Arc III: Chaos Named
Chapter 29: Grimm Eclipse
"Mhmm..."
The large man rumbled himself awake, subconsciously huddling the covers in a bid to keep the warmth from seeping out. What fatigue he felt after a long day of work only doubled after being roused so early, and he couldn't help but groan as his one chance to a leg up on sleep was all for naught.
Such was the life of a husband and father, even if he hadn't any recent opportunity to work on the latter. Not for lack of trying, though.
Ghira Belladonna grimaced and felt his sleep begin to wash away against a wave of concern for his daughter, for it had been far too long since he and Kali had last seen Blake. Knowing that she ran off with Adam Taurus - the very name stirring anger within - broke their hearts, but it wasn't enough to dispel the hope that maybe she'd answer their next call, or that they'd get a written letter in the mail.
Anything, really, to know that she was alive and safe.
He turned to face his wife, only to find that the cool draft stemmed from the empty space Kali left behind, and so he immediately moved into it to prevent the heat from escaping.
And then Ghira narrowed his eyes and looked. Really looked...for ambient moonlight was definitely not supposed to be that kind of colour.
It didn't help that the air somehow became...heavier. Stilted. His instincts spiked, even when there was no one else left in the room. Throwing the covers off, he lumbered over to the balcony door, exiting to find his wife fixated upon a moon that was indeed casting their home and the jungle beyond with an unsettling red glow.
"...whatever is going on, Ghira, I hope Blake will be okay."
"I, too," he whispered, standing beside her and taking in her unusually stoic expression. "Wherever she may be, I have faith in the fact that she takes strongly after you, Kali. Blake is tough and resilient, even when faced with demoralizing odds."
Kali hummed, gently leaning against his frame. "Don't you sell yourself short too, mister. The only problem is that neither we nor the White Fang has ever trained anyone, really, to deal with something like this."
The two looked up at the moon once more, and then the skyline of Kuo Kuana as distant alarms began blaring throughout the city.
"Agreed. Is this some sort of herald for a Grimm invasion? The culling was only last week."
"I'm not sure, but I doubt the truth is any good regardless," Kali said as the lights throughout the rest of the mansion turned on, and several loud knocks preceded the guard that immediately burst through the door.
"Chief! Ma'am! Kuo Kuana is under attack by Grimm, and...and..."
"And...?"
"Um...monsters, sir."
Ghira raised an eyebrow. "Monsters?"
"I-I'm sorry, sir, I don't really know how else to describe it," the guard replied nervously. "We've already killed a few that tried to attack the property, and...well, it's best you see it for yourself, sir. We're receiving distress calls from the city as well."
He shared a look with Kali, finding strength in her steely resolve as she stepped forward.
"Call up the militia and contact the White Fang. If this is endemic to the island or even beyond, then it is in our best interests to know Sienna's take on the situation and coordinate our response."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Kali sighed as the guard left and shot a smirk at her husband. "Are you ready to go and dust off those claws, honey?"
"I shall have to be," Ghira replied as they shared a quick and tender kiss. "And quickly as well, for I wish to ensure that a home remains for Blake to return to."
x==)======+
With an almost put-upon hmph, Raven Branwen rushed in, taking advantage of the Silver Moblin's slower speed to run her sword into its chest. She then fired Omen's blade through and into the face of another approaching beast, killing both as she jumped away to reorient herself upon the battlefield.
...the term "battle" being a very loose description.
Fighting these almost felt insulting. There were Grimm that proved tougher, while these lumbering pigs and their smaller counterparts were little more than cannon fodder. It sounded like the rest of her tribe agreed since the telltale sounds of laughter and revelry could be heard amidst the gunfire and clashing steel. Raven supposed they were on a level closer to those weaker than her, and while it proved to be valuable experience for the bandits defending the camp, to her it was amusement that quickly became boring.
And then she heard the roar that changed her mind.
While various Moblins, Bokoblins and Lizalfos emerged from the forest, armed with surprisingly practical improvised weaponry, they parted for a beast as tall as some of the trees themselves. Its silver skin glistened in the red moonlight, though she ignored everything else in favour of the eyes that were filled with confident challenge.
Raven smirked.
"I don't know how, but I'm pretty sure you're involved somehow..." she mentally remarked while maintaining eye contact. It stared back, and when one of those lizard-like monsters charged her first, it deftly unsheathed a massive...pendulum, for lack of better terms, and bludgeoned the creature for trying to steal its spotlight.
"...but I'd be damned if this isn't the best gift you've given me, Ozpin. This is better than being some goddamn bird. Hell, maybe I can even use the Maiden's powers with this guy. I can only imagine the look on Summer's face when she realizes what you've done."
Raven resheathed her sword and withdrew it rearmed with a blade of gravity dust, stepping into a small clearing whilst the other monsters circled around and went for the camp instead. The Silver Lynel regarded her with what seemed like almost-respect and then roared its challenge once more, before breaking into a sprint with its crusher at the ready.
Thoughts of golden and ruby red hair threatened to break through, but Raven forced it away with excited ease as she charged to give her challenger the fight it deserved.
x==)======+
Fallen leaves and twigs crunched underfoot as he trudged upon the worn dirt road, the sounds of which reverberated as the woods around him were deathly quiet.
The Blood Moon spooked most nocturnal creatures into hiding, especially since the essence of Malice within the air was enough to make anyone jump at the slightest provocation. It was common sense when kilometres away from the nearest town, though it did not dissuade him from walking onwards despite the urge to glance behind him.
Not that he was safe to begin with since the woods teemed with monsters, though none of them posed any legitimate concern.
What few passersby he met along the way disagreed, returning his friendly demeanour with wary looks, brandished weaponry and a wide birth upon the road for fear of a sudden ambush. He didn't blame them, especially upon hearing the distant sounds of combat not too long after, but he had a job to do. Even on a night as terrible as this.
And so he kept walking.
The land, whom he learned was generally referred to as "Mistral", reminded him of a place that no longer remained, an errant world that should have never existed anyway. Whilst the moon thankfully stayed in the sky, red and shattered as it was, the area's passing resemblance elicited a longing for an age gone by. When time and destiny frayed at the seams, along with the trials which shaped the Hero who once mastered them both.
...but the one who was yet to fulfill his destiny...?
Perhaps it was unfair to judge him too harshly when his quest had not truly begun, though it was disappointing to learn about the depth of knowledge lost to the forgotten past. Moreover, his Triforce and the Hero's Soul were fragmented, and before he could even set about sealing the darkness, Jaune Arc needed to restore them both and the Blade of Evil's Bane.
And he would do all he could to help Jaune in his quest as he once did the same for him. Only Nayru knew how long it was since then, but despite the different face that spoke a different tongue, some part of him was still the same boy from the forest in search of a friend.
It was the legend all over again, but he believed in the return of the Goddess' successor. He believed the boy would take up the Hero's mantle, and he believed that the Demon King would be sealed away once more.
The monsters around him, however, had other ideas as they slowly emerged from the woods. Bokoblins and Moblins of differing colours proved his welcoming party, along with various Stalkin and even some Grimm that attacked a few by the rear.
