Hey Wolfgarde agreed with me on a plot point! Yay! But that is later!

On with the show!

Jaune thought Nora looked beautiful. Completely, totally, and objectively beautiful. It wasn't how she was dressed, since Nora was just wearing her standard bomber jacket and combat skirt combo. Which usuallly gave the young woman a mischievous younger sister vibe more than anything else. No, her beauty today was born from something else. Something Jaune found he couldn't quite put his finger on, but whatever it was, here and now Nora Valkyrie looked beautiful.

Perhaps it was the fact she currently stood in a sheltered garden that was eagerly embracing an early spring. After all there was fitting metaphor in a rainbow of buds and barely opened blossoms surrounding the shining flower of ever-flowing optimism that was the heart of Jaune's team. A shining flower throwing off winter's last gasps.

Yes maybe Nora's looked so beautiful because of that, but maybe it was because of the fear that he might lose her. A selfish fear, probably a baseless fear, that Jaune wished was not there, but it clung on the edges of his heart and mind all the same.

Jaune smiled warmly as he approached his friend. Nora was always easy to smile warmly at. Even when you were haunted by your own doubts and fears, even when those doubts shamefully surrounded Nora herself, Nora was easy to smile at. And easy to smile with. Jaune closed his eyes, and basked in the warmth of one of his very best friends, and let most of his tension seep away. It was almost time. Time to set it down at last.

His first lie was now his last lie. The only lie between him and his team. His friends.

Her smile was radiant when Jaune reopened his eyes, and he loved Nora for that smile above any other than she had showed him. Truly loved her.

"What is up my Fearless Leader!" she laughed even as she enunciated every word. "I thought Goodwitch was going to keep you all day!"

Jaune smiled ruefully, and seized on a little bit of distraction. "Not really, Ruby and I were just going over our travel plans with her. Winter is still pretty severe north of here, and in Atlas it is going to be even worse, so the professor was double checking everything. Plus, Ruby was pretty distracted due to Yang and Blake having some sort of fight again. It really hit Ruby hard this time for some reason." Jaune felt some helplessness over that, but all he could add was, "An unfocused Ruby is not a productive Ruby."

Nora frowned, obviously bothered as well. "At least Yang and Blake talked a bit. Maybe they started working through something." Nora looked doubtful and Jaune shrugged. Nora settled for adding another, "Maybe?"

Jaune offered an idea that was firmly half-baked. "Nora, could you talk to Yang a bit? See if she'll open up about whatever's really going on." Nora looked doubtful so Jaune added, "If you feel up to it."

"Jaune that's a pretty bad idea. Yang is my friend, but I don't know her the way I know Renny or you." Nora shrugged helplessly. "It would feel like butting in. Honestly, would you feel comfortable with Yang or Ruby butting into the middle of an argument between us?"

Jaune paused, then nodded. Nora had a point. Ruby might say something, if things got real bad on Jaune's team. Might being the operative word. Jaune could even accept that since Ruby had probably earned the right to do so over the last year. However, as much as Jaune liked Ruby's sister, if Yang stuck her nose into JNPR's business, it would not be appreciated.

Jaune sighed inwardly. Nora was an amazing friend who could lift Jaune's spirits with a simple smile, or even a maniacal smile, but he was admittedly closer to her than almost anyone on Remnant. Jaune loved her deeply and trusted her completely. Nora and Ren knew him better than even Jaune's own family, which was an entirely different can of worms. But suffice to say that Jaune expectine Yang, or especially Blake, to feel the same way was pretty asinine.

Even if it was important.

Finally Jaune shifted focus and said, "I'll talk to Weiss then. Weiss loves sticking her nose into things anyways. Also, if she thinks I'm intruding, we all know Weiss is more than capable of telling me that I am over the line." Jaune allowed himself a rueful chuckle. "It would almost be like old times."

Nora laughed then grinned that maniacal grin of hers. Her words were still a friendly warning though. "Jaune you need to learn you can't fix everyone's problems."

Jaune laughed in mild concession, but in doing so he thought of a certain painting. The way Weiss set him up was kind of a watershed moment between him and the heiress, but it wasn't like he could explain that to Nora at this moment. It would take too long, and would alter everything Jaune still needed to follow through on.

A random thought occurred on the unsolicited help Weiss had recruited. Jaune was a little disappointed Winter was not at the museum, and more disappointed when he proved unable to connect to her scroll. She must have decided that this was a private moment Jaune needed to deal with. Which she was undoubtedly right about..

But most of this wasn't really relevant to why Jaune had brought his friends here. Not even the discord on Ruby's team.

Still he added, "Remind to tell you a story a little later." Jaune then tried to keep his subsequent smile from becoming tense, but he likely failed. Nora's distraction had now run its course, and the clock was ticking with some urgency. And that clock still scared him. "We still need everyone coming together before we go to Atlas," he added limply, as his mind shifted focus but he could not find a way to bring the conversation along with it. Probably because Jaune had yet to set his eyes on Ren.

Nora tried to run to the rescue. "But not together-together because I'm not sharing Ren! He belongs to me now!" The words landed a little badly, but Jaune smile-groaned for her all the same. He pulled his friend in for a hug that Nora turned rib bruising. That worked much better because, damn, Nora hugs were a thing. A truly wonderful thing.

Jaune extracted himself gingerly, "Speaking of your flower loving piece of property, where is Ren hiding exactly?"

A tiny bit of sadness entered Nora's eyes, but otherwise touched her face not at all. "Down by the water," was all she said as she linked her arm inside Jaune's. They walked down a quiet footpath and towards the garden's small pond. Its edges were covered in large floating lily pads, a few which looked ready to blossom almost any day now.

Ren sat in his standard Lotus position. He was sitting in near profile to them as they walked towards him. Something hit Jaune odd. Ren normally kept his eyes lidded while meditating, but Jaune could see his friend was staring directly at the budding lilies. Jaune grew even more surprised when Ren activated is semblance, turning gray right before his very eyes. Jaune and Nora both stopped the moment he did.

Nora spoke softly, and her voice was a bit husky with emotion. "The flowers here remind him of Kuroyuri. He told me there was a little canal that ran through the heart of the marketplace, and sometimes flowers from the local lake would detach themselves and drift through the town before they disappeared into the wilds beyond. Ren told me once he doesn't quite remember what those flowers were actually called."

Jaune was a bit shook. Kuroyuri was the only time he saw Ren lose control of himself emotionally. The fact that Ren now felt the need to use his semblance to keep control was actually shocking. It helped Jaune remember just how much Ren had lost during his life. And for all that loss, a ridged self-discipline Jaune often took for granted.

