Arc IV: Courage Ascending
Chapter 38: A Road Worth Taking
Darkness.
All was quiet, and nothing could be seen except the expanse of the void.
Until a sharp, fiery pain blazed from her side, and she gasped awake with a quiet breath.
Not that it helped much; she was completely soaked, and the pain only worsened as she jostled while slung across someone's back. Even then, she saw bits of colour through bleary eyes and heard the rising crescendo of the local ambience.
Neither of which were the least bit pleasant. The forms she saw were bright, harsh and volatile, flickering amidst falling rain, while battle cries echoed over the otherwise indiscernible chaos.
Still, her carrier - another female, judging by her lithe frame - pushed on, traversing through various sidestreets while occasionally pausing behind cover. And though the pain and exhaustion made it difficult to stay conscious, she couldn't miss the shadows that carried torches and various weaponry by the main roads.
Her eyes grew heavy despite her escort shaking her, and when she blinked awake once more, they were taking twists and turns as if attempting to lose a pursuer.
...but why were they running in the first place? She stopped that long ago, after building the courage to face her former human captors without a second thought for her safety -
She whimpered and clung tighter as images of violent red and a white wolf skull flashed through her mind, following the sensation of cold steel piercing through her lower torso.
"...help..."
"Shh. You'll be fine, ma'am," the girl responded as she hefted her onto her back again. "I'm sorry I couldn't be there earlier...I let my guard down and was ambushed, and when I came to, it was already too late."
She hummed.
"You won't die tonight. I swear it. We're almost there."
She remained quiet.
The girl swore under her breath and took off once more, with all subtlety abandoned in favour of best possible speed. The area around them whirred by her vision as she flitted in and out of consciousness, with some places lit only by the moon while tracers flew around them in others. But after what seemed like forever - and when the girl herself began slowing down, occasionally gripping her head with laboured breathing, the urban landscape gave way to that of the jungle, followed by voices that seemed more alert than actually hostile.
"...this...I know this place...is it...really...?"
Even if her suspicions were true, it didn't really matter as she was just too tired to care. The pain that spread from her wound was painful enough that it just felt numb, and this time, she knew for certain that when she closed her eyes, she wouldn't wake up again.
"...heh. Heh heh. Such a lame death for someone like me -"
Her vision exploded with yellow light as her carrier gave out and collapsed, spilling them both across a wooden floor.
And in the corner of her vision, multiple figures ran over and surrounded them - one of whom had cat ears, and the other, a monkey tail.
Sienna Khan sighed, and for the first time in her life, whispered a mental prayer of thanks to the Brothers above.
x==)==
Weiss Schnee gasped and jolted awake.
She shook her head after seeing nothing but the safety of her room. It was quiet, with the only sounds coming from the open window as it creaked in the wind; Myrtenaster lay at the foot of her bed, along with her freshly pressed and laundered clothes.
"That's the third time this week I woke up because of nightmares. How am I supposed to get any sleep at this rate when all I see are fire and monsters?"
It was almost like clockwork. While the journey took a toll on her, even exhaustion couldn't stop dreams of a burning Vale or falling Atlas. In fact, it was probably the inverse, and at this rate, Roman would be left with a white-haired zombie that once went by the name of Weiss Schnee.
"Considering I've been on autopilot all this time, I doubt he'd notice the difference anyway."
She sighed and turned to the side -
Only to freeze as the roof boards quietly creaked - a jarring noise in an otherwise silent room. Her heart rate spiked upon realizing that the second floor was the top floor - there wasn't even an attic to call the third level.
Swinging her legs off the bed, Weiss wasted no time in throwing on her clothes and grabbing her rapier.
"Who in their right mind would attack an inn full of travellers? Even if we're the only huntsmen in this building, everyone and their pets are armed to the teeth."
Weiss wheeled around and brandished her rapier as the footsteps halted above her window.
"...least of all against someone whose sleep was just interrupted. And I am not exactly feeling patient right now."
Her eyes narrowed as something long and thin fell from above -
Weiss flicked off Myrtenaster's safety -
And promptly rolled away as a thin, gaunt shadow rappelled inside.
"Haaah!"
Without missing a beat, she fired a blast of ice dust and froze him to the wall in an awkward X-shaped pose, leaving only his head exposed.
"Gah! Goddammit!"
"Language!" Weiss barked, marching over and kicking the man's cleaver away. Her rapier tickled the base of his neck, shutting him up. "And state your business before I freeze the rest of you!"
"...hah. Hahaha!" The man wheezed, with the moonlight revealing a young, gaunt-looking figure whose face was weathered by stress, hunger and old battle scars. "Looks like Vernal's info was solid. You were right here all along."
"Vernal...?" Weiss whispered, the name sending waves of dread at the implications. "You...her...are you Shay?"
"Shay? Don't compare me to that chucklefuck," the man spat. "That weasel's lower than any of us. Can barely hold himself in a fight."
"Not like you did any better."
"Fuck you."
The man yelped as a single bolt of electricity arced from her rapier, and they both looked aside when the door opened to reveal an amused Roman and Neo.
"Huh. You go, girl. Might not want to go for long, though."
"Shut up, Roman."
"No, no, no. Let the man speak," the bandit spat, managing a grin despite his position. "We found you, Schnee. There's nowhere left for you to run."
Roman gestured to the window, prompting Weiss to take a look while Neo watched over their prisoner.
"Oh...oh my gods..."
"Yup, you got that right," Roman sighed as she realized she spoke out loud. It was hard not to when she saw town guards being overwhelmed atop the town walls, with many of the torches that lit up the streets being doused by the block. Those that remained were carried by groups of bandits that spread across town, and shadows prowled the rooftops above.
"Like what you see?" the bandit chortled. "If the boss wants something, she'll get it. The Branwen Tribe always has its due -"
There was a loud smack, and the man's head fell limp.
"Good job, Neo," Roman replied as he flicked the safety off his cane. "Time to go, princess."
"One step ahead of you," Weiss retorted as she pushed past, followed by Roman and Neo as they descended the staircase. Barring the distant sounds of panic, the main restaurant remained dark and quiet, but a bright orange flash from the window revealed other nearby buildings going up in flames. Bandits littered the streets and pilfered from houses still standing, while a few patrons behind them were already brandishing weapons and pushing past in an attempt to escape.
Amongst them, a very frightened faunus grandfather, grandmother and grandson looked to them with a clear and silent plea.
It was enough to spike her adrenaline and spur her into action, and despite the urge to stay and fight, they burst outside and charged through the bandits that thought the faunus family as easier prey. The once humid air was now acrid with smoke and filled with the cries of battle, and as they headed towards the eastern gate, a burning building fwoomed and collapsed across the street.
Weiss fired a barrage of ice crystals into the wreckage, severely depleting her ice dust reserves but extinguishing the fire.
"...there it is!"
