Disclaimer: RWBY and Hollow Knight do not belong to me. They belong to RoosterTeeth and Team Cherry respectively.
Chapter 16: The Queen, Part II
...to resolve your past...
"Alright Team RWBY? Are we ready?"
This had been Ruby Rose's battle cry for the morning. She'd been answered in kind, and she'd asked for confirmation several times before accepting the team's answer.
For all of this however, it seemed to the Hollow Knight that Team RWBY, and Ruby Rose in specific, had not been ready.
"My friend Ruby!"
A girl with long hair the same colour as Nora Valkyrie's launched herself at Ruby Rose. The colour, still peculiar and off putting, was nearly enough for the Knight to reach for its weapon. It was only the lack of tension from Lady Weiss Schnee and her teammates that stayed its blade.
They were surprised, certainly. Shocked. And Ruby Rose certainly seemed worried, though not because the sunset haired girl was attacking her.
"Penny..." Ruby Rose wheezed out, "You're...crushing...me..."
Though on second thought, humans needed to breathe more often than normal, didn't they?
Just as the Knight was about to intervene, the sunset girl – Penny – ended her embrace, holding Ruby Rose an arms length away.
"Ruby!" Penny chirped, "It is oh so fantastic to see you again! However have you been?"
"U-Uh, good?" Ruby Rose shook her head, "More importantly, how are you? Are you alright?"
"Alright?" Penny tilted her head, "Why would I not be alright?"
"You disappeared after that battle on the docks!" Ruby Rose burst out, placing a hand on Penny's shoulder. "We looked everywhere for you after Torchwick ran away!"
"She really did," Blake Belladonna walked up to stand beside Ruby, giving Penny a look, "We all did. I never got the chance to thank you."
Penny tore her gaze away from Ruby's hand.
"Thank. Me?" she asked, tilting her head the other way.
"For helping us out with Torchwick. Things could've gone worse if you hadn't been there. So...Thanks."
Penny stared at Blake Belladonna for a long moment. Just as Blake began to look away, self-conscious, Penny drew her into a hug.
"Gah!"
"Oh, you are most welcome friend Blake! I may call you friend, yes? I am told that the chains of friendship are best forged in combat!"
"She's as strange as ever," Lady Weiss Schnee muttered under her breath.
"Yeah, but it's a good kinda strange, don't ya think?" Yang Xiao Long throws a thumbs up towards her partner as Blake Belladonna in vain tries to escape Penny's clutches. "Besides, they kind of remind me of someone."
"Huh? Who in the world..." Lady Weiss Schnee glanced at Yang Xiao Long, before glancing towards itself.
"Oh."
It tilted its head, wondering why the two were staring at it like that.
"See?"
"Miss Polendina," the words are a sharp rebuke, and Penny let go of Blake in an instant. The Knight looks towards the members of the Headmaster's circle. Winter Schnee, the Lady Weiss's sister, is frowning at Penny.
It cannot help but wonder how the two are related. For certain, there is a physical resemblance. In features, and complexion. Yet, for all the steel and poise Winter Schnee held herself with, her light cannot begin to be compared to the brilliance of Lady Weiss's soul.
The Knight knew that it was Lady Weiss who was heir to her family, not the elder Winter Schnee. Looking at the two, it understands why. The birthright of the eldest was not guaranteed should the younger be better suited to the requirements of their role.
"Specialist Schnee, ma'am!" Penny saluted, and the Knight can admit that it is a good salute. Despite this, Winter Schnee sighed. Next to her, General Ironwood covered his mouth and cleared his throat.
"At ease, Miss Polendina."
"Yes sir!" Penny said, saluting and standing as straight as a blade.
Amusement danced in the General's eyes. It is the first time it has seen such an emotion cross the General's gaze. Yet it seemed that the General was the only one amused. The Headmaster stared at Penny with an unreadable expression, and Qrow Branwen frowned, near scowled, at her.
The Knight wondered why. It cannot be her hair, for Nora Valkyrie scarcely had gotten such looks. It cannot be her demeanor, for she is no more strange than Ruby Rose or Yang Xiao Long. The members of Team RWBY did not give her such looks. Indeed they seemed fond of her.
The Knight glanced towards the Nailmaster. His expression is not severe at all, and the Knight wondered what exactly had caused the Headmaster's circle to behave so.
No matter. It would learn, one way or another. This mission was of vital importance, and it could not let any details escape its sight. Especially if, as it thought-
"Penny?" Ruby Rose asked, looking slightly worried.
"Oh, no need to be concerned, Ruby! I am one hundred percent alright!" Penny beamed.
"Th-That's good. But, uh, and – I'm super glad you're here, I really am, but-"
"What are you doing here?" Lady Weiss Schnee asked.
"Oh! I am joining you on your mission!" Penny said.
There was a long moment of silence. The Knight nodded to itself.
"Wait, what?" Ruby Rose asked.
"Isn't it grand?" Penny said cheerfully, "I am to join you on your mission! We'll be a real team!"
"Indeed," General Ironwood said, "She'll be of great use, and she already seems to get along with all of you, so along with Specialist Schnee, I thought I would send Miss Polendina along with you."
"I'm so happy! Thank you very much, sir!" Penny threw her arm across Ruby Rose's shoulder, "Oh, it will be so fun!"
Qrow Branwen groaned.
"There isn't enough alcohol in the world for this, Jimmy."
General Ironwood's smile slipped, as did Penny's. Ruby Rose glanced at the girl before bringing her into a half hug.
"Ruby-?" Penny began.
"Well I for one am happy that Penny's joining us," Ruby Rose said, voice firm.
"There are certainly worse people that we could be paired up with," Lady Weiss Schnee said.
"Not much of a compliment," Blake Belladonna shot back, before turning to Penny, "Though she is right. Even if she phrased it...stupid."
"Hey!"
"Welcome to the Team!" Yang Xiao Long walked up to Penny's other side, throwing her arm around both smaller girls, "Like Ruby said, we're glad to have you!"
Penny stared at the members of Team RWBY blankly, mouth opening and closing several times. Ruby Rose and Yang Xiao Long did not notice this, busy as they were staring at their uncle.
"Hang on," Qrow Branwen sighed and ran a hand through his hair, "Kid, that's not what I meant."
"With the amount of intoxicant you consume, I am surprised you ever know what you mean."
The voice was deep and raspy, and the Knight snapped its gaze towards the sky in time to see a mass of foliage and sharp edges leap off the roof of the hanger and land onto the ground.
It was noontime. While the rest of the Academy was preparing and leaving for their own missions, Team RWBY had been called to this old hanger. According to Lady Weiss, it had till recently been used as storage for the various flying trams that the humans used. Now it was empty, its perimeter guarded by those strange guard constructs that the General had.
What could only be the beast known as the Hunter, that Ruby Rose had encountered the other day, unfolded to his full height. This time it did not hesitate to unsheathe its nail, and all but Ruby Rose and Penny tensed up, hands going to their weapons.
"You-" Ruby blinked, wide eyed.
The Hunter glanced towards Ruby Rose, and the Knight's grasp on its nail tightened. It had seen the condition of Ruby Rose after her arduous fight in the Emerald Forest. If the Hunter so badly wanted a rematch, then the Knight would gladly satiate its hunger forever.
"Little sprout," the Hunter rasped.
"What the fuck are you doing here?!" Qrow Branwen demanded, stomping towards the Hunter. The Hunter tore his gaze away from Team RWBY stare down at Qrow Branwen. The Hunter would admit, that for all he had made a poor impression yesterday, Qrow Branwen did not lack in courage as he glared up at the Hunter with indignant rage.
"You've got some nerve being alive-" Qrow Branwen began.
