Arc IV: Courage Ascending

Chapter 36: Early Bird Gets The Wyrm

Akkala Forest was a beautiful sight in the middle of autumn. It wasn't Forever Fall by any stretch, but she decided this was a better forest to walk through since it held none of the bittersweet memories from the latter. It made her journey peaceful on a physical level, though it was surprising she only encountered a few Grimm despite the emotions raging in her head.

"Still, this doesn't feel right. I'd have expected more Grimm or monsters on a road like this after leaving Sumire several days ago. They're still recovering after being overrun during the Fall, but maybe all the Grimm died back then...?"

Regardless, she couldn't complain. While the odd Ursa or Griffon were useful distractions, fighting Grimm was also expensive in the long run. Combat meant using dust and medical supplies, and those who weren't careful paid for it in multiple ways. Her father may have given her a generous travelling package...but it was a package, not the whole Valean Central Bank.

The red and orange canopy slowly thinned out until she emerged in a clearing. The path continued straight with a crossroad going left, while a weathered signpost marked the point of divergence. To her right, the Great Sea was partially obscured behind a thinning line of trees.

"'South: Deep Akkala Forest. West: Hudson Village, 3 km'."

She sighed in relief.

"Finally. I dunno what good I'll find going down the other path, but at least civilization's not too far away. I'm a happy camper in the field, but nothing beats a bed and working shower."

The smile faded with the implications.

"...I hope Ruby's doing okay. Jaune too. Hell, maybe I'll even run into Ren and Nora."

Yang's mind added a certain cat faunus, but it was quickly dismissed. The latter hailed a continent and two oceans away in the opposite direction. Distance made her angry despite missing Blake all the same, but finding her likely meant running into Adam too - a meeting more dreaded than yearned.

Tensing at the fear of him lurking behind the trees, Yang continued walking and concentrated on what to say to Ruby. While she...wasn't in a good place when they last talked, Yang still felt guilty for not being able to apologize before Ruby left. And what better way to say 'I'm sorry' by doing it in person and helping her out?

"That's if you'll allow me to join you, Rubes, at least for a short time. While I still want to find Blake, I'll be by your side until you're done doing what you need to at Mistral. Not like you need your big sis watching over you these days, anyway...heh, how they grow as time flies."

Yang sighed and closed her eyes, hefting her rucksack with her good arm as she meditated on the sounds around her. She began to enjoy the smaller things in life during her time alone; a flock of birds flew overhead while the breeze brushed through her hair, and in the distance, a low, droning sound that sounded man-made rather than natural -

"...is that gunfire? And there! That's definitely an explosion."

Lilac eyes snapped open and Yang burst into a sprint. The din of battle grew louder while she realized that the droning was some sort of alarm, and after several minutes, Yang emerged from the treeline atop a small hill.

Grimm surged from the forests towards Hudson's palisades, and though the defenders fought valiantly at the gates, the sheer difference in numbers wasn't encouraging. The roar of a dragon echoed over it all, and before she could run in, Yang swung her rucksack over her head and spun like a top, walloping a Boarbatusk in the snout.

"So this is where your party's at. I'm rusty, but I'm not so green that I haven't noticed y'all creeping up behind me," Yang spat as she cocked her shotgun gauntlets. "People down there need help and you're seriously pissing me off by making me wait. But I've got steam to blow off."

A squad of Grendels - a hunchbacked Griffon-sized hybrid between an Ursa and Beringel - emerged from the bushes, but Yang took the initiative and charged in with her Semblance.

From a nearby treetop, a red-eyed blackbird leapt and dove for the village below.

x==)==

The Beowolf's head burst from a high explosive round, then Ruby leapt and fired a second one at her feet to rocket jump with her Aura. She nailed the oncoming Griffon before landing gracefully, but while the carnage left in the Drake's wake made it easier to keep running, the onslaught of Grimm bogged them down.

Ruby grit her teeth and powered through, jumping over a Boarbatusk but stopping short of a school of Sulfur Fish. The crustacean Grimm leapt for her face and missed, though Ruby tripped when she dodged and landed beneath a rampaging Ursa.

The Ursa roared and clawed down -

And stumbled back as Ren pounced and severed its head in a cross-strike. Jaune leapfrogged over and took another Boarbatusk's charge by planting his sword in the ground, allowing Nora to flank and punt it into the woods like a golf ball.

"Ruby! You alright?"

"Y-yeah. Just a little annoyed - duck!" she cried as she took Jaune's hand and yanked them both down to dodge the swooping flock of Ravagers. A well-placed grenade from Magnhild, however, scattered them in a burst of pink smoke.

"Thanks. Believe me, I feel you," Jaune groaned as they took off once more. "We can still see it, but not for long at this rate."

"And if it gets to the village before we do -"

"...someone! Anyone! P-please help us!"

They traded glances and sprinted in the voice's direction and emerged into a small clearing. Cawlin and Strich stood scared and armed with basic swords at the other end, surrounded by Boarbatusks and Sulfur Fish.

"J-Jaune! And you guys! Over here!"

Ren facepalmed as the Grimm slowly turned to face them. The Sulfur Fish began clumping up until they merged into humanoid shapes, reducing the overall amount of Grimm, though their Sulfur Monk forms were stronger, hardier and more agile.

"So much for the element of surprise," the ninja griped as the Grimm charged. "What's our strategy here?"

Ruby looked to Jaune, who nodded back. "We'll herd them here with Cawlin and Strich. Nora, Ruby - flank from the left and right. We'll carve through them but we gotta do it fast!"

"Right!" she cried as they dispersed to avoid the oncoming Grimm. Ruby slid under a Monk's attempt at clotheslining her before hooking Crescent Rose around its legs and slicing them off. Individual Sulfur Fish flew off and either died or tried to reform, though she put an end to that by rushing in and quickly cleaving the body apart. Distraction cost her, however, and Ruby tumbled a short distance as a Boarbatusk rammed her from behind.

"Ugh. That...hurt!"

The Grimm didn't care, and Ruby dashed up into a tree with her Semblance to avoid several more. A volley of explosive rounds eliminated the Boarbatusks, though a Monk threw its arm at her like a cluster bomb of Sulfur Fish. Ruby rushed up to it and rammed the scythe's butt into its chest, ducked under a haymaker then spun to catch it behind the knees.

This time, she didn't slice them off but fired into the ground, carving into its torso at a forty-five degree angle with gravity dust and sent dying Sulfur Fish into the forest.

