Arc IV: Courage Ascending
Chapter 42: Courage Ascending
Even as she grew tired standing within a torrential downpour, Blake didn't waver.
Here, she was one amongst many who fought to make their voices heard. They were the downtrodden. The oppressed. Some wanted a living wage, others, safer working conditions. But for the old man with a lifetime of hard service or a young mother seeking food for her children, there was one thing that united them all:
The curse of having traits that made them...different from others.
Blake didn't understand at first. Sure, her hearing was a little better because of her cat ears, but that didn't make her better than the others down the street. She met nice faunus, nice humans, mean faunus and mean humans. So why were people on her side hated because they were a little different?
The crowd of counterprotestors opposite were twice as large, twice as loud and didn't seem to care, even while those beside her called for empathy and understanding. They, on the other hand, screamed for blood like fans from an opposing sports team. Not only was it deafening, but scary to not know whether they'd actually follow through with their threats.
Blake whimpered and stepped back -
And the tall, imposing figure of Ghira stepped in front of her, followed by Kali. Seeing her parents was somewhat calming, and though she didn't understand some of the words he used, the strength it carried restored their spirits. Fear melting away, Blake remembered just why she stood in the freezing rain - just why she was proud to be a newly inducted member of her parents' peaceful grassroots organization, the White Fang -
"Ahh!"
She collapsed as a rock scraped off her forehead, and before she knew it, the protest devolved into a riot. The sound was frightening, and though she could just barely make out Kali screaming her name, Blake saw nothing but panic, violence and fear.
And when Atlesian police arrived, arresting fellow White Fang left and right -
"Come on, let's go!"
A single voice cut through the chaos. Blake followed the source to find a young bull faunus perhaps her age offering a hand, but she blanched at the sight of an ugly scar bearing an accursed name.
"B-but...m-my parents! I don't wanna leave without them!"
"We can find your parents after, I promise!" the boy pleaded. "The humans don't care about us or them, but we can't find them if we're locked up in jail! Please, I'll protect you, let's go!"
Blake glanced between him, the retreating faunus and the firm, almost robotic tones of Atlas' police. With a whimper, she raised a hand to take his -
x==)==
And deflected Adam's overhead strikes before spinning with a whirlwind kick. He blocked it and countered with a horizontal swing, but Blake backflipped over it while firing Gambol Shroud. Adam's sword absorbed the shots before releasing the energy in a Semblance-enhanced slash, though the Blake he hit simply fizzed to nothing.
Adam turned to face the real one. "Still running away after all this time?"
"It saved me from you. I think I can forgive myself just that once."
"And stubborn too. You haven't changed at all, Blake. If only the new recruits were as equally dedicated."
"Agreed. Then no one would follow you and the White Fang would crumble."
Blake dodged his frontal assault before spawning a clone with rock dust to trap his sword mid-swing. Adam flinched as Blake pelted him with gunfire, then fired his gun-scabbard to break free and intercept her.
She ragdolled across the dirt and rolled away from a sliding kick before weaving through several powerful slices. When the fire dust on his blade ignited and Adam rushed in with a cry, Blake infused a clone with ice dust and retreated. There was a hissing bang and he was obscured by a cloud of fine mist, allowing Blake to flank around for a jump attack -
Only to wheeze as Adam flew out of the fog and drove Wilt's pommel into her gut, stunning her and allowing him to lock their swords together.
"This works better than I expected," he hummed, tapping his snake-shaped mask. It hummed electronically. "Just imagine if we had the proper equipment back then. We would've been deadlier, more precise and with a higher rate of survival –"
Adam shut up as Blake growled and pushed back, though he failed to budge.
"I will admit that we had no intention of attacking tonight, but while I take no pleasure in fighting my own kinsmen, it falls upon me as the White Fang leader to make hard choices."
Blake raised an eyebrow. "Dissension amongst the ranks? Sounds awfully familiar."
She felt his glare burning through his mask.
"It doesn't matter now. You're responsible for your people and we've all made hard choices, like betraying our partners and burning down the very home we took you and Ilia in. Isn't that right, Commandant?"
Snarling, Adam grabbed her arm and flipped her into the dirt. Blake recovered quickly and tried slicing his shins, but he backflipped and swung Wilt into her gut like a baseball bat. Despite pushing her Aura to the forefront, the pain was immense as she crashed through several friendlies before slamming into a palm tree.
"That's a low blow, Blake. I'm disappointed in you."
"Really now!?" She sputtered as Adam approached. "This is why I left! You're no longer the passionate boy that saved me from a mob and fought for justice, but a monster fueled by hate and spite!"
"I won't let anyone insult our people's sacrifice. Even you." Blake's breath hitched when his blade caressed her neck. "This is your only chance. Fight with me. Join us once again and make things right."
Blake spat.
"...very well. Just remember that you made me do this."
Adam raised his sword -
And dove away as an electric bolt shot past. Ilia arrived with a furious cry, putting Adam on the back foot as the sheer intensity of her attacks gave Blake a breather. Eventually, she coiled her whipsword around Wilt when he parried, allowing her to electrify and disarm him with a painful hiss.
But rather than retreat, Adam tanked her counterattacks before jumping and raining down fire with Blush. Ilia responded by catching him in the leg with her whipsword, but Adam rode the momentum by firing off a burst and meteoring into her.
As Blake watched Ilia fly back and disappear into the crowd, something thin and sticky latched onto her chest and pulled her through the air, ending when she clotheslined against someone's forearm. Before she could escape with her Semblance, Blake yelped as cold, hard steel nicked a cat ear.
"If I could, I'd slit your throat right here and now. A faunus who abandons their own to humans is no sister of mine, and if I must show you mercy, then you'll live your life wishing you died instead."
"T-Trifa, no! Stop!"
And the weight upon her back disappeared as a familiar figure bowled Trifa away before offering a hand.
"Sorry I'm late. Traffic," Sun panted, managing an assuring grin. "You okay?"
For a moment, his hair was red and sported bull horns, but Blake ignored the painful memory and took it gratefully. The past was the past, and they were here to fight for the future. "No, but I can still fight. You?"
Sun's grin fell as an explosion brightened the area, though much of the jungle and road to the mansion remained so chaotically dark that it was impossible to tell friend from foe. It was only because of Ghira's tall frame that Blake noticed him fend off the Albains with a recovered Ilia, but he was the only one who stood his ground as a disciplined line of white-masked terrorists pushed through friendly forces.
"Likewise. What's the plan? The city's swarming with baddies and we're losing control of the outskirts."
"Trifa's an agile fighter like me, while Adam's Semblance absorbs energy through his weapon before sending it back. But we still need to hold out and buy enough time for Sienna. It won't be pretty," she whispered as they approached. Despite the mask, his disgust was so palpable she could freeze it with ice dust, and nearby fires illuminated the masses of fighting shadows around them.
"I hope it's not too much to ask, but…will you stay with me?"
He remained silent, but Blake turned when his hand squeezed hers to see his trademark smile. It made her feel hope for the first time in what felt like ages, and despite the chaos around them, Blake squeezed back as she knew everything was going to be alright.
"...thank you."
Trifa coated her dagger in webbing, and Adam ignited it with fire dust before they charged in tandem.
Blake stepped forward as golden Sun clones appeared to flank her, and they burst into a sprint to meet them head-on. She dodged Trifa's webs and found herself in Adam's path, but it was a golden clone he slashed as Blake leapt onto a tree branch and fired away. When Adam gave chase, she grabbed another branch with Gambol Shroud's ribbon and crashed into him like a pendulum.
Trifa then destroyed Sun's clones in a series of bright flashes, but the real one vaulted through the last and scored a flying kick to the face. Growling, she tossed her dagger into the air behind her before counterattacking with acrobatic kicks and elbow strikes, and when Sun locked her between his chest and staff, Trifa kicked off, snatched her flaming dagger with web and raked it across Sun's Aura-covered back like nails on a chalkboard.
