"Any hints or clues," Jaune asked.
"Sorry. I haven't seen a bandit since the village."
Jaune sighed. "It would be easy if we could, I don't know, sense Raven's magic?"
"Yeah, I don't think that's an option, honey," Nimueh said. "Hm? But maybe you can TRACK her."
"Huh?"
"You're a Grimm now, a creature created by the God of Darkness."
"Yeah?"
"My father-"
"Still getting used to that fact."
"Yeah, yeah. He didn't just create me and the Grimm. He created magic. It was his gift to mankind before he left, and the 2nd Wave came to be. But now that you're officially his creation, and you can use magic, you might, MIGHT, be able to use your magic to track Raven's. Sort of like a magnet attracting metal or a compass leading us to the right path."
"And how am I supposed to do that?"
Nimueh stared at Jaune. "Mhm," she went with a shrug of her shoulders.
Jaune sighed. "Thanks, babe."
Jaune then took a breath and started to concentrate. He imagined himself surrounded not by his Aura, but by the elements of the world. He tried to imagine the orbs Salem liked to create and spin, the orbs flying around him, searching. Jaune was beginning to struggle, the act more complicated than he thought. He was about to give up when one of the orbs flew into a direction.
Jaune's eyes shot open. He then whistled, the Nevermore changing direction.
"Wow, I can't believe that worked," Nimueh said.
"You and me both."
A few minutes later.
"Dad, I can see a camp from here!"
"Let's hope it's the Branwen Camp. This is our stop," Jaune said.
"Huh? Whoa," Argent went as his dad lifted him and his mom before jumping off the Nevermore. Skyshadow then flew away from the camp.
Jaune spread his wings to make the family land safely onto the ground with just a few flaps of his mighty, onyx wings.
"So, why did we get off here? Couldn't we have ridden Skyshadow to Great Aunt Raven's camp?"
"Bandits don't have scrolls. There's no way Raven's men would know that Nevermore was mine. Hell, even if they did, they'd STILL probably shoot at it just to get to me."
"Does the Branwen Tribe not like you?"
"They're split in the middle. Half of the tribe likes me while the other half hates my guts."
"Most of the half that likes your dad are girls," Nimueh went.
"Oi."
"And most of the half that hate him are men that do so because of what he did with Raven."
"What did dad do?"
"He-"
"OI! NO NEED TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED!" Jaune sighed. "Let's just get to the camp."
"Race ya," Argent went excitedly.
"Kiddo, wa-"
He already took off, Enhancing his legs to go incredibly fast.
Jaune sighed. "Shall I?"
"You shall," Nimueh went with a smile before turning back into a sword, Jaune grabbing her and putting her in her sheath. He then prepared to run, imagining the legs of the fastest Grimm, the Racer (a cheetah Grimm), and sped after his son. Surprising even him, he caught up and captured his son, lifting the surprised boy by his pits.
"FAST!"
"Don't run off like that, kiddo. I just said I don't have a lot of fans in the tribe. I don't wanna know what they'd do to you, since you're basically a mini me with silver eyes."
"Shi-shi-shi."
"Shi-shi-shi, nothing," Jaune went as he placed Argent behind him. "Just keep your hand on Crocea."
"Sure think, dad," he said with a toothy smile, hand on Crocea Mors.
Jaune sighed before walking towards the camp, summoning his wings to cover his face again. When they got out of the forest, Jaune saw who was at the entrance of the wall. "Oh, no."
"Hey, who the hell are you," a graying haired man pointing a gun at Jaune said.
"A gun with knuckles and a blade on the handle? That's it? That's pretty lame," Argent said in disappointment.
"Shut up, kid! Who the hell are you two?! Wait, haven't I seen you before, kid?"
"No, but you've seen me, Shay."
"That voice. Aw, no. What do YOU want, hero?!"
"I'm just here to see Raven. I need her."
Shay scoffed. "Well, too damn bad. She's not here."
"How long until she gets back?"
