Arc IV: Courage Ascending
Chapter 43: Champion's Ballad
"..."
"...ne..."
"...une."
"Jaune!"
Jaune murmured as he woke up beneath the shade of a large maple tree. A cool breeze drifted around him while bright blue skies mixed with the canopy like a natural kaleidoscope. Birds and bugs trilled from vibrant green woods to his right, and they gradually thinned towards the cliff and his teammates to the left.
He yawned, stretched and meandered his way over while returning their smiles.
"Wakey wakey, Jauney. Didya get a good morning nap?"
"How could I not? Look how peaceful it is around here. If anything, it reminds me of home," he chuckled. "Maybe that's why I settled in so quickly."
"Home?" Ren hummed. "We are home."
They looked over the cliff across the Emerald Forest, and if he squinted hard enough, he could just make out Forever Fall's red outline to the north. The horizon ended at the towering Kanalet Mountains to the east and stretched across the vast Great Sea to the west.
Vale stood in the middle of it all, with Beacon further up on a ridge overlooking the River Gustaf. Once they got back, there'd be after-action reports before getting paid and time off. Should they go swimming by the coast or hit up the commercial district for a night out? Maybe even invite Team RWBY for a reunion picnic so they could also enjoy the scenic view?
After all, the moment couldn't get better. Vale thrived under their watch since they graduated Beacon years ago, with their castle of a school standing defiantly after defeating Cinder's invasion. She was long gone and so was the White Fang as progress in human-faunus reconciliation had recently reached a breakthrough. All that was left was defending against errant Grimm - numbers of which thinned since Salem's death.
It was calm, and the silence, companionable. Ren looked serene and Nora's grin was bright as the sun itself.
His teammate was right; they were home. The war was won long ago; they were at peace.
"And what better way to enjoy it than with you all?" Jaune whispered as a hand snaked into his. "I could stay like this forever."
"Mhmm. So can I," Pyrrha smiled, leaning into him. "So can I."
x==)==
"..."
"..."
"..."
Jaune sighed and blinked awake to find a ceiling instead of trees and sunlight. A cold breeze drifted in from the window with the sounds of honking cars, a few barking dogs and the general hum of the city. His scroll and eyepatch lay on a nightstand to his right, and his gear was propped against a chair to his left.
While he wasn't home and the war was still to come, he was grateful for the most peaceful sleep he had in recent memory.
"It's been a while since we left Vale, and I can't believe it's almost winter as Anima's rainforests don't go orange during the wet season. But the past few days have been seared into my mind like a brand. Cinder...Dark Link...everyone..."
Donning his eyepatch, Jaune shivered as he stepped out into the balcony amidst Argus' bustling downtown core - a relaxing sight after a long, difficult and ultimately transformative journey. The nightmares and panic attacks lessened as he leaned on friends for support, and where he would've been paralyzed with grief, he acknowledged it. Accepted it.
When he faced Dark Link once more, the shadow which hung over him like a pall was finally cast into the light.
Jaune glanced at his faint Triforce mark until a knock on the door caught his attention.
"What do you want, Jaune? A warm breakfast going cold or an actual cold by standing out there?"
"Jeez, you didn't have to come get me," he whined as a fussy, slightly annoyed blonde girl walked in. "I'm not a kid anymore."
"I know and I hate it! What happened to that shy, adorkable little brother I used to have?" Saphron Cotta-Arc pouted. "The hair's an improvement, though. The braids would've been amazing if they were this long back then."
Jaune huffed, then flinched when she pinched his cheeks.
"Let your sister dream for once. It's been so long since we last saw each other, so as long as you're sleeping under my roof, I'm gonna take full advantage of it. Deal?"
"I wanna move out."
"Deal," Saphron grinned before tightly hugging him. "I missed you. I almost didn't recognize you when you arrived a few nights ago. You've grown." She gingerly touched his scarred and blinded right eye. "Changed."
They broke apart. "I guess, yeah. How's the family doing, at least?"
"Terra's got a morning shift but she'll be back for lunch, and your friends are watching Adrian downstairs. But don't change the subject, young man. How are you doing?"
Jaune shuffled uncertainly. "It's been a...long road, to be honest, but I'm hanging in there. We all have to."
Saphron sighed and stepped back. "Well, alright. If you say so. Just hurry up and eat, okay? I know you can't resist a good meal, you glutton."
Chuckling as she left, Jaune took a quick shower and changed before heading downstairs. The eight of them were eating and watching the news in the living room; Ruby waved from the couch beside Qrow while Ren and Weiss nodded politely, and Saphron beamed as Nora fawned over his nephew.
"Grub?"
"Please and thank you," he replied, accepting a plate of eggs and bacon from a rather troubled-looking Yang as he sat next to her by the coffee table. Before long, he lost himself in conversations between his friends - be it Ruby complaining about Weiss not letting her sleep in, Oscar working up the courage to talk to her and even Yang asking whether she or Nora would win at arm wrestling.
Between those, a fresh meal and a good night's sleep, it almost felt like nothing had changed. For just a moment, they were chilling in their dorms at Beacon.
But the good things never lasted for long.
The atmosphere mellowed as the news shifted to live coverage of the aftermath in Mistral, followed by the villains' profiles. Cinder would've liked the photo of her floating atop a column of flame, while Emerald's suggested it was taken by someone in hiding. Mercury's mugshot was dated perhaps a year or so ago and made him look like a typical thug.
"How exactly did they sneak into Haven and Beacon if they're already on record...? Oh, wait. Lionheart. Probably Torchwick too. At least someone's been put behind bars. Either way..."
The best was saved for last. Dark Link's picture was somewhat distorted since it was taken while he was moving, but though his Malice eye was out of view, there wasn't denying his pale blonde hair, long, thin ears and angled features.
"...I don't think I'll ever forget that night," Weiss whispered, breaking the silence that blanketed the room. "I stared up at his sword preparing for the worst until I felt something...comforting. Something warm, like a blanket, before he disappeared in a flurry of light."
"Yeah. How did you do that, Jaune?" Yang added. "And who exactly is this guy? Now that I've gotten a real good look at him, he kinda seems like an older, edgier version of you."
Sensing the shift in tone, Saphron smiled sadly and scooped up Adrian to take him upstairs while Oscar suddenly sat up with good posture. Ozpin took over, no doubt wanting front row seats for the unavoidable moment of truth ahead.
Jaune's gaze fell. "You're not wrong."
"Huh? What do you mean?"
"It's...well, I know you all have questions, and I guess this is good a time as any to answer them," he replied, making his way over beside the TV while Nora turned the volume down. "It's just like you said, Yang. The shadow - or Dark Link, rather - looks like me because...he is me. From a past life."
He could hear a pin drop despite the carpeted floor.
"You're...Dark Link?"
