Kali and Blake were shown in a big waiting room. Muted green walls and black and white carpeted lined the area, along with several blue chairs along the walls. Blake stood at the reception desk, turning in some paperwork. Blake and her mother took a seat not too far from the window, each one nervous for different reasons. Trying to take their minds off what tormented them, the cat ladies took a look around the room.

One couple across the way sat with a baby in their arms, possibly to take the child to the doctor that delivered them for a checkup. In the back was a couple of two women, reading some pamphlets of information. A few rows down there was a group, showing off a nervous and heavily pregnant woman and two people beside her; at her right was a man (presumably her husband or father of the child at least), and at her left was an older woman (possibly her mom). The expecting couple that Blake and Kali saw earlier at a previous 'book club meeting' were waiting closer to the back of the room, now looking anxious. What had happened to make them so anxious? Was something wrong?

"You alright?" Kali asked her daughter. "You haven't said anything in a while."

"I think so." The younger catwoman hesitated. "Will it hurt?" Blake wondered.

"I'm… afraid I can't say." Kali faltered. "I never used any form of birth control." She looked back in nostalgic reminiscence. "All those times me and Ghira threw caution to the wind… Sometimes I was surprised, and maybe a bit disappointed that I didn't conceive…"

Sometimes I've thought about the siblings that I never really had… How would my life have been different if I wasn't an only child?

Blake began to imagine what never truly was; having an older brother, using his claws to carve a design into a piece of wood. Another brother with cat paws for feet, this one throwing a frisbee and a younger Blake trying to catch it. An older sister with cat ears, braiding Blake's hair into a fishtail braid.

Silently, she snapped herself out of her thoughts.

Now is not the time for what-ifs. We need to tend to the future. After all, that's the entire reason we're here. Why I'm here. To prevent the worst-case scenario from happening in the future if the Battle for Haven goes terribly wrong.

The hidden cat woman remained silent with her thoughts.

"Blake?" Kali began.

"Hmm?"

"I wanted to ask… Have you…"

"Ms. Belladonna?" a voice called out.

At this, Blake got up, with her mother following close behind. The two ladies followed the nurse to a small room only separated from the main hall with blue curtains.

They asked a few questions about her health and history, such as her height and weight, many of which passed in a blur to her.

"Very well. Time to take your blood pressure."

She attached the cuff to her left arm.

Blake tensed up, but tried to breathe. She also tried to ignore the squeezing of the blood pressure cuff on her left arm.

Gosh dang it… I forgot how much this hurts! When was the last time you went through a physical exam? Probably when you entered Beacon Academy.

Eventually, the arm cuff stopped and gradually released its hold.

"Blood pressure… a little evaluated, but not by much. Are you stressed?"

Blake sighed. "Yeah… I am. And there's other factors as well…"

"I see. Well, hopefully it's a fluke. I have heard of white coat syndrome being a real thing. Try and get some rest and test again in a month or so."

Blake gave her mother a confused look.

"Now then, if you'll follow me."

The two went to a different room, this one with a small changing area with white and floral curtains and an operating bed.

"Dr. Smith will be in shortly."

"Thank you," Blake acknowledged.

At this, the nurse shut the door.

Blake went in behind the curtains and sat down on a small chair. She took off her black sneakers, starting with the left one and then the right. Then she stood up and began to remove her black jeans, placing them on the chair along with her underwear- a pair of royal purple panties.

Undressing isn't quite as bad as it has been, but I still feel vulnerable. That sense of vulnerability seems to affect us all, one way or another. Still, Doctor Patricia Smith seems like she's both capable and compassionate. Hopefully she'll be kind to me…

Later that afternoon, Ilia was shown within her room. Her combat plans were complete, but she still read over them, seeking to commit them to memory.

There's no way I'll be able to take these plans once we begin our journey to Haven Academy. I'll have to read and remember as much as I can. Then, I burn the evidence. Or rip it to a thousand shreds if I don't have time...

She reviewed her plans, mostly in terms of evasive maneuvers.

