"Cat has been ejected from Monstra." Chiron kept his eyes on the shrinking Grimm in the distance; they were headed towards Atlas where Harpe was brought to. "I cannot promise you if that is a good thing or a bad thing."

"It doesn't matter," Sanson replied. His focus was on the wounded and the sick. He may be an executioner but he had studied the medical arts.

"I believe it does," Chiron argued as he closed the eye of another huntsman. "Because it wasn't a violent ejection. They have their plans, and if I were to guess, it will involve the living right now."

"I will not let the Cat get close to Blake," Sanson promised.

"I have no doubt about it. Nor do I have any doubt that the others would do the same for those they hold dear, Lancer and Rider for their respective Masters especially. Cinder's group on the other hand will not have that protection, not with Cinder at the helm."

"Do you care for Cinder?"

"Would you risk an immortal and mad-driven Cinder? She'll gladly take the immortality but will not allow Caster to torment her, she'll have ultimate power and part of me is certain that Cinder will become a greater threat than even the Brother gods."

Jeanne descended from the skies. "Can we focus on other things?" She heard them.

"The sacraments are done?" Sanson asked, sounding surprised.

"I could only offer a little prayer," Jeanne replied. "I'm a saint, not a priest."

The dead were many that the mass graves to be made may as well mark Vale as the kingdom of the dead. No structures remained intact and the Dust supplies that Winter managed to bring was all being used just to make up for those losses.

Chiron had been the one to reclaim Ozpin's body. Jeanne's Noble Phantasm managed to protect the man's form but there was no denying that he was gone. Those who knew of Ozpin refused to believe that Ozpin could ever come back.

"He always comes back," Glynda insisted, shaking her head. "What do you mean this is his last life?"

Jeanne failed to explain it. She relayed the information to Chiron but that was unnecessary; Chiron had seen it with his own eyes.

"Vorpal Bandersnatch," Chiron said as slowly as he could. "Berserker's Noble Phantasm denies any and all forms of revival, be it through regeneration or through reincarnation. It ends the cycle of rebirth and Ozpin has been struck by it. I saw, what I assume to be, his past lives. They all shattered like glass and Ozpin fell dead."

Glynda refused still. "I will not hear it!" She stormed off. "I will just… take charge until he comes back, that's all. He will come back. He lost the Grail War but he will come back. Ozpin always comes back."

The students had an easier time believing it. "He's really gone?" Pyrrha asked. Chiron's nod was all she needed as proof. "What are we supposed to do now?"

"That's up to decide, Pyrrha," Chiron replied. "For us Companions, and Archer, we still have the god of light. But for the rest of you, you have the Grail War to consider. We are still allied for now."

"But once the god of light is gone," Pyrrha completed. "What you Companions will do afterwards is up to you."

Chiron nodded.

"I know what I'm doing afterwards," Jeanne declared. "I hope there's still space for me in team JNPR?"

"You would help them win the Grail War?" Sanson asked.

"Unlike you Companions, I never agreed to that alliance," Jeanne replied. "I only followed with it out of my desire to serve alongside Ozpin, to help Yang for team RWBY, all to reunite and fight alongside my old team again. They may not be my team, but they are still team JNPR. Not a Ruler, remember?"

"As if being a Ruler would stop you."

"I'd be obligated to."

Chiron chuckled. "Your Remnant really changed you, didn't it?"

Sanson laughed and looked towards where all the huntsmen were still gathering the dead. His focus went towards the people of Kuo Kuana. Twice now they've lost their homes. More than twice, they've lost those they held dear.

"Rebuilding Kuo Kuana sounds nice," Sanson thought out loud. "I know that White Fang has a horrible history with it but I think we could make a better one."

"We?" Chiron asked.

"Sorry," Sanson replied. "I wasn't referring to any of you. Though if you do wish to lend a hand, I would appreciate it. But I'm actually referring to Kuo Kuana's people here. Ghira and Kali took me in when everyone else was weary of a human with a large sword coming towards their homes. I still failed in protecting most people from Assassin and I absolutely failed to protect the very people who welcomed me under their roof."

"Is that really what you want?" Jeanne sounded doubtful. "Because I recall Adam mentioning it in passing."

"You caught me." Sanson raised both hands. "Truth of the matter is that my loyalties are to Blake. I had Adam open it up for me."

"Was that wise?" Chiron commented. "I'm not sure that Adam was the best choice of opening the idea. Maybe that Ilia person would have been a better choice."

