The ship's horn sounded signaling its arrival in port, Blake leaned forward over the ship's railing looking out over Kuo kuana as the ship moved in to dock, a small smile stretched across her lips, the journey had been a long one but thankfully barring their encounter with the Sea Feilong the aquatic Grimm that dwelled beneath the waves, but none of that mattered now, she was home.
As her gaze swept over the city, her smile dropped ever so slightly ... after so many years she was home. "Come on Sun" Blake pushed off the railing and began making her way down the deck towards the offramp without pause, all the while her 'travelling companion' trailing close behind as he looked out over the city coast in awe.
The port was practically overflowing, with several Faunus standing at the end of the offramp welcoming back friends and family from their voyage across the Mistral sea, while many more moved about the numerous kiosks that were dotted around the port selling food and various other wares to the new arrivals. "Wow, I've never seen so many Faunus in one place!" Sun said as he and Blake started making their way through the marketplace.
Blake sighed "This is the one place everyone can feel safe, no matter who or what they are."
"Wow, sure is, uh." The duo paused in the center of the market, with several other Faunus brushing past them as they went about their day "Crowded, huh?."
Blakes's shoulders fell "Yes" She replied. As if it wasn't obvious enough as it already was. "Yes, it is."
Following a nervous laugh from Sun, the two of them began making their way up from the port and onto the cobblestone path that cut through the center of the city leading them to their final destination. Blake moved through the crowded streets with practiced grace, while her partner found himself stumbling along behind her struggling not to bump into every passer-by. And he'd thought the crowded streets of Vale had been bad during the days leading up to the festival.
A pair of jade green eyes watched the two from the upper deck of the ship, their owner clad in a pair of blue jeans, a white blouse and black jacket tore her gaze away from Blake's retreating form to look out over her ancestral home. It was a lot smaller compared to the one she knew, then again she was around twenty years in the past, a long time before the people here had the means to expand and conquer the rest of their island.
After pulling a pair of yellow aviators from one of the pouches on her belt, she adjusting her duffle bag over her shoulder and stepped onto the offramp making her way down into the marketplace. Tapping the side of her aviators a small map popped up in the left lens, displaying the city layout in the current time period, right now the first order of business was finding somewhere she could hunker down, and an Inn was out of the question, both due to her current financial difficulties and the fact she was still a minor.
They'd probably assume she was homeless or a runaway- and she kind of was on both accounts - before calling the police. In any case, she already had a place picked out all that was left to do was set up shop and wai- "Ooof" she grunted as a large man barreled past her and into the crowd, the weight of her duffle bag and the sudden impact sending her stumbling off to the side, her training kicked in almost immediately.
Her hand lashed out to the side grabbing the supports on one of the stalls, while it stopped her from falling on her face it also caused the entire stand to shudder, the vendor turned most likely to reprimand her for her 'carelessness' but stopped himself after seeing her picking herself up off the floor, his gaze turned towards the person responsible for knocking her off her feet.
"Moron" He muttered, moving from behind his stall he helped her back to her feet. "You okay kid?" He asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine" She replied "And sorry about that."
The man waved off her concerns "It wasn't your fault." He said sending a small glare off towards the perpetrator, she followed his gaze her eyes landing on a large, tanned skin man wearing an open grey vest on top of a white shirt, dark brown pants and boots a series of scars ran up his right forearm, disappearing up his sleeve and reemerging past his collar spreading up the right side of his neck and face. His hair was primarily grey with flecks of black here and there and was tied into a small ponytail.
Brushing off some of the looks he received from a few of the passers-by that had witnessed his 'carelessness', his pale blue eyes zeroed in on the hunter duo making their way up the cobblestone path leading further into the city. "There you are." He muttered after months of following her trail he'd finally found her.
/
"Is it always so-" Sun dodged a Faunus carrying a crate "-cramped? he asked pulling Blake from her thoughts.
"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." Blake replied with a hint of annoyance in her tone, her word drawing a surprised look from Sun.
"What! You guys have that much more space?" Sun baulked, jogging in front of Blake he asked "Why waste it? A little dessert never hurt anyone!"
The cat Faunus sighed, the answer to that seemed pretty obvious, although considering it was his first time on the island she couldn't blame him for asking" It's not like the desert in Vacuo, Sun. The wildlife here is more dangerous than most other regions." She explained, in reality, if they'd had the equipment and the manpower to expand into the desert, they would have done so a long time ago.
"So, they give us a terrible island, in the corner of Remnant, to try and shut us up." Sun listed off.
Blake hummed in response, that sounded like the gist of it "That a pretty good summary, yeah." She replied stepping past Sun and onto the cobblestone stairway leading up the hill.
"Huh, jerks." Sun sighed.
"We try to make the best of things." She called back to him. Reaching the crest of the hill the two paused and looked out over the city, while sun seemed enraptured by the almost breathtaking view Blake remained unaffected, her gaze locked on the large Manor stood in the center of the city. She swallowed thickly, just a little further now "This is Kuo Kuana." Blake gestured towards the city.
