Unknown Legends

by KTWizard

In a land he doesn't know, he is surrounded by things he can't understand. Rules, Government, Weapons, Schooling, even their Goals. They are all unknowns, but so is he to them. Link, and the memories of his friends. But there is one common rule between their world and his. The Unknown has the Advantage. So he will remain just that as long as he can. [Pre-Season 3, Min-Canon Change]

35. Reconciliation

Terror was, for lack of a more appropriate term, a part and parcel subject of General Ironwood's job.

If it wasn't with dealing with terrifying creatures and situations on a nearly weekly basis, then it was planning for them on the daily. The ideas and chances that the walls of the kingdoms could fail, that an experienced hunter team could be tricked or pulled into a ruinous situation, or that he may end up sending them into one. Material could fail, plans could fail, men could fail, and all of it would lead to terror. Terror for him, the military, and the populace they were meant to guard.

Therefore, he faced all terrifying situations with a stone face that befit his name. Face it like iron. Deal with it with a visage as immutable and unchanging. Able to endure extreme heats and instead of being disformed under pressure, it was made stronger by it. That was what it meant to be a General, especially one of one of the most powerful forces in all of Remnant. Above many Grimm. Above many hunters. And above almost all threats.

Almost being the only reason, he was so unsure of what to do now. Because what he was dealing with not only outside the realm of any realistic threat, but also viable counter measures. There were, after all, plans to deal with Grimm as old as the age of the gods if they were ever spotted. There were contingencies for ensuring the protection of the populace if another Grimm attack ever sprung up. There were chances and likelihoods considered for nearly ever event he or Dr. Zeppetto could possibly name.

And yet… he had nothing for the demonic entity that was Ganondorf. Him… and the manner in which it had torn through the forces of Beacon and his military in such a casual manner.

His jaw tight as he remembered it, recalled it, as if only to ensure that his eyes were not playing tricks on him, looking for any moment of clear impossibility or discrepancy that would eliminate the act for anything but an illusion. But he could find none. Nothing came to his strategic and detailed mind for the length of time he poured over the events. From Ganondorf, the monster, leaving Ozpin's office, to his departure out of Beacon, following his walk through gunfire and forces that would make a horde of Goliath's fall. And he did nothing.

Nothing but walk through Dust, lightning, fire, ice, and the trees and forest themselves. All of it was damning, all of it was terrifying, but one fact more than anything else. A trio of observations, as it were.

A Maiden was one of the most powerful beings in all of Remnant, given power by Ozpin's long past form centuries if not thousands of years ago. Though he had not witnessed the power of one before today, not to any trained extent, he was aware that they could put the powers of any hunter or even the entire arm of the Military to shame. A swing of their arm could bring forth a hurricane, a swipe of their leg could uproot the Earth, and it was all within their whims.

And that man… Ganondorf Dragmire, had walked through the power of one as if it were gust of wind.

Terror was an appropriate word, but it was not strong enough.

Because he didn't know how to respond to this terror. At all.

"What in the name of the Gods was the purpose of all of that?" He began speaking with a raised voice. His tone was naturally deep and able to carry, so speaking softly was often a requirement on his part. At the moment, however, a raised voice was necessary. Because he needed the target of his ire to not only hear him, but respond to him. "Answer me Saria! Why was it you provoked that man in such a way!"

He pointed at the girl, in form only, as she stood across the room from him. In the highest room of the clocktower that Ozpin called his office. She was looking away from him, staring past the window that she had broken against their wishes. That she had jumped from in order to engage that evil man. The one whom she provoked and caused all of this!

The White Fang may have been responsible for Link bring that powerful creature into their world, but he put the blame for its departure solely on her!

"Answer me Saria! Why did you take such action against him?!" He may have been snarling, but he didn't care. He needed an answer, and being forceful always provided one, just not usually the one he wanted. He could already feel the others in the room backing away as he stalked forward, shards of grass cracking under his boots. "Because of you, that demonic entity is not roaming the lands searching for a White Fang base that we don't even know about, and having nothing to help him but names! Do you possibly understand how not only volatile, but dangerous that is?!"

The Maiden didn't speak, she only kept her back to him. One hand on the metal support hat once held the glass, and the other over looking the forest. He would have grabbed her were he not concerned that it would cause one of them to fall. Instincts were strong even now, but his need for an answer would not be silence by a girl's petty needs.

"General," he heard Winter speak his title behind him. He did not look towards her, as there was no need. She was his subordinate. "I believe… shouldn't we be looking for Ganondorf right now?" Her question would have been valid, if she were present for the conversation. At the moment, he just waved towards Glynda, allowing Ozpin's right hand to answer for him. She did so, though he was aware she was glaring at him. AT the moment, he didn't care. He couldn't care.

"I dispatched several mini-drones to observe and monitor Ganondorf once he left the tower." She was not poking on her Pad as she spoke. That would be difficult, as it was broken during the observation of the fight, her fists clenching around it till the screen was as shattered as the window. "However, I cannot guarantee their survival through those portals he was using, let alone constant communication with them." That was not the extent of it.

"That is to say nothing of how others are going to observe him, should we be misfortune to have him appear in any CCTS system," James added on, furious still about the possibility. Images of Grimm and their habits were still worthy of viral and explosive videos online, namely due to fools risking their lives in order to get close them. The catastrophe that could erupt from those same idiots happening upon Ganondorf, a man who could not be stopped, was almost impossible for him to imagine. At least, just outside the realm of him to possibly understand. At least that much.

"I-I see," Winter pattered out, and for once, James didn't reprimand her. Not now. Not when she at least acted to stop Ganondorf after Saria had instigated him. After all of her warnings of what he was capable of, and she was at least able to contain herself! What did it speak that a Maiden of some centuries in age was unable to match the self-control of one of his youngest specialists?

"I hope you understand how serious this is for us," he continued to address the emerald garbed girl's back. He did not offer a glance towards the other emerald clad member of the room, and he took the man's silence as at least understanding of his position. He had better, as this was partially his fault as well! "You may have enjoyed the safety of the Lost Woods or wherever you claim to hail from, but our cities are under constant guard and attack against beasts like that. And that, to my utter horror, is something I cannot see us stopping." Not without serious lose of life or land.

"Might be layin' it into her a bit harder there, General." Ironwood held back his groan by letting out a seething breath of air instead. He glanced at the messed man, seeing dirt and stone cling to his attire as he waved against Ozpin's still upturned desk. He was similar to Winter in that regard, in that he at least tried to help. His words, as ever, were doing no such thing. "Case you forget, she woke up with a new soul and realizin' her kid is basically out there lookin' for murder. Not 'xactly a great mindset, ya know?" Oh, he knew, because it was one many of his own subordinates had shared!

"Don't talk to me like you understand, Qrow!" He looked at the drunkard, knowing full well he was well and surely that. "I just watched my men put their lives on the line and nearly lose them because some girl with more power in her hand than most of us have our entire souls, couldn't keep her temper in check!" He may have been the last person to speak of tempers now, but the critical difference was obvious. He was yelling. Saria attacked.

"And I saw many of my students put themselves in just as much harm, if not more." But Ozpin added on, finally, as if he were speaking form higher ground. James refused to look at the man, who at most had only gripped his cane tightly through the affair. There was calm indifference, then there was utter apathy. He was having a harder time telling where his friend currently settled on that line. "That said, I do agree that was an unnecessary show of force. If anything, it may have given the man reason to not return to us when he is… finished." Something that no one wanted.

Because it was always hard to tell when there was enough death in a war.

"What should I have done?" The sudden question from the emerald child got the General's attention again. He was still fuming. "What… what could I have done? Nothing was not an option for me then." That was a lie.

"It very much was an option!" He yelled back at her, though still some distance away. She was a Maiden, an ancient one, reborn through that man's obvious magic. He could not handle her if she truly lashed out against him. No one could. "In case you have forgotten, Winter and several of those students were subject to a Grimm that at least too that man's image and tortured them mentally with it! And they were able to hold back attacking him!" Until they were given no choice!

"Sir…" Winter began, and this time James turned to her, seeing the grim and dust from battle still staining her uniform. There was no time for her to change. Her or Qrow or Saria. Not that the latter deserved that after a near insubordinate act. "With respect, the reason why I didn't attack Ganondorf was not just because of your orders." What was she speaking of? "Were it the same as the Nightmare from Monument Mine, I am confident that myself and the others would not only have initiated the attack, we would have had some success in our measures." Of that he understood.

"I understand," the general repeated back. "But you have no need to apologize. The reason for this beast's escape is not your own. Its hers." The her was obvious even if she still refused to turn to look at them.

"No, sir, you misunderstand." He turned back towards his Specialist, his focus enough of an order for her to straighten herself back into her proper posture. "The reason why I did not attack was not for fear of the Nightmare alone. But… because I could sense, as I believe the students did as well… that thing was… stronger, than the Nightmare we faced."

That was another horrifying possibility that Ironwood did not wish to explore. And yet, once more, because of a Maiden's rogue actions and the encouragement for her to do so, it was one he had to deal with.

"I gotta admit, if there was ever something for us to agree on, this is it," Qrow joined his Specialist's words, though with another shake of his flask. For once, and perhaps more than often now than before, Ironwood found the tick important for him. He would need his own drink after this. "No way that thing was like any Grimm I ever had ta tangle with. Beast was probably worthy of bein' one of those 'DNE' freaks you were tellin' me about in the Badlands." The very thought of it was true.

