GOMU GOMU NO!~ Dang this is my shortest arc to date but it was fun to write all the same.

I hope you guys enjoyed the Vacuo arc, and I plan on sending the Hawkins family to the island of Menagerie soon, but there are a few things I need to sort out to set the stage and mayhaps introduce its antagonists?

Also, I've been thinking about writing a sub-arc for Nora and Ren, about four chapters at most, but that depends if you guys want me to include it or not. It's kind of its own thing and doesn't have anything to do with Menagerie, but I figured I'd wait for the reviews to decide.

With that, cheers everyone and happy reading.


A round clock ticked over the living room door as the doctor inspected Jaune's wounds. The boy was laid out on a medical blanket with a suitcase of precarious tools and medicines beside him. The middle-aged doctor sported a pair of wolf ears with a set of square spectacles and a white lab coat and let out a sigh of relief when he finished his patient's treatment.

"This boy is a fighter that's for sure. Give him a week's worth of rest and his immune system should take care of the rest. As for his physical injuries, I've braced his legs with proper supports and cleaned all of his cuts and scrapes. As long as he doesn't overdo it he's going to be just fine."

The doctor put his utensils back in a briefcase and scribbled down some antibiotics for his patient's high fever. Jaune had to take two pills three times a day after his meals with plenty of water for the next two weeks.

"It's a good thing you rushed over to my house when you did Sam. I was about to head off to bed when you started knocking on my door." The doctor picked up his suitcase and rolled up his sheets.

Sam paid the kind doctor his dues and thanked him all the way to the front door. With the doctor gone and everyone wide awake, all attention was on Hawkins and the green-haired girl next to him. Carla tried to approach the girl with a warm smile, but the child retracted and ran behind her father and gripped his pant leg.

"Emerald, these old people won't hurt you. Believe it or not, they're the grandparents Jaune is always referring to." Hawkins sighed.

"These... are my new grandparents?" Emerald whispered. However, she underestimated the enhanced hearing of the old Faunus couple.

Their eyes darting from the dark-skinned girl to the tall pale man, they tilted their heads and furrowed their brows. Feeling the pressure of their gazes on his being, Hawkins scratched his head and sat himself down on the couch. This was going to be a long night indeed.

"So... Where do you want to start Hawkins? There's plenty of time for you to explain every little detail." Carla quipped.

Truth be told, both she and Sam, along with Trifa, had been worried sick for the well being of the Hawkins family. They tried several times at the police station and even tried to contact the authorities of Vacuo for any hints of their whereabouts, but being of Faunus heritage and all, it was difficult to find someone who'd be willing to search for the magician and his son at a reasonable price.

Don't misunderstand, Carla and Sam were willing to sell their home and all of their belongings to get Hawkins and Jaune back, but most often than not they were turned to shady hunters and huntresses who were eager to earn some fast cash. There was that polite Vito fellow, but being a single huntsman didn't garner a lot of trust right off the bat so he was promptly refused.

In an act of desperation, Carla tried to contact Fiona and the happy huntresses, but developments were occurring in Mantle that had the team's hands tied. Something to do with a growing underground mafia, but Carla was never given any specifics.

"The vacation was like any other the first few weeks, but complications and violence arrived when a random mercenary by the name of Custard wanted my head on a silver platter," Hawkins grumbled.

The faces of the seniors paled considerably. Carla had to take a seat on Sam's rocking chair to ease her trembling body, and Sam opted to lean against the wall as he bit down on a toothpick.

"In the heat of the moment, I was forced to retreat to the northern parts of Vacuo. A place that is known for its survival of the strongest mentality. I trained alongside a group of bandits and developed new techniques that allowed me to return victorious. Then Jaune got sick and here we are."

Hawkins' brief summary proved unsatisfactory for the audience. Carla and Sam prodded for more answers, as Trifa had her own plans for an interrogation. She eyed the green-haired girl with a skeptical eye and dubious frown. Was she really related to Jaune and Hawkins? Her eyes did match those of Hawkins, but the skin and hair color were far from the magician's own complexion.

Trifa slowly approached the mint-haired girl and crossed her arms in an attempt to look as intimidating as possible. Emerald winced as her red eyes met a pair of ominous cobalt, and she huddled next to Hawkins' side for comfort.

"So, are you going to tell us about this little girl or what Hawkins? If I'm going to be her grandfather then I'd like to know her name." Sam stepped forward and leaned down with an extended hand.

"The name's Sam little one, mind telling me your's?"

