Chapter 4: Old Friends

"His name? I couldn't believe it when that happened years ago. Because that same traveler, the same traveler who helped us from our plight became our Emperor and the people of Dawnstar, including me, are glad that he did. His name is Jaune Arc, Emperor of Tamriel and the Dragonborn of legend."

6 months. 6 months of no lead from Remnant and now his name just suddenly appeared on another world? And now he is an Emperor of an empire? And a Dragonborn, whatever that is. So many questions are popping up in the heads of Team RWBY and NPR like this. It was still a taboo subject for them to talk about him but now, now they have to talk about him, and the only lead that they got is him being an Emperor and a Dragonborn of legend.

"Mr. Thoring are you joking?" Weiss asked him sternly. She too is shocked that the man suddenly mentioned his name out of nowhere. The blond hair and blue eyes, his phrase and the way he helps people, he really is Jaune Arc!

"I get that a lot when a traveler comes here. But no, I'm not joking. The hero of Dawnstar really is the Emperor, he even became an honorary part of the Jarl's Court when he saved us from the Daedric Prince but still, he helped us all and we still are indebted to him even to this day. Believe me or not, it really is him."

"Then where can we find him?" Yang asked, eagerly waiting for an answer.

"The Imperial Palace at Cyrodiil, far away from here at the Imperial City. Or if you can't find him there try the Arcane University, again at the Imperial City. But I heard that the Emperor would come here tomorrow. I don't know the exact details but I guess its Arcane University business. Maybe the Dwemer Ruins at the south."

If what this innkeeper saying was true, then Jaune would probably go to the Dwemer Ruin that they got in here in the first place. Now they have a chance to find their lost friend. Emperor or no emperor, it is still Jaune, the lovable goofball idiot that he is, and if they find a replacement for the crest, they would retrieve him back to Beacon. Sure, they failed the mission that they have to find the crystal, but at least they found their lost friend.

"Thank you, Mr. Thoring," Yang said.

"No need to thank me. I'm just an innkeeper talking about our hero. Let me know if you need anything or Karita over here. Consider those fur coats yours as you can't survive the cold outside without it and you can sleep in our guest rooms. Goodnight."

"Goodnight sir," They all said as they sit by the fire.

"So are we going to look for him or?" Blake asked Ruby.

"Of course we are!" Ruby said, slamming her hand on her thigh "We would go back where we came from since that is the nearest place Jaune might go. And if we found him, we would return with him at Beacon. This is our only chance and we would not let it slip by." She said sternly, far from her innocent nature. She then held placed her palm in front. "This time, we'll find Jaune." And smiled filled with hope. Everyone followed her and started place their palms on top of hers.

Their smiles aren't just filled with hope that they could finally see their long lost friend alive and well, but happy that they finally found a lead in the most unexpected places.

Back in the White-Gold Tower, Jaune was dining with his friends in Tamriel that got here for the event. Of course, as he is the Emperor, he seated on the very far side of the table while Serana was on his right and Lydia on his left. Aela was seated next to Serana while J'zargo was seated next to Lydia. They are talking about various stuff, like how Lydia and Aela are having a competition which of the one is better, The Companions of Skyrim or The Fighters Guild of Tamriel.

While Serana and J'zargo are quietly eating their meal. Jaune, however, was just silently staring at his food. It was his favorite, Beef Hamburger that he requested be cooked by his chef but instead of gobbling it up, he just stares at it. Because, after a tiresome day at the Council and University, he just eats his favorite food and quietly read books that he hadn't read yet.

"Those energies in the North. I've felt it before! Those are Aura, and I'm the only one who can have Aura since I came from Remnant! This...by the Divines...this isn't possible." He silently contemplated.

"J'zargo thinks that something is bothering you, Jaune." The Archmage of Winterhold said as he finished up his meal of steamed tuna.

"W-what? Noo-nothing is wrong. See this face?" As he smiled goofily. J'zargo just paw palmed and Serana put her hand unto her shoulder.

"Jaune, you've been acting odd ever since the ceremony was over. Even when you are stressed, you don't act like this, so what is bothering you?" She asked sincerely.

