Arc IV: Courage Ascending
Chapter 33: Chasing Daybreak
Caution: Themes of depression, trauma and recovery. More info at the AN at the bottom.
Sitting cross-legged against a tree, Yang neutrally stared at the object within the box.
The prosthetic arm was cold, lifeless and metallic, something that the glint from the sunlight above was powerless to change. At least it still had that fresh-from-the-factory scent, similar to a newly bought car, but robotic limbs weren't meant to be used as room or vehicle fresheners. This was truly "military grade" - not manufactured by the lowest bidder with the cheapest materials, but according to her dad, it had the strength to stand against the toughest of Grimm and come out for the better.
Still, Yang felt a little guilty at how he pulled some strings to get something this valuable for a discount. But while she earnestly appreciated his attempt to help, that small seed of hesitation within was embedded within a larger, more formidable beast.
She didn't particularly care to name it as its presence only served to exacerbate her doubt. Her shattered confidence in her ability to fight. Her fear and anxiety, expecting to see Adam Taurus in the flesh when he remained in her mind.
But worst of all was simply how torn she was that she no longer had a partner by her side. She needed Blake now more than ever, but Ruby's words further drove the spike into her wounded heart. If she wasn't questioning out loud why Blake would just up and leave, the hatred which replaced it frightened her into doing simple chores as a distraction.
In the midst of it all, there was a gift. Her dad meant well, but Yang doubly wished she could just…take it, put it on, and boom. Good as new. She was the bombastic, reckless and impulsive one, after all. It should've been super easy, like subtly looking over Weiss' notes in class or beating Ruby in a game of Primal Combat.
"…so why is it so hard? It's sitting right here. Just think of it like putting on Ember Celica, but much…longer. And grey. And…arm-like."
Yang reached out but withdrew at the last moment, and she mentally cursed herself again for her weakness. Literal monsters had fallen beneath her fury; wouldn't she want the opportunity to repeat that again? Gods, maybe the arm's equipped with a super-secret hidden ability that'll double, no, triple her strength!
As her thoughts reached a crescendo, Yang did her best to silence them and slowly exhaled, focusing on the simple things. The gentle breeze in the air, the warm afternoon sunlight -
Slowly, she reached over and grabbed it, and after a few seconds of testing its surprisingly light and balanced weight, Yang gently popped it into her stump.
Lilac eyes widened.
"…whoa."
The Atlesian tech felt…odd, to say the least. It was almost scary how seamlessly well it began to work, but as Yang swung and moved the new limb around, she immediately froze upon realizing just exactly why it was so weird.
For the first time since before the Fall, she almost felt…whole.
Yang sunk back against the trunk with a smile at the onset of blissful memories. They weren't of any one particular event but remembering the normality of how things used to be was enough to set her at ease, at least a little. It was borderline infectious; from waking up at ungodly hours because of a certain heiress' standards, to beating a comatose Ruby in a race to claim the washroom first, followed by an insignificant day full of boring classes (save for Professor Goodwitch's) and evening workouts that Nora would occasionally join.
Yang raised her new arm at the sun as she greedily lost herself in better days. For just a moment, gunmetal grey became fair and tan, with a yellow gauntlet upon her wrist as she fired off round after round into the prey that was Grimm.
But the next salvo failed to fire at all. It wasn't even possible, considering the sword that sliced through her arm before she could let loose, and all Yang could do was gape in shock beneath Adam's mercy, followed by that feeling of sheer, indescribable fire -
Yang suddenly gasped, tearing the images from her mind, and as she fought to steady her breath, the panic subsided upon realizing she unlatched the limb from her arm.
"Is it broken? I could return and replace it for free."
She placed the arm down beside her, watching as Taiyang emerged from the front door with Zwei in tow. The corgi woofed and jumped into her lap, eliciting a small chuckle from her as he made himself comfortable.
"No need, Dad. It works just fine."
"I see," he replied as he took a seat against a different side of the tree. "Well, glad to know their stuff works as intended. I wonder if they got other parts too, like legs or even a new spine. If only to feel a little young again…"
"Even if you were at your prime, I'd still kick your ass, old man."
A few, long seconds passed before he spoke up again. "Then would you care to test that statement?"
Her breath caught in her throat.
"I…I don't know."
Taiyang hummed. "Right. And why don't you?"
"Because I don't," she gritted out, clenching blades of grass within her fist. "It doesn't feel…right. At least not yet. I really don't know how to say it, but -"
"Actually, I think you do. You just can't get yourself to admit it."
Her eyes flashed with a spark of anger. "E-excuse me? What do you mean by that?"
"Exactly what I said," Taiyang replied as he linked his arms behind his head. "Even when you were in a rut before you lost your arm, one thing that never changed about you is your willingness to fight. If anything, I'd say you don't see it right now, but…it's there. I know it is. Unless I'm mistaken and you've actually given up for good."
"I…well…no! I pushed myself through Signal and became the best there so I could go to become a kickass huntress with kickass adventures! I wanna keep fighting…but…"
A flash of red, followed by guilty golden eyes that ran into the expanding darkness.
"You're afraid of getting hurt like that again, right?"
Yang grimaced. Even thinking of Adam's name was enough to make her tense up and curl in on herself.
"…do all parents have the ability to, like, read their children's thoughts?"
Taiyang shrugged. "Intuition from experience. While I'm still a hundred percent stock, you could say I have an inkling as to how you're feeling." He shimmied over to face her cross-legged. "Brothers know I felt the same when your mother pulled a stunt like your partner."
Yang remained quiet as images of Blake warred with those of a decidedly different black-and-red figure, one whose impact was decisive in lack of presence rather than involvement.
