The ferryman, the ferryman
Awaits at Styx
The ferryman, the ferryman
Awaits for six
The ferryman, the ferryman
Give him two
The ferryman, the ferryman
Lets you through
Dust & Sand excert (Ferrymans Fee)
Chapter 4 - Across the Azure Sky
'Everything was so bright.' That was all Blake was thinking. The high sun overhead shown down over a clear sky and illuminated this world they were on so brilliantly. Even still, she wished she didn't have to cover her eyes so much. All the shiny airships of the Altesian military overhead didn't help matters either.
She also still felt the bandaged up wound aching with every step she took. The journey she had been told; was not an easy one by any stretch of the imagionation and to undertake it with this injury was no small feat. Yet she refused to give up her arm when there was another option left to her.
As she got close to the awaiting craft that was going to take her to the lead airship for the expedition; she took note of all the huntsmen and huntresses that stood at the ramp for her. Besider her team mates stood the full roster of JNPR, SSN,and CFVY. She had expected that all three teams were already out in the field; helping to quell the vast amounts of Grimm that were heading towards Vale. So to see them assembled together here caught her off guard.
They all took turns to greet her and wish her a safe trip before departing to let Sun and her have a moment. " Sun, everyone, I'm so glad to see you all here."
She looked over at the monkey tailed faunus and noticed that he too was still trying to cope with the scope of his injuries. Yet just seeing him filled her heart with much needed joy and courage. " We all have been out in the field. But your friend Jaune said that everyone should come back and say our farewells before you leave on your journey."
Sun paused for a second before continuing. " That Jaune is an all right guy; kinda reminds me of a scrawnier me."
Blake could only let out a small giggle as she heard his words. She never knew that Jaune was such a softy. She regretted now all the times she pushed her friends away due to her personal demons.
" Blake I just want you to know... Thank you. I was told that you were the first one on the scene at the museum. Also that I'm sorry that it was my fault for being to weak to stop those men. Cause of them..." Blake placed two fingers upon Suns' lips; stopping him mid sentence. Sun had such a worried expression on his face that it pained her to look upon him. She knew what he was going to say instinctively. He was going to blame himself for her getting hurt and having to go on this mission to remove this bracer. The bracer that has now threatened Vale with an almost impossible to stop, swarm of Grimm.
" Sun, you're not weak. Even if you were; you were not the only one to lose to them. My team also failed to stop them a long with this unknown faunus team that appeared. I don't blame you for this. If anything, this should be even more motivation for our teams to grow stronger." Blake could see that his expression finally changed to that of unease. Deep down she knew what she had to do. She moved her hand to the back of his head and pressed him down towards her till their lips met. This was the moment of their first kiss together; a moment she never wanted to end. Yet end it did. Their lips parted as she removed her hand and she finally got to see the face she had been waiting for. The face of pure love and caring that he had for her. " Sun, please be careful out there fighting Grimm."
" You too Blake and... come back to me..." Blake nodded as she heard Suns last words for her. Finally she knew her time was up and walked up the ramp into the awaiting ship.
Seated already was her team mates Weiss, Yang, and Ruby. Both Weiss and Yangs' expressions were completely normal for the two. Weiss already meticulously going over the flight plan and Yang having a somewhat happy glee to be on a new mission. The one that worried her was Ruby; she had her head down and overall had a sullen look on her face.
Ever since that day in the museum; Ruby had such a downtrodden look on her face and could barely look at Blake. Neither of the other two girls knew what was causing it and Ruby refused to talk about it; all she would say was that it was all her fault.
Sitting across from her team sat the remaining members of Gideons' team. Three members of his team died in battle against Ajani and his men while another two were in such critical condition that they could not be moved from the hospital. Yet despite all that; Gideon showed no worse for ware. In face; she doubted that he suffered anything more than a few bruises.
