PROLOGUE:
Winter was fast approaching the world of Remnant. Leaves flew from the brilliant scarlet trees of Forever Fall forest drifting like flakes of snow onto the already leaf littered ground. Amongst the scattered leaves, beneath a great oaken tree sat a teenager covered in a long white sleeved shirt, several flying ravens adorned upon its side. Her back lay against the great tree as she rested in its shadow, the gentle breeze ruffling a black bow that sat snuggly upon her head.
Falling ever so quietly, a single leaf detached itself from the tree above and began its slow descent to the ground falling onto the ebony haired girl's forehead. Awoken from her peaceful slumber, Blake's eyes fluttered open, a rich gold trimmed with orange causing an effect that made it seem her eyes were glowing in the dim light.
Moving her arms slowly Blake began stretching them and started to gain her bearings. Looking around she breathed a sigh of relief. She was exactly where she had been when she had fallen asleep, she had not been kidnapped and taken, by the white fang or anyone else, unwillingly. Blake's blade lay by her side next to a small book covered in leather, that wasn't in her lap. Her moment of relief shattered and soon turned to horror as her eyes looked upon the book.
Snatching the book of the ground Blake held it tightly to her chest in fear her legs curling up to add another layer of protection. Leaving such an item out in the open so carelessly could have resulted in terrible things, if someone had stumbled upon the book and herself lying beneath that tree... Blake shuddered at the thought. That book contained secrets that no-one should EVER see.
No one's ever going to see them. Blake thought to reassure herself.
Blake stood up and sighed once more. Glancing around at her surroundings she checked for enemies before picking up Gambol Shroud and securing it to her back. Book in hand Blake began to walk in a southwesterly direction her end destination the city of Vale, but for now, its outer walls. Travelling underneath the dark canopies she passed nests of birds screeching in protest at her presence and flew straight at her to protect their young but found an impenetrable barrier between them and their intended target. After fruitless attempts, the birds finally flew back to their nests but still kept a watchful eye on Blake as she walked.
Blake opened her book and began skimming through its pages as to pass the time. As she did a leaf flew from one of the trees and lodged itself into one of the pages. Blake sighed in annoyance as she flicked back to that page to remove the leaf before closing it, but not before reading what was written on the pages.
'Mission report 374.
Today is the fourteenth of April and it is also the last time I will ever write one of these reports.
After surveying the designated area of Forever Fall forest we finally located the train tracks that the Schnee dust company would be using to transport their latest shipment of dust to Vale.
The mission was going smoothly, minor resistance from Atlesian Knights and one Spider Droid that gave trouble but was defeated by Adam after I distracted it allowing Adam to use his semblance against it.
The mission was to destroy all shipments of dust.
I abandoned the mission.
I have left the white fang. I shall never go back, not after what he said.
End Mission report.'
Blake stared blankly at those open pages. It was difficult to believe it had been a year since she had written those words, those words that now defined where she was in life. Blake closed the book and took a deep breath. That single report was one of the reasons it was so dangerous to leave that book out in the open because it revealed to things, that Blake was a part of the White Fang and ultimately a Faunus.
Four hours, Blake walked before reaching the edge of the forest by which time the sky was dark. Stars glimmered in its black embrace as a large white gate covered in machine guns and security camera's loomed over Blake as she approached it. The wall spanned as far as the eye could see.
As she approached the gate one of the many patrolling guards held up his hand motioning for Blake to stop.
"Alright I'm going to need to see your scroll to verify your identity and all, you know the drill. I still don't understand why you come out here every weekend."
Blake walked towards the guard and handed over her scroll folding her arms, her book still held tightly in her grip. "I don't understand why you became a lap dog to the military."
"Touché." The soldier replied chuckling softly at Blake's response as he scanned her scroll, "I'm just following procedure." He held out Blake's scroll before readjusting his weapon and scanning the border of the forest. Taking her scroll back Blake walked passed the guard without another word.
The great steel doors opened groaning in pain as they slid open on their rusted gears allowing Blake to enter the city. Soldiers walked left and right, changing shifts or patrolling the walls for any Grimm activity. Blake turned to watch as the metal doors clanged shut behind her, its locks whirring audibly as it secured itself. Blake walked through crowds of soldiers noting the tense atmosphere, it was so tense in fact, that many soldiers weren't even talking. Those that were speaking only whispered, causing any loud sounds, like Blake's shoes and the whirring of machinery to echo loudly.
Blake finally arrived at the train station that consisted only of a timetable and four benches. Sitting down, Blake began to wait for the final train bound for Vale to arrive. After a few minutes, the train finally arrived to allow Blake to board it.
