Remodeling With the White Fang
Kuo Kuana: Belladonna Residence
Aegis quickly formed his signature ax blades on his weapon as he rushed forward, batting away a number of White Fang soldiers. A few of the enemy soldiers opened fire on him, but Aegis twirled his weapon defensively, deflecting a number of bullets as he closed the gap. He ducked low then, swinging Ursus Cleaver in a wide arc which knocked the feet out from under several soldiers.
A few of the soldiers wielding swords and metal spears tried to charge him then, coming from all angles. Aegis knocked away the first couple of spears before kicking away one of the sword wielding Faunus. Another pair tried swinging at him from behind, But Aegis held his weapon over his back, blocking the two attacks before whirling around and slashing both troops with his ax blades.
"Call for back up!" Ordered the lead soldier, "Full assault on the residence no-UFFFF!" He didn't get to finish his sentence as Aegis leapt over and punched him in the face.
"You'd best focus on me for the time being," Said Aegis as he changed his ax blade to a naginata blade, "I've got plenty of problems for ya right here!"
While Aegis tangled with the White Fang soldiers, another pair of White Fang members watched from a short distance away. "He is not one for restraint," said the bat winged Faunus, Yuma as he rubbed his head, "Though I think we've both experienced that."
"He's the most dangerous, or at least the most brutal out of everyone in that house right now," Said Ilia as she observed the scene on the limb next to Yuma. "Fortunately, he's not our target. But subtlety is definitely out."
"No matter," Said Yuma, "We'll just move to the backup plan and swarm the house. With luck, the Ursario brute will be distracted long enough for us to permanently remove the Belladonna's." Ilia was about to leave when her scroll vibrated.
"What is it scout team," Asked Ilia, "Don't tell me the authorities are already on their way."
"It's worse," reported the scout, "It's the monkey and Belladonna. They're on their way back to the house now!"
"That can't be," Exclaimed Ilia, her grip tightening on her scroll, "The monkey boy must have freed her. Alright, tell all units surrounding the house to forget subtlety. We go in and kill the family now!"
"Understood," replied the scout as he relayed the order to the rest of the White Fang soldiers.
"I guess that means we'd best move out as well," Said Yuma as he spread his wings. "With luck, we'll get another chance to capture your friend."
"Leave Blake to me," Said Ilia, "You just get in there and make sure the job gets done." Without another word, Ilia leapt out of the tree as Yuma flew to the roof.
Meanwhile at the backyard of the Belladonna residence, Aegis was taking down the last of the White Fang soldiers with a few quick swings of his weapon. "And that's the last of these jack wagons out here," Aegis thought aloud as he knocked out the final soldier with a blow to the head. But the sound of gunfire within the Belladonna residence told him that the fight wasn't over yet. "Ah crap I knew it," he said as he rushed inside.
'I may have gotten the main force down but there were still enough to get in through the remaining entrances.' He thought as he turned a corner to find two of the Belladonna's guards outnumbered, having a shootout with four or more White Fang soldiers. 'Let's do something about that,' thought Aegis as he barreled into the surprised soldiers. The first one went flying into a nearby wall as the half-bear Faunus turned and smacked another soldier away with his weapon.
Another enemy tried to hit Aegis from behind with a spear-like weapon, but he was too slow as Aegis turned and caught the pole with his bare hand. He then proceeded to kick the soldier away before knocking another soldier in the head with the captured weapon. A few other soldiers remained pointing their weapons at Aegis, quaking in their boots as they did so. Aegis simply smiled before roaring at the two remaining White Fang members, who took the hint and ran back out the door.
"Mr. Ursario," Said one of the guards as they moved out from behind cover, "Glad you're alright."
"Okay first off," Said Aegis as he turned to the guard, "I am nowhere near old enough to be called 'Mr.'. Second off, what's happening upstairs, are the Belladonna's safe?"
"I got word that there were some more White Fang attacking upstairs in the living room," replied the guard. He was about to say more when a groan interrupted him. Both the guard and Aegis turned to see the other guard, a lizard Faunus with scales on his neck holding his side.
"Oh no, Miles," Said the guard as he kneeled down to examine his friend's injury.
"I'll be fine," Miles said weakly, "Get upstairs. I just need to rest a bit."
"Yeah no," Said Aegis as he stepped towards the doorway, "You need medical attention. So both of you get out of here and find the authorities."
"But what about you," asked the guard as he turned away from his friend for a moment.
