Neptune groaned, stretching out his arms as he walked down the steps alongside Sun and Blake. Seagulls squawked as they flew overhead, the early rays of the sun creeping over the tree line. Blake stopped when they reached the bottom of the steps, looking back at them.
"Are you two ready?" she asked. Sun laughed, pumping his fist against his chest.
"We've fought Grimm across the world, how hard could it be to get a few signatures?" he said.
Blake nodded, and turned away, waking toward the village.
Blake stepped onto a bench, holding her scroll out in front of her. People bustled past her, carrying tools, food, goods they had made to sell at the market. She forced her ears to stay up as she started to yell at the crowd.
"The people of Mistral need our help! Please, sign up, and help in the fight to save Haven Academy. Our people need you!" A few people glanced at her as they passed, a few eying her with disgust and others shaking their head and chuckling. Blake held the sign up higher. "The Faunus cannot have their names be tarnished once again! Think of what is at stake for the Faunus across the world!"
"Whatever, Schnee lover." A passing man said. She heard a few people snicker as they went on their way.
Blake gripped her scroll, her ears flickering down before going back up. She took a breath, and straightened her back, before resuming.
Sun rested his hands on his hips, beaming at the man in front of him, Neptune off to the side, translating what he had said. The man, Mata, rubbed at his horns, pursing his lips as he thought.
"Mata!" Sun looked over, his smile falling as an older woman stormed over to them, grabbing the man by the arm, dragging him away. Neptune began to speak to the woman, the woman cutting him off, glaring at them. Neptune closed his mouth, stepping back as the woman dragged Mata away.
Sun sighed, going up to Neptune, wrapping his tail around Neptune's waist. Neptune looked at him. Sun motioned with his head toward the next set of houses.
"Come on, we'll find somebody."
Blake walked across the boardwalk, the air salty, the breeze warm. People stepped out of her way, avoiding eye contact as she walked. She stopped at the ledge, looking out at the clear water.
Aquatic Faunus swam through the waves; she could see some crab Faunus scuttling along the bottom. Kiosks and stalls had been built underwater, formed from dead coral. Some of the Faunus swimming near the surface seemed to notice her, peeking their heads out of the water. Blake held out her scroll, smiling at them.
"Would you be interested in attempting to protect Haven Academy?" The Faunus looked at each other before shaking their heads, diving back down under the water, swimming down to the underwater market.
Blake sighed, walking away from the ledge, and down the boardwalk. Fishermen were casting out their lines, hurling them further then where the aquatic Faunus swam, and people bustled about, some standing at the food kiosks, or at the stalls selling fishing gear. Blake's stomach growled as she passed a group of people lined up in front of several food stalls. Blake's mouth watered at the smell of rice steaming, the sound of fish sizzling, the sweet scent of freshly cut open coconuts.
She pocketed her scroll and got in line.
"What'll it be?" the stall owner asked when she reached him.
"Steamed fish, a sticky rice cake, and some buko juice, please," she said. The man nodded, grabbing a coconut and a cleaver, shearing off the top of it, specks of milk sprinkling over the counter. A woman came up behind the man, placing her order on the counter; they were wrapped in banana leaves. Blake handed the man some lien, and grabbed her food, heading to an empty table nearby.
She unwrapped the leaves, and took a bite from the rice cake, looking out at the ocean. She frowned as she heard the chair across from her scrape across the boards. She looked over, narrowing her eyes at who sat across from her.
"I'm surprised you're showing your face around here still after the way you ran away from that crowd," Ilia said. Blake swallowed, setting the cake down.
"The Faunus need the help of the people here." She said. Ilia chuckled.
"We both know they'll never help you. The people of Menagarie are here because they're tired. Tired of fighting, of having to struggle just to exist because of who they are. And you would have them leave and go fight."
"Ilia, you do understand that if Adam has his way it will bring ruin to our people? Do you not see that?"
"Adam has the strength to do what's needed to put our people where we belong." Ilia said. Blake leaned back in her seat, resting her hands on the table, her expression blank as she looked at Ilia.
"Have you ever killed a man, Ilia?" Blake asked. Ilia blinked in surprised, opening and closing her mouth several times before asking.
"What?"
