"Okay, Ruby. Who was responsible for founding the four major huntsman academies after the Great War?"

The girl in front of him hummed in thought, taking a few seconds to come to her answer. "The King of Vale?"

"That's right." Jaune leaned in, but stopped short of reaching the top of her head. "But what was his name?"

The girl in his arms stiffened at the follow up question.

Sitting down outside with his back against a tree, Jaune cradled Ruby against his chest, his arms snaking around her body and holding her close to him. She was happy with the show of affection, and lazily rested her head against him as he quizzed her on their studies.

The shade of the leaves shielded them from the setting sun, and as the two sat there Jaune couldn't imagine a more perfect scene. The weather was still warm despite the encroaching change of seasons, and a gentle breeze rustled the leaves above them. Studying was normally boring, but not when you had a beautiful girl in your arms on a gorgeous day like this. Not when the rewards for correct answers were in themselves so rewarding.

"I… uh… I don't remember," she answered glumly.

"Oh. Well then…"

"No, that's not fair, Jaune!" she whined, turning to give him a sad, sideways glance. The pain in the single silver eye he could see was heart-wrenching, and Jaune didn't know if he'd be able to abide by the rules. "Why should I have to remember the name of a guy from like eighty years ago?"

Eighty years. She'd nailed that answer and he hadn't even asked a question. He supposed that was worth a reward in itself.

"I guess it's not fair, since I don't remember his name either," Jaune admitted sheepishly. Leaning down, he gently pressed his lips against the top of Ruby's head, kissing her red-black hair. A quiet moan of contentment slipped through the hybrid's lips. "Good job, Ruby."

He couldn't see her face, but he could tell she was smiling ear to ear at the feeling of her reward. "Yay me."

It was a simple study routine. One correct answer meant one kiss. The more she got right, the more she got kissed. It was turning out to be a very effective system of positive reinforcement for the hybrid girl. One who wanted so desperately to flee the life she'd once been trapped in and live among humans. One who wanted to fit in as a normal human. In order to do that she'd have to know what they did. Everything, from anatomy to history, from proper social cues to common human customs, she'd need to learn everything a teenager her age would know. Jaune was of course more than willing to help the girl he loved. The girl he would save from the clutches of the monster known as Salem.

A wet gagging noise earned Jaune's attention, and over to the side, a mane of golden hair whipped through the air as Yang turned her attention from her own tree. "Do you really have to do that in public?"

In lieu of studying under her own tree, Yang had chosen to train under it instead. Bark had been pulverized, and the exposed wood of the trunk showed where Yang had spent the last few minutes punching it. He was certain that with her enhanced strength that she probably could have fell the tree in a single blow, but Yang was focusing on her form and control more than raw strength.

The mocking hum Jaune heard from Ruby told him that she was probably sticking her tongue out at her sister. "Yes we do have to do this in public," she answered smugly. "People show that they love each other out in public all the time. It's nothing to be embarrassed about."

"And what do people call that?" Jaune asked.

"PDA!"

"Which stands for?"

"Public display of affection!" she yelled triumphantly.

"Correct." Jaune leaned in, giving her a pair of smooches atop her head. Ruby wiggled happily in his arms, rubbing her back against his chest under the duel-kisses she'd received.

"Gross," Yang blanched, punching her tree again to emphasis the sentiment.

Jaune smirked, looking over Ruby's head at the blonde girl who resumed wailing on the poor, innocent tree. He wondered if it would survive its encounter with the hybrid.

"More questions," Ruby eagerly asked.

Tightening his hold around her torso, Jaune gave her tummy a gentle rub, causing her to giggle softly. "Okay. How about…" he started, reaching into his own mind to try and find another question he could ask. Jaune wasn't exactly a top student himself, so his own knowledge was more limited than someone like Ren or Pyrrha. "What was the Great War fought over?"

"Ugh!" An annoyed groan rumbled in Ruby's throat, and she leaned her head back against his chest to the point where she could nearly look up at him. He saw how her eyebrows were creased in frustration. "All this history stuff is boring!" she griped. "I bet if you asked me questions about our Grimm Studies class I'd get everything right."

Of that Jaune had no doubt. Being a Grimm hybrid herself, it was only natural that she would know all about her own kind. Well, half kind. Or was she? Jaune didn't exactly know just how 'Grimmified' Ruby was, for lack of a better term. She had a Grimm arm, and she had other physical features when she was in her Grimm form, but her internal anatomy was still entirely human.

As she had once bragged, she had a fully functioning womb.

"I bet you would," he smiled down on her, his disarming expression causing her face to scrunch up even further. "And that's exactly why we're not studying things you already know. No point to that, is there?"

"But it means I get more rewards," she pouted.

With a face like that Jaune was ready to give her all the rewards she could ever ask for. He steeled himself though, trying to fill himself with the resolve needed not to give into her cuteness. Studying was for her own good. She had to learn as much as possible to be more human. They all did. Weiss would learn from her sister. Yang would learn through osmosis being here with him and Ruby. Blake…

Blake already knew how to act human. She just chose not to.

