Alone Together
It was the morning after the conversation that happened. Ruby was laying on the ground outside the house.
"You're up early," said Yang who bent down behind Ruby with a small smile.
"Hey sis," Ruby said with a small smile at the upside-down view of her sister.
"Boop!" Yang bent down more so that the tips of her hair brushed against Ruby's nose, causing the red reaper to giggle.
Then Ruby sat back up. "So, what're you doing already up?" Last Ruby checked Yang didn't like waking up this early.
"Couldn't fall back asleep," Yang replied as she sat down next to Ruby. "Where's Roze?" Yang asked, noting that he wasn't with Ruby this time.
"Probably still sleeping," Ruby replied. It should probably be noted that the room Roze stayed at was where the guys were. Although, they had to change a few things to accommodate all the new additions, especially Dragunov and Wulfric. But thankfully, neither the dragon nor the beast needed beds. "What about Dragunov?"
"Probably felling down a forest," Yang replied with a smile.
"Huh?" Ruby questioned.
"Cause he always revs up the chainsaw engine at night," Yang replied with a smirk this time.
"…Yang, please," Ruby groaned when she remembered that Dragunov snores. Although calling his snoring a chainsaw engine is a slight overstatement. "It's too early."
"What? You've heard him back home," Yang shot back with a grin.
"Roze, Dahlia and Nox never complained about him," Ruby replied with a mock glare. And Nox has arguably more sensitive ears than the other Blades, excluding Dahlia.
"Well I don't know about our Blades, but we can survive with coffee." said Weiss who brought a tray with three cups of the said beverage. With that, the former heiress walked to Yang before lowering the tray for the blonde to take one.
"Thanks," Yang said, feeling like she would need this if she wanted to last the whole day with waking up as early as she did.
Weiss nodded in acknowledgement before balancing the tray on one hand and handing Ruby a cup.
"No please," Ruby pleaded.
"Don't worry, I put in blasphemous amounts of cream and sugar just for you," Weiss said with an amused eyeroll.
"Yay! Nice Weiss strikes again," Ruby said happily, before reaching for the cup. Only to have it drawn further from her by an unamused Weiss.
"I will pour this on you, and it will burn." With that threat, Weiss handed over the coffee, which Ruby accepted sheepishly. Then Weiss took a seat on the other side of Ruby, put the tray down and took her own coffee.
"I can't believe we're in Mistral," Yang said before taking a sip from her cup.
"That's what you can't believe?" Ruby asked with an amused glint in her eyes.
"Well yeah. And all the magic…other worlds and stuff…oh you know what I mean," Yang shot back jokingly.
"I honestly wasn't sure if I would ever see you guys again," Weiss said, giving two out of three of her friends a fond look.
"Well, here's to defying expectations," Yang said and the blonde- and white-haired girl clinked their cups, while Ruby took a gulp from her own.
"I just wish Blake could be here," Ruby let out.
"Well, she made her choice," Yang said with an uncaring tone.
Something that the other two caught onto. "What's that supposed to mean?" Weiss asked.
"I mean, she could've been here if she didn't leave us," Yang replied with a sigh, "But it's okay, we'll be fine without her."
"Don't you want her around?" Weiss asked with increasing worry.
"Why would I want her here?" Yang asked, sounding almost as cold as Weiss. And that's quite an accomplishment.
"Are you…still mad at her," Ruby asked unsurely.
"What gave you that idea?" Yang asked sarcastically before turning away.
"Okay, you need to calm down," Weiss said in an attempt to pacify Yang.
"Don't tell me to calm down!" Yang snapped with her eyes turning red. Startling her team mates, which made the blonde instantly regret it. "Sorry," Yang apologized before getting up and walking back inside the house.
Inside the house, Yang was sitting on the bed she stayed in. Looking at a picture of team RWBY when they were back together. The picture was taken before they became Drivers so it was just the four girls in it. Yang hated it. Despite Blake abandoning everyone, especially her, the blonde huntress still missed her. She pressed her unoccupied palm against the spot she was stabbed in. She wanted to regret taking that stab for Blake, but she just couldn't. It didn't make sense to her. Then a knock was heard on the door.
