TheKaiSenpai doesn't own shit.

ReincarnationIsCookies

Prologue

ReincarnationIsCookies

Date: Several Years After "The War" (YATW)

Location: Unknown

"Legends. Stories, scattered through time. Mankind has quite the fascination of retelling stories of the past, be it of their heroes, villains, and adventures beyond belief. But what they forget is that each of us are remnants. Pieces to a past long forgotten to the throes of time.

"Man was born of ashes, brought into a world created from the entrails of the very planet. Fractured and broken, they found themselves in a cruel and unforgiving world. An inevitable darkness- the creatures of Grimm- set their sights upon man and all of his creations. The two forces clashed, and it seemed that the darkness was intent on sending man back into the ashes from whence they came.

"However, even the smallest flicker of hope can bring change. And in time, man's resourcefulness, passion, and creativity would bring them to the tools they would use to survive. These tools were creatively named "Dust".

"The power of the elements in hand, man lit a way through the darkness, bringing change, civilization, and more importantly, life. But even the most brilliant of flames sputter and die. And when it is gone, darkness will once again descend.

"So you may prepare your warriors, build your monuments to a so-called "free world". But take heed… There will be no victory in strength."

"But perhaps victory is in the simpler things you've long forgotten; things that require a single, sincere soul."

ReincarnationIsCookies

Time: 70 YATW

Several figures made their way across the craggy wasteland. All were dressed in colorful, though seemingly impractical clothing for such a hot, dry area. However, upon closer inspection, one could see several weapons upon their bodies, some larger than others, and all extremely dangerous. Leading the pack was a man with fading black hair, and a stern, chiseled face. He dressed himself nicely in a white business suit, complete with the same colored pants, a black sweatshirt underneath, and all topped off with a neat red tie just barely peaking from his collar. The man gazed over the rocky area, his team trailing behind him as he stood atop one of the peaks over the barren landscape. James Ironwood was his name, the budding, new Headmaster of Atlas' very own Hunter academy, Atlas Academy. He was forty-two, and still the princely handsome man he was during his own years in the academy.

Standing right behind him was a seemingly young man with angled, yet wizened features. His hair was a dusty grey, and small spectacles rested upon his nose. The man wore a black business suit with brass buttons, not unlike his friend. Underneath he wore a bright, forest green turtleneck shirt. In his hands was a simple black cane, with a silver handle with ornate designs on it, a small ball at the end, and a small circular cylinder on the end connecting it to the actual cane. A long, thin trigger aligned itself parallel to the actual cane. This was Ozpin, the long time professor to Beacon Academy in Vale. His age was a mystery, nobody quite able to pinpoint his date of birth. For all his youthfulness, he came with wisdom beyond his years.

The two men stood side-by-side atop the mountain. In the distance they could see three of Mistral's active volcanos. This was the first of two areas of the world where volcano activity was high enough to devastate the life around them. Yet at the base of the mountain was a writhing sea of black. The creatures of Grimm. Some of them so old that they had lost their naturally animalistic instincts, replaced with nearly humanlike intelligence. Yet all of them had been drawn here, at the base of a seemingly insignificant plateau. It was terrifying to the two men. Whatever was down there was either powerful enough to draw in these creatures, or filled with so much negativity that it was like a drug. Whatever it was had to have been there for a while, given the age of some of the creatures of Grimm and their surroundings. Something with that much negativity… Ironwood was unsure which would be worse, taking out these relatively harmless Grimm to dispose of them forever, or unleashing whatever was attracting them.

"We can still turn back, James," the second man, Ozpin, spoke. His voice was laced with experience and tenderness, but an underlying strength that made lesser men obey. "These creatures are not harming anyone here. In fact, it feels like this area is a net for any passing creatures of Grimm, drawing them in so heavily that they cannot escape." There was a pause. Below them, they could hear the rest of the Hunter party talking amongst themselves in semi-concerned voices. "There's no shame in-"

"This is something that must be done," James replied, his shoulders stiffened as he spoke, gazing down at the writhing black sea in front of them. "If we don't dispose of these creatures now, then we have no assurance that whatever's down there will hold them for long." Another pause reigned as Ozpin let out a sigh, his eyes relaxing shut. "You know that I'm right, Oz."

