Blake enters Sam's office as he was seen tidying up some notes and noticed Blake.
Sam: Hey Blake, are you and Mr. Wukong going out recruiting again?
Blake: Yeah, Sun said something about the nocturnal section.
Sam: There's a nocturnal section?
Blake: (laughs) I think he was joking.
Sam: Sounds like him. Just be careful alright.
Blake: I will.
Blake is seen leaning against the railing on the balcony of the Belladonna Family Home. She looks up into the night sky as a voice calls out for her from inside her home.
Sun: Hey Blake! You ready to go?
Blake: Be right there!
She feels a note taped to the wooden railing of the balcony. She grabs it and reads the message written down:
"B
Things going too far.
Not sure what to do.
Find a quiet spot,
I'll find you.
Come alone. Please.
-I"
Blake looks around a bit before hearing the sliding door open. She quickly places the note in her coat.
Sun: We going recruiting or what? We've got the entire nocturnal section to hit up!
Blake doesn't say anything, still having a concerned expression on her face. Sun notices this.
Sun: You okay?
Blake: Yeah, I'll meet you there. I need to take care of something first.
As she walks away, there is a quiet sound of rustling in the trees behind her.
Moments Later
Blake approaches a dark alleyway.
Blake: Ilia?
Ilia: I'm here.
Blake draws Gambol Shroud. Ilia walks out from the shadows with her hands up and drops her black camouflage.
Blake: Ilia, I know you're scared, but you don't have to be. My family and I, we can keep you safe.
Ilia: I'm sorry.
Blake: You can make it up to me by helping us stop Corsac and Fennec.
Ilia: No. (her tone turns hostile) I'm sorry.
Ilia's right hand curls up into a fist. Footsteps can be heard running on the rooftop next to them. Blake looks up and sees Yuma fly down and land on her back, forcing her to the ground. Blake drops Gambol Shroud which lands at Ilia's feet. Blake gasps, regaining her breath and struggles to get up as Yuma presses his foot against her back. He gets off her as two more Faunus join him. Blake gets back up on her feet.
Blake: Wait-
Suddenly, Blake gets wrapped in spiderweb silk. One of the Faunus grabs the silk strand holding Blake from her hand.
Trifa: I've got her.
Yuma: Well done, Sister Trifa - and to you, Ilia.
Yuma tosses Ilia Lightning Lash.
Blake: Ilia! What are you doing?!
Ilia: I tried to warn you, Blake. I'm sorry.
Blake: Don't tell me you're sorry!
Ilia: But I am. I am sorry it has to be this way, but you and your family are holding the Faunus back!
Blake: Because we're trying to protect people?! In what world do you live in where attacking the innocent is the right thing to do?!
Ilia: The same one as you! There's no such thing as innocent! There's no right thing to do! Only what's best for us! There's the humans that still hate the Faunus, and there's the others who stand by and let the hate happen! But you know what snuffs out hate? Fear. I don't like hurting people. But I'll tell you this... (she points her weapon at Blake) ...it's gotten us results.
Blake: Yeah, look where it's gotten you.
Ilia's eyes widen and she briefly ponders Blake's retort, but she just shrugs it off.
Ilia: We all have to make sacrifices for the greater good, no matter how much it hurts.
Blake: And you think killing me is really for the greater good?
Ilia: No, but getting rid of your family is.
Blake's expression turns shocked and fearful.
Blake: You wouldn't! You can't! I won't let you!
Ilia: I know. That's why you're being sent to Mistral. To Adam.
Blake's expression grows more afraid, almost on the verge of tears.
Blake: (struggling to get the webs off her) Ilia, please! You don't have to do this. This isn't you!
Ilia: Yes. It. Is! But I guess back then you were just too busy falling for Adam to notice.
Blake's expression turns confused.
Ilia: I was always jealous of the way you looked at him. (her spots turn pink) I wanted you to look at me that way. (she closes her eyes, and when she opens them, they are suddenly pink) But we can't always get what we want! (Her eyes then turn back to normal) Yuma, with me. You two, get her to the docks.
