Family
"Ow!" Sienna hissed, "Watch it!"
"Don't you take that tone with me, little sister," Kali scolded, as she finished tying the bandages, "I knew this would happen sooner or later." Sienna just grunted, as she looked away. Upon seeing that, Kali sighed, as she put a hand on her shoulder.
"I am glad you're okay," she said softly. Sienna looked up at her sister, and sighed.
"Same here, Kali," she said. They were in Ghira's office, while he was out to meet with the head of the Menagerie law enforcement, with Sienna lying back on the couch there. Meanwhile, Blake and Sun watched from the side, as the monkey briefly leaned into his friend.
"So those two are related?" he asked.
"They are," Blake confirmed, looking at him, "Why?"
"Nothing," Sun said with a slight shrug, "Just they don't look much alike."
"Have you even met Ruby and Yang?" Blake asked sarcastically, frowning at him.
"Good point," Sun said after a brief pause.
"Blake!" Sienna called slightly, trying to sit up, only for her sister to push her back down. Having known this was coming, Blake took a breath, and slowly approached the bed where her aunt lay, her mother stepping aside.
"Hey Sienna," she said.
"Just 'Sienna'?" the tigress asked, with a weak smile, "Is that anyway for a niece to talk to her aunt?" Blake was silent, as she stared at the floor, really unsure what to say. With that, Sienna decided to keep talking.
"How's your father?" she asked.
"He's fine," Blake said plainly, "He's been doing better after he left the White Fang."
"Blake," Kali scolded softly.
"It's okay, Kali," Sienna said, holding up her hand, "We were going to address the Goliath in the room at some point. Better sooner rather than later." Unfortunately, an awkward silence set in over the room, which was broken when Sun sneezed slightly, earning a couple annoyed glances sent his way.
"Sorry," Sun said, "Still not used to all the different plants here." Blake rolled her eyes, before looking back to Sienna, or more specifically the wound on her abdomen.
"Adam did this to you, didn't he?" she asked. Sienna nodded at that.
"I was an idiot to let down my guard with him around," she said, "I should've kicked him out the moment he organized that attack on Beacon."
"He told me he was in league with powerful, dangerous people," Sienna explained, "He told me that we can use them to put the Faunus on top. He said the humans would be our slaves." The thought of that made Blake's blood run cold; turning the humans into the Faunus' slaves? It was… sickening.
"That's horrible!" she said, leaning back, "He's crazy!"
"Yes, he is," Sienna said, but she said it slowly, and only after a pause. That didn't go unnoticed by Blake, who narrowed her eyes.
"You aren't seriously pondering the possibility, are you?" she all but demanded.
"No!" Sienna said, "Of course not. It wouldn't get anywhere. The human still outnumber us, we couldn't beat them if we tried. Even more Faunus would die." Despite Sienna's expectations, her niece's eyes narrowed at that, but the next words came from a voice Sienna hd never heard before.
"So that is you are objecting on the basis it will result in more Faunus deaths, not that you oppose the Faunus dominating the humans?" Aw crap Blake thought, as she saw Shade float through an open window. While she didn't doubt that Shade would be able to shred Sienna to shreds, that was honestly exactly what Blake was worried about; Sienna was a proud woman, and wouldn't take to Shade's over spoken snark very well, probably.
"What are you doing here?" Kali asked, "This's kind of a private, family thing."
"Mom, it's okay," Blake said softly.
"Blake, I understand you trust him, but…"
"It's more than that," Blake said, "I trust him wholly with my life." Kali was silent for a time, but decided she trusted her daughter.
"So, Sienna Khan, former High Leader of the White Fang," Shade said, as he approached the tigress, arms folded behind his back, "A pleasure."
"Who the hell are you?" Sienna demanded, sitting up, despite her sister's protests.
"The is Dr. Shade," Blake said, "He's my teacher."
"Blake's teacher, huh?" Sienna said, eyeing the ram Faunus, "From Beacon?"