Annoyed, Blake sprinted over and grazed her thigh, but as she zipped towards another tree with her ribbon, Trifa leapt from the side and shoulder-checked her midair. Upon landing, Blake could only watch as she pounced from a web rope before jamming the dagger into her face.
"Aghh! Fuck!"
The fire dust-infused clone exploded, blowing her away. When she got up and fired webs from both hands, Blake spawned an ice clone in her place and dashed around unseen. Trifa nimbly dodged the oncoming Blakesicle, though the real one hooked Gambol Shroud's ribbon into a tree that slingshotted it back.
Grey Aura flared as the ice clone burst upon impact, rendering Trifa unconscious as she skidded across the dirt.
But an angry roar immediately drew Blake's attention to Sun wrapping Adam's sword between his gunchucks before using it as leverage to land a spinning knee to the temple. In response, Adam fired Blush into his leg to break the lock, then forced him to kneel by slamming down hard on Sun's shoulder. Adam then took the opportunity to unload a full burst into his torso.
Grunting in pain, Sun snapped his gunchucks back into its staff form, stumbling Adam, then quickly switched between both forms to counterattack with a dextrous medley of jabs, smacks and point-blank gunfire. Visibly agitated, Adam slashed down with a massive wave of energy, but the rage-induced tunnel vision blinded him to an oncoming Blake that landed a deep slice across his back.
After dodging the vengeful blast, Sun grimaced as he regrouped with Blake, and they watched an approaching Adam shiver with barely contained fury.
Behind them, the flames that consumed the Belladonna mansion only grew fiercer, and Blake quickly realized what the choices were.
"Go. I can see it in your eyes."
She turned to see Sun reloading his gunchucks before adopting a battle stance. "Don't worry. I got this."
"No. I'm not leaving anyone behind again. We'll face Adam together -"
They froze as another but smaller explosion erupted from the side of the mansion, followed by the sight of Kali duelling a tall scorpion faunus on the rooftop. Though the elder Belladonna skillfully resisted with a pair of bladed pistols, Blake cried out as he leapt high and slammed them down into the house, out of sight.
A second roar had Sun meeting Adam head-on as the latter seized the moment.
"You fucking - get out of the way so I can beat some sense into her, you braindead monkey!"
"Of all my friends' crazy exes, you really take...the...cake!" Sun grunted, standing his ground. "Blake, go! I'm not sacrificing myself! This isn't about revenge, this is you helping those who matter to you!"
"But I -"
"I'll hold him off as long as I can!" Sun slipped her one more smile. "You haven't seen the last of me. I'm not gonna leave you behind."
"Why don't you do it anyway so she learns how it really feels?"
"Not before I give you the karma that comes with being a prick!" Sun growled, and after some hesitation, Blake tore her gaze away and dashed home.
"Dammit. Please don't die on me..."
Blake navigated through Menagerie Guards, White Fang and even a few Grimm that arrived from the jungle before heading inside. Sharpshooters took potshots from the foyer's windows while the civilians huddled in the grand hall, seeking protection from the violence. Smoke billowed near the ceiling, but with the relative safety of being inside their stronghold, guards were already hard at work dousing the fire from the eastern wing.
Blake ran the opposite way, running past the second floor triage ward until she regrouped with her mom -
Or rather, her mom regrouped with her when Blake rounded a corner and collided with an oncoming faunus-shaped projectile.
"Blake, run!" an injured Kali gasped as she fired towards a figure that escaped into a hole in the roof. Footsteps stomped their way and Blake joined her in riddling the ceiling with bullets, but the assassin crashed down behind Kali and forced them together.
If Adam was spite, this psychopath was pure evil.
"Ah, I see the resemblance. Did you come to say goodbye to your mother, or perhaps join her in her final moments?"
"Tyrian Callows," Kali whispered as he stepped forward with arms outstretched as if offering a hug. "A serial killer from when the White Fang was founded. He should've died when Grimm brought his bullhead down, but here he is. Don't let him touch you. His Semblance pokes holes in your Aura. Run, Blake, before it's too late."
Despite Kali's pleading gaze, Blake reloaded her weapon and pointed it at Tyrian. "I'm with you until the end, mom."
"Yes, Kali, let her stay. Since you did your homework and your daughter didn't, I will show her why my Goddess saved me."
The hallway erupted with gunfire, which Tyrian either dodged or deflected with his wristblades. Up close, he truly was a monster; despite being outnumbered, Tyrian's superior strength and agility pushed them back while leaving few opportunities for counterattacks. Eventually, he walloped Blake's head with his tail when she tried to sneak past, sending her crashing into a nearby room.
She recognized it as Sienna's as she came to with ringing ears and fuzzy vision. The air was tainted with spent dust, muted gunfire and the cries of battle drifting from damaged walls all around, while Kali withered under Tyrian's assault. A glance through a hole in the wall behind revealed Sun on his knees and grasping a bleeding arm.
"Is this how I'm cursed to live my life, with everything I care about never knowing peace? White Fang, Beacon, revenge, and running away...with all this bloodshed, we really are animals, aren't we?"
To see her family falling, her friends struggling and the din of battle strike her very soul instead of being mere background noise awakened something crushing inside.
Something...fierce.
A single tear streaked down her eye.
And when she saw Kali fall one last time beneath Tyrian's blades?
Blake crawled forward while knowing that she wouldn't make it in time, though she felt something smooth and angular beneath her -
Knocked loose from its container amidst the chaos, the tribal mask silently stared back. Innocently. Though the mere thought of touching it made her stomach swim, when desperate animals were cornered - humans and faunus - the only option left was to fight back.
And in the animal kingdom, there was always a bigger fish.
Blake grabbed the Fierce Deity Mask and placed it on her face.
x==)==
Some would see their fight as part of a timeless cycle. Others, a long awaited rematch.
Jaune saw it as one whose outcome was already decided. He was unprepared and the gap between them remained immense, but in the end, he couldn't care. Dark Link stole Pyrrha's right to live, and he vowed in her memory that he would not let Haven fall, nor let anyone else experience the same.
Gunfire and explosions rippled across the courtyard, and Aural flames surged down Jaune's blade as he charged with a cry that pierced the heavens.
Dark Link stabbed his Guardian Sword into the ground, allowing Malice to pool beneath his arm and spawn a pair of similarly-shaped figures.
But Jaune was undeterred, holding Crocea Mors high as they dashed towards him -
And they collided with a mighty shockwave as Ren and Nora crashed into the Hollow Links. He began by twisting their blades with his crossguard before elbowing Dark Link's face, which didn't work and earned him a sharp headbutt.
As he was kicked away, Jaune dodged an ending blow by rolling a back slice that sheared through cloak and tunic. That garnered a reaction as Dark Link clutched his...chest, and his annoyance doubled when Ren eviscerated one Hollow by unloading into its back while Nora liquified hers by detonating a grenade point-blank.
But despite outnumbering him three-to-one, Jaune only felt dread as the fight dragged on, pushing them towards the edge of the campus; Dark Link weaved through Nora's hammer hurricane before punching her with the Hylian Shield, and when Ren unleashed a flurry of martial arts, Dark Link met him tit-for-tat before landing a roundhouse kick that sent him skidding down the mountain slope.
Compared to when he first started, Jaune could see it now as they circled each other. Despite all the openings Dark Link could've exploited...he didn't. He clutched his chest whenever he held back, and with no point trying to test them now, the mystery of why only heightened Jaune's anxiety.
Something's not right, Link agreed. He seems...off.
"Tell me about it. I remember him kicking my ass back then. This almost feels too easy -"
Behind you, move!
