A.N. First let me say thank you to everyone for the warm welcome back. I'm certainly happy to be to back writing this story.^-^ With that enjoy the chapter guys!
Chapter 11
"You've got to be kidding me. You want to fly off to one of the most dangerous countries with someone you barely know and try and find a dragon. That for all you know isn't even there anymore." Blake's tone was dry staring Jaune down her arms crossed clearly seeing fault in this plan. Jaune stood there blankly for a second until Nora threw herself at the blonde hugging him.
"You'll help me find Ren! Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Jaune stumbled not prepared for the redhead to have such strength. After discussing it with Pyrrha the two had kept their plan to themselves, waiting for Nora to recover to talk to her about helping her. However Blake was clearly against such a plan.
"Have you ever been to Atlas?" Blake demanded her yellow eyes narrowed looking at Jaune who Nora just finally released from her bear hug. He coughed awkwardly under the faunus' scrutiny.
"No, but Nora's lived there right?" Nora nodded enthusiastically at Jaune's question.
"You bet! Ren and I live in the White Steel Mountain Range, nobody but us and the giants live up there." Inwardly Jaune gulped when Nora mentioned giants. There were plenty of races that hated humans, but giants were known for despising the smaller race. As if sensing Jaune's unease Pyrrha's soft voice rang in his ears.
"I can defend us from a few giants." Though Pyrrha's words did soothe him somewhat. Jaune didn't like the idea of going up one of the strongest creatures in Remnant.
"You're in over your head." Blake stated bluntly glaring at the two standing before her, even sparing some to the dragon circling above.
"Atlas is a closed off nation, they won't let you just waltz right in. Even if they did the things I've heard about there are less than stellar. If they saw Pyrrha getting killed will be the least of your problems." Again Jaune gulped, not liking what Blake was implying. None of this seemed to phase Nora though who scoffed.
"Ha! Don't worry Jaune she's talking about those losers in robes. They're nothing, Ren and I kick their butts all the time!" Nora was grinning remembering the many times they were sent running down the mountain sacred by Ren.
"Uhh losers in robes?" The redhead blinked as if remembering Jaune has no idea who the people in robes were.
"Don't worry about them, they always come up the mountain looking for Ren, but we always send them running." Nora pulled her hammer off her belt twirling it around as if to prove her point. Last time Jaune didn't really get a chance to see the weapon, as Nora was too busy swinging it around trying to escape the ship. It seemed like a typical war hammer, though for some reason Jaune got a strange tingling feeling looking at the hammer.
Suddenly Jaune felt a sharp pain assault his head, though unseen by anyone Crocea Mors was glowing softly on his belt. It was happening again Jaune was not on the boat with Nora and Blake anymore he was somewhere else.
Snow blew by covering everything, looking around he was at a temple or something standing at the bottom of a long stairway leading up to the main building. Though blotches of black darkness consumed some areas, not all of the memory being laid clear for Jaune to see. At the top of the stairs stood a figure clad in heavy metal armor. Jaune's eyes widened seeing an equally imposing figure standing behind the the human clad in metal. A dragon, though nothing like Pyrrha. This one was a dark blue color with two sets of glowing blue eyes staring down at Jaune. The armor human raised a hammer, the hammer Nora now wielded in the present.
"Take my power human, use it to send the Grimm to their graves!" A loud booming voice echoed, and out of the sky a bolt of lightning came down striking the hammer while the dragon roared.
"Jaune!" Jaune sat up gasping for air, opening his eyes he came face to face with Blake and Nora looking at him worriedly.
"Are you okay? You just stopped talking then collapsed!" Blake's yellow eyes were narrowed concern painting her features. Jaune ran a hand through his blonde locks as he stood up.
"Take it easy, maybe you should go lie down." The dark haired faunus suggested, Nora nodding in agreement. Jaune shook his head, he needed to talk to Pyrrha.
"Pyrrha!" He called out knowing the dragon would hear him, wordlessly he threw his legs over the railing of the ship before either girl could stop him. Luckily the dragon was swooping down catching Jaune before soaring back into the air.
Jaune climbed up Pyrrha's back before coming to rest in between her wings, taking hold of Pyrrha's mane to hold on as they ascended into the sky. Neither spoke until Pyrrha leveled out above the clouds, her wings flapped steadying them. Then the dragon swiveled her head looking back at the human on her back.
"Jaune are you okay?" Pyrrha's voice was laced with concern, emerald eyes looking Jaune over for any injuries. Jaune grimaced his head still pounding, he rubbed his forehead trying to will the pain away.
"I think so, this keeps happening, but I don't know why." Confusion came to the dragon's face watching Jaune.
"What keeps happening?" Jaune let out a groan falling forward into Pyrrha's soft feathers.
"I don't know, I keep getting these...flashbacks I guess. Like when I tried to access the memories in Crocea Mors. It keeps happening, when we were fighting the serpent it showed me someone on a boat fighting a monster, and afterwords I dreamt about Ozpin. Then just now I saw Nora's hammer, some dragon was made lightning strike it." There was a pause as Pyrrha processed what Jaune said then finally the dragon's voice entered Jaune's ears.
