Glynda Goodwitch couldn't shake the sinking feeling in her stomach as the elevator continued to crawl upward within the spire of Beacon Academy. Though she knew that tea would be offered, pleasantries would be exchanged, and reassurances would be made by her superior, the woman had a distinct feeling that none of it would matter. She had never been called to Professor Ozpin's office for any discussion about herself, and the phrasing that sparked her summons bothered her greatly. The polished walls of the elevator afforded Glynda a look at her reflection, and she found her expression to be dour, doubtful, and confused. Everything about her face flew against her feelings about her experiences at Beacon in her previous year of employment, and the usually pleasant ding of the elevator's arrival marked the start of a deepened frown, where it would usually make her feel reassured.

The clattering echo of her heels across the floor of Professor Ozpin's office only served to emphasize Glynda's feeling of hollowness. For the first time, the cavernous chamber struck her as lofty and intimidating, rather than open and welcoming. The presence of Maria Calavera in a seat of her own next to Professor Ozpin's only unnerved her further, as did the empty chair set up directly across from the pair of her elders, on the opposite side of the desk. Glynda hesitated several feet from the chair, which caused Maria to extend an open hand toward the seat as she offered a wry smirk.

"Nice and prompt response, rookie. You know what to do, so do it."

Glynda wrinkled her nose at the verbal jab and walked around the seat before lightly sinking into its plush cushion. She folded her hands into her lap and took a deep breath in through her nose, only to let it out as a heavy sigh as she looked at her headmaster. Professor Ozpin had his elbows upon the desk and his finger steepled just before his mouth as he regarded the fledgling professor with an unreadable look. Nearly a full minute passed in silence as the various clocks and gears around the office clicked rhythmically, before the headmaster raised his mouth above his fingertips and spoke in his usual calm, patient tone.

"…good evening, Glynda. How were classes, today?"

"They were fine," the woman replied far too quickly. She took another deep breath and shook her head before tucking an errant strand of flaxen hair behind her ear. "Apologies, Professor. I didn't mean to be so short with you. The upperclassmen behaved as normal in combat training, though by the time I reached the first years, I could really only stand to supervise one fight. Roman Torchwick and Robin Winchester put on quite a show and ended their bout in a draw. After that, I canceled the remainder of the class, as I wasn't feeling well. I'm sorry."

"Any particular reason for that? You not feeling well, I mean," Maria inquired as she crossed her legs while putting her feet up onto the edge of Professor Ozpin's desk. Glynda stared coldly at the gesture, before looking down to the floor in frustration.

"…yes. Because of this meeting," she admitted. "Though I may be relatively new to Beacon, this place is my home. These students are my children, whether they would believe or agree with that statement or not. This very office holds many treasured memories of heart to heart conversations that I've had with the previous headmaster. Those talks helped me through what felt like an impossible and overwhelming first year, and I wouldn't be the woman I am today without his help. I'm… worried sick over why I've been called here. If it's to let me go, despite what was said this morning… I'm not sure what I'll do," Glynda finished as her frown deepened.

The elder professors exchanged a look unseen to Glynda, and Maria was quick to slip her boots off the furniture and back down to the floor as she leaned forward.

"Glynda… while I get the feeling you may not like me, I, too learned a lot from Professor Oslo. I was once in your position, and he saw promise in me, despite my struggles as a new professor. It took him far longer to trust me on the same level that we're trusting you today, but I can see similarities in the woman I used to be and the one you are now," Maria offered as Glynda looked up at her.

"And what exactly are you trusting me with?" the younger woman asked as she raised a brow.

"Myself," Professor Ozpin answered simply as he rose from his chair and began to make his way toward the window overlooking the campus, while facing away from Glynda. "In truth, I never left you. The things you told me last year are still fresh within my memory, and I can only hope that you will forgive me for my deception up until this point. I didn't want to place undue pressure upon you right at the start of the new school year."

Glynda felt her breathing quicken as she moved a hand to the armrest of her chair. "I'm not sure I follow."

