RWBY: Bonds Between Hearts
Chapter 33: Proof of Lies/Onward Towards Peace
WARNING: I own none of these characters sides from my OC(s). All rights go to their respective owners and properties.
This is nothing more than, well a fanfic, a story made up by a fan for entertainment and knowledge.
Everything in this fic is not canon and is only meant to give the audience a new idea of the works of each of the franchises in this story.
So please support me, my work and have some fun. Now enjoy the story. ^w^
Outside on the front lawn, Yang and Taiyang were still at training, with the father doing his best to make sure his daughter was well prepared and back to her full strength before she would leave him to chase after her boyfriend. As much as he worried about her, he knew fully well that when she has something set in her mind? She won't stop until it's completed. Taiyang will trust and believe in his daughter and only hope for the best as regardless what happens next? It could still be the last time they speak, even though he believes in her saving Cody and stopping Evol.
Taiyang glanced at Yang who was busy adjusting her prosthetic after another defeat.
He had seen the broadcasts Evol made in the past when he made himself known to the world. The guy was one sarcastic, evil, twisted, old snake. The snake who didn't know he even had a kid until the scientist who was Omega revealed it. Secondly, the snake didn't even care about that. He saw Cody as potential and it wasn't from the combat as an experiment but as the true vessel the snake wanted for eons. One without flaws of genes.
And quite frankly, he too had questions about the strength Evol had. No matter how many times Cody and the others tried, they failed miserably. Again and again when he fights, the snake would emerge the victor in combat. Not even Cody's Magma was able to and that showed no human was able to stop him-
"I know the look, dad. You are thinking of some mean words and worry."
"Did that really become noticeable? You hurt me."
"You've raised me. Of course I could tell something is on your mind." Yang pointed out, placing a hand on her hip.
Taiyang sighed, rubbing his neck and mumbled. "You say you want to go after Cody, who Evol is possessing, right?" Yang nodded. "Yang tell me, how many times did you all lose against him?"
Yang opened her mouth before closing it for a second and her eyes fell bitter. "We couldn't put a scratch on him, once." She admitted. "Not once."
"And had you ever won a single bout?"
"No…"
"Yang, if you experienced that and saw what he can do. Won't this mean you are entering a literal one sided fight? Evol can kill you with a snap of his fingers and not even look at you when he does."
"I know that… I know…" She grasped her metal wrist. "The only one who could ever upset or hurt Evol was no one except…"
"Except that lady Verno… agh, what was it?"
"Vern-ah-ge." Yang pronounced. "Yeah that name is quite outdated." She took a deep breath. "That's why I hope to find Ruby so that… there may be a chance I can ask Lily or rather Vernage to free Cody…"
"But?"
"Evol and her have an extremely long history. She hates him more than anything and wants to ensure he doesn't taint anyone else."
"And what makes you think she'll be where your sister is brothers knows where?" He questioned.
"I don't…" She admitted before gently placing a hand on her heart, "But… my heart is telling me that's where they'll be at… And I won't let that chance slip by me this time. If I have to beg on my knees to Vernage to separate Evol from Cody to spare his life."
"Then… what if it can't be done? What then?" Taiyang questioned, bringing up the ultimatum that was on the back of her own mind. "If she has no choice but to put down Cody to ensure Evol will never have the true vessel? What will be important to you then? The life of one… or risking millions of lives to perish by one man who can literally eat us when he is at full power."
Yang's face showed it all. She didn't want such an idea to even exist. She didn't want to even consider that possibility or even think about that result.
"You need to weigh the pros and cons of this situation, Yang."
"I promised him, dad…" Yang looked to him with a concerned look, "I promised him that I would not only be by his side so he will never be alone again… but that even if the world was against him? I would still be there for him… How could I even make such a decision if that means I have to let him die?"
"Even if it means to save the world from a space entity who can devour our own place to call home?"
"I…" Yang bit her lip, conflicted on the choice. To have one life die to protect millions. Cody was a vessel to Evol. Evol who had confessed ate countless worlds for power. When at full power Remnant was to be his special dessert he would savor for eons more before going onto the next planet to cause strife and war. She would be jeopardizing countless lives especially when Evol doesn't care that even if experiments are children and kidnapped people to ensure his work is fulfilled to his agenda.
"I know how much he means to you Yang. You truly love him with all of your heart and soul." Taiyang noted with a smile, "Hehe.. reminds me not just of myself when I fell for you mother, but when Summer did the same to me."