"You could say that," Blake said, not sure any other description could be used for him.
"I have been looking forward to meeting you," Shade said, "I wanted to see the person who turned the White Fang into what it was."
"Oh great," Sienna said, rolling her eyes, "One of those Faunus."
"What is that supposed mean?" Kali asked, frowning at her sister.
"One of the Faunus who still hold to that we can work with the humans to get the results," Sienna answered, "When it just doesn't work."
"You're wrong!" Blake suddenly snapped, surprising everyone in the room with the outburst, save for Shade, who expected it, "Your method doesn't work either!" Sienna looked at Blake carefully, before sighing slightly.
"Look Blake, I don't approve of what Adam did at Beacon," she said, "It put the White Fang in a position…."
"That's what you were concerned about?" Blake demanded, "The risk it posed to the White Fang?"
"Vale needed a kick in the teeth," Sienna said, "Maybe now people will know what happens to the kingdoms that still treat Faunus the way they do."
"Those were innocent people!" Blake said.
"They were humans!" Sienna blurted, "They got what they deserved!" The air in the room turned as hard as steel, as those words set in.
"Sienna!" Kali scolded. Sienna seems to realize what she just said, as she looked down. Tears began to well in Blake's eyes, as her chin started to quiver, and she hurriedly left the room.
"Blake!" Sun called as he followed her out. Kali glared at her sister, before she also followed. That just left Sienna in the room with Shade, who looked at her with interest of all things.
"To think, all that hate," he said, looking her straight in the eyes.
"Its not hate if they deserve it," Sienna said, laying back down to stare at the ceiling. Shade was silent for a second, apparently considering what she just said.
"What did they do to you?" he asked.
"What?"
"Hatred like that is created, not born," Shade said, "What did the humans do to you?" The tigress was silent, as she kept staring at the ceiling.
"I do not believe that the amount boards on the ceiling has changed," the teacher said plainly.
"My mother died when I was very young, Kali has some memory of her, but I don't," Sienna finally explained, "He worked at a construction site in Mistral for some random nobleman. The nobleman treated my father like a beast of burden he could whistle up and put to work, and occasionally whip if he wasn't going fast enough. My father just gritted his teeth and accepted it, so he could continue to support Kali and myself, but when it went to far, and he dared to push back…" She trailed off, blinking away some tears.
"What I did was the only way to get the results we needed," Sienna continued, "The only thing humans understand is fear. Ghira's method…. it bred complacently, telling the humans that they can abuse us and all we'll do is march and shout. They had to know if they hurt that Faunus, we'll hurt them worse. That was the only way the humans would ever accept us, if they looked at a Faunus and saw a person to be feared, and not an animal to be abused." Shade listened to her as she ranted, paying close attention.
"It truly is amazing," he then said, "How absolutely and utterly incorrect that entire statement was." Sienna balked at the doctor for a moment, somewhat astounded by the bluntness at which he talked.
"Wha….," was all she could force out.
"Your entire outlook is based on the logic that if the humans fear you, they will accept you," Shade explained, "First off, that is simply false; acceptance, by its very nature, is not based on fear, it is based on respect."
"What's the difference?"
"Fear is based on antagonism, which builds in a person as time goes on. That antagonism will inevitably lead to hate, which will also build, until the hate eclipses the fear. The human's fear for you will not last, and will turn into more hate, especially if you your continued solution is to inflict more fear. You are sowing hatred in humans, and now you are faulting them for what they are doing in response to that." Sienna
"I will leave you to muse on those words," Shade said, "I expect an apology to Blake later." With that, he left Sienna, the door telekinetically closing behind him, leaving the tigress alone in a room with air still as hard as steel.
(on Anima)
Yang very quickly decided she didn't like the bandits. Even aside from the fact that the whole camp stank and most of the guys (and some girls) were leering at her, the area carried a feel like no one here cared about anyone else. It wasn't a place Yang wanted to say any longer than she had to.
