She's here.
Of course she is, she- they, have been here since day one, even earlier than that.
I'm honestly surprised that I haven't seen them up until this point, then again, it's not as if we share any of the same classes together, I guess when I think about it, it works in my favour they haven't seen me either.
In saying that, all this time… I thought I've been making good progress with training.
Now however, after seeing her for real… have I overestimated myself?
Am I going to be ready?
Cold sweat began to form as it slowly crept up the back of his neck, he could only attempt to reassure himself the more he really thought things through, laying out what he had accomplished in the few weeks already and what awaited him in the several to come.
"So far, I've gotten the basics down pat, I can hold my own defensively against an equal who fights with swords… so that narrows my opponents down.
I know my weapons inside and out in all their forms and I'm getting better at switching between the three.
Penny's advice has helped me evade some attacks that surely would have landed me in the hospital had I not performed them, both in the training room and out in the field during the last two missions.
Her guidance in defence has given me a lot to consider when either to press for an attack or hold back and judge when to strike.
With Ruby's help, I've become more aware of adapting to a fight and how it can change in the blink of an eye and hence I've learnt to stay on my toes…
I mean, at this rate I should be at least competent to face someone in a sparring match."
Even then, wishful optimism would only get him so far.
He'd been working hard, that was for sure.
But was he working smart?
That, he felt, was a question he couldn't truly answer without maybe asking outside help.
Ozpin did ask Penny to provide reports to evaluate how effective in combat he was.
Whether or not the headmaster could gauge his readiness for someone with the skill set of Cinder's calliper without truly knowing what she was capable of?
He wasn't sure.
I could list a hundred things that Penny and Ruby have shown me, I could recount each and every miniscule detail of our training sessions and sparring matches, the fact of the matter is when the time comes- wait I already said that.
The more he thought, the more it gave him dread, he had already assured himself that he was going to do what it takes to prevent anyone from succumbing to a horrible fate during the fall of Beacon…
But what does that mean for me, I mean, I am only one person, I did say to Ozpin not to intervene and just let things run their course.
On one hand, say I'm right and she has a contingency plan in mind, it could be far worse than what will happen, hell, the white fang are surely part of it… and with what Port said on our mission, that those Grimm we fought weren't native to Vale.
I have a feeling that the fang played a part in that, they did deploy Grimm at the battle for Beacon, maybe these were early trial runs-
His mind kept wandering; he was starting to deviate from his main concern, though he also couldn't ignore other components that made up the eventual fall.
The walk back from the headmaster's office to the dorms wasn't too long, but not this time.
Anyway back to the Cinder problem, I'm not even considering the most crucial factor… she has half of Amber's maiden powers, if I did let Ozpin contact the necessary people to act… who knows if she would go so easily, people would get hurt, she might go into hiding… or even on a rampage, especially without just cause from her perspective.
But on the other hand, did my actions claiming to know what will happen and promising the headmaster of Beacon- a school designed to teach it's native populus how to combat beasts they have lived beside for possibly hundreds of thousands of years… if i'm going by earth's own evolutionary process- yet I'm the human who's never even held a weapon designed to kill only until now, let alone the amount of training I've had compared to everyone more suited- woeful.
Finally, he had made it to his dorm, yet the lingering emotions of doubt swelled within him, even once he entered-
"How was the talk with Ozpin?" Penny asked while standing over her bed.
He did his best to keep calm or at the very least neutral, but again, seeing Penny, one emotion stirred, boiling up as he looked at his friend he had come to know.
He felt a burning rage the more he thought about who would end the life of the girl opposing him, a rage that could only be quelled if he plunged his sword into the heart of the one responsible.
"Zen?"
"Oh, sorry, I zoned out for a second.
Things went okay, that faunus kid is going to be fine, he might even get an apprenticeship if Ozpin has a say in the matter.
Gotta say, not the verdict I would have expected, but I'm glad it will turn out good for the boy."
