Ch 5

The Generals expression had soured a great deal in his explanation of Laguna's history. Being a direct witness, he could see it all in his mind as if it happened just last night.

"Laguna was in dire straits and our people were drowning in despair, most of us had lost friends and family. We were hurt and angry, we felt betrayed by the rest of Remnant and overall we were just dumbfounded at how easily we were overrun. The Grimm accomplished in one night, what many other groups, nations and kingdoms could never do. Ever."

The Lord General reached into his pocket and pulled out the ornate Stop-watch, absentmindedly stroking the back with his thumb. "Even the Great Seer, with all her knowledge was unable to detect the attack, it had baffled her beyond belief. She had only seen flashes of her Empresses sacrifice and what it would mean for them all. Was something able to block her ability? Her Semblance? It was a truly maddening thought for her, have the ancient Grimm truly grown so powerful as to be able to nullify our strength?"

Jaune was trying to pick up his jaw after hearing such a tale, though now he could most certainly sympathize with the Lord apparent. After his own Kingdom took a Grimm-shaped dive, he'd known and seen that anger, fear and terror firsthand. He'd seen it on the faces of the people we was fighting to protect, on the faces of his friends when it all began and he'd seen that very same look on Pyrrha's face before she made him exit stage left.

What put him on edge about the whole story however, was the Empress. Grimm that could potentially even block Semblances was a frightening thought to the young Arc, but the fact that the Empress had used her Semblance to willingly change and sacrifice herself; her life for her people moved him deeply.

"The intellect displayed by the Elder Grimm shocked us all. We had kept them on our monitoring systems and we knew the travel patterns of the rank and file, everyday Grimm. We had no idea how we could've missed the signs and they played us perfectly." He eyes squinting in anger and a scowl quickly formed on his face.

"Our achievements meant nothing that day, all of our advancements and creations failed us. The other kingdoms left us to die without so much as a second thought... But even in death, Lady Morganna would still protect us and through her bond we lived on."

The arc lad was quite perplexed at that, "Is this that 'bonding' thing you were talking about with those other guys? What's that all about?"

Immediately glaring at the young Arc, the general spoke with that authoritative voice and presence again.

"None of your concern, that bit of information isn't leaving my mind so soon. After all, while I know you seek strength, I don't know you or your intentions."

Taken aback by his response, Jaune quickly regained his composure and nodded his head with a neutral expression.

Everyone has their secrets.

"Back to the matter at hand." The general cleared his throat, earning the Arcs full attention.

"Laguna had been irrevocably changed but we managed to rebuild the outer ring of the city. Everyone choose to leave the center of the city and the coast alone as a way of honoring Morganna and those we have lost. We decided to use it as a means of remembrance of that night and of our Empress where her only fragment remains. That night will forever be remembered by the people of Laguna as... The Umbral Dusk."

Lord Granite looked Jaune in the eyes as he prepared to speak again. "I am the oldest man in the this Kingdom due to my Semblance, it is basically a means of harnessing the light of the Celestial bodies to sustain myself." The Arcs eyes were dinner plates now, 'Thats so damn cool...'

Then he remembered he hadn't awakened his own Semblance yet. He shrunk into himself a little bit.

"I say this not out of pride nor shame, but only to make sure that you understand. I have seen much in my time here, so if you plan to betray us at any point in time... As long as there are stars in the sky, you won't be able to hide from me."

Was that a drop of cold sweat on the Arc forehead?

"I'm not that kind of the person sir." 'Good response!' He was definitely patting himself on the back for how smooth that was.

Granite smiled, "I can see that, young Arc."

With that, Lord Granite turned to walk away from him. "I'll have someone show you to a bunk, I advise you to get some sleep. Tomorrow will be quite the day, I'm sure."

Staring at the back of the old man, Jaune had a lot to take in. The elder Grimm were definitely a problem but its not like having the Arc in his army would shift the tides in their favor, what was he gonna do? He was admittedly curious about seeing the kingdom with his own eyes though, and he's getting a bunk tonight! Thank the heavens a real bed, that alone lifted his spirits a great deal.

Seeing as how for the time being he was alone, he decided to look around for himself. He knew someone would show him to his quarters soon enough but he was never the type to just wait around when he was curious about something.

The encampment itself wasn't anything too futuristic on its own, but the designs of machines themselves were so sleek. He'd noticed earlier in his exploration that all of tech had either pulsed or writhed strangely when in use. The lights around them curving like aimless wisps overtop and around the strange machina.

The equipment these soldiers used intrigued him a great deal. He wanted to strike up a conversation with some of them, however it seemed that most of them weren't too keen on the new face poking around. Most of them simply ignoring him, with the others glaring at him near constantly. Understandable.

The new guy on the block... or the continent so to speak. Considering what they've been through, he could understand the evil eyes he was getting. He essentially paid them no mind as he continued to explore the outpost.

Making his way past the cabin-like structures, he couldn't help but marvel at their... unique shape. Though they were hexagonal in design, the height of the small homes suggested that most were for either makeshift offices for intel or barracks of a sort. The rooftops, smooth and domed, sported individual flags on each cabin. A different emblem or insignia for each housing unit.

