A/N: Gotta love crazy work schedules. They change how you spend your working hours by a tiny bit and it messes up your whole planned week. Would be easier if we hired another employee. Anyway, sorry for the wait, everyone.

SilentKnightFan- Awesome chapter dude XD

And yes she definitely would. Speaking of thirsty, the Vacuoans would need A LOT more water if older Jaune showed up there XD Imagine Emerald's reaction XD OOOOH BOOOY! XD

I mean tbh you COULD do that as one of your special chapters XD I really wanna see Blake losing her shit XD And yes Talia, my apologies. As for Neiger, i didnt mean his adventures specifically but as IN his moments like Willow raising him and cute baby moments etc LOL XD

And yup, will always enjoy it dude. Peace out and stay awesome :)

Honestly, I'm shipping Emerald with Oscar right now. I think their name is Emerald City. I think the ones we would need to pay attention to would have been Winter, Willow, and some of the hot mamas in Vacuo had Rusted Knight Jaune pulled up. Aw, well. At least I now have a legitimate reason to ship Jaune Glynda and it not be creepy. Chronologically and mentally in his forties, meaning he can get with ALL the sexy and mature ladies! Whoo!

Honestly, I think I can work with a special chapter of the Schnee Family being... well, a family thanks to little Neiger. Oh, and don't worry about Blake. She has her own special chapter WAAAAY down the road. It's gonna be fun.

Esmeralda walked through the halls of the cathedral, Anita taking a short nap to regain her strength. Since she was out cold, she didn't notice Pheobus quietly walk into the cathedral.

The captain looked at the sleeping thief, eyes widening at her true beauty. He then shook his head before looking at Esmeralda, her back turned toward him.

Phoebus walked up to her, about to tap her shoulder. However, Esmeralda quickly turned around, grabbed his sword, threw him to the ground, then pointed his own weapon at his chin, finger already at the trigger. "You!"

"Easy, easy. I just shaved this morning."

"Oh, really? You missed a spot."

"Alright, alright. Just calm down. Just give me a chance to apologize."

"For what?"

Phoebus grabbed his sword by the blade, his hand safe behind his gloves, then tripped Esmeralda. "That, for example."

"You sneaky sonofa-"

"Ah, ah, ah, watch it. You're in a church."

"Are you always this charming or am I just lucky?" Esmeralda then swung a candle stand as long as Anita's Knock First, now dueling with Phoebus.

Phoebus laughed. "Candlelight. Privacy. Music. Can't think of a better place for hand-to-hand combat. Oh, you fight almost as well as a man."

"Funny, I was about to say you almost fight as well as Anita."

"Ooh, that's hitting really below the belt."

"No. This is."

Phoebus blocked Esmeralda's strike to his crotch but wasn't able to do anything against her hitting his face with the bottom of the stand. He shook his head before smiling. "Touché."

He was then hit over the head from behind before he was tripped again. When he turned, he was now faced to face with the end of a barrel. He looked up at the barrel of the gun to see it was a staff before seeing its beautiful owner at the end of it.

"You have three seconds to convince me not to shoot you," Anita said.

"Well, we're in a church."

"Two."

"And I still have plenty of Aura left."

"One."

"AND IT WOULD BE A WASTE OF A BULLET AND LET THE GUARDS KNOW YOU'RE IN HERE," Pheobus desperately said before squeezing his eyes shut. No loud bang was heard or a painful bullet struck him, he opened one eye to see Anita contemplating.

"Mm, good point. Bad enough that my Aura is all gone. I don't think I can handle a platoon of guards in my current state," she said as she placed the staff back on the ground, using it as a walking stick again.

Phoebus sighed in relief before trying to get up. He jumped when Esmeralda slammed the stand right in front of his crotch.

"And who said you could get up," she asked with a sneaky smile.

"Uh, well, we seem to have gotten off on the wrong foot, ladies."

"Well, maybe you haven't noticed somehow, but we don't take kindly to soldiers," Anita said as she spun her staff before resting it on her shoulder.

"Well, permit me to introduce myself. Standing, please?"