"And I'm not sure I have the patience for this particular brand of theatrics today, Oz," Maria said with a roll of her eyes. "It's actually pretty simple- Ozpin, the new guy? He's Oslo, the former headmaster, by way of some ancient magic. This is your induction into the 'inner circle,' if you want to call it that, and I'm here in case you react badly."

"…you always were good at stealing my thunder, Maria," Professor Ozpin said with a smirk. "What Maria's telling you is true, unbelievable though it may seem. Though, there is another reason she's here, which we'll get to in a moment. For now, simply take some time to let the shock settle in, and to get your questions out."

Glynda simply sat in silence for a moment as her mind buzzed with thoughts, none of which she could verbalize. She stared at Maria for a long while and reasoned that her colleague wouldn't be the type to entertain any sort of lie with such gravity behind it. Glynda opened her mouth to speak, only to close it again before making a second attempt.

"How… when did you… I thought you died?" Glynda questioned. "And why do you look so different? So young? And is that cane… I thought it was a replica, a tribute to the former headmaster. Is it actually the original?"

Professor Ozpin chuckled softly as he turned to face the two women once again. "All in due time, Glynda. I promise I will answer all that and more… but first, I can read a room, and I know what you're thinking, Maria," the man said with a grin at his colleague. In contrast, she looked rather annoyed.

"That this is about to get far too sugary and full of tearful hugs for my liking? You're correct, if so. So, allow me to say my part and leave you two to the reunion and explanation. After all, I've already heard it before," Maria grumbled as she stood from her chair and cracked her knuckles. "We need something from you, Glynda. Something that only you can provide, in addition to your silence regarding this situation. In fact, that's the primary reason we're bringing you in on this now- it's an issue that needs to be addressed immediately."

Glynda finally took the initiative to stand herself, and instinctively took a step back. "Provided the explanation for all of this is clear and truthful… you'll have my loyalty. Always," she pledged.

"Good," Maria praised as she took a step closer to Glynda. "We're going to need you to observe the Branwen twins closely during your class and start recording all you can of their matches for us. We have suspicions that those two aren't who they say they are."

Glynda stood her ground and drew in another heavy breath. "And who, might I ask, do you think they are, if not first year students looking to learn like any others?"

"That… is a rather complicated answer," Professor Ozpin began as he returned to his desk and braced a hand atop the surface. "Have you ever heard of a clan calling themselves 'Those Above All'?"

Willow walked silently beside Johnathon as they continued to make their way down a rather busy sidewalk of Vale City. The setting sun reflected orange light off the windows of the various several story tall buildings, giving some businesses the appearance as though they were burning softly from within. Willow tore her eyes from the third floor windows of an office building and brought them back down to the path ahead as she and Johnathon weaved around a hot dog cart, where several people had formed a queue for food.

"So, Miss Schnee," Johnathon said, earning the heiress' attention once again. "As honesty seems to be the order of the day, what do you think of Vale, thus far? Quite different from Atlas, I'd imagine."

Willow offered her companion a tight-lipped, somewhat sad smile as they continued on past the line of people. "It's… something I'm having trouble putting into words, but I can certainly say it's an overall positive impression, especially when compared to Atlas."

"Take your time," Johnathon encouraged. "Though, if I may- from a firsthand account, what is Atlas like? The upper city, specifically- how is it different walking those streets, compared to this?"

"Much sparser than Vale," Willow replied immediately.

"Really?" Johnathon asked as he raised his brows. "I'd have thought it would be practically impossible to simply stroll down through the shopping districts with any efficiency."

"Quite the opposite," Willow let on with a shake of her head and a snort of disgust. "Walking through those districts is the only efficient way to do it- up there, the majority think they're too good for sidewalks, and far above mingling with whatever common folk might be trying to hawk their goods upon the streets. Nearly everyone owns expensive, gaudy, dust-burning vehicles that make the roads themselves almost impossible to drive. Those of the so-called elite class would rather have personal assistants fly private helicopters two blocks than sit in traffic or dare to walk. The only ones on the sidewalks are those barely scraping together the lien to remain on the upper half, or those forced to perform manual labor up there by their jobs in the lower."