"Are you feeling alright?
You seem tense, you've been acting differently since we came back to our dorm after the mission." Penny said while leaning her head to the side and raising an eyebrow.
Zen nearly cursed aloud as he thought not only what he had just said, but also how he said it, there was no doubt that even someone who was absent minded would be able to tell he wasn't himself.
"I'm just exhausted with what happened on the mission, it's not everyday that you're held at gunpoint by a thirteen year old who's only doing what he thinks is right.
I guess the excitement has finally worn off and I'm only now realising the severity of the event."
"I guess you're right." She responded, yet he had a feeling she wasn't as sure as he was by his own fabrication of an excuse.
"I'm going for a shower before bed, goodnight Penny." He said after sighing.
Somehow not anticipating seeing your foe until the last minute can really take a toll on you.
"Goodnight Zen." She simply answered.
Once in the shower at full blast, he was able to speak his mind.
"Alright note to self, focus… you don't need to worry your friend with your problems when it might affect the both of us, I've seen Cinder, I won't let it get to me.
Now it is a matter to make sure I never see that smug face on her when the Vytal festival is on ."
And thus, the beginning of the first alliance between the humans that made up what would eventually become Vale and the Faunus of the surrounding regions ensured the start to the end of the war was on the horizon.
With both species differences set aside, their focus was now set towards three main goals:
1. Self preservation against attacks from the neighbouring kingdoms.
2. Boosted fortification from the ever-present Grimm.
3. Ultimately peace.
Without these turns of events, the duration of the war would possibly have extended to some five or even ten years.
Some have even theorised that the conflict not only exacerbated the presence of Grimm to the battle field, but also bolstered their numbers too as huntsmen had been ordered to take roles of espionage or even assassins in lue of keeping the Grimm populus in check.
Midday had rolled around while Zen sat alone in the library, writing up the set of notes he had taken during Oobleck's lecture, at least whatever he could decipher from the good doctor's caffeine induced babbling.
Not really enjoying the fact that Penny had her own testing and exams in the privacy of Ironwoods company, despite this being one of their scheduled one on one training sessions.
I've been at this for almost two hours now.
He rubbed his hands against his face, letting his eyes relax after remaining fixed on a screen for so long.
Just across from where he sat, he noticed Blake reading as usual, also with no one to keep her company.
I think I've done enough.
Zen thought to himself as he proceeded to shut down the computer, get up from his seat and walk over to where the faunus girl sat comfortably.
"Hey Blake. How you doin' on such a fine afternoon?" He asked with a bit more energy than he had anticipated.
Thoughts of yesterday afternoon being a thing of the past as he remembered how much trust Blake put in his plan to deal with the Nemean Grimm, perhaps killing time together would be the least he could do to thank her.
Blake glanced up and gave him a mild smile, already sensing his approach beforehand.
"Hello Zen, as you can see I'm just by myself.
Yang has detention after trying to sound smart with Professor Goodwitch, to be honest with you, wasn't her best material.
Meanwhile Ruby and Weiss have an assignment to do that requires them to leave the campus for the day, but I assume you already knew that, although I'm sure she'll be back before evening.
So I'm passing time as I normally do, with a good book in hand in the library."
"Seems cosy." He replied with a hint of sarcasm looking around the room again for emphasis, the pair seemingly having it all to themselves.
Blake looked up at him and chuckled slightly.
"Not everyone around here thinks so, most see it as just where they need to find information to complete assignments, and those that are like me tend to keep to themselves.
From time to time Ruby might join me, Weiss too, though Yang hates to admit it, she doesn't mind either.
On one or two occasions we might get together and read the same book before talking about it, emphasis on one or two times."
"A team that reads together, fights together." He replied, which earned him another smile from the faunus girl, though it was obvious she was mainly focused on the novel in her hands and being politely attentive when he spoke.
In the midst of the brief silence, Zen continued.
