Chapter 5: Resolution
Imperial Encampment, 16:30 pm…
"They ESCAPED?!"
Wardlow Kast felt an invisible force grip his throat, constricting his windpipe and leaving him struggling to breath as he felt himself lifted off the floor.
In front of him was his leader: Baron Maleficus.
Who was currently looking as if he wanted to rip Wardlow limb from limb.
"You told me you would capture or kill every single one of them!" Maleficus snarled. "I sent you with the express expectation that you would kill or capture the entirety of that group; and you think you can return here with nothing but excuses and flattery?!" With that, he hurled Kast onto the floor.
Grunting at the force of the move, but finally able to breath, Wardlow began coughing his lungs out, fighting desperately to replenish his depleted oxygen levels, his breath coming out in strangulated, desperate wheezes.
Until suddenly, he felt what felt like thousands of volts of electricity coursing through his body as the Baron blasted him with Force Lightning. Gritting his teeth, Wardlow forced himself not to scream in agony, only allowing grunts to escape his lips.
It felt like an eternity before the electricity faded, and Wardlow could fall to his knees, unable to stand currently due to the agony he was feeling.
He could however, look up; finding himself staring into the rage fuelled eyes of Baron Maleficus. "I… I…" He made to cough out. "I… sent Tyrian after the other group." He finally managed to say. "They're camped in Higanbana for the evening. He'll continue hunting them when they leave."
The Baron cocked his head to one side. "So he may succeed where you yourself have failed, then." He mused.
"Yes, my lord." Kast responded. "Though given Salem's orders, he will bring the girl with the silver eyes to her."
"Pity." Maleficus said. "I would have loved to enjoy her for myself." Looking back to Wardlow, he added: "You have escaped the noose for now, Wardlow. But fail me again; and not even consolatory information will save you from my wrath. Now get out of my sight lest I change my mind!"
With that, Wardlow Kast scurried from sight, leaving Maleficus alone.
Almost, alone…
"As accomplished as Tyrian is… he will need assistance against the entire group."
The Baron looked to see Cinder step into view; naked save for Maleficus' own cloak draped over her shoulders. "Who would you recommend, then?" He asked.
"My associates; Emerald and Mercury." Cinder responded. "As well as a contingent of your troops. All of them combined will ensure success."
"Not yourself?" Maleficus inquired. "I would have thought you eager for vengeance against the girl with silver eyes."
"Oh believe me; there is nothing I want more than to see that little wretch dead at my feet." Cinder replied. "But why bother myself with doing it myself when I have more better things to be doing?" With that, she removed the cloak entirely, baring her nude body for the Baron's eyes alone.
A sinister grin found Maleficus' face as he stepped towards Cinder, turning her around and shoving her to his desk, bending her over as he freed himself from his trousers, entering her with a vicious thrust.
A loud gasp escaped Cinder at the force of the movement; but instead of pain, Cinder felt only pleasure as the Baron began to drive himself into her, her moans echoing throughout the camp.
The Next Day, the Branwen Camp, 2nd March 16 BBY, 10:00 am…
Ghost had been in awkward situations before, but if awkward situations were an athletic sport; this one would take the gold.
Him and Yang were currently in the tent of their host:
Raven Branwen, Leader of the Branwen Bandit Tribe, and Yang's estranged mother.
Who was currently sat across a table from the both of them, a mug of tea in her hands.
All the while, Yang was giving her mother a glare that would see most visibly uncomfortable.
If Raven was rattled by her daughter's hostility, she either was very good at masking her emotions, or she didn't at all care about her daughter, like Yang so often wondered.
"You know… it's better when it's hot." Raven finally said as she gestured to the untouched tea mug set down in front of Yang.
Yang nodded. "Yeah… I know. But I could have used some of that growing up." She responded.
"You had Summer." Raven pointed out. "Sure; I would have preferred it were me, but-"
"Then why did you LEAVE?!" Yang demanded, eyes briefly flashing red as her fist pounded the table.