It was Johnathon's turn to shake his head as he chuckled. "Sounds to me like there's opportunity for those who would be willing to walk and take the paths less traveled. Is lien really such a non-issue that private helicopters are viable for a significant number of residents of the upper city?"

"To the point where the Atlas military has had to use gravity dust powered floating signs designating no-fly zones to allow them to section off training and transport airspace. The skies are almost as clogged as the streets, some days," Willow explained with a sigh. "And those that take the airways spend their time looking down at those who don't, both literally and not."

"Incredible," Johnathon remarked in an impressed tone. "It sounds like an entirely different world. It also explains a lot about the people there and the attitudes they carry with them, if what I've heard is to be believed."

"It probably is," Willow said nonchalantly as they rounded a corner. Beacon Academy came into view in the distance, and Willow fixed her eyes upon the central spire. "The reputation that the residents have is certainly earned, for the most part… but I could say the same about you, and the other residents of Vale."

"Is that so?" Johnathon asked flatly. "In what way?"

"Things are so much more intimate and friendly, here. People smile as I pass, whether or not I know them. Despite being a large city, it feels almost like a community, and I get the sense that the people of Vale are simply trying to get by, and for the most part, willing to help each other do it," Willow explained as the sidewalk began to ramp upward. "There's an honesty in the camaraderie here, both in the city, and at Beacon. It's a similar feeling I get from you, thus far. Maybe not everything about you is strictly honest in and of itself, but the overall goal of survival and forward progress for everyone seems to be. In Atlas… deals are made, hands are shaken, and that integrity is all but gone. I like it better here."

"Well put," Johnathon praised as he rubbed at his chin with his thumb and forefinger. "An accurate assessment… and precisely why I'd like to travel to Atlas, sometime. I think there truly is opportunity for change up there, but it needs to be initiated by someone with the right sort of hustle. A drive, an initiative, an inner fire that could change all of those backdoor deals and champagne-fueled parties into something that benefits the greater good, rather than the greater greed. I believe that Atlas could very easily become like Vale, with the right men and women in charge."

"For once, I'll have to disagree with you," Willow lamented as they approached the tall gates of the school. The heiress pushed through the entranceway and held the heavy metal door for Johnathon, who followed her inside and onto the grounds. "It can't be someone- it has to be multiple people. A significant amount of people, and I want to be directly involved. That's my ultimate goal."

"…alright, I'll give you that," Johnathon agreed. "But it can start small. It can start with you, and your team. Summer seems willing enough to help those in need, be it the disadvantaged through her work for me, or the citizens of Vale with her team. I don't know the rest well at all beyond Qrow, really, but he seems to have his head in the right place as well. Why not discuss your thoughts with them? Even if they don't outright devote themselves to the cause, they might offer perspectives you wouldn't otherwise think about on your own."

"I will, in time," Willow confirmed. She began down a cobblestone path toward a large, glittering lake on the eastern side of the campus, and Johnathon followed along at her side. "But what about you? What's your endgame? Why do all of this, and where do you want to end up, John? I can't imagine someone as crafty and insightful as you staying here forever and running such a small racket to undercut the government of Vale."

Johnathon smirked at the girl's words and put his hands into his pockets. "Oh, no, not at all. My sights are set firmly upon Atlas as my endgame, truth be told. In time, I'd like to take my little operation there, and work to undercut that city instead- the upper half, of course, while providing for the lower, if at all possible. The biggest obstacle is getting there and getting a foot in the door. Establishing myself as a hustler in Vale wasn't exactly easy. Establishing myself as the same in Upper Atlas? If done without careful planning and inside information, it could be outright impossible."

Willow stayed quiet for several minutes as she walked beside Johnathon. The pair eventually made their way to a bench at the edge of the lake and sat beside each other as they looked out over the water. The surface seemed almost to smolder in the setting sun as oranges and purples mixed within the dark waters.

