AN: Nice and beefy chapter this time. I won't be able to write for several days, likely at least for another week, so I wanted to get this done and out before I go camping AND start my new job.

And I know that there are people that have some complaints with characters getting kidnapped kind of frequently lately. I understand the frustration, but it's a complete accident. I'm not someone who likes to do things because they're gratuitous. I only write something in this story if I think it serves a purpose or is necessary. Luckily, though, it won't happen too much more.

Once again, thanks to Lord Maximus for the help with this chapter.

Chapter 98

Blake slipped on her jacket, taking one last look at herself in the mirror. She remembered that the first thing Sun had said to her after revealing himself to her on the boat was that he liked her new outfit. At the time, she felt like he was just being his usual oblivious self, but after last night, the memory brought a smile to her face.

It had been a while since she had thought about anyone like that, the last one probably being Ad—

No. Stop it. Sun was nothing like him. He had just wanted to have power over her, to make himself feel superior. Sun actually cared about her. The fact that he had been so patient with her while she… hadn't been the same with him was proof enough.

And hey, if he thought she looked good, who was she to complain?

She opened up her bedroom door to step into the hallway, only to see an armed guard standing there.

That was strange. She could understand the doorways leading outside having guards, especially after what that hooded jerk had done, but why would her father waste one by placing him outside her room?

"Good morning, Lady Blake," the guard said.

"Um, morning," Blake said. "What are you doing here?"

"Your father asked me to stand watch over your room. He learned about the kiss you and Mister Wukong shared, and his orders were 'make sure that miscreant doesn't come anywhere near my daughter's room'."

…

"He did what?" she asked, a blush appearing on her face.

Oh, they were going to have words.

The Belladonna Family, Sun, and Tifa, were all gathered around a large table in Blake's father's office, Blake glaring at her father, her father glaring at Sun, Sun staring lovingly at Blake, her mother looking at the whole situation in amusement, and Tifa just looking confused.

"Did… Did I miss something?" Tifa asked.

"Oh, nothing," Blake said. "Just my father sticking his nose where it doesn't belong."

"I don't know what you're talking about, honey," her father said, having genuinely not realized that Blake was mad at him for something.

"The guard posted outside my room," she said.

"Oh, that. Well, I figured that with the way things are now, it wouldn't hurt to have a little extra security outside your room."

"Is that why he was told to keep Sun out?" Blake asked.

"Wait, what?" Sun asked, snapping out of his staring at Blake to realize that he was the reason Dad was so angry.

"One of our guards overheard Mister Wukong celebrating the fact that he kissed you," her father explained.

"Atta girl," her mother said playfully, earning her a look from her father that screamed "not helping".

"So?" Blake asked.

"I just want to make sure that Mister Wukong won't have the opportunity to do anything untoward with you," her father said. "After all, he did kiss you."

"Hey! I wouldn't do anything with Blake that she doesn't want!" Sun said in his own defense.

"I'm sure you'll forgive me if I don't believe you," her father said, sending a glare at the blond monkey. "I knew I was right to not like you."

"First off, I kissed him," Blake said, prompting her father to look at her with wide eyes. "And second, what gives you the right to get involved in my love life?"

"Love?!" Her father, mother, and Sun all asked. Her father in horror, her mother happily, and Sun in what could only be described as "elated shock".

"You know what I meant!" Blake practically shrieked. "It was just a kiss! It's not like we slept together or anything!"

"And if I have anything to say about it, you never will!" her dad yelled back.

"I'm not a kid anymore!" Blake said. "I can make my own decisions, including who I choose to kiss!"

"B-But I…" her father said, not quite sure how to continue arguing with her. She had to admit that she understood on some level why he was acting like this. Blake was 12 years old when her father stepped down as High Leader of the White Fang, and it was his decision to step down that caused her to call them cowards and stay with the White Fang. It had been six years since they'd last seen her, so a part of him still thought of her as a 12-year-old girl instead of the 18-year-old young woman she had become.

Even still, just because she understood his reasons, didn't mean she had to entertain the thought that he had any say in who chose to be with.

She hadn't even decided yet if she loved Sun, but she wanted to at least give him a chance and see if she could fall for him like he fell for her.

"Okay, okay," Tifa said, stepping head-first into the family drama. "I think we should shelve this discussion for now before someone says something they'll regret. Besides, there was a reason we're all meeting up right now, right?"

"Right," Blake's mom said, steering the conversation back on track before Blake could continue fighting with her father. "We were here to discuss that man in the hood that apparently turned Ghira and myself to crystal. What do you know about him?"

The two younger cat Faunus, the only ones who had a previous encounter with the man, looked at each other, before Tifa gestured for Blake to start talking. She sighed.

"Well, back at Beacon, my team had a pretty memorable run-in with him," Blake explained. "He pulled all of us and one of our professors into a dream, and forced us to fight someone strong enough to level a mountain with one swing of his sword." Her parents and Sun gasped at that. "He made it perfectly clear that even though it was a dream, we'd feel whatever happened when we woke up. All of that was just to test my teammate, Ruby. Apparently, she disappointed him, but I hadn't seen him since that incident. Until he came here, of course."

"Do you know what he wants?" Her father asked. "And why he came here for you?"

"I don't what his ultimate goal is, but it seemed like he was just interested in testing us. It was Ruby the last time, and me this time. From what he told me, he visited my other teammates, too."

"Do we need to worry about that creep coming back?' Sun asked.

