A Changing World
Act 2
Chapter 12: Broken
…
The din of the twin engines of the Bullhead greeted the group a minute before it appeared.
It landed, with Rachel, the Headmistress of Shade shoving Merlot out of the aircraft when the door slid open. Yang then appeared and tossed Jack out a few seconds later, before the group of former captives stepped out of the aircraft.
"Ilia?" Both Hiccup and Blake were surprised to see her.
"Oh, so that's her name? Wait, how do you two know her exactly?" Wondered Yang.
"We encountered her in Menagerie months ago. Didn't we tell you?"
"Don't think so. Tell me later though. First, can someone deal with those two."
Nora and Arslan complied, taking hold of Merlot and Jack respectively and pulling them to their feet.
"Take them to the white room and make sure they don't escape." Ordered Ozpin.
"Leave that to me, Oz." Said Qrow as he drew near the men.
Ozpin gave a curt nod and Nora handed Merlot to Qrow before he and Arslan set off.
"Can one of you explain how you escaped? We heard from Taiyang, who heard from Ozpin who got a call that Merlot had been captured after travelling to Vacuo. So, what happened?" Asked Hiccup, once the trio was gone.
"I was informed, by air traffic control, of a Bullhead entering Vacuan airspace, completely out of the blue, no schedule, no reason to be there at all. It raised suspicions as you would expect, so I was asked to investigate. I left my assistant headmaster in charge and went to meet it with a team of local huntsmen, stationed in the nearby capital city of Zal Montah." Rachel began.
"Isn't that Vacuo's only city? What with it being built around an oasis; the only fertile and habitable part of the kingdom?" Asked Ren.
"That is correct, Master-?" She prompted.
"My name is Lie Ren, but everyone calls me Ren." He answered.
Rachel nodded. "Nice to meet you. Now, where was I? Ah yes. When it landed, we found Merlot, Jack and four hostages inside. Then I explained the situation to my assistant before I called Ozpin, who spoke to Mr Xiao Long. Then we travelled here. You know the rest." Then she clapped once, the sound cracking the air.
"Now then, why don't you all catch up with each other?" She suggested.
…
Following this suggestion, the group headed for Beacon's cafeteria to talk to the four escapees, where they quickly found Jaune was entirely unwilling to say anything.
"He's been like that for days now." Said Ilia as they watched Jaune sit down on the far side of the room and bring his knees up against his chest.
"Unlike you, who never stopped talking," Yang said sharply.
"Come on Nora. We should talk to him." Said Ren.
"I'll come with you." Said Ilia.
"Also, Blake, at least try to talk to Yang." Then he and Nora approached their team leader with Ilia following.
"Everyone knows we're not talking to each other, don't they?" Mused Blake.
"Yup, so get started you two." Chirped Ruby. "Sis, you go first."
"Why me?" Grumbled Yang.
"Because you've been avoiding Blake for months now - which is what Blake did only once. You've done it many times. Why?" Wondered Ruby.
"Because she did it first. She left me when that arena was attacked, without even an explanation of why. You and Hiccup both know why I don't like that."
"She's not Raven though. She left you, sure, but she came back, Yang." Said Hiccup.
"It's not the same Hiccup. You know what happened, but until you go through it, you don't know what it's like."
"Well guess what? I thought my mother was dead. Turns out she had been hiding away up north all this time. So I know what you're feeling, Yang. Perhaps better than anyone in this room."
"We should leave them to it. This is their discussion now." Rachel whispered to Ozpin.
"Agreed." He whispered back. They then turned and left, bringing Taiyang along with them, followed by Qrow and Arslan, who they encountered outside.
Yang's eyes widened at the admission. "Really?"
Hiccup nodded. "Yes, so as far as I can see it, still avoiding Blake is you being petty."
Instantly, Yang's hair lit up and her eyes turned red. "Careful Hiccup. You'd better choose your next words carefully."
"I would, but this is gone on long enough Yang. Stop using your semblance to try and intimidate me - as we both know it won't work - and start talking to Blake, run away or fight me, here and now. Those are your options. So what will it be, Yang?"
"Why is this so important to you, Hiccup?"
"Besides the fact that I lost a friend for five years? How about the fact that Blake sprained her ankle after fighting the White Fang to come and find you. As in, she got captured and had rubble fall on her leg."
"If that isn't a sign that she wants to start being friends with you again Yang, then I don't know what is." Added Astrid.
Yang's eyes turned back to lilac and her hair dimmed. "It's a start at least."
"Best start it off with a Yang then." Said Hiccup with a grimace.
"D-did you just make a pun, Hiccup?" Asked Yang before smirking.
He nodded, his expression still in a grimace. "I did. Please don't make me do it again. I feel violated."
