A Slight Set Back

Menagerie: Kuo Kuana

'Today's the big day,' Thought Aegis as he sat in the front room with Sun and the rest of the Belladonna family. Ghira Belladonna was pacing with his reading glasses on, trying to memorize the speech he'd written. He'd been at this for several minutes now. Blake, in the meantime, was leaning against a wall with her arms crossed. Sun simply sat with his back against one of the pillars in the corner of the room near Blake.

As for Aegis, he'd somehow found himself sitting next to Blake's mother, Kali on the only couch in the room. Aegis had been keeping himself busy up to this point examining his weapon to insure the cylinder was spinning correctly, the dust cartridges where filled, etc. A tense silence had seized everyone as they waited for the scheduled time to arrive. Aside from Aegis's tinkering with Ursus Cleaver, the only other sounds in the room where Ghira's pacing and everyone else's breathing.

Finally, Blake's father stopped pacing and let out a loud sigh, prompting Kali to get up and rest a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Are you feeling ready?" Asked Kali.

"I suppose," Answered Ghira solemnly, "It won't be easy for our people to hear this, but truth is often difficult in life, and I know they'll chose the right way to handle this." Blake seemed to agree as she walked up and rested her hand on her father's other shoulder. Ghira smiled at his wife and daughter before feeling a third hand half-hit him on the back.

Turning around, they saw Sun there with a goofy smile on his face. "You got this," he said before backing up, grinning awkwardly as he did so. Everyone stared at him for a moment, while Blake glanced at Aegis. Apparently she expected him to attempt some kind of support of his own.

"Hey don't look at me," Said Aegis as he turned to head out the door, "I did emotional support yesterday." Blake simply rolled her eyes at that statement as she and her parents headed out of the door. Sun and Aegis followed shortly after as they stepped outside where a large crowd had gathered.

Several of the Faunus there were wearing badges that identified them as members of the Press. Though Aegis wondered how professional it was for all of them to just be using their scrolls to record this event instead of actual cameras. He also noticed, much to his disdain, that the two fox Faunus's, Fennec and Corsac, were also in the crowd in their usual red and white robes with their hands held in meditative poses.

'At least they got the Belladonna's guards around them,' Aegis thought as he stepped to Ghira's left side while Sun, Blake and Kali all stepped to the right. Ghira himself, stepped forward until he was behind a podium which had been set up for the event and tapped the microphone. He was rewarded with the sound of static feedback as he raised his hand for everyone to quiet down.

"Thank you all for coming," Said Ghira, his voice amplified by the microphone, "I wish to address the many rumors which have recently circulated our island. I believe the best way to do this is for the people of the territory to hear the truth."

'And this is about the time where I zone out,' Thought Aegis as Ghira continued his speech. He spoke about the tragedy now known as the fall of Beacon, he revealed that the White Fang's splinter group led by Adam Taurus was partially responsible for the tragedy. Personally, Aegis pegged Adam and the White Fang as more than 'partially' responsible, more like half way responsible.

It was then that Ghira mentioned how a spy from the same splinter group Taurus was leading attacked Blake and Sun. That spy was of course Ilia, but Blake hadn't wanted that revealed. But now the speech got interesting with the mention of the scroll Blake and Sun had gotten off of Ilia as well as the data Aegis had been given by Drake. Both of them together pointed to two terrible outcomes.

The first being Taurus's plan to overthrow Sienna Khan, who Aegis was still surprised to find out was a woman. With a last name like 'Khan,' he kind of expected a dude. The second, and even worse, was his plan to use the White Fang to bring down Haven Academy. 'Striking on the final full moon before the fall semester starts,' thought Aegis as Ghira explained Taurus's plan to the crowd. 'I don't know if that's supposed to be poetic or not, but that gives us two months to bust up this plan of theirs and shove it right back down their throats.'

Aegis focused back on the speech as Ghira mentioned sending a messenger to the Mistral government. A move that Aegis didn't really think was necessary considering both Drake and May should've been to Haven by now with the same data they'd given him, or at least close to it. But in the end, Ghira had insisted that they needed all the messengers they could get.

The next part of the speech was about the former leader's history with the White Fang, how he stepped down and let Sienna Khan lead when faster results were demanded, and how even she wouldn't condone Taurus's action. Ghira raised his voice as he began his main proclamation, saying that now was the time to rid the world of Taurus's splinter group. The crowd actually began cheering at that statement.

"So it's clear what must be done!" He declared, "We must venture to Haven and protect it at any cost!" Oddly enough, that was when the cheering stopped. 'Oh boy,' thought Aegis, 'maybe we should've toned that last part down a bit.'

Fortunately, Ghira quickly recovered by clearing his throat. "But before we proceed I'd like to invite my daughter to speak, not just as a former member of the White Fang but also as a survivor of Beacon's fall." With that final statement, he moved aside as Blake walked up to the podium. But someone else wanted to speak more.

