AN: I'll be honest here. I almost quit writing because of complaints about leaving Ever After out. Fortunately, thanks to my art project with Alex-kellar, I was able to get back in. I will put my announcement in these Author's notes one more time, with a small addition.

I was going to wait for the next chapter before addressing this, but I can't take it anymore.

I don't know if it's multiple people or just one person who keeps telling me not to scrap Ever After from my fic. But I have this to say:

STOP IT!

I said I must scrap it, and I mean it. Saying "I must" means that I have no choice but to do that. I cannot BUT do it.

AnimeEmperor already made guesses as to why I can't add it. Whelp, here are some of my reasons, which I shouldn't even have to explain.

1: Half the problems both team RWBY and Jaune have would be resolved faster than the first episode of Volume 9. All the Blades are practically their emotional support animals in varying ways. They all would do everything in their power to help their Drivers through whatever ails their hearts each in their own way. And don't get me started on Jaune if he ended up in Ever After if he ended up there with Joana and Pyrrha. ESPECIALLY with Pyrrha, he wouldn't get the chance to lose any of his mind. Heck, I'm pretty sure that Pyrrha and Joana would stop the time reversal from happening, or at the very least end it earlier than it did in canon. Which in worst case scenario means that Jaune wouldn't get to see Alyx. And we all know what that might entail.

2: Neo's revenge. A tiny problem with even getting her involved: No Cinder. And the rest of Salem's cronies aren't even in Mistral at this point.

3. The leaf puffing with the Herbalist. That won't do anything to the Blades. Why? They know what they are, and that is enough for them. Whatever they have to say will just end with, "I am -insert Blade here- and I am -insert Driver's name here-'s Blade.".

So there you have it, incorporating Ever After is literally impossible for me not only for above reasons, but also because if I even tried to incorporate it I would have to practically scrap the ENTIRE FIC!

Sorry, if I sound confrontational, but this is really getting to me.

There is one more reason I can't use Ever After. I can't say what it is here, but the butterfly effect is far too big for me to write around.


Loose Ends

"Where is he..." Blake muttered as a ship that arrived from Uraya docked on Argentum. The small number of passengers had already come down, but Blake couldn't spot her target anywhere.

"Yang said this was the ship Perceval and Rex aimed for. I'm sure we'll see them any second." Ruby said trying to spot the two in question. Yang decided to stay in Garfront in case Ryuko came back and Dragunov didn't trust his masterpieces alone with the mercenaries.

Soon enough, Perceval, Rex, Wulfric, and the Aegis sisters were spotted. Nia and her Blades were also with them.

"Finally, there you are," Blake said impatiently.

Mythra quirked an eyebrow at Blake's reaction, "Did you get out of bed on the wrong foot this morning, or what?"

"Sorry," Blake said, "I just... I just want to get this over with."

Perceval nodded at this before taking a look at the group that was with Blake. This included Ruby, Ren, Nora, Penny, and Tora, along with their Blades. "Where is Nox?" Perceval asked, noting the ninja Blade's absence.

"He's watching our target," Electra said with a grin. According to the call of Yang, Perceval had found information about a Nopon named Pupunin being involved with the Bloody Lobsters. Which was part of the reason Rex had come along, for the salvager knew Pupunin.

Blake then turned to Ruby, "Ruby, are there any new messages from Nox?" Ruby checked her Scroll and shook her head. "Okay, then send him a message that we're coming." Blake had once again lent her Scroll to her first Blade in case something changed.

"But wouldn't the notification give away his position?" Ruby asked uncertainly.

Blake chuckled, "Ruby, I taught Nox how to use the silent mode."

"Oh." Ruby looked embarrassed and then typed the warning and sent it.

Afterward, the gang moved through the bazaar and up one level to the Chairman's office. Although strangely, Niranira wasn't there this time. Only a yellow Nopon in waterproof salvaging gear that everyone assumed was Pupunin.

Which was then confirmed when Rex practically dashed to the scared-looking Nopon and demanded, "Pupunin, is it true that you're involved with Bloody Lobsters?"

"Mehmeh?!" Pupunin exclaimed in surprise. "What is Rex talking about?"

Then Perceval stepped forward, looming over the Nopon that started shaking at the assassin Blade who crossed his arms. "We have information that you have dealings with Bloody Lobsters. So, you need to tell us everything you know about them." Perceval said calmly, but with a hint of an edge to it.