"Well Penny has her own stuff to do so I can't really train that much for the moment, I mean you can only fight with the training dummies for so long before you start to realise you have a lot in common with them."
Again another small chuckle could be heard from the raven haired girl.
"Independent learning I feel isn't really my strong point, I can definitely say I accelerate when guided. So instead of combat training I've just been writing a whole heap of notes for History and getting ahead of some of the content for the next few lessons."
"A wise idea." She replied.
"Thank you."
He paused as he thought for a second before looking back at Blake.
"Let me ask you something.
How exactly does Oobleck have the time to breathe when he talks, never seems like he has the chance?"
A large smile came over Blake's face as she shook her head at his question, given that it wasn't the first time she had heard it being asked.
"Just one of life's great mysteries. How does a caffeine addict, passionate history teacher as well as a professional huntsman have the ability to talk at such inhumanly fast speeds?"
She mockingly repeated, earning a laugh from both of them.
"Hey, if you don't have anyone to talk with… did you want to come on a walk with me, have a bit of a chat?"
I mean, though I'm in the midst of this chapter where things are getting interesting, I have been here a while, and he is right when he said it's a fine afternoon.
She contemplated as she looked to the nearest window where natural light was pouring in.
It does look nice outside, might as well take a break and stretch my legs too.
Hmmm
"That doesn't sound like a problem. Let's go." She finally said with some small deliberation.
The pair then found themselves walking alongside each other for several minutes.
From an outsider's perspective, it would seem that they were enjoying their surroundings, though it could also be said that there was still underlying tension between them despite their interaction in the library.
Well Zen, you wanted to escape the library and walk around, so here we are… walking.
You also said to Blake we were going to talk.
Turned out sooo great last time, it's probably why she hasn't said anything since we left.
Things went reeaaal nice at the cafe, so why did you think it would be any better now?
In saying that, I'm sure she'd be happy if I said something…
What to say, what to say?
What could I possibly talk to her about-
Then it hit him.
Actually, there has been something I have always wanted to know about her if I ever got the chance.
Will admit, never was the best at ice breakers, but that doesn't mean I've never been the first to speak either.
You can do this.
"Hey Blake, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
She looked towards him, appearing somewhat relieved that the silence between them was broken.
"Ask away."
"Why did you want to become a huntress?"
Blake, at first began to chuckle at this question, then it evolved into laughter, much to Zen's look of confusion, though he too began to chuckle just by how infectious hers was.
"What's so funny?"
He managed to ask as he caught his breath.
"You know, Doctor Oobleck asked me the exact same question last semester."
"..."
"From our last talk, you told me you knew I was a part of the White Fang, and by extension a faunus, so no denying that what I wanted my goals to be were to achieve equality between humans and faunus."
Blake noticed how Zen winced by what she said, but she continued, as if she didn't.
"I never directly sought to join the academy because that's what I wanted to do…
but it was once I left the fang, huntsmen are seen as the utmost noble of warriors, which you already know.
But my biggest worry was having to work alongside humans, Ruby proved to me there were- there are good humans in this world.
Cardin is a human that I and other faunus despise; the poster child for what the current White Fang stands against.
I know that what the White Fang does now is coaxing humans to respect us through fear and violence. I strongly opposed that ideology, and that is why I came here.
But I realise it is naive to think that I can simply try to convince some people through words, sometimes action is needed, and like Jaune, Ruby and now you, have shown me that for those who are too stubborn to listen to reason, who choose to throw their weight around in order to get their point across, those are the people, the only people in which a huntsman will test their skill against.
It's not the most optimistic outlook, but it is one that seems to work to some degree…"
"No one can truly change someone else's mind, but that doesn't mean they can't be presented with an idea that might seem unconventional to them. Who knows, if you know how to do it right, you might be able to. Maybe that last fight with Cardin I might've finally knocked some sense into him."
"It could have, although Ruby did tell me that Nora did also have the final say to Cardin." Blake replied after quietly nodding in agreement.