"I don't know," Bake answered, shaking her head in uncertainty. "But he said I passed his test, when Sun and Tifa ignored my request to not come help me." She sent them a mock glare, but it was clear that she was grateful to them. "Since there was such a long stretch of time before I saw him again, we might not have to worry about him now that I passed his test. But we should be careful anyway."

Not that being careful was going to do much against him. He could drag people into dreams to hurt them, move objects with his mind, stop time at will, turn people into crystal, appear and disappear instantly…

And those were just the abilities he had shown her. She didn't want to know what else he was capable of. She looked to her fellow feline.

"Did you have anything to add, Tifa?' she asked. "You said you knew him." Tifa nodded.

"Yes, I'd met him once before. I've been looking for a… friend of mine, named Cloud. He approached me, told me he knew where I could find him, and then I woke up on the beach in Menagerie."

The faces of Blake's parents paled at that.

"Do you mean… you were trafficked?" her mother asked in horror.

"It's sadly very common," her father said. "Young Faunus women are targeted all the time. I just wonder how you ended up here, instead of whatever market he intended to bring you to."

"I'm not sure that's what he wanted from me," Tifa said. "Just kidnapping me to sell me somewhere wouldn't be important to him, considering everything we know he can do. And another thing…" she took a bit of a pause, looking like she was reluctant to share this part. "…I wasn't always a Faunus."

…

"WHAT?!" everyone else in the room shouted in shock.

"He approached me, I woke up in Menagerie, and I suddenly had a tail that was never there before," Tifa explained, and Blake was left reeling by that information.

Apparently, she could add "change a human into a Faunus" to the list of impossible abilities this man had.

"Just who is he?" Blake's father asked.

She wanted to know that, too.

Yang gave the chain securing her legs to the floor another tug, the annoying gold refusing to budge. She had made absolutely zero progress in escaping since she had woken up.

Wasn't gold supposed to be soft, or something like that?

The cargo hold she was trapped in had no windows, so she had no idea how long she had been trying to get free, but she assumed it had been a while. She felt the area suddenly lurch, indicated that the ship was starting to land.

Damn it, no! She thought, hoping she would get herself in a better position before her captors came back.

The ship lurched, and the ramp opened, forcing Yang to squint her eyes to adjust to the sudden light.

When she had properly adjusted, she sent as fierce a glare as she could at the fat man as he walked up the ramp, looking down on her with a smug smirk.

"Let's go."

Ghira watched as Blake left with her friends, trying to collect volunteers to help defend Haven Academy. The information about the man in the hood was concerning, but he wouldn't let that stop him from doing what needed to be done.

He was proud to see that Blake was the same. She had grown up a lot since he had last seen her.

He sighed at that thought. That was the crux of his argument with her earlier, wasn't it? She had grown up while she was away, and he didn't want to admit it. He had missed out on her teenage years, and didn't stop to think that while she was happy to be back with her parents, there were certain responsibilities associated with being a father that Blake might not appreciate him fulfilling at her age.

Scaring off potential boyfriends was evidently right at the top of that list.

He felt his wife take his hand.

"You have that look again," Kali said.

"What look?"

"You look like you're thinking too hard," his wife answered with a sly smile. "She's right, you know. She's grown now. She's been making her own decisions for a while now, and she wants to be able to keep doing it."

"I know," Ghira said with a sigh. "It's just… I missed out on being a father."

"I know. But there are still ways you can be there for her, but we have to let her set the pace," Kali said, giving his arm a hug. "She'll be fine. She gets her stubbornness from you."

"And she gets her strength from you," he said, looking down fondly at his wife.

"You always know just what to say, dear."

"So, any luck?" Tifa asked, the trio sitting down at a table in an outdoor café.

"Nope," Sun said.

"Nothing," Blake answered.

"I got a few scroll numbers I didn't ask for, but in terms of anything useful, no," Tifa said, and the three of them slumped in disappointment.

"I don't get it!" Sun exclaimed in frustration. "How can they just sit around and do nothing with the White Fang getting ready to attack?!"

"Because not everyone is like us," Blake answered. "The Faunus here in Menagerie- the ones that weren't born on the island- moved here because they were tired of fighting, of having to struggle constantly. Menagerie is filled with people that just want to be left alone, and here we are, asking them to put the rest of the world before themselves."

"Makes sense," Tifa said. "Maybe a little selfish, but I can't really blame them."

"I guess I never really thought about it that way," Sun said, his righteous anger being replaced with understanding.

"The problem is, whatever happens at Haven is going to affect them, whether they like it or not," Blake said. "If Adam gets his way and Haven falls, it's only going to make things worse for the Faunus. Everywhere."

"Adam…" Sun said. "He's the guy you used to… work with?"

"…Yes," Blake said, visibly uncomfortable by the question.

"Sorry. Forget I brought it up."

"No, it's okay," Blake said, before falling silent for a moment. "Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, 'They are the embodiment of this word'?"

"Uh…" Sun said, not quite sure how to answer that.

"Can't say that I have," Tifa said in amusement.

"Okay, well, I remember getting to know Ruby and thinking 'This girl is the embodiment of purity'. After a while, I saw Weiss was defiance. Yang was strength. And Professor Branwen was Love.

"What am I?" Sun asked eagerly. Blake sent him a small smirk.

"Jury's still out on that one, but I'm leaning towards earnest."

"What, not handsome? Supremely wonderful?"

