"I spy with my little eye… something green," Honey said. Lueur signed something and Honey laughed. "Yep. It's another tree."
"I mean, there isn't much out here to see, to be honest," Apophis said. "It only makes sense that you were eventually going to pick another tree."
"It could have been your legs," Honey told him. Lueur silently snickered.
"True," Apophis admitted. Neela noted how low the sun was on the horizon and wondered how much longer it would take them to get back.
"I hate to push the issue, but are we going to be reaching Shion soon?" Neela asked them.
"Yeah, we've got maybe three hours left," Honey said. "I told you that it takes about an entire day to go from our camp to Shion."
"I didn't realize that it would be closer to a literal day than like, say, twelve hours," Neela explained.
"Look, alive people!" Apophis yelled as he held up a hand. "We got company!" Neela looked out across the barren landscape, smiling as she took off running. "Neela!"
"Think that's her team?" Honey asked. Lueur nodded and the three of them chased after her. Neela was halfway to them before Coco tapped Eliana on the shoulder and she glanced up from the path. She smiled, dropping her bag and sprinting out to Neela, meeting her in an embrace. They basked in each other's warmth.
"Gods I was worried Neela," Eliana told her holding her close. "I was afraid that you'd be torn apart by a pack of Grimm or the bandits."
"I'm pretty strong Elli, there's nothing to worry about," Neela reassured her.
"I thought the same thing about my father," Eliana said sullenly. Neela pulled her away to see the tears in her eyes.
"You stopped by your old place, didn't you?" Neela asked. Eliana couldn't make words, she could only sob into Neela's shoulder as Neela held her tight.
"I was hoping… I hoped it would bring me joy… but it was eerie and I couldn't shake the thought of my father's death…" Eliana admitted.
"It's alright Elli," Neela told her. "Cry as much as you need to. I'm here for you." Eliana laughed through her sniffles.
"Aren't you always?" Eliana asked. Neela nodded as she separated Eliana from her.
"Always am, always will be," Neela reassured her. Eliana nodded and smiled.
"And I'll always be here for you," Eliana replied.
"Of course you will," Neela declared. "You better be." Eliana shoved her and laughed.
"Hard to believe that Eliana kicked some guy's ass earlier this morning that was easily three times stronger than me," Titus offered walking over and trying to boost her ego. "Hey, Neela. Next time you go off like that, at least leave me in charge."
"If they decide to give me a heads up, sure!" Neela laughed. "You'll have to tell me all about it Elli." She glanced at Ilia who stood next to Coco. "Come on Ilia. How was your morning?"
"Heh, our morning was crazy, to say the least," Ilia informed as she walked over to her team. Coco allowed them to catch up and moved to Neela's captors.
"Thank you for bringing her back safely," Coco told them.
"Sorry for kidnapping her," Apophis said shaking her hand. "Apophis." She nodded to him, shaking the snow leopard's hand next, though the girl seemed extremely reluctant about it. "Her name is Lueur, she doesn't talk."
"And I'm Honey," the last girl declared with her hands behind her back. Coco gave her the once over, admiring her style but freezing as she noted the ears and found herself transposing Velvet's image onto her.
"A pleasure to meet you all," Coco told her. "My name is Coco Adel, and I'm going to tell you kids right now that you do not have to fight this battle. We received your signal and we can handle the rest. I am going to do everything in my power, even if it means dying, to create a safer Mistral for you." Honey's eyes lit up. She glanced at Lueur who nodded at her and Apophis. He shrugged.
"We'd love to help Ms. Adel!" Honey exclaimed.
"Actually it's Mrs." Coco corrected.
"Your spouse seems to be very lucky," Honey said. Coco bit her lip. She was flattered. Her face turned red before leaping forward and throwing her arms around Honey.
"You're so cute! I just want to take you home to my other buns!" Coco declared.
"Neela?" Honey called out.
"Her wife and son are both bunny Faunus like you," Neela explained.
