JET STAMP!~ Another chapter and the first of the last five. I know this arc has been going on a lot longer than I expected, but I felt these chapters necessary as it expands the untapped RWBY lore and perhaps hints at who Hawkins has been conversing in private with? These chapters will mostly revolve around Jaune and Vernal, but Emerald and Hawkins will get their fair share as well.
Also, On the subject of Emerald eating a devil fruit, I contemplated the idea and decided against it. I don't want to impose too much one-piece into the RWBY world to the point of creating a grand-line spinoff, and I think Emerald being the new Spring Maiden opens a whole world of plot potential for my story on its own.
I promise to ship out these final chapters quickly, as to not drag on the days and distract myself from wrapping it up. Expect to get 1-2 chapters a day for the rest of the week, everyone.
With that, cheers and happy reading.
*Vacuo Ruins. Sub-Arc Begins.*
The ruins were completely uprooted. A shadow of its former remains, the bundles of broken stone lay clumped in heaps of smoke and ash. Bodies of the deceased lay still, as those fortunate enough to survive, were tending to the wounded and their own injuries. Brick was one of the most unfortunate. His left eye scarred, his vision for the rest of his life was cut in half.
Raven had also succumbed to her injuries. She was still alive by all means, but with her aura depleted and body covered in bruises and scrapes, she was bandaged from head to toe and sleeping on a makeshift medical bed. Though, when comparing damage, Hawkins' condition proved the most critical. His blackened eyes on the verge of being shut, his face was almost unrecognizable due to all the swelling and internal bleeding that plagued his pale skin.
Those with minor injuries were treated first, such was the rule of the Branwen tribe unless you held a significant standing among the hierarchy. Jaune was up next, two straight sticks and a roll of gauze snuggly clasped his broken leg. He was also offered a walking stick, but the boy sufficed to have Funkfreed convert back to his sword form and use him instead.
"Will our dad be okay?" Emerald asked meekly. Hawkins' breathing was almost inaudible, and his chest barely rose when he took in air.
Finished with wrapping his new blind eye, Brick forced a smile as he took out another medical kit. "You're dad is going to be just fine you two. He's a fighter that's for sure, and he was able to smite down that gigantic Faunus with that special power of his. However, the strain of unleashing such a devastating force took its toll on his already stressed mind and body."
Brick winced as he applied a dampened cloth of alcohol on his forearm. "Tell me, has Hawkins ever shown signs of PTSD?"
Emerald looked to Jaune, he was with Hawkins before they arrived in Vacuo, so he should know. That, and Emerald didn't know what PTSD meant.
"Well," Jaune rubbed the back of his neck. "Dad's usually kinda stiff whenever he's around a lot of flashing lights. Grandpa Sam and Grandma Carla always tell me to shout at him and give my father a good shake if he starts shaking or spaces out."
Brick cupped his chin and tossed his dirty cloth aside. His head throbbing, he needed to make sure the other members of the camp knew what they were doing before he hit the hay.
"Make sure you two keep an eye on him alright?" Brick gestured to the resting body of Hawkins as he stood himself up. "I've seen what some people do after they've been in a crazy ass fight like this one if he starts swinging wildly, give him a good knock on the back of the head and send him back to dreamland. I've injected a shot of anesthesia, which should help him calm down and recover. It's a shame Hawkins doesn't have aura, otherwise, I'd be able to let him fix himself up naturally."
Brick let the kids be, and Jaune ended up snoozing off with his back against the dirt. The only one awake, Emerald quirked a brow as Hawkins seemed to be mumbling something.
"Bas... Bastion?" Hawkins said wearily.
Who the heck is Bastion?" Emerald wondered.
"Where am I? These aren't ruins of Vacuo."
Hawkins found himself in the center of a small canyon. Patches of rock surrounded a tall tree. Its withered branches hunched towards the ground, its bark splintered and roots thinned. Whatever this tree was, it was far from its prime.
