Hope returned to those who wake. A truce between strangers peace doesn't make. Rooks and Knights decide to charge. While the true enemy remains at large.
Bets are closed folks, the odds are currently 7 to 1 that Dunstan beats our team of vengeance seeking Huntsman, 3 to 1 that Pyrrha manages to cause some serious damage before her defeat and 3 to 1 that Yang in her rage manages to best our intrepid Hunter. Side bets include Ruby running in to stop the fight, Weiss crashing the Bullhead, Ozpin being a badass and Glynda being furious at the teams upon recovery.
You may notice this is going up late Saturday night, I plan on this hopefully becoming the norm for future chapter posts if I finish them on time. I've had some fun writing this, also in case you were wondering those odds are from people reviewing and PMing me about how they think this chapter will go. Some of you will be going home a tad bit richer in the criteria of funbucks (funbucks are a nonredeemable resource, don't try to exchange funbucks for actual currency people will look at you weirdly if you try to do this). So without further ado the continuation of Hunter to Huntsman.
Also thanks to whoever 'DBZ Announcer' is, it was fun to read your spoof review in the Announcer's voice.
Disclaimer I do not own RWBY or Bloodborne both pieces are owned by their respective publisher.
Nothing made sense to Dunstan a Hunter's Mark can only be used by Hunters people who have survived the blood ministration and dreamt of the workshop. People strong enough in mind, body, and spirit to keep the plague at bay while harnessing the power the ministrations provided. Sure these methods would lead to some Hunters only surviving a few years, but those who survived continued to grow in strength until they became devoured by their inner beast. A fate most Hunters would face should they not pass before the blood took them. So why was a little girl seemingly untouched by the plague and bearing no visible marks of a transfusion able to use a Hunters ability. He sat in front of Gehrman's grave starring into the carved stone with annoyance with the moon held high in the sky.
"Is this some form of cosmic retribution?" He gave a small chuckle, "and here I am talking to an empty grave. You'd probably say something about 'cleaning up your own messes,' and I'd argue that this wasn't my fault." Dunstan looked at the grave momentarily almost expecting it to reply when he sat up.
Dusting off the dirt that clung to his attire he then picked up a half drunken bottle of whiskey pouring its entirety over the gravestone. "A toast to another Hunter filling our dwindling ranks, may she not kill her future teacher unless he becomes possessed by a Great One or some being of cosmic nightmares." With the empty bottle in hand he threw it over the iron fence that surrounded the graveyard. Hearing it land against the dirt he sighed to himself, "that was a lot more impressive when it fell through the ether for eternity."
Walking back into the workshop Dunstan heard the rattle of some chains and rolled out of the way of a hindered punch. Turning a round he saw his other guest had awoken and was clearly displeased with her accommodations. Raising his cane he pointed it at the girl causing her to back off slightly in fear of her armed adversary.
"Now that wasn't a very nice thing to do. Here I am practically giving you the clothes off my back and you decide to up and attack me."
"Are you kidding me!" She screamed in anger. "You knock me out, handcuff me, and put me into a coffin next to Ruby. You didn't even give her a proper burial. She at least deserves that much."
"Why would I ever bury a living person? Now would you sit down before you reopen one of your wounds, I'm not patching you up twice." Blake brushed her hand over the bandages that lined her side, while trying to take in everything that was just said.
"Ruby's alive?"
"Yes and if you simply took her back when I offered, the both of you wouldn't be stuck out here tonight." He took a few steps back giving Blake plenty of room to check on her leader. She placed her hand against Ruby's wrist and felt the steady beat of a heart.
Giving a sigh of relief Blake turned back to the man glaring at him to keep his distance from her leader. As he grabbed a seat she followed his every move while looking for a possible way out. The chance of escaping with Ruby was slim, but with her hands and feet cuffed she wouldn't make it very far before he caught up with her.
"If you want to leave the door is open though your leader would be sad over your sudden and unavoidable demise." He said fully expecting her to try.
"Is that a threat?"
"Merely an observation mostly for her sake," He said while motioning to the coffin. "Take a look for yourself."
Backing away towards the window Blake looked out seeing some Grimm running through the forest's edge their eyes glowing against the black night. Why they all didn't just storm the defenseless structure made her wonder what was special about it. It reminded her of sharks circling a prey they weren't sure how to attack. It would tough fight to break through their lines even if she wasn't exhausted and cuffed.