The train rattled noisily on the tracks as it begun to pick up speed. The lights flickered on and off giving the empty carriage a gloomy look. Picking a seat located near the back end of the carriage, Blake sat down and begun to flick through her book. Moments passed and Blake quickly grew bored and so turned her gaze to the passing landscape speeding by, before dozing off unintentionally.
What seemed like a second to Blake was obviously much longer as the train had stopped and the lights of the station where flooding into the dark compartment. Looking around, her eyes half open, she noticed an old man shuffling about with a mop wiping the floor, a small trolley of cleaning supplies not too far away from him. Blake opened her eyes fully and looked out the window watching the city lights glowing in the darkness like a beacon.
Blake stood up, the automatic doors parting silently at her approach as she entered the streets of downtown Vale, the freezing night air hitting her ears and nose like needles causing her breath to fog as she traversed the still landscape. Taking out the leather book she held Blake began flicking through its pages once again, reading its contents for what seemed to be the thousandths time. As she walked towards her home, Blake walked past Tukson's book trade, pausing temporarily to observe the books on display, smiling at a certain book, before continuing on her way.
Suddenly Blake heard cries of distress from an alleyway nearby, scowling, Blake closed her book and began walking in the direction of the sound pausing at the edge of the alley. Peering into the dark confines of the alley Blake counted six people surrounding a lone child.
The men wore matching uniforms of green and orange carrying bats and swords of all different shapes and sizes, criminal thugs, obviously drunk and looking to vent their alcoholic impulses. Snickering one of the largest of the gang, obviously, the leader, approached the child who had promptly wet his pants. It was only then that Blake did notice the black tail tucked between his legs.
The hulking man held a cigarette in his teeth, breathing noxious chemicals over the child as he spoke to his allies. Whatever he said Blake had not heard but it must have been amusing because the other men laughed loudly and nodded their heads in agreement. Grabbing the child by the nape of his neck the man lifted him into the air, his feet dangling inches above the ground, before throwing him into a wall. The following sound of bones cracking sent a chill down Blake's spine as she watched the body collapse to the ground. If it wasn't for the slow rise and fall of his chest you wouldn't think anything but the child dead.
Suddenly a voice echoed through the alley and a woman with dark brown hair and green eyes walked towards the group of thugs clutching her stomach with one hand, blood streaming from the wide wound. At the sight of the child lying unconscious on the ground, the woman screamed.
"Jonathan! Jonathan wake up!"
Blake watched in horror as the woman began running towards the child and the many blades that the thugs held. At that point, Blake had had enough. As the man scowled in disgust and began to bring his sword down on the woman, its blade glinting viciously in the pale moonlight as it whistled through the air before Blake intercepted it. The blade ring shrilly as it hit Gambol Shroud, deflecting the weapon away from its intended target. The thugs instantly stopped laughing and looked at their new quarry. They were no longer fighting an unarmed and untrained enemy.
"What the?" The man looked bewildered as he looked at the filth that had blocked his killing blow.
Blake glared at the taller man her eyes glowing with fury rivalled only to that of a Grimm. Gambol Shroud glinted maliciously in her right hand as she stood low to the ground ready to fight as she addressed the man in the coldest and most furious voice she could muster.
"How dare you." Blake spat causing the men to flinch at the venom contained in her words. "How dare you try to strike down an unarmed child and mother?"
The men looked, temporarily bewildered as they glanced at each other before regaining their composure, awaiting their leader's further instruction. However, their leader was currently shaking with rage, evidently furious at being denied his kill and unable to relay orders. "And why should such things concern a little girl like you?" The man looked down at Blake coldly as he flicked his sword impatiently.
"I want to know who and why six men are attacking a child and a woman before I beat them into unrecognizable pulps," Blake replied coolly as she stepped forward.
The bulkier man simply laughed at Blake, his voice echoing off the alley walls. "Since you're so young I'll be willing to humour you. This woman is married to a Faunus and that broken pile of garbage is the dog's offspring. It's evident that you do not know what the Faunus are, what they represent and what they have done, so allow me to educate you." With that the man charged at Blake unprovoked, swiping his sword at her with an amateur's hand.
It was almost comical how easy Blake could dodge and defend herself from the elder man. For all the talk and taunting he had dished out he was severely lacking in any actual skill. Blake watched in enjoyment as the man before her began to sweat and pant as she toyed with him.
Minutes went by as Blake toyed with the leader, his men not daring to join him in fear of their lives. Twice, the men had tried to join in but their leader had shot them vicious looks that said: "this is my fight" causing them to file back into their tight-knit group.
Blake watched the man, her brow furrowing in concentration as she tried to discern his motives, however, her train of thought was short lived as a blade whizzed through the air in her direction, but not at her. No, the weapon was intended for someone else, someone specifically sitting behind her.
