Arc II: The Knight Life
Chapter 21: Welcome to the Masquerade
Ozpin sat quietly in his office with a mug of hot coffee, deep in contemplation whilst faced with the fading light of dusk that graced the Valean skyline. It was a relaxing sight, and if there was one thing he was thankful for, it was how the beauty of Remnant neither faded nor bored despite having seen it all a million times and more.
However, it seemed that the other voices in the room were determined to not let him enjoy the moment for one second longer as conversation filtered into his thoughts.
"...and that just about sums it up," Qrow finished, gesturing with a hand that clutched his flask. "We couldn't take the Sword because of all the baddies that came out so we had to leave it behind. And, well, you know what happened after."
"We do, indeed," Glynda Goodwitch nodded, flanking him on one side with General Ironwood on the other, both opposite the lackadaisical huntsman and the enigma that was the leader of Team JNPR.
Ah, right...Jaune Arc. That same enigma who promised that perhaps this life would be much more interesting than those prior, while posing an abundance of questions whose answers seemed rare as they were troubling.
And in the end, all it took to begin unraveling the mystery was with a simple question.
"How are you feeling, Mr Arc?"
"Oh. I'm good," he replied, scratching the back of his head. "I'm fine. It's just that, to be honest, there's a lot going on in my mind right now."
He saw Ironwood's hard expression soften by just a fraction. "That is understandable, given all that transpired over the past thirty six hours. If it helps, while the few casualties that we did sustain are unfortunate, without the combined efforts of both our forces the situation would have ended on a much more tragic note."
"The General is right, Mr Arc," the deputy added. "We are also aware of how you and Miss Rose helped to rally many of the students against the tide of Grimm long enough for reinforcements to arrive in earnest. We commend you and your friends for your actions. I trust that they are doing well?"
Jaune straightened his back with a fresh boost of confidence, almost smiling as if remembering some distant memory. "They are, Professor. Blake had a light concussion, and though she resisted at first, we eventually forced her to go see the nurses when we came back. Otherwise we had nothing Aura couldn't handle. We're all just kinda tired and burned out at the moment."
"That is good to hear. I also believe Miss Goodwitch informed you specifically why I asked you to come, no?"
The teen's smile dropped at the sound of his voice. "...Yeah. She did."
Ozpin leaned back in his chair and took a sip of coffee. "Very well, then, I shall get straight to the point. Do you understand the reason why we essentially assigned you your mission?"
He nodded silently while Qrow sighed and kicked his feet up onto an empty portion of his desk, earning scowls from Glynda and Ironwood.
"Ehh, cut him some slack, Oz. He has every right to feel miffed for what we did."
"Yes. He does. The sentiment is well deserved, and I suppose the least I owe you is an explanation for why I bent the rules to allow this," he replied, causing Jaune to look back up. "I am aware of the efforts by both your team and RWBY to track down White Fang efforts in Vale. Considering you are all not yet certified huntsmen, I cannot officially sanction vigilante activity within the city. Nevertheless, I know that you eight are the types who will not sit idly by while terror festers in the depths. Best supervise action rather than wait for you all to break the rules. This, and it is as I said back then - you all, especially you, have potential, Mr Arc. I would not let that go to waste."
His gaze turned curious and just the slightest bit guarded. "Um. I'm...not that good a fighter, sir. Better than when I started for sure, but I don't really think 'potential' would be the right word to describe it."
Ozpin extended a hand across the table. "If you'd like, perhaps a handshake would enlighten you to exactly what I mean."
Jaune's eyes widened before he broke eye contact, looking troubled and to the side, but otherwise remaining quiet.
He sighed and removed his glasses. "Mr Arc...let me be frank and honest, and I also ask that you do so in kind. Know that both myself and the good General here are heads of the two most powerful academies on the face of Remnant. We both bear a large share of responsibility for the security of our schools and our nations. If what I fear is correct, you have knowledge that is larger than any one country - we need to know what we're dealing with, Jaune. No one here wants to see whatever power you hold fall into the wrong hands, or yourself be forced into a position where you would relinquish it. I understand your apprehension, but this is for the best. Do you understand me, Mr Arc?"
Several seconds of silence ensued, with the mechanical clunks of the gears in his office ticking away until Jaune nodded. He looked up to see Qrow placing a hand on his shoulder and nodding as if to comfort him, though he still looked ill at ease with the situation.
"Good. Firstly, we'll start with this," Ozpin began, reaching into a hidden cabinet and withdrawing an old leatherbound tome. Finding the right page somewhere in the middle of the book, he passed it over so the blonde could see it.
He knew he hit the mark when Jaune let out a gasp.
"This...this is -"
"Perhaps the last known physical copy of the Book of Mudora. You could say that it is a collection of ancient folklore passed down from long dead civilizations, and until you came, I hoped it would remain as such," he sighed, leaning back as Jaune examined it further and flipped through a couple of pages. Though it was upside down, he recognized him focusing especially on the images of some of the monsters and the golden triangles above them all. "Even though it is written in the language of the Calatians, a kingdom that long preceded ancient Vale, judging by your reaction it seems you recognize some of the contents within. Looking between the photos Qrow took of the temple, the symbols here which match those found there and the events shortly after, do you really possess a piece of the Triforce, Mr Arc?"
"I...I do," he replied, resigned, taking off his left glove and holding his hand out. Closing his eyes for just a second, the familiar golden light of the three sacred triangles pulsed to life, barely visible against the backdrop of twilight but most certainly there.
"If I may ask, sir, how did you learn about this in the first place?"
"My Semblance allows for me to sense things others would normally miss. That, and I have quite an intimate knowledge with many aspects of history and mythology," he evaded, the fib coming practiced and smooth with the smallest kernel of truth thrown into the mix. "Once my curiosity grew, it was only a matter of research and time. Given both and your discoveries in the temple, it seemed that this is proving to be more than so."
"Well...you're not wrong. But to be honest myself, I also don't know too much about all this either. It was only in Initiation that I learned I had this," - Jaune raised his Triforce hand - "and I've been kinda learning on the fly. I can't even do much with this, either. It really only helps me concentrate in battle and stuff."
"Right. Do you know where the other pieces are as well?"
"I don't, no."
Ozpin closed his eyes and nodded, though that didn't stop the vague disappointment deep within. "I see. That is worrying, though I suppose the less know, the better. Have you told anyone else besides your team about this?"
"No. Or, well, I know RWBY's gonna want in, but besides them, I'll keep this under wraps."
"On that, we can both agree," the Headmaster replied, pushing his chair back and glancing outside the window. The sun had fully gone down by this point, though the sky was still a bright mix of red and orange. Several long seconds passed before he spoke up once more. "In any case, we've discussed a lot and there will be more in the future. I do believe it's almost dinner time as well; thank you for sharing, Mr Arc. I will call on you once I have need of you again, until then, you are dismissed."
