Just watched the Volume 4 trailer and I am getting a serious Valkyria Chronicles vibe from the animations and the backgrounds. Everything seems to have this painted effect on it which honestly makes the backgrounds look really nice. Particle effects have stepped up with the Grimm leaving behind a red glowing trail with their eyes and the effects on Ruby's cape. The visuals have improved overall, but I'm unsure on if the new shading they're using on the character models make it look more like a video game and a step back from the original style they developed. They draw aggressive ties with the Red Trailer, but the fight can't even be compared to it. The V4 trailer isn't as impactful as the Red trailer. Hits don't seem to land, even slicing and cutting feel really weak. The Grimm have no weight to them, only animation, making them feel unreal and uncharacteristically light. Overall opinion on the series is still the same until I've seen some actual story. On the plus side, it seems like they decided against giving Jaune some ugly and scraggly facial hair like some junior in highschool who finally got his first few chin hairs to grow out. So thumbs up to whoever made that call in the art department.
Thank you all for sticking around this long. It's been a good year and this story has nearly reached 220,000 words. When I started out I couldn't imagine making it past 100,000 let alone 200,000. That along with so many of you following, favoriteing, and viewing this story has been such a thrill. Nearly a year and a half has gone by since I started writing this. I've moved states, switched jobs, and bought myself a car since my last one was a aging piece of scrap that needed to visit the shop every other month. The point is that this has been a exhilarating crazy ride and writing this has been a highlight in what is a mostly boring life. Onto the end and all it brings.
There's going to a epilogue and a Q&A in the next chapter, see details below.
Dunstan jolted awake with ragged breath. Turning his head, he saw a field of white flowers surrounding him. If he continued to lay in the field, Dunstan doubted any onlookers would even be able to spot him. Sitting up the he could see a wall of clouds in the distance obscuring everything past the iron fence. Reaching out with his right hand, Dunstan gripped a wooden post and pulled himself up. With the added height he recognized the familiar setting. Tilting his head, Dunstan could see the cross he was clinging to covered in vines. Pushing away from the object and nearly toppling over, he managed to maintain his balance.
"Take that world! You can try to kill me, but I'll always find a way out of death's grasp. I survived my illness, the Hunt, and now an execution by some insane scholar." Dunstan clung to the wooden post. "Nothing can kill Dunstan Arkwright, Hunter of Hunters and Slayer of Gods."
His limbs had never felt heavier than they did now. Even trying to fully stand up was proving to be difficult. Nothing was making any sense for the Hunter as he saw the great tree that bordered the Hunter's workshop. Gehrman's wheelchair still sat beneath it. Vines had taken root over the aid and the wheels appeared as if they could never be moved with how much had grown into them. Even the tree had changed with blossoms appearing between the leaves that formed the overhead canopy. Brushing his hand over the wooden frame, Dunstan felt a twinge of sadness. The First Hunter was long gone and even what remained of him would eventually be eroded by time. Keeping a hand on the now rusted iron fence, Dunstan began making his way towards the gate.
Pushing against the gate offered nothing as the rust had even gripped the hinges. Getting a lead up Dunstan rammed his shoulder into the gates snapping it open as rust on the hinges began to flake off from the sudden movement. The stone pathways had become overgrown with grass and weeds. The stones cracked or partially retaken by the earth from the lack of use clearing them. Following the path Dunstan came to the base of the stairs leading into the workshop. The workshop was clearly worn down. Even from the base of the stairs he could see the holes in the roof where the tree had begun invading the building. Vines creeped through the wooden boards, but whether they were destroying the structure or holding it together was questionable. Looking over the path leading behind the building was impossible to reach due to the foliage that had grown at the entrance.
Taking his first step up the stairs, Dunstan nearly slipped on the wet stone. Holding out a hand he pressed it into the stone wall and began slowly climbing. With each step Dunstan's body felt like it was being weighed down with lead. He could feel his muscles beginning to strain under the simple task of walking. Reaching the sealed door Dunstan was readied his hand to force it open to stop short of the wooden barrier. Softly running his hand over the wood he turned his hand around and knocked instead.
