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Chapter 16: Cheating Fate
Sienna gazed down at Adam from her throne with a hardened look in her eyes. The young faunus had come to ask her to send the White Fang to attack Haven Academy on the behest of the strange human allies he had made, despite the harsh repercussions the Fall of Beacon had reaped on the organization. The throne wasn't full, just a handful of guards, Adam, and herself were present, and there was a heavy atmosphere looming over them all. Adam knelt before the high leader, and he could sense something off about her. Her voice calm, but there was an underline aggression to it and he could see distain in her gaze, distain for him.
"Adam," she forced herself to remain calm. "I'm not going to repeat myself, so I want you to listen when I tell you that the White Fang will not attack Haven Academy,"
"High Leader Khan, I am begging you,"
"You should beg for forgiveness and nothing else!" She snapped. "The assault you led on Beacon was not the great victory you clearly think it was, and you should be grateful your punishment wasn't more severe. You are a symbol for many in our organization, but that doesn't make you infallible,"
"I was merely trying to follow your example, High Leader," Sienna dug her nails into her throne, the image of (Y/N)'s scar flashing in her mind. Was that what Adam thought was strength?
"And what example might that be?" She asked.
"Strength. Strength and unwavering conviction. The humans have seen that strength now," she sighed.
"I was one of the first to suggest violence where violence was necessary. Peace bred complacency and acceptance of our place in the world. I will not allow humanity to push us down without pushing them back. But the destruction of the Huntsmen Academies crosses a line! The loss of the CCT has brought global communication to a crawl! And the White Fang is more of a target now than ever before! You have justified humanity's campaign against us, and for what? Empty promises from a group of humans? Humans we still know nothing about, and come and go as they please! These are not examples of strength, Adam. They are examples of your talents being diminished by shortsightedness!"
"If you want to know more about the humans, then why not talk to one of them yourself?" He stood up and turned to the door. "Hazel!"
Slowly, it crept open, and a tall, very strong looking middle aged male human walked through with an unreadable expression.
"Took you long enough," he said in a gruff. Sienna felt even angrier at the blatant disregard for the rules.
"What is this?!" She demanded as the guards pointed their weapons at the human.
"Apologies," he said. " I don't aim to cause any trouble,"
"You brought a human to this location?" she asked, stepping towards Adam. He didn't seem to care.
"You should hear what he has to say,"
"This is grounds for execution!" She hissed.
"Ma'am...please," Hazel requested while kneeling. "Nobody needs to die today. I'm just asking for a moment of your time,"
"The longer you stay here, the less chance you have of leaving alive," she warned.
"I'll take those chances, if you don't mind," Sienna sunk back on to her throne, crossing her legs and calling off the guards. Hazel stood.
"You don't like me. You have no reason to like me. But you don't have to like me to get the results you want,"
"I'm starting to doubt either of you fully comprehend what it IS that I want. I want humanity to fear the faunus, to know that we demand respect! I do not want to start a war with the humans that we cannot win!"
"That's where you're wrong," Adam retorted, stepping closer gradually. "We CAN win a war against the humans. Not only because we have the support of Hazel's master, but because the faunus are the dominant species of this planet. We're better than humans. We have everything humans have and more. Humans shouldn't just fear the faunus, they should serve the faunus," Sienna glared at him.
"Humanity should fear us, Adam, but even I'm not so hateful to assume that every human is evil. There are innocents and children, but then," she trailed, casting a hatefully knowing glance. "You don't seem to care about who's innocent anymore, do you?" Adam was taken aback by the question, temporarily forgetting his plan for the coup. He was more curious at what exactly was she implying.
"I...don't understand," Sienna stood up.
"I had a very interesting conversation the other day with a young child, not a White Fang recruit, just a curious boy seeking knowledge. You could imagine my amazement at seeing Lou and Illia bring in a small dragon faunus of all things, if you can believe it," Adam froze. He was now dreadfully aware of where this conversation was going. But it couldn't be the same brat, could it? Of course it could, why else would Sienna be giving him dirty looks all this time? He tried to play dumb.
"I...find it hard to believe, High Leader. I was certain dragon faunus were a myth," Sienna gritted her teeth.
