A/N: Hiyah reader people readers. If you haven't already voted on a pairing make sure you do cause I don't wanna upset people and hear "oh my gawd why is Blake with Sun" or "Oh my gerd I wanted thissss" oh and in the event of a tie I will choose what I want :P I may be interested in writing a something more unique or whatever makes sense for this story. But it won't matter too much the relationships will be more background than anything. Another side not is that I will most likely not write any fighting scenes from the original series unless I deem it necessary for the story, they will be mentioned but not directly written in most cases. Also last but definetly not least thank you to all followers of the story, big thanks to all the big favorites, you all give me inspiration to continue writing, and without further ado, la story~
"Thoughts"-Italics
"Speech"-Regular
"Past/Flashback"-Bold
Problems Solutions Problems
"Stop calling him a rapscallion! Stop calling him a degenerate! He's a person!" Blake shouted at her ice queen teammate.
"Oh im sorry! Would you like me to stop referring to the trash can as a trash can! Or this lamp post as a lamp post!" Weiss retorted throwing her hands into the air.
Blake stomped her foot on the ground, "STOP IT!"
"Stop what?! He CLEARLY broke the law! Give him time and im sure he'll join up with those other faunus in the White Fang." Weiss said with a scowl.
Blake fist tightened into a ball, making her knuckles turn pure white, "Ugh YOU IGNORANT LITTLE BRAT!" she yelled turning her back on Weiss and stomping away.
Weiss's eyes widened and then turned back into a glare, strutting behind she yelled back, "HOW DARE YOU TALK TO ME LIKE THAT! I AM YOUR TEAMMATE!"
"You're judgmental little girl." Blake practically snarled.
"What in the world makes you say that!?" Weiss screeched.
Ruby and Yang watched together in silence as their two friends argued with one another and frowned uncomfortably, "I think we should probably go..." Yang said with a sullen face.
"Where are we going?" Penny chimed from behind before the arguing continue to worsen.
"The mere fact that you would sort that faunus boy with a terrorist group solely based on his species makes you just as much as a scoundrel as you believe him to be!" Blake said exasperated.
"So you admit it! The White Fang is just a radical group of terrorists!" Weiss proclaimed.
"That's not what I meant and you know it!" Blake bit back. Both Ruby and Yang watched all this in disapproving silence even as they returned back to their dorm, the sun setting and dawn turning to dusk.
"I don't understand why this causing such a problem!" Weiss asked incredulously.
"That is the problem!" Blake said impatiently.
Standing up from the foot of her bed Weiss glared, "You realize that you're defending an organization that hates humanity don't you? The faunus of the White Fang are pure evil!" She said crossing her arms.
Blake shot up from her bed as well, "There is no such ting as pure evil! Why do you think they hate humanity so much?! It's because of people like Cardin, people like you! That force the White Fang to take such drastic measures!"
"People like me?!" Weiss yelled in confusion.
"You're discriminatory!" Blake said exasperated.
"IM A VICTIM!" Weiss screamed with a stomp, "Do you want to why despise I hate teh White Fang? Why I don't particularly trust the faunus? It's because they've been at war with my family for years. War. As in actual bloodshed. My grandfathers company has had a target painted across its back for as long as I can remember. And ever since I was a child I have watched family friends disappear, board members executed, an entire train car of dust, stolen. And everyday father would come one furious. And that made for a very. Difficult. Childhood." She said banging her fist on the bottom of the window.
Ruby placed her hand on Weiss's shoulder, "Weiss I-"
"No!" Weiss said shaking Ruby off, she walked towards Blake angrily, "You want to know why I despise the White Fang?! It's because they're a bunch of liars, thieves, and murderers!"
"WELL MAYBE WE WERE JUST TIRED OF BEING PUSHED AROUND!" Blake yelled at the top of her lungs, sending not just Weiss back but her other teammates as well, "I-i..." Blake stuttered out fearfully before shooting out the room.
Ruby attempted to chase her but Blake was already long gone.
Ash walked the halls of Beacon with boxes in hands, he figured he'd say hi to team RWBY on his to his dorm, just as he got to the door it swung open, slamming into the wall. Ash almost fell over as Blake sprinted past him in a blur of speed. Ash looked at her form disappear at the next corner and turned back around to enter the frame of RWBY's dorm.