There was another few minutes of silence as the pair walked along, but not as long as the last. Zen coming to a dead stop, eyes to the side, before looking slightly up at the amber eyed girl.
"Listen, Blake, about our first meet up.
I- I just wanted to say how truly sorry I am for coming out and just telling you straight to your face about- well you know- you, I never meant to scare or worry you - "
"It's okay, I've had some time to think it over and well, though I'm still going over the whole event, it's not something I will hold against you.
If I were in the same position you were, having that type of background knowledge; I would have done the same thing.
Though I would have taken a different approach and worked my way up to it."
"Thank you Blake." Zen could almost feel a tear well up in his left eye with relief, but he didn't care if it did form, though Yang may have been right at the time, Blake was moving on from it now.
Blake smiled warmly until she herself looked away and halfheartedly chuckled before addressing him, the smile subsided but was still present.
"I will admit there's some poetic irony, our profession basically boils down to placing our lives on the line against literal incarnations of death, the deadliest beings in Remnant and I'm perfectly fine with putting myself in harm's way.
But when it comes to being confronted with words about who I am, as well as my past…. those are somewhat a lot harder to deal with in comparison."
There was another moment of silence between the two, until Blake resumed both walking and talking, doubt adorning her features as she glanced at Zen.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"The fact you knew I am a faunus… it wasn't because of Ruby?"
Zen nearly had to grab his own jaw in that moment, the sheer shock of the question taking a second for him to register.
"Are you suggesting that your own teammate, who I've come to know as someone who thinks highly of her friends, would not be able to keep what I would assume to be a very personal secret?"
"No, I would never think that Ruby would break my trust.
But I wanted to be sure."
From where he stood, Zen could definitely tell that Blake's ears indeed tried folding down under the bow as a result of her even considering the notion that Ruby of all people would do something like that.
"I don't know where that came from. Though I guess it may be because the last time someone found out I was a faunus was my own team, and the only person to blame for divulging that secret was me."
"Well maybe we don't like being pushed around."
"What?" Weiss asked with a now aghast expression as she stepped back.
Did- did I just say 'we'?
"I remember looking around the room thinking that maybe in the heat of the argument my thoughts turned to me berating Weiss and after a split second, but I was wrong, I had in fact inexplicably revealed my secret.
My secret I had hoped to carry with me for as long as I felt needed, and once I thought I could trust my team, perhaps I would divulge what was sitting under a humble little black bow.
But at that moment I had only one thought, one objective, one word in mind that could get me out of this situation… Run. "
"Blake, wait…"
"I heard Ruby call out, but I wasn't going to turn back, I couldn't."
"Well it's understandable, although I can't imagine you or Weiss ever arguing, your team is so cohesive."
"This was early into starting at Beacon, Weiss back then was not who she is now.
Our whole argument, you see, was based on the set of dust robberies that had been going on in Vale.
I'm not sure if you've been following the news before you came here?"
"Haven't really had the time to stay informed about the local news unfortunately, but that's besides the point, anyway you were saying."
"Yes well the robberies which had been taking place only saw the theft of dust, not money which would be usually the target of any robbery previously.
At the time, Weiss was very adamant that the White Fang were the ones responsible, calling them degenerates, scum-"
"Geez, that's rough." Zen cut her off, he got the point, taking note how pained Blakes eye's seemed to say as she recounted those words spoken by her teammate and friend.
"We argued the whole way back until nightfall, and Weiss still didn't relent on her point that faunus, especially the White Fang, were nothing more than lowest common denominators that deserved every bit of justice they got served to them."
"And of course eventually you couldn't hold back and let it slip."
"The friendships I thought I had made, the teammates that I was slowly coming around to, bonding with, even calling them family… all cut to shreds by one simple word.
There have been a lot of ups and downs while I was in the Fang, at some moments I thought we were really making a difference, when in actuality, more harm was being done than good.