After a moment of silence, footsteps could be heard coming from behind the door. The latch on the door was undone and once it clattered against the frame the door began to creak open. The vines desperately gripping to the door only to fall under their own weight once their support was pulled away. A woman in a Victorian dress was stood before Dunstan with porcelain white skin. Even with gloves covering the top of her hand, mechanical joints could be seen making up her fingers and likely her arms. Hair as white as snow could be seen extruding from underneath her bonnet. Even at the sight of the disheveled Hunter she remained calm and kept a smile on her face.
"It is a pleasure to see you again Dunstan. Did you enjoy your rest?" She reached out with to place her hand on Dunstan's shoulder.
Taking step back Dunstan let the hand fall past him, "What happened to the dream and why am I here?" Dunstan fell forward as one of his legs buckled.
The Doll was quick to catch the Hunter and soften his fall since holding him on her own proved to be too much. "Are you okay?"
"Please, just tell me what is going on. I feel like I'm losing my mind right now." Dunstan clung to her feeling a strange warmth emanating from her.
"Let me help you up. I'll help you to the dreams edge." They both slowly stood up, as Dunstan leaned on her for support.
With the added support Dunstan hobbled alongside the Doll. They descended the stairs giving Dunstan a chance to view the Dream from the highest point available. Where there used to pillars of stone rising up from the clouded depths and into the sky now laid nothing. The horizon was clear of any of the marvels that used to dot it. Now the only thing around them was an endless expanse of clouds as far as the eye could see.
"When did everything change?" The words slipped from his mouth.
"The plants took some time to get the way they are along with the tree growing into the workshop. The other pillars vanishing happened just before your arrival."
"How did this happen? The dream is supposed to a constant in this world. Never changing unless effected by a higher power."
"Something tried to destroy the dream, but it appears that you're currently holding it up with your own body. Even without a spark to fuel it or a conscious mind to drive it, it can still move on instinct alone."
"But I'm standing right next to you. How can I even hold up something like the dream? I'm just a human who fumbled his way through the Hunt and survived." Dunstan came to a stop at the bottom of the stairs as his headache flared up. Nearly toppling over in pain the Doll sat Dunstan on the plateau she normally rested on. "What's happening to me?"
"Your current vessel is failing. You've been away from the dream for too long. Even your memories are leaking out of your head." The Doll ran her hand through Dunstan's hair. "You need to return to your body finally, after all these years."
"I'm not even human anymore am I?" Dunstan weakly asked with some defeat in his voice. "Why did I separate myself if it would just cause me to decay and possibly kill me."
"To avoid Rom's fate. Even when she obtained the form of a Great One the shift was too much and she was left empty. With the physiology of a great one she could do much, but without a mind to guide her she could only sit in the lake and stagnate." The Doll offered Dunstan a hand.
Taking her hand, he stood up and leaned on her again. "Prevent the complete loss of self or at least keep the drive. I doubt our minds are even compatible, but what little that does get through will be better than nothing." They continued walking down the path, until they reached the edge. The iron fence that once surrounded the workshop completely had a hole in it. What remained of the barrier was loosely hanging over the edge as if something had pulled it out.
"This is as far as I can take you. I can't exist outside of the dream." She came to a stop at the end of the path.
"I could always sit up here and wait out the end of the world with you, but that wouldn't be fair. To many people had to die during my Hunt to have it all amount to nothing and I can't just let my student down. Please give Ruby my regards and what she's owed." Dunstan handed over a fistful of necklaces and walked away from the Doll towards the edge of the cliff. "I don't want to die."
Dunstan took a step and plummeted over the edge. Falling through the air with the tower rushing past, Dunstan watched the cloud layer fast approaching. Images of his hunt flashing in his head before burning away. As the images burned away he was left with a feeling of regret and doubt over the blanks forming in his memory. Things he knew were important vanishing in his grasp. Leaving behind only momentary thoughts over what could have just been lost.
Breaching the cloud layer Dunstan was greeted with the sight of a vast ocean of darkness. The sea extended out in every direction and the clouds prevented any direct light from ever reaching below their coverage. Looking down towards the towers base it was made clear how it managed to stay standing. Black tentacles reached out from the depths and griped the monumental column of stone. The waves were choppy with white crests forming as they crashed about. The situation below could have been mistaken for a storm if the clouds weren't a light grey.