"E-E-Emerald S. Hawkins." She managed to stammer.

Sam's eyes brimmed with joy, he wasn't against Hawkins having a growing family, but he doubted the blonde man played a part in Emerald's birth. Of course, there was the chance Emerald obtained her features from her mother, but if Hawkins had taken Jaune when his mother passed, there was no way in hell Hawkins would've abandoned Emerald.

"Are you hungry? I've got some beef stew leftover from yesterday's dinner." Sam gestured to the kitchen, but Emerald shook her head.

"Hun... Hungry..." Jaune said feebly.

The gazes of everyone veering to the sleeping boy on the floor, a snot bubble blew up and down as he turned his head toward the scent of boiled beef. His nose twitching, Jaune unconsciously rolled from his position and began to make way toward the kitchen door.

"Haha, that's Jaune alright. He's got all the priorities on deck." Sam whistled.

Everyone shared a laugh, save for Hawkins, and the group decided to hold off on any questions until morning. However, Hawkins decided to split from the group and head outside.

"I'll return before the night is over. There are some things I need to address." Hawkins sighed. He knew this inevitable encounter would be a waging battle of emotions. Whether he was prepared or not remained to be seen.

The moon was full and the stars twinkled innocently as they surveyed the thin clouds that drifted by. Hawkins stood at the bridge of the agricultural district. The place where he'd began his first journey in Remnant, and where one would have to come to an end.

Right on cue, a portal of hazy red split the air and fizzled into existence. A black boot thudded against the wooden planks of the bridge with a pair of blood-colored eyes following suit. Her expression stern is softened when she laid eyes on the magician whom she had come to respect as an equal of sorts.

"Ms. Branwen," Hawkins said glumly.


"Nibble... munchies..." Jaune groaned. His mouth salivating, Trifa curled a brow as her best friend mumbled in his sleep.

Sam had carried the boy back to his room along with his saber and leaned it against Jaune's bed. Sam brought in an extra set of pillows and blankets for Emerald and insisted Trifa get some rest for the next day to come, but the blunette was stubborn and refused. Claiming it was her duty as Jaune's best friend to remain by his side. Sam chuckled at the scene. It seems Jaune's attitude was rubbing off on the shy spider Faunus.

"Urnf... ow my head." Jaune scratched his cheek and felt a wave of pain vent through his entire body. His face grimaced, and he clutched his bandaged leg while holding back a snarl.

"J-Jaune?" That voice could only belong to one person. Trifa clenched Jaune's bedsheets as hope flowed into her eyes. Her best friend was about to wake up, and she would be the first one he sees.

His head-turning to the source, Jaune's ocean pupils landed on a mop of gray and bluish hair. It took him a few seconds, but when his mind caught up Jaune let out a roaring cry of happiness.

"TRIIIFAAA!" He lunged from his bed and tackled his best friend. Tears of joy streaming down his cheeks, he wrapped his arms around Trifa's waist and lifted her into the air.

Spinning around and around, Trifa was helpless and screeched for Jaune to stop. But the boy was far too happy to hear anyone's voice. From the corner of the room, Emerald remained silent and continued to observe the scene. A thin smile weaving through her lips, Emerald giggled at the Faunus' embarrassing predicament. That was until Jaune managed to catch a glimpse of green hair.

"AND MINTY TOO?!" Jaune's levels of excitement skyrocketed. He'd been reunited with his best friend, and his sister had made it through the territory of Vacuo in one piece.

He jumped for joy as the sky seemed to be the limit. The beds creaked as their sheets were ruffled by jumping feet, and the sound of Jaune's footsteps roused the elderly couple who slept nearby. Bursting through the door was a worried Carla and Sam, but their frantic faces were soon replaced by ones of bursting amusement.

"Grandpa! Grandma!" Jaune squealed in delight.

Twirling round with Trifa, Jaune threw her onto his bed and leaped for a hug. Sam was quick to react and caught the bouncing boy with a grin that stretched from ear to ear. Carla hastily snagged her grandson from her husband's embrace so she could have her turn of loving hugs and kisses.

Jaune would usually object to the lips of his grandmother, but the passion that burned in his heart sullen his bashful thoughts and made way for open emotions. After his adrenaline had run its course, Jaune petered to a huffing mess and fell face first against the floor.

"Jaune!" They all shouted.

"Pao!" Cried a sudden voice.

"... Did you hear that Sam?" Carla checked around the room but found nothing out of the ordinary. Save for a sword Emerald claimed to belong to Jaune, but she never got the chance to explain the weapon was a sentient being.

