"We're in a time of peace, more so now than ever before. I don't know what Ironwood has prepared, but what need is there for such a contraption?" Ozpin inquired. He looked on at the Councilmen and the small window that held Ironwood's visage on his screen. He leaned back in his desk chair into the familiar hum of the massive gears that churned constantly above his head.

"Need I remind you that seven months ago, when General Ironwood had his suspicions before the Breach incident, you said the exact same thing?" The councilwoman uttered, her patience, or lack thereof, was clearly projected in her voice through the speaker.

"Your lack of initiative is…disconcerting to us. If what General Ironwood states is true, then we no longer will have to put up with it. Huntsman, Huntresses; they will be bygones of an era of danger and uncertainty."

"Indeed, I will make way for a new, shining and peaceful world. One without Grimm" Ironwood declared. "I hope you understand, Oz."

It was quickly becoming apparent he held no sway in the matter at hand. Sighing in defeat, he pinched the bridge of his nose before replying. "I understand."

"Good. That will be all, Ozpin." And with that, the screen faded into nothingness.

He pivoted in his chair, facing the window. It wouldn't be long before his students returned for the new school year. How would he break the news that perhaps, if Ironwood has his way, the academy would no longer be holding classes? The extinction of Grimm, though a valiant goal, would uproot their livelihoods. Their entire life's purpose, and his, gone in an instant.

He sighed once again before pulling out a sheet of stationery from his deck.

The sun beamed down brightly on the two sisters, interrupted frequently by explosions of sand, as they duked it out on the beach. Their joy-filled smiles, a reflection of the times and the tranquility held within their hearts.

"Yaaaaang! Is that all you got?! I'm like, lukewarm over here!" Ruby yelled as her gradient-red hair parted in the wind. Sporting a black one-piece swimsuit with a red ruffle, she held the barrel-end of Crescent Rose out towards her sister as if to say, "Come and get me if you can!"

"You little! Well, then. How about I heat things up!" She exclaimed as her eyes, normally a pale lilac, became a hot red. She charged at her sister, her yellow two-piece barely holding the girth of her bosom as they swayed from her gait. Her wild and flowing blonde hair followed like a yellow shadow in pursuit.

"Too slow, sis!" Ruby remarked. Her words echoed as her form faded into rose petals in the wind.

Yang closed her eyes and concentrated. Without warning, she fired an uppercut over her left shoulder.

The crack of the impact resonated as Ruby was sent flying tens of feet before tumbling into the sand, face first.

"Ugh…how did you know?" Ruby murmured after pulling her head from the sand.

"I can feel the wind around me if I concentrate hard enough." Yang grinned as she made her way over to her sister.

"Drat! I thought I'd be totally invincible whenever I did that!"

"You should know better than that, Ruby. One is always vulnerable, no matter how your ability improves." A voice chided from behind them.

"Uncle Qrow!" She tackled the man into a glomp.

"What's up, Unk!" Yang greeted with a wave.

"I'm happy you two took the initiative to train while on your vacation but it's almost time I gave you a ride back to school." He responded as he peeled Ruby off of him. His slicked, spiky hair and red cloak blew gently in the breeze off the sea.

"If Dad's so busy with preparations for the new school year, what are you doing here?" Ruby inquired as she held tighter.

"Well, let's just say I have all the preparation I need right here." He quipped as he pointed towards his weapon on his hip. It was almost identical to Crescent Rose, save for a black and gray finish.

"You must have it pretty easy as a mere combat instructor" Yang remarked as she helped Qrow get Ruby unclamped.

"Mere combat instructor?! I'll have you know I worked very hard for this position!" Qrow roared comically as he stomped his foot repeatedly into the sand.

"Yeah, whatever. I wonder how Weiss and Blake are doing…"

"I've been talking to Weiss using our scrolls. She says she's doing alright but she looked a little sad." Ruby replied as she dusted an excess of sand off herself.

"I guess I should've kept in contact with Blake considering we're partners and all. But she's not exactly…the talkative type." Yang conceded with a sigh.

"At least she doesn't call you a dunce every 5 minutes." Ruby retorted with a crestfallen look.

"At least Weiss doesn't shed." Yang quipped with a grin.

"Wait what?! Does Blake really?!" Ruby looked shocked, as if her mind was blown.

"Of course not!" Yang could barely hold her laughter in.

