Hey guys, here is the next chapter in this fanfic. Hope you have been enjoying the read so far.

Now read on.

Chapter Cover: Winter holding both of her swords in a stance.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Hidden

Yael Langley stood in front of her sister's grave.

The young woman was staring at the tombstone in front of her, her eyes fixed upon the stone in front of her. It had been a long time since she was here, standing in front of the place where her sister was buried. She can still remember the hurt she had felt when the news reached her about her sister's death and can still feel the echo of that pain in her heart as she stood there in front of it.

The young woman walked forward and placed the set of flowers upon the grave in front of her. She stared at the words upon the stone in front of her before placing a hand upon it.

"I'll see you soon big sis," she said standing up.

The young woman turned her attention toward the set of footsteps that was approaching her and found Sebastian there. The man was dressed in a suit now, the elderly man had his hair combed with both of his hands inside the pocket of his pants.

"Yael," he said.

"What are you doing here?" the woman asked him surprised.

"Weiss and the others are returning to Vale today," Sebastian told her, "You could come with us before heading back to where you were."

Yael turned her gaze toward the grave in front of her.

"Very well," she said, "I was just stopping by to visit."

Sebastian glanced at the grave that was behind her as the woman walked pass him. Then, she heard him following after her.

"I miss her," the young man said, "and every time I looked at Weiss, I can still see traces of her through the young girl."

"I suppose it's one way of looking at it," Yael answered him, "But even so, was they really nothing found at that Mercury's kid place?"

Sebastian shook his head.

"No," he said, "His house was completely cleaned out of all evidence that could lead toward who had hired him for whatever that job was."

Yael had a light frown upon her face.

"That kid grew up here in the White Clan compound," she said, "His entire life was here, and everything he could have ever known. He had the trust of the Lord of the White Clan…I fear that there is something more at play here…something that not all of us are seeing."

Sebastian glanced at her.

"Are you going to talk to the Elder about it?" he asked her.

Yael glanced at him.

"That's the logical course of action," she said.

The two reached the area where the rest of the group was standing in. Weiss was there along with Ruby, Yang and Noir. The Faunus had both of his arms crossed from where he stood. Ezekiel was there too, along with Winter who were standing dressed in her own white robes. They glanced toward the approaching duo.

"I was wondering when you will arrive Yael," Ezekiel spoke out drawing the woman's attention toward him.

He was dressed in a suit, a white suit with a scarf around his neck. His hair was pulled backward into a low ponytail. He looked like the perfect bland between celebrity and business man. It made her wonder exactly what is going on with him.

"You're coming along with us I presume?" Yael said.

"Yes," Ezekiel said, "I have someone I'd liked to talk to about some business."

Then in front of them, a Doorway was opened showing everyone in a bluish light color. Weiss glanced at her curiously before making her way into the Doorway and disappearing through it, followed by Ruby and Yang along with Noir. Sebastian made through the way as Yael did also followed by Ezekiel. Her world was completely filled with light for a few moments before; her feet found solid ground again.

The large city of Vale extended in front of her. She turned her gaze toward the duo finding Sebastian walking back toward the large Mansion that they had appeared in front of. Ezekiel turned his attention at the house as well before walking forward straight toward where the girls were standing. Yael stared at them for a few moments before turning her attention forward and opened another Doorway with the wave of her hand.

"Leaving already?"

Yael found Weiss standing there, staring at her. The white haired girl was staring at her and by looking at her, Yael found that the gaze was really similar to her sister Neige.

"I won't be gone for long," she said, "I have to give a report about what happened to my people."

"Your people?"

Yael turned her gaze toward the Doorway.

"Something is changing Weiss," she said, "More likely, there is a wind of change that is blowing through the air…but unlike the changes of the past…this one is happening too quickly."

She made her through the Doorway disappearing into the Doorway which disappeared along with her. Weiss stood there staring at the place where the girl stood for a minute before narrowing her eyes lightly at what had happened in front of her.

Weiss returned her attention toward where her friends were. As she approached them, Weiss realized that Noir had disappeared from the group, probably to do whatever he usually do when he is not with her. She approached toward where the group was situated.

"Well Weiss," her father spoke out, "Why don't you take me to where Qrow is staying. I have an important matter to speak with him."

Weiss stared at the man in front of her.

