A/N: I've tagged each story with the act it takes place in - I recommend finishing the act before reading the respective story to avoid spoilers. Since Hero has no established canon name, I refer to him as "Junichi" when I use a name, which is wordplay on the Japanese eleven, "juuichi".
The last few years had added a weariness to his bones that Rab hadn't been able to shake, but it always seemed to lessen just a bit as he made his way up the quiet mountain path to Angri-La. Maybe it was just the smell of the crisp mountain air that reminded him of his younger days, of difficult but happy times. As it had been the last time he'd come up, the spring melts had started, the earliest flowers waking from their hibernation and popping up through the patchy snow.
A couple of acolytes were taking a break by the gate, playing in the slush as he approached. "Oh, Lord Robert!" one greeted. "Welcome back. Shall I tell Grand Master Pang of your arrival?"
"That'd be appreciated." He paused at the base of the stairs, long enough to catch his breath, before making his way inside.
He hadn't even made it halfway up before he heard excited footsteps coming down, Jade's head popping up at the top of the stairs. "Uncle Rab! You're back!" She practically flew down the stairs, launching herself into his arms for a hug.
Rab chuckled, patting her head. "Aye, that I am. How is yer training coming?"
She puffed up as much as a twelve-year-old could. "I've gotten a lot stronger. Come and I'll show you."
"All right, ye can show me later. I need to let Grand Master Pang know I'm here first."
She giggled. "Or you'll get the naughty stick?"
Who had been telling a child about this part of his history? "Yes, lass, I wouldn't want to be naughty. Come, we'll have some time to catch up in a bit."
Jade let go of him, taking his hand as she walked up the stairs with him. "You... didn't find him yet?"
"Nae, lass." Three years of searching had led to naught. How far from Dundrasil could an infant have gotten, and could he have still survived that trip? In truth, he didn't have much hope left, but he couldn't tell Jade that. "Don't ye worry. We'll find him some day."
She nodded, finally releasing his hand as he paused outside Grand Master Pang's study. "She's expecting you," the acolyte at the door said, stepping aside.
He nodded and stepped inside, then took a seat on the thatched floor, keeping his legs under himself. "I've returned, Grand Master."
"So I see." The woman turned to face him, sitting in the same fashion. She looked like she hadn't changed at all these last few years, or indeed, not since he'd been an adult, letting her know that his daughter was expecting. She still had that air of absolute power that made her so worthy of respect even as he also found her terrifying. "How goes your search?" He shook his head, choosing not to elaborate. "I see. And have you found any new information, then?"
"I have a name," he said solemnly. "Have ye heard of 'Mordegon' before?"
She closed her eyes, considering. "Possibly. I shall consult my records. You believe this Mordegon related to the attack on Dundrasil, then?"
"I think he might've been the one behind it. And that of Zwaardsrust. I always thought there were some similarities, but talking to some of the survivors I've found, they heard the same name from the monsters. Whoever this Mordegon is, he seems to be able to compel monsters to join his side. So I dinnae think it's a standing army he's got waiting in the wings. He just rounds up monsters whenever he wants to make a strike."
"And there's no shortage of monsters in the world right now."
Rab nodded. "If we're to go against him, we'd best be prepared for an army. Speaking of that 'we'... How is Jade coming along?"
"About that." Pang met his eyes with her usual unyielding gaze. "Take her with you this time, Robert."
"Grand Master? But, her training-"
"Is complete. Or at least, it's as complete as it can be at this time. She's only twelve, so she needs some time to grow into that body of hers."
"Can't she do that here?"
"I'm not in the business of babysitting, Robert." She stared him down witheringly. "Take her with you."
"But she'll be safe here."
The naughty stick was in her hand before he could even react, whacking him on the top of his head. "Fool! Do you think she has trained for three years, much harder than you ever did, so that she could hide behind our walls? Do you understand nothing of children, Robert, even though you raised one yourself? A child needs her family. If you will not take her back to her father, then take her with you."
"It wasnae my choice to keep her from her father. It was hers." He rubbed at the smarting area. "She's... scared of him. Of all his talk of revenge on the Darkspawn. That's what he's calling the Luminary, you know. We fear there's some dark tendril of Mordegon whisperin' to him. If that's the case, how could I put her in his hands?"
"Then take her with you. That's what she wants, Robert. It's why she's trained." Pang rested the naughty stick across her knees. "Of course, I cannot force you. If you insist on leaving her here, she will stay. But you will not be getting her back."
