Of Stowaways and Runaways Pt. 3

-Atlas-

Neptune took off his disguise as a servant to the Schnee Household to meet with Weiss where he was told to meet. While waiting, he held a white Madonna lily flower in his own palm, something that remind him of the snow angel he wants to set free. He picked that flower from Mistral since he cannot stop thinking about her and was filled with regret for not doing anything from stopping her father from forcing her to go back to Atlas. But with this newfound hope, he has to courage to help her escape. Neptune already turned the lily into paperweight to give to her as a gift. To him, the flower is the hidden side of Weiss he had never seen before.

Aside from the rest of Team RWBY, he seemed to be one of the few people who never judges her, laughs at her, nor called her out for saying what she feels. Cause he felt the same way trying not to appear weak in front of anyone. But only Sun knows how emotionally vulnerable he was when they were children. Neptune knows that Weiss is allowed to express without anyone telling her what to do. And he will gladly listen to her.

Pluto taught Neptune how to make that paperweight. The last time he saw him was on their mother's birthday when Pluto gave her a paperweight of a lavender. It had been kept in their living room since his demise.

The rooftop of the grand theater. He took on a cloak and hood to hide himself for awhile. And also hide the paperweight into his bag. Making sure the bracelet Weiss gave him was safely hidden in his sleeve.

Weiss does the same on her blue-grayish cloak to not be identified. She even wore sunglasses and a gray scarf over her hair because the silver white hair she has is recognizable. Once they reached the rooftop, Neptune sat next to Weiss on a bench.

"Did anyone follow you?" Asked Weiss.

"I had Zeos took over so that he cannot discover me trying to shake him off. I have a feeling he might try to talk to Eitel." Neptune replied. He looked at the entrance to see if anyone is entering, nobody is. Then he turned back to Weiss.

"What about you?" Asked Neptune. The heiress shook her head. "Father thinks I'm visiting his younger sister, but we can't stay here for long. I had also shaken off the bodyguards by using another set of my mother's clothes since youth so that they won't suspect a thing. Anything interesting?" She asked.

"Actually there is. While your father and your brother were occupied with the business, I pretended to do some polishing. Once they were away from the office, I found out that despite General Ironwood ordering the embargo, including list of huntsmen trying to stop it as part of the mission request. For some reason your father was tipped by a secret number, anonymously. Guess he was one step ahead. For some reason. Once, he even had a hit on my father." Neptune takes out a picture of his father, Saturn and showed it to Weiss. "And the accident at the mines that killed the faunus wasn't an accident at all. It was premeditated from the beginning." He adds. "On top of it, while I was at your father's office. There's a reason why the woman with your father was someone who was up to no good."

Neptune held Weiss' hand to keep her from panicking. Weiss then held his hand too. "What's you're about to hear is not gonna be good. But you deserve to know."

"I trust you, Neptune. Show me what you know." But before they can continue with the conversation, the strange feeling began to return as Neptune's face feel heat. And Weiss also feels flustered. They drew their faces closer and almost kissed. Until they both realized what they're about to do and the two came to a stop.

"Uh-! I'm sorry! I don't know what came over me." Neptune apologized after parting from her. Weiss does the same as she still flusters over what just happened. "I'm sorry too. I wasn't sure what's going on. Let's just continue about your findings." Weiss said. Neptune nods in agreement. But his desire to help Weiss is his priority. While she is the sword, he will be her shield, an honor Neptune will die for the person he loves the most.

-Schnee Manor, 3 Days Ago-

While Neptune was polishing the window in his own guise. Zeos then hid in the library waiting for Neptune to signal him by knocking at the door beforehand. Then Zeos opened the door in a similar disguise as his cousin. "Coast is clear. I'll look at the office to see if there's anything we can find." Neptune whispered as he looked around as the camera was off angle. Making it impossible for the cousins to get caught. Zeos nodded and took his place to keep out of suspicion. "Get going before I leave you behind to deal with this mess. Oh, wait. That is until you get arrested and I took off freely." Neptune frowned at Zeos' snarky remark. But he just laughed it off. "I'm joking. But get going."