"Yes, I suppose you are," the gray-haired man replied slowly. "But we should rest for the night. These brave souls have followed us on a long hike to destroy the Grimm, so we should at least give them as great an advantage as we can." James' face contorted with inner conflict, issuing Ozpin to rest his hand on the man's shoulder. "The Grimm can wait another day. Let them have rest."

"Alright," James replied abruptly, pushing past his old friend to address the several men and women that had followed them. "As you can all see, the creatures of Grimm are here, en masse. We'll spend the night in the alcoves scattered around here, and will wake up at 0630. Tomorrow morning will be the day these Grimm fall to our hands, never to terrorize our families again!" A muffled cheer came from the Hunters, knowing that if they were too loud, the Grimm would notice them. Two souls in the back smiled at one another. The first was a man with bronze skin, and hair like the rays from the sun. He looked down at his partner with mischievous blue eyes. He stood tall, dressed in a stylish western garb, complete with cargo pants, a fancy yellow shirt, and a faded brown vest. Strapped to his back was a large dual sided cannon, either end with a pentagonal barrel, both giving way to a smaller, dark brown body, covered in golden-yellow armor crossing over it in an "X" shape. At the center, protruding from the body's armor, was a dark brown emblem of twin dragons, both rearing back to create a heart shape, though as a single image looked like the silhouette of the top of a dragon's head. The cannon itself was almost two heads taller than the man. This was Taiyang Xiao-Long, one of the strongest men in the world, and the only man capable of wielding Qūzhújiàn, or Destroyer, as everyone else called it.

Beside him stood a young woman, peering just out from under the hood of a white cloak that enveloped her entire body. Underneath, one would find a comfy, dark grey, button up shirt made of cotton. They would also find a battle skirt of the same color, reaching down just past the midway point of her legs. Her skin was tone was almost the opposite of Taiyang's, instead being pale and unblemished, seeming almost timeless. She had a cute face, complete with a look of happy innocence. Her eyes, however, were her most striking feature, being a bright golden that seemed to sparkle. Her hair also was quite an odd color, being a natural dark brown, yet with light wisps of red highlighting her bangs and the tips of her hair, of which reached down her face, down to just at her shoulders. Hanging from a loop at her hip was a long, curved blade. Its handle had ornate diamond shapes around it, alternating between dark grey and deep red. The guard was of intricate design, being that of a Beowolf's skull facing up and out of the handle. Out of the mouth was the blade itself, the front edge and body of the blade a holy white, and the back edge and fuller being an ashen gray. The pas d'an of the blade surrounding the grip was more abstract, also being a bright white with a trapezoidal guard rather than a smooth curve, the feared blade passed down in her family. This was Summer Rose, the leader of Team STRQ (Stark), and holder of the moniker, The Slayer. A title held only by the most elite Hunters against the Grimm.

"Gyaaaaah…" Summer yawned, stretching in an overly comedic way. "Man, what a hike! I thought I was gonna pass out four miles ago! Man, I'm pooped!" Taiyang simply chuckled, shaking his head as he rested Destroyer against a nearby boulder, a loud Boom! sounding out when it touched the ground, despite the gentleness of which he set it. Underneath was a deep imprint of the weapon as it compacted under the cannon. Despite the noise, the creatures of Grimm ignored them.

"Yeah, I was feeling pretty worn down, too," Taiyang replied, rolling his shoulders to let his joints loosen up. "Just think, this will be our last mission until retirement! Heh, retired at age thirty… What a nice thought."

"Ooooh, I can't wait!" Summer gushed, quickly dumping her sleeping bag onto the hard, but smooth, stone floor of their alcove. "I can finally spend more time with Ruby and Yang! You know, it's been so long since I made everyone cookies! Well when we get back, I'll make some super-ultra-awesome-delicious cookies for the girls!" Taiyang rolled his eyes and immediately brought his hands to his heart, faking a stagger back.

"Oh! And no cookies for your beloved husband?" Summer smiled slyly at his jest, leaning in close to his face and giving him a quick peck on the lips.

