The sun beat down on her as she leaned against the railing, the air thick with salt. Mist sprayed as waves lapped at the ships sides. Blake allowed herself to smile, inhaling deeply, savoring the smell of the sea. Below deck was cramped and full of people. The decks were a little less crowded. And a lot less smelly. She could hear children laughing as they played on the deck, hearty laughter as people fished off the side of the ship. Her ear twitched, and her hand went to her pistol.
"Traveling alone?" A voice asked. She turned to the voice, lifting her pistol from its holster. It was the ship's captain, his hands resting behind his back, his wolf's tail swishing gently behind him. She nodded. He chortled as he glanced down at the gun in her hand. "Just came to talk. No need for that." She narrowed her eyes at him, and holstered her gun.
"Why do you want to talk to me?" she asked. The captain shrugged, and went over to the railing, leaning against it.
"A lot of refugees on this boat. Most of em traveling alone to get back home to some family members. But you? You don't have that kinda look in your eye." He motioned to her weapons. "You a Hunter? A mercenary? Hired to protect some people during their voyage?" he asked. Blake's gaze fell, and she rubbed the white blue ribbon wrapped around her arm. She sighed.
"I'm nobody important. I'm just trying to get away." The captain said nothing, staring out at the sea. Blake heard a group of children run past them, laughing as they played. The captain stepped away from the railing, and nodded at her.
"I'll leave you be, dear. Enjoy the rest of the voyage." He left, and Blake went back to the railing. She looked at the blue ribbon resting above her ribbon sleeve, and smiled gently.
Menagerie wasn't the only home she wanted to go back to.
Yang stood quivering in the snow, tears dripping down her face. She wiped at them with her hand, feeling the fire in her veins start to die.
Weiss' ice blue eyes, her smile, their held hands in the medical tent.
weiss never left you
She closed her eyes, and sighed. She went to the stump and scooping up the logs, resting them in the crook of her arm.
She trudged through the snow, the winds picking up as she walked, her jacket whipping around her, the cold cutting through her shirt. She stopped in front of the door, and reached for it, struggling to keep all of the logs in place. She grabbed the handle, the logs spilling out. She groaned in annoyance, and forced the door open. Snow started to blow into the living room as she bent down and picked up the logs, awkwardly tucking them under her arm. She kicked the door shut as she entered.
She went over to the empty fire place, dumping the logs into the empty basket next to it. Dad wanted those logs, he can fucking light it himself.
She sat down on the couch. She looked over at the magazines on the coffee stand, and then over at the remote on the cushion next to her. She reached for the remote, and turned to the tv as she turned it on.
A recording of Glynda helping in the reconstruction of Vale City played in the corner as a reporter spoke.
"Despite the best efforts of the Vale Hunters, the situation at Beacon Academy has not improved. Headmistress Goodwitch has-"
Click!
"The backup towers scattered throughout the Kingdom have helped maintain communication within the Kingdom. However, with the loss of the CCT, communication with the outside world is-"
Click!
"The Vale Council has voted to ban any and all air traffic that does not directly involve evacuation, citing the lack of mass communication as an airway hazard. The Council has also voted to extend the length of the Faunus curfew, due to the-"
Click!
"Rumors continue to circulate as to who exactly was responsible for the attack during the Vytal Festival. However, there has been official confirmation that Adam Taurus, a high ranking member of the White Fang and leader of its Vale branch, was sited at Beacon Academy." Yang's mouth parted, her eyes narrowing as she looked at the screen. A photo of a man in black with red hair and horns appeared in the corner. Adam? Blake's Adam? "Taurus and a woman only known as The Belladonna are among the most wanted criminals in Vale for their extensive acts of terrorism not only in Vale but throughout Remnant. Belladonna was not seen during the attack but investigators believe that she and Taurus are the most likely suspects for the Fall of Beacon."
Yang snarled and turned the tv off, tossing the remote aside. That had to be bullshit. Blake had left the White Fang, she was with Weiss the entire time before she…. She never would have helped them.
right?
She leaned her head back as she heard the door open, her father walking in, the mail in his hands. A large package was tucked under his arm. He smiled at her, closing the door.
"Guess what came in," he said.
"What?" she asked. Her father walked around the couch, setting the package on the coffee table in front of her. He beamed as she looked at it. She eyed it for a moment before undoing the wrapping around it. A white box with the Atlas emblem sat in the wrapping. She opened it up, her eyes widening.