"Mehmeh! That is gross misunderstanding. Pupunin fear for own life!" Pupunin said frantically.

Perceval took a step back but didn't relax his stance. "...Explain."

"Th-there is a plot in place to get rid of Pupunin so that ex-chairman Bana's dark secrets stay secret," Pupunin said, trying to get inside the recliner of the couch with the way he was backing against it. "And so the Bloody Lobsters employed, and now the life of Pupunin in danger!"

"Right, I gotcha. It's not that you hired them, it's that you're their next target." Rex said, earning Pupunin's attention.

"Right! Exactly! Pupunin not sleep a wink from stress!" Pupunin exclaimed with a look of hope directed towards Rex, "Is possible that friends looking for Bloody Lobsters?"

"Yes, we are," Blake said with a determined look.

"In that case, please guard Pupunin! Assassins come to kill Pupunin for sure, then friends can capture them!" Pupunin said, now seeming happy they were here.

"You're volunteering to act as bait?" Perceval asked skeptically.

"It sounds like a good idea, but also kinda dangerous," Rex added in.

"It will be fine as long as I am here. And, hopefully, you Drivers as well" Perceval said.

Blake couldn't help chuckling, "Of course. We've already come this far. No one else is going to be killed by Bloody Lobsters."

"Yeah!" Ruby, Nora, and Electra cheered in unison.

But then Otohime stepped forward, "Are you certain you are willing to risk your life as bait Pupunin?"

"Life of Pupunin already in danger, so act as decoy not big deal." Pupunin replied.

"Very well then." Otohime accepted.

"Awesome! Sounds like we have a plan." Rex said with a smile.

"Me think Bloody Lobsters most likely come in the night." Pupunin said, shivering a little, "Please assemble in front of den of Pupunin on Salvage Deck at the dead of night."

"Okay, but what if the Bloody Lobsters attack you during the day instead?" Blake then said, "I mean, it's possible that they could just end you discreetly."

"Mehmeh! Pupunin not think that." Pupunin shivered.

Suddenly a paper scroll was put in front of Blake's face, "I can watch over him until nightfall, my lady." Blake, briefly startled, then turned to her side to see Nox standing there.

"How long have you been there?" Blake said with a blank look. She really needed to get used to Nox appearing out of nowhere.

"What do you mean? I entered here with you, my lady." Nox showed on his scroll and tilted his head to express his confusion.

Blake shook her head. Her cat ears didn't even pick up his footsteps joining her. Then again, Nox is like her own shadow, unnoticeable unless staring you in the face. "Never mind. Can I trust you to watch and protect Pupunin until nightfall?"

Nox banged a fist to his chest and re-opened his scroll, "No harm will come to that Nopon on my watch."

Blake nodded in satisfaction before turning to address Pupunin, "Pupunin, Nox here will guard you until nightfall. You can go about your day as you would normally do. Oh! And in case he disappears all of a sudden, just remember, just because you can't see him doesn't mean he's not there."

One could see question marks popping up Pupunin's head with the way he was looking at Blake.

"So, what do we do in the meantime?" Electra then asked.

"That depends, is anyone hungry?" Roze suggested. As if on cue, two rumbles were heard.

Ren sighed, as Nora covered her stomach with a grin, "I guess it's past lunch time."

"Tora hungry." Tora added in.

"Then our first order of business is lunch!" Ruby said with a cheer and already walked out.

Nia rolled her eyes but moved to follow. As did everyone else, although Otohime gave Pupunin well wishes.

Blake also turned to Nox, "Nox, would you like something for when we regroup?"

Nox's pupil took on a diamond shape as he opened his scroll, "If you could find blood sausages that would be wonderful, my lady."

After reading the text, Blake tried squinting her eyes to see if wet patches started forming on Nox's face mask. Unfortunately, the fabric was too black for her to tell if there were any at all. Deciding to give up on it, Blake moved to follow her friends to get something to eat. Although she did wonder if they all still had enough cash.

That night, everyone gathered around Pupunin's den, which was pretty big by Nopon standards, according to Tora. Although, what's big for Nopon, is too small for a human. Not that it would stop the Bloody Lobsters from squeezing in just enough to kill the Nopon inside.