"Oh… so now we can talk about her." Yang crossed her arms with frustration. "Do you have to bring her up?"
"Yang, I'm trying to show you the similarities." He stated to her, "You do remind me of her, not just her looks and temper. But the convictions she had. How she could do anything that she set her mind to!" He reminisced with a soft smile before frowning, "But it also what tore our team apart… I don't want you to tear everything apart as well, even for the sake of the boy you love."
Taiyang walked over as he patted her head gently, "Which is also why I see a lot of what Summer taught you as well. You still want to do whats right, you want to make sure everyone can have some happy ending and fight for those in need. Which is why I'm telling you all of this… In hopes you understand that even with how much you love him? Should the worst truly come about? You have to keep in mind what he would want as well." He emphasized his lesson to her. Not wanting her to go down the route of Raven… but of Summer. The true mother of her and Ruby.
"…. I understand."
"That's my little sunny dragon." He smiled softly, "Now, let's get back to it. Need you to be in top form, if you're gonna punch that snake outta my future son-in-law." He grinned, teasing the blonde brawler.
"Dad! Geez!" Yang blushed at that moment, feeling embarrassed that he would even say such a thing.
But he was right about one thing. She will get him back and punch Evol as hard as she could for dare taking her man.
XXX
The people of Menagerie continued their usual routines. Be it exploring the street market, fishing, etc. for Blake it had become the norm for her as it was her home. Sun had adjusted quite well though her dad would glare at him. So much for a good first impression.
Her mother had been doting on the twins who had been a positive atmosphere to have around. Her father wouldn't admit it but she can tell he didn't mind them around. Guess he was reminiscing the days when she was little. Though in this case, handling twins with one being disabled due to his right eye being covered in cloth to shield his blindness he earned before Faust picked him and his twin sister up from the remains of their old home.
As for Lily…
She had been secluding herself on occasions. Be it in the guest room or in the tree that stood tall across the manor. Yes the atmosphere was nice but the people was a different story. She couldn't step foot into the street market when many know who she is. The whole world knows her as the girl who worked with Evol. She butchered people with manically trained skills of a commander who led for Evol's name.
Even if the Faunus in Menagerie didn't say it audibly, their faces showed it all. Many of them were worried and scared, while a few others seemed ready to just wait for something to happen to blame Lily on. Nobody truly wanted her here, and it clearly showed.
She raised a hand on the door but lowered it. Her ears flattened.
"Everything alright?" She noticed her father with a few papers tucked in his arm.
"It's… about Lily." Her amber eyes trailed to the door. "I know she says she's okay but…"
"She doesn't really display it because she hides it." He guessed.
"It hurts me to see her like this… I don't know why they can't accept her even after defecting to stop Evol?" Blake said with confusion.
"Blake, there's a difference between those of the White Fang and those of Faust. Yes the White Fang did violence just as Faust did but Faust had resorted to experimentation to create super soldiers and/or monsters. They took people in as young as children barely old enough to walk on their own. They chose to kidnap and implant spies across the world. All of it done by one cosmic lifeform who had raised Lily to become who she was before her defection."
"But she still changed and is fighting for us all! Isn't that enough to give people a better look?"
"Not when you put a whole planet into literal doom with literal genocide of both humans and faunus."
"And yet they still listen and follow The White Fang's propaganda… Even though they killed so many people… Both human and Faunus alike…" Blake lowered her head in shame, "If everyone can just…"
Ghira rested a hand on his daughter's shoulder. "I know Blake. It takes time."
Blake leaned into her father, relaxing from his touch and support. But the moment that happens, more unpleasant memories begin to show up for her.
The door of the guest room suddenly opened and they saw Lily who massaged her hands with a rag. She paused when she noticed the father and daughter duo in front of the said room she stayed in.
"Oh… hey." She greeted the two. "I think I came out of my room at the wrong time… Please excuse me…"
"Lily, wait." Blake stopped Lily from closing and locking the door again like before. "If… it's okay, do you think you could help my mother and I when we go to the street market?"
The buxom bluenette lowered her head. "I… don't want to cause any more problems than I already have…"
"Lily. At least take this one chance." Vernage insisted.
The fingers dug into the edge of the door, almost crushing it with her augmented strength. She saw how people looked at her. Like a monster. A machine…
"Just this once."
