Chapter Fifteen: Hope

Never believe. Never trust. Never hope.

Roman believed in what he could see and what he could hold in his hands. He taught Neo to value the material because it had a recognized value; a number assigned to it that denoted its worth. People were much harder to quantify, and in Roman's experience would always falter in some way that made their relative value unpredictable. Neo herself was an exception: the only person he trusted and put his faith in and hoped would find more to life than just the numbers they spent all their time procuring. But she was the exception for good reason. She was the exception because she never spoke.

People lied constantly. Even when they tried to tell the truth they tended to aggrandize and exaggerate and as a result their information was unreliable. Then, of course, when people tried to lie things only got murkier. Roman lied constantly to everyone but Neo, and did it so well that others occasionally mistook it for the truth, further convincing her that the truth was at best incomplete and at worst deliberately avoided. There was no reason to ever believe anyone –even those outside their particular line of work-because no one was ever completely honest.

She trusted Roman, because their bond had been forged in a shared pool of experience and hardship. There were others out there with similar backgrounds that Neo or Roman might've sympathized with, but the harsh pragmatism they learned from struggling to survive was a lesson imparted to everyone who'd fought for that goal. From the petty thieves they'd sometimes associate with to the fanatical zealots in the White Fang, every ally they ever knew would inevitably turn on them if they thought they saw an opportunity to advance their own interests. There was no honor among thieves to be sure, but when presented with a chance for a bigger cut or a resource they could take, everyone discarded their honor in order to survive.

And while Roman had given Neo reason to hope for the better after rescuing her from the cold, he'd also taught her not to aspire for anything grander than a few luxuries. Ambition and talent could carry a person quite far, but more often than not people choked on their own aspirations or they were cut off at the knees when they grew large enough to bother the existing power structures. Roman told her not to try and change the world any more than to carve a small portion of it for herself and her own, because even if she was strong enough to hold more than she needed, someone stronger and greedier than herself would eventually take notice.

Cinder was just such a person… someone so powerful and so ambitious Roman sided with her and agreed to increasingly unreasonable demands because he thought that was the only way to survive. Even though he knew he was a disposable pawn to Cinder Roman played his part, always doing his level best to keep Neo away from her eye both to defend his family and to keep something in reserve when she inevitably broke her promises. Roman was still betting on what he thought was a sure thing… and very well might've been had it not been for Neo deciding to oppose her and avenge the man whose life Cinder so easily discarded.

Emerald and Mercury were like Roman and herself; untrusting and self-interested but with a clear loyalty to one another. They'd expected Cinder to win too, and because they still had some value to her they expected to be rewarded. And if they were now serving some new mistress… the only kind of person who could bring strong fighters like those two to heel was someone whose power scared them enough to risk their own lives by seeking an audience with Cinder's killer.

This woman they represented was nothing but a holographic projection, but even without any physical presence Neo could detect her power. Just as it was with Cinder, Neo had to actively project a braver front and pretend she was stronger than she felt. Whatever powers she'd gained from killing Cinder were still less than whatever Cinder had at her peak, but if Neo killing a Maiden didn't scare this woman off…

She was making promises; big promises. That was the first sign for Neo not to entertain whatever proposal was being offered. No one with power bartered away more of it than they needed to. No one with something worth coveting was in any hurry to give it up.

"I know that you've stolen from Cinder," the woman in the hologram explained. "I know that you possess the Maiden's power. That makes you quite uniquely valuable to me… possibly more than anyone I've ever made a pact with."

That was exaggeration to be sure. More lies, less reason for Neo to believe a word this woman said. She shifted her eyes around between Jaune at her right and Mercury and Emerald in front of her. Emerald could create illusions; there was no reason to assume she was where she appeared to be. But as Neo recalled, their allies were all dead: Cinder, Adam and his White Fang…

Roman.

"I do not wish for your power," the woman in the hologram clarified. "Instead, I want only to have you use it… to retrieve something only someone with your power can find."

Neo couldn't deny she was curious about that. It was never prudent to betray someone if you still needed something from them… though it was just as likely she was being targeted because this unknown woman wanted to eliminate her while she had only a fraction of the Maiden's power, and then redirect it to a softer target.

"I'm not sure how much you know about the Maidens, but I'm certain you don't know what your power is really capable of," the woman continued. "Because Cinder never told you, and Ozpin went to great lengths to bury his shameful secret, to the point he kept it with him at all times."

Neo glared at this red-eyed woman. She wasn't interested in wordplay.

"Your power puts you well above the common rabble of humanity, but still a step below a goddess," the woman explained. "Fortunately, the gods left behind tools to make such things possible… relics that only the Maidens can access."

Pyrrha listened to Ironwood drone on about something that sounded unbelievable. Glynda would interject on occasion, but the General did most of the talking. His flat, emotionless delivery made it easy to tune him out, but Pyrrha paid close attention to the terrible truth he laid bare.