Speaking of which, Nia was frowning at the snoring that came from the inside, "Is this what 'not sleeping a wink' looks like?"

"Maybe he just feels safe with us around." Ruby said confidently, then her eyes fell on Nora who was waving a blood sausage in front of Nox's face. The carrot topped girl had the bright idea to have Nox show his maw by having him bite down on the treat.

"Remember, you can't use your arms or legs." Nora said with a grin and Nox nodded in understanding.

"Are you really going to let this play out?" Mythra asked Blake who just watched with an amused look.

"Why not see where it goes?" Blake said with a small smile, "Besides, I'm pretty sure Nox will find some way around this."

"...I'm not sure why she is interested in what kind of face is under his mask." Perceval sighed.

"Morbid curiosity, I guess." Blake shrugged, not taking her eyes off of the blood sausage that Nora used to taunt the bloodthirsty Blade. However, she did have to wonder why Nora wanted to know, considering that Nox bit her once. Suddenly something pink shot out of the slit of the inner mask and snatched the blood sausage before Nora could react.

"Whah?!" Nora exclaimed in surprise as she looked at her empty hand. Then she looked at Nox whose jaw moved in the unmistakable motion of chewing.

Then Nox swallowed, before taking out his scroll. "Thank you, it was especially delicious." Blake quirked an eyebrow at the cursive wording which also convinced her that Nox had a smug smile under his mask.

"Hey! That's not fair! You weren't supposed to do that!" Nora complained with a pout.

Nox tilted his head innocently before rolling out more text. "You said nothing of using my tongue. It is not my fault you do not think things through."

"He is not wrong," Otohime commented with a small smile.

"About Nora not thinking things through or his tongue?" Ren asked with a mildly suspicious look.

"Yes," Otohime said, still daring to look amused.

"...Rex, what's wrong?" Pyra asked Rex who looked a little scared.

"What? Nothing! Nothing is wrong." Rex said quickly, shaking his head as if to clear it.

"Quiet now!" Perceval then exclaimed, "They're here."

Everyone turned towards the direction that Perceval was looking to on the deck. And sure enough, a group of assassins from Bloody Lobsters had come with their Blades. Males and Brutes mostly with Greataxes or Megalances.

One of the assassins looked to be a Gormotti with a mohawk. "Come to interfere with us again, mister Heartless Judge?"

"Where is the man I want?" Perceval demanded as he stepped forward.

"He told you to stay out of our business. But it looks like that isn't happening. Still, this is good for us to get all three bounties at once." The Gormotti assassin said in amusement.

"Three?" Ruby said out loud.

"Get them!" The Gormotti then yelled.

(Play Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST: A Monster Surprised You)

And with that, everyone took out their Blade weapons and engaged. Tora and Poppi more enthusiastically, because this was the time to field test the combat abilities of Poppi QTπ. Poppi was already in said form with Tora wielding the new weapon. It was a high-tech red handle with a blue energy blade coming out of it called Variable Saber.

"Speedy Sword!" Tora yelled out one of his newest Arts as he spun rapidly against one of the assassins, breaking his stance in the process. "Now, Poppi!" Tora yelled out and Poppi switched to her α form. Then Tora followed with Big Boost to topple the enemy. Then Poppi once again switched to QTπ before the enemy had even a chance to fully fall over. "Swooshing Slash!" Tora then called out doing a jumping rolling slash to launch the enemy into the air. Then Tora had a predatory grin as he prepared for the final phase.

"Nora Smash!" Only for Nora to jump in and smash Tora's opponent down to the ground with Electra's hammer.

"Hey! Tora had this!" Tora complained having wanted to use the smashing Art of Poppi QT.

"What? I see a launched enemy, I smash it, I can't help it!" Nora protested as she then used the shield function to block an attack from two enemies at once, electrocuting the two the moment the attacks connected.

"Nora is bad friend." Tora complained.

"Masterpon!" Poppi called out just before putting up a barrier to block an attempted sneak attack on Tora. "Poppi suggests you focus on the battle."

Tora was surprised but then moved to engage with a grumble.

A flash of light appeared when Rex used Rolling Smash to beat several assassins at once with Mythra's sword.

Ruby and Roze were also on a roll as Ruby used Crescent Spinner to break through one Blade's barrier and get to the Driver.

