Chapter 34: The Debate

Sunlight found its way to Cinder's eyes like it always did when she woke up. The neutral dark plane disappeared when the light caused two amber eyes to slowly open and observe their surroundings. But all Cinder could see was white.

At first, the teenager had no idea what the white was. She instinctively moved her head, which was laying on something soft. When she was able to get a better look at her surroundings, Cinder saw that she was in her old room at Beacon Academy. Din Djarin was sleeping at the table, but his chair was closer to Cinder's bed than usual. And to her right was a vase of flowers with a note.

"That's twice I owe you. Feel better soon."

Cinder looked at the flowers and smiled. She began to move off the bed even more, which caused her to feel sore throughout most of her body. She couldn't help but let out a pained groan that immediately woke Djarin up.

"Cinder!" the Mandalorian cried as he rushed over to the bed. "You're awake!"

"Dad..." Cinder said with a smile, happy to see see her father after what felt like an eternity. But she still felt tired and incredibly weak. "What... happened? How... How did I get here?"

"Gretchen Rainart. She dug you out of the tunnel and brought you here."

"Tunnel? You know about-?"

"She told us everything when she found herself in Vale. That train you were on brought you right under the city."

"Wait, under the city?!" Cinder moved off her bed more, only to be stopped by Djarin's hands. "But there were Grimm following us! They were right behind us!"

"You're right about 'were.' We found some stragglers, but Gretchen told me you took out the majority."

Cinder felt a wave of relief pour over her, seeing that nobody got hurt from the invasion attempt. And she was even more glad to see that her father was alive and well from having to deal with the Grimm. But there was one thing eating at her.

"Does she know?" Cinder asked. "Does she know what I did?"

"Gretchen knows you did something," Djarin explained. "But she doesn't know about your powers. Neither does your team."

"Okay." Cinder gently moved back to the bed. "Are they safe? Are they alright?"

"Everyone's safe. Even the students we found." The Mandalorian could tell that Cinder was surprised to hear about students of all things, so he explained further. "Gretchen told us about the Mandalorians, how they kidnapped students to build their numbers."

"It was the Saxon Clan. They're back." Cinder was never afraid of the clan, but she knew nothing good could ever come from them. She was more afraid of the kind of damage they could inflict on the world if they had the chance.

"I remember them. General Ironwood and I couldn't find their leader, we only found some of the students and survivors of the Tenau Clan. He's doing everything he can to help them, to see what kind of damage the Chill did."

"General Ironwood is here?"

Djarin slightly nodded. "He insisted on helping us with the Chill. Brought a new kind of droid to hunt it down."

"Did it work?"

"We haven't found a trace. But the droids were able to help with the excavation of Mountain Glenn."

"Is he still here?"

"With Ozpin."

The Maiden began to move off the bed once more. "I want to talk to him. And Ozpin."

Djarin stopped Cinder once more. "You will. After you get more rest. I'm not taking 'No' for an answer."

Cinder nodded and moved further back than before. The soft mattress made her sore feeling disappear. Seeing that some solitude would make her rest easier, Djarin stood up and moved to the door. Before he opened it, the Mandalorian had one more thing to say.

"I'm proud of you, Cinder. You should be proud of yourself, too."

Djarin's Semblance was strong enough to help him travel from Beacon Academy to the outskirts of the Forever Fall. He travelled through the red trees until he came across the remains of a fortress. All around the fortress were Mandalorians of two different clans.

When he heard about the events of Mountain Glenn, Djarin remembered how Clan Tenau and Clan Vizsla were close allies. He traveled to the Forever Fall to inform Clan Vizsla of what happened, but he was surprised to see that survivors of the massacre had already escaped to the forest.

Mi Tenau had foreseen the attack by the Saxon Clan and knew survival was questionable. Despite their superiority in numbers, each Semblance of the Saxons made them a force to be reckoned with. Mi and several members of Clan Tenau evacuated the broken city, but others stayed behind to give them enough time to escape. Djarin promised to return their Beskar to them, which was why he was back in the Forever Fall.

"I brought everything I could find," Djarin said as he handed over two large sacks to the leader of Clan Tenau. "I was even able to claim the armor of dead Saxon members."

Mi Tenau looked through the bags for a brief moment. "This is more than enough," she said as two other Mandalorians took the bags. "You have my thanks."

Djarin nodded and looked over to the leader of Clan Vizsla. "Will you watch over them?"

"With your help," Pax Vizsla promised. "Mi told me what she saw with you, all those years ago. Even though what she speaks is true, we could still use your help."

Djarin nodded once more, wishing to make up for what happened. Even though he was not the true Mand'alor, his claim of the Darksaber carried a heavy responsibility. A responsibility that Djarin failed to uphold.

He knew that he should have kept in contact with Clan Tenau, as well as any other clan. If he did so, Clan Saxon's attack could have been prevented or more of Clan Tenau could have survived. He knew that he would now have to do whatever he could to watch over all Mandalorians. And now he would help with Clan Tenau as he helped Clan Vizsla.

"Do not condemn yourself," said Mi, who had picked up on Djarin's mixed emotions. "Now is the time to save yourself."

The Mandalorian looked back to Mi in surprise, not expecting to hear the last part of that sentence. "Protect myself?"

"This attack was only the beginning. There is grave danger in Vale, one that my people and I have foreseen."

"From the Grimm?" Pax asked, remembering how Clan Tenau learned to observe the dark creatures and predict their next move without flaw.

"As well as the Saxon Clan. I cannot be certain as to where and when they will strike, but danger still lurks in the Kingdom. It will reveal itself soon, regardless of whatever protection other Kingdoms wish to provide."

"Then I have to stay," Djarin declared. "There are people in Vale who are counting on my help."

"This time, do not fight alone. Call upon Clan Tenau."

Pax moved closer to Mi so he could be in Djarin's view. "And Clan Vizsla."

"They were here... Ozpin, they were here!"

"We're very much aware of that! Thank you, James."

"Fantastic! You're aware! Now are we going to do something about it or should we just stay the course and continue to ignore what's right in front of us?!"

Professor Ozpin simply sat in silence as he listened to General Ironwood and Professor Goodwitch yell at each other. This wasn't the first time his friends and closest allies had argued about deciding the best course of action, which made the professor feel relaxed and calm. He had enough experiences with arguments to wait them out until an opening arrived.

*BEEP*

And from the sound of the electric bell, Professor Ozpin had found his opening. "Come in," he said calmly. The doors opened to reveal Din Djarin and Cinder, who slowly walked in.

"Sorry we're late," Cinder said. "I wanted to check in with my team after getting enough rest."

Ozpin nodded and stood up. "Thank you for coming, Cinder. How are you feeling?"

"Okay, I guess. My powers took a lot out of me, so I'm a little sore."