A 'DNE', 'Do Not Engage'. A moniker given to the very largest and most ruthless Grimm that were terrorizing their own land, and marked for the soldiers to immediately retreat from should they be spotted. However true the saying was for Ganondorf, and he would surely be labeled as such once he was given the chance, James knew he was far worse.

"He's worse than that, Qrow." And Winter agreed with him. "A DNE is designated for only vehicular engagement, or bombardment form afar. It's meant for creatures conventual weapons won't be able to even pierce. Ganondorf… it doesn't appear anything even affects him. I doubt even a Dust Cannon would be able to make him flinch." More terror upon nightmares at this point, and the General was loathed for it all.

"Then the first priority isn't engagement, its obstruction," Ozpin added in. James didn't look at him this time, though he did agree. "We should not only find means to be able to keep Ganondorf from his goal, but also prepare a means to stop him if necessary. Until then, actual engagement should be limited and avoided. We cannot risk creating a conflict with him we cannot manage." It was the tactically sound action. Though the reasoning for it, and needing it at all, were damning to Ironwood's mind. That such a terror and monster like Ganondorf existed was a strain on his mind.

"We already know where he is heading, as it is clear that he wishes to… deal with the White Fang members responsible for the deaths of Tatl and Tael," Glynda added on. She was still lacking her Pad, and she looked almost out of place without it.

"He wants to kill the killers, don't sugarcoat this." But Qrow was acting perhaps even more drunk than usual. Maybe he was finding drops of vodka in that flask of his. "That thing is going to royally screw one of the lieutenants of the White Fang and some spy we didn't even know 'bout. Hard to feel sympathy for them, but if that things gonna be stomping on their heads, I'll say a prayer." The chuckling he let out when he was done was evidence enough of his sincerity.

"Yes, well… aside from his intent, I believe the larger concern is just how he intends to find them," Glynda continued. James caught her flex and relax her fists, likely acting as if she were still holding her Pad. A shame it was gone, but unimportant at the moment. She was a smart women, so handling this would be a non-issue for her. "He left before any information about their current whereabouts could be given, and at worst only the partial information that they were in the woods." She was not completely wrong.

"He does know about Sienna." The comment from Ozpin was spoken as a fact. He took that tone rarely, but Ironwood truthfully hoped to hear more of it at this moment. They needed it. "I forget if it was you, Qrow, or you, James, but one of you mentioned her name and whom Adam reported to." His cane shifted between the pair of them, and James knew he could not deny the comment. He had commented on Sienna, and that was his mistake.

"Eh, nothin' he wouldn't find out from someone else," Qrow, however appeared to defend. Or perhaps deflect. James took in a slow breath in the lull of conversation. "Course, then again, can't see him walkin' up and talkin' ta anyone 'bout these kinds of things. Not before he gets called out and reported or somethin'. Sure you've called down judgement for worse, huh?" James honestly knew not what Qrow was referring to, but his drunken slur, in combination with the looseness of his stance, was making him more annoyed than anything else.

What mattered now was knowing that Qrow and Glynda had matching points. Ganondorf was a terror, but he was walking around without a clear destination in mind. That meant that he was aimless, which could play for their benefit or disadvantage.

"He has all he needs." Except the Maiden had words to share.

All eyes turned to Saria, who had not turned around when she spoke. The focus was on her as if to make sure she was the one who had actually spoken. It was just as possible she was not. That was, until she turned around and offered a gaze that affirmed her age, her true age, foolishness aside. It was not one that a child gave. It was that of an elder who had seen a choice of their lead to ruin. Friends with Ozpin, Ironwood had seen it enough.

"I believe he knows enough, enough to be confident in his search." Saria's words were not what the general wanted to hear. Were he holding any object, metal or crystal, it would surely scrap metal or dust in his hand by now. "If not by what was admitted, then by what was omitted." Her words were intentionally vague.

"Now is not the time for games, Saria," the General spoke forcefully. He felt the eyes of Ozpin and Glynda fall on him, but he didn't care. This was now officially a national, if not an international risk. He needed to be tough now and apologize later. "That monster is walking around the land I do not know where. No one does. So long as he uses those portals of his, that beast is likely to appear in a councilman's chambers as he is a prison. And should that level of destruction be wrought in either location, then the damage would be immeasurable!"

"James," the careful tone reached his ears, and he turned to see Glynda looking at him. Her face was just as tight with focus as he remembered, but she lacked the Pad she usually held. Her gaze was on him, but one of her hands was to her chest. She was… something. But she wasn't right. Who was?

His eyes looked around and saw similar expressions, familiar but not right. Ozpin was holding his cane, but sideways and off of the ground. Qrow was drinking from his flask, but it was already empty and he was trying to grab at droplets. Winter was standing straight and orderly behind him, but her gaze was shifting around the room quickly. Saria was, the Maiden was… just looking out the window, the one she had broken, and with her hands balled at her side. It was all just so… wrong.

He was supposed to be calm, but it was too damn difficult at the moment. Everyone was off a little bit and, clearly, he was no exception. But he had to be, even if it was forced.

"Aside from knowing who Sienna Khan is, what else does he have to work with?" James asked, patient and controlled. He was a leader, so he could fake it. Though internally, he was looking for any reason to hasten the conversation.

"When you search the forest, you need more than knowledge of where your objective may be," she began, eyes turning to look out the shattered window again. They were fortunate the breeze was light, and James could not ignore the possibility the man's vileness had scared nature into submission. "You need to know where it will avoid, what it hates to be seen around, and who it associates with." That was all well and good, but knowing where a deer was going to lay meant nothing for the evil man currently beyond their sight.

"Are you implying something, Saria?" Ozpin asked for James, and the question made the girl finally turn. Her hand left the metal bar of the window when she did so, and it was clear from the tightness of her movements how forced it was. Fatigued or furious, James didn't care which. They were preferred because they likely meant she at least recognized her mistake. That was better than ignorance to him.

"How did Moraine take those masks from Link?" She asked, because of course the Maiden with centuries to her name would ask a question with a question. "How did she know to take those masks, of which I spoke of to you in this very room?" That, James, was not aware of.

"Oz? What's she talkin' about?" Qrow ventured forth, and the General quirked a brow at his friend, watching the emerald adorned man take in a slow breath of air.

"You mentioned how they were among the strongest of Link's friends." She had? They were? "You related Darmani to strength, Impa to skill and experience, then Lana to sheer limitless imaginative power." It was not a kind voice with which he spoke, and James had much the same feeling in his throat.

"You're implying she knew the masks, to take because of the conversation in this room?" Glynda followed up. "That is understandably repulsive, but we have already established the likelihood that there is another spy within our mists. It is something we must look into, once the matter of Ganondorf is suitably handled." It was where James knew it belonged in the hierarchy of importance. Saria, however, appeared to oppose such. And she voiced it, again, with a question.

"Would you trust soil when you know a plot of it is poisoned?" She looked up at Glynda with the question, and her visage was one of sheer disappointment. How odd to see such a look on a child, but how appropriate for one who was realizing their mistake. Not as odd, however, as the point she made.

"He can't trust us," Qrow spoke up, like it was a realization to him. "That's screwed up, cause we know he can, but a guy like that can't be worryin' about what's gonna happen to him, right? Not after he tanked, well… tanks! That freak wouldn't have to be worried about knives in the back, and I'd buy the bastard who'd try and double cross him a drink! Be my first time offering up one last round." Joke that it was, James could see his point.

But Saria only returned the look with one of discontent. Annoyance, perhaps, but he couldn't tell. He had studied old men and women in council rooms and military forces, not children with too much power. Ozpin had that front. At least he could hope she was thinking of her errors. James hoped that was where her mind was heading. If not, she would need another berating later. After this.

"He may not be harmed, as he is the Evil King," she turned away from them with the comment. "But… when this spy struck last time, it was not Link who was harmed, but those close to him. Would a man like him fear death, or the death of others?" That wasn't a question, no matter the tone she tried to falsely wear with it.

Even if the comment made James grit his jaw in annoyance.

"You're implying he left us as he did, unsuitable for the long-term search, because he wished to keep us safe?" The very thought of it, from a man who was as vile and gut-wrenching as the Evil King, and title he could say unironically, was foolish to say the least. Link, perhaps, if not likely, but not a man who slaughtered innocents for a war campaign.

"No, I don't." Well… that was good they agreed. Though they were not the words James expected to hear. "I cannot imagine the man who slaughtered all in his path taking such care for strangers he had never met. No matter the words he uses to profess his change of heart and spirit, his soul is still stained and his heart clouded. I cannot chance he is being anything but selfish." They really were in agreement then.

A slow sigh left the General's lips as he watched the girl. She was still small, though hardly young, and doubtlessly capable of dealing with threats he wouldn't imagine alone. And yet, she was frustrated with herself. He would be a fool himself to not notice. She was disappointed in herself, and knowing that it was by her own actions many of these events had transpired. Not all… but enough.

It wasn't satisfactory, but it would have to be enough for him. He could not waste his time holding a grudge for a mistake, not when that error was walking around the lands still.

"Hey, I just had an idea," Qrow spoke up, and Ironwood prayed his Semblance would offer one moment of peace. Given his drunken candor, it was unlikely. "We're talkin' about this guy being the Big Bad of most tales you got from your home, right? And he's walking around tanking and walling out anything we can throw at him. Least it looked like he did." Again, he wasn't wrong, but there had to be more to his words.