He stopped in his tracks to take in the sight, before looking at the Blood Moon once more.
"Blades will bleed. Shields will shatter," he spoke softly as the minions of evil closed in. "But as the light fades, will the Hero rise again...or will darkness reign?"
The Happy Mask Salesman chuckled, smile quirking ever so slightly as the monsters roared and rushed in.
x==)======+
"What...? Why is the m-"
Jaune had no time to figure out why the moon glowed an ominous shade of red as a giant Nevermore suddenly appeared beside it, diving with alarming speed. It crashed through the stadium's barrier, the sound as jarring as the panic he felt upon seeing it head for Pyrrha.
"P-Pyrrha! Watch out! Snap out of it!"
No reply, no use. Jaune, Ren and Nora vaulted over the rail as the avian Grimm touched down centre stage with the grace of a wrecking ball, blowing Pyrrha away, but not her shock. The Nevermore seemingly noticed this as it cawed loud enough to ring their ears, and even as Jaune sprinted full speed ahead, he wouldn't be able to make it in time.
Fortunately, amongst his group of friends was one whose Semblance was speed itself. A blink of an eye saw the blurry figure of Ruby Rose streaking by and slamming one of Penny's swords into the chest of the Nevermore. Knocking it back a fair distance, she delivered a blindingly fast series of slices that brought it to its knees, and when it roared its final cry, Ruby safely hopped back out of reach as the sounds of whistling reached a crescendo above.
The Nevermore was never more with the arrival of their rocket lockers, touching down upon a landing pad of Grimm. A final flourish saw Ruby cry out and dash perpendicular to the bird, and its head rolled lifelessly away from its neck.
Seizing the chance, they leapt atop the stage and ran over to their shell-shocked teammate.
"J-Jaune...?"
"Pyrrha, it's me. You're okay. You're safe," Jaune soothed, wrapping the poor girl in a hug. It thankfully snapped her out of it the next second, and Pyrrha held closely onto a bedrock of stability in a maelstrom of chaos.
"I...yes. Thank you, Jaune. Ruby...I...I'm so sorry..."
"Me too," the reaper replied, walking over with an incensed expression. "But no, it wasn't your fault. None of this was, Pyrrha. It was that girl from the microphone...it's just that I can't believe it was her all along..."
Pyrrha nodded and let Jaune help her up. "I...right..."
"Yes. Ruby is right," he agreed. "I remember too who was on that microphone, and I'm telling you, Pyrrha, that we need to stop her and everyone she's working with to make sure that they don't take anyone else."
"Her?"
"Cinder Fall," he replied to Ren as many of the students that remained behind proceeded to congregate around them. Team SSSN was the first to come over, while he recognized CFVY, FNKI, BRNZ, ABRN and many others retrieve their weapons from the hedgehog of a decaying Grimm.
"...she and her teammates really seemed like nice people..." Ruby whispered, gaze crestfallen as Weiss and Blake came to stand beside her after gathering their weapons. She opened her locker and deployed Crescent Rose, decisively planting it upon the ground. "But not only did I recognize that voice, I saw Mercury alive and well in the tunnels. I...I really want to know why they'd do something like this, but I guess it doesn't matter now, does it?"
"We'll find out their motives in time. I suspect the White Fang may have something to do with this as well, but right now -"
Weiss nodded to Blake. "- we need to leave Amity -"
"Uh, guys?"
"- and return to Beacon as soon as possible to find Yang -"
"Hey!" Sun interrupted the heiress and frantically pointed above, though he was spared from her wrath as the sky darkened again. This time, it wasn't Grimm that arrived - Jaune's eyes narrowed when he realized the approaching cloud was not a cloud at all. The others brandished their weapons at the company of Kargarocs and their monstrous cargo airlifted to the arena's opposite; blue and black Bokoblins and Lizalfos filled their ranks, while a few blue Moblins that were simultaneously carried in by several Kargarocs pushed themselves to the front of the horde.
Weiss' sigh spoke volumes. "...but first, it seems we must deal with these."
Pyrrha's grip tightened, and he felt encouraged upon looking back and seeing a semblance of her confident persona return to the forefront.
"Do we have a plan of attack, team leader?"
"We need to hold them off to give the remaining civvies time to escape. Look after one another. Don't let your friends out of your sight," Jaune replied as they stepped back in tandem, making space for the last four rocket lockers to arrive. He kicked away the Kargaroc that was crushed beneath his, opening the locker to feel the familiar grip of his sword and shield fill him with determination. Sighing, Jaune stepped around to face the closest enemy, a towering Moblin with a club of dragonbone -
His sword was joined by Ruby's scythe, Sun's nunchucks, Coco Adel's minigun and all manners of weaponry amongst his allies. While his mentor no longer had a body of his own, feeling Courage flare beneath his glove assured him that Link was still there to watch over him and his team.
The final shing came from Pyrrha's spear, its burnished crimson tip promising the wrath of a champion who fought for her friends.
And all it took was a cry to spur them into a charge.
Ruby met them in the centre, carving a swath through several Bokoblins, while Weiss nailed a backstabbing Bokoblin to the floor. Nora's grenades stunned the blue Moblin, allowing him to slice into the Bokoblins around it, though Pyrrha's call had him crouching and raising his shield up top. He launched her with a grunt, the champion forcing away several Kargarocs with her shield before she descended by spearing a Moblin through the chest.
With the monsters falling back, Jaune yelled to Nora and Ren for cover as he relinked with Pyrrha, who was distracting two other Moblins. Jaune parried a Bokoblin's thrust in a flash of blue sparks, slicing its head off but leaving himself open for another one that rammed its wooden spear into his armour. Annoyed, Jaune rolled behind and sliced its knees, allowing Ren to pounce and blast its face apart, while Nora shoulder-checked two others that tried to rush them.
The air quickly mixed with that of the Malice from the deceased monsters; the other side of the arena saw Coco mow down a flight of divebombing Kargarocs, while Neon Katt rolled by and tripped a Moblin with her nunchucks, allowing Yatsuhashi to cleave its body in half with a portion of the floor below it.
Huffing as he shield-bashed a Bokoblin's face, Jaune regrouped with Pyrrha as a blue Moblin roared and stumbled him with its rusty claymore. He brought his shield up when it tried to stomp his face, feeling his Aura plummet, but thankfully Ruby came in clutch and blew it away with a fusillade of incendiary rounds.
But that still left one more on his side, with another Moblin knocking Nora away and charging him with dragonbone spear at the ready. Courage flashed as Jaune dodged in the nick of time, and he delivered multiple powerful strikes in a flurry rush upon landing. The Moblin roared and swatted him away -
Right into the perfect position.
Jaune, now!
"Pyrrha, Arkos!"
His partner sprinted from behind the moment he did. Jaune deftly avoided the blue Moblin's instinctive thrust, and with a cry, leapt to deliver a coordinated cross slice with Pyrrha, rending the monster dead by virtue of a ribcage torn in opposite directions.