Hawkins took a step forward and felt the rigid earth beneath his toes crumble. Hawkins blinked, where were his shoes? Last he remembered he had those during his fight with Custard and Kuma. Assessing his surroundings, Hawkins veered his gaze to the sky, it was clouded in gray smog that prevented even a trickle of sunlight to peer through it.
Ominous and chilling winds caressed his pale skin, Hawkins realized he was no longer in his bandit attire. Now, he adorned his white ruffled cloak and purple pants which reached his ankles. But other than those few pieces of cotton, the magician was bare. His wounds had also healed, not a single scratch or ache marred his body, but this only emphasized the question. Where was he?
"So, we finally meet. Hello Basil Hawkins, I commend you for your victory against Custard. Though the execution could have been cleaner." Quipped a womanly voice.
A sensation burned in Hawkins' chest. It was similar to when Bastion would attempt a conversation with the magician, but oddly enough, it felt different. Hawkins couldn't explain this conundrum and instinctively reached into his pant pocket for his cards, though was disappointed to find his pocket empty.
Hawkins narrowed his sights at the base of the tree. Assimilating before its trunk was a swirl of murky orange smoke. From it, came a faint resemblance of a human figure, but Hawkins couldn't be sure. As the smoke completed its preparation, it extended what Hawkins assumed to be a hand, but being the cautious man his cohorts had come to know he remained still and asked the first question that came to mind.
"Who are you?" Hawkins deadpanned.
"I don't think that's the kind of tone you should be using in a place you've just arrived in, not to mention your mortal body is in my territory to boot, but I'll entertain you if you want." The hazy figure flicked a finger toward the withered tree.
"A place that has been long forgotten. It used to serve as a place of holy refuge and prayer, but nowadays it's been tucked away in the confines of an invisible dimension. Sounds pretty enticing doesn't it?" Giggled the smoke cloud.
"How do I get back to Remnant?" Hawkins huffed.
"You have dutiful priorities, I can respect that, but there are things I'd like to discuss with you while we have the time. Care to join me on a stroll Hawkins? It's only a matter of time until Bastion comes to fetch you." The cloud fluttered toward Hawkins and stopped a few feet from him.
"You know, out of all the candidates we could have brought, it had to be the man without a sense of humor." The smoke cloud laughed.
"Enough of this. If this is some sort of hallucinating trick then it'd be in your best interest to cease it at once." Hawkins grumbled.
Suddenly the orange mist cloud broke into a sputtering display. Hawkins stepped back, his arms crossed, he shielded his eyes as the smoke cloud gained speed. Dust and debris captured in its erratic dance, with one loud shout the winds ceased to blow and a single figure remained. Though obscure, Hawkins was able to decipher an image.
The orange smoke clustered and grew thicker to create a tall and feminine build with the faint traces of eyes and a mouth. A golden scarf wrapped around its neck, horns protruded from the sides of its head leading Hawkins to believe the one he was speaking to was some kind of bull Faunus.
"This isn't a hallucination Hawkins. You're recent outburst sent a surge of energy that I was able to latch onto. Oddly enough it wasn't aura but some other 'kingly' power. Though with that devil inside of you, I don't think it's too keen on letting another power take over its home." The smoke body poked Hawkins' chest teasingly, completely oblivious to the magician's bewildered expression.
"Who are you?" Hawkins sighed.
"Call me Malika, and don't ask if I have a last name because I don't have one."
"Very well, Malika." Hawkins clicked his tongue. "What is this place, and how do I return to Remnant?"
"Worried about your family Hawkins?" Malika grinned.
"Haha, I'm only teasing dear." She giggled.
"So is there a way I can return?" Hawkins asked again.
Malika placed a finger on her chin. "Damn it Bastion, you had to send me a man who gets to the point."
Hawkins curled a brow. "You know Bastion?"
"Hm? Of course, I know the old geezer. My people and I went to war against him for over a decade. He was pretty uptight on the battlefield, but an absolute joker once you got to know him."
