Team FLME Volume 4

The Bluejay

The opening ends to Fred waking up in his bed from Beacon. He turns to his left to see Ember sleeping and turns again to his right to see the girls sleeping. He stares in front of himself to see himself in the mirror. He blinks and suddenly his father appears making Fred rub his eyes and sees that the team is in an ocean liner's room. He turns to his left to see a wall. He turns back to his right and sees Ember on the floor, Leia and May in the other two beds.

Fred gets up and puts his jacket on. He quietly opens the door and leaves the room. However, after he leaves, Ember gets up and follows him. Fred walks up to one of the walkways of the ship and hunches over the railing and looks down into the ocean. Suddenly, a slap on his back alerts Fred and he turns around to see Ember standing next to him.

Ember: You doing ok?

Fred: Yeah. Why? Is everything ok?

Ember: You and I both know the answer to that.

Fred: Yeah.

Ember: Hard to believe, when we want to become huntsmen... I mean, you wanted to avenge your parents while I just wanted to stick up for my people.

Fred: We still want to. Well at least I do.

Ember: Another nightmare?

Fred: Yeah.

Ember: Look. Mom and Dad keep telling you this. Your not your father. Break out of that control and just, live. Find your own motivations. Find your own reasoning.

Fred: Easier said then done. (Mumbles) At least you still have a Mom and Dad.

Ember: Don't give me that.

Fred: C'mon Ember. Look at me. I'm emotionally unprepared to lead, I'm hot headed, stubborn, anti-social. I can barely communicate with anyone unless they make the first move. And I know you three will never agree to this but Ozpin made a mistake in making me leader. I was just fortunate enough that I could somehow accept you three and you me.

Ember: So. You got some short comings sure. Everyone does. But, that in no way makes you an 'unworthy' leader. Quit the opposite.

Fred: Huh?

Ember: You-you have no IDEA how proud Mom and Dad are of you. You're strong, tough, determined, intelligent. You're a strategist, completetionist and you care. You care about every little dang life. Fall of Beacon. We could have joined in the defense, but you saw innocent lives as the higher priority. You and Leia could have just ran while in Amity, but you lead students out and Leia followed suit. You lead, I don't. I'm just a Faunus... a Faunus trying to make a species of half terrorist into a species of respect and peace.

Fred: Well, you're doing a pretty good job at it.

Ember: Thanks, I guess.

Fred: Don't sell yourself short. You're my moral center, you know that? You are my muscle, my humor, my break in getting my butt kicked. My friend to pick me up. (He places a hand on Ember's shoulder.) Your my brother. And I love you for that.

Ember: Thanks, brother. Uh? What's that? (He points to a large vessel passing them with sails and a large flag at the top of the highest mast.)

Fred: Just another passing ship.

Suddenly, a cannon shot goes off and a cannon hits the ship right by the boys. Boats from the ship comes over and open fire at the boys. Ember and Fred take cover behind a door frame.

Ember: Another passing ship, huh?

Fred: Get the girls. I'll handle these guys.

Ember: Got it! (He runs off)