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It was quiet near Mistral. Ruby was just watching the sunrise while watching a few doves fly through the air without a care in the world.
"You're up early."said Yang as she stood over her sister.
"Hey sis."greeted Ruby with a smile.
"Boop."said Yang as she wiggled her hair above Ruby's face, causing Ruby to giggle as she found her sister's antics hilarious.
"What are you doing up?"asked Ruby, as her sister was not normally a morning person.
"Can't fall back asleep. These last few days have certainly been interesting."said Yang, what with Jaune being alive and them learning about Salem and the real story behind Team STRQ.
"Me neither. I've been too busy trying to master that Haki but it feels like it's taking too long as no matter what I do I feel like I can't get past the first step."said Ruby, feeling frustrated as she couldn't get to the next level as quickly as she wanted to.
"Well fortunately, coffee exists."said Weiss as she brought over three cups of coffee.
She handed both Ruby and yang a cup of coffee before sitting down next to her teammates. Ruby tried to object but Weiss told her that she put plenty of cream and sugar as she knew Ruby was not fond of black coffee.
"Oh yeah, nice Weiss strikes again."said Ruby, causing Weiss to lift up the coffee away from her.
"I will pour this on you and it will burn."said Weiss as she handed Ruby the coffee.
"Hehe."expressed Ruby, as regular Weiss was now back.
"Can't believe we're actually in Mistral "said Yang, and she never imagined she would step into Mistral so early in her journey.
"That's what you can't believe? What about the witch who commands the Grimm, or our friend having been in another world for the last thirteen years, working under some super badass samurai."said Ruby, as compared to that being in Mistral was pretty tame.
"Well yeah, and all the other magic and stuff. But, okay you know what I mean!"said Yang, as Ruby should know her by now to know that she means something else than what she says.
"I honestly wasn't sure if I ever see you two again. I thought I never see the dolt alive again but I guess things don't always work out the way we expect them to."said Weiss, as things really work in mysterious ways.
"Well, here's to defying expectations."said Yang as they cheered their cups.
"I just wish Blake could be here with us."said Ruby, wondering how her cat Faunus teammate was doing.
"Yeah, well, she made her choice."said Yang, still angry that Blake ran off during the Battle of Beacon.
Ruby looked over at Weiss with worry as Weiss asked Yang by what she meant by that.
"What's that's supposed to mean?"
"I mean she could have been here if she just stuck around. It's no big deal though, we'll be fine."said Yang, still holding resentment over her teammate.
"Don't you want her here?"asked Ruby, as she thought Blake and Yang are really close.
"Why would I want her here?"asked Yang, wondering what Ruby meant by that.
"Are you still mad at her for leaving?"asked Ruby, as it was clear that Yang was still mad.
"Oh, whatever gave you that idea, Ruby. No I'm totally fine, I'm great."said Yang with much sarcasm in her voice.
"Okay, calm down."said Weiss, as it was clear that Yang's temper was starting to emerge again.
"Don't tell me to calm down!"said Yang as her eyes began glowing red.
"Whoa, Yang."said Ruby, noticing that her sister was extremely upset.
Yang notice this and began to calm down."Whatever."said Yang as she got up and began walking away.
"It's not like I'm the only one who's upset at someone for disappearing on them when they needed them the most."said Yang, knowing that Ruby was still upset at Jaune for disappearing even though he was sucked into circumstances beyond his control.
"I know..."said Ruby, as it was clear that she and Pyrrha needed to remove the tension between them and their aged friend.
Meanwhile in Mistral, Blake was watching the night sky as Sun called out to her.
"Hey Blake, ready to go?"asked Sun, wondering if Blake was ready.
"Be right there."said Blake as she looked out into the distance one final time before picking up a note.
She read it and began to look around suspiciously.
"Are we going recruiting or not? We have the entire nocturnal section to hit up."said Sun, as he and Blake were trying to recruit people to fight against Adam and his followers in Mistral.
"You okay?"asked Sun, noticing that something was bothering Blake.
"Yeah, I will meet you there. I need to take care of something first."said Blake as she walked past him.
Meanwhile back in Mistral, Yang was just sulking in her room as she was looking at a picture of her and the rest of team RWBY, before she heard a knock at the door.
"Yeah."said Yang as Weiss let herself in.
"Look, Ruby. I really don't want to talk about it okay. Can you just leave me alone for a bit?"said Yang, thinking it was her sister until Weiss spoke up.
"We're definitely not Ruby."said Jaune, revealing that he was accompanying Weiss.
"Oh, hey Weiss, Jaune."said Yang, not expecting them of all people."Did you two need something?"
Weiss and Jaune just quietly walked into the room before Weiss shut the door behind her. Weiss sat down in the bed next to Yang as Jaune leaned next to her on the nearby wall.
"Hah... I know she's our teammate, but I'm not just going to change my mind. I'm sorry I just don't think you know what it feels like to be left."said Yang, as she feels like Blake betrayed her when she ran off.