Ilia and Yuma leave while the other two Faunus prepare to bring Blake with them.
Trifa: Let's go, traitor.
Trifa tugs on the silk holding Blake, but Blake remains stationary.
Blake: Now!
Trifa: Huh?
Suddenly, Sun jumps out of nowhere and knocks down the Faunus next to Trifa.
Trifa: What?
Trifa draws her knife and engages in a brief duel with Sun. He blocks her attacks with the staff form of Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang before disarming her. Blake, now free from her bonds, then grabs Trifa's shoulder and punches her square in the face, knocking her out.
Blake: Thanks for the backup.
Sun: Thanks for the invitation. You okay?
Blake picks up Gambol Shroud and places it on her back.
Blake: No. You heard Ilia, my family is in danger. Call the police and let's go!
Sun: Right!
The two exit the alleyway and begin running toward the Belladonna's home. They both take their Scrolls out to call their respective contacts.
Blake: (worried) Come on, Mom, pick up!
Back at the Belladonna's home, a scroll is seen vibrating on the table with Blake's portrait and the text "BLAKE CALLING" on the screen. Gunfire can be heard. Suddenly, the table is knocked to its side as Kali and a Menagerie Guard take cover.
Guard: Get down!
The guard gets up to fire back at two White Fang soldiers. He manages to shoot one of them down, but he gets shot down by the other. With the guard incapacitated, Kali takes his pistol and starts firing back.
Kali: Get out of my house! Sam!
As she calls out to her husband, Kali is forced to take cover again from the gunfire. Meanwhile, Sam and a couple of other Menagerie guards fend off some White Fang troops in the entry hall. One of them tries to kick Sam, but he grabs his foot and slams him into the wall. Sam dodges a sword slash from another White Fang trooper. A guard manages to knock out another trooper after a brief scuffle, and Sam knocks out the troop that attacked him by punching him in the diaphragm and slamming his head into the ground.
Sam: Go find my wife!
Another White Fang troop approaches Sam with his fist drawn back, but Sam grabs his wrist and knife hands him in the neck and then tosses him aside. Another guard gets shot while protecting Sam and goes limp.
Sam: No.
Sam catches the guard's body and drops it to the ground, with Sam wincing at his fallen comrade. He then growls as he turns his attention to the Albains, who have their weapons out.
Corsac: I believe it's time our dear chieftain stepped down, brother.
Fennec: Yes brother, I'm afraid I'm inclined to agree.
Sam extends his claws out while scales form around his face and a tail springs out. He bares his fangs and makes a feral growl at the two brothers and lets out a loud roar.
Sam: At least you both saved me the trouble of hunting you down.
With a mighty roar, Sam lunged forward, his massive frame propelling him toward his adversaries. Corsac and Fennec exchanged glances, their expressions a mix of apprehension and resolve. They braced themselves, weapons at the ready, preparing to face this formidable opponent.
Sam swung his colossal fists, the force behind his blows causing the very ground to shake. Corsac and Fennec skillfully evaded, dodging the heavy strikes. The room became a battleground, furniture, and debris flying in their wake.
Corsac and Fennec attempted to counterattack, their weapons aimed at Sam's vulnerable points. But Sam, with his immense agility, maneuvered around the room with surprising speed and grace, evading their strikes while launching his own devastating attacks.
As the fight raged on, more members of the White Fang arrived, their presence announced by the echoing sound of gunfire. Sam's focus shifted, and his senses heightened as he faced this new threat. Bullets ricocheted off his massive form, but he deftly evaded the onslaught, weaving through the room with calculated movements.