"Remember when we had that talk about reincarnation and stuff after the Breach, Weiss? The basic rundown I gave your team? It's about time I told you guys more."
She stared as he raised his hand and let Courage slowly warm to life.
"I'm the latest in a long line of Heroes, and Dark Link is the one who came before me. That's why we have this mark on our hands."
Weiss pursed her lips. "That's why you were able to free us."
"Honestly, all I saw was him preparing to kill you and so I...acted. In hindsight, it makes sense since Dark Link's corruption managed to use his piece of Courage to deliver the opposite effect, but I never thought I could pull it off too. I can only wonder what power I'd get from having the whole thing."
"So why does he look like some sort of cursed vampire-zombie-thing if was a good guy?" Ruby asked. "What happened?"
"I'm not sure," Jaune admitted, dropping his arm. "I think he's connected to whatever made Remnant into what it is today, but whatever it was, it brought him back at his peak."
"Hence his magic," Qrow rasped as he downed his coffee. "The power he wielded was beyond anything I've seen. Think you could've matched that, Oz?"
They all turned to see Ozpin adopt a weary expression - a look which didn't mesh well with Oscar's boyish face.
"Perhaps in my prime. I'm not surprised he was able to kill me, considering he possessed a powerful relic from the Golden Goddesses themselves," Ozpin replied, pointing to Jaune's hand with a grave expression. There was something else, something odd hidden behind it, but he couldn't tell what it was.
"Much like the one you have, Mr Arc."
Jaune froze.
Careful, Link interrupted before he could respond. Do not speak more of its true nature than you need to.
"But they need to know if they're gonna help. They need to know what to fight for."
And look how eager Ozpin is right now. He's not even trying. Wars have pitted families against each other in order to seize the Triforce, Link warned. Would you want to see your friends claw each other down in pursuit of something that can shape the foundations of the world itself?
A chill went down his spine as he pictured RWBYJNPR standing before the Triforce. All eight of them were loyal and true...but if she could, would Ruby bring Summer back with it? Would Blake fight her friends to permanently end faunus discrimination?
Would Ozpin kill everything in his way to ensure Salem's death?
If he had the full Triforce, would he wish Pyrrha back to life?
Don't test them with the knowledge of ultimate power.
After a few seconds, he cleared his throat and whispered an apology.
"I...trust my friends. I really do. I'm sorry, but..."
Jaune...
Despite a sharp pain lancing through his temples, he forged ahead with the lore of the Triforce and the legendary cycle. By the end of it, even his teammates and Qrow looked floored with the sheer depth of the truth, especially upon mentioning the existence of other wielders.
The long silence was broken by Ruby clearing her throat. "The Princess and Hero...destined to rise and fight evil together. And you don't know anything about who's supposed to be this Princess?"
Jaune shook his head. "Only that she's descended from the Hyrulean royal family and the Goddess Hylia."
Ruby leaned back on the couch with a stressed expression.
"So we have half of one out of three accounted for," Ozpin added as he stood next to the backyard glass door. "And you mentioned that the wielder of Power is a greater threat than Salem. Just what kind of evil are we dealing with here?"
"He's taken different forms across time, and was known as the King of Thieves and the Great Calamity. His real name is Ganon," Jaune replied, fully facing Ozpin. Even saying the name out loud brought a chill down his spine. "A primal evil that has endured over the ages. Ganon's been defeated time and time again by a warrior wielding the soul of a Hero and a Princess who carries the blood of the Goddess. Each conflict with Ganon faded into legend over time."
"Until now."
Ozpin inclined his head as the room grew silent once more. There was a certain weight to it - one of duty. Responsibility.
"Yeah. There's the Blood Moon, a Master Sword that can't repel evil and ancient monsters wreaking havoc in the present. Even my very existence means Ganon's coming, and I'm willing to bet Salem's somehow behind all this."
Jaune glanced across the room, watching as they traded looks with each other.
"That's why I want to follow Paya - my contact with the Necluda tribe from southern Anima - back to her home village since there's someone who knows what to do next. I know that you all have things you'd like to do. Heck, we all joined Beacon for different reasons, but this is where we've ended up. I'll be leaving for Mistral and then the Necluda's hometown after Pyrrha's memorial tomorrow, and I won't stop you guys if you have other plans. But if it's not too much to ask -"
"Didya forget, Jauney? We're your teammates!" Nora interrupted as she locked an arm around Ren's neck. The poor boy choked but managed a thumbs up. "You can count us in. We'll be there until the end."
"D-do I get a say in this...?"
"What, are you gonna say no?"
"N-no."
Nora pouted.
"We're with you, Jaune," Ren replied as he shook off his partner's arm. "If I'm being honest, we have nowhere else to go, and the place we once called home is overrun by Grimm. Call me selfish, but as I try to figure things out, I'd like to protect what I have left."
"Renny..."
Jaune smiled. "Thanks. How about you guys?"
"Yup! You can count me in," Ruby nodded, managing a troubled smile. "Honestly, it's a lot to think about on top of Salem and silver eyes, but some things I'll just have to learn along the way. Knock out two birds with one stone. Isn't that why you wanted to be a huntsman too, Weiss?"
The heiress humphed. "My reasons are my own, though I suppose someone needs to keep you out of trouble."
"Aww, you do care!"
"Dolt," she snapped, and Ruby dodged her slap with a mischievous giggle. Weiss sighed and looked back at Jaune with a tired expression. "I was foolish to not pay greater attention back then. I think I marred your words with my own beliefs regarding fate, but I can't refuse a second time, can I?"
That left three to go - those with the greatest reasons to say no, but it was worth a shot.
"Yang? I know you joined us only for a little while, and if you need to go soon, then..."
They all turned to face her looking down at her plate with solemn contemplation. After a few seconds, however, Yang fished out her scroll and held it with the screen outward.
"...wait. Is that -"
"Yup. A message from Blake," Yang whispered, eliciting quiet gasps from Ruby and Weiss. "She saw news footage of us during the Haven fight and asked if we could meet up at Mistral. I got it yesterday, but I haven't told anyone because...well...I don't know. I was kinda anxious."
"I mean, who wouldn't be?" Ruby replied. "It's okay, Yang. I think it's a good sign that Blake took the initiative, but we'll be going back with you too. You won't be alone."
Yang sighed, glanced at Jaune and nodded. They then turned to Ozpin, who wore an indiscernible expression as he looked out the glass door; save for the low hum of the TV, it remained quiet for what felt like an eternity until he broke it with an amused chuckle.
"You have all grown. It's as Hazel said at Haven, that you six are not the same people we taught back in Beacon. And as you are all changing, so is the world around us. My research pales compared to everything that happened in the last few months, and though you answered some of my questions, Mr Arc, I find myself having more to ask. I can...sympathize with the burden of fate."
