~Dedicated to my sister Sharon, who makes everything worth while. Love ya.~

A/N Welcome all! To the biggest project I've done yet. Not much to say other than, well, Falling Petals FTW! Read and enjoy guys, and thanks for stopping by.

Chapter 1. That New Girl.

8 Years ago...

A young Cinder Fall lied on her bed, for what had seemed like hours. Her soft ember eyes played connect the dots with the stucco lines on the ceiling, tracing all kinds of shapes, and etching them out of loneliness. This wasn't the first night she'd been doing this, or rather, it was actually the seventh.

Cinder's parents had gone off on another one of those 'Business Trips' -as her mother had called them. Except this time, a series of differentiating circumstances were in place; normally her parents were gone for no more than a few days, three at the most, but as of tomorrow it would be the eighth day of their absence. Usually Cinder wouldn't worry over things when it came to those so-called parents of hers, and she was well enough to be left alone, but the other strange circumstance was how unsettlingly nice they were to her before they left. A circumstance that made her go back on previous statements.

On any other day, Cinder's mother and father would outright resent or shun her, when she'd come home from school, her parents' first demand was for her to go to her basement room and stay there. If she tried to make decent conversation with either of them; her words would be cut out or ignored.

She had even remembered her parents calling her a mistake one time. Their outlook varied day-by-day, most times she was given short sentences, and others... where there'd be a firm backhand punishing her for being a minute late from school.

But they haven't always been like this, her parents used to be kind and loving people a mere two years prior.

Before her brother... passed away.

Cinder vaguely remembered her older brother Roman. He was the family pride and joy, fresh out of high school and off to attend Beacon University; Roman carried the Fall family name with focus and pride.

On his flight from Vale to Atlas, the plane Roman was flying on was hijacked by a group of terrorists calling themselves Crimson. Crimson demanded ransom money and diplomatic immunity once the plane had landed or they'd crash it into a major metropolitan area.

Crimson had been a big problem for the government of Vale, and it's surrounding nations, The group had successfully completed several acts of terrorism and always manged to cover their tracks, leaving them untraceable.

After no compliance for a negotiation between the ground and the plane; the Vale military dispatched two jet interceptors to try and force the plane to land. But still to no avail as negotiations were instantly ended between the military and Crimson.

So they did what you'd expect.

Of all the memories of her brother, the one that stuck with Cinder the most was the horrific news cast of the interceptor jets shooting down the air bus. She remembered the muffled sobs of her mother and father as the plane on the screen fell back to Remnant as a crumpled hunk of burning metal.

But for an eight year old Cinder; she wasn't filled with sadness, no, a new emotion had washed over her;

Anger.

At that very moment Cinder lashed out at the TV, taking her fist and damaging the small plastic and glass box as best as her small might had allowed. But that wasn't the half of it. In the weeks that followed the incident, the corrupt military was put on a pedestal for what they did, praised under the pretense that the Jets shooting the plane down was 'An act of sacrifice for the people of Vytal'.

Ever since then, Cinder has had outright hatred and hostility to any authoritative figure. Her teachers at school, the police, and even the crossing guard were all disgusting people to her.

So Cinder began to act out, and after Roman and his death, her parents began to resent their daughter, saying that Cinder was 'Unsound' and 'Useless'.

Even with her parents attitude combined with her own, she couldn't help but think that one day they'd come around and everything would be normal again...

So that brings us back to the present, as Cinder continued to play connect the dots, a knock from the door upstairs broke her boredom and raised her hopes, just a tiny bit.

Running up the stairs, Cinder could make out a beige sedan parked in front of her house, her parents drove a small red sedan, which began to make her worry. Reaching the door handle, Cinder gave it a hesitant twist and opened it, she was greeted with and unfamiliar and unforgettable sight.

There, to the left and right of the door stood two middle-aged men, one in gray suit and the other in a brown-beige one not unlike the car resting a few meters away, both of them carried unsettling expressions that clearly showed they were hiding something.

"Are you Cinder Fall?" The one in the brown asked kindly.

"Who's asking?" Cinder spat.

"We've come to take you back to your mom and dad." The other one said.

"I'm not going anywhere, I hate them!"

"C'mon sweetie." The one in the Grey suit reached out his hand to try and coax Cinder over, the young ebony-haired girl grabbed the man's arm and bent it back, and audible crunching of contoring muscles could be heard.

"Agh! Danny! Get this little brat!" The man barked thorough his pain.

The man in the brown suit, now known as Danny, dodged another one of Cinder's attacks and picked her up. Forking his arms under hers and keeping a firm grip on her. He carried her over to the car. Meanwhile the gray suit man regained his composure and caught up to them.

"We're not here to rake you to mom and dad kid, no, they sent us to take you away and put you in a place where all of the bad kids go." He snarled.

