Their departure from the townhouse had been a slow and arduous affair, upon exiting out the back of the house and into the alleyway behind, they had found both ends blocked off from the main streets, a squad of six armed 'individuals' lying in wait for those inside, who unannounced to them already walked among them.
They'd managed to slip past them without too much issue and ducked into a narrow space between the walls of two houses that led them into the next street over, the second they'd cleared the buildings they'd picked up the pace abandoning subtlety in favour of speed, scaling the buildings onto the rooftops Nightshade took the lead.
From there they moved from one roof to the other passing over the crowds below, Nightshade guiding them towards the outskirts of the city, even if she wasn't too fond of the person in question, not after what she'd just put her and Sun through, she'd admit, they'd come to Remnant prepared.
At that moment she couldn't help but wonder how many more like her were already on the planet, was she just part of a scouting party like with Ben and Rook or had the plumber arrived in force, a fleet in orbit above the planet, ready to pounce upon the invaders that threatened their world. They'd been promised support by Magister Tennyson and yet after the fall of Beacon perhaps when Remnant needed the plumbers most, they'd been left out to dry, she wanted to know why they'd been left to fend for themse-
A tile gave way under her boot, drawing a startled gasp from the Cat Faunus as her foot slid down the side of the roof after it, acting quickly Blake shifted her fall into a roll, pushing off with her hand she launched herself forward through the air twisting her body as she landed so her feet touched the ground first and resuming her sprint beside Sun.
"You good" The monkey Faunus asked.
"Fine" Blake replied, however, the sound of the tile shattering on the street below caused her to wince. Maybe now wasn't the time to let herself get distracted, she'd have time to ask all the questions she wanted once they had a moment of peace, for now, she could focus on not giving them away any more than she already had.
Afterall just because they couldn't be seen didn't mean they wouldn't go unheard if they weren't careful, looking back over her shoulder Blake could spot more a few Faunus out on the street turning their gaze up towards the rooftop behind them, the owner of the home stood just outside his front door cursing at the sight of the shattered roof tiles littering the street.
Blake offered a silent apology to the man in question, normally she would have been more careful but with recent events in mind, she felt her mistake could be forgiven.
It wasn't long until Nightshade signalled them her device was on its last legs and they were forced to veer off and back into the maze of alleyways and side streets that made up the majority of Kuo Kuanna, where they stopped to rest and gather their bearings.
"Everyone all right" Nightshade called out over her shoulder as she typed away at the controls on her bracer, pulling up the spy drone she'd left behind at the house watching on as the squad from out back and another made up of residents from the surrounding street armed with a variety of knives, machetes and pistols, emerged from the house faces twisted in a mix of frustration and confusion at the absence of their quarries.
She shook her head in disappointment at the sight, a bunch of fools the lot of them.
Even if this was meant to have been the height of the White Fang's activity on Remnant, she couldn't believe how many normal people had joined up with them, people with families, friends, even kids whom they'd chastise and warn about 'falling in with bad crowds' and 'Obeying the law' while they themselves cast those verry lessons aside and donned the face of monsters all in hopes of creating the 'better world' they'd heard so much about.
But that was the trouble with hope, once you give it to someone they'd fight tooth and nail to hang onto it, to keep the dream alive just for the chance it might come true, if not for them then those they loved. The White Fang used hope like a weapon, preying on the poor and downtrodden with promises of a better life, in exchange for the one they currently lived.
It was sickening.
Typing in a quick command into her bracer she initiated the recall function, the drone beginning to pull back from the house and move towards their position. Her ears twitched slightly, the sensors in her helmet picking up the sound of footsteps approaching from behind, she glanced back over her shoulder, her mother coming to a stop just behind her opening her mouth to speak. "How many-
"If you have questions, save them until we reach the safe house." Nightshade cut her off turning her gaze back to the holographic display of the streets they'd passed over a few seconds later a low buzz filled the air drawing the attention of the other three she extended her hand out, and seconds later the drone dropped down from above landing into her waiting palm and was swiftly deposited back into one of the pouches on her belt. "If you didn't notice back there, the White Fang has eyes and ears everywhere." she turned and began making her way down the alleyway.
"So do you apparently." Blake called out to her in frustration, causing Nightshade to halt recognising that tone of hers all too well. Seeing she had the plumber's attention she carried on. "How long have you been on the Remnant, better yet, why didn't you reach out to us before now, we could have worked together on stopping the White Fang."
Sadly, the situation was a little more complicated than that, besides, it wasn't like this was the first time she'd helped them out "Pretty sure we already have been." Nightshade turned back towards Blake resting her hand on her hip "Those documents weren't easy for us to get our hands on, you know."
"So that was you?" Sun surmised receiving an affirmative no in response.
"What about the rest of your team?" Blake pressed, from what she'd seen back on earth and what Alex had explained to her and the rest of the team on how the plumbers operated, even if she was just a scout sent in to gather intel and sabotage their enemies, there should at least be one other plumber tagging along with her for additional support, like with Alex and Koan.
Sending a single fighter no matter how skilled into a hostile environment cut off from the rest of their organisation's infrastructure, wasn't just reckless it was suicide. Nightshade shook her head in response "It's just me for now?" Not that she hadn't asked the prof to include Spanner or Kimera in this mission of theirs; though the old man had insisted she was all that would be required for the time being, but her parents had drilled it into her head never to run into a fight without backup.
"For now?" Aurico questioned having picked up on a certain part of her last words "What did you mean by that, are you not a scout?"
Nightshade sighed "The Cavalry... is held up at the moment" It wasn't the total truth but not a total lie either, yes 'The cavalry' was coming but it wouldn't be exactly how they would have expected her mother most of all.
"Held... up? what do you mean held up?" Blake blanched, it had been almost a year now surely that would be more than enough time to put together an expedition like Magister Tennyson had promised her and her team during their visit to Earth, and Max didn't strike her as the kind of man to go back on his word, the fact Alex had respected the man so much only helping to reinforce that view. "What aren't you telling us?"
Nightshade sighed crossing her arms over her chest, she knew this conversation was coming, it was only natural they'd wonder why the help they'd been offered, the help at Remnant rightfully deserved was taking so long to arrive and knowing her mom she wouldn't let up until she had an honest answer.