"It's... Beautiful." Sun sighed in awe, turning to Blake he said "I take it all back. This place looks great! Why would anyone ever want to leave?" For a guy who'd spent most of his life in the almost lawless wastes of Vacuo, this island might as well have been paradise.
"That's not the point Sun." Blake sighed "We asked to be equal, to be treated just like everyone else!" Her gaze swept over the buildings and the people walking the streets below, they'd won the war, they'd earn the right to be treated as humanities equals but those in power had quickly found a way to turn their victory against them, it wasn't fair, then again the world rarely ever was, the Plumbers Badge in her pocket was enough proof of that.
"Instead, we were given an island and told to make do. 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." Her head fell slightly. "That we're still second-class citizens."
"Well, hey" Sun rested a comforting hand on Blakes's shoulder "This guy's feeling pretty at home." Blake's lips twitched up slightly, despite her initial reaction to her uninvited guest having a friendly face along for the ride, annoying as he could be at times his presence helped calm her nerves.
"Alright" She breathed "Time to go home."
"Oh, yeah?" Sun wrapped an arm around her shoulders he pulled the cat Faunus in. " Which one's yours? Can you see it from here?" Sun asked, leaning forward he peered out over the houses lining the streets below.
"Kind of" Blake replied glancing between Sun and the large Manner at the center of the city, the buildings overall size and the complexity of its design making it stand out against the far smaller and more simplistic homes that surrounded its outer courtyard. 'Yeah, this is going to be awkward.' She thought to herself as Sun pointed from one building to another.
"Is it that one." he asked her pointing to a bungalow halfway down the cobblestone path to their right. "What about that tiny one down there? "He shifted his gaze to the shack across from it. "I kinda like the paint job." I mumbled to himself.
Deciding to bite the bullet, Blake took Suns arm by the wrist and turned it and his attention towards her family home. "It's... That one." Biting her lip Blake stepped back from the blond Monkey Faunus and let him soak it in. He stared at the Manor for a few seconds before turning his gaze and an almost accusing finger towards her in disbelief, Blake glanced off to the side before giving a swift nod. Sun's head snapped back towards the manner, stepping back he cupped the side of his head, his mouth hung open in amazement as he stared down at her family home, a shrill wine leaving him.
Some passers-by stopped to stare at the blonds display, following his gaze some rolled their eyes in amusement while other muttered "Tourist" beneath their breath before carrying on with their day. "Come on" Blake sighed, taking the almost catatonic monkey Faunus by the arm, and leading him down the cobblestone path towards her home, unaware of the scarred man following close behind them.
Weaving between the crowds the slowly closed in on the Faunus duo, his task nearing completion. He reached out towards the Belladonna girl, only for a far smaller body to step between him and his objective their owner bumping into his chest, at any other time or place he would have ignored them in favour of focusing on his target.
Unfortunately, the barrel of the Positron Blaster currently digging into his side had other ideas.
"Uncle Rajah!" Its owner replied in a cheerful tone, the girl wrapping an arm around his own, her body and the large duffle bag slung over her other shoulder hiding her weapon from view. His eyes narrowed down at the girl, her cat ears drooped in response her expression shifted to a mix of embarrassment and trepidation. "I know, I know you asked me to wait at the docks when I got off the boat, but I figured I could save you some time and meet you halfway." She replied, while her face showed nothing but childish glee her jade eyes shone with a fierceness he had only seen in one other.
She jabbed her weapon into his side once more, her message clear "Verry considerate of you, child" He replied in a gruff and coarse voice, his even tone hiding the indignation and fury he felt at being caught off guard by a mere child. "Though next time I would prefer that you wait until I'd have arrived, peaceful as it may be this island can still be a dangerous place."
"Understood" She replied in an almost respectful tone while simultaneously grinding the barrel of her weapon into his side, her head tilted towards one of the side streets, her eyes narrowed. "I think we've kept Aunt Hazel waiting long enough, besides..." She tugged on his arm forcing him to bend down, she then whispered into his ear. "You and I are gonna go for a little walk, remember you're my big gruff uncle and I'm your lovable niece visiting from the continents, stick to it and we won't have any problems, got it, big guy."
Pulling away she smiled up at him, his eyes darted off towards the Belladonna girl and her companion one last time before turning back to the girl in front of him, there was little he could do in such a public space, any attempt to break free or attack and disarm her would only paint him as the villain. Her weapon pressed to his side once more, a final warning and a sign of her growing impatience.
Turning his gaze back to the girl he nodded silently, her eyes narrowed, after a moment she stepped back and gestured towards the side street "Lead the way" She said, clenching his teeth he stepped past her the girl falling into step beside him. The walk was relatively short and anything but silent, with the girl, prattling on about her trip alongside questions about him and this "Aunt Hazel" she spoke off.