"Special cookies for the man of the house," she whispered. "Extra. Sugar." If anyone had been looking, they would see stars in the blonde man's eyes. Eyes that seemed to be drawn to the rear of Summer's body as she sauntered off. "I'm gonna go see how Yu Yu is! I'll be right back!"

"Y-Yeah… heh heh…" Taiyang replied, his mind in a haze at the thought of the treat he would be receiving later. He then felt a single hand clap onto his shoulder, breaking him out of his lustful stupor.

"Poor Tai," a firm voice chuckled out. "Looks like you've got your hands full." The voice belonged to a man with dusty hair, wearing a sharp grey suit with a red cape. He had piercing eyes and a clean shaven face that gave him a handsome look. "Honestly, I don't see why she sticks with an idiot like you." Instead of being offended, Taiyang only rubbed the back of his neck and gave his friend a sheepish grin.

"I guess I just got lucky, huh, Qrow?" the blonde jested. "I was lucky she was here for me. I can't imagine what would have happened if you guys weren't there to support me when Raven left." Qrow simply scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"You would've moped around in your own depression and ignored Yang entirely," he teased the man. "And let's not bring my sister into this. We're going to be stressed as it is tomorrow facing these Grimm. If you get worked up over her again, then little Summer's going to have to drag your corpse back home." While the words were harsh, Qrow had a teasing smirk on his face. "I'd hate to have to tell Yang and Ruby why their dad died like an idiot."

"If anything, it'll be me dragging your body back home," Taiyang punched Qrow's shoulder playfully. The caped man stumbled and grinned, but rubbed his shoulder. "How about a drink when we get back? Just you and me."

"Nah, I'll be fine without it," the two men watched as Summer danced around the different alcoves, making friends with everyone. "So it doesn't freak you out that you're both long distant cousins?"

"You mean like how you and Yuki are cousins?" Taiyang shot back. Qrow's eyes drifted momentarily to the white haired woman casually cleaning out her weapon. He scowled.

"As if I'd admit that little prissy princess was my cousin," he grumbled, making the blonde man laugh. "Besides, our families split thousands of years ago. We're hardly even related." The two men relaxed, leaning back against the stone walls of the alcove. They remained silent for a long time. "Old Oz asked to meet with me after the mission."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah. Something really important, he says," Qrow shifted a moment, obviously uncomfortable. "Says it's a pretty big secret, but I just wanted to let you know in case anything went wrong." Taiyang nodded, resting a hand on Qrow's shoulder.

"You can trust me with anything," he told his friend.

"Thanks."

With those words, Qrow walked off from the blonde man. His eyes set firmly on Yuki Schnee, his long distant cousin. The young woman had pale skin and snowy white hair, like the rest of her family. She had her hair tied back into a bun, and was still polishing the "wand" in her hand. It was actually a glorified stick with several different types of Dust cartridges inside the handle, but no one besides Qrow ever had the guts to just tell her that. While an easy smile graced her cheeks throughout, it promptly turned into a scowl as Qrow came close. Her arms became a bit more tense and her entire body seemed to radiate an aura of death. Her current conversation partner, a twitchy young man from Haven that Qrow recognized as someone named Jacques, instinctively took a step back as soon as Yuki's mood soured. "What do you want?" she almost hissed at him, giving him a glare that seemed to have passed down in both of their families. It was the kind of glare that let you know that the person considered you worthless scum.

"What, I can't say hello to my favorite cousin?" Qrow decided to keep his tone light, if only to keep the young Jacques stuck in place from fear from wetting himself. "This might be the last time we ever get to talk, you know."

"Please, we're hardly related," Yuki scoffed and turned her head from him, her eyes focusing even more on her weapon. "Me acknowledging you as my relative is just as likely as me ever falling for a weakling such as Jacques." Qrow inwardly winced at the non-so-subtle attack on the young man before them. "I would rather rip out my own womb then do either." That was… incredibly harsh. Jacques seemed to get the hint, though, and walked away dejectedly. Qrow shot a glare to the snow haired woman.

"You could have put him down gently," he told his cousin. Yuki glanced up at him with a cold expression, though a small amount of warmth seemed to be hidden behind her gaze.

"It's much simpler to… 'rip off the bandage', as you would say," she replied, the previous hints of aggression gone. "Better that he recognizes my rejection now then for me to have to deal with a childish dunce like him for years, allowing him to whittle down my defenses before I finally give in. Koald would not be happy with the advances."

