Chapter 30 Dissonance
"Hiya Lady Akira!" a heterochromatic Rat Faunus said.
"What are you doing here?" Akira asked nervously as she and Blake recognized him.
"What else could I be doing here?" the Rat Faunus said as his happy-go-lucky personality disappeared as malice filled my eyes, "Taurus sent me to retrieve you, to bring you back. After all, Master Livius does miss his sweet little niece after all."
"You have no idea what's going on," Akira said as the metallic ornament on the end of his tail unfolded, revealing a scythe-like blade.
"Oh I do," the Rat Faunus said, "After all, I'm not the one who's the martyr!"
"As of this moment, the renowned Arctic Fox Faunus, Yuki Kasai, is in critical condition in the Atlas General Hospital," the news reporter, Lisa Lavender grimly reported, "Her announcement of switching her focus towards becoming a huntress had made her a prime target for anyone. Yet surprise struck when a Rat Faunus outright attacked her on her way to one of her concerts after shifting back her focus to her musical career and disappearing before anyone could give a description of him. The only key clue to their identity was that he uses his tail as a scythe. If anyone has anything in regard to this recent attack, please contact the Vale Police Department and Atlas Police Department. As of this moment, it is uncertain whether the Vytal Festival will continue as planned."
"Yoko," Akira said placing a hand on her teammate, "I'm sorry."
"Even I couldn't see this as an outcome when he made himself known as a threat to us," Shawn said.
"I should feel sorry," Yoko said, "but at the same time, I feel relieved. Is it a bad thing?"
"It probably isn't," Raven said, "I felt the same why after my father was killed. But what do we do now? He made himself a threat to us, he used Yuki as a warning for Akira to return to the White Fang."
"He used Yuki as the martyr," Akira said as her eyes slightly shifted to golden yellow.
"Not only that, huntsmen and huntresses in training have been disappearing," Shawn said, "humans, never the Faunus ones."
"Uncle thinks that I chose to become a huntress because I've grown a soft spot for humans," Akira said, "How wrong he is. We need to stop this before it gets any worse. Before he kills them, and turns me and any other Faunus who escaped the White Fang into a martyr."
"Velvet! You're still here, I'm kind of relieved about that," Akira said as she stumbled upon Velvet in the now empty Beacon Academy, "Where's the rest of your team?"
The kidnappings had gotten worse, the White Fang at first were unable to pin any blame to any runaway members. They turned to kidnapping students and even staff members of any Huntsmen and Huntresses School all across Remnant. It stroke fear into society, fear that no one was safe. It happened with just one person at a time, it no longer mattered whether it was human or Faunus, just anyone, to bring Akira out. They even kidnapped Akira's adoptive family.
"They were kidnapped by the White Fang," Velvet said, "Just like everyone else."
"I'm sorry Velvet," Akira said as she saw the pain she was unintentionally causing, "It's my fault they were kidnapped. My fault for being born Akira Fang. My fault for being a part of the White Fang. My fault for running away. My fault for taking so long to control Wolf's Wrath."
"It's not Akira," Velvet said, stopping the Wolf Faunus from blaming herself anymore, "if anyone is at fault, it's theirs. Their fault for trying causing the terror that has swept across Remnant. The Grimm attacks have gotten worse, causing even retired huntsmen and huntresses to pick up their weapons to fight. We'll put an end to this, and save everyone."
"If not, then we'll just die trying," Akira said as new determination fueled her, to save her friends.
"Well little wolf, finally glad to see you groveling back here," Livius said, wolf ears showing no sign of wavering. Unlike the rest of the White Fang, he wore no mask, and instead had red markings painted onto him, making him almost resemble an Alpha Beowolf itself.
"I'm not here because of you," Akira said as her eyes were golden yellow, "and I'm not here to grovel at your feet either."
With Shattered Ventus, she was attacking precisely, even after he pushed a button on his Harpe, he was shocked that nothing happened before defending himself until he could kill her.
"How! How are you not under my control?" Livius said.
