(A/N Yo! I'm back, took a while cause classes started, and the college has a lot of things that needed to be addressed and sadly it took precedence over my stories but I had time now so here it is! enjoy
none of the RWBY characters is mine apart from OC's and story START!)
"Mhmm" Jaune groaned as he felt something soft brush against his face, "Mhmm, quit it Jeanne, five more minutes…"
"Gao~!"
*chomp*
"Ah!" Jaune yelled and fell down his bed, his blurry eyes raced across his room as he stood up "What, who, where!" Jaune cried as he held a pillow as a shield, only to find a sitting Neo on his bed looking up at him, seemingly amused at Jaune, evident by the wagging of his tail.
"…Neo~! Why do you need to do that!?" Jaune whined as he rubbed the sleepiness away from his eyes, Neo didn't respond, just looking at Jaune wagging his tail amused, Jaune's eye twitched 'are you a dog or a cat?' he thought.
Giving a deep sigh Jaune picked up the blanket and pillows that were on the floor and started to make his bed, Neo jumped down and patiently waited for his partner on the nightstand, Jaune started to hum as he made his bed, soft and gentle. Something his mother would sing to him as a child, "Hmm~, Hmm~" After finishing making his bed Jaune went over to the bathroom.
Jaune turned on the faucet and cool water started to pour down, washing his hand and spraying some cold water on his face, Jaune grabbed a toothbrush and started to brush his teeth, after, he took off his clothes exposing his developing muscles, he was quite proud of them, as he checked himself out in the mirror.
'who's lanky now, Weiss' Jaune mused as he marveled at his progress, just months before he looked like a tall stick with almost no muscle going in beacon, now, he was looking like a hunter. Going to the shower Jaune turned it on and the warm water started to run down Jaune's body, giving a content sigh 'still, hard to believe this thousand of years old castle has plumbing and unlimited warm water to boot!'
After finishing his shower Jaune got a change of clothes, nothing too fancy just some shirt and pants "Come on Neo, aunt morg is probably preparing food for us" Jaune called, earning a 'Gao!' from his partner, who expertly jump on Jaune's shoulder, like parrot…
"Lazy furball…" Jaune chuckled, scratching behind Neo's ear, the two made their way to the dining hall, and as they pass, Jaune saw how much the place changed *Whistle* "Dang, aunt Morg can give Miss Goodwitch a run for her money, the hallways look as clean as a new edition comic of X-ray and Vav!" Jaune passed room after room.
Jaune wondered what was behind some of these rooms, he has always been either in the library, the throne room, the dining hall, and the training area. So, wanting to satiate his curiosity, Jaune picked a random door and stood in front of it. Jaune looked at the door, a simple wooden frame with the symbol of Arc's and the Arduins, a double crescent. Jaune looked at Neo, who looked back at him "Should I?" Jaune asked.
"Gao~!"
"Yeah buddy, maybe I shouldn't" a moment of silence came to the hall before Jaune looked at Neo again.
"…Gao?"
"Yeah, I'm too curious too, can't help it" Jaune placed his hand on the door handle and pushed it open, what greeted him was a mountain of gold, jewels, a chest filled with gold and jewels, paintings, and other precious stones, minerals, and metals. Jaune's mouth was openly agape, and so too did Neo, apparently understanding monetary value…
"Holy shit! How much gold is that?!" Jaune exclaimed
"About 130,000 metric tons" Answered someone, Jaune yelped as he swirled around -poor Neo had to hold on tight as he did, and looked behind him and saw Morgan looking at him amused.
"Excuse me, but, HOW MUCH?!"
Morgana smirked "it's as much as I said, I think it's a bit more, I'm not an accountant, after all, I'm a sorceress"
Jaune balked and looked back to the room, he gulps, the amount of money in this one room can buy out the Schnee dust company, buy his way to a council seat on all four kingdoms, purchase 100 million pumpkin Pete cereal and he would still have too much!
"Stop gawking, Jaune, if you introduce even a fraction of the gold here you would collapse the entire world economy" Morgana informed "Although~ if you want to collapse the world economy then go right ahead, your certainly not the first to do so in our family"
Once again Jaune looked at Morgana in shock
"Stop dilly dallying my favorite nephew, you and little Neo still have a long day ahead of you, now come along and have breakfast with little ol' me" Morgana mused "Oh, do close the doors when you visit a room Jaune, some of the stuff inside is sentient and like to… have fun in simple terms" with that Morgana turned her back and strutted down the hall, leaving man and cat to look at her owlishly.
The dining hall is grand, no scratch that it was luxurious! On each side of the wall portraits of people hung, as if looking over the people below, and next to each portrait is a statue of a knight, as if standing guard for their liege lord, a representation of an eternal duty to serve. On every end of the long mahogany table is a fireplace made of marble, etched with depictions of battle, and a woman holding a sapling is sculpted on each of its sides.
A large symbol of the Arcs and the Arduins is seen on the floor, which is paved with stone with intricate patterns, the long mahogany table was draped with a purple cloth, with gold trimmings. The silverware was arranged in front of two seats, near the entrance of the dining hall, and laid out before Jaune and Neo is a feast worthy of kings, cured sweet ham, grilled chicken slathered with white sauce, fresh greens, and fruits, and let's not forget the desert, a freshly baked pie.
One would think this is too much food for two people and a cat to eat, but you would be wrong, Jaune walked over to the head chair and pulled it from the table, Morgana then walked up and sat on it as Jaune pushed it back.
"Thank you, nephew, such a gentleman" Morgana praised, giving Jaune a kind smile
"It's no problem, Aunt Morg, Mom always says a woman likes a gentleman" Jaune replied proudly
Morgana chuckled, "Your father is a lucky man then" Jaune nodded sadly as he went over to the seat next to Morgana, Neo on his lap.
Morgana saw the sadness in his eyes "Jaune… you miss them, don't you?" Jaune nodded sorrowfully, Neo, sensing his partner's gloom, looked up.
"Gao~?" Neo meowed, climbing to his shoulder, and started to nuzzle his face on Jaune's neck, chuckling Jaune scratched the back of Neo's ear. "Thanks, bud"
Morgana looked on in sympathy "Jaune, I am truly sorry to subject you to, this… "Morgana motioned around her "not being able to see your loved ones, causing pain to them because they thought you perish… Can you ever forgive me?"
