Of Crystal Shards and Dust

by Daemon of Wrath

An ill omen had foretold the future of a child not yet born into this world...and so Regis Lucis Caelum made a fateful decision. A decision that would lead his kingdom to a world of uncertainty. A world of mere Remnants.

3. Chapter 3

Co-Written with Demons Anarchy of Pride. The creator of many fantastic masterpieces such as: Fire Emblem: Eternity Unto Reformation, Code Geass: Lelouch of the R-eset, The Crow: DxD, Highschool, DxD: Shatter Destiny, RWBY's Reaper, Code Geass 00, Fractured Reality, Code Geass: Suzaku of the Counterattack, Devil Survivor: Destiny Rewind, Persona 4: The Unseen Truth, Code Geass: The Butterfly Effect, DxD: Final, DxD: Nocturne, A Dragon Darker than Black, Code Geass: Kill the Rebellion, RWBY: Colorless Memories, RWBY: Black Rebellion, RWBY: Final Judgment, Persona 3: Death Overture, Bloom, Wilt, and Scatter, Drifting towards Rebellion, and Metastability.

I highly recommend you check them all out.

I really appreciate your help, man. Couldn't have done this without ya!

I also recommend a few stories made by another talented fanfic writer, Otaku-Nation666: Warning Letter, Highschool DxD: Destiny's Play, RWBY Riders: Spirits of Legend, Deadly Sin of the Spriggan, RWBY: Within Enlightened Hearts, Tokyo Ghoul: Wishes of an Eyepatch, Fabulae Parcae, RWBY –Apocrypha-, Tokyo Mirage Sessions: Apocalypse, and more.

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Final Fantasy XV x RWBY Crossover

"Of Crystal Shards and Dust"

XXXXXXXXXX

Chapter 3: Conference

"You know, I think I'm going to miss this place," Summer said as she and her team walked through the streets of Insomnia with the Kingsglaive. "I mean, how often do you get to explore a place like this?"

"Yeah, I'm with you there, Sum." Qrow nodded in agreement. "How many can say that they were the first ones to step foot into a Kingdom that sprang up out of nowhere?"

Nyx chuckled. "Well, not many," he said. "Still, kind of sad that you guys are leaving. I mean, you were here for only a week."

"Well, technically speaking," Raven brought up. "It was just for formality and negotiations...I do have to agree with you, though," A fond smile formed on her face. "I am going to miss this place. Who knows? Once things settle down, we can come here again."

"Hell, I'm all for it," Taiyang nodded in agreement. "I just hope the other kingdoms greet Lucis the way we have."

"Well, I doubt it. I can probably see Vacuo, Menagerie, and Mistral being some of the friendlier greetings. But the pricks back at Atlas? No chance." Qrow shook his head.

"Is that opinion just based on the General?" Summer asked with a frown. "Because if so, then that's just being biased."

The scythe-wielder shrugged. "Well, there's Jimmy to a lesser extent...and then there's Jackass."

Nyx frowned. "Jackass?" he asked. "That your pet name for someone?"

"He means Jacques Schnee," Raven clarified. "He's the CEO of the Schnee Dust Corporation...which isn't exactly known for its Faunus treatment."

"Faunus Treatment? Are you talking about poor work conditions?"

"More like slavery. They put them to dangerous work mining Dust for a meager sum of money." Qrow scoffed.

Libertus nearly did a spittake, whipping around with wide eyes. "Slave labor?!" he said with a near snarl. "Bloody hell! And someone like that is running a company?!"

"Well, when he took over the business, Jacques made the SDC quite successful," Raven informed them. "Though said actions left the company in a, how shall we say, morally gray area?"

"More like Morally dark gray, like the hair color he used to have the month before he took over." Taiyang added.

Crowe snorted in disgust. "Sounds like Atlas has a couple of dicks."

"You don't know the half of it..." Qrow shook his head. "There is a reason why Atlas was known to be a power hungry nation during the War."

