Ruby and Weiss had stayed up much later than they would have thanks to Parasoul's surprise introduction on their hideout. Mixed in Blake being still out in New Meridian, with no way to contact them. Nadia dialed them a moment ago saying she got the Faunus a escort to Maplecrest but the taxi driver said it would still be a two hour drive from Little Innsmouth to the suburbs they were at.
Their tour guide and technical fifth member was pacing left and right in a methodical motion. It seemed Filia was the most concerned about their disappearance as Carol who was tracking down Yang had been a no show since their encounter that afternoon.
"Calm down kid." Samson growled annoyed at her pacing. "They'll be fine. You've seen the crap they endure." The tone was not reassuring in the slightest but it was clear he had grown to at least trust the four she was paired with.
"Samson…" Filia groaned in response. "That was when they had aura and Semblances, you know, things they don't even have now."
"Semblance or not, Yang tanks a lot more abuse than the rest of them. If anyone can endure a physical beatdown she'd be the best for it." Samson retorted. Filia went to grab the corners of her hair when an arm grabbed her shoulder.
"Filia, let it go." Ruby tried to calm her. "It's obvious all of us are in over our heads." She seemed more sad over anything, Her tone stern, yet caring. Filia turned to face her.
"Two of us are missing, Weiss was right." Filia responded only for the heiress perk up and turn her head away from the book she found to distract herself. "I had n right to be your guide."
There was a pause as the three sat in quiet. "You were not cut out to be a huntress either." Ruby responded. "Yet despite everything, being warped between realities, an amnesiac, and having a creepy and cool hair monster as a friend. You still found yourself back here with friends you can trust." Ruby responded unaware that Weiss had placed the book down and started to listen much more intently to Ruby while Filia tried to advert her gaze away from the fourteen year-old's face. "You even tried to hide the fact you are homeless from us, called on who you can to shelter us. In truth you've done nothing but act like our guide. I trust Carol to save my sister and if she was your friend before Samson than it means you should trust her to always help those she cares for."
Filia looked at Ruby weakly. "I- I just can't bring myself to." She responded only to see Ruby still looking at her with a abnormal amount of attention.
Ruby leaned back unsure of what to argue with she tried scouring her memory thinking of a reason for the amnesiac to put faith in lost friends. "If not from your past than from her actions." Weiss spoke up regal toned as usual she walked past Ruby eyeing Samson who based on her look was lost in his own thoughts. It got her curious where Samson's mind was truly at, but the Parasite's mind was not the primary focus. "Carol went to the ends of theoretical limits to track you down. Jumping planes of existence and even going on a full blown rampage when all open hope was lost to you for returning." Filia tilted her head to watch the heiress refill her mug with fresh coffee. "That should mean more to you than things you cannot recall."
Filia looked between the two seemingly in her own thought. She closed her eyes taking a heavy breath feeling pent up stress ease off her a bit. "I'm sorry. It's the first time since after Samson I had people that I can fully trust."
Samson snorted a little "I don't care for this mushy stuff kid. But I'm always there to protect you. These four you opened to about yourself, not me, you got what it takes. All three of ya for that matter." He responded his more comforting behavior was still irregular to the three specially when his compliments did not get a snide remark as well.
"Three of us?" Ruby asked in surprise.
"Red, in the entire time I have seen you your leadership skills well…" Samson trailed of causing Weiss to snicker and Ruby's cheeks to puff up slightly angry. "But how you handled yourself here. May not have been a Warrior's or hero's way of things, but definitely the first time I've seen you act like one and not be in a fantasy." Ruby looked in shock, all three were.
"Really?! Ruby spoke up louder than before. It seemed her eagerness to prove something had returned tenfold.
"Don't get cocky; high and mighty only works when you can back it. Last I checked, you still got ways to go." Samson remarked harshly knocking the wind from Ruby's sails for a second time. His personal brand of tough love took them a long time to get used to, especially when dealing with more abnormal circumstances like sentient hair.
Ruby started to turn away disappointed before Filia returned the same gesture she had done moments before. "For what it's worth, it's the nicest thing I have heard him say to someone in a long time." She gave the same kind smile she tended to give many.
"Thanks Filia." Ruby smiled back at the unofficial member of her team. Before an idea spawned in her head. "When we're done here, we should take time from school and have you see my hometown, Patch." It seemed her mind was thinking about vacationing. Something that all three could agree on after the craziness of this adventure.
Weiss smiled hearing this "That sounds like a great idea, I'll book us a hotel room we can spend a few-" Ruby cut her off shocking her.