This is why, this was a conversation that needed to be saved for a better time and more importantly private place where they didn't have to worry about anyone listening in and where she could better manage their reactions " I'll explain everything in time, for now, let's focus on the matter at hand." She said turning on her heels and making her way down the wallet in the direction of the safe house.
Blake narrowed her eyes at the plumber's retreating form, just then a hand settled on her shoulder, and she looked to find Sun offering her a reassuring smile. "Hey, we'll worry about all that later for now, let's find this Whiger guy and get back to your parents, we still got a long way to go if we're going to be ready for Haven." And once they made it to Mistral maybe he could call in a few favours from his team and classmates.
He was sure the guys wouldn't pass up the chance at knocking a few white fang heads together.
Blake sighed "Fine" She'd have her answers soon enough anyway, she could wait a little longer.
/
Raven Branwen, the so-called Bandit Queen of Mistral, Tai-Yang's ex-wife, Qrow's sister, Yang's birth mother and their current host.
Lilly regarded the older woman easily from across the table between them, sitting atop one of the floor cushions, her sword detached from her belt and left to rest against the tent post behind her, wearing a calm almost disinterested expression while nursing a fresh cup of tea courtesy of the young woman who Raven had claimed to have ended the small riot outside only minutes ago, Vernal if she remembered correctly.
To describe their current situation as tense would be an understatement, she was regretting not putting her foot down back the port about going to Raven no matter how good of an argument Yang had made at the time, the way her robotic hand twitched and shook in her lap combined with the scowl she'd been wearing since first laying eyes on her birth mother made it all too clear, that despite her previous claims and cavalier approach she was nowhere near as prepared for this interaction as she claimed to be.
She'd argue the only reason Yang hadn't lept across the table to try and strangle her mother -Not that she would blame her- was a combination of Ravens 'Promise' to open a portal to Qrow and by association Ruby after hearing her out, and Koans own silent reassurance. Their fellow blond hadn't said a word since entering the tent either having nothing to say to the bandit Queen and her disciple or just not trusting himself to remain civil throughout the conversation.
Instead, he'd taken his place beside Yang, and just held her hand, interlocking his fingers with her own and rubbing slow soothing circles across the back of her palm. Yet every so often his eyes would dart between Raven and Vernal, studying, analysing, weighing their chances and the cost and benefit of acting on them.
She'd seen that look more than enough times on her own students before they'd entered their final trial to determine whether they were worthy of the title of Pai Zhua Master. If need be he was ready to fight and if things didn't go the way Yang had been pushing for, that may be the only way they were walking out of there, nevertheless, they'd managed to get this far so she was willing to let things play out, though that didn't mean she'd let her guard down.
Hope for the best, but plan for the worst as they say.
Reaching out Lilly accepted the tea Vernal had poured, she waited a moment for Raven to drink first before drinking as well earning a look of disbelief from Yang, Lilly looked back at her expectantly "Yang, our host is offering her time and hospitality" she said in warning her eyes flicking down to the tea in front of the Blond Brawler. "It would be rude to turn it down."
Despite her own reservations towards the woman across from them, Raven could have left them to her tribe's fury and while she was confident they could overcome them and make their escape, they'd have been back to square one. However instead Raven -despite having the means and the ability to force her daughter to leave- had decided to indulge her demands, so the least they could do was show some gratitude and not make the situation any worse by snubbing the Bandit queen's hospitality.
Raven watched the exchange silently, crimson pools flicking between the blond trio her eyebrows creasing down in dissatisfaction, she'd been hoping for Yang to let her temper guide her throughout this exchange and make convincing her of the futility of her journey all the easier. Regardless of how sickening it was to use one's own child's trauma against them, it was for her own good, she had no idea she was getting herself into running after her sister, Qrow and by extension... Ozpin.
Yet to her dismay, it would seem the Otherworlder was taking the lead...no matter, she could work with that.
Any battle against Salem was doomed to fail, she could not be killed, she could not be stopped and with those new allies of hers she had a feeling the Queen would be making her next move soon enough, and right now she had an opportunity to spare her daughter of such a pointless battle and even more pointless death, surely this 'guardian' would not want to risk the lives of children in what would be such a gruelling conflict.
"Fine" Yang whispered reaching out taking the teacup in hand and downing it in one go before setting the china cup back down in front of her and fixing her birthmother with a flat look. "Yum" she uttered in the driest sarcastic tone Lilly had ever heard in her life. She knew Yang had her fair share of issues when it came to her mother, but from how she talked on the way here she at least sounded like she was going to try and be at least a little more co-operative, though given how obnoxious and self-serving her mother speech outside had been she couldn't say it was all that surprising.
"So" Lilly picked up before Yang had a chance to go any further "Outside you mentioned you mentioned we needed to know the 'truth' about everything." Setting her cup back down on the table she leaned forward "What exactly did you mean by that?"
Setting her own cup down in front of her raven leaned forward "What I mean is what one person considers the 'truth' isn't always the case with another, a story of victory for one can be a tale of defeat to another, and that your allies, my brother chief among them, has been feeding you one version and just so happened to neglect to mention the other."
Yang scowled and looked as though she was about to argue in her uncle's defence, though Lilly was quick to carry on before she could. "If you're trying to say they've been keeping things from us, we've been more than aware since our first meeting."
"And you never questioned it?" Raven inquired.
"Oh no, we questioned and argued about it among ourselves for a great deal of time." Lilly replied with a slight wave. "We just decided it wasn't as important at the time."
"Had you, I imagine you might have avoided a great deal of pain because of it." The bandit queen pointed out.
That was how it always went with Ozpin, he swept you up with his charm and charisma, his speeches of creating a better world, his dark and terrible truths about their ancient enemy and how the academies and his brotherhood, the same he now asked you to join were the only things guarding the world against annihilation.
Of course, being the naive fool you were at the time, shocked and infuriated by the truth of the world, why wouldn't you accept the offer, why would you not follow the man who seemed to have all the answers, who offered no only your survival but that of those you loved and a shot at a world better than the shithole of a one you'd known since you were just a girl.
At the time you didn't think about just what siding with him might entail, the trials you would face, the choices you would have to make, nor the consequences that would come by treating his word as gospel, how you suffered daily because of it, how it gnawed at you every night to the point you couldn't take it anymore and decided to leave it all behind, to run from the life you'd built for yourself, the love you'd found and cherished so deeply, the same love that had brought a beautiful, perfect, child into this world of theirs.
