Back at Ruby's and Yang's house, Blake had been reading a book and thankfully she was reading it out loud for me to enjoy as well. Since that it was just the two of us, we settled down in Yang's bedroom, that she was sharing with Weiss and Blake. It was nice just spending time with Blake again. Nothing to worry about, no classes or missions. Just some quiet.
"You know, this takes me back to when we were in the White Fang." I said as Blake chuckled.
"Yeah. You and Ilia listening to me as I read to you both."
"I hope she's okay, Ilia I mean."
"The last time I saw her, Adam sent us away to scout out one of the Schnee dust mines in Atlus. She was... Cold to me. Like the girl we used to know, wasn't there anymore."
"She may have hated me, but I still believe in her. She won't end up like Adam. There's still some good in her, I just hope she realises that."
"That's sweet of you, Fran. But you and I both know you can't put belief in anything. Look at what happened to the White Fang, a peaceful community that turned into a hateful terrorist organisation."
"Things can change though, if we believe that things can change then they will."
Blake chuckled. "You and Ruby are a lot alike. You're too pure to understand that the world isn't like that. You should know that by now, Fran."
I let out a soft sigh. "There's no way I can change your mind, is there?"
"It's just after spending more time in the White Fang than you, you start to see the world more clearly and how dark it really is."
"But isn't that our job, to change the world into a better place. I mean, with the things I did, I should not have been forgiven, but people like Professor Ozpin, Miss Goodwitch, Ruby, Yang and especially Weiss forgive me. With people like them change can be made. It won't be easy, but it can happen if we give it our all."
"Enough talk of this. We are here to rest and be at peace and I'm sure that the others will be back soon enough." Blake said as she closed her book and forced me to sit up.
"As you wish." I grumbled as I heard Blake leave the room. "Sorry for being loud. I hope our argument didn't disturb you." Blake said as I picked up on Tai.
"Get your friend and where are the Ruby and Yang?" I heard Tai ask coldly.
I got up from Blake's bed and walked to Blake. "They should be on their way back. Is something wrong?" I asked.
"You'll see soon enough."
As if on que, I picked up on the others. They were a lot quieter than when Blake and I left them. "Dad, we're home." Ruby called out.
"House meeting. Right now!" Tai shouted as I recoiled from his loud voice. "That includes you three!" He growled.
"D-Dad!? I-Is something wrong?" Ruby asked as we all sat down in their living room.
"Why did Ozpin think about letting you two into Beacon?" He growled.
"Dad seriously, what's wrong? You're scaring Ruby." Yang said confrontation her Dad.
"Those two were in the White Fang. Hell, they still might be. I can't let them near you and Ruby. They're a bunch of terrorists and murders."
"I see... So, you heard us." Blake mumbled out as I was too scared to even speak up. I felt Blake grab a hold of my hand and squeezed it, to try and comfort me...
It didn't work.
Why is it when I try and make friends, something always breaks us apart? It was the same with Blake, Ilia and I, and now this. Maybe it's just me and I'm not supposed to have friends. I am just a tool after all. One of four in Remnant who are needed to stop Salem. It doesn't matter who the Maidens are, but as long as there are four they will be used as tools, to be forgotten about, to be left alone and broken apart. Is this how the last Winter Maiden felt? Is this why she refused the Professor's offer, she didn't want to be left broken and alone.
"Dad, we-" Yang tried to talk but was cut off.
"No, Yang. Let them talk. I want to know what they think."
"It's true we were in the White Fang, but they—" Blake was then cut off as well.
"See that's why. I'm alerting Ozpin and the Police. They'll take care of this mess."
"Dad you can't! They've done nothing wrong. They might have been in the White Fang, but they're not now." Ruby shouted as I heard her voice waver a bit.
Ruby...
Yang continued for Ruby as I tried to calm her down by holding her hand. "We found out after initiation. Blake and Fran were in the White Fang, but they aren't now."
"You knew, and you didn't tell me?"
"There wasn't anything to tell you. It wasn't that important." Yang talked back to her Father.
