Schemings and Explanations

The door to Lionheart's office burst open, allowing the headmaster of Haven entry. The battle was lost, and if he got caught who knows what would happen. He had to quickly pack a few things before making his escape. With that thought in mind, Lionheart ran to his desk. He didn't get to rummage for long before his eyes widened at a very unwelcome sight.

It was the Seer Grimm. "And where do you think you're going?" Asked Salem who was no doubt at the other end.

"Oh...your Grace. I was just looking for something," Lionheart said, trying to sound convincing.

"...Leonardo, is there something you wish to tell me?" Salem then asked, not buying it.

For a moment, Lionheart hesitated before... "It was Emerald! She altered the plan! The Relic is probably lost by now, but if I can escape, I can come and find you," Lionheart quickly explained. No answer came from the Seer. "Your Grace?" Lionheart asked in fear, before quickly pointing his shield at the Seer. But the communicator Grimm lashed out with its tentacle, getting Lionheart's weapon off of the man's wrist. At this point, Lionheart tried to run around the Seer in panic. Only for it to wrap two of its tentacles around his legs, tripping the terrified man. "Ma'am, please! I can still be useful!" Lionheart half sobbed before his eyes fell forward, seeing a pair of legs clad in light blue pants in front of him. Lifting his gaze up, Lionheart saw that it was Aizen, Twin Swords at the ready and with an intrigued look.

"Well, isn't this an interesting Grimm," Aizen commented on the sight of the Seer.

"Please! Help me!" Lionheart begged as the Seer then lifted its remaining tentacles, spikes aiming at the pleading lion tailed Faunus.

"Why should I?" Aizen asked with a cruel smile as he looked Lionheart straight in the eye, "Unless you can grant me information on Salem."

"It doesn't matter what kind of information you gain there isn't any way to defeat her!" Lionheart cried out, "There just CAN'T BE!" At the last two words, the man let out tears.

Aizen shook his head with a chuckle, "So that's how it is. How pathetic."

"What?" Lionheart asked with dread.

"This isn't about believing Salem to be unbeatable," Aizen then said with a look of faux pity, "You need it to be true so you can tell yourself that there is no other way. Because if there was another way, then you would have to acknowledge that you sold all those huntsmen and huntresses for nothing."

"It's because there can't–Urgh!" Lionheart gasped in pain as the Seer's tentacles pierced his back. His Aura had already run out, so there was nothing that could protect him. "Please, ma'am! I can still be useful!" Lionheart practically sobbed now.

"Sad to say," Aizen said uncaringly, "But you are only useful as a corpse now. To anyone."

Then the tentacles stabbed Lionheart several more times, with the headmaster still pleading for mercy which Salem would not give. "...Please..." was the last thing Lionheart uttered before his life slipped away.

"...Coward," Salem's voice rang out of the Seer, "I wonder, why didn't you help him?" Now the witch was addressing the nobleman Blade, "You could have gained some new information out of him, had you saved him."

Aizen chuckled at the notion, "Do you expect me to believe that you would have divulged a coward such as this anything of value?"

"Smart man," Salem said in amusement, "Now...unless you have something to offer me, I believe we are not exactly on...amicable terms." Then the Seer lashed out at Aizen who cut down the tentacles with a few well practiced swings.

"I do hope you didn't expect me to be taken down that easily," Aizen said with a small smile.

"Can you blame me for trying," Salem sounded out in amusement.

"I suppose not," Aizen replied in equal amusement, "Now...what is it that you want? No, I'm very curious, what is your goal? And why do you need the Relics for that?"

"That's for me to know, and you to never find out," Salem said as the Seer moved closer, before the sphere on it revealed the Ashen Witch's face. "You know...it's a shame you aren't one of my subordinates' Blade, I could use a man with wit like yours," Salem offered.

"I appreciate the compliment," Aizen said with a smile, humoring the ashen skinned woman with unnatural eyes, "Unfortunately, I have some...unfinished business which I can't do if my current Driver happens to die on me."

Salem looked thoughtful for a moment, "Is that so? Well what if I were to offer you what you desire. You can start by helping me capture your Driver so that they can be imprisoned and allow you to move freely while under my employ."

Aizen looked like he was seriously considering the offer, "Tempting...Tempting...Unfortunately, your offer has a very crucial flaw, I would basically hand over my Driver so you could use them as a hostage to make me obey. And that isn't exactly how I prefer my...partnerships."

"Is that so bad?" Salem asked with a far more firm look, but still smiling, "Your absolute obedience in exchange for everything you desire."

"I fear that you have no idea what it is I desire," Aizen replied with a firm look of his own, "Besides, let's say I accepted your offer, what would you expect me to do?"

"Simple, bring me the Relic," Salem replied as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Aizen took a thinking pose, "Let me think about that." Aizen had barely finished that sentence when he stabbed his left sword into the Seer's sphere-like body with Salem's face still on it. A face that now had a look of mild surprise. "No." And then split the sphere open, finishing the Grimm off. As the communicator Grimm disintegrated, Aizen scoffed a little. "As if I would accept deals from someone I know nothing about," with those words, Aizen turned to return to the others. Lionheart's death would be a stepping stone in his own plans, but first he would have to convince the others to help him with it.


With the rest of the gang in the great hall, they had just come across a certain someone as they were walking outside with the lamp. Except Qrow who had decided to go after Lionheart too alongside Kasandra. Dragunov had also picked up an unconscious Mercury. Talos had kicked the teen in the face, because he wasn't in the mood of dealing with the boy's angry rant.

"Blake?" Ruby sounded out at the sight of the feline Faunus who looked surprised to see everyone.

