Chapter 20: To Oblivion Part 2
Back at the General Military Headquarters, The Arc Family saw their son and brother, Jaune, leading the charge. The contorted face filled with calm rage were printed on their heads. They shivered as they saw the once innocent Jaune, now turned into a brutal warrior charging to a war.
So does his cavalries who screamed on top of their lungs "Long Live the Emperor!", targeting vulnerable daedric positions. The shouts of dragons that decimated the lesser Daedra and smashing dremoras. But with the mixture of the whistle of magic comes the screams of Imperial Soldiers dying.
Finally, the Imperial Dragoons stormed in, the thundering stomp of hooves that the cavalry made and their lightning fast movements made a devastating effect, even to the dremora. They tried to form square formations to counter the cavalry but they were too late and their lines were smashed, crushing any resistance for an advance and cutting down any dremoras and lesser daedra.
The Arc Family only had shock on their faces and held their breath as they watch this kind of massive warfare unfold to their very eyes.
The single thrust of the army proved to be effective as they smashed through daedric defenses. The cavalry exploited any breaches that are made, thus making the advance faster. And from the outside, it almost looks like that the Imperial Army is overpowering the Daedric Hordes. However, in reality, the fighting was fierce.
Many casualties and deaths are dealt by the Daedra, further decreasing the number of the army. It was the tactics used by the Imperial Army that made the difference and exploited the weakness of the Daedra. The army used smaller and mobile units to induce fast and a lightning type of warfare, decimating any forms of resistance before they even happen.
The combined force of Serana, Lydia and Jaune proved to be deadly to the Daedra. Jaune constantly used his Unrelenting Force shout to make an exploit on skirmishes while Serana and Lydia move in for the kill. And since it's night, Serana used her vampiric gifts to its fullest and deadliest potential. She moved faster, her strikes much stronger, and her lust for Daedric blood unshed.
She was almost unseen, yet her blood magic and Gargoyles tore the Daedra to shreds, even the Dremoras felt intimidated to her due to her unrelenting brutality. She smashed their heads by using the Mace of Molag Bal, the Dremoras fly everywhere as they kept being flung out by Serana.
Lydia used her stature and her superior training in combat to fight and commanded the Talos Battalion to strike any vulnerable daedric positions. Instead of her standard sword and shield. She used the Bloodskaal Blade Jaune gave to her. Using the arcs of red energy to cut down lesser daedra that are getting into the flanks of the Batallion.
Jaune kept decimating every dremora that he faced using the Slow Time shout and Elemental Fury. His use of the Auriel's Shield and Miraak's Sword was the same during the Second Great War but with faster damage per second that he is dealing and the Whirlwind Sprint. He almost moves lightning fast that he is just unseen and all that the soldiers are seeing were dremoras falling one by one.
He also never shied away from using his Unrelenting Force shout and more shouts that can cause instant devastation to daedric forces.
"Mages! Lightning Storm!" He flew himself up in the air along with mages from the Imperial Army. They saw that the Daedra are amassing a counterattack. He charged up his magicka and when he released it, a beam of concentrated lightning cracked out of his hands and poured it to the incoming Daedric counteroffensive. The mages used magical scrolls to cast the same spell, as they all concentrated their fire to the counterattack.
The Talos Battalion were fighting alongside them, using their shock tactics and moving fast in the terrain. They also gave a boost of morale to the Imperial Soldiers, as if the Emperor wasn't enough. "FLECHETTES!" The Emperor screamed.
From above, the dragons heard their call. On their back were mounted flecheteers and bombers, ready to cause havoc and the dragons flew behind enemy lines. Once they got into enemy territory, the flecheteers dropped flechettes and bombers dropped small vials of concentrated lightning magic and let them fall to the ground.
Due to the momentum of gravity, the flechettes moved like speeding bullets, making it even enough to kill an unhelmeted dremora and most shock daedras. The bombs were there to deplete their magicka further and made it easier for advancement, due to less resistance.
Together they all form a deadly force, pushing the daedra back and the Imperial Army forward to Kuroyuri. However, it was already approaching daybreak and the Army advanced nine kilometers towards Kuroyuri in just a single night. They can already see the trees that surround it and the large Oblivion Gate that dwarf the city due to its sheer size. The gate had two more gates inside of it which means that this isn't an ordinary Oblivion Gate and it was a Great Oblivion Gate.