"I have my friends to thank for saving me after what you did to me," Akira said, "and your design was too sloppy for it to connect to my nervous system."
"Oh how scary," Livius said, "think a few little words and being a tame mutt could stop me."
"No," Akira said as a feral grin appeared, "I'm just as wild as ever. You've destroyed the White Fang. You've associated yourself with criminals. You who made yourself appear as a great alpha to follow after you murdered my parents, are nothing but a lowly weak pup yourself."
"They had it coming in the end," Livius said, "they would have gladly followed Father, your grandfather, example with trying to bring peace and equality when it would never happen. No, the only way to bring recognition to the Faunus as the superior of the two is to take power from the humans themselves."
"That wouldn't help anything or anyone," Akira said, "You're even worse than an actual fox from those old fables you've pestered my parents to read to me. I learned from them, believe me. But I also know is that you are nothing but a fox in a wolf's hide."
Around students and teachers from all four kingdoms watched with the lower ranking members of the White Fang as the "leader" of the White Fang fought his niece. While at most it was mostly scratches that everyone could see, the few who knew of the truth, could know this went deeper than anyone could ever believe. All they could do, was stop anyone else from joining the fight, and lower the casualty.
"You are nothing compared to your weak parents," Livius said, "You are nothing to me!"
"As of this moment, Yuki Kasai has passed away due to her injuries and locked aura preventing the healing process to speed up," Cyril reported on the news, "Many who have been fans of Miss Kasai have been leaving tiny notes to her. Her parents are both devastated by the loss of their only daughter as their son, Yoko Kasai, has surfaced, only to renounce whatever claim his family has over him and taking on a new name, Yoko Rayne. In other news, the leader of the White Fang, Livius Fang, has been arrested and awaits trial to determine his fate, most believing he would be facing life in prison with no chance of parole or even the death sentence. The new leader, who at the moment, will only be known as Akira has stepped up to take on the burden of leadership and has agreed to give one interview."
The report had soon cut off to footage in front of the building where the White Fang were located, giving an interview and announcement for all to hear.
"Miss Akira, what made you join the group of terrorists?" a reporter asked.
"I didn't join a group of terrorists," Akira said, "I chose to help them, to undo the damage Livius Fang has done to Remnant. The Faunus of the White Fang have been misguided by a twisted mind, one that did not believe in equality. I know not everything can be brought back to normalcy as it once was before even the Great War started, but at least everyone could try to fix things."
"Miss Akira, what are you planning to do with the White Fang?" another reporter asked. At that Raven and many of the White Fang standing guard, without their masks, began to unsheathe their weapons.
"I'm not planning on using them as Livius did," Akira said, signaling Raven and the members of the White Fang to stand down, "However I want to make it known to all members of the White Fang, whether present or in hiding that I want you all to try to undo as much damage as you've done in the past five years, whether it was by your own hands or those of your kin. Forgiveness doesn't come as easily as bloodshed, but we have to try at something. I want those a part of the White Fang to help out with society, whether it is something as great as being a huntsman or huntress, to the little things such as helping out in an orphanage. Children are the future of this world, they'll need to learn eventually that not everything is black and white. However at my death, the White Fang is to disband as history cannot repeat itself as a teacher once told me. Although I hope that even after then, they continue to help out in any way possible, to bring a future where humans and Faunus could coexist without fear."
"Miss Akira, is it true you were once planning on becoming a huntress yourself?" another reporter asked.
"At first, yes," Akira said, "but now, I need to shift my focus to helping other Faunus fix what damaged lives they already have. I am uncertain when I'll return to my studies to become a huntress but when-"
At that moment two gunshots fired one both aimed at Akira however Raven took the hit for the first one, both of them were shot in the head. In the distance a familiar voice was heard shouting, "For Yuki!" Panic followed afterwards until Shawn took Akira's place as he calmed the crowd and called for an ambulance as Yoko hunted down and apprehended the would-be assassin, the Rat Faunus. At that moment, when the Rat Faunus was brought in front of cameras the footage cut short.