"The consequences of being a wildcard, right?"
"The greatest since I was first reborn nine thousand years ago. I wish to end Salem for good. You seek to prevent her from colluding with Ganon. If combining forces is what it takes, then Qrow and I shall see it done."
Jaune replied by extending a hand, which Ozpin took with a firm grip. The latter then stumbled as he glowed with green light, and when Jaune caught him, the boy's eyes opened to reveal an innocent farmboy instead of the age-old immortal.
"You alright, Oscar?"
"Ugh. Everything hurts...my brain...my legs...my back..."
"Because you're still recovering after being pushed far beyond your limits," Jaune replied as Nora and Yang knelt by his side, followed by Saphron coming back down. "Did you hear everything?"
"Just the tail end of it," his sister sighed. "I'll take care of him, but look. The way I see it is that you guys have a few days off, so take advantage of it. Sleep in. Get fat or train your butts off. If the next step is what you guys should've started three years from now, then you guys better leave feeling ready."
Jaune smiled amusedly. Two days wouldn't be nearly enough, but if a trial by fire was the only way forward, then they'd just have to get used to the heat. Such a lifestyle only made the small moments of peace even more precious.
The good times didn't last forever, and it was their duty to make sure others could enjoy them too.
x==)==
There was nothing like staring at the screen and knowing you've been left on 'read'.
Sighing, Blake took a bite of sashimi and looked around the open-air seaside bar. Blue waves crashed gently upon the beach while a pair of seagulls flew past overhead. It was warm, bright, and in the distance, a leaping orca crashed down into the ocean.
A long time ago, she frequented these waters to spear-fish with her mom so her father could cook the catch. Back when things were simpler not because they actually were, but because she had since recognized that her parents did their best to give her as normal a childhood as possible.
Now, Blake only saw driftwood and White Fang that were carried away with the tide. Reality was ugly and so was the path she took at such a young age.
"...but for better or for worse, it led me to Ruby and you, Yang. And while I'll never call Weiss a friend to her face, I miss her all the same. You would've loved to visit a place like this."
Hopefully, it would be when the island was in better shape. Much of the city was damaged after the battle a few days ago, and it kept her busy helping out with clearing rubble and aiding wounded survivors in the Belladonna mansion.
Blake's vision was obscured by a well-defined, slightly sweaty six-pack, followed by a strawberry-based drink that looked like it was up Yang's alley.
"Mind if I join you for lunch?"
"Yeah, I mind."
"..."
"..."
"...oh. Okay -"
"I'm teasing, Sun. Sit down," Blake grumbled, rolling her eyes as his grin returned full force. As he sat down with a bowl of poke, she accepted the glass and humming contentedly with a sip. "What is this?"
"A rum runner. Figured it'd be something you'd like," Sun replied with a mouthful of rice and fish. "Looks like I was right."
Blake shrugged. "It's not bad. I usually don't drink unless on occasion or after a long day, but what about you? I don't think I've seen you drink...ever. Even during the dance at Beacon."
"Yeah, only rarely. I can't afford to let these bad boys melt," Sun dramatically sighed as he stretched in a way that accentuated his muscles while maintaining eye contact. He earned a flat stare and almost deflated. "Just saying. Gotta keep those macros up, you know?"
"I'm sure," Blake replied with a raised eyebrow. "Speaking of jobs, how's reconstruction going?"
"Well, we've recovered what we can from the burned wing. The whole building would've been toast without the last-minute firefighting."
Blake nodded. Though he tried to hide it, Ghira had been understandably despondent that his home took such a beating. The only time she'd seen him smile since was when they recovered an old childhood family photo album.
"As for everything else, it's as smooth as can be," Sun continued, taking another bite. "Kali's ramping up forestry efforts for materials to repair buildings and boats from across the island have been coming in with supplies."
She frowned. "And the bad news?"
"Let's just say winning hearts and minds is a work in progress," he sighed. Vale wasn't built in a day, and neither was Kuo Kuana. Houses could be rebuilt, but making them into homes was difficult when much of the city still saw each other as enemies. More than once, they had to prevent civilians from ganging up on suspected rebel sympathizers.
The White Fang headquarters in the distance was reminder enough, even though it flew Sienna's wolf-and-three-strikes flag once more instead of the enemy standard. On the homefront, her forces were spread thin culling a Grimm surge caused by the battle while she was deep in talks with Ghira's government regarding their future on Menagerie.
It wasn't much better elsewhere. With Vale's sect weakened, Vacuo's almost non-existent and the Atlesian and Mistrali sects openly renouncing their allegiance, Sienna retained her leadership at the cost of effective strength. Atlas and the SDC had taken advantage by intensifying counterterrorism efforts while pressuring Ghira to extradite White Fang leadership for trial. Only the treaties laid down in the aftermath of the Faunus Rights Revolution prevented an invasion.
"...most importantly...Adam and Tyrian survived. Sienna said they tracked their bullhead to the Toruma Barrens in western Vacuo until they vanished off the radar."
Blake leaned forward and stared at the reflection in her drink.
And then she felt it.
The anger. The rage. The hatred. It wasn't overpowering but remained undeniably strong.
Sun flinched as she slammed a fist down. Amber eyes snapped towards him when he placed a hand on hers, and Blake gasped when she realized that not only did she splinter the wood, but the other customers were looking their way alarmed.
"Don't worry, folks, everything's fine!" Sun called out with a grin. "It's been a hard few days for all of us. Just letting things out, you know?"
The patrons eventually looked away and Blake sagged as the rush of anger vanished.
"You okay?"
"I...I think so. I don't know what came over me," she whispered. "Thinking about how we let Adam and Tyrian escape struck a nerve. Before I knew it, my head swam and I felt raw, powerful anger come out of nowhere. It was like a switch was flipped."
Sun looked worried. "It's the Mask, isn't it?"
"Probably some sort of residual effect, like withdrawal," Blake agreed, rubbing her jaw and half-expecting to feel something wooden there. "When I woke up the morning after, I had bouts of rage on top of exhaustion and Aura recovery if I thought too hard about them."
"Which was why you've been distracting yourself by working all the time."
Blake nodded. "Each episode is weaker than the last, but even after they stop, I'll never forget what it was like wearing it. Imagine the angriest you've ever felt, powered by relentless drive when the things you always wanted are dangled within arm's reach. I couldn't even think, let alone remember my name. I was prepared to give up control of who I am just to have a shot at killing Adam. Everything else was just a bloody haze."
Her eyes met his.
"Until he was gone, and when that anger had nowhere else to go...I heard you. Your voice calmed my rage until you managed to take it off. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for you."
"Not gonna lie, it was pretty scary seeing you like that," Sun half-smiled. "But I wanted you to remember that you're more than just a mask, Blake. A mask isn't enough to hide the person you are."