"You think I'm gonna tell you, #1 Huntsman?"
"I'll wait for her for as long as necessary. I need her."
"1. stop saying that. 2. I don't give a crap. 3. get the hell out of here before I shoot you," he said as he aimed the gun at Jaune's head.
Jaune sighed. "Look, idiot, we can do this the easy way, where you get to keep your face the way it looks with Yang's signature."
"Aunt Yang?"
"Notice how he's missing a tooth? Your aunt did that."
"Oh. . . Neat."
"I'll shoot you, kid!"
"Do that, and we'll do this the fun way."
He aimed his gun at Jaune again. "Don't you mean hard way, pretty boy?"
"Please," Jaune began as he cracked his knuckles. "This won't be hard for me in the least, Shay. You? It's basically impossible."
"Oh, that's it! Eat lead, you sonofa-"
Shay then received a massive fist to the face, his skull caving in before he was sent flying through the gate, causing a commotion inside the camp.
"That was hilarious," Argent called.
"Glad you like it," Jaune called back as he walked into the compound.
When he walked in, he saw that he was surrounded by bandits ready for a fight.
Shay groaned as he sat up before he spat into his hand. He looked at his palm to see three teeth in it. "Aw, come on!" He looked up at Jaune. "Since when did YOU throw punches, hero?!"
"Hero?"
"Wait, is that-"
"Oh, great. Him."
Jaune just shrugged. "I've leveled up. Besides, you're not worth my damn sheath."
"Yup, that's Jaune's voice," one bandit said as he dropped his weapon and walked away.
"Not messing with him," another went as she walked away.
"Have fun getting your asses kicked," a second girl said as she walked away.
"Yo, Jaune, after you're done with the dumbasses, meet me by that tent over there! I still owe you a beer for saving my ass," an older bandit said as he walked away.
"Got it," Jaune called.
"COWARDS," one bandit yelled. "I'M NOT AFRAID OF YOU, ARC! YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS HERE! GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE," a bandit went.
"You're welcome to try and make me."
The bandit growled as he ran towards Jaune, sword held over his head.
He then received a dropkick that sent him crashing into a tent.
Jaune looked to see Argent standing next to him with a smile. "Please tell me you didn't use your Semblance."
"Hm? No. He didn't look tough enough for me to need it."
"Good. Your Great Aunt is the only one here who has Aura. Try to hold back on these idiots."
"Alright. Sure." Argent hopped around a bit to loosen himself up, popping a few joints before taking a stance. "I've been wanting to put Aunt Yang's training to use anyway. This will be great practice."
"Indeed," Jaune said as he moved his neck to pop the joints in them intimidatingly before taking his stance.
The Arcs them smirked at the remaining bandits around them.
"Bring it," they went in unison, looking forward to the fight.
A bandit rushed in with a hammer and swung at Jaune. Jaune easily caught the weapon by the neck and punched the guy before using the hammer to parry another bandit's slash. Jaune kicked that guy into a group before tossing the hammer into the arms of a girl running to punch him. Jaune got next to the girl's ear and blew into it. That act alone made the girl shiver in ecstacy before she fell to her knees, blushing.
Argent was basically a bullet, slipping past various bandits, using them like a jungle gym. He even shocked a bandit with a spear by landing and holding onto the tip of his spear using just his thumb and forefinger.
"Man, your fingers are strong," the guy went.
"I know." Argent then spun kicked the guy in the face, sending him flying. When he landed on his feet, he snapped off the blade of the spear and spun the staff, smacking away the bandits that tried to gang up on him.
"D'OH!"
"Hm? Geh." Argent saw that he accidently hit a bandit in his jewel collection.
The man gave a hi-pitched whine as he looked at Argent. "Why," he squeaked.
"Uh, sorry about that."
The man whined as he fell to his side, holding onto what was left of his treasure.
Behind the man was a woman who looked a lot like him, looking down at him before looking at Argent. "That... was my brother."
"Eep! I'm... I didn't mean to?"
