I don't own RWBY Or Darkest Dungeon.
"There are all these moments you think you won't survive. And then you survive."
David Levithan
Dismas POVI hung to that crate like it was life it self as the waves pushed me back and forth. The thought of drowning by fishmen has crossed my mind so many times I almost believed it 'twas my fate every time the waves crashed back against me. That all changed when what felt like hours later, I finally felt solid ground underneath me. Guess by some cruel or even benevolent deity I crashed into a sandbar. I struggled to stand as the riptide try's to Pullman back out to sea. With every effort I thought it till I managed to drag myself onto land. Where ever I landed it was dark and I couldn't see my own hands let alone what's in front of me. Still I pull myself as far away as possible from the ocean. With the last bit of my strength I managed to pull myself under what I presumed to be a tree, before consciousness had failed me and I slip into a deep sleep. As I slept I couldn't help but think back to my days back at that accursed mansion in northern France.
I lied there till sunlight hits my eyes. I struggled to open them but when I do I found that it wasn't sunlight. Rather a dimly lit campfire. I looked around and to my utter shock I was in the ruins of the old estate. Even more shocking I see Junia and Paracsus sleeping soundly why'll my old friend Reynauld was staring deeply into the fire. As I begin to stir he looked up me before giving a small chuckle.
"Aw, so the sleeping thief has final arisen. Heh, Good to see you well again." Reynauld comment's as he pokes at the fire with a stick.
"Highwayman." I mutter as pull myself up. "Ugh I had the weirdest dream..."
"About a world where the moon is shattered and humanity is brought to near extinction due to the monsters called Grimm." Reynauld said interrupting me. To be honest I was complete caught off guard by this.
"Yes exactly, how did you know?" I asked.
"Because this is just a dream." Reynauld said bluntly. "You have been tossed into to this of madness so many times that your mind had made a sanctuary where your sanity can retreat too."
"... So, am I mad? I suppose so if you aren't the real Reynauld but rather my conscious that I am currently speaking too." I reply as I look around me seeing that the room has some elements of Beacon intertwined with the decaying ruins of the Ravenade house home.
"Oh, we all be mad to venture here on out of our own choice. Still despite all we went through, I'm genuinely surprise you choose this place for this." Reynauld said as he inspects his sword.
"Yea well I guess our first mission into this madness has always been a comfort for me. A milestone to remember all that we have lossed along this road." I said as I reach for my pipe when I realized my jacket was gone.
"MMM, personally I would prefer a memory of happier times but I guess this will do." Reynauld said as he pulls a leather wine skin out from his pack.
"Well you are my subconscious so shouldn't you rather be scolding me for my own actions? Like loosing those letters for Blake's parents." I questioned Reynauld.
"Yes that would be the case with most but I'm simply a friendly face for you to confess on your own terms." Reynauld comments before moving his helmet and opening it up to take a swig. After a few seconds he wiped removed the wine skin from mid mouth and offered it to me. I was hesitant at first but I took the wine skin and placed it to my mouth before spitting it out.
"Ugh, What the hell is this? Fucking salt water?" I complain why'll spitting the salty liquid from my mouth.
"Of course it taste of water from the sea, you did just spent the last few hours unknowingly swallowing it." Reynauld comments as he takes the wine skin from me.
"Right (Cough) I suppose (Cough) that makes (Cough) sense." I said as I tried desperately to rid my taste buds of the salty water. "But you could have said something about it."
"I suppose." Reynauld remarks with a shrug. He placed away the leather skin back into his pack before we returned to simple solitary silence. After what felt like hours Reynauld spoke up.
"What is Mrs Rose to you?" Reynauld asked.
"She's a good person and her convictions in getting the happy ending is, admirable." I replied.
"No, what is she to you." He said as he points to me. I couldn't really come up with the words to describe it. She was what I said and more but there was something that I couldn't put together into an actual sentence.
"... she's, reminds me... of my son I suppose." Dismas remarks solemnly.
"Aye, that she does. So by your own admission." Reynauld remarks as he turns his attention to the fire. "I think it's time you awake from this and go forth. To bring righteous justice to the world."
"Tsk, I know you are my subconscious cause Reynauld wouldn't have made me compare my dead son with Ruby. Otherwise I would have knocked his teeth out." I said chuckling to myself madly all why'll Reynauld nods his head as he grabbed ahold of a bucket of water, before extinguishing the fire.
The room went black and I once more find myself in the void. As I sat there in the darkness I started to wonder if my self conscious Reynauld was making a point. As I begin to pounder more about what he said I felt a light on my eyes. I slowly open them to see the bright sun up in the sky and the sound of the salt water coming in with the tide. As I stir a sudden shock of pain begins to serge through my body as I struggle to stand.