A witch, older than the four kingdoms –possibly older than the rest of humanity, Ironwood speculated- was powerful enough to command the Grimm, soulless monsters that fought against humans at every turn. The Grimm apparently acted at her direct instruction, at least on occasion (Ironwood took a moment to suggest this was a rare occurrence) and had been positioned near Vale at this Salem's command, to coordinate an attack alongside Cinder Fall and her subordinates. The thought of someone pulling the Grimm's strings terrified her, and it seemed to terrify Glynda and Ironwood just as much.

"We suspect she's the one who made it possible for Cinder to steal part of the Fall Maiden's power before –leading to this strange state where multiple portions of it are incarnate in different hosts- though we aren't exactly sure," Ironwood continued. "We've been tracking her agents' movements when we can, but she still managed to infiltrate Beacon right under our noses."

"Why not use your army, General? Why not attack her if you can leave the Grimm leaderless?" Pyrrha inquired.

"Because we don't know where she is," Ironwood answered. "Ozpin told us she has a keep, a base of operations somewhere in Remnant, but we've never been able to find it. Ozpin also instructed us not to engage her if it could be avoided, as he firmly believed it'd take the cooperation of multiple kingdoms' militaries to mount an offensive against her. I didn't share that belief, but I deferred to his judgment."

"As we all did," Glynda added. "The kingdoms had been enjoying a period of peace, and a military buildup would've made that difficult to maintain. We only became more proactive recently, when Salem and her forces started targeting the Maidens… if she had their power on her side she could… well, she could do much worse than send the Grimm to attack us."

"And now we've let one of her former minions keep that power," Ironwood mused. "We were very fortunate that Qrow retrieved the relic from Beacon."

"Relic?" Pyrrha repeated.

Ironwood and Glynda stared at her for a long moment, then looked at each other. Ironwood indulged in a long sigh. "It's… complicated."

"I'm sure," Pyrrha agreed. "So you should probably get started."

Ironwood didn't seem inclined to speak further, so Glynda finally took the reins. "There are a great many surviving pieces of our civilization that were studied here in Beacon and at the other huntsmen academies; including a number that were revered by ancient cultures… and some valued long after, all the way to the Great War. According to Professor Ozpin, four such relics predate human civilization… they were created by the brothers."

"Myths and susperstition," Ironwood snarled.

"But demonstrably powerful," Glynda argued. "One of the four was here at Beacon, in Professor Ozpin's charge…"

"…the Relic of Choice," the red-eyed woman explained to Neo. "One of the four left behind by the gods who created this remnant. Ozpin decreed that the Fall Maiden would be able to access it, for one who must exist between summer and winter has no option but to decide the fate of the world."

"What does any of that mean?" Jaune asked, having never once lowered his sword.

The woman didn't seem pleased by his interjection, but she humored him. "That your friend can make a choice for herself. But more importantly than that, she can make a choice for everyone else."

Neo couldn't help but pay attention. She doubted any of this was true, but the woman spoke with such zeal Neo was unavoidably captivated.

"The Relic of Choice can bend the will of those exposed to its power," the red-eyed woman explained. "With it, you can make a person believe the freezing cold winds are the sun's rays on a warm summer day. You can make the most pious of men renounce everything they hold dear. You can make the worst monster into the world's greatest hero. You can make someone hate. You can make someone love."

She spoke the last word with a particular bitterness, the first emotion that passed her lips without her firmly clamping down on it and reasserting her control. Neo had never had to watch what she said, but she'd heard lies often enough to know when the truth forced its way out. Either this strange woman had suffered the downside to loving someone or she actively detested the very possibility of it. Neither possibility bode well.

"Give it to me, and I will grant you anything in the world you wish," the red-eyed woman promised. "Because with the relic, I can. Because with that power anything is possible."

Not the 'anything' Neo wanted.

Roman was still dead. And whatever change in a person's mind this relic could affect, it could not reawaken the dead.

And Jaune Arc was still beside her. He still loved her, and she needed nothing more than that from him.

But the more she thought on it… on what Vale and Atlas might do… about how far their gratitude for saving the academy might extend after they had time to count the dead.

She'd been saving her power in case Emerald tried something. Her doubts manifested on her face, and the red-eyed woman took notice.

"Consider my offer," she instructed. "I will speak with you again when you've had time to weigh your options."

The hologram disappeared as the transmission ended. Emerald put her Scroll away as she and Mercury slowly began to slink away.

"Wait!" Jaune called. "Are you guys really still trying to work for these people after what they did to Beacon? After they turned the Grimm on innocent people?!"

Mercury merely shrugged. Emerald didn't reply at all, merely turning away from him as they walked away… and then vanished entirely, as though they'd never been there at all.

Jaune continued to glance around for several seconds before turning his attention back to Neo. She eventually looked up at him, waiting for him to speak his piece. He started to speak several times, before he stopped himself and contemplated his next action, every bit as silent as Neo herself.