The same one that you were now desperately trying to save, the child twisted by your failures, who now glared at you from across the table, eyes filled with nothing but hatred and scorn.
"You're right" Lilly relented, more than willing to allow Raven that small victory. Frustrating as it might have been, it was obvious from their first interaction and out of respect for the headmaster as well as the word of one of their own who'd been planetside far longer than them, they'd made the decision not to pry too deeply. A long sigh left the yellow ranger, whose mind drifted back to the young man that had been placed under her tutelage, the same boy who she'd come to consider family "We made a mistake and one of our had to pay for it".
It was a grave mistake on their part looking back on it now, but at the time cooperation between them and Vale had been their main priority. Even if they had been aware of others working in the shadows beside the Psycho rangers, she doubted there would have been much they could have done at that point Cinder's plans were already in motion long before she and the others had arrived with the White Fang acting as the perfect cover. "But then again it's easy to easy to see where you went wrong after everything is said and done, but things tend to be a lot murkier in the here and now, you operate with the information you have and sometimes that means you have to take a risk and take things as things come, though just because that failed doesn't mean we have to turn our backs on our allies, and I have certainly more reason to trust their word than yours right now."
Raven shook her head lightly at the younger woman's words "That doesn't mean those reasons don't exist." The bandit Queen sighed tapping the tip of her finger on the wood of the table "Everyone has something they want to hide; everyone has skeletons they prefer to keep locked in their closet." Raven shifted her gaze to Yang "Your partner, the white Fang girl that deserted you, what was her name... Blake? You think she was the only person with a checkered past that Old man Oz let worm their way into his Academy."
"Like you get to talk!" Yang spat back her eyes flickering red, for a moment it looked like she might rise from her seat, Koan reached up grabbing her by the shoulder Yang's gaze snapped back down to him her blazing red eyes boring into his calm ocean Blue they stayed like that for a few moments a silent conversation passing between them, after a moment Yang slowly sat back down on her cushion shutting her eyes she took a deep breath in and out through her nose, her amethyst eyes blinked open no less angry but far more controlled then mere moments ago. "Uncle Qrow is nothing like her" Yang growled.
"They're more alike than you think." Raven replied taking another sip of her tea "Most of the Huntsmen out there went to the academies for a number of reasons, tradition, money, glory, pride" she listed off one after another "Or as you and the rest of your team believed, to do the right thing." Honestly... the four of them might as well have been the poster children for the academies with that mindset. Sadly, not everyone was that naive nor were they as good-intentioned as she might like to think... nor how much they try to hide otherwise. "But your uncle and I, no, Your Uncle Qrow and I didn't attend Beacon to become Huntsmen, we did it to learn how to kill Huntsmen."
Yang sucked in a small breath while Koan's eyes widened in alarm, Lilly managed to maintain a calm outward appearance despite her hands tightening dangerously around her china cup. She'd had her suspicion for some time now after learning of Qrow's...past involvement with the tribe. She hadn't pried too deep, nor would she judge him for it, after all, it wouldn't be the first time one of their allies had been someone from a less-then-noble background who'd turned away from that life.
However, she'd assumed the choice to leave that life behind had been a conscious decision on his part, not by chance as Raven seemed to be implying.
"W-What?" Yang breathed, her gaze hardening a moment later "Uncle Qrow would never-"
"The 'Uncle Qrow you know' would never, just like how he and 'Daddy' wanted it to be." Raven corrected pouring herself another cup of tea, she glanced at Lilly who shook her head in response more concerned with Raven's words rather than the tea at the moment. "The brother I knew growing up was a far cry from the man you know today, he was ruthless, cunning, fearless and above all loyal to the tribe and our ways." She drank deeply from her cup before continuing "Besides the Grimm, huntsmen were the only threat to our raids and the tribe as a whole, as such we needed a counter force "She shrugged" Qrow and I were around the right age and the entrance exams were child's play compared to what we'd already been through."
Raven smiled if only slightly, despite what had come after their graduation from Beacon the memories from those days were some of the fondest she had growing up. "We were good." That smile fell a moment later "So good, that we caught the attention of Beacon's very own Headmaster, Professor Ozpin. Even after we were put on a team, I could tell he was keeping his eye on us." A fat lot of good it did him in the long run "Back then, I thought it was because he knew, but it was Team STRQ he was interested in, not us."
"What do you mean by interested" Koan spoke up for what had been the first time entering the tent.
Raven regarded him evenly "Constant attention, extra training missions, turning a blind eye whenever we happened to break the rules and get into more trouble than we should've." Her gaze shifted back to Yang "Sound familiar?"
Her daughter narrowed her eyes back at her and for a moment considered snapping back but stopped herself, now wasn't the time for another temper tantrum "What's your point, and what does headmaster Ozpin have to do with any of this, he's dead, so why do you keep bringing him up."
"Because Ozpin isn't dead "Raven revealed leaning forward across the table as she carried on, her temper beginning to rear its head once more. "Because the man you know as Ozpin has lived far longer than any human on Remnant. Because he designed each of the academies and has been controlling them and by extension the huntsmen of every kingdom for decades."
"That doesn't make any sense!" Yang rebuked, okay other dimensions, magic, aliens yeah all of that she could accept, all of that she could believe in but some Immortal... whatever, behind the creation of the academies and secretly running the kingdoms from behind the scenes, that was a step too far, into coo-coo land thank you verry much. "How could he have...? No. Why would someone even do that?" What would be the point?
"It's because of this 'Truth' she's been building herself up to tell us." Lilly surmised the pieces finally beginning to click into place "That's why Ozpin created the Academies, his brotherhood, all of it is because he's fighting something... something that terrifies you." Crimson eyes snapped towards her, the shock, anger and indignation burning within them was all she needed to know she'd hit the nail right on the head.
Pressing the advantage Lilly leaned forward meeting the bandit queen's gaze head-on. "So, I'll ask you, what or rather who, has he been fighting all this time?"
Raven held the yellow ranger's gaze a thousand emotions passing through her at that moment, her control over the conversation and situation as a whole thoroughly yanked out from under her. Raven's eyes shifted from Lilly to Yang and then Koan, the former looking between the two of them incredulously, while the young man beside her daughter regarded her expectantly. Her hands slowly clenched and unclenched in her lap her throat suddenly feeling verry dry, this was it, if she told them, if she told Yang about... her, there'd be no going back, but if she didn't...