"Qrow, I must inform you that this day has been too long and it is still continuing on." Ozpin's words carried the same dry tone, and James was thankful for that as well. He had to chose much to be thankful for at the moment. "If you have another point to make, please say it now."

"Right, right, my bad. Just… little past tipsy here." Drunk, he was drunk, and James was almost thankful for it. The things he was thankful for, from inane to simple, were astounding. In the face of a terror like Ganondorf, however, there was much to be thankful for away from him. Those who venture into the pit and all that. "See, I remember pretty well Ice Queen here and Old Oobleck in he cellar talkin' about some magic sword that killed another super duper Grimm, right? Like, one that happened pretty recently. Couldn't be more than a month, but then 'gain, I'm seein' double, so maybe time's flyin' twice as fast." James barely deciphered what Qrow was talking about, but he knew well enough what weapon was sealed away, and what was used to kill the Nightmare Specialist Schnee faced.

"You are referring to Jaune Arc's family sword, correct?" Glynda posed. Likely because she did not have her scroll or Pad on her. "Are you suggesting we do something with it?" The laughter from the man was apparently a yes.

"You will do no such thing." Or the Maiden at least took it as one. Eyes turned to her again as she faced the drunkard, eyes sharp as the blade that had likely slain the Grimm, or so at least sealed it in captivity. "Though I do understand you need for a weapon to slay the beast, do not forget what is currently housed within it or who else is present with the vile man." That was a point James had, he confessed, forgotten of. Given the vileness of Ganondorf, it was easy to forget the brave faunus warrior was buried somewhere within.

"Had ta break it to you squirt, but that guy walkin' around, that ain't a good thing." Booze must have given Qrow confidence, talking to the girl who demonstrated the power to grow and shape the forest, if not the Earth, by her whims. "We need ta have somethin' to take him out, 'specially if he goes AWOL and decides that tearin' off someone's head is a good way to figure out what they were thinking." That was something even James had difficulty seeing. The thought process at least. Tearing off heads… that was more in the realm of how Ganondorf would act.

"Do not place your foolishness in the mind of another." James would call anyone who saw his smirk a liar. "And to not name your mislabel your cowardice as bravery. Though I understand your wish to have means to slay Ganondorf, do you truly believe it is a risk worthy of unleashing that Old Monster that is sealed within it? Is that a foe more worthy to be free, for merely the chance to slay the man of evil?" That was also a difficulty question.

"They often say it is the devil you know you should prefer to have," Ozpin spoke in kind. "And though the Nightmare is by definition, and the observation of those present, a beast that changes for the victim it is attacking, Ganondorf's power is still without limit, and I cannot know what he is capable of. Therefore, I cannot know if it would be worth the risk. For if the decision is between unleashing a beast that would require the attention of the military or allowing a monster of epic proportions to terrorize the world without end, which would be a better situation to endure?" It wasn't one that James thought highly of either.

"The one in which we free Link from Ganondorf," the answer, instead, came out simply. And it actually was an easy solution. "Find the man, find Link, and then we can find a path to resolution." Though a bit idealistic.

"That easy, huh?" Qrow mocked as James knew he would. "Cause talkin' worked out so well last time. Bet he just needed ya to hold his hand and remind him there are good things in tha world, huh?" Though it may be a bit too far.

"I think, Qrow, what Saria is attempting to say is that Ganondorf can be reasoned for when he is spoken to," Specialist Winter spoke, prompting James to look over his shoulder at her. The icy blue of her eyes was focused on the drunkard, though attempting to get through to him was obviously a foolish attempt for reason itself.

"When? How'd ya get 'when' outta that? Heck, how the heck does the when matter? When's that comin?" He was slurring dangerously now, and if that wasn't enough, James could tell he was close to what could at least be recognized as a drunken rage. Even now, however, that was a step too far.

"Qrow, behave yourself." Glynda's light reprimand was appreciated, though perhaps a moment too late. It only earned a glare from the man, dark circles almost covering his actual eyes.

"The when comes form after he is finished with what he is planning to do," Saria spoke in answer in place of Winter. James watched her, folding her arms on front of herself, almost sage-like. It was what the vile man referred to her as. "When, because he could not be reasoned with while Link's rage was still raw, and it was foolish of me to rush it. When will come when there are means to calm Link. And, if that portion of his tale is to be believed, it will allow the man to bargain for release." There was an awful lot of maybes in there, and that was often the death of any plan.

"Our plan is to get to the killers before Ganondorf then, is that it?" James spoke up. Despite the tension, the conversation was proceeding rather quickly, so clarification did not hurt. It often hurt when it wasn't given. "Capture Adam Taurus and this Moraine before Ganondorf reaches them? I have a hard time imagining that just having them will be enough to get Ganondorf to release Link, if he's even a hostage."

"I don't believe he is either," Glynda added. "However, if we have them, they would make excellent bait to take Ganondorf away from any populate settlement. Because… if the horror that was the Nightmare is paled by Ganondorf, then it is difficult to imagine the fury he will unleash on them would be anything less than catastrophic." That was a fine reason.

"Use the bloody killers ta bait a shark, huh?" Qrow spoke again, and James watched him with his own slit eyes. "Heh, I can get 'hind that one. Better than tryin' ta chase down a guy who'd flick my forehead and blow my brains out." It said something that the man wasn't even exaggerating with the comment, given what he had observed Ganondorf do to the shield that Saria had created of wood and bark. And the Mech that was holding it in place.

Blown away, by the flick of his finger.

"Do you think you'd be able to find the White Fang, Qrow?" Ozpin asked the man, who shrugged with his flask still against his lips. It had to be empty by now, so Ironwood had no idea what he was hoping to take out of it. "I doubt they'd be kind to listen to you if they saw you, but with your abilities…" Yes, that accursed Semblance of his.

"Might be able to get one of 'em ta spill where the kitty's napping?" Sienna would kill him if she ever heard such a comment being directed against her, but Ironwood knew the man they were trying to stop would kill her first if they didn't reach her. "Could probably do it. Just need to hit up a few bars and figure out where the faunus are puttin' their numbers. Just gotta how lady luck sits on the right shoulder this time around." James sighed at the comment, but understood his begrudging friend's reason.

"See that you do," Ozpin followed. "If we can at least find out where Adam and Moraine are, we may be able to prevent a potential slaughter by Ganondorf." And that was the unfortunate risk they dealt with. The terror as it was. A man who was capable of absolute destruction, and stopped by no show of force, was threatening couple of terrorists form the terrorists organization. And his success… meant the potential harm of others.

How ironic, having to make plans to save the very terrorists that he wanted to destroy.

"Are you well, General?" Winter asked behind him. She had only leaned closer, as was appropriate, but he only shook his head at her query. It wasn't something for her to concern herself with. Doubts were for the leaders to deal with, and orders for the subordinates to follow. His confliction was not her burden to bear.

"Later, far later," Ironwood answered his Specialist's curiosity. "For now, there is much we have to do as well. I have to insist to the Council that we increase our observation and recon of the White Fang, before also finding funds and funding for more hunters to return to the cities. With that beast out there, we cannot risk even one foot of our walls being open to attack."

"Not like they'd last long against that freak, huh?" He didn't answer Qrow's biting comment. Because he could find no fault in the drunkard's words. "Better to say yer gonna want them in so you can help get everyone out. It's what I'd be doin' for the settlements at least." And that was another good idea. One that Ozpin clearly agreed with him on.

"Excellent point," the man spoke. "Glynda, see if you can gather any of our outstanding contracts and alter them from hunting to guardsman work. The pay should remain unaltered. If necessary, I'll use my own coffers for the expense." Ironwood had no doubt he would. His honesty towards his plight to save humanity was genuine, as he had seen much proof of. Of course, it wasn't an order Glynda could easily fill at the moment.

"I'll procure a new Pad and start at once," she nodded, walking off with the comment. Patience was no longer a virtue here. Action was. And Glynda was very much a woman of action. Careful and cautious, but action nonetheless. "Will I be needing to gather anything else?"

"… You may want to find a new room for Saria." Ah, Ironwood had nearly forgotten. The Maiden, and for once a name he despised to say, as she was still clearly much to blame for the murderous man to wander off, was no longer tied to Link. She needed quarters, and be damned his soul if she started walking around unsupervised as well. That would be a mistake he would not make, and for good show that Ozpin was not. "I am sure we can find something close to the Freshman teams, or perhaps located close to the Emerald Forest if that is preferred." And preference is key.

She didn't answer at first, body still half-turned from the window, looking away from him. She could stare until the wind scared her face, he didn't care. Unless she pointed to where the man was walking now, it was inconsequential. To Ironwood, at least. Unless she was reflecting on her mistakes, he didn't care.

"… Near the students, if possible," Saria finally answered, and only then did James hear Ozpin let out a breath of air. Of course, his friend was worried she'd leave as well. "I imagine they'd need to speak to me, and I'll confess I'll have much to converse with them as well. This would not be a time to leave a sapling to grow alone." Her metaphors were at least slightly more understandable now.

"Very well, I'll see what I can find," Ozpin agreed. "Though we were loathe to discuss it, it is important that we at least have the Arc Blade on hand soon. If not present, then able to quickly be delivered." This time Saria glared at Ozpin, but she spoke not a word. Foolish though she was, she at least understood the necessity for having something like that ready. That was good, if nothing else.

