Chapter 8: The Shadow of Monochrome

Blake the Shadow

A world of monochrome, that was the Schnee world. There was only right or wrong, only law or lawless, strong or weak, riches or ruin, perfect or worthless, human or faunus, white or black. There was only severity; grey was just an apologist's illusion. This whole Castle was a temple to that ideology, to stoic severity. This place had been a physical representation of why Weiss was the obsessive jerk she was, why she had to have things one way, her way. It was her world, this place. It screamed, 'be perfect, gain money, gain fame, destroy your enemies, destroy the faunus'. Blake could almost hear it in the cold walls of icy moonstone. It was an oppressive place. It was wrong, it was disgusting and Blake was happy that tomorrow she was leaving it.

Before she did though, Ruby had given them a mission. One so foolish Blake had laughed in her face over it. She was going to, without telling Weiss, kidnap the richest girl in the world and break the princess right out of her castle. She had even planned out how to. Ruby was going to distract the old knight by bringing him and Weiss out to the dining room after "losing something", then grab Weiss and run her outside. She wasn't convinced she could beat the old creep, but she was sure as hell convinced she could outrun him. In the meantime, Yang would start a fight to distract the guards while Blake, with keys she was supposed to steal from Zawisza, which she might add was a mildly racist suggestion that the faunus girl would know how to steal them and just because she did didn't make it any less racist, was supposed to hijack the airship and fly them out. Barring the fact Blake didn't even know how to fly an airship, this was already impossible. Even if they made it out, where would they go? One does not become headmaster at Beacon by lending kidnappers asylum. Even then it would buy them maybe a week before the authorities would track them; assuming Schnee's security drones hadn't already skinned them alive for the tyrant Lord Schnee.

Yet despite her protests and all the logic she could muster, Blake stood in the hall plotting her theft for the Rose. How did that girl learn to charm her into such foolish things? Maybe it was watching Yang light up, the fire in her was the most beautiful thing in the world, or maybe it was Ruby all by her lonesome. The sweet child was becoming the little sister Blake never had. The White Fang was her old family, though it seemed just a pale shadow of what it felt like to have team RWBY. So here she was, putting her crafts to work stealing Weiss Schnee. Adam would have loved to hear this.

Somewhere along her plotting, Blake had stepped to a wall she had never noticed before, carved with a mural of black and white moon stone. It was the perfect monument to all the Schnee thinking. A monument to monochrome.

Carved in black were animals, monsters, really. The roaring lions, grinning wolves, steaming bulls, screaming monkeys, and in the shadow a black cat, smiling madly. It was an image of her people charging a river of ice, beyond which a legion of moonstone knights with guns and swords, all to hold the river from the horde of blackened beasts, stood guard. The head of these knights was a stoic and beautiful woman in the brightest white. 'Schnees and their white,' She was holding a primitive gunsword in both hands. Blake's people preferred greyer renditions of this battle, but even they would have casted this woman in the blackest stone. To see her glimmer beautifully was an insult to truth.

"Battle at White River. I was there, you know. Just turned sixteen when it happened." Blake was caught by surprise, but not shocked. The knight of endless smiling disposition was always lurking in the corners of one's eyes; they were both creatures of silence and shadows.

"You were? How old are you… you must be like…" Blake started calculating it in her head. There seemed no way for it to be true. He looked way too young. Perhaps her surprise at that was more visible than she had hoped, for the old knight Zawisza laughed quietly, tugging at his own white suit as he did so.

"Too old. I never liked this statute, neither did Lord Schnee, but his uncle made it to commemorate his predecessor, Lady Weiss Schnee the II. Would be an insult to her if he took it down," Zawisza explained. Blake hadn't actually known her first name. In faunus stories she was just called Lady Schnee the skinner. They described her as horrifying, but the statue made her look so beautiful. Whose monochrome lie was closer to the truth?

"Why do you not like it?" 'It's an affront to what really happened' wasn't going to be the answer, but Blake assumed the Schnee family would have loved it. Exaggerated their greatness and insulted their enemies. Perhaps more extravagant than Schnees liked to look, but really was it all that much more expensive than a Castle made of moonstone. Or perhaps the old knight was lying. He was always lying after all. His type was the worst.