A sharp pain came from Dunstan's left arm. Bringing the appendage forward he saw that his forearm had fallen off. The flesh appeared shattered and turning around he could see the arm above him falling at a much slower speed before breaking apart into a mist. The pain faded away as he got closer to the ocean below. A bright red glow was piercing the darkness of the ocean. It reminded him of a bright shining jewel just below the surface of the waves. With only a few seconds before he would hit the surface of the ocean began to violent churn until a hole opened up. The water was being pushed back by some force creating a barrier.
Dunstan fell into the tunnel of water as it continuously pushed further into the depths and towards the red glow. Eyes could be seen outside the barrier. Each one looking at Dunstan with a hunger, but refusing to approach the wall. He could see what appeared to be a mass of carcasses floating downwards with him, but they quickly vanished. The water stopped carving out a tunnel when it touched a ruby about the size of a small house. The creature it was embedded in had black skin that looked like smooth rubber as the water ran off of it. Before he could even comprehend the sight, Dunstan slammed into the jewel. What should have been a solid material reacted like water, letting Dunstan sink into its depths. Floating in the heavy liquid Dunstan felt it begin to eat away at his body.
His already missing arm gave easy access to his internals as the wound continued to grow. The liquid had devoured his arm up to his shoulder by the time Dunstan noticed the flesh surrounding his extremities had been absorbed. The bones floating in place as chips began to form on their surface. The small amount of light that shined through the tunnel vanished as the water rushed back in letting the darkness return. The silence was deafening at the bottom of the sea. The only sensation being pain as more of his body was eaten away at.
Dunstan snapped awake from the sound of something ringing in his ears. He couldn't remember passing out, but the awaking he got was enough to remind him of his situation. The sound was distinctive and seemed to be emanating from his surroundings. It was a constant in the darkness that he tried to focus on. He felt the noise held some importance to him, yet the reasoning eluded him. Grasping at the thought he could almost remember a face of a girl. He knew her hair was dark and that her eyes were bright. Something about the blurry image held importance to him. Maybe it was someone he knew at a point in life. His memories had been slipping away lately, but he found the ones that still remained tended to be more recent. Letting the memory go for a moment, they remembered two people talking to each other.
"This is a gift for your use only. Should you require aid in battle, simply ring the bell and help will arrive. All Hunters keep a bell on them and I hold this one's counterpart. I hope this helps smooth over what I did to you," The male voice said as he gave a metal bell to a girl.
The girl inspected the bell for a moment before putting it in her pocket. "Thanks Dunstan, I'll keep it safe."
The girl he saw was clearly the one he was trying to think of, but the man remained a mystery. It didn't help that they were watching the conversation from above and the man wore a hat to hide his face. The ringing clearly belonged to the girl's bell. The only question remaining was what the man was currently doing if he wasn't coming to her aid. After some inspection it became apparent that the counterpart to the bell had been destroyed somehow. From what it could see, nothing was connected to the bell's sound as it searched for a response. Each ring passing through the vast sea in a vain search for something long gone. Sounds would ping off of its body like sonar bringing unwanted attention to the leviathan.
A solution became clear as it mulled over the problem. If the man was either dead or gone then the ringing would continue. Pulling itself away from the stable column of rocks that it clung to, the being began sinking deeper into the sea towards the source of the sound. After a minute of sinking through the sea it came across a tear sitting in the immensely pressured depths. How such a tear came to be was unimportant, but it did offer an easier means of entry. As long as something answered the call of the bell it would be made to stop by the owner. A guttural cry was released as it reached out to the gash and ripped it open. The difference in pressure being enough to keep the ocean in, but with enough force it managed to push some of the tentacles through. Its vision was limited by the small gap it was peering through. Reaching down it grasped the structure and began to pull in order to find the girl who called it. Eventually the structure as it pulls up anything that had broken loose.
Just as it had guessed the girl was among the rubble along with something not too dissimilar from itself. The key distinction being that the small being was only a shell that had somehow found a way to move. On closer inspection it appeared to be made from the scraps that floated through its home. Leftovers or things that had died with nothing around to devour them. The girl remained calm even with its gaze fixated on her. It was clear she could feel the gaze, but unlike the thing that struggled pointlessly, she seemed to accept what was happening. Could just be fear though now that it had a better view of her.