"I'm familiar with both the facility and the weapon," Specialist Winter spoke up. She was speaking with he usual tall posture, dirty and the fight had still made her. "Though I presently have no gaurentees or manner to ensure the Nightmare in it is contained, I can at least be certain of its location, and how to use it." Direct observation was key.

"Good," Ironwood spoke now. "Obtain a Bullhead and go to the facility as swiftly as need be. Procure any additional personal you believe will be helpful or capable in assisting you." Winter was smart, so she would know who she needed. He nodded towards Winter, who repeated the action. That was one more thing off of his list. A very long list that he couldn't see the end of, and his admitted attitude was blinding him from, but he still had much on it to mark of. He just needed to know where to start.

"Is there anything you will need James? To help you with what you have to do?" The question honestly surprised him, in part because he was not the focus of what had to be done or who to do it.

And that, for some reason, was quite humorous.

"Me?" James asked, chuckling at the question. He was the only one who did, though Ozpin had his eyes on him, as did Winter and Saria. He nodded through his chuckles, short and enough to relieve a bit of the tension in his body.

What did he need at the moment? Not his troops, not his men, not his military. What did he need? Aside from a miracle, there was one thing that came to mind, and he spoke it despite the laughter it ripped from Qrow's body.

"I could use a scotch." Because, honestly, everything may already be too late.

---

For the majority of her childhood, Yang didn't get why Qrow drank. At least, once she was old enough to know that his 'flavored juice' wasn't on the top shelf for show. Once she knew what it did, and why her uncle acted the way he did, she really was curious why he drank like it.

Anything he said might have pushed him to it was kind of negated by the fact her dad had him beat. He had been through all the same and then was the one who raised them. That was a rung on the ladder her uncle couldn't match. Her dad, awesome as he was, didn't even drink until Rubes and her were at a friends house. Even then, she only knew he did because Qrow would brag about beating him, however that worked.

What Yang did know was that her Uncle Qrow drank every kind of drink that was on Patch, and then some of the 'special stuff' he'd bring form wherever his missions took him. He'd drink it at the table, after class, training Ruby, once, and even when they were getting ready to head off to school the first day. She always thought it was just him, and awesome of an uncle as he was, she'd never do that. She wanted to stay sharp and vigilant all the time.

But for once, the first time in her life, she finally realized why her uncle drank like it was going out of style at the end of the day. He might have had his sister, her mother, but Yang had Ruby.

And Ruby, by Dust, was driving her to drink.

"Do you have any idea just how horrible a thought what you did was?" Weiss questioned Ruby, her sister sitting down on her teammate's bed. Head hung and hood over her, she was not in a good place, and Yang got that. Heck, they all did. Ruby was not in a good place cause none of them were, and she was the one who had freaking witnessed the whole thing go down. "Defending your friends is admirable, but challenging a monster to strike you is incomparably different!" Problem was, it didn't change what she did.

"I know…" Ruby muttered almost miserably, which didn't do Yang's current headache any favors. In fact, just about nothing was. Not the situation, her current blood stopping grip on her own forearms, or the way her entire team was acting. Hell, how Beacon was acting. "But… but what could I do different? Saria was in danger, a-and I didn't want to lose another friend."

"We would have lost a heck of a lot more if you stayed there Ruby!" Weiss screamed again, and Yang didn't stop her. She was venting for both of them right now. "I don't know if Link had the power to influence that thing from the inside out or if you really do have the devil's luck, but standing in front of something like that, whatever the reason, is not a good one!" Not at all.

"Saria was alone…" her sister muttered again, because muttering was all she sounded capable of doing. Yang appreciated that about as much as the rest of this. None at all. "Alone and… no ne else was able to do anything."

"Everyone else was at last trying to be smart!" Weiss held out her arms as she spoke. "Pyrrha and Jaune had armor to take a blow from that man, and Cardin and Penny were durable enough to withstand a singular hit from the beast! And in case you missed it, let me clarify for you!" Her finger pointed at Ruby like the tip of a sword, and Yang let her keep it there. This once, just this once. "The individuals with the most durable Aura in Beacon and a literal android created by the Military were all taken down by that man with not only a single strike, but without him breaking stride!" One more detail Yang hadn't missed. "You, on the other hand, literally held your arms out for that monster to strike you down!"

Her breathe flowed in and out of clenched teeth as she remembered it, watching the bolts of lightning Weiss had conjured and she had directed towards the man, doing nothing to him as he walked. Practicing with them made chunks of stone fall away and blew apart dozens of trees when focused, but the freak Ganondorf didn't even blink!

And Ruby… had just stood in front of him, arms wide, like she was inviting him to attack. Yang knew her heart stopped for a solid second when she saw her. Her, her uncle, and the rest of the team.

One part of her wanted to run over and hug her sister. Absolutely smother her and tell her how amazing and great she was to have a big a heart as she did. Let her kick and cry and do whatever she wanted for the attention, but a part of Yang wanted to do that. The other side of her, however, the one that kept her ten paces away and letting Weiss handle the interrogation, had something else to say.

"You could have let anyone else step up first, Rubes," Yang let out, hands tight and around her arm. She had to stay in control now, not like before. "Literally anyone else. Let me do it. Not you. Anyone but you. At all." Because anyone was a better trade.

"No one else would," Ruby mumbled again, and Yang was seriously starting to hate it. Actually, there was a lot she hated right now. This was just top of the list. "Everyone else was trying but… but it was almost too late. I couldn't do nothing again." Another hissing breath was taken through Yang's grit teeth.

"Ruby," Blake started now. Yang let her, burying her eyes into the ground instead of her sister. Sulking, sure, but that was about as predictable and necessary as all of this. After all of this… hell, Yang didn't know what was normal to feel. She just knew that the idea of that monster looming over her sister was… she went with aggravating. "I know what its like to be afraid for others, especially people you call friends. The reason why a lot of us are here, at Beacon, is because of that. We know what kind of bad things can happen."

Not wrong, Yang realized, and today was starting shape up to be the best example of that in her lifetime. She hoped it would be the only day she could look back on and think that. Losing Tatl and Tael to a freaking murdering spy and the freak that Blake had run away from. Pissed off covered it, and she was actually curious if she should chase after them herself. But there was too much that mattered here, like her sister, and her team, and everything that Link had left behind, whatever that was.

"What happened was… is… it's not something that you can make sense of. No one can, or ever will. They'll try to, but it'll never sound just right." Come to think of it, through the invasive idea that she had almost lost her sister, Yang realized that Blake was probably just as pissed as she was. Maybe. Her sister hadn't almost been squashed by some giant monstrous man who was tanking gunfire and Weiss's super lightning like pollen.

Her ex, if he could even be called that, had killed one of the fairies. Her old 'friends' had killed both of them. The faunus she looked up to, and the faunus group she used to admire ruined him. Pissed probably spelled that out pretty well.

"You saw something horrible, terrible, and you're probably wondering if… if it was your fault in the first place." Ruby flinched. Yang saw it. Her eyes were watching it, letting the hood on her head tell her the moment it would happen again. "What happened to Tatl and Tael was just that, a-and I don't… no one is going to say anything but apologies and prayers for them from now on. But Ruby… what happened to them was not your fault." No it wasn't. No way was her sister responsible for it.

But Ruby was shaking, and her shoulders were hunched over again, trying to curl into herself. Her feet were flat on the ground though, hands balled into fists atop her knees. Yang watched them, counting the tear drop that's hit the back of her hands. She wanted to jump on her sister to hug her and let her unleash all of that horror she had to watch. There had to be mounds of it. She watched Tatl and Tael literally be killed in front of her… and then the killers got away.

She didn't know, abnormal to what she would normally do. Because right now Ruby wasn't going anywhere, she had already spent hours making sure she was okay with her uncle and the rest of the team, and now they were having a meeting about what had happened. Or, more accurately, what Ruby had done.

Trying to give herself up was not a good thing. And that anger, if only by an inch, kept Yang from jumping at her sister to comfort her.

"… Then who's fault is it?" The question came out like a quiet whisper, and Yang heard it clear as day. The room was so deathly silent it was hard not to. "They… I-I could have sensed it b-b-but and… a-and I couldn't…" It had to be her tenth seething breath she'd taken, but Yang wasn't sure if she was going to stop anytime soon. This really was just the worst, wasn't it?

"It's those monsters called the White Fang!" Weiss shouted for her. Good for her! "They're the ones responsible for all of this! They attacked us, they attacked Link, they killed Tatl and Tael! You can not blame yourself for what those freaks of nature did!" Her had pointed out the window as she spoke, as if to name them. Yang just wanted to shoot them.

"B-But… I could… I c-could've…" She could have stopped them. Yang knew what her sister was going to say. She wasn't the only one.

"Anyone could have stopped them, Ruby." She was careful with her words, and Yang had to get lessons from her later on self-control, because she was dangerously close to breaking it again. "Pyrrha could have when you both found them, Link could have himself when they found Adam… anyone could have done some small work and found out that Moraine was not who she said she was… but we were fooled, all of us. It's not..." She took a slow breath, and Yang could feel through the Bunny Hood the pauses in the shaky member.

She was taking in air slowly, shaking as she did so. She really was holding in her rage well. Better than Yang was at least, seeing as she was one loose fuse away from absolutely erupting right now. And this was all after that freak Ganondorf had walked off, after walking across the garden and making freaking earthquakes. And that was after Saria had made the literal forest surround him to hold him down.