The scraping of a chair filled the air as Jaune stood and bid his farewells, but before he could enter the elevator, Ozpin turned and called out, halting him in place.
"Yes, sir?"
"Forgive me, but I have one more question before you leave."
"Oh, what is it?"
"You once mentioned to me in the courtyard that you wished to follow in your family's footsteps. In light of all that has come to pass so far, you have not only the knowledge, but now the experience of the life that lays ahead if you continue down this path. Do you still intend to follow through, Jaune? Do you still desire to become a hero?"
A long pause ensued as Jaune silently mulled his words over before turning back to meet his gaze head on. "I've come this far, and I have friends who depend on me to lead them. I...I have a lot of work to really step up to their level and become a better huntsman, but I don't want to leave now when things matter the most. And now, especially after all this...? I want to see it through the end, sir."
The elevator doors shut, taking the blonde down with it, but even with his presence gone, he committed the look of his resolve to memory. There was relief that Jaune chose to stay on board, as it would be easier to watch over him within Beacon, but despite that, a small seedling of worry began to grow in earnest as that path they chose to take also opened the metaphorical door for a host of other concerns to enter, and none of it seemed to be any less than troubling.
"Well. Guess that could've been worse," Qrow sighed, taking another swig of whiskey. "Kid and his team's been given a lot to think about over the past little while. Don't you think you could've at least held off on this for a bit?"
"Time is finite, and the Festival starts in a matter of days," Ironwood countered with a stern expression. "Best that we find out what we can now rather than learn later on, so we can be prepared when the threat of attack grows larger, Qrow."
"Yeah? And what, should we give him to ya so you can interrogate him just the way Atlas likes it?"
As the heated banter between the two colleagues grew, Ozpin closed his eyes and rubbed his temples. While he never meant any ill, he could understand the lack of trust from being unwittingly used as bait, as well as any insecurity borne from knowing that you were being watched. But in the end, he needed information to prepare best for any possibility that could happen.
And when push came to shove, he would not be caught behind and see innocent lives lost when it could've been averted if he took the initiative.
"I will have to side with James on this one," he interrupted, causing the three in the room to glance at him, with one looking away disappointed. "Believe me, I agree with the sentiment of what you say. However, I am worried, Qrow. Knowing Salem, this speaks of ill days to come. How soon it shall be, I know not, but especially now that his power is manifesting, we must be more vigilant than ever."
Glynda's brows creased in worry. "Do you think that those who attacked Amber will pursue Mr Arc as well?"
"Wouldn't put it past them. It'll be much harder since he's in a school of friggin' huntsmen, but they're not stupid. They'll figure something out," Qrow muttered, reaching forward and gently placing his flask on the desk. "I definitely don't think we've seen the last of them."
"Indeed. All the more to keep them safe," he agreed, turning to Qrow. "You will be reassigned. Tracking Amber's assassins will be secondary to watching over Jaune and your nieces' teams. Better that it be someone who they're familiar with as well. And James, any news of the investigations?"
"The dust robberies are all tied to Torchwick, and worry not as I've already offered use of several Bullheads to help bolster the city police. However, the same can't be said for the museums. Artifacts have gone missing, both here and back home."
"I see. A work in progress, then. My friends...let me be clear. I fear that the Queen may not just be preparing to move into check with her pawns, but that she may be planning to decimate the board entirely. You all know of the past between Salem and I; we were born at a time when magic and fantasy were very much reality. From the breach, to the discovery of those...substances at the docks and the monsters that they spawned, I fear that rather than looking forward, she now focuses on our past. After all, we are incredibly old, but the world we live in even more so. There is plenty of note to be found in the ancient legends, and now that it seems that they are proving to be more than such, we have no choice but to follow in kind, and Mr Arc may very well shed lights on things best left to rot in the darkness."
He rolled his chair to face out the window. Vale was a bright and modern city, but it was not always so. He could still remember how the city looked like throughout his many lifetimes; whether he rode through the city gates as a wizard knight in service to the last king of Calatia, or led the kingdom's Council in the years shortly after the founding of Beacon, one thing remained the same: what light built, darkness destroyed.
And though he had seen it in the form of gods and monsters, what disturbed him the most was that this time may be different. Different, and most certainly worse.
Ozpin raised his mug to his lips and finished his coffee.
()===|=====+
The bed above her swung ever so slightly as Ruby shifted around, though any sense of danger long faded after settling in post Initiation. Fire hazards notwithstanding, it seemed relatively trivial compared to all they've been through since, and now more than ever as she sat upon her own bed against the wall, listening to a tale that she couldn't help but feel so...farfetched. Chimeric. Outlandish. But as the eight of them sat in their pajamas together after a subdued meal in the cafeteria, the sincerity of their words compelled her to listen all the same.
"...so, let me get this straight, Vomit Boy. Nice and easy. So firstly, magic's a thing."
Jaune's eyes glanced to the side before nodding as if it were a simple fact. "Yup, that's right."
"Secondly, you have some sort of ancient power that gives you said magic."
Yang's fellow blonde held up his hand, the mark of the triangles glowing with golden light.
"Can confirm."
"Right. And because of this, not only was my Drunkle and Ozpin keeping an eye on you, but your mission was basically a cover to force your secret out?"
Jaune winced. "Man, that sounds really bad when you put it like that, but yeah."
"Of course it does! When I find that old drunk again, I'm gonna give him a run for his money in the sparring ring!"
"Yeah! Like, trust me, Uncle Qrow is a good guy at heart," Ruby added, lying down and swinging her legs. "Though that's pretty sneaky of them. I know you told us the reason the Headmaster did it, but even then, I dunno if I like it, and...agh! Why is this so hard to think about?"
"Because in their shoes, we can kinda see why they did it." Nora sighed, propped up against the wall opposite and leaning against a mellowed Ren. "By the time we hit the field, we honestly forgot we were there to scope out any sign of the White Fang too. The closest thing faunus related in general that we saw were those living in the village, but they were nice people. The world outside didn't seem to matter at all."
"Well, it was a frontier village," Blake replied, sitting cross legged in her yukata. "Politically, they have much more autonomy to govern themselves because they're that far removed from Vale, but that's beside the point..."
"Please, you must believe us," Pyrrha responded, eyes pleading from her spot beside her partner. "I too had a hard time accepting that fact. We all did, but with what we saw? What we fought against...?"
Yang, sitting atop their drawer by the window, raised her hands as if to placate their anxiety. "Whoa, chill, P-Money. We're just saying that -"
"It's all a little hard to accept. I know," Jaune finished, leaning back to rest against the wall. "Considering I also just bombarded you with a truckload of info, it's not like I'm expecting you to absorb everything in one go. Gods, I had to tell my team a couple of times before and after we went through the ringer in the forest."
