AN: Well, goodness me. It's been a while, hasn't it? Not by intent or design, I assure you. Let's just say that these past few months have not been kind to your humble author and that my writing slowed immensely as a result.

Slowed, but did not stop.

Here is the result of what I've been struggling to put together in the wake of such hard times. I hope it still meets everyone's approval.

Beta Author: EmperorLuffy

Cover Art: Kimmy77

Oh shit, Raven thought as she stared down at the two little girls before here, who were staring right back at her.

Oh shit. Oh fuck. Ohshitohfuckohshit.

How the hell had this happened?! How had she been left alone to look after two little girls?! How did- Qrow! That devious, sneaky bastard! He'd tricked her into this, she just knew it! She'd bet her own hide that Taiyang was in on it. A whiny crybaby like Tai, going berserk like that? Yeah, right. Hell, she wouldn't be surprised if this was some hidden plan concocted by Summer Rose herself from beyond the grave! It would be just like that goody two shoes to play the noble peacemaker, setting everything up so that all the pieces fell into place for her stupid little happy ending-

Aaaaaand the girls were still looking at her. Shit… What was she supposed to do now?! Did she feed them lunch? Wait, had they already had lunch? Had they even had breakfast?! What time was she supposed to feed them? Was there a schedule? Oh gods, what if she messed up their schedule?! The whole system would collapse! There would be complete anarchy! The girls would take over the entire house, doing whatever they wanted whenever they pleased-

An image passed through her head at that moment, of young Ruby and Yang standing atop an overturned table, cackling madly about eating all the world's cookies. The image was so ridiculously stupid, that Raven began to wonder if she was possibly over-thinking things.

Okay, Raven… They're just kids. You've dealt with far worse than this, you were a legendary bandit for the gods sake. You can deal with two little girls. Just… start simple.

But start simple with what?

"U-Um…" Raven stammered, at a total loss of what to do. "...Wanna watch some shows?"

Ruby cheered and raced to the sofa, while Yang just stared at Raven for a moment longer before shrugging her shoulders and going to join her sister.

Raven nearly sagged in relief. Okay… the girls were distracted. Now she just needed to come up with a plan. A metaphorical method of attack, as it were. First and foremost was Yang. There was a rift between them that needed mending and they needed to find some alone time to address and most past it.

Looking towards the girls as they sat on the couch and fussed over the remote, Raven decided that this was a good way to start on mending that rift. She walked over to the girls and sat between them. Then, before either girl could react, she reached down and plucked Yang from her seat, then sat her on her lap.

Yang stiffened for a moment, then glanced back to look at Raven. The older woman gulped and gave her best attempt at a winning smile. Judging by the way Yang's face paled, eyes widened and body shuddered, it hadn't been a very good effort. She quickly turned away before Raven could try again.

Dammit, Raven internally groused. She was too used to smiling whenever she was viciously pleased about something, like a conquest she had completed or a foe she had bested. That probably didn't translate very well when used for maternal affection. Did that mean Yang was afraid of her now? Had she just ruined everything?!

Just as Raven was beginning to panic again, she felt her left arm being embraced. She glanced down to see Ruby snuggling up beside her and giving her a wide smile that was all teeth.

Raven's face softened and she gave a small grin back, hoping like hell that it didn't freak Ruby out the same way it did Yang. When the smaller girl beamed and then turned back to the holoscreen, Raven nearly slumped in relief.

Okay, that was one crisis averted… But she still had to figure out what to do next. As the girls began to get into the show they were watching, Raven retreated further and further into her mind as she plotted how best to approach her dilemma. First, she really did need to figure out if the girls needed to eat. Wait, did they even have food? She didn't remember Taiyang buying any groceries recently. And were the girls on a special diet? She vaguely recalled Summer lecturing her back in Beacon about eating that disgusting green crap.

Oh, there was the panic again. Seriously, those two dipshits couldn't at least leave a list of instructions for her?! What did they expect her to do on her own, raid every house on the island for any supplies they may need? Oh yeah, real mother of the year material!

And that was a thought that plagued her even more than anything else. Her, Raven Branwen, scourge of Mistral, a mother. Sure, technically she'd been a mother ever since Yang was born, but it had come with a responsibility that she had run away from. Now, here she was again, accepting the responsibility that was several years overdue, with another kid on top of that. But that was fine, if Summer was a mother to Yang, then Raven could be a mother to Rub-

The older woman stiffened suddenly, and her face turned sheet white. That… What? No… No way! Not happening! Not in a million years! She was just being helpful, or whatever! It wasn't like she cared about the snot nosed, goody two shoes brat! No sir! She was a legendary bandit queen, thank you very much, and bandits didn't care for-

"Are you okay?"

Raven nearly yelped as the sudden intrusion into her thoughts sent her crashing back to reality, where she quickly realized that both girls were staring at her with concern.

"H-Huh?" Raven stammered before internally cursing herself.

"You're shaking," Yang said.

She was?

"Are you hurt?" Ruby asked worriedly.

"Am I wha- I-I mean yes!" Raven hurriedly said "Er, no! I mean I-I'm fine! Totally fine! Couldn't be more fine, in fact! I'm just, uh… A little cold!"

"I'll get you my blankie!"

"No, mine's better!" Yang argued.

"Nuh-uh!"

"Yeah-huh!"

"Nuh-uh!"

"Yeah-huh!"

Raven felt one of her eyelids twitch as the two girls quickly fell into a back and forth argument before jumping off the sofa and rushing upstairs to grab their so-called 'blankies.' She could hear their bloody bickering all the way upstairs.

Dammit… Wasn't she the one who was supposed to be in charge? Furthermore, wasn't she supposed to be the one looking after the brats, not the other way around? Gods, this was already a complete disaster.

See what happens when you tell little fibs, Rae?

"Shut the fuck up, Summer," Raven growled at the phantom memory of one of Summer's many moral lectures.

Still, loathe as she was to admit it, perhaps it was time for her to start listening to that little Summer shaped angel on her shoulder. That stupid 'tell no lies' bullshit was just the sort of thing Summer would teach kids, so maybe it was something to pass down.

Er… When and where was there a good time to pass on those lessons? Did she hold a class or something?

Raven shuddered at the idea of holding some secondhand virtue class. She felt bored just thinking about it. Should she just write it all down in a book or something? No, Ruby couldn't read. Wait, could Yang even read?!