Neptune enters Jacques's office and locked the door. Though he has to make sure he won't take long to look inside. Loads of books, documents loaded in book shelves. "There's gotta be something that he was keeping in this office." He said to himself rummaging in the shelves between the books. Then he tried the computer on top of the desk. Typing any password. But nothing he typed down works. Jacques never even bother telling anyone, not even his own family the password. "What are you hiding, Jacques?" Looking at the portrait of Jacques behind his desk creeps him out. Nothing but real ice and stone in his eyes.

But this got Neptune thinking watching crime investigating movies when he was young. If the mastermind hides something very secured, it can be behind a portrait. As moves the portrait, he was surprised to find a safe beneath it. "Cool. Maybe there's something I can find in this safe." Then Neptune took time to unlock the safe. He was given the code by Klein, since he heard word from the mysterious woman, Eitel, said something about the passing of Nicholas Schnee being a cover-up.

As he opened the safe, there was an orange envelope and a small bottle of purplish-red liquid inside the safe. "What is that?" He asked himself, picks up the bottle and opens it, sniffing it and realized something, "Poison. But why?" Then, Neptune had closed the safe and locked it quickly, but not before taking pictures of the files and the poison to avoid suspicion, knowing he cannot take anything from the safe unnoticed. Then something caught his eyes, a photograph of a young Nicholas Schnee, and another young man with blue hair and eyes, just like Neptune's. This info intrigues him as he pondered of his family is somewhat connected. Then a door clicked opened.

"Hey, you!" Neptune quickly turned to see Whitley behind him. But he failed to see the safe opened. As Neptune quickly flipped the portrait closed. "What are you doing in my father's office?" Neptune is terrible at keeping secrets, but he will have to lie by any means. "Oh, nothing! I just noticed how dusty the desk is and thought Mr. Schnee wouldn't be pleased about this." He smiled sheepishly, Whitley crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure you're not lying?" He asked, skeptically.

Neptune calmed himself down. Despite being two years younger than him, Whitley looked terrifying account from those cold eyes of his. "Um, no, sir." He said with a small cough. Whitley turned around before giving out another order. Seemingly giving up on his skepticism. "Fine. When you're finished, I want the ballroom polished top to bottom. And get my mother a bottle of wine to drown her sorrows for the rest of the after party, cause then it would fuel her embarrassment and anyone will talk. Make sure she locks herself in her room the next day, thank you." Whitley ordered snidely. Those words made Neptune shocked and upset. If that were his mother being insulted, he would defend her. But to hear Whitley making remarks like this towards his own mother, it was bitter.

This kid...I don't believe it.

Then the woman Neptune saw in the photo, appeared. It was Eitel herself. And he wondered if Whitley knew of Jacques' affair with her. As she abruptly entered the office. "Whitley, have that servant washed off that jacket of mine. And make it spotless!" She pointed to Neptune. And where was Zeos when he was just waiting outside? Did he just let her in?

"Yes, Eitel." Sighed Whitely.

"It's Madame to you!" Snapped Eitel.

"Pardon me, but who are you?" Neptune asked.

"Who am I? What kind of commoner asked me such stupid questions? I am Madame Eitel of the Vanian Household and the distant relative to the House of Schnee. Named after the knight who's sorcery is remembered for the ancient arts. More hoggers after the favor for the Schnee I see. Not running off in fear yet? Rumor has it that everyone in this house is cursed to die for."

"Enough with the false stories Madame Eitel. We all know this was just to scare our employees." Whitley sighed, and he did not seem to like her either.

"Except I heard that according to the legend, Nicholas Schnee has died under unknown circumstances after his mistakes." Eitel continued. Neptune then wondered if this is somehow connected.

"Mistakes? What mistakes?" Neptune interrogated while trying not to sound suspicious. "Throughout history, a rebellion began when Nicholas turned on a former ally of his when he found out he sold his secrets to the great witch. And that witch was intrigued with his semblance and intellectual talents. But that former friend of his allied with the witch for the sake of revenge on this city."