Blake's eyes narrowed in thought. "Yes, and that's the second thing. A forest that traps its victims with the souls of those who got lost before them. A temple that held a sword in the stone, like the stories of King Ravio. The same temple that is also decorated with the symbol that you have on your hand. Still fantastical, but clearly you did find something. Why couldn't you take it back with you?"
Jaune's head fell, and Weiss felt the smallest inkling of concern. "I wasn't worthy."
"Worthy? Don't you have the magic or something to make that work?"
"It's not that simple, Yang. There's so much more to it. I know I will in the future, but still. I...I need to prove myself worthy to fulfill destiny."
Weiss couldn't help but sigh as she leaned back, an unpleasant feeling stirring within. Jaune called it destiny, others luck or karma, but for her, she dismissed such words entirely. Despite a meagre belief in the Brother Gods still extant in some parts of Remnant, she never considered herself a religious person or one that placed their faith in fate. To do so implied a lack of control and purpose; it was enough to make Jaune's words doubly uncomfortable because of just how close to home it sounded.
Literally.
"If his hair was white like mine, I'd ask if he was nothing more than a Schnee in denial. Still, I cannot say I fully believe in everything that he said, as I'm sure many of what they saw could be explained if properly examined without the threat of attack by Grimm. Perhaps the theory that Semblances may be inherited from magic may be somewhat plausible...but I digress. I'd call him out on what it means to be shouldered by the burden of legacy were it not for how sincere and troubled he and his team sound right now."
"...till with us? Hey, Weiss-cream!"
She answered with a squawk as Ruby pelted her with a pillow from above, while Yang snickered in the background at her eternally awful (or genius) puns.
"Ruby, you dolt, cut it out! I'm listening!"
"Well, I'm sure you are now, Weiss. You were kinda spacing out there."
The heiress waved off her partner's pillow, clearing her throat and nestling back comfortably on the bed. "I apologize. Were you asking me something?"
"Yeah, we were," Blake answered, turning to her with a curious expression. "I asked for your opinion. You've been pretty quiet the past little while."
Weiss sighed. "Yes. Well, as Jaune himself said, there's a lot to process here, many of which are difficult to take at face value."
She turned to the blonde with a polite, but firm glance. "I don't deny that you found something out there. Remnant is vast, and there are many things which are better left undiscovered. That being said, I agree with Blake when a lot sounds fantastical at best. I'm sure that if we were to spend more time over there and study it in depth, we'd find some sort of rational explanation."
"Um, but Weiss, that is the explanation to all this. We literally just spent the past hour or so talking about it."
"Yes, but I mean...Golden Goddesses? Reincarnation? I don't doubt your sincerity, but between this and saying you're some chosen hero destined to fight evil seems a little much. Besides, while I'm not claiming that we're all heroes, isn't that what why we're here? To serve as duty demands it?"
"But this is more than that!" Jaune cried with a pleading expression, standing before Pyrrha could put a comforting hand on his shoulder and walking across the room. He held out the hand in front, while Ruby peeked from a bird's eye view. "Pyrrha and Ren thought it was a dust enhanced tattoo at first. Touch it and tell me what you think."
Weiss' gaze flit between the hand and his face before she gingerly reached out with a finger and traced the outline of his glowing portion. Sure enough, upon feeling its pulsing warmth her eyes widened the slightest bit, but whether it was the frightening possibility of what the truth might actually be or some sense of misplaced pride, she couldn't find it in herself to fully change her opinion.
"...it's fascinating. It certainly doesn't look and feel like any other tattoo I've seen, but though you said it helps you specifically when you use it in combat, the mark does not do much else for us outside beyond glowing."
"I'm sorry, but I also have to agree with Weiss," Blake whispered. "I've been giving you the benefit of the doubt to try and reason things, and though I want to believe you -"
"What about the monsters?" Pyrrha cut in. "How about those? Aren't the monsters - not Grimm, monsters - we fought proof enough?"
"Hmm. Well, he did mention once or twice that he was familiar with them beforehand..."
The faunus shrugged. "I mean...that's a step in the right direction, but -"
"You need a link. An anchor to bind this all together," Ren concluded from his spot against the wall. "They say you need to see to believe, and our mission took us through just the right exhibit for it. Problem is that we can't just hop on a Bullhead and give you a tour. Plus it's probably still infested with Grimm from when we left."
Blake and Jaune nodded, while the latter walked away from Weiss and gloomily plopped on the floor beside Pyrrha.
"Um, for what it's worth, Jaune, I believe you," Ruby replied after several seconds of silence, shooting a look towards Weiss and then a small smile towards him. "Like they said, we just gotta sit and think this through for a bit. I mean, it does sound pretty awesome! I can almost picture you dressed up in green with armour and wielding a cool looking sword against tons of even cooler monsters."
Jaune returned with a snort and scratched the back of his head. "Ahh, well, trust me, I wish it really was just that and nothing more, because honestly it does feel like I have no control over my own life."
This time, Weiss couldn't hold herself back. "Jaune, do you really know what it means to not have any choice in what you do? What it means to not have anyone there for you while being weighed down to uphold a legacy you never chose to inherit?"
Ruby, Yang and Pyrrha shot her pleading looks, while Nora and Blake exchanged worried glances. Ren closed his eyes and sighed, while Jaune followed suit shortly after.
"W-Weiss..."
"No, no, it's okay, Ruby. I'm not offended or anything," Jaune forced a laugh, bringing his legs up and looking at the floor beneath them. "Sorry. Maybe I shouldn't have said it like that. I know I'm not heir to the SDC or anything, but...yeah. More than you'll ever realize."
The two teams spoke not a word for what felt like several minutes until a small ping resounded throughout the room, and Yang reached over to check her scroll.
"Whoo! Well, it's certainly getting late now," she began with a joking tone to try and lighten the mood, though the worried expression hadn't fully left her face. Not that she could fault her for it, anyway. "White Fang. Torchwick. Grimm. So much in so little, right guys?"
"Ugh. You're telling me," Nora replied, following along. "I'm just happy I can get more than eight hours of sleep for once. At least school's out for now, with the dance in two days and the Festival after that...we're gonna have so much fun!"
"Heh, well, can't say how long when we beat you in the tourney," Yang grinned back, hopping off the drawer to stand face to face with the smaller ginger. "Just letting you guys know to enjoy it while you can."
"Mhm-mhmm. No, siree! I think you're going crazy, Yang! Something's wrong if you think you can beat us!"
The atmosphere lightened up as Ruby and Blake joined in the argument, while Ren's troubled calm lightened considerably. Weiss couldn't help a smirk cross her face at seeing them argue as friends do, helping to ease the still-present tension, but with the hour getting late JNPR eventually made their way to the door. Right before he left, however, Jaune glanced back and stopped as he met her eyes. Cursing herself for unintentionally staring, Weiss shook her head to dispel her thoughts, though the blonde gave a quick smile and dipped before she could get a word in.
