The Way of the Maiden

by The Court of Talons

The world of Remnant is notable for warriors such as Huntsmen and Huntresses. It is also notable for the Mandalorians, groups of mysterious and nomadic warriors just as ruthless as the Grimm. This is the story of one particular Mandalorian, and how a chance encounter with a child leads to the adventure of a lifetime.

70. Chapter 70

Chapter 70: The End

Cinder would give anything to be anywhere else in the world. She would go back to her coma if it meant she wasn't where she was. She would even go to the moon if it meant she wasn't where she was. Unfortunately, nothing was going to change the situation. And nothing was going to take her away from where she was.

Din Djarin's deathbed.

After watching her father suffer life-threatening injuries at the hand of Salem, Cinder brought Djarin to Atlas as fast as she could in the hopes of saving his life. Djarin was still alive by the time they reached the Kingdom, so the doctors got to work right away.

But sadly, Djarin's injuries were too severe for the doctors to save him. That was why the lead surgeon relayed the news to Cinder, while wisely telling her that she should go and say her goodbyes.

Cinder didn't take this news very well, however. As a matter of fact, she felt like she had been hit by a literal ton of bricks as soon as she heard it. She even took a few steps backwards, doing the exact opposite of what the doctor ordered.

Cinder had the strength to do just about anything... but she didn't have the strength to go inside.

General Ironwood and Winter not only understood the situation, but they also worked together to help Cinder do the right thing. After they gently stopped her from moving backwards, with Clover's help, General Ironwood and Winter guided Cinder inside so she wouldn't be alone.

Once they were inside, Ironwood and Winter remained absolutely silent as Cinder began to say her goodbyes.

Djarin was resting on an operating table in the center of the room. He had been covered in a blanket, save for his head. The surgeons had managed to stop his bleeding while also administering medicine for his pain.

It wouldn't save his life, but Djarin's final moments would be painless.

"Oh, my Gods," Cinder said as she looked upon the state of her poor father. "Dad, no."

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

Sadly, the only response Cinder got was the beeping of the heart monitor Djarin was attached to. Naturally, this did nothing to ease Cinder's sadness and despair. So she kneeled down to the table to talk to him, careful to keep her hands away.

"Dad, please," Cinder begged. "Please don't die. You can pull through. You have to pull through!"

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

Cinder's distress amplified with the silence, which made her weep once more. Ironwood and Winter didn't like the silence either, and they too were distressed by what they were witnessing. However, they refused to leave the room. They knew Cinder couldn't do this alone.

"Can he hear her?" Ironwood whispered to the doctor.

"We believe so, sir," the doctor replied. "He was in and out of consciousness earlier."

Ironwood and the doctor were quiet enough for Cinder to have whatever time she needed.

"This is all my fault," Cinder said to her father. "I'm so sorry, Dad. I didn't mean for this to happen, I'm sorry!"

Winter was about to say something, to remind Cinder of how much good she had done. But as she was about to, Ironwood got her attention by shaking his head. From what he understood, Cinder needed to let it all out rather than be interrupted. Winter understood this, so she continued to listen to the heart monitor and Cinder.

"Dad, listen to me!" Cinder begged. "I hurt you, I know I did! Be angry, hate me all you want! Just don't leave me! Don't leave me, please!"

"..."

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

*BEEP*

Cinder eventually calmed down and took deep breaths. Once she regained her composure, Cinder made one more attempt to save her father's life before saying goodbye.

"Dad... please don't leave me. Without you... I am no-"

Cinder was suddenly silenced by a hand gently covering her mouth. When she followed it, she found Djarin's open eyes. To her surprise, and everyone else, Djarin had been conscious the whole time. The pain medicine was working, but the inevitable was still on its way.

But it wasn't going to take the Mandalorian easily. Not until he said what he needed to say.

"Cinder..." Djarin finally said, surprising everyone in the room. "Listen... to me."

"..."

Without a word, Cinder gently took her father's hand in hers and watched as he moved his head towards her. Between the soft grip and Djarin's soft smile, something that wasn't forced or feigned in any manner, Djarin had captured his daughter's full attention.

With that, Djarin shared his last words.

"Before I met you... I was nothing," Djarin began. "I was just... a hired gun. Someone who moved... from one job... to the next." Djarin squeezed Cinder's hand for emphasis. "But you... you inspired me. You made me... so much more. And I... have no regrets. None."

"..."

This had given some comfort to Cinder. Praise and approval from the person she called her father was always welcoming, and much better than what Cinder thought she felt for him.

"Thank you, Dad," she said as she dried her eyes. "But... I didn't mean for this to happen. I swear."

Djarin grunted before he gave Cinder an answer. "Neither... did I. But no soldier... lives forever. The same goes... for Mandalorians."

"..."

General Ironwood could attest to that. He had seen too many soldiers fall in battle, and he never wanted to see one more fall. Ironwood respected Djarin, but sadly knew that his time had come.

"Do you remember... when you were ten?" Djarin asked his daughter. "When you asked... if I believed... in God?"

"..."

Cinder wasn't sure why Djarin was asking that, even though she remembered the conversation. She was about to answer him, but Djarin continued to talk.

"I may have said... I didn't," Djarin recalled. "But I do believe... in an afterlife."

"I do too, Dad," Cinder confessed. "And I have a good idea where you're going."

"Not that kind... of afterlife. I believe... the legacy we leave... the impact on others... the memories of friends and family... is an afterlife. And... I'm glad... I left that impact... with you."

Cinder gently kissed Djarin's hand as she reflected on the legacy her father left behind. And needless to say, she believed it was truly a great legacy. "I am too, Dad," she said. "I won't forget any of those memories, I promise."

Djarin grunted once more, but he was still able to answer his daughter. "I know... you won't," he said. "And I... won't either. This... is... the Way..."

"..."

*BEEEEEEEE*

Cinder completely froze when Djarin fell silent and the machine gave a steady noise. General Ironwood and Winter had similar reactions, since they too had begun to mourn. And yet, Cinder refused to believe that her father, the first person in the world to ever truly care about her, was dead.

But one of the doctors was able to confirm this after placing a stethoscope on Djarin's chest and wrist.

"I'm sorry," the doctor said as he removed his stethoscope and turned around. "He's gone."

"..."

---

While it only took Cinder five minutes to travel from Vytal to Atlas, Amity Colosseum needed approximately an hour and a half to make the same journey. Its crew consisted of Ozpin, Qrow, Obi-Wan, Pietro, Penny, R2, and several Mandalorians who volunteered to deliver Salem to Atlas. The Mandalorian vault worked like a charm against the witch; it contained both Salem and her everlasting rage from her failure.

Spirits were high amongst the heroes during their journey... but they were completely shattered when they heard the terrible news.

Rather than tell her friends, Cinder sought refuge and solitude on the highest point in the city of Atlas. There, amongst the clouds, she wept and cried like she had never done so before. Her last conversation with Djarin would always live in her memory, but Cinder was willing to give anything just to hear his voice one last time.

The worst part of her loss, however, was that Cinder was right back where she started. With her father gone, Cinder had become an orphan once more. She had known the value and feeling of having family for five years, but all of that was gone now. Cinder wasn't a slave at the Glass Unicorn anymore, but she didn't have a family anymore.

And that was something Cinder couldn't stand.

Eventually, it was Penny who found Cinder high above Atlas. After offering her condolences and a hug, Penny guided Cinder back to the ground where everyone from Vytal was waiting for her.

"Cinder," Ozpin began as he saw Cinder touch the ground. "I... I am so sorry. Truly, I am."

"As am I," said Obi-Wan.

"I can't imagine how you must be feeling," said Pietro.

*WOOO*

"R2 is sorry as well," said Penny, who translated for her fellow machine.

"..."

Despite feeling sorry for Cinder, Qrow was the only person who remained silent. He wouldn't say that he knew how Cinder felt, but the news of Djarin's passing was a tragedy for him as well. Qrow never said it out loud, but Djarin was his best friend. Someone he had a strong kinship with ever since they started working together.

Just like Cinder, Qrow was heartbroken.

Cinder acknowledged everyone's condolences by nodding, and then chose to detach herself from her feelings. "What's going on?" she asked. "You came back with Amity?"

"..."

Everyone was somewhat surprised to hear Cinder focus on something else other than Djarin. But Ozpin knew that this was a sensitive time for her, so he understood why she wanted to focus on something else. And so, Ozpin respected Cinder's wishes and discussed recent events.

"Yes, after it was repaired from the Grimm," Ozpin explained. "We also spent some time searching for Hazel and Arthur Watts."

"Where are they?" Cinder asked.

"We don't know. They've disappeared."

"But it's alright," said Obi-Wan. "They were the only ones who escaped. And they're nowhere near as powerful as Salem."

The mention of Salem made Cinder angry almost immediately. She was, after all, the one who took Djarin away from her. "Where's Salem?" she asked with clenched fists.

It was easy to sense the anger from Cinder, which made everyone concerned. But Ozpin was able to calm her down by remaining calm. "We brought her to a holding cell," he explained. "The vault was given to some of James' soldiers, just in case. And rest assured, she will be under constant supervision."

"..."

"Cinder... I know this is a terrible time for you. But there's no need to take matters into your own hands. She's powerless, and she'll only heal from... whatever you may be thinking of doing."

"..."

Everyone was very concerned now. It was as clear as day that Cinder wanted to get even with Salem, even though the day had been won. Obi-Wan was the most concerned out of everyone, since he knew how feelings like Cinder's often led to a point of no return.

What they didn't know, however, was that Cinder was listening to what Ozpin had said. And while she definitely wanted to take matters into her own hands, Cinder only had one more thing

"Will she be punished?" Cinder asked calmly.

Ozpin took the question very seriously, even though he didn't see why this would be doubted. "Cinder... Salem may be immortal," he began. "But she will never set foot outside a cell again. As a matter of fact, I doubt that she will ever see the light of day again. I swear it."

"..."

Qrow stepped in for Ozpin when he heard silence as well. "Me too, kid," he said. "I'll be here for a few days to make sure she settles in."

"Penny and I aren't going anywhere," Pietro promised. "If there's any trouble, while unlikely, we'll put a stop to it."

"..."

"..."

"Okay," said Cinder. "Thank you."

Cinder's calm demeanor and sudden absence of negativity came as a surprise for everyone. But they were all glad to see that Cinder wouldn't be doing anything drastic or unnecessary.

They were, however, confused to see her turn around and start leaving.

"Cinder, wait!" Penny pleaded, despite everyone cautioning her to stay silent. "Where are you going?"

Despite everyone understanding that Cinder needed time alone, they agreed that knowing where she would be was a good idea. That way, they could find her whenever she needed help or needed a friend.

At the back of Cinder's mind, she knew that she would need both. Which was why she decided to answer the question.

"...Home."

*WHOOSH*

Cinder took to the air once again, leaving everyone behind as she charted her course. Penny was about to go after her, but Ozpin gently put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Let her go, Ms. Polendina," he requested.

"But she's not well!" Penny insisted. "She-!"

"Just let her go, darling," said Pietro. "She'll find us when she's ready."

"..."

---

Just as Cinder had said, her next destination was home. And in her case, home was Beacon Academy. She had lived there for five years with Djarin, but Cinder always saw it as the place she felt most at home.

However, despite the victory over Salem and her forces, Beacon was in a state of terrible disrepair. The Grimm and Atlesian forces had contributed greatly to this, even though the Atlesian forces felt the need to kill the Grimm. And members of the Saxon Clan took it upon themselves to ruin it further, during their hunt for the Relic of Choice.

Times were troubling for Beacon, but hope had not been lost. Due to the combined efforts of Huntsmen and rebel Mandalorians, Beacon had been taken back from the Saxon Clan. Camp had been established while Huntsmen worked to reestablish their full strength, but there was still much work to be done before the school could open again.

And yet, it was the only home Cinder ever knew.

Between that and Djarin's passing, Cinder had decided that all she could do was return. Her flight was slower than usual, since she wasn't in much of a hurry anymore. But Cinder eventually found herself back at Beacon by nightfall, right at the faculty dorms. Cinder had spent years at these dorms, before she enrolled as a student.

And right now, there was no other place Cinder wanted to be.

Unfortunately, the faculty dorms hadn't been repaired. Because the Huntsmen focused more of their efforts on the CCT tower, other parts of Beacon were abandoned and still left in ruins.

They were left to rot like open wounds.

The sight depressed Cinder even more, but she was still determined to find her father's old room. It wasn't hard, since Cinder easily knew the way. The path was rather treacherous due to the debris, but Cinder was able to use her Maiden powers to easily traverse the danger.

The door to Djarin's room had survived the attack, and Cinder opened it to reveal a rather unfortunate sight. The room wasn't entirely different from the rest of the building, but it was still in awful shape; debris was littered on the ground, the furniture was scorched, and dust was absolutely everywhere.

Despite the wonderful memories Cinder had, the room was literally a broken home.

But at the same time, it was the only home Cinder had.