The woman walked up to Argent, the boy stiffening up, mentally preparing him for whatever punishment he may receive. He began to sweat nervously when the woman knelt down to be at his eye level. His eyes widened when the woman kissed Argent's forehead.
She then gave a snarky smile and a thumbs up. "Good job. I HATE my brother."
"fuck you," he squeaked out.
"Fuck you, too." She then looked at Argent and booped his nose. "I'm one of the cooks in the camp. After you're done kicking these morons' asses, come see me. My treat." She then walked away, past another girl just as pretty as her.
"Seriously," the woman went. "Whoop," she went after the woman pinched her butt.
"Seriously."
Argent just stood there, dumbfounded, before he pretty much coughed out steam.
"Why do I feel a need to break Arie's legs," Lyra asked as they were flying.
"Weird. I feel like I need to shoot someone," Ruby went.
"I feel like punching someone and kissing Argent out of pride," Yang said.
Argent looked at the staff. "You taught me something dangerous, Uncle Sun."
"THAT'S MY BOY!"
"Whoa! Dude, what's up with you," Neptune asked.
"I... have no idea. I just felt proud of Argent for some reason."
"Arie? You haven't seen that kid since Jaune asked you to train him while he was on a Bounty Hunt in Vacuo."
"I know. Weird to think of the kid. It's been five years." Sun then ate more of his noodles. "Think Jaune and Arie are alright?"
"Yeah, I'm sure they're fine," Neptune said as he ate his noodles.
Argent tossed the staff away, Jaune catching it and spinning it at speeds that blocked every single shot fired at him. He then swung it and sent an entire group flying.
One of the men flew into a tent and slammed against a bar. At the bar, a young man was eating a steak with rice, peas, a small bowl of spinach, and a cup of steaming herbal tea.
The young man's face wasn't revealed yet, but he wore red and black clothes that resembled the Tribe Leader's own attire, save for the fact he wore black jeans, cleated combat boots, and wore a necklace that had what looked like a Nevermore as it's ornament. The young man's fingerless gloves showed that he was as fair skinned as Raven, his hair as black as hers as well, but only reached his shoulders as opposed to the woman's long mane. He even had a cowlick like the woman. Next to the youth was a mask that looked much like Raven's, save for the smaller size to fit the boy instead of the full-grown woman.
The boy took a sip of his tea before removing the hilt of his weapon from its sheath and tapping the head of the bandit, waking him up.
"Aaaagh, my head." The man looked up. "Y-Young Master!"
"Care to explain what's going on out there?"
The bartender then placed a drink on the bar, the bandit scrambling up to drink it to calm his nerves. He panted before he turned towards the boy. "I-It's Arc, sir."
"Arc? As in THE Jaune Arc?"
"Yes. He's infiltrated the camp and is looking for-"
"Our leader. Well, that's an issue. She even told me she didn't wish to be disturbed. That, and she isn't even here to begin with."
"Where-"
"I don't know. I'm her successor, not her bookkeeper," the boy said as he grabbed his mask and put it on. "Well then," he began as he turned around, showing off his impressive height and physic, his body obviously lean.
He then grabbed the sheath of his weapon and connected the handle to it. On closer inspection, the sheath was as wide as the boy himself, a window showing a rotary chamber with Dust Blades within like Raven's own weapon, but the handle of the weapon was different from Raven's.
On the handle of the boy's weapon, there were four triggers, one for each finger. If you looked carefully, you would see a fifth trigger on the back of the handle, obviously for the boy's thumb.
The boy then pulled the index trigger, the weapon whirling, the chamber spinning before stopping at red, a clicking sound being heard.
"It's time I perform my duties as the next Chieftain."
Jaune was nonchalantly avoiding a bandit's wild slashes, hands behind his back as he chuckled at the man's frustration. When the man prepaired an overhead swing, Jaune punched him in the face, the man's legs wobbling before he fell to his face.
Jaune then heard a shotgun being cocked, appeared before the shooter, and covered the barrel... with his bare hand.