Pulling them through the hole, it formed a pocket of air to store the two beings. Neither of them could move yet due to the gaze that held onto them, but a number of pillars starting to rise from the depths offered a solution. With the bubble in its grasp, it swam next to a stone column and placed the bubble atop it. The bubble stuck to the stone and easily pushed the water out of the ruins that laid atop the stone. Algae had been growing on the structures and a mist began to form in the newly created space. With the two beings taken care of it went back to its column of stone. Using its tentacles, it wrapped itself around the column to make sure it wouldn't drift away as it slept. Tired from the effort and uninterested in the outcome of the battle it went back to its slumber.
Ruby couldn't believe what was happening. One moment she was about to die and the moment she passed into the darkness she felt all her injuries fade away and all her energy return. She still couldn't move, but neither could Floes from the look of things. They were being held in a sphere of some kind by something larger than the biggest Grimm she had ever seen. A red jewel could be seen on its head that let off a soft glow that pierced the darkness. With the way it moved, Ruby would have called it a squid. Its skin seemed to shimmer in the water. She could see it sparkle like the night sky as focusing on a single point seemed to make the lights vanish from sight.
In a blur of motion, Ruby could feel her prison begin to quickly move through the sea. The g-force pushing against her body until they came to a sudden halt. The bubble they were in was lifted through the water them smashed atop something throwing Ruby and Floes into the ground. The first thing she felt was the soft ground beneath her. She stretched out a hand and gripped the grass finding it surprisingly gooey. Lifting her hand, she saw that it was now caked in the green slime. Throwing herself off the ground, Ruby quickly wiped her clothing down and threw the algae back onto the ground. Ruby felt something watching her and leaped to the side as Floes smashed his hand into the spot she was previously stood.
Floes removed his hand from the shattered stone and lifted it towards Ruby. Before he could get near the speedster, she vanished in a gust of petals. The ruins turned deathly silent as Floes raised his head in search of Ruby. When nothing gave away his prey's position, he took a more active role in flushing her out. Leaping down from the platform he began walking the grounds. Slowing his pace before every corner to see if a streak of red would burst from behind it. The process was slow going, but Floes was sure that Ruby hadn't moved from her hiding spot. Eventually he found himself at the base of a small tower. Two bridges ran off the tower at about 15 feet. Kicking the door down Floes was the barrel of a high impact sniper rifle. A flash of fire filled Floes vision as the bullet smashed into his head. A small chunk of flesh had been torn from his, but without any effort more flesh sprung up from within to fill the gap.
Looking back into the door Floes could see that Ruby was already gone. Ascending the staircase, he followed the only path she could have taken. Floes opened the door to the bridge. He found himself atop the ruins once again. Looking out over the remains of the structures for Ruby. Before he could decide on a path to take, floes raised his hand to catch a scythe. The blade began sinking into his when the surge of flesh pushed the weapon away.
Ruby took another swing with her weapon and managed to catch Floes leg. It got the same result however when the weapon rebounded out of the wound. Pointing the barrel at Floes, she fired a round hoping to distance herself from the man. Flying backwards she saw the bullet begin to carve into his flesh. When the bullet disintegrated from the impact, flesh began to reform around the open wound. Hooking her scythe on the tower, Ruby threw herself onto the roof. Turning around to look at Floes, she saw him fly towards her.
The top of the tower exploded from the sudden impact. Dust flew in every direction as rubble fell to the ground. While the rubble rained down, Ruby could be seen moving through the falling debris. She jumped from rock to rock trying to pick up speed as a white streak followed behind. Floes made no attempt to maneuver around the stones and kept a clear line heading towards Ruby. Ruby shot out of the cloud of dust and into the destroyed buildings. Flying through an open window she slid to a stop with her gun pointed at the window.
Ruby kept her breathing steady as she tried to find a way to kill Floes. At the very least it appeared her weapon could hurt him, but how much was up in the air. She continued to wait for Floes to leap past the window or at least hear his steps patrolling the road. When nothing happened she began to worry. She could hear something whistling through the air when back wall exploded causing Ruby to leap towards the window. Spinning around midair she could see the large stone that shattered the wall and a lack of Floes. Ruby swung her scythe on her left side knowing she was just flushed out of her cover. The blade catching Floes in the chest. However, that did little to detour him as his fist hit her in the side.
"Finally got you," Floes said.
