Author's Headnote: Been awhile since we had a Blake Chapter, huh? Well, it's finally time for the two of them to get to Menagerie. This is the last Blake Chapter for the segment. Being that we will be approaching the beginning of V4 in canon's terms quite soon. The road of Mistral is on the way.

Well, Penny (The weapon) is going to be different than Ruby's other weapons. You see, incase I either forgot or you didn't notice. Penny (the person) had 13 AI chips, and currently Penny (The weapon) has only 1. So... I really didn't want to introduce a talking weapon just quite yet, but the more AI chips the weapon receives the more functions and features it will have.

So, without ado, let's jump into the chapter.

RWBY: Festival of Blood: Home At Last

Blake Belladonna:

Aura Status: 30-70% (The last month has helped stabilize Blake's aura, Her knee is still in need of healing).

Semblance: Shadow Clone

Weapons: Medical Crutches (Technically, if used in that way)

Team Relations:

-Ruby Rose (Team Leader): Well, if Blake can get the Ruby-themed nightmares out of her head, she would be happy to see her again. She's also worried, given Ruby's reluctance to feed.

-Weiss Schnee: She's a good teammate and a friend.

-Yang Xiao Long: Hope her arm is doing well, Yang said she felt sore after feeding Ruby. Well, she's going to have to do that more often while Blake is gone.

End of major character status report.

Village of Menagerie, January 9, Wednesday, 2:00 PM, Aquatic District

Dockyards, Beaches, and the adobes for the various aquatic faunas. This is the aquatic district, a composite for all things involving water. There's even a beach bar around the beach, where people can order various hand-crafted drinks. The beach itself is where various aquatic faunas are known to hang out near and swim in. Although the water is not exclusive to them. But Blake isn't that much of a swimmer. The dockyards are where Blake is on, with the crew delivering supplies to the island. Edward is back on the ship, the captain said that he's to be sent to the closest port town in Vale.

Blake had crutch-hopped her way off the ship and onto the docks. It's been a while since she was on Menagerie... like... since she was twelve. Blake also has her luggage on her person... carrying it with a harness on her back. A lot of pressure on a crippled individual, but she doesn't like being dependent. So, she endures with it.

Blake crutch-hops, whilst carrying her change of clothes off of the docks and onto dry land. Blake feels relieved that she's been on dry land. People were staring at Blake given her circumstance, either with pity, curiosity, or confusion. But not because she's a faunas, but because she's on crutches. So, it's mostly because she's in a state of vulnerability. So, she can expect people to look at her with such state. But Blake was heading to her parent's house. Which is the largest one.

Village of Menagerie, January 9, Wednesday, 2:06 PM, The Belladonna Villa (Exterior)

Which is a villa. Given that her family is considered to be royalty among Faunas, given that her father did spearhead the faunas movement, and in addition was a career politician back in Vale so he had received donations plenty. He is also an author of many books he writes. Mostly political, and an autobiography. So, he had the money to afford a large house being built. He also funded the construction of the various adobes that the faunas of menagerie inhabit today.

The villa itself was a dark brown, because it's mostly made of wood, and has a mistralian architectural style on it. And of course, it has many, many, many stairs. And no railings and supports to get herself to support herself on... so... Blake moved the crutches all onto her left arm... and started nudging and hopping with her right foot, and she is lifting her crutches up the steps... and holding her luggage on her right hand. As a method of balance and to make sure she doesn't fall down... she continues to climb up aaaaaaand...

She fell down. And let out a groan of pain. Although she had gotten back up and tried again... only to fall down again... she got up and tried again... this time somewhere else so she doesn't keep tripping and falling down the stairs.

Blake sighed. It seems that she really can't get up the stairs so easily... but she insists to try again... she went up... one by one... and then skipping the step that was tripping Blake over and making her fall over... which had worked. She had gone up to the final step aaaaaaaaand...

She tripped and fell down, and then groaned in annoyance and pain. But no less, she tries again...

After her fiftieth attempt. She finally got back up. Thankfully her caste remains unharmed. She gets at the door, temporary moved her crutches from her left arm and went to knock, and then grabbed her crutches back onto her arm.

The door opened. Given that Blake's mother had opened it. Her mother did look like Blake, but older, her ears had more fluff inside of it, her hair was shorter, and she was wearing a mistrallian garment, handcrafted specifically for her. She looked utterly surprised, gasped, and started to squeeze Blake.

