Arc II: The Knight Life
Chapter 19: A Broken Legacy
"...I have come to consider the information corresponding to our time together among the most precious data I have on record."
"...I believe this feeling correlates closest to what your people call...happiness."
"...many have said them to you thus far, but I now wish to say them for myself...thank you, Master Link..."
()===|=====+
The distant, ethereal wind resonated softly along the limestone walls. It was a filling, yet quiet ambience that failed to ease the confusion and anxiety within his heart.
Blankly he stared up at the darkened ceiling, though there was no heavenly light from above considering that the blessing was given a long, long time ago. It was an age when the land still floated above the clouds, the last resort of a goddess and Hero whose age and memory had since long passed. Silence reigned and with his mellow thoughts all but deafened his ears, and so the old ghost had made himself comfortable against an unlit torch. As soon as they discovered the Master Sword lying impotent in its pedestal he retreated within himself back to where it all began, down to the deepest recesses of the Hero's Soul. A time when the Blade of Evil's Bane did not yet exist and accounts of the surface below remained nothing more than fireside legend.
A smile threatened to break free as the memories - or rather, memories of memories - surged forth, almost seeing himself from his squiring days at the Knight Academy to flying freely through the skies with his best friend, at least once Zelda sent her Loftwing to drag his sleepy self out of bed.
And then, her.
He allowed his head to slowly fall forward as the last traces of mirth left him completely. Though she was rather eccentric to deal with at the start, as the journey to save Zelda slowly progressed he began to rediscover more about who they were and the sacrifices they lived as Hero and Goddess. Through the worst of it all, she was there for him; though he found friends, mentors and even lovers in some of those who came after, such as Navi, Ezlo and Midna, Fi was the first companion he truly ever had in a hero's journey. It gave him a small measure of peace to learn that she too treasured their time together, and in that lifetime he spent some of his final moments beside the sleeping sword.
A sword which now promised no bane upon the evil encroaching upon the world.
While the eternal bond between weapon and wielder prevailed in the past, it now presented them with a significant practical obstacle. There was only so much they could do without the sacred blade, and though they could theoretically defeat him without it, Jaune would need to be at a level of strength and skill far above what he was currently at. A divine equalizer, if you will - only one other weapon, a sword with the power to enhance his strength four-fold was able to match Ganon but that was lost to the ravages of time long before the King of Thieves fell into Calamity. Even if they somehow found it, chances are it would not be so useful since the magic of the Picori, the tribe responsible for forging the original blade, declined with their disappearance into obscurity.
Link sighed as he stood, taking a moment to stretch his back as various ideas swam throughout his head.
"So. Starting from the top, the Triforce is split with Power presumably in Ganon's hands and Wisdom unaccounted for, along with the other half of Courage. Magic is a remnant of what it once was, being limited to people's Semblances and dust as fuel. We made use of the Sacred Flames and Zelda's final blessing upon forging the Blade millennia ago, but considering the state of magic and the absence of Wisdom's avatar, we cannot rely upon that method for now. Hmm...how else have we restored power to the Master Sword?"
His steps echoed throughout the chamber in tandem with the ambient wind, taking him towards the empty pedestal.
"Well, there were several other methods -"
Link?
Jaune's voice cut through the silence, snapping his focus back to his host. Closing his eyes, he took a moment to see through the other blonde's own, finding him kneeling in front of the Master Sword.
Um, are you there? What...what do I do now?
"Nothing," he telepathically replied. Being able to communicate without speaking aloud was something they both found incredibly useful, but as proven with the Master Sword even the greatest of assets had their drawbacks. He had long lost the need to fall asleep as he was technically dead, but that didn't prohibit him from feeling Jaune's restlessness, doubt or naked fear when he was at his lowest. Every ounce of pain and every nightmare he dreamt was also his to bear, but for the sake of his successor he needed to stay strong as well. It seemed that Jaune was learning about it too, one of many things he felt best for him to discover on his own.
But he could freely admit that he too felt shocked at the sight of the weakened Sword.
Are you saying that there's nothing we can do? Didn't you say past lives managed to repair the Master Sword before?
"Let me explain. As of this moment, there is nothing we can currently do. While it is true past incarnations were able to restore it, they had the benefit of time and magical abundance from which to draw upon. The Era of the Wild saw the Blade damaged but not completely depowered, having been resigned to stasis along with the Hero of that age. Problem was that it took a century - time which we lack now - and made possible only after the Calamity had already annihilated the kingdom then. Here, the Blade has remained impotent in the millennia since your predecessor so we therefore cannot wait any longer. That leaves us with the Era of Winds, where the Hero had to restore sages to their temples to pray for the Blade's empowerment. The world has changed much and we know not of any sages that exist now, nor of any temples that still stand."
A wave of dejection rippled through their bond.
So there really is no way to get this back up and running, then.
"Boy, are you even listening to what I am saying? We have in this life and in previous ones emerged victorious from direr odds. I am certain there is a way to restore the Blade - the challenge is finding the way to do so. Tell me, what gives the Blade the power to repel evil?"
Um, well, light magic. And yes, Pyrrha, I'm fine, just give me a second here, Jaune replied, nodding off his team in the real world. You told me that you forged it with the divine fires of the Goddesses, so...I'm assuming we would need to find a place to get more of that.
"While the Sacred Flames are no more, you are on the right track. As with the Hero of Winds, we must find a source of light magic from which to infuse the Master Sword and a spellcaster with the knowledge to do so."
Right...and I guess that's where the challenge is? Is there even anyone that can do that kind of thing anymore? And I also have a part of the Triforce with me. Can't we use that instead?
"I will warn you now that though we heavily rely on Courage it is still possible to abuse its power, though that is a topic for a later time. But even if what you say is feasible, we lack the knowledge to apply it here. Back then, the Hero of Winds used an enchanted instrument to conduct the songs of the Gods, both of which are also long lost. We must find a new way now," Link sighed, taking a moment to picture the Master Sword before drawing it from the sheath on his back and hold it skyward. Though the ghostly mirror lacked any real power within Jaune's consciousness, seeing with the full might of its former glory brought nostalgia and an ember of conviction - enough for him to hope that Jaune could feel it too.
"Listen, Jaune. I know you are shocked and disheartened. That, and the burden of providing answers to your friends who know not of the true weight that you have been burdened to shoulder. But believe me, I know how you feel. It is difficult, but you must keep soldiering on as there is a way out of this, and I have faith in you to find it. Mark my words, Jaune - you will one day wield the true Master Sword to drive back the evils of this world."
