Blake stared gloomily out into the approaching twilight as their airship approached Atlas. She'd never been to the northernmost kingdom on Remnant before, and with good reason. Despite every law that was passed, every social welfare program, Atlas was still the kingdom where Faunus got the worst treatment. And it was going to stay that way until the corporate oligarchs that ruled the kingdom in all but name decided it was 'profitable' to change things. "So why am I coming with you again?" she moaned.

Her mother gave a small chuckle. "For the thousandth time, you're here for two reasons. One, you're a living symbol that it's possible to leave behind the violence of the White Fang. 'Imagine, if someone was once partnered with the infamous Adam Taurus can give it up, then just about anyone should be able to,'" Kali said, with such a ludicrously arrogant fake accent that Blake couldn't help but give a weak smile. "And second, your father and I have just gotten you back. We... we want to spend time with you, get reacquainted with our daughter." She reached out and gave her daughter's hand a gentle squeeze. "I know things are tough for you right now, but they're going to get better, trust me, Blake."

"I know, it's just... what if we're wrong about this, about trusting the Atlesian government?" Blake's amber eyes turned back to the coast of Atlas, just barely visible on the horizon. "They've gone back on their promises before."

"That's true, but this time they're matching words with action. Half of the board of Ciera Bank is already in jail, and the rest are turning on each other." Kali shrugged. "Well, if we are wrong, at least we'll be in good company, won't we?" She hugged her daughter close, laughing.

Blake couldn't help herself; her mother's mood was contagious. She pulled her mother close, laughing with her, but deep inside, she couldn't help but feel a lingering sense of dread. "Okay. We've still got a couple of hours until we land, right? I think I"m going to take a nap."

"Blake, it's time to wake up, we've landed."

The cat-eared Faunus girl stirred, stretching her arms over her head and yawning wide. That nap had been exactly what the doctor ordered. She felt invigorated and ready to take on the world. Bring on the Atlas oligarchs, she'd take 'em on with one hand behind her back. Her mother's voice called out again from the front of the compartmnet. "Blake? Are you awake?"

"I'm awake, mother. I was just stretching. The nap did me a world of good." She stood and hefted the small bag she'd carried onto the airship, making sure Gambol Shroud was securely in place on her back. Her mother and father had both expressed their dismay at Blake walking around armed, but there was no way she was willing to trust the Atlas government that much just yet.

There was a spring in her step and Blake caught herself humming as she made her way to the airship's boarding ramp. That was odd; Blake never hummed. Why was she feeling so happy? Maybe her subconscious had finally worked its way through whatever knot of dread had been weighing her heart down.

As she walked down the ramp towards her parents, she could see them talking to a tall, dark-haired man in an Atlas military uniform. It took Blake a second, but she finally recognized him, General James Ironwood. He had a reputation for being firm but fair, and for not giving a damn whether the people under his command were human or Faunus, so long as they did their jobs well and followed orders. His presence was probably a good sign; it showed that at least part of the Atlas oligarchy was serious about these negotiations.

The three of them stopped talking as Blake walked down the ramp. She tilted her head to look up at her father. "Is something wrong? Is my hair a mess, did someone write on my face while I was asleep or something?"

Her father beamed down at her, a smile that went all the way up to his eyes on his face. "Blake... you're glowing."

"I am?" Blake looked down at herself. Sure enough, there was a lambent pale blue glow flickering across her body. She looked back up at her father, an uncharacteristically goofy grin on her face. "I'm glowing!" Blake shrieked, throwing her arms around her father, tears of joy welling in her eyes. Her mother laughed and moved in to hug both of them.

"It does look like congratulations are in order. I take it this is your first time in Atlas? Otherwise, you probably would have found your soulmate sooner." Ironwood's face bore a smile now, softening his normally hard features. "I remember when I found mine; we were both adults, with our own careers that keep us apart most of the time. You're fortunate to find yours young like most people do."

Blake nodded jerkily, fighting to calm herself. Not everyone had a soulmate, or at least most people didn't find theirs, and the phenomenon was poorly understood. The glow—soulfire, as it was known—was the obvious, physical manifestation; it would grow brighter as the two of them closed the distance between them. "R-Right. First time in Atlas." She glanced over at her parents, a weak smile on her lips. "I guess I'm going to be pretty distracted, at least for a day or two."

"That's fine, dear. This is important on a personal level. I wonder what he's like," Kali mused, sliding an arm around her husband's waist. "Hopefully he suits you as well as your father suited me."

"You and dad? You never said." Blake shook her head, chuckling. In hindsight, it should have been a little obvious, given how well her parents got along.

"It's not something that comes up often in conversation," her father replied, still smiling happily at her. "But yes, your mother and I are soulmates. We'll have to arrange a car for you tomorrow, and maybe someone who knows the area to help you find your way around."

"I might be able to help with that. I know Atlas pretty well; I used to live here, after all." A familiar voice came from the shadows of the landing pad as the speaker stepped into the light.

"Ilia!" Blake whooped with joy, running to hug her one-time friend. "Look at me, look at me! I'm glowing, my soulmate's somewhere around here, isn't it wonderful?"