"The reason for the war, Ruby," Jaune struggled to say, wanting so badly to kiss that adorable, pouty forehead of his girlfriend.

Even when she tried to look upset with him Ruby failed spectacularly, making him want to laugh and grin at her horrible attempts at anger. She lightly banged the back of her head against his chest to convey that angry, which only made things worse for him. "Fine! The reason was… um… it was because humans are stupid and fight each other even when they're all about to die from the Grimm. Like you!"

Did she just threaten to kill him? Was he the stupid human and she the Grimm? Somehow her immature and threatening outburst made him want to laugh all the more. His chest began to heave against her back, and her head whirled around to eye him accusingly.

"Stop laughing!" she squawked. "I mean it!"

"I'm sorry, Ruby," he laughed, burying his nose into her hair. "I'm sorry. I can't. I just can't." He gave her a long kiss atop her head in an attempt to placate her, as well as silence his laugher. "There. Even though your answer was technically correct, it wasn't the answer I was looking for. But… I guess you earned your reward because you're just too freaking cute."

The gesture did seem to relax Ruby, who lazily leaned back him again and breathed out a sigh of contentment. This was going to be a long study session, but Jaune wouldn't have it any other way.

The sounds of choking and gagging once again earned Jaune's attention, and he looked up to see splintered wood fly from the tree trunk. That poor tree. It wouldn't make it through the winter if Yang kept up such a brutal assault.

Jaune closed his eyes and leaned his head back against his own tree. He could fall asleep right here and now. Tree bark may not have been much of a pillow, but with Ruby lying between his legs and against his chest, she made an excellent blanket.

Maybe he could just take a quick nap. Ruby might fall asleep too, but Yang would wake them up. Probably. Even if she didn't, it wasn't like any harm would come to them in the middle of the most prestigious huntsman academy in Remnant.

The smell of strawberries wafted through his nose, Ruby's choice of shampoo quickly becoming his favorite scent in the world. If she was expecting another question then she didn't voice her concerns, and the wonderful feeling of sleep was beginning to tug at the edges of his mind.

"Jaune!"

Only to be shattered with a word.

Blue eyes burst open, and the sound of a terrified voice filled his ears. In the distance and approaching quickly was the running form of Blake, wearing her favorite new Haven Academy uniform.

Ruby and Jaune were both up in an instant, ready to confront whatever horror was chasing after the girl. Had she been found out? Had some authority learned that she was not a student of any academy and were out to apprehend her? Even Yang abandoned her tree and whirled around with her fists raised and ready for a fight.

Until they saw her pursuer. Jaune's shoulders relaxed when the harmless boy turned the corner, walking, not running, after the girl who was fleeing for her life.

Blake barreled into Jaune, the force of her impact pushing him back a few steps. She wrapped her arms around him briefly before turning to hide behind his back. As she had done before, Blake turned him into a human shield in order to protect herself from the boy who radiated positivity like the bright beams of light of his namesake.

"Oh, Jaune, save me," Blake cried dramatically. "He's after me and I don't know what to do!"

Sun approached slowly, and in Blake's mind it must have been like the plodding and purposeful steps of a serial killer after his quarry in a horror movie. Her tiny hands squeezed tightly around his torso, clinging to him for dear life as Sun stepped up to them.

"Hey, Jaune," he greeted warmly. "Rosalyn. Yara," he nodded in turn. "What's up?"

What was up? Sun didn't seem bothered in the slightest by the scene Blake had caused.

"Hey, Sun," he greeted back, looking down at the hands which were clenched tightly around his stomach. "Know anything about this?"

"He's a stalker, Jaune," Blake whimpered pathetically. "Even now I feel his lustful eyes boring into me, stripping me of my clothes and even my flesh as he gazes on the bleached white of my bones, as pure as my very chastity…"

Sun's expression twisted, and Jaune completely understood why he would react in such a way. "What? I didn't do any of that!" he protested. "All I did was wave and say hi!" he said, raising a hand to demonstrate.

"You see?" Blake whispered up into his ear. "You see how he molests me with every wiggle of his phallic-like fingers? Making obscene gestures with his hand, one that wishes to caress my flawless porcelain skin and bring my body to the peak of rapture?"

The blond faunus boy shook his head in utter disbelief. Jaune could relate all too well. "Jaune, bro, you have to believe me. I didn't do any of that."

Jaune believed him wholeheartedly. He wasn't that kind of guy. And Blake wasn't exactly the type to play the role of the victim…

"Even now I feel his lustful stares, raping me with his lecherous eyes…"

"Jaune I swear all I did was smile and wave!" Sun insisted.

"Looks like Sun has a naughty side," Yang grinned. "I never thought I'd see the day where Blake was the one to run for her life…"

Of course Yang was excited. She believed Sun to be incredibly strong due to his influence over the black-haired girl. It was one of the things which helped them form an almost immediate bond upon first arriving at Beacon.