Yang hid the photo before replying, "Yeah." The door opened, but Yang wasn't looking at whoever entered. "Look Ruby, I don't want to talk about it. Can you just leave me alone for a bit?" Then Yang looked up to see that the one at the door wasn't Ruby, but Weiss. "Oh. Did you need something, Weiss?"
Weiss didn't answer, but she walked to the bed opposite of Yang and sat down.
Yang sighed. "Look, I know she's our team mate, but I'm not just gonna change my mind," Yang said, "My mom left me. Ruby's mom left me too. Dad was busy with the school and Ruby couldn't even talk yet. I don't think you know what it's like to be lonely. You have a giant family with recitals, dinners and what-not."
Weiss just sat there calmly and listened to the blonde venting.
"Weiss, if you have something you want to say then just say it," Yang finally said, wanting to get whatever this was over with.
(Play Xenoblade Chronicles 2 OST. Desolation)
With that, Weiss started talking, "When I was ten, my father finally admitted to my mother that the only reason he married her was for the family name." This made Yang look surprised. "It was actually on my birthday. He missed the big dinner. She got angry, he snapped." After mentioning that, Weiss stood up, before walking to sit next to Yang. "First it was separate lunches and dinners, opposite balconies during my recitals. A glass of wine here, a glass of wine there." Weiss took a deep breath, before continuing, "Then it was no dinners, no recitals. A bottle of wine here… Well you get the idea."
Now Yang felt bad about what she just said. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have assumed," Yang apologized.
"I think my mother knew before my father admitted it," Weiss then said before clenching her hands, "Looking back on it, I think I knew too. But hearing him say it really drove it home." Then the white-haired girl unclenched her hands and let out a sigh, "But you're right. I don't know loneliness like you do. I had my own version." After saying that, Weiss turned to face Yang who now looked worried. "And I think Blake has hers."
"She didn't have to be alone," Yang then said, realizing the point, "I was there for her…and look where it got me." Then she lifted her top enough to show the scar where that Blade stabbed her. "I know I shouldn't say, or even feel this way, but…," Yang couldn't bring herself to finish that horrible thought. "The point is, she chose to leave us," Yang said before covering the scar.
"Why do you think she left?" Weiss then asked.
"Hm?" This earned a questioning look from Yang.
"Ever since Blake came to Beacon, she always kept her past separated from us," Weiss explained, "It was like she was afraid of something. Afraid of opening up to us. And when those walls finally came down, the very thing she feared actually happened. Perhaps she believed that if she wasn't there, that would have never happened to you." At the last part, Weiss looked down towards the now hidden scar.
"No one blamed her for anything!" Yang snapped, voice cracking a bit, "If she had just talked to us, she would have known that! How can I be there for her when she won't let me?! What if I needed her to be here for me?" At the last part, Yang leaned her face against her hands. She just didn't want Weiss to see her cry even if it was quiet.
"I know it's not easy," Weiss said as she placed a hand on Yang's shoulder. "I wish she hadn't left too. The only thing we can do now is to be there for her when she comes back."
"…If she comes back," Yang said, able to stop her crying and replace it with slight anger.
"She will," Weiss said with utmost confidence. Then the white-haired girl smiled a little, "Yang, you, Ruby and even Blake have been more of a family to me than my brother or even my father. I would do anything for you three and I'm sure Blake feels the same way." After that, Weiss had a thoughtful look, "And…well I know Dahlia will always be there for me, and while I can't really speak for Dragunov, I'm sure he's there for you too." Yang actually chuckled at that. She wished she could believe that, but despite Dragunov saying numerous times that he made his choice and will stick with it, a part of the blonde Driver still fears that one day he decides that he made a mistake. "And I know, we're not as close, but I'm here for you too," Weiss finished with a smile.
(OST end)
Despite her lingering worries, Yang was still able to smile at Weiss. The blonde couldn't put into words on how grateful she was. Then a knock sounded from the door. Then it opened, allowing Ruby to peek inside.
"Is uh…everything okay," the black- and red-haired girl asked carefully.
"…Yeah," Yang managed to say with a smile. Then she saw that Ruby wasn't alone. Dahlia and Dragunov were behind Ruby.
"Good morning Weiss," Dahlia said with a warm smile at her Driver.
"Good morning Dahlia," Weiss replied in kind.