Raven sighed. "That… is a long and painful story I never enjoyed telling anyone I became close to. But I guess it'd be best to start at the root of the reason." Sipping her tea, Raven said: "If I recall correctly; you were about three months old. Slightly past the time you'd have been completely dependent on me. I was in love. You were everything I thought you'd be whilst I was pregnant with you and more. But I guess Ozpin had been waiting for that three month period to be over because that's when he came calling to our home: He had a mission for me."
"You? Why you?" Yang demanded. "Why couldn't it be Qrow, or Summer, or Dad?"
"Because none of them were me." Raven responded calmly. "Ozpin asked… well; more told me to travel here to Mistral and take charge of the tribe to keep an eye out for the Spring Maiden. I told him the same things you just asked me; as well as pointing out that I had a three month old daughter to look after. But of course, Ozpin manipulated me into agreeing; saying that if I refused, then one of Salem's people could attain the Spring Maiden's powers and threaten you. In hindsight, I should have choked that bastard to death for threatening you, but that's something I can always do later."
"Ozpin's already dead." Yang pointed out.
"Fine; I'll find whatever unmarked patch of land he's buried on and take a piss." Raven spat. "But regardless, Qrow had sworn an oath never to return to the tribe, since he hated them and vice versa save for me; and Tai or Summer would have never been accepted as tribe leaders because a Branwen always had to be the leader of the tribe. So there was no other person for the mission but me."
"Then why didn't you take me with you?" Yang fired back. "Why couldn't you have travelled back and forth to see me?!"
"Yang; believe me when I say there was nothing I wanted to do more." Raven said. "But the problem with leading a bandit tribe is that the moment they see even the tiniest modicum of weakness in their leadership, that leadership will be forced to either assert their dominance again or be overthrown. Therefore; I could neither take you here with me, nor travel back and forth to raise you. Doubly so because I'm a woman. They never dared try that with my father because he was a man. So there's that." Sighing, Raven added: "With that said; I said my goodbyes to you and Tai merely three months after bringing you into the world and came here. I still hear your cries in my dreams, and they've haunted me ever since." Pausing, Raven added: "But that's not to say I never came back. You just couldn't see me."
"Oh yeah? I think you're pretty distinctive." Yang remarked.
"Not necessarily." Raven responded. "Follow me." With that, she finished her tea, and in a fluid, practiced motion, Raven stood from her seat and strode for the back of her tent.
Ghost stood up himself, looking at Yang. "Well; I guess we're following your mother, then."
Yang flashed Ghost a look before stepping over the table and marching outside.
Ghost took a deep breath, and followed suit. This was why he had sworn never to marry and have children.
Outside Raven's tent…
"Mom?" Yang called out as Ghost joined her outside the tent.
Raven was nowhere to be seen, having seemingly vanished into thin air.
"Mom?!" Yang shouted, looking increasingly agitated.
Ghost made to speak; when they both heard a sinister sounding caw.
Looking up, Ghost and Yang saw a raven flying around in front of them. "A raven?" Ghost asked, folding his arms.
"Maybe it belongs to my mom." Yang responded. "What gets me is… I've seen that particular raven before." She said this just as the raven vanished into the trees, until it came flying back out towards them.
At which point it shifted, in size and shape, and before long, Raven Branwen landed in front of them.
Ghost took a few steps back, whilst Yang had a shocked expression on her face.
"How… did you do that?" Yang asked after a long silence.
"Thank Ozpin. He was the one that gave me this ability." Raven responded. "At first… I thought it a curse. But then when I realised its other uses… I found it to be a blessing."
Realisation dawned on Yang, and she met Raven's gaze. "Your raven form… I've… I've seen that my whole life. That… that was you?"
Raven nodded. "While I couldn't visit you; much as I yearned to… I never stopped watching you. I refused to stop watching you. That way… I could watch you grow up still; whilst also being able to manage the tribe at camp. They could handle time without me for a few hours at a time. When we lost Summer, that was the hardest part. Despite my own grief; I wanted nothing more than to come back and comfort you. I hated those days; especially when I saw what Tai did."
Yang nodded. "He… He just shut down… I… I had to pick up the slack myself; because he wouldn't."
