A flaming arc cut through the Grimm one after another with no end to the onslaught in sight, Cinder grit her teeth beads of sweat building up across her brow. The all too familiar burning she'd grown accustomed to, even enjoyed when she'd first acquired the first half of the Maidens powers had grown stronger, now the once tender heat that perforated her being, burned like hot iron, a side effect of her new... Biology.
The scarab within her did what it could to smother the pain, her queen had assured her it would pass once her body had time to adjust, after all the mass was a foreign body, it was only natural her own would resist them becoming one, this pain was the price of her power, and she would not sully the gift given to her. To show weakness at such a crucial time was unacceptable not only to her queen but herself as well, she had fought tooth and nail to acquire this power, it was hers by right.
Though her queen may not see it that way, if she faltered, if she allowed herself to show weakness it could all be over, Salem did not tolerate failure nor would she allow a Maiden too overwhelmed by her own power, to cause any unnecessary setbacks.
Salem herself stood off to the side of the training ring watching her acolyte closely, her mastery over the Fall Maidens power progressing smoothly however it was clear her alterations to the girl, had come with a greater drawback than expected, she'd need to increase the regularity of Cinders treatments to counteract the effects.
A small price to pay in the long run.
Once the process was complete and Cinder's body had been 'Restored', they could begin the next phase of their operations. A low growl echoed from above, Cinder gasped her head snapping upwards her remaining eye locking with the burning red orbs staring back at her from the darkened ceiling above.
Cinder threw herself aside narrowly avoiding being crushed beneath the Berlingers sheer bulk as it lept down on her, rolling onto her knees, flames burst to life in her right hand, thrusting her palm forward a torrent of flame washed over the ape-like Grimm, its cries of agony receding into nothingness as its body was turned to ash.
"Enough" Salem called out, a silence falling over the room, her Grimm halting their assault and Cinder falling to one knee struggling to draw breath... hmm disappointing. The mother of Grimm glided across the room towards her acolyte, her displeasure clear in her eyes. "I was under the impression that you were the girl who wanted power?" The mother of Grimm stared down at Cinder expectantly "Did you lie to me?" Salem inquired
Cinder winced as the mother of Grimm's presence washed over her, the almost sixth sense granted by her newest appendage painting an all too clear picture of her ladies subtle ire, pushing herself up onto one knee Cinder raised her head up towards her queen and gives a clear shake of the head.
"Then stop holding back." Salem replied, "If you wish to master your new powers, you must-" Several heavy nocks resounded throughout the room. The mother of Grimm turned back towards the large heavy doors leading into the training hall, with a flick of her wrist the doors slid open allowing Psycho Red entry.
Pausing at the edge of the arena the Psycho ranger crossed his fist over his chest and bowed his head to the Queen of the Grimm "Apologies for the intrusion your grace, but Tyrian and Psycho Crimson have returned."
"Was their task successful?" Salem's lips twitched up into a small smile, she glanced down to Cinder who herself seemed rather pleased by the news her quarry had been found and brought back to the Grimm Lands "I trust the girl is unharmed."
"No."
Cinders eyes widen while her queen's smile fell, the Grimm witch narrowed her eyes at the Psycho ranger "Explain."
"Tyrian and Psycho Crimson ambushed the children inside the ruins of Oniyuri but were themselves intercepted by Qrow Branwen and Adam Park." The Grimm witch hummed to herself, unfortunate but not unexpected given Branwen's ties to the girl as well as the apparent alliance Ozpin had forged with these otherworlders before his most recent demise, but while the latter may have been an unfortunate addition to their enemies forces, it was still no excuse. "There is more my Queen." Salem's eyes flicked back towards the Psycho ranger "...Tyrian abandoned the battle before its conclusion, Psycho Crimson fought on but was overwhelmed before the girl could be secured."
"Did he survive?" The Grimm which inquired, so far the Psycho Rangers had proven themselves to be an unforeseen but valuable asset to her plans, their aid in dealing with Mistrals Huntsmen population these last few months had certainly helped to prove their worth, so she'd admit, the possibility that she may have just lost such a valuable instrument of her will, was somewhat irksome.
"Barely." Psycho red replied, a slight edge to his tone. "I sent him to Psycho Gold for treatment, while Tyrian has locked himself away in his quarters."
"Disappointing." Salem replied, she would deal with Tyrians failures at a later date, for now, her gaze flicked back towards the leader of the Psycho rangers. "Have you anything else to report?"
"Yes." Psycho red replied "During the battle, Tyrian was able to string Qrow Branwen. I am unfamiliar with the Toxicity of his venom, but the mad fool believes he is not long for this world." It didn't make up for the fools cowardice, but Red would let it slide this time. After all, even the smallest hit to their enemies numbers and morale could help change the tide of the battle.
The Grimm queen cupped her chin in thought "Then the last eye has been blinded." Salem whispered to herself, at least something could be gained from her follower's failure, although it would seem both Cinder and the Crimson one would have to wait to indulge in their shared hatred for the Silver eyed girl.
In the grand scheme of things, however, it mattered little whether the girl was brought to her or died out in the wilds, even with their additional fighters, given their current course combined with the burden they would soon be afflicted with, their chances of reaching aid before her Grimm had the chance to finish what her followers had started, were slim to none.
"And Cinder." The Fall Maiden stilled, her lady glanced back over her shoulder towards her "Let's not have a repeat of today's performance, it would be a shame to learn that our effort up until now, have been wasted." Turning Salem glided across the training hall and out into the corridor the stone doors swiftly closing behind her leaving the room in silence.
"Well..."The Psycho Rangers shook his head in mirth, turning his head to Cinder he nudged his helmet towards the doors "Isn't she one for theatrics." Cinder stared back at him incredulously, looking back between Psycho Red and the Doors she half expected them to open revealing her displeased queen waiting on the other side.
"Relax" Psycho red waved off her concern, strolling around the edge of the combat area he glanced towards the few remaining Grimm mulling about the room, they too stared back at him and Cinder uncaring of their presence or unable to defy their master orders against harming them, in any case, his gaze turned back towards Cinder stepping into the arena he approached the Fall Maiden.
