Chapter Text
' I didn't mean to kill him.'
She shook fearfully as her red eyes scanned the child for any mark of life.
'It was an accident!'
Oh, gods, she had killed a child. A young child, with his full life ahead of him, he could've lived, expressed joy, eaten, partied, played, but he couldn't, because of her. His burnt and worn body was all she could see, almost completely deaf to the shocked gasps, whispers and cries of the crowd.
She didn't intend to. She was still on edge after an Angi Kai, and the boy had crept up behind her
A guard roughly grabbed her shoulder, "Your mother wishes to see you."
The harsh whisper sent a shiver down her spine, but it didn't deter her from the fact the she had just killed a child
The crowd seperated in fear as the guard roughly pushed her forward, spear pressed up against her back. Her red uniform was turning darker as the blood dripped down it.
Not her blood.
The golden buttons and lace were smeared in the crimson liquid, just a tone darker her eyes.
She couldn't do it. She couldn't disappoint her mother again, she couldn't confront the fire nation.
Flames flickered in her hands as she whipped around and grasped the spear, pushing against the blade digging into her palm.
The guard growled and they pushed their weapon forward, only to recoil in shock as the metal started to melt.
"Stand down." They commanded.
She threw the flames in front of her, sweeping her leg across the floor in a half circle to create a barrier of flames, before bolting in the opposite direction, trying to shake off the raising number of guards.
She caught sight of the gates closing, and she slid under them just as they closed. Knowing she wasn't safe yet, she ran towards the dock, looking for one of her only friends.
"Pyrrha!" She cried, catching sight of the redhead.
The young woman looked up, "Yang?"
Yang caught her breath as she stopped running and stood infront of her friend, "I... need your help..."
Pyrrha put a hand on the blonde's shoulder to help steady her, "What is it? And why are you covered in blood?"
A shout caused Pyrrha to look upwards, and she saw multiple guards making their way to the dock.
"You need to get out of here." Pyrrha realized. Yang nodded, and without a word, Pyrrha made her way over to a small ship.
"If you're careful, you should be able to sneak out on this, they're leaving soon, you should be able to hide in the boiler room, we all know no one ever goes in there."
Yang hugged Pyrrha, "Thanks, P. Cover for me, yeah?"
Pyrrha nodded, "Of course."
They both set about going their separate ways before Yang called back.
"Pyrrha?"
The red head turned around, "Yes?"
"Just... whatever they tell you... about what I did... you have to trust me when I say I didn't mean to. I know it doesn't mean I didn't do it, but you have to know I wouldn't do it on purpose."
Pyrrha smiled, "Of course, Yang, you're my best friend."
Yang returned the smile, "You too, P. Well, see you around I guess."
Pyrrha waved, "Take care, Yang. But hurry, or they'll capture you."
Yang was glad Pyrrha warned her, for just as she slipped inside the ship, she could hear the woman say something to the guards.
She did it. She got out.
'But I killed a child. I can't escape from that anytime soon.'
¤ ¤ ¤
'I did it! I I escaped!' Was all Weiss Schnee could think as she used her bending to push forward her little boat. She had actually escaped quite a while ago (a day or two?) but she couldn't get over the fact that she had gotten away from her father.
'Poor mother. And Winter. And Whitely, I guess.'
She had told them of her plans to escape, but none of them wanted in, but they didn't stop her plans or tell Jaques either. She was never going to call that man 'father' again.
She knew that she was nearing land by now, she could see it in the distance, and her map had told her it was a small island. It didn't read the name on the map, but she could recall that it was home to Hunters.
She bended some water into a flask, "For safekeeping." She told herself, before realizing how croaky her voice sounded from lack of use.
She almost pulled her hair back up into it's signature side ponytail, before deciding to leave it down, "Jaques always wanted it up, well, now I'll wear it however I want."
She threw her hair tie into the water, and bended a little bit to make sure it was a good distance away. She sighed in releif, she was truly free.
But she would really need a bath when she got to the Island.
A strong wave caused her to grip the sides of the boat with a yelp. She focused on her bending again, and steered herself back on course.
She let out a gasp when she clearly saw the island.
It was burned to ashes.
A large ship at its coast told her exactly who was responsible, "Fire nation."
She didn't even try to keep the snarl out of her voice. She got out of the boat and took cover behind what remained of the forrest.
She glared as a squadron of Fire Nation soldiers walked past, beforeher attention was drawn by something else.
A young woman who appeared to be the same age as her, seemed to be hiding from her own army.
"The Fire Princess?"
She was not wrong That did seem to be the daughter of the Fire Queen. Weiss felt a surge of anger sweep over her
'She's responsible for this.'