This presented an interesting opportunity. With all the pieces in place, Jaune finally had a chance to live up to his end of the bargain he'd struck with Blake. With a heavy sigh he turned to glance back at her, who even now peered fearfully over his shoulder at Sun.

"I believe you, Blake," he lied.

An anguished cry forced him to turn back to Sun, who had an expression of utter betrayal on his face. "Bro…" he whispered.

It hurt, but it had to be done. It was for the greater good. Jaune mouthed the words 'I'm sorry' to the boy, hoping that he'd get his point across.

"Roz, Yara," he said, earning the attention of his girlfriend and her sister. "Can you go with Sun for a little while? Hang out, have some fun?" In other words, distract him from Blake.

Ruby didn't look too pleased at the request, but nodded all the same. "Sure."

Yang on the other hand looked thrilled. "Fun," she echoed, grinning at the boy who was still reeling from the stunning betrayal of his blond bro. "That means you and me get to fight again, monkey-man. I hope you're ready for an ass-kicking. I'll have to fight for Blake 'cause she's too scared to do it herself.

Even as Yang marched forward and linked an arm around Sun's to drag him away, he still shook from the shocking turn of events. "But I didn't do anything…" he said innocently.

As if watching a condemned man being led to his execution, Jaune saw Yang leading Sun toward the training hall with Ruby in tow. After a few seconds Jaune was left alone with Blake, who still clung to his back in fear.

"My hero," she whispered gratefully.

Reaching down to her hands, he pried them off with his own and turned around to regard the girl. "If Sun was really chasing after you, couldn't you have just escaped into the shadows as soon as you lost sight of him?"

All traces of fear vanished from her face, and Blake's lips curled into a satisfied grin. "The shadows aren't you, Jaune." She came close again, wrapping her hands up around the back of his neck and pressing her chest against his.

He sighed. "I think it's safe to let go of me now, Blake."

"But your shadow is the only one I want enveloping me…" she purred.

"I figured."

"Forgive the adoring beast."

"I'll forgive her if she lets go of me."

With a pout and a glare Blake released him, taking step back and wrapping her arms around herself. She rubbed them as if trying to relieve herself of a chill, closing her eyes and shuddering. "What a terrible, cruel human you are, throwing me to the wolves after such a traumatic encounter. If you'd be the one to cut me, I'll bleed forever…"

"How poetic," he deadpanned. "Maybe Sun wasn't too far off with his goth poetry…"

Golden eyes snapped open once more. "Clingy little faunus…" she growled.

"Kind of like you, wouldn't you say?"

"Don't you ever compare me to that vile mongrel. He would have never made it in the White Fang."

It truly was astounding to Jaune just how much Blake hated Sun. All because he was a happy-go-lucky guy with a heart of gold. "I don't think I've ever heard of a faunus who hates their own kind." The second part of her statement just hit him. "Wait, White Fang? Were you in the White Fang, Blake?"

"Why yes, Jaune," she grinned. "I was a terrorist."

"Like, an actual terrorist? Not just someone who terrorizes me?"

Hissing laughter sounded, her wide, toothy grin on full display as she peered up at him. "That may be the sweetest thing you've ever said, darling. It means so much to me that you treasure our relationship."

From some twisted perspective, Jaune could see why Blake thought that terrorizing him counted as love. "Of course. Like how I just saved you from the terrible fate of being… stalked by Sun."

"Oh it was horrible, Jaune," she cried dramatically. Exaggeratedly. "I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been there to rescue me."

"I'm sure you would have managed," he sighed.

"But you saved me," she continued, emphasizing the word which he'd said to her so many times in the past. "You have no idea the delight I took in his misery when you betrayed him. The sheer agony which ate away at him when you took my word over his. Oh, Jaune, you really do know how to make me feel a tingle in my loins…"

"You might say you owe me one, then."

Blake took a deep, shuddering breath as she stared up excitedly into his eyes. "Oh, my, is my darling boy finally going to call me to his bedchamber to claim his just reward? How darkly manipulative of you, holding your favor over a lady's head like a sword dangling on a thread."

Her hands reached up to wrap around his neck again, but Jaune stopped them by taking her wrists. "I think you know what I want, Blake."

She looked left and right at her arms which were now firmly in his grasp. "He wishes to pin me down and ravage my poor, virgin body," she whispered. "How deliciously naughty of you. I can't promise that I won't scream, only that they will be cries of ecstasy as you take me over and over again…"

Something told Jaune she wasn't a virgin. It may have even been Blake herself, once upon a time. He couldn't recall the exact moment right now.

"Cinder, Blake," he clarified pointedly. "I want to know about what Cinder did to the CCT."

She glared up at him, anger visible on her face. "He speaks of another woman when his attention should be on only me…" she whispered bitterly. "Sharing multiple girls has ruined your sense of romance, Jaune."

"I kept Sun away from you," he pressed, ignoring her taunts. "What was Cinder doing the night of the dance?"