'Different families or tribes maybe...,' he thought with slight curiosity.

Passing the first three rows of cabins, he quickly found himself in front of the old towers. Knowing that craning his neck upwards so far would cause discomfort, he merely looked as high at he could clearly see. Upon close inspection, the towers themselves were made of the same smooth substance as the cabins though many cracks were visible on the surface wall.

"You must be Sir Arc." A somewhat monotone, feminine voice chirped from behind him.

He jumped slightly, said voice had him out of his musings.

As he whirled around, finger raised and ready to accuse and address whoever had got the drop on him, the sight before him stopped him completely.

Her twin-tailed hair caught his attention first, puffs of glistening, flowing blue hung from the sides of her head with a dark green beret adorned at the top of her head. They reminded him of Neon the cat faunus's hair at the tournament except shorter and thicker. What caught his immediate attention after was the off-blue stripes gracing her fair-skinned face.

Foremost of her hair however, were two, three inch by three inch,purple, dorsal-looking fins in the place of where her ears should be. Four spines split between webbed membrane, each near equal in length and each was adorned with two silver rings at the bottom spines. Stunning purple eyes graced her facial features, the slight amount of black eyeliner spread lightly around her eyes brought out their shine. Just beneath her button nose were her supple peach lips, glossed and shimmering in the sun.

While she wasn't wearing a jumpsuit, the Lavender coat draped over her shoulders clearly showed her allegiance. It's left side covered in pins and patches. A light grey, tight crop top showed off her midriff and faded blue stripes across her stomach. Her matching black short skirt and black thigh high leather boots left her exposed legs showing off more of the stripes that had to be all over her body.

"Y-yea, thats me...," he croaked out. It had been four months since he'd had conversations like these with anyone and it was starting to show. He figured less was more in this case.

The lady immediately straightened herself out and curtly made a fisted salute with her hand by her heart in what he assumed was their way of greeting. After which she spoke again.

"Greetings Sir Arc, My name is Navy Tsunami and I've been assigned as your guide by the Lord General." She locked eyes with the arc lad, awaiting his response.

"Thanks, I was on the verge of getting lost," his own eyes having met her gaze.

"Not a problem. Now then, I am to be your guide during your stay here in our lands however, I am also to accompany you whenever possible. Is... all of that fine with you, Sir Arc?"

"So you're supposed to follow me, basically?"

She sighed slightly at his words, "Pretty much."

Jaune deadpanned, sighed and got back on track.

"Well now that we've got introductions out of the way, could you show me to a bed? Im pretty much dead on my feet." letting out a tired huff-yawn mixture as he scratched the lower part of his back.

Navy, hummed thoughtfully before turning on her heel, "Follow me please."

The bed... that beautiful, beautiful spring-made wonder. Being shown his temporary quarters, he nearly broke down once he'd fully laid on top of it.

Sleep came to him within moments after.

Later that night

*dreamscape*

Jaune found himself in a dark space, floating aimlessly. Not uncomfortable but definitely odd, the surrounding black acting as a blanket around him. He was alone, but content within the dark.

"You are lost in darkness, child..."

He whirled around in the space before him, searching for the other voice but finding only himself.

Flashes of his own memories of the Fall flooded his vision, flashes of past failures and ineptitudes.

Flashes of past shames assaulted his sight.

"Caught in the dark night of your own soul..."

Frustrated, he screamed out. "Show yourself!"

None came. The darkness all but churned around him, and yet it spoke again.

"Your darkness looms around you, but fear not your own night."

Before him, the darkness took shape. Two large, Violet eyes materialized in the space in front of him. Like vortexes, he was inexorably drawn to them, the eyes enveloping even the darkness.

"Tame the night."

"Gah!!..."

Da-Dun*

Having married his face with the floor, the young Arc jumped to his feet to meet the blinding sunlight. His mind still fresh with memories of the dream beforehand, "W-what..?" He glanced around the room, quickly realizing he was alone in him in the cabin he was given.

'What a weird dream... what was that..?'

knock* *knock* "Sir Arc, are you awake? We're just about finished preparing for the journey home."

Navy's soft yet slightly monotone voice rang out behind the door. Oh yes, he was going to see the Kingdom today. His renewed curiosity was winning over his weirded out dream musings. Admittedly, he was genuinely excited to see the forgotten Kingdom since he'd be the only person outside of The Unnamed Continent to have seen it in a over hundred years.

He looked around his temporary quarters to see what looked to be tub and toilet of sorts at other end of the room.

'Hmm, guess somethings are just universal.'

After a quick clean-up, he left the cabin to find Navy patiently waiting by the door. Well postured as many of the soldiers are, she gave the young Arc a salute before turning and motioning for him to follow. They caught up with the Generals unit fairly easily, the Lord General spared the Arc a quick glance before going back to the front to lead the men on foot. Of course the Grimm would near-constantly rear their heads on the journey. This definitely helped to kill the boredom he was feeling as he swung his sword through an adjacent Rapier wasp.

