"Did you hear? They're tightening the restrictions."
"Again? Fuck man, how the Dust are they even able to do that? I've been waiting for our shipments for months."
"Can't be all bad, from what I hear it's just for a little longer."
"They've been saying the same thing since it all began."
"Well what do you expect? Fuckin animals took down an entire school!"
"Shut your mouth man! Do you want to start a spat; you know how many of them are in this place."
"Yeah I do, and do you know how many of them have outwardly spoke against their murdering posse; none, that's how many. Damn, and just when I thought they couldn't get any lower."
"Yeah... wait, isn't your bitch one of 'em?"
"First, my woman isn't anything like the rest of her kind, and second-" The man decked his supposed buddy across the face. "Don't go calling her a bitch. She's got more sense than you, or either of your cousins. She cried that day, you know, and I had to hold her close the entire time just to even calm her down into talking. Sometimes I wonder why the rest of the Faunus can't just be like her; honest, hardworking, and civilized."
"Hey, there's exceptions to every rule, right?"
Adam decided he was finished, choosing to shift away after getting what sounded like the only piece of useful information the two workers had to offer.
So Atlas has tightened it's grip again. It wasn't a surprise, Atlas always looked for excuses to seize control, and what better way that the fall of Beacon. Still though, from the way locals were speaking it wasn't exactly the most popular decision; it was to be expected really, and fit right in line with his own predictions. While he didn't expect the kingdom to force an embargo on trade, he did predict they would lock up travel.
Thanks to their decision the people were restless; all that was needed was a spark, and a whole new rebellion could be born. Unfortunately, Adam wasn't so sure the participants would be the welcome kind.
Info gathering always yielded some unintended results, and while he knew the hatred for Faunus was at an all time high, he didn't expect so many of the bigots to be... pathetic. Most of the folk blaming Faunus for the attack were usually those without any sense of self; just people going with the flow. Mob mentality was something Adam knew to a T, after all, it was his main source of influence within the Fang.
Scrubbing away those wonderings, Adam pulled his hat lower, and popped the collar of his overcoat. Blending in with the common people required him to forgo his mask in favor for something less... outstanding. Now in it's place was a simple black strip of cloth, easy enough to see through, and yet still covering his branding; this would be a permanent change.
His mask, while holding some sentimental value, was ultimately worthless now. He'd escaped Haven, and yet the operation to capture and hold the school was lost. Worst of all V had strung up a scheme he himself never expected, using citizens of Menagerie to weaken his men. Honestly that idea had ticked a certain pride within, and Adam couldn't help but internally applaud the man for taking such drastic measures; he was taking everything seriously.
Knowing V was willing to give it all for his beliefs struck a personal chord in Adam's soul, and seeing as V had grown past those petty motions of distinct duality in terms of morals, He knew the man had finally grown up.
And then there was Blake.
Despite parting on... 'unfortunate' terms, he still held a sense of respect for the girl. Watching her fight alongside V showed Adam just how much she'd grown, and yet she wasn't fully there yet... or so he thought. Adam recalled something special about the battle though, only really noticeable during the downtime he was now afforded. Each and every time V and himself would lock blades, Blake would breath heavy and her body would tense ever so slightly.
Something about seeing them in combat frightened Blake, and it was that indicator alone that had Adam wildly smirking on the thought. Blake was a sweetheart, never wanting to hurt anyone. The woman had never once showed such fright when fighting to restrain or capture, only ever hinting it back when she split from the Fang; right after he said they'd leave the Humans of the train to die. Blake showed true fear in the expectation of death, meaning she believed their clash would not end in capture, but elimination.
It was a three on one, and Adam was not so full of himself to even entertain the thought of true victory; he'd been planning to escape once an opportunity presented itself. They knew this too, they had to; Blake was rather bright compared to most, and teamed with Weiss and V, they were unstoppable. Adam was certain they knew he'd try and escape, which shined the light over their entire situation. Blake wasn't fearing for V's life...
She feared for his.