Cinder watched Pyscho Red closely, his helmet obscuring any clues towards his intent, though given his nature... she slipped her right hand behind her back, a small flame erupting within and taking the form of a dagger, the best she could do in her exhausted state. Pausing just in front of her, the Psycho ranger stared down at her in silence for a few seconds before shaking his head with a sigh.
"You really are a disappointment."
Cinders eyes widened for a second before narrowing her lips peeling back into a snarl. Never the less Psycho Red continued "All that talk about wanting to take that power as your own, about being feared by all those around you." The Psycho ranger knelt down in front of the Fall Maiden "And now that your name is known and feared across the kingdoms, now that you have the power, the strength that you've craved and fought for." He chuckled mockingly "You can barely even control it, let alone stand afterwards."
Cinder grit her teeth "Sh..t u..p" Her voice came out in a strangled gasp her throat burning with each syllable, though the pain was hardly a match for the indignation rising up inside her.
Psycho red titled his head to the side curiously. "And what will you do if I don't."
Her right arm thrust forward; the tip of her serrated dagger aimed at his throat. Psycho Red caught her wrist, the tip of her blade hovering a few centimeters away from his throat. "So... weak." The psycho ranger twisted her wrist forcing her onto her side, Cinder gasped as her arm was twisted further and further, to the point she feared he might just rip it off. "Then again you've always been that haven't you, that's why you sought her out, that's how she drew you in." With each word, his grip tightened around her arm, Cinder grit her teeth harder.
The dagger slipped from her grasp, Red catching it in his free hand. Releasing her arm, the Psycho ranger stepped back and away from Cinder before she could lash out at him again, pacing around her he twirled the glass blade in his hand "Or have you..." Red trailed off looking back over his shoulder at her. "Was that woman I met in Vale just an act, was she nothing more than a facade you use to hideaway-"
"B... qu...et" Cinder growled out
Psycho red cackled in response " And now, you don't even have that sharp tongue of yours to defend you" The Psycho ranger leaned over her. "My, my it seems the usefulness you have to your queen is running out by the day, unless you start giving results, she may decide to pass your burden on to another, someone more... worthy."
Flames sprouted to life around Cinders eye "The..e a...e...None!" Cinder thrust her left arm forward unleashing a stream of fire that washed over the Psycho ranger's form, Psycho red did not flinch nor cry out in pain or alarm, Cinder herself smirked at the sight of the one who dared belittle her be turned to ash, though as the flames died down that smile fell her remaining eye, widened in disbelief and horror. Psycho red stepped out of the flames, uninjured by her barrage.
Dusting a few flecks of ash off his shoulder, he stared down at her in silence a smirk hidden behind his helmet. "...There she is." He said taking a few steps towards the clearly alarmed maiden "There's that fire of yours, for a moment there I thought Fissure and Rose had managed to snuff it out, and yet it's still burning just as bright." Kneeling down in front of her his tone grew colder "So why do you let them talk down to you like you're nothing, you hold the power, the means for our victory, Watt's little machines and Tyrians fanaticism may have value to Salem, but without you, without a Maiden to hold a power they could never hope to possess... they are nothing." Cinder blinked in clear confusion, had he not been belittling her only a few moments ago and now, now he seemed to be singing her praise.
"Still doubting yourself?" Psycho red reached out towards her left arm; Cinder immediately withdrew the limb eyeing Psycho red warily. His eyes flashed a vibrant red, turning his once grasping hand over, he held it out towards her. "Let me see?" he asked in a far softer tone than she'd come to expect from the Psycho ranger.
Cinder glanced between his hand and the dark visors of the Psycho rangers helmet, while his features remained unreadable, given his nature she was all but certain she wouldn't be left alone until she gave him what he wanted, after a moment she laid her hand in his own.
He drew back the sleeve of her dress, revealing the clawed pitch-black Grimm appendage leading up just past her elbow, and by the look of it, the Grimm flesh seemed to be spreading claiming more and more of her human arm by the day. "If you were as pathetic as they thought you were." Psycho reds fingers trailed over the back of her hand before pushing the skeletal fingers open and interlocking his own with them. "This would have killed you long ago, but instead, you've managed to bend it to your own will." Letting it go Psycho Red rose back to his feet watching as Cinder slowly pulled her new hand back into her lap, rubbing its palm with her human one.
Cinder looked down at her hand before back up at Psycho red, the Psycho ranger stared down at her impassively "You'll do the same to the rest of this power in time, so try not to sell yourself too short." Without another word, the Psycho ranger turned and began making his way towards the exit, pulling the massive stone doors open "Oh yeah" Psycho red paused, glancing back at the Fall Maiden "When you get the chance Pinks been wanting to talk to you" Red tapped the left side of his helmet "Said she might have a way to help your... perception issues."
With that Red stepped through the door and into the hall, the massive double doors swinging shut behind him, leaving both a surprised and somewhat confused Cinder in his wake. The Fall Maiden glanced down at her hand examining it for a moment before looking back up at the door, though her free time around her queen's palace was limited she made a mental note to visit the Pink one when she had the chance.
That talk, if you could even call it that, had been both unnerving... and yet oddly reassuring.
/
Sighing to himself as the doors closed behind him Psycho red turned and continued on his way down the tower's dark hallways. Fall had potential, more than Salem realized, there was a ruthlessness to that woman he'd only ever seen in his brethren, the only drawback being what fed that drive, it was a hunger he'd seen in many of his past allies if one could even call them that, a hunger that if not tamed would only lead to her downfall, as it had to them in the past.
"Tch."
Psycho red stopped, glancing back over his shoulder his eyes flashed with red arc energy. His Psycho sword formed in his right hand, spinning on his heels he slashed towards a shadowed alcove across the opposite wall, a purple streak shot out of the shadows narrowly avoiding the blade that tore a large gash across the dark stone.
Twirling his sword behind his back a pair of twin daggers crashed against the blade, retaliating with a firm back kick into their abdomen Psycho red flipped back over his attacker, he delivered two swift slashes across their back before sweeping their legs out from under them. Landing on their back with a pained grunt Red kicked away the dagger in their right hand and stomped down on their chest, the tip of his Psycho sword pressing to their throat. "Hello, Purple." He greeted his fellow Psycho ranger. "Still playing your little games are we."
