Sorry for the delay, I just finished my classes this semester, and can finally get back to work with this.
Ruby slid the headphones on, letting the musical cacophony of gothic metal wash through her mind as she stared up at the twilight sky. The rays of the dawning sun peeked over the mountains, and she squinted a bit as the skies began to turn yellow and orange.
A murder of crows flew by overhead. Ruby scowled.
I came back to Salem's castle and found Summer dead and her body being turned into one of Salem's sick trophies. I could only get her cloak, necklace, and sword out of that castle
That's not what you said before
I wasn't, and I don't know who did it. I was doing a job for Salem and got back to find your mom's body. I managed to sneak it out and bring it back home.
Then… why is mom's grave empty?
She ran a finger over the rose necklace resting on her chest.
She said that she was homeless. She mentioned your father, but she didn't really tell me what was going on. I babysat you for a few hours while she found a place to live. I gave her that necklace before she left.
Why…why would mom be homeless after I was born?
I'm glad you had so many people there to help you grow up. Two dads and a sister.
Two…dads…
A shadow fell over her, Yang's face filling her vision. Yang motioned to her ears, and Ruby slid her headphones off, the morning silence returning.
"You're up early," Yang said.
"Couldn't sleep. What are you doing up so early?" she asked. Yang rubbed her stump before sitting down next to her. Ruby sat up, watching her sister's fingers move over the remains of her arm.
"Had a nightmare and couldn't fall back asleep. Figured I'd get some fresh air."
"Guess that makes three of us." Ruby turned, looking back. Weiss was approaching them, rubbing her stomach. Ruby bit her lip, watching Weiss' hand move from her stomach as she sat down next to Yang. Yang pulled her hand away from her stump, resting it on the ground near Weiss' hand.
"Hard to believe we're all together again, in Mistral of all places." Weiss slid her hand away from Yang's, resting her hands in her lap as she looked out of the valley.
"I thought I was never going to get to see any of you again." Weiss smiled softly. "I'm glad things turned out the way they have."
Silence filled the space between them for a moment. Ruby looked at the empty spot next to her.
"I just wish Blake was here." She said quietly. She looked over as Yang shifted, resting her arm on her knee, a frown on her face.
"I don't."
Ruby felt her eyebrows raise in shock as Weiss' draw dropped. Weiss quickly shut her mouth, a scowl forming, her lips tugging into a snarl.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" she hissed. Yang shrugged.
"We're better here without her."
"How can you say that!" Weis bolted to her feet. "We have no clue where she is! Or if she's even still alive! And you have the gall to try and say that it's fine with her not being here with us?! What is wrong with you!" Weiss yelled.
Yang got to her feet, turning her back on them. Ruby saw Yang's hand quivering as she walked away.
"Whatever," Yang said.
Blake leaned against the bookshelf, watching her mother sort through a pile of books.
"Those are all the ones Aunt Sienna gave you, right?" she asked. Kali nodded, not looking up from the book in her grip. Blake titled her head to the side, reading the cover. Faunus Scales, Human Masks. Kali set the book aside, lifting up the next book in the pile, The Wretched of Remnant.
"A little bit after she took over, she visited and gave me these books. She told me I had started to lose my way, due to being married to your father, and that these would help open my eyes to humanity and the state of the Faunus. I…. I said some rather mean things to her when she told me that, and I never bothered reading any of the books she gave me." Her mother's shoulders slumped as she exhaled. "When we were on speaking terms again, I lied and told her I had read them and didn't like them." Kali chuckled, a joyless sound. "I remember the disappointment in her eyes when I told that lie." Kali rested the book against her chest, resting her chin on it. "I think I'll try reading them."
Blake's ears perked up at the faint thud against the roof. Her mother didn't seem to hear it. Blake looked at one the windows before back at Kali.
"Sun and I are going to go out and try and recruit over in the nocturnal quarters. I'll be back soon." She said. Her mother waved at her as she left the room.
She went to the balcony on the outside of the house, scanning the darkness, the stars and shattered moon shining bright. Nothing. She went to the railing, running a hand over the smooth wood. There.
She pulled a note free, unfolding it, and reading over it.
B
Things are going too far; I don't know what to do.
Find a quiet spot somewhere, I'll find you. Please come alone.
I
Blake looked over the letter again before folding it up, sticking it in her short's pocket. She turned toward the door at the sound of Sun shouting her name.