"It's a lie. Lord Schnee loved his sister, named the little lady after her, but she was never the stoic and that battle wasn't worth celebrating. faunus won after all," Zawisza signed as he said it, the old man scratching his head in some amount of defeat, as if he had been beaten there. Maybe he had, though Schnee using child soldiers wasn't in the mural. Either way, the subject was not a pleasant one for him. Finally something in this world that made the most cheery man in it to be morose.

"No one won," Blake replied with truth. It was a worthless victory and the beginning of this future and the day they had lost the future she had fought for in the White Fang. A question stirred in Blake, one she normally wouldn't dare say. Perhaps it was this monolith of insult, all the pain this place was causing RWBY, or the spell of ease Zawisza put on everything and everyone no matter how hard one might resist it. Either way the cold words slipped from the faunus' lips, ones she only dared mumble to friends, but here she was. "How do you work for someone like that?" He paused for a moment, thinking. Perhaps of lies or excuses, but what came next was some sincerity.

"You know, a lot of people, they will promise a lot of things. When I was sixteen, the world was even fuller of that then now. 'Oh, I promise you freedom,' and, 'Oh, I will change the world.' Lord Schnee never promised me that, never offered anything big." There was an interesting almost stutter to him, this old knight. Blake noticed it was as if he couldn't quite explain it no matter how he tried. Though he struggled, the knight continued. "When I was sixteen my life was made very… complicated, and a young lord Schnee came to me and said, 'I'll never fix this, but I'll get you your revenge.' He gave me only what he promised. The others never did. I like a man who's honest." He nodded at that taking a deep breath. Whatever it was, the man struggled with it and Blake realized perhaps this was a secret she was happy to never know.

"Says the liar?" she said back as a joke with a sarcastically blank smile and a raised eyebrow.

"Says the liar," he replied with a classic Zawisza smile, the mask right back on him. Blake decided, however, she very much preferred the mask to whatever was brewing underneath that, whatever quaked at the mention of revenge. Now he was relaxed looking over the icy halls of his home. "I actually came to see you."

"I assumed as much." Why else would he sneak up on Blake. If it was to spy on her, wouldn't he just continue sneaking? What it was about was something of an anxiety source to Blake. For as affable as he was, as… considerate as their hosts had been, the fact that most of Blake's teenage years had been spent trying in vain to destroy this family was not lost on her. She was a turn coat cat, but still a cat in a hounds' den.

"Nothing to be worried about Miss Belladonna, Lord Schnee just wants to talk to you. I would guess formalities and perhaps threats to insure everyone's cooperation in tomorrow's transition. Nothing a young huntress like yourself with no real stock in all this needs to worry about." Blake wondered exactly how much of that was a lie.

There was a soft chime of music, piano being played gently in a tune Blake was unfamiliar with. It sounded almost like raindrops,though it was still much too cold this far north to rain in early spring. The music inside grew more intense and menacing, so much so that Blake hesitated outside that door, hands on the crafted wood, white as woodwork could be. All escape was cut off to her, the knight Zawisza, as studious as he was, smiled in Blake's shadow. The child in her wanted to run. It had never occurred to her how afraid she, or the child in her, was of the Schnee head. She didn't want to face him alone.

"Come in, don't just stand there gawking." Right as the music became more sweet that harsh deep voice called her in an irritated monotone. How long had he known she was there waiting at the edge of the doorway. Had he seen her, heard her, or had the liar told Weiss' father? Didn't really matter. Putting on the cold fearless mask of disinterest, Blake walked in to find him. He sat in his chair watching a recording, the source of the music. A little Weiss, unmarred by scars, yet still a perfect prissy princess with all the frills of a fine dress as she played piano. It was all a recording, of course, on the older man's scroll. He did not seem to watch it with much compassion, his countenance rough and showing the signs of inner vitriol. "She nearly mastered the piano at eight years old. Of course, when she found it getting harder she switched to violin, then to singing. When you have children one day, never let them have anything for free. They will grow up hating anything that resembles work."