'So Bastion wasn't lying when he said he'd seen countless battles.' Hawkins thought.
"Oi, don't go spacing out on me Hawkins. You have to keep a sharp mind in this kind of place. If you let your soul wander for too long, you'll be lost before you know it with no way of coming back." Malika scolded as she flicked the blonde man's nose.
"I'm not here to play games Malika. Tell me how to get back to Remnant." Hawkins frowned. His patience thinned from the emotional stress of his recent battle, he felt his hands ball into fists as the ominous figure shrugged.
"You can leave anytime you want. All you have to do is climb the exit. Malika pointed to a staggering and dismantled staircase. Riddled with cracks, it served as the only entrance and exit to the small crater.
"Keep in mind though, once you leave it'll be near impossible to return without our help."
"Our?" Hawkins tilted his head and crossed his arms.
"Like me, Bastion and the other two can converse with you when they see fit. Though only at times of our careful choosing. The 'witch' that watches over Remnant is annoyingly stubborn and if she were to discover our existence I fear Remnant would be in even more danger than it already is." Malika explained.
"Your face screams confusion, Hawkins. But everything will make sense in time. Right now, you have two joyful bundles of youth waiting for their father."
Hawkins backed away, and after a few minutes, decided the one named Malika meant no harm. However, before he could leave, Malika had a gift she wished to bestow.
M-Minty hold on!" Jaune yelped.
The Branwen tribe was in a state of panic. Before anyone could make sense of the developing situation, the foundation of the ground they walked upon gave way to sudden tremors. Most likely caused by the destruction wrought from their father's battle and the giant Faunus.
Pillars and stone sunk into the earth, with screams aplenty all around.
"Jaune!" Emerald wailed and clung to her brother with an iron grip. Then fate played a cruel hand. A fissure broke between the hugging siblings and their unconscious father.
"Waaah!"
Fumbling to the ominous ruins below, the Hawkins family would once again be separated.
"Hold on a minute Hawkins!" Malika called and skipped to the base of the withered tree. Raising her hands, she opened her palms and allowed a flow of majestic yellow aura to seep into the dying tree roots. The plantation accepted Malika's present greedily and flexed its branches toward the sky. A new branch grew and trailed towards the one responsible for its rejuvenation.
Hawkins' eyes widened as a yellow fruit was produced. Though to be honest it liked more like a butternut squash if he was being honest. However, it was the unmistakable swirls that snapped Hawkins' attention. Content with what she had produced, Malika plucked the supposed fruit from its branch and skipped back to Hawkins.
"Here we are, a parting gift for the esteemed magician. Though seeing that you can't consume more than one devil fruit, perhaps your son should consume it instead? Your daughter has already acquired a mighty power, and I can't muster any more of my aura for a while so this will have to do." Malika said sheepishly.
"How are you able to manifest a devil fruit?" Hawkins blinked slowly as the fruit was placed in his hands.
"Haha, it seemed that way, didn't it? Well, I won't bore you with the details so let's just agree that I created that on my own." Malika said with a grin.
"But my tarot readings regarding devil fruits being in Remnant were below five percent! You can't just conjure something of such potential out of thin air!" Hawkins snapped.
"Well, you're not completely wrong Hawkins." Malika scratched her chin.
"The reason you won't find any devil fruits in the world of Remnant is a lot simpler than you think. To put it bluntly, devil fruits can't exist in this world because of their biology. They were born in the universe of the grande line and thus cannot survive in the unfamiliar soils of the world you are situated in. Even if you kill another devil fruit user, the fruit itself won't latch onto another host and it'll disappear completely. Trust me, I've seen it happen with my own eyes."
"But that doesn't explain-"
Suddenly, the earth beneath Hawkins' feet began to shift. His balance wavered, and he clung to the fruit he received with all his might.