"Except that was then, and this is now," Summer said. "Anyway, we're supposed to leave in a couple of hours, right? What should we do until then?"

"I'm not really sure...we pretty much covered all of the sights here in Lucis..." Libertus rubbed the back of his head.

Pelna crossed his arms, dipping his head in thought. "Hm...maybe we could have a spar?" The group looked at him. "W-what? Just a suggestion."

"...You know..." Nyx began. "...That's actually a pretty good idea. I mean, we never really got to see each other in action."

Raven smirked. "You sure?" she asked, clearly confident. "We're pretty tough."

"Well, almost all of us," Qrow said, sneaking a glance at Summer. "Sum can't really fight."

"What?! Hey, I can-"

"Short stuff, you broke your weapon, remember? And even Tai said you can't fight with your bare hands for crap...no offense."

"Tai..." Summer turned to the blonde member of the team and pouted.

"Sorry, Summer." He raised his hands in defense. "But it's kinda the truth. You're unarmed combat abilities are...well, they kinda suck."

The red-eyed member of the group scoffed. "More like non-existent. Face facts, Summer...you rely too much on weapons."

"Not you too, Raven..." She whined.

Libertus laughed. "Sounds a lot like Pelna, then!"

"W-what?!" the dark-skinned boy cried. "W-what's that supposed to mean?!"

"Hey, it's the truth! Remember when you first did a Warp?" he laughed. "You were vomiting buckets!"

"H-Hey! Motion sickness is a much more common problem than people realize!" The boy defended. "I mean, we're literally teleporting from place to place! How would that NOT be disorienting?!"

Crowe smirked. "I didn't have any problems."

"Neither did we..." Tredd and Luche shook their heads.

Pelna hung his head low, feeling slight shame. Seriously?! Was he the only one?!

Libertus patted him on the shoulder in a consoling manner.

"So..." Nyx decided to get back on topic. "About that spar..."

"Hm...why not keep it three on three?" Raven suggested. "After all, Summer's weapon is still being repaired, and you have more guys. Fair's fair, right?"

Luche nodded in agreement. "Alright then," he turned to Nyx and Crowe. "Nyx, Crowe, feel up for it?"

"Hell yeah," the female Glaive smirked. "I'm down."

Nyx smiled somewhat, taking out one of his kukri's. "Sure."

"Then it's settled," Qrow chuckled. "So...you guys know any good open spaces?"

"We've got one in mind."

XXXXXXXXXX

"...as been less than ten hours since the appearance of the new kingdom off the coast of Menagerie, and we now have official reports of this mysterious new country. The kingdom of Lucis, led by its monarch, Regis Lucis Caelum, had chosen to take refuge here in Remnant in order to escape conflict with another kingdom known as Niflheim, which occurred in their world of Eos. New reports are steadily flowing in, while the Headmaster of Beacon Academy and representative of Vale, Ozpin, and the representative of Atlas, the newly stated General James Ironwood, continue with talks in order to ascertain the intentions of this new kingdom." The news reporter announced as the broadcast was being transmitted across all the kingdoms.

As per the case with any new event, media had always found a way to leak out. However, because of the nature of this incident, information had to be carefully regulated and monitored. In this case, only information that was proven to be fact by both Ozpin and Ironwood was distributed. This information was also the first to be broadcasted globally, an incident never happening before, which only showed how grand the event was. It was even being broadcasted in Menagerie. Though their technical advancements haven't truly increased much, they still had access to media and other information. Trade routes were also established, though nowhere near as strong as other merchant products. It was yet another sign of racism, though they managed to live with it.

"Another world? Are you kidding me?"

"Well, does explain the weird shit that happened when that light showed up."

"I dunno...sounds fishy if you ask me."

"Who cares about that?! What do these guys think about the Faunus?!"

The reactions varied. Some wondered about their technological advancements. Some wondered about the authenticity of this information. Some wondered how this monarchy treated their subjects. Some wondered how they treated Faunus.

Ghira, however, was intrigued. "A kingdom from another world?" he muttered to himself. "That is...hard to believe, though given what happened when it appeared, I suppose it is not within reason to believe that."