Dammit, dammit, dammit! She didn't know what the hell to do! For what felt like the millionth time, Raven cursed her entire old team for somehow being responsible for placing her in this position. They could have at least left her a damn manual or something!

"My blankie!"

"No, my blankie!"

Raven glared up at the two girls as they began to descend the stairs, pushing and shoving past each other while they dragged their blankets behind them. Her heart nearly leapt through her throat when the two suddenly tripped over their blankets and began tumbling down the stairs, somehow getting tangled up and becoming a yellow and red blur of fuzz as they collapsed at the foot of the stairs.

The two girls, who looked completely shielded from any harm by the padded sheets they were now covered with, blinked once in confusion before suddenly throwing their heads back and crying.

"Oh, for the love of-" Raven cursed as she jumped up from her spot and quickly untangled the girls- who immediately latched onto her neck and resumed their wailing.

Raven felt her eyelids twitch again as her ears began to ring and her neck began to run with tears and snot. These next few days were going to be pure hell.

Ruby and Yang cheered playfully as they ran up the little playground with a bunch of other snot nosed brats. Calming the girls down had been a bitch, but Raven had managed to kill two Nevermore with one stone by promising to take the kids out to some restaurant that had one of those weird indoor playgrounds.

Raven hated these types of places. Growing up in the Mistrali wilds, she always felt confined and pressed against in small buildings like this. Her space was limited and to make matters worse, she shared it with a bunch of strangers she didn't know or trust, which made her even more tense than usual when she was still pretty much limping around.

But on the bright side of things, now the girls had full bellies and weren't screaming bloody murder anymore, their crash down the stairs completely forgotten. Raven kept a careful watch on them all the same, leaning an elbow on the table she was sitting at and resting her cheek against her palm.

Honestly, what the hell had they been crying about? They didn't have so much as a bruise on them. Hell, even Vernal didn't bawl like that the first time she took a fist to the face. Either way, it didn't matter now. The kids weren't being annoying and she had some free time to properly think of a way to handle being their sudden caretaker. She was just lucky she found a chauffeur.

"You know, I haven't heard a 'thank you' for driving you and your kids out yet," Tsune groused from the seat adjacent to Raven.

"Good, that means my cold shoulder is working," Raven dryly replied. "And only the blonde one is mine."

"Like that even matters. I'm a nurse, not a damn taxi service!"

"Then consider this karma for all the unnecessary pain you've caused all your patients over the years, you twisted bitch."

"You know, you're not even technically supposed to be out of bed right now. I could forcefully restrain you and make you go to bed."

"You can certainly try, but then I wouldn't be the only person on bedrest."

Tsune huffed and rolled her eyes, but didn't argue.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," Raven said.

"Yeah, that's what I thought!" Tsune mocked with an exaggerated high pitch.

Raven turned to look at the fox faunus with a raised brow. "Seriously? You're doing the copycat thing? How old are you again?"

"Oh, this coming from the person who swings a sword at every medical personnel she sees? Yeah, I could definitely use some maturity advice from you. I'll bet your kids throw less immature temper tantrums!"

Raven felt her face flush, then turned back to the kids while crossing her arms in what was absolutely not a pouty gesture.

She would kill anyone who said otherwise.

"Will you leave me alone?" Raven snapped. "I need to figure out what I'm going to do with my kid!"

Tsune raised an eyebrow. "She the one you ran out on?"

Raven's eyes flashed in warning, but Tsune held up her hands.

"Easy now, I'm not trying to pick a fight," Tsune said. "As your nurse, your health is my primary concern. This applies to mental and emotional health, as well. Now, I'm no therapist, but if you need someone to talk to, I can oblige."

"I'm touched by your concern," Raven quipped sarcastically. "But I don't need to talk it out or get some sappy words tossed in my face to give me a false sense of cheer. I just need to figure out what the hell I'm supposed to do with two kids."

"Then it sounds like you could use some advice from someone who knows a thing or two about parenting," a new voice said.

Raven whirled in her seat to see a woman looking in their direction with a small smile on her face. The woman had curly brown hair that reached her chin, hazel colored eyes, and a round face with full cheeks that wasn't exactly overweight, but also didn't speak of a very active life, either. She wore a kind smile and a casual brown dress that matched her hair and eyes.

Raven hated her immediately, from her stupid grin, to her chubby cheeks, to that ridiculous yet fitting mud colored theme she had going on.

"This is a private conversation," Raven warned.

The woman's smile widened. "Then maybe you shouldn't be having it in a public space! My name is Aruna."

"I don't remember asking."

"But I remember telling!"

Raven growled and turned away from the woman- Aruna, or whatever. She felt her fury mount when the nosy broad walked over to their table and hovered next to them.

"May I sit down?" Aruna asked politely.

"No-" Raven began.

"Yes!" Tsune loudly spoke over Raven, standing up from her seat and offering it to Aruna. "And wouldn't you know it, I have to use the bathroom! I'll be right back~"

Raven shot Tsune a fierce glare that demanded she come back immediately. Tsune answered it by sticking her tongue out and holding up her middle finger.

That bitch.

"So!" Aruna said cheerfully after sitting down. "First time as a parent?"

"I don't need your damn pity," Raven snapped. "I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself."

"But are you perfectly capable of taking care of your kids?"

"That's none of your damn business!"

"I beg to differ. It takes a village to raise a child, and here on Patch we're all one big community!"

"Great, then go bug one of your fellow Patch pests and leave me alone. You're not wanted or needed here."

"Not from where I'm standing! Look at you, you poor thing. You've hurt yourself something bad, but still took the time to bring little Yang and Ruby out to have fun. How can I not help someone like that?"

"What the hell is your problem?! Why do you even care? And hold on, I don't remember telling you their names! Just who in the hell are you?"

"I told you already, silly! My name is Aruna. And I know Yang and Ruby because Summer Rose was a friend of mine."

Raven tensed. Surprise tore through her, followed quickly by an obvious realization. Of course people would know who Summer was, she lived on the damn island with them. It wouldn't surprise her if the goody two-shoes had gone and befriended every resident on the island.

"You must be Raven Branwen," Aruna continued.

Once again, surprise tore through Raven. She didn't recall ever meeting or even caring to meet with anyone else on the island when she and Taiyang were still married. How did this woman know who-

"Summer told me all about you. You're Yang's mother, right? Her real mother," Aruna said.

"Summer told you about that?" Raven asked with yet more surprise.