Sam is seen leaping around the entry hall and using his claws to hang from one of the pillars, before pouncing on a White Fang soldier and clawing him down. A female White Fang soldier charges at him with a spear, but Sam grabs it, lifting her off the ground, and tossing her into Fennec. Corsac holds out his weapon, which starts to glow red as Sam preps to launch the spear at him. A fireball is launched from Corsac's weapon as Sam throws the spear. The two attacks manage to hit their targets, with Sam's Aura shimmering from the fireball and Corsac getting pinned to the wall by his hood.
Fennec: Brother!
Fennec gets back up and activates his weapon, which glows white as a wind gust is conjured from it. Sam brings his arms to his face to block the attack, and his feet drag backwards a couple of feet as a result. A White Fang soldier with an assault rifle is hiding behind a pillar and takes the opportunity in an attempt to attack Sam. Suddenly, Sun bursts in from the window behind him and knocks him down. Corsac discards his hood and joins his brother as they prepare to launch a combination attack with their weapons. A stream of wind and fire whirls toward Sun, but he blocks the attack by twirling Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang. He then calls out to someone.
Sun: Hurry!
Gambol Shroud is seen being loaded with a new cartridge, getting the attention of Corsac and Fennec. Blake jumps down from the terrace above them, dodging a fireball and a wind attack in the process. She does a three-point landing in front of them. The brothers attempt to stab Blake, but she uses her ice Dust-enhanced Semblance to trap their hands and weapons. She leaps away from them to join her father and Sun.
Blake: Dad! Where's mom?
Sam: I'm not sure, I got ambushed right away.
Blake: Once we take down Corsac and Fennec-
Sam: No, go now.
Blake: But-
Sam: You keep assuring me your friend isn't a complete waste of space! Let's see him prove it.
Sun: We got this, Blake. I've wanted to sock these creeps since the day we met!
Corsac uses the fire Dust in his weapon to begin melting Blake's ice clone.
Sam: You'll have to get in line. Blake, go!
Blake does so and leaves the room. Corsac and Fennec free themselves and prepare to fight.
Sun: I won't let you down, sir!
Sam: Shut up.
Sun: You got it!
The both of them proceed forward as Blake went looking for her mother. Blake bursts into the forked hallway. She hears the sounds of fighting to her right and proceeds down the left hallway. The scene transitions to show Ilia crouched on a balcony railing in a large room. She is donning her Grimm mask and hears the muffled sounds of fighting going on around the building. She then hears the door open and sees someone walk in on the floor below her. Blake takes a defensive stance as she notices her former friend standing up on the railing above her. The two reach for their weapons, with Blake gripping Gambol Shroud first. Ilia proceeds to grab Lightning Lash's hilt. The two glare at each other before the scene cuts to Kali as she and a guard fire back at unseen assailants. Kali runs out of ammo in her pistol and throws it to the ground in annoyance. She then picks up a tea tray to block another shot. She looks to a wounded female guard leaning against a pillar, who just stares back.
Kali: Do you have a better idea?
Suddenly, Yuma flies in and knocks down the other guard to the ground. He wraps his hands around the guard's throat to choke him out.
Yuma: Quiet now...
Kali then lifts the tea tray above her head, and does a loud battle cry as she runs toward Yuma.
Female Guard: Ma'am, no!
Yuma lets go of the guard's neck as he looks back in surprise as Kali approaches him. The sound of a thunk is heard as it transitions to the next scene.
Elsewhere, Blake Belladonna and Ilia Amitola stare at each other from their positions, both holding their weapons.
Blake: Did you come in here to hide?
Ilia: I told you, I didn't want this.
Blake: But you're still here!
Ilia: I don't have a choice!
Blake: Of course you do!
Ilia doesn't say anything, she just looks away.
Blake: Just... stay out of my way.
Blake puts Gambol Shroud on her back and starts walking away. Suddenly, Ilia leaps and charges at Blake but her form disappears. Blake then reappears a few feet away behind Ilia. Blake holds Gambol Shroud in a defensive stance, while Ilia begins to attack with the whip form of Lightning Lash. Blake dodges and rolls. She runs along the desks and chairs in the room as Ilia tries to use her whip to hit her. Blake manages to dodge and block Ilia's attacks, and uses her ribbon to wrap around Ilia's wrist. Ilia is pulled toward Blake, followed up with the latter kicking the chameleon Faunus to the ground. The two then lock blades with each other.
