AN- Let me start off by saying this was a challenge I picked up from Yoshi3000 so credit for the concept goes to them. If you want some idea of what I'm going to do you should go visit the RWBYverse is Infinite which is where the challenge originated from and just read it because it's a fun time filled with snippets and other challenges as well. Of course, somethings are purely from my deranged mind so don't get to comfy. Since this AN is already too long for my tastes I'll get on with it. P.s. Yoshi was kind enough to rework this chapter. I have to say I was a little disappointed in myself with the first iteration being forced and leaving out details because I was rushing myself to complete it and didn't want to make it to long but after reading through the edited version I promise I won't make that mistake again. sadly on the other hand It will take me a while to finish the second chapter, I've been swamped with work and personal things. and lastly I am looking for a beta for this story so if anyone is interested PM me. now on with the edited version. thanks again Yoshi.
All rights belong to their respective owners and please enjoy.
"Text" – Speech
'Text' – Thoughts
Text – Technique name
Wealth, fame, power... Ozpin D. Branwen, the King of the Pirates obtained this and everything else the world had to offer. And his dying words drove countless souls to seas.
"You want my treasure? You can have it! I left everything I gathered together in one place! Now you just have to find it!"
These words lured men to the Grand Line in pursuit of dreams greater than they've ever dared to imagine! This is the time known as 'The Great Pirate Era'!
Chapter 1- A Young Rose, the Blonde Swordsman and a Fisherman.
Oscar Pine was at a loss for words in his current situation, but, in his defense, not many people would know what to say when a seventeen-year-old girl pops out of a barrel that had been floating in the ocean.
On his way to a nearby island, Shell Island, to sell some of the fish he caught. But while out sailing, he had come across an unassuming barrel just floating on the waves. So naturally, he took it on board his modest vessel to see what was inside.
"Man, this thing is heavy. I hope there's something useful in here." Oscar muttered to himself after getting the barrel on board "Now all I have to do is open it."
Just as he was about to open it the barrel, it exploded open revealing a young girl. She had black pants that were tucked into a pair of marine boots and wore a loose white shirt with a cross necklace laying on top of it. Her shoulder length black and red hair was tied back into a ponytail while her bangs hung across her forehead. Most notable about was her red cloak clasped around her neck by a silver rose emblem. The dynamic teen looked around and, when she spotted Oscar siting on the ground where he had fallen after she busted out of the barrel, she extended her hand to him.
"Hi there, I'm Ruby D. Rose. Can you show me where I can find some crew mates and maybe a ship?" Ruby asked as Oscar did his most accurate depiction of a gaping fish.
"Are you all right?" Ruby asked with concern.
After getting over the initial shock of someone bursting out of a barrel, if there was such as a thing as getting over that, Oscar jumped to his feet.
"Whoa, hold up! Who are you and why the hell were you in that barrel?" He asked as she just looked at him as if he was the odd one.
"I already told you that my name is Ruby D. Rose. And as to why I was in the barrel is because a storm destroyed the boat I was using... so I improvised." She said naturally before pointing at Oscar accusingly. "And you haven't even told me your name yet or answered my question from before!"
Once more, Oscar imitated a fish feeling that this was going to happen a lot with Ruby before regaining his senses.
"I'm Oscar Pine, and I have no idea where to start looking for either of those things." He said only to see Ruby's shoulders slump and her silver eyes growing into cartoonish versions. "But maybe someone on Shell Island might know."
Ruby's demeanor did a complete turnaround, saying, "Oh Oscar! Can you take me there? Please, please, please!"
Abruptly, a large shark fin appeared in the water heading for the small boat. Surfacing, the beast had a look of hunger and blood lust in it's eyes, intent on getting some easy prey for a snack. Upon seeing this blood lusting beast, Oscar quickly went for the paddles to try and get away. Fear griping his heart as he fumbled with the paddles, thoughts of death and despair were filling him as the monster leapt from the ocean toward them with its mouth agape.
Only for Ruby to nonchalantly look to the imposing beast calling out "Rose Thorn: Kick" and kicking out her leg emitting a long red slash through the air. The poor shark had no idea what hit as it was sent flying through the air with a broken fin with rose petals falling around it as it hit the water. Acting as if nothing had happened, Ruby went back to begging the fisherman for a ride. To say Oscar was taken aback by her antics was an understatement, so he just nodded as Ruby cheered in excitement.