To add insult to injury, Ren and Otohime were busy sealing the enemy Blades to make the assassins even more of a target, rather than an enemy.

But most importantly, Blake was using Perceval's Chroma Katana to fight against multiple enemies at once. Although part of her was afraid of Perceval's Brandish activating. When she first asked Perceval about his abilities, an instant kill ability was not one she expected him to have. Although it only works against humanoid enemies. And then his second ability, Soulsucker, healed every time an enemy was killed, or just incapacitated. Lastly, his third ability, Eater of Men, made Perceval, and by extension Blake, stronger with each enemy they defeated. If Adam had taken full advantage of Perceval's abilities, he might have been unstoppable. But instead, Perceval turned against him. Although none of that mattered now, for that Perceval died with Adam, and this one had nothing to do with the late terrorist.

Blake was also assisted by the fact that Nox was weaving among the enemies, hitting them, or otherwise throwing them off. Although a little redundant, Nox's third Field Skill, Abyss Veil, allowed him to turn invisible when the environment was dark enough. And it was nighttime without much lighting around.

(End Song)

Before Blake even realized it, the enemies were already beaten either by her or her friends. "...This was too easy," Blake said aloud as she looked around the beaten enemies. At that moment she felt a pair of arms grabbing her and moving her away. Blake almost screamed before she saw a green poled two-pronged Megalance sailing past the area she used to occupy. Next thing she knew she was facing the Gormotti assassin who killed Ellenora. But then an inky shadow rushed past her and Perceval was in front of her, blocking her view. Shortly after, Nox appeared next to his Driver as if to guard her.

"Nice one, Perceval," The assassin said smugly. "I can see you move just like you did back then. I take back what I said. You have not changed in the slightest. Except you usually don't save others." The assassin laughed at the last part like it was a joke. The assassin then had a forlorn look in his green eyes, "It's just like that time... That time you disobeyed me, betrayed your friends, and tried to leave the Bloody Lobsters." Then the assassin laughed.

"I don't see what's funny," Perceval said calmly while everyone else remained on guard.

"You don't?!" The assassin looked shocked, "But it's exhilarating! The excitement of it! The thought that we might kill each other again! Not to mention the thought of having the Demon of Abyss in our ranks is just too good of an opportunity to pass up!"

"Who is this Demon of Abyss?" Blake demanded before her eyes visibly widened as a thought crossed her and then she looked to Nox.

The assassin laughed again, "Looks like you figured it out. Nox, the Demon of Abyss. A sneaky terror that lurks in the night, killing anyone he pleases. Not for reward, or even for joy like Perceval used to, but because he literally feasts on the bodies of those he kills. With the amount of stories about him going on, I'm surprised he's not a Flesh Eater."

Nox showed his scroll towards the assassin and Blake moved to get a look herself at the glowing blue letters. "I do not recognize that moniker. Nor do I have any idea who you think you are to talk so casually about me after trying to kill my lady."

"Oh that's right! I never even introduced myself." The assassin said as if remembering for the first time, "My name is Bradly. And I have a proposition for you, Nox. Kill your current Driver so that you can join the Bloody Lobsters. Then we can feed you with all the fresh blood that you crave in the form of our targets. What do you say?" At the end of the proposal, Bradly extended a hand as if expecting Nox to take it.

"Nox, you can't!" Ruby cried out, "Not after everything you and Blake have gone through!"

"That's right!" Nora added in, "Aren't you Blake's loyal minion?!"

"That's not helping, Nora," Ren said in a warning tone.

Nox gave a death glare at Ruby and Nora which made the two flinch and prepare their weapons for the inevitable. Instead of the ninja Blade attacking them, Nox took out his scroll and showed it to Blake. The cat faunus quickly read it before chuckling, "Nox you know exactly what my answer to that's going to be. But just to make it clear: No, no you can't."

"Blake?" Rex asked, apprehension written all over his face.

"What did he say?" Bradly asked.

Blake smiled at Bradly, "Nox asked me if I could let him rip you to shreds."

"What? But I offer him all the blood he could have, which I'm sure you're denying him. Or are you perhaps feeding him people in-" "I'm going to stop you right there." Blake interrupted, no longer amused, "You don't understand Nox at all! Sure, he would love to kill and eat people, but he knows that would make me upset. And to him, that's even worse than not being able to...indulge himself." Blake couldn't help a shiver going down her spine at the brief mental image of what Nox might do with the bodies.