Closing her eyes Raven let out a long breath through her nose, rising from her seat she stepped away from the table, Yang shifted slightly at the motion ready to roll back and deploy Ember Celica should it come to it much like Koan who after sensing the rising tension in the room, slipped his free hand down to his side fingers curling around and looping into the pin of one of the smoke grenades strapped to his side all the while Lilly remained in place watching the internal conflict unfold inside Yang's mother.
After a long moment, Raven allowed her shoulders to slump, the conversation had taken far more out of her than she'd expected. " The Creatures of Grimm... have a master named Salem." She didn't pause to give them time to take it in, that could come later be that with her or with her fool of a brother and dear old Oz " She can't be stopped, she can't be reasoned with, and she will not rest until Humanity crumbles at her feet, that is the truth."
A tense silence fell over her tent, and Raven readied herself for what was to come, shock and disbelief followed swiftly by anger and denial, it was how she'd reacted, how just about everyone on Team STRQ had reacted when Ozpin had first revealed the dark truth of their world to them, what she did not expect however was the yellow rangers response to her warning.
"Great, another one." Lilly muttered just loud enough to be heard.
Raven turned back from the map, her face set in stone, though admittedly somewhat taken aback by the young woman's dismissiveness towards perhaps the greatest threat to Remnant's continued survival. She almost wanted to scoff at the sheer arrogance that was being displayed, yet it was also her choice of words that gave her pause, 'Another one?' The words were spoken with a level of seriousness and frustration. It left a small voice in the back of her mind asking who it was the young woman was referring to, if they were in any way similar to Salem and how she had survived against them.
Before she could inquire as to who these 'others' were, her daughter took this time to speak up "Y-you're kidding, right? You're not actually saying you believe her!?" Yang argued throwing her flesh and blood hand out towards her mother.
The Grimm had been around since before any of the kingdoms had even been formed, since the dark ages of humanity before they discovered dust, since before well, since before they even started keeping track. If there was someone out there who could control the Grimm, who had been directing them, and waging war on mankind for all this time, then the world definitely would have found out by now and something would have been done to stop it ...Right?
"Not really." Lilly replied her hazel eyes shifting back towards Raven, the whole thing seemed a little convenient in her opinion, though that didn't mean she was going to dismiss the idea just yet. "Or rather, not yet at least" There were still a few things she'd like to clear up first "If we leave here after this and take this to your brother and Ozpin, they'd corroborate everything you just told us." she directed towards Raven.
'At least one of them has the right mindset.' With luck and a little more prodding on her end, she might just be able to drive that point through Yang's thick skull. "The old man would try and dress it up more to get the two of you on his side, but yes, you can expect them to tell you much the same. As for the rest of what I've said" Raven began to move back towards the entrance of the tent her gaze shifting to Yang as she passed "If you still need more proof that what I've told you is true, why don't you come see what Oz did to your dear old Uncle and I, for yourself." She stepped through the flap the cloth snapping behind her.
Lilly didn't waste time and got to her feet Yang and Koan rose beside her, yet they did not follow, not yet at least, their eyes remained on the tent flap weighing their opinions. Eventually, Koan broke the silence. "We could sneak out through the back, grab our stuff and get gone before she realises." It would mean they would have to leave behind Yang's bike, going back for it let alone sneaking it out the camp would take too much time and run too much of a risk of them getting caught, as much as it would pain Yang to have to part with it.
Lilly considered the offer and found herself agreeing, they had their supplies on them, they could be out of the tent, over the back wall and have half a mile between them and the camp before Raven or her men were any the wiser. However, before she could voice her agreement Yang stepped past her pushing open the tent flap, calling out "Mom!?" as she went.
Lilly gnashed her teeth in response to her charge costing them their element of surprise. 'Great' Shaking her head lightly she and Koan followed Yang out through the tent flap and out into the camp once more. They found Yang standing at the end of the podium looking out over the surrounding area, Raven was nowhere in sight.
"Are you serious, right now?" Lilly chided seizing the younger girl by the arm and dragging her back away from the edge of the platform towards the tent. It was clear despite her own efforts Raven had managed to get under Yang's skin, to what ends still remained up in the air right now, but the last thing any of them needed was for one of them to go charging off into what could just as easily be a trap. "I know you know better than to go marching headfirst into what could be an ambush."
Yang didn't respond instead she pulled her arm free and stepped up to the edge of the platform once more looking around the campsite in search of Raven, her brow knitted down in frustration "I'm not leaving until she gets us a portal to Ruby." She called back over her shoulder, much to her mentor's exasperation... okay, she knew she hadn't exactly been thinking with her head when she'd marched out here - something she'd apologised for later - but after sitting through her mom's shitty form of twenty questions she wasn't about to let this all be for nothing.
"Mom!" She called out once more.
Just then something swooped down from above whipping past the blond brawler's face "The hell?" Yang gasped taking an involuntary step back, deploying Ember Celica she instinctively dropped into a boxing stance, causing Lilly and Koan to reach for their weapons, however, a subtle *Caw* from above made them pause. 'A bird' Lilly thought to herself glancing up at the source of the noise to find a bird, no, a raven to be specific, soaring in the dusky skies above.
Yang followed their gaze up towards the avian, she almost dismissed it outright, yet the more she looked at it the more she couldn't help but feel like she'd seen the small creature before. 'Wait a second' Her eyes narrowed in realisation, realisation beginning to dawn on her... it was there.
Back at the hospital after she woke up to find her arm missing, for the next week she'd seen it outside the hospital room watching her from atop the fire escape, then again after she'd been released and headed back to patch where the three of them spent weeks waiting for her little sister to wake up, all through that time she couldn't remember a day where she looked out her bedroom window and there hadn't been a bird resting on her windowsill, waiting, watching.
The logical part of her mind knew that it was impossible, that it was probably just a local bird that had been drawn by the leftover food from the camp or that it belonged to one of the bandits. And yet another part of herself argued back that it was no coincidence, that this was the same bird, but that was impossible. Not only were they a continent away but she hadn't exactly done anything to gain such loyalty from a wild animal that it would follow her halfway across the world.
"I don't like this" Koan added, he could see the majority of the Ravens tribe steering clear of the area around her tent as if they knew something was about to go down. Looking at his girlfriend still seemingly enraptured by the small avian as it circled them from above he reached out gripping her shoulder bringing her back to reality. "Yang, this whole thing is set up like a kill box we should go while we still can."