Behind Gideon sat Haven Jace; a somewhat overly excited and exhuberant man. For a second she saw his wolf ear twitch and then his head turn towards her. As their eyes locked, she could see him greet her with a warm smile and his hand waving for her to sit next to him.
Blake didn't even realize what caused her to take a seat next to him but did anyways. There was just something in her gut telling her that sitting next to him was going to be a good decision. He looked her up and down real quick with both of his eyes twitching back and forth. " I'm glad to see that you have recuperated from the vast majority of your injuries in such a short time."
A part of the man really put her off guard; compared to the other members of his team, he was a lot more open and pleasant. " Thank you... um Jace."
" Again I would like to apologize for the fact that my peope are the ones to blame for your injuries." He turned his head to look forward but she could tell that he really was looking more off to space than focusing on anything in particular.
" Um... seeing that we have some time; I was wondering why you are called Haven Jace compared to Gideons' name." She noticed that his ears really perked up when he heard what she had to say.
" Ah. Well that is actually a part of my peoples culture; we call it our home names. To put in in terms that anyone could understand it would basically be me calling myself Jace of the city of Haven." He said that so matter of factly that it appeared that he had been asked that question many, many times before. " To use ones last name in public is considered quite an insult."
Blake thought about it for a second before asking another question. " So why do Gideon and Ajani both use their last names then?"
This time there was no hiding the expression of shock and worry on Jaces' face as his head quick shot to look at her. The shock caught Blake off guard and both were left silenced. If it wasn't for a voice in front of them, then the conversation would of stalled immediately. " Both Ajani and I lost our home name a long time ago, so that's why. "
Gideons' heavy voice caught them both off guard and put a little fear inside Jace. Blake could only look down at the floor as she was filled with a bit of guilt about prying. " Um... Thank you Gideon. I'm sorry for prying."
Gideon didn't answer. She knew it was more for the fact that he didn't care to answer let alone care about being offended. The more she got to know about the faunus leader; the more she learned that he really didn't care about what others thought about him. He only cared about his duty.
Blake turned back towards Jace to see that he was still a bit nervous. " Ah, Jace if you don't mind, I do have a few other questions about your people and culture."
Jace loosened up a bit and let out a low sigh before turning back towards her. " I live to serve."
" During the fight I noticed that Gideon used an unknown dust ability that was able to ensnare Ajani and his men for a time. Also the dust looked more coarse and unrefined compared to normal dust. Also the weird, leather winged faunus called my semblance a soul ability." Jace put his hand up in front of Blake to stop her from just spouting out more and more questions.
" Well let us see... First question last; last question first. That was the bat winged faunus name Lestat Tepes. Just one of the criminals that joined Ajani on his mission of violence and bloodshed. Also, what you call semblance we call the gift of the soul. Basically the same thing but different name." Jace just looked so happpy to answer her questions; it seemed a bit odd and contrived. " Also what you saw wasn't dust; it was sand. Sand is basically a weaker but more accessible form of dust. And last, his technique is called Hieromancy, basically he is a master of bonds and controls."
Their discussion continued even after the ship docked inside the bigger airship. She learned so much about the faunus kingdom that she thought she was living in a dream. Finally, the two groups were escorted to their awaiting rooms for the two day long journey. Both Weiss and Yang took great notice at how the normally antisocial Blake was so open and friendly around Jace that it was scary. Blake really loved learning all she could about the faunus.
But as the four girls entered their private sleeping quarters; it pretty much became apparent that the antisocial one at the moment was the normally bubbly and outgoing Ruby...
As they put their belongings on their corresponding beds; with Yang placing Blakes' bag on her bed due to her injuries; Yang finally worked up the courage to confront her half sister and their team leader. " Ok, Ruby enough is enough. What's wrong?"
Rubys' only response was to freeze up in fear as she heard her sister confront her. Weiss and Blake both turned to look at Yang then Ruby; each waiting for Rubys' response. Yet it never came; or not how they thought it would come. Weiss was the first to notice the trembling in Rubys' shoulders and the soft sobs that she was letting out. Something happened during the museum fight that had hurt Ruby so emotionally that even the thought of it had caused her to lose all confidence in herself; or so Weiss surmised.