He'd paid close attention to how the soldiers went to battle, and to say he was impressed was understatement.

Able bodied men and women dashing and flying in and out of combat with near blinding speed, their weaponry glowing hot white with charged up Aura. It seems they also had a few mechashifting type weapons as well which surprised him a bit. What he was truly interested in however, was a different kind of weapon type entirely.

He'd first caught a glimpse of it when he watched his new partn- follower reach both of hands behind her back to the small of her spine. A light shined brightly in her hands and when she pulled her hands forth, light bent and gave way to a new shape. Two tonfas, one black and one white were gripped tightly in her hands as she suddenly gained quite the maniacal looking grin. Each tonfa had a trigger on the side handle and rounded barrel front.

As if a switch flipped inside her, Navy leaped into the fray with a wild shout of pure bloodlust. In midair she took aim and her lime green Aura flared up, surrounding her and concentrating on the barrels of her tonfas. In that moment, what looked like green skulls began to dance around in the air before her crosshairs.

Boom!!*

The bullets, like lasers, streaked through the air. Slamming into the chest of an aged Ursa Major, while instantly caving into its chest, a chain reaction took place. Its chest ballooned as it quickly exploded, spreading her green aura across the pack of Ursa nearby as a grimm sized skull head took its place. It silently cackled as all the Grimm that came in contact with the green wave just... died.

Like, fall to the floor dead.

Over time, the lilac trees and Grimm gave way to blackish looking bushes and shrubs and charred looking gravel. Hillsides of blackened earth stretched across his view, anything floral that could survive here had to be truly remarkable. The bushes themselves were covered in dusty rust colored pollen, the leaves a dark blue giving the plant a purple hue. Strangely enough, there were no grimm anywhere around the hills.

Even the sky looked... different here, its blue shade was just a bit off as if it was dimmer somehow. It was as if the Sun simply didn't shine as brightly here or the clouds had a problem with this place in particular. He was beginning to see a color pattern, multiple shades of purple or blue seemed to dominate the landscape here in this section of Nidhogg. Yes, the grass was still green but violets, indigos and lets not forget lilacs, were the majority.

Caught up in the scenery around him, he barely noticed Navy making her way next to him. She sped up to his pace and eventually was perfectly parallel to him.

"So Lord Granite tells us that you've been living in the Palewood for months, that couldn't have been easy for you." She inquired.

"Thats what that place is called...?" He mused quietly. "Uh... yea it wasn't exactly a cake walk."

Jaune was certainly not comfortable talking about himself to people he essentially didn't know. "What else did he tell you?"

She looked down, humming to herself in thought. "Lord Granite said that you would be joining our unit, and that you were quite competent. A good fit for us, I believe he said."

Such praise made the boy smile. When was the last time he felt genuinely good about himself?

"How so?"

"He also said you were a tad reserved, but most people here are too." Navy said quietly, she must be pretty reserved herself if what he's seen so far is any indication. "You've also tasted death and despair... just as our fore-bearers have..."

Abruptly, she stopped and turned to him locking her purple with his blue. The sudden movement making him tense up.

"Is it true, you are from the outside world?"

"Shouldn't that be a secret?"

"We've all heard the story, I simply wanted to confirm it for myself." She said as she stared into his eyes with clear intent.

Well, if it was already old news...

"Yea, from Vale in Sanus-"

CaaaaOoahaaaooorrrr!!!~*

Just then, a impressively large shadow loomed over them. A shadow with wings, Nevermore. Full-grown by the looks of it too.

As Jaune drew his sword and started to plan his attack, or rather how to bring down a double-bullhead sized Grimm, Navy held up her hand to stop the Arc lad. "No need." She uttered softly as she stared upwards.

In the flash, Lord Granite shot into the air at break-neck speed... and returned to the rock just as quickly with the birds head trailing behind him. It slammed into the ashen ground with a heavy, wet splat. The General had cleaved off the head of the Nevermore In one swipe. The body, which was still in a free fall had suddenly landed a few meters behind them.

"Lets move, Laguna's just over the hillside."

An hour later

Finally cresting the hill, which was abnormally larger than how it looked from across the field, Jaune could make out the large, ruined palace that sat in the center of the city. The buildings and homes near it in a state of disrepair that looked all to familiar to the boy. He could make out some of the coast, most of the water having already flooded the once royal district. The arisen water having long since claimed most of the beach.

Surrounding the semi-ruined Palisades, a ring of indigo and blue-colored domes and towers wrapped around what once was. Each structure with lit windows and lights over them. Large bridges connected towers to other large buildings and infrastructure, all of which was covered in glistening, writhing, hazy mist.

This is Laguna.

And in that moment, Jaune Arc heard a voice.

"I have found thee..."

Words from the Author:

Hey guys, chapter five here. I want to take this time to guys know to please feel free to ask me questions on the fic as Id love to go more into detail about whats going inthe story. Later!

I also have drawings of some of the OC's Im adding to the story. I'm no digital artist, everything draw is on paper only lol but I don't mind showing them if anyone ever wants to see.