For some reason Jaune had to ask, "Do you believe him when he says he can't remember?"

Nora nodded. "Yes. Ren has never lied to me." Nora said that with absolute conviction. There was a moment, probably do to something damning in human nature, where Jaune tried to think of a small lie Ren told Nora. Nothing important, but something small or silly… like maybe they were out of pancake syrup. Jaune quickly realized he had nothing. That was a humbling realization.

Jaune asked, "Are these the same flowers?"

Nora shook her head, "No. These are white and the ones from Kuroyuri were red. These flowers also grow on short stalks, with smaller blooms. At least that is what Ren says, since I never saw the lake by Kuroyuri… not when we were children and not when we were there and fought that monster. Ren mentioned he looked briefly when we flew away, but couldn't even see the lake in the gloom surrounding the villiage. Much less any flowers. Ren doesn't even know if those water flowers still exist." Nora shivered ever so slightly next to Jaune. "If they're gone, he might be the last person that can remember them with clarity. Ren still loves those flowers though, even if he no longer remembers their name. The Grimm never took that from him."

And these flowers, that weren't really the same, might be all Ren really has left of his childhood. It was another shocking reminder of just how much Jaune's friend had lost. More than anyone in their troop, more than Ruby or Yang, more than maybe even Nora, Ren had experienced loss. Jaune's heart suddenly ached for his friend and over his own selfishness.

Nora paused a good minute or so, then added something with a voice raw in emotion. "When we finish those that took Pyrrha from us, Ren and I are going to go looking for those flowers. W-we want you to come with us."

Jaune felt tears fall down his cheek and did not hesitate. "I would be honored to."

Nora did not respond, there was no need.

Jaune watched as Ren finally, if slowly, let go of his semblance. In a way, the colors bleeding back into focus reminded Jaune of a blooming flower. For whatever reason Ren and his semblance seemed just as symbolic as Nora's burning optimism. Symbolic for something Jaune had yet to name in his own life. Jaune thought about what Nora was saying, and how she was saying it, and it finally clicked. Although Ren battling his emotions with his semblance should have made it frankly obvious.

"You know don't you." Jaune said the words like they were a statement of fact. Because they were.

Nora paused then shrugged. There was a small apology in that shrug. "Ren said you wanted us to come to museum and that it was about more than the gardens. When you stood up to Goodwitch, I got curious and did a scroll search. I'm sorry." She breathed in deep, "Thank you Jaune, I've been looking for a way to say goodbye."

Jaune gently pulled his arm from where it had long been locked in hers. Jaune did it so he could wrap it around her shoulders and pull her near. "I guess Ren knows too."

Jaune couldn't see Nora smile, since she was now tucked under his arm, but he knew she was smiling all the same. "I'm not the best option when it comes to keeping secrets from Ren."

It wasn't that funny a statement, but it hit Jaune odd and he barked a loud laugh all the same. Ren, who was starting to stand, looked up at them when he did. With a cautious smile, Jaune's friend started up the last fifty feet of path. Nora disentangled herself from Jaune, but didn't rush as she approached Ren. She was obviously making sure her partner, friend, and so much more was okay.

Ren smiled at her. "Boop," he said the word softly.

Nora nodded slowly, "Boop."

Jaune gave them a deserved moment.

Then like lightning struck her, Nora was suddenly energized. "Alright team, let's go visit our missing member!" If anyone other than Nora said it, Jaune knew it would have landed badly. But Nora said it, and instead he felt warmth enter his heart. She spun and started walking towards the museum doors, Ren shaking his head moved to follow. Jaune grasped them both by the wrist before they could get out of arm's reach.

They looked at him curiously.

"Guys…," Jaune licked his lips as both teammates made eye contact with him. After a second or two too long, Jaune finally let go of his friend's wrists. "Before we go…"

Ren looked at him, "Jaune, we won't force you to accompany us."

Ren meant it kindly, but that kind of hurt to be honest. No, scratch that… that actually hurt a lot. Not because Ren misread his meaning, but because his best friend thought him so far gone. Weiss was right. They really were worried about him, and he hadn't even realized.

All that worry for his sake, and Jaune knew he was still lying to them. It was far past time to come clean. He'd have to tell Team RWBY later, Professor Goodwitch as well, but Ren and Nora needed to know first. They deserved to know first. Ren and Nora deserved to know before they said their goodbyes to Pyrrha… before deciding if Jaune still had that right to join them when they did.

Jaune steadied himself. It was time. "I need to tell you something important about Beacon… and how I became a student there."

Ren had made many assumptions about Jaune. He was feeling those assumptions crumble around him now.

"That's why you were so bad?" Nora spoke the words softly.

Jaune nodded. He looked ashamed. Truly ashamed. Doubtlessly because Jaune was ashamed. "That's why."

Ren spoke himself, "I honestly assumed you were some kind of legacy."

Jaune looked at Ren curiously. "Because of my last name? Like Arcs funded a library in Vale or something?"

Ren nodded, "Well there a lot of things named after them. There's also your sword of course."

Jaune shrugged, and Ren thought he looked mildly irritated for the first time. "Arcs, especially Alabastos Arc, are famous because of the Great War, but we aren't really rich. I mean my family certainly wasn't poor or anything, but my Great Grandfather died a long time ago, and famous ancestors with streets named after them aren't really marketable. As for Crocea Mors, it was just sitting in a trunk in the attic when I took it. There's a reasonable chance my father still doesn't know it's missing."

Ren felt some surprise at this admission. For whatever reason, Ren had honestly believed Jaune was wealthy. Besides having a famous name, and a famous weapon, Ren remembered Jaune showing him how to tie a tie the first day of school, and even teaching him how to tie a bow tie for the dance. Jaune and Pyrrha would also use impeccable table manners at times. Admittedly, Nora probably skewed Ren's view a bit on proper table etiquette. Ren also remembered a table conversation when Jaune had explained a traditional Sarnese seven course meal to the rest of them. Ren and Nora could barely conceive of a meal so large. Ren smiled at a memory, Nora had been so excited about the idea of such a meal because the inclusion of crepes meant there was technically a pancake course. The conversation concerning the difference between crepes and pancakes had been lengthy, mostly because it involved the two most stubborn members of team JNPR. Ren felt a firm flicker of pride at his girlfriend, since Jaune was the one that ultimately caved. It just took him nearly a week to do so.