Blake blinked, looking away from his strong gaze with faint red cheeks as her cat ears stiffened.
"R-right. Either way, the Mask is too dangerous to be left out in the open, and since Kuo Kuana is compromised, Dad and I convinced Sienna to let me take the Mask to someone who might know more about it. Wasn't easy, but we did it."
"Jaune?"
"Mhmm. If only we managed to take the Crystal from Tyrian before he escaped, but two relics out of three are better than nothing."
"Huh? I thought there were only two."
Blake withdrew a small necklace from her pocket. The red medallion was dull, missing half and had an unfamiliar design. "Ilia gave this to me after Tyrian dropped it. I have no idea what it does, but it's best to guard it just in case. As for the other one, apparently it's called a Twilight Crystal and it's dangerous because it...transforms you, so to speak."
"Like the Mask?"
"Worse. Remember when Sienna said they had to put down those who learned the hard way?" Blake thumbed through her scroll and pulled up pictures Sienna sent of a frankly gigantic carcass in the vague shape of a bear. It almost looked like an Ursa, were it not for glowing red and orange veins across its smooth, black body while wisps of smoke rose from it like a thick cloud.
What caught their attention, however, was the stone-like mask with an intricate eye design on its face. It was sliced in two to reveal part of a humanoid face and clearly human teeth, not to mention the remains of stubby bear ears.
Sun nearly gagged at the sight.
"He's...not Grimm, but he's no longer a bear faunus either. And I don't even want to imagine how Adam and Tyrian could use this."
"Me neither," Sun heaved, looking away as he clutched his stomach. "So, what now? Are you gonna chase after them?"
"No."
He blinked.
"Not yet, at least," Blake amended. "Even though my Beacon self would've dropped everything to do so. I haven't forgotten what blindly chasing them led us to at the docks, and I won't risk doing the same against Adam and Tyrian without anyone to back me up. I would've asked you to come, but -"
"- I would've said no as well."
Sun sighed and pushed his empty bowl away. "Confession time. I'm, ah...going soon."
She paused. "Wait, what?"
"Yeah. Like end-of-the-weekend soon," he continued. "You heard what happened at Mistral, right? The terrorist attack on Haven was committed by the same guys at Beacon. When I was watching the news, I saw Neptune. Sage. Scarlet. My team was right there in the thick of it," Sun whispered, voice falling to a low growl. "They should've had their leader with them. Don't get me wrong, I don't regret helping you out, but now that the pressing things are out of the way, it's time I finish helping where I can and face the consequences of my actions."
Blake leaned back, letting it sink in. "Oh."
"I'm sorry, but hey. You got Kali and Ghira and Ilia and, well, maybe not Sienna, but you know what I mean," Sun continued, trying for another grin. "You won't be alone. I wanna make sure my team knows that too."
"Then we'll tell them together."
It was his turn to do a double-take. "Huh?"
Blake flicked through her scroll's text history until it landed on her message asking Yang to meet up. "You told me to focus on who matters instead of seeking revenge. I want to stop Adam, Tyrian, whoever his boss is and I also want to repair my relationships with my friends. It was a hard choice to make, but finding those two can wait. I hope you have an extra ticket on that flight because I'm coming with you to Mistral. And this time...Mom, Dad and Ilia won't be left in the dark."
Sun blinked and watched as Blake called for the bill. When a waitress came with the tab, she pulled out her card and scanned it before he could.
"Lunch is on me. Consider this treat as thanks," Blake smirked as she stood, though it fell when she paused on the way out. "Don't read into it."
"I'm totally reading into it."
"Ass," Blake groaned as she went outside. The calm of the bar was immediately replaced by a flurry of activity; the streets were filled with busy civilians and patrolling Menagerie Guards while a distant horn sounded from another supply ship requesting a port call. In the distance, scaffolding surrounded the burned half of the Belladonna mansion.
It was a busy sight. Restless, even, but it was a welcome change. Where Kuo Kuana was once a city under siege, it had become one of rebirth. Though there was a lot of work to do, more than her limited time allowed, she could rest easy knowing that life sprouted from the ashes.
Nodding to Sun as he rejoined her, Blake took his hand and led him into the crowds.
x==)==
She was strong. She was agile. Her reaction time was insanely low and was almost psychic at predicting her next move.
A kick here, a missed punch there, and a somersault that barely managed to dodge her counterattack. Never before had she faced an enemy so freakishly good. A truly worthy opponent.
Ruby hated her with every fibre of her being.
"Why don't you stay still and get hit for once you, you...urgh! Now!"
Growling, she feinted left before charging right at the last possible moment -
And a meaty smack knocked her face-first into the stone with an overdramatic cry.
"Frosty Ninja wins! Total annihilation!"
"Nooo! This isn't fair! I had you in my sights!" Ruby whined at the TV. She could only watch as her blue-garbed opponent repeatedly crouched and stood atop her fallen character.
"Grrr..."
"Huh? What is going on?" Weiss wondered aloud from her bed, completely unaffected by the look of helpless anger sent her way. The heiress was equal parts confused and curious. "Is this supposed to be some sort of post-game ritual?"
"For those who like telling people they suck without saying anything. They just feel the need to rub it in others' faces."
"Right. Do people really like being rude to people they never met?"
"Why don't you see for yourself?" Ruby huffed, offering Weiss the scroll. A message then popped up on TV, saying that opponent "Xx_PinkMinx_xX" refused her rematch request.
"I think our time is better spent elsewhere. Don't you agree?"
Without protest, Ruby turned off the console before heading to the balcony. Dressed in an oversized sweater and thick pyjamas, she leaned against the railing and watched her breath dissipate into the frosty air.
All she wanted was a nice, chill afternoon where she could relax by catching up on her comics and playing games. Easy in theory, easy in practice...except for today. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't focus on the present. Reading X-Ray and Vav? Worry about the next few days. Last match, two out of three online? Throw it by thinking of things other than the fight at hand.
"Everyone split up too. Jaune, Yang and Nora are sparring at a nearby gym while Uncle Qrow is training Oscar. Saphron and Terra basically made Ren their second son after seeing him cook dinner for fifteen minutes -"
"- by. Remnant to Ruby, is anyone there?"
She blinked as Weiss leaned on the railing beside her with a raised eyebrow. Rather than her nightgown, she wore grey sweatpants and a thin white t-shirt. "Aren't you cold in that?"
"I'm fairly used to it after growing up in Atlas. But let's not change the subject. What's on your mind?"
"Nothing."
"And Winter Schnee is not my older sister."
Ruby pouted, to which Weiss raised an eyebrow as a brief staring contest emerged. She looked away after a moment. "Am I that obvious?"
