"Wow, what a sight."
Ruby stared down the platform she had just entered. People in a variety of outfits were running past her and through the station or into the train she had just left.
"Come now, Ruby. This isn't the first time you have seen a big train station." Yang tried to calm her down.
"But it's the first time in another world." the younger sibling squealed.
These were the first moments that Team RWBY spend in Heimdallr Central Station, the station of the main capital of Erebonia. Class VII had left Trista earlier this morning via train, since the trip would take them the whole day. Just like the students form Zemuria the girls from Remnant now wore a red blazer with a white stripe in the middle as well as dark coloured skirts. Each student also carried two bags, one for his or her weapon and the second for supplies. Even now Ruby was wondering how quick Sharon managed to get them fitting weapon cases in such a short amount of time. Especially since the answer of her classmates to this question had been "It's Sharon.".
Following the group lost in thoughts, it was Machias' voice that pulled Ruby out of her thoughts. "Alright, this is where we part ways. Group A, your train leaves from platform 17 in 10 minutes. Group B, out train leaves from platform 4 in 7 minutes."
Both groups gathered at the walkway they would be taking in a few moments, before turning towards each other one last time. Seeing Blake and Weiss standing on the other side awoke a strange feeling in Ruby's chest. Facing the split of her team, even though it was for only a few days, simply didn't feel right to the leader. But as a team leader, she would show them her full support. Raising her fist into the air, the young girl declared loudly "Everyone, let's give it our all!"
For a moment all eyes of Class VII were focused on Ruby, before Laura began smiling herself. "We promise, that we will deal with all problems that may oppose us to the best of our abilities."
"As a noble and as a member of Class VII it is my duty to work to the best of my abilities." Jusis followed. "And I expect the same from you, Ruby Rose."
"Saying it like doesn't raise the pressure at all." Elliot added with an unsure laugh.
All members of the class declared their conviction and determination one after the other, something that lifted the fear inside of Ruby. She gave Team B one of her biggest smiles, before turning around shouting "Let's go!" and started running.
"And there she goes. I hope that you can keep her energy in check once you arrive in the Nord Highlands." Weiss warned the remaining students that would travel with her team leader, before the two groups split up.
No one noticed two girls watching the spectacle form the entrance of the station.
XxX
Group A had no troubles to reach their train in time and even got lucky to find an empty compartment big enough for all of them. During the next hour Ruby and Yang were introduced to the card game Blade. The rules were easy to understand: simply play a card with a number to get a higher total than your opponent. A tactical element was brought in through the cards 'Bolt' and 'Mirror'. Bolt would force the opponent to remove the last numbers card that they had played while Mirror switched the boards of the players. And so, it wasn't long until Yang and Ruby joined the games.
"I use a Bolt card." Ruby declared, showing the named card from her hand and discarded it.
"Really?" Alisa, her opponent, whined. The blond archer removed the top card of her row, before declaring the new score "27 to 23.". She followed this by playing the last card in her hand, a seven. "30 to 27." Alisa declared.
Ruby gave the girl a smile before playing her own last card, a five. "32 to 30. I win."
Yang on the other hand didn't fare to well against her opponent. "36 to 29." Jusis declared the latest score.
"Another seven? But I just destroyed one." The blond brawler spoke surprised, holding only one card in her hand. With a defeated sigh she turned the card around, showing a six. "You've got me again, Jus." Yang spoke frustrated. "And this time I was so sure that I cracked your poker face." Since the answer of the noble was a simple smirk, the girl from Remnant turned her attention to the reminding three members of their group.
Rean and Emma were talking about a book that the latter had stumbled upon during her club meetings in the literature club. Yang could hear words about an inescapable island and a red-haired adventurer. Maybe she would ask Emma later about it. Gaius on the other hand was watching the passing countryside through the train window.
"See something interesting?"
The tall boy shook his head. "I was feeling nostalgic." he admitted. "I only travelled this line less than three months ago on my way to Thors. And yet it feels like I'm a completely different person."
"I think you are looking forward to seeing your family again, right? I would." The blond brawler spoke, earning a chuckle of the spearman.
"You are right. I can't wait to see them again. I wonder how much Thoma, Sheeda and Lily have grown since I left. Even though it only has been three months."
"I know that feeling. It was the same to me when I had to leave Ruby while attending school. Whenever I came home it felt like she was bigger than the last time, even if I was only gone for a few hours." Yang admitted. "So, I bet that your siblings will surprise you with their growth. I'm really excited to meet them."