Jaune panted and fell to his knees for a breather, though he looked up and smiled at the sight of his champion offering a hand.
"Looks like we'll be in the clear soon," Pyrrha noted as she suddenly pushed him away, dodging for them both a Bokoblin's errant overhead swing. It then fell dead when two green gunblades penetrated its skull. "Shall we begin making our way to the landing pads?"
"Sounds good to me," he replied as Nora returned with Ruby and Sun's team in tow. "Now's as good a time as any -"
A loud screech-like roar preceded the dimming moonlight, heralding a large reptilian monster that landed with a brutal impact.
"W-wha -?! Dragon! Guys, look, it's an actual dragon!"
"A tough one too," Jaune grimaced with Ruby as he took in the Argorok, then retreated as it began to breathe fire. At the same time, the moon reached its peak in the sky and air began to fill with the essence of Malice; already he could feel the stares of his teammates upon his back when they looked to him for answers.
"H-hey, Link, weren't these things supposed to be extinct?!"
Yes, but they were all revived through the power of the Blood Moon - when Ganon's latent influence upon the world reaches its peak. The resealing of the Demon King by the Hero of the Wild should have put a stop to this...but right now, it doesn't matter if they're Bokoblins or a species of dragon once corrupted by Twilight. Judging by the others that are coming, you have a limited amount of time to make it out safely.
His eyes narrowed at a few more that descended, right as an impressively loud shot echoed throughout the arena. The first Argorok slumped to the ground dead, while another was forcefully whipped to the side, crashing into the seats as two familiar faces entered the fray and placed themselves between them and the dragons.
"Students! I think it would be best for you to leave."
"But we did a -"
"Miss Rose!" Professor Oobleck called out, not even flinching as Professor Port dashed to meet the next one with surprising speed, using his Aura to weather the stream of oncoming fire and discharge his blunderbuss directly into the dragon's mouth. "Today will surely go down in Remnant's history." He turned and spared them a smile. "I prefer that my students would live to tell about it."
Jaune shared glances with his team before following his teacher's advice. Thankfully, the few civilians who remained in the hallways were being escorted by Atlesian soldiers, a calming sight amid combat and deafening alarms. As they drew closer to the landing pads, however, they were greeted by the sight of General Ironwood and his soldiers defeating an assault by hijacked bullheads, with more troops walling off civilians awaiting evacuation. Weirdly enough, the White Fang crews immediately retreated upon contact, though not before throwing back what seemed to be familiar looking vials as they flew away.
The exact same ones they stumbled upon at the docks, down to the payload they carried within.
His eyes widened when their Malice contents burst across the floor, forming several blue and black Lizalfos in a manner of seconds, followed by a Silver Moblin that immediately charged with a roar.
"M-malice grenades?!"
This is alarming, Link remarked with an eerily calm voice as they watched the monsters attack Ironwood's line. For anyone to weaponize such darkness and so callously use it...
They immediately sprinted over to help as the soldiers mowed down the Lizalfos with a concentrated volley, though the Silver Moblin emerged relatively unscathed. It picked up one of the soldiers, who cried out as he was hurled into a group of his battle buddies, though Ironwood stunned it upon delivering a solid punch to its sternum.
The Moblin responded with a powerful, albeit slow and telegraphed punch. The General effortlessly caught it and proceeded to shoot out its knee, bringing it to eye level, before snapping its neck with a mighty crack.
"Stand your ground!" Ironwood bellowed as he stepped over the dissolving monster, drawing attention with his booming voice. "You are soldiers of Atlas and huntsmen-in-training. Remember your mission. Remember the skills you've honed with experience. We are the bulwark that stands between our people and darkness, and I only have a few words when I stare death in the face -"
He brandished his revolver to the side. "- that it shall not claim us today. I will not fault those who decide to save themselves, but to those who will fight to save your friends and family, hold fast! Soldiers of Atlas, protect the people! Huntsmen and huntresses of Beacon, Mistral and Vacuo - move out!"
A loud cry rose from the ranks of Atlesian soldiers as gunfire scythed through a fresh group of Bokoblins and Lizalfos that entered the landing bay. The General nodded as they came over, gaze softening the tiniest bit upon seeing Pyrrha.
"Ms Nikos, I promise to explain the truth behind Penny later, but still...I must apologize for -"
"N-no, I understand," Pyrrha replied with a firmer voice. " Thank you, sir. I cannot help but still feel responsible, but I won't stand helplessly on the sidelines either. Not when other lives are at stake."
Jaune slipped his hand into hers and he felt Pyrrha squeeze back, while the General appraised them both before he grunted his approval.
"Do we have any orders?" Ruby asked, eyes hard as stone. "How can we help, General?"
"Student or soldier, we need every hand available that can still fight," Ironwood began, linking his arms behind him. "There's a small transport behind you due for Beacon, Ms Rose. Take your team and Mr Arc's to Beacon and find the Headmaster in his office. Available transports are in short supply right now, so the rest shall assist with the evacuations until more arrive. We will then disperse you between the Academy and Vale itself. Questions, comments, concerns?"
Jaune raised a hand.
"Mr Arc?"
"Not a question, but...Cinder Fall. She's the one who hijacked the mic back there."
"We recognized her voice," Ruby chimed in as Ironwood's eyes narrowed. "She and her team are exchange students from Mistral. We don't know why they did it, but..."
His gaze bored into those of both team leaders, and as they began to quail beneath Ironwood's eyes, the General sighed and nodded once more.
"...thank you for the information. I shall notify your Headmaster and have it corroborated immediately. But if there is nothing else to be said, then you all have your orders."
Ruby returned a salute and joined them in waving a quick goodbye to Sun's and Coco's teams, who both joined the Atlesian infantry holding off yet another wave of monsters. Upon entering the compact airship, Jaune took a seat beside Pyrrha and slid his hand into hers, then met emerald eyes which visibly pushed past the remnants of guilt within.
"There'll be justice for Penny, Pyr. I promise. We'll find Cinder and her team."
"Her death won't be in vain," Ruby added from her seat across them both. "We're gonna find Yang once we get back and tell Ozpin so that he can put a stop to all of this. No one else has to lose a friend tonight."
Jaune and Pyrrha exchanged glances as they thought of Maidens and destiny, but in a situation as grim as theirs, perhaps it was best to take things one step at a time. It helped when Weiss, Blake, Ren and Nora sent back determined looks, their familiar faces strengthening her conviction; when Jaune did his best to shut out the noise and focus on her alone, Pyrrha's eyes widened at the feeling of his Triforce soothing her with warmth.
Of Courage restoring her own.
"Alright, kids," one of the pilots yelled from the cockpit. "This baby's small, but she's got speed. Destination: Beacon - hold on tight!"
x==)======+
Since they were multiple levels below the Academy proper, the distant rumbling from the battle above echoed like an earthquake through the mostly empty halls of Beacon's Vault. One might've thought it unnecessary, considering they were as large as the ancient cathedrals once built to worship the God of Light. But where temples were built to honour the god's forgotten name, the Vault was, in essence, an underground crypt.