"Oooooh, my little kitten! What happened?" Blake's mother, Kali Belladonna asked, letting go of Blake.

"My opponent broke my knee in the Vytal Tournament." Blake stated.

"The Vytal tournament?"

"Ya... didn't you listen to the fight on the radio?"

"The radio broke a year ago, we didn't consider getting a new one since you were gone."

"Well... that's a shame."

"Sure is. So, I figured time in the White Fang didn't turn out fine?"

"Ya, ya... can I come inside? I want to rest my legs."

"Oh, sure. Sure. Just let me take care of the bags."

"Thanks, mom."

"No problem, sweetie. Just let me take care of your things."

The Belladonna Villa, January 9, Wednesday, 4:43 PM, Living Room

Blake went into the house, which ends up being in the living room. It's a simple room with just a couch and a coffee table, and besides it is is the dining table with just a table and four pillows, so people would have to sit on their legs when at the table, which is something Blake can't really do right now. The walls are also wooden, the flooring too. Although there is a carpet. The decorations is what Blake's father would describe as a pre-industrial mistrilian villa.

Blake's father, Ghira Belladonna is from Mistral after all. Although he did move to Vale to receive his higher education in political science, and stayed in Vale. Being rejected from participating in the council elections, he formed the White Fang, met Blake's mother... and well, the rest is known from there.

Blake had sat down on the couch and placed her crutches aside... and lounges as her casted leg is raised upwards on the coffee table. In which Blake's mother sees this and places a pillow below the casted foot.

"There, that way you won't get the table dirty. Do you need anything? Of course, I'm going to need to get the dinner tray for you." Kali asked in a concerned tone.

"Well, whatever you cook up, can it not be seafood? I've had nothing but fish for a month and I want something else." Blake said, replaying to her mother.

"No seafood? That's a first for you, I'm going to whip up a vegetarian meal."

"Thanks, mom." Blake said in relief. As much as she likes fish. Infact, tuna being her favorite food, spending an entire month at sea would mean she doesn't want to eat fish for a whole month.

Two hours later, Mom had arrived with a dinner tray and a bowl of vegetarian ramen. In which she had given to Blake.

"Eat up, you can tell me everything when you're ready." Blake's Mom, Kali said in a comforting tone.

"Alright. Thanks for the food." Blake said, thanking her mother.

"No problem, kitten. I'll go tell your father that you've arrived. He's been pretty busy, governing the island you know." Kali said, leaving her daughter's sight to go get Blake's father.

Blake on the other hand was eating the vegetarian ramen. It felt good eating something that isn't fish for once. And her body is enjoying the meal, too. Being that eating so much fish for a whole month tends to make Blake squeal, so she's going vegetarian for quite a bit. The cooking is good. Yet again, Blake always enjoyed her mother's cooking. Being with her mother... kind of makes Blake feel guilty though... being that Ruby never had the choice to grow up with her mother... whilst Blake chose to leave her mother to join the White Fang.

After eating every last bite and drinking the bowl dry. She waited for her mom to return.

And speaking of...

"Blake?" Blake's father stated. It appears that both of Blake's parents have arrived at the living room.

"Hey Dad, sorry that I ran off to the White Fang all of those years back." Blake apologized.

"Don't be, you thought what you did was right, although young and rash. But we're still your parents, we love you no matter what."

"Thanks."

"So... tell me, how did you get your leg broken?" Blake's dad said, sitting down next to Blake. Blake's mother had done the same.

"Well... it's a long story... well for one, it started when I left the White Fang and broke up with Adam." Blake stated.

"Broke up with Adam? Meaning you two were dating?" Kali asked.

"Well, ya. He was my first kiss, actually. We kind of left after realizing that he sort of well became... Psychopathic, starting to kill citizens and all."

"That doesn't sound like the Adam you introduced to use when you were five."

"Well... he changed as a person. And being that I don't want to date a psychopathic terrorist, I left and went to enroll in Beacon Academy."

"Slow down, slow down... you were in Vale?" Ghira asked.

"Ya... I was in Vale. Me and Adam were assigned there, our commanding officer: Arris the Wolf had us assigned to attack SDC holdings and Atlassian Black sites. When Arris had suddenly been found murdered, Adam took charge. From there, the White Fang has been attacking a larger variety of human businesses and went to outright disrupt protests and even kill civilians."

"I understand that Sienna wanted a more... aggressive approach, but I think that's a bit much even for her."