"Really?!" Honey asked, her eyes lighting up even further. Coco released her and fumbled with her scroll.
"I have pictures!" Coco exclaimed. Team NITE laughed as Lueur came over, Eliana took a few steps back, shaking with glee and covering her mouth.
"Look at her cute little tail!" Eliana squealed as she scrambled over to Lueur and wrapped the girl's tail around herself. "And it's crazy soft!"
"Doesn't talk much, does she?" Ilia asked.
"She's mute," Neela informed her.
"She's fine in my book," Eliana said rubbing Lueur's tail against her face. Lueur snatched her tail back, fluffing it out again and walking over to Neela. She took a step away from the rest of the group and pulled Neela aside, motioning towards Eliana and smiling, looking up at Neela with her head pointed down.
"Yes Lueur," Neela replied. Lueur glanced over her shoulder again and slugged Neela's, shaking her. She motioned violently with her head. "Lueur… Lueur no…" Lueur placed her thumb against her own chest and nodded.
"So then what's the plan?" Neela asked as Coco brought the other two over.
"We still need to find the exact location of the camp, but essentially we're just going to catch Zilla and lock her up," Coco told her.
"I know where it is," Apophis told her. He pointed out his legs. "You might guess that I've been there before."
"Great!" Ilia exclaimed.
"I can also tell you that we don't stand a chance against Zilla," Apophis added.
"What can you tell me about her?" Coco asked.
"She really hates Faunus, but I'm guessing you already know that much. It seems like she has more than one semblance though," Apophis said.
"That's not possible, is it?" Honey asked.
"No," Coco said. "It's not." She looked at Apophis. "What did she do?"
"Pretty much all of the elements," Apophis told her. "She didn't use them on me thankfully, but I saw some of the others that refused to come quietly."
"Is it possible to have a semblance that allows control over multiple elements?" Eliana asked.
"I've been around a lot longer than you kids, I've seen things," Coco told her. "I'd say it's plausible."
"Are we attacking now?" Honey inquired. Coco shook her head.
"Waiting until morning will be better, it'll be dark soon," Coco told them.
"That's why we attack tonight," Neela told Coco. Coco looked at her before glancing at Honey's team and smirking.
"Right," Coco replied catching on.
Athena watched as her tribe trained, just outside of the village they had designated a field for mock fighting and attacking dummies. She was willing to take anyone that was serious and wasn't in danger of being killed. Children under the age of about fifteen were out, and the elders wouldn't be allowed to place themselves in danger either. It was up to them to prepare for when the White Fang began their takeover of the kingdom and do their best to survive. It was all that Athena could do for them aside from killing them now and sparing them a death at the hands of the humans. She could feel the stress of the situation starting to wear on her.
Athena wasn't one to doubt herself, but with the outcome of their skirmish with the Xiao Longs, she wondered if she was wrong to place her faith in Crimson and Ebony. If need be, she could lead the Fang herself to their destiny, but she wanted to be able to trust her handmaidens. She needed things taken care of before their attack on Beacon and if things weren't executed properly, even her strength wouldn't be able to carry the plan through. Crimson tripped as Ebony attacked her and Athena leapt over the fence that surrounded them, shoving Ebony off and grabbing Crimson by the neck.
"You're fighting is sloppy!" Athena yelled. "Haven't I taught you better?"
"I'm trying my best goddess!" Crimson shouted back at her. "You've been running us non-stop for the past couple of weeks! We're tired!" Athena backhanded Crimson and threw her to the ground, Crimson's eyes grew wide as she realized that she had talked back. Crimson scrambled to her feet quickly, chasing after Athena who marched away and refused to acknowledge that she was being followed. "Athena, mistress! Wait, I'm sorry!"
"Sorry is not going to cut it when we attack that school and you get yourself killed by Blake and Yang!" Athena shouted at her. "I want you at my side! At this rate, you'll probably end up being killed by one of the students on the tapes that we've been going over!"
