Blake, Ghira, and Kali's Meeting 2
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AndrewJTalon
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As they entered the hanger, Blake's heart hammered so loudly she was sure the soldiers outside could hear it over the distant rumble of Chimera tanks and the whine of Tigertail engines.
Ghira and Kali stepped out into view, regal and composed. Ghira turned back and offered Blake his hand.
"Stay behind the Tigertail for now," he said gently. "Let us open the conversation. You'll know when it's time."
Blake nodded, throat tight. She slipped behind the sleek, bulky fuselage of the Wayland AV-47 Tigertail airship, pressing her back to the cool metal. The aircraft's shadow felt like the only shelter she had left.
She could hear the shuffle of boots, the low murmur of prisoners, the crisp orders of VDF troopers in green battle dress. Medics moved among the captured White Fang members, checking bandages and offering water. No one was being mistreated. That only made the guilt twist harder in her stomach.
All of this... If only I'd... If I'd just-!
Footsteps-light, familiar-suddenly appeared right behind her.
"Mom?"
Blake jumped, ears shooting straight up, a startled "Mrrp!" escaping before she could stop it. She spun, glaring at the two blond cat Faunus now standing there with identical sheepish grins.
"Leander! Leandra! What are you two doing here? You're supposed to be with the others!"
Leandra rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry… We wanted to be with you for this. We know it wasn't easy the first time around."
Leander nodded solemnly. "We helped get all these people captured. The least we can do is see it through with you."
Blake exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to her chest to slow her racing pulse.
"Where did you two learn that kind of... Of irresponsible responsibility?"
The twins smiled in perfect unison.
"From you and Dad," they said together.
Blake's face flushed hot. She opened her mouth, closed it, then managed a weak laugh that sounded more like a sob.
"…Of course you did."
A moment later, Ghira's voice boomed across the hangar, calm but carrying the full weight of a chieftain.
"Listen to me! All eyes here!"
The captured White Fang members fell into stunned silence as the Belladonna rulers approached. Then the whispers started.
A tall tiger Faunus-Tora Nyan, Blake recalled-pushed to his feet, chains rattling.
"Chieftain Ghira! Why are you here? Have you come to surrender us to these human filth? Have you betrayed your own kind?!"
Angry shouts erupted as more White Fang rose to hurl anger and abuse at Blake's father. Soldiers shifted, rifles ready, but Ghira raised one massive hand.
"QUIET!"
The roar cut through the hangar like thunder. The noise died instantly.
Ghira's golden eyes locked onto Tora.
"You have betrayed Menagerie. You have betrayed Faunuskind. And you have betrayed all of Remnant."
More furious cries. A slender deer Faunus-Tawny Doe, Deery's twin sister-shot up beside Tora.
"Explain yourself, Chieftain! You founded the White Fang! You taught us to fight humanity!"
Ghira's voice remained steady, heavy with sorrow.
"You learned the wrong lessons."
Kali stepped forward, raising a small holoprojector. The device hummed to life. An old black-and-white photograph appeared: the original founders of the White Fang standing proudly in front of a modest schoolhouse in Mistral.
Kali's tone was soft but clear.
"You all know this picture. But look closer."
She flicked to the second image. The same photo... except most of the people standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Faunus founders were human.
Confused muttering rippled through the prisoners. Tawny's eyes widened in disbelief.
"That's a fake!"
"It is real," Ghira said. "Of the original forty members, twenty-five were human. Humans who risked everything: marched with us, funded us, defended us in court, and protected our people. They were our allies and friends because they believed oppressing Faunus was wrong."
Kali continued, voice steady.
"But the calls for violence grew louder. Even after Ghira was elected leader of Menagerie. Even after we won legal recognition—Vale was the first kingdom to acknowledge us as a sovereign nation. Sienna was charismatic. I had hoped her fire would keep the pressure on peacefully. Instead…"
Ghira's expression darkened.
"She turned it into a war. And humans who once stood with us began to fear and hate us instead of seeing us as equals."
Tawny shouted, "Then why haven't you done anything about it now?!"
"Because," Ghira answered, "you were days away from launching an attack that would have murdered tens of thousands-Faunus and humans alike. And second…" He glanced back toward the Tigertail. "Because Blake was Sienna and Adam's hostage."
Kali played a short recorded call. Adam and Sienna appeared on the holo, both staring intently at the camera.
Adam's voice was smooth, possessive: "Father Ghira… Blake does well. I look forward to becoming your son-in-law and advising her when she assumes the role of Chieftain."
Sienna's smile was cold. "Rest assured, she's in good health… and will stay that way, until we achieve our ends and she rightfully assumes power. So allow us our way."
Several White Fang members cried out that it was fake. Tawny looked physically ill.
Blake stared at the image, chest tight. She had known, of course-her parents had told her-but seeing Adam speak so casually about using her…
Familiar hands slipped into hers from behind. Leander and Leandra pressed close, hugging her tightly. Their warmth, their steady presence, pushed back the old urge to run.