"Guys? What are you doing here?" Blake asked in surprise. After Sun comforted her enough that she wasn't going to break down, Blake decided to check what happened inside the main building.

"It's a bit of a long story," Weiss said simply.

"...Well...I'm not going anywhere," Blake then said, eyeing Yang who had an unreadable expression.

"You know these people, Blake?" Nia asked, eyeing between the group and the Faunus Driver.

"Well, yes. They're my...team from Beacon," Blake replied, not daring to call them her friends after the way she ran.

"Huh...small world," Nia said in amusement.

After some time, the police came to collect the White Fang members. Which included Adam's corpse and Mercury and Hazel. Yang discreetly explained that Emerald was frozen solid in the Vault and Salem would not be happy when she gets out so they decided to leave her.

But when they in turn heard about Adam being dead, the fiery Driver and Blade were shocked. Or, Yang was shocked, while Dragunov growled in anger at not getting a shot at the bastard. But everyone was surprised when they heard that Adam was killed by his own Blade. Aside from Dragunov, none of them really thought about a Blade killing their Driver. However, Mòrag and Zeke revealed that the Alrestians had seen a Blade kill their Driver before. The Driver in question was a very evil person and the Blade decided that living with him was no longer worth it.

Anyway, everyone gave their statements about the incident to the police, while avoiding the mention of Salem and the Relics. Also, Tora, Poppi and Penny had to be hidden, since Tora was a Nopon and Penny was worried that someone might recognize her if looked at too deeply. Also, Aizen had managed to talk to everyone and ask them to not reveal the truth about Lionheart. There were some protests, but Ozpin agreed with Aizen's plans. Although the two had vastly different reasons.

But what worried Weiss was that when Aizen heard that the Chief of Menagerie himself was here in Mistral, the nobleman had a sinister smile for an instant.


Now, it was the next morning, and everyone had gathered at the house, breakfast was eaten and everyone had rested and ready for the next important thing in the living room.

"So Talos," Jaune started, "What happened to you?"

The metallic champion looked hesitant before letting out what sounded like a sigh, "As Rex had already said, I have become a Flesh Eater."

"Yeah, but what exactly is that?" Nora asked.

"Flesh Eaters," Mòrag started explaining, "Are Blades with human cells weaved into them, which allows them to exist without a Driver."

"How does one do that," Ruby asked, before looking to Talos, "And how did you find out how to become one?"

"...Adenine told me," Talos revealed.

"Adenine?!" Was the universal reaction.

"Who is Adenine?" Zeke asked, sounding serious. Which was appropriate, given the ramifications.

"Adenine is a Blade awakened by Doctor Oobleck, a teacher at Beacon Academy," Ozpin answered for everyone. Before the former headmaster in farmboy's skin looked thoughtful, "Which reminds me, I think Adenine got the information out of the files Team RWBY recovered from Forever Fall."

"You mean, we accidentally discovered how to make Blades that don't need a Driver," Blake sounded out in disbelief, "Talos, could you-" "No!" the metallic Blade practically shouted, "I will not tell you the process."

"Whose Flesh did you eat?" Nia then asked with a frown earning everyone's attention.

"What?" Dahlia asked in slight worry, which was shared by everyone else.

"While the method behind is unknown, Flesh Eaters are called just that because they take the flesh from a human, which allows them to weave it onto themselves. The exact method was lost along with Judicium," Brighid explained from the few records that Mor Ardain had of them.

"Soo, Talos literally ate someone?" Otohime asked with a feeling of dread, then her eyes widened.

Talos caught onto the look, "Yes, Otohime. The one I 'ate' was Pyrrha."

This made every person in the room have varying levels of shock at this information.

"So, the one who finished her off," Jaune mouthed out in horror, "That was you?!" then he looked at Talos in anger.

"...At her request," Talos said, bracing himself for the inevitable.

Sure enough, Jaune got up, equipped Crocea Mors and charged at Pyrrha's "real" killer. Only, every sword strike Jaune released upon Talos merely clanged against his metallic body. "You killed Pyrrha! You killed Pyrrha!" Jaune shouted as he struck Crocea Mors uselessly against Talos' body. Until the Flesh Eater grabbed the sword by the Blade.

"I did it at her request," Talos said again while Jaune was struggling to free his sword from the murdering Blade's grasp.

"How could you, do it?!" Nora shouted out accusingly, while Electra looked like she wanted to cry.

"What is wrong with you?!" Yang also accused Pyrrha's Blade.

"Because of you, Pyrrha is dead!" Jaune practically screamed, before feeling Talos' armored fist connecting with his face. This made Jaune stumble away, letting go of Crocea Mors in the process.

"Milord!" Joana shouted, getting in front of Jaune and drawing out her weapon. As did the rest of the JNR Blades.

"Don't you dare pin Pyrrha's death on me, boy!" Talos said angrily before glaring at Oscar, "The one who manipulated Pyrrha into dying in vain was Ozpin!"

Ozpin then took control to try and defuse the situation, "Look, Talos. I'm sorry about-" "Shut up!" Talos interrupted, "The only reason I'm not tearing you apart is because Pyrrha wouldn't want it. But that doesn't mean I have to tolerate you more than I must."

"Master Talos," Joana sounded out, sounding sad, "Even if you do kill him, he would just move onto another host, making it meaningless to kill him."

"...I thought so," Talos said with a sigh.

"I'm sorry," Ruby suddenly piped up, earning everyone's attention, "If I had done something maybe-" "Ruby," Talos interrupted as he took a few steps towards the girl. Only for Roze to get in front of her with his scythe at the ready.