Ren blinked back his tangential thoughts. All in all, Ren realized his assumptions hadn't been grounded on very much, but it really had been enough for Ren to assume this was all indicative of Jaune's privileged background. With hindsight, Ren now realized he missed some other, and even more, obvious signs. Jaune always had a rather sparse selection of clothing. He was always careful with money, and operated constantly on a careful budget. Granted his selections and expenditures dwarfed Nora and Ren's own frugal means, but all of Jaune's purchases in a semester were nothing compared to what Weiss would outlay in a week… especially Weiss that first semester when she constantly needed to remind people she was a Schnee. Even Pyrrha was much freer with her money than Jaune, obviously because she had considerably more of it.

Like Jaune had all but stated, a famous name obviously didn't mean deep pockets. Ren thought it was strange how your mind seized on things that supported your perception of someone and glossed over those things that did not.

Crocea Mors being reduced to some near forgotten thing in an attic was even more shocking.

Nora looked equally confused, but her concerns were centered elsewhere. "I need to know, are you mad at your family or something?"

Jaune looked at her, "No. Not really. It's complicated, but I honestly miss them now. Even dad. Trust me Nora, I know I need to start talking to them. When we go to Argus, I plan on looking up Saffron. She is my eldest sister. I promise I'll make sure my parents can get ahold of me while we're there," Jaune paused, "and an Arc never goes back on their word."

Nora nodded looking satisfied, but Ren thought they were drifting of course so he asked, "How did you fake your way in?" Jaune had told them about Pyrrha unlocking his aura, and how she worked with him almost every night to get him closer to competent for their sparring class, but Jaune had neglected to tell them just how he snuck into the school in the first place.

Jaune squared his shoulders. There was a bit of fear in his face, but that did not make him evasive. "I live outside Vale, in a town called Ansel. It's a full blown town, much bigger than most of the villages we came upon when we walked across Anima. My father is the Lead Huntsman in it, and he and a few others run a small school to help train kids and young adults to become huntsman. As a kid, my sisters and I were completely banned from even stepping on school grounds without his express permission. Still, he had his office at home, and when I was around twelve or so I found out my dad has the power to grant his students apprenticeships, which can lead students there to getting their official license. I also found out he even has forms in his desk that can actually recommend someone really promising to go on to Signal or Beacon. I've always been angry with him for absolutely refusing to teach me to be a huntsman, something I've wanted to do since I was a little kid. Eventually, my father and I had a fight, the fight you could say. It happened a few weeks before my seventeenth birthday. I tossed down the gauntlet and asked for a huntsman weapon for that birthday. He blew up, and then I blew up. It was pretty ugly. The next day, I decided to steal one of his recommendation forms. I filled it out, made up something suitably impressive for the accompanying transcript, and then forged his signature on both. I left for Vale the instant I got my approval from Beacon, determined to show him I could do this. I didn't even tell him, or anyone, goodbye. I just grabbed the old sword from the attic and left without looking back."

Ren thought there were some that might feel sympathetic towards Jaune's wish to be a huntsman. Maybe it was unfair, but Ren couldn't help but contrast Jaune's entitlement with his own struggles as a child. Deep down, Ren was suddenly angry with Jaune. Ren had risked his own place at Bulwark Preparatory School when he made the fateful decision to unlock Nora's aura. Fully cognizant of the liely consequences, but refusing to leave his best friend behind. It was a decision that could have landed Ren and Nora in trouble with the law, but Ren and Nora faced those risks head on. Daring anything so they could stay together. Granted it had worked out, Nora was very impressive physically once her aura was set free, and both were deemed worthy of training once they were evaluated, but that did not make their lives easy.

Nora herself could barely read when they started Bulwark, and Nora worked unbelievably hard scholastically and in athletics to keep her place at the prep school. Ren had the leg up on reading, and that wasn't a small thing, but what would a twelve-year-old villager really know of mathematics and dust sciences? It had been all Ren and Nora could do to not be left behind during their first year of schooling. Add to that, the two of them seldom had a single lien chip to their name. True, the school bought necessities, but they were the absolute necessities only. Necessities that were supposed to be reimbursed back to Bulwark because once Ren and Nora became professionals, their Huntsman's wages would be garnished until the debt was completely paid back, plus interest.

Their debts could have been even worse, but Beacon had thankfully granted them full scholarships when they applied. The unexpected boon made their final decisions for schooling exceptionally easy. It had been seen as a huge victory by two young people who had to grow up at a very young age. A victory only made possible through a massive amount of hard work.

To have that amount of work bypassed because Jaune stole a few forms from his father's desk was maddening. Not to mention, Jaune had the privilege, the sheer freaking privilege, to talk to his family anytime he wanted, yet refused to do so? He could work out their issues! He could be a damned adult! He could…

Ren looked into his leader's deeply troubled face, and instantly remembered that Jaune was his friend. No, Jaune was more than a friend. Jaune was a teammate that would not hesitate to lay down his life for either Nora or himself. Jaune was a man Ren truly loved, and that man that truly loved him back. Ren remembered Jaune in Kuroyuri, his leader stopping the Nucklavee through sheer brute stubbornness. Ren knew well the power of that monster, and Jaune was the only person he ever seen halt dead it in its tracks. Something Ren didn't think he could do. Something Jaune probably didn't think he could do. But Jaune did it, because he knew Ren and Nora could not. With their aura gone, it would have crushed them, like it had crushed everything thing else in Ren's life all those years before. How, Ren might never understand, but as to why... sometimes the why was all that really mattered.

Ren's anger vanished, snuffed out and dropped into a deep hole ready to be forgotten.

Ren smiled, "I forgive you." Ren didn't say those words for himself, but because he thought Jaune needed to hear them. There was no other reason.

Nora snorted. "Well duh!"

A tear fell from Jaune's right eye, "Even th-though," Ren's leader's voice hitched so that leader steadied it, "E-even though if Pyrrha had a different partner, one she could trust in a fight—"

"STOP!" Ren snapped the word with surprising heat and volume. Ren felt a burning coal in his chest ignite. This anger was different from what he had just felt. It was older. It came from somewhere deeper. It was from a wound that was still raw and open.

Ren steadied himself as those coals ignited. "Just stop. Please stop! Pyrrha made her choice. That choice was to fight someone that had just defeated Beacon's Headmaster. She chose to do so after being expressly warned by that headmaster she stood no chance against her. Pyrrha was the one who decided to do that. She knew what she was risking and yet she still went. And. She. Went. Alone!" Ren tried to modulate his voice, but felt the volume rising all the same. Ren closed his eyes to regain control, but when he opened them again, Ren made sure his stare held no compromise. Ren bore his gaze through his leader, and was unflinching as he did so.