One specially designed for intruders or out-of-control occupants to be fought with plenty of space to spare.
Ozpin ignored the arrow that was embedded in Amber's chest to calmly regard the woman who shot her. The new Fall Maiden embraced her power wholeheartedly as she ascended atop a column of flame, illuminating the halls with magical power that was once his own.
Oh, how far the mighty have fallen...but while his magic was a fraction of its original strength, his will remained as absolute as his immortality. He trusted that what kept him sane over the ages would see a second Maiden put to rest before the night ended.
Cinder Fall descended and smirked, eyes burning with a fire that accentuated her conceit. "I have to thank you, Ozma, for delivering Amber on a silver platter. This whole time...right beneath our feet. Such arrogance. She was right about you all along."
Ozpin merely raised an eyebrow.
"You think me arrogant, yet I only feel pity when I look at you," he replied, stepping forward as her smirk became a frown. "Salem was kind and empathetic once, and it was painful seeing her fall victim to the pursuit of false hope. Ms Fall - no, allow me to call you Cinder - you think gaining this magic a blessing, but you are sorely mistaken. You cannot find what you seek by murdering the Maidens, nor trust in Salem when she dabbles with powers beyond your understanding."
She laughed harshly and flicked her wrist to summon a sword of molten glass. "Do not patronize me, Ozma. You know nothing of who I am and what I truly want."
"I disagree. It does not take magic to understand the kind of person you are," Ozpin replied. "But it seems you are in luck, for in this life, I happen to a teacher by trade. If only I found you before Salem did, then perhaps your potential could have been moulded into something truly fulfilling."
The Long Memory clacked upon the floor, stumbling Cinder as the room exploded with blinding green light. When she looked back, his Aura crackled like electricity down the length of his arm and through his cane.
"Alas, I am too late. Perhaps this shall be a lesson for both of us."
An angry snarl was all he received as Cinder suddenly sprinted with enhanced speed. Ozpin parried her overhead strike before rushing into her guard, shoving her several feet back. Cinder grunted and backflipped while casting a volley of fireballs to slow his advance, though it did nothing to his orb-like shield of pure energy. It allowed him to close the distance and rain down thrusts before sending her flying into the wall.
Cinder screamed with rage as she picked herself up, moulding the fiery sword into a lance. Ozpin rushed her, though she managed to jump away and throw it back. Her spear missed, embedding itself in the stone, though Ozpin reeled when it exploded and obscured the main chamber with a cloud of smoke.
Ozpin sidestepped movement from his right, but it proved a feint and Cinder instead attacked his left. Weaving invisibly through the haze, she managed to land several hits before Ozpin slammed his cane hard into the floor once more - casting his magic shield to explode outwards and dissipate both Maiden and mist.
Having crashed against one of the pillars, Cinder swore and leapt away in time to dodge Ozpin's ending blow, the man jumping across the chamber to where she was a second earlier. Grabbing a fallen lamp rod, Cinder poured her Semblance into it, superheating the metal, and right before Ozpin could ram his cane through her skull, she yelled and released the energy into the cracks that spiderwebbed through the floor.
The ground burst in a shower of fire and debris, forcing his retreat to mitigate the damage to his Aura. When the smoke cleared, Cinder was on bended knee and huffing in frustration, but he hadn't emerged unscathed either.
Nevertheless, the time came to end it here and now; Ozpin decided that moment that it was worth the risk to end Cinder's life now and find her successor later. With a long forgotten magical technique, Ozpin poured his Aura into his cane, the Long Memory erupting in a cascade of green light.
Cinder evidently realized his decision as she summoned a sword of obsidian to stand her ground.
With a quiet grunt, Ozpin leapt forward once more with decisive intent -
And immediately activated his shield to deflect the knives thrown at him from behind the Maiden.
He landed with a weary gaze, noting the closing elevator doors in the distance before he snapped back to the newcomer that wielded fire but was neither huntsman, Maiden, or...
...or even human, apparently.
The shadow began with a jump attack, one which Ozpin leapt to meet. Cane and flameblade parried midair, before he was kicked back down to the ground. He landed hard and immediately summoned his energy shield, managing to blow his attacker away. Unfortunately, the shadow recovered admirably by kicking off a pillar and impaling the floor with his flameblade, sending a wave of fire towards the Headmaster.
A wave that was easily countered, but he was less prepared for the sight of who exactly he was up against.
Cinder dropped a spent medical dust injector and walked over to stand next to a man that, were it not for the pointed ears and neck wound dripping with Malice, could've been easily mistaken for a certain blonde team leader. The sight of facing an eerie doppelganger of Jaune Arc was enough to shock him to his core -
But Ozpin couldn't even complete his thoughts as Cinder and shadow Jaune suddenly commenced a coordinated pincer. The latter struck first, allowing Ozpin to parry and see the eyes of red and Malice before he broke off the duel of strength. A large fireball immediately blazed past, and through the trail of fire leapt the wraith with sword held low. Ozpin rolled past and brutally struck him below the armour, though he grunted in pain as Cinder shot his back with molten arrows.
As he slowly fell back under a whirlwind of blades and projectiles, for the first time in what felt like forever, he felt unnerved. Along with, oddly enough, excitement.
He wasn't often rendered speechless, even if he faced one who exuded an aura of danger that could make even the most experienced of huntsmen wary. While Ozpin believed he could match him single-handedly, the combination of the wraith's level of skill with a deadly Fall Maiden resulted in heavily unfavourable odds.
And then Ozpin's heart fell upon seeing what decorated his blue shield, along with the Triforce that flared from the back of his sword hand.
"Due to...preexisting conditions, he is unable to speak, so I shall make the introductions for him," Cinder said with the smuggest grin he'd ever seen an arrogant person wear. "Ozma, meet Link. At least, that was his name in life -"
"What have you done?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Pardon?"
"Correction. What has Salem done?" Ozpin continued, eyes hard as stone. "That man, that power...for the greater good, I must warn you that continuing down this path will not end well for anybody."
"I must have struck gold if Ozma himself fears who I command," she replied with a smile, conjuring more flaming arrows while Dark Link braced with his Hylian Shield. The image of the Triforce taunted him and everything he spent studying up to this point - has Salem taught Cinder the forbidden arts of necromancy? Why did an undead wraith whose lifeblood was Malice itself wield the Golden Power? How did he even come to possess it?
...
Unless...
The realization hit him like a train, even as the two slowly approached with weapons at the ready. However, they froze in place when Ozpin let out a harsh, almost self-deprecating laugh.
Cinder frowned. "Care to explain, Ozma?"
"You cannot see it now, but everything is finally coming to pass. All those nights I spent studying legends long forgotten...you truly do not know just who exactly you stand beside."
"He is my subordinate," Cinder sneered, drawing and knocking her bow. "And all that matters is that I control whatever power he carries within him."
"...well, she definitely isn't the first. I wonder exactly when it was the last time that people fought to claim the Triforce. And Cinder doesn't even realize what he nor his power truly is. Well played, Salem."