Anita and Esmeralda glanced at each other. Anita shrugged, making Esmeralda sigh with a roll of her eyes, taking the stand away from Phoebus. Now in relative safety, Pheobus stood up, brushing himself off.

He cleared his throat. "I'm Phoebus. It means 'sun god'," he shrugged.

Anita and Esmeralda glanced at each other again with unimpressed gazes before looking back at the captain.

"I know it means 'bright or radiant,' love," Anita said.

"Ooh, deadly and smart."

"Needed elements in my line of work."

"And you are?"

"The woman who's going to shoot you," Anita said as she held up her staff.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! I thought we got over this."

"We don't like being interrogated," Esmeralda said.

"I'm not interrogating you two. I'm introducing myself."

"You're not arresting us," Esmeralda asked.

"As long as you two are in here, I can't."

"Ooh, I like it here," Anita said as she placed her staff on the ground.

"He's not at all like the other soldiers."

"He almost reminds me of my father, to a very, very, VERY lesser degree."

"If he knew who your father was, I'm sure he'd take that as a compliment."

"Not so sure how I'd feel about being compared to a thief," Phoebus said.

The beauties looked at each other before they giggled.

"My mother is the thief, love."

"Her father is something else entirely."

"Okay," he went with a raised eyebrow.

"So if you're not going to arrest us, what do you want," Esmeralda asked.

"I'd settle for your names."

"Esmeralda," she said with a smile.

"Beautiful. Much better than Phoebus, anyway."

"My father's name is better than yours, love."

"Daddy's girl, huh?"

"Careful, deary," she said with a teasing smile.

"So, what's your name?"

She giggled. "Anita. Anita Vanille."

"Another beautiful na-" Phoebus's eyes widened. "Vanille? Wait, you said your mother is the thief. Could your mother be... the legendary thief? THE Neopolitan? Trivia Vanille herself?"

"Do I hear reverence in your tone," Anita asked with a smile and raised eyebrow, arms crossed beneath her breasts.

"Uh, well, it's just-" He cleared his throat. "Neo was one of the Heroes of Remnant before returning to a life of crime. But her exploits were legendary, robbing some of the most dangerous crime lords and the most corrupt politicians. Many people idolize her for her brilliance, skill, and beauty."

"Beauty," Anita asked teasingly, making Phebus even more nervous. Anita giggled. "Well, my mother is quite beautiful. It's one of the ways she was able to steal my father's heart, after all.

"Your father?" Phoebus looked Anita over. Though she was incredibly beautiful, there were some key factors that stood out. "Golden blonde hair and a blue eye. I have blonde hair and blue eyes, too, but Neo has only had two known partners. And one of them was... Is your father-"

"Good work, captain!"

Everyone looked towards the doors now swung open, Fue entering with a squad of guards. "Now, arrest them."

The three stared at the approaching judge before Phoebus turned toward the girls. "Claim sanctuary." Esmeralda just glared at him. "Say it," he whispered.

"You tricked me," Esmeralda growled.

Anita sighed as she rolled her eyes before pushing Phoebus out of her way. "We claim sanctuary!"

The judge stopped before growling. "Do you believe I-" His eyes widened. "YOU!"

"Me?"

"HOW DARE YOU ENTER MY KINGDOM, ARC?!"

"Arc?"

"I should have known you'd ally yourself with the Faunus Filth. HERO OF REMNANT, MY HORSE'S HOOF!"

Anita stared at him before snickering. She then burst out laughing. "How old ARE you?!"

"What?"

"I'm a WOMAN, you idiot. How can I be Jaune Arc?"

Fue finally gathered himself, realizing that the blonde hair and blue eye didn't belong to his most hated enemy, but indeed to a beautiful woman. Still, he couldn't help but wonder why he reacted in such a way. Phoebus had blonde hair and blue eyes, but he didn't inject hatred into his heart as the beautiful girl did. Why did she remind him of Jaune Arc?

He growled once more. "Arrest them NOW, Captain!"

"I'm sorry, sir, but as the girl said, they've claimed sanctuary. There's nothing I can do."

"Then drag them outside and-"

"Fue," the archdeacon went as he walked towards the group. "You will not touch them," the elderly man went. "Don't worry," he said as he caringly placed a hand on Esmerald's shoulder. "Councilman Fue learned years ago to respect the sanctity of the church."