When he finally did speak he said: "I have faith in you, Neo. I know you're not like them."

It was exactly what she'd wanted to hear from him. It was exactly what she'd come to expect of Jaune Arc.

He gathered up what food was still good of the supplies he dropped and waited on her to accompany him. Neo was slow to follow, but did eventually join him in heading out from the courtyard.

It was no surprise he believed in her. He believed in her before she had this extraordinary power, and before she had potential to access an even greater one. He believed in her even after he learned just how bloody her hands really were.

He was a fool to believe.

Their approach to the landing pads at the cliffside was interrupted by the arrival of a disheveled man drinking from a hip flask, a broadsword strapped to the small of his back. Jaune seemed to recognize him, at least. "Hey… you're Ruby's uncle, right?"

The man took a needlessly long time to finish his drink before he replied. "Yup," he replied, more belch than word. "I'm here to bring you kids back to the safe zone. A few people wanted words with your friend." He jerked his free thumb at Neo.

The time was drawing nearer. Her 'allies' were running out of reasons to continue indulging her, now that the threat had been dealt with. They'd put their faith in Pyrrha and Blake instead, reasoning that two Maidens would be easier to deal with, especially when both had loyally fought for their school when Neo had meant to destroy it.

It was fortunate she never trusted anyone but Jaune and –to a lesser extent- the others made Fall Maiden like herself. And that trust only existed because Jaune had been willing to take a chance on her and Pyrrha had been willing to apologize for her errors in judgment. They were young and naïve enough to believe they made mistakes. Those with entrenched power never shared that viewpoint.

And they were naïve enough to hope for the better; that because they came together and fought off the darkness the others fighting on their side might be able to forget old grievances and strive to do better. Neo could forgive them –even someone world weary like Blake- for thinking things could get better after a great victory. They embodied the spirit Huntsmen and Maidens alike were meant to inspire.

They were all fools.

"And the relic in question was tied to the Fall Maiden, who resided her on Sanus," Glynda continued. "Each of the four huntsmen academies defend their relic, and each kingdom has a Maiden who can access it. When Cinder wounded the Fall Maiden, we weren't yet sure if she intended to take it.. she didn't seem to be aware of it, as she left it behind after Professor Ozpin's death."

"Or simply didn't realize where it was hidden," Ironwood argued. "She may have simply felt knocking out the CCT and cutting communications was a more important objective at the time."

"Regardless, we were able to recover it and keep it safe," Glynda assured her. "But it was another one of the reasons we were wary about allowing public knowledge of the Maidens… in case someone like Salem -or anyone else with the resources and the knowledge- tried to steal it away and use its powers for themselves."

"And when you offered me this power, you meant for me to… what? Stop my studies and go to some other part of the continent?" Pyrrha speculated. "Or did you want to keep the key closer at hand?"

"We were never going to force you to do anything," Glynda answered.

"Not even keep your secret going?" Pyrrha pressed.

Glynda didn't answer. She merely averted her gaze.

Pyrrha suspected she wasn't going to get anywhere with that particular topic, so she refocused her attention on the more important matters. "Where is the relic now?"

Ironwood merely stared straight ahead.

"Do you still not trust me?" Pyrrha asked, trying to mask any indignation, but only half-heartedly.

"You're not the one I need to keep it from," was Ironwood's flat reply.

No, of course not. Other than revealing the truth about the Maidens, Pyrrha had done what they wanted, and announced her intention to defend the kingdom from harm. They didn't suspect her of stealing a powerful artifact and using it for her own ends.

But they suspected a part of her; someone she was bound with. Someone everyone suspected, and allowed mistrust to fester because it was easier to condemn her than understand her.

Pyrrha stood up from her seat and strode away. Ironwood called to her back: "We're not done here."

A day earlier, Pyrrha would've stopped and indulged him. She would've been the loyal soldier Ironwood wished her to be, and Ozpin had subtly encouraged. A day earlier she didn't have the memories of Blake Belladonna –who'd heard far too many tales of the authoritarian brutality of Atlas- and Neo, who reminded her that friends and adversaries could easily change roles with the right motivation.

"Then stop me," Pyrrha suggested, not breaking her stride as she stepped outside the barracks.

Once she emerged into the light, Pyrrha found herself surrounded by citizens, Atlesian soldiers, and some of the huntsmen-in-training from the tournament. Many of them looked on in awe, and anyone even vaguely in her path moved aside to give her a wide berth. Some even dropped to kneel before her.

At once Pyrrha reached down a hand to help them up. She'd experienced similar adulation as a star athelete, but she had no wish to be worshipped.

Though perhaps that was unavoidable now. Perhaps she'd inadvertently placed herself above them by declaring herself their guardian. Perhaps she'd frightened a few into thinking they should submit before her unusual power.

She was their defender, not their ruler. No one needed to prostrate themselves before her. They didn't even need to thank her.