"Ugh, add fucking salt water to my hate list." I groan why'll using the tree for support. "Where the hell am I?"
As I looked around I noticed that the fog was gone. The heat was unbearable, and a Fox Faunas kid was staring at me in bewilderment. As I stared at him I noticed in his hand was my flintlock. My blood begins to boil as this scared looking kid held onto my gun. I would have snapped at him but I wasn't one for shouting at kids. That and I haven't had a headache as bad as this since the night I stupidly excepted Boudica drinking challenge.
"... Didn't your parents teach you that stealing is wrong?" I asked as I walked forward only for him to quickly point my gun at me with shaking hands.
"Never had parents. Your race saw to it." He said as he pulls back the hammer.
"Aw, well I'm sorry for your loss kid, but I would like my weapon back." I said as I reach out with my hand.
"No, you have no right to be on this island. Also you were dead so fingers keeper." He said as he aims my pistol at my head.
"Look kid, I was sent here by Ozpin. From Beacon Academy in Vale. Strange reports of missing ships going missing? Does any of that ring a bell?" I asked as my foot slowly moved backwards.
"Yea, but you are still not allowed on this island. I'm sure if I shot you then no one would even ca..." before he could even finish his monologue I quickly kicked my gun upwards into the air before catching it.
"Word from the wise kid. If you are going to shoot then shoot." I said as I point the gun at his head. He was absolutely terrified that he took one step back before falling down. He was shaking like a leaf till I pull the trigger getting a click sound.
"Another suggestion, if you are gonna threaten someone don't do it with an empty gun." I scolded as I put away my pistol. "Now if you were to be so kind and point me of the nearest town, I'll be out of your hair."
The kid blinked a few times before picking himself up looking me right in the eye... and flipping me off. "Here's the point."
If he was an adult I would have trouble holding myself back in temptation to castrate the brat. Still despite his crude jester I let out a sigh as I pinch my nose.
"... (sigh) You know what, fine. Always had a good sense of direction." I then started down the beach where his foot prints where still visible. "Just so you know, being a wanker as a kid will be drastically different as an adult."
I gave a flip back as I made my way down the shore as the kid gave angry scowls towards me as I walked away. I walked down the beach still wearing that soggy clothes. As I walked I patted myself down to see if any of my stuff was looted by that brat. Thankfully not. My wallet was untouched, Lightning was still in its sheath. Gunpowder? Thankfully dry as a bone. That's when I noticed something in my back pocket. It was a letter, guess the rest where in my jacket. Probably at the bottom of the ocean by now. Unfortunately the letter was slightly soggy and ink written address was unreadable thanks to the water damage.
"(Sigh) I really like that jacket." I mutter to myself now disappointment as I walked up a hill to see an entire town. No one looked to be human rather they have Faunas features. "Up side at least I'm on Menagerie."
3rd POV
The locals were a bit surprise to see a human in town. Still the way he's dressed frightened off most Faunas and those who didn't still had the memories of predigest fresh in their minds to even consider help a human. After awhile Dismas finally found a stand by the waterfront that allowed humans.
"Well not many humans come around here. What would it be stranger?" The boar Faunas store owner asked with a curious eye.
"W-Water." Dismas struggled to say with his raspy throat. The store keep gave nod as he reaches under and pulls a green coconut out from under the table.
"We only have coconut water." The store keep said as he poke a hole in the coconut with a knife. "Still water is water, that e'l be..."
Before he could even finish Dismas slaps down his Lein card and snatching the coconut, quickly downing the liquid inside.
"... huh, guess you had a hell of a day." The store keeper said as he takes the card and swipes it through his cash register.
"(Gulp) ahh, you have no idea." Dismas replies as he placed down the coconut. "Another please."
The shore keeper nods and pulls another coconut from behind his stall. He opens it and hands it off to Dismas who slowly drank the coconut. As he does the shop keep processed the Lein card getting a few Beeps.
"I hate to be that guy but it seems your card has no funds. By chance you have a different one or something else of value to pay for the water?" The store keeper ask. Dismas finished his second coconut before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a single coin. The shop keepers eyes followed the gleaming flicker of the coin in Dismas hand. Even to the untrained eye he knew that was worth more then his entire shop.
"How about you just give me access to every single one of these coconuts, and we call it even?" Dismas said as he place the coin on the table. The store keeper looked up in utter shock by the deal, he had to take a moment to straighten himself before pocketing the coin. He then pulled out an entire bag of coconuts out from under and started poking holes.