The eastern gate finally came into view after what felt like forever, but it was surrounded by chaos, a medley of bandits, fleeing civilians and town guards who rallied to make a final stand. Weiss shared a look with Roman, who glanced at an indifferent Neo and the huddling family before sighing dramatically and joining her in pushing towards the gate.
"We're so close! Almost there -"
Weiss cried out as several shots impacted her left arm and ribcage, stumbling her and halting their advance.
"Dammit! Don't stop moving, Weiss!"
"Can't you see I'm trying here, Roman - agh!"
She brought her sword up in time to parry a pair of familiar gunblades, though the sheer strength behind it forced her to her knees.
"You!"
"Me!" Vernal laughed, backflipping into Weiss' jaw before rushing her again. She feinted left before strafing right, to which Weiss swung wide and caused the bandit girl to backtrack. Vernal cursed as Neo tried to flank her, though the latter disengaged when a giant of a man suddenly charged in with a knife-like crystal of pure ice dust.
Weiss stood defensively when the man swung his gaze over. "You must be the Schnee."
She brandished her rapier. "And if I am?"
"Despite my orders, I am not inclined on taking you captive. However, do you have any information regarding the whereabouts of a man named Ozma?"
Weiss narrowed her eyes. "Ozma...? You mean Ozpin?"
"..."
"If you've been paying attention to the news, perhaps your best chance of finding him would be amongst Beacon's ruins."
"It is not that simple," the large man replied, though he visibly relaxed and backed away. "But if you know nothing, then I have no further business with you."
He turned his eyes towards a busy Roman and the faunus family huddling behind him.
"...but those four might."
Vernal seethed as the man headed away, despite being forced to contend with a determined Neo. But Weiss couldn't relax as the bandit girl attacked her once more; she ducked underneath Vernal's high kick and landed a grazing slice on her calf, though Vernal spun and walloped the side of her face with her shin. Weiss grunted and swerved with the momentum, weaving between people with glyphs to deny her a clear shot before spawning another and blasting a pair of bandits in Vernal's direction.
The bandit girl ducked and threw both gunblades like boomerangs, forcing Weiss to slide underneath one's trajectory before parrying a downward slice. Weiss lunged, grazing her side, but a sharp pain on her back had her keeling. Vernal retrieved her second gunblade and rushed in, kneeing Weiss' abdomen before grabbing her ponytail and headbutting her.
"Agh! You...you fiend!"
Weiss returned the favour, slapped her hard across the cheek and delivered an uppercut that staggered Vernal a good distance back.
"Hahahaha! Fucking bitch, now you're starting to get it!"
Weiss growled before rushing head-on. Her opponent was quick, agile and fought dirty - a contrast to her refined, almost graceful swordplay. But as she was pushed back, Weiss realized that while she was by no means a pushover, Vernal was a fighter born and bred, raised and moulded by violence while Weiss merely trained in it.
It became evident as the latter nimbly weaved through a series of rapid slices before firing away, forcing her to retreat and throw up an ice wall. A volley of gunfire easily shot through, followed by Vernal charging through and lunging towards her chest. But Weiss was quick and summoned a glyph as the bandit girl passed overhead, propelling her face down on the pavement -
"Now!"
She aimed at Vernal's heart with a decisive lunge -
"W-w-wait, no!"
And tumbled to the ground as Vernal suddenly grabbed her ankles and tripped her. The bandit girl then scrambled onto Weiss and trapped her in a chokehold.
"A-agh, stop -"
"Nuh-uh. Your fun ends here, Ice Queen."
Weiss gasped as her hearing dulled and her vision grew blurry -
"P-please, someone...anyone -"
Her eyelids grew heavy, and so did the effort to keep breathing -
Until consciousness slammed back into her with the force of a literal battering ram. Weiss fell gasped for air before turning around to face her assailant -
Only to see her retreat from...a teenager? It was hard to make out the finer details, but the boy expertly dodged Vernal's furious assault. The latter snarled and swung wide, an attack easily dodged before taking his staff and jamming it below her jaw. Vernal staggered and kicked in a wide arc, but there was a loud crack as the boy expertly vaulted with his staff and smacked her in the back of the skull.
After a minute of essentially toying with her, Vernal fell limp, and Weiss blinked as he came over and offered a hand.
"Are you alright, Miss Schnee?"
"I...um...I think so? How do you know my name? Who are you, exactly? And where are your parents? It's dangerous here! A-and how do you explain all of that -"
The boy - a farmhand at first glance, with black hair, hazel eyes and similar in height to Ruby - chuckled lightly, almost way too relaxed for the situation. "Do not worry. I am used to fighting against greater odds. But we should leave while we have the chance."
"Right," she nodded, and they both made a break for the eastern gate. From her peripherals, she noticed Roman and Neo disengage and regroup while the giant man pursued in vain, slowed down by the masses of people. The number of bandits thinned out closer to the eastern walls, and when they made it past the gate, all that remained were fleeing townsfolk and the guards who watched the road with heightened vigilance.
As Weiss led them over to a nearby tree, she watched as the faunus innkeepers wave in farewell before joining the rest of the exiles. The grandson paused, however, and bowed low in apology and gratitude before joining his grandparents.
Deep down, she knew for a fact that he was somehow responsible, but couldn't muster the energy to feel vengeful -
"...Brothers above."
Especially when she turned and gazed over Shion. The sky glowed a faint orange as the western town blocks were up in flames, and while it seemed most civilians managed to leave, the Branwen Tribe was now in clear control - with the remaining guards being the last bulwark between the people and certain doom.
And with her adrenaline decreasing, it all started to catch up to her - the shock, the despair, the pain and exhaustion.
She felt...tired. Defeated. Like being here somehow brought ruin upon the town, even if it wasn't her fault to begin with. The desire to return and fight was strong, but a lone, injured huntress against an entire tribe of bandits, all of whom were dedicated to pursuing her?
As much as she wished otherwise, Weiss didn't like those odds.
"...and even if we beat them, things wouldn't be over for long."
"Correct. The negativity generated tonight would be bound to attract the Grimm," the boy agreed, standing solemnly next to her. "As most of these people are doing, we must make haste for Mistral -"
"Now, hold on a second, farm boy. Just who the hell invited you?" Roman interrupted, looking down at the boy with clear distaste. "I'm normally all for that, but why, exactly, should we let you tag along when you're way past your bedtime?"
"Because we have work to do," said farm boy replied, meeting Roman's gaze with a determined one of his own. "Though I may not look like much -" he looked to the side and seemed to whisper to himself - "Ahem. As I was saying, though I may not look like much, I bring much more to the table than you think."
"Really, now? And what would that be?"
"I am not at my full power, but I am skilled in martial arts, survival, technology, diplomacy...the list goes on," he continued. "Most importantly, I pull my weight as a team member. It is an ideal I've believed in and taught over the years - and one that I did my best to hammer into you, Roman Torchwick."
The master thief clenched his fists, ignoring Neo's pleading look. "Who the hell do you think you are? We've known each other for only a few minutes."