Silence reigned for several long seconds until he felt the sparks of hope possible only through trust begin to ignite. Focusing back to Jaune, the blonde boy had stood up, dusting off his knees and scratching the back of his head.
Guess we have no other choice, then. Ah, well, it'll be hard trying to find out a way to do so. I suppose this here's gonna be my quest as the Hero, no?
Link let out a grunt and absently nodded. "Indeed. You cannot defeat Ganon without the power of the Master Sword."
Yeah, I figured. One more question though - what exactly happened that caused it to be like this?
His azure eyes narrowed then, not immediately replying but rather heading up to the empty pedestal and slowly replacing the blade. Nothing happened, save for the wind fading slowly until there was nothing left but stilled silence.
Link?
"Your guess is as good as mine. Perhaps in reacquiring the rest of Courage and through it, the Hero's Soul can we learn the truth about your predecessor as well. Until then, Jaune...there is nothing of use to us here. Perhaps you can find something within the temple ruins, but do not expect too much."
Ah...right. Do you think this could also be connected to why there's no Princess too?
"A safe assumption," Link nodded, turning away from the pedestal towards the entrance. "What I can remember from before our soul was sundered is that your predecessor's life was neither lived nor ended in a happy manner. It was one of absolute darkness and pain, a fallen era of shadow from which all hope was truly abandoned. It would not be a stretch to imagine that the consequences of that era translate into the remnant of the world you call your home today."
Jaune hummed, Link watching as his student shifted his focus back to his team beside him. Once more lost in thoughts, all alone, he took one more look at the Master Sword before heading towards the chamber exit. Melancholy as their situation was, he forced the despair away and allowed only hope and determination to fill his heart. This was not the first time, and though the land of the Gods were no longer blessed by its original creators, it would be through the strength and knowledge of Heroes past and present that they would see the Master Sword regain its former glory. He would not let his old companion remain in this state, nor his fated successor fail.
...after all, what are friends for?
Link closed his eyes and sighed, content to be lost in the memories of what once was as he exited into the ethereal white. In the distance, a soft, quiet chime echoed softly throughout the solitude of the void.
"..."
"..."
"...may we meet again in another life."
()===|=====+
Shock, confusion and awe warred within Pyrrha's mind as she watched the Triforce fade from Jaune's hand when he withdrew from the Master Sword and pivoted to face them. It was probably safe to say that when Jaune's apparent identity as some sort of destined warrior was revealed none too subtly they had a hard time believing it - after all, knowledge can differ quite greatly from experience. But between her partner's lack of denial to the uncanny familiarity with the trials of the forest, and now an ancient temple which Jaune dreamed of literally the night before that they currently stood in while also housing an equally ancient, potentially magic sword -
She released a breath she didn't even know she was holding in. The fact that magic legitimately existed suddenly felt like the least of her concerns as the truths and revelations that were once impossible to digest now all began to crash down. And it crashed down hard.
Upon following Jaune's gaze, she saw Ren and Nora likewise overwhelmed. Only Mr Branwen looked less shocked than they were - still quite surprised, but not too lost in the implications. Deep down, it was enough to curry faint suspicion, and though she always tried to see the best in people it didn't mean she was willfully blind either. Considering the rather recent developments, it almost felt ignorant to leave anything off the table.
"I'm, uh, guessing you're all wondering what this is and stuff, right?"
"Yes, 'and stuff'," Ren replied with a mix of wonder and consternation. "I think I speak for the rest of us when I say...wow."
"That's one way to put it," Nora agreed, stepping past them and approaching the Sword. Pyrrha watched as Jaune, alarmed, abruptly lunged as if to save her from something dangerous -
Only for him to freeze as nothing happened, the ginger girl gingerly running a finger along the dilapidated sapphire blue crossguard before poking the blackened gem. She backpedaled, glancing at Jaune, back to the blade and returning to the blonde again.
"Well...it's pretty, I guess. I don't know how I feel about this, though," she admitted with some apprehension, any previous attempt at lightening the mood now forgotten as she too began to accept the sheer weight of the truth. "This...this really isn't some game or something, right? Everything that you talked about with the weird guy...it's all real?"
Pyrrha swallowed, hoping to hear at least some sort of denial from her partner to ease her own. Several seconds of silence ensued as he met each of their expectant gazes before his fell, walking up to the enshrined weapon. As he sighed, she couldn't help but notice how shafts of calming light from the midday sky gently graced the chamber, casting Jaune and the darkened sword in a warm, almost mystical glow. But rather than depicting the scene as triumphant or heroic, it looked...melancholy. Somber, as if solemnly mourning a friend long dead. For a boy who seemed fated to rise a hero, she saw someone crushed by the burden of expectation, lost in the mental battle to let not defeat snuff out the last embers of hope.
Regardless of the implications, she knew that the image of him holding the pommel of the blade in despair would forever be burned into her memory.
"...this is called the Master Sword," Jaune began, turning back once more to face them. "A long time ago it once had the power to cut through the darkness. Because of that it was the ultimate weapon against evil, but that was back then. It's lost all its power."
"How? What happened?"
"I don't know, Nora," Jaune sighed, slumping down to sit and lean against its dulled blade. "I don't know. What I do know is that nothing'll be able to stop the oncoming calamity without this."
Pyrrha looked to Ren, finding him looking back with equal trepidation. "And what is this...calamity that you speak of?"
Jaune met her look with one that she recognized as the same mask she wore when she fought to remain strong, regardless of how she felt. "Ganon. It's taken many forms and been called the Demon King, King of Thieves, the Great Calamity and much, much more, but in the end it's always been Ganon. He's an ancient, primal evil that has reincarnated time and time again since even before the world became as we know it. And now the one weapon capable of defeating him can't do so anymore," he finished, grunting as he stood to look down on it morosely.
"Remember what I said earlier about being a reborn warrior and all that? That's the cursed cycle. Whenever he arises, so do we in response - and I mean we," Jaune emphasized, pointing back at himself with his thumb,"since this is not the first time. I'm just the latest version of the same guy who's been doing the same thing over and over again for thousands of years. Yeah, I'm not the Hero of Time or Twilight...but at the same time, I am. I remember things I shouldn't be able to. I dream of things that happen eventually; I know you remember, Pyr, about my nightmare earlier today...?"