The sword began to rattle in anxiousness, and only Emerald understood what Funkfreed was about to do. In an act of desperation, Emerald lunged for the sword begging him to not transform. However, her panicking only worsened the situation. Sensing her strife, Funkfreed hastened his transformation and made himself known.

Though, doing so in a crowded bedroom on the second story was not a wise decision. Especially since the house was really old, to begin with. The weight of the elephant proved too much for the floor's foundations and the entire room broke apart. When the dust and debris cleared, Everyone, save for Emerald was knocked out in the living room among the rubble piles.

"Growr?" Richie, who had been forced to sleep outside in the backyard with Kuma, curled a brow at the sudden noises of destruction and the screams that came with it. He turned to the warlord who sat cross-legged next to him for an answer, but all he did was shrug his shoulders and returned to snoozing under the night sky. Seeing there wasn't anything to fear, Richie fell back asleep without a second thought.


"You seem well Hawkins. Did Jaune make it?" Raven asked. Her tone seemed genuine, but Hawkins couldn't be sure.

He'd come to respect the tribe leader as an individual, but he knew from experience to never let his guard down. Even if the one in front of him could be considered an ally.

"Yes, thanks to you and your semblance Jaune received the medical care he required," Hawkins said bluntly.

"I see, that's good." Raven flicked a stray hair behind her ear and placed a hand on her hip. She seemed confident, a little too confident actually.

"Well, we should get your kids and friends before the night is over. I've already ordered the other Branwen bandits to relocate the camp back to the safe hunting grounds. If we hurry we should be able to make it by dinner."

Hawkins remained still. His mind searching for a polite way to end the situation at hand, he found none. Drawing a long breath, Hawkins felt his stoic visage falter as a slight frown marred his features.

"I... can't go back with you Ms. Branwen, and that includes those who I have brought with me."

"... What?" Raven gritted her teeth and she stomped across the bridge until she was a foot away from the magician.

His crimson eyes glistening under the moonlight, they were filled with an odd mix of regret and determination. Hawkins backed up a few steps, but Raven kept close on his heels and shortened the distance between them once more. No longer positioned on the center of the bridge, Hawkins felt cornered as a chilling wind brushed his face.

"I can't go back to Vacuo with you Ms. Branwen. Not as a member of your tribe at least. The life of a bandit isn't a life I want for my children." Hawkins said.

Looking to the sky with a forlorn glint in his eyes, Hawkins focused on the moon and rested a hand against the railings of the bridge.

"If I were still the man I used to be, I would have raised my own flag and slaughtered your tribe without hesitation and taken your belongings." His cold words stung the tribe leader's pride, but she said nothing and allowed Hawkins to continue.

"I will admit, I did enjoy wreaking havoc and taking what I needed to survive. It filled me with nostalgia, and I wanted to enjoy myself to my heart's content. Then reality struck, literally in the form of the same menace who was responsible for bringing me into Remnant, to begin with, Bartholomew Kuma."

Hawkins' fingers gripped the railing as his expression soured.

"Being pitted against the nightmare who haunted my dreams was one of the most antagonizing painful experiences I've ever endured, both physically and mentally, and my spirit and broken body were ready for my grave." Hawkins paused. His lips twisting and turning, he forced out what he assumed he was feeling.

"If it weren't for my adopted daughter, I don't think I would have made it. There was something that stirred in my chest when Emerald scolded me for my self-deprecating attitude, and I wouldn't have awakened my new straw technique if she hadn't. I... cannot bring myself to willingly place my family in the harsh environments of Vacuo Ms. Branwen, that is why I cannot return with you and have chosen to officially retire as a pirate."

His words felt like a searing spear that punched a hole through Raven's chest. Her fists tightening to the point of her nails drawing blood, she bit back a snarl and tried to coerce the magician to return under her banner.

"You can't back away after all I've done for you, Hawkins. I allowed you shelter from Custard's wrath, I let you use my subordinates to take your pains with that weird power of yours, and I unlocked Jaune's aura for Oum's sake! You can't just brush me off like I never existed! don't you have some sort of moral code in that meticulous skull of yours?!"

Raven shouted. Though her words fell on deaf ears as Hawkins stiffened his nerves.

"You've done me many services Ms. Branwen and you have my gratitude. But I cannot and will not return with you."

"You can't say no you idiot!" Raven screeched. Her tough facade shattered like a crashing mirror, and everything she'd been hoping for evaporated.