And only one thought ran through Oscar's mind, 'What in the hell did I just get myself into?'
Unknown to him, he gotten himself in the adventure unlike any he's ever been on. Quickly, an awkward silence broke out on the small fishing boat over time, and it was driving Oscar insane. After a quick inner debate, he decided to get to know the enigmatic teen a little better, still against his better judgment, of course.
"So, I didn't get a chance to ask earlier. Why are you looking for a ship and crew anyways? I mean what are your plans for that kind of stuff, you plan on starting a sailing vessel or something?" He asked as Ruby looked back from her seat at the front of the small fishing boat.
"Oh, I'm going to need a crew and a boat if I'm going to be Queen of the Pirates after all right." Ruby said fearlessly.
Oscar didn't know whether to be impressed by her ambition or afraid he let an insane person on his boat. Then again, considering her, he realized it was probably both and that meant one thing.
"Wait, you're going after the One Piece?" Oscar asked as the red themed girl just nodded. "You're insane! No one's ever gotten close to the One Piece much less obtained it."
"That's the point of going after it though, isn't it? You don't go after something someone already got. It's no fun that way." She answered as if there was no other logical conclusion to be made. "Plus, it's an adventure."
"But you'll die if you go to Grand Line! Not many people come back from there you know! It's like a battlefield these days!" He shot back in his defense.
"I know, but where's the fun and adventure in only going for the safe options. This is way more fun. In this world, you don't truly live life going for the safe options." She said cheerfully.
Oscar was about to say something when she turned around and looked him in the eye with a look of complete determination and seriousness on the matter. That's when all arguments died on his mind because, in that moment, he could see the girl in front of him as someone who was fully willing to chase that goal down and fight for that dream.
"Alright, then I should get you to that island as fast as I can, shouldn't I?" Oscar asked she Ruby nodded.
She went back to looking at the horizon as Oscar kept up the rowing. Once more, a silence descended on the boat but this one was much more comfortable than the last. Which was quickly destroyed by Ruby asking how long it would take to get to the island, and her groaning at finding out it would take at least an hour.
'Maybe this will be actually fun, I needed a distraction from the monotony after all.' Pine thought to himself. 'Can't exactly call my life all too safe, either?'
When they finally reached the dock of the small town, Ruby wasted no time in jumping off and looking around. The town was built on a tropical island with palm trees and green grass making up the back drop for the cluster of low wooden buildings and awnings serving as makeshift shops selling anything from fruit to general needs like nails and so forth. People milled around the shops bartering and chatting with each other with business as usual. Oscar walked up to Ruby and put his hand on her shoulder.
"We should talk to some of the locals and find a good bar. There's bound to have leads on stuff like a ship and potential crew members there." Oscar said offering his insight.
Ruby had a look of surprise plastered across her face at his suggestion.
"I thought you were going to just drop me off and go about whatever you were going to do. Why do you want to help me out this much?" She said genuinely curious to his reasons.
"Well it gets pretty boring just fishing, selling it and repeating you know. So, I thought it would be a nice change of pace to see this through to the end. Besides, I owe you my life for saving me from that shark either way." Oscar said with shrug to emphasize his words.
"That makes sense, I guess. Yeah let's go to the bars and dig up some info on some crew members first." Ruby said as the duo were off.
It didn't take long for the duo to find a bar. The building stood out for the fact it had a second floor making it tower over all the other buildings around it.
'Hikida's, huh?' Oscar thought as they entered.
The inside was a comfortable wooden aesthetic filled with tables and chairs giving off a homey feeling. There were a few people hanging about eating and talking with one another all looking rather calm and collected. At the counter was a middle-aged woman of average height and weight cleaning and taking orders from the customers from time to time. Her brown hair was tied back and she wore a light green dress over a dark green shirt. On the dress was a white apron with the town's insignia on it. This was Ririka Hikida, the bartender and owner of the place. The duo walked up to the counter and waved to the woman.
"What can I do for you two today? Lunch has just been served or are you here to board?" Ririka asked as Ruby was the one to speak up.
"Hey, do you know where we could find some people willing to join my crew?" Ruby said sweetly and unintentionally being charismatic.
Ririka put her hand to her chin and thought for a moment only to shake her head.
