Arc V: Path of the Hero
Chapter 44: The Shroud Among Us
For the first time since they arrived, Haven Academy lived up to its name.
The landing docks lay beneath a star-studded sky as it transitioned to a warm, radiant orange. Birds have since begun trilling from the trees, and a crisp, early winter breeze blew through the open ground. It was the perfect time to either watch the sunrise with a mug of hot chocolate or go back to sleep and wake up at a not-so-ungodly hour. The students on campus had that down pat.
Funny how she still felt like one despite graduating from those ranks yesterday morning.
Sighing, Weiss took a coffee break on a nearby picnic bench and watched as another metal box was shimmied into the cargo hold. The back was filled with them - shipments of dust and food for their destination - and she was already dreading when they'd have to take them out again.
"It was annoying enough when we messed up the first time and had to redo everything. Even more so when we left Argus hours ago. No shortage of work when that's our life for the next five decades. Such a wonderful welcome to the world of adults...even if I grew up closer to it than most."
A few seconds later, there was a whump and an overdramatic groan of relief, followed by the sight of Jaune and Nora high-fiving each other as the last crate was locked into place. Paya returned to the cockpit and shut the bullhead's engines off, and Weiss leaned against the table as the loud drone of machinery mercifully faded away.
"At least we're done for the time being. I can't wait to sleep during the flight ahead. By now, I think I have blood in my espresso stream."
She glanced towards the south.
"...but I have a feeling it won't come easy for all of us."
Not when they waited for the final member of their team.
Weiss frowned. It was standard for Academies to form four-person teams, but all the time spent with the two sisters made the thought of a reunion...odd. Especially when she didn't know whether to feel satisfied or guilty as RWBY's separation was also shrouded in tragedy. JNPR earned some closure, but they had yet to confront the living past.
Blake Belladonna was an interesting character, having befriended Ruby and Yang before her. But while their relationship quite literally had the most destructive start, it was despite their intertwined history they grew to respect and listen to each other. Blake was her very first faunus friend, and knowing she'd see her again after several months brought no small joy.
But running away the first time was bad enough. Leaving again after her partner's physical health and mental stability were almost destroyed evoked all sorts of unpleasant feelings.
"So this is Team RWBY, huh? The naïve, the prideful, the abandoned and the traitor. What a merry band of misfits we are, yet I can't see myself with any other team. Even Jaune's. I'm happy they can start moving on, but...I wish it was the same for us."
Weiss glanced to the bullhead and found Ren brewing coffee next to a wall charger while Nora clung to him to stave off the cold. Jaune grabbed a mug and was about to drink, but upon seeing Oscar standing quietly nearby, he offered it instead. The warmth on their faces was enough to make her feel the same.
It dissipated when she looked to the opposite end and found Ruby sitting with a despondent Yang.
"Especially them. They need it more than ever."
When her coffee had gone cold and the sky was just a little brighter, a low, distant hum grew louder until she recognized it as aircraft engines. The others gazed at the skies in her direction, and a few moments later, a yellow and dark brown bullhead descended towards a nearby landing pad.
She shielded her eyes from the jet wash as it landed, and when it cut out, the side doors opened to let well-dressed and suited faunus stream out the aircraft. Some carried suitcases, others, large carry-on bags, and they headed for Haven Academy. Diplomats, perhaps, arriving at a frosty - or lack of - reception.
But all she focused on was the two out-of-place young adults amongst the last of the passengers.
Weiss wanted to smile. She really did, but she just couldn't.
As the crowd dispersed, she watched them approach slowly. Uncertainly. It seemed they didn't know how everyone else would react, a fair observation when Ruby, Jaune and the others joined her like some reluctant welcome party.
At first glance, Sun looked exactly the same - tall, annoyingly blonde and with a glorious abdomen. But his smile felt subdued betraying little of the goofiness she thought he'd have.
Blake also seemed different. The one she knew from Beacon had a reserved, somewhat aloof sort of confidence that could be mistaken for arrogance. Here, her back was stiff and her eyes quickly darted between them, nervous to meet their own.
As she raised a hand to wave, a Ruby-shaped missile shot out from their ranks and slammed into her with a Semblance-enhanced hug.
"U-urk...that hurt -"
"I missed you so much!" Ruby all but wailed into Blake's white zip-up shirt. Her voice was muffled but the impact was powerful all the same. "Just...please...let me have this..."
Blake blinked before a cautious smile broke out on her face, and she slowly reciprocated the hug. "I missed you too, Ruby. I won't be leaving again."
"You better not! Because if you do, I-I'll run you down with my Semblance and drag you back myself!" she replied, breaking off with an upset expression. "We're a team, remember? We're supposed to stick close and look out for each other."
"Yes. I understand."
"Do you, now?" Weiss interrupted with a firm glare. "This isn't the first time you ran out on us. Do you know what it's like watching the news, seeing fire and death in Menagerie and wondering if you were going to make it out alive?"
Her cat ears drooped.
"I worried, Blake. Ruby worried, your partner worried...we all did. I am indeed glad to see you," Weiss continued with a softer tone, "but I am also immensely frustrated. I recognize I may have provoked you before the docks, but have we done something to betray your trust since then?"
Blake shook her head. "No! You guys haven't done anything."
"Then remember our promise to be open and honest with each other. Why?"
Amber eyes darted around, meeting their expectant looks before beginning with her flight from Vale and arrival in Kuo Kuana. Sun remained quiet, occasionally interjecting whenever she needed to catch her breath, but as Blake shone more light on the rumoured White Fang schism - and just how they were able to defeat the rebels - Weiss felt herself becoming more alert with every word.