Rather than search for somewhere else to stay, Cinder sat on the ground and leaned against the remnants of what was once her bed. As she did, Cinder reflected on all of her memories at Beacon. From meeting Ozpin to attending classes, life had been good for the Fall Maiden. She recalled her favorite memories being the ones where Djarin would return from a mission or hunt and greet her with open arms.

But now, Cinder was alone.

As she brought her head to her knees and softly wept, Cinder came to the realization that she had become an orphan. The worst part was that she was an orphan again. She had a parent for only five years, which felt like an eternity to her. Din Djarin was her godsend, and he had been unfairly taken away from her. And now, just like her time at the Glass Unicorn, Cinder was all alone.

Or so she thought.

*BAM*

The door to the room suddenly burst open and revealed Glynda Goodwitch, the guardian of Beacon Academy. She received reports of an apparent intruder from Huntsmen who were guarding the academy grounds. She saw to the threat personally, which led her to kicking the door open and thrusting her riding crop.

"Halt!" she said. "You're trespassing on-!" Glynda immediately calmed down when she laid eyes on the young Maiden. "Cinder?"

"..."

The room was rather dark, but Glynda recognized the visitor. Just to be sure, Glynda quickly reached for her Scroll and shined its flashlight on Cinder. Once she did, Glynda gasped and lowered her guard. "It is you!" she said in surprise.

Cinder quickly dried her eyes before she stood up and addressed Glynda. "H... Hi, Professor Goodwitch," she said.

"What are you doing all the way out here?" Glynda spread her arms across the damaged room to emphasize her point. "We haven't gotten around to repairing the dorms yet. It's dangerous here."

*CREAK*

*CRASH*

Two wooden boards fell from the ceiling and landed on the floor, further proving Glynda's point. At that moment, Cinder fully understood that she couldn't stay in the room. "I... I'm sorry," she said. "I just... wanted to come home."

Glynda could easily see that something was bothering Cinder. But rather than discuss it in a broken and dangerous place, Glynda took Cinder's hand and guided her out of the room. "Let's talk outside," she said.

"..."

Rather than argue, which was completely foolish, Cinder allowed herself to be led back outside. Once this was done, and after she sent a message to the guards saying everything was fine, Glynda resumed her interrogation.

"Now, then," Glynda began after she brushed some dust off her shoulder. "I believe you were telling me why you came here."

"..."

Glynda realized that the statement didn't reflect her feelings on the matter. "I mean, it's good to see that you're awake from your coma. But... I thought you were at Vytal. That's... what your message said."

As Cinder hoped, her message about Salem and the Relics was reached across the entire world. Glynda was surprised to hear it, as well as seeing that Cinder had recovered from her coma. And she wasn't prepared to see the truth of Ozpin's conflict come to light. As he predicted, panic had filled the streets. But rather than chaos, people shut themselves in and hid in the sanctuaries of their homes.

Fortunately, this wouldn't be a problem for much longer.

"I was," Cinder confirmed. "But I left after we beat Salem."

Glynda gasped as her eyes widened in surprise. She became speechless, but only for a moment when she believed she misheard Cinder. "I... I'm sorry," she began. "Did you say you... beat Salem?"

"Yeah, that's right." Cinder pressed a few buttons on her armor's vambrace to display a recording her helmet captured. "It's right here if you don't believe me."

Glynda watched carefully as the recording played. She could see Cinder and Salem trading blows and strikes of Magic at one another. Cinder's helmet eventually fell off, but it landed at a spot where it could see Salem being drained of Magic and falling.

"By the Gods," Glynda said as the recording finished. "Cinder, you... you did it!" Glynda smiled as she saw that the conflict was finally over. "You did it!"

Cinder could see why Glynda was so happy, even though she didn't feel any joy herself. But she put on a brave face as Glynda rejoiced at the news.

"Cinder, that's incredible!" she said. "I'm so proud of you!"

"Thank you," said Cinder. "I'm... glad you're happy about it."

"Of course I am! Cinder, you saved the whole world by doing what you did! But I can't believe you fought her alone!"

"Oh, I didn't. Everyone helped me at Vytal. And... my dad... he helped-"

"Djarin's here too? Where is he?"

"..."

Cinder couldn't keep up her façade anymore. After Glynda asked about Djarin, Cinder turned away from her and started to cry. She didn't want Glynda to see her like this, but Glynda understood everything perfectly.

She didn't want to believe it at first, given how great the news of Salem's defeat was. But given the tremendous effort and Cinder's reaction, Glynda understood that the battle couldn't have come without sacrifice.

Or loss.

"Oh, Cinder," Glynda finally said as she gently turned the young girl around. "I... I'm so sorry." Glynda wrapped her arms around Cinder, who accepted the hug as she continued to cry.

"It's... It's all gone," Cinder said as she cried. "I just wanted to come home. But it's all gone. And he... he's gone too."

Glynda was beginning to feel sad herself. The relationship she had with Djarin wasn't perfect, but Glynda held great respect for the Mandalorian. She was unsure about him from time to time, but she never wanted to see him die.

Glynda felt even worse when she realized that she hadn't done anything to help at Vytal. Beacon had been secured for weeks now, and nobody had made any attempt to break in or drive out the Huntsmen. Glynda began to feel like she hadn't done anything at all.

But it wasn't too late to make up for the lost time.

"Come with me, Cinder," Glynda calmly ordered as she took the Fall Maiden's hand. "Beacon isn't a place you should be right now."

"..."

Cinder still considered Beacon to be her home, but she knew that Goodwitch was right. It was time to leave.

With no trouble at all, Professor Goodwitch ordered an airship to take her and Cinder to Vale. Contrary to what many of her students believed, Goodwitch actually didn't live on campus. But rather, she owned an apartment complex in the city. And now that things were finally getting under control, though news of Salem and the Relics had everyone confused and on edge, Glynda had her chance to return there.

The streets were mostly empty, due to the confusion and fear of Salem. Glynda decided that she had soent enough energy calming people down, so she would be releasing news of her defeat tomorrow. And given Cinder's depressing condition, she had much more pressing matters to attend to.

"Come inside," Glynda said as she unlocked her apartment door. "I'm sorry about the mess; I opened my apartment to a family of refugees while I was at Beacon. They just moved out."

Given Glynda's duties at Beacon, she didn't have much use for her apartment after the school had been reclaimed. So she generously opened its door to the needy, who had moved out once the war had ended. The apartment wasn't entirely disorganized, though the only things that stood out were empty cans of food, paper plates, and a few sleeping bags on the ground.

Glynda hadn't gotten around to cleaning, but her Semblance helped with this.

*WHOOSH*

*WHOOSH*

*WHOOSH*

With a flick of her riding crop and her telekinetic Semblance, Glynda moved all the trash into a barrel and the sleeping bags into her closet. She would need to wipe down everything later, but all Glynda was concerned about was Cinder.

"My bathroom is on the left," she said as she pointed in the direction. "Help yourself to a shower, I'll get you some fresh clothes."

"..."

Cinder was too tired and too depressed to speak, but she followed Glynda's instructions. After finding her way to the bathroom, Cinder dropped her armor into a pile on the floor and stepped into the shower. She would normally take better care of her armor, a gift from her father and the other Mandalorians, but she didn't have the strength to care anymore.

And the shower, while hot, did nothing to warm her heart and heal the pain.

Eventually, Cinder dried off and was given fresh clothes by Glynda. She had also prepared a set of blankets on the couch for her guest, which was where Cinder would be sleeping. Glynda didn't have a spare bed or a guest room, and the couch was large enough for Cinder to be comfortable.

Cinder didn't have any complaints about her bed. After all, she had slept in much worse places before she met Djarin.

"Thank you, Professor," Cinder said as she laid down on the couch. "I think... you were right about Beacon."

"It's no trouble at all," Glynda replied as she pulled a blanket over Cinder. "If anything, I should be thanking you." Glynda was hesitant to say what she wanted to say next, given what happened to Djarin. But she said it anyway. "I know... I know stopping Salem wasn't easy."

"..."

Glynda was able to find a better thing to say quickly. "But there will be generations because of what you did. You saved them all."

"...I know," Cinder sadly replied before she pulled at her blanket and turned away. "I know."

"..."

---

The next morning, Cinder awoke after a well-deserved rest. She had welcomed the feeling of being awake, given that her sleep had been riddled with dreams and memories of Vytal.

Salem, the Grimm, her father... Cinder just couldn't let it go.

And yet, despite the dreams, Cinder felt physically refreshed. Glynda welcomed this and invited Cinder to join her for breakfast. While grateful, Cinder didn't have much of an appetite. So instead of breakfast, Cinder settled for a cup of coffee and looked upon the city of Vale.

Contrary to last night, the streets of Vale were filled with people and the city looked much more alive. She hadn't realized it, but Professor Ozpin had returned earlier in the morning and spoke with the Council. Though they still had their questions, Ozpin was able to convince the Council with proof that the last remnants of danger had finally passed.

After what felt like an eternity, peace had returned.

The news spread all across the Kingdom, along with the proof of Salem's capture and defeat. Footage of the battle of Vytal had been released to the public, which served as even more evidence of the truth. And so, between the defeat of the Monstra and the defeat of Salem, everyone was happy.

That was how Ozpin had found the time to call Glynda via Scroll, where she was currently telling him everything about last night.

"Yes, sir," said Glynda as she walked towards Cinder. "I found her at the academy. She told me about it."

"..."

Cinder couldn't hear anything on the other end of the call, but she listened to Glynda.

"Oh, yes, she's still here," Glynda said before she moved her Scroll to her guest. "Cinder, it's Professor Ozpin. Would you like to talk to him?"

"Um... no thank you," Cinder replied as she moved back to the couch.

Glynda was disappointed by the rejection, but she understood Cinder's decision. "I'm sorry, sir, she's not ready to talk," she said into the Scroll. "Yes, she's still... recovering."

Cinder couldn't help but hear this, and it caused a brief surge of anger to flow through her. "You can say that he's dead," she crossly remarked. "It won't change anything."

"..."

Glynda had tried to choose her words carefully, but her attempt was in vain. She recognized how fragile Cinder's well-being was, and how she was definitely grieving.

Anger, as Glynda knew, was one of the five stages of grief.

After Cinder turned away from her, Glynda decided to take her conversation in a more private place. She chose her bedroom, and she closed the door before continuing her talk with Ozpin.

"Did you hear that, Professor?" Glynda asked when she made sure she couldn't be heard.

"I'm afraid so," said Professor Ozpin, who was still on the line. "She's grieving. And... we are too."

"..."

This was true in Ozpin's case. He was hoping he didn't have to grieve or mourn for anyone else when the day of Salem's final defeat came. But it pained him knowing that Djarin had ultimately become one of her victims.

However, it provided a small comfort that Djarin was Salem's last victim.

"I'm sorry you were thrusted into this role, Glynda," Ozpin finally said. "Between Djarin and Salem, I just didn't know what to do with Cinder. And it seemed like a good idea to leave her be at the time. But I can come and-"

"No, it's no trouble at all," Glynda insisted. "Cinder can stay with me for as long as she wants. I owe her that much."

Ozpin wanted to make time for Cinder, but the Council and Kingdom of Vale were taking up much of his time. Glynda keeping an eye on her was a godsend; one that Ozpin appreciated greatly.

"Thank you," Ozpin said. "But as soon as I'm done with the Council, I'd like to come and see her."

"I think she would like that," Glynda agreed. "She hasn't said it, but I think seeing friends would help. Speaking of which, how are her friends?"

"Ms. Schnee is still recovering from being attacked. And last I heard, Ms. Polendina is receiving necessary repairs from her father."

"And Qrow?"

"He volunteered to stay in Atlas, to keep an eye on Salem. Though... I can't help but worry about him as well."

Given the state Cinder was in, Glynda could only imagine how Qrow was handling Djarin's death. She was familiar with how Qrow would usually mourn someone, so she understood why Ozpin was worried. But there was nothing either of them could do at the moment, except keep moving forward.

Glynda was going to miss Djarin, but she wouldn't let his death be the end of her. And she certainly wouldn't let it be the end of Cinder.

"I can't speak for Qrow, Professor," Glynda regretfully informed Ozpin. "But I'll take care of Cinder as best as I can. You have my word."

"Thank you, Glynda," said Ozpin, who was more than grateful. "Thank you."

---

As it turned out, Ozpin was right to be worried.

Qrow was indeed in Atlas, observing Salem in her state of imprisonment. Shortly after her arrival in Atlas, Salem was released from the Mandalorian vault and into an ordinary holding cell. It would normally be risky to put her in such a place, but Salem was still powerless.

All she could do in the cell was scream and hit the walls. Like a child throwing a tantrum.

General Ironwood, while still in recovery, saw to it that Salem was constantly monitored and placed in absolute isolation. Her only company in the world would be several guards ready to act at a moment's notice. Between that and the state-of-the-art security, Salem was going absolutely nowhere.

Eventually, Salem gave up her fits of hitting and shouting. Her cell fell into absolute silence as her failure weighed down on her. Qrow observed this, and felt that he had helped settle a score.

Like his friends, Qrow was going to miss Djarin forever. But nobody was going to miss Salem.