And in that time I saw many faunus that, like me, were willing to do what's right, others who like Ad- who wanted to take the law into their own hands.
But of course things never run smoothly and ultimately you pay the price, some of those White Fang members, if they hadn't joined would still be around… they, they were who I thought of when Weiss kept at it, these good kindhearted souls, they were the breaking point where I couldn't stand by and let Weiss talk about them like that."
Zen simply nodded and let her continue.
"I kept running until I got to the main courtyard and had to breathe, thoughts of my friends I had lost in the Fang clashing with those I had gained at Beacon, I felt stuck… "
I'm sorry Crimson, I'm sorry Ruby.
"I remember looking at what stood before me as I wiped a tear from my eye, the statue to honour the huntsmen of the past and to serve to inspire those of the future. At that moment I took a second to think that if I truly were to become a huntress, I can't let myself hide as I did in the Fang. And so I removed the one thing that had helped keep my true self concealed."
"The piece of black ribbon on your head."
"Yes. And well I was going to give some thought to whether or not I should go back or run, but what I wasn't aware of…"
"I knew you looked better without the bow."
"I had an audience."
"An audience?" Zen asked, all the while resisting the urge to smile.
"Before our argument, our team was walking to the docks with one mission in mind. Weiss hoped to assess the other teams from the neighbouring kingdoms that were arriving by boat, though she claimed it was to welcome them to Vale. We then saw another dust shop that had been targeted and that was where Weiss said the White Fang could be connected.
Before I had the chance to respond, we heard commotion at the docks nearby, apparently a faunus stowed away and had only just been found out and was now making a getaway.
He ran right past us and Weiss insisted that we go after him. Coincidentally, that was also roughly the same time we ran into Penny for the first time… or at least Weiss did."
"Penny has told me when you guys met, though I wish I was there to see the look on Weiss' face once she realised what happened. But anyway this faunus who had been watching you."
"Right…"
"Sorry about dropping in on you like this, but I was just out here and then well, I heard you. You doing okay?" He asked as he unfurled his tail and landed feet first on the ground.
Blake simply nodded in response.
"Name's Sun. Not like it's any of my business, but are you out here because you had a rough patch with your team?"
Should I tell him? She thought to herself.
"Blake... Blake, please come back, we can work this out." Ruby's voice echoed in the distance just loud enough for Blake to hear.
Without a second thought, she unsheathed Gambol Shroud before converting it into pistol form, throwing around the branch around the same tree Sun had hung from and grappled her way up.
"Hey where are you going? Wait up."
She heard Sun call out before she could see him swinging just behind her.
If he insists on following along with me, then I'm not to say anything to him until I know it's safe to do so.
"Once I had put what I thought was enough distance between Beacon and unfortunately Ruby, Sun and I made our way into Vale, all the while Sun did a majority of the talking for the both of us while I simply listened."
"So why exactly are we this far out from Beacon?" He casually asked as he looked around at the nearly empty streets while walking beside her.
I'm not sure, maybe so I could think things through, maybe just to get away from it all.
"Was it really that bad?" He asked with slightly more concern.
You don't know the half of it.
"You're not really much for talking are you?"
Blake looked at him before looking straight forward.
"Are you mute?"
Blake bit her lower lip while shaking her head slightly, the more Sun seemingly pressed her, the closer she was to breaking down in tears again.
Not because of anything he said, actually his presence was somewhat welcome as it distracted her from… she didn't want to think about it.
"Oh I see, working out if I'm trustworthy before talking."
More direct eye contact with a slight nod from the amber eyed girl.
"I respect that." He said before coming to a halt, though Blake kept walking.
"Hey wait a minute, if things are as bad as they are, and I don't want to jump to any conclusions, you're just out here walking with nowhere to go."
She stopped but didn't turn around. Sun had her there.
Sure it was fine now she was in Vale, but now what, she can't exactly keep hiking around the city all night.
Then she heard Sun once again.