"I can have Sebastian give him a call," she said, "He'll probably come running when he know that both Ruby and Yang are back."

The man nodded and made his way toward the house that was behind him. Weiss let out a soft sigh and followed after.


Qrow received the call from Sebastian just a few minutes ago and the man was already there in front of the Mansion. The man was apprehensive about what Sebastian wanted to talk to him about and he was wondering exactly what had happened. The man entered inside the Mansion and both Ruby and Yang were there in front of him.

He took both girls in a hug.

"I'm glad the two of you are safe," he said, feeling relief coursing through him at having the two girls back in her arms.

"I told you that you didn't have to worry about us," Yang told him with a light smirk.

Qrow chuckled.

"Yeah, you two have become quite the Huntresses," he said.

"Indeed they have," a male voice spoke out.

Qrow instantly looked up toward the voice finding a figure standing across them. The man was dressed in a white suit with a scarf around his neck. Despite not having seen that person for many years, Qrow recognized him instantly.

"Ezekiel," he said.

Ezekiel walked forward, the look on his face as blank as ever. It was something that always irked Qrow back then whenever he met the man in his youth.

"You're a difficult man to find," he said before giving a glance toward the two girls, "I presume these two girls are Taiyang and Summer's children?"

Qrow frowned at him.

"What are you doing here Ezekiel?" he asked.

"I wish to speak with you about something concerning your Clan," Ezekiel told him.

Qrow frowned lightly at him.

"Alright," he said, "But Ruby and Yang are allowed to listen to what is being said."

Ezekiel stayed silent for a moment before turning his gaze toward the two girls, like he was thinking about whether they should be here or not. Then the man gave him a brief nod and turned away from him. Qrow placed a hand upon Ruby and Yang's shoulders before walking forward with the two girls following after the other man.

They all made their way into a familiar waiting room where Ruby and Yang first learned about everything that had been happening around them. IT was also where they learned about the Clan and that it was destroyed.

Ezekiel had taken a seat upon the chair Weiss previously occupied that day, the man crossing his legs from where he was seating, joining his hands together. Qrow and his nieces were seating down upon the large couch across him.

"What is it that you wanted to talk about Ezekiel?" he asked.

"Do you know something about the Pieces of Light?" he asked him.

Qrow suddenly froze at the notion while Ruby and Yang had confused looks upon their faces.

"Pieces of Light?" Yang repeated, "What are those?"

Qrow glanced at the two girls beside her.

"The Pieces of Light are Artifacts given to mankind from the White Goddess," he said, forward, "Long ago, it was because of those Artifacts than mankind had managed to push back the Grimm attack and survive extinction…thought most people in the word believe that to be a complete myth."

Ezekiel frowned lightly.

"It is no myth," he said, "You have felt that power when you have entered into the White Dimension four days ago."

Ruby and Yang stared at him.

"You mean that strange power we felt back then?" Ruby said, "But why are you asking our uncle about it?"

Ezekiel stared at the two girls in front of him.

"Because I know that the Rose Dragon Clan has one of them as well," he said.

Qrow stared at him.

"I have spend the past three days researching in my libraries about the Dark Ages and the remaining of the Artifacts," Ezekiel started, "When I was younger, my father did mention them to me in passing but when he died, I became the White Lord and also bonded myself to it's power…become it's Guardian."

Ruby gasped lightly thought Qrow frowned lightly.

"I see," he said.

"Isn't that dangerous?" Yang asked, "To be bounded to it?"

Ezekiel let out a chuckle.

"No," he said, "My family have been bonding with the White Star for generations and all of them lived long and peaceful lives…thought a known side effect of the Piece of Light is the white hair all that shares my blood possesses."

Qrow blinked knowing that Weiss also had white hair along with Winter.

"But Mercury had managed to break that bond," Ezekiel said, his eyes becoming sharp at the mention of the name, "He also was able to control the White Star's power and managed to create a seal to contain it."

"Are you suspecting me of having a hand in this Ezekiel?" Qrow said.

"Whoever Mercury works for is interested in the Pieces of Light," Ezekiel told him, "Since the Rose Clan also had one of those Artifacts, I want to know if you have any information about the ones responsible for the destruction of the Rose-Dragon Clan."

Qrow could feel surprise coursing through him at that.

"You…You think that it's connected somehow?" he asked.

Ezekiel fell silent for a few moments.