"You've been troubled since Jaune filled us in this morning. While I am not forcing you to talk...I am willing to listen if you need it. It's good that we have time to unwind since there's a lot on everyone's minds right now."
"That's one way to put it," she replied. "I wanted to become a huntress so I could be a hero by saving people from Grimm. Not that I expected it to be easy or...or clean, or -"
"- idealized?"
"Yeah. I know what it's like to lose a parent. I'm not clueless. But we go from learning weak points on Deathstalkers to thousand-year-old immortals, the fact that our Semblances are actually magic and there are literal reincarnated Heroes of destiny and legend. One of them being socially awkward as I was and my first friend at Beacon."
Weiss hummed. "Your confidence has grown since then, so give yourself some credit. But are you saying you feel small in comparison? Like your silver eyes not being on par with Jaune's Triforce?"
"Yes! Or...you know what -"
"- not anymore. A little at first, but now I want to learn more about them so I could be more useful in the field. I mean, I just finished digesting the fact that Ozpin's alive and there's a Queen of the Grimm. Knowing we might determine the fate of Remnant itself is kind of overwhelming."
Weiss looked away and gazed silently into the city. Despite the cold, it was upbeat and lively with people shopping for winter sales and enjoying warm, invigorating drinks. Past the central business district, tall, thick walls separated the port from the rest of the city while Atlas maintained a garrison on a few islands just off the coast. Beyond it, the vast Aldor Ocean filled the horizon, separating Anima from the frozen shores of Solitas.
On any other day, it would've been a relaxing sight. Right now, Ruby only saw how many people whose fates were in their hands - a sixteen year-old girl barely on the cusp of becoming a huntress.
Teenagers barely on the cusp of adulthood.
"Overwhelming indeed," Weiss agreed. "Even though the signs were present before the Fall. Everything we knew about the world was slowly peeled away, and we responded with varying degrees of denial or ignorance. Blake and I were the most skeptical, while Yang entertained the idea and you seemed to accept parts of it."
"Well, I didn't think it was that far out to believe magic and gods existed, but it kinda felt distant until recently. None of us really knew the scale of what was going on. I can't even imagine how Jaune must've felt carrying this for so long."
"To be honest, we will never know what it's like being in his place."
Ruby's gaze fell. She knew that for a fact deep down, but some instinctive part of her denied it anyway. Maybe she was just a normal teenager with weird eyes, and her friend, destined to become a storied Hero.
"...but it's not an excuse to sit back and let him do all the work. Silver eyes, Ganon, Dark Link...the Princess...in the end, it's still fighting the bad guys and saving the good ones."
"...glad to see that hasn't changed," Weiss chuckled, and Ruby blushed as she realized that she spoke out loud. "But just like in Beacon, I'd caution you to not leap headfirst into any situation before getting a read on it."
"Well, yeah, but I think not knowing the full picture and trying to help anyway is part of being a huntress too. Even though Jaune said there's so much out there that we still don't know, I don't wanna hesitate to help since he has a lot on his plate. Like, what about the Princess? Maybe we could split up to track her down, or -"
"- or wait on deciding until after we cross the Rozudo Mountains and learn more in the village. Let's be patient, Ruby. Perhaps we wouldn't have to cross half of Remnant to find someone who might be closer than expected."
Ruby narrowed her eyes. "Are you saying that the Princess is supposed to be one of us?"
"Hmph. No. If any of us were, then we'd probably know by now. I, at least, would notice if I was born with a glowing crest on my hand."
"...but Jaune mentioned that he discovered his Triforce during Initiation," Ruby whispered. "You really think it's too much to believe one of us had it all along?"
"Then like your silver eyes, we'll find out eventually," Weiss sighed, turning back. "Because we don't have a choice. The illusion vanished when we decided to become huntresses."
"Do you regret it?" she suddenly asked. The heiress paused halfway through the balcony entrance. "Do you regret where you've ended up?"
"No. And I know you don't either."
The door clicked gently shut, leaving Ruby alone with her thoughts. She blinked when something small and cold landed on her eyelid, and she looked above as it began to snow.
Weiss was right. Maybe it was best to take things one at a time, but she couldn't deny her growing restlessness. A brave new world lay on the horizon, one that would take her from the realm of huntresses to that of heroes.
Once upon a time, she too couldn't get enough of fairy tales where magical warriors struck down beasts and claimed glory in saving princesses. Though muddled, some of her earliest memories were deep within Summer's embrace as she imparted those stories into her.
Stories of valour. Of courage and destiny.
Knowing she'd play a part in an upcoming legend brought a smile to Ruby's face.
x==)==
"Qrow."
"Oz. I assume we're here to talk about...that."
"Yes. The future," Ozpin responded, gazing across the snowy backyard. There was something...off about his voice, like he was talking to a large audience instead of directly with him.
"Much has happened over the past several months, rendering our plans moot. Ashes of a ruined world buried beneath us, Golden Goddesses on equal, if not greater standing than the Brothers...ultimate power that can reshape the world as we know it..."
He cleared his throat. "While my task to kill Salem has not changed, we must confront the truth and consider our plans going forward."
"...ah. You lied earlier, didn't you?"
"Not quite. I meant it when I said I was willing to work together. I also suspect Salem is colluding with this Ganon being, so we'll follow along for now. I shall verify the complete truth of his claims once we reach the village."
"Hasn't he proven himself enough, Oz? Jaune and his team's been to hell and back."
"Have you ever asked yourself how he knows so much? How can we be sure he's not withholding something important? Yes, he has proven a lot, and I can understand his friends' unconscious refusal to question him since his confidence keeps them going. But I need to know the whole truth, not a tailored version of it."
"In that case, I assume you've already come up with backup plans, right? What are they, Maidens? Relics?"
"The Triforce."
Qrow swallowed uncomfortably.
"Jaune Arc has been blessed by gods of old. So have I," Ozpin continued. "But the crucial difference between us is that he holds himself back. A hero is not a knight whose armour shines, but is caked in blood and dirt because he accomplished the greater good. Make no mistake, Qrow. I absolutely prefer to work with him to kill Salem and Ganon."
The lawn chair clattered to the ground as Qrow shot to his feet.
"You've never led us astray from my STRQ days until now, but backup plan or not, I don't like what I'm hearing. Jaune said taking his Triforce piece means killing him. The others won't stand for this if they find out what's going on."
Qrow clenched his fists. "And if it comes even remotely close to that...if you so much as even think of laying a hand on Ruby and Yang -"
"Which is why I want you to help me in making sure it never comes to that. If the idea comes up, emphasize the benefits and allay his fears. Depending on the situation, I may be even willing to find the Maidens and lend the Relics to assist him."
Ozpin walked to the edge of the stone patio, just before the snow. "While Choice is out of the question until Cinder is killed, I can convince James to lend me Creation. Mrs Auburn, Destruction."