She wasn't the only one. Blake unclasped a necklace that was buried beneath her shirt and gave it to Jaune, who accepted it with a surprised, familiar look as Sun withdrew a metallic suitcase from her rucksack. The two blondes talked quietly before opening it just a crack and away from prying eyes. When Oscar and Nora tried to peek, Jaune snapped it shut with a guilty smile and a promise to explain later.
"...and the last I heard, Adam and Tyrian fled to Vacuo," Blake finished, ignoring their questioning looks. "But despite everything that happened, I haven't forgotten you guys. I remembered what I needed to do, and that's why I'm here. I promise to make up for it and to never leave again."
Blake looked at everyone as she said those words, and Weiss returned her gaze with a slow nod. Things wouldn't be like how it was before. In fact, they'll probably never be the same again, but actions were worth a hundred words, and Weiss could understand the lengths Blake took to wrestle between her desires. What happened now would determine the future of their team, but for the sake of them all, she'd be willing to try once more.
"...you didn't answer the question," a lone voice whispered. The group parted in two to reveal Yang with red eyes in an otherwise neutral expression. "Yeah, we understand that's what happened. But why did you leave me?"
"Yang, I -"
She stepped forward. Blake did the opposite. "I don't remember how long I sat at home, wondering how I failed my partner. How it felt to have Adam's sword rip through me before it could you. Sometimes, I still wake up feeling like I'm whole, only to realize it was a phantom all along. Like...you."
There was a startled gasp as Yang unclipped her grey, colourless, lifeless prosthetic arm and held it out.
"I would've been willing to lose both if it meant knowing my partner wasn't just alive, but there for me. So...why?"
"Yang, please," Sun interjected, raising an arm as Blake's eyes fell. "I'm not justifying her actions at all, but -"
"Why, Blake? Why did you leave when I needed you the most?"
Perhaps it was how calm, yet hurt her voice sounded that Blake began to shiver. Weiss and Ruby glanced helplessly between them while the others stood by in uncomfortable silence.
"I...I'm sorry."
Before she could respond, Yang paused as a hand was placed on her shoulder. For a man her sister once called despicable, Qrow looked the most sober she'd ever seen him. Yang realized it too as her eyes flickered purple and turned around, reattaching her prosthetic.
"It's fine. You made a choice and I have to respect that. Don't worry about it anymore."
"But -"
"Please. Just...don't."
They watched as the two retreated without a word back into the bullhead. When they disappeared behind the stacks of crates, Blake turned away, leaning slightly into Sun as she wiped her eyes.
"Um, I'm sorry for interrupting, but," Paya hesitantly piped up, walking over. "Shiro and I have just completed our preflight checks, so we'll be starting up the bullhead shortly. We need to push, since where we're going, it's best not to linger after last light. Will you guys be okay?"
"We just need some time," Jaune stepped in, turning towards RWBY. Their namesake nodded gratefully. "This isn't easy for any of us, but Paya's right. Why don't we head inside and get some rest? We can at least think through things on the way over."
That...sounded like a wonderful idea. The others agreed, saying their farewells to Sun as they headed inside. There, they were greeted by the sight of Yang sobbing quietly by the corner in the arms of her uncle. Ruby went and knelt by her side.
And as the engines whirred to life, all Weiss wished for was that sleep came fast so they could have a small measure of peace. Not just for the others, but for her team as well.
All four of them.
(==|======-
Green.
It was green as far as he could see, making the Rozudo Mountains look like if someone copy-pasted Mistral across the landscape. The sight belonged to either a postcard or a movie about bushwhacking into long-forgotten ruins for treasure.
Having woken to find Paya distributing prepacked meals, Jaune watched it all pass with a paper bag. Some things never changed, but sleep and lunch managed to calm everyone's nerves. In the corner, Yang talked quietly with Nora while Ruby and Oscar caught up with Blake, who occasionally shot her partner worried looks.
"...in a way, it's the best outcome we could've hoped for, but it'll be a while until things go back to normal. Hope things will be okay..."
Jaune peered towards the metal suitcase on the seat next to him.
"...though I wasn't expecting this. Did you?"
No, but I'm not surprised, either. Not after meeting the Happy Mask Salesman.
"Yeah, I guess. I wonder if we'll come across other masks, like M -"
Let us hope we won't find that one, Link grunted. Dealing with Ganon is difficult enough. I dread to imagine another dark being catching wind of the Triforce.
Jaune groaned. "I had to tell them. We're safe anyway since the full Triforce needs a balanced heart. Even if everyone on the bullhead suddenly became my enemy, I don't think they'd be able to wield it."
Yes, and despite the failsafe, Ganondorf reclaimed it through force from the Hero of Winds and his Princess before their duel. The present reality would be much worse if not for Hyrule's king, and there's more than one powerful magic user alive with dubious intentions - one of whom is currently talking with Blake about her time in the White Fang.
He glanced towards Oscar, who smiled back upon meeting his gaze.
"...so, no mask, then."
Not 'no mask', only that we be careful with those we find. Especially with what Blake gave us.
Jaune opened the suitcase, revealing most of the Fierce Deity Mask while hiding its eyeholes from view.
"Yeah. It's good that she told us what's up with it before handing it over. The last thing we need on this bullhead is for someone to go berserk. Do you know why the Fierce Deity Mask is...you know, like this?"
Some believe it is the rage of a forgotten land taken form in defiance of annihilation. Others believe it contains a god or oni who is the antithesis to darkness itself.
"And what do you believe?"
That we must not rely on its power unless absolutely necessary. You would need strength equivalent to the Hero of Time to bear the strain on your body; Blake would've lost her mind if Sun wasn't there.