You need to stay away from Ares at all costs. His semblance, Terror Roar, is dangerous to his enemies. And you get caught up in it, you're in big trouble. Keep your distance! Adam's semblance is Moonslice, and can be deadly if you're struck down. Avoid it at all costs!

Biggest threat; Adam. Second biggest threat; Ares. Third; Athena. Fourth; Wungeng.

My main goal is to defeat Adam, so I need to make sure the other leaders are as far away from him as possible before I confront him. Which is going to be hard…

Ilia sighed. Gosh damn it. Why did you ever join this cult in the first place?

A shiver came across her back. I think you know why you came here in the first place.

[Nearly seven years ago- The Crater, Mantle]

Twelve year old Ilia was shown within a crowded city slum. She was shown wearing a dirty pair of jean shorts and a slightly worn down red and white long-sleeved shirt. Her hair, shown to be a few inches past her shoulders, was loose and a little bit tangled.

She found herself staring at the big metal wall in sorrow, her skin turning a single shade of blue. Her hair, eyes and freckles seemed to be unchanged.

"Why couldn't I have been born a rich girl in Atlas?"

"Ilia?" a voice asked her. "What are you doing here?"

The young chameleon turned to see a short man with a mustache and small glasses. He was a badger Faunus, his trait being badger hands and claws.

"Uncle Carlos?"

He wasn't really her uncle, but neither of her parents had any siblings. And Carlos Thyme had been a friend of her parents. In some ways, he was like family, and often looked out for her.

"Why aren't you playing with your friends?"

"They're all sick from sewage runoff."

"Oh… Right… I'm sorry to hear that."

The two stood in silence for a long moment as the chameleon let her skin turn back to normal. "How's Fiona doing?"

"Pretty well. She tells me that she just unlocked her semblance."

Ilia's eyes lit up yellow like stars. "Really? Wow, that's amazing!"

"Have you given any thought as to being a huntress?"

Her eyes turned back to their normal gray color. "I would, but I don't have my aura unlocked. And even if I did, I don't think I'd get in or keep up with the other students."

"Don't underestimate yourself, my dear. I'm sure you'll do great things someday, as a civilian or fighter." Carlos gave her a hug. "Now come, I'm sure your parents are worried."

So Carlos and Ilia went back to her parents' home. And when she stepped through the doors, she found her mother stirring a pot.

"There you are, Ilia." her mother beamed.

Her parents, Hinto and Donna Amitola, were shown. Her father Hinto had light brown eyes and tanned skin, wearing some worn-out jeans, and a red plaid shirt, currently buttoned up. He was a lizard tailed faunus with a blue tail. Her mother Donna was a tanned woman with light gray eyes with brown hair in a braid draped over her left shoulder. She wore a slightly faded white and floral sundress, and looked normal from the waist up, but one glance at her feet revealed her as a cat pawed faunus.

"Sit down."

She took a seat. "Am I in trouble?"

"Not at all. You've done nothing wrong." Hinto began. "In fact, we actually have very good news."

"Thanks to a surprisingly nice pay bonus, we've finally saved up enough money to send you to a better school." Donna revealed.

"I'd say that's an understatement dear. We have enough money to send her to the best private school in all of Atlas; Primrose Prep School."

Ilia's eyes went wide. "Primrose?"

She couldn't believe it. She had heard about Primrose many times from her friends, classmates, and their parents and guardians. How many graduates went on to become nurses, doctors, skilled businessmen and women, and many other successful high paying careers.

Ilia smiled brightly. "I… I can't believe it." Only for it to fade away. "But… would they really accept me, a faunus?"

"Don't worry. We have a plan for you." Donna reassured her with a calming embrace. "You'll pose as a human girl seeking the best education that Atlas can give."

"But we're going to need a cover name. What should we use?" Hinto asked.

Donna looked at her daughter. "You're the one going there, you should be able to choose your first name."

Ilia hummed to herself. "Marigold sounds pretty. And it's a flower, so it would fit right in."

"Alright, we have our first name. Now we just need a last name." her father told her.

"How about Regenbogen?"

"But the Regenbogen family is a wealthy family in Atlas. They'll see right through the ruse!"

