Chapter 7

Author's Note: IMPORTANT! READ THE MESSAGE AT THE END OF THE CHAPTER WHEN YOU'VE FINISHED.

"Farewell!" The Captain waved with a smile. "It was a pleasure to have you as our passengers!"

"Stay safe, buddy!" Jeremy gave him a thumbs up as he, Ryan, Sun and Blake all walked down the ramp of the ship. He then turned and inhaled. "Ahh, it's good to stand on solid ground."

"Huh." Sun looked around, hands on his hips as Blake walked past without stopping. Jeremy and Ryan also stopped with him, looking around.

In front of them stretched a large commercial area that was crowded with Faunus. Kiosks sat as far as the eye could see, selling all kinds of merchandise from food to clothes, jewelry to tools.

"I've never seen so many Faunus in one place!" Sun spun around as they walked through the market.

"This is the one place everyone can feel safe, no matter who or what they are." Blake replied.

"Cool place." Jeremy paused to look at a few shirts being sold, pausing at one with an AH logo. "Sure is, uh, crowded, huh?"

"Yes." Blake sighed as they weaved past workers carrying boxes. "Yes, it is."

"So why is it so cramped?" Sun dodged a worker.

"Well, when you try and take an entire species and put them on an island that's two-thirds desert, yeah, it tends to be cramped."

"Why leave all that space?" Jeremy exclaimed. "Just snatch it up!"

"Yeah!" Sun nodded. "Why waste it?! A little desert never hurt anyone!"

"It's not like the desert in Vacuo. The wildlife here is more dangerous than most other regions."

"So." Sun crossed his arms. "They give us a terrible island, in the corner of Remnant, to try and shut us up."

Blake smiled sullenly. "That's a pretty good summary, yeah."

"Huh. That's pretty shitty of them." Jeremy thought aloud. Ryan nodded in agreement as he eyed a Faunus stall selling knives.

"Right?" Sun crossed his arms.

"We try to make the best of things."

They came to a stop as the road they walked on crested down from the top of a hill. The view that they laid their eyes upon was nothing short of stunning. Palm trees and what looked like hundreds of buildings sat in front of them for miles on end. Roofs made of canvas and wood all stuck out in the sun against the greenery with bright, vibrant colors, all stretching towards the far horizon where mountainous dunes sat looming over the town. Sitting in the middle, sticking out, was a single large house that sat at three stories tall and within a compound, the only house with a sophisticated roof.

"Whoa…" Sun and Jeremy breathed.

"This is Kuo Kuana." Blake smiled as she looked out at the view.

"It's… beautiful." Jeremy grinned. "I retract my earlier statements. This place looks great! Why would anyone ever want to leave?"

"That's not the point!" Blake turned to them. "We asked to be equal, to be treated just like everyone else! Instead, we were given an island and told to make do. So we did the best we could. We came together and we made a home where any Faunus could feel welcome. But this island, this town, will always be a reminder that we're still not equal." She lowered her head. "That we're still second-class citizens."

Sun placed a hand on her shoulder. "Well, hey, this guy's feeling pretty at home."

Blake sighed. "Alright. Time to go home."

"Oh yeah?" Jeremy leaned in and flung an arm around her shoulders, peering out with a hand over his eyes like a visor. "Which house is it? Can we see it from here?"

"Kind of." Blake shrugged.

"Is it that one?" Sun leaned in as well, pointing. "What about that one down there? I like that paint job."

Ryan stepped forward and pointed at a specific one, eyebrow raised.

Blake wasn't surprised that he guessed right, and she took Sun's hand before pulling it to point at the largest house in front of them. "It's… that one."

Sun stared at it, before pointing at her questioningly. She nodded. He and Jeremy then both stepped back before putting their hands on their faces and making comical, amazed noises as they crouched down a bit. Both Ryan and Blake shook their heads with smiles at the scene.

The group finally arrived at the house, Blake pausing as they reached the door at the top of a set of stone steps.

"What's wrong?" Jeremy asked.

"I, um…" she looked back nervously. "It's just been a long time since I've seen my parents."

"Well, you came all the way." Sun smiled.

Blake nodded, taking a quick breath before grabbing the door knocker. It made a resonating sound that was loud and heavy against the door.

"Okay, if we're being honest, that's kind of intimidating." Sun pointed at the door.

"Yeah, right?" Jeremy nudged Ryan with a grin. "Interested?"

Ryan nodded with a smile, looking up at the door.

They then looked down as the door opened, and a woman stepped out. She wore a black hakama and sandals with white socks, with an elegant black shrug and arm warmers. Her two large cat ears showed she was a cat faunus. And aside from the shorter hair and the larger ears, she looked very, very similar to Blake.

Blake's mother looked at each of them curiously, before her eyes widened as they landed on the last member of the group. "Blake…?"

Blake smiled awkwardly, holding up her arm. "Hi, mom."

She suddenly stepped forward and hugged Blake tightly. "My baby girl…" She whispered.

Blake hesitated before relaxing, hugging her mother back.

"So heartwarming." Jeremy whispered.

"You ruined the mood." Sun elbowed him as mother and daughter separated.

"Kali? Who is it?"

They all looked up as a large figure stepped out into the hallway, looking quizzically at Ryan, Jeremy, and Sun. His face then changed as he laid eyes on Blake, who waited nervously for his reaction.

He then smiled, and Blake allowed herself to relax.

She was home.

"It's an honor to meet you." Ghira Belladonna nodded to Jeremy and Ryan as they, along with Sun, Blake, and Kali, all sat around a square table, sharing tea.