Any lesser being may have attempted to flee or call for aid from the creatures around them, though he was no lesser being something this child would soon discover, maintaining the stoic demeanour he nodded along with her words and answered each of her questions to the best of his ability. Nudging him the two turned into an alleyway and continued deeper into the labyrinth of back alleyways and side streets.
Her pace slowed "Up against the wall." She growled at him "And keep your hands where I can see them." He complied approaching the brick wall and held his arms out to his side a pale blue eye staring back at her from over his shoulder, the girl edged towards him their eyes locked her weapon trained on his upper back. Reaching out she patted down his waist, her hand paused over his back pocket a small silver disk resting inside.
Pulling it free, she stepped back from him her eyes roaming over the hollow disk in her possession. "Where did you get this?"
"Child you are interfering in affairs you do not-" She jabbed her weapon into his back, drawing a small growl of discomfort from the larger man, his eyes narrowed, youngling or not that was starting to get annoying.
"I ask the question and you answer them?" She shot back a slight edge to her tone. "And you can start by telling me where you got this and why exactly you were following her-" He rounded on the girl, swatting the Positron blaster from her grasp sending her weapon clattering down the alleyway, before swiping at her with his free hand claws extended. She ducked under the swipe with ease, her small stature granting her the agility necessary to avoid the larger man's strikes, stepping into his guard she countered with two jabs to his ribs and a roundhouse to his back sending the larger man stumbling into the opposite wall.
An almost animalistic growl echoed from the back of his throat, his sharp blue eyes zeroed in on her, a small smirk spreading across his lips. "Shit" She cursed backpedaling from the larger Faunus as he leapt towards, lashing out with a series of kicks towards her chest batting aside the first two and planted her feet as the third came in bringing her arms up into an X block as the third landed she thrust her arms forward pushing her opponent back and skidding on his heels as he landed.
Without missing a beat, she rushed forward barreling towards her opponent, the Faunus eyes narrowed in response. "I grow weary of you, child." The Faunus growled back at her, he would not kill this child, though he would not allow her to leave this ally either, there were many questions that needed to be answered. Suddenly a blazing white aura burst to life around his right arm, spread down from his elbow and over his fist. The cat Faunus eyes widened, the taller Faunus leapt towards her, claws extended, his blue eyes glowing vibrantly as he slashed at her.
Dropping onto her back she slid under her attacker, his aura enhanced claws tearing three large grooves into the ground where she once stood, swinging her legs to the side she flipped back onto feet, following up with a swift kick to the Faunus back, the force behind the blow sending him sailing through the air into the brick wall across from the and crashing down on top of a cluster of trashcans.
"Raghhhh!~" He growled as he stumbled up onto his knees. A combat boot struck his side putting him on his back, seconds later her knee was planted on his chest the barrel of her positron blaster pressed to his forehead.
"Stop." She panted her voice a mix of clear exhaustion and pleading. "Just stop, I don't wanna hurt you, but I will if I have to." He attempted to rise once more, the barrel of her weapon shifted to the side and a shot ran out, he froze, a scorch mark burned into the ground beside his head. "I said-" She Pushed the barrel of her weapon into his forehead, forcing his head back against the ground "-Stop!... Final warning"
He glared up at the child, he watched her eyes harden like diamonds, her grip around her weapon tightening as she returned the glare in full. That was all the confirmation he needed to know she would go through with her threat and only added to the growing wound to his pride, he prayed his comrades did not learn of his defeat at the hands of this child...
He trailed off his eyes drawn to the badge attached to her belt its red lens glinting in the light "W-what are you staring at?" She demanded; it seemed the sudden shift in his gaze hadn't gone unnoticed.
After a tense moment of silence, he finally spoke. "You are a Plumber?"
"I-I... " He watched her eyes widen in shock, she glanced down at her belt before asking "How do you know anything about that?"
"Because I am an alley of your organization, I have fought alongside its members in the past." He replied, recalling the young man who aided his escape from that accursed mine.
"Who?" She demanded.
"The one you call Alex Fissure, he was an alley of my comrades and one of you, I am called Whiger." The Phantom beast replied, one might call him a fool for revealing himself to this girl, the whole point of the technology Watanabe had supplied him with was so he could walk among the denizens of this world without causing panic or revealing their operations to those who followed the Psycho rangers. Though if she was a Plumber, she could prove to be a valuable asset in completing his mission.
Recollection flashed in her eyes "Whiger?" She asked "General Whiger of the Phantom Beasts."
Whigers eyes narrowed in response "Correct." he said both intrigued and suspicious as to how she knew of him and his titles.
Her blaster was lowered "I thought you were supposed to be..." She trailed off gesturing to her head and chest aimlessly "A tiger, skeleton, zombie... thing."
"A. Phantom. Beast." He growled back a slight edge to his tone before gesturing to the leg still pinning his chest to the floor. "Ahem." he coughed.
