Arc III: Chaos Named
Chapter 30: Chaos Named
"Surreal" couldn't even begin to describe it.
At first glance, standing shoulder to shoulder with his team below a rapidly obscuring Blood Moon would've been an epic sight to see. But Jaune remembered that this wasn't a lucid dream while he was snug in his bed, safe in his dorm. This was reality - reinforced from feeling the first raindrops fall to the lingering aches and bruises from fighting the Blue Lynel. He was tired. His Aura was almost completely drained, and glancing to the side confirmed Pyrrha, Ren and Nora to be in the same sinking boat as he was.
But Dark Link focused on him alone, and Jaune responded in kind.
"Oh my Gods. It's him. It's really him, I can't believe it -"
Steady, Jaune, Link's voice interrupted, cutting through his rising panic. They watched tensely as Dark Link approached, with Cinder, Emerald and Mercury close behind.
"B-but how!? I always died when I saw him in my dreams! What am I supposed to do against him if I can't even beat you?"
The silence didn't help one bit, and Jaune unconsciously took a step back. Dark Link silently stepped closer, and the second step became a third, and then the fourth -
"Jaune! What's the plan?" Nora grunted as she hefted her hammer up high, with Ren and Pyrrha adopting their own battle stances. "What do we do, fearless leader? A-and who even is that guy? He looks like a hella uglier version of you!"
Part of him felt like he should've been insulted, but Nora had a point. Any doubts he had regarding the wraith's identity died upon seeing the Hylian Shield and his...uncanny resemblance. Not to mention his half of the Triforce.
"...I...I don't have a short answer for you, Nora. Only that he's everything that I'm not," Jaune gritted, warily watching the four enemies break into a sprint. "And as for our plan...?"
Courage rang as he braced himself.
"Survive."
Dark Link struck first with a probing slice that met his shield. It felt like trying to parry a falling comet, but the speed behind the following proved him to be a meteor shower. Dark Link retreated as his team joined in, followed by Cinder, Mercury and Emerald; Pyrrha deflected Cinder's flaming javelin towards Mercury, who blocked it in time but was blown back by the full force of Nora's hammer. Ren tried to assist her, though Emerald warded him off with revolvers blazing from the side.
Narrowed down to fire and shadow, Jaune rolled away from Dark Link's jump attack. He could feel the heat of the flameblade pass when it ate stone instead of Aura, and the second it took for Dark Link to rip his sword out was enough for Pyrrha to light him up with a volley of dust rounds.
But an explosion upon her shield blew her away, leaving him alone as Cinder pursued her with dual swords of obsidian. Jaune narrowed his eyes over the rim of his shield, watching Dark Link rush him with sword held low.
As if in slow motion, Jaune shield bashed at the last possible second -
And Dark Link nimbly sidestepped, ramming the Hylian Shield into the side of his ribcage. Jaune nearly keeled over at the immense pain but instead used the momentum to roll away from the oncoming jump attack. Desperate, Jaune swung wide, hoping to catch a glancing blow, but Dark Link backflipped safely away. Out of range, he produced multiple kunai and hurled them at Jaune, though they found a home in his shield instead of his face.
Jaune couldn't even comment on how they were engraved with the Sheikah eye as Dark Link was upon him once more; each second felt like an eternity, made worse when the opportunities to counterattack came only after numerous parries, near-dodges and the bite of the flameblade digging into his Aura. Upon ducking beneath another swing, Jaune yelled and brought his sword down with all his might, locking the two wielders of Courage in a contest of strength and will.
With a cry, Jaune hopped back and lunged -
Only to have Dark Link strafe behind him into position.
"Gotcha."
Jaune snarled as he unleashed a whirlwind of a spin attack -
And felt...nothing?
Scratch that. Jaune gaped in shock as Dark Link stood perfectly still atop Crocea Mors. His jaw snapped painfully shut when the shadow backflip-kicked his chin before landing a good distance away.
Jaune then fell to a knee tired and aggravated.
Stand up, Jaune! Stand and fight!
"Ugh, can't you see that I'm trying?" he spat, fixing an angry glare at his evil doppelganger. "Not exactly easy when I'm up against someone who fights like you, who fights as well as you but doesn't hold back at all!"
A cry of pain to his left saw Ren slumping by a stone wall against a merciless Mercury, followed by the shrill scream of a panicked Nora when she rushed over to help her partner. Pyrrha seemed to be holding her own against Cinder, but she fought a retreating battle; with her Semblance, Pyrrha magnetically launched metallic debris at Cinder from behind, but she weaved through, caught one, and launched it back aflame.
I will not deny that the odds are heavily stacked against you. However, he is not fighting at his full strength; he holds back when I see no reason for him to -
"He's gonna get even stronger, I get it. I don't think I can win anyway," Jaune grunted, ripping out the knives from his shield while focusing on his approaching shadow.
- and while he wields his sword and shield well, he does not fight entirely like me, Link continued. Look at those knives. His garb. His aggressive movement and focus on agility over direct defence. His fighting style is reminiscent of Hyrulean swordplay and Sheikah ninjutsu. You are correct; as you stand, you cannot take him on alone. So I don't see why you should.
Ren's voice echoed over the din of battle, and Jaune swivelled his head to see him lock Emerald in a grapple and flip her over, right as Mercury sailed above his head due to a vengeful Nora.
You are the leader of Team JNPR, are you not?
Jaune staggered to his feet. "I am."
Then be the leader you were called to be.
Dark Link charged him with a silent cry, and Jaune bore the brunt of his assault upon his shield. It was practically a miracle his arm was still intact against the raw strength that whittled his Aura down, but Link was right. They needed a plan that could be executed together.
...the first being bait for the overzealous nightmare swordsman.
Jaune dodged the next thrust, then the wide swing and then the uppercut; he didn't miss the annoyed look on Dark Link's face - a weirdly off-putting expression, considering it was like staring into a mirror - but as he rolled away, he caught Nora's glance at the last second and nodded.
Dark Link leapt, sword aimed down for an ending blow -
And was promptly blown away when Nora's hookshot blew past and propelled her flying kick to the face. Emerald, meanwhile, gave Ren the slip and grazed his back with her revolver blades, but he immediately countered by catching her next swing and driving an elbow into her stomach.
Flames and a cry of pain, however, saw Pyrrha flying back after sustaining a direct hit. She landed gracefully and threw her shield in the air as Cinder rammed into her guard, the two trading parries and slices with sword and spear; Pyrrha's shield returned via Semblance, and while Cinder smirked and backflipped over, the gunfire from Ren's pistols kept her from pressing the advantage.
Team JNPR regrouped once more, catching their breath while trying their best to ignore their dangerously low Aura levels. The looks on his friends' faces only reinforced the pall that hung over them like a cloud; Ren looked visibly tired, and even Nora's trademark passionate anger had faded after hours of exertion.
But seeing the hints of doubt beneath Pyrrha's expression - the champion, the Invincible Girl, the partner whose courage in him sparked his own...?