"Alright you two, enough chitchat. Hop on!" Qrow commanded, now in the form of a massive black crow. The sand shifted under their feet from the sudden weight difference.

"I swear, Unk, you have the weirdest semblance" Yang noted as she hopped on.

"I think it's cool!" Ruby chimed as she too got on the man turned avian.

"Yeah, yeah. Just hold on tightly." He warned as he flapped his elongated wings. The air became infested with sand from the heavy gust as the trio ascended into the sky.

"Woahhh! I can see Beacon from here"

"Hey wait…aren't we forgetting something?" Yang pondered as she too took in the view.

….

"OUR BAGS!"

"Hold on to your swimsuits, girls, you're about to experience some turbulence! " Qrow announced as he went into a nosedive straight towards the forest below.

"AAHHHH!" The two screamed as the wind from their fall blew their hair everywhere.

"Uh…um, Weiss? I really appreciate that you let me stay here a little while we're on vacation but..." Jaune mumbled, jittery, as he walked with Weiss through the headquarters of her family's company.

It was extremely imposing to a country bumpkin like Jaune. Extensive lobbies and expansive hallways with ceilings as high as the eye could see. Everything and anything a shiny, glossy white. It was hard to keep his eyes open from the glare. They approached an elevator, conveniently empty and waiting, which they entered.

"No buts, Jaune. My…sister…has decided she wants to meet you. She took time out of her day just for this." Weiss explained. He could feel that she too was intimidated by the prospect of seeing her.

"So, what's she like? Friendly?"

"She's…perfect" Weiss uttered. They exited the elevator and made their way through the corridor.

"Perfect? Ok then." Jaune sighed as they arrived at a door marked with the Schnee Dust insignia. Or at least, it looked like it at first glance. Notably the pentagon, normally centered within the snowflake-like symbol, framed it instead.

She knocked briskly and audibly in a show of professionalism.

"State your business" A cold, authoritative voice boomed through the door.

"It's Weiss. I've brought him, like directed."

"Wunderbar. You may enter." The voice notably became a degree warmer, just barely perceivable to the naked ear.

As she opened the door, a professionally furnished office space came into view. A shelf occupied the left side with dust crystals of different types, labeled accordingly, filling its compartments. In the far center, a desk, which was occupied by one Winter Schnee. Behind her, a window that spanned the width of the room gave a beautiful view of the grounds.

"Meine kostbare Schwester, I am pleased you made it back here safely!" Winter proclaimed as she got up from her desk to hug her sister. She pecked a kiss on her cheek.

"Danke." Weiss reluctantly returned her hug and kiss.

"And whom might this young man be?" Winter inquired as she surveyed Jaune's figure.

"This is my…boyfriend, Jaune Arc." She uttered even more reluctantly.

"Mr. Arc. I am pleased to meet your acquaintance." Winter held out her hand, gloved in black leather. Her outfit was conservative, yet stylish. A blouse covered by a blue button up vest. She wore a coat that bore shoulder-less sleeves with a tailcoat that went down to her ankles and thigh-high boots.

"Likewise." Jaune replied nervously as he took her hand in his own to shake. For a split second, it crushed his but then adjusted accordingly.

"We have much to catch up on, Weiss. However, would you allow me a moment to speak to Mr. Arc?" Winter proposed as she made her way back to her desk.

"Of course." Weiss complied as she bowed, exiting the room shortly after.

"Wait! Don't lea-"

Before he could finish his sentence, the door had already been shut.

"Jaune, May I call you that? Please have a seat." Winter motioned towards a particularly comfy looking chair in front of her desk.

"Sure…" He responded as he motioned his way into the seat. Yep, it was just as comfy as he imagined.

"Jaune. As you must realize by now, my sister is very…cold." Winter noted as she stared at a framed picture of Weiss on her desk. Her icy blue eyes seemed enamored with it. "I'm afraid I'm partially at fault for that."

"I…I see" Jaune shifted in his chair slightly. He wasn't expecting this.

"Weiss' childhood was…difficult. We drilled education, discipline, and ruthless ambition into her so that one day, when our father is ready to retire, she could take over."

"That's…Isn't that too harsh?" Jaune wondered out loud. "Why would you do that to her? Aren't you her family? I can tell you, having seven sisters of my own, we would never do anything like that."

He felt himself getting a little worked up. Remembering where he was and who he's speaking to, he quickly calmed back down.