Yang rolled her eyes. "Morning, chainsaw," Yang joked at Dragunov.
"Morning…fluffhead," Dragunov replied with a shark-like grin.
"You did NOT just say that," Yang said with a mock threat. She knew that Dragunov was referring to her occasional bedhead.
Dragunov just chuckled before he glanced at both Ruby and Weiss. "Can I have a moment with Yang?"
"Huh? Why?" Ruby asked.
"There's something I want to ask her, something private," the formerly Tornan Blade said with a serious look.
"It's fine guys," Yang said, "Drag and I can be left alone."
"If you say so," Ruby said, and Weiss seemed to agree since she stood up.
It didn't take long for Weiss to leave with Ruby and Dahlia, while Dragunov entered the room.
"…I take it you and Weiss finally addressed the kitty issue," the draconic Blade said seriously, despite the wording.
"Yeah…as well as it can be," Yang then said.
"Good enough," Dragunov said and moved to get out.
"Dragunov," Yang then said, regaining her Blade's attention, "When…Nox warned you about the White Fang, did Blake order him to, or did he decide on his own?"
"Does it matter?" Dragunov asked.
"Yes, it does matter to me," Yang replied with a hard look.
Dragunov held his Driver's gaze before letting out a sigh. "I honestly don't know," Dragunov said, "He only told me to watch out in case the White Fang went after you and told me to relay this to the others."
"So, you don't know if Blake ordered him," Yang said, feeling disappointed.
"Yang, you know what Nox is like if his mistress is even remotely uncomfortable," Dragunov then pointed out, "If he did decide on his own, it was because he knew how she would react if he didn't."
"…I guess you're right," Yang admitted, seeing Dragunov's logic.
"Besides," the draconic Blade chose to add, "He specifically told me that the guy threatened to 'hunt down everyone she loves', don't you think that means she cares at least on some level. But that's just my assumption."
Yang nodded, accepting her Blade's opinion, "…If Blake was here right now, what would you do?"
"Do you want me to be honest?" Dragunov asked, which earned him a suspicious look form the blonde Driver. The fire Blade sighed before speaking his mind, "I would punch her in the face and then make her explain herself."
Yang knew she shouldn't smile about Dragunov threatening Blake, but she did. "Can you not do that, I want to do it personally," Yang asked, even though she wasn't even sure she could go through with it.
"Suit yourself," Dragunov shrugged as he moved next to Yang, "But…I'm more interested in meeting that Adam guy and his Blade again, because next time I will incinerate them both."
Yang clenched her hands into fists at the reminder of Adam and the Blade that stabbed her. But she stayed calm. "I guess we'll see if you get your chance," Yang said as she stood up and stretched a little. Then she walked out the door.
What Yang didn't notice was that Dragunov reached out his hand to her before she moved away. "I wish I could do more," Dragunov thought with a melancholic look. He is a powerful Blade, but the emotional support he knew Weiss must have given his Driver was beyond his faculties.
With Ruby and Weiss, Dahlia had an arm around her Driver as the three moved to kitchen to see if there was anything they could have for breakfast. When they reached the kitchen, they were surprised to see Pyra and Ren already working the kitchen.
Aizen was also spotted pouring himself a cup of coffee.
"Morning Pyra. Morning Ren," Ruby greeted with a smile.
"Morning Ruby," Pyra replied with a smile of her own, while Ren gave a nod of acknowledgement.
"Good morning Miss Schnee," Aizen greeted before taking a sip of his coffee.
"Good morning Aizen," Weiss replied curtly, "I didn't know you like coffee."
"Your father never allowed me to have any kind of drink or food. Called it a waste," Aizen replied easily, "But I believe I now understand what is so interesting about this coffee."
This made Dahlia perk up at a small detail, "Wait, back at Raven's camp you complemented on her taste of tea. Are you saying that it was the first time you have tasted any?"
"It was my first time tasting, but I have taken the aroma plenty of times," Aizen replied with a small smile.
"My father was very cruel to you, wasn't he?" Weiss said feeling bad about.
"You are not your father," Aizen replied before moving to the living room with his coffee.
"What did he mean by that?" Ruby asked Weiss in slight concern.
It was Ren who chose to reply, "I believe he was saying that Weiss shouldn't feel bad for something she had no part in."