"Really? Because he told me something very interesting. On the night of the Fall of Beacon, he claimed you tried to kill him, and this was after you severed the arm of his sister when she attempted to protect Blake, whom you also attacked! Now that's quite the story, isn't it?" Adam could feel the anger radiating off Sienna, and to his surprise, Hazel was also beginning to look disgusted with him.
"High Leader, the boy must've been mistaken. I would never harm one of our own. He must've not understood my intent, I was merely trying to direct him away-," Sienna slammed her fist against the throne.
"DO NOT ATTEMPT TO LIE TO ME ADAM!" She roared. "He mentioned you, by name. And even more compelling, I saw the mark your sword left on his palm. You tried to murder a child, half your size and with no experience and no way to defend himself! You nearly killed a cultural treasure to our kind and likely the last of his kind! And that's not even counting your transgressions against Blake and this supposed human who was simply trying to intervene. These are not trivial crimes, they are blatant disrespect to everything the White Fang stands for!" Adam clenched his fists.
"Blake is a traitor, a traitor who deserves to be punished," the high leader shook her head.
"And you would do this by killing a child who couldn't fight back? A child who has already suffered enough not only by the human's, but at our hands as well? A child innocent of all the crimes you say Blake is guilty of?"
"There are no innocents, there are allies, and there are enemies who must be crushed," Sienna's face fixed to one that was unmoving and uncaring.
"It appears that boy read you like an open book. You don't care at all for helping our people, you simply wish to spread the misery inflected upon you,"
"Perhaps. I need to send a message to traitors, and it starts with that boy," Sienna narrowed her eyes.
"You will not lay a hand on (Y/N), not so long as I draw breath. I've had enough of this conversation for tonight. Guards, take them away," the guards made no effort to move. "I said take them away!"
"I will admit Sienna," Adam gloated. "You were right about my popularity. My followers in Vale already see me as the true High Leader, and many here in Mistral feel the same," several more guards rushed in, weapons drawn.
"What are you doing?" Hazel growled at the bull.
"What's right for the faunus. From this day forward, I will be the one to lead the White Fang," the guards took aim at Sienna, but much to Adam's surprise, she didn't start to loose her temple. On the contrary, she smirked.
"As I said, the boy read you like a book, even down to this. LOU!" Suddenly, from nowhere, the blonde dog descended upon Adam, drawing his attention from Sienna, who pulled out her chain to knock the weapons from the guard's hands. They tried to fire, but the tigress was too fast for them. Hazel did nothing. If Adam was going to spring these kind of things on him, why should he help clean his messes? Besides, he was still fuming about the thing with the child. Hazel may have despised the students of Beacon for siding with Ozpin, but he would never harm a child too young and too inexperienced to do anything. While the high leader reminded the guards why she was high leader, Lou kept the traitor busy. He hooked his bow around Adam's sword, preventing him from drawing. The older male tsked mockingly.
"Poor Adam, seems you won't get the blood you want tonight either," The younger male was now the one starting to loose control.
"How!? How did you know!?" Lou spoke.
"It was the darnest thing. I didn't think for a second bringing that kid here would do any good, but low and behold, he sniffed out an assassination plot faster than I could!"
"What!? There's no way he could've known!"
"Sienna told you Adam, (Y/N) only needed one look to know exactly what you are: a scared, angry little boy lashing out at the world and trying to drag everyone else into his pain," the guard dog growled angrily at him. "Funny thing is, that kid had it just as bad as you from what I saw, maybe worse, but he still warned Sienna despite what the White Fang did to him. You're not getting that boy Adam,"
"And who's gonna stop me, old dog? You?" He gritted his teeth.
"Damn right I am!" Adam kicked him away and went for his sword. Lou was already firing several types of dust arrows at Adam. The red head dodged a few, but an electric one grazed his leg, causing him to stumble a bit. Lou continued his taunts.