Yang clenched her fist, she wanted to argue to try and convince them just to wait a little longer, to see this through with her, but with no Raven and with the situation growing more tense by the second even she started to feel some doubt as to whether or not this was just another one of Raven's games. Sighing she turned opening her mouth to answer but was interrupted by a sudden cry from the Raven above.
Its small body arched and descended into the forest, gliding between the canopy and passing over the outer wall of the camp, its small form began to twist and flux midair, its body expanding rapidly as black feathers retracted revealing pale skin, limbs elongating. Raven landed in a crouch, the younger members of the trio -Yang especially- regarded her with open shock as well as awe just as she'd hoped they would, whilst the yellow ranger remained stone-faced by the display, yet her eyes revealed her own surprise as well as a sudden look of resignation and then resolve.
She'd certainly given them something to think about if nothing else.
"H-How?" Was all Yang could say.
"Well I could explain it to you" Raven drew Omen and slashed at the air beside her, what felt like a static charge passed through the room a dark red cloud forming in the place of her strike, it rumbled and pulsed violently in front of them, emitting the most unnatural noise. "Or you can ask your dear Uncle all about it" Raven supplied.
Yang's eyes darted between her mother and the portal, yet even with the confirmation that her mother was willing to hold up her end of the barging she was still sceptical "You're letting us go, just like that?"
Raven shook her head lightly "I'm giving you choice." she replied returning Omen to its place at her side she stepped forward gesturing to the campsite around them, a soft almost welcoming look passing over her features " You could stay here with me, your friends too if they'd like, we'd more than welcome their presence here with us and I can answer any and all the questions you have." She brought her hands back to her chest "We can begin again, and leave all the unpleasantness behind, we can be... we can be what we should have always been."
Yang clenched her fist tightly her knuckles turning white, it took all she had not to leap across the distance between them and knock her teeth down the back of her throat. How could she do that? How could she ever think to make that offer after all this time, if she really wanted them to be together if she really wanted them to be a family like she was implying, then why hadn't she stayed, why hadn't she been there from the beginning?
"Or" Raven leaned her head back towards the portal "You can go back to Qrow and join Ozpin's impossible war against Salem and her newfound allies." Raven nodded slowly "I'll admit your little friend there and her allies may be able to tip the scales." She gestured to Lilly." But there's no guarantee they'll be enough to challenge her, let alone see this fight through. If you leave here you will all die a pointless death, all for the sake of one man and his secre-."
"I don't care about that." Yang cut off marching down from the platform to stand before her mother "You can say what you want, you can try and twist things as much as you like" She leaned forward her face hovering a few inches from Ravens her eyes burning blood red "But all that matters to me, is making sure my sister is safe." Yang brushed past her mother walking back up towards the gate they came in "I'm gonna get my bike." she called back over her shoulder.
Raven watched her daughter go an unreadable expression crossing over her features, she said nothing to her companions who themselves remained at a distance watching her carefully. Even after such a display, they were still wary of her, she almost scoffed.
As though she would harm her own daughter, no... she'd done more than enough of that already.
It did not take long for Yang to return, guiding her bike along the dirt path and back into the clearing in front of them, without sparing Raven a glance she mounted her bike and gestured for Lilly to join her "Let's go!" The yellow ranger nodded glancing back towards Koan who was already halfway back through the flap into Raven's tent.
"I'll grab our stuff" Koan called back to her as he disappeared inside.
Satisfied Lilly stepped down off the platform and made her way over towards Yang, regarding Raven once more as she passed, she offered the bandit queen a small nod in thanks, even if she had her doubts through it all, she'd held true to her word and that alone deserved some gratitude. Taking her place behind Yang the younger of the two turned to look back towards her mother's tent catching sight of Koan emerging from within, their eyes met, and her fellow blond flicked his head to the side towards the portal.
Yang hesitated for a moment before nodding, revving her bike she drove forward and disappeared into the pulsing cloud with a metallic sheen.
Raven watched the young man, her daughter's other approach the portal, rolling her jaw in consideration she nodded to herself before calling out to him. "Boy!... Wait there a moment" He stopped just before entering, he didn't look back, yet she knew he was listening. Despite what Qrow might have believed back at the inn, she had been keeping tabs on her daughter, she knew of Yang's injury and had taken the time to visit Patch over the last year to keep watch over Yang's recovery and ensure her safety throughout the weeks following the fall of Beacon.
Throughout that time, she had watched as he had helped guide Yang away from the brink of despair and reignite her dwindling spirit, breathing life back into her when the trauma of not only her kidnapping at the hands of Salem's newest allies but the injury Taurus had inflicted upon her seemed too much to bear.
She had watched them train side by side strengthening each other's bodies and resolve, watched how her daughter smiled in his presence and how they had grown so close to one another. Yet they were still woefully unprepared for the battle they seemed dead set on throwing themselves into, Yang especially, given her outbursts and bullheadedness over the past hour, her body might have healed and grown stronger, but the emotional and mental turmoil was still present.
Which is why she felt it necessary to have some assurance of her daughter's well-being should, no, when everything with Oz came crashing down like it always did in the end. "Things are only going to get worse if you side with Qrow, you may not realise it yet, but you are walking down a dangerous road, far more so than you've experienced so far." Raven warned her tone growing a touch softer with her next words " I also know you care for Yang and her you, so I need you to do something for me."
Koan shifted slightly from one foot to the other, before slowly turning to look back at her his cold ocean-blue eyes meeting her crimson. The boy was strong, capable and carried Yang's best interest at heart, which is what made him ideal for the task she had in mind. "Keep my daughter safe." The effect was almost imminent, yet he clamped down on his emotions swiftly, his reaction limited to the slight widening of his eyes.
After a moment he nodded back to her "I intend to" And stepped through the portal.
/
The cobbled streets and alleyways faded the further they went outside of the city, shifting into a miss match of packed-down dirt paths and trails that split off from one another arching off into the brush and over the hills and through the marsh, the path ahead of them dipped down passing what looked to be a small boat dock marking the entrance of one of the small towns and villages that dotted the outskirts of the main city, a small motor boat stamped with the emblem of the Menagerie Guard sat moored just off to the side against a guard post at the edge of the path.