"Weiss is the hardest working girl I know," Blake defended, but lightly. She wasn't willing to show her emotional hand too much to anyone, especially not the most vilified man she could conjure to her people. He chuckled at this, almost smiling, before he shook his head of the idea. Putting his scroll down, pausing the recording for a moment, the soundless void was filled again with his criticism.

"Perhaps you're just lazy, after all she's beating you in scores and you seem not half the fool my daughter is." Zawisza came in after that, stepping into the moonstone office, bringing with him a selection of drinks. The old lord put his hand over his glass, shaking his head no. "I rather keep my senses, thank you Sir. Let Miss Belladonna have what she will." Blake didn't feel comfortable drinking, even if socially acceptable for the upper class. Looking over her glass she mirrored the lord, thinking whatever courtesies expected of her would be similar to his.

"No thank you. I'm too young, anyways." Blake declined trying to seem somewhat polite, though it earned an uncomfortable shake of the head from both of them. 'Let them be uncomfortable,' Blake thought with irritation. What did she have to prove to the slimmest slug of a man? As if he read her thoughts, Weiss' father gave a cringe worthy half grin, staring deeply into the burning fire of his dingy, cold office.

"For what comes next you'll want that drink. Sit, Miss Belladonna, we need to have a talk. Zawisza, pour her a light drink, something to cool the nerves. Cats are ill-tempered creatures." His words made her want to shutter, but the only thing that moved on Blake was the twitch of her ears and the hurried look she gave the room. She watched silently as the old knight bolted the door, blocking her exit. Eyes locked on the window, open, but a steep drop if she wasn't careful. An exit perhaps, but too dangerous. No other wall had an opening, they were all lined with books and scrolls. This was a humiliating trap. Seeing her distress, Zawisza stepped forward reaching into his coat pocket. That was alarm enough for the claws to come out, Gambol Shroud's duel swords pointed out straight at the liar who brought her here.

"Just a non-alcoholic compromise, Miss Belladonna. No need to be violent," Zawisza whispered backing away, hands in the air to reveal a small bottled soda, still sealed. Blake felt like she was being toyed with, no, knew she was being toyed with. This place, these people. The young faunus girl stared coldly, not accepting him or his games, still primed to spill their blood. She didn't want to be a part of this fight anymore, but damn them all.

"What is this?" she asked, fully aware of exactly what this was and why it was happening. Still, a small part of her feigned ignorance, preferring to believe this a sick joke from sick people. Or maybe they just knew about Ruby's plan, Penny overhearing. All these fictions a much more pleasant world idea compared to reality.

"Did you really think you could get away? What you did under the shade of falling leaves shall haunt you forever, Blake Belladonna. To think you actually came. Tell me, does Weiss know you stole thousands from her family? I wonder how she would take that." There was a wry look in his eyes as Weiss' father brought down his judgment on Blake. Her expression did not crack, still sharp and cold, though she gripped her blades tighter with a small ever slight quake. She refused to give herself away. Blake had fought for what she thought was right, and now she was repenting for it. Weiss had forgiven her… though she never knew exactly what Blake had done. It was strange, she never even liked Weiss, but now when it was said and done she wanted her to know less than the authorities.

"Big accusation," Blake said, not able to deny or affirm his claim. She had no real choice after all. Instead, she stepped ever closer to the ledge, just maybe an escape from this place. She hoped one day she could say goodbye to the others. However, she would not be killed here. She still had small dreams left in her. Though, a dream of a woman of fire might be lost here forever.

"Do not be coy, we have evidence. Do you really think our drones, capable of Identifying targets and protecting our goods, wouldn't have memory black boxes? How many did you and your friend destroy, hm? Do you think not a one of those black boxes would make it back here with a picture of your face?" Lord Schnee kept looking deeply into the flames, watching them lick the walls as it cried out for more wood, a smoldering ember. Blake felt like that ember. She wanted to breath, wanted to leave, and took another step towards the window.