"…Okay…" her lilac eyes peered over. "Just… this once. I'll go."
Blake smiled softly upon hearing this as she nodded, knowing she'll be able to get her friend out more.
Ghira looked between the two before he cleared his throat to earn their attention. "If you don't mind me asking, Lily, what have you been doing? You can't always stay in the room when you should at least work."
"Just… alone with my thoughts… With Vernage.. And well.. Sleeping of course." She confessed, showing she was deliberately just wasting away in her room. Of course not completely. She had been working on something. Her eyes trailed to the corner of the room, seeing the box while the white panel was on a small short metal desk.
She (and Vernage) was understanding the White Panel while Evol had the Black Panel. To have a complete Box yet keep an extra panel? That was odd and it certainly revolved around the White Panel. So far all she knew the White Panel was to be replaced with the Black when the time came. Something that unnerved her.
"Well… I can't force you to change yourself. Just know, you don't have to stay in there 24/7. I know those twins miss being around you the most." Ghira reminded to the bluenette.
"Hrm…" she mumbled. Her eyes trailed to Blake. "The street market right?"
"Mhm, yes." Blake nodded.
XXX
'This is a bad idea, Vernage…'
She swallowed slightly as she followed Kali and Blake to the street market. She briefly saw a few Faunus who walked by them pace faster or avoided the second they saw her.
"Just calm down, Lily and ignore whatever they say about you. I'm here for you, okay?"
'Okay…'
When they finally entered the street market, Lily saw the bustling activity of patrons and owners. Her eyes lingered around her, seeing the countless Faunus. It was still unbelievable for her. So many Faunus. And she stood out from all of them. From the corner of her eyes, she saw a few Faunus hurriedly walking like earlier.
"So Lily. What do you prefer to have for lunch?" Kali asked, wanting to know what she likes or dislikes so she can be ready to change the meal if needed.
"I… don't know…" she murmured. "I… ate whatever they gave me over the years…" even during their time in Faust, she ate whatever they put on the tray. She had no favorite nor a food to genuinely savor in.
"Well, then looks like you'll be my taste tester for our meals today!" Kali smiled sweetly with an added giggle of enjoyment.
"N-No, I can't possibly be…" Lily nervously rubbed her knuckles against her palm.
"Oh I insist! Plus it'll let me get to know you more." Kali reassured the bluenette. "The twins would mention how you are a very brave woman."
"1931 and 1932 only exaggerate…"
"Numbers? Why not names?"
"… they don't have any names like I do."
"Well, then looks like we'll have a topic to think of when we make lunch today." Kali giggled with delight and interest. The girl seems more nervous to speak normally to others yet from the way she occasionally talked to Blake, she was more relaxed and calm. "Certainly Vernage is the same?"
"Do tell her."
"She does… and she wouldn't mind the tea from before."
"Excellent-um, pardon for the question but it may be embarrassing… how do you two exactly be able to share um, your energy?"
Lily blinked as did Vernage. "Well… to put it into easier terms… what I eat and drink, she is the same. Sustenance is shared regardless whereas pain and whatnot is individual."
"Hmm… given how that is. I figured you'd eat a lot to sustain yourself… But I guess that is a perk of magic over it." Kali giggled, knowing not to think about it too much. "What about the way you and my daughter are?"
Lily's lips opened before closing. "Blake… is a good friend…"
"Oh? Just a 'good friend'?" She asked with a sly grin. "From what my daughter has said about you? Seems she sees you a bit more than 'just a good friend'."
Lily slowed her steps, her mind replaying Crystal's death. The one night coupling she had with the formerly chosen Lost soldier. Her fingers twitched, then the hands trembled upon recalling the sadness she felt for the first time. The anguish and anger. That very day when guilt finally began to fill her.
"Mom, please, don't ask her anymore." Blake intervened. "Please."
"Sorry, just wanting to try and help her open up a bit more. Please, forgive my intrusion Lily." Kali apologized to the bluenette.
Blake glanced at her friend who was dreadfully silent. "Lily?"
"I'm… fine… I'm fine." She moved Blake's hand. "Can we… finish this shopping? I… want to go back to the guest room to be on my own."
"Of course, dear." Kali nodded. She pushed a bit too hard and decided to hurry up so she can let her guest relax and recover. They proceeded as Kali approached a stall, making a few requests while Blake stood by Lily.
