The Wildcards -
Blake Belladona
The Forever Fall is a place just north of Vale. Red maple trees stretch for miles as far as the eye can see, hiding an assortment of secrets and dangers in equal measure. One of those dangers was sitting reflectively on a rock wondering how she got there. Good intentions obviously. Those same good intentions were why the raven haired girl was there that day. Maybe one day she will look back on this day as one that dignifies the Faunus struggle.
"Blake. It's time."
"Ok."
It was just another mission like any other. Hijack the train for dust her fellow faunus can use. Their labors that they painstakingly worked for used to help their community. It was only fair.
Entering the first boxcar they ran into resistance. Typical stuff. Adam threw out a cheesy line which the golden eyed girl chided. He was on thin ice after everything that had happened. Blake was not in the mood.
Their teamwork made quick work of the Atlesian knights, soulless robotic drones that were powered by dust, and had relatively simple programming to fend off threats. They were a force together, Adam's fighting style involved heavy hits and decisive attacks that required proper spacing and time while Blake worked tirelessly to cover Adam while he set up those attacks and even setting up opponents for him to finish off. This level of synergistic fighting was rarely seen outside master and student relationships. Blake and Adam's relationship was something a bit more intimate. Something that, once upon a time, had Blake not notice the flaws that Adam had in his war towards humans.
"Perfect."
Blake looked at the payload. 5000 cases of dust. This was more than enough to last a town a lifetime. They were doing good, though what Adam said made the cat faunus hesitate.
"Move up. I'll set the charges. We'll crash the train"
"What about the crew members? I thought this was just a robbery."
A small silence followed as Adam simply stared at Blake beneath his mask. Yea. This wasn't going to be a day Blade would look fondly back at if she simply went along with what her 'darling' Adam wanted. This wasn't the first time Blake objected to his actions on his crusade against humans when he went overboard though Adam would have to admit he was a touch more murderous when it involved the Schnee Dust Company.
"What about them? They are just humans. Not Faunus like us."
"Not like us?"
"Anyone who associates with the true enemies of the faunus deserves everything that's coming to them… My love."
Blake turns back to Adam, those final words cutting her deep. Her amber eyes immediately look away before closing, finding a new resolve that would temper her following actions. That was all the proof she needed. Adam has truly gone off the deep end and finally it was all painfully clear for her now. Adam cuts the pep talk short as they both turn and face the spider bot that slinked out of hiding. Instead of worry Blake felt a surge of relief as she saw the new intrusion as a new opportunity. A distraction for her way out.
Nora Valkyrie
"Now introducing your four times winner of the catch-a-ball world tournament!"
"Nora!"
Nora's devoted subjects cheered on their five foot champion as she took a graceful bow before taking a victory round around the park.
"And don't you forget who the big boss lady is! It's me! N-"
"NORA!"
Both the kids and Nora turned back to see Ren calling out in the middle of the street trying to find Nora like she was some lost pet.
"Alright Kids! You know what to do. Distract him. Ahahaha!"
As Nora zipped away she took her prize, a whole basket of Ren's shirts and pants. Wanting to do something nice for him Nora did her best to stay out of sight while reaching her destination. Nora turned to see Ren talk candidly with the local neighborhood kids she was often seen with before slipping into the house of one of her minions.
This kid actually knew what an iron was and went ahead and set up an ironing board on the second floor patio. Peeking up from her base of operations Nora thanked her royal subject with a promotion to gatekeeper of the hot iron for providing her with the materials needed to work. Nora sniffed tentatively at the basket before recognizing the flowery detergent scent that Ren used. Quickly but caringly Nora spent most of that afternoon taking care of Ren's laundry as the sun started to set. Idly appreciating the clouds roll by as her scenery Nora took another deep breath recalling all the long days it was just her and Ren idling around and looking at the clouds.
A moving figure catches Nora's attention as she spots Ren making his way back home from her perch. The target is in place. I repeat the lotus has flourished. Flourished? Flowered. 'Commence the attack!' Sending a final wave back at her friend Nora jumped down and held the basket over her head as she ran to catch up to her better half.
"Ren! Welcome back! Guess who ironed today! It was me!"
"Nora. We don't have an iron, how did you manage to do that?"
"Pshaww. I have my ways. Afterall after building up my kingdom and raising loyal subjects it's just natural that my subjects want to help their ruler. Furthermore…"
"Nora?"
"Yes Ren?"
"Thank you."
Nora simply beamed at a job well done before handing Ren the warm basket of clothes and bringing her finger up to his nose.
"Boop."
