All in all, even though I refused to show it, my nerves were lightly on edge as I watched Ghira step out into view. He stood imposingly before the crowd, with both Kali and Blake at his sides. I stood on the other side of Blake, and as I turned my vision back I could see the crowd murmuring to themselves. It was clear they did not understand why their chief called for the gathering, and yet all went quiet as he spoke.

"Brothers, sisters, friends and family alike." His voice was strong and ever reaching as he looked over them. My eyes occasionally fell back to the man, even as my head remained locked to the crowd. "No doubt you may wonder why I have called you all here as it is not often I find the need to make an announcement. However this time there is no other option. It has come to my attention that our peaceful bliss brought about by the solitude of our home has blinded us with complacency, and just recently I have had the displeasure of witnessing it first hand."

The crowd looked among themselves, however none could chatter for long as a series of gasps echoed throughout the air, and letting my form stiffen I saw how they silently panicked at the sight of what I had known to come next. When we brainstormed how to approach our coming problem we always ran into a single issue, that of which being how to break the news to the inhabitants of the island. In the end we settled on the most direct approach as there was really no reason to hide the truth for long; we knew full well that it would get out eventually. Best to deal with the hurricane of emotions in a controlled environment.

Such control was demonstrated as the scrappily clothed humans marched from behind and took place just ahead; visible for all to see.

"Who you see before you are the unfortunate victims of our very own White Fang. They were captured and kept hidden away by our own, in a display of the very thing we've always stood against." Ghira paused for a moment as the people made visible attempts to process what they saw. It was clear they never expected such a sight, and many held expressions of both daze and betrayal.

"Humans!"

"Why are they here?!"

"What do we do?!"

"Did the White Fang really do this?"

The voices grew louder, however were silenced again as Ghira spoke. "I know this may shock and even disgust some of you. I understand many have found peace in the air of freedom brought along from our distinctly Faunus lead home, however these unfortunate souls are proof that we have remained stagnant for too long." Ghira paused for a moment before speaking again. "I hesitate to speak this, but even I have lost hold of the control I once held. I am certain you have all noticed it, my absence from the past several weeks. I assure you it was not intended."

"What happened?" One small child asked from the crowd, and looking down I could see the supposed mother quickly and quietly scold the girl. The mother's embarrassment visibly stilled as Ghira himself sighed.

"I was poisoned." More gasps echoed, and the man steeled his eyes. "I had been caught off guard, and the next thing I knew I was surrounded by worried family and friends. It was my daughter Blake who broke the news, and told me of what had transpired within the Fang, of how far they had fallen." He looked to Blake, and to my own personal surprise she faced the crowd with solemn resolve.

"It's true. As I ran with my once respectable allies I got to witness piece by piece how their drive to protect and save Faunus turned into a spiteful desire to inflict suffering on Humans instead. They spent less time speaking and more time fighting, and in the end I couldn't take it any more and left." Blake shook slightly, but her look remained strong; she wore a stone mask of power, and yet I saw how the cracks formed along it's brittle edges.

Ghira nonetheless looked proud of his daughter, however that pride quickly reserved itself behind a stoic drive once again as he addressed everyone.

"As you have just heard the White Fang we once looked upon with respect has fallen low, and it is due to this that I have come to a decision. To prevent this misuse of power and will I will no longer be supporting the White Fang, and will instead be organizing a force against them." That statement got a response, perhaps too large a one as I found it difficult to pick any one voice clearer than the other.

The citizens were shouting over each other, and trying to decipher even a single sentence from amidst the stampede of frantic cries proved futile. The chaos was halted as Ghira held up his hands, and once more under the unspoken order of their leader the people settled down. The demonstration of unwavering respect he gained from his people was both reassuring, and downright frightening.

"However standing against our once noble brothers and sisters is not so easily done. I know many of us have family who walk among them, and even more who wish to protect and support them. However despite these concerns it is necessary to pull them away from the jaws of recklessness and back into the embrace of reason." Ghira stilled for a moment before looking back with a mellowed gaze. "It was recently brought to my attention that they have found themselves down this dreaded path due to the influence of Adam Taurus. While once a driving force of change and inspiration for many of our youth, including my own daughter, he has found himself caught in a trap of hatred; the same trap which has ensnared those we stood against during the great war."