Psycho Purple sighed, letting her last Psycho dagger go, the twisted ebony black blade clattering to the ground, her arm flopping down beside her. "Still on the ball as usual I see, oh great leader of ours" she sniped back.
"Anything less would be a disgrace" He growled, the tip of his sword pressing down on Psycho purples throat, not enough to cause irreparable harm but enough to make his displeasure shown. "So, mind telling me what brought about this little, 'Episode' of yours?" Red arc energy flashed in his eyes.
"Do I need a reason to put in a little exercise every now and again?" She replied flippantly "The Huntsmen that Witch has been sending us after are no challenge." Not a lie but not the total truth either, the dozen or so souvenirs she had mounted on her wall were evidence of that. None of them had been enough to scratch that itch inside her, nor distracts her from the cancer that had taken route among their ranks.
"Don't think you can lie to me." Red growled, his sword trailing up to the edge of her cheek. "Spill your guts, or Crimson will be getting some company in the infirmary."
"Why so nervous Red... or maybe you've finally picked up on what everyone else is thinking." Psycho Purple eyes flashed mockingly, ever since Beacon Red had changed, he'd been distant from her and the others, spending more and more time around Fall, helping to train her... protecting her. "She was half dead when we found her, it would have been easy enough for one of us to claim that power, and yet you had Pink keep her alive until we got aboard the flagship..." Psycho Purple chuckled "Has the great Psycho red gone soft, over a human."
Gritting his teeth Red pulled his sword back and stabbed down through her armor and into Purples shoulder, the Psycho ranger gasped in agony her free hand grasping at the sword as red Pushed it deeper into her flesh. "What you fail to realize is that Fall possesses the one thing we all lack, what's needed for that power to bond with a host." Twisting his sword, a strangled shriek clawed its way past Purples lips. "So, until I say otherwise, she is an asset... you'll make sure the others know, won't you, little defect."
"Y..s" Psycho Purple growled
"What!" Psycho red growled, the tip of his sword punching out of purples back and into the stone floor below.
"Yes, Psycho Red." Red pulled his sword free, allowing his fellow Psycho ranger to pull herself up onto her knees, her hand clamped down over her injury. Raising his sword, Red glanced down at the blood coating the end of his blade, and sneered in disgust, out of all of them, Purple was the only one who could bleed, a flaw passed on from her doner.
Even in death, that Anodite half breed was still causing them no small amount of trouble, no matter how powerful the girl might have been... letting Pink take that sample had been a mistake.
/
Yang ran the spray-can over her prosthetic one last time, before peeling away tape and cardboard covering the lower half of her prosthetic, before stepping back to admire her handiwork. Her remaining gauntlet now sported a fresh coat of bright Yellow paint making it shine in the morning sun, while her prosthetics own was a mix of black and yellow.
Picking up the board beneath them Yang walked over to the toolshed, setting her prosthetic and gauntlet on a nearby workbench to dry. Moving over to her pride and joy Yang pulled the tarp off Bumblebee, running her hand over the seat she smiled down at her bike "Hey good looking." Settling down on her bike she brushed some of the dust away from the dials, reaching out with her good arm she gripped the throttle smirking down at her reflection in the speedometer. "Not too long now." she said
"She's just up ahead." Raising her head up Yang looked back out the door towards the house spotting a familiar blond shapeshifter making her way out towards the shed, scroll in hand, it didn't take much to figure out who was on the other end.
Their eyes met and Koan offered a silent wave, pausing just outside the door he turned back towards the house and Yang did her best to block out the conversation. "Yeah, it's not ideal but she'll understand. "He replied to the voice on the other side, glancing back over his shoulder towards her. "She's here now if you want to fill her in?"
A moment of silence passed as the person on the other end spoke, Koan nodding along with their words for a few minutes before grimacing. "I feel your pain, but wouldn't it be easier to get in contact with Glynda instead of trashing it all, she could probably use some of that gear in the long run." As the voice on the other end gave their reply, she watched Koan deflate slightly. "No, no I get it." He relented "And I'll pass it on, guess we'll see you in a few days."
Ending the call he pocketed his scroll, strolling inside Yang fixed him with a knowing look.
"Lilly?"
"Yeah" he sighed
A slender eyebrow rose in response to his exasperated tone "Something up?" Yang asked
"Let's just say dismantling an outpost is a lot more complicated than you'd think." He'd gone through it more than enough times during his times during some past assignments, it wasn't just about the cost but the security risk that came with it, after all, they couldn't exactly leave a bunch of state-of-the-art equipment or in this case, a miniature command center sitting in the basement of a random house for the next owner to find once Lilly left, if the data on her console fell into the wrong hands, they'd all be at risk. "You know, wipe the data drives, dismantle what you're bringing and destroying what you can't."
She could imagine, especially given the size of the place, it must have been a real pain. "Farewell cool spy cave." Yang lamented, bowing her head in a show of mock respect to the structure. "So... what was that about passing something on or whatever."
"Good news and some not so good news." Koan leaned back against the doorframe
Yang grimaced "Gimme the not so good first." Might as well rip the band aid off while she could.
"It looks like we're gonna be taking the long route to Haven." Koan replied noting the disappointed look on Yang's face. "Trust me teleporting there would have been easier" Koan began to explain. "But with the Psycho Rangers targeting us, I don't think anyone going to overlook a couple of beams of light blasting off from Vale and then landing outside Mistral's capital city."
"Yeah, that's not exactly subtle huh" Yang shrugged.
"Since when has that ever been our style." Koan shot back, Yang smirked back at him.
As unlikely as it might have been, she'd been holding out some small hope about the idea of being able to just teleport to Haven, hell her inner dork had practically keened at the idea, I mean who wouldn't want to live out a scene from right out of one of those old sci-fi movies. "Well, that sucks." Guess she'd have to wait a little longer to be able to see her sister again. "And the good news?" she asked leaning over Bumblebees handlebars ever so slightly.