"We've known each other for years. I remember you at Initiation, a street kid with nothing but his wits about him," the boy replied, narrowing his eyes. "I remember how much you hated being part of Team ASTR, blowing off your teammates despite their attempts to befriend you -"
There was a loud crunch as Roman grabbed and held him against the tree before punching the bark next to his face. Weiss couldn't hear the whispered words between them, but after a few minutes, Roman dropped him and walked away. Neo followed him as Weiss watched the farm boy shudder, nearly falling to his knees.
"Are you okay?"
"I...I...I don't know," he replied with a significantly meeker voice. A quick look at his face revealed nervous eyes, a far cry from the previous confidence. "W-Weiss, right?"
"...you never answered my question earlier."
"Ah, yeah. Sorry," he replied, scratching the back of his head in an oddly familiar fashion. "I guess he - or I - didn't. But I don't know if you'll believe what I have to say."
"After seeing the moon raise monsters from our nightmares, Beacon fall and my own friends wielding magic?"
"Try me."
"Right. W-well, then," the boy sighed, visibly steadying his nerves. "My name is Oscar Pine, but...I think there's a part of me that you know way better."
Weiss crossed her arms as Oscar seemed to talk to himself again, and after another moment of shuddering, he straightened his back with a self-assured posture. It was almost like seeing a different person.
"I suppose you wouldn't recognize me like this, but I am not just a farm boy - I am the one who approved your mission to Mountain Glenn and chose Ruby as team leader. The boy you see is Oscar, but you may know me better as your former Headmaster, Ozpin."
x==)==
Opposite the carnage, on a western ridge overlooking the burning town, Raven Branwen watched the bandits around her whoop jubilantly at another successful raid, no doubt preparing themselves for the afterparty.
But not her.
Normally, she'd have led the charge while taking pilfered valuables as trophies. Might made right, which was the ethos of not just the Branwen Tribe, but most bandit clans that roamed the wilds of Mistral. She took it to heart since the beginning, then during her time in Beacon and after leaving it behind.
She never missed those days, even when Glynda Goodwitch was a mere teacher's assistant and Ozpin, a young but rising star of a professor.
"...but with everything that's going on, I can't help but think back to when I was neutered and chained to become the ideal huntsman. Who would've known that the man responsible was the one who promised to make me the strongest I can ever be?"
Raven frowned, more so when images of gold hair, blue and purple eyes flashed through her mind - along with a billowing white cloak fading into a murder of crows.
"I became weak, not strong. Fearful, not feared. Do you see it now, Summer? This is Ozpin's legacy in this life, and perhaps all his lives - burning villages and unbridled chaos. And now, darkness of which this world has never seen rises from the ashes -"
The bandits whirled around and drew weapons, but she remained with her back turned despite approaching footsteps.
"For a chief who emphasizes strength and leadership, I have seen very little of it in the streets down below."
"There is strength in knowing when to show it," she retorted as Cinder sat beside her. A glance behind revealed her green-haired subordinate watching them intently, while the grey-haired one looked like he was about to fall asleep.
Crimson eyes narrowed, however, at the cloaked shadow just within the treeline.
"Perhaps, but was this not the perfect time to do so?"
"I am not so insecure that I must constantly show off like a peacock, and if anyone has a problem with me, I'm always open for discussion."
Cinder raised an eyebrow. "Through the language of steel, I'm assuming."
"Not my problem if I'm more proficient than they are," Raven replied, drawing her blade and jamming it into the dirt to lean against. "But I know neither of us like idle chatter."
The Fall Maiden broke eye contact and gazed at the burning village. Emerald stood ready, watching her bandit retinue for any sudden moves, while Mercury began nonchalantly chatting up a female rogue.
"Mhmm. Straight to business, then," Cinder hummed, pushing past a bandit and standing by the cliffside. Raven eventually followed suit. "Did you find them?"
"There weren't any who displayed magical season powers. And while there were plenty of blondes and a few redheads, none of them were Jaune Arc or Ruby Rose."
Cinder clenched her fists. "Are you sure they weren't there? Maybe they're still fighting in the thick of it or making a break for Mistral -"
"Then I would've heard by now," Raven huffed. "Do not think me incompetent as you do for everyone else. I am capable of honouring the contracts I make - speaking of which, it is you, Cinder, who has yet to uphold their bargain."
"In that case, I have," she growled, turning to Raven and staring her in the eyes. "Hazel went ahead and spotted a white-haired girl fleeing east with a few others. Between that and the advance pay I already forwarded to you, I have done more than required for my part."
"Our agreement was for you to bring the girl to me -"
"It was to point you in Weiss Schnee's direction, not collect her like some bounty hunter," Cinder retorted. "Deals work both ways. Meanwhile, you failed to find any info on Arc, the silver-eyed girl or the Spring Maiden. At least I have something to show for it. If you really want your property back, I suggest using extra manpower to secure it."
"Are you ordering me around, Fall?"
Emerald and Raven's retinue raised their weapons, while Mercury and the female bandit sighed and reluctantly fell into battle stances.
Cinder smirked. "I am merely suggesting the best course of action for both our parties."
"Arrogant fucking bitch."
"Careful, now," came out instead, and Raven signalled for everyone to lower their weapons. A flicker of flame snuffed from Cinder's unbandaged hand, while a gale died down as quickly as it kicked up. If Cinder noticed, she didn't question it. "You're not the only one who has bite beneath their bark."
"Likewise," Cinder replied as she looked behind them. Raven followed her gaze to see the cloaked shadow approach from the treeline, and she tensed ever so slightly. There was something...off about the figure in a way that inspired more dread than confidence.
"But the question is, whose bite is stronger?"
"...!"
Crimson eyes widened subtly as the figure threw his hood back, revealing a young man with long, pale blonde hair and one red eye, similarly hued to her own.
The problem was his other eye - bright and malicious, seemingly piercing her very soul with raw hatred. It was neither human nor faunus, and she wasn't even sure it was Grimm.
"His name is Link. You could say that he is a...relic from bygone times," Cinder interrupted, breaking her stupor as the former wrapped an arm around his neck in a mockingly familial gesture. Dark Link shoved her off, earning a glare.
Even then, she couldn't help but notice how similar he looked to Jaune's photo that Cinder sent a while back, but before she could comment, Dark Link walked around and leapt off the cliff.
"...I see. Relic, monster, what's the difference? I don't know what you're messing with, Cinder, but you know this is fucked up, right?"
"Perhaps, but he is strong and I am in control. And by your creed, it's all that counts, no?" Cinder replied, smirking. "Especially after Mistral was attacked by the fire dragon and monster horde several days ago. I will press this advantage when their huntsman numbers are already so low, and as per our...agreement, let me know when you have something useful. I will find them, along with the identity and whereabouts of the Spring Maiden."
Raven clenched her fist, feeling the raw magic course through her veins.
"By any means necessary..."
A smirk. "You know me so well."
She watched as Cinder leapt off the cliff, followed by Emerald and Mercury after he finished exchanging numbers with the bandit girl.