I watched as several looked to shudder and cringe, and many faces of worry scattered themselves upon the people, digging their roots into the faltered forms of many elderly men and women. The children held an air of innocent curiosity, however their parents did not. Even though many of the families and young adults didn't bare the looks of knowing experience that their own parents had, they still appeared visibly distressed and knowledgeable on the topic.

My own experience was limited from my literature lessons with Winter back at Beacon; even so I knew enough that nobody wanted a repeat of that, even if the Faunus held the upper ground of the battle. My thoughts were cut away as Ghira continued, and I soon found all attention thrown upon myself as he seemingly made his move.

"Due to this I have decided to make a request, a difficult one mind you, one I never wised to ever have to make. However dark times call for action, and as we were debating how to handle Adam and his White Fang a recently returning friend presented an idea." Ghira extended an arm out to me while casting a prominent look. "Vermillion here proposed a solution, however it is not a light one and actively effects us all. Due to this it was decided he would speak of his own volition to propose his plan." Ghira looked back to the crowd. "Know that while this may be his idea, I myself was the one to allow it, and as such I share the blame for any and all negative events to transpire from this decision. I will now ask that you all listen to what he has to say." Ghira nodded to me, and with a deep breath I stepped forward.

All eyes were on me, and I knew that everyone was ready for what I had to say. I wasn't like Ghira, I couldn't sway the people and inspire hope. I knew that he could hold a crowd and light their will aflame; I knew he was responsible and powerful; I knew he earned their trust through action rather than mere words and lies; I knew this all, and yet it didn't matter.

I had none of these skills.

My words could not wrap the hearts of people in comfort, nor could my tone burn bright against the encroaching darkness. I was, for all intensive purposes, a follower. I would fight under the orders of those I pledged myself to; I would walk a path already forged; I would carry the burdens thrown upon me; above all else I would do so without question, as I had faith in those I fought for. However this time I had no leader, and instead found myself under a greater looming threat. I had a goal, and a will to see it through, but I had no one to show me the way or guide me in the right direction. I wanted to save the queen, but another more recent problem in the way of Adam impeded that process.

Truth and lies are tools, that much I had been taught, and for the first time I was presented with a problem I couldn't solve under watch; a problem where I set the goal. I was given the choice to decide which to use for a decision entirely my own.

And so I made my choice.

"The White Fang... no, Adam has set out to bring a danger that will not only destroy himself, but the entirety of Faunus as a whole. He has already attacked and successfully contributed to the destruction of Beacon Academy, a school for both Humans and Faunus, and as such has made the world his enemy." I heard them start to murmur again, and it started to look like a full blow panic was about to begin.

My words cut that panic down in an instant, replacing it with a wall of shock.

"You'll die. All of you will die."

I heard a gasp from Blake, and a quick glance showed her about to leap, however it was stopped by Ghira's arm as he looked to me. I gave a slight nod of thanks as I hardened my look.

"Adam believes he can win a war against Remnant. He believes the power of the White Fang under his leadership has the means and resources for success. I don't know what made him think this, or if he found someone or something to spark that level of unwavering faith. What I do know is that should his plans go through not only will he be destroyed, but he will bring upon an even greater hatred towards Faunus as a whole. Humanity hates what it fears, and they kill what they hate. His actions, left unchecked, will lead to the death of not only his White Fang, but everyone here as well. Humanity will stop at nothing to snuff out the threat, and no amount of pleading to their morality will change that should he do something truly atrocious."

"Then what do you propose?"

I looked down and saw that the voice belonged to Mr. Quartz. He looked relatively unfazed by the statement of doom, and rather he seemed to hold more focus than many others. He wanted to hear the solution I had come up with, and while I felt a bit uncomfortable in stating such a bizarre and dangerous plan towards someone I respected, I knew it needed to be done. His hardened eyes showed a sparkle of care behind their mask of worry, and that spark shot through me to ignite a small strand of courage waiting patiently at the back of my mind. I eased my breathing as I looked over the crowd. I had told them the effects of an unchecked Adam, and the only thing left to do was continue.

I was done stalling.