"HAH! YOU'RE AN IDIOT," the man yelled. He then pulled the trigger, only for his shotgun to explode. "Uuuh," he went as he looked at what was left of his gun. He then looked at Jaune.
He was holding the other half of the gun, clenched it into his hand, and opened his hand to not only let the scrap fall, but to show his hand didn't even have a scratch. His Aura wasn't even sparking, either, showing that his Aura didn't even get a dent. "You were saying?"
". . . You know what? Screw this. I'm gonna get drunk," the guy said as he slumped off. "Overpowered monster. I should have just gone on that mission the Leader had posted this morning," he grumbled.
"Don't get a handover," Jaune called.
"FUCK YOU, MAN," he called back pathetically.
Jaune chuckled before he heard something behind him. He looked to see a portal. "Raven?"
Before he knew it, someone lunged out of the portal and tried to slash him. Jaune was fortunate enough to be able to bend back to avoid the slash, and tried to retaliate with his own slash, relying on his powers. The boy easily jumped out of the way of the slash, only to lunge towards Jaune and try to slash him many more times, Jaune dodging all of them. Jaune tried to land an uppercut, which the boy avoided with a back flip.
"You're not Raven. You're good, but definitely not her."
"I'll take that as a compliment. What gave me away?" Jaune held his hand at a certain height, making the boy chuckle. "Fair enough. So, you're the legendary Jaune Arc, the Vale Knight."
"That would be me. I take it your boss told you about me?"
"She has told me much."
"So, who are you? Her biggest fan? Her protégée?"
"Show the Young Master more respect, hero!"
"That's the next Chieftain of our tribe!"
Jaune was surprised. "Seriously? Raven chose you to be her successor? I was expecting someone older."
"I suppose that speaks to my level of skill and training," the boy said as he drew his sword, showing a red dust blade.
"Training? Raven trained you?"
"Yup."
"Well... this should be interesting," Jaune said as he took his stance.
"No one get involved in this."
"But Young Master, that's the-"
"That's an order! If I am to lead you, then don't you think you would have more faith in me if you saw I was strong enough to face one of the World's Strongest?"
The bandits looked among each other before they all roared. "YOUNG MASTER! YOUNG MASTER! YOUNG MASTER!" All the bandits were cheering, Argent looking around in confusion as the bandits stopped fighting him before looking towards his dad.
"Well, they're loyal."
"I've earned it." The boy then lunged at Jaune.
Jaune continued to dodge the boy's attacked until he saw an opportunity to knee the boy in the stomach before kicking him away. As the boy bounced, he slashed open a portal and fell into it.
"Raven's Semblance? No, it's just like hers. Now which of these goons are you going to appear near, kiddo?"
"Who said I'd appear near any of them?"
Jaune looked up towards the voice in time to perform a Sword Catch, the boy landing on Jaune's shoulders.
The boy laughed. "You're even better than I've been told!" The boy then detached his hilt, smacked the blade, and jumped away.
"Oh, crap," Jaune went as the blade ignited and exploded as soon as he said that.
"DAD," Argent went.
The Young Master looked towards the obviously younger child, the boy only a head taller than Argent. "Dad, huh? Then you must be the Vale Regional Champion, Argent Arc." The boy walked towards Argent. "I hope you can live up to both your reputation and your legacy."
Argent growled as placed his hand on Crocea Mors. He was about to draw the heirloom before his eyes widened.
The boy stopped when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked back to see Jaune towering over him, not even so much as a burn mark on him. "Please tell me you didn't think that was enough to beat me."
"Well... that was stupidly optimistic of me, wasn't it?"
"Yes. Yes, it was." Jaune then punched the boy in the stomach with enough force to send him airborne. Jaune was about to jumped after him before the boy slashed another portal behind him.
Jaune looked around, waiting for the boy to appear. He heard the whirl of the boy's portal behind him and grabbed towards it, only to grab air. Another portal appeared at Jaune's side, the boy appearing and slashing Jane' back with Lightning Dust. Jaune tried to ax kick the boy, but he jumped away just in time.