They already saw that the Daedra were retreating to the gate, and Jaune knew it was a bait. But they need someone to close the gate. Sending Army troops inside would further increase the death toll and the Emperor doesn't want that.
Jaune turned to her, "Serana, come with me, we'll go to the Deadlands." Serana quickly nodded, "The Army would stay here and resist any Daedra that is going to come out from that gate! Am I understood?"
Every soldier heard the Emperor's command and all of them followed. However, someone opposed the command, his staff.
General Lydia immediately approached the Emperor, "Your Majesty, with all due respect, but your order is just...insane! The Empire needs you, Your Majesty! The Talos Batallion can handle it!"
"General. No one here in the army has gone to a realm in Oblivion. Only me and Serana were the ones who have handled the insanity that is a Plane of Oblivion. The Army would stay here, THAT is an order. I expect you General Lydia of all people to maintain discipline. And I won't tolerate any disobedience on my command." Jaune said calmly as he walked towards Kuroyuri together with Serana.
Lydia hung her head as she couldn't do anything. Jaune is the Emperor and the Chief of Staff of the Imperial Army. The only thing she could do now is, "The Army is to garrison here and surround Kuroyuri. Glory to the Empire! Hail Emperor Arc!"
Jaune then looked back to his army and then looked ahead to Kuroyuri while the Imperial Army cheered for him and the Dragons shouted in his name.
Kuroyuri
Jaune and Serana looked at the abandoned city and saw that, again, it was destroyed. However, there were no traces of blood, nor corpses lingering in the streets, just pure destruction. Paved roads were cratered with magical attacks, buildings, not one standing but a pile of rubble, it was a familiar yet haunting atmosphere.
This city was abandoned due to Grimm, Jaune can conclude that, but the destruction of the city with the Daedra made it even more unwelcoming. When they head to the roads, they saw a large spear together with a skull impaled into it. The skull had two giant horns, with red colored patterns to the horns and lower eyes. It had jagged teeth yet it lacked a jaw.
"The Daedra must've done this to warn those who go to that Plane." Serana pointed out.
Jaune shook his head, "Maybe. But I think this is an example of Grimm, and I don't even know what type of Grimm is this. But this means that even the Grimm is no match for Mehrunes Dagon's forces, no matter how overwhelmingly powerful they may be."
"So, a Grimm, huh?" Serana crossed her arms as she observed the makeshift monument of the Daedra. She then turned to Jaune, "Jaune, is this our "Remnant Adventure" now?" She smirked.
Jaune for the first time in several hours smiled. That's one of the aspects he liked Serana, it's that she always can make him smile, "I believe it is, yeah. But it would be cut short since we're going to Deadlands anyway."
"Did you just commanded the Army to stop so that the two of us can get our adventure?" Serana asked him but he shook his head in return.
"The Army can be formidable against the forces of Mehrunes Dagon, I can attest to that. However, they are not prepared for what's inside. You and I can take the Sigil Stone and close the Oblivion Gate."
Serana chuckled, "Understood."
They walked ahead to the gigantic Oblivion Gate and walked to the plane of existence, both had experience with.
The Deadlands, Plane of Mehrunes Dagon
The Deadlands. A Daedric Realm once explored by the Hero of Kvatch during the Oblivion Crisis. With gigantic towers of sanguine colored spikes, seas and rivers of searing lava, small stone obelisks with glowing etched Daedric letters, the sky with its never-ending storms of burning red. For short, it was just inhospitable for any living mortal, just like any other Planes of Existence.
It was a wasteland of fire and brimstone. A grand palace of pain, torture, and anguish to those who seek to enter. And the two are in for an adventure.
When Jaune and Serana entered the Plane, they already wanted to leave. Every plane has a specific atmosphere or trait that influences a mortal or those foreign to the plane. For the Soul Cairn, it was desolation and lifelessness. For Apocrypha, it was the pursuit of forbidden knowledge. For the Deadlands, it was ambition, in the most uncomfortable way. The ambition to further conquer the realm, seek what is inside, and die in the hands of the ruling daedric prince.
The two know of this and Serana just realized why Jaune doesn't really want the Army in here. Because The Deadlands is Mehrunes Dagon himself and can influence those who are unprepared, even with the Emperor's Voice. Only those who had an experience in a Daedric Realm and survived the ordeal can resist the atmosphere that lingered everywhere.
