Visitors from other kingdoms always assume that the king or queen went off to war and ruled an entire kingdom, while the "precious" prince or princess stayed home in luxury and trained. Weiss never did get that concept. Wouldn't it make more sense to send the young to lead the armies into battle? To be involved with the people directly to better understand them?

Well that's Vale's philosophy. The king and queen led a more relaxed, retired lifestyle and usually dealt with economics and politics. While the children dealt with the army and helping the people directly. To earn the right, to gain first hand experience, and be one with the people.

And Weiss hated this fact. She hated the fact she had all this responsibility to uphold, responsibility she wanted, but her father had forbidden her from it. Taking it all to deal with himself. He didn't even let Weiss leave the grounds. At least, until now. Her concert was her first real public act. Course all it was for was to prove to people she existed...and appear sane.

She didn't hate her father for the decision. She understood why he made the choice, but it still made her furious. Ever since she was a girl, the same age he showed up, she dreamed of the day she could help make a difference. To fight for the glory of Vale, the honor of her family name, and to bring justice to all evils!

But instead, for years she's sat around in the same house, doing the same things every day. What it all boiled down to was her sitting around and having more and more flashes. Nothing changed. Eventually she got worried she'd just snap and burn her home to the ground. All the while her father worried for her safety, her servants worried about her sanity, and the public worried about their future with a queen they barely knew.

So, needless to say, the thought of returning home could practically rhyme with dread and hate. But at least she could be home with her dad. They needed to enjoy the time they have together, courtesy of the sickness. That, and Weiss wanted, no, she needed to figure out what that flash meant.

"Your Highness," One of the Schnee's personal knights stopped both royals at their front door. "you have a message and a visitor waiting for you."

Vale's king tightened the grip on his canes. Weiss knew that a both a message and a visitor at this hour couldn't be good. Rule of thumb, if you're going to get bad news, it'll be at night.

The king turned to Weiss, putting on his best fake reassuring smile. "Sweetheart, go wait for me in the library. We'll talk later, okay? If I take too long, head off to bed."

Weiss gave a sigh, but recovered with a smile. "Oh course Father." Weiss continued on by herself.

As she passed through he home, Weiss gave smiles and greetings to everyone she passed. She always tried to be this kind every day. But this time everyone, even the knights and servants that outright thought she was crazy, returned the kindness. Tonight, she wasn't the mad princess. Tonight she was the beloved new star of Vale.

But to Weiss...

In my first real act for Vale, I've embraced the stereotype of being completely useless. Great… All while hiding the fact I'm slowly going crazy.

WWWWWWWW

Perhaps this was the worst idea Blake had ever had. Hide from the wolves in the bear's den. Yeah. Maybe she should've just taken her chances with Grimm invested woods.

She made her way moving from back alleys to rooftops. Though Blake didn't know where to go. What was she looking for? Well…

"How about food for starters." Blake mumbled as she made another trip though an alley.

And as if on cue, she had arrived at her destination. The best place for someone of her nature to get food. The fishing docks.

Blake took in all the smells of the ocean, the sounds of late night dock works, and of course the sight of fish. Oh the fish. The Tuna...the sweet...succulent...

"HEY! STOP THIEF!"

"GRAB THAT FAUNUS!"

Blake broke out of her day dream of tuna. Two dock workers were chasing someone down the street. A girl. She was young, about nine years old give or take. She was bolting down the street with a huge sea bass in tow.

Blake suddenly felt like she had stepped back in time. This was like her late childhood. A common childhood no less.

Sadly she knew how this would end. If it was anything like hers, the dock workers would catch up to the girl. They'd take back the food. Then they'd give her a few 'shiners', cause hey, who would stop them? No one came to her rescue.

No one.

Blake zoomed off, stopped in front of the runaway girl. Now with a good look at the her, she noticed the girl's eyes shone bright in the dark. She also had long red hair with two pigtails and tiny little cat ears. The girl was shaking uncontrollably, and the smell of fear radiating off her could've been noticed for miles.

The girl looked up at Blake, face full of terror. Blake gave a quick wink to calm the girl's nerves. The girl's fear stricken face was suddenly replaced with confusion. Though with a quick sniff, she started grinning and relaxed.

By this time, the workers had caught up. Causing the girl to flee behind Blake for cover.

"Hey lady. Thanks for stopping that thief. Could ya hand her over so we can have a quick, chat?"

Blake didn't like the menace in that last line. She cared even less for the fact both of the men had shock batons at the ready.

"No." Blake answered. A low growl starting to form deep in her throat, now seeping into her voice. "If you want to beat this starving child, you'll have to go through me first!" Blake unsheathed only the Katana part of Gambol Shroud.

"Are you crazy lady? Well fine! A Faunus sympathizer is no better than those filthy animals! Let's get her-"

Before the bigot knew it, Blake had already batted him in the head with her sword's hilt, knocking him out instantly. While another Blake made a dash for the other, sweep kicking him. The worker falling onto the ground with a hard thud.

As he got his bearings, he noticed two blades at his throat and two Blakes standing over him.

"Oh God! Please! Don't kill me!" He screamed.

