Council Meeting

It had been a slow process, but Ghira had finally managed to arrange for a meeting with the Council of Elders. When she was a child, Blake would often sit next to her father during the meetings. For a time, it was thought she would be chieftain herself when her father stepped down. Not that Blake at all wanted the position, since she found it resoundingly restrictive.

As she helped Sun set up the dining hall for the meeting, Blake looked around. The Council consisted of five representatives, four of which were already present: Alba Cituva, Ivory Indlovu, Bruno Eule, and Orrin Unagi. Alba was a snow leopard Faunus with white hair that almost reminded Blake of Weiss, with a spotted white tail that came form her back wearing a white robe. Ivory was an elephant Faunus with whitish-grey hair, whose trait was a prominent pair of elephant ears (that when she was younger, Blake would often laugh at) wearing a grey robe. Bruno was an owl, with a collection of brown plumage that served as sideburns with a large pair of glasses wearing a brown robe. Orrin was an eel whose trait was that his lower body was a green eel body, which meant he had to be wheeled around in a chair, and was wearing a dark green robe.

Sienna was still up in Ghira's office, with Kali. They had a suspicion that if word got out that the overthrown leader of the White Fang was in the Belladonna household, it may come back to bite them pretty quickly. Not that they didn't trust the Council (presumably), but Slate was coming to, and they sure as Darkness didn't trust him.

"They don't actually seem that old," Sun commented to her as he came over carrying a chair. Blake frowned at him, but found it was kind of hard to argue. Most of the Council wasn't actually that old, all things considered; they were all in their later fifties, sixties, to early seventies at the oldest.

"Old or not, they have a lot sway here in Menagerie," Blake said, "If we can get them to denounce the extremist, it'll go a long way to persuading the people to oppose them."

"That is assuming they do not all support the extremist themselves," Darkness said as he materialized beside Blake, "You are aware this may be a complete exercise in futility." Blake pursed her lips at that, as she stood up and went to go get the tea kettle.

We've gotta try, she said There's no harm in that, right?

"Do you really want an answer?" Darkness answered. Blake paused.

No she eventually answered.

"Mhmmm." A shiver went down Blake's spine at that distinctive hum, as she noticed Slate entering the room.

"Ms. Blake," the chamberlain said with a slight bow that had about as much sincerity as a Deathstalker.

"Slate," Blake answered, glaring at him.

"So thankful was able to persuade Council to come for meeting?" Slate said, "Perhaps can finally settle all this madness."

"You got no idea," Blake said. Sensing his friend in danger, Sun approached her.

"Hey, I don't think we've met yet," he said to the vulture.

"Oh yes, have not, take it you are one of Ms. Blake's friends, hmmmm?" Slate said.

"Yeah, what about it?" Sun answered.

"Just that any friend of Ms. Blake is a friend of Slate's," Slate answered as he leaned forward. Both teens took an instinctive step back.

"Leave them be, Slate," a raspy but kind voice called out. Slate and Blake looked over to see a tortoise Faunus with a green shell approaching them, the fifth member of the Council, Darwin Oogway. Unlike the other council members, he really was that old, with skin so wrinkled his looked like crumpled up paper. Blake didn't know how old he was, but he wasn't named for a color, so he must've been pretty dang old; supposedly he had sat on the Council since Menagerie's inception. He wore a bright green robe that Blake wasn't sure how he fit around his shell, and was walking with a wood staff as tall as he was.

"No need to try and press her for favor now," Darwin said.

"Mhmmm," Slate mused, as he moved past her to help his employers.

"Master Darwin," Blake said, as she put her fist into her palm, and bowed slightly. When she noticed Sun not doing the same, she elbowed him slightly, and he did so.

"Blake, my child," Darwin said, as he took her hand, "To see you again warms my old heart. When I heard you aligned yourself with Adam…"

"It… seemed like the right thing at the time," Blake said slowly.