Too late. Something hot raked across his back, followed by a kick below the breastplate. He staggered to his feet and held firm when a volley of fire arrows exploded on his shield before lashing out with a spin attack, catching his assailant's obsidian blade.
"Oh wow, you managed to block it. Have you been training, Arc?"
"Shut up."
"I'd say I respect the effort, but there's no point praising something that's ultimately useless," Cinder chuckled. "You won't ever become good enough to face me as an equal."
"I said...shut up!" Jaune growled as Crocea Mors blazed with Aural flames once more. Cinder jumped away as he shattered her sword.
"What is wrong with you? How can you be so broken inside to take lives and rub it in our faces? Why do you have to make everything about yourself?"
Cinder replied by summoning new scimitars and rocketing forward, blowing him back. Jaune dragged to a halt with his sword in the ground, but with double the aggression and the Maiden's powers, it was only his experience fighting Link that allowed him to keep up. After a gruelling duel, she managed to disarm Jaune before grabbing his neck with her Grimm hand.
With the other, she fished out her scroll and pressed a button. Nearby Malice explosions rumbled the campus, followed by purple smoke rising from a few buildings and the city beyond. The collective noise drew a few Haven teams from their dorms, but they were immediately bogged down by flocks of Keese and small Peahats.
"Damn faulty technology."
"N-no..."
"Agreed. Though our remaining stock wasn't enough to level Haven, it will distract any enterprising huntsmen," Cinder replied, tightening her grip and snapping her fingers. Like a switch, Dark Link cut loose and bore down on his teammates while Ruby, Weiss and Yang retreated inside the grand hall against Mercury, Emerald and a berserker Hazel. Oscar - or Ozpin, most likely - held the status quo against Lionheart, though it was clear that the boy's body was beyond its limit.
"To answer your question...without power, I am nothing. You are nothing. But tell me this, Jaune: who do you think deserves it more? The one who slaved their childhood away or some kid who was fed everything from a silver platter?"
Jaune desperately tried to break free.
"Y-you don't know me..."
"It doesn't matter," Cinder whispered as she brought him closer and caressed his left hand. "I will enjoy taking your power from you, just as I enjoyed watching your girlfriend die."
And he screamed as his senses were overwhelmed with indescribable pain. It felt like Cinder's hand plunged into his chest and tried to rip his heart out, followed by...something else, something deep twisting and tearing. His Aura flickered and the Triforce of Courage came alive on its own accord, shrilling so loudly that even Cinder recoiled.
They were blinded when his hand flashed with golden light.
x==)==
The fog was thick enough that Cinder couldn't see past her outstretched arm, but every breath and crunch of grass beneath her feet echoed loudly. Unnaturally. It definitely wasn't Haven and she saw no trace of that pathetic, blonde excuse for a huntsman, so where did they -
Cinder gasped as she stepped into the largest meadow she had ever seen. Misty walls bordered the horizon and the sky was a bland, colourless grey as if it was about to rain.
But what caught her attention wasn't the red trees of Forever Fall, nor the Kanalet Mountains or Beacon's ruins beside them.
Light. Radiant, powerful, courageous light gleamed from a small, golden triangle floating over a hill. It was cracked in half with the top portion somewhat dimmed, but the aesthetics didn't matter - only that it was in reach.
And when she finally extracted the other piece...
Cinder smiled and sprinted forward with almost childish laughter. She honed on it with tunnel vision, knowing that it would be greater than anything Salem could give -
"You have not the right."
And paused as a red-caped figure stood in her way with his back turned.
"Move or I'll roast you alive. That gift is mine to wield."
"No, it is not."
Cinder froze as he turned, revealing a green tunic and an awfully – dreadfully – familiar face.
"You...how are you...you're supposed to be dead and full of –"
"You tamper with black magic to steal a power you do not understand," the First Hero continued, stepping forward. His eyes burned with righteous anger. "It is not yours to take. Begone."
The ground rumbled as the visage of Beacon flickered to a grand castle with flags bearing the Triforce crest, and the skies cleared to reveal a full, whole moon.
"...is this what you looked like alive? And Salem never told me anything...Jaune, that shadow...who...what is he? What are you?"
"We are time and destiny. We are light and twilight, the wilds, the seas, the winds and skies," Link replied, unclasping his cloak. He wielded the Hylian Shield and unsheathed the Master Sword.
"We are beyond you."
Voices echoed around the field as Link exploded towards her. She raised her scimitar in defence, but it was useless as he cut through it like nothing and forced her to kneel.
Powerless, she could only stare when the First Hero raised his blade like an executioner before swinging down.
x==)==
Link's voice echoed somewhere in his head, but Jaune paid little heed as his vision cleared. Rather than Haven, he found himself in a well-kept, spacious backyard of a cliffside manor while the edge of the campus sat atop a nearby slope. Three figures were in the midst of a destructive chase down said slope - namely, Ren, Nora and Dark Link.
Nearby, a writhing Grimm arm disintegrated while Qrow stood protectively to his front. Though she cupped her already healing Grimm stump, Cinder looked more traumatized than wracked with pain, and when she angrily rose atop a column of flame, Qrow charged and blew them both into the mountainside.
"L-Link...? What happened?"
A crude, unrefined version of the black magic Ganon used to siphon the Triforce from previous Heroes. As Courage is tied to your life force, Cinder attempted to steal your soul.
Jaune shivered as a myriad of strong emotions washed over.
It quickly boiled down to rage.
"Are you okay, Jauney?"
"No, I'm not," he whispered as Ren came over. He looked equal parts tired and bruised, and so did Nora when she retreated from Dark Link. "Cinder just tried to steal my soul. I don't...feel right."
Ren and Nora were horrified.
Especially when Dark Link stalked towards them, sword held low and head tilted like a wolf appraising its prey.
"...I guess there's no time to dwell on it, though."
"Mhmm. What's our plan, Jauney?"
"As it stands, we're not good enough to beat him and I don't have the one weapon capable of actually smiting him. But you know what? We're gonna try anyway."
Nora transformed Magnhild into its launcher form while Ren reloaded his machine pistols.
"Show him what you can do. Flower Power."
Pink explosions and gunfire covered their advance, surrounding Dark Link as he dodged most bullets or batted away falling grenades. The shadow struck first, parrying Jaune's jump attack with an uppercut before hurling a pair of kunai that, while blocked, tripped him as he landed -
As per the plan, Dark Link was forced to dodge a falling Ren instead of advancing on a reloading Nora. The impact kicked up a cloud of dust, though it failed to hinder Dark Link's Sheikah senses as he deflected the ninja's ambush attempt.
It didn't stop him from being outsmarted.
A chain hook flew past, and Dark Link stood his ground upon recognizing the item -
Only to stagger when Jaune was reeled in and landed a deep slash from behind before vanishing. The hookshot then fired from a different direction, distracting him and allowing Nora to attack from his blind spot. Though they took several hits in the process, the dust settled to reveal deep wounds on Dark Link that bled enough Malice to spawn two Bokoblins. He then jabbed his hand into the half-formed second one, absorbing it and partially healing his wounds.
"Ew. Gross."
"You read my mind," Jaune replied as Ren beheaded the first with a cross slice. "We'll just have to hit him harder and faster than he can recover. Spy anything that can power you up?"
Nora glanced around and smiled upon seeing the base of a broken lamp pole. "Cover me, will ya?"
"On it!" he cried as Ren hopped back from a lunge. Jaune charged him from the side and chambered the initial strike, forcing it away and retaliating with multiple swings before backflipping over a counterthrust. Time dilated as he charged Dark Link with a flurry rush -
Only for Dark Link himself to dodge his opening strike and initiate a flurry rush of his own.