"Oh?" the Hunter squatted to better stare Qrow Branwen in the eyes, "You take offense? Curious, for I do not recall ever having met you before. I certainly would have remembered you too, with your stench."
Winter Schnee covered her mouth and looked away, coughing.
"Oz, what the hell is he doing here?" Qrow demanded, turning around.
"I am alive for the same reason any creature is alive. I do not know the reason, and I have my doubts that any here know either. Though to answer your question, I am here at the request of him."
The Hunter stretched out a long limb, covered in white bandages. A sharp claw pointed at the Headmaster.
"You can't be serious," Qrow Branwen said.
"I very rarely jest," the Hunter said bluntly.
"Qrow," the Headmaster began.
"Oz, you can't be serious-"
" Qrow," the Headmaster's tone was such that Qrow immediately quieted down, though his expression remained disgruntled. "I invited the Hunter here, because it is better that he remain in sight rather than wandering about, endangering the lives of anyone he stumbled across. Please understand that."
After a moment Qrow grunted, still looking seconds away from pulling out his weapon.
"I could leave anytime I willed it Headmaster," the Hunter said, voice quiet and low.
"Yes, I imagine you could. I am glad that you continue to be our…guest," the Headmaster took a sip from his mug, "I hope your arm is healing alright?"
"Hmm," the Hunter regarded the Headmaster, "It is healing well enough."
The Headmaster smiled at the Hunter. There was no mirth in his eyes.
"...That's good?"
At the incredulous looks shot her way, Ruby Rose held up a hand in defense.
"Hey, he did save my life!"
"After trying to kill and eat you!" Lady Weiss Schnee nearly yelled.
"That kinda makes us even?"
Ruby Rose shrank under the looks sent her way.
"You hold too much compassion, little sprout," the Hunter said.
"Fuck, I'm agreeing with you," Qrow groaned into his hands, "I need a drink."
"How unexpected," the Hunter rasped.
"Okay, how the hell do you know about alcohol?" Qrow demanded as he pulled out his flask, "Last I checked it doesn't exist wherever you're from."
"Who perhaps do you think told me?"
"There is not much else to do but talk, during the hours where your kind sleep," Nailmaster Mato began as Qrow shot him a look.
"So you talked to him ?"
"There are worse conversation partners."
"You as well," the Hunter scoffed, "For the strength you wield, you are too soft."
"You would well know my strength wouldn't you?" Nailmaster Mato sounded grimly amused, "I remember when you tried to hunt me down as well."
"Wait," Qrow coughed, pulling the flask away from his mouth, "He tried to kill you too? And you still decided to, what, gossip with him?"
"It is not uncommon where I am from for first meetings to result in bloodshed," Nailmaster Mato hummed, "Some of history's greatest friendships occurred between those who at first tried to kill each other."
"...He would've cooked you into a stew," Qrow said flatly.
"I would've roasted him in his own armor with some herbs," the Hunter corrected.
"Enough," the Headmaster said, expression flat and tone serious, "We came here for more pressing matters. Team RWBY?"
The members of Team RWBY straightened their postures and faced the Headmaster. The Headmaster's gaze traveled over each of them.
"Are you all prepared for your mission?"
"We are Headmaster," Ruby Rose confirmed.
"This mission's objective has no clear path, and it's time frame is indeterminate," the Headmaster warned, "This is the sort of mission we'd only given to experienced Hunters. Are you certain?"
"We are," Ruby Rose said firmly.
The Headmaster stared at her for a moment, yellow eyes meeting silver. Finally, the Headmaster nodded.
"Very well. Qrow? Nailmaster Mato? Specialist Schnee? Miss Polendina?"
"Bout as ready as I always am Oz," Qrow said with a crooked smile.
"Ready, my good sir," Nailmaster Mato nodded.
"I am prepared," was Winter Schnee's terse response.
"Capability at one-hundred percent, Headmaster!" Penny answered.
"Very well-"
"Oz, we're missing someone."
The Knight tilted its head, and the members of Team RWBY glanced at each other.
"Ah, yes. I had thought perhaps that he would be done by now, but I suppose that was a mistake," the Headmaster took one of those strange devices – a scroll the humans called them – and did something with it. Moments later, one of the nearby hangers rumbled as their doors shuttered open.
The Knight saw the massive bulk of Bardoon in the gloom of the hanger, blinking at the sudden light. More concerning was the flash of something dashing at incredible speed out of the hanger. The Knight stepped before Team RWBY, a Shining Dagger in hand-
"Headmaster! My apologies! I seem to have lost track of time!"
The light of the dagger melted away as the Knight recognized the sight of Professor Oobleck. The Teacher of History, if it remembered correctly. The moss coloured hair was distinctive enough, even squashed by the strange brown hat the Professor was now wearing.
"Professor Oobleck?" Ruby Rose asked, mouth wide open.
The Professor turned away from the Headmaster, adjusting his glasses as he stared at Ruby Rose. As always his movements were stiff and jerky, belaying the speed that the man could travel when he wished.
"Ah, Miss Rose! Team RWBY! Good to see you have prepared! Proper preparation is the first step to a successful mission!"
Team RWBY stared at the Professor, Penny glancing at their expressions curiously.
"You're...coming with us?" Yang Xiao Long finally asked.
"Of course! This mission is of vital importance, so I've heard. It would be unwise to send a team of students. And! This mission is technically your field excursion! All first year students are meant to shadow a Hunter for their excursions!"
"Uncle Qrow and Weiss's sister are coming with us?" Ruby Rose asked.
"Think of us more like insurance to make sure it doesn't all go in flames," Qrow Branwen grinned.
"I believe we'd be better off having any frivolous discussions later," Winter Schnee said flatly.
"Of course!" the Professor nodded at her words, "Precisely! Time is of the essence!"
Winter Schnee yelped as the Professor grabbed her hand and in a flash pulled her into Team RWBY. Qrow Branwen bit back a laugh as he followed at a slower pace, Nailmaster Mato walking beside him, as Team RWBY were jostled into a loose circle by an absent minded Professor.
"No time to waste! Daylight is burning away! Though, given the nature of where we are going, perhaps we should soak up as much sunlight as we can? No, time is critical! We'll just have to trust the multivitamins. Perhaps the local fauna will be able to meet our dietary concerns? Will have to learn on the field-"
"Sir?" Lady Weiss Schnee asked, looking unsure. The Knight stepped behind her, and she glanced up at it with a tentative smile.
"Ah, yes! Miss Schnee! Open the gates!"
"Uh-"
"Hurry now, Miss Schnee! Time waits for no one!"
Swept up in the force of the stream of words coming from the Professor, Lady Weiss Schnee held out her hand. The Dream Nail blossomed, its pale light almost washed away by the harsh sun of Remnant. Yet still its edge cut through the air as the Lady Weiss Schnee swung with a cry-
-and when the world came to, they were in the darkness of Hallownest's caverns.
...to resolve your past...
"You've sent an eccentric bunch with your young."
Ozpin glanced up at the Hunter.
In truth he had asked for the Hunter to be a guest of Beacon, and it more or less had entirely been because Ozpin preferred him in his sight than elsewhere. James had suggested more extreme measures of dealing with the Hunter, and while Ozpin had to admit that for a moment he had been swayed – the Hunter had outright confirmed what Ruby had told them, that he would've eaten her and Port had she not impressed him – he could not ignore that the Hunter had not only saved Miss Rose but all of Beacon.
For all of the academy's strength, it was not built to deal with Elder Grimm. For the most part it wasn't necessary, Elder Grimm staying away from humanity. Or, more precisely, humanity surviving in those few parts of the world where Elder Grimm avoided. The Elder Grimm's intelligence and cunning was a double edged sword for his old adversary – if she could've so easily controlled them then she'd have brought humanity to the brink long ago.