"However the situation may seem," Darwin said, as he took Blake's hand in both of his, "I can assure you, what he is doing, is never the right thing." Blake just averted her eyes, as Darwin smiled at her.

"You are here now, and that is all that matters," he said, before he limped away to join his fellow council members.

"Geez," Sun said, "That guy looks like he could keel over at anytime." On that, Blake really couldn't fault him.

"He's probably the oldest person in the room." After Blake said that, she noticed Darkness looking at her.

Okay she relented, second oldest. Now that the Council was all assembled, they could hold the meeting. As they all took their seats, Ghira took his seat at the head of the table.

"Thank you all for coming, I summoned you all here on the matter of the White Fang," Ghira said.

"What of them?" Orrin asked, as he sipped his tea.

"Indeed, my granddaughter is with them," Ivory commented, "Is there something wrong?" Blake, who was sitting with Sun away from the table, tensed visibly at that. They still didn't know.

"For that, I'll let my daughter explain, she was in Vale." Blake was rather surprised when Ghira gestured for her to come over. But when Sun gently pushed her forward, Blake found herself with little choice. She then took her position in front of the table, before describing it all to the Council. After she was done telling them, the council exchanged looks of shock and disbelief.

"Chieftain," Alba said, "Is this true?"

"I trust my daughter completely on this matter," Ghira answered. The Council briefly muttered amongst themselves at this.

"Well…," Orrin spoke up, his tail flicking, "This may very change things."

"Perhaps we should speak with the Albain brothers first," Ivory said.

"You can't be seriously we turn on those who took a stand for Faunus!" Bruno said, his feathers ruffling.

"So you would have us do nothing in response to this?" Alba said.

"Perhaps this was just a rogue branch?"

"You can't dismiss this sort of information like that!"

"You can't be suggesting we bluster head over tail into something like this!"

"Your inaction could lead to disaster!"

Blake just sighed, as she shook her head. She supposed to some degree she should've expected this, but she didn't think they'd be this divided. But then everyone's attention was seized by the sound of Darwin's staff slamming into the floor.

"Enough," he said, softly but authoritatively, speaking for the first time, "This sort of arguing will accomplish nothing. Let us consider the facts right now, why don't we? We know the White Fang under the leadership of Adam Taurus attacked Beacon, and released Grimm, yes?"

"That's what happened,"Blake confirmed, "And I can assure you that it's not a rogue faction." She didn't note that Sienna had been betrayed by Adam; at least not with Slate in the room.

"Well, if that's the case, then we should take action," Darwin continued, "Regardless of who the victims and perpetrators are, such a thing is a horrible act, and needs to be addressed. Is there any objection?" The Council members were silent for a time, as they exchanged looks. But the same couldn't be said for their chamberlain.

"If I may, perhaps need examine other side," Slate said, stepping forward, "Mean no disrespect, but Ms. Blake not exactly fully objective source." That notion made Blake's blood boil, as her eyes turned to slits.

"Calm yourself," Darkness said sternly.

"Are you suggesting my daughter's unreliable?" Ghira asked, glaring at the vulture.

"Oh no! No!" Slate said, shrinking back slightly, "Merely suggesting to have more information before taking potentially drastic measures."

"I'm in agreement with Slate," Ivory said, "This is a major issue that deserves complete and total consideration."

"I recommend we launch our own investigation into the matter," Orrin said, "At least before we do anything else."

"I second that notion," Bruno said.

"And I third it," Alba said. Darwin remained silent, as he tapped a finger on his staff, unable to affect any change when he was outvoted like this.

"Then it's decided," Ivory said, "We will initiate a personal investigation into the proper course of action to deal with the White Fang." Blake clenched her teeth at that. So that was all this meeting amount? Just the Council launching its own private investigation into the matter? Blake would've been disappointed if she wasn't so angry at the time. For his own, Ghira just sighed, as he hung his head.

"So be it then," he said, "Thank you for your time."