Pain and Aura lanced across Jaune's arm as his shield bore the brunt of the assault, but it was an effective distraction for an electric tornado spinning their way. With a cry, a charged-up Nora blasted him through brick and mortar inside the manor.
But that didn't mean he was dead, and they headed inside after a small breather. As they followed a trail of Malice, Jaune couldn't help but notice the manor's opulent interior; from the white walls, arched entrances and stylized artwork, the vibes it gave off were distinctly...northern Mistrali in origin.
Dread settled over him, doubly so when they entered the foyer and were greeted with Malice pools, various monsters, unresponsive guards and statues - the latter two bearing the crest of the Nikos family on their armour.
The Triforce rang and a cry echoed from a nearby doorway. Breaking through the crowd, they stumbled inside a massive conference room where Dark Link and blue Bokoblins cornered survivors.
Priam, Demetra and an injured Ares Nikos.
The former wielded Pyrrha's sword and clutched his wife's arm for comfort as they both watched Ares stand against certain death. More so when he threw his spear and Dark Link dodged it.
"Leave the monsters to us!" Ren yelled as Nora engaged a group of Helmasaurs. "Go!"
Roaring, Jaune slashed off a wave of energy and sprinted close behind as it decimated through most of the small fry. As the rest hindered his approach, Ares summoned his spear back via Semblance, though Dark Link deflected it midair.
It was then Demetra ripped Miló from Priam and tossed it over -
One Ares used to mount a valiant and ultimately useless effort as Dark Link eventually disarmed him. Pyrrha's sword was sent flying, impaling itself in a blue Lizalfo's head before it could attack Jaune.
But it was too late. Ares was helpless as Dark Link prepared to stab him like he did his sister -
"No! Not again!"
And something inside him snapped. Jaune dropped his weapons, grabbed Miló with both hands and poured all the Aura he could into it. Pyrrha's blade erupted into a pillar of bright, green flame.
Jaune dashed with a cry and rapidly depleting Aura -
Dark Link froze, turning mid-swing -
"Bombos!"
And Jaune landed with a jump strike before releasing the pent-up energy on Dark Link. He was vaguely aware of Ares grabbing his parents and leaping aside, saving their lives as a wall of green Aural fire ripped past, blasting a hole through the wall and part of the roof. It blew Dark Link against a thick, stone column, and he tumbled to the ground convulsing as he went up in flames.
They regrouped as the last monster was dispatched and a hoarse, hollow sound echoed through the room - a noise Jaune realized was Dark Link's scream. Growling, the shadow unclasped his burning cloak and escaped onto the rooftop, leaving them with pounding hearts and the realization that they survived.
Exhausted. Bruised.
But they survived - them and Pyrrha's family both.
Jaune fell to his knees relieved, and it took a second to notice Ren shaking his shoulder.
"...alright, Jaune?"
"Like a million lien. Everything hurts," he groaned as he accepted a hand. Jaune blinked upon finding it belonged to Ares. "Are you okay?"
The young champion grimaced. "You saved me. Saved us -"
"It's what a huntsman would do, no matter how hard things get," Jaune sighed as he fished out his scroll. His Aura was firmly in the lower third, almost red. "You put up a good fight defending your family. Pyrrha would be proud...that monster was the one who killed her."
There was a collective gasp between the three Nikos. Ares gulped and shivered with rage.
"He was the one...?"
Demetra gripped his shoulder, calming him. Priam couldn't meet Jaune's gaze.
"You and your team...I can't state it enough. thank you, thank you, thank you."
Jaune managed a smile, though a distant explosion from outside caught their attention. "It's our pleasure. But we have to go -"
"Take me with you," Ares whispered with a wavering voice. "I-I may not be at full strength, but I can still fight -"
"What's important is that you and your parents get to safety," Jaune sighed. "But we'll make sure he's dead. I promise."
Demetra stepped forward before Ares could interrupt. "Then may the Brothers guide your path. Keep the sword for now, Jaune, and send him our family's regards."
Jaune mentally repeated those words as they headed back to Haven. The Triforce had quietened, but as he distributed red and green potions to heal their bruises and replenish their Aura, they dreaded what they were about to face next. Jaune knew Dark Link had more to give. The shadow was tougher than that.
All Heroes were, whether their legends were forgotten or just beginning.
x==)==
The real challenge was surviving long enough to have one.
It wasn't a walk in the park when his friend-crush-pseudo partner's ex-boyfriend made it his life's work to beat the shit out of him, and though it was painful to admit, the man could fight.
Heeding Blake's advice, Sun twirled his staff to reflect Adam's gunfire before getting in close with acrobatics, jabs and low kicks. It slowly whittled his Aura - and patience - down as he landed hits faster than Adam could block it.
But Sun hit the boiling point when Adam simply tanked through a barrage of attacks to headbutt him. Stunned, Adam then executed a precise left and right slice before finishing with an uppercut that sent him crashing into the dirt.
A clear shing had him staring up Adam's sword with the flaming mansion in the background, and as the latter raised it for a final ending blow -
"AAAGGGGGHHHHH!"
The voice was incredibly strained. Incredibly hoarse.
Dreadfully familiar.
Adam froze, then grunted as Ilia rammed into him from the sidelines.
"Dammit, pretty boy, are you just gonna lay there like a dweeb or are you gonna stand and fight!?"
"Hell yeah I am!" Sun grunted as he rolled aside when Adam dashed past. The latter turned, sheathed Wilt and fired it, and though Sun deflected it, Adam parkoured up him to catch the blade and parry Ilia when she tried to intercept him.
"AAAGGGGGHHHHH!"
Another scream, this time louder, followed by a small explosion of green-white light.
"Ilia, Blake's in trouble!" Sun gritted as he parried and held Adam in place. "We gotta go help her right now!"
Adam growled and forced him to kneel before dodging an oncoming faunus-shaped projectile. Corsac Albain was alive but remained still, and the three turned when an angry Ghira approached while using the unconscious Fennec like a flail.
"Then go! I shall teach him the manners he should've learned a long time ago!"
Sun yelped as Ilia yanked him forward. A glance behind him revealed the two locked in primal combat while friendly forces held the line, rallied by the sight of their leader.
They burst into the mansion as more screams echoed amidst the background noise. The din of battle grew quiet on the second floor as distant explosions illuminated their shadows against the wall, followed by another ghastly scream and, oddly enough, laughter. As Sun took the lead and drew closer to the source, a figure crashed through a door and slumped on the wall opposite.
It was Blake.
And a horrified Ilia held him back because when he took a good look, Sun realized Blake really...wasn't.
The woman was tall as him when she stood, and they stepped back when her piercing, pupilless gaze swung over. Her face was tattooed with red and blue tribal streaks, while larger, wilder cat ears were almost invisible within a mane of long, unnaturally white hair.
Rather than a white v-neck crop shirt and black pants, she donned intricate chest armour, pauldrons and greaves engraved with strange sun and crescent moon designs, all varying between a palette of pale greens, blues, white and black.
And replacing the broken Gambol Shroud was a pair of green and blue kris short swords.
"What the..."
Happy laughter preceded the psychotic-looking scorpion faunus as he emerged clutching a metal box. Fierce Deity Blake screamed and tackled him through the wall.
"Thank the Brothers you two are still alive," a shaken Kali whispered as they entered and helped her to stand. "Are you two alright?"
"We're fine," Ilia replied as Sun took point. "What...what happened?"
"It all happened so fast. Tyrian ambushed and nearly got the better of us until I heard Blake screaming in here." Kali pointed towards the opened box. "I-I think it was one of the relics you brought over, while Tyrian stole the other."
Ilia swore and kicked it aside as they both regrouped with Sun by the damaged wall. In the distance, gunfire, explosions and chaos engulfed the enemy's headquarters, and more fell back towards the coast after Sienna's loyalists launched a surprise attack behind enemy lines.