"It looks like we're out of time Hawkins. You'd best make it to the top of the stairs before it arrives. One more thing, make sure you give Bastion a good insult when you see him on my behalf. To think he had the gall of sending you to me without my consent, Hmph!" Malika dispersed in a waft of orange smoke.
As the world's foundations crumbled beneath the magician's feet, he scrambled onto the tremendous staircase. The shrill cry of some unseeable and malevolent beast rung through the skies above, but before Hawkins could turn back to see what it was, he reached the top of the stairs and vanished in an instant.
"Ghack!" Hawkins wheezed. He felt the mortal world around him once more. That, along with the injuries he'd sustained in his fight with Kuma and Custard.
"Oh thank Oum. I thought you were done for Hawkins." Brick gasped and eased his palms off the magician's chest.
"Brick? Where are we?" Hawkins coughed.
"Several feet under that's all I know. While you were sleeping the ruins above fell apart." Surrounded by shattered boulders, the room was lit by a single flickering lantern that Brick had salvaged from the rubble.
"Where are my children?!" Hawkins jumped to his feet with his bones cracking in the process. Clasping a hold on Brick's collar, he bore his stoic eyes into the panicking ones of the doctor.
"I-I don't know Hawkins! Your lion managed to fall with us though!"
"Growr!" Richie said with a grin.
Releasing Brick, Hawkins pulled out his tarot cards and shuffled. 75% chance Jaune was alive, and 89% for Emerald. Hawkins drew a sigh of relief. At least the percentages were on the positive side.
"Um, by the way, Hawkins, you remember that giant Faunus you beat the crap out of earlier? Well, he wants to talk to you." Brick gestured to a towering figure who was sitting cross-legged behind the magician. Though he was several feet away with a void look in his glass eyes.
"...The bear Faunus wishes to speak with me?" Hawkins tried to hide it, but his nerves refused. His body was shaking all over and sweat dripped from his forehead.
"Calm down Hawkins." Brick rested a firm grip on the magician's shoulder.
"The thing that threw you around like a ragdoll has long passed. He broke out of the hole you whacked him into, but he's been awfully calm ever since and hasn't said a word other than his request to speak with you."
It took all of Hawkins' willpower to turn around. As Brick foretold, Kuma remained stationary, and only tilted his head slightly to meet the magician's crimson pupils.
"Basil Hawkins," Kuma said humbly.
Hawkins' breath hitched, but nothing transpired.
"Where, are we?" Kuma veered his gaze to the cramped room they shared.
"You're not going to try and kill me?" Hawkins said in disbelief.
Kuma shook his head with a look of confusion on his calm features.
"I patched up the wounds on his head and, believe it or not, Kuma thanked me for it. Heck, if I were to guess I'd say you literally beat some sense into him. Though I'm not too tech-savvy and might've messed up his wiring a tad." Brick commented.
"I-I see." Hawkins felt his legs buckle but remained standing.
"Are you alright Hawkins?" Kuma asked with a tone of concern that did not match his intimidating body.
Hawkins could only stare as the atmosphere around the three men dampened.
"Um, I don't mean to interrupt you two, but the dust in this lamp isn't gonna last a long time, and I kinda don't wanna die here. Let's get a move on shall we?" Brick said with an uncomfortable chuckle.
"Very well." Hawkins sighed. Brick picked up the lantern and pointed to a few unstable and moist stones. "If you guys give me a hand with this I think we can dig our way out."
Hawkins and Brick set to work, and after a few minutes of contemplation, Kuma and Richie began to contribute as well. However, Richie accidentally dislodged a crucial rock, and a stream of water poured into the room. Brick and Richie tried to close the hole, but the rushing torrents proved to great and the entire room collapsed under the hydrating pressure. Brick and Richie were sent down an extending river, but Hawkins and Kuma were shoved deeper into the ruins through a swirling whirlpool.
Unfortunately, the devil fruit Hawkins had on his person had also been lost. But little did the magician know, the fruit would find its way to his son one way or the other.
