Authors Note: Oh hey look, this one was actually done before the typical deadline! Truly amazing.

Beta: GeneralMayhem, kpmh2001

Ozpin remained silent, all signs of what he might be thinking having slipped from his face leaving a perfectly neutral expression that left Pyrrha feeling more and more anxious as she told him the truth.

"I don't know how, but…" She paused for a moment, struggling to speak. "He brought me back."

Pyrrha waited as patiently as she could, knowing what she had said was insane, had she not lived it herself she would have said as much. Ozpin knew things however, he knew more than anyone alive just how crazy their lives had become. If anyone would understand, it would be him.

And yet he remained silent. As the seconds grew Pyrrha's awkward feeling did as well, looking down towards the floor in shame. "I'm sorry I couldn't do more."

"I understand now," Ozpin finally spoke. "what Qrow meant when he said something was different. You don't carry yourself as Amber did, and I am inclined to believe that you are not her…" Pyrrha dared to hope. "Your other claims however…"

"I know how it sounds!" Pyrrha croaked, her throat burning in response to the sudden volume. "I'm not lying!"

"I do not believe you are."

"I'm not crazy either!" Pyrrha breathed deeply, struggling to calm herself as she lashed out. "I know what I saw, a-and I know that I… that I…"

"Died?" Ozpin finished for her. For the first time since she had started speaking his neutral expression cracked and the slightest bit of sympathy appeared though it. "Am… Miss Nikos, I do not believe you mad, nor that you are lying." the Headmaster sighed, stepping further into the room. "I have seen many things throughout my years, but never a claim such as this. I would ask for your patience as I attempt to understand."

Pyrrha nodded her head softly. "I-I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to raise my voice." She rubbed her throat at the thought.

"If what you claim is true…" He paused, for the first time she could remember he seemed to struggle for his words. "There are things in this world beyond our understanding, beyond even Magic and the Maidens that wield it. Beings that wielded incredible power and once ruled over all creation, The Brothers."

Pyrrha listened carefully, unsure of what to say or think as he went on.

"The former gods are gone now, they have been for millennia, but their power is still felt in the world if one knows how to listen." He turned to face her. "That power still resides in you, or rather, Amber's body."

Pyrrha flinched at the words, looking down at her hand. She knew it wasn't her body, how could she forget? Amber was dead and she had practically taken over her body, like some kind of parasite.

The thought made her sick, and were it not for the threat Cinder posed Pyrrha didn't know how she would cope with it all.

"Time travel has always been a story and fantasy to tell children and to entertain ourselves… but then, magic has become such a thing as well." Ozpin said. "I have no reason to distrust your words aside from the fact it has never been done before, but as we both have learned, the will of said beings is beyond our understanding."

"You… believe me?" She could barely believe what she had heard.

"Against all logic," Ozpin stared at her for a long moment before replying. "I do."

Pyrrha sagged her shoulders in relief.

"I would very much like to hear the specifics of our enemies' plan, but that can wait for now." Pyrrha was surprised and made to protest, Ozpin raising a hand to prevent her from speaking. "I will begin making preparations to bolster our defenses, but as the Fall Maiden you will need to be ready for whatever may come. Rest and take time to heal, there will not always be time for such things."

She nodded silently.

"There is one thing I would like to ask you, however," Ozpin stated. "Now that you have passed the message on to us, what do you plan to do? I will not force you to stay, Fall Maiden or not the choice to fight is yours to make."

Pyrrha wished she could say her reply was instant, but it wasn't. She had passed on the message, warning Beacon that it was in danger. A silent voice in the back of her head said she had done enough. She shut it out with a shake of her head.

Her friends would be at Beacon during the attack, she would not run and leave them to face the danger alone.

She did her best to hide her hesitance. "I want to help."

Ozpin turned towards the door. "Good."

"Sir, can... I ask you for a favor?" He stopped at the door, looking back at her despite the fact she couldn't bring herself to look up from the floor. "Could you be the one to tell the others?"

"Yes, Miss Nikos, I will tell them for you."

Pyrrha muttered a quiet thank you as the door closed, for the first time in days leaving her alone to think.

I did it… I actually did it.

She'd managed to warn them of the future, and it would change everything… She hoped. If it didn't… why would she have even been sent back? No… It had to work. It had to.