"Yes and no. Patch is a relatively small community, you see. Everyone knows everyone here. When Yang was still a little tyke, everyone just assumed that she favored her father more in looks than her mother. But when little Ruby came along, it became pretty obvious that Summer's genes weren't exactly lacking. So, some rumors started running around. But Summer, bless her soul, preferred truth to rumor, so she opened up about who Yang's real mother was, on the condition that we keep it to ourselves. But yes, she told us all about you. You have something of a nasty reputation on this island, you know."

Raven blinked, then turned to glance at all the other parents who occupied the room. To her surprise, she found quite a few who were giving her the stink eye.

Raven snorted and grinned to herself. No wonder she felt so uncomfortable. But just let those judgemental pussies even try to-

"Hey, Miss Branwen? If you really want to work on being a good parent, then a good way to start would be to stop looking so pleased at being the village pariah," Aruna said.

"What the hell do I care what any of you weaklings think of me?" Raven easily replied, not bothered in the least by the judgemental stares she was receiving.

"Because being the most hated person on the island isn't going to give Yang or Ruby a positive role model."

Raven fought back a flinch. Dammit, that was right… She was trying to create a positive influence for the brats. Or, as positive as she could, at any rate.

"That's why I came over to you," Aruna continued. "To offer an olive branch and maybe give you some advice on how to be a parent."

At this, Raven scowled. "If Summer told you who I was, then she must have also told you that I don't do handouts. I don't need any of your favors, save it for the weak."

"Don't look at it as a favor for you. Look at it as a favor for Summer."

Raven slammed a clenched fist against the table, creating a loud thud and wiping that damn smirk off of Aruna's face.

"Summer's dead," Raven snapped. "Your fucking favors aren't any good to her, so don't even think to use her name to try and get your way!"

Aruna sat in silence for a moment, regarding Raven warily. Eventually though, her small smile reformed.

"Summer would be happy to see you still care about her," Aruna said.

Raven huffed and crossed her arms. "I don't care about her."

"But you do care about the girls, otherwise you wouldn't be here right now. Am I right?"

"Believe whatever you want, it doesn't matter to me."

"Then look at this as a favor to them. I'm offering them a good parental method so that they can grow up the way Sum-" Aruna paused as Raven's eyes flashed. "...Well, to be the best they can be. Surely we can agree on that, can't we?"

"Again, why do you even care? They're not your kids. So what is it to you how they're raised?"

"I want all children to be raised happy and healthy, regardless of whether or not they're my own. Is that really so hard to believe?'"

Gods, no wonder Summer was friends with this obnoxious broad. Just as filled with sunshine and rainbows. Still, Raven pondered that idea for a moment. In the Branwen Tribe, everyone had a hand in toughening up the young. It wasn't uncommon for an adult to break into a scrap between the youngsters and lecture them on proper form and technique, nor was it unusual to see some of the kids pick up habits and skills from various members of the tribe. They had a fancy way of thinking of it as a way for the next generation of Branwen's to be even stronger than the last by carrying all of the strength of the previous generation on top of their own strength. So, in a sense, Raven could get behind the idea of it.

"Alright, I'll humor you. But!" Raven said quickly when Aruna's face brightened. "I make no promises that I'll use any of the advice you give me. Like I said, I'm just humoring you."

"Sure thing," Aruna chuckled. "I guess I'll start by asking if there's anything specific you'd like to know first?"

Raven thought about it for a minute.

"Actually, there are a couple of things I need to know…"

"Yes? What is it?"

"What's the schedule supposed to be like?"

"Eh?"

"The schedule? Like, when they're supposed to wake up, when they're supposed to eat- Oh, and on that topic, what are they supposed to eat? Can little kids eat meat, or are they supposed to be on some sort of diet? Also, what time is playtime? And does watching their shows count as playtime? And do they nap? Kids nap, right? How long do they nap? Do they do it more than once a day? What time do I need to take them to the bathroom? Oh gods, do they still wear diapers? How long do kids wear diapers? How do I even change a diaper?! And how do I-"

As Raven went on and on with her many questions, Aruna began to wish that they were having this conversation inside a damn bar.

Tension filled the air. Qrow locked eyes with his opponent, sweat dripping down his chin. How long had it been since this struggle started? He had honestly lost track of the time. But he knew deep down that the odds were in his favor. His foe was bluffing, he had to be. There was no way things were going to turn out the way he planned. That smug smile and knowing gleam in his eye… All a damned bluff. All Qrow had to do was sit back, wait patiently, then pounce once the time came and-

The ringing of his scroll broke through the tense silence. Qrow stiffened, gulped, then glanced down at the caller i.d.

It was coming from Taiyang's landline…

"Fuck!" Qrow thundered, slamming his fist into the table.

"Less than twenty-four hours, as I said," Ozpin said smugly from across his desk. "That'll be two thousand lien, Qrow."

"Now hold on one second! We don't even know why Rae is calling right now! She could just be asking for more meds or something!"

Qrow picked up the scroll and answered it.

"I need help with the brats," Raven immediately said.

"FUCK!" Qrow roared again.

"The hell's your problem? Did I catch you on your period?"

"Dammit, Rae! You couldn't tough it out for just a few more hours?! I just lost two thousand lien because of you!" Qrow growled as he fished out his money and handed it over to Ozpin.

"Oh, well then I'm happy that I managed to screw you over without even meaning to. Now, about the brats?"

"Yeah, yeah. What exactly do you need?"

"Their schedule. I know you've played nursemaid for the kids whenever Summer and the crybaby needed their alone time and I also know that Summer wouldn't have left you without a map to go off of. So, where's that map?"

"Cripes, Raven, the kids ain't some kind of territory that you need to explore."

"No, they're way more complicated than that. You gonna keep nitpicking the words I use, or are you gonna give me a hand? Cause if not, then that's fine. I'll just explain to the girls why they're beloved uncie suddenly decided he didn't care about them anymo-"

"Alright, fine! Sheesh. Yeah, I got their schedule. Got their necessary food groups, too."

"Oh hell, Summer still did that stupid food thing? With all that green shit?"

"I know," Qrow said with a shudder, remembering the time Summer had enforced such a rule on Team STRQ. He and Raven had put up an enormous fuss over that particular rule.

"But she didn't actually feed them that nasty crap," Qrow continued. "Apparently, there's little candies that give you all those vitamins and shit."

"Candy? They actually made candy out of that stuff? How?!" Raven exclaimed.