Everyone in the room understood how that was most likely, given the fact Cinder stopped more Grimm than anyone could count. The one person who felt these feelings tenfold was General Ironwood, who walked over to Cinder and put a hand on her shoulder.

"Cinder, I feel it's appropriate to let you know that I think what you did last night is exactly what being a Maiden is all about," he said. "You recognized a threat. You took action. And you did more than could be expected."

"Thank you. Speaking of action, is that why those new robots are here? Dad said they could help with the Chill."

Ironwood backed away and took out his Scroll. "Yes, actually." After placing the Scroll on Ozpin's desk, a hologram of a robot appeared in the air. "This is the Atlesian Knight-200. Smarter; sleeker; and, admittedly, a little less scary."

"Agreed," said Djarin. "But I have to admit, the design and requirements look... advanced. Even for you, General."

"Well, that's because I had the right help. I trust you remember Arthur Watts?" Djarin looked back to Ironwood when he heard the name of one of Salem's allies. "In exchange for better conditions in prison, he agreed to give me the plans for a 'Dark Trooper' he built to kill me. After the right modifications, we created the AK-200 years before someone would even have the idea."

"That's impressive, General," Cinder admitted. "But Dad said it couldn't find the Chill. So... what do we do about that?"

"We searched every place it could be hiding in," said Glynda. "Of course, we will continue to remain vigilant. But based on Ms. Rainart's report, it seems it had a part to play with the Saxon Clan."

"I remember." Cinder moved closer. "They said they were using a Chill to possess students, long enough for them to leave the campus with them. And they were... wiping their minds, or something. Making loyal soldiers out of them."

"And here I thought Mandalorians couldn't get any more despicable," Glynda said with crossed arms. She suddenly remembered the company she was in, so she looked back to Djarin and Cinder. "Oh, no offense."

"Unfortunately, there are still some Mandalorians who wish to fight any Kingdom they lay their eyes on," said Djarin. "But Clans Vizsla and Tenau have no intention of fighting against us."

"How we can be sure of that?" Ironwood asked.

"You have my word. And that of their leaders."

"I don't think-"

Ozpin suddenly spoke up. "Thank you, Djarin." Unlike Ironwood, he had a feeling these clans could be trusted, given their status as allies and the situation Clan Tenau was in. "Did they say anything else? After you helped them escape the tunnels?"

"Their leader is expecting another attack. Not just on them, but the entire Kingdom. She couldn't see where or when it would happen, but that it was inevitable."

"It's possible they're going to strike at Beacon," Cinder said calmly. "If Clan Saxon was able to find vulnerable students here, then they must have had help."

"...She's right," said Glynda. "Who knows how they got here? And how they slipped past every camera we have in the Academy?"

"If they could do it once, they can do it again," said Djarin. "And the spy or spies they have here could be anywhere."

"It's settled then," said Ironwood. "We interrogate every student and staff member on campus, find out who did what and when they did it. If anyone resists or arouses suspicion, we could have a lead. In the meantime, Cinder will help with the Mandalorians we captured. Her powers will know how to scare them."

"..."

Djarin and Cinder shared a quick glance at each other, not very happy with the proposed plan. The Mandalorian was concerned about the lack of order the people at Beacon would cause at being interrogated like criminals. Cinder, however, was more worried about what kind of Maiden she would call herself if she used her powers for torture.

Fortunately, they weren't alone with the disagreement.

"Why must your answer to everything involve a triumphant display of military bravado?!" Glynda asked, just as disappointed in the General as the Mandalorians. "You treat every situation like it's a contest of measuring di-!"

"Glynda!" Ozpin said with a raised hand, not feeling the necessity for profanity.

Glynda didn't finish her sentence, but held onto her sentiment. "Well, he does."

"Professor Goodwitch is right," said Cinder. "General, I can't be using my powers to torture people. Regardless of whether they deserve it."

"I said we could scare them, not torture them," said General Ironwood. "I simply believe this will be good for you too. We heard of what you're capable of, and seen what you can do. We need to be putting your powers to better use than hiding them."

The Fall Maiden came to believe that the General was half right. "I mean, of course I need to be doing more. But I should decide when and where my powers are necessary."

"As should I," Ozpin said calmly. "As much as I too would love to end this situation once and for all, we must remember that this may go beyond Vale. Beyond Beacon. And if this truly is part of some master plan for which we know not the final move, we mustn't be so bold. Nor can we risk the spread of panic."

Djarin silently agreed with the Headmaster of Beacon, as did Glynda. But there was something nagging at both Ironwood and Cinder. And it was the former that let this feeling reveal itself.

"I have served you faithfully for years," he said. "But if you mean to tell me that your plan is to really hold the defenses, and wait-!"

"It is not!" Ozpin shouted as he stood up from his chair. Once the brief anger subsided, the Headmaster asked a question. "You're a general, James. So tell me, when you prepare to go to war, which do you send first? The flag bearers, or the scouts?"

"..."

Whenever he had discussions like this with Ozpin, General Ironwood always felt his logic and the army he commanded would be the right solution for problems involving Salem. But time after time, Ozpin's wisdom triumphed over him, showed the General that the course of action would be unwise. Today wasn't the first time it happened, and today certainly wouldn't be the last.

Despite the fact Ozpin had a point, General Ironwood wished just once he didn't find himself in agreement with his friend. He wished just once that something else would be necessary, that he could do something good with his army. If not, what kind of a general would he be?

Why couldn't he be right just once when it came to this war?

What would it take for Ozpin to see that a new approach would be needed?

"So that's it?"

Everyone looked over to Cinder, who was starring daggers at Ozpin. And based on the tone she asked her question in, it was clear the Maiden was far from happy. When she listened to everything Ironwood and Ozpin said, something inside Cinder snapped. And she refused to hold back anymore.

"So I'm just a scout?" Cinder asked in the same angry way. "I'm supposed to make a little hike to who-knows-where and report back to you?" Cinder pressed her hands on Ozpin's desk quickly. "Is that really all I'm supposed to do as the Fall Maiden?"

"I never said that," the Headmaster replied.

"You didn't have to." Cinder pressed her finger on the table. "That's exactly what I did, while I put my team and a professional Huntress in unexpected danger." An intimidating thought crept its way into Cinder's head. "Oh, that's it. You made Team CMFF to be your scouts. Made three oblivious girls leap straight into danger just to keep you informed? Did Dad really think Mountain Glenn was a good idea, to keep me away from the Chill?! Or is there more to the story?!"

Djarin could see that this was getting out of hand. The time for strategizing civil discussion was over. "Cinder, that's not true," he said as he took Cinder's arm. "It was my fault. My mistake."