Blake: Why do you feel like we have to hurt people to get our way?!
Ilia: (grunts) Because it works!
Blake: That doesn't make it right!
Ilia pulls the trigger on her weapon, generating an electrical charge that causes Blake to drop her katana a few feet away from her. Blake pulls out her cleaver, but Ilia jumps from the desk and does a turn kick that knocks Blake over another desk, causing her to drop her weapon. Ilia whips at Blake again, but she uses her Semblance to get out of the way. Blake takes cover behind a desk.
Ilia: Stop lecturing me!
Blake peeks from behind the desk and notices Ilia's Grimm mask left behind on the ground. Ilia quietly turns the lights off in the room, causing it to go dark. Blake quickly goes to pick up her katana while Ilia sneaks around the room camouflaged. Blake hears a creak on the floor, Ilia quickly knocks her back. Blake uses the pistol form of her weapon to shoot at Ilia, who quickly evades the shots.
Ilia: Why couldn't you just leave?!
Blake: (transforming her pistol to katana form) Because I run away too much.
Blake dodges a couple more whips from Ilia who has moved up to the balcony. As she takes cover behind the desks, Blake takes out two cartridges - one with fire Dust and the other with ice. She loads the fire Dust cartridge in her weapon and aims at the shrubbery at the top corner of the room.
Blake: Sorry, dad.
Blake fires her weapon and the spreading flames start to light up the room, revealing Ilia's location. With camouflage not an option anymore, Ilia engages Blake in combat. The two start off with a mixture of sword clashes and hand-to-hand. Blake dodges out of the way of one of Ilia's attacks and starts shooting at her with the pistol form of her weapon. Ilia deflects the shots with her whip.
Ilia: Quit taking potshots and fight me like you mean it!
Blake dodges another one of Ilia's whips and lands on the balcony above her. She takes cover behind the railing as Ilia rants at her.
Ilia: You used to see things the way I did! The way Adam did! If no one's going to do anything to stop the humans that attack us, then the only choice we have left... is to attack back!
Blake loads another cartridge in her pistol and begins to fire at Ilia again. Ilia deflects the shots, but when she goes to use her whip again, her weapon is frozen in place. Suddenly, a ribbon is wrapped around her weapon as Blake pulls it away and she leaps from the balcony to kick Ilia to the ground. Blake holds Ilia down.
Blake: You're wrong, there's always another choice.
Ilia struggles to get up as Blake continues to hold her down.
Blake: Ilia... please. You're a good person but you're making all the wrong decisions!
Ilia: SHUT UP!
Blake: Is this really what your parents would've wanted?!
Ilia: (voice breaking) I don't know what else to do!
Suddenly, Ilia ceases her struggling and her eyes start to well up.
Ilia: (sobbing) I don't know what else to do...
As Ilia continues sobbing, Blake hears a rumble. Corsac is thrown through the wall, dropping his half of Cyclone and Inferno. Sam jumps into the room as he growls at Corsac. He then notices his daughter pinning Ilia to the ground.
Sam: Blake!
Suddenly, Fennec stabs Sam in the back, who cries out in pain and slumps toward the ground.
Blake: Dad!
With Blake distracted, Ilia gets her off her and kicks her into a nearby chair, knocking Blake out momentarily. Sam then gets Fennec off his back and tosses him away as Corsac runs to him. Sam pulls the wand out of his back and clashes fists with Corsac. The two then struggle to push each other as their hands interlock. Ilia just stares in disbelief at what's going on around her, before a voice snaps her out of her trance.
Fennec: Ilia! What are you doing?! Fight!