Blake drew in a shaky breath. Then another.
She stepped out from behind the Tigertail.
The twins stayed right beside her, matching her pace.
Gasps and whispers exploded across the hangar as the prisoners recognized her.
Blake stopped beside her parents. Kali gave her a quick, concerned glance. Blake shook her head once, small but determined, and faced the crowd.
Tawny's voice cracked with disbelief.
"Lady Blake! You… you can't be serious! You betrayed us too?!"
Blake's ears flicked. She forced her voice steady.
"It's true. I did run. I couldn't stomach the violence anymore. The lies. The cruelty. We brutalized our own kind. We hurt and killed innocent humans. None of it helped Faunuskind. Not even a little."
Tora snarled, "They oppressed us! Enslaved us-!"
"And we did the same to them in the distant past!" Blake shot back. "And they did it to other humans! And we did it to other Faunus!" She took a deep breath, heart still hammering. "I was young and foolish. All I could see was black and white. But I've learned… we were all lied to. The world isn't perfect. But killing people, committing terrorism, unleashing Grimm on innocents? None of that helps us. Or humanity."
Tora's lips curled in disgust.
"Says the girl who's a whore for a human!"
Ghira and Kali both moved, hands twitching toward concealed weapons. Blake stepped forward before they could, locking eyes with Tora.
"Jaune Arc is my fiancé," she said, voice clear and surprisingly steady. "And… I love him very much. The situation is complicated, but I know he loves me too. This is the real answer: make love, not war!"
A stunned silence fell. A few VDF soldiers cleared their throats awkwardly. Tora, Tawny, and the rest stared at her in open disbelief.
Tora finally found his voice.
"Do… do you mean—?"
Blake's face burned crimson, but she doubled down, ears flat with determination.
"I mean exactly what I said! Hatred and anger only draw the Grimm! Love is what will save us! Love between humans and Faunus! And for that love, I will never run away again. I will fight for a wonderful future! I-I'm already planning on having twenty children with him!"
Dead silence.
Then Tawny-eyes wide, voice cracking with sheer bewilderment-blurted:
"What, does he have a giant penis or something?"
Blake turned scarlet. Ghira and Kali struggled mightily to keep straight faces. Behind her, Leander and Leandra looked openly haunted-they had far too many memories about how… enthusiastic their future parents could be.
Blake swallowed once, then lifted her chin and declared with every scrap of Belladonna dignity she could muster:
"YES! But that's beside the point!"
Ghira and Kali stepped out into view, regal and composed. Ghira turned back and offered Blake his hand.
"Stay behind the Tigertail for now," he said gently. "Let us open the conversation. You'll know when it's time."
Blake nodded, throat tight. She slipped behind the sleek, bulky fuselage of the Wayland AV-47 Tigertail airship, pressing her back to the cool metal. The aircraft's shadow felt like the only shelter she had left.
She could hear the shuffle of boots, the low murmur of prisoners, the crisp orders of VDF troopers in green battle dress. Medics moved among the captured White Fang members, checking bandages and offering water. No one was being mistreated. That only made the guilt twist harder in her stomach.
All of this... If only I'd... If I'd just-!
Footsteps-light, familiar-suddenly appeared right behind her.
"Mom?"
Blake jumped, ears shooting straight up, a startled "Mrrp!" escaping before she could stop it. She spun, glaring at the two blond cat Faunus now standing there with identical sheepish grins.
"Leander! Leandra! What are you two doing here? You're supposed to be with the others!"
Leandra rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry… We wanted to be with you for this. We know it wasn't easy the first time around."
Leander nodded solemnly. "We helped get all these people captured. The least we can do is see it through with you."
Blake exhaled shakily, pressing a hand to her chest to slow her racing pulse.
"Where did you two learn that kind of... Of irresponsible responsibility?"
The twins smiled in perfect unison.
"From you and Dad," they said together.
Blake's face flushed hot. She opened her mouth, closed it, then managed a weak laugh that sounded more like a sob.
"…Of course you did."
A moment later, Ghira's voice boomed across the hangar, calm but carrying the full weight of a chieftain.
"Listen to me! All eyes here!"
The captured White Fang members fell into stunned silence as the Belladonna rulers approached. Then the whispers started.
A tall tiger Faunus-Tora Nyan, Blake recalled-pushed to his feet, chains rattling.
"Chieftain Ghira! Why are you here? Have you come to surrender us to these human filth? Have you betrayed your own kind?!"
Angry shouts erupted as more White Fang rose to hurl anger and abuse at Blake's father. Soldiers shifted, rifles ready, but Ghira raised one massive hand.
"QUIET!"
The roar cut through the hangar like thunder. The noise died instantly.
Ghira's golden eyes locked onto Tora.