Come alone, huh?
Yang wandered through the forest of Forever Spring. Tall brown barked trees rose into the air, their branches covered with pink leaves and sakura petals. The ankle high grass was a similar shade of pink; patches around the trees were white. The noon sun beamed through the pink leaves.
She saw couples wandering through the paths in the forest, their arms interlaced. She growled, and stopped, leaning against a tree, a hand going to her stump, rubbing it.
Why come here. They're all probably worried about me after leaving like that.
A couple walked by, a wolf Faunus and a human, laughing at something one of them had said. She looked away from them, letting go of her stump and letting her arm dangle.
"There you are!"
Ah shit
She looked aside, seeing Weiss storming over to her, frowning. Weiss stopped in front of her, her arms crossed, and staring up at her.
"I've been looking for you across this entire mountain, I've tried calling and texting you. What are you doing way up here on the Upper Levels?" she demanded. Yang pulled out her scroll, checking it. No signal. She sighed and pocketed her scroll.
"Look, I'm sorry, alright. I needed to be alone." Weiss uncrossed her arms.
"And that's fine, but don't just leave without telling us where you're going." Weiss wrested her hands on her hips. "And you need to tell me what your issue with Blake is. Where on Remnant did that come from. You've never acted like that before when it came to her."
The blood on Gambol Shroud. The White Fang emblem seared onto her skin.
She opened and closed her mouth before sighing.
"I don't think we actually know who Blake is." she said finally. Weiss' frown turned to a look of confusion.
"She's our teammate."
"And how long did it to take her to be honest about her past, even though we were on a team?" she said. "She kept the fact she was a Faunus hidden from all of us, and even after saying she wouldn't keep anymore secrets, she hid that she was with the White Fang. How do we know that there aren't other things that she's been hiding from us?"
"Did… did you just forget how awful of a human being I was when we all first met?" Weiss said. "I don't blame her one bit for keeping her identity a secret. A Faunus, former White Fang no less, having to work with a Schnee? Who knows what I would have done or said if she told us all of that when we first met?"
"But how do we know that she just told us all of that when you were ready just so we wouldn't suspect anything from her when the White Fang attacked our school, or when she conveniently goes missing when she's surrounded by other White Fang members." Weiss scowled.
"Just what are you saying." Weiss' voice was cold, sharp, an icy claw. Yang took a breath.
"Glynda became the new Headmistress of Beacon, and she's had Beacon searched. They couldn't find Blake's body. Just Gambol Shroud. They found it in the same room that Coco, Cardin, and Fox were all found dead in. They all died from sword wounds. They brought me her sword since they couldn't get in contact with her family, and do you know what was coating the end of the blade?" Weiss' expression was unreadable. "Blood, and it wasn't from a Grimm."
"Weiss, how do you know that Blake is truly who she says she is? That she wasn't just some spy for the White Fang to help in their attack? How do you know she isn't out there with them right now planning to attack Haven or Atlas or Shade?" She balled her hand, her nails biting into her gloved palm. "How do you know she even loved you?" She took a breath. "How do you know she loves you, like the way I love you?"
The breeze blew gently, pink petals dancing past Weiss as shock flashed through her eyes, her lips parting.
"What?" Yang's heart thumped against her chest, her stomach in knots.
"I… I said I love you." She reached her hand out a bit before pulling it back to her side. "You… you're the only person in my life who has never left me, Weiss. My mom, Ruby, Raven, and… and if Blake isn't a traitor, and isn't dead, then she left too. Everyone I have ever cared about has abandoned me at some point. I've been alone almost my entire life, Weiss, a-and you know what that's like, right? Being alone, with nobody there to help you?" Weiss didn't say anything for a moment before nodding.
"I do know what it's like to be alone, Yang. But my loneliness… it's not the same as yours." She said, rubbing her wrists. "You don't actually think Blake betrayed us, do you? You… you're jealous of her, right?" she asked. She looked up at her, meeting her gaze.
Yang chewed on her lip, unable to break away from the icy blue of Weiss' eyes. She finally sighed and nodded.
"I don't know what to think. It's… weird that Blake's sword had blood on it and that they found it in that room, but I know Blake couldn't be working with the Fang. Not after nearly working herself to death trying to stop them. I just… I don't know anymore; nothing makes sense anymore." Her breath caught in her throat as Weiss gripped her hand.
