No questions this time so lets get right into it.
-Morning, City of Vale-
Last night was certainly… Tense. Between an intense argument, a wild parfume chase, a backstreet alley fight and surprising revelations; it was far from the peaceful night Kai wanted. He just had to help Weiss, didn't he? He just had to get attached to these people? And now here he was: broke, tired and uncomfortable sitting in on Remnants most awkward coffee morning.
Kai, Blake, Sun and Weiss were sitting on the roof of a coffee shop, each with a drink (whether that be tea, coffee or hot chocolate). Despite being forced to stay together in the city that night Blake and Weiss had hardly spoken to each other, they mainly just thought to themselves. Sun and Kai however…
"Thanks again for chipping in Sun." Kai thanked.
"It's no problem, if you really want to thank me though, you could drink it." Sun suggested.
"Not yet, it's too hot."
"It's been twenty minutes dude."
"And normally I have to wait thirty. It's the price to pay for not burning off my taste buds."
The two smiled and chuckled before noticing their female companions were silent.
"So, are you two gonna talk or?" Sun asked cautiously.
"I wouldn't force it, given how… Their last conversation went." Kai took a sip of his drink before placing it down quickly.
'Curse my temperature sensitive palette.' Kai thought.
Blake took a deep breath and placed her cup down. "So. I guess you wanna know more about me."
"That would be an understatement." Weiss said coldly.
"Finally, she speaks!" Sun thanked. "Ever since I've met you, you've given me nothing but small talk and weird looks." Blake narrowed her eyes. "Ya! Like that."
Blake rolled her eyes. "I'm sure I don't need to ask you Weiss' but… Are you two familiar with the White Fang?"
"We're really bringing that up again." Weiss complained, and Kai jabbed her. "Hey!"
"Of course! I don't think there's a faunus on the planet who hasn't heard of them. Stupid, holier- than- thou creeps that use force to get whatever they want. Bunch of freaks if you ask me." Sun answered.
Kai nodded. "Ditto."
Blake sipped her drink. "I was… Once a member of the White Fang."
Sun choked on his drink and Weiss tensed up. She was about to say something when Kai tightly grabbed her arm.
"We came all this way to find her. Let her explain herself." Kai released her arm and Weiss rubbed it while looking at Blake with a sour expression.
"Wait a minute, you were a member of the White Fang?" Sun asked.
"That's right. I was a member for most of my life actually. You could almost say I was born into it." Blake replied calmly. "Back then, things were different. In the ashes of war, the White Fang was meant to be a symbol of peace and unity between humans and faunus. Of course, despite being promised equality, the faunus were subjugated to discrimination and hate. Humanity still thought of us as lesser beings. And so, the White Fang rose up as a voice of our people. And I was there. I was at the front of every rally. I took part in every boycott. And I actually thought we were making a difference… But I was just a youthful optimist… Then, five years ago, our leader stepped down, and a new one took his place. A new leader with a new way of thinking. Suddenly our peaceful protests were being replaced with organized attacks. We were setting fires to shops that refused to serve us. Hijacking cargo from companies that used faunus labor. And the worst part was? It was working. We were being treated like equals. But not out of respect… Out of fear. So, I left. I decided I no longer wanted to use my skills to aid in their violence. And instead, I would dedicate my life to becoming a Huntress. So here I am a criminal hiding in plain view. All with the help of a little black bow."
Kai looked down solemnly. "I'm sorry."
"Don't be it wasn't your fault. After you defended Velvet I knew that you actually cared, unlike others who would just sit and watch."
Weiss abruptly got up from her seat. "I need to think…" Was all she said as she walked away, Blake looked into her cup and Kai knew that there was no point in trying to stop her.
"So… Have you told any more of your friends about this?" Sun asked.
"Blaaake?!"
"Weiiis?!"
Ruby and Yang were walking through the city trying to find their teammates. After spending most of the night looking for them, they were disappointed to learn that not only had Blake not returned but also that Weiss had also gone missing.
"Blaaake?! Weiiis?! Where are yooouuu?!" Ruby shouted.
"Blake! Weiss!" Yang shouted.