He then sighed, "It's...its what I'm feeling from the north. Skyrim in particular. I already explained to you all what Aura is right?" And they all nodded, "And I'm the only one on Tamriel who can manifest it. But earlier after the ceremony, I felt Aura that was coming from Skyrim. But it can't be! The only two things that I can conclude are either someone unlocked their own, or...someone from my homeland came here."

"So that's why you wanted to go to Skyrim tomorrow?"

"No, I am really planning to go to Kagrenac tomorrow but the energy, it makes my task more abrupt." He chuckled, "It's been 6 years since I've been in my homeworld. I always wonder every night what happened to my family, teammates, and friends. Maybe they became successful huntsmen."

"But don't forget you're the Emperor, Jaune." Lydia interjected, "You've conquered the whole of Tamriel, you've defeated Alduin and the dragons...DRAGONS..surrendered to you. I think you've achieved more than what they could accomplish." Formality was thrown out of the window, of course, the only do this in private, as friends, even though technically Jaune owns Lydia.

"You also became the Harbinger before you gave that position to me," Aela this time, said.

"J'zargo also shares their sentiments. However, let us not forget that just like J'zargo, Skyrim became your home, Jaune. You might not be born from Skyrim, but also J'zargo wasn't born in Skyrim." The Archmage said.

"I know but thanks. It's just that.." He chuckled again,"..I really miss them...I might own an Empire, and Skyrim might be my home now but before I open the doors to the Hall of Valor, I want to see their faces again. Pyrrha, Ren, Nora, Weiss, Ruby, Yang, Blake. All of them. I really miss them." He smiled melancholically. "That's why I'll be going to Skyrim by tomorrow morning. So, anyone of you wants to get a free ride?"

"J'zargo needs to go back to Winterhold. And also a new discovery! J'zargo wouldn't let this opportunity pass." J'zargo said.

"Well, Jorvaskr needs their Harbinger, so yes, I will come along," Aela said.

"I will come as you need it, Jaune," Lydia said.

"And don't forget me, Jaune. Grand Tour of Dwemer ruins this time, huh? And I would like to wear your hoodie, thank you very much!" Serana said with a smug smile.

Jaune smiled at them, just like old times. "Tomorrow then. I'll summon Odavhiing and we'll be at Dawnstar by early morning. For now, let's just finish our meal and sleep, we have a long day ahead of us."

It was 5:00 am in the morning. The sun was just rising above the horizon and the rays coming from the hole in Oblivion came to shimmer the Lake Rumare. Jaune was already up and preparing for the trip and instead of his Royal Robes that he often wears, he wears a standard blue Archmage robes that he got when he became the Archmage of the Arcane University which enhances his use of Magicka to its highest degrees. Of course, he still wears the Amulet of Kings.

He also came prepared with his standard shield, Auriel's Shield along with a Bound Sword spell. In case of range attacks, he can always rely on his skill in Magicka or use the School of Conjuration to summon a Bound Bow from Oblivion. A trip to a Dwemer Ruin always needs preparation.

Still, after waking up, he can still feel Aura and it never faded. 6 years, he already changed. He finally became a hero, but it never came without a cost. He had to make sacrifices. His ideas that the world is just good and evil and that power always comes to you instantly. No. The 2nd Great War proved that the world isn't like that at all and from his journey of being the Dragonborn. He had help from Lydia who thought her how to use sword and shield. Aela, who gave him lessons in Archery. Tolfdir who saw potential in the boy once he came there searching for a way home.

Being a hero doesn't mean that your journey is always being alone. It's that a hero always has people who built him up and with his effort, he became a hero. It only helped that Skyrim's caves and ruins always have the mentality of "Do or Die" for him to master swordsmanship, archery, and all schools of Magicka in a year.

He was on the Monument of the Fallen as it has a large open space that his transport can land in.

Aela then came before anyone, wearing her standard armor and a Daedric Bow. "So you came early?" He asked her.

"A Nord woman is always punctual, and as the Harbinger, I'm always punctual." She said. "But again, the excitement of a new adventure. Thanks for inviting me Jaune." She smiled.

"Of course, Aela." He said. This time Lydia was next, wearing a fully plated Ebony Armor with ebony weapons along with J'zargo wearing the Archmage of Winterhold robes. Finally, Serana arrived with Jaune's Pumpkin Pete's jacket with the hoodie on with leather pants and vampire boots and gloves.