"I take it back," Blake said with a laugh. "Your word is definitely dork."

"Eh, I'll take it," Sun said, looking at her with an affectionate smile.

"What about me?" Tifa asked curiously.

"Well, I haven't known you too long, but for now I'm going with honesty."

"I like it." Blake smiled at her friends for a few seconds before frowning.

"Anyway, at first I thought Adam was justice, then I thought he was passion. But over time, I realized I was wrong. He wasn't any of those things. He was spite. Not hatred, not rage, but spite. He won't accept equality, only suffering for what he feels the world did to him, and his way of thinking is dangerously contagious. That's what worries me about Ilia. She's not like Adam, not yet at least, but I don't know how long that will last."

"She was your friend, huh?" Sun asked.

"She was. Her chameleon traits meant she could pass as human. She could've lived a normal life if she wanted, but she didn't. I always admired that. She lost her family in a mining accident when she was young, then she joined the White Fang. Like me, she was more or less trained on the road alongside other Faunus. She learned to survive. To defend herself. But as people like Sienna and Adam started to gain a following, she became more dangerous. I guess I did, too. My parents tried to get me to leave with them, but I refused. I had Adam and Ilia, after all."

"You know, if we can't convince her to give up, we're going to have to face her," Tifa said.

"I know."

"So, what are you gonna do?" Sun asked.

"I'm going to try and help her the way you helped me," Blake said, surprising Sun and Tifa. "You showed me that sometimes you need to be there for a friend even when they don't want you to be. I was drowning in guilt and fear, I tried to push you away, but you didn't give up on me. And I can't give up on Ilia. It's about time I saved my friends for once."

"I think you need to take a break," Cloud said, standing over an exhausted Ren.

"No," Ren said. "I can keep going."

"You're too out of breath for me to believe you." Cloud sheathed his sword on his back, telling the black-haired boy that they were absolutely done for now. Ren stopped trying to pretend he still had any stamina left, and collapsed to the ground.

"Damn it," Ren grunted, and Cloud raised an eyebrow at the uncharacteristic language. "We don't have time for this."

"What's your deal?" Cloud asked, prompting Ren to look up at him. "What about Sephiroth got you so riled up? He's my problem to deal with." Ren looked up at the mercenary for a few seconds before answering.

"That Grimm that Sephiroth killed…" Ren said. "It's called a Nuckelavee. I've seen it once before… the day my parents died."

"…Oh," Cloud said, finally starting to get where Ren's hatred for the silver-haired man came from.

"I saw it again after all these years, in the ruins of the place where it ruined my life, and I didn't know what to do. And then Sephiroth showed up, and killed it like it was nothing. Because it was 'in the way'. That monster took everything from me, and he regarded it like it was an insect. I need to get stronger. I can't let him beat me so easily next time."

Cloud sighed.

"Look, kid, I get it," Cloud said. "You're pissed off that he stole your chance at vengeance, but you need to take a break every now and again. I don't care how hard you train, you won't be of any help if you're too tired to move when he shows up."

"I'll manage," Ren said, sitting up. "… I think I'll do some meditating, if you don't mind."

In other words, leave me the hell alone.

Cloud sighed again, before turning around and leaving the room.

Yang was shoved into a white limo, her legs free so she could walk, but her arms and hands remained bound. The limo took them to a white mansion somewhere in Mistral. Yang was forced out by the fat man who led her into the mansion, taking her into what looked like a throne room. It was a vast room with a long hallway running down the middle, with two sets of stairs leading to the second floor that overlooked the first floor.

Along the walls were golden statues of Beowolves, Ursai, Griffons, and there were even statues of what looked like Mistral policemen and a few Huntsmen as well. From the high ceiling hung golden statues of man-sized Nevermores that had wiring running through them with lightbulbs sticking out of them. The "throne room" was also surrounded by men and women dressed in gold and black, carrying semi-automatic weapons as they surrounded their apparent leader, who sat upon a golden throne. The fat man stepped forward while the guards surrounded Yang, who could only watch.

"Mr. Goult," the fat man said respectfully.

The man stood up from the throne and slowly approached. He was around six feet tall, wearing black leather jacket adorned with golden armor, a golden tie, and several tattoos across his face. He wore gold-tinted sunglasses, had short black hair, and wore black dress pants and shoes. He had a scar on his right cheek and golden crown on his head.

"Bibiano… You still have the money you owe me after gambling away all the money I kindly provided for you?" the man asked in a dangerous tone.

"Yes sir," the fat man named Bibiano nodded, holding the briefcase that contained the ten thousand Lien that Yang had won, which earned him a dirty look from her. "It took a little while but—"

"I already know, you imbecile. I also know that you made a call to my paramilitary group to go after this gal, and lost several men, along with two vans and an airship. You allow one girl to slip through your fingers and make a fool out of my forces… and no one makes a fool out of me!" Midas yelled, to which Bibiano nodded fearfully.

"Well, I have her now," Bibiano gestured to Yang, whowas glaring at them. "I brought her and the money."

"That's right, you did," Midas said with a smile, wrapping an arm around Bibiano's shoulders like they were old friends. "I heard you even cut a deal with someone from the Branwen Tribe to give them a…respectable cut from what we make."

"Well, I—"

"Nah, it's all good. It was a business proposition, and a smart one at that," Midas said.

"So, you're not mad?" Bibiano asked with a nervous smile.