And for the first time since she learned of Summer's death, Raven regretted making a deal with the devil.
x==)==
Fire crackled once more, but rather than burning down buildings, it cast a warm, comforting glow around the party's campsite.
Located a fair way off the main road, Jaune sat upon a log as a breeze rustled gently through the woods. The camp was nestled within a copse of trees, lending protection against the elements and highwaymen, and after a long day of travel, all he wanted was to pass out in his tent.
Jaune sighed. Volunteering for the after-midnight shift felt like a mistake, even if it wasn't worth complaining at the moment. Not like anyone was awake to hear him, anyway; Ruby was huddled up close to the fire, while Nora's sleeping bag rose and fell in conjunction with her snoring. Ren was unsurprisingly the quietest, sleeping between the shadow and firelight with some semblance of privacy.
He frowned, however, upon seeing Yang's sleeping bag remain empty more than twenty minutes after she left, saying she needed a moment.
"...I mean, she can take care of herself and we'd all hear it if she got ambushed, but it wouldn't hurt to check, right? Not like I'm doing anything anyway, except trying to stay awake."
With a dramatic grunt, Jaune stood and left the small grove in the vague direction he last saw her go. The campfire was well hidden, and soon, he was left alone with only the moonlight to guide him amidst the sounds of crickets and owls in the distance.
Even then, instinct prevailed and Jaune fought past the images of a darkened, ruined Beacon. It was a forest around him, not his old school, and with a few breaths to steady himself, Jaune pushed on despite wanting to turn and go back.
"...at this point, I almost want Grimm to pop up from the woodwork."
Should you really be wishing things like that at a time like this?
Jaune knocked on a nearby tree trunk. "No, but I guess I just need some sort of distraction. It's kinda hard not to think about it when I'm literally delivering mementos of Pyrrha to her family."
Link hummed in his mind.
Perhaps, though I must say that you have grown more resilient as of late when facing your trauma. It is not something magic alone can cure, but as time goes on, so too does your strength grow in facing the future.
"...yeah. I sure hope so."
But can the same be said for your friend?
"Huh? Where's this coming from -"
A loud crash silenced him as it echoed from the distance. Jaune then took off at full speed, knowing without a doubt what - or who - it was.
Panting, he slowed down maybe a hundred or so metres from base camp and came upon a small pond within a clearing. A tree had been crudely blown in half and was partially submerged in the centre, while his fellow blonde sat eerily still upon its stump.
Yang perked up as she heard him approach, offering an upward nod in greeting.
"Late night training?"
"Sure. Let's go with that," she replied as Jaune sat beside her. "Did I wake you up?"
"Yeah, but it helped since I was starting to fall asleep on shift."
Yang snorted. "Nice. Considering how long we've been travelling since leaving port, it's so easy to rack out after making camp. Sometimes, I'd rather just climb a tree and find a nice, thick branch to sleep on instead of setting up my sleeping bag."
"Aren't you afraid of falling off, though?"
"I mean, I've fallen once or twice when I was young, but that's it. How about you, Mr. Camper Man? Didn't you do stuff like this all the time when you were a kid too?"
"Aside from discovering ruins and monsters in the valley? Sure," he thought, shrugging outwardly. "I did less of that and more exploring with my friends during the daytime. I stopped going far when we were attacked by Grimm, and since then, it was mainly just to get away from it all."
"Get away from...?"
"Ah, well...Groose and his crew."
"Oh. Sorry."
"All good. Even now, I don't mind walking in the forest every now and then. It's weird, but part of me feels like the forest...calls to me. There's something pretty relaxing about it."
Yang hummed.
"...I assume you're here for the same thing?"
"Of sorts," she whispered before standing and shaking her head. Yang then held her metallic elbow with her other hand in a protective gesture. "There's just a lot on my mind right now."
Jaune's heart fell a little. "Oh. Right. Sorry, I'll, uh, get out of your hair, then," he replied, standing and walking a few feet away. He paused at the edge of the pond, however, and took one last look behind him. Yang was slightly hunched over, wearing a troubled, almost vulnerable expression he hadn't seen on her face since the incident at the Festival.
And after mulling it over for a few seconds, Jaune turned around completely.
"I...it's not really my place to tell you what to do," he began, cautious and hoping that he was using the right words. "But I have a feeling that you...well, we might be in the same boat with some things -"
"- like what?"
Jaune sighed. "The nightmares, the regret. The anger. The...helplessness, especially at seeing those you care about ripped away from you."
Yang remained silent.
"I'll, um, give you some space, but...take this from someone who's in the same place as you are. You're not alone and if you need someone to unload on, someone knows too well what you're feeling...well, I'm all ears."
The silence remained, and after several, long seconds, Jaune turned back towards camp -
"Don't go."
And wheeled right back, finding Yang taking a seat by the water's edge. He joined her a moment later, sitting together in companionable silence.
"Can I ask you a question?"
Jaune blinked. "Shoot."
"After all this is done, what exactly do you plan to do?"
"You mean the whole returning Pyrrha's weapons thing?"
Yang nodded.
"I don't know. Or, well, I do, but it's more so the path getting there that I'm unsure of," Jaune replied, looking at a few fireflies across the pond. "The only lead I have is to find who the Great Fairy said serves Hylia from the shadows. Even then, I don't know where I can begin looking for them."
She nodded. "And then what?"
"I see if they know how to restore the Master Sword. After that...well, we'll cross that bridge when we get to it," He turned to face Yang. "You?"
"Blake."
Jaune nodded as Yang hugged her knees, then reached into the sky with her metal arm. "I need to know why she left. I won't ever forget that night and how my partner wasn't there when I needed her the most. It's...well, I guess you can call it chronic, but I'm not exactly unfamiliar with being left behind when it comes to people significant to me."
"Significant?"
"My mother abandoned me when I was six months old."
Jaune fell silent.
"So...yeah. Being abandoned sucks, and to experience that with someone I thought wouldn't ever do that to my team again - my partner, out of all people -"
Yang clenched her fists and started to shake.
"I-I know I can be loud and obnoxious sometimes, but I didn't go overboard with the puns and cat jokes, did I? I tried to be the best partner I can be, but she just...ran. Even when I lost this -" she punched the grass with her metal fist - "Ruby came to my room saying that she vanished in the night while Weiss' dad stole her back to Atlas. Like...why? Did I fuck up? Or was I just not enough for her -"
She gasped as Jaune clasped her shoulder. After a few seconds, Yang slowly steadied her rapid breathing and patted his arm.
"Sorry. Guess I got carried away there."
"Don't apologize. It's...an awful place to be in," he began slowly. "I'd be just as broken if Pyrrha did the same. That's why betrayal hurts, doesn't it? It never comes from your enemy."
Yang's head fell before speaking up in a low voice. "Is Blake my...enemy now?"
"No, and I don't think you believe that yourself."