While Weiss still wasn't entirely sure about Aizen, she couldn't help but take this as a complement.
"Weiss, I'll see you later," Dahlia said before moving to walk after Aizen.
"Dahlia?" Weiss sounded out.
"There's something I need to talk to him about," Dahlia said before moving to the living room. Leaving Weiss and Ruby behind.
When Dahlia reached Aizen who was lounging on a couch as he took a sip of his coffee, the nobleman Blade turned to face her. "Is there something I can help with?"
Dahlia looked back to the kitchen to see that Ruby and Weiss started helping Ren and Pyra with whatever they were cooking before letting out a small sigh. "What do you think of Ozpin?" Dahlia asked the nobleman Blade.
Aizen raised an eyebrow at the question before looking thoughtful. "His situation is…interesting," the male water Blade sounded mildly intrigued.
"Let me rephrase that, do you trust him?" Dahlia asked again.
"Do you?" Aizen countered.
"…On one hand he was the headmaster of Beacon who Weiss studied under, but on the other hand… He had so many secrets that I'm not sure if I can fully trust him anymore," Dahlia replied.
Aizen chuckled at this, "I see you're not a fool." Then the blue- and white-haired man placed his cup on the coffee table. "As much as I dislike her, Raven was right not to trust Ozpin. While I doubt he has any malicious intent directed towards our Driver and her friends, I cannot help wondering. If he hid such terrible secrets all this time, then what else could he be hiding? So, to answer your question, of course not."
"I see," Dahlia said with a sigh, before directing an icy look at her fellow Blade, "Now, how exactly are you planning to have your vengeance on Jacques?"
"That is my concern," Aizen replied as he reached for his cup again.
"Jacques is Weiss' father, so whatever might even remotely involve her is also my concern," Dahlia replied with a more threatening tone, "Especially if whatever plans you have might hurt my Driver by proxy."
"You forget," Aizen said with a frown as he stood up, "That Miss Schnee is also my Driver, so what concerns her, concerns me as well." Then the scheming Blade smiled, "But if it brings you some comfort, my plan of vengeance does not involve anything befalling her, only her cooperation."
"Hmm… Why is it I don't believe you?" Dahlia asked with a suspicious look.
"Because you're not a fool that takes things at face value, especially if it might involve Miss Schnee," Aizen replied with a smile, "Not trusting me fully is, quite frankly, one of the smartest things you and Miss Schnee have done since I became her Blade. Was there anything else?"
"…No," Dahlia replied, turning back on her heel and strutting back to Weiss.
As soon as Dahlia disappeared from sight, Aizen reclined on the couch before placing his arm on the armrest and resting his face on his fist. The truth is, he was now worried. This business with Salem might disrupt his plans that he had already set in motion before leaving with Weiss. Worst case scenario, Jacques might die. "Unacceptable." Aizen thought bitterly, but he kept his calm. There was no use worrying about things he can't affect as of now.
With Rex and Tora, Poppi was going through a check-up with her Masterpon who had his goggles on.
"So, Poppi you haven't had any problems since we got to Remnant, right?" Rex asked. When Tora started sputtering technical jargo about Poppi's system's possibly not functioning properly due to something on Remnant, the salvager got a little worried.
"Poppi trust Masterpon to fix her," Poppi said with a small smile, even as she was laying on her stomach on the floor with Tora rummaging inside her chassis, at the back.
"There nothing to fix," Tora said as he closed the chassis and locked it in place, "Poppi still function at peak capacity. Ether furnace not damaged, and all systems go." At the end of that, Poppi lifted herself off the floor. "How Poppi feeling?" Tora then asked.
"A-okay." Poppi replied while giving a thumbs up.
"Good," Tora replied, taking his goggles off his eyes.
"Tora, why didn't you let Poppi try arm-wrestling Dragunov last night?" Rex decided to ask out of curiosity.
"Meh-MEH?!" Tora looked at Rex like he grew a second head, "Rex-Rex not see? Dragunov match Wulfric who made Poppi push beyond limits!"