"Lily… I… overheard what my mom asked. Were you… remembering Crystal?"
"Not now, Blake."
"Are you sure-"
"NOT NOW, ALRIGHT?!" She finally snapped.
"Lily!" Vernage hissed.
"I… I'm sorry Lily… I.. just want to help you…" Blake lowered her head with shame. "I… think I'll head home for now, mom." She said before making her way back to her home.
Lily grasped her own head before barging past Blake and marched away in the opposite direction.
Kali stood there as she sighed, fully able to see well the problem yet she knew that she couldn't do much but give them space and time. She may have messed up with pushing a bit for Lily to open up more, but guess that did more harm than good. The Faunus mother could only let them work it out and be there for support.
With Lily, she marched across the street market, people avoiding her. Her teeth gritted and her eyes stinging with the onset of tears.
"Lily, what you did was uncalled for."
"I don't-" Her steps were glued into place. Lily nearly tripped but tried to move her legs but couldn't. In fact it felt like she had no control over her legs.
"Just because I am not possessing you at the moment doesn't mean I can still partially control your nerves to stop." Vernage punctuated. "So remain still so I can talk. Do not interrupt nor raise your tone at me young lady in the midst of it, understand?" Lily slowly nodded, conceding to her surrogate mother's demand. "You are dwelling too much into the past more than you focus on today. You are letting things get the best of you. Losing sight of your future is not something you should have. I don't want to see you like this… and neither would Cody."
"He isn't here though…"
"Would he want you to be this way when you see each other again?" Lily bit her lip at Vernage's rebuttal. "This place is to allow our minds to relax. Not to put more strain than it already has. When we return to the chieftain's home, you are to apologize to Blake."
"...okay…."
Lily felt her legs returning to her as the bluenette continued her walk, but made sure she was heading back to the chieftain's home to await the return of Blake and Kali. The girl felt the stares before she left the market. Her eyes trailed to the tree and witnessed one of her tiny orbs. It rolled to the dirt, towards her and onto her palm. Her eyes stared at the orb that curled up into its orb form, displaying the recording.
"Hmph.. so they truly are part of his views?" Lily noted from the footage, as she knew this would happen. She'll reveal this to Ghira once she returns, hopefully they'll be given some time to counter their attempts without bloodshed here. Hazel was a problem as well as he was after her and the box.
Will the greed for the Pandora's Box ever cease? That greed for it was the reason Evol was free. The sooner she devises a method that can permanently destroy the box, the better that no man can touch or use it to ensure Evol stays dead and no one else uses it.
But as she stepped forward, a muscular arm reached out to grab Lily and toss her. She was able to recover with her magic but as she landed, she knew who just attempted to take her… Hazel.
"I suggest we handle this out of the eyes of others… let alone getting them involved…" Hazel said with a crack in his neck and fist.
Lily pocketed the orb into her blazer. She gently waved her hand, allowing Virtuous Steel to hover away from her back and onto her hand.
"I am not going to the witch who brought ruin to the world in its previous age and wishes to end it like Evol does." Lily hissed. "They both deserve to be put to the sword."
"I'm not here to bring you to Salem… I'm here to kill you. And for that, I am sorry I have to be the one to do it." Hazel briefly bowed his head with respect to her.
"… manifest." The hovering heavily armored metal being digitally appeared behind her, its large claws spread open and its singular optic shifting onto target.
Hazel reached into his pockets, pulling out several large dust crystals as he slammed them into his arms, infusing himself with the Dust powers as they surged throughout his body.
"By humanity, this man has Pain Nullification." Vernage gasped.
Hazel wasted no time, as he lunged towards Lily, his fist ignited with several elements as he slammed it into her, only for it to react and explode as the output shot Lily through several trees and rock formations. He was strong and terrifying to many.
"Cyclops!" Lily commanded.
Her construct obeyed, ripping a tree from the ground and threw it at Hazel. The dark skinned man held his fist back for thrusting it forward, sending a bolt of fire and lighting to cut the tree into two as he sent another bolt towards Lily.
She quickly created rocks, allowing it to rise up. 'Cyclops' grabbed the swords Lily created for it. Its large claws glimmered and began four lean limbs. Lily hopped over the rocky cover and dashed towards Hazel with her mother's large katana. Blade met hardened flesh, sparks casting on each brutal yet elegant swing of her weapon. Her construct zipped from behind, forcing Hazel to blast wind at it.