"The nuclear option, then," Jaune sighed before closing the suitcase and grasping the small necklace Blake gave him. "And this is something different entirely."
Link hummed. A partial medallion with a faint magical aura and the mark of Din Herself. Who knows how this Tyrian fellow acquired it...all the more to ask this mystery person once we arrive.
"Mystery person..."
"Our village seer. Or perhaps the word is 'Sage'," a quiet voice replied, and Jaune turned to see Paya plug her scroll into an outlet. After a few seconds, she turned in his direction and coughed embarrassedly. "I'm sorry. I didn't realize I spoke out loud."
"No worries," Jaune chuckled. "I, uh, had a habit of doing that too. I know how embarrassing it can be every now and then."
Paya visibly relaxed. "I'm glad to know I'm not suffering alone. But if I may ask, what exactly were you thinking about?"
"The stuff that lies ahead. Anything we need to know before going in?"
She cleared her throat. "Normally, outsiders wouldn't know about our people at all...but times are fast changing. Our oldest legends say the Goddess of Time anointed the first Sheikah from her people to be sacred guardians of her world. From the shadows, they fulfilled that role alongside a chosen one using the light of truth."
"Until a great tragedy, no?"
"The Divine Calamity," Paya agreed, nodding to Ren as he and Weiss came over. "The Sage can shed more light on that, but when evil returned, the clans were weak and divided. We lacked the strength to resist, and...well..."
The heiress cleared her throat. "Yours was the only one that made it."
"Yes. In fact, 'Necluda' came from the ancient name of our ancestral valley. But our problem, Jaune, is the shadows have turned against us. It no longer protects our home, but smothers it."
She gestured towards the window, and as they finally traversed the Rozudo Mountains, their cloudy peaks parted to reveal...clouds. And more clouds. Despite the early afternoon sun, barely a hint of green could be seen past the thick, dark grey fog that suffocated the forest valleys and slowly churned like drifting waves. The land literally looked like a sea of darkness.
Weiss turned to Paya with a worried expression. "What on Remnant..."
"Not Remnant. Hairaru," a snarky, somewhat rough masculine voice grunted from the cockpit door. While Paya dressed more traditionally, Shiro had long, spiky white hair tied back in a top knot with chopsticks and a red gas mask covering his mouth. He donned a white hoodie with a samurai breastplate beneath atop a shirt that was tucked into loose indigo sweatpants. An urban ninja if he ever saw one, though his attitude made him feel like some kind of thug.
"Or Hyrule for everyone else. But the longer we wait, the more we become prisoners in our own home," he drawled, narrowing his eyes at Jaune. "Think you're up for it, golden boy?"
"Shiro!" Paya snapped. "Don't be rude to those we asked for help!"
"What? I'm serious! We've lost a lot of good shinobi trying to restore the seal on the Shrouded Shrine, much less find where Lord Farozu went."
"Shrouded Shrine...? Farozu?" Yang whispered. "Dunno about the first, but where have I heard that name before...?"
"He watches over these lands, especially that old, cursed temple," Shiro explained. "Ever since the Blood Moon, our Spirit Guardian disappeared and the seal on the place weakened, allowing evil to escape. This is more than just Grimm or a band of Bokoblins; you've got some skill, but will it be enough?"
Knowing where he came from as a descendant of the Sheikah, Jaune couldn't fault him for lacking faith. But he didn't fly across continents to turn back now. He needed answers, and if truth came from trust, the only way forward was to help those who could give them.
Jaune stood and met Shiro's gaze -
And toppled into Weiss as the bullhead violently wobbled. Loud bangs and more cries arose as they were tossed around, and when she kicked him into a window, Jaune watched a bomb-toting Kargarok kamikaze into the wing.
Behind him, Oscar screamed as another Kargarok burst its head through the window before Blake decapitated it. The cabin was a cacophony of whomping metal as monsters attacked the hull, and when Jaune righted himself into a seat, a sword stabbed through the top and destroyed one of the interior lights.
"We've taken critical damage to our engines!" Shiro buzzed over the intercom. "Get ready for a crash landing!"
The rear bay door whirred open, revealing a swarm of Kargaroks, Guays, Aeralfos and Peahats. A trio of Aeralfos was the first to board, landing atop the crates, but Nora responded by pressing a switch and releasing the cargo. The metal boxes flew out the back, smashing into various monsters like bugs on a windshield before disappearing into the fog.
"Looks like we have no choice! Everyone, try to stick together so you won't get lost in the fog!" Paya yelled as she sprinted off. Midair, she unsheathed a pair of long daggers and sliced through flocks of Keese before grabbing a Kargarok's legs and gliding out of sight.
Ruby was next, using Crescent Rose's gunfire to slow her descent while blowing holes in oncoming Aeralfos. Weiss summoned a line of glyphs that allowed her to run down, while Nora grinned, grabbed Oscar and sailed towards a Peahat with her hookshot. Blake caught another with her whipsword and grapple-roped away, while Ren and Yang simply used various monsters as footstools. After a few seconds, Shiro ran past and fired a chained kunai which latched onto the side of an Aeralfos, downing them both in a mess of iron and claws.
Jaune watched the chaos while fighting the urge to vomit. He turned at the sound of another crash, revealing more Aeralfos that burst through the roof.
"Urk. What is it with starting our adventures by being thrown into the air? I don't even have a way to get down anymore!"
The lead lizard growled back. He couldn't tell if it agreed with him or not.
Goddesses, get out of there!
With a cry, Jaune swiped the suitcase and jumped into open skies, his screams drowned by the deafening rush of wind. He meteored through something, probably a flock of Guays if the surprised caws were any sign, and when he opened an Aura-covered eye, a pair of Kargaroks divebombed after him through smoky Malice.