"Indeed." Krimzen nodded in agreement. To think that the landmass originated from a foreign realm. It is almost like a plot element from a fairy tale. "This changes quite a lot," The Bull Faunus said, holding a hand to his chin. "If these reports are true...can there really be Faunus?"

"Only one way to find out, old friend," Ghira responded. "For now...all we can do is wait, and see what these strangers' intentions here in Remnant are. I would sooner know more than simply a few reports of them fleeing from a war."

XXXXXXXXXX

"Alright, here are the rules. No serious injuries, we keep it fair and easy. Last thing we need is to explain why we're so banged up. Also, if your opponent forfeits, you stop immediately. The match ends when one of us gives." Libertus announced, as the three selected fighters of Team STRQ and the Kingsglaive faced one another. "Understood."

"Okay. Now for the first match, we have Luche vs Taiyang!"

The blonde Kingsglaive cracked his neck before unholstering the firearm strapped to his side and a foot long dagger.

"You ready?" Taiyang questioned as he fell into a fighting stance.

"Ready when you are." Luche grinned as he twirled his gun.

Libertus looked at the two from his spot near the edge. "Are our combatants ready?" he called out. Rather than answer or give a nod, the two warriors glared back at each other with fierce intensity. "Alright then...GO!"

With that shout, the two charged at each other.

Taiyang went in to start with a right hook to the face, but Luche evaded it by backpedaling in the last second. He then raised his gun and aimed it at the brawler's stomach before pulling the trigger.

The bullet struck him, forcing him back a bit. "Ow!" Taiyang frowned. Though his Aura had healed him, he still felt the bullet's impact. It was also strange, almost like a ball of flame had blown at his stomach. "The heck?"

"Elemental bullets," Luche answered. "Never leave home without 'em. Have to say, I'm impressed. Seems this 'aura' thing is rather handy. That should have knocked you out flat and paralyzed you."

"Yeah, well...Aura is much sturdier than you guys think. Got it hand it to ya though...the fact that you all can use magic of all things took us for a loop." He replied, shaking off the prior damage.

Luche chuckled. "Well, you can thank His Majesty for that," he responded. He then threw his dagger at him. The blade was spinning through the air, intending to strike at the brawler. He ducked his head to the side, evading it, though he was caught off guard when Luche's body vanished, and reappeared right next to him, holding the dagger while smoke and ash danced off his body, whirling in mid-air to deliver a heel strike to the back of the head.

The brawler stumbled before catching himself and standing back up. He crossed his arms to block the round house kick Luche followed up with. The Glaive used this moment and pointed his gun to the ground beneath Taiyang's feet. He pulled the trigger and a fiery explosion erupted from the impact.

The blast caused him to backpedal, giving Luche the opportunity to charge forward with his knife reared back.

Taiyang barely had enough time to regain his bearings before realizing what happened next. He swung the blade, intent on striking his opponent in the throat. The fighter saw this and leaned backward, enough so that the tip of the blade nearly missed him. Taking the fact that Luche was now wide open, Taiyang steeled himself and rammed his knee into his side.

He let out a grunt of pain, feeling like he had just been struck by a sledgehammer. Taiyang struck like a truck, hard and heavy. 'This is going to be tough,' he noted as he dodged a punch that would have clocked out his light. He threw his dagger behind him, and immediately warped away, gaining some distance. He needed to think this through. He needed to be calm, try and calculate how this would go.

He was armed with a gun filled with elemental bullets and a foot long dagger while his opponent was proficient in hand to hand combat. His best bet would be to use his firearm and attack from a distance, but he would eventually run out of ammunition, and who knows if the brawler's aura would recede before then.

Taiyang rolled his shoulders while cracking his neck. "What? That all you got?"

"Heh...Hardly." Luche replied with a smirk. A plan was now set into place. He removed the cartridge of bullets from his gun and replaced it with another from his belt.

He flipped his dagger around, and then braced himself for another charge.