"Answer the question." Ilia hesitated before shaking her head.
"N-no, not yet."
"I have. I've killed forty-nine people. Ten of them were Faunus." Blake leaned forward. "Do you know what it feels like, taking another person's life?" Ilia's eye twitched as she shook her head. "It sticks with you. The screams, the pleading for their lives, the smell as they die, the blood as it sticks to your hands. It's a stain that you can never wash away." Blake leaned back. "Adam never had you going on any of the extremely dangerous missions when I was there, right? He saved those for me and Cerise. You just had to do petty things like arson."
"I remember when Adam and I kidnapped Umbra Winchester and sent the pictures of her remains to Jacques Schnee. Do you know what a buck shot of fire Dust does to a head? Or, maybe a better question would be, do you know what it's like to try and wash brains out of your clothes?" Blake saw Ilia swallow and shake her head. She balled her hands into fists, keeping them on the table. "Adam stole most of my life. He turned me into a heartless monster. Just like him. That's all he is, Ilia. He doesn't care about the Faunus, he's nothing more than spite. He wants to punish the humans for what they did to him when he was little."
"B-but isn't it what they deserve? Why be civil to the people who would make us lesser?" Blake shrugged.
"I know not all of the humans are evil, and not all of them are good. Sometimes we'll need to use force, like what Sienna wants, and sometimes we'll need to use our voices, like what my father wants. Right now, we need to be using our voices, more violence after Adam's brand of justice will do more harm than good." Ilia scowled, her eyes lingering on the blue ribbon on her arm.
"And why should I trust you? You bedded a Schnee, didn't you?" Blake rubbed the blue ribbon on her arm, blushing slightly.
"We haven't gone that far, at least not yet, but yes, I'm in love with Weiss. She is my moon, and I am her stars. And I think that if a Schnee can change, then we can get others to listen as well." Blake saw Ilia's skin flash pink, and then red, for a brief second before settling back to her normal brown. Blake cocked her head to the side.
"I know that you liked me, Ilia," she said. Ilia's skin flushed pink, biting her lip. "I saw the way you looked at me when I was in the camp, and the dirty looks you would give Adam when he held my hand or hugged me." Blake lowered her hand from her ribbon, resting it on the table. "Why are you working with him, honestly?" Ilia looked away, frowning.
"I want the same thing that you do. I want to help our people. Adam is the best way that I see how." She said. Blake exhaled. Ilia looked back at her.
"If you think that following Adam is the best way to help our people, fine. But ask yourself this; are you truly ready, for the type of life I lived?" Ilia said nothing, getting up from the table and leaving. Blake sighed, returning to her meal, the ocean breeze warm and uncomforting.
Roman poured the beaten eggs into the pot of broth, beginning to stir it together after setting the empty container aside. He listened to the tv as he threw in the tofu and pepper.
"The stage play, Yuki Onna, has been met with widespread acclaim amongst the critics of Mistral City, siting the haunting performance of the lead actress as one of the best in recent years. Back to you, Li."
"Thank you, Huang. Police are investigating a recent murder in the Mid-Levels."
Roman froze, the tofu tumbling from his hand. He looked back, watching as a picture of a man appeared in the corner as the news anchor talked.
"Kobayashi Aka was found dead behind his locally owned restaurant. Witnesses and police report that his internal organs had been removed, and that on the walls behind him, a mural of two women was painted."
im drawing. going to paint something in a little bit. be home soon
Roman stepped away from the soup, grabbing his scroll and turning up the volume.
"Police believe that the murder is linked to the recent surge of violent and similar murders that have occurred throughout the Lower and Mid-Levels that have been attributed to a cult of Grimm worshippers. But some of the nearby store owners have their doubts that this is the case."
The feed cut to a woman standing in front of an art store.
"It's scary to think that those Grimm freaks would be this high up the mountain, but I mean, Kobayashi didn't really get along with a lot of his customers, and he doesn't allow Faunus customers either. If those Grimm cultists didn't do him in, then I think it might have been a customer."
The feed cut back to the news anchor. Roman frowned, looking at the stairs that led to Neo's room.
Damnit, Neo.
