It is morning in Menagerie. Blake, Sun and Tukson are on the steps of the Belladonna Family Home, all three of them each holding a Scroll.

"Okay." Blake spoke, "Are you two ready?" she asked.

Sun snorted, "I beat up on giant monsters and robots more than once, I think I can handle getting a few signatures." he claimed as Blake gives a small smile at Sun.

Tukson brought up his scroll, "Getting people to rally on our side will be difficult but we can't just sit around and do nothing, we need to strike while the iron remains hot." he said, "And if the iron turns cold, then we have a problem.'' he said.

Blake nodded, "Then let's get to it." she replied.

Later that day, Blake stands on a platform in front of a crowd of Faunus, holding her scroll up in front of her.

"Your chieftain needs you! Your people need you! Please, join the fight and help us save Haven Academy!" Blake pleaded as the Faunus just stare back at Blake, much to her discomfort.

Elsewhere, Sun tries to recruit a male Faunus. The male faunus is a tall, tanned, muscular young man with short dark hair and peach eyes. He wears a plain white shirt, peach cargo pants and black sneakers. His Faunus trait heritage appears to be that of a sheep, possessing two ram-like horns on each side of his head. This is Mata.

Menagerie Local

Mata

"Are you kidding me? We'd love to have someone with your skills on our side!" Sun cheered.

The Faunus nervously rubs the back of his head, before his mother calls out to him, "Mata! Get back inside." the mother called.

"Mom!" Mata complained.

His mother then grabs his arm, "You're not going anywhere!" she said before pulling him away as Sun sighs in disappointment.

Meanwhile at a street market, we see a crowd gathered around Tukson as he began to some sort of... speech?

"And so... if there's anyone to blame here is Electronic Arts!" Tukson exclaimed, "They used microtransactions and loot boxes to gobble up all of our money to satisfy their greed.'' he stated.

Then one faunus raised his hand, "Sir? What's Electronic Arts?'' he asked.

Then realization kicks in for Tukson, "Oh right, I'm not in a game convention.'' he muttered, "Excuse me.'' he said walking away with hands on his face.

"Anyone knows what Electronic Arts is?'' the same faunus asked.

Back to Blake, she holds out her scroll to two Faunus girls asking them to sign up, but the two leave.

Elsewhere, Sun hangs upside down by his tail from a tree, getting the attention of a couple of Faunus cutting logs and gathering wood. He gestures to his scroll, but the Faunus simply exchange confused looks with each other. Sun sighs until another Faunus tries to cut down the tree that Sun is hanging on.

Tukson then walks towards a bathhouse, he holds up his scroll before entering the place. A few minutes later, Tukson is seen running out of the bathhouse as several gay faunuses chases after him with lovestruck looks on their face.

At the docks, Blake converses with an aquatic Faunus as two more swim up to her. The Faunus Blake is conversing with leaves, and she turns to the two female aquatic Faunus that have just swam up, before they too swim away. Blake, unsatisfied with the lack of progress, walks up to a nearby fruit stand where Sun happens to be present at also. The two of them share disappointed glances.

After that, the two of them are sitting at a nearby table drinking from coconut cups.

Sun slams his cup down, "I don't get it!" he exclaimed, "How can they just sit around and do nothing with the White Fang getting ready to attack?!" he demanded in frustration.

"Because not everyone is like you and me." Blake replied, "The Faunus here in Menagerie - the ones that weren't born on the island - moved here because they were tired of fighting, of having to struggle constantly. Menagerie is filled with people that just want to be left alone, (scoffs) and here we are, asking them to put the rest of the world before themselves." she explained.

"I guess I never really thought about it like that." Sun admitted.

"The problem is, whatever happens at Haven is going to affect them whether they like it or not. If Adam gets his way and Haven falls, it's only going to make things worse for the Faunus. Everywhere." Blake stated.

"Adam... He's the guy you used to... work with?" Sun asked.

Blake sighed, "Yes." she replied.

Sun the noticed the discomfort on Blake's face, "Sorry, forget I brought it up." he said.

"No, it's okay." Blake reassured as she stayed silent for a moment before speaking again, "Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, "They are the personification of this word."" she stated.