Hawkins was supposed to get his son cared for, then return to the Branwen Tribe who'd come to recognize the cold magician as one of their own. Ask any of the bandits and they'll all say the same thing. They wanted their tall and stoic blonde back, and Raven couldn't agree more. Even Vernal, who seemed to bully Jaune and Emerald with every chance she got, was asking when the Hawkins family would be among their number once more.

"Ms. Branwen." Hawkins ran a pale hand through his golden locks and stared down the fuming woman like a parent would a pouting child.

"I told you before, my reasons for staying in your tribe..." Hawkins jumped back, Raven had unsheathed her blade in the span of a second and aimed for his neck. She missed her target and sunk her steel into the wooden railing of the bridge, her gaze burning with betrayal.

"Y-You used me and my tribe for protection, I get it! But... weren't you happy with where we were going? The tribesmen are singing praises about you... and I even scolded them for your sake! How can you ignore all that's transpired between us and throw it away like it's nothing?!" Raven's breath hitched as her vision was blurred by tears.

How long had it been since she shed genuine tears? She was strong... physically... but in the dark spaces in the back of her mind, Raven had to admit that she wasn't the best at handling her emotions. Yet when she looked at Hawkins, and the image of another blonde man manifested. Short blonde hair, a goofy smile, and gentle blue eyes. For a moment Raven saw her former husband, and she'd be damned to let him slip through her fingers again.

"If I beat you here Hawkins it'll prove that you're still too weak to leave Vacuo!" Raven shrieked.

She gave Hawkins no time to act, hacking and slashing with precision, the magician's hand was forced to defend himself. Cold steel struck hot against a set of iron nails. Lacking a weapon Hawkins was forced to resort to his devil fruit powers. Hawkins was the bigger and stronger of the two, but Raven had her own skills at her disposal.

"R-Raven!" Hawkins tried to use her first name for a better chance of gaining her attention, but the effort was wasted. "Have you forgotten how my abilities work?! If you wound me your bandits will pay the price instead!"

"Haaa!" Raven's ears were plugged with rage and anguish. She didn't care about anything Hawkins said at this point. All that mattered was that if she won this battle Hawkins would go back to Vacuo with her whether he liked it or not.

Blitzing at speeds Hawkins could barely react to, the magician cursed under his breath and resorted to his alternative form to minimize the damage this fight would yield.

"Demon Face!" Straw wrapping around his limbs and masking his visage, Hawkins' lanky form towered over the Branwen leader.

Her fingers loosened around her weapon's handle, but the thought of losing snapped Raven past her instinctive fears.

"You said you manifest straw as your semblance didn't you?! And last time I checked straw burns!" The rotary chamber of her sheath spinning to a red color, Raven sheathed her blade then withdrew it once more. This time it came out a bright crimson.

Hawkins lunged forward, His nails clenched as to not stab the woman he'd come to respect, but after their exchange, Hawkins winced as a gash across his stomach exploded in flames. If the ravenette was paying attention to the aftermath of her actions, she would have realized Hawkins was bleeding instead of dropping burnt straw dolls.

His hand forced, Hawkins took the initiative and positioned himself in the center of the bridge. He would leave himself vulnerable and goad Raven into attacking, then lash out at the last possible second for a well time surprise attack. Hawkins'plan worked, as Raven jumped off the bridge's railings and soared into the sky, Hawkins opened his arms with no sign of rejecting the huntresses' blade.

The hot steel gouged into his shoulder as Raven plunged from the air above. Hawkins winced but held back his pain long enough for him to clasp his iron nails around Raven's throat. The action caused Raven's grip to loosen on the handle of her sword, and it clanked against the bridge as its owner was hoisted into the air and slammed against the wooden planks of its foundations.

The impact slurred the vision of the ravenette but did nothing to deter her anguish. She flailed uncontrollably, swinging her arms and legs in the hopes of hitting her opponent in any way that she could. Sick of their meaningless battle, Hawkins dragged Raven against the ground and bashed her through the remaining supporting rails, and returned her skull to the wooden planks once more.

Raven's aura had taken the brunt of the impacts, but she was definitely weakened, both in mind and body. Hawkins didn't want to end Raven, and even with his menacing mask of straw, Hawkins could not hide the bewildering emotions that danced in his crimson eyes.

"... What are you waiting for Hawkins, just kill me already." Raven sulked.

With her rage subsiding for sadness, Hawkins softened the hold on her throat and shed the damaged straw from his body. His pale skin reflecting the moonlight, Hawkins panted over the woman who had tried to slay him.