"I...don't know why this is happening either Jaune. I only guarded the sword, I could never use it myself, so this may be normal I can't be sure. So far it sounds like the sword is showing you information it believes is useful." Jaune kept his face buried in Pyrrha's feathers. That kind of made sense, the sword showed him memories of someone fighting a sea monster when Jaune himself was fighting one. Then again when Jaune was wondering about Nora's hammer it showed him information about the hammer. Why it kept showing him Ozpin though Jaune couldn't be sure.
"I guess that makes sense, hmm that might be kind of useful actually." Thinking about it Pyrrha told him Crocea Mors was far older than both Jaune and his dragon companion. Who knows how many people held the blade, how much knowledge and experience was locked inside it. If Jaune could figure out how to summon the memories he could in theory learn everything all the previous wielders of the sword had learned.
"True, but be careful Jaune. I was guarding the sword for a reason, you just passed out from watching a memory for barely a minute. Magic even one contained in a sword is dangerous." The dragon warned, and Jaune sat back up giving Pyrrha a grin.
"Don't worry Pyr, I'll be careful besides my mom always said the best way to control something is to understand it. If I can figure out how the sword works there will be nothing to worry about!" Jaune remembered the conversation when his mother told him that. It was after a horse kicked the farmboy in the face, and he had loudly declared he never wanted anything to do with the animal. He spent the rest of the day ignoring the indignant horse until his mother had come along. Unlike his father, Jaune's mother was a tad more supportive of the blonde. The elder Arc had told Jaune that things didn't happen without a reason, and had shown Jaune that the horse had something caught under its horseshoe. The horse had kicked him because of its discomfort, and was attempting to dislodge the shoe. Ever since Jaune tried to look at things with that idea in mind. It certainly made looking after a farm easier when one understood why the animals acted the way they did.
"Wise words, perhaps when we're in Atlas we can find someone knowledgeable with magic. They may understand the sword better than we ever could." Jaune nodded, the throbbing assaulting his head finally calming down.
"If we can't we could always ask the Ice Queen, I'm pretty sure she knows some magic." Being from the country Jaune didn't know too much about the royal family, though he was pretty sure he recalled hearing about their magical abilities.
"Sounds like a plan, now all we have to do is figure out how to get to Atlas." Jaune groaned again his face falling back into Pyrrha's feathers.
"You think you can hold me! Think again!" A massive roar threatened to shatter the people's eardrums. The huge golden dragon thrashed against the chains holding her. Yang, one of the last three dragons growled and snarled pulling at the chains. The humans were foolish to believe simple chains could hold her.
Already the cowards wearing black robes were scattering when it became clear that Yang was going to break free. They managed to get the drop on her before, and knock the dragon out. She was awake now and furious at the humans that dared to try and capture her.
With one final yank Yang heard one of the chains holding her snap. Shaking her long serpentine body Yang slipped free of the rest. Her wings were still bound, but Yang was more than capable of fighting from the ground. A few of the braver humans were raising their swords at her.
Yang roared, her body began glowing yellow scales simmering in the dark room. The yellow beast wasn't sure where she was. She had been minding her own business in her desert home. When some human with pink and brown hair came from nowhere using strange magic to subdue the great dragon.
Speaking of the pink and brown haired human she appeared again approaching Yang now while the others ran past her. She was smirking up at the huge dragon, and Yang snarled. Taking a quite glance around she saw wooden walls all around, the sound of water echoed in the dragon's ears. A ship Yang realized, inwardly she smirked steam began coming off her body. The human must have been really foolish to put her on a wooden ship.
Something came hurling at Yang's head, the dragon quickly ducked barely avoiding the projectile. Looking down the tiny human's hands were alight with black energy almost like ash flowing off her hands. Magic a dark kind that made Yang want to upturn her nose.
It didn't matter Yang was fully aware of her attacker this time. The small human slashed one of her hands through the air sending a wave of black energy flying at Yang. In such a small space Yang had no room to dodge, not that she would. An explosive blast of fire came hurling from her mouth meeting the magic between them exploding in a great flash.
Yang heard a rush of air and saw the human had jumped high into the air somehow right beside Yang's face. Magic dazzling in her hands as she was about to attack, but Yang wasn't about to give her the chance. Within seconds Yang burning hot scales ignited into flames. Fire consumed the dragon's body, but the flames did not harm her. If anything they fueled the dragon's strength.
The flames igniting seemed to disorient the human, Yang noticed her once brown eyes changed color to pure white. Yang snapped at the human her jaws enclosing swallowing the human's tiny body. She made sure to catch the human's arm in her teeth, but leave them otherwise intact. The large dragon could feel the human inside her mouth struggle, trying to free their arm that was impaled by Yang's teeth. It was in vain though with her mouth closed Yang had the human trapped.
"Stop struggling! I hate this more than you do!" Yang projected her words to the human who Yang really wanted to spit out, but she needed some answers. Plus Yang needed a human to free her wings from the chains that bound them. Clearly the fools that captured her at least thought ahead enough to get chains that could withstand extreme heat.
