Hello everyone I've very sorry that I forgot to post this chap so please forgive me, I've lost a lot of my drive for writing compared to when I first started and I'm surprised you all haven't given up on me with my lack luster posting times. Anyway here's chapter 14 and 15 WILL be out soon, there also might be a big question for all of you to make a decision on at the end of chapter 15 so look out for that but anyway enjoy the chapter.
Saturday Morning
Southern Vale - The Den
Velvet sighs as she sets her helmet down onto her fuel tank before removing her sunglasses. She can't help but to be a little jealous of her sister's home here in Vale, with it's wide porch, it's welcoming feeling, as well as it's simple beauty. Her home back in Vacuo had been a small, two bedroom apartment she and her mother could barely fit into while she was growing up. And when her love for photography began to blossom, her mother supported it by allowing her to turn her own bedroom into a dark room and spending every spare lien she could on her expensive camera equipment. She herself turned their tiny dining room into her own, hanging a sheet for privacy.
The rabbit faunus is still filled with anger towards her mother. So many wasted years, so many missed memories. She's still struggling with the fact that not only is she not an only child, but an older sister to a younger sibling she's come to adore greatly, and a daughter to a man she's long considered a hero.
"Oi! You coming in or what?" Alex calls out as he appears on the porch, a smile on his face and two cups of coffee in his broad hands.
Grabbing her scroll off it's holder on her bike, she moves towards the porch with a smile. "You're up early." She comments as she takes a cup from him, noting it says World's Best Big Sister on it.
"Had to haul Ruby and them up. They needed to head to Ashley's early, afore the fun starts later on." He replies as he motions for her to sit on a nearby chair, while he eases himself into an identical one next to it. "That and I called Virginia. She and I need to have a damned talk about her sister."
Velvet nods as she sits next to him, a small frown on her face. "I have questions for her too. She's been avoiding me since the funeral, and now I know why." Taking a deep breath, she exhales slowly as she looks at him. "Why?"
"Why didn't I come looking? Or why didn't I stay with Carol?" He asks calmly as he looks her in the eyes.
"Yes."
"Carol and I ended bad, little bunny." He begins, stopping at the frown on her face.
"Please don't call me that. Mom called me that."
"Fair enough." He rumbles as he looks into his coffee. "I loved her. I loved her so damned much, Velvet. But she and Sum hated each other, and I wouldn't give Sum up as my best friend." He admits quietly. "Sum always accused her of treating me like crap, which she did." He holds up a finger to forestall the coming retort. "But I ignored it cause I knew I was causing a lot of problems by still talking to Summer."
"So she wasn't completely to blame?"
"No, she wasn't." The older wolf faunus admits. "And I'm owning my part in it."
"It doesn't help that your mother did something terrible. So terrible she and I didn't talk for years." A new voice declares. Both of them turn to look at the raven haired rabbit faunus walking up to join them. As tall as Salem, with brilliant chocolate brown eyes, Virginia Scarlatina-Nikos is a rather heavyset woman who is walking with a pronounced limp while leaning heavily against an ornate cane. "I only re-established contact because you were beginning your huntress training, and Carolina was hoping I could use my pull at Signal through your Uncle Chrysafénios to get you in there."
"Not to say I'm blameless, Velvet." Alex adds quietly as he stands and moves to the side for the woman, who sits down gratefully. "Leg acting up again, Bun?"
"Yeah, there must be a storm coming in." She grumbles as she settles down. "Alex, do you have any tea? A cup of Earl Grey would be wonderful."
"I gotcha." He replies as he nods at her. "Back in a sec." He declares before vanishing.
"STOP TELEPORTING, YOU IDIOT! YOUR HEART CAN'T TAKE IT!"
"KISS MY ASS, BUN!"
"I'm surprised, Auntie. You barely come out of the Warren these days." Velvet comments as she looks at her mother's only sister, surprised at the nod of the woman's head.
"My leg's giving me worse fits lately. Even had to step down as Guild Treasurer." She admits as she adjusts her weight a bit. "Chrys is ready to drag me to Sass if I don't lose some more weight. But why bother? All your cousins are getting older, Tara and that damned Petunia are all but married, pretty sure Sasha found her forever in Sarah, and the Brumbies are both growing at the speed of light." She chuckles as she takes her niece's hand. "And now that you're in your father's life, so I can finally break my own silence."
"What did Mom never tell me?" The younger rabbit faunus whispers as her ears fall to the top of her head. "What did she do?"
"Alex asked her to marry him." She informs her quietly. "And Summer tried to be the bigger woman and end their feud."