"We'll say that she's from Vacuo and claim no relation to the owners of that fancy hotel. She's got the tan to say she's from the desert kingdom, and if her customs are a bit weird, she could, in theory, pass them off."

"I suppose it could work," Hinto began, before turning to his daughter. "but we need you to follow these rules. First, don't bring any of your friends home here. But considering this is a boarding school and that you'll be posing as a girl from Vacuo, that one shouldn't be too hard. Second, no talking about us or any of your friends from here. Your past is not to be discussed. You need to look to the future after all. And finally, this is the most important one; never, ever change colors. No one can know that you're a faunus, or they might hurt you. Think you can do this?"

"I think so," Ilia answered.

"Good. You don't have to have your intended career picked out right away, but do try to think of the path you'll pursue."

"Try to write to us when you can. Use only our initials when you address the envelope and if we're lucky, maybe we can find a personal messenger."

"This is a rare opportunity." Donna reminded her. "Don't waste it."

Ilia smiled, tears of joy coming to her eyes. "Thank you."

She embraced her parents in a hug. "We love you, little rainbow." Hinto said.

"We love you, and we are so proud of you, our perfect sky." Donna told her.

"I love you too."

[A rooftop in Mantle, August 18th, 73 AGW]

Sometime later, young Ilia was shown wearing a nicer dress. Her ankle length dress was a deep shade of purple, paired with a pair of black ballet-like flats and a fake fur coat to match. She was shown wearing an imitation pearl necklace around her neck, along with faux diamond earrings. A simple, yet nice presentation of herself.

Nearby was a small suitcase and a carry-on bag, containing what she would need for her time at the prep school. She had been preparing for about a month, and the arrangements had been made. Her parents posed as the boarding host family/temporary guardians, while claiming her real parents were waiting for her in Vacuo. But even if they were the "host family", they were still there to see her off.

"Are you ready?" Hinto asked.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Ilia answered.

The whirring of helicopter blades was heard from above.

"We love you! Good luck and be careful!" Hinto and Donna exclaimed.

Soon, a helicopter landed on the loading bay, and an official stepped out of the flying machine.

"You're Marigold Regenbogen?" the official asked.

"That's me," 'Marigold' answered.

"Are you ready to depart for Primrose Prep School?"

She nodded with a smile. "I'm ready."

With this, she took her bags and went into the helicopter. And as the helicopter ascended, she knew she had just taken the biggest leap of her life.

[Atlas, Primrose Preparatory School]

The helicopter landed on a loading platform nearby. Off in the distance were a few other loading/unload platforms, dropping off returning or soon to be starting students.

Well, here it is. My home for the next several years.

In a silent montage, she took her bags and went with the guide to her dorm room. She set her bags down and received her schedule. Later that day, she got fitted into a uniform, consisting of a white shirt with a royal blue waistcoat and a red bowtie. The outfit was completed with a pink plaid patterned knee length skirt paired with black tights and formal black shoes. It felt weird, but kinda nice at the same time.

She took several sets of her uniform and held them in her arms before putting them away in the left side of her closet on hangers. She read over her school schedule; Most of them were required courses by school, while others were extracurricular activities that she (and her parents) had a little more say in.

(Cafeteria opens for breakfast at 06:00 and closes at 21:00 after dinner)

08:00-09:05 Pre-Algebra

09:15-10:25 Language and Literature

10:35-11:45 History of Atlas

12:00-13:00 Lunch

13:10-14:20 Basics of Economics

14:30-15:20 Environmental Science

Athletic elective (Tuesdays, Thursdays, 15:30-17:00); Tennis

Cultural elective (Wednesdays, Fridays, 15:30-17:00); Theater

Ugh, math first thing in the morning… But at least they got me the theater class I wanted.

Looks like they're saving the best for last. Still, at least I have a room to…

Soon the door opened, causing Ilia to nearly lose her nerve as she found a twelve year old with white girl and blue eyes standing there. She was wearing white tights and a blue and purple dress, rolling a purple suitcase behind her and seemed to be just as confused as Ilia.

But it was the secret chameleon that asked, "What the? What are you doing here?"

The girl gave her a confused glare. "What do you mean by that?"

Ilia breathed out, "I was under the impression that I would have a room to myself."

