With Every Step Forward (Neglected/Abused Boosted Gear Reader x RWBY)

Chapter 47: New Information

At the moment, Ghira Belladonna is pacing around the foyer of his home, surrounded by his daughter Blake, wife Kali, and well meaning idiot Sun. In his hand is a speech he is to give to the crowd waiting outside, addressing the people about the White Fang. As nervousness shows on his face, he sighs. Kali puts her hand on his shoulder to reassure him.

Kali: "Are you ready?" she asks.

Ghira: "Yes." he says calmly. "It won't be easy for the people to hear, but the truth often isn't. I know they'll do the right thing."

He feels his daughter's hand on his back and her head on his arm. As he's enjoying the reassurance from his family, he feels and hears another hand, more like a slap, on his shoulder. Looking behind him, it's Sun, with that stupid grin on his face.

Sun: "You got this."

Ghira just looks at him with a mix of contempt and gratitude. He still doesn't like him, but his attitude is in the right place. He goes out the door to the Belladonna Mansion, where countless Faunus await him. Surrounding the house are many different kinds of Faunus waiting to hear the speech. With them are reporters to document what will happen as well as Corsac and Fennec Albain. Ghira steps up to the podium, the crowd falls silent, and he begins speaking.

(A/N I will put the whole speech here, so if you want to skip it, you can. I just really like it, so if you want to skip it, just scroll to the next name, which will be Blake, thank you.)

Ghira: "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 we can all agree that the event now known as the Fall of Beacon was a tragedy. A tragedy that will set both man and Faunus-kind back. While the main aggressor is still unknown, we do have official confirmation that Adam Taurus, " he looks at Corsac and Fennec, "the leader of a powerful splinter group working inside 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 that this man remains unpunished, it becomes increasingly difficult to condemn those that look down upon us." The crowd starts murmuring among itself and Ghira calls for silence. "Recently, a spy from the same splinter group set their sights on this very home. My own daughter, Blake, and her friend 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. 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 reins himself." The crowd becomes even more unsettled. "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 as my successor. It's true that I do not fully condone many of her methods. 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!" With this, the crowd starts cheering. "To do this, I think the answer is clear: we must go to Haven and protect it at all costs!" With this, the crowd goes silent. He clears his throat. "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."