Street market, Menagerie, 11:00 am
It was a busy day at the market, to the point where almost every inch of the street was covered with Faunus. Aveline, however, was on top of the building looking over the whole street, searching for someone. Finally, she spotted a scailed Faunus brown at a fruit stand. Aveline checked her scroll for the picture of her target, and all doubts were cleared. She made eye contact with Blake and Sun down below and pointed to the Scaled Faunus. Blake nodded, as she and Sun slowly moved through the crowd, gently pushing through people, like Aveline taught them. But as they were about to reach the Faunus he turned around. noticing he was being approached and fired his gun. Sun jumped out of the way, while Blake blocked the bullets with her sword. The Scaled Faunus used this and began running away.
Blake and Sun chased after him, while Aveline tried to cut him off, running through the rooftops. Eventually the Faunus stopped on a cross section and aimed his gun at his pursuers, only for Aveline to jump down and knock it out of his hand. In return the Faunus sucker punched her, and ran off the main street. As Blake and Sun joined Aveline, the three continued their chase. The Faunus took out his knife, as he ran behind a nearby cart attached to a car, and cut off the rope. As the cart started riding down the road, the Faunus took a sharp turn into an alleyway. Meanwhile, Sun used his semblance, sending in a few of his clones to successfully stop the cart.
Sun: Go!
Aveline continued running, but Blake jumped up, threw her kunai at the cart cargo, launching her self forward and straight into the alleyway, going way past Aveline. The two kept running, as Blake threw her rope to trip the Faunus, only for it to get cut down. Illia stood in front of them and pointed her weapon at Blake. Aveline took a fighting stance, ready to charge at any point.Instead of fighting them, Illia shot down a rope holding a bunch of crates above them. All three of them jumped out the way, letting both Illia and the Scaled Faunus run away by the time sand dust cleared up. Aveline used her eagle vision, but she couldn't find a single sign of their target. Sun finally joined them.
(end the music here if it's still going)
Sun: What happened?
Blake: He got away.
Blake started to walk away.
Sun: Aveline?
Aveline: Something... got in the way. *sighs* I think we did enough for today. Let's get some rest.
***
Gas station "Just Rite", Kilometers away from Mistral, 12:00 pm
Yang entered the gas station and walked up to the counter. There was a shady looking man next to her, and the owner of the gas station, simply cleaning a glass.
Owner: Aren't you a little young to be drinking?
Yang: A water. It's hot out.
Owner: Ohhh. Sure.
He disappeared under the counter.
Shady man: Are you telling me you're too young to drink? You look like a regular Huntress. And a beauty at that.
Yang: I'm good. Thanks, pal.
Shady man: Seriously. Not too bulky. Not too lean. You're...
Yang: Just right. Yup. Like I said, I'm good.
The man got closer to Yang, and reached his hand for her hair.
Yang: And your hair...
Before he could even lay a single finger on the hair, Yang grabbed his hand. The man looked at her, and saw that her eyes turned red, right before he got punched in the face. He fell to the ground, only to bounce up to the ceiling, and continued bouncing until he eventually made it out the door, landing right in front of Jacob's feet, who was just looking through a map.
Owner: This one's on the house. He's been driving me crazy.
He handed Yang a bottle of water, as she guzzled it all down, before putting the bottle down on the counter.
Owner: So, what brings you around these parts?
Yang: Thanks. And I'm, uh, looking for someone.
Owner: Not too many people come out here. Too far from the Kingdoms. Only person worth nothin' around here is... well, Ra-
Yang: Raven Branwen. Thanks again.
She started to head out.
Owner: N-now, missy! You don't want to go messin' with bandits! They're a world of trouble!
Yang: So I hear.
She made it outside, as Jacob took out a red marker from his pocket.
Jacob: So, are we on the right track?
Yang: Seems so. She's somewhere around these parts.
Jacob: Great. That leaves about a hundred kilometers left.
Yang: We'll find her. Trust me.
Shady man: Hey, girlie!
Yang: Seriously? This isn't over?
Shady Man: I heard you two... are looking for someone. Heh.