Of course, none of what was normal mattered when a dimension of old magic was leaking onto his campus. That was what had most likely attracted the Elder Boarbatusk. All the more reason for this mission.
So, the Hunter was his guest. A dangerous guest, perhaps as dangerous as the woman who had infiltrated Beacon during the Ball – who they'd yet to find. Best not to let this one escape too.
'As they say ,' he thought wryly, ' Keep your enemies close .'
And, for all his charm, the Hunter was not the worst conversationalist. Ozpin had taken some time to read part of the journal Miss Rose had translated, and it only confirmed what he had gleaned during his brief conversations with the Hunter – for all of his brutality and strength, far more dangerous was his wit and cunning.
"I've always preferred eccentric," Ozpin said, swishing the cocoa in his mug, "It's a sign of individuality, and individuality is one of mankind's greatest strengths."
"Hah! Perhaps you would change your tune, should you meet some of those who dwell in Hallownest's grounds?" the Hunter made a motion as if he were cupping his chin, "Though, having met near all who dwell in those caverns, I can only agree with you. Those without a strong sense of self, those who have no will of their own. Those who live only with the help of others are weak."
"No being can survive alone," Ozpin refuted, "Miss Rose had impressed you, but had she fought with her team at her side then I have no doubt they would have beaten you."
"A lofty claim," the Hutner's eyes narrowed.
"It is important to be yourself, to have will," Ozpin said, "But strength is also derived from others."
"From using others?" if the Hunter had eyebrows, perhaps he would've raised them then.
"From accepting others into your life," Ozpin corrected, "From accepting help, and helping others, does society flourish."
"Weak ideals," the Hunter grunted, "The same that lead to Hallownest's destruction."
"In the end, I believe that most people want to help others, and it is external factors that stop them," Ozpin shrugged, "And you may call these ideals weak, but not a single one of us would be here if someone hadn't brought us into this world. Cared for us when we were weak and young. Even you, I wager."
"Hmm."
"No snappy answer to that?" James asked, shaking his head at the Hunter.
The Hunter narrowed his eyes, and from the hanger there was a crash, and the sun was blotted out as Bardoon wriggled his head out of the entrance.
"Ohrm..." Bardoon rumbled, "That was a most enlightening discussion, ohhrr."
"Was it?" James asked, incredulous.
"Ohrr...I refer to my conversation with your professor, ohrmm."
"I hope he wasn't too much," Ozpin said.
The moment he had briefed Oobleck on the mission, it had taken all his authority and several threats – some of violence – to prevent Oobleck from running off to pester their guests. Mato would've probably received them well enough, and Bardoon as well, but even the most patient soul had limits. To say nothing of the Hunter.
The ground shook gently as Bardoon laughed.
"Ohrohrohrr…a bright soul, your professor. Sharp, ohrm. Perhaps too fast, however. Ohrohrohhr..."
"He's been that way as long as I've known him, I'm afraid," Ozpin said, thinking back to several horrific scenes from the time when Oobleck had been clawing his way towards a doctorate.
"Some things can only be seen by slowing down, ohrm," Bardoon said.
"He jumps about like a loodle," the Hunter grunted, "I doubt anything but death will slow such a creature down."
"Ohrm. You may be right...But, if it is the mysteries of the Kingdom that they truly seek to unveil, perhaps his thinking...the little ones thinking...will change..."
...to resolve your past...
"Where are we?"
It was an excellent question. Weiss knew, intellectually, that Hallownest was a large place. Both in dream and, she assumed, in reality. But still, she thought that she'd have seen most of its locales by now.
At first look, their surroundings looked like any of the other smaller caverns of Hallownest. But, as Weiss's eyes adjusted, she noticed how different the stone under her feet looked – greyer in colour, almost washed out. Weiss looked up, following the cavern floor as it turned into a wall.
Weiss winced, blinking rapidly as light flared into existence, her teammates popping torchlights.
"Outstanding!" Professor Oobleck whooshed past her, staring at the cavern wall from every possible angle, "Look! Despite its state of decay, the carvings and designs. It's clear that this is no natural wall!"
"Looks...like a bunch of crumbling boulders," Qrow grunted, "Look at the size of those rocks too. Ain't going to be going that way anytime soon."
"Oh, hardly. Impassible, unfortunately. Yet! A remnant of an alien civilization! If only there was time to pour over this!"
Weiss started as the Hollow Knight tapped her shoulder. Weiss turned towards them, following their gaze towards the cavern ceiling. Blake, who'd noticed the Knight's action, did the same and blinked.
"Professor?" she began.
"Please! Outside of an academic setting, call me doctor!" Professor – Doctor Oobleck said forcefully.
"Fine, Doctor-"
"I spent quite some time on that doctorate," Doctor Oobleck grumbled, before noticing them and following their gaze.
"What are we looking at?" Yang asked, squinting into the gloom.
"Allow me, friend Yang!"
"Miss Polendina!" her elder sister scolded.
"O-Oh! Sorry, ma'am!"
"It's alright," Winter sighed, "Just be more careful in the future."
As Weiss wondered why her elder sister had stopped Penny, Ruby rummaged around her backpack before pulling out a large torchlight.
"Let there be light!" she cheered, shining a beam of light towards the roof. The light illuminated black metal, embedded into the stone.
"Technology!" Doctor Oobleck exclaimed, his voice echoing across the cavern.
"Easy on the volume, doc..." Qrow winced.
The Hollow Knight tapped her shoulder once more and pointed deeper into the cavern. The cavern had two levels, the lower level ending in a sheer wall that rose from the ground. And on top of that wall-
"It's a tram," Weiss said, surprised.
It was a tram. An entire tram station, sitting in the middle of the cavern. A platform of black metal, the same as what was in the ceiling, hanging from the upper cavern. Despite the clear age of the station – webs of dust hung from the spikes of the fencing of the tram station – it seemed like the station was still in good condition.
"Astounding!" Doctor Ooblek yelled, rushing towards the tram station, "Simply amazing!"
"Is he always like this?" her elder sister asked.
"For the most part, yes," she responded.
"As fun as it is watching the doctor lose his mind," Qrow grunted, "We have a mission."
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with you," Winter sighed.
"Er..." Ruby looked between the two, "I guess we should follow Professor-"
"Doctor!"
"A-ah! Doctor Oobleck! After all..."
Ruby pointed the torchlight at the wall behind them.
"...It's really the only way to go."
"Whoever built this station did not take into account the needs of the passengers," Penny said as they made their way towards the doctor, "There are no stairs!"
"Seems like an oversight," Blake agreed.
"Maybe not," Weiss argued, "We haven't seen any stairs in Hallownest, after all."
"Hey, you're right! Even in the City, or the Sanctum," Yang said.
"Really? Fascinating!" Oobleck muttered, looking at the wall with a magnifying glass.
"How would normal people get anywhere without stairs?" Penny asked, tilting her head.
The Hollow Knight walked past her, digging their fingers into the stone wall. In a single bound they had jumped up, pulling themselves onto the platform above.
"Oh."
"Bugs are known for their ability to climb," Doctor Oobleck adjusted his glasses, "Fascinating. The nature of their physiology affects their architecture, of course! How could I not see it before!"
The Hollow Knight stared at the doctor for a moment before turning towards her. A slender hand reached down, and Weiss stepped towards them.
"Weiss," Winter began sharply.
Weiss looked back at her sister, her hand already grasping the Knight's. The Knight pulled her up in one move, and gentle though they were Weiss caught the way Winter tensed up. Just as her boots touched the tram platform, with a burst of rose petals and leaves Ruby rocketed up onto the platform. Stumbling from her landing, she would've fallen if the Knight hadn't caught her.
"Thanks!" she beamed up at the Knight.