Despite feeling like he had gotten even, Qrow was hardly content. He mourned Djarin just like Cinder did, but Qrow's pain was different. Djarin wasn't just Qrow's partner from time to time; he was his best friend.

Qrow and Clover had maintained their friendship upon his return to Atlas, but Qrow loved Djarin like a brother. Knowing and working with him for five years, despite his Semblance of misfortune, was a blessing for Qrow. For the first time, in a long time, Qrow felt that he could grow close to somebody without his Semblance making it difficult. And for a time, Djarin was living proof of that.

But now that he was gone, all Qrow could think about was how childish it seemed. How his feelings seemed akin to a foolish dream when compared to cruel reality. The pain of this reality would remain with him forever.

It would never go away... but Qrow believed there was one way it could be numbed.

After leaving Atlas Academy, once he made sure Salem was still in her cell, Qrow explored the city of Atlas as he searched for a bar. He knew the people he cared about would be disappointed in him for taking up his toxic habit once again, but Qrow didn't care.

If not for himself, Qrow planned to drink in Djarin's honor.

He didn't find a bar, but Qrow was able to find a store that sold liquor. After buying a single bottle, Qrow found a spot in the adjacent alley to sit and have a drink. But first, he looked up to the sky with a sigh and raised the bottle.

"Here's to you, Mando," Qrow said with respect. With that, Qrow prepared to numb his pain.

*WHOOSH*

Before he could taste the alcohol, Qrow heard a familiar sound and saw a familiar sight. To his right was a red and black vortex, one that perfectly resembled a portal. Qrow knew that it was indeed a portal, and he knew exactly who was on the other side.

"Raven!" Qrow yelled as he stood up. In order to prepare for a battle, Qrow threw away his bottle and grabbed Harbinger. Content with his sobriety and functioning weapon, Qrow was confident that he was ready for anything that came out of the portal.

But once he saw Omen and a knife emerge and fall to the ground, Qrow immediately knew he was wrong.

"What the-?" he asked in surprise. Before he could ask himself why Raven would disarm herself, Qrow was greeted by the sight of Raven with her hands in the air.

It seemed that she was surrendering.

"I'm unarmed," Raven stated as she kicked her katana away. "I'm not here to fight."

Despite Qrow seeing that Raven was indeed unarmed, he didn't believe Raven's intentions were true. "What do you think you're doing?" he demanded. "What do you want?"

Raven remained absolutely still as she made her request. "I just... I want to see it for myself."

"It?"

"Salem."

"..."

Raven took a cautious step forward as she explained herself. "I saw the news," she said. "It's everywhere. 'Salem has been beaten.' I just need to know if it's true."

"...It's true," Qrow finally replied. "No thanks to you."

Though Raven believed the comment to be fair, she wasn't satisfied with the answer. "Let me see for myself. Then, I'll go."

Qrow thought it was strange that Raven would actually want to see Salem. But it was even stranger that Raven expected to leave at a time like this.

"You really think I'm going to just let you walk away?" he asked rhetorically. "After everything you've done?"

"Don't be stupid, Qrow," Raven replied. "We both know cells can't hold me."

"..."

"Look... I know you're angry with me. And I don't want to be here any longer than I have to be. So the sooner I get what I came for, the sooner you'll never see me again."

"..."

As Qrow cursed the fact that Raven's Semblance would make an escape from prison easy, he remembered how stubborn Raven always was. One way or another, she would get what she wanted.

"...Fine," Qrow decided as he approached Raven's weapons. "But I'm keeping these."

"Fair enough," Raven agreed.

The twins then made their way back to Atlas Academy. Despite being ready to escape via a portal, Raven wasn't used to being at a place like a Huntsman Academy. She never liked Beacon, and Atlas was much worse to her. The stares she got from the soldiers and officers didn't help either, but Raven was neutral to them. She had killed Atlesians before, and none of the soldiers and officers looked very impressive

But when she came across a different group of people, Raven knew things were serious.

Salem's cell had eyes and ears everywhere, including the floor above it. On that floor was a glass pane staring down at the lowly woman, which was guarded by a group of men in armor and helmets. Unlike the common soldiers of Atlas, who were white and silver suits, these soldiers were covered in blue armor. Some were wearing cloaks over the armor, while others simply had a suit similar to SCAR Squadron. The only feature they shared, besides carrying long rifles, were ornate helmets that stood up at the top and had visors similar to a Mandalorian's helmet.

Qrow had seen the soldiers once or twice before today, but now he was seeing them all the time around Salem. They were known as "Commandos" within the Atlesian army, with nicknames ranging from "the Blue Guard" to "the Boys in Blue." Qrow simply knew them as guards assigned to Salem, who all had their eye on Raven.

"She's with me," Qrow said with a small wave, putting the guards at ease. He then turned to Raven before he pointed to the glass on the floor. "She's down there. See for yourself."

"..."

Raven carefully stepped towards the glass, expecting her brother or the guards to push or grab her. But when this didn't happen, Raven looked down to see a blonde woman with fair skin hitting her cell in anger while yelling once more.

Raven only needed one look to know that the woman was indeed Salem.

"It's... It's really her," she said as she looked down.

"Yep," said Qrow, who walked next to Raven. "Don't worry; the glass works two ways. We can see her, but she can't see us."

As it turned out, Raven wasn't concerned with whether or not Salem could see her.

"...How?" Raven asked as she turned back to Qrow. "How did you do this?"

"We got her to look more human after we got our hands on a gas that killed Grimm," Qrow explained. "But how she got where she is... don't look at me."

Raven didn't expect Qrow to be responsible for such a victory. "If that's how you want to play it," she said in an annoyed tone. "How did Ozpin do it?"

"Nope. Guess again."

Now Raven became confused. There weren't many people on Remnant as powerful as Ozpin or Salem. "You mean those two men in robes?"

"No. But they helped."

"...Not the Mandalorian."

"Closer."

Raven's eyes widened as she could only think of one more person. "...The girl?"

"Ding ding."

Raven softly gasped when she heard the confirmation. It was sarcastic, but it was the answer she was looking for. "You can't be serious," she said.

"As serious as a heart attack," Qrow replied as he begsn to walk away. "Alright, you got what you came for. Get out."

Raven indeed got what she came for, but she still wasn't satisfied. "What? No!" she said as she grabbed Qrow's hand. "Qrow, a child couldn't have done this! Not even a Maiden could have done it!"

"Well, surprise," said Qrow. "She did."

"But how?! Just tell me, Qrow! Is that so hard?"

"As a matter of fact, it is."

"Fine! If you won't tell me, I'll ask her myself!"

"The hell you will!" Qrow moved his hand out of Raven's grasp and formed a fist, which caused the guards to react by aiming their weapons at Raven. "If you go anywhere near her, I'll kill you myself!" He then pointed towards the blue guards. "And if the next words out of your mouth are about Cinder, I won't stop them from killing you!"

"..."

Raven usually found a way to get whatever she wanted, but she knew that it was impossible at the moment. Between her brother's threat and the multiple guns in her face, Raven knew that she wasn't in a place to be making threats or demands. So she chose diplomacy as her next move, if only to save her life.

"Alright," she said calmly as she moved her hands upwards. "Forget it."

"..."

Once the guns began to lower again, Raven made her next move. "What about the others?" she asked.

"What others?" Qrow replied.

"Salem's minions. Where are they?"

"Oh, right. Well, those 'daughters' of hers are all dead."

"And the two men?"

"They disappeared. But we'll find them."

Raven was displeased that Watts and Hazel had somehow managed to escape, but she knew the biggest threat to Remnant was gone. Even still, she was hoping to learn more about it. "At least let me talk to her father," she requested. "We've met before, we can talk."

Qrow had calmed down, but the mention of Djarin made him remember why he was sad in the first place. "You can't, Raven," he said somberly. "Even if I wanted to, I can't let you talk to him."

"Why not?"

"Because he's dead, alright? Salem killed him."

"..."

Raven had known her brother for a long time, even after she became distant. She knew him inside and out, probably better than he knew himself. This was mostly due to her habit of keeping tabs on him, whether he knew or not.

In that time, Raven was familiar with how Qrow would be in times of mourning. She didn't notice it at first, given her focus on Salem and Cinder's ability to stop her, but Raven now understood that Qrow was in a time of mourning. She knew that he and the Mandalorian were friends, so his loss would certainly affect her brother.

And in an emotional time like this, it would certainly make him dangerous and unpredictable. Raven knew that she had gone too far by coming at a time such as this, and it would be an appropriate time to leave.

"Oh..." she began. "I see."

"Yeah, I'll bet," said Qrow.

"Then... this was a bad time." Raven held out her hand, hoping to get her sword back. "I'll get out of your hair."

Normally, Qrow wouldn't be stupid enough to hand Raven back her weapon. But given that no cage could hold her, and he wanted her gone as soon as possible, Qrow gave the sword back to her sister and turned around.

"Go on, then," he said as he turned around.

*WHOOSH*

Raven complied with the command and created herself a portal. But before she stepped into it, Raven thought her brother deserved a small semblance of praise in his time of pain.

"If it's any consolation... I'm proud of you, Qrow," she said. "You had a part to play in this, didn't you?"

"...Yeah," Qrow admitted. "Yeah, I did."

"..."

Despite Raven being her usual self, Qrow was happy to hear a small amount of praise. It made him feel a little better, knowing that his actions were appreciated. It was something he always wanted to hear; to know that he had done well despite having an unfortunate Semblance.

And so, Qrow offered kindness of his own. As well as some wisdom.

"You really want to know how Cinder did it?" Qrow asked, stopping Raven in her tracks.

"..."

She didn't answer him, but Qrow had gotten Raven's attention. When he realized this, Qrow imparted some kindness and wisdom. "Think about how you lost your Maiden powers. Then we can talk again."

"..."

This time, Raven stepped into the portal. Qrow once again analyzed his sister's silence, and decided that she was aware of how much she needed to think about.

It felt good.

Qrow left the guards and Salem's holding area once again, but he didn't leave the academy this time. He didn't even think about going out and buying another bottle of alcohol. Because of his sister's visit, as well as the small amount of pride she had restored, Qrow knew that he needed to be on his guard at all times. That he couldn't let alcohol dull his senses.

And he was better than that. Djarin knew that as well.

"Hey, five o'clock shadow!"

Qrow heard a familiar voice behind him, as well as a familiar nickname. Once he turned around, he saw Robyn Hill running towards him while waving.

"Robyn!" Qrow replied, realizing that he hadn't seen her since he left Atlas. "Glad to see you're still in one piece."

"Yeah, you too!" Robyn said when she caught up to him. "I got worried when you didn't show up in Mantle."

Qrow remembered that he promised to rejoin Robyn and her friends in Mantle once his work was over. "Oh, right. Sorry about that, I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine. Clover told me that you went to Amity. And, uh... what happened to Ironwood up there."

"..."

"Anyways, don't worry about Mantle. We got everyone out okay." Robyn suddenly took Qrow's hand. "But if you're looking to make it up to me, I could use your advice with something. Come on!"

Before Qrow could reply, he was pulled by Robyn across the halls and into another room. Rather than cells or a brig, Qrow had been taken to the medical wing, where Boba Fett was still recovering. But as it turned out, Qrow and Robyn weren't Boba's only visitors.

Admiral Thrawn had chosen to grace the room with his presence, after the air fleet had restored order to the Kingdom. The Atlesian ground forces were working in Mantle to take care of the remaining Grimm while protecting the engineers who were tasked to fix the heating grid. With this reprieve, Thrawn went to the academy on a mission with a personal interest to him.

One that involved Boba Fett and Robyn.

"Welcome back, Ms. Hill," Thrawn said calmly. "Were the minutes you were gone enough time to consider my opportunity?"

"Opportunity?" Qrow asked, wondering what was going on.

"Just a sec," Robyn said to Thrawn before turning to Qrow. "Sorry to drag you into this, Qrow, but I could use some friendly advice."

Qrow wasn't in any position to refuse, even though his understanding of the situation wasn't complete. "With what?" he asked.

"Well, you know how Boba wasn't the General's... favorite guy," Robyn said as she pointed to Thrawn. "When I came here to check on him, I met this guy who says he can 'help' us with that."

Qrow looked over to Thrawn. "Oh, yeah?" he asked curiously.

"I can assure you, my intentions are genuine," Thrawn replied. "But Ms. Hill would like a witness to that."

"Right," said Robyn. "I don't know a whole lotta officers here, so I wanted to know if you can say this guy's legit. He says Clover can vouch for him, but I think your opinion might hold some more weight."

Qrow was a little surprised to see that Robyn held him to such a high degree. Only Ozpin and Djarin held a similar opinion, despite his Semblance. To hear that someone like Robyn thought the same thing felt good; good enough to make him feel better once again.

He wouldn't let her down.

"It's Thrawn, right?" Qrow asked the officer. "Admiral Thrawn?"

"Correct," Thrawn confirmed.

"Oh, he's good." Qrow quickly looked to Robyn. "Yeah, Mando mentioned him to me once. Said he helped him and Cinder back at Beacon."

"Really?" Robyn asked as she mentally sighed in relief. "That's good." Robyn turned back to Thrawn. "Okay, I'll hear you out."