Cinder cried out in response as she thrashed her body, trying to escape the man's grasp.

"Oh, ho, yeah Mommy and Daddy don't love you anymore, In fact -they never have. The man began to laugh as Danny forcibly placed her in the backseat of the car.

Cinder walloped in her seat as the two men got in the car.

"Fuckin' kids these days; got no respect."

Cinders eyes began to well up as the car pulled away from the place she called home, down the street and off to God knows where.

It would seem, that young Cinder's worst nightmares had come true. She was being taken away.

Her parents really didn't love her.

The government destroyed her life again.

Like dejavu; Cinder was filled with anger and frustration, but helplessly sat back as there was no way out of her current trauma.

Finally, her tears had fallen.

######

Present.

"Hel-lo? Remnant to Cinder, is anyone home?"

Cinder shook her mind of those memories and looked to her close friend: Mercury Black.

"Shut-up Merc, I was trying to ignore you." She spat.

"Whatever, we're almost there." He answered flatly, not wanting to pry.

Cinder and Mercury were currently driving through a Vytal suburb in Mercury's silver sedan. Today was August twenty-fifth, meaning it was the first day of Cinder, as well as Mercury's senior year of high school. This year, for them, was different. Cinder and Mercury had recently switched schools together. From Sanctum High to Signal High, which could be found on the other side of Vytal.

However 'switched' is probably the wrong word to use, due to certain 'circumstances' both Cinder and Mercury had been kicked out of Sanctum High and Signal was their only other option.

Signal High was just your run-of-the-mill High School located in a upper middle-class area in the northern side of Vytal. As Mercury drove he noticed the look of near dread on Cinders face, he knew Cinder absolutely despised school, she would constantly get into trouble, whether it'd be fellow classmates, teachers, and even the janitorial staff; Cinder always had a bone to pick with them. Leading her to make more enemies than friends, or rather no friends and all enemies.

As the gray sedan pulled into the parking lot; Cinder eyed her hew school for the next year, it wasn't prestigious or impressive but it was leagues ahead off Sanctum.

She hated the fact that there was a uniform policy though.

"Well we're here, now get out."

Cinder stifled a laugh "Merc, how many times have I told you; that fake 'hardass' attitude doesn't work on me?"

"C'mon, we're friends, the least you could do is humor me a bit." He smirked.

"Oh I'm sorry, please Mercury, don't kick me out. I promise I'll be a good girl." She fake begged.

"There we go! Now seriously get out, I'm gonna find a better parking spot and meet up with Emerald, don't wait up for me."

Grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder; Cinder mischievously grinned at Mercury.

"What? What's so funny?"

Opening the passenger door and stepping out; Cinder leaned on the Window frame. "You've been dating her for a week and you're already whipped, disappointing Mercury... dis-a-pointing."

"Whatever I'm out, I'll see you in class." Putting the car in reverse, Mercury pulled off; in search of a better parking spot, Cinder thought it was just an excuse to go see Emerald. But as the car pulled out it revealed the pavement underneath and in bight yellow paint showed;

-Reserved Parking: Principal Ozpin-

"Heh, some hardass..." Cinder laughed.

######

"We're here!~"

"I know, I know. I'm not blind Yang."

Yang and Ruby had both arrived to Signal High on Yang's prized Bumblebee. Dismounting it first; Yang stood back and watched as Ruby slowly and diligently tried to dismount the bike too, but almost every time, she would slip and fall off.

"Want some help?"

"No! I got this." She said with pride.

Yang continued to watch as Ruby successfully got off the bike and landed on two feet this time.

"Ha! I told you I could do it."

"Yeah you did, now C'mon Weiss and Blake are waiting."

Yang began to walk towards the front doors of the school, until she heard a recognizable thud behind her. Turning the top half of her body around; she had to hold back a laugh at the sight of her sister on the grass.

"Stupid Curb..." She heard Ruby mutter.

"One day Rubes, one day..." Yang said as she helped Ruby up.

Now together, Yang and Ruby both strolled to the front doors of the school. For Yang; this was her final senior year at Signal High, and couldn't wait until this year was over. But right now she was dying to see her high school sweetheart; the daughter of one of the richest companies in the world;

Weiss Schnee.

The Schnee's owned the biggest tech R&D company in the region, making developments in everything from cellphones to automobiles. Weiss attended a 'regular' school based on her own volition, mainly being that she just wanted to be treated normally, and not have everything handed to her on a silver platter.

For Ruby; this was her second year at Signal High, she had just turned 16 over the summer intermission and was not at all excited to go back to school. She didn't have many friends; just Blake, Weiss, her sister, and a couple of other people, but thanks to her sister inching her on when it came to being social; the fact that Ruby even had friends was stunning.

Entering through the steel-framed glass doors; Yang and Ruby were instantly greeted by Weiss and Blake dressed in their Signal High uniforms.