"Oh, right. Back when Wulfric was curious about how strong Poppi is," Rex said, remembering the incident. The beastly Blade won by focusing his strength to a single point, accidentally tearing off Poppi's arm, much to Pyra's, Brighid's, Nia's and especially Tora's horror. Thankfully the Nopon inventor was able to fix her, but he was still adamant on keeping Poppi away from him for a week despite the beastly Blade apologizing profusely.
"Poppi sorry," Poppi apologized, still being more upset about losing to Wulfric than the damage the beastly Blade caused.
"Poppi not at fault," Tora said almost sternly, "Need to go over schematics and see upgrades." As Tora started muttering about the modifications to ensure that that never happens again, Rex smiled at how much Tora cares about Poppi. Unfortunately, those modifications would have to wait for as long as they were on Remnant, because all the equipment Tora needed for something that advanced was in his house back in Torigoth.
Then two sets of growls were heard. One louder than the other. "Are Masterpon and Rex hungry?" Poppi asked innocently.
The Nopon and the Leftherian blushed at being called out. "I guess we should see if Pyra's ready with the breakfast," Rex muttered with a sigh.
"Yes, yes! Tora's tummy rumbly. Come on Poppi!" With that, Tora waddled out of the room with Poppi in tow.
As soon as Poppi and Tora left, Rex let out a sigh. "Something wrong, Rex?" Azurda asked from a pillow on one of the beds he decided to curl on.
"Well…It's just that…I'm just wondering where Nia might be," Rex said.
"So, you're worried about her?" Azurda asked, sitting up on the pillow, "I see my boy is growing up."
"Gramps! This is serious!" Rex said with a small scowl.
"Right, apologies," the tiny Titan apologized, "But in all seriousness, I'm sure Dromarch and Dagas can keep her safe."
"If they went to the same place she did," Rex muttered, "I mean, Wulfric didn't end up in the same place with me and he's my Blade. What if something similar happened to Nia?"
"Hmm…that is a good point," Azurda muttered in thought, "Still there's no use worrying right now, after all you wouldn't want your hair turning gray too soon." the old fogey let out a small laugh at the end.
"Says the one with white fur," Rex shot back with a smile.
"Hmph, no respect for your elders," Azurda said with a playful huff, "I thought I raised you better than that."
"Let's just go before Tora and/or Nora eat whatever breakfast there is," Rex said before standing up to move to the door. Azurda flapped his tiny wings to flutter into Rex's helmet to once again bum a ride. Don't judge him. Azurda used to carry Rex on his back for years before shrinking into the tiny white fuzzy creature he now is.
Back in Menagerie, it was night time, and Blake was at a balcony taking a moment to appreciate a moment without Nox. The ninja Blade was checking the area to see if there are any suspicious people skulking around. Blake's hand brushed the outer edge of the railing and she felt something that wasn't supposed to be there. Taking the mysterious object out, Blake noted that it was a folded note that was taped on the railing. Nox must have not swept this area yet, otherwise she would have been sure that he would have found it and brought it to her. Blake opened the folded paper to see it was a message from Ilia.
"Things going too far. Not sure what to do. Find a quiet spot. I'll find you. Please come alone."
Blake looked at the message from Ilia with a worried look. Did something happen that made Ilia scared?
"Yo, Blake," Sun called out, coming out to the balcony, "We going or what? We still got a whole nocturnal section of the population to recruit."
"Yeah, I'll be right there, I just need to take care of something first," Blake called back, hiding the note.
"Okay," Sun shrugged before moving back inside.
With that, Blake could find a quiet spot where Ilia could find her. And help her with whatever it was she needed help with.
Sometime later in a secluded area of Kuo Kuana, Blake was walking to an alley alone. Searching for Ilia.
"Ilia," Blake called out into the dark. Despite having night vision, Ilia can blend into the environment so that it would be difficult to distinguish her from the surroundings. Especially in the dark.
"I'm here," Ilia called back from the dark. Soon enough, Ilia stepped out of the shadows and into the moonlight. Hands in the air, unarmed and undoing here camouflage.
Although that didn't stop Blake from grasping Gambol's katana on her back on instinct. Still, she quickly noted Ilia's state and relaxed, "Ilia, I know you're scared, but you don't have to be. My family and I can keep you safe."
"I'm sorry," Ilia said, looking away from Blake.
Blake smiled sympathetically, "You can make it up to me by helping me stop Corsic and Fennec."