"Seriously, Serana? After all these years, you still love my hoodie, don't you?" He asked with a goofy grin on his face.

She chuckled, "It's that comfy. This is the only clothing that made me comfortable."

He then scanned them, "So, everyone ready to go?"

All of them nodded, their faces filled with seriousness as this is, after all, an affair with the Arcane University. The Dragonborn just invited them but still, it felt like the old days when they went adventuring together in the caves and ruins of Skyrim. When a dragon attacks them, Jaune coordinates them like an orchestra, with him being the conductor and eventual striker while they do their job to the letter.

The Blades were no longer needed. After Delphine argued to him years ago that he has to slay Parthuurnax, the one dragon that is very kind, old and wise, he argued with them and cut their ties with them. Sure, they might've helped him but to kill a friend and a mentor isn't on his to-do list and someone commanding him so would mean cutting ties with them. Still, the without him, the Blades tried to rebuild itself but after the surrender of the Dragons to the Dovahkiin, their purpose was over.

Jaune then turned behind them and raised his head to the skies. Inside him was his Dragonborn Soul, powering his voice with the Thu'um. He channeled that energy and shouted to the skies. "O - DAH - VIING!"

And the dragon heard his call. The Dragon soared through the skies as it felt cold breeze in his red and white scales. It then saw the source of the call and there can only be one who can call it. It landed in the open space carefully as it knows that there is a monument nearby. "Thuri. What do you need, Dovahkiin?"

"Odahvhiing, nii sahrot dovah." The Emperor spoke with the power of Thu'um lingering in every word, "I need you to fly us to Keizaal in Dawnstar. However, I need you to land near the top of the Cathedral of Kagrenac."

"Ol hi hind, Thuri." The Dragon then lowered its neck to them and they climbed on it. The dragon again soared through the skies of the Imperial City and headed towards the Pale.

The sun's rays came shining through their rooms. Team RWBY shared a room along with Team NPR. It was small but they could manage. Ruby and Blake were sleeping next to each other while Weiss in on the table, also sleeping. Yang was on the base of the bed, using their fur blankets to sleep. Ruby woke up groggily, stretching her arms. She then checked her scroll and it said there, "03:00 pm". Now she panicked if they woke up this late they wouldn't find Jaune!

"BLAKE! BLAKE!" She shook her, "WAKE UP WE NEED TO FIND JAUNE!"

Blake woke up abruptly, "What is wrong Ruby?" She asked her.

"It's already afternoon! We woke up late!"

Blakes eyes suddenly widened and she woke up Yang with Ruby waking up Weiss. They both shook them and they woke up abruptly.

Yang and Weiss grew out of their stupor and was about to ask what's going on, only to be replied, "WE WOKE UP LATE! WE NEED TO GO TO KAGRENAC NOW!" Both Ruby and Blake said in unison. They now have the look of dread on their faces.

"Oh, crap." Yang said as she burst out of the room and rapidly knocked NPR's room, "CEREAL GIRL AND COMPANY, WE HAVE TO FIND JAUNE NOW!" She screamed through the door.

Thoring was just minding his own business until Yang burst out the room, and begin shouting in the other room. He tapped his shoulder, "Lady, what is going on?" He asked her.

"Sir, we need to find Jaune now, we woke up late and now we might miss him!"

"Late? It's just 10:00 in the morning."

That got Yang's attention and stopped banging on the door. "10? Like it's not afternoon yet?"

"Yes, have you seen our clock there?" She saw the wall and there hanging was a clock reading, "10:02". By the time she read the time, Pyrrha opened the door. She is looking freshly awakened from her sleep as she removed her crown and let her red hair flow.

"Yang, what is going on?" She asked as she yawned.

Unable to form words due to her confusion, she called for Ruby. She then came immediately. "Rubes, you said its's afternoon, but the clock there says it's just 10 in the morning! Are you pulling some sort of prank?" Her iliac eyes then turned red.

"N-no!" She quickly defended, "I looked at my scroll and it said there it is 3 in the afternoon!" She then showed them her scroll, which really intrigued Thoring as he never seen one before. Seeing that there is clearly no solution, Yang went outside and she saw the sun's rays and it is still clearly morning.