"Weissy!" Yang shouted. The blonde ran up to her girlfriend and enveloped her in a tight embrace. Ruby simply walked up to Blake and gave her a basic "Hey."

"So... how was your summer Yang?" Blake asked.

"Just fine until I had to come here."

Weiss rolled her eyes "Oh please, don't be such a dunce."

"Hey!? Who are you calling a dunce?"

Blake pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed, "Not even 5 minutes... seriously, how are you two even dating? "

Her question was ignored as Weiss and Yang continued their banter, Ruby joined at her side and watched as well. "Opposites attract?" Ruby proposed.

"No, there's some other supernatural force keeping those two together." Blake contemplated.

"Well I don't know, maybe they..." Ruby shifted her focus from the bantering duo to some random girl that she'd never seen before. A tall girl with hair as black as the midnight sky, and captivating eyes the colors of embers.

"Ruby?" Blake asked.

"..."

Blake followed Ruby's gaze to a girl across the hallway.

Yang and Weiss ceased their banter at the sight of a confounded Ruby. They too followed her gaze to this mystery girl across the way. Yang's face showed interest while Weiss' showed slight disgust.

"Who's that?" Yang asked.

"A no good delinquent, that's who." Weiss huffed.

"Hey! You can't say that, you don't even know her!" Shouted Ruby as she broke from her stupor.

"That may be true, but I've been hearing from a friend of mine at Sanctum about her, and the fact that she's a no good trouble maker."

"Who's this 'friend'?" Blake punctuated with air quotes.

"My friend... uh..."

"Maybe she isn't so bad?" Yang proposed.

"Yeah right, last thing I heard was, she drove the getaway car during a bank robbery."

"That's far-fetched, even for you." Ruby added.

"Whatever, C'mon Yang we have Calculus in five." With that said, Yang was dragged away by Weiss; down the hall and around the corner. Ruby then turned to find out that Blake too had disappeared, most likely halfway through the conversation. Ruby stood alone in the locker hall still watching the new girl take in her surroundings.

"Yeah... Maybe she isn't so bad..."

######

"Weiss you liar! Class doesn't start for another fifteen minutes." Yang whined.

"I know, but I need to stop off at my locker, just go on ahead and save me a spot."

"Okay!"

Yang walked away with a skip in her step, leaving Weiss to tend to her locker. As the blonde disappeared from Weiss' peripheral vision, she quickly placed her uneeded textbooks in her locker, when a new person came into said peripheral vision.

"The delinquent." Weiss thought.

Even though Weiss had changed a lot since meeting Yang, sometimes her old self still shined through, especially when it comes to her bad people skills.

Weiss quickened her pace and slammed her locker door shut as this new girl continued her approach. Just as she was about to storm away, the girl gently grabbed her shoulder.

"Hey, sorry to... bother you, but do you know where room 164 is?"

Weiss stepped back at the girls hand contacting her shoulder, "Yes i do, and I'd really appreciate it if you wouldn't touch me."

She held back a scowl "I'm Cinder, and you're Weiss; right?"

"Yes, the room is just around the corner, now please, leave me alone."

Cinder glared at Weiss as she began to follow the rich girls directions. As Cinder neared the corner a single muttered word made her stop on the spot.

Unsound.

Cinder gritted her teeth and turned around, she marched right up to Weiss and pinned her to the cold wall.

"What. Did. You. Say?"

Weiss' eyes widened in fear, as Cinder brought her face just inches away, her mouth was curled into a deep snarl.

If there was one thing Cinder hated it was arrogance.

"Oh look, the big bad Schnee is gone, replaced by a fearful little girl..."

Cinder tightened her grasp on Weiss' shoulders keeping her locked against the wall. When Cinder was about to administer more hate; a third voice intruded on the scene.

"Put her down!"

Weiss elicited a sigh of relief as the new voice she identified was that of her girlfriend; Yang. Cinder droped Weiss with a dramatic gesture and smiled as she hit the hard floor. Slowly turning to Yang, she too glared at the blonde.

"Hey! Who do you think you are!" Yang shouted.

"Me? Oh I'm just someone who's trying to teach this girl some manners."

"Lay her hands on her one more time and you'll be dealing with me, got it?"

Cinder smirked, "Oh I'm so scared of a princess and her knight in shining armor."

"Excuse me?" Yang approached Cinder, the two girls staring each other down. "You have a problem Blondie?" Cinder's voice was just the right tone to push Yang's buttons.

"I think I do."

Weiss gained her bearings and stood up, "C'mon Yang, she isn't worth it, let's just get to class." Weiss began tugging Yang away.

"Yeah go on Blondie, the princess needs help." Cinder teased.