All she did was what she believed to be right. That wasn't something that required a reward. That wasn't something that merited worship.

Saving them... that was her destiny.

Blake continued to stare at the little sphere swirling about, even as it lay flat in the palm of her hand. Her three teammates crowded around to observe the curious phenomena, though Blake wasn't sure what to make of it herself. Ruby tried to reach over and poke it, but fortunately Yang intervened in time, pulling her baby sister back by the wrist.

"Why would Professor Ozpin keep this thing in his cane?" Weiss inquired.

"And why would Blake be able to pull it out?" Yang wondered.

"I think Uncle Qrow was kidding about what he said, but I'll bet it's some kind of weapon," Ruby speculated. "Or maybe something lame like a strange energy source or like a codex that lets you understand what Grimm say."

"I don't think Grimm actually say anything," Weiss dryly noted.

"I'm just saying it could be something weird and pointless," Ruby replied. "Professor Ozpin was kind of… unpredictable."

But based on the memories Blake received from Pyrrha, Ozpin was also keeping secrets close to his vest. He never let the cane leave his side in his life, so presumably if something was important enough to not only conceal but keep on his person…

Blake wasn't sure what it was, only that her Aura resonated with it. It responded to her, as though her energy could affect it somehow… as though it was simply waiting for her to instruct it to action, asking for a command with every rotation, with a vibration pushing down into her palm like the pulse of a heartbeat.

It was just a tiny spherical stone. Why did it have a pulse?

Her sensitive ears picked up the sound of footsteps. Blake lifted her head, finally breaking eye contact from the small stone. "Company."

A tall figure knocked on the side of their tent… but pressed his fist against tarp, so the knocking sound was invariably muffled. "Uh, hello?" Blake recognized Jaune's voice. "I'm not sure where the door is…"

It was always reassuring to see Jaune behaving like himself. Ruby went over to allow him entrance, and Jaune stepped inside, brushing his tall blonde head against the roof of their lodgings. "Hey, guys, we brought snacks from our dorm raid. Figured you could use a bite."

Blake had to admit she was hungry. She took one last glance at the little bauble before setting it down on the mattress, watching it fall silent on the fabric, turning once more into a piece of dull spherical stone. Her Aura slowly dissipated on the surface of her hand as Blake went to join her friends in perusing what Jaune brought back for them. Putting some food in their hands definitely improved the girls' moods… until a familiar bowler hat found its way into their tent, attached to a girl with tricolored hair and a bit of a short stature.

Yang and Ruby immediately tensed up. Neo fixed her attention on the sisters, but only for a moment. She stepped past them and turned her attention to Blake. Jaune immediately attempted to distract Yang and Ruby and block Neo from sight with his tall frame, but that only gave Yang license to glare right through him.

Neo pulled out her Scroll and typed a message for Blake: Cinder's friends are still in Beacon.

Blake read quickly. "Who?"

Emerald and Mercury. And they've got a new boss.

Blake nodded. "If they decided to stick around I'm sure we can find where they're hiding. Hopefully that'll be the last of it."

Neo stepped past Blake, giving the Faunus a good view of Roman Torchwick's bowler hat on her head. "Did you… find what you were looking for?"

Neo didn't answer, only lowering her head ever so slightly. Blake averted her gaze -even from the back of Neo's head- as she realized she may have overstepped.

Blake felt it too, that sense of missing Roman Torchwick. It was every bit as real as the virulent hate she'd once held for him, and it was difficult to square the two conflicting feelings. It wasn't terribly different than trying to make sense of her memories of Adam… of love of him and fear of him, of sorrow at how he'd lost himself and gratitude he'd been killed before he could do more harm… of gratitude to Neo, his killer.

And Neo's presence gave her something to be grateful for. She lessened the feeling of burning hunger within Blake; she and Jaune both. She wasn't yet complete, but she was close enough to whole she no longer felt as much discomfort.

Neo was still walking slowly with her head pointed down. Blake wondered what might've affected her… until she noticed Ozpin's open cane still on the ground and the stone Neo now hoisted up from Blake's bed in one gloved hand.

It was understandable she was curious… but Neo didn't seem at all surprised when her Aura started to emerge, and the tiny stone resonated with it…

Blake's sensitive ears heard a shifting of gears behind her. She heard steel slicing through open air.

Blake jumped over to Jaune and pushed him to the ground as a blade pushed its way into their tent. From the ground Blake heard a stunned cry from Ruby: "Uncle Qrow?!"

"Drop it," Qrow firmly instructed, leveling his sword at Neo.

The short girl turned around, holding the relic flat in her palm with Aura rising off her body and causing the sphere to spin rapidly in her hand… and she cast Qrow a quizzical sort of smile.

Jaune glanced up from the ground at her. "Neo… is that what I think it is?"

"And what do you think it is?" Blake quickly inquired.