Its optic shifted before rejoining its creator. Hazel felt the marks of four blades run across his back, his Semblance nullifying the pain, his Aura mending it just as much due to the Dust in his arms.
Hazel took notice of how Lily was fighting, before he brought out two very rare Dusts to insert into his flesh… Hardlight and Gravity.
Once injected into his body, he slammed his fist into the ground, causing ripples to occur before anything that wasn't dug into the ground began to float up, including Lily. He then shot several bolts of the elemental Dusts at her as he charged at her after the final shot.
"Cyclops!" The metal construct enclosed its lean metal limbs into the bulky large claws once again and attached onto Lily. The head folded over her head, the large kenacing claws attaching into her forearms and the levitation system it held on her back. Lily's eyes flared with magic, the clouds rumbling.
"Vernage."
"Divert your maneuver to the left, let the magic crash into the earth in front of him the second he fires to force him to make a disruptive shot. His Semblance may nullify pain, but not flashes to the eyes."
"Ok." With the ignition, she flew towards Hazel with her metal talons. Just as Hazel was about to thrust his arm, a bolt of lightning slammed into the earth before him, the brightness, causing him to shield his blinded eyes and the shot directed into a boulder instead of Lily. When Hazel's eyes adjusted, he was met with a fiery yet windy fist that slammed directly into his face. The hit caused Aura to glimmer but the man flew and crashed against a tree.
With the gravity restored around them, she picked up Virtuous Steel, pointing at him. "I, especially Vernage warned Salem that any of her cohorts will perish. Her followers. Cinder included will have no mercy. No one to prevent us both from delivering the execution for the actions against humanity."
"Sadly, I don't intend to die… Not until Ozpin pays for killing my sister." Hazel proclaimed, slowly pushing himself up. "And if I'm being honest? I rather not fight you either… I read your stories when I was a child, and when I was taking care of my sister. I have the greatest of respects to you."
"I think he speaking of you, Vernage…" Lily whispered.
"… let me take over."
Lily grunted before she did as requested. She grabbed the golden relic from her ponytail and undid her hair, her lilac becoming emerald and her hair faded into moonlight white colors.
"If you do not want bloodshed, why must you work with Salem who wants blood." Vernage questioned.
"Because there is no other way." Hazel responded, slowly standing up, "I tried killing her myself… but she would always come back. I knew then, I had no way to truly stop her… Thus I chose to fight for her in hopes she can not only give me my revenge against Ozpin, but promise to bring her back when she remakes the world."
"… Vengeance only begets vengeance." Vernage stated calmly. "It will only continue to create a cycle of suffering no matter if you achieve it."
"Can it not be the same for you too?" He questioned, "This Evol creature is much like Salem… a force of nature that cannot be stopped. Yet you continue to fight it. You died repeatedly. You fought tirelessly if not endlessly. You reincarnated yourself countless times because you lost your faith in the Brothers due to Evol's power."
"I swore to ensure humanity is protected from his hunger. You fight because you want to kill Ozma for what happened to your sister. While my condolences are there, you are only driving yourself into a cycle of hate."
Hazel gritted before he yelled, "She was a child! She wasn't ready to be a huntress, nor allowed when I forbade it!" Hazel snapped. "How could you know how that feels when you never had siblings or a child?!"
"… I had siblings, Hazel." She lowered her sword slightly. "Through my times of reincarnation across eons."
She remembered the times she reincarnated into the next life, she would see the siblings she once had. The graves of them, reminded of how much joy she cherished from each of them.
"Then you should know how I feel! My sister went against my wishes to be a Huntress and she was killed for it! So why do you keep doing this when you know it's impossible to stop either Salem or Evol?"
"Because there is hope for humanity. Hope for a future without them. You say they can't be stopped. People tried and failed, yes, but what kind of people would face them? No one else and yet… I am such an example. I believe there is a chance. However small it is."
"You say that… but that's only because you believe you have someone to help you… not even knowing that something happened…" Hazel revealed, earning a puzzled look from the Saint. "You're expecting the boy to get strong and help, yes? Hate to be the bearer of bad news… But Evol got to him."
"What….?" Lily gasped in horror.
Vernage's emerald eyes slowly looked downward to the left. She remembered Lily telling him he was Evol's spawn. For Evol to take over Cody to absorb the genes… did that mean…
Her eyes widened. The Box! He needs the Trigger!