"Apologies, this is where I was told to go. Oh come now, I don't bite. Do you?" Ilia nodded, not wanting to stir the pot. "Perhaps I could make this easier. I'm Wisteria," the preteen girl introduced. "And you are?"

"Marigold," she introduced.

The montage continued as she walked through the halls to her first class and took a seat. Wisteria, now in her uniform, sat a few seats away from her.

She looked at the male students in uniform. Black dress pants paired with matching belts, along with white shirts and royal blue waistcoats. Instead of bow ties, they had red neckties with white stripes. Finishing off the look were black socks and dress shoes.

Soon the teacher came in, dressed not quite as formally, but still looking presentable. He wore black pants, a red blouse, having left his black suit jacket behind and a pair of black shoes. He had neatly combed blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Good morning, students. I hope you're all bright eyed and bushy tailed, because it's going to be a good year ahead. For those of you who haven't had a class with me yet, I'll introduce myself. My name is Joseph Blanche, but you can address me with my full name or as Mr. Blanche. Now, with that out of the way, we'll start with some math exercises. I'm going to…"

The montage ended as Ilia yawned in the halls. Her eyes drooped and she soon found herself bumping into someone, tumbling to the floor. Fear tumbled through her and she wasn't trying not to let color shift to her skin.

"Are you alright?" a kind male voice asked. "I'm so sorry."

She opened her eyes, seeing that she still appeared normal, as well as an older student picking up a few textbooks before standing up straight. He had light-brown eyes and dull-blue hair in a wolf cut hairstyle. He seemed kind, albeit a bit clueless.

"I'm fine. Just… tired."

"Let me guess, you had math first thing in the morning?" Ilia nodded. "A lot of students hate math first thing in the morning. I've been there before, and it's not all that fun."

"Glad you understand." She looked at him curiously. "You look pretty old for a student."

"I get that a lot. This is actually my fourth year here." He looked up in alarm. "Oh, pardon me, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Henry Marigold. And you are?"

"Marigold Regenbogen." She nervously laughed before realizing her mistake.

"Hmm… What a coincidence. The same surname as some of my friends." But luckily, he shrugged it off. "Well, I better get going. Don't want to be late for advanced economics. See you around!"

He soon left, Ilia breathing a sigh of relief.

Oh that was close. He doesn't know or suspect a thing.

Sometime later, Ilia was going to theater class.

We've been through some acting lessons for about a week now. But when will the play start?

She found her roommate studying a small script. There were a number of students there, both older and newer. As she tried to find a script to study, she turned to find a pair of twins that were older than she was. The twins both possessed pale green eyes and caramel blonde hair, curled and styled flawlessly. Since they were both girls still in uniform, Ilia tried to look for something to differentiate them. She soon noticed that both of them had ribbons around their wrists. One had a purple ribbon on her right wrist, and the other had a red ribbon on the left side.

"Hmm… a new theater student." the first one said.

"Can she walk the walk and talk the talk?" the second began.

Ilia looked at them, smiling as she put her hands behind her back. "And who might you be?"

"Amaryllis Regenbogen." the red ribbon girl began.

"Hydrangea Regenbogen." continued the purple ribboned one.

"The Regenbogen sisters," they spoke together.

"Pleasure to meet you. I'm Marigold."

Hydrangea hummed. "Marigold. That first name doesn't sound very familiar…"

"What's your last name?" Amaryllis asked.

"It's Regenbogen."

"You sure she's not your long lost cousin?" a girl with light purple hair and lavender eyes asked, entering the backstage area.

"We could adopt her." Hydrangea smiled.

"We are the daughters of Boris and Guinevere Regenbogen." Amaryllis told her. "Heiresses to the world's only seven star hotel- The Glass Unicorn."

"She'd be a fool not to know that," the girl stated.

"Don't be so harsh, Periwinkle."

Periwinkle blinked. "So how is it that you have the name of Regenbogen without being related to them?"

On the surface, Ilia appeared cool as a cucumber. "I'm from Vacuo. My parents decided to send me here because they believed it would be safer." Ilia lied flawlessly. "And more stable."

