Necessary Sacrifice

Menagerie...

It is morning in Menagerie. Blake Belladonna and Sun Wukong are on the steps of the Belladonna Family Home, both of them each holding a Scroll.

"Okay. Are you ready?" Blake asked.

"I beat up on giant monsters and robots more than once, I think I can handle getting a few signatures." Sun said, happily.

Blake gives a small smile at Sun.

Blake stands on a platform in front of a crowd of Faunus, holding her scroll up in front of her, "Your chieftain needs you! Your people need you! Please, join the fight and help us save Haven Academy!"

The Faunus just stare back at Blake.

Elsewhere, Sun tries to recruit a Faunus with ram horns, "Are you kidding me? We'd love to have someone with your skills on our side!"

The Faunus nervously rubs the back of his head, before his mother calls out to him.

"Mata! Get back inside." A worried mother said.

"Mom!" Mata said, terrified.

"You're not going anywhere!"

Sun sighs in disappointment.

Back to Blake, she holds out her scroll to two Faunus girls asking them to sign up, but the two leave.

Elsewhere, Sun hangs upside down by his tail from a tree, getting the attention of a couple of Faunus cutting logs and gathering wood. He gestures to his scroll, but the Faunus simply exchange confused looks with each other. Sun sighs until another Faunus tries to cut down the tree that Sun is hanging on.

At the docks, Blake converses with an aquatic Faunus as two more swim up to her. The Faunus Blake is conversing with leaves, and she turns to the two female aquatic Faunus that have just swam up, before they too swim away. Blake, unsatisfied with the lack of progress, walks up to a nearby fruit stand where Sun happens to be present at also. The two of them share disappointed glances.

After that, the two of them are sitting at a nearby table drinking from coconut cups.

"I don't get it! How can they just sit around and do nothing with the White Fang getting ready to attack?!" Sun exclaimed, slamming his cup down.

"Because not everyone is like you and me. The Faunus here in Menagerie...the ones that weren't born on the island...moved here because they were tired of fighting, of having to struggle constantly. Menagerie is filled with people that just want to be left alone…" Blake said, scoffing. "...and here we are, asking them to put the rest of the world before themselves."

"I guess I never really thought about it like that."

"The problem is, whatever happens at Haven is going to affect them whether they like it or not. If Adam gets his way and Haven falls, it's only going to make things worse for the Faunus. Everywhere."

"Adam...he's the guy you used to...work with?" Sun asked.

"Yes." Blake said, letting out a sigh.

"Sorry, forget I brought it up." Sun said, seeing Blake's discomfort.

"No, it's okay." Blake said, silent for a moment, trying to come up with an example. "Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, 'They are the personification of this word.'"

"Uh…" Sun said, rubbing his head.

"Okay, well, I remember getting to know Ruby and thinking, 'This girl is the embodiment of 'purity'.' After a while, I saw Weiss was 'defiance'. Yang was 'strength'. And Jared was 'compassion.'"

"What am I?"

"Jury's still out on that one, but I'm leaning towards 'earnest'." Blake said, smiling.

At this, Sun wraps his tail around his cup and takes a sip from it, before leaning on his hand affectionately.

Blake giggles and smiles for bit, before frowning as she continues "At first I thought Adam was 'justice', then I thought he was 'passion'. But over time, I realized I was wrong. He wasn't any of those things. He was 'spite'. Not 'hatred', not 'rage', 'spite'. He won't accept equality, only suffering for what he feels the world did to him, and his way of thinking is dangerously contagious. That's what worries me about Ilia. She's not like Adam, not yet at least, but I don't know how long that will last."

"She was your friend, huh?" Sun asked.

"She was. Her chameleon traits meant she could pass as human. She could've lived a normal life if she wanted, but she didn't. I always admired that. She lost her family in a mining accident when she was young, then she joined the White Fang. Like me, she was more or less trained on the road alongside other Faunus. She learned to survive, to defend herself, but as people like Sienna and Adam started to gain a following, she became more dangerous. I guess I did too. My parents tried to get me to leave with them, but I refused. I had Adam and Ilia, after all." Blake said.

"You know we're gonna have to face her eventually."

"I know."

"So, what are you gonna do?"

"I'm going to try and help her the way you helped me." Blake said, and Sun is surprised at her response. "You showed me that sometimes you need to be there for a friend even when they don't want you to be. I was drowning in guilt and fear, I tried to push you away, but you didn't give up on me. And I can't give up on Ilia. It's about time I saved my friends for once."

Sun smiles at her response.

Mistral...

Oscar Pine is in a training room while wielding The Long Memory. As he pants from exhaustion, he hears a voice enter the room.

"You're really getting better, huh?" Ruby asked, and she is walking down the stairs into the room with Jared. "Are you hungry? It's almost dinnertime."

"Dinner is really good right about now, Oscar." Jared said, sipping on some bubble tea. "After a long day of training."