"Yup. I can see the gears turning in there," he continued, tapping his temple with a finger. She didn't miss the sharp gaze in his eyes, however. "Raven Branwen was…interesting. Lots of good memories back then, but it all ended for the worst. I don't think I hated someone as much as her when she left you as a baby; my partner in combat and love, right when I needed her the most…?"
She didn't flinch as Taiyang slammed a fist into the dirt, though his face never lost its peaceful expression. "I wanted to march into whatever Mistrali dirthole she came from and drag her sorry ass back home to be the mother she needed to be."
The same way she wanted to give Adam Taurus a piece of her mind.
The same way she wanted to find Blake and just ask her why.
"In the end, I realized that you, Summer and Ruby were more important. But I always want you to remember, Yang, that I'm happy to see at least part of Raven still kicking within you."
Yang narrowed her eyes. "And what part would that be?"
"Your tenacity. Your strength, ambition and pure drive whenever you really dedicated yourself. Yang…I know it's hard. Believe me, I've been there, and there's nothing more I want to do right now than to quit my job at Signal to bury the man who hurt you, not to mention help in finding the partner who ran. There's nothing wrong with having those feelings; I think the…trauma you have might be one of the greatest enemies you'll ever face, and will continue to fight for a long time."
Taiyang stood and dusted himself off. "I also know that you'll emerge the winner at the end, however long it takes. All you need to do to begin fighting once more is to decide where to start."
It was easier said than done…but he wasn't wrong.
Yang glanced down as she felt Zwei rustle in her lap, and she couldn't help but smile as the cheerful corgi lapped at her hand. It was as if Zwei himself was doing her best to encourage her, and considering how intelligent he was, it was probably the case.
"But Dad's right. The question remains. How do I even decide where to start…?"
On one hand, her interest was piqued after Taiyang finally began talking about her birth mother when he always avoided the topic. It was enough to seriously consider travelling to Mistral and fulfilling for them both what he wanted to do back then, a seemingly natural lead when combined with her previous attempts to gather information before Beacon.
And after a few minutes of thought, Yang decided it could wait. They both already waited eighteen years; what was a few more when Raven didn't?
Because right now, her need for closure from Raven paled when stacked up against Blake - not to mention thoughts of Adam Taurus. And the more she stewed on it, the more her resolve was slowly rebuilt.
"…maybe I really can start here. I just…wanna know why. Even though I hate her for what she did…I still miss her. But first…"
"Looks like the dragon's getting a little sunny again."
Yang nodded. "Sure, you could say that."
"So? What do you think?"
"…Ruby. I want to apologize for…well, pushing her away when she was worried. After that, I think…no, I will find my partner again. I need to know why she abandoned me."
Taiyang hummed. "Hudson's south across the coast, between Lower Cairn and Sumire. Better pack before you go."
"Yeah. But to answer your question…"
Zwei hopped off her lap and obediently watched as Yang stood back up and stretched. Taiyang nodded and fell into a fighting stance as Yang grabbed her prosthetic, popping it in before adopting one of her own.
"Okay. Let's get started."
Barely a second passed as she lunged with a powerful right hook -
x==)==
And Jaune stumbled as he took it full force upon the flat of his blade.
The faintest bit of Aura flashed along his wrists, but there was no time to dwell on the residual pain. He shoved the pommel into his opponent's face and followed up with a jump attack.
But his father easily hopped away before copying his move, forcing Jaune to dodge at the last second and defend against Richter's relentless assault. In the end, he parried a diagonal cross, which morphed into a roundhouse kick that was dodged in the nick of time, but it allowed him the smallest of windows for a counter.
With a cry, Jaune jumped into an uppercut, aiming for one long slice up his father's back -
And landed a grazing hit at the cost of sustaining a major blow.
"Hggaaargh!"
Jaune spat to the side and picked himself up, only to see Richter charging across the grass without hesitation. After what felt like an eternity of parries, dodges and near-misses, he eventually leapt right to avoid the sword that found a home within a tree trunk instead. But appearances were usually deceiving, and tempting as it was, Jaune made no move to attack. It proved wise as his father ripped it out and temporarily blinded him within a shower of dust and splinters.
As instinct kicked in, however, he knew exactly what to do.
"Wait for it…"
His ear twitched when he heard the faint ring of iron sailing for his head -
"Now!"
Jaune's one good eye snapped open as he backflipped over Richter's slice. For a moment, he imagined the older blonde to be garbed in green and a red cape, and just like a certain Hero taught him, Jaune unleashed a flurry rush upon landing.
Steel met steel in a flash of sparks, and for the first time since they began, it seemed as if his father was put on the back foot. While most of his attacks were still parried, such was his aggression that Richter couldn't counterattack.
It was…strangely liberating. Jaune realized just how much he missed the thrill of the fight; his arms were sore and his lungs were on fire, but the familiarity of it all was enough to give him one final surge of energy. Perhaps he could even force a stalemate if he kept the momentum up.
Richter seemed to realize this the further they moved into the woods, but Jaune didn't relent. He wouldn't ease up when victory was in his sights.
Even as the trees became columns of stone and the darkness was saturated with the red of an ominous moon.
But when he glimpsed Pyrrha in the distance, wounded, afraid and beneath Cinder's mercy?
Jaune roared one more final cry as he desperately lunged to try and force his way past Dark Link -
And gasped as he snapped back to reality.
It was as if time had slowed down. His thrust left him overextended and in a prime position to be punished, and consequently, Richter had dodged by backflipping onto a tree before rocketing off. All he could do now was defend the best he can.
The force was immense, and his Aura reminded him of that as he skidded hard across the grass. Jaune eventually came to a halt at the base of a tree stump, but uncomfortable as he was with subsiding ringing in his ears and clothes soaked with morning dew, he didn't feel any inclination to move.