"The only sailors worth there salt around here are the navy boys who just came into town a few month ago." Ririka said with underlying bitterness.
"I didn't know they set up a navy base here." Oscar cut in curious as to why they would set up a base on such a small island.
It had been a while since he had to Shells Town, but that was over three months ago and rather brief at that.
"They set up here to try and catch criminals trying to skirt other outposts by using these smaller towns for supplies and hideouts." She explained as she started cleaning a shot glass with her expression openly sour. "And they already got somebody locked up there."
"She's talking about that pirate hunter who came into town." One of the men at the table behind them called. "Got him hung up in the yard as "punishment"."
Ruby instantly perked up at the news asking, "Is this guy they got strong?"
After getting a nod from the man, she shot out the door with Oscar scrambling to catch up.
"hey where are you going Ruby?" He asked trying to keep up only having to stop once to keep up.
"To get that pirate hunter guy to join my crew, duh!" Ruby said as Oscar had to keep up.
"He's a pirate hunter Ruby! I don't think he'll be interested in joining a pirate crew. Besides he's being held in a marine base, there not just going to let him go to join a pirate crew." Oscar said as she simply shrugged at him.
"Never know if you don't try. That's what my uncle always says!" Ruby said speeding off.
Pine couldn't help but facepalm at such a casual answer. The desire to smack her over the head was faded, but instead rubbing off on him. He chuckled to himself.
"You really are nuts, aren't you? Oh well, in for a penny in for a pound after all." Oscar said keeping up with Ruby. She just smiled at him and continued on the path. When they reached the base, they found large white building. Its walls seemed unkempt like no one paid enough attention and let the grime and dirt build up. A tall stone fence cut off the yard from the general public to which the two teens quickly climbed the sides and looked over. On the other side, a large yard equally in disarray showing the people did not give enough of a shit to hire a gardener. It had loose dirt making up the majority with sparse grass at the edges and in the middle of the yard was a large cross with a person strapped to it. Oscar gulped audibly at the sight of the man because even chained up he looked like a badass.
"Red bandanna and blonde hair. Ruby, I heard of this guy." Oscar said making sure he was seeing the right guy.
"Oh, so he has a reputation, huh? What's his name?" Ruby said looking to her companion curiously.
"They call him a demon in human form, and that he slices through his bounties like a beast set on destruction. His name is Jaune R. Arc." Oscar said fearfully as the red-haired teen's eyes sparkled with excitement at the description as she hopped over the fence.
"He sounds awesome! I'm going to go talk to him!" She said without a care in the world.
Completely stunned by her brash actions, Oscar just stayed staring as she casually strolled up to the man lashed to the pool.
Ruby was excited beyond words; her first crew mate was right in front of her looking fearsome despite being bound. He wore a pair of blue jeans tucked into a pair of black boots as well as a short sleeved black hoodie with the zipper pulled slightly down showing a white shirt showing tanned and muscled skin. A red haramaki sat over his right hip empty without his swords. And to complete the image he had a three-piece earring in his left ear while he wore a red bandanna that kept his blonde hair out of his eyes. When he looked up, she was met with a pair of piercing cobalt eyes starring her down.
"What do ya want? Can't you see I'm kinda busy here." Jaune said as his voice was hoarse and tired from lake of water.
"I want you to join my pirate crew." She simply answered.
"If that's it you can go ahead and leave, I have no intention of joining any pirate scum." He said flatly. "Now get out of here, before you get caught and thrown in a cell."
Ruby was not one to give up easily. He defied her father for years, and so this was not a challenge.
"Oh, don't be that way, just join already! It has to be better than rotting out here in this yard." Ruby said waving her hand in front of her face for emphasis.
"Just leave me alone to suffer in peace, alright. There is nothing you can do or say to make me join you." Jaune said as he was quickly losing what patience he still had.
Ruby just hmphed at his brusque tone and said, "Fine, just rot out here till you die."
The swordsman's facial expression changed from one of annoyance to complete confidence as he bellowed, "That's where you're wrong, girl. I ain't going to die anytime soon. I'm going to survive no matter what anyone says or thinks, ya got that!"
A smile spread across the captain's lips as she said, "Good, see you around Mr. Pirate Hunter."
She waved as she turned and walked back to where Oscar was starring dumbfounded.