Ren and Nora turned to her, from which she swallowed down the rising dread within her stomach. "I-it's true. Jaune said he saw this place in a dream last night, and us...dead and scattered around here. Literally right around here. I thought he really did just have a bad dream, but now..."
"Oh, Jauney," Nora began, distressed. "So that's why you were so tired this morning? You couldn't sleep because you saw us...us -"
"Not dead," Ren continued with a harder tone, eyes taking on a bit of an edge. "I'll admit, I cannot truly understand the gravity of what you have to go through, but after seeing all this and what happened before, the reality of the situation really is starting to sink in and it's honestly rather frightening. But I also once believed that I wouldn't survive in the wilds of Mistral, and...look how that turned out."
The ninja sighed as he calmed himself with his Semblance. "I...I will need some time to take this all in. I'm sorry...I've never been good with talking, but I do believe what you have to say. I mean, I have no other choice now, right?"
"All we ask is that you keep us in the loop next time," Pyrrha finished, catching his attention. "Even when it starts to involve other pe - no, especially when it starts to involve others like this."
"Right. For sure. I know this is a lot to take in for you guys too, so if there's any way I can make it easier then let me know."
She nodded once she confirmed the sincerity in his gaze, tilting her head in thought while keeping Qrow on the edge of her peripherals. "Perhaps we can start with our mission. What do we do first? Do we continue to hunt down the Grimm responsible for the trouble around here?"
At that, Jaune stood a little taller as they returned to a far more familiar and comfortable element. "Well, that would be ideal were it not for the fact that we would get lost in the woods if we veered off from the path we took on the way."
"And we haven't even seen a single Grimm inside the woods proper," Ren hummed, bringing a hand up to rub his chin. "While we cannot discount that there may be Grimm around the ruins itself, it was odd not to run into at least one or two while we fought the Skull Kid."
"Unless there were no Grimm to begin with, correct?"
Immediately, they silently faced her before switching to Qrow the second after, who, up until that point remained content to do nothing more than listen. With a sigh, he took a swig from his flask and stored it, kicking off the wall he was leaning against and approaching them with his hands in his pockets.
"Huh? Pyrrha? Mr Branwen? What's going on?"
Pyrrha's shoulders slumped as the huntsman faced them head on without any trace of regret. "I'm sorry, sir, I...I really don't like this. Any of this, really, but it's just that I couldn't get this out of my head. Generally it would be the upper years, or better yet, fully fledged huntsman teams that would accompany any civilians into the wild. Yet the moment that we arrived in Tarmin, none of the locals seemed aware about anyone like that who came around at all."
"I've heard some of the other freshmen teams are out on similar Grimm clearing missions by the frontier," Ren added, "though it is peculiar that no one knew that either we nor any archaeologists were to come, especially as it would be unwise to not stop by and seek extra supplies in the town before heading out."
Pyrrha noticed Jaune walk over to stand beside her, though she felt increasingly anxious as Qrow remained silent in scrutiny of their team. After several long seconds he sighed, having the grace to look at least partially guilty.
"Mr Qrow? What's going on? Was there...even a real mission to begin with?"
"To be fair, I didn't like the idea of using you guys as bait. Then again, Oz's always coming up with reckless plans…"
A chill ran down her spine, and she stole a glance over to Jaune finding him equally shocked.
"Uh, sir? Are you really saying that -"
"Yes, there is no Grimm," Qrow confirmed, face set in a neutral expression. "As you've probably figured out as well, your...knowledge of certain things caught our attention - though you gotta admit that it's not like you could've hid this forever. Going through all this kinda says so."
At that, Pyrrha shifted uncomfortably as the memories began flowing through; indignant she may have been over their deception, looking back she would've felt even more stupid if she truly believed that after seeing a non-Grimm monster at Forever Fall to the incident at the docks that their teachers would be content to permanently sweep it under the rug. Though she felt some gratitude at the knowledge that they were quick to intervene as they looked out for their students, what little there was quickly evaporated when she remembered that the same faculty misled them on the purpose of their mission, then manipulated them to reveal that was essentially a personal secret, even if it couldn't have stayed hidden for much longer. A pit opened up in her stomach as she also recalled how Jaune was summoned to the Headmaster's office several weeks ago, and now the silence he had on that matter and returned with now longer seemed so benign.
"Look, I get that you guys feel miffed about being left outta the loop and you all have the right to feel so, but believe me when I say that the Headmaster's heart is in the right place. Mysterious as he is, he does care for his students."
"Enough to use my team as collateral?"
Qrow shrugged, silently bearing the withering look Jaune sent his way. "He has his plans, kiddo, and one of them was keeping an eye on you. This was for your own safety too, as well as that of your team, Beacon and Vale. There's something goin' on behind the monsters at Forever Fall and the docks and we want to know what that is. Don't worry, it's not like we thought you were attracting them here or anything like that, but between finding this place and seeing you carrying that same symbol on your hand we began to suspect that you somehow had a link to all of this."
Jaune opened his mouth to say something but was cut off as she stepped up, the suspicion in her heart having grown to worried alarm. "So...what's gonna happen when we get back? What have you planned for us? For Jaune?"
Qrow remained silent, contributing to the intensifying fear gnawing at her heart. Subconsciously compelling her to draw back in a defensive stance. From her peripherals she noticed Ren and Jaune having gone rigid as well.
"Please, Mr Qrow," Nora pleaded, drawing the man's attention to her. "I know you're a good guy. We saw how you were with Ruby and Yang back at Beacon, and they're our friends too! Do you think that they'd...they'd -"
"Sheesh, chill," Qrow growled, tossing his hands up into the air exasperatingly. "Damn my bleeding heart. Look, not everything is for telling but Brothers above, you're not gonna be taken for scientific experiments or anything like that," the huntsman finished as they all paled at the thought. "When we get back you'll get your grades and then you're on vacation until the Vytal Festival starts. The Headmaster'll most likely want to talk to you more about this for sure, and it's only to keep you guys safe - it's his job as an academy leader after all. And listen, kid. When I look at you, I can't help but see a little bit of Ruby in ya."
Jaune tilted his head in confusion. "Um, how so?"
"You guys care a lot about your teams and have good hearts, but at least you don't see things so black and white like my little red pipsqueak. Wasn't the first in the family to be like that…ahem. Anyway, that and how you guys seem so damn oblivious at times. However, compared to Ruby and sometimes Yang, you don't always charge headfirst into danger before thinking of the consequences. All I'm saying is that you guys got it tight, too. Y'all look out for each other. Don't ever let that break apart."