"Roze, I have no reason to hate Ruby," Talos said in exasperation.

"You don't?" Roze asked in surprise.

"She's not the one who manipulated Pyrrha," Talos said, "And...I promised Pyrrha I wouldn't blame her. She didn't after all."

Ruby's face morphed into one of surprise at hearing that before looking relieved. "Thank you," Ruby said.

Then Talos turned to address everyone, "Let me make one thing clear to each and every one of you, Pyrrha would have died with or without...my help." The metallic Blade clearly hated how he worded it.

"He's not wrong," Qrow piped up, "Pyrrha would have died to her injuries sooner or later regardless of what anyone could have done."

"Dammit," Jaune cursed, letting out a few tears.

"Milord," Joana sounded out before helping her Driver back up.

Then Ozpin decided to ask a question, "Talos...would you happen to have an idea who the current Fall Maiden might be?"

"...Why would that matter?" Talos asked narrowing his eyes at the headmaster.

"How much do you know about the Maidens," Ozpin then asked.

"Only what Pyrrha told me," Talos admitted, "Now what are these Relics?"

"They are four gifts from the god brothers of Remnant," Aizen piped up, earning looks of shock. "What?" the nobleman Blade asked, "If he is to join our merry group, then he needs to know what is at stake. That includes our new allies." That last part was directed at the Alrestians, ones that have yet to hear this.

"...He's not wrong," Weiss sighed.

"Supposedly, having all these Relics would allow someone to change the world," Otohime decided to take over, "And the Four Maidens are 'keys' to the vaults holding them."

"I see," Talos said, clenching his hands into fists, "Well the Fall Maiden is somewhere safe, so there's no need to worry."

"So, you know who she is?" Qrow asked hopefully.

"Yes, but I'm not saying who," Talos said firmly.

"But Talos," Roze piped up, "We need to at least make sure she's safe, otherwise Salem might get to her." Of course, they had to explain Salem to Talos, Blake, Nox and Nia last night.

"Salem won't find her,・Talos said like it was a fact.

"How do you know that?" Nora asked with a skeptical look.

"I just know, now stop asking," Talos then demanded, "We are not dragging some innocent girl into this."

Ozpin opened his mouth to speak. "Not another word out of you!" Only for Talos to interrupt whatever the headmaster had to say. Then the metal Blade walked to the stairs. "I'll be at the training room," Talos said as he walked out and no one dared to stop him.

"He's a stubborn one," Mòrag commented before looking to the others, "Is this 'Fall Maiden' really that important?"

"Yeah," Qrow answered before going of his flask. Then he had to raise the arm holding the flask when Kasandra tried to snatch it. "Kasandra, please. Not now," Qrow pleaded.

Everyone chose to ignore that, since they were still a little shaken about Talos being the one to finish Pyrrha off.

"Do you really think...that Pyrrha asked Talos to kill her?" Weiss asked uncertainly.

"But why would she even do that?!" Nora cried out, "I mean...how can he just say that and not care?"

"Don't make assumptions!" Nia shouted out.

"What?" Electra and Nora asked in unison.

"...Look, was Talos close to his Driver?" the Gormotti asked, seeing as she was already informed about who Talos was.

"What does that have to-" "Just answer me," Nia then demanded.

"I guess," Jaune said, still having a scowl that was no doubt directed at the metallic Blade.

"Then think of this from his perspective," Nia then said, "How would you feel if you had to kill someone you care about? Even if they were begging for it."

"Nia," Pyra sounded out.

"Pyrrha would never-" "I believe I understand," Joana interrupted Jaune, earning shocked looks, "The mere thought of taking milord's life with my own two hands kills me inside, even if he were to plead for it. I cannot imagine how Master Talos must feel."

Nora felt herself being hugged by Electra, "I don't want Nora gone."

"I'm not going anywhere," Nora said before hugging her Blade back. Stroking the little girl's head for good measure.

"It was said that sometimes a Blade would gain new power after becoming a Flesh Eater," Zeke idly said, "But supposedly the process was rarely successful."

"It seems to have worked for Talos," Dragunov muttered in thought, despite not knowing what the difference between a "success" and "failure" were. Then the draconic Blade decided to ask a big question, "How many Flesh Eaters are there on Alrest?"

"One that I know of," Rex replied, with no one noticing Nia looking a little down, "And...well he told us that he was a failure."

"Interesting," Aizen muttered in thought.

Weiss and Dahlia scowled at the nobleman. "Don't get ideas," Weiss said with a glare.

"Whatever do you mean?" Aizen asked with a smug smile.

"You are not laying a finger on Weiss," Dahlia said with a glare as she got into Aizen's face.

"...Duly noted," Aizen said with a slightly more serious look.

"According to Adenine, the notes mentioned there being side effects," Ozpin then chose to add in.

"What kind of side effects?" Aizen asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"She didn't go into specifics, but it sounded like they were quite...serious," Ozpin said after a moment of thought.

"Then it seems that it's a gamble not worth taking," Aizen said with a disappointed sigh. Dahlia didn't look convinced about Aizen's words.

Then Yang had a thought, "That's what she was talking about!" The blonde then punched her palm at her little realization.

"What?" was the universal reaction.

"Yang, what are you talking about," Qrow asked as he was still fending off Kasandra from his flask.

"Back in Patch, Oobleck and Port visited dad," Yang started explaining, "Then Adenine showed up and said 'I burned them all'! I think she meant the files."

"Why would she do that," Rex asked.