"Me? Mad? Come on, I'm more sophisticated than that," Midas said, leading Bibiano behind the gold throne to a white door. "I mean, a girl who can make bikes as good as the one you showed me is enough to pay back your debt in full. In fact, I'll give you a reward." Midas opened the door and ushered Bibiano in.

"So, we're cool?"

"Golden," Midas said as he shut the door. "There are just a few problems. You didn't even try to go after her, you lost me two vans and an airship, and you made the deal without telling me."

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Everyone left in the throne room was startled as they heard Bibiano screaming from behind the door that lasted for a moment. There was silence followed by a snapping sound. Midas stepped out of the room with a calm expression on his face as he walked up to the throne and sat down on it. He looked at Yang as if remembering she was there.

"Oh, where are my manners? Will someone take that tape off and get this young lady a chair?"

The tape was ripped off of Yang's lips, forcing the young woman to suppress a yelp of pain, and she was pushed down onto a chair that one of the guards quickly brought into the room.

"There, better now?" Midas asked.

"Be even better if I can have my hands back," Yang said, wiggling her hands behind her back. "You mind?"

"Maybe later," Midas said before leaning forward a bit. "I've seen you before." Yang glared at him.

"I think I'd remember meeting you."

"No, we've never met, but I've seen you." Midas grinned. "You're that girl from the Vytal Festival. The one who was recorded with her boyfriend doing the do for everyone to see."

Yang stiffened at that, unhappy to be reminded of one of the worst moments of her life.

"Well, no need to worry about judgment here, little lady. We've all been there in one way or another." Midas gestured around him. "Think of what it took for me to gain all of this."

"I'd rather not," Yang muttered.

"Oh, don't be so righteous. No one is a saint, especially in these parts," Midas said with a smirk. "Now let's talk business."

"What do you want?" Yang asked resentfully.

"Your bike is truly one-of-a-kind, and I heard you made it from scratch. Now, if you're willing to make more like it for me and my friends here, you'll be set for life. Enough money or gold to buy your own little island," Midas answered. "You'll find we're not low on resources around here."

"And if I say no?" Yang asked.

"You just heard what happened to poor Bibiano, right?" Midas asked rhetorically. "Poor idiot. He had good intentions, but he sure screwed up a lot. I just couldn't take holding his pathetic hand any more, so I took it. As for you… You see those statues over there?" Yang looked over the golden statues of the police and Huntsmen.

"…They used to be people, didn't they?"

"Bingo. Police who managed to arrest me when I started out on the streets, and Huntsmen I tangled with over the years. It was a fun time, but all good things must come to an end. Instead of leaving them to rot, I made them immortal as a sign of my gratitude." Midas chuckled as he stood up and walked around Yang. "I think you'd look extra beautiful in gold. Hell, your hair looks like it's made of golden silk already. But I think it'd be a waste to make you part of my collection already, and I can be a reasonable man. So, take a job building me some fine bikes with a little extra firepower, and I will see to it that you are well looked after for the rest of your life." Yang snarled as she felt Midas run his hands through her hair, and then gently stroke her cheek. "Besides, I think you'll find there are certain… perks to working with me."

"Go to hell," she snapped, jerking her head away from him. Midas frowned as he stepped in front of Yang.

"I'd be careful if I were you. I'm reasonable, but not without my limits. So think carefully and I suggest you rephrase your answer."

"Sure, I'll give you a rephrased answer." Yang grinned. "You can take your offer and shove it right up your golden—GAH!"

Midas lashed out and grabbed Yang's neck, choking her briefly and making bits of gold travel along her skin before he let go.

"Obviously Mommy and Daddy didn't teach you manners. Be thankful I think you're too valuable to get rid of too quickly. Boys."

Two men stepped forward.

"Take our dear lady to a guest room and leave her there. We'll give her some time to think over my proposal and if she still says no I'll have a new trophy." Midas grinned as the two men forced Yang to her feet. "You'll be the centerpiece of my collection."

Yang threw a nasty glare at Midas as she was dragged away.

Oscar panted in exhaustion, training by himself to try and get his muscles used to wielding Ozpin's cane, the Long Memory.

"You're really getting better, huh?" Ruby's voice startled him, and he saw her standing at the bottom of the stairs leading to the training room. "Are you hungry? It's almost dinnertime."

"Uh, yeah," Oscar answered. "That sounds good. I was about to call it a night anyway."

"So, you've never fought before?" she asked.

"Just the occasional small Grimm. Nothing like this, though."

"Wow," Ruby said with a small, adorable giggle. "You look like a natural."

"It's strange. I've only had this cane for a few weeks, but… I feel like I've had it for a lifetime. Longer, even." He stopped to let out a sigh. "I sound like a crazy person."

"Maybe to ordinary people, yeah," Ruby said. "But I've seen enough that you're not that weird. But don't worry. At this pace, you'll be combat ready in no time!"

For some reason, Oscar saw Ruby frown deeply after that last sentence.

"Uh…" he said, trying to aske her about it.

"Well, see you upstairs," Ruby interrupted, plastering an obviously fake smile on her face.

"How do you handle all of this?" Oscar suddenly blurted out, making her stop.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

"I'm… scared," he admitted. "I'm more scared than I've ever been in my life, than I ever thought was possible. I always knew I wanted to be more than a farmhand, but this? Who would ask for this?" He noticed tears rolling down his cheeks and did his best to wipe them away.