Turning back around Blake saw him still sitting in the same spot with a smirk on his face at her situation. "Well if you're not going to be leaving you might as well want to grab a seat."
"I'll stand." She said looking at the cane that stayed within his arms reach at all times.
"Not going to sleep?"
"Not while you're still alive."
"Isn't that a little harsh. I didn't kill you after you clearly tried to kill me."
"You haven't earned any trust and I won't sleep until I know we're safe." Blake said as she stood next to Ruby's coffin.
"Then how about we play a game? You can stay where you are and this will hopefully get each of us open up if only a bit."
"What choice do I have?"
"More than you'd think for a supposed prisoner. We both take turns asking a question about the other. If either of us doesn't want to answer say 'pass' and we'll get another question to ask. Are you willing to play?" The offer was tempting since she had been sent to observe the man in question, but it was clear he was fishing for information on either her or Beacon.
"I'll go first." Blake said getting a gesture to continue from the man. "What's your name?"
"Sure you don't want to ask what my villainous plan for world domination is instead."
"Sure you're not deflecting the question."
"Touché, my name is Dunstan Arkwright Hunter of Hunters." He said as he stood up giving a polite bow as if addressing a noble before sitting back down. "Now what is your name? I can't keep referring to you as 'you' for the rest of the night."
"Sure you don't want to know why I was sent here." She responded in a tone mimicking Dunstan's.
"The night is still young there will be time for that later if you want to answer my questions." Dunstan said trying to reaffirm that it was a game played by choice.
"My name is Blake Belladonna Huntress in Training." As she finished talking Blake immediately regretted answering the question so instinctively.
"So you're still in training. Well given a few more years you'll be a something to reckon with." Blake was actually unsure on how to take the compliment given to her by her captor.
"What's a Hunter of Hunters?"
"Someone who hunts down Hunters who have strayed from the path." Blake waited for him to elaborate only to meet with silence. "You want me to elaborate you'll need to ask the right questions. Why do you wear a bow?"
Blake froze the question wondering why he chose to ask such a question perhaps he knew or was just seeking confirmation on whether she was hiding anything. "Pass"
"Okay, where did you study to be a Huntress?"
"Beacon Academy. Why did you ask about my bow?"
"Pass." Dunstan said hoping to forget one of his biggest failures.
"What's a Hunter?"
"Someone who has taken it upon themselves to fight beasts so that others can sleep at night. What does your school's teaching focus on?" Dunstan asked thinking of the complex mechanics, large weaponry, explosives, and the study of the stars some workshops specialized in.
"We're taught to fight and kill Grimm. Specialization is based on what a student will benefit from most be it dust, aura, or weaponry." Thinking it over Blake wondered what would help narrow down where he was from and possibly what he was doing in the forest. "Where were you taught?"
"I was taught to be Hunter in Yharnam though most of my training was done by fighting beasts in the streets." The lack of formal training was surprising along with the knowledge of the town or village he was taught in. Though villages weren't uncommon neither was them vanishing in the night due to Grimm. "How's the study of astronomy going in your city?"
"Once someone figured out that the sun is basically one of countless stars interest just died off. Especially since nothing of use against the Grimm ever came from the study. I'd say there hasn't been any new information on the subject in the last few centuries." Blake's answer got the Hunter to smile underneath the cloth mask and though it was hidden Blake could see a clear shift in his body.
"Sorry I'm just a tad bit happy it's been a while since I've heard any good news." Dunstan answered trying to calm himself back down.
"Why are you out here?"
"Pass"
"Where's Yharnam?"
"Pass"
"What's your biggest secret?" Blake asked on a whim seeing a pattern in Dunstan's responses and the end of their game approaching. Figuring she might as well go all in before he stopped.
"I don't dream." He listlessly answered.
"What?" She hadn't expected a real answer and wondered if he even had given a true response.
"I don't dream anymore. I haven't been able to dream for about a month it's been that way ever since I got here. I haven't been able to see her for a month and it scares me that I may not be able to see her ever again." The answer was serious and it scared Blake that someone would reveal something like that. Dreaming may have been a cultural reference she didn't get, but the way he mentioned the girl made it sound like she was gone.
"I'm sorry." The words just came to her trying to say something.