Despite the good news, they focused solely on how she brawled both enemy leaders to a standstill, slamming away Adam's sword and spinning with a kick so fast that it blurred through the air to crack both jaw and Aura.
Blake then screamed as gunfire raked across her back and Adam slashed her abdomen. Her swords blazed with turquoise energy, and when she released it in a wide, reckless slash, Adam was blown away while Tyrian dodged the rest as it crashed through the roof into the sky.
When the two collided, there was no finesse. No graceful precision nor any instinct for self-preservation. Only pure aggression. She bore his attacks while barely using Aura, pounding away at his defences as if breaking through a wall. Even Tyrian's grin faded when Blake caught his tail and flipped him over, and though he countered with close-range gunfire and martial arts, Blake...didn't care.
It eventually worked as she summoned a hard-light clone beneath him and catapulted Tyrian into the air, allowing her to kick him midair into a tree trunk.
It also exposed her back to an oncoming Adam.
He roared and aimed below her breastplate -
Blake turned and slammed both swords together -
Followed by a flash of turquoise light and the crang of scraping metal. Adam's sword was trapped between the double helix blades of what could only be called a hunk of iron as large as its wielder. Wilt snapped when she jerked, and she caught the blade before ramming it into his side. Adam's Aura shattered as it stabbed through, forcing him to clumsily retreat while firing his gun-scabbard -
An opening for a manically laughing Tyrian, who charged from behind and impaled her shoulder with his stinger.
Blake screamed and fell to a knee as it pumped venom, though Kali and Ilia held Sun back when he tried to jump down. It proved wise when she forced Tyrian away, then lunged with a jump attack that he tried to block with his tail.
There was a small explosion, followed by a different, masculine cry of pain. When the dust settled, Tyrian staggered back with a snarl and half a stinger while Blake gripped her shoulder and the helix sword reverted to its dual kris form. Combined with a keeled-over Adam clutching his side and Yuma leading friendly White Fang to attack the rebels from behind, the psychopath became borderline hysterical.
"Oh, you think numbers will save you? You think you really won?" the scorpion faunus growled as he shoved the metal box into Adam's hands. "You just delayed the inevitable. Nothing more. We still got most of what we came for."
"Then what do you really want?" Sun called out as he, Ilia and Kali joined Ghira at the landing. "What did you hope to accomplish by setting your own people against each other?"
"You will understand in time, fellow kinsman," Tyrian replied as he and Adam backed away. "All you need to know is that my Goddess is coming...and so will hers. Destruction. Sorrow. Despair."
A grin.
"Salvation."
Cackling, Tyrian and Adam leapt atop a nearby tree and caught a low passing bullhead, and they watched as it accelerated into the distant skies. Meanwhile, cries of triumph echoed in the distance and the flames engulfing the mansion were almost snuffed out. It should've been enough to make them celebrate. Others certainly did.
Not him, nor Ilia, Kali and Ghira. Several feet away, Fierce Deity Blake panted hard and clutched her chest as purple venom mixed with blood from numerous wounds, making her look more like a ghoul than an actual person.
But past the rage and fury, the Blake he knew was down there. And the longer she stayed like this with all the injuries and poison in her veins...
"Dang. There isn't enough time," Sun growled as Ilia held him back once again. "Let me go! Blake needs help!"
"Do you think I'm blind? Look at her! She'd slice you apart before you could do anything useful!" Ilia snapped. "There's probably tranquilizers or something left in the headquarters' armoury that could put her to sleep. Then we can help her safely -"
"After all those hits she took, you really think that's gonna work on her?"
Blake screamed and frantically whirled around with a spin attack, almost decapitating a nervous White Fang member that scrambled back to safety.
"I...well..."
Sun's gaze softened. "I don't know much about scorpion faunus venom, but I really don't want to wait and see what it does. She needs help now. Please. Trust me."
Ilia grimaced and shared worried looks with Ghira and Kali. After a few, long seconds, they nodded their assent.
"...alright. The moment things go south, I'm getting you out of there. Deal?"
"Deal," Sun replied. After a deep breath to steady his nerves, he dropped his staff and stepped forward. The crunching dirt had her turning with a snarl.
"Whoo, boy. I just realized how bad an idea this was. Here goes nothing."
Her eyes widened slightly upon seeing who it was, then watched Sun raise his open palms to reveal he was unarmed.
"H-hey. Don't worry, I'm not gonna hurt ya. I'm not Adam -"
"- raaargh!"
He ducked as she fired an energy blast.
"I shouldn't have said that," Sun grunted as Blake backed up with swords at the ready. "It's me, Sun Wukong. You know, all-around funny guy who wouldn't leave you alone since the docks?"
"Mrrrrrgh!"
"Y-yeah, I know. Even I cringe saying that out loud," he chuckled nervously as she regarded him with a confused, but wary stare. Better guarded than agitated, though. "Good times, especially when I, uh, 'ran' into you at the library, and then there was that time you needed my help researching ancient history..."
As his prattling went from Beacon to Team RWBY and her reunion with her parents, Blake's growls quietened and she grew less defensive. It boosted his confidence and he closed the distance, but Sun almost recoiled when he felt the tip of her kris prick his gut's Aura.
"...and remember when we promised that I'll watch your six, and you'll watch mine?"
"Rrrrgh..."
"Because I do. Especially when you asked me to stay with you. We both failed our partners once, but I won't ever fail the girl who I...I -"
"No. Not yet. This...isn't the time."
Despite his instincts trying to push Aura to the forefront, Sun willed it away as he enveloped her in a one-armed hug. Fire shot across his abdomen as he felt the blade enter an inch.
The other hand caressed her face, soothing her while trying to find the mask's groove.
"Rrrrgh..."
"Come back to me," Sun half-whispered, half-grunted. "Please, come back to me..."
"Rrrrrrssssun?"
Sun smiled as he felt the edge of the mask and tugged. He was momentarily blinded by a flash of white light and felt her body shrink to its normal size, but when his vision returned, Sun found himself in the arms of the Blake he knew.
"Hey. You're back."
"...Sun? What's going on?" Blake whispered, leaning her forehead against his. She was on the verge of passing out, but with his adrenaline fading and the pain returning full force, so was he.
"W-why am I...where...?"
"You don't remember anything?"
"I...it's...all the pain, the anger...your voice..."
With a sigh, Blake fell unconscious and was promptly placed on a stretcher. He soon followed after Kali and the medics hauled her away, and as sleep threatened to overtake him, Ilia squeezed his hand reassuringly while Ghira placed him on another stretcher.
"I'd chastise you for such a reckless action, but...I'd have done the same. Thank you for saving my daughter, Mr Wukong."
Sun mentally repeated those words as he passed out, missing the sight of Ilia gathering both the Fierce Deity Mask and what looked like a necklace with a broken, faded red medallion.
And that was okay.
Though the battle may have been won, and the war, just beginning, they lived to fight another day.
x==)==
But for Jaune and his friends, the night was very young.
At least the moon was a normal white instead of blood red, but their work was still cut out for them. Dark Link was injured, not killed, and while Qrow literally took the heat off them by engaging Cinder, her minions remained and so did the monsters rampaging through Mistral.
The night wasn't just young, but it would be long and gruelling too.
Especially as they reached the peak and saw no Haven, only chaos. From Bokoblins and Moblins, Lizalfos and Wolfos, all sorts of monsters emerged from Malice pools while others swooped from the skies. Drawn by its supernatural hatred, even Grimm joined the fray as a Razorwing overwhelmed a Kargarok in an airborne duel. For a split second, Jaune felt like this was too much for three people to handle -
But he was emboldened upon seeing Arslan Altan leading a pyjama-clad Team ABRN against blue Moblins, while Neptune Vasilias bent water from the central fountain to cover Sage and Scarlet's advance.