(a little later, outside the house)

As the Council members departed the Belladonna household, Slate watched from the side, before he turned his back towards the shadows. He then pulled out his Scroll, and made a call, which didn't take long to be answered.

"Is it done?" Adam asked.

"Yes, but not the way you wanted," Slate answered, "Launching their own investigation." Adam scowled at that.

"Old fools," he said, "Well no matter, we can deal with that without any real issue."

"Is it time?" Slate asked in anticipation, leaning forward.

"Soon, but not yet," the bull answered, "But I want you to be ready nonetheless. Corsac and Fennec will be making their move within a couple days at the most, and when they do, you will have to act quickly."

"Of course, will get done" Slate answered, "And your side of bargain?" At that, Adam rolled his eyes.

"Yes, yes," Adam answered, clearly not interested it, "You will have what you want."

"Mhmmm," Slate whimpered, "Always pleasure doing business with you." With that, he slipped his Scroll into his pocket, and went to follow his "masters".

(somewhere else in Menagerie)

"The Council has not made a final decision on the matter," Adam told the Albain brothers, with Ilia standing a little further back, "But we can't wait for them to do anything."

"Of course, Sir," Corsac said, "We will take the appropriate steps."

"See that you do. It's time we got what we deserved." With that the image cut out.

"That boy really loves his own voice," Bai Suzhen said, as she seemed to appear out of nowhere, making Ilia jump slightly.

"Ah, Sister Bai," Fennec said, smiling at her.

"I ain't your sister. How many times do I have to tell you that your revolution means crap to me?" the albino said, glaring at the twins, "So are we doing this or not?"

"Just a little longer, and…."

"No, screw that," Bai said, her tail lashing slightly, "I'm tired of waiting on your schedule." She then turned on her heels.

"You'll know when the deed is done," she said, as she left the room. As she did, she past Ilia, and glanced down on her, glaring at her a little. Ilia shirked slightly under those cold, red eyes, before the snake left.

"Should we…," Ilia began, looking to her superiors.

"No need," Fennec said, "She's bluffing, she can't accomplish her goal without our aid." Ilia hoped that was the case, but something about Bai mad her doubt the snake was in such a position.

"Irregardless," Corsac said, as he turned back to their shrine, "We will have it all soon. Tell us, Sister Ilia, what will you do when it's all done."

"Huh?" Ilia asked, surprised by the question.

"Well after we've conquered the kingdoms, what will you do?" Ilia opened then closed her mouth.

"Maybe just…. find a quiet place to settle down, find a nice girl, raise a couple kids," she eventually said.

"Well, once the humans are under our boots," Corsac said, "you'll have a lot more free time to raise those children." The image of that didn't give Ilia the satisfaction she thought it would. She just looked down, turning a lovely shade of purple.

(in the house)

"So that's it?" Sun asked, "We just let it go?" He and Blake were in Blake's room (more accurately, Sun had followed Blake into her room, and she wasn't in the mood to try and kick him out), which consisted mostly of her bed, some chairs, her desk, and a bunch of bookshelves. One of said bookshelves was behind doors Blake had locked for…. reasons.

"There's nothing else we can do," Blake answered, as she s "We can't force the Council to do anything."

"Then what do we do?" The cat sighed at that.

"I wish I knew," she answered, looking up at the sky, "I guess we can't do anything until we've got hard proof that the White Fang is a danger."

"I might be able to help with that." The cat and the monkey glanced to the side to see Sienna limping in.

"Sienna, can you please not…," Blake said, looking away from her aunt.

"Please Blake," Sienna said, holding up her hand, "Just hear me out." Blake still looked reluctant, until Sun put a hand on her shoulder.

"It wouldn't hurt to just do that," he said. Blake clenched her teeth, before she took a breath and nodded.

"There's… something you need to know, something about about Adam," Sienna said.

(in Mistral)

RYPJ and RWN were all enjoying a long overdue dinner with each other, exchanging their stories and jokes, and enduring the occasional pun from Yang. Shade, meanwhile, leaned on the wall, watching his students. He had decided that they earned this rest after all they had been through.