"Listen, if you really are just looking for a place for a couple of nights, we can always stay at a hotel or something.
Separate rooms obviously."
Blake turned around and folded her arms as she looked directly at him.
"See I actually have a dorm room back at Beacon, but I feel that isn't an option. And when you guys saw me this morning, I came by cargo ship as the rest of my team were coming later on a normal passenger ship.
They called me a cheap skate, but hey, when you come from Vacuo, you gotta do what you gotta do."
Blake again stared at him, eyes seemingly saying 'is there any point to this story'.
"Right so what I was getting to was that I do have Lien that I've saved up for a few things, the boat ride was one of them, but since I didn't use it for that… then I can use it to help you out."
"So you decided to spend the night at a hotel with Sun?" Zen asked.
"In separate rooms obviously." she replied.
"And you didn't say anything to Sun in the morning?"
"No I didn't. And yes, when I think about it, I should have at least thanked him, but since I still thought about the argument, the reveal of my secret and of course Ruby wanting me to stay; I wasn't yet ready to speak to someone who was virtually a stranger, despite what he had done for me."
"What did he do during that time?"
"He mainly kept to himself, occasionally checking to see how I was but didn't pry."
"And how long was it before you went back to the dorm?" He asked though he knew all too well exactly how long Blake had spent in Vale.
"Well the thing was… I didn't go back straight away. I stayed in the hotel room for the most part. I suspected Ruby and Yang would be actively looking for me, Weiss too, though at the time I would have said for different reasons.
I spent another two days in Vale and on that second morning…
"Hey, so you've been cooped up in this hotel for a couple of days now and I know you're still trying to figure stuff out… but you gotta at least get out and get some sunlight.
While I was out I found a cafe not too far from here that has an outdoor area, and not gonna lie, looks actually pretty good.
So what do you say?"
He has a point, plus the hotel is getting a bit boring.
Without saying anything, Blake got up from where she sat on the bed and walked past Sun and into the foyer.
"Guess that's my cue to lead."
Sun voiced aloud before shutting Blake's room door and guiding Blake to said cafe.
The place wasn't too far as Sun had said, but that didn't mean all the while Blake was glancing around, ready to leave at a moment's notice if she even glimpsed one of her teammates.
Once they arrived the thoughts of her team dissipated the minute she heard Sun break her concentration.
"So what did you want to get? There's a full Atleasian breakfast, omelettes, pancakes just to name a few. And as for drinks they've got juices, coffee, tea-"
The minute he said tea, her eyes lit up and Sun didn't miss it for a second.
"And it looks like tea wins it." He said before walking over to the counter and making the order.
Once done they made their way to the roof and waited until their tea arrived.
The pair sat in relative silence, though with the soothing warm beverage in hand, Blake felt a sense of clarity.
"So… you want to know about me?"
"It was probably at that moment that I felt comfortable to at least talk to him. He had been there for me for those few days after all. Gotta say, it's an odd start to a friendship by a stretch, but a good friendship nevertheless. "
Blake finished recounting the event while looking roughly in the direction of Vale.
"From the sounds of it, he seems like a pretty cool guy." Zen answered, not only because of the light Blake had shed on the pair of them together, but also what would come into play that night.
Who knows how much dust might have been stolen had Sun not convinced Blake to go to the docks.
Though he didn't dwell too much on that as Blake caught his attention once again, though her demeanour seemed more cautious as opposed to the relaxed one she had a minute ago.
"Listen, I- I really shouldn't say this to you, but…"
"But?" Zen asked as Blake held her pause for just that little bit too long for his liking.
"What happened yesterday, with the mission, the child that piloted the mech, I know that you must have been terrified to be placed in that situation, had I or anyone of us stepped in, you wouldn't be standing here with me and… well I wanted to tell you how proud of how you dealt with the situation."
"..."
"Although that wasn't what I was going to say… but it is for that reason I want to tell you…"
She trailed off once again, her eyes glancing away as she pondered her options.