Neptune blinked, wondering why this involved his family name. Wondering if his family has some history around Atlas. A hidden fact he had never heard from when he was young.

-Solitas, 10 Years Ago-

A young Lie, Nora and Mi were in their coats carrying backpacks on them for some exercises to become huntsmen. Mai is taking lead of the training. "Don't give up, children. This is by all means to endure the cold." Mai said while also checking on them.

On the mountains of Solitas, Ren and Mi get into a sparring match while Nora watches. Mai watches as she makes tea for the three of them. Mai notices that Ren mostly took on the defenses while Mi was pushing harder on combat.

The match ends with Mi sweeping his feet under, causing Ren to fall back. Nora began to check on him. "Ren! You alright?"

"I'm sorry, big brother." Mi apologized. Mai then came up to the three children. Only to look a bit stern. "Lie, why aren't you attacking back? You and Mi are supposed to be in the equal ground. But you had gotten too soft."

"I'm sorry." Ren apologized. Mai is strict, but would only use her words to tell what the children did wrong in their training. Mi then cuts in to stop her mother. "Mother, Lie is doing his best."

"Yes, Master. Ren was just isn't the type to be aggressive." Mai then sighs. "Very well. This might take awhile. But know this, Lie. You are now the heir to the Ren Clan. This world is cruel in its own ways. There are times action must be taken." Mai then goes back to make the tea.

The word 'action' brought back the memories of what Ren's father had told him before his death. He cannot be a child anymore and will need to stand in his own feet.

-Kuchinashi-

A woman in her 20s hid in her cloak. Lowering her head to not be recognized. A strand of white hair fell to her shoulder. The Skillful, a tavern where huntsmen and huntresses can not only enjoyed their drinks, but also to search for illegal missions to earn a high amount of money. Since the woman of mystery is high-ranked, she won't have a problem entering.

An usher stood in front of her and stared at her immensely. Then the woman showed him her scroll and the usher stands aside to allow her to enter. "Enjoy, Miss." Corrupted huntsmen is what the lady in the cloak hates the most. Caring for money and fame. Then again, power can give her an advantage, but only for necessary reasons.

All the wine and drinks reminded her of her mother's addiction to drown her sorrows. A waiter came up to her to offer her a drink. "Can I offer you some wine, Madame?" Asked the waiter. But she held her hand up without a glance. "No, thank you. Not the kind to drink heavily."

"Suit yourself." Replied the waiter. Just as the waiter left the table, the woman looked through her scroll to find one of the Black Vipers to interrogate. Find the ringleader and bring down the whole gang. One of the members was on the counter ordering a drink.

Then she noticed a familiar figure that was part of the wanted list. A young male faunus with bull horns. The woman checked her scroll to see a list of the most-wanted.

Wanted. Adam Taurus. Charges on murder, cargo heist, and terrorism. Armed and Dangerous.

The woman did not have anything against the faunus, but she could tell how dangerous the young man is. Her own protocol as of now was to observe the enemy. She dared not to engage into a battle without any caution. And like the hawk, she watches while avoiding a glance with her ears aimed directly at Taurus.

To her curiosity, a man around her age has blue hair. For some reason, he looked familiar to her with the sense of deja vu. The man across the table where the bull faunus was sitting at.

"And why should I trust you Vipers when you already thwarted our efforts. Humans and faunus, together? And how should I know you won't stab us in the back?" Asked Adam.

Then a waitress passed the man with the blue hair a drink. But when his eyes meets the waitress, he winks at her. She giggled in response and passed him her number. Then hand gestures to him to call her.

"I know you can't trust me because I'm a human. But we both have one thing in common is the enemy we hate the most." Said the mysterious contractor. Adam wasn't buying it at first, but if he wants something, he'll have to reconsider listening for the offer despite the fact that he was a human. "And that's Atlas." Said the young man in Viper clothing. "And we both have "issues" with those militia. They did nothing but lie, dictate and take from us. To them, we're nothing but vassals to their own field."