"That doesn't change anything!" Cinder yelled as she shook Djarin's grasp. "Who knows how long she's been planning that invasion?! If we just sat right where we are, what could we have done to stop the Saxon Clan, huh?! Nothing!" The Maiden looked back to Ozpin. "You're plan isn't to hold the line?! Okay, then tell me this! What the hell are we going to do?!"

"..."

Glynda wasn't at a loss for words like Ozpin or Djarin were. So she decided to speak for both of them. "Cinder, that's enough," the woman declared. "We'll make a decision, one that doesn't involve acting recklessly."

"Not acting recklessly?" Cinder repeated. "Or not acting at all? I'm not going to be taking this kind of instruction while Salem has her next move laid out! That's not what I of all people should do!"

"The Maiden's responsibilities are what we say they are, young lady! Therefore, it would be in your best interest to listen to us!"

"Oh, I'm sorry! Was it you who found out I was the next Maiden?!" Cinder pointed at Ozpin. "Or you?!" She then walked back a few steps and turned around. "No! I chose to come to you, let you train me to do things like stopping the Saxon Clan, and now you're telling me not to attack back?!" Cinder began to stop yelling when she asked another question. "Is that really why you created the Maidens, Ozpin? Is it?"

"..."

With each word the Fall Maiden shouted, General Ironwood found his confidence in his earlier declaration returning. He found someone he could place his faith in, someone he truly believed could act exactly as a Huntress should.

"Cinder is right," Ironwood said calmly. "She's having the same mindset as me, the mindset this group should strive to-"

"The same mindset?!" Cinder yelled back at Ironwood. Now it was his turn to face the teenager's wrath. "You call that the mindset we should have?!" The Maiden pointed out Ozpin's window, where she could see two large airships above Beacon. "How many more ships do you need to send to an unsuspecting Kingdom, General?! While you're at it, how about you just move the whole city of Atlas on top of Beacon?!"

"I brought them here because they were necessary," General Ironwood replied sternly. "When people look to the sky and see my fleet, they feel safe. And our enemies will feel our strength."

"Oh, is that right?" Cinder asked sarcastically. "They feel safe, huh? How about you explain this, then?" Cinder pulled out her Scroll and tapped onto a small app. Once she showed the screen to General Ironwood, Cinder played a video of a group of students. Cinder knew them as Beacon Academy's Debate Club, which she had made some friends in. She learned of a very recent post they made on Beacon's student website after they came back from their missions, so she decided to check it out before coming to the meeting.

"Okay, here's an interesting one for both sides," a boy sitting in between two teams said. "Before we came back from our Huntsmen missions, General Ironwood arrived with students from Atlas Academy for the Vytal Festival. However, he also brought a surprising number of soldiers and military prototypes for what he calls 'extra security.' Should we agree or disagree on his methods?"

Cinder paused the video and looked at the speechless Atlesian. "This debate went on for almost an hour," she declared. "Eventually, both sides ended up agreeing that we should be considering 'alternative reasons for the presence of the Atlesian Military.' Don't believe me?" Cinder threw her Scroll onto Ozpin's desk. "Watch the rest yourself."

"I-"

"And another thing! I don't think the Saxon Clan was very scared today! They were willing to die to see their invasion through! You're not just being wrong, General! You're being ridiculous!"

"..."

The Mandalorian found a chance to step in again, trying to calm Cinder down. "Cinder-"

"All of you!" Cinder cried. "You're all being ridiculous! Your secrets, your orders, your army, they mean nothing!" Cinder pointed at the window. "Not while she's out there! While she's driven you to the point of being nothing but idiots!"

Djarin became angry himself and grabbed Cinder's shoulder. "Cinder, stop it!" he ordered.

"Let go of me!"

"Cinder, your eyes!"

"..."

Cinder lifted her hand to her face, which immediately began to burn. As she pulled her hand back, Cinder began to realize that she had no idea her powers were even showing. She had no idea that she was about to explode into flames.

Cinder knew that she had done something like this when she was a little girl; it was the reason she was sent to Haven Academy.

When the fire died down, Cinder looked back to see surprise and fear in everyone's eyes. Even though she regretted causing these emotions, she was still upset with everyone. So she apologized to the only person she could think of, the only person who deserved it.

"Sorry, Dad."

Just then, she immediately turned heel and walked straight to the elevator after she reclaimed her Scroll.

"Cinder, where are you going?" Djarin asked, finally finding his voice.

"I need to get out of here before I do something I regret," Cinder said with malice while looking back at Ozpin and Ironwood. "And don't act like neither of you deserve it."

"..."

Cinder stepped into the elevator and pressed the button to the ground floor. Everyone watched her leave without trying to stop her. Ironwood, however, had a gut feeling as to what the Maiden meant by her claim.

"Djarin, did you daughter just threaten me?" he demanded.

"No, General," Djarin said as he turned back to the desk. "That was a warning." He looked back to Ozpin. "For both of your sakes."

"..."

As soon as the elevator descended, Cinder stormed out of it in a huff, still angry at everyone. She couldn't comprehend how they could squabble like children when they were clearly on the same side. While she was grateful that Djarin was able to restore a semblance of order to the room, she still found Ozpin's attitude to be too passive. And Ironwood was too sure of himself. Both attitudes were getting the group nowhere, especially Cinder.

"What's the matter? We don't say 'Hi' anymore?"

Cinder quickly turned around to see Qrow Branwen leaning on the wall behind her. Anger turned to surprise when she laid eyes on someone she hadn't seen in a long time.

"Oh," Cinder said with a soft chuckle. "Hi, Qrow." She quickly walked over and pulled him into a hug. "Wow, I haven't seen you in months."

"Same here," the Huntsman said as he returned the hug. "Yeah, we gotta catch up. But right now, I gotta talk to Oz." He let go of Cinder and began to walk to the elevator. But a noticeable groan from the Maiden made him stop walking. "You know what? I can be late for once." He turned around and began to walk with Cinder. "Everything okay up there?"

"Nope," Cinder said as she stopped walking and slumped on the ground.

Qrow sat beside her and chuckled. "Let me guess; Jimmy's taking your work at Mountain Glenn as a sign to let everything about the Maidens and Relics slip, and Oz is trying to keep him quiet."

"..."

The Huntsman noticed one other thing. "And Dad's being overprotective?"

Cinder ran a hand through her hair and sighed. "No, he was right this time," she insisted. "Besides, I can handle overprotective. What I can't handle is being played like a fiddle, whether it's staying quiet or being active."

"Hold on." Qrow turned to the frustrated teenager. "Jimmy I can understand, but did Oz say something?"

"Kind of." Cinder stood up and took a few steps. "I can't help but feel I'm being manipulated right now. Everything he said up there was putting us under his palm, even if it's for the good of Remnant." Her head was still spinning over what everyone said, and she genuinely felt that she had a right to be angry. Cinder had been used for someone else's benefits before, and she would be damned before it happened again.