"…what if it could be laughably easy, instead?" Willow asked as she turned her head to look at Johnathon.

"…go on," Johnathon replied as he draped an arm around the back of the bench.

"Next weekend, Kali, Roman, and I are headed to Atlas," Willow began. "Join us. Disguise yourself, and I'll introduce you to some of the major players as a friend of mine from Beacon. We'll look for potential vulnerabilities, scope out who deserves to be undercut, and begin laying the groundwork for your eventual move up to Atlas. All it would take is a single party for you to see what you'll be dealing with and begin to formulate strategies for survival."

Johnathon looked rather stunned for all of a second before his expression shifted to a mischievous grin. "My dear, I would love nothing more. Perhaps you and I will be making a deal today after all."

"Yeah. Dropoff was smooth, no real issues to report," Qrow said as he pressed the back of his hand to Summer's forehead once again while speaking down into his scroll as it rested upon the seat next to him. The girl's flesh was clammy and cool to his touch, and her head felt oddly heavy within Qrow's lap. "We took care of some grimm, and Leonardo seemed happy with the goods. We're out in the woods now, and it's been strangely quiet thus far. We should be back in two hours, at most."

A crackly, familiar voice came over the line, echoing around the van.

"Good, good. I'm actually on your campus, at the moment- Willow and I had a conversation that lasted for far longer than I anticipated. Maybe I'll wait for you here. It's rather nice, by the lake."

A pang of jealousy lanced through Qrow's chest with a degree of intensity that caught him by surprise. He saw Raven's eyes boring through him in the rearview mirror as he scowled, but he kept his tone even and amicable.

"Yeah, sure. We'll give you a full report once we get in, but there isn't really much else to say just yet, and I'm sure we'll have at least a few more rounds of grimm to handle on our way back."

"I'd be pleasantly surprised if you didn't. Honestly, I don't need any sort of 'report' from you- I'll check in with Leo in a day's time and make sure everything is fine, from his viewpoint. I trust you to have handled it well- I'll just stick around to get you your lien, and exchange pleasantries. Take care of yourselves, and I'll see you soon."

The call disconnected suddenly as the waveform upon the screen of the scroll fizzled down to a flat line. Qrow picked up the device and turned off the speakerphone function before stuffing it back in his pocket and heaving a sigh.

"Well, I tried. Do you think he bought it?" Qrow asked as he leaned forward and braced a hand on the central armrest. He gave his sister a quizzical look, though she kept her eyes on the road as she continued to maneuver the vehicle through the forest.

"I'd say so," Raven reassured. "He didn't sound at all suspicious, and it sounds like he's been preoccupied most of the day, anyway."

"Yeah," Qrow replied with a bit of an edge to his voice. "With Willow. Sounds like they hit it off."

"Sounds like you need to make some decisions and move a little faster, before his dapper charm sweeps her off her feet," Raven teased as she spared Qrow a glance through the mirror once again.

Qrow's lip twitched in annoyance as he leaned back into the seat and adjusted the blanket atop Summer. "She's not stupid enough to get romantically involved with a hustler. Speaking of decisions, things are pretty quickly getting out of hand with STRQ. I think it's time you made yours."

Qrow reactively braced a hand into the back of the passenger seat as the vehicle screeched to a halt and Raven turned in her seat to give her brother a furious glare.

"Qrow. We are not doing this right now," Raven warned as she diverted her attention to Summer's prone and unconscious body. "Especially not with her right here."

"And why not?" Qrow questioned defiantly as he leaned back into his seat and returned his sister's annoyed look. "She didn't wake up after that little stunt of yours, and if you're still so loyal to daddy dearest, here's a priority target, unconscious and ready to be culled. With the kind of power she has, and potentially two semblances, are you telling me you're going to let her keep getting stronger? Or are you no longer 'Above All', Raven?"