This wouldn't do. Focusing on the closest one, Jaune unsheathed Crocea Mors and fired a wave of energy. Green crescents and bolts flew up, and though he managed to hit one, Kargarok number two weaved past the volley and grabbed his legs.
Jaune gasped upon realizing he was no longer falling but rising, and with a rush of adrenaline, he grabbed its neck and pulled. After a hard-fought aerial wrestling match, he stunned it with the pommel and climbed onto its back.
...and now they were plummeting once more.
"Dammit, wake up you stupid bird!" Jaune yelled as the vague shapes of his friends disappeared into the mist. Though the Kargarok came to before impact, man and beast screeched as the latter tried to right itself upon entering the fog.
Jaune's vision darkened in an instant. Perhaps it was mutual survival instinct that he and the Kargarok stopped fighting, but when outlines of trees whizzed past, the bird monster shrieked and shook him off. Jaune tumbled through the canopy and landed face-first into the dirt.
"..."
"..."
After a few seconds, he rolled over and stared into the foggy white blob of the sun. His pounding heart thundered in his ears, but save for the muted echoes of distant combat, the forest was completely silent.
"..."
"..."
Are you alright?
"...do you smell that? I think I need new underwear."
The Hero of the Skies would certainly agree on your dramatic landing. But do you feel that, Jaune?
"Now that you mention it..."
The fog wasn't so dense that he was completely shrouded, but he'd surely get lost if he walked in a random direction. Worse was how every breath felt a little more difficult to take -
Not to mention feeling he wasn't alone.
Jaune narrowed his eye and scanned the area. Though he saw nothing but trees and mist, there was an unnatural thirst for blood looming all around him. The fog reeked of evil.
There!
A nearby bush rustled, and Jaune spun to find a deer that immediately bounded out of sight.
But his instincts didn't let him rest, and after a few moments, he dove beneath a tree when a pair of Guay cawed overhead.
And as all ambience faded away, leaving him alone in still, unnatural silence -
"!"
Jaune sighed heavily and pulled out his scroll as it buzzed with the force of a localized quake. It brought some relief to see Ruby's text blast in the group chat, followed by the familiar cracks of Crescent Rose's gunfire. No doubt it'd attract some monsters too, but between walking the misty, haunted forest alone or with his friends, the choice was all too obvious.
Nodding, Jaune and the hooded figure in the trees headed for his teammates.
(==|======-
Every step echoed in her ears, the crunching grass deafening in the stilted silence.
Weak rays of moonlight shone through the trees, and when the wind blew, the fog swirled around them as if searching for a hug. But it kept them awake. The coolness was refreshing and the whispers it carried hastened their steps.
Especially when they didn't always come from the others.
Nora gripped her hammer tight as they arrived at a particularly thick copse of trees below a small mountain. Paya traced a finger in a certain pattern, trailing blue light, and a few seconds later most of the trees flickered and disappeared to reveal another foggy path. When they entered, Nora looked back and found the entrance covered up with trees like nothing happened.
"...I wonder if Jauney can lend me that cool-looking eye mask. Gonna need it if everything around here's an illusion."
The weathered torii gate at the end wasn't, however, and they found themselves overlooking a darkened village. Though the fog obscured the finer details as it rolled over the mountains, eastern Mistrali-style houses followed the road north with rice paddies and animal coops behind them. To the west, a ruined windmill stood atop a crag while a waterfall near some woods fed the river that cut through the town centre. It ended at a cliffside watermill and gazing further east revealed more houses and a cave entrance with unlit torches by the mountainside.
Across the river was a plaza with some sort of monument, and a larger, more ornate house overlooking the area on raised ground. Another torii gate heralded the northern exit, leading into parts unknown.
Shiro nodded and went over to a masked gate guard while Paya turned and bowed deeply. "Welcome to Kakariko Village, the town of truth and shadow. Please, follow me."
Somehow, home didn't feel as safe as it should've been.
The clouds parted to allow some ambient moonlight, bathing their misty path in an almost ethereal glow, and every house they passed wasn't just dark but had thin red cards with the Sheikah eye plastered on their walls. While the fog swallowed their legs, it seemed unable to get closer to the actual buildings.
At a junction, there was a metallic clang as Yang accidentally kicked a small, rusty lantern, but it was forgotten when they arrived at a sizable house by the riverbank. It was cozy and somewhat dusty inside, which Paya explained as due to her staying at Haven, but that was okay. A hot shower? An actual roof over their heads and a functioning kitchen Renny could use to whip up culinary magic? Hell yeah!
After settling in different guest rooms, Nora sat on a cushion with others in the living room. Blake and Ren finished brewing tea while Shiro had returned and was in hushed conversation with Paya, and they both turned to address them a minute later.
"You guys are staying here for the time being," Shiro began. "Beats camping in the middle of a haunted forest, eh?"
"O-oh, yeah," Oscar agreed, huddling his knees together. "I don't think I would've been able to sleep out there. Whatever that fog is, it's unnatural."
"Not to mention exhausting," Qrow added, arms crossed as he leaned against a wall. "We're no stranger to keepin' our eyes peeled, but my fight or flight instincts have been going haywire since we crashed more than twelve hours ago. I feel like I'm gonna go crazy."
"You will if you're alone," Paya replied. The gruff man subtly tensed. "That's because this isn't actually fog, but for lack of better terms…negative energy from the souls of the dead."
Everyone else froze too. The wind blew outside and caused some creaking in the wood.
"Um. What?"
"What matters is we're safe inside. Those red cards on our houses are talismans," Paya sighed. Ruby didn't – couldn't - fully relax. "And it's less potent the larger your group, so I highly suggest you don't go out alone."