Qrow's shoulders drooped the slightest bit, presumably as unpleasant memories began crossing his mind.
"Are you...satisfied with what you found? And a safe haven from who, exactly?"
"Satisfied's not the right word for it, but close enough. Right now, it's mission complete," Qrow grunted as the howl of a wolf echoed from the distance. He then fished out his scroll and sent a quick text. "I've called for a Bullhead to pick us up now that we're done. There's still a bit of time until it comes, so for now make yourselves comfortable and lunch it up. Prep me a lunch, I'm gonna go take first watch and look around. Just stay within the ruins so you don't get lost," he nodded to Jaune before walking towards the chamber tunnel, replacing the scroll with his flask and heading down until the echoes of his footsteps faded away. A moment of silence followed until they all looked back to him expectantly.
"So...anyone hungry?"
"I'll go get the stove working, but I think that now we have some down time, start filling us in on what we're missing out on."
Jaune nodded, grabbing his pack and taking a seat on the steps of the dais.
"We're gonna be here a while."
()===|=====+
"...that sounds so cool!" Nora crowed in between mouthfuls of her pork sausage ration. "So he slew it in the middle of the volcano? And with a giant iron hammer!? I mean, I would never replace my Magnhild but my Gods, that sounds awesome!"
Pyrrha watched Jaune chuckle as they finished packing away their garbage, leaving the stove out and a spare ration out for Qrow. What seemed like several hours flew by as the moment they sat down to eat, they wasted no time asking away, and Brothers above was it a lot. For the majority of it they were nothing less than enthralled as Jaune began from the start, tales ranging from the existence of three other deities to how Remnant literally is a remnant, built upon the ashes of an ancient world, and then the various exploits of his predecessors that made them legends in their own right. Eventually, it became much more animated yet still lighthearted, akin to him telling any other story at the height of a Friday night restaurant rush. Such was almost enough to at least momentarily wash her worries away as through the ups and downs of his storytelling she did find herself smiling, thankful to be at ease.
At least until he got to telling how this particular past life saved a tribe of mountain dwellers from a dragon said to be the resurrection of its monstrous ancestor, only to find out that it was in fact once a harmless pet the hero once rescued from slaughter and then cursed by a warlock from the desert.
"Ah, that's right...the warlock. And after that he became a boar demon, and in another an actual demon...I think."
Pyrrha sighed as they all stood up, and though the sounds of Jaune and Nora's voices faded into the background ambience, the fact that previous lives that have sealed Ganon time and time again filled her heart with dread. Despite its timeless origin, Ganon for sure was of undoubtedly supernatural strength, foretold to return to the land it had destroyed in the nameless past.
A past that Jaune was fated to relive and a burden she felt deep down he was not prepared to shoulder.
Though if he had the benefit of being on a team, would it be enough to triumph in the end? While her combat skills were quite exemplary for someone of their year, the skill gap between from first and second year to third and forth was quite a large stretch, and then the transition to fully fledged huntsmen even more so. That, and according to Jaune it wasn't even known what form Ganon would take this time. He was a man in some lives, reincarnated dead in another and pure beast in several more.
"...ahh! So. Freaking. Awesome! So what happened after? Was there some sort of epic ending blow? Did he explode in a burst of evil energy, scattered through the land for generations?"
"Ehh, not quite. The final blow stunned him, but in the end it was up to the Princess of that time with the help of the Seven Sages to open a rift and seal Ganon in the Sacred Realm. And then, as you can see, the rest is history."
Ren glanced around the ruined chamber. "Indeed. Speaking of history, was there ever anything of note in the Temple of Time? Perhaps there could be something valuable we could learn about what we're coming up against."
"Hmm. Well, maybe. The Temple has been either sanctuaries like this one or full on dungeons that sealed evil within. I wouldn't put it past it to find something."
"Then let's look around!" Nora nodded resolutely on her face. "You never know what you can find under the rubble, and it's not like we'd be able to come back here every day."
"Sounds good. I'll start with this chamber and passageway," Ren finished, glancing at his partner and meeting her expectedly devious smile. "And so will Nora. We still have some time before the Bullhead comes, after all."
Jaune nodded before looking to Pyrrha and motioning towards the exit. "Shall we?"
"Mhm. Right."
Like the rest of the temple, the corridor was not completely intact as chunks of the roof were missing, light streaming from above and illuminating their way through. It also seemed to tell a story of its own with faded inscriptions and murals decorating both sides, something which prompted her curiosity to overtake her as she approached one of them to take a closer look. Pyrrha narrowed her eyes and made out the engraved image of perhaps a wizard standing beside a large stone cathedral, on top of which was perched a large, regally set owl.
"I think that's Rauru," Jaune supplied, coming up beside her and running his fingers along the grooves of the mural. "He was some sort of sage and built the Temple of Time. At least one of them, anyway."
"Ah, I see," Pyrrha replied, nodding and continuing her way down the tunnel. When Jaune caught up with her they exited out into the grand hall, squinting slightly against the outside light. Despite their ears now filled with the sounds of birds and breeze, the peaceful atmosphere did little to ease their anxiety. In the distance, another wolf howled, noticeably closer than before but still a fair distance away.
"...look. I really do owe you guys thanks for this. It wasn't exactly easy saying all of that."
"Yeah. No worries."
Jaune's face fell. "You're angry at me."
The smile she forced past her unease fell and was replaced by a desire to refrain from hurting him, though it was clear that Jaune remained unconvinced. A brittle laugh came out instead as they continued on, slowly walking towards the centre of the temple.
"I grew up with seven sisters, Pyrrha. That and, well, you are my partner. I've been told that I can be dense sometimes, but I can at least tell when a girl's not exactly feeling happy. But the thing is I don't blame you either."
They came to a halt atop the dais, kicking lightly at the stone before breaking the silence. "I guess you are part of it...but that doesn't mean I'm blaming you or anything! It's just that, well -"
Jaune let out a chuckle, a hearty sound that almost had her smiling back as he scratched the back of his head. "Don't worry, Pyr. You can say what's on your mind. Whatever it is, I'm pretty sure I deserve it."
His azure gaze met her head on, hoping to convey his sincerity in making amends. That, combined with the confusion, worry and the smallest tinge of anger swam uneasily within her heart, forced her to be the first to look away.
