EXCALIBUR CHRONICLES
HUNTERS OF THE REALM
Chapter 2: Family and Friends
Years ago…
"Summer!" Taiyang Xiao Long said as he spin-kicked a Beowolf away. "There's too many, we can't get in."
"We have no choice," Summer Replied flipping through the air, leaving a trail of white rose peddles from her hooded cloak. "Do you want Atlas to break away and go to war with the rest of the kingdoms?" she asked, throwing back her cape, and thrusting her hands forward, firing the machine guns from her gauntlets Crimson Celica.
"Summer's right," Qrow Branwen said, transforming his sword into its scythe form.
"Summers right," his sister Raven mimicked, "Give me break, if our beloved leader said we had no choice but to jump off a cliff you'd swan dive. Get a room!"
"What did you say?" Qrow hissed at his sister.
"Would you two please… ACK!" Summer gasped when she was knocked back by an Ursa, and hit hard on her back. She laid there dazed a moment as the Grimm rushed toward her.
"SUMMER!" Qrow and Taiyang cried, but before her teammates could reach her, a glowing sword sliced the Ursa's head clean off.
"Need a hand?" the gold armored knight-like hunter stood between the girl and the Grimm with his shimmering, glowing blade held at the ready.
"Arty?" Summer smiled happily.
"Sorry we're late," Arthur Pendragon said, newly crowned King of the Four Kingdoms replacing his helm.
"FIRE IN THE HOOOOOOOOLLLLLLEEE!" Gwen Arc cried out Landing on one knee, and holding her hammer. She smiled as she pulled a trigger. The Hammer fired like a missile from the handle, attached by a chain, and rammed through two Ursa's.
A loud motorcycle sounded as a second knight roared in holding out a lance and plowed through a group of Beowolves. Before dismounting the bike and shouldering the lance, drawing a sword from it as it shifted into a shoulder mounted cannon. "She was talking about me…" Lancelot said firing the cannon, obliterating a group of Grimm.
"Show off!" a faunus girl with a fox tail rolled her eyes as she flipped over his shoulders and pushed a rapier blade through the skull of a Ursa.
"Takes one to know one!" Lancelot replied with a cocky smirk.
Arthur glanced around the army of Grimm, and focused on the strongest concentration. "There…" He said holding out his mystic blade, "EXCALIBUR! BE MY STRENGTH!" He exclaimed, and his white aura turned bright gold. He leapt forward, slicing through the Grimm with ease. Summer quickly moving behind him, the team leaders of Team STRQ and Team AGLE showing why they were the leaders, and why Arthur, at such a young age, actually united the four kingdoms as one.
"Cover me," Summer said, zipping past him leaving white petals. Her silver eyes glowed hotly when she saw the pale skinned witch holding the infant. "You…"
"The last of the silver eyed warriors…" Salem growled.
"You, the pathetic beaten witch who can't take an old headmaster and result to kidnapping babies because they COULD be Maidens…" Summer placed a hand on her hip. "I might actually thank you for putting some hurt on her dad, but taking a baby? That's low even for you."
"Put the child down and surrender," Arthur said, stepping up beside Summer, "You will be tried fairly and justly. You have my word as King. You know I have more authority than Ozpin."
"You really believe that don't you, child?" Salem smiled, her crimson eyes glowed brightly in amusement. "What?" the weakened witch gasped when the child disappeared in white petals. "You… Summer Rose… you will pay for this…"
"Big talk," Summer smirked, holding the baby close. "And without the baby…" She broke into a grin, and Salem's eyes widened.
She disappeared into smoke just as Excalibur struck the ground where she stood.
"You think you're all untouchable…" Salem's voice spoke from the shadows, "But know this, once my strength is restored, I will first avenge this insult Summer Rose, and then with his precious Silver Eyed Warrior's bloodline extinct, Ozpin will suffer … and then this pretend kingdom of yours Arthur, will destroy itself before your very eyes…"
"We'll see about that, Witch," Arthur replied.
