RWBY: Lost and Forgotten
Chapter 27
Chrome
Hearing an extremely loud horn caused me to sit up with a jolt. Rubbing my head, I got out of bed and walked over to the desk, grabbing and putting my weapons on my back.
Leaving the room, I headed for the deck and walked off the ramp, finally back home. "Glad to be back?" Blake asked as she placed her hand on my shoulder.
"To be honest...I'm worried about what they'll say."
"I've never seen so many Faunus in one place!" Sun said as he joined us.
"This is the one place everyone can feel safe, no matter who or what they are." Blake told him.
"Wow, sure is, uh, crowded, huh?"
"Yes. Yes, it is." Blake responded.
Sun moved out of the way as a Faunus carrying boxes walked by. "Is it always so... cramped?"
"Well, when you try and take an entire species and put them on an island that's two-thirds desert, yeah, it tends to be cramped." I told him.
"What! You guys have that much more space? Why waste it? A little desert never hurt anyone!"
"It's not like the desert in Vacuo, Sun. The wildlife here is more dangerous than most other regions." Blake told him.
"So, they give us a terrible island, in the corner of Remnant, to try and shut us up."
"Pretty much." me and Blake started following the path to our house.
"Huh. Jerks."
"We try to make the best of things." Blake added.
Pausing in our walk, I took everything in. It's been so long since I've been home, and I missed the view. "Whoa..." Sun said.
"This, is Kuo Kuana."
"It's... beautiful. I take it all back. This place looks great! Why would anyone ever want to leave?" Sun said.
"That's not the point, Sun! We asked to be equal, to be treated just like everyone else! Instead, we were given an island and told to make do." Blake told him. "So we did the best we could. We came together and we made a home where any Faunus could feel welcome. But this island, this town, will always be a reminder that we're still not equal. That we're still second-class citizens."
"Well, hey, this guy's feeling pretty at home."
"Speaking of home." I turned to Blake.
"Right... Time to head home." she said.
"Oh yeah?" Sun placed his hand on her shoulder. "Which one's yours? Can you see it from here?"
"Kind of." Blake said softly.
"Is it that one? What about that tiny one down there?" he pointed to a few houses."I like the paintjob."
"It's... that one." Blake said, moving his hand to point at the biggest house down the trail. Sun looked at Blake before letting out a squeal.
Rolling my eyes, I started heading back home.
Finally reaching the front door, I raised my fist to knock but paused. "You're worried, aren't you?" Blake asked.
"I'm scared of what they'll say." I told her.
"It's okay." she assured me. "They won't see you any differently."
I thought it over for a few seconds. "Maybe you should knock." I told her as I stepped to the side.
"Okay..." Blake stepped up to the door and knocked.
A few seconds passed before the door opened and our mother poked her head around it. Seeing her, I turned away and looked down.
"Blake?" she opened the door the rest of the way.
"Hi, mom." Blake said.
She hugged Blake immediately. "My baby girl." once the two broke away, she turned to me. "Chrome."
I glanced up and saw her approach me. Placing her hand on my chin, she tried to get me to face her but I moved away. "What's wrong?" Taking a deep breath, I faced her. Seeing my face, she gasped. "What happened?" she reached out and gently ran a finger down the scar across my eye.
"It's nothing." I told her, removing her hand. "Mom... We need to talk."
Hearing loud footsteps, I saw our father move behind her. "Kali? Who is it?"
He and Blake shared a smile before he turned to me, giving me the same expression. I rubbed my arm nervously.
Minutes later
The five of us, me, Blake, Sun, mom and dad, all sat at the table, drinking tea. It was extremely quiet.
"What did you want to talk about?" mom asked.
Looking towards Blake, she nodded. "Mom. Dad." I took a deep breath. "I know I'm not..." I stopped, terrified to continue.
"Not, what?" dad asked.
"I know I'm not your son." I said, looking at the two as they shared glances. Fighting back tears, I continued. "Is it true I'm a Schnee?" I asked.
My parents shared another glance before father nodded. Taking a breath, our mother spoke. "You are a Schnee, yes. But you are also related to us as well."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"My brother went to Atlas for a short vacation." dad replied. "He met a woman there and the two spent the night together."