"You won't accept my offer, huh?" Bradly said, lowering his offered hand in disappointment. "Well, I honestly don't mind. The generous guy that I am, I will accept you in our ranks anyway, after burying your current Driver with my own hands. Just like I did with Perceval 20 years ago."

"You want to get to Blake?" Ruby said, getting next to her teammate, "You'll have to go through us."

"That's right!" Penny agreed, preparing her Ether Cannon. Everyone else also got on their guard.

"You are welcome to try. But I assure you, the one to be buried is YOU!" Nox spoke with his monstrous voice, screaming the last part, which freaked everyone out to varying degrees.

"Do you see your foolishness?" Perceval asked, crossing his arms, "You have no hope of winning under these circumstances."

Surprise crossed Bradly's eyes. "Oh, relying on friends now? You Perceval? Really?" The assassin chuckled, "Well I certainly would have preferred to assassinate you and with this crowd here, it'd hardly be a proper assassination. But I suppose I could kill them all, just like you would."

At that moment, Blake's feline ears twitched. "Behind us!" Blake cried out, just as she looked back, as did everyone else. But Nox and Perceval kept their eyes on Bradly and his dark-colored brute Blade.

Behind them, the opponents that were previously beaten were back up, with some reinforcements among them.

(Play Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST: A Monster Surprised You)

"There. Problem solved." Bradly said smugly.

"Guys, can you take care of the other assassins?" Blake asked, "I want to deal with Bradly."

"Are you sure, Blake?" Ruby asked.

"I'm sure," Blake affirmed with a confident smile. "I have Nox and Perceval after all."

"Oh, you will regret saying that girl." Bradly said as he brandished his two-pronged Megalance. "Especially when one of your Blades has already abandoned you."

Blake resisted rolling her eyes at the obvious lie. She was currently wielding Perceval's weapon. As for Nox, just because you can't see him doesn't mean he's not there.

Blake immediately engaged with Perceval's purple Chroma Katana. Bradly deflected the first strike, and used the momentum to swipe at Blake's head, only to be surprised to see his target evaporating as soon as she was cut.

"What?" Bradly let out just before his Blade deployed a barrier to stop an attack from Blake that was somehow to Bradly's left. "How did you do that, girl? Perceval doesn't possess that kind of ability."

"No, but I do," Blake said as she then weaved past Bradly's rapid jabs with either the blades or the butt of the Megalance. Finally, she spotted an opening. "Dead Stinger!" Blake thrusted the Katana with blinding speed at Bradly's arm, hoping to disable him.

"Charge Count!" But Bradly avoided the attack before delivering three quick stabs at Blake's torso, causing her to stumble back. Bradly could have sworn that his Art should have at least wounded the girl. And yet there was no scratch on her. The assassin would have gone for a follow-up attack if his feline ears didn't catch a certain sound that he had been expecting. "Now!" Bradly yelled, and his Blade quickly smashed something into the ground. On instinct, Blake looked away just in time to avoid a loud bang, which was followed by Nox screaming.

"My eye! My-!" The so-called Demon of Abyss screamed before he was suddenly cut off. Blake managed to look just in time to see the now visible Nox being thrown by Bradly's Blade toward his Driver. The said Driver pointed his weapon backwards, causing it to pierce through Nox's chest plate and into the ninja himself right around his Core Crystal.

"Nox!" Blake cried out in concern just before Bradly swung the weapon, tossing Nox at Blake in the process. Blake quickly dropped the weapon and caught her Blade with some difficulty. "Nox! Are you okay?!" Blake freaked out, turning Nox enough to get a look at the Core Crystal. Fortunately, the Crystal was fine, but there were two large holes above and beneath it.

"Blake!" Perceval called out before appearing in front of Blake to deflect another strike aimed at his Driver. "Nox will be fine, focus on the enemy!" Perceval lectured as he used the sheathed Chroma Katana to deflect the next strike to the side and then drew the weapon to strike at Bradly. The swipe merely grazed the assassin's cheek, but he still backed away.

"Nox, stay out of this until your eye heals," Blake said before dashing to Perceval. "Perceval, your weapon!" Blake had barely finished her command when Perceval threw his weapon to her. Trusting that Nox obeyed, if only to not make himself a target, Blake engaged Bradly again. Once again, the two exchanged blows, with Blake already coming up with something.