"We were horrified when we heard the news." Kali turned to Blake. "The Kingdom of Vale isn't perfect, but it certainly didn't deserve what happened. Oh, we were both so worried for you."

"Please!" Ghira waved his hand. "I knew she'd be fine!"

"That isn't the slightest bit true." She scoffed, before leaning in to them with a smile. "You should have seen him pacing."

"You guys have nothing to worry about!" Sun spoke up. " I've seen your daughter in action before! And trust me, she's got some moves!"

Ghira turned to him with a glare while Blake almost choked at his choice of words. "And what exactly do you mean by that, Mr. Wukong?" He spoke slowly.

"I…" He coughed nervously. "Uh, well, you see sir, it's just that, you know, that she's such a good fighter and all, uh, and as a fellow fighter, I have a lot of respect for her…"

"Why is he here again?" Kali whispered to Blake as Sun continued to stutter nervously in front of Ghira.

"He just kind of followed me home." She replied.

"And you two?" She looked at Ryan and Jeremy.

"We were sent to make sure she arrived safely." Jeremy replied, before smiling as he leaned forward, pointing a thumb at Sun. "He decided to protect her by himself. Even fought a Sea Serpent Grimm with her."

"I see." She nodded, while Blake glared at him.

"I mean she's definitely above average. I mean, uh…" Sun fell silent as all eyes landed on him, before he used his tail to pour himself a drink. "This tea is really good. Heh heh…"

"I like him." Kali spoke with a not-quite quiet voice.

"Mom!" Blake exclaimed, embarrassed.

"Told you." Jeremy held out his hand, and Ryan grumbled as he placed a handful of Lien to him.

There was suddenly a knock at the door.

"Darn it, I completely forgot about the meeting!" Ghira slammed a fist on the table, before sighing as Kali placed her hand over his.

"Ghira."

"Just give me a moment." He stood up and walked towards the entrance hall.

"What's going on?" Jeremy asked.

"Is everything okay?" Blake turned to Kali, who sighed.

"Yes, dear, just poor timing. He can reschedule. It's just been hard dealing with them lately."

"Dealing with who?"

"The White Fang."

"WHAT?!" She, Jeremy, and Sun exclaimed, with Ryan doing a spit-take. They then rushed out to the hall, running out to find Ghira talking with two Faunus.

"Dad!" Blake pulled to a stop, Jeremy and Ryan aiming weapons at the two strangers.

"What's going on?" Ghira narrowed his eyes at the two Hybrids while the two men looked on. "And what are you two doing?"

"Ms. Belladonna." One of them bowed down.

"We had no idea you'd returned." The other finished.

"What are you doing talking to these people?" Blake exclaimed.

"This is Corsac and Fennec Albain." Ghira replied. "They represent the White Fang here in Menagerie now."

"Those psychos are here, too?!" Sun glared at them.

"Young man, I'm not sure what you've heard of our organization, but I can assure you, we're not nearly as ferocious as the media would have you believe." Corsac said to him.

"What we've heard?" Jeremy scoffed, sawed-off shotgun aimed at him. "We've seen first hand! You freaking fanatics slaughtered people in Vale!"

"What is he talking about?" Ghira turned to the Albain brothers.

"Precisely what we came to discuss with you, your Grace."

"Is everything okay?" Kali approached from behind, staring at the weapons the hybrids held.

"Wait, you guys seriously don't know?!" Sun looked at them.

Ghira looked at him dangerously. "Know what?"

"Oh, I don't know, that the White Fang had been robbing people of Dust, attacking docks, shooting at police, using a train to blow up a hole in Vale to let in Grimm, and release a bunch of said Grimm into a school filled with kids?!" Sun listed.

"What?"

"The White Fang were at the Fall of Beacon." Blake glared at the two brothers. "They attacked innocent civilians and they released Grimm into the school."

"Oh, and a lot more shit before that." Jeremy pumped a round into his shotgun while Ryan stepped menacingly forward. "Listen, we've both been shot at, stabbed at, slashed at, blown up by, and chainsawed by those White Fang fucks. And we also have plenty of kills under our belts. So give me a reason not to shoot you pricks right here and now, because all the dead bodies of those kids back in Beacon are MORE THAN ENOUGH REASON FOR IT!"

The two brothers looked at each other, not saying anything.

NOTE: This story will be going on a Hiatus.

As of now, this is the last chapter I have been able to write, and because of a mix of school work and more time with my family, I've found little time to be able to develop the story. It's a shame, I really did enjoy planning and writing thus far for this story.

I may come back to the story eventually, but there is also a chance I might cancel it completely. Please understand that I only write stories if I know I can produce good, well-written content for you, the reader, to enjoy. I don't want to write at anything less than my best, because it not only feels like a job, but it also feels forced - and forced writing is almost always worse.

I hope you all understand. The story is now on Hiatus, maybe will be continued later, maybe not. But I am really sorry for having to cut the story so short, and I hope to come back in the future with more stories.

Gen:Lock is coming out soon on Rooster-teeth, and I'm liking the look of it. I'll be waiting for it to be available, and maybe (maybe) I'll see if there's any inspiration! I'd also like if you commented on what you think would be good for a future story - another RWBY Crossover, or a completely different show/title for writing (I've been experimenting with anime shows and video games, nothing too diverse, but plots which I enjoy).

Please let me know what you wish, I hope you all understand, and I'm, again, sorry for having to cut short the story. I hope you all have a great day!