Ren was ready to tell Jaune something gods damned important! Something long overdue! "When Pyrrha made that decision, her decision, it had nothing to do with you! Her decision is not your fault! Her decision was never your fault! Her decision will never be your fault! would you please get that through your damned thick skull!"

Ren felt Nora latch onto him. He heard her mumble, "Shh Renny, calm down…"

Ren wanted to melt into Nora, to get lost in her warmth, but absolutely refused to do so. Instead he continued his uncompromising glare into his leader's eyes. Then he laid all his cards on the table. "Do you even know how angry I am at Pyrrha? Do you? Could you anymore? For making such a stupid, stupid mistake? For leaving Nora and I to watch you rake yourself over the coals of her death? We've had to watch you torture yourself now for nearly an entire year!"

Jaune tried to speak, but Nora interrupted him. "Jaune. Now's the time to listen."

Ren nodded, it was a jerky motion, still filled with anger. He then almost forcibly disentangled himself from Nora. Ren took one more long moment, just so he could keep himself from shouting further. The temptation to use his semblance flared, but he beat it down with his hard earned self-control. Ren had already cheated once today, the first time he had done so since the day he found out Pyrrha died, but he would not mute his emotions again. The moment, this moment, was too important.

"We've watched you weep over that recording dozens of times. I haven't seen you accept even one compliment without going gray ever since the day Pyrrha died. Add to that, you refuse to talk about her. Absolutely refuse! Ever! Every single time her name gets mentioned you completely disappear inside yourself!"

Another long pause. Ren took nearly ten seconds to continue. When he started speaking again, Ren's voice had grown softer, but not from lack of emotion. But from exhaustion. Ren even sounded tired to his own ears. "Want to know something terrible Jaune? Something truly awful? I'm at the point where the only thing I remember about Pyrrha is how she died… and what that death meant to our team. Everything else is being swallowed by our pain. Our pain in how she left us, and how she left you. And sometimes, not often but sometimes, I hate her for it." Ren stopped speaking, he felt drained, almost hollow.

Jaune was utterly still and utterly silent.

Nora started speaking next. "It's like she's taking you away from us." Her voice was warmer than Ren's own, but almost nearly as tired. "Ren and I… we've lost a lot of people. So many people we're down to basically no one. Neither Ren nor I have anyone that means anything to us that isn't currently living in that little house in Haven. And even then, Yang, Weiss, and even Ruby are really just friends. Jaune, you are our family. The only family we have left. And we're losing you. Do you have any idea how much that hurts? To suddenly have a brother, only to watch him slowly fade away before your eyes?"

Ren watched tears spill from Jaune's eyes as realization came to him. Jaune let the tears fall as he smiled at Nora and at Ren. After a few moments he said words that were utterly cheesy and utterly Jaune. Ren loved him for saying them, "I never had a brother before."

Ren smiled, "Neither did I."

Jaune looked at Nora, "I do have experience dealing with sisters…" Nora beamed at those words, and Ren loved his leader even more for saying them. Ren felt Nora lean against his side, her head on his shoulder. Ren could feel her warmth and finally allowed himself to melt into it.

Nora's laugh was irregular with emotion, but comforting all the same. "Jaune, you must understand I make no promises when it comes to the future braiding of hair." Then her tone became musing, "I've never had a brother either… I wonder if anything could have prepared me for the dooffiness."

Ren laughed softly, "Who knows?" Ren smiled at Jaune, and he knew his own smile was just a tiny bit Nora-ish. "Nothing could have prepared us for the sheer obliviousness of that brother though."

Jaune laughed, "Hey!"

"I know right!" Nora looked Jaune and snickered a little more loudly. She then adopted a fairly decent male impression. "'Hey there Snow Angel!'"

Ren chuckled, then followed, "'Do we get parachutes?' Gods that's even funnier now that we have context."

Nora quickly started howling, "Oh wow! I just realized he let Ozpin launch him off a cliff without any aura. And I'm considered the crazy one!" Ren felt his own laughter grow to match that of his partner.

"The queen has been dethroned!" Ren shouted.

Nora's answering wail was suitably tragic. "Noooooo!"

Ren made another observation. "Didn't Pyrrha mention he grabbed that Deathstalker by the tail!"

"Did you at least have aura by that point?" Nora had to ask. The pair's laughter paused briefly as the question hung in the air.

"I'm pretty sure I did… I definitely remember I thought it was the relic we were looking for…" The two looked at Jaune, who was also obviously trying to exactly remember the sequence of events himself. Ren and Nora looked at each other, then both looked at Jaune. Then they started howling.

Ren shouted, "He doesn't remember!"

Nora followed, "He thought it was a relic!" Then they were all laughing. All of them. Even Jaune. Ren had his eyes closed, but he felt Jaune's laughter as he enfolded them both in a hug. That hug did not stop the laughter. It didn't even slow it. Ren let it out, all the pain, resentment, and frustration that had been bottled away since they lost Pyrrha drained away in that laughter. Nora, no less emotional, no less conflicted, did much the same. Ren responded by holding her and she held him back, even as Jaune held them both and somehow kept them steady.

After a while, Ren grew calmer, he smiled big through his tears. "Remember Pyrrha desperately trying to sign 'eyesight' to him in Oobleck's class?"

"How about her destroying Team CRDL. Even afterwards, you could tell she wasn't quite done hitting Cardin just yet!" Nora smiled broadly at the memory.

Ren tried to emulate Cardin's voice and failed, "Lucky shot." All three friends rolled their eyes simultaneously, then chuckled again.

Nora smiled softly, "She gave Jaune a great pep talk after his guitar incident, even if she ended up ignoring her own advice... advice I also ignored for far too long."

Ren closed his eyes and squeezed Nora's shoulder softly. Then Ren deliberately and willfully remembered something wonderful. Ren even allowed himself to really feel it as he did.

"The dance." Those words were enough.

A pause, then Nora enthusiastically added, "The dress!"

"Pyrrha's or Jaune's?" Ren had to ask, even if that voice was husky with the grief he was finally allowing himself to feel.

Nora's face was sunny, her words were soft, and her cheeks glistened. "Both. Both of them looked stunning."

"They did." Ren paused, then added, "That was good night." Ren could feel Jaune's near soundless sob, and realized how hard his friend was still clinging onto him. Slowly, eventually, Ren and Nora extracted themselves, but each held one hand to Jaune Arc's shoulders. For the first time, they all openly shared their loss with each other.

"Pyrrha looked so happy. I don't think I ever saw her happier." Nora finished softly, staring at Jaune when she did so.