Jaune sighed. "You're good."
"And you're holding back."
"Hm? And what makes you say that?"
"You're considered one of the world's greatest swordsmen, along with our Leader, yet you haven't drawn your blade once against me! Am I not worthy of your blade, hero?!"
"Sorry, kid. Don't take it personal."
"AND HOW CAN I NOT?!"
"I just use Nimueh for certain occasions and emergencies. And no offense..."
The boy glared at Jaune before his eyes widened when he felt a hand on the back of his head. "You're just not one of those moments." Jaune then slammed the boy's head so hard into the ground, the earth shook beneath them. Jaune stood over the boy, looking down at him. "Good night, kid." He then turned towards the other bandits. "Who's next?"
"He... He just took down the Young Master."
"He's so fast. He's a monster."
"We... We can still take him," one bandit went nervously.
The bandits looked worried, until one's eyes widened.
"Uh, dad?"
"Hm?"
Argent pointed behind Jaune.
He glanced to see the boy stand up, casually brushing the dirt off of his mask and arms. "Okay, now I see." He looked at Jaune. "No wonder you held back. Guess I should get more serious, too."
"Hoo?"
The boy sheathed his sword and pulled the Index trigger once more. A click was heard. He then pulled the Middle and Ring triggers, a whirling followed by two clicks being heard. The boy then gently pulled out his sword by just a bit, cold air followed by electric crackles leaking from the sheath.
"Round 2, hero."
Jaune and the Young Master stared at each other, both waiting for the other to make a move. Jaune decided to be the first and grew out his claws. The boy noticed this. 'So she WAS telling the truth. I really should never doubt the wisest woman I've ever known.'
Jaune then slashed, wind blades rushing towards the boy. 'Incredible. They're better than-'
The blades rushed past the boy, creating a dust cloud as they did, and sent many of the bandits dumb enough to stand in its way flying.
Jaune waited and heard what he was expecting. He glanced at the portal and waited. When nothing happened, he waited again for the other portal. When it appeared, he was about to slash it, only to stop and wait. He then heard... running.
He looked towards it, only for the boy to throw dirt in his face. It stunned him long enough for the boy to slash Jaune through his stomach, holding his stance behind Jaune, his hilt empty. Moments later, Jaune began to cry out in pain as his body was beginning to be covered with ice, lightning coursing throughout his body.
The boy successfully stuck the Ice and Lightning Dust onto Jaune.
"Ice is nothing more than frozen water, Vale Knight," the boy explained as he turned towards Jaune. "Which means it conducts electricity just as well. As long as that ice spreads through your body, so does the electricity. Don't worry. Aura tends to flash before it breaks. I'll shatter the Dust before that happens to make sure you don't-"
Jaune roared as he punched the ground, which somehow caused enough force throughout his body and the ground to shatter both Dust Blades and the ice on his body, as well as channeling the electricity into the ground.
"Die." The boy sighed. "Has anyone ever told you that you're a monster of a man?"
Jaune panted before he took a deep breath and turned towards the boy. "Not until recently," Jaune said as he drew Nimueh.
The boy perked up. "The legendary Sword of Destruction, one of the Four Relics, and the only weapon in all of Remnant that can truly be called unbreakable, Nimueh. So, I have been deemed worthy?"
"At the very least, I know I shouldn't hold back too much against you. You get the sword, kid. But you need a bit more if you want the power."
"Challenge accepted," he said as he sheathed his handle. "I have dreamed of fighting you. Dreamed of dueling you with your legendary sword," he began as he pulled... all five triggers, his weapon whirling like mad. "Dreamed of besting you at your full power."
Jaune chuckled. "You're getting closer, kid. A bit more training, and I just might give Nimueh the Aura necessary for her to scare the life out of you," he said as he pointed his partner at the boy.