The fighter grinned as he raised his hands in a defensive stance.

The two charged at each other again, only this time Luche decided to show off his acrobatic skills. While they had only been in the Glaive for about nearly a year now, they had developed the necessary combat skills, constantly sparring and training against each other to improve. In terms of ability, leadership, and skill, Luche was the best. It was why he was named the second-in-command, should the General disappear for whatever reason.

He vaulted over a hook that would have sent him flying, and as soon as he touched the ground, he spun on his heel and slashed at his back, followed by a shot to the skull. Unlike before, Taiyang felt like he had just been hit by a bolt of lightning to the back of his head.

The blast of electricity was stopped from leaving lasting damage due to his Aura, but the shock momentarily stunned him.

Luche took advantage of this. He delivered a roundhouse kick to his back, knocking him back.

The brawler stumbled and fell face first to the ground. Slowly, he pulled himself back up and shook off the remaining electricity from his system.

He quickly turned back to Luche, and slammed his fists together. Then he charged, spiraling around on the ball of his foot to increase the momentum of his punch. The Glaive blocked it, but felt his arms burn in pain. He parried it, and swung his knife, only for Taiyang to lean back and then slam his forehead against Luche's. The resulting collision caused him to backpedal, clutching his head and leaving him open for a right hook.

The brawler then followed with an uppercut, stunning the Glaive before proceeding with a series of alternating strikes across the face.

Luche tried his best to dodge, but Taiyang was faster. MUCH faster. He gritted his teeth, and ducked underneath one strike, lowering in for a leg sweep. Rather than jump, Taiyang performed three backflips, gaining some needed distance between them. Luche decided to kick things up a notch and throw his dagger. He warped in sync with it, and came in fast, delivering a flying lariat.

Taiyang choked as the arm struck right into his Adam's apple, leaving him a gasping mess. The Kingsglaive grabbed the man by the shirt and tossed him over his shoulder before pinning him to the ground with a knee on his chest, his gun pointed at his forehead, and the dagger to his throat.

"...give up?"

Taiyang stared back. Lilac eyes simply glared in defiance, though it soon crumbled, and sighed. "...give." Luche smiled, and removed himself from Taiyang, holstering his weapons and offering a hand. Taiyang took it, and pulled himself up. "Man, if anyone at the Academy hears I lost to a KID, I will never live it down."

"Too late for that," Qrow smirked. "Oh, the blackmail material..."

"Screw you, Qrow."

"And who the hell are you calling a kid?" Luche swatted his shoulder in a joking manner. "You're only a year older than me."

Libertus laughed. "Well, that's one fight done. Who's up ne-"

"Well, this is a surprise," a commanding voice spoke. Instantly, every Kingsglaive in the arena suddenly snapped into attention, and turned to face the imposing form of Titus Dautos. "I decide to take a break, like His Majesty, suggested, and here I find my men fighting with our guests."

Pelna paled. This was bad...he should have known this would have happened. He needed to explain this situation properly. He couldn't let everyone get in trouble, just because the sparring thin was all his idea. "W-we're sorry, sir, b-but I-"

"At ease, Pelna," Titus raised a hand, a slim smile on his face. "I know a friendly spar when I see one. It's a good idea, though. There's no such thing as getting to know your opponents, whether they're your enemies or allies." He then turned to Taiyang. "Speaking of which, that was some excellent form. You shrugged off those hits like they were nothing. I assume that most Huntsmen are this capable?"

Taiyang blushed somewhat, unused to having someone praise him in such a manner. He couldn't help but scratch the back of his head. "Y-yes...but their skill depends on them, Mr. Dautos."

"Either way, it's quite impressive," he praised. "Wish I had more men like you in the Glaive."

Nyx laughed. "Ouch, sir...that hurts, really."

"Well, you can't deny that we are a bit undermanned..." Tredd shrugged. They were all immigrants from Lucian territories that enlisted in the Kingsglaive not too long ago, the reason why they were selected out of the many that tried to join was because of their skill and potential. When it comes to protecting their Kingdom, their homes, it was about quality over quantity.