"Well, if you insist," Pyrrha began with a nervous chuckle. "It just makes me feel silly to think about it, especially when you just told us what you're up against. Truthfully, I guess I just can't help but feel like a terrible partner. I know you wanted to keep this all secret but now I feel like I barely even knew you, not just as a partner but as a friend. When we trained or spent time together outside of class, was I with the real Jaune? The Jaune that saw me for who I was and not how others have known me? Again, I understand why you did it, but perhaps I just can't help but feel a little selfish."
"No, no, it's fine," Jaune replied, almost frantically trying to dispel her self doubt. "I think...I think that if I was in your place I'd feel the same too. I wanted to find the right way to tell you guys, I really did, but I guess I just ran out of time. Doesn't make it any less worse though, I know, especially since it's a lot...I'm sorry, Pyrrha."
"...yeah. Me too."
She nodded forlornly and with acceptance, though after several seconds a gasp of surprise escaped as Jaune rushed forward to embrace her; at first she was tentative, but as the seconds ticked on she found herself drawing into him, feeling warm but most importantly that everything would be okay. A whine threatened to escape when they slowly withdrew, even more so upon seeing the look of genuine guilt Jaune wore.
"...I forgive you," she slowly began, fighting to steady her nerves from an altogether different feeling. "Just...just promise me to not do something like this again."
"I promise, and you know an Arc never goes back on his word. I owe you guys big time, after all."
"You sure do. And this time, I won't be letting go that easily."
"Uh-oh. Should I be worried?"
"I don't know. Should you?" Pyrrha lightly chuckled, taking a step towards him and linking her arms behind her back. "I...there are some ideas, but I'll let you know when I want to cash in on your offer. Although perhaps you can start with this."
She reached out for his left hand, taking off the glove and exposing the sacred triangles glowing faintly under the daytime light.
"If I may ask, how long exactly have you had this?"
Jaune's grin became a little more lopsided. "Well, believe it or not, Initiation. Remember at the start, when you unlocked my aura...? Oh, no, no don't worry. It's not your fault. If anything I'm actually glad since I'd be dead without it. Even if this was bound to happen, if all this came later I wouldn't be as prepared too."
His explanation helped to quell the panic that flashed through her mind, taking a moment to accept the logic behind it. Nodding, she looked back down at his hand, tracing his half of Courage and noting how, just like Ren said, it somehow felt alive to the touch, pulsing through her partner's veins.
"That's the second thing that has me worried, Jaune."
"The Triforce?"
"And Ganon. Isn't there anything we can do to prepare for this? Do you even know when he's bound to come?"
"Aside from training, not really," Jaune admitted with a troubled sigh. "That's one good thing about being here - perhaps we can find some clues that might help. Not like anyone would protest against us looking around, right?"
Pyrrha nodded, walking alongside him in a sweep around the grand hall. Now that they weren't rushing through, she could focus in greater detail what exactly they were missing out on, though it was remarkably more bare than the corridor and chamber. Rubble large and small lay interspersed throughout the interior while the roof and windows were long gone. The occasional stagnant puddle collected beneath some of the few remaining rafters, courtesy of the temple's lack of shelter while grass and weeds have overgrown much of the once pristine marble floor. What worried her the most, however, were the various piles of bones and weaponry scattered throughout the temple expanse; whoever last visited this sacred grove most likely did not meet a happy ending, but beyond that there seemed to be little else of note.
...that is until a deafening thud, followed by the unmistakable thumps of stone falling in succession resounded throughout the ruins and the forest around them. It didn't also help that as the sound faded away, so too did the fauna around them, leaving them in an ominous silence; even the forest surrounding them, whose trees stretched as tall as the dilapidated spires of the temple, seemed to have frozen still without even the slightest bit of wind blowing through and making a noise.
"Jaune…?"
"...that came from the chamber," Jaune breathed, adrenaline beginning to spike through both their veins. "And Ren, Nora and Qrow are still in there."
They paused and glanced at each other with rising apprehension before dashing across the courtyard and into the corridor, Jaune almost tripping on a jutting tile before emerging into the chamber with adrenaline spiking.
"Ren! Nora! What's going on!?"
"Are you guys -? Oh."
"Jauney! Pyrrha! Quickly, check this out!"
"Oh, thank the Brothers. They're safe, although...what are they doing at the back?"
Heaving sighs of relief, they dashed past the Master Sword and into the area behind the pedestal, splashing through the shin-high water as they came upon their shocked teammates. Even Qrow, sitting on the edge of the dais, looked speechless with his lunch and alcohol all but forgotten.
After all, considering the frankly jarring mural now in place of the back wall, she couldn't find it in herself to do anything but stare agape and with creeping trepidation.
"We...were looking around the water when I stepped on something, then it clicked and all of a sudden, WHOOM!" Nora quietly explained. "This came up from the water."
Entranced, she took another step further, gazing up at the frankly imposing stone mural. Not only were the various engravings still finely edged, but much of the colour remained vibrant as well, the bottom was painted a woodland green with the browns and greys of village houses out in farm country. Drifting left, her eyes widened further upon seeing the image of a boy garbed in green wielding a familiar looking sword, fighting against what could only have been described as a darker version of himself. Both hero and shade clashed over the broken shell of a castle alight with the flames of destruction, but what was most disconcerting was the demon painted in purple and black ascending from the ruins in an attempt to seize the Triforce above. Rays of red, green and blue pierced down from the heavens to resist him below.
"...now this is definitely something," Ren commented as Jaune walked up to it and traced the outline of the boy in green. "Fascinating as it looks, it's rather unsettling to take in."
Internally she agreed, light flashing from the corner of her eye as their teacher took a picture with his scroll.
"Do you think it's supposed to say something? Maybe it's supposed to be some sort of record or warning."
"The fact that there wasn't too much effort made to hide it and the quality that went into preserving it means somebody wanted this to be found, at least by the right person," Qrow warned as they all - sans Jaune - turned to face him. He narrowed his eyes on the hero's dark counterpart. "Whatever it's supposed to be, I'm leaning towards the latter. I've got a bad feeling about this."
Slowly they glanced back towards each other before focusing on the mural, unease taking root deep within as the chamber fell into silence once more. She could hear nothing more than her own breathing and rapid heart rate; it felt akin being in a snow covered forest at night, where anything capable of noise was buried deep beneath the snow, long muted under a blanket of pristine stillness.