Ash looked inside and read the somber mood, "This is a bad time isn't it?"
Ruby sighed sadly and plopped down on her bed, "You have no idea."
Blake was running. She kept running farther and farther until she was sure that none of teammates followed her. She ran until she came close to exit of Beacon, the fountain behind her making soft splashes. Slowly reached for her bow and undid it, small tears forming in her eyes.
"I knew you would look better without the bow!" A voice proclaimed.
Two melancholy days past since Blake and Weiss's argument, Ash wandered the streets of Vale looking for some clue as to where she had gone at Ruby's request.
- A day after Blake's departure-
"So she's still not back...is there anything I can do?" Ash said with a frown, he was checking in to see if the team had resolved their problems, unfortunately not.
Ruby frowned but nodded, "Yeah, could you do your street thing and see if you can get a lead on where Blake is?"
"Course I can, just leave it to me." Ash replied.
Ruby looked downward, "Sorry I didn't want to involve you I know you're busy getting settled in..."
Ash placed a hand on her shoulder, "What are friends for? Besides im worried about Blake too..." He said remembering the White Fang.
-Present-
A familiar tune filled Ash's ear and he started grinning, "Hey Sal!"
Ash got a groan in response, "Don't you have anyone else to bother you crafty bastard?"
Ash placed his hand on his chest on mock shame, "That was so hurtful Sal, I would never say anything like that to you!"
Sal rolled his eyes, not forgetting their last encounter, "Listen Mimic cut the bullshit you're holding up my line." He whispered in a harsh tone.
Ash waved him off dismissively, "Don't worry nothing complicated this time, have you seen a girl? Two years older than me, long black hair, eyes like a cat, wears a bow?"
Sal raised his brow, "Now that you mention it yeah I do remember a girl like that, she got ice cream with this faunus with a tail, he was a blonde guy, unbuttoned shirt, hard to miss. Im not sure if I heard em right but they said they were gonna meet up at some spot for tea or coffee today but that's all I got."
Ash nodded thinking about all the cafe' spots in the general area, "At least 5 around here..." He thought before leaving a large tip on Sal cart, "Thanks Sal, keep your eyes out for me will yah?" Ash said opening scroll and messaging Ruby.
"Yeah sure kid, just try not to cause me any trouble." He said with a grunt.
"Ill be sure to." Ash said taking off with AT's and grinding on a wall onto the rooftops to overlook the commercial district.
"Blake where are you..." Ash said placing his hands on his hips.
"Finally she speaks! Nearly two days and you've given me nothing but small talks and weird looks!" A young tan-skinned boy with short spiky light-blonde hair and dark-gray eyes. He wears two red wrist bracers and an open loose-collared white jacket with no shirt underneath, displaying his muscular abs. He also wore blue cargo pants tied up with a white belt. He wears white bandages on his legs and has a chain hanging from the belt loop on the right side of his pants. Although the most noticeable feature on his body was his long tail which matched his light blonde hair color.
In response Blake gave Sun presumably one of, "Those weird looks"
"Yeeeeah. Like that." Sun said with a smirk.
Blake rolled her eyes and frowned ever so slightly, "Sun have you heard of the White Fang?"
Sun looked at her incredulously, "Of course! I don't think there's a faunus on the planet that doesn't who hasn't heard of them. Stupid holier-than-thou creeps who use force to get whatever they want. Bunch of freaks if you ask me."
Blake although unsurprised nodded at his answer, "I was...once a member of the White Fang." She said curtly.
Sun almost dropped his drink coughing violently before gathering himself, "W-wait a minute you were a member of the White Fang?"