Adam did not want to admit, but the human before him is intriguing. A human for a human to pit against each other. To him, it will work in his favor. But he needs to be sure if he can make the end of the bargain. The woman listening is recording. "If it's money you're offering, forget it, Viper. I'm only in the White Fang just to rid the world of human regimes. Everything I did, it's for the faunus." Adam makes it clear that his own league is within the faunus out of his own beliefs. The blue-haired man with the cyber eye held to his chin.

"You know, for a guy who doesn't play well with others. Maybe that can be arranged."

"What do you mean?" Then the blue-haired man took out his scroll and showed it to Adam. The woman cannot see what it is. But she knew it was anything but good. "Those two are the ones we both want dead. You take the younger one as leverage, while I take out the oldest target."

"Winter Schnee, who knew?" Adam smirk, hating the Schnee family is as heating as lava. Suddenly, her arm was grabbed by an older huntsman. But the woman stay calm and firm. "Hello, sweetheart, wanna drink with me?" The woman narrowed her eyes as she spun to the man and threw him out the window, luckily it was close to the ground.

The crowd stared at her as her hood nearly fell down, revealing some of her white hair. The blue-haired man immediately recognized those silver-white locks. Yet he has not yet dared to hunt her down just yet. But Adam was ready to kill her. "Schnee..." He growled, nearly unsheathing his blade. Until he was stopped by the hand, "Not yet."

"Why are you stopping me? She's getting away!" He hissed, quietly. But the man stood firm trying to calm the situation. He then took off his hood, it was Jupiter himself. As he watched her walk out of the tavern while she paid for the damages. Jupiter smirked, knowing that his enemy is close. But decided to wait for the right moment. "I'll see you again soon, Winter Schnee." He said to himself before continuing to discuss a deal with Adam. "You're gonna give us away if you don't cool it. Though it was rather fun seeing others annoyed."

"Whatever, either we get both sisters, or the deal is off." Adam reminded him and left with a huff. Jupiter is a man is persuasion. With such charisma, he can get whatever he wants, whenever he wants to survive and have ways to win against the odds. Winter is a woman of dignity and just, but with such inner darkness when the ghost of her past returns, there's gonna be a war she cannot evade from. It had just begun.

Jupiter walked outside to cool off, enjoying the moist of the rain. It was the joy he had felt since he had been training in Salem's domain. The air was feeling cool. "The war had just begun." He then dialed a number through his scroll. A female voice responded.

"Hey, boss! Calling for a dinner tonight?" Said the caller. Who happens to be an associate of his in exchange for dates with him.

"Maybe another time, Alea babe. Right now, think you can send one of your sisters to track someone down for me?" Jupiter requested.

"Alright, but you owe me dinner again after this."

Winter, who is the one hiding in the cloak walked out of the tavern and breathed slowly as she skid to the alley. She wasn't sure if that man with Adam was the person she thought was dead. "It can't be, I thought he was gone. Whatever he was doing can't be good." Winter then turned on her scroll and contact Perseus Niro. "Captain Nire to Specialist Schnee, what is it?"

"Captain, meet me at Kuchinashi. I found Adam Taurus. But he was with someone. A person we thought was dead."

"Who is it?"

"I'll explain on the way. Do not approach. Any luck on Tyrian Callows?"

"No, ma'am. We found the ship and two dead pilots near Shinegure. But Callows is nowhere to be found. Leaving no traces."

"Be warned, he has poison that can deplete the aura. If you see him, proceed with caution. Before so, let General Ironwood about it."

"Of course, ma'am. Over and out." Winter then hangs up as she ended the call. She carefully scouted the place, as much as how she hated to see greedy huntsmen and criminals roaming around the area, Winter is not only a soldier, but also a huntress. And her mission was to find out more about the White Fang, and the Black Vipers.

-Anima-

Qrow approached Raven after he spotted her in another table on the top floor when she ordered him a glass of wine as a way to tempt him into joining her in ruling the Branwen Tribe, but that wasn't the case for him. There must be something else she wants and won't stop until she has it. The cold stare with the mix of the smug in her eyes gave him an irk.