Something within him flickered to life.
Instinct took over and before he knew it, Jaune sheathed his shield and placed a hand on Pyrrha's shoulder, subconsciously ignoring how Courage glowed once more.
"Pyr, I need you to stick with me. We'll go for Dark Link and Cinder. I'll focus on distracting and tanking, while you take advantage of the openings."
"Right," Pyrrha replied as Jaune turned to the others, voice and demeanour seemingly invigorated.
"Nora, you and Ren focus on taking Emerald out. Try to avoid Mercury until then and work your way from there. But keep an eye on each other, and when you see an opportunity, take it."
"You know, Jaune Arc, I've been thinking about what you said the last time we met regarding the capabilities of your team," Cinder purred, no doubt relishing their looks of weakness. "I have to say, my initial impressions are not satisfactory."
Pyrrha sent him a questioning look, though he responded by pointing Crocea Mors at Cinder's chest. "You had Mercury kill Penny with his Semblance while you orchestrated...all this. We're not gonna let you get away."
The boy in question snorted loudly and shook his head, while she merely smirked and produced an axe of burning glass.
"True, but you failed to account for your certain defeat. For a team leader and strategist, your competence in both leaves something to be desired."
Jaune growled and took a step forward - mirrored by Mercury, Emerald and Dark Link - though he froze when Pyrrha gently held him back, her hand grasping his glowing Triforce.
"Geez, man, aren't you fucking whipped," Mercury jeered with his hands behind his head. His eyes snapped to the silver-haired teen's and never had he felt so much hate for one person. "But hey, maybe she's actually the brains of the group. You never know. I mean, it's about time you guys realize it's hopeless and just throw down your weapons -"
"Molon labe."
Mercury frowned, and Cinder raised an eyebrow.
"It's an ancient northern Mistrali dialect," Pyrrha coldly replied as she transformed Miló into its spear form. "Neglectful as he was, my father always impressed upon us the importance of standing strong for your family in the face of defeat - unfortunately, it seems you never had the chance to learn that."
His frown twisted into a snarl - a look that matched Jaune's as all he felt was anger. The Triforce blazed at an intensity he never felt before, but whether it was through sheer fury or the power of Courage, he didn't need to question it right now. It was enough to keep him standing despite his waning strength.
Judging by how Pyrrha's hand remained firmly enclosed around his, it was seemingly enough for her too.
"You want our surrender? Our weapons? Then let me repeat my house's words, Mercury, in a way you'd understand."
Jaune, Ren and Nora joined Pyrrha when she brandished her spear and shield like the champion she always was.
"Come and take them."
x==)======+
And so Weiss Schnee charged.
With Yang and Blake carving a swath up ahead, she held the rear with Ruby in a running battle that took them past the central courtyard and Beacon's west wing. The carnival grounds were a mess; tents, stalls and other vendors were ruined in the chaos, while the shell of the lecture halls behind gleamed an ominous orange from the flames within.
All because of the man they pursued - a man responsible for attacks on her company, threats upon their workers and even a few deaths of her extended family.
More corrupted Atlesian droids emerged from the side, and Myrtenaster quickly found a home in one's head. Ruby streaked past the rest with her scythe outstretched, and the robots crumpled to the concrete in half with one fell swoop.
But there was more to come as a Boarbatusk herd squealed loudly and charged full force from the wreckage of a tent. Finding herself and the Grimm amidst a puddle in the mud, Weiss drove her sword into the water, freezing it with ice dust and breaking their momentum with slippery footing. She then backflipped as Ruby dashed through, using the ice to propel herself towards the staggered horde.
Weiss panted and watched as the Grimm were carved apart upon the hockey rink of death, and when a Beowolf tried to attack her from behind, Weiss spawned a gravity glyph beneath its leg and tripped it.
Ruby spared a tired grin when she came over, idly noting the Beowolf's dissolving remains in the background.
"You think when this is all over, Miss Goodwitch will cancel our final exams?"
Weiss sighed. "This isn't the time. We need to hurry and regroup with Yang and Blake before they get swamped, not to mention finding Adam Taurus."
"I know, just trying to lift your spirits a little," her smile fell as she replied. "I haven't forgotten, Weiss. I...I don't think I can ever forget what happened to Penny, and how the moon turned red and all the monsters that came in the Colosseum -"
"Look, I -"
"No, it's okay," Ruby exhaled with steely silver eyes. She reloaded Crescent Rose and pulled the charging handle. "W-well, it isn't, but you know what I mean. When things get a little too much to take in...I just remember all the times you yelled at me. How annoying Yang's puns can be or how Blake thinks she's sneaky when hiding her favourite books. Remembering what's on the other side is enough for me."
On that front, they could both agree. The situation was stressful enough, and Weiss grimaced in thinking of the pressure Winter bore to make unsavoury yet necessary decisions whilst knee-deep within the worst of the fighting. But for her, the chaos only fortified her resolve; she left Atlas to stretch her wings and pursue a way of life free from the constant machinations of her father. In doing so, she found friends that challenged her worldview and a place she could possibly call home.
Both of which she was prepared to fight to the end to protect - starting with her dolt of a partner.
"I think Nora says it best, though," her partner giggled, interrupting her train of thought. Weiss scrunched her eyes as Ruby poked her nose with a muddy finger. "Boop."
"I...you...ugh," Weiss sighed, feeling pleased despite her taciturn demeanour. "We shouldn't wait any longer."
Ruby and Weiss dashed into the fray once more in pursuit of their teammates. With the continuous tide of droids, Grimm and monsters, it felt like repeatedly running against the waves and rising tide upon the shore; their teammates weren't too far away and busy tag-teaming a squad of blue Moblins, but as they entered the remains of the food court, Weiss grabbed Ruby before she could take off, instincts spiking despite the apparent lack of enemies.
Her intuition proved correct when a Deathstalker emerged from the ruins of a small Ferris wheel. Not wanting to draw more enemies to Yang and Blake, they shared a nod before rushing to confront the scorpion Grimm. Ruby began her assault by dodging its stinger, and when it swivelled around, Weiss flanked opposite and delivered a powerful thrust between the plates of its armoured carapace.
It didn't kill it, but judging by the roar of pain, she dealt considerable damage. Weiss added insult to injury by pumping it full of electricity dust, shocking the Grimm from within, though it responded by lashing out and catching her in the stomach. The pain was immense, doubly so as she crashed hard against a metal light pole, but while her Aura bore the brunt of the impact, a quick, ginger dab to the back of her head revealed fingers slick with red.
But their enemy didn't care, and despite her blurry vision, Weiss staggered to her feet when it charged, claws and stinger poised to end her.
Unfortunately for the Grimm, it failed to account for the fact it faced two huntresses-in-training whose skills had surpassed their former selves. When its stinger came down once more, Weiss was prepared. A loud clang echoed through the courtyard as it was parried by a ghostly sword, and when the Deathstalker tried to grab her, Ruby attacked from behind with a series blindingly fast strikes - enough to cut through its unarmoured rear and almost paralyze its tail.