V, the traitor champion who abandoned them to follow his own faith, was not there to simply apprehend Adam, but to kill him. Yes, V had grown, and unlike so many other pitiful cowards who would dare call themselves hunters, this one was a warrior. The team looked to be together, all with an aligned goal and a willingness to see it through...
So this is it, huh?
The reality dawned so brightly even Adam's own shadow scurried away. No longer would this be a simple case of capturing Weiss, no... this quest had turned away from it now. They wouldn't stop until he was dead, and he wouldn't stop until he fulfilled his promise to Weiss; he was walking to his doom. For some reason this supposedly certain fate did not scare him, rather it brought with it a sense of peace. They weren't out to capture him anymore, they were out to kill him, but for some reason Adam couldn't help but smile.
It must have looked weird to everyone else on the streets, to see a man wearing such a bright and honest smile in times of strife. Why did he feel so at peace with the idea, was his goal not to liberate the Faunus, and bring vengeance to the corrupt world that enslaved them? What about his own death made him feel so relaxed?
"Hey, that's my bike!"
Adam found his attention draw by the shout, only to see a young man coming down the road atop what he presumed was stolen property. The man was rough looking, and yet youthful. He would have ignored the event had the frantic woman atop the hill not had a set of floppy dog ears. With one swift motion Adam extended his arm outwards, just so happening to come directly in the path of the would-be thief.
The man choked a little, and the bike was sent skidding down the road a bit before coming to a stop. The thief, now laying on the pavement, groaned as Adam kneeled next to him.
"Now that wasn't very nice. You shouldn't be so rude to women; that scarcely earns friends."
"Fuck you!" The man spit at Adam. The blob of saliva landed on the lower end of the overcoat, to which Adam tilted his head a little. With another bright smile he buried his fist into the nose of the downed crook, and while the man squirmed around clutching the bloody appendage Adam offered another bit of idol chat.
"No manners? Don't worry, I'm sure you'll learn eventually." He stood, disregarding the worthless crybaby, and walked over to the bicycle. Picking it off the ground he wheeled it all the way back up the hill, meeting the woman halfway. "Yours, I presume?"
"Yes... t-thank you." She looked back down. "Um... will he be alright?"
"Just fine, albeit a little less brazen."
"Jessy!" A man came up to them, and Adam recognised him from the pair he'd been listening in on before. "Are you okay? I heard the scream." He was looking over her, clearly concerned for any injuries.
"I'm okay. M-my bike was stolen." She looked back to Adam. "But this gentleman here recovered it for me."
The worker looked relieved at that, and relaxed a little as he faced Adam.
"I see. Thank you for your help. Most men wouldn't give my wife the time of day, considering she's... well, one of those."
"Of course." Adam decided to gauge a little reaction. "I've got to help my own after all."
"Oh, I see..." The man grew a little... conflicted. "You're one of her kind I take it."
"Yes. That wouldn't happen to be a problem, would it." Adam was interested to see how the man would react, and while his look was still cautious, his words flowed a little easier.
"No... I suppose it wouldn't. You helped my wife after all, so certainly you're much more sensible than most others I've witnessed. As I've said, you have my thanks."
"I see..." Adam paused a little, watching as the man's gaze went from judgemental to questioning. "May I ask a few questions, if you'd afford me a little time?"
"I suppose it wouldn't hurt." Adam smirked internally; apparently his tongue was still sharp with the ordinary folk.
"I've heard that people have been having trouble traveling to Atlas, is this true?"
"Unfortunately yes. Along with the embargo, all transport into and out of the kingdom has been essentially cut off." His eyes narrowed. "Why, are you trying to get in?"
"Well, yes." Adam looked out across the cityscape, directly at the docks where a few airships could be seen docked at the Atlas outpost. "I have family I must return to, although it seems this will be a task more difficult that I previously considered."
"Family huh... well, Atlas has never been kind to Faunus, you know?"
"I do." More than this simple pair could ever imagine. "But it's still my home. Even if the people running it would rather see me in chains, I must return. We may not have had much, but it was still ours, and even if outside forces seek to make our lives more difficult, we still take pride in being who we are." Adam looked back, offering a small bow. "Thank you for your time, but I must be off."