"Grand Master?"
"If you are going to abandon her, best we cut ties now, then, and save her a future heartache. She will become part of our family, and we will care for her. You will not need to return here in the future."
"Yer forcing my hand, Grand Master."
"I am doing exactly that, Robert. She is already twelve. She has already lost much of her childhood. She cannot waste the rest of it waiting for happiness while you dither." She rose to her feet, and Robert did likewise. "You do not need to make this decision this moment. Go and talk to her. I will take your decision when you leave with her, or without her."
He was being dismissed. Robert gave her a bow, leaving the way he had come. Grand Master Pang was no fool, he knew. But being on an isolated mountain, he didn't think she quite knew how much worse even just traveling had gotten. Rab could barely guarantee his own safety, let alone that of a child's. And she was a child. He was an old man, and if the worst came to worst... he'd had a long life. Revenge for his murdered family and protecting future generations from Mordegon's machinations would be nice, but if he died, he wouldn't really mind the chance to be reunited with them. And honestly, maybe Jade was better off without being tethered to someone who was waiting for death.
Jade was waiting for him outside the entrance to the Field of Discipline, her face lighting up as she spotted him. "How did your talk with Grand Master Pang go?"
"She'll look into a few things for me. As always, it was enlightening to talk to her." He let her take his hand, leading him toward the practice grounds. "She said yer training's been going very well."
"Yeah! I'm real strong now. I wanted to show you." She moved back several feet, then shifted into an offensive stance. "Are you ready?"
"What, now?" He shucked off his travel pack. "Very well, lass, show me what you've got."
She took a breath, then ran for him, jumping int the air to deliver a kick. No, kicks, he quickly realized as he blocked with an arm, with surprising speed and power for her age. She bounded off his arm, landed behind him, and aimed a kick at the back of his knee. That one took him by surprise, knocking him to one knee, and he turned it into a full roll, landing back in a crouch. Jade didn't let up, letting out a yell as she aimed for his face, her foot coming up again. This time he caught it in one hand, giving it a little twist to throw her off balance. She moved with it, turning it into a flip, bringing her other foot up. He only just managed to block with his other hand. She landed on her hands, continuing her twist, and this time her foot caught his shoulder.
"Gah!" By Yggdrasil, she had energy to spare, as she continued to hammer him. And her blows didn't lack power, either-it was mainly thanks to his own training under Pang that he was able to weather the storm of kicks. Finally she paused a little ways away to catch her breath, and Rab raised a hand. "All right, lassie, that's enough. Ye've definitely proven yerself to me. Let's take a wee break, shall we?"
She beamed at the praise, then nodded, sitting down next to him as he sat on the edge of the field. "So did you find anything out?" she asked.
"Aye, that I did. I found the name of the one that did this. It's Mordegon."
"Mordegon," she repeated, clenching and unclenching one fist. "Is... he why my papa is all weird?"
"It could be, yes. Information on him is hard to track down."
"Are you going to fight him? Mordegon, I mean."
"Aye, if I can. But that's nae so close. I dinnae even know where he is right now, let alone how to defeat him." He sighed. "Say, lass. What are ye planning on when yer trainin's done? What do ye want to do?"
"I'm going to fight him, of course!" she declared. "I'll fight him, and save my papa. And I'll find Junichi. And I'll protect you. I'm going to rescue my whole family, and then everything will be fine again."
Family... his wife dead a long time ago, his daughter and son-in-law murdered, his grandson most likely dead as well. He had no family. Except for this little girl who spoke of him in the same breath as her only blood relation, who still had hope that somewhere out there, his grandson was still alive. And maybe he needed that reminder of hope, something that stood against the weariness inside him that just wanted to rest and let it all end. Maybe, actually, he needed her to come along more than she needed to leave. "Jade..."
"Yes, Uncle Rab?"
"Would ye... like to come with me?"
Her eyes widened. "Can I?"
"The Grand Master has given her permission. Says ye've completed yer training. It'll be dangerous, though."
"I don't care!" She jumped to her feet. "You don't have to worry about danger, Uncle Rab. I'll protect you. Please, can I come? I want to help."
He reached up, brushing some of the hair from her face. They were nothing alike, but somehow, she reminded him of Eleanor at that age, so full of hope and life. "Then I'll be counting on ye to protect me, lass. Let's move forward together."