"You should've seen Jaune!" Ruby said, "He nearly ripped that Grimm's head off!"

"It wasn't that much,"Jaune said, "Ren was the one who actually took off its head."

"Only because the rest of you were holding it down," Ren said with his own smile.

"I would've rather been there," Weiss said, "I had to endure all my father's ridiculous 'parties'."

"Oh yeah, and all those stuck up jerks?" Ruby asked, "I wish I could've been there to show them up myself."

"No need for that," Weiss said with a somewhat smug smile, "I ended up doing it myself."

"Really?" Nora said, "My partner, the Ice Queen, losing it a party?" Weiss just smiled, as there was a hiss, as Nora suddenly found herself face to snout with Weiss' dragon construct. She let out a yelp as she flailed backward spitting a ball of fire into the air as she did. Weiss chuckled as she let the construct fade.

"We need to do a dragon race!" Ruby declared, "I bet I can beat you all!"

"No way!" Nora said, as she pulled herself back up, "Ren could beat you all no problem!"

"Did you just want to say my name again?" Ren said.

"Well, considering how Pyrrha flew the whole way here as a dragon, and I navigated through the floating islands while fighting Grimm," Weiss said with her smug grin, "I think you'd all be rather hard pressed to challenge us."

"Forget all that for now, first, I demand satisfaction!" Yang suddenly said, as she slammed her prosthetic elbow on the table, "You and me Pyrrha! Metal vs metal now!"

"So what would that be?" Pyrrha asked, "An arm-leg wrestle? You sure you want one of my feet on the table?"

"Certainly not," Weiss said. Granted she was quickly drowned out by Nora and Ruby calling for it.

"I'm sure you keep it clean," Ruby added. With that, Pyrrha held up her foot, and put on the table, before Yang put her hand against Pyrrha's knee. With that, the two started their wrestle, both trying to push the other one down.

"You're out of your league, Bronzie!" Yang taunted. Pyrrha was far too polite to have a counter taunt, so she just narrowed her eyes and smiled at her in concentration.

"Come on, Sis!" Ruby said, "Rep Patch for us!"

"Kick her ass, Pyrrha!" Nora said. Since neither of the girls were on her team, she just decided to root for Pyrrha because Ruby was rooting for Yang. The two struggled for a time, until, at long last, the leg beat the arm, and with a grunt, Yang was shoved to the table.

"That's what I'm talking about!" Nora declared, pumping her fist.

"I'm sorry!" Pyrrha said, hoping her partner was okay.

"I wanna rematch!" Yang demanded, not at all satisfied with just one round.

As the group laughed and enjoyed each other's company, Shade smiled slightly, chuckling at their antics, before shifting back into his divine form, and transported himself into the sky over Mistral. After crossing legs, and folding his hands, Darkness willed his mind back into the past. For a time, he remained there, searching for the answers he had long sought. But then he froze, as his mind settled on one moment, so long ago.

"I found it!" he declared out loud. At long last, he had finally found the origin of the Faunus!

Note: And to the surprise of no one, Slate's a bad guy. Don't worry, he's not a bad guy by virtue of being a vulture, he's a bad guy by virtue of being based on an evil character who happens to be vulture-like. And I know the wise old tortoise is a cliche, but it happens to be a cliche I actually kind of like.

Yang and Pyrrha's arm-leg wrestle was too amusing an image in my head to pass up. It also seems that Darkness has found the origin the Faunus; I considered having him ask Jinn, but that may have ate up another one of her two questions, and since she was created by the God of Light, Darkness wouldn't have been able to force her to do anything.

In terms of the poll, Ruby's in the lead, but Weiss is keeping good pace with her. I'm going to try and give some more White Knight potential as things go on, just to give Weiss a fair shot.

Be sure to review. Thanks for helping me finally break 500 in terms of reviews.