Blake sighed. A soft, guttural growl hummed in her throat as her shoulders slumped. "No fun, no fun at all…" she grumbled bitterly. "Cinder," she began, letting the word hang in the air as Jaune stared at her. "I saw what Cinder did that night when she thought she was alone. When she thought she was unseen."

"What was she doing? What did she do to the CCT tower?"

Her face was deliberately pointed away from him as she spoke. Like she was too upset with him to give him the privilege of making eye contact. "She uploaded a virus into the tower. One crafted by our very own Professor Watts."

A virus? Jaune's face twisted in thought and confusion. What was she planning on doing with a virus in the CCT system?

"Why?" he pressed. "What does the virus do, Blake?"

"I don't know," she answered, seemingly honestly. Golden eyes flicked back to regard his own. "I infiltrate and observe, not hack."

Perhaps he was asking too much of the girl. Still, at least he had something now. Cinder, for whatever reason, was going to hack the CCT network. But for what? To shut down communications? To broadcast her own message? The possibilities were almost limitless, and Jaune had no one he could ask but the woman herself. Something told him it would be very bad if he let her know that he was onto her plans.

"Can you keep spying on them?" he wondered, releasing his hold on her wrists and letting them fall to her sides. "Can you find out more?"

"Can I steal her scroll?" she asked in turn. He wasn't sure if it was rhetorical or if she was asking permission to do so.

"If you think it's safe," he replied. "She knows you're here now. I don't want to risk you getting in trouble or hurt by taking her scroll."

The words put a smile back on the hybrid's face, and her arms came back up to wrap around herself where she swayed back and forth. "He cares, he cares," she muttered happily to herself. A hand came up to shield her face, gently pushing her head to turn away from him. "Cares for little old me, the shy, black cat…"

There was nothing shy about Blake, but he wasn't about to rain on her parade if the thought made her happy. "Don't do anything dangerous, Blake. I still need to save you, remember?"

"Never, my love," she said dreamily, reaching up to place her hands on his shoulders. She used them for leverage as she leaned up to bring her lips to his ear. "We must survive, remember? A life together awaits us after all the dust has settled and the smoke has cleared…"

She came back down, grinning as she stared intently at him with glimmering eyes.

"That's… great," he said uneasily.

"I will continue to observe," she promised. "Cinder may know I am here, but the others may not. Even if they do, they will never see me…" Her tongue, longer than what should have been humanly possible, came out to lick her lips. "There's an adorable little woman on Professor Fall's team who's oh so fun to toy with. I've never seen her speak, Jaune. Do you think I can make her scream?"

"Please don't."

She laughed softly. "Why not? She's evil, isn't she? Shouldn't evil be punished?"

What was most telling about her question was that Blake didn't seem to consider herself to be evil. "Do you consider yourself good then? Justice, or something like that?"

"Justice," she echoed, mulling over the word as her eyes glanced off in thought. She spun on a heel, and turned her head back before taking a step. "Once, I had a dream. And that was it."

With those words she walked away, seemingly content with whatever she'd gotten from this whole exchange.

Jaune was content as well. Now he at least knew what he was dealing with from Cinder. The question was, how did he move forward? How did he deal with a virus when he had no ability to deal with it? Who did he inform when he would have no knowledge of Beacon's CCT tower being infected with a virus to begin with?

With the Vytal Festival only a couple of weeks away, he knew he had to think of a way to deal with this before things got too hectic.

Life was perfect. At least, as perfect as it could be under their current circumstances.

As Winter slowly walked down the sidewalk, she stole a sideways glance at the sister beside her. Sister. Sister! For the first time in forever, she had her sister back. Not Wren Slate. Not the monster who wore white flesh and spouted a horn from her forehead. No, the girl beside her was Weiss Schnee. Even if she didn't remember that truth.

Sporting a Haven Academy uniform, the black of the attire clashed starkly with her snow-white hair. Perhaps after they ate Winter would take her shopping to find some more appropriate clothing. It made sense that she possessed nothing beyond what had been provided to her by those who had sent her here. She wasn't expected to go gallivanting around town with her long-lost sister. However, now that she had the opportunity to do so, Winter would not let it slip through her fingers.

It was strange. For much of her life she had longed for the chance to see Weiss again. To speak to her again. To reunite their shattered family and be sisters together. Yet now that she was here, now that her sister had been returned to her, she didn't know what to say. What did you say to one who had grown up in the care of an ancient and monstrous evil? How did you make small talk with a young woman who hid a dark, bestial side beneath her human flesh? How did Jaune of all people manage it? How did he get so close with her dear sister, while Winter herself felt like a stranger while side by side with her own blood?

Winter supposed that it was best to say something, anything, to get the ball rolling. "Tell me, Weiss," she began, her hands clasped behind her back as she walked. "How are you adjusting to the human world?"