"This...this feeling...I don't like it. I know I felt it before, and, well, it could only mean one thing."
Pyrrha stifled her cough, slowly breathing out and switching her mindset completely.
"Ren. Perhaps it's just me, but does this not feel natural to you?"
"It's not just you," he admitted, Nora sending her a serious nod as well. "You know that feeling when someone's looking at you from behind?"
"All too well," Qrow growled under his breath, having taken a quiet step back while discreetly reaching for his sword. "Heads up, kids. And that means you too, Jaune. Seems like we're not the only ones who came to pray in this church."
The chamber filled with the splashes of water as they all turned behind them, and then by the metallic shings of their weapons being deployed.
Pyrrha held her shield tight as they stared the wolf-like creature silently crouched at the entrance of the chamber. Its fur was a dirty matted white, but she instantly knew it was a monster and not an actual wolf upon seeing how much more heavily muscled its front legs were, leaning on them like some kind of ape.
It tilted its head curiously at them, the blank yellow-green eyes as if almost asking what exactly were they doing here.
"Easy, now," Qrow began, one hand reaching out while the other clicked off his sword's safety, ready to be drawn at a moment's notice. "Easy. You're good boy, aren't ya? Good boy."
The creature seemingly took offence to being patronized, for the moment it blinked the green of its eyes were replaced with the red of pure, unadulterated hatred. Snarling, it raised its snout and howled loudly, then silenced by the huntsman as he quickly drew his sword and blew it back in an explosion of buckshot. The second the monster began evaporating into nothingness, the forest essentially came back to life as angry growls and snarls suddenly filled the air, causing them to rush from the walls and take a second to defensively circle around the Master Sword.
And a second's pause was all that it took for the world instantly erupt into chaos.
()===|=====+
The piercing screech of claw on metal raked not just his shield but his ears as the Wolfos sliced twice before agilely leaping back when he thrust out Crocea Mors. The wolf monster rushed at him again, sidestepping before Jaune could shield bash his face and then lunging for his exposed side, but thankfully its claws caught the armour instead of his sweater. He couldn't help but smirk as he trapped its muscled arm underneath his own, jabbing his sword through the mouth and watching it fall back defeated and dying.
"Jeez, these things are aggressive," he panted, ducking to allow Nora to vault over him and slam two more into the wall, leaving behind wolf-shaped indents as they began decaying almost instantly.
The ginger evidently agreed as she dodged when another rushed from the side and decked its jaw with the heft of her hammer. "Down! I love dogs but you're a bad boy!"
Don't get distracted! Behind you!
Startled, he turned from the left, catching another Wolfos barrel into his shield, though the force was enough to send him stumbling backwards against the steps of the dais. It snarled and clawed angrily for his face, Aura absorbing a few glancing scratches until he knocked it away with the pommel of his sword. It was on his feet in an instant, but before it could penetrate his guard it was speared through the side, courtesy of his redheaded partner.
"And the hunter becomes the hunted."
Pyrrha gave him the most annoyed look he had ever seen on her face, though he graciously took up her outstretched hand. "Heh. Sorry. How're you doing?"
"Good. Aura's still deep in the green, though I'm worried about how many of these are coming at - ahh!"
Jaune shoved her forward just in time to avoid a Wolfos' jaws, snapping air instead of either their heads. As it landed and rounded back, this time he deflected its lunge and sent it sprawling into the water, where it was immediately bombarded by a hail of gunfire. Ren dashed through and fired behind at the two chasing him while he gazed at the empty holes where windows once were; angry howls kept drifting over the walls as more of the wolf monsters leapt into the fray from above.
"These guys are relentless," he grunted, careful to be more cognizant as he stood back to back with Pyrrha. Several newcomers circled around them for a few seconds before leaping all at once; Pyrrha jumped while he rolled away, stumbling back as two of them simultaneously chased and flanked him. The one to his right swiped first, forcing him to swivel his shield around, only to cry out in pain as the Wolfos to his left scored a nasty hit, biting into his arm and flinging him several feet into the wall. Growling in pain, his eyes widened when one came for his head and the other, his legs; instinctively he rolled to the side and tanked a strike on his shield. This time he saw the other Wolfos coming, and as he shoved the other away he thrust out Crocea Mors, yelling as he skewered the beast from the mouth down. As it began to disintegrate, Pyrrha regrouped and dashed the other monster into the wall with her shield; she fell back with a startled oof as it lobbed its chunky arm, but it was enough time for him to rush over and slice its neck in a dash attack.
"This isn't gonna work out for long," he grunted, noting how Nora blasted away several flanking Ren - only to be replaced by a few more leaping from the windows. His stomach dropped further at the sight of Grimm amongst the Wolfos, with a couple of small Nevermore and an Ursa swinging into the chamber. But before they could engage, several Wolfos and some of the Nevermore were raked with gunfire, Qrow rushing in with blinding speed and making quick work of the few that survived.
"Stay on your toes, kids. I've cleared out more in the main hall but we'll need to hold on a bit longer until the Bullhead arrives."
Worry crept in at the possible implications. "And how long will that take?"
"Ten, maybe less if we're lucky," he grunted back, blasting another Wolfos away with his shotgun and sending it colliding into the Ursa that Ren and Nora had under control. "But that's not all. I've got some bad news, kids. Vale is under attack."
Worry now spiked to full on shock and horror, though there was no time to dwell on it as they all jumped back to make way for the several more Wolfos. Taking the time to thin out the monster population in the room, he eventually directed Nora to stand by the door while Ren and Pyrrha shot those that still tried to leap in through the window, managing to buy them a few, albeit precious seconds of time.
"Okay, hold on. Vale is under attack? What's happening over there? Is Team RWBY okay -?"
"No word yet beyond it being some kind of terrorist attack," he explained, taking a second to fire his shotgun at a couple of Lancers that managed to break through. "Literally everyone's being called back, including you students. So when that Bullhead comes, it's dash and go - we'll get picked up from the central hall since it's the only open area open enough out here."
"We can't hold them for much longer!" Ren cried out, quickly reloading and shooting down several more Wolfos that jumped in. "I'm almost out of dust too!"
"Got it. Should we hold here for now before running out there when it comes?"
"Hmm. I'll draw more them away and let loose, but yeah, you guys stick together," Qrow agreed, leaping atop a ruined spire and into the sounds of more monsters on the other side.