"It's from General Ironwood. I didn't think he would be able to get it over here so fast, it's only been three months." Her father said. Her hand went to her stump, the end of it itching, a phantom pain shooting through her stump.
A robotic arm sat in the box, gleaming silver and white. A note in neat hand writing sat above it.
For your valor on the battlefields during the Battle of Beacon. I gift this to you. May it serve you well.
She looked up at her father. He smiled at her.
"Well? Do you like it? Are you gonna try it on?"
"It's uh… it's great. But…" she trailed off, looking away as her father's smile fell. "I'm not feeling too hot right now so… maybe later?" Her father rubbed the back of her head.
"I guess." He looked over at the empty fire place. "Could you get the fire started? I'll make us some lunch." She sighed, and nodded. Her father left the room. She heard cabinets opening and closing, glasses clinking onto the counter. She sighed again, closing the lid of the box and going to the fireplace. She tossed a few of the logs in, along with some tinder. She pulled the box of matches down, struggling to open it. She managed to open it, and set it on the ground, pulling a match out. She closed the box, and struck the match. She held it out to the logs and tinder, watching the flames start to consume them. The logs started to crackle as the fire spread. Yang blinked.
The stalls around her were on fire, crackling as they burned, the smell of Violet's corpse lingering in the air. Yang got to her knees, wiping the puke off her lips. Her eyes widened as she heard the Ursa's growl.
Taiyang's head jerked up, dropping the cup in his hand as Yang's scream rang through the house. He dashed through the kitchen door, freezing at what he saw.
Yang was on the ground, thrashing, swatting at the empty space beneath her stump, screaming, her eyes darting around. Yang stopped screaming, her body locking up, her eyes glazing over as she stared up at the ceiling. Tears welled in her eyes, and slid down her face as she blinked. Her body trembled, and she rested her hand against her face as she started to sob.
Tai lingered in the doorway, opening and closing his hand as he watched his daughter curl into a ball, sobs rocking her body. He backed back into the kitchen, his head hung low as he listened to her cry.
Blake walked onto the deck of the ship, stretching her back as she left the lower levels. The sun was beginning to set, the waters a golden orange as they caught the sun. She saw a group of fishermen shouting at each other as they pulled on a net. She walked over to the railing, drinking in the scent of salt and fish. She watched the sun set, resting a hand on the blue ribbon. She heard footsteps and looked behind her to see a couple walk past. She looked back at the sun, rubbing the ribbon. She smiled at the thought of Her; her beautiful icy eyes, her ivory hair, her warm smile. The scars littering her pale body that she wanted to kiss and to hold her against her chest and tell her everything will be okay.
"Watch what you're doing ya dumb bastard!" Blake looked over at the fishermen as they tugged the net onto the deck, large black fish thrashing in the nets. Blake squinted; the larger fish had white bones covering them, their eyes a piercing orange. Grimm.
"Son of a bitch, is that all there is in these waters? This is what, the tenth one we've caught?" One of the fishermen nodded while another counted on his hands, looking up as he counted. One of the fishermen went over to the thrashing Grimm, pulling out a knife. He grabbed a hold of its head, and raked the knife against its throat.
The Grimm's thrashing grew weaker until it stopped, its dark blood spreading across the deck as smoke began to rise from its body.
Blake's nose wrinkled in disgust and she turned away, leaving. She walked along the side of the ship, thankful for the solitude. Outside of the fishermen, sailors, and a few stragglers, almost everyone was below deck.
She walked past a lifeboat, her ears perking up as she heard a grunt come from within it. She walked back to it, narrowing her eyes as she stared at it. She gripped her pistol as she saw it sway a bit, hearing another sound; a male voice. She pulled her pistol out, and grabbed a hold of the tarp covering it. She yanked back, and yelped as she was knocked back, two figures leaping out of the boat.
"I have a stick and I'm not afraid to use it!" Blake blinked, her eyes widening in shock.
"Sun? Neptune?" Neptune blinked in surprise, shoving past Sun as he continued to swing at nothing with his staff.
"Blake? You're alive?" Sun stopped, seeming to realize he wasn't being attacked. Sun's eyes widened and he smiled at her, putting his staff away.
"Holy shit! Blake!" She holstered her pistol, frowning as they embraced her.
"Why are you two here?" she asked.