Nora stood next to Pyrrha, looking at the glass walls of the museum. They were ever changing, the art appearing and moving throughout the glass room. Painted waves washed through the room, Old Mistralian calligraphy accompanying them. Gentle music played through the museum, Mistralian's in colorful robes standing in a group off to the side of where they stood.
"Were you ever any good at calligraphy?" Pyrrha asked. Nora looked at her; Pyrrha's face was painted blue and white by the light of the art. She shook her head.
"Never learned how to do it. Ren and I never went to a school before going to Beacon." Pyrrha frowned, cocking her head.
"Really?" Nora nodded. She played with her hands, kicking at nothing for a moment before saying.
"That village? Kuroyuri? That's where Ren and I grew up. Before… before that Demon destroyed it." Pyrrha's face softened, looking away, flexing her hand.
"I'm sorry." She said. Nora shook her head.
"It's fine. We killed it, and besides, who needs to draw dumb old logograms when I can smash a Grimm's head in with a hammer?" Pyrrha giggled. Nora smiled; it had been so long since she'd seen Pyrrha smile. Genuinely smile. She looked back at the walls, watching as the waves turned to paintings of koi, their deep oranges and black scales standing out against the white backgrounds, as they appeared to swim down the walls and through the floors.
Nora exhaled, closing her eyes.
"Hey, Pyrrha?" She heard Pyrrha shift, and opened her eyes, looking at her. Pyrrha was looking at her, an eyebrow cocked. "You know that I'm here for you, right?"
"What do you mean?"
"I saw a few of your fights in the coliseum. You dress up as a yurei, and you go by Adrestia, like the name you gave to Lionheart." Pyrrha looked away. Nora hesitated before reaching for her hand, holding it. "I know you said you don't want people bothering you because your famous, and I'm willing to accept that that is the reason why you use a fake name. But… I know what yurei's are, Pyrrha. I grew up in Mistral too." She gave Pyrrha's hand a squeeze. "I just want to know why. And what I can do to help."
The koi swam away, the rivers becoming more defined, mountains surrounding them, autumn leaves floating on unfelt breezes. Pyrrha's eyes glazed over as she looked at the orange and gold leaves.
"Do you believe in destiny?" Pyrrha whispered.
"Destiny? Not really. I never really cared about destiny or god or anything like that." Pyrrha shook her head, her shoulders slumping.
"I used to think that destiny was a goal. Something that you would work your entire life for, the thing that gave your life a purpose." She lifted her head, watching a leaf drift. "A reason why we exist." Pyrrha's eyes watered. "Growing up, I thought my destiny was being a star athlete. It's what my mother wanted. And when I realized I didn't want that, I thought my destiny was to save Remnant, as a Hunter. And then…all of this happened, and I was convinced that saving Remnant was my destiny. I would become the Fall Maiden, save Vale, or die trying." She lifted her hand, tracing the scar covering her face. "But that didn't happen. My destiny… I don't know what my destiny is. Or if it even exists. Or if I, or any of us, have any actual reason to live."
The autumn leaves fell, the branches bare, the rivers icing over, and white snow enveloping around them.
"Do you know why I left with Ruby? Why I'm even here in Mistral?" she asked. Nora shook her head. Pyrrha smiled sadly. "The women who did this. Who took Jaune, who stole my destiny. I'm going to kill her. I'm going to murder her, take everything away from her." Tears dripped down Pyrrha's face, falling onto the glass floor. "Killing Cinder is the only thing left in my life. My mother never loved me. I won't be able to find someone like Jaune again. The entire world saw me murder Penny, I can never come back from that. I have nothing else, Nora." Pyrrha sniffed. "Pyrrha Nikos died back in Vale. I'm just what's left of her. I'm her yurei."
Nora let go of Pyrrha's hand, pinching her arm.
"Ow," Pyrrha mumbled, rubbing the spot.
"You seem like the real Pyrrha to me," she said. She smiled at Pyrrha. "And… you do have something else, Pyrrha." She slid her hand back into Pyrrha's. "You have me and Ren. And Ruby. We all love you." She smiled coyly. "And I'm pretty sure we're all willing to break the legs of anyone who would bad mouth you over what happened during the Fall."
Pyrrha laughed, wiping at her tears, squeezing Nora's hand.