"It has been awhile, Qrow. Grimm got your tongue? I see Tamaku was doing well." Raven said in a pleasant tone of her voice, but very venomous as well. Qrow did not want to be anywhere near her. But confront her, he will have to. "Ha-ha, very funny, sis. Skip the greetings and all." He sighed.

"Tell me, little brother. How's the festival so far? Don't tell me it was already a thrill that you look for? The others told me for how things go."

Qrow cannot take any of her nonsense. The fact that he's facing his sister, the mother of his niece, it made him feel agitated. Staring in tbe eyes of the remorseless and pity. He wasn't sure if Raven could at least have the decency to look at him or Yang in the eye, to make her feel pain and regret.

"Did you know Yang lost an arm?" Qrow asked. He could tell the look in her eyes is a mix of guilt and no regret. Raven remained unfazed, remaining silent for a second as she took a sip of her tea. Not a smirk, nor a shock expression.

"I have, Yang wasn't as strong as I thought. That lost arm says otherwise." Raven scoffed calmly. Qrow felt the need to shout at her. But all he could do to not cause a scene was to scream in his own head.

"Can't you take a look back and have some regrets about leaving your kid behind?" Qrow asked.

"If you're wondering about the change of heart, little brother. You're mistaken. You know what they say about a lion cub left to survive on their own? It is to the fittest for them to..."

"Look, Yang already lost a mother who raised her with her sister. While you rejoined the tribe to cover blood all over yourself."

"I saved her." Raven remarked, Qrow knew that this was only the one time she would do as a mother. "Yeah, once. You said it yourself that next time you won't do any more favors. What do you want this time, Raven?"

Raven took another sip of her tea. Qrow knew there was more to her than to see how Yang progressed. She wants something from him. "I want you to rejoin me into the tribe. I'm offering a place for you to take partial lead for hunting down other huntsmen." Said Raven.

Not only that would lead them to hunt down other hunters, but also their friends. Being raised in the tribe, it was all kill and no talk. Qrow was haunted by the blood of the past he was never proud of. But to Raven, it was rather normal than to reflect on.

"You'd think I would go back and be covered in the blood of other huntsmen? No, thanks."

"Do you remember all the secrets Ozpin had been keeping?" Raven asked.

"Not every secret had to be told, Raven. We all knew that Ozpin had been too careful of who he trusts."

"Except some of them he had been keeping were the ones we should be scared of. He knows something that Salem can't be stopped and there was nothing we could do. Which is why I wanted you to come with me, together with the tribe. We can be the last ones standing if she tries something."

"How is this going to end for Yang, Tai and everyone else? I think I have enough wine for tonight." Qrow had enough. He will never rejoin the tribe again. Not now and ever. He then rejoined his team in the table. Saturn looked at him with concern.

"You, okay?" Saturn asked. Qrow sat back down and sighed, exhausted. Not wanting another wine for one night. "Just giving Raven my regards." Mai still doesn't trust Raven, and neither is everyone else. They will have to keep on the lookout for awhile. Raven can send some spies at anytime. "The least we need to do now is be on our guard. I am getting the feeling the Branwen Tribe could be sending out spies at anytime. Whatever it is, be ready for anything, gentlemen." Said Mai. The other three nodded.

"Mai, think you can keep watch for the night?" Saturn asked. Mai closed her eyes and nodded.

"Have you asked her about Sai, yet?" Asked Tamaku. But Qrow shook his head with his arms folded behind his head while seated. "Nah, can't give ourselves away while she's add it. More we ask, more she will plan something, and not the fun kind."

Tamaku then stood up and asked to be excused. "I think I'll head to our room tonight. There's something I need to check." He said. They nodded and allowed him to leave the table. As Tamaku reached the room, he took out his satchel.

Inside was a letter from years after Sage's birth. Written by Sai with no return address.