Sun regarded it curiously as they passed by, and for a new comer like him seeing what looked to be a well-used and maintained boat docked this far on dry land must have been strange, but for someone who lived on the island for most of her life, it was a common sight, especially during the late summer and fall seasons. She remembered this area had caused her father no small amount of trouble when he first pushed to expand the city limits further out this way.
The ground was softer and prone to flooding during typhoon seasons, having once been part of a mire that stretched further up towards the north before the new residents decided to settle here, meaning they had to get creative when it came to not only patrolling this section of the island but also building homes and setting up businesses to avoid any potential disasters.
The two-story homes and flats that lined the bustling streets of Kuo Kuana had been replaced by single-story bungalows and shacks built atop sand barges and suspended a good ten feet off the ground via scaffolding, several walkways arched overhead accompanied by a set of ladders and stairs marking the pathway every hundred meters or so, providing the residents with the means to move about and get on with their days regardless of the time of year.
Blake frowned lightly as her boots sunk a little deeper into the mud with each step a subtle squelch greeted her ears, water rising up from beneath the soil to fill the indent she'd made.
If she knew they were coming here she'd have been sure to wear more appropriate footwear than her normal boots, while they were nowhere near as outlandish as the heels Weiss wore throughout Beacon, they weren't exactly made with a walk-through a bog in mind. Ugh, she could already feel the water starting to seep through and into her socks.
"Here we are." Nightshade announced much to her relief, the plumber stepped off the main path and towards a ladder connecting to the bottom of one of the homes. Pausing at the foot of the ladder she turned back towards them gesturing to Sun and Blake. "Now when we get up there no matter what you see you keep your weapons in their holsters okay, he might look... freaky, but believe me he doesn't mean you any harm." Without waiting for their reply, she turned and began making her way up the ladder.
Sun leaned over towards Blake "...Is it weird I'm a little excited?" he whispered, earning a sigh from the cat Faunus "No I'm serious, we ran into one alien already then a space cop who is working with another alien to help us fight the White Fang... you can't tell me that isn't just a little cool." He said glancing up at the hatch above at the top of the lad catching sight of Nightshade disappearing through.
Blake shook her head slightly at her friend's antics, though internally she'd admit it was a little cool, but they couldn't let themselves be distracted right now, they were here for answers just as much as they were to locate their missing ally. "Just be respectful." She said silently preparing herself to face the being inside, the one that had apparently been sent to watch over and protect her on her journey home. A task she probably hadn't made all too easy during those first few weeks on the run and doubly so after falling into yet another rabbit hole leading her into battle with the White Fang.
"Respectful, got it." Sun replied shooting a pair of finger guns towards her, before stepping up onto the first rung of the ladder and following up after Nightshade.
"Your friend is a strange one." Aurico noted from beside her "Endearing as well" he added shortly after so as to not offend "But still a strange one."
Blake found herself nodding along with the red ranger's words "Yeah, that's... that's basically Sun in a nutshell." He was abrupt, free-spirited and tended to speak first and think second, something that had caused him no small amount of trouble both here and back at Beacon. But it was also one of the more flattering aspects of his personality, he wasn't afraid to say what needed to be said or dance around an issue when it would be better to confront it, him calling her out on her attitude a few nights ago being evidence of that. "I'm lucky to have him." She smiled softly.
"Would you prefer to be next, or should I go first?" Aurico asked gesturing towards the ladder.
Blake opened her mouth to reply but paused for a moment in thought, drawing her scroll her eyes widening slightly at the time, she knew they'd been gone for a while now but from what she was seeing here it wouldn't be long now until the sun started to go down, she should check in with her parents before they went any further. "You first" She said "I should check in with my parents before we go any further."
Aurico nodded back to her, stepping onto the first rung he swiftly ascended and disappeared into the house above, meanwhile, Blake moved away from the entrance towards the far back right post, moving out of view from anyone on the walkways above. Drawing her scroll she swiftly dialled her mother's number it rang for a few moments before connecting.
"Hello, Sweetheart" Kali greeted warmly.
"Hey Mom" Blake replied, leaning her shoulder against the pillar while she spoke. "Just calling to check in and tell you Sun and I will be out here a little longer."
Her mother hummed "Trouble finding signatures?" Blake could hear the disappointment but also a knowingness to her tone that couldn't help but make her think she'd expected something like this to happen. Not that she wasn't wrong in her assumption. Blake frowned slightly as she recalled the abysmal number of signatures they'd managed to gather in the six hours they'd been out trying to recruit people for their expedition to Haven. "How many so far?"
Blake rolled her jaw trying to find a way to break the news to her mom, then, after a long moment she sighed her head falling slightly "...Eleven" She replied in a quiet voice, some small amount of shame seeping into her tone. "I know it's not a lot, but Sun and I are planning to-"
"It's a start is what it is, dear." Her mother interrupted. "Don't you dare let yourself feel as though you failed in any regard because of that." Blake could hear the reassurance in her mother's tone and could already imagine her bearing a similar look on the other end of the line. "Eleven is honestly far more than I expected, especially for the first day." Her mother paused for a moment realising what she'd just said and how it might sound. "Not to imply that I expected you to fail or anything, but... if this morning's events have shown anything there is an air of indifference going around the island at the moment."
"I know." Blake said grinding the heel of her boot against the pole in frustration, she'd seen it on the faces of the people when she tried to bring them over to their cause. The disinterest, the fear but most of all how tired they seemed, tired of the struggle, tired of fighting day in and day out to make something of themselves when every so often someone had come along and pushed them right back down into the dirt.
But on Menagerie they'd found a place that accepted them and their families for who they were and managed to build something for themselves, a home, a life without fear of being persecuted over a set of scales, a tail or just an extra pair of ears. Joining them at Haven would put all that at risk, but if they did nothing and let Adam have his way, then they would lose everything. "I just thought with what happened at the rally, and how people reacted to Ilia after what that man said, I thought-"
"More people would be inspired to act; more would be prepared to take the plunge when confronted with the reality of the situation." Kali surmised more than familiar with that outlook, it was a little naive, not that it was wrong to hope for the best in others. But if she and her husband's own experience in rallying people to a cause had taught them anything was that it took more than pretty words and pointing out the faults in their society. She sighed "As much as I might wish otherwise it's hardly ever that simple, asking someone to put themselves in harm's way, to risk everything they know everything they built for a cause that may not even bear fruit..."