"I feel violated after hearing that." Said Blake, with Astrid nodding along.
"Puns are great, you all just don't know comedy."
"Said no one ever, besides you and Taiyang." Quipped Hiccup. "Now stop delaying the inevitable. The sooner you start, the sooner you finish."
"Yeah, sis. Get to it." Ruby told her. "Don't make me have to order you like I ordered Blake."
"You ordered her to do it? Figures. No way she would do it by herself." Said Yang before she turned away.
"My dear sister Yang, that is enough!" Snapped Ruby, placing her hands on her hips as she did so. "You don't know how many times Blake personally travelled to Vale to see you, only for you and Uncle Qrow to be away on some mission having fun. Now you both will try to make up with Blake or I will throw away all that shampoo you use."
Yang gasped. "You wouldn't dare!"
"Try me, Yang. Oum knows you use too much of that stuff anyway."
"Hiccup making a pun willingly and my sister threatening me. Could this day get any weirder?"
"Start talking!" Hiccup, Ruby, Astrid and Blake snapped.
"I will, but I'd like to do it in private if you don't mind. At our old dorms" Requested Yang.
"Make sure she doesn't run off again as she did in Atlas recently. Keep an eye on her, Ruby. I'm going to see how Jaune's doing."
"I'll come with you." Said Astrid. Then the pair set off.
"Let's go to our dorms now. Why don't you lead the way, Ruby?" Asked Yang.
"Okay," she said before setting off.
"After you," Yang said to Blake.
…
"How is he, Ren?" Asked Hiccup, once he and Astrid reached the pair.
"Unresponsive. He hasn't said anything besides thinking he's still kidnapped by Merlot."
As if to prove Ren's point, Jaune spoke up then. "You should all go before Merlot comes back."
"I think I'm going to kill Merlot." Muttered Hiccup.
"Get in line, Hiccup." Replied Ren.
"I'm going to break his legs." Nora spat venomously.
"And this time, I think I'd let you, Nora. Though you don't have your hammer. How would you do it?"
"I'd find a way."
Astrid smirked. "I like her. Do you mind if we bring you two to Berk? Some people deserve their legs broken. One in particular."
"Sure, when we're done here, point me in the right direction." Said Nora, adopting a grin.
"Didn't I tell you that Mildew was dealt with already, Astrid? I beat him in that fight, remember?"
"You did, but I still hate him."
"I do too, Astrid."
"That is cute and all, but you're getting sidetracked." Ilia cut in.
"Fair enough Ilia. What do you think we should do with Jaune, Ren?"
"Tell his family we've found him and let them look after him. That's what we should do. We can't help him after all." He replied, taking out his scroll as he spoke.
…
When the trio reached their old dorm room, Ruby turned to Blake. "How does the ribbon bit on your weapon work, Blake?"
Blake rolled her eyes before handing Ruby her weapon. "Go nuts."
Pulling the ribbon out to its full length, Ruby suddenly disappeared, leaving rose petals in her wake and five seconds later, had tied the cat faunus up. "Sorry, but I'm not having you run away again."
"Ruby, this is what you call excess-"
"Entirely necessary. Or do you mean to say you don't run away, Blake?" Countered Yang.
"This won't work if you keep doing that, Yang."
"Doing what? Telling the truth? I'm not going to stop doing that. Let me tell you some more. You left me back at Beacon, unconscious with my arm cut. You didn't even leave an explanation to Ruby or Weiss. Why is that?"
"It wasn't that simple, Yang. I couldn't stay."
"You didn't want to, you mean."
"No, I-"
"Stop lying to me!" Yang shouted. Her eyes turning red and her blond mane starting to glow again as a result.
"When will you stop acting like you didn't choose to run away? Like I told you about how I took Ruby to look for my mother who ran, only for you to do the same thing? When, Blake?"
"I don't know! What do you want me to say?" She wondered.
"Nothing, because nothing can make us friends like we were. I just want you to know that you're the worst person I ever met, given everything you did to me, compared to what Ruby, Weiss and myself have done for you."
"Are you finally done? Can I speak now?" Asked Blake.
"Sure, go ahead."
"Okay, that last part was uncalled for." Yang scoffed at that, before walking over to her bunk bed that was still standing atop a pile of books that separated it from the bed below it. She lay down on it, staring up at the ceiling as Blake continued, refusing to look in her direction.
"Also, if you were in my situation, with someone you knew attacking a friend, you would run as well, or at the very least, feel guilty." Yang rolled over in bed, now facing the wall.
"You're right that I should have said something before I left, but Adam had told me he would be going after other people I cared about and I wasn't ready to let him find me and make it happen." At that, Yang looked over at Blake again.