Shaking his head Jaune looked at Morgana with a smile "I already came to terms with it aunt Morg, this is the path I choose, to control this power, to grow stronger, so… when the time comes, when I meet them all again, I can raise my head high and stand beside them" Morgana saw it, a blazing inferno of the resolution, bubbling just on the surface of his blue eyes.
"And please, don't blame yourself, I wanted this, I want to be selfish for now, and besides" once more Jaune gave a bright smile "Your family, aren't you? family can always forgive each other" Morgana was moved, by the compassion and understanding Jaune holds in his heart. Truly, her and her brothers' descendants have grown to be just as righteous, kind, and loyal as they were, she couldn't be any prouder.
Getting up from her seat Morgana walked over to Jaune and gave him a hug, surprising Jaune for a moment, but he returned the hug none the less, Neo even joined "thank you Jaune, I may be a poor substitute to your mother, but as you said, I am family, and if you ever feel burdened with all of… this, you can talk to me, the Arduins are strong-willed, but even we must take a breath every now and then"
Jaune beamed in their embrace, relaxing and feeling lighter "Thanks, aunt Morg" they broke the hug and laugh. "You know, if you keep worrying like this aunt Morg, you might get stressed, and if your stressed you can get wrinkles you know" he teased
Jaune was thusly chopped in the head "Shut it brat! I am flawless! Can't you see how flawless my skin is! I shall never be an old woman! Never!" Morgana shouted to the high heavens… which was the ceiling of the dining hall.
"Ow! that hurt you know? How strong are you! I have my aura coating me 24/7 and you just bypass it like it was wet tissue!" Jaune complained
"Hah! Because I am the gallant Morgana!" Morgana stated proudly
"Gee, such a humble aunt I have"
"What was that?"
"Nothing! Look the ham smells so good~!"
"That's what I thought" Morgana grinned
"…such a violent aunt I have" Jaune mumbled, Neo agreeing with him as he fed the cat some ham.
"By the way, how can that much gold be stored in such a small space?" Jaune asked
"Magic Jaune, space magic" Morgana said with a teasing smile
"Is that your go to question if I don't understand something from now on?"
"Maybe~ who knows my cute little nephew"
(…)
James Ironwood sat in his office, the head being supported with his hands, a pile of documents spread around him, some needing his signature, others are reports about the sudden Grimm inactivity, which was strange, but James was out of it, mind playing the revelations during the meeting with Ozpin. The knowledge the black queen has the power of a god is immortal, and was regaining her strength is horrifying.
The fact that she already pushed humanity this much with but a fraction of her former power and was gaining all of it once more gave everyone who attended a feeling of hopelessness, a dread feeling that their war against her was doomed from the start, that no matter what they do they could not stand against her. What was the power of man against a god? Nothing, they were nothing.
However, a new revelation was revealed, a new hope was given, a light that has the potential to eradicate the dark, a bloodline just as, if not more powerful than the silver-eyed warriors, a line that stood against the Queen at the heights of her power and struck her down.
Struck down a goddess
Leaving her nothing more than a husk, a ghost, as her vast power was taken, broken, and tossed into the wind, never to be regained, a line that, if Ozpin is to be believed, has reawakened their lost powers as well.
James gripped his mechanical hand, before calling someone on his scroll "Specialist, would you want some more time between sisters?
(…)
They have just landed in a rather large settlement on the fringes of the Vale, the heart of the frontier the pilot of the airship said, Ruby looked around the place, it was a lot like patch her hometown in a way, there were small time shops independent dust stores and, of course, a local armory that Ruby immediately went to.
There were differences between here and her home town though, one was there wasn't a CCT tower, meaning the only way to communicate with anyone outside was through literal messenger on horseback with a short-range transmitter, and the closes settlement with access to the CCT was 200 miles out west. The more Ruby saw around the settlement the more she thought that Jaune wasn't joking and pulling her leg when he talks about his hometown.
There was even a town herald that goes around town to tell the news! like the medieval ages! Yang laughed so hard she nearly caused a brawl in the streets because the herald felt like he was insulted and nearly caved in Yang's face!
How were they supposed to know the herald was a retired huntsman, he was wearing a jester's hat for Oum's sake!
"A Lien for your thoughts little miss?" a gruff voice sounded, Ruby looked up from the display case of a revolver-dagger to see a large burly man with thick hairy arms, he also has a brown beard he was bald and his eyes were brown.
"Oh… um nothing much, just looking around and stuff, ha...ha" she said rubbing her head, Let it be known Ruby Rose still has trouble being sociable.
The man grunted "You got a good eye there, the revolver is made of a titanium alloy, the chamber can be loaded with normal and dust rounds, the blade? Damascus, hand ground too"
Ruby looked back at the weapon in awe, the man chuckled at the little reaper "You remind me of a kid that always comes by to help me, can't use a gun for the life of him but a blade? The kid is a prodigy in forging bladed weapons, the sharpest metal I have were forged by him, well, when he got healthier at least, he even had the gall to say they weren't that great!"
The man gave a bellowed laugh, Ruby chuckled too "he was a gifted kid, shame he's gone now…" the shopkeeper gave a faraway look "the kid would always try and sneak away from home, even with the threat of his mother finding out and boy, does that woman get mad" the man shook his head, as Ruby listened on.
"He wanted to be a hunter you know?" He gave a look at Ruby "even though he was sick, weak in body but not in mind, never have I seen a child so… creative… and willful I was ecstatic when his parents told the town he got accepted into beacon" a somber and gloomy cloud suddenly came over. "Now he died, protecting his classmate"
Ruby gasped "…Was he… was he Jaune? Jaune made this?" Ruby looked at the gun intently, its value suddenly skyrocketing in the mind of the huntress in training. "Can… can I hold it?" Ruby asked looking back at the man, who was wide-eyed.
"You're the kid's classmate?" the man said, his voice low, and looked at Ruby with sorrow "I am sorry for your loss, I bet you were best friends with him huh?"