"There's candy?" Ruby's voice could faintly be heard saying in the background.

"No brat, there's not any candy."

"But you said candy!"

"I'm talking to your Uncle. He said he's bringing you both a giant bag of candy."

"You BIT-" Qrow began.

Ruby's happy squealing in the background cut him off. Qrow glared at Ozpin when the old man let out a small snort, his face clearly struggling to hold in his laughter.

"You're such a good uncle," Raven quipped.

"Each shit and die, bitch!" Qrow snapped.

"Language, Qrow! I don't know if I can let you be around the kids with a potty mouth like that!"

"Oh, you think you're so damn funny, don't you?"

"I'm hilarious. Now quit getting distracted and give me the info, pushover."

"Fine!"

Qrow proceeded to give Raven the detailed list of instructions Summer had once given him the last time he had babysat the kids. When they woke up, when to brush their teeth, nap time, bath time, all the things kids needed each day. For the most part, Raven was able to take each of those instructions in stride. She may not have been one for housekeeping, but a basic list of what to do? Even Raven could do that much. The only time they hit a snag was when food became involved.

"-so there's basic ingredients around the house that you can make the food with and the recipes are in the cabinet over the sink," Qrow said.

"Uh… Qrow? I think we have a slight problem," Raven said.

"What is it?"

"Did you forget that I don't know how to cook?"

Qrow froze. Holy shit, he had forgotten that. He didn't know how it was possible to forget such a thing, especially when Raven had nearly killed them all with that meatloaf she once tried to make. He remembered Taiyang having to replace the toilet after that night.

"Okay, so slight hiccup there. No worries, you can learn. Yang knows how to-" Qrow began.

"Yang is not working the damn stove again, Qrow," Raven snapped. "Which reminds me, I still owe you an ass whooping for that."

"I wasn't going to say let Yang do the work for you, sheesh. I was just saying that she can show you how to-"

"I'm not asking my own kid for help! The hell kinda person do you think I am?!"

"You don't want me to answer that."

"Do you wanna go? Cause we can go. You can fly your pansy ass down here right now and I'll make some cooked Qrow!"

"Getting off track, Rae. Also-"

"Bad words!" Ruby called out.

Qrow grinned as he heard Raven try to stammer some excuse, only to end up going along with the swear jar anyway, grumbling the whole time.

"Look sis, you gotta figure something out. The food ain't gonna fix itself," Qrow said.

"I know someone. They can do the job," Raven said.

"Who the hell do you know? You're not exactly Miss Social and I don't think I like the idea of an acquaintance of yours being around the girls."

"It's some broad I met. Said she was a friend of Summer's. I think her name was Asuna…?"

"Aruna? When did you meet her?"

"Not important. Point is, I met her and she offered to help out. So she can cook."

"Or, she can teach you how to cook."

"Me? Ask for help from a sheep? Pass."

"Didn't a sheep blow you up?"

"Hey, ya know what? Fuckyou."

The call abruptly ended, though not before Qrow heard Ruby chastising Raven for bad words again.

"She's still a regular ball of sunshine," Qrow sighed, putting his scroll away.

"I suspect a part of her always will be," Ozpin replied. "Though I'm glad to see she's taking her newfound responsibilities seriously."

"Yeah. Not like her to ask for any type of help."

"One thing still bothers me, though."

"What's that?"

"Did you honestly leave Raven in charge of the house without any sort of instructions?"

"Erk… Okay, that one's definitely on me."

"This is why you shouldn't make bets, Qrow. That and your terrible luck."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever…"

"Now, if you will excuse me. Young Miss Gayl will be arriving here shortly and I must prepare for the… Difficult conversation that will soon follow."

"You sure about this, Oz? Don't get me wrong, the girl's tough and all, but we barely know her and she's just a kid."

"I'm afraid that time is not a luxury we have at the moment. The very attack that Miss Gayl helped fend off is proof of that. We need to be at our maximum strength for whatever plans Salem has in store."

Qrow shrugged. "If you say so."

Ozpin chuckled warmly as he finished regaling a story about former Shade Headmaster, Bill Weedles, to his soon to be replacement, Thea Gayl. The young woman was laughing much harder than he was, likely because she needed to. He had seen the negative effects of stressful situations many times before and had found that more often than not, the recipient of said stress needed a bit of humor to lighten the mood and relax.

It also had the additional benefit of lowering Thea's guard. Ozpin could see that despite the rather swift and successful recovery following the Grimm attack, Thea had yet to completely release the tension that had developed since the attack was repelled. When she had first walked into his office, she looked like a tightly wound coil, threatening to burst at the first sign of any trouble. It had taken much small talk and light hearted conversation to get her to finally loosen up a bit, during which Ozpin had proper time to size up the young woman.

She was indeed very young. At first glance, one might mistake her for a teenager. But all it took was one look at her dark brown eyes to tell that she held a maturity beyond her years. Her skin was tanned, a sign of the desert environment she lived in, and her long dark brown hair was tied into a ponytail that reached all the way to her lower back.

Her clothing was a bit risque for Ozpin's personal preference, showing quite the amount of skin. When he had asked her if she wasn't cold wearing such an outfit, she had simply shrugged and said that it was nice to be able to feel the sun on her skin and not worry about being burned or getting heatstroke.

On her torso she wore a simple tube top that thankfully did not expose the top of her breasts, while her bottoms consisted of two pieces of fabric that hung from a harness attached to her waist, covering both the front and back of her legs, but leaving the sides open. Beneath this skirt she wore tight fitting black shorts, which kept the open sides of her skirt from being scandalous. The fabric of both her skirt and top were colored sky blue with white trim along the edges.

But what perhaps stood out on her outfit most of all were her bright red shoes. The shimmering red color spoke of Dust weaving into the fabric, while the high heels were clearly made out of what appeared to be the barrels of two guns.

Kids these days. So eager to turn anything and everything they can into a gun. If only they would spend that amount of time on training their Aura, then they would be a true force to be reckoned with. Although, based on what he knew of Thea so far, perhaps she was more adept at handling her Aura than he knew of.

"I never knew Professor Weedles had such a bad reputation," Thea chuckled, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. "He was always such a stickler for the rules."

"It is often the ones who make the most foolish mistakes that make it their mission in life to prevent the next generation from doing the same. Or maybe Bill just wanted to hold onto his record for most detentions in a year, who knows?" Ozpin said.