My love, when I look into the moon, you're all I could ever think about. Until the enemy is defeated, we will reunite with our child once more. If Sage finds out that I exist, let him know that he is loved.

Though it didn't say it was from her. Tamaku knew that Sai was the one who written it. Every day he sees the sun rising, he thought of her. And their son was the fruit of their endless love.

-Anima-

While Team RNJRSS are sleeping in the inn, unaware that the adults of their lives were keeping an eye on them from another room, unnoticed. Ren felt some unease, but cannot know about it yet. After a series of nightmares inviting his former hometown.

Rain and thunder, the calm before the storm. He sat on his bed, watching everyone else as they sleep to make sure no enemy is in sight. Fearing the worst if no one is careful.

He could feel himself surrounded in the universe, a layer of his soul could feel whenever everyone feels. Then he woke from his meditation state, feeling someone is watching and rushed towards the balcony. He jerked his head around to see if someone is around.

He then noticed a woman in a mask of a tiger's face. And her eyes are the same color as Sage's. But as Ren shook his head, she is gone. But the aura is still around. He wasn't sure why she is here for. But one thing is for sure, she is spying on them.

"Ren, what's up?" Ruby walked up behind him, rubbing her eye. "Sorry, Ruby. I didn't meant to wake you. Thought I heard something."

"No, it's fine. I just can't sleep tonight." Ren thought as he reads Ruby like a book. "I figured it was a nightmare." Ruby didn't deny, but remained silent. Not wanting to talk about it. The two stared out from the balcony.

Jaune was the last person to wake up after a horrific nightmare. He also walked out to the back side of the balcony. He wonders if he really sees Pyrrha. Or was this a ghost coming to haunt him after the guilt he held after Beacon's destruction. Then there she is again, from the bottom.

Those emerald eyes are what Jaune had remembered, red as the scarlet embers. The last face he hoped to never let it get to him. It was her, the one girl he failed to save. He hopes to see her again. But she whisk away in speed.

"Pyrrha?" Jaune whimpered.

-19 Years Ago-

An infant Sun was held by his mother, Lumine. Sun wailed as he had a nightmare. But she bounced him gently as she shushed him softly. As Sun calmed down, Lumine looked at her son lovingly. Sun cooed as he reached his tiny hands for her.

"Did you have a nightmare?" Asked Lumine as she held him close. "We all have those too. I know it's unfair. But you have to fight this world, someday." Lumine breathed as Sun looked at her, curiously.

"Rising sun, my everyday, scorching sandstorms, where can I go.

When we bring you, to life, I knew we will never last.

When I held you, to the last, this is where I end.

As you had grow, I will see you.

I will be at the sea of stars.

Even when I wither, you will live on.

Don't be scared, my little Sun.

For when the moon rise, you will see me.

Sea of stars, I will see you

You're all I can see, rising sun.

Even if this is short, until the next life."

Sun then closed his eyes and snored softly as Lumine kept singing the song. She will held him while she is still alive. And will still hold him until the day she dies. Lumine kissed her son's forehead.

-Anima, Present-

Sun woke up from the dream he had as a child. The singing voice of his mother, but the visions is still a blur to him as he had yet to recover any memory of them at all. Still, it was too emotional for him to endure the pain. Beneath his humorous side is an empty shell.

"It's that same dream again." Sun panted as he felt sweat. He say in frotn of the fire where he had rested in the forest of Anima. Before he lays back down, he heard gunshots. Wondering what was going on, Sun decides to check it out. It could mean trouble if he stands for too long.

As Sun rushed to the scene, he then glances at a man glowing. He had grey streaks, raven-gray hair, gold-pale eyes, and he resembles Ren, but much older and with a goatee. He cannot help but thinks either he was hallucinating, or did he just saw a ghost. But that would have to wait for another day.

Blake winced as her feet splat with blood. More she struggles to get away, the more she bleeds. Tyler stood before her as he called out. "Stop!" He approached her to make a proposition to get her to join the Vipers.

"What do you want from me?" Blake panted. Her ankles shaking to the core when holding down her sword. Blake would rather die with dignity, than to join the ranks of terror and bloodshed. It would mean to her that her friends are safe.