"I'm not going to kill you." Hawkins deadpanned.

Raven said nothing as tears swelled in her eyes. Her face covered in scratches and blood, she turned her head to avoid the magician's stoic glare.

"You see me as an equal of sorts and gave me the position of secondary leader of your tribe, but there's another reason why you want me to come back isn't there?" His breaths heavy, Hawkins mustered all his strength to ignore the deep gash on his chest.

Raven stiffened and replied with quivering lips. "Where are you going with this Hawkins?"

"There's a 62% chance that I remind you of someone else. Tell me truthfully, are you already a mother?" Hawkins proposed his question and held nothing back.

Hawkins wasn't an oblivious man, and he noticed how Raven would sneak glances at both him and his son when she thought they weren't looking. At first, the magician assumed it was just Raven being cautious about the new additions to her tribe, but when Emerald was brought into the mix, Hawkins witnessed the envious glimmer in those blood-colored pupils.

Where the envy stemmed from was an enigma to Hawkins for a while, but he eventually put two and two together and performed a few tarot draws with the right questions. His assumptions proved favorable, and perhaps Raven was using Hawkins as a replacement for something she'd lost.

"No, I'm not. At least not anymore anyway." She scowled bitterly.

"Did you lose your husband to the Grimm?" Hawkins asked.

"No..."

"Is he dead?" Hawkins inquired.

"No..."

"Is he with another woman?" Hawkins prodded. This proved to be the golden question as Raven scoffed.

"... Did you leave him or did he leave you?" Hawkins prodded.

"It's complicated." The tribe leader said through grit teeth and refused to answer any more questions Hawkins had.

Her depressed demeanor posed no threat to Hawkins, so he allowed her throat it's right to breathe and leaned his back against the damaged railing. He slid down onto his butt and was now sitting next to a wounded tribe leader who was lying down while trickles of blood-soaked his shirt and pants.

"... Hawkins, why are you bleeding? Shouldn't you have had a few straw dolls stored up?" Raven broke the silence with a timid voice.

"I released all the bandits I had under my influence before we left the camp. See it as an act of repayment for their services." Hawkins replied in a neutral tone.

"I see... So, you're not coming back with me to Vacuo, are you?" Raven asked with a hint of hope in her voice.

"No," Hawkins said bluntly.

That was it then, there wasn't anything else that needed to be said. With a heavy heart, Raven picked herself up and retrieved her weapon. With her back facing the magician, Raven bit her lip to hold back the tears, but as usual, the action proved useless and her cheeks were soon drenched in salty droplets. "Ms. Branwen." Hawkins stood himself up and approached the downtrodden woman.

With the sounds of cards shuffling against one another, Raven tried to raise her blade to slice a portal, but the intrigue of what the magician had to say bound her actions. In an action unfit of his stoic nature, Hawkins pocketed his cards and placed a soft comfort on Raven's scalp.

Raven's breath hitched and she shuddered as Hawkins' fingers gently weaved through her lush black locks. When he spoke, she felt as if her entire world had been flipped upside down.

"If you speak with your husband, there's an 81% chance he'll forgive you. As for his wife, the percentages are similar, but expect to confront resistance should you decide to speak to them."

Time stalled as Raven processed what she had heard. Would it... really be that easy?

"H-Hawkins..." Raven didn't know what she was doing anymore, she slashed a portal to take her leave, but spun around and embraced Hawkins in a crushing hug. Her muscles trembling, she wrapped her hands around Hawkins' neck and refused to let go. Hawkins rolled his eyes and continued to pat her head while slowly walking her toward the fizzling ripple of red aura.

"Thank you for everything, Ms. Branwen. Please give Brick my regards." Hawkins said. Though the tiniest hint of a smile peeked through the corners of the blonde magician's lips.

No words were spoken as Raven separated herself from the confines of Hawkins' chest. Her salty tears stinging his wounds, Raven offered a humble nod and stepped through the portal without saying a single word. As the sparks faded, Hawkins let out a long sigh he didn't know he was holding. Then he took a glance at the destruction around him. The farmers of the agricultural could wait a couple of days for their bridge to be repaired right?

A quarter of the bridge broke from its bearings and plunged into the river sending a small wave to splash against Hawkins' face. Scratch that, maybe a week and a half worth of repairs and Hawkins would probably have to pay for it all. Oh well, another book for Tukson should cover all the costs and manual labor. After all, it had been some time since Sora the warrior of the sea had been given an update.

*Vacuo Ruins Sub-Arc End.*