"I'll be dealing with our rowdy guests," said Aegis as he pointed towards the exit, "Now get going!" The guards didn't like it, but they didn't argue as Miles was hoisted up by his friend and carried towards the exit. Aegis, trying not to waste any more time than he already had, rushed upstairs, following the sounds of yet another firefight.
"Get out of my house!" came the familiar voice of Blake's mother, Kali, as Aegis made it up to the top of the stairs. But another group of White Fang soldiers busted through the doorway to the kitchen, forcing him to divert his attention for a moment.
"Find them and-OOOOOFFF!" the lead soldier tried to say before he was knocked backwards by Aegis's newly formed glass mace.
"Sorry, no more room for guests this evening!" Said Aegis as he batted aside two soldiers with his weapon and kicked away another. One final soldier tried batting him on the head with a baton weapon, only for it to break against his thick, aura protected skull. Aegis turned to the soldier with a disapproving frown on his face.
"Ah I knew this was a cheap knockoff," Said the soldier as he stared at his broken weapon. Aegis simply rolled his eyes before head-butting the soldier in the face, knocking him out cold. 'Never go for the knock off models,' he thought as he turned back towards the source of the gunfire.
Moving from the kitchen to the living room, Aegis was greeted by the sight of one guard firing back at the White Fang soldiers while another lay wounded against a pillar. Her old-style pistol wasn't going to waste, though, as Kali was using it to fire back at the remaining troops. Or at least she was until her ammo suddenly ran out.
'Guess that's my cue,' He thought as he rushed into the room. The White Fang soldiers were too focused on Kali that they didn't notice him until he was right on top of them. The first guy to notice him tried to turn his rifle on Aegis. But he quickly reformed Ursus Cleaver into its classic ax shape and slashed through the soldier's rifle, knocking the soldier himself aside in the process.
The next soldier swung a spear-like weapon towards Aegis's head, only for it to be parried by the Huntsman in training. He then barreled into the soldier, lifting him off of his feet as Aegis continued to charge forward. The remaining White Fang soldiers turned their pistols and rifles on him, or rather the unfortunate soldier he was using as a meat shield.
As soon as Aegis closed the distance, he tossed the now likely dead soldier into his comrades before spinning around and knocking a few more White Fang soldiers unconscious. 'That's about all of them,' thought Aegis when the sound of the skylight in the center of the room shattered. 'What the?' Looking over, he saw the sight of the bat-winged Faunus who'd interfered with him catching Ilia choking out one of the guards.
Kali charged at the bat Faunus, knocking him across the back of the head with a serving tray. The bat Faunus recoiled at the blow before responding with a kick to the woman's stomach, knocking her to the ground. "I suppose you want to sleep first then," said the bat Faunus as he moved away from the guard and towards Blake's mother.
Aegis crossed the room in a second and slammed his fist into the intruder's face, causing him to stagger backwards. "I think you're first in line for the sleeping part," Said Aegis, as he tossed his weapon to Kali. Blake's mother grabbed it and used it to help her stand back up, looking at the weapon curiously. "That'll do better than a serving tray, just spin the cylinder and pull the trigger," Aegis instructed.
"How generous of you Ursario," Said the bat Faunus as he stepped forward, "But now you're without a weapon to defend yourself."
"I got two weapons right here," Said Aegis as he cracked his knuckles, "Just like you bat prick."
"That's Yuma to you," said the bat Faunus, "And I can offer you one final kindness. Leave now and my brothers of the Fang won't pursue you."
"Save it," Said Aegis as he held up his fists, "I've already got enough reasons to knock your teeth out. You really don't wanna give me another."
"So be it," replied Yuma as he spread his wings and leapt towards Aegis, kicking both of his feet out. "You'll die first!" Aegis raised his arms in time to block his opponent's feet before pushing him back. Yuma flipped in the air and pushed off a column with a punch aimed for his head.
Aegis was ready, however, and grabbed his opponent's arm, swinging him around and into the wall. Yuma grunted in pain as Aegis threw a few punches of his own. Yuma blocked the first punch, took the next one in the gut, before moving his head aside to avoid a third. Aegis's last punch busted a fist-sized hole in the wall before Yuma retaliated with an uppercut to his jaw.