Seeing Nora and Ruby deal with the Grimm from the sides, Jaune and Ren nodded to each other and surged forth; the latter hopped onto a particularly large Boarbatusk and unloaded into the back of its skull, but was tackled off by a Sulfur Monk. It jabbed at his face with individual stingers, sparking off his Aura, but Jaune swung by and slashed an arm off, allowing Ren to take control and flip the Monk on its back.

Ren ended his quarry and Jaune winced in pain as he strafed left as another Monk caught him in the arm. Sniper fire from Ruby took out another herd of Boarbatusks while Nora came to the rescue of Cawlin and Strich, who at this point looked more than content to leave the rest to them.

Jaune frowned and faced the Sulfur Monk head-on. Ruby watched as he ducked underneath a swing and chamber the other, severing its arm and causing dislodged Sulfur Fish to sting his legs. She rushed in and swept them aside, allowing Jaune to roll around and deliver a back slice, though he yelped when another Fish leapt on his back and stung through his sweater.

"Ow! Dammit, these guys are annoying!"

"I know! Just don't let them get back together!"

"Got it!" Jaune replied, taking a punch on the flat of his blade before slicing off its overextended arm. He then jumped over the Monk when it tried to slide-kick him, and Jaune cried out as he landed with an ending blow to the face - apparently a weak spot as it forcefully disintegrated its body and sent the Sulfur Fish scattering once more.

"Nora! Over here!"

"...roger, Jauney! Get out of...the...way!"

Ruby Semblance-tackled Jaune aside as Nora flew in and slammed the ground with a mighty shockwave, sending dirt and errant Grimm on a tour of Akkala Forest.

The dust and ringing in her ears slowly faded away, and after a few seconds, only wind and distant roars remained.

"Ugh. Thanks for that. I'd hate to be caught up in the blast radius."

Ruby stood and snorted as she helped Jaune up. "You and me both, and judging by the looks on their faces, I'd bet they be as far away from here as possible."

They glanced over and found a sheepish Cawlin and Strich approaching with Ren and Nora beside them. Strich held up a hand and tried for a friendly grin, though it fell flat when Jaune remained unamused.

"H-hey, there, man, what's going on -"

"What were you guys thinking!?" Jaune snapped. "Do you realize what you've done? You guys just unleashed a full Grimm invasion of our village!"

"We were doing what you were gonna do!" Cawlin retorted, though he quailed when Ren raised an eyebrow. "We were gonna check it out ourselves and maybe even deal with it so you don't have to -"

"By wandering right up to it and asking how it's doing? Maybe you should've brought it food from the tavern while you're at it! Nayru, why didn't I think of that for our mission, where the point was to just spy on the Grimm from a safe distance so we could leave undetected and not start a second invasion in a week! Have you realized that you've caused exactly what everyone was trying to avoid?"

Ruby glanced to Nora, who shrugged back but looked equally dumbfounded. She couldn't remember the last time he got pissed off, and seeing him rage here was...uncharacteristically weird. Even if Jaune totally was in the right.

The two looked suitably ashamed, and Jaune visibly deflated when she smiled and patted his arm.

"Oh. I - oh. I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me, but -"

"It's okay, though you kinda do have a point," Ruby replied. "Do you guys know where your leader took off?"

They pointed in the village's direction.

"Let's get going, then," Ren sighed. "We're risking more lives the longer we wait."

"Yeah," Strich nodded. "Um...thanks for saving us. That was...well, I don't think we'd ever be able to do that. If you didn't come, then..."

"We're sorry for being dicks and bullying you back then," Cawlin whispered, refusing to meet his gaze. "I guess it took being literally on the verge of death to realize it, but...well, the Grimm, and Groose, and -"

Jaune tiredly hummed. "Y-yeah. It's...not all okay, but Ren's right. Are you two alright, at least?"

They silently nodded, and a cursory glance revealed mildly tattered clothing while Aura was already healing a few cuts and bruises.

"Jauney?"

"Yup. Let's go," he replied to Nora, and six of them continued pursuing. The rumbling beneath their feet grew stronger as they steadily caught up, fighting Grimm that harassed them along the way; Ruby called out to Jaune when they became bogged down once more, and she sprinted a short distance ahead to emerge in yet another clearing -

And yelped as an uprooted tree was launched in her direction. Ruby slid under it with her Semblance then took in the sight of Groose backing up against a cliff and waterfall. The dragon Grimm was perched upon an odd-looking rocky outcrop while eyeing its prey like the predator it was.

"O-oh, Brothers. It's, um - yup. Nope. Nope."

Ruby turned as the rest arrived, with Cawlin and Strich shrinking back into the treelines. The latter gave them a weak thumbs up. "Y-yeah. We'll let you take care of this. Uh, go team?"

The Drake roared and stomped in place.

Groose fell into a boxer's stance and screamed.

Ruby, Nora, Jaune and Ren dashed out into the open with a cry.

The Drake noticed them and...hummed?

"...huh?"

They came to a stop, mildly confused as the dragon Grimm looked up into the air as if considering something. A few tense seconds passed until it eyed them once more and took off in the village's direction.

"W-w-w-wait, what...? Oh, thank the Brothers, I've been saved!"

Nora shook her head. "Nuh-uh. Not yet, Groose. Elder Grimm are smart. It's probably going for the village since the negativity's greater there, compared to us."

Groose's smile died, then morphed into shock as the ground rumbled once again. Ruby gulped upon realizing it wasn't the Grimm, but the stone beneath them.

"G-guys! T-this rock...something's below us!"

Jaune paled. "Everybody off!"

They all retreated a safe distance away - Groose taking care to head far away from the cliff - and watched as the hulking mass of rock stood to its full height and somehow roared.

Ruby turned to Jaune. "I don't know why, but I have a feeling you know what's up."

A nod. "Yeah. Stone Talus!" he called out. "Never thought I'd see them so close to home. They shouldn't be too hard to fight since their weak spot's that little black rock on top, but it's hardy and there's a couple of...um, latecomers to the show."

A few screams later, Cawlin and Strich joined them as a pack of Wolfos appeared at the treeline.

"Ren. Nora, still remember the Flower Power attack? We're gonna need a lot of those."

Groose gulped as Ren and Nora reloaded their weapons.

"Maybe I could take out its legs?" Ruby offered. "It looks heavy and slow, so maybe I could disable it completely -"

"You could, but...well, do you mind splitting off and chasing the Drake?"