"Well guess of all the riches humans I met. You are definitely the most humble, and polite." The store keeper chuckles.
"To you maybe. But what I went through to get these coins alone, I would rather remain poor or in prison." Dismas said cripticly as he takes the freshly opened coconut.
"Ah, guessing their a story behind that?" The store keeper ask.
Dismas didn't answer till after he half finished the coconut. "...You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
The store keeper got the hint and dropped the conversation. He watched as Dismas drank from the coconuts reserve he was selling. Occasionally a few Faunas would eye him in bewilderment, other's in betrayal. He didn't reply to any of them till one certain cat Faunas walked up to the stand.
"Why hello Horatio. Do you have what I ordered?" The cat Faunas asked in a polite tone.
"But of course Kali." The shop keeper now known as Horatio said as he pulls out a few brown coconuts. "Making your revered lemon coconut bars again. Ah what I would give for one of those right now."
"Well I'll save some for you the next time around." Kali said with a polite grin before reaching into her purse. "Now how much do I owe you?"
"Nothing at all. This young lad just bought my entire stock of coconut water for the next three weeks." Horatio said with a hardy laugh as he points with his hand at Dismas. Kali looked to her right and noticed that the person next to her was a human. He looked up and gave a simple polite wave.
"Oh, a human. What brings you to Menagerie?" Kali asked.
"Business. Would have been here yesterday if it wasn't for the attack on the boat transferring me and my friends." Dismas explains as he takes another coconut.
"Oh, that's horrible. What happened?" Kali asked in worried tone.
"Well that's a long story but to sum it up, some nasty fish fuckers used the cover of fog to board the ship and killed a majority of everybody onboard." Dismas explains. He then turns his head to the side to see a female fish Faunas looking at him with irritation in her eyes. "Oh not your kind love. They were much more uglier and if it helps more on the human side."
She didn't, instead she grabs an open coconut and tossed the water in his face before storming off.
"Oh, how terrible. We have been finding pieces of ships washing ashore, and less trade ships coming to the island. So all this time it's been pirates?" Kali asked.
"Nope, something much worse and much older then the Grimm." Dismas answers as he takes a few napkins that Horatio handed to him. "But unfortunately Ozpin wishes me to disclose this information with the village chieftain."
"I see, well I can bring you to him if you wish." Kali offered.
"Well that would be kind of you but I need to make a stop at a house... that I Unfortunately don't know the address to." Dismas said as he pulls the letter from his back pocket.
"Oh, and what's that you got there lad?" Horatio asked.
"Well, I have a friend with some sensitive and interesting history. She haven't been able to look her parents in the eye let alone contact them for the past five years. So when she heard about me heading to Menagerie, she asked me to deliver a stack of letters. Lost all in the attack, except for this one. Even then I don't know the address." Dismas explains in annoyance before placing down the letter and grabbing another coconut.
"Aww, that's so sweet of you. Do you have a crush on her?" Kali asked with general interest.
"Ha, I would say more like she has a crush on him. No way a girl would trust anyone, especially a human. No offense. With personal letters to home." Horatio asked with a hardy laugh.
"Um none taken. I only have a personal respect and understanding for her. Nothing more and nothing less." Dismas answer's with a hidden blush under his scarf.
"Heh, ah I see. To embarrassed to talk about it public. Well I'll drop it for now." Horatio said with a chuckle. Dismas simply rolled his eyes before grabbing another coconut.
"Well anyways, what's her name? I'm sure Kali would know since she knows everyone on the island." Horatio asked.
"Really? Well her name is Blake, Blake Belladona." As soon as he said Blake's name the world slowed down for both Kali and Horatio. Their cheerful faces quickly shifted to utter disbelief. Dismas started to take notice when Kali drops the coconut in her hand without even battering an eye.
"Um... is it something I said?" Dismas asked uncomfortably. He didn't revive an answer rather Kali slowly picked up the letter and inspected it before quickly opening it and pulling the letter out.
"Hey." Dismas protest. Before he could stand up Horatio grabbed his arm.
"Um, listen lad I probably should have mentioned that she knows everybody on the island because, well she's the village chiefs wife." Horatio explains.
"Alright but still what right does that give for them to read someone else's mail?" Dismas asked as he broke free from Horatios grasp.
"None except, that is her daughters letter." Horatio explains. Dismas gave a confused look before it hit him. His eyes went wide as he turned to Kali and watched as she quickly reads through the note silently as she covered her mouth with with a single tear streaming down her face when she looked up at Dismas.
"Oh, bugger." Dismas remarks.