"And I understand why you left him... so... continue with your story." Kali said, telling Blake to continue

"So... I went to apply to Beacon Academy, wore a bow around my head in which a grimm ate on my way here, and applied as a human." Blake stated.

"Why a human?"

"I wanted people to see me for... who I am, and not what I am... I figured people would focus more on the cat ears to focus on me as a person."

"I see... continue."

Blake had them told them an abridged version of her perspective of her tales in Beacon Academy. Her first semester, the Blackout, the dance and dating Ruby... her first mission in mountain glenn, Pyrefest, the events that happened in November, and finally the Vytal Festival... abridged as in, she left out the part of Ruby being a vampire, and the whole vampire ordeal... she also left out the part of Ruby and Blake messing around in forever fall.

"And after she used her illusion semblance to distract me and deplete my aura, she stabbed and fractured my knee. From there, I was on a long trip to get here. To recover physically and mentally. Since the incident, her illusions have lived rent-free in my nightmares." Blake said, finishing her story.

"Oooh, I'm sorry about that. That Emerald girl sounds like she's not the sportsman type."

"You can say that again."

"Well, I hope your nightmares go away quite soon."

"Thanks."

"Do you want me to get you something to read?"

"I think I can get my own book."

"But what about your leg?"

"I have crutches, mom. But thanks for the offer."

"Of course. Do you want me to put the dishes away?"

"... yes mom..."

"Alright, I'll put the dishes away."

"Thank you, mom." Blake said, as her mother went to put her dishes away.

Blake at the meantime gathered her crutches and went to one of the bookshelves and grabbed a random book and sat back down, placing her casted leg and crutches back where she left them before getting back up.

Blake forgot that her mother liked to coddle her so much. Blake didn't seem to be bothered by it when she was a kid, but now she feels like she's being treated by a small child. Yet again, this is the first time her mother has seen Blake in five years, so of course she's going to be like this. She could use this time to re-connect with her parents. Well... if her father has the time for Blake. Giving that he's governing Menagerie and all, being the Chieftan.

But Blake decided to spend the day reading, and then she would go to bed on her old bed. Been awhile since she's been to her bedroom. Chances are it'd make her uncomfortable to what she used to like as a kid. Yet again, Blake was very politically active as a child, so it's mostly poorly aged White Fang stuff.

The Belladonna Villa, January 10, Thursday, 8:04 AM, Blake's Room

And right she was... it was filled with books, White Fang posters back when her father was in charge, and a small twin bed. Although Blake can sleep on the bed, of course... albeit she had to do so in an unorthodox position. There was no wallpaper, so the walls were as wooden as the rest of the villa, the floors were too. The bookshelf ranged from children's books to various small-length books, along with abridged political philosophy books written by her own father.

Blake had woken up and stretched her arms and her left leg. She got her crutches and proceeded to take a morning bath, followed by brushing her teeth, and putting on her clothes. Afterwards, brushing her hair and drying it. Finally, going to the porch to do some outdoor reading, the sun would be good for Blake. Especially since the time spending with Ruby means she had little time in the sun. Especially since Ruby doesn't have much choice in the matter. She could use her parasol, yes... but she has to be confined under it's shade.

The Belladonna Villa, January 10, Thursday, 9:00 AM, Outdoor Porch

The outdoor porch alongside the villa had a chair, a parasol, and a table, perfect for Blake. The porch itself is made of wood and it connected the main villa with her father's study. The sun is out today, so it's a perfect time for some outdoor reading.

Blake had sat down on the chair, placed her casted leg on the table and used the shade to start reading her book. Although that would get interrupted by someone interrupting her. Ilia had showed up unannounced at the porch, from the roof.

"Ilia? What are you doing here?" Blake asked.

"I'm doing recon here." Illia stated.

"For what? You're in Menagerie what could there possibly be something to look out for?"

"The grimm deeper in the island."

"Fair point."

"So... what are you doing here?"

"Recovering from an injury. If you haven't noticed, look at my leg."

"Oh... what happened?"

"Well, it got hurt while I was fighting in the Vytal tournament."

"The Vytal tournament?"

"I'm not going to explain the whole story to you, Ilia. But basically: I left Adam and the White Fang, I'm dating a girl with a nocturnal lifestyle, and I enrolled in Beacon and fought in the Vytal festival and lost."

"So... you're still not single?"

"No, I'm not. Why?"

"Ohh... nothing."

"Anyways, I'm trying to read this book."

"Oh, sorry. So... do you want to hang out sometime?"