Sun rubs the back his head, "Uh..." he trails.

"Okay, well, I remember getting to know Ruby and thinking, "This girl is the embodiment of "purity"." After a while, I saw Weiss was "defiance". And Yang was "strength"." Blake explained.

"What am I?" Sun asked excitedly.

Blake smiled, "Jury's still out on that one, but I'm leaning towards "earnest"." she replied.

At this, Sun wraps his tail around his cup and takes a sip from it, before leaning on his hand affectionately. Blake giggles and smiles for bit, before frowning as she continues.

"At first I thought Adam was "justice", then I thought he was "passion". But over time, I realized I was wrong. He wasn't any of those things. He was "spite". Not "hatred", not "rage", "spite". He won't accept equality, only suffering for what he feels the world did to him, and his way of thinking is dangerously contagious. That's what worries me about Ilia. She's not like Adam, not yet at least, but I don't know how long that will last." Blake said.

"She was your friend, huh?" Sun pointed out,

"She was." Blake confirmed, "Her chameleon traits meant she could pass as human. She could've lived a normal life if she wanted, but she didn't. I always admired that. She lost her family in a mining accident when she was young, then she joined the White Fang. Like me, she was more or less trained on the road alongside other Faunus. She learned to survive, to defend herself, but as people like Sienna and Adam started to gain a following, she became more dangerous. I guess I did too. My parents tried to get me to leave with them, but I refused. I had Adam and Ilia, after all." she explained.

"You know we're gonna have to face her eventually." Sun pointed out.

Blake nodded, "I know." she replied.

"So, what are you gonna do?" Sun asked.

"I'm going to try and help her the way you helped me." Blake replied which surprises Sun by her response, "You showed me that sometimes you need to be there for a friend even when they don't want you to be. I was drowning in guilt and fear, I tried to push you away, but you didn't give up on me. And I can't give up on Ilia. It's about time I saved my friends for once." she said with a smile as Sun smiles back at her response.

Then Tukson arrives and took a seat at their table, "Is there any bathhouse in this place that is like... you know... not filled with gays?'' he asked in annoyance.

Sun and Blake stares at him for minute before staring at each other in confusion.

bzzztt...

Back in Mistral, Oscar is in a training room while wielding Ozpin's cane. As he pants from exhaustion, he hears a voice enter the room.

"You're really getting better, huh?" Ruby commented as she is seen walking down the stairs into the room, "Are you hungry? It's almost dinnertime." she pointed out.

"Uh, yeah. That sounds good. I was about to call it a night anyway." Oscar replied.

"So, you've never fought before?" Ruby asked.

"Just the occasional small Grimm. Nothing like this, though." Oscar admitted.

"Wow." Ruby giggled, "You look like a natural." she commented.

"It's strange, I have only had this cane for a few weeks, but... I feel like I've had it for a lifetime. Longer, even." Oscar stated with a pause, "I sound like a crazy person." he admitted.

"I mean, uh, yeah just a little." Ruby said, "But at this pace, you'll be combat ready in no time!" she said when she suddenly frowns upon mentioning her last phrase.

Oscar notices this and tries to ask a question before Ruby interrupts him, "Uh..." he tried to say something.

"Well, see you upstairs." Ruby interrupted.

"How do you handle all of this?" Oscar asked.

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked him in confusion.

"I'm... scared." Oscar confessed as his voice starts to crack, "I'm more scared than I've ever been in my life, than I ever thought was possible." he said as he walks over to a weapon rack, "I always knew that I wanted to be more than a farmhand, but this?" he stated as he places the cane in the rack, "Who would ask for this?" he asked.

He glances down at the floor as a tear drips from his eye. He sniffles before kneeling to the floor to reach his backpack. He grabs the cane off the rack and pulls the lever on the handle to compact it before putting it in his backpack.

"We all went to Beacon because we wanted to help people." Ruby replied, "But, you're right. None of us asked for this either. We just have to press on and-" she tried to say but was interrupted.

"How can you be so confident?! People have tried to kill you! The world's about to go to war all over again! How are you okay with any of this?!" Oscar demanded.