Anything, really, that could distract him from that grim, throbbing reminder that proved stronger than his declining adrenaline.
"…Pyrrha was right there. I could still see her wounds and bruises from all the fighting, and how tired she looked at the end of it all. I can't even dream up a moment where she lived because deep down I know she's gone. And just when I was so close to changing that…dammit…"
He blinked at the sound of soft, rustling grass, and glancing upwards - downwards? - revealed the older Arc approaching with a tired frown.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," he began, interrupting Richter when he tried to speak. "I'm rusty and out of shape. It's a miracle I even lasted that long against you, Dad."
"Indeed. You still have a long way to go until you become truly strong. However, I can see that your swordsmanship has become more refined since I saw you fight at the Festival."
"The Festival…? You actually watched our team fight back then?"
Richter almost looked offended. "Just because you're amateur compared to me does not mean I am uninterested in your growth as a warrior."
Jaune wondered if having a millennia-old teacher in his head counted as cheating.
"…I guess he's right, but there's still a lot out there that would wipe the floor with me in an instant. If I'm gonna start being a team leader again, then I need to get stronger. I can't afford to be dead weight."
"Right. Sorry. I guess it's just…learning how to get back on that path, you know?"
A grunt. "Yes. Considering the calamity that befell Vale, there is little else but to hit the ground running."
Richter nodded for him to follow, and they both returned to the porch where several cups of iced water awaited them on a table. He handed one to Jaune and they both sat in silence for a minute, taking the time to rest and gather their thoughts.
"Overall, your skills have improved," Richter sighed, staring into the distance. The forest around them grew brighter with the rising sun, and when he followed his father's line of sight, he could see a curious wolf poke its head out from behind a tree.
"Your instincts are sharp and you have long since realized that you are the weapon, and the sword merely an extension. From what I've seen, you already wield that to decent effect."
Jaune blinked. It felt odd to hear a load of naked praise from his father, simply because he was the type of man who kept those things to himself, but the more he dwelt on it, the more he found himself slowly agreeing.
After all, it wasn't far from what Link taught him either. He wouldn't tell Richter how long and gruelling the old ghost trained him to accept that, but he'd do himself a disservice if he fought only with his sword and not his mind.
But to keep fighting with his heart, however, was the elephant in their proverbial room.
"…what I will say, however, is that you weren't able to keep truly fighting. Combat is more than just swinging a sword unless you intend to ward off a pack of wolves or win a tavern brawl. We must constantly focus to predict and adapt to the enemy, and when the time comes for the killing blow, trust our hearts to do what needs to be done."
He knew precisely what his father was referring to, but letting it ride smoothly through the chaos was a fight on its own.
"You had a chance, but became careless and blew it. Why?"
"You know why."
"Yes, but I want you to say it."
Jaune grimaced. "Look. I'm sorry, Dad. I got carried away and lost it. It won't happen again."
"You need not apologize to me," Richter quietly replied, looking slightly unsure himself. "Nor am I here to sit and criticize you all morning. Considering I'm returning to Vale tonight while your sisters received an extension, I'd rather spend my remaining leave productively. I merely think it best to…find ways to cope with your loss in order to not affect your performance in the field."
He couldn't help but tense up. "Remember, he means well and it's the truth. Dad always found it hard trying to show his emotions, so it's just coming off…stunted."
"Unfortunately, your situation is all too common amongst huntsmen. Much like…myself," Richter continued as he coughing uncomfortably. "Back when I was in Beacon, I also wished that it was all a nightmare, and once I woke up, my team would be whole again."
Jaune raised an eyebrow. It was rare enough to hear him talk about his past huntsman experiences beyond combat lessons, and he couldn't help but grow morbidly curious.
"Dad, you never…you know…"
"Yes, but knowing that you had to experience something similar, perhaps this might be able to help you," the older Arc grunted while refusing to make eye contact. "Likewise, my team and I weren't the same after Mountain Glenn. I was angry at the world. At my surviving teammate and the others who died. Above all, I was angry with myself for failing as a huntsman and being too weak to be a leader when it mattered."
That sounded eerily close to home.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. If you wish anything for me, then let it be strength so that I may continue fighting," Richter replied, facing him with no trace of sorrow left. "I will never forget those days, the same way you'll forever be scarred from losing Pyrrha. There are times where I still find myself in those tunnels, with my dead teammates asking me why I wasn't there to save them. But I march on so no one else would be haunted by the same."
"…but how?" Jaune asked, leaning on his knees and looking at the ground. "I want to, but how can you just keep…fighting? Sometimes I just feel like I can't, even when I know I can. A-and I see her too. That's why I was distracted. I was scared for Pyrrha…"
"I go through the motions. Some ways I cope are…admittedly unhealthy, but as long as I can still save some people, then all is well."
"You…you've never forgiven yourself either, then."
"No. But one day, I think I can," his father replied, then surprised him when he drew him in for a quick hug. "Because I have to. I have you, your mother and your sisters to look after. It is a difficult path, but you will come out of it stronger as well."
The huntsman downed his glass before making his way for the porch door. He paused, however, as Jaune called out to him.
"Do you really think so, Dad?"
"I know so," Richter replied. "Because you're my son."
Silence filled the air as the door closed behind him, though it felt oddly heavy since the forest was thick enough to absorb much of the early morning ambience. But Jaune's mind was still racing like his heart at the height of their fight, and as he gazed into the distance, he couldn't help but dwell on his father's experiences.
On how the man who was the epitome of everything he idolized as a child was as much a victim as he was.