"Months later, that woman came to us, saying she was pregnant and couldn't keep the child because she was married." mom added. "She stayed here until you were born, named you, then left to go back home."
"We promised her we'd take care of you." dad said. "Just because we aren't your biological parents doesn't mean we don't love you."
Nodding my head in understanding, I felt a tear slide down my cheek. Getting to her feet, mom walked over to me and pulled me into a hug. "I love you, Chrome. No matter what, you'll always be our son."
After a few seconds, we pulled away and I wiped my tears. "You never mentioned you had a brother." Blake said to our father.
"Why wasn't he around?" I asked. "Did he not want me?"
"It wasn't that." mom said. "He-"
"He died during a protest." dad said. "I don't like bringing it up."
The room fell silent as we sat in the room. "Well, uh, what should we talk about?" Sun asked.
As Sun asked that, some knocking came from the door. "Darn it, I completely forgot about the meeting!"
"Ghira..."
"Give me a moment." he said as he got up and walked out of the room.
"Is everything okay?" I asked mom.
"Yes, dear, just poor timing. He can reschedule. It's just been hard dealing with them lately." she replied.
"Dealing with who?" Blake asked.
"Hmm? The White Fang."
"WHAT?!" me, Sun and Blake all got to our feet.
Running into the next room, I could see two fox Faunus talking with dad. "Dad!"
"Blake, what's wrong?" he turned to us.
"Miss Belladonna." one of the Faunus said.
"We had no idea you'd returned."
"What are you doing talking to these people?" I asked.
"This is Corsac and Fennec Albain. They represent the White Fang here in Menagerie now." dad replied.
"Those psychos are here, too?!" Sun shouted.
"Young man, I'm not sure what you've heard of our organization, but I can assure you, we're not nearly as ferocious as the media would have you believe." Fennec told us.
"What we've heard?" Blake repeated. "We've seen firsthand. Your fanatics slaughtered people!"
"What is she talking about?" dad growled.
"Precisely what we came to discuss with you, Your Grace." Corsac said.
"Is everything alright?" mom asked as she approached.
"Wait, you guys seriously don't know?"
"Know what?" dad asked.
"The White Fang was at the Fall of Beacon. They attacked innocent civilians and they released Grimm into the school." Blake told him.
"Is this true?" dad growled.
"Sadly, Your Grace, it is."
"Don't act like you're s—"
"That's enough!" dad said. "Explain yourselves."
"Though it pains us to admit, it has become apparent that the Vale branch of the White Fang is no longer operating under orders of High Leader Khan." Corsac said. "Rather, they've elected to follow the rule of one Adam Taurus. I believe you're all familiar with the young adept and his... extreme philosophies."
"You know, Beacon wasn't the first time the Fang started shooting up Vale!" Sun said.
"The High Council had their suspicions of a splinter group, but they could prove nothing until this latest incident." Fennec added.
"'Incident'? People are dead!" I told them.
"And it is a tragedy."
"Your Grace, we came to assure you that Brother Taurus and his followers do not represent the will of the White Fang." Fennec said.
"And how can I be sure of that?"
"We understand if you bear any skepticism towards these claims. The White Fang's tactics are admittedly, more aggressive since you stepped down as High Leader and became Chieftain of Menagerie. But this, this is no way to make our message heard." Corsac replied.
"We have ample documentation from the council meeting, as well as several strategies to apprehend and punish these strays if you care to review them."
"I will, but another day. I'd like some time to reconnect with my son and daughter." dad replied.
"But of course, Your Grace."
"We completely understand. It was a pleasure to see you again, Chrome, Blake." Fennec said.
"We were saddened when we heard of your departure from the White Fang, but understand if you can no longer support our cause." Corsac added.
"It is a wearying fight, after all."
"Who says we're done fighting?" I growled.
"Hmm... If you ever do wish to return, you need merely come find us."
"Sister Ilia would be elated." Fennec added.
"Goodbye, gentlemen." dad closed the doors.
Turning away, I started to walk off. "Ilia...you're in Menagerie?"
End of chapter 27