Amaryllis hummed, wondering about her words. "I suppose that makes sense."

"So what's the play we're doing?"

"We're doing a production of The White Witch in the Woods." Wisteria told her.

"These are sample scripts." Hydrangea told her. "Depending on our performance at the audition, we'll be assigned a role that should fit our personality and current skill set. Our director will tell us everything. Oh, I hope I get the lead role. Blair the White Witch has the most gorgeous costumes!"

A montage went by with Ilia's narration.

At first, everything seemed to be fine…

Beginning with Ilia reading a letter from her parents while Wisteria slept and writing a response back.

I thought that I had friends…

She was shown hanging out with Amaryllis, Hydrangea, Wisteria and Periwinkle at lunch.

"That cat faunus was a fool to try and apply for a job here!" Periwinkle exclaimed.

Ilia laughed with them, in spite of the hypocrisy.

"You know Marigold, you've been a good friend and a great actress. Perhaps you could come over to our restaurant at the end of the year." Hydrangea suggested.

Ilia smiled, closing her eyes briefly. "That sounds delightful."

She was shown reading some lines for her part. "It's true. I have magic. We all do."

"Come now sisters. We need to stop them."

And holding the script but not looking at it. "Maybe I can help, look!"

The students were shown acting out a dress rehearsal. Ilia watched the first scene from afar.

Hydrangea, wearing a more formal yet sleek white gown, spoke, "I thought all humans were bad."

Henry was playing the role of Oliver, the adventurer who would become the witch's companion and lover. "Not all of them, my lady."

Sometimes I forgot who I was completely.

To the actual play. Ilia was dressed in a pink dress with pearls around the skirt and small white beads at the hem. She was given a minor role, as one of Blaire's daughters and waited for her cue to enter.

"Mommy, what's wrong?" Ilia asked.

"Oh Peony, you need not worry about me." 'Blair' told her.

"Maybe I can help," 'Peony' began. "Look!"

With some help from the lighting crew, Ilia cast the illusion of her character performing magic, casting a pink beam into the air.

And the montage ended with the entire crew taking the bows on stage on the opening night.

Little did I realize just how wrong I was…

[December 13th, 73 AGW, 15:25]

Ilia was on her way to theater class, walking alongside Wisteria and the Regenbogen sisters.

Soon Peri came up to them as they stood not too far from her.

"There you are, Peri. What kept you?"

Peri answered, "I was listening to a radio in the teacher's lounge. Get this, there was a mine collapse in Mantle! Ha, thankfully that's not us!"

Ilia's blood turned cold.

A mine collapse?! No…

Her eyes turned blue, but her friends didn't notice. "Can you believe it?!" Peri continued. "The Caper Cave just totally collapsed!"

That's mine my parents were working in! No, no…

Amaryllis smiled. "Oh those fools…"

"Those dumb animals. Should have gotten out while they could have." Hydrangea echoed.

"They'll be digging out the faunus corpses until summer!" Wisteria laughed.

They all laughed.

At this moment, something within Ilia broke for the first time. Tears sprung from her eyes as Ilia began to turn blue, starting with her skin and freckles.

"Fools indeed, right Marigold?" Periwinkle asked as Ilia's hair turned blue.

Wisteria was the first to notice something was wrong. "Marigold?"

Ilia trembled, unable to contain her sorrow and rage as her hair turned bright red. "HOW DARE YOU!"

Amaryllis was terrified. "Run!"

Ilia screamed in rage.

Amaryllis took Hydrangea's hand and fled the scene as Ilia punched Wisteria in the mouth. Her roommate groaned in pain and Peri was too scared to move. Peri was also punched in the mouth, followed with kicks, slaps and other swift, violent motions, until both the girls were screaming and beaten all over. Puddles of blood fell to the floor as Ilia stood there, red with rage. Teeth were scattered in different piles.

Blood stained her hands as well as a small tooth crushed in her hands.

Ilia seethed in anger as she fully realized what had happened, and a few students nearby were staring at her, horrified and appalled.

No… They see me as a monster!

Realizing the damage done, Ilia fled the scene.