Qrow turned to Thrawn as well, curious about the man's presence. "So what's this all about? What kind of opportunity were you talking about?"

"I'm glad you asked," Thrawn said as he took out his Scroll. "You two may recall a mission in the Kingdom's outskirts. Involving Task Force 99 and the Mandalorian child."

"You mean Gideon's secret vault?"

"The very same. The team's primary objective was to retrieve an incomplete biological agent that was meant to serve as a weapon for Gideon's own use."

"Yeah, but that's okay. We used it at Vytal against Salem and her forces."

"I am aware. The team's secondary objective, however, was to retrieve whatever else they found inside the vault. I was tasked with the analysis of the other projects Gideon had Arthur Watts working on."

"Okay... find anything good?"

"A few blueprints I'd have to take a closer look at. But there was one project I took a special interest in. Something that, with Mr. Fett's help, could assist our ground forces." Thrawn looked at his Scroll again. "There's still work to be done... but I believe Dr. Watts has a method that can create a permanent Aura."

Qrow and Robyn looked at each other in surprise. Neither of them cared about the vault's contents, save for the virus, so they were astonished to hear what they heard. Every Huntsman and Huntress knew that an Aura was a temporary measure, and its power would always run out with the prolonged use of a Semblance.

So to hear that a Huntsman or Huntress could use their own power to no end was incredible.

Qrow was inclined to be skeptical, however, since everyone knew Aura didn't last forever. But then he remembered that Watts worked closely with Salem. If his science had been applied to her Magic, the results sounded... interested.

Robyn was also skeptical, but she was more concerned about her friend.

"Hold on," said Robyn. "That's great and all, but how's Boba involved in this?"

"Mr. Fett assisted you and your team with the capture of Durge, from my understanding," Thrawn explained. "All while resting in bed. Impressive."

"Oh, you mean his clones. Yeah, he made a few to help me."

"Exactly. And that was just a fraction of his power. If Mr. Fett could keep his Aura permanent, his clones could be a great asset to the Kingdom of Atlas. And, if Councilman Organa's plans go through, the world."

"..."

"And if you agree to help me, I can promise your friends the same immunity the Council bestowed onto you. I believe that is what the business sector of Atlas calls... a win-win proposition."

"..."

While she couldn't argue with the Admiral's logic, Robyn was still hesitant to trust Thrawn. Recent events, while cleared up as misunderstanding, made Robyn unsure if she could trust the Atlesian military to be honest with her.

Then again... immunity for her friends in exchange for help indeed sounded like a win-win.

"What do you think, Qrow?" Robyn asked her acquaintance. "Does that... sound good?"

Qrow understood Robyn's reluctance, since he too had trouble trusting Atlesian officials from time to time. However, Salem's defeat, as well as the revelation of her existence, had the potential to create new change around the world. And this offer had the potential for a good start.

"Well... it does sound like a win-win," Qrow admitted. "And Boba might be a better candidate than me." Qrow still had reservations against his Semblance, and a permanent Aura sounded like it would get worse before it got better.

Robyn began to believe herself to be a poor candidate as well. Given the situation in Mantle, the Kingdom didn't exactly need a lie detector.

And this could be the best way to help the people she cared about.

"I'll need to talk to Boba once he's up and about," Robyn informed the Admiral. "But... I might be able to convince him."

"Excellent," said Thrawn, who took the response as assurance in his ambitious plans.

They were indeed ambitious, given Boba's Semblance. He had gotten the idea from Tarkin, who had informed him of the casualties in Mantle during the evacuation. Replacing such numbers with Boba's Semblance sounded promising for the Kingdom, as well as Thrawn's own military career.

Because, with Ironwood in such a fragile physical and mental state, it seemed only logical for a new commanding officer to step forward.

---

As it turned out, Qrow wasn't the only one who was in mourning as he attended to his duties.

Obi-Wan Kenobi had finished his quest with Cinder. Ozpin had made his way back to Vale, after saying goodbye to his friend. Ozpin offered a place for him at Beacon Academy, once it had been rebuilt, but Obi-Wan politely declined.

Ever since the death of Revan, Obi-Wan knew exactly where he needed to go.

With Vale about to be secured by Ozpin, and Mistral still under the watchful eye of Dooku, Obi-Wan found transport taking him to Vacuo. The other Kingdoms, including Atlas, didn't require another Headmaster or another person with incredible knowledge about Remnant.

But maybe, there was one person in Remnant who might need both.

Upon arriving to Vacuo, Obi-Wan immediately went to the outskirts. This was where several remote villages were located, as well as several farms. The soil and earth of Vacuo wasn't right to farm fruits or vegetables, but using technology to harvest moisture and sell it as drinking water was a common practice in the Kingdom.

The farm Obi-Wan ventured to wasn't exactly wealthy, but it made ends meet. And it was the home of a very special boy.

Luke Skywalker.

News of Anakin's fall to the dark side was a surprise for the surviving Jedi who found Ozpin, but was even more surprising was that Anakin had a son. Ozpin and Obi-Wan discovered this shortly after Coruscant fell, and they were the only ones who knew at the time. Not even Anakin was aware that he was a father at the time.

Due to a series of unfortunate events, the child was left without a father or a mother. Ozpin knew that if Anakin ever learned of his son's existence, then he would hunt him down relentlessly. Or even worse, Salem could try and use him for her own ends.

It was easily decided that the child, Luke, would have to be hidden. And so, he was taken to Vacuo, to the only family he had in the world. That family was Owen and Beru Lars, Luke's uncle and aunt. And under Revan's watchful eye, the child remained safe and undiscovered.

But with Revan gone, Obi-Wan knew that the responsibility of keeping Luke safe was in his hands. The threat of Salem was over now, but Obi-Wan had a feeling that Luke would still need a guardian.

And in time, a teacher in the ways of the Force.

After observing the farm, and after seeing Luke was alive and well, Obi-Wan began to make his way home. His new home was Revan's old one, a sandstone house beyond the Dune Sea. It wasn't much to look at, but Obi-Wan knew it was the perfect place for him.

Today was the first day Obi-Wan entered the house, after he made the necessary arrangements to become its new owner. Now that he had, Obi-Wan was tasked with familiarizing himself with the house and all of Revan's possessions inside.

Obi-Wan was glad to see that some of the possessions included Jedi text and books on philosophy. Revan took his redemption very seriously, and the books were proof of that. There was also a workbench where Revan would repair or upgrade his lightsabers, and Obi-Wan knew he could do the same.

The thought of lightsabers made Obi-Wan remember that he still had Anakin's, which was recovered on Mustafar. Obi-Wan initially thought about destroying it, but he realized that Luke could use it at a later time.

And it was still a memento of the man Anakin once was.

And so, rather than throw it away, Obi-Wan wrapped the lightsaber in a small cloth and prepared to store it away. He found a chest and carefully put the weapon away, which was how Obi-Wan found another item Revan had in his possession.

It was a Jedi holocron, an important object within Jedi teachings. It was an item where knowledge or messages were kept via holographic recordings, an innovation from Atlas. But unlike Atlesian technology, which usually required a password to unlock, the Jedi relied on the Force to gain access to the knowledge inside a holocron. Only a Jedi could unlock such a holocron, one that was shaped like a hexagon and glowed a soft blue.

Obi-Wan initially assumed the holocron possessed ancient Jedi teachings Revan was relearning. That was, until Obi-Wan saw a note attached to its side.

"For Obi-Wan"

"..."

Obi-Wan reached inside and retrieved the holocron, curious about its contents. After closing the door and windows of his new house, Obi-Wan sat in a corner and concentrated. Using the Force, Obi-Wan made the holocron float in the air while its outer corners turned like keys. When the turning stopped, a holographic image of Revan appeared with an important message.

"This message is for Obi-Wan Kenobi," the recording began. "Though I predict Ozpin will be the one to find it. If it is indeed you, Ozpin, you are also welcome to the contents of this holocron. But I request it to be delivered to Obi-Wan next."

"..."

Obi-Wan understood why it could be assumed that Ozpin would be the one to find the holocron. But Obi-Wan was glad that he found it, and he made sure that he would share the message with Ozpin.

They both deserved to hear some of Revan's last words.

"My friend," Revan began. "If you have received this message... it means that I am one with the Force. Most likely in an attempt to purge myself of what little influence the dark side still holds over me. I only hope my passing was enough to do so."

"More than you know, my friend," Obi-Wan replied, acknowledging Revan's noble sacrifice. "More than you know."

"During my time in Vacuo, I've been keeping a close vigil on Anakin's progeny," Revan continued. "Whatever has happened to me, I still feel it necessary for a Jedi to observe the child. He would be lucky to have a teacher such as yourself, Obi-Wan."

"..."

Despite the responsibility he chose to bear, Obi-Wan still had his doubts about being a teacher. It was his job to teach Anakin and help him grow, but all that resulted was the duo growing apart. And now, Anakin was dead.

It would take time before Obi-Wan would feel ready to take another apprentice. And time would be granted to him, given that Luke had a lot of growing to do. Along with that, Revan's recording was about to offer him a way to use his time wisely.

"While the boy grows, I know a way you can prepare yourself as a teacher," the recording continued. "I have training for you, my friend."

"Training?" Obi-Wan asked. He was aware that he was all alone, but he was surprised enough to ask what kind of training awaited him.

"My time in solitude has left myself open to the Force. I suppose you could say that my own Barash Vow has finally been completed. By opening myself to the Force, I believe I have made... an incredible discovery."

"..."

"Through the netherworld of the Force, there is a path to immortality. But unlike Salem's curse, this path is achieved after death. I believe... they have become truly one with the Force. Of the Force."

"..."

Obi-Wan didn't believe what he was hearing. It sounded like the solitude of Vacuo had driven Revan mad, and this holocron was simply ramblings of lunacy. However, the fact that Revan's body disappeared in an instant told Obi-Wan that there were things about the Force that he did not yet understand.

While it sounded like madness... the holocron could be the key to new understanding.

"During my meditation, I inadverntly opened the door from this world to the next," Revan explained. "With the door open, I encountered old friends. Bastila was the first. But the second... was your old Master."

Obi-Wan was surprised once again, but disbelief was replaced with hope as he realized what that meant. "Qui-Gon..." he whispered.

"Heed the lessons I have recorded in this holocron," Revan instructed. "And the Jedi text I have buried underneath my house in Vacuo. They will be your guide. And hopefully, if the Force wills it so, I will be there to see you open the door."

"..."

"May the Force be with you."

---

Qrow and Obi-Wan had found solace in their current roles and situations. However, not everyone was as fortunate as them. As a matter of fact, karma had befallen a certain someone.

As Qrow stated, two of Salem's henchmen had managed to escape. But with how things were going for one of them, he believed prison would be a better option for him.

In the final moments of the chaos, Arthur Watts had managed to escape Vytal via a stolen airship. However, it was the airship that Clan Kryze had arrived in, and it had been badly damaged by Salem's Monstra.

Watts was able to make the airship take him away from Vytal, but he wasn't able to prevent it from crashing on Mustafar.

Miraculously, Watts avoided the numerous streams of lava when he crash-landed. But the airship was unable to fly again without proper repairs. Watts had no choice but to try and perform the repairs himself, but it was a task easier said than done.

*BOOM*

"Oh, bloody Hell!" Watts yelled as he coughed up smoke from the ship's ruined engines. "It's hopeless!" He threw the tools he was holding away, and then kicked the toolbox he got from the ship.

*BAM*

After he healed his foot with his Aura, Watts went inside the ship and closed the door. The air on Mustafar was difficult to breathe, given the fumes from the lava. It was at that moment when Watts truly began to understand the gravity of the situation. Trapped in a volcanic wasteland with nobody but himself to blame for his predicament.

However, given his large ego, Watts did anything but blame himself.

"It seems Salem was a failure from the start," Watts said to himself, reflecting on her defeat. "And to truly think I believed in her. 'We have a common enemy,' she said. 'Help me dismantle Atlas, and you can take what's yours,' she said. Oh, and how could I forget? 'We're unstoppable,' she said!" Watts began to laugh at the situation and false promises. "Well, she was clearly wrong!"

"..."

When he realized that he was talking to himself, Watts sat down in resignation with an irritated sigh. "How could this have gone so wrong?" he asked himself. "How?"

"..."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I was better off in prison. Now, look at me; if I didn't know any better, I'd say that I've gone straight to Hell. If there's any chance of getting off this rock, I'll-"

*WHOOSH*

A shadow outside and the sound of something in the air stopped Watts' tirade and caught his attention. He almost didn't believe what he saw and heard, but when he stepped outside and looked into the sky, he could see that his senses weren't lying to him.

"A transport!" he said as looked upon an airship. "I'm saved!"

The airship appeared to be from Mistral, given its wooden hull and the rotors on the back. While he recalled Salem having an airship like that for her daughters and Aurora, Watts believed the ship was truly from Mistral. He didn't care if it was the police or Huntsmen coming to arrest him; given the lack of food and water, Watts would accept rescue from anyone on the planet.

"Down here!" he yelled as he ran towards the airship and waved his arms. "Stop! Stop!"