Qrow stood up and walked over to Cinder. "Look, kid... I'm sure he didn't mean it like that," he said calmly. "If there's one man who knows what's best, it's definitely Ozpin."

Cinder looked Qrow in the eyes. "Why do you believe that?"

"Huh?"

"Qrow, I don't think I've met someone who was as loyal to Ozpin like you. When Ironwood's in the room, you always find a way to mess with him. But with Ozpin, it's something different. Why is that?"

Qrow laughed as he took out his flask. "Look, I had the same questions, too. But ol' Ozpin would always put his foot down. 'We can't cause a panic.' Can't tell you how many times I've heard that." He began to drink heavily from the metal.

"Right, he's said that to me too. He once said there would be another Great War, if everyone knew about the power of the Relics. But that doesn't answer my question."

Qrow looked back to the Maiden. "Right. Your question. You... What was your question again?"

Cinder rolled her eyes in slight annoyance. "I know you believe in Ozpin right now. I want to know why. How do you trust someone who plans rather than puts those plans to action? Is there something I'm missing here? Or am I just being stupid?"

Qrow took one more drink and put his flask down. "You're not missing anything. And you're sure as hell not being stupid, Cinder." He leaned against the wall. "The truth is... I'm glad he's like this. It's like you said, he doesn't put his plans to action. That's why he has people like us."

"And you're happy about that?"

"Definitely." Qrow looked down at his hands. "Before I met Ozpin... no one wanted me. I was cursed. I gave my life to him because he believed in me. And continues to believe in me. When I'm out there, I'm not hurting people like Mando. You haven't seen it, but I think I've done a good job at putting Salem's plans at a halt. Oz knows that's the best way we can hurt her. And you better believe you hurt her in those tunnels."

Cinder thought about the idea, how helping Ozpin always did the one thing she needed to do: hurt Salem. And Qrow had a point, having people to put his plans to action where he couldn't was a good reason to follow him. She was glad Qrow's loyalty wasn't blind, that he had the ability to chose for himself. And his good answer left the Maiden with just one more good question.

"What about him?"

Qrow looked away from his flask. "Hm?"

"You said you're not hurting people like Dad," Cinder reminded him. "That's... pretty specific. Why mention that?"

Qrow put his flask down with widened eyes, as if he made a mistake. "Oh, uh... it's nothing," he quickly said.

Cinder couldn't resist the urge to be skeptical. "Nothing?" she asked slowly with a raised eyebrow.

"Aw, shit. I shouldn't have told you that."

"Told me what?"

Qrow looked back at the elevator and realized how late he made himself. "Look, I can't talk now," he said. "Just talk to Mando tonight, he'll explain better than me."

"Qrow, wait a-!"

"Gotta go, bye!"

The Huntsman quickly turned into a crow and flew to the elevator, pressing the buttons with his beak. The elevator opened and closed quickly enough for the Huntsman to leave Cinder dazed and confused. She also felt a twinge of fear for her father, worrying that something was wrong. It was clear she wouldn't be getting answers from him or Qrow anytime soon, but Cinder was grateful for an answer about Ozpin. She was still unsure of his position, but she was far from okay with General Ironwood and his enormous force at Beacon.

But it was this number of Atlesians that gave Cinder an idea.

Quickly pulling out her Scroll, Cinder moved her finger across the phone numbers until she reached a specific one. She then pressed the number and put the Scroll to her ear.

"Hello?" a voice responded on the other end of the call.

"Hi Winter," Cinder said with a smile. "Any chance you're in Vale right now?"

The Maiden's wish had come true, as she was sitting in a pavilion with Winter and Penny. While Winter was happily drinking a cup of tea with Cinder, Penny was observing the architecture of the pavilion.

"Incredible!" she said as she ran her hand on a pillar. She stopped moving and looked at a plant growing around the stone. "What is this?"

"That would be ivy," Cinder replied. "I wouldn't touch it, though. It might be poison ivy."

"Cinder, I don't believe that will be a problem," Winter said as she put down her cup of tea.

"Oh, right." Cinder rolled her eyes at her mistake and simply pointed at the fountains. "Maybe stay away from the water, then."

"Yes, ma'am!" Penny replied as she moved to the table and put her hands behind her back. "Do you think we will have enough time to explore the city, Ms. Schnee?"

"In a few minutes," Winter promised. "We just sat down, after all." Winter looked back to Cinder. "So... Beacon vs. Atlas Academy."

"Right," Cinder remembered. This was something she wanted to talk about with Winter. "Let's see... Beacon lets us wake up and get breakfast before classes, which starts at eight."

"Atlas expects us to have eaten and start our morning drills at seven-thirty. We need to eat just the right amount so we don't get sick. Our classes are at eight as well." Winter took a drink from her cup. "And as you can see, this is the uniform we wear." She stood up to reveal a white and gray uniform.

Cinder was wearing her birthday present at the moment, so she couldn't show her uniform. "We have black, red, brown, and white. Still formal, but we don't look like we hate life."

"As much as I prefer these colors, I can see how dull they make me look." Winter had something else she wanted to talk about. "Atlas has bunk beds in our barracks."

"Beacon has regular beds. But our library has CCT computers outside the tower."

"Impressive. But I'm confident our library is superior in size."

"I haven't seen Atlas' library, but Beacon's is... considerable. I think we have about... almost eight thousand books." Cinder took a sip from her tea.

"Atlas has sixteen thousand," Winter said.

Cinder spat out her tea in shock and looked back to Winter. "Sixteen thousand?! How is that even possible?!"

Winter smiled once more. "Never underestimate the power of Atlas, Cinder."

"No arguments there." Cinder took another sip of her tea and gently put the cup down. "About that, do you mind if I ask you something?"

"That depends," said Winter. "Is it about all the ships and soldiers Atlas brought to Vale?"

Cinder's eyes slightly widened. "How did you-?"

"Lucky guess." Winter gently wiped her mouth with a napkin before continuing. "Truth be told, I was wondering the same thing. We're in a time of peace after all. But the General insisted that our numbers were necessary, that the people would be safer because of us."

"He says," Cinder mumbled sarcastically.

It wasn't loud enough for Winter to make out exactly what her friend said, but Penny's audio system was advanced to hear it. And she was also capable of repeating it through her own mouth.

"He says," Penny said with Cinder's exact voice.

Both girls looked back at Penny. Cinder was speechless at the sound of her own voice being used against her, but Winter remained calm. "Thank you, Penny," she said before looking back to Cinder. "You disagree?"

"I... Well..." Cinder needed another minute to regain her voice, and then she spoke from her heart. "I'm sorry, I'm just having a hard time making heads-or-tails with him."

Winter put her cup down once more. "I can't say the General isn't a complicated man, Cinder. But the more time you spend with him, the more you learn to understand why he does what he does."