"Oh no." Ruby said excited "We are going to do this right at my father's house spend nights watching movies, go camping and hiking, there may be a few good areas to fish also." She continued to ramble on about many of the outdoor activities Weiss' face having mixture of shock, disappointment, and maybe some annoyance at the leader abruptly taking reckless charge again. "Oh, I can even show you Zwei; everyone would love him." She squealed a little bit on that remark.
Filia and Weiss froze up a little. "Um, who's Zwei?" Filia asked after a pause. It seemed Weiss had checked out mentally from any of the planning cause of Ruby's behavior.
"Zwei is my dad's dog." She explained "he is so cute you'll love him I'm sure of it."
"A dog." Filia repeated somewhat fascinated by it "So regular animals also exist on Remnant."
"Well, duh, how do you explain the meat we eat sometimes?" Ruby asked somewhat condescending.
Filia's face paled in shock and fear. "You mean that this entire time.. we have been eatin-"
"Geez kid, snap out of it." Samson growled again. "No, you were not doing that." He was rolling his eyes in disappointment at Filia having a slow start putting things together.
"Sorry." She apologized again. Noticing that Ruby seemed to ignore her as she was digging in her pocket for her scroll. Her eyes did turn to see a slightly mortified Weiss shocked Filia would make such an accusation or that kind of conclusion.
"See this is Zwei." Ruby announced shoving the scroll into Filia's face. Filia pushed it back a bit so she could get a better look at the image on the scroll. It was a small dog with a very long body, bobbed tail, and a very happy expression on his face. Ears pointed in two different directions he was clearly posing for the image. His black fur glistening lightly in the lighting of the picture contrasting greatly with his white furred underbelly. "He's a good boy and really smart too." She explained excitedly she scrolled to another photo of the dog. This time laying on top of a sleeping Yang in her bed. "I don't think she even know I took this photo." She snickered a little as she passed onto another photo.
Filia looked at each of the images intently. She was very jealous of her now. "I've always wanted a pet." She responded slightly sorrowed filled. "Samson says I'm not responsible enough for one.' She chided looking at the bangs it seemed Samson was just silently ignoring her. Ruby had swapped to another photo this was peculiar. Zwei looked as though he had a conjoined twin of sorts on him, four additional legs flopping beside his actual legs, a second tail strapped so it would wag in tandem with the actual one. And strangely a warped head facing upward as if attached to the back of the head.
Ruby smiled looking at the old memory "Oh, this one was during a costume festival in Patch." She started to explain some more about the costume. "We made him look like he had a second head on the back of his head. It took forever to make him stand still to apply… the... are you okay?" Ruby cut herself off when she felt heavy breaths on her head. She turned to see that Filia was frozen in place. Her eyes dilated to an extremely small size.
"Uh, kid. Filia snap outta it." Samson spoke up getting concerned now as Filia was not returning to normal. She muttered something under her breath. Still frozen. "FILIA! SPEAK UP DAMMIT WHAT'S…" Samson suddenly stopped yelling almost as if he was having an epiphany. "Oh shit."
"Dad?" Filia muttered again. A bit louder this time. Almost quizzical in nature to. Ruby approached her rubbing her shoulders. "DAD?!" She shrieked in absolute fear in her eyes. Her breathing becoming erratic as if in a state of absolute fear. Ruby and Weiss stepped back watching in shock unsure of what was about to happen.
Filia stepped away from Ruby and Weiss before feeling weak in her knees and falling to them. Tears where in her eyes as she spoke. "Why?! Why are you doing this?"
Weiss looked at her confused "What did you show her?" She glared at Ruby demanding an answer.
Ruby got defensive in response "It was just my dog in his costume. I didn't know she would be scared of it." they looked back at the amnesiac in concern.
"IT WASN'T RED'S FAULT!" Samson shouted out in annoyance watching her. "These words, if she said this then the next words should be."
Fear still in Filia's eyes and as if on que by the timing "No! SAMSON!" she shouted aloud before clutching her stomach as if in extreme amounts of pain. She slumped to the side paralyzed. Her eyes rolled back into her head as she nearly fell to the ground if Samson did not let the head down easy in she fainted.
Samson growled in heavy amounts of anger. "Thought so." There was a pause as the three conscious people in the room looked down at the passed-out teammate. "Well, don't just stand there. Help me get her up!" he demanded shaking Weiss and Ruby from there stupor.
