A/N: Blake and Sun try to find any Faunus to recruit, but no luck. Adam soon wants to start his reign as the new white fang leader by keeping a he made to Blake.

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

Blake: Okay. Are you ready?

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

Blake gave a small smile at Sun.

Blake stood on a platform in front of a crowd of Faunus, holding her scroll up in front of her.

Blake: Your chieftain needs you! Your people need you! Please, join the fight and help us save Haven Academy!

The Faunus just stared back at Blake.

Elsewhere, Sun tried to recruit a Faunus with ram horns.

Sun: Are you kidding me? We'd love to have someone with your skills on our side!

The Faunus nervously rubbed the back of his head, before his mother called out to him.

Mata's Mother: Mata! Get back inside.

Mata: Mom!

Mata's Mother: You're not going anywhere!

Sun sighed in disappointment.

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

Elsewhere, Sun hung upside down by his tail from a tree, getting the attention of a couple of Faunus cutting logs and gathering wood. He gestured to his scroll, but the Faunus simply exchanged confused looks with each other. Sun sighed until another Faunus tried to cut down the tree that Sun was hanging on. At the docks, Blake conversed with an aquatic Faunus as two more swim up to her. The Faunus Blake was conversing with leaves, and she turned to the two female aquatic Faunus that have just swam up, before they too swim away. Blake, unsatisfied with the lack of progress, walked up to a nearby fruit stand where Sun happened to be present at also. The two of them shared disappointed glances. After that, the two of them were sitting at a nearby table drinking from coconut cups.

Sun: I don't get it! How can they just sit around and do nothing with the White Fang getting ready to attack?!

Blake: 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, and here we are, asking them to put the rest of the world before themselves.

Sun: I guess I never really thought about it like that.

Blake: 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.

Sun: Adam ...He's the guy you used to ...work with?

Blake sighed.

Blake: Yes.

Sun saw Blake's discomfort.

Sun: Sorry, forget I brought it up.

Blake: No, it's okay. 

There was silence for a moment.

Blake: Have you ever met someone and thought to yourself, "They are the personification of this word."

Sun rubbed his head.

Sun: Uh...

Blake: 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". And Yang was "strength".

Sun: What am I?

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

At this, Sun wrapped his tail around his cup and took a sip from it, before leaning on his hand affectionately. Blake giggled and smiled for bit, before frowning as she continued.

Blake: 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 . She's not like Adam, not yet at least, but I don't know how long that will last.

Sun: She was your friend, huh?

Blake: 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.

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

Blake: I know.

Sun: So, what are you gonna do?

Blake: I'm going to try and help her the way you helped me.

Sun was surprised at her response.

Blake: 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 smiled at her response.

Back in Mistral, Oscar was in a training room while wielding Ozpin's cane. As he panted from exhaustion, he heard a voice enter the room. It was Ruby.

Ruby: You're really getting better, huh?

She said as she walked down the stairs into the room)

Ruby: Are you hungry? It's almost dinnertime.

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

Ruby: So, you've never fought before?

Oscar: Just the occasional small Grimm. Nothing like this, though.

Ruby: Wow. You look like a natural.

Oscar: 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 ..........I sound like a crazy person.

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

Suddenly, Ruby frowned upon mentioning her last phrase. Oscar noticed this and tried to ask a question before Ruby interrupted him.

Oscar: Uh...

Ruby: Well, see you upstairs.

Oscar: How do you handle all of this?

Ruby: What do you mean?

Oscar: I'm ...scared.

He said as his voice started to crack.

Oscar: I'm more scared than I've ever been in my life, than I ever thought was possible.

He walked over to a weapon rack.

Oscar: I always knew that I wanted to be more than a farmhand, but this? Who would ask for this?

He asked as he put his weapon on the rack.

Ruby: We all went to Beacon because we wanted to help people. But, you're right. None of us asked for this either. We just have to press on and......

Oscar: How can you be so confident?! People have tried to kill you! The world's about to go to war all over again! How are you okay with any of this?!!

Ruby was taken aback by Oscar's question. She frowned as she said her response.