It only made the Grimm angrier, but there was no denying that it was fighting on its last legs. Retreating to a safe distance as the beast charged them once more, Ruby held out Crescent Rose, and with the last of her hard-light dust, Weiss enhanced the scythe with a decisive edge.
The stinger came down for a decisive blow -
And missed as Ruby and Weiss strafed to the sides.
Thinking her an easier kill, the Grimm claws at her first, but it was soon forced on the back foot under their relentless assault. Weiss dodged when it tried to grab her once more, and sensing an approaching Ruby, it instinctively spun to try and catch the red reaper off guard.
A move destined to fail with Ruby's superior speed.
Weiss closed her eyes and hummed as Ruby leapt above it whilst extending her scythe like a harpoon. A large glyph of gravity dust appeared at her apex and launched her towards the Deathstalker, followed by a loud, serrating noise as Ruby speared it like a fish in the water. Amplified by the light dust, the scythe thrust through with ease, and when it fell upon her this time, the Grimm's claws were as limp as the rest of its body.
Seeing it bested within a moment of rest was enough to let the fatigue rush back to her head, and Weiss fell to a knee in exhaustion.
"Weiss? You okay?"
A hand appeared before her, a gesture that was silently but gratefully accepted.
"Yes, Ruby. I'm fine."
"Nope, nope, none of that," her partner sternly replied as she gave her a once-over. "Adrenaline can mask any injuries you feel, remember? You look like you're coming off it, but still..."
Weiss sighed. "Of course I remember. That was one of the points I made sure to emphasize when correcting your study habits. I'm fine, Ruby; my head still hurts a little, but otherwise I'm just really tired."
"Snrk. This is why you need to run with me more," Ruby giggled. "Endurance can work wonders, you know. Or is my bestie too icy for some runsies?"
A weak punch to the shoulder was Weiss' retort, but her team leader had a point. An adrenaline high can only do so much, and there was no way she would remain lacking when even a noodle like Jaune handily improved in only a semester.
Most importantly, training prepared a Schnee when facing the unexpected.
Weiss grabbed Ruby and roughly pushed her away, the younger girl yelping upon tumbling to the ground. But it was nothing compared to the ringing in her ears and the barrage of sharp pain, courtesy of being blasted with a volley of dust rounds.
Her vision went dark for a second or so, before coming to and seeing Ruby desperately shaking her awake. Weiss grunted and an arm grasped around for Myrtenaster, but another salvo of gunfire had Ruby carting her away and taking cover behind some rubble.
"Oh, Red? Little red riding hood...?"
Weiss tasted something metallic upon hearing the familiar and highly unwelcoming voice.
"M-Myrtenaster...where's my -?"
The rapier was thrust into her hands. "Here ya go. Try not to lose it again, 'kay?" Ruby replied, peeking over the top at an approaching Roman Torchwick and his platoon of commandeered droids.
"Stay here for a bit. I'll distract the bad guys and give you a chance to escape."
Despite her swimming head, Weiss caught Ruby with a vice grip before she could run off again. "N-no, Ruby. Stop it. You can't take them all alone like this -"
"- and you need to recover, Weiss!" Ruby pleaded before ducking when more gunfire shot over their heads.
"Haven't you got the memo, kid!? Just make this easier for all of us and surrender quietly. That goes for the little ice princess too!" Roman called out again. Weiss hissed Ruby's name when she dashed into the open, protectively brandishing Crescent Rose like a lioness defending her young. She then heaved herself standing to see the orange-haired man point his cane at Ruby.
"See? I knew you had some sense in you! Not too much considering you're just a kid who thinks she can change the world like the hero she's not, but hey. A kid can dream."
"Leave us alone!" Ruby yelled back. "All you and your goons think is that money will solve everything - how low will you guys stoop to get filthy rich? Money can't bring back people's lives! Lien can't stop the Grimm from attacking! Grimm and monsters you and Cinder unleashed upon the innocent!"
In the distance, an angry scream echoed through the air, followed by gunfire that sounded suspiciously like a certain pair of shotgun gauntlets. "No more. You know nothing about being a hero and fighting for what matters. I've already lost Penny...so...so I'm gonna stop you from hurting the rest of my friends."
An almost mellow look flashed across Roman's face before it settled on a carefully neutral expression. It was doubly odd when his cane lowered as well.
"You know, I don't exactly blame you for thinking of me like that. Hell, it means I've done my job since honing my reputation as an untouchable master thief's been a big part of the plan. But you know what I can't stand the most, red...?"
The cane came up again. "You personify everything I hated about Beacon. Walking these halls with people so goddamn uptight upon their moral high horses, thinking if they kill one or two Grimm, boom! World peace achieved. Well, guess what? Life doesn't work like that. Where were they when Grimm overran the villages in the country that Vale forgot? Where were they, Ruby Rose, when they sealed the tunnels off and left me and my team to die!?"
Weiss narrowed her eyes and looked to Ruby, who had the face of someone who wanted to argue back but had nothing decisive to say.
"Not to mention the other thousand or so with us too. And what did they call it...? Structural integrity failure, if I remember correctly. Perhaps the skeletons of my two teammates have a better answer for you."
"I...I'm sorry, Torchwick," Ruby eventually said. "But it doesn't undo everything you've done since."
"Perhaps," Roman admitted, "but it sure as hell taught me how harsh reality is. Yeah, I like lien, but money is just means to an end. Tell you what, kid. I'll do you a favour and teach you the lesson upfront. This time, you're really gonna know the meaning of survival."
The droids began firing, providing cover for Roman to meet Ruby in the centre of the fairground. Weiss nearly cursed when a quick check of her scroll revealed less than a quarter of her Aura left, and she nearly dropped it at the shrill sound of her partner's cry. Roman stumbled back dazed when Ruby jabbed the scythe's shaft into his chin before sweeping his legs, yet every time she tried to follow up, the droids' suppressing fire forced her to dodge instead.
Summoning the last of her energy, Weiss tried to run over, but the sounds of machinery behind forced the heiress to instead jump away at the last second to avoid a backstabbing robot. She activated her last reserves of yellow dust to electrify her rapier, and when the droids attacked in force, what normally would've taken multiple strikes were accomplished with only a few.
But even though robots like these were cannon fodder to huntsmen, their weakness and the unrelenting reinforcements with Roman more than evened the odds. Fear gripped her heart when she realized that Ruby faced both their numbers and a trained huntsman alone, and before long, Weiss threw caution to the wind and began sprinting to Ruby.
It proved a critical mistake.
Whether it was their targeting systems or simply a lucky shot, Weiss cried out as her knee erupted with sharp, burning pain, and the concussive force from the dust round sent her skidding. Pale blue Aura had literally saved her skin, but was on the verge of breaking entirely; her eyes widened not just at the rapidly colouring joint, but in realizing that her ability to fight was heavily compromised.