"Yang, I'll take it from here." I heard Blake say as she let go of my hand and I sensed her stand up. "Sir, it is true we were in the White Fang. We apologise for not telling you immediately. We've had trouble trusting humans, they brought pain and misery to our lives, but after meeting your daughters and everyone at Beacon, we've grown to be friends with each other. As Yang said, we already told them about our past in the White Fang, after all the terrible things I've done; arson, robbery, kidnapping, assault and battery. The list goes on and on. Your daughters however still stood by me and accepted us. I just hope you can do the same."
"What about your friend?" Tai asked.
I nervously joined Blake and stood next to her. Her hand squeezing mine. "My name is Frandoll Scarlet, and I have been in the White Fang ever since I was born. Blake and I grew up together. She's been like a big sister to me. We were inseparable for such a long time. That was until I was involved in a mission that I had no choice in. I... I was involved in an assassination with another member of the White Fang, Adam Taurus. After that, my parents and I left. We started a new life together. It was great, until a few years ago. Adam came back to take us out. I fled leaving my parents behind, like the coward I am."
"Fran, that's not true and you know it. You stood up to that jackass Cardin for Velvet." Yang said.
"Language, Yang." Tai scolded. "So, what was this about an assassination?"
"I was tasked to assassinate an executive in the Schnee Dust Company. It... It was my first time, killing anything, even someone living. Adam forced me to murder that man. He said he would kill my parents for insubordination. At the time, he was vying for power. This was his way to take control. I killed a man, because I was a coward and didn't stand up to him. I don't even know if I took away someone's father, someone's husband?" I cried out at the last bit, as tears freely rolled down my face.
"Hey, enough about that, okay." Blake said as she turned me to face her and wiped away my tears, yet more still fell.
"That man was nothing but a monster, Fran. Trust me, he didn't have a family, so he won't be missed." Weiss said.
Oh?
"Allow me to introduce myself, properly. My name is Weiss Schnee of the Schnee Dust Company. The man that Fran, was forced to kill... Was a monster." Weiss was silent for a while before she spoke again. "Yang, can you..."
"Oh... Oh, right. Sorry Ruby, can't let you hear this." Yang said.
"No, fair Yang. I want to hear what Weiss has to say, so don't cover my ears." I heard Ruby complain.
"Sorry, sis. This talk isn't for you to hear."
What's happening? Why did Yang cover Ruby's ears?
"Okay, Weiss you're all set." Yang answered.
Weiss let out a heavy sigh. "He kept a Faunus girl as his personal slave. He bought her at one of my Father's auctions. He used her for his own devious devices. From what I heard he used her as a servant on some occasions and beat her when she did something wrong. Mostly, though he used her as... as a sex slave."
I clenched my fists. "He what!?" I growled out.
Urgh! What is it that humans find us as sex slaves. I'm glad I killed that piece of trash. What he did... There's no redemption for that."
"Fran, calm down." Blake said as I felt her hands on my shoulders.
"He got what he deserved though, you saw to that." Blake said.
"At least I heard after you killed him, the Faunus girl he kept, escaped from his estate. She soon joined combat school, but after that she vanished. There was no trace of her leaving the combat school, father's files didn't even say which combat school she went to." Weiss answered as I felt my stomach churn.
I felt bile rising to my mouth. "I think I'm going to throw up." I shoved past everyone and ran around their tiny house until I couldn't hold it in anymore and emptied my stomach.
"Urgh!" I hunched over on the ground.
"Fran!" I felt someone hold me "I've got you, it's okay. I've moved your hair out of the way."
I nodded my head as I threw up more of my lunch. "Urgh!"
I repeatedly threw up for what felt like an eternity, but in actuality was about 10 minutes. As soon as I was finished, I started to use my ears and heard the wind blowing and a couple of birds chirping. "I'm sorry for messing up your garden. I'll have it cleaned up by tomorrow."
"It's alright, Fran. Are you feeling any better, or should I prepare for more?" The voice joked.
I listened intently and tried to identify who was speaking through their body signal, but I was too weak to understand who they were.
"How about we take you to bed, we'll talk about this when you're feeling better." The voice said as I felt lighter, as if I was being picked up.