"Uh, the weird gray-skinned lady with the red eyes called it 'the Relic of Choice'," Jaune answered.

Qrow tensed up, still pointing his sword at Neo. "Put it down. Now."

Yang hoisted her fists up and activated Ember Celica. Weiss followed suit by leveling Myrtenaster. Ruby tried to pull out Crescent Rose before taking note of how cramped the tent had become… only to solve the problem by chopping the roof away with her scythe and cause the temporary housing to collapse, exposing them all to open air and giving them room to maneuver.

Jaune and Blake slowly stood up, watching Neo intently. She moved her gaze along them, the sphere in her hand spinning faster and faster.

"Uncle Qrow… we didn't think you were serious about that thing," Ruby tried to say.

"Yeah, I noticed," Qrow grumbled. "It also didn't occur to me you guys would actually get it open." He didn't take his eyes off Neo, but jerked his head at Blake. "Seems obvious in retrospect."

"What does that thing do?" Yang inquired, still keeping her fists elevated and at the ready.

"I'd rather not say at the moment," Qrow replied. "In case she gets any ideas."

"She already knows," Jaune interjected. "Or at least, the woman Emerald and Mercury are working for told her what she thinks it does."

"And?" Yang demanded.

"And it's okay," Jaune assured her, turning a gentle smile Neo's way. "She doesn't need it."

From him, Neo didn't require any change. She had no wish to alter his mind and rob him of his will.

But Ruby Rose… the girl who killed Roman… Neo might quite enjoy hearing her apologize, or perhaps deciding she couldn't live with the guilt of the life she'd taken…

And a suggestion from Neo would convince Yang Xiao Long to abandon her thirst for revenge…

And she could make the Huntsman brandishing his sword at her forget any reason to threaten her and go on his way, or even put his sword to use against anyone else who might vex Neo…

Or she could have the heiress to the SDC grant her all the Lien she'd ever need and then forget ever making such a donation…

Or…

She met Jaune's eye. His smile never wavered. He would not doubt her again.

And it was Neo who found it difficult to meet his eye now. It was hard to think she might shatter that naïve, foolish hope… that she might be willing to take the practical option when it presented itself…

Blake was more apprehensive, but she did not raise her weapon. As she had twice before, she waited for Neo to decide her course, putting her faith in Jaune's firm belief that Neo would do the right thing if given the opportunity.

Another source of movement drew Neo's attention, as a familiar mane of red hair moved to join them, standing nearly as tall as Jaune as she moved to join them.

"They told me what their plans are for you, Neo," Pyrrha said, her friends all looking over when she spoke, only Jaune and Qrow maintaining their steady eye contact. "Ironwood is determined to punish you for all you've done. It doesn't matter to him that you saved Beacon… or at least, it doesn't matter enough for him to look the other way."

Another problem her new find could solve… she could erase all her crimes against Atlas in a moment, or even have them hail her as a hero.

Like the red-eyed woman suggested: a monster hailed as a hero.

"I told him anyone could be redeemed," Pyrrha went on. "I believed in you when you had my life in your hand and revenge right in front of you and I believe in you now."

"And so do I," Blake confirmed.

With this relic in her hand Neo could erase their love for Jaune and have him all to herself. She could make it as though they never loved him, and Jaune never loved anyone but her.

She thought of kissing him under a black moon. Of him taking her hand on the dance floor. Of a forehead pressed to hers' as they sat on his bed. Of an embrace in the Emerald Forest when their souls met for the first time. Of love forming for him somewhere between, and always for the same reason.

If Neo had killed them both, she alone would be the Fall Maiden. If she used the relic, she alone would have the power to influence the entire world. Each pulse of the tiny stone in her hand asked again and again what she wished to enact.

If she just spoke her wish.

Neo stepped towards Qrow. He was apprehensive but did not retreat, keeping his weapon fixed on her small frame.

With the power in her hand she could have anything she wished for.

She found Jaune's eyes again, never once having allowed them to deviate, never once fearing what so many others feared.

Neo held out her hand, keeping her fingers flat. She had to elevate her arm a little so the stone was closer to Qrow, in case he hadn't taken the hint.

Qrow was much like her; hardened by hardship and loss. He didn't trust easily… but he did when that trust was earned. When he believed people had sincere intentions, he gave them the chance to prove themselves… and if he'd worked with Ozpin to fight against impossible odds, he must've believed in hope.

Qrow relaxed one hand from the hilt of his sword and tentatively reached forward, turning his own hand over flat. Neo dropped the stone in his hand and the tiny relic ceased its rotation and it lay silent in the older huntsman's hand.

Jaune's smile widened as he moved over to Neo, pulling her into a tight hug before she'd even managed to lower her arn. Blake and Pyrrha stepped over, Blake pressing her forehead between Jaune's chest and Neo's hat, and Pyrrha taking hold of Neo's left hand with her own.