Young Ilia was shown roaming the streets of Atlas. She was still in her school girl uniform, blood stains and somebody's tooth still resting on the hem.

Damn it! How could I have messed up this badly?! Ilia thought to herself at the time. Why does humanity have to be so awful? Why did I ever think they would accept me as I was?!

Ilia put her fists to the wall as her skin turned red and her hair turned blue, a new batch of hot tears streaming down her face as she slid to the ground.

"You look lost." She turned purple as she found Pearl Callows, a spider fanged faunus woman clad in white standing before her. "You need not be afraid of me. I know you're furious with humanity. I am too." Pearl held up her hand, showing a duo of rings fused together. "Help me put them in their place, and I'll help you hide from the authorities."

Pearl extended her hand to Ilia. She took that hand and was assisted back up.

I had forgotten about the faunus who cared about me back home… because I let anger consume me.

A brief montage began with Ilia meditating, unlocking her aura in a flash of green, and practicing combat against other faunus, using a standard whip trying to keep her opponent at bay. Forging a customized White Fang mask and sliding it onto her face. Having a special weapon made for her.

From there, I unlocked my aura within only a few weeks and started to learn how to use it. Within a year I went from a simple soldier, to specialist trainee. It was also at that time that I got my weapon. I had been training with a practice whip for months, so now, I was ready for a weapon to call my own.

"And what will you call this weapon?" the blacksmith asked.

"Lightning Lash. I want to shock humanity with the truth."

A thirteen year old Lila was shown putting her hair in its signature chameleon ponytail. She was shown wearing the outfit that would become her standard uniform, putting Lightning Lash in its collapsed form at her right side. Soon she left her quarters and went down the hall to the foyer.

At first, Pearl had perhaps been the only friend I had. But maybe a year or so after the incident… I met… her…

Young teenager Ilia looked before her to see not only her branch's leader, but also a girl with black hair and cat ears.

"Oh, we have a visitor?"

"Indeed so." Pearl confirmed. "This is Blake Belladonna, young specialist in training. She's briefly transferred over here from Menagerie."

If love at first sight really existed, that might have been how I felt when I first saw her. I was curious about her immediately. She was dark yet cute. And over time, as we traveled and helped the White Fang, I felt like I really cared about her, a lot.

The two were shown chatting in a Mistralian teahouse after hours, with Blake showing Ilia one of the many books she was reading at the time. Blake was shown tying a friendship bracelet with three different charms; a black cat, a white fish, and a purple paw, around Ilia's wrist. Blake was wearing one too, with a green chameleon, a rainbow and a moon charm.

Sometime later, she was shown standing before Sienna and Adam.

"Adam Taurus," Sienna introduced. "One of the best fighters I know."

But despite new friendships and allies, that didn't mean we didn't have hardships.

A montage of the White Fang members versus human supremacists began.

We were on our way from Griamore Port to Shion. Blake was feeling horribly sick that day and couldn't come for the journey, remaining in the care of Maura. And it was probably for the best that she wasn't there.

Hiding behind a tree from Adam's wrath, Ghira's assailant saw an opportunity to try and take the High Leader out for good. But Adam, now burning red with rage, released the stored energy in his sword, unleashing a slash cutting through the gunman's chest, slamming him against the side of a truck, killing him instantly. Shocked, Ghira and some of the Fang members walk out of cover, only to find the gunman slain- with his six-shooter unloaded, and blood splattered against the ground and the truck walls, a puddle of red dribbling from his corpse.

Silently, cheers for Adam and his bravery went on.

Adam had killed someone for the first time. That should have been a red flag, but I was too caught up in seeing "justice" fulfilled to notice. Ghira left not long after, Sienna took over, and slowly, the White Fang became more violent. But Pearl had always been malicious. And as such, it would eventually catch up to her.

Against a black screen, a newspaper was shown with the headline; Pearl Callows Arrested, Defeated By An Unexpected 12 Year Old

Pearl would end up being arrested sometime after Ghira's resignation, defeated by the hands of Claire Blanche. At the time, I thought Claire was a despicable person and arguably not even worthy of being a heroine. But now… I don't know how to feel about her. I guess I could say she's braver than I am.