"Is that why you admire him so much?" Cinder recalled that whenever she paid Winter a visit in Atlas, General Ironwood was never far behind. Whether he was talking with Winter's mother or the Mandalorian, General Ironwood always seemed to be in Winter's presence.

Winter spent a moment thinking about Cinder's question before giving a good answer. "Well... yes," she admitted. "I'm sure you remember that he was always around me when we were growing up."

"Yeah, no doubt," Cinder agreed, given that was what she was just thinking about.

"After Father died, General Ironwood became more of a friend to my family. Mother always appreciated the support and assistance he gave to the company. Whatever she, or we needed, General Ironwood was there. It was during that time that he saw something in me, something I didn't see until much later. And he continues to believe I can put that something to good use at Atlas Academy."

"May I present a point, Ms. Schnee?" Penny asked politely. After she nodded, Winter listened with Cinder. "General Ironwood is someone who knows how to give people a purpose. I am to be the Protector of Mantle while Ms. Schnee is to be an exceptional member of the Atlesian Military. Given my experience with her, I have calculated an eighty-five percent chance of her reaching the rank of Specialist by graduation."

"Eighty-five?" Cinder asked. "You go, Winter!" She quickly began to clap, which caused Winter to blush for a moment before regaining her composure. Cinder calmed down as well before asking another question. "So would you say you're happy with the purpose General Ironwood gave you?"

"The military isn't a place that leaves room for personal feelings," Winter declared. "But yes, Cinder. Given what he sees in me, I feel that the military is where I belong."

"I feel the same way about Beacon." Cinder raised her cup. "Here's to your future at Atlas, Winter."

Winter raised her cup and gently pressed it against Cinder's. "And to your future at Beacon, Cinder." As the two friends took one final drink of their tea, they failed to notice a saddened Penny stare at the ground.

After Cinder and her friends went their separate ways, she immediately made her way to Beacon's library. While she felt that she had gained a better understanding of the thoughts and feelings behind Ozpin and Ironwood, Cinder wanted to know what her father thought about everything.

But she remembered from Qrow that there was something that he wasn't telling her. And she couldn't help him or ask for his help if he couldn't be honest with her. The Maiden knew she would need guidance to help with a problem like this, but she didn't want to go to Ozpin or Ironwood for help. Instead, she went to the library and made a CCT call on one of the computers.

Cinder sat down at the terminal and waited for the screen to change. As she sat and waited, the Maiden's questions continued to play through her head. She felt that she had learned a lot when she talked to her friends, but they also left some questions unanswered. Even though she felt this discussion could conclude in the same manner, Cinder knew that she was in dire need of wisdom.

And she couldn't think of anyone wiser than Obi-Wan Kenobi, whose face had just appeared on the terminal in front of her.

"Hello there," the Jedi said with a smile.

"Hi, Headmaster," Cinder said with a small wave. "Sorry for calling you like this."

"Oh, it's no trouble at all. The Mistral Council is meeting with some of Haven's staff at the moment. I'm not brave enough for politics, so you're doing me a favor."

Cinder slightly laughed at the joke. "Glad to hear that. Speaking of which, I was wondering if I could ask you a favor."

"I expected something like that. There seems to be conflict within you."

Obi-Wan's intuition was right on the nose as always, so Cinder decided to explain her problem without drawing too much attention to herself.

"Well, I had a lot more to be conflicted about earlier," Cinder said calmly. "But I think I got that settled for the most part. All that's left is an issue between me and my father."

"I see," Obi-Wan said as he stroked his chin. "How may I be of help?"

"I have a good feeling he's been hiding something from me. Something about him getting hurt. I think he wants to hide it from me, and I'm sure you know he can be really pigheaded when he has his mind set to something."

"And you wish to know what it is."

"Exactly. I can't help him if he won't let me."

"Perhaps that is the problem." Obi-Wan moved back and put his hands down. "We all have our secrets, Cinder. Secrets exist because deep down, we all have our regrets and mistakes. Some of them are hard to face, but others exist to protect others."

"Like Ozpin's secrets?"

"Yes. And mine as well. Before it fell, the Jedi Order was hidden from the rest of the world; some of its secrets were reserved only for the Jedi Council. I cannot say mistakes weren't made, but I did not regret the choice to hide ourselves."

"For what?"

"Protection. There are people and places that could never understand what we did, why we existed in the first place. And they certainly would not understand the enemy we face."

"So basically, ignorance is bliss?"

"Sometimes. But not all the time. Your father may feel the secret he carries is for your own good, he may believe it could protect you against something."

"But I don't know what that is. And it sounds really serious."

"Then perhaps your ignorance is not so blissful after all. But the same cannot be said for the rest of Remnant."

"I guess not." Cinder thought back on her view of Ozpin when Obi-Wan explained the idea of hiding Salem from the world. "I still won't tell anybody about me or Ozpin."

"I'm pleased to hear that. In the meantime, go to your father, Cinder. Ask him what's wrong."

Cinder nodded and smiled at Obi-Wan. "Thank you, Headmaster," she said. "For everything."

"Good luck, Cinder," Obi-Wan said with a smile. "May the Force be with you."

"And you."

When the call ended, Cinder immediately made her way to her old room, thinking on all that happened to her. Her thoughts about secrecy had changed drastically, she began to see that not all secrets were unnecessary. She didn't know what would happen to Remnant if everything was brought to the public, and she didn't want to know. But at the same time, Cinder knew her purpose as a Maiden wasn't to be completely kept in the shadows.

She felt proud about saving the people of Vale from the Saxon Clan, and she couldn't have done it if she wasn't a Maiden. Yet she felt so powerless when the rest of Remnant's problems were out into play. Cinder could name at least ten ways the Maidens could protect the world at the cost of their secrecy, but their secrecy was the only reason Salem hadn't killed them all yet.

While her indecision plagued her mind, Cinder hoped an honest conversation with her father would put things into better perspective.

Cinder's knocks at a wooden door were answered by Djarin, who immediately let his daughter inside to talk.

"Are you okay?" Djarin asked calmly.

"Yeah... for the most part," Cinder replied as she sat at the table in the middle of the room. "Sorry I stormed off. It was too much to handle. And I needed to get control of myself."

"No arguments there." Djarin moved to the other side of the table and took off his helmet. "None of them were happy when we finally stopped talking."

"I can imagine. I actually spent most of the day figuring out what's going on with Ozpin and Ironwood. Qrow and Winter helped with that."

"So what do you think?"

"It's actually gotten easier to see where they're coming from, but harder to realize which of them is right." Cinder spun her finger on the wooden surface before her when she made a decision. "I was wondering if I could talk to you before saying anything else. But I don't want any secrets. Not with you."