"What's it look like we're doing?" Sun said.
"We stowed away on this ship. Can't really afford inter-Kingdom travel fees." Neptune added.
Blake opened her mouth to respond-
-and her mouth slammed shut as the ship lurched to a halt. They fell to the deck, Sun grunting. Blake got up, going to the railing, looking over the edge. She saw a flash of black under the waves.
"We hit a reef?"
Blake's ears pinned to her head as a haunting wail echoed around them. The ship rocked again, a second wail answering the first.
"Blake, what's happening?"
Blake yelled as she was thrown back, the ship lurching to the side, water being thrown onto the deck. She heard screaming from the lower levels, the fishermen screaming from the prow. She staggered to her feet, grunting as the ship rocked violently. The ship lights began to glow a dull red, she could hear the sailors sprinting throughout the ship, shouting at each other.
Blake pinned herself to the wall, Sun and Neptune scrambling to their feet as the fishermen ran past them.
"Abaia! It's an Aba-" The ship lurched, and one of the fisherman screamed as he was thrown overboard. Blake ran to the railing, gasping in shock.
She saw a flash of black in the water, and bone white teeth as it closed around the fisherman, the water turning crimson. Blake jumped back from the railing as the ship lurched again, mist spraying onto her as water flooded the deck. She ran to the ships prow, shoving past sailors, her eyes widening as a giant black eel rose from the water, water running down its bone armor. It stared at her, and Blake spun around as she heard another rise from the waters, blood staining its teeth. She drew her sword, hearing Sun and Neptune running up behind her.
An alarm started to blare, the red lights flashing. The Abaia's sunk back down into the water, the ship rocking.
"Uh, Blake." She looked back at Neptune as he unslung his assault rifle. Sun drew his staff. "How the hell are we supposed to fight those things!"
The ship lurched as one of the Abaia rose up, its maw opening wide. Blake leapt out of the way as a torrent of water shot from its mouth. She ran towards the railing, gritting her teeth as she heard Neptune firing at it, and Sun yelping as he dodged the torrent.
She leapt from the railing with a yell, slamming her blade into its slimy hide. The Abaia shrieked, water spraying into the air as its torrent fizzled off. Blake sucked in a lungful of air as the eel sunk back into the water.
Salt stung her eyes as the eel swam, the waters tugging at her as it slithered through the water. She could see the other Abaia as a black blob off to the side. The eel broke the surface, and she gasped for air before snarling. She grabbed her pistol, firing at the eel's face. The eel shrieked, thrashing about, black blood raining down on her. She heard the other eel break the surface, and she yanked her sword free, backflipping off.
She thrusted down, hearing the second Abaia scream as her sword lodged itself in its eye. She grit her teeth, struggling to aim as the eel thrashed beneath her. She yelped as her sword was knocked free, blood soaking the blade. The eel shot up, and tossed its head to the side; she screamed as she was thrown into the air.
The first eel lunged up, she spun to the side, leaving a shadow clone, hearing its jaws snap shut. She swung her sword, the Abaia screaming, blood gushing out as she sliced open its hide. She gasped, throwing a clone in front of her as the second eel lunged at her. It's jaws slammed shut in front of her, her clone dissipating into a black mist. She landed on the eels teeth and leapt forward, tumbling as she landed on the ships deck. She got to her feet, breathing hard as the eels turned to her.
The eel she had sliced open opened its mouth, water dripping from its maw. She snarled at it, raising her pistol. It's head exploded, black blood spraying into the air, and raining down. Blake looked back, a large cannon had risen up from the ships deck. Sun gave her a thumbs up before ejecting the spent shell. She turned back to the remaining eel, hearing Neptune strain as he lugged the rounds over to Sun. The Abaia sank into the waves, the other eel's corpse hitting the side of the ship before slumping into the water, water spraying and the ship rocking as it crashed into the waves.
"Blake!" She looked back over at Sun. He pointed at the cannon. "This thing can't move! Try and get it where I can shoot it!" She nodded.
Blake spun around, hearing the Albaia rise from the waters at the rear of the ship. It reared back, water shooting from its mouth, boards spraying into the air as the deck was torn apart. Blake ran down the ship, firing at it's face. Her eyes shot wide as the torrent of water shot at her.
Blake pinned herself to the ships side, splinters and water spraying onto her. The torrent ended, and the Abaia sank into the water. Blake stepped away from the wall, her clothes soaked and heavy.