"Oh, uh..." Hopping back to her feet, the girl held a hand out towards him "Here." Whiger slapped the limb aside before climbing back to his feet, his pride had suffered enough as it is, he did not need her help.
The Faunus girl rolled her eyes in response "Ok Mr. Grouchy." Sighing she glanced off down the alleyway back towards the main road "Someone probably heard that shot, we should get out of here before the police show up." Throwing her discarded duffle bag back over her shoulder a thoughtful look passed over her. "Don't suppose you have a base or something where we could talk."
The Phantom Beast general regarded her for a moment before sighing in clear frustration. "Verry well" Whiger grunted he gestured for her to follow before turning on his heels and marching deeper into the alleyway, the Faunus girl hot on his heels. "My task was to make contact with the Belladonna girl upon her arrival and deliver a warning, a task made infinitely more difficult thanks to your intervention." Whiger groused.
"I'm sorry alright." She called out to him. "I know I screwed you over back there and you have every right to be angry" She'd overreacted, she'd admit that, but that didn't mean he was off the hook either. "But if we're being honest here, you looked a lot more like some creepy stalker then a-"
Whiger cut her off immediately "Subtlety would be of no use to me or the Belladonna girl, child." Not when an old foe had tracked her back to her island home, even now they'd began manipulating the island and its people from behind the scenes.
"First off, my name is Kelly" She snipped "Secondly, just how well do you think walking up and grabbing her in the middle of the street would have gone, hmm?"
"I have been tracking her for many months, across vast oceans and the continents of this world." Whiger glared back at her, his task had been difficult but not impossible, he had already come across the Belladonna girl twice already, but each time she slipped through his fingers.
The first had been two months after the fall of Beacon, the Belladonna girl had fled the Kingdoms capital days after the incident with her trail leading him to a small village in the outskirts, though his attempts to confront her were put on hold by an incursion from the local Grimm, his honor would not allow him to abandon its villagers to death and through his actions that day the village had managed to repel the attack, although his quarry had managed to slip away following the conflict.
His second encounter had been at the port in Mistral three months prior, though by the time he'd arrived, her ship had already departed for Menagerie, the den of her enemies. "When I discovered she was making her way to this island, I did not wish to waste time."
"Alright then." Kelly rolled her eyes, he made it sound like some epic quest from one of the fantasy novels she'd read when she was younger. But whether or not he was trying to help didn't matter, in her current state if he'd gone through with his original plan, Blake would've more than likely lashed out at the Phantom beast before he even had a chance to deliver his warning. "Once we get to your place think you can give me a rundown on the situation, maybe after we try coming up with a plan." She suggested earning a small grunt from Whiger in acknowledgement.
Trying to approach her now was a no go, from what she'd seen on the boat and the docks Blake was more than on edge, it was doubtful she'd be willing to trust anyone who knew of the Psycho Rangers or the White Fang at this time, they'd be better off giving her a day or two to settle in before trying to approach her again, with a little more subtlety this time around.
/
The shot rang out like a clap of thunder, Blake gasped while Sun flinched in shock, with numerous passers-by crying out in alarm some ducking down behind the nearest object in hopes of shielding themselves from the conflict. Their hands darted to their weapons, the cat Faunus sharp amber eyes scanned the surrounding streets, her ears twitched and flicked in the direction of even the most minuscule noise in an attempt to locate the source of the shot.
At that moment, a thousand different scenarios ran through her mind, each worst then the last, with the most likely outcome rushing to the forefront of her mind... Adam. Despite all skills and experience, Sun had managed to track her down with ease, who's to say he was the only one, who's to say her former partner had held true to his word and was announcing himself to her.
Blake's head snapped towards the Manor... towards her home. "He... He wouldn't." She whispered drawing her companions gaze.
"Hey" Sun stepped towards her, resting a hand on Blake's shoulder he shook her gently "You okay?" He asked in a gentle tone.
She blinked once, then twice before pulling out of the monkey Faunus grip and racing off down the cobblestone path towards the Manor in the distance. "Hey, wait up!" Sun called out as he raced her. Blake weaved between the seemingly endless crowd between her and the manner, her heart hammering away in her chest, she prayed she was wrong... she prayed she was just being paranoid.
She hadn't seen her parents in almost five years, they hadn't been a part of her leaving the White Fang, they hadn't been a part of her turning her back on Adam and his violent crusade. Would her old partner have cared? A year ago, she might have given him the benefit of the doubt, she might have believed that her old friend would have kept their conflict between them and them alone, if not for her then out of respect for her father and all he'd done for him in the past, that was until the Fall of Beacon.
"Know once I set out into this world and delivers the justice mankind so greatly deserves, I will make it my mission to destroy everything you love" Adam's promise no, his vow, echoed through the back of her mind. It was all the proof she needed to know the man she thought she knew, the man she'd trained under... the man who she once loved was gone or had never even existed, to begin with.