Ruby reached past them to hoist Ozpin's cane off the floor, handing it to her uncle with an awkward cough. Qrow was slow to respond to this prompting too, but collapsed his blade down to its compact form and sheathed the weapon before accepting the trinket from his niece.

Qrow moved to insert the sphere back into Ozpin's cane before stopping a moment, looking contemplative. Once he'd made up his mind, he tapped Jaune on his shoulder and instructed: "Follow me, all of you."

They broke their embrace and complied with Qrow's request, but on her way out Neo felt a tap on her shoulder, and turned to see the tall blonde Yang looking down at her.

"This doesn't square us… for all I know you could still be up to something and just playing the long game," Yang muttered. "But Blake told me you were on the level, and I trust her." She avoided looking into Neo's twin colored eyes a moment later. "I don't think I'll ever like you, pint-size, but that's exactly the sort of thing I told Blake I'd look for… and exactly what I didn't think you'd do when you were given a chance."

Slowly, Yang extended her right hand, offering it to Neo. Yang fixed her lilac eyes on Neo's pink and brown, doing her level best to maintain contact.

Neo hadn't yet squared matters either. She may have avenged Roman's death by killing Cinder Fall, but the woman who saw to his end still lived, crouched behind this tall blonde offering a fresh start.

Fools, all of them.

It seemed Neo was foolish now too.

She accepted the offer and shook Yang's hand before moving to follow Qrow and the others.

Qrow told the plan to Ironwood and Glynda. The general was skeptical, but he seemed willing to go along when he was promised trophies; two prisoners of the battle for him to parade around and salvage some of his credibility after his role as director of security ended so disastrously. While he wasn't at all pleased to let Neo go, he agreed to recommend granting her a pardon to the Atlesian council if she provided him with two others he could march in irons when he returned to his kingdom. In the end, it seemed justice for his men was less important than saving face.

Neo returned to the Beacon courtyard at nightfall with Ozpin's cane in tow. Emerald and Mercury arrived quickly to greet her when they saw what she was carrying, and they once again put up a projection of their new leader, who smiled at the sight of the trophy Neo brought her from her defeated nemesis. "You've made the right choice, child."

The red-eyed witch was right. She had.

Neo waited for Emerald to draw nearer. With one hand holding the Scroll, she'd be limited in where she could attack. And if she cast an illusion… Neo had plenty of her own.

When Emerald was close, Aura radiated off Neo's body and she extended her blade from her umbrella, coating it in her outpouring power. Neo cut the empty air, tearing through reality with her blink and eventually illuminating Emerald's actual location and finding the right place to strike.

Mercury moved to intercede, jumping in the air and aiming one metal leg for Neo's flank, only for him to abruptly stop in midair, then be flung back by a magnetic pull on his extended foot. Pyrrha slammed him into the ground again and again until the Aura was knocked from his body. Blake joined the fray and struck him while he was vulnerable with a kick to the face, remarking: "That was for Yang."

Neo turned her attention to Emerald, who attempted to flee, dropping her Scroll to the ground. Neo blinked right into her path and cut at her general location… knowing that Emerald could only trick her so long… and only fool one mind at once.

Pyrrha and Blake surrounded her and leveled their weapons. Emerald attempted to find her escape route, but Blake and Pyrrha cut her off at multiple angles and attacked, and eventually she joined her partner unconscious on the ground.

Neo walked over to Emerald's discarded Scroll, the holographic projection of the witch looking quite displeased. It wasn't often anyone had to look up at Neo.

"You made a very poor choice, Fall Maiden," the red-eyed witch assured her. "I'll remember this defiance."

Neo tilted her head and cast a quizzical smile at her before abruptly ending the communication, tossing Emerald's Scroll over to the unconscious green-haired girl to be logged by Atlas right along with her.

Ironwood wasn't entirely pleased with the charges given to him, but honored his promise and sent his recommendation to the council in Atlas. He was about to depart with his prisoners when Blake raised her hand and called for his attention. "General, before you go, I wanted to ask about the cleanup crews you're sending into Beacon. Will they be recovering bodies?"

"Of course," Ironwood confirmed. "We want to display the mastermind of this plot as well."

"It's not her that interests me," Blake assured him. "I want Adam Taurus, the White Fang leader."

Ironwood raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"To send his body back to Sienna Khan," Blake explained. "And give her a chance to prove the White Fang isn't like him… that the Faunus aren't like him."

Ironwood didn't seem happy with the request, but Blake had bothered him the least of the three Maidens, and as he'd be getting Cinder Fall and her other two lieutenants as trophies… "Very well, Miss Belladonna. We'll see it brought to you… even arrange transport if you like."

"Thank you," was Blake's sincere response.

Sleep still managed to elude them. Jaune wouldn't sleep until Blake slept, and Pyrrha wouldn't sleep until Jaune slept, and Neo wanted to see Cinder Fall's body for one final opportunity to take stock of her work. Jaune and Pyrrha found time to check on Ren and Nora, but otherwise remained with those they'd bonded with, waiting outside the new tent provided to them after the unexpected 'weapons malfunction' destroyed the first.