A brief montage began, starting with Ilia, Sienna and Adam raiding dust in a safehold in Atlas. Then she was shown in Kuchinashi fighting off foes, with Blake leaving behind a shadow and running away in the background. Then it showed Blake and Ilia in the Forever Fall forest.

I traveled to most everywhere at least once, from Atlas to Mistral, to Vale and eventually to Menagerie. To some, I was known only as The Chameleon. But they never knew who I truly was. They knew nothing about me… or those close to me.

Later, Ilia was taken aback by a certain revelation. "You're.. dating... Adam?"

"He's courting me. He even got me a book as a gift." She showed her a copy of Bound by Destiny. "Oh, he knows me so well!"

She closed her eyes, hugging the book to her chest, not seeing Ilia's blue eyes and hair.

It broke my heart to see her choose Adam instead of me. Still, I wanted to be her friend.

[Three months before Blake's departure]

Ilia was shown wearing her specialist White Fang uniform, speaking with Blake, now wearing the promise ring Adam got her, as she told her friend about her past on the rooftop somewhere in Vale, near the Forever Fall forest.

"I'm sorry." Blake stated, acknowledging her friend's pain.

She stood up and turned red, her hair and eyes turning yellow as she gave her response. "Don't be- I broke their teeth."

Even if she was never my girlfriend or lover, I was glad to have Blake by my side. She was always a good listener. But I suppose I was never the best listener. I was more concerned with wanting Blake and trying to hide my unrequited love… then to realize just how much her relationship with Adam was hurting her.

She recalled Blake making a shadow of herself as she fled from a fight in Kuchinashi.

And not long thereafter, I was broken yet again. Blake had left us. I wasn't there when it happened, but when I heard the news, I was devastated.

Away from everyone else, Ilia was shown kneeling and crying in her tent, her entire skin, eyes and hair turning blue as she wept, wailing into a pillow.

[11:40, Two weeks after Blake's departure]

Ilia was shown holding back tears, looking at a framed photo of her and Blake, smiling, arms around their shoulders.

"Sister Ilia?" Adam called out. "Are you terribly busy?"

She put the photo away. "No… Why?"

"I'm giving you new orders. Despite Blake's desertion, the Valeian White Fang is still stronger than ever. To aid the Fang on a more global scale, and to make things easier for you, I want you to go to Menagerie, and continue aiding Fennec and Corsac Albain with their recruitment efforts."

"Yes, Brother Taurus."

And as she was shown on a private jet flying through the sky, a montage began with a voiceover of her thoughts in the present time.

Somehow, just when you think things can't break anymore, they continue breaking.

Getting off the plane, she felt the sand and salt in the air. The scene continued with Ilia passing out White Fang flyers to faunus at night, training against Yuma and then Trifa in combat, giving reports to the Albain brothers, spying on Ghira and Kali Belladonna and ending with Ilia realizing the truth about Adam, alone in her hotel room.

My parents sudden and unexpected death… Blake choosing to be close to Adam, Blake leaving the White Fang, Sienna dying and most recently learning the truth about Adam… breaking over and over again. How much can I take?

Once again, she returned to the present with a long sigh.

Seven years worth of regrets. Sometimes I feel that I never should have joined the White Fang. Then again… where would you be if you hadn't? Would you still be alive? Or would you be dead? Nothing but dirt in the ground? She shed a single tear. My parents wouldn't have wanted this. They'd tell me to prioritize my safety, to hide again in a town where no one even knows me. But does it really even matter at this point what they would want?

With a groan, she left her room, intending to do something to supposedly prove herself. She began her descent down the stairway.

It doesn't. But not for the sake of avenging them. I have to stop Adam Taurus. From destroying Haven Academy and from taking Blake again. I don't know if humanity is worthy of being saved, but I know that, from where I stand to the world, I'm not on the right side. That is what I know.

She smiled nervously as she saw Athena on her way, carrying what looked like blueprints in her hands as she flew over her, ascending upwards as Ilia paused her descent.

The leaders think I'm a prime suspect in sabotaging our operations. They're right. And I need to convince them otherwise. I just have to smile long enough to fool them all.