Raven sighed. "While I hated seeing that… it warmed my heart to see you stepping up for Ruby. That; more than anything, made me realise you were my daughter in every sense. The amount of times I did that for Qrow when we were growing up… it warmed my heart to see you doing the same thing whilst your father drank yourself into a stupor in our bedroom. I'm also grateful Qrow slapped the shit out of Tai for what happened when you wandered off to that abandoned house looking for me. Because if it wasn't Qrow; It'd have been me, and if it was me; gods save your father."
"Gods save any man who endangers a mother's children." Ghost finally said.
Raven snorted. "Regardless… While it pained me to have to stay away… I was glad I was at least able to see you grow up." Walking over to Yang, Raven added: "And my goodness. How you have grown. As much as you're my daughter, you're every bit Tai's too. Even if I wish his penchant for terrible jokes was not one you inherited."
"Hey! Dad is a comedic goldmine!" Yang protested.
"Only because his jokes are so bad, they're funny." Raven countered with a laugh.
Yang chuckled herself before taking a breath. "After all these years… I… I wanted so badly to hate you. Twenty years of nothing; save for you saving my life twice… I…" Yang's breath started getting shaky as tears threatened to fall. "I… I thought that… maybe you… didn't want me."
"Nothing could be farther from the truth, Yang." Raven declared, she herself starting to look emotional. "I wanted nothing more than to be the one raising you alongside your father. Ozpin took that from me; and for that I will never forgive him. But… I can only hope that in time… you and I can have that bond. I can never replace Summer; nor do I want to. All I want is to have the chance to be the mother I never got the chance to be."
Tears finally started falling from Yang's face as she nodded. "You got it." She replied, stepping forward.
Raven closed the distance and hugged her daughter, meeting Ghost's gaze.
Ghost nodded, knowing that Raven and Yang had a lot of healing and bonding to do; but at least Yang knew the truth about Raven Branwen.
Higanbana Inn, 11:00 am…
"Everyone ready?"
The question from Ahsoka caused everyone to perk up.
"Yeah; we're good." Ruby and Jaune replied in unison, then sharing a look.
"Then let's not waste time." Rex declared. "Me, Ruby, and Jaune will lead from the front. Pyrrha will take the middle with Commander Tano, and Nora and Ren will form our rearguard."
"Rex; how many times do I need to tell you to stop calling me your commander?" Ahsoka asked.
"Apologies, Ahsoka. Force of habit." Rex replied, taking his helmet and donning it. "Alright; let's go."
They filed out of the inn in silence, with Ahsoka having donned that same hooded cloak she'd been wearing before revealing herself the previous night.
Pyrrha couldn't exactly blame her for wanting to hide herself. She was an alien on a world that wasn't exactly kind to strangers unless they were really, really lucky. Ahsoka would be lucky if she was merely mistaken for some sort of faunus, which wasn't desirable, either.
It wasn't long before the assembled group had finally exited the bustling streets of Higanbana and were walking through the forests of Anima.
It was then that Ahsoka finally removed her hood, catching Pyrrha's eye.
"Shouldn't you keep it up?" Pyrrha asked. "There will still be people on the road."
"True; but that's why Rex is up front." Ahsoka replied. "He can warn me if there's people approaching."
Pyrrha nodded understanding. "You two seem to have an awful degree of trust in one another."
"We have to." Ahsoka responded. "Rex saved my butt more times then I can count, especially during Order Sixty-Six, when we were on a Star Destroyer full of people who wanted us dead. I owe him my life, and he owes me his. It's… a working partnership we're still working the kinks out of."
Pyrrha nodded, and they continued walking in silence, before Ahsoka asked:
"So; how many times have you been mistaken for Nathan's sister?"
Pyrrha giggled. She'd been expecting this question. "The first time we met; Nathan referenced our similar appearances, and asked if I was his long-lost sister. But other than that; nothing."
"Seriously?" Ahsoka asked. "You two look so alike save for you having green eyes, it's uncanny."
"Thankfully; a lot of people here on Remnant aren't that nosy. They'll make their assumptions and move on." Pyrrha declared. "Regardless, that's not to say me and Nathan do not consider each other siblings. He calls me 'sis' all the time."
Ahsoka smiled. "Sounds to me like Nathan's really found his footing here, then."