Watts' hope began to increase tenfold when the airship began to land. It was hard to find a proper landing spot on the wasteland, but the airship had chosen a spot close to a river of lava. But Watts was too relieved to care where he landed, though he maintained his composure as he approached the ship with caution.

"Hello?" he called out as he moved closer. "Who's in there?"

"..."

The silence didn't stop Watts from attempting to escape the island. "I'm unarmed. And I'm not truing to rob you. My ship crashed, I'm marooned!"

"..."

Upon remembering that he was most likely dealing with the law, Watts raised his arms above his head as he moved to the ship's door. "If you're a Huntsman, I surrender! You're coming from Vytal, aren't you?"

"..."

Silence continued to serve as a response for Watts, which made the man grow impatient. "Hello?! Is anyone alive in there?!"

*BAM*

*BAM*

*BAM*

After Watts hit it three times, the airship door finally began to open. "Are you people daft?!" Watts asked as he watched the door open. "I said I surrender! Now if you wouldn't mind-!"

*WHOOSH*

Watts suddenly stopped talking when an invisible force wrapped itself around his neck. Not only was he unable to talk, but Watts soon found himself unable to breathe as well. As a result, Watts fell to his knees and grabbed his neck, but he was unable to shake off whatever it was that was holding him.

"Surrender, you say?" a male voice asked from inside the airship.

Watts was able to look up and see two hooded figures emerge from the airship. One had their arms underneath their cloak, but the other was holding their hand out while moving closer to Watts.

"A wise choice," said the same voice, which belonged to the man holding out his hand. "A pity it won't spare your life."

The second figure, also a man, leaned down and examined Watts. "Nor the fact that this is not who we expected to find," he said. "Strange. I am certain we were not followed. But where did this one come from?"

"It no longer matters." The first man began to close his hand, which made the grip on Watts' neck tigther. "We'll be long gone before any of his friends see us."

Watts feared for his life once again, as he felt it slipping away by the second. He grabbed at the man's cloak and furiously pulled on it, but it was to no avail. All he could do was look upon the cloak, as well as two yellow eyes staring down at him, while his vision grew dark.

"Wait."

The man's hand was pushed by another invisible force, which released the hold on Watts. As air returned to his lungs, Watts heard a third man talk with a gravelly voice to the other two.

"No," he said, simply and with much authority.

"No?" the first man asked. "He is not the one you seek."

"Or is this something else you claimed to 'foresee?'" said the second man, who expressed skepticism towards the one who saved Watts' life.

"Not foreseen, no," said the third man, still speaking with authority. "But I sense a great opportunity with this man. And you forget; I foresaw the defeat of our captor. The defeat that freed us all. You still have reason to doubt me?"

"..."

"I thought not. But if it is further proof you need, go and seek out what I have foreseen here."

"..."

As Watts breathed in and out, he saw the two men who nearly killed him leave and survey the volcanic wasteland. He then saw the hand of an old man reach down to him while the gravelly voice returned.

"My apologies," he said. "This is not how I wanted our initial meeting to go... Dr. Watts."

Upon hearing his name and title, Watts looked up to see who he was talking to. He could see another man with a hood over his face, but this one was different. Unlike his colleagues, this man was older, judging by the wrinkles on his hands and barely visible chin. And rather than a simple cloak, the old man was wearing more elegant robes; almost like a socialite from Mistral or Atlas.

Watts coughed as he began to stand up, but he was able to speak as he got on one knee. "You... You know me?" he asked as he slowly stood up.

"Salem told me much, during our many conversations," the old man replied. "That was how it was easy for me to tell her what she wanted to hear. What she believed would come true." The old man laughed out loud, finding the situation he was describing to be humorous.

A situation, it seemed, he created.

"Who... Who are you?" Watts asked as he finally regained his breath.

"A former acolyte of 'Her Grace,'" the old man replied, identifying himself without a name. "Much like yourself, Arthur."

Watts knew the man and his friends were powerful, but he had doubts about this claim. "But... if that's true... where were you hours ago? When Salem was beaten at Vytal?"

"Locked away, at the Land of Darkness. Underneath her castle."

"Locked away? You were a prisoner?"

"I was, yes. As were the gentlemen you just met. If you must know, Salem had kept us locked away for years. Long before your time, my friend."

"..."

Watts thought he knew everything about Salem's castle up until now. There were rooms and places that he didn't have permission to enter, but he always assumed that was where Salem or her daughters would frequent their time. But knowing that there was a dungeon underneath his very nose was... surprising.

He thought Salem would simply kill people rather than keep prisoners.

"Did you... fail her?" Watts asked. "Is that why you were prisoners?"

"Fail?" the old man repeated. "No... 'fail' isn't the right word. You might say we weren't exactly what she had in mind for us. So she locked us away. Sealed us in her fortress with Magic. But as you may have seen... that won't be a problem anymore."

Watts felt that he had heard enough to understand that this man was no friend to Salem. It seemed that they had that in common. "Well then... if you came to see her fall, I'm afraid that moment has passed."

"I am aware. No, I'm here on behalf of someone who needs my assistance." The man suddenly smiled as he looked upon Watts. "Or should I say... our assistance."

This was the first thing the old man said that Watts didn't like. A bad feeling immediately came over him, but he wasn't able to act on it.

"Over here!" said one of the man's companions. "This way!"

The old man began to run, which surprised Watts. He didn't know the man's age, but he didn't seem to be in any shape to be running at such a pace. But Watts eventually, though reluctantly, joined him and the other two men as they looked upon a river of lava.

"There he is!" the old man said as he pointed towards the edge. "He's still alive..."

Watts almost missed it at first, but a closer look revealed what appeared to be another man by the edge of the lava. Watts couldn't make out too many details, but it was clear that the man was hurt.

Badly hurt.

"Get the medical capsule immediately," the old man said to his companions.

"Very well," said the man who previously had his doubts. Once the duo went back towards the ship, the old man led Watts towards the stream of lava. There, they saw the extent of the damage done to the poor, unfortunate soul.

Though Watts reeled back in horror of what he saw, he couldn't take his eyes off a human body that was laying bare and badly burnt. It seemed his whole body was riddled with the scarring of second and third degree burns. On top of that, the body was missing its left arm and both its legs. Oddly enough, the only limb that remained was the right arm of a Grimm. And judging by the moans, the body was that of a man's.

The old man didn't share Watts' horror or disgust. Instead of looking away or stepping back, the old man leaned down and gently touched the burnt man's head. Though he wasn't horrified, the old man wasn't happy about what he saw.

"Unfortunate," he said as he examined the body.

"..."

After a moment of silence, the old man turned to Watts. "You will have to work quickly," he said. "The capsule we brought should be enough for you to keep him alive... for now."

"Me?" Watts asked with a scuff. "You think I can save his life? Look at him!" Watts pointed to the body to emphasize his point. "If you truly care about this man, whoever he is, I say we put him out of his-"

*WHOOSH*

Watts was touched by the Force again, and was thrown to the ground as a result. Before he could say anything else, the old man spoke with the same authority as before.

"Listen well," he commanded as he gestured towards the burnt body. "Your life now depends on his life. If that weren't the case, then we would not be having this conversation. Is that understood?"

"..."

While Watts didn't know who this man was, he was now aware that the man had power. It was definitely similar to the power the other two men had, and it was terrifying. Watts understood the danger he was in now, given that he didn't know how limited this power was.

If he wanted to find out, Watts had to live. And in order to live, he had to grant this man's request.

"Is that understood?" the old man asked again, finding annoyance in repeating himself.

"Y-Yes," Watts uttered. "I... I understand."

"Good." The old man stood up and beckoned Watts to move closer and perform his work. "It is my understanding that Salem offered you a great many things for your loyalty. You should know that she neither had the intention nor the power to keep her promises."

"..."

Watts had started to doubt Salem's intentions, but he fully understood that Salem had no power to help him now.

"My offer is simple. Save my apprentice's life, and I will reward you with sanctuary. Ozma and his forces will never imprison you again."

Watts took that idea as a means to escape Mustafar, though he wasn't sure if he would be in pleasant company with the old man and his companions. But he had no desire to be imprisoned once again. And while he heard the phrase "better the devil you know than the devil you don't," Watts wasn't in any position to choose his company.

And so, Watts took the old man's offer and examined his "apprentice."

"I'll need a proper lab and the right equipment," he said as he looked upon the burnt body. "But I wouldn't be surprised if he had to live in an iron lung after this."

"There is nothing of greater importance to secure the future of the Sith," the old man replied. "Whatever is needed to accomplish this goal... you will have it."

---

One week later

Much had changed in the world of Remnant after the defeat of Salem. Peace had been restored, and everyone was becoming aware of the truth behind the war. Ozpin had taken on the role of sharing the Relics and Salem with the rest of the world. His attempts were slow, steady, and very gradual. Luckily, his friends within the four Huntsman Academies helped bear the burden and slowly reveal what the Relics actually were. Not all of their powers could be demonstrated, but the public understood that they were indeed powerful.

And how lust for power had driven Salem mad.

The one thing that Ozpin didn't reveal, for the time being, was the existence of the brothers who created the Relics. Not that he had any intention of keeping more secrets and telling more lies, but Ozpin understood how fragile the world had become during the months of conflict. Everyone was very scared of the world ending, whether it was by Mandalorians or the Grimm. So, for the time being, Ozpin believed the truth of the Relics' purpose, and their ability to shape or destroy the world, should be delayed.

But Ozpin swore that Remnant would one day know the whole truth.

Many of the Kingdoms had different reactions to the Relics, but they were united in one goal for their world: rebuilding. Both Salem and her villainous Mandalorians had left ruin and destruction across the world, and everyone worked hard to rebuild.

The Mandalorians, while temporarily without a leader, all chose to help in their own ways. They had already started to rebuild Beacon, so they chose to help with rebuilding damage done in both Vale and Mistral. Atlas was originally going to make their repairs in Mantle alone, but once word of their situation reached the ears of Remnant, many came to the Kingdom's door to offer their assistance.

Bail Organa took this opportunity to help in his own way. With Amity Colosseum working as intended, Bail and the Council of Atlas met with the other Councils and expressed their desire to expand democracy. As Bail had once said, the war had shown them how isolated the Kingdoms could be in times of war and conflict. This was something that couldn't happen again, so Bail unveiled his plan for a new kind of governing body that expanded towards all of Remnant.

His idea was not only unanimously agreed upon, but it was rebranded as the "Global Senate." And the Councils announced imminent elections for people who wished to represent every corner of Remnant.

Hope for the future spread like wildfire across the world. Ozpin took great pride in the unity he was seeing, and he believed the Global Senate would be the chance at unity he needed to reunite the Relics and show the Gods that mankind was redeemed. He kept this wish to himself, and instead watched every heart on Remnant heal from their wounds.

Sadly, the only heart that wasn't fully healed was Cinder's.

Cinder was still in Vale, living in Glynda's apartment. Despite her role as Mand'alor, Cinder rarely left the apartment. She had visitors at times, which included Ozpin, Qrow, Karga, and even Sun Jabbid. Djarin's old friend from Nevarro not only came to express his condolences and express how Djarin's loss affected him as well, but Sun also visited Cinder on behalf of the Mandalorian people. Like Sun, they all understood that Cinder was in a time of mourning. They were all still resting and recovering after the battle of Vytal, but peace was rather fragile. Like they did before, the clans were disagreeing with each other over small things and differences.

While Sun didn't see any threat cause for concern just yet, he knew that Cinder and Djarin had worked too hard to see the Mandalorians split up now.

Upon hearing this, Cinder had somehow felt even worse. Not only was her father dead, but the dream that she made him believe in was also starting to die. Cinder was even starting to believe that she should let it die, since the idea had led Djarin to being killed by Salem. She believed that her first act as Mand'alor had done nothing but get people killed, all in the name of glory on the battlefield.

That was, until another visitor had come.

Unlike the other visitors, Glynda had reached out to this one personally. It was Willow Schnee, who had heard about Djarin's death from Winter. Glynda had originally wished for Winter to come see Cinder, since she was well-aware of their friendship, but Winter was still recovering from her duel with Durge.

Given her daughter's situation, Willow elected to come in her place. Not only would she pass along Winter's condolences, but her own as well. Also, Willow believed that she could help Cinder during her mourning.

Needless to say, Cinder was greatly surprised by Willow's presence.

"Ms. Schnee!" Cinder addressed the visitor in surprise. She wasn't expecting Willow to come at a time like this, and she was a bit embarrassed by her appearance. Instead of her armor, Cinder was wearing more casual clothes that contrasted with what she wore at Beacon and abroad.

But Willow didn't mind at all.

"Hello, Cinder," Willow said as Glynda allowed her to come inside. "It's good to see you."

Glynda was prepared to let her guests talk, but not before she practiced good manners as a host. "Can I get you anything, Ms. Schnee?" she asked. "Coffee, perhaps?"

"Oh, no, thank you," Willow replied politely.

Glynda then turned to her next guest. "Cinder? Would you like anything?"

After she had relaxed from the surprise of Willow's visit, Cinder's earlier dejection returned quickly. "Um... no thank you," she said as she sat back down on the couch.