"I know." Sanson accepted that blunder. "I know. But Ghira did, somehow, come around to Adam eventually and Adam did become better… a little bit. He's still sees red too easily but he'll be tempered by time."

Sanson stood up.

"Sasaki Kojirou is still in that spellbook," Sanson added. "Chiron, what would happen if we failed to get that book?"

"Kojirou would eventually fall anyway," Chiron replied. "That's impressive that he's still fighting even now. But if he does break free, the damage to his Spirit Origin would be too much for him to stay manifested; he will return to the Throne shortly afterwards. Why?"

Sanson took a deep breath. "I believe that Caster intends to use it. What worries me is that the god of light's body remains after being killed. I can see Caster using it, combine that corpse with his own machinations, and that spellbook to create some kind of monstrosity. If Cat goes for Cinder, then that is two more Servants to the spellbook; I do not expect the Cat to stay for any longer than that."

"Couldn't Astolfo and the others survive?" Jeanne asked. "They have Harpe."

"They do." Chiron nodded. "But if what Sanson says is true, then the question is whether or not they could get to Caster and strike. The hypothetical abomination is going to be massive, it will take multiple Noble Phantasms just to reach them."

There was nothing that they could do about it right now. There were too many dead to look for and the missing even more, a difficult task since Raven evacuated the civilians; a few had dared to become heroes in their last moments and Raven couldn't be expected to memorize every face that went through that portal.

Team RWBY was officially reunited. Though Yang and Blake still had some distance between them, the roads were getting better. Adam had kept his distance from all of them, both due to his personal involvement and his status as a criminal. In a display camaraderie, Adam wasn't alone; Sun and Ilia took to his side.

Team JNPR was stronger than ever. After that conversation with Chiron, Pyrrha seemed to find her resolve; she intends to win the Grail War and bring Jaune back, the Servant one.

"I know it's a bit selfish that I am asking you to take his place, Rider," Pyrrha explained. "I can't take her place either, but maybe we could work something out?"

"You just want your fairytale ending and have it actually be Jaune," Nora commented.

"Shut up!" Pyrrha failed to hide that red.

Sanson leaned closer to Jeanne's ear. "Was—"

"Yes." Jeanne didn't need to hear it. "Even in mine. At least this one happened sooner. It took decades, actually."

"About time." Chiron sounded proud. "Achilles boasted his abilities but Pyrrha was too humble for her own good." He shook his head. "Moments like these make me forget that those two share a kinship of some kind. He'd adopt her faster than you did Jaune, Jeanne."

"That is not a gamble worth making." Sanson shook his head. "No price is worth everything that could come from it."

"Come on," Chiron said. "We still have the dead to look after."

For many, it was the first time that they'd ever seen the dead of such a scale. They couldn't bury them all. Many were ultimately burned. Individual burials would take too long and the corpses would rot, risking a plague, before there would be enough for everyone.

Pyrrha and Rider had the morbid task: Paper Pleasers covered the dead only for them to be set on fire. Rider could no longer bring forth that massive army of Paper Pleasers and had to rely on his Master's aura. But the many nameless faces of the masses were ingrained into it now; Rider had an unlimited number of Paper Pleasers, comprised of Earth's population throughout all of its history, at his disposal.

A feedback loop between Pyrrha and Rider allowed them to create many. But Rider's split focus on amplifying Pyrrha's aura while also creating more Paper Pleasers made it difficult to do. The mouse, Somewhat, was no longer present and could not be called to assist; it would only be a further strain on Rider's focus.

The fires roared as it feasted on the dead. Sanson could see Jeanne and Chiron looking for more survivors. In particular, they were looking for Beacon's faculty for there was more relief when they found a wounded Oobleck, Greene, Mulberry, and Peach. Port hid away his clear injuries under that machismo of his; Astolfo wasn't present to enable that behavior and Chiron was less impressed at the act and subsequently disappointed at the whine and whimper when that arm was put back into place.

As for, what Sanson assumes to be, the students of Beacon Academy, there were none that Sanson recognized. Perhaps there were, perhaps there were not. Sanson would assume that some of them were at least of the older years since they looked older than team RWBY and JNPR but younger than any of the professors. Sanson couldn't tell on sight alone.

Ghira Belladonna had been spared from the flames. Blake wanted his body returned to ground. Sanson paid special attention to Blake's fingers; they were scratching, as if digging. He sighed. That desperation was still in his mind. In this way, Ghira and Kali were brought back together.