This was just getting crazier and dumber and weirder and more terrible the long Yang thought about it. And at the top of the list still, without question, was her sister, the one who Ganondorf had doubtlessly come the closest to killing. That was something she wasn't letting go of, and her balled hands reminded her off it.

"It's not w-what?" But Ruby did plenty on her own. Her voice shook as she raised the question, looking up again. Yang almost cracked a tooth when she saw the tears staining Ruby's face. They were still falling, cracking her silver eyes with red lines, and making her reconsider thoughts on murder. "N-N-Not my f-fault? N-Not my f-fault I-I-I-I didn't act w-when I felt s-something was wrong? N-Not my f-f-fault I d-didn't move w-when Moraine w-was holding Tael! W-W-W-When Link brought me to A-A-A-Adam and-d-d-d…" A wracking sob took her body forward, and Yang watched with terror filling her veins.

Terror and rage that would have helped her burn down the room if she wasn't wearing the bunny hood. It was probably the only reason she had it on, because she was not enjoying the knowledge of every wracking sob that Ruby let out, all while staring at her with trembling lips. It was torture, and she was sure she was only more pissed now than ever because pissed off got things done!

"Ruby… Ruby…" Weiss spoke up as her sister tried to cover her mouth, swiftly approaching and sitting by her side. Her arms were wrapped around Ruby in the next moment, pulling her into a tight embrace, smothering her face on her shoulder, probably staining that dress of hers. It probably would have hit Yang how close they had gotten that Ruby didn't fight it, and Weiss accepted it. "It's… It's okay… I'm sorry I yelled… I'm sorry." And what a turn around it was.

"It's not okay!" Ruby yelled, breaking herself out of her sobs, but not letting go of Weiss as she did so. Yang watched, wide eyed and terrified. "It's not okay th-th-that Tatl and Tael were killed aa-a-a-and the killers got away and Link let that evil thing out so he c-c-could just… go kill them! He deserves to kill them because… because I couldn't save them!"

She was holding onto Weiss tightly as she yelled it, and Yang kept her mouth tightly shut as she did so. Her eyes were wide, lips shut tight, and wondering if this was the new normal for them. Trading heaven for hell and just… letting it ride out. She hated it more and more, especially the more she heard Ruby scream and cry.

"They were yelling a-a-and I heard Tatl telling Link t-t-to take care of himself w-when she was… when she was dying in his hands a-and she just… she cared about him so much a-and he did her… she loved him so much she was telling him to be okay when she was dying!" Her nails started to dig into her skin now, rage boiling over. Not for Ruby, not for her sister, not right now.

The image of it though, she just… it was something that wasn't leaving her head anytime soon, and she had already had to deal with enough terrors today. Now she had that idea in her head. The fairy… the one that kept calling her horrible nicknames and mocking her… the one she thought was honestly just a drone until… all of this… and she was dead with her brother. It couldn't have gotten worse.

"It should… it should have been me…" It got worse.

The raw shock was probably what kept Yang from screaming immediately, looking at Ruby sobbing on Weiss, clutching at her partner's outfit, as she spoke the broken phrase. Yang had her lung full the moment she spoke, sucking in a rapid breath of air that filled her chest with terror. Her sister didn't just say that. She had to have misheard her.

"I should have died instead…" She didn't, and Weiss looking up at her with eyes just as wide and terrified, was evidence of it as well. It was horrible. "There isn't… L-Link's lost everyone now… he's lost his wife a-and… and his child and… and now… his friends…" And it was getting worse.

Yang had to stop it. She knew she had to stop it before it reached a point she wouldn't be able to just rebound from. This was bad, horrible, but Ruby was just mourning. She had to be just saying something that was just… unreasonable or something. Maybe that was why Weiss was holding her so tightly or… or why Blake was holding her arm like that. It was just something Ruby was saying to be stupid. So monumentally and horribly freaking stupid! She wasn't just going to stop it, she had to end this!

"At least… no one would… miss me…" Instead, she lost it.

"Are you kidding me Ruby!" Yang finally screeched. Eyes were on her in a second. She did not care. "No one?! No one's would miss you?!"

"Y-Yang-" Weiss tried to talk, Ruby huddling into her, but she had none of it. Not now. Not after she heard that!

"Do you have any idea what you suddenly dying would do to dad? Would do to me?!" Her hands hit her chest, bending over as she glared at her sister. Said sister, selfish and absolutely wrong, kept herself close to Weiss like a shield. Not strong enough! "Saying no one would care if you were dead, so you threw yourself in front of a god damn monster for what? The fun of it?!" She dared Ganondorf to come back, just so they could ask him!

"Yang, calm down." Blake now, but Yang was so far away from calm that she would need a hell of a lot more than her partner to cool of this heat! Ruby had a lot more to bear!

"Is that why you wanna be a huntress? To get yourself killed? Just go off and die for nothing?!" Her hands were about ready to break her own bones they were clenched so hard, and she knew one tooth of hers was beyond repair now. "That ain't how this works! You think that's okay, I'll drag you back to Patch by the hair and let dad melt Crescent Rose down to embers! I'll help!" And she'd do it to, because she knew how badly her sister needed that weapon to function.

Just like she needed Weiss to apparently keep up her sobbing, like she hadn't just suggested the worst possible thing in the world to her! Like it wasn't a big deal! Well it was! This was something that Yang just couldn't forget, ever. Because it had happened before!

"You die like that Ruby, then Summer died for nothing!" Like a switch, the words turned her off.

She chocked, Yang chocked on nothing but air as she said it. Ruby was frozen against Weiss, only one silver eye staring at Yang, caked with tears and rimmed with red cracks. Her body was frozen, everything felt stiff. It was… It was the absolute last thing she was supposed to say, ever. And she just… she screamed it at Ruby. When she was like this, a-after… oh gods, or Dust… oh… oh no…

"Yang, let's leave." Her partner had a hand on her and was already pulling before Yang even made sense of the words. She didn't fight, she let herself get dragged out of the room, stumbling as her body fought to be able to move again. She never took her eyes off of Weiss and Ruby, her sister staring at her as she left. It wasn't until they were in the hall she was forced to look away, and then she didn't know where to look.

She let Blake guide her, pulling her down the hall, oddly quiet given the time of day, and out of sight. Nothing was out of mind though. Summer… their mom. The woman who raised them a-and baked them cookies. Their mom and she… she yelled at Ruby about her dying for nothing. Like that was okay, ever okay. It was… h-how was she supposed to come back from this? Why did she even go there?

"Sit, here," Blake spoke again, and Yang did as she said. Back hitting the walls he was directed to, sliding down it until her rump hit the ground. She hardly felt it, hardly felt anything. This was… this was her fault not. Not like Rubes and just not thinking. This was her actively being a complete and total idiot.

She had called her sister out using their mom's name. Not Raven. Not… not her 'mother'. The woman who raised them, who likely died for them, and Yang had tried to throw that in Ruby's face. Her dad was going to kill her… if she didn't end up doing it herself.

"Breathe Yang. Deep breaths," Blake spoke once more, a hand on her shoulder. It was a fight to do so, but she managed, shuddering and short, but enough to make her body jerk. It felt stiff, hard, like she had woken up from a bad dream, except nothing had changed. This wasn't a dream in the room and it still wasn't one now. She was still as here as ever.

Least there was a window for her to stare out of, not showing much. Blue sky, white clouds, and acting like the world wasn't falling apart. Too bad every sense she had was now telling her it was. Ruby had just sensed what was coming, she guessed. Typical Rubes.

"Ten minutes ago I thought I was turning into my uncle," Yang finally spoke, keeping her eyes on the window. It didn't show much, aside from the sky itself. Good thing that was something that hadn't radically changed in the past month, unlike everything else. "Thought my little sister was driving me to take a bottle and numb my worries for her. Finally figured out why he drinks so much, seeing what he has to worry over, for the pair of us." Her chuckle was sardonic at best, and Blake didn't share it.

"… and what do you see yourself as now?" She asked, knowing full well where Yang's mind was going. She wasn't her partner for nothing. And like Impa said… she was the Shadow of the group. Or more like they figured she was. "Someone more appropriate I hope." Now that got a smile out of her, even if she wouldn't turn to share it.

"My dad, actually," Yang admitted. It wasn't something she thought she'd be, actually. For a lot of good reasons.

"Your father," Blake repeated, clearly not knowing why. Couldn't blame her, seeing as they had never met. Not a good or bad thing. After today… probably for the best. Especially if Yang was acting half of the way she thought he would. "For what? Being angry at Ruby? We all feel that to some extent." She wasn't wrong, but her partner wasn't close enough.

"Enough to yell at her till she started crying?" Yang asked. She didn't expect an answer and she shook her head with her own question. "Yelling and screaming at her that she was stupid to do something so dumb, thinking like a child when everything around us doesn't care how old we are or what we can do? Calling her bad names and threats just… j-just to get the point across." About how dumb and careless she was to actually think standing in front of a monster made her brave? As if luck had no say in the matter?

"You are… referring to when you brought Ruby into the woods." This time Yang's laughter made her chest shake, and she kept herself supported on the wall as she let it out. She could feel those ears that Lana had given her bouncing on her head… if only they let her know about what was coming without her thinking about it. Pipe dreams led to drains though. "How your dad yelled at you when you returned home, scolding you." Okay, she had not told her that.