It took a moment, but very important words were finally said. "I miss Pyrrha." Jaune was even the one who said them.

Ren glanced at Nora, and her face beamed. Tear streaked as it was, it beamed all the same. Sometime, he wasn't exactly sure when, Nora's hand had grabbed his own. It was a very small hand, but also a very warm hand. A hand that was strong, calloused, and still gentle. It was an amazing hand to hold onto during such moments. It reminded Ren that today was a good day.

"I n-never got to tell her I was her biggest fan." Nora's voice hitched, and Ren could tell she was near sobbing. Ren himself had an "I am Invincible" shirt back at Beacon he never got around to having Pyrrha sign. The grief of the thought was enough to nearly bring him to his knees.

Jaune swayed a bit himself, but somehow remained the steadiest. So steady he offered his hands. Ren grabbed the right, Nora the left. They shared one more moment in the gardens, then they went to say goodbye to someone that was dearly missed.

/\

Ironwood's meeting with Ghira Belladonna was every bit as damning as he had expected. Specialist Hase was now being detained as a person of interest by Menagerie's government, as was the pilot of the bullhead sent to retrieve him. Pilot Francois Grey had tried vainly to spin a story of scouting weather phenomena along with Grimm migrations and populations. The story was every bit as flimsy as it sounded, but then no one had prepared any real contingencies. No one in Atlas expected that Menagerie would or could stop an Atlas Bullhead. And they certainly wouldn't have expected the Island's paltry military to be able to take that Bullhead nearly intact.

Yet again, the Atlas Military had underestimated the faunus. And this time it was going to cost them. Given the position of political strength Menagerie currently stood upon, Ghira's demands were seemingly reasonable. They were also damned near impossible for Ironwood to grant him.

Chieftain Belladonna wanted Atlas to establish formal diplomatic ties with Menagerie. Belladonna also wanted Mistral to arbitrate those relations. That was all, an official summit formalizing trade, immigration, visas, etcetera. A summit Belladonna was willing, eager even, to make fully public. Belladonna even stated his intentions that all minutes would be made available for public scrutiny along with the video of the actual negotiations being officially archived with bot governments.

Such demands were seemingly completely reasonable, especially in the face of such a flagrant violation of their borders, but make no mistake. Ghira Belladonna was throwing down a gauntlet. A gauntlet Menagerie's Chieftain knew Ironwood would find difficult to pick up.

Ironwood sighed. Even the choice of arbiters left Atlas with little wiggle room.

Having Mistral's government be the arbiter in the negotiations was seemed colossally fair. In fact, it was the only choice both parties could possibly accept. Superficially, this choice of arbiter even seemed to be firmly in Atlas's favor. Mistral had trade relations with Menagerie, sure, but Ironwood would bet a battleship that Atlas traded more lien worth of goods in one month with Mistral than Menagerie would manage in any given year. Added to those economic ties, Atlas also had significant political pull with Mistral's citizens themselves. Both nations had a long standing history of cooperation. They had been allies in the Great War, and, twenty-five years ago, Mistral's government had also sided with Atlas during the faunus revolts. That wasn't something small… but it was also a reminder of two bitter defeats.

One defeat, where Mantle's government basically collapsed and then basically changed its name to Atlas out of shame. Then another defeat by smaller and technologically inferior foe. A defeat made even bitterer by Menagerie coming to Haven's defense despite Mistral's past history with the faunus. A defense of Haven that was successful. A success that was forcing Mistral to reevaluate past decisions. A victory that made Mistral far less ideal for these negotiations than Atlas would have wished, economic ties, or not.

The other options were every bit as prickly though.

Given the possible choices in the matter, if Atlas had its way Vacuo would be whom Atlas would choose as mediator. Granted a choice not made without considerable doubt. Vacuo was both more dependent and more hostile than Mistral in their relationship with Atlas. Atlas companies, chiefly the SDC, ran huge chunks of the Vacuan economy and weren't exactly known for paying a fair cost of living standard while doing so. This made much of the general populace incredibly hostile towards Atlas. Hostile enough Jacques Schnee was forced to keep a fair percentage of Vacuo's government, especially Prime Minister Marrone, veritably swimming in lien.

Still, Marrone, shamelessly bought and paid for as he was, should prove enough to provide a suitably pro-Atlas mediator in the negotiations. Should mind, because that was no longer a definite. Politically in Vacuo, times were changing. A point made more obvious given Vacuo's less than subtle overtures to Menagerie's government recently. Ironwood knew the Atlas high Council was still in shock over Vacuo's overtures to Menagerie of late. Overtures that would include the island nation's second embassy. Atlas was impotent in that shock though. they couldn't even threaten Vacuo's trade, because it was already so heavily leaned Atlas's way it would only be cutting their own throats.

Ironwood thought of a long unseen and little missed teammate of his. For once when he thought of Headmaster Gayle, he smiled. Even if he didn't realized he did so.

Whatever Ironwood thought of Dot, stubbornly vicious little pain in the ass that she was, Headmaster Gayle was keeping public heat on Vacuo's Assembly of Deputies. Something that normally was far from easy. It was said in Vacuo, "That if two people can convince a third about their opinion, a new political party is born." That level of chaos normally worked in Atlas's favor. Now though, every year Marrone's consensus in his government waned. Support from dozens of tiny political parties gravitating away from the Prime Minister as Dot was paraded every fallen Huntsman and Huntress that fell. Fell defending a SDC mine. Huntsman that were needed because the miner's misery and deplorable living conditions often drew the Grimm. It was completely irrefutable reality to anyone with any unbiased sanity. A reality that was sparking a bonfire of change and cooperation in Vacuo. A bonfire that required more and more lien for the SDC to suffocate. So much lien, it had long ceased to be subtle.

So unsubtle, that even Atlas's own newspapers were forced at times remark on Vacuan corruption… so long as they never mentioned the SDC by name.

Sure, Prime Minister Marrone should still be able to give Atlas the only kind of mediator that Atlas would accept, but at what cost? Menagerie only had to officially announce their intentions to make their summit with Atlas public, and then it would be up to Atlas to try and explain any refusal. If Atlas didn't refuse, well an obviously biased mediator attached to the Vacuan Prime Minister might even be enough for Dot to finally oust Marrone. And should Prime Minister Marrone be too hide-bound, or just flat unable, to appoint someone suitable to Atlas's needs… Well there was a lot of political hay to be made at Atlas's expense these days for anyone no in Jacques pocket.