The work kept going until night. No celebration was had. Whatever scraps were had were eaten in silence and in groups indicated by campfires. Rider kept his helmet on despite the request of the many to reveal his face. Sanson did not fail to notice the similarities of one the older huntsmen to the living Jaune Arc; that was a conversation either Rider nor Jeanne were ready to have.

"Pyrrha intends to bring him back, does she?" Sanson thought out loud. He shrugged. He really does intend to rebuild Kuo Kuana. But Blake's choices take priority. No Grail was necessary for that.

Atlas machinery was a welcome sight. Though they were meant for war, they had the tools to rebuild. These must have been the new paladins that Atlas made. It was a shame that they arrived too late. But the silver lining was that it could be used to defend Atlas.

"Hey," Sun spoke from behind. "I never got a chance to say this earlier: I'm glad you're back."

"As am I, Sun," Sanson replied. "I'd offer you tea but I have neither the china nor the leaves for it."

"Nah, it's fine." Sun sat next to him. "Drink isn't that important when you got good company. Would be better if we got some fruit though. I could use some potassium."

"I'm surprised you know that word, monkey king," Ilia Amitola appeared on the other side. She introduced herself.

Adam was the last to show himself. He maintained his distance. But Sanson motioned for him to approach; Blake wasn't near to begin with. She may not be with team RWBY, but she was closer to her old team than she was with Sanson and the rest; Blake and Yang still have some things to work on.

Due to the Servants, team RWBY was on one side of this massive camp of Vale's huntsmen while team JNPR were on the other end.

Chiron was at the center; his clairvoyance allowing him to see things further out would have made him excel had he been at any point on the edges of this camp. He his archery also allowed him to wake the others just as quickly and he needed to see all areas and at the center of it was the best option he could take.

Sanson and Jeanne were on the other points, circling as they needed since they didn't need a Master to stay manifested. Huntsmen still rotated as they wished, not allowing the Servants to do what they could do without much issue. But more eyes are welcome as Sanson still worried about Cat being out and about.

"I wish I raised by voice higher," Adam confessed.

"Everything was too loud, Adam." Sanson knew what Adam meant. "There is no changing that past anymore. Not unless Blake asks Ruby to give up her own wish."

"Can it be done?" Ilia asked, genuinely interested; she had to be involved now. Most people were.

"I cannot promise that." He shook his head. "I cannot guarantee anything nor have I heard of anyone actually getting their wish as they wanted it to be. Often, it isn't the case."

"And yet," Adam commented. "That doesn't stop them from trying anyway."

Sanson shrugged. "There's a chance. But it is up to them to decide if they wish to take it."

"Nah." Sun shook his head. "Not interested."

"You don't want an unlimited supply of bananas?" Ilia raised an eyebrow, smirk evident.

There was a moment that Sun actually considered it. "Tempting, but no. I like to get it myself. Things happen and anything that changes that means none of this could happen—not the bad parts, I swear!"

"Good to know that there is a head in that monkey brain of yours," Adam said.

"Hey! At least I don't start charging in every time I see a piece of red fabric!"

Adam's nose flared. "Care to repeat that, chimp?"

"I'll take you on!" Sun removed his shirt which wasn't saying much since there wasn't much shirt left. "I'll yank out those cattle horns, you walking steak!"

A single whip between them stopped Adam and Sun, disturbing the poor sleepers somewhat near them. Ilia apologized and got between Adam and Sun. She wasn't alone in thinking that those two might actually duke it out then and there.

"Ladies, ladies," Ilia repeated. "You're both pretty, we get it. Think about all the time you spent on your makeup! All that… Grimm foundation, Cthnonian powder, and especially that scent." Ilia took one whiff and coughed. "Woo! Smell that? What is that? Fire Dust number seven? Let's try to at least keep it down, other people are getting their beauty rest."

Adam growled but there was no threat to it. It was almost casual and neither Sun nor Ilia were affected by it in the slightest.

"I'll be the first," Adam said and bowed out. "Gods know that I've spent more time carrying you two on my back than both of you taking out one Cthnonian."

"Excuse me?" Sun sounded offended. "Ilia and I took out at least a hundred."

"Exactly," Adam smirked. "It took you two together to deal with a hundred. I did it alone and then some."