"I'm not part of the White Fang. I don't need to justify myself to you. Your crimes are much more heinous," Blake replied with a bit of venom. She had held her tongue for most of the trip, looking at a modern slavers home and avarice. Now that he was charging her with a several thousands of Lien in theft, no reason to keep the lid sealed.

"If you were still part of the White Fang I would have had you hung. Sit down and as long as we continue this conversation with some decency than you will go back to Vale completely unmolested and perhaps free of some guilt. Sit child." Blake considered the two, running away into the snowy spring, but to where was the question. Beacon was safe, in many ways her shield, a stall to this moment. She should have never left. The promise of a pardon was a sweet thing, but it had to be a lie. Still worth hearing. Instead of sitting down by him, she pulled a chair close with her leg, choosing to sit near the open window instead.

"What do you want?" Blake asked, sitting down, but not putting away her weapon. This made Zawisza a little nervous she could see, but putting them away would have made her a little nervous. She would take his discomfort over hers.

"You stole from us, a freight train full of dust. More Lien than you will ever have at one time, but dust is meant to be sold, now we will see if you're prepared to buy it." As he spoke the Schnee picked up his scroll, the light casting a dim blue glow over his face, replaced by a red. The red of forever falls.

"I don't have that kind of money." She had little to begin from. Blake hadn't come from wealth, faunus didn't come from wealth. Her mother, all she had, was hard working, but just a waitress, still young when she had Blake. Grandparents were old soldiers, but retired farm workers now. Blake was at Beacon purely on scholarship and favors. Grandpa was a friend of a friend of Ozpin. The Schnee had to know that. He wanted something else.

"The man in the mask, your partner. Give me the name. A name for the dust. A very cheap trade." It wasn't the name that made it hard, it was what came after. Adam… was complicated. Someone needed to stop him. Someone had to, he… needed help. They all did. They were angry, confused, manipulated people. The White Fang were misguided, but never evil. They wanted something good, but had no way of getting it. Even as they hurt the innocent, sided with monsters like Torchwich, Blake wanted them safe. Someone needed to stop him, Blake just didn't want to be the one.

"Antonie, his name is Antoine," she lied, lied very well. It was easy enough to Blake. She had to do it a lot in Vale, in her past life, up until RWBY all she did was lie. Still it wasn't good enough, a liar is only as good as her lie.

"Don't test me. I know who he is; he has a very famous family. I just need to confirm it. Say the name, thief." The word thief was coated in hate, such teeming hate. It was the kind of hate that would burn the world down just to get at one person. What made such a hateful man Blake could only wonder.

"Adam Taurus." He already knew, but it didn't make the words easier. It was as if she had wished him out of the world, blew a wind of death. It was if she had killed dear Adam. He was a hateful person too, him and Schnee were made for each other, but he was still… important. He was still a person. Still someone she wanted to see happy and far away from this stupid war between the White Fang and the Schnee. Blake stayed strong, stayed stone faced, but inside she wanted to cry. She was a traitor twice now.

"Good, you're clear now for the charge of dust theft," Weiss' father pronounced, hitting something on his scroll. Blake was now the proud owner of thousands of pounds of dust. She hoped the White Fang she gave it too were better off for it.

"For what it's worth, you made the right choice. We know you stopped him from killing the passengers. You're a good woman, Blake, but he is a bad man," Zawisza started. Blake shook her head prompting him to stop. The old man was trying and wasn't wrong, but Blake could only hope they would send him to jail than murder the kid. She didn't want to be a murderer. She had done enough of that sort of work for the other side.

"There is another matter." The old man nodded as he spoke, face bright by the fire, silver hair glowing. "You stole the train as well. That is also quite expensive." No, Blake wanted to scream, wanted to choke him to death right there, but she couldn't move. She was just shocked. What a cruel man. It was impossibly cruel, enough to shatter his facade. She looked shocked for the first time in ages.