Glynda nodded before she announced her departure. "I'll be meeting with Professor Ozpin at Beacon. I'll be back soon." After she opened the door, Glynda leaned over to Willow and whispered. "Good luck, Ms. Schnee."

*CLICK*

As soon as the door closed, Willow moved closer to Cinder and prepared to speak her mind. But before she did, Cinder spoke first. "I'm... sorry," she said before she looked down at her clothes. "About... my appearance, Ms. Schnee. I didn't think-"

"Cinder, there's no need to be sorry," Willow insisted as she sat across from Cinder. "And how long have we known each other now? Call me 'Willow.'"

"Oh... okay." Cinder sat down on the couch again, still feeling depressed. "So you heard too, huh?"

"Yes, I did. I'm very sorry, Cinder. Really, I am."

"..."

Willow was disappointed to hear silence from Cinder, but she understood the reaction. And the silence didn't stop her from speaking. "Winter asked me to share her condolences as well. She'd be here too, but I'm afraid she's in no condition to travel."

"I saw," Cinder replied, recalling the memory of Winter's condition.

"She means it, though. I know it's hard hearing it from someone else. And if you ever need someone to talk to-"

"I'm fine." Cinder moved closer to the side, looking away from the wall. "I'm handling it."

"..."

Willow was expecting Cinder to close herself off as she had just done. Mourning and grief took many different forms, but isolating oneself was a common thing to do. And once again, Willow refused to give up.

"Cinder, it's a terrible thing to lose someone you love," Willow insisted. "Closing yourself off from feeling... won't help anyone."

The statement evoked an angry feeling from Cinder, since she had heard similar phrases before. "Don't do that," she demanded. "I've heard from enough people that they 'know how I feel,' okay? And Winter's still alive, so just save your breath."

Willow was a little surprised by the angry outburst, but she knew such outbursts were inevitable. And she knew that Djarin's death was a sensitive topic, especially with someone saying "I know how you feel." It was common for people to say this to make someone feel better, but there were rare cases where the words held weight.

And as it turned out, this was one of those times.

"You're absolutely right about Winter," Willow calmly replied. "But I was actually referring to my parents. Losing them... was never something I was fond about."

Cinder finally turned back to Willow when she heard this. She hadn't even considered that Willow had lost her own parents, which was exactly what happened to her. As soon as she realized this, Cinder also realized that she made a terrible mistake in her assumption.

"Ms. Schnee, I'm sorry," she said, finally opening herself up again. "I didn't mean... I didn't think about-"

"It's okay, Cinder," Willow insisted with a small smile. "And what did I say about calling me 'Willow?'"

"Oh, right... Willow."

Willow's smile grew wider as she saw that she was finally reaching Cinder. And she understood why Cinder wouldn't have thought about her parents; Willow hardly mentioned them before today. But now, in order for Cinder to open up to people again, Willow would have to open up about her own past.

And that was exactly what she intended to do.

"So... losing your father hurt you too?" Cinder asked, hoping to build on the connection she was making.

"Oh, so much," Willow honestly replied. "It was sad to see him go, and I still miss him. But the truth is... losing my mother hurt even more."

"Your mother?"

"Yes. Seeing and hearing about you reminds me of me, back when she passed away."

"..."

Cinder never knew her mother, but she believed what Willow was saying in terms of relatability. It was this reason that she gave Willow her undivided attention while she revealed her past.

"You see, my mother always wanted a daughter," Willow explained. "Ever since I was born, she doted on me. And I her." Willow smiled as she reflected on her mother. "I met plenty of people in Atlas and abroad, but my mother was always my best friend."

Cinder began to smile as she thought about this connection. It sounded exactly like what she had with Djarin. "That... sounds really nice," she said.

"It was." Willow slightly frowned as her next thoughts came. "That's why it hurt so much when she passed away."

Cinder continued to give Willow her attention as the inevitable came. "Wh... What happened to her?" she asked. "Was it old age?"

"Sadly, no," Willow replied. "You might remember that I attended boarding school with Bail. One day, I received a call from Klein. My mother, she... she had a stroke, you see. And unfortunately for her, she had it right at the top of the staircase. Between the stroke and the fall, the doctor said she was dead before she stopped at the final stair."

Cinder gasped when she heard this. "That's awful," she said. "I'm... so sorry."

"Thank you," Willow said. "I'm alright now. But, I wasn't back then."

"..."

"I was angry at just about everyone. I even blamed Father for sending me away, because I never had a chance to say goodbye. He didn't either, but I was too angry to care."

"..."

"I shut myself off from my friends, my family, and my own emotions. It was a hard time for me..." Willow reached out and took Cinder's hand. "I don't want to see that happen to you."

Cinder knew what Willow was trying to tell her; that she shouldn't let her loss dictate her life. But Cinder believed that this was easier said than done. As soon as she tried to do so, tears came into her eyes and immediately fell down her cheeks.

"I just... I miss him so much," Cinder confessed as she cried. She had felt this way for a while, but today was the first day Cinder had said it out loud. This was the first day that she became vulnerable and exposed, yet she was in no real danger.

Willow proved that by hugging Cinder and keeping her close.

"I know," she said as she gently stroked Cinder's hair, comforting her through the pain. "And it's okay."

Cinder accepted the hug and the comfort, feeling grateful for the first time since being accepted into Glynda's home. "Will I... be okay?" she asked. "Is there an 'after this?'"

"Of course there is," Willow insisted as she released Cinder. "And you'll be okay. One day, you'll find something that will make you remember. Remember what it felt like before you lost someone. They'll always be a part of you... but you'll remember the rest of yourself again."

"..."

---

Despite still missing her father, Cinder began to feel a little better after talking with Willow. The conversation helped her break down the wall she built between herself and the world, which led her to finally going outside.

Cinder had originally left the apartment to see Willow off, who was going to meet with the heads of Dust shipping in Vale. But rather than go back inside, Cinder stayed on the front steps and thought about Willow's advice. It sounded a bit strange, the need to remember herself. But it made Cinder recall her experiences with Lila in the void; how she connexted herself with the memories and emotions of people she held close to her. It, along with Willow's words, reminded Cinder that Djarin would always remain as a part of her.

And so would the Mandalorians, who needed Cinder's help.

When Cinder remembered this, she realized that Djarin would want the Mandalorians to be helped. And it was Cinder's responsibility to do so, as Mand'alor.

"Well... looks like I'm going to Nevarro," Cinder decided as she began her journey.

As soon as Cinder finished putting her armor on, she made her way to the people of Mandalore. Rather than fly to Nevarro, Cinder had elected to take her first steps across Vale. She believed a walk would be good for fresh air, as well as some time to think. Along with the Mandalorians, Cinder thought about her week in relative isolation. As she did, Cinder once again recalled what she learned from Lila in the void. Rather than thinking she needed another lesson, Cinder was wondering why the past Maidens were quiet during the week. Cinder thought they would have wanted to talk about her experience as a Fully-Realized Maiden or offer comfort in her troubling time.

Perhaps, Cinder thought, they were offering comfort by staying distant. As Willow had said, Cinder had shut herself out from the world and the people around her. It was how she ignored the people of Mandalore for this long, after all.

Perhaps Cinder had shut the other Maidens out as well.

"I'm sorry, Fall," Cinder thought to herself. "I'm sorry, everyone. I just... wasn't ready. I needed to get away from all of it."

"..."

Despite not hearing a response, Cinder was sure that the Maidens could hear her. They had been mostly silent since Amity, it seemed to be in their nature. Even still, Cinder contemplated a visit to the void after she figured out what she was going to say to the Mandalorians. She also contemplated where her destiny would lead her, once she accepted the throne of Mandalore.

But destiny, as it seemed, had a strange way of working.

"Stop! Thieves!"

Cinder stopped walking when she heard a loud yell. The yell was close to her ear, so it wasn't easy to miss. She turned towards the direction of the shouting, where she saw an older man pointing down an alley where the silhouette of another person disappeared.

"They took all my money!" the man yelled. Given his age, he couldn't run after the thieves himself. "Somebody stop them!"

For the first time all week, Cinder's instincts took over as she decided to help the man. Rather than speak or see if he was unharmed, Cinder ran past the man and into the alley, where she once again saw the shape of a person disappear past a corner.

Cinder allowed her Maiden powers to come to the surface so she could travel at a faster pace. With fire at her command, Cinder flew past the corner at an impressive speed.

She stopped, however, when she met a brick wall at the end of the alley.

"Huh?" Cinder wondered as she stopped herself from hitting the wall. Once she landed on the ground, Cinder retraced her steps to figure out what happened. She knew the thieves had come to the spot where she was standing, since she saw them a few seconds ago. And judging from the area, the way she came from was the only entrance and exit to the alley.

"Hmm..." Cinder thought as she tried to figure out what happened. "Whoever they are, they must have scaled this wall." Cinder saw that the wall was part of a building, and that someone may have climbed up it to escape. "They must have used a Semblance to do it. I should be able to catch them if I fly."

*CLINK*

*CLINK*

*CLINK*

Cinder was prepared to fly over the building, but the sound of metal hitting the ground caught her attention. She turned back towards the wall to see that a metal can was rolling on the ground, almost like it had been dropped by someone. But the strange part wasn't that Cinder didn't see it roll under the wall; she saw it roll through the wall.

"What the-?" Cinder asked as she approached the wall. A close look didn't reveal anything unordinary to the naked eye, but touching the wall revealed something else. Rather than feel a hard surface, Cinder's arm passed through the wall like there was nothing there.

Because there was nothing there.

"It's a trick!" Cinder realized, seeing that a Semblance was being used. To prove this, Cinder successfully stepped through the wall and found herself in a dark part of the alley. There, she could see three figures looking upon her.

And based on what they were saying, none of them were happy to see Cinder.

"She found us!"

"Your illusion didn't work, you idiot!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Run!"

All three people ran deeper into the alley, towards a sewer cover on the ground. It was fully open, so each person could jump down and make their escape.

All except the one who Cinder just caught.

"Hold it!" said Cinder, who fired her razor-wire around the ankles of the last thief.

The two thieves in the sewer looked up to see their companion had fallen behind. But between their selfishness and cowardly nature, neither of them were keen on saving their companion.

"Forget about her!" said one of the thieves. "She's already done for!"

"No, wait!" the captured thief pleaded as she tried to stop Cinder from pulling her. "Don't leave me!"

Unfortunately for the thief, her pleas and cries were in vain. Once they were at arm's length from each other, Cinder grabbed the thief by her collar and picked her up.

"I don't know much about stealing," Cinder confessed as she held on to the thief. "But I know better than to work with someone who abandons you at the drop of a hat."

The thief squirmed in Cinder's grasp, but she couldn't break free. "Stop it! Let go of me!"

"Oh, no, you don't." Cinder moved the thief closer into the light to get a better look. "Not until you return what you stole from-"

With a gasp, Cinder suddenly found herself letting go of the thief. Resolution and determination were replaced with disbelief when she saw several things about the thief that she was surprised to see.

The first thing was that the thief was holding several items of food rather than money. As it turned out, she didn't have a single Lien in her possession. The second thing was the girl's shriveled and dirty appearance; it appeared that she hadn't been properly fed or washed in weeks.

And while her mint-green hair contrasted with her bright red eyes, the one feature that made the thief stand out to Cinder was that she was no older than ten.

"You're... You're just a kid," Cinder said in surprise, along with a hint of pity.

"..."

---

When Cinder returned to the man who had been robbed, the police were waiting with him. After the man verified that the child with Cinder was one of the people who robbed him. He hadn't noticed that the food she took was stolen, since he was only concerned with the money they took from his store.

And as it turned out, that was only part of the story.

"Yeah, that sounds about right," said the first officer, who appeared to be a detective. "We've heard these people work in groups of three."

"These people?" Cinder asked. "Wait, they've done this before?"

"Oh, yeah," said the second officer, who was also a detective. "We've been getting reports all over the city. Robberies, breaking and entering, they even attacked some higher-ups once or twice."

"And Inwas just lucky enough to have my place in their sights," said the business owner. "But I guess I should be thankful I'm still alive to talk about it." He then looked to Cinder. "And thanks for getting some of my stuff back."

"Oh, you're welcome," said Cinder, who turned back to the officers. "But are things here that bad? I thought Vale was finally under control."

"Well, the Huntsmen and Huntresses finally got the Grimm outta here," said the first detective. "And the Council's helping the refugees outside the city. With all that going on, we've got the petty crooks who took advantage of all the chaos."

"And the robberies are all gang-related," said the second detective. "They call themselves 'Crimson Dawn,' or something like that."

"Wasn't it 'Black Sun?'" the storekeeper asked.

"No, Black Sun's way out in Mistral," said the second detective. "Unfortunately, Crimson Dawn's our problem." The detective turned towards his car, where the little girl was inside. "But that kid should be able to tell us something that'll help."

Everyone turned to the car and agreed with the detective. However, Cinder had a different idea in regards to help. Unlike the three adults, Cinder didn't see the child as a threat or a hardened criminal. She looked like someone who was willing to do what she needed to survive. And in her case, it led the child to stealing food and falling into the wrong crowd.