"You know, I don't know what's gonna drive off your supporters more: the fact that you tried to kill a kid, or the fact you couldn't even finish the job! You were beaten bloody and forced to retreat at the hands of a tiny child who had only then unlocked his semblance! Pathetic really!" Adam roared and leapt at him. Lou rolled to the side expertly. He had sometimes overseen Adam's training, and he knew the boy's anger was a powerful tool against him. Adam wildly swung at the archer while Lou calmly shot his arrows at him, landing one or two of them, but not really making much of a difference. Just then, Sienna finished the last of the treacherous guards and caught Adam's ankle with her chain. The male barely had time to react before Sienna sent him flying. As he landed, Sienna moved to Lou's side. Getting back up, Adam assessed his situation. It wasn't in his favor. Sienna's semblance had already powered her up thanks to the injured guards and Lou was no slouch when it came to combat. He'd have to take one out quickly, or at the very least, force them to retreat. That wasn't what he wanted at all, but Sienna seeing the coup coming had screwed any chance he had of blitzing her in order to avoid her semblance. Lou fired his arrows again and Adam meticulous made sure he blocked them with his sword. Sienna tried attacking him with her whip, and while any one blow would severely weaken and almost break his aura, Adam was careful to dodge, only taking small hits. Eventually, his semblance was ready, and in a flash he took aim at Lou, catching him off guard.
"NO!" Sienna cried as she jumped at the dog faunus, pushing them both out of harms way. She stood, but stumble to her knee. The strike had landed and there was now a large open wound bleeding profusely from her side. It wasn't fatal...yet, but she could easily bleed out.
"High Leader!" Lou called, racing to her side and propping her up. He looked at Adam, who was once again cocky and the guards who were starting to stand.
"Don't think this changes what we said," Within a second, Lou opened a portal beneath them and closed it behind them. In the next instance, they were on the moonlit streets of Kou Kuana. Sienna gasped.
"I should thank you,"
"You needn't thank me. I should be the one crawling to death's door right now,"
"Not that, for your loyalty in the face of a usurper. You were the only one who remained loyal,"
"Well, I'm a dog, loyalty's kinda our things," Sienna chuckled, but broke into a cough. Wasting no time, Lou got her on his back and raced down the streets. He shivered, feeling the blood seep onto his back.
"We can't go to my place. A, I don't want my family in danger, and B, I'd rather not explain to my wife why I'm carrying a half dead woman into our home,"
"Still a clown to the end,"
"Just trying the lighten the mood,"
"There's still one place we can go,"
"Think they'll help?"
"I doubt they'd want a bloodied corpse on their porch in the morning,"
(Timeskip)
(Y/N) sat in silence, watching Ghira and Kali meticulously write down a speech. After uncovering Adam's plans for the White Fang, Ghira immediately called for an emergency summoning of the citizens of Menagerie for the next day in order to expose Adam for the traitor he was.
"I just hope I can get the people to our side," Ghira muttered to himself. (Y/N) smiled.
"I'm sure it will be great Ghira! If anyone can convince the faunus, it's you,"
"Thank you (Y/N)," the boy attempted to nod in acknowledgment, but he was cut off by a yawn. Blake, who was sitting nearby with Sun, scooped up the boy.
"Alright, it's time for bed,"
"But I'm not tired!" The dragon tried to argue as his eyes watered from continuous yawning. Blake smiled and rolled her eyes.
"Yes you are. You can barely keep your eyes open!" Sun sent him a thumbs up.
"Don't worry little dude, I'll hold down the fort while you get some sleep. Don't want to be a runt forever, now do you?" (Y/N) stuck his tongue out at Sun.
"I am not a runt," Kali walked up to her daughter and ruffled his hair.
"Of course not. You're a big, scary dragon who can take on any old White Fang," (Y/N) puffed his chest out.
"Yeah! I'll burn them to a crisp if they try to hurt us,"
"Mom, please don't give him ideas,"
"But look how proud he looks!" Everyone laughed as Blake continued to take (Y/N) back to his room. Before leaving, (Y/N) stiffen tightly in her arms.
"(Y/N)?" He looked at her with scared eyes.
"Blake, do you smell that?"
"Smell what?"