"Perceval, can you channel more dark Ether into the weapon?" Blake asked as she backed away.

Instead of receiving a verbal response, the purple in the Blade weapon took on a darker tint. Then Blake took an Iaido stance. It worked with different Dusts, so... Blake then dashed in and partly drew the katana from its sheath. "From Shadows!"

The only thing that saved Bradly from being slashed just then was his experience. Otherwise, he would have been completely stupefied at the sight of his opponent being covered in inky darkness and dashing in with a slash of a dark Chroma Katana and not backed away just enough to avoid the strike.

"Nice try, girl." Bradly commented as he struck his Megalance into Blake's head. Only for him to be surprised when the inky dark figure of his enemy burst like a bubble. Spewing inky darkness into his eyes. "What is this?!" Bradly cried out, trying to wipe whatever was covering his eyes away. He was then struck multiple times until he felt a kick in the stomach. Bradly rubbed his stomach and his torso, realizing he wasn't bleeding. Did the girl use the backs of the blades? Bradly tried wiping his eyes one more time, and this time he was able to open his eyes. "How did you do that? No Blade or Driver has done something like-What?!" Bradly's eyes widened at the sight of his now-deactivated Megalance. A glance to his Blade revealed that his Blade was down, covered in purple chains to his mouth. Which in turn made him look behind Blake. His subordinates were defeated, and their Blades were sealed once again. And Perceval's friends were now looking at him with their weapons pointed at him. Including Nox whose eye had recovered.

(Change song: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST: Tensed Mind)

"So... This is the end," Bradly said with a chuckle. "Well, I suppose my work remains unfinished this time."

"Your subordinate spoke of three bounties," Blake said, not taking her eyes off Bradly.

"One was Pupunin." Rex said with a stern look.

"The other was Nox." Roze said with a glare.

"So, what was the third one?" Blake finished.

Bradly chuckled at this, "Wasn't it obvious? Why it was Perceval himself."

"...I don't believe you," Perceval said with his arms crossed. His war banners that had been out since the battle started folding to his back and the flames from his helmet going out. "What you have against me sounds personal, while you spoke of bounties like it was business. What was the third bounty?"

"I told you before, Perceval. Reputation is everything in this world." Bradly said smugly, "That means I can't disclose client information. Not even if it saved my life." Bradly then spread his arms, "So go on. Finish me! End this! After all, the only way to keep your current Driver safe is to kill me."

Perceval looked towards Blake with a questioning look. "...Do what you must," Blake said, earning surprised looks from others.

Perceval then turned to face Bradly once more. "I am not a killer... Not even when it comes to worthless scum like you."

Bradly laughed at the answer he got. "Not a killer you say? Even if you don't kill me now, you can bet your arse someone else will. Everyone has to die sometime, Perceval. Just like that woman. Go on, you know you want to. Those skills of yours were made for killing. No matter how many times you are reborn, a killer is what you are." Bradly then dropped his inactive Megalance and spread his arms wide. "You can stop holding back now, Perceval. Go on, kill me!"

(Change Song: Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST: The Past Revealed)

Perceval then vanished in inky wisps of darkness and appeared in front of Bradly, driving his fist into the Gormotti's gut. "...I will not." Perceval said resolutely, "Dying here would be too easy an end for one such as you. No, you will live so that you can spend the rest of your life atoning for your sins."

Bradly's eyes widened and his voice trembled as he spoke, "That... isn't that a fate crueler than death...? Perceval. You really are the Heartless Judge." With those words spoken, Bradly collapsed, falling unconscious.

(End Song)

Blake smiled at this. "Perceval, you made the right choice."

"Are you sure?" Nia asked with a skeptical look, "I mean... he's still a killer at the end of the day."

"I know, but even if we kill him, that won't bring Ellenora back." Blake said with a downcast look, her feline ears folding a little "Besides, Perceval is right. Ending him here would be too easy for him."

Nox then showed a text to his Driver, "If I may suggest, my lady, you could hand him over to me. I could make his end slow and painful."

"I'm sure you could, Nox. But I forbid it." Blake said giving her first Blade a firm look.

"As you command." Nox rerolled his scroll and bowed his head.