Using her horned head Yang bashed at the wooden roof above her breaking free of the confines of the stuffy undership. For a second Yang admired the sunlight that greeted her, the air was clear and Yang saw miles of sea all around her.
The screams of the other humans brought Yang back to the situation at hand though. Humans were jumping over board or rushing to the escape boats. Glancing at the boat that was quickly falling apart thanks to Yang's flaming body, she had to give it to the humans it must have been quite an undertaking build a boat large enough to house a dragon.
Which made it all the more humorous to watch it fall apart within minutes thanks to her. Yang tried to free her wings that were still chained to her body to stop her from flying. Growling it was no good, she definitely needed to keep the human to unchain her.
Inside her mouth Yang felt the a tingle, and she new the human inside was trying to use magic to free herself. Yang flinched feeling a blast of no doubt that dark magic hitting the inside of her mouth. It hurt, but Yang tightened her hold on the human's arm causing a small noise of pain to echo inside her jaws.
With the boat falling apart Yang jumped into the water a cloud of steam rising into the air as Yang scorching hot body hit the water. Free from the vessel Yang let the flames die, she was free for the most part. Though not quite the fan of swimming Yang was adept enough that she knew she could make it to the closest land mass no problem. That didn't mean she wanted to though, out of all things swimming across the ocean was the last thing on Yang's list of things she wanted to do.
Already Yang had crossed a fair distance. The sinking boat was just a dot on the horizon, and the human still trapped inside Yang's mouth seems to have given up struggling. Yang loosened her hold on their arm just a fraction. She heard a whimper echo inside her jaws, and the golden dragon would have felt guilty had the human not attacked her first.
Yang never trusted humans and this is why, given the chance they always attack what they don't understand, or what they believe will give them power. Inwardly Yang chuckled thinking what her fellow dragons would think seeing Yang in this situation. Pyrrha would no doubt be horrified Yang was keeping a human imprisoned in her mouth, and demand she spit it out. Ren would simply give her that look that said he was unamused.
After a few more minutes of swimming Yang made sure there was nothing but miles of ocean around her before opening her mouth. Unsurprisingly the human jumped out into the water as soon as her arm was free. Yang heard the human gasped as they hit the water, the dragon let the human struggle to swim a bit with one arm before using her tail she wrapped it around the human's waist lifting them out of the water.
Now eye level and not in a fit of rage Yang could get a good look at the human who managed to knock her out last time. Her first impression was that she was small, even for human standards. No wonder Yang didn't notice the human back home, the dragon could step on her and she probably wouldn't even notice. Unlike the other humans on the ship she sported a white cloak with leather armor under it. Her hair and eyes were certainly strange, Yang didn't believe pink was a natural human hair color. Perhaps this human had gotten the wrong end of a magic spell.
Checking the human's arm Yang winced. She didn't mean to cause so much damage, but the human's arm was impaled right at her elbow. Yang wasn't sure even magic could fix the joint, meaning the dragon probably crippled the human's left arm for the rest of her life.
Yang had to give it to the human even pale from blood lost and her arm barely holding together she still struggled weakly in Yang's grasp. Curiously her eyes were different colors again, now one was a pale pink while the other was a deep brown.
"Stop squirming! Do you really want to try your luck swimming?" The girl stopped, taking in her surroundings seeing it was just Yang and miles of ocean. Yang noticed her eye color switch again both eyes changing to white before flashing back to pink and brown. The girl didn't say anything, but she stopped struggling so it was progress.
"Thank you, believe it or not I'd would have loved to leave you on that ship with the rest of your kind but…." Yang trailed of the chains jiggling as the dragon attempted to shift her wings. The girl merely glared at the dragon still not speaking.
"Hey come on, you humans like deals right? Well, you undo these chains and I'll take you back to shore otherwise I wish you the best with your new shark friends." The golden dragon's lips upturned into a toothy smirk, one that may be more threatening than intended with her sharp fangs on full display.
The girl stayed silent her multi colored gaze staring at Yang. The dragon's smirk transformed into a snarl.
"Hey! Speak up at least say no so I can in good conscience toss you into the sea!" Yang saw the girl's lips twitch as if she was about to say something, but then suddenly she slumped forward her eyes falling shut. Yang huffed the girl was out cold, no doubt from blood lost. Technically it was the dragon's fault for practically tearing the girl's arm off, but now the dragon would have to wait for her to wake up. Careful as not to cause anymore damage to the human's frail body Yang deposited the girl onto the her back. The dragon wasn't worried she would wake and attack Yang. After all Yang was the only thing stopping her from drowning right now.
A.N. And Yang makes her grand entrance, Yang I have to say is very enjoyable to write. She's such a likable character that its hard not to have a blast writing her.
Now last chapter I asked all you lovely people about what kind of ships you wanted to see in this story, and pretty much all of you were down for Arkos. The second ship I saw the most was Bumblebee and Renora not many other ships, but as I continue to introduce other characters I'd like to hear if anything peaks you guy's interest. As to not spoil the story I won't tell you what ships I decide on, but I do enjoy listening to you guys' input so thank you^_^. I'll see you guys next chapter until then!