Aegis staggered back a bit from the punch as Yuma went on the offensive with a kick to his chest. He groaned a bit from the blow while the bat Faunus threw another couple of punches. But Aegis blocked both blows with his arms before head butting his opponent. Yuma swore as he held his nose before countering with another kick. Aegis countered that attack by grabbing his enemy's leg and swinging him around, tossing him into a column a few feet away.
Yuma winced in pain as he struggled to his feet. "Had enough?" Asked Aegis, "I got plenty more where that came from."
"Annoying brute," Said an angered Yuma as he took flight again, "I'll make you silent!" The bat Faunus flew forward, lashing out with numerous kicks. Aegis blocked one after the other before pushing his opponent back by his feet. Yuma back-flipped in midair before jumping off another column, only this time, he corkscrewed towards Aegis, both fists aimed straight at him. The half-bear Faunus stood firm, though, catching the blow with his hands before spinning around and slamming him headfirst into one of the damaged columns.
Yuma cried in pain as he tried to free his head from the new imprint created by his face, but not before Aegis barreled into him one more time with an elbow to his back. "GAAAAAAAAH!" exclaimed Yuma as the column gave way, causing the both of them to fall to the floor. Aegis stood back up then, panting slightly as he dusted himself off. As Yuma struggled to rise again, Aegis planted his foot on his back, preventing him from moving.
"You're not flying away this time," Said Aegis, "Someone's paying for this mess and it ain't gonna be me."
"Aegis," Said Kali, waving to get his attention. Looking over, Aegis caught a pair of handcuffs she'd taken from one of the guards. "We need to find my husband and daughter, they could still be in danger."
"Can do," Said Aegis as he cuffed his defeated opponent's wrists behind his back. "Trade ya, my weapon for you taking this guy?"
"Deal," Said Kali as she tossed Aegis Ursus's Cleaver. Aegis caught his weapon in midair, then knocked Yuma in the head one final time, knocking him out. Kali then proceeded to grab Yuma and drag him out of the room. Aegis followed right behind her.
Making their way to the main lobby of the Belladonna house wasn't hard, considering Aegis and the guards had taken out most of the White Fang soldiers on the way. But it turned out that getting there wasn't their main problem. Sniffing the air, Aegis noticed an all too recognizable scent. "The main lobby's on fire," Said Aegis as they approached the doors.
"I smell it too," Said Kali, "We need to get everyone out of here as soon as possible." Aegis couldn't agree more as he kicked the double doors open. The scene that greeted them wasn't a happy one. The back of the room on both floors was on fire, a fire which was definitely spreading. Ilia was still standing and so was one of the Albain twins, Corsac if Aegis had to guess. Ghira Belladonna was on the ground with, shirtless with a wound in his back.
Fortunately, that was as bad as it got. Ghira was still alive with no other noticeable wounds. But what was better was that Blake and Sun had made it out of Ilia's obvious ambush and back to the house. Now here they both stood as they and everyone else turned their heads towards the new arrivals. "Mom!" Blake exclaimed happily as she ran over to hug her mother. Kali dropped the unconscious bat Faunus as she hugged her daughter back.
Aegis stood aside, not wanting to ruin the moment. A moment which, unfortunately didn't last long. "Do you know what you've done?!" seethed Corsac as he raged from the other side of the room, "Everything is ruined because of you, everything!"
"You attacked us jack wagon," Said Aegis as he stepped forward next to Blake and Sun with his weapon drawn, "The only one who's ruined anything around here is you guys." This only enraged Corsac as he charged forward. But he only got a few steps when an electrified whip wrapped around him. Corsac's face went from enraged to surprise in a second as the whip electrocuted him into unconsciousness. As he fell, behind him stood Ilia, with a look of sadness on her face as she collapsed to her knees, sobbing.
A large crowd, drawn by the noise and the spectacle of the battle within, had gathered around the still smoking mansion. A number of guards had formed a perimeter to keep the crowd back. "Now everyone just stay clear," Said the lead guard, a woman with reptile scales on her face, "We have people doing their best in the house already."
"Take a look up there," called a fish-eared spectator as he pointed to the main entrance. The rest of the crowd looked on as Ghira Belladonna and Aegis Ursario came walking out, carrying/dragging both wounded guards and White Fang soldiers. Blake, Sun and Kali followed soon after doing much the same.
"Round up any stragglers," ordered a brown-skinned guard with a scar over his eye and chipmunk-like teeth. Two other guards went back in the house as the guard turned to Ghira. "We came as fast as we could," said the guard as he turned to two other guards who brought out Corsac, "Where's Fennec?" Ghira simply shook his head, which more than answered the guard's question.