"Careful!" Weiss scolded as the Knight helped her to her feet, "You could've hurt yourself on the fence!"
"They are pretty spiky," Ruby noted, poking one of the fence spikes with her finger before jerking back with a wince.
"The metal seems to be some alloy of iron," Doctor Oobleck noted as he scrambled his way up the wall and onto the platform, a mess of limbs.
A black ribbon rippled in the air, and Gambol Shroud hooked onto part of the fence.
"The bugs of Hallownest might be alright without stairs, but it is inconvenient," Blake's voice came from below.
The platform shuddered as Nailmaster Mato leapt onto it.
"I've never noticed a problem," he said, holding a hand out and hoisting Qrow up.
"Know anything about this place, big guy?" Qrow grunted.
"Not much, I'm afraid. Hallownest's history was never my strongest suit."
"A shame!" Doctor Oobleck's echoed from inside the tram.
"But I do know that we are deep under the kingdom," Mato continued.
"You know this place then?" Winter asked, stepping off of a glyph. Penny was a step behind her.
"Not entirely. It's the air."
"The air?"
"Can you not feel it?"
"Feels like any other cave I've been in," Qrow scratched his chin.
"Hmm. You humans do live out in the open more than we ever did. It is difficult to describe. The air deep down...It is heavier."
"Staler?" Weiss offered.
"A good word for it, young one. As for this tram...I know that in its heyday, the Kingdom of Hallownest used stagways as its main mode of transport. Those old stag tunnels are still around nowadays. I've heard little about trams, however."
"Curious. Could imply multiple things," Doctor Oobleck's muffled voice ran from inside the tram.
"Find anything interesting in there doc? Like, some of this essence crud?" Qrow asked.
"For the most part? Dust and benches. Comfortable benches, even in their decrepit state! The control panel is-'' there was a thump "-unresponsive. No sign of this essence, though I have no clear image of what it is. Miss Schnee?"
"Yes, doctor."
Weiss stepped towards the tram, the Hollow Knight following after her. However, the moment her feet touched the threshold of the tram-
The world blurred around her. A shrill whistle rang over the loud murmur of a crowd, and underneath the general hubub the rythmic clicking of a tram on a rail. All around her the soft, blurry shapes of countless bugs bustled about.
Weiss stumbled back, the Hollow Knight catching her, and the world shifted back into darkness. For a moment she worried, wondering if she had hallucinated the entire scene. Then Doctor Oobleck stepped out of the tram, looking pensive.
"I was not the only one to see that just now, was I?"
There was a round of "no's", everyone glancing around with various expressions of worry.
"Good," Doctor Oobleck cleared his throat, "It would have been. Concerning otherwise."
"You mean it isn't concerning as is?" Qrow asked.
"What was that?" Winter asked, crossing her arms.
"It felt like the City," Blake said, and at once Weiss understood.
"So, those were-?" Yang began.
"Ghosts?" Ruby finished.
A silence fell on the group, and Weiss felt a chill in the air.
"What the hell have you kids gotten me into?" Qrow sighed.
Weiss frowned at the man.
"It is hardly our fault."
Qrow gave her a deadpan look, and Weiss felt her face flush.
"I-In any case, we must be on the right track."
"What makes you say that?" Yang asked, walking up to her and bumping her shoulder.
"That...vision. It felt similar to what happened when I encountered that strange plant in the Resting Grounds."
"Intriguing. And this plant is the key to this essence, yes?" Doctor Oobleck asked.
Weiss nodded.
"And essence is the key to our goal. Very well! Be on the lookout for plants!"
"Friends!" Penny's voice echoed from far away, and Weiss turned to see the strange girl standing nearly out of view. At least Nailmaster Mato was with her.
"Polendina-" Winter began.
"Specialist Schnee, this way! Nailmaster Mato has found something he recognizes!"
"Nonsense, young one. You were the one to notice it."
"Well, what are we waiting for?"
Qrow languidly walked after the two, and everyone else followed. Weiss took a step to follow as well, before looking back towards the collapsed wall. The tram's track led straight into it, which meant that at some point it had to have been open. And something about it...bothered her.
"Weiss?"
Weiss started as a hand fell on her shoulder, and looked up to find her sister staring at her. Though she masked it easily, Weiss could see the faint furrow of her brow.
"It's nothing, Winter.
"...Very well. Come on, lest you be left behind," Winter chided.
Weiss nodded once more, but looked back once more.
The stone around the wall was grey. Washed out, compared to the surrounding cavern.
Weiss glanced towards the Knight, who was standing by her side and staring at the wall as well.
"Do you know where the tram leads?" she asked.
The Knight glanced down at her, before looking back at the wall. Then, without an answer, they turned around to follow everyone else.
' Strange ,' she frowned, ' I wonder what caused them to react so .'
As she walked away, Weiss could swear she heard the faint bustle of a crowd. A whistle, the click of rails. And whispers.
But when she turned back, there was nothing there.
...to resolve your past...
"Back here again," Yang grumbled.
Weiss was inclined to agree. After their last adventure in its ashen landscape Weiss was less than pleased to be back. Especially so close to the-
"Don't go any closer," she snapped, reaching out and yanking Ruby back by her hood. Ruby made a choked yelp, and her uncle turned towards them.
"Hey, what's the idea-?"
Something fell from high above, splashing into the steaming liquid. The corpse of a bug, decked in armor, slowly sank into the depths, dissolving as it did so.
"It's acid," Yang told her uncle with a wry smile.
"...Duly noted," Qrow said blankly.
The tram's cavern had led them into the base of the Kingdom's Edge, on the shores of its vast lakes of acid. Weiss, who hadn't seen them up close last time, scrunched her nose as the wind blew and she caught some of its fumes.
"Okay, let's get a bit further away," Blake said, wiping away her watery eyes.
"The landscape. Simply breathtaking!" Doctor Oobleck gushed later, standing at the edge of the impromptu camp they had made in a cranny as far from the shore as they could. It had the added benefit of being directly out of the ashfall. Weiss took one of the snack bars Ruby was handing out, and winced as another body fell from the sky, splashing into the lakes.
"Is that...normal?" Winter asked, shaking her head as Ruby offered her a snack.
"Apparently?" Yang said, "At least, that's what I was told."
"It's from the Fools," Mato said.
"Well I wouldn't call falling into acid the smartest move," Qrow grunted.
"That's clearly not what he's referring to," Winter scowled.
"Indeed, though one could easily argue that the Fools live up to their name."
"Sounds like you don't like them," Blake noted.
Mato crossed his arms.
"That is to say...Their ideals are not mine."
"Who are they?"
"They are a clan, of sorts. A most disparate sorts. Warriors from all around, including beyond the kingdom if you can believe it. All gather at the Fools Coliseum, to fight to the death and win glory."
"Oh! Like Mistrali gladiators?" Penny asked, raising her hand.
"An apt comparison, Miss Polendina! though further study of these Fools would have to be undertaken before adopting a hypothesis!" Doctor Oobleck stroked his chin, "The gladiators were a combination of professional sportsmen, career warriors, and slaves in history, and the Mistrali Gladiator games themselves continued for a long time, even after Atlasian influence on the region. The Mistral Regional Tournament, as well as the Vytal Tournament, are inspired by those old bloodsports."
"Bloodsports is an apt word for it," Mato sighed, "I cannot deny their strength or skill. Neither can I deny their zeal, for good or ill."
"Sound like fun dudes," Yang grinned, "Maybe I should enter one of their tourneys?"
There was another splash.
"How about no," Blake deadpanned.
"What? Got no confidence in your partner?" Yang whined, leaning in towards Blake. Blake raised an eyebrow. Yang grinned in response – before yelping and jerking back. From her pack, which she'd placed in her lap, squirmed out Grimm's child. The small creature made an annoyed mewling sound, before wriggling onto Blake's lap.