"We all went to Beacon because we wanted to help people," she said. "But, you're right. None of us asked for this, either. We just have to press on and—"

"How can you be so confident?!" Oscar suddenly shouted. "People have tried to kill you! The world's about to go to war all over again! Ow are you okay with any of this?!" Ruby was visibly shocked by his outburst, and her frown made him feel a little bad.

"When Beacon fell, I lost a friend: Penny Polendina. I didn't know her for very long, but that doesn't change the fact that she was one of the most kind-heart people I have ever met. But that didn't save her. She was… killed… just to make a statement. During the Battle, my big sister lost an arm fighting the White Fang, and my mom… My mom was paralyzed."

"…Aqua…" Ozpin said sadly from inside Oscar's head.

"And the worst part?" Ruby continued. "The person who carried out the attack, the one responsible for Penny's death and my family's injuries, was someone I loved. Thought I had wanted to be with for the rest of my life. And then she betrayed me. Betrayed everyone."

"I'm… sorry," Oscar said.

"I am scared, but not just for me. What happened at Beacon shows that Salem doesn't care if you're standing against her or not. She'll kill anybody, and that scares me most of all. Penny… my mom… my sister… I'd be lying if I said what happened to them didn't hurt, that I didn't think about them every day. If it had been me instead, I know they would've kept fighting, too, no matter how dangerous it was. So that's what I choose to do—to keep moving forward."

Ruby wiped a tear with a small smile, before putting a reassuring hand on Oscar's shoulder.

"Come on," she said. "If we don't hurry, Nora's gonna eat everything. It wouldn't be the first time." She turned to leave, but then looked back at him. "Hey, Oscar? This isn't gonna be easy, but the fact that you're even trying says a lot about you. You're braver than you think." She turned to head up the stairs, Oscar watching her leave.

"She really is remarkable, isn't she?" Ozpin asked.

"Yeah. She must've been one of the best Huntresses at Beacon, huh?"

"In some ways, yes. But in many others… no. She has her quirks, her faults, just like everyone else. But she also possesses something unquantifiable: a spark, that can inspire others even in the darkest of times."

"This must be really hard on her, too," Oscar said.

"It most assuredly is."

Oscar was about to follow Ruby up the stairs when he remembered something else she said. A little detail that she mentioned.

He knew the person that attacked Beacon was a woman named Cinder.

Ruby mentioned she had been in love with her.

Oscar's eyes widened.

That meant…

"Wait, she's gay?!" He asked in supreme disappointment, hearing Ozpin sigh in exasperation from inside his head.

"Teenagers."

"Your thoughts?" Fennec asked, he and his brother having finished watching the message High Leader Taurus had sent them.

"They are of no significance," Corsac answered. "If this is how High Leader Taurus wishes to proceed, then we shall make it so."

"Of course, brother," Fennec said. "Still…" A knock on the door ended their conversation for now.

"Come in," Corsac called out, allowing for Ilia to step into the room and kneel.

"Sister Ilia, thank you for meeting with us."

"How may I be of assistance?" she asked.

"Please, stand," Corsac instructed, and she did so. "We have wonderful news."

"What is it?"

"We finally received a message from the Mistral brotherhood," Fennec reported. "The operation was a success. Adam Taurus has claimed his place as the High Leader of the White Fang."

"Good," Ilia said. "And… Sienna?"

"Buried… with honor," Corsac said. "The other branches of the White Fang have been given the story that was agreed upon."

"A necessary sacrifice," Ilia said with a sigh. "We won't forget everything she did for us."

"Indeed," Fennec said, and the brothers bowed at her.

"Your maturity and understanding in regards to this matter is appreciated, and it is why we've summoned you here this evening."

"The White Fang is experiencing… a transitional period.

"Growth requires changed."

"And change can be painful."

"If it's for the betterment of the Faunus, then… it's a pain we can endure," Ilia said. "What's our next mission?"

"Containment," Corsac answered. "With the CCT towers still inoperable, we have the luxury of control over the flow of information."

"News of Adam's ascension has yet to reach Menagerie, but when it does, the citizens of Kuo Kuana will undoubtedly react poorly now that the chieftain has spoken out against us."

"It's my fault the Belladonnas had any ground to stand on," Ilia said, clearly still ashamed at her scroll having been stolen.

"Do no concern yourself with past failures, Ilia," Corsac said. "Focus on the future. We have an opportunity for redemption."

"What do you need me to do?" she asked.

"The Belladonnas are the only remaining threat to Adam's assault on Haven Academy," Fennec said.

"And so, they must be silenced…" Corsac finished for his brother.

"S-silenced?" Ilia asked.

"Like Sienna," Corsac said. "They stand in the way of true progress for our people."

"We would never put such a burden on you alone, of course," Fennec said. "Your brothers and sisters will be at your side, but your relationship with their daughter makes you an intrical part of this operation."

"Blake?" Ilia asked.

"We know how close you are with young Blake," Corsac said. "Rest assured, High Leader Taurus has requested she be taken alive, but we cannot risk having her present to defend her family."

"But, the people of Menagerie—"

"Will come to understand what happens to those who speak out against the White Fang," Corsac interrupted her protest.

"And will be left without a leader until our victory is complete," Fennec said, before Corsac put a hand on Ilia's shoulder.

"A necessary sacrifice, Sister Ilia." Ilia clearly hesitated, but finally left without a word.

"She's right to worry about the citizens," Fennec said. "It's possible they may come to see Ghira as a martyr."