The Abaia shot out of the water in front of her, lunging, its blood stained jaws snapping at her. Blake leapt out of the way, throwing a clone behind her. She spun around, jumping onto the railing, and pouncing from it with a yell. She grabbed a hold of the eel's fin, struggling to keep her grip as she dangled in the air, the hide slippery. The eel screeched, starting to thrash. She grit her teeth, stabbing her sword into its back. She glanced over, Neptune was firing at the eel with his rifle. The eel whirled towards him, opening its mouth. Blake scowled and leapt up, slamming her sword into its back, grabbing its fin. The eel screamed, blood raining from its face as Neptune shot at it. Blake climbed, water spraying onto her, blood raining down.
She reached the top of its head, and pulled her arm back before thrusting down with a scream. She buried her sword up to the hilt, the eel's screams being cut short. It's body went limp, smoke rising from its corpse. Blake tried to yank her sword free, grunting as the blade snapped. She grimaced and leapt from the Abaia's head, rolling onto the deck as the eel slid into the depths.
She staggered to her feet, her clothes a heavy weight, salt stinging her eyes, her ears clogged with water. She gave an annoyed look at the handle of her katana before tossing it aside. Sun and Neptune ran up to her, beaming, and smiling. Sun threw his hand up.
"Up top!" he said. Blake rolled her eyes before high fiving him. Neptune raised his hand and she did the same for him.
Neptune crossed his arms as Sun finished talking to the refugees who wanted to thank them. Blake stood next to him, leaning against the railing, staring off into the distance. The water's were black, the moon a white light on the waves. Sun appeared next to him, hopping onto the railing and sitting down on it.
"Man, you'd think they'd never seen a fight before," he said. Blake sighed. She looked over at them.
"Why are you two here? Did you follow me?" Neptune shook his head.
"We thought you were dead, Blake. No one's seen you since the night Beacon fell, and you weren't in the safe zone." Blake's gaze fell.
"Maybe it would have been better if I had." Neptune was taken back and Sun glanced over at her, his mouth open in shock.
"That's a pretty fucked thing to say, Blake." Blake looked back at the ocean.
"You two wouldn't understand. I've done some terrible things in the past, and I thought I could get away from all of that but I can't."
"Why not go to your team about it?" Sun asked. Blake shook her head.
"They already know about what I've done. About who I used to be. But they can't help me with this. The people who are after me… they…" Blake took a breath. "They killed Coco and Fox. I can't risk my team mates lives. If anyone else has to die, it should be me."
"Well… if these people are after you." Neptune glanced over at Sun. Sun nodded and smirked.
"Then you can count on us to help protect you!" Blake snorted.
"And I'm guessing I don't have a say in the matter."
"Nope!" Sun said. She shook her head, but he saw a glimmer of a smile. Sun threw his arms out, smiling. "Man, it's gonna be great being back in Mistral! We haven't been there in so long, Nep!" Blake looked at them, cocking her head to the side.
"Mistral?" she asked. Neptune nodded.
"Yeah. That's where we're headed, right?" Blake shook her head.
"This boat is going to Menagerie."
Neptune whirled on Sun, who nervously laughed and rubbed the back of his head.
"I told you, you should have let me find the boat!" Blake facepalmed, shaking her head.
"I'm doomed."
Cinder gasped in pain, feeling the Scarab as it burrowed through her flesh. Salem sat next to her, watching her.
"Don't try and fight it, my child. It can sense your trepidation. That will only draw this out." Cinder gasped in pain, clutching her stump, feeling the beetle as it squirmed inside her. "You must make it fear you. You own it." Salem smiled as a sharp pain shot through her, her voice strangled with pain as she gasped. "You wanted this, didn't you?" Salem snickered. "You were nothing but a whore when I found you, would you want to go back to that pitiful existence?"
Cinder snarled, gnashing her teeth as another spasm of pain shot through her, feeling the beetle break through her skin. She shook her head.
"Then tell me. Tell me that this is what you want. That you want this power. That you want to make this world suffer for what it has done." Cinder's eyes darted to the door, seeing Emerald peering in. "No." Cinder looked back at Salem. Salem shook her head. "I said, I want to hear you say it." Cinder clutched her stump to her chest, hearing the beetle clicking.
"I want this," she croaked.