Do I go against my friends, for some stranger- no he isn't a stranger, he is Ruby's friend after all.
But what if Yang and Weiss are right, what if I wait awhile to see if like they say, comes to light-
"Blake?"
Forget it.
You should tell him.
"Are you okay?" Zen asked as he tried to get into her line of sight.
"You've had one on one talks with each of us haven't you?" Blake quipped once she looked back towards him.
"I have, and I'll admit, they haven't been the best."
"Yang Weiss and I discussed what each of our experiences were like.
Interestingly, we noticed a pattern, one or two things that were in common, as to what they were, well, I think you know exactly what I'm referring to.
If it hadn't been for yesterday, I would demand to know what the point of it was. Maybe, like Weiss, I may have drawn Gambol Shroud.
"And Now?"
"Now however, I want to simply ask… why did you accept Ruby's help with your training?"
"It's… complicated."
"So you've said."
"Blake, I will tell you this, it's pretty obvious I'm not the most effective combatant on the battlefield, especially not when compared to the rest of my team.
But, despite that, Penny has been there for me ever since I met her.
She showed me the ropes, got me to where I am currently, but even then I'm nowhere near the level I should be.
And it wasn't more telling until she came to Vale while I was still in Atlas.
I was fine academically, though without her helping me out, directing me where I could improve, I could tell there were some noticeable areas of my training where I felt I wasn't working to my full potential… if I was truly improving or simply being stagnate."
He sighed as he closed his eyes before exhaling and continuing.
"When I did arrive, when she told me she had made friends, actual friends that weren't made to be there for her here in Vale… somehow all those times away didn't feel so worthless.
When I met Ruby, I saw immediately that yes, Penny did in fact find a true friend, and when things were said and done with my weapons, and she had offered to spar with me, well I too had gained someone special."
She said nothing, and thought for a second, but paused as Zen went on.
"But you guys were right. That with our separate meetups, there was something I was trying to get you guys to see, I- shouldn't really say anything although you do deserve to know something…"
Am I really going to do this? The more he asked himself, the more that one mental picture of Cinder acting casual with her team abolished any doubt that what he was doing currently wasn't the right thing.
Here goes nothing then.
"You might have figured it out.
Those ships, circling the city, the patrols along the city limits, the breach in Vale a while ago and our mission yesterday with the White Fang.
Blake, something is happening, I may have slipped it out when I spoke with Weiss, but I may as well tell you, as far as the average person can tell, these incidents may have nothing in common.
Ozpin and Ironwood on the other hand, not so much.
The fact of the matter is that one of the most important events in the year is being broadcast all across the kingdoms of Remnant, all eyes will be watching.
If someone were planning to do something or make a powerful statement… wouldn't that be the ideal time to do it?"
If Blake was being honest with herself, it wasn't the first time she had heard plans along those lines.
Adam at one point wanted to use it as a tool directly, but unfortunately the both lacked the resources as well as firepower that would be needed to orchestrate such a task.
That wasn't to say that her former mentor didn't calculate how to best maximise what little he had, but with so much on the line, he wasn't going to blindly sacrifice those who were fighting for the cause.
Once again her thoughts were cut off as Zen went on, this time however, Blake felt as if she needed to confide in her old diary.
"Think about the mission yesterday, how Port made it clear that those Grimm we fought weren't native to Vale, that most likely Vacuo is their natural hunting grounds and that there could be no way they would be able to get to that part of Vale on their own.
I don't want to speculate, but what if the reason for those unfamiliar Grimm we brought in by the White Fang to assist in assaulting the mining station we were sent to survey."
"That- wouldn't be so far of a stretch…." Blake wearily replied, making the same motions similar to how she did during the mission.
"What?" Zen questioned.