Floes fist made a solid connection launching Ruby down the road. She hit the ground and slid to a stop while clutching at her side. Crescent Rose was still in her hand thanks to the death grip she developed when it came to the weapon. Quickly standing up she saw Floes land and immediately run towards her. Using her semblance, she vanished around the corner. Half way down the road she pressed her foot into the stone and launched herself back towards the intersection. The blade separated giving her a trail of serrated blades. Floes rounded the corner ready to throw himself after Ruby, only for her to shoot past him. His head followed Ruby before ducking under a blade that would have caught his neck. Floes was about to follow when a blade cut into his leg, causing him to begin falling over. Even as he fell, blades continued to fly past cutting into him. By the time the gust of wind had passed, Floes was kneeling on half a leg. The wires severing his left arm while the blade took out chunks across his body.
Floes began reforming himself when a bullet tore through his head. Ruby anchored her weapon to the ground with its blade and quickly chambered another round. Bullets began to fly down the street as Floes raised his good arm to shield the remainder of his head. Protecting his head opened up other avenues for Ruby to exploit. A round severed Floes good leg causing him to tip over from the lack of support. Using his arm to brace instinctively, Floes felt another bullet go through his head. The barrage came to an end after the eighth shot.
"Are you finished?" Floes asked as he stood on his legs as they began to regrow. The injuries that covered his body healing one by one. The two holes in his head healing last.
Holding out his hand, a small cut appeared. Blood slowly came to the surface of his palm and with a wave it formed the hilt of a sword. Floes slowly walked forward, as the blood from his previous injuries began to lift off the ground. Soon a full blade had been constructed in his hand. Taking a step forward, Floes vanished.
Ruby watched as Floes disappeared from her sight and brought her weapon up. She could feel the impact of Floes' sword against her scythe. Pulling her weapon back she ducked under the blade as it followed through. Bringing her weapon across, she swung at Floes. The blade clipping Floes arm as she ran past. Ruby raced towards the outer edge of the ruins while avoiding Floes.
When Floes managed to track her down again he saw a line of pillars a few feet away from the barrier. It was too dark to see any shadows that may have laid on the ground, but simple elimination would suffice. Floes pulled his sword above his head as it began to elongate. The handle stretched to the length of the blade while the blade shifted into a single spear head. Drawing the weapon back, floes launched it at one of the pillars. The spear pierced the rock like butter and continued into the barrier. After a moment the pillar collapsed with its support shattered leaving the other four standing.
Holding up his hand, another spear began to take shape. "Why don't you just come out and make this easier on the both of us." When no response came, Floes threw his spear.
When the spear destroyed the pillar, it threw rubble across the others forcing a red cape to whip around from the gust. With Ruby's position exposed Floes drew blood from his hand to form a sword. Floes walked towards the pillar with his sword poised to strike. When she made no attempt to move he leaped around the hiding place and brought his sword down. His blade Passing through the air as he realized the cape was pinned to the pillar with a knife.
Floes felt the scythe going through his right arm suddenly and tried to bring his left to catch the blade. His bones breaking as Ruby twisted the blade under the hand to hook his other arm through the blade. Pulling her weapon back, she pressed it into Floes' chest. With a burst of speed, she carried Floes on her weapon and slammed him into the barrier. Ruby continued to try and push Crescent Rose further into Floes with her feet failing to find enough traction on the stone.
"Do you think that you'll be able to stop me like this. I'll heal from any wound and wear you down until you're driven into a corner. I'm immortal."
Ruby drew a silver knife from her pocket and threw it into Floes' left foot. Raising her boot, she stamped atop the knife further drilling it into the stone. "I'm going to make sure you pay for killing Dunstan."
Floes mouth snapped at her, "The sooner you defects die the quicker I can take my place as a god. Humanities been blind for centuries in their attempts to quell the nightmares or Grimm as they've taken to naming them. I will be what the kingdoms unify under and be the one who will guide the remnants that remain."
"What are you talking about?" Ruby could feel her arms beginning to strain from the effort of pinning Floes.
"When the world's fulcrum shattered it changed everything. Anything trying to get in became disjointed and was forced to rely on another being's mind for a functional form. The most efficient forms becoming what the people would remember. Always evolving and adapting with the people. You've been fighting a losing war and I'm going to offer a solution. Any kingdom that isn't with me will fall and from its ashes something even brighter will emerge." Floes ripped his arm free and hit Ruby across the head.