"Where do you think they could've gone off too?"
"I don't know. Blake disappearing was one thing but Weiss… Opening up about her past must have hurt her more than we thought. Wait! Didn't you tell Weiss to have Kai help us look for Blake last night?"
"I already checked! He wasn't opening his door, maybe he was still sorting out his own problems like he said." Ruby sighed. "Maybe… I think sending Weiss to get Kai was a bad idea."
"And I think Ruby's hair looks wonderful today!"
Ruby and Yang turned around in surprise to see Penny. "Agh! Penny! Where did you come from!?"
"Hey guys. What are you up to?"
"Uuuhhhhh…"
"We're looking for our friends Weiss and Blake." Yang answered.
"Oooh! You mean the skirt girl and the faunus girl!" Penny understood.
Ruby and Yang blinked twice in surprise. "Wait. How did you know that?" Ruby asked.
"Well she was wearing a skirt yesterday-"
"Not that! About Blake being a you- know- what."
"Uh, the cat ears?"
"What cat ears? She wears a… Bow…" Yang realized as she and Ruby remained silent as a tumbleweed rolled by.
"She does like tuna a lot." Ruby whispered.
"So, where are they?" Penny asked.
"We don't know. They've been missing since Friday."
Penny gasped. "That's terrible! Well don't worry Ruby, my friend! I won't rest until we find your teammates."
"Uh, that's really nice of you Penny, uh but we're- we're okay. Really. Right Yang?"
"Uh y- yeah. We wouldn't want to trouble you or anything." Yang excused.
"Nonsense. Helping friends out is what friends are for." Penny cheerfully stated. Ruby and Yang couldn't think of anything to make her leave so an awkward silence filled the air, interrupted by the wind making the tumbleweed roll back from whence it came. "It sure is windy today."
Weiss was walking out of the coffee shop, after learning that her teammate was a member of the group that she hated, she felt conflicted and just wanted to get away. She walked out of the door and onto the street as she started walking down the path.
"Farewell Miss Schnee."
Weiss stopped in place and looked around. "Who said my name? Where are you?"
"Do not panic Miss Schnee, I cannot come out but if you wish to see me, merely look into the nearby alley.
Weiss hesitated for a moment but curiosity came over her and she walked into the nearby alley, once she was in there she could clearly see who was talking to her.
"Oh, it's you… Lucario wasn't it?"
"Yes, it is. I apologize for startling you."
"I wasn't startled!"
"I'm fairly certain you were." Lucario and Weiss stood quietly in the alley as the wind blew and a familiar tumbleweed rolled in. "You were leaving."
"Y- yes I was. Until you stopped me by talking to me." Weiss explained hesitantly.
"I merely said my goodbyes, I was not meaning to engage in a conversation." Lucario corrected.
"Oh…" Weiss looked away awkwardly.
"You seem distressed, do you wish to talk?"
"I doubt you would understand."
Lucario exhaled quietly before closing his eyes and raising his paw. "You're conflicted."
Weiss turned back in shock. "What-?"
"A strong emotional attachment from your past is conflicting with a recent emotional attachment, this has made you: scared, distressed, angry, annoyed, depressed… And yet there is a strong feeling of neutrality. Or at least a wish to be neutral." Lucario lowered his paw and opened his eyes. "Was I correct?" Lucario explained.
"… How did you do that?"
"Human beings are incapable of hiding their true emotions as long as one can read them. As many could read a face, I can read your aura and it tells me all of your feelings. I can even link your feelings to your thoughts and memories."
"… My thoughts and memories." Weiss repeated.
"Yes… Would you like me to tell you what Miss Belladonna is feeling?"
"No! That would be an invasion of privacy." Weiss refused.
"You really don't want to know?"
"Of course not."
"Please don't waste my time, your aura is telling me you clearly want to know, so just ask."
"… Well it wouldn't hurt to take a peak." Weiss admitted.
"I'll take that as a yes." Lucario closed his eyes and searched for Blake's aura. "Hmm, yes very interesting."
"What is it?"
"It appears that Miss Belladonna is conflicted. A strong emotional attachment from her past is conflicting with a recent emotional attachment, this has made her-"
"You're just repeating what you said about my aura."
