(Readers POV)

Everyone is sitting at the table eating food and having a good time. We started to tell stories about what happened to us.

Yang: How do you lose your map at a time like that?

She said to Jaune.

Jaune: Believe me, I've asked myself the same thing ever since.

Nora: Hey, but you made up for it, Mister Muscles! You shoulda seen this guy take a giant Grimm head on!

Jaune: I couldn't have done it without Ruby wearing it down.

Ruby: Uh, me? Did you see Ren during that fight? He was out of control!

Ren: I'm sorry, I may have lost my temper momentarily.

Ruby: No, no. It was awesome!

Ren: Oh... thank you.

Everyone started to laugh.

(Y/N): I should tell you guys the time I almost burned Weiss's house down.

Sky: You what?!

Ruby: Please tell me about it!

(Y/N): Well, there was a party going on and this one lady made me and Weiss mad.

I looked over and Weiss is looking away.

Yang: Please tell me you let that lady have it.

(Y/N): My fire almost hit her, but Ironwood was there and he blocked it.

Yang: Man, you were so close.

I rubbed the back of my head.

(Y/N): I guess.

I started to think and I remembered something.

(Y/N): Weiss. You should show everyone that knight guy you can summon.

Ruby: You can summon things Weiss?!

Nora: No way, I don't believe it.

Weiss smirked and summoned her knight behind Nora. The knight tapped her on the shoulder. Nora looked behind her and jumped up in surprise. We all started to laugh again at her reaction.

Nora: Ok, I believe it.

Weiss got rid of her knight.

Yang: You guys want to see something cool?

Everyone nodded. Yang raised her right arm.

Ruby: You got a robotic arm?!

Yang: It's not a replacement for the real thing, but I'll make sure to make good use of it.

Sky: That's cool.

Ruby gained stars in her eyes and rushed over to Yang. Ruby held Yang's arm and admired it.

Ruby: And it's just as strong?

Yang: Sure is.

I heard a bang on the table. I looked over and saw Nora having her arm out, ready for an arm wrestle.

Nora: Wanna bet?

Weiss: Nora, please, now's not the time...

Yang smirked and grabbed Nora's hand. They started their match. Jaune and Ren started to cheer for Nora.

Jaune: Don't let her beat you! You can do it! Come on!

Ren: You can do this! Show 'em what Team JNPR's made of!

Ruby: C'mon, sis! You can't lose to a girl in a skirt!

Weiss: You wear a skirt Ruby.

Ruby grabbed Weiss's shoulders and started to shake her.

Ruby: Weiss, you're not cheering loud enough!

Nora: It definitely feels like the original, I'll give you that.

Yang: Yep. But, it does have some new features.

Nora: Oh yeah?

Noises came from Yang's arm. It shot out and sent Nora to the wall.

(Y/N): So, who won?

Nora looks down and started to freak out. She threw the arm. Yang was laughing and she caught her arm.

(Time skip)

Everyone finished their food and Jaune helped clean up the dishes.

Jaune: We ate all the food. I feel like I'm gonna be sick.

Yang: Easy there vomit boy. You got it.

Jaune: Great, are we bringing that back?

Jaune walks away. I heard Weiss giggle.

Nora: Looks like ice queen likes it.

Weiss stopped and rolled her eyes, but she smiled.

Weiss: I so did not miss you people.

Nora: Wow. (Y/N) must have warmed that cold hearted yours while you were gone.

(Y/N): I don't remember using my semblance on Weiss.

Sky sighed and placed her hand on my shoulder.

Sky: She doesn't mean it literally.

(Y/N): Oh, my bad.

I laughed nervously and rubbed the back of my head.

Weiss: Nora. You make it sound like I used to be terrible.

Yang: Nah. Just a lot to deal with it once.

Weiss: Hmph!

Ren: It's been a long time. We've all grown in our own ways.

Ruby: You think so?

Ren: Well, think back to when we were all at Beacon, would you say you ever did anything foolish or embarrassing? Or do you think you were perfect?

