Authors Notes:
I just wanted to see what y'all thought about where our heroes and heroines ended up. I tried to put them in places I felt they would fit, Ren on Kamigawa, Pyrrha on Theros, and Nora on Alara, Jaune on Ixalan, etcetera etcetera.
I also wanted to see what you thought about what I did with Roman and give you my reasoning for why I killed him off.
I couldn't think of what he could bring to this story, and I wanted to kill him off in a similar way to how he died in Volume 3, so I decided to have him be eaten by a Regisaur, again like in Volume 3 it was his own fault. Having him join/ possibly take over the Brazen Coalition seemed unlikely, with people like Captain Angrath and Admiral Beckett Brass in charge of the Coalition, he wouldn't have gotten very far, Roman may have been a thief and a criminal, but he wouldn't have held a candle to the hardened and experienced Pirates of the Coalition. But don't worry, that's not the last we've seen of Roman Torchwick, at least not his clothes, and Melodic Cudgel has to end up somewhere, and I think a Regisaur would find that cane a nice decoration for their nest.
Neo definitely ain't gonna be happy when she finds out, I'm sure she'll still find a way to blame Ruby.
Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 9:
The Unbound Huntresses
The sands of the Shifting Wastes sink beneath the feet of Team RWBYS and Ozpin as they walk towards the nearest settlement, a large stone structure not too far in the distance, an inverted pyramid surrounded by walls. The midday heat bears down on them, making travel all the more important, thankfully the pyramid is not too far away.
"So… just where are we going?" Weiss asks, panting from the heat.
"Settlement called Khava, we can resupply there, get some more appropriate clothes and make our way to Silverclaw Castle." Stone says.
"And just how do you know this?" Yang asks, Ruby helping her walk.
"Tarkir is just as much of my home as Mahou or Remnant. And in my time here I've created a home for myself, Silverclaw Castle, once we get there, we can take inventory of our situation." Stone replies.
After an hour of walking, the Team arrives at the settlement of Khava, a medium sized Aerie bustling with life, approaching the gates of the fortified city, the Team sees a banner flying from the walls, a white diamond within a black shape that looks like a scale, with a black line on the top and bottom of the scale, symbolizing the Dromoka. Vines droop from the ledges of the Aerie, and various plants grow from planters dotting the walls sprouting fruits and vegetables, as well as providing natural shade for the streets below.
The team walks about the Aerie, taking in the many new sights and smells of a new world. Seeing both human and anthropomorphic dog people, Ainok they were called, as well as large animals, similar to Grimm, used as beasts of burden. Stone leads the team to a few stores in the Aerie, buying desert clothing, sticking to their usual styles, as well as travel supplies, water most importantly. As the Team begin to leave the city they see quite a sight, a large armor plated dragon flies over the city and perches itself on top of one of the Aerie's walls, gazing in on the city below. The girls go to draw their weapons before being stopped by Stone.
"That won't be necessary, Dromoka dragons are harmless as long as you follow their laws and don't mess with their trade routes." Stone says calmly.
"Dragon… laws?" Ruby asks, confused.
"Yes, on this plane, dragons rule over the races." Stone says.
Ozpin gazes at the large dragon confused and surprised, staring up at the armored dragon.
X
Leaving Khava, the team follow the trade route known as the Salt Road, before cutting over a river that divides the Shifting Wastes in two, using the Sandsteppe Gateway Bridge, the sand beginning to turn to small pockets of grass sticking out from the sand as the sand dunes of the Shifting Wastes begin to give way to the meadows and foothills of Goldengrave, Kolaghan's territory, luckily the Team was nowhere near Screamreach. After walking for another hour Team RWBYS and Ozpin see a small castle sitting on an outcropping near the Cori Mountains, dark gray blocks forming tall walls around a courtyard with a large reinforced wooden portcullis guarding the castle from intruders, six tall towers sprout from the wall acting as perches for lookouts, and in the middle sits a keep, cresting just above the walls.
As the team arrives at the gates of the castle, a battle between dragons can be seen in the distance, one a long and elegant white dragon with red stripes and blue accents with a pair of feathered wings firing a beam of ice from it's maw, and the other a large black white and red dragon with a beard like frill and not one but two pairs of feathered wings, shooting lightning from its mouth. Ignoring this spectacle for now, Stone activates a rune on a block, causing the portcullis to raise and allow entry into the courtyard, the large gate closing behind them as they all get in.
Team RWBYS and Ozpin walk through the courtyard path up to the doors of the keep, opening the doors reveals the main hall, moderately decorated and furnished with a pair of staircases flanking the group on either side.
