City of Vale

In a run down area of Vale, three "students" of Vacuo approach a ruined warehouse.

Emerald: Do we have to come here?

Mercury: At least we don't have to go in, that thing still gives me the creeps.

Cinder: Enough whining, wait here.

Cinder ordered her two followers to wait outside as she entered the darkened structure.

The large warehouse was dark and falling apart, it's no wonder it was abandoned. Whatever use this warehouse once had has long since been forgotten, which made it the perfect place for Cinder's "meeting".

Cinder: Ma'am.

Cinder knelt to one knee and lowered her head, seemingly to no one. After a brief moment a figure slowly emerged from the darkness of the forgotten warehouse.

It slowly floated toward Cinder, its long red tendrils barely scraping the ground beneath it. Its spherical head glowed faintly against the darkness.

Seer: Cinder...

A voice echoed from the creature, Cinder raised her head to see her master's image in the creature's spherical head.

Cinder: I have come to make a report.

Seer: I am listening.

Cinder rose to her feet, but still kept her distance from the creature she spoke through.

Cinder: I have done as you've instructed, that town is no more.

Seer: Did you retrieve what I asked for?

Cinder: Yes.

Cinder reached into her pocket and showed her master what she retrieved. Cinder flinched as the Seer drew closer to her.

Seer: Excellent. Make sure you are ready to retrieve him when the time comes.

Cinder: Y...yes ma'am.

Seer: You have a question?

Cinder hesitated.

Cinder: ...Yes I do.

The Seer hovered around Cinder, giving its master a clear view of Cinder.

Seer: Ask.

Cinder: W-why him?

Seer:  You doubt my orders?

Cinder: N-no! But... Why him? He's nothing more than a child! Nothing but a weakling who cowers behind those who are stronger than him. He's hardly a threat or an asset!

Cinder vented her anger toward what she believed to be a waste of time, but much to her surprise, the Seer was silent.

Cinder: I-I-I mean... he's just a-

Seer: And how would you know that?

Cinder felt a very cold chill run down her spine. In a hurry she quickly knelt back down to one knee.

Cinder: I... I...

The Seer drifted to a mere few feet from Cinder, its tendrils a mere few inches from her face.

Seer: Answer, Cinder.

Cinder shivered as she bit her own tongue.

Cinder: Myself and my followers tested him, to see- AGH!

Tendrils tightly wrapped themselves around Cinder's neck.

Cinder: Ack!... I.... W-wait!..... *gasp*

The Seer lifted Cinder off the ground only tightening its grip around her neck.

Seer: Were my instructions unclear?

Cinder: *gasp* N-... *cough* ....No!... W-we!...

Seer: Did I not say: "To have no direct contact with him"?

The tendrils continued to tighten their grip on Cinder's neck, she could no longer breathe. Her feet waved in the air uselessly as she struggled to bring air to her lungs.

Seer: I do not have any use for those who do not obey me.

Cinder: We... *gasp* He- *cough* - doesn't know it was *gasp* us!

The Seer brought Cinder's struggling form closer to itself.

Seer: And how is that?

Cinder: We- *cough* -wore masks! *wheeze* There's no way- *gasp* -he could know- *cough* it was us! *cough*

Seer: ...Is that so?...

Cinder could barely hold on to consciousness as the Seer kept its tight grip around her neck.

Cinder: P-please! *gasp*

Cinder hopelessly clawed at the tendrils around her neck, the fear apparent in her eyes. The Seer, however, didn't make a sound, as the one looking through it watched Cinder struggle at breathing.

Seer: Very well...

As quickly as they had wrapped themselves around her neck, the tentacles retracted back to the floating creature.

Cinder fell to the floor, coughing and gasping for air.

Seer: I gave you your power...

A tendril lifted Cinder's head upward.

Seer: ...and I can just as easily take it away. Do you understand?

Cinder: Y-yes...

Seer: Good. Do not fail me again.

Cinder watched the hovering creature float slowly back into the darkness until she couldn't see it anymore. Cinder took deep breaths and rubbed her neck, thankful that she could breath once more. She stumbled to her feet and cursed under her breath before heading back out.

_____

_____

Outskirts of the Town of Trist

Qrow quietly made his way through the forest in the outer area of Trist.

Qrow: Damn, Ironwood just had to bring so many troops with him.

Qrow was concerned by the number of Atlas soldiers in the area. While he figured that Ironwood would bring some guards with him, Qrow didn't think it would be a whole company of them.

Regardless, Qrow made sneaking through a militarized zone look like child's play.

Qrow: Still, why does Ironwood need so many troops here? There's a whole town over there, and the Grimm are-

BOOM

Qrow's thoughts were interrupted when he heard an explosion not too far from where he was.

Qrow: What the?...

Qrow carefully approached the origin of the explosion to find a small squad of Atlas soldiers checking the body of the Beowolf they just killed.