"While in the White Fang, the mentor I served under, floated around the idea that if we couldn't rely on numbers to overthrow resistance at certain objectives, then we could try to level the playing field, of course that was all just on paper. And when Professor Port had made the implication that Grimm may not have arrived there on their own, it looks as though the idea my mentor had is no longer just an idea."
"So you don't think my theory is crazy?"
"Not in the slightest, and not when compared to what Weiss said about-" She cut herself short, almost blurting out Weiss' little theory about Zen.
"Said about what?" He asked, slightly worried by her abrupt end.
"Hey Blake."
Before she could even think of an excuse, a familiar voice called nearby, looking around she realised that they both had walked the entire perimeter of Beacon and were now standing just outside of the cafeteria.
The pair turned to see an all too familiar blonde haired faunus boy walking up to them.
"Oh, Zen, this is my friend Sun." Blake blinked for a second before quickly introducing her friend to Zen, at the same time relieved he arrived at just the perfect moment.
"Zen? This is the guy you were talking about?" He casually asked.
But this was Sun afterall.
"Esslay alktay onyay ethay enzay ingthay." Blake tried to whisper through gritted teeth at Sun, which translates to 'Less talk on the Zen thing'.
Meanwhile Zen noticed the interaction between the two, as well as the very light shade of pink that formed on Blake's cheeks.
"Sup dude." Sun said to Zen while putting out his fist for a fistbump, taking the hint and acting as if he hadn't said anything.
"Sup." Zen reciprocated.
"So what have you two been up to?" Sun asked as he looked between them before looking through a nearby window into the cafeteria.
"We've just been talking." Blake answered, following his gaze as she felt her stomach start to grumble.
"Sounds like you've been talking for a while, let me guess, you were in the library beforehand?" Sun asked, meanwhile Blake scratched the back of her neck, her cheek's shifting to a now visible shade of pink.
"Yeah we were, how did you know?" Zen asked, somewhat surprised by the junior detective.
"Would not be the first time Blake's missed lunch on the account of a good book. So let's go fix that." Sun replied, walking beside Blake as they made their way to the entrance to the cafeteria.
"You two go on, I need to head back to my dorm." Zen said before turning and heading in the direction of said dorms.
"Catchya dude." Sun called out and waved.
"Not much of a talker is he?"
Sun said as he looked at Blake, who seemed lost in thought, somehow unaware Zen was leaving, or at least that was what he thought she was doing.
"Hey, you okay?"
"Wha- Oh, yeah I'm fine, just thinking about some things we talked about on the way here." She said, though her thoughts still drifted to what he had said.
"Wanna talk about it." He asked with concern. He'd seen this look on Blake before and wasn't about to ignore it.
"No, it's fine, don't worry." Blake replied reassuringly.
Although she herself wasn't so sure about that.
A/N:
And thus another chapter is done.
First off, Happy New Year readers (yeah I know it's nearing the end of the month), Gong Hei Fat Choi (Happy Lunar New Year, year of the Rabbit) and of course Happy Birthday to everyone's favourite ninja Blake (that and yours truly).
So as of writing this, Season 9's trailer has been release and it looks to be following Alice in wonderland, should be interesting but that is all I'm going to say till closer to time, although I may not say anything as I plan to watch the whole season using the first time sign up trail on crunchyroll (was planning to watch Ice queendom like that, but luckily I waited).
With regards to references there are none I can think of, currently.
On another note I have also written another RWBY fic, it's called Heist, and it focuses on Blake and set in the modern world (or rather ~2010-2014 era) but don't worry, Foresight is pretty much going to be 99% of my focus, I really am planning on trying to break this cycle of post, write and post again 3 months later, I very much have ideas and I find writing this story to be theraputic as well as knowing that with each new chapter I've improved in my ability to write a story/chapter.
Anyhow I will leave it at that.
Thank you all who have been reading since day one, those who have visited after each new post and decided to stay and especially those who have wanted to see what happens next and follow along.
Lemme know you thoughts if like this or previous chapters and I will see you in the next chapter...
Until next time have a great one.