He was right. Three people would've been overwhelmed, but he had an entire academy of students to back him up.
"Jauney, where is he?"
"I don't know," he replied to Nora as a glance around revealed no trace of the shadow. "But we need to find him fast. It'd be really bad if Dark Link goes berserk in a place like this -"
An explosion caught their attention as Oscar splashed into the fountain. An angry giant of a man with various dust crystals jutting out his body stood front and centre, shielding an injured Mercury as he smashed through multiple Malice vials before retreating with an unconscious Emerald.
"Okay, change in plans!" Jaune gritted as he sheathed Miló and brandished his original loadout. "Let's deal with them first before searching for Dark Link together. Break!"
With a cry, Jaune led his teammates in an all-out rush across the campus, slicing through Lizalfos and Beowolves alike. Upon reaching their sister team, Jaune and Ruby shared a nod and decided to split the burden; with JNR focused on eliminating nearby monsters, it took the heat off the other three as they forced Hazel back with coordinated teamwork.
The man's endurance was freakishly tough, but he was only human. Clutching his side after a well-placed haymaker from Yang, Hazel warily stepped back as the dust crystals began to strain his body despite his numbing Semblance.
Meanwhile, Qrow and Cinder engaged in a fast paced swordfight that ended with the latter heating up her scimitar to begin melting through Qrow's sword, though he retreated by firing its shotgun point-blank into her face.
Bloodied and bruised, the two villains fell back against the grand hall while facing the six of them. A quick glance around revealed an approaching wet and angry Oscar while Leonardo Lionheart was slumped against a nearby tree.
"This isn't good, Cinder," Hazel grunted as he withdrew another fire dust crystal. "We must reconsolidate while we still can."
"Are you insane!? This is our chance!" Cinder shrieked as she shot a fireball above them, which burst and showered the area with burning glass fragments. It failed to deter Jaune and the others. "I gathered them here so we can all take them out in one swoop!"
"And it's clear they're not the same people you fought at Beacon," he growled back. "We lack the Relic and knowledge of the Spring Maiden's whereabouts. You haven't killed the silver eyes or the boy with the golden power. Mercury and Emerald are injured and out, while the Malice charges were never enough to total the region like Beacon. Your arrogance and ambition have cost us tonight."
"So surrender, you witch!" Weiss interrupted, her voice loud and commanding despite the ambience of battle. "Your hatred and evil end here!"
"Urgh. Dammit. Damn it all! I will never stop fighting, but if I am denied victory, then I will sour yours." She turned to Jaune as her Grimm hand glowed with ominous red light. "Very well, then, Hazel. But if you want to play hero, then I shall indulge you. Time, destiny, light and wilds and skies? There's one you missed on that list: shadow."
Jaune paled. "What are you -"
"This is my command as your master!" Cinder called out. "For the longest time, I have restrained your abilities until you returned to full strength. The time has now come, Link! Ancient hero and avatar of Malice! Destroy them all! Show the world what kind of legend you are!"
She snapped her fingers and the red light disappeared. As Hazel slammed down with fire and ice dust crystals, creating a veil of mist that obscured their escape, they froze as a violent tremor suddenly rumbled through the campus. There was a horrible, deafening noise - somewhere between a tornado and a train - followed by a pillar of purple light spearing into the sky from the grand hall.
When it stopped, the air became deathly still. The only noises came from distant monsters and the worried breathing of his friends around him.
"Jaune...?" Ruby whispered as he faced her. Despite her attempts to hide it, the fear was palpable in her eyes. He could see it in Yang, Ren and Weiss as well, while Nora and Qrow shared a heavy, burdened look. "What's going on? A-and is that..."
Jaune turned to see a familiar figure stagger out between broken doors. Dark Link looked pissed, and the moment they locked eyes, the shadow ripped off his damaged, rusty armour, revealing a nasty gash beneath the partially burnt Hero's Clothes.
What shocked Jaune the most, however, wasn't the crystallized jet-black Malice scab that covered the wound he inflicted. Dark Link focused on his corrupted Guardian Sword, allowing Malice to snake its tendrils into the former Sheikah weapon. The shape twisted and snapped until there was a flash of purple light, revealing a blade shaped like the Master Sword itself. A blade wielded by blighted Heroes -
"...a...Heroblight Sword!?"
Dark Link stabbed the stone and flooded the landing with Malice. Hollows clawed themselves out from the liquid, with a notable few shaped like Jaune and Weiss. Even Haven teams retreated at the sight.
Jaune realized this was Dark Link's purest calamitous form. He exuded an aura of dread and power, with his body radiating a faint, black mist while his red eye tracked like a laser when he moved.
If he was courage, then Dark Link was fear. If he was hope, Dark Link was despair.
And if he failed to stop him right here, right now, then...
"Get ahold of yourself, kiddo," Qrow growled as he transformed Harbinger into its scythe form. "This guy looks mean but we've lived through shitty odds before."
"B-because you had a plan that time, right?" Ruby whispered as she stepped up next to him. "You had more experience fighting him than us, so how do we take this guy down?"
"Link, I can't even beat you yet. How do I take down the greatest warrior who ever lived?"
I suggest eliminating the small fry first since the Hollows appear to be individually weak. But while there is no one silver arrow, remember our first lesson: a sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage.
"I - well, yeah, but where's the strategy in that?"
Jaune grunted. "Ruby, lead your team and mine to mop up the Hollows. I'll distract Dark Link -"
"And we shall go with you," Ozpin interrupted. "While I can't fight full force or risk destroying Oscar's body, use every advantage at your disposal, Mr Arc. Remember your lessons from Beacon, too."
"Then it's settled," he whispered back. Jaune stepped forward and raised his sword, a motion Dark Link matched. They jogged into a run, as did the line of Hollows. It felt like walking towards an oncoming tsunami.
At last, the Battle of Haven had truly begun.
Jaune was immediately outmatched when they leapt with a jump attack and Dark Link blew him into the fountain. He barely had time to dodge as Dark Link meteored his way with an ending blow, then spun so fast that he didn't just parry Ozpin, but heaved him into a nearby dorm.
He then ducked beneath a horizontal swing and blocked a thrust, but Dark Link's blade shot Malice point-blank and staggered his guard, followed by a painful uppercut that raked across armour and Aura. But the small opening allowed Qrow to rush behind and land a glancing hit across Dark Link's back.
The shadow responded by slamming down and blowing them away with a Malice-enhanced shockwave.
"Get up, Arc!" Qrow growled as he heaved Jaune to his feet, then shoved him away as Dark Link streaked between them. Thankfully, he decided Qrow was the more dangerous target and assaulted him with a medley of slashes and thrusts, giving him a breather. Jaune fished out his scroll and choked when he saw his Aura levels at just over half.
"Urgh, after all the potions too? If he lands a good hit on someone with less Aura than me..."
A yelp of pain revealed Qrow falling back as Dark Link had unequipped the Hylian Shield and wielded the Heroblight Sword two-handed. Such was the ferocity of his assault that Qrow couldn't revert his scythe into its sword form - a fact Dark Link exploited by sliding beneath a wide, horizontal slice before inflicting an uppercut from gut to chin.
And before Dark Link closed in for the kill, Ozpin leapt from the side and parried his blows, giving Qrow time to recover. With the Hollows falling quickly and freeing more allies, Ruby sprinted past and grazed his gut in a passing strike while Ren and Nora showered him with firepower.
Dark Link then weaved through Ruby's iron whirlwind and tripped her, upon which a roaring Yang flew in with a wild haymaker and forced him to dodge before he could stab her sister -
Right into Nora and a wall of icicles. Dark Link parried Nora into an approaching Qrow, then blocked Yang's punch with the Hylian Shield as Weiss propelled her on a wind dust current. When he lunged and blew Yang away with his sword's pommel, Ruby scored a few slashes on his back, then Ren, then Oscar -
Even if it was Dark Link, to see one man single-handedly resist a combined assault from seven skilled warriors was borderline exhilarating. Was this the path he was destined for?