Lucario opened his eyes. "Exactly."
Weiss was confused but her face lit up when she understood.
"Oh..."
Lucario nodded. "It's hardly a surprise. Both of you were personally affected from a young age, causing you to have your own personal outlooks. You may disagree but you are two sides of the same coin, yin and yang, truth and ambition, black and white." Lucario started walking away from Weiss. "Miss Rose and Miss Xiao Long are just across the alley, if you hurry you may catch up with them."
"Wait!" Weiss cried and Lucario stopped. "Do you think… We can get past this?"
"I do not know… But perhaps if you can, that may be enough." Lucario left the alley leaving Weiss alone to think.
Blake, Sun and Kai were walking down the street in the middle of town.
"So, what's the plan now?" Sun asked with his hands behind his head.
"I still don't believe the White Fang is behind these dust robberies. They've never needed that much Dust before." Blake explained.
"What if they did? I mean… The only way to prove that they didn't do it, is to go to the place where they would most likely go to if they were to do it, and not find them there… Right?"
"I don't think that's how that works Sun. Even if we don't see them do it this time, that doesn't guarantee they didn't do it any of the other times." Kai critiqued. "Buuut, I haven't got anything better, so it's a start."
"The only thing is, I have no idea where that would be." Blake stated.
"Well, they're after Dust so: maybe a shop that hasn't been robbed yet, or a maybe a shipment." Kai suggested.
"The shipment seems more likely, but we have no idea when one might come in."
"There's a large freighter coming in later today."
The three of them turned around to see Weiss and Lucario behind them.
"Weiss!" Blake cried out surprised.
"How long were you two back there?" Sun asked.
"Around three and a half minutes after you left the coffee shop." Lucario answered.
"But to answer your question, Atlas is sending a shipment today in a few hours. Straight from the Schnee Dust company itself." Weiss explained.
"And how do you know this?" Kai asked.
"I am the heiress to the company. I try to keep updated on all business affairs when possible."
"And you're okay with this?" Blake asked suspiciously.
"If doing this will finally get you to come back with us; then sure, why not? Somebody needs to be the voice of reason."
"And you're sure that it's coming today?"
"Of course, I'm sure."
Everyone remained silent before Blake sighed. "Then let's get moving, we're wasting time."
"Woo! Stakeout! The four of us are just like Junior detectives!" Sun said enthusiastically. "Or are we more like the mystery bunch, you know: two girls, two guys one with blond hair one with brown… A talking dog."
"Please don't refer to me in that way. I find it very degrading." Lucario commented.
"Woah! Sorry dude! No offence."
"None taken."
Blake and Weiss both scoffed and walked on ahead, Sun soon following as Kai turned to Lucario.
"What did you say to her?" Kai asked.
"I merely gave her some perspective." Lucario answered. "However, if I may be so bold… Your aura signifies that you are unsure about this."
Kai sighed. "Blake still thinks the White Fang are innocent, and from my confrontation with Torchwick five weeks ago, I know that's not true. She's gonna be devastated when she finds out."
"I see. No matter, when the time comes I'm sure Miss Belladonna will be able to accept this fact and move on."
"How do you know?"
"Because when the time comes, she'll have people who she can rely on to pick her back up." Lucario stated as he walked forward. Kai looked at Weiss, Sun and Lucario close to Blake and he started catching up.
'She really does.' Kai thought.
Elsewhere Penny and Ruby were waiting on the street as Yang came out of a building.
"Thanks anyways!" Yang said when she closed the door and scoffed. "This is hopeless."
"We can't give up yet!" Ruby declared.
"So, are Blake and Weiss your friends?" Penny asked.
Ruby sighed. "Yes Penny."
"But you're mad at them?"
"Yes! W- well I'm not, but the two of them are mad, with each other."
"It's complicated." Yang said bluntly.
"Are Weiss and Blake friends?" Penny asked.
"Well that's kind of up in the air right now." Ruby answered.
"But, why?"
Ruby sighed and Yang started explaining. "Well you see, Blake might not be who we thought she was."
