Chapter 74: Enemy at the Gates
In which Adam Taurus deals out justice in the name of Blake Belladonna.
Ruby awoke to feel a hand over her mouth. Angry hoisted her to her feet and dragged her away from where she'd been sleeping. Some kind of cloth filled her mouth, making her muffled screams so silent that not even she could hear them.
"Time to pay for what you've done."
The two of them walked for what felt like hours. To Ruby's great surprise, Creepy's typical cackling was nowhere to be heard. Come to think of it, Angry hadn't spoken to him or even referenced him in the slightest since they'd left their camp. Had something happened to him? If so, it would certainly make escaping easier for her. All she had to do was find a way to get these tricky lil' handcuffs off.
"Stop. Do you know where we are?"
"MMPH."
The gag was released, and Ruby licked at her lips. "That was so dry."
"It wasn't meant to be comfortable, human. Tell me, do you know where we are?"
"I'm blind, buddy. I never know where we are."
"Right now, the city of Mistral stands but two miles east of us."
Ruby tried to squirm away, but Adam had a grip like a vise on her arm.
"I want you to know that you are so close to your goal, but you will never make it. I want you to beg for your life as I cut you down. I want you to suffer in despair for what you did to her."
"Did to who?"
"You killed her. You killed my beloved. She was everything to me, and I her. We were going to conquer the humans together, free the Faunus from the yoke of your tyranny, and rejoice in our shared victory over those who'd taken so much from us. And now that future has been ripped away from us…all because of you."
"This is about Mountain Glenn, then? But I didn't kill any White Fang guys there."
"Don't lie to me. You murdered her. I know it! I KNOW IT!" Angry exhaled deeply and collected himself. "Now, beg for your life."
"No."
"Beg for your life, human."
"Why would I? You're going to kill me either way. Why should I do anything?"
He scoffed audibly. "You're right about that. Tonight is your last night alive. This scythe is yours, is it not? I'm going to shred your weak little body apart with it. It shall be a fitting death – you used this blade to end her life, and it shall end yours."
Ruby had no idea what this guy was going on about. The only time she'd fought the White Fang was in Mountain Glenn, and she'd always made sure to use non-lethal force on everyone there. Sure, maybe a bone or two had been broken, but no one's beloved had been slain as Angry was suggesting. The only person who'd died with that lieutenant with the chainsaw…and Ruby was pretty sure that Angry was the same guy who'd killed him. Without looking at his face, there was no way to be sure, but the few words she'd heard out of his mouth in Mountain Glenn sounded to be of the same voice as the Faunus in front of her.
"Just kill me, then."
"Not before you beg for your life. I bet you felt so powerful when you did it. I bet you tortured my woman, listened to her screams. Now you're so scared you can't even say her own name."
"For the last time, I never killed anyone in the White Fang! I never killed anyone at all! Why do you think I did?"
"Who else could kill a maiden but another maiden?"
"A what…?" Ruby couldn't hold back the snark. "I take it back. You aren't Angry and Creepy. You're Crazy and Creepy."
Ruby felt the cold touch of steel against her neck, recognizing it instantly as her baby, Crescent Rose. She'd faced death before, but this time felt less frightening. Back at the CCT, she'd been in so much shock at the sheer power of her opponent that fear had overtaken her. Now, she was being accused of a crime she didn't commit by an insane man who seemed to have something to prove about humanity and the Faunus. As ways to go went, this was less terrifying and more underwhelming. She probably could've creamed Angry and Creepy if she still had her eyes.
Her eyes…
"It was Blake, wasn't it?"
Based on his response, that was the wrong thing to say. "You admit it!"
"I didn't kill her!" Ruby quickly denied.
"Liar!"
"If you truly know Blake, you'd know that she was strong, one of the strongest. Do you really think I could've killed her, blind as I am now? Or do you think she was a weakling?"
A fist struck her face. "Don't you dare–"
Ruby spat out blood and raised her aura. Before it hadn't mattered – she was bound, and he would just cut through it in multiple hits when he killed her – but now that she knew who Angry was rambling about, she just might be able to make him see reason, assuming the stars aligned.