They expected a heavy resistance within the realm, yet none showed up. It was like their arrival was already prepared. The two wasted no time and walked towards the largest tower that they saw from their eyes. The two were quiet, watching each other's backs and listening to any unnatural sound that is lurking from everywhere.
It was quiet, eerily quiet. Jaune then heard footsteps from his right and saw that it was a Daedric Unit that is going to ambush them. The two then spotted units all around them. It was a full-blown ambush.
Serana and Jaune slowed time around them and began their attack. Serana focussed on the left while Jaune on the right.
The Daughter of Coldharbour didn't waste time to let the enemy attack them first. She instantly teleported using her bat form and conjured three gargoyles to aid her in battle. She hit each head of every dremora that she can see within her eyes, not letting any survive from her constant flurry of attacks. She constantly casts Thunderbolt to her advantage and quickly, Daedric forces dwindled.
The Emperor also didn't wait to relent and attacked head-on. He instantly used his Thu'um and didn't even felt the need to draw his weapon, immediately decimating the Daedric ambush force. He then saw incoming hordes of Xivilai heading their way. "Serana, stop them!"
Serana immediately knows what she had to do and used her blood magic to stop the each and every Xivilai. Jaune then got his queue. He gathered his Thu'um from his soul, shouted, " FUS - RO - DAH ! " The Xivilais were immediately repulsed and destroyed.
"So it was an ambush," Serana commented as she holstered her mace.
"There may be more as we get to the tower. I know Mehrunes Dagon would stop us from removing the Sigil Stone from there but," Jaune quickly re-equipped his Auriel's Shield, "We still need to be prepared to what's ahead of us."
"I know, I know," Serana said as she walked pass Jaune and he followed.
Back at the General Headquarters, they all witnessed the final phase, going to the Oblivion Gate. Jordis knows that Serana and Jaune are the only ones who had survived in a Daedric Realm and thus are the best people to finish this operation. She hated to admit it, but it is they are the right people for the job. The original plan was to have the Talos Batallion go there and finish it, but even the Emperor wouldn't risk their lives.
Once the two entered the realm, they saw the nightmarish world of the Deadlands. Jordis and General Morvayn were a bit unnerved by the appearance of the realm. It was just as described as what the two generals have read, but seeing it for real, it was more hellish than they have thought.
Ozpin and the Arc Family, however, was shocked that such a world can even exist. Some hunters have gone to the Grimmlands, Ozpin knew it was a realm full of black pools of liquid, with spikes of dark crystals and where the Sun doesn't even shine. However, the Deadlands takes the cake in the terrifying factor. Salem's Realm was to symbolize her oncoming plans to wipe out humanity. The Deadlands just symbolizes that if the Daedric Invasion were to succeed, wiping out humanity wasn't on the agenda of Mehrunes Dagon, but to enslave them and make them suffer until the end of time.
"Get my son out of there!" Angela Arc cried, "My son has no place in that world!"
"The Emperor ordered the Imperial Army that it would stay in the outskirts of Kuroyuri. We would follow his orders." Jordis calmly answered.
"Are you insane?!" Elizabeth shouted at the High Chancellor, "My brother is in a world that looks literally like hell! And you won't do anything?! Are you mad?!"
Artoria couldn't hold it any longer and pointed her sword at Jordis. However, as soon as she pointed the sword at the High Chancellor, two indistinguishable individuals in black robes suddenly appeared in the room and pointed an ebony dagger at her throat.
Jordis just sighed in frustration, "Shadow agents, these people are friendly. This is just a reaction that because of His Highness' decision. So I ask you both to stand down." She telepathically messaged the two Emperor's Shadow agents.
Artoria quickly knew that her temper got the better of her and slowly back down and sheathed her sword. The Emperor's Shadow agents soon disappeared. "I know that you are all angry that I'm not sending troops to help him. However, Serana and His Majesty are the only ones who went into other Daedric Realms and know how to survive one. And these are His Majesty's orders, even if you all threaten to kill me here, I wouldn't order any of the Imperial Forces to go to the Deadlands as it is against His Majesty's orders."
Morvayn really was angry and tried to control his temper, but the Dunmer couldn't keep it, "Even if you are his family, any more threats or provocations and I will force to order troops to escort you all out." General Morvayn spoke up, "You are all here to see His Majesty safe and not to command the Imperial Army, that's all! Now, if we can go back to the matter at hand and stop this bickering then I am glad to do so."