Inara Takara
In the Menagerie lives a religious sect that set their temples up in the mountains. Their belief was that the ascetic life up in the mountains brought them closer to the gods and spirits. If not physically than at least emotionally more connected as they fulfill the role as spiritual leaders inspiring the masses to a higher purpose and closer together as a community. The Takara family was well known for looking at the problems that plagued the desert island as a whole while also assisting as protectors with a noble line of huntsmen and huntresses dating back to the times of antiquity, coinciding with the stories of the God of Animals in the shallow sea if you can believe it.
Inara was tasked with the charms store that their temple had. A multitude of different charms for different blessings and well wishes for your everyday troubles. Better luck? Confidence? A simple reminder of an agreement between two people? There was a charm for everything under the sun. Though that was coming to an end as the golden lights shining down on the temple grounds died down with only the sun's light being seen from the horizon. The temple traffic had all but died down as the fox faunus sleepily sat on her seat waiting for her shift to end. Inara wore a measured sleepy smile made to exhibit tranquility as she closed her eyes trying to will time to move faster. Despite her outward appearance one of her tails thumbed impatiently until all the visitors of the day left the temple.
After the shrine's working hours Inara would take time to practice her archery and learn her naginata forms to which the fox faunus has been learning ever since she was a small girl. Today in particular was special since an official mastery test was being held in town that she wanted to attend to raise her bow mastery rank. Still wearing her shrine maiden uniform, Inara navigated down the mountain, past all the red gates of the Shinto religion, as she made her way to her fellow citizens of the Menagerie. Already a line of participants were gathered in front of assorted targets in the archery range with their community cheering them on. From the basic archer to the becoming considered a bow master the tests were quickly done in quick succession showing the improvement of each rank for those gathered.
The trainee archers try to perform their form correctly to become bowmen. Those that reached bowmen then reliably hit seven of their targets ten targets to become Yeoman. Quickly shooting and landing shots in a rapid 10 second frames between three different sets of targets to become Foresters. Then finally it was Inara's turn to participate to rank up to become a huntsmen/huntress rank. Poised and alert Inara was set up with her giant traditional daikyu bow on the field with a target on the far end of the field. A target barely the size of her thumb but it was barely a challenge to Inara as she silently shot the bullseye within 5 seconds with her eyes closed.
At least that's how it looked to the crowd as they cheered on what was supposedly a holy Takara archer. No, it was just her family's semblance that gave her a different type of sight from what people normally had. Inara opened up one slit as she regarded the cheers with another measured face of enjoyment before closing it once more and viewing the event from above. A bird's eye view, an over the shoulder view and if she concentrated a free roaming vision that extended as far as the unlit parts of the field. Her body moved in concert as Inara described a circle with her arms and body as she shot, her form practiced and perfected from hours of practice from every angle, rapidly shootinh three more targets on the other side of the field she was facing. Turning once more to land four bullseyes on each corner of the field she finished the flourish with a low bow as those watching were enraptured by the dancelike motions of her archery.
"Being able to meet all your hopes and expectations of me makes all of my practice worth it."
Remembering to open her eyes as she addressed her fans and family, Inara bowed once more respectfully before finally stepping away and accepting her honors. Sudden cries of excitement were heard from her closest friends when they saw it. Inara herself looked at them confused before closing her eyes and searching what the excitement was about. Behind her? Nothing. Just some torches to light up the night. The archery line? No one was aiming at anything. She wasn't in peril. So where?
As she pondered Inara absent mindedly pushed away a tail that stroked her chin while she was in thoughtful concentration. Inara grasped the foreign tail confused, she was well in control of her tails so why was another bothering her? A quick yelp of realization came as she stroked the new line of fluff that suddenly manifested. A new tail! Inara broke out in a joyous smile as she hugged her new tail affectionately. This was irrefutable proof of her growth as a member of the Takara family, a line of fox faunus that grew more tails the more experienced and wise the individual was. Getting a third tail so early meant Inara was well on her way to living a full, fulfilled life as a Takara. Turning to her family everyone outside of her father rushed out to her to congratulate her newest accomplishment.
"A deal's a deal. Make the preparations."
Inara's father, the family head of their shrine, turned to an attendant as they rushed to file out the required paperwork to set up Inara to travel to Beacon Academy. Inara lived a sheltered life among her fellow Faunus but now it was time to take that big step out into the world. Making sure to vet those transporting her he made sure to make Inara's transition into a world class defender for the Menagerie a pleasant one. Nothing would stop a Takara from gaining more tails and experiencing all of what Remnant had to offer and Inara was no different. Mistral had nicer accommodations sure but their views on faunus were still bordering on blatant racism. Inara looked back at her father with an unabashed smile as she proudly displayed her three tails to him with a serene pose. No. If Inara would go out into the world there she would go to the best. Anything for his innocent daughter.