Jaune clenched his fist before raising it to stare at the back.
Not since the Fall had the Triforce flared, and how had he missed its familiar heat coursing through his veins. It was one thing to be told of their struggles, be it Richter Arc or the other Heroes who came before him; surviving by the skin of their teeth taught them the stakes, especially within the Temple of Time, but knowing true loss and bearing it all to move forward, with little pause and rest…?
"…now that would take a true Hero indeed."
Link mentioned how the Hero of Time and his successor, the Hero of Twilight were notable for their prowess, even as amongst other chosen of Farore. But Jaune wondered how the Hero of the Wild felt when he slowly regained his memories and learned the cost of failure. Nothing left, and he still pushed forward.
"If only I had half his strength…then…then maybe…"
Jaune shook his head as all the possibilities, all the 'what ifs' threatened to consume him once more. As those thoughts warred with the words of his father, he decided to do what he should've done a while back.
But he wouldn't beat himself up for not doing it earlier. At least, he'd try not to.
Link deserved more than that, especially when Jaune needed his help. And maybe, just maybe, he could teach him what it meant to have courage again.
Jaune sighed and finished the rest of his water before returning inside.
In the forest, the wolf let out a single, melancholy howl before disappearing into the trees.
x==)==
The Blue Lizalfos gurgled, courtesy of Gambol Shroud within its neck, then it fell silent and dissolved into a cloud of Malice.
Panting from exertion, Blake flicked her sword to free it of the monster's ichorous blood before taking in the situation. The sky was filled with dark wisps of decaying Grimm, along with traces of purple smoke from monsters who took advantage of the chaos. At least it wasn't a horde of the latter since the average monster was much more intelligent than a young Ursa or Beowolf.
Barring a few buildings on the outskirts where they held the line, the city was largely spared from destruction due to a makeshift alliance with the White Fang. But while their defence proved a resounding success, the newly created lack of a common enemy threatened to undo all the work they just put into keeping things together.
It was like her father said. While the fuse was temporarily snuffed out, it wouldn't take long - or much - for it to spark the powder keg that was Kuo Kuana back to life.
Blake sheathed her gunsword and tiredly glanced at an approaching monkey faunus whose expression looked a little too content.
"Whoa, what's with the long face? Everything okay?"
A sigh. "Now that we fought off the Grimm, the White Fang are back to fighting old enemies in the form of themselves."
They looked over to see a handful of Menagerie Guards separate two antsy groups of White Fang, while nearby civilians occasionally shouted support for either side.
"So, no, it's not okay. Things that were on pause are…well, no longer."
"Fair enough," Sun replied, easy grin somewhat diminishing. "But at least we don't have the Grimm to worry about anymore. Imagine having to deal with the White Fang full-on fighting each other in the streets while ignoring another horde bearing down on the city. Things could always be worse, right?"
Blake wheeled around with an incredulous expression. "You're even more positive than usual today."
"I mean, we did just ward off an attack on the city and saved hundreds of lives," Sun patiently countered. "Can't we at least consider this a small win or something like that? Not to mention how the White Fang managed to see common sense and keep themselves together to help us."
"And now it's about to come apart. Remember that the Grimm attacked because of the negativity spurred by their internal bickering," Blake replied as they continued walking through the streets. For a little while, they lent a hand helping to free civilians trapped by rubble or render first aid to others until medics arrived.
But the silence between them only continued to aggravate her. While Sun had a point and she felt somewhat guilty for shutting him down, she doubly believed that what good he mentioned would be massively overshadowed if the already unstable situation continued as it did.
"What was that saying…? 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions'? I still remember that from the second chapter of Ninjas of Love. While I wish I hadn't left it back in Vale, the tension here is strong enough that anything we do can snap it, even if we mean well. We can't be careless or overly naïve about how we handle this at the risk of starting a civil war, another Grimm incursion…or both."
Blake wiped the sweat from her brow before plopping down beneath the shade of a palm tree. Sun hadn't noticed, finding himself busy grinning for a toddler within his mother's arms, and was successful a moment later at making the little kid light up with joy.
Even she had to smile a little at that, but it was quickly replaced with a contemplative look.
"…how does he manage to stay so…upbeat when things are anything but positive? Was he born like his name as a literal ball of sunshine? I'm still having trouble deciding if he really is that happy or just overwhelmingly carefree."
Blake sighed. Beacon felt so far away by now, even if the memories were fresh as ever, but it wasn't the time to think of such…sobering things. That included Sun's true intentions; even if he hadn't said as much, anyone with a brain could see his interest in her. The boy left his team and stowed away to follow along, for Brothers' sakes!
But he helped her with Jaune without expecting a reward, even if that little investigation fizzled out, and his backup on the ship proved crucial in getting them safely to port. All things considered, the boy was earnest and kind, but while Kali had accepted him so quickly, she and her father were still undecided on that front.
She gasped, however, as she caught a glimpse of the one whose importance was undeniable, and before she knew it, Blake leapt up and called out to Sun to follow her across the street.
The small crowd of White Fang noticed and a few barred their approach, though they lowered their arms and parted at the behest of a commanding voice.
"It's been a while, hasn't it?"
Blake narrowed her eyes. "Sienna Khan."
"Belladonna," the White Fang High Leader greeted before turning to Sun. "Though I'm not exactly acquainted with the sunny young man beside you."
"Don't worry, you're not far off," he grinned back. "Sun Wukong, leader of Team SSSN and student of Haven Academy."
"Mhmm. You seem like a confident man. But where, might I ask, is your team? Unless Belladonna here has undergone a name change when she abandoned her brothers and sisters."