Velvet blinks at the news that her father had tried to be with her mother, even as she realizes that it means Ruby may have never have been born, or even may have had a different father. "He really tried?"
"He did. And my sister, my dumb bunny of a window licking sister, threw the ring back in his face." Virginia confirms even as she shakes her head sadly. "She started giving Alex so much damned hell, she even started cussing Summer out, and blaming her for them never having a chance at a good relationship. Her mouth went out of control to the point where even Ada Schnee and Glynda Goodwitch had stopped their own arguing to stare. She didn't stop until…"
"Until Salem slapped the taste out of her mouth to make her shut up." Alex finishes as he reappears with a cup of tea. "That's part of the reason I never came looking for you, bunny."
"Because Mom went too far?" She asks curiously.
Virginia shakes her head. "And because she never told any of us in her own family the truth." Reaching over, she takes one of Velvet's hands in both of her own as she looks at her sadly. "Bunny, she even lied to me. And when Summer came asking questions about Carol, about if the rumors were true and she had really had you, I honestly couldn't answer her as to whether or not you were Alex's. Because she never told anyone."
"Velvet, Summer…" Alex pauses to wipe tears away. "Summer was on her last hunt. When she got back, she and I were heading to Vacuo to confront your momma. We wanted the truth. We wanted Ruby to grow up with ya in her life, we wanted to make peace with Carol so she would come home to her family, and not live in exile. We wanted…" Both rabbit women watch as the Mountain bursts into tears. "We just wanted the hate to end, the bitterness to end. We just wanted our friend back, and to let you meet and grow up with your sister."
Putting her cup to the side, Velvet stands and pulls her now sobbing father into her arms, his own muscular arms wrapping around her gently as his shoulders shake with his tears. "Dad, I'm so sorry. I wish I could say she talked about you, but she didn't. She never said a word about you, about Summer, about Ruby, nothing."
"I miss em both so much, Velvet." He manages to get out between sobs. "I loved em both so damned much, and it took years for Salem to finally get ah spot in what's left of my heart." He admits to her quietly.
"She seems really amazing, and more than a little scary." The younger woman admits quietly. "And now I really do wish Summer had lived. Mom sacrificed so much to keep me happy. She worked so many crappy jobs to make sure I had a roof over my head and food in my mouth." She sighs as she looks at her father in his still pain filled eyes. "Ruby's mom sounds really amazing too."
"She was." Alex admits as a small smile reappears on his face. "Honestly? She was one of the best damned things to ever happen to me."
Velvet Scarlatina has spent her whole life wishing she could have met her father, and comes to a decision. She may be angry at her mother for her decisions, but she cannot keep staying angry at her for her entire life, not when she finally told her the truth, when she could have died with it untold. After all, the failed huntress made so many sacrifices to make sure she grew up as happy as she could. A smile comes to her face as she reaches up and wipes her father's tears away gently, getting a brighter smile from him as well as her aunt. "Da? Can I have my stuff sent here? I'm gonna need it now that I'm home."
"Is it here in Vale?" He asks, getting a nod in response.
"Coco's mom is being nice, and letting me store it all at the Adel Conglomerate's warehouse near the docks." She informs him. "I told her I could give her some money for storage fees, but she glared at me until I ran and hid behind Yatsu."
"Virginia, feel like riding along?" The Mountain asks as he looks at the rabbit woman, not surprised when she shakes her head.
"I want to meet Weiss, so I'll wait." She informs him firmly as her eyes turn from warm brown to as solid as the earth itself. "I want to see for myself if this Schnee is worth me rallying the clan."
To the surprise of both adults, Velvet takes a white object out of her back pocket and offers it to her aunt. To their growing shock, they see the revealed object as a white fang mask. "I already believe in her." She admits quietly. "I honestly think with our support, she can take back the SDC." The teenaged rabbit faunus smiles. "She can free the slaves with our help, with Ruby's help, with Blake's help."
Virginia Scarlatina-Nikos nods as she takes the mask in both hands and snaps it in two before handing both pieces to Alex. "Burn that piece of shit, please?" She asks, getting a nod of agreement as he moves back into the house. Looking at her niece, her eyes manage to turn even harder, making the younger woman pale and take a step back. "I find out you're still mixed up in that nonsense, you're going over my knee, am I clear?"
"Yes, ma'am." Velvet replies nervously as she shrinks from the glare.
