When her eyes opened, Neo immediately felt that something was wrong. Or, if not wrong, then...different. Her mind was absolutely certain she was dreaming, and yet there was a solidity to the world around her. It was a sensation she'd experienced only a few times in her life, and every time -

Neopolitan.

The voice rippled through the dream like a tidal wave, and she frowned as disappointment and relief warred for dominance over her mood.

So you're not dead.

No.

The scene around her melted away into the aftermath of one of their raids. White Fang lay scattered around the broken warehouse in various states of health, frozen in time as the avatar of Obsidian slowly glanced around.

You have spent much effort fighting the White Fang.

She shrugged once. It felt good to get back at them, after everything. And we figured you - or your girls, at least - would appreciate less of them to deal with. Honestly, they're pretty helpless. I don't think they expected Taurus to bite it.

The avatar looked at her blankly before nodding.

So. What happened to Cinder? There hasn't been any news of her, so there's no way the white hats got her.

After a moment, the scene shifted once again. A relatively nondescript room in Beacon, where the cat Faunus stood, eyes locked with Cinder's frozen face. A moment later and they were in motion, waves of energy colliding with each other and sending ripples through the air.

She has obtained the Fall Maiden's power.

And what, she beat you with it? Somehow that seemed unlikely, as the battle played out in front of her.

An unforeseen interaction occurred.

And as the figures before her flickered and shuddered in space and time, Neopolitan began to understand. As Obsidian's final spell cooked the air and burned away at Cinder's Aura, she frowned.

...Shit, she survived that...? What the fuck -

A crimson blur crashed against the Maiden from the side and a scythe hooked underneath her neck, and the battle was relived once more. Neopolitan watched the Dream combat with rapt attention, eyes flicking back and forth from one girl to the next as they fought desperately. As they were wounded and broken, only to claw their way back and throw themselves at the Fall Maiden again and again.

As Weiss forced herself to stand on legs trembling from electricity.

As Yang allowed herself to be cut as a distraction for a blow coming from behind.

As Ruby, blood streaming from between her teeth, plunged a borrowed weapon into Cinder's stomach.

And when the Maiden was finally stolen away on black wings, Neopolitan licked her lips once. I...want to watch the battle again.

The Dream flickered, and Obsidian closed with Cinder Fall once more.

Neopolitan watched with care.

Thus, Cinder Fall intends to use the Mantles as keys.

...So any plan she has is brittle. She can fail because she can't get the Maidens, or because she can't get the relics... She blinked thoughtfully. Or, of course, if she's dead.

She will be.

There was a depth to Obsidian's voice that, for a moment, Neo was nearly swept away in. Like those words were more than the simple statements Obsidian had been making.

However, as the Fall Maiden, she will be kept secure. A resource to be spent carefully. Targeting her specifically is likely to fail.

After a moment, Neo nodded. So. What's the plan? I assume you're telling me this because it's important.

Weiss has acquired a new trait. Alone in the Void - Weiss Schnee has always been the most understanding of you on an intellectual level, but has struggled to truly connect to you for many of the same reasons. Yet...that field of stars reminds her of a vast, empty snowfield. And in that moment, in that memory, she finally understands. You are - you were - utterly and entirely alone. And, for some reason, her heart aches... {Immediately opens access to Dreaming with Weiss and increases her Soulsong to Moderate. Vastly increases her understanding of you, and mitigates your impact on her morale in the future.}

A/N: This is shorter than I'd hoped for, but I need to get the ball rolling again after the holidays. Apologies for disappearing again; this month was just one thing after another for me.