"We can be honest with each other. I'm not keeping any-"

The teenager quickly looked up from the table and spat out the first thing on her mind. "Qrow told me that you got hurt with him."

"..."

"Dad, I'm not going to get mad again. Well, not as mad as before. I just... don't want to be kept in the dark. Regardless of whether you think you're protecting me or not. I want to... I have to know if something happened to you."

"..."

"Just say it."

The Mandalorian sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Knowing that hiding the truth from Cinder was no longer an option and that it was only succeeding in hurting her more, Djarin spoke the truth. "Three months ago... I helped Qrow with a mission in Mistral," he explained. "We were drawing Grimm away from Dust mines and killing them. One of Qrow's shots barely missed a Grimm. When it hit agitated Dust... the explosion caused a chain reaction."

Cinder gasped and widened her eyes. Although she wasn't with him, she could imagine the tremendous explosion and its capabilities. "...And then?"

"I was thrown out of the mine. The explosion knocked off my armor and pierced my body with shrapnel. Qrow carried me for over a day to find help. When we found it, my Aura had to be changed. Altered to heal the inside along with the outside of my body. Qrow blamed my weakened Aura on himself. The only thing I can blame him for is telling you when I asked him not to."

Cinder dried her eyes and stood up from the table. "Why?" she asked. "Why would you hide this from me?"

"I wanted to protect you, just like you said."

"From Qrow? He would never want to hurt me."

"Not from Qrow. From myself." Djarin stood up and moved closer to Cinder. "If you found out earlier, would you have still gone through your trials? Would you still have chosen to be a student at Beacon? Would you have gone to Mountain Glenn?"

"I-"

"Or would you stick to me like glue? Would you go with me every time I left Beacon? Would you have put your responsibilities aside to help me?"

"Well..."

Djarin moved closer and pointed at his daughter. "You were right. Every word you said earlier was right. You need to be doing something against Salem. You don't need anybody to hold you back. You don't need me to hold you back."

"But Dad, that's-"

"Ni urmankalar o'r gar, Cinder! Ni urmankalar gar liser cuyir te jatne Maiden bat Remnant!" (I believe in you, Cinder! I believe you can be the best Maiden on Remnant!)

"..."

Djarin lowered his finger and sighed. "That can't happen if I hold you back, if we let others like Ozpin or Ironwood control you. I understand that now."

Cinder finally felt the tears on her cheeks from her father's speech. She had no idea that she needed to hear all of that, for her father to give her a boost of confidence on one of the most confusing days of her life. Despite the fact there was secrecy and deceit, she couldn't help but feel love and pity for the Mandalorian who took her under his wing.

But Djarin was unaware of these feelings and had his own ideas behind Cinder's crying.

"You're mad, I get it," he said. "I lied to you, and I'm sorry. I never wanted-"

Cinder immediately wrapped her arms around Djarin. But before Djarin could return the hug, Cinder let go and rubbed his head, like he did when she was a little girl. "I forgive you, Dad," she said. "But no more secrets, okay? You have to promise me."

Djarin hugged Cinder and made his promise. "With you, it will only be truth."

Cinder hugged Djarin back and held him for a minute. After they broke the embrace, Cinder decided to put his promise to the test. "In that case, what do you think about earlier? With Ozpin and Ironwood?"

"Well... I don't exactly know."

"Yeah. Me neither." Cinder fell onto her old bed and vented her problems to her father. "I mean, I have a duty as a Maiden to protect everything and everyone from Salem. But I can't do that if I'm being secretive about it." She sat up and looked at Djarin. "Would you say you had a duty to the Mandalorians? To the Children of the Watch?"

"Of course." Djarin removed the Darksaber from his belt and ignited the black blade. "Before I got this, I had a duty to protect and secure the secrecy and survival of my clan. If one of us was exposed, we were all exposed. But after getting this, everything changed. It wasn't until I saw what remained of Clan Tenau that I realized there's more at stake here."

"I guess everything's different for both of us now."

"It is. I told you what Mi Tenau told me a long time ago, but that doesn't mean I can't be unworthy of this."

"The same goes for me as a Maiden."

"I don't mean to put you on the spot, Cinder... but what do you think we should do?"

"..."

"No Vytal Festival has ever required this much security, regardless of the small breach in Vale. It was an issue that our local Huntsmen were able to handle with zero civilian casualties. So in conclusion, we should be cautious about trusting the General's forces."

"Team Two agrees with Team One. We relent. But, uh, nobody in Atlas is gonna see this, right?"

"Come on, Lily. This debate is just for fun. It's not like we're going to say this directly to his face."

General Ironwood had just finished watching the debate for what felt like the millionth time. Ever since Cinder gave everyone a piece of her mind, he couldn't help but watch the video of Beacon's Debate Team. And it did nothing but show that Cinder was telling the truth.

"It's been said that those things rot young minds away."

Ironwood turned around to see Glynda walking towards him, her eyes seemingly drawn to the Scroll in his hand. "I wonder if the same thing can be said about sharper minds," she said as she joined him.

Ironwood smiled as he turned off the small device. "Trouble sleeping?" he asked.

Glynda sadly nodded. "I haven't had this much trouble since the night I met Djarin. And I didn't feel like going home." Glynda stared off into the distance and sighed. "Today was, for lack of a better word, depressing."

"Agreed." The General looked down at the piece of technology once more. "I never thought I would see the day when the people of Remnant would think the opposite of me. I can understand Grimm, Mandalorians, even insubordinate soldiers. But I always thought I spoke for the people. It seems that... I was wrong."

"You're not the only one." Glynda turned back to the tall tower behind her. "Cinder may be a child, but I can't recall a time when I've seen someone like her so passionate in her argument. We were dealt with both cold logic and her heart back there."

"Both of which she seems to be a master of. Has Ozpin said anything?"

"No. And that is exactly what concerns me." Glynda finally turned back to the vast expanse. "He has experience that the rest of us lack. While I think that's something worth remembering, I've begun to see that there could be more it can teach us."

Ironwood sighed once more. "So we're being kept in the dark, then."

"Don't be ridiculous! You know very well that we are not the ones in the dark."

"That makes it worse! I refuse to believe that a man that I've trusted for so long would act so... passively."

Hearing her friend's criticism of Ozpin and Cinder's criticism of everyone in Ozpin's office made the professor realize something. Something that she realized a long time ago, that made her feel like the same fool Cinder said she was.

"Did you know that I destroyed an entire room in Beacon trying to hurt Djarin?" Glynda asked calmly. "A week after he first arrived, I mistakenly believed he hurt Cinder. So I lashed out."

Ironwood turned around and laughed for the first time in hours. "That's so unlike you. I wish I could have seen it."

Glynda rolled her eyes and sighed in embarrassment. "It wasn't my... proudest moment. I could have been passive, taken time to think about my next move. But instead, I attacked an innocent man and scared a little girl in the process."