"Alex, David, and Falco work too damned hard to keep that garbage out of Vale. And I support them wholeheartedly, because the Fang is full of nothing but garbage, slime, and terrorists." Virginia rumbles angrily as she slowly stands, her niece shriveling before her in her own growing terror. "And to find out my own flesh and blood was a part of it?! Give me one good reason why I shouldn't take strips out of your ass right now?!"
"BECAUSE I HELP BLAKE BELLADONNA GET AWAY AFTER SHE KILLED ADAM TAURUS!" Velvet screams out in terror, making the older woman pause, while Alex, who was pulling up in his own truck looks shocked.
"The rumors are true? The Mad Bull really is dead?" Virginia looks at Alex, who is already out of his truck and approaching rapidly. "No wonder the Khan is threatening an all out war!"
"Velvet, what kinda proof do you got about that?" Alex asks calmly as he comes to stand next to his daughter.
The young woman looks at him trembling in fear. "I have his weapons. I hid them with my stuff while Blake hid until Beacon's school year started." She admits quietly.
"Let's go get your stuff, Velvet. I need to lock that damned weapon down in my armory." Alex declares as he looks at his daughter. "But I ain't mad at you. You made ah choice, and you're walking away from em now."
The young woman nods. "Blake's safe now. And I… I want to come home."
Virginia nods as she takes her scroll out. "I'll have Chrys meet you there." She declares before smiling kindly at her niece. "Your father's right. You made a good choice, and you helped a woman who ended the life of one of the Khan's worst killers for what we heard was all the best reasons. But, my threat still stands."
"Yes ma'am." Velvet whispers softly as she looks at the ground. But she almost squeals in surprise as her father lifts her head by her chin, a brilliant smile on his own face.
"Welcome home, Velvet."
Velvet Garibaldi's smile is no less brilliant as she looks back up at the Mountain of Vale. "Thanks, Da. And you can call me Bunny, my team does too…"
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Central Vale - Ashley's Fashions
"I've never heard of this Ashley before." Weiss admits as they get out of Salem's car, a Hedge Dominator.
"Her stuff is the best in all the kingdoms!" Ruby declares as she rises from the passenger seat. "Everyone uses her, and she always cuts Huntsmen and Huntresses the best deals!"
Salem nods in agreement as she closes her own door. "She's been here since I was a student." She admits as she looks at the simple storefront, which has a sole outfit in the single window next to a single door. "From what old Professor Magenta used to tell us, she's been here since before the Vytal accords were even signed."
"She refuses to take sides too. Humans and Faunus both are welcomed here, and she doesn't put up with any kind of fighting." The Reaper adds as she helps a shaken Blake out of the car next. "You good, Blakey?"
"Why?! Why am I doomed to being in cars with crazy, too fast driving people?!" She whines as her tail waves in her agitation.
"I'm not as bad as Alex. He drives like he's racing his truck." The professor informs her, making the panther turn even paler. "Oh, the name is deceptive. Her name is actually Aramina Sable, but she'll no doubt tell you to call her Mina."
Ruby nods as she offers Weiss an arm, which she takes with a grin, while also supporting Blake on her other side. "Don't let her eyes creep you out, either. You get used to them."
The heiress nods as she starts pulling them forward. "Come along then, my dolt and my kitten. I need suitable combat attire, before you both commit murder." But considering Blake is on her blind side, she misses the dark look that comes over the panther's eyes for a brief moment before they become mirrors once more. But she stops in amazement as they enter, her eyes widening at the sheer selection of clothes available. "Goddess…"
"I've been called that before." A tall, dark haired woman who could almost rival Ruby's father in height declares in her amusement as she approaches them. She is wearing a loose fitting black peasant's blouse over a matching ankle length skirt, both of which leaves her wondering what kind of figure she truly has. Her feet are bare, revealing her perfectly pedicured toes, while she smiles a brilliant white toothed smile that almost blends with her porcelain skin.
But her scleral eyes are indeed as creepy as Ruby warned. Almost as if she can stare into a person's soul with them.
"So, Kali's little girl and one of Ada's twins have finally come to me for clothes." The woman declares in a voice surprisingly deep for a woman. "Winter speaks highly of you, Weiss. She did however warn me that you have a penchant for being constantly covered in grease and motor oil."
"You've met my sister?" The heiress asks curiously as she stares at the woman, whose smile brightens.
"I make all of Winter's uniforms." She informs the white haired woman, who nods.
"She always is impeccably dressed." She admits.
"I also made all of Ruby's school uniforms for Signal and Beacon, as well as all of Salem's various dresses." She adds as she begins to walk around the heiress, who remains calm as she vanishes from her sight. "A pity you took after Snowy in height and build, and not Nic. His clothes had to be durable, yet functional. You never knew if he was going to be helping in a mine, or falling asleep in a board meeting."