Atlas Soldier #1: Fire a couple extra shots into it to make sure it's dead.

Atlas Soldier #2: Yes sir.

The soldier fired a couple rounds into the lifeless carcass.

Atlas Soldier #2: It's dead sir.

Atlas Solder #1: Good. We need to be vigilant, there is a lot of Grimm activity around here. One wrong step and you'll be dead in moments.

The rest of the troops replied with a 'yes sir!' and eventually the squad left. Qrow came out of hiding and investigated the Beowolf corpse.

Qrow: Grimm? Why are they here now?

Qrow didn't like where this was heading and picked up the pace as he headed toward the town.

After sneaking past another patrol, the town was finally coming into view.

Qrow: Now let's see what Iroonwood has been-

Qrow came to a complete halt and looked in horror at what he saw.

The once thriving and growing town of Trist was now in nothing more than ruin. The buildings that once had people living in them were burnt and destroyed.

Qrow: What... happened here?

Qrow walked through the destroyed town that had so many people living in it.

Qrow: What happened to the people?

Qrow's answer came as he noticed something inside a darkened shed. He approached the shed and pushed the door open.

Qrow: No...

Inside the shed was the corpse of a woman, a former resident of the town.

Qrow: How did this happen?... wait.

Qrow exited the shed and quickly made his way to a familiar Blacksmith Shop. Qrow found the shop in ruins, just like the rest of the town.

Qrow stared quietly at the ruined building and entered the store. The inside looked like a tornado flew through it. Shelves, weapons, and furniture, were thrown all over the place.

Qrow sighed.

Qrow: I'm sorry...

Even though he only met him once, Qrow could tell Emilio was good people. It was upsetting to see all the work the Faunas did now in ruins.

Qrow looked around the store a bit and found something that renewed his concerned feelings. Behind the counter, were long streaks and splatters of blood.

Qrow narrowed his eyes and followed the blood into the back of the store. The gruesome trail led Qrow to the blacksmith's living room. What was inside confirmed Qrow's concern.

Slumped against the wall was the still body of Emilio Krane. Qrow cringed as he got a closer look.

Qrow: No Grimm did this...

Qrow crouched down next to the body and investigated further.

Qrow: This was done by people...

Qrow looked at the top of Emilio's head and noticed that one of the antlers that defined the blacksmith was missing, like it was ripped from his head.

Qrow: ...if you could call them that.

Qrow stood up and processed what he saw.

Qrow: Who would gain from this? Why here?

Qrow thought for a few moments more clenched his fist.

Qrow: The "enemy"... But why Trist?

Qrow tried to think of the connection between Trist and their "shadow war". His thoughts were interrupted when he heard someone enter through the front of the store.

Atlas Soldier: I'm telling you, I saw something in here.

Atlas Soldier #2: Sure you did.

Qrow: Damnit...

The two Atlas soldiers approached the backroom of the ruined smithy.

Atlas Soldier: Eugh... This place is a bloodbath.

Atlas Soldier #2: Probably what attracted all the Grimm around here.

Atlas Soldier: Probably- Gah!

As the Atlas soldiers entered the backroom, the first soldier was startled by a crow flying past him and out the front exit.

Atlas Soldier #2: What!? What is it?

Atlas Soldier: Just a stupid bird. *phew*

Atlas Soldier #2: Hehehe... You're lucky that the sergeant was here to see you scared by a tiny bird.

Atlas Soldier: Shut up. Let's just see what was back here.

The soldiers entered the backroom and found Emilio's corpse.

Atlas Soldier #2: *sigh* Poor guy...

Atlas Soldier: Feh... It's just a Faunus, who cares?

Atlas Solder #2: You're all heart, you know that?

The soldiers looked over the corpse and surrounding area.

Atlas Soldier #2: The poor guy, looks like he suffered before the end.

Atlas Soldier: Again. It's just a Faunus. Let's get out of here, this place is giving me the creeps...

Atlas Soldier #2: You're the worst. But fine, let's-... wait.

Atlas Soldier: What now?

Atlas Soldier #2: There's something in the guy's pocket.

The soldier reached into Emilio's pocket and pulled out a small book.

Atlas Soldier: What is it?

The second soldier quickly opened and skimmed through the book.

Atlas Soldier #2: It looks like some kind of journal. Might be good source of information.

Atlas Soldier: Fine, whatever. Just grab it and let's go already.

The two soldiers kept the small journal and made their way out of the ruined store.

_____
_____

Beacon Academy

Back at the academy Y/N exited out of the elevator leading toward Ozpin's office.

(Y/N): Why does stuff like this always happen to me? -_-

Y/N sighed.

(Y/N): I'm just going to head back to my room, I want to lay down.

Y/N, feeling exhausted, left for the dormitory and his room.