Ruby is taken aback by Oscar's question. She frowns as she says her response, "When Beacon fell, I lost three of my friends: Penny Polendina, Pyrrha Nikos and Peter Dactyll." she confessed, "I didn't know them for very long, but that doesn't change the fact that they were three of the most kind-hearted people I have ever met." she admitted, "But that didn't save them. Pyrrha thought that if there was even the smallest chance of helping someone, then it was a chance worth taking." she stated, "And because of that, she died fighting a battle she knew she couldn't win, Penny... was killed... just to make a statement and Peter... he died saving me..." she said.

"I'm... sorry." Oscar said with a guilty look.

"I am scared, but not just for me." Ruby pointed out, "What happened at Beacon shows that Salem doesn't care if you're standing against her or not. She'll kill anybody, and that scares me most of all. Pyrrha... Penny... Peter... I'd be lying if I said that it didn't hurt, that I didn't think about them every day since I lost them, that I didn't wish I had spent more time with them. If it had been me instead, I know they would have kept fighting too, no matter how dangerous it was. So that's what I choose to do - to keep moving forward." she stated.

Oscar walks up next to Ruby, and they both share a smile. Ruby wipes tears coming from her eyes with her arm as she puts a hand on Oscar's shoulder, "C'mon, if we don't hurry, Nora's gonna eat everything. It wouldn't be the first time." she mused as she begins to leave the room as Oscar lingers for a bit, "Hey, Oscar?" she called, "This isn't gonna be easy, but the fact that you're even trying says a lot about you. You're braver than you think." she said with a smile.

Ruby proceeds up the stairs while Oscar watches.

"She really is remarkable, isn't she?" Opzin spoke.

Oscar nodded, "Yeah. She must've been one of the best Huntresses at Beacon, huh?" he said.

Ozpin chuckled, "In some ways, yes. But in many others... no. She has her quirks, her faults, just like everyone else. But she also possesses something unquantifiable: a spark, that can inspire others even in the darkest of times." he explained.

"This must be really hard on her too." Oscar said.

"It most assuredly is." Ozpin replied, "By the way... need to remind you not to hit on Miss Rose... Mister Arc won't like that." he advised.

Oscar then blushed madly, "W-w-w-what?!" he squawked, "What are you talking about?!" he exclaimed as Ozpin let's out a chuckle.

Bzzzttt...

In an ominous looking room, a small device projecting a blue hologram with the text "MESSAGE END" deactivates. The room is candlelit, and there are White Fang banners hanging along the walls. Corsac and Fennec stand in front of a painting.

"Your thoughts?" Fennec asked.

"Are of no significance." Corsac replied, "If this is how High Leader Taurus wishes to proceed, then we shall make it so." he stated.

"Of course, brother. Still..." Fennec said as a knock on the door is heard behind them.

"Come in." Corsac replied as Ilia enters the room.

"Sister Ilia, thank you for meeting with us." Fennec greeted.

Ilia then kneels down, "How may I be of assistance?" she asked.

"Please, stand." Corsac ordred as Ilia does so, "We have wonderful news." he announced.

"What is it?" Ilia asked.

"We finally received a message from the Mistral brotherhood: the operation was a success." Corsac replied, "Adam Taurus has claimed his place as the High Leader of the White Fang." he said.

"Good." Ilia replied, "And... Sienna?" she asked.

Corsac gave her a confused look, "She... vanished for some reason." he replied.

"What do you mean?'' Ilia asked.

"It's just like what brother said, she just vanished." Fennec said, "No one knows what happened to her or why she's gone." he explained.

"But her disappearance is a good benefit for all of us." Corsac claimed, "The other branches of the Fang have been given the story that was agreed upon." he stated.

Ilia sighed, "I see.'' she said.

The Albains bow at Ilia, "Your maturity and understanding in regards to this matter is appreciated, and it is why we've summoned you here this evening." Corsac spoke.

"The White Fang is experiencing... a transitional period." Fennec followed.

"Growth requires change." Corsac said.

"And change can be painful." Fennec added.

"If it's for the betterment of the Faunus, then... it's a pain we can endure." Ilia claimed, "What's our next mission?" she asked.