Weiss giggles as the woman reappears into her field of vision. "That does sound like grandpa."
"Now, as to you, Miss Belladonna." The woman declares as she begins to walk around the nervous panther faunus. "You are Kali made over, but with Ghira's rear."
"Hey!" She squeals in embarrassment as she covers said rear with her hands.
"I meant it as a compliment, child. I am quite content with my current lover, and I am not looking to replace her anytime soon." She smiles reassuringly at the Faunus woman as she moves back around her. "I see more of him than just that in you as well. His pride, his commitment to your people, and the large caring heart you inherited from them both." Stopping, she looks at both young women before looking at Ruby. "It's good to see your smile returned. They are good for you, and you for them."
"Thank you, Mina." The Reaper replies as she blushes a deep red.
"Now, I assume you need a myriad of clothes, Blake?" The tall woman asks, getting a nod in return. "I figured as much. If I'm correct, that is Ruby's bra you're wearing, and your currently going commando." They watch as she walks over to a rack and hums softly as she begins to glow softly. "Yes, this one and this one will do." She begins to gather undergarments, shirts, pants, and even several dresses and skirts with matching blouses. But they all hear the panther's squeal of delight as the woman holds up a brand new black yukata. "Sleep wear."
"I love it!" She declares happily as she rushes over and stares at all the clothes. "I… my parents can't possibly afford all this." She admits as she realizes just how high quality everything is.
"Nonsense." Mina waves a hand as she puts the rather large pile into the panther's arms, Ruby rushing over to help before she collapses underneath the small mountain of clothes. "Kali is a dear friend, and a valued customer. And I will not allow the daughter of a dear friend to return to Beacon wearing rags. That would be shameful of me." Turning, she takes a critical look at Weiss as she hums. "You… clothes are almost wasted on you."
"I don't have much use for them." The heiress admits sheepishly. "Neither of us do."
"As bad as Ruby, but Salem at least taught her the value of looking her best when it matters."
"It took several cricket bats!" The professor informs her, getting a surprisingly high pitched giggle from the shop owner. "Oh, and a shovel!"
"Stupid shovel hurt." Ruby grumbles as she absentmindedly rubs her rear.
"But, unlike Ruby, you also know the value of what you wear and how you wear it. The problem becomes, your clothes are flimsy, as is anything from those thrice cursed Atlesian designers." Mina declares in disgust. "Imagine, wearing a dress made of gossamer strands and held together by nothing but spider string and the hope that a woman isn't left nude with one good blast of air."
"That actually happened to Win last year." Weiss admits with a giggle. "Qrow almost killed several people before they could retreat to her own quarters. Father was quite cross."
"Now they make for an interesting match." The shop owner smirks. "But a good one. Qrow will defend her to his own demise if necessary." She suddenly claps her hands together. "I will have the beginnings of an excellent huntress outfit by this evening. Stop by on the way to Beacon, so I can make any needed adjustments." Pausing, she looks from Weiss to Blake and smiles softly. "I cannot wait to properly outfit you both in proper uniforms as well. And, I insist that I create your wedding gowns when that time comes."
All three young women begin to sputter and make wild denials as they shake their heads, Salem and Mina laughing heartily at them.
"Let's not tease them too much, Mina." Salem calls out as she wipes tears away. "We don't want to scare them away while they are still exploring the possibility of a wonderful relationship together."
"You are right of course." The shop owner replies with a smile. "I will go ahead and start on much more suitable uniforms for the both of you as well. And Weiss, don't allow David to find out that you do not wear undergarments. He gets extremely cross about it."
"Ugh! Why?!"
"Because it's a running argument between him and Peachy is why, Weiss." Salem explains as she points to the racks of said pieces of clothing. "Enough for a week, and no backtalk young lady."
"Yes ma'am." The heiress replies sullenly as she begins to go through the racks, an occasional blush crossing her cheeks as she explores them.
"Now, let me look at you, Ruby Michelle." Mina motions to the wolf faunus to come over, which she does so with a smile. "Good, the joy is returned to your eyes, along with the mischief. And you are going to need more clothes soon yourself."
"Oh please don't say that! Daddy's still grumbling about the last bill from you!"
"Let him. He more than has the funds to afford my regular prices, and he knows it goes to a good cause." The woman reminds her with a smile.
"A good cause?" Blake asks as she carefully folds one of her new blouses.
"I am not just a long time business woman, but I also run an orphanage." She explains with a look of pride. "The same one that Summer was forced to live in until Alexis and Garrett took her in when they returned from the war with Vacuo."