"...yeah, yeah, sweet dreams, whatever. 'Kay, thanks, bye!" Yang called out into the hallway as Nora was the last to leave, then closing the door and pausing in place. Though laughter still echoed in their heads, it proved hollow as silence descended once more and brought with it the difficult aura that they eagerly, if only temporarily kept at bay.
Blake was the first to speak up. "That was...interesting."
"Really interesting," Ruby echoed, leaning over her bed with an anxious pout. "Too interesting. If it weren't for what Ozpin and Uncle Qrow did, as well as how Jaune said that it's literally his job to prevent some sort of apocalypse, then I'd say it's pretty cool. But nope. Why'd it have to be something so complicated, and not simple like 'fight the Grimm and save the day'?"
"Because a lot of it sounds so ridiculous to be true! If I didn't know Jaune any better, I'd say he was reciting the plot of some fairy tale he found on the CCT-Net."
Ruby looked down with a pleading expression. "B-but -"
"I'm sorry, Ruby," Blake conceded, eyes sympathetic but otherwise unyielding. "I know Jaune's our friend, but...I don't know. I just don't know."
"But don't you remember what Pyrrha said? The monsters! That big...man horse thing with the sword, and how Jaune saved us! How Jaune saved you!"
An anger driven rebuttal rose and died in her throat at the simple reminder of that cursed day. Weiss tore her gaze away from the defiant silver of her partner as autumn red - some of falling leaves, and some of wounds and blood - flashed through her memory. That, and the absolute fear that she may very well have taken a field trip to the grave, were it not for the intervention of the same blonde boy who would've given his life for her own.
"I...I don't think I even thanked him, even when I said I would."
"But still," she continued, despite the guilt that sprouted inside, "I need more. Yes, what we encountered was abnormal, and I agree what the Headmaster did does not inspire trust, even when Jaune told us his reasons. However, I will not fully change belief in what we know to be fact unless I see it for myself. It will take more than a glowing tattoo to convince me."
"I...but...Yang! Come on, you gotta believe him, right?"
"Ruby..."
The redhead's face, already dispirited with her certainty and Blake's apologetic but similarly unrepentant expression, fell further at the sound of Yang's rarely used serious tone. Sighing, she turned away from the door and hopped onto her bed, lying and staring contemplatively at the ceiling.
"Look, Rubes...truth be told, even I gotta admit that it's a lot to take in. I mean, seriously. Can you really picture Jaune as some sort of foretold hero destined to save us from the end of the world? I sure as hell can't, and it seems Weiss and Blake's in the same boat. However, we know Jaune. He's honest and genuine, if a little dense. He wouldn't be the kind of guy to lie about stuff that matters, and we've fought things that don't exactly fit the definition of 'Grimm'. So here's my verdict. I'mma give him the benefit of the doubt. If he's telling the truth - which I'm banking on - we're bound to see some crazy shit soon. Enough to blow everyone's minds more than what we've seen already. Problem is that if it is true, we're probably gonna regret wishing it was real in the first place."
Weiss' gaze drifted away, wishing the opposite of Yang but otherwise agreeing that it would indeed be a sight like no other if proven so.
"Well! That's enough drama for one night, and whoo, boy, I'm freakin' tired!" Yang yawned exaggeratedly, turning her back to the rest of them. "Night ladies. Someone kill the lights. I need sleep so I can start processing exactly what we just sat through."
Various muttered agreements filled the room as they prepared for bed. After a couple more minutes, she shut the light when Ruby and Blake beat her to the punch, taking the time to settle in the darkness. No sooner did she make herself comfortable did another voice interrupt her thoughts.
"Hey, Weiss?"
"Hmm? What is it?"
"Um...what Jaune said about...legacy, and control, I -"
She turned aside to face the wall. "Don't worry about it. Please, just let me sleep on this."
"Oh." Ruby's reply was quiet and meek, and almost had her feeling guilty. "Right. Okay. Good night, Weiss."
Weiss sighed. "Good night, Ruby."
The rustling of her covers soon gave way to the light breeze, crickets and occasional chirps drifting in from the open window. Though it blanketed the room with peaceful ambience, she knew that everyone else was feeling anything but; as one minute became several, she found herself staying ever so awake as memories of the past several days began to filter in. Be it their arrival at Mountain Glenn to the battle of the Breach, the images were numerous, unrelenting and vivid, enough to keep her from feeling sleepy. Compounded with revelations that would upend all that they knew of Remnant if proven true, Yang spoke right when it would take a lot of time to accept what she so fervently denied.
Luckily, she had all night.
()===|=====+
Jaune couldn't wait for the night to end.
He took a big gulp of air as he managed to make it out the dance floor, and promptly decided that taking a shortcut through the most crowded part of the room was less than stellar thinking on his part. Opting to travel around the significantly more spacious sides, Jaune gave a small cheer when he finally found it - rushing over and plopping unceremoniously on the empty chair.
With their minds quite legitimately distracted over the past two days, it felt like Beacon's post-semester dance acquired ninja skills of its own, sneaking up and pouncing at the last moment. Thankfully, Weiss, Yang and Nora thought ahead to insist on buying suits and dresses before leaving Beacon, sparing them the student hordes that likely made their way to Vale in the days prior. All that was left was to sit and give his legs a well earned break.
...but even with the fog machines blanketing the throngs of teenagers high on victory over the Breach, along with the admittedly kickass electro house music that made the dance feel more like a midnight rave, he couldn't feel even half the jubilation everyone else around him did.
I never knew you liked to mope on celebratory occasions.
"Yeah, well, can you blame me?" Jaune sighed as he slouched into the seat. Link had gone awfully quiet since the Temple of Time, but the very next day after his talk with Ozpin and Team RWBY, he re-emerged in a dream not just a mentor, but a literal spirit of vengeance ready to teach him more than just a lesson.
He felt like a battered lump of meat the next morning, though he supposed that was infinitely better than being a dead one at the foot of the Master Sword.
"Look, I'm sorry for what I did back there, okay? I was being stupid, and careless, and -"
Spare me, please. You've already apologized several times, so show me what your words are worth. I cannot always summon the power to intervene and save you.
"Yeah, and about that...how?"
It is difficult to explain without you having a grasp on magic or not being in my position, but since we are of the same soul, I still maintain some connection to Courage. However, because I am nothing more than a separate consciousness within, doing so is...exceedingly tiring, in layman's terms. Do not force us into a situation like so again without good reason.
"...right."
Link sighed, just barely audible amidst the noise.
Jaune...go to your friends and try your best to enjoy the night. There's much more to come, so take advantage of the few moments you can to unwind.