"Right." Ruby agreed moving to grab one of Filia's arms Weiss the other side as Samson worked like a Jack to lift her so the two can carry her.
Placing her on the couch Weiss grabbed the back of Filia's hair pulling it gently so it cascaded over the arm of the sofa. "Of all times." Samson grumbled.
Weiss however was having none of it. "What, Happened!?" She was trying to contain her own amount of malice.
Samson looked away. "It doesn't concern either of you. just leave it be."
Weiss' brow furrowed this time. "No. She screamed your name before passing out and you said, 'then the next words should be'. If anything, you know more than any of us. Now talk!" She commanded the parasite.
Samson gritted his teeth only catching Ruby with a look of concern on her face, an innocent trying to understand why it wasn't her fault. He sighed, seemed Remnant did soften him quite a bit. "Fine, but this stays between us three. Got it?" he snarled angered but deciding to put the same trust Filia did.
Weiss still glared daggers waiting for an answer, it seemed she could be careless about conditions until she got an explanation. "What she just had was a relapse." Samson explained. "Picture a headache and a nightmare at the same time."
"Relapse." Weiss repeated still needing more details.
Samson blew out a lot of air from his nostrils. "These relapses are because of Filia's memory loss." He started to explain more so. "When I attached to her, memory lost was a core symptom from me linking to her."
Weiss glare remained unchanged, "Then you are just reckless then." She chided in annoyance.
Samson's temper flared up again. "Like hell I'd endanger her life!" He snarled in response. "The one person who has done better for me than anyone before. Parasites take host selecting as a big damn deal you know. It's a damn life bond to us." He shouted back causing Ruby to back up while Weiss remained unaffected. It was a clash of wills only problem was both of their tempers have gotten the better of them.
"Then you should know exactly what happened then. Mr. Life Bond Commitment." Weiss sneered back at the parasite.
"And I do." Samson shouted back at her. There was a pause. "I was there from the freaking beginning." He yelled at the top of his lungs.
Weiss kept the cold glare on the parasite. "Then start. Why was a picture of Ruby's mutt-"
Ruby perked in hearing this "He's actually a,"
Weiss's glare shot at Ruby causing her to freeze up right on the spot backing away slowly. "Why was a picture Ruby's dog able to do that to her?"
Samson breathed heavy again trying to calm himself. "It likely reminded her of my last host." He responded. The two girls eyed him with suspicion now that he began to explain his own origin. "Several years before the kid, I was in tough straits. Eliza had killed several of my hosts. I got uncaring; most wouldn't last a decade at most." His eyes seemed to be weary not happy about the situation. "The one before Filia was a stray dog, I figured best for me to stay low. Make the diva think I skipped town."
"Then why didn't you do that before hand?" Ruby asked not sure what to make of Samson.
Samson growled a little irritated "You should know the answer to that already. Parasites are hated much like the animal hybrids of your world." Samson reexplained as Ruby slowly began to recall Filia's hesitance to explain Samson and then the moment with the one teacher at St. Theresa. It was clear hatred for parasites ran deep in this world. Weiss couldn't help making similar comparisons and surprised that the parasite population never stooped to the White Fang's level. Samson however continued "Next best choice are animals, more common than you think. The dumb mutt got to live like an actual person in society sine the parasite can work as a translator, in exchange I get to survive; it's a win-win. It was then when I meant her."
"Filia?" Ruby asked.
Samson paused for a second and realized his mistake. "Not exactly, but yeah. Friend of hers stumbled upon me in the streets. She couldn't let me in despite her liking toward parasites because of her parents having allergies." He could tell immediately that Weiss had picked on who he met that day. "Filia was who she introduced me to. She needed a guard as it turned out."
Weiss raised a brow to this. "A guard?" She asked Samson nodded. She thought on it she passed his host as more or less a person in plebeian decent but Samson began to paint a new image of her one that made little sense. "Who could she be to need protection all the time?"
Samson knew this was about to be asked and was not happy to explain this much as it is. "It's not important." he got the stink eye from the heiress again. "Fine. Sheesh… her full name is, Filia Medici." The moment he uttered her actual name the two looked at him with mixed expressions. Ruby a mix of confusion while the second in charge had a face of stunned shock.
"Medici?" Ruby asked again. "Why does that sound so…"
Weiss rolled her eyes at the leader. "It's the crime family that runs this town, Ruby." She explained briefly. "But to be a part of it… there's more, isn't there?" Weiss concluded at this which Samson closed his eyes an admission of guilt to her at this point. "Talk." She demanded.