The guard then kneeled down and looked at Corsac. "Was it worth all this?" Corsac simply closed his eyes in resignation. Aegis shook his head at that as he noticed Blake looking around, clearly unsure about something.
"Don't worry about the crowd out there," Said Aegis, "I think the only thing they can blame us for is making a lot of noise." Blake didn't answer, but a look of realization suddenly crossed her face at hearing Aegis's statement.
"We're all to blame for this," Said Blake as she took a deep breath and proceeded down the stairs. Ghira moved to stop her but Kali held up a hand, keeping him back as their daughter stopped halfway down the steps. "The ones responsible for this, were not humans," Said Blake as she began her speech, "The ones who did this were Faunus, us. This was something we did to ourselves." Blake paused for a moment as the unsure crowd listened.
"I know we're not in a hurry to point it out to ourselves," Said Blake, "But we can be just as hateful, just as violent, and just as horrible as humans. So why are we letting Adam speak for us?! Because we're being silent, because we're doing nothing, and letting people like him speak and act for us. If we can't accept the choices he or others have made, then we have only ourselves to blame."
Blake pointed at her burning home behind her. "This is the message Adam Taurus wants the world to hear, and if no one stops him that's all the world will hear. But the truth is, we're looking for simple answers to a complex problem. Answers I don't have right now. I don't really know how to make hate go away. The only thing I know for sure is that what's happened here tonight is not the answer we're looking for."
Blake paused for a breath before continuing. "I know I'm asking a lot of all of you. Asking you all to not only leave your homes but put your lives on the line as well. But the truth is, your homes and your lives are what's at stake! So even if I have to go alone, I'm going to Haven!"
"I'll go with you," said Ilia, surprising everyone as she stood up suddenly. Her eyes were pained and she definitely didn't look sure of herself. But she was asking anyway. "If you'll have me." Blake was about to answer when Aegis stepped in.
"I don't think so," Said Aegis as he put a restraining hand on Ilia's shoulder, "You still have a lot to answer for first."
"It's alright Aegis," Said Blake with a small smile, "She can come." Aegis sighed as he let go of Ilia, allowing her to walk down the stairs.
"You're sure about this Blake, after all the trouble she's put you through?" Questioned Aegis.
"Yes, I'm sure Aegis," Replied Blake with a sure smile. Aegis rolled his eyes but nodded in acceptance.
"First Wayne agrees to help Drake and now Blake's letting the biggest troublemaker on this island come along with us." Said Aegis as he stood next to Ghira. "I'm starting to think everyone's going crazy."
"Then it's the right kind of crazy," Said Ghira with a smile. "My daughter's learned a lesson which took me far longer to realize. That those with real strength, are able to forgive."
"I hope that doesn't mean we're heading down to the local prison and asking the inmates to come along too," Said Aegis.
"I'll go," Said a Faunus from the crowd, suddenly. Another Faunus raised her hand, also asking to go. Then another, and another. Before long, the whole crowd gathered around the Belladonna household were raising their hands, asking to follow to Haven.
"It looks like that won't be necessary," Said Ghira as they looked at all the hands raised.
"We've got some serious work to do," Said Sun as he walked down next to Blake and Ilia, "Which reminds me, you stabbed me in the chest."
"Yeah, I'm so-OWWW," Said Ilia before Sun pinched her arm, causing her to jump a bit.
"Now, we can call it even," Said Sun with a wry grin on his face. Aegis, Kali, and Ghira joined the rest of them.
"We'd best get started then," Said Ghira, "We have two weeks' time before the attack. We'll need weapons, training, anything that will help us protect the people."
"Not to mention the matter of transporting everyone," Added Kali.
"I believe we have that one covered," Said Blake, "Me and Sun know a ship captain who owes us a bit of a favor."
"Alright," Said Aegis as he brought his fist to his other hand, "I hope they leave enough bad guys for us over there because we're finally on our way to Haven!"
Finally indeed. Aegis, Blake and the others are now finally on track for the confrontation in Haven, and we all know what that means. As for the time line, it's difficult to place in the show itself, so apologies in advance if there's any confusion. I'd also like to make another apology for getting this out so late, but life's kept me busy again. But I'd also like to say thank you to all my viewers, followers and reviewers who've waited patiently for this chapter. Be sure to stop by next time as the battle for Haven begins. 'Til next time.