But he did, and Jaune would soon, for they both knew heroes never died - they were immortalized in the souls of those who were fated to take their place.
The chamber burst with blinding green light once, before fading to reveal him with Aura resembling armour protecting his chest and limbs. Ozpin pressed a button on his cane that enveloped it with a pale, yellow light; perhaps he wouldn't leave the Vault alive after all, but Ozpin smiled and supposed he should go all out in one last hurrah for him and the man whose soul he absorbed.
After all, it wasn't often that you'd come across a living legend, and far be it from him to disappoint.
x==)======+
Beacon Academy was overrun.
Seeing the castle-like campus for the first time usually did wonders for many; he still remembered when its outline appeared on the horizon before Initiation, and how majestic it looked up close and personal. But while his companion gushed to their future team leader about being queen of the castle - his nausea notwithstanding - Ren felt grateful to finally have a place to settle down with Nora.
It only sickened him since the flight back proved a cruel mockery of the first, for it wasn't a school that greeted their return, but a second Kuroyuri.
Most monsters were similar to what they fought back at the Temple of Time, with students, campus staff and the occasional Atlesian droid struggling against an onslaught of Grimm, Wolfos and Stalkin. While many went down fairly easily, their sheer numbers more than made up for it. Above them, bullheads with various insignia fought Kargarocs, Keese, Peahats and Aeralfos with overwhelming firepower and a finite supply of ammo.
But they held their ground for now. Despite the odds, Ren recognized the oft-unseen Professor Peach leading a charge into the campus itself. But his optimism stopped there when he realized what positions they attacked from were guarded to protect the wounded...and worse.
Ren grit his teeth and looked to Nora, who returned it with a solemn one that spoke of kindred thoughts. Leaping from the bullhead, Ren crashed onto a Theropod's neck and used it as a springboard, unloading upon a Stalkoblin as he landed. The gunfire destroyed its skeletal body, but its head survived and floated to chomp on his forearm. He nearly dropped his pistol as pain and Aura flared, were it not for Nora crudely ripping it off and stomping it into dust while ranting about him belonging to her alone.
The warmth in his heart only grew. Not to be outdone, Ren rushed a Stalmoblin that charged through several of its fellow undead brethren to reach them. It roared and brought down its dragonbone club - a swing that was easily dodged - but he backflipped as it lunged surprisingly fast.
"Nora!"
"Heehee! On it, Ren!"
The skeletal pig lit up with pink explosions, providing an opportunity by causing it to chase after Nora. He fired at the Stalmoblin's legs, destroying and effectively crippling it, and with a powerful grunt, Nora took his hand and launched him hard like a spinning top at the monster's neck.
She grinned up at him as its head rolled by their feet, and Nora promptly flattened it underfoot.
"Well? I told ya! You bring the flower, I bring the power!"
"And I told you. I can't begrudge something that works," he sighed, ruffling her hair and earning a mischievous laugh. "I just hope we can keep this up. I don't want this to be...like...you know."
"I do," Nora replied, idly catching an errant Stalhound's jaws with her hammer, allowing Ren to jam his pistols into its face and blast it apart. "But this time we have a chance. Not only can we fight, but we have friends who can too! I'm done running, Ren. We went through so much to get here, and now we finally have somewhere to be..."
Admittedly, he still felt disheartened upon remembering Jaune's words about the Blood Moon despite the roars and gunfire. Each enemy felled was replaced by several more before it returned from the grave with vengeance to spare. Were they doomed to fight a losing battle no matter how hard they tried until they ran out of ground to retreat? Would Beacon fall like the castles of old?
Their gazes swept over to see their teammates tackling Grimm and a pack of Stalhounds; the moment he was overwhelmed, the Stalhounds were blown away by Jaune's spin attack, while Pyrrha's Semblance magnetically gathered the monsters' weaponry to parry a Stalmoblin's swing. Beside them, Weiss expended much of her ice dust in creating a ramp that allowed Ruby to dash into the air and slice into divebombing Aeralfos, while Blake beheaded a Beowolf that breached the lines and was about to lunge upon a fallen student.
And right when a Wolfos appeared to tackle her from the side -
Ren sighed with relief when another familiar blonde entered the fray, blasting it away before enveloping the cat faunus in a crushing hug. He did the same with Nora, who returned it with greater force and an equal amount of determined love.
The hypocritical thoughts were banished from his mind because this time, he would fight not to escape, but to defend the place they called their home. No one else had to needlessly fall against the darkness tonight.
They sprinted towards the front lines to an impromptu rally point as waves of monsters and Grimm were pushed back from the Emerald Forest. Amongst the recovering wounded were six familiar figures taking a breather. "Glad you can join us, Mr McBroodypants," Yang called out as he and Nora came over. They were then tossed several water bottles and medical dust injectors. "Looks like the gang's finally all here."
"And back in business," Ruby replied, nodding with an air of confidence. An air of resolve. "Looks like the courtyard's ours again, but Profs Peach and Mulberry mentioned that the western wing's still overrun with Grimm."
"Not to mention the dorms," Yang seethed, letting out a measured breath that betrayed just how angry she was. That and her red eyes. "But no sight of Mercury and his team. I swear, I'll rip the smile off the face of that cocky asshole -"
Blake placed a hand on her shoulder. "You won't be the last, but he and his team are probably expecting us. We've all seen how skilled they are, so we need to approach this carefully."
"I know, it's just...gah! Even thinking of his stupid, lying face and what they did pisses me off."
"Us too," Jaune replied. "Penny, Beacon, Vale...and because of the Blood Moon, the rest of Remnant too. When we find them, Yang, there's gonna be hell to pay."
"And we find them we will," Ruby said, stepping up beside him. "This...this is why I came here. Seeing all the chaos is kinda scary...but it's what I signed up for. I won't let anyone else lose their lives tonight. Cinder, Mercury, Roman and the White Fang - we're gonna stop them all."
She spared a nod for all of them, beginning with Weiss and ending with Jaune and Pyrrha. "So let's go stop them. Let's be huntsmen and huntresses together."
Apparently, their enemies did not agree with Ruby. The moment they turned back towards the frontlines did an ear-splitting roar echo throughout the campus, one that was commanding as it was familiar. Thankfully there was only one, but it was harrowing to think it was most likely a survivor amongst others that likely attacked the campus earlier.
After batting away an attack by some of the other students, the Blue Lynel emerged from fire and smoke, zeroing in on them and unsheathing its wicked bow.
But as they broke ranks, Ren remembered Ruby's words over the din of battle; while this one seemed tougher than the one at Forever Fall, they too have grown in skill and experience since then.
It didn't matter when memories of an elder horseman Grimm flickered through his eyes, because just like then, he believedfor a fact they'd live to see another day.
"Huntsmen...huntresses..."
He looked to Nora, then to Jaune, Pyrrha, Team RWBY and beyond.
"...together."
Ren liked the sound of that.
x==)======+
With a mighty yell, Pyrrha gripped its spear via Semblance and pulled.