"Your mother was an orphan?" Weiss asks curiously, getting a nod from Ruby, Salem, and Mina.
"As was I, Weiss. So I drove myself to become a success, and now I take care of the children of fallen Huntsmen and Huntresses. I guide them, nurture them, and help them find their way in this world."
"But I thought Salem said you've been here for years?" The panther comments curiously.
Mina chuckles as she points to the wall behind the sole counter, the symbol of the Goddess of Darkness behind it. "I made a bargain with Her Dark Majesty. As long as I care for those she considers sacrosanct, I will never age." She informs the two younger women. "I have had years to perfect my craft, while caring for the children of the honored fallen, and I am still humbled by her gift to me." Pausing, she sighs. "I am not one of her chosen, yet I still feel honored all the same. I do not regret selling my soul, for I did it for the children who would have otherwise been forgotten."
Weiss nods as she curtseys deeply to the woman. "Her Dark Majesty chose well. And!" She smiles as she takes her debit card out. "I insist on paying full price for my things as well as Blake's."
"Very well then, Weiss. I shall not argue." The woman replies with a smile as she moves towards the counter and settles the bill before helping Blake and Weiss package their new clothes. She smiles as she watches them leave, knowing that Kali would be proud of the fact that her daughter has grown into a woman of herself, while wondering just how much damage Ada truly did to her secretly shy and sensitive youngest daughter. Perhaps a trip to Atlas would be in order, if only to have a word with a woman who was once one of her finest customers...
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Southern Vale: The Warren
Pyrrha Nikos is laughing. It isn't the laughter of someone trying to be polite, or the laughter of general amusement. It is a deep, hearty laugh that comes from the heart as she watches her cousins Sasha, Tara, Silver, and Nickel argue over the coming party at Ruby's house.
"And I already told you idiots, I'll be there later! Petunia and I already made plans!" At twenty one, Tara is by far the oldest of her siblings, as well as the bossiest. She took far too closely to her mother in that regard, and she is a terror at Beacon Academy, where she is a fourth year.
"You are not about to duck out on another party, you bossy bitch!" Sasha snarls back at her older sibling. At fifteen, she is the second born child of her uncle Chrysafénios and his wife, Virginia. Even she has to admit, her younger cousin is one of the most beautiful women she has ever met, what with her perfect hourglass figure, long brilliant red hair, and lively chocolate brown eyes. The second born child has won several beauty pageants and the like here in Vale, and is a frontrunner to represent the nation at the next Miss Remnant competition. However, anyone who makes the mistake of underestimating her soon finds themselves either pinned to the ground with her Gravity semblance, or the victims of a smear campaign from the surprisingly gifted information broker.
"Awwww let her go, Sasha." Nickel declares with a smirk. The older of the twin twelve year old boys nicknamed the Brumbies, he is a gifted athlete whose talents at Blitzball are rivaled by his penchant for causing trouble both on and off the field. "Let her go get her face sucked off by her girlfriend."
Silver nods as he folds his own arms across his muscular chest. "Probably not the only thing that's going to get sucked off, considering Petunia's trans." He adds. Blunt, honest, and loyal to a fault, Silver Scarlatina-Nikos's goal of becoming a Specialist in Vale's military is supported wholeheartedly by the entire clan. But his skill in combat pales in comparison to his brutal playing style in Rugby, and many an older boy has been hurt badly by the young rabbit faunus. But, he is also the hope of the clan with his brilliant silver eyes. A hope that the power of Soul Ignition still exists in their bloodline.
"Oh my Goddess! I hate you guys!" Tara shrieks as she pulls at her ears. "Why?! Why was I cursed with assholes for siblings?!"
"You hear that, Silver? We're assholes!" Nickel declares with a grin.
"Well thank you, Tara. We always knew you cared." The younger of the twins deadpans, despite the smirk on his face.
"Excuse me?! I'm a bitch, not an asshole, you dumbass!" Sasha screams back, her face red in her growing rage.
"Ah, I see I haven't missed the morning fistfight yet." Turning, Pyrrha smiles brightly as her uncle, Chrysafénios, sits next to her, while offering her a cup of tea. A surprisingly short man, he was and still is the opposite of her own father, who is a hard working, no nonsense leader of men. A surprisingly gentle soul, he works hard at Signal Academy as the head of the many councilors at the combat school.