"I'll try my best," he muttered and felt as if Link mentally retreated deep within, chuckling when the image changed to that of him trying in vain to drown the deafening music.
But he was right. Rather than picture Link as an irate old man yelling for kids to get off his lawn, he'd best go and find where his friends split off to. One corner had Penny dancing the night away with a pair of stiff Atlesian soldiers, though one subtly tapped a foot to the beat. In another, a vaguely familiar green haired girl led a silver haired boy by the hand towards a secluded set of stairs, the sight of which was enough for him to smirk and mentally congratulate the both of them.
"Man, I can barely hear myself think. Okay, there's Blake dancing with Sun over there, while Yang's welcoming people by the entrance, and...ah. Perfect."
Jaune sidled over to a deadpan Ruby Rose by a table of refreshments and poured them both a glass of punch. In silence they simultaneously drank, though he was slightly disappointed that no one had gotten around to adding a little extra...kick to it yet. Maybe that had to do something with how Ozpin and Glynda Goodwitch were not too far away, well within sight and striking distance?
"...I see you're hiding at the punch bowl too."
"Yep."
Jaune held out his glass, to which Ruby clinked it. "To the socially awkward."
"Touché," she snorted as they took another drink. "Can't really say that partying's my thing."
"Yep," he mirrored. "It can get kinda tiring, but I guess it's a nice change of pace from before."
"Hmph. Easy for you to say. At least you have shoes," Ruby groused, one hand holding her steady on the table while she lifted a knee and shifted his attention to the heels she wore. "Seriously. How does Weiss fight in these!? I can barely walk without trying not to fall over, and Yang was all like, 'Oh Rubes, you gotta wear these because they're freakin' sexy'. Ugh. At least let me wear flats!"
"Oof. Sounds like you're in the doghouse tonight," Jaune laughed as Ruby gave him an unimpressed pout. "I mean, it could be worse. At least she's not making you go out and dance in the middle of all those people."
The two glanced towards the dance floor, where her sister was clearly giving it her all. Though by no means a natural dancer, her energy, coupled with the mishmash of dance lights above more than made up for it as she helped lead the crowd with the music. Sun, Blake, Nora were also in the throng, eagerly vibing along, while Ren soldiered on with the patience of a stone.
"If it came to that, I'd just take them off regardless if Yang complained."
"Eh, fair enough."
Ruby looked to him then with a concerned smile. "Um, Jaune, you know you don't have to hang with me, right? I don't wanna bore ya. Go find your team."
"But what would I do without my fellow socially awkward team leader? Can't I at least offer a dance?"
Ruby giggled and gave him a genuine smile. "Thanks, but dancing's also not really my thing and I don't wanna lose these if I take them off. Ugh. If I don't move...everything will be fine. Just...fine."
They exchanged some good natured finger guns before he took off once more into the wilds that was a high school dance. Rather than getting immediately sucked into the deepest part of the mosh pit, he decided Link and Ruby had a point, making instead for a side exit. He passed by Cardin and his team, who paid no attention as they re-entered with an ambition to steal the spotlight from Yang and Sun, and took a spot by the balcony.
"Lien for your thoughts?" A rich voice asked from behind, and when he turned at the sound of his partner's voice -
All reason went out the window when he took in her resplendent red dress that perfectly matched the colour of her hair, held in place by her golden bronze circlet. It was decorated by teardrop shaped emeralds that hung gently from the sides, though they paled compared to the rich, lively jade of her eyes as she regarded him with a curious expression.
Jaune asked her to repeat as Pyrrha Nikos was absolutely breathtaking.
"You're breathtaking," she laughed back as he flushed with embarrassment upon realizing he vocalized his thoughts. "But thank you. You yourself clean up quite well."
"I...ah...thanks? I try, sometimes."
"Don't we all? Though I suppose that this night isn't really much for that, and more of just...letting go and relaxing, you know?"
Jaune grunted his agreement, and they both broke their gaze and looked ahead to the expanse of Beacon's courtyard. The night air felt cool and calming to the touch, a stark contrast to the stifled, high octane air of the dance inside. That, and the change of music to a slower song was enough for him to mellow out, enough for concern to begin growing as the minutes stretched on in silence.
"Pyrrha, are you okay? I haven't seen you all night."
"Hm? Oh, yeah, I'm fine."
"Ah, well...alright. I just hope your date won't beat me up for saying that," he chuckled, scratching the back of his head. Several seconds of silence, however, failed to assuage his concerns.
"I, um, think you're safe for tonight."
"Huh? What do you mean? Where's the guy?"
Pyrrha's head fell. "There is no 'guy', Jaune."
"Uh...come again?"
"Nobody asked me."
Jaune's eyes widened at the confession, and he fully turned to see her looking ahead with a forlorn expression. "Wait, what? But that doesn't make sense! I mean, you're...you're Pyrrha Nikos! How could nobody ask you?"
"Precisely because it's me," Pyrrha replied, not once meeting his shocked gaze. "We both know that I've been blessed with incredible talents and opportunities. I've always been surrounded by love and praise, but when you're placed on a pedestal like that for so long, you become separated from the people that put you there in the first place."
"T-that's...that's not -"
"Is it, Jaune?" she laughed, though it was considerably more hollow than before, and the expression that she wore as she turned to look at him even more so. "Is it? Everyone assumes I am too good for them. That I'm on a level they simply can't attain. Before I met you all, I almost forgot what it was like to forge meaningful relationships. Because of you, I've made some that I know will last a lifetime."
Pyrrha sighed and turned away. "I'm sorry. I saw how troubled you were looking earlier, so I came over to cheer you up. Especially in light of everything that's happened. How the tables have turned, right?"
Jaune found himself stepping up, though she didn't quite meet his eyes. "I - no, Pyrrha. I appreciate it, but please don't doubt yourself. You're beautiful. You're empathetic, kind and it's so much fun getting competitive with you when we spar. Don't sell yourself short too. There's more to Pyrrha Nikos beyond the whole champion thing, right? You're one of my best friends, and I wouldn't have anyone else as a partner."
Pyrrha looked up at him then, eyes filled with some foreign emotion as she gently dabbed a finger into his chest before looking away once more. "See? That's what I like about you. You didn't even know my name when we first met, and treated me like anyone else. Be it our, um, time training together, or when we got ice cream that Friday night, I don't think I'll ever forget those. And...I suppose you're right, but, well, it doesn't change anything now, does it? Maybe...just maybe you're just the kind of guy I wish I was here with. Someone who just saw me for me."
She took a step back and regarded him intensely, though he just stared back frozen as he wrestled with multiple thoughts at the same time.
"Is she...is she -?"
"...I mean, she is perhaps one of the best friends I've ever had, so that's got to count for something, right?"
