Hi everyone, got a few comments asking or guessing what happened to Blake and that inspired me to write this side story. Huge thanks to everyone who commented, favorited, or followed the story!
Blake swung Gambol Shroud at the robot. There weren't a lot of things that she liked about the Schnee company but she did like how easy it was to beat their security. The "high quality metal" sliced like paper under the force of her aura enhanced blade, and she leapt back leaving a clone filled with fire dust. The remaining robots rushed forward heading directly towards the clone. Blake smiled and turned around so she faced away from the clone. Cool cats didn't look at explosions. The blast sounded out from behind her as the glow bounced off of the sunglasses that she had gotten from somewhere. Pieces of robot went everywhere. She pulled her sunglasses down as she looked at Adam, who was standing behind her watching, "looks like these robots just got… BLAKED!"
She waited for her yes man Adam to shower her with praise for her witty banter and her amazing fighting skills. He got annoying but the man did know how to suck up. "Blake, I don't know if saying that you blacked the robots is really an appropriate thing to say," Adam said hesitantly. Blake pulled her sunglasses further down with a glare. Adam jumped, "I mean I know that your color scheme is black but I just don't know if…"
Blake, with practiced ease, ignored the string of whatever Adam was talking about, it wasn't complements about her fighting or wit so she didn't want to hear it. She pulled out her phone and started to look at Atlas news wanting to see if her efforts against the evils of the world were really starting to make a difference. She saw a recent news clip where Ironwood was unveiling Atlas's "New Security Force," probably just a very marginally improved version of their robots. Bored, she clicked the video while waiting for Adam to be quiet.
The man, with leagues of worthless robots behind him, began to talk about how the new forces were better in every way. She waited for the new robots to push the old robots aside like Ironwood had had them do ever since the first iteration of security robots. But then she saw it. At first, they looked beautiful with their white fur like snow. But then she saw their too long faces, their eyes all black. She heard their garbled words spoken in sing song voices. Like a parody of a wolf. Atlas had taken their robots and replaced them with monsters. Blake looked up from her phone screen to Adam where he was still talking, "not that I do that, mind you Blake, it's just that other people might get the wrong idea..." Continuing to ignore whatever he was saying she started to push Adam towards the next car of the train they were on.
After he was securely in the next cab she shushed Adam. He stopped speaking. "Listen Adam," Blake said, "I don't think this whole white fang thing is going to work out. I suddenly decided for no reason in particular that I'm going to become a huntress. Don't call me." She slashed the connector between the train cars and watched as he got further and further away, just like she was going to be from any Atlas property from now on. Sitting down in the fetal position at the back of the train she rocked back and forth to sooth herself. "It's fine Blake," she whispered to herself, "you are going to become a huntress and none of those things are going to get you, it's fine."
Many, many words of affirmation later, Blake arrived at beacon. She had never seen so many of those, those things before. Normally there would be one or two but they were everywhere! People on the streets, in the parks, in restaurants all with their furry little monstrosities. They might look nice but Blake knew that was all an illusion, but it was over now. She was at beacon, she was safe. Weiss walked by, a borzoi following behind her. Blake collapsed to the ground; all strength lost from her legs.
They were everywhere, even the man who started sending them out into the world was here! His room was right across from hers! Thankfully the dogs had dorms of their own and weren't allowed in the human rooms or else she would have left the academy right then and there. But they wanted her to get one of the abominations. Why couldn't they just have huntscats? Cats were much better than dogs in every way after all. Cats are apex predators, if people just started to give cats aura, then they could hunt grimm much better than dogs ever could. All their humans would have to do is give them the unconditional worship and respect they deserve and they would kill the grimm that they saw fit.
Of course, it was so simple, how could she have not seen it before? All she had to do was give cats aura and people would turn away from the false gods of dogs and turn to the one true way, becoming cat followers.
Blake pulled her hand from off of the head of the now glowing alley cat. This was the fourth that night. She was used to sneaking around under the cover of darkness and her newfound purpose changed none of that. Humming in satisfaction she turned around only to come face to face with brown and pink eyes. "I uhhhh," Blake said, "you saw nothing?"
The short girl dressed in pink white and brown jumped down from the box she had been standing on and without a word walked over to a nearby dumpster where she pulled out a cat, a fish bone still in its mouth. Blake watched as the girl held the cat in her hands until aura started to pour out from the cat. She set it down, walked over to Blake and handed her a card. Neapolitan, professional face breaker, the card read.
"I think," Blake said, "this is going to be the start of a beautiful friendship."
It was hard finding people to join the cat's temple but Blake did her best with the help of her new friend Neo. They found cats on the streets, unlocked their aura and convinced people to take them into their homes. Neo's services were expensive but if Adam didn't want her to use the white fang's bank account, then he should have canceled the card. She spent afternoons extoling the great virtues of cats on street corners, talking about their self-sufficiency, their quiet yet loving nature, and most importantly, their toe beans. The more she preached door to door and on the streets the more she found like minded people. Sane, reasonable, good people who preferred cats to dogs and thought that owning an aura enhanced cat sounded pretty cool.
