"Hmm..." Maria hummed. "What's wrong?" Oscar asked. "Well, I... may know this commanding officer." She admitted. 

"That's good, isn't it? If she's your friend, then maybe she'll be willing to help us." Ruby said. "I wouldn't exactly call us... friends." Maria replied. "If not friends, then allies?" I guessed.

"Nuh-uh." Maria denied. "Acquaintances?" Weiss guessed.

"Not quite."

"Colleagues?" Blake guessed.

"Warmer."

"Enemies?" Yang guessed.

"That's the one!"

"Wait, what?" I said. "Oh, yes. I come through here once every ten years to get my eyes checked up in Atlas," Maria explained.

"You bring outside cashews on one flight and suddenly you're placed on the additional screening list for life!"

"You've gotta be kidding me." Uncle Qrow said as he rolled his eyes. "Now, now. Let's not give up hope yet... Maybe she's dead." Maria said.

"Too hopeful." I murmured. "Hopeful? What's that? Can I eat it? Is it tasty?" Ash asked. "Um, we'll find out later, Ash." I replied.

The gates opened and the guards introduced us to their commanding officer, Caroline Cordovin.

I have to admit, I expected her to be... taller. "Hello, there," I greeted with a small wave. "Um, it's nice to meet you. My name is Lily Rose, and I was wondering if you would hear us out-"

"I already heard what your other little friends had to say, Lily Rose... the Grimm Whisperer." She said, frowning slightly at me.

"You know who I am?" I asked. "Oh, dear. Everyone knows who you are," Cordovin laughed. "I am also aware that it was you who was responsible for Beacon's falling."

"What?! No, you've got it all wrong! I didn't-!"

"Regardless of what happened, I will continue to keep the people of Argus safe from your... Grimm friends." Cordovin interrupted me.

"My... Huh?" I repeated. I was a little angry at this woman's accusation. Nonetheless, I tried to keep my calm and let Ruby do the talking. 

But she wasn't able to get a word in because Cordovin continued to speak. "You civilians are clearly incapable of comprehending the importance of our mission here in Argus. So allow me to say this slowly with smaller words," She said.

"This base. That relay tower. The very safety of Argus are all gifts from the glorious kingdom of Atlas! And it is my duty to..."

As Cordovin ranted, Ash tugged my arm. "Mommy, what's the short lady saying? And what's a weway tower?" He asked. 

"It's a... building of sorts." I answered. "Can I eat it?" He asked with a grin. "I don't think they'll taste good." I told him. 

At the end of the day, we weren't going to get any help from this commanding officer. Defeated, we decided to head back to the house. 

But we had to tell Jaune, Ren, and Nora about Jinn and her vision. "But it's not all that bad. I'm sure we can-"

"How do we even know it's really him?! What if we've been talking to this liar this whole time?!" Jaune yelled, angrily while having ahold of Oscar. 

"It's not his fault! Ozpin was scared, so I can understand-"

"You're defending him?!" Jaune yelled at me. "No, I'm just saying that there's no reason to get mad." I said, trying to ease the tension a bit. 

"Are you kidding?! After everything we've been through, this guy's been lying to us the whole time and you're saying we shouldn't get mad?!" He replied. "You know what? Half of this is your fault!"

"My fault? I don't... How is it my fault?"

"If it weren't for you, Pyrrha would still be here!"

Everyone gasped at Jaune's words, even Jaune himself when he realized what he had said. My eyes widened, tears quickly filling the brim and flowing down my cheeks. 

"Lily, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to-"

I didn't wait for him to finish his apology as I ran out of the house. I ran until I couldn't run anymore as I found myself in an alleyway. 

Hiding behind a dumpster, I curled up into a ball as I hid my face in my knees, sobbing quietly. Many thoughts began to spiral in my head as Jaune's words rung in my ears. 

Was it really my fault Pyrrha died? Was the Fall of Beacon my fault? Maybe it is...

"It is all my fault..." I whispered. "If I had never gone to Beacon... Maybe if I had just stayed home, none of this would be happening. It's all my fault."

"No, it's not, Mommy,"

I lifted my head to see Ash standing in front of me. "It's not your fault. I think... I think Jaune was just angwy, and he didn't mean what he said." He explained. 

I sniffled while wiping my eyes. "But he's right. I was there with Pyrrha and I did nothing to prevent her from dying. I got her killed... The same way I got Shadow killed." I said. 

I hugged my knees again and hid my face once more. "Shadow... He was your friend, wasn't he. Your Beowolf," Ash said. I looked at him in surprise. Before I could ask him how he knew that, he added, "I hear you crying at night. In your sleep."

Ash sat beside me, sitting cross-legged. "I wish Shadow was still here. I wish Mom was still here. What would they say at a time like this?" I whispered while hugging my knees tighter. "Hmm.. Go forward." Ash said. 

"Go... forward?" I repeated, looking at him. "Go forward. You have to keep moving on," He repeated. 

"The mistakes that you've made will stay in the past. All that matters now, is that you're here now and trying to help. So don't give up yet, Mommy. Have faith. Not just in your family, but in yourself, too." 

Ash flashed an encouraging grin, making me smile softly in return. "You're right," I agreed. Ash scooted closer to me and hugged my waist, in which I hugged him back as my cheek pressed against the top of his head. "Thanks, Ash."

I broke the hug and stood to my feet as Ash did the same. "Let's head back. Everybody's worried about you, Mommy." Ash mentioned. 

"Yeah... Let's go." I agreed. Ash held my hand as we walked back to Saphron's house.