They nodded eagerly. Jaune looked the least disturbed, which wasn't surprising since he literally had powers of Courage, but she didn't know whether to feel better or worse to see him unnerved anyway.
"Tomorrow, we'll be meeting with our Chief to see if we can get permission to visit the Sage and Shrouded Shrine. They're further north up the mountains. Until then, make yourselves at home," Shiro chuckled under his breath. "Try to not pay too much attention outside your windows, kids. It's scary outside."
"Shiro! I'm sorry," Paya sighed as he disappeared up the stairs. "He's a good person and skilled at what he does, just…ugh."
Ruby shook her head. "It's fine. How did you guys meet, anyway?"
"We're childhood friends, though I understand it may seem otherwise since he's more…direct when I prefer to be diplomatic. As we trained over the years to become shinobi like our families before us, the elders decided to send us and a few others to Haven so we could learn the best of both worlds."
"And to keep an ear out, no?"
Nora nudged Ren's shoulder, though Paya only nodded. "Yes. Information is crucial to preserving our people's survival. In fact, it was because we were there that we saved your life –" she glanced at Weiss – "and met someone who may very well save ours."
One by one they dispersed as the night winded down, but halfway up the stairs, the sound of an opening door had her turning to see Yang stepping outside. Blake looked like she wanted to follow, but a stern, if sympathetic glance from Weiss put an end to it.
Instead, it was Nora who followed, finding Yang by the patio's edge. Seeing her with a blank expression, however, sent a chill down her spine.
"H-hey there, sister. You alright?"
"…"
"Um, Yang…?"
"Look, this might sound kinda silly, but have you ever gotten the feeling that we're not alone?"
"Come on, don't be scaring me like that," Nora giggled nervously. "Of course. You're here, Renny's here, Jauney and Ruby and the others too –"
"Not like that," Yang whispered. "I didn't want to say anything at first, but I can't sleep feeling like someone's watching me. It's been in the back of my mind since we crashed earlier."
For a moment, they watched the fog creep closer before it was repulsed like it met an invisible wall. And though they were by the water, there were no lapping waves or any ambience at all. The rice paddies were clouded and the houses little more than distant black pillars; Kakariko Village was dark and completely silent.
"I…well, I tried to ignore it, but it's kinda hard when we're basically surrounded by ghost air. Who knows what the mist can hide?"
Yang nodded before she froze. "You don't say. Remember seeing anything on the way here?"
She blinked. "I dunno, scarecrows in the paddies? Oh, and there was that lantern you kicked over when we turned left at the junction."
"So why is it right here?"
Nora stilled.
She followed Yang's neutral gaze to see the rusty lantern from before, peeking up from the fog atop a small boulder. Her heart rate shot up to eleven.
"The wind blew it over."
"You don't actually believe that."
They looked back and the lantern was gone.
Yang and Nora slowly retreated towards the door. The wood creaked with every step, but it stopped when they blinked and found the lantern at the fog's edge. It glowed with a small azure flame and hovered a foot off the ground.
…or so she thought as it rose with the pale blue figure of the young boy who gripped it. He was garbed in tatters and had a black socket where one eye should've been, but the other was one of Malice.
The boy tilted his head in confusion -
"Yang…"
"Nora…"
And his jaw stretched unnaturally wide with a high-pitched shriek. Yang fired a shot that sailed through unharmed, but the red talismans flared orange when the boy dove forwards, burning them slightly though the spirit dissipated and left behind an empty lantern.
Shaken, they didn't react to Blake and Jaune bursting outside in their sleepwear, with interior lights switching on inside.
"What was that? Are you guys okay?" her team leader asked, handing her Magnhild. Its familiar weight snapped her out of it. "Because that scream was pretty scary."
"It…it wasn't us…"
Blake looked apprehensive. "So who was it?"
"A Poe. Ghosts turned monsters by a vengeful attachment to the waking world," Shiro grunted as he and Paya leapt from the rooftop. There was another shriek in the distance, and then another before the air was awash with wailing. All the houses' lights turned on, illuminating shadows darting between rooftops and the figures rising from the mist.
"You asked me if we were up to the task," Jaune replied to Shiro as he crossed the boundary. "We're ready if you are."
"Then help us save our village, golden boy."
"On it! Ruby, take Ren, Nora and Blake to the village! The rest of us we'll deal with the ones here!"
The air exploded with the din of battle. Nora unleashed a grenade salvo that obliterated a group of Stalchildren, covering Yang and Jaune as they engaged a pair of Stalmoblins clawing their way out of the dirt. Fighting their way down the path, she rolled beneath a Stalkoblin's slice before swinging upwards, exploding bones into the sky before propelling Ren upwards to intercept a flight of White Bubbles.
In between the houses, a few Necluda ninjas fought with normal and Guardian weaponry while residents warded off the undead with farming equipment from the safety of their homes. When they joined them and held their ground, the monsters' momentum seemed to waver.
"So why do I still feel a thirst for blood looming all around us?"
Her answer came as a sudden gale blew through the streets and doused the outside torches, carrying with it a deafening, unnatural whisper. Residents hurried inside and locked their doors in a panic, leaving them and a few ninjas alone in the darkness.
The four stood back-to-back, hearing only their heartbeats and rapid breaths until a sudden scream saw a ninja pulled into a dark alleyway. They rushed over and found his body but no trace of the assailant.
"…Renny, what's going on here?"
"I don't know, but I don't like it," he replied, reloading his pistols. "All the more to stay together –"
The quiet rasp of iron was all she heard, followed by her own screams as a cold hand grabbed and flung her into a brick wall. The air was filled once more with panicked cries and gunfire, but Nora saw was a hunched, hooded shadow with pupilless green eyes and a pair of bloody curved blades.