"Now you're seeing it… In order to stop him? You'll have to die…" Hazel pointed out, "It is the only way."
Vernage's grip loosened before she tightened it and raised it again to fully point at Hazel. "My soul reincarnates no matter what… even if I die, I am reborn as an infant. That is my cycle."
"Then maybe that too should die off…" Hazel stated, "If that happens? He'll never complete his power… Then Salem can use her plan to remake this world like she promised."
"It is genocide! Salem and Evol will only erase humanity! You are risking millions of lives! Man, woman, and child on this world for your master!"
"If that means my sister can be brought back? Then so be it!" He howled, soon slamming his fist hard into Lily's chest, casting the several Dust Crystals in his body to erupt and surge into an attack from the hit.
Vernage gritted her teeth. "… You have blinded yourself with honeyed words of a woman I knew." She raised her hand and snapped her fingers.
Blood seeped from her lips but ignored it. She focused on her magic surging in her sword. '10 seconds… is all I need for the execution.'
She gritted her teeth and swung the blade, releasing an arc of yellow light before it slammed into Hazel. The Saint coughed before snapping her fingers again. The field around them resumed and Hazel felt the mighty impact in his torso, flinging him away as a trail of blood was made from the man's wound.
Hazel wheezed as he held his wound, using what amount of his Semblance he has left to use the Fire Dust to cauterize his wound, but he knew he couldn't win and had to retreat.
"If Salem wants me dead so badly… is she a coward to face me?"
"She.. is preparing… for something big that… I do not know of… yet…" Hazel panted in between breaths. "But… it'll be enough… for Remnant to quiver in fear so that… nobody opposes her… Not even Evol…"
"Not if I can help it." She raised her sword at Hazel.
Yet before she could end Hazel's life, the saint heard the call of Blake, calling out to Lily.
"Lily! Lily, where are you!?" The faunus cried out, as it was obvious many heard the fight as Blake came to find the bluenette out of worry.
Vernage grimaced. She lowered her sword, turning around. "This is your last chance. Heed my warning of the vengeance you hold."
"I.. hope we may never…. Fight one another again… But for what its worth? It.. truly was an honor.. To fight you…" Hazel wheezed before he slowly got up and made his way off, knowing he failed his mission, yet was glad he failed.
The maiden saw Blake jogging but assessed the damage around. "Vernage? Wh-What happened?"
"Just someone who wanted to hurt Lily. We're okay." Vernage sighed. "Lily, I return the body to you. … Lily?" She got silence. "Lily, speak to me."
"Vernage, what's going on?"
"Lily… she isn't responding to my return to her body."
"What?" Blake gasped before she lowered her head, "But why? Did.. I make this worse to someone I care for again?"
"No… I… I think I may know the reason." Vernage noted, "Our assailant told us… Evol got to Cody."
"What?" Blake gasped in horror.
XXX
Deep within the soulscape of Lily, her withered form quivered upon the news that felt like the world crashed down onto her.
Evol had gotten to Cody… Evol had consumed her brother.
Her flickering ethereal form curled before she wept and cried. Her anguished echoed within the dark recesses of her life. Cody was taken from the world… she didn't know what to do now. All of the memories and pain she caused him began to resurge once more. The threats, the lies, and the attacks she caused just to hurt him have began to repeat in her mind.
"I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry…" Lily repeated to herself, tears racing down her face.
"Lily… Please." Vernage's voice echoed in the soulscape. "Staying in here isn't healthy."
"But he's gone… And I helped kill him…"
"Lily, that isn't true. Evol was the one who confronted Cody, not you."
"But I still made him interested! I still got him killed! If I just pushed myself to be it, then he would be okay!"
"Little Flower… don't think such things. All hope isn't lost, remember? We still have the White Panel that is on Pandora to be studied. He can still be saved, didn't you say that?" Vernage reminded her. "If you give up now, he will be forever lost… you said he was so stubborn that he wouldn't back down at all did you not?"
"I… I did…"
"Then he most likely is still fighting Evol from within… Have faith in your brother. Or do you plan to give up on that, unlike how he never gave up on you? Is this how I raised my daughter?"
"N-No…" Lily shook her head.
"Then get up and keep trying… Besides, you still have others who care and are very worried about you, right now." The Saint rested a hand on Lily's back.