"No. No, no, no, I can't have this. I need...to...fight...Ruby needs my -"
Weiss snapped to the girl in question, only to see her being slowly overwhelmed. Even as other droids advanced upon her, Ruby deflected a series of baseball swings, but right before she countered, he suddenly threw a solid punch that connected with her jaw. It stunned the smaller girl and sent her backwards, and Weiss fearfully realized that the thief figured out Ruby's weakness -
Namely, the inability to defend herself in an old fashioned brawl.
Ruby tried her best to make space, but with droids all around and Roman simply toughing out her increasingly frantic attacks, her already dwindling reserves of Aura were further whittled down. Ruby swung and thrust, moves which Roman ducked and deflected respectively, but before she could dash away with her Semblance, he hopped forward and fired Melodic Cudgel at the same time, propelling his shove hard enough to break Ruby's guard.
Weiss gasped when Roman drove his cane into her jaw with an uppercut and finished with a powerful whack that sent her flying across the dirt.
"N-no! Ruby! You s-scoundrel, leave her alone!"
The thief ignored her, reloading whilst advancing upon a dizzy Ruby. Desperate, Weiss tried to intervene by summoning speed glyphs, but to her horror, what Aura she had left was not enough to see it done.
Try as she might, Weiss was helpless. Just like when she fought the White Fang lieutenant upon the train, she never hated her weakness more than ever.
"Remember the first time we met? When you showed up at one of my robberies?" Torchwick sighed, pointing his cane at her head. "You were annoying then as you were now. I'd say nothing personal, but at this point, it'd be a lie. Goodbye, little red. I'm not gonna miss you."
And a gust of wind rushed by as Roman Torchwick pulled the trigger.
x==)======+
"Come and ta-? Hmph. Very well," Cinder sneered. "Then I suppose you will all die realizing how insignificant your efforts were in the face of true power. Just like your pathetic Headmaster."
She pointed her axe at him and summoned a fireball in the other hand. "Link. Emerald. Mercury. Show no mercy."
And neither would they.
Jaune shouted a war cry and charged, followed by Pyrrha, Ren and Nora. Dark Link led the counterattack, flanked by the thief and the butcher while Cinder descended from above. Yet blue eyes focused only on red and Malice. Light versus shadow. A warrior in training against a fallen hero.
Fearsome indeed but despite his buried doubt, Jaune remembered that he survived in the past when he shouldn't have before. Seeing old wounds upon Dark Link's body meant that he was still mortal.
And that alone was enough to give him hope.
Jaune gripped his sword tighter as they closed the distance -
"Three...two..."
Cinder cast her fireball, which was easily blasted away by Ren's pistols -
"...one!"
Jaune yelled and rammed his sword into Dark Link's whilst his teammates crashed into the others. Ren got to work as he swiftly dodged Mercury's lightning-fast kicks, and when Emerald tried to slice him with her revolver blades, Nora deflected them with her hammer's shaft. The ever agile Emerald was forced to contend with an aggressive valkyrie that slowly pushed her further away; seeing through Nora's plans, she tried to disengage and rush back to the main fight, but distraction cost her when Ren, fleeing Mercury, decked her across the face with an elbow.
And that was only the easy part. Cinder and Dark Link were in leagues of their own, though adrenaline and accepting that everything was on the line here filled Jaune with an odd clarity that only sharpened his instincts and strengthened his resolve.
Cinder sliced at his neck, though Jaune ducked and then shielded Dark Link's thrust. Pyrrha rammed hers into the shadow's head, stunning him momentarily and allowing her to land a glancing cut on his shoulder.
Malice dripped from the wound, along with a fresh wave of hatred from his eyes. Dark Link sidestepped her next series of thrusts, and when she tried to sweep his legs with a crescent moon of a spin, he vaulted over completely and hurled multiple kunai at her exposed back. Crimson Aura flashed across her body, but she quickly transformed Miló into its sword form and dodged away before Dark Link's jump attack landed.
And try as he might, Jaune couldn't assist Pyrrha as Cinder proved a match for him and more. She locked his blade with her axe in a contest of strength before shoving him away, and right as his guard broke, Cinder grinned and swept his legs out from under him.
Jaune's eyes widened as his shield began to cave under her relentless blows, forcing him to roll away at the next to give himself and his shield a breather. But Cinder didn't stop, throwing her axe and summoning a scimitar before charging him once more. It exploded upon his shield and temporarily filled his vision with smoke, and with a cry, Jaune lashed out to his left when he saw a shadow strafe through the haze.
Focus, Jaune, it's a feint! Guard right!
Fortunately, his reflexes remained in tip-top shape as he rolled to avoid Cinder's thrust, and when she leapt after his grounded form, Jaune rolled around once more to land a back slice. Seeing a royally pissed off Fall Maiden charging him with a sword for a skewer, Jaune wisely waited in place. And waited. And waited...
...and jumped aside at the last possible moment.
With a yell, Jaune rushed Cinder and delivered a classic left, then right slice and thrust with a flurry rush, staggering her through multiple direct hits. And with one more powerful cry, Jaune lunged with all his might, decking her in the temple with his shield.
Orange Aura flared as she flew back, giving him not just a break to breathe, but also a rush of encouragement as he noticed Ren and Nora making gains against Mercury and Emerald. The ninja, fully aware of Mercury's superior strength and speed, nimbly deflected his attacks whilst occasionally firing at Emerald and Dark Link when he got the chance. And while Nora grunted loudly when Emerald roundhouse kicked her face, the thief's guns suddenly jerked into her face, courtesy of Pyrrha's Semblance, allowing Nora to punt her in the nose with the shaft of her hammer.
But a panicked cry had Pyrrha retreating against Dark Link's relentless assault. There was no finesse, only raw fury as the shadow battered her shield again and again, and when she parried the next strike, he took it in stride and used the momentum to spin-kick her in the ribs.
Hopping back, the kunai he flung were deflected back via her Semblance, and when he caught the shield that flew his way, Pyrrha then forcefully dragged him over. Face met fist, stunning and causing him to let go, but when she went for a stab, Dark Link seized her arm and flipped her with a throw. He then ripped Miló from her grasp and pinned her in a chokehold.
Jaune saw red and Courage flared as he sprinted over, but despite hearing Link's frantic warning, he was blasted away by a volley of fireballs. Distracted by the need to douse his flaming sweater, Jaune stopped, dropped and rolled to just barely dodge Cinder's furious lunge, and when he staggered to his feet, she locked him in a contest of strength once more.
"You. Piss. Me. Off," Cinder snarled. "I know not what she and the shadow see in you, but rest assured that I will savour the moment when I rip the power you hold from your open, beating heart."
He idly noted in the background how Nora slammed Emerald into Mercury, blowing them into a ruined stone wall while Ren tackled Dark Link off Pyrrha. She then summoned her weapons back to her via Semblance.