"When I was back home, I thought everyone I cared about was dead. But seeing Ruby, and Pyrrha, and you, I know that Blake is out there too. I know she didn't betray us. I know that if she had a choice, she would be by our sides. I know that she wouldn't abandon you without a reason." Yang squeezed Weiss' hand.
"And how do you know that?" Weiss smiled at her.
"Because that's what love is. You trust them." Weiss squeezed her hand. "And I want you to know, Yang, I love you too. Like a sister. And that I will never abandon you." Her smile turned coy. "Even when you act like a hothead and say dumb stuff."
Yang laughed quietly, feeling tears drip down her cheeks.
"I really messed up, huh." Weiss let go of her hand, embracing her, running a hand through her hair.
"We all do, Yang." Yang rested her head on Weiss', the tears falling. "I'm sorry that things can't be the way you want them to be between us, and that you've been left behind by so many. But you are not unlovable. You are one of the kindest people I know, and you will find someone to care for you like you care for everyone around you."
Yang sniffled, closing her eyes.
"And how do you know that?" Weiss pulled away, resting one hand on her shoulder. Electricity shot up her back as Weiss wiped the tears from her cheeks. She opened her eyes, looking at Weiss as she smiled at her.
"Because you're Xiao Long Yang." She said.
Miltia rested her chin on her hand, staring out the window of the train. The rain plastered against it, the skies a dark gray; she could make out forests and towering mountains in the gloom. She could hear Melanie talking to a man at the door of their cabin, buying something or another from the food trolley.
The door closed, and she looked over as Melanie offered a can to her. Melanie smiled.
"Green tea, just like you like." Miltia took it, looking over the logo on the can. She smiled softly; been a while since she'd seen an authentic Mistralian drink. She wasn't expecting them to have food like that on the train of all places.
She looked over at the cushion next to her sister and giggled; it was full of candies and chips.
"Did you, like, buy any actual food?" she asked. Her sister pouted, chewing on a stick of white chocolate pocky. She swallowed and pointed a stick at her.
"You said the same thing five years ago." Miltia shrugged.
"Can't just eat junk all the time, sis." She said. Melanie groaned, and Miltia covered her smirk with her hand.
"Let me have this." Miltia giggled and moved her hand, waving dismissively with it.
"Fine, fine."
She looked back out the window, watching the dark skies light up, the outlines of Nevermore's flashing against the forest. She heard her sister open a bag of chips and start munching on them.
The rain didn't let up as the hours passed. Melanie finished off the chips and candies and was busy on her scroll. Miltia stretched out her legs, groaning a bit. She lowered her legs, watching her sister flick her finger over the screen of her scroll.
"What are you doing on there anyway? There's, like, no service." Melanie held up the scroll, pictures of various forms of make up was on the screen.
"Screenshotted a bunch of different eyeliner and eyeshadow brands that they sell in Mistral before we left. Looking through them to see if like, there's any we could afford." She held out the scroll, a picture of a dark plum eyeshadow on the screen. Fifty lien, not too bad. "I think that might look good on you." Miltia saw her sister smirk. "You know, might get to wear that to impress Yin on a date or something."
Melanie frowned, handing the scroll back to her sister.
"I don't want to talk about this."
"Oh come on, was just a joke."
"I know, but." She looked out the window. "Look, I'm just, like, really confused about all of this. Okay?" She shook her head. "I don't know if I like her. I just know I would want to hang out with her again, and maybe, like, have a drink with her, and talk about dumb shit."
"I don't know if that means I have a crush on her, or if I'm just that desperate for a friend outside of you and Junior. I… I don't know if I'm into girls, Melanie. And I mean, with working at the club, and this stuff with mom, I don't know if I really have time for dating even if I was gay."
Miltia looked back over at her sister. Melanie chewed on her lip for a moment before saying
"Okay, sis, if it really bothers you, I'll stop." Miltia exhaled, and smiled.
"Thanks." She pointed at her sister's scroll. "But we are going to have to get that while we're there, that's like, a really good shade of purple."
Blake walked through the dark alleyways, her hand resting near her pistol. Trifa and Yuma marched alongside her, their guard armor clinking as they kept pace with her. She stopped, glancing down a side alley, noticing a shadow much larger than it should have been.
"You can come out, Ilia," she said.