"I know, but it still kind of stings."

Titus grunted. "Well, as much as I'd like to see what else our guests can do, I'm afraid we'll have to cut this spar short. Nyx, Crowe, the two of you are to report to command. We're heading out."

The Glaives blinked, and looked at each other in confusion. Were they being sent out? Crowe spoke up. "Do we have a mission?"

"Call it making headway," came the response. "Ozpin and General Ironwood are going to release a public statement to their respective kingdoms after they've returned home. As for us, we're going on an escort mission. We're heading Menagerie."

XXXXXXXXXX

"Ghira Belladonna, while perhaps a bit too hearty for his own good, is a good ally to have," Ozpin said as he, Regis, and Ironwood made their way to the entrance of the embassy, where the cars tasked with escorting them back to their airships waited. "Although, I am surprised. Acting so early?"

Regis shrugged his shoulders. "Sometimes, it is best to act swiftly," he answered. "That, and I wish to see Menagerie for myself, if what you've told me is true."

The King had been wanting to meet with the Faunus ever since they were brought up in their first meeting. He wanted to ensure them that if they ever needed an ally or a home, then they would be welcomed in Lucis.

That, and it was always good to establish connections. For as long as these people have known, they've been beaten, spit on, and abused by those whom they wanted equality with. The information that he had learned from the two men was indeed valuable, especially regarding the one called Salem. However, these people knew nothing of Lucis. None of what they did, or what they could do, or how they treated others. This did leave room for negotiations, though at the same time, many would be suspicious of their motives.

Hence, it was best to act in a fast and timely manner.

It would be best to meet with them and speak of their own intentions personally rather than having their motives tainted by rumors.

He only hoped that the people of Lucis could accept the Faunus. He knew full well that those of Insomnia did not take kindly to the immigrants, regardless if they were apart of the Kingsglaive, but he still wished for the best. It was always a good idea to look at the brighter things in life before coming to reach that point in time. In the meantime, there was quite a bit to prepare. Soon, they left the building, leading to the staircase and to the cars. Already, two members of the Glaive, including Titus, and those who belonged to Headmaster Ozpin's party, Team STRQ, were waiting outside.

"I see everyone is accounted for." King Regis smiled.

"We are ready when you are, your majesty." Titus and the members of the Glaive bowed.

Ozpin smiled. "I see you work fast," he noted before looking at his students. "I hope your time in Insomnia was eventful, Team STRQ."

"Oh, you better god DAMN believe it, Oz," Qrow laughed. "Remind me to come back here during vacation!"

Raven rolled her eyes. "I can't tell if he means the food, the women, or just the fact that he can goof off," she wondered aloud, mostly to spite her sibling, before smiling. "We did have a good time, though."

"Yeah. It was a blast...can't say the same for the bruises though..." Taiyang grimaced as he rolled his shoulders.

"I kinda wish we could continue our spar though...I wanted to ask Luche about elemental bullets." Summer pouted in disappointment.

Nyx chuckled, patting the hooded girl on the head. "Don't worry, I'll see if I can pull some strings."

"Wait, seriously?! YES!"

Ironwood quirked an eyebrow while Ozpin and Regis smiled. Already, friendship was blooming between Huntsmen and Glaive...who could say that the same could happen between the kingdoms?

"I've already contacted the crew at Galdin Quay, Your Majesty," Titus informed. "They're preparing the airships for our guests as we speak, as well as our own...though we did receive a rather unusual call."

Regis raised an eyebrow. "A call?"

"Yes, Your Majesty...apparently someone from the cafe wanted to speak with you. He said his name was Cid."

The King's face became one of surprise. "Cid? Well...that is indeed unusual...I've never expected for him of all people to call..."

"A friend of yours?" Ironwood asked.

"More than that, Mr. Ironwood...far more than that."

XXXXXXXXXX

Cid Sophiar was some might call a rude wrench monkey with a sharp mouth, and a heart of gold.