Eventually, she came up to a particular large tent, flanked by a young woman with short brown hair, and icy blue eyes. The tent flaps then parted, as a tall woman dressed in red, with wild black hair, wearing a Grimm mask emerged. Yang knew exactly who that was.
"Raven," she greeted. There was a chuckling, as the women removed the mask, revealing a woman with the same face as Yang, albeit aged, and with red eyes.
"Yang," she said, "You finally found me."
"I did," Yang said, "And it only took ten damn years."
"You were patient, determined, and above all, strong enough to do it," Raven said, "My compliments. As your mother…"
"No." The bandits were rather surprised when that single word got their leader to shut like a trap.
"What?" Raven asked steely, her crimson eyes narrowing.
"You gave birth to me, Raven, but you aren't my mother," Yang said, stepping forward, "My mother's name was Summer Rose, and she lost her life in the line of duty, protecting others. You're here, raiding people for what little they have, because you think it's right as the stronger woman." Raven let her daugh… no, that didn't sound right now, she let Yang finish, before she took a breath.
"So the little dragon finally has some teeth," Raven said slowly, more impressed than anything else, "Summer would be proud." She hoped her slightly tightening fist at the mention of her former team leader wasn't too noticeable.
"You have no idea, lady," Yang sneered, her eyes turning into red slits briefly, something that didn't go unnoticed by Raven, "And don't you make talk about my mom like that."
"So what is you want then?" Raven asked, "Answers?"
"I want a portal?"
"A portal?"
"That's what I said," Yang said, "Dad told me how your Semblance works. You can mark certain people, and then make a portal to where that person at any time."
"Tai," Raven muttered under her breath, not pleased to know he revealed such a thing to someone else.
"So, just make a portal to Qrow," Yang said, "That's all I want."
"Really? That's it?" Raven said, "No answers to any questions. No reason why I left?"
"Nope, none of that crap," Yang answered, folding her arms.
"Because if you don't," Yang said, taking a step forward, "I will burn this whole camp down." At that, the bandits all laughed out loud, save for Raven, who looked at Yang carefully.
"What makes you think you could ever hope to defeat me, let alone the whole camp?" she asked.
"Because I'm stronger than anyone else here," Yang said bluntly. While the bandits continued to laugh, Raven remained still. She could tell Yang wasn't bluffing, she truly did think herself stronger than the tribe, stronger than Raven.
"Well then, I don't think we have anything left to talk about it," she said, before turning, waving her hand dismissively, signaling to the others to take her away.
"I'm not leaving without that portal," Yang declared, taking another step forward, only to get grabbed by another
"Yang?" she asked.
"Weiss?"
"Okay then," Weiss said, "I was going to do this quietly, but…" She then closed her eyes, as her body vanished in a white glow, and with that, her cage exploded. The bandits stared in shock, as Yang grinned, as a great white dragon spread a pair of great wings over the camp. The leader could only balk at the sight before; she knew magic, but this kind of magic was far greater than anything she had every seen or felt.
"By the gods," Raven muttered.
"Not a bad way of putting it," Yang said, "And I just didn't want to be the first to do it." With that, she vanished in a white glow, as there was a burst of energy that sent the bandits around her flying. When the light faded, it showed a yellow, serpentine dragon floating in the air, with a right arm that appeared to be made of shimmering, golden metal. To their credit, the bandits didn't try and assault the dragons, which may have saved their lives as the white one approached the yellow one.
"Long time no see," the yellow one said in Yang's voice.
"What're you doing here?" Weiss said.
"I'm here to get the woman who birthed me to take me to Ruby," Yang answered.
"Your mom kidnapped me?!" Weiss exclaimed in surprise. Upon hearing that, Yang's gaze turned to Raven, as steam leaked out of her mouth. She then stretched her long neck down to Raven's level, sticking her snout in her face.
"You want to do what I asked now?" she asked. Raven put her hand on her sword in response.