Raven let out a noise between a hiss and a grunt as she returned her attention to her team leader. Summer's face was a pale, innocent portrait of youth, and the sight of her so pallid and motionless filled Raven with an uncomfortable feeling that she couldn't quite put into words within her mind. Try as she might, she couldn't look away for a long time, until finally she managed to turn and face the road again without letting her eyes fall back on Qrow. Without a word, she stepped on the gas pedal and began to navigate the dirt road once again.

Qrow heaved a sigh and shook his head as he idly traced his fingers through Summer's hair. "So that's how it's gonna be, huh? Just keep avoiding the discussion, excuse after excuse, until you have to make a decision in a moment where things become do or die. I don't want to come down on you over and over, but I do want y-"

"I tried calling home," Raven interrupted as she kept her eyes on the road. "Several times. Even before you did, because I couldn't stand the silence and the pressure that he put on us with a job this big. I didn't want to admit it to you, that I'm starting to splinter and crack. I didn't want to put my doubts into words and make them real. I'm not stupid, and I'm not blind, Qrow. I know something isn't right."

"And when you called home, what kind of response did you get?" Qrow asked, softening his tone.

Raven neglected to answer for what felt like an eternity to Qrow. The silence was occupied only by the sounds of the tires bumping and rolling over rocks upon the dirt path.

"…nothing. Not once, before or after we talked about this earlier."

Qrow leaned forward once again and gently laid a hand upon his sister's shoulder. She tensed horribly at the contact, but Qrow kept his fingers in place.

"I'm sorry, Raven. At least we've got each other no matter what happens, right? Forget the team, for the moment- whatever you decide, I'll have your back as best I can. I mean, I won't let you run wild on Summer and Tai, but… you're my sister, and maybe more importantly, my best friend. We'll get through this. We always get through it," Qrow offered as he flexed his hand in a gentle rubbing motion.

"I hated Summer, at first," Raven confessed in a low whisper. "The idea of having a leader telling me exactly what I was going to do, when, and how… you know me, Qrow. I cut my own path, fight against the tide, and I don't take no for an answer. The only reason you're here with me is because I refused to back down and submit to our father's will. It took me far too long to realize that while he and Summer are both authority figures… I only feel warmth from one of them. I know Summer actually cares, and I know she's flexible and understanding enough to let us do our thing, as needed."

"I know," Qrow agreed. "And I know you know that. I've just been waiting for you to admit it."

"Well, I am," Raven sneered as she guided the van into a turn. "I'm still not ready to turn my back on our clan outright, just yet… but I am willing to say that when the time does come that we need to decide where we stand, once and for all… I know which direction I'm leaning, and it's not where I was a month ago. I'll stand with you and try to make him see that he's targeting the wrong people."

Qrow shook his head in frustration as he returned his hand to Summer's hair. "Raven, that's not going to work, and you know it. Compromise really isn't an op-"

A fitful bout of coughing interrupted Qrow's words, and he watched silently as Summer's eyes squinted and twitched several times before fluttering open into narrowed slits. The girl hacked violently into her hand once again before trying to sit up, only for Qrow to brace his hands on her shoulders and guide her head back into his lap.

"Whoa, whoa, now," Qrow cautioned. "Take it easy. Job's done, we're on our way back, and you're not looking too good. Stay flat."

Summer wheezed and opened her eyes a bit wider. Her vision was blurry and her mind slow to process what she was seeing. As the realization hit her that Raven was driving, she once again tried to sit up, only for Qrow to force her back down again.

"Raven? Let me drive, I can…"

"Hey, no, it's fine," Qrow insisted as he kept his hands on his leader's shoulders. "She's got this, and you're not well."

"Besides, we're now only breaking one law by having me drive," Raven deadpanned. "We made the drop off, so there's nothing illegal in the van. If we get pulled over once we hit civilization again, I'll just play dumb and open my top a bit."

Summer wheezed a hollow laugh as she brought a hand back up to her mouth for another dry cough. Qrow slowly helped her rise into a sitting position before he leaned over the back seat and began to rummage within the trunk.