"You did ask for a buffet. Or something equivalent to it, Jared. Since there is a lot of it. You sure you're hungry, Oscar? We can just…"

"Uh, yeah. That sounds good. I was about to call it a night anyway." Oscar said.

"So, you've never fought before?" Ruby asked.

"Just the occasional small Grimm. Nothing like this, though."

"Wow." Ruby said, giggling. "You look like a natural."

"More so than me, Little Red?" Jared asked, looking at Ruby.

"Uh, yeah. You may be good. But not as good as Oscar."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It's strange, I have only had this cane for a few weeks, but…I feel like I've had it for a lifetime. Longer, even." Oscar said, pausing for a moment to think. "I sound like a crazy person."

"I mean, uh, yeah just a little. But at this pace, you'll be combat ready in no time!" Ruby said, happily.

"Ruby…" Jared said, walking over to Ruby to grab her hand. "Why did you say that?"

Suddenly, Ruby frowns upon mentioning her last phrase.

"I didn't mean to, Jared." Ruby said, sadly. "You've been saying that phrase around Magical Girls and us lately."

"I know. I know. These past few years have been rough on us." Jared said, squeezing Ruby's hand.

Oscar notices this and tries to ask a question before Ruby interrupts him. "Uh…"

"Well, see you upstairs." Ruby said.

"Yup. We better get going." Jared said. "I'm starving."

"How do the both of you handle all of this?" Oscar asked.

"What do you mean?" Ruby asked.

"I'm...scared." Oscar said, and his voice starts to crack. "I'm more scared than I've ever been in my life, than I ever thought was possible." He walks over to a weapon rack. "I always knew that I wanted to be more than a farmhand, but this?" Oscar places the cane in the rack. "Who would ask for this?"

He glances down at the floor as a tear drips from his eye. He sniffles before kneeling to the floor to reach his backpack. He grabs the cane off the rack and pulls the lever on the handle to compact it before putting it in his backpack.

"We all went to Beacon and we all traveled with a man called the Doctor because we wanted to help people. But, you're right. None of us asked for this either. We just have to press on and…" Ruby said.

"And we have to do what we think is right. To protect others who can't protect themselves." Jared said, excitedly. "Even if we lose some people along the way. There are monsters out there throughout the Doctor's world. And there's Grimm here."

"How can the both of you be so confident?! People have tried to kill you, Ruby, Jared! Jared, you were in an explosion! And Ruby, Tyrian got so close to killing you! The world's about to go to war all over again! How are you okay with any of this?!" Oscar exclaimed.

Ruby and Jared are taken aback by Oscar's question. She frowns as she says her response.

"When Beacon fell, We lost two of our friends: Penny Polendina and Pyrrha Nikos. We didn't know them for very long, but that doesn't change the fact that they were two of the most kind-hearted people we have ever met. But that didn't save them. Pyrrha thought that if there was even the smallest chance of helping someone, then it was a chance worth taking. And because of that, she died fighting a battle she knew she couldn't win. And Penny...was killed...just to make a statement." Ruby said.

"I even went back in time to try and save Penny and Pyrrha." Jared said, looking at Oscar. "Even so, I wasn't fast enough to save them. I wanted to. But I was too slow. Way too slow at Beacon. I regret it every single day. So I try and forget about it now and again. That we lost them. Ruby with her speed and me with my foreknowledge. We weren't fast enough."

"I'm...sorry." Oscar said, sadly.

"We are scared, but not just for us. What happened at Beacon shows that Salem doesn't care if you're standing against her or not. She'll kill anybody, and that scares me most of all. Pyrrha...Penny...we'd be lying if we said that it didn't hurt, that we didn't think about them every day since we lost them, that we didn't wish we had spent more time with them." Ruby said.

"Ruby, I have a confession to make. Pyrrha visited me in an alternative reality. But it was an echo. And I only got to see her for a couple of hours. Her essence was there. But I still wish I got to see her physically." Jared said, letting out tears. "I want to see her and Penny again too."

"You didn't tell me that, but I guess Pyrrha wanted to help you in spirit. And she got you back on track. If it had been us instead, we know they would have kept fighting too, no matter how dangerous it was. So that's what I choose to do...to keep moving forward."

"And you helped me realize that. After a year of being moody on Earth, Little Red. I can't be all depressed over them forever. My nightmares have been at ease. Ever since I started hanging out at Remnant more. And having the Ponds in my life."

Oscar walks up next to Ruby and Jared, and the three of them share a smile. Ruby wipes tears coming from her eyes with her arm. She then walked over to Jared to wiped his tears.

"C'mon, if we don't hurry, Nora's gonna eat everything. It wouldn't be the first time." Ruby said, putting a hand on Oscar's shoulder.

"She eats more than me sometimes." Jared said, laughing a little. "I swear, she eats as much as Yachiyo. Nora is such a glutton for Ren's pancakes or any of his cooking."

Ruby begins to leave the room with Jared as Oscar lingers for a bit.