Both Blakes exchanged a look and smiled menacingly. The stabber Blake disappeared in the blink of an eye, while real Blake knelt down to the man's face. She bared her fangs and put her blade even closer to his throat. With a growl and purr mixture, she whispered into his ears.

"If you or your friend reports this, or even thinks about coming back for this girl, I will find you. And trust me, I will kill you. Slowly. Understand?" Bill nodded. He was shaking and had a horrible reek of fear. "Good. Now, sweet dreams." Blake decked him right across the face, instantly knocking him out.

Blake then stood up, dusted herself off, and sheathed Gambol Shroud. She turned around to face the red headed child, she found the girl right in her face. Her eyes had glowing stars in them as she spoke.

"That, was, amazing! Can I get your autograph?"

The smell of cooked fish swam through the air. Blake had taken the girl to a distant alley, having lit a fire in an empty trash bin to cook in and keep warm from a sudden late winter breeze.

The girl, Pippi, sat by the fire and savored every bit of the fish. She frequently offered it to Blake, only to be refused. Pippi would need that food a lot more then she would. Blake could always find something else.

Between mouthfuls, Pippi kept trying to question everything about Blake. Why was she here, who is she, what's her favorite color. On and on. But Blake couldn't just give herself away and endanger this girl. Its one thing for Blake to go and blow her cover. In the end it's her problem.

But if Pippi knew anything, the white fang could take her away. They may torture Pippi for any information about me. Afterword, they'd practically brainwash her. They'd train her to be a beast for their war. And it would be all my fault. One more sin to add to the list I suppose.

Blake broke from her thoughts when she noticed movement. Pippi had stopped eating and was trying to get her attention.

"Miss lady? Are you okay?"

"Oh. Yes. I'm sorry Pippi. I tend to get lost in my thoughts quite a bit."

Pippi put the fish down for a moment, a questioning brow raised. "Is that another way of saying you're the silent type?"

Blake took a seat on a overturned trash can across from Pippi. And with a sigh she said, "Maybe. I mean besides my family, I never had a lot of people to talk to growing up. So I guess I never learned to like talking."

"Why not? You seem really nice and cool."

"Well Pippi, I didn't live in a Faunus neighborhood." Blake unknotted her bow, letting her sore cat ears free. "I lived on the street in a human neighborhood for long time, and they didn't like me much. And I don't even remember meeting another Faunus until I meet my friend Adam."

Pippi engulfed a another bite of fish before continuing the conversation. She was probably about to continue pressing the subject when her eyes lit up and she must have changed her mind on topics.

"Wait, who's Adam? Is he here in Vale somewhere? Oh, is he your boyfriend?" She said with a playful grin.

Blake's cheeks felt like they were suddenly on fire, along with the threat of a sob that stuck in her throat. Just the thought of Adam made Blake want to curl up and cry. The one thing that made her really debate not going through with her escape was Adam. Her only friend was gone. She would probably never see him again. He may have been imprisoned for letting her go. He-

"Miss? Hello? You're doing it again." Pippi gave another giggle when Blake jumped when coming back into reality. Blake gave another sigh and started to smile. She'd have time to be upset later. For now, she needed to keep her emotions in check.

"Ok Pippi, you win. First off, no, Adam is not my boyfriend. He was just my first and only real friend. Second, call me..." Almost slipped there. "Bella."

"Okay then Bella. But, where is Adam?"

"He's...gone." Deep breath for the nerves. "I don't know where he is right now. But what's important is, we just disagreed."

"Oh. Okay then." Pippi went back to chowing down the last of the fish, letting the touchy subject go. Meanwhile Blake stuck to smiling and watching Pippi.

She always wanted a kid like Pippi. Just never could find the right guy.

After perhaps an hour or so, the pair had put out the fire and went back out on the street. It was now turning twelve o'clock and Blake needed to find a place to get some more sleep. Perhaps she should take Pippi with her? No, that would be stupid. What she needed was-

"Hey look Bella!" Pippi was pointing up into the sky at what looked to be an air ship of some kind. "It's the royal airship. It looks like the princess is coming back from her performance."

Blake thought the airship was impressive no doubt. Though she couldn't get over who probably was inside. Probably some stuck up little brat, who had not once in her life considered others. Probably never went a day hungry. Stupid little bi-

"Bella?"

Blake looked over to see and smell a terrified Pippi. Blake couldn't figure out why until she realized her ears were flat and her hand was on Gambol Shroud's hilt. A subconscious growling came from her throat.

"A-are you, okay?"

Blake dropped her hand and let her ears perk again. She took a deep breath, forcing herself to relax.

Don't do this again. This is what made you no better than the Grimm. No better then a monster. Just let your anger go. Don't go back, don't go back.

Blake looked back at Pippi with a smile. "I'm fine." That helped Pippi relax, though she went suddenly went rigid again.

"Oh crap, the plan! I forgot! Oh man, Roman is going to kill me! I'm sorry Bella, I gota go. He needs to know about Junior!" And with that, Pippi sprinted down the street.

"Torchwick? How do you know who Torchwick is? Pippi wait!" Blake yelled after her. Though it was too late; by the time Blake followed and rounded the corner, Pippi was nowhere to be seen. There wasn't even a scent to follow thanks to another sudden chilly breeze.

So once again, Blake was alone…