"I want to end things without bloodshed, and I want to know whether the Faunus of the White Fang have truly lost themselves to hatred, or if there is still some sense of heart within themselves. I came up with an idea to test that, and to see if they've really lost themselves in the tides of violence. I speak to you all because I cannot do this alone; I need your help to see this through." I stopped for a moment to gauge reaction, and while the air was silent for a moment I heard someone speak up from the masses.

"What do you need us to do?" It was a young woman. She wore attire no different than those of many others, and looked so painfully plain. The woman held a baby in her arms as it let out gentle cries now only audible with the others all silent. She was an ordinary person, and it was then I was reminded just who I was asking to stand in the line of fire.

"I want you." I looked out amongst the crowd. "All of you to stand before your brothers and sisters; your mothers and fathers; your sons and daughters. I want you to stand before their blades to see which they value most: their ambitions for war... " I saw how their looks morphed from worry to dread.

Yet I continued.

"Or you."

.

.

"So... uh..." Oscar was at a loss for words. Normally on a day to day basis he didn't often come to meeting with people during times of distress.

Especially not face to chest.

"You come here often?"

"Perhaps I should take control after all."

"Shut up! How about you try speaking in weird scenarios!"

"Berate me all you will; I've been through 'every' possible scenario to date and counting."

"So you've been in people's heads before?" Oscar's question was cheekily aimed, and Ozpin knew it.

"Yes, although I fail to see how that is important now." The boy went quiet, but it was clear he had thoughts on the matter, even if he chose not to voice them.

"Strangely yes." The blond spoke as Oscar's vision finally adjusted.

He raised a brow. "Wait really?"

"Yep. Although now that I say it out loud it does sound kind of weird." The woman shook her head. "Name's Yang by the way."

"Oscar." He replied as she stood with a smile.

"Nice to meet you, now hold still." She walked around behind him, and after an instant he could feel the rope snap. The previously constricting snare fell harmlessly to the ground, and Oscar stood and gave a small stretch.

"Thanks, I owe you one."

"Don't mention it." She spoke, only for her face to take on a more curious look. "So, you mind telling us how you ended up caught here?"

"What should I say?"

"Whatever you wish, although if you plan to lie I suggest you ground the story as to not raise suspicion."

"I was stowing away and got caught." Oscar, instead, chose not to lie. This was not done out of any sense of morals, but rather the fact that he had never been all too good at coming up with elaborate - yet believable - stories.

"Heh, just like Sun."

"Who?" Oscar asked as Yang smirked.

"Just a friend of ours." Her face fell into practiced ease. "Anyway, we've got a few things we need to take care of, so we're going to try and bring you out to the city streets. You've got anywhere to bunk while you're here?"

"Oscar, repeat 'exactly' what I say."

"Why?"

"I'll explain later, just know we need to stick with them and that's that." Oscar didn't like the tone he heard, but knowing that he agreed to work with the spirit earlier on the boy silently accepted as he faced Yang.

"My grandfather works here in Mistral from what he told me through letters."

Yang whistled. "Letters huh? Sounds like he's more on the old fashioned side."

"He always did like going pen to paper, said it reminded him of when he was just a boy." Oscar spoke, covertly reciting every word Ozpin spoke in his head.

"So just who is your gramps? We might have met him at some point." Yang questioned as Oscar smiled lightly.

"Maybe. He works at Haven academy, and often wrote of how his students would work incredibly hard on their studies."

"R-really?" Yang seemed shaken, just a little. "H-huh, who knew you had an important relative, a-am I right?" Oscar found himself confused at her strange behavior, especially the twinkle of panic in her eyes.

"Is something the matter?" He asked, only for Yang to shake her head as she stumbled on the spot.

"No! N-not at all! But...um..." Her eyes shot frantically around. "If the academy, say, were to have been through some trouble: do you think your old man would be strong enough to get away?" Yang stuttered a bit once more. "Just out of curiosity I mean!"

That was... a weird thing to ask, and Oscar couldn't help but get the feeling he was missing something. Of all the things to think of, why would she chose a scenario like that. Ozpin spoke in his head again, and a gleam of understanding pierced him as he recited the words with a mellow tone.

"Something's happened at Haven, hasn't it?"

"Wha~! No, not at all." Yang shook her hands ahead of her, but a voice cut in from behind.