"It is a risk we must take for our High Leader," Corsac said before replaying Adam's message, displaying a hologram of the Blood-Soaked Bull himself.

"I will not allow them to ruin this! The Belladonna name has brought me nothing but grief! You've done well in finding the deserter. Bring her to me, alive. But not before you've slaughtered her family. I have a promise to keep."

"He seems… unwell," Fennec observed.

"He carries with him a tremendous burden," Corsac said.

"Are we sure he is the one to lead us?"

"For now. We must do what is best for the Faunus," Corsac said, prompting a sigh from Fennec. There was another knock at the door.

"Yes?" Corsac called, allowing a Faunus man with bat wings to enter the room. "Brother Yuma. Did you see to Ghira's messenger?

"He rests beneath the waves… along with his warning," Yuma reported.

"Then all is well."

"Hey, Vernal," a particularly annoying voice called out the name of the Branwen Tribe's second-in-command. The woman in question turned around to see a man with slicked-back blond hair walking towards her.

He was a particularly irritating jackass by the name of Shay D. Mann. An induvial who seemed to make it his life's goal to live up to his namesake.

"What do you want, Shay?" she asked.

"Is the boss-lady around?" he asked. "Got some big news for her."

"She's busy," Vernal answered. "Whatever it is, you can tell me, and I'll relay it to her."

"Fine, fine," Shay said. "I struck a deal with the Gold Gang to get us some sweet motorcycles."

"Motorcycles?" Vernal asked with an eyebrow raised. "What could we possibly use that for?"

"You know, we can use them on raids," he said. "Ride into battle on bikes. Isn't that kickass?"

"And noisy," Vernal commented. "We completely lose the element of surprise. Plus, no one here knows how to maintain them. Besides, I don't remember Raven giving us permission to strike a deal with the Gold Gang."

"That's cuz she didn't," Say said sheepishly. "And you might not appreciate the awesomeness of a motorcycle, but I'm sure Raven does. And she won't care that I didn't ask for permission when she hears the news."

"Didn't ask permission for what?" Raven suddenly asked, appearing behind Shay and making the man jump.

"This moron struck a deal with the Gold Gang to get some motorcycles," Vernal said.

"Why?" Raven asked, raising a confused eyebrow.

"Cuz they're awesome!" Shay said, still not realizing that "awesome" and "practical" were often incompatible. "They promised really good quality, and all they wanted in return was some girl that pissed off someone from the Gang."

Raven sighed.

"Shay, you know we don't traffic people without a good reason," she said. "Who was this girl?"

"Beats me," Shay said. "Just some girl that punched me in the face at a rest stop."

"Sounds to me like you tried getting handsy with the wrong person," Vernal snapped. "…Again."

"Yeah, well, once I heard the Gold Gang was after her, I knew it was my chance to get back at Blondie." Raven's eyebrows furrowed at that name, confusing Vernal.

"Want did she look like?" the bandit queen asked.

"Huh? Uh, well first off, she was hot. And I mean, hot. Gorgeous golden hair, big tits, those eyes. Hell, she was even more beautiful when I pissed her off and her eyes turned red."

Vernal noticed Raven's eyes widen, before her fists clenched.

"Shay…" She said angrily. "Did she look like me, but blonde?" It was Vernal's turn to be surprised. She vaguely remembered that there was one person that matched that description, and Raven's question confirmed it for her.

"I, uh…" Shay said, before his eyes widened in realization. "Oh, shit."

"Yeah," Raven said, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "Oh, shit."

"Wait, wait, I didn't kno-!"

Shay didn't get to finish begging before Raven's sword pierced his gut. He managed a few gurgles of blood before collapsing.

Raven placed her foot against Shay's chest, pushing his body off her sword before swinging it hard to get the blood off and sheathing it.

"Well, this is a problem," Vernal said, looking up at Raven. "Has she needed to use her save yet?"

"Not yet," Raven answered. "I might have to go get her later. For now, get rid of the body."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm going to check on our 'guests'."

"Well, you're awake sooner than I expected." Aqua's head shot up at the sound of her sister-in-law's voice. She and Weiss had been leaning against the bars in their cage, but the Keyblade Master did her best to sit up when she realized Raven was approaching.

"You underestimated a Keyblade Master, again," Aqua said, glaring up at the bandit queen.

"My mistake," Raven said with a chuckle. "Though, you can't even use that fancy sword of yours, can you? From where I'm standing, you're looking pretty helpless."

"And you're predictable," Aqua countered. "Here you are, coming to gloat, just like I thought you would."

"And yet you didn't predict this," Raven said tauntingly. "You know, this whole thing could have been avoided if you had just decided to stay."

"And give you access to the Keyblade?" Aqua said sharply. "Someone like you doesn't deserve that kind of power."

"My 'worthiness' isn't a concern of mine," Raven said. "If it can make me and the tribe stronger, then it's mine."

"That little philosophy of yours, right?" Aqua asked spitefully. "'The strong survive and the weak die'? I think you're a little confused, Raven."

"How exactly am I confused?"

"You think you're strong just because you're not dead yet. Sure, you have power, but you use it to hide out in the woods, attacking people that can't fight back, avoiding the fight that matters. That's not strength, and someone as cowardly as you could never be worthy of the Keyblade."

"Would you prefer I put myself out there for the good of the masses?" Raven asked. "That worked out so well for you and Summer." Aqua growled at her in response to that. "Think of it this way. You'd do whatever it takes to protect those daughter of yours, I'd do the same for my family."

