Jaune and Courage the Cowardly Dog
Chap 35: The Fog of Courage
It was a bright sunny day today. It was a week since we fought the Windmill vandals. Pyrrha and Ruby had gone back to Vale as they still had classes in Beacon. So far, everything has been calm since then. Which was a relief as I quite honestly needed a break from all the stuff, we had gone through recently. And it's even better when you have your loved ones with you.
"What is he searching for again?" Iris asked sitting down next to me.
"His toy plunger gun thing." I answered.
Iris had some time off from her work and decided to spend the time with me. Which I liked as I was starting to miss her as I hadn't seen her in a few weeks. Currently we were sitting down next to the water pump helping Courage find his toy gun. Though honestly, we were more just watching him as Courage likes to bury things about twenty feet deep and sometimes digs even deeper than that for no apparent reason aside from loving to dig.
"You found yet Courage?" I asked as Iris leaned her head on my shoulder while I leaned my head on her as we intertwined our fingers together.
'YAY.' He shouted in joy when he popped back out with his toy plunger gun.
"Nice, you found it." I said with a smile while Iris giggle at Courages reaction to finding his toy again. But then we grew confused and intrigued when we saw Courage also pull out a strange looking amulet.
'Huh?' He asked confused as he got out of the hole he just dug and headed towards us.
"Let me see that." I said getting up. Taking it, I examined it and saw that it was made out of pure gold from my guess. On both sides were the image of a lady with her probable name above it.
"Cariana. Why does that name sound familiar?" Iris asked as she took the amulet and looked it over.
"Do you think you know what it is?" I asked her.
"No. I just feel like I heard the name before. But that could just be I saw someone else named that. But I do feel a strange power coming from it." She answered.
'Maybe the computer might now?' Courage suggested.
"Perhaps. He does know things that haven't been recorded anywhere else." I answered as I took back the amulet.
I would have pocketed but something told me not to. Turning around, I grabbed Iris hand as we walked back to the farmhouse. Unaware of the fog and ghostly voice coming from the hole that Courage dug. Walking back to the house, I cast a glance at Iris and remembered that our one-year anniversary was coming up soon. I had already ordered a gift for her earlier and it was supposed to arrive today.
'I hope she likes it.' I thought as we entered the house.
Looking around the house, we saw Eustace sitting in his chair reading his paper. Muriel was on the other side of the room dusting. Though, right now she was trying to reach a picture that was on the top of the shelf that was just out of reach for her.
"Eustace, mind giving me a hand?" Muriel asked him.
"I'm busy." Eustace yelled out after mocking her for a brief moment. Feeling Iris tense when we saw that, I turned to her and saw her glare at Eustace and was close to summoning her storm to strike him.
"Not worth it my love." I told her as I squeezed her hand tightly.
"Ah, you two love birds are back. Mind giving me a hand?" Muriel teased before asking. We nodded but Courage rushed through and used his gun to get the picture down for Muriel. "You're quite the gentleman Courage."
"I remember that picture." I said as we moved closer to look at it. It was a picture of me, Iris, Courage and Muriel together after Iris's and I fifth date. Looking back to iris, I gave her a quick peck on the lips making both of us blush.
"You two make such a lovely couple." Muriel said before giving a light dusting to the picture and putting it down on the shelf where she can easily reach it.
'And we brought this for you.' Courage said giving Muriel the amulet. I was about to remind Courage that we don't know what it was exactly, but seeing Muriel's face light up made me stop.
"Oh, isn't that lovely." Muriel said as she put it on.
"You found it on my property dog. It's mine." Eustace greedily declared as he got up and roughly swiped it from Muriel.
Luckily, it did not hurt her. And fortunate for Eustace as well. I made a deal with Iris a while ago after a particular nasty answer from Eustace hurt Muriel that she went silent for a while and it took a giant monster to get Muriel to speak again. And that deal was that if Eustace ever hurt someone deliberately in any way, shape or form. She could smite him with lightning the next Muriel was not present with us.
"Come on dog and kid. Let's go to the computer and see what it's worth." Eustace said bitterly as he lifted Courage by the ears and walked up to my room.