"She pulled a few strings with a captain she's got to know, and he agreed to take us to the nearest coastal town to the capital as they can." Koan replied. With all the civilian bullheads in and out of the kingdom grounded, it was a generous offer given the travel restriction being enforced by the kingdoms. Which meant if you wanted to go anywhere, it was either by land or sea and that meant anyone with a boat and clearance to come and go as they pleased, could quite literally name their price.
Yang whistled "Whatever she did it must have been big."
Koan hummed in response "When I asked, she gave me this distant look and said it had something to do with squid." There was a story behind that somewhere, heck he could already picture the Yellow ranger going toe to toe with some giant squid Grimm in the middle of a storm.
"Sounds like one hell of a story." Yang replied
"Yeah, probably." Koan trailed off.
"What's up?" Yang asked.
"I've been meaning to ask you something." Koan stepped around her bike, leaning back against the workbench across from Yang. "Back before Qrow left, I heard you and him talking about your Mo- Birth Mother" Koan was quick to correct himself, calling that woman Yang's mom just didn't feel right to him, not after what he'd heard about her.
"Uh...huh?" Yang asked, raising an eyebrow at the shapeshifters question. Yeah, she and Uncle Qrow had talked about her mother a little before he left, something she'd admit to being a little miffed that he'd decided to listen in on, but... oh, she could see where this was going. "You're wondering if I'm thinking about going to see her while we're out there." Mistrals was notorious for its criminal underworld, the same could be said for the badlands outside its walls, it was no secret those roads were a popular spot for bandits.
"More what might happen if we run into her people, and if it came down to it would you be able to fight her." He'd never met Raven outside of what happened on the train, but given she'd showed up to save Yang when she'd been in trouble, there must have been at least something between them, if it was just the four of them running into one another, she might have been willing to look the other way and let them be on their way, if it was her people on the other hand, well, they'd have a fight ahead of them and Raven would be expected to join.
Yang's glare soften, so that's what he was worried about. The situation between the two of them was complicated, to say the least, so she couldn't exactly blame him for asking if she was tempted or not. She wasn't going to deny it, the chance to finally meet her birth mother face to face and get some much-deserved answers was all too tempting.
She didn't care if it turned out she was just a heartless bitch, who'd decided that killing and robbing people for a living was a better life than the one she could have had with her dad, in the end, she just wanted to know from her, at least then she could put that part of her past and Raven behind her. "You won't have to worry about me, Raven might be my Mother, but she's not my Mom." Yang replied that title belongs to the woman who'd raised her, who'd loved her like she was her own flesh and blood.
And after what she'd learned about her mother from uncle Qrow, more importantly, her Semblance, well... that made Ravens stance on their familial bond abundantly clear.
Realization flashed in her eyes.
Then again... maybe it wouldn't be all too bad checking in with old Mama bird, especially if it might knock a few weeks of their journey time, she'd just need to make a call first. Yang's eyes flicked down to Koan's scroll. "Gimmie your scroll for a minute, lover boy." She said holding her hand out to the blond shapeshifter
"Why?" Koan asked noting the glint in Yang's eyes.
"I need to make a call."
/
Checking over her equipment once more Weiss spared a glance towards the clock above her door, 11 o'clock by now her father's meeting with General ironwood would be in full swing, it was now or never, clicking the case shut Weiss picked up the case and a small bag of her own belongings off her bed, swinging the pack over her shoulder, she made her way towards her bedroom door.
Cracking her door open ever so slightly, Weiss glanced out into the open hall, edging it open further- wincing at the subtle creek that echoed through the manors empty halls - she peered around the edge of the frame towards the opposite end of the hallway.
The click of her heels resounding as she stepped out into the halls, Weiss turned and silently closed the door behind her 'No going back now' She thought to herself, turning to find her portly butler waiting for her, Weiss slapped her hand over her mouth smothering the startled gasp that shot past her lips. Klein smiled softly, pressing a finger to his lips he gestured for her to follow.
"This way" Moving in step behind Klein the two moved quickly down the hallway, the carpeted floor muffling their steps pushing open the double doors at the end of the hall, the two stepped into the upper levels of the entrance hall and hastily made their way down the stairs and across the entrance hall into one of the side hallways, Klein slowed to a halt, his scroll buzzing to life in his breast pocket.
The two stared down at the scroll in alarm, Weiss eyes widening further as Klein answered it " Master Whitley." He greeted her younger brother in his usually calm and respective tone. "I... um... yes, of course. I'll be just a moment." The call ended not a second later, clicking his scroll shut Klein turned his gaze back towards Weiss. "Head to the first-floor library. I'll meet you there." Tucking the scroll back into his pocket, Klein rushed back down the hall while Weiss continued on ahead.
Slowing her pace as she rounded the bend, Weiss eyes locked onto the door to her father's office an all too familiar pair of muffled voices echoing from the room on the other side. Hugging the wall, she crept down the hallway, drawing closer and closer to the door with each step, a sudden crash and yell courtesy of the cybernetic man on the other side of the door, sent the former Schnee heiress diving for cover behind a chair on the opposite wall.
"You need to control yourself!" The General seemed to yell.
"You're talking to me about control?" Her father snapped back. "Do you even hear what you're saying?" Peering over the arm of the chair Weiss slowly emerged from her hiding space. She knew it was a bad idea, that she should just keep moving, they were already on the clock and making Klein wait any longer could only lead to them being discovered, despite this, she still edged closer to the door, listening intently as her fathers and the Generals argument intensified.
"I am basing everything on my reports from your daughter." Ironwood replied, likely in an attempt to pacify her father.
"A daughter you stole." Once upon a time, Weiss might have assumed that meant her father actually cared about his children in some regards, though now that she knew better, his anger was more than likely related to the loss he'd suffered when Winter ran off to join the military... her father had never been able to let that go.
"Oh, we are not getting into that again." Ironwood groused
Weiss stepped closer pressing her ear to the door as she had all those weeks ago. "Oh, yes, we have far more pressing matters to discuss, starting with your apparent lunacy!"
/
"Jacques!" Ironwood shot back rising out of his chair, he towered over the head of the SDC, after everything he'd just told him, after everything they'd discovered about the goings-on in Mistral's underworld, why did he still insist on brushing it all aside, couldn't he see the danger their embargo was helping to hinder.