Fue glared at the people in front of him, his hand almost glowing from the heat of his Semblance. He then raised his hand, the guards leaving as he turned and walked away. However, when he looked back to see that no one was watching him, not even Anita, he hid behind a column.

The Archbishop dragged Phoebus out of the cathedral, Anita following them. She then bonked Phoebus with her staff.

"Ow! Is that necessary?"

"Yes. Yes, it is. Now MARCH!"

"OW!"

"Hup, two, three, four, hup, two, three, four."

"You're enjoying this."

"Immensely, love."

Esmeralda giggled as she watched the scene before she was grabbed from behind, her arm locked.

"You think you've outwitted me," Fue began. "But I'm a patient man, and Faunus don't do well in..." He grabbed the base of one of Esmeralda's wings, making her gasp from the pain of sensitivity. "Stone walls," he smirked. He then saw her beautiful, black hair and inhaled deeply into it.

"What are you doing," Esmeralda asked in disgust.

"I was just imagining a rope around that beautiful neck," he said as he traced his thin fingers across Esmeralda's skin.

She then elbowed him, freeing herself from his grip and escaping him. "I know what your imagining, just like I know the Vale Knight would never allow you to execute an innocent."

Fue chuckled darkly. "That man has no power here. As long as I am a councilman, he's not even allowed back in Minuit. He can't do a thing."

Fue gasped when a blade appeared between him and Esmeralda, the weapon edging closer to Fue's throat and safely away from Esmeralda. "Then it's a good thing I'm here."

Fue looked towards Anita, astonished. Though she wasn't using her Semblance, her face was completely shadowed, a single blue orb glowing within the darkness, making her look terrifying. "You have one second to step away from her before I slit your throat."

Fue then smirked. "Oh, please. Do attack me, so that you may negate the call of sanctuary. That way, you'll be all mine."

Esmeralda gasped. "Anni, no! He's not worth it!"

Anita glared at Fue before sucking her teeth, sheathing her sword back into her Knock First, the handle of the blade completing the staff once more.

"Mm, clever thief. Well, no matter," Fue said as he walked away. "You both have chosen a magnificent prison, but it is a prison nonetheless. Set one foot, one wing, or even a lovely golden strand of hair, and your mine. And as I said, your precious Vale Knight can do nothing to save you. This is MY kingdom, not his. My word is law. Remember that," he said as he slammed the door shut.

Anita and Esmeralda looked at each other in worry before both running to the same door, opening it.

"Fue's orders. Post a guard at every door."

Esmeralda slammed the door shut, Anita kicking it in frustration before both sat on the ground.

"If I had my Aura, I could disguise us."

"That wouldn't work. Those guards would stop a baby from leaving the cathedral. You could disguise us as goats and they'd still stop us."

"What about your Semblance?"

"Raven's Ride? It's not as powerful as you'd think. I can only get us from here to that far-off column," Esmeralda pointed. "And it takes way too much Aura. My record is three, meaning I can only do it once more today before my Aura completely shatters."

Anita sighed dejectedly.

"Don't worry, Anni. If Fue thinks he's keeping us here, he's wrong."

"Don't act rashly, my child," the archbishop went as he lit the candles. The two of you created quite the stir at the festival." He chuckled. "I hadn't seen Fue that flustered since the Hero of Remnant saved Minuit. It would be unwise to anger him any further. His influence was great enough to bar even a man as great as Jaune Arc, after all."

"You saw what he did out there," Esmeralda began as she and Anita stood up. "Letting the crowd torture that poor boy."

"My fa- Jaune Arc would never have allowed such a deed."

"Sadly, men like Jaune Arc are not as common as one would hope. The world would benefit from more heroes such as he, or the legendary Team RWBY, or the mighty General Schnee."

"People Fue has banned," Esmeralda began. "If there was just one person like them to stand up to him-" Esmeralda sighed in exasperation. "What do they have against people who are different, anyway?"

"You can't right all the wrongs of this world by yourself," the bishop said as he walked with Anita and Esmeralda.