"And I'm feeling honoured to introduce you all to them and my homelands." Gaius replied.
"Rean, catch!"
The sudden shout pulled Yang and Gaius out of their conversation. They saw a pack of cards flying into the direction of the named teen. Turning around the boy was hit by the object directly in the forehead.
"Sorry," came the immediate apology.
"Ruby! You can't throw something without warning." Alisa scolded the youngest member of the group.
"But I did warn him." the scythe user whined.
"Calling someone's name while throwing something isn't warning them."
"But he caught it." Ruby replied. "With his head." She added quietly once she saw Alisa's strict gaze.
Yang quickly turned towards Gaius. "Can you tell us more about the Nord Highlands?" the brawler asked loud enough to gather the groups attention.
"The Nord Highlands are a mountainous region to the northeast of the Erebonian Empire." the tall boy began his explanation. "Even today the Highlands are mostly untouched by human hands and the only place you can find people are the settlements of my people or the military base called 'Zender's Gate'."
"So, it will be a completely different experience than our last two field studies." Rean mused while rubbing his head. "I assume that we are staying at Zender's Gate then."
Gaius shook his head. "Principla Van Dyck talked to me about our lodgings." He admitted. "And he asked me if my family could offer us a place to stay during the next two days."
"Really?" Ruby asked, becoming excited. "We not only get to see your homelands, but also meet your family?" the young girl start fidgeting in her seat.
"That is true." Gaius nodded. "I would have liked to introduce all of Class VII to them, but it seems like it just shouldn't be."
"I think we all understand that feeling." Yang spoke up. "But that only means that we have to work extra hard to show Group B the high of the lands later."
Jusis rolled his eyes. "Can you tell use more about your family?" the noble asked Gaius, his eyes adding a silent "Before she uses another pun."
Unfortunately for the blond boy, this was a good opportunity for Yang to continue. "I want to hear more too. Ju see that I want to learn more about you and your background, given this is our first time away from Thors." At the end she threw a winning smile at Jusis.
"Well, as I have already told Yang, I have three younger siblings, one brother and two sisters."
"Three siblings, huh?" Ruby asked, envisioning herself living with two more Yangs as a family.
"That must have been pretty hard for your parents, then." Rean assumed.
"I can't deny that." Gaius chuckled. "A soldier at Zender's Gate once asked her how she could handle all four of us. She told him, that her experiences with horses helped a lot. Even though it was easier to raise four foals than us."
The entire compartment laughed at that little story.
"Now that I think about it," Yang continued, turning towards Rean and Emma. "You haven't told us much about your families. Do you have any siblings?"
"I have an older sister." Emma answered. "But I haven't seen her in a long time, since she left our home village."
"Well, maybe we will run into her during one of our studies then." Alisa followed. "I mean, you also met Jusis' brother during your stay in Bareahard."
"Oh," Yang turned towards the noble. "A brother? Older or younger?"
"Older." Jusis answered, not even trying to look into Yang's eyes. "Rufus organized out last Field Trip. As such, it was only natural that he would meet us when we arrived there."
"Yeah," Rean agreed. "Rufus was a great help during our time in Bareahard. I don't want to imagine how things could have ended up if he didn't show up at the end."
"Oh?" Ruby asked. "Was he like a knight in white armor then?"
"A knight dressed in jade would fit better." Jusis replied. "His appearance however was remarkable, there is no doubt about it. He commanded the soldiers perfectly, his charisma and his will leaving no way for them to disobey."
"Wow. He must be awesome." Ruby spoke with sparkles in her eyes.
"You can say that. There may be a possibility for you to meet him, since he is also a member of the board of directors." Rean told the young girl.
"The board of directors? What's that?" she asked confused.
"Class VII is an experimental class." Alisa explained. "Not only are we using new technology with our Arcus Units and the Orbal Staffs, but we are also the first class that mixes nobles and commoners. As such, we have a much stricter training regime than other classes. But we also have certain privileges like our own dorm and these Field Trips. The board of directors supervises our activities and our results and decides, if this experiment is a success or a failure."
"Damn, way to put up the pressure." Yang commented with a whistle. "And now we rolled right into this mess. What is the worst thing that could happen?"
"Well, the worst-case scenario would be an immediate end to our Class. And our individual fates after that would be decided by the board of directors in that case. If you did well, they will most likely to another class. If you didn't, it could mean the end of your time at Thors." Jusis explained.
"So, you don't have to worry then?" Ruby asked. "I mean, your brother is a member of this board, so even if Class VII is cancelled, you wouldn't have to leave, right?"