"Hey, Oscar? This isn't gonna be easy, but the fact that you're even trying says a lot about you. You're braver than you think." Ruby said.

Ruby and Jared proceed up the stairs while Oscar watches.

"Sometimes you have to fight to get your point across." Jared said, looking at Oscar. "And Ruby's right, you are brave. You're like me at the start of this. When I began traveling with the Doctor. And when I went to Beacon. To see who I am and what I will become."

"Ruby really is remarkable, isn't she?" Ozpin asked, mentally.

"Yeah. She must've been one of the best Huntresses at Beacon, huh?" Oscar asked.

"In some ways, yes. But in many others...no." Ozpin said, chuckling. "She has her quirks, her faults, just like everyone else. But she also possesses something unquantifiable: a spark, that can inspire others even in the darkest of times. She even inspired Jared when he was earthbound first an entire year. When he was scared, depressed, and guilt ridden. Now he's happier more than ever."

"This must be really hard on them too."

"It most assuredly is."

White Fang base…

In an ominous looking room, a small device projecting a blue hologram with the text 'MESSAGE END' deactivates. The room is candlelit, and there are White Fang banners hanging along the walls. Corsac and Fennec Albain stand in front of a painting.

"Your thoughts?" Fennec asked.

"Are of no significance. If this is how High Leader Taurus wishes to proceed, then we shall make it so." Corsac said.

"Of course, brother. Still…"

A knock on the door is heard behind them.

"Come in." Corsac said.

Ilia Amitola enters the room.

"Sister Ilia, thank you for meeting with us." Fennec said.

"How may I be of assistance?" Ilia asked, kneeling.

"Please, stand." Corsac said, and Ilia does so. "We have wonderful news."

"What is it?" Ilia asked.

"We finally received a message from the Mistral brotherhood: the operation was a success. Adam Taurus has claimed his place as the High Leader of the White Fang." Fennec said.

"Good. And...Sienna?"

"Buried...with honor. The other branches of the Fang have been given the story that was agreed upon." Corsac said.

"A necessary sacrifice. We won't forget everything she did for us." Ilia said, letting out a sigh.

"Indeed." Fennec said.

The Albains bow at Ilia.

���Your maturity and understanding in regards to this matter is appreciated, and it is why we've summoned you here this evening." Corsac said.

"The White Fang is experiencing...a transitional period." Fennec said.

"Growth requires change."

"And change can be painful."

"If it's for the betterment of the Faunus, then...it's a pain we can endure. What's our next mission?" Ilia asked.

"Containment. With the CCT towers still inoperable, we have the luxury of control over the flow of information." Corsac said.

"News of Adam's ascension has yet to reach Menagerie, but when it does, the citizens of Kuo Kuana will undoubtedly react poorly now that the chieftain has spoken out against us." Fennec said.

"It's my fault the Belladonnas had any ground to stand on." Ilia said, letting out another sigh.

"Do not concern yourself with past failures, Ilia. Focus on the future. We have an opportunity for redemption." Corsac said.

"What do you need me to do?"

"The Belladonnas are the only remaining threat to Adam's assault on Haven Academy." Fennec said.

"And so, they must be silenced…" Corsac said.

"S-silenced?" Ilia asked, taken aback by their order.

"Like Sienna. They stand in the way of true progress for our people."

"We would never put such a burden on you alone, of course. Your brothers and sisters will be at your side, but your relationship with their daughter makes you an intrical part of this operation." Fennec said.

"Blake?" Ilia asked.

"We know how close you are with young Blake. Rest assured, High Leader Taurus has requested she be taken alive, but we cannot risk having her present to defend her family." Corsac said.

"But, the people of Menagerie…"

"...will come to understand what happens to those who speak out against the White Fang."

"And will be left without a leader until our victory is complete." Fennec said.

Corsac puts a hand on Ilia's shoulder, "A necessary sacrifice, Sister Ilia."

Ilia briefly thinks on this, before leaving the room.

"She's right to worry about the citizens. It's possible they may come to see Ghira as a martyr." Fennec said.

"It is a risk we must take for our High Leader." Corsac said.

Corsac reactivates the device from earlier, showing a blue life-sized hologram of Adam and his message.

"I will not allow them to ruin this! The Belladonna name has brought me nothing but grief!" Adam said, upset, and he brought his hand to face to compose himself. "You've done well in finding the deserter. Bring her to me, alive. But not before you've slaughtered her family. I have a promise to keep."

The hologram deactivates.

"He seems...unwell." Fennec said.

"He carries with him a tremendous burden." Corsac said.

"Are we sure he is the one to lead us?"

"For now. We must do what is best for the Faunus."

Fennec sighs.

There is a knock at the door.

"Yes?" Corsac asked, when a Faunus with bat wings entered the room. "Brother Yuma. Did you see to Ghira's messenger?"

"He rests beneath the waves...along with his warning." Yuma said.

"Then all is well." Corsac said.

The Albains give ominous smiles.