"You'd be surprised." Pyrrha replied. "Me, my teammates and Ruby are just a fraction of the people Nathan surrounds himself with. You've got Ruby's older sister Yang, Ruby's girlfriend Weiss Schnee, and Nathan's girlfriend Blake Belladonna."
"Hold up. Nathan has a girlfriend?!" Ahsoka asked.
"Yes; does that surprise you?" Pyrrha inquired.
"You kriffing well bet it does!" Ahsoka declared. "Nathan never told me anything that suggested he wanted something like that! Not to me, at least. If I'd known that; he'd have been swimming in attractive girls once I'd left the order!"
"From what he tells me; he already did that, it's just none of them reciprocated his interest." Pyrrha responded.
"None he knew of." Ahsoka suddenly said sadly.
Pyrrha frowned. "Are you saying…"
Ahsoka nodded. "For a while… I did have feelings for Nathan. But then I met this guy called Lux, and he had my interest." She sighed, then smiled. "But Nathan always drew me back in. I wish I could have told him how I felt before I left the order. Maybe… maybe then things would have been different."
"Well; in a way; I'm glad things stayed secret." Pyrrha said politely. "No offence."
"None taken." Ahsoka replied. "I see why you say that. If I'd told him how I felt; we'd have likely gotten together, and Nathan never would have come to Remnant. He'd have never met all of you, and he definitely wouldn't have met Blake."
Pyrrha nodded. "Moving on from that… Any amusing stories from Nathan's past you'd care to tell? Nathan likes to tease us all a lot; and I would like some ammunition with which to finally launch a counter offensive."
Ahsoka smirked. "Pyrrha Nikos; you've come to the right woman for that." The former Jedi replied.
"Hood up! People approaching." Rex called out from the front of the column.
Ahsoka pulled up her hood, and shared a look with Pyrrha. "Later." She declared.
Pyrrha nodded, and so they kept walking. She could see why Nathan liked Ahsoka so much. And she was excited to see what more she could learn about Nathan from the former Jedi. Because the more she could learn; the closer she'd get to him.
Atlas Academy, Training Room, at the same time…
"That all you got, Nathan?" Jason asked.
"Nope." Nathan responded, spinning out of the blade lock and landing a solid kick to Jason's left flank, catching him hard in the kidney.
Grunting, Jason stepped back, bringing his lightsaber up to deflect the oncoming jab towards his face.
Undeterred, Nathan brought his lightsaber up and around to slash at Jason's neck, only to reveal it was a feint when parried and allowing him to give Jason a few more slashes across the torso. Seeing Jason stagger back, Nathan pressed his attack.
Only to feel a firm boot meet his face as Jason kicked him back, counterattacking with several deep cleaves, adding a hard Force Push for good measure.
Using the resulting momentum, Nathan flipped backwards then dashed forwards, leaping up and bringing his lightsaber down hard.
Jason's lightsaber came up to stop Nathan's, and he pushed Nathan back, seizing an opening to slash at Nathan's lightsaber arm, catching him across the front of the wrist.
"Ah!" Nathan shouted, dropping his lightsaber. Dashing forward to grab it, Nathan found Jason's lightsaber pointed at him.
"You lose, Nathan." Jason said smugly.
Nathan smirked. "Nope." He replied, deftly moving past Jason's lightsaber, grabbing his arm and rolling them both over so that he had Jason locked in a firm cross-armbar submission hold.
"Damn it!" Jason spat, tapping Nathan's leg to let him know he had submitted.
Nathan released the hold, and got to his feet, helping Jason up.
"You're getting too good at those, Nathan." Jason remarked.
"Blame Winter. She's the one teaching me all those moves." Nathan replied as they heard applause.
Looking up, Nathan saw the observation room, where they could see the Ace Ops, and a few Atlas Academy students clapping in admiration of what they'd witnessed.
"Looks like you've shown them how ready you are." Jason said cheerfully, patting Nathan on the shoulder.
The small smile crossing Nathan's face faded, and he sighed. "None of them are the bastard that I need to convince." He said. "Matter of fact; why am I even fucking training? None of this matters if Iron-Wooden Cock doesn't think I'm ready."