"Well no one in this city is going to help, that's for sure," Esmeralda said.

Anita sighed. "He would have."

"But he's not here, Anni. Not even he can be everywhere at once."

"Well, maybe the Hero of Remnant can't help you, but maybe someone in here can." He then walked away.

The girls then looked up, seeing a statue of the Grimm Knight, holding the Sword of Destruction, the statue almost looking down at the girls, as if waiting for them to speak to it.

Anita and Esmeralda looked around to see many statues of various Grimm, but the most prominent was the Grimm Knight. The mythology surrounding that particular statue was vast. A judge, an executioner, a punisher, but also a hero. A protector of the innocent and a savior to the pure of heart. The God of Darkness's greatest creation and champion. The Guardian of Remnant.

The beauties looked around to see some of the people praying, but their enhanced hearing heard the selfish and frivolous prayers some were asking, but also some of the more noble prayers such as the power to protect their family or the ability to give their children lives better than their own.

Esmeralda then looked up towards the largest Mosaic, that of the God of Darkness, his arms outstretched, various worshippers praying at his feet.

"I don't know if you can hear me," Esmeralda began. "Or if you're even there. I don't know if you would listen to a Faunus prayer. Yes, I know I'm just an outcast. I shouldn't speak to you. Still, I see your face and wonder if you were once an outcast, too."

Anita stared at the mosaic before noticing Esmeralda walking away.

"God help the outcasts, hungry from birth. Show them the mercy they don't find in the world. God help my people, we look to you still. God help the outcasts, or nobody will."

As she prayed, Esmeralda didn't know that Ténèbres came down and watched her.

Anita was also following her friend when she heard the prayers of the people.

"I ask for wealth. I ask for fame. I ask for glory to shine on my name."

"I ask for love." Anita liked that one. "I can possess!" Not so much now. "I ask for God and his Spirits to bless me!"

"I ask for nothing. I can get by." That reminded Anita why she liked Esmeralda so much. "But I know so many less lucky than I. Please help my people, the poor and downdraught. I thought we all were the children of God." She then stopped in front of a beautiful yet dark mosaic, the darkened sunlight on the raven as her beautiful friend walked up to her. "God help the outcasts, children of God."

Anita looked at Esmeralda before looking up at the mosaic. Without thinking, she held Esmeralda's hand, the Faunus deepening the act by intertwining her fingers with Anita's.

"I really do believe that he tried to save the outcasts. Your father, I mean," Esmeralda said.

"I know."

"But... he's just one man. A powerful one, but still only one. No one man can carry the entire world on his shoulders. Not even him."

"But he's stubborn enough to try."

Esmeralda smiled. "Then I like him even more."

Anita also smiled. "So do I. I'd even go so far as to say... I love my father."

"You, bellringer! What are you doing down here?!" The beauties looked to see Ténèbres accidentally knocking down a candlestand before running away. "Haven't you caused enough trouble already," he scolded the escaping Faunus.

"Wait," Esmeralda said before chasing after him.

Anita wanted to follow but had something else to do first. She stomped up to the fool and slapped him hard enough to make him fall to the ground. "THOSE ARE MY WORDS TOWARDS IDIOTS LIKE YOU! It's no wonder saving Minuit is one of Jaune Arc's greatest shame if he was forced to save fools like you!" She then ran after Esmeralda and Ténèbres, leaving the now-shamed man on the ground, rubbing his bright red cheek.

Anita ran up the stairs, hoping to catch up with the two Faunus, but she was incredibly fast due to being a Master Thief. She was able to catch up with Esmeralda just as she found Ténèbres.

"There you are. I was afraid I had lost you," Esmeralda panted.

"Good thing you didn't," Anita said.

"How are you not out of breath after all those stairs," Esmeralda asked.

"Emmy, I'm a Master Theif."

Esmeralda giggled. "Show off." Anita playfully stuck her tongue at her friend.

"Yes, well," Ténèbres began as he cleared his throat. "I have chores to do. It was nice... seeing... you two... again." He then tried to run again.

"No, wait," Anita and Esmeralda went in unison.