Breaking free from the crowd Blake skidded to a halt at the edge of the cobblestone stairs leading down into the Manors outer courtyard. A shuddering breath left her as she looked out over her family home, to her relief the manner was untouched with not a single White Fang grunt insight. "Excuse me! Pardon me" Sun apologies while weaving between the passers-by.
"Watch it!" Sun flipped over two Faunus carrying a small stack of wooden planks between them.
"Sorry about that!" The monkey Faunus winced, weaving back at the two apologetically as he jogged up beside Blake. "What's was up with you back there?" Sun asked throwing his arm back in the direction of the crowd, where more than a few pairs of eyes lingered on the pair.
"I...I..." A shuddering breath left her, the sudden panic and rush of adrenalin fading from her mind. "I'm sorry. I...When I heard the shot back there I just...I panicked... I thought-" She rambled.
"Hey, hey" Sun stepped closer wrapping a comforting arm around her shoulders. "I get it, after everything that's happened it's alright to be a little on edge, but you can't just go charging off on your own like that at the first sign of trouble." He smirked and jabbed his thumb back at himself "This time you got back up, so think about using it, ok."
After a moment of silence, his fellow Faunus nodded. "Ok and... I'm sorry"
"Don't worry about it, besides..." Sun pulled away from Blake and started making his way down into the manners courtyard. "You can pay me back later with a tour of Casa Belladonna!."
Blake rolled her eyes at Sun, a small smile forming on her lips as she trailed along behind him, looking up at her family home hundreds of memories rushed to the forefront of her mind, memories of the times she'd comb through her father's library for hours on end, she and her mother spending the day at the lagoons off the coast... and that fateful day she stumbled across a certain red-haired Bull Faunus at one of the rallies the White Fang had held in town.
Passing under the archway covering the Manors front entrance the Faunus duo came to a halt in front of the large wooden doors leading into the manner, reaching out towards the ornate knocker she stopped herself halfway, pulling her hand back into her chest Blake stepped back from the door "What is it?" Sun asked.
"I um..." Blake trailed off her head falling ever so slightly "It's just been a long time since I've seen my parents."
"Well, you came all this way" Sun replied, earning a small hum in response from the cat Faunus.
If she were being honest, the thought of just turning around and walking away sounded rather tempting, she'd already put her parents through so much just by running away, who's to say showing up unannounced after all this time would be any better... no, she had to do this, everything she'd done to get here would have been for nothing.
Taking a deep calming breath through her nose, Blake reached out taking the ornate knocker in hand, pulling it back she gave a firm knock on the door, the impact releasing a heavy resounding bang that made Sun flinch back slightly. "Okay~" The monkey Faunus winced as Blake stepped back beside him "If we're being honest, that's kinda intimidating."
His words drawing an amused snort from Blake, whether it was intentional or not Sun's comment granted some much-needed levity to the already stressful situation.
Though that small moment of relief died an ugly death as the large oak doors rumbled and began to open, Blake stiffened as the one who answered stepped into view. A cat Faunus much like herself with short black hair and yellow eyes with three gold piercings in her cat ears, two on the right and one on the left. She wore a black hakama and sandals with white tabi-socks. Along with a matching gold and black sash wrapped around her waist, the ends of the sash trailing behind her with a gold flower-shaped buckle on the end. On top of that, she wore a black shrug a gold leaf trim adorning the front with a long right sleeve and short left sleeve that revealed her long black arm warmers that extended down to her middle finger.
Her topaz orbs lookup at them gliding over Sun, before immediately zeroing in on her "B-Blake" Her mother muttered, pushing the door aside she stepped closer to her daughter, causing Blake to shuffle back ever so lightly.
She must have rehearsed this reunion a thousand times inside her head, planned out everything she wanted to say, everything they needed to know so they could understand how wrong she'd been for running away, how they'd been right about everything from the start, more importantly, how sorry she was for hurting them. But now that she was here, standing face to face with her mother, those words escaped her.
Biting her lip, Blake slowly raised her arm in greeting "H-Hi... Mom." She waited, waited for the anger, waited for the yelling and the tears, waiting for the door to be slammed in her face, just like she deserved.
What she didn't expect was for her mother to set forward and wrap her arms around her and pull her into a gentle embrace. "My baby girl." Kali breathed, tightening her grip around Blake as if, if she were to let go her little girl might just disappear all over again.
Blake hesitated for a moment, lost on how to respond with her expectations firmly blown out of the water. After a moment Blake slowly slider her arms around her mother waist, tears welling up in her eyes as she returned her mother's embrace in full.
"Kali!" A booming voice called out from inside the manner it owners footsteps echoing from beyond the doorway. "Who is it?" The large double doors on the other side of the Manors entrance hall opened.