Ruby: When Beacon fell, I lost two of my friends: Penny Polendina and Pyrrha Nikos. I didn't know them for very long, but that doesn't change the fact that they were two of the most kind-hearted people I 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.

Oscar: I'm ...sorry.

Ruby: I am scared, but not just for me. 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 ...I'd be lying if I said that it didn't hurt, that I didn't think about them every day since I lost them, that I didn't wish I had spent more time with them. If it had been me instead, I 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.

Oscar walked up next to Ruby, and they both shared a smile. Ruby wiped tears coming from her eyes with her arm and put a hand on Oscar's shoulder.

Ruby: C'mon, if we don't hurry, Nora's gonna eat everything. It wouldn't be the first time.

Ruby began to leave the room as Oscar lingered for a bit.

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

Ruby proceeded up the stairs while Oscar watched.

Ozpin: She really is remarkable, isn't she?

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

Ozpin: In some ways, yes. But in many others ...no. 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.

Oscar: This must be really hard on her too.

Ozpin: It most assuredly is.

In an ominous looking room, a small device projecting a blue hologram with the text "MESSAGE END" deactivated. The room was candlelit, and there were White Fang banners hanging along the walls. Corsac and Fennec stood in front of a painting.

Fennec: Your thoughts?

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

Fennec: Of course, brother. Still...

A knock on the door was heard behind them.

Corsac: Come in.

Ilia entered the room.

Fennec: Sister Ilia, thank you for meeting with us.

The chameleon Faunus kneeled.

Ilia: How may I be of assistance?

Corsac: Please, stand.

Ilia does so.

Corsac: We have wonderful news.

Ilia: What is it?

Fennec: 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.

Ilia: Good. And ...Sienna?

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

Ilia soon sighed.

Ilia: A necessary sacrifice. We won't forget everything she did for us.

Fennec: Indeed.

The Albains bowed at Ilia.

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

Fennec: The White Fang is experiencing ...a transitional period.

Corsac: Growth requires change.

Fennec: And change can be painful.

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

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

Fennec: 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.

Ilia: It's my fault the Belladonnas had any ground to stand on.

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

Ilia: What do you need me to do?

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

Corsac: And so, they must be silenced...

Ilia: S ...Silenced?

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

Fennec: 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.

Ilia: Blake?

Corsac: 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.

Ilia: But, the people of Menagerie--

Corsac: Will come to understand what happens to those who speak out against the White Fang.

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

Corsac put hand on Ilia's shoulder.

Corsac: A necessary sacrifice, Sister Ilia.

Ilia briefly thought on it, before leaving the room.

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

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

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

Adam: I will not allow them to ruin this! The Belladonna name has brought me nothing but grief! 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 deactivated.

Fennec: He seems ...unwell.

Corsac: He carries with him a tremendous burden.

Fennec: Are we sure he is the one to lead us?

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

Fennec just sighed before a knock at the door was heard again.

Corsac: Yes?

A Faunus with bat wings entered the room.

Corsac: Brother Yuma. Did you see to Ghira's messenger?

Yuma: He rests beneath the waves ...along with his warning.

Corsac: Then all is well.

The Albains gave ominous smiles. Elsewhere in a far off forest area, Sienna was tied to the top part of a tree. She started to wake up and saw that she was restrained to the tree.

Sienna: What the?

Frost: Well good morning, tiger.

Sienna: You again! Just what the hell are you doing?!

Frost: I'm merely keeping you out of the picture while Adam takes charge of the White Fang for now. After all, the White Fang do believe that you have tragically passed. And I'd hate to disappoint them. And I do surely look forward to his anger and slow descent into madness burn the White Fang to the ground.

Sienna: NO!

Frost let out a sinister cackle.

Sienna: Why are you doing this?

Frost: I'm merely just following orders from Salem until the very end. At least until l cease my chance to take control. Have fun up here. I'm sure you won't be bothered by any Grimm. Well, unless they know how to fly of course.

Frost then flew off while letting out a sadistic laugh.

Sienna gritted her teeth while thrashing around in the rope while glaring at Frost.

Sienna: Damn you! Taurus, you'll pay for this!

A/N: Get in line, he's made a tone of enemies wanting him gone.