"I'd even take a nightmare if it meant dreaming again, but sometime you have to deal with what you're given. Now what is your secret?"
A dozen thoughts came to Blake's mind. How she used to be a member of a known and still active terrorist organization. The feeling of guilt over betraying her own kind even if she felt it was the right thing to do. Hiding from the world behind a single black bow in fear of what others would think. Worrying about what the White Fang was up to and how she felt it was her responsibility to stop them. All these thoughts rushed through her head as her mouth began to open trying to say one.
"I'm, I'm"-the words failing to come to her-"Pass."
"Thought so, next time you ask a question try to at least repay the kindness with an answer." Finishing up his response he blew out the last source of light blanketing the room in darkness. Blake was about to attack when she noticed him waving his hand and looking directly at her. Blake recognized the action and let her eyes wonder the room as if she couldn't see and wondering how he could. "Now go to bed I'll keep watch for the night. If I'm lucky your friends will arrive in the morning."
Blake tried to keep her eyes on Dunstan, but she knew that doing so would give away her heritage and the last thing she wanted was to have her throat slit just because she couldn't happened to come across a racist. Crawling into the coffin she realized just how tired she actually was when her eyes began to close and her mind blur as sleep overtook her.
Dunstan awoke when the morning sun shot through his window, seeing his guests still slumbering be decided to make use of the day by replenish his dwindling supply of firewood. Grabbing his favorite tool for felling the trees in the surrounding area he holstered his pistol and strapped his cane to his side like one would a sword to free up his right hand.
Walking to the outskirts of his clearing drew his arm back ready to topple the first tree when he saw flying contraptions in the distance heading in his direction. Normally this wouldn't be anything of note except this one was flying low and continued to descend until it was below the tops of the trees. Dunstan could easily hear the monstrosity carving out a path through the forest towards him. Taking a few steps to his right Dunstan stood still as the metal goliath slid past him destroying the tree he was about to cut down, while also leaving behind a trail of destruction a couple hundred feet into the forest.
The metal contraption opened on one side and a blonde boy wearing a knight's chest piece fell out of the machine as it slid past, after rolling to a stop in front of him the boy fell to his knees emptying his stomach upon the ground. He seemed to struggle for a moment to regain his footing as he tried standing up, seeing him stumble back onto the ground Dunstan offered him a hand. Pulling him up the boy stood about eye to eye with him, getting a better look he saw the plate armor attached to his chest along with a sword in a sheath on his belt.
"Are you going to be all right?" it seemed like the appropriate question after the blonde knight had just empties most of his stomach upon the ground.
"I'll be fine, just need to get my footing back and take some deep breaths. Thanks for the hand, names Jaune Arc." He stood with his chest puffed out trying to seem larger or perhaps more impressive.
"You can call me Dunstan, a Hunter of beasts and all things blood addled." Holding out his left hand for a greeting Jaune took notice of the cane strapped to his back along with the large pistol holstered on his side, the weapon seemed almost archaic in nature lacking a magazine and having a hammer strike the back to ignite the propellant. The most shocking though was what was currently strapped to his right hand. It looked like a large spear head was attached to a boiler using train parts. Not wanting to be rude Jaune took his hand and shook it.
"Well, I have to make sure everyone else is ok." Looking at the destruction finally Dunstan saw the path carved through the forest it looked like someone had chopped down all the trees using a sledge hammer. Then you had the path carved out to the front gate surrounding the church, which now had a 4 foot deep trench leading from the forest edge to his gate.
"I just got this place a month ago and it already looks like it was in the center of a battlefield." Jaune immediately stopped and turned to him wondering why anyone would live out in the Grimm infested forest.
"You actually own this place?"
"I claimed it after the previous owner passed away and took over all his duties I had to evict quite the large lady afterwards it was a nightmare of a job if I remember."
"Wait, what happened to the previous owner then?"
"He came down with a sudden case of death. The apparent cause was a flaming cane being run through his chest."
"Oh, well that's unfortunate."
"Not really, he was a shell of his former self merely a puppet being used to satisfy another being. He even smiled as he passed away. I'd list it as a mercy killing at best and forced retirement at worst." As Jaune began going over everything he just heard a few more people stepped out of the downed craft.
Dunstan saw four more people walk out all dressed in bright radiant clothing. The sight was one to behold, the amount of color found in one location almost hurt Dunstan's eyes after only seeing the colors grey, black, and blood red for so long. The blonde girl punched the machine shaking it slightly and started yelling at it.