"You're the one spitting on her memory by believing someone as tough as Blake would be beaten by a fifteen-year-old girl who can't even see. Dust, I can't even beat you right now! I'm so weak, weaker than I've ever been before."
"You won't talk me out of this, human!"
"But–"
"I will avenge her! I will kill put all four kingdoms to the sword if I must!"
"Think! Think and you'll see that killing me won't avenge her!"
"Do not call me a fool, human!"
"My name isn't human, it's Ruby Rose!"
Blake sighed and started the call. Best to get this over with.
"Adam?"
The video on her scroll showed the familiar red-haired clod. "Blake? It's good to hear your voice. I've missed you so much, my wondrous jewel."
Blake forced a smile. "I've missed you too, Adam." The words were like poison in her mouth. "Did you see the broadcast?"
"Marvelous. Simply marvelous. You know that I had my doubts before, but to see the Grimm clawing at the gates of Vale have laid them all to rest. The SDC is scrambling like rats jumping from a sinking ship as they try to salvage their image. Beautiful!"
Adam's support was nearly enough to make Blake regret her choices. Weiss was in tears, and that brutish monster was pleased by it. The fact that she made him happy sickened her.
"The huntresses shall die, then?" asked Adam.
"Not yet."
"For what do you wait, Blake? The sooner you finish this mission, the sooner we can be reunited."
She would've normally cursed him out for forgetting the plan that she'd reiterated to him time and again, but in this rare case, it wasn't his fault for not knowing.
"I need to wait until the singles round is finished. There's been a complication."
"Do you need extraction?"
"No!" Adam needed to believe this was working, that Blake was making progress. It all hinged on him not losing his shit and going psycho. "No, everything is going just according to plan. I need to take someone out of the picture before I move against Wei– against the Schnee bitch. If I'd done it in the doubles round, people might get suspicious. One odd occurrence is an odd occurrence; two is a conspiracy. No need to worry; I'll have Emerald take care of it in exchange for another favor."
Her fake boyfriend's face darkened murderously. "Who must be removed? Tell me their name and I shall separate their head from their shoulders myself."
"Adam!"
The bull Faunus actually recoiled from the bite in Blake's disapproving tone.
"The person I must remove nonlethally is a little girl. She's a child, innocent in the ways of the human and unburdened by fear or hate. You know I have…qualms with killing, but taking her life would be unforgivable. My team leader is kind, brave, and the perfect example of what humans should become when our new world comes together."
Adam scratched at his chin. "She must be awfully special for you to delay solely on her account. I know how much Salem's plan means to you."
"Believe me, she is. Ruby Rose must be protected."
The scythe in Adam's hands fell to the ground at the girl's statement of her name.
When had he stopped caring about Blake Belladonna and started thinking of himself instead?
When had he abandoned her vision of a better world and instead focused solely on slaking his own thirst for vengeance?
He knew Blake better than anyone, and she would care not for being avenged. She'd always been his guiding light, and without her, he had been led astray by demons, both literal and figurative.
Adam Taurus was nothing without Blake Belladonna. He'd known that from the start, but it finally sank in how far he'd fallen. Here he stood, poised to strike down the same girl that Blake had risked her precious mission to safeguard.
The White Fang didn't matter anymore. The Humans, the Faunus, neither mattered anymore. Nothing mattered but honoring Blake's memory.
And Adam had a fairly good idea of where to start.
This little human – no, this little girl was innocent of killing Blake. That he knew for sure. Blake was perfect in all ways and infinitely wise in her judgement of others; no one could outsmart her. If she trusted Ruby Rose, then so would he.
"Let the last petal fall," he said calmly.
Rose's handcuffs unlatched and fell to the ground.
"W-What?"
"Mistral City is close. If we hurry, we can…ah. I was wondering when he'd show up."
It was not the sound of a snapping branch or rustling leaves that clued Adam in to Tyrian's presence, but the faint ominous feel from behind him. Tyrian exuded an aura, and Adam wasn't referring to his scroll being in the green.