Ruby nodded "how did you know?" the man chuckled
"We may joke that the kid can't talk to people he never met, but the truth is? He just says the right words at the right time, unconsciously, the kid has a talent in making friends he just doesn't realize it, I bet he introduce himself with that god's awful pick-up line his old man uses, didn't he?"
Ruby laughed and nodded "Ha! by the grace of lady Yvanna he's such a kid!" the man bellowed "Torren Trem at your service, maker of fine weapons"
"Ruby, Ruby Rose, nice to… meet… you?" Ruby looked at surprised look of Torren once again.
"…Rose… I should have known… not many have silver eyes, your Summer's girl… aren't yah?"
Confused and surprised that Torren knew her mother she nodded
"And your friends with Jaune Arc?"
Again, she nodded
"Ha! Arwin must have been riding cloud nine when Jaune told her" Torren looked at the gun Ruby has been ogling since the beginning, he silently got his key and opened the display case, he took the weapon, placed it on the counter and went to the back.
When he returned, he was carrying a holster and put the gun-dagger inside, he then handed it to Ruby, the girl at the smith in shock, confusion, and hesitation. The old smith laughed at the indecisive look Ruby was giving him "Come on then, take it, free of charge"
"Wha- Hatw NO! I mean yes! I mean, I can't!" Ruby said frantically, flaying her hands up in the air, trying to push the handgun away.
"Pshaw! Your the kid's friend ain't yah?" Torren asked, Ruby, nodded, "then take the gun, if the kid was still here, he would have bought the thing even though he made it! the softy would melt as soon as he saw you ogling the gun"
Still Ruby protested "Can I buy it instead?"
"You got 10 thousand Lien on you?" Ruby opened her mouth and then closed it, looking at the handgun in shock at how expensive it was.
"…10 thousand…" she whispered 'I can buy so many cookies with that!'
"I… don't have 10 thousand Lien…" Ruby said hanging her head down.
Torren sighed and placed his large hand on top of Ruby "Listen kid, Jaune would want to give you this, even if you have a weapon already" he removed his hand and brought the gun in front of Ruby's face "Now, just accept the gun, take it as a souvenir"
Ruby, looking at the gun in front of her, felt something stir, or rather, she saw something.
A blond-haired boy, bright blue eyes, pale face, and struggling to hold a hammer, a man just beside him egging him on. The scene cut a few more years, this time the boy grew into a teenager, he looked healthier and sturdier, he was on the grindstone, sharpening a blade. He held it up once he was done, a familiar blade, a blade that now rest on the gun Ruby was looking at.
"…i…d"
Voice called out
"K…I…d"
Again…
"Hey! Kid! You alright?" Torren, who was looking at Ruby in concern "You were in a daze a few moments there, you good?" he asked.
Ruby who was swaying a little and held her head "Um… I guess" Ruby took a few seconds to recompose herself and looked back at the revolver. She held her hand out and touched it, it felt cool, but there was a sense of warmth in it, a comforting, protective warmth, as if in the embrace of someone who will stand in the face of death for you.
"Ok…"
"Hm?"
"I accept sir, thank you very much! I will polish it every day!" Ruby said bowing, her exclamation was heard by the passerby and gave her a look of amusement, some even chuckled and called out.
"Hey, Tor! Take it easy on little red!"
"Really mister Trem, can you not be so hard on the young girl?"
"Look, mommy! A huntress!"
"So, you finally gave away that gun huh?"
Voices upon voices called out, Ruby, feeling embarrassed pulled down her hood, hiding away from the amused looks of the people.
This just made everyone notice her more…
"Awh! So cute!" an older woman called
"Eep!" Ruby squeaked
"Ruby! There you are! The others were looking for you!" someone called out, Ruby, still hiding her head with her hood, peeked at who called out for her.
"Velvet!" Ruby called, she turned around and thank Torren one last time "Thank you so much mister!"
Torren laughed away "Its all good, just… take care of it you hear me? if it saves you one day Jaune wouldn't be any happier"
Ruby nodded and waved goodbye, walking towards Velvet, they seem to talk about something before turning around and walking away.
Torren looked on before a voice from behind called out to him "Hey gramps!" Torren's face twitched, he turned back to his shop and glared at the boy in front of him.
"Say that again Leo, I dare you"
The curly black-haired, dark brown-eyed, teen shuddered at the look "Jeez, chill uncle I was just joking, by the way, why did you give away the gun?"
Torren looked back to where Ruby and Velvet were, but they were gone "Because my little nephew, Jaune would've wanted me to give that gun to the girl…"
Leo, tilted his head in confusion "How would you know that?"
"Didn't you see her eyes glowed silver as soon as she was near it? Silver eyes aren't a common trait nowadays…" Torren gritted his teeth "Leo, whatever the future holds, I want you to promise me, promise me that, whatever you make, be it a weapon or a damn gate you use them for the betterment of everyone"
Leo nodded, his once carefree face hardened into a slight scowl "I promise, not just for me, but for Jaune too, a Valdez's promise!"
"That's my little fire hazard!" Torren chuckled
"Hey! I'm getting better at controlling my semblance now thank you very much"
"Right, right…" uncle and Nephew continued to bicker, utterly ignoring a line of people want to buy stuff from them, who just sighed collectively…
Apparently, this was a normal occurrence…
(…)
Amber eyes cautiously looked from one side of her vision to the other, her body tense as she walked down the streets of the city of vale, it was as if she was expecting an attack, or someone was following her. Paranoid she was aware, but it was an ingrained part of her, a part of her past she would rather bury and has continued to ran away from.
She arrived at her destination, Tukson's books, and trade, she opened the door, she then looked around and saw there wasn't anyone around, she locked the door and flipped the open sign to close.
"You know Blake, you could have come after hours you know?" Tukson said. He wore a short-sleeved quarter-zip burgundy and black shirt with a visible white undershirt. His hair was cleanly cut, and he had noticeable sideburns, along with hairy, muscular arms.
"I still need to run a business after all…"
The young huntress ignored the man's woes and approached the counter "Talk" she said simply
Tukson raised an eyebrow "What?"