Ruby then saw this. She scratched her hair in embarrassment and chuckled nervously. "Rubes..." She then quickly put her cloak hood over her head and muttered, "Sorry!" sheepishly.

Yang just sighed but decided not to sleep anymore. 10 am is enough time to prepare to go to Kagrenac again. "It's okay Rubes, in fact, 10 am is actually kinda nice if we're going to prepare to go back." She smiled.

Ruby then removed her hoodie and hugged her sister and she hugged back. It wasn't until Weiss called them out for breakfast. This time, they seated at the dining table where they ate Salmon Steak with Beef Stew, provided to them by Karita. They ate the meal in silence as they are focusing on their mission to retrieve Jaune.

Weiss pointed out to Ruby that now that they're in another dimension, clocks in their scrolls aren't accurate so everyone adjusted their time to the Standard Time of Tamriel.

After eating they began to prepare, tying up the fur blankets on them to act as an insulator as they trek to the mountains. They checked their supply of dust, and only Weiss seemed to have used half of hers. They don't have any money to buy Dust, and they are going home soon anyway. Since by the looks of it, Lien is useless here, and Thoring said they used "Septims" as their currency, making the whole economy of Tamriel a Gold Standard Economy.

They were about to go to Kagrenac as they are now prepared for their journey, but they approached Thoring to give their thanks, "Mr. Thoring, thank you for providing us everything and the information about Jaune. We really appreciate it." Ren said and he bowed to the man.

The innkeeper smiled and waved his hand, "It's all right. No harm was done. But be careful when you travel, next time."

"Thank you, Mr. Thoring!" The gladly said and waved goodbye as they left the Windspeak Inn. Now they saw the whole of Dawnstar, and they fell in awe now that they are witnessing the beauty of the land. The market down at the port was now lively as merchants sell their own wares. But now that they saw the people, they are really confused.

A human with long ears and green skin? Dark skin and red eyes with slightly elongated faces? A faunus that is almost a cat due to its skin filled with furs and tail? Are they just in Remnant but on another continent that they haven't discovered yet? It's like there a more than one kind of humans yet there are others different than human, but when they saw them interact in the market, its like they are citizens of a city. There is no prejudice against each other, and they are all interacting like they are the same.

Blake really took note of this. At Remnant, Faunus are being rated as 2nd Class Citizens, except at Menagerie. So long have they been fighting for equal rights among humans that extremism may be the only way for humans to take notice of how the Faunus are oppressed by hundreds if not thousands of years. But what she doesn't know was before, this doesn't happen at all in Skyrim.

"This is really getting weird," Weiss said as she saw the people in the market.

"I know but, at least I'm glad that in another world, the Faunus are treated as equals," Blake said. Now she knew that she can achieve Faunus Equality once they returned back to Remnant. The White Fang might return to its once pacifist self again.

They walked to their destination as people just stared at them due to their unusual outfits. They are nervous but still, they walked towards the exit of the city and to the base of the mountain. The guard on duty didn't mind them as they weren't a threat to the people of Dawnstar. They then walked towards the base of the mountain and walked to the path they took, their footsteps last night barely visible due to the snow last night.

While walking, now they got a full view of the coast to the Sea of Ghosts. Sure it might be just full of snow but the land of the Pale really looked like an untamed land that doesn't need to be exploited. Once they reached near the top they took a time for a breather, but they heard breathing. Breathing that wasn't theirs.

Team RWBY and NPR walked to the top, and there was the room open for them to see, but not for them to enter. It was being guarded by a dragon with pristine red and white scales. It was the Emperor's personal dragon, Odahviing.

A dragon?! That is the thing they only were told when they were children! Dragons aren't supposed to be real, they are fiction! But then the dragon spoke to them. IT SPOKE. "Hmm, you kiir aren't supposed to be here." He said to them. A dragon that can talk? That can talk their language? What in the world did they get themselves into?

That is now a huge shocker for them, "Okay, does this land need to go any weirder?" Yang asked sarcastically.

"Keizaal is not a weird place, kul." The dragon growled, making them shiver in fear. They don't know how to deal a dragon, let alone a sentient one.

"Umm, Mr. Dragon sir, ummm we need to go to that place," Ruby said.