Y/N fell back onto his bed and faced the ceiling.

(Y/N): I wonder if there really is a way home from this place... *sigh* With my luck, there probably isn't...

Y/N closed his eyes and began to drift to sleep.

(Y/N): A quick nap usually makes me feel better...

As sleep began to take him, there was a knock at the door.

(Y/N): Ugh... Why now? Can't I catch a break?

Y/N got up from bed and rubbed his eyes as he opened the door.

(Y/N): *yawn* Hello?

Velvet: Oh! I'm sorry, was this a bad time?

At the door, was the Faunas girl that had taken his picture not too long ago, Velvet.

(Y/N): Huh? Oh, hi Velvet! And, no. This isn't a bad time.

Velvet: You sure? That was a pretty big yawn there.

(Y/N): It's fine, I'm always yawning... and tired. Woah, what happened to your arm?

Velvet rubbed the cast she wore.

Velvet: That's... what I wanted to talk to you about...

(Y/N): ...What?

Velvet looked around the hallway.

Velvet: Do you think we could talk inside?

(Y/N): Uh... Sure...

Y/N let Velvet inside his room and pulled up a chair.

(Y/N): So... what's up?

Velvet sat down and looked at Y/N.

Velvet: W-who are you really?

(Y/N): ...What?

Velvet: E-er...

Velvet thought for a moment.

Velvet: Let me try this a different way. Do you know what my Semblance is?

(Y/N): No?

Velvet reached for her broken camera and showed it to Y/N.

Velvet: This is my camera.

(Y/N): Yeah...

Velvet: If I take a person's picture, their likeness is stored in it.

(Y/N): Okay... that's what a camera does, I got it...

Velvet: Well, my Semblance allows me to, temporarily, borrow the abilities of those whose picture I've taken.

Y/N stared at Velvet.

Velvet: Uh... Y/N?

(Y/N): *processing*

Velvet: Are you okay?

Y/N lifted his index finger.

(Y/N): One sec...

Y/N looked at Velvet. Then to her camera. Then to her arm. Then to her camera. Then to Velvet.

Velvet: Uh...

Velvet could have sworn she could see smoke rising out of Y/N's ears.

(Y/N): Okay. So let me get this straight...

Velvet: Okay...

(Y/N): When you took my picture... you had the ability to copy my own... right?

Velvet: Y-yes. Which is why my arm is...

Velvet rubbed her cast again.

(Y/N): oh.... Oh!..... OH!!!! 0_o

Velvet: S-so... Are you an undercover Huntsman or...

(Y/N): You... are so lucky to still have your arm.

Velvet: Oh, well. Um... thanks?

(Y/N): -_- No seriously, you're extremely lucky to still have an arm.

Velvet: Well, thankfully my Aura took most of the damage.

(Y/N): Still, considering you still have an arm, it means you didn't use a lot of force.

Velvet: You can put more force into it!?

(Y/N): -_- Well... only on special occasions...

Velvet: Wow, that's some power you have.

(Y/N): It's not as great as you might think...

Velvet: So, are you some kind of undercover Huntsman?

(Y/N): That's one thing I didn't lie about, I'm not a Huntsman.

Velvet: Then who are you?

Y/N sighed.

(Y/N): Did you tell anyone else?

Velvet shook her head.

Velvet: No, I kinda... lied to my team about it...

(Y/N): Thank you. I don't really want people asking me about what I used to do.

Velvet: What did you do before?

(Y/N): Let's just leave at... odd jobs...

Velvet: "Odd jobs"?

(Y/N): Yeah. What's important, though, is that I want to settle down and... maybe open a bakery or something.

Velvet: Why? I-I-I mean, isn't going out and seeing the world exciting?

(Y/N): Yeah.. but, usually the way I see it is... different than most...

Velvet: Huh?

(Y/N): Look, could you keep this whole thing a secret?

Velvet: S-sure! I doubt anyone would ask me about it, but your secret is safe with me, I promise.

Y/N smiled at Velvet.

(Y/N): Thanks.

Velvet: Do... do you really not want to be a Huntsman?

Y/N looked down.

(Y/N): Yeah. Don't get me wrong, the occupation of a Huntsman is very noble and good and all that... but I just, don't want to. I'm tired of all that.

Velvet: Okay... I understand. I'll let you get back to your nap.

(Y/N): Excuse me! It's called: 'Beauty Sleep'! It takes a lot of it to look as fabulous as me!

Velvet giggled.

Velvet: Alright. I'll let you get back to your 'beauty sleep'.

Velvet made air quotes with her one good hand.

(Y/N): Thanks, and your arm will be fine.

Velvet: Thank you.

With that, Velvet left Y/N's room and began to walk back to her own. As she did so, she glanced back at Y/N's room, thinking back about what Y/N told her. She couldn't help but feel like he was...

Remorseful...