Blake wanted to earn Faunus equality through peaceful means, and seeing as he was already a dead man walking, Adam figured the least he could do in his last few days was help to turn that idea from fantasy to reality. Internally he laughed at the thought, but if Blake could truly create a world of peace with her words alone, then what harm was there in contributing to that goal. The White Fang had essentially fallen already anyway, and while there were many scattered in the other kingdoms, Adam was certain word of their defeat would spread, ripping away the last ounces of morale they still had.
With the White Fang dead, the last hope for Faunus laid with Blake.
In the end his final plan to spark rebellion and change didn't exactly require him to be alive. He still had the key, and his once prison was so insanely close to the regular people; right under their noses even. Adam himself had long realized that rebellion with only two opposing sides would lead to a simple stalemate, adn that for true change he needed to cause infighting. How would the Humans react to knowing an act many of their own see as evil was happening so close to themselves; that half their family and friends were monsters in their eyes? Catastrophe topples kingdoms, and even if non-violent the change would be hard enough to spark anyone with a sense of morality.
The weak alone are powerless, but as V had proven, even the strongest of hearts can falter in the face of perceived innocence.
"Wait." Adam turned back to see the man approach. He reached into the pocket on the upper left side of his vest, and pulled out what looked like a miniature scroll. "Here, take this."
"What is this?" He questioned, taking and looking over the small object.
"Merchants like us aren't allowed to carry cargo into and from Atlas, but seeing as how many of us hailed from there, most of our personal property is essentially stuck in the kingdom. There was a small exception made for us that allowed us to return, so long as we didn't leave before the embargo is lifted."
"And this is yours?" Adam saw a few... issues with it. "Is it not tied to you personally?"
"Boy, it's not even 'official', if you catch my drift."
Ah, I see... crafty. Adam posed one more question.
"Are you... offering me passage into Atlas?"
"Yes, and no. Show that to the two men at the gates. They'll tell you to meet them at a location later at night, and then will lead you into a transport ship to bring you in personally; as far as they told it's a one-way trip. The official excuse is that you're a worker aiding with the transport of the base's resources back to the kingdom."
"But what about you? If I take this, you'll have no way home yourself." The man merely laughed the statement.
"My home is here, with my wife and soon to be daughter. I have everything I need right here."
"I understand." Adam slipped the thing away. "Thank you, I mean that."
"Don't mention it."
Adam offered one last wave as he took off, revolted at the irony Remnant saw fit to 'bless' him with. He had transport into Atlas, which was ultimately useless considering how Weiss was currently on her way here right now. Great, now he had something both essential and useless. These thoughts, mixed with the bustling noise of the city, were very quickly driving him mad.
Adam knew one way to calm himself and relax, and that was to kill something.
He wanted to stay on the down low, meaning that his targets would need to be both hidden, and not missed. Grimm were both, and with a mind to erase some of his negativity and focus better, Adam set off for the wilderness just beyond the treeline, set on relaxing through his practice with the blade.
.
.
"Leaving so soon?" The mother questioned, all the while Ruby simply leaned back on the grass, watching as Pebble went through another rousing game of chase with the other children.
"Unfortunately." The past week had been a much needed breather for the woman, as it both allowed her to rest from all the stress built up over the journey, along with giving Pebble the chance to actually experience childhood. Yet she knew they were on the clock, especially with Salem now at the forefront of her madness - according to Dove's initial meeting with her that was. "Although, there is something I must do."
Ruby stood, and the all too familiar rivers of darkness sped through her being. As before this chaotic energy accumulated in her palm, and crushing that destructive dark the intense glow of black shined through her closed fingers. In her palm stood another seed of shadow; another seal ready to be planted and grow into power.
"What... is this?" The mother questioned, and Ruby answered thusly.
"Darkness incarnate. This here is one of many seeds keeping Remnant's demise at bay." Looking out to the fields Ruby fought away the flickers of fire born from her imagination; the desire to light the world ablaze was strong. "I need to plant it here, so the future will have a chance at survival."
"Darkness... will this not taint our land." The mother's concerns were valid, and yet Ruby could easily quell them.