"The white fang, tell me what you know, they've been silent since… since the Grimm festival, no gatherings, no organized protest, and no dust robberies"
Tukson raised an eyebrow at Blake, the cat-girl continued to stare, Tukson sighed and answered "I don't know much, but I do know that the Vale branch… more specifically that crazy Ex of yours withdrew their armed branch, the white fang that were left here are all civies"
"Why" Blake demanded
Tukson shrugged his shoulders "I don't know, but I heard that Adam was meeting up with the twins in Mistral, what they would discuss I have no clue"
Blake gave a look
"That's all I know Blake, now leave, I can finally breathe after Adam and his fanatics left, so don't ruin this for me" Tukson glared back"
Blake sighed but nodded "…Thanks" she turned around and left
"Could've turned the sign back you know…" Tukson muttered.
Blake walked aimlessly around the city of Vale until she came upon the city park, she looked around to for a bench to sit and relax, or she tried to relax. Ever since the disaster that was Fort Dunzter Blake felt burdened, more than ever in fact, it wasn't just the guilt that was eating at her, it was also the resentment she felt… for herself.
Once again, she ran away from her problems, deluding herself saying that the sudden silence of the white fang was more important than facing a more immediate concern, a blond, dorky, kind, honest, and better person than her kind of problem.
Blake clenched her fist tight, Jaune Arc, a truer hunter than any of them save for maybe her own leader, a boy that stood up to Cardin's bullying of her fellow Faunus, he was weak, shy, unskilled and timid, and yet out of everyone in that cafeteria, the weakest among them stood up for what was right, not Pyrrha the 'invincible girl' not the heir of the Schnee's, and not her…
Someone who should've been the first to stand and cry out for the unfairness of it all… the daughter of the founder of the white fang… the daughter who did nothing but watch as their weakest stood against Cardin's treatment of her fellow Faunus…
She hid, she did nothing because she was doing what she has always done… run away, fearing that if she called out Cardin people would know she was a Faunus herself, that they would see her differently, see her as just another animal…
"…I really am sorry…" she whispered, but there wasn't a single person that heard her…
(…)
Ruby talking with Velvet as they meet up with the others, she was nervous… she was dreading today because it meant something to her.
It meant saying goodbye…
She doesn't want that, because it means she would accept that he really is dead, like her mother, that she would never ever see that dorky but bright smile of his, his kind and understanding eyes that treated her as an equal and not just some prodigy kid huntress…
She doesn't want any of that…
Ruby suddenly felt a hand on her shoulders, she looked to her side and saw Velvet giving her a sad smile "I'll miss him too" she said "Jaune might not be the greatest at fighting, but he surely has the will and heart of a huntsman in spades..."
"Yeah…" Ruby looked down "He was really something else, you know?"
"…"
"…"
"Hey Velvet?"
"Hmm?"
"How did you become close with Jaune?"
Velvet looked a head "It was when he stood up against Cardin, you know, when the bastard pulled my ears" she said with venom "after that Jaune went to our dorm room, he awkwardly asked if I was doing ok, you should have seen it, he looked so cute!"
Velvet giggle followed by Ruby "He asked if he can bake a cake for us, I asked what kind and then he shyly answered 'a carrot cake, I-It's fine i-if you don't want that flavor! It can be chocolate o-or vanilla! I-I don't want to assume…' he was all stuttering and apologizing 'that wasn't racist right? Oh god that was racist!' Coco had to hit him over the head to stop him from muttering up a storm"
This time the two girls were laughing, that was indeed what Jaune would do "He was so relieved that I like carrot cake he smiled like he won the lottery, and…" Velvet blushed and Ruby felt something, like she was getting annoyed but can't find the reason "Well… his smiles are great"
Ruby nodded "Yup! Whenever Jaune smiles it's like the sun reflects against them!"
"Yeah…"
"He was great…"
"…"
"Sorry Ruby! I wanted to cheer you up but I only succeeded in making both of us sad!" Velvet bowed, stopping their walk
"Its ok! I'm fine!" Ruby said with a forced smile, but Velvet didn't buy it, the older student hugged the smaller Ruby.
"Please don't pretend, forcing yourself being ok isn't… ok"
Ruby understood, she knew, but she didn't want to, denial is a part of grief after all…
"Come on, let's go meet the others…" Velvet said, patting Ruby's head as they started to walk again, though there was a gloomy air around them now…
"Ruby! Here! Where did you even went!" Yang called, waving her sister over.
"I'm fine Yang, I was just looking over some weapons at the nearby smithy"
Yang raised an eyebrow "You did more than look around though" she said pointing at the gun holstered around her waist "where did you even get the money to buy that, you had what 2-3 hundred lien?"
"…It was given to me" Ruby said, hand on the holster, her thump caressing it's leather finish
"Given?"
"The smith knew Jaune… and Jaune made this…"
Yang sucked in a breath, near her Wiess widen her eyes as the two looked at the holstered weapon in a new light.
"Woah, Jaune knew how to work around an anvil? I never knew that" Coco voiced from behind Velvet, causing the poor girl to yelp.
"Coco! don't do that…"
Coco only laughed "Never bun-bun" she looked at Ruby a blue smile on her face "I guess the smith wanted you, his bestest friend to, have it?"
Ruby nodded, her eyes having a sheen of tears "…Yeah"
Coco put a hand on her head "Then Jaune never left" Ruby looked up at her "Jaune made that right?" Ruby nodded "Then he'll stay with you as long as you hold that gun, if you ever find yourself without crescent rose, Jaune's gun will defend you, much like its maker would"
Ruby sniffed and smiled at Coco "Thanks, Coco"
"No problem kid"
Velvet on the side said "Coco always did know what to say…"
"It looks like everyone has finished their tour around town, we are only waiting on a few others then we can head over the Arc Mansion" Ozpin, who suddenly appered said.
"Others, head master?" Weiss asked
"She means us Ice Queen junior" a gruff, and slightly slurred voice called.
They look to where the voice came from and saw a roguish looking man with a flask on his lips, next to him was a huntsmen with blond hair and bit of a tan.
"Dad?!"
"Uncle Qrow!?"
"Excuse me but what did you call me?"
Yang, Ruby and Weiss (in that order) shouted in shock and annoyance
"What are you doing here uncle Qrow!" Ruby exclaimed, using her semblance to stand next to him quickly.