"That's right, I was a member for most of my life actually. You could almost say I was born into it. Back then things were different, in the Ashes of war the White Fang were meant to be a symbol of peace and unity between humans and the faunus. Of course despite being promised equality the faunus were subjected to discrimination and hate. Humanity still thought of us as lesser beings, and so, the White Fang rose up as the voice of our people. And I was there, I was at the front of every rally, I took part in every boycott, and I actually thought that we were making a difference. But I was just a youthful optimist...Then five years ago our leader stepped down and a new one took his place, a new leader with a new way of thinking. Suddenly our peaceful protests were being replaced with organized attacks. We were setting fire to shops that refused to serve us. Hijacking cargo from companies that used faunus labor, and the worst part was it was working...we were being treated like equals. But not out of respect, out of fear. So I left, I decided I no longer wanted to use my skills to aid in their violence and instead I would dedicate my life to becoming a huntress. So here I am! A criminal hiding in plain view, all with the help with a little black bow." She said wiggling her ears for added effect.
Sun had listened and had an sympathetic look on his face, "So...have you told your friends any of this?"
Blake closed her eyes, she knew that she hadn't but how could she?
"No she hasn't." Ash said dropping down from the roof of the tea shop, crossing his arms.
"A-Ash?" Blake said in a panic.
"That's my name. How are you Blake? We've been looking all over for you!" Ash said pulling a sit out for himself and slouching down before looking at Sun, "Oh and you, thanks for looking after her." Ash said thankfully.
"W-why are you here?" Blake said obviously uncomfortable with his sudden appearance.
"Ruby asked me to help find you! They're worried you know! They've been looking for you the past 2 days!" Ash said throwing his hands up in the air.
"Even Weiss?" Blake mumbled out.
Ash sighed, "Yes, even her. And im willing to bet she's more worried and sorry than she's letting on Blake."
"Even if she is I can't go back...not yet at least..." Blake said with a frown.
Sun who had stayed quiet so far , gauging the situation threw his hands behind his head, "So...what's the plan now?"
"Dunno just got here." Ash said looking towards Blake.
Blake sighed, "I want to know why the White Fang are helping steal all this dust! They've never needed this much before..."
Ash sighed, "I would say don't go chasing leads but I would be a hypocrite if I told you that..."
Sun looked between the two, "Well while I was on the ship I heard some guys talking about off-loading a huge shipment of dust coming from Atlas."
Ash looked curious, "How huge?"
Sun held his arms out wide, "HUGE. Big Shcnee company freighter"
"You're sure?" Blake asked.
Ash sighed, "You won't come back until this is over right?"
Blake shook her head, "I have to know why..."
Ash looked at Sun who gave him a shrug, "Sigh...okay so this is what we do."
Ruby and Penny continued searching through the streets of Vale and Penny chose to make some small talk.
"So Blake is your friend?" She asked curiously.
"Ugh yes Penny." Ruby said with a frown.
"But you're mad at her?" Penny asked in confusion.
"Ye-We-Well Im not, Weiss is." Ruby explained.
"Is sheeee friends with Blake?" Penny asked again.
"Well that's kind of up in the air right now..." Ruby said with a frown.
"But why?" Penny asked yet another question.
Ruby sighed thinking of an explanation, "Well you see Blake might not be who we think she is..."
Penny stopped and let out a gasp, "Is she a man?"
Ruby waved her arms around, "No no, Penny shes-ugh I don't know what she is...She didn't exactly talk to us before she decided to run off." She said downtrodden.
Penny looked at Ruby and shook her head, "I don't have a lot of friends but if I did I would want them to tell me things."
Ruby felt sadder than before, "Yeah...me too."
Night fell as Ash, Blake, and Sun all waited patiently for the dust to be finished unloading.
Sun jumped down next to Blake and Ash, Blake was lying on her stomach looking at the Schnee logo on the cargo boxes. Ash was lying on his back with his eyes closed, seemingly napping.
"Hey did I miss anything?" Sun asked carrying an armful of apples.
"Not really they've off-loaded all the crates from the boats now they're just sitting there." She said with a shrug.
"Cool, I stole you some food!" Sun said holding out an apple.
Blake raised her brow, "Do you always break the law without a second thought?"
Sun squinted, "Hey weren't you in a cult of something?"
Ash had to hold back a snicker as Blake glared at Sun who suddenly looked in the opposite direction, "Okay too soon."
All three of them stood alert as bullhead descended from the sky, causing a the wind to pick up around them. Blake seemed distraught, "Oh no..."
"Is that them?" Sun asked.