"That's not a good idea," Weiss said. Raven was silent, at a complete loss for words.
"Come… come in," she finally said, "We've got a lot to talk about." Yang hissed, as she opened her mouth, which glowed.
"You can't hurt me," Raven said, "You need me. Now if you want a portal, you're going to come in and talk with me."
"She has a point," Weiss said to her friend. Yang growled, before she took a breath, exhaling a small gust of fire as she did, which sent a nervous chill down Raven's spine. The girls then reverted to their human forms.
"This is going to suck," Yang grumbled, as she started to head towards the tent.
"Hey Yang," Weiss said, causing Yang to look back at the heiress, who was smiling at her slightly, "It's good to see you again."
"Back at ya, Snowflake," Yang said, as she returned the smile.
(in Mistral)
On Oz's suggestion, Ruby was practicing hand to hand combat with Oscar. Oscar was actually doing pretty well, mostly thanks to Oz's assistance on the matter. Ruby wasn't doing that well on her own, being a weapon specialist first and foremost. It didn't help that since she now figured if she ever did lose Crescent Rose, she could just turn into a dragon, and burn her enemies with her fire breath. Granted, that wasn't satisfactory for Oz, who continued to insist on it.
"So, you can turn into a dragon, huh?" Oscar said, as they were taking a break.
"Yeah, I can," Ruby answered, as she took a sip of water.
"And you get the magic from the God of Darkness?"
"Yep."
"Does it… hurt?" Oscar asked slowly.
"What?" Ruby asked, surprised by the question.
"Does it hurt to change into a dragon like that?" Ruby pursed her lip as she thought about it slightly.
"Well, a little," she finally answered, "But you get used to it, and even then, it's kind of like a good pain, like pulling out a splinter. And I don't mind it, especially when it let's me fly." Oscar smiled at that.
No Oz said in his mind I cannot turn you into a dragon.
"I wasn't thinking about that," Oscar said.
Yes you were, Oz responded Now if you would please, I need to speak with Ms. Rose. Oscar's eyes flashed again, allowing Oz to take control.
"Where is the God of Darkness?" Oz pretty much demanded from the girl.
"Uh…," Ruby answered, scratching the side of her face, "I dunno actually. He does this a lot, coming in and out."
"You should exercise caution in his presence," Oz said, narrowing his eyes, "He is dangerous."
"Well, yeah," Ruby said, "I think anyone with power like that would be dangerous."
"That is not what I meant. Yes, he is all-powerful, he's more powerful than any of us could ever comprehend," Oz said, "But be wary in his presence, because that power makes him believe he's all-knowing, and he is not. He has never been all-knowing." As the wizard walked away, Ruby only frowned, not sure what to make of it. That was when there was a knock at the front door.
"I'll get it!" Ruby announced, as she went and opened the door.
"Hello again!"
Note: Most of this chapter was devoted to Shade going at Sienna. I told you that I wouldn't be easy on her.
I kind of debated whether or not to have Weiss and Yang turn into dragons at this point; I decided to have it in this chapter, mostly. I also really liked writing that scene of Yang disowning Raven as her mother, which is something that we should've seen in canon in my opinion, because whe wasn't Yang's mother, Summer was. Lastly, bare in mind, while Yang and Weiss are still friends in this continuity, they aren't teammates.
Now, in regards to the poll, Ruby does currently have a decent lead on Weiss, which I did expect some degree. But I now have a challenge to my readers: Lancaster fans, give me a solid reason why Jaune should be with Ruby; White Knight fans (I know you're there), give me a solid reason why Jaune should be with Weiss. I like both girls, and I want both to get the full consideration. For my own, Lancaster is probably my favorite, but White Knight is a very close second.
Be sure to review. Again, thanks to SimplyChristian for giving me that idea for Blake's snark.
I'm sure you've noted I've finally got a custom cover made for the story, drawn by the one and only KegiSpringfield, the go-to person for stuff like this.