"Kagrenac? I am commanded by the Emperor to guard and not let anyone pass through here. I'm not disobeying him." The dragon sternly said to them. "Now go! This is my last warning." And the dragon aimed his mouth at the sky and shouted to the air, " YOL - TOOR - SHUL!" The shout became power and that power became a breath of fire that intimidated Team RWBY and NPR.

They either have to battle this dragon and get in there or just retreat or wait for another opportunity, but there is one thing Team RWBY is infamous off, it's fighting things. They then unfurled their weapons, ready to take down this dragon, together with Team NPR. They will show this dragon that they came from a world of bloody evolution. However, they are no match for the might of a Dovah.

But before they can strike, the dragon shouted to them "FUS - RO!" making them being thrown back a few meters. Their auras took damage from 100% down to 40%. Good thing it isn't the full Unrelenting Force shout. Odahviing again used his fire breath shout to incinerate them, but he didn't know that they have Auras. But even if did they have their Auras, from 40% it jumped to just 2-3% percent.

"Blake! Pin down his neck! Weiss, use your gravity dust to trap him! Yang! Avoid his head and aim for his neck for attacks!" Ruby commanded them and with a nod, they followed. "Ren, shoot the dragon's wings! Nora, use your grenade launcher and aim for the wings! Pyrrha, with me. Now!" Without hesitation, they followed Ruby's orders.

The Dragon then tried to soar to the skies only for it to be pinned down to the ground by Weiss' gravity dust glyph. Blake tried to pin his neck, only to be met by his mouth, ready to strike at her but due to her dexterity, she dodged the attack. Yang then punched his neck and it took effect on the dragon but Odahviing used the first word of the Unrelenting Force shout to knock off Weiss, who was pinning her down. Now he soared to the skies to rain terror to this meddling children.

Nora aimed her Magnhild and shoot through his wings but he dodges them as he was dodging Ren's bullets from his Stormflower. Pyrrha and Ruby used the fire-arm modes of their weapons to aim and shoot the dragon only for the bullets to be deflected when it used the first word of Unrelenting Force.

It used his Frost Breath shout to make them even more vulnerable to another strike of Fire Breath. Finally, their Aura broke with the only barrier left to survive is their physiologic barriers. But just Odahviing would use it, it saw its master and his friends carrying a body. "Thuri, some travelers here are trying to enter against your orders, should I incinerate them?" The mighty Dovah asked his master for a permission to kill them.

"No, Odahviing, that's enough. And thank you for informing me. Let me be the one to judge them as they are meddling with Arcane University affairs without any permission." The Emperor sternly said as he climbed out of the room.

Pyrrha breathes heavily as if she was tired from a fight, her knees and arms are on the ground, holding Milo. Never before was her Aura been shattered in a matter of minutes since her career in Mistral took off. And she, no, they were defeated by a mythical creature. It wasn't Grimm that has no sentience. It was a dragon that knows has it was doing, and by the looks of it, has more experience than them in terms of combat.

Then she heard a voice, a voice very familiar to her yet sounds older and more professional. The individual then rose up from the room.

He was wearing a blue robe with gold patterns on the sleeves and on the neck. On his neck was an amulet of red diamond that was shining very bright. And on his waist was a golden shield with intricate patterns that was glowing with some kind of power. She then saw his face. This can't be. But it is. Her mind isn't tricking her, he might have a few scars, his hair slightly longer than before but there was no mistaking it. It was the only conclusion, their lovable idiot goofball that they have been searching for 6 months, was in front of them, staring at them with his mouth agape in disbelief.

"Jaune?!"

...finally finished. If anyone is asking about who do I pair Jaune with. To be honest, I have no clue, so I think I'll let the chips fall where ever they may be. Or not since I think I suck at writing romance. Again, I tried to address some issues, especially with the dialogue since I suck at them. I hope I addressed those but again if not then please constructive criticisms are appreciated.

Regarding that, if I will include mods here. The Immersive College of Winterhold may be one on the list since it is appropriate in 5 years that the College improved but still, chances are low as I'm basing this on the lore and the core Skyrim game. Only those that make the game more immersive and realistic can be included so no Arissa or Mirai or Inigo, even though those are good mods themselves.

Also, thank you for the response, I really appreciate those kind words. Again, recommendations and constructive criticisms are welcome. So thank you for reading dear readers!