"I'm still competent!" Crimson told her as they continued towards the temple. "I'm more useful to you than the con or the girl from Menagerie! You know what I can do, their power is nothing in comparison!"
"That might be true, but the two of them have done everything that I've asked of them without fail," Athena said. "You and Ebony were at the very least supposed to put the fear of the Fang in the Xiao Longs and instead they put you both to shame! They've been off of active duty for years now!"
"Is there anything that I can get you, Athena?" Ebony asked jogging to catch up to them. Crimson swung around, only for Ebony to catch her wrist and stop her mid-swing.
"I think you've done enough for one lifetime," Crimson told her.
"Just because I keep kicking your ass doesn't mean that you need to be so bitter," Ebony replied. "And I wasn't talking to you."
"I didn't see you doing much against the Xiao Longs either," Crimson said. Athena broke Ebony's grip, holding her sword out between the two of them.
"I almost defeated Neela!" Ebony yelled. "Or did you selectively forget that detail?"
"If the two of you are going to continue bickering I will throw both of you out!" Athena yelled at them. "The two of you have been at each other since the day that I accepted Ebony as my apprentice and the only reason that I needed one was because of Blake Belladonna and Yang Xiao Long! They killed my brother and stole this dream from him before kidnapping my protege!" Crimson looked at Athena before releasing Ebony and watching her mistress walk away.
"Athena! You don't mean that…" Crimson began before Athena swung around with her sword. Crimson leapt back, missing the blade and crashing into Ebony.
"The potential of that girl even when she was just a young child was something to behold," Athena told them. "A spark. A light, a passion that burned brightly in her eyes that I had only ever seen in Adam. A conviction to protect those that she loved. We were her family. Her power was evident early on, my father and brother spoke of her frequently. It was more than a feeling, the Jaeger's had a hereditary semblance that had been passed on for generations, but none of them had proper training like Neela would receive. I knew that when they finally came for Adam, I would have her.
I went looking for her in the midst of the chaos when I escaped. I had no luck, and with all of the killing being done by the military, I was sure that she had been murdered." Athena's face contorted in anger and she gripped Wilt tighter. "Years later I heard that she was still alive, she'd been featured in magazines in Vale, won archery contests, she was destined to become the new pride and joy of Beacon…" Athena sheathed the blade. "Those humans had turned her into a spectacle! Using her for their entertainment!"
"I could beat her, I've seen the clips, she's nothing special," Crimson told Athena. "I will make you proud mistress!"
"I have taught you better than to be overly confident in yourself, haven't I?" Athena continued towards her throne with them behind her. "Neela's skill makes even me nervous, but once I reveal the truth to her I have faith that she will return to us. The humans used and manipulated her for their own purposes."
"You don't understand how ironic that truly is, do you?" Irving asked as she passed by him and threw open the doors. "As if you haven't manipulated humans to fulfill your needs."
"I'd hold your tongue if I were you," Ebony warned him.
"You mistake me for being afraid of her. I know her kind, there's no reason for me to fear her. As long as I do as she asks and fulfills my purpose, I'll get out of this alive," Irving replied. "I only hope that when she's finished, she doesn't ship me off to Atlas."
"Why's that?" Ebony asked him.
"Vacuo and Vale's prison systems are jokes. Mistral is getting better, but there are still flaws," Irving said joining the entourage. "Atlas, however, is another story. Mistral experimented for quite some time without consent, but Atlas uses questionable torture methods to get information about whatever they want. The council doesn't know about it and most of the military doesn't know either, but I'd believe it. They'll justify it saying that it's a necessity to ensure the safety of Remnant and people will dismiss it if it ever comes to light."
"Irving," Athena said stopping a few feet from her throne and letting Crimson and Ebony pass by her. She rubbed his jaw and smirked. "If this plan succeeds you won't have to worry about me getting rid of you. You'll be a hero…" She brushed his cheek. "And since any of your offspring with a member of the Fang would carry the Faunus gene, I'm sure that I could find another use for you."