"Your people will have long moved on by the time the seed blooms." Ruby faced the woman with a calm expression. "Please, allow me to protect our future, not just for us, but all people."
"Grand words..." The woman relented, as Ruby expected she would. "I suppose it may be allowed, so long as no harm befalls my kin."
Ruby nodded and made her way across the clearing. Here, underneath the cool light of Ize, the corrupted woman buried the seed of destruction below, and with it another piece was in place. The boy would visit this land, but in that era the caves would no doubt have collapsed, and the sands shifted upwards will reveal the essential secret. He would find it, this was certain, but how and in what state would remain unknown to her.
"Pebble." Ruby called out, waving the boy over and smiling towards the curious gaze he wore along the way.
"Yes?"
"It's time we depart."
"Oh..." He wasn't quite happy, but he hid those feelings and offered a curt nod. Ruby's smile filled with pity as she scooped up the boy in her arms, and turning back she faced the mother who walked over.
"Thank you, for everything."
"You saved our distant kin." The mother countered. "It is only fair that you are rewarded for your efforts."
"Still though, you had no reason to trust me."
"And yet I did, and what I saw was a woman in doubt, doing her best to protect those close to her, and still having the time to care for others; even if she actively refuses to show it."
"You gauged all that huh?" Ruby playfully cocked a brow, to which the painted matriarch giggled.
"Your heart told it all that night, and what guarded words you offered made it more than obvious. My people are rather observant remember, or had you not caught on to that aspect of our tribe?"
"I did, but I never expected your observation to be so thorough."
"We all hold surprises, you only need to expand your mind." The mother came close, and wrapped both in a gentle embrace. "Do take care, Humans of your quality are few and far between."
"We will."
The woman let go, and with a final look of longing the duo were escorted all the way back to the hole they climbed through. After some fidgeting, walking, and a few hours of dry throats the pair were back at the main city, where the duo stocked up on supplies for the trip back, as well as quenched their thirst, and yet before they could so much as look in the direction of the desert the two were greeted with a call.
"So you have returned. I hope you're both in one piece; haven't heard a word since you left."
"My queen." Ruby greeted with a bow, only for Dove to roll her eyes as the bodyguard next to her tensed.
"Don't, you're far from a scheming stranger." Ruby stood with a smirk, and Dove continued. "But you both look to be alright, so I take it the meeting didn't go too badly."
"True, the meeting went well." Ruby spoke, noticing how Pebble looked between her and Dove with confusion.
"Why were you worried?" The boy asked, to which Dove smiled and rested her hands on her hips.
"Nothing, nothing. Just concerned where Ruby here is Human."
"We were fine... mostly." Ruby saw the playfulness leave her friend, and so opted to explain further and calm the royal. "They were wary at first, but after I mentioned you they calmed down."
"Ah~, right." Ruby saw the way tension left Dove's eyes. "Anyway, did you get what you needed?"
"I did, and now we're off again."
"If I may, where are you headed off to cause trouble this time?" The simple jab got a chuckle from Ruby.
"Veilroot, although first we need to get back to the ship."
"And you plan on walking all that way?"
"Yes... but I doubt you'd let us get away with that." Ruby was right on the money as the queen smirked.
"Damn right." She looked to her bodyguard. "Return to the palace and get the men to bring my personal ship around."
"But your majesty, I cannot allow you to be on your own. What if assassins strike?"
The queen rolled her eyes and patted the man roughly on his back, all the while pointing to Ruby.
"You see this woman here, my friend?"
"Yes?"
"What if I told you she's deadlier than any of our own soldiers?"
"I'd... question it, but if you're so certain in this I will relent and believe you."
Dove patted his back softer this time.
"Good, now then, stop the stupid questions and fetch the ship, unless you're willing to go against my orders?"
"V-very well, it shall be done." The guard rushed off quickly, and Ruby chanced a queer glance to the scantily dressed ruler.
"Did you need to be so rough on him?"
"My men need to grow a pair anyway; the threat of being labelled a traitor is a healthy dose of fear for them."
"If you say."