"Oh, really? Stuck in a land that you don't know anything about with no friends and family anywhere, almost getting burned alive before someone came to save you with nothing short of a miracle. Follwing that someone to the very edge of death. And thinking that someone you're close to is a traitor all along. Yeah, I don't get what you're going through."said Jaune, who suspected that someone close to Oden was indeed a traitor and that what Kaido said was true!
As there was no way he should have seen the attack on Onigashima coming unless someone leaked it!
"I didn't mean it like that."said Yang."You may get a pass but what about her. Weiss has a giant family. Recitals to perform at. Dinners to attend. I didn't have any of that. My Mom left me. Ruby's Mom left too. Tai was always busy with school and Ruby couldn't even talk yet. I had to pick up the pieces. I had to keep things together, alone."
Jaune just let out a sigh as Weiss continue to stay silent.
"Weiss, if you have something to say then say it."said Yang, annoyed that her friend wasn't saying anything.
"When I was ten, my Dad finally admitted to my Mom that the only reason he married her was for the family name, it was actually on my birthday. He missed the big dinner, she got mad, he finally snapped. I think she already knew. Looking back, I think I knew too, but hearing him say it finally pushed her over the edge."said Weiss as she got up and sat next to Yang.
"First it was separate lunches and dinners, opposite balconies at my recitals, a glass of wine here, a glass of wine there. Then it was no dinners, no recitals, a bottle of wine here, well you get the idea."said Weiss, knowing that her mother really went down the bottle when she found out her husband never really loved her.
"I'm really sorry. I shouldn't have assumed."said Yang, realizing that she wasn't the only one who had a miserable childhood.
"For me. All I ever wanted to be was a Huntsman. But Mom and Dad said no as I was the only boy in our generation of the family meaning I was the heir to the Arc family name. I wasn't allowed to venture too far away from home as they were afraid something bad would happen to me. My sisters treated me like a plaything while I got the best tutors, healthy meals, an education anyone would dream of having in order to prepare them to be the next head of one of the oldest families in all of Remnant. But I knew from day one that I was nothing more than a political tool. My family loved me but they never let me be who I wanted to be. All I ever wanted to do was help people but I realized that as long as I stayed home I was never going to be free. Then I met you guys and decided to blow myself up with Cinder at Beacon. I meet Lord Oden, Kin'emon, Raizo, Kiku, Ashura, Denjiro, Kawamatsu, Dogstorm, Cat Viper, Izo, and Kanjuro. Lord Oden believed in me from day one and took me in when I had nowhere else to go. Now I'm back here and I'm not sure what's going to happen to me in the future."said Jaune, as everyone was torn.
"Everyone has there tragic story Yang, I'm sure Blake has plenty of sadness in her life as a Faunus who tried to make the world a better place under Sienna Khan."said Jaune, as Blake must have had it rough being a member of the White Fang when it changed regimes and became more violent and extremist.
"Your right though. I don't know loneliness like you do. I have my own version. Jaune has his own version. And I'll bet Blake has her own version too."said Weiss, knowing that everyone, including Blake had some bad memories of the past they were rather forget.
"She doesn't have to be alone though."argued Yang"I was here for her. We all were. She chose to leave us."
"I think she has her reasons."said Jaune, as Blake wouldn't have just abandoned them for no reason.
"He's right. Why do you believe she did that?"asked Weiss, wondering what Yang thought the answer was.
"Hmm.."mumbled Yang.
"The entire time she was at Beacon, Blake was afraid to open up to people. She tried to keep her past separated from us. She tried to protect us. Eventually those walls she put up came down, and the moment they did the one thing she was afraid of happening did happen. The universe proved her right."said Weiss, reminding Yang of when Adam cut off her arm.
"No one blamed her for anything! If she had just talked to us, she would have known that! How can I be there for her if she doesn't let me?!"asked Yang, wondering how she could get through the walls Blake put around herself."What if I needed her here for me?!"
Yang then cried into her hands, wondering why Blake left.
"Keep trying."said Jaune, surprising both Yang and Weiss.
"When I first arrived in Wano, I felt like I was lost like a kid set a drift at sea with no idea how to get home. Lord Oden didn't give up on me though. The man was one of the most stubborn people I ever met and he tried his hardest to get me to open up. I tried pushing away but he didn't let me and eventually I opened up and I realized that if it wasn't for him I would have probably not been alive today."said Jaune, as he owes Kozuki Oden for saving his life three times.
The day he saved him from burning.
The day he saved him from falling into despair.
And the day he sacrificed himself to save him from boiling alive!
"I know it's not easy. I wish she hadn't left too. The only thing we can do now is be there for her when she's ready. When she comes back."said Weiss, deciding to add to Jaune said.
"If she comes back."clarified Yang, as they had no idea if Blake even was coming back.
"She will."said Jaune and Weiss at the same time.
"Yang, you, Ruby, and even Blake are more like family to me than my brother or even my own father. I would do anything for you three, and I'm willing to bet Blake feels the same way. So, when she's ready, I'll be there for her. And I know we're not as close but I'm here for you too."said Weiss, hoping that her words of comfort would help Yang with whatever she was dealing with.
"She's right. Blake just needs time to understand that running away will not protect her friends and just hurt them more. She needs to understand that if she doesn't let them help, then that just causes more damage than good. She will come back when she realizes that. And I have a feeling that will be soon."said Jaune, feeling like things will surely work out best in the end.