Pyrrha felt relieved in a way she couldn't fully contemplate, a great weight being lifted off her shoulders at the knowledge that it had worked. There had been doubt that she would be able, doubt that the Headmaster would believe her, there had even been a small part of herself that thought all of this might have simply been a trick. That none of it was real or that just before she could deliver the truth something would happen. Maybe she would die again, or maybe it would all have been revealed to be a dream, like so many of her failures before.

In the end, such horrible things hadn't happened. She had gotten the message through and they were one step closer to winning. She was one step closer to being reunited with those she cared about.

Pyrrha's almost giddy smile fell away, having been replaced by a grim expression. There was work to be done and no matter what the others said, time was not on their side.

Ozpin gripped his cane tightly, jaw clenched in an admittedly uncharacteristic manner. He struggled to rein in the emotions he felt in that moment, only managing to do so due to countless lifetimes of practice.

The halls of Beacon had been host to many things since it's foundation nearly eighty years ago. Generation after generation of young aspiring heroes determined to do good in the world, some simply for the act of doing it and some for personal gain, and in all that time there was one thing Ozpin had never been able to get used to.

Admittedly, the school life was different from how he had spent most of his lives. He had been a hero on many occasions, generals that lead wars throughout history, and king of more than a few kingdoms. Some of which had fallen, and others that still existed in one form or another.

Being a Headmaster was different from all of those in some ways, but it shared a number of factors with the rest. Aside from being a position of great power, it was also one with great responsibilities. Many of which he would rather not have thrust upon him.

This being one such responsibility.

Amber had been a bright student and, unfortunately, she had inherited the maiden powers from her aunt at an exceptionally young age. She had spent years training in the academy but never actively enrolled in it, despite her desires to do so.

He had created a cover story for her, allowing her to take private lessons with the various professors who had worked at the academy throughout the years. It was a difficult life, and one that he wished hadn't been necessary.

Such a task was difficult enough with family and people to depend on, Amber had come to Beacon with neither. As time had gone on, however, her teachers became her family.

Ozpin rapped his hand on the door gently, a soft sound echoing out through the halls as he steeled himself for what was about to come.

Glynda opened the door and, upon noticing it was him, gestured for him to step in. "Ozpin, I had planned to meet you in your office shortly."

"There is news, I'm afraid it couldn't wait." Ozpin turned to face her, again struggling to keep his face neutral.

Glynda gestured towards a small kettle of tea set up off to the side of her office. Judging by the smell it was a Mistrilian blend, originally brewed three lifetimes ago by a noble at court. Ozpin frowned slightly at the attempt to distract himself, thankfully it went unnoticed and he politely declined as she began to prepare herself a cup.

"I assume it relates to the attack on Amber, how is she?"

"Amber…" Ozpin took a deep breath. "Is no longer with us."

The sound of porcelain hitting the floor was deafening.

Qrow stared at his scroll, seeing the multiple messages from Taiyang and the girls asking if he was alright. He had promised to call them once he got back from his mission and he had been in the process of stopping by the CCT when Ozpin found him.

How he knew Qrow would stop there before going to the bar, Qrow didn't really know, but he regretted not skipping out on the call and heading straight for Vale. At least then he could have lived the illusion a little longer.

Amber was dead, at least in every way that counted. He had failed, just like always, and now a girl barely old enough to call herself a huntress was dead… and replaced by someone else.

Qrow wasn't sure if it was the knowledge of that that made him want to puke or the several bottles of booze, but either way it was coming. He knocked back another glass to shove it down.

His semblance had really done its job this time, proving once again that he couldn't seem to do anything right.

Qrow reached for the bottle, only to find it empty. Setting it aside the rest he gestured for the bartender to bring another one, catching a glimpse of the T.V. as he did so.

Lisa Lavender was talking about some kind of attack, suspected to have been perpetrated by a terrorist organization that had recently started targeting the kingdom and its citizens more directly.

There hadn't been any busts and the police appeared to have no leads, much to the annoyance of the esteemed counselors of Vale. The report went on to talk about suspected ties to local gangs.

Qrow stood from his chair, tossing lien at the table as he took his final bottle and left. Most days he needed the distraction alcohol provided, it helped him forget the fuck up that was his life. Sadly it wasn't working tonight.