"What were you thinking Ruby? That guys not someone you just walk up and talk too. What if he attacked you or something!?" Oscar said concerned as she just played off his worried tone.
"He didn't seem like a bad guy to me; he even warned me not to get caught." Ruby said making a point.
Before he could retort with an argument of his own, a ladder clanked into place next him on the wall. Both teens turned to it as a little brunette girl climbed up and over before either of them could do anything. She wore a striped turquoise and purple shirt with a white hood up to hide her head. She held a small bag in her hands as she ran up to the captive figure.
"Mister Arc, I brought some food for you." She said to her.
Jaune looked down and his eyes softened but his tone stayed the same as he said, "Rika, you got to stop coming here. You're going to get into trouble if you hang around me. What if the marines catch you? I can have Ririka crying over you."
The girl blew a raspberry out saying, "I don't care what those stupid marines do. Besides you're in this situation because of me anyway."
She looked down at her feet as she continued, "If I hadn't hit that big orange cheese puff with the broom, things wouldn't have turned out like this."
A sigh escaped the blonde teen's lips, but only to crack a smile.
"Don't go blaming yourself for something I chose to do. No one made threaten him specially not you. Besides, you shouldn't be sorry for trying to save your mom from an overgrown bully like him."
At that moment, a group of marines came out of the base. No one would mistake them for the upstanding marine soldiers they claimed to be. There uniforms were rumpled and uneven and one even had a green Mohawk that Oscar knew that would never fly unless you have high rank enough to get away with it. Their leader a large young man with auburn hair and the selves of his uniform cut off to revel his muscular arms wore a nasty grin as he walked toward the little girl. This was the captain of 153rd Branch, Cardin Winchester. Behind him was Commander Sky Lark, Lieutenant Junior Grade Dove Bronzewing, and Seaman Recruit Russel Thrush.
"Well, what do we have here? You know, it's considered treason to talk to the prisoner, don't you girl?" Cardin said yanking the bag from her hand knocking her to the ground causing her hood to fall off her head. "And you brought him food, he's being punished you know. Doing stuff like this defeats the point."
He took the ball of rice out of the bag and he even threw it on the ground smearing it in with his boot for shits and giggle. The three lackeys just laughed, although reluctantly, as the girl teared up saying he spent an hour cooking it perfect for Jaune. The brute waved his hand to his commander subordinate.
"Sky, toss her over the wall. A broken bone ought to teach the little stain not to break rules." Cardin said coldly.
The subordinate in question seemed to have some humanity as he questioned the orders saying, "Hey Cardin, don't you think that's a little overboard? She's just a little girl."
Cardin just backhanded him across the face sending Lark stumbling into Jaune before grabbing Lark by the collar.
"Since when can you back talk me, your captain. Now toss the little cunt or else I'll toss you into the sea!" Cardin roared.
The silver haired man nodded a grabbed the girl whispering to her that she should curl up into a ball to minimize the damage. He then proceeds to toss her over the wall feeling awful already for even doing that. The girl screamed out in fear as she sailed through the air.
"You're a real piece of a shit, you know that, Captain Crunch. Does picking on little kids make you feel better? Or are you licking your bruised ego when Ririka rejected you?" Jaune challenged.
"Shut up prisoner, you don't get a say in this." Cardin said turning to swing at him.
He stopped when he met Jaune's steely gaze. Cardin left a bit of pressure hit and even the other marine felt it feeling weak at the knees. Ruby eyed him carefully as Oscar felt faint.
'It can't be….could he have it?' Ruby thought.
"When, I get out of here. You're a dead man walking, you know that right." Jaune said with his eyes boring into the brute's very soul.
"Like, you'll get out of here alive in the first place. Let's get out of here men." Cardin said walking away in a hurry.
He was trying and failing at pretending he did not crap his pants.
Thinking quickly, Ruby pushed off the wall and grabbed the girl before she fell to the ground. Oscar wasted no time in jumping down and running them to check on Rika.
"What monster orders one of his own to throw a little girl like that?" Oscar said as his face was marred with concern for the girl.
Ruby's face took a look of grim anger. She knew how Marines were "supposed" to act, and they were an insult to marines.
"Please you have to help Mister Arc." Rika pleaded with the teens. "He took my punishment for hitting that orange butthole. They took away his swords and strapped him to that pole where they don't even feed him and eat in front of him. All Jaune did was save me from that guy. He didn't commit any crimes."