Penny gasped. "Is she a man?" She whispered.
Yang chuckled quietly while Ruby raised her hands. "No, no, Penny, she's n- I don't know what she is. She didn't exactly talk to us before she ran off."
"And based on how the two argued, we don't know if Weiss would like what she is." Yang added.
"I don't have a lot of friends, but if I did, I would want them to talk to me about things." Penny explained, making Yang and Ruby looked down in thought.
"Me too." Ruby said.
A few hours later…
Blake, Weiss and Kai were lying down on one of the docks many warehouses waiting for something to happen. Lucario was in a crouched meditating position sensing for any adversary aura signatures.
"Did I miss anything?" Sun asked as he appeared from out of nowhere.
"Yeah you did, that's why we're still lying here after several hours." Kai sarcastically replied.
"Yeah, I can't tell if you're being serious or not."
Kai gave Sun a 'really' look and Blake turned to see him.
"Not really. They've offloaded all the crates from the boat. Now they're just sitting there." Blake explained.
"Right gotcha." Sun held out an apple from a pile over his other arm. "Stole you guys some food."
"It is very hard to get to trust you, when you keep breaking the law each time we meet." Weiss stated coldly.
"Okay, that time I knew you were being serious."
Weiss gave Sun an upset look when the sound of splashing water got their attention, they saw the water had just been disturbed and puddles were on the docks pavement.
"What was that?" Weiss asked.
"Careful, someone might have spotted us." Blake stated.
"While I can assure you we've been spotted, they are of no threat." Lucario explained.
"And how do you know that?" Weiss asked suspiciously.
A wet slap was heard behind them and everyone looked behind them to see Greninja dripping wet.
"What, you're acting like you've never seen a Water Type wet before." He judged.
"Technically they haven't." Lucario stated without turning around or opening his eyes.
"Good point- hey are those apples for us?"
Greninja looked at Sun, and Sun threw an apple to Greninja which he gladly started to eat.
"Those were stolen you know." Weiss said coldly.
"I could get an apple off a tree for free, who are the real criminals here?"
"I like the way you think frog-dude." Sun complimented.
"Why thank you, Infernape guy." The two then fist (well fist/clenched front foot) bumped.
"Technically, in order for you to be eating that apple it must have been grown on private land by a farmer." Lucario started to explain. "That apple would have been one of many that would have been sold to a supplier who would have sold it to a shop or market in exchange for-"
"I wasn't asking for an explanation of economics, Lucario."
"I was merely trying to explain why stealing an apple is considered an illegal act."
"Is he always like that?" Sun asked.
"You mean a serious know-it-all. Oh yeah! And I have to live with him" Greninja told Sun.
"That's rough buddy."
"I know, I know." Greninja repeated softly as Sun patted his back.
"Why are you even out here?" Blake asked.
"I asked him to help out." Kai answered.
"With what?" Weiss interrupted.
"To check if this was an inside job!" Greninja started to explain. "It's no big deal I just: swam out into unknown waters, boarded the boat without a ladder, searched and eavesdropped it without getting caught and made my escape! No thanks are necessary, did I leave anything out Lucario?"
"Only that you've spent the last couple of hours swimming instead of reporting back to us." Lucario answered.
"… Nobody should be allowed to have these powers."
"Well did you find anything at least?" Blake asked.
"Nada. The place was as clean as I am."
"Well given how the water is untreated and comes from the outside-" Lucario started to say.
"I've just been swimming in there, don't tell me how dirty it might have been!"
"It was your own fault for wasting time." Lucario stated before opening his eyes and getting up. "Be quiet!"
"I hadn't even said anything back… Yet."
"I said quiet! Someone's coming, and fast!"
"Where I don't see anyone around us?" Kai said.
"They're coming from behind us… And above us."
"Above us?" Sun asked confused when the sound of turbine engines and a gust of wind caused everyone to lower their heads. A Bullhead ship flashed it's search lights and landed in the middle of the shipping containers. It opened to let out several familiar looking masked figures.
"Oh no." Blake stated seriously.
"Is that them?" Sun asked before seeing the symbol on one of the members backs.
"Yes. It's them."