Ruby frowned. "But -"

"I don't like splitting up, especially after last time...but right now, it's necessary. You're the only one who can run the gauntlet, and we need to lure it away from the village so we can deal with it properly. Hudson's just over that hill."

"I know. Just...stay safe, okay? Don't take too long."

"We won't, Pyr," Jaune smiled, but it quickly fell and he swore beneath his breath. "We'll be right behind ya, Ruby."

Ruby eyed him worriedly before dashing off with her Semblance as the Stone Talus attacked. She easily dodged a few pouncing Wolfos, then ditched the few that gave chase after weaving between the canopy and forest floor. The rumbling footfalls grew louder as she crested the ridge, finding it knocking down trees as it strode towards the battle-torn village in the distance.

"Crap, it's already here! Gotta distract it, but what's a good place to lure it to...?"

"..."

"Aha!"

Ruby reloaded Crescent Rose with gravity dust and shot herself into the air, diving down in a manner akin to Initiation while firing at the dragon Grimm. It growled and otherwise ignored her until she landed upon its back by scything into a deformed wing.

It thrashed in pain, and Ruby hopped off to not get clubbed by its spiked tail. With baleful eyes, the monster billowed purple-black smoke from its snout.

"Heh. Yeah, I think that does it."

The Grimm evidently agreed as it roared once more and charged for her instead. Even though she kept pace to keep its attention, it ran down trees and clambered up minor slopes with surprising speed. It made accurate shots difficult, especially with thick bone armour that protected its vitals, but in the end, Ruby succeeded in luring it away from Hudson to the open pastures of Fallow Ranch.

She then sprinted up the stone granary by the property's edge and fired away, scoring a few hits on exposed skin, but she leapt off as the Drake rammed into its foundations. Cracks spiderwebbed across the granary as it clawed through and destroyed it, spilling grain and other goods amongst the rubble.

"H-hey! People worked for that, you know!"

The Grimm snorted and continued charging, and Ruby leapt over its initial clawing strike to score a few shots between the bone plates on its back. She rolled as she landed, avoiding the palm it slapped onto the grass, then used Crescent Rose to propel herself away when it swept wide.

Ruby grimaced as it clawed down again before she could reload. With a cry, she hopped onto its arm and sliced up its length before backflipping and aiming for the head -

"Come on, silver bullet!"

And saw nothing but a jet of that putrid smoke that spewed into her face. Ruby tumbled unceremoniously to the ground, gagging as it burned her eyes and nostrils. She half-dashed, half-staggered as far away as she could before sidling up against the stables.

"Ack - aghhh - h-hey, t-that's not...hrk! Fair!"

Another roar, and Ruby squinted through tears to just make out an oncoming tail. She rolled away as a loud crack tore through wood and stone, breaking through the stables and sending a few horses running amok into the field.

But the Drake focused solely on her; despite her best efforts, Ruby slowed down as they continued fighting, with its predictable attacks became laborious to dodge as its poison breath slowly whittled down her Aura and senses. Eventually, after landing a well-placed but desperate slice to a hind leg, the dragon Grimm lashed out and caught Ruby upon the flat of its tail, flinging her across the pasture.

"I...I - no! I can't...fall...hrk! Here! T-they need me...Weiss...Blake...Yang..."

Ruby squinted past the tears and the sunlight as she watched it stalk closer. She fumbled through her reload and fired away, but it's armour took most of her hits until Crescent Rose clicked empty.

"I...ugh...no...I won't..."

The Drake stopped and crowed into the air, lowering itself as it prepared to gallop.

"...Mom, I -"

Her eyes suddenly began to itch, a sensation similar to when she faced the Wyvern at Beacon -

But it faded as pink explosions then erupted all over the Grimm, cracking its bone mask and causing it to turn towards the new threat. Ruby vaguely heard Nora yell and leap onto its back, jabbing Magnhild's haft through its armour before it flung her off with a powerful smack of its tail. Even then, it still couldn't rest as Ren unloaded onto the Drake to give her a chance to recover.

"Hey. You okay?"

She looked aside as Jaune came and knelt with a beaten up medkit. "You look like you took a mean hit."

"More like breathed it," she groused, then groaned upon using a medical dust injector. "Kinda learned the hard way that it breathes poison."

"Clearly. Thanks for taking one for the team," Jaune replied, grabbing the injector from her hand -

And she grabbed his arm before he could pull away.

"R-Ruby!? What are you - what's happening? Are you okay? You're, like, really, really warm -"

Even as the haze of poison gave way to the medicinal dust, for some reason, there was something unnaturally...warm about the way Jaune felt. Maybe it was because of the faint golden light that glowed between their hands, but it inspired her. Revitalized, even, and despite the lingering poison which sapped her strength, Ruby felt like nothing could ever stop her again.

She grabbed Crescent Rose and nodded to Jaune, who eyed her critically for a second before letting her go. She then watched him mount a nearby beautiful chestnut-coloured horse and charge full speed ahead at the Drake.

With conviction restored, Ruby reloaded her scythe and joined the fight once more.

x==)==

Seeing the dragon Grimm open its jaws, Jaune yanked Epona left in time to dodge the stream of noxious smoke. He managed to land several good hits as they galloped broadside, and before the tail could flatten them, Nora returned to smack it hard from the opposite end.

"W-whoa! Easy, girl. It's alright," he said as he rode left by the pasture's edge. "I gotta thank you. Without you and the other horses running around, she'd been at its mercy completely."

Epona neighed.

"But while I can ride, it's not like I know how to fight on horseback, so we're just gonna have to wing it! If there's any way you can help me with that, Link, it'll be much appreciated!"

I shall guide you however I can. For now, remember that you can't just halt when you're galloping at full speed, and stay away from any obstacles. Most importantly, don't stop moving.

"On it!" Jaune cried out, right as it lashed out and raked its claws across Ren's back. Riding towards it as the ninja staggered away, Jaune swung low and carved into the base of its tail. The Grimm roared furiously and swung that appendage down, stumbling Epona from the shockwave, though it couldn't counterattack since Ruby dove from above and managed to fully slice off the wing she hacked into earlier.

The Drake violently shook itself to dislodge the scythe in its back, and Ruby obliged it by firing at an angle that blew off some of its spines as well. There was no time for reprieve as Ren and Nora began their assault; they circled around and drowned its body with firepower before halting beside it. Nora handed something off to Ren, who then grabbed her and immediately shot themselves forward -

And the Grimm growled in pain as the hookshot connected with its torso, transforming their Flower Power attack into a crude, but effective flyby that ended with Magnhild crashing into its ribcage. A loud crack echoed through the air, causing it to retreat a few agonized steps. Jaune then rode forth, but skidded to a stop as the dragon Grimm reared and howled.