Oscar tried to calm her down and spoke, "Alright, but what about the commanding officer? No way they would let this slide."
Suddenly, the voice of Ririka cut in.
"That orange pig is the commanding officer. Ever since they put this place up on such short notice, they couldn't spare any high ranking officers to command it. Plus, Cardin had a win under his belt at the time."
Rika ran into her mother's arms crying her eyes out saying, "I'm sorry mommy, I just couldn't let him starve."
Ririka smiled down at her holding her close.
"I know sweetie, I know." She said as she let out a tired sigh. "So, he was put in charge with the highest rank of those stationed here. They've been running around town like they own the place taking food from the vendors as 'payment for the protection' and they recently started harassing the women. The leader Cardin had been…propositioning me as payment for protection I did not want. after I told him to leave, he started to get violent nearly cutting me with a broken mug trying to arrest me. That's when my daughter here swatted at him with a broom. He turned to attack her when Mr. Arc stepped in."
"He was so cool when he cracked a chair over that jerk's head. He was like 'a grown man shouldn't attack children' with sword drawn and pointed at that big bully's throat." Rika said cutting in excitedly, "But then that bastard said he was going to lock me and mommy up at the stocks if Mr. Arc didn't take the punishment himself instead. He said if he survived the month he would let him go."
"I know I don't have the right or reason to ask this, but you seem strong enough to help him. Please he's a good man, you have to help him." Ririka begged the teens worriedly, "I overheard some of the better-behaved marines down at my bar. Captain Cardin never intended to make good on the deal and is going to execute him today."
Oscar was repulsive by her words, he never expected any marine to so blatantly harm others and act in such a way.
'To think I even considering joining the Marines' Oscar thought bitterly.
Ruby had a different reaction. She and her did not see eye to eye growing up, but they would have both would have agree on beating this "captain" black and blue.
"Ruby, we got to help hi-" Oscar said before he could continue he was cut off by Ruby jumping over the wall in a single leap. "Never mind, you're already on it."
He turned to the mother and daughter telling them to head home.
"Don't worry, we got this." He said confidently as they nodded leaving him to look over at the wall as he climbed in.
'I know I acted though and all. But, what the hell can I do? Ruby can punch the air, and all I can do is fish.' He thought before he shook his head. 'Whatever, can't get out of it now. I need to aid Jaune.'
Once he hit the ground, he sprinted over to his companion.
Jaune was lost in memories of his past after the marines left the yard. Images of a young girl with long crimson hair tied in a ponytail flashed through his mind, her smile pushing him to survive. 'Can't die here, not when I haven't fulfilled that promise' was the thought he made his mantra to push on. He was jostled from his thoughts when the girl from earlier showed up in front of him.
"Oh, it's you, I already told you I ain't joining your crew. So, what else do you want?" Jaune asked
"You'll a real nice guy, aren't you?" She answered as if she hadn't heard him at all. "It's settled then! You're definitely going to be my first mate! There's no way I can pass up on an opportunity like this"
"The hell are you talking about, you madwoman? Didn't you hear me, I ain't joining no crew!" Jaune yelled as her blatant disregard for his words threw Jaune for a loop.
"You're a swordsman, right? So, if I get your swords back, you'll join my crew." She continued on without a care for his arguments. "Now, where would your swords be held?"
Jaune was about to tell her off when another boy showed up. He was dressed as what you expect of a fisherman with simple white shirt, gray pants, black boots, and a pink scarf around his neck.
"They probably have them in the armory." Oscar said answering her question before having another for the blonde. "What kind of sword is it anyway?"
"I use katana- wait why am I telling you anything?" Jaune said having started answering without thinking. "And who are you anyways, one of her crew?"
Pine was about to answer when he was interrupted by Ruby.
"So, I'm looking for a katana in the armory, got it." She said as she dashed off toward where she thought the armory was.
"it's the other way, genius." Jaune called out.
She quickly turned and called out "Rose Wind" and disappeared in flash of rose petals swishing past. Jaune's mouth hung open in shock as Oscar rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, she does stuff like that a lot." Oscar said trying to untie the ropes. "I'm Oscar Pine, by the way and that girl is Ruby D. Rose."
Some of Ruby's nonchalant attitude seemed to rub off on him. Also, the adrenaline overrunning his mind at the moment.