"No. Don't do it. You don't want to ruin the friendship you have with her."
"But...I...I -"
His gaze fell as he fought to make sense of the hesitation and confusion that warred in his mind. The next second, however, he saw her take a step back, and then another, and then another -
"W-wait. Pyrrha!"
"...I'm sorry. Please give me a moment," the redhead replied as she refused to acknowledge his extended arm and instead heading back inside. For several seconds his arm hung limply as he stared at the open door, until another, more masculine voice interrupted his thoughts.
"Yo! You posing for a painting or something?" Sun quipped as he came up beside him with Blake and Neptune in tow.
Silence, and the three teens shared worried glances.
"What's goin' on, bro? Everything okay?"
"...no. But I have a chance to make it right."
After all, he had a responsibility to her as team leader. Most importantly, she was one of his best friends and if he was to consider that possibility...the potential for even more; it seemed he wasn't the only one who wrestled with these thoughts. But first, there was work to be done. She was always there for him, and perhaps it was time for him to do the same.
Perhaps it was time for Pyrrha to have a champion of her own.
"Ah, I'm good man, thanks. Say, can you do me a favour and help me find my teammates? There's something I need to do..."
()===|=====+
From a corner of the ballroom, Pyrrha intently surveyed the crowd to try and distract herself. She was powerless, however, as everywhere she looked, the eyes of one partner gazed intently at those of the other, enough to keep her rooted in her seat amongst those who came to the night single.
"Gah! I only wanted to help, but it still ended in us talking about things that didn't matter. I shouldn't have put him on the spot anyway. That and how with so much on his plate...maybe I should just lay off for now?"
With a sigh, she stood and made her way back to the punch bowl to keep her mind occupied. While she wasn't thirsty, taking a moment to walk with her thoughts proved much more effective as she remained unaware of the laughter that began to grow in volume.
"No...I should try again. Ugh, I'm so selfish, but I don't know if I'd get another chance like this. And Jaune...he's maybe the tiniest bit dense, but he cares for his friends -"
More laughter, even louder than before.
"- is brave, even in the face of impossible odds -"
She missed the people glancing and smiling at the sight of a commotion behind her.
"- is honest, genuine and trustworthy, and will always be there to listen and have your back -"
"Pyrrha?"
"- and is someone who saw me for me."
The redhead turned at the sound of silence interrupted by a familiar voice. "Yes, Jauuuuu - oh."
Jaune Arc, surrounded by a highly amused circle of their peers, wore a pristine white dress with an equally striking sheepish grin.
Her face quickly matched the colour of her dress.
"But don't forget tall, handsome and unimaginably hunky. His onesie doesn't do him any justice...oh, my."
Thankfully, he saved her before she could mutter anything close to what she just thought. "You know, you're right. We really do need to unwind, so I figured I'd take your advice."
A giggle she tried so hard to repress escaped, then shortly evolved into full blown laughter. Fighting back the tears in her eyes, she looked up to see him extend a hand, while Ren and Nora emerged from the crowd behind. The quiet teen wore a subtle, satisfied smile and Nora was just bursting with pride.
"So. Do you just wanna stand there, or do you wanna dance?"
"No more. No more backing down. This is it."
Pyrrha gulped and smiled, interlacing his fingers with her own. "I would love to dance."
An almost suave grin broke out on his face as he took control and suddenly, but gently pulled her along.
"I-is this happening? Is...is it really?"
The stars in her eyes parted once she found herself in the middle of the dance floor with Jaune, Ren and Nora, but right before she could ask him what was going on, the music suddenly changed to a familiar, happy beat -
And Jaune danced.
Ren and Nora followed right after, and without breaking stride she found herself joining in with a smile. Each second that passed felt both short and long, and Pyrrha laughed as they tore up the dance floor; kickstep, kickstep and body roll did their improv routine flow, and the cheers of the audience made her heart leap with joy. From a glance, she could see the most emotion she ever saw on Ren's face, and even made out Weiss and Neptune watching contentedly from the sideline.
On and on did they dance, and by the end of the song, not only did they steal the hearts of the crowd -
Pyrrha finally admitted to herself that Jaune had claimed hers.
The next song that played proved to be a slower, intimate one meant for couples, and before she could gather her senses, her vision was immediately filled with six feet of white-dressed Arc. Gently taking her hand, the crowd thinned to let the couples have their moment on the dance floor.
"Jaune, I never knew you were such a good dancer!"
"Yeah, well, the things you pick up around seven sisters," he laughed as he spun her around. Holding her close, his mirth faded slightly with a guilty expression. "Listen, um, about earlier -"
His eyes widened as she placed a finger on his lips. "It's okay. I know you didn't mean it. Perhaps I should just be more direct next time so it won't take you as long to get it."
Jaune blushed and chuckled, a sweet, almost dorky sound that she felt vibrate through his chest. "Sorry, I'm just teasing. But, seriously...thank you. This really means a lot."
"Yeah. I...I can tell. I got some sense knocked into me."
They swayed slowly in beat with the music as she looked up to him with a nervous expression. "And...?"
Jaune audibly gulped and blushed even harder. "Remember how I said I owed you back at the temple? Well, if you want, I'd like to, um...maybe take you out next weekend. Just the two of us -"
"Yes."
Jaune looked back surprised and the slightest bit hopeful.
"Yes," Pyrrha repeated, eyes closing contentedly as she fully embraced him, hearing and feeling his thundering heartbeat. "Yes. I would like that very much."
Worry threatened to bubble up after a second's pause, though it was soon relieved as the blonde hugged her back. He smelled of punch and cheap cologne, something so inexplicably Jaune that it only had her holding on tighter, as if afraid to let him go.
Despite her status and fame, life before Beacon was cold, dark and empty. From the outside, it looked so bright, but even then, there was very little that felt truly right.
And then she met Jaune.
At first, she thought it nothing more than a schoolgirl crush, until the tiniest of sparks came into view in the time she spent with her team; with her partner. Jaune made her hope again, and this was a fire that she would not let fade into embers. Anything else mattered little as they held each other close, even as they missed Ruby leaving the ballroom worriedly at the sight of shadows shifting upon the rooftops.
In fact, the only thing that she would consider would be the night sky above them all, because for the first time in ages, it seemed that just for them did her stars finally align.
Pyrrha smiled as she felt Jaune take her hand, and she knew that together, moving forward -
"...you and I are gonna shine."
()===|=====+
In a land far, far away on the other side of Remnant, the laughter of celebration was replaced by the howls of Grimm, and the light of the stars snuffed by the aura of Malice. Said substance curled into a ball, then widened to a rod-like shape before collapsing entirely and falling upon the stone dormant, yet alive.
"I bring word from Callows and Watts."