"That certainly sounds like him. He looked so torn between pouting and celebrating when I broke his record for most missions completed in a single term. It was so awkward when he tried to congratulate me, I couldn't tell if he was going to hug me, or punch me."

"Which did he end up doing?"

"Both," Thea said with a chuckle, not noticing Ozpin's sudden wince at the thought of a Headmaster assaulting one of his students.

Thea raised the mug she'd been drinking from. "To Headmaster Weedles."

"To Bill," Ozpin said with a raise of his own mug, clinking it against Thea's. The two fell into silence after sharing a quick drink.

"Well, now that you've buttered me up, I assume we'll be getting to the real purpose of my visit here?" Thea eventually said.

Ozpin chuckled. "Bill always did say you were a sharp one, Miss Gayl. But I wonder just how sharp you really are?"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm sure you must have questions, even assumptions, as to why you are here in Vale and not in Vacuo. After all, why was it necessary for you to travel all this way for a simple debriefing on an attack that for all intents and purposes, did not involve the Kingdom of Vale?"

Thea stared at him for a moment. Ozpin could tell that she was internally debating what to say by the look in her eyes. Eventually, whatever doubts she had were pushed aside as she leaned forward with a serious expression.

"I don't think the attack was a freak occurrence," Thea said. "There was no warning or great source of negativity to draw in a Grimm horde of that size and it was too well organized, like it was planned out. The Grimm aren't capable of mobilizing their ranks like that, not even the most intelligent ones. They moved like a single, cohesive unit, not wild creatures that rely on brute instinct. Then there's the fact that some of those Grimm were unlike anything I have ever seen before and I make it a point to know about Grimm."

"Yes, I have read your studies and reports on the Grimm, they are quite impressive. I imagine it must have been quite the shock to have a Grimm you've never seen or heard of before burst out of the sands in the middle of an attack."

"Not as great a shock as it was to Headmaster Weedles," Thea said. "If he had dodged just half a second sooner-"

"None of that now. Bill was old and taken by surprise. It is a common fate for older Huntsmen who remain in the profession for as long as he did. Sadly, our bodies begin to slow and become unable to keep up with the commands we give it. Besides, as I understand it, his sacrifice gave you the knowledge you needed to take on the Grimm yourself."

Thea said nothing, though the scowl on her face clearly told of how little she considered that an accomplishment.

"You gave your opinion of the Grimm, but I do believe you have yet to ask me any questions," Ozpin said. "Come now, I know that young mind of yours must be brimming with thoughts and speculation that demand to be released and acknowledged."

"Speculation won't help Headmaster Weedles," Thea muttered bitterly.

"It's best not to dwell on what-if's, my dear. What's done is done, we must learn to make peace with that. From here on, we must look towards the future. Specifically, your future. Hence, my desire to know your opinion on this strange Grimm movement."

Thea eyed Ozpin suspiciously. "Do you know something about the attack that I don't?"

"Perhaps. Or perhaps you know something about the attack that you think you don't."

"So, what? This is some kind of test?"

"You can certainly think of it that way. Let's not dodge the topic anymore, tell me what you think."

Thea picked up her mug, tossed her head back and downed the rest of her drink. She then brought the empty mug down onto the surface of the desk with a loud exhale.

"I think it was Dr. Merlot," Thea said.

Ozpin's eyes widened in surprise. "How do you know of-?"

"Merlot's studies of the Grimm were well documented for a time, as were the rumors about his apparent devotion towards his research. I don't really know much about just what it was he was studying, but I do know that when I was a child, I would often hear rumors about him worshipping the Grimm. Of course, his studies were still widely acclaimed and even celebrated among some circles for the additional knowledge it gave us on the inner workings of the Grimm. But almost everything about Dr. Merlot, including his revolutionary research, suddenly seemed to vanish overnight. Right after the Mt. Glenn disaster if I recall, of which he was listed as a casualty."

Ozpin leaned back into his chair. Her speculation was wrong of course, but that didn't stop him from being amazed at her answer. She couldn't have been any older than six or seven when the Mt. Glenn disaster occurred, yet she remembered all the talk she had heard about Merlot from even that young an age? Bill had been right, this young girl was quite impressive, indeed.

"Did I hit the nail on the head?" Thea asked.

"Not quite. But I am surprised by your answer all the same," Ozpin replied. "I see that Bill was correct in his assessment of you, not that I had any doubts."

"It really wasn't Merlot?" Thea said with surprise.

"Do not fret, It was a good guess on your part," Ozpin said. "I shall inform you of all that you need to know regarding this recent attack on Vacuo. You see, we have need of your unique skills in regards to the ones behind this attack."

"So someone was controlling the Grimm," Thea said with a dark and anxious expression, bringing up a hand to chew on the end of her thumb. "That's a scary thought. The Grimm have always been wild and unpredictable, but even with that, they've still managed to keep us locked away behind the walls of our kingdoms. If someone's become able to gather them and turn them into a fighting unit, it could be a disaster all across Remnant." Thea looked at Ozpin with a serious expression. "Is that why I'm here? Do you need my help to help take them down?"

"I'm afraid so. You see, Miss Gayl, I'm afraid that this recent incident in Vacuo is not an isolated one. There have been similar past attacks on all four kingdoms with similar results. All were eventually dismissed and forgotten by the general public, mainly due to the fact that any panic would only draw in more Grimm attacks and leave the kingdoms more vulnerable."

"There have been attacks like this in the past? Hold on, why haven't I heard about this? If the government's of the world knew, then we could've–"

"I'm afraid it's not that simple, Miss Gayl. You wouldn't have heard of these past attacks, because they were done well before you and your peers were even born."

"What…?"

"You see, the one responsible for the attack on Vacuo has been around for a very, very long time. And try as we might to prepare for any and all attacks launched, this is an enemy with an endless supply of patience. Even the most well thought out preparation means little when the next generation to face such an attack does not take it as seriously as those who experienced such a traumatic event.

"Look back far enough in the history of the four kingdoms and you will find similar disasters from times past. New types of Grimm never seen before, an unprecedented level of cooperation and unity between the Grimm that borders on a trained fighting force, and each of these attacks occurring in areas thought safe from the Grimm. Yet, after each attack? Nothing. No further Grimm activity in those areas, no more sightings of the strange Grimm that appeared during the attack and no more unity among the Grimm. It's as if the attacks were launched, observations were made on its effectiveness and the perpetrators moved on to build their eventual plans for the future."