"What you and your group are here for" taking a swig of his flash "To be there for a friend…"
"You guys know Jaune?" Yang asked surprised
Taiyang, Yang and Ruby's father shook his head "No, we never met Roland and Arwin's kids, save for Guinevere, if we had…" he gave Yang a scolding look "then maybe you could have turned out different" Yang took a step back at the look, she saw her old man look angry, it was a frequent occurrence growing up with her type of semblance and… explosive personality, but this look wasn't like that, it was angry sure, but the disappointment and shame… it was a look she has never seen in her father, it made her look down.
"Yes, maybe things would have turned out better for us if our kids met early on" a soft and melodious voice called out, a woman of ethereal beauty came fort, white hair, ice blue eyes and a dress that enhance her otherworldly like grace.
"M-Mother!" Weiss called out in surprise, her mind was in shock, she has never seen her mother out of the family Mansion in Atlass in years, and without a bottle of wine to boot!
"Willow, it's a bit surprising seeing you here after all the…" Tai said with caution "You weren't being stalked even out here, are you?"
Willow Schnee "My best friend is mourning the death of her son, what kind of friend would I be if I left her alone? Jacques's dogs can go and sniff their master's ass for all I care, if I want to be hidden I can make it so"
Qrow felt a shiver in his spine "Yeah… just as scary as I remember her…" he said taking a swig of his flask again, but grew confused when he didn't feel the burning sensation of alcohol on his throat. "What the? It's cold?"
"Compose yourself you old crow, Roland will run your through with his sword if you puke all over his son's casket, that's not telling what Arwin will do to you after" Willow said with a glare
"Y-yeah, sure, I can drink later" Qrow said nervously hiding his flask
All of this was in the view of their kids and or nieces, Weiss was catatonic, her mind trying and failing in processing her mother, her oh-so-drunken 24/7 mother she was used to, cursing and show so much authority she never did in her house.
Yang and Ruby were shocked because the image of their cool and rebellious uncle was shattered into a pile of shards, seeing Qrow be whipped like a newlywed husband was funny and gave Yang ammunition for teasing and annoying Qrow of months to come.
"It appears all that is in attendance for this event has arrived," Glynda said, her riding crop gripped tightly on her hand "May we head out?" she asked, forcefully.
An invisible force rested on everyone's shoulder as the vice Headmistress of Beacon glared at them "Shall we?"
(…)
In the kingdom of Mistral, in a house much larger than those around it, made with white marble and decorated with sculptures of warriors, leaders, and politicians of renown. In one of its many rooms, a red-headed girl stared up blankly at her ceiling, her vibrant green eyes dimed ever so slightly, no longer shining like the emeralds they were.
Pyrrha Nikos was depressed, unfulfilled and alone, she, in her state thought that going back home was a good call.
It wasn't
She remembered why she hated this life, loathed her family, and being a Nikos was a curse and not a blessing. Her situation, without her team, friends, teachers and…
Pyrrha closed her eyes 'no, don't think about it, stop' but it didn't stop, an image of a kind-hearted, dorky knight came to the forefront of her mind, Blond hair and blue eyes that never looked at her as a Nikos, but as Pyrrha, a normal girl that wanted to be a huntress…
She despaired, she wanted to cry out she wanted to scream… but she couldn't, not here, not in his house and not around her 'siblings'
A knock on the door pulled her away from her self-loathing, she got up from her bed and composed herself, donning a blank and expressionless mask. She breathed in then walked towards the door, she opened it and saw a young man, a bit older than her leaning against the door frame.
He, like her has fiery red hair, cut in a fade, onyx eyes gleamed in its sockets, the young man was handsome and fit, any woman would swoon at his looks, he wore a magenta dress shirt with two buttons opened showing of his toned chest.
"Well sister, how are you doing these days hmm?" the man said with a mocking grin "I heard your partner died… shame, on you not him by the way" he grinned showing of his pearl white teeth "anyone that dies as pathetically as your so-called partner doesn't even deserve to be recognized, no, shame on you for being partners with those low lives"
The man leaned in, his eyes glaring down Pyrrha's "Father was most displeased you know, 'how dare that showgirl associate with common drabble' oh you should have seen it, his anger killed one of serving wench- I mean, staff of the mansion" he said off handedly.
The man backed off shrugging his shoulders "Glad to have you back amongst us 'sister'" he said giving what looked to be a genuine smile.
But Pyrrha continued to glare "Say what you really want to say Ares, and leave"
The smile dropped from Ares's face, and a nasty snarl took its place "Why did you come back? You already shamed the family name by galivanting with those insects you call a team, a pair of orphans, and the reject of the Arc family, father was rather excited when he found out about that little information you know? but once he dug deeper, he found out that 'Jaune Arc' was nothing more than a near cripple, sickly and weak for most of his life and would sooner die than thrive and he was proven correct"
Pyrrha froze, her eyes dilating "What do you mean he was sick?"
A smirk returned to Ares's face "Oh? He didn't tell you? well 'sister' your partner was born with a compromised immune system, for most of his life he was one stray cough away from dying, honestly, he disgusts me, why such an insignificant commoner reach for something he can't achieve? It was good thing a nuisance like him died, saves space for new, more…" Ares licked his lips "Shapely huntresses to take root"
Ares than turned around "Well sister, that is all, have fun with your stay~ hahaha!"
Pyrrha didn't bother to look at her 'brother' leaving, she was too shocked at what she had just heard 'he was sick? And still wanted to be a huntsman?' Pyrrha dumbly closed the door and sat at the end of her bed.
'Even when half of beacon jeered, mocked and called him a mockery of a huntsman… he still held his head high… he still wanted to achieve his dreams' a memory flashed in her mind, it was just a week after Jaune became their leader, Nora had dragged their team in an impromptu 'team bonding' and she asked what we wanted to do as huntsmen and huntresses.
Mini Flashback
"I want to break Grimm legs! Oh! Oh! I also want to make a cloak made of Grimm fur!" Nora said excitedly "do you guys think there's a sloth Grimm? Do they make the same sound as normal sloths? Do they like pancakes?"
Beside her Ren silently listened, too used to Nora's way of… expressing herself
Pyrrha and Jaune looked at the silent ninja, wanting to know what he wanted to do, Ren shrugged his shoulders and said "where Nora goes, I follow"
"What about you Pyrrha? What do you want to do as a huntress?" Nora asked getting right in front of Pyrrha's face.