A few, long seconds passed before she eventually sighed. "You're a strangely astute noodle, aren't you? Then again, hindsight is twenty-twenty. I'll be tagging along until you guys are done at Mistral, and then I make for Menagerie."
Jaune's brows furrowed. "Are you sure you don't want us to come?"
"Thanks, but...it's personal. And I wouldn't want to bog you down from your own priorities." Yang looked away with a sad smile. "Besides, the way I see it, you have a new team now. Ren and Nora were even debating about calling you guys RNJR or JNRR. Our old teams are dead, but before I put Team RWBY to rest, I need to know. As for Blake...well, I hate her, I care about her, I miss her...I just want to know why."
"Closure, then."
Yang nodded and looked at him with a long, piercing gaze. "I don't think we've fully moved on, but that's okay. We both have a lot to think about." It softened and she smiled as she stood, offering her metal hand. He took it gladly. "Thanks for listening, Lady Killer. I...I might take you up on what you said earlier, but it's a two-way street, okay? I know we didn't talk that much back at Beacon, but don't be a stranger. I'm here if you need someone too."
Jaune smiled back. "Likewise -"
Snap!
His sword rang loudly as it was drawn, followed by Yang deploying her shotgun gauntlets at the sound of a cracking branch.
Snap!
The two adopted defensive stances as the noises grew ever so closer. Jaune and Yang instinctively backed a few steps until they hit the water's edge, waiting anxiously for whatever it was to reveal itself.
Snap!
Jaune's eye narrowed as the shadows in the treeline seemingly shifted and wavered -
And silently gasped as a familiar figure emerged, meeting them with an unnaturally disarming smile.
"It's...you..."
"Chosen of Farore," the Happy Mask Salesman returned. "It is good to see you. How long has it been?"
"Since never?" Yang interrupted, not once taking her eyes off him and his massive rucksack. "I don't know you, pal, but do you, Jaune? Am I missing something?"
"He's an...acquaintance," Jaune replied, sheathing his sword but refusing to relax. "It's been months since we last met. Just before the Breach, I think."
"Near the Sacred Grove, to be exact," the Salesman confirmed. "And it appears that you have been quite busy since then."
"...yeah. A lot, um, happened."
"Indeed. Beacon has fallen, the Blood Moon has risen, Mistral was under siege and the Spirit Guardians, silenced -"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa, come again? What was that about Mistral? And what do you mean by Spirit Guardians?"
"All my friends know," Jaune replied when the Salesman looked at him with an unspoken question. "Not just my original team. They're with me in my quest."
"Very well, though I see you have not heard of what struck this land's kingdom. Their capital was attacked by a horde of monsters, led by an evil, fire-elemental dragon once slain by the Hero of Time."
Images of a volcano flashed through his mind, along with distant memories of scorching heat and the cries of those who lived within the mountains. "You mean..."
"It seems Volvagia has returned, and it would be wise not to discount the possibility that monsters slain by other Heroes have also been resurrected. Mistral repelled the dragon and destroyed the horde but at a heavy cost."
Jaune and Yang shared looks of dread. It felt...eerily close, and too soon to have another Beacon all over again.
"And these Spirit Guardians?"
"Eldrac, Lanayre and Farozu, spirits of power, wisdom and courage. Like the ancient Sages, they are charged by the Golden Three to watch over the old world," the Salesman explained. "But with the past leaking through, they now support the Hero with the Great Fairies in the fight against the darkness."
The Salesman's smile faltered. "Until now."
Jaune narrowed his eye. "What happened? And how exactly do you know all of this?"
"Eldrac and Farozu have gone silent, presumably by Malice," he replied, dodging the question. "And since you are in Farozu's domain, I assume you are here to assist him, no?"
Yang looked to Jaune, who eventually nodded after a moment's thought. "Yeah. We'll be helping the Spirit Guardian."
The Salesman visibly relaxed, his smile growing more genuine. "That is good to hear -"
"But there's a detour I have to take first. I have something from my late partner that I need to return to her family."
The Salesman's smile visibly sharpened.
"It is good that you haven't forgotten your duty, Bearer of Courage, but time is of the essence. Every wasted day inches closer to Ganon's release, and while I know not the powers responsible, they are not to be trifled with either."
"I know."
"There is no time. You must -"
"I know!" Jaune cut in, silencing the Salesman. "Look, I know. I've thought about it long and hard. It's pretty selfish, but...I can't. I need to do this. Pyrrha meant a lot to me and I can't dishonour her memory now, right when I'm in her homeland."
"And the lives of other Jaunes? Other Pyrrhas in this kingdom and the others?"
Yang cocked Ember Celica. "That's a low blow. Good guy or not, your attitude isn't exactly the best right now."
The Salesman merely raised an eyebrow. "Duty over desire, Miss Xiao Long. I understand his situation, but the needs of the world hang in the balance -"
Something snapped within him - a part he wasn't entirely sure was even him to begin with.
"What about Termina?"
The Salesman swung his gaze over, a look of...judgment, mixed with reminiscence and realization. "What about it?"
"When I...no, when the Hero of Time returned from that place, he was never the same again," Jaune continued, recounting the memories as if they were his own. It was easy enough when he sparred with Link in Ikana Canyon, the top of the old Clock Tower and on the shores of the Great Bay. "You knew him, right? How kindness and compassion drove him to repeat the same three days for years until vanquished the cursed mask?"
Jaune sighed. "He never knew how to truly rest until centuries later. I'm not claiming to be anything like him, since he's an actual Hero and I'm not, but just as he needed the Hero of Twilight, I need this to carry on. How can I save the future if I can't honour those who came before me?"
A long, calm breeze blew, and Yang watched with bated breath the staring contest between Jaune and the Salesman. But in the end, it was the latter who acquiesced.
"...very well," he replied, shoulders falling with acceptance. "I suppose I can't talk you out of this. While I have my duty as you do, seeing any Hero suffer as he did breaks my heart. Especially near the end, when he crossed the threshold and no one - not even himself - could save him from the brink. As long as you remember your own duty in the end."
"I will never forget it."
The Salesman nodded before fishing something from his pack. He handed Jaune a plate-sized box, which, upon opening, revealed a wooden mask with old, cracking white paint, decorated with red patterns and a large, yellow teardropped eye in the centre.
"There is a bar in Mistral which specializes in sake from the southern highlands. But it is an exclusive one, known and accessible to only a select few."
"The Sheikah...?"
"Of sorts. Their descendants are amongst those who survived the ancient cataclysm, and until now, have thrived under Farozu's care. They will know how to restore him and the Master Sword, so when you are ready, use the Mask of Truth to find the bar and gain entry."
"I will," Jaune replied with a grateful nod. "Thank you."
"You are most welcome," the Salesman bowed in kind before stepping back. "I only ask that you take care not to lose this mask. As you no doubt know, I once had an unfortunate incident with another, and I feel that other masks I sealed - some of which are terrifyingly powerful - may be in danger as well. Take care, Jaune Arc. We shall meet again."