"What is that…?" Winter asked, slowly releasing her hand from the hilt of her weapon as she noticed the lack of reaction from everyone else.
"It's a long story," Weiss sighed.
"Basically this weirdo who might be a god gave me his kid," Yang said at the same time.
Qrow, who'd been taking a swig from his flask, coughed it up in a violent spray, and began thumping his chest as he continued to cough.
"Dammit, kid-!"
"What?" Yang asked, defensive, "This was barely my fault!"
"Is there a reason you brought...it...with you?" Winter asked carefully.
"They cry if they aren't near me."
"...Perhaps I should rephrase my question."
As Winter grilled Yang, and Ruby began thumping her uncle's back, from Yang's bag crawled out the little knight. They took one look at Grimm's child, curled up in Blake's lap, before walking over towards Weiss.
"I hope it wasn't too stuffy for you in there," she asked.
The little knight shook their head before plopping down next to her. She followed their gaze as they stared out into the Kingdom's Edge. Weiss would admit that from here, with iridescent ash gently falling from the cavern heights and into the bubbling lakes, that the Kingdom's Edge was breathtaking. Even though she'd already explored its depths, she couldn't help but be entranced, watching the ash dance in the air.
"It is quite the view, isn't it?" she asked the little knight. They glanced at her and nodded emphatically, and Weiss couldn't help but notice that for all of their silence, they were more open than the Knight.
'Of course ,' she thought, glancing towards her silent sentinel, ' It probably has something to do with age. '
Winter was certainly more reserved than herself, and she was more reserved than Whitely, so it stood to reason. It was probably something all older siblings had in common, though she'd admit that Ruby and Yang bucked the trend slightly.
"As nice as this is, sitting around near a buncha acid," Qrow stretched as he stood up, back popping, "We'd better start searching for...this magical plant. Thing."
"It isn't just these plants we should be searching for," Weiss said, standing up and dusting her skirts, "Anything strange should be investigated."
"...Right. Strange. Here? Great advice," Qrow drawled, motioning towards the cavern.
Weiss blushed at the tone, clenching her fists. Before she could say anything, Professor Oobleck dashed past her.
"Obviously though the statement might have been, it is a valid concern! I propose we split up into teams of two, and search the area!"
"Ooh!" Penny raised her hand, "May I partner with Ruby?"
"Miss Polendina," Winter began, "It would be better if you were with me."
"Huh? Thought for sure you'd be pairing up with your sister, Ice Queen."
"Don't call me that," Winter and Weiss said as one, scowling at Qrow. He blinked before giving a smarmy grin, taking a swig from his flask.
Winter made a disgusted sound, before glancing at her. Weiss could see duty and hesitation war across her sister's face, and she made a decision.
"Don't worry about me," Weiss said, doing her best to smile, "I can take care of myself."
"...Very well," Winter nodded.
"Right, now that we got that, " Weiss tried her best to keep smiling as Qrow waved his hand flippantly, "out of the way, let's get the other pairs rolling. You kids already got your assigned partners, leaving me, the doc, the big guy, and the spooky guy."
The Hollow Knight turned away for their vigil to stare at Qrow. Then, without looking away, they planted themselves behind Weiss and resumed watching. Weiss bit back a laugh, hiding her mouth with her hand.
"Perhaps a team of three?" Nailmaster Mato suggested.
"Yeah, sure, whatever."
"Excellent! Now, go forth and search! Should you encounter danger, send a clear signal to the rest of us! Understood?" Doctor Oobleck waited until everyone had more or less said yes before clapping his hands.
"Perfect! Onwards!"
With a burst of speed, the doctor zipped away, and Qrow swore under his breath, furiously capping his flask.
"C'mon, gotta make sure he doesn't fall into some acid or something."
"Without skeletons, you would be ill prepared for it."
"What do you mean, without skeletons?"
"Ready?" Ruby grinned at her, bouncing on her toes. Weiss tore her gaze away from the distant figures of Qrow and Mato, and the retreating figure of her sister as she and Penny entered a nearby cave, and smiled at Ruby.
"Of course."
...to resolve your past...
"You don't like my uncle, do you?"
Weiss dropped the white root she'd found, hidden among the ash that blanketed the ground, as if she'd been burned.
With her glyphs, Ruby's semblance, and the Hollow Knight's strength, the three of them had decided to quickly traverse to the upper parts of the Kingdom's Edge. Ruby had zipped up the sheer walls with her semblance, Weiss and the Hollow Knight following after her with careful jumps and glyphs. Now the lakes of acid, once so vast, were a green smudge below. And they had started searching.
Or, at least, she'd started searching. Ruby was glancing here and there, yes, picking up small rocks to look underneath them, but now she was staring straight at Weiss.
"What sort of question is that?" Weiss demanded.
Ruby continued to stare at her.
"I-In any case, it's a most preposterous question-" Weiss began.
"You don't need to lie to me," Ruby said simply.
"W-Who says I'm lying?" Weiss lied.
Ruby hummed before plopping down onto the ground and patting the spot behind her. Weiss hesitated for a moment, before walking over to her partner and clearing the ground as best she could.
"Uncle Qrow's a great hunter," Ruby began as Weiss sat, "The best at slaying Grimm. He taught me all my moves," Ruby's smile faded, "But, not a lot of people like him."
"Er..." Weiss began, not sure what to say.
"Uncle Qrow used to be a teacher at Signal until he was fired," Ruby shuffled, hugging her knees, "He said that it was a mutual agreement, but I heard dad say that it was cause of his...habit."
"His drinking," Weiss said bluntly.
"Yup," Ruby said softly.
The two sat there for a moment. A sudden gust filled the cavern, and when the ash settled Weiss spoke.
"It isn't that I dislike him per say," she began.
"But you do," Ruby interrupted.
"Hush," Ruby mimed zipping her mouth shut and Weiss continued.
"For certain, he is brash, and rude, and childish, and inappropriate, and-" Weiss blinked and shook her head, "In any case, he is many things, but I don't...hate him because of that. Maybe...before I met all of you, his character would've...upset me. But that is no longer the case."
Ruby tilted her head.
"Then why?"
Weiss opened her mouth, but couldn't find the words. How were you supposed to admit that you disliked someone because they reminded you of someone you were once close to? Replace whiskey and flasks for wine and bottles. Childish behavior for aching absence. Uncle with…
"He...reminds me of someone," Weiss mumbled at last.
"Someone bad?"
"No," Weiss said at last, "Just...someone who isn't around any more."
"Oh."
She stared down at the ash. Absently she scooped some of it up, before remembering what it was. As it fell from her fingers it glittered.
"Do you want a hug?" Ruby asked at last, voice small.
"If you wanted one so badly," Weiss sniffed, "You could've asked."
Ruby snorted and yanked Weiss into a hug. Weiss returned it, and they sat there like that for a moment.
"Right!" Ruby said at last, smiling at her, "We better stop slacking off, huh? I wanna impress your sister!"
"You'll find that a difficult task," Weiss said drolly, "But...I believe you could manage."
"How touching."
In an instant they're on their feet, weapons drawn. Weiss relished the feeling of being armed, and spun Myrtenaster's barrel with menace as she pointed it at the intruder.
"Identify yourself!" she demanded.
"You certainly have the voice down," the figure responded. They are hooded in dusty grey robes, absolutely obscured to the world.
"We don't want any trouble," Ruby warned. Crescent Rose in its full glory was in her hands.
"Unfortunately, trouble has found you," the figure said in low tones, "And you'll find that you can't escape."