"Right," Jaune affirmed and rushed back to the centre, taking a moment to glance at the Master Sword in its pedestal -
One glance of which was enough let an idea take root in his head. But first, he needed to rally his team.
"Everyone, on me!"
Within an instant they all rushed back, tightening their defensive circle as the Wolfos refrained from attacking and instead warily paced around them, snarling and waiting patiently for any potential opening.
"Okay, Jaune, what's the plan?"
"Well, we got word from Vale that the city's been attacked by terrorists," he replied to Ren, eliciting gasps of shock from his team. One Wolfos dashed forward and back, seeking to provoke them but they didn't take the bait.
"Dang...and so we're getting called back to help out, right?"
"Exactly. We'll get picked up from the front hall, but we need to hold out here first until the Bullhead comes. We may be surrounded, but at least we can attack in all directions. Although..." he trailed off, nudging a foot back against the pedestal of the Sword. He felt Link's voice echo through his head, but with the adrenaline pumping through his veins he paid little heed.
"...before we leave I gotta pull this sword out. Cover me then, but otherwise stay close together. Don't get separated. Break!"
The Wolfos took that as their cue too, leaping forward with howls of hatred as they yelled back and charged head on. Growling, he forced aside one that ran straight into his shield, quickly bashing one to his left and trusting Pyrrha to cover his opened guard with her spear. Though they were tired and sweaty, JNPR was steadfast and held the line; as one minute became two, slowly did the packs of Wolfos began to die down, with some retreating completely and instead deciding to engage what they felt was a weaker enemy in the form of Qrow. Eventually, said huntsman leapt to the top of a ruined wall, scanning the horizon before motioning with his sword to withdraw.
"'Kay! Guys, now's the time!"
"Right!"
"Coming, Jauney!"
Pyrrha paused by him, placing a hand on his shoulder and nodding before taking off the next second.
"Okay. So, nothing to it, right? Just pull out the Master Sword and be done with it?"
Jaune, listen very carefully to what I am about to say. You cannot pull out the Sword.
His mind froze for a second, drifting to see his teammates furiously holding off those that tried to rush at him before shaking his head back to the present. "Um...what? What do you mean? It's gonna fall into enemy hands if we just leave it here!"
You don't understand. You lack the spiritual proof and strength from which the Sword will recognize you as its wielder. That and it lacks the power to repel evil - there's no point to having it right now. Do not try to draw it out. You will die.
Jaune was about to reply were it not for the sound of Ren crying out in pain, tearing his gaze away from the Sword to see him thrown against the wall by an Ursa. Nora rushed over to her partner, while Pyrrha, temporarily distracted, fell a step back as her Aura took a hit from her own opponent.
"Do it!" Ren gasped as he staggered back up. "Quickly! We need you out here!"
Gritting his teeth, he sliced away a Wolfos seeking to score a cheap shot behind and came before the Master Sword once more. Driven by the adrenaline shooting through his body and concern for his friends, he sheathed Crocea Mors and placed his hands on the Master Sword, feeling the Triforce flare painfully beneath his glove.
No, stop! Do not pull that out!
"We didn't come down here for nothing! The Hero of Winds drew it before it was restored, so we can do the same when we have it with us! We need to get it now!"
Foolish child, it's more than just a weapon! It's a seal! You will do more than just die if you draw that, you will rel -
Link's voice faded away as Jaune abruptly tightened his grip and heaved. The Triforce blazed at an intensity he never felt so painfully before, but as the ringing of Courage deafened his ears, he yelled and with all his might simply pulled.
A small trace of blue light flashed from the pedestal's sheath as the Sword slowly gave way.
"Gotta...keep...pulli - ack!"
His eyes widened as a sudden wave of weakness overtook him, causing him to stumble and nearly drop the Sword back in. Gritting his teeth once more, Jaune pulled again, managing to draw it almost halfway out -
"Yes...it's...it's working! Almost...there!"
This was it. So close. Hope renewed, he kept pushing forward, ignoring the streaks of blood running down his nose -
Until his eyes widened at the sight of the pedestal's blue light immediately darkening to a writhing pitch black, and he felt his legs buckle as the last of his Aura gave out.
JAUNE!
The Triforce burst in a flash of divine light, knocking back his weakened form with a cry. Not a moment too soon, the pedestal and the very Blade itself erupted in an explosion of Malice, the writhing evil energy shooting into the sky and colouring the area in a haze of crimson hatred.
()===|=====+
Blackened eyes snapped open, her blood red sclera scanning the darkness as she felt the satisfying wave of pure power rush through her veins.
Footsteps echoed in the lonely silence of her tower, followed by the creak of a balcony door opening to expose the purple sky. A few Nevermore perched beside her, looking curiously as she placed one hand on the banister and the other gripping a small necklace that contained a fragment of pure, divine power now actively pulsing with holy light.
Smirking, she closed a hand to snuff it and feel its radiant strength as she gazed out into the horizon.
"It seems the time has finally come."
()===|=====+
When Jaune came to, his eyes widened upon seeing the veritable geyser of Malice, and with a cry he lunged forward, feeling all the pain of his injuries as he grabbed the grip of the Sword. Calling upon Courage to fuel the last of his strength, it responded brightly and painfully as he drove it down, scything through the Malice until he sealed it. The pedestal's slot responded with a small flash of blue light, finally ending the deluge of evil energy.
It was then that he collapsed upon it, coughing up blood as his team and Qrow came rushing over. His ears were a mess as well; deafened by ringing he couldn't hear anything that they were frantically saying, eventually causing Pyrrha to heft him up and sling an arm over her shoulders. Dazed, he blearily looked up to see a Bullhead hovering above the temple grounds.
It was enough to spark some relief until an unholy scream pierced through his temporary deafness and paralyzed his very soul. Shaken, he collapsed to the floor, noting with alarm as his team followed suit, Nora clutching her ears while Qrow staggered over to lean over on the corridor wall. Once it finally subsided, he coughed and strained to turn, trying to find the source of the voice -
Only for his heart to drop at the sight of a ReDead Knight dragging its feet and a giant, rusty sword behind him. Malice began seeping into some of the scattered bones and reanimating them as Stalfos, and it was at that point that panic sunk in.
-une!...Jau...e! Run! Ge...ut of the...!