¤ ¤ ¤
'It's his fault.'
Blake Belladonna kicked a rock to try see if there was any more earthbenders in the area who could pick up the vibration.
She regretted coming here, Adam had said that the Fire Nation hadn't discovered the island yet, and that it was entirely safe. She truly wished she brought back up with her, but here she was alone on an island infested with Fire Nation soldiers.
She waited, but felt no response. Her cat ears flicked as she heard a loud explosion and multiple yells.
Feeling a sense of dread overwhelm her, she followed the noises, bending a boulder to try cover up any noises she may have made as she ran.
In the distance, she could see a white haired waterbender staring down what seemed to be a firebender. Normally, she would rush in and help, but something about the firebender seemed to... distract her.
One, she was quite pretty. Her golden hair, shimmering red eyes.
Two, the smell of blood coming off her alarmed her when she found out it wasn't the firebenders. It smelled too young to be a adults. It was a child's.
Three, the firebender wasn't attacking. In fact, she held her hands up in clear surrender, but the waterbender continued her attack, throwing a wave of water at her.
The firebender stayed still, nonetheless
Blake thought something about that was... pretty.
Then she realized that this woman was a part of the Fire Nation and she shouldn't be thinking about her like that.
Without a second thought, she hurled a boulder the firebender's way.
She was about to make her presence known before a large red dragon landed on the sand.
¤ ¤ ¤
"Easy, Zwei." Ruby said, softly patting the dragon's neck. The avatar had been travelling for a while, before she spotted a commotion on Beacon Island. She was disappointed, she had been travelling for so long and still only knew how to airbend.
She took in the sight before her, there was a firebender with her hands up in defeat, clearly a bit stirred up after dodging a boulder. Ruby saw that in the trees was an earthbender that seemed way too interested in the firebender. She looked over to the waterbender, who looked ready to lash out, but felt her eyes linger a bit longer than necessary for the white haired woman. She jumped down from Zwei, and the dragon went to find someplace to lie down.
The earthbender gasped, "That's the avatar."
The waterbender narrowed her eyes at the dark haired woman, "I can see that, nitwit!"
Ruby cleared her throat, "What's going on here."
The waterbender spoke up, "That brute is the Fire Princess!"
The Fire Princess coughed into her hand, "Former; I left."
The earthbender looked sceptical, but interested, "Why?"
The red eyed woman laughed, "Wouldn't you like to know, kitten."
Ruby sent a rush of air to the firebender, knocking her off her feet. She made her way over and put her foot on the golden haired woman's chest.
"We all would, actually." Ruby often tried to avoid using excessive force, but if what the waterbender said was true, then she needed to know why the Fire Princess left.
The waterbender came up behind Ruby, "So, the avatar then? I'm Weiss Schnee, waterbender."
Ruby turned around, still keeping a foot on the firebender, "Nice to meet you Weiss, I'm Ruby Rose."
"Rose?" The earthbender spoke up as she made her way over.
'A cat faunus.' Ruby realized. No wonder she recognized her name. When her mother was alive, she fought for the rights of faunus equality.
"That's right. You've heard of my mom?"
The earthbender nodded, "Which faunus hasn't?"
"Good point. So, what's your name?"
"Blake. Nice to meet you, Ruby." Blake's eyes drifted towards Weiss, "You too, Weiss."
Weiss looked shocked, before relaxing slightly and stretching out her hand, "A pleasure."
Blake accepted the hand and they shook.
"This is nice and all, but I have enough lung problems without having the strongest being in the world standing on my chest."
All attention imediatly went back to the firebender. Ruby saw the other two glare at the woman.
"Why did you leave?"
Ruby saw the firebender's cockiness falter for a second. She seemed reluctant to speak.
"I... made a mistake. I've never been fond of killing and attacking innocents, and I've tried to avoid it the most I can. I made a mistake, so I left."
Ruby searched the red eyes for any deception, and discovered none.
Without hesitation, she lifted her foot on the golden haired woman's chest, ignoring Weiss' gasp of surprise, and offered a hand to help her up.
The firebender took it, uttering a thanks.
Once she was stood up, she looked to the other two, "So... Weiss? And... Blake? Is it?"
Weiss scoffed at her, while Blake politely nodded. Ruby was glad Blake was making an effort, but couldn't blame Weiss for being cautious.
Ruby locked eyes with the firebender, "Okay, what's your name?"
"Yang."
Ruby looked around and then whistled for Zwei, who imediatly came bounding out the trees.
She attended to the other three, "You all look like you could use a ride."
Ruby hadn't really considered it, but that day changed the whole track of history.