Chapter 8: Taking the Throne

Do what we do best

She still hadn't found either one of them. Ruby or Cinder. They had both evaded her, somehow, some way. But she wouldn't stop looking, no, she would never stop looking. Not until they both got what they deserved. Death would be sweet.

In a way, she almost hoped that Ruby or Cinder would take her with them, because then she could be reunited with Roman in heaven.

Or hell. The two of them had done some pretty nasty things in their life.

She walked down the road, parasol held up due to the fact it was raining. A perfect example of her mood at this moment in time.

She didn't feel any remorse for killing Junior, nor did she care that the Malachite Twins had got away. She just couldn't give two damns. Roman had went to him for men once, but that was about where the interaction ended.

Probably for the best too.

Neo passed a puddle and looked at her reflection. She didn't pay any attention to the state of her clothes, but she was shivering, really badly. The cold bit into her skin like a wolf, and she didn't even realise how tired she was. Suddenly, a man with orange hair walked past, and for one moment, she thought he was back, risen from the dead like a ghost. But he wasn't.

How long had she been walking? A day? Weeks? Months? She couldn't tell, but her aching legs told her it was either the second or third one.

She took another step forward. Then another, hoping the bitter cold might numb her legs. But it was no use, and soon enough, she realised she couldn't go on like this. Even if she did find Cinder or Ruby, she wouldn't be in a state to take them on. Even that blonde girl she had fought on the train could have knocked her out at this moment, and honestly, she'd embrace that. Embrace the feeling of pain, of misery, of death.

She ducked into a nearby shop, hoping for some comfort, anything.

Panting, she walked over to a nearby seat and just sank into a seat, putting her parasol next to her.

She lay back and began to close her eyes, until something nearby caught her attention. She hadn't payed any attention when she walked in, but this was a clothes store. And nearby was a hat selection.

Sitting neatly on the shelf, was a bowler hat with a red band round the middle, and a feather slotted into the back.

Standing up, she walked over to it, until she noticed that someone else had already picked it up and was trying it on…

That's mine.

That was his hat, so now she had a right to it.

"Hey, check it out!"

"Dude, you kind of look like Roman Torchwick!"

"Do I?"

"Yeah!"

"Does anybody have a cane lying about?"

"Here!" One of the girls snuck over and stole one off a old man, who collapsed helplessly to the ground.

Shaking her head, she advanced onto the gang. He was now holding the cane, doing his best Roman impression.

"Ooo, look at me, I'm Roman Torchwick! I can beat up people with my-"

She snatched the hat off the top of his head. He turned to her.

"What do you think your doing little girl?"

Waving her hand at him, she ran off with the hat.

"Hey, come back here-"

The youths met justice. In which, the old mans wife purse gave them a good ole smack to the face.

Now away, Neo stared at the hat.

And immediately broke down crying.

She cradled it to her chest, continuously sobbing. No one even paid her any attention.

Sobbing, Neo then did the one thing she didn't think she'd ever be able to do again, not after what happened when she was younger.

She spoke. She spoke the name of the one man who had given it all to her, who had raised her, who had been there for her at every corner. Even though her throat burned with a agonising pain, she did it anyway.

"Roman…"

Do what we do best

"High leader, may I speak with you for a moment?"

"Adam, I have far more important matters to attend to."

"Please, I beg of you. It is important."

The guards stood by her side. They all had their eyes on Adam, awaiting his command.

It was time they got what they deserved. A new leader who would rise up and wipe out the humans.

Sienna took a seat on her throne, soon to be his.

"You'd best have something important to tell me."

"Thank you Sienna. I am extremely grateful."

He rose to his feet from his kneeling down position.

"Sienna, what was your goal when you became High Leader?"

"I'm sorry?" She seemed rather taken aback by the question.

"Your goal, what did you hope to achieve?"

"I want to achieve the same thing you do! Equality for the Faunus!"

Adam didn't say anything for a moment.

"Is that what you wanted to ask me? Don't make me laugh."

"Tell me, what do you think happens when a leader is no longer fit to rule their people? When people began to doubt them, lose faith in them?"

"They would stand down."

"But what happens when that person is too full of themselves, thinking that they are still worthy of being a leader?"

Sienna was beginning to grow extremely suspicious. "What are you saying?"

"I am saying that no matter how good a leader thinks there are, no matter how well they've lead their people, there is always someone better."

Sienna curled her hand into a fist. "Are you saying-"

"Yes Sienna. That is exactly what I am saying. I won't beat around the bush. The time has come for you to step down, and for me to take over."