"Winter is one of my best." Ironwood reaffirmed "If she's telling me there's a threat in Mistral, then I am not going to take that news lightly. She's been there for weeks, people are mobilizing, more and more of the same illicit weapons have been showing up on the black market, weapons that might I remind you nearly cost both your daughters their lives." As much as he'd hoped it to be an over-exaggeration, those Lances Mr. Fissure had warned them about, were a far more deadly threat than he could have ever anticipated.
"And who's fault is that." Jacques cocked an eyebrow at the man. "Really, allowing more experimental Atlesian technology to fall into the hands of criminals... As if the incident with the paladins wasn't enough." Equipment specifically developed for the SDC's mining operations stolen right out from under their noses, only to be involved in an attack on their neighboring Kingdoms. The equipment itself had cost him a small fortune let alone dealing with the backlash related to the incident.
James sighed through his nose, doing his best to reel in his anger. "In any case, it's clear someone is about to make a move, and I don't trust Leo will be capable of handling the matter." The man had served well as Havens headmaster, though throughout that time he'd grown soft, content in his position despite the duty he held towards the Kingdoms.
"And you've only ever trusted yourself haven't you." Jacques replied
"With Good Reason!" James snapped back, the sound of his metallic fist impacting the oak table between the two of them barely muffling the startled gasp from the other side of the office door.
/
Weiss clamped her hand over her mouth, stepping back from the door she raised her hand a glyph flashing to life in her palm, she paused, waiting for the footsteps, the voices, any indication that she'd been discovered.
"If Oz had just listened to me from the start..." Ironwood lamented.
"You need to get a grip." Came her father reply, his voice far more measured than what it had been a few moments ago.
"That's exactly what I'm doing. Our people need protection." The general spoke, his tone eerily calm and yet resonating with an underlying authority, as if his next words would not be refused. "By this time next week, the Kingdom of Atlas will be officially closing its borders. No one in; no one out. Without the council's permission." Weiss's eyes widened, he wasn't serious was he, closing off the Kingdom from the rest of the world? It was no secret Mistrals underworld was notorious for its weapon trafficking and smuggling rings, but this kind of reaction seemed a little extreme, whatever her sister had found in Mistral... it must have been big.
The sound of heavy footsteps approaching the office door pulled Weiss out of her musing, snatching up her case and sword, Weiss rose to her feet and brought Myrtenaster to bear, forming a small black barrier glyph around the doorknob. Weiss turned on her heels and darted off down the hallway towards the library the sounds of outraged yelling and a resounding bang echoing down the hall behind her, as the two men inside tried to force the door open.
Weiss's heart pounded in her chest as she raced down the seemingly endless halls of Schnee manor before finally arriving at the door to the library, pushing the door open she slipped through and hastily closed it behind her, backing away into the center of the room Weiss glanced around in search of her family butler "Klein, Klein where are you?" She called out.
A subtle click echoed from behind her, the bookcase lining the wall of the library sliding open "Keep your voice down, I told you I'd be here." A red-eyed Klein greeted her, relief flooding Weiss being. Rushing forward she dropped her sword and suitcase as she went hugging the portly butler, Klein returned the hug his eyes shifting back to their usual light brown. "Are you sure Mistral is safe?" He asked
Weiss pulled back from the hug, offering the butler a reassuring smile "No, but it's where I'll find winter."
Klein smiled sadly at his young charge "I suppose she'd be the only family you have left after tonight."
Weiss smiled back resting her hand on his shoulder. "I'll always have you." She said.
"You most certainly will." Klein affirmed.
A resounding bang echoed down the hall, it seemed the general had finally managed to break free; it was now or never. Grabbing her weapon and bag Weiss stepped past her butler entering the passage behind the bookcase, glancing back at the entrance she found herself alone. "Klein, Klein come on!" She called out to him, Klein stepped into the doorway, glancing back towards the library door, his shoulders slumped.
"Klein?" She asked, the portly butler turned back to her, offering Weiss a reassuring smile.
"Hurry on your way, now Miss Schnee." Weiss's face fell slightly, her grip around Myrtenaster tightening, if she stayed she'd be caught and locked away for the rest of her life, if she left without him she'd be leaving Klein to face her father's wrath alone. Taking a tentative step back towards the entrance Klein furrowed his brow shaking his head lightly "Go and be safe." he said stepping back and closing the door behind him.
Weiss stood there in the dark passage for a moment, before a shuddering breath left her "Thank you, Klein, for everything." Turning on her heels Weiss hurried her way down the stairs, sheathing Myrtenaster across her hip, Weiss dug into her pockets Weiss hastily pulled out her scroll. Pulling up her contacts she dialed an all too familiar number, the seconds it took for the call to connect felt like an eternity.
"Weiss" Cassie greeted
"Casandra I'm going to need to cash in that favor now."
/
Blake stared out the window of her father's study, nursing the tea her mother had brought her earlier that day, the gentle sweetness of the drink helping to calm her nerves if only slightly, her parents were going over the scroll they'd recovered from the night before, leaving her to watch over her friend as he recovered.
"Ilia" Blake whispered gripping the edge of her cup tightly, not just in anger, but disappointment.
"Nnghh" Blake's ears perked up at the noise, setting her cup aside Blake stepped away from the window and jogged across the office toward the sofa where Sun resided, his shirt discarded revealing the bloodied dressings over where Ilia had struck him... An injury he never would have received had she put her foot down and sent him on his way.
The blond Monkey Faunus shifted slightly his eyes blinked open, his head tilted towards her. "Blake?" He asked.
Glancing away she gripped her arm nervously "H-How are you feeling." She asked
"Sore." Sun chuckled lightly, pushing himself up with a small hiss, Blake instinctively reached out for him, but quickly pulled back her hand. Sun's smile fell "Hey, don't worry about me." He said. "I'll be back on my feet in no time."
Blake nodded along slowly "Good" she replied, stepping closer she reaches into her coat pocket and pulled out a ticket for the ship docked down in the bay, holding it out to the monkey Faunus.