"It's a military probe," Thea whispered, eyes widening. "Whoever's behind this is testing the natural environmental defenses that humanity has been relying on for the past century."

"Precisely. Vacuo was the last kingdom that had yet to be attacked, but that is unfortunately no longer the case."

"Then… Then that means that–"

"The ones responsible will be preparing for their true assault soon, yes."

Thea cursed and stood from her seat, pacing around the room with restless anxiety. "This is insane. This could be– No, this is a disaster! A damn catastrophe!"

"Which is why we need talented young Huntsman and Huntresses, such as yourself, on our side to stem the incoming tide."

Thea glanced at Ozpin again, her anxiety fading away and leaving her face blank, before becoming replaced with a stern expression full of resolve. She marched back to her seat and slammed her hands into the desk, her youthful eyes sparking with a fierce determination.

"I get it. You need my help to take these bastards down," Thea said. "You know who they are, right? And you want to send me out on a mission to wipe them off the face of Remnant before they have a chance to attack?"

"Close, but I have a far more important task for you specifically. It's been decided that you are to take over Bill's position as the new Headmistress of Shade Academy."

Thea stared at Ozpin in silence for a moment. Eventually, she tilted her head to the side and asked the most obvious question she could think of.

"Huh?"

"You heard me correctly, Miss Ga- No, Thea," Ozpin said. "You fit all of the necessary requirements and as of right now, people are looking to you for guidance in the aftermath of this recent disaster. Huntsmen, citizens and government alike."

"Hold on, hold on, is this some kind of a joke? First of all, I've not even graduated yet! Second, Headmaster?! How in the hell am I even remotely qualified for a position that high?!"

"You have elevated yourself to a level well above your peers and even your seniors. You dispatched a lethal new type of Grimm that even the renowned Bill Weedles could not finish."

"Okay, fine, I'm good at fighting. But what about all of the paperwork involved? I don't know a damn thing about all of that-"

"Miss Rumpole will be assisting you with the day-to-day duties your position will require and teaching you the responsibilities it entails. She is the Deputy Headmistress of Shade after all, just as Miss Goodwitch is to Beacon. She's also already been made aware of this decision and has endorsed you on behalf of the Shade staff."

"She what– No, hang on a second! If she's so damn good at what she does, then why the hell don't you make her the Headmistress of Shade? Why me? Why are you sticking me behind a damn desk when I should be out there in the field, finding the bastards responsible for this?"

"Because despite all of the responsibilities necessitated by the position of Headmaster, they are only secondary. The primary and most important aspect of any Headmaster of the Huntsmen academies is their strength and leadership, two qualities that you exemplify perfectly. As a student well versed in her studies, you likely know this to be true. The Headmaster position is one of inspiration and trust. The Kingdom of Vacuo needs someone they can rely on right now and they've chosen you."

"This is- You're- Okay, hang on a sec. Give me a minute." Thea stood from her seat and began pacing around the room, anxiously running her hands through her hair and taking deep breaths to calm herself down.

"Believe me, Thea, I wish there was another way," Ozpin said.

"Didn't I say to give me a minute?!" Thea snapped.

"I'm afraid that time is a luxury we do not have, Miss Gayl," came a new voice from the elevator entrance.

James Ironwood and Leonardo Lionheart stepped out of the elevator and into the office, followed by Glynda Goodwitch and Qrow Branwen.

"Headmasters… You…" Thea turned to Ozpin, clearly comprehending that something significant was happening, but not fully understanding what. "What is this? What's going on?"

"You'll want to sit down for this," Ozpin said.

"I think I'll stand."

"Trust us, kid. You'll really be wanting that chair," Qrow said.

Thea stood in place for a moment, looking uncertain, before she slowly took her seat and turned back to Ozpin.

"Tell me, Thea," Ozpin began. "Are you familiar with the fairy tale of the Girl in the Tower? Or perhaps the tale of the Grimm Witch?"

"What?"

Ozpin leaned forward with a serious expression on his face. "We have much to discuss."

"Right this way, Miss Gayl," Goodwitch said softly to the stunned young woman, leading her out of the office to absorb the life shattering info she had just been briefed on.

The remaining Headmasters' plus Qrow waited silently as the newest addition to their group was escorted away. She had much to think about and it wouldn't do to try and throw anymore onto her plate, not right now at least.

It was a cruel burden to place on one so young. But, it was one of the few decisions Ozpin had made that Ironwood agreed with. Bill Weedles' death had left a void in the Vacuoan defense that needed to be filled as quickly as possible. Ironwood had carefully looked over Thea Gayl's record and he knew that she would rise to the challenge once she was given enough time to adapt.

But that was for the future, near though it was. In the present, he had more pressing matters to address.

"We have a problem in Mistral," Ironwood said once Thea was removed from the office.

"James is right. I'm afraid a situation is arising that demands our immediate attention," Leonardo said.

"So I've heard," Ozpin sighed, lifting his glasses to pinch the bridge of his nose. "The Branwen Tribe has survived."

"Tch, why the hell am I not surprised? It would be too good a thing to have those bastards wiped off the map," Qrow growled.

"Yes. A portion of the Branwen's escaped the destruction of their tribe and managed to elude Atlesian and Mistrali forces," Ironwood explained. "Furthermore, Atlas has officially been requested to leave all remaining clean ups of bandit activity to Mistral. We're being pushed out when the job isn't even finished."

"It is an opportunity for the criminal forces in Mistral to expand their reach," Lionheart explained. "I'm afraid they may have planned this from the beginning. The criminal underworld owns the Mistralian government, everybody knows this to be true. It seems they used the outrage over Alban's death to provoke the Atlesian forces into wiping out the competition posed by the wild bandits outside the kingdom, so that they may expand their influence once a vacuum of power was left behind."

"A vacuum that's now being filled by the Branwen's."

"What, the mob's just letting them have the wilds all to themselves?" Qrow said.

"No. I believe there is an alliance being formed as of this moment," Lionheart continued. "The criminal families of Mistral did not get to their positions of power by being foolish. Until recently, the Branwen Tribe was the only obstacle they faced in expanding their influence outside the kingdom. But now that they and several other bandit tribes have been effectively crippled, necessity has forced them to band together and seek help from the city mob. This will not only allow the Branwen Tribe to rebuild itself, but it will also give the mob an influence in all of their criminal activities. They will effectively own the Branwen Tribe."

"And by owning the Branwen Tribe, they also own their reputation," Ozpin finished.