Sienna slammed her hand on the edge of the throne. "You really have the nerve to walk in here, and say to me that I'm not worthy of leading our people?"

"That's not-"

"Silence! Do you really think that you have the power to make those decisions?! That you would be worthy of taking such a position?!"

"Well Sienna, whether you like it or not, you are stepping down today."

"And now you threaten me?! You have gone insane with revenge. With power. I will not allow you to-"

Suddenly, her guards on either side of her turned and pointed their weapons at her.

Several men came bursting through the door, and striding out behind them was Tock with a wicked grin on her face.

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Sienna, you are the one who has went insane, thinking that you can still lead us. I appreciate your services, but it is time for you to go."

"From this day forward, I will be the one to lead the White Fang."

She stood up off her throne, and looked around her. "You're wrong."

"Do you really think that you can take us all on? I don't want to kill you, but I will if necessary."

Sienna went for her chain whip, but stopped upon the realisation that he was right. There were simply too many. She'd be dead before getting anywhere near him.

"Fine." Adam smiled.

She stepped off her throne, and walked past him, glaring at him. The White Fang kept their weapons pointed at her.

"Now, that wasn't too hard, was it?" Tock asked as she walked past her. She had no idea who this crocodile Faunus was, but she didn't particularly care.

"Thank you Sienna." Adam walked up to the throne, and took a good long look at it before sitting down. "I promise, this is a decision you won't regret."

Sienna was already on her way out. For a second, she thought she saw Ilia, blending in with the surroundings, but quickly lost sight of her.

She pushed open the door, and took one last look at Adam, the man who had sacrificed everything to get where he was now.

Including her trust.

Do what we do best

Roman slowly opened his eyes. Trifa was shaking him.

Did I… fall asleep?

Of course he had.

"Hey, I think we're almost there."

Roman looked, and saw she was indeed right. There was a patch of land beginning to form in the distance.

"Do you reckon that's Mistral?"

"I would certainly hope so." Roman sat up, rubbing his eyes. Grabbing Melodic Cugel, he stood up and began wishing he hadn't fell asleep. He didn't know when Trifa had woken up, but what he did know was that anything could have happened in the time he was asleep.

His mind was drawn back to the conversation of last night.

He had never planned on telling her about Neo. It had just sort of came out of his mouth, before he could stop and think about what he was saying.

And then she had hugged him. He had never been touched by a Faunus before, so he assumed it would feel weird. But it hadn't. It had felt… normal. Nice, actually, in a way. But he was far too prideful to admit that.

"How long until we get there you reckon?" Looking at her, her hair whipping around her face, he realised they were actually closing in very fast, thanks to him booting up the motor again just a second ago.

"Dunno. About ten minutes?"

Trifa sat back down, and sighed to herself softly.

"What do you think will happen to the White Fang now?" He asked. She blinked, not sure she had heard his question properly.

"I… don't know. Me leaving is hardly going to change anything, it'll probably remain the same."

"You do know that they will probably be the ones the people blame for the Fall of Beacon?"

"What? But it was all, um, what was her name again?"

"Cinder?"

"Yeah, Cinder! It was all her fault!"

"You need to remember, Cinder isn't a public figure. The White Fang were the ones to let Grimm in. So they're not entirely blameless. Especially when it comes to Adam."

Adam… Trifa wondered what he was doing now. Probably planning another attack or something.

"No way…"

She looked at Roman. His eyes were wide."What's wrong?"

He groaned. "I was hoping this wouldn't happen."

"What wouldn't happen?"

He pointed to the open water ahead of them, and she saw what he was talking about. There were rows and rows of boats, as well as…

Watchtowers.

Her breath caught in her throat. "That's…"

Roman nodded grimly. "Border patrol."

Do what we do best

Oh boy. It's getting good now. With Adam as the leader of the White Fang, and Roman and Trifa almost at Mistral, the main plot can finally begin to unfold.

Quick heads up. That is going to be the last Neo scene for a while. Don't worry, she's not disappearing completely, I just want to really focus, on Trifa, Roman, and the White Fang for the next while.

In fact, when I was planning this chapter, I originally thought to have that last scene be the first one, have the White Fang scene, then have them sneaking through border patrol, but then I realised there hadn't been a Neo scene for a while, so I wrote one. Just know that she's still tracking Cinder and Ruby. Whether she'll find them or not is a different story.

Thanks for reading and have a good day!