"I think Adenine regretted telling Talos," Yang then said before looking thoughtful, "Maybe...She said that she 'didn't want this life without him'." At the latter part Yang looked a little horrified. "She planned to become a Flesh Eater using doc's flesh!"

"You mean she plans to kill Bart?!" Qrow exclaimed in horror which was shared by all the students and some of the Alrestians, at least outwardly.

"But apparently changed her mind," Dragunov added in, making everyone look relieved.

"Wait...are those two married now?!" Nora then asked, having managed to calm down Electra.

"Nora." Ren said with an exasperated sigh, "That's not possible."

"Actually," Pandoria piped up with a small smirk, "There are old stories about Blades marrying their Drivers."

"There are?" Ruby asked with a baffled look, before she suddenly decided to hide under her hood.

"Well...yes," Pyra said with a mildly embarrassed look.

Then Ozpin let out a laugh.

"Oz?" Qrow sounded out.

"Just something Oscar thought...actually, why don't you tell them," Ozpin then said before giving the control back to Oscar.

"Ozpin!" Oscar cried out.

"Well, what was it?" Kasandra asked, being a little curious as she paused in trying to get that poison out of Qrow's hands.

"Well..." Oscar sounded out awkwardly, "It's just that...Qrow and Kasandra bicker like an old married couple."

"What?!" Came out of a Qrow who looked like he lost a few braincells at hearing that. "No! Just no!"

"Why? Is the thought really that horrible?" Kasandra asked, looking like she was about to cry.

"What? No! Kasandra, this isn't about...Urgh! Why did you do this to me," Qrow wailed in misery.

With that the entire room burst into varying tones of laughter at Qrow's misery.


Later on, outside of the house, Blake had called Yang outside to have a talk.

"So?" Yang asked with an uncaring look from the obviously terrified looking Blake.

"I'm sorry!" Blake finally blurted out frantically, "Yang, I'm so sorry for leaving the way I did. I thought I was protecting you, but I wasn't. You...I should have stayed and ensured you were-"

*Slap*

Yang interrupted Blake by slapping her across the face. "That was for leaving," Yang said emotionlessly to a now shocked Blake. Then the blonde pulled the cat faunus into a hug, shocking Blake further, "And this is for coming back."

"I... I'm so sorry," Blake choked out before hugging back.

"...It's alright now," Yang said, finding herself smiling too. Then the two broke the hug. "So...did he have any last words?" Yang then asked.

"Who?" Blake asked in slight confusion.

"...Perceval," Yang said as she brought her hand over the scar her clothes were hiding.

Blake had a look of realization before looking a little down. "Yes...he said he was sorry about the pain he caused you before he reverted to a Core Crystal," Blake then explained, before her ears folded a little, "Speaking of which... are you alright?"

"A little late to ask," Yang said while crossing her arms, which made Blake look ashamed of herself, "But yeah, I'm still up and Yanging out." the blonde managed a smile.

"...I never thought I would miss hearing your puns," Blake said with a weak chuckle.

"I can get real punny if you want to," Yang said with a smirk.

"Please don't," Blake pleaded playfully.

As this was happening, Dragunov and Nox were watching from a safe distance. "Shame about Adam," Dragunov muttered, having heard from Nox what happened to him, "I would have loved to reduce him to ashes myself."

"I believe that being killed by his own Blade was far more satisfying." Nox showed on his scroll, having a bloodthirsty grin under his mask, which the draconic Blade couldn't tell...thankfully.

"He must've been a real piece of work if he decided that Adam needed to die," Dragunov then said, "So, how have you and her adjusted?"

"That is my concern." Nox showed on his scroll before rolling out more, "How about you and your Driver?"

"...That is my concern," Dragunov replied in kind, "On another note, what about the Faunus militia? Now that they've done what they came for, what happens now?"

"I would believe that most of them would return to their homes." Nox showed on his scroll, "But I have heard that Lord Belladonna plans to make a new organization to replace White Fang as a bridge between humans and Faunus."

"I still don't like that we had to lie about Lionheart," Dragunov muttered as he had a hard look.

"I do not trust Aizen, but from Faunus-Human relation standpoint, this was the right call." Nox showed on his scroll. "After all, the story that is about to be spread is 'White Fang tries to destroy Haven Academy. Only to be thwarted by Faunus from Menagerie'. If the people knew the truth about Lionheart, who was also a Faunus, then that would raise complications."

Dragunov growled, "I hate politics."

"As do I." Nox showed with a twinkle in his eye.

With that, the two watched as their Drivers were talking to each other, looking happier than either of them remembered for a long time.


Meanwhile, somewhere around the middle levels of Mistral, Aizen was walking towards a small area where the faunus militia is staying at. The Mistral Council could have easily slapped them in the face and made them stay in the lowest levels. However, their Huntsman Academy was saved by them, so they knew that doing so would cause an uproar. Which is why they were allowed to stay in the middle level houses that were vacant as of now. That is, until the investigation had come to a close. Aizen knew he was in the right place the moment he saw several Faunus either loitering around or helping others with various chores. The nobleman Blade had a sinister smile as he started looking for a particular Faunus among many. Then he saw him, Ghira Belladonna. Chief of Menagerie, former leader of the White Fang when the group was still peaceful. And most importantly Aizen's next stepping stone in his quest.

Although it seemed like the chief was busy talking to some Mistral officers. No matter, the nobleman Blade wasn't in a rush. Once the officers left, Aizen walked with a clear sense of purpose towards the large Faunus.

"Excuse me," Aizen called to Ghira, earning his attention, "Ghira Belladonna, I presume."

"Who am I speaking to?" Ghira asked with a quirked eyebrow.