"Wow," Yang spoke through a chuckle. "Sure you're not a witch, figuring that out like that?" Blake ignored her mirthful jab, clearly far more focused on the matter at hand. Maybe more than Yang felt she was. "It's like… like I-I thought that was the right thing to say, cause… Ruby's wrong. But… she wouldn't listen to me so I said that and… how I could be so… so stupid."

"You aren't the first person to say something without thinking," Blake spoke, probably the most honest thing she could say. "It's why I don't think there's anything you can say. Just… just let her let it out." Really, that was it?

"Let her think that doing that is okay?" She rolled her head against the wall, stopping when she got a good view of Blake. Her partner was whipping her head back and forth, slit eyes focusing on her in a moment.

"Not even a little," she instantly corrected. "But she's not going to listen to you or anyone else now. All we can do is be there for her, let her know that whatever she's thinking, we are not gone." Well… that was a good idea at least. Again, reminded her of her dad, spending a lot of long nights with her and Rubes when they were growing up, letting them sneak into his bed when they were scared at night and making them breakfast in the morning. That kind of guy.

Not… like her other parent. Her 'actual' mother. Not Sumer. Raven. The one that didn't count, or shouldn't count.

"You sure that works?" Yang asked, though she was already convinced. "Sure it wouldn't be a good idea for me to stay out here, a-after what I said?" Maybe ten minutes ago she could cuddle up to Ruby, but she was afraid her sister would explode into roses if she hugged her now. Blake, however, didn't shirk or shy away.

"If you don't go back, she'll think you were being honest." She wasn't! "And I know you weren't. She needs to know that though. For that, you need to go back to her." She was never going to leave her. Then again… waiting while Ruby was suffering wasn't something she was going to ever start doing. This was just… an inconvenience. Those seemed to be going around. "Can you do that, for her?"

Help out her sister after she had screwed up? It brought another wry chuckle out of her throat, giving a bit of feeling left to the rest of her numb body. Shock was a weird feeling. Grief was just horrible. But her sister… that was something that went beyond feeling.

And Yang was not going to let her sister down.

"You bet I am," Yang spoke with a grin, pushing herself off the wall. Blake followed her up, putting a hand on her shoulder to keep her balance. Wasn't completely needed, like at all, but it was appreciated. Having a friend like Blake… that was another thing she wasn't about to let herself disregard. Friends… like what Weiss was for Ruby. Someone she needed.

Rubes needed her too, because this day was horrible, and doing nothing would only make tomorrow worse. Something had to be done, even if it was just being there. Like Blake said, the real criticism could come tomorrow, or later, or whenever just… not now. Not while it was too raw. IT wasn't the wrong thing to do, and her dad would know it. She just… had to do what he would do, then things would be okay. He raised her and Rubes just fine alone.

All she had to do was the opposite of her mother. Instead, do everything her mom would do.

Then she'd get through this. They all would.

---

The woods were lovely, dark and deep. They were everything his desert was not.

The sand of his kingdom would burn his feet in the day, then freeze his skin in the night. The forest would soothe and energize in the day, then calmly blanket one's sleep in the night. His sand would use the wind to lash at the skin as punishment for treading on it. The trees would whistle in thanks for walking by them in the forest, dropping and offering fruits and berries for the venture. His desert was wide and expansive, never-ending from many views. The forest was dense and compact, and just as endless.

They were things that were both easy and difficult to get lost within. In the endless sands of his desert, he could walk until the sun set and rose again, and still not see a spec of civilization or end in sight. It was torturous, and one could only depend on the stars at night to guide them, as no trails remained in endless sands. In the endless stretch of the forest, he could walk a path once, then never set foot on it again. It told him of where he was and where he had been, with trees, with the soil, and with the animals all around him.

Life often spoke and warned fellow life of the dangers that were nearby. There was no life in the desert but his people, so there were no warnings when the winds would strike or the heat would blaze. The forest was full of it, in every breath of air and glance of the eye, so there were a million and one things to take in and experience. And all of them were precious to him.

Never before did Ganondorf believe he'd be able to enjoy the fruits of the forest. Never before did he think he would have the chance. And the hero, by fate more than design, had allowed him to do so. It was one more weight to add to the scale of his debt, one that the King of the Gerudo intended to payoff.

It was why he ventured through this forest now, more for purpose than want. He needed to find the pair of killers who had taken the hero's friends from him, and her was where he had come to be. It made only as much sense then that this was the last place they were seen, before he tore open a portal to the high tower the others ruled from, taking back the pair of girls with them.

Those girls… such fight in them. He was unsurprised to know that even the Gerudo here were strong and capable, as they always were, as they were meant to be. Before he had led them to near ruin.

Him, their king, and no one else.

His foot hit the ground with the weight of his heart, but Ganondorf continued on. There was much he needed to do, and to spoil and ruin himself with memories of his accursed past would serve no one. Not the hero and certainly not himself. He had to move forward, and forward he would go. Until he found those who had wronged the hero. Then, he would pay them back in kind. Either in the same price, or with torturous beginnings. He still was not certain.

The certainty of the king remained only with what he had observed, heard, or felt. Thoughts of others were often muddled, and he was not one to think long of them. Either before his rage or now. Only of their survival, and whether or not they deserved to survive. For having existed, many deserved to live, as did every soul in the desert in which he grew up. The torturous and endless Gerudo desert that gave birth to the tribes of women that survived off of stealth and lies. Their fight to survive was proof of their right to live.

This forest, though without need of any major benefit or charity, had no less of a right to live than his people. Though it did not steal the light from the sky, rain from the clouds, or nourishment from the ground, it grew tall from a single seed once, and spread itself out of a desire, natural and instinctually. There was life in the forest, as the Sage of the Forest would contend, and the hero would agree. Its right to survive was no different.

But to those who killed needlessly to survive, such did not apply. A wolf needed to kill the deer to survive. The snake needed to bite the scorpion to survive. His people needed to steal gold to survive. A killer of fairies, stealer of memories, and jester of truth, did not deserve the same.

It was all that he had learned of the killer of the link's friends, the pair of them more accurately. A liar who wormed her way into their presence, only to kill and steal in escape. Not taking power for necessity, but desire. Then the man who aided her, killing for all the same, and having apparently done so much in the past. Enough that those who sat in the tower knew of him without mention of his face, and only his deeds.

They were likely with the same whispers he was once spoken with amongst the council of Hyrule, them and the princess, the queen who led them. Many having never seen him, even more having only heard stories of him, but all familiar with his cruelty by mention of his visage, or acts, alone. His name was one of terror, and his form still carried it. This… Adam, as it were, and the false-child Moraine, were no different, and so much different at once.

They inspired hatred now, but he inspired fear. Both gave birth to rage.

Another long sight left his lips as he continued on, the forest having quieted the further he ventured. It was different than the desert in that tale as well. The amount of life, the calls that it made to one another, so different than the empty whispers the desert scornful put into his ear. Harsh cutting winds that so contentiously paralleled the soft whispers of these woods, this forest. Ganondorf knew not the name of it, but it was familiar to the Kokiri Woods, if lacking the signs of those woodland people.

Though, in truth, it lacked much more now. Doubtlessly because of him, as life was never kind to one who had spent a campaign of hatred and blood ruining it. No birds were call from near him, no trees would blow and bend for him, and no streams would offer their water for him. The forest was fleeing from him, and he could not speak or mutter a word of contention for it. Any with the will to survive would.

Though Ganondorf was not favored by its apathy, he was neither in need of it. Even before his rage, before his torment of the lands, he was never one in need of the aid of others. Now was no different. He did not need the assistance of the wood to find the killers of Link's friends. He had received enough from the rulers. Them and the circumstances of his reappearance.

But, in truth and to his shame… he did need more than he currently have.

For near hours now, long enough for the shade of the trees to shift and the sky to darken, he had walked through the emerald woods. He had searched for signs of life that were not grown in these woods, people living in them as he was now. Foreigners to the natural habitat, as these 'White Fang' members would be. No different than when the Gerudo had mad their place in the fields of Hyrule. They would not be kind to the forest.

He searched for cleared plots of land, for fallen trees or dug up soil. He looked for upturned roots or stripped shrubbery. He listened for the sounds of sharpening steel or chopping wood, but heard none of it at all. Nothing foreign but the heavy falls of his boots, heavier than anything the forest was likely to hold. Greater even than those dark monsters that were beyond his creation. Such as the one staring at him now.

The one Ganondorf saw staring at him with red eyes swallowed by darkness, a mask of bone white promising the curtain of death upon approach, and protruding with its own skeleton about its dark furred form. It was perhaps a head-length shorter than him, but far thinner and gnarly in comparison. To him, it promised no threat. He could not same the same for if it saw any others.

Ganondorf feared nothing of the monster, though it was far different than those he had created in the past. Shorter than him, it was still too tall for these woods to call them home. Thinner than him, it was still too long to be able to easily move through the woods. Colored as it was, alabaster and nocturnal, it hardly fit with the peaceful green of the scenery. There was no creativity or care for the creature. There was no attempt to blend it with nature and corrupt it with power. It was not one of his own.

It was a beast made and thrown into this world, so much different than his foreign terror had created those what felt like centuries ago now. Centuries he felt he still paid for, and would for eons to come.