30 minutes later on the open ocean
Tardif, Amani, Bigby, and a few other survivors including a human sailor, two white head bunny Faunas's and the Faunas child Tardif saved sat silently on the overturn boat. In Bigby's hands was Dismas coat. He had yet to let go of it ever since last night. The fog was still thick as last night but the sound of seagulls made it clear that they were near land. Still with everything they had witnessed the night before no one was at all relieved with the thought of being rescued.
"... how many did we loose?" A sailor asked as he he looks down at a photo of him and his brother.
"... beyond the count of grief." Amani answer's in a sad tone.
"By Oum's grace. I don't think I'll ever set foot in water again." One of the bunny Faunas's said.
"Or fish, I definitely won't miss them now." The other bunny Faunas said half mad.
"... I miss mommy." The child Faunas that Tardif and Zheltyy has save said as she shivers. Tardif didn't respond but rather placed his arm on her shoulder in comfort. She looked upwards at Tardif face, even though it was cover by his mask she could tell he was giving a remorseful nod. She started to tear up and begins to weep into his arms.
The seven remained afloat for what felt like hours till the fog started to clear and a dock with Faunas fishermen spotted them. They were towed in by a few lines before being helped onshore. The state of the seven survivors was absolutely shocking causing a huge crowd of Faunas to gather around. One very tall and well built Faunas in particular wearing a purple long coat walked forth.
"By Monty's name, what happened to all of you?" He asked in complete shock.
"I don't even know what to call them. Fish people. What ever they are they are anything but friendly." A the bunny Faunas said as he shook in fear.
"Deep ones." Tarif comments as he held the child in his arms.
"Deep what?" The sailor asked.
"What my friend here is trying to say is that those creatures are not man nor Faunas. Rather Pelagic nightmares from the darkest depths of the ocean floor." Amani answer's as she nods to Bigby to hand over the book inside Dismas jacket.
"Wait, so you knew? You fuckin knew!" The sailor shouts enraged.
"You know what they are called!? The hell, did you crossed these creatures before?" One of the bunny Faunas asked.
"We knew something was attacking the ship's, Ozpin thought it was something different from Grimm or pirates. So he sent us here to not only rid the island of these fishmen but also to give the chieftain this." Amani response holding the book in her hand.
"Monty almighty you had that?! How many lives that book could have saved?! My friends bones are probably at the bottom at the ocean you one arm bitch!" The sailor shouts violently.
"Now hold on. I'm sure they did not know they would be attacked." The Faunas said in a calming tone trying to defuse the situation.
"With respect chief, you weren't their Ghira. How these creatures tore everyone to pieces. Children with missing limbs, mothers strangled by their intestines, fathers necks ripped cleanly off." The sailor ranted on before finally breaking down and crying. "I watched (sob) my brother (sob) head tossed (sob) overboard like (sob) it was (sob) some fucking (sob) game."
As he cry's the crowd of Faunas felt remorse and pity for him. They have been wondering why there was little ships coming into town and now they are shaken to say the least. As he continues to cry Amani approached the chief.
"These creatures will continue to destroy ships, leaving this island without any supplies. They need to be delt with immediately." Amani whispers into Ghira's ear.
He gave a nod a few moments later before turning to the crowd and giving a signal for the guards to walk over. "Take the survivors somewhere dry, make sure to do so with the utmost respect as you do so. Once done I want more guards patrolling the waterfront. As for the huntsmen I want to talk with them in private."
The guards nods their heads and lead the survivors away. The girl that Tardif was holding refused to go with them. So Ghira allowed her to stay with the very intimidating looking young lad. He then introduce himself as the village chieftain and suggested that they follow him back to his house to discuss a way for them to properly deal with these aquatic devils.
The four followed Ghira through town. They would have taken in the beautiful tropical island scenery and village beautiful buildings. But with the amount of deaths they had witnessed the night prier they looked onwards at the crowd with remorseful tired eyes. Amani noticed a single mother holding onto her child as they passed and thought back on her own child. Her eyes moved down the lane of Faunas's of various types, until her eyes passed over for a faint moment a girl in an ally that looked exactly like her daughter. She came to a halt and looked closely down the alleyway. Nobody was there. It was empty and deserted, she was about to move towards the ally when Tardif places his hand on her shoulder.
"Saw something?" He simply gruff's.
"Um no, just I thought I did." Amani answer's before the two walked away from the ally. Once gone a piece of the ally begins to move with the shape of young adult figure. She looked onwards at the humans she was ordered to spy on.
Eventually the survivors came to the massive door of the chieftains home. The guards escorting them open the door allowing them to enter.
"Honey! We have guests!" Ghira called out as he walked through the doors with the four right behind them. After a few moments a older cat Faunas walked out of one room.