"Are you positive that I can't help fix your appearance?" He asked, swinging out to grab her hair. Athena blocked his hand with her forearm and wagged her finger. "Fine, have it your way."
"Soon enough you'll have someone that you can do whatever you'd like to once this is over," Athena informed him.
"Sooner than later would be preferable," he replied.
"Is a few months too long?" She asked. He sighed and took a step back.
"Are you sure that there isn't anyone here that'd you like me to fix in the meantime?" He pleaded. Athena shook her head and took her seat in her throne.
"Be a dear and fetch Mattachanna for me," Athena dismissed him. He nodded with a slight bow and left, leaving Athena alone for a moment with her handmaiden and apprentice.
"Why did you bring him in again?" Crimson asked. Athena smiled as she steepled her fingers and leaned back in her throne.
"After going over all of the data, the videos, and the information that was given to us by Admon's sister, I decided that his power set and history would be the most valuable in moving our plan forward," Athena reminded her. "You need not worry my love, soon enough he will be out of the way and the Faunus will reign supreme once and for all." She shifted, throwing her left leg over her right as Mattachanna entered and she threw her arms out. "If it isn't my favorite Menagerie native!"
"I'll be taking my leave now, your grace," Mattachanna informed her. "I feel like I have done all that I can do here, and with Atlas now back in the north and no longer invading my island, I feel my services would be put to better use back home. Thank you for understanding." Athena stood, walking across the grand hall and grazing Mattachanna's cheek with her hand.
"This won't end if you leave now, it doesn't go away until my vision is seen through to its end," Athena told her as she paced around the girl. "Perhaps I can convince you to stay for another couple of months, I have a few more missions for you that will ensure without a shadow of a doubt that the Atlesian military will never step foot on your island ever again." Mattachanna glanced at her.
"What would you have me do?" She asked Athena.
"You'd need to travel to Atlas one last time," Athena said. "They may have left your island and promised not to drill, but once you see the mines for yourself you'll understand my fear that they'll return to Menagerie for laborers. I want you to destroy a few of the Dust mines and let them know that the Faunus are not free labor that they can just push around."
"I'll do it at night to make sure that no one is injured," she told Athena.
"But it'll cause more of a spectacle and concern if done during the day," Athena told her. "A few lives need to be given up if the strong are to survive."
"At night or I won't do it," Mattachanna told her. Athena smirked and waved her off with her hand.
"At night it is then," Athena replied. "Now leave. I need you back here before the summer begins." Mattachanna left and as Athena sat once more, Crimson broke rank and moved to in front of Athena's throne.
"Goddess, you could have sent me! Let me prove to you that I can still complete my tasks as you desire! I'm not weak! Please!" Crimson pleaded.
"Your begging is wearing on me," Athena informed her. "I want to keep that girl here, for now. As I've said before, the more help that we have, the easier this will be in the end. I have a different task that I need you to take care of."
"Yes, mistress!" She exclaimed.
"I need you to help Stardust free Mercury from the prison in Vale," Athena told her. "I've been in contact with him and he says that he'll be more than happy to create a distraction for us once we decide to attack. He likes to think of it as me agreeing to help Salem though he's completely mistaken. Once we're finished, no one will remember the name Salem. Only Athena. And that the White Fang and Faunus are the superior species."
Athena's plans are slowly setting into motion. Will NITE be able to take the bandit's down with the help of Honey and her team next week? Next up, Chapter 82 - Monster!
A big thank you to Helihi, Cadhla182, Carlomontie, Nliast, Y8ay8a, Sa-Dui, Diyaru4500, Demize00Zero, TheCipherNine, SketchHungry, Ookaminoki, Lightning-in-my-Hand, and Dishwasher1910. All of their artwork can be found at Deviantart, you can search Silent-Celica and under my favorites tab, I have a collection for NITE.
Helihi and Cadhla182's images should be up on Deviantart and added to the album soon!
Until next week, stay classy!