But to everyone else...he was one hell of a damn good mechanic. Some may even say that he was the best in the Kingdom.

But to a select few...he was a brother in all but blood.

Those who knew that fact best were Clarus Amicitia, Weskham Armaugh, and of course, Regis Lucis Caelum.

In the past, back during the days when Niflheim was still being a greedy arse rather than full on conquering tyrant, Lucis and Accordo fought to defend the countries. Some say that was when the war truly began, others disagree. Regardless, when the battle was over, Cid and Regis had drifted apart, as had the rest of the group. Clarus and Regis returned to Insomnia, while Weskham went to Altissa, supposedly to start his own restaurant. Cid, meanwhile, set up shop near the Duscae region, and started his own business. Hammerhead Mechanics, the best place to get any car repaired. He even upgraded and repaired weapons for Hunters on the side.

It had been a long time since he had seen Regis, not since they're falling out. He was still a bit sore that he wasn't invited to his coronation, but didn't hold it against his friend. Hell, he was pretty sure it was justified, given how much of an ass he was back when things went to hell. After a while though, he and Regis started to get back in touch, though they had yet to see each other again. For a while, though, Cid had been meaning to meet with that stubborn old king pal of his.

Then, imagine his surprise, when he heard that the guy was planning something big. VERY big. He was actually going to take Lucis away to someplace safe, someplace where Niflheim couldn't reach them. At first he was skeptical, but Regis had sent him a letter about the whole thing. Sylvia, bless her soul, had actually found a way to make the impossible possible; by using the Crystal, the country would be taken away to a new world. He could hardly believe it.

And yet...the proof was here, at Galdin Quay.

He looked over the horizon and saw unfamiliar oceans and landmasses out in the distance. Sights that he had long since gotten used to were no longer there. Regis had actually done it.

"Reggie, you sly son of a bitch," Cid murmured with a smile. Already close to fifty, and because of the stress from his job, despite what others may tell you, his brown hair was beginning to develop brown streaks. Most of his hair was hidden by his brown cap, and still had his trademark neon yellow jacket, which was now the staple jacket of Hammerhead Repairs. Underneath, he wore a red shirt with a high collar, along with dark gray cargo jeans, plus leather working boots. Over his hands, he wore worn-out leather gloves, stained with oil and grease. "You just never know when to stop giving me a goddamn heart attack, and I'm not even in my fifties yet dammit."

While he was happy about the situation, he couldn't help but feel worried. Being in a new world would certainly present some dangerous new situations, some more worrisome than others. Hostile neighbors, people who wouldn't take too kindly to unknowns, and so on. He was glad that Weskham was here, though. A few days before Regis had done it, the man had come around to visit him, hoping to catch up. He had decided to take a break from his work, since things had grown quite amicable over there in Altissa, namely due to the threat of Niflheim being so close at hand. He knew that Weskham was still in Lucis when Regis had brought them here, but Cid hoped that his friend's business came with them.

At any rate, Cid had also developed a curious sense as to what sort of technology the folks in this new world had. Working around machines tends to make a wrench monkey like him develop a sort of interest in this kind of thing. Hell, he was already interested while he looked at those aircrafts.

"So, these things are called Bulkheads?" he asked the pilot, who was sitting around waiting for some guy called Ozpin to get back. "What do they run on?"

"Mostly Dust Energy," the pilot replied. "And no, not the DUST dust. I mean Dust, a crystal with elemental properties. Some guys call it Nature's Wrath. Me? I call it energy in a gem." He rapped his knuckles against the frame of the aircraft. "These babies run on fifty lightning crystals. Best part, you don't have to replace them, but you gotta check up regularly. If one of those things is cracked, well...let's just say you might end up turning into a fireball."

"So this Dust stuff is highly volatile...is what you're saying?"

"Yessir." The pilot nodded. "See, there are two states of Dust known to man, powder form and crystal form. We mainly use crystals to power our vehicles, and the powder variety for weapons. Both pack one hell of a punch, but the powdered stuff is even more volatile than the crystals. Even something simple as a sneeze is enough to detonate that kinda of stuff."