"TRAITORS!" yelled a now, unfortunately, familiar voice. Ilia emerged from the crowd, throwing off a cloak she'd used to disguise herself. "You want to listen to these cowards!"

'Oh we are not doing this,' thought Aegis he pushed off the wall and stood up straight. "After everything we've been put through by the humans, you want us to help them!" Yelled Ilia angrily. Aegis was about to advance, but Ghira held his hand up, signaling for Aegis to stay put.

"I know we haven't received fair treatment over the years," Said Ghira, keeping his voice calm and even.

"Where was your help while we were being treated like slaves by the dust companies, or when kingdoms hunted us just because we were different? And where was your help when my parents were killed in a dust mine?!"

"Progress is not an easy thing young lady," Ghira tried to explain, "It's a process requiring time and cooperation."

"Do you hear that?!" Ilia turned and yelled to the crowd, "The Belladonna's want us to work with the ones keeping us down, something only the worst kind of Faunus-."

CRAAAACK! Ilia was interrupted by the sound of cracking stone as everyone's attention was directed next to the stage. "After everything 'they've' done?" Said Aegis as he removed his fist from the crater he'd made in the stone pillar, "You know I've had to put up with a lot of #$$holery because I was born with a pair of bear ears on my head. My brother both and I had to beat down a number of pricks who couldn't be bothered to look past a couple small details."

"But you know the funny thing is, some of the worst things that've happened recently were only possible with the help of one organization, the splinter group of the White Fang. Just last year your organization was robbing Vale of weapons and dust before using an underground train to cause the breach incident in downtown Vale, the same breach incident which released numerous Grimm into the city, a city full of not just humans but Faunus. Then you brought Grimm into the city yet again when you attacked Beacon, and last I checked the Grimm don't discriminate between humans and Faunus."

Aegis stepped forward down the stairs as he continued to speak. "It was during that same attack that one of my best friends, a human I might add, lost her arm to your benevolent leader Adam Taurus. Now why did she lose that arm," Aegis pointed at Blake, "Because she was trying to save Blake, who Adam had earlier stabbed in the side."

"And if it wasn't for the interference of one of Adam's own Lieutenants, Drake Beller, she might not even be standing here today. And you know what's funny, that same panther Faunus I just mentioned tried to kill my older brother twice, gave him two scars on his left arm in one of the attempts, all while he was a member of the White Fang."

"That filthy traitor stole from us!" Ilia tried to argue back, "He was a devoted member and then he turned his back on us just like Blake did. All because you and your brother poisoned his mind with idealistic nonsense!"

"Is it nonsense," Asked Aegis as he saw Sun sneaking around in the back of the crowd, trying to get near Ilia, "Drake once believed as Adam does that humans and Faunus living together was plain impossible. Do you know what he was doing the last time we saw him?"

"Riding off into the sunset to warn Haven of your upcoming attack after him, my brother and me, and his 'human', no you didn't hear that wrong, 'human' girlfriend survived an attack by your splinter group of the White Fang."

"What would you know?!" Yelled Ilia, "You're not even a pure breed Faunus, filthy human blood runs in your veins!"

"Shut up already!" Yelled Sun as he broke out of the crowd and raced toward Ilia. But the chameleon Faunus was just a bit faster as she pulled out her weapon and swung it upwards, snagging it on a nearby outcropping. Sun just missed her as she was pulled upwards and out of the crowd.

"After her!" Exclaimed the guards as they rushed to catch up to the escaping spy. Sun was about to go after her as well, but was stopped by Aegis. "Leave her to me and the guards," said Aegis, making sure the Albain twins couldn't hear him, "I got a better chance of tracking her down."

"But I still got a score to-," Sun tried to protest before Aegis cut him off.

"And I got a better chance of tracking her down," Said Aegis, "And no offense, but a better record of fighting her as well. You stay here in case those fox pricks try something." Sun didn't look happy about it, but he relented. "At least give her a couple hits for me," said Sun.

"Oh that I can do," Said Aegis as he turned and headed off to pursue the chameleon Faunus once again.

Mistral: Unknown Forest

The sun was beginning to set on the Mistraltan forest as a small amount of smoke was rising in the distance. At first he was too groggy to realize what it was he was smelling. Once he did, however, all the events leading up to this point came rushing back to him.

Wayne awoke with a start, sweeping the area with his Crescent Fang as he tried to control his breathing. Taking in his surroundings, he found he was in one of the forests of Mistral, but where he was in Mistral exactly was still a mystery. Taking a look next to him as he slowly stood up, he noticed a recently downed tree was there.

"Oh yeah," Said Wayne as he remembered how he'd come to an abrupt stop after flying through the air, "I knocked that tree over, with my back." Looking back in the other direction, Wayne also noticed smoke was still rising from a short distance away, and another important detail came to mind. "Ah #$ , Weiss," said Wayne as he rushed over to the crash site.