Jason frowned. "Nathan… you're not looking at the positives here. Those people up there just saw you beat me. They can see your improved abilities. Those same people will be talking about why you're not on the battlefield, yet. Those same people will bring that up to Ironwood, and eventually; he'll have to concede that you're ready."
"But at what cost to the people and students that're telling him that?" Nathan asked. "You're forgetting that Ironwood has an ego the size of Jacques Schnee's bank account. Do you really think he'll accept his own students telling him he's wrong about me?"
"I… guess not." Jason said. "But they'll still say it. And that's what matters."
"We'll have to find out." Nathan remarked, before he saw someone approaching.
"Well; look who finally decided to show up." He said with a smirk as he saw Winter approaching. "Needed some time to yourself after what happened last night with you and Jason?"
"No." Winter replied. "I just happened to be called upon at the Schnee Manor. There was something I needed to see to."
"And what's that?" Nathan asked, before realising something:
Winter was doing her best to avoid Nathan seeing something behind her.
Raising an eyebrow, Nathan folded his arms. "There… something you wanna show me, Winter?"
"Not something. Someone." Winter responded, before stepping aside.
Nathan's eyes widened as his sky-blue eyes met a familiar set of icy blue eyes.
Gone though was the dress he had so often seen her dressed in; and in their place were training clothes that hugged the figure of the young woman.
"Weiss?" He asked.
The heiress to the Schnee Dust Company smiled. "Hello, Nathan. Been a while." She replied.
Nathan didn't respond, merely dashed forward, pulling Weiss into a tight hug. "Holy shit." Was all he could say as he finally saw one of his friends again.
Menagerie, at the same time…
Menagerie had changed drastically since the last time Kanan and Blake had walked through it.
Whilst a lot of the day to day life remained the same; the streets were now lined with White Fang soldiers, standing guard at checkpoints, or simply patrolling the streets.
Menagerie seemed to have heavily militarised in the time since Beacon's fall. And Kanan could tell by the look on his sister's face that she wasn't exactly pleased with it.
"Everything okay, Blake?" He asked.
Blake nodded. "It's just… Menagerie used to be so peaceful. This was where faunus could go just to be safe. Seeing it so… militarised, so… ready for an attack… it… it feels wrong."
"When you've known one place for one thing your entire life; it's hard to see it in any other state." Kanan remarked. "Trust me; I'm not too hot about this new look for Menagerie either."
Blake sighed. "I wonder what Nathan would make of all this." She mused.
"If I had to guess; Nathan would hate all of this every bit as the both of us and more." Kanan replied. "This place… it was his home away from home. Still is. But I think more than either of us; he would understand why things need to be this way. As an island, we're more vulnerable to attack than most other settlements on Remnant. We need to be as ready as possible to defend this place."
Blake sighed. "Has your mother spoken with Ironwood?"
"She has." Kanan replied. "Things went well; until Sienna brought up Nathan; and the stipulation that he be returned to combat as soon as is possible. Ironwood did not like that. Until Sienna reminded him that it was him who asked to foster this alliance, therefore if he is as desperate for an alliance as he says he is; he should have no issue with agreeing to it. He promptly ended the call at that."
Blake frowned. "Sounds like Nathan's remarks from his letter are gaining more and more credence by the minute."
Kanan nodded. "I'm actually starting to get worried that Ironwood doesn't need us as badly as he says he does, and that he's only seeking this alliance so that he can use our soldiers as cannon fodder and allow his men to win all the glory for themselves."
Blake sighed. "Meaning he has no intention of letting Nathan go."
"If that's revealed to be the case; then we'll get Nathan back ourselves." Kanan declared. "Even if it goes against what our family says."
Blake smiled as she closed the distance and hugged Kanan. "Thank you, Kanan. I know I can always rely on you."
Kanan smiled back. "Nah. I'm just being your big brother." He replied.
Back in Atlas…
Nathan had no idea how long he and Weiss had been hugging for; but he didn't care. All that mattered was that he had finally reunited with one of his friends.
Finally though; he broke the hug, looking over Weiss.
Weiss remained very much the same in terms of appearance; six months of being a prisoner in her own home having done little damage to Weiss' nigh incomparable beauty.