"Um…"
Ren held Nora's shoulder and made her sit back down, letting Pyrrha some space to breath "Thank you" she said
"Nora is rather excitable"
"Well? Come on Pyrrha!" Nora egged her on
"I… I want to have freedom…" Pyrrha answered, amidst the confusion of her team
"Freedom? Why? Are you being stalked by an evil fiancé? A wizard that wants you to have a special power? A destiny that haunts you to this day?!" Nora said, Jaune and Pyrrha looked at Ren for a once of sanity in her rant but the teen just sighed.
"Just… bear with it"
"Um… no Nora, I just want to get… away from home for a while," she said, but the blond beside her noticed her finger fidgeting her skirt.
"It's fine Pyr, I also have very overprotective parent's, and sisters" Jaune said, trying to move the conversation to him.
"Ohh~ sisters? How many?" Nora asked
Jaune with a straight face replied "Seven"
There was a comedic silence as they heard Jaune, Ren was the first to respond "What kind of woman Is your mother?"
Jaune shivered "Yes"
"Wow, they boop a lot!" Nora exclaimed, earning a flush face from Jaune and Pyrrha and a sigh from Ren.
"Yeah, being that dad and I were the only males in the house, growing up was a bit of a challenge, heck, they even stuck me in a dress when I was 7! A dress! The gall of them" Jaune raised his fist in the air, earning a giggle from Nora and Pyrrha, and Ren gave a look of sympathy.
"They thought me how to dance, cook, clean, do laundry, and play instruments"
"Woah, whoa! It sounds like a fearless leader was supposed to be a househusband!"
Jaune nodded "Yeah, I couldn't blame them for wanting me as far away from being a huntsman as possible…" Jaune clenched his fist, the others felt they stepped on something sensitive, even Nora didn't dare to comment.
"But I wanted to be a huntsman, it's my dream, I want to help people, I want to be someone that people can rely on, 'when darkness comes, an even brighter light follows' is what a certain someone said to me, I want to be that light, not for glory or fame, but because I want to give people hope, hope that things, no matter how bad it gets, will get better," Jaune said, a fire lighting behind his blue eyes that captivated his teammates.
But most of all pulled Pyrrha's attention to him even more…
Mini Flashback end
'he's a better huntsman than any of us not in skill but the heart and will… he saved Weiss, even though she hates him, he continued on a lonely path all for the sake of being the light people look to' Pyrrha closed her eyes and fell on to her bed.
Another person flashed in her mind, small with a cute child-like face, black hair that fades to tips of red and bright silver eyes 'maybe he was not so alone…'
(…)
Their group went up a hill overlooking the settlement, the breeze was cool but not freezing, and the gentle dance of trees and falling leaves signify that spring was about to end and fall was nearing. And Ruby didn't know what to do or say to Jaune's family, she had met some of his sisters, like Jaune's twin Jeanne and his mother Arwin, but she hadn't met his father.
And from what Jaune sometimes say about their relationship after he 'got in beacon' it was tense, so she didn't know how to act around the man.
Ruby sighed as they came across a gate, on it is a symbol, instead of two yellow crescent arcs one on top of the other, it was two swords, one was white the other yellow forming an 'X'. Ruby once asked Jaune about that, why they had two symbols, he simply answered that the crescent arcs are the trajectory of a swinging sword, the two swords represent the two blades in their family, one was Crocea mors, and the other was lost to time, not even a name was written.
The was opened and the group made their way inside
"Woah, was Jaune loaded?" Yang asked as she looked around, the mansion was a ripe way in describing the Arc home, it was large, with two statues in the front, they were humans wearing armor, each wielding a sword pointed high in the air. Both were wearing a helmet with both the armor and the helmet they didn't know the gender
Or maybe that was the point
"greetings" at the base of the statues an elderly man stood, white hair already residing, and a mustache that could rival professor port's "I am Alfrey Cassel, I and my family has been loyal vassals of the Arcs for centuries" Alfrey bowed to the gathered group.
"Oh, come on old man, you don't have to be all formal you know?" Qrow said approaching the old man "we've known each other for… what 20 years?"
"Ahh, young master Qrow, it has been years," Alfrey said, still acting formal, much to Qrow's chagrin but the smile the old man held made him smile too.
"Come 'ere, you old fossil" Qrow hugged the older man, Ruby and Yang were confused at this, looking at their father for answers.
Tai, seeing the look answered "Qrow and Raven were brats when we all became a team with summer, much like your teams RWBY and JNPR, we also had a sister a team, team ARWN, funnily enough, Jaune's mother was the leader, much like you were made leader of team RWBY, Alfrey back then acted like a grandfather to both Raven and Qrow whenever the eight of us hang out here during breaks or missions" Tai chuckled.
Ruby also chuckled, who knew she met someone that led a team named after her like hers? it was a coincidence like no other…
"Dad"
"Hmm?"
"Who was the 'N'?" Tai stiffens at that
"Dad?"
"Maybe some other time Ruby… Come on Al is calling" Tai beckoned his kids forward, he was still angry at Yang, but he was her father, and not matter his rage, she was still his daughter.
They entered the mansion and they saw it was actually rather… simple, practical to be more precises, along the walls instead of pretentious art works there were weapons, swords, shields, halberds and bows. There were paintings, but they forgo any fancy clothes and had armor and weapons strapped to their sides.
"Welcome! How have you all been?" called out a large man with blond hair and wearing huntsmen attire, on his back is a massive great-sword nearly as tall as him "It's been a while everyone" he smiled
Tai was the first to approach "Roland, you bastard, you never call" Tai and Roland clasped their hands together, gripping each other to see who would cave.
"Been busy, the Grimm festival a while back made it's way here, I had to run around like a headless chicken for a while"
Tai's eyes twitched and he let go of their hand shake and gave Roland a nod "My condolences"
Roland nodded sadly "Thank you" he then looked to others "Oz! Glynda, Qrow, Willow how have you all been? And I see some of Jaunes friends, welcome to Prospero!" Roland said jovially "Come, come, the others are out back, you can meet them and talk for a bit"
Roland nodded to Alfrey who nodded back and went somewhere away from the group, Roland led thme further into the Arc mansion, the students looked on as they pass more and more weapons and paintings, they soon realized that each weapon correspond to a painting.