Nora froze in fear as the shadow pounced –
And a blue Paya-shaped figure landed between them, parrying its strike. The shadow retreated as two more clones arrived and drove it into a corner, allowing the real Paya to stab it in the back. The shadow screeched and fell to its knees, muttering a phrase in Sheikah with a raspy voice before dissolving into green flames.
"Sorry, Shiro and I were held up. Are you alright?"
"The queen of the castle still lives," Nora grunted. "What are we dealing with here?"
"We call them Garo, after an old word for a cloak or robe. They're like Poes as they're the corrupted spirits of ancient Sheikah assassins."
Nora grimaced. "And what did it say?"
"'To die without leaving a corpse is the way of our people'. Even in death, we're bound by honour."
She almost felt pity for it as they rejoined the fight. The Garo proved tough and almost pushed them back despite Necluda reinforcements, but the tide turned once more when the others arrived. Nora spied Jaune climbing onto a rooftop with Weiss before he raised his sword.
Memories of Haven returned as a familiar golden light flared from his hand, along with that warm, encouraging feeling. When it glowed brighter, the fog retreated and even the Garo looked stunned; they fell beneath their assault, and when Jaune impaled the last one with a Semblance-enhanced ending blow, it vanished along with that cold, murderous feeling.
The fog crept back in as the light faded, but when the residents slowly came out to relight their torches, it was clear the worst had passed for now. Some curious Necluda approached Jaune and Ruby to talk while others treated their allies' wounds, and when Ren came to check her over, all Nora did was wrap him up in a crushing hug.
"…I'm fine."
"A-are you sure? Adrenaline can dull our senses as well as enhance them. You might've been injured without even feeling it –"
"I said I'm fine!" a voice snapped, and they turned to see Yang push Blake's hand away. "And even if I was injured, I can manage it myself. Don't worry about me."
Yang stalked towards a concerned-looking Qrow at a nearby bench, and though Weiss and Oscar immediately joined Blake, the hurt expression didn't leave her face.
"…so these are the strangers who protected us from another nightly attack. I am most intrigued."
A new voice, deep and refined in tone, revealed a group of shinobi surrounding two figures in the centre. One wore a dark indigo cloak and had his hood up, though a white oni-style mask and breastplate were visible beneath, along with a pair of Guardian short swords.
The other wore a red shawl atop a kimono of dark blues, greys and whites, held together with a banded sash by the waist. There was a beaded Sheikah eye necklace that dipped to the middle of his chest, and like most of the other Necluda, his pupils were a deep red and his hair, pearl white, tucked into a side knot below an ornate kasa hat. Regal was his posture, but there was a faint hint of amusement in his eyes.
"I am Yohma, Chief of the Necluda Clan. Originally, I was reluctant to offer hospitality as knowledge of our hidden village was a closely guarded secret. It seems that my wishes went ignored."
Paya bowed low, and so did Shiro when she elbowed his ribs. "I deemed it necessary considering what they could do for us. But we stand ready to accept whatever consequences you deem fit."
"That won't be necessary," Yohma chuckled, preemptively silencing Jaune and Ruby. "After all, how could I refuse those who saved my people's lives?"
Jaune sighed and nodded gratefully. "We're huntsmen. We're here to help."
"Ah, but you speak too humbly of yourself. I know why you're here and what you've all accomplished. Most importantly, I know of the light you carry within you, chosen one. The hour is late, so we shall speak more tomorrow as we visit the Sage, but on our village's behalf, we are eternally grateful for your actions tonight."
The Chief and his guards bowed, along with the other ninjas and residents before walking away. One by one, they eventually walked back to Paya's home exhausted after being awake for more than twenty-four hours straight. But this time, as they all quickly drifted into sleep, the darkness around them no longer seemed so threatening.
(==|======-
So was the village when they left in the morning.
The sun was a dull yellow in the misty sky since the fog only grew thicker, rather than dissipating the higher they climbed. It slowed their ascent and only made it more dangerous, to the point where Qrow nearly fell into a ravine after the ground beneath him gave way. Some blamed the fog for camouflaging poor footing while he blamed his Semblance. In all fairness, it was probably both.
Things changed when they reached another weathered torii gate. Like a blast of fresh air, Jaune nearly gasped the moment stumbled onto a lightly wooded hilltop. It was completely devoid of fog, which instead circled around the summit like a gentle cyclone, and a glance back revealed both his surprised companions and a landscape draped in perpetual grey. Kakariko Village was just barely visible, with only rooftops and the ruined windmill visible in the valley.
But it was the opposite direction that really stole the show. Further ahead was a mountain which, unlike its neighbours, was only partially covered in fog, flowing down from what looked like a grotto entrance two-thirds of the way up. It allowed them to see gnarled, black trees in contrast to the surrounding green, along with a lifeless river travelling alongside the barren path that snaked to the point of no return.
Jaune felt a chill crawl down his spine, and for a moment, the few birds in the area stopped singing.
"So that's what we're up against?"
"Looks like it. I can see why they call it the Shrouded Shrine."
"Mhmm. And I'm already dreading just what we'll encounter inside," Weiss sighed, turning to Paya. "What can we expect?"
"Nothing good," Paya replied, hefting a basket of different foods and pastries. "Come. Let's not keep her waiting any longer."
With Paya, Shiro, Chief Yohma and his oni-masked bodyguard - a silent, frightening man by the name of Ta'loh - at the helm, the nine followed them into the woods until they came across another clearing - this time with a simple house not unlike those in Kakariko.