Finally, Nathan asked: "What the fuck are you doing here? I… I thought your father wasn't gonna let you anywhere near this academy."
"Well; as it happens, my father failed to account for the fact that I've been using my time wisely." Weiss replied, at which she held out her hand.
From there, a ghostly boarbatusk appeared, snorting at Nathan.
"Fuck the Force!" Nathan spluttered, jumping back and igniting his lightsaber.
Weiss' laugh drove him to look at her again.
"It's fine, Nathan. It won't attack unless I order it to." Weiss declared.
"So… lemme guess: You used that thing to scare your dad into letting you leave?" Nathan asked.
"Yes." Weiss replied. "However, Father still expects me to marry Henry Marigold, and has promised severe repercussions should I refuse to." She scowled. "I've never seen him this obsessed before. It's like he's desperate to retain any control of me he has left."
"Why haven't you asserted yourself more, then?" Nathan asked. "It's clear that your abilities intimidate your father. Why not scare him into cancelling the wedding?"
"Because my father will find some way to make me regret not obeying his wishes later down the line." Weiss replied. "I'm currently working on a plan to escape the night before my wedding; so that come the wedding day; he is made to look every bit the fool he is. If there's one good thing I have inherited from him; it is my intelligence."
"Sounds good to me." Nathan replied.
"With all that said; Ironwood has informed me he would like to speak with you later on, Nathan." Winter declared.
"If it's not to do with me getting out of here, Ironwood can go suck his nonexistent dick." Nathan said.
"And if I were to tell you it was?" Winter asked.
"Then I'd believe it when I heard it crawling out of Ironwood's mouth." Nathan responded. "Until then; I've got an Ice Queen to catch up with." Gesturing to Weiss, Nathan said: "Let's go, Weiss."
With that, he led Weiss out of the training room. Today was full of surprises, and he was all for it.
In Menagerie…
Kanan stopped as he saw Blake stood in front of a tunnel leading underground, and frowned as he saw what it was:
Blake was currently stood in front of the tunnel leading down to the prison cells of Menagerie: An underground set of prison cells housing some of the most notorious criminals in Menagerie.
Kanan knew that the former people from Bullet Company were still cooped up in there, along with several former treacherous White Fang members.
But there was only one prisoner Kanan knew Blake would care about.
"You really want to see him?" Kanan asked, walking over to Blake.
Blake sighed. "I feel like I have to." She replied. "Just for closure."
Kanan nodded. "Then let's go." He said, leading Blake down the steps and into the inner sanctum of the prison.
Upon entering the main reception of the prison, they were met by a guard, who signed them in.
"Who're you visiting today?" The guard asked absentmindedly as he wrote their names down.
"Adam Taurus." Blake replied.
At that, the guard looked up, surprise evident in his face. "Would've thought you two wouldn't want anything more to do with him." He said.
"Not after today." Blake declared resolutely.
The guard nodded, and soon led them down a corridor with jail cells on either side of them.
Some criminals dared leer at Blake, catcalling her and declaring what sorts of debauchery they would commit with her if they had the chance, and some just silently glared at Blake and Kanan as they passed their cells.
It was one at the far end of the corridor where the guard stopped.
Kanan's ears perked up at the sound of grunting and breathing, the sounds of physical exertion.
Looking to Blake, he could tell she heard the same thing. He could also see a familiar fear in her eyes; the same fear that he always saw in Blake's eyes whenever she saw or heard of Adam previously. Wrapping an arm around her, he said: "We don't have to do this, you know."
"Yes, we do." Blake said firmly, taking a deep breath before starting forward.
Kanan took a deep breath, and followed Blake, standing with her just outside of Adam's cell.
They could both see him now; performing pull-ups using the bunk bed above his own to do so.
His red hair had grown longer in the eighteen months he'd been imprisoned, but they both knew it was him.
"Adam." Blake called out.
Kanan watched as Adam stopped what he was doing immediately, and carefully lowered himself to the floor.
A few seconds of silence passed before Adam spoke:
"I always knew you would come eventually, Blake." At this, Adam turned.