The White Fang members walked out of the ship and while one holding a gun gave orders. "Alright. Grab the tow cables."
"You really didn't think they were behind it, did you?"
"No. I think deep down I knew. I just didn't want to be right.
"Blake…" Weiss started to say.
Lucario growled and turned to Greninja. "Greninja, please refrain yourself from making any rash decisions. As difficult as that may be for you."
"What are you talking about? I wasn't going to just jump out there." Greninja defended. "Honestly what do you take me-"
"Hey! What's the hold up?" A familiar man in a bowler hat walked out of the ship. "We're not exactly the most inconspicuous bunch of thieves at the moment, sooo why don't you animals try to pick up the pace."
"Torchwick!" Kai and Greninja both gasped.
"Wait you know that guy?" Sun asked.
"Oh, yeah we do! I've been waiting a long time for this!" Greninja cheered as he got up, only for Lucario to grab him. "Lucario!"
"Please remain calm Greninja! I understand that this is personal for you, but we must plan our next step carefully, it was not your fault he got away." Lucario explained.
"Lucario's right Greninja, settle down." Kai agreed.
"W- What?! Are you serious right now?! We have a chance to stop him here! And we're not gonna take it! After he hurt you!" Greninja argued.
"Greninja…"
"This isn't right." Blake interrupted. "The White Fang would never work with a human. Especially not one like that."
"Well you were wrong about them before." Weiss argued.
"This is different! Humans are forbidden to be a part of the White Fang especially after it was taken over. The fact he's here with them… It's taboo."
"Then just take a moment to think about why he's with them."
"There's no time for that." Blake got up and unsheathed her sword.
"Hey what are you doing?!" Sun shouted as Blake walked off the edge of the building.
"Oh, forget this!" Greninja declared, pulling himself free and jumping into the shadows.
"Greninja!" Kai called out.
"This is not good. We need to stop them now! Before they do anything drastic!" Lucario warned.
"Then we need to hurry!" Weiss agreed.
Blake meanwhile had snuck her way around the containers and was observing a conversation between Torchwick and one of the White Fang members holding a long cable.
"No, you idiot! This isn't a leash!" He berated as Blake appeared behind him with her sword to his throat. "What the-? Oh, for f-"
"Nobody move!" Blake demanded as several members brought out guns and swords in retaliation.
"Woah! Take it easy little lady." Torchwick reasoned, as Blake was getting surrounded she took her bow off revealing her faunus nature.
"Brothers of the White Fang. Why are you aiding this scum?" Upon seeing Blake as a faunus the White Fang lowered their weapons and dropped their guard.
"Huh, oh kid. Didn't you get the memo?"
"What are you talking about?"
"The White Fang and I are going in on a joint business venture together."
"Tell me what it is or I'll put an end to your little operation." A powerful gust forced Blake's head down as the sound or engines filled the air.
"I wouldn't exactly call it a little operation."
Two more Bullheads came in and Blake looked at them in surprise, Torchwick smirked seeing an opportunity and aimed his cane at Blake's feet.
"Mine- mine- mine- mine- mine- mine- mine- mine- mine-"
A repetitive voice distracted the White Fang members, Torchwick and Blake as they looked for its source.
"Okay, does anyone else hear that?" Torchwick asked.
"It sounds like it's getting closer." A White Fang member added.
"And it sounds a lot like-" Blake whispered as a swift Aerial Ace kick to Torchwick's face knocking him into the air before a blue blur with a trailing golden light delivered a second downward swipe knocking him to the ground.
"Mine." Greninja said calmly.
"Wait a minute!" One of the White Fang members shouted. "That looks like the thing that took down four of our members several weeks ago! I didn't know it could talk!"
Upon hearing that last part Greninja facepalmed and groaned. "Oh, dear Arceus I did it again."
"Wait! You attacked the White Fang!" Blake accused.
"Oh, right, yeah, that. Short version, they were picking on some guy who we were gonna threaten to give us a place to stay so we beat them up- but! It all worked ooout."
Blake scowled at Greninja who just shrugged as the sound of a gunshot caught their immediate attention.