"We're really sorry about this afternoon," Esmeralda went. "I had no idea who you were! I would never in my life have pulled you... up on the... stage," she went as she looked at the models and mosaics Ténèbres made.

Anita's eyes widened. "Incredible."

"What is this place," Esmeralda asked.

"This is where I live," Ténèbres answered.

"Did you make all these things yourself," Esmeralda asked.

"The craftsmanship is incredible," Anita said as she analyzed the model, holding up a carved man. "This could sell for quite a bit of lien. Ow," she went after Esmeralda bonked her head. "I'm sorry. Master Thief."

"Time and place, Anni."

With a roll of her eyes from her friend's antics, Esmeralda went back to admiring the model. "This is beautiful. If I could do this, you wouldn't see me dancing in the street for lien."

"But you're a wonderful dancer," Ténèbres said.

"Beautiful, actually," Anita added.

"Breath-taking," Ténèbres added.

"Absolutely mesmerizing," they said in unison.

Esmeralda stood up and looked at the two with a smile and a raised eyebrow. "Are you two flirting with me?"

Ténèbres turned bright red as he hid behind a pillar. "N-No! I would never," he said shyly.

"I would, and I am," Anita went.

"Well, aren't you a regular ol' succubus?"

"I am my father's daughter."

"Isn't he married?"

"Aren't I his illegitimate daughter?"

"Touché." Esmeralda sighed. "Well, my dancing keeps bread on the table anyway. Probably not as much as your stealing, Anni."

"My theft keeps steak on the table."

"And now you're tempting me to be on your side."

"Possibly," she shrugged.

Esmeralda looked back at the model, seeing a cloth over part of it. "What's this?"

"Oh, please," Ténèbres begged. "I-I-I'm not finished! I still have to paint them!"

"It's the blacksmith and the baker," Esmeralda said with a giggle as she lifted the fat baker. "You're a surprising person, Ténèbres," Esmeralda said sweetly. "Not to mention lucky. All this room to yourself?"

"Well, it's not just me. There are the gargoyles, the statues, and of course, the bells. Would you two like to see them?"

"Yes! Yes, of course. Wouldn't we, Anni?" She looked to see Anita staring at something. "Anni?" No response. "Anita?"

"Huh," she jumped as she looked toward Esmeralda.

"Is something wrong?"

"No! No. It's just... there's something about this particular statue," she said as she looked at the Grimm Knight. "It reminds me... of my father."

"I-Is that a good thing," Ténèbres asked.

". . . It is. A very good thing. Uh, about those bells?"

"Oh, follow me. I'll introduce you," Ténèbres said as Anita and Esmeralda followed him.

"Didn't know there we so many," Esmeralda said.

"That's little Sophia. And Jean-Marine, Anne-Marine, and Lousie-Marine. Triplets, you know."

"And who's this," Esmeralda asked as she walked up to a massive bell.

"Big Marine."

"HELLO," Esmeralda went as she entered the bell.

"She likes you. Would you like to see more?"

"How 'bout it, Anni?"

Anita shrugged. "What do you think, Marine," Anita asked inside the bell, making it ring. The three laughed.

"She really likes you," Ténèbres said.

"Many do, surprisingly," Anita said with a giggle.

"Well, I've saved the best for last," Ténèbres said, leading the beauties outside.

He showed them a view of Minuit as the sun was setting.

"Oh, I bet even the council doesn't have a view this beautiful," Esmeralda said.

Anita looked behind her to see the tall towers of upper Minuit. "When you're that high up, I highly doubt anything is truly beautiful."

"Still, I could stay up here forever," Esmeralda said.

"Y-You could, you know," Ténèbres said.

"No. I couldn't," Esmeralda said sadly.

"Oh, yes. You have sanctuary. Both of you do."

"But neither of us has freedom now," Anita said.

"Faunus don't do well in stone walls," Esmeralda said.

"Thieves do even worse."

"But you're not like other Faunus. And how can you be a thief? They're both so... evil."

"Who told you that," Esmeralda asked.

"My master, Fue."

Anita sighed. "Why does that not surprise me?"

"He raised me," Ténèbres said, surprising both beauties.

"How can such a cruel man have raised someone like you."