Sun grimaced and remained uncomfortably quiet, though she stepped up before Sienna could press him further. "Leave him alone. Sun has his issues like all of us, and I don't see how breaching his privacy will alleviate the current situation."
"Am I not allowed to take the measure of people I just met? Maybe I should start accepting anyone and everyone into the White Fang from now on. Atlesian spies, SDC assassins, human saboteurs -"
"…I think it wouldn't matter when half your people are itching for your blood right now," Sun interrupted, voice unusually stern. Blake didn't miss how Sienna's men tensed up.
"But she's right. We're not exactly friends here, and you know as well as anyone that there's a bigger fight to pick than with each other. I don't think it's a good idea to make enemies of us when you're hurting for any help you can get."
Sienna's eyes narrowed, though Blake's widened in surprise.
"S-Sun!? What the f-"
She glanced around at a subtle click to see a guard having withdrawn a pistol from his holster. The rest were equally ready to pounce at the slightest hint, and with nearby friendly militia watching things unfold, all it would take was one wrong move to end it all. Blake realized that the ringing in her ears was her pounding heart, and as the air remained deathly still in a local version of a Vacuan standoff, Blake slowly drew a leg back in a defensive gesture.
The rest of her guards slowly reached for their weapons -
Menagerie's militia reached for theirs -
Blake thumbed the safety off Gambol Shroud -
And everyone froze as a harsh, yet genuine laugh shattered the silence. It was a sign to her troops to slowly de-escalate as well. But Sienna's unflinching amber eyes remained locked on Sun, whose shoulders visibly deflated.
"Hahahahahaha! Finally! It's good to hear from someone with the balls to say things like they are. Between you and Belladonna, it's safe to say you're the more charming of the two."
Blake scowled, though Sun merely shook his head with a nervous laugh.
"A-ah, well, you know. There's a lot going on right now, and I think we're at a point where we should start looking at how to solve them so our people don't suffer in the crossfire. Right, Blake?"
She cleared her throat when both their gazes swivelled over. "Yes. You're not the only one who doesn't want Menagerie to be engulfed in bloodshed. I cannot ever see myself rejoining the Fang, but there's too much at stake here to let Adam and his sympathizers wreak havoc upon all the progress we've accomplished since our ancestors won the war."
Sienna sighed and quietly looked away.
"…a truce, then. I suppose we've no other choice now, haven't we?"
She nodded for her guards to disperse and secure the area while motioning for them to follow her behind the ruins of an abandoned house. Once they were out of sight, Sienna took a seat by the front door, and for a moment, Blake saw the shadows beneath her eyes that betrayed just how weary the White Fang leader truly was.
"Worried about spies?"
"Mhmm. My guards are handpicked and I can attest to their loyalty, but I must be wary of everyone else. Now, I'm sure you two have been keeping up with the news even before the Vytal Festival, correct?"
Sun looked to her as Blake nodded back. It was hard to forget when all they had to worry about was dust smuggling and White Fang working with Roman Torchwick, not monsters and worldwide catastrophes. Times felt simpler then. Easier, too.
Especially when she had her partner by her side.
Blake frowned.
"We did, yeah," Sun piped up, sensing her discomfort. "White Fang raids on museums and other stuff like that. Not gonna lie, it's still kind of confusing. What did you guys hope to accomplish?"
"Survival. Recent campaigns by Atlas and the SDC left us a little low on crucial resources like dust, functional weaponry and trained manpower, and while we could at least take care of the last, the other two…well, fewer supplies, fewer raids. Fewer raids, fewer faunus liberated around the globe."
Blake raised an eyebrow. "But stealing three hundred year old paintings will help how, exactly?"
"There was a…broker, of sorts, who approached us with a deal where he'd ship us dust, weaponry and lien for antiquities. Long story short, it worked out in the end."
"I…I see. And who exactly was this broker?"
"He never told us his name, but he was rather tall and had a wiry build. A mustache too, like old detective movies."
"Right. Well, I suppose it wouldn't matter as Adam wouldn't be fond of this regardless of who it was."
"And the majority of the Fang," Sienna replied with a frown. "But operations would've been halted for longer if we didn't agree to this. Many don't realize or just ignore that altogether, and now rally with Adam and the Albains as he's the only one prominent enough to challenge me. Beacon was merely the spark that ignited their discontent."
"So what can we do?" Sun asked. "How can we help you stop this?"
"By coming up with ideas," she snarked. "You know I'm in a tight spot. Legal or otherwise, any route we take is bound to end violently."
Tight spot indeed. Whether they attempted an arrest or outright suppression, either would be the equivalent of setting off an Atlesian dust nuke. As it stood, there was little in the public spotlight that would give Sienna just cause in striking first.
…in the public spotlight, that is.
Blake sighed.
"You look like you have one, Belladonna."
"…I refuse to accept there isn't a path without violence," she replied to Sienna. "Where are the Albains right now?"
"They've made the old depot in the mountains their home base. The one Atlas destroyed in an airstrike a decade ago. You're not thinking of…?"
"We'll talk to them first. See if they're still willing to negotiate."
Sun gulped. "And if they're not?"
"We come back when they're least expecting it. Steal information regarding their plans. Their logistics. Any inside men they have in government and Sienna's forces."
"Sneaking into White Fang territory? Just like old times," he sighed, linking his arms behind his head. "I guess we might as well prepare for the worst, but this isn't just another warehouse, Blake. One wrong move and - oh. Guess it's why you'd want to meet with them beforehand."
Blake nodded. "Reconnaissance."
"But only if they let you in, which they won't," Sienna countered. "They'd be too suspicious to allow you access. I'll send someone you know to help with preparations since we still have paper records regarding the place, but be prepared to negotiate in a neutral area and with the odds stacked against you."