Jusis scoffed. "I doubt that they would only exclude a member of one of the Great Four Houses in the direst of situations. But to be honest I would prefer to be judged more by my actions than my name in that case."
"Well, I doubt that we have to worry about such a scenario anyway." Emma spoke up, hoping to raise the mood. "I mean, all of your field studies went well and we were the highest scoring class in the midterm exam. So, I doubt we would have to worry about having delivered a poor performance until now. So, what about your two families?" she questioned Rean and Alisa.
They looked at each other before Alisa sighed. "My family isn't very big." The archer admitted. "My dad died when I was little and my mother throw herself into work ever since. Shortly after my father's passing, Sharon started working for us. She taught me much of what I know today, from etiquette to my archery skills."
"Damn, she really is a super maid." Yang complimented the absent servant. "Seems like you hold her in hight regards."
Alisa nodded. "Sharon lived with us for so long, that I consider her family. Even though I can't say if I would see her as a sister or a close relative."
"Seems more like a sisterly bond to me." Ruby said. "Just like between Yang and myself. She taught me also many of my skills." Her attention then turned to the last Erebonian person who hasn't answered Yang's question yet.
"Like Jusis and Emma, I have one sibling. Her name is Elise." Rean started. "I haven't seen her for over a year since she started visiting a school in Heimdallr."
"But isn't Heimdallr just thirty minutes away from Trista?" Ruby asked. "You could have visited her."
Rean rubbed the back of his head in shame. "I simply didn't have the time." He admitted. "The schoolwork, the tasks for the student councils and the field studies have kept me busy."
"Well," Ruby smiled. "Worry not, Rean. Since I will help you with your tasks from now on, you can rest easy and look forward to seeing your sister again very soon. Why not next month?" the silver-eyed girl suggested.
"Sorry, but next month I would have to work you into the tasks first." The swordsman denied. "I would be a bad role model if I would leave you all alone on your first day."
"But the following month you can do it." Ruby pushed her agenda further. Unfortunately for her, Rean managed to avoid giving her a date or even a month where he would visit his little sister until the train reached their next destination, the city of Roer.
xXx
Welcome back everyone. No, this story isn't dead and I don't plan on abandoning it either.
The simple problem is, that my real life makes it hard for me to follow a fixed schedule. As such, I can't tell you when the next chapter will be coming up for this story.
But enough with the bad news, let's start with some good news:
First: I want to thank everyone who left a comment, a like and/or a fav for this story. It feels really good to see people coming up with their own connections between Zemuria and Remnant for this story and compare them to my ideas. A special shout-out to the anonymous Guest, who commented a lot during the time between the last chapter and this one. While I can't answer all of your questions, here are some I can answer:
- Would Ouroborous the relics from Remnant? - No. Since Team RWBY brought the first visitors from Remnant to Zemuria, Ouroboros has no knowledge about the relics. And since RWBY doesn't know about them either at this point in the time, it makes no sense for them to plan on getting them.
- Could a Zemurian female gain Maiden Powers? - Yes, since the only restrictions for the powers are that the one who obtains it must be female and below a certain age. As such, any Zemurian girl could obtain them. It is however impossible to give the Maiden Powers through the dimensional wall between the two worlds. As such, the Zemurian must be in Remnant to obatin the powers. If a maiden dies in Zemuria, the power stays in Zemuria until it is brought back into it's original dimension by a new maiden. As such, there was no Zemurian Maiden until now.
- Are Rean's and Salem's power the same: No. While the looks are similar, Rean's power as a Sacrifice differs vastly from the curse of the God Brother's. Rean is still mortal, unlike Salem. And unlike Rean, Salem has no access to something akin to Ogre Power.
I hope I could still some of your questions and I also hope that you will continue following this story, since you brought up some interesting points and oversavtions. But as I said: spoilers.
Next a shout-out to Infinite Zangetsu here on and Shadow-Ragna on the wikia sites. These two helped me a lot to plan the story further and are really great people to hang around.
Lastly some anouncments regarding already made statements for this story:
All pairings I mentioned in the last few chapters are of the table. tabula rasa. During my talks with Infinite I noticed that the pairings I chose were a little shallow, so I will change them up a little bit. To keep you in suspense, I won't tell you more. If you like I could try to leaves hint at the end notifications of a chapter for you people to guess the pairings one at a time.
I'm sorry it took so long, but as I said, life keeps me busy. As such, i will bid you adie and wish you well. Until next time.
ZMusok