"Unless the villa gets railing installed, I'm staying here, I fell down the stairs forty-nine times."

"Oh... okay... I'll get out of your way."

"Make sure you don't break in next time."

"Sorry!" Illia said, leaving the grounds of the villa.

With Ilia gone, she went back to reading undisturbed. She's growing attached to this one book in particular. Blake spent a couple of more hours reading... until she decides she's done with the sun. In which Blake had gotten up and grabbed her crutches and went to the living room to relax and read.

The Belladonna Villa, January 10, Thursday, 11:06 AM, Living Room

Blake had sat down on the living room. She was eating her brunch, a vegetarian meal cooked up by her mother. Again, Blake doesn't want to eat fish for quite a bit, after spending so much time on water eating nothing but fish, or the occasional lemon to avoid scurvy. After finishing her meal, she had placed the dishes on the coffee table... and that's when she hears a knocking, Blake sighs and gets her crutches, hopping toward the door.

"Hello, package for Mr. Belladonna." the courier said, handing a letter to Blake.

"Thank you, I'll get this to him." Blake responded.

"Well, that's it. I've got more letters to deliver, I've been busy since the Vale CCT went out of commission." the courier said, leaving the premise of the villa, and proceeds to escape Blake's field of vision.

Wait? The CCT went out? That explains why there was no wifi connection on her way to menagerie. Even then, the CCT's don't have enough range to reach Menagerie anyway.

But no less, Blake figured it would be a good time to take a trip to her father. Blake placed the letter in her pocket, and proceed to crutch-hop toward her father. It's a letter for her father, so may as well deliver it to him. She had gone outside and headed toward his study, where he is most likely working.

The Belladonna Villa, January 10, Thursday, 11:22 AM, Ghira's Study

Her father's study, it has his desk, and a large library of books, ranging from political theory, philosophy, his own writings, and a small fictional area. There is also a small couch facing against his desk, for some reason... guess it's to read his books, that explains the coffee table for it.

Blake had hopped towards her father, and then went to hand the letter. She then went to hop away, but...

"Blake, I think you need to stay here and read this." Her father stated.

"What do you mean?" Blake asked.

"It's about Beacon Academy... and Vale."

"What happened?"

"Well, right after you left, it was attacked by the White Fang and the creatures of grimm... unfortunately, they had failed to recover it..."

"Oh my god..." Blake said, shocked.

"It also says that your teammates: Weiss Schnee and Yang Xiao Long... well, still getting used to the fact that you are friends with a Schnee." Her father said in surprise.

"She means well."

"I'm sure she does, but anyways... they've been hospitalized."

"But... what about Ruby?"

"Well, according to this note... the only thing they found of her was her cloak, they never found the body..." Blake's father stated.

"No. She can't be, give me that note!" Blake said, in a defensive tone.

"Very well, I'll give you the note." Her father said, handing the note to his daughter.

The crippled girl had taken the note, and started to read it through, and the entire report. Everything, as what has happened... Blake's heart skipped a beat. She tried to contain her sorrow... but this news... First the entire city of grimm overran by the White Fang and the creatures of grimm, then Weiss and Yang hospitalized, and now Ruby's... gone.

Her right hand clutched out of grief she tried to run to her bedroom to grief on her own... but trip and fell without her crutches.

"I understand that this is troubling news, but I'm surprised you didn't know." Blake's father stated.

"I left right before it started, I was out of the loop for the whole month." Blake retorted, with an angry and sad tone.

"I guess you need some time alone."

"Yes, I do... now can you hand me my crutches?"

"Alright, dear. Now just let me help you up." Her father said, holding up Blake as he went to give her the crutches.

"Thanks." Blake said, hopping to her room.

Well... Blake is going to need some time alone, grieving the loss of her lover, her friends... and she wasn't there to help them. So, of course she feels bad for it. As she's hopping to her room trying not to explode in front of her parents so she can let out all of the sadness at her bedroom, in the privacy under her sheets where she'll cry her sorrow.

Author's Footnote: Well, writing this was a bore. I can say that this chapter may not be the best of my work, but I'd like to take Menagerie slow since I don't want to put Blake ahead of everyone else. So, don't expect Blake to make an appearance for the next handful of chapters. Sorry it took so long, I elected to write something new, in which I decided to scrap the idea because I felt like it would be crack. Also, make sure to check out the non-canonical spin-off FoB: Just for Fun. See ya next chapter.