Salem, Queen of the Grimm, spared a glance from her work desk as Hazel Rainart emerged from a door across the chamber. Descending a large flight of stairs, he deliberately avoided the large setup in the middle of the room, making his way along the side and carefully placing a scroll for her to examine.
"The Bullhead has entered Valean airspace and will be landing shortly. Roman Torchwick, the criminal in charge of providing the safehouse will meet them at the landing zone, and once they establish themselves they will contact Cinder and Adam."
"I see," she replied, her smooth and rich voice echoing within the expanse of the chamber. "And the cargo?"
Hazel grunted and spared a glance towards the rock in which the Trident of Power was firmly embedded. Malice poured out in watery streams, travelling within grooves carved in a large, intricate pattern. At the end of three grooves did a triune of unlit torches lay, one at the head and the others at the bottom left and right. The triangular formation surrounded the Trident and the coalescence of Malice beside it, bathing the large chamber in an unsettling pinkish glow.
"...the cargo is secure."
"Good. Thank you. If that would be all..."
The large man bowed his head, but otherwise made no motion to leave. Instead, her piercing eyes flicked to his expectantly.
"Is something the matter?"
"...no. Forgive me. I was lost in thought."
"Come now, Hazel. What is the matter? You have a gift for insight, and I will not see such talents wasted. Speak freely."
Hazel nodded, slowly walking around and taking a seat opposite his Queen. She raised an eyebrow, though the minor annoyance felt at her sight of the Trident blocked was replaced with curiosity.
"I fear that delivering the cargo well ahead of the plan was not a prudent choice."
Ah, to be blunt. That's what she admired about the man; though he never did so when in council with Tyrian, Arthur or Cinder, his honesty, patience and lack of ambition for power earned his place amongst them. Considering it was difficult enough to recruit competent help at a time when she was becoming much more active compared to the past century or so, one thing she learned from her enduring war with Ozma was to carefully weigh the values of her pawns.
The man did have a taste for chess references, but the lessons behind them were not unfounded.
"Oh? Do explain."
"While the attacks at the docks and Forever Fall proved the experiments a success, it would not be farfetched to assume that Ozma has begun his own efforts into figuring out their origins. Their histories. He may very well learn soon precisely what to expect and develop a plan for it."
"I am aware of his paranoia and...predilection for lore, even during our time together. However, he has an opponent with even greater knowledge and resources to spare, and I intend to use my head start to its fullest advantage. You're right - we cannot delay any longer, and so rather than wait for him to learn, I have sent someone to teach him directly."
"But the wraith...he is too wild. Untamed. He was already difficult to control here, and may prove worse once they land in Vale."
Salem closed her eyes, reaching to grasp the small, enchanted locket around her neck. The shard of the Triforce reacted accordingly, as if desperately trying to give itself over and make her the new bearer.
Tempting...but no. Not when she had her own plans for it. All of it.
"Do not fear," she smiled, reaching out across the artifacts strewn across her desk. She pushed the Magic Mirror aside and grabbed an ancient looking tome underneath it. "There was once a magic-rich country in the distant past called Labrynna. This is a product of that kingdom, a book of seals that recorded old, forgotten, and most importantly, forbidden spells. The one I cast on him was crafted by a shadow tribe older than even they, and make no mistake...they were masters in their art. He has no choice but to obey. After all, he cannot even speak for himself."
Hazel nodded and stood. "I understand, my Queen."
Salem leaned back in her chair as she watched him leave, feeling Power lend her its own. Even with such a small shard, it revitalized her own depleted reserves of magic. That, along with the Trident and veritable deluge of Malice that flooded into her tower the other day did she find herself capable of performing magic and rituals at a level not seen since the Brothers abandoned her. All this changed little of her final goal, but with the power of curse and gods she would see it accomplished.
Even if it took another nine thousand years.
()===|=====+
Cold.
He was cold, tense, and all instincts cried for the blood of those around him, but he neither shivered, acted or pursued any violent course of action on account of the spell which that vile sorceress cursed him with.
To say he was confused was reductive. Sitting in silence, he once again retreated to the most intimate space that no longer held any semblance of privacy - his thoughts. There was something in him, something dark, festering and undeniably old that held him captive in his own body, and at the same time gave him the very unlife that allowed him to walk once more.
A bright, malicious eye stared unflinchingly in his mind without pause, bringing with it a fresh wave of pain and guilt that lanced through the desiccated remains of his heart. Though the man with the tail of a scorpion jeered and the other studied him with a fascinated gaze, he shut out their voices to focus on anything that could bring either reprieve or some sort of knowledge as to what he was doing. Where he was going.
Who he even was...
Who even was he?
The eye itself seemed to ask him too, though perhaps his mind assumed the question as he spiraled into mania. All that he could remember was darkness; not just an absence of light, but a sentient, churning evil that blotted out the shard of light his soul carried, corrupting the semblance of hope it gave him into an overwhelming desire to find...something.
There was something missing from him, a hollow feeling in his heart that dogged his mind since the moment he awoke.
The moment the men ambushed him in that dark cavern.
He put up a hell of a fight with surprising skill, something which nearly overpowered the two, but in the end his weakened state, their advanced weaponry and number eventually won the battle. Funny how the most desperate of situations could lead to the most unexpected of results.
Just like how he slew the Lynel that attacked the village, saving his home and the people he loved.
His eyes - one blood red and the other formed of Malice itself - widened at the memory, then memories that suddenly flooded his mind. There were few, but enough to see a glimpse of what he had forgotten; there was a village he called home, and a plain upon which stood a magnificent city and castle -
Whose people wailed as their homes were ruined at the feet of the Calamity, rising from the depths to challenge the power of light.
He could not dwell on it for any longer as he felt a thud, looking up to see the door to the craft open and reveal two more men. The one whose face was hidden behind a white mask showed no reaction, while the other with orange hair paled the moment he saw him, turning to his captors and seemingly demanding an explanation in their tongue.
A language foreign to the one he understood and through which she spoke to him. He could tell that she was scarcely familiar with it, suggesting perhaps a recent pickup, but regardless of her mistakes in grammar or pronunciation, it was enough to get the message across.
Her promises of finding what he was missing became moot upon the application of the curse, transforming him into a wraith from ages past that now served a witch whose intentions remained unknown.
The mark on his chest - an inverted red eye with a tear and circled with runes - gripped his heart and compelled him to move. She provided him a flame-blade in addition to the blue coloured shield that remained in mint condition, though as he made his way towards the exit it was clear that his chestplate and greaves were rusty and would provide little protection to the once green tunic he wore underneath.
Covering his head with his cloak and exiting onto the grass, the orange haired man stepped back in fear while the masked one made no move, save for resisting the urge to reach for his sword. Nevertheless, he ignored them at the sight of a bright city whose skyline dominated the night sky, while a grand castle lay much farther in the distance - a beacon of hope for the people it defended.