"Disregarding the fact that you consider these people your family over your literal daughter, if you want to keep the tribe safe, the Keyblade won't do as good of a job as you seem to think it will."

"And why's that?" Raven asked, raising a skeptical eyebrow.

"The Keyblade attracts Heartless," Aqua said. "You'd only be bringing the enemy to your doorstep."

"Yeah, okay," Raven scoffed, not at all believing her. "If you're going to lie to me, then we're done here. Since you're awake, you can sit here and contemplate your return to Atlas. I'll make sure to come back and feed you every now and again. Until then, try and make yourselves comfortable." Raven turned to walk away from the cage, only for her to stop when she heard Aqua chuckle. "And what's so funny?"

"The fact that you keep underestimating me, even after all this time," Aqua said with a smile. She reached out with her magic, calling on all her training she put into mastering telekinesis without relying on her Keyblade or Semblance.

She thrust her bound hands forward, and the door to the cage was ripped off its hinges, slamming right into Raven before she could react. The bandit queen was knocked backwards into another tent, the fabric falling down around her as it collapsed/

Aqua's Aura Suppression Collar was then ripped off, followed by the leather sacks around her hands. She quickly summoned her Keyblade, freeing her legs before cutting Weiss's bonds, charging out of the cage to attack Raven, who just managed to raise her sword in time to block Aqua's Keyblade. Raven narrowed her eyes as she glared in anger.

"You can use your magic without summoning your weapon?"

"You sound surprised, Raven," Aqua said with a smirk that she used to mirror Raven's own taunting smile from the last time they fought. "You didn't think I sat around doing nothing when I was crippled, did you?"

She then let go of her Keyblade with one hand and pointed it at Raven, sending her flying back and crashing into the wooden wall surrounding the camp. The bandits quickly surrounded Aqua, with a fat one throwing a spiked mace at her. She calmly raised one hand, the mace stopping and floating in mid air inches from her hand. With a single gesture, it flew back at the bandit like a baseball, hitting the bandit with such force that he flew back across the camp, crashing into a tent.

Weiss ran out, spotting her weapon being carried by the bandit woman.

"Aqua!"

Aqua held out her hand and pulled Weiss's weapon towards her as the former heiress summoned her Arma Gigas.

"Hercules!"

The teenage form of Hercules appeared behind Aqua as the other bandits moved to attack. However with just one stomp of his, the entire camp shook and even caused a few bandits to stumble and slip.

BOOM!

Hercules stood in a small crater formed by a single stomping of his foot.

"I think you can handle the rabble, Weiss. I can take their boss," Aqua said, turning to where Raven had been thrown.

Just as she took a step forward Aqua noticed a shadow appear above her, Raven swinging her sword down on Aqua, who disappeared in a blur, leaving the sword to hit the ground. Raven spun around, her sword clashing with Aqua's Keyblade. Raven was a skilled swordswoman, as Aqua had learned the last time they fought, showing speed and coordination in her strikes. Only Aqua had been held back by her Aura and magic conflicting with each other last time.

Now she was much more experienced, and her magic and Aura could work in tandem with each other. While Raven was sleek and deadly, Aqua was composed and fluid, her strikes easily catching Raven's blade and dodging many others, and only swinging when she saw an opening, only for Raven to dodge. Just as they locked weapons once more, Aqua headbutted Raven, making the bandit stumble back.

"Now you know how it feels," Aqua said, swinging her Keyblade and making Raven skid back. "I actually learned that from you."

Raven looked up to see Aqua charging at her, and she quickly stuck her blade back in her holster, and then fired when Aqua was a foot away. Aqua stopped and created a barrier with her Keyblade that the sword bounced off. However, the attack had so much force that it sent her flying into the air. Raven caught her blade as she jumped up into the air, placing it back in it holster. The revolver spun and changed the Dust chambers to lightning as she pulled her sword back out and swung it at Aqua as she landed.

Aqua looked up to see Raven swing her sword down and held her Keyblade up, catching Raven's sword and creating a shockwave that kicked up dirt and knocked down several tents. Aqua pushed Raven back and pointed her Keyblade at her,

"Freeze!"

An ice shard was fired at Raven, who raised her sword… and slashed it at the ground, creating a portal. Aqua watched as Raven fell into the portal as the ice shard sailed over it. Aqua's eyes widened as she watched Raven vanish, and carefully looked around for her opponent. It didn't take long, as another portal appeared… followed by a second one, and then another.

Portals, smaller than the other ones appeared all around Aqua, and from them came fists and feet that shot out. Aqua felt several hit as she hastily tried to block with her Keyblade, managing to block several hits before she jumped back to get some breathing room. Only more portals appeared, and Aqua realized that Raven was somehow able to create portals near her.

"Raging Storm!" Aqua called out, creating three pillars of flames around her that engulfed the portals.

Aqua landed on the ground and watched as a portal appeared close by, which Raven stepped out of. The woman didn't seem harmed, but Aqua could see smoke rising from her form, and something else…

Around Raven's neck was a star-shaped pendant made of red and black glass.

A Wayfinder.

"You're wondering how I was able to create those portals around you, weren't you?" Raven asked, facing the woman. Aqua frowned.

"I know how it works. Tai and Qrow told me so you wouldn't sneak up on me to kidnap Ruby again. You form bonds with people, and when you do, you can create a portal that takes you directly to them. Ironic, considering how little you care about others."