A tall and muscular man with black hair, a beard and yellow eyes stepped through and into the entrance hall, he wore an open dark violet coat that exposed his hairy chest, with white fur trim and a silver spaulder resting on his left shoulder linked with two silver claps on the opposite front panels of his coat. Over his beige pants tucked into a pair of black leather boots was a matching sash wrapped around his waist, that was held in place by a large, silver buckle.
As the bear of a man's eyes landed on Blake his once quizzical expression melted away, his wide amber eyes staring down at her in utter disbelief. After a moment of silence, her father's shoulders fell a loving smile stretching across Ghira Belladonna's face, one Blake was quick to return. Ghira strode forward, opening his arms the bear of a man pulled his wife and daughter into a gentle embrace.
Blake returned the embrace almost immediately, all the while Sun looked on from the sidelines watching the touching display with a small smile.
"Oh!" Her mother seemed to gasped in realization, stepping back out of the embrace, and turning her attention towards their audience. "I'm so sorry, Blake, you never introduced us to your friend here Mr..." Kali trailed off.
"Oh, Uhh" Sun stuttered as Ghira's gaze swept over him, straightening himself and with nothing else to think of he held his hand out towards his friend's mother. "Sun, Sun Wukong, Ma'am." He chuckled nervously.
Raising an eyebrow Kali gaze flicked back towards her husband, catching the scrutinizing look he was sending the young man across from her, something their daughter had also noticed if the embarrassed flush across her cheeks and the apologetic look she sent her companion was anything to go by. Kali rolled her eyes in clear amusement, well if her Ghira wasn't up to the task it seemed she'd have to be the one to great their little kittens "Friend", reaching out she took the young man's hand into her own. "Please call me Kali dear, it's lovely to meet one of our Blakes friends." She replied, flashing a small smile her daughter's way.
"Come in, both of you." Kali stepped between the two and ushered them inside, her husband closing the door behind them as they went, her smile growing further as she recalled the fresh pot of tea was waiting for them a few rooms over, one of her and Blakes favorites from when she was just a girl. "You and your friend arrived just in time, dear." She added steering the two through the large double doors across the entrance hall and down the manner halls.
"We... aren't interrupting anything were we?" Blake asked hesitantly, her mother's hold on her tightened.
"Hardly." Kali assured her a fond smile spreading across her lips.
After a few minutes of traversing the Manner halls, the four arrived before a pair of double doors pushing them open the four stepped into the dining room, a large circular room with cream-colored plaster walls and a circular marble floor at the center surrounded by two out rings the former consisting of white marble while the latter was a warm dark brown. Four green marble pillars were situated around the white ring with various plants hanging from them and the ceiling above at the very center of the room sat a short square table rested at the very center of the room surrounded by four floormats.
The all too familiar and fragrant scent of jasmine tea greeted Blake as they entered, her eyes immediately drawn to the tea-set resting atop the table's surface. "Whoa Sun sighed as he took in the sheer size and grandeur of the Belladonna dining hall.
"I hope your trip wasn't too, treacherous" Ghira said taking his seat across from his daughter "We've had some worrying reports from a few of the ships that came through recently of a rise in Grimm activity near the coast." Sun and Blake shared a small glance, Sun shook his head slightly, the talk about the sea dragon their ship had run into on the way here could wait, for now, this was about Blake and her parents.
"Nothing we couldn't handle." Blake replied, earning a small sigh fo relief from her father.
"Still, we're glad you made it here safe and sound." Kali began taking a tentative sip of her tea before she continued. "We were horrified when we heard the news. The kingdom of Vale isn't perfect, but it definitely didn't deserve what happened." The Belladonna matriarch sighed, the days following the news of beacons destruction had taken its total on the both of them, with thoughts that their daughter might have been among the fallen leading to numerous sleepless nights. "Oh, we were so worried".
"Please~!" Ghira waved off his wife's concern, crossing his arms over his chest as he sent a jovial look his wife's way. "I knew she'd be fine."
"That isn't the slightest bit true" Kali scoffed "You should have seen him pacing."
"You guys have got nothing to worry about" Sun cut in gesturing over to Blake with his free hand as she took a long sip of her tea "I've seen your daughter in action before! And trust me, she's got some moves!" Bubbles frothed up in Blakes tea, she had to have been hearing thins, right? There was no way he was dumb enough to say something like that in front of her parents without realizing what it might have meant.
Pulling back from her cup Blake shot an incredulous look Sun's way, the confident nod he sent back wasn't helping his case and judging by the disapproving glare her father sent Sun's way and the teasing smirk that spread across her mother's lips, she hadn't been the only one to catch her friends... choice fo words. "And what exactly do you mean by that, Mr. Wukong?" Ghira inquired, his seemingly calm tone hinting at his growing annoyance for the young monkey Faunus.
Sun's confident look died an ugly death as he finally realized the implications of his words and slowly turned to face the penetrating gaze of the Belladonna patriarch. "I...uh, w-well you see sir, it's just that, you know, that she's such a good fighter and all, uh, and as a fellow fighter, I have a lot of respect for her... " Sun tried to explain all the while Blake and Kali watched the exchange between the two in varying levels of interest.