"Could have done more if you weren't so focused on the same thing over and over again. You're lucky it's just Cthnonian and not a real huntsman."

"Shame. I wonder where I can find that?" Adam was already walking away.

"I'm as good as licensed already!" Sun chased after Adam.

"Boys." Ilia shook her head. "One moment they're at each other's throats and the next, they're at each other's throats. Truly, the biggest mystery that could never be solved, second only to women."

Sanson leaned back at the last bit. But he chose to stay quiet. He wasn't qualified nor was he curious to find out about the answer. Ilia took her place beside Sanson, taking away Sun's seat in the process. She jumped back up before sitting down again.

"Why is Sun's butt hot?" Ilia asked faster than she thought.

A minute passed. Sanson waited. "Are… are you expecting an answer? Or is that a compliment?"

"Pick one."

"I'll just assume that it was a compliment." Sanson chose safely. He'd rather not try to explain that answer. Sun doesn't appear to need support in that regard nor does Ilia strike him as someone who would fancy the monkey faunus. Then again, conflict and hard times make for odd chemistries.

Eventually, those three did go rest together. Not like there were that few huntsmen that everyone had to have a spot in the rotation. The cool breeze of night was his company for there was little that they could use to feed the fires.

Atlas machines roamed about, managed by Penny who remained up there on the Atlas airship. That should have been sign for Vale that it could rest. Paranoia and that instinct to survive was still there. From those close to Sanson, all of them were still jumpy even as they rested; the slightest of anything was enough to jolt them awake and struggled to get back to sleep. Perhaps the lack of a comfortable bed also made it difficult for them.

Jeanne flew above them and made a quick roundabout the camp. She's the only one who could do it efficiently, swiftly, and silently. Chiron's hooves would disturb the sleepers and Sanson couldn't cover that distance in so quick a time.

A Paper Pleaser appeared nearby and approached Sanson. It was carrying a stack of blankets. "Hello, dear Companion Servant. Do you wish to have a blanket for extra warmth? Our brave knight believes that it is going to be quite a cold night."

Sanson graciously took the offer. "Thank you."

The Paper Pleaser went on its way, heading towards Lancer, and offering to whoever was on watch at the moment. More of them appeared and circled around and within the camp.

Rider proved himself a prophet. As the night went on and the fires were slowly dying out, Sanson could see his breath with each exhale. Huntsmen and huntress huddled together for warmth without realizing and a few were looking for something else to keep them warm. There was no wind that they could hide from.

Jeanne had left the vicinity and made her way towards the closest forest. She returned with as much scraps of wood from torn down trees and surviving branches to restart the fires. The warmth of it rebelled against the cool breeze.

Above them the night sky were dotted by stars. It was clear with no clouds to hide away Remnant's broken moon. To think that it had been caused by the brother gods themselves leaving Remnant, how many fragments of that moon fell here? Some had said that Dust came from those remains.

Looking at the stars, not one was a constellation that Sanson could recognize. Remnant was far away from Earth that not a single star could be used to trace back their old home. Whatever constellations were had here were of Remnant's own doing and making.

Distant wolves or Grimm were howling. A flock of birds were the only things that clouded Remnant's shattered moon. No lights were present other than the campfires and the dotted skies that hung above them. The Grail War was having its silent moment. Sanson closed his eyes and he could hear the distant streams of rivers and the waves of the ocean.

Opening his eyes, the tower of Beacon Academy still stood. He bit his lip. He had been under the influence of the Cat when the message was played. He never heard it as it was supposed to as control over his own body had been lost. Every other Companion Servant must have heard it.

As the fires grew once more, the shadows of people tossing, turning, and walking over one another became more apparent. Relaxed postures and faces decorated the ones clear enough to be seen by Sanson. Those further out still huddled together and not a single one of them rose for anything other than to take over their fellow huntsmen on the watch.

Jeanne made her final descent near Sanson. He took his chance to ask: "how was the message?" There was a panging pain in his chest.

"It was beautiful, Charles," Jeanne replied. "Believe me, you and I, we're the fortunate ones."

"How so?"

"We get to carve out our place in Remnant. Moving forward and other Servants may soon see this place for themselves. But they could never claim anything with us being its pioneers. All the wonders and terrors that Remnant offers may be dealt with by us."

"I don't think it is wise that we should take in their affairs, Jeanne."

"It isn't. But Remnant has huntsmen who would explore and carve their own place in history, and we get to be the first witnesses of that carving. That is not a claim that anyone else could have, unless they're like us: Servants that have already existed in some other version of Remnant."