Before anything else could be said, Ruby knocked on the door and opened it.
"Is ah, everything okay?"asked Ruby, wondering if she could do anything to help.
"Yeah, it is."said Yang, causing Ruby to let out of sigh of relief.
Meanwhile back in Menagerie, Blake was looking for Ilia, as she's the one who left her the note.
"Ilia. I'm here."said Blake as she pulled out gamble shroud.
Ilia meanwhile stepped out of the darkness as she changed back to her regular form.
"Ilia, I know you're scared but you don't have to be."said Blake, hoping to talk reason to her old friend."My family and I, we can keep you safe."
"I'm sorry."said Ilia as she closed her eyes.
"You can make it up to me by helping me stop Corsac and Fennec."said Blake, knowing that the two leaders of the Menagerie branch of the White Fang needed to be stopped.
"No.. I'm sorry."clarified Ilia as a bat Faunus tackled Blake to the ground from above, knocking her weapon away from her as a spider Faunus and another Faunus approached her.
"Wait!"said Blake as she tried to get up, only to be knocked down by a pair of spider webs courtesy of the spider Faunus.
"I've got her."
"Well done sister Trifa."said the bat Faunus." And to you, Ilia."
The bat Faunus then handed Ilia her weapon.
"Ilia, what are you doing?!"asked Blake.
"I tried to warn you, Blake. I'm sorry."
"Don't tell me you're sorry."said Blake with anger.
"But I am! I am sorry it has to be this way, but you and your family are holding the Faunus back."said Ilia, knowing that the Belladonna family hold sway over the Faunus.
"Because we're trying to protect people?"asked Blake, wondering what was going through her friend's head." In what world do you think attacking the innocent is the right thing to do?!"
"The same one as you! There's no such thing as innocent, no such right thing to do. Only what's best for us! There are the humans that hate the Faunus, and they're the ones that stand by and let the hate happen!"said Ilia, as she believed that no one was truly innocent.
"But you know what snuffs out hate? Fear! I don't like hurting people, but I'll tell you this. It's gotten us results."said Ilia, justifying her actions.
"Yeah, look where it's gotten you."said Blake, as fear has made her attack her own kind.
Ilia appear to hesitate before she calmed down and tried to justify herself again.
"We all have to make sacrifices for the greater good. No matter how much it hurts."said Ilia, who didn't like hurting people but saw no other way to help the Faunus.
"And you think killing me is really for the greater good?"asked Blake.
"No...but getting rid of your family is."said Ilia, has Blake looked on with shock.
"You wouldn't, you can't! I won't let you!"said Blake, knowing what her friend's words meant!
"I know. That is why you're getting sent to Mistral. To Adam!"said Ilia, shocking Blake.
"Ilia, please! You don't have to do this, this isn't you!"pleaded Blake.
"Yes it is!"said Ilia carefully and clearly so Blake would hear.
"But I guess you were just too busy back then falling for Adam to notice. I was always jealous of the way you looked at him. I wanted you to look at me that way."said Ilia, revealing that you had feelings for Blake.
"But we can't always get what we want! Yuma, with me! You two, get her to the docks!"said Ilia as she began to walk away.
"Funny thing about fixing racism with fear. That fear turns the hatred, and that hatred turns to violence. This Adam sounds like one of those who just wants to watch the world burn until he's eventually put down like a rabid animal."said a deep voice, as Ilia noticed that a large shadow was looming over her.
She then heard the dripping of water and she turned around and saw a monster in front of her!
This creature was a large feline humanoid covered in scars wearing a white button up shirt, white pants, a pink Haramaki, sandals, and had a red kimono with yellow polka dots all around it draped over his shoulders.
"You must be Blake Belladonna!"said the large creature as it was revealed that his left hand was covered in bandages.
"Who are you?!"asked Blake, wondering how this giant...Faunus knew her name.
"My name is Cat Viper! I am the best friend of your friend Jaune Arc! And because you're a friend of my best friend I will help save you!"declared an older and bigger Cat Viper, who stumbled onto the scene by accident after he fell into a whirlpool on the Grand Line!
"Jaune!"said Blake, as Jaune is supposed to be dead.
"That is the biggest Faunus I have ever seen."said Yuma, as Ilia motioned for him to retreat as Trifa and the other Faunus with her tried to attack Cat Viper!
"Nyaaahhh!"exclaimed Cat Viper as he took down Trifa with a strike of his claws!
Sun meanwhile knocked out the one behind her.
"Hey, thanks for the save big cat dude!"said Sun, as Cat Viper was shaking himself to get himself dry.
"First thing I do when I leave Zou is to find Marco. Now I'm in my old friend's world and I find one of his friends from when he was a student at Beacon."said Cat Viper, as Jaune told him and the other Scabbards he was close to about Remnant.
"I have a lot of questions for you but for now we need to save my parents!"said Blake as she, Sun, and Cat Viper began running to the house of the chieftain!
Meanwhile Kali and Ghira Belladonna were fighting for their lives as the White Fang led by Fennec and Corsac were attacking in force!