"I thought you said you knew how to pilot this thing, what was with the crash landing Weiss?" A girl with ghost white hair and just as pale complexion stepped out of the vehicle see seemed annoyed by the blonde's question.
"I told you before that I have trouble landing these things."
"When you said you had trouble I expected a jarring landing not for you to cut a path through the forest then carve a dirt trench all the way to the front door."
Pyrrha stepped between both of them, "Guys what happened to Jaune?"
"I think he was leaning on the door when it opened I doubt he fell to far from us though." Ren said as he brushed off some of the dirt that stuck to his sleeves.
"Hey guys, I'm over here!" All eyes immediately turned to Jaune and the man standing next to him. Weiss' eyes shrunk to pinpricks as she stumbled backwards away from him ending with her falling to the ground and screaming. In an instant Yang's eyes turned red and launched herself towards him using a blast from her gauntlets Ember Celica. Seeing the blonde flying at him he pushed Jaune out of the way with his left hand and the stake retracted into the device ready to attack, as pressure built up in the apparatus it began to hiss. When they each attacked their fists collided causing an explosion to kick up a cloud of dust around them.
"Is that how you were taught to greet strangers?" Dunstan joked as the smoke began to clear giving both of them a better look at how the other fared from the exchange.
Yang could see that the man's arm was mostly unharmed and he stood unfazed by the blow she dealt, not even shaking from the impact. She couldn't say the same about herself though with her right arm numb from the clash of her fist against the stake head.
"No, this is just how I greet murderers," Yang's aura exploded outwards forcing Dunstan to leap back to avoid the searing blast that accompanied her raging roar.
"Now that's more like the beasts I know, get angry and use that fury to try to kill me. Let each blow bring you a step closer to the bests we all hunt." The taunt clearly got to Yang since she leaped at him again trying to kill her target.
Sure looking fine and feeling fine were two very different things so assuming he was just hiding the damage Yang started throwing a flurry of punches knowing no one could beat her in a close quarters brawl. Each swing she took would cause him to leap backwards just out of her reach and every missed punch only added more fuel to the fire that burned in her. The fifth time he leaped back he planted his feet and raised his weapon priming the stake. Knowing this was her chance Yang charged forward leaving a trail of embers in her wake. She was so focused on the weapon in his right hand she failed to notice him unholstering his pistol until she was already midstrike. Yang expected to just shrug off the bullet after all it was just a pistol so when the barrel lit up she made no effort of dodging. She felt the metal projectile crash into her chest with what felt like the force of a truck immediately halting her attack and stunning her. Yang could only watch as he wound up for his next strike the contraption built up pressure and the stake pulled back momentarily before shooting forward. The impact reminded her of the time she took a Paladin's punch only this time she was to hurt already to get back up completely.
Dunstan walked over to where Yang was as she tried fruitlessly to stand resting her hand on her knee for support. He primed the stake again and prepared his final attack when Yang closed her eyes knowing she wouldn't make it out of the fight alive. She expected the stake to pierce her chest along with her heart, but Instead of the stake being run through her she heard the sound of metal clashing against metal. Opening her eyes Yang saw Jaune taking the force of the impact with his shield.
"Stay out of this little knight my business is only with those who attack me. Now step back and let us continue or you'll be forced to join the fray."
"I can't let you do that. I made a promise to a close friend of mine to protect her."
"A true knight through and through it seems do you truly wish to duel me?"
"Oh no, I don't want to duel you that would be suicide, luckily I have friends." Dunstan rolled just as a hail of bullets flew past were he stood. Looking for the source he saw the person clad in green opening fire with the speed of a Gatling gun from his pistols. Continuing to roll out of the way he noticed the Jaune carrying the brawler away from the fight when he saw a girl come flying at him out of the corner of his eyes wielding a giant hammer. The explosion from the impact heated Dunstan's face due to how close he was. Nora quickly closed the distance and began taking swings with her hammer forcing him back. Having the girl between him and the green clad gunner he knew that he was safe from any bullets lest friendly fire start happening.
She brought her hammer back for another swing only to be interrupted with a pistol shot to the shoulder. The brief pause let Dunstan slam his fist into her gut lifting her off the ground before the Stake Driver fired off propelling her across the field coming to a sudden stop when she hit the ground. With Nora out of the fight Ren charged him to hopefully buy Jaune and Pyrrha enough time for their plan.