"Give it up Yang. There's no reason to hide anything, and besides... he deserves to know." The voice, upon closer inspection, belonged to a hooded figure in the back. Oscar could see a mask hid her face, but the voice was distinctly female. Yang cringed a bit, and after a moment of visual confliction let out a soft sigh as her face took on a more somber tone. Her hands gently found their way to his shoulders as her mellow, pity filled gaze settled on him.

"Yes... something has happened at Haven." Her teeth grit as she paused, and after a second her jaw eased. "Probably not the best way to break the news, but Haven's been taken over by the White Fang, and from what I've seen not a single teacher or hunter remains here in the academy."

"Now isn't that something."

"Yeah, that is kind of stra- wait, did she say 'here'?"

"Oh..." Oscar let out with a low tone. "I see."

"Sorry to tell you in such a bad place." To give the girl credit she did sound genuinely apologetic for being the one to deliver the news of what she assumed was his grandfather's likely death. However that grandfather didn't exist, and he needed to steer the conversation into something he could use.

"It's fine. I doubt anywhere would be a good place for that kind of news." Oscar allowed a hint of confusion to drip into his voice. "But what do you mean by 'here'?"

"Oh, ah..." Yang stilled for a second as she seemingly searched for the words to explain what she wanted to say. "Well, you see... we're kind of 'in' the academy already."

"Okay..." Oscar was genuinely confused, and Ozpin through a voice of his own echoed the same sentiment. "I didn't know Haven had a railway installed."

"It... didn't." Yang said, and Oscar felt even more questions arise.

"Then how are we at the academy? This train car didn't stop moving until I was caught, and they just tied me down here without moving anywhere." His questions were perfectly reasonable, but in the end he kind of figured he wouldn't really get any sensible answers; Ozpin's very existence in his head had been a sign that anything logical or ridiculous could occur in his life at this point.

"Best thing I can tell you is the Fang have been using Haven as a base, and have changed it up a bunch, other than that I've got nothing." Yang for the most part sounded honest, which only made the boy sigh at yet another strange situation.

"Fine, then can I ask why you're here at the academy? You're clearly not with the White Fang, so why are you wandering around." He asked as Yang stilled. She looked back, and with a nod from several others faced him again.

"We're here to put a stop to them, and we came to find you because we got some info that they captured someone."

"What she's saying is she overheard the grunts bragging about catching us."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Watching the youth of today is surprisingly telling; many can't keep their mouths shut even with their own secrets. Don't even get me started on social media."

"Right." Oscar didn't particularly need to be all that well versed in reading people to tell the headmaster was experiencing some form of fatigue.

Wait, can ghost's even get fatigue? His thoughts were cut short however as Ozpin spoke up again.

"Regardless of such tragedies we need to focus. We should accompany them, as with any luck they'll lead us right to my friend."

"Really? Are you saying they know him?"

"In a way. Now repeat after me..."

"If that's the case I'd like to join you."

"No can do kiddo." Yang said as she sent a pity filled glance his way. "I get you might be angry, but it's too dangerous. Let us handle this; we're hunters in training after all, so it's our problem really."

"I told you my grandfather was a hunter, and believe it or not he taught me a fair share of his skills." Oscar lowered his tone again. "I know it's dangerous, but they've taken the school, and most likely hurt or even killed many students and staff to do it. I can't just leave them to get away with it. You're facing the White Fang, and pardon the brash nature of this next part, but you need all the help you can get."

"I..." Yang looked back, and after another round of nods she sighed and crossed her arms. "Fine, but only so long as you stick with us and avoid running into trouble okay?"

"Deal." Oscar said as he silently celebrated the fact that the headmaster's little story worked. His unseen cheers were cut short however as Yang pointed to his shirt.

"Now take off your clothes."

Author's note

...

Classic Yang, not even taking them out to dinner first.

We're back with another chapter here, although it did get rather serious for a moment; not surprising with what's happening. V finally got to make the plan known, and for better or worse the island and it's inhabitants are faced with the knowledge that their heroes have morphed into hate-filled monsters.

Aside from that Yang has, as you've read, taken charge of talking with Oscar, and unknowingly Ozpin. How will this turn out and when will the news drop? You'll just have to wait and see.

That's another chapter down, at least for now.

Catch you next time.