"Don't you worry about anything, little Winter," Summer said, holding the silver haired baby close, "Even though your daddy is a jerk, you're gonna be safe and sound, we'll make sure of it… I promise." She said to the cooing baby girl who looked back up at her with happy blue eyes.
President Day
Weiss' eyes slowly blinked open to see the shocked and angry blue eyes of her older sister Winter, and Ruby standing over her looking down worriedly. "What are you doing? You don't faint before royalty!"
"I had the worst nightmare…" Weiss sat up rubbing her head, "I dreamed Jaune… Jaune Arc turned out to be the crown prince of the four kingdoms…"
"Ah… heh… that's quite a dream…" Ruby chuckled awkwardly glancing to where Jaune stood with the King and Queen.
"It's good to see you, Son," King Arthur smiled brightly at his son, placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Shit." Weiss cursed softly.
"Weiss!" Winter hissed.
"So, the legendary Team JNPR and RWBY," Weiss glanced up to see the Princesses ranging in range from 6 to 19 and various shades of red and blond hair.
"Jaune…mentioned us?" Weiss said, picking herself up off the ground.
"Nope, he's a sneaky one," another one stated. "He made sure Mom and Dad didn't know where he was. Even though Dad knew all along because… well he's Dad."
"Guys, meet my sisters," Jaune said walking up to the gathered group. "The oldest is my only big sister Boudica, then there's the twins Artesia and Athena, Gyneth, Avlynn, Lynn for short, Tortolina, and…" Jaune picked up the five-year-old and held her to his hip, "This is Hylin."
"Girls, these are my friends, well, this Weiss, Ruby, Yang, and Blake," Jaune motioned to Team RWBY, then turned to Nora Ren and Pyrrha. "And then these are my teammates, Nora, and Ren…"
"You two look familiar…" Athena narrowed her eyes at Nora and Ren.
"Ah, well, got that kind of face!" Nora smiled awkwardly.
Before the twins could press farther, Hylin pointed toward the awkwardly standing Pyrrha. "Who she, Brother?" the little girl asked, "she's pretty."
"Hello there," Pyrrha smiled at the little girl.
"This is my partner, Pyrrha," Jaune introduced.
"Partner huh?" Boudica grinned. "That what you calling it, Bro?"
"Leave him alone," Arthur saved his son from his elder sister as he joined his wife and daughters with them. "I'd like to speak with you, all of you," the king said, glancing around the four teenagers. "Preferably with less ears and eyes."
"We have a private room set up in Beacon Tower," Arthur stated, "Come with us, my friends."
As Arthur lead them toward the tower passed the Knights Jaune paused by the King's First Knight. "You COULD have warned me they'd be here TODAY…"
"And where would the fun be in that, Brat?" Lancelot grinned. Jaune rolled his eyes and they continued behind the King.
Once they were all alone, the King sat on the makeshift throne in the room and his wife sat beside him. The room was extravagant with private chambers and a personal elevator to the Headmaster's office.
"Why didn't you tell me?" Pyrrha asked Jaune softly, almost sadly at his side.
"Oh, hey, by the way, I'm really the prince… and would you have even believed me?" Jaune asked with a sad smile.
"I would have," Pyrrha responded, locking eyes with her partner, "And did you lie about not knowing about Aura and semblances? Do you really know how to fight and you were just playing with me?"
"No that is our fault, Lady Pyrrha," Arthur interrupted apologetically, "Jaune is our only son, and the only of our children capable of drawing Excalibur. We took… the path protection over preparation." He said glancing to the awkwardly shifting Guinevere. "He's the heir to the throne, and the future of the Kingdoms' unity. We felt his defense was more important. So instead of training to be a Hunter or a warrior, he grew up learning strategy and diplomacy." He smiled at the redheaded warrior. "We thank you for sharpening his blade and skill. I always knew he held potential but you have brought him farther than he ever has. Though he does still need more combat refinement."
"So, you're not disappointed in me?" Jaune asked hopefully.
