In the following week Team RWBY said their goodbyes for the time being. Ruby and Yang heading back to the nearby island of patch while Weiss was flying back to Atlas. Together, you and Blake boarded a ship headed to the island of Menagerie in the southeast of Remnant. Stepping off the ship and onto the island, the two of you make your way to Kuo Kuana. You've never set foot on Menagerie before. Quite frankly the thought of it made your skin boil. Evidently your frustration with the place was apparent on your face, and Blake made note of it.

"(F/N)? What's wrong?"

"Nothing, it's just, I'm not a fan of Menagerie." You say in a low voice.

"Give it some time." She says. "It'll grow on you."

"It's not the island itself." You tell her. "It's what it represents, oppression and confinement. The humans say they 'gave' this island to the Faunus, but they just herded us here like a bunch of animals. How did we ever grow so docile that we became satisfied with such a lie?"

"I understand where you're coming from. It used to make me mad too."

"But it doesn't anymore?"

"No. Well, yes, just a bit." She takes a moment to compose her thoughts. "It used to make me furious. I used to argue with my dad about it all the time. But one day he said to me, 'It's okay to find happiness in what the Faunus have, but that does not mean we are satisfied with our place in the world.'"

Taking a second to interpret her words, you allow a small grin to creep upon your face. "Ghira always was a wise man."

Making your way to the center of town, you find yourself standing in the shadow of the largest house on the island. You always forget that Blake's father is the Chieftain of Kuo Kuana, and thus by extent, Menagerie. Ascending the grand staircase leading up to the front entrance, Blake grabs the large decorative knocker and slams it once against the large wooden doors. Muffled voices sound from inside the house.

"Kali? Sweetheart, could you see who's at the door. I still haven't finished reviewing these documents from Sienna."

After a few seconds you hear rushed footsteps coming from behind the set of double doors. You hear the doorknob twist and the doors open, the difference in temperature between the house and outside causing a small breeze to wash over you and Blake.

"Sorry for the wait," Kali says as she opens the door, "my husband is... Oh my gosh. Blake!" Kali crosses the threshold and pulls her daughter into a tight hug. "Oh Blake, your father and I have been so worried. I... Ghira!" Blake's mother turns her head and calls back into the house, never letting go of her daughter.

"Kali? Who is it?" The sound of a chair scraping across the floor followed by heavy footsteps reaches your ear. "I hope it's important, Sienna wanted to meet with me tomorro...Blake!"

Ghira stoops down and sweeps his wife and daughter into his large arms.

Blake turns her face away from her parents, heat rising in her cheeks. "Mom, Dad, it's okay, I'm fine."

"Oh, Blake." Kali sniffs, trying to stop the tears flowing from her eyes. "When we heard the news about Beacon, we couldn't help but fear for the worst. But here you are, alive and well."

"Of course, she's okay, didn't I tell you Kali." He release a deep baritone laugh. "Our little girl's a fighter. And who is this you've brought with..." The rest of the Chieftain's words die in his throat. "Mr. Taurus." He says, voice growing more and more menacing with each syllable. "And why, pray tell, have you accompanied my daughter half way across Remnant to dirty my doorstep?"

"To ensure she reached home safely."

"I see." He scowls. "Shouldn't you be off committing acts of terrorism with your brother Adam?"

"Dad!" Blake shouts.

"Blake, didn't you know?" He almost yells. "The White Fang were at Beacon! Along with him and his brother!" He points a clawed finger in your direction.

"I know Dad!" Blake informs him.

"You knew he helped attack your school and you brought him here anyways?" Ghira growls.

"Dad, listen! (F/N) didn't attack Beacon, he helped protect it!"

"What?" He asks in surprised confusion, voice dropping its menacing tone.

"(F/N) came to Beacon and warned Ozpin about the attack months before it happened." Blake explains. "If it weren't for him, Beacon would have fallen, and I probably wouldn't even be standing here right now."

There's silence as Ghira processes what his daughter has just told him, switching his gaze between you and Blake while she continues to glare at him.

"W-Why don't we take this inside?" Kali suggests.

Ghira steps aside and allows his wife and daughter to enter the house, but he shoots out his arm and stops you as you are about to enter.

"I'm warning you Taurus, if you so much as breathe in a way I don't like, I won't hesitate to rip your heart out of your chest."

"Understood." You say, walking into the house, Ghira breathing down your neck.

Blake and Kali are waiting for the two of you in the sitting room. Taking a seat next to Blake on the couch, folding your hands on your lap.

"So," Ghira says, taking a seat in one of the larger chairs, "care to explain what happened?"

"I've already told you." Blake says irritably. "(F/N) helped protect Beacon."

"I find that difficult to believe," Ghira says skeptically, "seeing as how his brother helped spearhead the attack."

"My brother and I had a falling out several months ago." You tell him.

"(F/N)?" Kali interjects. "What happened to your eyes?"

"As I said," you say without turning your head, "my brother and I had a falling out."

"You mean Adam did that to you?" Ghira says, indicating the large patches of scar tissue around your eyes.

"That is correct." You nod.

Kali gasps. "Why?"

"Because I refused to help him launch his assault on Beacon Academy." Ghira and Kali are silent, waiting for you to elaborate. "I have not been operating with the White Fang for some time now. Not since the plan to attack Beacon was first formulated, or at least, since it was first brought to my attention. A small group of individuals with less than pleasant ideas approached my brother and I and demanded we assist them in their plot. After they left I pulled my brother to the side and tried to persuade him out of such foolish ideas, needless to say, he refused to listen. Instead he cut me across my eyes and impaled me upon my own blade." Kali gasps again. "He assumed I was dead until our paths crossed during the attack and I relieved him of his sword hand."

"So," Ghira begins, his voice dripping with skepticism, "your brother stabbed you through the chest and you miraculously survived and managed to gain an audience with Beacon's Headmaster and warn him of the danger. And then, on the night of the attack, you happen to cross paths with your brother and best him in combat, despite the fact that you lacked your vision. Is that correct?"

"Dad, (F/N)'s telling you the truth. Adam showed up at the school and found me. He threatened to kill me!" Blake moves closer to you and wraps an arm around your chest, placing her hand on over your heart while her head rests on your shoulder. "(F/N) saved me."

"What is this?" Ghira asks in disbelief as he looks upon you and Blake, his daughter practically sitting in your lap. "Don't tell me you've fallen for him now! First his monster of a brother and now this? How many times do I have to warn you Blake, the Taurus family only brings trouble! They're no better than a pack of rabid animals!"

"Dad!"

"Ghira!"

You quickly rise to your feet. "Enough." You say firmly. "Mr. Belladonna, for as long as I have known you I have held nothing but the upmost respect for you but it's beginning to appear as if this respect has been misplaced. Our hands may be drenched in blood, yes, and my brother may have lost his way, but he is still my brother and I will not tolerate the contempt with which you speak his name. As for me, don't ever presume to understand the things I've lost. Because unless you know what it's like to see your parents' corpses lying in a pool of their own blood or watched as your brother is so consumed by his rage and hatred, felt the pain of doing everything you can and still not being able to pull him out of the shadows, then you don't know a damn thing about me."

Exiting the room, you make your way for the front doors. Ignoring the call of your name coming from Blake's lips you throw open the doors and step out into the night, swallowed by the darkness.