"Over...my...dead...body!"
Jaune suddenly released his grip and sidled left, stumbling Cinder for just a moment, but a moment was all he needed.
"Pyrrha! Arkos!"
Outnumbered and pincered, Cinder froze in place and closed her eyes.
Jaune leapt with sword poised for her chest, while Pyrrha did the same with her spear -
Cinder's eyes snapped open with the fire of a thousand suns.
And all he could do was raise his shield as fast as possible.
Not since Initiation had he felt so weightless, when Ozpin launched them into the Emerald Forest via platforms on the cliffside. Pyrrha caught him there, but here, he felt the sheer force of the pain upon slamming back down. Link's voice echoed distantly through the ringing in his ears, but it was upon crashing into the side of Beacon Tower that his delirium finally broke with the last of his Aura.
Cinder had buried her fist into the ground with the full might of the Maiden's powers, catching him and Pyrrha point-blank in a devastating explosion. Shifting himself upright to lean against the wall, Jaune watched with mounting horror as Pyrrha staggered to her feet and bore her arms defiantly against the approaching Fall Maiden - injuries and flickering Aura notwithstanding.
No. He was not going to let this happen. He would not let Cinder get to Pyrrha first.
Despite the injuries to his legs, Jaune grabbed Crocea Mors and forced himself to walk. He whispered a silent apology as he passed the remnants of his shield, having saved his life at the cost of being blown apart.
"L-Link...I...I need to save her..."
I know.
"...please...can you...can you help me?"
I cannot possess your body, Jaune.
"B-but...I...the Triforce...the Temple -"
- cannot change anything. I shall continue to assist in calling out incoming threats, but what influence I have does not extend to what you ask. I am sorry...if could, I would make an exception here and do so.
Jaune's gaze snapped to the side at another panicked cry; a vengeful Mercury and Emerald bore down on Ren and broke his defences, the latter delivering a spinning kick to the ninja's stomach before both ganged up on a retreating Nora.
Still, he gripped his sword tight and pressed through the pain -
Jaune! Behind you!
And panicked, wheeling with a sloppy spin attack that was easily parried by an unamused Dark Link. Despite the injuries and absence of Aura that nullified his strength in combat, in that split second, Jaune remembered the looks on his team's faces -
Looks of joy. Of teasing, and boredom, and how he would hear them joke and complain again once this all blew over.
The Triforce shone once more - the last dose of strength for a failing body pushed beyond its limits.
But that was okay.
All he needed was one good hit...
Jaune screamed and swung in an uppercut, an attack Dark Link merely stepped back to avoid. His next slice was also dodged and the followup thrust deflected, stumbling him in the process, but Jaune used the momentum in a last-ditch attempt to shove him away.
"Hrk!"
For that, he received a punch square on the nose. Stars filled his vision, but even then, the Malice in spirit and intent within Dark Link's eyes was plain for all to see.
"Screw you," he spat, watching him sheathe the Hylian Shield as he slowly approached. "Like, why? Just why? You've haunted me in my dreams, even when I didn't know what the Triforce was. Man, I don't even know why you did so in the first place!"
Jaune, stop! Whatever happened to him in the past, he is a servant of Ganon now -
"No!" Jaune pleaded, ignoring his mentor's words. To his shock, the man actually seemed to stop and consider what he said, and it only fueled his desperation. "No more of this! Aren't you supposed to be a Link too? Aren't you supposed to be the guy who saved the land and more? What kind of Hero do you think you are!?"
Dark Link merely stared at him.
And then his face twisted into a furious snarl before breaking into a sprint. Dark Link silently yelled as he aimed for his face and brought his sword down with impunity.
Jaune sluggishly raised Crocea Mors to meet it.
But it was too late.
The world - and his vision - erupted with blinding pain.
x==)======+
Ruby hesitated and bit her lip, but when nothing followed the echoing gunshot, she cautiously opened her eyes to see a familiar and most welcome figure.
"So you think you can just kill my niece in cold blood and just walk away?" Qrow Branwen growled with a voice so carefully measured and smooth that one might've thought it wasn't him speaking in the first place. For Ruby, she recognized it as the tone from the rare moments he was truly pissed off.
"Hrk...! You -!"
"Yup. World's coolest uncle and all-around kickass huntsman, courtesy of a certain coffee-loving Headmaster. But none of that really matters right now, only that I'm the guy who's seriously gonna kick your ass to the moon and back," he snarled, headbutting Roman before slamming Harbinger into the ground and sending chunks of debris hurtling towards him. The shockwave sent the thief flying into a tent, and right as the droids began firing away, Qrow carted Ruby off to rejoin Weiss behind cover.
"U-uncle Qrow! I-I'm...you -"
"I know. Sorry I'm late," he sighed, taking a moment to fire off a well-aimed fusillade that took out a number of the droids. He then fished a medkit from his pocket. "Was told to expect you guys being evacuated to Vale, but fighting through and confirming you pipsqueaks weren't in the city, I tracked your scrolls back here."
"Hmph. Couldn't you have done that in the first place?"
Weiss yelped when he bonked her lightly in the head. "Kinda hard when you're dealing with Lynels and more downtown. Anyway, I pinged the OG Ice Queen too, so she'll swing by shortly."
The heiress sunk relieved. "T-that's good to hear...w-wait. Where are you going? Are you gonna take them on alone?"
Qrow reloaded his weapon. "Well, yeah. And Ruby - where's your sister?"
"Up ahead. Uncle Qrow, I...I think she's in danger," she fearfully replied. "Before you came, we could hear her voice over the battle and she sounded angrier than usual."
His face darkened and glanced between them, the distance and the droids before roughly scratching his head.
"Dammit. 'Kay, well, hurry up and take the first aid, you two. Make yourselves useful," Qrow rasped as he leapt high above cover, drawing the robots' fire before landing with a powerful slice that cleaved several at once.
"Right!" Ruby replied, handing Weiss one of the injectors and heeding his instructions. She didn't even realize how much Aura she lost as she felt increasingly revitalized with each passing second; before long, she grabbed Crescent Rose and made to follow Qrow, but a pained yelp had Weiss clumsily falling back down.
"I think you'll need to sit out for just a little longer," Ruby sheepishly said. "You got hurt worse than me, but don't worry. I'll cover you."
Weiss' initial glare morphed to one of resigned annoyance as she leaned against the rubble. "Very well. Just...just don't do something like that again, okay?"
Ruby grimaced as she knew what she meant, but replied by vaulting over cover to charge several flanking stragglers. With their numbers culled, Ruby weaved through the gunfire and easily rent through them, and when a pair of Griffons divebombed from above, she extended Crescent Rose into a pike and leapt to spear one through. The other turned mid-flight to claw her from behind but instead collided into a snowflake glyph that propelled Ruby the opposite way.