"We did not come to kill you. But we have a proposition for you." Tyler explained. Blake would not trust the White Fang, nor the Black Vipers if they're gonna resort to a war against laws, the aristocracies and governments. Thinking her parents will never miss her, nor want to see her again after her fight with them for quitting the White Fang. Her reasons for staying in the White Fang was because it was founded by her father, Chieftain Ghira Belladonna, his legacy and hers to follow.

But now, it was the fate she cannot run from, not redo she she had done. "You have fought bravely while in the White Fang while still valuing the lives of humans that were innocent of the tragedies that fell upon us. But now is the time we, the Black Vipers make history. Join us, and together, we rid not only Atlas, but the injustices that the law and order wrought on us."

Blake did not want to think for what will happen if she joined the White Fang. But her answer was always 'no' to the point where with her in a position of the Black Vipers, it will result to the same conclusion.

"Never." Blake hissed. Tyler took out his toma hawks and slashes at Blake as he charges at her. Unfortunately, Blake dodges for every one of her clones to take the hit for her. Tyler then swung up his right toma hawk before Blake slashes down on it.

Tyler then throws his left toma hawk and used his hand to poke Blake's back shoulder. And part of her aura was absorbed. Blake spun and clashes her katana down on him. Only for him to split into two with a clone, similar to hers.

"What the...?" Blake is left stunned to see him having mimicking her semblance. "I can steal anyone's abilities, temporarily."

With Blake being cornered, and part of her aura depleting, she didn't have a choice but to keep fighting to not let cowardice get to her. Even without her shadow clones, Blake manages to dodge Tyler's clashes. She holds her sword back to block him from behind.

Then swipes her sword aside, but Tyler flips back to leave another clone in his place, taking the hit for him. Shifting backwards as Blake made air-slash waves. But Tyler jumped onto the tree branches and left another clone behind to be hit by the airwaves.

Then Tyler landed back on where he exactly leapt from. "Even without your semblance, you can't keep up with me. This is your last chance, Belladonna." He said, not in fury, just calmly.

"I will not be part of this, not anymore." Blake declared. Tyler was not going to let this go. Not until his mission is complete, for their high leader, for his queen. "That's a shame, cause you're not going anywhere until you join us." Tyler urged. Spinning his toma hawk and held it in front of him.

"Never." Blake snarled. Tyler swipes upward as Blake was about to dodge it to use part of her semblance. She won't let herself be underneath a spell of chaos and deterioration. Fighting to her last.

But Tyler, on the other hand, hand signals his men to make a sneaky ambush as a female Viper uses her knife whip to attack her from the back, giving Blake a cut on. A few drops of blood splat from her back. But if it was deep, Blake would have given up. But not yet she hasn't.

Instead, Blake grabs the end of the knife whip and pulls it along with the Viper towards her, until Blake kicks her. Causing the Viper to lose grip on the whip.

Blake then uses her pistol of her Gambol Shroud to fire her pistols at the Vipers charging at her. It won't be over for her until both the Black Vipers and the White Fang are finished. The other Vipers in front of her were caught up with the bullets that they have to either dodge, or deflect with their weapons.

Blake turned to attention to Tyler who was about to make the blow on her if she refuses to join them. But little did she know, a surprise had approached her way. A kick was pounded on Tyler's back, causing him to topple away, but he backflips to remain in balance.

He looked up to see the one he had recognized. Monkey tailed, blonde hair. "Wha...you..." Tyler paused. Blake turned around to see who her savior is. It was Sun. "Sun?!" Blake exclaimed.

"Hey, Tyler! Long time, no talk!" Sun said it in a sarcastic time of his voice, both jokingly and serious. "Didn't your mom told you not to ambush girls?!" Sun joked.

"Idiot! I don't have a mom!" Tyler then shifts his toma hawks into pistols. Blake Got up to her feet again after her exhaustion was taking over.