The shadow moved, the darkness fading, and Ilia's clothes and skin becoming visible. Ilia held up her hands, her eyes darting toward Trifa and Yuma.
"I thought I told you to come alone. Why did you bring these two?" Blake looked back at Trifa and Yuma for a brief moment, noting the familiarity in their eyes when they looked at Ilia.
Thought so
"I hope you understand I'm not really in a position to trust you right now, Ilia." She said. Ilia crept closer; Blake watched her hands; Ilia's electric whip rested on her hip.
"I'm sorry." Ilia motioned with her hand.
Blake spun around, drawing her pistol, yelping as a sticky web encased her hand, making her unable to pull the trigger. She growled, and charged at Yuma as Trifa slunk back, bits of web dangling from her wrists. Yuma smirked, sidestepping her swing; she grunted in pain as his leg slammed into her gut, knocking the wind out of her. She collapsed to her knees, struggling to breath. Webbing encased her torso and she grunted as she was pulled to the dirt.
She heard Ilia walk over, and stop, looking down at her. She crouched down; their faces close.
"I truly am, sorry, Blake. I didn't want it to have to be like this."
"No. You did. Taking Adam's side, thinking that killing innocent people is acceptable, this is nothing to you." Her eyes darted from Ilia to the rooftops before back to Ilia. "I'm nothing to you."
Ilia's skin flashed red, her lips forming a snarl.
"You meant everything to me! You think I like fighting you? You think I want to do this? I told you to run and leave like you always do but you didn't! Why can't you just see the world for the way it truly is and help me?"
"And what is this world really like, Ilia? What about this world makes you think hurting innocent human and Faunus will get our people equality?" she asked. Ilia snarled.
"There is no such thing as innocence. There are the humans who kill us, and the humans who let it happen. And if there are Faunus who think otherwise, they're just as bad as a human. And do you know what sets them in line?" Ilia drew her whip, the blade hardening, forming a sword. She set the tip of it at Blake's throat, pricking her skin. "Fear."
"Do I look afraid to you, Ilia?" Hesitation flashed through Ilia's eyes, and she lifted the blade; it went limp, returning to a whip.
"No. You don't. But I know what will make you afraid." Ilia swallowed, her gloved hand shaking slightly. "I'm taking you back to Adam. Our Siblings are attacking the Hōzuki house at this moment."
Blake tried to keep her voice steady.
"And how many other guards were planning on turning on my parents."
"Just these….two…" Ilia's eyes widened as the realization hit her. Blake smirked.
"Now!"
Sun leapt down from the rooftops; Yuma yelled in surprise and pain as Sun collided with him. Sun's bo sprang out as he spun around, catching Trifa's dagger. He smirked at her, twirling his staff, knocking her dagger aside; the staff split apart, the ends of it slamming into the side of her head.
Trifa collapsed onto the dirt, groaning, her aura shimmering around her. Blake craned her head, looking up at Ilia. Ilia's lip twitched, and she turned and ran.
She saw Sun's face as he grabbed her shoulder, bringing her to her feet. He tugged at the webbing, pulling it free.
"How did you know it would be those two?" he asked. Blake looked at the groaning forms of Yuma and Trifa before speaking.
"There were three guards there when my parents learned about Sienna dying. Captain Sabre has been with my family since I was born, but these two, I've never met them. And when I saw Ilia's note, I figured it was a trap." Sun finished undoing the webbing, handing her Heiwa ga Motarasu. She took the blade, slinging it over her back as she started to run, Sun following after her. "Adam would know my family would be a threat if he killed Sienna. Ilia wanting me to go out alone somewhere far away and leave my family by themselves after a coup against my aunt? I figured Adam would have guards try and kill them while I was gone and took the two I didn't know with me."
"Smart thinking!" Sun said.
They rounded a corner. Her ears twitched at the all too familiar sound of gunfire. She scowled, her run turning to a sprint.
Kali flipped the table over, bullets raining over her head. She grit her teeth, grabbing a shard of glass, and holding it around the end of the table.
Three of them, their faces covered with Grimm masks. Two firing behind cover, one rushing her table. The magazines in their rifles were red; aura piercing rounds.
A guard slid into cover, a bayonetted pistol in hand. They popped out for a moment, Kali's ears ringing as he fired. Blood sprayed over her, the guard's body going limp before collapsing, a hole in the center of their head.
