Spite

Raven glared at her reflection, as she polished off Omen. She had hoped that once Yang and her friend left, she'd be able to clear her thoughts, but she was wrong. There were too many unanswered questions, most significantly, where they got that magic from. That power felt strange, primal, and above all, alien; she compared that to the magic she got from Ozpin, which while unnatural had at least an earthly feeling to it.

"Raven," Vernal said as she came in, causing Raven to glance up.

"Hmm?" she answered, barely sparing Vernal said glance.

"Salem's found us." Those words made Raven freeze, before she took a deep breath.

"Very well," she said, "It's not like we didn't prepare this. My helmet." Once she got her helmet, she left her tent to see who Salem had sent against her. She found it was five individuals, three men, and two women; three out of the five looked young, around Yang's age, maybe a little older.

Looking at them, Raven could already tell this was probably not going to be a pleasant experience.

(on Menagerie)

Even though the Council of Elders had decided to launch their own investigation, everyone knew that was probably going to take longer than they had time for. That was when Sienna told Blake just what Adam was planning: to do to Haven, what he did to Beacon. "Screw them" had been among the words she used; were she Yang, the words would've been much more "colorful".

Unfortunately half a day, and nearly half of Kuo Kuana later, neither she nor Sun had anything to show for their efforts. Shade, meanwhile, had accompanied them; Blake was briefly worried he'd try and coerce people, but he assured her he wouldn't.

"Choice is one thing I will never force," he had said. Blake and Sun were now taking a break in a cafe in the aquatic district. Blake was staring into her drink, lost in thought, until Sun spoke up.

"I just don't get it," he said, "

"What they're talking, what Adam's talking," Blake said, "It appeals to a lot of people who lost their homes or loved ones due to the humans. They feel the Faunus are owed a pound of flesh."

"I just don't understand how people can be like that," Sun said, "How people can be so…. angry all the time." Blake was silent for a time, as she took a breath, and stared at the sky.

"Do you really think Adam would do this?" Sun then said, "This seems…" He trailed off, not sure about the appropriate word.

"I don't think there's a word really to describe," Blake said, apparently reading his mind, "He's…" This time, it as her turn to trail off slightly, as she chewed on the inside of her cheek."

"Have you ever met a person, and think this person is the embodiment of 'insert word'?" she asked.

"Huh?" Blake couldn't help but snicker at that slightly.

"Well think of my team," she said, "Ren's 'reserved', Nora's 'enthusiasm', and Weiss I've come to realize is 'defiance'. Or I guess for the other's, I suppose Ruby would be 'purity', Yang would be 'strength', Pyrrha would be 'kindness', and Jaune would be 'loyalty'."

"Well, what does that make me?" Sun asked with a mischievous smile. Blake couldn't help but laugh slightly at that.

"I think the jury's still out on that, 'earnest' comes to mind" she answered, before it faded, "I used to think Adam was 'justice', then I thought was 'passion', and now I realize he's 'spite'. Plain and simple, 'spite'. Some humans hurt him, now he believes all humans must suffer for it." Sun was quiet for a time, before he glanced over to see Shade, who was strolling through the stands, the people parting to him like he was radioactive.

"So, what would Shade be?" Sun asked, jerking his head, "I'd say 'long-winded'." The cat pursed her lips, as she looked at her teacher; many words came to mind, but eventually, she settled on one.

"The word I'd use is 'experience'," Blake finally answered.

"Experience?" Sun asked, "Him? He really doesn't seem that old."

"Trust me, it fits," Blake said, "There's a lot you don't know about him. Stuff I imagine you wouldn't want to know."

"Try me," Sun said, leaning forward, now curious.

"Let's just say, he's been around for a while," Blake said, "And he's seen a lot more than we could."

"You really trust him, don't you?" Sun said.

"Implicitly," Blake answered, as she smiled at her teacher. Shade glanced at her, but kept otherwise silent.

(in Mistral)

As the sun started to dip, it was time for Qrow's meeting with the Chancellor, and while he wanted to meet him alone, Aurelius apparently insisted on the Empress coming as well. So Qrow was now standing in the Haven courtyard alongside Leo, along with RYPJ and RWN, as a contingent of Mistrali soldiers came towards them. Strangely Shade was absent, not that any of his students blamed him for not wanting any part of this. Between them were a palanquin framed by the members of the Imperial Guard. Ruby gulped slightly at the sight.

"What is it?" Jaune asked his partner.

"It's nothing," Ruby lied.

"Uh, this is so stupid," Nora griped.

"Show some respect," Weiss hissed, "We're meeting an Empress here. Do you know how old the Imperial Dynasty of Mistral is?"

"I dunno, like, really old?" Nora asked. Weiss rolled her eyes at that.

"This Empress is the 33rd Empress of Mistral," Ren answered.

"Thank you, Ren," Weiss said. Nora just stuck her tongue out. They watched as the palanquin got set down. Four of the five Imperial Guard fell to their knees in front of it, as the last one, Rowan, offer his hand, as a hand reached out of the curtain.