Jaune mentally cursed as the ground began to rumble, and a sideways glance revealed a fresh wave of Grimm streaming in from the forest.

"Dammit, this isn't good! We can't keep it here for much longer!"

"Jaune! Jaune!" Ruby cried out as she ran over. "We need to drive the Grimm away or risk them raiding the village too!"

"Agreed!" he replied, clutching Epona's reins. "There's an open area west of here. Get their attention and have them follow me, then we'll mop up the rest before dealing with the big one!"

Ruby nodded and sprinted off, and Jaune kicked Epona into a gallop the opposite way. Leaping over the pasture fence, he swerved right to avoid an oncoming Beowolf, then slashed the first Boarbatusk that approached from his four o'clock.

Perhaps it was the novelty of it all, but riding hard, hacking and slashing Grimm with the wind in his hair felt...amazing. Empowering. It helped that Epona herself had warhorse ancestry, hence her sturdier destrier build compared to the others, but for a single, precious moment, Jaune felt neither panic, worry or chaos - only freedom and courage.

As he dealt with the others, however, a few Ravagers swooped down from his left, causing him to lose his balance -

And felt something warm flow through his veins, stiffening his body. It allowed Jaune to right himself before he could fall, then slash into the flock of bat Grimm when they dove down again.

"Whew. Thanks for that. I don't exactly want to eat dirt by falling off a galloping horse."

Don't lose focus. Your quarry is right on your tail.

Jaune nodded and rode left, emerging into a rather flat field a few seconds later. A quick glance behind him revealed Ruby at the head of a pack of Grimm with the Drake chief amongst them; pink explosions erupted behind it, stunning much of the other small fry, but the dragon Grimm and those around it remained locked on him and Ruby.

She halted by his left and placed a hand on his leg. "Thanks for saving my butt earlier," she half-chuckled, half-panted. "You're a much better rider than you give yourself credit for."

"Eh, well, I had help," Jaune sighed before flourishing his sword. "That or beginner's luck, though I have a feeling it's about to run out real soon."

"Maybe, but we've won against bigger baddies before. And I don't intend to lose on home ground."

He chuckled. "So, you ready to be the hero you always wanted to be, Crater Face?"

"Heh. After you, Vomit Boy."

As if in sync, Jaune spurred Epona into a gallop as Ruby sprinted with her Semblance. She carved a Sabyr which leapt for him in two as Jaune slashed a Beowolf across its jaw, and when a Grendel refused to move out of his way, Epona simply bowled over and trampled the Grimm underfoot. They split as the Drake clawed down, with him veering right and ramming into an Ursa that was about to attack Nora from behind.

His eye widened as the dragon Grimm immediately lurched and prepared to spin.

Now! Jump now!

Epona whinnied as Jaune jerked up on the reins - having her leap just in time over the spiked tail that scythed across the grass. Without stopping, Jaune slashed a Grendel that leapt at him from the right, then another to the left and his seven o-clock -

"Shit, n-no! I can't get...pulled...off!"

Seeing him in trouble, Nora broke free from a Beowolf she was wrestling with and launched herself over. She ducked under a Grendel's haymaker before punting its jaw with the hammer's shaft, then fired the hookshot at another while activating her Semblance. The Grendel gurgled in pain as Nora pulled it over while roasting it with electricity, then punched its face in through its bone mask.

The two shared a nod before breaking off, avoiding yet another tail attack. Though the dragon Grimm was fast, the constant, scattered movement between the four ensured that it couldn't concentrate its attacks to its fullest potential. But whittling the number of Grimm down while literally riding circles around it also meant slowly pissing it off; when the Drake and a few stragglers were left, it locked its eyes on Jaune despite the others' attempts to distract it.

"Uh oh."

Ready yourself. Here he comes.

"Yeah, you're telling me!"Jaune mentally growled as it prepared to run him down. Gunfire from a visibly tired Ren somewhat slowed it down, enough for Epona to just ride past an oncoming claw.

Jaune, jump now!"

"H-huh!? What -"

He instinctively jerked the reins up again, and though he didn't see it at first, the Drake crouched, leapt and slammed back down into the ground. Nora and Ren cried out as they were blown across the field, while Ruby disappeared into the nearby treeline. The shockwave knocked his sword away and almost dislodged him from the saddle, and Jaune held on for dear life while Epona was spooked and continued galloping.

"I - agh! Epona! It's alright, girl!" he grunted, forcing himself up into the saddle. Seemingly satisfied, the Drake turned and began charging back to the ranch, but despite his rising panic, Jaune patted Epona's neck and did his best to steady his voice. "You're doing great so far. I know it's hard, but don't pay attention to anything else. Just my voice. We'll be fine, okay?"

Epona whinnied and somewhat slowed down.

"Alright, girl...now, left!"

The two swerved left in a wide arc before Jaune spurred Epona into another charge. Grabbing Crocea Mors as it stuck out from a clear patch of ground, he narrowed his eye against the trail of dust that the beast kicked up with every step. Maneuvering to its eight o'clock, Jaune slashed for its hind leg and torso, but missed the third strike as a murder of small Nevermore divebombed for his face.

"Ugh! Hrk - no! Shoo! Go away!"

Stay the course, Jaune! Fight through and don't slow down!

"I'm trying!"

The murder, while eventually dispatched, still managed to slow him down enough that the dust clouds began to disperse, and rounding the next bend revealed it right at the fence line of Fallow Ranch.

Jaune paled when he saw a trio of familiar figures emerge from the farmhouse and make a break for it, all the while knowing that he wouldn't be able to reach them in time - even as Ruby streaked by with her Semblance.

"M-Malon, no, please...hang on!"

His heart dropped. This was it. Just like Beacon, he'd be too late to save his friends -

And the loud crack of an explosion ripped through the air. The Drake howled in pain as it lurched right instead, and another figure - this time with glowing golden hair - landed deftly before delivering a salvo of shotgun blasts to its torso.

"Y-Yang...?"

The girl in question dashed up and delivered a powerful uppercut to its jaw while Ruby scythed into the wound beneath its tail, almost severing it completely. Behind the former, Jaune noticed a few straggling Grendels scurry over to Malon and her sisters, thinking them easier prey, but were instead forced to contend with Groose and his lackeys.