Ruby waited with the queen, and both traded stories of past adventures for the next hour or so before the ship arrived. Hovering above Ruby noticed how it was much smaller than the Star-Bringer; Dust, it was even smaller than the pirate vessel Dove one captained when she was still just Prim.
"So, what do you think?" The queen asked, and Ruby decided to air out her honest opinion.
"Flashy... and suitably not your style."
"Yeah, it is rather overdressed. Sadly they won't let me use a plain looking one; only the best for their queen." Dove sighed, only to smile easy after. "But hey, it's only to get you back to your own ship right? It won't be too bad to ride in something ridiculous every once in a while."
"True." Ruby returned that smile. "Well then, shall we?"
"Yes, let's."
.
.
"And this is Jaune when we got him in mom's night dress." Pyrrha couldn't stop the feelings of joy from flooding her now darkened heart; little Jaune was just too cute.
"Saphron... please." Jaune had his head hung low. "Leave me with at least a little dignity."
"And as we see here." The woman flipped another page of the album, and the girls flocked around it, all the while Ren did his upmost to wordlessly council Jaune. "He looks especially good in a bow. Too bad he never lets his hair grow all that long."
"It get's tangled past my shoulders." He shot back, crossing his arms and turning away childishly. Pyrrha felt a little guilty indulging in his private childhood, but his sister Saphron was seemingly intent on embarrassing her little brother, and since it was family spilling these secrets Pyrrha reasoned she shouldn't feel too guilty.
The fact that Jaune's sister lived in Argus had been a rather strong bout of luck, and getting to meet the woman's family had been... something. Don't get her wrong, Pyrrha found herself enjoying the company, but to learn Jaune had a nephew was kind of weird. They themselves were only just barely adults, and yet his sister was a full grown family woman, providing for her wife and their adopted child. Speaking of, it was that very child who flipped the page once more from his place on the mother's lap, revealing a photo of Jaune in full make-up, surrounded by four other girls.
"Ooh~ I remember this one." Saphron exclaimed, and Jaune once more groaned in mild agony.
"And this is my que to leave." Jaune stood, seemingly fed up enough to leave.
While Pyrrha certainly would have loved to continue ogling her leader's baby pictures, the woman decided instead to chase after her friend, and followed after as the man stepped out the door. Jaune stopped, took in a deep breath, and sat on the steps as he stared out across the street. Pyrrha took her place beside him, and set her hand on his knee, looking up to the moon and allowing a little relaxation to fill the air.
"Your family is certainly unique; enjoyable and kind, if a bit chipper." Jaune chuckled a little hearing that.
"I guess you can say that."
"I believe she's just happy to share her favorite memories about her little brother. I don't think she meant to upset you."
"It's not that I'm upset about." Jaune said with a dropping tone. "I'm... I'm worried for the others." Jaune pulled out his scroll, and from what she saw attempted to call Ruby. The line rang a few times, and then dropped. The man apparently expected this as he slipped the thing away and leaned his head into his hands. "But no matter what, they just won't pick up."
"I'm sure they're fine." She leaned into him. "Team RWBY is tough Jaune, and you know that better than all of us."
That statement was truer than the boy would ever know, as Pyrrha had seen his resolve and experiences in the dreams so vividly. From Ruby's perspective, Pyrrha was able to see how the young girl looked up to the man's growth, and how hard he was willing to fight just on the chance that they may succeed. While he doubted himself and worried, she knew he would grow past those limitations.
Jaune Arc was a block of marble, and as the symbol of strength was chipped away by the world, Pyrrha couldn't help but awe at the figure hidden within.
"I hope." He was in a rut again, just like he was at Beacon. So it was that Pyrrha stood and offered her hand to the still to be sculpted hero. He looked at her puzzled, and voiced his thoughts. "Pyrrha?"
"Come on, we've got some time to ourselves right? Why don't we head to the local park and get some practice in; touch up your form a little, alright?"
"Yeah... okay." He took her grip, and she helped to pull him up. "I guess we can."
.
.
Tai set his cup of coffee down, and leveled a look her way.
