MEEEEEEMEs hehe.

  Ok back to the story.

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  The setting sun shines in Opzin's clock tower office, he sits at his desk with a fresh cup of hot chocote. Across from the Headmaster is Pyrrha.

  Ozpin chuckles as he gestures to Pyrrha, The Long Memory resting at his side. "Well, it comes as no surprise that they've chosen you to move onto the final round of the tournament. Your performance was exempry."

  "Thank you, Professor Ozpin." Pyrrha says humbly. "But I would never have made it this far without my teammates."

  Qrow speaks up from his spot leaning against a column in the back of the room, arms crossed. "Personally, I think it's the other way around."

  Pyrrha turns around and gets up from her chair, trying to be formal. "I'm sorry, but I don't believe we've been introduced."

  "Name's Qrow." He responds in a rather hostile tone.

  Ozpin then speaks. "Qrow is a trusted colleague of mine."

  Pyrrha looks at Qrow for another moment, before addressing her teacher again. "Professor, if you don't mind me asking, why have you called me here?"

  Ozpin smiles. "Please, take a seat." When she does so, he puts his fingers up to his lips, leaning back casually. "What is your favorite fairy tale?"

  Pyrrha grows rather confused. "I'm... sorry?"

  "Fairy tales, stories from your childhood. Surely you must remember some of them."

  Pyrrha is put off by the question, but answers with nostalgia. "Well, there's The Tale of The Two Brothers, The Shallow Sea, The Girl in the Tower..."

  Ozpin leans forward. "What about The Story of the Seasons?"

  "Well, of course!" Pyrrha smiles. "A callous old man, who refuses to leave his home, is visited by four traveling sisters. The First understands his reclusive nature and urges him to use his time in solitude to reflect and meditate. The Second brings him fruits and flowers, tending to his crops and revitalizing his garden. The Third warms the man's heart, convincing him to step outside and embrace the world around him. and the Fourth and final sister begs him to look at all that he has, and be thankful. In return for their kindness, the man grants the maidens incredible powers, so that they may continue to help others all over the world. They graciously accept, and promise to share their gifts with the people of Remnant 'til the end of days. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall; the four maidens. My mother loves that story."

  "Would you believe me if I told you that one's been around since I was a boy?"

  Pyrrha ughs. "You're not that old, Professor."

  Ozpin turning from pyful to deadly serious in a split second. "Well, would you believe me if I told you if was true?"

  Pyrrha is silent for a moment, then gives an uneasy chuckle. "I beg your pardon?"

  "What if I were to tell you that there were four maidens existing in this world, that could wield such tremendous power, without Dust?"

  Pyrrha tries to make sense of this development. "You mean... like a Sembnce?"

  Ozpin gives a small smile as he delivers his secret. "Like Magic"

  Pyrrha looks down. "I..."

  "Yeah." Qrow speaks once again. "First time hearing it's pretty crazy."

  Pyrrha turns her faze from Qrow back to Ozpin again, amazed. "You're serious?"

  "Do I look like I'm joking?" Ozpin asks with a straight face.

  "...No." Pyrrha struggles to find the right words. "Why... Why are you telling me this?"

  Ozpin gnces at Qrow, who nods his approval, before looking into Pyrrha's eyes "We are talking you this, Pyrrha Nikos, because we believe that you are next in line to receive the Fall Maiden's powers."

  Pyrrha's eyes grow wider and wider until she realizes. "'We'?"

  At that moment, the elevator doors open, and Pyrrha sees Glynda, General Ironwood and Professor Ash step out. Ash is flexing his metal pathetic left arm.

  Ironwood straightens his tie. "Sorry we're te."

  Pyrrha, being overwhelmed, narrows her eyes at Ozpin. "Wait, what is this? Who are you?"

  Glynda steps forward with Ironwood, Qrow and Ash, she spreads out her hands and tries to sound reassuring. "You know who we are. We're still the same teachers and Headmasters you met when you arrived at Beacon."

  "'Cept we've got a little part-time job." Qrow states.

  "Doesn't exactly pay well and the hours suck." Ash adds and Qrow elbows him, causing Ash to snicker.

  Ironwood speaks up. "We are the protectors of this world."