And when Qrow partially slashed open his Malice scabbed wound, it finally looked like they had a chance.
Dark Link was beatable.
"This is it! We can take Dark Link down right here, right now -"
Careful, Jaune! I sense great power welling up within him -
Not if he could help it. Aural flames surged down Crocea Mors as Jaune charged once more -
Dark Link's head snapped up to meet his, finding eight huntsmen leaping in for the kill -
"Hyaaah!"
And screamed as he raised the Heroblight Sword. There was a bright light, and Jaune braced as a shockwave propelled the eight of them away.
"Urgh...I...what happened -"
An intense wave of...something immediately overwhelmed him. It scared him. Mocked him. Reminded him that he was a failure and there was no use fighting anymore -
Jaune blinked to find his equipment missing and waves of airy Malice emanating from Dark Link, paralyzing the others with supernatural fear. Ruby was the least affected as she tried to stand through sheer willpower, but she eventually collapsed after taking a few steps.
A sword can be many things. A weapon for some, a lifestyle for others.
Jaune's heart dropped when Dark Link stalked towards the closest one - Weiss - who simply stared up at him with fear. His half of the Triforce pulsed a dim purple instead of gold.
For us, it is the means by which we protect those who cannot do so themselves. By lending our sword, we grant strength to those who lost it.
Jaune gritted as the Triforce warmed to life, and he felt a calm, soothing wave wash away all doubt and fear.
And where does our strength come from?
"...a sword wields no strength unless the hand that holds it has courage."
Jaune unsheathed Miló and staggered to his feet as the Triforce gleamed even brighter. The light washed away the waves of Malice like a holy barrier, and in his peripherals, Jaune noticed the others pick themselves up with awestruck eyes -
Eyes filled with resolve and unwavering hope.
Through this, you will illuminate the path for others to follow -
The light reached a crescendo, snapping Weiss out of her trance and catching Dark Link's attention. For the very first time, he saw fear flicker on the shadow's face.
- and forge the legend you were called to be.
Guided by instinct, Jaune adopted a battle stance and pointed his Triforce hand towards Dark Link, who screamed and broke into a final, all-out charge -
And a thin ray shot out from the glowing mark, which enlarged and suddenly captured Dark Link in what could only be called a prison of light. With a cry, Jaune dashed faster than he ever thought possible and sliced horizontally, vertically, followed by a spin attack -
It was like the Heroes of old guided every swing as the Triforce Slash brought Dark Link to his knees. After a flurry of blows, Jaune poured the last of his Aura into Miló, which then blazed with green fire.
Dark Link looked almost...impressed.
"For Pyrrha."
With a cry, the final strike engulfed Dark Link in a bright flash and shattered the prison. He dug deep and blew the shadow away, sending him crashing through the grand hall's rooftop and into the skies beyond.
Courage's light slowly dimmed until the mark became dormant once more. Jaune fell to his knees as its strength faded and his adrenaline waned, but any lingering fear or residual Malice had been burned away.
"Are you alright?"
Jaune blinked and instinctively took the hand Weiss offered. "I...think so? How about you?" He glanced at Ren and Nora. "And you guys? Does anyone need healing or -"
"We're fine, Jauney. That's what the infirmary's for," the latter tiredly grinned. "For a moment, I honestly thought we weren't gonna make it, but we did."
"All thanks to you, Vomit Boy!" Yang laughed as she came over and leaned on him, nearly tipping them both over before her smile fell somewhat. "That was some flashy shit back there, and honestly, I'm sure there's a lot of questions we all wanna ask. But I won't look a gift horse in the mouth. Good job, Jaune."
"O-oh, yeah. No worries. It's nothing -"
"Whaddya mean? That was the coolest, heroic thing ever!" Ruby whooped as she all but tackled him with a grin, while the others sent more smiles his way and hugged each other in relief. Qrow and Ozpin stood off to the side and watched with satisfied expressions.
"It's never nothing. Don't ever think so when saving others' lives."
Ruby broke free as Weiss spoke up with a firm look. "Not since Beacon have I thought I'd come so close to losing my life again. That is until you intervened. Yang's right. I have so many questions, but what I am certain of is my gratitude. Thank you, Jaune."
His eye widened when the heiress leaned in for a quick, almost hesitant hug. It meant the world knowing her reluctance for intimate physical contact.
Around them, cries of relief and triumph echoed through the air as Haven's students and huntsmen cleared the last monsters and Malice pools. Jaune realized they didn't just cheer for their victory - many others cheered for them.
Some part of him still nagged away, telling him that they haven't really won just yet, but just like last time, he was exhausted. Bruised.
When he raised Pyrrha's sword to their cries, Jaune smiled and finally felt alive.
x==)==
"...Mr Arc? If you don't mind, there's someone here to see you."
Jaune blinked and sat up on the infirmary bed. "Who is it?"
"She wouldn't give her name, but she said she's a friend of yours from the...southern mountains, I think?"
"O-oh, right. Just let me get dressed and I'll be out in a minute."
With great effort, Jaune swung his legs over and put his shoes on as the nurse left the room. It was dark and late at night, though quite noisy as the snoring echoed through the infirmary. Oscar, his team and Ruby's were knocked out in beds separated by curtains, but despite their forced rest, Jaune couldn't sleep.
Instead, he kept himself awake by repeating the past several hours in his head. When the battle concluded and reinforcements cleared Haven of the last remaining monsters, medics went to work treating the wounded.
It was a semblance of order in an institution bereft of leadership. According to Qrow, who was roped in to represent Beacon since Ozpin couldn't just out himself, the Deputy Headmaster was on his way from the dragon hunt in the east to take command. Lionheart was imprisoned after his treachery was discovered.
"To think there are traitors in such high places too..."
They survived the night and earned their moment of rest, but worry for the future and what might've been kept him awake. Sighing, Jaune left the room and glanced down a hallway to see a familiar ninja exit onto a nearby balcony.
"Evening. Or should I say good morning? I hope I didn't...wake you up or anything."
"I was having trouble sleeping anyway," he yawned as he closed the balcony door behind him. Paya scooted over to make room on the railing. "Kinda hard after everything that happened."
"I suppose. There's nothing more I want than to just pass out on a nice, comfy Tabanthan water bed right now..."
Paya blinked, then cleared her throat with a flushed expression. "S-sorry. I'll get straight to the point. How are you holding up?"
"I'd say good, but..."
"...but you feel like you didn't fully win, right?"
Jaune sighed and gazed up at the broken moon. He raised his hand as half of Courage dimly glowed. "Dark Li - the wraith still lives. I was so sure that I actually, finally managed to end him, but when I didn't feel this mark become...whole, it confirmed my suspicions."
"And your powers have finally begun to awaken, chosen one," Paya interrupted with a pointed stare. "I saw the tail end of it. You gave him injuries that he won't recover from anytime soon."
He nodded and let the Triforce fade. His resolve didn't.
"I have a feeling that the next time we meet...that'll be the last time we fight. Only one of us will walk out alive."
"I pray to the Goddess of Time that it shall be you. This world needs light more than ever...some places, more than others."
Jaune's expression was quizzical. "What do you mean?"
"I-I wanted to, um, ask for your help, actually," Paya replied, voice slightly nervous. "When you and your team recover, I'd like you all to accompany me back to my home village. There is an evil, dark presence suffocating the land, and despite our efforts, we lack the strength to drive it away."
"Evil...presence?"
"Most importantly," Paya continued as her hazel eyes suddenly sharpened. "There is someone in that village that can help you learn more about your powers and destiny."