Of course, technically, there was still Vale. Which was even worse. Which was somewhat amazing given that the White Fang used Grimm to destroy Beacon. Unfortunately though for Atlas, the White Fang destroyed Beacon while General Ironwood's fleet seemed to be in the perfect position to stop them. Only for that fleet to end up making the situation worse. Far worse. The last thing Vale saw was an Atlas Battleship opening fire on campus of Beacon. The next thing Vale's populace would learn, there was now a dust embargo. Followed by a trade dispute. Which was then followed by Atlas's own government offering to occupy Vale…

Yeah. Vale was a no go. A fact made worse because General Ironwood himself knew he was almost completely to blame for mishandling that situation.

Ironwood rubbed his temples. He looked and looked, but could not find an answer, because a mediator with pro-Atlas bias was pivotal. Atlas had too many skeletons in the closet otherwise. Too ugly a history, too ugly a present, and a populace too unwilling to accept the consequences… Ghira Belladonna knew this, and for once Atlas could not ignore him on the matter.

Of course, Menagerie did have some pretty unflattering skeletons too. The White Fang had definitely found a significant sanctuary in Menagerie over the years. A sanctuary that continued even after the terrorist's public involvement with the destruction of Beacon. Even now, several wanted terrorists wandered the island with absolutely no fear of extradition. Known terrorists that were either the perpetrators or willing accomplices to capital offenses in each or all of the four other major kingdoms.

The thing was though, those terrorists actually helped Atlas politically far more than they hurt them. Atlas had long shouted to all of Remnant about Menagerie's compliance with the White Fang. Atlas propaganda made sure every human knew about it too. They plastered every one of those wanted criminals and their crimes across ever bit of media they could. In some cases, well in many cases actually, they even subtly exaggerated things. Which was unfortunate because now there was basically nothing left for Remnant at large to be shocked over. Doubtlessly Ghira Belladonna knew that as well.

That wasn't the end of the bleak political outlook either. Intelligence briefings supplied to Ironwood were near unanimous that the White Fang, was assuredly done as a political power in Menagerie. Ghira wouldn't feel any significant political pressure domestically for these talks. Which allowed him the one carrot he never could before. Extradition.

The White Fang had been stupid enough, gods damned stupid enough, to publically burn down Belladonna's house and try to murder him and his entire family. What kind of idiot tries to blatantly murder a pacifist? The Chieftain then publically pardoned one of those chiefly responsible upon her cooperation, making Ghira Belladonna look like a damned saint. What voice could the white fang even mutter in protest? Sienna Khan was dead, murdered by her own organization. With that death, Ghira Belladonna had no one to voice any opposition. Honestly, who there would even bother to raise a hand in protest if an murderous psychopath like Adam Taurus faced an Atlas tribunal?

The one small saving grace in the matter was the laughably flimsy attempt by that very idiot, Taurus, to blame Sienna's death on Atlas and humanity. But Taurus being an idiot was not remotely enough. White Fang terrorism just wasn't the trump card it used to be. That mattered a lot since it was the only real card Atlas could now play, and Once Atlas played that one weakened card…

Well Menagerie would start playing its hand.

They would play it in front of a grateful Mistral, a sympathetic Vacuan populace, and a Vale whose anger was shifting increasingly towards Atlas. Menagerie's hand would doubtlessly remind Remnant of centuries of faunus oppression. SDC mine photos from Mantle were hard enough to suppress, but what came out of Vacuo would go completely unfiltered. It would not be hard for a majority of people to start connecting the dots. To see faunus as people, and to enact change. Change Ghira Belladonna dearly wished for.

Ironwood sighed, wondering how the hell he ever ended up on the wrong side of this fence.

To be honest, Ironwood knew the changes were long overdue. Centuries overdue. If General Ironwood was free to indulge his own desires, he would openly welcome those changes. Ironwood was not free though.

First off, once the people of Mistral and Vacuo started to demand change, their governments would look for the easiest scapegoats to blame. Atlas and the SDC were obviously those scapegoats. They would take the brunt of the blame for humanity's shared inhumanity towards the faunus. From those governments, calls for sanctions in every available form would be quick to surface. Jacques would pull every political lever he could to keep that from happening, and Ironwood would unfortunately be helping him pull. He'd hate himself afterwards, but he'd pull all the same. Because of one important fact, Atlas could not afford those sanctions. Literally.

Atlas was not a self-sufficient kingdom. They needed food, they needed timber, they needed minerals, but most damning of all, was Atlas truly needed the SDC. They needed a constant flow of low cost and high yield dust. Their economy absolutely depended on it. Dust was the pillar of their existence, hell it was required just to keep their kingdom in the air! No Atlas citizen, and certainly not its government, wanted to face a future where the base cost of dust tripled.

So General Ironwood could not politically allow Ghira Belladonna his summit. General Ironwood also knew he could not stall Ghira Belladonna indefinitely. Not in the current political climate. Not anymore. ghira had his inciting incident.

Ironwood mentally sighed because he had played enough chess with Ozpin to know when checkmate became unavoidable. It would start with Chieftain Belladonna using Specialist Hase and Captain Grey to publically demand an apology from Atlas. Atlas would counter with wanting to protect itself by gathering intelligence on wanted terrorists harbored within Menagerie's borders. Then Ghira would offer the summit. Atlas would stall. Then Belladonna would hold out the shiny carrot extradition, facing only minimal political backlash at home. At that point, every reasonable objection Atlas could use to stall would be met completely by a near sainted pacifist…

Checkmate.

The Kingdom of Atlas loses. The Atlas military loses. General James Ironwood loses. All that would be left is for the reeling population of Atlas to assign blame over who was responsible as the economy went wild. Unemployment. Stagnation, inflation... unrest. Grimm.

Mentally hating himself, James Ironwood knew he had one last desperate card he could play. It probably wouldn't be enough, but… well what else could he really do?

Ironwood inwardly hating himself, knocked on the door to his adjutant's quarters.

"One moment please." The words were soft. Ironwood waited, dreading what would come, even if it it showed not at all in his expression or demeanor. Something died in his stomach the moment Winter opened her door.

Winter knew. Ironwood guessed he shouldn't be surprised. Finding things out was part of her job description.

Winter saluted even though she wasn't in uniform. Being confined to quarters basically put her on suspension, and that meant she would not be allowed to wear it regardless. Ironwood looked her in the eyes. Winter deserved that at least.

Something suddenly hit General James Ironwood. For some reason, Winter in this moment, reminded him of Glynda. Not as Glynda was now, but how she was when he met first met her. When Glynda led an ill-prepared team cobbled together to do something that was absurdly improbable. When Ironwood was her partner on that unfortunate team. A team had utterly failed and fallen apart. A collapse James himself was far from blameless in casing. So many times he could have done better, and had refused to do so… because being right was so much more important.

