Chapter 19

Neo sat with her back against the wall outside of Ozpin's office. She'd arrived nearly thirty minutes earlier, but was told to wait, as the headmaster was in the middle of a very important conference. She considered leaving a few times as the wait drag on since it wasn't Ozpin she was actually looking for. Her intention was to find General Ironwood, but seeing as she has no idea where he stayed when he visited, or if he were even still at the school right now, here seemed like a good place to start asking.

I don't know why I'm even bothering, she thought, feeling on the verge of falling asleep. Even if I find him there's nothing I can say that'll change his mind about letting me into the tournament. Why do I care in the first place? Sure, it's a pretty big event, but it's not like I'm not about to win, or even take a medal. I'll be lucky to make it past the first round judging by what I've seen of the competition from the other schools. No, I have to at least try. I can tell how much Weiss and the rest of the team want me to compete, I can't give up so easily. If I'd done that before, I wouldn't be here.

She groaned and leant her head back against the wall, hoping that she'd be let in soon. It didn't help that she was still somewhat tired from last night, not that she minded, and soon that got the better of her. She tilted to the side and laid down on the floor, resting her head on her hands as a makeshift pillow, and nodded off. "Is there something I can help you with?" Professor Ozpin asked as he exited his office another ten minutes later, tapping her on the shoulder to rouse her.

"Wha...?" Neo asked groggilly, wiping a bit of drool off her chin. "Oh, good morning professor!"

He nodded, taking a drink from his mug, "Good morning to you. I take it you have something important to see me for, otherwise I can't imagine you having waited this long."

"Fairly important, I guess," she said as she returned to her feet. "I'm looking for General Ironwood."

As if on cue, the general walked through the office doors and stood beside Ozpin, "And why would you need to see me?"

Neo gulped nervously, not expecting their encounter to come so soon, "I uh... I wanted to ask you to please reconsider my entry in the tournament."

"I'm sorry, but my decision is final," he replied coldly.

"Please? I've been working so hard to stay ahead in my classes, I want to show what I'm capable of!"

Ozpin took the opportunity to interject and help her cause, "Come to think of it, your exam scores have been extraordinarily high for someone with no prior schooling."

"Thank you professor, it just takes a lot of time in the library," Neo smiled. "That and Weiss is a really good teacher."

"I believe it," Ozpin smiled back.

Ironwood, of course, didn't see any reason to smile, "Enough. This has nothing to do with grades. While I don't necessarily believe you are a direct threat to the festival, your presence in the tournament could still result in chaos."

"I don't see how..." Neo trailed off before giving the general a quizzical look. "Wait, are you saying... you don't think I'm still with Cinder?"

"Correct, I don't," he replied with a slightly warmer tone than before. "While I know that Ozpin's watch on you ended weeks ago, mine continued until just last night. I've seen enough to believe that you are truly here for the reasons you say you are."

"Thank you sir. That means a lot from..." she began, but trailed off again. A question came to her mind that she already knew the answer to, but still had to ask. "Umm... Just out of curiosity, what made you stop your watch over me?"

"I think you know exactly why. To answer your next question, no, my informant did not stay to witness your... amorous activities. Anyway, returning to the original matter. I need you to understand that I don't want you to compete because I fear it will make you a target, even more than you likely already are. The safety of everyone is my highest concern, and I won't put you in danger if I believe I can avoid it."

Neo's face fell, and Ozpin decided to give it one more try, "James, let's be honest. If they already intend to harm her, then whether or not she participates is irrelevant. And if they don't, then her participation is highly unlikely to distract them from whatever it is they are already planning. What are you truly gaining by not letting her compete?"

"You would make the same decision were you in my position. I'd be risking too much, including both of our positions here."

"Then I have one final proposal: Should anything happen because of her participation, I will assume full responsibility for it. I have enough faith in her that I am willing to take that risk upon myself."

The room went quiet. Ironwood and Neo were both stunned by the headmaster's offer, and Neo spoke in almost a whisper, "You would do that for me?"

Ozpin nodded and turned back to his colleague, "It's your decision, James. I won't push any further should you still say no."

With a heavy sigh, the general shook his head, and looked at Neo with a faint grin, "Very well. But, I will hold you to your word, Ozpin. Neo, I'll see that you are entered in the tournament by the end of the day. Good luck."

Neo was speechless, but only for a brief moment before sprinting forward and wrapping Ironwood in a hug, "Thank you thank you thank you! I promise nothing will happen, and I haven't broken a promise yet!"

He smiled as she broke the embrace, "Let's just hope that streak holds." With that, he turned and walked down the stairs.

Neo looked up at Ozpin, almost unable to contain herself, "Thank you so much professor. I still can't believe you'd do that for me."

"I stand by all of my students," he said, and started back into his office. "Now then, I expect your teammates will be wanting to hear the good news. I'll see you Friday at the tournament."

Neo nodded and rushed off to inform the team.