"Oh, my." Muriel said worried at how Eustace was treating Courage again. Sighing, me and iris went up to my room while Muriel resumed cleaning. Getting to my room, we saw Courage already on the computer with Eustace behind him waiting impatiently.
"Let's see what my new necklace is worth." Eustace demanded. Walking to the computer, we saw Courage typing away trying to find any information about the amulet. But after ten minutes, and a few mismatches, we finally found it.
'The Cariana. A love locket. A medieval antique. Very valuable.' The computer said sounding surprised at what he gathered.
"WAHOO! I'm selling it." Eustace cheered before greedily rubbing his hands together. But the computer was not done with its information as the symbol of the Department of Curses from the Federal Bureau of Blah came on screen.
'But a warning. A curse will befall anyone who removes the necklace. It will separate two departed lovers in the grave. Unless the necklace is returned, the guilty will be separated from their loved ones forever.' The computer warned.
'EI!' Courage gasped in shock as you could clearly tell he was thinking about Muriel.
'Oh, no.' I thought panicked as me and Iris looked at each other in worry.
"Who cares? I'm going to be rich. Filthy rich." Eustace cheered as he took out the amulet with his eyes glowing the color gold.
"Greedy bastard." I mumbled under my breath as we watched him leave the room laughing. And before he left, he mocked the curse about loved ones being separated. He then closed the door but came back a moment later to laugh and mock some more.
"To this day, I still cannot understand what Muriel saw in him all those years ago." Iris said trying to calm herself down. After having to deal with Eustace ever since we began dating and each time, she came to visit she was very closing to snapping. And who could blame her as Eustace can get on anyone's nerves easily. As a matter of fact, Eustace got a life ban form Vale a while back.
"That will forever remain a mystery." I answered shaking my head at him. I was about to turn back to the computer to see if can track the progress on the gift when Courage got our attention.
'Huh?' He said confused walking over to the window. Curious and concerned, we walked over to it as well and looked outside.
"It's just Eustace getting ready to drove into town to sell the amulet." Iris said when we saw Eustace get into his truck and started it up. But that's when we saw it.
"What is that?" I asked getting worried when we saw a giant fog cover the land and seemed to coming for us. And what scared us even more was that as it approached Eustace's truck, a head and tow arms seemed to have materialized from the fog.
'CARIANA!' The fog head said as it approached us. Hearing a thunk hit the floor, I saw Courage 's eyes enlarge and come off him and hit the floor.
"I knew I heard that name before." Iris said as her face went pale in realization.
"What? Where?" I asked worried.
"A long time ago in medieval times, there was an unusual couple of different social classes that fell in love with each other. Their love was so strong that nothing could pull them apart. They even received an amulet from some god that contained their love and showed their love for each other. But that came with a few cursed. But the main one was what the computer told us about. Separating lovers from each other." Iris explained.
"Crap. We have to get Eustace and return the amulet to the ghost." I said panicked. Hearing some honking, we turned back and saw it come from Eustace.
"GET OFF MY PROPERTY!" We heard Eustace yell.
'CARIANA!' The ghost called out again as it approached Eustace's truck.
For a moment, we thought he was going to get taken by the ghost but Courage had already gone out to save his ass. Seeing that they were heading back inside, we decided to go back down to confront Eustace and make him return the amulet. Getting down stairs, we saw Courage already trying to tell Eustace to return the amulet.
"Over my dead body!" Eustace greedily declared while upside down on his chair.
"Oh, my. It reminds me of the highlands as a wee girl." Muriel said as she looked out the window and saw the dense fog.
"You greedy ass. Return the amulet or we will all be gone." I demanded. But all I got in response was Eustace mocking the threat again. Iris tensed up and was about to strike him when we heard a knock on the door.
"We don't want any." Eustace yelled out.
'Don't open it.' Courage begged Muriel who was heading to the door.
"Muriel. I don't think it's safe to open the door as this is not normal fog." Iris warned her.
"But what if someone needs our help." Muriel countered as she neared the door.
'CARIANA!' We heard the ghost call out again.
"Muriel. Please don't." I told her but it was too late.
"Yes?" She asked as she opened the door. But as soon as she did so, the fog came rushing in and covered moth Muriel and Iris. Hearing a deflating sound, I turned to Courage and saw that he pulled off his ears and deflated like a balloon.