But anyone who makes the mistake of thinking him weak or a coward has been re-educated at the business end of his spear, including his own brother back when they both attended Haven Academy. The two of them had a falling out over his now wife, Virginia, one that ended violently. To her own dismay, the brothers have not spoken in over twenty years now, despite Augustus not saying a word as she and her own mother maintained contact with him and his own family.
"I give them two more minutes." Pyrrha responds as she takes the offered cup with a smile. "Sasha almost has Tara fighting mad."
Chrys chuckles as he shakes his head. "Unlike Virginia, I think Petunia is good for Tara. She's calmed down a lot since they started dating during their second year." He comments idly before grabbing his niece and pulling her to one side before she gets brained by a thrown coffee mug. "Granted, all my children inherited their mother's temper and not mine, but they are still perfect to me."
"Hopefully they don't wake Sarah up. She was up far too late doing repairs on Jenna." She remarks idly as she uses her semblance to catch a frying pan before it can hit the older man, who nods in thanks. "I have to admit, she is a delight to talk to."
"She's refreshingly honest." He admits as he stands and catches a screaming Sasha in his arms, the teenager growling in rage as she immediately hops out of them and dashes back into the brawl. "I truly don't think she even knows how to lie, and Jeanne is beyond proud of the woman she is becoming."
"YOU SON OF A BITCH! THAT WAS MY FAVORITE SHIRT!"
"I KNOW MOM'S A BITCH! WHERE THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU AND TARA GET IT FROM?!"
But everyone freezes at the sound of knuckles cracking, along with a familiar voice clearing her throat. "I was up all night fixing Sasha's titan." Sarah declares angrily as the four siblings stare at her in growing terror. They watch as she reaches up and takes an odd looking sword off her back and twists the handle, a small, but powerful engine revving up as the blade begins to glow.
"Babe, let's not do anything we're going to regret later!" Sasha calls out fearfully as she shrivels under her girlfriend's rage filled blue eyes.
"You got part of that right." The blonde replies as she twists the handle again, the blade growing brighter. "You guys are gonna regret waking me up."
"Oh fuck…" Is all Tara manages to get out before the Mechromancer goes on her own rage fueled offensive.
Chrysafénios shakes his head as he stands. "Pyrrha, will you accompany me? Alex needs my help getting his daughter's things from storage."
"Of course, Uncle." The Mistrali woman replies happily as she stands and moves to the side, a screaming Nickel flying through her chair a split second later. "Oh, I spoke with Mom last night. She plans on publicly announcing her own support for the Faunus in Mistral."
The older man pauses, as do all of his children and plus one. "Athena is going against Augustus?" He asks quietly.
Pyrrha nods as her eyes harden. "She has finally lost her patience with him. He claims a deep friendship with the Mountain, yet does nothing for his people in Mistral. Nora and I prospered under the Mountain's Rose's command, and are fighting to be moved back to her team." Her eyes turn into shards of emeralds as her eyes narrow. "I came to Beacon to become a Huntress. As long as Jaune Arc is my leader, I will be nothing but a laughingstock."
The older man looks thoughtful as he motions for his niece to follow her. "I have to admit, I never expected you to speak against an authority figure in this manner." He admits quietly as they move through a well lit tunnel. "And don't you want some shoes?"
Pyrrha shakes her head as she continues to follow him. "I will be fine. I normally don't wear them unless I need to back in Mistral. And…" She sighs as they reach a garage, which is currently filled with a variety of vehicles and a pair of giant combat robots, one of which is doing repairs on the other. "I am losing faith in what is going on back home, Uncle Chrys. Mother and I both." Stopping, she bows to the larger of the two robots. "Good morning, Mama."
"Good morning, Pyrrha." The twenty two foot tall Titan replies as her giant core swivels to look at her. "Where are you two heading?"
"Alex Garibaldi needs some help getting his daughter's things out of storage." The older man replies as he opens the door to a short truck. "And we still have the trailer we borrowed from him."
"Need me to tag along?" She asks as she stands. "Damned idiot cops have finally cleared me to walk on the streets, and I'm tired of being cooped up."
"But Mama!" Jenna, an eighteen foot tall robot protests as she holds up an amputated leg. "I'm still in pieces!"
"Just walk it off, Jenna!" Pyrrha calls out as she helps hook the trailer up to the truck with her semblance.
"Hey! That's not funny!" The giant sized bot declares as she pouts, while everyone around bursts into laughter.
"Sure it is, kiddo. Stay put, I need to talk to Alex anyway. Our maintenance isn't cheap, and Sarah needs financial help for that maintenance bay thing she wants to build us." Mama declares as she stands and slings a multi barrelled gatling gun onto her back. "And we don't need licenses to go on the big hunts that pay good."