Atlesian soldiers found their way to them with the bodies in wooden caskets on carts; remarkably low-tech from Atlas. Neo took one lingering look at Cinder and her two stab wounds, then prepared to leave when Adam came around… only for Blake to take hold of her wrist and keep her in place. Apparently keeping Adam's killer present was less painful than sending part of her soul away.

The Atlesian soldiers left him before her and stood away for a moment. Blake stepped forward to run a hand over his cold cheek, then another up through his spiky red hair. She leaned down into the makeshift casket and pressed her forehead to his, holding herself there a long moment.

Jaune reached a hand to her shoulder. Pyrrha embraced her from behind. Neo wrapped herself around Blake's free arm, contrasting their warmth with the cold of death before her, and the bonds she had now with the one she severed.

She couldn't think of the words. He was the first man she'd loved, and no matter what he became, no matter what his hatred twisted him into, she couldn't forget that.

Blake withdrew from him and nodded to the guards. They stepped over and put a lid over Adam's body, taking him to another transport ship bound for Mistral, to be presented before the White Fang's high leader. He could no longer be punished for his crimes, but any legacy he may have hoped to build for himself would be marred by his tragic descent and tattered further by his humiliating defeat.

It wasn't the end Blake wished for him, even at his lowest. But it was the choice he'd made. Just as she made hers'.

Blake turned around to embrace her friends and then finally to search for rest, hoping she could finally find peace.

Glynda assumed the post of headmistress in Ozpin's absence after receiving approval from the Vale Council. At both Glynda and Pyrrha's urging, they agreed to pardon Neo for her crimes committed in Vale, but insisted that she be put under Glynda's charge rather than operate autonomously. Though the Council was aware of Neo and Blake's status of sharing the Fall Maiden powers, they had no wish to announce any more than Pyrrha already had and kept the matter to themselves.

A handful of citizens left Vale, but the numbers were not significant. While some patrons of the Vytal Festival expressed their displeasure –even outrage- at the attack during the tournament, many more expressed their gratitude at having been saved from a deadly terrorist attack. Sienna Khan issued a communique condemning Adam's actions and requesting to open discussions towards a peaceful resolution, ordering all offensive White Fang operations to cease and granting the Schnee Dust Company safe passage in Mistral for the first time in five years. General Ironwood paraded around his captured criminals and regained the confidence of his kingdom's council, though he was not the hero eyes turned to in the aftermath of the Battle of Beacon.

Pyrrha Nikos was quite used to the rigors of fame, but the adulation piled on her now was overwhelming. Though she still had detractors trying to link the death of Penny Polendina to Pyrrha's ascension as Guardian of Vale, they were quickly droned out by the praise she received for saving the lives of four kingdoms' citizens. Pyrrha soon found it comforting to remain at Beacon with her friends rather than go outside and be swarmed by the grateful masses… though it helped she was sincere in continuing her studies.

Beacon suffered considerable structural damage, but after just a few weeks of effort by the remaining citizens and the outpouring of support from those lives saved...

Neo didn't care for the uniform. It was too big –all the clothes in the school were too big- and she was having a hard time with the skirt being too loose on her. She was also a pretty terrible student, but Jaune and Pyrrha did what they could to help her come around.

The four person team structure was largely preserved, though the unique needs of the three Maidens led to a slight adjustment in housing. Ren and Nora occupied a dorm nearby, generously donated from the now defunct Team CRDL when three of its members abandoned Beacon in the battle. Blake could now freely travel between her teammates and those her soul was bound with, though they hadn't yet figured out how they were going to sortie on missions… if they'd even do that at all. Maybe they'd just need to send all nine of them out at once.

The dining hall was still a bit of a mess even weeks later, but Jaune's inroads made with local Vale food suppliers helped keep the student population fed. Neo was going mad without a ready source of ice cream, though she was starting to get used to Ren's cooking. She just wished she could eat something sweet for a change.

"Peanut butter and jelly again?" Yang whined as she looked over her plate. "I thought you could source us good food, Ladykiller."

"This is good food," Jaune assured her. "The bread's a nine-grain wheat with all kinds of nuts embedded in it-"

Pyrrha smiled as Jaune went on. She knew this would drag out a bit long –as dinner always did- but she was looking forward to tonight, when she'd finally train with him on the roof again. It'd been maddening giving Neo her night, because she always seemed to have the same idea on how to spend it… and Blake hadn't been far behind with similar ideas.

Weiss glanced down at her Scroll when it beeped at her before immediately turning the device to silent and pressing it flat to the table. Blake glanced over and asked: "Your dad again?"

"Wouldn't know," Weiss whimsically replied, before doing what she could with the sandwich on hand.

