Oh how I have missed you, DLTA. I must apologize for my absence from writing. But between having a summer job with the worst internet ever, severally breaking my ankle, and being stuck in a hospital bed, it can get pretty tough to write. I'm still in a hospital too. Thankfully, my family has brought me my laptop so I can get back to doing what I love. Now I just gotta remember where I left off. Shouldn't be too much of an issue. Oh, also, you'll notice a slight change in things while you read this chapter. This is how things will go from here on out for all my series. Now, enjoy!

-PoV: Temair-

After our encounter with Ilia, me and Blake took Sun back to Blake's home. We treated his wounds and now he was resting. Meanwhile, Blake had given the scroll we obtained from Ilia to her father and he was currently reviewing what's on it. And while we waited, me and Blake stayed with Sun. We stayed with him all through the night and into the morning. Blake had fallen asleep but I stayed wide awake. Just staying aware because of all this craziness that's been going on. 

"What.... happened? Blake?" I heard Sun say as he was slowly opening his eyes. I began to walk over to Blake because I thought she was still asleep. 

"This... is why, Sun..." Blake said as she lifted her head up, very much awake. 

"This is why I left everything.... everyone behind." Blake said as she lowered her ears in sadness. Sun then began to sit up, looking around the room in confusion. 

"What're you... Wait, where am I?" Sun asked. 

"We're back in the Belladonna's home. You fainted last night when you were struck by Ilia." I explained as Blake walked right up to him. 

"I am done seeing my friends hurt because of me." She said as she began to clench her fists. 

"Blake..." Sun started to say but she cut him off. 

"Shut up! Do you think I like being alone? Every day.... Every day I think about them! Ruby, Weiss, Yang, Leena.... Everyone! They were my friends! I loved them like I never thought I could love anybody. And I hope they hate me for leaving." Blake explained as she turned her head away. 

"First of all, you do not mean that. Second, they're not going to hate you. I know them just as much as you do and they will forgive you." I said as Blake now looked to me. 

"I do mean it! Everyone thinks they can help me, but they can't! You both saw Ilia last night and she's not even the worst! So, no more. They're all better off without me. I made my choices and i'll deal with the consequences because they belong to me." Blake said as she sat down next to Sun and put her head down. 

"You think you're being selfless, but you're not. Yeah, that chameleon friend of yours got me pretty good." Sun said, looking at his wound. 

"But i'd do it all again if it meant protecting you. And I could promise Yang... and Leena would say the same." Sun said as he let out a few painful grunts. I took over for him though. 

"You can make your own choices, sure. But you do not get to make ours. When your friends fight for you, it's because they want to. Because we want to. So enough. Stop pushing us out. It hurts more than anything the bad guys could ever do to us." I said as I put my head down, shedding a single tear from my right eye. 

"But, if it makes you feel any better, the next time I go up against lizard girl, it won't be for you. It'll be to get ev-" Sun began to say as he lifted up his left arm, only to be met by the sting from his wound. And, actually, to our surprise, Blake let out a small chuckle and followed it up by a smile. 

But as happy as it made us seeing Blake shed a smile, it quickly went away when a loud crashing sound filled the room. Behind Blake, Kali, her mother, fell through the door. And, also, standing outside the door, was Gira, Blake's father. Kali quickly got back up to her feet and looked a little embarrassed while Gira just looked disappointed. 

"Oh! Oh, would you look at that, he's awake! Thank goodness!" Kali said very, very awkwardly. 

"Kali, please." Gira said as he just shook his head in disgrace. 

"Mom!" Blake yelled. 

"Hey, Mrs. B!" Sun said with obvious pain in his voice. 

"What are you doing!?" Blake asked them. 

"Well, sweetheart, your father needed to speak with the three of you. I'll just... leave you alone, now." Kali said as she walked off. Gira then entered the room and I could see the scroll from before was in his hands. 

"I'm afraid you were right to be suspicious." Gira said as he put the scroll on a table in front of us. The scroll had a file opened up. 

"What do you mean?" I asked him. 

"Adam Taurus is planning to overthrow the leader of the White Fang, Sienna Khan, and stage a full-scale assault on Haven academy. It would be the fall of Beacon all over again." Gira said as we all put our heads down, no doubt each of us thinking about that night. 

