Hi everyone! I'll start out by sayi

Hi everyone! I'll start out by saying this is my first story, so any and all input is appreciated! If you've got something you'd like to say, please review! I welcome your critiques to make the story better as I keep writing. If you enjoy it, then please favourite/follow!

Update: The most common critique I've gotten is a lack of conflict in this chapter. Don't worry, there's plenty of conflict in the next few chapters, and a lot more to come. This is more of an introduction to let you see if you like my writing style and where the story is heading. Enjoy!

Chapter 1: A Change of Heart

The city of Vale quickly returned to normal only a few days following the events leading to Roman's arrest. Thanks to the efforts of teams RWBY, JNPR and CFVY, it was as if nothing had ever happened. People roamed the streets with their usual hurry, except for one lonely girl, who wandered the streets for no reason other than she had nowhere to go. It was particularly windy today, constantly blowing the girl's pink and brown hair into her face, where it stuck to her tear stained cheeks. Her right arm was in a sling, and her left held her umbrella as she continued to meander down the sidewalks. In her mind, she kept replaying the events of the previous day in the hope that somehow it would take her back there. Cinder hadn't taken lightly to her letting Yang survive their fight on the train, and blamed her for the plan's premature execution, failure and Roman's arrest. Their argument became a physical fight, ending with Cinder nearly killing Neo, injuring her arm, and expelling her from the organisation.

'What do I do now?' she thought. 'This is all I've ever known... I have nowhere else to go, no one to turn to...' Another tear welled in her eye at the thought of being completely alone now. She turned her gaze to the ground and continued to walk, replaying the memory once again. She was brought out of her thoughts when she collided with a girl walking the opposite way, the force nearly sending the small girl on her back.

"Hey, watch where you're walking!" shouted an irritated, yet eerily familiar voice.

Neo kept her eyes on the sidewalk, "Sorry miss." She hurried off to avoid anymore attention, but the girl called out to her again.

"Hey wait, you're that girl from the train!" Neo froze as she put a face to the voice, and slowly spun around to see a furious Yang, with Blake by her side.

'Oh shit, I need to leave now!' she thought in a panic, and took off sprinting down a nearby alley.

"Come back here!" Yang yelled after her, giving chase along with her partner. Neo was in no condition to fight anyone, let alone the pair she was up against, and continued to dash through the narrow pathways in search of somewhere to hide. She turned to look back at her pursuers as she rounded a corner, and was immediately met by a chain link fence when she faced forward again. She ran into it full force, knocking her to the ground just as Blake and Yang arrived to corner her. "Not so tough now are you?" Yang said, a wicked smile formed after seeing the look of fear in Neo's eyes.

"Wait, I can explain!" Neo said, backing up against the fence as the blonde slowly walked towards her.

Yang smirked, "I don't really wanna hear it. Last time we met, you tried to kill me, just returning the favour." The brawler's eyes glowed red as she armed her gauntlets. Neo stood up, her back still against the fence, and desperately looked to Blake to stop her partner. The Faunus only glared back, not making any effort to intervene. Yang pulled her arm back for a punch, and Neo covered her face with her uninjured arm.

"No, please! I don't work for them anymore!" she cried out and shut her eyes. She braced herself for the blow, but to her surprise it never came. Either that or dying wasn't as painful as she'd thought it would be. Hesitantly, she opened her eyes and lowered her arm, and saw Yang with a sceptical look on her face, and her arm still poised to strike.

"What do you mean?" Yang asked, lowering her arm. Blake walked over with the same sceptical look as her partner, and Neo started to explain.

"After Roman was arrested, I was blamed for the train leaving early because I didn't protect him well enough," she said, and then gestured to her injured arm. "We got into an argument, then it got physical, and... now I'm on my own." Neo's gaze turned to the ground again. "I've got nothing..."

Yang was still suspicious, but Blake's face had softened after hearing the girl's tale. Yang went to speak, but Blake's hand on her shoulder stopped her. "I think she's telling the truth," Blake said. Yang turned to her with a bit of shock.

"You'd believe her that easily?" Yang replied.

"I don't think she'd be casually strolling through Vale if she wasn't. But, we can find out for sure if you'd like."

"How?" Yang asked. Blake's turned back to Neo, who'd sat back down on the ground, once again on the verge of crying.

"Who blamed you?" Blake asked.

Neo looked up confused, "What?"

"You said someone blamed you, and did that to your arm. Who was it?" Blake repeated.

Neo returned to her feet, "Her name is Cinder. She raised me since I was little."