"Your clan and the Faunus Clan were the only Clans that were destroyed," he said, "While my own Clan had a hand at the Faunus destruction, it made me wonder if someone wasn't manipulating things to their advantage so that they could gain the Artifacts the Faunus's Clan has in their possession. Mercury Black was a trusted member and he revealed to me that his family's loyalty was to an unknown leader or organization that stayed in the shadows."

Qrow frowned to himself, before shaking his head.

"Sorry but I don't have any information to give to you," he said, "But what I do know is that Taiyang disappeared without a trace…my sister, Raven, went to look for him but she also disappeared without a trace. She never told me why she had to leave but for her to simply disappear like that…"

Ezekiel let out a hum as her rubbed his chin as he was thinking about something.

"I had expected you to know…but it seems that it was a dead end like before."

He stood up from where he was seating down.

"Then, there is no use for me staying here," he said.

Qrow stood up as well, "Ezekiel, tell me. Why do you think these people whoever they are, are gathering the Artifacts?"

Ezekiel stared at him for a few moments.

"They are a number of reasons as to why someone will want to gather them," he said, "It could be their power…or their tied to the White Goddess herself. These Artifacts are the reason why mankind is still alive to this day after all, and it's worrying to think that someone is gathering them and going to such lengths to do it."

He let out a soft sigh.

"It's been great seeing you alive Qrow," he said, "I had thought that you died when the Rose Dragon Clan fell and it seems that a new generation is already growing."

He looked at Yang and Ruby when he said this, but then the man turned away from them and walked out of the room leaving Qrow to stare at his back. Something that big had been going on and none of them had managed to catch up to it.

"Uncle Qrow?" Ruby said drawing the man's attention toward her, "Are you okay? You seem…tense."

Qrow took a seat down in the middle of his two nieces and pulled his arms around their shoulders and holding them close.

"I'm just worried," he said, "but I'll be fine."

The two girls simply hugged him back.


Backtrack to the time when Blake separated with the Group…

The young woman had stepped out of the Doorway she had opened. The girl let out a soft sigh, the words Ruby Rose told her just yesterday ringing in her head. Blake knew that she had never seen any change for anyone in all that time she had been in the White Fang…

The entire reason that the White Fang was created was because of vengeance for what the White Clan had created…but what had it gotten them back? Faunus are still subjugated across Remnant and the few that actually have jobs doesn't seem live well…

Blake leaned against a nearby wall.

"Just what am I doing with my life?" she whispered, "I want to bring change for the Faunus…for every Faunus out there…but how can I…?"

Sounds of footsteps drew Blake from her thoughts and she found herself staring straight at Mirkia. The other Faunus looked glad to see her there and the young woman approached her.

"Mirkia?"

"Where the hell have you been Blake?" she asked, "I tried to contact you but somehow it wasn't working at all….but no matter, we have a situation."

The dark haired girl stared at her, "What are you talking about?"

"Adam didn't come back yet," Mirkia told her, "So I was worried and I send Arkos and Dmitri after him but it's been two days since then and I can't contact them either."

Blake stared at her confused.

"You can't contact them?" she repeated, "How is that possible?"

"I don't know," Mirkia answered, a worried look crossing her features, "When I heard the Ark activating, I thought it was them coming back so I came here…and it was you."

Blake narrowed her eyes lightly.

"You can't raise Adam either?" she said, "It's not like him to suddenly disappear like this….damn it, don't tell me he was double crossed?"

"But he had Dariel and Common with him," Mirkia said, "And these two guys are even more powerful than you are."

Blake glanced at her, "I know…and that's what's worrying me. I know how strong these two guys are and yet…they completely disappeared from the face of the earth…It's not like them."

The girl ran a hand through her hair. Despite the conflicting feelings she has within herself right now, a good mission will do her some good. She had never trusted Roman Torchwick whenever Adam had done dealing with his group in the past and she knew that Adam had gone to see him about something thought what it is, Adam hadn't revealed it to her yet.

"Mirkia, can you trace where the Doorway had taken them?" she asked.

The Tigress Faunus looked at her in confusion.

"I can…why?"

Blake feels her determination surging forward.

"Because we're going after them," she said.

Look likes I'm going on a rescue mission as well, she thought.

Blake is going on a rescue mission herself...

Next Time: Bodies of Lies

Jacques0 out.

R&R