"You sound absolutely happy about it." Sanson pointed out.

Jeanne's eyes glowed. "I've carved my place again, Sanson. I am just as much of Earth as I am of Remnant. We've told them our story; I'm looking forward for the day that we get to hear theirs."

Sanson covered more of himself with that blanket. The fire close to him was warm and the combination of that blanket only made things cozier which accounted for a lot in current circumstances. Night still hung over them with little sign of the coming dawn.

His eyes were drawn towards the north, towards Atlas. The next battlefield will be there, Sanson was sure of that. With Archer's plans, Atlas would soon follow the path of Vale. Their only respite was that Mantle did not. If tonight was cold, he didn't want to imagine what it would be like when they were up there, Servant or otherwise.

He kept his feet together and his knees tucked. The blanket covered everything on him except for his face and head. The cold winds did not agree to his eyebrows. If he had rubbed his finger there, he would have felt the wetness as the fire's heat melted away the little patches of cold. Thankfully, the breeze wasn't strong enough to blow away the fabric.

Sanson's eyes went towards where the faunus were asleep. Menagerie's survivors were all gathered together. Sun, Ilia, and Adam were among that number with Sun especially taking up space. Adam and Ilia were chaste with theirs.

Even if they all decided to stay here, Sanson would still return to Menagerie and build the place, bit by bit. He already intended to look for any records, photographs especially, of the first thing that he intended to build: the house of the Belladonna family. It won't be the same; it would especially be painful knowing that the people that the building housed would no longer reside there. But Sanson wanted that memory of theirs to last longer. There would be a portrait of them somewhere in that house, a memorial shrine of sorts.

Night kept going and Jeanne didn't need to fly back for more wood. Chiron said something and pointed to the east. Daylight was coming though Sanson had yet to see the light of dawn break through the veil of night. Perhaps enough hours had passed that Chiron could make that estimate.

The first rays of the coming dawn weren't enough to wake even the earliest of risers. Those unfortunate enough to be facing the east only tossed and turned and resumed their rest. Even the warming atmosphere wasn't enough for them to remove their covers and most snuggled further and became a cocoon of fabric, waiting for the rude metamorphosis into a grumpy, wingless butterfly. Not even Mulberry, the early bird, could be bothered to get up.

Sanson had spent a lot of hours in silence that his mind went everywhere for amusement. There were only so many stars that he could count before he went: "did I count that one already?"

It was the added exposure of both heat and light that forced everyone to wake. Even then, they were, all of them, groggy and unwilling to move. Their bodies, having found their rest, sought to make the most of it and found itself lacking.

Glynda Goodwitch, in the absence of the now departed Ozpin, has taken charge of every huntsmen of Vale. Chiron, as headmaster and representative of Haven Academy, offered what he could to aid in the form of Raven. Winter Schnee represented Atlas and was already there with the supplies though that wasn't going to be enough to rebuild Vale, if they planned on rebuilding at all.

"I cannot ask these people to stay," she said. "Ozpin or not, it is not a simple matter to rebuild." She still denies the permanent death of Beacon's headmaster. "I cannot ask them to brave the harsh sands of Vacuo and Mistral is already under too much strain. With Atlas becoming a battlefield, there is nowhere for them to go."

"We could…" Ruby looked for answers and for support. Blake was giving her distant support. Ilia and Sun were with her while Adam remained by Sanson's side who kept his distance from the rest of the group. "We could try to rebuild a little? Maybe a little settlement? Beacon is still standing."

"We still have a Grail War, Master," Lancer replied. "We can't stay for long. Rider over here might."

"You could give me all four—five Maidens and I still won't be able to bring that many Paper Pleasers back," Rider argued. "That was a one-time thing and I am not about to let my Master pass out from that again. Maybe add the Relics on top of that if you could somehow convert them to just energy."

"That was a horrible experience," Pyrrha added. "Worse than when the half of Amber's powers were being transferred into me." She chilled at the memory.

Ruby bit her thumb. She was thinking of something. Sanson could tell that Lancer was feeling something but he couldn't be sure since her face was hidden behind that mask. A possible wish? A noble one, Sanson would admit and one that he wouldn't try to change even if it was for Menagerie; he'll rebuild that with his own hands. For once, he would create something that houses lives rather than something that would take it away.