"My name is Aizen," Aizen introduced himself with a small dip of his head, "And I have a small...proposition that should help you in gaining equality for your people."

Ghira was instantly on guard of this stranger, "And what would that be?"

"It would be preferable if we discussed this somewhere more private," Aizen said diplomatically with a practiced smile.

Ghira didn't exactly trust this strange man, but he decided that he was at least worth hearing out, "This way, if you would," With that, Ghira led what he thought was a human to his house, which of course had its own personal guard.

Now the two were seated at the couches with two members of Faunus militia standing behind the chief. "I hope you don't mind the presence of these two," Ghira then said to the man who seemed to be sizing the two guards up.

"I do find it troublesome, but understandable," Aizen replied with his smile,"After all, you don't know me, and have no reason to trust me."

"So, what do you want?" Ghira asked, still suspicious.

"Very well," Aizen said, deciding to get down to business, "In case you can't tell, I'm a Blade." Aizen pointed at his cravat with the silver pin and the glowing blue crescent-shaped Core Crystal. "Specifically of Jacques Schnee." This information made the two guards cock their rifles at Aizen. "Or rather...I used to be."

"Stand down, you two," Ghira then said to the guards before returning his attention to the Blade, "You said used to be? Does that mean he's dead?" The chief of Menagerie was highly skeptical. He knew that Blades revert to Crystals when their Driver dies so that a new one could resonate with them.

"No," Aizen replied with a smile, "Let's just say that there is a way to transfer a Blade from one Driver to another that doesn't involve the death of the former."

"I see," Ghira said, he wasn't convinced, but decided to give the benefit of a doubt, "So who is your current Driver?"

"Aizen chuckled at the question, "Why, Weiss Schnee, his daughter."

"And that should reassure me, because..." Ghira let the sentence hang. Of course he had heard good things about Weiss from Blake, but it was wise to not make assumptions.

"Because miss Schnee is not her father in all the right ways," Aizen explained easily, "As a matter of fact, she might be wondering where I have disappeared to even as we speak."

"So why are you here?" Ghira then asked, now on more guard than ever.

"As I said said outside, I have a proposition for you. One that could benefit us both," Aizen began explaining, "You want equality for the Faunus, and right now Jacques is one of the biggest obstacles for that. In Atlas anyhow. And I...despise him with every fiber of my being." At the latter part Aizen frowned. "So it would be in both of our interests if Jacques was destroyed."

Ghira frowned at this, "While I cannot deny that Jacques is largely responsible for what is happening to our brothers and sisters in Atlas, we will not go to war with him." At this, the large Faunus stood up, "We will not resort to violence like White Fang did."

"Violence?" Aizen questioned before chuckling, still sitting down, "Who said anything about violence?"

"But you said you wish to destroy him," Ghira asked, now with a questioning look.

Aizen shook his head a little, "There seems to be a misunderstanding. When I said I wish to destroy Jacques, I wasn't talking about killing him. I was talking about destroying the 'image' he has created of himself."

Ghira sat down again, "I'm listening."

"Now, it is my understanding that you are creating an organization that seeks a more...peaceful solution to Human-Faunus relations. As opposed to the White Fang,・Aizen spoke, earning a nod from Ghira. "Now, what if I were to tell you that I could give you records of several morally and legally questionable operations that he had approved of?" Aizen then asked.

"I would be asking what you would want in return," Ghira said with a suspicious look.

"Simple, the destruction of Jacques, and everything he holds dear,・Aizen said with a sinister smile.

At this moment, Kali had arrived from the kitchen with a tea tray and she was horrified to hear this. "You... you wish to destroy his family," Kali said, unable to comprehend how a living weapon can possess this kind of hatred.

Aizen chuckled before addressing the Belladonna matriarch, "Oh, how adorable."

"What?" Kali questioned as she put the tray on the coffee table between the couches that Aizen and Ghira occupied.

"You believe Jacques sees his wife as anything but a...factory that manufactures...useful assets," Aizen explained like he was talking about the weather, "You honestly believe that a man who tried to set his daughter up to face a Grimm that was supposed to be out of her league to prove that he can't be opposed? Or a man who abdicated his daughter because she was affected by an event most people would be crippled by." Aizen chuckled at the last part.

During all of this, Kali looked horrified, while Ghira clenched his hands into fists. As parents, and as a husband for Ghira, the two couldn't comprehend how anyone could treat their family that way.

"So, what is it that Jacques holds dear?" Ghira asked, although he was still trying to keep a cool head.

"Victory, reputation, wealth, power and a prestigious name," Aizen listed with a small smile, "What I want is to strip all of those away from him, taking away his greatest accomplishment in life and send him to prison for his numerous crimes in disgrace."

"And therefore, lose the Schnee company and all of its assets," Ghira deduced.

"Exactly," Aizen said with a sinister smile, "You catch on quickly."

"Let's assume I accept, what makes you believe that Jacques will not just use his influence to sweep this under the rug. Given most of Atlas' stance on our people," Ghira asked with a glare, "More importantly, how does removing him improve the Faunus position, especially if another Schnee takes over?"

"For the first one," Aizen said with a smile, "Let's just say that it's not just Faunus who have suffered under Jacques' leadership. Plenty of humans have lost their jobs too because of his machinations. Whether it's closing of smaller shops or discreetly hiring saboteurs against other Dust companies." Then the Blade had a more sinister smile, "As for the second one, as I said earlier, Miss Schnee is not her father in all the right ways. Although there is still the matter of her brother being the current heir, but I have plans already in motion for him."

"Why do you wish to destroy Jacques," Ghira then asked.