"So, are you finally ready to talk?" The woman supposed she was, and yet looking into his eyes brought back some... conflicting memories for Raven.
"I could... or we can continue with the garden."
"Raven, what's with you?" Tai's accusatory tone was to be expected, but even so, it was hitting at some odd places in her mind. "You hate housework, especially gardening."
"Maybe I've just grown to appreciate the time and effort needed to see through a flower's growth." As she offered what he most certainly saw as a flimsy excuse, the woman fought off the strange emotions bubbling up with his disappointed sigh. He crossed his arms, and leveled sour face look at her.
"Look, I never questioned it when you asked to stay with me last week, and I never made a ruckus or complained when you meandered around outside practicing your sword techniques all day. I've cooked, and cleaned, and remained mostly tolerant of you, however I'm putting my foot down right now. Raven, tell me why you've come here."
"So, you've finally grown a pair again huh?" Her statement didn't faze the man, and Raven begrudgingly had to give him props for that. He wanted answers from her...
And therein lied the problem.
It should have been simple, stupidly so, and yet here she was wracking her mind trying to think of what to say. All the planning, all the scheming and ideas of how she thought the encounter would go, of how she expected to show up, say her piece, take what she needed, and leave. All of it flew out the window the moment she locked eyes with him last week. Raven never meant to stay a whole week avoiding the subject, but for some reason she had trouble even speaking to the man.
Once upon a time the idiot had captured her interest, to the point she now had a daughter who hated her; a gullible little crotch goblin who loved playing hero.
Raven Branwen was a powerful leader, and her reputation of ruthlessness had earned her the title of 'bandit queen' among the common villages of the wild. For years she had ordered her tribe on raids, and under her rulership they prospered nearly all year round. To many she was an unstoppable killer who took shit from no one.
To Tai Xiao Long, she was Raven; teammate, ex-lover, and runaway mother. Even now she saw his judgement aimed her way, and so she - as many times back when they were a couple - relented and spoke.
"If I said I had a change of heart, would you believe me?" His face grew concerned, and her dignity took a hit as he looked at her with what she saw as pity.
"No Raven, I wouldn't believe you." His arms unfolded, and he lay his arms down on the table. "Look at me Raven, honestly look and listen. Do you need my help? Don't avoid the topic."
"Why would I avoid the topic?" Right as it came out he locked eyes with her.
"Because you're a coward, Raven." His stern and straightforward response had her on her feet; blade out and pointed his way.
"Say that again, Tai, I dare you." He wasn't fazed, and stood to meet her.
"You're a coward." He leaned forward, directing his throat to the tip of the pointed sword, all the while she scowled harder from his continued disrespect. "When things get questionable you run away."
"I'm warning you Tai." Her voice was rugged, and at this point she was struggling to hold herself back. "I won't hesitate to hurt you."
"Then do it, hurt me." He met her with a glare of his own. Before she could even respond he acted. Tai wrapped his hand around her sword, and squeezed. This at first was strange, and only served to puzzle Raven, until he began to pull it towards him. His eyes remained locked to hers, but the woman's eyes were directed instead to the bits of blood dripping from his fingers to the floor, and the realization sent her mind into overdrive.
His aura was off.
In a swift bout of adrenaline she gripped her weapon tight, just barely pulling back against Tai. This seemingly stilled his efforts and he opened his mouth to speak again.
"What's wrong Raven? Do it, hurt me. You said you would, so do it." Had this been anyone else she would have not only took that advice, but made an example of them as well. And yet here he was again, the same fucking idiot of a man she'd grown fond of. Dumbass was probably smirking on the inside, as if he'd been so sure she'd not follow through.
"I didn't come here to kill you." She pulled a little harder, and he let go. Sheathing her blade she sat down again, and Tai did the same as his aura flashed around his wounded hand, beginning the healing process he actively ignored. His face showed a more fatigued concern now, one that Raven hated more than anything.
"Keep telling yourself that, but we both know you wouldn't kill me." She grit her teeth as he continued on. "It isn't wrong to be afraid, you know. It's what you-"
"Do in the face of fear that determines what's right." Raven grumbled aloud. "You've said this time and time again."