"You make it sound like a siege," Qrow pointed out, "and since when did you ever care for what he thought?" Slight amusement twinkled behind her clear, crystal eyes.

"Perhaps that is the best description of the matter. After all, I have a husband waiting for me at home and... my heart yearns for another," the second half of her words were in a whisper. Qrow merely sighed and crossed is arms, looking around briefly to make sure nobody was eavesdropping.

"It was a one-time thing," he finally told her in a low tone. "Besides, there's a reason why our families were separated."

"Which you haven't told me," Yuki shot back. "I can't get over that night, Qrow. I've had boyfriends when I was a child, but that… that was the first time I ever felt loved like a woman…"

"It was a mistake," Qrow shot back, making the white-haired woman wince. Qrow's expression softened. "It's not like I don't want to," he mumbled. "By the gods, I really want to. But with us, it's a lot more complicated than emotions. If we were to have another kid…" He trailed off for a moment to think on his words. "It would be catastrophic. And not in the 'we had kids before marriage' or the 'having a kid is hell' kind of way. It would be the catalyst for some really bad things." Yuki frowned as Qrow's eyes wandered over to Ozpin, whom he had noticed had been keeping an eye on the two of them since they had started talking. "Just trust me, alright Snow Angel?" Yuki smiled bitterly, but nodded.

"Alright," her voice was soft and unsure. "But… someday… I want you to do the same thing we did all that time ago. Promise me?" Qrow rolled his eyes but smiled.

"I promise."

XXXXX

"This location," Ironwood stood with a map of the volcanic area in his hands, addressing the young man standing to the side with bright green hair and a pair of rounded spectacles on the bridge of his nose. "What do we know about this place, Bartholomew?" The man pressed his glasses further up upon his face and stood to attention. "What could be bringing all of these Grimm here in the first place?"

"I'm glad you asked," Bartholomew spoke with a smile on his face. "Why, it's widely believed that this area was an ancient battleground in the long distant past," the man spoke rapidly, begetting his excitement for the topic. While fast, it was still easy to follow. "Supposedly it was the battleground between three gods of indescribable abilities! The resulting battle was what sterilized and created the volcanic region in the first place."

"That's preposterous," Ironwood glared at the young doctorate-seeking Huntsman. "Gods? A single battle creating a volcano? Surely that's just-"

"I did say that it was only believed to be so," Bartholomew pointed out, stopping the headmaster before he discredited the idea entirely. "However, there's no evidence to suggest otherwise; so we must take what information has been given to us. Now, may I continue?"

"Please, do go on," Ozpin spoke up, his expression unreadable. "Whatever information we have is much and well appreciated." The young man nodded, before taking the map from the Atlas General. He pointed to the plateau for the headmasters.

"This is rumored to be the grounds for a shrine dedicated to one of the gods," Bartholomew explained. "It was here where he stood his ground against the other two; his former comrades and students." Both James and Ozpin listened intently as the history major prattled on. "In the ensuing fight, there could have been a lot of negativity to be released. It may just be the cause. Or, perhaps it is the memory of such a place that breeds the negativity. Whatever the case, we must proceed with caution. These legends have been passed down for a reason and every myth has a semblance of truth hidden within."

"Wiser words have naught been spoken," Ozpin chimed in, glancing between the two men. "It is quite obvious to me that we'll be taking a large risk, regardless. What we should do, now, is come together and decide how we will proceed. To run in without a plan would be suicide. Brute force cannot solve this problem. Not with our numbers." The men peered over the side of the mountain they were on into the crater below them. The sea of Grimm wrapped around the plateau. Oddly, nothing flew nor rested upon the top. In fact, it looked like they were actively avoiding it. Ozpin turned to James.

"I see it," the Atlas General spoke. "It's a risk, but if we can reach the top of that flat area..." He kept his eyes locked onto the rock face. "It's small, but I see what looks like a stairwell. Oz?"

"As do I," spoke the grey haired man. "It looks small enough that only Beowolf could potentially fit with ease. At least, among those would be the only ones small enough that could climb to that height.