Jaune set Yang down next to Weiss who was cradling her knees and mumbling something to herself over and over again. "Weiss we need your help Ren and Pyrrha can't hold him off forever." She was unresponsive and seemed to be in her own world. Not having any time to waste Jaune did the first thing that came to mind and slapped Weiss across the face. "My team is fighting out there putting their lives on the line to help you. Now either you help us win this or you can sit here and die when he's through with us."
Standing up Weiss wiped her eyes clean and stared back at him, "What do you need me to do?"
"Think you can do that speed thing to two people at once?"
"I'll manage who do you want me to speed up?"
"At this point whoever is still standing once we get in position. After you do that just get out of here and look after Yang she took a bad hit back there." Jaune motioned to the unconscious brawler.
"Still trying to look out for us Jaune?"
"What can I say I'm a man who keeps his promises now let's go and end this fight." Jaune ran back towards the fight just in time to see Ren get thrown back by an explosion and fall to the ground unconscious. Pyrrha was on the opposite side from Jaune with her shield held up as she approached the man in tandem with Jaune slowly approaching with his shield raised. Seeing them approach Dunstan let go of the grip on the Stake Driver and let the weapon fall to the ground with a thud as he pulled his cane off of his waist giving it a twirl to get reacquainted with the weapon.
"Come on now I've hardly worked up a sweat, try a little harder and you might walk away from this in one piece." When neither reacted to his little threat Dunstan knew he wouldn't be able to get one to jump the gun on their two pronged attack. Keeping both of his opponents in the corner of his eyes he waited for them to make their move.
The stalemate both parties stood at was suddenly broken when Jaune gave the signal, "Weiss now!"
Dunstan couldn't see the petite girl standing behind the knight when a spark of some kind flew over him and landed at the foot of both fighters expanding into some complex circle and causing them to glow. Before he could tell what happened both fighters were upon him closing the gap and attacking quicker than he thought possible. He managed to parry Jaune's strike only to take a sword slash across his back drawing some blood across his cloths.
They continued to push him back with each swing getting quicker as Dunstan began to tire out. Jaune pushed forward ahead of his partner only for his attack to be interrupted with a bullet to his chest. Before Dunstan could take advantage of the opportunity a spear flew at him catching him in the arm.
The spear was imbedded in his forearm with the head of it sticking out the other side. Luckily it didn't separate his arm from the rest of him. Jaune was running his hand across the dent that now adorned his armor when he saw the damage Pyrrha had done to Dunstan. It made him pale in appearance and the Champion wasn't fairing much better since neither of them had ever done this kind of harm to a person before. Usually the fight would end or the person would faint from aura exhaustion before it got to that stage and here was Dunstan slowly ripping the spear from his arm before throwing it into the ground.
"Now this is a fight, I haven't felt so alive in weeks." Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a vial full of a crimson liquid and stabbed the concoction into his thigh as a hiss escaped his mouth from the sensation. The wound began to seal itself as he approached the stunned warriors. "Come on, you started this fight so try to entertain me a bit longer."
Jaune started to take notice of the blood that soaked Dunstan's clothes it was from wounds he and his team had inflicted. Thinking quickly he charged Dunstan to keep the fight away from his disarmed teammate. His sword clashed against the cane emitting sparks from the blades, using both his hands Jaune tried to push Dunstan back to no avail. If anything Jaune was being pressured back as Dunstan continued to press onwards with each step Jaune's sword came closer to his own face. One more step and a flick of the wrist threw Crocea Mors into the ground next to Jaune ending with a canes tip pointed at his throat.
"Yield Jaune Arc so that you may yet return to those you love." The threat was immediate and apparent with the weapon held at his throat.
"What about Blake and Ruby, why are you giving me the option of surrender when you gave them none?"
"Attacking Ruby was a mistake I am deeply sorry for and Blake would not listen to reason so I had to end the fight. You however can still end this call off your team and you can take them all back to wherever you came from." When he finished talking Dunstan felt something sharp poking him in the back and immediately regretted looking away from his second opponent.
"You are going to lower your weapon and come with us for the murder of Ruby Rose and Blake Belladonna." Pyrrha said with her spear in pressed against Dunstan's back.