"So I screwed up Yang, but I want us to start over, especially since most of it isn't my fault. I never asked Adam to hurt you, but if we're done, then why did you want us to come back here to talk?" Blake looked at Yang after asking the question, awaiting her answer. Ruby, who was also laying on her bed, looked over at her sister, equally curious.
That of course meant that Blake was closer to Ruby's bed, as the girl was still holding the black ribbon connected to Blake's weapon.
Yang sat up in bed before speaking. "Because I wanted you to remember our time before it all went wrong and things started to change. My answer is still no. We can't be friends, Blake, but we can and will work together. Now I'm going to go and tell Hiccup it didn't work out."
"But… but you're meant to make up Yang!" Protested Ruby.
After climbing down from her bed, Yang faced her sister. "Not everything can be fixed, Ruby. I'm not Hiccup, who was able to make up with his friend. I'm me; more temperamental and unable to let go of grudges than he will ever be. I'd like to be more like him, but I can't be. I'm sorry Ruby, but I tried."
Then she faced Blake. "Find someone who can put up with your biggest flaw, like Sun or maybe Ilia. Either way, it definitely won't be me." With nothing else to say, and not wanting to hear Blake's response, Yang left the room.
…
"Guess it didn't work out, huh." Hiccup called over to Yang, who was on the far side of the cafeteria, having just entered the room.
"That's right, sorry Hiccup. I'm not as forgiving as you." She responded.
He shrugged. "At least you tried."
"Wait, is that all you wanted me to do? Why didn't you tell me?"
"You never asked. But since your friendship is permanently broken, I'll stop talking about it, even if it still bothers me that you aren't friends."
"That's fine with me."
"Okay. Now going back to what you said earlier, Yang. I'm not completely forgiving either."
"I can confirm that." Commented Astrid.
"You sure about that? Because I've never seen you keep a grudge."
"Oh, I do keep grudges. Just that they tend to involve people you've never met."
"Care to give examples?"
"Snotlout - my cousin. Mildew, Ruffnut and Tuffnut, who used to help my cousin bully me by introducing me to swimming in a trial by fire fashion. Or trial by nearly freezing to death several times in this case. Dagur, who used to use me as practice when he needed a target to throw knives at. Not to mention Raven, who is at the top of the list."
"Got it. You're still not over Professor Goodwitch dying, huh?"
"Would you be, in my situation? Considering I've known her for as long as I've known you."
"Probably not." Yang shrugged. "So what are you going to do about Raven? Whatever it is, I want to help you."
"You can help by not getting involved, Yang."
Yang scowled at him. "Seriously, you of all people don't think I can help?"
"It's not that, Yang. If you showed up at Raven's tribe out of the blue, she's going to ask questions. She's already suspicious of me at the moment. Unless you can give a reason that explains why you're there, you'll just get us in trouble." Explained Hiccup.
"Oh. Well, I'll tell her I want to join her tribe. She wanted me to join earlier anyway. That's one reason that explains why I'd be there."
"That's great." Said Astrid.
"Welcome to the Branwen Tribe, Yang." Hiccup tapped both of her shoulders with his left hand, smiling grimly as he did so. "You're a bandit now. That's a rather depressing thought. Let's go see what Ozpin and the others are up to."
…
"This is Simon, the Headmaster of Haven Academy. This is a request for the leadership of the White Fang to meet with me, Ironwood, the Headmaster of Atlas Academy and former General, Rachel, the Headmistress of Shade Academy and Weiss Schnee, the CEO of the SDC, at Beacon Academy.
The meeting will take place two days from now to discuss the tragedy that occurred at Stuttgart and right a wrong that is twenty years overdue.
This comes with the promise to take the first step to improve communications between humans and faunus."
"That is too good to be true. It is more than likely a trap." Commented Banesaw after listening to the message. "Especially since they somehow have figured out that we're in radio range."
"So we're ignoring it then, boss?" Asked Yuma.
Banesaw shook his head. "No, you will scout out the area for the meeting and report back to me. I must admit I am curious as to what is going to happen there. If by some miracle it isn't a trap or an ambush, then I will travel there to meet up with you and hear what they have to say, with some of my men acting as bodyguards of course."
"So when do we leave, boss?" Asked Trifa.
"As soon as you're ready to do so." He replied.
Nodding, both of them set off to get ready without another word.
…
"Here you are, Raven. One fully completed crossbow, with three more to come soon." Hiccup handed the weapon to her with care.
They were in Jacque's old office like before, with Astrid, Gobber, Weiss, Yang and Klein all present.
Hiccup, Yang and Astrid had flown over the day before, reaching Atlas by 10 pm before sleeping over at Weiss' home.