Leaning in close to her daughter Kali asked, "Why is he here again?"
"...And her fighting. But also, for her..." Sun quickly added, Ghira narrowing his eyes in response.
Blake sighed "He just kind of followed me home."
"Because of her fighting. Not her looks. I mean, not to say she's not good-looking. She is! Very! Or..." Sun rattled off, his efforts to get out of the hole he'd talked himself into only digging him deeper.
"Hmmm" Her mother hummed, turning her gaze back to the scene in front of them. "I see."
"...Slightly, I mean she's definitely above average. I mean, uh..." Sun struggled to find the right words as all three Belladonnas watched on in silence, waiting to see what his next move would be. After a tense moment of silence and seeing no real way out of his current situation Sun used his tail to pick up the teapot and pour himself more tea "This tea is really good." Sun took a quick sip from his cup "He-he."
"I like him" Kali whispered.
Blake gave an indignant squawked "Mom!" She yelled slamming her hand down on the table, heat rising up her neck and past her ears. "We're not-
A resounding bang echoed through the manner cutting Blakes rebuttal short, all eyes turned back towards the double doors leading back into the manor. Blake looked to her parents for answers watching as her fathers furrowed his brow in clear frustration "Darn it, I completely forgot about the meeting" Ghira groaned slamming his fist down onto the table.
"Ghira..." Kali was quick to reassure her husband, covering his fist with her hand.
Sighing the bear of a man sent an apologetic look his daughter's way, while he would have preferred to stay and catch up with his little kitten, he could not ignore this. "Give me a moment" Ghira added, rising back to his feet he moved to greet the new arrivals.
As the doors closed behind her father Blake turned to her mother, a quizzical look in her eye "Is everything ok?" She asked some small worry worming up inside her.
"Yes, dear, just poor timing. He can reschedule." Kali replied with some small disappointment as she poured herself another cup of tea "It's just been hard dealing with them lately." Blake and Sun shared a glance.
"Dealing with who?" Blake asked.
"Hmm?" Kali hummed " The White Fang?"
"What!?" Blake and Sun leapt to their feet in alarm "T-The White Fang is here?" Blake asked sending out a silent prayer that she and Sun had misheard her mother. Kali's ears flattened against her scalp, her face twisting in concern as an almost horrified look spread across her daughters face as her eyes darted between her and the door. "...Dad" she whispered.
"Blake?" Kali reached out to her daughter something that seemed to snap her out of her stupor, without another word Blake rushed towards the door. Bursting out into the hallway she raced back down the corridor towards the entrance hall, she could hear her mother and Sun calling after her but paid them no mind instead picking up the pace as she rounded the corner the large double doors leading into the manners entrance hall just ahead, she could hear her father's voice from the other side alongside two others.
Slamming the double doors into the entrance hall open, Blake's eyes immediately zeroed in on the two Fox Faunus standing on the other side of the doorway, both men were clad in almost identical black tunics, sandals and red hoods with white lining, gold buttons and string. Despite Blakes sudden arrival the two managed to maintain their formal posture with their hands clasped together in front of them, watching the scene unfold in front of them.
"Dad!" she called out to him.
"Blake" The bear of a man turned back to her in alarm "What's wrong?" Ghira asked looking back at his daughter in clear surprise and concern, soon enough Sun emerged from the double doors to join them.
"Miss Belladonna" One of the two Fox Faunus greeted her with a small bow.
"We had no idea you'd returned" The other added.
Blake narrowed her eyes at the two, a frown settling across her lips as she marched towards her father. " What are you doing talking to these people?" She struggled to keep her voice level, to force down the combination of panic and rage churning inside her. Neither would be any use to her right now, she wanted answers, but she wasn't going to start a fight, not with her parents so close to the conflict. But while at first glance the two didn't seem to be armed that didn't mean she'd let her guard down anytime soon.
Despite her efforts, her father was quick to notice the bite in her voice as she addressed them, he glanced back at the two brothers suspiciously his Blake had never been one for such random outburst in the past and while they might have been apart for some time, he was certain there was a reason, one he felt he'd find out soon enough. "These are Corsac and Fennec Albian" Ghira began, gesturing towards the two Faunus as he spoke. "They represent the White Fang here on Menagerie."
"Those Psycho's are here to?!" Sun demanded.
Fennec chuckled lightly "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." He attempted to assure the Monkey Faunus.
"w-What we've heard?" Blake sputtered in sheer disbelief " We've seen firsthand. Your fanatics slaughtered people!"
Ghira narrowed his eyes "What is she talking about?" He asked, turning back to the Albian brothers he stared down at the two expectantly.
"Precisely what we came to discuss with you, your grace" Corsac replied in a hushed tone.