"Which is a bad thing," Qrow said. "The Branwen's have been around for a damn long time. Their name has all sorts of pull, doesn't matter what kingdom you go to. Expanding their reach into the wilds is probably just the first step for the mob."

"This is a very serious problem, Ozpin," Lionheart said. "If left unchecked, the Mistrali mobs influence could expand across all four kingdoms. Possibly even to Vacuo. Worse still, the Mistrali mob has trained Huntsmen and Huntresses at their disposal. I've no doubt that they will train the Branwen Tribe to be a more effective fighting force, once the mob's control over them is complete and assured. I don't think it needs to be said that such a criminal enterprise would be all too easy for Salem to gain control over."

"Undoubtedly," Ozpin sighed. "Such a thing would leave a door wide open for Salem's influence to reach into the very kingdoms themselves. And there's no mistake that she will do just that If she's given the opportunity."

"Agreed," Ironwood said. "She's attacked all four kingdoms now. These attacks have been reminiscent of military style probing, as Miss Gayl said. Salem has tested the weaknesses of each kingdom and likely has developed a method of attack for them all at this point. Vacuo completes the circle, now all that's left is for her to finalize her data and prepare for the real attack, which I'll bet my remaining arm is coming soon."

Lionhearted shifted nervously in his seat, struggling to maintain his defiant gaze. "How soon?"

"Likely within the next couple of decades," Ozpin answered. "Maybe more. Maybe less. What I can safely say for certain is that she will be silent for the coming years, preparing an attack force for each respective kingdom. She will also wait for the damage to be done in Mistral, biding her time until she can insert her influence and gain control over their established worldwide criminal network."

"Then our focus needs to be on preparing our own defenses and stopping the spread of the Mistral mafia's influence," Ironwood said. "We can't allow Salem to have any sort of influence within the kingdoms. If she finds a way to break us from the inside, we won't be able to stand up to her attacks when they come."

"Agreed. We can build up the next generation of Huntsmen and Huntresses well enough, but subverting the influence of the Mistral mob will be more complicated."

"Those damn corrupted Mistral politicians are in the mob's back pocket," Qrow said. "Those bastards are smart. As long as they have influence over the government, the very law that's meant to bring 'em down is their shield."

"Yes, Mistral has unfortunately always been the kingdom most susceptible to Salem's influence. Perhaps it's time we change that," Ozpin said.

"What are you suggesting, Ozpin?" Lionheart asked, leaning forward with clear interest.

"The mob operates outside of the law. They move freely without concern for the rules society has established, because they control that which enforces the law. Perhaps it's time we beat them at their own game."

"You're suggesting we break the law?" Ironwood asked.

"We already do work outside the law. By all rights, we control the respective governments of the remaining three kingdoms the same way the Mistral mob does theirs. They've only gone unchecked for so long because of the protection granted to them by the government. If we cannot beat them legally, then we must defeat them by playing by their rules. You say there is a vacuum in Mistral's criminal underworld? Then perhaps we should fill that void ourselves."

"No," Ironwood quickly objected. "What you're suggesting is for us to take part in a criminal enterprise. We are above such things, Ozpin. We cannot hope to continue being saviors of the world if we stoop to the level of common criminals."

"As if we don't do that sort of crap already, Jimmy," Qrow countered. "Spare us the high and mighty bullshit, tin-man. How many people have we hunted down and killed without a warrant or a trial? How many people have we locked away, interrogated, or even tortured behind closed doors? It's just like Oz said, we're already crooks. Might as well take advantage of the perks while we're at it."

"I have to agree, James," Lionheart said. "To be completely honest, this route would take an enormous burden off of my shoulders. Unlike the rest of you, I am quite isolated in Mistral. I have to be on guard all the time, because I am surrounded by enemies on all sides. To take that away would offer me a chance to relax my guard and maybe notice something that I would have been too tense to notice before."

"Truthfully, we should have addressed Mistral's criminal problem ages ago," Ozpin said. "That has long been the greatest opening in our defenses. We've even lost contact with the Spring Maiden, and–"

"She's with the Branwen Tribe," Ironwood interrupted.

Qrow stood from his chair, knocking it over, Lionheart looked at Ironwood with a shocked expression, while Ozpin's gaze sharpened.

"How do you know this?" Ozpin asked.

"The same way I know that the Branwen's survived," Ironwood answered. "It's because of her. I sent a team of my best trained Specialists to bring the rest of them in. To my shock, they were almost completely wiped out. When I asked the survivors what had happened, they described a young girl with a Semblance that seemed to manipulate the very weather itself. That type of power can only belong to one of the Maiden's."

"Rae," Qrow whispered. "She was really close to April right before she left Tai."

"And April disappeared just a few months after Raven left," Lionheart added.

Ozpin sighed. "I had always suspected the possibility of course, but I had counted on April's more gentle nature to keep her away from an influence like the Branwen's."

"Clearly, you were wrong," Ironwood growled. "And that makes me wonder just what else you've been wrong about, lately."

"James, don't start," Lionheart warned.

"This ain't the time for your crap, Jimmy," Qrow said. "We've got more important things to worry about."

"Which is exactly why now is the perfect time to discuss this," Ironwood snapped. "Raven took the Spring Maiden out from under us. She used and abused the trust and faith we had in her, which has left us in a vulnerable state. You yourself admitted to it just now, Ozpin."

"For the brother gods' sake, James–" Lionheart began.

"Let him speak," Ozpin said.

"The situation in Mistral is critical," Ironwood went on. "The criminal status of that kingdom leaves a door wide open for Salem's influence, an influence that will be spread by their union with the Branwen Tribe. The threat of the Branwen's is even greater with the power of the Spring Maiden at their side, plus any Huntsmen training that the Mistral mafia could give them. Do you really mean to tell me that after all of that, you still don't see the dangers in letting Raven Branwen remain free? Can you say for certain that she won't rejoin her tribe once she's fully healed? We cannot just sit by and watch while another dangerous enemy is added to their ranks!"

"You clearly don't know my sister, or the Branwen Tribe very well," Qrow said.

Ironwood scoffed. "I don't need to know a criminal to know what makes a criminal."

"You're missing the point. First of all, Rae would never consent to being put under the heel of some mob boss. She's too proud and strong willed for that. Second, she tucked tail and ran after getting her ass kicked and the tribe nearly destroyed by an old man. She's lost all credibility in the tribe. If she tried to come back, they'd boot her out fast."