Sapphire cried as she was just scolded by a guy she didn't know. With the whole Arc Family looking at General Morvayn with disdain. The General was about to speak up again but Jordis just tapped his shoulder, "We should just observe the operation." She telepathized to Morvayn.
The dunmer general huffed and turned his head to the crystal ball, returning to observe the operation.
Ozpin kept quiet and just observed everything. From the years he has existed in Remnant, he can read a person like an open book. Jordis is like a parallel to Ironwood but he knew Jordis was more sympathetic compared to the Headmaster of Atlas Academy. Morvayn, though, he can see a trained military person who is brought to war and had a more hardened personality than Ironwood, following orders to the letter and not breaking military command.
It may be hard to convince and it might be opportunistic, even to Ozpin, but he is already planning what to do post-war. How to gain Jaune's favor and use him to drive the Grimm back.
Jaune and Serana saw that the tower holding the Sigil Stone was on another island. The tower was like a medieval castle, except that it is made to look like it belonged to this realm. There was a large open gate, full of Daedric troops, guarding the entrance to the tower and by the diameter of the tower and size, it looks like it is a giant keep.
They cannot cross by foot as the rivers of lava stands in their way. The only way that they can get to the tower is to fly there themselves. The two faced each other and nodded, knowing what they are going to do. Serana contorted her back and wings sprouted out of it, "It's been a long time since I've used my wings." She smiled deviously as her fangs brew a bit longer.
"I might as well summon him," Jaune gathered his Thu'um and shouted, " DUR - NEH - VIIR ! "
Purple flames sprouted from the ground and the flames turned into decaying flesh, revealing the mighty Durnehviir. "Ahhh Qahnaarin! It's been a long time."
"Indeed it is, old friend." Jaune nodded.
Durnehviir then felt the air around him, "I don't feel the air of Tamriel, Qahnahriin. I feel that this is another Daedric Realm. And by your armor, you are in battle, is it not?"
"It is, old friend. I declared war on Mehrunes Dagon and I summoned you here at his realm."
The undead dragon then laughed, "You never fail to entertain me, Qahnahriin. Before it was a war with the Fahliil, now it's against a Deyra Kulaan. I would be glad to aid you again, Qahnaarin. Just like old times." The dragon flew to the skies of the Deadlands, "Command me, and I will follow!"
"Durnehviir! Strike those hordes of Daedra with your Thu'um with all your might!" Jaune shouted with his Thu'um infused. Thus this signaled that they are going for an attack. Durnehviir obliged and summoned an army of undead Wrathmen from the Soul Cairn. Serana's speed further increased with her wings and instead of going for melee, she flew to the sky and rained down thunderbolt to each Dremora.
Immediately, the gates closed, making it a siege. However, Durnehviir just used his Unrelenting Force shout to smash the gates open, and Wrathmen poured in. However, the Wrathmen are fairly weak compared to Dremoras and soon Wrathmen numbers dwindled. Seeing this, Durnehviir summoned more and used his Drain Vitality shout to the Dremoras, making them now much weaker targets and they were soon finished off by the Wrathmen.
Jaune did the same as Serana and floated above the air. However, he alternated between using Destruction and his Staff of Magnus, but most of the time, he siphoned magicka from the Dremoras and he returned with a lightning storm which decimated most of the defenders of the castle. Durnehviir then used his Unrelenting Force shout to destroy the locked front door of the keep.
The only Daedra that were left are inside the castle and on the walls, still defending their position. The Dremoras and Xivilais that were left cast spells to the Wrathmen but their numbers were overwhelmed by the constant summoning of Durnehviir. The Daedra were assuming that Jaune would enter via the front door, as they have prepared traps inside, welcoming the soul of Jaune to the marble jaws of Oblivion.
But The Emperor, knowing that the Sigil Stone is at the top of the tower and by the accounts of Savlian Matius, the top floor was open to air. With his flight, he can just simply fly to the top of the tower and grab the Sigil Stone. Their time in the Deadlands might be short compared to how much time they spent on the Soul Cairn and Jaune spent on Apocrypha, but it's always the atmosphere that he hates in visiting these realms and just wants to get out of the place.