Weiss turned to regard her, peering up with those oh so familiar blue Schnee eyes. Her icy stare sent a chill down Winter's spine. "There are many things about Vale which I find agreeable," she said. "Particularly the food. Human cuisine is simply delightful, and it alone is worth saving the kingdoms from the ravages of the Grimm."

The elder Schnee didn't quite know how to respond to that last part. She supposed it was a good thing that Weiss didn't want to see Vale or any of the other kingdoms destroyed, right?

She chose instead to respond to the other part of her sister's answer. "Yes, food is wonderful," she agreed. "As much as we need it to survive, people often elevate it to an art form in order to create the most satisfying taste sensations imaginable. It truly is remarkable what we're able to achieve when we have free time to experiment."

Winter was a woman who appreciated the arts. Be it opera or cuisine, she had grown up used to the finer things in life. Hopefully exposing Weiss to them would help her do the same. Her dear younger sister would be won over to the side of humanity through their works and achievements, and not wish to see society torn down by the dark queen of the Grimm.

She saw how Weiss had come to hold her hands behind her back as she walked as well. Doing her best to emulate her big sister, perhaps? The thought brought a coy smile to Winter's lips as she avoided staring for too long. She didn't want Weiss to feel uncomfortable.

"I was taught that humans were wasteful and petty beings," Weiss explained. "What I was taught in a classroom and the reality of the world seem to be very different. Seeing, and tasting humanity's creations have given me much to consider."

Winter chuckled. How true that was, for more than just Weiss' own apparent lessons. "All the education in the world can never hope to match real-world experience."

"Yes. Like how Professor Callows' documentaries could have never prepared me for the experiences of mating with Jaune."

The Specialist nearly choked on her own tongue at the mention of her sweet, confused sister mentioning her relationship with the human boy. Still, she had found love. As disgusted as she was by the thought of it, perhaps her love for Jaune was something that was helping her establish a firm hold on her humanity. Loathe as she was to admit it, Weiss being in a romantic relationship with a human might be for the best…

Though that didn't mean she had to stand here and talk about it. Deciding to change the subject, Winter steered the conversation in a direction about other humans who might help Weiss regain her humanity. Besides herself, there were other people out there who would want to reunite with their own blood.

"Tell me, what do you remember about your past?" Winter asked. "Before you were taken. Before you were… changed."

Weiss frowned, her eyes glancing down to the pavement as they walked. "Nothing, really," she admitted sadly. "Only what I was taught by my mother."

That monster is not your mother, Winter thought bitterly. As much as she wanted to say as much, she didn't want to provoke Weiss either. Challenging her whole worldview at once could have disastrous consequences.

"Understandable," Winter said diplomatically. "You were very young when you were stolen from us. Even I was but a child when the word came that your airship had been attacked. I…" she choked, holding back tears which had long since dried up. "I cried for months following the loss of my dear baby sister."

"Cried…" the hybrid mused. "When your eyes leak, either due to great sorrow or sometimes even happiness."

"I can assure you, I'd never felt greater sorrow before in my life," Winter whispered. "Nor have I since. But upon hearing that you were alive, I cried tears of joy." She smiled warmly as she looked down to Weiss. "When I first saw you in Beacon's courtyard, squabbling with your friends, I nearly lost control of myself. There you were, my long lost sister, alive and well. Happy with her friends. You can't have imagined the happiness I felt in that moment, and the tears it brought to my eyes."

Winter felt herself beginning to lose control even as she recounted the memory, and was forced to wipe away fresh tears with her hand as they walked. A glance back down at Weiss showed her staring up in wonder, mouth slightly open with awe.

"These emotions, all for me," she said quietly. "A confusing mixture of positive and negative. I don't know what to make of them."

Winter wasn't the best at expressing or explaining her emotions either. However, actions spoke louder than words ever could. She reached out and grabbed Weiss' left hand with her right, squeezing down on her fingers.

"They mean I love you, Weiss," she smiled, fresh liquid building up in her eyes. "I love my dear sister more than anything or anyone else in the world. And I will stop at nothing to ensure that our family is reunited, and that you're returned the life which was stolen from you all those years ago."

"Our family," Weiss echoed. "Like a pack."

Winter frowned at the comparison, speaking of familial bonds like they were Grimm. She supposed that was simply what Weiss was used to. While she would prefer to break Weiss of that mindset, she knew that this would have to be done slowly. She would indulge in her sister's choice of words for now.

"Yes."

"Winter, what's our pack like? Who's our alpha? Do we have other kin?"

The question gave Winter pause. The alpha of the Schnee 'pack' would undoubtedly be their father. The manipulative, emotionally-abusive man who had married into the family for wealth and power. As bad a human who had ever lived, and one she did not want Weiss to judge all of humanity on.

Then there was their mother. Broken years ago by the death of her daughter, and following a heated argument with the man who was supposed to love her, driven to drink. A beacon of negativity should any Grimm ever have the opportunity to get near her. Luckily she lived a life of luxury and excess, and needed not fear the likes of those beasts.