The reaper landed and flashed Weiss a smile, dissolving Grimm falling around them amidst a field of broken machinery. Qrow had since taken care of most of the droids and was now focused on exacting his revenge on a weakened Roman; her uncle backflipped over Roman's swing before rushing into his guard, a powerful move that was parried at the cost of his footing. He then roundhouse kicked him into a light pole, but Roman recovered admirably and footstooled off with a powerful thrust.
But even though he was a huntsman himself, the disparity in skill was clear for all to see. Slicing apart the last of Roman's robots, Ruby watched him duck under Qrow's swing and parry the next, countering with an overhead slice, but Qrow caught it on the flat of his blade and immediately shifted Harbinger into its scythe form. The sudden expansion smacked Roman hard in the jaw, and though he tried to retreat, the distance was too short and Qrow rammed the tip of the scythe into his back.
Pale orange Aura shattered as he crashed against a park bench while his cane flew out of reach. He coughed blood and slowly shifted himself standing, only to hack loudly when Qrow hoisted him by the collar and bonked him out cold. He then whipped out his scroll and texted away.
"I've pinged ol' Jimmy to come and take him in. Don't worry. I'm sure he'll be safe and sound with him."
"Atlesian prisons are indeed known for their safety standards, including that of their prisoner," Weiss added, walking over with a slight limp. "Do you have any more medkits, sir? My Aura isn't fully restored and I'd like to fight to the best of my ability."
"Which means you'll have to improvise. Those were my last -"
Ruby grimaced when another furious voice echoed through the air, though her pulse quickened when she realized it was Yang's...
In the fifteen years she knew her, not once had she ever heard her scream like that.
Qrow evidently agreed when he immediately deployed his sword again and took off without hesitation. Ruby and Weiss shared a worried glance before following suit; with her uncle tearing through what enemies remained, all she could do was hope for the best. Yang was undoubtedly powerful, and her skills when solo or in sync with their team being a force to be reckoned with. In a similar vein, a cornered Blake was a dangerous Blake, and any opponent that pissed her off never knew the meaning of safety again.
But they weren't invincible. Unless Jaune knew something they didn't, there weren't any magic potions that granted them an easy way through things. Guilty thoughts gnawed at her mind; what if they finally met their matches here? Maybe she should've tried harder to rein them in when they sped off ahead, baited by the sight of Adam Taurus. Even when enemies closed in behind them to fend her and Weiss' pursuit off, she still had a speed Semblance, for Brothers' sakes! There's gotta be something -
Weiss tapped her on the shoulder as they dealt with a group of ambushing Bokoblins. "They'll be fine. I'm confident in Yang and Blake in holding out for a little while."
"Ugh, am I that easy to read?"
Her partner shrugged. "I don't blame you for thinking that way. I admit I'm a little worried myself, although it's mainly because, well...with everything that just happened, I still feel like we've missed something..."
Ruby didn't like the sound of that.
They rounded a bend and she collided with the back of a motionless Qrow, and upon surveying the scene in front of them, Ruby couldn't agree more. Unconscious White Fang lay strewn about the grounds of what was once a funhouse, but it was who remained standing that truly stole the show. Not for better, but for worse -
Much, much worse.
Blake's fury straddled the line between zealous and frantic as she fought tooth and nail to break past a flippant Neo. Just like her and Weiss, she was tired and beaten down, and combined with superior agility that was backed by a substantial amount of Aura, all Blake could do was weather the assault and futilely scream her partner's name.
For Yang lay unconscious beneath the feet of a vindictive Adam Taurus.
...most of her, anyway.
Ruby glanced at the other severed half of Ember Celica and whimpered.
"You and I were going to change the world, remember? We were destined to light the fires of revolution," Adam remarked aloud to Blake, pointing his sword at Yang's throat. "But you ran. You hurt me and spat on all we stood for. I'm sorry, my love; I have no choice but to end what holds you back."
He raised Wilt up high -
Blake and Ruby screamed -
And Adam parried Qrow's slice, skidding away from Yang as he grunted beneath the full force of a man protecting his family.
"You stay the fuck away from Yang!" Qrow roared, unleashing a rapid, unrelenting assault that nearly broke Adam's guard, but was forced to back off when Neo launched a flying kick from the side.
"Ruby! Get your sister and your team out of here!"
"Y-yes, uncle!" she yelped, dashing to Yang with Weiss and Blake in tow. "Oh. Oh no. Oh no, no, no...Y-Yang -"
"We need to go," Weiss interrupted with a strained voice, no doubt forcing herself into autopilot to prevent panic from sinking in. "W-we need to get Yang to a doctor immediately. C-come on, guys -"
"Schnee! Your life is mine!"
They whirled around to see Adam sprinting straight for them while Neo held off a frantic Qrow.
Ruby and Blake curled their arms protectively around Yang as Weiss rose to meet him with no small fear in her eyes -
And he was once more forced to leap away when a pair of white Sabyrs bowled him over from the side.
"You want a Schnee, Adam Taurus!?" Winter Schnee called from her Griffon mount while summoning a fresh wave of familiars below her. "Then you shall have one! Face me like the coward you are. And Weiss, Ruby - hurry and get your team out of here!"
They needed no other cue. Blake grabbed Yang bridal-style as the line of friendly Grimm charged a recovered Adam. The battle was soon left behind them, and after what felt like an eternity of running, the faunus' arms threatened to give way and they took a breather by a park bench.
"I-I'm sorry," Blake whispered, gingerly placing her upon the bench. "We were following Adam, then all of a sudden, the White Fang...Neo...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have -"
"Blake," Ruby sternly cut her off, ignoring how her cat ears drooped within your ribbon. "This wasn't your fault. None of this was! If it weren't for Adam, a-and Roman, and Cinder -" she closed her eyes and sighed, and traces of tears mixed with that of the rain.
"B-but still...if I...if I didn't run ahead, or from him -"
A deafening roar shook the very ground itself, and three pairs of eyes stared up stunned as the Grimm Wyvern flew towards the Academy.
Towards Team JNPR.
"J-Jaune..."
Weiss grasped her forearm. "Go and help his team."
Ruby glanced between her and a forlorn Blake before settling on her sister.
"B-but -"
"We'll get Yang to a medic and take care of her. We promise."
Never before had she felt so torn in her life, but even then, Ruby's feet remained planted upon the spot.
But when the Wyvern roared once more as it perched upon Beacon Tower, staring down at where their sister team fought beneath?
"Dang it...hold on, Jaune. I'm coming for you guys. Please...just hang in there..."
x==)======+
The falling rain was soothing; each little drop helped to wash away hours of sweat and soot, grime accumulated after hours of near-constant combat. His exhaustion was strong enough to make even the wet concrete feel so numbingly comfortable.
It was a stark, cold contrast to the sharp, indescribable fire that burned his right eye.