  "And we need your help." Ozpin finishes.

  Pyrrha is shocked into silence as everyone in the room looks at her.

  A few minutes ter everyone is in the elevator. Pyrrha looks nervous, in the elevator with the group of "Protectors". She looks at Ozpin, Glynda and Ash as if seeing them for the first time while a steady being signals each floor passed.

  Ash is scratching the part of his left shoulder where the prosthetic meets, and Glynda smacks his arm. Ash stops as he notices his wife's gre, he looks away with a "Oh shit" look.

  Pyrrha speaks up, apprehensive. "Where are we going?"

  "The vault. Under the school." Ozpin responds.

  The elevator continues downward through the vertical tunnel of dark green lights until it opens its doors and their passengers step out. Pyrrha is the st to leave as she absorbs the sight of the rge, sparsely-lit hallway she is now being lead through. Glynda waits up for her behind the others.

  "I'm sure you must have questions."

  Pyrrha still looks around, taking everything in. "Maybe one, or two..."

  Ash looks back. "Trust me, Pyrrha. It doesn't get any easier to understand." Glynda gres at him and he immediately turns forward.

  Pyrrha and Glynda start walking after the boys.

  Pyrrha gnces at Goodwitch. "I still don't understand. You said I was next in line to receive the Madien's power. What do you mean by that?"

  "The Maidens have existed for thousands of years." Glynda informs. "But much like in nature, the seasons change. No two summers are alike. When a Maiden dies, her power leaves her body and seeks out a new host, ensuring that the seasons are never lost, and that no individual can hold on to that power."

  "So, how does the power choose?"

  Qroq calls out. "Through a series of stupid and convoluted rules."

  "Qrow." Glynda growls at him.

  "No, no. He's got a point." Ash says.

  Glynda looks back to Pyrrha. "At first, the only thing that was certain was that the powers were specifically passed onto young women. But as time went on, it was discovered that the selection process was much more... intimate."

  Pyrrha grows concerned. "...Intimate?"

  "As we understand it now, when a Maiden dies, the one who is in her final thoughts is the first candidate to inherit her power."

  "Unless it's some dude or some old hag." Qrow says. "Then the power goes to someone random, and our job gets a lot harder."

  "Why tell me all of this now?" Pyrrha asks. "Why not wait until I've graduated."

  Ash looks back. "I would've loved nothing more then that, Pyrrha. I hate to put this on my student, but we're running out of time."

  Qrow continues for Ash. "I don't know if you've noticed, but things are getting a lot scarier out in the world. Tensions are high. Grimm are growing stronger, more prevalent. And it's not going to be much longer before the peace we've been enjoying so much goes out the window."

  "You're not... talking about a war?" Pyrrha asks.

  "Not a war between nations." Ironwood informs.

  "And honestly, all of it kinda scares me." Ash states.

  Pyrrha grows slightly concerned. "You're scared, Professor Ash."

  Ash chuckles. "I'm not immortal, Pyrrha. It may seem like it sometimes, but... There's a lot more for me to worry about then just myself now."

  Pyrrha rubs her arm, anxiously.

  Qrow gnces back to Pyrrha. "We can fill you in on the details of this, once we know that you're with us. For now, all you need to know is that one of the Maidens has been attacked. And for the first time in history, part of power was stolen."

  A humming of electricity is heard as the group comes to their destination at the end of the hallway. A rge machine with lit screens hooked up to two rectangur pods, one of which is upright to show through the gss window a young girl dressed in minimal clothing with a burn scar over her left eye and across her face.

  Ash steps forward and puts his organic hand on the pod, looking at the girl in worry. His scared face looking right back at him.

  "Is that..." Pyrrha takes a few steps forward hesitantly.

  Ozpin sighs heavily. "The current Fall Maiden, Amber."

  Ash takes a few steps back. "Had a bright future ahead of her."

  Pyrrha holds her arm. "She's... still alive."

  "For now." Ironwood informs. "We're using state of the art Ats technology to keep her stable. But there is a lot about this situation that is... unprecedented."

  "What do you mean?"

  Ironwood sighs and closes his eyes for a few seconds. "Well, we don't know what will happen if- when she passes."

  Ash grits his teeth and looks away, clenching his fists.