Cinder began to feel connected to the child. She knew, once upon a time, what it was like to be starving. Cinder didn't exactly steal food, but she had to resort to eating scraps left behind by guests of the Glass Unicorn. It was a terrible feeling, and Cinder believed the child felt the same way.

She wasn't evil. She just needed help.

"Um, officer?" Cinder said after tapping one of the detectives on the shoulder. "I know I'm not a Huntress, but... can I help? I think I can convince her to talk to you."

"Help us?" the detective asked. "Uh, I think you've done your part already. No offense, kid, but we don't really let civilians deal with police matters."

"Ease up, Mac," said the second detective. "Don't you recognize her? That's Cinder, the girl from the message."

The shopkeeper gasped upon hearing this. "That's right!" he said. "I thought I recognized you! You helped reunite the world!"

Cinder let out an awkward chuckle as she became the center of attention. "Uh, yeah," she said. "That's me."

"Oh, wow," said the first detective. "I'm sorry, I should've recognized that armor." He then stepped out of Cinder's way to the car. "If you think you could help, we can give you a few minutes while we get a statement here."

"That'd be great. Thank you."

Cinder moved towards the car and thought about what she would say. She didn't think a detailed plan would be necessary, since she felt connected to the girl. All she needed to do was show the girl how similar they were, and that she could actually help her.

But when Cinder opened the car door and saw the girl pointing a pistol at her, she realized that it was going to be hard to get through to her.

"Don't move!" the girl said. "If-If you move, I'll... I'll shoot!"

"..."

Cinder was about to react accordingly, but she relaxed after a second of thinking. Though she wasn't wearing her helmet, Cinder knew her Beskar armor would protect her from a bullet. And from the girl's scared voice, it was clear that she had never fired a gun before.

And Cinder had a hunch about how the girl was armed in the first place.

"Shoot me?" Cinder asked calmly. "With what? I don't see a gun."

The girl suddenly became confused. "Huh?" she asked. "You don't see it? But I'm using my..."

The gun suddenly vanished when the girl stopped talking. She closed her mouth in order to keep a secret she had, but Cinder knew the cat was out of the bag. With that, she began her efforts to help the girl.

"I knew it was a Semblance," Cinder began, talking with a sense of ease. "And that was you who made me see the fake wall, wasn't it?"

"..."

"Don't get me wrong, it's a great Semblance. And you're good at it, too. I just didn't like it being used for stealing, that's all."

"..."

Cinder was disappointed by the silence, but she understood why the girl was acting this way. "Hey, don't be shy," she requested. "If this is about what happened in the alley, I'm sorry. I just wasn't expecting you to be a kid. If I knew, I wouldn't have used my wire. I know it can hurt sometimes."

The girl rubbed her ankle as she was reminded of the mild pain, and she suddenly began to talk. "It's not just that," she said. "I'm not talking to you because they said you'd try this. That you would pretend to care. That you would pretend to be my friend."

Cinder knew this was a classic attempt at manipulation, someone a child would immediately believe. Fortunately, Cinder had a good rebuttal. "Did they say they would leave you behind at the first sight of trouble?" she asked. "That they would abandon you like they did?"

"..."

Cinder's question was the first successful step in showing the child the error in judgement she made. Unfortunately, the realization of being abandoned was enough to make the little girl begin to cry. Being alone like this scared her greatly, and now she had nobody to trust.

But Cinder, who didn't want to see the girl cry, made every effort to earn trust.

"Hey, it's okay," Cinder insisted as she dried the child's eye. "Listen; they didn't leave you because of something you did. It's because they're cowards. And they used you to get what they wanted. They're the bad guys, not you."

Hearing this wasn't enough to make the girl stop crying, but she was beginning to open up to Cinder. "You... don't think I'm bad?" she asked.

"No, of course not. The only bad thing I can see is the crowd you fell into. Nothing about you."

"..."

"They lied to you, too. They said I would be pretending to care... but do I look like I'm pretending?"

The girl studied Cinder for a moment and thought back on how she had been treated by her. Their initial meeting was a bit painful, but the apology and insistence that she wasn't a bad person made the child see that there was nothing fake about Cinder.

"...No," she said. "I... I don't think so."

"That's good," said Cinder. "So you know that I really do care."

"..."

Cinder smiled as she took the child's hand. "I'm Cinder, by the way. What's your name?"

"...Emerald."

---

Cinder and Emerald spent the next several minutes getting to know each other. Sadly, as Cinder had guessed, Emerald Sustrai was an orphan. She had never known her parents, not even before the Mandalorian Civil War began.

Cinder confessed that she knew what it was like to be an orphan, but had to fight back tears as she did so. Despite everything that happened today, she still missed her father. Emerald sensed some kind of distress at the mention of family, so she decided not to bring it up again.

As the detectives had said, the gang that recruited Emerald off the streets was Crimson Dawn. According to Emerald, she wasn't the only child who had been drawn into the bad crowd. Crimson Dawn had started off with common robberies, but they were growing stronger and larger by the day. If left unchecked, they could start a gang war on the streets of Vale.

Cinder knew that the gang had to be stopped. And Emerald was the best chance at finding put where they were.

Before she decided to help, however, Emerald needed to know that she could trust Cinder. Crimson Dawn had mainly relied on force for cooperation, so Emerald never questioned them. However, she needed to know if she could trust Cinder before doing anything that she would regret.

Fortunately, Cinder had an idea how to establish trust.

Emerald was wearing a pair of handcuffs, since she had participated in the robbery. And while Cinder didn't have a key, she was able to pick the lock and remove the handcuffs off Emerald's wrists.

"There you go," Cinder said as she watched the handcuffs fall. "Does that feel better?"

"Wow," Emerald said as she rubbed her hands. "Yeah, it does! Where did you learn to do that?"

"..."

Cinder was hesitant to answer this question. It was Djarin who had taught her the technique, as a part of survival training they participated in. It was a valuable lesson, but Cinder was once again saddened by her loss.

Though she promised to carry on the memories she had.

"From a friend," Cinder replied as she helped Emerald out of the car.

Together, Cinder and Emerald convinced the detectives that they could stop Crimson Dawn. After apologizing for the robbery, Emerald promised to show the police where the headquarters of Crimson Dawn was located. Cinder vouched for Emerald, and offered her own assistance should the arrest lead to a fight.

When the detectives heard this, as well as Crimson Dawn "recruiting" children, they accepted the offer. Their plan was to request for backup at the police station, where a special unit of officers would lead an assault against Crimson Dawn.

Afterwards, all of the rescued children, including Emerald, would be given proper care.

Despite the promise of better care at the police station, Emerald insisted on going with Cinder and the other officers. She said she could guide everyone through the area and the building Crimson Dawn was using, in case of guards or traps. The police didn't like the sound of a civilian being in harm's way, but Cinder agreed to keep Emerald close to her.

Despite Emerald's logic, Cinder could tell that the child didn't want to leave her side just yet. It seemed that Emerald didn't have many friends in the world, and she wasn't going to abandon the first one she made.

And so, Emerald led Cinder and the police to a specific area of Vale. This area had been hit the hardest from the Fall of Beacon and the Mandalorian Civil War, since it was outside the safe zone that was established months ago. So it was a perfect place for Crimson Dawn, specifically the building Emerald had pointed out.

The plan of attack was simple. The officers would breach the doors of the building and take the gang by surprise. And once the gang realized they were surrounded, the fight with Crimson Dawn would be over before it began.

But as luck would have it, the best laid plans went awry.

*BANG*

*BANG*

*BANG*

Bullets and blasts rang through the windows of the ruined building, directly at Cinder and the police unit. Crimson Dawn was cowardly, but they weren't stupid. When they realized that Emerald was missing, the gang knew that the police would arrive within the hour. So they prepared every gun they had and waited for the right moment to strike. The firepower they has was enough to pierce the armor the police was wearing, which made them grow confident in a daring escape.

But the police still had Cinder. And with her, the power of the Fall Maiden.

Once she got Emerald and two officers behind cover, Cinder began to act. "Emerald, stay here!" she commanded. "No matter what happens, stay right here!"

*WHOOSH*

Cinder's fiery powers made her fly straight towards the building, with her armor protecting her from bullets and blasts alike. She flew straight into the door, meeting more and more opposition on the way. But the opposition was no match for the power of the elements.

Fire and smoke flushed people out into the open.

Ice made it impossible for anyone to stand up and keep fighting.

Wind was strong enough to blast the gangsters out of doorways and windows.

And lightning blasted the guns out of everyone's hands.

The fighting eventually made its way outside, and so did Cinder. She was inevitably met with gunfire again, but Cinder decided to let the Darksaber be her ally rather than just her powers. And with the sword, she was able to destroy the weapons and disarm the gangsters still fighting her.

Everyone was surprised by Cinder's abilities, but there was one person in particular who was simply mesmerized.

Emerald had done as she was told, but she couldn't help but watch the Fall Maiden in battle. Every movement Cinder made, either avoiding attacks or letting them come, was simply amazing. Cinder had mentioned that she wasn't a Huntress, so Emerald knew that Cinder had learned what she was doing all by herself.

It was like magic, and it was the most inspiring thing Emerald had ever seen. She didn't want it to stop, she wanted to watch the show go on forever.

But more than that... Emerald wanted to be just like Cinder.

*BANG*

*BANG*

Emerald's ears were ringing from two gunshots behind her. Two of the officers who had also been watching Cinder were unfortunately ambushed by a member of Crimson Dawn, who took Emerald in his grasp and moved backwards.

"Come on, kid!" the cruel man ordered. "You're my insurance policy!"

Emerald tried to break the grasp and kick the man, but she wasn't strong enough to free herself. Ao instead of trying to escape, Emerald called out for help.

And as luck would have it, Cinder heard the cries for help and flew to Emerald.

"Stay back!" the gangster warned when Cinder landed in front of him. "Take one more step, and I'll kill her!"

"..."

"I'll do it! Don't test me!"

"..."

Cinder once again recognized the cowardice behind Crimson Dawn's foot soldiers, but also understood the predicament she was in. One false move would result in Emerald's death, which was the last thing Cinder wanted. And with the police clearing out the rest of the building, Cinder didn't have anyone to help her.

All she could do was rely on herself; and that was exactly what Cinder did.

*THWIP*

Cinder fired her razorwire towards the gangster, but it didn't wrap around his arm or body. Instead, it hit the wall behind the gangster and embedded into the stone.

"Ha!" the gangster laughed as he turned back to Cinder. "You missed!"

"Did I?" Cinder sarcastically asked as she pulled on the wire.

*CRACK*

*BAM*

"Oof!"

When Cinder pulled on her wire, the part of the wall that it stuck to broke into a stone slab. And that slab hit the man on the back of his head, which caused him to drop both his gun and Emerald as he fell. Emerald's fall was far less painful than the man's, and her hero helped her off the ground with ease.

"Are you okay?" Cinder asked as she looked Emerald over for any wounds.

"I... I'm fine," said an awestruck Emerald.

"Good. Let's get out of here."

---

Between making sure the criminals were apprehended and the children were properly taken care of, Cinder found herself following and assisting the police back to the station. There, she was met with attention and praise for not only stopping a violent gang, but also for sending her message across the world.

"Hey, it's her!"

"You're Cinder, right?"

"You sent the message!"

"You helped reunite the world!"

"I saw your speech in Mistral!"

"Can I get a picture?"

Everyone was still happy about the war being over and Salem being defeated, so it was easy for them to see Cinder as a hero. And Cinder had no reason to deny the truth, so she accepted handshakes and gratitude from everyone.

It was somewhat awkward for her, being in the spotlight like this. But given what they were saying about her, between the speech at Haven and the speech on Amity, Cinder understood why everyone was so happy. And not only were they happy, but they were very accepting of her.

The praise and her recent actions had restored Cinder's hope in the future. It would be hard without her father, but Cinder had proven that she was more than capable of handling whatever the world threw at her. With the help of her friends, specifically the Mandalorians, Cinder would be more than okay.

And soon, so would the people of Mandalore.

With that, Cinder began to make her way to Nevarro. The day wasn't over yet, and she knew that she could do whatever was necessary to help her people. Before she did, however, Cinder realized that she had misplaced an important part of her armor.

"Oh, shoot!" Cinder said to herself as she stopped walking. "I forgot my helmet!"

Cinder immediately turned around and retraced her steps at the police station. Between talking to everyone and taking pictures, it was hard to remember where she left the last piece of her armor. But Cinder eventually remembered that she left it in the same room the orphans had been placed while they waited for proper care. However, Cinder didn't see her helmet anywhere on the tables or chairs.

"That's weird," Cinder thought as she looked around. "I could have sworn I left it in here. Oh, no; I hope nobody stole it."

Cinder realized how strange her helmet being stolen by the police sounded. So she decided to look around in the hopes of finding it, right before she had an idea.

"Oh, wait a second. Dad said I could turn on a tracker for my helmet." Cinder looked at her gauntlet and examined the buttons on it, hoping to find the one that enabled the tracker. "Let's see... Oh, right. This one."