"Well, his destruction would allow miss Schnee to-" "No," Ghira interrupted, "That is what you are planning. I want to know why you're doing it."

Aizen looked miffed at being interrupted, but he relented, "Very well. My reason is very simple. I hate Jacques and I want to see him suffer."

"Why," Kali asked now, "What has he done to you?"

Aizen let out a small sigh, realizing that he would have to answer if he wanted to get anywhere, "Let's just say that in his eyes, I'm less than a Faunus. And given how low his opinion of your people is, that's saying something."

"So, you are motivated purely by revenge," Ghira said with a frown, "... Our priority is setting up the organization and decide on the core principals, logistics, management and then find peaceful ways to earn equality."

"And I don't expect Jacques to be taken down overnight," Aizen replied with an understanding look,"The evidence I have gathered is very incriminating, but we need to do this exactly right so that Jacques cannot even try to, pardon my language, bullshit his way out."

"How do I know that this will truly benefit my people?" Ghira asked, feeling that this was too good to be true, "Not to mention I find it strange why you would help our cause beyond removing Jacques."

"You don't" Aizen replied, "Human nature, and when I say 'human' I mean human and faunus, is to seek conflict. Even if it's over something trivial. So even if Miss Schnee successfully gains the company and no doubt does massive reforms. There will always be fools on both sides." Then the Blade chuckled, "As for why I would help your cause: You are right, I don't care about your people." That response earned scowls from the two guards and the Belladonnas, "But, helping you hurts Jacques further. Seeing what he perceives as 'filthy animals' rising beyond their 'station' and working alongside humans as if they were people." Then the Blade chuckled at a mental image he was gaining, "Oh the look of outrage on his face, and he couldn't do anything about it."

The two guards looked about ready to open fire until Aizen said the last part. They wouldn't say it aloud, but seeing Jacques suffer was a very pleasant thought.

Ghira let out a sigh as he realized that while this Blade wasn't exactly their friend, he was at least the enemy of Jacques Schnee's ethics, "Fair enough, what do you have?"

At those words, Aizen smiled, "Do you have a Scroll?"

In response, Ghira placed his scroll on the coffee table.

"Excellent," Aizen said before taking his own Scroll from his inner pocket and starts fiddling with both Scrolls for a moment. Then the Blade smirked as he returned Ghira's Scroll. "I have sent you copies of all the files I have on Jacques. Use them wisely. Oh, and I suggest you try to get in contact with Mrs. Schnee. She will help you in taking down her husband." Aizen had a smile at the latter part.

"...I will look into it," Ghira said with a small frown. He still didn't trust the Blade, but taking down Jacques would be a huge step in helping the Faunus and Humans to stand as equals. But first things first, "Was there anything else?"

"No, I did what I set out to do," Aizen said with a friendly smile, "Now, I believe I should leave. Even though I have yet to taste your wife's tea."

"Goodbye, Mister Aizen," Ghira said with a neutral look.

"Goodbye, Chief Belladonna,・Aizen replied with a bow before leaving the house.

Ghira let out a small sigh at the files that were now on his Scroll. This was almost too good to be true. Not to mention that Scroll Perceval had on him which Nox handed over to the Belladonna patriarch. That one contained several recordings of conversations that paint Adam as a mindless killer. While setting up the new organization, he would also have to convince many of the former White Fangs to stop and try a more peaceful approach again.

"Dear, do you really believe that Blade is going so far for faunus rights?" Kali asked, having her own reservations about Aizen.

"Not for Faunus rights, but for his own desire for vengeance," Ghira said with a sigh, "But if these indeed contain evidence about Jacques Schnee's misconducts, then we could use this."

"So, are we going to do it?" one of the guards asked.

"Perhaps in time," Ghira said with another sigh before having a firm look, "But for now, we have other matters to attend to."

"Understood." The guards said in unison. All day they had seen several humans coming to them and thanking them for protecting Haven. Some more awkwardly than others. Which made them hopeful for the future, along with many other Faunus. There were a few idiots too who came to accuse them of this being a conspiracy, but the more sensible humans shut them down and apologized.


At the dojo, Talos was sitting down on the floor and leaning against the wall, weighing his options. He could still leave and save himself the grief, but he had missed his Driver's team more than he cared to voice. And their reaction was expected if a little hurtful. Especially Jaune's remark about him being the reason Pyrrha was dead. But the sad thing is, part of Talos did feel like it was his fault. "I could have killed her instead of boasting," Talos muttered as his hands clenched into fists so hard that the metal was straining.

"Master Talos." Was the voice that caused the metallic Flesh Eater to look up from his thoughts. It was Joana who had come down.

"Joana...is there something you need," Talos asked

"Nothing in particular," the knightess said as she walked next to Talos before sitting down. "Is the Fall Maiden truly safe? You do not have to tell me her location or identity if you do not wish to." That latter part seemed to be added in response to Talos turning his face to Joana, glowing blue eyes boring into her. "I just need to know if she is as safe as you seem to believe."

"I wouldn't say safe, but Salem won't find her," Talos said firmly.

"I see," Joana said, before smiling faintly, "Then I shall trust your judgement."

"Really?" Talos asked, not expecting to hear words like that, "After hearing what I have become?"

"You are the Blade of Lady Nikos," Joana said as if that explained everything.

"Pyrrha is gone," Talos said before looking down, "I am no one's Blade now."

"Perhaps, but I also know enough of Lady Nikos to know that she would want to help others even in death. Which is why I believe that she gave you this life so that you would not forget us or the good times we shared," Joana said with a sad look, "Besides I believe that Lady Nikos is still with us, even if she is no longer physically present."