Fennec pulls out another wand and charges at Sam. The chieftain manages to toss Corsac and dodges Fennec's swipes as he begins to fight both of them at once. Fennec doges a swing then leaps at Sam as he drives Corsac back, only be caught and tossed onto the floor. As Sam defends himself, Fennec recovers and begins to charge his weapon while the pair continue exchanging blows. Fennec then charges in again, giving a loud battle cry. Sam notices him and grabs his wrist, pointing his weapon as it fires at Corsac, who gets blown back several feet away and is knocked unconscious.
Fennec: BROTHER!
Fennec tries to attack Sam again, but Sun jumps in and kicks him away. Sun sees Blake struggling to get back up and clenches his fist. He then angrily glares at Ilia who continues to stand watching the fight.
Sam: Go help Blake!
Sun: On it!
Sun pulls out Ruyi Bang and Jingu Bang and engages Ilia in combat. He slams the staff down but misses, then jumps back to dodge her sweeping leg. Ilia back-flips away from his next swing and tries to kick him. Sun turns to dodge then splits his weapon, landing a blow on her back. He delivers a flurry of attacks with his shotgun nunchucks that overwhelms Ilia and leaves her open to a kick in the side. Rejoining the split halves to block Lightning Lash, which finishes thawing as they struggle. Ilia smiles before trying to shock him, only for the trigger to jam. Her eyes widen as she tries again while Sun shoves her back. She is then pushed against a pillar by Sun with a jab to the stomach. Before she can move he pins her against it with his weapon. Nearby, Fennec ducks under Sam's claws then blocks his left arm, only to be punched back through the hole by his other hand. As Ilia struggles to get out of Sun's hold, the pillar she is getting pushed against starts to crack.
Blake: Stop!
Sun and Ilia stop to look at Blake.
Blake: Please... (tears start streaming down her eyes)
Ilia manages to push Sun off her and falls to the ground as he hits the pillar. Suddenly the pillar starts to crack even more, Sun moves out of the way quickly as the balcony above Ilia starts to give way. Ilia yelps looking up in terror as the balcony is about to fall on her. Suddenly, Sam is shown lifting the broken part of the balcony with his own strength. Ilia stares in awe.
Sam: Go, Illia!
Ilia quickly gets out of the way as Sam is forced down on one knee to keep the balcony from falling on him. Sun uses his Semblance to summon two light clones that go and help Sam lift. Blake grabs her katana and transforms it into kusarigama form. Unbeknownst to them, Fennec gets back up and sees his brother still unconscious. He grabs both of their wands and runs towards Sam. Blake sees this and quickly tosses her weapon, wrapping it around her father's torso and pulls him out as Fennec lands just below the falling balcony. Fennec is then crushed by the balcony, and the Dust in the wands explode from impact, ensuring the younger Albain's death.
Sam: (to himself) Damn it.
Afterwards, Kali enters the room dragging an unconscious Yuma, who has his hands tied behind his back.
Blake: Mom!
Sam: Damn, Kali.
Kali drops Yuma as her daughter comes up to hug her. Their embrace is cut short as a voice gets their attention.
Corsac: (darkly) What have you done? (standing back up) You ruined everything... (inhales) EVERYTHIIIIIIING!
The Belladonnas and Sun take defensive stances. Corsac angrily runs forward, but suddenly, Lightning Lash wraps around his body, electrocuting him and knocking him unconscious. With the battle over, Ilia starts to cry and falls to her knees as she breaks down, with the Belladonnas and Sun looking on.
Outside of the Belladonna's home, a large crowd of Faunus gathers outside, noticing the smoke coming from the building.
Guard: Back! Everyone, stay back! We've got people inside doing their best.
Faunus: Look!
From the smoky doorway, Sam walks out in his human form carrying the motionless bodies of a White Fang soldier and a Menagerie Guard on each of his shoulders. He hands the bodies to two guards as Saber Rodentia arrives.
Saber: Get in there! Search for any stragglers!