Glynda sighed. "All the king's horses and all the king's huntsmen couldn't put Vale together again so easily, miss Rose. I'd appreciate it, but I do not expect that it would be accomplished in one lifetime."

There wasn't even a tent for them all to discuss this. They only had an open space, surrounded by guarding huntsmen and Servants, each one being distant enough to not overhear.

"You have nothing to worry about in that regard, miss Goodwitch," said Chiron. "Mistral has the means to aid those in need. Though not all of them are of altruistic reasons, you must understand that, but I can assure of the long-term aid that it would make for Vale."

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen. It had to be for Sanson couldn't think of anything else. He raised one eyebrow at the thought of it though. Did the League even have the resources for this? Sanson wasn't sure that it would be enough.

"Sun sinks to shade," added Rider, worrying his Master for a moment. "But always will it rise again."

"Since when does Fairytale Knight provide wisdom?" Chiron hooted at the display; he saw that too.

Rider's usual tendencies return. "Only when I have to reach some kind of ideal. What kind of ideal could there be if not strong of body, mind, and spirit? The middle one doesn't always appear."

"That will be alright, Rider." Glynda raised a hand, gesturing him to stop.

"Very well, I will leave Vale to you, miss Goodwitch." Chiron adjourned the meeting but called for the Servants, their Masters, and their Masters' teams, RWBY and JNPR, together. Sun and Ilia took Adam away from Sanson, allowing he and Blake to be in proximity with each other which meant that Blake could be a little bit closer to Yang. "Next is Grail War matters."

"I already said my piece," said Jeanne, standing by team JNPR.

"Then, you're going to have to forgive me for I do not intend to participate in favor of either teams," said Chiron. He looked to Pyrrha. "You must prove yourself moving forward, Pyrrha. I have taught you the skills you need to know, and experience has honed you further. Only through special circumstances will you have my assistance."

"I understand, teacher." She nodded. Sanson noted that special circumstance and what that could mean. What would those special circumstance be?

Nora put a big arm around Jeanne. "Welcome to team JNPR!"

"Well now that's just unfair," Weiss pointed out. "With two Servants on your side, Ruby is sure to lose."

"Hey!" Lancer was offended. "Don't count me out just yet, Snow White!"

"Ruby." Weiss ignored it. "What do you intend to do?"

Ruby tilted her head. She leaned further. All of that was to get into eye contact with Sanson. Sanson looked to Blake. Blake looked to her arm where her bow was wrapped around.

"I think we got it covered," Blake answered, putting a big smile on Ruby's face and a smaller one on Yang's. Sanson was the only one between them who noticed that.

"Well now we have our own unfair complaint!" Nora said. "You got four huntresses, albeit of lower quality."

"Oh, now you're just inviting a fight," Yang replied.

"But!" Nora ignored it. "We only have three—superior mind—quality."

Chiron did not interrupt their petty argument. But Sanson saw that as opportunity for Blake approached and whispered: "is it really okay with you?"

"Your parents only wanted you safe," Sanson replied. "I intend to see it to the end, wherever it could lead."

"But I'm no Master," Blake insisted. "You owe no loyalty to me."

"No." Sanson shook his head. "I don't. But I intend to as if I do."

Chiron clapped his hands, gathering everyone's attention. "Okay, I estimate that we have only a few days to rest and to prepare for our return to Atlas."

"No." Pyrrha shook her head, surprising everyone, even Ren and Nora. Only Rider didn't appear surprised. "Maybe for the rest of you, but not for me."

"Pyrrha?" asked Ren.

"I won't ask you two to follow me, Ren," Pyrrha replied. "It is something that only Rider and I should do, as Master and Servant."

"And what would that be?" Chiron raised one eyebrow. Pride was leaking out of that face of his.

Pyrrha wielded her weapon, shifted it to its javelin form, and pointed it towards the north. "I was… chosen to take Amber's place as the Fall Maiden."

Though her eyes did not have the fire, it certainly burned. Jeanne looked to Rider for answers; he only raised a finger, gesturing for them to wait.

"I intend to make that a reality."

AN: Over the course of writing these fics, I come to realize that RWBY doesn't quite lean into the fairytale bit. Imagine if these sorts of things actually inform the world itself. I am, of course, referring to the fact that the phrase (and chapter title, again) I've used in some of these chapters are influenced by Humpty Dumpty.

Would it actually improve the quality? Probably not. Would it make it more quirky? Yes.