"If we were to make it inside," Bartholomew spoke up once more. "We could discover more about what is causing such negativity and perhaps..."

"We could weaponize it. Use it as a beacon for Grimm so they won't attack our cities. Make them easier to wipe them out in a mass scale," James suggested. "With this knowledge, the kingdoms can finally be safe from Grimm completely."

"We would have to be careful on whom would have such technology, however," Ozpin pointed out. "If anyone wanting to cause chaos wished, they could set one off in the middle of a city and create untold amounts of destruction. That is, if it's possible to create such a device in the first place."

A short silence followed the words of the headmaster. Both of his colleagues knew the threats that came with any new technology. That type of power in anyone's hands could be immensely dangerous. It was a situation that made each of the grown men shiver. In the silence, Ozpin watched as the sun finally fell behind the horizon. The coolness of the mountainous breeze contrasted the location they were in. While the actual volcano was a mountain away, it was still a chilling thought to think of it having the possibility of erupting while they were there. Lava may not reach them at their altitude, but volcanic rock and ash could still be deadly.

"We should rest for the night," Ozpin spoke up, interrupting the morbid thoughts passing through each of their minds. "Let everyone know that in the morning, our plan will be to make it to that plateau. It's a defendable position and our best chance at discovering what lies inside." His two colleagues nodded in response, each lost in their own thoughts as they walked away to do as he asked.

Ozpin once more gazed at the sea of Grimm, as well as their future destination. He could feel the tug and hum of the ancient power within. His hand gripped tighter around his cane, making the metal and wood creak in his grasp. Gods, indeed, it seemed. A discovery like this could tip the balance of the war in his favor.

XXXXX

"What a shrimp!"

"Who would ever want to be friends with a little weak kid like you?"

"I bet your sister secretly wishes you weren't around to hold her back!"

"Your eyes are weird!"

"What do you know!?" The little girl shouted, her voice trembling with anger and grief. "You don't even know me! Just leave me alone!" Still, her bullies did nothing of the sort.

"You can't even punch as good as Burbon, you're just a weakling!"

"You'll never make it as a Huntress, you should just give up!"

"Hey, what are you doing picking on my little sister?" A separate voice growled from down the hall. Ruby heard frantic yells as her tormentors ran off, leaving her curled up on the floor covered in swaths of paint and dirt. She shook with anger and fear, letting out silent tears as she dealt with her conflicting emotions.

"I'm not weak," she sobbed, trying to convince herself. "I'm not weak at all. I can be a Huntress. I can be whatever I want. I can be a hero." The girl flinched as she felt a hand grasp her shoulder, but slowly looked up to the violet eyes she knew would be looking right back at her. It was always like this. She'd be picked on for being so small, and her big sister would run all the bullies away.

"Are you ok, little sis?" Yang asked, keeping her voice low. Her baby sister didn't respond, so the seven year old wrapped her arms around the darker haired girl. "Awww, you'll be fine. Soon enough you'll be strong enough to prove them wrong."

"But I'm not," Rudy sniffled, wiping away some of the tears in her eyes. Her cheeks were a flushed red from her anger. "I'll never be as strong as you or mommy or daddy. I'm just weak."

"Don't you say that," Yang insisted, wiping away the tears that had replaced the ones her sister had just gotten rid of. "Don't you ever say you're weak. You're so strong, little Rubaby. You're gonna be the strongest Huntress to ever live, I promise. You know me, I never break my promises, do I?"

"Well..." Ruby trailed off, not looking her sister in the eyes. Yang puffed her cheeks in a pout.

"I told you that I'll make you cookies another time," the blonde disputed her younger sister. "It's not my fault I accidentally burned down the kitchen! It's the oven's!" Ruby giggled, forgetting her previous sorrow. Yang knew that her job was done, but added another for extra measure. "I mean, at least I was on fire with those brownies."

"Aaaargh you're worse than dad," Ruby laughed, hugging her older sister. The blonde smiled, accepting the hug with easy joy.

"Yeah, maybe I am."

XXXXX

"Again!"

"Can we please take a break, Winter? I'm beginning to tire," the young girl panted, her eyes shut tight as she attempted to catch her breath. "Ten minutes, please. That's all I need."