"Hey, what the hell you doing? If you untie me, they'll put you up here too and imprison Rika and Ririka!" Jaune said trying to convince him to stop. "I'll be out of here in just two more days! Just let it be!"
"Please listen Mr. Arc, that crap captain Cardin was never going to let you go." Oscar said fumbling with the knots "Ririka overheard them say he's going to execute you later today. So please, let us help you."
"Why didn't you guys say that in the first place? That arrogance motherfucker is going to be cut into ribbons when I get free." Jaune roared vicious as he grumbled the last part. "Hey, how long till you get through the knots?"
"it's going to take me a minute! I was a fisherman, not a sailor." Oscar said before being surprised by his own words thinking, 'Who knew that I would be talking back to a deadly bounty hunter today?'
Ruby was currently running through the armory looking for Jaune's sword. A few unlucky marines who tried to stop her where promptly dealt with a punch to the face or being tossed into the wall.
'They just don't train them like they used to. He'd be ashamed.' she thought to herself, memories of her father's training coming to mind. 'More importantly, where the heck is his sword?'
The building itself was large and nondescript with housing things like riffles and cutlass blades for the soldiers. After a moment of searching, she found a group of blades different from the rest.
'That has to be it.' She thought running up to them before saying, "They're too cool for the marines."
She sighed out in relief that they were definitely katanas. Two of which were simple black color and the last one was a beautiful white blade with an expensive looking sheath.
"yes, one of these has to be it!….but which one is it, he never described it to me." She said as she heard the sound of people running in her direction. "Oh well, guess I'll have to take all three of them. He can tell me which is his when I get there."
Grabbing the swords, she dashed off exiting the building. She was met with a wall of marines all armed and glaring daggers.
"Stop where you are criminal scum, you're trespassing on government property if you resist we will be forced to use physical force to stop you." a faceless marine informed her with the group pointing blades and gun barrels at her.
She just jumped over them easily clearing them before she hit the ground to keep running.
'Hypocrites, the lot of them! I have to get back fast, with all this commotion going on they probably moved up the execution' She thought.
Oscar was currently struggling with the ropes that bound the young swordsman. His hands slipped form the tight bindings for what felt like the thousandth time. Oscar was slowly regretting not taking that officer to join the Marines for sailing classes.
"Fuck! Why is this knot so tight? It's not even done properly because it looks like a novice tied it!" Oscar said pulling at his brown hair.
While not usually one to lose his patience easily, the compounded pressure of marines coming to execute the man in front of him was getting to him.
"Hey, you a part of her crew?" Jaune asked snapping Oscar not of his fretting.
"Huh, why are you asking that now? Aren't we in the middle of something important?" Oscar said confused.
"Just trying to keep you calm, the moment you panic is the moment we die." Jaune said as his face was set in a stoic calm that defied the situation.
"Not really, I just meet her today actually." Oscar said as Jaune hid his surprise. "I just went along with it because….I don't really know. She just draws people to her I guess. I don't even know why I am still helping. Besides you seem like a nice guy, and my mother always taught me to help those in need."
"You too, huh? Moms sure know a lot, don't they?" Jaune said with a large goofy grin that spread across his face that surprised Oscar.
In that moment he didn't look like the terrifying monster he heard of, just a nice guy who wanted to help a little girl and her mother.
"Yeah they sure do." Oscar said cheerfully before asking, "So, are you going to join Ruby's crew? You don't have to, of course. But, will you?"
A moment of silence passed as Jaune pondered the question.
"Let me ask you this counter question, do you think she's a good person? I won't join some villain's crew, no matter what they do for me." Jaune said seriously.
His face, while not the fierce demeanor he had earlier, was set in stone.
"Even though I've only known her for a short time, I can say without a doubt that Ruby D. Rose is a good person. She'd make a better marine than these assholes, hands down" Oscar replied immediately and with resolve.
But before they could continue their conversation, a clapping noise caught their attention. Across the yard was none other than Cardin and a large group of marines, who were watching this touching moment.
"Well well, what do we have here boys? Looks like a soon to be dead man trying to free the prisoner." Cardin said as his face twisted into a maniacal grin. "That's an offense punishable by death, and since we're already here to kill Arc let's get you both at the same time. Guns raised!"
At his words, the marines behind him pointed their guns at the two.