"Rose. Callows is coming, and I cannot protect you from him. You must run."
"I don't understand."
"Neither did I, but I do now. Go fulfill your quest. Keep Blake's memory alive. Fight on in her name."
"W–"
"HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"
Bullets rained down upon Adam, and he barely managed to deflect them with his sword as the madman laughed with abandon from afar.
"RUN! NOW!"
Callows, appearing as though out of thin air, leapt toward the girl, and Adam sliced down with his sword. Moonslice's destructive familiarity took over, and the glow of Adam's hair was only outshone by the red blast of energy tearing through the forest as it shot straight towards him. The nimble scorpion caught a tree with his tail and swung backwards out of the way. Ruby took off in a flash of flower petals in the general direction of Mistral.
"Ohohoho, finally…our mutual climax! I've been waiting for this."
"I'll bet you have." Adam grit his teeth and threw off his mask. "Did you think you were clever, plotting my demise with your queen behind my back? Did you honestly believe I would remain unaware of your intent to backstab me?"
Tyrian wrapped his tail around a tree branch and hung upside down. He scratched at his scalp and looked at Adam curiously. "Well, you ate up our story that the little rose killed your little pussycat when we told you, so…yup."
"You're not fit to speak of her!" Adam soared towards Tyrian, but a fist caught him in the throat, sending him right back.
"My my. Helping steal a blind girl from a blind boy, only for the one-eyed man to turn on me and free her. Why, I'm beginning to feel self-conscious for having two working eyes! HAAAHAAAHAAA!"
Adam fired Blush at Callows, but none of the shots even came close. The scorpion was faster than anyone Atlas or the SDC had ever thrown at Adam, and he was beginning to feel outmatched. Adam was at full aura, but that didn't matter to Callow's semblance. All it would take was one good hit, and it would be over. He would die, Callows would capture Rose, and she would die.
He was not going to stand by and let that happen. The one truth Adam knew, the last words he'dever heard from his beloved, was that Ruby Rose needed to survive.
Once more, he rushed at Tyrian, this time swinging Wilt at his head. Callows leaned away from the blow, slid out his handheld curved blades, and began to pummel Adam's blocking sword. The energy built up, and when it was enough, Adam pushed Callows away and let loose another arc of blood-red fury.
Once again, it missed. Callows was too mobile, especially in the forest surrounding the capital city. With all of the trees around them, he could jump from branch to branch and swing out of danger. Adam wasn't going to win this one by force alone.
But I don't need to win this one. All I need to do is delay him long enough for Ruby to escape, and for one small piece of Blake's vision to endure.
"BWAHA–"
Adam charged forward once more. Callows was grinning as he pummeled Adam's blade, clearly amused at the repetitive strategy. To him, this no battle of life and death, just a diverting game until he could slip away from Adam and go after Rose.
Adam flipped backwards and readied his sword. Callows prepared to dodge once more, but Adam grabbed at the explosive handcuffs and hurled them towards the scorpion Faunus. The attack from Adam's semblance caught the payload mid-air, and both Faunus were thrown from their feet.
Dirt and wood flew through the air, and Adam smashed onto the forest floor. Pain blossomed in his arm, and he looked down to see that Wilt was shattered at the hilt. A razor-edged red shard had embedded itself into his wrist. Some of the Dust infused within was still burning, numbing the pain he felt as his nerve endings were rendered senseless.
Flicking the scrap free, Adam focused on preventing his aura from healing him. At this point, he'd need it more for his semblance than healing. He could always just patch up the wound with bandages after the fight…if there even was an after.
Without my sword, there most likely will not be, but it's okay. Blake and I will be reunited in the next world, and we shall never be apart again. I must simple complete the final directive she entrusted upon me.
"Hmmmhmhmh." Callows was snickering like he'd just heard the funniest joke. "Your sword appears to now be millions of teensy weensy tiny swords. You cannot win, Brother Adam."