"What is this place?" Ruby asks.
"Silverclaw Castle, my permanent home here on Tarkir. I bought the land from the Ojutai a few years back and paid the Dromoka to build it." Stone says.
Stone leads the group up the stairs and to another door, leading them to the guests quarters, each member of Team RWBYS is assigned their room, except for Ruby and Yang, Stone assigns them a shared room. He had noticed Yang lost her arm and thought having Ruby to talk to might help her, finally, Ozpin is led to his room. The group settles in, unpacking what meager belongings they had on hand at the time of their planeswalk. Stone walks into each of their rooms to make sure they're all doing alright, until he gets to Ozpins.
"So… Ozpin, the planeswalker from Remnant's past you mentioned… was you all along." Stone asks the headmaster.
"Yes… I am. I was dragged into Remnant in a similar way to how you arrived." Ozpin answers.
Yang sulks a bit in her and Ruby's room, staring at the stump where her right arm used to be.
Night falls on Tarkir and the halls of Silverclaw Castle begin to dim, until torches lining them light up, providing light to the darkness. Team RWBYS and Ozpin had finally settled into their new arrangements and finally ate the first hot meal they've had since getting yanked off Remnant. After the group had finished their meals, they decided to discuss their situation further.
"So we're not on Remnant. Never thought I'd say that." Blake says.
"Correct Miss Belladonna, as Stone said so dramatically in the desert, we are on the Plane of Tarkir. Although, it is not as I remember it." Ozpin says.
"It's the dragons isn't it?" Stone asks the headmaster.
"Yes… that, why are there dragons here? I had been led to believe they were exterminated by the Khans centuries ago after the Dragon Tempests disappeared." Ozpin asks.
"Well, from what I heard, a while back a Planeswalker went back in time and changed events in Tarkir's past, making it so that the Dragon Tempests never disappeared, and instead made them intensify, creating more dragons than the Khans could handle, leading to an event known as the Khanfall." Stone tells the headmaster.
"History lessons aside, how did we get here, and what do we do now?" Weiss asks.
"Right, straight to business." Ozpin begins, "All of us are Planeswalkers, and the igniting of your sparks came from the attack on Beacon."
"Now, first order of business, getting you girls familiar with the Plane." Ozpin says, "Stone, would you care to do the honors?" Ozpin asks.
"Sure thing, as you probably noticed, there are dragons everywhere on this plane, but the area around my castle is a safe zone. I have arrangements with the Ojutai and Dromoka Dragon Clans, I act as a neutral party for discussions and territorial disagreements and in return they protect the area from Kolaghan raids, as you probably remember seeing that fight in the distance." Stone explains, "You've also probably noticed the lack of any modern technology, so your scrolls are pretty much paperweights here. That also means no electricity, running water, heating, and most importantly, no Dust, so whatever dust you have on you is all you're going to have until we get back to Remnant." he says, Ozpin looking a bit uncertain at the last bit.
"As for what we do now, I think Yang's missing arm is the most pressing issue." Stone says, Yang cringing a bit at this.
"What can we do? You said there's no modern technology here." Ruby says confused.
"Who said anything about modern tech, I'm talking about magical tech." Stone says.
"Magic… Tech?" Yang asks, intrigued.
" A little ways up the mountain there's an Ojutai Monastery called Purugir, a group of artisans trained in ancient methods live there. Their ancestors made some of the greatest weapons and magical tech Tarkir has ever seen, and I think they could make a prosthetic for you."
X
The morning snow floats gently to the ground in the Cori Mountains, as five pairs of footprints carve their way up a mountain pass leading to an ancient monastery. A massive stone sanctuary sits on the side of a mountain, icicles hang from the ledges and roofs of the monastery, and a massive red door with golden decorations at its front, large enough for a dragon. As the Team arrives at the gate a voice yells from above
"What business do you have here strangers?"
"We want to see the artisans. Our friend lost her arm and she needs a replacement." Stone yells replying, gesturing towards Yang.
"And why should we let you in?" The voice asks.
"I'm the one from the castle down the mountain." Stone replies.
Muffled voices come from the ledge, the figure examines Stone, noticing he has wings, a tail, and horns. The door creaks as it opens inward with a resounding creak, and they are greeted by a male monk.
"Welcome to Purugir travelers, I am Brother Tenzin." he says, "Apologies Steward Silverclaw, we can't be too careful. Follow me, I will take you Sister Lhamo, she is our Archivist." Tenzin says, turning and walking into the monastery, Team RWBYS following behind.