Qrow narrowed his eyes. "Knowledge?"
"Bludo Dargan, a retired veteran huntsman. He is Leonardo's successor, hailing from an eastern Mistrali tribe that honours strength and bonds between sworn brothers. I've already begun attempts to contact him, but everything hinges on what we'll learn and how Mr Arc proceeds."
Ozpin turned with an unusually piercing gaze, and he almost flinched as he met his faintly glowing hazel eyes. "If the Triforce truly is the relic of all Relics, the ultimate power that can alter fate itself, and Mr Arc refuses to take advantage of it, then I shall do what needs to be done."
There was no warmth on his face nor any trace of doubt, and the geniality he usually had was replaced by a cold, stern demeanour.
Qrow grimaced as he realized just why the immortal felt so off. Even in the Headmaster's body, seeing him like this was thankfully rare; this wasn't Ozpin, the teacher who wished to guide humanity to a better future. This was Ozma, the ancient warrior who once commanded legions and toppled kingdoms with the powers of spiteful gods.
"...I don't like this."
"Neither do I. But I am a patient man, not a hesitant one. The power to end this all, a silver bullet I never thought existed, may finally be within reach. We must confirm it works as intended and that Mr Arc uses it. I hope he makes the right decision."
Ozpin seemed to deflate, though he never lost his confident aura. "You're a good man, Qrow. I hope you do as well."
The backyard door slid open, with Yang's obnoxious jokes drifting through for a second until Ozpin closed it behind him. Cursing, Qrow righted the fallen chair and plunked back down.
"I'm not surprised Oz considered something like this, but I've never seen him so desperate. Maybe that's what happens when someone finally dangles a carrot in your face after years full of sticks."
Knowing that a chance existed to actually end the Grimm was tempting indeed, and he'd give both arms for Ruby and Yang to enjoy a world where they never had to worry about them again.
But would they be willing to sacrifice their innocent friend?
"No. They...wouldn't..."
Does the end really justify the means?
"..."
"..."
"The gods shit in my dinner once again. I'm a huntsman, Oz, not a philosopher," he rasped to himself. "I save good guys by killing Grimm, but even if I'm not pulling the trigger, if I let you do this then I'm just as guilty. Or maybe there's a way where we can use the Triforce without killing anyone...everyone's gotta be down with that, right?"
"..."
"..."
Qrow tipped back his flask and downed the last of his whiskey.
"Dammit, Oz..."
x==)==
The silence that accompanied their walk was a stark contrast to the bustling energy of the city.
Rather than cars and crowds, a crisp breeze blew past and rustled the fir trees. Birds chirped overhead, and the cloudy sky was breaking to reveal orange rays from the early morning sun. It was calm. Peaceful. Serene.
And every step Jaune took only made him more nervous.
It was unsubtle enough as he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. There's just a lot going through my mind right now. I barely even slept last night."
"Same. Even Nora was crankier than usual when we woke up," Ren agreed, pointing a thumb towards the ginger girl. Though the others made light talk, she was the quietest of the bunch. "And I don't blame her. Today was always on the horizon, like some distant marker we'd eventually reach. Now that we have, I'm at a loss for words myself."
Jaune hummed and they pressed on, focusing on the sounds of crunching snow beneath their feet. It was like waking up before exams; his anxiety ensured he was restless for the better part of the morning, keeping him awake on the car ride over.
It came with a price, however. The path they took made him feel like the trees were closing in, ready to swallow them all in one bite. He had a rapid heartbeat, and the words he tried to remember from last night sounded like radio static.
But of all the emotions jumbling around in his chaotic mind, one was subdued and stood out nonetheless -
The feeling of excitement, that is. It was quiet and tinged with bitterness, but there was a certain joy that came with seeing someone after so long.
They passed beneath a stone arch and entered a small cemetery. It was enclosed on three sides by tall hedges, while the other side ended at a cliff with an open view of Argus and the ocean. Some weathered headstones bore dates from before Mistral itself was founded, with a few having glorious epithets, and others, their greatest achievements.
Jaune sharply exhaled. This wasn't just a cemetery, but a garden.
A garden of champions.
And up ahead lay the greatest one he knew.
"Jauney..." Nora whispered from his left as Ren stood to his right. "Come on. Let's go see her."
With a silent nod, the three followed Priam, Demetra, Ares and the others to Pyrrha's grave. It was flanked by a pair of maple trees that were almost devoid of their red leaves, and her family crest was engraved above her name. But unlike her ancestors, the headstone said nothing of her legacy. Nothing mentioned how she fought to seal the Breach or defend Beacon during the Fall.
And that was okay. The people who mattered knew the truth.
The longer he stood there, the more it felt like time itself had stopped. The world around him became a blur, and though the others called out to him as they placed gladiolus flowers by the headstone, all he saw was Pyrrha's name.
"...I couldn't believe it myself, even during the funeral," a voice whispered, and Jaune turned to see Ares staring at it with a distant expression. "We heard different things because of the chaos, but I believed Pyrrha made it out alive. She was the Invincible Girl, after all. She was a champion."
"Yeah. She was."
"And I hated her for that."
Ren and Nora tensed as Ares clenched his fists.
"Pyrrha was never really home since she was always training or doing...something with her sponsors. But her image was everywhere and constantly shoved down my throat, especially at Sanctum. It angered me to the point where I decided to see for myself. I trained hard to catch up so I could be worthy of facing her in battle when she returned."
Jaune grimaced. "I'm...sorry I robbed you of that chance."
"I blamed you at first, but...you're okay," Ares sighed. "I was also upset that strangers knew my sister better than I did. Looking back, I think if I wasn't so angry or jealous, I wouldn't have missed the few chances we had to spend time together. It would've been...nice to know what she was like."
He glanced at the gravestone and a dull ache lanced through his heart. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to follow through; what better way to honour Pyrrha's family than speaking of their memories together?
"Meeting Pyr was one of the greatest things in my life," he began. "Even though I didn't recognize her until Weiss pointed out she was the mascot for a cereal box. Despite her fame, Pyrrha was humble, kind and cared a lot for her friends. In fact, she saved my life soon after we met by spearing my hoodie to a tree while I fell from the sky."
Demetra chuckled quietly while Ares looked to Ren and Nora for confirmation. "Wait, what?"
Feeling emboldened, Jaune recounted how she unlocked his Aura, helped form their team and tackled a giant Grimm duo with Team RWBY, followed by their first classes and training sessions together. The food fight earned a few snickers amongst his friends, while talk of the Vytal Festival had Ruby and Nora jokingly at each other's throats over who would've been the winner of the tourney if it came down to both of them. Even Ares cracked an occasional laugh, and Priam, Demetra and Qrow looked content.