Ta'loh stayed by the entrance as they removed their shoes and headed inside, but when they crossed the threshold, the door closed on its own and all noise disappeared. There were one or two gasps, and he heard Ruby and Nora whisper between themselves.
But he wasn't afraid. All he felt was a powerful surge of...something grip his heart. As if there was something he should've known or remembered, even though there was nothing familiar here to begin with. The air smelled of herbs and had a certain rich aura to it, but before he could comment, it whooshed as torches on columns burst to life with ancient blue flames, illuminating a carpeted path on old wood.
Jaune traded curious looks with Weiss and Yang before they followed the three Necluda. They continued for several minutes - something that shouldn't have been possible, given how small the house looked - but they eventually entered what appeared to be a large, circular reception room with a small pavilion at the front. Paya and Shiro knelt by it and placed the food basket down, and when they all sat down on rows of cushions, Chief Yohma began muttering a few phrases in Sheikah under his breath.
"Do you know what he's saying?"
I am not proficient in their language, but I can tell he speaks an older, archaic form. Modern Necluda probably wouldn't understand.
The moment he finished, more torches flared with ancient flame, lighting up clockwise to bathe the area in ethereal blue light. Fully lit, the room was massive to the point where even the walls and ceiling remained shrouded in darkness.
Ruby turned towards him. "This isn't just some house, is it?"
"It is home to me."
She - and everyone, actually, minus the Necluda - flinched as a voice replied. It came from their front, beside them, even resonated within their minds. Yet there was nothing as they looked around for the source.
That is until a strand of blue light floated past him, and then another by Nora, who tried to grab it, and then more -
Jaune watched with the others as the strands coalesced on the pavilion in the form of a person, and with a final flash, the light receded to reveal a small, old woman sitting cross-legged. Her long hair put Yang's to shame, tied in a bun with chopsticks set in a sunburst pattern, yet flowing down her arms in elegant strands. She wore a dark indigo kimono and loose pants inlaid with ancient technology, swirling luminescent orange and turquoise patterns in various designs - some of which included the crests of Din, Farore and Nayru.
And on her face, she donned a mask similar to the Mask of Truth - except it was oval in shape and its glowing blue Sheikah eye moved around...and blinked.
A glance at the others revealed a fascinated Ruby and Nora, while Ren, Blake and Yang were varying levels of shocked. It was Oscar, Qrow, and oddly enough, Weiss that looked the least disturbed, but Jaune?
He was the most somber out of everyone, especially upon realizing that strong feeling as longing.
The glowing Sheikah eye met Ruby's silver ones, and she flinched. Despite the lack of facial expression, it somehow felt softer. "It is home to me, Ruby Rose."
"I-I...um, yes! Yes, it is. S-sorry if I, ah, sounded insulting, or -"
She chuckled heartily, her voice resounding all around them. "You need not worry. I can see the honesty in your heart. The purity which drives you may at times feel like a weakness, but relying on its strength may one day save your life and others."
Ruby, whose jaw was already halfway opened, snapped shut as she nodded firmly.
"The same goes for all of you. You've gone through a lot of effort to bring before me an...interesting group of people, young Paya and Shiro. Even breaking the Kakariko tradition of Sheikah secrecy to do so."
The two bowed in tandem while Chief Yohma cleared his throat. "They have, great Sage. But I deemed it necessary after discussing the circumstances. They aren't just a bright and eager group of young huntsmen, but companions to the chosen one himself."
Her Sheikah eye snapped to meet Jaune's, causing him to gulp. After a few seconds, it roved around to meet all of their gazes - taking a second longer on Ruby, Weiss and Oscar specifically.
"Yes. I've known it was him since that day in the forest, when Pyrrha Nikos unlocked his Aura and with it, brought the Triforce of Courage from the depths of his soul."
Jaune stilled. "I...what...how did you...?"
"I know much, Jaune Arc. And I know how blessed you are to have such a group of loyal, dedicated friends. Your predecessor wasn't as fortunate."
Somehow, he managed to imagine the feeling of Link himself raising an eyebrow.
"...so, you know who I am. What I'm here for," Jaune began as he felt the others' gazes on him. "You know what threatens this world."
She remained silent for a second before the ancient flames suddenly flared a malicious pink and red; so too did her Sheikah eye, and from the darkness came growling, deep boar-like squealing and the tortured screams of a young man. Jaune could almost swear that the shadows the torches cast were vaguely humanoid in shape.
"The ancient cycle has been restarted, and by evil's hand, the Scourge of Hyrule will be freed once more. But the forces of light have been weakened. The Blade of Evil's Bane no longer seals the darkness and the Triforce of Wisdom is scattered across the land."
"So what do I do? Who exactly was the Hero before me? How do I restore the Master Sword and recover the pieces of Wisdom?"
Jaune rose to his feet.
"And where can I find the Princess of Destiny?"
The Sage pointed to the small red medallion on his neck, which gently floated in the air and unclasped itself from the necklace.
"You are already part of the way there. You carry one half of Din's Medallion, a sacred artifact that can reignite the Sacred Flames of old. But before I can answer those questions in depth, I must determine whether you truly have the courage to embark on this quest - not as a huntsman, but as a Hero."
The Medallion fell, and Jaune sat back down as the room suddenly brightened, revealing the outside world as if a hologram. Behind the Sage stood the old, dead mountain.
"The Shrouded Shrine was built shortly after the Divine Calamity which rent Hyrule apart as thanksgiving to Her Grace, the Goddess Hylia, for saving her people from total annihilation. But it also served a secondary purpose - to house the Spirit Guardian that watches over these lands and the fragment of the Triforce of Wisdom he protects. For it is part of a system of seals which control access to the Sacred Realm, and is thus directly linked to Ganon's return."