Jaune's eye widened as he considered the offer. There was no way he'd say no to that, only...
"...ah, I see. I...I know I'm the one asking you, but if it's alright with you -"
"Don't worry, we won't take too long," he replied with a soft smile. "I can't just refuse Pyrrha's parents when they invited me back to their family home in Argus to pay respects at her grave. It'll only take a few days at most, but we'll come over as soon as we're finished. Arc's promise."
Paya raised an eyebrow. "Arc's...promise? What does that mean?"
"Sorry. It's just a saying that runs down my family, about how we're only as good as our word," he chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Either way, you can count on me. I'll message you when we're on our way back to Haven."
"Then I shall prepare a bullhead for us when you return," Paya nodded with a slight smile. "Thank you, Jaune Arc, and have a good night."
He waved as she closed the door behind her, leaving him alone in the crisp, fresh early morning air. As he stared past Mistral into Anima's wilds beyond, a small, subtle feeling took root in his heart -
One where despite everything that happened over the past several hours, there was so much more left to tackle. As he literally stood on the precipice, Jaune realized that where he was once an enterprising teenager sneaking into Beacon, inspired by myths and stories of old to become a huntsman of Vale, the time was fast approaching to face the reality none could've ever expected.
"Thank you, Link, for all the help you gave me."
I nudged you once or twice, but this was all you. You've grown stronger, and I look forward to seeing you reach your fullest potential.
He'd reach it, alright. His adventure was just beginning.
- AN -
Welcome back! It's been a while, eh?
On that note, I'd firstly like to apologize for continued delays over the past several weeks. For those who haven't read it, I've been away on a work trip that was supposed to be for a few weeks, but simply put, the general incompetency of people a few levels above me resulted in my trip being cut short and leaving me stranded alone, maybe 300 km from home with no way to get back at first. Had to sort that and the aftermath there and when I returned, which sucked since I actually enjoyed working there. Between that, spending vacation time with family and that I was burned out far more than expected, getting back into the groove was honestly kinda difficult. Thank you all for being patient.
With that I give you Chapter 42! I'll skip the usual behind the scenes for now since I'm tired and rather focus on reviews (damn, that's a lot thank you! I'll do my best to get to everyone), but this was a chapter I've been wanting to write for a while now, especially now that as of last August, this story is now officially two years old. Time flies, eh?
In addition, the Heroblight Sword is a Gamebanana mod for BOTW, so credits to NotheOtherNate, leeanderthal and Xyka the Heckler on Gamebanana for creating such a kickass mod. Check it out!
Thank you all for reading and sticking around thus far. I hope you all enjoyed it and that we'll see each other next time!
- Reviews -
Dragon lord Syed 101: Yup! And here it was. It'll be a fun challenge seeing what I can do with DL's character arc, but after deciding the fate of this battle a long time ago, I've some ideas cooking up.
Super heavy weapons guy: Close, but no cigar. I have my reasons why, but the day will come when Jaune finally restores the ToC and the Master Sword to be acclaimed as the next true Hero.
Roy4: Oh yes. Very personal. Honestly, I don't think I worked so hard on a single scene in so long, and I know some won't be satisfied with the outcome, but I had specific reasons why it ended that way for Jaune and Dark Link as individual characters and the relationship between them.
Same with incorporating aspects of different games into the upcoming Zelda adventure. Obviously I won't spoil specifics, but I can say in general that different parts of the quest will focus on developing different characters alongside Jaune as they travel to new places, traverse different dungeons, gather new items etc. While I haven't heard of that series, I had the same idea as well with transformation masks giving unique transformations to different characters, hence why I described Blake's FD armour just vaguely enough that people can headcanon how she'd look like while keeping the important parts. Same with the strain that comes with using powerful artifacts as well.
But hey, while some things may or may not happen depending on how things go, imagining Fierce Deity variants of different characters is pretty cool regardless.
MountainBookSage25: Yup! Not a full fledged one like a Forest or Fire Temple as it was intended to give me a bearing on writing dungeons going forward, but I haven't dropped the idea of including different items further on. It might very well take some time for Jaune to recover the full ToC too, and we'll definitely see where things go.
Guest: Thank you, I'm happy you liked it! At least Ares and Priam had their heads turned upon seeing what Pyrrha's partner could do this chapter. Same with the FDM, despite the cost behind its usage. As for the dungeon, I actually took inspiration from the Beneath the Graveyard level in Majora's Mask for the main chamber, while the puzzle to get out of the rupee room was something I cobbled last minute so as to not waste a riddle I took way too long to come up with. Glad you liked it, and there'll be even more dungeons coming up!
jeremiahkelley93: Thank you!
Reader: It may very well be so! It's been a while since I wrote things from Dark Link's perspective so I'd like to change that eventually so we can see the effects of Jaune's progress from light and shadow's perspective. It's interesting to see two relics from past and future deal with a world where the Brothers may have meddled a bit too much, rather than the Goddesses who decided it best to have their creations decide their own fate. Knowing history, it won't be pretty when knowledge of the Triforce slowly leaks out. Especially with Salem and Ozpin in the mix - two individuals who lived far past their normal expiration dates.
Interesting perspectives too! We'll see how things go with Jaune's love life further on.
Guest: Thank you! Hope you enjoyed it. While Jaune isn't ready just yet to wield all that comes with being a true Hero, I wanted to show that he isn't just ready to take on new challenges, but fighting and Hero-journey-introspection wise, he has come a fair ways.
Guest: You're right! Jaune knew that individually, none of them are, especially as it took the eight of them to actually back DL into a corner - as per the plan since not only seeing a former Hero go full force is pretty awesome, but (minus the Malice powers) I wanted to show a glimpse of the heights Jaune will one day reach.
Guest: I'm happy you liked that team affirmation. JNPR forever!
Guest: Yup! Even if it didn't stop him, Jaune knew it as well, though everyone involved caught a glimpse of the powers he could one day fully wield. Teamwork was necessary to even stand a chance against DL, held back and unleashed, but I myself can't wait to write how the cast grows in strength and in character. Thanks, and I'm glad you liked it!
Thunder Dragon: Yup! I have ideas stewing when the time comes to write about the Necluda / Sheikah more, along with Jaune & co. revisiting just what exactly is going on with him.
Saiyans4ever: Yea in hindsight, I see just why it was more touching than I previously thought. Glad you liked it, JNPR forever!
Manda's Priest: And faced him, he did, and despite the residual disappointment, he's no longer discouraged by emboldened for the future. It'll be something he talks about with his friends too as they soon discuss how to go forward from here.
Kaiser Dragon: Yup, a mini-test run dungeon but the first one nonetheless! Rather than Skyrim since I never played any Elder Scrolls games before, I took inspiration for the main cavern from the Beneath the Graveyard level in Majora's Mask, while the rupee room puzzle was something I cobbled up so as to not waste the Gossip Stone puzzle. The Guardian Armos was essentially a Sheikahfied version of a normal Armos, the unofficial miniboss of the dungeon that warded off enterprising explorers in the Necluda's hideout.
Guest: After a few delays, here it is! Hope you enjoyed it!
Guest: You needn't wait any longer. I hope you liked it!
Guest: Thank you, I'm glad you like that! I can also see why their love was born from closeness of duty, responsibility and circumstance as the struggle with those was a theme I explored a lot with Pyrrha in previous chapters. But yes, it would be nice to see Jaune slowly move on and perhaps open himself up again, we'll just have to see how things go.
- Stats -
Upload Date: Sept 13 / 2021
Chapter Word Count: 11 038
Approximate Page Length (Times New Roman, size 12, single-spaced): 27.7
*** Edit Sept 27 / 2021: Typo (screamed broke - screamed and broke)
- Disclaimer -
The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.