'CARIANA!' The ghost called out again.
"AAHHH!" Eustace yelled out in panic as he raced up the stairs.
"IRIS!" I shouted out as I tried to find her but the fog was too darn thick to see past a few inches.
'MURIEL!' Courage also shouted as he began to look around as well.
"Courage." We heard and saw the black outline of Muriel come closer to us.
'Muriel!' Courage cheered happily.
"I'm over here Jaune." I heard Iris call out as we saw her black outline approach us as well.
"Iris, thank Oom you're okay." I said relived.
'CARIANA!' The ghost called out as its face lunged at us to reveal that it played a trick on us with the outlines of Muriel and Iris.
"AAAHHH!" We both screamed as we ran away from the ghost. But due to the fog limiting our visibility, we ran straight into the shelf from earlier.
'Ow.' Courage grunted in pain while I simply rubbed my head.
"Hey, our picture." I said as the picture of all of us fell down. It brought a smile to our faces but that changed to worry as the fog engulfed it and took it away. As part of the curse.
"COURAGE!" "JAUNE!" Both Iris and Muriel called out from somewhere.
"They sound close. Where could they be?" I asked as Courage used his ear like a submarine telescope to find where the voices are coming from.
"COURAGE!" "JAUNE!" We heard them scream again.
'Sounds like they're coming from the roof.' Courage said before racing up the steps with me following him.
"COURAGE!" "JAUNE!" We heard them scream again as we made it to my room. We tied to open it but found it locked.
"Stand back Courage." I said as I began to try and force it open. Only to remember that I reinforced the door after the last time it came down.
'CARIANA!' The ghost called out as it came closer to us.
'AH!' Courage screamed in fear before literally eating part of the door like a beaver for us to enter and escape the fog ghost. But got weirded out when we saw Eustace modelling himself in front of the mirror with the amulet.
"Can a man be alone with his jewelry?" Eustace bitterly asked.
"Return the amulet you greedy ass." I demanded him.
'CARIANA!' The ghost called out as it entered the room.
"Courage, Eustace, Jaune? Where are you guys?" We heard Muriel call out to us.
"Jaune. Where are you?" Iris also called out.
"They are on the roof." I said as we moved to the window and opened it to get to the roof. Climbing out the window, we grabbed onto the ledge of the roof and looked around but saw nothing but fog.
"IRIS!" I called out.
'MURIEL!' Courage called out as well. Knowing we need a better look, we fully climbed onto the roof.
"AAAHHHH!" We suddenly heard Eustace yell before getting pushed to the side as he came rushing onto the roof as well.
'CARIANA!' The ghost called out once again as it appeared to us.
"MAKE ME AN OFFER!" Eustace demanded the ghost. This, of course, infuriated the ghost as it released and extremely thick fog from its mouth.
"Woah!" I shouted as I grabbed onto Courage to make sure he doesn't get swept away.
"FINDER'S KEEPRS!" Eustace shouted as the fog turned into what seemed like a tornado with giant hands swiping at us to get the amulet.
'MURIEL!' Courage shouted in panic while I thought and worried on where Iris could be.
"THAT'S IT!" I shouted as I bawled up my fist and slugged Eustace across the face,
"HEY! WHAT-AHHHH!" Eustace yelled angrily at me but before he could finish whatever he was going to say, he fell through the roof as Courage chews the roof around Eustace to make him fall back into the house.
'The things we do for love!' Courage said as he managed to grab the amulet before it fell down with Eustace.
"But it's worth it for the one's we love." I said as I took the amulet from him. "HEY GHOST!"
'CARIANA!' It said again angrily.
"TAKE IT BACK!" I shouted as I threw the amulet into the ghost mouth which seemed to appease it.
"YOU STUPID DOG AND KID!" Eustace shouted as he climbed back up through the hole he fell through.
'CARIANA!' The ghost dreamily called out as it went back to where we first found the amulet. Taking all the fog with it as well.
"GIVE BACK MY NECKLACE! WAHHH!" Eustace demanded as he chased the ghost and jumped into the fog before it disappeared.