"No." Ilia said with a pained look before facing Blake fully, "I'm sorry." Then Ilia clenched her hand into a fist.
Then Blake heard running steps from behind before feeling something heavy landing on her back. Causing Gambol Shroud to be loosened from her back and clatter away from her and knock the air out of her lungs. Then the weight left her back allowing Blake to barely stand up.
"Ilia," Blake wheezed out before she was launched to the ground by webbing that appeared around her. Turning her head back, Blake saw three fangs behind her. One was Yuma who jumped on her back. Another was a gray-haired girl with lines across her body and gray palms which had shot the webbing at the feline faunus.
"I got her," the gray-haired spider faunus said with a smirk.
"Well done sister Traifa," Yuma told the spider faunus named Traifa. "And you too Ilia," the bat faunus added before throwing the chameleon girl her weapon back.
"Ilia, what are you doing?" Blake asked in distress.
"I told you things were about to get worse," Ilia explained, "I'm sorry."
"Don't tell me you're sorry!" Blake shouted out accusingly.
"But I am!" Ilia shot back, "I'm sorry it has to be this way. But you and your family hold the Faunus back."
"Because we're trying to help people?!" Blake just couldn't believe what she was hearing, "In what world do you live in where killing innocent people is the right thing to do?!"
"The same one you live in!" Ilia shouted back, "There's no such thing as innocent! There's no right thing to do, only what's best. There's humans who still hate the Faunus and then there are those who just stand by and let the hate happen!" At the end of her speech, Ilia stepped to Blake and placed the tip of her sword under the feline faunus' chin. "But you know what snuffs out hate? Fear. I don't like hurting people, but it's gotten us results."
Blake gave Ilia a defiant look, "Yeah, look where it's gotten you."
Blake's words had a visible effect as Ilia had a distraught look before she felt a chill down her spine. The memory of Perceval and his threat still haunting her. "We all have to make sacrifices for greater good. No matter how much it hurts," Ilia then said, "Which is why that disgusting traitor who spoke against us has to die."
"What?" Blake asked.
"That one antlered Faunus," Ilia said, "Even after he lost one of the things that make him who he is to humans he still dared to think we're the monsters." hate practically dripped out of the chameleon faunus.
"Ilia stop this, this isn't you!" Blake begged, not wanting Haze to die at the White Fang's hands.
"Yes, it is!" Ilia argued with anger, "And even if it wasn't it doesn't matter, Perceval must have killed him by now."
This made Blake look horrified, "Perceval is here?!"
"Yes, and he will ensure that our mission is a success," Ilia then said.
"Ilia! Do you really believe that killing me will help Faunus?" Blake all but demanded.
"No, but getting rid of your family will," Ilia then said with a hard look.
"Ilia, you don't have to do this- " "Yes I do!" Ilia interrupted angrily, "This has always been me. But you were just too busy chasing after Adam to see it." the chameleon girl sounded downright mocking at the latter sentence. "I wished you would look at me…the way you looked at him," Ilia then said sadly with her spots turning pink for an instant. "But we can't always have what we want." Then Ilia's eyes turned red with anger. At that point, Ilia turned to the other Fangs, "Yuma, you're with me. You two, get her to the docks." Then Ilia and Yuma went to the direction of Blake's home to assist in killing the Belladonnas.
"Let's go traitor," Traifa said, yanking on the webbing like it was a leash of some kind, while the remaining scaled Fang looked down in satisfaction of seeing one of their enemies on their knees.
"Now!" Blake shouted, surprising the two Fangs. Then the scaled faunus got pounced on by Sun, kicking the guy away from them.
"What?!" Traifa shouted out, bringing out a knife on Sun. But she was interrupted by a whack on her head, courtesy of Wu.
"Surprise!" Wu cheered with a grin, despite Traifa not being conscious anymore.
"You filthy traitors!" The fang who Sun kicked away shouted pulling out a handgun in an attempt to shoot at them.
"No, don't kill him!" Blake cried out with a horrified look.
"I don't take orders from you, bitch," the scaled faunus said with a hateful look. The poor fool didn't realize Blake wasn't talking to him until something impacted the back of his head and knocked him out.