"Not if we destroy the White Fang once and for all." Sun suggested but I already knew what someone else was thinking. 

"No. We're not going to destroy the White Fang. We're going to take it back." Blake said with a face full of determination. 

"And how do you suppose we do that?" Sun asked her. 

"With the right help." I said as Sun looked to me. 

"He's right. The White Fang has an army. We can't take it back the way we are now. We have to rally those who are willing to fight for what is right. Dad, if you can, please schedule a meeting for everyone in the village." Blake asked as Gira gave him a nod. 

"I'll see what I can do. I'll let you know if I make any progress." Gira said as he left us. 

"So now we wait. We just have to be patient and hope things work out for once." Blake said as I agreed with her. However, I now began to leave as I had other things to do while I waited. 

"Where are you going?" Sun asked me. 

"To my family. I've gotta let Sandra know what's going on so her and the kids don't get involved in all this. I'll be back later." I said as I left the building, heading home to my family. 

-5 Hours Later-

I had informed Sandra of what was going on. In typical fashion, it made her worry for me and in my typical fashion, I told her to not worry about it. She couldn't help it though and she promised me that she'd keep a close eye on all the kids, making sure they don't get into any trouble and run off somewhere. 

At this time, the sun was beginning to set and I was helping Sandra cook dinner. 

"Ok, Temair, you've told me why you're here and what's all going on... but now, I want to hear about your time at Beacon. Tell me about DLTA." She asked me as I continued to stir a pot of tomato soup. 

"DLTA is my second family. The four of us were so close, we might as well have been brothers and sisters." I said as Sandra grew curious. 

"I saw you all fighting during the Vytal festival tournament. But I wanna know what they were all like. Tell me about each of them." She asked me. 

"Well, first, there's Amber Lisa. She's a Faunus, just like me. When I first met her, I didn't know what to think. She was so shy and socially awkward that it was hard to even talk to her. But over time, she slowly began to open up, speaking more and more and eventually becoming normal like everyone else. And she was what we called our "trump card." She was our strongest member, hands down. That's why she was chosen to go to the final round of the tournament. And she was a very kind friend, someone who always had her heart in the right place." I explained as Sandra looked at me curiously. 

"And what about this Leena, person? What was she like?" Sandra asked me. 

"Quite a talker, that's for sure. Always at the center of a conversation, always wanting to be involved. Stands up for what she believes is right and can back it up with her skills. She always hit her mark when I was with her. Nicest person I've ever met, like she was everyone's sister. And... if I was with her during that night at Beacon, I would've taken her place with what had happened." I explained. 

"Oh, uh... I see. And, uh, what about your leader? What was he like?" Sandra asked me as I chuckled a bit. 

"Drake Colburn. The first person I met at Beacon. "The big brother" as I called him. Full of confidence, courage, and always looking out for his friends. He's stepped in between me and danger before and I know he would gladly do it again. He's stood up for me as well, against people who are racist and offend Faunus. I honestly cannot repay him for everything he's done for me. And during the battle of Beacon, something happened to him. He was... changing.... somehow. But it still didn't change him for who he was. And if what I saw didn't change him, then nothing will. He is a man who will survive anything and I await the day that I meet him and all my friends again." I explained as Sandra gave me a heartwarming smile. 

"You've grown into quite the man, Temair. And, i'm so happy to see you've found others to call family." She said as I suddenly felt my scroll vibrate in my pocket. I took it out and saw I had a message on it. 

It read "Please meet at my home." and the message was from Blake. 

"Look, i'm sorry, Mother Sandra, but I've gotta go meet someone. The soup should be done. Just make sure the kids don't eat it all. Try and save some for me." I said as she gave me a nod. I then left my home and headed to the Belladonna's manor where Blake, Sun, and Gira were all walking up the stairs to the front entrance. I saw Gira shove open the front door in a rage. 

"Unbelievable!" I heard him yell. 

"Total garbage!" Sun yelled. 

"We can't let them get away with this!" They both now said which took me by surprise a bit. Kali had appeared now, too, and she was smiling at them both. 

"Well, at least you two can finally agree on something."She said which made me chuckle a bit. I walked up the stairs and stood next to Blake. 