"They're safe...Brothers above, they're safe. They made it. We made it."

But it's not over yet. The Drake is wounded, outnumbered and cornered. This is your chance to kill the beast.

Jaune didn't reply as Epona leapt over the broken fence, but for the first time since the Fall, he felt the left hand heat up with a familiar and most welcome burn.

Yang saw him charging and leapt out of the way, giving him clear berth to rake Crocea Mors alongside its torso in a devastating pass. It growled and jerked left, nearly managing to swipe both Jaune and Epona away, but Link's whispered words gave enough warning to jump over its oncoming arm. Annoyed, the Drake spewed more poison smoke after him, but it was promptly cut out when an angry Nora dove onto its head, slamming its jaw shut.

The Drake thrashed and bucked Nora off, but as she went flying, she drew her hookshot and fired at its tail. Jaune watched her zip back over its head and catch one of its spines. Nora and the Drake then screamed as the former unleashed her Semblance, electrocuting its body while locking its tail in a sort of strongman hold.

"R-Ruby! Someone! Anyone, do it now!"

Not a second too soon, Ruby shot across the pasture and ripped into the base of its tail, severing it completely.

The limb began disintegrating and the Grimm thrashed around in pain, breathing poison and lashing out at whoever it saw within range. A hail of accurate green gunfire further cracked its bony face mask and exposed enough wounded skin on its forehead.

Jaune narrowed his eye and took off, riding to its front and dodged its breath as it was locked in place by attacks from all sides. He halted and stared the beast down for a final second before charging once more, maneuvering left to dodge a chunk of dirt it threw at him -

He concentrated on Link's guidance, slowly unhooking himself from the saddle and steering Epona safely right -

The Drake reared and prepared one more burst of poison -

The Triforce of Courage flared with golden light -

And Jaune leapt from Epona's back as it unleashed its poison once more. The beam of smoke angled up to try and catch him, but ultimately missed as he sailed for its forehead with a cry. The Drake gave its own when he rammed Crocea Mors through its skull before hopping safely out of reach.

The others followed in kind as they watched it seize up and flail, desperately trying to grip its head with arms that barely reached it, but after giving Jaune a final glare, the Drake took a few steps forward before collapsing at his feet. It began disintegrating with the wind, leaving Jaune panting in place with ringing in his ears and a pounding heartbeat.

"I...it's dead. I did it. Holy shit."

You did. Well done, Jaune.

"...I know I have the Triforce of Courage and all, but that was one of the scariest experiences of my life."

And ultimately one of the most fulfilling, no? Listen closely. What do you hear?

Save for approaching footsteps, the alarms had long subsided, and what few howls of Grimm remained were already being drowned away by the emboldened cries of the defenders.

By killing that monster, you eliminated the magnet for attracting Grimm and thus spared the lives of your home - not to mention those of your friends. One of whom is about to talk to you, in fact.

"Huh? What -"

"Jaune...? Are you -"

He flinched as someone touched his shoulder, though he calmed down when he found a concerned Yang staring back at him. "Hey, there. You alright?"

"Y-yeah. I'm fine. Just...wow." Jaune sighed as Ren and Nora walked over, though he did a double-take and gazed back surprised. "But wait, you're here! Yang, it's you!"

"In the flesh," his fellow blonde chuckled and crossed her arms - one of which he noticed was a gunmetal grey. "Mostly."

Jaune grimaced as she forced a smile onto her face, no doubt taking in his own injury, but Yang grunted in surprise as he enveloped her in a crushing hug.

"Good to see you again. Thanks for stopping by," he whispered as she reciprocated and let go. Yang's smile relaxed ever so slightly. "You couldn't have come at a better time. I don't know if those guys over there would've made it if you didn't."

"Yeah, well, you know me. Love to make an entrance," Yang chuckled. "We can catch up in a bit, though. Where's, um -"

"- sis?"

They turned to see Crescent Rose fall to the ground, while Ruby held an expression between fear, shock and joy. "I-is that you...?"

"Hey, Rubes."

"I - I - oh. Oh my Brothers, you came all the way here...? I-I'm so sorry!" she wailed. Yang held a neutral expression as she went over.

"W-why are you here? Oh, no, it's all my fault, I should've stayed and talked to you more and have been there like a better sister should've been, even if you didn't want me around -"

Ruby was silenced when Yang hugged her and quivered.

"Please, don't. I'm sorry. I love you, Ruby."

"...I love you, too."

Jaune smiled and turned away with Ren and Nora, giving the sisters some privacy, only to face a bruised and flustered Groose. Frustration simmered again, but Ren placed a hand on his shoulder and shook his head. Jaune sighed and nodded.

"Groose."

"Yeah, that sounds about right," the teen in question sighed, rubbing his pompadour while his face was just as red. "I can totally feel your disappointment from here."

"I mean, I won't deny it," he replied, "but at the same time, you saved Malon and her sisters from Grimm. At least long enough for Yang to come and take care of it. Thanks...for that."

They looked over behind Groose, finding Cawlin and Strich leading the trio away, presumably to the town clinic. Malon glanced over her shoulder and waved, which Jaune returned.

"D-don't mention it," the taller teen huffed and crossed his arms. "While the great Groose doesn't do charity for wimps, I'm not so heartless as to ignore those who truly need the help. Even if, uh, they were a little harder to deal with than expected."

"They're alive because of you."

"And I'm happy that they are," Groose agreed, then narrowed his eyes and pointed at him. "Look, chum, don't get the wrong idea. I still don't like you, but...killing that big dragon thing was...definitely something."

After a few seconds of tense silence, Jaune sighed and nodded. "Yeah. At least this should be the last of the Grimm for a while."

Jaune's heart fell as Groose shuffled awkwardly in silence.

"...oh. You didn't...find any more Grimm while you were out there, right?"

"I...ah, well, maybe?" Groose shrugged. "Remember that old story about that haunted cave? Just beyond the ruins? Yeah, before running into the Drake, we noticed a real spooky-looking one hidden between some of the hills. Saw weird lights and stuff in it before dawn, so there might be more hiding in there."

"That's definitely worth checking out, then," Ren nodded. "Might as well deal with the whole problem while we're at it."

The hulking teen grimaced as he rotated an arm. "Yeah. Ow. For now, I'mma go home, check on my old man and sleep for three days straight." He began walking down the path before stopping in place and glancing over his shoulder. "And, um, Jaune? The great Groose...uh, thanks you for all that. For saving our butts. Guess you're a...maybe I was wrong about you."