"Containment." Corsac replied, "With the CCT towers still inoperable, we have the luxury of control over the flow of information." he explained.

"News of Adam's ascension has yet to reach Menagerie, but when it does, the citizens of Kuo Kuana will undoubtedly react poorly now that the chieftain has spoken out against us." Fennec pointed out.

Ilia let's out a sigh, "It's my fault the Belladonnas had any ground to stand on." she admitted.

"Do not concern yourself with past failures, Ilia." Corsac reassured, :Focus on the future. We have an opportunity for redemption." he advised.

"What do you need me to do?" Ilia asked,

"The Belladonnas are the only remaining threat to Adam's assault on Haven Academy." Fennec stated.

"And so, they must be silenced..."Corsac said.

Ilia was visibly taken aback by this, "S-silenced?" she muttered.

"They stand in the way of true progress for our people." Corsac pointed out.

"We would never put such a burden on you alone, of course." Fennec reassured, "Your brothers and sisters will be at your side, but your relationship with their daughter makes you an intrical part of this operation." he stated.

"Blake?" Ilia asked.

"We know how close you are with young Blake." Corsac admitted, "Rest assured, High Leader Taurus has requested she be taken alive, but we cannot risk having her present to defend her family." he reassured.

"But, the people of Menagerie-" Ilia pointed out but was interrupted.

"Will come to understand what happens to those who speak out against the White Fang." Corsac stated.

"And will be left without a leader until our victory is complete." Fennec added.

Corsac puts a hand on Ilia's shoulder, "A necessary sacrifice, Sister Ilia." he reminded,

Ilia briefly thinks on this, before leaving the room.

"She's right to worry about the citizens. It's possible they may come to see Ghira as a martyr." Fennec pointed.

"It is a risk we must take for our High Leader." Corsac claimed as he reactivates the device from earlier, showing a blue life-sized hologram of a male faunus and his message.

The male faunus is a tall man with red and brown hair that spikes backward in a windswept way. While most of his hair is red, a portion of it in the back and several streaks are brown. A noticeable trait of his appearance is the mask he wears, which obscures his eyes and upper face. His Faunus heritage appears to be that of a bull, for he has two horns- one on each side of his head. His mask is whitish-tan with red, Japanese style, horn-like symbols decorating the front, and two slits on each side presumably to allow for vision. This is a redesigned version of the Grimm masks typically worn by most members of the White Fang. He wears a long-sleeved black suit jacket with slit sleeves and more red designs and a white symbol on the left side. His suit jacket is red on the inside with red flame-like accents at the bottom and his wilting rose emblem on the back over a white floral design. His suit jacket is half-buttoned, exposing a red shirt with a black line running parallel to his collar under it. He wears long black pants, black shoes with red soles and black gloves with more red emblems on their forehand, appearing to be a variant of the Greek letter Ω (Omega), the last letter in the Greek alphabet. He wears a black belt with white domino marks on it. This is Adam Taurus.

White Fang Leader

Adam Taurus

"I will not allow them to ruin this! The Belladonna name has brought me nothing but grief!" Adam relayed visibly upset, he then brings his hand to face to compose himself, "You've done well in finding the deserter." he praised, "Bring her to me, alive." he ordered, "But not before you've slaughtered her family. I have a promise to keep." he added as he hologram deactivates.

"He seems... unwell." Fennec pointed out.

"He carries with him a tremendous burden." Corsac replied.

"Are we sure he is the one to lead us?" Fennec asked.

"For now." Corsac replied, "We must do what is best for the Faunus." he said as Fennec sighed as a knock at the door is heard again, "Yes?" he called.

Then a male Faunus with bat wings enters the room. This is Yuma.

White Fang Member

Yuma

"Brother Yuma." Corsac greeted, "Did you see to Ghira's messenger?" he asked.

"He rests beneath the waves... along with his warning." Yuma replied.

"Then all is well." Corsac said.

A/N: Inspired from someonestupED, damnlastwords, Hope the Victor and Ace Neptune. All OCs and concepts not created by moi were given permission for me to use by it's respected creators.