"Afraid I can't since there's no guarantee you wouldn't kill me the moment I lower my cane. You stab me and I kill your leader not the best way for a knight to pass on. So what do you say Jaune?" Dunstan seemed to be completely ignoring Pyrrha at this point and only talking to Jaune.
"Pyrrha don't lower your weapon." Jaune said as the point of the cane pricked his neck drawing blood.
"Call off your partner and we can both walk away from this." Dunstan replied feeling the spear begin to pressure his skin with Pyrrha mimicking his movement.
"We don't get to walk away from this one way or another it ends here the only difference being how many bodies are brought back."
Dunstan stared Jaune in the eye trying to see if he was bluffing and only saw defiance and resolve shinning back at him. Slowly pulling his weapon away from Jaune's neck he dropped it while raising his hands above his head in surrender. "I give up."
Jaune collapsed to the ground his legs shaking as adrenaline wore off. "Oh thank god. I really didn't want to die back there. Now let's get out of here you have a lot to answer for."
"Aren't you going to retrieve Ruby and Blake?"
"They're still here?" Jaune asked wondering how the bodies could still be in one piece after a night in the Grimm infested forest.
"I have them resting in coffins at my workshop." He responded feeling the spear poke him in the back again.
"Why would you have them?" Pyrrha said concerned over the possibility of a trap or him trying to escape.
"I couldn't leave them in the forest after beating them. It isn't right to leave a person in the wild especially with beasts prowling around." The possibility of a proper burial was something amazing to Huntsman and Huntresses since when they are recovered it's usually only fragments of the weaponry that remains.
"Pyrrha stay behind him I'll take the front. Dunstan you're going to take us to them and if we can we'll bring them back with us." Jaune ordered as they began making their way to the workshop.
As they passed the downed craft Jaune's shield blocked the stab of a rapier meant for Dunstan. Sparks bouncing off as Weiss got leaped back ready to try again. "Weiss, stop the fights over."
"Not until he's dead!" She yelled charging again as Jaune kept his shield raised.
"We're not killers he's given up."
"He took Ruby and Blake from us how can we let him live. After everything he's done, after everything we've done to get here it can't have been for nothing."
"Would Ruby have wanted you to kill him after he surrendered to us?"
"Don't use her as an excuse for me to spar his life."
"Don't use her as an excuse to take his life. He's in our custody and we're going to see Ruby and Blake."
"You mean." Weiss froze thinking about the possibility of her partner being alive.
"After he fought them he didn't leave them in the woods to be devoured. He said it was the right thing to do." Jaune said dashing Weiss' hopes.
We'll bring them back right?"
"It's the least we can do for them." Jaune said as Weiss stepped out of their way allowing them to continue up to the building with her following just behind Pyrrha.
Opening the front door the hinges squeaked from wear and tear over the years. When it was fully opened they could see books stacked around the edges, a messy altar was stood at the back with some device lying atop it, and in the center of the room sat two coffins with their lids open revealing Ruby and Blake resting peacefully in them. Jaune covered his mouth in shock and Pyrrha froze at the sight of her comrades.
Walking over to the coffins Dunstan gave each of them a swift kick to wake its occupants. "Sleeping beauties you have some visitors wake up."
Ruby was the first to stir giving a large yawn as she stretched her arms into the air. Rubbing her eyes she looked around to see Weiss drop Myrtenaster and walk over only to embrace her in a hug. "You unimaginable dunce do you have any idea how sad I was when we got word you were dead. I thought I lost my best friend," Weiss tightened her grip on the drowsy leader. "Don't you ever run off on your own again as partners we have to watch each other's backs and keep the other safe."
"Weiss I'm fine this Hunter made sure me and Blake were someplace safe after he accidentally attacked me and knocked Blake out," Ruby paused for a moment recalling the events of last night when something came to mind. "I never did ask you your name mind telling me now after all you do owe me after what you did."
Dunstan couldn't tell if she was referring to the unprovoked backstab or the drugging deciding to play it safe he decided to comply. "My name is Dunstan Arkwright, Hunter of Hunters." Giving a polite bow he saw Blake start to wake up.
"Blake you're alright!" Jaune cheered from the sight of another living friend thought dead.
"Yeah I'm alive." Blake said slightly surprised half expecting herself to be dead after falling asleep. Looking around she saw Weiss to crying into Ruby's shoulder.