Blake walked over towards their team leader and placed her arms around her; embracing her in a warm hug. Yet all three noticed the startled jump from Ruby as Blake did that and the pieces slowly started to fit together. " Ruby, what ever happened; it wasn't your fault."
Ruby could only bury her head deeper into Blakes' chest as she heard those words. " But it is. Blake if it wasn't for me then you wouldn't be so hurt or Vale be in such trouble."
Blake slowly ran her hand through the younger girls short red hair. The normally emotionless Blake actually had a very compassionate look on her face. " Ruby I don't remember much of what happened there so I don't really understand why you're so upset. Please, if you are up to it I would like to hear what happened after I passed out."
Ruby lightly pushed away from Blake; who let go of her embrace without resistant; and sat on her assigned bed. Without a word, both Yang and Weiss sat on Blakes' assigned bed across from Ruby while Blake sat right next to the young girl.
Ruby started her story right at when she heard that there was a major crisis at the museum. She went on to explain that her and Yang were out shopping/enjoying the day when their scrolls lit up with the call for immediate help. They met Weiss on the way to the museum and had immediately called for even more backup when they saw the three members of SSSN unconcious. She purposely cut out the parts that Blake already knew and skipped forward to when Blake was about to pass out.
Gideon had Ajani and his three cohorts feets captured and his team already outnumbered them. It was then that the last cohort reappeared with the bracer in tow. His name was Robin Goodfellow, which all four girls learned after the battle. From Gideons' briefing during Blakes' recovery, they learned that not only was he an enimga bu also quite dangerous.
He had easily broke the others from the sand bonds and took out half of Gideons' men with attacks that even Rubys' sharp eyes couldn't track. With a more even playing field; Ajanis' team clashed violently with Gideons'. Neither team was willing to give an inch. If it wasn't for the appearance of the Altesian soldiers then the battle would of continued unhindered.
Robin was the one that allowed for the rest of the team to escape unimpeeded and even held off Gideon and three of his men solo. Ruby then paused right when it was about to end and tensed up.
" Ruby, what happened when Robin was leaving?" Blake had a concerned expression on her face as she saw the younger girls apprehension.
" Blake I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry." Ruby looked like she was going to cry again and if it wasn't for Blake placing an arm around the girl; she might have. " I had a clear shot of the bracer. I thought that if I shot it; that it would shatter and their whole mission would be a waste."
Ruby passed for a second to let her words sink in before continuing. " Instead of shattering, it got knocked loose from his grip and bounced across the ground towards you."
Finally it all made sense to Blake. The bracer ended up locked on her arm due to Rubys' attempt to destroy it. So Ruby held this deep seeded burden of knowing that she was the cause of so much suffering and fear. All the other girls could sympathize with her but none could blame her. There was no ill content in her actions; in fact, if her plan had worked then at most she would of only been blamed for breaking such an old relic.
" Ruby I dont blame you for what happened. I don't think anyone here does. Please don't blame yourself; if you do then everyone's sacrifice would of been for naught." Blakes' words finally broke through Rubys' sullen expression and she could see that finally Ruby was able to let out a soft smile.
Their moment of bonding was howerver interrupted by two loud knocks on their door. Weiss was the first to stand up and subsequently opened it. In walked an Altesian soldier robot pushing a large food cart right into the center of the room. Its' voice crackled with static before speaking in a somewhat high pitch whiny electronic voice. " Compliments of General Ironwood. Your dinner is served members of team RWBY."
Without waiting for a response; the soldier turned around and walked out the door. The girls were then left with lighter hears and bellys aching to be full...
Some place off in the distance stood five men. They knew exactly where the airships were going and had already planned on how they were going to reobtain the object they sought. Oh yes, Titanias' Bracer will be theirs; then New Roma, and finally the world...