They watched as the Happy Mask Salesman turned and disappeared into the woods. A few birds began chirping once more and Jaune released a breath he didn't know he was holding, falling onto his rear by the edge of the pool. Yang sighed and followed suit, splaying out across the grass.
"So. That was a thing."
He nodded, letting her take the Mask of Truth and try it on. "That's one way to put it. What do you see?"
"Trees, shadows. You," she replied before handing it back. "Feels like a normal wooden mask, even if it's supposed to be magical. You sure you're not getting ripped off here?"
"Well, I didn't pay for it, so if I was, would I be?"
"Only one way to find out," Yang breathed, sitting upright. "The first step of which is going to bed. We got an early day tomorrow."
"Yup. We break camp at dawn and head east," he agreed, standing up and stretching. "I think our next stop is...Shion? At the rate we're travelling, we'll be there in a few days."
A yawn. "Sounds good. And, um...please don't forget what we talked about earlier. I might need to...check in, okay?"
Jaune softly smiled, one Yang returned before disappearing into the trees, leaving him alone in the clearing.
And when he returned, placating Ren's concerns when the ninja woke up for his shift, Jaune went to bed tired, but ever more determined that the path they travelled remained a road worth taking.
x==)==
Even if it took them to a place where the wind blew ashes and the scent of burnt wood into the hills.
The feeling of loss grew stronger from the balcony as Jaune looked across Shion's ruins. Scanning the area, nothing moved except for a large blackbird that flew off a nearby rafter, but he kept his guard up for fear of a sudden ambush.
Which, in hindsight, was probably what happened. He knew for a fact that it had to be bandits, considering the houses they searched were almost entirely devoid of anything considered valuable. Grimm didn't care about trinkets. Monsters, he'd have also discounted, but considering people were behind this, was there really any difference?
"Why...why would anyone do something like this? What have these people done to deserve this?"
Link remained silent, but Jaune could feel his anger boil with his own. Barring a few Grimm, an uneventful few days of travel ended when they arrived, and after searching the streets for signs of life, they found an area whose buildings remained relatively intact. Having chosen one whose ruined sign read "The E_ng M_ry", Jaune went downstairs and found his friends quietly eating lunch at a corner table. No one paid attention as he weaved between upturned tables and broken chairs, and glancing around revealed looks of sadness, anger, disgust and helplessness.
Several, long minutes passed, and as they finished up, Jaune and Ren took a quick inventory of the various dried meats, vegetables and drinks scavenged from the kitchen and cellar. The silence was heavy -
"We need to do something."
- but it was broken by a voice that echoed their thoughts.
Jaune's head fell. "Agreed. I was thinking the same thing."
Ruby nodded glumly. "Yeah. It...this...everything looks recent. Some of the houses still have glowing embers in them. There's gotta be survivors out there. What if they're trapped or too scared to come out? They need to know the worst has passed."
"But has it?" Ren replied, with Yang nodding along. "Western Mistral is known for its lawlessness, and for all we know, those responsible might still be nearby. There's always the chance they'd come back - not to mention the Grimm."
"Which we dealt with," Nora cut in. "Beowolves, Teryxes, Grendels, even a King Taijitu. Yeah, more could come, but I don't think those we killed on the way here counted for nothing."
"Sure, but..."
Ruby shook her head and gazed at them resolutely. But there wasn't any missing how she fought past the shock within. "I just can't let this go. We shouldn't let this go. I know we technically didn't graduate, but how can we be huntsmen when we can't save those right in front of us? Maybe not everyone fled or was taken away or...worse. There's always a chance and we need to take it -"
"And if not, then what?" Yang replied, face hard-set despite the pain beneath. "I agree with what you're getting at, Rubes, and yeah, I'm down to see if there's anyone still out there. But we gotta be real here. We shouldn't linger for long." She turned to Ren. "And what do the bandit clans usually do with their prisoners, anyway?"
"Recruitment, but those that fail and aren't killed in the process...well..."
Ruby paled. "They just...you know -"
"Worse. They release them back into the wild. For obvious reasons, they rarely make it back to civilization." He closed his eyes. "Before she died, my mother was the only one I knew that did. It's not a pleasant world out there. There's no point chasing after things that we couldn't have stopped -"
"But couldn't we?"
Everyone turned to face Jaune as his head fell. "If we ignored the Grimm on the way and didn't slow down, could we have saved anyone? Could we have fought these bandits and made a difference -"
"Stop."
He blinked as Ruby came over beside him with arms on her hips.
"Stop saying that. Don't lose yourself with that kind of thinking. I hate all of this as much as we all do, but it's not your fault. It's not any of ours. You got that?"
"Ruby -"
Jaune yelped as she stomped on his foot.
"You got that?!"
"Okay, okay! I got it," he huffed, rolling his ankle. "Ow. That hurt."
"Hmph. Better me than you. Just...please don't say stuff like that. I don't like seeing my friends dragged down by things that aren't their fault. I promise we'll find those responsible and save whoever got taken. But I need you by my side to do it." Ruby looked around. "All of you."
Ren's gaze fell, somewhat ashamed, but he looked at Nora when she put a hand on his and gently smiled. But silver eyes remained focused on him and Jaune was the first to concede; he stood and nodded, feeling calm determination fill his heart once more - along with something familiar and warm from the back of his hand.
"We're with you, Rubes," Yang breathed, clapping an arm around Jaune's back. "I guess it wouldn't hurt spending an extra hour or so around here. What's the plan? Split up to search, or go as a group -"
The building rumbled at the sound of a distant explosion, causing them to freeze and draw their weapons when it subsided. Ruby shared a knowing glance with Jaune.
"We go greet the welcoming party."
"On me!" Ruby cried, leading the five of them as they burst outside. More explosions and the sounds of combat emanated from the east, and after a hundred metres or so, they rounded a bend and noticed a plume of black smoke rising from a few blocks away.
A nod to Ruby had her sprinting ahead with her Semblance, and they crashed through the wreckage of a fallen house that blocked the path. Jaune led the rest in a V-shaped formation down the road, rounding a final bend and finally coming within sight of the eastern gate -
Only to pause upon seeing what could only be called a battlefield. The pavement was scarred with craters, discarded weaponry and worse, and up ahead, a group of armoured vehicles had crashed and its guards were in the midst of fighting off a bandit raiding party.
But what truly shocked him was the sight of something familiar weave in and out of the chaos -
Something red and gold.
Something that moved unmistakably like a certain champion.
His stupor was broken when Yang yelled and charged into the fray. The combatants turned upon hearing the new arrivals, but the closest one only saw the crest of his shield as Jaune rammed it into his face. Other bandits fell back under their flanking assault, while the guards - armed with dust-enhanced spears and bronzed light armour - gave a jubilant cry; Yang propelled herself upwards with her gauntlets and crashed back down, blowing several away while Ren flanked left and took out a few more that cornered some guards against the trucks. Upon the walls, Jaune watched as multiple snipers fled for their lives, courtesy of a furious red reaper.