Images of mountains and forest became familiar scenes of chaos; the Blood Moon rose high above Vale with Beacon in the distance. "Relics of the past must stay in the past, and whoever tampered with them weakened the seals, releasing some corruption. Lord Farozu fell to evil influence, and now my descendants suffer in shadow. Jaune Arc, if you purify the Shrouded Shrine and rescue Lord Farozu, I will answer your questions. And I'm sure you've already been asked this, but I wish to hear it for myself. Will you accomplish this?"
Courage flared to life as he nodded back. "I will. In fact, we'll be making plans when we return to the village. But if you don't mind, there's one more question I'd like to ask."
The Sage stared long and hard before her body trembled with a quiet but mirthful laugh. "I see. Ask away."
Jaune nodded. "Have we...met before?"
"We have. And we haven't," she chuckled as she began dissipating into strands of light. "May the Goddesses bless you with courage, Jaune, for when you return..."
The torches went out when she disappeared completely, leaving them in shadow.
"...I will...impart unto you the truth of your destiny."
- AN -
Where one door closes, another one surely opens.
Thank you all for reading and sticking around through just over two years (!) of A Descendant of Legends. Though I originally wanted to announce a break after the previous chapter, I wanted to give you guys one last taste of what to expect before taking it. Apologies if parts seemed rushed as I'm creatively braindead right now, but this chapter was planned to set up some of the stuff that'll be dealt with over the next few, such as which characters I'm going to focus on along with themes and temples.
In the meantime, I'll be working bit by bit on Arc V's script while doing other creative projects such as restarting my second story, Bonds of the Triforce, and maybe even other ideas. I've got a whole bunch that I sidelined to focus on ADoL, but now I can finally give myself a creative break and do other things for a bit before returning here full force. Hence why I won't be using the dreaded H-word for this since it's still in the works.
Once again, thank you all for taking the time to stick around! Concrit is welcome, and, as usual, updates will be posted on my profile.
Cheers and I hope to see you next time!
- Reviews -
MountainBookSage25: Hehe glad you like it! ADoL will return, so stay tuned!
Dragon lord Syed 101: Yup! More exposition here too, though I can't wait to start writing the others' reactions as well. Glad you liked the cemetery scene too! But thus is the Princess' eternal (meta) curse...job security for the Hero at least!
Concepts and Cookies: Thank you, I'm happy you liked it! Got more stuff in the works for ADoL!
Super heavy weapons guy: Thanks! There definitely will be some of those in the next few chapters!
Guest: Hehe. Writing characters with flaws and opposing goals spices up the story, especially when they believe they're doing things for the greater good. Glad you liked that little tidbit, and thank you, that really means a lot! I haven't delved too much into the Linked Universe AU, but from the little I've seen I think it's really cool to see different Heroes interacting with each other.
jeremiahkelley93: Thank you!
Guest: Hmm...should I make aimbot as part of the powers of Wisdom? It'd sure make shooting things a helluva lot easier until Ganon reports you. But thanks, I'm glad you like it!
hirshja: Yes, true, none of them would qualify, and I wanted to write Jaune being at least a little more open with important things in order to build trust, rather than sowing the opposite with Ozpin.
The Black Wolf of the Arks: Glad you liked that part! The whole Cinder v Link in the Hero's Soul was an impulsive last minute addition, but I thought looked cool enough to put in and deal with the ramifications after. We'll definitely see what happens with Ozpin (interesting idea! unfortunate for Ozpin if that happens, lol) and I still intend to put in some form of music, but we'll see. Until next time!
Guest: Thank you, glad you liked it! I aimed for a symbolic, heartfelt close to the RWBY portion, so I'm glad I pulled it off. And I haven't forgotten about the others too, but we'll have to see where things go. Otherwise JNR forever!
Guest: I'm happy you liked that! No rest of SSSN yet unfortunately, but though there's only so much screentime to go around, I haven't forgotten about them. Same with Oscar and Qrow, but we'll just have to see - along with just who the next Princess will be.
Guest: Thank you! ADoL will return as the Path of the Hero begins!
SentinalSlice: Hard spoilers on certain things because I already have ideas cooking up regarding Jaune and Yang on that front! But I can say it is a pretty cool idea, and as the chapters progress - especially in the Shrouded Shrine - there will be some things that may see more use than other pieces of equipment. I've already planned the costume / equipment progress over the course of the story as well. Cool stuff awaits!
Guest: Thank you! Over the course of a few rewrites, this was the one thing I refused to compromise on. ADoL will return - maybe even a way for Jaune to reopen his heart once more!
Reader: Yup, interesting stuff awaits! Less here since the focus was on others, but cool things are coming - Ozpin's fate amongst them. Definitely a cool arc to think about, and though I won't get too detailed, seeing the dichotomy between Jaune / Ozpin and even Ozpin / Link, and how those traits lead them to interact will shape their relationships. We'll just have to see how things go!
Guest: The Path of the Hero awaits!
Guest: It definitely has! After all this time, it's hard not to realize you're growing as a writer over the course of the story, and though I still make mistakes here and there, seeing things come to fruition pays off well. Jaune, Link, Ruby and Weiss and the others...everyone's got their own arc, so I can't wait to write how they too, keep growing.
PSYCONIG: Thank you, I'm glad you liked it!
Hunter of Entities: Hehe I'm glad you liked that, and we'll definitely see how Ozpin goes forward when ADoL returns!
- Stats -
Upload Date: Nov 15 / 2021
Chapter Word Count: 8156
Approximate Page Length (Times New Roman, size 12, single-spaced): 20.5
- Disclaimer -
The Legend of Zelda and RWBY are the respective properties of Nintendo and Rooster Teeth.