"This one is less painful, I can assure you. You will act as a collector of information for me in Beacon. Ozpin likes to keep things from me, from everyone. I want to know what he knows, about Beacon, about the White Fang, Cinder, Torchwick, the grimm, everyone. They aren't just your enemies after all. You're a thief; you will steal secrets instead of my Lien." He spoke, but Blake was still dazed by his audacity. He spoke like a master to a servant, something that lit a small fire of rage in her. She was no one's servant. She was a free faunus, she was a huntress.

"No. No, once I agree to this, you'll charge me for the drones, then for the containers. You'll come up with something new each time. I won't ever get out. You showed your hand too early, bastard!" she shouted, losing her cool as she so rarely did. Knowing the fire in her was raging, she calmed, turning the blaze into a cool smoky rage, thinking rationally. She hated him, but Blake was not without something to turn the tide.

"I did say it would haunt you forever," he replied coldly, thinking he had won. Fool.

"And it will, but if you want something from me I better get something I want." Blake wasn't going to win her freedom, but as long as he wanted something from her, she had a different sort of freedom. She had leverage. If Weiss' father was trying to extort this work out of a faunus there was simply no one he could get to do it. It was his only option to deal with a girl too clever for him.

"Well, you aren't as stupid as I hoped," the blackmailer announced dryly, something that Zawisza apparently found funny, the knight breaking out into a small semi-contained fit of soundless laughter. He at least had the sense to shake his head and mouth, 'I'm sorry,' even if only Blake could see it. "Well, what's your price, thief?"

"For as long as we're at Beacon, you don't interfere with team RWBY. Three more years is all it will take for me and everyone else to graduate." The only thing that mattered to Blake, the only thing worth it all was the family she had built at Beacon. Not just Yang, but Ruby and Weiss, too. Their dreams and hopes, stupid naive hopes built on fairy tales. They had innocence to them that Blake never had and never would. It might have been overly poetic of her, but she had to protect the family. "That means Weiss comes home, with us."

"Weiss will not stay with the bankert." Blake knew enough of the old northern languages to know that meant bastard. Ruby was like a little sister to her, and somewhere Yang's fire had spread enough in the young faunus that she wanted to claw his eyes out for it. However, neither brutishness would beat him, nor teary eyed speeches. Only thing to convince a cruel utilitarian man like him was nihilism.

"I didn't really think you for the romantic type. Weiss and Ruby are teenagers; their love will die like it always does, all by itself. I don't want you to believe in the power of love or anything that childish. Believe in the inevitable bitter end that comes to all first loves." Blake hoped he didn't know that she was actually a hopeless romantic. Zawisza knew, he had to have looking through her books, but for whatever reason he stayed silent. Interesting choice. There was a deep moment of soundlessness as the older Schnee seemed completely bemused at Blake's words. He had no come back, no reply, and it just made the old man seem even angrier. "You did say Beacon is sealed. Who will know? You didn't for how long?"

"Beacon… damn you all. You can have Beacon. Cursed place. You work for me and the four of you can stay there for the time being, but if my daughter embarrasses the family in public one more time it ends, and not in a pretty way. You have three years of freedom, enjoy them before it all melts away. Now get out." The Schnee tossed another log to the flame that burst with all the frustration he must have felt. Blake allowed herself to enjoy the sweetness of that, how furious he seemed, beaten at his own game. Almost sweet enough to forget the kind of things Blake had surrendered to him. How she had betrayed Adam again and would need to do the same to Ozpin.

"I think he enjoys you," was the first thing Zawisza had to say as soon as they escaped the crucible of his master's frustration. Outside the office, back into the moonstone carved halls, it was as if Blake had never breathed until now. She had schemed herself a much better stall than kidnapping the princess.

"I think he's a scum bag who wants to skin me alive." 'Report that back to him,' Blake mused at adding, though poking the dragon was never exactly a smart call. She had no desire to sit and listen to either of them anymore. She had to tell them. Blake wouldn't be able to explain why, they wouldn't accept the answer, but Ruby wouldn't ask, none of them would. If she had to sell her soul to the dust devil she had at least tonight to be a hero for it.