In sudden realisation, Blake planted her foot on the ground twisting her torso as she threw her own blade watching it soar through the air just in time to deflect it just enough to cause a light scar along the women's cheek. Blake began to breathe heavily, her body shaking uncontrollably as she turned slowly to the weaponless and defenceless man.
In the blink of an eye, Blake was upon him. Fear filled his eyes as the black and white clad demon stood before him, her golden orbs captivating his entire vision, glowing like brighter every second in the dark.
Moments later, the first blow landed in what could only be described according to the victim, as a thousand dust infused darts piercing his torso. What followed had left the man in quite the bloody mess.
As blow after blow struck the man, his fellow gang members began to quiver in fear, not daring to approach the man that was once their invincible leader. The one they had idolised, had now fallen unconscious after the third blow to his stomach. They watched in horror as blood began to gather at the edges of his mouth, as the sound of fist hitting flesh echoed through the air, pushing them over the edge and causing them to turn tail and run.
Dropping the man's body to the floor Blake kicked it once more for good measure, an animalistic look in her eye as she panted out of breath. Suddenly a hand touched Blake's shoulder causing her to spin around rapidly and grab the hand. Holding the unknown fist Blake prepared to attack, raising her fists into a defensive position before seeing who was holding her hand.
Eyes widening Blake looked at the Mother who was clutching her stomach while looking at Blake with mountains of affection and understanding. "It's alright. They're gone, you've saved my child and myself." The woman smiled weakly at Blake before dropping to the ground snapping Blake into reality.
Grabbing the hem of her large white shirt Blake began tearing strips off, wrapping and applying pressure to the wound that was now surrounded by a ghostly green hue. "You'll be okay. I know you will, you have your son Jonathan, just stay with me and we'll get you out of here." Blake looked around rapidly. "Do you have a scroll or anything I can use to contact the authorities?" Desperately, Blake looked at the woman's pale face desperately for an answer and was rewarded with a curt nod and a finger pointing towards her pocket.
Taking the phone out of the woman's pocket, with bloodied hands, Blake began to type in the Vale Hospital department's phone number smearing the screen red. Raising the phone to her ear Blake waited, for what seemed like aeons, for someone to pick up the phone. After a tense moment of silence, a woman with a light polite voice picked up the phone.
"Hello, this is the Vale Hospital department, how can I help you?"
"Hello, I need an ambulance immediately. There are three injured victims; one Faunus child unconscious, the child has received massive physical trauma and needs immediate attention, one middle-aged Mother with an open wound on her left abdomen and a gang member –one of six- that inflicted the injuries. This man is unconscious and may have internal bleeding." Blake listed all the information out to the nurse, barely pausing as she spoke, before walking out of the alley to check the street lights. "The location is Lower Vale, Aster Street in a secluded alley between a cloth store called Mary's apparel and a music store called Dizzy's Tracks."
"Excuse me, but you haven't told me your name. Could you pl-"
"No I cannot, just send an ambulance." With that Blake pressed the end call button and returned the scroll to the woman. Moving to the boy, Blake gently lifted him up into her arms and set him gently against a wall beside his mother. Blake turned to the woman who looked barely conscious. "The ambulance will be here soon, you'll safe." Blake smiled softly before turning to leave her blood stained shirt flapping silently in the feeble wind.
Suddenly a voice called out quietly behind her. "Please wait. I don't even know the name of who saved me." Sheathing Gambol Shroud, Blake turned to face the weakened body of the woman, her gaze flickering away from the horrendous sight.
"I can't tell you." Blake replied softly as she looked at the woman her golden eyes analysing every detail of the scene before her.
The woman sighed. "I understand, but one could hope. Are you a huntress?" The mother gazed up at Blake questioningly, captivating Blake.
"No," Blake replied flatly as she watched the mother struggle for breath. "I'm not."
"You should consider it." She spoke so softly that Blake would never have thought she had spoken at all if it had not been for the brilliant smile staring up at her. "Please, take these as a token of our appreciation." The woman reached deep into her pockets and pulled out two items, a pendant of a panther's paw and a ribbon the most beautiful shade of purple Blake had seen. "It's the least I can do." Blake took the items wordlessly her mouth agape. "The pendant is my son's, he always wanted to give it away to the first Hunter or Huntress he met and the ribbon is mine. It would look much nicer as a bow than just an armband don't you think?"
Blake smiled her eyes tearing up slightly. She ought to say something, a kind remark but words failed her as she looked at the two items in her hands before looking back to the mother who just continued to smile before uttering one word. "Go."
Blake sniffled and wiped away the few tears on her face, looking down at the two ornaments before pulling them towards her chest and whispering, "Thank you..." before disappearing into the dark shadows of the night.
So that was my Prologue. See you later. Possibly.