That was when Ruby saw her; Lin looked different, like an Empress. She was dressed formally, wearing ornate yellow robes lined with jade; her hair was tied into a bun, with a jade comb pinned into her hair. On the back of the robe was the Mistrali symbol. She slowly descended down the stairs of the palanquin, her arms folded her sleeves. Lin glanced at Ruby, who waved slightly, but the Empress just looked away.

"Your Majesty," Leo said, bowing slightly. Pyrrha also bowed. Not far behind Lin was an older man with golden hair, dressed in brown robes also lined with gold. He had a small staff with a jade on its head.

"Hey Aurelius!" Qrow called.

"Mr Branwen," Aurelius said, narrowing his eyes, as he came up beside Lin, "Your Majesty, this is Qrow Branwen, he was a colleague of your grandfather."

"Good afternoon, Sir Branwen," Lin said, offering her hand to Qrow, though he didn't do nothing.

"This is Rowan Hammond, Captain of the Imperial Guard," Aurelius said, gesturing.

"Pleased to meet you," Rowan said, offering a hand.

"Likewise," Qrow said, "Now are we going to keep talking out here in front of all the soldiers, or in some official capacity? You know time is money."

"Better than you," Aurelius said, "Your Majesty." Lin just nodded, as she took the nominal lead down the path towards the headmaster's office.

"Lin!" Ruby wasn't entirely sure why she could out to the Empress, but it was done, and everyone was left staring at Ruby, who was as red as her cape.

"Go on ahead, Chancellor," Lin said.

"Your Majesty," Aurelius said, as he went ahead with Qrow and Leo. Lin moved to go to Ruby, as her guard gathered around her.

"It's okay," she said, holding up her hand. The Guard took a step back, but not much more than that, as Lin came up to Ruby, who stepped forward. The girl began to curtsey, but Lin waved her hand for her not to.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Ruby asked. The Empress looked at the ground for a while.

"Because I didn't want you looking at me the way you're looking at me now," Lin then said.

"But you're an Empress, and I'm just a normal girl from a normal island," Ruby said, "If I knew…"

"You wouldn't have eaten mochi with me," Lin interrupted, before she turned to follow her Chancellor. Ruby wanted to call out to her more, but changed her mind, and stood back to look at the ground. As the group started to disperse, Ruby noticed all of her friends staring at her.

"You knew the Empress?" Pyrrha all but demanded.

"It's a long story."

Unbeknownst to anyone, some distance away, lying across his stomach on a rooftop, was Talos. His enhanced vision was focused solely on one young empress. He then pointed, as if he were making a finger gun. Energy began traveling down his arm, as a tiny slot in his finger opened, and began to glow.

"Target terminated." That was when he saw another person there, a young woman in bronze with long red hair. Almost immediately, the energy from Talos dissipated, as all his attention got put on Pyrrha.

"Her…," he said. Suddenly his concentration evaporated, as his emotions began to swirl, and his whole body started to shake. Unable to aim properly, Talos boosted himself to his feet. He then looked at his hand, it was still shaking. Knowing he had to get away, Talos hurried into the shadows.

(on Menagerie)

"Come on!" Blake said, "We have to hit the nocturnal district! I know some bat Faunus who've never liked the White Fang."

"Yeah, yeah, I'm coming!" Sun said, as he hurried down the steps to follow her. As she continued walking, Blake felt her Scroll buzz.

Something's going to happen. Something bad. We need to meet. NOW. Blake narrowed her eyes.

"On second thought," she said, "You go ahead of me. There's something I have to knock out first." Sun seemed to surprise, but just shrugged, as he left to ahead of her. Shade then approached Blake, looking at her scroll.

"Do you trust her?" he asked. Blake was silent for a time, as she stared at the message, knowing who it was from.

"No," was all she eventually answered with.

"Then I believe you should be leading the way," Shade said, gesturing.

"Actually," Blake said, "I thought it'd be better if I went alone." At that, Shade stared at her for a time, as his eyebrow arched.

"Is that so?" he said.

"I think this is something I need to do myself," she said.

"If that is your choice," Shade eventually said, "Then so be it." Blake nodded and smiled as Shade watched her disappear. He would respect her choice, as was his obligation, but there were always loopholes…

Note: This chapter initially went through couple of versions before I reached one I was satisfied with. It was initially longer, but as I was drafting it, it became too busy; too much was happening at once in too many different places. I got what I set out to accomplish, namely to set up Qrow's discussion with the chancellor, and things happening in Menagerie.

I initially wrote Cinder's discussion with Raven, but it wasn't adding much to canon. I debated whether or not what Raven saw with Yang and Weiss would affect her decision; but for a woman always more fed up with simple survival, I think she'd be more concerned with the dark one she already knows about, than strange power she's never seen before.

Be sure to review. Didn't get much last time, I could use a little love.