"And I'll keep saying it until it goes through that thick skull of yours." He said so with such chipper ease that Raven merely chose to stare blankly; at least he didn't find a way to stick puns into his stupid 'wisdoms'. His expression relaxed into one of neutral awareness. "Now then, are you ready to tell me what's on your mind?"
"Do you remember what I told you, back when you first asked me on a date?"
"Piss off you twig?"
"Yes, but I mean what I said on the date itself."
"Why did you bring me to this shithole?" He was really pushing her buttons now, and Raven was sure he knew that, if his cheeky grin was anything to go off anyway.
"I mean when you asked me about myself." Raven steeled her gaze. "Do you remember what I told you, back when you brought up the topic of family?"
He looked to come back from his fun, taking on a more caring expression.
"Yeah, I do. I asked what your home life was like, and you just said 'shit'." He chuckled a little. "It took three dates before you opened up... but I'm guessing this is when I asked what your favorite story was?"
"It is, and might I add, that was a stupid question for a woman such as myself."
"It was, but you still accepted the second date. I won't lie though, I can hardly remember the story itself; you called it 'the legend', right?"
"The legend of the Black Knight." Raven crossed her arms as she recalled. "The tale of how, when the world was at deaths door and the queen of decay rose in power, an ancient warrior would return to the world, to quell her hate and rid her of a curse."
Raven never really explained all the details of the story, such as the fact that the knight himself had a name; Vermillion Rose. Until recently that name held little meaning, but seeing the man himself made things... complicated. Telling Tai she was taking his children into a war, based on nothing but old tales and myth, would serve little purpose other than to worry him. The man was no fool however, and she knew he saw the news of Beacon and Vermillion. He'd have no trouble putting two and two together, and most certainly he'd connect the dots of what the story implied for them all.
He scarcely believed in legends, but he knew she did. Even when she always denied that notion, Tai just had a way of getting it from her.
"Yeah." Tai scratched his neck. "I don't recall you ever going into detail, other than that strange quote."
"The chains of fate cannot bind the wrath of freedom. For a tribe like ours, many take it as a senseless tradition. I however always saw it as a simple truth, that the will of the people can break all restraints."
"Uh huh." His smirk irritated her a little, but less than before weirdly enough. "And how strong is your will?"
"Strong enough to carry me here."
"Right, so... you going to spill the beans now?"
"I want the journal back." She stated curtly, and Tai's smile shifted. "You still have it, right?"
"Yeah... Summer's journal." He breathed in steady, collecting his bearings. "You never did explain it either. I never questioned it, only locked it away as you asked... and then..."
"And then I told you of her death." Raven noted the sturdy way he held himself together; a far cry from the shocked broken man of the past. "Did Ozpin ever say how-"
"No... but I've always assumed it was due to Salem." His eyes fell back in place with hers. "But I'm guessing you've always known more about that."
Raven chose to remain silent, only nodding. When she first learned about Salem it became clear that her brother and she were getting too deep into the outer world's problems. At the time Yang had only been a month old, and unlike Qrow, Raven still remembered why they became hunters to begin with. However the tribe was ruthless, especially to outsiders, and so the idea of bringing Yang was a definitive 'no', and so she left the girl to Tai. As the mission required, Raven used her newfound knowledge to elevate their people to new heights of prosperity. However she didn't fully abandon her daughter, as from time to time she'd watch over her spawn from afar.
Imagine her surprise when Summer showed up at their gates many years later, and requested her aid in taking the fight to Salem herself. The supposed queen of Grimm had been the one thing always on the back of Raven's mind, and so the idea of dealing with her once and for all was just tempting enough, and so she agreed. Looking back on it now the whole idea was foolish to begin with, but her years as a successful bandit had brought with it quite the inflated ego.
Their encounter, and subsequent defeat at Salem's hands worked to pull her back down to reality.
Raven did not escape that day, Salem merely allowed her to leave, as a warning to Ozpin. Telling the man of what happened was never even considered though, as in her dying breath Summer gave her a particular journal, and told her to look after it. In her panic, and fearing Salem's wrath, Raven instead opted to relocate the tribe itself, but not before going to Tai and having him hide the journal. She had read bits and pieces of it on her way back to Patch, although most of it had been scraps of translated history dating back over hundreds of years.