"I know. We only realized the fault of our error when my once loving sister became cold and distant to us. We are…at war with the White Fang. They've terrorized my family for generations. The fear and anger we've felt as we dealt with these…beasts…was directed at my innocent sister, unintentionally." Winter acknowledged as she twirled her hair's bang in her fingers.

"That's just…not fair" Jaune concluded.

"I agree. My work schedule leaves me with little free time, so while I wish I could bond with her more often, it is unfeasible. However, you seem to be…affecting her somehow. How did you ever get her to acknowledge you?" She peered at Jaune, her brow arched in inquiry.

"I uh….I defeated her in the Vytal Festival." He admitted as he scratched the back of his head.

"You defeated my sister, whom I trained myself?"

"Well…yeah."

"I see." She held her chin, clearly perplexed by something.

"What was the look on her face?"

"I'm sorry?" Jaune responded, confused.

"What was the look on my sister's face when you defeated her?"

"Well uh…she sorta looked teary-eyed I guess. Like her life was over?"

"I see." Winter sighed before reclining in her seat. She took a deep breath.

"Hand me your scroll." She commanded.

"Yes, ma'am!" Jaune complied as he quickly checked his pockets for his device. He handed it to her in haste.

She opened his contacts, adding herself to his list. "Jaune. I want you to promise me you'll take care of my sister."

"Of course! That goes without saying, actually…"

"Wunderbar. Call me if you need anything. Even if I'm busy, I'll be sure to respond." Winter handed him his scroll back.

"Sure thing." Jaune replied as he pocketed the scroll.

"You are dismissed. Please call her back in."

"Yes, ma'am!"

He quickly got up and opened the door. Weiss was right behind it. Her grimace was unparalleled, definitely a new record for angriest Weiss face.

"Why did you tell him all of that!?" Weiss roared through the office door.

"He needs to know. He is your boyfriend after all." Winter responded as she turned in her seat towards her window.

"You're so…infuriating! Ugh!" Weiss yelled before storming out of the office.

"I uh…huh." Jaune looked dumbfounded as he watched Weiss' form become smaller before disappearing around a corner.

"What are you doing? Chase after her." Winter uttered.

"Uh, yes ma'am!" Jaune stumbled in his words as he ran in the same direction.

It wasn't long before he found the corner she turned in. He did not, however, expect her to be there still. She sat, near-fetal, crying gently.

"Weiss…" he started.

"It's not fair! How could she say all of that now, after all this time!? I…"

"Weiss, your sister loves you." Jaune stooped down before embracing her, unencumbered by her resistance. "She may have been cold before but now it seems like…she wants what's best for you."

"It's just…it's too good to be true. All I've ever felt from her is…ressentiment."

"That's all in the past now. From what she told me, she wants things to change. Go see her, I'm sure you guys have a lot to talk about" Jaune advised as he helped her up.

"Maybe…you're right." Weiss mused. She escaped Jaune's hug, dusting herself off. She wiped the tears from her eyes quickly before heading back towards Winter's office.

Suddenly she stopped. "…I suppose you're not as…pathetic as I thought"

"Uh…thanks?" Jaune, sporting a puzzled expression, responded as he watched her make her way back.

It was a short distance back to the office. Winter sat in anticipation as Weiss closed the door behind her.

"That boy managed to defeat you?" She coldly inquired as she rose from her seat.

"Well…yeah. It was most unexpected but I swear I won't ever-"

The sharp sound of a cracked whip interrupted Weiss mid-sentence.

"You! You are the heiress to the Schnee Dust Company! To have been defeated by some….Ungeziefer! It is unacceptable! You are our hope! Our future!"

"I tried my best, I swear I did…"

"Indeed…my words may be overcritical. When I shook his hand, regardless of how much strength I used, it did not yield. Perhaps he does harbor a great power." Winter admitted as she examined her whip.

"I understand you must return to Beacon. However, I want you to return here every so often for…private training sessions. I clearly haven't taught you as well as I thought. I will adjust my schedule accordingly. Your cultivation takes precedence, after all."

"Yes, ältere Schwester." Weiss said in deference as she kneeled. Her expression twitched as she tried to hold in her despair.

"Good, you're aware of your impending punishment. Know that I do this out of love." Winter assured her as she tightened her grip on the whip.

"Yes, ältere Schwester." Tears welled in Weiss' eyes as she braced herself. She knew, from the bottom of her heart, that nothing would ever change.