Oscar yelled, swinging his cane. Sweat coated his skin, his damp shirt sticking to his back.
When were you going to tell me you were lying?
"Eventually. I needed to get you here, Oscar. I truly am sorry for lying but our destiny is too important to waste it at a farm."
Oscar scowled, swinging the cane with more force than before, yelling louder. It smacked against the wood floor, a jolt going up his arm. He stopped breathing heavy.
I never signed up for this. And you told me you would leave me alone. Now I'm finding out that what, we're going to fuse? I'm going to stop being a person?
"I wouldn't put it like that."
"Then how would you put it!" He yelled.
He heard a sharp inhale and turned; Ruby stood at the bottom of the stairs, watching him. He looked away.
"Sorry," he mumbled. Ruby shook her head.
"It's fine. This must be a lot to take in, and the whole… two souls things must be scary."
"It is," he said. Ruby rocked back and forth on her heels, her hands resting behind her back.
"You're taking to this really fast, I'm really impressed," she said. She smiled. "You'll be combat ready in no time, you'll see." Ruby's eyes widened before her expression darkened. Oscar's lips parted as he watched her. She shook her head, turning back toward the stairs.
"We have food upstairs, see you later."
"How are you handling all of this?" he blurted out. Ruby stopped, looking back at him.
"What?" she asked. He gripped the handle of the cane before going toward the weapons rack where Crescent Rose, Storm Flower, Harbinger, Échthra, and Magnhild sat.
"I'm so scared. This… all of this is insane. I never asked to be a part of this," he said. He placed the cane in its spot. He heard Ruby walk up.
"None of us signed up for this either. But we can't stop, we have to press on an-"
Oscar spun, scowling at her, Ruby backing up.
"How can you just pretend that everything is okay?! People are trying to kill you! The world could be going to war again! There's a Grimm lady trying to kill us all! How is any of this okay?!"
Ruby's shoulders slumped and her expression darkened. She turned away, her back to him, her tattered red cape facing him.
"During the Fall, I lost several of my friends. Jaune Arc. Coco Adel. Fox Alistair. And my girlfriend, Penny Polendina. My team split up, and each of them lost someone important too." She walked toward the open door of the garage turned training room. "Jaune was one of the kindest guys I had ever met. Coco and Fox were the definition of cool. And Penny…" Ruby laughed quietly. "I've never met anyone like her. But that didn't save them. Jaune, Coco, and Fox were killed by evil people, and Penny was killed to make a statement."
"I'm sorry," Oscar said.
"I am scared. I'm terrified." Ruby said. She turned back towards him. "But I'm not just scared about what will happen to me or my friends." She shook her head. "Salem kills indiscriminately. She doesn't care about the people she hurts. She'll let this entire world burn if it means she gets what she wants. And that scares me more than anything." He saw her wipe at her eyes, and sniffle. She turned away, walking toward the door, leaning against the doorframe.
"I think about them every day. About what I could have done different. How I could have spent more time with them. It hurts; knowing I'll never see them again." She grabbed the edge of her cloak, pulling it tighter around her. "But I know that if I had died during the Fall, that they would have kept on going like I have. I have to keep moving forward, Oscar. I can't afford to look behind me. Not just for my sake, but for all of theirs as well."
She left the doorframe, her cloak wrapped around her. She stopped when she passed him, offering a weak smile. He saw the pain barely hidden in her silver eyes.
"Come on, if we don't hurry up, Nora's gonna eat everything," she said. He stayed in place, watching Ruby ascend the stairs. He looked at the weapons rack at where his cane sat.
"She truly is remarkable."
You can say that again.
Oscar looked away from the cane and followed after Ruby.
Miltia exhaled, her breath a silver mist in the winter air. Melanie hummed gently as she walked beside her. The snow drifted past them gently, the dark sidewalks coated in a thin, powdery layer of snow. The streets were dark, the shattered moon the only light this part of town got at night.
"It's going to be spring soon, do you think we'll start getting busier?" Melanie asked. Miltia looked over at her.
"Probably," she said. She glanced at a graffiti covered building before looking back at her sister. "Yang hasn't stopped by in a while."
"Who?" Miltia cocking her head aside.