"I noticed." Ilia's voice was a little sad, even as she smiled and returned Blake's hug. "I'm happy for you, Blake, even though... " Ilia shook her head. "Doesn't matter now. What does matter is that your soulmate's here, and I'm more than willing to help you find him." Ilia tilted her head at Ironwood. "That is if the Atlas military doesn't mind an unrepentant member of the White Fang running loose around Atlas City?"

Ironwood nodded his assent. "The arrangement worked out between the White Fang and the Atlas government still stands. You, personally, aren't on the list of people whose activities we're monitoring, Miss Amitola, so you are free to help Blake search for her soulmate. In fact, I'm personally going to help you a bit. There's a small device that's worn on the wrist that measures the soulfire, helps you figure out when you're getting closer. I'll get you one."

"So you can track us?" Ilia replied with a snort. "I don't think so."

"They're actually fairly common. Some overly romantic people buy them just on the off chance they'll pass close enough to their soulmate to set off the soulfire." Ironwood's face grew stern. "And you should remember, Miss Amitola, that I'm one of those who was pushing for these negotiations. I'm tired of burying the dead, human and Faunus. I have too many ghosts to appease."

True to his word, Ironwood had marched into an electronics store, bought the soulfire meter and handed it over, still in the package. "I'll admit I'm being a bit of a romantic about this, but good luck. And please, introduce me to him when you've found him."

The vehicle Ilia had was a rental SUV, not the most inconspicuous of vehicles, but stealth wasn't their mission after all. They drove around Atlas City for a while, before they figured out that Blake's soulmate wasn't in town, but instead north of it.

"So, um, how have you been?" Ilia said as they drove north on the road leading out of Atlas city.

"Good."

Ilia's gray eyes flickered toward Blake for a moment before turning back to the road. "Blake, I know you're pretty focused on the whole soulmate thing right now, but we could be at this for a while. We might not even find them tonight, okay? Actually, probably not tonight. It's already pretty late," she added, glancing at the time. "So can we talk, just to pass the time?"

Blake leaned back in her seat, staring out the window into the darkness. "Fine. But... not about the White Fang, or why I left? I don't want to talk about that."

Ilia bit her lip in annoyance. That was the one thing she most desperately wanted to ask Blake about. "Okay, fine. How did your parents take it, you coming home?"

"They were happy to see me." A car passed by them, going the opposite direction, its headlights illuminating Blake's face long enough for Ilia to see her wistful smile. "It took some time to work our way through everything, but we're okay now."

"That's good. It's always good to have somewhere to call home."

"Ilia, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"

"It's fine, Blake." The meter on Blake's wrist chirped, letting them know they were moving farther away. Ilia swore softly as she looked for a place to turn around, Blake making a notation on their map. "I'm not mad you've managed to reconnect with your parents. I visited my parents' grave, you know." She turned onto a smaller, secondary road. "Looks like your soulmate's loaded. A lot of big houses up this way, spread out. Should make finding them easier."

"Could be one of the household staff, too. Don't make assumptions," Blake muttered, making another notation on the map.

"Maybe a cute pool boy?" Ilia teased.

"One, this is Atlas, they don't have pools. And two, I hope not, I can't swim."

"Indoor pools are a thing, Blake. And he could probably teach you."

"Fine." They drove for another hour, the silence and darkness broken only by the chirping of the meter and the glow of Blake's soulfire.

A patrol car behind them chirped its siren, starting the pair, and Ilia pulled the car over. "No reason not to oblige them, we're not doing anything wrong, are we?" she said at Blake's puzzled glance.

"Good evening, ladies. What brings you out this late?" The police officer peered around the inside of their car his face calm and neutral, one hand on the pistol at his waist.

"Just-just looking for my soulmate," Blake stammered, making sure not to move too much. She was pretty sure she and Ilia could take this guy if it came down to it, but she figured avoiding a fight was their best option.

Peering closer at her, the officer nodded. "Okay, yeah, soulfire and everything. Chasing fairytales, eh? Just be careful, some of the people that live out here don't take kindly to intruders, and tend to a 'shoot first, and let the lawyers handle questions' approach. And if I may offer a helpful suggestion? If you don't mean any harm, don't bring your weapons. In fact, it's probably best if you call the search off for the night. It's already fairly late, and I don't think rousting your soulmate out of bed is the best way to make a good first impression."

Blake cursed as she realized she was still wearing Gambol Shroud. "Thank you, officer. I forgot I was wearing it. I'll leave it at home next time." Or at least tuck it out of sight.

"Good idea. And with those ears, you want to be extra careful around here." He gestured off the side of the road. "That's the Schnee place, and I'm pretty sure you know how old man Schnee feels about Faunus. Head home for the night, and be careful in the morning."

As they drove back into Atlas City, Ilia sighed. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't we figure your soulmate was in the direction of the Schnee property?"

"Unfortunately."

"So, are we hoping for the pool boy?"

"Or some other member of their staff. Because it can't be one of the Schnees, can it?"

"Jacques Schnee is married, obviously, though his wife stays out of the public eye. Rumor has it she's a drunk. And Whitley is too young for a soulmate bond, at least as far as I've heard."

Blake nodded. Supposedly soulmates couldn't bond until you were about fourteen or fifteen. "If it is Jacques Schnee, I'll just shoot myself and get it over with."

"I'll load it for you." The pair laughed as they headed toward the rented townhouse where the Menagerie delegation was staying.