The Lynel seemingly took offence since it quickly yanked back, ending their spontaneous tug-of-war by sending her flying. She recovered admirably, shield instead of body colliding with the beast's horns, though she cried in pain when it slammed her to the ground. Pyrrha retreated when Jaune charged it with a furious yell, landing several blows to its arms that were patiently weathered before the Lynel shoved him and an oncoming Yang away.
Gunfire tore through the air, and the beast recoiled from their firepower. Pyrrha joined Ren, Weiss and Ruby in blasting away, allowing Blake and Nora to rush in. The Lynel caught her oncoming swing and tossed her into Ren, but when it jabbed with the butt of its spear, the Blake it hit proved a clone while the real one sliced its torso apart.
Annoyed, the Lynel roared and slammed its spear into the ground. Pyrrha went flying from the massive explosion, along with just about everyone else; when she recovered, however, her heart dropped upon seeing the beast charge for a certain red reaper directly in the middle of its path.
It hefted its spear as she cried out Ruby's name -
And a loud clang resounded through the courtyard. An arm and white greatsword from a familiar white glyph parried the strike, and again when the Lynel tried to break past. Weiss shielded Ruby from underneath, screaming at the strain upon her Aura, but thankfully it withdrew when Jaune and Yang advanced in a pincer.
Sensing the need for a change in strategy, it took out its bow and fired off ice arrows for the four tired fighters -
A second explosion blocked the projectiles, though much smaller and defensive in nature. Cardin Winchester balefully glared at the Lynel, with Dove, Sky and Russel sprinting in from the sides to tackle it head-on.
"Ugh. Get a grip, you guys," he sneered as he replaced the spent fire dust crystal atop his weapon. "You know, Jaune, I'd thought you'd get better by now, but seeing you like this reminds me why you're so pathetic."
"Dammit, this isn't the time," Jaune sighed as he panted in exhaustion. "We need a plan to beat this thing -"
Cardin scoffed. "Yeah, yeah, whatever. This isn't our first rodeo either, it's just that I never thought I had to deal with this thing again. For fuck's sake..."
Pyrrha regrouped with them as the hulking teen charged to fight the Lynel directly, while a fresh wave of reinforcements arrived to hold off the other monsters after airstrikes lit up much of the background. It effectively isolated the most dangerous enemy from outside support, and she accepted that the result here could very well determine the tide of battle.
Jaune nodded as Ruby and Weiss came over, the former looking acutely pleased for her partner defending her. "'Kay, just like last time. The Lynel's stronger than the one from Forever Fall, but now, so are we. We have the numbers and firepower, so we gotta overwhelm it and give it no chance to move or attack."
"Alright then. How about this?" Ruby cut in. "I'll take Weiss, Ren and Nora, while you take Pyrrha, Yang and Blake. We'll light it up while you guys close in. We can stop it before it tries anything."
"I like your style," Jaune replied, while the others nodded in agreement. "Make sure to aim for the face, but this is our chance, guys. Take him down and we control the campus. Remember - watch your backs and those of your partners." He looked to her and smiled, though their gazes snapped back at multiple cries of pain; the Lynel swatted Team CRDL away before focusing on them again. "We did this before, we'll do it again, and that means no one dies on my watch. Break!"
And not a moment too soon, a vicious hail of gunfire covered their approach and forced the beast into the defensive. When it tried to gallop past, Weiss cast several gravity glyphs along its intended path, nearly causing the beast to trip and giving them a chance to attack.
"Jaune, boost me!"
"On it! Yang, Blake, go for the bottom!"
The crack of Ruby's sniper scythe stunned it once more, and Jaune launched her when she hopped onto his shield. Her strike was easily blocked, close enough that she could smell its rotten breath, and the Lynel mockingly snorted when it dodged Yang's punch. She fell back - as did Yang - when it punted the blonde with its elbow, though Blake was faster and managed to slice both a front and rear leg in a single rush.
Now that really pissed it off. When Blake tried to dart out of range, the Lynel managed to grab and slam her into the ground as it did her. Yang swore and rushed in with Pyrrha under a hail of gunfire, though Ruby, Weiss and Ren stopped when it hefted the dazed faunus up as a meat shield. It threw Blake at Yang, then Pyrrha backflipped over its slice and hurled her spear into its torso. The Lynel roared in pain, then again when Jaune, Nora and a vengeful Yang mercilessly attacked.
It leapt out of range, only to find itself by the waiting arms of a recovered Team CRDL. Cardin baseball swung his mace right into the Lynel's rear, and when it tried to skewer him, his spear met Sky's halberd, reinforced by her Semblance adding enough strength to just barely hold against a direct hit.
"Everyone, now! Light it up now!"
The Blue Lynel staggered under a hail of gunfire, grenades and physical blows. Even with superior strength, their numbers and versatility combined weakened the powerful beast to the point where it desperately lashed out at anyone in range. Nora whooped with delight when Weiss shot her with lightning dust, allowing her to deliver an electric wallop that, while blocked, shocked the Lynel in place. Taking advantage, Jaune rushed in with Pyrrha to slice its front and sides multiple times, and when it tried to shove him, he backflipped and flurry rushed it once more.
It nearly fell to the ground and was clearly within its death throes. But the moment she, Jaune, and literally almost everyone else dashed in to finish it off, its head snapped up with a feral grin before unleashing a ferocious spin attack with its spear. Most of them were quick to dodge it -
Except one.
Cardin yelled in pain as his guard was broken; his mace flew away and the hulking teen fell to his knees with his Aura fizzling out. Determined to take one of them down with it, the Lynel charged towards the downed teen, and to her horror, Pyrrha realized they would be too late. Even when she used her Polarity to pull its spear back and Ruby bolted past with Semblance-enhanced speed, it was clear the beast would reach him before anyone else could.
The boy looked up with fear as a powerful fist surged towards his face -
"C-CARDIN! NO!"
And felt nothing but a rough shove and a gust of air. Cardin's eyes locked onto Dove's for a second before he was brutally blown away, and his Aura shattered upon impacting a stone wall. When he peeled off the wall and fell to the ground, Dove remained silent and unmoving.
"Y-you...raaaggh!" Cardin screamed, all but tackling and trying to pummel the massive monster with his fists before he was tossed away as if a mere annoyance, crashing into the bodies of his other teammates.
The feeling Pyrrha felt surging through her veins could only be described as enraged. The next second, pink explosions erupted along the Lynel's body as Nora fired with abandon, while Ren, Blake and Weiss rushed in once more. Whilst he distracted it by firing point-blank, black and white combined their dwindling dust reserves to weaponize Blake's clones, setting them off in a line of explosions that had the Lynel eating dirt.
Upon picking itself up, it saw a furious Ruby for only a second before feeling overwhelming pain as her scythe sunk into its torso. Combined with her Semblance and Weiss' speed-enhancing glyphs, the Lynel roared as it was catapulted backwards -
Right into the marbled sword of Alastair Arc.
The statue crumbled beneath its weight, but despite the blade which effectively crippled it, there was still some fight left in its eyes.
It was time to end this now. For Jaune. For Ren. For Nora and Team RWBY.