"He likes a challenge, black cat. See you tomorrow," Zawisza whispered in an empty hall, the moonstone reverberating it into a just loud enough echo to make Blake ear's twitch. It was most certainly a threat. Warning that Lord Schnee would not be bested again. The old knight could give warnings as much as he liked, she had three years.

"He's bargained for a lot more than a challenge." And those years would be good enough. She could escape the White Fang in only a few months, with this much time she would escape them just the same. Maybe in a few years, she could tell Yang, she would understand… maybe they would run away from this… maybe a lot of things.

"How do you keep winning?! You're a cheat, there is no other explanation!" Blake could hear Weiss' shouting with her usual self-importance. It was refreshing, though Blake still paused at the door. Yang's room was filled with everyone, she could hear them perfectly through the doorway, a chipper happy place they had made in this northern nightmare. It was kind of funny, Blake was so excited to share the news, now she was worried about what to say it, how to tell them. It was good news, but she was more comfortable absorbing secrets than sharing them.

"It's 'cause I'm good. Now your penalty..." It was Yang's voice and from the seductive sound of it she was finally getting her game of pajama poker she wanted. How the woman would ever convince Weiss, the prude, to do so was beyond her. Well, she did have a rebellious side somewhere in her didn't she? This was Blake's family; she didn't have to be afraid. 'Blake Belladonna breath. You made the right choice.' It was the same mantra she was told in the White Fang, but this time she told it to herself. This was her choice. "No fair! How did you even switch shirts without taking one off?! I demand skin!" Alright that was enough.

"I'm back." Stepping into the room, she was engulfed in light, the fire place less reserved in Yang's room. She did love the flame. Sitting along the floor was many royal families worth of cards and a series of scattered clothes. Sitting cross legged was her team RWBY dressed in a mis matched mess of pajamas and day clothes. Penny was there too, the human doll playing with one of the other dolls on the bed, perhaps a little sad to watch. Ruby was laying down on her stomach, heart pajama pants on display as she kicked her legs back and forth. Weiss had nothing of her day clothes left, but her socks. She was not a good enough liar for cards. Yang, beautiful Yang, had not lost once it seemed with all her usual clothes on as she waved to Blake.

"Now the party is complete. A real challenger steps up!" Yang announced with a happy grin dealing a set of cards to Blake. Fools should have never let Yang be the dealer; she would cheat if it meant getting her kicks, especially at the Ice Queen's expense. Looking over it was a bit of slightly more innocent party, sugary drinks and the like tossed around with the snacks. The long lost remnants of a chocolate chip empire reduced to crumbs in front of Ruby. A party indeed.

"What's the celebration?" Blake asked without thinking. The celebration was an illusion; the party was a good bye party. No one said it, but Yang gave a chuckle and a grin, Ruby shoved a sweet in her mouth, but Weiss. She looked down with active anger and sadness. The final night before what would have been the end. What was still the end to them.

"Well, I just figured we should have one all-nighter to raid this place of all their goodies. Would've taken the wine, but uh, Penny stopped me," Yang explained with an awkward smile trying not to admit the real reason they were having such late night festivities. Ruby seemed less downtrodden than her sister, still thinking her plan might work. Yang knew better though, brave as she was, kidnapping wasn't going to work tomorrow. Blake still bet she had some other ideas of breaking Weiss out on a more opportunistic time. Girl would come back to wage war some other day. All of it was unnecessary and Blake smiled knowing she could take all the sadness away.

"Weiss, you're coming home with us tomorrow. Got your father's approval. Least you could do is seem a little less moody about it." Blake kept her tone matter-of-factly, as if it all wasn't that big of a deal. It was a little more fun that way. The result was immediate. Ruby broke out into the biggest happy smile that little girl could give. Yang shot up on her feet throwing her first in the air as if she had just won a thousand victories. Penny seemed happy, too, though she just nodded yes. Maybe she knew somehow… like an email to her brain or something.