"Emerald! Please speak to me!" Jaune shook his sister's unconscious body with all his might.
"J-Jaune, can you stop shaking me already?" Emerald panted.
"S-Sorry!" Jaune jumped back as if his hands had been electrocuted.
"Jaune, where are we?" Emerald asked. Her woozy vision clearing, she could see they were in a very large room. Pillars erected in even rows, a clear water flowed gently in a deep trench that ended in a short waterfall. Though the littered debris of their crash had marked the beauty of the area a tad.
"I'm not sure Minty. We crashed here and when I came about, I found you lying on the floor." Jaune shrugged. "But Funkfreed is here with us at least!"
"Pao!" Funkfreed said. In his sword form, he was strapped to Jaune's back in a makeshift sheath.
"U-Urnf." Grumbled another voice.
His head snapping to a stack of rubble, Jaune hobbled over due to his injured leg and began to dig out the final member of their group. A familiar head of short spiky brown hair revealing itself, Jaune grimaced as he met the girl's icy blue eyes.
"Ow... L-Loser?" Vernal said wearily.
"It's just Hedgehog, Minty." Jaune sighed.
Emerald walked over with a pout on her face. The girl Jaune was trying to save had bullied them both since day one for no apparent reason other than petty entertainment. Least to say Emerald thought very little of their acquaintance.
"I say leave her Jaune." Emerald hissed.
Jaune glanced at his sister then to Vernal. Cupping his chin, he subtly nodded and began to put back the rocks he'd removed from Vernal's pile.
'Clunk' 'Clunk' 'Clunk'
"H-Hey d-don't listen to her you dumbass!" Vernal screamed.
Jaune started to pick up the pace as a bead of sweat trickled down his forehead.
'ClunkClunkClunkClunkClunk!'
"H-Hey I said stop it!" Vernal wailed.
All the while Emerald had an amused smirk on her visage while Jaune did his best to ignore the bullies shouting. Eventually, Jaune's noble heart gave in and he assisted Vernal out of the debris. Though the bully did fill his and Emerald's ears with insults and complaints, she did manage to thank Jaune after her tirade.
"So we need to set a few ground rules here Hedgehog," Jaune said with his arms crossed.
"Stop calling me that you idiot!" Vernal snarled.
"Not until you stop being a meanie." Jaune huffed.
The kids were getting nowhere in their squabble. Vernal wanted to take charge and lead the group, but seeing she was the most disliked out of the four present, there was a wall of disagreement.
"If you apologize then I and Minty will consider working with you as a team Hedgehog." Jaune frowned.
"I'm older than you both by two years, I should be the one who leads!" Vernal growled.
"If we're going by that logic then Funkfreed should be the one to lead us. I'm not sure how old he is, but my guess is that he's the oldest out of everyone here." Emerald deadpanned and pointed a lazy finger towards Jaune's blade.
"Are you stupid or just plain ignorant? A sword isn't a person you dumbass!" Vernal spat.
That insult crossed the line. Vernal could throw banter with Jaune all she wanted, but Emerald was off-limits.
"Alright Hedgehog, I didn't want to do this, but you've forced my hand," Jaune said with a mischievous smirk. Drawing his trusty sword, Jaune pointed it toward Vernal.
"W-What do you want to fight? I'll mop the floor with you!" Vernal withdrew a dagger from her boot and took a fighting stance.
"Naw, we ain't gonna fight, Funkfreed's just gonna play with you for a bit." Jaune beamed a goofy smile and threw his weapon into the air.
"Pao!" Shouted the sword. His body morphing from one of steel to an ivory-skinned elephant, Funkfreed eyed Vernal with a blank stare.
"Sick em' Funkfreed." Jaune pointed to Vernal with one hand and stuck a thumbs up toward his animal pal with the other.
"W-What?!" Vernal's hair stood on end and her eyes bulged out of their sockets as the elephant ran at her.