She shook her head. "I'm not going to stop until I find a peaceful way forward or at least a compromise. Barring that, ways to bring them down with the least amount of bloodshed. I don't want to see faunus tearing each other apart when we all need to stay together."
"And the pot calls the kettle black," her mind interjected, though she willed it away to focus on the present.
"I know. But while I'm willing to negotiate, I will not go down without a fight. For the sake of us all, Belladonna, I hope you succeed." Sienna winked at Sun. "Make sure she does, eh?"
They watched her step off out of sight, and then Blake turned to him with a raised eyebrow. "Looks like someone made an impression."
"Eh, well, I was just being honest earlier," Sun replied, face slightly red. "But you know what? Even though we're fast running out of options, I think we can actually make this work."
She narrowed her eyes. "We don't know that yet. We don't know if they're even willing to sort their differences out. Come on, Sun. Let's be a little…realistic."
"I am. Yeah, I'm a little nervous, but if I don't do my best, then I might as well just run away. And after everything that happened over the past several days…ah, sorry. Getting carried away. Got some stuff to think about too."
For the first time since she met him, Sun's face fell with a rather troubled expression. She almost wanted to say how such a look wasn't fitting for him, but Blake couldn't help but focus on his words.
Neither of them were blind to the consequences of failure, and part of her chuckled at the irony of it all; in running away from the White Fang, Blake found herself facing them once more, but this time was different. If she could do something here to prevent things from getting worse, then maybe she could prove that she was still capable of solving her own problems.
Considering her track record, it was the least she could do for those she left behind.
Forging past thoughts of an altogether different blonde, Blake quietly stepped off with a heart heavy with guilt, and not for the first time, the desire to start atoning for it.
x==)==
Mild surprise was Jaune's initial reaction as he blinked himself awake, finding the roof of his room a darker oaken brown than the grey he was used to. It quickly made sense as he glanced around, and sure enough, it wasn't his room but someone else's. There was a washbasin to his left, a table to his right, and pale green light radiated through the curtains that covered the doorway.
Jaune swung his legs over the bed and quickly glanced in the mirror, reminding himself that his hair was long enough to touch his shoulders before walking through the entrance.
And when his eye adjusted to the light, he knew exactly where he was, even though he'd never been here before. Not in this lifetime, at least.
The surrounding forest stretched in all directions as far as one could see, and it helped that the balcony he was on afforded him a view of the local grove. Other treehouses were scattered throughout, while a small pond was fed from the ridge it pooled beside - not to mention a path atop it that appeared to lead deeper within the woods.
Jaune stepped down the ladder and glanced at the odd drawing at the base of the tree trunk before stepping into the grove proper. Combined with the spectral wisps of light that drifted in the gentle breeze, it was a fresh and calming experience from the nightmares of the previous week.
…so why did he still feel so troubled? There was something about the place that just didn't feel…right.
It came to him as he paused beneath the Great Deku Tree after spending some time exploring. He remembered the First Hero's story of the Hero of Time and his home; Kokiri Forest wasn't just a home for fairies, but a bubble full of life that shielded a special kind of innocence, only to be sundered with the rise of that time's Ganondorf. It then became as much of a husk as its original guardian spirit.
But when he left the tree's presence and made for the Lost Woods, the surrealism of walking in his predecessor's footsteps was overshadowed by a distinct and heavy sense of loss. One made possible only by sacrificing everything he had and more in the name of destiny.
Just like Pyrrha when she realized hers.
Jaune shut his eye and clenched his fist.
As he stepped into what would eventually become the Sacred Grove, a distant, yet familiar series of notes drifted faintly through the air.
"That harp…that melody…"
He froze for just a second before taking off in search of its source, trusting his memories and that of his predecessor to guide him through the forest. Following a path vaguely like the one he led his team through, he passed an open ravine, a small pool of water and a cave, and after an eternity of travelling through the Lost Woods, Jaune finally entered a clearing where he could hear the harp as clear as day.
Travelling through the maze and up the stairs at the end, Jaune came to a stop in the courtyard of the Forest Temple, and his gaze focused solely on the man upon a tree stump.
For a moment, he didn't see Link, but a skeleton whose rusty armour was covered in vines and leaves. Jaune blinked away the image and slowly approached his mentor, who then opened his eyes and stopped playing the Goddess' Harp.
"The Hero of Time was in many ways the quintessential Hero," Link began, setting the instrument down as he looked wistfully into the hazy green sky. "As a warrior, he was unparalleled. As a man, he was loyal to his friends and noble to all. As Farore's chosen, he fulfilled his duty and kept safe the spirit of the Hero. Even in the world he left behind and the world where he failed."
A nod. "Sounds like quite the guy."
"I do not wish for you to become like him."
Jaune remained silent.
"Out of all our past lives, his end is one of the most tragic," Link continued as he turned to face him. "For all his virtues and abilities, he went to his grave a haunted man. He died in this very forest, in fact, clawing his way through hordes of Stalfos in a vain attempt to find his childhood home."
"The place where I came from."
"Correct. He eventually found true rest when he aided his descendant, the Hero of Twilight. But in the centuries beforehand, he lived as a shade, neither living nor dying. Why do you think he was so troubled?"
Jaune's gaze fell as he racked through the stories Link had told him. "You said he had a lot of regrets and was so weighed down by them that he just…couldn't move on. Was it because he never found his fairy again?"
"The Princess he loved sent him back in time when he didn't want to. But what they both ignored was the true nature of time itself. He returned to his time a man who no longer belonged, a Hero of a crisis that never happened, cursed to travel alone in a world that never knew his deeds. Even as he conquered the moon and more when he left Hyrule, he came back broken and died as such."