Moments later, I was wrapped up into something warm as I felt hands stroke my hair and ears. Shortly however, I felt extremely tired and fell asleep.
***
It felt like a couple of hours had past when I woke up as I heard birds happily chirping from outside. I was feeling better at least, but after finding out what happened to that escaped Faunus girl, I can't but feel bad for not killing that monster earlier.
Though that's not the only thing on my mind. I can't help but wonder if I should have left the White Fang? If there are more people like that scumbag hurting and abusing Faunus, then maybe I should have taken Blake's advice and stayed with her. If humans are doing that to our kind, why is no one stopping it?
Then it was this. I pulled on clothing I was in. It was kind of restricting around my chest and around my wings, but they felt light and were really comfortable.
Whose clothes are these? They feel really comfy, but where are mine.
Suddenly, I heard the door to Ruby's room open. I stirred in my sleepy state as I felt a hand nudge my hair out of the way. Still not strong enough to use my Semblance, I called out. "Hey... Who is it?" I managed to say quietly.
"It's just me, Fran." I heard Tai say. "Sorry, about your clothes. I'm cleaning them, so I had to give you Ruby's spare clothes. She looked like your size, sorry if they're a bit tight. Are you feeling any better after what happened yesterday?"
That was yesterday.
"I've been asleep longer than I thought." I joked. "And yes, I'm feeling better. After hearing what that Faunus girl went through though, it makes me feel like the problems I had were nothing compared to what she went through. Maybe, I should have stayed in the White Fang."
"No, it's not. Yes, you could stop more Faunus getting actioned off to some slim ball, but at what cost. You could have lost yourself or end up dead. I'm sure your parents wouldn't want that, knowing them."
He knew Mama and Papa?
"You knew Mama and Papa?" I asked sitting up in the bed.
"Yeah, Markus and Camila were one of the toughest opponents Raven and I ever faced. I remember them packing one hell of a punch when we faced them in the Vytal Festival, especially from Camila. She knows how to lay someone out." Mr Tai boasted about Mama and Papa when they were in MGCK with Ghira and Kali.
Mr Tai must have been good friends with Mama and Papa... I guess that's another thing I should apologise for. For them not being here, instead of me.
"Oh, I'm sorry they're not here anymore. Here I am talking about them, bringing up old wounds. I'm sorry Fran. That bastard will get his." Tai declared.
"I know, Mr Tai. Professor Ozpin said the same thing. I know, they'll get justice, we'll do it together."
"I've told you don't call me Mr Tai, just Tai will do. Honestly, hearing that makes me feel old or feel like Qrow."
"I'm sorry. Blake and I must have caused you trouble yesterday. We should have told you we were in the White Fang. They don't have the best reputation presently. I understand if you call the police."
"It's fine. After talking to the girls, I understand now. I believe you. I know I acted like an idiot before. I was only looking out for the girls. I've... They've lost so much, I didn't want either of them to end up dead."
"I... I understand. You were just looking out for your family. I would never put Ruby or Yang in any danger... Well more than they're used too." I smiled.
"Thanks for understanding. Now, why don't you get changed. The girls are waiting. They're waiting for someone called Jaune to call them back. Something about the beach." Tai said as I heard him leave.
Huh? They called Jaune about going to the beach? If Jaune is going, is Pyrrha, Ren and Nora going too?
I didn't have to wait long for my question to be answered as I picked up on Blake entering Ruby's and my room.
"Hey Fran. Feeling any better?"
"Yeah. Tai and I talked through his problems with us being in the White Fang."
"You should have seen Yang's face after you fell asleep. She was pissed off with what Tai said."
I giggled. "It's nice to know Yang is like that even with her Dad."
"I'm just glad Tai is like Ruby and Yang. Being opened minded about us. I think once he heard what you did to that bastard and what you went through with Adam, he understood."
"Makes me feel a bit better, thanks Blake."
Still thinking about what that monster put that Faunus girl makes my stomach churn again...
Oh god.
"Blake quick... I'm gonna..."
"Got it... Here, Fran." Blake hurried as she handed me something, presumably a bucket. I patted my back as more vomit came out of me.
This is going to be a long day.