"Is everything all right" Kali called out as she stepped into the entrance hall.
Sun looked between Kali and Ghira realization dawning on him "Wait, you guys seriously don't know?"
"Know what" Ghira growled casting a dangerous look back at the Albian brothers.
"The White fang was at the fall of Beacon" Blake began her topaz orbs turned to the Albian brothers her hands clenched into fists. "They attacked innocent people and they released Grimm into the school."
A brief moment of silence settled over the room as both Ghira and Kali processed their daughter's words, Blake watched her mother's face contort in shock and horror in response to her revelation all the while her father had grown verry still. Fennec shared a small sideways glance with his brother, their mission may have become more complicated than they'd originally perceived.
Ghira slowly turned to face the Albian brothers, his features set in stone. "Is this true?"
Bowing his head, seemingly in shame Fennec replied "Sadly, your grace, it is."
"Don't act like you're s-"
"That's enough!" Ghira cut in before his daughter could finish her outburst, turning his gaze back towards the Albains he narrowed his eyes at the two. "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 began to explain "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" Sun cut in jabbing a finger towards the two brothers "Beacon wasn't the first time the Fang started shooting up Vale."
"The high council had their suspicions of a splinter group, but they could prove nothing until this test incident."
"Incident!" Blake spat, glaring past the tears that had built up in her eyes at the brothers "People. Are. Dead" Ghira clenched his teeth the pain and grief in his daughter's voice grating on his nerves, though it was the look of sheer loss in her eyes that nearly pushed him over the edge.
"And it is a tragedy" Corsac attempted to assure her.
"Your Grace" Fennec addressed the Belladonna patriarch. "We came to assure you that Brother Taurus and his followers do not represent the will of the White Fang."
"And how can I be sure of that?" Ghira replied.
"We understand if you bear any skepticism towards these claims." Corsac replied, it was no secret there were still individuals who disagreed with the White Fangs more... "hands-on" approach to their people's plight, compared to the peaceful protests carried out by his grace and his follower "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."
Drawing a scroll from within his robes Fennec held the device out to Ghira "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." Ghira accepted the scroll without complaint, he'd view its contents in time and possibly shed some light on the situation, for now however there was a more important matter at hand.
"I will, but another day." The panther Faunus rested a firm hand on his daughter's shoulder "I'd like some time to reconnect with my daughter."
"But of course, your Grace." Corsac replied.
"We completely understand." Fennec nodded back to the Belladonna patriarch "It was a pleasure to see you again young Blake." He said nodding back towards the huntress in training.
"We were saddened when we heard of your departure from the White Fang" Corsac picked up, the almost innocent smile he sent her way grating on Blakes last nerve. "But understand if you can no longer support our cause."
"It is a wearying fight, after all." Fennec added.
Blake bit back a small snarl and settled for glaring at the two men "Who says I'm done fighting."
"Hmm" Corsac hummed maintaining his neutral expression despite, the annoyance he felt towards the young woman across from him "If you ever do wish to return, you need merely come find us."
"Sister Ilia would be elated." Fennec added, the mention of her old friend giving Blake pause.
Stepping between his daughter and the Albian brothers Ghira reached out gripping the edge of the manners double doors. "Goodbye, gentlemen." Without another word he closed the door on the two brothers, letting out a small sigh through his nose. Kali moved around Blake and Sun resting a hand on her husband's arm.
Blake turned and stomped off back down the hall towards her old room, both for some time alone to think and to spare her parents and Sun from the volatile mess of emotions inside her that were slowly burning through the last of her self-control. She'd come here to rest, to recover from the fall fo Beacon, to protect the others from Adam... to morn, only to have her worst fears come to life before her eyes.
The White Fang were on Menagerie, worse even they'd somehow managed to hide their involvement in the fall of Beacon from her father and the people and tried to brush it off as the actions of a rogue cell.
Bullshit.
She knew it, her father knew it and if her instincts were right the Albian brothers were more than aware of what was really going on... and despite her own words she couldn't do a damn thing about it or risk dragging her parents into an even bigger mess then they realized. Their best chance lied in her staying under the White Fangs radar, all she had to do was stick to the plan, she'd stay for a few weeks- far shorter than she'd initially intended- get back in touch with her parents... then move on.
As much as it pained her to do this to them a second time, it was better than the alternative. Adam had the backing of not only Cinders group but the Psycho rangers as well, whether or not the Albains were telling the truth or not didn't matter, for her families sake she couldn't afford to take that chance, or risk losing what little she had left.
AN: And like always, no matter how far or fast your run the past has a strange way of catching up to you, though our resident cat Faunus will not face the trials ahead alone as unseen allies watch from the shadows, however, whether she'll be ready to accept it when the time comes remains a mystery... for now.
I hope you all enjoyed this chapter of Psycho Remnant, remember to leave a review any constructive criticism you have for me is always welcome and I will see you all in the next one, goodbye.