Jaune half-grunted, half-cried out as he staggered away from Dark Link, cupping his eye with his free hand. The point of Crocea Mors began to waver, even as he fought to keep it pointed towards the shadow, but the hardest fight of all was knowing that he lost. Link screamed something within his mind, but Jaune couldn't bear to listen; not for lack of trying, but between the Hero that approached him and the fear for his teammates behind him, blocking it all out seemed to be the easiest route to take.
"J-Jaune! No!" Ren cried out from the side, dashing towards them despite his obvious injuries. "You're not gonna take our leader from us!"
"No, Ren! S-stay back," he hissed, awkwardly stumbling away from Dark Link's thrust before the ninja furiously attacked. Dark Link deflected a kick with the Hylian Shield but was left open to Ren's followup roundhouse to the face. Snarling, the shadow hopped back to avoid the next series of punches before leaping and slamming his sword to the ground. The force of the jump strike blew Ren away, and in the distance, faint pink Aura shattered completely.
He then swung his gaze left at the sound of Nora's frenzied cry. She parried Mercury's guillotine kick before being stunned by Emerald's gunshots. Jaune gasped when Nora lashed out at thin air, leaving herself open to Mercury's flying knee that had her careening across the concrete.
"Why did Nora...? No...it can't be...Mercury...or Emerald...?"
A clap of thunder echoed from across the courtyard; with a bruised, yet sneaky smile, Nora grabbed a fallen light pole and jammed her hammer into its socket base, and when Emerald rushed over to end the fight, one electrified swing was all it took to finally knock her unconscious.
Nora gave one more vindictive laugh before a solid thunk to the back of her head had her following suit. From behind, Mercury fell to his knees and panted harshly from exhaustion.
The comforting burn of the Triforce receded from his hand, and Jaune collapsed shortly after. It was like watching all the nightmares he once had in one go because they always ended the same way -
With an approaching Dark Link about to defeat him for good.
Jaune grunted as he pushed on the tip of his sword to stand, while Dark Link raised his in a thrusting gesture.
The flameblade sailed for his heart -
And a determined cry stopped it in place, with both their gazes whirling to see Pyrrha punting Cinder away with her spear. The Fall Maiden snarled and hopped back before ascending atop a column of flame and blasting his partner with a beam of the same. But even with her injuries and declining Aura, Pyrrha held fast with her shield. For a moment, he was able to see her calm, mellow expression before slamming her fist into the ground.
Cinder veered off when a medley of metallic debris flew in from around them; most were dodged, but the sheer amount began to blanket her like a sharp and deadly cloud. Soon enough, just like how she interrupted their team attack, an explosion destroyed the cloud to reveal the Maiden in her full power.
"I will be the first to admit my only mistake, that being I've toyed with you and your boyfriend for too long," Cinder growled. None of them missed how Pyrrha reached out behind her, however, and the former accordingly summoned a flaming sword.
"But no matter. All your desperate antics end here and -"
"Tell me," Pyrrha whispered as she glared up at her. "Do you believe in destiny?"
Cinder frowned. "Yes."
"Funny. So do I. Because as long as Jaune stands, it is your destiny to be hunted down for everything you've done."
"I've already lived my life on the run. I highly doubt this will be any different."
She dove for Pyrrha with sword outstretched -
And missed as she was deflected by yet another host of metallic debris. With the last of her Aura, Pyrrha yelled and ripped her fist to the front, and with a deafening lurch, the side of Beacon Tower erupted. Jaune recognized the cogs from Ozpin's office amongst the metallic rubble that flew towards Cinder, and as she either avoided or scythed through the rest with beams of flame, Pyrrha gathered the rest into the shape of a giant blade.
Cinder's gaze snapped to Dark Link, and with visible hesitation, his shadow sprinted in the direction of his partner.
"N-no! Stop! Pyrrha!" he cried out, but his voice was lost in the thunderous clash of fire and iron. He made chase as fast as he could, and when she swung with all her might, all Cinder could do was raise her sword to block it.
The force of the impact smashed Cinder against the ground.
Jaune screamed her name once more.
Pyrrha turned in his direction to find an eye of Malice instead of blue.
And a pained sigh was her only reply.
Jaune froze as he Dark Link stepped back and Pyrrha crumpled to the ground, and at that moment he felt something...deep, something tender and vulnerable inside crack apart.
His gaze remained unflinching, even when the skies roared with the Wyvern's entrance. But not even a Grimm dragon or a vengeful Cinder dissuaded him from stumbling forward, stopping only as his nightmare in flesh barred his path.
With the last of his strength, Jaune raised his sword and half-fell, half-swung for his chest -
And their vision erupted in a blinding silvery-white.
Cinder's surprised cries echoed somewhere in the distance, along with the defiant roars of the dragon above falling silent against such powerful light. After a long few seconds, it slowly abated and the world returned to its darkened normal.
The Wyvern was frozen in stone upon the tower while Cinder herself looked stunned, and Jaune didn't miss the way she cradled her sword arm. Most importantly, Dark Link was already bounding away, staggering into the shadows with what appeared to be rising smoke from his body.
Cinder ignored Jaune as she ran after Dark Link, followed by Mercury carrying an unconscious Emerald, and as their enemies left the courtyard completely, he nearly keeled over when he realized that they did it. They won against Cinder and her group - a technical victory since they were merely driven from the field, but in a night of relentless chaos, it was a welcome sight to see.
But every victory came a cost - one which Jaune quickly realized was perhaps too devastating to pay.
Ignoring the pain in his legs and eye, he rushed over to Pyrrha's side. Her head was placed comfortably upon Ruby's lap, who looked at him despondently, but the only person Jaune focused on was his partner.
He gently pressed his hand with hers atop the wound. "H-hey, Pyr. We did it, you know? Because of you, we beat Cinder back."
"Hnngh...t-that's, um, good to hear, Jaune," she smiled weakly. "Where's...um -"
"Don't worry, they made it." He watched as Nora came over while supporting Ren's arm. They too knelt alongside him, doing their best to smile for her sake. "They're safe now. Just like you are too, Pyr."
"Hmm. Good…that's good," she sighed. In the distance, they could hear the distant ambience of battle slowly uplift with the sounds of arriving friendly huntsmen and reinforcements, but even that did little to relieve his rising dread.
It did nothing to stop Pyrrha from leaving him behind.
A gentle tug on his hand tore his gaze back to her emerald eyes. Despite her clouding vision, there was no missing her love beneath.
"J-Jaune…"
"I-I'm sorry," he finally said, doing his best to keep the tears from falling. "I should've looked out for you more. I should've been a better fighter o-or team leader -"
"No. Please...don't blame yourself."
"B-but if I was better I could've saved you, Pyr!" Jaune cried out with an increasingly manic voice while Ren placed a hand on his shoulder. Ruby and Nora were already on the verge of tears. "We got trashed, and hard. I shouldn't have led us into this -"
"Jaune," Pyrrha interrupted, scolding him with a stony gaze. "T-that's enough…you...we did the...best we could."
His head fell. He wanted to say it wasn't, but even though his heart was breaking, Pyrrha was right. He...he needed to do this for her.