"Ren, Ren! Look, I found a cute wittle teddy bear!" Nora ecstatically announced as she rode an Ursa Major throughout the grounds.

"That…is definitely no teddybear" Ren responded as he pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Hmm…if you look at it a certain way, it is kind of cute." Pyrrha noted as she watched her teammate rodeo a Grimm.

Team JNPR had decided to vacation at Ren and Nora's hometown this year. They were currently at Ren's home. It was a peaceful and sullen temple within a dense forest. Up until recently, Jaune was with them, having decided to accompany Weiss to Atlas. Pyrrha sighed at the implication.

"Aww, don't feel sad, Pyrrha! Look on the bright side, Weiss may be his girlfriend but you're his partner, and that's a deeper bond!" Nora comforted her as she hopped off the now very dead Grimm. She landed perfectly on her toes in front of Pyrrha, placing her hand on her shoulder.

"Is it really?"

"It's about even" Ren concluded.

"And besides! Look at Ren and I, we're a couple and partners! He'll come around eventually! You'll see!" Nora affirmed with several nods.

"Yep." Ren responded as he sipped his green tea.

"It's alright. As long as he's happy, I'm happy. Besides…I lost fair and square." Pyrrha sighed once again.

"Yeah no kidding! I still can't believe he actually won the Vytal Festival this year. What a twist." Nora twirled around, as if animating her own words.

"He's become stronger. Perhaps even one of the strongest." Ren acknowledged as he stopped Nora before she became dizzy.

"He certainly has. Even I was surprised at what his semblance could really do." Pyrrha noted as she stared at her toes. All the hard work she put Jaune through had finally paid off. He was now every bit of the warrior he had dreamed to be. His excitement at finally standing with his comrades, arm in arm as equals, was her happiness.

"So what should we do now? Wanna check out my castle again?" Nora offered as she picked up Magnhild.

"Today's the day we return to Beacon. It's almost time" Ren noted as he hopped to the ground from his sitting position on the temple porch.

"Gasp, you're right! Let's boogie!" Nora declared as she ran towards her car, a 1950's style pink Ford Thunderbird. Its antiquated looks belied a charm of sorts that could be appreciated by those with a keen eye.

"Shotgun." Ren uttered as he made his way towards the car.

"That's not fair, Ren! You had shotgun last time." Nora blurted out as she got in the driver's seat.

"Shotgun." Ren reiterated.

"It's alright, really. I don't mind" Pyrrha conceded as she smiled. It's not every day Ren was adamant about, well…anything.

"Well, alright! Let's Goooo!" The engine revved up almost in accordance with her voice. The beefy car seemed to almost defy its own physics as it sped down the dirt road in haste.

"You had something to do with this, did you not, Cinder Fall? Ironwood and his machine."

"Why, whatever would give you that idea, Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman?" She snickered as she observed the increasingly apparent anger in his expression. She shifted her legs in her seat as she stared out at the headmaster from her cell.

"I knew what you were planning the moment massive amounts of dust began being stolen all around Remnant. I thought it would be the end of it when I had you and your little cabal imprisoned. But it appears I underestimated your…determination." Ozpin adjusted his glasses as he spoke through the intercom.

Slowly, Cinder rose from her seat to face Ozpin eye to eye, through the dust-fiber glass that separated them.

"You should know me better than that."

"You're right. I should." Ozpin conceded.

"So, what are you going to do?"

"Is this what you wanted all along? To force my hand?" He glared down at her, his eyes emitting an almost golden glow.

"Exactly" Cinder responded as her eyes too emitted the same light.

"I shall tell you this, child. You know not of the forces you reckon with."

"And what about you? You think you can keep all of this under wraps forever? You think that accursed council and Ironwood won't catch on soon enough?"

"I'll do as my duty requires for as long as need be." He retorted.

"It's always been about your duty, hasn't it? Never any time for anyone or anything else."

"It was inevitable. Oil and water do not mix, after all." He frowned as memories of a past he thought long forgotten flashed before him.

"You're more like ice, really. So cold." She whispered in a mocking tone. She turned slowly, returning to her seat in a way only a woman with a dynamite figure could.

"The past is just that, an echo of time long spent. I can only look beyond to the future and you'll be happy to know, I'm sure, that you jeopardized it. However, I will do everything within my power to assure that…he…does not return."

She giggled loudly, clearly mocking him.

"Too afraid to even say its name?"

He turned, walking away towards the exit, leaving the captured huntress no company within her confinement.