It wasn't just Adam's hair that had grown; so had his facial hair:
A messy, unkempt beard and mustache covered the lower half of Adam's face, giving him a more crazed look.
Besides that; Adam looked more or less the same.
Blake nodded. "Well I'm glad one of us is happy to see each other." She spat.
"Don't lie to me, Blake." Adam responded. "You've probably been yearning to see me ever since Nathan met his end at Beacon."
Kanan watched Blake visibly stiffen at this, but besides that, no emotion.
"You didn't think I'd hear?" Adam asked. "A lot of prisoners here tell me things they've heard, and one of them is that your precious Nathan was among those killed at Beacon. Pity. I would have loved to kill him myself."
"Not if he kills you first." Blake fired back, finding her voice. "Because Nathan is alive. He survived Beacon. And I'm sure he'd love to finally end you after all you've done."
"Again with the lying to make yourself feel better?" Adam said. "I'd have thought you were smarter than that, Blake. Three to four stab wounds? One of which was with a weapon similar to Nathan's? I've felt the bite of that weapon, Blake. I doubt Nathan is as alive as you claim he is."
"Enough gaslighting, Adam." Kanan said, finally stepping forward. "The only reason we came at all is because Blake wanted closure. To see you would never hurt anyone the way you've hurt her, Yang and everyone else you have slain or hurt. What you need to accept is that your little crusade is over. Done. You lost, Adam."
"I've not lost. I'm purely biding my time." Adam responded. "And when I get out of here… the entire island of Menagerie will feel my wrath."
"So much hate…" Blake said. "Hard to believe I once saw you as a visionary. All I see now is a monster."
"A monster that is desperately needed, Blake." Adam replied sinisterly. "Sometimes, the only way to fight a monster is to become one yourself. And I am that monster."
Blake took a deep breath. "You might have been; once. But that was before you wound up in here. And here you'll stay, for the rest of your life." Turning to leave, she added: "Goodbye, Adam." With that, Blake walked off towards the exit, leaving Kanan alone with Adam.
Kanan merely shook his head and joined Blake. Adam was no longer worth it, and never would be again.
Later that evening in Atlas, Jason and Winter's apartment, 18:30 pm…
"So about this plan of yours to escape…" Nathan said to Weiss after he swallowed some of the pasta bake Winter had cooked them for dinner. "Anything we can do to help you out?"
Weiss took a sip of her diet soda. "Unless you can somehow slip inside the manor unseen, it'll be hard to do. My father's spent the past six months paranoid that our friends will attempt to rescue me from his clutches, and as such has taken every measure he can think of to secure the manor for such an occasion. And storming the manor is not an option either, because my father can just easily spin that into people infringing on his authority as my father."
"But you're an adult, aren't you?" Nathan asked. "Surely people will realise that you're your own person now; unfairly imprisoned in your own home."
"In Vale or Mistral, yes, that would indeed be the case." Weiss responded. "But in Atlas, you are considered an adult at twenty one. And we are nineteen."
"Fuck." Nathan muttered.
"Now you understand my dilemma." Weiss declared. "I can't just use my abilities to fight my way out; Father will just do what he tried to do with Winter when she joined the military: Launch a smear campaign to tarnish my name. The only difference is; he will succeed with me; since when Winter joined the military; that was seen as her serving her kingdom, and not defying her father like Father tried to claim she was doing. With me; he will succeed, because I will just be seen as a rebellious girl defying her caring, loving father."
"Exactly why I've been trying to keep Jason from storming the manor himself, as he has declared he will do every time my father dares enter the same room as him." Winter remarks, looking accusingly at Jason.
"Hey, gotta keep Jacques scared of the dark somehow." Jason countered. "And last time; I just warned him not to hurt Weiss."
"Or you would storm the manor and take her back." Winter added. "Don't leave out relevant parts so your argument seems more convincing."
Jason scowled as Weiss and Nathan snorted.
"Regardless, whatever support you need Weiss; me and Jason will be more than happy to provide it for you." Nathan said.
Weiss smiled. "Thank you, Nathan."
"Anytime, Ice Queen." Nathan replied, reaching up and ruffling Weiss' hair.