Link finally turned to him, blue eyes piercing, yet full of compassion. "I do not want you to become a hero's shade as well. You deserve more than that."
Something within him snapped.
"Do I!?" Jaune replied as he scrunched his eye and looked away. "And how? How can I not regret anything? I'm weak. I'm no Hero. I did everything you asked of me - trained my ass off in the real world and with you, and in the end, I still got Pyrrha killed."
He fell to his knees and stared blankly at the grass. All his efforts at being strong, at keeping himself together were starting to come undone, but even then, he no longer cared about that or the building moisture in his eye.
"How…? How can I be a Hero? If anyone knew the truth and saw how much I've failed, they wouldn't see me as one. Only a disappointment. I…I really wanted to make things right. To do what you asked of me, what anyone would've expected and be the partner Pyrrha deserved. But I guess I got too greedy."
Jaune felt a hand gently lift his chin up, and Link gently wiped away the tears.
"Ah, I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to -"
"The Hero of Time was a child when he set out and returned," his mentor interrupted, "though his mind was anything but. The Hero of Twilight was a goat herder whose martial experience was fending off wild animals from his village. The Hero of Winds was a boy who did not even belong to our lineage, but set out with the barest of skills to save his sister and proved himself worthy in the process."
Link sat back as Jaune nodded and did the same upon the grass.
"I was a teenaged farmer before I was forced into service when Demise invaded and became known as the Hero of the Knights. The hardship you feel now is something many of your past lives can relate to as well, and as with Time and some others, we don't always have a peaceful end."
"But what you must stop doing, Jaune, is blaming yourself for the things you cannot control. Yes, you will become stronger. Yes, you will rise above all, and I have faith in you to best Dark Link for good. And yes," he continued when Jaune made to interrupt, "Pyrrha would've too. Just as she would want you to learn how to forgive yourself."
Jaune looked to the side, and for a moment, he pictured her familiar red hair amongst the trees. What wouldn't he give to see her serenely smiling in the sunlight once more, just to apologize and say how much he missed her -
He shook the thoughts from his head. "I…I know. But how? I know that I need to train and get back in the swing of things, but how can I learn to forgive myself and be the Hero we need? How can I stop seeing her whenever I look around, and stop dreaming of Beacon and the Blood Moon? How can I have courage again?"
Silence, except for a faint, passing breeze.
"Link…?"
"You ask for a cure for which there is none," he eventually said, to which Jaune's gaze fell to the grass once more. "It is as your father said when you trained in the morning. You will carry the scars forever, and only time can mend the wounds as best it can. But you are not helpless. I know you miss the thrill of the fight and physical exercise, but most importantly, you are surrounded by friends and family who love you. As with your team, you'd be surprised at how you can lift them up when you need to lean on them for support."
Jaune nodded.
"But as for forgiving yourself…? What did Pyrrha say before she died?"
He forged past dark thoughts and focused on the soothing memory of her voice. "She…Pyr said I was always her hero."
"Let me ask you a question, Jaune. Against destiny and fate, and without the legacy of past lives shadowing your own, what makes you a Hero? What kind of Hero are you?"
Link leaned forward and gazed into his very soul.
"Who are you?"
"Who am I?"
Jaune closed his eye.
He was Jaune Arc, son of Richter and Syfa Belnades Arc, and a descendant of the Arc clan of warriors whose line could be traced back for generations. He was a student of Beacon, leader of Team JNPR, teammates of Lie Ren and Nora Valkyrie, and beloved partner of Pyrrha Nikos.
Jaune slowly exhaled.
He was destined to become the Hero Remnant needed, the latest in a cycle as old as the world itself. He was not just a teenager, but a boy without a fairy that travelled through time. A teenager who struck down the Demon King and returned his people to the surface. A knight who sealed the calamity that destroyed his kingdom.
And now, in a world on the brink of ancient catastrophe, Jaune nodded as he accepted once more the sacred task that fell to him to complete.
"I…don't know," Jaune eventually replied. "I know who I am, but at the same time, I don't. I…I think it'll take some time until I can answer Pyrrha and learn what Hero I'll have to be. But there is one thing I do."
"And that is?"
He inclined his head respectfully. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for pushing you away when you tried to reach out to me. I…I wasn't thinking straight."
"There's nothing to forgive," Link replied with a gentle smile. "I do not hold it against you. If anything, I am glad to be able to talk face to face again. What I'd like to know, however, is where you decide to go from here. The Master Sword must be restored. The Triforce of Wisdom must be reclaimed, and the Hero's Soul made complete. There is much work to do, yet many ways to approach them."
Jaune cleared his throat. This, at least, he was confident in answering.
"I know. I need to get Crocea Mors repaired, but above all, the one thing I need to do is…well, I guess you can call it closure, but I still have Pyrrha's weapons. I'd like to return them to her family in Argus. They deserve it."
His mentor gazed back with an inscrutable expression for several seconds but eventually nodded. "Very well. I can see why you need it. I would advise reconnecting with your team before we step off, however. You need all the help you can get."
"I'll get a new scroll tomorrow and let them know," Jaune agreed as he slowly laid down in the grass. Before he drifted back to sleep, however, he spared a final glance for Link and found him taking up the Goddess Harp once more.
"Thanks, Link. I really needed this, and…thanks for everything you've done for me so far. I really am grateful."
The old ghost nodded and began to strum an old tune, melancholic but somehow relaxing.
"Is that the -"
"- Song of Healing," Link replied as he continued to strum along. "While it won't cure your trauma and anxiety, I hope it can at least give you peaceful slumber. Good night, Jaune."