"That's my girl!" Yang shouted loudly, making Blake feel a very happy melancholy. If only she was her girl, but that wasn't the time for that. It was time to celebrate. Though something wasn't quite right about all this. Weiss shot up, but the white of her hair dangled over her eyes, only the clenching of her teeth gave the princes away, her fists tightening cementing that image of an upset Weiss. The Schnee girl marched right up to her, eyes watery and finger put right in front of Blake's face.

"Don't do this to me Blake… Don't toy with me like that!" she shouted in disbelief. A history of messing with the Ice Queen having come back to haunt them both. Blake would never lie about this, but it seemed like it, didn't it? It wasn't a lie though, even if it made no sense. She had done it, she had saved team RWBY.

"I'm not lying. Team RBY sounds like an awful team name. So, I made a deal with your dad. You're in until I find someone named Weiss or Walter with a more affable attitude," Blake joked, but there was sincerity to it. Weiss was a bitch, an intolerable racist bitch, but part of this family. She was still Blake's friend. Irreplaceable. "I can't really explain how, but I did it. Weiss we fight a lot, but I just want you to know, you're a par—

"Shut up!" Weiss screamed, her voice tight with emotion. She was a short little thing, so close Blake had a hard time looking her in the eye, seeing what she did wrong. Blake didn't know how to help, but right when Ruby was going to reach for her, a moment of impossibility struck them. Weiss whom seemed to hate Blake hugged her. It was meek, light and not all consuming like Ruby's or Yang's might be, but it was the first hug from her she had had ever had from the ice queen. Shockingly, she did not feel like frost at the touch. Blake was stunned in silence. The tuft of silver hair what was Weiss' head rested in Blake's shoulder, dainty hands around her. Blake settled on returning the hug. Not so tight that it would scare her. After all, Ruby had told Blake of the frozen queen's discomfort with touch. Just a little to let her know Blake didn't hate it.

"Blake, you're amazing!" Ruby shouted, tackling the two of them. She was little, but still the girl was going to kill them throwing herself into the already compromised pair. Ruby was warm, much like her sister. The young fire haired rose. She found herself a spot in Blake's other shoulder. Cute, but Blake shook her head in mocking disbelief.

"You people are ridiculous," Blake said with a small laugh. That's probably what cued it.

"I love you, Blakey! Best bud ever!" Yang tackled the three of them, the substantially bigger girl knocking them all to the ground a dog pile with poor Weiss struggling in muffled shouts beneath the two of them. Blake wished she was happy, the queen of Ice and snow. All for the happiness of such an intolerable, ignorant racist. All to see that idiot smiling. Blake would do it again for her team. Their embrace felt so warm, an embrace of real family, of love. How Blake stupidly longed for it. How happy she was to see them all… together. Three years in the shadows, she tried so hard to live in the light, but in the shadow of the king of monochrome is where the world chained her now. Blake would stay in that shadow for them. How could she not for them, for her truest friends? 'Smile Weiss and watch me burn for you. Burn like the idiot I am,' Blake thought laughing honestly truly happy in this moment.

*** Finals are finally over! So happy to be free again and really get back into writing. I'm going to make a big effort to make more content and speed back up. Thanks so much everyone for reading and I'm happy to hit the end of this first arch right as break ended, but this is not the end, a lot of choices have been made to maintain the Melting Vale by RWBY and others, now the other side will have their turn to respond.

I enjoyed writing a Blake chapter again. She is where I feel I can most toy with language and style. Bonus points to whoever can guess the piece that was played, it's a famous piano piece, famed for a constant D-flat often nicknamed raindrops. Tell me what you liked and disliked. Reviews are so invaluable everyone, and I thank you all for it. Also New project with LazyKatze that I mentioned earlier will be coming up hopefully soon. Thank you everyone and happy Summer times!

Credit for the edits goes to LazyKatze this time, A-rav has been terribly ill (partial delay 'cus of that) and he has to do the SATs tomorrow and I decided to tell him to sleep and toss the work onto poor Katz. Sorry! Oh, and for a bit I'm going to use the art LazyKatze made for the Melting Vale post competition. The original art will return, but I want to give this one a day in the sun.