"You're not like him at all. If anything, you remind me of my own parents. They are both kind and loving. I wouldn't be surprised if my own father adopted you."

"You... love your father that much," Ténèbres asked.

"I do. It's why I agree with Emmy. No man that cruel could raise one like you."

"Cruel?! Oh, no! He saved my life! He took me in when no one else would. I am a monster, you know."

"He told you that," Esmeralda asked.

"Look at me."

"I'm looking," Anita said. "And I don't see one anywhere. Trust me, love. I've seen plenty of monsters."

"Then you should recognize me as one immediately."

Esmeralda and Anita looked at each other before Esmeralda looked at Ténèbres. "Give me your hand."

"Why?"

"Just let me see it."

Ténèbres let Esmeralda take his hand, the beauty looking at his palm. "Hm, a long lifeline. Oh, and this one means you're shy. Hm. Mm, mm, mm. Well, that's funny."

"What?"

"I don't see any-"

"Any what?"

"Monster lines. Not a single one." Ténèbres looked at his hand. "Now look at me. Do you think I'm evil?"

"No! No, no! You are kind and good and-"

"And a Faunus."

"Now look at me, sweetie." Ténèbres looked at a smiling Anita. "I'm a thief. I suppose that does make me evil."

"NO! You're not evil at all! You rescued me from the crowd. You're so kind and caring and heroic!"

Anita laughed. "Heroic?! That's a good one! I'm a Master Thief, love. I can't be a hero."

"Oh? Care to wager," Esmeralda went.

"Be my guest," Anita said as she held out her hand.

Esmeralda read Anita's palm. "Ah, an even longer lifeline than Ténèbres's."

"Master Thieves tend to evade anyone, even death itself."

"And this line means you're brave and outgoing."

"Qualities of a thief."

Esmeralda gasped.

"Emmy?"

"There... actually is one."

"One what?"

"A... A hero's line."

"What?"

"This line here," Esmeralda pointed at a line close to Anita's wrist. "It's an extremely rare line. This line... appears on those with heroic souls. Anita, you're a hero."

Anita took her hand away from Esmeralda. "You're... you're joking, right, Emmy?" But Anita was very good at reading people. There was no sign of falsehood in her friend's face. She then looked at her wrist. "Me? A hero? I'm just the daughter of one. I can't be a hero. . . Can I?"

"Well, I would believe it," Esmeralda said as she stood up, Anita and Ténèbres looking at her. "After all, you saved Ténèbres. You saved me. That sounds pretty heroic to me." Anita looked down.

"Maybe you're wrong about yourself, Anita. Just like Fue might be wrong about both me and Ténèbres."

Anita stared at her wrist, tracing her finger across the line Esmeralda called the Hero's Line. 'Me? A hero? I just have the blood of one. I'm no hero.'

Esmeralda walked up towards the railings to look out towards the city, Ténèbres walking up next to her. He then smiled. "You helped me. Both of you. Let me help you two this time."

"But there's no way out," Esmeralda began. "There are soldiers at every door!"

"And I'm pretty sure Fue has snipers ready to shoot Emmy down," Anita added.

"We don't use a door, and we won't need to fly," Ténèbres said.

"You want us to climb down," Esmeralda asked.

Anita bonked her own head. "Some Master Thief I am. I should have thought of that. Mother would never let me live this down if she found out."

"Well, if Anni thinks it's a good idea, then I do, too."

"Ready," Ténèbres asked.

"Yes."

"Don't be afraid," he said as he lifted Esmeralda. "And don't worry. You can ride on my back," he said to Anita.

"Oh, I can handle this next part easily. Need to redeem myself, you know?"

"Also, I'm not afraid," Esmeralda said.

Ténèbres jumped over the rail and hung onto a gargoyle.

"Now I'm afraid."

"I thought you were used to heights, Emmy," Anita said as she landed on another gargoyle. "You have wings, after all."

"Large wings that Fue's men would shoot at if spotted."

"True. So, Ténèbres, have you don't this before?"