Cid couldn't help but whistle. "Damn...stuff sounds difficult to handle."

"Tell me about it. Hell, I remember this one guy back home..." he stopped in mid-sentence, however, as the two heard the sounds of a car engine slowly approaching.

The mechanic looked over to the approaching vehicle and let out a smirk. "Well now...looks like the guest of honor has arrived." He then turned to the pilot. "I gotta go, it was nice talking with ya, son."

"You too, old man," the pilot replied with a smirk of his own. Cid scowled somewhat. Dammit, he wasn't THAT old yet.

The cars pulled up in the parking lot, backing into the designated spots before the engines ceased. The car doors then opened, reveal several individuals stepping out of it. Six of them he didn't recognized, no doubt the natives of this new world, while he recognizes a few of them. Three of them were dressed in the attire of the Kingsglaive, so he knew they were Regis' men, while the fourth was a face that definitely looked better than how the papers showed him. His black hair was longer, and his look definitely befitting that of a king, yet that worn face of the man he fought alongside with was still there.

"Well, ain't you a sight for sore eyes!" Cid called out as he walked up to the King, grinning like a fool. "Looking good, Reggie!"

"And you as well, Cid." The King of Lucis smiled jovially, extending forth a hand.

The wrench monkey gladly shook hands with his old friend. Meanwhile, the newcomers looked on in curiosity. "An old friend of yours, King Regis?" Ozpin asked.

"More like a brother, Headmaster," he replied before introducing him. "This is Cid Sophiar, an old comrade of mine from my days as a prince."

Cid tipped his head to the gentlemen, as well as the four youngsters behind them. "Pleasure to meet ya."

"It is nice to meet you as well." Ozpin nodded.

"Likewise." Ironwood greeted politely.

Qrow raised a hand, two fingers outstretched. "Sup, old man?" He was promptly smacked upside the head. "OW!"

"Qrow, that's rude!" Summer snapped. "Don't call someone you just met an old man!"

"Well, he is." Qrow rebutted, and was promptly greeted with an elbow jabbed in his side. "Ow!"

"Shut up, already." Raven hissed

Cid raised an eyebrow. "...you're a real glutton for punishment, ain't ya?"

"Meh, it's just a habit." The teenager shrugged.

Taiyang sighed. "Yeah, a habit that winds up with you getting your ass kicked."

"Like how you got your ass kicked not too long ago?" Qrow snarked back.

"Hey, at least it was by a fellow dude, and not a girl," the brawler shot back with a smirk. "Well, girls that aren't Summer or Raven. They beat your ass on a regular basis."

"Hey!"

"You know it's true!"

Cid smirked. "Hah, this brings back memories," he said before looking at Regis. "So, how's King been doing for ya?"

"Stressful." Regis summed his experience up in a single word. "...but not unwelcome."

"I'd imagine. Being a King ain't as easy as they crack it up to be," he said before moving on to another topic. "So, what's the plan for you now? We're in a brand-spanking new world, and looks to me like you've already got two people from here on your side."

Regis nodded. "Indeed...right now, I'm heading to go meet with the chieftan of a small island called Menagerie. From what I understand, his people suffer from prejudice, and the land he was given is only partially inhabitable. The rest is naught but hostile wildlife."

"Yeesh...sounds like a mess," he commented before grinning. "Mind if I go with?" That response surprised the king, as well as the inhabitants of Remnant. This man wanted to come along? What for? It seemed like he was well acquainted with Regis, but some of them couldn't help but feel suspicious. "Oh, come on now. I've been meaning to wake up these bones for a while! You think I want to be cooped up inside my garage all day, working on pieces of junk someone brings in? Even I need to get out once in a while!" A pause. "...that, and not listen to my daughter's goddamn nagging."

"...Heh...so that is your real excuse, is it not?" Regis cracked an amused grin.