*BUZZ*

"Gah!"

*THUD*

Cinder turned around fast when she heard a small yelp and something hitting the floor. Her gaze turned to the corner of the room, where her helmet had just landed. And right beside it was a familiar little girl, who appeared to have been hiding.

"Emerald?" Cinder said as she looked upon the child. "Is that you?"

"Um..."

Emerald hummed as she tried to think of an excuse. She was indeed hiding, but she wasn't expecting Cinder to be the one to find her. And given that she had been caught once again, there was nothing else to do but give up.

"...Hi," Emerald finally said, realizing that her time was up.

"Emerald, what are you doing here?" Cinder asked as she walked over to the child. "I thought you left with everyone else."

"No," Emerald denied. "I... I stayed here."

Cinder was already surprised that Emerald never left with the other children, but she was more surpdised to see that her helmet had been in the child's possession. It served as a dark reminder of how Cinder met Emerald in the first place.

"Emerald... you weren't trying to... steal my helmet, were you?" Cinder asked. She felt guilty for asking, but hiding with the helmet was rather suspicious.

"No!" Emerald quickly denied. "I was just looking at it! Honest!"

"..."

Emerald quickly handed the helmet back to Cinder. "Here, take it! I don't want it, really!"

Cinder took the helmet back and saw that it wasn't broken or damaged. Emerald had apparently taken good care of it, which seemed to verify the story of simply looking at it.

Except for one thing.

"Well, thank you for being careful with it," said Cindee. "But you were just looking at it, why were you hiding?"

"Because... I didn't want to leave yet," Emerald replied. "All those people were talking to you and taking pictures, but I wanted to talk to you too. To thank you... for saving my life."

"..."

Cinder realized that Emerald hadn't said "thank you" back at the Crimson Dawn headquarters. But she didn't need any thanks, and it was easy to attribute that to the shock Emerald received a half hour ago. Emerald didn't seem to be in shock, however, she seemed completely fine.

And having her chance to talk to Cinder would only make her feel better.

"Emerald, you didn't have to hide just to talk to me," Cinder said with a smile. She then took Emerald's hand and led her to a table, where they could talk properly. "But I understand; big crowds can be scary sometimes."

"I don't think I was scared," Emerald admitted. "But I was really surprised by how many people were happy to see you. It has something to do with the armor, doesn't it?"

"A little bit." Cinder decided to let Emerald see her helmet once again. "You really like it, huh?"

"Oh, yeah! I mean, the way it protected you from Crimson Dawn... it was amazing! Almost like... magic."

Cinder gave a short laugh as a response. "It might be hard to believe, but you're not too far off. It wasn't just the armor, though."

"I know. The way you were fighting back there was unbelievable. I'd give anything to see it happen again."

"Well, I think I'll still be in Vale for a little bit. So keep your eyes open."

"You bet I will! I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

Cinder laughed again. "That's nice to hear. You know, I said something like that when I was... your age..."

"..."

As she talked and listened to Emerald, Cinder had a strange sense of déjà vu. But the more she thought about it, nothing seemed that strange anymore. Once again, Emerald reminded Cinder of herself. The way she looked at the helmet, talked about the armor, and how her life was nowhere as amazing as Cinder's, Emerald inadvertently reminded Cinder of how she acted when she first saw a Mandalorian.

Namely, when she first saw Djarin. And how she ran away to go wherever he went.

"One day, you'll find something that will make you remember. Remember what it felt like before you lost someone."

As soon as she recalled Willow's advice, and afer she took a good long look at Emerald looking at the helmet, Cinder knew right at once what to do.

"Emerald... you didn't hide just so you could talk with me, did you?" Cinder asked.

"..."

The silence from Emerald, who had frozen in place, spoke volumes for Cinder. And though she didn't need to ask her next question, Cinder asked it anyway.

"You never wanted to go with the other children, did you?"

This time, rather than silence, Emerald put the helmet down and made one more confession. "I... I don't think I belong with them," she said. "Seeing you fight, be around all those people... I want to be just like you. And I... I couldn't do that by going away like that."

"..."

Emerald began to feel that she had disappointed Cinder with her recent choices. "I know it doesn't make sense, because we only just met. But after you saved my life, after you helped me, I thought-"

"Actually, Emerald..." Cinder said as she stood up. "That makes a lot of sense." She then made her way towards Emerald with a smile. "A lot more than you think."

Hope began to replace Emerald's shame as she became understood. "Really?" she asked in astonishment.

"Really." Cinder kneeled down to Emerald once more. "Emerald, do you know what a Mandalorian is?"

Emerald had heard the word several times while roaming the streets of Vale. But she never bothered to learn what it truly meant. "Um... no. What is that?"

"It's what I am, actually. That's why I wear the armor. It saved you from those blasts and bullets because it's made of Beskar."

"Best-car?"

Cinder laughed once again. "No, Beskar. It's a rare metal that only Mandalorians have."

"Oh, Beskar." Emerald shared a laugh with Cinder as she understood the word better. "But what's a Mandalorian? And why do they wear it?"

Cinder took a short breath before she explained herself. "Well... that's kind of a long story," she began. "But one thing you should know is that Mandalorians are warriors. Some of the best warriors Remnant has ever seen."

Emerald paid close attention to Cinder as she listened with awe and curiosity. "Like Huntsmen?"

"A little like Huntsmen. But being a Mandalorian isn't a job. Mandalore is a kingdom of individual clans and people, who lost their way a long time ago. Some of them were even responsible for what happened to Beacon and Vale."

Emerald gasped when she heard this. She was well aware of what happened to the Kingdom, so she was surprised to hear it was the work of Mandalorians.

"They did?" she asked. "But... that doesn't make sense. You don't seem like someone who would do that."

"Oh, it wasn't me," Cinder corrected. "No, it was a group of people who thought they knew what it meant to be Mandalorians. Thankfully, they're not going to be hurting anyone anymore. I made sure of that."

"Is that why everyone was happy to see you?"

"That was one of the reasons, yeah. The others were something else I helped with. And helped the Mandalorians do. But now... now I have to help them with something else."

"Really? What?"

"Well... the Mandalorians are a lot like you, Emerald. They don't exactly know where to go. Unfortunately... they don't have a place to call home."

Emerald was surprised to hear that she was like the Mandalorians, but now she began to feel sad. She knew all too well what it was like to not have a home, so the Mandalorians immediately earned her sympathy.

"That's so sad," she said. "Does that mean... you don't have a home, either?"

Cinder needed a minute to think about that. She always considered Beacon Academy to be her home, but she couldn't stay there in its current state. And when she thought about her responsibility to the Mandalorians, Cinder began to see that she would have to find herself a new home. She belonged with the Mandalorians, there was no denying that. But sadly, she couldn't stay at Beacon anymore.

Cinder reluctantly accepted this as she answered Emerald.

"I'm afraid so," she confirmed. "But don't worry; I promised the Mandalorians that I was going to find them a home."

"..."

Cinder took another breath, but a much deeper one. She was beginning to grow nervous, given what she planned to do next. But her anxiety wasn't going to stop her from doing what she wanted to do. After all, Djarin had done something similar years ago. Something that helped her at her lowest point.

And if Djarin could do it, so could Cinder.

"Emerald... the reason I'm telling you all of this is because... I'm going to help the Mandalorians find a home," Cinder said. "And after meeting you, after seeing how much you remind me of me... I'd like to help you find a home too."

Emerald gasped as her eyes widened in awe, just like Cinder's did years ago. "A... A home?" she asked. "Wait, a home with the other children? Or a home with... with-?"

"With the Mandalorians," Cinder confirmed. "I can't say that it'll be easy, but I can see you're already used to things that aren't easy. And you're strong too, Emerald. If you're willing, my friends and I can help you grow stronger."

Emerald was honored by Cinder's offer, as well as her compliments regarding strength. But there was only one thing Emerald was focused on.

"So... I'll have a home?" she asked. "You'll find it?"

"Yes," Cinder promised. "Yes, I will. I promise." With that, Cinder followed Djarin's example and offered her hand to Emerald. "Would you like that?"

"..."

Cinder recalled how she had been silent when Djarin made his offer. It was clear that Emerald, who was still awestruck, needed a moment to think about such an offer. Cinder had been awestruck as well, the day she accepted Djarin as her father.

Cinder still missed Djarin deeply, but she didn't find herself to be in pain anymore. Not that she was trying to replace him with the first thing she found, but Cinder felt that the example Djarin provided had led Cinder to where she was now. She felt proud of herself, and happy that she met someone like Emerald. Because now, Cinder had the change to continue the legacy Djarin had left behind. She had the chance to continue where he left off, and create a new Mandalore; one that followed the Way of the Maiden.

That was, after all, the dream they came up with together.

And Emerald, with a firm and determined smile on her face, told Cinder that the dream was about to come true.

"Yes!"

The End

---

Author's notes: and that's the end of that.

Hi everyone, I hope you're doing well. And yes, this is the end of The Way of the Maiden. I hope you enjoyed it, even though Djarin sadly had to go. As I said, this was all planned. And so is the next story I have planned (there's a hint at the end of the notes, so don't go just yet).

I hope I was able to answer all your questions from the previous chapter. If not, these questions will indeed be answered in the next story. I hope you're just as excited as I am, and I hope you'll all come back and see it.

That being said, thank you all for your support. Through favs, follows, and comments, the support I received from you all meant the world to me. I could go on all day about how you all helped me, so let me just say I'm proud to have built this fanbase. You stuck with me for 70 chapters, and I hope to see you all with my next story.

As you may have guessed, Emerald will be a big part of the next story. And so will Cinder, they'll be very important. However, I have a different idea for who the main character will be. You may be wondering who I'm thinking of, so here is a hint for the next story. Enjoy.

---

Epilogue

As the years passed on Remnant, everything became different.

With peace came evolution and transformation. Most of this came from Atlas, since they had opened their borders once again. As promised, Amity Colosseum continued to serve as a new means for communicating with the rest of the world. And with the discoveries in Gideon's vault paved the way for new means of defense and travel. Not everything had been completed, but Remnant had been introduced to many new things.

Including the reconstruction of the Kingdom of Mandalore.

As Bo-Katan had originally proposed, several domed areas were created in the ruins of Mandalore, so the Mandalorians could survive in their homeland. The other four Kingdoms had offered their assistance in this endeavor, as a sign of gratitude for everything Cinder had done.

This act, however, put Mandalore at odds with a group of Faunus revolutionaries known as the White Fang. The members of the organization mainly saw humanity as their enemy, but they weren't happy to see what they believed to be invaders of Menagerie. Minor skirmishes between the White Fang and Mandalorians had occurred, but a full-scale war had been averted.

In the event of Mandalore falling once again, Cinder had established several colonies across Remnant, with the help of the Global Republic. These colonies included Kalevala and Nevarro, much to the pleasure of Greef Karga. Mandalorians were a part of the settlement for a long time, and Karga didn't want to see it change. So he happily helped Cinder keep Nevarro a home for the Mandalorians, along with their Foundlings.

One such Foundling had recently earned her armor, which she wanted to put to the test.

After going deep into the woods, the young Mandalorian found a spot that stood out among the trees. Along with the spot being an open field, the area was surrounded by a pack of hungry Beowolves. As soon as they caught the scent of flesh, the Grimm followed their instincts and pounced at the girl.

Only to see her disappear in a burst of red.

When the Grimm looked around, they saw the girl up in the air. She was wearing a set of Mandalorian armor painted red and black, and there was a jetpack keeping her afloat behind her red cloak. And once the Grimm were in her sight, the young Foundling pulled out a rifle and fired upon her prey.

*BANG*

*BANG*

*BANG*

Several red blasts met the Grimm and killed them instantaneously. The Mandalorian examined her work as she lowered herself to the ground, but she wasn't completely satisfied yet. Not until she tried two more things.

The first of which came in the nick of time.

*SCRATCH*

*CRUNCH*

Two surviving Grimm scratched at the girl's torso while also biting her. But as she expected, the Beskar armor protected her with ease. She didn't even need to use her Aura to help her.

And now that she had the Grimm right where she wanted them, there was one more thing she could try.

*WHOOSH*

*THWIP*

After flying once again, the Mandalorian pressed a button on her gauntlet and let her gauntlet's wire tie the two Grimm together. She then pressed another button, but on her rifle rather than her gauntlet.

Unlike the common rifles and blasters Mandalorians were known to use, the girl's weapon was special. She had designed it herself, using the engineering techniques taught by Huntsmen and Huntresses. The girl wasn't a Huntress herself, but she had been greatly inspired by them after learning of a Huntsman who helped the Mand'alor during the Mandalorian Civil Wars.

Though he didn't know it, the Huntsman known as Qrow Branwen was the inspiration behind a scythe-rifle hybrid; one that the young girl used to kill the two Grimm below her feet.

*SHICK*

*SHICK*

With the pack now dead, the aspiring Mandalorian finally found herself satisfied. Soon, she would take her armor and her perfect weapon on her adventures across Remnant.

Adventures, she hoped, that would one day live up to the feats of the Mand'alor herself.

---

The Book of Ruby Rose

Coming June 2025