She grabbed the pistol, ducking aside as the White Fang member vaulted over the table. She stabbed the bayonet into his leg, his aura shimmering around him as he yelled in pain, reaching down. She grabbed his wrist, yanking the knife out of his leg as she slammed him to the floor. She stabbed the blade under his chin, pulling the trigger as the blood soaked down.
She pulled the bayonet free, leaning against the table as the bullets whizzed overhead, splinters coating her head and ears.
A jolt went up Neptune's arm as the sword crashed into the staff of his trident. He pulled his trident back, sidestepping another swing. He twirled the trident, electricity sparkling as the heavy trident head fell unto the head of the White Fang goon.
Their body went rigid, locking up before collapsing, groaning. He pulled his trident back, moving with the momentum, ducking under a spear, and jabbing the prongs at the legs of the spear wielding White Fang member. Blood sizzled against the electricity as the prongs impaled their shins.
He turned away as they fell to the ground, pulling his weapon free and watching Ghira's guards grappling against the White Fang. Neptune frowned, charging at a sword wielding Fang goon as he slashed at Ghira. Fear etched Ghira's face, his dodges quick, but inexperienced. Neptune yelled, raising the trident. The Fang member turned, slashing at him; he twirled, the trident moving with his momentum and he jabbed forward, impaling their sword arm, the weapon clattering to the ground as they screamed in agony, their aura shattered around them.
"Come on!" Neptune shouted. Ghira nodded at him, stepping-
Screams and glass shattering filled the air; Neptune spun around, gripping his trident.
Corsac and Fennec stood across from him, daggers glinting with Red and White Dust. One of Ghira's guards lay on the floor, flames engulfing their head; one of the windows was shattered, blood on the glass, the weapon of Ghira's other guard on the ground.
"I believe it is time for the Chief to step down," Corsac said. Fennec smiled.
"I do agree, brother."
He pressed the button, feeling his trident reform into an assault rifle. He raised it at them, scowling.
"Over my dead body, traitors." Surprise shot through their eyes as they looked at him. Fennec's smile grew.
"It will be a pleasure killing you, human."
He pulled the trigger, the gun kicking back as the Blue Dust rounds roared out. The twins dashed aside, taking cover, ice spreading from the bullet holes filling the walls. He ducked behind a pillar, motioning for Ghira to do the same. He peaked around the pillar, barely noticing his fingers as they reloaded his rifle.
The Twins leapt out of cover, flames and winds billowing from their daggers. He gasped, leaping from his pillar, flames engulfing it, shooting upwards. He grit his teeth, turning and firing at the duo. The flaming vortex turned, shooting toward him.
The Twins yelled, the vortex splitting apart, winds buffeting him, his jacket flapping around him, a fireball hurtling off to the side.
He felt a smile creep up his lips; glass covered the floor, Corsac lay groaning, his Red dagger out of reach. Sun stood ontop of him, giving Fennec a cocky smirk, his bo slung over his shoulders.
Ilia swallowed, her throat going dry, her hands trembling as she stared at the blood. Glass crinkled under her boots as she walked through the broken door of the Hōzuki home. Two of her Siblings lay dead, blood pooled around them. She gagged, a hand going to her mouth, bile at the back of her throat as the stench hit her. One's stomach had been slit open, the other had a gaping hole where their eye had once been.
She stepped around a tossed over table, her breath hitching. Two bodies were slumped against it; a Hōzuki guard and one of her Siblings, their blood pooling together. She felt her stomach heave at the sight of her Sibling's brains splattered against the floor. She fell to her knees, her mask falling off as she puked, the vomit pooling with the blood.
T-this… this is what Blake would do? This… this is what it looks like?
She left the room, wandering through the hallways, jumping, her heart racing at each yell, each gunshot. She gripped her arms, trying to keep her hands from trembling as she climbed the steps to the second floor. The gunfire and screams seemed far off, muffled by the walls as she entered a large room. Bookcases and plants lined the walls of the second floor.
She went to the railing, looking down, gasping.
Blake looked up at her, her eyes narrowed.
Ilia swallowed, letting go of her arms, her hand twitching.
I… I have to fight her. This… this is for the good of the Faunus, for me and all of us.
She grabbed the handle of her whip. Blake drew her katana, the black blade catching the light. Blake aimed the tip of the sword at her.
Right?
My apologies to Yang and freezerburn fans :"D. That scene was hard to write. Next chapter will be covering Cinder's past.