Taking it into his hands' Sun stared down at the ticket strangely "What's this?" He asked
"A ticket back to Anima" Blake explained, her amber orbs filled with resolve. "The ship leaves in a few hours and you're going to be on it." She'd made her mind up on this, she wouldn't let anyone else get themselves killed because of her.
"What?" Sun snapped back, tossing the ticket down on the table in front of him. "No way."
"Yes, way." Blake replied, snatching the ticket off the table and shoving it back into his chest. "You're heading back to Haven, and you're staying there, no if's or buts about it."
Sun stared up at Blake, studying her expression for a few moments, before glancing down at the ticket in his hands... and started ripping it in half. "Sun!" Blake howled in a mix of alarm and indignation, lunging forward she hastily snatched the ticket from his hands before he could do any more damage. "What is wrong with you!?" She demanded.
"Nothing" Sun replied, snatching his shirt off the back of the sofa and throwing it over his shoulders "And no I'm not going anywhere, not with those White Fang creeps coming after you."
"Sun" Blake growled, her hands tightening into fists, crushing the remnants of the ticket. Sun stood firm uncaring of her anger and silently bracing himself for another one of her slaps, he knew Blake was just trying to do the right thing, or at least what seemed like the right thing to her, but he wasn't about to leave her to deal with all this alone. "...You idiot" she shuddered, tears welling up in her eyes. "Why won't you just do what you're told."
"Blake..." he reached out for her.
"Shut up, Just shut up!" she shouted, pulling away from him. "Do you think I wanted any of this? Do you think I like the fact I left the others behind because I don't, I think about them and what I did to them every day." Drawing them into her misguided crusade against the White Fang, costing Yang her arm and then abandoning them when they very well might have needed her most." And I pray that they never forgive me for it, that they'll hate me and stay away for the rest of their lives." She looked back at him. "And you should do the same."
"You don't mean that." He argued back
"Yes. I. Do!" Sun flinched back from her, gritting her teeth Blake fell back onto the sofa across from him, her head in her hands. "You all think you can help me, but you can't. You don't know what the Fang was like before I left, Ilia's not even the worst of them! "Blake pinched her brow. "So, I'm not going to let it happen again, understand. I'm not going to let someone else I care about die because of my mistakes, so when I get you another you'll take the damn ticket and go!"
"So that's it?" Sun asked, "One thing goes wrong and suddenly you're the only one who should do anything about it, while everyone else packs up and goes." The monkey Faunus sighed, dragging his hand down his face "You know that's pretty selfish if you ask me, so what if Chameleon girl got me pretty good last night...I'd do it again if it meant keeping you safe."
Sun watched her eyes widen in disbelief "I know Yang would too... and so would Ale-"
"Don't!" Blake cut Sun off, her conscious was weighed down enough as it is, she didn't need any more reminders of her failure that night adding to it. "Don't you dare bring him into this."
Sun grit his teeth, she could hate him for this all she'd like, but he still needed to make his point. "He made a choice Blake, the same thing I'm doing now and the same thing your teammates would do If they were here as well, no matter what you say." Blake shot to her feet; Sun followed her up meeting her glare head-on. "So, stop pushing us away! That hurts more than anything the bad guys could ever do to us."
"I said shut up!" She snapped lashing out at Sun once more, this time the Monkey Faunus caught her wrist, Blake tugged her arm back, but Suns grip held firm "Let go!"
"No!" He shot back, grabbing her shoulders with her free arm and shook her lightly. "I know you think you're doing the right thing but if you keep pushing everyone away, the only person who's going to end up getting hurt is you." Sun tightened his grip on the struggling cat Faunus "Why can't you see that, why won't you let anyone help you!?"
"Because it's all my fault!" Blakes grit her teeth glaring up at Sun, hot tears streaming down her cheeks "It's all my fault..., Yang, Alex...he, he died because of me!" She wheezed, her head fell, ears flattening against her scalp.
SLAM!
The screen door, the very same one that Sun had crashed through the night prior, came tumbling down once more. A heavy silence fell over their room as Kali Belladonna stared up at her clearly distraught daughter, her husband frozen in a similar state, both having been drawn in by the heated arguing between the teenagers, and now both found themselves frozen in place not only by the discovery of their eavesdropping... but the sheer pain and anguish in their daughter's voice.
Taking her chance Blake wrenched her arm free from Sun's grip and bolted off towards the door across her father's office, ignoring the desperate calls from Sun and her parents she ran, and ran as fast as her legs could carry her through the winding halls of the manor and up a flight of stairs to the third floor, whether by chance or instinct Blake found herself stood in front of the door to her old room.
Pushing it open Blake slammed the door shut behind her, panting for breath Blakes hands tightened into fists her body feeling heavy, sliding down the door onto her butt Blake pulled her legs into her chest resting her head against her knees. Her tears flowed freely, her heart aching in her chest 'It's what you deserve' A voice whispered in the back of her mind, and Blake could find no reason to disagree every bad thing that had happened that day had been because of her.
All because she'd let her fear take hold, and from there everything had just fallen apart.
If she'd just stuck to the plan, then maybe Yang would still have her arm, maybe she'd still be with her team... maybe Alex would still be alive. Instead, here she was slap bang in the middle of yet another White Fang plot during what was meant to be a final farewell to her family before she disappeared once more and when she did she'd make sure she was never seen again.
A small series of knocks resounded across the door behind her, Blakes ears perking up in response.
"Blake?" Her mother called out to her from the other side, the handle rattled for a moment the lock barring her entry "Sweetheart... open the door, please." Blake shrunk in on herself, how... how could she have been so stupid, thinking she could just go back home, and nothing would happen, it was a mistake it was all one big mistake.
After a moment she heard her mother sigh and step away from the door, her father calling out to her, a few muffled words passed between them before her fathers moved to take her place at the door "Leave me alone" She called back before he could speak "Please, just... just leave me alone." Blake whispered burying her head into her knees, doing her best to block out her Father and Sun's voices, hoping they'd eventually get the message and leave, she'd face them and undoubtedly mountain of questions her parents would have for her in her own time, but right now she just needed to-
A hand slapped against her bedroom window.