For Penny.
Jaune rushed it first, vaulting over its slow, weakened thrust and landing a visually impressive slice that she could only describe as a helm splitter. When he landed opposite, no words were needed about what had to come next.
Pyrrha ran and predicted its thrust, leaping atop its spear and using it as a footstool to impale the beast in the heart, right as Jaune planted his sword into the top of its head like a pedestal.
They both fell back - sans Jaune's weapon - as the beast gave one final cry, wavering in place before falling dead. It burst into a cloud of purple Malice and Crocea Mors clattered upon the concrete, but as her deafening heartbeat gave way to the ambience of battle, Pyrrha could only stare back at an equally breathless Jaune.
"Hey, a-are you okay?"
"I think so," she replied as he retrieved his sword. Despite her robust physical condition, the adrenaline masked her raw exhaustion. "Nothing feels broken, anyway."
"Good. That's...good to hear," Jaune said before leaning on her for support. "By the Gods, we did it. We killed the Lynel...I can't believe it."
"It's not over yet," Blake chided lightly, looking haggard as he was. "Beacon's still crawling with monsters, although I think we've definitely turned the tide."
True enough, upon looking around, the fighting had effectively entered the campus proper. A few teams of staff, students and Atlesian droids began filtering into the dorms, while the glow of the Blood Moon itself seemed to lessen in intensity.
Her relief was abruptly shattered by a frantic cry, however. Following the sound of Ruby's voice, they rushed over to find her and Weiss by CRDL's side, only to see the form of Dove Bronzewing laying eerily still.
"H-hey man, you can't leave us just yet! How am I gonna kick your ass for saving his if you can't even stand to take it?"
"Dude, don't be so rough. At least he's breathing, even if barely," Russel hissed at Sky, though he was equally as scared. He then glared at her and Ruby before settling on Jaune "A-and you! It's always you! Why do we always get the short end of the stick whenever you're around!?"
Irritation flashed through her veins, though Cardin beat her to the punch when he bonked Russel on the head. "Dammit, Russel, that's enough. We need to get Dove to a medic, and carefully. His Aura's depleted, and I think his head and back are -"
An earsplitting explosion silenced them all when it tore apart the peak of Beacon Tower.
Shocked, they all turned to see a pillar of fire erupt from what was once Ozpin's office - and the familiar silhouette within that had Jaune and Ruby gasping in horror - while another explosion rocked the campus, this time from the western wing.
"W-what's happening? Why is Beacon being blown apart?"
The masked figures that appeared on the roof answered Sky's question, and Blake's knuckles began to pale at just how hard she was gripping her sword.
Especially at the sight of the commander at the centre.
"...go," Cardin sighed as he sent Sky and Russel off to find anything that could be used for a makeshift stretcher. "We're done here. I'm not risking my teammates' lives for a fight we can't win."
Ruby looked like she bit back a retort, and it proved wise when Yang held Blake back from running off.
"Oh, no you don't. You're not gonna take Adam Taurus and everyone else by yourself. We're coming with you."
"But what about Cinder and Mercury? If they can do all this, then we're gonna need your help -"
Yang looked agonized, but Blake responded to Nora with a pleading voice. "And let the White Fang continue to blow up the rest of Beacon? We need to stop them before they could detonate them -"
"- and chances are Cinder Fall is the one in charge of all this, no?" Ren whispered. "If we neutralize the head of this operation, perhaps we could force them all to retreat entirely -"
Weiss shook her head. "No, we can't. Think about it. An attack this well coordinated would no doubt have contingencies in place. Isn't the saying, 'don't put all your eggs in one basket?'"
Seeing them bicker only served to infuriate Pyrrha. Patience was a virtue, but not when they could be back on the frontlines, fighting their way to whoever was responsible for all this -
"Then we split up."
- but that didn't mean the only other option was any better.
x==)======+
It hurt to say it out loud despite being the most logical solution.
While Cardin and his team focused on their comatose teammate, the looks Jaune received from his friends solidified that impending feeling of doom. He and Ruby were the ones who pushed so hard to remain together - but she too looked equally distraught.
"I...I don't like this either, but we need to cover our bases and find Ozpin," he continued. "Time's running out, our teachers are scattered and we can't be everywhere at once."
"Jaune, no! Together's the only way we can make it through this mess!"
"But there's no other way, Ruby! I hate this as much as you do, but if we don't spread out, then even more people will get hurt or worse. More people might end up like...like..."
"Like Penny," he didn't say, but the implication was clear enough.
Pyrrha and Nora cried out when Yang suddenly shoved past Ruby and grabbed him by the collar with crimson eyes.
"When you find that bastard, you give him the beating he deserves for me. Got that?"
Jaune's shock faded and he nodded resolutely. "I will. Arc's promise."
Yang released him. "Good. I'm sorry, Ruby, but Jaune and Weiss have a point."
It was the closest he'd ever seen Ruby come to crying, but she wiped it away and replaced it with a look of determined fury. She slammed into Jaune with her Semblance and wrapped him in a tight hug.
"You're gonna owe me so many cookies after this."
"I'll get Ren to teach me how to bake," he sighed, returning his fellow team leader's hug before stepping back. "They'll be the best cookies you've ever eaten."
"Snrk. I'll hold you to that, Vomit Boy," Ruby replied with a sad smile before joining her team in saying their farewells. The sight almost made him reconsider, but the deal was done. They had their bosses to fight.
It was time to face the music.
RWBY went west, while they went north; but even when they crashed through the melee in the courtyard, Jaune felt that sinking feeling deepen. Dodging past a Thunder Wizzrobe's lightning, the sight of Nora absorbing it and bashing the monster in the face with its lightning rod reminded him of his duty as team leader.
Of his duty as a friend, and a good one always fulfilled their promises.
Exhausted with depleted Aura, Courage flared as he rammed his sword through a landed Aeralfos' gut, and when a Stalkoblin tried to shoot him with a bow, Pyrrha nailed it first with her spear. Ren skirted up ahead, delivering a roundhouse kick that snapped the neck of a blue Bokoblin, and when a Griffon soared at him from above, Pyrrha launched Nora up high so the valkyrie could land with a broken mount.
But the closer they drew to the tower, Jaune could only feel...odd. Apprehensive.
His Triforce was behaving erratically. Even when his team defeated the last of the monsters around them, the burning sensation upon his hand only intensified, pulsing rapidly in tune to the beat of his heart.
...no, scratch that. Of a heart. Jaune's eyes widened upon realizing it was slightly off sync.
"Um, Link? What's going on? I've never seen it act like this before."
...
"...Link?"
Be on your guard, Jaune, Link replied with a steady voice. I feel your hesitation, and I will not lie when I say that it is well-founded. Even I grow wary of what lies ahead.
"...oh. That bad?"
Jaune, listen to me very carefully. Courage is reacting to its other half - consequently, the one who holds it. This person draws near, and I doubt they have friendly intentions.
He froze on the spot, while Pyrrha, Ren and Nora came over with worried looks. It didn't help when they were in front of the tower itself, with the buildings beside it emanating an enclosing feeling.