"But what would happen if you have to…"
"Focus on now, and not later, okay? Right now, please, let me rest so you can at least spend time with the others. Especially Blake as she's the most worried right now about you."
"She's… that worried about me?" Lily questioned.
"In tears. So came back and let her be relieved, okay?" Vernage smiled.
"...okay…" Lily nodded. The withered form vanished above, allowing Vernage to remain. Her fingers curled before lowering her head.
"Damn you Evol… I won't let you achieve your Black Hole form. If I must…" her ethereal hand crept to her chest. "Then I will drag you into the box just like the day I sealed myself and took you along into the Box."
This was now too personal for Vernage. This will not be a repeat of her other attempts… this will be the Saint's last and final mission to stop Evol once and for all. She won't give up her faith in Remnant and Humanity, she will make sure this is going to be the end of him.
"You won't succeed this time, Evol… you never will."
XXX
Within the throne room of the White Fang, sitting on the high leader throne was a woman, with dark skin, and tiger stripes along with said feline ears and eyes. This was Sienna Khan, the high leader of the White Fang, and successor to Ghira Belladonna.
The woman was in the throne room today not just for her usual meetings and discussions, but had been given a word about Adam's recovery and wishes to see him, but mostly there to remove the said Faunus from the White Fang after the incident at Beacon last year.
As much as she wanted to have humans see them as equals, even through force. The deaths and lives that the White Fang took upon attacking Beacon was too much for her to bare. She had to remove Adam from this so more deaths wouldn't take place.
The doors soon opened up as marching in was Adam Taurus. But due to whoever attacked him, he was now covered with some burn markings that have yet to be healed, along with metallic prosthetics to replace the parts of his body that were too destroyed to be saved from the emergency treatment. A deep blue glow on his right eye, showing it too, was replaced.
"Adam… glad to see you have recovered." Sienna said, though wasn't too keen on him actually recovering.
"Hn…" Adam gritted underneath the cloth over his mouth. He has never forgotten what happened on that day. The slaughter of the White Fang splinter group committed by that bat who is a wielder of magic and the near-death experience he had against the magmatic Rider who is Cross-Z. His own strength… nothing to the likes of the augmented humans Faust raised and made.
"Now… I brought you here to discuss the horrific incident you caused at Beacon…" Sienna frowned, not wasting time. "What you did at Beacon? To everyone there, both human AND Faunus alike? That was not what the White Fang stands for. You have caused more damage than even the humans have done to us! What were you thinking?!" She stood up from her throne. "Let alone sending our brothers and sisters to their very deaths, do you know the blood of our people that is on your hands?!"
"The humans were to blame! Because of them, we suffer!" Adam hissed, already angered by the berating he was getting from the high leader. "If we want true change? We must be the same as them!" He stated as he took a step forward. "And it seems only I know what's best for the Faunus."
"What are you talking about?"
"You think equality is what we should be striving for? But look where it got us! We are still treated like enemies, monsters and tools! But I know the truth now… We shouldn't live alongside the Humans… They should be serving the Faunus." Adam said, grinning with insanity. "Time and time again they have made everything they've touched, turn to ruin… But now? We have the perfect time to destroy them. Destroy everything they've built up, tearing it down to the ground and showing who the true rulers of Remnant should be! And should they resist? They shall die like the rats that they are…"
"So much blood is now on your hands Adam. And I won't let that blood stain the White Fang anymore. Guards? Take Adam away." She ordered.
The guards did not obey.
"It seems, that another one must fall for the Faunus to thrive…" Adam said, only for him to swiftly impale Sienna with his blade. The Faunus woman shivering from the attack as she was in shock from how far gone Adam has become. "Do no worry.. Your death will be the martyr for us to take what belongs to us… And the first thing I will do is make sure Menagerie is either with us or against us. That I swear."
Sienna's eyes widen as she slowly attempted to try and stop Adam with the last amount of life she has… only for Adam to swiftly withdraw the blade before slicing down the middle, only for her body to drop to the ground dead, blood pooling beneath her body.
"Clean this mess up and prepare a proper burial for her." Adam orders the guards as they nodded and did so. As they did that, Adam took the throne as he grinned from being on it and the feeling he was having.
He will make the humans suffer and submit to the Faunus. And while he wanted to find and destroy Cross-Z, he had other plans. For now, he needed to contact the Menagerie tree and discuss the plans to have the Faunus there, join them and get rid of the Belladonna problem once and for all.