"Your deception was clever, I'll admit. You would have me working for your demon until I was no longer useful, and then you would dispose of me."
"The faithless shall not taste the eternal reward of her majesty. Your unworthy ilk, with your fantasies of noble grandeur and righteousness, needed to die, needed, needed. Queen Salem decreed it, HAHAHA!"
Blake…they had…
…and he'd sided with them…
Adam held back the pain he felt, both the physical variety and emotional, to spit out one more barb.
"Answer me this, freak…how long until she decides to discard you as well? When will your bloodlust make you more trouble than you're worth for her?"
Instead of upsetting the Faunus, the suggestion seemed to arouse him. "Oh, what a delightful day that would be! To be executed by the Queen herself! To die by the hand of one so flawless! I would embrace it with everything that I am, boy…for that IS the eternal reward of which I spoke." He smiled darkly, tongue hanging out of his mouth.
"Then I shall have to kill you now and rob you of that reward."
Callow's smile fell, and he adopted a bored expression. "Talk, talk, talk! I'm getting sleepy."
His speed was unnatural as he leapt toward Adam, but the distance that the blast had separated them gave Adam just enough time to react. Somersaulting away from the oncoming blades, he raced towards his only hope, the scorpion hot on his heels.
Callow's twin handblades met Ruby Rose's scythe with a spray of sparks. Adam was unused to such a weapon, but he would die if he remained unarmed for long. As Tyrian beat down on Adam with all his strength, Adam fell to the ground, but he kept the scythe raised and between them. Adam felt his body begin to fail him as the relentless assault by the Faunus took its toll on his stamina.
"HAHAHAH!"
Just a little longer.
More pain. His arms felt like they would give out at any minute.
"HAAHAAHAAHAA!"
For Blake.
"Time to bleed! DAHAHAHA!"
Callows brought his fists together for a killing blow.
Adam swept the scythe forward with the last of his strength, putting everything he'd stored up into the final slash.
Moonslice caught Callow's directly in the stomach and propelled him away from Adam. Few things in life could be more satisfying than watching an angry scowl replace the smirk on that insane animal's face.
It didn't break his aura, but Adam wagered he'd dropped from nearly 100% all the way down to the low red in a single hit that connected oh so perfectly. Callows did not look amused.
"You cur!"
"No – argggh – no laughter? No cackling? C'mon, Brother Tyrian, just give me a little chortle."
"Dirty Faunus! Filthy animal! H-How? Without your sword…"
Adam rose to his feet. "Did you think that Moonslice was limited to Wilt alone? It was my semblance, not the blade's. Any weapon I wield can store and channel energy. I unlocked it in the Schnee labor camps with a damned kitchen knife." Adam pointed the scythe at Callows. "You won't have her. You and your queen will never lay a hand on the one Blake trusted."
The tiny shift in Callow's facial expression might've baffled a noncombatant, but Adam recognized it.
Playtime was over. Things were now serious.
Callows didn't jump so much as he flew through the air, stinger first. Adam's first instinct was to block it, but he bit that back down. This could be his only chance.
The scorpion tail stabbed right into Adam's stomach, point-first, but he let it. It was the only time he knew exactly where it was going to be, and as it stayed for one second to inject him with poison. He brought Rose's scythe straight down into it.
Callow's stringer dropped to the ground and began to flop about wildly, the appendage severed in its entirety. Tyrian fumbled backwards unsteadily and wailed in excruciating agony as plum colored sludge seeped from the cut body part.
"Damn…argh! My venom will kill you! Kill you!"
Adam leveled his scythe. "I know that. But I've seen your venom; it will take time to do me in. You, though? You're off balance right now, and I can kill you first."