Qrow was the first to gather his senses, stumbling towards and eventually throwing them into the corridor as he let loose a barrage of shotgun shells to its face, temporarily stunning it. Picking themselves up they dashed through the corridor and emerged into a torrent of undead and gunfire as the Bullhead unleashed its weaponry upon a number of Stalfos and Wolfos.
Reaching a ladder that the aircrew had dropped for them, they clambered up one by one until it was his turn to be pulled up -
And then they all froze when ReDead Knight's scream assailed their ears once more.
With a yell, Qrow fired one last salvo at it before grabbing him and rushing up the ladder, heaving him like a sack of potatoes into the fuselage right before the Bullhead unleashed hell on the monsters down below.
"...une? Are you oka...? Quick, check h...aura!"
Pyrrha's eyes widened as she fished out her scroll. "He's got none left!"
"Hold on! We're going up fast and then full afterburner!"
From the corner of his eye he saw Ren, clutching a pair of dust injections from the first aid kit suddenly brace as the Bullhead tore up into the sky, dumping a final salvo onto the enemies below before moving forward.
"Here, quickly. I think he's coming to, at least," Ren supplied as both him and Pyrrha injected him with the needles. Almost instantly he felt his vision become clearer and the ringing in his ears quiet down, enough lucidity for Pyrrha to help him sit upright against the wall.
"Wha...what happened?"
"You tell me, kid," Qrow growled, finishing off the last of his alcohol before stashing it away. "Did you try to pull out the Sword or something? Because whatever you did..."
The huntsman didn't finish his sentence, sitting down against the fuselage with a tired sigh. Pyrrha, Ren and Nora looked downright scared, silently gazing at him for answers.
His head fell in defeat instead, adrenaline still coursing despite having nothing to let it out against.
"I...I'm sorry. I...shouldn't have...I-I didn't know..."
Wordlessly, he turned his head to look down at the ruined courtyard of the temple as the Bullhead passed by one more time; the Master Sword, dark and seated firmly in its pedestal would be the last thing he'd see before they flew full speed away towards Vale.
/AN\
Hey all, and welcome back to A Descendant of Legends!
First off, I'd like to apologize for the delay in uploading. Originally this was slated to be posted the beginning of the week, but I honestly felt more sluggish and drained writing this chapter, even when I was motivated. As most of you probably know by now, sometimes when I set upload dates they're not always set in stone, with chapters coming out either a day before or, more commonly, a bit later. I do try to keep consistent, especially how knowing FF can leave you hanging, and while I do seek to use approaching upload dates as extra motivation, again I apologize for the delay and keeping you all waiting. I hope that this chapter - my longest to date, clocking in at exactly 10k words - helps make up for that.
So, back to the story! There's about two chapters left in Arc II, corresponding to the end of Volume 2 so there's plenty of action left to finish up this arc with. Initially I was debating to put the final scene here in the next chapter as well, but I felt that ending it with that final flyby would make for a much more dramatic and symbolic ending. They're all tired and bruised, but they have little time to rest as they zoom full speed to reinforce their city.
In any case, thanks for reading and stick around! Constructive criticism and feedback are always welcome. Hope to see you all at Chapter 20!
Fallout-Man101: It seems that they will no choice but to find out how exactly they can go about restoring the MS back to its former glory...all part of the hero's journey to come. Hope to see you next chapter!
Dragon lord Syed 101: Thanks! With some extra tag-alongs in the way they finally found it, albeit not in a state they'd have like to have it in. And yes, I know shipping can be quite a hot topic for a lot of people out there, but rest assured that I have a plan of how to use Arkos here - obviously I'd like to say more but spoilers. Again, thanks and hope to see you next time!
Roy4: Thank you! Looking back at Ch 17 I think some might've expected a grand, epic revealing moment - and to be fair, upon rereading it I almost did too, lol - but I thought that when sometimes, when you're told something so out of this world, so seemingly unbelievable, you wouldn't be able to accept at first until you see some tangible proof. It's then it all comes crashing down, hence second and third scenes in this chapter. Yeah, I can see why the conversation could've been taken as bizarre, almost normalized, and maybe in the future when something comes like this I'll lean towards shock and awe over explanations first, but we'll see as things progress. More experience gained from lessons learned, after all.
And honestly, yes! I totally agree, you hit the nail on the head with what you saw and felt. Jaune still indeed has a long way to go before he can prove himself worthy, and it wouldn't be a journey or story without it. Thanks again and hope to see you next chapter!
Gennychi: Ah, you're not alone there! Who knows what they'll find along the way as well. Thanks and hope to see you next time!
Spartastic 4: BOTW indeed ;) And yeah, it's always the timing that can make or break things. Glad to know I've surprised you as well! You definitely assumed right too when something was said to come...mistake or not, some things were perhaps bound to happen regardless. The question is not just how they go about fixing things, but what kind of upper hand exactly did they give the baddies here. Thanks for the review, and I wish you well too! Hope to see you next time.
Fyr RedNight: Thanks! It's always the most subtle references that are the most satisfying to write in. But I'm happy to know the chapter kept you hooked as well! Definitely lots of questions, and what's (sorta) answered can raise even more...we'll all just have to see where this takes us. Thanks again and hope to see you next chapter!
TheDragon2000: Thank you! Glad to know you like it, I shall do my best. Hope to see you next time!
Guest: Thanks! I appreciate it and happy to know you enjoyed it. Will definitely keep going at this - hope to see you soon!
Guest: Thanks! Part of the reason I like Arkos is how bittersweet it was, and though Pyrrha, Ren and Nora have a right to feel conflicted now that the truth is out there, beyond coming to terms with things they must learn to adapt to the new reality. Definitely lots of potential for character interactions / development in the future, especially on Pyrrha's side.
Looking back, I guess part of the reason that I like to limit my word count is that while I want to write a whole bunch of cool stuff for y'all to see, it's perhaps a weird mindset I have that I need to be able to get what I need to for the chapter without stretching out something that doesn't need to be, especially where things are supposed to be faster paced. A desire to reduce redundancy, I suppose, but I'm happy to know that you and others would like more too. I'll definitely work to find a balance between the two. Thank you, and hope to see you next chapter!
The Black Wolf of the Arks: You hit the nail on the head with that one! I'm definitely taking inspiration from WW and BOTW for the restoration process, as well as for the fates of the other Triforce pieces, but spoilers for now. As for an instrument we'll all just have to see, though I definitely do have plans for music to play roles in the story, both on a Zelda and RWBY level. In any case thank you, and hope to see you next time!
The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.