When he got there, he immediately got to work looking for the former heiress. The ship was obviously trashed with a long ditch created by the ship skidding to a halt. Several downed trees also surrounded the ship. It didn't prove any challenge to Wayne though as he climbed in the side of the ship.

'Not good,' Thought Wayne as he tried to get into the pilot's cabin, only to be stopped by a mass of smoke and flame. 'I don't know if he got out alive or not,' thought Wayne, 'But if he's in there, it's already too late.'

Wayne continued to search around the ship, slowly moving from one side to the other as he managed to gather a few supplies which hadn't been tossed out or burned from the crash. 'Good news is, Weiss isn't on the ship,' Thought Wayne as he moved out and began calling for her.

"Weiss!" Wayne called as he started circling around the outside of the ship, "Weiss, you still hanging around here?" He waited for a minute to see if there was any reply. When there was none he started sniffing the ground around the ship. 'Pay dirt' he thought as he finally found a trace of Weiss, 'In this case somewhat literally.'

'No blood here, so she's uninjured,' he thought. Wayne took a couple more sniffs of the ground when he noticed something strange. 'Odd,' thought Wayne as he found a few extra sets of footprints on the ground, 'There were more people here than just Weiss, and these guys don't smell like the pilot. Or like they've had proper baths in a while for that matter.' Wayne sniffed the unfamiliar tracks, taking in the new scents and froze.

" # $ !" he swore as he discovered a fourth scent, and this one was familiar. "No, no, no, no, no, no!" Wayne thought aloud frantically as he stood back up and began pacing. 'Of all the people why did it have to be her?' Wayne grabbed his head in frustration as he paced next to the ship.

"DAMN IT!" Yelled Wayne as he brought both of his fists down on the wing of the airship, creating indentions in the metal. And hurting his hands a bit in the process. 'The odds for something like this should be astronomical and yet it happened anyway. Now she's got Weiss, if I didn't know better I'd almost think that, no.'

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA," Laughed an all too familiar voice as Wayne turned towards the smoke of the burning wreckage, "I don't know what's worse, you just happening to land near this particular bandit camp, or the possibility that this might've been her plan all along!"

As Wayne continued to look towards the source of the voice, the smoke bent and twisted into an eerie, smoke-form double of himself. "Unless you got something useful to say," said Wayne as he narrowed his eyes at the appearance of his darker half, "Get out of here."

"Oh I was just wondering what you planned to do next," answered the figure, and although Wayne couldn't see his mouth he knew he was smiling. "As I see it you have two to three options."

"I only have one option and you know it," replied Wayne as he started walking. "Do you?" Asked the figure, "Do you really think that, because there's an easy way to survive this?"

"Oh and how's that," Asked Wayne as he stopped and turned back to the figure.

"You can turn around and head the other direction," said the figure, "After all, if those bandits know who Weiss is, then they know that they won't get any kind of a ransom if she dies. With luck you'll be able to find help somewhere."

"Out of the question," said Wayne as he began to turn back around, "Even though the bandits probably want to ransom her, she doesn't want to go back to her home. And worse yet, they might not get a ransom, considering she's no longer the heir to her family's company, and just kill her."

"Oh yes of course," said the figure as Wayne started walking away, "There's no telling how long it might take to find help, so I suppose your only option is to go there alone and hope the bandit leader is in a good mood."

"You got a better idea?" Asked Wayne as he trekked through the forest. "As a matter of fact I do," Said the Figure as his glowing eyes appeared in a shadowed part of the forest, "And I know you've considered it already yourself, at least in the back of your mind."

"The reason I've kept it in the back of my mind is because it's a last resort," Said Wayne as he pushed his way through some branches. "But if you think about it," Said the Figure as his face appeared in a nearby puddle, "It's the only sure fire way you've got right now that may prove to be an actual threat to her and her right hand."

Wayne stopped at the puddle and looked down as he mulled the options over in his head again. "Let's get one thing straight," Said Wayne, "I'm gonna try everything I can to avoid a fight with this tribe and their leader. But should I fail to escape and negotiations break down."

"Then we'll bring a storm of terror the likes of which that tribe has never seen," Replied the figure. "So what are we waiting for, let's go confront Raven Branwen and her bandits once again!"

And so, Wayne again finds himself needing to ask a favor of the infamous bandit leader, Raven Branwen. While Aegis resumes his pursuit of Blake's former friend. But events are about to shift once again as both brothers will soon encounter some unexpected twists in their journeys. Hello everyone, first off I'd like to apologize for getting this chapter out later than I meant to, busy couple of days and all that. I'd also like to take the time, as always, to say thank you to the community for your patience, comments, and reviews. Stop by next time as Wayne runs into a surprising ally in his quest to confront Branwen. 'Til next time.