By the time Adam was finished, Tyrian Callows was no more than a pile of gore and fragmented bones. Rather, multiple piles. The Faunus had put up as much resistance as he could, but his tail had been a part of him. With that weight suddenly missing and blood seeping out, his entire fighting style became offset, and it had only gotten worse from there. Adam was in no way stronger than him, but he was strong enough to take the advantage and maximize it. With each cut from the scythe, Callows grew weaker, until his blades were lost, then an arm was lost, then a leg, then both legs. Callows was screaming bloody murder by the end. It was initially cries of anger, rage that Adam had interrupted the 'glorious death' promised to him by his goddess, but by the end it was just screams. Even the insane had a breaking point. Adam had kept hacking and shredding the already dead corpse until the venom froze his legs such that he was too weak to support his own weight, and he collapsed next to the mutilated remains.
If his extremities were going, there wasn't much time left for his final vengeance. Adam drew forth his scroll and initiated a mass missive.
"This is Adam Taurus, giving a message to any members of the White Fang who can hear this. I've been fatally wounded, but I've uncovered a plot to annihilate our home on Menagerie. They intend to eradicate the Faunus motherland and push our species to the brink of extinction. This is not our age old enemy of Atlas, but a new one – Salem. She is operating out of Haven Academy and commands the blood traitor Leonardo Lionheart. Menagerie – cough – must be protected. Brothers and Sisters of the White Fang, I give you one final order as commander of the Vale Branch of the White Fang. Destroy Salem. Go to Haven, seek out the enemy, and see them all slain. Destroy Lionheart and scour the world for the rest of Salem's armies. Defend the Faunus. Defend…Def…"
The scroll fell from his hand, and his body tensed up.
This is my final revenge. You sent Blake to her death, Salem, perhaps even had a hand in it yourself, and for that you shall fall to the might of the united Faunus. Burn in the fires you've wrought, witch.
There was no such plot, but Adam was a war hero among the recruits. They'd follow him to the ends of Remnant if he commanded it. The high leaders were not so easily swayed, but the threat of an attack on Menagerie from a ranking officer like him was too serious to ignore.
By this point, the venom had overtaken him, and Adam could no longer move. It wasn't as painful as he'd been expecting, though it was definitely painful enough.
I'm coming, Blake.
Adam took great pride in his death. He'd been at war for so long that it felt quite good to actually protect something for once. A young girl precious to Blake would survive because of him. If he could move his mouth, we would've smiled.
Ruby Rose will live on.
Ruby Rose will tell my story.
Ruby slammed headfirst into what she hoped was a gate.
"Who goes there?"
"Ruby Rose! I'm a huntress, and I need to speak with Headmaster Lionheart right away!"
"Are…Gods, ae you blind? How did you get here?"
"Two guys kidnapped me, but I escaped!"
"Who were they?"
"No clue. Who cares? I certainly don't. They were just some creepy old dude and his angry BFF. They don't matter at all, not in the slightest. Please, you gotta let me in!"
The gate to the city opened with a thunderous grating noise.
"Welcome to Mistral, Ruby Rose."
Next Chapter: Arms Race – In which Yang can't fix her problems with her fists, Penny's innocent question completely backfires, and a real monster rises from the ashes.
Omake
Ruby: This is about Blake, isn't it?
Adam: It is. You've brought this upon yourself with your own choices.
Ruby: Well, you gotta understand, I had to support Yang – she's my sister.
Adam: What?
Ruby: And look, I get it. Checkmating is a great ship – it's got the whole opposite attract thing going, human-and-Faunus/black-and-white, but you can't kill me just because I'm a Bumbleby gal. I mean, it's practically canon…sorta. (This was written in early 2022 back when RT was still teasing everything in V7 and V8)
Adam: I've no idea what you're babbling about. Blake was my beloved, and I'm going to kill you to avenge her.
Ruby: Wait, you're…you're for Tauradonna? Eugh, fine, PLEASE just kill me so I don't have to look at you anymore, you monster.
Author's Notes
He may have been batshit insane, but that doesn't mean he can't help the protagonists via a gold-plated misunderstanding. Still, I couldn't resist that last little quip at Adam's expense. He dies thinking he's carved a permanent place in Ruby's memory, and she doesn't even have a clue who or why he is.
RIP Tyrian, RIP Adam. Now poor little Rhubarb is alone in the city of Haven – what ever shall she do?
Happy rats, and don't do crime!