Yang struggled but Weiss and her questionable grip held on, forcing Yang to take Cinders taunts as Weiss drug her away. As the two turned the corner, Cinder clenched her right and with uncontrolled force; punched the nearest locker, effectively crumpling the door, she groaned in pain as the sharp vent slats on the door shredded her knuckle.

As the blood slid down her hand and dripped onto the floor; Cinder internally scolded herself.

Why was she so bad at making friends?

######

History of Remnant, Period 5

Ruby had vocationaly choosen the history class she now sat in, one of her favorite pastimes was to read and recollect the tales and adventures of heroes, kings, and queens of ancient history. When she had proposed the idea for Yang to join her; the blonde without a doubt shot the idea down. This now meant that Ruby sat in a class with a bunch of people she didn't know, which alluded her attention from Mr. Port at the front of the room; to the students sitting around her.

Of all 25 students, Ruby could only make out one that she didn't know, but recognized from earlier that morning.

The mystery girl.

There she sat across the room fiddling with her phone under the desk. Ruby noted the cuts and scratches on her hand, which still shined a dark red.

Every time the crimsonette tried to avert her eyes, the silver orbs would somehow find their way back to the mystery girl. Whether it was out of interest for who she was, or for who she wasn't, Ruby didn't know.

"Miss Fall, if you find your phone more interesting then perhaps you'd like to share it with the class?" Port said as he pointed a piece of chalk to the girl in question.

Cinder rolled her eyes and slipped the device back into her pocket.

"I'll see you after class then." Port finished.

"Now can someone please answer the question as to why the Atlas military lost to separatist forces during the Atlas civil war?"

Port spotted a one Cardin Winchester at the back of the room. Feet on his desk and leaning back in his chair.

"Mr Winchester, can you tell me please?"

"Of course I can, the military lost cause there a bunch of idiots that's why."

Ruby laughed at Cardin's answer and excitedly raised her hand, "Oh I know!"

"Ah yes Mrs. Rose perhaps you can give us a real answer?"

"Yep, the reason the military lost was due to the fact that they underestimated their enemy, the separatist were much better equipped than they thought, and the military ran into ambush after ambush."

"Precisely! Well done Mrs. Rose"

Cardin shifted his glare from Ruby and , his mouth twisted into a voracious smile as the gears in his mind began to turn.

"Moving on..."

######

And so the class had ended, as the students poured out into the hallways and to the doors so they could go home; Ruby left the History classroom and noted that Cinder was still there.

As she made her way down the hall and to her locker, Ruby made sure to waste no time. Her sister would give her regular rides on Bumblebee to and from school, but if Ruby was late, Yang would leave without her.

Their apartment wasn't far, but it still sucked to walk.

Diligently placing her books into her locker, Ruby could hear footsteps coming from her left. Paying no mind she continued her task, her mind began to worry as the footsteps grew closer and slowed down.

"You!" A gruff voice shouted.

Ruby turned and came face to face with Cardin Winchester, before she could day anything; Cardin shoved her on the ground and glared at her.

"Who do you think you are? Some kind of know-it-all brat?"he spat.

Ruby scrambled back and tried to get up, only to have Cardin push her back down with his boot.

"Do you know who I am?"

The fearful crimsonette shook her head "no..."

Cardin brought his foot back "Well allow me to show y-"

"Hey!" A smooth but strong tone broke onto the scene.

Cardin was just about to administer his "thoughts" to Ruby before the interruption. Turning around, he spotted Cinder at the end of the hallway.

"This is none of your business, so get outta here!" Cardin shouted.

"Leaven the girl alone and maybe I won't hurt you." Cinder said as she stepped closer.

"Is that so, looks like I have to deal with you to-." Cardin was cut off as Cinder dashed over to him and punched him right in the gut, holding her fist where it was; Cinder smashed Cardin up against the locker next to Ruby's.

Lifting him up off the floor, Cinder got right in his face. "Leave her alone, unless you want it ten times worse."

"Agh! let go of me you crazy bitch!" Cinder did exactly that, shoving Cardin to the ground much like he'd done to Ruby. Scrambling back up; Cardin started to run away.

"This isn't over!" He shouted, his voice echoing through the halls.

Through the entire scuffle; Ruby laid helplessly on the ground and watched Cinder stick up for her. Next thing she knew, Cinder was offering a hand to help her up.

"T-Thanks." Ruby said as she was helped to her feet.

"It's fine really... I just despise bullies."

"I dont even know who that was." Ruby eyes the ground, and then looked up to the girl whose name she still didn't know. "Oh I'm Ruby by the way."

"Cinder."

"It's nice to meet you." Ruby was pushing her social skills to the red-zone here.

"Yeah you too, maybe I'll... see you around."

"Maybe!" Ruby shouted as Cinder sauntered down the hall.

"...Maybe..."

A/N There it is! Questions, comments, ideas and follows are all welcome!