In a flash of darkness, the Hollow Knight appeared behind the figure, slamming into the ground and causing bladed pillars of aura to erupt from the ground. Scraps of cloth flew into the air, stolen away by the wind. When the light faded and the ash settled, the Hollow Knight stood locked blades with a pure white bug. Shorter than the Hollow Knight, their blade slender, and nonetheless clearly a match for their strength. Three horns curve from their head, and the armor they wore resembled flower petals in a strange way.
"So it is true," the voice, no longer obscured, was low and feminine, "You walk again, our Hollow Knight."
Blades flashed, steel against steel, and the Knight dashed back, planting themselves in front of Weiss and Ruby. The stranger held her thin blade in a fencing stance, staring at them.
"Hear me, one who seeks Hallownest! I am Fierce Dryya, Knight of Hallownest!" Dryya pointed her blade towards Weiss, "I have sworn myself to Hallownest and its crown. You who seek...Prove yourself!"
...to resolve your past...
"Found anything?"
"Negative!" Penny saluted, despite her dejected appearance. Yang sighed.
"Yeah, negative for us too."
"These caverns have a way of twisting and turning in a most perplexing way," Winter Schnee said.
Yang still can't get over the fact that Weiss had an older sister. Sure, she had known ever since Weiss had offhandedly mentioned her, but seeing was different. At the very least, she could understand where part of Weiss's attitude came from back in the beginning. Winter was nowhere near as overbearing, but she had the air of someone who was used to being listened to. Though, less in a pampered princess way, and more like a drill sergeant.
"Yeah, it's super spooky," Yang wiggled her fingers as she held the 'oo'.
Winter raised an eyebrow at her before turning to Blake.
"It appears that, should this plant exist, it's not on the ground level."
Colder too. At least Weiss had a sense of humor.
"If we had more to go on, this would be easier," Blake agreed. Yang couldn't help but notice the way Blake carefully kept a distance from Winter, and scrunched her face. She understood, but it would make this whole mission more awkward than it already was. The little knight, who had joined them, was staring up at Blake, and Yang could feel Grimm's child stir in the hip pouch she'd put them in.
"That Hunter dude didn't write about it in his memoir," she snarked, trying to take the attention off of Blake, "Guess he's not interested in things that don't bleed."
"That's not entirely true," Blake deadpanned, "It's more likely that plants don't put up a fight."
Yang traded a grin with her partner. They'd already promised, with Weiss, that they'd teach the Hunter a lesson one day. They'd give him a fight he wouldn't forget in a hurry.
"I have some knowledge about plants!" Penny offered.
"Uh, that's nice?"
"Yes! My favorite flowers are-" Penny began.
"Penny," Winter sighed.
"Hey, let her speak," Yang said.
"Even if you knew about plants, you probably wouldn't know much about Hallownest's plants, would you?" Blake asked.
Penny raised a finger, and closed her mouth.
"That is true," she said sadly.
"Oh dear. Perhaps I could help?"
They whirled around. Standing at the shore of the acid lake was a bug in shining white armor. She was small compared to some of the bugs Yang had seen, being about Blake's height. And she was dainty in a way Yang hadn't seen any other bug being. A skirt of leaves around her waist, a ruff of leaves around her neck - And she had what looked like hair tied in a neat braid falling just past her shoulder. Her head was the shape of a teardrop, and three pairs of eyes stared at them kindly.
"For the most part the plants endemic to this region are various roots and creepers," the bug's voice was as clear and sweet as a bell, and she brought a hand to her face as if in thought, "Owing to the quality of the soil. It makes things difficult, but life finds a way. It is beautiful, the tenacity of even a little sprout. Don't you think?"
"Identify yourself," Winter demanded, stepping in front of them and pulling out her sword. Blake and Yang glanced at each other, hesitating to pull their own weapons, and Penny stared at the stranger.
"My name is Isma," Isma cupped her hands to her chest, "Please, I mean you no harm. I only wish to speak to you."
"That so?"
Yang snapped up to find her uncle lounging on a rocky outcrop, taking a long swig from his flask before giving Isma a considering look.
"You just. Came here. To all this ,Uncle Qrow motioned to the Kingdom's Edge, "To find someone to talk about plants?"
"While I would enjoy talking about plants," Isma admitted, "I came here to speak about something else,"
"Oh yeah?" Uncle Qrow rolled off the outcrop, landing perfectly on his feet, "And what would that be?"
Isma looked around, as if searching for something. Or someone.
"She who seeks Hallownest. Do you know where she is?"
"What do you want with Weiss?" Yang demanded, eyes narrowed. She stepped forward, only for Uncle Qrow to push her back.
"What she said."
"It is a matter of grave importance," Isma said.
"Well, if it's really that important, why don't you tell little ol me?" Uncle Qrow gave Isma a charming smile. Yang, who'd seen that same smile several times before, usually when pretty women were involved, immediately scrunched her nose, and Winter glared at him, incredulous. "I'll have you know, I almost interned as a secretary when I was a student. I can pass your message to Ice Princess if it really is that important."
"I'm afraid my words are too important to be relayed by a messenger," Isma apologized. Her tone seemed genuine. "Please-"
High above them was an explosion of fire, ice, and stone, the force of it booming across the cavern and sending boulders plunging into the acid lakes. When the wind died down and the dust settled, both Winter and Uncle Qrow were pointing their weapons towards Isma, who was staring up at where the explosion had occurred.
"Oh dear. Dryya, my sister, what have you done?" Isma turned towards them, "Please, I really do mean you no harm. This is a misunderstanding."
"Listen," Uncle Qrow began. The gears in Harbinger, his weapon, clicked menacingly, "You sound sincere. So, best thing for you to do if you really don't want to fight? Is surrender."
Isma looked down at the ground.
"That, I cannot do."
"Figured," Uncle Qrow sighed, "Come on, be reasonable-"
With a yell, Winter lunged at Isma. Her blade swung, and Isma deftly stepped to the side.
"Oh for gods sake-" Uncle Qrow demanded, launching himself into the battle.
"Please, we don't have to come to blows!" Isma cried.
"Villain!" Winter yelled, "What have you done with my sister?"
Yang activated Ember Celica with a shake of her wrists, only to notice movement in the distance. Mato and Doctor Oobleck were making their way as fast as they could towards them. Mato especially seemed in a hurry.
Harbinger slammed into the ground, Isma once again avoiding the blow and Winter's own attack, coming to a stop right at the acid lake's border. Winter and Qrow stood side to side, weapons pointed at Isma.
"So it has come to battle..." Isma said sadly.
"You seem like a nice gal," Uncle Qrow began, "I'd rather not hurt you. Hope you understand."
"You too, seem a kind fellow," Isma said, "I'd rather not hurt you either. Forgive me."
"Wait!" Mato bellowed, finally in earshot.
Qrow glanced behind him, and the vines that erupted from the acid lake nearly slammed into his head.
"Holy brothers-!" he yelped, jumping back and dragging Winter with him.
The lake bubbled and frothed violently, hundreds of sinewy vines surfacing and writhing in the air. Two massive vines, thicker than a human, breached the surface, sending a rain of acid into the air. Acid dripped off the massive bulbs that hung from them, sizzling against the stone. The lake's acid, displaced, washed against Isma's legs, and judging by her lack of screaming, she seemed resistant.
"I am Kindly Isma, Knight of Hallownest. I have sworn myself to Hallownest's crown," the bulbs that hung above Isma unfurled and bloomed, revealing dark petals lined with teeth, "Please, know that I mean you no harm."
...to resolve your past...
The Hollow Knight knew not how much time had passed while it was in the Temple. Too much time, it seemed occasionally. Hornet, and the other bugs, talked of the kingdom in the past tense. As if it were no longer. And at first the Knight had worried. Worried that so much time had passed that the kingdom had come to the state it was now.
Learning that the Hallownest they had found was a dream, and not the physical kingdom, was a relief.