Leaving out details of Ozpin's involvement - earning a subtle nod from Oscar - the atmosphere grew sombre when they reached the Fall. But Jaune no longer felt burdened or bogged down by extra guilt after denying reality, beating himself with selfish anger and wondering for a way to bring her back. If anything, his shoulders never felt lighter.
The dull ache faded away. This was why they came - not to mourn since they'd never forget her death, but to move forward while remembering the best of times.
Acceptance - forgiveness - was perhaps the greatest cure of all.
"...and that's why I'll never forget her mantra. Infinite in distance, unbound by death...no matter where I went and how bad things were, she gave me the strength to carry on," Jaune whispered with a slight, sad smile. "I'm proud to have been Pyrrha's partner, and I know she would've been proud of her brother too."
Ares nodded and looked away, hiding his face as he leaned against his mother. Demetra whispered her thanks and wiped away a tear, though it was a different voice that broke the silence.
"We all have fond memories, as we do regrets," Priam began, linking his hands behind his back. The acid Jaune got accustomed to seeing in his eyes was completely absent. "I realize now that I was blinded by pride and disregarded Pyrrha's feelings despite Demetra's attempts to make me see the truth. But perhaps, in some twisted way, it gave her what she truly needed: friends who saw her for her."
Priam slightly bowed his head. "The way you fought and held yourself when you defeated that monster...I saw Pyrrha in you."
Something about those words struck him.
"Thank you for saving us, and I ask forgiveness for mistreating you when we first met."
"I-it's alright. There's nothing to forgive, Mr Nikos."
Priam nodded. "Even so, my gratitude is not hollow. We've prepared a token of our appreciation."
Jaune traded glances with Weiss and Ren as he produced a small box with Haven's crest. He opened it to reveal metal cards engraved with various information - service numbers chief amongst them.
"As a member of Mistral's council, I pulled some strings to expedite the process," Priam continued as they grabbed their cards with shocked looks. "After explaining the situation to Headmaster Dargan and Headmistress Goodwitch, I instructed Haven to grant you all huntsman licenses in Beacon's name - seven as graduation, one posthumous. The information will be sent to your scrolls, but starting today you are all legally recognized as huntsmen."
Jaune couldn't believe it, even as he stared at the small object engraved with his name, Beacon's logo and "Huntsman" beside them in proud, bold letters. Though the ground was covered in snow, a dropped pin would've shattered their shocked silence.
But when Demetra cleared her throat, he realized they weren't done.
"For you, we have one more," she said as she approached him with a somewhat sad smile. There were a few quiet gasps, and Jaune's eye widened as she tied something around his waist - something red and familiar.
Something of Pyrrha's.
"Knights sometimes wore favours from their loved ones before charging into battle," she continued as Jaune gripped the red sash. "From the house of Nikos...no, as Pyrrha's family, we thank you. She was truly blessed with the best of teammates. If you ever find yourself in a desperate situation, remember that you will always have the strength of champions."
"..."
"..."
Jaune gently caressed it, wiping a few tears away before accepting a hug from Pyrrha's mom. When she stepped back, he cleared his throat and turned towards his friends.
A warm sensation flared beneath his left glove. Judging by how they straightened their backs, they probably felt some of it too.
"It's been a long road," Jaune began. "We fought countless Grimm and armies of monsters, and the place we called home fell before our eyes. Sometimes, I still can't believe we're halfway across the world on a different continent, fighting for the fate of Remnant itself. But...I guess this is what being a huntsman is all about."
He glanced at Weiss. "Because whether it's accepting a fate you never wanted,"
Then to Ruby, who grinned back -
"Finding your place when our dreams aren't what they seem,"
To Yang, who saluted with her metal arm.
"Suffering from losing those you cared about,"
To Ren, who returned his nod -
"Rising to face evil when you hear the call to action -"
And Nora, who smiled and gave a thumbs up.
"- and protecting those who'd do the same for you, all the pain we felt and the losses we had didn't stop us from fighting for what we believed in. Even when it cost us dearly," he continued, sparing a glance for the gravestone. "Pyrrha wasn't just a champion because she refused to give up against impossible odds, but because she had the courage to make a choice when destiny denied her one."
Jaune placed a gauntlet over his heart. "We'll be fighting monsters and all sorts of ancient evils with our backs against the wall. It'll be long. It'll be rough. Our minds and bodies will tell us to quit, but we became huntsmen because we decided to fight. And choosing to endure is what makes one a hero."
The clouds fully parted as time went on, bathing the cemetery in warm, bright sunlight. Anxiety long gone, the atmosphere grew lighter as he finally felt the serenity of the environment ease his heart. After a few more moments of sharing jokes and reminiscing on cherished memories, the others began to trickle out of the garden for a reception.
Eventually, only Ren and Nora were left with him. Jaune gazed over the cliff, enjoying the last moment Team JNPR was whole again.
"We'll be outside when you're ready."
He nodded as Ren left and Nora tenderly smiled before following her partner past the archway. When silence reigned once more, Jaune sighed and knelt by the gravestone.
"...honestly, I don't even remember half of what I wanted to say from last night. Just like the night before a big test, eh? But it's not like you were the type to enjoy big speeches anyway. It's not...genuine, like how you saved me seats in class because you wanted to sit next to me. Or the way we first opened up and promised to really look out for each other, or...the way we danced under the moonlight and realized we were in love."
He chuckled. "We'll be leaving soon for parts unknown and confronting legends that we only began to unravel back then. I can only wish you'd be with me to see it through, but...you are, aren't you? You always were. Once, like a dream, you looked at me and everything...felt new. Your trust and honesty helped me believe. A ray of hope shined through."
Jaune smiled sadly as he stood, placing a hand on the gravestone.
"Every life is filled with passing moments, and like the seasons change, they come and go. But this is infinite. Nothing, even death, could separate our souls. Some people fall in love for life, others, they never get it right. Love's fickle when it calls. But one thing that I know for sure, longer than our lives endure..."
The Triforce gently pulsed in sync with his heartbeat as he said his final goodbyes. Echoes from his voice faded as he left the garden, replaced by the sounds of chirping birds and a gentle wind blowing through the trees.
And upon that wind fell a lone red maple leaf, landing upon a gravestone still warm from when he last touched it.
- AN -
Thus concludes Arc IV: Courage Ascending.
Apologies for the longer upload time, though I'll get to it at the end since it involves my future plans for this story. A story that (assuming a 90, no more than 100 chapter total) has finally reached the midway point after two years in the making. Hoo boy.
Considering the events of the previous chapter, the plan here was to have the crew reflect on previous events, hint what to expect for the start of Arc V while giving them some well-deserved in-universe downtime, and a symbolic goodbye to the RWBY phase of the story. Having intended to be a transition arc that was neither fully RWBY or Zelda, it is with this chapter that ADoL fully enters the Zelda phase.