Jaune telepathized Serana to go to the top of the tower while Jaune left Durnehviir there to drive back any Daedric counterattacks. "Serana! There!" He shouted to her. The Sigil Stone was suspended in the air but it wasn't just a Sigil Stone, it was a Great Sigil Stone. It is a device that anchors the Deadlands to Remnant and removing it would destroy the Oblivion Gate and teleport those who went inside back to the realm where they originally came from. However, this only applies to the mortals who went in.
The two landed on the top of the tower, where they were met with heavy resistance. Even though that most defenses are concentrated on the lower floors of the tower, the higher floors are also defended. Seeing that ranged combat is almost impractical in this scenario, Jaune unsheathed his Miraak's Sword and together with his shield, waited for the Dremoras to attack. Serana, however, went on the offensive head-on, smashing any Dremora that she can lay her eyes upon.
Jaune and Serana alternated, attack defend attack defend defend attack attack. This made their combat much more unpredictable with Serana retreating every attack that she made and any counter would land on Auriel's Shield, stacking up strength inside. When the shield already had enough strength, Jaune shouted, "Serana, get back!"
She did what she was told, and Jaune bashed the shield to the nearest Dremora in-front of him. The force of the shield was expunged to each Dremora until the energy went out to the wall, destroying it. Jaune wasn't done yet though, he then finished with the shout, " FUS - RO - DAH ! ". The wall behind the horde of Dremoras collapse, taking the roof with them. Serana simply used her more powerful version of Telekinesis to float any oncoming debris to them, thankfully none ever struck them.
The two paths to the lower levels are now blocked, the Great Sigil Stone is now free for the taking. At the gates, Durnehviir's time in this realm is up and he disintegrated back to the Soul Cairn. Serana and Jaune walked to it and they felt the power that the stone held. "Time to end this," Jaune stated as he took the Sigil Stone.
Suddenly, the beam from the stone reached the sky and flames appeared everywhere. "Serana!" Jaune covered Serana with his body as he knew she is weak against fire. Until the fire engulfed the entire room.
Back at Kuroyuri, Lydia is inspecting the Oblivion Gate with her telescope, mounted to a soldier's shoulder. "C'mon Jaune..." She grunted. The soldiers and her fellow Generals saw that Lydia had become quite impatient for a while. They were gone for four hours now and still, there wasn't any update from General Headquarters about the condition of the Emperor.
Suddenly, she saw the Oblivion Gate explode. The area where the Oblivion Gate was is covered in dust and smoke, making it extremely difficult to see. There was a deafening silence after that explosion. If the Emperor doesn't appear from the smoke, it only means one thing. Lydia put those thoughts out from her head and silently hoped that Serana and Jaune would appear from the smoke. "Please, anything! The Nine! Save them!" She mumbled nervously.
When the dust cleared, it revealed the Emperor hugging pinning his personal bodyguard to the ground. When Jaune opened his eyes, he stood up from Serana and saw that familiar buildings from hours earlier. "Serana...we...did it...we won...We won!" He laughed and smiled.
Serana did so too, "I really cannot believe we actually did that. Another Daedric Realm. Another adventure."
Jaune immediately hugged Serana tightly and she hugged in return. The couple then heard the cheers of the soldiers from the outskirts of Kuroyuri, they are in joy in that the Emperor is still alive, but they maintained his order not to enter the city. Jaune then held Serana's hands gently, "Let's go." He smiled to her warmly which made her blush and the two walked to the Imperial Army.
Back at the Deadlands, Mehrunes Dagon raged as his initial invasion failed. The Dragonborn Emperor is a new threat to his plans but he still has free access to Remnant. He dreamed of destroying almost everything that he saw that isn't the Deadlands, back when Mehrunes' Razor and the Leaper Demon King merged into one. That one being Mehrunes Dagon.
Cursed by Alduin from Kalpas before, he was turned into a more powerful Daedric Prince by a former Magna-Ge named Meridia. Thus overthrowing Molag Bal, in his domination of Lyg. Evil? It might just be a matter of perspective. Since he wasn't always the Daedric Prince of Destruction and Ambition. He was the Prince of "Hope". Hope that one day, everything would change, even if it would be for good or for bad. He is stuck in this curse, to change everything that he sees fit.
He will change everything until there is nothing left to be changed but the timeline itself, for the next Kalpa to take its place. But he never wants to repeat the Kalpa again. The Daedric Prince gives credit to the Dragonborn Emperor that he is already near to achieving CHIM, the only thing left was to observe the Tower without Zero-Summing.