Five clicks were heard. "I fear nothing. Not even you. I will show you the might of the man who will one day lead the Branwen Tribe! The man who will conquer all of Anima, with my family at my side!" The bandits cheered at that.
Jaune chuckled. "I think I like you, kid. You're ambitious... but I'd have to stop you if you try to go that far."
"BRING IT!"
Jaune and the boy took their stances, the boy's sword drawn just enough for him to perform an Iai Slash with what had to be his weapon at its most powerful. Jaune and the boy smirked under their guises, ready to continue and possibly end this interesting battle. They both lunged.
Then, lightning struck between them, surprising both.
"ENOUGH!"
Everyone looked towards the largest tent at the center of the camp.
Jaune sighed as he sheathed Nimueh. "Hello, Raven."
At the top of the stairs stood the beauty he was searching for, still wearing her same clothes as before, her body not looking it had aged a day in the fourteen years they last met, still wearing her helmet. She then removed her helmet. She had a few grey streaks in her hair, but that was her only real indication of aging. She was still as beautiful as ever. "Jaune."
Argent walked up. 'That's Great Aunt Raven? She's as pretty as Aunt Yang.'
Yang shivered. "Ooooh, Argent said something he shouldn't have. I just know it."
Raven put her mask down on the box nearby. "So, after fourteen long years, you finally decided to visit me. I hope you're here to take my offer."
"Never gonna happen, Raven, and you know it."
"Shame. So, are you here for my bounty, then? You of all people know that even with the Sword of Destruction, it won't be easy for even you."
"Oh, I know. Just as much as you know that I can beat you, but that's not why I'm here. I need your help."
"Oh? Last time you asked for my help, you did more to help me. I don't mind helping you, but did you have to be so rough with my men?"
"Hey, I gave Shay the option to make this easy for everyone, or fun for me and my kid."
"Well, it certainly looks like the two of you had fun," she said as she glanced over at Argent.
"Hi," he went with an innocent wave.
Her smile never left. "As brave as his father. Waving at the leader of the most notorious tribe in Anima. Still, looks a bit too much like his grandmother for my taste."
"You mean his mother."
"I know what I said, Jaune. Now, how long are you going to keep yourself hidden. I've already informed my men about your new look."
"What? How could you... You're still watching over Yang, aren't you?" Now Raven's smile went away. Jaune sighed. "Alright." He then spread his wings, a few of the bandits gasping when they saw Jaune's face.
"He really is the new Salem."
"We tried to fight THAT?"
"Was he toying with us the whole time?"
Jaune glanced at a few bandits, some of them backing up in fear when he did so. He could actually SMELL their negative emotions.
"He's still kinda hot, though."
"He's actually more my type like this."
"Careful. Don't say stuff like that with the leader around."
Jaune heard that conversation and sighed. 'Guess they know about THAT too,' he thought.
"That's better." She then looked at the boy. "Sparrow, you can take off your mask. Arc's now officially a guest."
"Yes, ma'am." The boy then removed his mask.
When Jaune and Argent saw his face, both of their eyes widened.
'He... looks just like,' Argent began.
Jaune was just as shocked before he got angry, clenching his fists. He then took a deep breath to calm himself down as he looked at Raven, still a hint of anger in his red eyes. "So, I take it he's your son?"
Raven merely smiled before turning towards her tent. "Inside. We have much to discuss. Make sure the boy feels welcomed," Raven said as she walked into her tent.
Argent walked up to Jaune and tugged at his hand. "Dad? Are you alright?"
Jaune sighed before he patted his son's head. "I'm fine. Dad's going to talk with your Great Aunt for a while." He then handed Argent Nimueh. "If things get hairy, you know what to do."
Argent nodded in understanding as his dad walked off. He watched his father enter the tent before looking at Sparrow. "Hey."
"Hm?"
"So... can I ask an awkward question?"
". . . Sure."
"Okay... Um..." Argent took a deep breath to calm himself before he just decided to dive in. "Why... Why do you... Why do you look like my dad?!"