Neo glanced over at Pyrrha's quiet smile. She knew what was on the redhead's mind as she watched Jaune… and then Neo turned her attention to Blake, who merely shook her head. It was never easy being apart from them –or for letting Jaune dote on one of them and not the other two- but it'd all be worth it when their turn came for time with their love.

"Um… hey… Neo?"

Neo turned to see Ruby wander over, holding something behind her back and avoiding the shorter girl's gaze. "Listen, I went into Vale today and saw that parlor you used to go to was reopened. I was just gonna ask 'em for some cookie dough, but they wanted me to take something to you…"

When Ruby revealed the multi-scoop, multi-flavored sundae (half-melted, likely due to travel) Neo's jaw was near the floor. She was so happy she actually hugged the silver-eyed girl.

Hugged someone she once wanted to kill… hugged someone she thought she'd devoted her life to hating, to seeking revenge on…

Neo broke the embrace quickly, then graciously accepted the dessert and typed a short 'thank you' into her Scroll.

She wasn't there yet. She wasn't quite able to forgive.

But she was closer, and moving closer every day, step by step and brick by brick.

Ruby smiled and moved to sit beside her sister, who pulled Ruby into a headlock. "What, no ice cream for the rest of us?!"

"Yang, it was supposed to be for their 'favorite customer'," Ruby explained, squirming her way out.

"And you didn't think to buy ice cream for the rest of us while you were there?" Yang teased.

"I only have two hands! And that sundae was heavy!" Ruby protested.

Yang sighed, hoisting up her peanut butter and jelly. "Well, here I am, condemned to suffer with just PB&J…"

Nora, already on her fifth, opened her messy lips to remark: "That sounds awesome to me." Ren patted her shoulder and shook his head before returning to his tea. Yang, meanwhile, fixated on the sandwich in her hand like she'd never seen it before.

"Oh, and Glynda sent me a text about wanting to introduce us to some new transfer student," Ruby added. "My Uncle Qrow found him in Anima and said he's a special kid. You get the same message, Jaune?"

Jaune pulled out his Scroll and read the text. "Oscar Pine… huh… wonder what his deal is?"

"PBNJ!" Yang suddenly interjected, slamming her sandwich-grasping fist onto the table, startling everyone… save Neo, anyway, who was too busy working on her fourth scoop.

"Uh… what?" was Ruby's cogent reply.

"Pyrrha, Blake, Neo, and Jaune!" Yang explained, emphasizing the first letter. "They have a team!"

Blake sighed at her partner's curious revelation. "And what about the rest of you, Yang? What do your five names spell out?"

"Let's see… Y, W, N, R, and… R," Yang noted, drawing her fingers to her chin and going deep into thought.

"Why would we want to be on your team instead of the one we've always been on?" Nora wondered, halfway through her seventh sandwich.

"Nora, there's no need to be mean," Ren politely suggested.

"Yeah, if you're not gonna help then just go with whatever plan I come up with!" Yang suggested. "How about… Team… uh… well, if we treat the first 'R' like a 'B' it could be 'brawny'!"

"Charming," Weiss deadpanned.

Pyrrha took hold of Jaune's hand and gently prodded him. He took the hint and joined her in sliding away, as Yang fought an increasingly desperate battle to form a new team with people who didn't care to be on it or couldn't accept her new team name. Spotting Pyrrha attempt to abscond with Jaune, Blake slid after, and Neo even abandoned what little ice cream remained to follow.

"Ladies, please, it is my night," Pyrrha reminded them.

"Just wanted to see him off," Blake assured. She went first, and Jaune complied immediately, lowering himself a bit so she could press her forehead to his. She didn't milk it for more than a few moments, and Neo stepped in next, forcing Jaune to bend even lower to embrace her with a hug, Neo nestling to him and quite deliberately taking her time.

Eventually, however, he did as Pyrrha requested and followed after her with a lingering smile back at Blake and Neo.

It was a strange system to be sure… to try and balance their love for him while he tried to shoulder the weight of supporting all of them. It had been working so far, but every now and then jealousy reared its head and disagreements were not infrequent, even with how well the three girls knew each other.

But with Jaune they had common purpose. With them Jaune had a shared love.

It wasn't perfect, but it was the change that brought Neo and Blake a happiness that had eluded them a long time, and ensured that the Fall Maiden would never again be alone to face the dangers from Salem to those who'd simply strayed from the correct path as Neo and Blake once had.

When Blake watched him leave she took solace in not needing to reach out, because he'd return to her.

When Neo watched him leave she trusted him not to forget her love, believed that Pyrrha would finally join them in their particular bond with Jaune, and hoped things would remain as they were, because strange as it may have been, she felt content with how things turned out.

All because of one night and one man's kindness… a terrible fate had been averted. She'd lost someone. Blake lost someone. Pyrrha would be forever haunted by the life she took.

But they were not alone, and the pain of loss was not so great, united as they were now in body and soul, the Maidens and the knight who changed all their lives.