She stumbled back a moment before falling against a building and sliding to the ground. "Have you ever fished before, Floes?"
"Did I knock your brain loose again? As soon as I'm free, I'll be sure to fix that."
"Patch didn't have a lake, but dad would sometimes go along the coast with Qrow and they'd fish." Ruby watched Floes continue to try to work the blade out. "Whenever they got back, they'd talk about what they caught and what's swimming in the water during the season. Told me to be wary of getting blood from the fish in the water since it could attract sharks. Do you know what they called that when it was done on purpose?"
Floes looked up for a moment then back to the blade and began franticly trying to pry it free. "Get out of me you piece of scrap."
"It's called chumming. Yang would make some joke about getting all chummy with the sharks and we'd all groan at her pun. Me, I thought it would be nice to have a friendly shark or something. Kind of like Zwie, but for the sea since he can't do much in the water." Ruby watched as the glowing eyes from the darkness came closer to the bubble.
"You need me to help stop the plague. Without me there'll be countless deaths in each kingdom. They can't contain the plague by themselves. Even the Grimm will come back stronger than ever once this is finished. More will try to reach Remnant and the Grimm will only flourish in numbers and strength. You need me to save your species."
"You're not the only one making a sacrifice. I'm going to lose my darling for this. The revenge is a nice consolation on that cost though." Ruby gave a weak wave goodbye as something massive opened up behind Floes.
Floes reached out with his arm as if to claw at the air only for a pair of teeth to crush through the barrier. The rows of teeth snapping shut just beyond Floes' hand. The gust of wind from the sudden rush blowing Ruby's hair back, as the sea monster drew back out of the barrier. The bubble around the ruins shifted slights with some of the air being displaced so violently. Ruby watched as it swam away, back into the pits of the sea. More light began to spill into the ruins with the surface fast approaching. Ruby laid on the ground, staring up at the barrier.
With the battle over she could feel the pressure pushing down on her from the constant ascension. It was like watching the shifting tides as water rushed across the bubble. Colors erupting from what light managed to get caught in it. When the column breached the surface the barrier seemed to vanish. A gust of air sweeping through the ruins and pushing down as the pillar continued to rise towards the clouds. Ruby could see the dreary grey clouds with pockets of moonlit breaking through the thinner layers.
As she rose through the clouds, Ruby could feel the temperature drop. The ruins became shrouded in rolling clouds for a moment. The clouds spilling off the edge of the column as they tried to move around the new intrusion. Droplets of water beginning to cling to the surface before it rises above the clouds. The cool breeze that was created only serving to further calm Ruby. She breathed in the humid air and felt it chill her lungs. The crisp air would have been an annoyance if not for how happy she was to be alive.
Piercing through the clouds, Ruby could see the moon that hanged above the Dream. It laid shattered in the night sky. Ruby thought back on her first trip to the dream and remembered the oddly whole moon that filled its sky. Turning her head to the side she could see another pillar they were rising up next to. Standing up she began walking towards the other end of the ruins. Destruction had claimed a few of the structures and some of the road. Even the bridge she walked under had been mostly shattered when rubble fell upon it. The road she shredded along with Floes even had turned over stone slabs due to the wind kicked up. A smile passed over her lips remembering what she had managed to do. When Ruby reached the outer edge of the ruins she looked up and saw what looked like a tree sprouting atop the neighboring column. She could see a fence poking out over the edge of the column.
Ruby's eyes widened at the revelation and took a few steps back. Waiting as the ruins to rise further into the sky. Crouching down low she put her feet back with her left foot further up then her right. Ruby brought her hand to the ground with her finger tips barely touching the stone. Raising her head, she waited for the moment when the ruins become level with the other column. The moment she saw the hanging fence, Ruby sprinted forward in a burst of petals. She flew over the edge of the ruins and towards the hole in the fence. Her cape whipped around in the wind as she tried to bridge the gap. Ruby skidded across the dirt, only coming to stop after hitting a tree.
"Hello again, Ruby," Doll welcomed Ruby back.
"Doll, I'm so sorry. I was with Dunstan and then I couldn't stop Floes. Floes stabbed him through the chest. I'm sorry, just so sorry, that I couldn't save him."