Blake turned to Yang with a smug grin. "I don't think she'd admit that if she were lying," she said, and Yang shrugged.

"I'm still not convinced," the blonde replied, and turned back to Neo. "Where were you walking to?"

Neo shook her head, "Nowhere I guess, I don't really know what to do now."

"Well, what do you want to do?" Blake asked, catching Neo by surprise.

"I... Well... I don't know. I've never not had someone giving me orders."

Blake shared a look with Yang, who gave an exasperated sigh. "You can't be serious?" the blonde asked, crossing her arms.

"Everyone deserves a second chance, Yang. I wouldn't be here if that weren't true," Blake replied, and Yang admitted defeat, though not happily.

"Fine. But if anything happens, it's on you."

Blake rolled her eyes and looked back at Neo, "Why don't you come back to Beacon with us? I'm sure Professor Ozpin will know what to do."

Neo was shocked, "Really? You'd do that?" Blake nodded, and Neo wiped her eyes. "I... I don't know what to say."

"Maybe thank you?" Yang interjected, earning a scowl from her partner.

Neo just smiled and started to blush. "Thank you, thank you so much," she said happily, not even phased by the blonde's sarcasm.

Blake smiled back, "Come on, let's get going."

The three left the alley and started back toward Beacon, Neo still in shock at Blake's generosity. 'I can't believe she'd be so nice to me. I haven't done anything that would make them inclined at all to believe me. I guess that's why the blonde wasn't as willing to listen,' she thought, then frowned. 'What did she say her name was?'

"So... What're your names?" Neo asked. The girls laughed, realising they'd never been properly introduced.

"I'm Blake, this is my partner, Yang," Blake said, and Yang gave a wave. "What about you? It starts with an 'N' right?"

"My name's Neapolitan, but I go by Neo. What about the rest of your team? I remember seeing a few others with you before."

"Ruby and Weiss," Yang answered somewhat dryly. "You can probably guess which is which."

Neo chuckled, and looked up at Yang, "I'm sorry about our last encounter, Yang. I hope there aren't any hard feelings?"

The blonde paused to think for a moment. "If you're leaving the rest of your past behind, then I suppose I can leave that behind too," she said, and Neo breathed a sigh of relief. "As long as you promise it won't happen again."

"I promise." They continued toward Beacon, acquainting Neo with the city and the school. She was still surprised at how friendly the two were being, but was relieved that she was being accepted. They finally arrived at Beacon, and Neo couldn't help but be in awe of the school.

"Beautiful isn't it?" Yang asked, and Neo nodded. Before she could say anything, a very energetic voice called out from behind them.

"Hey guys! What've you been up to?" They turned around as Nora skipped up to meet them, followed by a panting Ren.

"Oh, hey Nora," Blake answered. "We just got back from town. What about you?"

"We went for a jog," she answered cheerfully.

Ren rolled his eyes, "Nora, that was almost a half marathon."

She stuck her tongue out at him and turned back to the girls. "He's just being a baby. So who's your friend?" Nora asked.

"This is Neo. She's um... Visiting from outside the kingdom," Yang replied. "Neo, this is Nora and Ren."

Neo gave a shy smile, "It's nice to meet you."

"Pleasure to meet you too!" Nora said, excitedly shaking Neo's hand. Ren was much calmer, giving a simple nod. "Well, we'd better finish our jog. See ya later guys!"

"We're not done yet?!" Ren shouted as Nora ran off, and sprinted after her. Yang giggled and looked at Blake.

"Still don't think they'll be a couple?" she asked.

Blake just laughed, "Oh please, she'd kill Ren in a week if they were."

"Why do you say that?" Yang asked. Blake raised her eyebrows a few times, and the brawler eventually caught on to her meaning. "Ohhhh. Yeah, I can see that."

Blake rolled her eyes, "Anyway, let's get to Ozpin's office. It's in this building over here." They continued to walk finally arrived at Ozpin's office. Yang went up to the door after ascending the tall, spiral staircase and knocked.

"Come in," echoed a voice from inside. They opened the door and found the professor gazing out over the kingdom from his balcony.

"Good afternoon professor," Blake said.

"Afternoon," he replied, turning to that girls and taking a sip from his coffee mug. "What brings the three of you by?" Neo was a little surprised that he didn't react to seeing her here, but then again he probably didn't even know who she was. She sheepishly stayed behind Blake and Yang as they walked up the the professor's desk, as if she didn't want to draw any attention to herself.

"Well..." Yang started, but wasn't sure how to proceed. She turne