They watched him limp off and rejoin his lackeys and the Fallow sisters, though the silence was shattered when Nora loudly yawned and stretched.

"Hoo, boy, I dunno about you guys, but I'm frickin' tired!" she crowed, leaning on Ren and nearly tipping him over. "I don't think I've run that much since Mistral!"

"You're telling me," the ninja glowered, wearing an expression that signalled he was a moment away from passing out. "I think I burned my lungs out going back and forth. That horse was cheating, Jaune."

"Yeah, well, if it works, it works, right?" he sheepishly chuckled, and a cursory glance to the side revealed Epona happily munching on grass several feet away. "It was pretty thrilling, though. I don't know if I'll get the chance to do that again, so if anything, at least I kinda enjoyed it."

"And looked cool doing it!" Ruby crowed as her and Yang walked over. "You were like a knight with the way you rode in on horseback, staring the dragon down as it was about to breathe on ya. Should we take horses on the way to the cave?"

"I can ask Malon when she comes back. For now...well, I'm kinda beat."

The others murmured in agreement.

"Is there a hotel or inn in town?" Yang piped up.

"Don't worry. I'll ask my mom if she's fine taking in one more guest."

"Oh, no, that's okay. I don't want to impose -"

Jaune smiled and shook his head. "Least I can do after you saved my friends."

"Right, so it's settled, then!" Ruby declared with a smile, which quickly fell and was replaced by a pout. "I'm tired. Why don't we see what the village needs help with and get some rest after?"

"That sounds like an excellent idea."

As the five began walking towards the ranch's exit, Jaune glanced back towards the pasture. The grass was torn up, the granary destroyed and part of the stables caved in, making the area look like a warzone, were it not for the various horses now milling about peacefully. Epona looked up from the grass in his direction and neighed, and Jaune smiled before turning away.

Calm descended upon Fallow Ranch once more, and in the treeline, a red-eyed blackbird leapt off a branch before fluttering eastward.

x==)==

After tying Epona off to a nearby tree with the other horses, Jaune rejoined the others at the mouth of a cave. It was fairly well-hidden, fitting Groose's description as they found it after following one of the rivers to its source between some hills and crags. Greenery was draped over the entrance, casting the immediate interior in shadow, even when the dawn sun peeked over the horizon, while the edge of Tarrey Town's lake was just visible in the distance.

"So. This is it, huh?"

"Sure looks like it," he sighed as Ruby yawned. "Can't say I've ever been here before, though I don't know of any other caves in the area."

"But now that we're here, we might as well check it out," Ren replied. "Even if false, we should either debunk reports of Grimm or deal with any we come across. You never know."

"Yeah. Never hurts to be careful," Jaune replied, drawing Crocea Mors and lifting the vines up. "Be prepared for anything. Shall we?"

The party - sans Nora - unsheathed their weapons and stepped into the cave, while Ruby shone her scroll's flashlight. Their footsteps sloshed in the stream water while droplets fell from an occasional stalactite, but beyond their movement and the whistle of wind flowing from the entrance, the area was eerily quiet. When the outside light slowly faded away, Ruby shone her scroll's flashlight in front of them.

"So. What do you think we'll find in here? Grimm? Monsters? Treasure?"

"Ooh, what about treasure that you'll have to fight through monsters and Grimm to get through?"

"That...sounds kinda dope, actually," Yang admitted, earning a tired morning grin from Nora. "I'm still sore from fighting the Drake yesterday, but I'd be down for a quick scrap like that in the future. It might be hard wielding your hammer in confined spaces, though."

"Hmm. You're right," Nora replied, placing a hand on her chin in thought. "Hey, Jauney, didn't you get your sword fixed by Colin's dad or something? Does he work on more than swords too?"

Jaune nodded. "Yup. I commissioned armour and a new shield from Mr. Rusl, and I've seen him forge axes, spears and other simple mechashift weaponry. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"I mean, if we're gonna go travelling, we should probably stock up on supplies," Ruby piped up. "Rations, dust, maybe even new armour and clothes!"

"Makeover!"

"Shh!" Ren hissed and covered Nora's mouth. "We shouldn't let anything inside know that we're coming."

"Yeah, but we're not that stealthy anyway when there's five of us sloshing on water," Nora pouted, though she hushed her volume. "Besides, aren't you excited to get new upgrades, Renny? They'll sure come in handy when we face tougher enemies."

The ninja shrugged. "Yes, of course, though I'm not sure whether to increase my pistols' rate of fire or upgrade the barrel for higher calibre rounds..."

Nora and Ruby shared a glance before staring back with devious grins, and Jaune watched as they subjected Ren to a plethora of weapon-related questions - some of which seemingly flew over his head. Yang matched his pace and walked with him in companionable silence, though they all eventually came to the edge of what looked like a bottomless pit. Stalagmites poked out from the darkness below while water trickled down a rocky side slope, the top of which had a hole that was too small to even crawl through. The other side continued in darkness, though the distance looked a little too great to jump across.

"Huh. Anyone got a flare?"

"Uh, I think I have one or two," Jaune replied. "Just give me a second to -"

He froze as something faint crossed the corner of his eye across the chasm.

"Everybody hide!" he hissed, and they dispersed as fast as they could down the tunnel they came, taking up positions behind stalagmites or crevices by the sides. Ruby turned off her scroll and slid to the floor beside him.

"That...that couldn't have been a Deathstalker, right?"

"Jaune!" she whispered. "What did you see?"

"Some sort of light. It was...white? No, pink, but a very, very light one."

She scrunched her face, confused. "That doesn't sound like any Grimm we know of, but Groose and your myth mentioned something about weird lights, so let's be careful. Me and Nora can't really fight in here since the ceiling's so low."

"I know. And speaking of which, hey, Nora! You got your hookshot?"

"Coming right up!" she stage whispered, creeping up to the edge and taking a moment to scan the area. When the light failed to return, she gestured for Ren to come and fired the hookshot into the ceiling. After a minute of swinging them over and securing the perimeter, Yang took point with Ren as they carefully marched forward, with Jaune taking the rear in case of any stalkers.

They all bumped into each other like dominoes when Yang suddenly halted, then gestured for them to hide again. Ruby doused her scroll light once more, and this time, as their eyes adjusted to the darkness, they saw a small pink light slowly float in and out of view. Jaune creeped up while the rest watched him intently, and as silently possible slowly rounded a small bend.