Walking through the monastery's large hallways, Team RWBYS see many monks meditating, both Humans and humanoid bird people called Avens. Tenzin leads the team to an archive filled with shelves and racks of weapons and many artifacts, and in front of it all is an Eagle Aven, examining an ancient bow of near perfect quality.
"Sister Lhamo, the Steward of Silverclaw Castle is here to see you." Tenzin says, getting the Aven's attention.
"Really now?" the bird says, placing the bow down on a rack, and turning to face Team RWBYS and their escort "You may leave us Brother Tenzin." Brother Tenzin bows and leaves the room, shutting the massive door behind him
Lhamo looks the group up and down, "So what is it you want, Steward Silverclaw?" she asks.
"It's our friend, Yang," Stone says, gesturing towards her, "She recently lost her arm and she needs a replacement."
The Aven approaches Yang and examines her arm, looking it up and down, examining it with her clawed hands, Yang squirming a bit at the unusual situation.
"Hmm, I believe I may have something for this." Lhamo says, rushing off into the archives, Team RWBYS hears a few clicks and scraping sounds, when finally then they see Lhamo walking in their direction holding an ornate red box decorated with gold trim.
"Perhaps this will be to your liking." she says opening the box to reveal a metal arm, adorned with Blue and Red symbols, one particularly resembling an eye.
"This was made for an ancient warrior known as Khadroma the Defender, she lost her right arm in a battle with Ojutai himself, and this was her replacement. It was just supposed to be a non-functioning replacement, but legends say she was able to connect with it magically and move it by will alone. A piece of her soul still resides in the arm, waiting for a new warrior to wield it in battle." Lhamo says.
Yang grasps the arm and feels a surge of energy enter her, sending Yang into a trance like state.
"Yang?!" Ruby asks, distressed.
"Do not fret, child, all is as it should be." Lhamo says, "The arm is determining whether she is worthy to wield it"
In Yang's mind she hears a feminine voice asking her a question.
"Who is it that picks up my arm?"
"I…I do, I'm Yang." She says cautiously, turning around to see a female monk, with an eye tattooed on her forehead, blue and white robes draped on her body, and her arms crossed.
"Why do you wish to wield my arm, Yang?" Khadroma asks.
"Well, I lost my other arm to an evil man, and I feel lost without it." Yang says looking down a bit.
"Aah, but do you not see? You must not let your lost arm define you, I did not give up hope when Ojutai took my arm. It drove me to learn more and hope to eventually defeat him." Khadroma says.
Yang continues to look down, thinking of Khadroma's words, realizing she is right, looking up to meet Khadroma's eyes.
"I think I get it now, my arm may be gone, but that doesn't make me any less of a fighter, instead of fighting harder, I need to fight smarter." Yang says, getting a smile of approval from Khadroma.
"Then I believe you are worthy to wield my arm. I leave you with both my arm and my knowledge. Fight well Yang Xiao Long." Khadroma says, as she finishes, Yang feels a rush of knowledge in her mind, unfamiliar fighting styles, the Riverwalk, the Flying Crane, the Dragonfist, knowledge of the Ancient Jeskai, thought to be lost to history.
Yang finally comes back to her senses, with new light in her eyes. She undoes her coat and places the arm on her stump, the arm magically bonding to her on contact. Yang flexes the arm while smiling.
"Aah, the arm has found you worthy." Lhamo says.
Yang looks at Lhamon, "Hell yeah." she says.
Ruby rushes up to Yang and hugs her sister, "I was so worried about you!" Ruby says. Yang returns her sister's embrace.
"What did you see?" Blake asks.
"I saw Khadroma, she taught me to overcome my lost arm." Yang says, "I also learned some killer new fighting styles from her."
"Well I can't wait to see you kick some butt with them." Ruby says.
Lhamo leads the team back to the entrance and bids them farewell. As the team is walking back down the mountain, Yang pauses a moment and looks back towards the monastery, smiling a bit before continuing with the rest of Team RWBYS.
X
In their room, Yang shadow boxes with her new arm, throwing jabs and uppercuts, blue energy flowing through the arm as she threw punches in the air, one particularly powerful punch she throws has the side effect of throwing a fireball out an open window, with a resounding boom, mimicking the blast of her lost Ember Celica. Looking down at her arm, she sees the blue glow fade.
Ruby, Weiss, Blake and Stone rush into the room, "Yang! We heard a bang, is everything alright?" Ruby asks
Yang smiles, "This thing is more than meets the eye." she says.
Ozpin enters the room, "It seems you are getting acquainted with your new arm Miss Xiao Long." he says.