"Yeah..." Blake said watching members of the White Fang drop from the bullhead but her frown quickly turned into a scowl as Roman shouted from the bullhead, "HEY! Whats the hold up? Were not exactly the inconspicuous thieves at the moment soooo why don't you animals try to pick up the pace?"
Blake wordlessly dropped off their vantage point and went straight for Roman, Sun eyes widened, "What are you doing!"
"No you idiot! This isn't a leash!" Roman said before he felt a cold blade against his neck, "W-what the? Oh for fuc-"
"Nobody move! " Blake shouted pressing the blade tighter to Romans neck.
"Whoa-ho take it easy there little lady." Roman said calmly as other member of the White Fang circled them. Blake looked around a removed her bow, revealing her faunus heritage, "Brothers of the White Fang, why are you aiding this scum?"
Blake's question seemed to deter the White Fang slightly, making them drop down their weapons for a moment.
"Hehe oh kid didn't you get the memo?" Roman taunted even with the blade against his neck.
"What are you talking about?" Blake said glaring at Roman bring the point of her blade closer to his neck.
"Me and the White Fang are going in on a joint business venture together." Roman explained.
"Tell me what it is or ill put an end to your little operation." Blake threatened.
Roman laughed, "I wouldn't exactly call it a little operation..." he said as multiple Bullheads dropped down from the sky surrounding them making Blake lose focus on him, he smirked and took a step slightly forward and shooting the ground right underneath Blake causing her to shoot backward. Blake quickly shook off her dizziness to tumble forward and dodge another blast from Roman. Blake glared at Roman who shot several more blasts at her, Blake tumbled backward and replacing herself last second with a clone before a final blast hit her. Running off behind a shipping cart out of view.
"Here kitty kitty kitty..." Roman said before banana peel dropped on his head, "Urgh." He growled before Sun planted his feet onto his head, slamming him into the ground and flipping behind him, "Leave her alone." Sun said with a glare but grit his teeth, "We need to hurry..." He thought remembering how he had to leave Ash alone.
-Before Blake took off-
"What are you doing!" Sun yelled as Blake dropped from the position, chasing after her only to be cut off by a small girl with heterochromia eyes.
"SUN STOP!" Ash shouted making Sun stop right where he was. All three of them stood still as Blake just got to Roman. Neo didn't say a word as she stared at the two boys with a small smirk and bow.
"Sun..." Ash said his scarf turning into AT's, "Go help Blake...and get back here. Quickly." Sun nodded and tried to walk past Neo, she was in front of him in an instant before Ash was in-between them sending an axe kick downward.
"GO!" Ash yelled twisting around trying to kick Neo's head, only for it to be blocked by her umbrella.
-Currently with Ash-
Ash and Neo stood next to one another, his leg still outstretched against her umbrella, "Hello Neo."
"Mimic." Neo said with smirk. Ash quickly retracted his legs and shooting out another kick Neo closed her umbrella and let his kick sail by before shooting her leg up vertically, forcing Ash to slide back. Ash wiped the bottom of his mouth before taking a deep breath, "I'll have to thank Glynda for these clothes later..." he thought as the sleeves of his hoodie started to glow and reform around his arms, forming into a mostly black ember cecilia with orange accents. Ash started spinning out the wheels of his AT's and clicking a button on his scroll.
"Please hurry." He thought shooting towards Neo.
Ruby heard explosions in the distance and her scroll started vibrating, pulling it out and reading it she frowned, "Oh no..." She said aloud taking off towards the smoke she saw in the sky.
Ash sent out a three punch combination and growled, Neo weaved through the first punch, ducked under the second, and redirected the third one. Ash shot off of gauntlet and spun around and sent another kick at Neo only for her to grab it and cartwheel onto Ash's chest and slamming it downward. Ash slammed onto the floor and growled, shooting off ember cecilia again to escape the underneath of her boots and kicking up. Neo smirked swinging her umbrella and pointing it down onto the ground. Ash didn't slow his pace shooting off more round of ember cecilia making Neo weave and block the shots with her umbrella, fire sprayed off her umbrella and Ash slammed his fist into it. Neo was pushed back and for the first time glared at Ash and took the offensive. Swinging down her umbrella Ash sent a quick jab out knocking it back, Neo let got of it and grabbed its midsection and spinning it around to smack Ash in the face. With Ash off-balance Neo locked his arm spun herself over him and slammed his head down into the ground. With him down Neo pulled out her blade and aimed it over his head but jumped back just in time to dodge a bullet aimed straight at her head.