"I could NEVER be disappointed in you, Jaune, you are my son," Arthur paused a moment, "But I am upset at you trying to sneak away here, and then expected me not to know…"
"Yeah… I'm assuming that's what you're wanting to talk to us about?" Jaune said awkwardly.
"No, actually, that is a discussion for another day… now, I would like to speak with your friend Ruby Rose," Arthur said.
"What?" Ruby blinked.
"I understand you ran into someone last night sneaking into Beacon Tower, is that correct?" Arthur leaned forward.
"Yeah, she was in a black outfit and mask, she used a bow and arrow and some kind of freaky semblance, I told General Ironwood and Professor Ozpin about it, but they seemed … I dunno… like they were worried but not that worried…"
Arthur pulled out his scroll and pressed a few buttons, displaying a hologram of a woman with long dark hair, glowing yellow eyes, and a form-fitting red dress. "Did she resemble this woman perchance?"
"Yes that's her! She's the one!" Ruby pointed to the holograph. "But… Professor Ozpin and the others told me not to say anything…"
"I'm not surprised, they are probably looking for a way to capitalize or control the situation…" Arthur stated, "Ozpin has been obsessed with learning more about my friend's girls for generations…"
"Arthur," Guinevere hissed, grabbing her husband's hand.
"Oh, I said too much I think…" He said, glancing around the room, "Tell me, children, do you know of the legend of the Four Maidens of the Seasons?"
"Of course," Pyrrha spoke up, and proceeded to recite the story of the Maidens, how they visited an old hermit, to convince him to leave his cabin. And in gratitude he granted them powers to help others as they had helped him.
"That is correct, and some generations after that happened, the same old hermit helped an orphan squire draw a mystic sword from a stone and bring the four kingdoms back together again…" Arthur exclaimed, "The stories are true, my friends. And this lady, according to a knight I have in close watch of Professor Ozpin and his allies, has severely injured the Fall Maiden."
"Why would they hide this… shouldn't the world know about this? About the maidens and the bad guys going after them?" Ruby asked.
"That much I understand of your professor," the King nodded, "If the general public knew of the power of the Maidens well… many people fear what they don't understand," he sighed and glanced to his son, "And to say nothing of a group capable of overpowering and injuring them. If it's who I assume… I have concerns that even the power of Excalibur may not be enough."
"What could possibly be more powerful than the Sword of Power?" Weiss asked.
"There are many things that are superior to my blade's strength in the world, Ms. Schnee," the King said, glancing at Ruby's silver eyes, "And some of them could be right beneath your nose."
"In the meantime, with the upheaval of current situations in Vale, I felt that it might calm the people to know the High King has noticed and is personally investigating. Might calm some nerves."
"That does make sense, my Lord, but if you wanted to talk to your son, and to Ruby. Why involve all of us?" She asked motioning to the reminder of the two teams.
"Secrets is something I am not a fan of, Ms. Schnee." The King stated, "And I'm still not certain what is going on behind the scenes here. But your friend and team leader is involved. And I don't want her to have to bare the burden of unneeded secrets from her teammates."
Team RWBY gave each other smiles acknowledging the King's respect. "And if my son holds you in regard, as will I." the King nodded. "But I ask that it goes no farther than us. As said, it is need-to-know basis. But the need to know is a larger circle in my opinion than what it is in Professor Ozpin's."
"Now, you no longer need to be bored with my business, as what is to come shall be far less interesting." The King smiled, "As my son's friends, you shall be welcome to come home over the break. As well as help me train my son as I should have already done."
The group nodded in thanks and respect. "And Jaune, you are at the age it is time we discussed your betrothal." The King added as an after thought causing Jaune's eyes to widen, and Pyrrha's heart to break as the King stepped toward the private elevator to Ozpin's office.
To Be Continued…
Next Chapter: Ozpin faces his King. And Teams RWBY and JNPR sees Jaune's home. And who is Prince Jaune Arc's betrothed?