Winter wondered how Weiss would perceive her parents, if Weiss was corrupted like the Grimm. Would she sense their negativity, and be drawn to them like a moth to the flame?

"Our family," she began, choosing to use the broadest but still truthful explanation as she could muster. "Has a long and storied past. Our name is synonymous with the kingdom of Atlas, and we own the largest and most profitable company in all of Remnant." She smiled amusedly at the thought that came next. "One might say that we're the closest thing that Remnant has to royalty these days."

The last bit earned an impressed smile from Weiss, who looked quite pleased with herself. "I always knew that I was destined for greatness, but this merely confirms it. I am more than merely Weiss, the most beautiful and intelligent of all of Salem's children. I am Weiss Schnee, Princess of Atlas and heiress to the Schnee throne."

It seemed that Weiss took the whole royalty part a little too literally. Not wanting to burst her bubble completely, Winter did have to correct her on one thing. "Actually, your little brother Whitley would be considered the heir to the Schnee Dust Company."

The words forced the smile from Weiss' face, but rather than anger, she was filled with surprise as her mouth opened in awe. "I have a brother?"

Winter smiled. "You do. A little brother, fourteen years old now. He's… quite the spitting image of his father," she said gloomily.

"I must meet him then!" Weiss declared thrusting a finger up to the sky in emphasis. "The throne is rightfully mine, being older than him!" Her determined eyes turned to Winter, the intensity giving the Specialist cause. "Unless you wish to challenge my claim as well."

This had taken a sudden turn. Winter had to deescalate the situation, and fast. "No, Weiss, I am no longer in contention to inherit the family company," she admitted. "When I joined the military I gave up all such rights. My career path is set. I am a soldier and a huntress, nothing more."

Weiss seemed to relax after the confession, as if a rival had just been removed from the board. "Then I wish to secure your assistance when I muster an army to retake my throne. The older sibling always trumps the younger one, isn't that right?"

Technically, yes. Though… having your long lost Grimm hybrid daughter return from the dead to challenge your son's inheritance was likely to go over as well as saying that the faunus should rule over the kingdom of Atlas.

"Our brother isn't an enemy, Weiss," Winter instead chose to say. "In fact… I believe he needs your help."

Weiss pointed to herself, blinking with confusion. "My help? Why? He has you, doesn't he?"

Winter sighed. "He doesn't. I'm afraid my military duties don't allow me to be the older sister I should be. The one both you and he deserve. As I look back on my decision to join the Atlesian military, I find myself regretting the decision more every day…"

Whitley had been all but abandoned to his parents. His dysfunctional parents. One of which sought to corrupt him into a younger, greedy version of himself, the other who kept him at a distance emotionally. What he needed was someone to love him. Someone to be there for him. To show him that his father was not the only person in the world who cared for him.

He needed Weiss. He needed a sister who hadn't already turned tail and fled.

"I would very much like to meet him then," Weiss thankfully said. "And I will help him by first relieving him of the stressful duties of inheriting a company that I would be far better suited to run."

Winter had no idea where Weiss got the notion that she was somehow more qualified to inherit the Schnee Dust Company than her brother, but that fact that she was now so laser-focused on the thought of it was a little bit amusing. At least she was thinking about family and human issues. They would cross the Whitley bridge when they finally got there. They just had to get past all the real issues first.

Speaking of finally getting there, the sisters had finally arrived at the restaurant which Winter had picked out for them. It would have of course been easier and quicker to get a ride from a taxi directly to the location, but Winter had also wanted more opportunity to speak with Weiss in private. At least as private as the streets of Vale could get. However, the great thing about discussing horribly classified information which no one else knew about was that even when you spoke about it in public, no one had any idea what you were talking about. She could mention Salem by name and those around her might think she was referring to some movie or video game villain.

With reservations already made, a waiter led the pair to their table where they took their seats across from each other. After being handed menus and glasses of water, the man gave them a respectful nod, noting that he would be back in a few minutes to take their orders once they'd decided.

Opening up the menu, Winter's eyes scanned the entrees noting numerous chicken and steak dinners. She was in a rather steaky mood tonight.

The voice of her sister broke her from her concentration. "Winter?"

Lowering the large, laminated menu, Winter regarded her little sister. "Yes?"

"Which steak will have the most bone in it?"

The question gave her pause. Frankly, she was a bit surprised Weiss even knew what steak was. She wondered just how much she had learned at her old academy, and how much Jaune might have taught her. "Probably the T-bone. Why?"

Weiss nodded, closing her menu and setting it aside on the table. "Then that is what I shall get. T-bone steak."

That particular cut of meat did sound appealing right now. With her own mind made up, Winter closed her menu as well. "I'll have the same." It seemed appropriate for her and her sister to have the same meal. Like it would add to their bonding experience somehow.

"Excellent," Weiss stated excitedly. A wide grin curled on her lips. It was contagious, and Winter found herself smiling warmly in response, and took a sip from her water in order to shield the expression. "Does this mean that you'll bone with me?"