"All Hunters who've performed their duties pass on, Ruby. It was Dunstan's time to move on. I do have something to give you. I believe that Dunstan would have wanted you to have these." The Doll handed 2 badges over to Ruby. Both of which resembled pendants. One was jet black and had a crow with its wings spread. The other had a gem of some kind in its center that seemed to hold lightening in it. The last badge was
"I don't know what to say Doll. How did you manage to get these? I thought Dunstan kept them on him at all times."
"I was privy to most of his possessions before his departure. There is one other badge that you deserve, but it would be improper to give it to you without an explanation." Doll held out a single old iron badge. It was shaped like a scythe's blade and had runes carved into its base. A single hole adorned it with a silver thread to keep it secured on the bearer. "This badge belonged to the first Hunter Gehrman. It was a privilege for the Hunters of old to hold this and eventually Gehrman's became the only one left after his original students died. Those who claim the badge as their own must truly be prepared to assume the will of those who've gone before. With the Hunt ended this is where you can part with the Dream."
"What about all the other Great Ones who managed to make it to Remnant? Won't the plague just continue as it has now?"
"The plague reached its peak with tonight's Hunt, like it did in the last. Now it will begin its slow decline over the next several centuries until it's little more than a myth once again. Perhaps new life will take shape thanks to the changes provided by the plague."
"I'm the only Hunter left. If I leave wouldn't that just end everything Dunstan built?"
"Dunstan wasn't the first and he won't be the last. New Hunters will awaken with time and find their way here. The situation calls for the clean up after this Hunt so that will be their job until the end. They will stumble, but never be allowed to fall. They will be the new generation of Hunters to help push Remnant towards its new future."
"They won't have anyone to guide them, will they?" Ruby already knew the answer to her question.
"A basic direction will be given, but they will have to find their own path in the world."
"Then I ask that you give me that badge."
"If you take this now, you'll be a bound to this dream until the Dream sees no more use in you."
"I can't leave other people out on their own. I don't know what would have happened if it wasn't for my team and Dunstan being there for me. The least I can do is be there for them." Ruby took the badge and drew the thread over her head. Letting go she felt the cold iron rest against her chest.
"Then there is one last thing to do before you leave." The Doll began walking along the path forcing Ruby to follow behind.
"I've been meaning to ask, but why is everything here so old now. It looks like it's been abandoned for centuries."
"This is Dunstan's Dream. The one that he had when completing his first Hunt and the one where he killed the Moon Presence." They passed through the gate into the graveyard.
Ruby came to a stop before a Cross sticking out of the ground that had Dunstan's sword next to it. "Why is Dunstan's weapon here?"
"I can't answer your question Ruby. All I can say is that Hunters are supposed to be severed from the dream while within it." The doll gestured towards the large grave marker at the end of the graveyard.
Ruby walked up to the vine covered stone and began clearing it. Names were strewed across its surface, but one name stood out among the others. At the bottom of the list was 'Gehrman, The First Hunter'. Ruby took Dunstan's sword and began carving away at the stone. The sound of scrapping stone reverberated through the graveyard. Putting the finishing touches on her work, Ruby stuck the blade into the earth next to the marker. Her body began to fade as pale mist spilled off of her. Ruby vanished from the dream with the only thing of hers left behind her weapon lost to the depths of the sea and a new addition to the tombstone.
'Dunstan Arkwright, Hunter of Hunters'
And we've finally come full circle. There's something nice about winding back up at the starting location at the end of a story or game. Dunstan starts the series there and it ends for him there. Having the chapter be circular was just a nice bonus since we get Dunstan's fall and Ruby's rise. Beginnings and endings, rebirth with all that extra jazz.
There will be a epilogue to show what has happened around Vale and give a jumping off point for my next story. If anyone has any questions about writing, character names, story, reasons to why I wrote certain scenes, or literally anything else feel free to ask. Basically it's a Q&A since I will probably go dark for a month or so to plan out my next story. Feel free to PM me and I'll get back to you along with putting your name, question, and the answer in the AN for the next chapter. Option two is leave a question in your review and I'll give it the same treatment. If you wish to be anonymous in the Q&A next Chapter, just say so and I'll list your name as anonymous.