"As of this moment, Akira Fang passed away as well as Raven Piercewing," Lisa Lavender reported the following day, "after the assassin was caught, proven to also be Yuki Kasai's attacker, he sits in prison awaiting his trial."
"It's a grim reminder of how often at times in history, a life had to be loss in order for change to occur," Doctor Oobleck said in an interview, "they were both students in my class, both had a future ahead of them only to be cut short."
"Akira chose to have her leadership as Team ASPR be a second priority compared to everything else," a tired Shawn said, "she may have even put her own life behind everything else as long as those she cared about were safe."
"Yoko, how does it feel to be losing so much in such a short period of time?" a reporter asked.
"If you cared, you wouldn't be asking me," Yoko said, "I know my sister and I never really got along but in the end, I do miss her. However losing my teammates has taken a toll on me."
"I knew Raven well enough," Sky Lark said, "probably could have called it dating if you want to, even knowing the truth of her past couldn't make losing her even worse. I don't care what anyone would say now, if anything were to matter now, is the friends I have left, that is if I have the right to call any of them friends."
"As of this moment, many former members have taken upon themselves to grant Akira Fang's wishes," Cyril said, "even if there are those who believe it as belittling the Faunus as who they are, many voices can rise above one. There's even been reports of the labor conditions for the Schnee Dust Company's Dust Quarries seem to be steadily improving. It is uncertain if this is linked to the tragic events that have passed, but many, both human and Faunus, hope this is a sign for improvement."
"Hey everyone, it's been years since I last came here," Shawn said as he came upon three graves, each with the emblems of his former teammates, each having seen better days, "Don't worry Yoko, I never blamed you for working yourself to death as a solo huntsman, no matter how many times I've told you to take a break. You just made it a little more difficult and more interesting for me."
Shawn was surprised he was still alive after all these years, after Livius was defeated and the death of half his teammates, he knew nothing could be the same again. Yoko spent the rest his life constantly on missions, and in a way, redeem himself for everything that happened. The Rat Faunus that had caused them mischief gave away no secrets while imprisoned and instead killed himself after saying he succeeded his mission. As for Shawn, he was in head of Akemi, a nonprofit organization that was reaching out to anyone in need, whether human or Faunus, no matter what situation it was. He even went to court to not only prevent his parents from attempting to be a part of Akemi to get as much Lien possible from the organization, but Yoko's parents as well.
"If you want to know how Akemi is working out, it's doing fine," Shawn said as he listened to the wind or even the silence surrounding him, "I've been well, and even if I never settle down and have a family, everyone I've met because of Akemi. At least I've told you about it, otherwise, you'd probably think I've finally met a girl. Don't worry about that yet, if I ever find the right person, I'll introduce them to you three, after all, we're still Team ASPR."
At that moment, Shawn began to chuckle to himself as he remembered meeting a young girl who asked about when he was training as a huntsman.
"I think now, people know our team name as Team 'Aspire' rather than Team 'As Per' although I'm not one to judge," Shawn said as he got up, "Well, I have to go now, maybe I'll come back sooner than expected."
A/N: I've lost the spark to continue Team ASPR, however I did want it to end somehow. So this way, Dissonance is the end of this tale. I know I never gave the Rat Faunus a name, but the placeholder name I had for him really didn't fit well. Throwing in Yuki Kasai in at first was just for backstory for Yoko before I decided to play with the idea of her ending up at Beacon to convince Yoko to return home, and then turned her into a dense sister for Yoko. Yuki, Akira and Raven's deaths were, while I was writing Dissonance, written at the moment, even though I had a more cheerful ending for a tired Yoko and Akira. Although as I was writing this, I subconsciously turned Livius into a Wolf Faunus version of Scar from the Lion King (and Cladius from Hamlet) and I wanted to have this story go along a different route, or at least try to. As for Shawn's dialogue at the end where Team ASPR's name pronunciation is getting mixed up, at first I had the idea of the team name being As per, stating it after Gracekim1 asked how it was pronounced. And now, I think Aspire would suit being Team ASPR's pronunciation now given this ending. So this is the end of Team ASPR.