"Jeanne must have cut her off again?" Chrysafénios asks as he starts up his truck, Pyrrha climbing into the passenger seat.
"Nah, she wants to prove herself is all." Jenna replies proudly as she returns to repairing herself. "And we would be shitty friends by not helping her."
"Speak for yourself. That's my grease monkey!" The larger mech declares as she points to herself with one giant thumb. "And if I gotta raise hell in the field to help her, then that's what I gotta do. She already lost one arm cause I got careless, I'll be damned if she loses another one trying to prove we aren't a waste of money and resources!"
"Then follow us!" The older man declares as he puts his vehicle into gear and begins to drive up a long, upward rising tunnel. The Titan follows behind him closely, while the other waves them goodbye.
But no one notices a quietly crying Sarah standing by the entrance, Sasha hugging her tightly as she smiles in pride at her creations…
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Saturday Afternoon
Western Vale - The Adel Conglomerate's Warehouse 24
"Son of a bitch!" Alex declares in surprise as he looks inside the packed building. "How much crap does Azura and Cacao have packed into this place?!"
"A lot." Velvet admits as she leads him inside, neither faunus turning on a single light to guide them. "Coco said this is where most of the office stuff went when they tore down their old building to build the new one she's supposed to run next year."
"So Azura's givin Coco some responsibilities, huh?"
"She wants to restart the old fashion division that was here in Vale." The rabbit explains as they turn a corner and keep walking carefully. "That's her real passion after shooting Grimm with a mini gun that's also a purse."
"Uh huh. Now she sounds like Cacao. I ain't seen him in years." The Mountain admits sadly as he stops to look at a set of double doors emblazoned with the Adel Conglomerate's symbol. "Not since that hunt went bad."
"You were there?"
"Bunny, he was part of the group that went with me to find what killed Summer. Problem was, we found more than we bargained for." He explains as a haunted look crosses his features.
Velvet walks back to her father and wraps her arms around him. "The Hound?"
"No, something worse." He admits. "Something bigger, stronger, and meaner." He sighs as he looks at her. "A different, more dangerous Hybrid. A woman I once called a friend, and who lost herself to the darkness within her."
"Wait, it wasn't the Hound?!"
"No, her name was Tyrantia. And she was something even I've never seen before." He explains quietly as they hear footsteps approaching. "And I had to kill her afore she killed a kid."
"Daddy? Maybe we should talk about this later?" Velvet declares softly. "And does Ruby know?"
"Yeah, she knows. Her and Salem both. So does David and the Professors at Beacon. They all needed to know."
"And we kept it at that." Salem declares as she approaches with Ruby, who is guiding her slowly.
"Before you ask, Weiss is at the house with Blake talking to Miss Virginia." Ruby informs them both quietly. "Said she needed to talk to them in private or something like that."
Alex smiles as he takes Salem's hand gently in one of his own, the shorter woman's vanishing easily. "Why didn't ya'll cut the lights on?"
"And listen to you raise hell for hours?" The woman counters as she smiles up at him. "No thank you, I would rather stumble around in the dark."
Ruby and Velvet look at each other, the older sister shrugging as the younger one grins. "Ya know, considering your preggo and all, shouldn't you have considered turning them on?"
Velvet nods as she smiles softly. "No sense in risking our new sibling or your own well being." She adds quietly.
Alex suddenly howls as Salem begins to smack him repeatedly. "YOU TOLD THEM?!"
"WE'RE FAUNUS! WE ALREADY FIGURED IT OUT BEFORE YOU DID!" He shrieks back as he tries to deflect her rapid blows.
"We really did, Mum." The Reaper points out as she ducks behind Velvet, who shakes her head in her amusement.
"I knew the moment I caught your scent." The older girl adds.
Salem stops and sighs. "This is not how I wanted to tell you both, even though this giant idiot insisted I needed to go ahead and confirm it."
Velvet giggles as she starts moving forward once more, Ruby at her side and the two of them agreeing that discretion is in fact the better part of valor. Reaching a quartet of wooden shipping containers, Ruby takes note of the customs labels of both Vacuo and Vale on them, as well as one that has been opened. There are pillows and blankets set carefully into a makeshift bed in front of it, along with what appears to be a small side table holding a small, dust powered lamp on it.
But what she finds suspicious is the fact that she can smell Blake over the whole area, especially in the bedding.
"Sis, was this where Blake hid out until the start of the year?" She asks quietly, getting a nod in return.
"Yeah, she and I go back a ways." The rabbit faunus admits quietly, her face a mask.