"Ah Ghira, I have some great news..." the cat Faunas stopped when she noticed the four young adults standing right behind them. "Oh, more humans. Well this is exciting. Hello everyone, my name is Kali."
"Yes these three are from Vale. Their arrival was les... wait, what do you mean by more humans?" Ghira asked with a perplexed look on his face.
"Oh, why'll you were on business I went into town to buy some ingredients for tonight dinner when I ran into a strange young man." Kari said as she reaches behind and pulls out a letter. "He came here to speak with you but also to give us this. A letter from our daughter."
Ghira's eye's went wide in utter shock before quickly grabbing the letter from his wife and placing on his glasses. The letters were slightly smudge by the water damage but is still readable. As he quickly skims through it his eyes start to tear up.
"(Sniff) This is the best news I heard in a long time." Ghira said as he wipes away his forming joyous tears. "Tell me, where is this human?"
"He's currently in the dining room. We were talking about our daughter over a cup of tea." Kari explains as she points to the room she came from. "Why not invite your guest in and I'll go get some more cups."
"That sounds lovely." Ghira comments as he gave her a kiss on her cheek. "Monty knows after everything these four went through they need it."
The three gave a nod in agreement before following Ghira to the dining room. Inside sitting at the table was a familiar figure with a blanket over his body. He turns to see the five with a smal smile growing on his face. He was about to say something when Bigby who was quiet instantly shouted out.
"Mein Gott DISMAS!!!!" Bigby shouts in joy before racing over and tackling Dismas to the ground.
Hello everybody Wombag1786 here. Let's answer some Q's and C's
From Guest: Aw shucks. It's nice to know that people love this story. Your vote has been tallied.
Thanks for writing Guest.
From Carre: 1a. As always been a pleasure.
1b. Eh I'd give it mix ratings. So fun fact, I'm writing a Fallout NV story for my weekend story. If your interested in another RWBY/Fallout Crossover, check it out.
2a. Oh, my bad. Really it is. I'm using this brain for more then just work so sorry that I do tend to forget things.
2b. Yeah, that one wasn't so blunt like the other ships. (I have been thinking of making a Deadspace crossover with the Gate JSDF where Isaac finds himself on the other side after falling from the moon. Could be interesting give me your thoughts on the matter.)
3. (Bad Russian accent) In America you ship Russians. In Soviet Russia, Russians ship You.
4. Well I was thinking among the lines of the those creatures from "cold skin" (it's a foreign horror movie) and one of this fuck ugly piranha, had a baby that was born with all the ugly genes of an inbred Austrian arch duke. But yeah doing a quick reference on war hammer yeah I guess the resemblance can be uncanny. Though to be fair with you "I" call them fishmen. In truth they are actually called the Deep ones in H.P stories. (Or Pelagic Groupers in game) The only reason I don't call the the Deep ones is because if I wrote a battle scene it will sound to suggestive whenever "the Deep one's sink there teath into a child's unprotected stomach" case in point.
5. Huh, I may be born in Boston but you definitely take to the water better then me my Swedish (i think, that phrase does sound Scandinavian.) But I digress every Captain that goes down with his ship is a Captain of honor. Fictional or not.
6. Remind me what is ME 3?
7. Thanks again.
Thanks for writing Carre.
Alright with that out of the way I have a question for you the reader's. I'm going to write one to three more chapters with the Menagerie chronicles before starting on the third and final chronicles. The Mistral fungi infection. Still working on the name but I digress. What I want to know is should this take place after the chronicles or should it take place when Team DTAB arrive home? I'll place the pro's and con's below.
(If majority say that they get the job once done with the Menagerie chronicles then they will be on a train heading for Mistral when it's overturned by fungus zombies.
Pro: it gets you the reader into the story faster and lets me add the hound character more fluently.
Con, shorter chapters.
On the other end there's going to be a time skip and when they return Boudica will be in restraints for nearly killing a few kids by broken pelvises. Jaune/Phrrya/Ren/Nora will be included. Dismas will then have a heart to heart moment with Ruby where he will confess to everything and their friendship will grow.
Pro: gives me a much needed break. Also allows me to advertise the next vote by the end of season two storyline.
Con: the vote for Dismas Ship ends and there will be a two week break for me.)
Please Fav and Fol the story and leave a comment or questions about the story.
This is Wombag1786 signing off.
Dismas ships
Dismas X Weiss: White glove 4
Dismas X Blake: Redeeming couple, 1
Dismas X Yang: Yellow handed, 1
Dismas X Winter: Winters thief, 10
Dismas X Neo: Criminal, 2
Dismas X Vernal: Outcasts, 0