He often wondered if he focused a little more towards their goals... well would it have been enough?. Not enough to save the team, Dot was far from guiltless there, but would it have been enough to save him and Glynda's relationship. If he wouldn't have made that final, fatal mistake at the end…

Winter looked at him expectantly, and thoughts of Glynda vanished into vapor. Gods Winter looked so much like Willow at times.

Ironwood shook it off, and focused on here and now.

Winter was still saluting, James honestly didn't know how long she'd been holding it. Under the current circumstances he couldn't return it, so he nodded instead. A little saddened, Winter dropped her hand.

"At ease, Specialist. May I come in?"

Winter blinked a bit, but nodded quickly and stepped back from the door. Bracing himself mentally, Ironwood followed her. There was little in the room save a small desk with a spartan chair and a twin sized bed made so painfully neat it somehow exceeded Atlas's own exacting military standards on the matter. Winter silently offered the one chair to Ironwood. Ironwood noticed a few scattered drawings on the desk, but the general did her the courtesy of not looking closely.

James tried to smile, it felt awkward and probably looked worse. "I look that exhausted?"

Winter tried her own miserable smile. "Yes you do sir," a long pause, "I'm sorry sir."

James sat down heavily, and with an offhand gesture Winter sat across from him on her bed. Ironwood then jumped straight to the matter at hand. "What do you know Specialist?"

Winter's face was markedly composed. "I know Specialist Hase has been detained on the island of Menagerie, and I know the pilot sent to extract him was downed somehow. I," Winter paused and took a breath, "I also know the Chieftain of Menagerie was the one to personally inform you of these circumstances. Sir."

Ironwood didn't bother to hide his sigh. "You should know Specialist that Menagerie intends to make the incident public."

The general saw the last little fleeting hope die in his subordinate's eyes. "I see." Ironwood knew she did. By virtue of her last name, she was well versed in Atlas's politics. Then, after a moment, Winter squared her shoulders. "I shall have a formal letter accepting the guilt over this incident on your desk by this afternoon as well as the proper paperwork for my dismissal should my formal resignation not be deemed sufficient."

"Specialist I—"

For the first and only time while Ironwood held formal command over her, Winter Schnee talked over him. "Sir, you must understand something. I know Schnee is an important name. I know how important far more than would ever will, sir. It's a name that has opened countless doors for me and granted me near limitless opportunities." Winter settled herself, and Ironwood could not bring himself to speak. "The power of the Schnee name gave me the best tutors, and the best training. It made sure that Atlas Academy's doors would swing wide for me, even if I had been somehow lacking in spite of those advantages." Winter paused and smiled, "On the day of my graduation, the simple fact that Schnee was my last name allowed me to tell my father where he could stick his expectations. To his face. In front of the entire family and most of the household staff, the Schnee name allowed me to do that. I am very grateful for my last name, I have always been grateful for it. And No time more so than right now. Because the Schnee name is suitably big enough to make headlines. To cause a scandal with far reaching political waves. In short, it is a name big enough to take the fall. A fall without ramifications to the Atlas military, because this singular holder of that name is not burdened with any expectations from the SDC."

Winter smiled sadly. Ironwood closed his eyes.

Ironwood was many things. Some of those things he was proud of… and many others he was considerably less so. Politician was one of the latter. To that politician, the path was clear. So clear, the words almost left his mouth. It was a path so clear it had lead him to Winter's door, to about this very possibility. To attempt one last desperate stall to hold off the fallout from Atlas's decades of misguided foreign policy. The general also bent its head to taking a strategical and tactical loss to ensure the whole.

So Ironwood almost said the words.

Then James Ironwood thought of Glynda Goodwitch. A woman he still loved and admired, and in doing so, James Ironwood remembered something else he was. Something he often, too often, forgot about. Under the titles of Headmaster, General, Councilman, there was one other badge he wore. One that was recoiling at the very idea of walking down this path. Recoiled at the very notion he was about to tell one of his most dedicated soldiers something that would break his heart. Not because accepting Winter's resignation was the right thing to do, but because it was the clear and expedient thing to do. James thought of Glynda in this moment. Professor Glynda Goodwitch. A professor who would never, ever, compromise over the well-being of her students.

James Ironwood would not allow his student to take the fall for the stupidity of others. Sometimes, the world needed to change.

Professor James Ironwood's face grew incredibly hard. "I don't think either will be necessary Winter. We honestly have no idea if Ilia Amitola is the person that compromised Specialist Hase. In fact, it is rather doubtful the more one considers it. Even if Amitloa ran straight to Ghira Belladonna with what she knew, I doubt very much Menagerie could have located and apprehended a trained specialist so quickly. Therefore, I honestly conclude there is a high probability that Hase was already under observation."

Winter was looking at him with frank surprise, "Sir?"

General Ironwood scowled hard at her and she instantly shut her mouth with a click. When Specialist Schnee looked suitably cowed, James continued. "Menagerie has long been suspected of having some unknown methodology to communicate over large distances. Given their extremely limited access to dust, this has always been intriguing. It must be a device far more efficient than the STC towers, even if it's less viable. There is even an even more alarming possibility, that of a technology utterly independent of dust. Granted the last is a remote possibility and thus remains wild speculation. Still, while we have no understanding on how this technology functions, or even what it looks like, the circumstantial confirmation of this device's existence can actually be considered something of an intelligence win for us. Granted, a win that comes with a large amount of egg on our face, but still a win. One we can capitalize on since Menagerie is requesting diplomatic normalization between our nations. As to how they discovered and downed the Bullhead, let us just say I am going to be very interested in his debriefing once we negotiate his release."

Winter's eyes widened, and she stood in shock. "You're seriously going to negotiate with Menagerie?! Are you insane?! Sir this is my fault! I don't need you to this on my behalf. My resign-"

Ironwood had had enough.

'SIT DOWN!" Winter froze at his shout, but still hesitated to comply. "That is an order Specialist Schnee!" Winter's ass hit the bed. General James Ironwood now stood himself, looming over his subordinate. He growled out through clenched teeth, "I do not recall granting you permission to speak Specialist. The day I need a soldier subject to one of my disciplinary reviews to offer advice on my sanity or on how I should discipline them is the day I start drinking with Qrow Branwen!" James glared at Winter with the authority of the Atlas Military itself. "Do you understand me Specialist? This is a one way conversation. Your input in the matter is of zero importance or consequence!"