He sidled behind a stalagmite as a faint, yet steady blue-grey light reflected off the moist walls of the cave. Another small pink ball bobbed into view before floating back out of sight.

Jaune slowly felt some of the tension leave him. "Is this what I think it is?"

It may very well be. Just don't drop your guard...and expect the worst.

"Right."

...not that kind, but...well, if you're unlucky, you'll see what I mean.

Jaune gestured for the rest of them to follow - something he repeated further ahead to be seen in the ambient light - and patiently crept up by the next bend with a firm grip on his sword. He slowly peeked around the stone -

"I knew it."

And stepped into the next cavern completely. He heard the others jogging to catch up, but they all paused as they took in the sight of something...ethereal, and most definitely fey.

Intricate, unlit torches were hooked around the circular cavern's walls, while occasional ruined stone columns were scattered around. It was similarly sized to a classroom at Beacon, but what truly caught their attention was the raised stone pool of glowing water -

A pool where pink fairies floated lazily above the surface.

"A-are...are those really -"

"Yeah," he replied to Nora, equally dumbstruck. "Guess this is what Groose saw, eh? Probably saw one fly a little too close to the entrance."

Jaune nodded to himself and stepped forward, no longer as wary but not completely relaxed -

"I welcome you all to my humble abode."

The voice simultaneously emanated off the walls and inside their heads, causing them to regroup in a circle, back-to-back.

"Who are you!?" Yang called out, cocking her shotgun gauntlets. "Show yourself!"

"You need not feel troubled here. This is a place of rest and recovery."

"We'll believe that when we see it!"

"Then witness," the voice replied from the pool. They watched as a blue fairy flew out from the mass of pink fairies, circling around them before returning to the water. It dove beneath it with an audible pop and the pool began to considerably glow.

They hissed and shielded their eyes as the light reached a crescendo. When it slowly faded, the torches upon the cavern now burned with arcane grey light, illuminating most of the cavern interior except for a few crevices. Above the water, however, floated a girl that looked to be Ruby's age, with pale skin, shoulder-length cerulean hair and eyes. She wore a grey-white dress, similar in colour to the fey wings that kept her aloft.

Jaune was hit with longing, familiarity and safety, and the others hesitantly sheathed their weapons when he did so first.

"You...I think I know you. Aren't you...?"

A smile. "In an age long gone, I was given the name Navi by my father, the Great Deku Tree," she replied. Her voice sounded young, almost childish, but distinctly mature all the same. "Here, I am the Great Fairy of Time. My three sisters and I are amongst those who watch over and safeguard the ruins upon the old world, and should the cycle restart, empower the Hero as our predecessors did for generations."

Jaune turned to his friends, finding them all looking back with astonished expressions. "The cycle...? Well, um...I think me being here's proof enough that it's happening again."

Navi nodded. "Unfortunately so. The darkness which destroyed the old world is leaking into it once more, despite our efforts to keep it sealed. I'm sure that you have all faced it before."

"...you mean the Malice?" Ren asked, stepping forward next to Jaune. "Yes, we have. Back at Beacon, Vale...even the Temple of Time."

"That's the thing. I'm kind of at a loss right now," Jaune sighed, dropping his gaze. "The Master Sword is dead and I need to kill my evil twin to reunite Courage. Do you know how I could, um, restore its power and use my current piece to its fullest potential?"

"The abilities of your Triforce have already begun manifesting. Aside from amplifying your instincts, it can also empower and embolden those who fight alongside you, though you will discover its other powers only as you get stronger."

Navi pursed her lips. "To hear that the Master Sword has lost the capacity to repel evil is troubling, yet not surprising. But yes, there might be a way to restore its power. Head to the eastern continent and find those who serve Hylia from the shadows. They shall know what to do."

Jaune nodded. "Right. And speaking of Hylia, do you know who or at least where we can find the next Princess?"

"Though she does not know it, rest assured she already walks this land. You have your trials and the Princess has hers, though I have full confidence she will be at your side when the time comes to fight great evil."

Navi flew over and around the group, eyeing them with a curious expression. "I am always happy to offer my hospitality, but I trust you are not here to just ask questions, no?"

"Well, what can you do? You said that you empower the Hero and stuff, right?"

"That I do, Ruby Rose," she replied with a grin. "And yes, I knew your names the moment you stepped in my domain. Now, hold out your hands."

Navi waved her arm in a flash of light, and five sets of two crystals each floated into their palms - a red one shaped like a heart and the other like green fruit, both gilded with golden swirls.

"Huh? What are these?"

They are good for you. Crunch them in your palms and absorb their essences.

Jaune cracked them both, causing red and green mist to spill from the shards and disappear into his skin.

"...!"

He shuddered as for a brief moment, the mist coursed through his veins and spread across his muscles, all while bathing his vision in vivid colours. It soon receded, however, though not without leaving him feeling the slightest bit tougher.

"The first one toughens your constitution while the other increases your life force," Navi explained as the others followed in kind. "Or as you call it in this age, your Aura."

A quick check of his scroll revealed the Aura meter at a hundred and fifteen percent. "Thank you. This...I like this. I like it a lot."

She gave a lopsided grin. "Well, hey. Listen. We are always happy to lend the Hero a hand -"

"Wait!"

Ruby shyly cleared her throat when their gazes turned to her.

"Um, firstly, thank you for all this - this is super cool and I can't wait to see how stronger I am now, but about that whole...empowering thing again..."

Navi blinked, then chuckled lightly as she crossed her arms. "Oh. I see. I already know what you are about to ask, but go ahead."

The reaper grinned. "Then you know I can run really fast, Yang absorbs hits to dish it back better...you know, Semblances. Is it possible for you to unlock Jaune's?"

His jaw dropped and felt something grip his heart. That was...touching to hear.

"Ruby..."

"It is possible. Should the Hero desire it, I can unlock his magic for him."

Jaune glanced between Navi and Ruby, who kindly smiled back.

"I do."

"Very well," she replied, drifting down and cupping his face. There was a flash of white light, and Jaune grunted as something inside him stretched and pulled apart before flowing freely. Jaune steadied his breath and gave himself a once over, finding his Aura and Triforce faintly glowing before both faded away.

Draw your sword and concentrate. Let the magic flow and release it.

There was a shing of steel as Jaune walked over to the side and focused. He felt his Aura move in a way he never felt before, and with a yell, Jaune slashed down and sent a thin blade of greenish-white energy crashing into the cavern wall.