"I see. And she must have been pretty important for you to let her hide out in your stuff." Once again, Ruby can feel the jealousy rising from her heart, Velvet wincing from the obvious reflection of the emotion on her face.
"It's not like that, I promise. She just… She needed to lay low for a bit, and my stuff is just sitting here collecting dust."
"Uh huh." Both of them pause and groan as the overhead lights suddenly blaze to life, while several voices call out to the Reaper and her older sibling. "We'll talk later."
"Ain't no need, cause it ain't none of your business." Alex declares as he arrives with Salem next, the older wolf faunus blinking repeatedly to adjust his eyes to the bright lights. "Fuckin lights." He adds with a grumble.
"Excuse me?! Blake is my business!"
Salem smirks. "So, admitting there is something going on between you three now?" She asks slyly, a smirk on her face.
"You know damned well I like her, Mum! Like really like her and Weiss both!" Ruby protests as she begins to sulk. "I just don't like thinking my older sister dated her first is all."
"It really isn't like that!" Velvet protests as she glares at the younger girl. "But it's none of your business either!"
"Then whose business is it?!"
"It's guild business, and you're still in training, Ruby Michelle Rose-Garibaldi." The Mountain declares in a tone of voice that silences his younger daughter's protests completely. "Now, go get Pyrrha and Chrys, so we can get this done. We still got shit to do tonight."
"Yes sir." She replies sullenly as she storms off, huffing as she vanishes around the corner. But both adults shake their heads when they hear metal strike wood, a crashing sound echoing a moment later along with soft, fluent swearing.
"And there's your temper." Salem remarks dryly as she looks up at him.
"Yep." He agrees just as dryly before looking at the rabbit faunus. "Where are they?"
Holding up a finger, Velvet stoops down, then leaps upwards and onto the top of one of the still closed containers. Closing her right hand into a fist, a rough copy of Ember appears around it before she drives it into the wooden container. Reaching in, she tosses a cloth wrapped bundle down to him as the copy vanishes, and leaps back down to join them. "I made my own copies of it already, for my collection." She admits to the two adults, who nod.
"That copy was messy." Salem comments, getting a grimace from the young woman.
"My camera lens is messed up again. I can't get it to focus really well like I want it to."
"Remind me to look at it later, bunny." Alex rumbles as he holds the still covered weapons at arm's length. "Damn, but you can smell the blood on these damned things." He glances at Salem and sighs. "I got a better idea than locking it up in the vault at the Guild or at Beacon."
"Mama did come along, and a watery grave would be suitable as well for such tainted weapons." She agrees.
"Yep. Be right back." He declares as he vanishes, the older woman shaking her head.
"He needs to stop teleporting everywhere, but he's lazy."
"Miss Salem, is he really…"
Reaching over, the human woman takes her soon to be stepdaughter's arm and smiles reassuringly at her. "He's on a transplant list. He's just not happy about it, because he won't be able to use his semblance for some time, if ever again. Especially since Ruby has yet to fully master teleporting as well."
"Ruby… I swear I never slept with Blake!" The younger woman blurts out. "She's… not really my type." She admits.
"It's fine, Velvet. Let her calm down a bit, and then talk to her about it." Salem reassures her as she pulls herself free and moves to the open crate. "Now, let's get you packed back up and back home, ok?" She declares as she begins to pick up pillows and blankets. But they both pause as they hear the report of a large weapon being fired nearby, the rabbit faunus wincing.
"The hell was that?!"
"Mama's Predator Cannon." The older woman replies calmly as she begins to fold the blankets next. "Wilt and Blush have been consigned to a watery grave, and good riddance."
"Amen, Miss Salem. May the Eternal Light hide em for all time too." Velvet agrees as Ruby returns with Pyrrha, the two younger women giggling and speaking together quietly. The rest of the time went quickly, Velvet's things soon loaded on two trucks and a trailer and the blended family on its way home. All of them are equally determined to insure that Weiss wins over the faunus community in Vale, in order to insure Jacques Schnee's downfall…
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Author's Notes:
Vehicle guide since I'm Remnant-ing the names!
Weiss drives a Mercedes Benz C-320
Salem drives a Dodge Challenger SRT
Diane drives a Ford F-350 Dually
Alex drives a Dodge Ram 3500
Velvet rides a Harley Davidson Fat Boy
Amy drives a Honda Odyssey
Ruby drives a Nissan Skyline GT-R
Chrysafénios drives a Ford F-150
Mama is still a Legion Prime
Jenna is still a Tone Prime
More to be added as the story continues!