Winter nearly choked on her water at the question, and coughed after choking down the liquid. "Excuse me?"

"I…" Weiss began uneasily, pale blue eyes averted as Winter stared at her in horror. "I was hoping that you and I could bone together," she explained softly. Innocently. As if it were not a horrible and taboo subject to broach.

Winter knew that her sister had… experience in matters of the bedroom. She knew that her sister and Jaune were an item. Brothers only knew if Weiss had similar experiences with Ruby, seeing how they were all in a relationship together. However, what Weiss was asking about went beyond anything normal or acceptable in human society.

"Weiss… I'm not sure if you're aware of this, but that sort of thing is highly taboo in our society…"

Weiss nodded, as if she knew that she was doing wrong, but felt the urge to do so anyway. "I figured as much… it's just… Ruby and Yang used to do it all the time back at Grimm Academy."

Winter would certainly never look at the redhead and blonde girls the same way again. Just what kind of sick, twisted, and depraved creature was Salem? Who in their right mind would stand by while siblings did… that… together?

"How do you know this?" Winter asked with morbid curiosity.

"I saw them, of course," Weiss explained. Nervous eyes glanced up, catching Winter's own with their gaze. "Ruby said it was one way Yang showed her love for her."

It went without saying that this sort of affection was strictly off-limits for Winter and Weiss. She could hardly believe that the other two girls could so brazenly show their lustful affections for each other so easily and readily. "They… did it in front of you?"

"In front of the whole school. While sitting in the cafeteria eating our meals."

Dinner and a show, Winter thought disgustedly. Truly Salem was a vile and reprehensible monster who had to be vanquished at all costs. Not least of all for corrupting her sweet, innocent baby sister's mind with such impure and deviant thoughts.

The elder sister sought to compose herself, taking a deep breath and folding her hands on the table. "Weiss, dear. I'm afraid such behavior between family members is something which is forbidden in the human kingdoms." Outside of certain fetish videos online… her mind followed up.

Weiss nodded gravely. "I understand."

Winter leaned in, speaking low with her next question. "Tell me, did you make such a request simply because of the actions of your friends? Or do you find me…" She couldn't even bring herself to utter the question.

"Find you what, Winter?"

"Do you find me… desirable?"

"Of course you are very desirable," Weiss answered, shattering Winter's hopes and dreams. "You are tall, strong, and of good stock. You possess a powerful family bloodline. Not to mention that white hair and blue eyes are by far the most attractive color combination a human could possess."

The last part was absolutely driven her own ego, Winter had no doubt. Still, while listing off all of her good qualities, Weiss still hadn't said that she herself found Winter desirable.

Deciding to simply bite the bullet, Winter asked the question she never would have thought she would utter to her younger sister. "What I'm asking, Weiss, is… do you wish to engage in carnal relations with me because your friends did? Or because you desire me?"

She felt filthy for asking the questions. The way Weiss' face scrunched up in horror and disgust made her somehow feel impossibly worse. "W-Winter! That's disgusting!"

On one hand relief washed over the Specialist. On the other… Weiss was now staring at her like she was a complete pervert.

"I may not know everything about human society yet, but even I know that siblings mating together is vile. Is this something that humans engage in often?"

"No, Weiss. I believe there has been a colossal misundersta-"

"I am flattered, albeit perplexed that you would ask such a thing of me, but as I have told others I am taken. Jaune is my one and only mate."

Winter was about to respond with yet more sputtered explanations and denials. Perhaps it was a mercy that the waiter returned to take their orders.

At the very least, Winter believed that what Weiss had said about Ruby and Yang was untrue. At least, untrue in the way she had interpreted it in being. However, this knowledge had come at a cost. Weiss now believed her to be interested in a totally inappropriate manner.

Once the waiter had left, Winter made sure to make her sister aware of how untrue that was. "For the record, I was merely testing you," she lied through her teeth. "To see if you were aware of the fact that… humans do not engage in incest. And you passed with flying colors."

Weiss audibly sighed in relief, and a smile returned to her worried face. "You had me quite worried for a minute there, Winter. Here I thought you wished to mate with me."

"No, never," Winter said honestly. Now she wanted clarification for herself. "However, you said that Ruby and Yang… did so."

"I said nothing of the sort!"

"You said that the two of them boned each other." Winter could hardly believe such crude language was slipping past her lips.

"Yes, cracking bones open for marrow," Weiss stated matter-of-factly. "I assumed that is what it meant to bone when I read about humans doing it together."

Winter wanted to laugh at her sweet sister's innocence. What a horribly amusing misunderstanding it had been. She shook her head, smiling as she corrected her poor little sister. "No, Weiss. You see, in human society, 'boning' is a euphemism for sex."

Amusement on Weiss' own face turned to confusion. "That makes no sense. I assure you that Jaune's penis has no bone in it. I've inspected it quite thoroughly myself."

Winter sighed. Well, at least this topic of conversation was better than their misunderstanding.