Blakes's head snapped up eyes widening at the sight before her, her mother stared back at her from the other side of the glass, balanced on the ledge outside fiddling with the window until finally, a subtle click echoed through the room, pushing open the window Kali climbed through, sliding it shut behind her she turned to face her somewhat astounded daughter.
"M-mom?" She asked sat up straight and still not quite believing what she'd just seen.
"Blake" She replied, dusting off the muck and grime that clung to her dress
"Kali!?" Her father called out from the other side of the door.
"Everything's fine dear." Kali called back to her husband. "Would you mind giving us a moment." Their little girl was in a delicate state right now, and crowding her, as they likely would have had her Husband and Sun joined them, may only worsen the situation. A few muffled words passing between the two men on the other side before her husband's heavy footsteps accompanied by a lighter pair began making the way back down the hall. Kali sighed, turning her gaze back to her daughter she felt her heartache. "Blake" she tried again
"No." Blake shook her head, looking up at her beggingly "Mom, please I don't... I don't want to do this right now, please..." Blake stood up and moved to her old bed "Please just go." She watched her mother shake her head, making her grip the bed sheets tightly. "Please... I'll come down soon, I just..."
"I'm not going anywhere." Kali interrupted, slowly edging her way across the room towards her daughter the loss and pain still shining brightly in her daughter's eyes as she looked back up at her, tearing at her heart. Sitting down beside her, she slowly began snaking her arm around Blake's waist, ignoring how she tried to pull away Kali pressed on and slowly pulled her daughter into a gentle embrace. "What happened to your friends, to Alex, wasn't your fault."
Blake stiffened in her arms. "You... you know?" Her daughter asked, her voice sounding so small, so broken. Cupping her cheek Kali leaned in brushing her forehead against her daughters offering what comfort she could to her little girl in her time of need.
"Your friend mentioned him a few times last night... he sounded wonderful." Kali replied stroking her daughter's hair softly, and if the somewhat envious tone she'd heard in the blond Faunus voice at the time was anything to go by, it was all too clear what this boy was to her daughter and she to him, which at the time had begged the question.
Why was her little girl here alone, why was Sun travelling with her and not this Alex boy?
And now she knew the truth, and with it, the sheer magnitude of what her daughter had lost during the Fall of Beacon. "Blake, I'm so, so sorry." Kali whispered, tightening her hold around the grieving girl in her arms "I can't imagine what you've been going through all this time." Pulling away she looked down at her daughter, all the anger, the pain, the self-loathing she'd seen from her daughter over the last few weeks all made sense now. With all of it stemming from an unseen wound deep inside her that had been growing steadily since the fall of Beacon, with the incident last night being the straw that broke the camel's back, unleashing this storm of pain and turmoil.
"Why didn't you tell us what happened?" Kali found herself asking. If they'd known she and Ghira could have been there for her, they could have supported her, helped her through this horrible chapter of her life.
"I..." Blake trailed off.
She didn't want them to worry.
She didn't want to make her return any more emotional than it already was.
She didn't want to bring any more of her problems back to the people who'd done so much for her.
In the end, she had no answer, pushing her head into the crook of her mother neck she returned the embrace in full "I'm sorry." She whispered fresh tears brimming at the edges of her eyes "I just... I thought…I... I don't know what I thought, I just..."She rambled on her voice growing more broken by the moment.
"Shhh." Kali cooed, wiping some of her own tears off on the back of her hand "It's okay, it's going to be okay." Kali slowly loosened her grip allowing her daughter to sit up, she winced slightly at the mess her daughter had made of her makeup, her eyeliner having left a pair of ugly black smears down her cheeks, rolling up her sleeve she cupped her daughter's cheek and reached out with her free hand rubbing the mess off her daughters face, Blake had neither the energy nor the stubbornness to resist her.
"I miss him, so much." She whispered; her voice sounded so empty even to her. "I've cried, so, so many times. "Blake reached up clutching at her chest "But it still hurts...why?" Blake looked up at her mother, puffy topaz eyes staring beggingly into her own. "Mom, why does it have to feel like this, why does it have to hurt so much?"
"I..." Kali stared back at her daughter sadly "I think it's meant to be a good thing...the pain, it's there to show you that, what the two of you had, what you felt for one another was real. "Kali rubbed her own eyes wiping some of her own tears, this shouldn't be happening, her little girl shouldn't have had to go through all this, not now, not when she was still so young.
And yet here they were "I wish you could have met him, you would have loved him" Blake whispered a small smile crossing her lips "And dad, well..." She trailed off, she and her mother sharing a small fit of giggles.
"So long as he made you happy I don't think Ghira, or I would have had any issues." Kali replied, Blake, humming along with her mother's words leaned her head down onto her shoulder. After a few minutes of silence, Kali sighed, it wasn't the right time and she knew it but as much as she hated to admit it, what she and Ghira found on that scroll Blake brought back with her... it couldn't wait.
"Blake... your father and I found something on that scroll you brought back last night." Kali began, watching her daughter sit up and rub her sleeve over her eyes once more, Blake stared down at the carpeted floor of her room. "You were right to be suspicious about them, we were going to go over everything with you and Sun this morning..." Kali bit her lip "But you don't have to be there if you don't want to be."
Closing her eyes Blake let out a long breath through her nose. "I'll... I'll be there I just, Mom, can you give me a minute?" She asked
Kali stared back at her daughter, searching for any signs leaving her daughter alone would have been the worst idea right now, after a short staring contest between mother and daughter, Kali relented nodded back to her daughter "Just please, don't take too long." She'd need to have a word with Ghira and Sun, Blake seemed rather fragile right now, and as much as she knew the two of them worried for her, pressing her on the issue might only make things worse.
Standing up from the bed, Kali made her way over to the bedroom door, unlocking it she swiftly pocketed the key before opening the door out into the hall, pausing in the doorway she glanced back towards Blake, before stepping out into the hallway the door clicking shut behind her. Sighing to herself Blake rubbed at her eyes once more whipping away the remnants of the tears and makeup staining her cheeks, wincing at the growing black mess on her sleeve Blake pulled off her coat and tossed it back onto the bed.
