Chapter 3: Unforeseen Complications
After the opening, the scene shows the interior of the Belladonna Family Home. Ghira Belladonna, wearing glasses, paces back and forth looking at a piece of paper in hands, while his wife Kali, his daughter Blake, Serene Khan, Bloo Grijalee and Sun Wukong all wait for him to be ready. Ghira then stops pacing and takes one last look at the speech he has written down, before sighing as his wife places a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
Kali: Are you ready?
Ghira: Yes. It won't be easy for the people to hear, but the truth often isn't. I know they'll do the right thing.
Blake then comes up and places a hand on her father's arm, giving an affectionate snuggle. Suddenly, the three are taken by surprise when another hand pats on Ghira's back. He looks behind to see Sun.
Sun: You got this.
The three give a brief look at Sun as he stands back to Serene and smiles. Ghira then opens the doors as his family, Bloo and Sun step out of the home to greet the crowd gathering outside. Some people in the crowd are wearing press badges and holding scrolls up to record the event. Others in attendance include Corsac and Fennec Albain, who are bowing their heads, as well as Saber Rodentia and other Menagerie Guards. Ghira steps up to the podium and raises his hand to quiet the crowd down.
Ghira: Thank you all for assembling here. I wanted to take time to address some of the rumors that have been circulating around our island. I believe that it is important for the people of this territory to understand the truth. No matter how you feel about the human race, I think we can all agree that the event now known as the Fall of Beacon was a tragedy. A tragedy that will set both man and Faunus-kind back. While the main aggressor is still unknown, we do have official confirmation that Adam Taurus and Mamba Naga... (he glares at the Albains) ... the leaders of a powerful splinter group working inside the White Fang, was partially responsible for these attacks. His actions not only tarnished the reputation of an organization originally created to bring peace and equality to all, but to our entire race. With each day that this man remains unpunished, it becomes increasingly difficult to condemn those that look down upon us.
The crowd starts murmuring among themselves. Ghira raises his hand again to quiet the crowd down.
Ghira: Recently, a spy from the same splinter group set their sights on this very home. My own daughter, Blake, and her friends did their very best to apprehend this individual. While they were unsuccessful after being physically assaulted and seriously injured, they were successful in obtaining the assailant's Scroll. (Ghira takes out the Scroll from inside his coat) With this, we have been able to ascertain that Adam Taurus has plans to overthrow the current leader of the White Fang, Sienna Khan, and take over the reins himself.
At this, the crowd starts to loudly murmur in concern.
Ghira: His radical plans do not stop there, the documents on this scroll proclaim his next target to be Haven Academy and its attached CCT Tower. Their plan is to strike on the last full moon before the beginning of the Fall semester, roughly two months from today. I have sent my swiftest messenger to the government of Mistral, but I believe we have a greater responsibility. My relationship with the White Fang has been... an interesting one. Years ago, I led the organization to help try and create a world where I, and every Faunus who wished, could walk alongside the human race. And while I believe we made great strides toward this goal, it was made clear to me that the people both in and out of the White Fang wanted faster results. So I stepped down, and Sienna Khan was appointed as my successor. It's true that I do not fully condone many of her methods. What I do condone is what Sienna fights for: the idea that the Faunus and humans are, and should be, equal. Adam Taurus does not seem to have that goal in mind. What he has done benefits no one but himself. I think it's time that the Faunus showed the world that we are equals! Time that we snuff out this splinter group, and restore the White Fang to what it once was!
The crowd begins to cheer at this remark. Serene wipes a tear , after hearing Ghria's words of what her sister truly wanted, as the leader.
Ghira: To do this, I think the answer is clear, we must go to Haven and protect it at all costs!
At this, the crowd suddenly stops cheering, showing some hesitance. Ghira sees this and clears his throat.
Ghira: Before we proceed any further, I'd like to invite my daughter to come and share her story. Not only as a former member of the White Fang but also as a survivor of the Fall of Beacon.
Blake steps up to the podium and faces her father.
Ghira: (reassuring) You can do this.
Suddenly, a familiar voice yells out from the crowd.