This was going to be a very eventful dinner. But if it meant spending the evening with Weiss, she would gladly have it that way.

She was used to the finer things in life ever since she'd been rescued. This was most certainly not that.

The cold, filthy, and dark warehouse was a safe house, and it was not expected to be a place of comfort and luxury. All around her were crates of dust, stolen from all over the kingdom of Vale by her business partner. Roman Torchwick being useful was good enough reason for him to live, and the fact that he knew his place gave him a chance to live after everything was said and done. He didn't seek to rise above his station, certainly not higher than herself. All he was concerned with was staying alive.

Once upon a time, that had been her only dream as well.

Cinder Fall strode through the building, her only company at this time of night being the rats which gnawed on whatever scraps and crumbs had been dropped by the White Fang workers who Roman was employing. His part of the plan was proceeding with no obstacles. At least that made one of them.

Her face twisted with a snarl as Cinder reached a crate which did not contain dust. A crate which not even Roman knew existed, for to him it was just one among hundreds. To Cinder, however, it was a lifeline back to her master. Back to the woman who had given her so much more than mere scraps and crumbs. The one who had saved her from a life of weakness and despair.

Unlocking the metal door, it swung open to reveal a sight which would have terrified nearly every human and faunus on the planet. To Cinder, however, it was simply business as usual.

The floating orb which comprised most of the Seer's body came to life, and from somewhere within it clicking and chirping noises echoed in the warehouse as it greeted its own master.

Cinder gazed upon her reflection, her lip curleing into a cruel scowl as she stared into the empty globe. Her own face was soon replaced by one colored pallid white, streaked with twisting black veins.

"Mistress," she greeted respectfully, bowing her head before the woman's face in the Seer's body. "I've come to report my progress here in Vale."

Clicking and chittering sounded, followed by the voice of Salem herself. "Speak freely, Cinder."

She nodded. "They are becoming unruly. Their loyalties now lie with him over me." Anger burned in Cinder's eyes as she spoke to the Seer before her. "Everything is going as you predicted. They even threatened my life to protect him! Of all the indignities." Salem hummed an amused laugh in response. Cinder flinched. "I do not see what's so humorous about this. This could put my own plans in jeopardy."

"Your plans are secondary to my own. You would do well to remember that."

Lowering her head, she bowed slightly. "Of course, your wishes come first. No harm will befall the Arc child. As for my own plans, the virus has been implanted. Torchwick is in place. Come time, I will bring the Kingdom of Vale to its knees. The relic will be yours, as will the power you seek. I promise you."

"I expect nothing less from you, Cinder." A warm, almost motherly smile graced the lips of the ancient woman. "How are my daughters adjusting to life in the human kingdoms?"

"The girls? Though they've made friends, they are struggling to fit in perfectly, as you expected. Yang barely keeps her temper. Weiss nearly slaughtered other students. Worst of all, Blake somehow managed to sneak here with them. She's going to ruin ev-"

"I know she's there," Salem interrupted.

"You knew? Why haven't-"

"You needn't worry about her for much longer. I've already dispatched an old friend in order to retrieve her. She will be back home soon.

An old friend. Cinder certainly did not anticipate this reunion. However, she knew she would have to coordinate with him in order to set a trap for Blake. "Yes, that would be… pleasant. As soon as he can. I fear that Beacon's authorities may be on to us. Winter Schnee and Qrow Branwen are here."

Salem appeared unconcerned. Cinder wished she could feel the same way. "All eyes are upon them, rather than you. Let them fawn over their long lost loved ones. Jaune will do everything in his power to keep them safe. He knows that failing to do so will result in their deaths. By the time Ozpin realizes what's truly going on here it will be too late."

"Yes," Cinder agreed, thinking of what was yet to come. "I agree."

"And how is dear Ruby doing in all of this?"

"She's doing well. She's made fast friends with Ironwood's creation and is sickeningly friendly and outgoing. Of all of them, she has adjusted the easiest. As always, you were right."

"Very good. Keep me updated on your progress." The Seer stopped glowing, floating back deeper into the crate, its true master deeming its work finished.

Cinder glowered at it. "You are always right, of course."

Author's Note: This chapter contained my three favorite things to write in this story. Ruby fluff. Weiss humor. And Blake... whatever it is we'd call Blake here. Despite how much I love White Knight and Lancaster, and how much I love writing Weiss and Ruby, Blake's personality in this story has somehow emerged as my favorite thing to write in it. She's nothing like her canon self, and I like her better this way. I doubt I'm the only one who feels that way too.

As always I want to thank all of you for your continued support, and it's because of all of you that I've been inspired to keep going with this story to make it the longest once I've ever written. We're on the road to 300,000 words here, and that'll be breaking new ground for me. Your kind words and support keep me inspired, and I love seeing what you have to say regarding this tale.

And of course my thanks go out to Burkion and Lightningstrxu for all of their help and support as well. Couldn't have made it this far without them, and my whole Discord server too.

I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Thanks for reading.