"You have betrayed Menagerie. You have betrayed Faunuskind. And you have betrayed all of Remnant."
More furious cries. A slender deer Faunus-Tawny Doe, Deery's twin sister-shot up beside Tora.
"Explain yourself, Chieftain! You founded the White Fang! You taught us to fight humanity!"
Ghira's voice remained steady, heavy with sorrow.
"You learned the wrong lessons."
Kali stepped forward, raising a small holoprojector. The device hummed to life. An old black-and-white photograph appeared: the original founders of the White Fang standing proudly in front of a modest schoolhouse in Mistral.
Kali's tone was soft but clear.
"You all know this picture. But look closer."
She flicked to the second image. The same photo... except most of the people standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Faunus founders were human.
Confused muttering rippled through the prisoners. Tawny's eyes widened in disbelief.
"That's a fake!"
"It is real," Ghira said. "Of the original forty members, twenty-five were human. Humans who risked everything: marched with us, funded us, defended us in court, and protected our people. They were our allies and friends because they believed oppressing Faunus was wrong."
Kali continued, voice steady.
"But the calls for violence grew louder. Even after Ghira was elected leader of Menagerie. Even after we won legal recognition—Vale was the first kingdom to acknowledge us as a sovereign nation. Sienna was charismatic. I had hoped her fire would keep the pressure on peacefully. Instead…"
Ghira's expression darkened.
"She turned it into a war. And humans who once stood with us began to fear and hate us instead of seeing us as equals."
Tawny shouted, "Then why haven't you done anything about it now?!"
"Because," Ghira answered, "you were days away from launching an attack that would have murdered tens of thousands-Faunus and humans alike. And second…" He glanced back toward the Tigertail. "Because Blake was Sienna and Adam's hostage."
Kali played a short recorded call. Adam and Sienna appeared on the holo, both staring intently at the camera.
Adam's voice was smooth, possessive: "Father Ghira… Blake does well. I look forward to becoming your son-in-law and advising her when she assumes the role of Chieftain."
Sienna's smile was cold. "Rest assured, she's in good health… and will stay that way, until we achieve our ends and she rightfully assumes power. So allow us our way."
Several White Fang members cried out that it was fake. Tawny looked physically ill.
Blake stared at the image, chest tight. She had known, of course-her parents had told her-but seeing Adam speak so casually about using her…
Familiar hands slipped into hers from behind. Leander and Leandra pressed close, hugging her tightly. Their warmth, their steady presence, pushed back the old urge to run.
Blake drew in a shaky breath. Then another.
She stepped out from behind the Tigertail.
The twins stayed right beside her, matching her pace.
Gasps and whispers exploded across the hangar as the prisoners recognized her.
Blake stopped beside her parents. Kali gave her a quick, concerned glance. Blake shook her head once, small but determined, and faced the crowd.
Tawny's voice cracked with disbelief.
"Lady Blake! You… you can't be serious! You betrayed us too?!"
Blake's ears flicked. She forced her voice steady.
"It's true. I did run. I couldn't stomach the violence anymore. The lies. The cruelty. We brutalized our own kind. We hurt and killed innocent humans. None of it helped Faunuskind. Not even a little."
Tora snarled, "They oppressed us! Enslaved us-!"
"And we did the same to them in the distant past!" Blake shot back. "And they did it to other humans! And we did it to other Faunus!" She took a deep breath, heart still hammering. "I was young and foolish. All I could see was black and white. But I've learned… we were all lied to. The world isn't perfect. But killing people, committing terrorism, unleashing Grimm on innocents? None of that helps us. Or humanity."
Tora's lips curled in disgust.
"Says the girl who's a whore for a human!"
Ghira and Kali both moved, hands twitching toward concealed weapons. Blake stepped forward before they could, locking eyes with Tora.
"Jaune Arc is my fiancé," she said, voice clear and surprisingly steady. "And… I love him very much. The situation is complicated, but I know he loves me too. This is the real answer: make love, not war!"
A stunned silence fell. A few VDF soldiers cleared their throats awkwardly. Tora, Tawny, and the rest stared at her in open disbelief.
Tora finally found his voice.
"Do… do you mean—?"
Blake's face burned crimson, but she doubled down, ears flat with determination.
"I mean exactly what I said! Hatred and anger only draw the Grimm! Love is what will save us! Love between humans and Faunus! And for that love, I will never run away again. I will fight for a wonderful future! I-I'm already planning on having twenty children with him!"
Dead silence.
Then Tawny-eyes wide, voice cracking with sheer bewilderment-blurted:
"What, does he have a giant penis or something?"
Blake turned scarlet. Ghira and Kali struggled mightily to keep straight faces. Behind her, Leander and Leandra looked openly haunted-they had far too many memories about how… enthusiastic their future parents could be.
Blake swallowed once, then lifted her chin and declared with every scrap of Belladonna dignity she could muster:
"YES! But that's beside the point!"