And for all the Gendered Child's words, if Fierce Dryya was still around, then surely the kingdom's situation was not so dire.
"Focus, our Hollow Knight!" Fierce Dryya commanded. The edge of her blade nearly sliced into its side, the Knight barely twisting out of the way. Dryya leapt out of the way of its swing, shattering the shard of ice that Lady Weiss launched at her with a casual swing.
"Your skills," Dryya's gaze bore into it, "They are lacking. Rusted."
The Knight threw out its hand, several Shining Daggers flying towards Dryya. She leapt high above them, twirling around with her blade outstretched.
"Whoa!" Ruby Rose yelped, firing in midair to deflect her trajectory. Dryya's blade cut across the spot where Ruby Rose had once been, and Dryya fell back to the ground, landing perfectly on her feet, blade pointed upwards.
"Even together you are having difficulty," Drrya said.
Lady Weiss and Ruby Rose appeared on either side of the Knight.
"We're just getting started!" Ruby Rose said.
"Bold words," Drrya lowered the sword so that it pointed towards them, "Yet I have yet to see their weight."
"Well watch this!" Ruby Rose whirled her weapon around, slamming it into the ground with its top pointed towards Dryya.
"Ice Flower!"
The Knight, recognizing the cry for what it was, dashed to the side. At the same time Lady Weiss twirled her weapon, her glyphs forming before Ruby Rose's weapon.
A shot, and a boom, Ruby Rose's projectile slamming into the ground and exploding into a jagged mess of ice.
Fierce Dryya, who had leaned such that the bullet had narrowly avoided her, narrowed her gaze.
Another shot, and then another. With each volley from Ruby, the ground erupted into pillars of ice. And each shot narrowly missed, Dryya stepping to the side at the last minute as she strode towards Lady Weiss and Ruby without hesitating.
A shot, and then another. And then a click.
The battleground was scarred with ice, shards of frozen stone littering the ground as ash and mist mingled in the air. Lady Weiss's glyphs spun out of existence, and the two girls stared open mouthed at the still standing Dryya.
"Impressive. I will grant you that much," Dryya said, brushing the thin frost that had formed on her armor, "I hope that that isn't all you had."
"If you think you've beaten us," Lady Weiss began, stepping in front of Ruby as the other girl recharged her weapon, "You're sorely mistaken."
"More words," Dryya tsked, "When will you prove them?"
From behind Dryya, the Hollow Knight lunged out of the mist, swinging down. Dryya caught the blow, deflecting it to the side before scoring a glancing graze against the Knight's mask.
"Come now!" Dryya roared, "Give me battle!"
The world turned into a blur of grey and white as Dryya launched herself at the Knight, slicing and stabbing without reprieve. All it could do under her relentless assault was block her attacks as best it could, Dryya giving no chance for counterattack. Dryya's nail sliced through the Knight's left side and it batted her to the side with its horns.
"Determined as ever," Dryya said as she pirouetted away, "Though you have grown weaker, our Hollow Knight, your will stays strong."
A silvery blade rushed past Dryya, glancing against her armor. For a moment it looked such like a Shining Dagger that the Knight's hold on its weapon tightened in confusion. Then the projectile shattered against the ground, splinters of frost flying into the air, and the Knight realized where the attack had come from.
Dryya turns her head to look at Lady Weiss from the corner of her vision. Several blades orbited Lady Weiss, each stark white with mist pouring from them.
"So you are a spellcaster," Dryya hummed, "I have always been more partial to the nail myself. Yet it is fitting, in a way."
"Explain yourself," Lady Weiss demanded, projectiles spinning faster.
"Of course," Dryya tilted her head such that she was looking down at Lady Weiss, "But first, seeker of Hallownest-"
The Hollow Knight dashed after Dryya, but even before the Black Egg Temple it had never been able to match her sheer speed. In the span of a second, Fierce Dryya loomed over Lady Weiss, shattering her projectiles with a wave of her sword.
"-You must prove yourself!"
The Knight tapped into the Void, the world turning into nothing, and when it came back into being Fierce Dryya was already swinging her blade at Lady Weiss's heart.
The air filled with ash, red petals, and leaves as Ruby Rose slammed into Dryya seconds before the blow landed. Dryya stumbled under the force of the kick, whirling towards Ruby and rearing her fist back. It was then that the Hollow Knight slammed into the both of them.
All three tumbled, reaching the edge of the cliff that had been their battlefield. Dryya stood back up to her feet in a flash, and the Knight did the same. Ruby, who'd been thrown back the furthest, right near the edge of the cliff, was still on the ground.
"Ruby!" Lady Weiss cried out. The Knight stopped her from rushing towards her, even if it was loath to do it.
Dryya stepped between them and Ruby, twirling her nail.
"You and your allies are tenacious," Dryya said, her tone approving, "I will say this."
"If you hurt her-" Lady Weiss snarled. Her hair shone, and the bright light of the brand on her shoulder shone under her dress. Judging by the way Dryya honed in on the light, she noticed too.
"Peace, seeker of Hallownest. I would not hurt an unarmed opponent. You have my word that nothing will happen to her."
It was at that moment that the cliffside shattered, a beam of green light erupting out from underneath it and reducing it to rubble.
Falling, falling fast, and the Knight wasted no time in curling itself protectively around Lady Weiss. In the corner of its vision it could see Dryya angling herself to fall faster, aiming herself at the limp form of Ruby Rose-
The Kingdom's Edge's acid was quickly approaching, and the Knight braced for impact.
...to resolve your past...
The battle had been going great up till the moment Uncle Qrow accidentally stumbled into Penny.
A given value of great, to be sure. Even with all eight of them combined, they'd yet to land a single hit on Isma. The knight of Hallownest stood in the shallows of the acid lake, unbothered as her plants did all the attacking. And there were a lot of plants. It was as if a hundred furious octopodes had stormed the beach.
Yang, who mainly beat enemies via punching them into submission, was not having a good time, suffice to say.
"Get off me, get off me!" Yang yelled, locked in a battle for her hand. The vine that had wrapped itself around her arm showed no sign of letting going, doing its best to drag her into the writhing mass of vines behind Isma. At her feet, the little knight slashed at the countless vines slithering towards her legs.
"This. Is. So not cool!" she yelled. Her aura flared so brightly that she was convinced that she'd catch flame at any moment. The vine, cold and clammy, refused to let go even then, even as she clawed at it with her other arm.
The battle around her wasn't going much better. Nailmaster had been ensnared near the beginning of the fight, taking a barrage that would've enveloped Penny. It was only his strength and size that had prevented him from being dragged towards Isma, though second by second he was dragged closer no matter how he resisted. Penny had tried to immediately save the Nailmaster, only to be forced to fight off more vines, the area around her quickly turning into a cloud of dancing swords and endless plant matter.
Blake was forced to zip around the battle, sacrificing clones as she tried to assist anyone she could while thinning the writhing mass. Though she'd yet to have been snagged, it was clear that she was starting to lag, and Yang wanted nothing more than to give her some breathing room.
Uncle Qrow and Winter faced the worst of Isma's attack. The giant carnivorous bulbs she'd summoned, despite their size, were remarkably quick, and more than the two had almost been swallowed whole by one as it slammed into the ground where they had stood but a second ago.
"Ice Queen-!"
"I'm on it!"
Winter spun forth a pale blue glyph into existence, a flock of small spectral nevermores flying towards Isma. The ghostly grimm managed to get within a meter of her before countless sharp branches erupted from behind the bug, impaling each.
One of the bulbs opened its maw fully to reveal more sharp teeth than a plant should ever have, and rushed towards Winter in a flash, closing over her. For a moment Yang feared the worst, her stomach dropping, only for her to see a spectral beowulf holding the mouth of the bulb open with all its strength, Winter standing behind it.