They'd lost more than a few people over the years to that fatigue, the idea that no matter what they did nothing would ever change "It's a frightening thing that turns more people away than it tends to attract, but that doesn't mean we don't keep trying, you just have to know how to reach them." It was hope that the first White Fang had been built upon, the idea that together they could change the world, change how their people were seen, even if at times it might have seemed all for nothing, they not only had to hold onto that hope but inspire it in others. "Once you and your friend have finished, come back to the house and we can go over everything over dinner, I might have a few ideas on how we might be able to drum up some more volunteers."
Blake frowned lightly, there would definitely be a lot to talk about considering her day. "I'll let you know when we're on our way back."
Her mother hummed "Love you sweetheart and stay safe."
"I will and I Love you too." Blake tapped the end call button, pocketing her scroll she made her way over to the ladder and peered up at the hatch above, she could make out Nightshade and Aurico's voices from the other side. Planting her foot on the first rung of the ladder she began her ascent. Reaching the top in only a few scant seconds she reached out taking the ring handle at the bottom of the hatch in hand she gave it a small twist and pushed, the hinges releasing a subtle squeak as it rose up off the floor, the sound of conversation coming through more clearly as she clambered up through the opening before closing the hatch behind her.
Rising up off her knee she turned to face them, from the sound of it they'd been talking for a while, she just hoped she hadn't missed anything impor-
The others were sat in a ring of floor cushions around a small dark-brown coffee table, the sweet scent of ginger emanating from the ornate teapot sat at the verry centre of the table. Her mind, however, was focused on the monstrous form of the being sitting across from them, he was clad in what she could only describe as some kind of ceremonial armour the chest plate, grieves and braces sculpted to resemble the head and body of a tiger.
She couldn't help but compare the design to an artist's rendition of soldiers from Mistral clad in something similar, she'd seen in one of her textbooks during a study session with her team back at Beacon on the history of the kingdoms.
Though his appearance wasn't the issue, no, it was what she could make out between the armour that left her stunned, his body was divided almost neatly down the middle its left side was flesh and blood with a coat of white and black fur running across his body, while his right was skeletal in appearance to the point she could see through the gaps in his bones and make out the wooden wall on the other side.
Sensing her eyes on him Whiger tilted his head up towards the source, his Sapphire blue eyes regarding the cat Faunus, a low sound echoing in the back of his throat.
Blake gurgled helplessly, a sound that seemed to be just loud enough to go noticed.
"Oh, you're here." Nightshade glanced back at her over her shoulder, throwing her hand out to the empty cushion beside her she added "When you've finished picking your jaw up off the floor come grab a seat, you're going to want to hear this." The plumber's words ripped the cat Faunus from her stupor.
"R-right" Blake stuttered tearing her gaze away from the frightening being who she was now beginning to realise was probably this Whiger they had spent most of the day searching for. Coughing into her hand she quickly straightened herself up and made her way across the room, her ears curling down in trepidation as she approached, she didn't know what was causing it, she'd faced down Grimm far more terrifying in the past and from Aurico's own words, Whiger was an alley, one of the gladiators that had been imprisoned in that mine with Yang, and had helped her friend fight their way out beside Qrow, Alex and the other rangers.
Yet despite knowing that, she couldn't help but shake this feeling inside her, it was as though a primal part of her was warning her that he was...more than dangerous, far more than any Grimm she'd fought before. The closest thing she could compare it to was what she'd felt radiating from Psycho Gold when they fought the night of Beacon dance, it had felt cold, dark and unnatural, and while she could feel the latter two the closer she got to the table, there was also a warmth buried underneath it all.
Taking a seat between Aurico and Nightshade, she almost flinched as the former Fantom Beast general reached out taking the teapot in hand before moving to fill the cup in front of her. "Drink, it will help" Whiger instructed flatly, the brew was one he'd learned long ago during the times of the Phantom Beast wars. It helped to calm the mind and the spirit granting one clarity before battle, they had much to discuss regarding the situation on the island and the sooner the girl calmed herself the sooner they could begin.
Blake glanced down at the tea, her eyes darting to the cups resting in front of the others, shifting between Aurico, Nightshade and Sun. The latter glanced at her out of the corner of his eye offering her a shaky but knowing look as he sipped at his own tea. His own reaction wasn't too dissimilar to her own after laying eyes on him for the first time.
Accepting the tea, Blake took a tentative sip, its earthly flavour washing over her tongue and down her throat, its warmth spreading through her chest soothing her frazzled nerves, the tension she felt throughout her body slipping away almost completely. Before she knew it she'd finished the entire cup setting it down in front of her. "Thank you." She said nodding towards the fantom beast general, she could still feel that tension in the back of her mind, but it was quieter now, manageable.
"I imagine the two of you have a great many questions you wish to ask." Whiger gestured towards Blake and Sun the former, looking as though she was about to speak, though Whiger raised his hand in a silent gesture for quiet "However we have much to discuss and little time, so I will ask you to shelve them until a more reasonable time." he leaned forward resting his hands atop the table, feeling himself slip back into the role of a General before his war council.
That time and now were not too dissimilar.
"Fine." Blake lamented, but this would be the last time.
Whiger hummed back at her before turning to address the table as a whole "Our enemy has continued to gain support despite the efforts of both our groups these last few weeks, the raid on the port office conducted by your family has stalled their ability to transport goods to their main force in Mistral but, it has also caused there attention to switch back towards the island, your family especially."
"That's a given, considering the trouble we've been causing them." Blake replied.
Ilia had been sent to discredit them to sow doubt and fear among the people of their island, unfortunately for them, it had also helped to expose them and rallied a few people against them. "We're working on how to deal with Ilia and the Albains, something I'm starting to think you might be able to help us with."
"Yeah." Sun piped up in agreement "You found us that stuff from the port office, you gotta' have some more dirt on those guys, right." And if they were lucky it'd be enough to put those two snobs behind bars this time.
"They were careless at the port office" Nightshade jumped in "After the raid, they've tightened security, their officers and any public officials related to them travel with armed escorts, not to mention the little counterforce they've put together for silencing "problems" that appear on the island." Nightfall replied with finger quotes.
"Those guys back at the house" Sun surmised recalling the hit squad that had been waiting for them in the backstreets, and those were the only guys they could see at the time.
"And even if we did have evidence the last thing we want to do right now is pull resources away from the manor." Not with what she knew was coming, she was just glad Whiger had listened to her and been monitoring the comms while she'd been scouting, the bugs she planted in the white fang HQ had given them the time and date of what had been one of the most defining moments in Menageries history.