"Jaune? Are you okay?"
"No," he replied to Pyrrha, scratching the back of his head. He wouldn't lie to them either, not when they needed to know. "There's more than just Cinder and her team waiting behind those doors." He raised his flickering Triforce sigil. "And I don't feel good about it at all."
"Neither do we," she agreed, while Ren and Nora nodded steadfastly behind her. "On the way here, I realized this will probably be the most difficult fight of our lives. We've seen how skilled Cinder's team is, not to mention what's at stake."
Jaune's gaze fell, though he felt a gentle hand lift his face before soft lips brushed against his.
"But you know how I was able to keep fighting, Jaune…?" Pyrrha's lidded eyes flit between Ren and Nora before returning to him. "Because in that moment I made my choice. I would rather share one lifetime with you than face the rest of it alone in this world. I choose a life with you."
He didn't even feel the wetness in his eyes until Pyrrha wiped a tear away, because he kept repeating her words over and over in his head. It was everything he asked for and more, but hearing the bittersweet undertone that betrayed her own fear had him kissing Pyrrha back firmly. Desperately. It was not just a gesture of love, but of safety and worry; even as Link's voice tried to cut in from the back of his head, all he wanted was to lose himself in her and how things once were -
"That was the sappiest speech I've ever had the displeasure to hear."
Jaune and Pyrrha broke apart and brandished their weapons as Cinder Fall descended atop a column of flame from the shell of Ozpin's office. In his peripherals, he noticed the silhouettes of Mercury Black and Emerald Sustrai appear upon the rooftops.
"Tsk. To think that Ozma chose this bleeding heart of a champion as Amber's successor. How distinctly...asinine."
Jaune growled and levelled Crocea Mors at her throat. "I have one question for you. Why?"
"And I have a question for you," she spat, eyes seemingly dancing with fire. "What makes you think that you're in a position to make demands of me? My reasons are none of your concern."
Mercury smirked and entered a fighting stance while Emerald drew her pistols. The sounds of panic behind them had Jaune turning back, and his heart dropped upon seeing haywire Atlesian droids running rampant against their allies.
"I suppose there is no point in asking you to surrender peacefully, then," Pyrrha replied with a determined gaze. Gone was her fear, and all doubt locked beneath her measured expression. "Very well. Know that what happens next is entirely on you."
"Hmph. While the majority of the credit belongs to me, I must admit that I had assistance in securing the...cooperation of your Headmaster. Willing or otherwise," Cinder grinned as she summoned a spear of flame. "Jaune Arc, I have no need to answer you, but someone else might beg to differ -"
The doors to Beacon Tower opened and a figure emerged from the shadows.
"- one who knows you all too well."
Jaune's eyes widened.
Dark Link stared back.
The Triforce of Courage blazed a burning light on his hand and Dark Link's, and right then and there, Jaune felt all the nightmares of the past, all the fears that were buried and forgotten erupt to the forefront. His dreams were over - this was reality. The monster that once hunted him in sleep stood less than fifty feet away.
It didn't even matter when a massive Grimm Wyvern flew overhead, for seeing him brandish his flameblade and Hylian Shield all but confirmed his worst fears. Jaune didn't just face himself. He faced himself -
The Hero of the past that succumbed to the darkness.
Defeating him meant restoring his spirit, reuniting Courage and maybe even learning how to revive the Master Sword.
And if he lost…
It was an outcome he didn't need to dwell upon, because Jaune knew the answer could only be gleaned by the edge of the Hero's blade.
- AN -
Hey and welcome back to A Descendant of Legends!
First off, I apologize for the continuous delays, as I wanted to have this posted earlier on Wednesday. Several days before that, however, my laptop bricked and lost everything in it, so I also devoted a lot of time to getting it fixed. Thankfully the story's overall outline was backed up in the cloud, so if I lost that...ahem. Most importantly I also wanted to take breaks from writing to spend time with my family this season and focus on other hobbies, since hey, I want to unwind too, lol.
But back to the chapter! I tried to strike a balance between a bleak atmosphere and the relief characters feel when scoring victories against their enemies, so I hope I nailed that down. Lots of Zelda monsters, lots of action - I hope you enjoy this chonker of a chapter. There'll be even more of them to deal with when Jaune and co. begin to quest in future chapters, amongst other obstacles; its been fun watching gaming videos not just for the nostalgia when I'm eating lunch, but to also admire the level design in various dungeons...little teaser won't hurt, right?
Anywho, two other points - firstly, I hear you. I hear the vox populi that wants me to finish Arc III with Pyrrha alive. I know how you all feel, and I myself adore seeing her get a little bit of deserving love. But I need to hold fast with my spoiler policy until the next chapter. I know it's as good as denying it for many, but the only definitive answer I have until Chapter 30 is finished is "maybe".
Lastly, the next chapter will come a little later as I'll be starting to iron out the script for Arc V, so it'll be roughly three weeks instead of two. That, and, well, I do want to enjoy my Christmas break, lol. I'd rather have the longer cliffhanger here so by the time the next chapter rolls around, I hit the ground running with the usual upload schedule.
In any case, thanks for sticking around so far! Stay safe, have a merry Christmas and or happy holidays for the rest of the year. Constructive criticism, feedback and your general thoughts are always welcome, and see you all in the new year!
Xealchim: Glad to have you along for the ride when you were, I wish you the best and happy reading!
Boshwa: Haha yea I can see it too. I can just imagine Salem getting blasted in the face full force with one of the Divine Beasts' uber beams, or even the Grimm Wyvern squaring off against Vah Medoh. Wonder if good old pasta bird would have anything to say if it plops Grimm onto the beast itself, lol.
SentinalSlice: Lol indeed! Even if he is holding back. And now he faces a Hero without any holds to bar. Jaune does have the OG Hero in his head while Dark Link still isn't at full strength, so, while difficult, fighting him should be rather straightforward. Probably. After all, he's just another Link with the exact same moves and thinking patterns...right...? ;)
Fyr RedNight: Heheh thanks! Glad to know you like it. It's been one continuously rising roller coaster before the fall, and I think it's safe to assume this chapter's the tipping point - in many ways more than one.
Roy4: Salem...oh, Salem, her and Cinder are so dead-set on their goals, knowingly (or not for Cinder) taking this path of thorns. While their reckoning will come in due time, the greatest of the burdens they create will be placed on Jaune's shoulders - no Hero was ever prepared for their journey, and Jaune is no exception. And it will be an arduous one indeed when the one who came before him stands ready to make sure he fails too.
Guest: Ah, we'll see! Being someone whose favourite ship in the series is Arkos, I really want to give you a definite answer, but spoilers are spoilers.
WolfMaster2020: I agree with you and Guest as well. I love the poor girl to bits, and that scene with her statue was the first and only time I shed tears watching RWBY. And that is definitely one hell of a plot twist - I can already imagine the implications with Jaune and her family going forward. I want to give you a definite answer too, but I gotta be uniform and hold fast on the spoilers until the next chapter.
The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.