"Yeah, I've been practicing a few fighting styles I learned from it." she responds.
"Ok, so now that Yang has a new arm, what's our next move?" Weiss asks.
"The next move is telling you all exactly why I ignited your sparks." Ozpin says.
"It was to get away from the Grimm horde at Beacon… right?" Ruby asks.
"While yes, that was one reason, it's not the full reason." Ozpin responds.
"What other reason could there be?" Blake asks.
"I think it's time you all learn the true history of Remnant… and the truth about me." Ozpin says.
The group moves into the main hall of Castle Silverclaw so Ozpin can tell his tale. Sitting at a table Ozpin begins regaling the Team.
"First things first, my real name is Ozma, and I ignited your sparks because there is a force behind the Grimm, their 'Queen' in a manner of speaking, and her name is Salem. She and I have been intertwined for quite a long time. Long ago the brother gods lived among man, this is when Salem and I fell in love, but I died tragically before my time, Salem plead for the brother gods to revive me, but only one of them agreed, the other refused, when the first of the brothers told her no she went to the other, and he revived me, only for the other brother to arrive and kill me again. As a result of this, she caused a fight between the gods, when they realized her deception, they punished her with immortality, so she would never be reunited with me. Salem took this immortality she was cursed with and claimed she had stolen it from the gods, rallying people to her cause and leading an attack on the gods, the gods wiped out humanity, leaving Salem the only survivor. After that the gods left Remnant, resulting in the moon shattering. I thought I would be at peace in death, but the God of Light had other plans for me, he made it so that I will reincarnate into a new body every time I die. You know the story of the old man and the four maidens don't you? Well, I was the old man, and the maidens, my daughters, and Salem was their mother. She and I had a… disagreement, this resulted in the deaths of both my death, and the deaths of all four of my daughters. But even before all that happened, I was a Planeswalker. I played a part in many events in the past of the multiverse, but the one that resulted in my arrival on Remnant was what is known as the Great Mending. On a plane known as Dominaria, time rifts had been opened by an artifact called the Golgothian Sylex, and many planeswalkers were attempting to help seal them, led by the Planeswalker Karn, I was among them. While attempting to close one I was sucked into it, and transported not just across time, but space as well, to Remnant. My arrival did not go unnoticed, the God of Light noticed my arrival and realized what I was, he was terrified of me. He erased my memories and set me loose in Remnant, making me forget I was a Planeswalker. And as an added protection, the God of Light created a barrier around Remnant that prevents Planeswalkers from coming or going, and even hides Remnant from the rest of the Multiverse. Since she first killed me, Salem has been searching for my reincarnations and killing them, she has also been targeting Planeswalkers on Remnant and killing them as well, as a way to hurt me. So I began to hide and formulate my plan. And I think you all know the rest."
"Wow… that's a lot to take in." Yang says
"So Salem is the one who attacked Beacon." Weiss says.
"Yes, she was." Ozma says.
"So we need to get back to Remnant, they'll need our help to defeat her." Ruby says, her team nodding in agreement.
Ozma is taken aback by this statement. "But we are out of her reach forever, we don't have to go back to Remnant. Why would you want to-" he starts before he is interrupted.
"That's not the point!" Ruby yells, "Our friends, our families, everything we know is on Remnant, and I for one won't abandon it! You may not have any attachments to Remnant, but we do!" Ruby says, the rest of Team RWBYS forming up behind her.
Ozma looks at them, before closing his eyes and sighing, "Well if you are so intent on charging back into Remnant and facing an immortal witch who even I could not beat, you should know there were more Planeswalkers than just us." he says.
"Really? Who?" Stone asks.
"Team JNPR, Qrow, Taiyang, …Cinder," he says, cringing a bit when saying her name, "And that criminal Torchwick and his accomplice." Ozma says.
"So it seems we have some work ahead of us." Blake says.
"But first we need to get you girls able to Planeswalk." Stone says.
A knock on the hall door resounds through the main hall.
xxXxx
Oh don't you just hate it when a knock at the door interrupts a conversation? Well, Ozma's past has been laid bare and we know just how old he is, and how Remnant got cut off from the Multiverse. Yang's got a new arm, one from an ancient Jeskai warrior who faced Ojutai himself, and it seems her magic has begun to awaken, attaching that arm gave her blue mana, meaning her colors are now Red, Green, Blue, making her Temur, and it looks like she's gained knowledge of ancient Jeskai fighting styles. And the girls have been given a crash course in Tarkir's culture. Next chapter we'll find out who's at the door and why they're at Castle Silverclaw.