Ilia: TRAITORS!
Ilia uncloaks herself, wearing her Grimm mask and clenching her teeth angrily. Blake and Serene gives a surprised look before glaring back at her. Sun and Bloo glares at her intensely.
Sun: Ilia...
Ilia: Cowards... After everything the humans have done to us, everything they've put us through, you're asking us to help them?!
Ghira: I know we haven't been treated fairly...
Ilia: Where was their help when the Dust companies treated our people like slaves?! Where was their help when Kingdoms hunted Faunus just for being who they are?! Where was my help when my parents were killed in a Dust mine?! WHERE?!
Ghira: Young lady, progress takes patience and cooperation!
Ilia: The Belladonnas are the worse kind of Faunus! They want us to work with the same people that are trying to hold us down! If you truly, truly want to help your people... (as she speaks, Sun and Bloo sneaks through the crowd behind her) ... now is the time to support Adam, not the Belladonnas! He and even Mamba Naga will bring about the future that you deserve. And if you are unwilling to fight, know that the White Fang will do it for you!
Sun: SHUT UP!
Sun and Bloo leaps out of the crowd toward Ilia, but she uses her weapon to get out of the way and flee. When Sun lands, while Bloo faceplanted, Sun looks around to see where she has gone, but no sign of her is found.
Bloo (voice only): (Groans) I'm okay.
Saber Rodentia: After her!
Saber and the rest of the Menagerie guards move to chase down Ilia, while Corsac and Fennec exchange evil smiles. Blake and Ghira angrily glare from the stage, while Kali and Serene has a worried look on their faces.
At night, Weiss Schnee awakens to find herself trapped in a cage and her wrists bound by rope behind her back. She looks around and notices Cinnabar Caliburn was bounded in ropes as well and just awoke first before she did, they've noticed the bandits from earlier that took them. One of them is drinking, while the other notices Weiss and Cin waking up.
Bandit Two: (chuckling) Well, well, well, look who's awake.
Weiss: Wha... what's going on? Where are we?
Vernal: You know... (she emerges from her tent) I never thought I'd see a Schnee in this camp.
Bandit One: Vernal!?
The two bandits suddenly stand at attention. Vernal walks over to Weiss' and Cin's cage, holding Myrtenaster in her hand. Weiss stands up, while her captor admires her weapon.
Weiss: (glaring) What do you want?
Vernal: Straight to the point. I like it. We don't normally deal in trafficking people - not really worth our time. But, once we realized we had a Schnee, (she points Myrtenaster at Weiss) that changed.
Weiss: You're going to ransom me back to my father, is that it?
Cin: What?! (standing up as well, in shock)
Vernal: It's a shame you're a Schnee. You'd probably do quite well around here. (she turns to Cin) Hm... how about you? I'm sure you'd be quite welcomed here.
Weiss: We would never sink to your level.
Vernal's expression then changes to a frown.
Vernal: Just keep quiet and cooperate and you'll be back in your mansion before you know it. (she starts walking away from Weiss' and Cin's cage) Don't make this complicated... the both of you.
Weiss: What's going to make this complicated is when my sister finds out I didn't make it to Mistral. You know my sister, don't you? Winter Schnee? Special Operative of the Atlas Military? She's in Mistral now, and when she hears I'm missing, it won't take her long to find me - and you.
Suddenly, the bandits start laughing, much to Weiss' and Cin's surprise.
Cin: (leaning over to Weiss's ear, whispering: ) I think they know something, we don't.
Weiss: What's so funny?
Vernal turns back around.
Vernal: (laughs) Oh, I don't know if it's more funny or sad, but you're clearly out of the loop. Your sister isn't in Mistral anymore. No Atlas personnel are in Mistral anymore. General Ironwood closed the borders and recalled all his little troops and tin cans. No one is coming to rescue you two.
The bandits are once again laughing as Vernal walks away from Weiss, who closes her eyes forlornly, and Cinnabar, looking at her, deeply concerned.
a few hours later, the two bandits have fallen asleep. Weiss notices this, while Cinnabar tries to slip his hands through his ropes, only to tied tightly on his wrists. Tight enough to almost leave them bloody, groaning from the pain and annoyance of his struggling.