"Whoa."

"You are not limited to shielding your body with Aura," Navi intoned. "Like other Heroes of old, you can empower your attacks with magic in various ways, amongst which are sword beams like those. Remember that this demands more Aura and that you have yet to discover your full potential, but as you continue training, you will grow stronger and so too will your abilities."

Jaune nodded. "And I bet they'd use more Aura too. It's a gambit, then."

"A Hero's Gambit, if you will."

He looked towards his friends, who all smiled back and sent encouraging nods. "Thank you, Navi. Truly."

"It is my pleasure," the Great Fairy of Time smiled before floating back up to the pool. "I will be watching, Jaune Arc, as will my sisters and the souls of the Hero within you. Seek out the other Great Fairies should you ever grow weary - oh! In that case -"

There was a flash of light as she snapped her fingers, conjuring a few bottles of red and green liquid, and an empty one in which one of the pink fairies floated into.

"These potions restore your constitution and Aura respectively, while the power of my fairies can stabilize a person on the brink of death. Use them wisely, and I hope they can aid you in your quest."

"They will be," Ruby replied as she stepped up beside him. "Thanks again. These will definitely help and we'll make sure to find your sisters."

Navi nodded and looked back at Jaune. For a second, her smile faltered and was replaced by an oddly solemn one before grinning again.

"...may the Goddesses watch over you and your friends along your journey."

The Great Fairy of Time disappeared in a burst of light, leaving him alone with his friends in the cavern. Jaune stayed still for a short while, gripping his sword tightly before he turned to face the rest.

"You okay, Jaune?"

"...yeah. Just...remembering times gone by. At least I know part of me was."

"Sorry. Nothing too important," he said instead to Ren. "I'm all done here on my end, anyway. I think we got more than enough to go around."

"Definitely!" Nora piped up, though it slightly faltered when she pointed to her eyes. "Do you think the fairies could...you know..."

"Probably," Jaune shrugged, "but as appealing as it sounds...I don't know. Something about that feels...wrong. Plus I'd rather save it for when we really need it, and I'd rather not abuse her generosity by asking for more."

"Yeah, fair enough."

"But otherwise, if there's nothing else here...shall we?"

They nodded and headed towards the exit. At the threshold, Jaune paused, glanced back and smiled before leaving walking out of sight.

x==)==

As the sound of footsteps receded down the cavern, the torches on the walls were snuffed in tandem, bathing most of the cavern in darkness once more. After a few seconds, however, a small blue fairy emerged from the centre of the pool.

"Whenever there is a meeting, a parting is sure to follow. It seems that by the will of the Goddess, yours was not meant to be forever."

Navi bobbed in place, an approximation of a nod as the Happy Mask Salesman stepped out from behind a crevice. It was...difficult to describe the way she felt her spiritual heart ache at the sight of the Hero walking into her domain. He was no longer Hylian, spoke a different language and was roughly twice as old as the child she first met in the forest. But it didn't matter since he was still that same lazy boy.

"Yes. Despite the countless years since our necessary parting, I have not wavered in the belief that I'd see him again. I admit it's selfish, especially since the Hero's emergence is considered a sign of calamity."

"Perhaps, but after all the time I spent on this world and the tasks given to us by the Goddesses, I cannot truly blame you. Even then, as per his destiny, darkness looms on the horizon."

Navi landed on his shoulder as he leaned against a column by the pool. "The situation is deteriorating. Farozu has been silenced and the desert winds protect Eldrac, but not for long. Lanayre's influence, at least, remains mostly unscathed, but in time, all will need the Hero's aid."

"He'll come, salesman. I'm certain of it."

"So am I," he replied, kicking off the column. "I shall travel east and find the tribe of mountain and shadow. Perhaps I'll even run into the Hero along the way. Your parting was not forever, and I have a feeling ours won't be either."

She watched as the salesman disappeared into the corridor, then sighed and flew back towards the pool.

"...take care, Link. May the Deku Tree keep you safe."

Navi disappeared beneath the water, and all was silent once more in the fairy fountain.

- AN -

Welcome to another chonker chapter of A Descendant of Legends!

Having taken about 7 - 8 days to write this, Ch 36 was probably the quickest I've ever written a chapter, and best part was that I wasn't even as mentally exhausted when I finished it. In the grand scheme of things, this chapter is the first and action-y part of Arc IV's midpoint, with Ch 37 being the calmer (with some action here and there) second part that deals with the aftermath of the Drake battle while setting up the situations for the other protagonists.

As for the chapter itself, though...whew. It was difficult writing the running battle sequence as they all went back and forth, especially in balancing Jaune's horseback skills between experienced but not Dynasty Warriors levels of stacking bodies. It's an idea I had for the longest time, and I wasn't gonna miss out on the chance to get horseback combat in on a RWBY-turning-Zelda story. Especially when Epona's right there. It was fun, and so was giving Jaune & co. important rewards, from hints to where he might find answers and personal abilities. His Semblance - Hero's Gambit - is essentially my attempt at giving Jaune his version of a Magic Meter (hence the red / green potions and the sword beam!), and both Semblance and his Triforce of Courage abilities will be developed over time. Kinda like two separate skill trees in an RPG, and I intend to have using either or in tandem as necessary to advance through certain areas or complete objectives in the future.

In any case, thanks for reading and sticking around so far! Concrit and respectful feedback are always welcome. Hope you enjoyed it and that I'll see you next time!

- Reviews -

Dragon lord Syed 101: Thanks! I thought about it with the inclusion of fairies, but in the end it would feel like I was copping out or cheating if I went ahead with that right now. At least with Dark Link, while he will slowly grow stronger over time, I want to write Jaune's progression to eclipse DL's own growth, to be seen in the times they come to a head again and again and again.

Super heavy weapons guy: Thank you! As for that certain salesman...maybe, maybe not! Potential spoilers!

jeremiahkelly93: Thanks!

SentinalSlice: Thank you! Here's a little teaser of that, and as the story continues, so too will the breadth and strength of those abilities!

Boshwa: Oh noes! Not gonna lie, I completely forgot about that one and most important aspect :P But thank you! And who knows? Maybe Jaune's middle name is Jauneson after all...the world will never know...

- Stats -

Upload Date: May 10 / 2021

Chapter Word Count: 9749

Approximate Page Length (Times New Roman, size 12, single-spaced): 24.5

- Disclaimer -

The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.