***
Somewhere in the air space of Mistral
An Atlas cargo ship was flying through the air. Inside the cockpit, Weiss was standing behind the Pilot.
Weiss: How much further?
Pilot: We're in the home strech now. No more stops from here to Mistral. Sorry for the long trip. Keeping us off the radar's been harder than I thought. Lots of air traffic around northern Anima.
Weiss: It's fine. I... just hope I haven't been a burden.
Pilot: *chuckles* Couldn't say no to the Assassins. You must be really important for them to cash in a favor.
Arno walked into the room.
Arno: How much further?
Pilot: You know, if I didn't know better, I swear you two are messing with me.
Weiss: I already asked him. We're almost there.
Suddenly, the ship's radio started to pick up a signal.
Pilot: What the...?
Arno: Can you trace it?
Pilot: I'll do my best.
Weiss: Is everything okay?
Arno: We shouldn't be picking up broadcasts this far from Mistral. Someone must be close.
The Pilot was able to clear up the static.
Pilot 2 (radio) Mayday, mayday! We are a small passenger flight, and our huntress is down! We aren't equipped to deal with this!
Pilot: Oh man.
Pilot 2: The Grimm hit us 400 klicks north of the southern shoreline! Get them off us! If anyone can hear this-- Ah!
The transmission ended on that disturbing note, leaving the cockpit silent for a few seconds.
Weiss: We're going to help them, right?
Arno: Pilot... maintain the course. The faster we're in Mistral the better.
Weiss: What are you doing?!
Arno: Completing my mission.
Weiss: What about those people... they'll die.
Arno: Right now we need to get you to Mistral, and those people will only slow us down. Besides, if we picked up that transmission, someone else will come help them.
Weiss: I thought the Assassins prioritized people's safety first.
Arno: Then you thought wrong kid.
He walked out of the room and started going down the ladder to the cargo bay.
Weiss: We're the same age!
Pilot: Sorry about him. He wasn't always like that.
Weiss: You mean, this isn't your first time working with him?
Pilot: *chuckles* Of course. My work with the Assassins turned out to be quite profitable. I do some favours for them, and they offer either money or clients. Either way, we both win.
Weiss: That's... nice. But what did you mean "he wasn't always like that"?
Pilot: I had Arno on a couple missions like this, back then he was with at least one more Assassin. In fact, he would often extended said missions in order to answer distress calls.
Weiss: So what changed?
Pilot: I have no idea. Whatever it was... Arno was never the same after the Fall of Beacon.
***
Belladonna Manor, Menagerie, some time later
Ghira and Sun angrily bursted through the main door, Kali, Aveline and Blake were right behind them.
Ghira: Unbelievable!
Sun: Total garbage!
Sun & Ghira: We can't let them get away with this!
Kali: Well, at least you two can finally agree on something.
Blake: Guys. Everything's going to be okay.
Aveline: Let's hope so. I'm going to check on the guild. Who knows, maybe somebody will want to sign up.
She waved everyone goodbye, only Blake waved back as the rest entered the house. Some time later Blake walked out onto a balcony, where a guard was standing.
Guard: Good evening, miss. Can I get you anything?
Blake: Just a little time to myself, if that's alright.
Guard: Sure thing. Just call, if you need me.
She left, closing the door behind her. Blake took a deep breath, before being alerted by sounds of footsteps, as Illia jumped down on top of the balcony railing.
Illia: You need better security.
Blake reached for the door, but Illia stopped her, by raising her hand.
Illia: Please! I-I just need to talk.
Blake: How could you take the fall for them, Ilia?
Illia: Blake...
Blake: Corsac and Fennec blamed you. We confronted them tonight, and they deny knowing anything and everything 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.
Illia: You can't prove anything.
Blake: 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.
Illia: Your plan isn't gonna work, Blake. Please... just leave Menagerie before it's too late.
Blake: You're going to have to make me.
Illia: ... I know.
She jumped back, disappearing under the balcony. Blake took a deep breath, and leaned against the railing, looking into the night sky with a sad expression.