"Get out of here now!" Jaune said before cutting off Oscar with, "Listen to me, damn it! You don't need to die here. They'll be occupied with me. So, escape and find that Ruby girl."
He then kicked with his unbound feet into Oscar's stomach knocking him out of range before telling him, "And tell her thanks for trying to save me because it meant a lot to me."
"Fire!"
The final word from Cardin caused the men to let loose on the captive figure. In that moment, remembrances flashed in Jaune's mind.
That scarlet haired girl coldly at first, "Weak as always Jaune.", before she smiled sweetly to him, "But I know you can make yourself into an amazing swordsman one day. Promise me you'll never give up on that OK?"
Her words echoing in his mind even now.
'Crap this wasn't how it was supposed to go, Pyrrha! I was-I won't die here.' Jaune thought with newfound determination.
He faced the oncoming bullets in ill-fated attempt to survive. All he saw however was a bellowing red cloak.
"Iron Rose."
The bullets bounced harmlessly off Ruby's body as she stood before the intended target. Ignoring the shocked faces around her, she whipped around to Jaune with swords in her hands saying, "Yo Jaune, I didn't know which one yours was so I grabbed all three."
"Don't worry about it, you got the right ones." Jaune assured her. "All three are mine for I use the three-sword style, Santoryu."
"Oh, that's so cool. But now, you got a choice. So now, it's you either join my crew or get killed by marines taking your innocence with you." Ruby said with her innocent face not matching her underlying threats.
"You're a real devil, you know that?" Jaune said this as he could not help but smile, "But since I don't want to die here. So, if going against the marines already makes me a wanted man, then I might as well become a pirate while I'm at it."
"What are you incompetent bastards doing, go get them!" Cardin yelled to his men.
Many took out swords and ran towards the cloaked Rose intent on finishing the job. But luckily, all of Oscar's efforts weren't in vain, as the now loosened ropes slipped off Jaune when he pushed against them. Grabbing the blades from Ruby and unsheathing them in a quick fluid motion and turning stooping the blades of the marines with ease. With the two black blades in each hand and the white blade held firmly in his mouth he looked at Ruby and Oscar.
"But let me tell you this, I have my own ambitions and if you stand in the way of that, I'll turn my blades on you." Jaune said sternly.
"What ambition is that?" Ruby asked.
"To be the world's greatest swordsman." Jaune answered firmly.
"Great, the Queen of the Pirates wouldn't have anyone less as her first mate." Ruby said this as her eyes shone brightly with little stars in them.
"Alright, with that settled, why don't we take care of these guys, Captain Rose?" Jaune said as the two set into action.
Jaune turning and slashing the marines incapacitating them with heavy wounds causing blood loss, and Ruby moving forward striking out with punishing kicks and blows at those unfortunate enough to be too close. The under trained marines didn't stand a chance against either one who had actual training. Oscar tried his best to stay out of the way, but a marine turned to him charging at him to take the weaker of the three. Thinking quickly, he snagged a dropped flintlock pistol firing at the man's balls. The marine fell to ground cradling his injured balls whining about needed painkillers.
'I'm a better shot then I gave myself credit for. To think all that time spent playing at the carnival would pay off.' Oscar thought with a smirk.
Before he could leave, he was grabbed from behind with a pistol put to his head thanks to Russel.
"Stop fighting or this punk gets a bullet for a brain." Russel said with a sneer with his finger on the trigger.
Ruby stooped to look at him only to grin to which Oscar had a matching one. Pulling her arm back, she punched in the mohawk moron's direction shouting, "Rose Thorn: Punch!". The air wave coming from her hand traveled quickly toward his face, but Cardin was right behind her readying his mace to strike. The air wave connected with mohawk's face knocking him out along with his teeth. And as Cardin's arm made it to its apex, Jaune's voice was heard shouting "Oni Giri" slashing Cardin with the might of all three of his swords.
Cardin fell backwards with three wounds across his chest forming from an explosion of blood splattering out of them.
"Thanks Jaune! That was awesome." Ruby cheered.
"Anytime captain, and you were pretty cool yourself." The swordsman answered back relived it was all other.
Back at Hidaka's, everyone was resting and eating. Notably, Jaune was eating like a man starved, which he was.
"This food is so good, thanks for the meal, Miss Hidaka." Jaune said guzzling down some of the booze.