"Go, you drunken old-"
"I'm on it!"
The bulb abruptly stopped trying to close over Winter and her summon, quivering before falling to the ground, limp. Qrow whirled around Harbinger, the weapon fully transformed into a scythe, and shot a grin at Winter.
"You got something in your hair," he quipped.
Winter glared at him, her summoned beowulf snarling, as she tried and failed two wipe away the plant drool that had fallen on her.
"Now is not the time-"
The ground rumbled and for a moment the world became silent, and Yang's relief at seeing the two hunters unharmed turned to horror as the little knight flew past her head from the blow of a particularly large vine.
"Little guy-!" she began, turning her head.
There was a tremendous yank and Yang's feet slipped, and the next thing she knew she was flying through the air-
"Yang!"
Something wrapped around her other arm, something smooth and soft, and Yang grabbed it with all her strength. Abruptly she stopped, hanging in the air as Isma's vines tried to drag her further into them. The only thing stopped her was a black ribbon, and her partner on the other end yanking with all her strength.
"Hang on kid!" Qrow bellowed, launching himself at him only for Winter to tackle him out of the way as the remaining bulb closed over where he'd been a second ago.
"Yang!" Blake cried out, baring her teeth as she tugged.
The vine had become vines, wrapping around Yang's arm until it was completely covered, and she could feel them begin to wrap around her neck, brambles tangling in her hair-
The world became uncomfortably warm, and Yang flew through the air once more and into the arms of her partner.
"Yang!"
"I-I'm okay," Yang began, wincing at how her voice stuttered. That had been too close. Blake still holding her, Yang managed to look back to see what had freed her.
Doctor Oobleck stood between them and Isma, a staff in hand.
"So you finally fight," Isma said, serene voice at odds with the writhing nightmare behind her, "I had been curious if you could."
"I devote myself to the academic world with greater fervor than the martial world. This is true," Oobleck said, "Yet I can hold my own. Believe me."
"What stayed your hand for so long?" Isma asked, tilting her head.
"Unknown variables. Did not want to risk teammates. But, can no longer sit and watch. Sometimes the best way to prove a hypothesis. Is to jump right in!"
Doctor Oobleck twirled his staff around as a volley of vines hurtled towards him, pointing his weapon at the incoming attack.
Flames belched from the staff, a cloud of fire reducing the attack into cinders. Around the battlefield the plants flinched, and Imsa stumbled back with a cry.
"Excellent!" Doctor Oobleck grinned, "Acid is not flammable! Good news! And now-" Oobleck pointed the flamethrower as Isma once more, grin turning more menacing, "I suggest you surrender."
Yang felt Blake's arms tense around her, and followed her partner's gaze.
"Professor!" they both cried out.
"Docto-!" he began to correct, before noticing the remaining carnivorous bulb hanging over him.
Flames belched forth once more, but rather than charge at him with an open maw the bulb undulated and squirmed before unleashing a torrent of acid towards the doctor. Flames died, and Yang watched the Doctor jerk back-
A green blur, too vibrant to be Isma's plants, tackled the doctor out of the way. The torrent of acid slammed into the ground, stone sizzling, and Blake pulled the two of them away from the rapidly expanding puddle and caustic mist.
The torrent stopped and suddenly as it began, and the bulb fell to the mix of melted stone and ash with a thumb. Winter and Qrow landed on either side of it, flicking their weapons free from acid.
"You okay Firecracker?" Qrow called back towards Yang.
"Just peachy! Watch out!"
Flames intercepted the attack Isma launched at the two hunters once more, and with a shudder the remaining plants retreated back towards Isma.
"Impressive," she began, voice slightly shaky, "But you've yet to defeat me."
"Allow me to fix this!" Penny yelled, throwing her hands out. Her multitude of blades formed a circle, spinning faster and faster as an emerald light blossomed in the epicenter.
Just as Penny launched her laser, a grey vine hidden in the ashen mud struck, wrapping itself around Qrow's leg before snapping. With a yelp her uncle slammed into Penny, sending girl and man to the ground and sending the laser high into the air. And into a cliff.
"Oh dear," Isma said faintly as boulders crashed towards them.
The next few moments were terrifying, boulders bigger than Mato falling all around them, splashing into the lake and crashing onto the beach. The air filled with a choking mix of dust, ash, and acid droplets, and the cavern itself shook under the meteoric rain-
The ground underneath them buckled, and Yang curled herself around Blake as they fell and fell.
Before they slammed into the ground, something caught them. And Yang could've sworn she heard frenetic buzzing under the thunderous rumbling of the cave in.
When the world stopped shaking, and when Yang finally opened her eyes, it was to a world very different from the Kingdom's Edge.
Everything around them was eyesearing shades of yellow, startling after the monochrome Kingdom's Edge. Vibrant golds and deep honey, and with a start Yang realized it was honey. The walls, the ceiling, everything around them was made up of hexagons. Honeycombs. From the walls leaked honey, the too rich smell cloying the air. The floor beneath her was also honeycomb, though thankfully made of hexagons small and sturdy enough to support them. Golden light seemed to shine from deep within the honeycombs, and Yang had to squeeze her eyes as the sudden light caused them to water.
That, and the air was filled with bees – their buzzing so loud that it was a physical pressure, rattling Yang to her core. She didn't hear Blake call her name until her partner cupped her face and gently shook her.
"Yang!"
Yang's eyes snapped open, meeting Blake's concerned gaze. The world had become quieter, though not silent, and Yang found herself able to breathe again.
"You with me?" Blake asked softly, searching her face.
"...Yeah," Yang managed, "Though I'm not exactly sure where we are."
They were in a massive chamber. And across the walls, the ceiling, even the floor was a thick blanket of brown bees. Most small enough for Yang to hold in her hands, some big enough for her to ride, and the occasional behemoth big enough to swallow her whole. Their buzzing, quieter, was still ever present, and it set Yang's teeth on end. Normally she was fond of bees – in fact, she loved them – but it was a whole nother thing to be surrounded by thousands of them.
The only free space in the chamber was a small circle around them. Yang spotted Doctor Oobleck helping Penny up as Uncle Qrow got to his feet, Nailmaster Mato offering Winter a hand. The Hollow Knight, a black shadow in the golden chamber, holding Weiss in their arms.
And Isma and another bug garbed in white, the stranger cradling Ruby in her arms.
Yang was on her feet in an instant, blood boiling, only for a sharp point to come to rest at her neck. She hadn't even seen the bee – and it was a bee, though this one looked more 'human' than the others – move, and it was clear if she moved another step that it wouldn't end well.
"Yang," Blake began. Yang could feel her by her side, tense, and opened her mouth to reassure her partner when a shadow fell over them.
Blake and Yang turned, carefully, as at the same time Isma and the strange white bug fell to their knees in a bow.
"Greetings," Isma began, "Hive Queen Vespa."
Looming above them was a bee as big as Bardoon. So big that only her head and part of her chest were in view, the rest of her falling below the chamber. Four curious eyes bigger than Yang's head stared at them, and Yang could do nothing but give a strangled scream as the honeycomb below them buckled and rose. Blake clung to her tightly, and Yang was doing the same, and soon the two of them were lifted high above the chamber floor, standing in the palm of a titanic bee.
"Knights of Hallownest ," Queen Vespa's voice was a thousand buzzes harmonized into one deep voice, "What is it that you have brought to my hive this time ?"
If you attempt to resolve your past
then know I am not the queen you seek.
It is the pale beings that bear blame for your nature.
Why yes the Kindly Isma fight was heavily inspired by the boss in the forest temple in Twilight Princess, how could you tell?
Thank you all for reading! Tune in next time for: "The Hive"!