"Behind you!" Nora yelled, and Jaune rolled to avoid her hammer as it swung wide and launched several bandits into the distance. He used the momentum to perform a jump attack, slashing through a bandit's rusty claymore before uppercutting his jaw with the rim of his shield.
"More bandits, six and three o'clock!"
Jaune closed his eye and focused, feeling his Aura flare and flow freely down his sword, and at the last second, he unleashed a powerful Great Spin that blew them away in a burst of green light.
But the small fry didn't matter. Jaune surveyed the scene around him, trying to find the proverbial needle in a haystack -
"Pyrrha...?"
And felt his anger boil at seeing his partner raked by a hail of gunfire. Whether it was instinct or Link's voice, something tugged the back of his mind, but Jaune paid little heed as he roared and charged with sword held high. Those that tried to intercept him were pinned down by Ruby's sniper fire, allowing him to close the distance and attack her assailants.
While the bandits were experienced, they still paled in the face of professional huntsmen. Barring a few dirty tricks, pure skill alone turned the tide, and combined with the others regrouping with him a minute later, they sent the bandits packing out of the eastern gate.
"You okay there, Jaune? You look like you've just seen a ghost."
He turned to face a concerned Ren and realized just how hard he was breathing. But not from exhaustion or stress.
"Pyrrha. Where is she?"
Pink eyes widened. "W-what? Pyr - what are you talking about?"
Another cry echoed in the distance, and Jaune didn't think twice about sprinting towards the source.
Towards his partner.
Only...she wasn't his partner. He wasn't his partner -
Jaune paused as the last bandit fell back against a boy with a bronzed breastplate similar to the guards, a shawl clasped with a familiar spear-in-shield crest and a loose red tunic. A crimson sash was draped across his waist, while his legs were protected by bronzed greaves and leather boots.
Most importantly, Ren was right. It was just like looking at a ghost; the boy was young, probably Ruby's age, and had short, cropped red hair along with a small laurel crown. And it was vividly green as his eyes.
The boy glanced at him before focusing once more on his opponent, besting her after a short, somewhat clumsy fight. He fell to his knees exhausted, and Jaune wasted no time in rushing over to his side.
"Ugh...I...who...?"
"Friendlies. Huntsmen," he replied as the surviving guards surrounded him and his teammates. "We noticed you guys getting ambushed and thought you could use the help."
The boy snorted, using his spear as a crutch to stand. "Help? We could've taken them. The Branwen Tribe are lowborn thugs that are too cowardly to face us in honourable combat." Yang snickered. "Still...I suppose beggars cannot be choosers. You have my gratitude."
"And mine as well," another voice replied. Some of the guards stepped back to reveal a woman in a dark brown fur coat. She had darker red hair in a bob, though her eyes were just as green. "Thank you for your support. We are in your debt."
The boy grimaced. "Mother, please. They have proved themselves friendly, but we must be careful as to who we place our favour in -"
"And who better, my son, than those who came at our time of need?" she replied. Jaune ignored the dawning realization on his friends' faces, and if she noticed the nervous look on his, she didn't comment on it.
"A-ah, don't worry about it. Just doing our jobs."
"Perhaps, but I will never stop appreciating those who put their lives on the line. And may I know those who came to help us?"
Jaune watched as each of his friends introduced themselves, earning appreciative nods from the woman.
"And you?" the boy inquired with a raised eyebrow, tilting his spear in his direction.
"..."
It's okay, Jaune. This is why you came here.
"...yeah. It's just...hold on -"
"Who might you be, blonde huntsman?"
He cleared his throat. "My name is Jaune Arc, also from Beacon Academy."
The boy nodded, but a distant, almost cold look passed across the woman's face before she nodded as well. "...ah. I see. You're a long way from home, Mr. Arc."
"Y-yeah. That's one way to put it."
"But rest assured that you are among friends," she replied, clasping her hands together. "Or perhaps...family, no?"
"Mother?" the boy interrupted, confused. "What do you mean? Do you know who they are?"
"No, but your sister did."
She smiled sadly as he gasped in shock.
"I am Demetra Nikos, and this is my son, Ares. Pyrrha, your partner...was my beloved daughter."
- AN -
I'm back!
And it's good to see you all again, much less getting back into writing. It's been an...interesting month away, with stuff like infrequent connection to the Internet, fighting field fires, playing football in heavy rain and seeing trucks roll over making things a little eventful. But what matters is that me, A Descendant of Legends and the usual biweekly updates are back.
As a quick recap before I focus on reviews (holy hell, so many! Thank you!), this is the start of Arc IV's second half, which is the last part of the story that runs alongside canon. Depending on what I do with them, Ch 44 or 45 will be the last chapter of Arc IV, and it will feature a symbolic, emotional end to the "RWBY" Arcs and the beginning of the "Zelda" Arcs. And when we get there, I might take an extra week or two off to focus on writing Arc V's script, but we'll see. As it stands, I have individual outlines completed up to Ch 52, and I don't want to go forward without having ironed out material beforehand (looking at you, GoT S8!).
Otherwise...yeah. Again, we're back! Thank you all for being patient and sticking around thus far. In terms of what to expect, where Ch 38 focused more on Jaune's, Weiss' and Cinder's groups, (minor spoilers) Ch 39 will focus more on the Menagerie side of things before going back and alternating. And as usual, constructive criticism is always appreciated, and updates as usual on my profile.
Cheers, and I hope to see you all next time!
- Reviews -
Dragon lord Syed 101: Thank you! Yes, they're finally off, and both Jaune's and Weiss' groups' journey to Mistral won't be entirely smooth. And Blake may not be going anywhere soon, but her stay in Menagerie isn't the least bit idyllic either.
Super heavy weapons guy: Thanks! Hope you enjoyed reading it, and I've included a little portion in this chapter that hopefully answered your question ;)
jeremiahkelley93: Thank you!
Roy4: Don't worry! I wasn't bored by your review. Honestly, thank you for taking the time to write that out. Stuff like that can go a long way, and I'll do my best to address your points.
The trauma Jaune incurred at Beacon isn't going away anytime soon, but he's at the point where he wants to pick himself up and move forward, even though he still has occasional triggers, flashbacks etc. At the same time, it doesn't stop him from helping his friends when they're hurting, especially from similar trauma. I think it'd be nice for him to lift others up as he walks his own journey of recovery.
At the same time, yes, as Jaune takes the mantle of the Hero, he'll have to face situations where things aren't so black and white. It's these kinds of situations that I can see him conflicting with Ruby and perhaps Nora, especially since not every enemy he faces will be a Beowolf or Bokoblin. Here, I didn't go into that kind of detail with the convoy fight since I think it's a topic better addressed in the future, as not all common enemies, bosses or minibosses will be Grimm or monsters. In fact, the topic's already lightly touched upon in the final scene. I won't ever have Jaune go full uber rage and describe how he massacres his way through people, but I'm warm to the idea of Jaune navigating the concept of using power for good while not falling prey to the urge to kill with abandon, especially as he eclipses his friends and finds himself in desperate situations. I'll have to think of it more as I don't want him to lose his heroic nature to an argument that can easily turn morally grey, but it's an intriguing suggestion for sure. It is complex, but mainly in how I could balance his heroic side emerging victorious without slapping it on with plot armour. These things need to be earned, after all.