Meanwhile in the city an explosion was heard and Ruby, Yang and Penny looked to see smoke in the distance.
"Oh no." Ruby said direly.
Back at the docks Greninja and Blake were unharmed as they saw Torchwick lying down with a smoking cane pointing upwards.
"Hah! Ya missed!" Greninja taunted, only to be met with Torchwick grinning. Blakes eyes narrowed and looked upwards as a chain broke causing a shipping container to start falling onto them.
"Look out!" Blake warned.
Greninja looked up. "Oh, nuts!" A white snowflake glyph appeared floating next to them causing them to look to the side. "What the-?" The two of them were magically shoved out of the way of the container causing it to crash on no one, making Torchwick frown as he got up and aimed at the two of them again.
"Lucario use Dark Pulse!"
A dark wave collided with Torchwick pushing him away as he turned to see Kai and Lucario facing him, before looking back and seeing Weiss and Sun with Blake and Greninja.
"Are you okay?" Weiss asked Blake concerned.
"Thanks to you." Blake answered gratefully.
Torchwick looked back to Kai. "Well, well, well Boy Scout. Fancy meeting you here."
"Cut the chit- chat Torchwick. Turn yourself in and things won't have to get violent." Kai ordered. "And when I say get violent, I really mean get violent for you."
"Well you talk a big game Boy Scout. Let's see if you can back it up." Torchwick started firing his cane rapid fire at the trainer and his Pokémon.
"Lucario retreat!"
"Of course!" Lucario followed, as the two of them narrowly dodged several explosions making their way behind some shipping containers, where Blake and the others met up with them avoiding gun fire.
"Oh, hey guys! Fancy meeting you here." Greninja commented.
"What were you thinking?" Lucario angrily prodded. "Your reckless actions almost got us killed!"
"Hey, hey, hey. I was just following Blake's lead."
"And that was dumb move, you should have realized that."
"Hey!" Blake defended.
"I mean he does have a point." Sun agreed, as Blake looked at him with a sour expression.
"However, I didn't warn Miss Belladonna not to engage. I specifically told you not to rush in!"
"And if I didn't Blake would have gotten shot in the foot! Don't tell me you didn't notice his cane!" Greninja argued.
"Her aura would have taken the hit! What it wouldn't have taken was getting crushed under tons of weight from a shipping container!"
"Well then maybe you should have covered us before he shot the chain off!"
"Is this really the best time for you two to be arguing?!" Kai rhetorically asked.
An explosion went of close to them and they turned to see Torchwick and two White Fang members with guns pointed on them. Blake used a shadow copy and Weiss used a glyph to propel themselves away as Kai pointed at the members.
"Greninja Water Shuriken! Lucario Aura Sphere!"
Before the members could react, they were swiftly taken down by shuriken's or an aura projectile, Torchwick got a banana peel thrown at him distracting him from firing, he removed it and got kicked in the face knocking him back.
"You're not getting near them." Sun threatened.
Lucario turned to Greninja. "We'll talk about this later."
"Yeah, yeah. I'm irresponsible and don't think things through. You've given me this speech a million times." Greninja replied making Lucario grin.
"Then after I've cleaned up your mess, I will tell you for the million- and- first time."
"Oh, now it's on!"
More White Fang members surrounded them and Kai adjusted his hat.
"All right guys, keep aware of your surroundings, don't get caught out by one of them getting the jump on you." Kai suggested, making Greninja and Lucario nod. "All right then. Greninja Night Slash! And Lucario Bone Rush!"
The two Pokémon formed their energy weapons and got in defensive stances ready to strike.
'Let's go!' Kai thought with a smile.
And that's the chapter, gotta love cliff-hangers am I right, Volume 5 did. But regardless the next Chapter is a very important one for the story in terms of its plot and its future. I mentioned all the way back in the prologue that I have pre-written a bunch of chapters so that I could post them on here week by week like a TV show. The next chapter... Is the last. So I suppose you can consider it the act one finale so to speak. So whatever you do, don't miss next weeks conclusion to the 'Semi-Volume 1 arc' and the end of act one as well as the future of the story.
Until then this is Kallerston signing out!