"If you wish to be able to defend yourself, then you must build your endurance," the elder sister spoke to Weiss. "However, I can see that pushing you further at this moment would only hinder your training. I will give you fifteen minutes to recuperate."

"Thank you," the younger girl stammered, resting her hands on her knees. After sixty seconds, her breathing slowed to a relaxed pace. "Winter?"

"Yes, sister?" The elder sister had found herself standing to the side of the courtyard, looking over the spring landscape behind the estate. While the mountains were still covered in snow, the bellblossoms were starting to bloom with the longer days. Said snow was also beginning to melt. While the landscape of their Atlas home would never quite be completely free of the cold and snow, it was a beautiful sight that she often took for granted. "What do you wish to say?"

"When do you think mother will return?" Weiss asked, brushing the dust and powdered ice from her dress. There was a brief lull. "Father has been becoming restless again."

"Indeed he has," Winter kept her response curt.

"Do you think it's because of mother?"

"Our mother does have a strong will and personality," Winter commented offhandedly. "I'm sure father is trying his best. Men like him are not used to being challenged. I'm sure he never expected our family name to require such diligence and trial." Weiss noticed the twitch in her sister's stature as she spoke of their father.

"He's yelled at you again?"

"It was not undeserved," Winter defended their father. "I plan to join the Atlas military instead of taking upon the responsibilities of heiress to our company. My abilities would be better served on the field rather than behind a desk."

"Is it because of your eye?" Weiss asked innocently. The seven year old noticed her sister's posture stiffen. "I'm sorry," she stammered. "I'll drop it. Does uncle Speil know?" Silence. "Sister-"

"Our uncle does not and will never know of what I told you," Winter finally turned to face her sister, an impassive expression laid on her face. "What I have has not been awakened since our ancestors. It is dangerous and should never be used-"

"But he has to know!" Weiss insisted. "He's the only one who knows about-" The sound of flesh hitting flesh filled the stone courtyard. Winter's hand was raised, having completed its swing.

"You will silence yourself," Winter spoke in a low tone, her voice shaking. "You are too young to understand the repercussions of such things, so I will forgive you this once. You will not tell anyone of what I showed you. To do so would endanger our entire family. Am I understood?"

"Yes, Winter," Weiss held back her tears. Inside, she knew that her sister was right. That knowledge didn't ease the stinging sensation left on her cheek, however. The elder sister's expression softened.

"Let us resume your training," she said. "You must become a strong woman."

XXXXX

Blake traced her hand across the side of the blade, admiring its metal and shape. It was rather large compared to her, but she felt something of a kinship to it. Still, she was having her own weapon made for her personal use; something better suited to her small stature. Her and the other Faunus were having to arm themselves due to their rallies becoming more and more violent.

It wasn't something she thought so much about. The violence would bring them equality; she'd seen it with her own eyes. The way the humans became more generous than they had previously, as well as how they easily succumbed to their demands to appease them. Faunus were finally getting the respect they deserved! Still, it was only the start. They had to keep fighting for their equality.

Blake frowned for a moment, remembering the looks her parents had given her when she said that she wanted to stay. Wanted to keep fighting for the White Fang. Her father, one of the higher-ups of the organization, had left almost a year ago with her mother. They'd gone back to their home in Menagerie. That was fine, though. Blake didn't need those bonds. She'd sever them if she had to.

Yet still, she couldn't ignore the nagging feeling that it was all a giant mistake. That she was making the wrong choices. Something echoed inside of her to hold fast to her relationship with her parents. She ignored it, though. True equality was in the grasp of the White Fang. It was only a matter of time.

"You're looking at that dusty thing again?" A voice appeared beside Blake. It would have startled her if her feline ears hadn't picked up on the footsteps approaching her. "It's just a sword. There's nothing special about it."

"I know, but it keeps reaching out to me," Blake replied, looking at the now polished blade. It was a chokuto, an old sword used by her ancestors through the generations. The entirety of the Belladonna family had passed it down, claiming that it had once been used by a god. Of course those stories were pretty ridiculous, but Blake liked to imagine that it was true.

"It's a sword," the girl rebutted. Blake could hear the incredulousness dripping off of her voice. "It can't talk, you dummy."