The only other thing he could think of was burying himself in work.

Okay White Fang, let's see how you like being on the receiving end.

Pyrrha sat in the Headmasters office as patiently as she could. Sleeping in a real bed had been nice, but the fact she was at Beacon was what had allowed her to truly relax and rest for the night. Tsune had offered her some medicine for her throat and she could already feel her voice returning.

It had been difficult to convince the Headmaster she was ready to start training so soon, only able to do so after stressing the importance of how little time they had. He had reluctantly agreed to let her begin training, but first he wanted her to explain everything she knew about the coming attack.. and not only to himself.

That was how she found herself where she was, attempting to ignore the looks she was getting from Qrow and Miss Goodwitch. Despite how uncomfortable it made her, she couldn't bring herself to mention it. They hadn't been hostile towards her, there had been no accusations or screaming like she had feared, but only because they had barely spoken to her at all.

She had told them everything she knew, both from personal experience and from second hand stories from team RWBY. She had given the Headmaster the shortened version the day before, but now she left nothing out. From the White Fang, to how Atlas' robots had been turned against them, to Team RWBY's mission to Mountain Glenn and how it resulted in The Breach.

It took nearly two hours, by the end of it her voice was raw but she told them everything she knew.

"In light of what Miss Nikos has told us, there are preparations that have to be made." Ozpin managed to look at her without any visible discomfort, the others had yet to even meet her eyes.

"Right… because the time traveler says so." Qrow commented, and she could hear him take a drink from his flask as he finished.

"Is it really such a strange concept?" Ozpin asked. "Most of what we do would be considered the stuff of fantasy by most people, is this so hard to accept?"

"If she can tell me tomorrow's lottery numbers, I'll accept it."

"Enough." Miss Goodwitch was a stark contrast to Qrow. Disciplined and stern as ever, even among professional hunters it seemed, but there was something else in her voice Pyrrha could recall ever hearing before.

She sounded tired.

"Ozpin believes she is telling the truth, that is enough." Miss Goodwitch looked over to her for the briefest of moments. "For now."

Pyrrha looked back towards Ozpin.

"There will be plenty of opportunity for her to prove herself but for now we have to prepare." He looked to Qrow. "You mentioned you started looking into the White Fang's presence in the city."

Qrow nodded, sitting up slightly in his chair. "Yeah, took a look around the rundown parts of the city last night, with what the girl said I'll start snooping around the docks tonight as well, see if I can't find anything."

"I can help." Pyrrha said.

"In time," Ozpin assured her. "But for now you need to train, from what you've said, you're not used to your new body's capabilities. Rushing off into fights unprepared will get you killed and we can't take that risk."

"I… I understand." Pyrrha tried not to let her disappointment show through. She understood what he was saying and she planned to train harder than ever before, but it was hard to hear that she would be more a liability than an asset.

"I will show you what I can in regards to the Maiden powers but I'm afraid that with the preparations we have to make, I'll have little time." Ozpin sounded frustrated at the fact he didn't have enough time, a sentiment Pyrrha could wholeheartedly agree with. "So in my place, Glynda will train you."

"Uh, Oz, you sure that's the-" Qrow was interrupted before he could finish.

"It will be no issue." Miss Goodwitch responded coldly. "I helped Amber master her abilities and I have been training students for years, this will be no different."

"Yeah, but…" Whatever Qrow was trying to say died as Miss Goodwitch sent him a glare capable of freezing the sun.

"There will be no issue."

Ozpin coughed to gain their attention. "I'm glad to hear it. Qrow, continue your investigation into the White Fang and report back with what you find. When you have time available I would appreciate it if you could help with training Miss Nikos."

Qrow grunted what might have been considered an agreement.

"Miss Nikos, take the day to rest your body. Your training will begin tomorrow."

Authors Note: Ok, now we can start getting into some of the more interesting topics… like negotiations with the Trade Federation to lift the blockade of Naboo! What?

This chapter and last chapter were definitely establishing factors, slower paced and meant for setting the scene of conflict, internal and external, moving forward. So yeah… This is where the fun begins.

I hope you all enjoyed and as always remember to review and let me know what you think, positive or negative reviews both help in their own ways so don't hesitate to tell me it sucked if it does.

Sincerely, SE