"..."

"The same day, Djarin said something that finally got me thinking correctly. 'Like it or not, we're on the same side. We may be working together, but we're not... working together.' You don't agree with Ozpin, do you?"

"Not exactly," the General confessed.

"And I think it's clear that not everyone agrees with the overwhelming forces."

"...I suppose."

"You and Ozpin did and continue to do these things without any approval." Glynda put a hand on Ironwood's shoulder. "Perhaps we're not working together either."

Ironwood looked back at Glynda, feeling that his eyes had been opened for the first time in a long time. "Maybe you're right," he said. "So... what do you think we should do?"

"..."

"Thank you for the call, Glynda. We'll talk more with James tomorrow. For now, it seems we could all use some rest. Good night."

Professor Ozpin had just received word from Glynda that Ironwood was willing to discuss a new plan with him, one they could both agree on. While one would consider changing the mind of the General to be a rare victory, Ozpin wasn't in a very pleasant mood.

Nights like these came every once in a while for the Headmaster. Nights where the continued war he fought made him feel tired beyond belief. Because despite his best efforts, every piece of Cinder's argument still lingered in Ozpin's mind. While the old man had dealt with all sorts of insubordination from both students and his allies, Cinder was the first person to have ever left Ozpin troubled. He had been called a fool before, and it was something that never bothered him. But now, he was bothered by Cinder arguing about the real reason the power of the Maidens existing in the first place.

When everyone left his office, Ozpin thought back on the day he gifted part of his Magic to four young women. It was his goal to aid them in spreading their kindness and wisdom across Remnant. When he made them into guardians of each Relic, Ozpin began to forget what his original intention was.

On the other hand, Ozpin knew it was worth remembering that Cinder was still a child. Glynda had once mentioned her romanticized views of the Maidens, how she held the fairy-tale aspect close to her heart. She didn't have much experience against Salem, which was more than important than being a Maiden.

But if that were true, why was it that Ozpin still found himself bothered by Cinder's tirade? Why was it that he found himself agreeing with her after hours of careful contemplation?

All he could do was hope that the meeting he arranged with Cinder would provide some answers to these questions.

*BEEP*

Ozpin looked away from the window and towards the elevator. "Come in," he said. The door opened to reveal Cinder, who came alone. The professor couldn't explain it, but he was glad part of his team had returned. He had confidence that she had calmed down and was ready to make a proper plan as to what to do next.

"Professor Ozpin... I'm really sorry I almost lost control," said Cinder.

"We all have our good times and bad times, Cinder," said Ozpin. "I'm just pleased to see you have calmed down." Ozpin took an empty mug and poured a hot drink from his teapot, which he began to drink.

"I'm calm, but... I can't help but feel the same way I felt earlier."

Ozpin gestured for Cinder to sit down, which she did. After pouring her a drink, he gave Cinder a chance to talk. "Speak freely, Cinder. Please."

Cinder took one sip from her drink before talking. "I think you're right. That discretion is necessary for fighting Salem. But at the same time, General Ironwood had a good point about taking action. While I don't agree with some of the actions he's taken and wants to take, I think we need to be doing more. I think... I need to be doing more."

"I understand," said Ozpin. "Actually... I think I can do more than understand. I think I know exactly how you feel, how you think you can put your powers to better use than protecting the Relics."

"Why's that?"

"Because it was the original reason I created the Maidens in the first place." Ozpin moved his chair to look out the window once more. "Winter. Spring. Summer. Fall. The four kindest and selfless people I have ever known came to me, helped me overcome one of the worst times of my life. Back then, I was a simple hermit, doing nothing but living in the mountains. When they saw that hermit, they took action and shared gifts of wisdom and peace. More than I had ever done."

Cinder smiled fondly on what Ozpin said. She had read and heard the story so many times, and it had become her favorite fairy tale. Even though she was young and partially oblivious to the problems of the world, Cinder felt that the story had called out to her when she was a little girl. It was pushing her in the right direction, to fulfill a destiny she never knew she had. It not only gave her an opportunity to be a good Maiden, but to be a good person as well.

"When I first gave them their powers, I hoped they could continue to spread their gifts, new and old, across the world," said Ozpin. "It wasn't until I had found all four Relics that I got the idea to use their powers as guardians for the Vaults. I think... I lost sight of what it means to be a Maiden, by focusing on Salem." The Headmaster turned around. "But now, you showed me that the Vaults and Relics are secondary responsibilities to being a Maiden."

"I... I did?" Cinder asked, starting to feel proud of herself.

Ozpin stood up and walked over to Cinder. "You did. You take Salem's efforts as a problem to the world and want to stop them. It is an admirable quality, but I fear you lack the experience to do so."

"That's why I want to do more. To gain experience, even if I lose a fight. I might lose, but I won't stop trying to help the world."

"I'm actually glad you mentioned that. And if you find yourself able to... I'd like to know why it is you find Summer's lesson to be valuable. Why you choose to embrace the world as she did."

"That's..." Cinder began to chuckle awkwardly. "That's actually a good question."

"Living as long as me can cause someone to question just about everything. How do you think you are with answering?"

Cinder took one more sip of her drink and then stared at her reflection in the brown liquid. "Well... I think it was because Dad helped me see the world," she explained. "I was forced to look at it through small windows in the Glass Unicorn. Smaller than the Madame's heart, I'd say. It wasn't until I saw the rest of it, experienced the rest of it, that I got to see what it has to offer. Family, friends, love, and the chance to defend it all. Dad sees that with his clan and the Mandalorians, and so do I. But after a while, my line of thinking shifted towards the rest of the world."

"But the world isn't perfect."

Cinder chuckled again. "No arguments there. There's all kinds of bad in the world. The Saxon Clan, Jacques Schnee... Hell, even the Grimm are a constant factor in life. Evil is really easy, Professor Ozpin. You can gain just about anything you want with it. But if that's true, then why does good exist? It's not practical. It needs love, kindness, self-sacrifice; there's not a whole lot to gain from it. But there are still people who show it's possible to be good." Cinder looked up at Ozpin. "Dad didn't look past the surface, but I did. I've met people who showed me kindness; returning a favor, helping me when they could have turned me away. Do you know why all of that exists?"

"I'm afraid not."

"I didn't either, not at first. But it's like Winter said, in the fairy-tale. It's not that they did everything for you because you were special, but because they had that ability." Cinder stood up. "Good exists because it can exist. Because it sees what evil is and has the bravery to reject it." Cinder made a fire in her hands as well as her eyes. "Everyone always told me how brave I was. That I could do the same thing good does every single day to evil. And the Maidens' gifts are a symbol of that good."

Ozpin took one more drink before smiling and asking another question. "Do you really believe so?"