"Oh, piss off," Cid grumbled. "You try having to deal with a thirty-year old girl who keeps telling you that you need to eat healthy, take a bath every now and then, take a load off, and the rest of the griping! Its worse when my own son-in-law gets involved too!"

Regis chuckled. "Well, at least my wife isn't like that, although she does tell me to take it easy."

"Well, given how you're running an entire kingdom...you probably should listen to her every once in a while before you break down. I mean, you don't really have any need to hold up the barrier now, do ya?"

"Perhaps...hah, truth be told, somehow it feels like a weight's been lifted on my shoulders," Regis smiled fondly. "At any rate...it's good to see you again, old friend. If you wish to come with, I have no objections."

The wrench monkey grinned widely. "Hah! Music to my ears, Reggie!"

The rest of the group smiled at the scene, the conversation between two old friends.

To Ozpin, it greatly reminded him of the conversations he and James used to have, back when they were but mere students, along with Glynda. She had graduated from Beacon Academy the same year as them, all at the top of their class at that. Speaking of which, he had received a call from her a while back. After being out in the field for a few years, she was now seeking a position at the Academy as a teacher. He would have to give her a call and ask her more about that...after all, it never hurt to have an extra hand on deck.

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As soon as Ozpin and Ironwood, along with Team STRQ, were on their way homes, they had delivered news of what they had learned back via Scroll communications to their respective kingdoms. Instantly, with approved and official information, the news spread across Remnant faster than a wildfire could ever hope to accomplish. This information included the kingdom's structure, how it was run, the people and its technological advancements, social standing, and so on.

As each second passed, more and more people across Remnant learned more details about the new Kingdom.

For starters, the kingdom had mobile and aerial means of transportation, as well as a city that seemed to be made of silver. They were capable of harnessing magic through Nodes scattered through Lucis, which could be considered the equivalent to Dust mines. However, only the Royal Family and those they bestowed their magic to could wield this magic, and the power to harness the Nodes. Their lands were incredibly expansive and large, surpassing any of the Four Kingdoms by a margin. In fact, the Duscae Region alone could rival Atlas in size. They also had ample access to many resources. In terms of hostile wildlife, they had a great variety, including nightly beasties called Daemons. There were also creatures called Chocobos, which could only be described as absurdly large chicken-like beings that could outrun even the swiftest of men. However, the greatest shock came in a single factor:

The Kingdom of Lucis had no Faunus.

It was a surprising factor to everyone, Faunus especially. A kingdom where there was not a single one of their kind? What world did they come from?

Ghira, however, found himself conflicted. On one hand, this served as an opportunity. If he spoke with the leadership, or rather the monarchy of Lucis, perhaps he could somehow convince them that Faunus were not the subhumans people made them out to be. On the other hand, he felt worried. Would Lucis consider them as such? Mere animals? Would they be as bad as the White Hoods? God, he hoped not. Those maniacs have caused enough trouble for the Faunus as it is. The last thing he needed was a kingdom full of them.

"No Faunus?" Krimzen gawked. "At all?! Incredible...!"

"I know..." The massive man nodded. "TO think such a thing was possible..."

"Ch-chief!" Suddenly, the doors to the Belladonna residence were thrown open, revealing the panting form of a member from the White Fang. "C-chief Ghira!"

The burly man turned, eyes knit closely. "What is it?" he barked. "What's the matter?!"

"W-we just received a message from someone from Lucis! They're requesting an audience with you!"

"What?!" Both Ghira and Krimzen stood up in surprise. The people of Lucis wish to communicate with them? For what reason?

The two men shared a look. Whatever it meant...it was definitely one of significance. Ghira turned to the man, and gave a nod. "Tell them I accept," he told him. "And be sure to have an escort. I have other matters to attend to at the moment." The man let out a nod, and ran back outside. As he did, Ghira looked out the window. Somehow, he could feel it. The future was beginning to shape up...whether it was for better, or for worse, he didn't know.

For the time being...he could only hope the coming storm would be one without consequences.

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Chapter: END

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Next Time: Faunus