"Consider yourself lucky." Nox showed on his scroll while giving a cross-glare at the Fang that could no longer read, much less know what's going on while unconscious. "Without my lady's order, I would have torn you apart, limb from limb."
"Thanks for the back-up you three," Blake thanked the two monkeys and a ninja.
"No prob, thanks for the invite," Sun said with a grin, before taking a serious expression, "You okay?"
Blake quickly retrieved Gambol Shroud, "No, you heard Ilia, my family's in danger."
"She will not succeed." Nox showed on his scroll with a determined look.
Blake allowed herself to smile at her Blade before addressing Sun again, "Call the police and let's go."
With that, the two Faunus Drivers alongside their Blades ran back to Blake's house. Sun calling the police on his Scroll, while Blake tried calling her home.
"Come on, mom. Pick up," Blake pleaded.
In the Belladonna residence, Kali's Scroll was ringing. Unfortunately, the Belladonna matriarch was too busy taking cover behind an upturned table to answer the Scroll which was on the floor. One of the guards came out of the cover to get a shot at the two Fang grunts firing at them, but one of them nailed the poor officer on the chest. Kali was horrified at this, but took the now dropped gun.
"Get out of my house!" Kali shouted before firing at the grunts, before ducking back under the shots. "Ghira." the elder Belladonna couldn't help worrying about her husband.
At another part of the house, Ghira was in the middle of a fight with multiple grunts with some guards assisting him. One of the Fangs charged the large faunus with a jump kick, only for Ghira to grab the leg and slamming the assailant to a wall. Then another tried rushing him, but the Chief of Menagerie made a chop on the right spot at the grunts neck to knock them out before throwing that grunt away too.
"Go, find my wife," Ghira shouted to one of the guards who instantly obeyed.
Then one of the guards came in front of Ghira to take a shot for him. Unfortunately, this cost the guard his life. Ghira looked horrified, before looking to where the shot came from.
"I believe our Chieftain should step down brother," Corsic said to Fennec who had a stabbing dagger in his hand with red Dust inside of it, which the younger Albain had used to take a shot at Ghira.
"Yes, brother, I'm afraid I must agree," Fennec said with a smirk.
Ghira's hands, which were clenched into fists, unclenched which unfolded his claws. Then the large Faunus took off his coat and growled at the Albains, much like a panther.
In another part of the house, Nia was busy. "Jaguar Slash!" the Gormotti spun the rings around her wrists to charge them with water Ether before felling a grunt that tried charging her. "Did these psychos finally decide to slaughter everyone?" Nia wondered with a disturbed look. It's not the killing that made her queasy, but rather the fact that some of these Fang grunts die with a manic smile on their face.
"I don't know, my lady. I truly don't," Dromarch replied as he deployed a barrier to block several shots from rifles.
"Where's Dagas when you need him!" Nia complained at the royal Blade not being here.
All action ceased when a scream was heard from one of the rooms. A grunt was backing off from a room while shooting at something.
"DIE YOU DISGUSTING FREAK!" The terrified grunt screamed while wildly firing at the room he came from. Only to bring his rifle at the front to block a large ornate Great Axe that was swung from the room. Only for the weapon to shatter the rifle before cutting down the poor grunt.
Then the culprit came out of the room, revealing it to be Dagas. "It seems you have finally shown your true colors," Dagas said, while looking down on the grunts that were now nervous at this thing looking at them so coldly.
"Kill that thing! This will be a glorious day for the White Fang!" one of the grunts shouted before aiming at Dagas who was now walking towards them calmly. Axe at the ready.
"Yes, nothing is more glorious than dying by the hand of a king," Dagas said like he was giving his enemy a blessing of some kind.
Then one of the grunts screamed in pain as Nia took this opportunity to take out one of them.
"You cowardly-!" Was as far as the other one got before Dagas brought the axe down on them.
"Dammit!" Nia cursed at this whole situation, "We need to find the Belladonnas."
"Agreed," Dagas sounded out.
"We should search their room first," Dromarch suggested, "It's possible that at least one of them is there."
"Good call," Dagas said before pointing down the direction that led there with his ornate Great Axe, "Let us go, my retainers. We shall dispose of this filth as we move."
"Urgh," Nia groaned at Dagas once again acting so high and mighty, but followed her Blade's lead reluctantly.