"It feels like a tugging feeling, Illia," Blake smiled as she spoke. "I can't help but be drawn to it. Like I'm supposed to use it." Blake, however, set the sword back down on its stand. She had her own room in the main HQ for the White Fang, where she kept a large number of books and other relaxants. There were also some bellroot on her desk, beside her sketchbook and pen. It was an illegal plant that in large doses could cause illusions and hysteria, but in smaller amounts could be used to numb pain and relax the muscles. Of course, Blake only took small amounts on rare occasions.

"The rally in Vale is going to be dangerous," Illia spoke up, giving her friend a concerned look. "I'm not sure you should go. I don't care what Adam says, people are gonna get hurt."

"Maybe," Blake sighed, knowing that this discussion would never be dropped. "But, I think I'll be fine. I have a weapon being made for me and Adam will be there. He's really strong, so he'll protect us."

"But what if he doesn't?"

"He will," Blake hugged her friend. "He loves me, and someday we're gonna get married in a world where faunus are equal with humans. So don't worry, ok?" Illia was silent for a moment, but she slowly wrapped her arms around Blake as well.

"Yeah," Blake was too young to notice the quiver in Illia's voice. "I guess so."

XXXXX

A hooded figure walked through the streets of Romulo. He was tall and lanky, and kept his face hidden in the dark. He moved silently, but with purpose, avoiding the people around him with a grace and efficiency that could only be found in dancers and warriors. His clothes were simple and lacked any distinct markings upon them.

The man moved from stall to stall, thanking the vendors as they served him. It had been years since he'd gone on his journey, looking for those who'd given him peace. Over the time of his life, he'd learned multitudes of new things. Advancements in technology from those of the past.

He had been at the forefront, however. He developed technology to harness the natural power of the world. Unfortunately, nature didn't quite like being taken advantage of. He supposed the man that had earned his respect would be disappointed in him. He was long dead, however. Still, even the slender man respected him enough to not completely besmirch his ideals.

It wasn't like he hadn't watched over his family, after all. Always called in at times when things were most dire. Always the helping hand when his family needed it the most. It was a deal he could live with. After all, he was his village's undisputed genius.

Green eyes watched as the girl with red hair waved towards her fans. She was quickly becoming a big name. Someone who'd recently won the Junior League Championships. Her lineage, both sides of it, would be proud. For a moment, her emerald eyes met his. He could see her shiver. Her genes recognized him. Still, she smiled and continued as if nothing had changed.

Yet they both knew that it had. The crowd was soon dispersed, but he remained. The girl, Pyrrha, waited for him. The man approached her. "You certainly made quite the showing," the man commented the girl. She nodded, her smile polite. Her parents, Athena and Herm, both stood at her side. They didn't trust him.

"Thank you," the girl replied, shifting in her armor. The curt words being traded made for an uncomfortable atmosphere. "The weapons you designed for me are wonderful, professor."

"I would hope so," the man spoke in return, his gaze predatory. "They are made from a rare metal that can act as conduits for Aura and Semblances. I believe you can bring out the most in their potential."

"What is it that you want, snake?" Herm growled, having long since lost his patience. "Our daughter won't be subject to your experiments. Not like you did to Athena."

"They were merely blood samples," the man waved off his concern. "Just to determine your potential. I'm sure you understand, ma'am?"

"It doesn't make me happy," Athena replied, her scarlet hair tied back in a bun. "You said that Pyrrha-"

"Yes, her potential far exceeds those of your family line, all the way back to your ancient ancestors," the professor confirmed for the trio. His eyes passed over the young girl once more. "Your daughter will change history. She will become a woman who will decide the fate of nations."

"That's too much to put on the shoulders of one girl!" Herm protested, taking a step forward. He stood a head shorter than the man. "You can't possibly expect her to bear that kind of burden!"

"Not alone, no," the man's slitted eyes rested on the father. "Her appearance only means that the rest have come as well. The gods your people worship have returned to bring peace again." He paused. "I will return in time to explain the truth to you, child," he addressed the girl once more. "I have other families I must visit. To ensure that I am correct." With that, the pale man turned away and walked on. Pyrrha couldn't help the shiver that slid down her spine when she recalled the man's face. It seemed flaked, as if it wasn't actually his.