"Maybe that would work. Are you okay?" Summer asked as she shivered and pulled the blanket a bit tighter around herself.

Raven eyed Summer curiously through the mirror as she allowed the vehicle to slow a bit. "Am I okay? What do you mean?"

"You know… the grimm, and… your sword? I don't really remember much of what happened," Summer explained as Qrow righted himself and offered her a canteen. "Thanks…"

"Of course," Qrow offered with a wave of his hand.

"I'm… fine," Raven said slowly. "My sword is still jammed, and I'll probably have to take it to Professor Calavera this week, but… you don't remember any other details?"

Summer shook her head silently as the twins shared a worried look. Afterward, Qrow cleared his throat, and slipped an arm around Summer's back.

"Well, to start off, how are you feeling? You've been out for hours and had us both really worried."

"Not… great," Summer admitted before taking a sip of water from her canteen. "Sweaty, cold, just overall gross. What happened, guys? Please don't keep me in the dark."

Qrow gave Raven an expectant look through the mirror. She was the first to break away, and she blew out a labored breath while shaking her head.

"An alpha beowulf tried to catch me off guard from a nearby bush while I was preoccupied with its lesser counterpart. I'm guessing you used your semblance ahead of time, because you managed to warn me a second before it happened," Raven explained.

"Yeah, I guess so," Summer agreed before taking another sip. "I kinda remember that part, but what happened afterward?"

Raven shifted uncomfortably in her seat and adjusted the rearview mirror away from Qrow's line of sight. "Honestly? I wish I could tell you. I turned to try to use my jammed sword to block the pouncing alpha, but my vision went entirely white. When I could see again, you were standing in my place, while I was standing in yours."

"And you blew your entire aura, doing whatever you did," Qrow added. "Neither of us has any idea what happened, but the simplest explanation is… two semblances? It sounds ridiculous out loud, but what else could it be?"

Summer's pale cheeks somehow blanched even further as she listened to her teammates recount the events. Flashes of memory that lined up with their words played out in her mind, and she squinted her eyes shut as she brought a hand up to rub at her temples.

"It's starting to come back to me, a little bit. I can…kinda remember that happening, but I have no idea what I did to trigger that… swap. Teleportation? Whatever it was," Summer said with a wave of her hand.

"Then we need to work together to figure that out, until you can do it again," Raven said flatly.

"Raven!" Qrow protested, looking annoyed.

"What? After she's recovered, obviously," Raven clarified. "But we can't just ignore it. Even if we do decide to keep knowledge of this within the team, you should probably ask a professor, or the headmaster. Neither of us have ever heard of anything like this happening."

"No," Summer said immediately as she brought her arms in to hug herself. "No, that's not a good idea. I don't know why, but something's telling me not to tell anyone but you two."

"Another premonition?" Qrow asked. "Is the feeling tied to your semblance? Your original one, I mean?"

"I… no, I don't think so," Summer replied. "This is something different. Just a gut feeling, I guess. Whatever we do, I want to figure this out with the three of us, first, like Raven suggested. Maybe with Tai, too."

"We'll do whatever you want to do, Summer," Raven reassured without looking backward. Despite the lack of direct attention, Qrow allowed himself a triumphant smile.

"Yeah, we will, and no matter what, we'll get through it together. As a team."

"As a family," Raven added, only for Summer to finally manage a grin of her own.

"Aw, you guys," Summer sang as she leaned sideways into Qrow. "You're making me blush."

"Better to have red cheeks than deathly pale ones," Qrow remarked as he lazily draped an arm over his leader's shoulder. "We were worried, and you still look pretty awful. Just drink, and try to get some rest. We're still pretty far from home."

"We'll handle any grimm that show up," Raven added with a mischievous smirk to herself. "After all, I'm ahead by six now. I should give my brother a chance to catch up."

"…shut up, Raven."

Author's Note:

Deeper down the rabbit hole. The Atlas visit will be the next big arc, and it's going to be an explosive one.

-RD