"The girl who puked on the floor and you had to clean it up." Melanie stared at her blankly. Miltia rolled her eyes. "She kicked our asses like two years ago. When the club got messed up."
"Oh her!" Melanie exclaimed. She rubbed the back of her head. "I never learned her name." Miltia looked away. "I mean, yeah I guess it's been a while since she's been there, but why would you care?" Miltia ran a hand through her hair, her fingers brushing against the feathers adorning it.
"It's not something you would care about, but… we talked when I had to clean her up. And she seemed pretty cool. And like she knew what it was like, what we went through. Her dad was shit, and she had a sister to look out for. Be nice to have her around too talk to some more." She glanced behind her, Junior's Club a dark outline in the night. "I only really have you and Junior. I just… it'd be nice having someone else around."
Melanie giggled, and Miltia looked at her, frowning.
"You're such a sap, holy crap, sis." Melanie said. Miltia rolled her eyes, playfully punching her sister's arm.
"Shut up," she said. Melanie giggled again but didn't say anything else. They continued down the dark, snow-covered streets.
"Hey, Miltia." Miltia looked at her sister. Melanie wouldn't meet her eye. Melanie rubbed her at her chest. "Do you think mom ever knew. About what dad was doing." Miltia crossed her arms, a sour taste appearing on her tongue.
"She was the Spider of Mistral. Hard to believe someone like that would be so blind as to what was going on in her own home." She said. Melanie was quiet a moment.
"Do you think she misses us?"
"She never tried to call."
"You had us throw away our scrolls though and get new ones with Junior?" Miltia rounded on her sister, scowling.
"She's an information broker, she could have tracked us down if she really cared. She could have left that bastard if she really cared. We got rid of our scrolls so that bastard wouldn't be able to call and harass you. You didn't deserve any of the shit he was doing to you." She felt her hand tremble as she spoke. "If mom cared she would have-"
"Miltia." Melanie pointed at her eyes. "You're crying."
Miltia touched her cheek; the tears warm against her chilled skin. She turned away, walking ahead.
"Whatever. I don't want to talk about her anymore." She hard Melanie catch up to her.
"Okay." Melanie said. She felt Melanie wrap her arm around hers, resting her head on her shoulder. Miltia could see their apartment building at the end of the street.
"You're a good big sis, you know that, right?" Melanie said. Miltia rested her head over her sisters.
"I try," she said.
They reached their apartment, the stairs creaking as they climbed them to the second floor. Miltia fished out the keys, unlocking the door.
It was small, some of Melanie's dirty clothes laying on the furniture. Melanie let go of her arm, yawning as she walked to her room.
"Night," she mumbled.
"Night," Miltia said.
She went to the living room, slipping out of her dress and unlacing her heels before flopping down on the couch. She rested her head on her pillow, grabbing the blanket from on top of the cushions and wrapping it around herself, shivering at the slight chill in the apartment.
Do you think she misses us?
Miltia squeezed her eyes shut.
Of course she didn't. She had to hate them. She probably didn't even know they had been gone for so long. She didn't miss her mommy; she hated that fat bitch.
Miltia sniffled, something warm dripping down her cheeks.
Kali looked up from her tea, setting it on the table. She looked back at the sound of more knocking.
"Come in," Ghira said.
The door slid open, three guards entering. Saber stepped forward, Trifa and Yuma standing behind him, near the door. She heard Ghira get to his feet.
"Captain Saber, have you received word from Mistral? What did they say?" he asked. Saber shook his head.
"We still haven't heard anything from the Mistral Council. But… we have received word from the Mistral branch of the White Fang." Kali slowly stood up, watching the captain as he chewed on his lip before continuing. "Sienna Khan was found assassinated by a human Hunter. Adam Taurus killed the Hunter, and… has been named the new High Leader."
"What?" Kali said. She shook her head, stepping back, bumping into the tea table. "That… that's impossible. Sienna… Sienna couldn't…"
"Wait outside, please," Ghira said. The guards nodded, turning and leaving, sliding the door closed behind them.