"Blood," that one word sent a chill through everyone in the room. The next minute, there was a loud knock on the door. Everyone tensed and Ghira headed to the entrance, ready for a fight if need be. However, he was stumped by what he found behind the door: a tired looking Lou and a badly injured Sienna on his back. Lou gave him a weak smile.
"Evening Ghira, lovely night. As you can see, we need your help," Ghira immediately ushered them in, taking Sienna from Lou in order to ease his burden. As they ran towards the infirmary, they were met with the confused and baffled faces for everyone else.
"Lou! Sienna!" (Y/N) called, not thinking. Blake looked at him in surprise.
"Wait, you know them?" (Y/N) ignored her and ran beside the males in order to find out what had happened.
(Timeskip)
It took the medics a hour to get Sienna into some sort of stable condition. They had done all they could and Sienna's semblance would do the rest. (Y/N) stared at Lou, who was also treated.
"Is she gonna be okay?" The dog sent him a smirk.
"She ain't the high leader for nothing, kid. She'll be back on her feet by tomorrow. Anyways," he knelt down and scuffed up (Y/N)'s hair. "You really saved our rears kid. I don't know what would've happened if you hadn't warned us,"
"Are you finally going to tell me what's going on?" Blake asked from behind, crossing her arms.
"You didn't tell her yet?" (Y/N) sheepishly rubbed his toe on the floor.
"I was gonna. Then Illia stabbed our friend,"
"Tell me what?" (Y/N) flinched under her gaze and avoided eye contact.
"That I sorta met Illia the day after we arrived and she and Lou took me to meet Sienna," Blake's eyes widened.
"What!? What were you thinking!?"
"I knew they weren't going to hurt me and I wanted some answers,"
"That's not the point! Do you know how dangerous that was! You could've been hurt regardless of what you saw! And you!" She pointed at Lou. "How could you take him to meet Sienna," Lou narrowed his eyes at her.
"Hey, we wouldn't lay a hand on a kid. Right before Adam decided to rebel, the high leader was chewing him out for attacking the boy here,"
"Still!"
"Blake, Sienna was trying to punish Adam!" (Y/N) tried to explain. "She had nothing to do with the attack on Beacon!"
"I don't care (Y/N), what I care about is your safety!"
"And I have been safe! I'm here now and Sienna's alive, so that proves going was the right move!"
"That's not-,"
"That's enough," Ghira intervene as he walked out of the infirmary. "Blake, I know you're fearful for your brother, but he is right. Him going saved Sienna's life in the end, she and Lou were prepared for a coup. However," he gazed at (Y/N). "Young man, what you did was risky, you would take more care, not only for your own sake, but for your sister's," the dragon lowered his head.
"Yes sir," Blake sighed and hugged him.
"You are so grounded,"
"I figured,"
"While that's all well and good," Lou butted in. "There's something you need to know. Adam's on a war path, specifically on you Blake. He says traitors need to be punished, and he said he start with the kid," Blake tightened her grip.
"That won't happen," (Y/N) growled.
"Let him come! I beat him once!"
"You were lucky once," Lou corrected. "You're gonna need to be a lot better if you want any hope of fighting Adam,"
"Then teach me!"
"(Y/N)!" The boy turned to the cat faunus.
"Blake I know you're worried, but I need another teacher if I'm gonna get better. Adam's gonna come after me no matter what I do, so I need to be ready to fight him! Lou's a warrior, he can teach me," Blake flattened her ears and sighed.
"I know," (Y/N) walked up to Lou and bowed like how Ren had taught him.
"I'd be honored if you took me on as a student," Lou smirked.
"I'm flattered kid, but I think someone's already called being your mentor," Ghira's eyes widened.
"Sienna? But she's a rather harsh teacher for a child!"
"Adam's coming for this kid's head, Chieftain. He's gonna need the toughest teacher we got,"
So I have finally answered your questions: yes Sienna lives in this route and she is the Tai Yang of this route! I always felt she got jipped in the show, and I get it now, her semblance makes her a nightmare to take on in a drawn out fight, hence why Adam had to blitz her or he would've lost, but still. So that's why she ended up getting hurt saving Lou. So from now on, the Tigress will be teaching the Dragon to use his claws. Have fun!