As her first missionary in addition to her other duties Neo was assigned to help initiate people who already owned cats into the fold. The cat's temple grew and grew, and Blake felt satisfied knowing that she was fighting the good fight and doing the good work.
"Hey Blake," Yang said, "you haven't been to class in like four days, Goodwitch keeps asking where you are."
"Tell her I'm sick," Blake said, not looking away from the pamphlet she was creating.
"Blake that's what I told her last time, you gotta start coming to class."
Blake whirled around for the first time in the conversation, "I. Am. Sick. Sick and tired of this plague sweeping the nation nay the world! The vile plague that coats these lands and grows ever larger by the day! I AM DOING ALL THAT I CAN TO SLOW THE SPREAD AND YOU WANT ME TO GO TO CLASS!"
Yank looked at her partner, "Goodwitch said that you could have a huntscat instead of a huntsdog."
"Oh," Blake said, "I guess I'll be there then."
"In their long whiskers may we find solace, in their silky fur may we find peace, in their button nose comfort, and in their toe beans may we find joy, amen." Blake finished her prayer and looked out towards the congregation. "Good kittens of the litter I have found more sacred videos." A murmur of excitement rushed through the crowd. "Your efforts to like and repost the videos have not gone unnoticed and more join us daily to push back against the dreadful cult of the dog. But first-"
Blake pointed towards the large screen behind her and Neo clicked a button. A video of Jaune Arc playing with Chocolaty appeared on screen. Hisses arose from the congregation and their cats. "This is the face of pure evil!" Blake shouted, while Jaune caught Chocolaty in his arms and fell to the ground laughing. "And so," she said more calmly, "we will enact a great initiative to show the foolishness of dogs and the superiority of cats. I present to you, operation peanut butter." A map of beacon academy appeared on the screen next to a jar of peanut butter. In front of the congregation an animation played out and the jar of peanut butter turned over and covered beacon academy. The congregation went wild with applause. "We will enact our great plan in a week!" Blake said grandly, "Now let us enjoy some sacred videos."
While cat videos played, the rest of team RWBY who, out of concern for Blake, had followed her, felt cold sweat run down their faces as they hid behind a pillar.
"Should we do something?" Weiss asked. Ruby and Yang shook their heads violently.
"What do you mean you're quitting Neo? We are in the middle of the biggest job of our careers and you're leaving?" Roman said.
Neo scratched a cat under its chin and handed Roman a card.
"My other boss is more fun? Neo what does that mean?" Roman asked, but when he looked up Neo shattered like glass and disappeared.
"Hey Blake," Jaune said, "I'd just like to thank you for spreading all of that peanut butter all over for the dogs. I know that Goodwitch wasn't too happy about it but I know that all of the dogs really enjoyed it. I'm glad that you are coming terms with the dogs and Chocolaty wanted me to let you know that he appreciates it and accepts the olive branch for what it is."
Blake gritted her teeth, this was a trial from the cat gods, she had to endure.
After the videos of the huntsdogs playing around in peanut butter surfaced, orders increased for Jaune's dogs as they, "seemed approachable and fun."
"So, I see that you have betrayed all that is good in the world Adam," Blake said as she walked towards him slowly.
"Blake, you betrayed me!" Adam screamed, tears running down his face as he clutched his bleeding arm. "I just escaped hunter pursuit I don't have time for this!" he looked down at his bulldog, "Come on Ekalb, we don't need her."
Blake threw a small bag at Adam. A sea of cats came out from the alleyways and stared at the bag. "Pure catnip," she said then looked away. "You were always a good complement machine Adam, I'll miss that."
Blake walked away a single tear leaving her eye at the memory of all of the nice things Adam had said to her and all of the nice things he had bought her. The yowling of the cats covered up the screams. She didn't look back.
"Yep," Junior Detective Sun said to his hotshot partner. "This guy definitely got scratched a whole bunch."
"His dog did too," Junior Detective Neptune said.
"Wait a second," Junior Detective Sun said, "this guy has a white fang mask."
Junior Detectives Sun and Neptune stood by as the police arrested the suspected white fang member. "I feel like this rabbit hole goes a lot deeper, Junior Detective Sun," Junior Detective Neptune said.
"I was thinking the same thing," Junior Detective Sun said, "Who or what did it? Why? Will they be going for someone else next?"
"I don't know," Junior Detective Neptune said, "but it sounds like a job for…"
"THE JUNOR DETECTIVES!"
"Hey Blake, do you know anything about the white fang member who got severely scratched up last week?" Sun asked. It was a bit of a long shot but an excuse to talk to Blake was an excuse to talk to Blake.
Cold sweat dripped down from her forehead, "no idea," she said. Sun looked at her, she seemed a bit nervous, could it be?