Kali stumbled, falling to the floor, feeling the tears drip down, her stomach in knots. Her hand was quivering as she placed it over her face, a choked sob rocking her body. She heard the floorboards squeak as Ghira lumbered over, crouching down next to her, his arms enveloping her. His hands ran through her hair, his touch gentle. She buried her face into his chest, hugging him, sobbing and hiccupping. She balled her hands into fists, resting them against his chest.
"I'm going to kill him," she said.
"Kali." She shook her head, breaking out of his embrace, stumbling to her feet, sniffling, walking toward the door. She felt him grab her hand. "Kali, wait." She yanked her hand free, rounding on him; he was a dark blob in her tear-filled vision.
"No! That bastard killed my sister! He took our daughter from us! He raped her! He abused her! He kept her from us!"
"I know! I know that!" He exhaled, opening and closing his hand. "But do you really think that attacking him right now would be wise? His agents are here, on our island. Do you know which guards you could trust to take you there? Do you think he wouldn't expect you or Blake to go after him once we got that news? You haven't fought in several years; do you think you can actually take him?" Ghira said. Kali turned away, squeezing her eyes shut, her fists trembling. She screamed, hurling a fist into the wall, feeling a jolt go up her arm. She lowered her aching hand, feeling her aura flicker as a fresh wave of sobs rocked her.
"We need to stop him. I-I can't take any more of this. I don't want to lose anyone else." She opened her eyes, feeling Ghira hug her from behind.
"I know, Kalika, I know."
They stood, hands clasped, and heads bowed, before the murti of Maut the Spider, each of his arms holding a different weapon, his abdomen a featureless human head. Incense wafted around them, banana's and nuts left before the altar. Fennec could hear other Faunus chanting their mantra's as they stood before the mutri's of the Ishvara pantheon.
"Your thoughts, dear brother, of the High Leader's message?" Fennec whispered.
"My thoughts matter not. Our Leader's will must be carried out." Corsac replied. Fennec nodded.
"Understood, my brother."
Fennec titled his head, spying Ilia praying before the mutri of Bijalee the Hawk, her eyes closed. She set a handful of nuts down at the altar before finishing her prayers. He saw Yuma standing before the mutri of Raat the Bat. He left no offering.
Fennec looked back at Maut, listening to Ilia and Yuma approach them.
"Did you deliver the news?" Corsac asked.
"Yes," Yuma said.
"And the messengers that Ghira has sent?"
"Awaiting Devi to return them." Fennec smiled.
"Excellent."
"Does the High Leader have any news for us?" Ilia asked. Fennec nodded.
"The High Leader is anticipating the Hōzuki's to retaliate against him. Due to the CCT being inoperable, he has control of the flow of information in the other branches, but he knows of the dangers that Menagarie poses." Corsac said.
"The High Leader would like for them to be silenced." Fennec finished. He saw Yuma nod, and Ilia bite her lip.
"Even Blake?" Corsac shook his head.
"The High Leader wishes to have his Belladonna returned to him. She is to be taken alive and brought to him in Mistral. He wants her to join his cause, to stand by his side." Fennec said.
"I see," Ilia said.
Ilia and Yuma gave quick prayers to Maut before leaving, Yuma first, and Ilia several minutes later. The group of praying Faunus reached Maut, singing their mantra's. Fennec sang alongside them, he and his brothers voices lost in the choir of prayer.
The wind was warm as it blew past Ilia. She sat, crouching, in the leaves of a tree, watching the Hōzuki home. Lights filtered from the window; Blake was sitting on her bed, reading some book. Ilia shifted, watching as Blake's ears twitched, saying something, and the door to her room sliding open.
Kali and Ghira entered, Kali's lip trembling, Ghira's face solemn. She saw Blake's ears lower, her lips forming the question. Kali opened and closed her mouth several times, Ghira lowering his head, resting a hand on Kali's shoulder. Kali took a breath, her body trembling less, and spoke.
Ilia winced, a pain in her chest as she watched Blake's ears pin flat against her head, shaking her head in disbelief. Kali and Ghira went to her side, sitting on the bed, wrapping their arms around her, the grief Kali had been trying to bottle washing out.
Ilia swallowed, the White Fang emblem on her wrist burning as she watched them cry. Watched a family, cry.
"Are you truly ready, for the type of life I lived?"