Samson sighed "The part that will kick ya is get this, she's not just a Medici family thug; She's the granddaughter to the head honcho." This reveal made the two freeze in disbelief.
Ruby still seemed confused. "If the Medici's are as strong as you claim. Then why was she not protected already?" she began to ask for Weiss to seem to have her own theory.
"Power struggle I imagine." Weiss responded interested. "Likely a jealous sibling to the father or mother."
Samson snorted at this "If only." He remarked. "Her father hated his own family. Ditched the family business married some blonde and was just using the coat tails to pass on by."
Ruby thought on it more before thinking on something. "He could have been set up." She concluded.
"Again, not exactly the truth. The day the Medici's came after her family, The Skullgirl made her presence known." Samson recounted the incident "No Medici stood in her path, and she was making a nonstop route to all of 'em."
"The Skullgirl. Why?" Weiss asked this time seeing that none of it made sense.
"Feud from my guess." Samson shrugged "Long and short they believed Filia's old man ratted the group out and sentenced the whole family to be made a message of. Marcus, Amelia, Heck even Dog got a slug killed."
There was a silence in the room only for Ruby to look at the Amnesiac sadly. "You've been trying to keep it from her for her own good." She concluded.
Samson closed his eyes ashamed of it. "Yeah, kid's been through too much. I said I'd protect her, the last thing I promised Marcus the day he died."
"But the way she just acted." Ruby responded recalling Filia's episode. "She, called your name and acted as if she had been shot."
The parasite looked away ashamed yet again. "A lot happened."
Weiss pieced it together a short moment ago. "Parasites take hosts seriously. They both must agree." She recited what he had said earlier. "You broke that, to save her." That moment a lot of the parasites behavior made sense to her. His threatening demeanor, his aggressive and egregious behavior. Often acting like a monster all to protect the one thing he couldn't.
"The day she learns the truth she will hate me forever." Samson responded almost in contempt for it. "I'm fine with that, I don't want her going for revenge or after the Skullgirl to get her memories back. They'll come back on her own and when it happens, I'll deal with it then. Hell, when we first arrived there on Remnant, I was okay with the thought of being stuck there away from our world. If she'd die, I'd just stay by her side protecting her however I could."
The two looked at the parasite for a moment processing everything he had just told them. He was monster in cruel way likely because he was thrown into extreme circumstances and just did what he knew best. Ruby looking at the passed out Filia her breathing slowed now seemingly in deep slumber. "Is she okay?" she asked actively more concerned for her.
Samson seemed to be in thought "She's just unconscious likely will be for the rest of the night." He concluded.
Weiss however was not interested in dropping the subject. "You will have to tell her the truth Samson." She remarked coldly.
"I'll cross that bridge when it happens." He brushed of the concern hastily before his face curled to one of his usual intimidations. "But this does not leave us. Got it?" He spoke up angered trying to scare the two in vain. Ruby looking at the parasite in confusion, Weiss seemingly ready to actively ignore him.
"Fine but if you ignore her asking about it, I will tell her." The Ice Queen threatened back.
Samson growled angrily that it did not work but least they were going to respect each other's wishes, for the moment. Just then the door slide open catching the two members of team RWBY off guard. Standing at the door was an almost surprised Blake, and her eyes seemed as though she was in concern. "Ruby! Weiss! Outside now." She yelled dashing back through the door. The leader and second in command looked at each other before rushing outside to see what had scared Blake so badly. Exiting out into the cold streets of Maplecrest the two looked about for Blake it wasn't until Weiss spotted the Feline compatriot off by a heavy tree that looked to have grown here before the land was suburbanized. She stayed there on one knee overlooking a short blonde-haired teenager about their age. As Ruby and Weiss got closer their eyes widened in realization. Lying unconscious in the yard was a now short-haired Yang. Her body covered in heavy bandage. She looked as though she was brought through the wringer.
The three of them picked her up, Ruby and Weiss on the arms and Blake lugging the legs, back into their hideout. They quickly threw her onto the dinning room table Weiss immediately checking for a pulse.
"Is she…" Ruby asked panicked. Weiss shook her head while sighing in relief. Ruby eased up a little herself. "I don't think I could handle another stressful situation."
Blake eyed the two in confusion at Ruby's remarks. "Stress?" she looked around before noting a member was missing. "Um, where's"
Weiss cut her off before she could finish. "On the couch." Terse with her words as she continued to overlook Yang's injuries. Whoever patched up her injuries they are exceptionally gifted most these injuries would begin closing in few days' time if permitted.