"As such is greed. It will only lead to your demise." I said remembering what some told me about greed. Until I remembered this is Eustace we are talking about. "Unless you're Eustace. Then you'll probably be back next week.
'We should probably find Muriel and Iris now.' Courage suggested as the fog began to fully disappear.
"Right." I agreed as we began to search around.
"THIS IS NOT AT ALL LIKE THE HIGH LANDS!" We heard Muriel shout behind us.
"JAUNE! HELP ME" Iris also shouted right after that. Quickly turning around, we saw Muriel about to fall off the house as she was on the edge and I saw Iris hanging onto to the roof by a single that seemed to be losing grip.
'MURIEL!' Courage shouted as he took out his toy plunger gun and aimed it at Muriel.
"IRIS! HOLD ON! I'M COMING!" I shouted as I ran and dover for head hand just as she was about to lose her grip and slip. At that time, Muriel fell over, but thanks to the toy gun, she only dangled for a moment before being pulled back up.
"Thanks, Jaune." Iris said as I pulled her back onto to the roof. But instead of answering right away, I pulled her into a kiss and then a tight hug.
"Are you okay Iris? I was afraid I would lose you." I told her as we let go.
"You're such a sweet heart Jaune. And you would never lose me. I'm staying by your side always." Iris said as she pulled me into a passionate kiss and hug.
Next day
It was the next day and everything was repaired. We were sitting on the porch as it was another beautiful day. Muriel was sitting in her chair with Courage in her lap while I sat in Eustace's chair as Iris sitting on my lap.
"I wonder what happened to Eustace?" Muriel asked suddenly. At this, we all looked to where the hole still was and could swear, we heard Eustace laughing greedily before hearing the ghost call out its lover's name again.
"He, probably won't be back for a while." Iris answered hesitantly.
"Oh, Iris, I have a question." I told her.
"What is it Jaune?" She asked turning to me.
"Yesterday, with all the fog, did you try control the fog and what happened to you after the fog separated us?" I asked.
"Oh, I tried to control the fog but found that I couldn't. But also, for some reason, I couldn't some anything. That's why I didn't use anything so I could cushion my fall from the house. As for the other question, I don't really know. One moment, I was with you and the next I was up on the roof hanging on for my life." She answered.
"Well, at least we're safe now and together again." I said as I pulled her into a hug which we then shared another loving kiss. Though this one was cut short when the delivery truck came and kicked out a package to us.
"Oh, it finally arrived." I said as I saw the package label.
"What is it Jaune?" Iris asked getting up so I could get the package.
"You know how our one-year anniversary is coming up right?" I asked as I opened the package.
"Yeah." She answered still a bit confused.
"So, I wanted to get you something." I told her as I reached into the box.
"Oh, Jaune, you don't have to-Oh my." Iris began but gasped when she saw what I got her.
"It's a gold amulet/locket. I had some crafters carve a picture of us on the front and back and had our names written on it as well. And on the inside, we can fit our two favorite pictures." I explained as I showed her the amulet.
"It's beautiful Jaune. Thank you." She said before pulling me into another kiss. This one full of passion and love. We only separated when air became a necessity. She opened it up and we placed our two favorite pictures in it. One showed us resting at the base of a tree after six months of being together. The other, when I proposed to her a month earlier and presented her with the ring I wished for from the magic tree of Nowhere. Closing it, she then put it around her neck.
"So, you like it?" I asked with a smile as we sat back down on Eustace chair.
"I love it Jaune. And I love you." Iris answered with smile before kissing me. I smiled before kissing back as well. Ignoring the loving stares from Courage and Muriel.
"And I love you as well Iris." I told her as we separated. She smiled before snuggling into me.
Note:
The Department of Curses from the Federal Bureau of Blah is what it actually says on the computer screen in this episode.
Next chapter Ruby will again learn how to deal with babies. This time baby birds. At least she has her mom and Jaune to help her.
(2) Bad Hair Day with Yang. (3) Hot head with Yang. (4) Record Deal with Weiss. (5) Serpent of the Evil River with Weiss and Blake. (6) Sand whale strikes back with Team Rwby's mother. (7) The Mask with Blake and Velvet. (8) Muted Muriel with Ruby and Weiss. (9) Car Broke, Phone yes with Pyrrha.