Now without his bandanna and in a more relaxed mood, he struck everyone as the dorky type. He had a big goofy grin on his face as he savored his meal. His blonde hair was messy and wild with his eyes finally shining with childlike joy.
"I'm glad you liked it, it's the least I could do after everything you did for my daughter and me." Ririka said with a bow.
"No problem. So, captain, besides us, how many crew members do we have? And where's the boat?" Jaune asked as his question stopped Ruby who had also been eating.
"Oh… it's just us and the boats out there." She stating pointing to the window which gave view of the small fishing boat they came in on.
Jaune was speechless for a moment but he simply sighed and shook his head.
"Well that ought to teach me not to make promises before I know everything, but a promise is a promise. And an Arc never breaks one so I guess I'm stuck." Jaune said with a shrug.
Ruby beamed at the statement. Suddenly they were interrupted by Sky Lark from earlier.
"Sorry to bother you but it's come to our attention that you are pirates, is this correct?" Sky asked as Ruby just nodded as she kept eating. "Then I'm sorry but as acting Captain of this naval base, I'll have to ask you to leave this island immediately."
A chorus of outrage came from those gathered in the bar all stating that the marines stationed there owed them their skins.
"In exchange for helping me to get enough to get both Cardin and Russel arrested and saving this town, we won't report you. All we ask in that you leave immediately." Sky said respectfully.
"Fine, we'll go. We were going to leave soon anyway. Now we just have a reason to leave sooner rather than later." Ruby spoke up from her seat with a smile. "Come on guys, let's go."
Jaune got up and moved to the exit with Ruby but Oscar spoke up.
"Does that include me?" the two turned to him. "I mean I'm just a fisherman, not really much of a pirate."
The two just laughed at his lack of confidence as Ruby said, "Come on you doof, of course you're a part of the crew. You helped me out this whole time and it was all super fun. So come on, we got a sea to travel."
Ruby's answer was suitably insane, and Oscar would not have it any other way.
"You helped me out of a hard spot and your pretty fun to talk to. Besides I already thought that you were a part of the crew. Oh, and you fought the marines so..." Jaune said with a shrug as if it were the only natural way.
A smile spread across the former fisherman's face. Ruby was right about today, it would be the start of a true adventure!
"Alright Captain, First Mate, let's set sail to our next destination." Oscar said taking one of the customer's cup of booze and downing it in one go. "All right!"
All three set off to the boat. As Oscar was about to get on board, he was stopped by Sky who handed him a pair of pistols.
"You're a pretty good shot and thought you could use this out there." Sky said. "Best of luck on your journey."
"Is it rely okay to give this to a pirate?" Oscar asked awkwardly.
"What are you talking about, you picked it up after the battle didn't you? Besides, those are Cardin's pistols and he won't be needing them." Sky said with a smirk on his face.
Nodding his thanks, Oscar got on the boat and along with Ruby and Jaune, set sail. As they were setting off, they looked back to see the whole town waving them off and the marines saluting them along with Sky saying they would go without food for a week for saluting pirates. Of course, Sky was only saying this to save face and he would tell them off that later.
"Well that was interesting, but we're off to the next adventure right boys?" Ruby asked.
And both of her companions nodded affirming their agreement. Ruby beamed brighter than before.
"Guys, one of these days, we're going to look back at this and realize this was the beginning of the greatest adventure ever known! Today begins the voyage of the RWBY Pirates!" Ruby said excitedly.
"RWBY?" Oscar asked in confusing alongside Jaune.
Ruby undid her hood to reveal a tattoo on her shoulder. On her shoulder was "RWBY" going downwards with R in red, the W in white and crossed out, B is normal black, and the Y in yellow.
"Let's just say, I'm honoring a lost friend…." Ruby said cryptically.
Whew that was a lot longer than I expected but I'm pretty happy with it. What do you guys think. While I'm sure you already guessed this, but this is my first fic so all criticism is appreciated. Asides from that if you liked this, there's more where that came from. And as to why I changed so much in regard to character personality and story line, like Oscar coming along instead of joining the marines is because this is still a fan fic and I wanted to put my own spin on things. So, without anything left to say, please leave a review and goodnight.
(A/N: Yoshi3000 – Edit this thing took hours, but it was worth to fully flesh out this story. This guy needs up and to all you beta readers out there, let a hand!)