Hiccup was then awoken by Gobber at the crack of dawn, with the pair proceeding to work on railgun crossbows at dawn, finishing one by midday, with three more almost complete.
Raven took it and looked it over before smirking. "About time. Now, what's this I hear about a new tribe member?"
"That would be me." Said Yang. "I want to join your tribe."
"What brought the change of heart? You made it clear you wanted nothing to do with me or my tribe before."
"As you know, I was kidnapped along with my Uncle. I don't want that to happen again, so I was thinking you could help with that."
Raven's eyes lit up. "You want to get stronger?"
"Something like that."
"Well, then I would be happy to oblige." Handing the crossbow back to Hiccup, Raven swiped a portal to life with her odachi.
Pointing at the portal as she turned to face Yang again, she continued. "Your path to the training you requested is through there. It will be tough, and you won't like it-"
"If you're finished talking, that would be great. I'd like to get started on the training." Yang said sharply before stepping into the portal.
Raven shrugged before taking the crossbow back from Hiccup. "Keep working," she said before she left as well.
When the portal disappeared, Hiccup turned to Astrid, or the scroll in her hands to be precise. "You get all that, Qrow?"
"Yeah, she'll be occupied for a bit. I think now would be a good time to make a move, General."
"Right you are. Move out, Leon."
"Right away sir."
"I'll see you all later." Said Taiyang.
"See you soon, Taiyang. Oh, and give her hel."
"Oh, I intend to, for a few reasons."
"Good luck to you two as well." Said Hiccup.
"Giving the General Merlot and his friend to get me out and then this. You sure it ain't my birthday, Hiccup? Because that counts as a present to me."
"Stop talking Roman. We've got a job to do." Barked Taiyang.
"Fine, lead the way. Neo says bye, by the way, Hiccup. Also congratulations on the little one."
"Little one? You're… You owe me an explanation Hiccup."
"Deal with Raven, then we'll talk for as long as you want Taiyang."
"Wait-" But he was cut off by Astrid hanging up on him.
"And now we wait." Muttered Gobber.
"While we're waiting, I'm going to call Ozpin. Might as well tell him that things are going well." Announced Hiccup.
"I'll go get your crossbow, Hiccup. If Raven comes here, you'll need it."
"Good idea. Klein, tell those huntsmen to come here, just in case."
"Right away Miss Schnee." He said before marching from the room to carry out his bosses' order.
…
After a trip to the armoury to store away the crossbow, Raven turned to Yang.
"Alright. You'll be sleeping in that tent over there and we'll be starting your training at dawn tomorrow. Got it?"
"Yes." Replied Yang.
"Good. Now do whatever you want. I've got things to do right now."
Yang and Raven then parted ways following her statement.
After entering her assigned tent, she busied herself by browsing the CCT on InfoHunt and eventually a voice emanated from just outside the camp over a loudspeaker.
"This is Specialist Leon of the Atlas Military. Huntsmen and local police are also present here. You are surrounded. Lay down your weapons and surrender now."
"Nobody attack! If you attack and kill the Specialist, we'll be finished!" Ordered Raven.
Stepping out of her tent, Yang was just in time to see Raven create a portal and leave.
She then smirked upon seeing Raven left with nowhere to go. Raven emerged from the portal, with a railgun crossbow pressed flush against her back, courtesy of Hiccup.
Also, two other huntsmen flanked Hiccup, keeping a firm grip on each of her shoulders as she moved forward.
A crow flew overhead before suddenly dropping down and transforming into Qrow.
He had landed right behind Vernal, where he pressed the edge of the blade of his scythe against her neck.
"Surrender, all of you, or they get hurt." Said Qrow.
With Raven and Vernal practically under arrest already, nobody resisted and soon the camp was filled with the sound of weapons hitting the ground as soldiers and police officers filled the camp and began making arrests, with Taiyang, Roman, Neo and Specialist Leon - a tall lanky man with short black hair that was turning grey at the temples - leading them.
Taiyang and Raven locked gazes and she scowled at him as he broke away from his entourage and approached her. "Not nice to lose things, is it, Raven?" he asked when he stopped walking.
Raven glared darkly at him. "Shut up Taiyang and just do what you came here to do."
"Alright, someone put her in handcuffs." He called, turning away from her.
Barely thirty seconds had passed before a police officer strode over and placed Raven in handcuffs.
She was then forced to move forward again, passing her ex-husband, Neo who taunted her with a smirk and Roman who waved at her for the same reason.
"Seize all weapons, explosives and Dust rounds you can find." Specialist Leon ordered. "They will be considered to be Atlas property."
Meanwhile, Taiyang had finally noticed Yang, who was watching the scene. "Good work." He said when he reached her. "Let's go."