  "Won't..." Pyrrha starts. "her powder... just transfer to the next host?"

  "Look who's been listening!" Qrow then whispers to Ozpin. "She is smart."

  Ironwood then speaks up. "Under normal circumstances, yes. Biut this is a delicate situation. It's not uncommon for the st thoughts of the sin to be their attacker." He gnces at Amber. "And to make matters worse, no one's ever seen the power split like this before. For all we know, it will seek out its other half."

  Pyrrha connects the pieces together. "...Her assaint."

  Ash sighs and steps back with the others.

  Ozpin turns to Pyrrha. "And that would not bode well for any of us."

  Pyrrha lowers her head in thought, then suddenly comes forward and pces a hand on the gss of Amber's pod.

  Pyrrha then suddenly turns around in anger to her teachers, gesturing wildly. "If all of this is true, why keep it a secret?! If this girl is so important... if we're truly on the brink of war, why not tell anyone?"

  Glynda steps forward to expin. "From what we understand, it used to be common knowledge."

  Pyrrha was not expecting that answer. "Excuse me?"

  Qrow now his turn to eborate as he pulls out the familiar fsk. "How do you think legends and fairy tales get started? Even the craziest ones come from somewhere." He takes the lid off and takes a swig.

  "Fairy Tales are just stemmed from the truth." Ash points out.

  Glynda then speaks up. "Our group was founded in order to protect both mankind and the Maidens. Those hungry for power hunted them with the hope of inheriting their strength."

  Qrow finishes his drink. "And as you can imagine, the ones that succeeded weren't exactly the kind of people you'd want to have unimaginable power."

  "And so this brotherhood chose to remove the Maidens from the public eye, allowing their existence to fade into legend." Ironwood says.

  Ash speaks up. "These things we're telling you, do go against hundreds of years of human history and religion."

  "No one would believe us. It would cause an uproar."

  "It would cause panic." Ozpin starts. "And we all know what that would bring to cwing to our kingdom's walls." He turns his gaze away from the others. "Which is why we would like to..."

  Pyrrha interrupts. "I'll do it." Ozpin looks up, surprised as she stares at the ground, continuing. "If you believe that this will help humanity..." She gives them all a resolute look. "...then I will become your Fall Maiden." As the others silently turn to each other with weary faces. "That's what you wanted, isn't it?"

  Glynda steps forward towards Pyrrha. "It is, but I'm afraid it's not that simple. Given Amber's condition, you won't be able to inherit her power naturally. However. General Ironwood believes he has a solution."

  Ironwood speaks up. "For the past few years, Ats has been studying Aura from a more scientific standpoint; how it works, what's it made of, how it can be used. We've made... significant strides. And we believe we've found a way to capture it."

  "Capture and cram it into something else." Qrow gestures to Pyrrha as she takes a second to realize what that means. "Or in your case..."

  Pyrrha turns to Ironwood. "That's..."

  "Cssified." Ironwood says.

  "Wrong!"

  Glynda gres at Ironwood. "The feelings is mutual."

  "But we are getting very desperate." Ash states. "And with the little time we now have, desperate times me desperate measures."

  "And these are indeed desperate times." Ironwood agrees with Ash. "We can't transfer Amber's power to you, but we can give you what those powers are bound to."

  "...Her Aura." Pyrrha mutters.

  "Her life..." Ozpin starts. "...would become intertwined with yours. The question is..."

  "What's that going to do to you?" Qrow questions.

  Ash steps forward and kneels down to Pyrrha, putting a hand on her shoulders. "Look, this is a very life changing decision. And there's no guaranteeing this will work, or that you'll be the safe after. So I ask you, take some time to think this over, and give us your answer before the end of the Vytal Festival."

  Ash stands up and takes a step back. Pyrrha doesn't respond, instead pcing her hand on the gss separating the maiden from her potential repcement, seeing her scared expression reflect on the scarred face of the dying girl. Before turning away from this expected destiny as Ozpin gives her one final warning.

  "The assaint that attacked the Fall Maiden has made their first move. And there's no telling when their next move with be."

  We fade into the Amity Arena a few hours ter, to Byzan, staring up to Cinder who's looking down at him with a smile. Byzan's ears twitch as Professor Port speaks over the broadcasting stem.