Talos chuckled a little. "Joana, I appreciate your words, but that's not going to change the fact that your Driver hates me now. Not that I can blame him," the earth Blade said before looking at the red ether lines around his hands. "But now that you mention it...sometimes...I do feel as if Pyrrha is still with me," Talos then said, his eyes flickering to green for an instant.

Joana however missed it, "Would she want you to sit down and waste away?"

"...No...she wouldn't," Talos said as he got up, "But I'm still not sure if I belong with you guys anymore.

"...I am very certain Lady Ruby would be more than happy to welcome you back," Joana said with a small smile, "I will try to discuss with milord about your position. But you must understand that both him and his retainers will need time to process your current state."

"...Thank you, the fact that you're willing to try is more than enough," Talos said with a twinkling glow in his glowing blue eyes.

At that moment Ruby shuffled down to the dojo awkwardly, "Is umm...everything okay here?"

Talos got up off the floor, "Not okay...but better."

"Oh...uhh...that's good," Ruby said with an awkward look.

This made Talos cross his arms, "Is there something you need?"

"No, uhh...just...I was just worried about you," Ruby said before shuffling back upstairs.

"She seemed...out of it," Joana commented with a quirked eyebrow.

"If it's what I think it is, then I'm glad," Talos said in slight relief, though still hoping he was wrong about the possible cause.

Upstairs, Ruby sighed in defeat before wondering if she should go and see if she could talk to Jaune.

"You couldn't do it, could you?" Asked Roze who was waiting for his Driver.

"...No," Ruby admitted, "I just...I couldn't bring myself to ask him."

Roze let out a smile, "Ruby, I'm sure Talos will tell us who the Fall Maiden is when he feels comfortable."

"It's not just that," Ruby said with a worried look, "What if...what if the new Fall Maiden is still unaware of her abilities never tapping into that power. If we dragged her into this...I'm not sure if she could handle all of this." At the latter part, Ruby looked sad.

Roze moved in and pulled Ruby into a hug. "Hopefully we will never find that out," the reaper Blade said as he pressed his cheek against the top of Ruby's head. "Besides, it wasn't fair of Ozpin to ask you to do this." Roze was referring to the fact that it was the former headmaster who asked Ruby to try and get the Fall Maiden's identity and location out of Talos.

"Well...I would be lying if I said I wasn't curious myself," Ruby admitted, feeling ashamed of it.

Roze shook his head before releasing the hug. "I would like to know too, but I trust Talos' judgement for now," the reaper smiled, which to anyone who wasn't used to his empty eyes would look unnerving. But to Ruby, it was reassuring.

"Maybe you should be the leader," Ruby said half-jokingly.

"I'm sorry, what?" Roze looked like he just heard someone claiming the sky to be red.

"Well you seem to always know what to say to make me feel better. So, I thought...maybe you would be a better team leader," Ruby said, although she wasn't really serious.

"Ruby, you're the leader for a reason. I'm just a Blade," Roze said now looking worried, "Besides...I'm not sure I'm cut out for being a leader."

Ruby almost giggled, before hearing the next part. "What do you mean?" Now the little red reaper was curious.

"You do remember how I was at the beginning," Roze replied, looking down in mild embarrassment.

"Yeah...you didn't know that stealing was wrong," the girl giggled with a smirk.

"Please...stop," Roze said with a blush. Looking back on it after his change, the reaper Blade wasn't sure why he was so...dumb.


As this happened, Ren and Nora had gone to their room. They still had questions regarding Talos' new state. Specifically...

"Why would Pyrrha do something like that?" Nora questioned as she paced around while Ren was sitting on a bed, looking thoughtful.

"You were at the hospital too," Ren replied with a sigh, "The best anyone could do was prolong her death. Even Weiss' healing Art wasn't enough."

"Maybe if her dad hadn't snatched her Pyrrha could've been saved," Nora then said with a growl, entertaining thoughts of breaking the guy's legs.

"Nora, we've been over this," Ren said with a sigh, "At worst he would have gotten the police on you and they would have locked you up and thrown the key away."

"That doesn't mean I have to like it," Nora grumbled before sitting down on the bed opposite of Ren with a pouty look.

"No...It doesn't," the black-haired Driver said with a weary sigh.

"If it brings either of you some comfort," Otohime spoke up from the desk she was sitting at, trying to read a book she had found interesting. "I was sorely tempted to fire my cannon upon that insolent man." The water Blade still remembers clear as day how the man looked upon her and Dahlia with a look of utter disgust.

"For once we agree," Nora grumbled, then she sighed. "Sayyy...do you think Talos also snatched Pyrrha's shield?"

"What would he have done with it?" Ren asked more out of curiosity than anything.

"Well...I don't know, maybe he wanted to sell it to the highest bidder or something," Nora suggested, "I mean, the shield that belonged to THE Pyrrha Nikos. Who knows what kind of crazy people would by it and/or do with it."

"...Nora, no," Ren said, not wanting to picture what Nora was thinking with the latter part.

"Must you be so crude?" Otohime asked in exasperation, turning to face the two Drivers.

"What would crazy people do with Pyrrha's shield?" Electra, who had been quietly sitting on the floor until now, asked innocently.

"No." Otohime said firmly just when Nora was about to open her mouth. "Electra has no need for such knowledge," the fish featured water Blade said with a pointed look.

"Killjoy," Nora muttered as she proceeded flop down onto the bed. All the while Electra looked on with a confused look. The little Blade only hoped that Jaune wouldn't stay angry at Talos who, to Electra, was clearly hurting from the loss of Pyrrha just like Jaune.