I can think of a few embarrassing things I did. Like almost burning down my team's dorm.

Weiss: Oh gosh.

I guess the perfect part Ren said was for Weiss.

Yang: I may have been a little too gung-ho from time to time.

Ruby: I tried to 1v1 a Nevermore on the second day of school.

I looked over and saw Jaune walking back into the room.

Jaune: Yeah, well... don't even get me started.

Ren: Well that embarrassment, that desire to go back and tell yourself not to be so stupid, that just proves you're not the same person you used to be. You're smarter, you're kinder, you're stronger, and you're not done growing yet. None of us are.

Everyone stayed silent for a moment.

(Y/N): I guess Ren gets really deep when he talks.

Nora: Well, I thought I was great in school.

Yang: Even at the dance? When you spilled punch all over yourself in front of-

Nora: Yes Yang! Especially at the dance! Thank you!

Qrow: How can eight kids possibly make so much noise eating dinner?!

Qrow walked in.

Qrow: I think its time to let Yang, Weiss, and (Y/N) get caught up to speed.

(Time skip)

Everyone is in the living room. Qrow and Ozpin's soul inside of Oscar's body, that I'm not going to question how, told us basically what Yang's mom told us.

Weiss: So, the Maidens. Magic. Salem. It's all true?

Qrow: Yeah.

Ozpin: Miss Xiao Long, is this more or less what your mother told you?

Yang just stayed quiet.

Weiss: For the most part.

(Y/N): What about the bird thing?

Sky: What?

Yang: You forgot to tell everyone what you did to Qrow and my mother.

She said to Ozpin.

Ozpin: I didn't think she would tell you that secret. She must trust you a lot.

Yang scowled.

Ozpin: My ability to reincarnate, though a curse, isn't without a few key benefits. Much like the Maidens, I too possess a certain... "magical" power.

He stood up and walked over to stand by Qrow.

Ozpin: Using this power, I was able to gift the Branwen twins the ability to "see" more, to move freely and be unburdened by their natural bodies. I... well... gave them the ability to turn into birds. Rather ridiculous sounding out loud, isn't it?

Nora: Alright, now you're just messing with us.

Jaune: What else do we not know?

Weiss: He's telling the truth. We saw it. Yang's mom... changed, right in front of us.

Yang: Why would you do something like that?

Qrow: Yang, that's enough. Me and Raven made a choice. It was our decision.

Ozpin: Granting this power to them was no trivial task, and I can assure you it was not done frivolously. I required assistance in gathering information on Salem's plans, as well as searching for Maidens when their hosts became unclear.

Ruby: Did you do this to anyone else?

Ozpin: As helpful as that might be, unfortunately no. My power is finite, and if I'm being honest, dwindling. The amount that I gifted to Qrow and Raven was, all things considered, rather miniscule. You see, centuries ago, I sacrificed a great deal of magic to four young women, who I hoped would use my gift for good. They were the first Maidens.

Everyone stayed quiet. Centuries? Just how long has Ozpin's soul been going around for?

Ozpin: Miss Xiao Long, it was never my intention to lie to you. To any of you. There are just some matters that I prefer to... "play close to the chest".

He looked at Qrow.

Ozpin: I believe that's how you phrased it?

Qrow: Yeah.

Ozpin: Everyone has a choice. The Branwens chose to accept their powers and the responsibilities that came with them. And later, one of them chose to abandon her duties in favor of her own self-interest. Now, all of you have a choice. If anyone wishes to leave, now is the time. There's no shame or disgrace in abstaining, only in retreat.

We all stayed silent again. Yang stood up and walked over to Ozpin.

Ruby: Yang?

Yang: If Ruby sticks around, then I will too. If there's one thing I know about her, it's that she somehow always knows the right thing to do.

She looked back and smiled at Ruby.

Yang: But, if we're going to help, if we're going to keep risking our lives, no more lies. No more half-truths.

Yang and Ozpin looked at each other for a moment. Ozpin then smiled.

Ozpin: Understood.

(Chapter 30 end)