"Guys. Everything's going to be okay, no matter what they said." Blake said as I grew curious. But before I could even ask, she grabbed my arm and pulled me through her home and out to a balcony where we could have some privacy.

"So, I see you went and did something while I was gone. Where'd you all go?" I asked her. 

"To Fennec and Corsac. We told them of the information we had discovered and what they said in response was clearly a lie. They dodged some of our questions and put full blame on Ilia for everything that's happened. And you and I both know that that is clearly false." Blake explained as I agreed with her. 

"So what are we gonna do then?" I asked her. 

"My father has issued a town meeting for tomorrow morning. We're gonna tell everyone what's going on and we rally them together. We'll all take that first step in taking back the White Fang." Blake said as we were interrupted by someone. 

"You need better security." A girl said as we both turned to see who was speaking. And appearing before us was Ilia. We both went to take out our weapons but Ilia held out her hand to us. 

"Please, i'm just here to talk." She said as we both looked to each other. We decided to trust her for now and we put away our weapons. 

"How could you take the fall for them, Ilia? Corsac and Fennec  blamed you. We confronted them tonight, and they deny knowing anything and everything we found on your scroll. They talked about how disappointed they were to hear that you'd sided with Adam. But you and I both know they're guilty." Blake said. 

"You can't prove anything." Ilia said in response. 

"That scroll might not have been enough to lock them up, but it's enough to sway the Faunus here. When we go public tomorrow, they're not going to stand for any of it. And neither should you." Blake said as Ilia removed her Grimm mask. She looked sad underneath. 

"Your plan isn't gonna work, Blake. Please... Just leave Menagerie before it's too late." Ilia begged us. 

"You're going to have to make us leave." I said intensely as I took hold of Blake's right hand. 

"I know." Ilia said sadly as she put her mask back and and left us, jumping back into the forest. 

"I can try to follow her. See what's going on over on the other side." I suggested but Blake shook her head. 

"There's no point. She'll just camoflauge herself and you'll lose her. And if you did manage to follow her to the enemy side, you could just end up getting hurt. And i'd rather not have that happen." Blake said as I sighed and gave her some nods. 

"Alright, alright. So then we just wait for tomorrow. We go public and everyone will finally have their eyes opened." I said as Blake nodded. 

She had nothing else to discuss with me for the night so I left to return to my home. But thinking about our encounter with Ilia tonight, I knew something was going to happen, and it was going to happen soon. I had to keep my eyes open tomorrow, because there was a good chance someone was going to make a move against us. 

-8 Hours Later-

The next morning, I returned to the Belladonna manor. Everyone had gathered and were waiting to get this meeting started. The towns people had also come and were waiting outside the manor for Gira to begin his speech. Although, looking at him, I didn't have much confidence. He was pacing like a madman. 

"It's about time. Are you ready, honey?" Kali asked him as he let out a heavy sigh. 

"Yes. It won't be easy for the people to hear, but the truth often isn't. I know they'll do the right thing." Gira said as Sun put his hand on his back. Gira looked back to him, surprised. 

"You got this." Sun said but Gira said no words in return. He and Blake just looked at him angrily. But Gira let out another sigh and then opened the front doors. A podium was set up and Gira stepped up to it, ready to speak into its microphone. The rest of us just stood nearby off to the side. I looked out into the crowd and I managed to see that Sandra was here. My guess was that she wanted to know everything that's going on. 

"Thank you all for assembling here. I wanted to take time to address some of the rumors that have been circulating around our island. I believe that it is important for the people of this territory to understand the truth. No matter how you feel about the human race, I think that we can all agree that the event now know as the Fall of Beacon was a tragedy." Gira said as it sadly just brought back bad memories. 

"A tragedy that will set both human and Faunus-kind back. While the main aggressor is still unknown, we do have official confirmation that Adam Taurus, the leader of a powerful splinter group within the White Fang, was partially responsible for these attacks. His actions not only tarnished the reputation of an organization originally created to bring peace and equality to all, but to our entire race. With each day this man remains unpunished, it becomes increasingly difficult to condemn those that look down upon us." Gira explain as the crowd began to mutter with one another. Gira silenced them though and continued on with his speech. 