More guards walk out keeping Corsac restrained, followed by Blake, Kali, Sun, Ilia and others.
Saber: (to Sam) We came as soon as we got the call. (he notices Corsac being forced to his knees) And Fennec?
Sam sadly shakes his head. Saber walks over to Corsac.
Saber: (snarkily) Was it worth it?
Corsac looks down, defeated. As the commotion continues, Blake shares brief looks with Sun and Ilia. Blake takes a deep sigh as she goes down the steps. Sam notices his daughter walking away.
Sam: Blake!
Before Sam could go any further, his wife stops him, and both look on. Blake then stops at one of the steps as she begins to address the crowd.
Blake: Humans didn't do this. (she points at the smoke coming from her house) We did this: Faunus. We did this to ourselves. We are just as capable of hate and violence as the humans, but I don't think any of us would jump at the chance to point that out. So why are we letting Adam do it for us?! By doing nothing and staying silent, we let others speak and act in our place. And if we're not proud of the choices they make, then we have no one to blame but ourselves. This is the message that Adam Taurus will bring to the world if no one stops him. But we can stop him! You have to understand that all of you are looking for simple answers to a very complicated problem. And I can't give that to you. I don't know how to make hate go away, I don't. But I know that this kind of violence is not the solution. I understand that to ask you to leave your homes and protect Haven Academy is asking you to put your lives at risk. But that's what's at stake. So I'm going, and I'll stand by myself if I have to.
Ilia: I'll stand with you!
Blake turns around with a surprised look on her face as Ilia stands up. Her pained expression then looks down.
Ilia: If... if you'd have me.
Male Faunus: Isn't that the White Fang girl?
Female Faunus: I thought she hated the Belladonnas.
Despite some of the crowd's murmuring amongst themselves, Blake smiles at her old friend. As Ilia proceeds forward, Saber suddenly stops her.
Saber: You're not going anywhere!
Blake: Let her come.
Saber: Huh? You're just going to forgive her? After everything she did?!
Blake: I am.
Saber looks to Sam, who nods to let Ilia go. Ilia continues to walk down the steps to stand next to her friend.
Saber: What does she think she's doing?
Sam: (smiling) She's doing what I failed to accomplish: That there is strength in forgiveness.
Blake puts a hand on Ilia's shoulder, sharing a smile together.
Mata: I'll go!
Mata the ram Faunus steps forward and raises his hand, followed by many more.
Female Aquatic Faunus: I'll go too!
Various Faunus: I'll stand with you! I'll go! Yeah! Me too! Let's go! Yeah, let's go!
As more Faunus start to give Blake their support, Sun walks down the steps to join her and Ilia. The crowd is heard cheering as a majority agree to volunteer. They all smile at the crowd.
Sun: Looks like we've got work to do.
Blake: Thank you.
Sun: (pointing to Ilia) You stabbed me.
Ilia looks down sorrowfully.
Ilia: I- (Sun playfully pinches her arm) Ow!
Sun: There. Let's just call it even.
Sam and Kali then walk down the steps to join their daughter and her friends.
Sam: We have about two weeks before Adam's attack on Haven. We're going to need shields, training, and whatever we can do to protect as many people as possible.
Kali: We'll need transportation too. For everyone.
Blake: (smiling) I think I know a ship captain who owes us a favor.
Sienna: Do you have room for one more?
Everyone turns to see Sienna Khan wearing a red cloak.
Sam: Sienna, you're...
Sienna: I guess I should thank you for taking your advice.
Sam: No kidding.
Sienna: (looks at Blake) It's good to see you again Blake.
Blake: Same to you, Sienna.
Kali: How are you here in Menagerie?
Sienna: Adam banished me and I took the first ferry here. I was hoping to see all of you and... I'm here to offer my help to you.
Sam: Your help is gratefully accepted.
Sienna: Thank you, Sam.
Sam: (to Blake) Now, what's this about a ship captain?