"No." Yet, he jumped around expertly, Anita easily following him. Esmeralda gasped when he jumped towards the other tower, wanting desperately to spread her wings, but Ténèbres caught the next tower safely, Anita grabbing just above him. The two then climbed down, before landing on the side of the cathedral.

"Wow, you're quite an acrobat," Esmeralda went.

"Man of many talents. Respectable," Anita added.

"Thank yo-" He was interrupted when the tile he and Anita were on began to slide down. Anita jumped onto a different part of the cathedral while Ténèbres grabbed the part of the building she was on, their large tiles shooting out and crashing into an alley, gaining the guards' attention.

They then climbed farther down until they were on a statue near the street when a guard with a flashlight came walking down. Since Anita's Aura still hadn't recharged, the three pretended to be parts of the statue, Ténèbres hiding on its head while Anita and Esmeralda prayed at its feet. When the guard passed, they all sat down at the base of the statue.

"I hope I didn't scare you," Ténèbres said to Esmeralda.

"Not for an instant."

"And you were incredible," he said to Anita.

She shrugged. "Master Thief, love."

"I'll never forget you two."

"Why would you need to," Anita asked.

"Come with us," Esmeralda offered.

"What?"

"To the Court of Miracles! Leave this place!"

"If you want, you can leave Minuit with me," Anita said. "I don't plan on staying in this city for very long."

"Oh, no. I'm never going back out there again. You two saw what happened today. No. This is where I belong."

"Alright," Esmeralda began. "Then I'll come to see you."

"Here?! But the soldiers and Fue-"

"I'll come after sunset! I'll fly high enough for not even Fue's men to notice. It would be easier if Anni decided to stay, but," Esmeralda shrugged.

"Placing the blame on me," Anita asked with a teasing smile.

"But at sunset, I ring the evening mass and after that I clean the cloisters and then I ring the vespers, and then-" Ténèbres was silenced when Esmeralda kissed his cheek. "Whatever's good for you."

"I think Mother told me she uses that trick on Father every time he rambled, too," Anita giggled.

"The Vale Knight is that easy," Esmeralda asked with a giggle. Anita just shrugged. Esmeralda then turned towards Ténèbres. "If you ever need sanctuary," she began as she took off her necklace and gave it to Ténèbres. "This will show you the way."

"But how?"

"Just remember, when you wear this woven band, you hold the city in your hand."

The two Faunus and Master Thief then perked up when they heard the sound of soldiers approaching.

"Hurry. You must go," Ténèbres said.

Esmeralda jumped off and landed safely on the street.

Anita kissed Ténèbres on the cheek. "Payment for helping us leave. I'm not fond of being in debt," she said with a wink before jumping onto the street. She and Esmeralda then ran away.

Ténèbres rubbed his cheek before smiling, watching the beauties vanish into the city before climbing back up the walls of the cathedral.

When he reached one of the walkways, a hand grabbed him.

"Hi there," Phoebus went. "I'm looking for the raven and the gold and brown haired beauty. Have you seen them?"

Ténèbres growled as he tried to lunge at Pheobus.

"Whoa, whoa! Easy!"

Ténèbres grabbed a torch. "No soldiers! Sanctuary! Get out!"

"Wait! All I want is-"

"GO!"

"I mean them no harm!"

Ténèbres growled. "GO," he yelled as he swung the torch.

Phoebus drew his sword and lodged the torch into the wall, but Ténèbres grabbed his cape and dragged him close to his face, the two now face to face.

"Just tell them for me, I didn't mean to trap them here. Though, I think Anita already knew that. If that's the case... tell her thank you for trusting me. I don't know if she knew it was the only way I could save their lives, but I'm still grateful she trusted me. Will you tell her that?"

Ténèbres's eyes widened before they narrowed. "I'll tell them, but only if you go. Now!"

"I'll go. Now, will you put me down, please?"

Ténèbres had been easily lifting Phoebus this entire time, the Faunus now putting the human back down on the spiraling stairway they were talking on.

Phoebus then began to leave. "Oh, and one more thing. Tell Esmeralda and Anita they're very lucky."

"Why?"

"They have you as a friend," Phoebus said as he sheathed his sword and left.

Ténèbres watched him leave before thinking about what Phoebus said. "I'm... their friend?"