With Weiss, she had just caught Aizen returning to the room he occupied. "And where have you been?" Weiss asked with her arms crossed and a highly suspicious look.

"Just running an errand," Aizen replied, doing a good job of looking sincere.

"What kind of errand?" Weiss asked while tapping her foot.

"That's my concern alone," Aizen said with a tone of finality.

"No," Weiss said with a glare, "I still don't trust you."

"Will you ever?" Aizen asked with a frown.

"Not if you don't trust me enough to tell what you're doing disappearing for over an hour," Weiss said now looking more distrustful. If that was even possible.

"You and Miss Dahlia are on a strictly need to know basis," Aizen said now looking slightly angry, "Which means I will tell you when you need to know, and not a moment sooner." Then the nobleman shifted his expression to a pitying one, "Something that I find necessary with something as worthless as you."

"Excuse me?" Weiss asked with an offended look. Dahlia also looked angry.

"I asked about your performance," Aizen said simply, "You were practically a ragdoll being tossed around."

"Now listen here you," Dahlia said, taking a few steps forward, "You and I were not exactly in a condition to fight either."

"That was because of that machine, so we had an excuse," Aizen replied as if his answer was the only right one, "Miss Schnee on the other hand was supposed to be trained, so either all of her instructors were incompetent, or she was merely wasting her time trying to be something she was never cut out for."

"You, bastard!" Weiss cried out with tears in her eyes as she drew Myrtenaster and dashed at Aizen, fully intending to stab him despite knowing that he will just recover.

"Weiss, wait!" Dahlia tried to stop, but Weiss was blinded by her anger.

The former heiress thrusted Myrtenaster at Aizen's chest. Only for the nobleman Blade to summon one sword to his right hand before deflecting the stab and then kicking his Driver right at the abdomen, launching her some ways away.

In response, Dahlia summoned her bitball ready to engage the offensive Blade. Only to then hear a sniffle. Turning to glance at the source, Dahlia saw that it was Weiss who looked like she was trying to force tears to not come out of her eyes. "Weiss, are you alright?" Dahlia asked as she moved to Weiss' side instead.

"Hmph." Aizen huffed before retreating to his room, leaving Dahlia to tend to their Driver.

"He's right," Weiss said, letting out a sob, "I couldn't do anything...why can't I grow strong-" "Weiss! Look at me," Dahlia interrupted as she grabbed her Driver's cheeks and forced Weiss to lock her blue eyes to the ice bunny's own. "You. Are. NOT. worthless." Dahlia had a firm look. "Not to me. Not to your team. And especially not to your sister and mother." The busty Blade made sure to put emphasis on each and every part of her point.

"But...Everyone else has grown stronger...so why haven't I?" Weiss asked still doubting herself.

"...When was the last time you have been in real combat?" Dahlia chose to ask, "Before Haven I mean."

Weiss looked confused at the question before answering, "There was that Queen Lancer."

Dahlia shook her head, "You were standing in a moving ship while using mostly ranged attacks against it before having Arma Gigas kill it. I'm sorry but that doesn't really count."

"But...then...I haven't fought since the Battle for Beacon," Weiss said in realization, "But I trained how...to...darn it!" the white-haired girl exclaimed as she broke free from Dahlia's grip. "What am I supposed to do now?!" Weiss cried out in frustration, "Was there any point to learning summoning! If I can't use it like Win- Ow!" Weiss was interrupted by a smack at the back of her head.

"Stop whining!" Dahlia said with a firm look, "Don't you dare say there was no point! You know how to do summoning, but that doesn't mean you have mastered it. Did you know how to effectively use every single glyph after learning to use them once?"

"Well no but...Winter knows how to do it-" "You can't be Winter," Dahlia said more softly, "You can only ever be Weiss."

"...What if I don't know what that means?" Weiss asked while looking down in shame.

"Weiss...where is the girl who decided to stand up against her tyrant of a father?" Dahlia then asked, "Or the girl who fought at the Battle for Beacon alongside her friends? Where is the girl who chose to uphold her family's honor as a huntress and a Driver?"

"That's not fair," Weiss muttered as she stood back up, wiping her eyes of the beginning tears, "But you're right. I didn't let my father define me and I'll be darned if I let Aizen do that!"

"Now there's my Driver," Dahlia said with happy look before hugging the said Driver.

"Hey!" Came Weiss' muffled complaint when Dahlia pressed the girl's face into the deep white valley.

Unbeknownst to the two, Mòrag had walked in at the part where Dahlia began consoling Weiss. The Special Inquisitor knew it was rude to eavesdrop, but she couldn't deny her curiosity. Though it seemed like Weiss had some...hiccups with her second Blade. Then again, it's not like Blades and Drivers always got along from the start. Though speaking of second Blades...or third in this case, Mòrag was still unsure if awakening Aegaeon was the right thing to do. The situation was dire, but now the option of Niall changing his mind and her giving Aegaeon back was out the window unless she got her hands on an Overdrive Protocol. With those thoughts, the Ardainian Driver slowly walked away from the situation to where she last saw Brighid having a conversation with the water Blade.


AN: Yup there we go. Lionheart is still dead. The Remnantians are adjusting to their new revelations. Aizen is concocting an evil scheme. If any of you find it weird that Aizen is trying to do the right thing, to quote Aloy to a guy who hunts bandits because he likes killing: "I suppose you are doing the right thing, for the wrong reasons."

Soon I will kick it up with the vol 6. But first... I have a few... real life things to deal with. So I might not be able to write as often as I like.

To those of you wondering, the next chapter for the reading fic is about halfway done.