Guest: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. In all practicality, Jaune & co are ready to set out and adventure, but as Yang wants to find Blake, so too does Jaune need that last bit of closure. We'll just have to see where this chance meeting takes us. Just like we'll have to see if Weiss, Roman, Neo and their new not-Headmaster companion can make it to Mistral without hitting other bumps in the road. Blake and Sun, on the other hand, see the bump ahead and can only prepare for it the best they can.
hirshja: I can understand the feeling, especially when there is a loss in this chapter, but overall, I think we can agree to disagree. It's true that they've had their share of losses, like Jaune proving not yet worthy to draw the Master Sword and the Fall itself, but they've also beat back the Breach and defeated the Hydra, Arc II's boss, saved his hometown twice (once from a normal Grimm incursion and the other, a Drake, Arc IV's miniboss) and then Pyrrha's family from a bandit attack.
I can also see how it feels like each victory isn't as decisive compared to losses, and if anything, perhaps most of the losses in all of ADoL are concentrated around this Arc. But when it comes to the world-level things like saving the Spirit Guardians and defeating important enemies like Dark Link, Cinder and other bosses on each continent, rest assured, they're coming. Yes, their journey will have ups and downs, and forgive me if I actually misinterpreted what you meant, but don't worry, they'll earn decisive victories.
Anubis eye: Thank you! I'm really happy to know you liked so many aspects of what I wrote so far, especially with the worldbuilding. Before I even started planning Arc II in depth, my main goals for the story were to slowly build Jaune up into a Hero who was worthy of his predecessors' legacy, and to design a world that can really be seen as once Hyrule. And don't worry, don't be embarrassed about it. Makes me feel like I'm doing a good job, lol.
Especially since it's an ongoing one too, and to that end, while I have no tolerance for straight-up flaming, I always welcome constructive criticism. I think I can see why that reviewer felt the way they did, and honestly, I might've felt the same way in their shoes as well. At the same time, I also want Jaune, the good guys and bad guys to grow naturally; this story still has a long, and I mean long way to go (as it stands, at least around 80 - 100 chapters!), and I have plans for certain characters foiling off others, like Dark Link compared to Jaune in terms of character and as the latter reaches heroic levels of skill.
Little bit of trivia as well - my earlier plans featured a more bully-like Cardin joining Jaune in his quest in a longer redemption arc, but I was forced to scrap most of it since it would intrude on others' development and I didn't want to kill off the rest of CRDL for him alone. At least I get to keep more of my original ideas for Torchwick, Neo and Adam, especially as the latter deals with Sienna surviving and a further fragmenting WF. Though I hadn't planned much for it at the start, I'm considering having the WF, in whatever state they emerge from this, play a role later down the story. But I'm glad you like how I've written them so far.
As for Ruby, I can also admit that in hindsight, I didn't develop her as much as I wanted to in previous Arcs. To that end, without revealing major spoilers, I'm thinking of developing her character alongside Jaune's as they face more desperate and morally grey circumstances, and see how they can argue, disagree and / or support each other as they both make decisions for themselves and the party. I do have something cooking up for Vacuo that will test their abilities...both will make mistakes and also the decisions that may very well save each other's lives.
Guest: Thanks! Weiss is willing to see the effects firsthand that her family had on other people, and though she isn't responsible for these things, she understands the importance of being part of the solution instead of being a bystander.
Guest: Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. As Arc IV moves past its midway point, the good guys and bad guys will have to deal with different challenges and meet other characters along the way...some of which you met now, and some of which you'll meet later. Some Ruby and Jaune this chapter, and some Blake and Sun next chapter, both groups with ample challenges of their own.
Guest: Hehe exactly, and does it really remain the suck once you embrace it?
But thanks, I'm happy to hear that! Learning how to manage stress and burnout's evolved over time as I have as a writer, and it's safe to say that being back after a month's given me a decent break. I've hit the ground running, but I'm more generous with taking breaks these days so as to not go through that again.
And as for the outfits, I don't have any reference for Nora's since hers is original, but Ren's is heavily inspired by the work of a DA user named shana340. She created a row of various Ren concept outfits, and it's the one in the centre I took inspiration from. Google it and check her work out!
Mangahero18: Don't worry, Zelda is still a factor in this story. The question is who will eventually succeed and become the next one, especially as Salem seeks to release and then control Ganon. And I'm not gonna lie, I didn't know that was the inspiration for naming Saphron in canon, but also know that you need not pay money to anyone anytime soon. You can find a video by a YouTube user named Tournament Arc that has Casey singing Lifelight.
And as for Ch 30, the dark atmosphere surrounding Pyrrha's death is the darkest the story will go in tone. Obviously, the story will have ups and downs, but as for the latter, none of them reaching that level.
Saiyans4ever: Whoa, a fanfic challenge? That's a first for me, and I'm honoured you think me good enough to write it.
Unfortunately, though, I have to decline since I'm not as well versed with the DBZ and Marvel universes compared to RWBY and Zelda, and even though I'm back from a month off for work, between this and my job, I just don't have the time to tackle any other story but ADoL right now. I haven't even touched Bonds of the Triforce since posting the first chapter, but if I ever get more free time and learn more about this crossover's characters, worlds and lore, I'll take another look at it. I'm sorry to disappoint, but honestly, thanks for taking the time to write it all out!
Guest: Yup, here's the next chapter! Mad respect for taking the time to read the whole story again, and hope my upload timing's accurate!
Thunder Dragon: Thank you! I'm glad you consider this story as such. Nostalgia is a powerful feeling and one of the reasons which drove me to write this story. Grew up with Zelda myself; like I'm assuming many others, Ocarina of Time on the N64 was my very first Zelda game, and I still have the original and Master Quest cartridges along with my N64. Ah, the good old days, a time when YouTube had stars for ratings and Flash still existed. At least those two old animations, The Real Legend of Zelda and Zelda: UO by Scoot are still ongoing, with both having recent updates.
And yup, in hindsight, Navi really did help with the basics while throwing an occasional useful hint every now and then. Guess it paid to pay attention, you know?
Guest: Hehe, maybe! Ruby may very well be the next in Hylia's bloodline to awaken as a Princess, though I won't confirm nor deny until the time comes to reveal her. I'd like to say more, but ah...can't give away too much, even in the subtext. It's pretty cool to see the theorizing going on, though!
Guest: Yup! You need not wait any longer!
- Stats -
Upload Date: July 9 / 2021
Chapter Word Count: 9244
Approximate Page Length (Times New Roman, size 12, single-spaced): 23.2
- Disclaimer -
The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.