So what can we expect?
For the story itself, the plot will no longer follow alongside canon but instead through a fully new adventure. Dungeons, items, bosses, familiar faces and lore galore. Obviously I have to see where things fit, if at all, but I'm also excited to finally throw in things I've wanted to see for a while.
Now, the meta side. The original plan was to announce a short break in uploads, but having written a few in advance, I'll be posting the first chapter (or two, depending) to give you all a taste of what's coming. In fact, I dare say minor spoilers and that the first true temple isn't far ahead. After this, however, I'll be taking a short break for a few reasons: firstly, I gotta continue worldbuilding and writing Arc V's script from where I left off.
Most importantly, I'm at a point real-life side where I can't devote as much time as I used to for fanfiction, now that I'm getting busier with my job while looking to work a second one at the same time. I'm long past the burnout point and there's other things I want to do (eg writing the second chapter of my other Zelda story), so starting next chapter, I'll try to maintain an average of 7-8k words while keeping the max 10k threshold for major ones. I always wanted to try saying more through less, so this is good a time as any. And as much as I want to otherwise, my ANs will be shorter and I won't be able to respond to every review per chapter. I apologize as I like seeing what you have to say and give my take on it, and there'll be times I can get to all of them, but I'll try to address the major points in the main AN regardless.
So...yeah. In a way, writing this AN was my own off-my-chest experience, but I hope you all understand. To that end, I'll try to keep a minimum of a chapter a month and preferably one every two / three weeks, but we'll see how things go.
Otherwise, thank you for taking the time to read this and sticking around thus far. Concrit is welcome and any updates will be posted on my profile as usual.
Cheers!
- Reviews -
SentinalSlice: Thank you! That's exactly what I planned to do this chapter, along with tackling the questions that arose from the aftermath. Hope you liked it!
MountainBookSage25: Glad you liked it! You haven't seen the last of badass Jaune yet. As for future plans, my next priority after ADoL will be my second story, Bonds of the Triforce, where Link, Zelda, Ganondorf and Impa travel together across Hyrule for a way to break the cycle. For future-future plans, I have ideas for other stories as well, Smash amongst them, but I'm not focusing on anything else until I finish these two.
Dragon lord Syed 101: Thanks! Now that Herobowl Part 2 tied the score 1-1, Jaune will have to get even stronger to face him down once and for all. We'll have to see how that goes, along with the discovery and usage of different items over the story.
Maelaeran: Thanks! Honestly, yes, I got that vibe too when I first considered the idea, but the next time he faces DL, Jaune'll have more than the Triforce Slash in his arsenal.
jeremiahkelley93: Thank you!
Super heavy weapons guy: Yup! And yes, Dark Link survived, a fact Jaune hasn't forgotten. But next time, the former may not be so lucky.
Guest: Thank you! Yeah, it's definitely effort-intensive, and even imagining, writing and rewriting one paragraph of an initial fight scene can make my brain hurt. One of my best friends, who occasionally helps proofread / edit ADoL with me, says juggling these things (eg plot lines, immediate consequences and long term effects of different actions, tracking relationship growth / deterioration between characters) is like directing a movie. So many moving parts, lol. But I'm glad you liked it! They definitely have solid footing to leap from!
Guest: Thanks! I know, right? DL definitely hasn't left the stage yet, and his time on it last chapter offered a potential (albeit corrupted) glimpse of the power and glory Jaune may reach one day.
Thunder Dragon: Definitely! Last chapter and this one both. And even though the crew are finally in the full loop of his situation (having to use their downtime to process that too), they only solved half of the puzzle; spoilers on specifics, but they will soon learn the truth of what happened to the world around them.
Manda's Priest: Thanks! After a journey of fighting and forgiveness, Jaune, Ruby and the crew stand at the beginning of the path of the hero. I initially had different plans for Blake post-Haven and changed them since it conflicted with other things I wanted to do, but Blake's temporary Fierce Deity form and her struggle alongside Sun was something I refused to compromise.
Saiyans4ever: Hell yeah! And that was only with a partial Triforce piece. Blades will bleed, shields will shatter...and when darkness falls over the land, the Hero shall one day bring back the light.
Roy4: I'm glad to hear that. To be honest, putting in the FDM was originally a random idea I didn't plan for but thought it was cool anyway, and I'm happy to see how everyone's received it. In terms of how, and without spoilers, I took inspiration for the portrayal of someone using the FDM by a fic named Hit List by zestycrouton. One of the first Zelda fics I ever read and loved. And while the use of certain items won't necessarily dictate the next potential Princess, some are definitely intended to have agency within a character's development arc. Case in point...FDM. At least I now have pretty cool fanart to take inspiration from - yeah, they're pretty cool designs!
We'll definitely have to see where the path leads for Jaune and Cinder. Though I'm introducing my own twists to her character, it's relatively relaxing to write her since I don't need to worry about any constant moral self-questioning. She's evil plain and simple, but not stupid. She learns from her mistakes, and the heroes aren't the only ones who are looking to grow stronger. And how they all handle power is something that can affect them all in different ways; definitely interesting stuff to think about!
Guest: Thanks! Glad you liked them, and there's plenty more action to come!
Guest: Thank you, I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Guest: And here they were! Up until before writing last chapter, I actually intended for an entirely different path where Blake, Yang, Sun and a fourth character would split off to spice things up, but eventually had to rejig that since it messed up other plans. Still, Blake and Yang's character arcs will involve learning how to move forward despite the sins of the past.
Guest: Mhmm, it'll definitely be interesting seeing how they all continue to grow together! Cue my previous response as to why I had to change much of that, but though I have nothing planned for our favourite RWBY crime duo just yet, I haven't forgotten about them and have ideas on how to reintroduce them later on in the plot.
Guest: Thank you!
Reader: There'll definitely be plenty of dungeons to clear (with the first true dungeon not too far away), and they will learn more about DL's past sooner than later too. I can only imagine the level of regret one of the villains might feel when they realize that digging up the past ain't such a hot idea after all...but don't worry. The story won't be entirely composed of dungeon crawling, and there's plenty of overworld activity too.
Guest: Glad you liked those two!
Guest: And at long last here it is. Hope you enjoyed it!
Guest: Hehehehe! Glad you liked it, and yes, it was a (corrupted) glimpse into what Jaune just might become one day...the path of the hero awaits!
Guest: Happy October, hope you liked it!
Guest: Hehe they were meant to be the climax, and I'm happy you enjoyed their battle!
- Stats -
Upload Date: Oct 14 / 2021
Chapter Word Count: 9564
Approximate Page Length (Times New Roman, size 12, single-spaced): 24
- Disclaimer -
The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.