"Mr. Arc can I ask you a question" Un-surprisingly Ruby was the one to ask "Are the weapons here the ones the paintings had wielded?"
Roland looked at the reaper and stared at her silver eyes for half a second, not much for the other students to notice "Why yes, and call me Roland, none of that Mr. Arc talk, I already feel old, no point rubbing salt into the wound. Each weapon next to a painting was once wielded by an Arc, for generations if an Arc dies, they are immortalized in this mansion with their favored weapon beside them."
Ruby looked at the weapons in awe, not in craft but the history within them, the experience these weapons must have gained along with their wielder fascinates Ruby, she subconsciously placed one hand on Crescent Rose and the other on Jaune's Pistol-sword 'I should start thinking about a name for you…' she thought.
They came to another door, Roland pushed it open and what greeted them was a wide field with trees and grass and a simple two-story cabin. The realization made it's way to Weiss's mind "Wait! The mansion isn't a mansion! It's a memorial!"
"Nice catch, yes the mansion in front isn't built for living in, it never was, it's a way to remember family, and history of our line" Roland said praising Weiss and looked at Willow "Like mother like child huh, Willow?"
"Yes Roland, Weiss is a rather intelligent girl, but she lacks wisdom for things" Wiess filched she felt the last part was said because of her part in Jaune. "however she is kind, I made sure her and her older sister took morality from me rather then Jacques, it is just… hidden from time to time"
Weiss looked at her mother and she looked back, her mother mouthed 'we talk later' Weiss nodded. The group made their way to the cabin and as they did Roland made eye contact with a Raven, he only nodded and led the group inside the cabin.
"Honey! Girls! We have visitors!" Roland called
"Coming!"
"Wait! I'm still changing!"
"Where's my shoe?"
Came the voices upstairs, the pitter patter of feet was heard as 3 girls came down, one was blond with green eyes the other was black haired with blue eyes and the last was black haired with blond tips much like Ruby's and blue eyes.
"Dad!"
"Welcome back!"
"Hey! It's uncle Oz!"
Roland turned to the group "Every one, the blond one is Amber, the black haired one is Andromeda or Andy for short and the blond-black hair is Nyx the youngest"
"Hello!"
"What' up?"
"Good morning"
The three girls greeted.
"Oh oum you all are so cute!" Velvet squealed and hugged the air out of the three. Coco and her team chuckled at the bunny girl.
"AIR!" the trio called
"Ok bun-bun let the little tykes go-"Velvet suddenly appeared right next to Coco as she said that, her eyes grew wide and looked at one of the kids, Nyx had her hand raised and was glowing a black-purplish hue.
"Please… don't do that again" the youngest of the Arc family said "Mother is bad enough…"
"O-oh… Sorry about that" Velvet said
"No biggie!" Amber called as she, much to the shock of the students and some of the adults, floated right Infront of Coco, her grin wide and showing off her pearl white teeth.
"Dad, are they Jaune's friends?" Andy as she was affectionately called by her family asked.
"Yes dear, they are Jaune's friends at Beacon"
"Even the blond screecher and the white bitch?"
"ANDROMEDA!" Roland yelled
"What? I'm cool with the others; the other two I want to smear all over the wall" Andy's eyes suddenly glowed red "I really want to…" she then closed her eyes and once they opened it was back to normal "But big brother wouldn't like that" her eyes glared at Yang and Weiss who remained rooted on the spot "I will tolerate you two here"
Andy then turned around and walked back upstairs, leaving stunned silence.
It was Amber who turned to Weiss and Yang and bowed her head "We're sorry! Andy just… misses big brother…" the young girl said her voice cracking.
Ruby came up beside the younger girl and hugged her, Ruby was a head taller and so she pressed Amber to her chest "It's alright, I miss him too…" she whispered.
Amber stiffen and hugged back, Roland look at the scene and to Ruby, he met eyes with Ozpin and the headmaster gave a sad look shaking his head. Roland once more looked at Ruby and his little girl 'if only Jaune was still here… Summer would have agreed'
"oh my, what happened" a melodious voice sounded, rounding the corner was Arwin Arc, her black hair done in a bun and she was wearing an apron, her green eyes widen at seeing Ruby hugging her daughter and look to Roland for answers.
She was interrupted however by the sudden appearance of Willow, she was walking slowly with grace towards Arwin, her face blank, Arwin was once again surprised at seeing her friend and made ro respond but was stopped again when Willow hugged her.
"I am so, sorry Arwin, I could never feel what you are feeling" the two older women stood there hugging one another, one was quivering while the other kept hugging her.
The others looked awkward and thankfully another voice called out "hey" the students looked back towards the door and saw a tall blond with green eyes wearing a battle dress and a rapier on her side "do you kids want to look around? Mom and the other adults need some time"
Ruby who was still being hugged by Amber recognized the person "Wait, your Guinevere! Jaune's oldest sister" that seamed to rouse Amber and she turn around and flew like a rocket towards her older sister.
"Guine! Your back!"
The oldest sibling laughed and patted the girl, the force from Amber crashing onto her didn't even fazed her "Yes, yes little sister, the assignment was a easier than I thought" she looked back to the students and then the adults, the adults nodded and her father gave her a smile and looked towards her mother, who was crying.
Guine nodded and waved over the beacon Students and her sisters.
Closing the door and leaving the adults in the main house she looked back to the students and her two sisters Nyx and Amber.
She gave a curt bow "Hello everyone, my name is Guinevere Arc, I am the eldest and currently in my twenties and working as one of the watchers"
"Watchers?" asked Wiess
Guine nodded "yes, the watchers are part of Prospero's Knight legion"
"Knight Legion?!" Yang yelled in surprise, there were really knight's left? In this day and age?
Guine chuckled "yes, Yang, the knight Legions are kind of like the army here in Prospero, and the Watchers you could say are the scouts and the special forces combined"
"Prospero has their own military?" Weiss asked again intrigue, since coming here she is starting to learn more about her dorky savior, which only made her more depressed 'if only I was a kinder'
Guine saw the expression but did not comment.