  "Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for! the one-on-one finals!"

  In the center of the battlefield's stage, Yang Xiao Long smirks confidently among the other contestants. Among them are Sun Wukong, Penny Polendina, Mercury Bke, Pyrrha and Byzantine Beldonna.

  Up in the announcers booth, Port turns to Doctor Oobleck. "Barty, why don;t you expin the rules?"

  Oobleck pushes his gsses up. "Ah, it's quite simple, Peter. Instead of a bracket system, each round of the finals will be randomly determined immediately before the match takes pce."

  "Much like any good hunt, there will be zero time to prepare!"

  "Ah, yes, yes! Now, let's see who our first match will be!"

  The energetic doctor points out to the screens above the stadium as the roulette starts spinning, this time for competitors instead of biomes. The "Random Selections" is watched on a massive TV by female figure in a room filled with musical instruments, her long back hair tied up in a pony tail and her yakata loosely around her shoulders. Sitting on the edge of a building in Ats Calico is watching the broadcast from a electronic billboard that's pying it.

  Pink, in a dark room, watching with a rge smile, hoping to see her "Lover". Detective Folly watches from his scroll as he leans back in his office chair, his eyes have dark bags under them.

  Maize, Rose and Ambré, with her left arm all wrapped up and in a sling, watch with excitement.

  The spinners stop on Yang and Mercury. Byzan's eyes widen as he looks up to Cinder and she gives him a big smirk. Byzan grits his teeth and gres at her.

  "Yang Xiao Long and Mercury Bck!" Port announces.

  Ruby cups her hands over her mouth. "Break a leg, sis!"

  Cinder, still smirking, gets up from her pce and begins walking out, eyes on the battlefield. Yang leans and looks past all the contestants and down to Byzan, but raises an eyebrow as she notices him gring up to the stands. She follows his gaze and spots Cinder, making her very confused.

  "Would all other combatants please leave the stage!" Port calls out.

  The rest of the lineup does so, with Byzan speed walking out of the arena.

  A few minutes ter Cinder is walking confidently down a hall, past several TVs pying Yang and Mercury's fight. She turns goes to turn a corner, but a hand grabs her arm from behind.

  "Cinder..." Byzan growls, making Cinder smirk as she turns around. "What are you pnning this time?"

  Cinder chuckles. "Dear cat, you have been rather... unappreciative tely of the work we've been giving you, and the services you get because of it."

  Byzan's ears fold back as he lets out a feral growl. "Just tell me why you have Mercury going up against Yang! Of all people, why her! You know he's no match for her so why?!"

  Cinder puts a hand on Byzan's check, making him growl, but he doesn't move as he clenches his fists as they slightly shake. "Dear Cat, you should know that I don't take kindly to disrespectful people. So do think of this as punishment."

  Port's voice is heard from a TV beside them. "What a way to kick off the finals!"

  Oobleck follows up. "Yang Xiao Long wins!"

  Byzan's eyebrows furrow. "Punishment, how are you punishing me?"

  Cinder pats Byzan's check. "Oh, not you, your friend?"

  "My word!" Oobleck shouts.

  "Cut the cameras!" Port shouts.

  "My friend?" Byzan questions and Cunder just motions to the screen beside them, and Byzan turns his head, only for his eyes to widen and his ears to fold back.

  On the screen Yang is surrounded by Ats Soldiers, guns pointed at her, as Mercury is on the ground, clutching as his leg.

  "My leg, MY LEG!" Mercury shouts.

  Byzan stares at the screen in shock as Cinder chuckles.

  "Don't worry, Cat." Cinder kisses Byzan's cheek before walking away. "I don't need your services currently, but do be ready for... some fun."

  Cinder chuckles as she disappears around a corner.

  Byzan stares at the screen in shock as the feed is suddenly cut. He slowly looks down and clenches his fists in anger.

  "Fuck..." Byzan whispers as punches the screen in front of him, breaking it and causing a few sparks to go off around his hand. A small bit of blood drips from his fist.

  He leans his head against the broken TV.

  Byzan only has himself to bme for this mess.

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  01-29-2025

  3080 words