"So, what do we do with all these assassins?" Nora then asked, looking at the beaten and battered Bloody Lobsters.

"Leave that to Niranira." Came the voice of Niranira, which earned everyone's attention. The acting chairman of Argentum walked to the battlefield with a contingent of Argentum's security suits.

"Niranira? What are you doing here?" Rex asked, moving closer to the Nopon.

"Niranira hear commotion in Salvage Deck, so come to investigate." Niranira explained as he took a look at the battlefield, "And Niranira see that friends help protect important witness. Arrest the ne'er-do-wells." With that last command, Niranira's security forces moved in and started locking up the beaten assassins. Some of them also brought in a small version of Ether Net launcher and used it to put a more lasting binding on the Blades. Which in turn allowed Otohime to release her seal.

During this, Pupunin came out of his house and waddled to Rex. "Pupunin thank friends for saving Pupunin's life. Pupunin in your debt, and sure to pay you back...one day" Pupunin thanked, although he sounded unsure at the last part.

Rex opened his mouth to answer, but Perceval beat him to it, "We only did what's right. No reward is necessary." And as soon as he said that, Perceval walked away.

"Perceval, wait!" Ruby called out, but the assassin Blade didn't seem to hear her.

"I'll deal with him, Ruby," Blake said before going after him.

As soon as that happened, Mythra decided to pipe up, "Are we sure we can't ask for a reward? I mean, we did just take down a band of assassins and saved-"

"Mythra! Perceval already said no reward was necessary." Pyra scolded, "If we ask for a reward now, it would just make us look greedy."

Mythra pouted but decided to put a lid on her opinions. Nia also looked a little annoyed. Would have been nice to be compensated at least a little considering they had to stay up this late.

"Can we go to sleep now?" Elektra asked with a yawn.

"Sure we can...if the Inn is still open," Nora said, letting out a big yawn herself.

"Friends no worry." Niranira said, "Your stay at the inn is on Niranira."

"Really? Awesome!" Ruby cheered, before yawning and leaning against Roze sleepily.

With Perceval, he was looking out to the sea from the edge of the Salvage Deck.

"...Do you think Ellenora would be happy to have Bradly facing justice?" Blake asked, having walked next to him.

"It doesn't matter. So long as there are those in need of judgment, I will continue to mete it out with this sword." Perceval replied.

Blake smiled a little before looking concerned, "Perceval... I was wondering... What would you do if you heard that you had killed someone in your previous life? I mean before I awakened you?"

"Strange question," Perceval said with a curious look. "Are you perhaps referring to this Adam you once mentioned?"

Blake looked startled at the question. "How did you know?"

"So, I was right." Perceval said, looking a little down, "Are you...sad that he was killed? Do you perhaps... hate me for it?"

"No Perceval." Blake quickly corrected, "I mean... I was sad that he died, but... The Adam that I knew died long before that. Or...maybe that Adam never existed... Then again... No, never mind." Blake shook her head at the last part. "It doesn't matter anymore. The Perceval standing in front of me is the only one I know now."

"Thank you," Perceval said before looking out to the sea once again, craning his head upwards to look at the stars.

Blake also looked up at the stars, glad that what she feared of Perceval turned out to be baseless after all. Perceval's behavior from the start of this incident wasn't something Adam left behind. The assassin Blade felt responsible for someone from his past coming after him, and he hoped that by trying to separate from everyone he could keep them safe. Just like Blake used to believe. "Perceval... I want you to know that you can talk to me if there is something on your mind."

Perceval gave his Driver a questioning look, before returning his gaze to the stars, "...I will try."

"That's all I can ask," Blake said, wondering if things would be different if she had realized it sooner herself. Then again...if she hadn't returned to Menagerie, her parents could have been killed. Not to mention Adam wouldn't have been stopped... Or perhaps Perceval would have ended him anyway, but the White Fang wouldn't have become undone without the volunteers from Menagerie. Maybe Zeke was right about Adam having a little good left for Perceval to inherit when he was awakened.


AN: So there you have it, Perceval's Blade Quest has been completed. All that remains is to uncover who is the Driver of Ryuko and Satsuki, and is possibly behind the attempted attack on Queen Raqura.

On another note, some of you may have noticed, but the prequel stories now have cover pictures. Other than Dahlia, the pictures are commissioned from DA artist, Alex-kellar, by me.