"It is more like a milia then an Army, but nevertheless we defend Prospero"
"I actually want to ask about that, Prospero is a bit large of a village but also small enough to not be considered a city, how is it Prospero… prospered and survive for this long in the frontier? This large of a settlement would surely draw out armies of Grimm" it was Fox who asked.
Guine put a finger on her chin, one that Jaune always did when giving a concrete and detailed answer. Ruby knew this so did the others and before the older woman could say anything Coco called "Maybe we should find a place to sit?"
Guine realized that she was about to go on an hour-long lesson, about her home, in front of her house while standing.
Guine chuckled sheepishly and rubbed the back of her head, another thing that Ruby saw Jaune do when embarrassed
"Right! There's a lake near here with space for all of us, it's just ways away" she corralled the group with her and her little sisters in the front.
They went deeper into the forest surrounding the Arc home and as they broke the tree line the students of beacon gasped at the picturesque view, The water was clear and clean, the cool breeze was comforting, and beside the lake was a stone table surrounded by seats.
"Here we are, Lake Beren, name after one of our ancestors" she motioned for them to gather around and sit.
"This place is so… calming" Yatsu said, the large second year student took a seat and felt himself unwind and relax.
"Indeed" Fox nodded
Velvet took out her scroll and started to take pictures… a lot of pictures.
Guine sat down and look to the group "Alright, to know about how Prospero survive the relentless assaults of Grimm we must first know of its founding"
She looked around and saw the focused attention of everyone.
"It firsts starts with a legend, a myth passed down from one Arc to another, thousands of years ago a kingdom like no other existed, it was Strong, fare, and beautiful, all throughout the land this Kingdom was revered.
But also envied"
She said gravely "Prosperity begets jealousy, and this Kingdom has them in spades, time and time again since the first king this Kingdom was attacked and invaded, but time and time again since the first king the invaders were repelled and some even became vassals. This kingdom was and is the most powerful kingdom to ever exist, be it in the past, present and even the future, this kingdom reigns supreme"
As the group that was listening were from Vale or Atlas, two of the most powerful kingdoms in the world, they felt their national pride being attacked but held back, Weiss because she doesn't want anymore bad blood and was seeking forgiveness, same with Yang but to a lesser degree.
Guine continued "However, as they say no kingdom stands forever, the 25th king of this kingdom was once again attacked, but they were not their fellow man, but the creatures of malice we know as Grimm"
Everyone listening gulped Grimm were widely known to decimate ancient kingdoms and was the major cause of collapse it was just a fact in their world.
"Grimm never before seen attacked, Grimm which power has never been recorded, beams of energy blasting the defenders by a single cruel eyed monster, Defenders swallowed by the earth and by a monstrosity that borrowed deep within the ground. A fel creature with the two heads, one a goat and the other a lion and its tail a snake, wreaking havoc with a single gaze the defenders died in fright, the Grimm were powerful, fiercer and…
Ruthless"
The people listening shivered
"And the horror does not stop, for legend says of a master, a mistress of darkness shrouded by the fear, terror and vileness of mankind, the black Queen, the monarch of Grimm and death"
Once more everyone shivered, they only wanted to know about Jaune's home, not a scary story!
"This Queen was said to have bathed In the blood of a god, taking his power for herself and control the Grimm they created, she hence fort conquered the world, with this great Kingdom being the last bastion between her and total dominion of the world…"
Guine smiled "The 25th king knew this, he knew that his end and the end of his kingdom was near, and thus he tasked his greatest companions, 12 individuals, they were warriors, scholars, smiths, mages, archers and diplomats, he tasks the scholar to hide his family to take them far away. he gave one of their kingdom's heirlooms a sword to his child, so that he may use it to defend the rest of the people that were escaping the fall of their kingdom with them"
"The king, with his companions faced the abyss, gazing back and never blinking, for 24 days they fought, the defenders of the kingdom and the dark tide, for 24 nights the king and his companions held so they may give the rest of their people time to flee. And for 24 nights and day the king dueled the Queen goddess, with one of the heirloom swords. He fought a deity…
And won"
Everyone was at awe, the story started off with intrigue then horror, and now… it was triumph!
"The 25th king gave a terrible blow, nearly cleaving the dark goddess in half, and yet, she was immortal with powers of a dead god, so she survives and destroyed the great kingdom, and killed the king"
"What!" Ruby called, how was that winning?!
Guine calmed the girl "the story is not finished yet Ruby, for though the dark goddess survived, her power was drained and broken, for the king's blow was so great it removed the power she held, leaving her nothing but a shell,
a shell that can be broken"
Everyone was at the edge of their seats, this was more than they could have bargain for, this… this blew the stories they were told as kids out of the water!
"This realization struck the Dark Queen, she was vulnerable, her power as a goddess was broken, she was still queen of the Grimm but her power was all but gone, leaving only the immortality"
"Wait that can't be all!" called out Velvet, who was secretly recording this
Guine shook her head, and, along with her siblings who have heard of this tale for countless times smiled.
"No, it isn't, for the prince and Queen of the great kingdom lives, along with what was left of their people, they traveled all over the world, seeking a new home"
"They first went to the hidden capital of their kingdom on an island, but they need the second sword to raise it from the ocean depths
(…)
Milling about their island home Faunus talked and joked, underneath them the ocean bubbled
(…)
"They crossed wind-swept cliff faces, seeking refuge in one of their bastions"
(…)
In mistral, Pyrrha looked over the city and beyond
(…)
"They braved the icy mountainscape in search for the lost sky gardens their people made during the time of the first king"
(…)
In the mountainous and frigid land of Atlas, the side of a mountain collapsed, exposing the gleaming metal
(…)
"Losing many in the red sands due to assassins sent by the dark Queen and the environment itself, some gave up and settled there, abandoning their prince and making their own kingdom"
(…)
In Vacuo the shifting sands gave way to a ruined building
(…)
"But finally, after years, they came to settle on a piece of land and named it…
She looked at the group their eyes shining, even hers and her siblings, no matter how many times they hear this, it always filled her with wonder.
"Prospero, in honor of their once prosperous kingdom"