Cinder looked back to Ozpin and smiled. "I know so. And... I'd like other people to know that too."

"...Maybe you're right." Ozpin stood up and walked towards Cinder. "Maybe we can work together. We both can see when and where the Fall Maiden will be useful. Within reason, of course."

"Of course," Cinder replied with a smile. "Maybe you can tell me how the first Maidens spread their powers across the world."

"Perhaps I could. However... there may be a way to find out yourself."

Cinder's smile disappeared. "Um... I'm not sure if I can find a lot of research about that."

"No, I'm afraid not. But in time, maybe the Maidens can tell you themselves."

"Wait, what?"

Ozpin chuckled and leaned back on his desk. "You came in here to tell me there is more you can do. Now I think this is the right time to tell you the same thing."

"I don't understand."

"Your training has helped you grow both physically and mentally. You have focused on your capabilities, surpassing everyone's expectations. After everything you shared with me, I think now you can surpass your own expectations. By meeting Fria."

"Fria?" Cinder repeated. She then began to realize what the professor was talking about. "The current Winter Maiden?"

Ozpin nodded. "About a month ago, she discovered a power that I have not witnessed in a very long time. Something that not even Salem knows herself, which is one of the reasons she has been on the sidelines for now. She discovered how to become what I call a 'Fully-Realized Maiden.'"

"Fully-Realized? That sounds... intense."

"Intense... does not even begin to describe what Fria is capable of."

Cinder's curiosity was growing by the minute, given the fact she could become an even better Maiden. "Well, what can she do?"

"On the outside, Fria can create the perfect defense mechanism. But on the inside, there is... more than meets the eye." Ozpin finished his drink and put it down. "I will introduce you to her after the Vytal Festival. For now, let us stay vigilant against Salem." Ozpin placed a hand on Cinder's shoulder. "And together... we will find the right time for the Fall Maiden. You have my word."

Cinder walked out of the elevator with a new outlook on her day. She felt happy that she had learned so much, and was able to change the minds of several people. Not only that, but an actual chance to continue being a great Maiden was something she was more than ready to do. Cinder was confident that nothing could be better than this.

"Hey, there she is!"

Cinder quickly looked down the hall to see the Blair sisters moving towards her. "Oh, hey," she said with a smile. "Sorry we didn't meet up again sooner, I had some things to take care of."

"Yeah, no worries," said Flora, who was catching her breath from running. "Your dad said you'd be talking to Ozpin."

"Oh, you talked to him?"

"Yeah, we were actually looking for you," Fauna explained. "We figured you'd be either at our room or your dad's."

"Oh, that makes sense." Cinder began to walk back to her room with the sisters. "Trouble while I was gone?"

"Not really," said Merri. "Kinda the opposite, actually. With the Vytal Festival getting closer and closer, some of the professors decided to focus more on our training rather than classwork. So as of now, story-time has been put on hold!"

"About time," said Fauna, who then pretended to fall asleep on Flora's shoulder.

"Feeling's entirely mutual, little sis," said Flora. "I thought the madness would never end."

"Well, maybe another door opened while that one closed," said Cinder. "Looks like we have some training to do."

"I was gonna suggest that, but then I remembered what happened in the tunnels," said Merri. "And before you ask, nobody wants to give us extra credit for our mission."

"Ugh, then why did we save the city in the first place?!" Flora complained.

"So that there'd be a city tomorrow," Cinder said with a smile. "Let alone a Vytal Festival."

"Yeah, I guess so. Oh, about that. Hope there's no hard feelings about what we said."

"I was actually gonna ask the same thing." Cinder looked at the other sisters. "I guess you guys were right. I kinda jumped the gun with choosing Mountain Glenn."

"Well... there's that," said Merri. "But we still got some practice with overwhelming Grimm and Mandos. I don't think we were looking at the big picture at the moment."

"How could you? You got burnt while almost being eaten by botflies. If that's not one hell of a distraction, then I don't know what is."

"That's true. Regardless, the girls and I were able to do something for you while you were resting."

Cinder smiled once more. "Aw, you didn't have to. Unless it involved cleaning Flora's side of the room. That is definitely something that needs to get done."

"I said I would do it tomorrow," Flora recalled.

"Oh, yeah?" Fauna asked. "Well, 'tomorrow' was done two days ago."

"Ugh, fine. But I'm gonna need some help."

"Why should we help? It's your mess."

"But it's our room. My mess is your mess."

"That doesn't make any sense!"

Merri and Cinder stopped walking to watch the sisters argue more. But the arguing faded out when Merri tapped Cinder's shoulder. "One way or another, it'll get clean," she promised. "But I think you'd wanna see something." Merri pulled out her Scroll and moved the screen.

"What's up?" Cinder asked out of curiosity.

"Well, do you remember when you told me you were looking for your parents? Once we put our heads and Semblances together, we decided to take a look for ourselves."

Given this was the last thing she expected to hear, Cinder's jaw dropped. "For real?"

"Uh-huh. And, well..." Merri handed the Scroll to Cinder. "I think you're gonna wanna see this."

Author's notes: hope you enjoyed this chapter. Sorry if things seem slow, they'll pick up as this arc goes on. And I think you'll like where things go, given the nature of both this story and RWBY.

To Rider126, that's a great idea for the Arcs as well as Jaune. I have plans in the future for Jaune, and I think you'll like them. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, thanks for reading

To 54godamora, I really enjoyed your comment. I can't say too much about Hazel or Gretchen, but I'm glad you liked the Botflies and the Saxon Clan. Yeah; the Volume 2 finale was early, and you'll be seeing Volume 3 happen soon. Hope you enjoyed the chapter, thanks for reading.

To StarWarsLover1998 (great username by the way), I had some inspiration for Din's injury from Tony. But not too much, mainly the shrapnel getting close to his heart and vital organs. I use some outside media for inspiration and find ways to include them in my stories, just as long as they're original. I'm glad you decided to leave a comment, thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed the chapter.

To GojiraFan455516, glad I was able to surprise you. And speaking of surprises, thanks for telling me about your story. I really like it, it definitely needs more readers. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed the chapter.

Sorry for the wait for an update. Finals were a total killer and I'm still writing an Attack on Titan story with The Avenging Titan. Feel free to check it out, his ideas made the story really cool. And if you're looking for something else to read while waiting for an update, I'd highly recommend GojiraFan455516's story "Remnant's Sith Lords." I think I'll let the story speak for itself, it's in my favorites list. I hope you enjoy the holidays while you're waiting.

Once again, thank you for reading the story and leaving your reviews. If you haven't left one yet, feel free to do so. I'm all ears for constructive feedback. And I want to thank the new users who decided to favorite and follow my story. Your support means the world, thank you so much. See you next time, and Happy Holidays!