"Recently, a spy from the same splinter group set their sights on this very home. My own daughter, Blake, and her friends, Temair and Sun did their very best to apprehend this individual. While they were unsuccessful after being physically assaulted and seriously injured, they were successful in obtaining the assailant's scroll." Gira said as he held up the scroll, showing it to everyone. 

"With this, we have been able to ascertain that Adam Taurus has plans to overthrow the current leader of the White Fang, Sienna Khan, and take over the reigns for himself." Gira explained as the crowd began to uproar from the information they had just heard. 

"His radical plans do not stop there, the documents on this scroll proclaim his next target to be Haven academy and its attached CCT tower. Their plan is to strike on the last full moon before the beginning of the fall semester, roughly two months from today. I have sent my swiftest messenger to the government of Mistral, but, I believe we have a greater responsibility. My relationship with the White Fang has been... an interesting one. Years ago, I led the organization to help try and create a world where I, and every Faunus who wished, could walk alongside the human race. And while I believe we made great strides towards this goal, it was made clear to me that the people both in and out of the White Fang wanted faster results. So, I stepped down, and Sienna Khan was appointed my successor." Gira explained as the crowd began to mutter again. But like before, Gira silenced them and continued. 

"It's true that I do not fully condone many of her methods. But what I do condone is what Sienna fights for: the idea that the Faunus and humans are, and should be, equal. Adam Taurus does not seem to have that goal in mind. What he has done benefits no one but himself. I think it's time that the Faunus showed the world that we are equals! Time that we snuff out this splinter group and restore the White Fang to what it once was!" Gira said as the crowd began to clap and cheer for him. 

"To do this, I think the answer is clear: we must go to Haven and protect it at all costs!" Gira roared as the crowd suddenly became silent again. Almost like they became discouraged by the thought of fighting. 

"Before we proceed any further, i'd like to invite my daughter to come and share her story. Not only as a former member of the White Fang, but also as a survivor of the Fall of Beacon." Gira announced as Blake stepped forward, up to the podium. But before she could mutter a single word, someone in the crowd spoke out. 

"Traitors!!!" A women yelled as we all looked out into the crowd. The person who shouted removed a white cloak and revealed themselves to be Ilia. And what worried me the most was that she was standing next to Sandra. 

"Cowards.... After everything the humans have done to us, everything they've put us through, you're asking us to help them!?" Ilia angrily asked as I slowly began to make my way into the crowd. I had my hand on my weapon in case something bad happened. 

"I know we haven't been treated fairly..." Gira tried to say but Ilia cut him off. 

"Where was their help when the Dust companies treated our people like slaves!? Where was their help when kingdoms hunted Faunus just for being who they are!? Where was my help when my parents were killed in a Dust mine!? Where!?" Ilia furiously asked. 

"Young lady, progress takes patience and cooperation." Gira insisted but Ilia still refused to listen. 

"The Belladonna's are the worst kind of Faunus! They want us to work with the same people that are trying to hold us down! If you truly, truly want to help your people, now is the time to support Adam, not the Belladonna's! He will bring about the future you deserve. And if you are willing to fight, know that the White Fang will do it for you!" Ilia said as I saw Sandra approach her. 

"Please miss, don't fall down this path. You musn't side with Adam. Only pain and suffering comes with siding with someone like him. Just look at all those who followed him during the fall of Beacon. How many of them lost their lives?" Sandra asked Ilia as she turned to face her. 

"Shut up! You don't know anything about our great leader! You're no different from the Belladonna's! You should just disappear!" Ilia shouted as she threw a hard punch into Sandra's face. I immediately began to rush through the crowd as I saw Sandra collapse to the ground. 

"Get away from her!" I said as I used my semblance to leap right over everyone and over to Ilia. She saw me coming though and ran away into the forest before I could land and pursue her. 

"Sandra? Sandra!? Tell me you're alright!" I said as I picked her up and held her in my arms. She coughed up some blood and I could see she had a massive black eye and a very bloody nose. 

"It's okay, Temair. I've received much worse than this. I'll be fine." Sandra said as she cracked a smile. It gave me a huge feeling of relief but at the same time, a feeling of dread. If Ilia is willing to hurt those who side with the Belladonna's, then how far is someone like Adam willing to go?