As it landed Alex's plumbers badge slid out of the breast pocket and onto the sheets, the light of the morning sun glinting off the red lens at its center. Reaching across her bed she pulled the device into her lap, brushing her thumb along the edge of the badge 'How did you do it?' she thought to herself. 'How did you manage to keep pushing on like that.'
The thing that stood out about Alex the most back when they'd first met, was how heavy his eyes had been, she'd seen that look in her father's eyes a lot when she was younger, as well as a few of the older White Fang members she'd served beside. Yet looking back on it now they couldn't help but seem tame in comparison to his own, they were the eyes of someone who'd not only seen conflict and death first hand but taken part in it.
It had left a burning question inside of her, and as the weeks went by and the secrets of Alex's past and identity slowly became known to her and the rest of her team the pieces slowly began to fall into place, and for the first time in so long, she'd felt herself in awe of this person, and the strength of spirit they'd demonstrated, the kind she'd only ever read about in those old stories found in her families library.
Despite all the pain and loss, he'd endured over the years, he found a way to keep moving forward, to push past the darkness. And for a time, he'd helped her do the same, she still remembered the way he looked at her back at the cafe in vale when she'd laid her past bare to him, she'd been prepared for his disgust, his anger instead he'd shown nothing but acceptance and understanding.
At the time he'd called her brave... and then in what turned out to be their final moments together, strong. Dragging her hand down her face, Blake tilted her head up at her bedroom door, her family and Sun no doubt waiting for her arrival. Alex had trusted her to do the right thing, and she'd failed, pushing everyone away and running when the people closest to her needed her, just like she'd tried to do with Sun and her parents.
But maybe... maybe there was still time to prove he hadn't been wrong, that Alex's faith in her hadn't been misplaced.
Standing up from her bed, she spared one final glance at Alex's badge before pocketing the device. Making her way to the bedroom door, she paused as her hand brushed over the doorknob, taking a deep calming breath she pulled open the door and stepped out into the hallway, she'd kept the others waiting long enough.
/
Camped out on a rooftop outside the Belladonna manor grounds, Kelly watched Blake through her scope as the elder cat Faunus passed through the manor upper hallway making a b-line towards the stairs, judging by the lack of her weapon and coat, along with what she'd heard from the bugs she'd planted around the house during her first week, she could safely say things were moving ahead as history intended.
A fat lot of good that was doing for her conscious right now, in all her life she'd never heard her sound so desperate, so heartbroken as she did just now, it was enough to make her want to rush in there, give her Mom the biggest hug she could muster and tell her everything was going to be okay, that Dad was okay that he was coming back for her…except she couldn't, not yet at least.
Kelly sighed, shifting her gaze down to the level below, she zoomed in on the corner office and tapped a quick command into her bracers controls, the telescopic lens on her helmet narrowed and her visor shifted to a thermal image of the house. Her eyes focusing on the three signatures inside, the largest of them pacing back and forth across the room, typing a quick command into her bracer Kelly tuned into the bug she'd planted inside, in preparation for the meeting to come.
"-hy didn't she tell us what happened!?" Her Grandfather's voice came through his tone a mix of anger and distress, the former of which was quickly directed towards the young man across from him. "Why didn't you say anything!?" he demanded throwing an arm out towards the Monkey Faunus sat across from him.
"It's not exactly something you just... you know, bring up in conversation." Sun tried to defend himself, given the low growl that rumbled from the elder Faunus that seemed to have been the wrong answer.
"Ghira it wasn't for him to say!" Her Grandmother was quick to move to Suns defense.
"I... I know." He replied in a much softer tone as he rubbed his brow. "I just wish she'd said something sooner... we should have seen the signs sooner." Kelly frowned slightly, adjusting her grip on her rifle she tried her best to squash down the feeling of guilt burning up inside her, what she would kill for a distraction ri-
Her ears perked up slightly as her commlink came to life, clamping her hand over the device before it could give away her position to any passers-by below, she hastily typed away at her bracer accepting the incoming call, she hoped whatever it was, was worth it. "Yeah?" She hissed into the device
"I've found something you might find interesting." Whiger replied, opening her mouth to respond Kelly was silenced by what sounded like a pained groan in the background, one that was quickly silenced by a heavy smack. "As I was saying-"
"What did you do?" She demanded, she'd asked him to do one thing, gather information subtly, you know listen in on peoples conversations around the inn's and bars, keep an eye out for anymore White Fang members in masks out on the streets at night and maybe, maybe, see if he could tail them back to one of their safe houses, while she kept an eye on the Albian brothers activities and the situation around her families manor.
"The group I found last night, I followed them back to their hole." Whiger replied evenly the sound of rustling papers accompanying his voice. "The dockmaster was among them, the manifest he was carrying is... concerning"
"How?" she asked
"Recent shipments show a rather large number of weapons and explosives have been coming into the island." Whiger huffed, papers rustling once more. "As well as a number of medical supplies and food being shipped out to Mistral... I doubt we'll find anything at the ports" Kelly hummed in agreement, it was more than likely any electronic evidence about those shipments had already been scrubbed from the system, so she doubted there'd be any use taking a look at the terminals down at the shipyard, still, at least the whole thing wasn't a total bust.
"Good work, grab what you can and head back... just, make sure to trash the place a little more before you leave." If they were lucky maybe the Fang and Menagerie guard would chalk up the attack as a home invasion, if so she and Whiger would have to lay low for a while, if not, well... there wasn't anything she could do about that now. "I'll finish up here and meet you back at the house."
She'd like to take a closer look at that manifest and whatever else Whiger managed to bring back with him, and she had a feeling maybe her family would too, she might not be able to interfere in things more directly just yet, but that didn't mean she couldn't give a little nudge here and there to help tip the scales in their favor.
AN: Grief is a powerful thing, it can make you feel alone, trapped, make you believe no one else around you can understand what you're going through, especially if it's someone close to you like a friend or family member, which is why when faced with grief sometimes the best thing is what seems like the hardest decision.
To let those people in, because if you try to bottle all that pain up or hide it behind a fake smile, you're not only hurting yourself but the people closest to you, who only want to help you, a lesson our little Blake here seems to be starting to understand.