"Vale it is."
Studious Fighters -
Yang Xiao Long
The yellow motorcycle's combustion dust kicks into high gear as it brings a similarly colored rider to the outskirts of town. The stylish club doubled as a base of operations for one of Vale's criminal elements in the city. The owner, an information broker named Junior, was Yang's newest possible lead on the whereabouts of her mother. At this point Yang wasn't sure what she would do if she managed to Raven Xiao Long or was it Raven Branwen now? Shrugging Yang strut her way inside as she casually scoped out the place from inside.
'Ah. That's someone I shouldn't have seen.'
Snapping a pic at a meeting between a known criminal and Junior, Yang shook her head at how brazen or outright sloppy this criminal ring operated. This was going to be easy.
"Strawberry sunrise. Oh! And one of those tiny umbrellas."
Pulling out her scroll Yang looks slyly at the club owner before opening up a picture of Junior and known criminal Roman Torchwick.
"Say. You wouldn't know anyone that looks like this, do you?"
Yang allows the earlier picture to linger before changing the picture to that of her mother.
"Nah. Never seen her. Hey, aren't you too young to be drinking sweetheart?"
'Ah! That was a deflection right? That means I have to beat him up and then he'll give me the information.'
Tracing a finger down his shirt Yang smiles winningly to distract Junior before grabbing Junior's junior and squeezing down hard.
"Instead of calling me sweetheart, call me sir."
Yang found herself smiling at Junior's apparent discomfort before trying to reinact Qrow's story of how he intimidated an information broker. Though the crushing his balls thing was her own idea, her uncle didn't go around grabbing people's junk. In hindsight, maybe not the best idea if she was just gonna beat them up. Suddenly surrounded by men in black suits and matching red sunglasses, Yang looks back at Junior with a dangerous smirk.
"Aww this must be pretty embarrassing for you. Too bad. Now to beat you up so you tell me what you know."
Junior winced, withdrawing in pain as the blonde suddenly rushed at his men and made quick work of them.
'That's not at all how this works. Not at all how any of this works.'
"I told you. I have no idea…"
Lie Ren
"Listen to me son. You have to be brave now. Do you understand?"
"No please. Please! I can't!
"Yes you can!
"Take action son"
Ren woke up in a daze. His heart was racing as slowly got his bearings on the couch that he napped on. Jeez. Nora has been running her ragged recently and her hijinks seemed more elaborate and more particular in involving him. Lie Ren slowed his breathing and focused on his semblance to calm himself. Moments later a familiar tranquility soon enveloped Ren as it tried to push down his anxiety from the disturbing dream. Those were the last words his father told him before the monstrous grimm caught up to his father. In his last moments Lie Ren could only recall his father had died screaming in fear.
Breathing heavily, Ren looked at his forearms and noticed his hairs standing on end. Focusing further his semblance further Ren managed to center himself and focus on something else, namely his motivation and drive. He looks back at the info of Beacon academy, it was a bastion of learning that produced some well known world class hunters.
Finishing what the curriculum guide had and checking out more from his scroll Ren finally relaxed as he sat in an empty house. It was uncharacteristically quiet, Ren found himself thankful for that. Slowly recalling his dream from earlier Ren slowly recalled the event remembering the first 'action' he took was going out of his way to save Nora. It was a point of pride for Ren as he had trouble dealing with simple bullies earlier that day. The differences in his demeanor were night and day once Ren unlocked his semblance. Remembering more, Ren even pushed his luck to get a hammer for Nora to feel more secure. That little action eventually led to having a sledgehammer wielding Nora. Through it all though Ren felt pride in managing to keep himself and Nora safe that day and even managed to thrive despite it all. It looked like they were never destined to take the easy path but at least the Mistral natives didn't have to go at it alone.
This was the reward for him being brave all those years ago. Now he was going to a huntsman academy and hopefully be a Beacon for others and hopefully make it so that no one else would have to go through what he and Nora experienced at Kuroyuri. Speaking of where was Nora? The silence in the house was now actively bothering him as he slowly walked outside and called out for his childhood friend.
"NORA!"
Glancing around he walks down the street and is greeted by a gaggle of street kids that Nora regularly drags into her antics. The poor kids, Nora was a decent enough role model but definitely pushed the envelope on what was acceptable. Extreme sports being the newest fad that Nora and her new cronies pursued was harrowing at times to say the least. Extreme frisbee was fine. Extreme surfing? Sure. But extreme rock climbing and extreme bungee jumping was where Ren drew the line. Hopefully Nora respected his wishes but he had to ask to be sure.