Winter slowly nodded, and General Ironwood took a moment to compose himself. "Do not, even for a moment, think I am excusing your stupidity in this fiasco. You are losing your security clearance. You are also going to be demoted a full grade as well as lose all time served in your current rank. This disciplinary review will stand in your record for no less than five years and I very much doubt any promotion will be a possibility during that time."

Winter looked at him. Her face both calm and emotional at the same time. Headmaster Ironwood was proud of how she regained her composure. These were heavy consequences, but these were suitable consequences. It would be near impossible for her career to recover, especially with the politics involved in being a Schnee and a pyrriah outside the SDC's protection. Winter Schnee would have to fight tooth and nail to retain her career, but Ironwood knew only an idiot would bet against her on that. It was as good a way as any to start weeding out a few incompetents in the coming months.

James allowed himself a small smile. "You absolutely made an inexcusable mistake, but I am not letting you martyr your career, your life, and yourself over a political incident you did relatively little to cause." James breathed in heavily, but felt freedom he knew he would not have felt if he had taken Winter's darker option. That freedom led him to share his unfiltered thoughts on the matter, after all her security clearance hadn't been revoked just yet. Usually Winter had a good head on her shoulders, at least when she held her anger in check, and it would be a shame if he didn't use that head at least one more time.

"Menagerie continues to surprise us. This shows a demonstrable lapse in how Atlas Intelligence views the faunus. The political leverage Ghira Belladonna now wields is symptomatic of our own oversights and xenophobic nature. You know this and even struggle against it. As do I. We as representatives of Atlas and we as two individuals, need to do better. To be better." James paused, "Winter," he saw her startle a bit at the use of her name, "You and I are members of an overwhelming minority in understanding this fact.

Ironwood saw tears forming in the corner of Winter's eye and deliberately did her the courtesy of looking over her head. He gave her a full minute to compose herself, and finished handing down his final words on the matter. "You will remain my aide through Ghira Belladonna's state gala. I won't have time to train another to suitable standards for this international event. While there, you will join me in a formal apology to Menagerie." Ironwood's smile turned hard, but it wasn't really aimed at Winter "After that event, you're going to be given new orders. Given your lack of security clearance, you can no longer serve on my staff."

"Where sir?" Winter dared to ask.

General Ironwood now had something of a plan. It was a plan still in its infancy, but sometimes all you ever had to do was aim a talented Specialist like Winter Schnee in a direction and let them handle matters from there. "You're going outside Atlas itself, to Argus. There you will serve under Commandant Caroline Cordovin. I will inform her of the staff change this afternoon, just as soon as I write out the orders myself. Argus is our most important military base outside of Atlas. It is tied heart and soul to the people of Mistral, and I've heard some recent grumblings about the base's relationship with its community. I expect those grumblings to cease. I expect to see them cease quickly, if not immediately, upon your arrival. And I don't much care as to how. Those are your pending orders. Understood?"

Winter stood and saluted. Even though she was an accused up for review, even though she was under suspension, even though she was out of uniform, and even though they were outside the setting that would make this discussion official, General Ironwood did not hesitate to return that salute.

He marched out of that room feeling a million times better than when he had when he walked in. On an impulse, he reached into his coat pocket, and dialed a beloved friend.

/\

Three friends that had become family looked at the image of someone long missed. They felt anger, sadness, grief, love, and mourning. Things were said, but unremembered because the emotions were the important things. The emotions were the things that would endure. The emotions of being together and the emotions of being forever apart. From this moment on, someone dearly loved was always going to be missing from their life, but now at least they could talk about that person. Now they would talk about that person. Because Pyrrha Nikos deserved to be talked about.

Jaune touched a sash he wore in his partner's honor. For a moment he was tempted to leave it draped around the picture as a final farewell, but it was only a moment. He touched the sash, wondering again why Pyrrha had worn it.

What brought it to mind was the portrait. For whatever reason, this portrait did not have Pyrrha pictured while wearing it. Jaune briefly wondered if Io Nikos, Pyrrha's mother, had somehow forgotten this one detail of her daughter's attire. That seemed unlikely given how everything else was so perfectly reconstructed… especially her smile. Jaune closed his eyes, remembering that smile. Awkward, happy, patient, and humble all at the same time. Gods what he would give to have Pyrrha smile at him like that one more time.

Jaune also spared a moment to think of Winter. She had not shown up today for whatever reason. Jaune wondered why, but mainly because he kind of hoped Winter might be able to give some insight into what Io was trying to say or not say about the missing sash in the portrait… Or maybe it would be better if Jaune figured it out himself.

Jaune dropped his tangential thinking and focused on the sash itself. Touching it softly with his hands. Truth be told, Jaune didn't even know if the sash he now wore was even made from the same material as Pyrrha's. He didn't know because he had never thought to ask. Just as he had never thought to ask what it meant to his partner. Hadn't thought to ask until Pyrrha was gone and the original was burned to ash by a monster. A monster that thought it funny she had had taken a true light from this world.

Before today, the sash would sometimes feel like an imitation. An inadequate facsimile of something greater that belonged to someone better. But that was before today. One day soon, Jaune was going to find that monster again, he did not for a moment think she was gone. When he did, Jaune would be ready.

And he wouldn't be alone.

Sorry, cracked a wisdom tooth while on vacation and ended up having all four of them pulled. I was in the dental chair for an exceptionally long time, I could tell because of how frustrated the dentist got when pulling the roots out. Still an excellent dentist, no pain at all during the procedure. I still felt like I got punched in the face when the numbing stopped, but the pain is something I can handle with Ibuprofen.

I had the procedure a week ago Thursday, but it killed my motivation on writing, thus it was Sunday before I picked this back up. Then I had to work… and it was one of those weeks… and now I'm even further behind on this schedule.

For the people who think I don't listen to Wolfgarde, trust me I do. Because we disagree on some things does not mean I do not listen to him. While he isn't a beta reader (I don't have one which is why the grammar can be pretty crappy) he absolutely helps me do my outlines. And I mean a lot. He probably gives me more of his time than most of you would suspect.

So we've been working setting up plot points, and we're about where we want to be on groundwork. I know I'm not very quick on doling this out, but I am trying. I promise. Still, I can't have Jaune hate himself and get in a healthy relationship. I can't have RWBY becoming a family without addressing the elephant I the room, namely Blake's tendency to conceal nearly every aspect of her life until the truth becomes unavoidable. JNR needed to address Pyrrha. Jaune needed to come clean to his team.

The meandering on Qrow, Glynda, and Ironwood were to set up other things. Cinder is to set up another conflict as well. Wolfgarde even agreed with those plot points!

Thank you so much for reading! Be well and safe!