The Malice eye pulsed as he took it in and realized that for the first time in eternity, he was not trapped in the darkness, nor in the regrets of a past he could not remember. He was now simply being, even if the curse subdued his very will.
He knew not of the world he entered or the goals of the people around him, but one thing was for sure: blood would be spilt, and much of it would once again be through his hand.
It was a masquerade that felt all too familiar.
/ AN \
Welcome to the end of The Knight Life, Arc II of A Descendant of Legends!
Whereas the previous chapter was action focused, here I wanted to finish the arc by showcasing the days following the Breach and the events within - be it the immediate repercussions of the talks with Ozpin and RWBY, followed by the dance scene that I chronologically reversed compared to the show. Hence the slightly discouraging undertone present for the dance, where RWBYJNPR, especially Jaune himself cannot fully feel at ease with all that was dumped onto them, despite the rest of the school celebrating a victory over White Fang and Grimm. Part of me wishes that I could write more about the discussions Jaune had in depth with Ozpin and RWBY, but I felt that it would be redundant from a reader's perspective to read the same type of "revelation" conversation he had with JNPR over the past several chapters, just with different characters. Instead, I opted to focus on the more important bits - how do they react? What comes after? Similar to his team perhaps (at least with RWBY) but without the field trip to the Temple of Time to really satisfy their doubts. As such, The Knight Life ends setting up the stage for what's to come. With the end of this chapter we can all begin to see where the pieces will fall. And fall they will - we all know what happens in the show. While not overly grim, it will be dark and jarring at a level exceeding canon. As you can tell, I'm a fan of not always having happy endings ;)
To end on a happier (and sappier) note, I just want to say thank you to everyone who favourited and followed this story so far. Last Tuesday marked the one year anniversary of the story's publication. I never knew that on midnight in some hotel room at the end of my vacation last year, when I began writing down the words of the prologue into MS Word would it ever lead to something like this. From those who were there at the start to the ones who just found the story, as well as those who joined along the way and let me know all that I either could've done better or you loved - thank you. It means a lot to me whose previous creative writing experience amounted to effectively nil, and to see that I have something to offer for you all to enjoy.
In any case, constructive criticism is always welcome and appreciated. Once again, thank you, and hope to see you the next arc!
AdinPryde: Both! I intend to write not just Jaune's, but many other characters' struggles in dealing with what they think they believe, and the increasingly tougher opponents that confront them on the battlefield. And as for whether Jaune will solo his way through the future quest, he will not be alone. From a Zelda standpoint, there's a unique opportunity to have a hero-in-waiting quest with the aid of multiple friends, rather than having something like clones in Four Swords Adventures or a static Resistance in Twilight Princess. That being said, there will be moments in which it'll be just him and him alone where he can really shine akin to the traditional Link, but can't say much else for spoilers.
In any case, thanks! Glad you enjoyed all the action, there's plenty more to come. Hope to see you soon!
Fyr RedNight: Thank you! I definitely wanted a climatic ending to the action portion of the arc, and I'm glad you enjoyed the delivery. Hope to see you next arc!
Roy4: Almost! In fact, one of the most exciting chapters I already have on standby is his test as a Hero and the aftermath, although as Aragorn once said, it is not this day. Jaune must first learn and study for this exam, and he will learn hard. And while spoilers as to who will become the bearer of Wisdom, each member of RWBY and JNPR will all have an important role to play. And you're right. This is just the tip of the iceberg, for us, Jaune and the world of Remnant. Whether he's up to the task is a question he asks himself every day.
Thanks, and hope to see you next time!
Warlus999: Thank you! I'm happy to know that you enjoyed it enough to plunk everything over the span of 48 hours. Be with battle scenes, character interactions or the thing I look most forward to - the world building - it inspires me more to keep the ball rolling!
It really does put it into perspective when I realized the gravity of what I wanted for this story when I first started it. Took me up until the fight with the Lynel to do so, but by then I was fully engrossed in it and enjoying it. That being said, you haven't seen the last of the HM Salesman, and while spoilers for the specifics, he's not the only character (or monster) that you've seen yet who is a blast from the past. And yes, glad to know that you enjoyed the boss! Yes, it was taken as an obscure reference from the manga then given my own twist, and while I won't insert original Grimm / monsters everywhere because I want to focus on that with those from Zelda, I do have ideas for maybe one or two here or there...as for specifics, who knows?
Again, thank you and hope to see you soon!
Dragon lord Syed 101: Yup! Jaune's dad dropped by for a pit stop, and now RWBY has to contend with a truth that not all of them can readily accept. The real question is whether they can learn and adapt in the time. Thanks, and hope to see you next arc!
The Black Wolf of the Arks: Thanks! Glad to know you liked it. Choosing what to emphasize with RWBY and Ozpin was a little tricky as I didn't want to fall in a redundant trap with everyone already knowing what secrets he had, virtue of the past several chapters, but I felt it best to focus on their reactions after: Ozpin I wanted to make more morally grey as per the original intention of his character, while Weiss (and a little of Blake) weren't so easily convinced as the alternative was accepting a scary, dark truth. Even if Ruby also needs time to digest things (as they all do), she can vouch for Jaune's character at a level greater than the rest of her team, leaving Yang to fit the level headed older sister model that's willing to give him the benefit of the doubt - burden of proof notwithstanding.
And ah, good old Zeltik. Love his videos. I rewatch his videos sometimes if I'm feeling the need for inspiration, and yes - mystery and uncertainty, especially when it comes to continuity is a staple of the series. It definitely fits, and while spoilers on specifics I've taken inspiration from the process where they're attained, and am integrating the process as part of his future quest.
Thank you, and hope to see you next time!
Guest: Heh, well hey! You never know. Perhaps this can be a crash course for anyone as it was for Jaune too!
Steelrain66: Ah thanks man, I appreciate it! Glad to know you felt it was worth the read. And while spoilers on specifics, yes, Wisdom will play its part eventually. I struggled at the start, and still somewhat now to figure out how best to include this, but after taking a look at some of the games, I found a way - and I think Jaune and co. are not gonna enjoy it. After all, having extra backup does not always translate into exclusive boons.
Thanks, and hope to see you next arc!
jeremiahkelley93: Thanks! Happy you liked it!
Spartastic 4: Yup, that's Richter Arc in all his glory. Hell of a first impression on his friends too, by coming up and saving them in the thick of the fight. That being said, Jaune's family will soon make an appearance, and they'll play a much more major role in the future to come. After all, they won't stay at Beacon forever. And as for the "Hydra", it's a bit of an obscure pick from the manga, where it states that it was a mash of several King Taijitu, but "eight-headed King Taijitu" is a mouthful. Try saying that five times and fast.
In any case, thanks! You too as well. Hope to see you soon!
The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.