Neo glared as ruby slammed crescent rose into the ground and fired off more bullets. Neo blocked the first few but saw Roman retreating in the bullhead in the far distance. She scowled as Ash got up and grinned at her, blazing towards her in an hue of orange. Neo tired to dodge but 3 shots from Ruby had gotten her off balance and that's all that Ash needed. In instant Ash slammed his fist into Neo's face, click, boom. She shot back off sliding to a halt on the shipping crates, she glared, both eyes white at Ash before disappearing in a flash of white.
Ash fell backward letting out a tired gasp as a bullhead was shot down in the distance by Penny and turning to Ruby with a thumbs up.
Roman turned his head as Neo appeared next to him, "These kids just keep getting weirder."
Neo didn't respond, looking out the bullhead and glared at Ash and Ruby before her eyes flashed back and forth from pink, brown, and white erratically.
Ash, Ruby, Yang, Blake, and Penny were all sat down on a few crates as the Vale police department investigated the docks. Ash laid against Ruby tiredly keeping his head up, "I didn't think keeping two different weapons ready would be so tiring." He thought shaking his head. Yang and Weiss both walked over and Ruby laid Ash down before walking up to Weiss, "Look Weiss it's not what you think-she explained the whole thing-you see she doesn't actually have a bow-she has kitty ears and they're actually kinda cute." Ruby tried to explain but Weiss walked passed her and confronted Blake.
Blake stood up and stared at Weiss, "Weiss I want you to know that I am no longer associated with the White Fang back when I wa-"
"Stop." Weiss said raising her hand up, "Do you have any idea how long we've been searching for you? Over 12 hours. That means I have had over 12 hours to think about this and in that 12 hours I've decided."
Sun, Yang, Ruby, and Ash all stared on in silence as Weiss took a calm breath, "I don't care!"
Blake was surprised, "You don't care?"
"You said you're not one of them anymore right?" Weiss asked.
"N-no I-I haven't since I was young-" Blake tried to explain again.
"A-but-but-but. " Weiss interrupted, "I don't wanna hear it. All I want to know is that the next time something this big comes up you'll come to your teammates and not some-" She said looking at Sun, "And not someone else."
Blake looked around at her teammates, and wiped a stray tear that had fallen, "Of course."
The was a gentle silence between the team before Ruby pumped her fists in the air, "Oh yeah! Team RWBY is back together!" She cheered. Ash chuckled from the crate as everyone came together, Weiss pointed at both Ash and Sun, "Im still not sure how I feel about either of you!" She said with a slight scowl.
Ash and Sun looked at one another and shrugged before laughing lightly at the ice queen. Ash suddenly stopped laughing and looked at team RWBY deathly serious, "So yeah you guys are helping move into my dorm." He said with a straight face making the group burst into fits of laughing.
"What?" Ash asked with a scowl, "What?!"
Ruby stopped her laughing as she looked around and noticed that Penny wasn't there, "Where is Penny?"
Among the rooftops Cinder stood with her eyes glowing lightly next two a young boy and girl. The girl was a thin female with dark skin and dark-red eyes. Her hair is a light, mint-green cut with a straight fringe and bangs, as well as two long locks on each side, in the back. The boy was a well-built man with gray eyes and partially slicked back while unkempt at the front. He also wears a gray and black two-tone partial-zip jacket, that covers his upper body.
"I don't see why you're so interested in him Cinder..." The girl muttered under her breath.
"Emerald do I sense jealously in your voice?" The boy said cockily.
"Shut-up Mercury." She said rolling her eyes.
"Both of you quiet." Cinder commanded, her eyes fixated on Ash, "He's work in progress Emerald. Just wait...Little Ash will be grow into a raging fire...my ultimate weapon." She said her eyes glowing a bright amber, "Just wait Ash...you'll be with me again."