"...you know, Pyr, I wanted to ask you out when the Festival was over. Take you out on more dates, maybe go for lunch or to a concert or two...to just...you know..."
She smiled back beautifully - a smile reserved for him and him alone. "I do. I like that...I like that a lot. From our moment under the sun, to that night on the bridge...to when you...danced with me in the moonlight…"
Ren lowered his head, and Jaune definitely didn't feel his eyes moisten further.
"I...I-I'm sorry, Pyr...I just wish we could've been together longer, you know?"
"We were always together, Jaune. We've been together from the very beginning."
Jaune gently caressed her face. "I love you, Pyrrha. P-please don't go."
She smiled once more, eyes misting over completely.
"...I had dreams of us too, you know, like going out for a movie or...or having a candlelit dinner. But perhaps that was too much to ask. I'm scared, Jaune...it's getting d-darker, but in the end, I'm glad to have met you, and I regret none of the time we spent together...I also wish we...spent more. I love you too, Jaune, and...and while we lived together as partners...to me, you will always be my hero."
Pyrrha's gaze fell.
Jaune Arc broke.
- AN -
Hey all, and welcome back. Man, I didn't even know how to begin this AN, but after giving it some thought I'd rather just be open and honest about things, so if it sounds like I'm rambling, I kinda am, lol.
Firstly and most importantly...yeah. I chose to have Pyrrha fall in battle. I know there'll be a number of people upset at this development, and I understand. It's hard to see a character you've grown to love in canon not just die, but have that as a recurring trend with other stories too. Ever since I finished Chapter 29, I've been racking my brain with different possibilities and scenarios that would justify having her survive, and while some of them - including a few suggested by you guys - have merit, I cannot deny the importance that her death has as a catalyst for growth for the cast, especially Jaune. It's true that there's a lot of potential for Pyrrha staying on and growing with the rest as the journey continues, but for me, it would defeat the purpose of her character arc and its impact on the rest. Pyrrha came to Beacon with a goal in mind, her destiny seemingly laid out. Through her time with Jaune, Ren and Nora, and then faced with the Maiden powers, I wanted to write her realizing that destiny, perhaps, may be more fluid than she thought while trying to make sense of it and baring her heart to Jaune. In the end, when faced with unfavourable odds, she accomplishes it all as she dies knowing she fought as a huntress in defence of others because she chose a future to be with who she loved.
I know it's little consolation, but I do want to apologize, however, for not tagging MCD in the profile description earlier. I once thought it best to keep some of the most important points like this under wraps for the surprise, but it's also important for some to have an idea of what you're getting into.
Even then, I know that this is all still an inherently unpopular decision for many, and honestly, I don't blame you. If this is the end of the train ride for you, I just want to say thanks for riding along the way and I wish you the best.
Lastly, some meta updates and a quick roadmap: I've marked the next chapter for two weeks from now, though it might be three weeks as this was probably the hardest chapter I've written so far. Right now, I'm eyeballing anywhere between 80-100 chapters in total. But out of all of them, this is the darkest it'll get, and though there'll be ups and downs throughout their journey, none of the dark moments will surpass this. Arc IV will deal with the aftermath, starting off somber and ending mellow, but I intend to write it as a story where the cast comes to terms and begins to heal - and from a universe perspective, it's the transition from RWBY to Zelda. Through it and beyond, they'll be meeting new and familiar characters, fighting new monsters in distant lands, all while evil lurks in the shadows for its moment of release.
But still, thank you all for reading. Constructive criticism, feedback and your general thoughts are always welcome.
Faightan Gaims: Thank you! Battle scenes are honestly quite tiring to write, but I'm glad you like them. I aimed to showcase RWBYJNPR's growth in skill and experience when facing the Lynel, but writing Ozpin v Dark Link + Cinder was rather fun in the sense that there are three paragons of combat squaring off with no holds barred. But I agree – just like the Nuckelavee in canon, though there will be somber moments here and there, I want to make sure that every W is well earned.
Boshwa: True, and as Jaune and co. go and quest, they'll be meeting characters that many people are more than familiar with. And some will have rather significant roles to play in the chapters ahead.
Guest: Must've been a lightbulb moment for old Ozpin when he finally saw the wheels of fate turning, lol. But I understand – still, even if this is where you leave the train, I hope you enjoyed the rest of the ride. Take care and I wish you the best!
Roy4: Jaune Arc, the next and destined Hero, fought against the former and lost. His antithesis outmatched him in every way possible, and as one chapter closes, it's up to him to discover how to move forward. Just like the paraphrased the words of a certain wise old man – when he hits his lowest point, he becomes open to the greatest change. And learning with time may give him the key to overcome more than just his shadow for good.
We'll just have to see how Cinder treads this delicate balance between subservience to Salem, controlling Dark Link and feeding her own ambition. She knows Salem holds valuable secrets back, but how far she's willing to go for her own ends remains to be seen; so too does Salem's efforts to commune with the King of Evil. Two masters of intrigue and manipulation…who knows who's one step ahead in the game?
Fyr RedNight: Thank you so much! I can only promise there's more to come, from fighting new monsters, seeing new (or familiar?) lands, people and items, but one step at a time – the journey for heroism is a slow, but ultimately rewarding and conclusive one, after all.
Guest: Honestly, I don't know how else to say this, but I wanted to give Pyrrha a more defiant and intimate death scene compared to canon. Here, she passed surrounded by who she cared about after a long and arduous fight, knowing that all her efforts weren't in vain, and having reached the end of the path, she has no regrets.
Guest: Yup! The one and only. While I won't spoil specifics, you could say I'm quite warm to the idea. There's a lot of poetic justice with Jaune earning the Hylian Shield, amongst other certain items.
torogi71791: It's kinda funny visualizing Pyrrha suspending Mercury midair like some kind of naughty child, lol. But as much as I'd have liked to have their Semblances be used even more often here, I also had to remember that they're all still low on Aura from the last big fight with the Blue Lynel, so I settled on whenever they did use it (eg. Pyrrha using the last of her Aura to smack Cinder hard), it'd be at crucial or decisive moments.
But don't worry! I haven't forgotten about Jaune's Semblance and the whole caveat of unlocking others' Aura. I already have ideas for both, though yes, it's mainly when and how to implement it is the next step.
SentinalSlice: Right, so Cinder doesn't actually know the specifics of Dark Link's identity and the world's forgotten history, only what Salem said and her own experiences dealing with him. Cinder knows his name and that he reacts to Jaune, and that both have some sort of magical power, but not much else. To her, right now he's a curious sort of subordinate and means to an end, and how the two interact is something I'd like to flesh out in future chapters.
That's why before the attack, she mulls over the fact that Salem is hiding something from her, and is aware that the path she'll begin to walk in future chapters is a delicate balance. One between staying loyal to Salem and finding more out for her own ends – along with keeping Dark Link in line.
Hope that clears things up!
The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.