The notes echoed softly through the empty forest, and Jaune found himself slowly being lulled to sleep. Even as his heart eased the slightest bit, his mind still raced a mile a minute, focused on the question asked by his mentor and partner.
Only time would tell what kind of man, what kind of Hero he grew up to be. But now, Jaune felt neither excitement nor dread. Only calm determination to discover the answer.
It was time for a descendant of legends to forge his own.
- AN -
Welcome back to A Descendant of Legends!
Just like with the previous chapter, I put a warning at the top due to the nature of the chapter's themes, but if you all feel that it's not needed then let me know and I can remove it.
Bit of a shorter AN since I'm not feeling so hot right now. Here, I wanted to focus on how some of the cast haven't just hit rock bottom, but have begun the journey to bounce back in their own ways. I tried to strike a perfect balance between angst and recovery without understating the importance of either, but just like Richter Arc said, everyone will have to hit the ground running. So too will the next chapter as we head towards the middle of Arc IV, and it won't be long until they all have to step into the flames once more - good guys and the bad.
Otherwise, thanks for sticking around so far and reading the chapter! Concrit / feedback is always welcome. Until next time!
Super heavy weapons guy: Thank you! While I can't spoil specifics, it's safe to say you haven't seen the last of Fi yet. Definitely thinking of a few references / minor appearance in the future.
Dragon lord Syed 101: Yup! The first half of Arc IV involves Jaune's recovery, and as you'll see over the next few chapters, training in the form of trials by fire. Same goes for Blake and Sun, and I tried my best to spice up the Menagerie portion of the Arc so as to the consequences there relevant to the plot beyond character development. Some consequences of which may involve more Zelda items and characters...
Guest: Hmm, Ruby could be the next Zelda...I see the potential for having the powers of the Brother of Light and the Goddess of Wisdom being combined, but we'll see. I do have plans for the future, but one thing I can at least promise is to develop her more since I haven't done so as much in the past.
Boshwa: Ah what can I say without giving up too much? Yes for a few pairings (though romance isn't a main focus, which will be explained in future chapters) and spoilers for future Zelda characters - including a few who you're very familiar with, not to mention crucial to certain parts of the plot. I'm excited to write them in and I really wish I could say more, but...until then :P
Nobody: Thank you! No worries, and if anything, I appreciate you taking the time to review as well.
And yeah, I understand. Even as I've expanded and rewritten parts of the script as the story progressed, one amongst several things I've kept constant is to give Jaune a well earned, mellowing but satisfying victory at the end as a man, friend, huntsman and Hero. We're all selfish to some degree, but here, I think ours as well as many others' interests align. And I've no plans to change this for the foreseeable future.
Fyr RedNight: Thank you! And yes, the one and only! I'm actually thinking of opening up a poll several chapters from now regarding her, but we'll see. Ch 32 was the first and won't be the last time you've seen our favourite horse.
Same with Groose, and I'm glad you liked that part as well - without spoiling specifics, I'd like to use him as a means to show Jaune's overall growth in the next couple of chapters. Weiss and Blake will have their moments too, and I've come up with a few things that'll hopefully spice up their individual arcs a little more too.
Thanks once again! I need to take a small break now, but I can say progress on Ch 34 is smoother than expected and it's gonna start off...chaotic, to say the least.
Guest: Thank you! I'm actually kinda touched to know you think that. But yes, Link throughout the games has always been steadfastly loyal in any relationship, and he feels the major scar left on Jaune's heart. It's been another constant I've kept since beginning this story, that romance won't be absent but not a main focus or theme post Fall.
For the sake of spoilers I won't go into detail with what pairings will be there and the depth of which I'll expand upon them, though I definitely see what you mean. I'm not sure about that as well (in the comic), though it's a weight Jaune will carry to the end, even if he gets stronger at carrying it.
hirshja: Yes, it's been fixed.
W1rath56: Oh man, where do I even begin? First and foremost, thanks for taking the time to not just read through the whole fic so far, but to give an open, honest and respectful review about what you think the strengths and weaknesses of the fic are. Thank you.
I can see what you mean regarding, for example, showcasing Jaune's development in substantially "heroic" ways, developing the other supporting cast like Team RWBY and the villains as well as the subplot regarding Weiss and Blake seeking proof in Arc III. I think that as a Jaune-centric fic, there'll be a little bit of bias in terms of his character development, and when it comes to practical manifestations of his power, I understand from you and a few others how previous chapters might've felt like he wasn't so heroic. Going forward though, I think for me, the problem will actually become trying to balance / space out the rewards he'll earn so as to make them earned and not me just showering him with gifts. Rewards such as new items, upgraded equipment, more advanced fighting techniques and reasonable magical abilities, to name a few.
Similarly, there's the need to develop more of the supporting cast - not just Team RWBY, but Ren and Nora apart from just being Renora. Admittedly, I lumped the former in with JNPR since I just thought it would be cool and all to have them work together pre and post Beacon, though I'd definitely either add, subtract or rewrite past scenes to better develop and make them feel more relevant to the plot by the time Arc IV hits. I'd most likely revamp that seeking proof miniquest in Arc III as well. And yes, downside is ensuring things don't crawl to a slog because the main plot is overloaded with too many subplots, and some things just might come later. Going forward, I want them to play a bigger part in the quest, especially in dungeons and interacting with other Zelda characters.
It's one big learning experience about things to remember and things to keep on doing. These are all something I'm being more careful about in another side project I've been working on. Looking back, while I don't think this story is by any means perfect, overall I think it's still a relatively solid ongoing effort. Confidence is key, and like always, I want to keep that going forward - including the good grammar, relevant development amongst RWBYJNR and bad guys who remain active and not idle.
Once again, thanks for your review!
The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.