But this is also his chance to not experience the same thing over and over again, the extremely painful razoring of his being, his defeat from Martin Septim, and the destruction of Nirn by the Numidium, with his ambition all but gone and destroyed. To mortals, Time may be long, but to them, the Daedric Princes, time is another thing to comprehend that a mortal might take even a lifetime to understand what time is to the Daedric Princes.
This is a new Kalpa and no longer does the Kalpa would repeat as Jaune was now put into the picture of the history of Nirn, so does his ambition and nature would continue.
So he decided to do something new, he plans to change Remnant into another Deadlands to become his personal plane, and soon Tamriel would be his. Everything must change. Not just Tamriel, but Remnant and finally Nirn. Without the barrier of the Aedra, he is already free at his options to conquer Remnant. Stuck in this curse of change, he might as well enjoy the hell out of it. He laughed loudly in his palace of pain as soon, he would like to have a battle with the Dragonborn.
He saw Solitas and Sanus as those two are quite vulnerable. This dark creatures that stood in his way of change shall be swiftly crushed by his forces and his only worthy opponent in this global conflict is the Dragonborn Emperor. Now, he is planning his new invasion force before the Dragonborn can even light the Dragonfires. Remnant would be his new Deadlands.
Omake: Emperor of Tamriel x RWBY Volume 3 Finale: Part 3
The staff of the Arcane University helped the populace of Vale as daybreak approached. Every mage helped those who are wounded and people are shocked that there are these people who can have abilities. To the shock of the populace of Vale, dragons appeared from the portal. Real life Dragons! They thought that this was an invasion, however, the dragons only carried supplies from their backs to help them.
The dragons brought food, clothes, and makeshift camps for the populace while the Imperial Legions or Army entered the city to help them. Mages from the University and with the help of the Imperial Army constructed large stairs from the CCT Tower down to the ground so manpower could easily be maneuvered.
General Lydia and High Chancellor Jordis oversee the operation of helping the Valean populace, which now would be integrated to the Empire of Tamriel. No government was able to protect them, and the Atlesian Army failed them. However, the Empire with its vast resources can help Vale reconstruct into a new city of prosperity and opportunity. An "Annexation of Vale" Bill is now being organized by Jordis to propose it to the Elder Council.
The Emperor, however, was busy on another matter.
Beacon Academy Ruins
The Emperor, together with his younger counterpart, two Pyrrhas, and the whole team of NPR, RWBY, CFVY and Professor Goodwitch, landed on the now destroyed courtyards of Beacon Academy. Team RWBY, CFVY, and Glynda were shocked that they met a different Jaune and Pyrrha from what they knew. The younger Jaune was just like the Jaune from seven months ago. Pyrrha was also the same Pyrrha from a month ago until The Emperor introduced her to new techniques of fighting.
When they landed and saw Beacon, it was all heartwrenching to them. Especially that this was the place when they all met. Velvet and Ruby couldn't help but tear up, while Coco and Yang comforted them.
The Older Jaune dreamed of coming back to visit Beacon one day. The school that thought him survival techniques that he needed for his adventures in Skyrim. But now, it is destroyed. A different Beacon yes, but it all seems so real, it might as well have been an illusion. But it wasn't.
The group walked quietly to the destroyed courtyard where students are nowhere to be found. Traces of blood was everywhere, shells of dust ammunition scattered all across the courtyard. They all can picture what happened here, and tears were shed as they imagined it. Glynda wasn't also doing that good. This was her home for almost half of her life and seeing it destroyed really is heartbreaking that she also couldn't help but shed tears.
"Rubes." Jaune smiled sadly as he observed the courtyard. "Do you still remember? It was here when we first met."
"Yeah, and I also met Weiss too." Ruby who had her hood on stood beside the Emperor.
The Emperor chuckled, "Yeah, that fire dust did make a crater out of your face, Crater Face!"
"Hey!" Ruby pouted, "I was just sneezing and Weiss just puts her dust in an unsecured bottle." She claimed, crossing her arms together.
"For your information, Ruby. Dust is volatile! Did you ever forget it since we are taking our magical lessons?" Weiss reprimanded to her.
"There's no more point in arguing about this." Blake interjected, "What was our home is just...gone..."
"This isn't ours, Blake." The Emperor answered, "This is another Remnant, but this might reflect what might actually happen in the future. What might happen to Beacon of our Remnant. This wasn't my intention but we have to prevent this thing from happening. C'mon, let's explore the ruins."