He didn't stop his approach towards the beast, not slowing despite seeing it. And though the beast growled at him, the first sound he had heard that didn't belong to these woods, he did not stop. He was a king, though tortured and forsaken, and he would not bend to a wild monster. It took another stride forward, and a harsh glare of his eyes, for the monster to realize such.

When it did, for that terrified moment, it shut its long maw and began to shirk away. Ganondorf still did not stop his approach, and its submission was not enough for him to change his course, aimless though it was. The beast learned that when he was within distance to strangle it with a lift of his hand.

At that point, it turned and fled, dashing into the woods and out of sight. It was perhaps the only aspect of the creature he was impressed with. Fearful speed where he thought it would be obstructed and awkward to move. He was either wrong about the woods or the creature, and he knew not which.

They were both foreign to him compared to the sands and heat of his desert, or the monsters that buried themselves in the endless dunes to prey upon the weary travelers. In the end, it was not something that deserved his concern. Not while he hunted the killers of the hero's allies.

"That is not something I see every day." The voice, however, was. "A young Grimm like that fleeing from some human." Human was not something he was often called, and the voice was spoke too tauntingly for his taste. It was all that brought Ganondorf to a stop.

He did not bother to search for the person who spoke, knowing they were keeping themselves scarce and secretive from him. If they were more attune to the nature of the woods than he was, which was highly likely, it would be foolish. Instead, he was better adapt at ascertaining the character of one who approached him, secretively, to speak. Especially after the last civilization he left from, allied with the Sage of the Forest, attempted to restrain or kill him. Both in vain.

"Takes a lot of courage to go wandering this far into the forest, especially without any supplies on you." Were he anyone else, he might agree. Were it the desert, he would declare it a law. "Only things that live this deep are the Grimm or beasts, and trust me, neither of them are looking for newcomers." The voice continued its own conversation.

Her conversation, Ganondorf corrected. The voice was too feminine to be a male of any kind. Not only that, to be as deep int eh woods as he was, and clearly where there were no Kokiri present, seeing as the Forest Sage had not followed him, it had to be an elder at that. An elder woman who was attempting to converse with him. Ganondorf approved, if only because it was more suitable than any immediate attack.

"Though I'll admit you look pretty monstrous, tall and large as you are." Ganondorf folded his hands behind him as the voice spoke still, shutting his eyes as it continued on. No matter who it was, they could not harm him. "You part monster yourself, or just playing the part to see how if the Grimm got a better deal than the rest of us?" The ire was present even within the humor, sardonic as it was.

"I am now as I was created," Ganondorf instead spoke, still not trying to find the owner of the voice. "Whatever the monsters of these woods see me as, or others such as yourself call me, is not for me to concern myself with. My concern, for now, is of who would try and speak with me here, rather than closer to the city of men?" Because this forest was like the desert.

And to try and hold a conversation in the endless sands, out of sight from any guile platform of the tribe, may lead to an attack or an assault that could not be rescued from. Monsters lurked in the sands, and, as was not evident, monsters hid in the trees.

"Let's just say I'm not a people person," the feminine tone went on, amused by her own answer. Ganondorf was not, and continued to wait for her to continue. "Tried it out for a few years and the returns didn't match the investment. Get a lot more out of living life off the grid with a few trusted faces than you do in it and never sure who the next face on the block is." Ganondorf recognized that. Not so much the words, but the mentality.

"Am I to assume you are attempting to steal from me?" It was the thought process of a thief, a rogue, hiding as necessary before they struck. "If so, you have erred greatly in alerting me. However, you are wise to not attack me." They would not die, not by his hand the hero had given him a second chance with… but he would not allow anything else of the hero's to be taken. Not after he had already lost the memories of his allies.

"Normal answer would be yes, and the next thing you'd say would be betting that I won't be able to take a Lien from you." It would not be. Though the woman could imagine his next words in her own blissful ignorance. It was not his to ruin. Reality itself had a tendency to do such. "Thing is though, I know a tough target when I see one, valuable one at that. Beyond that, I know an impossible one when it comes to me, and you are, without a doubt, in that category." He was right then, she was an elder, a thief, and experienced at that.

"Then why speak to me?" He continued on. There had to be a purpose for it, for if his Gerudo saw a target too dangerous to approach, they would simply lay low and allow them to pass. There would be no gain in losing lives to an assault, nor in surrendering without a fight. Open conversation preceded the latter. "Now no matter what your actions are, I will be wary for eyes upon me. No matter what you do, I will be cautious of movement or attack. For what reason do you have to speak to me so candidly, yet out of sight?" He emphasized the end, sure to make it clear that she was hiding from him. She would be aware, but it would not be intent.

By calling out her tendency to hide, he was naming her a coward. Though a thief may not be insulted, it moved the field closer towards him. It asserted his dominance and power, and when dealing with one who hid and stole, that was important. Experience and rule taught him such, even after the hatred of another ruled his mind.

Laughter met his ears next, though he was not insulted by it. Rather, for a fleeting moment, he appreciated the sound. He could not name the last time he had heard it.

"Don't think I could call myself a good bandit leader if I walked up and shook hands with every target I saw." Then he was a target at first. How candid. "Then again, not every target makes their way outta Beacon and Ozpin's grasp without a glance over their shoulder." Now there was an odd tick, though if she was as experienced as she spoke of, it was one intentionally given, no different than him. "Especially when you walked through a Maiden's powers like they weren't even there at all." A Maiden… the way she spoke it.

She was referring to the Sage of the Forest, and though Ganondorf was unsure, he had suspicion that the headmaster and general spoke of her in the same way. A name for one who held that kind of power, an obvious divide. One he did not need to question or think of. She was referring to his power, one she had witnessed, and yet… she did not run or flee from him. Nor did she try to attack. Instead, she was trying to speak.

It was, so far, the first time anyone had done that. Not without the pretense of an imminent assault.

"I believed those grounds to be far behind me now," Ganondorf addressed the obvious point, for him at least. Covering ground was always a necessity for a thief, and one they had to have a plan for. "For you to be observing that place, and then to follow me, is a curious series of events. Meaning you were watching for one of two reasons." Just as she was watching him now, and similarly, how he was not looking for her. There still was no point in looking for a thief of the woods who did not wish to be found. One who would likely disappear with ease.

"Care to share what those points may be?" the thief dared him, a guile question. A test, and one that she had confidence he would not know. However, she clearly did not know who he was. Feared, perhaps, just as Ozpin was and the general by his side. But that was his advantage.

"Either you were looking for something to steal from those buildings, full of powerful individuals." A likely option involving scouting. No different than watching a caravan for days before striking, watching for any dips in security or cost. "Or someone among their number was precious to you." For even a thief had family. His people were no different.

And silence, from one who spoke with such caution less pride, was a telling answer. Ganondorf wore no grin nor smile as he took it. For a thief such as her, she may flee at any moment. It was how the thieves kept their lives, and their prize. Flight before fight. He was no different, aside from one measurement. He was a king.

"Though I dare not assume what are within those steel walls, precious as their contents likely are, I cannot imagine any band of thieves who calls the forest home would dare risk an assault on such a fortified state." It was why a fortress was named as such. Why no guard of Hyrule dared to assault his lands. Until, that is, they were given no choice. "So now I can only assume one of those present was a soul you cared for. Perhaps even… a child of yours."

The creeping silence was coiling around his answer. It gave him time to take in another deep breath of air, letting the situation settle before continuing. Forged steel broke if hammered to swiftly. Metal needed to be cooled before it could be shaped, and a thief needed to be lured before they could be caught. It was why he trained to never be such, before the hero, at least.

"I watch over what's important to me, no different than anyone else," the thief returned with a tone far different, and one he might have called himself amused to her. Might, but was not. "I'm only smart enough to not keep a tight hold on treasures I can't afford to lose. Something I'm sure you may now." He would not voice, but he did know.

And because he wouldn't voice it, it became a truth she could take from him.

It was the contradiction of thievery, to never keep close that which was precious. Those who attempted to reclaim or take often searched first where you lived, and never knew where to search next. Treasures of a noble were always within their reach or sight, and royalty never stashed away precious treasures beyond their castle. A thief, however, could keep hordes of gold in a hovel miles away.

Or a child under the eye of a ruler, without fear of them being harmed. It was clever, and it was cruel.

"Now would be a good time to tell me why you are following me," Ganondorf spoke again, done with the game of words. "There are places I must go, and you are not among the few I must meet." He held back his temperament, kept it in reigns. There was no need to give the thief something she did not deserve to have.

And the hero's rage, his rage, was for only a pair in this world. Not a random soul of the forest.

"I'm talking to you because I want to follow you, simple as that." No, it was not as simple as that. Not from a thief. "Can you believe I'm curious about someone who has as much power as you do? Enough to give old Ozpin the stink eye and beat away the military like the wind? It's like seeing a noble turn down gold because they've got enough of it." An interesting metaphor, but it spoke volumes of her knowledge.

She knew of not only the headmaster, but of his strength. She was aware he was more than a throne in a tower. However, that meant nothing to him, not while he was searching for the killer of Link's allies. And still she continued to evade an answer.

"But actually, I'm following you because I think I can help you, and I know you can help me." Her words were sudden, though Ganondorf doubted little he would be capable of helping a thief. He was king of the best, and therefore even a bandit of the woods was beneath him. Her want from him, however, she knew wisely, was not for free.