Blake strolled into the front room to see the unconscious Filia and a still fuming Samson. "What happened to her?"
"A lot." Ruby responded, "First I was showing her dog photos then she suddenly panicked, Weiss and Samson started arguing, Then Filia it turns out is a… I can't say more." She slowly died down a little noting the stink eye from the parasite.
The Faunas blinked a few times at the leader's erratic behavior before realizing something stopped her from talking. She decided not to approach it concluding that it likely had to do with Samson. "I guess Yang is the bigger concern right now." Blake responded calmly she saw Weiss had left and returned now with a first aid kit, Ruby had not left Yang's side seemingly at a lost for what to do. "Ruby, see if you can get a hold of the Anti-Skullgirl labs." She responded handing a crumpled piece of paper. "I found it on Yang the writing says it should be a hidden number for them follow its instructions.
Ruby nodded as she ran to the phone quickly pulling it from the cord. It took her moment to understand the somewhat dated technology. Meanwhile Blake and Weiss looked over the older sister's injuries shocked to see them immaculately handle sides some of the bandages needing a new plastering on them.
"What do you make of it?" Weiss asked seeing their teammate look in concern at this. "It's clear she had to fight Carol." She concluded looking at a few the bandages, it was a safe guess, the weapon injuries matched the massive metal blades attached to her back, as well as being the only one in theory to probably handle the blonde brawler's powerful strikes. As the two looked over her more Blake pulled out a yellow container that had small tablets on the inside. On the label was a tag for it suggest it was similar to drugs used in either seizures or brain damage, though it was labeled as experimental. Tapped to it was a small note. Opening it Blake read it aloud.
To the blonde's friends,
She was rescued before full mental alterations can be afflicted. But before you go celebrating, she is not out of the woodwork yet, the drug will suppress Brain Drain's mental grip long enough to have him hopefully give up or her mental resistance to be rebuilt. Side effects will include slow to process things meaning she will not be fit for combat. Take twice a day after meals. -Valentine.
P.S.: Avoid static and radio interference its how he scans for disobedient experiments.
Blake looked from the letter to Yang only to hear Ruby come in from the Kitchen. "I got Ozpin on the line. He said that Carol had just returned in a state similar to Yang." She yelled still concerned.
Weiss seemed to not enjoy this in the slightest. "So were sown three people and still have no clue about the Skullheart." She sighed in defeat. Her expression of annoyance softened however, "Best to be thankful that everyone has been found at last. But how are we going to train?"
Blake finished inspecting Yang's injuries before turning t looks at the two. "Actually, Nadia and Cerebella may have a solution for us." She answered the heiress' question, causing the two to look at her seemingly paying attention. "They brought up Beowulf's comeback tournament. Apparently its open invite and the acrobat said she'd contribute to the mission by paying the entry fees. But it means we need to train more, Nadia knows of an old gym in Little Innsmouth that we could use if we stay quiet enough." The two looked skeptical at first.
"I don't know." Ruby responded concerned were down several teammates and the tournament tomorrow. Will that even be enough time.?" She asked this question causing Weiss to pause for a moment seemingly shocked she was thinking about that problem.
Samson finally spoke up having watched the three of them panic over Yang. "It's not a bad idea, controlled environments are no different from Goodwitch's schtick. Plus, it can bring in some dough for more expenses." He responded seemingly calmed from the argument earlier. The three were not easily convinced making Samson groan for a second. "The kid's going to be fine given her a night's rest. Can't speak for Red's sister but she's tough, old school tough so she should be okay."
Ruby closed her eyes thinking on their next plan. Moments like this were crucial and she couldn't make a mistake. "We're going." She ordered looking at the other members of her team. "We need to be at our best. It's going to be a long day tomorrow." She remarked as the three decided it'd be best to get whatever rest they could. Little they could predict that tomorrow was going to be one of the longest days in their huntsman careers.
So Two things one, ya may have noted I went radio silent for a month. Rest assure that was not exactly my plan. Having started getting back into this project of mine I made one unexpectant mistake, I posted about a week and a half ago the new ch 4 rewrite… unaware the website does not notify about chapter modifications… yeah that's on me a bit. Not only that I came to the crippling realization that chapter 4 is the longest chapter not just in this fic, but the longest word doc I have ever written standing at a staggering 21 pages with 9,400 or something words. So yeah, I'm still doing this just kind of got a reality check now. See yall in the next chapter!