Sun leaned down, "Don't worry Blake, even if they are threatening you, I'll make sure they never find out who told me."
Blake looked at him. Sun watched as the worry melted off of her face, Sun was proud of his ability to get the witness to relax, that was a good Junior Detective skill! Suddenly Blake nodded and leaned in conspiratorially. "I heard that the claw marks on Adam, I mean the victim, matched the claws of a llama."
That was a great clue!
"Alright talk you!" Junior Detective Sun said, slamming his hands on the table, "I'm going to throw the whole book at you and then some!"
"Hey calm down Junior Detective Sun," Junior Detective Neptune said, he looked at their prisoner, "look I want to help you but you have to give me something, I need something that I can work with so we can make your charges lesser."
The llama, its hooves handcuffed to the table, said nothing.
"Still not willing to talk I see," Junior detective Sun said, "Well does this look familiar?" He threw down a binder and opened it up to a picture of Adam laying on the ground extremely scratched up. "Llama claw marks," he said, nodding at the llama's hooves, "we have a witness too, you won't be seeing the outside of a jail cell for the rest of your life."
"Unless," Junior Detective Neptune said, "you talk. If you just cooperate, we can make a plea deal and you will be out in no time. I'm on your side here. Just tell us who your co-conspirators are."
"Talk dang it!" Junior Detective Sun said smacking the picture of Adam.
"Now now Junior Detective Sun," Junior Detective Neptune said, "lets leave and let him think about it for a while."
Outside of the closet in Beacon they had stuffed the llama into Neptune and Sun convened. "I don't know if he's going to talk man, he's one tough customer," Neptune said.
"I know he knows something," Sun said, slamming his hand into a fist, "I could see it in his eyes."
"Well next time we go in there we should…" Unbeknownst to the two of them the beacon janitor walked behind them to the closet to go and get a mop. Dual screams of man and llama rang through the vaulted halls of beacon.
"And here in the left corner we have Blake Belladona with her huntscat." the announcer said.
"A twist on the more standard huntsdog, lets see if it pays off," the other announcer said.
This was it her big chance to prove once and for all that cats were better than dogs. She looked over at her congregation in the crowd. They all wore cat shirts and wove flags all in support of cats. She couldn't afford to lose with them watching her.
"Sorry bout the whole Vytal Festival thing." Ruby said, "who knew that they made peanut butter bombs illegal in tournament play after the peanut butter incident."
"Ruby, I just, need to be alone right now, Blake said. Only one thing could help her now.
Three pints of Bon and Jarry's, rerereading ninjas of love 2 and one hour of pressing toe beans later Blake was fine.
"You had cat ears the whole time?" Carden said, "So that was why you were so obsessed with cats the whole time you freak." He started reaching for her ears when Jaune walked by. One nosedive into a trashcan for Carden later and Blake was a whole lot more inclined to think well of Jaune and maybe dogs in general. She had to share this new revelation with the church on Sunday.
Blake read the note that Neo had given her. "I'm being excommunicated?" she said.
Neo nodded
"And they are installing you as the new leader?"
Neo nodded again and pointed at the fish shaped hat on her head.
"All because I said dogs might not be so bad after all?"
Neo nodded again.
"What direction are you planning on taking the church?"
Neo rubbed her fingers together in an obvious symbol for money.
Blake looked out at the building she had built together with her followers. The cat scratching post pillars, the cardboard boxes, the giant screen for watching cat videos, she was never going to see it again. "Well good luck with that I guess," Blake said and walked out of the Cat's temple for the last time.
Blake lay on her couch with her thirty cats. After graduation she felt strangely motivated to start making outfits for her cats and making them try them on. She looked at her new cat Mittens. Wouldn't he look so cute with some booties and a little sweater? She didn't know if she liked who she had become anymore. Idly, she flicked on the tv only to see Jaune Arc standing with his dog army. He had beaten all the grimm. That was good for him. She couldn't find it in herself to hate dogs anymore. They still weren't as good as cats of course but everyone had their preference. What does a huntress do with no grimm? She didn't know. A knock sounded at her door. Brushing cat hair off of her robe and adjusting her fuzzy slippers she walked to the door. Opening it she saw the entirety of team RWBY, and team JNPR. "Pack your things," Yang said.
"We are going on a vacation to celebrate beating the grimm." Ruby said rose petals shaking off of her from excitement.
"There is going to be sloths!" Nora said shoving a brochure in Blake's face.
"We need to stop her from giving them aura," said Ren.
Blake looked at her team, her friends and smiled, "Alright let's go."
The next day the Cat's temple got an anonymous donation of 30 cats and a half-made sweater. The doner was never found but the cats, the dogs, and everyone else, lived happily ever after.
Neo was arrested for fraud a year later.
The End
AN: I didn't originally intend for Sun and Neptune to make such a large appearance but I'm glad they did. Hope you enjoyed.