"So kids. What seems to be the latest extreme you are getting into?"
It looked like they were obviously trying to hide something. Oh kids are so easy to read. Still Ren played along and kept them talking. Sooner or later one of them would slip and overshare.
"Extreme Ironing is next on the list. Nothing too crazy Mr. Ren. Promise."
"Extreme. Ironing? Is that even a thing?"
Ren drew back indignant as if he was being taken for a ride. How ridiculous. Nora leading the kids to do ironing of all things?
"When you do it from really high up. Like a cliff or roof it is. That's what makes it extreme."
The matter of factly tone given to Ren made him hesitate. This was a far cry of what he expected but it was strangely wholesome all the same. Ren personally felt a twinge of sadness followed by relief noting that this was all kids their age had to worry about. It made him question his father's last words. For how long did he have to be brave? Was there an end to having to be brave? The answer that immediately came after was obvious to him in hindsight.
So long as there were the creatures of grimm he would have to be brave for those he cared about. That was why Ren wanted both him and Nora to become huntsmen. Ren excuses himself from the group of kids after a while, finding himself alone with his thoughts once more. Again he replayed the scene from before but with one major change. There was one part that he almost forgot about.
'Your mother and I love you.'
How could he forget that last important part? The grimm. It came soon after. Ren was told to run and his dad screamed at the grimm in defiance. Not fear. His dad was brave in his final moments and that would have to be enough for Ren regarding his final moments with his father.
"Ren! Welcome back! Guess who ironed today! It was me!"
A smile formed on Ren as he finally remembered why he was doing all this.
Guinevere Demoiselle
'How do you fix something that doesn't think itself broken?'
Dust and desert. The two things that shaped his life in growing up in Vacou, Guinevere understood how both aspects of desert life affected him for the worse. The Great War had outsiders from Atlas and Mistral pillaging his ancestral lands for dust and it was only recently that their influence has been expunged from their home. The Mistral trading company in particular did a number on Guinevere's village and tribe. So one good turn deserves another. One's greed leads to loss or morals, isolation and finally destruction. Guinevere knew that well, was shaped by it, being the instrument of justice when all was said and done. At that point the damage was already done. The conflict wasn't anymore about dust anymore but of livelihood and ceasing strife in his home.
Guinevere's peers however opted for a more live and let live stance on the matter all together. Those older weaklings don't seem to understand. How would they? The brave warriors that fought have already died and left these quivering cowards to watch the desert sands. Never again would she be trampled on for the sake of another. So long as they existed those that made others suffer must be dealt with without hesitation.
The ideological differences being a stark contrast to the Vacou culture caused her to be ostracized from her own home. Too much emotion, too much outward displays of rage towards Mistral and to a lesser extent Atlas. "Such actions attract grimm. It makes everyone ill at ease." The fools kept parroting similar things everytime Guinevere got involved. At this point it was just better to keep moving. Guinevere had no home or family anymore in any case. All that was left was justice for those he once held dear.
Eventually the desert warrior's surroundings changed as the desert sands and clay houses turned into woodlands and suburbia. A stark contrast to what he knew in Vacou, The differences between Vale and Vacou was quite honestly a culture shock that Guinevere was not prepared for. Though for every two or three things that were different there was one constant that seemed to never change. Criminality. The more things changed the more uglier truths of life stayed the same.
Employing her skills as a violent stranger Guinevere trekked to Beacon finding no shortage of trouble to solve using her skills from Oscuro academy to cloak and dagger her way to arrest the small time crooks she found. Honestly, It was a vindicating feeling. Here her actions were lauded as heroic so long as she directed her wrath at the people who deserved it. Protect the people. Punish the bad people. It was that simple. The people of Vale have it right. Not having a criminal in every family did wonders in keeping the world black and white when it came to what was right.
Now to take it a step further. Merely acting as a freedom fighter without a plan wasn't going to cut it anymore not after seeing how the citizens of Vale lived their day to day. Guinevere would learn from the best and return to Vacou as a liberator of everything wrong with its people. For that she would need allies, training and resources. That's where the Beacon huntsman academy would come in. There he would find his answer.
Chapter End
Alright two weeks and finally finished with intros! Though I would have to admit. Going back and proofreading/fixing up chapter one took a lot more effort then I originally realized. I had to go back to the first chapter to give a few changes to Reiter to fit the storyline I am planning to tell with him and the criminal element in Vale. He had to be old enough to be seen as not a brat to the older Melanie while still able to hang out with the students just graduating Signal at 17. I can't wait to get started on the story after all that research and planning with the characters. What to do with Nora is still my biggest question mark admittedly.