immediately thought against it. Despite his demeanor and the sort of energy Arc brought, Ironwood would never think he would work with that demon.

"Busy day for you it seems." Mr. Arc joked, and Ironwood let out a rare chuckle.

"Indeed, however I'm proud of what we managed today."

Jaune arc nodded and looked outwards as news vans and reporters began to pile together. How they even managed to hear this was beyond him, maybe one of the patrons immediately began to spill. It wasn't ever day the military itself served arrest warrants unless there was some terrorism involved.

"What are you going to do, about the girl?" Jaune asked, his sharp blue eyes turned towards Ironwood. He wasn't surprised to hear this question. He sees it happen many times we're his soldiers find the remnant of a destroyed village, if they were lucky, they'll find children who were protected by their parents. After rescuing, those soldiers would always ask how they were doing, how they were settling in, basically wanted to know everything that involved them.

"Well, nothing has been decided. But the kingdom is going to watch over her for a while, perhaps a couple of months. It seems…unwise to head her off to a foster parent immediately."

Mr. Arc seemed to nod in agreement. The two slowly stood there in silence, Ironwood smiled as the police calmly handled the reporters. He already ordered Ebi to take her out the back, and quietly escorted her.

Eventually the silence starts to become a bit too much for Ironwood. Starting forwards, Ironwood began to form a simple plan. A bit rough, but nothing that can't be ironed out in time.

"You wish to know her progress, correct?"

Jaune just stared at him in shock, but quickly nodded. "That… That would be nice, yes."

Ironwood let out a small smile. "Reports said that she was training to be a huntress, correct? Well, she'll need a teacher until she reaches my academy."

It amazed Ironwood how long it took for Mr. Arc to piece it together, but it was worth the look on his face was worth it.
"I'm... I'm not exactly a huntsman."

"We'll figure that out Mr. Arc. For now, you'll just take a temporary employment as tutor, agreed?"

Jaune stared forward and gazed out into the city. Ironwood always wishes he could know what others are thinking, how it would make a situation like this a bit more bearable. Jaune turned to Ironwood and gave him the first genuine smile he seen out of that man.

"That sounds grand, general."

An: The first arc i have planned for this story is done, I hope everyone enjoyed it! I am very excited for the next arc :3