"You might want to take this celebration outside I doubt your friends will stay unconscious forever and I don't want them running in here with those weapons of theirs." Dunstan quickly undid the cuffs he put on Ruby's cuffs letting her jump around before he turned to Blake's.
Walking outside they were greeted with the sight of a second bullhead properly landed next to the crashed one along with their Professor Glynda Goodwitch and Ozpin. Taking immediate notice of the situation along with two older individuals Dunstan raised his hands above his head. "I surrender no need to destroy any more of my property."
Ozpin looked over his students, finding Ruby and Blake among them brought a slight smile to his face, "I'm just here to collect my students if you're going to surrender though I see no problem with accepting."
"I resend that statement feel free to have them though. They already caused so damage to my property as is and I doubt I'd ever be able to fix it." Dunstan motioned to the crashed bullhead along with the trench carved through the surrounding field.
"Any reason why three of my students are currently unconscious?"
"That would be my fault, sir." Jaune said as he stepped forward. "I wanted revenge for Ruby and Blake so I dragged my team along with Yang and Weiss to fight Dunstan. If you're going to assign blame on anyone it would be me sir"
"You do understand that you stole an aircraft from Beacon went rogue with two of the schools teams and tried to engage another person in combat Mr. Arc." Glynda said clearly angry about having to abandon her post to retrieve them.
"Yes they did and they failed miserably at it while managing to get beaten up by me." Dunstan said walking up next to Jaune and placing a hand on his shoulder. "Don't you think that they've received enough punishment already?"
"Do you have any idea how much damage was caused by them even Bullhead they stole may not even be functional after what they did."
"They damaged my property and I don't plan on making them pay for whatever damage they caused here. After all they came and got the rest of their team back with no casualties, where I come from that would be successful job completed."
"That is no excuses for-"
"Glynda that's enough," Ozpin interrupted, "I am sorry for any harm my students may have caused you. I hope that this hasn't ruined any chance of us getting to know you."
"I wouldn't worry about that what they did would hardly qualify for an attempt on my life. Besides I doubt you'd stop sending those machines over my home simply because I asked you to." Dunstan said trying to gauge the man's reaction.
"All it would take is you letting us ask you a few questions and we'd get out of your hair."
"I'm not going to give up all of secrets just because you asked nicely though I might for others who've earned it. Instead I'm going to give one of your students a gift and hope that it leads to future cooperation between the both of our workshops." Dunstan walked over to Ruby and pulled something from his pouch. A decently sized metal bell he placed in Ruby's hand letting her feel the weight it had. "This is a gift for only you to use, should you require aid in combat simply ring the bell and help will arrive. All Hunters keep a pair of bells on them I own the counterpart to this one, I hope that this helps smooths over what I did to you."
Ruby could see that with the way he spoke the bell clearly had some significant value and decided to place it in her pouch. "Thanks Dunstan, I'll keep it safe."
Ozpin opened his scroll and with a tap of the screen the other bullhead sprung to life its thrusters fully operational. "Glynda please take team JNPR back to beacon in that bullhead I'll take Team RWBY back in the one we brought." Rubbing her temple Glynda motioned for Pyrrha and Jaune to carry their unconscious teammates back into the airship so they could head back. Blake and Weiss carried Yang back inside the bullhead before the doors closed. Dunstan watched as both machines lifted off the ground and took off back to where they came from.
Walking back into the graveyard Dunstan sat down in front of Gehrman's tombstone when he spoke to it, "Now comes the most boring part about this plan, the waiting."
Wohoo some progress, along with my longest chapter to date again coming in at 5426 words. Really feel like I'm getting into a nice groove here between the school work, actual work, and writing this. So Ruby has the Beckoning Bell now, hopefully this will work out well for all parties involved. Also who doesn't love participating in some jolly cooperation now and then. The Next chapter will should have a little more world building along with Ruby learning more about the Hunters Dream. Also in case you missed it in the first segment of the chapter Dunstan is disconnected from the Hunters dream so no more respawns for him.
Edit Notes: Grammar & Punctuation. Also the addition of 2168 words that's a little over a third of this chapter for those of you wondering and the removal of 1157 words that were either replaced or made obsolete with the new addition. Already rewrote this chapter so I pray I won't have to do it again.