Aurico cocked a brow in suspicion "What do you mean by that?"
Whiger gestured towards Nightshade "Thanks to the plumber we've been able to monitor the White Fang's communications, two nights ago the Albain brothers received a communication from an outpost based on the cost of Mistral, they were relaying the confirmation that your father's messenger had been killed while on route to the mainland."
"You're kidding, tell us you're kidding." Sun gasped bringing his hand up to his face in frustration while Blake gritted her teeth. Her father had sent their messenger almost a week ahead of the rally out of fear of this exact scenario, they'd taken every precaution they could have to make sure he made it off the island and was well on his way to Mistral before anyone would be the wiser.
'The CCT is still down so they couldn't have warned anyone on the mainland after the rally...So how the hell did they know?' she asked herself, slamming her fist down on the table in frustration at the loss of one of her father's men and the knowledge that their message would never reach Mistral.
Either the White Fang had a way of monitoring the manor without any of them knowing, -the least likely in her opinion as she had personally swept the manor from top to bottom for any cameras or listening devices in the days following their fight with Ilia- or that there was another spy, this time among the ranks of the house staff or the Menagerie guard that had been feeding them information on their movements.
Looking towards Sun she said, "We need to tell my parents." Sun nodded and moved to rise beside her, Nightshade reached out catching her by the arm.
"There's more." she said.
"What could be more important than this?" Sun shouted back "The academy doesn't even know what's coming, we have to warn them before it's too late" He pressed looking towards Aurico who nodded in response.
"I must agree, ensuring Haven is aware of the coming attack seems like the most prudent course of action." he argued.
Nightshade sighed, causing the older cat Faunus to glare back down at her before yanking her arm free from the plumber's grip "What aren't you telling us?" she demanded.
"That message came with additional orders from Adam Taurus himself." Nightshade went on, undeterred by her mother's hostility. "He has instructed Fennec and Corsac to capture and transport you to Mistral to be put on trial for deserting the White Fang... and to eliminate your parents and their supporters in an organised strike on the manor."
Blake froze "What..." She whispered slowly sinking back down into her seat.
"Yes" Whiger picked up "As it stands neither your mother nor Father would ever kneel to their demands and would fight them every step of the way as you already are, as such removing them would grant the White Fang complete control of the island." A classic coup d'état, and what may have been an effective one had he and his companions not been here to intercept their plans ahead of time.
"They... They'd never." Blake shook her head in denial "The people would never allow it, even if they may not agree with him all the time the people look up to my father, if they tried they'd be banished or executed for it." Especially after the recent controversy that had been drummed up by the rally.
"Unless they are the ones who seized power once your parents are removed." And there was little doubt in his mind that was their plan from the beginning, besides the Belladonnas the White Fang held the majority of power across the island, and those who would not bend the knee to their wills would suffer a similar fate as what they had planned for the Belladonnas. "Fortunately, a plan such as this is only effective if the victim is unaware of their enemy's movements."
"Which means we have the advantage" Nightshade added "But that only lasts so long as they don't suspect you know what's coming."
Blake nodded along slowly with Nightshade's words still reeling from the revelations, Adam's threat against her back at Beacon replaying in her mind her hands slowly clenching into fists her nails threatening to draw blood "When?" she asked.
"A few days from now." Nightshade supplied the date and time the brothers had sent out to their co-conspirators matched with the ones she had committed to memory, all that was left now was to set their trap. "I'll admit it's not a lot of time, but if we move quickly then we'll be ready when they come."
"Why don't we go after them now?" Sun inquired; it made more sense to hit them where they were now rather than risk more people by letting them launch their attack.
"A wise man once said what you know is dangerous to your enemy and what you don't know is dangerous to you." She replied leaning forward she took a saucer and a few sugar cubes off the centre tray, laying them out front of them, the saucer acting as them and the cubes the White Fang.
"Right now, we know they're coming to us giving us the home-field advantage, but if we go after them now, they'll scatter like a bunch of cockroaches, reorganise elsewhere and try again when we're more vulnerable." She crushed two of the cubes under the saucer before brushing the other off to the side and retrieving four more from the bowl to add to the White Fangs numbers. "But if we let them come to us, we can take them down all at once." This time as she brushed the cubes forward, the saucer came down on all of them crushing them flat. " We capture their leadership and troops in one assault and the White Fang on Menagerie will crumble to nothing."
Blake nodded along with the Plumbers' logic "She's right, I doubt we'd get another shot at this so we can't afford to waste it." They'd have to be careful though just like Nightshade said, if the Albains figured out they knew the attack was coming they'd call it off or throw caution to the wind and strike at them sooner rather than later. "We'll all head back to the manor after this, tell them what we found out about the Albain's plan" She could already imagine how furious her father would be at the knowledge of what happened to one of his men and the threat against her and Mom.
"If so, we should travel separately." Whiger advised. "Their informants will already be keeping watch for all of you after the incident at the house."
"Ughh.. no offence here but what about the whole... you know" Sun trailed off gesturing towards Whiger, though the phantom beast general was not offended as the boys were valid, in any case, he had ways of ensuring he did not draw any unwanted attention.
"You need not concern yourself with my appearance." Whiger said taking a sip of his own tea, he hummed glancing over to the small dresser across the other side of the room where his ID mask was hidden away. "I have ways of concealing myself from the public view, as for the rest of you, you should be able to leave without issue, those who live here have little to no contact with the main city nor the White fang themselves, the same cannot be said for those in the main city however."
"Well, that's something at least." He was starting to get a little sick of all the sneaking around they'd had to do over the last couple of weeks, not to mention fighting White Fang ninjas and dodging their death squads... the things he did for his friends.
As the other continued to discuss how best to return to the manor with the White Fang no doubt on the hunt for the three of them who had entered the house earlier that day, Blake shifted closer to Nightshade "I haven't forgotten about earlier in case you're wondering, once we've finished talking with my parents about the attack, you and I are going to have a discussion about what's been going on, on Earth."
"Fine" Nightshade relented, she'd made her wait long enough as is and knowing her mother there'd be no chance she'd drop the subject if she just tried to ignore it. She'd have her answers, it wouldn't be the whole truth but at least it should be enough to satisfy her.
If there was one thing she was certain of, however, it was that she wasn't going to like what she had to say.
'To be continued'