They walked towards the empty academy. Flames were already put out but rubble was everywhere, making it hard to traverse the ruins. Glynda just used her semblance to make traversing easier. The deeper they went to the ruins, the harder it is to hold back the tears of sadness and nostalgia to everyone involved. The Older Jaune just breathe deeply and kept his gaze straight, never letting a single tear fall from his eyes.
They then got to the Cafeteria, which was almost unrecognizable. Tables either ruined or scattered with vending machines destroyed entirely. The sun was shining through the roof and that is their only source of light. The Older Jaune then saw something far away, he walked towards it and was shocked to see a severed arm.
"By the Nine..." But it wasn't just a severed arm, it was Yang's arm. Around the arm was a pool of blood, and still, a part of Ember Celica was equipped on the arm. From Jaune's experience from the Second Great War, the arm already is on rigor mortis and cannot be re-attached back, even through magickal means.
The others walked to him and they gasped as they saw the severed arm. When Yang saw this, she recognized that it was her arm. Her heart clenched and immediately, she activated her semblance, "WHO DID THIS?! I WILL KILL THEM!" She roared and raged.
Seeing that, Jaune quickly cast Calm on her, "Yang, calm down! Whoever did this, isn't here. So save your strength."
Yang calmed down, but still, she was clearly angry as her blood red eyes never went away, "Promise me this, Jaune. That if we find whoever did this, you would not do anything. I'm going to solo uppercut whoever cut my arm."
They then continued their journey to the inner depths of the ruins, however, Jaune got a message, "Your Highness, A man named General Ironwood and another Glynda Goodwitch wish to have an audience with you." Jordis contacted her.
"Alright, I will be there." Jaune telepathized back. He then turned to the group, "I'm sorry but I have to cut this short. Jordis contacted me and told me that General Ironwood and another Professor Goodwitch requests to see me." When the group heard of that, the other Jaune and Pyrhha got notably angry as the Emperor told their names, while Glynda was really surprised to hear another her.
The other Jaune came to him, "Then, we'll come with you. There's something that I haven't settled with that General." The others were surprised by the harsh tone that the younger Jaune addressed to the General. They then all walked to the courtyard where Odahviing was waiting for them.
Vale Residential Area Ruins: General Headquarters of the Imperial Army
General Ironwood and Glynda Goodwitch sat on a chair provided to them by Jordis. What happened last night was a disaster to Vale and a huge blow to the prestige of the Atlesian Military. Not only was the power of the Fall Maiden, stolen by the one who calls herself "Cinder Fall", but Beacon Academy was destroyed, the entire city was almost annihilated from the face of Remnant, and the Vytal Festival a monumental disaster to everyone.
However, something surreal happened on that fateful night. A large portal opened from the top of the CCT and they couldn't see who appeared but according to what Ruby said, it was Jaune Arc, a different version of him. This Jaune Arc can cast spells from his hands, make his shouts come to life, and summon a dragon out of nothingness.
The sky turned to the Grimm and smite them with undeniable cruelty as they had done to the populace of Vale. The mighty Grimm Dragon was killed by a more powerful dragon without making it look like the other dragon took an effort. What shocked them was that the Grimm Dragon didn't die fading away, it died by exploding into light by an arrow from the other Jaune Arc.
They haven't met him, but they heard his speech. But it sounded too good to be true, it sounded too altruistic. But soon their doubts were shattered when people who call themselves "Mages" entered the city and helped the populace with their healing spells that amazed everyone. The Imperial Army also entered with them being fully covered in steel plates.
However, what everyone was talking about and was shocked about were the dragons. They expected that the dragons were evil, yet now they are helping the populace by providing supplies from Tamriel to Vale. They thought that everything that they are seeing right now is a fantasy, a fictional tale from a distant past. Yet now, it is right in front of them, presented as a gesture of selflessness of the Empire.
"Presenting, His Majesty The Emperor of Tamriel, Emperor Arc! High Chancellor of the Elder Council, Councilman Jordis! Guild Master of the Fighter Guild of Tamriel and the General of the Imperial Forces of Skyrim and Cyrodiil, General Lydia!" A soldier announced inside.
The Emperor entered together with High Chancellor Jordis and General Lydia and they all sat on the other side of the table. The two were shocked to see that the scraggly boy that was Pyrrha Nikos' partner was a full-fledged adult, carrying himself with pride and intimidation that one cannot just associate to the name "Jaune Arc".