"Nathan-!" Weiss giggled as she swatted his hand away playfully.
They finished their dinner after that most quietly, and once dinner was cleared up, the four prepared to leave: Winter with Weiss back to the Schnee Manor, and Jason with Nathan back to the Academy.
"See you later." Jason said, kissing Winter as they took their leave. Hopefully Ironwood had something Nathan wanted to hear about.
Ironwood's office, 19:45 pm…
Stepping out of the elevator, Nathan and Jason found the Ace Ops waiting for them.
"Is this the part where Ironwood finally does away with his bullshit and just officially arrests me?" Nathan asked, folding his arms. "If yes; I hope you all came armed, because I don't plan on getting cuffed without a fight."
"Won't be much of one." Harriet scoffed. "We're the five best Huntsmen and Huntresses in Atlas. You wouldn't stand a chance, kid."
"Correction; four of you are the best Huntsmen and Huntresses in Atlas." Nathan fired back, gesturing to Clover, Elm, Vine and Marrow. Gesturing to Harriet, Nathan added: "You're only here because you spread your legs for the right men. Isn't that right, Clover?"
Harriet's nostrils flared as she started forward, only for the aforementioned leader of the Ace Ops to hold her back.
"We're not here to arrest you, Nathan." Clover assured the fiery haired Jedi turned Huntsman. "We were just leaving from our own meeting with him."
"Then get going." Nathan replied frostily as he stepped forward, Jason at his back.
Together, they climbed up the stairs leading into General Ironwood's inner sanctum, finding him stood at the holotable staring at the Remnant worldmap.
It wasn't long before the head of the Atlas military looked to see Nathan and Jason approaching, and nodded. "Glad you two could join me tonight. You'll be pleased to know that Ghost has made contact with me. He and Miss Xiao Long are safely encamped with Yang's mother, Raven."
"You mean the deadbeat gutter-slut who ditched her and Tai?" Nathan asked. "Huh. Yang deserves answers, I guess."
"Anything about the others?" Jason inquired.
"Yes. Ghost informed me that you and him arranged for someone to meet them in Higanbana." Ironwood replied. "With luck, they're already on their way to Haven on foot. I also have Qrow working to catch up with them."
Nathan scowled, but took a deep breath. "Okay, enough of the dog and pony bullshit." He said. "What's the deal, Ironwood?"
Ironwood scowled himself, and Nathan could sense the reluctance inside him before he finally said: "I finally reviewed the reports Jason and Winter have been sending me regarding your progress Nathan, and they have all impressed me. Your improvement is staggering. However, where they might say you're ready; I might not. Therefore, in two weeks time… I'm giving you the chance to prove you're ready to return to combat."
Nathan's face lit up, and he soon found himself thinking of one person:
Blake…
First off; I apologise for not updating yesterday as promised. I was at my father's, and had a fair amount to drink. As such; I decided not to update yesterday upon my return home because I would rather be updating this story whilst sober and not bordering on drunk.
As a consolation; I will be uploading both chapters this evening.
Anyway; let's answer some reviews, shall we?
april-551: A time bomb Ironwood seemingly has stopped the timer for now. The addition of Rex and Ahsoka was a late one, borne from a wish to have some guest characters. It was either them or Clone Force 99. Though that isn't to say we won't be seeing our favourite squad of Clone Commandos in the future. As for your questions:
- Given the crap Nathan has done to both; methinks Cardin and Adam would actually team up against Nathan.
- You shall see what happens when we get to that point, good man.
- I should be able to answer that question for you once I reach the Volume 8 portion of this story.
- Not likely.
- To quote one of my favourite Harry Potter villains: "Obviously..."
Guest: "Wait a minute; you're all heretics!" (Proceeds to lay the Exterminatus on Remnant)
MaxTheMagnificent24: You're damn right things got interesting.
Rider126: Maybe not a battalion. But I'd be spoiling the story if I said anything more.
Sharnorasian Empire: Given Nathan's lineage... he might be.
All that said; thank you all so much for taking the time to read this chapter. If you liked it; you all know what to do.
I shall see you with the next chapter, which will be uploaded a short bit after this one!
T-Rock14