Then she took the strength to approach him. Anger flow through her veins as she was followed but did not notice. Just as Sage predicted, Sun would be anywhere when Blake is around.

"What are you doing here?" Blake growled. Not because she didn't like this, but because she didn't want Sun to be injured because of her. "Isn't it obvious? I heard some gunshots nearby and thought I check it out. Then I figured why back off when you're in a pinch like this?" He said.

It was better to end the fight now more than ever. Sun uses his Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang to spin around upward and knock one Viper by the chin, causing him to fall back, and the other for when Sun shift his staff back together.

Using his agility to avoid bullets. Since his gunchucks also fire bullets, he uses this to fire back at their sniper weapons. When an invisible Viper was about to make a sneak attack on Sun, Blake backs him up by knocking him out, reappearing after he's exposed.

Tyler then try to seek this chance to take Sun's semblance, but it ended in vain when he swipe his staff upward. Tyler's aura then began to lower and began to receive a message from Zerena. "Fall back! Those are High Leader's orders!"

"Yes, sir!" They had no choice but to retreat. Sun then proudly spun his staff and placed it on his back. "Hah! We sure showed them , huh?!" He boasted. But then came back to his sense the second he noticed Blake wincing as she knelt down from her injuries. Then Sun caught her in his arms. "Blake? You okay? Blake?" Blake didn't respond. But she muttered, "You should've stayed away."

"Wha-?"

"Sun?!" Sun heard a voice, it was Ruby. Relief filled in his breath as Ruby and the others were nearby. "Ruby?! Over here!" Sage then saw him, just as he expected. Scarlet on the other hand shook his head in disappointment. Making Sun a bit sheepish after he left without notice. But that doesn't matter right now as they have to patch up Blake.

Sage then examines Blake's wounds. "We should take her somewhere no one will find us. Her injuries should heal in a few weeks, I have something that might ease the wounds for awhile."

"You know medic?" Nora asked. Sage shook his head. "No, my dad's knows herbology. So he knows the type of remedy that should help." Scarlet cannot take much more of this and snapped at Sun.

"And where the bloody hell have you been?!" Scarlet yelled, causing Ruby to flinch. And Ren and Nora to glance. Ren had no choice but to intervene before they can fight. "You two, not here and now! Jaune is still missing and Blake needs medical attention!" Ren said. "You two can fight about this later. But right now we have things full in our hands." Ren reminds them.

"Wait, Jaune? What happened? I thought he was with you." Sun said.

"After Jaune saw something that might've caught his attention, he left without a word. We're worried, so we have to look for him. But one of us has to look after Blake while we're add it." Ruby said.

Sage knew that Blake cannot move for the moment, and will need the remedies to heal. So he spoke up. "I'll take her back to the inn..." But he was interrupted by Sun.

"I'll keep watch for her." The group isn't surprised, but he did keep his head up while fending off. So it's for the best. But Scarlet still doesn't trust him, never again. "The rest of you will find Jaune."

"Fine, but we are gonna have a talk, Sun." Scarlet scowled at Sun. Who looked at him guiltily. Ruby knew this is gonna be a rift with Team SSSN coming to a drift.

Author's note:

Sorry for the long wait. It took me a lot of thought about the plotline to the story. Also I was thinking of making the Redux Versions of Volumes 1-2 while I am for the progress of Volumes 4-8.

We have Neptune getting some development going detective mode, since this isn't the first time his mother (a lawyer) had some cases against Jacques Schnee of his wrongful doings. Plus what if the accident in the mines was premeditated? Also the mysterious woman, Eitel might have some mysterious connection to the Schnee family, but it was left unknown. As for the photograph of the young Nicholas with a man in blue-hair his age, it was a mystery for another day.

Meanwhile, Sun saw a ghost from the past. But doesn't know who he was after a dream of his vague memories. While also aiding Blake against the Black Vipers.

Winter Schnee is also back. There was a mention her mission was in Mistral, or the entire continent of Anima that there was great danger such as the White Fang, or possibly Leonardo Lionheart. While infiltrating in Kuchinashi to see a forgotten person from her past.