However among the scraps were snippets of old legends, and in those legends there'd been the mentioning of the silver eyes and their supposed ultimate power; courtesy of the scarce documented writings of one Veronica Rose. Not much was known about Veronica, other than the fact that whoever owned the journal before Summer was determined ensure at least some of her history was preserved.
Now it would seem the time had come to take it back, as the very first sentence of that particular journal was the very saying her own tribe had carried on for years; the chains of fate cannot bind the wrath of freedom. This coincidence, coupled with the appearance of the 'Black Knight' painted an obvious picture. If this wasn't a sign to take back the journal, then Raven didn't know what was.
"Raven, you still there?" Tai's voice snapped her from memory lane.
"I'd... rather not talk about it."
"I understand." He stood and made his way out. About fifteen minutes later he returned with a withered looking book. He handed it to her, and she nodded in silent thanks. "I suppose you'll be off then, now that you have your journal."
He sounded disappointed, and Raven could easily hear how he flexed his voice in all the right ways to make himself sound so pathetic. He wanted her to stay a little longer, and if not for her company personally, then to at least have somebody around to break up the lonely silence. She had a feeling it was more than that though, as his response to her presence seemed almost uppity over her stay. Maybe he still had her in his heart, even if she made it clear they weren't a thing anymore.
"There's still the garden, Tai." Bastard always seemed to get what he wanted. "Summer's idea right?"
The tribe was already moved, and Raven notified them before she left that she'd be gone for a while. They had plenty of rations, and knew how to take advantage of the land they now called home. With the tribe set, the only other thing of consideration was Oz and his posse. Surely another day or two wouldn't hurt; Qrow was probably on route to Atlas with them in an airship right about now anyway. They'd be fine for the next few days, after all, what type of trouble could they find in such a short time?
"Yeah, I never really was all that good with flowers."
"I know." Raven crossed her arms. "Why do you think we never kept houseplants?"
"I'm not that bad." He started for the door, and Raven followed along with a huff.
"Yeah, well let's see about that."
Author's note
...
Here we are again, and all it took was Raven leading out with an exposition dump. Yeah, that one was long, but hopefully it was interesting enough. Future Ruby made her grand return, by doing all of nothing; I suppose taking a trip counts as something. We also had Pyrrha again, watching as Jaune suffered his childhood memories being outed.
Overall a calm chapter, and dare I say a little slow even - ironic coming from me I know.
Also, many of you might not know, but I've recently 'fixed' a mistake back in chapter 136. I already said I wouldn't edit, but fixing inconsistencies in the plot is not part of that editing rule, and yes, I will notify you all in these notes when things change, as well as what it was. What was this terrible mistake? Well, in a separate draft of this arc I considered having Pyrrha join V and the crew in being stranded, however I went against this in favor of her time up in Argus, as you've seen so far.
So how the hell did I manage to miss her showing up for all of one sentence? Yep, back in that very chapter, Pyrrha exists for a single sentence, and then everything goes back to normal. So far this is the only instance of this blatant of a mistake to my knowledge, and what did I learn. Make sure you're using the correct draft when writing.
Ah, the downsides of having three or four different outlines for every arc of the story.
Bit of extra trivia for you, back when V was part of the Fang I considered having his small crew but heads with another crook stealing Dust. Guy was going to have a semblance that sped up both his reaction time, as well as his movement speed. In essence, to him, time had slowed down. He would be defeated due to his own arrogance, as his aura was miniscule and he'd let himself get caught, not knowing he didn't have the strength to escape.
Now you know some extra ideas that didn't make the cut.
In response to a review I've seen, I'll clarify; this is not a story about pairings. This tale has always had it's focus set on the characters; their decisions, actions, and following consequences. Some characters may end up caring deeper for one another, but for any of you following the tale in it's entirety, you may recognise how this usually isn't a good sign.
Anyway, that's all for now. See you later.