"What can you offer me?" He questioned. There was no foolishness in his mind for what he needed, or even wanted. He was aware of what was possible, and he only needed to hear it. Promises of the abstract or inane would not be tolerated now. "What can you offer me that, as you said, the headmaster could not entertain me with?"

"You're looking for the White Fang." Well now, she did know.

His eyes opened at the words, still seeing the same green foliage and hearing an otherwise quiet forest around him. She was not bared to him, and he did not look for her. But her words had captured him. However, a thief did not offer the truth freely. They offered nothing freely, let alone information such as this. There had to be something she wanted in return. She had even said as much.

"Am I to assume I must do some grand favor for you first?" It was what the hero would do, he knew. However, the hero was surrounded by those who could be trusted, or those who wished to help. "Do an errand for you that would risk the health of others, or even myself?" A thief in the woods was no such thing. No thief was. It his own death for him to realize that he had to help the hero, and nothing before then could change him.

"You wouldn't even if I asked you to pick up some milk from the corner store." He knew not what that was, but Ganondorf could hear an insult when one was being spoken. His gaze forward, though directed towards nothing remained hard because of it. "No. What I need is something I'm confident the White Fang have as well. Thing is, I just lead a pack of bandits that wouldn't amount to much without me. No way can I just charge them and take what I need. That's way past risky." Indeed it could be, especially if this 'White Fang' was as dangerous as the pair of men before had made them out to be.

However, Ganondorf knew he had no such fears from anything they could put against him. He could, and doubtlessly would, find them and take the vengeance the hero so needed, staining his soul before the hero soiled his own. To do that, he needed to know where they were. And the woman who was offering it spoke as if they had taken something from her.

No… no… that was the ploy. They had taken nothing from a thief. They had something the thief wanted. That was clear. That was obvious. If anything had been stolen from his people, it would have been taken back such in kind. To steal something though, that required planning. And that was what this woman had done.

She had made done her scouting, made her plans, and realized she needed more power to have a chance. And then… he had appeared.

Ganondorf loathed fate, but he could see these events as nothing short than fated. He hated that, because it meant it was someone else's plan involving him. A pawn in a plan that had been written on no paper, cloth, or stone. Just a path that was predetermined by actions long past. He hated that. And the hatred that he felt boiling in him said as much.

But he forced a calm over himself, slowly relaxing his balled fists before he cracked a knuckle and shattered the air. With his strength, it may even blow back a tree. That would ruin this chance, and this chance was all that he had to give the hero his well-deserved vengeance. He would not waste a chance to give back the favor he owed.

"You need me to assault their base," Ganondorf spoke. "And you will not tell me where it is until I do so." The words were finite.

"Close," she corrected. "I'm not going to lead you until you do so. You're a smart guy, but I'm no slouch either. I tell you, you do that portal Semblance of yours, and then you're gone. I'm not risking it." Corrected and validated. She was wise. Though she was placing herself at risk. A risk she did not need to take.

Then again, if her path of life was chosen to be thievery, it was her choice. And Ganondorf, the king of them all, would not stand on it and proclaim what was best. Not when he was working to correct his own soul, whilst shielding the hero's own. The hero would argue, but the hero wouldn't question. A thief was offering information for a favor, and promising a fair an inscrutable trade.

If there was deception to be had, it would be nothing he would be incapable of correcting.

"Are you sure you wish to follow me?" He questioned, tested, the woman who was speaking to him. It would be too easy to have her reveal the mistake of her faux-courage. She would not be the first to think she could best him with wits, and the first in this new land to learn of the folly of it. Or, more correctly, perhaps the third. "When so many fear me and even the monsters run from me, are you sure you wish to put yourself in line with where I step?" He heard giggles come after the question.

"I know you're strong, and I know you aren't going to give up what you want to take." There was nothing he wished to talk, only offer. The lives of those who harmed the hero to him in kind. A favor that the hero requested. Nothing for himself. "And I know that there is more wisdom to be on the side of the strong than the weak. I would be foolish to look at you and not see an opportunity to take what should be mine." Her words were dangerous now. Very dangerous.

Take what was hers, and still not name it. It was little different than how he thought when raged clouded his mind, and even then he was the King of Thieves. This woman, though only a bandit of the woods, spoke so in line with how he once thought. Though, as the hero would correct were his anger not monumental and awesome, he was not learned enough to judge others. Not when he was one who deserved the harshest judgement.

Besides, he still had nothing to fear of the woman. There was nothing he needed to fear from her. Nothing, except her running away with the location she needed to return the hero's favor. That was the only thing he did need.

And Ganondorf, the King of the Gerudo, needed to barter for it. At leas the price was one he as not without means to give.

"I can accept such," he returned to the quiet forest, still speaking towards no one, offering only the woman's voice his answer. "Though I trust you know that any attempt to harm me will not be taken lightly."

"It won't?" She questioned, as if it were a true wonder. "Even after those kids and the military sent everything, literally everything, they had at you, me trying to hurt you is what will rattle the chain? Sounds like unfair treatment if you ask me." Ganondorf did not know the purpose of the question. Was she truly wondering if it was okay to try and harm him? To test her power on him? The thought was a ludicrous one, and yet one of the few he could reason she was asking.

"If that is a genuine curiosity of yours," he returned instead. "Then I will seek the White Fang alone. For I cannot trust the time the hero mourns following a woman who wonders of whom she has permission to strike." Bandits did not ask for permission. He did not need to be a king to know such.

The woods were quiet after he spoke, and he let the soft flutter of leaves fill his ears instead. His golden eyes stared forward into the emerald landscape, painted with vibrant shades of brown and gold for bark and sun. The brilliance of the woods his desert could only dream to match, and the life that it could never grasp before him. He waited within its gentle embrace, a feared one, for the woman's retort.

It came not with a word, but a flutter. The first sound he had heard since their conversation began. He turned to see the creature that had flown towards them, as he would not mistake the flapping of wings descending from a tree. No matter what he thought he would see, he was disappointed instead with what he saw.

A woman, far shorter than him, as most were, with black hair that ran wild from the top of her head to the waist of her coat. Spiked and vicious, matching the red gauntlets that adorned her forearms, swinging as she approached. Her boots mad hardly a whisper, let alone a crunch, as they moved towards his taller form, a tribute to her skill as a bandit, and likely her experience at being one. Though her attire was black and red, contrasting harshly with the forest around them, it was not what drew his attention. That was for what the woman wore to hide her face.

Not merely a mask, but a helm. A helm that was bony white as the monster who had run from him, and painted across as if blood were stained. Slits were made for its eyes, but the elongated length gave the tribute of an avian, not a wild beast. He could see clearly where the plates were aligned and affixed, modeling a true knight's helm to such detail he wondered if she had stolen that as well, then outfitted it to match the monsters. Perhaps even to blend in among them.

They were dull creatures in mind, so it would not take much to confuse them. Ganondorf, however, was of sounder calm than the wild beasts, now that the rage that boiled within him, still not his own, was focused upon only two, and not the infinite mass of life itself. The woman, walking towards him still, barely measuring to past his naval, was of no threat to him and possible boon.

She was only confusing in appearance, but certainly not intent.

"What?" the woman questioned, speaking rather well through a mask of bone white and painted red. It impressed him, how she was able to hide so much, yet likely was unencumbered still. There was a reason his people chose cloths to cover their features rather than the heavy steel of the Hylian Knights. The hero was an obvious exception. "Don't tell me you're scared of the way I look. You can lock eyes and walk up to a Grimm, but little old me is the one that puts you off?" This woman was not.

Ganondorf blew a breath of air through his nose, neither humored nor caring of her words. They were barbs, the kind many in their craft would throw around. An agitated man was an easy one to con, no different than when he had writhed his way into the Hylian King's court. Then again, that was still when he held a foreign rage in his heart.

And though there was a rage within him now, it was focused. And it was just.

Ganondorf began to walk once more, walking towards the woman. She was paces away, enough distance to not be considered invasive, but not so much for him to care. They had to move, and he had no intention of moving for her. Not for a fellow a thief, and not while she needed him.

He watched her through her mask as he walked forward, sure shew as watching him all the same. Be it with joy, elation, trepidation, ignorance, or any other emotion, he could not tell. The helm of bone and metal that held her face hid everything from his view. He didn't care for it either way. Though he could not read her face, he could make sense of her actions.

And the most just one so far was when she stepped aside for him. He continued marching on.

"Message received," the woman spoke plainly behind him. "You keep walkin'. I'll tell you where we need to go." Cautious, but suitable nonetheless. It was far better than aimless and directionless searches. It only came with another point on the roster he needed to address, but for the favor of the hero, it was not something beyond his whims or capability.

The woman took step behind him, likely far more than one to match his single stride, short as she was and tall as he was. It did not matter. She would keep pace if she needed it, and he would have the fortress of the White Fang, as she promised. She would deliver him to the killer of the hero's friends. Then, and finally then, he would give his long due favor to the hero, keeping him from torturing his own soul.

The anger within him howled, and he sighed in response.

They both marched on.

---

Author's Note: WAS THAT A JOJO REFERENCE?

Well yeah, sort of. The Discord is full of them and after watching Battle Tendency, Joseph kinda had that effect on me. Next your gonna say… something hateful about me. HA!

Now the usual plugs for Discord, and then a surprise for the newer members who want to see a pay-for-chapter-ideas schlock! The next chapter is the grand prize you could win as well!

discord. gg / fgeV4ra

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Pa treon com /WizardofWords