Weiss: Cin, please stop, you'll just hurt yourself, and make things worst if your skin starts to gash open.
Cinnabar soon does getting tired of his struggling. Weiss lowered her head.
Weiss: I'm such an idiot, of course Winter would be called back to Atlas, and that pilot, (starting to get teary-eyed) he's dead because me, those people from the ship...
Cinnabar: (looked to Weiss, hearing that) Hey, hold on, it was that Lancer Queen that killed him, not you, Weiss!
Weiss: But still... I didn't think that-
Cin: Listen! (Weiss raised her head, in shock hear his voice risen) You've just told me to never to give up, remember? To help anyone in need when they can't anymore? You couldn't have been more right. (Weiss than made a surprised expression) After seeing what those lancers to that cardo ship, I'd suddenly felt this... burning spark inside me, and than seeing you jump into action and going up against that swarm, had only just... ignited it. With your kindness to help others, and your incredible courage, fighting those bugs and the queen, and I know we're going to get out of this mess... because I have you with me, Weiss. (Weiss than felt touched by his encouraging words) You're one of the bravest huntresses, I've ever got to be with.
Weiss than approaches Cinnabar, to than suddenly press her lips into Cin's. Catching him off guard at first, only to return the kiss, eyes both close for a moment, for both of them to soon pull away from each finishing their kiss. Weiss smiled, blushing red, same as Cin, after he lifted her spirit.
Weiss: Thanks for that, Cin, it's my turn to do something now. (she said with new-found confidence)
Weiss tried to use her semblance to create a small summoning glyph, however the rope we're too tight for her, and was hard for her to focus as the glyph starts to flicker away, as Cin watches her.
Weiss: It's... Too hard to concentrate
Cin: Hm, is there anyway you can try to loosen the ropes?
Weiss: Not really.
Cin: (he takes a deep breath, feeling nearly bashful to what he'll say next) Alright, we might not get another shot at this, but It's trying to bite off those ropes.
Weiss: (she smiles, impressed by his idea) You always do think of some clever idea, Cin.
Cin: Pretty sure I get that from my grandpa.
As Weiss positions herself, raising her bounded wrists, near as she could to Cin's face. He hesitate a bit, due to their awkward positions and situation, even worse if some does see this.
Weiss: Come on, it's okay.
Cin: Right.
Cinnabar than started biting at Weiss's ropes. While avoiding at biting her skin or fingers, luckily the ropes start to loosen, as Weiss could feel feel the tightness of the slipping away. Much to the distaste of bits of rope in his mouth, he was able to free Weiss from the bondage of her wrist, spitting the rope bits from his mouth, only for Weiss to quickly and nervously cover his mouth with her free hand, for spitting too loudly. Weiss and Cin quietly turned to the two bandits we're still heavily asleep. Weiss and Cin exhales in relief.
Cin: So... you'll just use your summon now, and try to escape now?
Weiss: That Vernal has Myrtenaster, Cin, and who knows what kind of low life has Caledfwlch and Pridwen, do you really want to leave our weapons, our family heirlooms behind?
Cin: (he thought for a moment about this realization, and took a deep breath) No...
Weiss: For now, we'll just have to wait for right time to escape, besides there could be other kinds of Grimm beside lancers out there that we're not armed and ready for, so for now, we'll just pretend that we're still their captives.
Cin: I guess so, but I don't think I pretend to be a captive, when I' am still literally a captive, you know?
She chuckles at him, as she scoots closer and rests her head on his shoulder, Weiss than silently uses her Semblance to create a small summoning Glyph. A small Arma Gigas appears in her free hands, sword at the ready. Weiss smiles before nodding at it, Cinnabar watches this as the Arma Gigas, who begins to get to work on freeing him from his confinement. He looks at her and gives her a smile, and she smiles back.
End of Chapter 3
Author Notes
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Major thanks to the Transcripts and Battle Pages written on RWBY Wiki
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