Raven shrugged. "It has its uses."

"I know you have one for Tai, Qrow, and Yang," Aqua said, looking at the pendant. "But I don't see how you could have made one for me."

Raven smirked. "You're not the only one who was taking precautions. Actually, I have Summer's daughter to thank for that."

"Ruby?" Aqua raised an eyebrow.

Raven watched as Ruby placed the white Wayfinder on Summer's grave, and listened to the legend about the star-shaped fruit. She had been keeping tabs on Ruby and Aqua, probing for any possible weaknesses. She was gone when she sensed Tai nearby.

After Raven had Aqua drugged, she looked down at the sleeping woman, grasping her two Wayfinders around her neck before pulling out the one she had made herself.

"Let's see how true this legend of yours is, Aqua."

"A cute legend, and it seems to have worked since it led you to me," Raven said, fingering her own Wayfinder.

"Only you could pervert something meant for forging unbreakable bonds between friends and family," Aqua spat.

"On the contrary, I actually find the legend quite charming. There's more than one way to form bonds," Raven softly retorted before reaching for her sword.

Just as Aqua and Raven were about to clash again, a shadow appeared overhead. Everyone stopped and looked up to see a glowing white Queen Lancer flying down to the camp with a woman on its head.

"Winter?!" Weiss gasped.

The elder Schnee jumped off the Lancer and landed on the ground between Aqua and Raven. She then immediately summoned a swarm of white birds that she sent at Raven before launching herself at Aqua.

"What are you—" Aqua hastily blocked a slash to her head. "—Doing?!"

"Aqua Branwen, by order of General Ironwood, I am placing you under arrest," Winter said. "Surrender peacefully and I will merely drag you back to Atlas in chains." Aqua narrowed her eyes.

"Funny you should mention that."

"Winter, wait!" Weiss called out. "It's not what you think!"

Winter momentarily glanced at Weiss, glad to see that she was all right. In that split second Raven was behind her, swinging her sword. Winter immediately disengaged Aqua and jumped, somersaulting over Raven's sword and landed a few feet behind the bandit queen.

"Stay out of this, Raven. Consider yourself lucky I care more about bringing this fugitive in than you and your gang of murderous scum," Winter said, taking out her second, smaller sword.

"How considerate of you, Schnee," Raven drawled. "But you'll only be leaving once I get my ten million Lien."

"You seem to be mistaken. That reward is only for someone who captures the fugitive, and from what I see, you haven't captured her," Winter retorted, looking at Aqua and the desolated camp site. "More like she was just in the middle of breaking out of here."

"And you think you'll have better luck?" Raven asked with a smirk. "I don't see any airships coming or any other so-called specialists, so it's safe to say you came on your own. Even if you called for reinforcements, we'll be long gone. And it's clear that dear old Jimmy hasn't clued you into just how powerful your fugitive might be."

"Feel free to leave my sister and the fugitive behind and I'll find out myself," Winter replied, training her longer sword on Aqua. "Consider it me being generous."

"Hmph, no wonder Qrow liked annoying you so much," Raven muttered. "Give me my money and I'll consider it."

"Or we take a third option," Aqua suggested, causing both women to look at her. "You both get out of my way and allow Weiss and I to proceed to Haven."

"And why would I do that?" Winter retorted. "After you broke into the Schnee mansion, put General Ironwood and Jacques Schnee in the hospital, kidnapped my sister and stole an airship?"

"Is that what Ironwood told you?" Aqua asked.

"Winter, please! It wasn't like that. Aqua and I were held prisoner in the Schnee Manor," Weiss said, rushing up to the trio. "I was disinherited and trapped in the manor, and Aqua was tricked into becoming a servant when she tried to free me. We escaped, and paid the pilot to take us to Mistral. Ironwood and our father lied to you."

Raven scowled.

"He disinherited you, now?" I had thought to get a few extra thousands out of him for his dear princess in addition to collecting the reward, but that seems to be a waste now. Smart of you not to mention that little detail."

"Hmph, maybe our father would, but the General wouldn't let it stand for an innocent woman to be enslaved," Winter stated. Raven chuckled as she lowered her sword.

"He's trained you well, I see. As obedient as you are skilled, very effective." Winter growled and looked ready to attack Raven, but Aqua was finished.

"Enough!"

She raised her hand and Winter and Raven were suddenly lifted off the ground by Aqua's telekinesis, shocking the former and irritating the latter.

"Don't even think about it," Aqua said calmly as she lowered them both back onto the ground. "Now let me make something clear. I am not going back to Atlas and am not joining this rag-tag group of thieves and killers. If I have to fight my way out of here, I will, and I will not hold back, even to my former student's sister. And you too, Raven."

Winter didn't look convinced, but Weiss looked at her pleadingly.

"Please, Winter. Aqua saved me."

"…Fine. I'll hear you out," Winter said, making Weiss breath a sigh of relief. Raven just plain sighed,

"Vernal, get some tea ready!" she called out. "We have some things to discuss."

AN: I always thought it was interesting that Adam's message made it clear that he wanted Blake's parents dead for purely personal reasons, so Corsac and Fennec were the ones that had to spin it as something that will help the cause.

I'm not entirely sure I'm happy with Aqua's conversation with Raven before they start fighting, but I wanted to get this chapter out and didn't have the time to revise it.

As always, thank you very much for reading, and I'll see you all next time!