Fleeing for her life, Funkfreed chased her around the room swatting Vernal's butt every now and then with his trunk. This elicited painful screams and humiliating tears from the bully as Emerald and Jaune clutched their ribs in laughter. Funkfreed knew Jaune didn't want him to kill Vernal, but the elephant had observed all of the abuse the girl had done to his friend, and he intended to pay her back for it.
"J-Jaune, tell your stupid animal to back off from me already!" Vernal shrieked.
Frantically climbing an upright pillar, Vernal managed to make it halfway to the top before Funkfreed snagged his trunk around her ankle. Pulling down, Funkfreed dragged Vernal closer to the base of the pillar, but she managed to wiggle free and continued to scramble for safety.
Irritated, Funkfreed stood on his hind legs and extended his reach. This time the elephant managed to grab Vernal by the belt with his trunk, which caused a girly yelp to escape the bully's lips.
"L-Let go you stupid fatass!" Vernal screeched. Digging her knife into a crack of the pillar for support, she used her free hand and leg to try and smack Funkfreed's trunk away.
Though all this did was loosen her pants and made them slide down a tad. Half of her lower cheeks exposed, Emerald whistled with a mocking sneer.
"Hey Jaune, look, I didn't think little miss bossy here would wear pink panties with hearts~" Emerald teased.
"Oh Oum, avert your eyes!" Jaune covered his face with his hands as Emerald tried to pry away her brother's fingers and make him look at Vernal.
Her face blushing several shades, Vernal cursed then ceased her attempt of swatting Funkfreed's trunk and used her free hand to try and pull up her pants instead. The long game of tug-o-war had to come to an end, and though Vernal put up a valiant struggle Funkfreed won hands down, but not in the way the animal expected.
Funkfreed's grip slipped which caused Vernal to lurch forward. Her knife dislodged as a result thus catapulting Vernal into the air. Her screams beckoning over Jaune and Emerald, the boy lowered his hands and snapped his gaze towards the air above. Even with aura Vernal could be seriously hurt from that distance or worse. Sure, he wanted to teach Vernal a lesson, but she didn't deserve something as horrible as death.
"I-I'll save you Vernal!" Jaune shouted and broke into an uneven sprint. Panting in pain, his bandaged leg throbbed, but his determination pushed on.
Situating himself underneath Vernal's falling shadow, Jaune caught her with both arms but crashed to the floor from the impact.
"Jaune!" Emerald rushed over to her brother's side with Funkfreed following suit.
"Oof, are you alright Vernal?" Jaune said with a scrunched face and thundering headache.
"Ow, what?" Vernal's eyes widened when she realized who she was sitting on and that her pants were all the way down to her ankles exposing her skin and pink panties for all to see.
"Gyaaah!" Vernal jumped and fiddled with her pants and belt. Luckily she managed to cover up before Jaune came around.
"Phew... That's a relief. Good to see you're alright Vernal." Jaune flashed his trademark goofy grin before passing out.
"Y-You're the one who saved me?" Vernal muttered under her breath. Why would this idiot try and save her, he was the one who ordered Funkfreed to 'sick here' to begin with...
"This is all your fault Vernal!" Emerald's shouting broke Vernal from her confused stupor. Replacing it with anger and frustration.
"W-What do you mean my fault?! If it weren't for that stupid elephant we wouldn't be in this mess!" Vernal shot back.
As the girls bickered, Funkfreed nudged Jaune on the head. Though when a trickle of blood formed a tiny red puddle beneath the blonde's head, Funkfreed's eyes widened and his ears flapped in worry.
"Pao!"
'Thwack!' 'Thwack!'
"Ow!" Vernal winced.
"Ouch!" Emerald yelped. "Why did you do that Funk-"
Emerald clamped her mouth shut the second she saw Jaune's injury.
"Jaune!" Emerald began tearing her shirt for makeshift bandages.
Oddly enough, Vernal also helped, but tore Jaune's clothes instead of her own and did so in complete silence with a mixed face of anger and confusion on her features.