"General Ironwood, Professor," The Emperor nodded to the two, while they nodded in return, "You have requested my audience. So here I am, what is it that you want to discuss with me?" He smiled while he sat comfortably on the seat provided to him.
"Mr. Arc." Glynda said nervously, "You really are an adult and an Emperor." She gasped. Jaune simply nodded to that response and he turned his head to the General.
"Mr. Arc, we are glad that you are helping Vale with your resources, but I must tell you that you have to pull your forces out of Vale." The General began his argument.
Jaune simply raised his eyebrow and tilted his head, "Because?"
"Because it would mean an Act of War. The Valean Council might be gone but the Atlesian Council would re-install the Council providing peace and stability to the Kingdom. So I must insist, Emperor Arc, you must withdraw." The General pressed.
"General Ironwood, you must understand that your military is almost none existent." Jaune waved his hand, "When I entered this Remnant, I even saw your forces attacking civilians."
"That is created by a computer virus!"
"Then my point stands. You lack security and manpower to even defend these people here. General, can you tell me honestly how many troops you have left that have been garrisoned here in Vale?"
General Ironwood paused for a minute then sighed, "He only have two thousand men left."
"General Lydia, can you tell me how many troops have we deployed from the Cyrodiil Garrison? Excluding personnel from the Arcane University." Jaune turned to her.
"Your Majesty, we have one hundred thousand troops deployed to defend and aid Vale. We also have ten dragons from the Air Force helping with the supplies and defending the Valean Airspace from Grimm." General Lydia reported to Jaune, viewing it from her clipboard.
Jaune then turned to Ironwood, "Exactly. This isn't an Act of War, General. This is to help my home, or what it was. My army is here to help the Valean people as they have lost all hope and they need all the help that they can get. And why are we arguing with this? Isn't our purpose now is to help each other and rebuild? General, I don't really see the point in this meeting." He shook his head.
The two were surprised by the maturity of this Jaune Arc. They thought that he was going to rail and scream at them, saying to them that his forces are here to say and the Atlesian Council can go suck it up themselves. But what they were presented as a mature, level-headed Jaune Arc.
General Ironwood nodded, "Yes, that might be the best course of action for now."
"Good. I may remind you General, that your forces can stay here. However, my forces would handle all the fighting that would ensue at any time since what's left of your regiments needs rest." Jaune smiled.
"Thank you for your kindness, Emperor Arc." Glynda said to him, "By the way, have you encountered or have heard the name "Cinder Fall"?"
"Cinder Fall? Jordis, what's the situation with Ms. Fall?" He asked.
"Cinder Fall is being transferred to Vvardenfell as we speak in the Red Mountain Prison. She is to be tried and executed next week to the charges of "Attacking the Emperor" and "Threatening the Peace of Tamriel"." Jordis answered.
"May we see her? We need to ask her questions regarding something." Glynda asked him.
"Yes, you can. But it has to be on Tamriel." Jaune answered and the two nodded in agreement. "Is there anything you need?"
"No, there isn't." Glynda shook her head.
"Then there isn't anything to discuss anymore." Jaune stood up along with Lydia and Jordis and left the camp, leaving General Ironwood and Glynda to just sit there and reflect everything that transpired.
NEXT: Emperor of Tamriel x RWBY Volume 3 Finale: Part 4
...and done! Whoah, almost twenty-two days without an update to this story. To be honest, I had writers block regarding this story so I updated Archmage Of Zero first. But then I had ideas and WA-LA~! another chapter has been made. I've gotten interested in Elder Scrolls lore regarding Morrowind since the lore regarding Dagoth Ur, the ALMSIVI or the Tribunal and how Vivec is overall important in C0DA is quite interesting and intriguing. You can all particularly blame it on Dagothwave, pretty good stuff!
Also, the delay is due to university work coming up to me. Which is stressful enough. But I tried my best on coming up a new chapter in my free time. Though again, chapters in this story might be released two to three weeks since university. Also, the Omake on the RWBY Volume 3 Finale would continue and would not end in part 3 since there are still many loose ends needed to be tied and finished.
I hope this chapter suffices to your liking dear readers! Comments, suggestions, and constructive criticisms are always welcome! Leave a review or give me a pm if you like, since it really helps to have direct reader feedback. And, again, thank you for taking the time to read this fanfic, dear readers!