"Unless she took them all down with her superior strength, just like she did the first time she took over."

"They've got April, remember? If she's really been bent and twisted by the Branwen's so-called Code of Strength, then she'll turn her back on Raven, too. Doesn't matter how tough Raven is, she's no match for the powers of the Spring Maiden."

"It's still an unnecessary risk that I'm not willing to take. I honestly don't understand what's so complicated about this! Raven Branwen betrayed our trust, stole a valuable asset and has raided, pillaged and murdered throughout Mistral for years! She belongs in a cage!"

"Nobody here is denying Raven's past misdeeds," Ozpin said. "But as I've said before, what's done is done. Punishing Raven now won't take back what she's done."

"But it will prevent her from doing worse things in the future!"

"Again, as I've said before, I am already well aware that Raven is not to be blindly trusted. Do you think I have just forgiven her and let her back in with open arms? Don't be a fool, James. I've been at this a lot longer than you have. Why do you think I've sent one of my personal staff to assist with her recovery?"

"Wait, what?" Qrow asked.

"Tsune has been doing more than just helping Raven recover. Whether we like it or not, Qrow, James is correct in his suggestion that Raven is a potential liability. So, Tsune has been taking a few extra steps to ensure that, should Raven ever become a problem in the future, she will be dealt with swiftly and accordingly."

Ironwood leaned back, genuine surprise showing on his face. Lionheart looked just as surprised, but Qrow looked furious.

"Why the hell wasn't I told about this?" Qrow demanded.

"You're being told now," Ozpin replied.

"Don't try your bullshit word play on me! This is exactly why Raven doesn't trust doctors, Oz! If she finds out what you did–"

"She won't find out, because none of us are going to tell her. Are we?" Ozpin locked eyes with Qrow, clearly aiming the last question at him.

"Regardless of what she's done in the past, that's still my fucking twin sister, Oz!"

"I will not gamble the fate of Remnant on the basis of your own personal feelings, Qrow. I've not tolerated James' personal feelings regarding Raven and I won't tolerate yours, either. We have far greater concerns to worry about."

Silence took hold of the room. Qrow's eyes remained locked with Ozpin's, filled with anger and defiance.

"Gentlemen," Lionheart said, breaking the silence in the room and turning everyone's attention to him. "Perhaps we should call a recess for this meeting. Let our tempers cool and let young Thea have some time to soak all of this hardship in. With cooler heads and a new perspective, I'm sure we can come to an agreement on the matters at hand."

Ozpin sighed, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his forehead. "Very well. We shouldn't wait too long, there is still much work to be done and not much time to plan for it. We should meet again in–"

Ozpin was interrupted by the loud crash of shattering glass. Opening his eyes, he caught sight of one of a single crow flying away from a shattered window.

Ozpin rolled his eyes, unamused by Qrow's childish pettiness. "I suppose I'll just get in contact with you all when the next meeting is decided."

Lionheart gave an awkward chuckle, then excused himself from the room. Ironwood remained.

"I have to admit, I'm surprised that you were willing to resort to such tactics," Ironwood said.

"If you're surprised by that, then you clearly don't know me as well as you think," Ozpin replied. "I've committed far worse acts than this in the past."

"So you've told me. But those times were always when you were desperate. So then, I feel the need to ask, what makes you so desperate now?"

"Salem. Salem is what's making me desperate. She's had a literal eternity to formulate her method of attack and the patience no other person in existence can boast. Now, she's finally getting ready to make her move. I can't afford any missteps here."

"Then why are you still making one? While I don't fault your failsafe for Raven, I do still think you're taking too much of a risk with her. The problem with a failsafe is that they can only be used when you've discovered the treachery. Even with it in place, Raven will have the time to make one act against us. That single act can mean the difference between victory or defeat."

"Raven serves a purpose beneficial to us where she is now. Perhaps the last true gambit we have against Salem. It's a risk worth taking."

"The Silver Eyes didn't work with Summer Rose. Why are you so certain that they'll work with her daughter?"

"Because regardless of what you may think of Raven, she may have been right about one thing. Perhaps Summer was too soft. She always saw the best in people. It wouldn't surprise me if she hesitated in her conflict with Salem."

"And you're hoping that Raven will keep Ruby from making the same mistake?"

"That's all we have left at this point, James."

"You honestly expect me to buy that? There are hundreds of other ways we could train the girl. Give her over to Atlas and we can give her the proper discipline and training she requires."

"And risk infighting between our ranks? You saw how Qrow reacted when I threatened his sister, his estranged sister. How do you think he and Taiyang will react when you try and take Ruby to Atlas?"

"They'd be welcome to join her in Atlas."

"They'd distrust you every second of every day. They'd constantly ask what Ruby learned and would do their utmost to circumvent any teachings you give her that they wouldn't agree with. All that would do is confuse Ruby and stunt her training."

"Then we could–"

"Enough! Do you not think I haven't thought of the same alternatives you're thinking of? I have, James, and I'm telling you now, that this? This is the best option that is open to us right now. Whether we like it or not, this is the safest course of action for us to take. Ruby will get the training she requires and Raven will be kept under close watch at all times."

"She'll be kept under your thumb, you mean."

"Would you prefer she was kept otherwise?"

"I'm talking about the Rose girl, not Raven. Don't pretend like you don't want her answering directly to you and nobody else."

"Fine, I won't. Does that put you more at ease?"

"You should be less worried about controlling everything and more focused on trusting your allies, Ozpin. Give me Raven Branwen. I don't ask much, regardless of your justification. We can find other ways to train Miss Rose and still have the same results."

"My decision is final, James. Now cease this pointless bickering between us and let us focus on the real problem."

"I'm not so certain the two are unrelated at this point, Ozpin. Are you so certain that your need for Raven to stay with the Xiao-Long family is because of necessity and not guilt for the role you played in Summer's death?"

"I've done countless things I've felt guilty for in the past, James. What's one more?"

"I think it's the straw that broke the camel's back, Ozpin. And I think that it has made your judgement askew. Come hell or high water, I promise you that you will come to regret this decision."

AN: Another big issue with writing while under heavy stress, is that you put down a lot of stuff that doesn't really mesh well with what you've established. I kid you not, I must have rewrote this chapter at least three times. I had enough material to fill up two whole chapters, even. Some of it may be put to use later in the story, some of it may get scrapped. I guess only time will tell. Hope you all enjoyed.